The day my brother Liam got promoted, he said he would treat the whole family to a Luxury Yacht Cruise on the Hudson River at night. Parents kept praising him in the car for bringing honor to the family. But when boarding, the staff checked the list and stopped me: "Mr. Chen, the reservation is for three people, you are not on the list." Liam pulled me aside, tone irritable: "What are you mixing in for on this occasion? Go back!" My mom also pulled me: "Don't embarrass your brother, mom will bring you some snacks back." I nodded and turned to leave. That night, I used the $200,000 Down Payment I saved for his wedding house, and bought myself a river view apartment in full. Chapter 1 I hailed a taxi, gave the address of my old rented apartment. Neon lights outside the window retreated fast, like a grand and vain dream. I took out my phone, clicked on real estate agent Mike's profile picture. "Mike, are you asleep? Wanted to ask about that unit we saw before, can we arrange to sign the deposit contract tomorrow morning?" This was the message I prepared to send half an hour ago. Now, I deleted it word by word. Then, I retyped, sent. "Mike, sorry, we don't want Liam's wedding house anymore. Plans changed." Mike's call came back almost instantly, tone full of shock and confusion: "Hey? Miss Aurora, why suddenly don't want it? That unit is so popular, the owner agreed to drop another five thousand, I agreed with your brother, tomorrow just..." "Not buying." My voice was calm. "Let him figure it out himself." Not waiting for Mike to say anything more, I hung up directly. Immediately after, I clicked on a property link in my favorites that I never dared to dream of. That was a penthouse with a frontline river view, taking in the dazzling river view behind me at this moment. I dialed the sales number left above. "Hello, is this the sales office of Skyline Tower? I want to see a unit, now, is it possible?" The female sales on the other end obviously stunned, but professional quality made her react immediately: "Of course, Miss how should I address you? I'll be at the sales office waiting for you immediately." "My surname is Ying." Hanging up, I said to the driver: "Sir, please turn around, go to Skyline Tower in Manhattan." The female sales receiving me at Skyline Tower was named Chloe, she saw me get off the taxi, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in her eyes, but soon replaced by enthusiastic smile. "Miss Ying, hello, I am Chloe." I nodded, straight to the point: "No need to introduce the model, take me to see the actual unit directly. 1200 square feet, high floor, can see the river view." Chloe had no extra nonsense, directly took me to the 32nd floor by exclusive elevator. Door opened, my breathing stopped for a moment. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window, was that luxury yacht carrying my family away just now. Chloe introduced the layout, materials and design concept softly beside me, I didn't listen to a word. My gaze greedily swept every corner of the room, imagining my future life here. No quarrels, no partiality, no endless demands and taken-for-granted sacrifices. Only myself, and this exclusive starry sky and river view. "This unit." I turned around, said to Chloe who was still introducing. She stunned, seemed didn't react: "Ah? Miss Ying, you mean..." "I said, this unit." I repeated, tone unquestionable. "Full payment, any discount?" "Full payment?" Chloe's eyes widened instantly, she looked at me, as if confirming if she heard wrong. This 1200 square feet river view apartment, discounted total price is $1.88 Million. "This is my savings, $880,000, can serve as deposit. Remaining one million, I need a little time, within three days, definitely pay off." Chapter 2 That $200,000 (part of savings), was my blood and sweat money saved by working hard, scrimping and saving in the past five years. I thought, it would become the red book of my brother's wedding house, become capital for him to show off to girlfriend Scarlett. But now, I found I was wrong, this money was saved by my own hard work, and should be spent on myself. Signed the intent contract, swiped all balance in the card, it was already 11 PM. Walking out of sales office, I felt whole person collapsed, but had an unprecedented lightness. Phone screen lit up, it was photo my brother Liam posted on Instagram. In photo, he, my dad, my mom, three people intimately snuggled together, background was dazzling night view. His caption was: "Meaning of struggle, is to give family the best. Happy family!" Below, my mom commented first time: "My son is the best! Mom's pride!" Relatives and friends likes and flattery lined up a long row. "Liam is really young and promising!" "Uncle Auntie good fortune!" "This yacht looks high class, envy!" I looked at that dazzling family photo, no me in photo, as if this family never had my position. I silently clicked on my brother's avatar, pressed delete contact. Then dad, then mom. Done all this, I looked up, tears finally flowed down uncontrollably. I remembered when very young, family only had one bicycle. My brother rode it to school every day, while I could only get up before dawn, walk an hour. I begged mom let brother carry me, mom said: "Your brother study tired, you as sister, walk few steps what's wrong? Treat as exercise." I remembered year of college entrance exam, my brother grades bad, parents spent heavy money hired one-on-one tutor for him, while I could only rely on few sets of mock papers issued by school, stay up late studying. Day results out, I got into Ivy League, he only got into a Community College. At dinner table, parents sighed, didn't even look at my acceptance letter in hand, only kept comforting my brother: "It's okay son, heroes don't ask origin, later you definitely more promising than her." I remembered four years of college, my brother's monthly living expense was three times mine. He used latest phone and computer, wore brand name sneakers. And I, except tuition, didn't ask family for a penny more. I relied on scholarships and part-time jobs, not only fed myself, every month also saved a part money for family. After work, I entered a top financial company in Wall Street, started from lowest analyst. I fought life overtime, stay up late doing proposals, for a project could live in company for a week continuously. My salary higher and higher, position rose faster and faster. But these, parents never asked, they only care my brother in that idle City Job, if rose half grade again, year-end bonus increased few thousand. My money, seemed not my money, but whole family's reserve fund. My brother want change car, my mom a call came: "Aurora, your brother talks clients, no good car can't hold scene, you sponsor him $20,000 first." My brother getting married, woman side required must have wedding house. Parents matter-of-course said to me: "Aurora, your brother's marriage depends on you. You promising, can earn money, this down payment you have to pay." Chapter 3 So, I started saving this $200,000 for him. I cancelled all travel plans, rejected all friends gatherings, I brought lunch every day, reluctant to even buy a cup of coffee. I thought, my giving, my sacrifice, could exchange their trace of seeing and heartache. Until tonight, at that splendid pier, I finally understood. So-called family, so-called kinship, just a monologue I moved myself. Next day, I took a day off. I returned to my rental apartment only 400 square feet, opened that laptop followed me five years. Past five years, besides main job, I always used my savings and bonus doing investment in secondary market. From initial cautious, to later ease. This money, is a secret I never told anyone, is last retreat I left for myself. I originally planned, wait brother's marriage settled, I use this money, change myself a better one-bedroom, buy a small car again. But now, plan advanced. I calmly analyzed the market, cleared few stocks held in batches. Contacted few private equity friends cooperated before, quickly recovered part of funds. Operation lasted whole day, water rice not entered. Evening time, looking at that seven-figure amount in account, I finally sighed relief. Enough. Not only enough pay off house, also enough for my next year living expenses. Handled all this, I then had time pick up phone. Dozens of missed calls, from my brother, my dad, my mom, and some unfamiliar relatives. Messages crowded in WeChat. My brother didn't know where got my WeChat alt account, sent a string of questions. "Aurora what you mean? Wedding house say not buy not buy? Where you put my face?" "Scarlett troubled with me! Are you intentionally not want let me live good?" "I tell you, this house you buy have to buy, not buy have to buy! Otherwise you are our family's sinner!" I looked at these messages, only felt funny. My mom's messages were much milder, but more suffocating. "Aurora, don't get angry with your brother, he just that stinky temper. Yesterday was mom wrong, shouldn't let him mess around. You quick tell Mike, house still want, don't let your brother difficult in front of girlfriend." "Be obedient, ah? Mom stewed chicken soup for you tonight, you come back drink." Chapter 4 I can even imagine her kind mother expression thinking for me when sending this message. But she didn't mention a word about my grievance of being left behind, only cared about her son's face and marriage. I didn't reply anyone, directly used alt account blocked them all. Done all this, I stood up, walked to window. Downstairs was noisy market, distance was blurry lights. This place I lived five years, first time made me feel such strong alienation. I opened takeout app, didn't order those five dollar cheap fast food again. I ordered a portion of most expensive Japanese sashimi, a portion of foie gras, also opened a bottle of sake for myself. Alone, sitting in empty room, I held a late, grand farewell for my lost twenty something years. Three days later, I paid off Skyline Tower full payment. When Chloe handed purchase contract and smart key to my hand, excited face red. She told me, I was the youngest, most straightforward full payment client she met since working. I just smiled. Sadness and resolution behind this, only myself know. First time got key, I called moving company, moved those few luggage in rental room, all into new home. Standing in front of 360 degree dead angle free floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking city vein under foot, I first time had a feeling of feet on solid ground. Here, is my real home. I gave myself a week holiday, whole heart devoted into joy of decorating new home. I replaced furniture uniformly configured by developer, personally went select Italian leather sofa, Nordic solid wood dining table, and a super large soft bed enough for me to roll. I even in living room corner, created a small bar for myself, bought full set of bartending tools. My best friend Jasmine came see me, looking at brand new house and radiant me, shocked half day couldn't speak. "Aurora, did you rob a bank?" I told her things happened these few days originally. Jasmine heard, angry directly jumped up from sofa. "They also too excessive! What thing is Liam! Holding your money act powerful, also treat you like garbage throw at pier? Uncle Auntie really partial to armpit!" She scolded half day, then heartached hugged me. "But, Aurora, you did right! This house bought too right! Should be like this! Let them see, without you this ATM, they count as fart!" I leaned on her shoulder, laughed. "So, to celebrate me escaping bitter sea, reborn. I decided..." I deliberately prolonged voice. "Go sit that luxury yacht again." Jasmine eyes lit up: "Yes! Must go! Also want sit most expensive suite, let them see, you alone, live better than their whole family!" Departure day, I specially put on exquisite makeup, wore that most expensive red long dress in my wardrobe. At same pier, same boarding gate. Staff respectfully verified, made a please gesture to me: "Miss Ying, welcome you board, your private butler already waiting you in suite." Boarded deck, I let Jasmine help me take a photo. Background was Hudson River under sunset afterglow, I raised a glass of champagne, smile brilliant. I posted photo to TikTok, didn't block anyone. Finished posting, I put away phone, with Jasmine, started enjoy this feast truly belong to me. Time on yacht comfortable and luxurious. Me and Jasmine enjoyed dinner prepared by Michelin chef in top floor restaurant, played in open air pool on deck, watched latest movie in private cinema. This is life. Until next morning, I hangover woke up, then found my phone almost exploded. WeChat, text, call, overwhelming. Click open look, almost all from my brother, he changed a small account to contact me. He didn't know again from which relative added me back, messages sent full of anger and unreasonable. "Aurora, you really capable ah! Where you got money to live so good suite? Did you long hide private money behind our back?"
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