Bang!
A tattered bundle was thrown to the ground as Lana lifted her chin, looking at me with disgust. “You didn’t come back to clean up your things on purpose, did you? Are you trying to find a chance to come back and see Harlan and Yasmine again? Well, give up on that idea now!”
Yasmine also poked her head out from behind, her face no longer carrying her usual gentle demeanor. “I didn’t expect you to be living in such poor conditions. Hey, do you still have the strength to find your own place? Well, I won’t send you to a nursing home, but here’s a hundred bucks for your living expenses for the year!”
With that, she pinched a note between her fingers and tossed it casually to the ground.
I merely glanced at her, then bent down to pick up the money.
Before leaving, Lana gave a fierce warning, “If you know what’s good for you, don’t let any harmful rumors about our family spread. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you don’t get a single penny!”
Living alone wasn’t that hard. Without work to interrupt, I kept a regular schedule, going to bed early and getting up early. I even learned how to gather trash with the elderly in the park, earning my first small sum.
I made a quick decision and bought a kebab to take home. Alas, just as I was enjoying my meal, someone barged in uninvited.
“Well, look at this. I didn’t expect you to be doing okay on your own!” It was Harlan. There was mockery in his expression. “Have you really fallen so low that you’re picking up trash now? Why don’t you contact your dad’s old friends and try to revive your career? Afraid you won’t be able to compete with us? Hahaha!”
Lana stepped in calmly, kicking my door down as she entered. “Oh, Dana, I didn’t expect someone who used to be so high and mighty to end up living in a slum one day!”
Standing a distance away, Yasmine waved her hand in front of her nose. “Since you can still afford kebab, I guess your life’s not too bad. You don’t need that living allowance anymore. When you’re too old to walk, just crawl to a nursing home yourself!”
