“Jade, tell Mom, how much money have you saved?” My mother’s voice on the phone was laced with a probing curiosity. I glanced at the numbers on my banking app: $5,243,657.89. But I didn’t tell her the truth. After a moment of silence, I said, “Mom, just a little over fifty thousand, I guess.” “Only fifty thousand? You’ve been working for ten years, how is that even possible?” My mother’s tone was thick with suspicion. Three days later, my doorbell rang. My parents stood at the threshold, their faces grim. “Your brother needs to buy a house for his wedding. We’ve already put in all our savings, but we’re still short a huge amount. You *have* to contribute.” 0 My name is Jade. I’m 32 and work as a Senior Financial Manager at an international firm in New York. Ten years ago, right after college graduation, I chose to stay and build my life here, rarely going back home. My parents and my older brother, Leo, and his family live back in our hometown, a smaller town out of state. Leo is four years my senior and works in administration at the local hospital. He’s always been the pride of the family. Growing up, I was accustomed to the role of the “obedient little sister,” while Leo was the “successful son.” This phone call came suddenly, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Two months ago, Leo told our family he was getting married. His fiancée’s family was well-off, but they insisted on him buying the house outright. While property prices back home weren’t as insane as in major global cities, a decent wedding home still cost over two million. My parents had pooled all their savings and even sold off an old property, but they were still significantly short. I knew they’d come to me eventually. “Jade, working in New York for so many years, you must have saved a fortune, right?” My mother’s voice was both a question and a statement of fact. I didn’t answer directly. “Mom, New York is expensive. Rent alone is thousands every month. I haven’t saved much.” “You’re single, not buying a house, not getting married. You must have *some* savings, shouldn’t you?” My mother’s tone edged with discontent. I knew I couldn’t dodge this topic forever, so I gave a vague figure. “Around fifty thousand, give or take.” The disbelieving silence on the other end was palpable, but she didn’t call me out on it. 0
I hung up and sighed. The coffee machine in the kitchen beeped, and I carried my cup to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the glowing Manhattan skyline. Ten years. It’s enough time to change so many things. A decade ago, after college, I’d considered moving back to my hometown. Back then, everyone in my class debated between going home or staying in the big city. I chose the latter, thanks to a conversation I’d accidentally overheard. It was a weekend during my senior year. I’d come home early and heard my parents discussing my and Leo’s futures in their bedroom. “Leo should start looking for a partner next year. We need to start saving for a house for him,” my mother said. “Where are we going to get that much money? Our savings aren’t even enough for a down payment,” my father sighed. “What if… we use the money we saved for Jade? She’s a girl anyway; she’ll get married eventually, and her husband’s family will provide for her.” “That’s probably our only option. Leo is our son; he’s the one who’ll start a family for us. We can’t let him start behind everyone else.” I stood outside the door, the bag of local treats for my parents heavy in my hand. My heart felt like it had been plunged into ice water. From that day on, I decided I’d rely on no one but myself. I stayed in New York after graduation, starting as a junior clerk, slowly climbing my way up to where I am now. I scrimped and saved, making every penny count. I enrolled in various training courses, earned my financial certifications, steadily improving my skills and income. For ten years, I rarely went home, staying only two or three days during the holidays. I didn’t resent my parents; I just chose my own path. And now, the obedient little girl of the past could stand on her own two feet. 0
That weekend, I met my best friend Chloe for dinner. She was my college roommate, also a New Yorker, now a doctor at a hospital. “Family trouble again?” Chloe guessed the moment she saw my face. I nodded. “Leo’s getting married. They want me to chip in.” “Are you going to?” Chloe took a bite of her steak, her eyes fixed on me. “I don’t know.” I swirled the red wine in my glass. “I told them I only have fifty thousand saved, but they didn’t seem to believe me.” Chloe chuckled. “Your monthly salary is more than fifty grand. Of course, they didn’t believe you.” “It’s not that I don’t want to help Leo, but…” I paused. “If it were just normal help, I wouldn’t hesitate. But growing up, the family always favored Leo. Now, for them to ask me to give up all my savings, even take out a loan, to help him? I can’t do it.” Chloe put down her knife and fork, looking at me seriously. “Jade, you need to understand, this isn’t just about helping your brother. It’s about setting a boundary. If you keep giving, they’ll just take it for granted.” I remained silent. Chloe was right; it was a matter of principle. But facing my parents, I still found it hard to be firm. “Oh, right, weren’t you talking about buying a place? Did you find anything?” Chloe changed the subject. “There’s this new development. I’m thinking of a four hundred thousand dollar down payment, a three hundred thousand dollar mortgage. The monthly payments would be around seventeen hundred. I can afford it.” Chloe looked at me, surprised. “You really saved that much money?” I smiled. “Ten years is a long time. Saving half my salary every month, plus a few raises from job hopping and some investment returns, I’ve managed to accumulate a little over five million.” “So, about your brother’s wedding…” “I can help out some, but there’s no way I’m giving them all my savings,” I said firmly. “In this life, I just want to live with dignity, on my own terms.” 0
Monday morning, I’d just arrived at the office when my father called. “Jade, your mother and I are coming to New York tomorrow. Make sure you pick us up.” My father’s tone left no room for argument. My heart sank. I knew I couldn’t avoid it this time. “Okay, Dad. Call me when you arrive, and I’ll meet you at the train station.” After hanging up, my mood turned incredibly complicated. I knew the purpose of their visit, but I hadn’t figured out how to handle it. That evening, I returned home and sat in front of my computer, repeatedly checking my asset portfolio. Besides my bank savings, I also had some funds and stocks. Over the years, I’d indulged in almost no luxuries; all my money went towards investing in my future. I opened my mobile banking app, set transfer and inquiry limits for my main account, and then prepared a statement for a secondary card that showed only a little over fifty thousand dollars. I knew it was deliberate, but I had to protect my assets. My parents might not understand my decision, but I had no choice. I couldn’t let ten years of hard work disappear, nor could I give up on the first home of my own, which was almost within reach. 0
The next day at noon, I picked up my parents at the train station. My mother looked a bit older than the last time I saw her, and my father’s back seemed a little more stooped. For a moment, a wave of guilt washed over me. “Dad, Mom, are you tired from the trip?” I took the suitcase from my father. “It’s fine, the train was fast, only three hours.” My mother looked me over. “Jade, you’ve lost weight.” “Work’s been busy, haven’t been paying much attention to my diet.” I managed a faint smile. “I’ll take you to lunch now. I took half the day off.” In the restaurant, the atmosphere was a bit heavy. We all knew the purpose of their visit, but no one spoke first. It wasn’t until after we finished eating that my father cleared his throat. “Jade, you know about your brother’s wedding, right?” I nodded. “Yes, he told me last month.” “The family has already put in all our savings, but we’re still seventy thousand short,” my father cut straight to the chase. “Can you help?” I gripped my knife and fork tightly. “Dad, my salary is definitely higher than back home, but New York living expenses are sky-high too. I haven’t saved much over the years, just a little over fifty thousand.” My mother immediately cut me off. “Jade, you’ve been working for so many years, making two to three thousand a month. How can you have only fifty thousand saved? Are you saying you don’t want to help your brother?” “Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I really don’t have that much money.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’ve had my own expenses over the years, and…” “And what?” My father stared at me. “You’re single, not getting married, not buying a house. Where has all that money gone?” His words stung. In their eyes, I seemed to always be that little girl who needed to be told what to do. My life plans, my hard work, my dreams — none of it mattered. “Dad, I have my own life and plans.” I took a deep breath. “I can give Leo fifty thousand to help, but I truly don’t have any more than that.” My parents exchanged a look, clearly dissatisfied with my answer. “Fine. Let’s go back to your place first.” My father’s tone hardened. Sitting in the taxi, my heart pounded. I knew the real test was just beginning. 0
Back at my rented apartment, my parents looked around, their eyes wide with surprise. It was a 700-square-foot one-bedroom apartment. Not luxurious, but the location was good, and the monthly rent was over seven thousand. “You live in such a big place all by yourself?” my mother asked. “Work often requires overtime, so living closer is more convenient,” I explained. My father walked to the window, looking out at the view. “This apartment rent isn’t cheap, is it?” “It’s okay. The company provides a housing subsidy,” I answered vaguely. My mother started to wander around the room, occasionally scrutinizing my furniture and appliances. My heart was in my throat, terrified she’d discover something. “Jade, you said you only have fifty thousand saved. Let’s see your bank statements.” My father suddenly spoke. Despite my mental preparation, a wave of tension washed over me. “Dad, I’m an adult. My financial situation…” “What, can’t your own parents see it?” My father’s tone grew stern. “Do you have something to hide?” I knew further evasion would only arouse more suspicion, so I pulled out the secondary card’s statement I’d prepared earlier. “This is my salary card. There’s really only a little over fifty thousand in it.” My father took the statement, examining it carefully. He used to be an accountant; he was very familiar with financial reports. “Is this your only account?” He looked up and asked me. “Yes.” I lied, my heart pounding like a drum. My father handed the statement back to me, a glint I couldn’t quite decipher in his eyes. “Jade, do you really only want to give your brother fifty thousand?” “Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to give more, it’s that I truly don’t have it.” I insisted. “Alright then.” My father sighed, seeming to give up the pursuit. “Your mother and I will rest a bit. Tonight, why don’t you take us to see the city lights? We’ve been to New York so many times but haven’t really explored it properly.” My father’s sudden concession made me uneasy, but mostly relieved. That evening, I took my parents to see the sights. Watching the brightly lit cityscape, rare smiles appeared on their faces. We talked about lighthearted topics, like a normal family, as if the tense confrontation from lunch had never happened. 0
The next morning, I had to return to the office for some urgent matters. “Dad, Mom, please rest at home. I’ll be back at lunchtime to take you out to eat.” I put on my suit jacket, ready to leave. “Go on, don’t let us hold up your work,” my mother said, her tone much gentler than yesterday. At the office, I had just finished dealing with a few emails when my colleague Mike called. “Ms. Jade, two elderly people came looking for you earlier. They said they were your parents. I told them you were in a meeting, so they left a message for you to call them back when you have a moment.” My heart instantly lurched. “They… did they say anything else?” “No, they just asked about your work, and roughly what your salary was. I said I couldn’t disclose that, and they didn’t press it.” I hung up, my palms sweating. My parents actually came to the company to inquire about my situation? This was highly unusual. Did they doubt my story? I quickly called home, and my mother answered. “Mom, did you go to my company?” I asked directly. “Oh, yes, your father and I wanted to see your workplace and bring you lunch.” My mother’s voice sounded perfectly natural. “We couldn’t find you, so we came back.” “Next time, please tell me beforehand so I can arrange a tour for you,” I tried to control my emotions. “Okay, you go back to work. We’re just watching TV at home,” she said. After hanging up, I was terrified. I knew my parents. They wouldn’t come to my company for no reason. They must not trust what I told them and wanted to verify my true income. I immediately called the bank to confirm my main account’s security settings were still active. Then I double-checked my mobile banking app, ensuring there were no unusual login records. But I forgot one thing – my bank statements. The bank usually sends paper statements to my registered address every month. Initially, I used my hometown address, but after moving to New York, I changed it to my current one. However, the bank system sometimes had issues, and statements occasionally still went to my old address. It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t received last month’s statement. Could it be… No, it couldn’t be such a coincidence. I tried to reassure myself. Even if the statement was sent back home, my parents wouldn’t open it. They weren’t the type to disrespect their child’s privacy. But regardless, I had to deal with this quickly. I couldn’t let my parents discover my true financial situation. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to help my brother, but I couldn’t abandon my life plans and dreams. At noon, I returned home to find my parents sitting in the living room watching TV, the atmosphere unusually calm. “Finished with work?” my father asked, his eyes still on the TV screen. “Yes, handled a few urgent documents.” I put down my bag. “What do you want to eat? I’ll take you to a nearby restaurant.” “Whatever, you decide,” my mother’s voice was a bit distracted. During dinner, my parents surprisingly mentioned Leo’s situation less, instead asking about my work and life. This unusual behavior made me even more uneasy. After lunch, my father suddenly said, “Jade, your mother and I discussed it. We understand your situation. Fifty thousand is fine. If you can help, help; if not, it’s okay.” I was stunned. I hadn’t expected them to give up so easily. “Dad, I’m really sorry. If I had the ability, I’d fully support Leo…” “No need to say more,” my father waved his hand. “We’ll find a way to solve your brother’s problem. You just focus on your work.” My mother chimed in. “Yes, it’s not easy for you being so far away. We shouldn’t put pressure on you.” This sudden understanding and leniency felt off, but I couldn’t find any flaws in it. Maybe they really did understand my difficulties? 0
My parents stayed in New York for three days, during which I took them to various attractions. Occasionally, when Leo’s matter came up, they no longer insisted on me providing money. This unusual calm made it impossible for me to fully relax. The night before they left, we had a simple dinner at home. “Jade, we’re heading back tomorrow. Seeing you this time, we feel relieved,” my father said while eating. “Dad, Mom, if you miss me, you can always come and stay in New York,” I said sincerely. “You’re busy with work; we’d only be bothering you,” my mother said with a smile. “Oh, by the way, I heard from your colleague that you’re now a senior manager?” My heart suddenly tightened. “Yes, I got promoted last year.” “Your salary must be quite good, then?” my father asked casually. “It’s alright, enough for myself,” I answered vaguely. My father didn’t press further, instead turning to talk about things back home. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking maybe I was just being overly sensitive. The next morning, I took my parents to the train station. As we parted, my mother held my hand and said, “Jade, we’ll find other ways to handle your brother’s situation. You don’t need to worry.” I nodded, but a subtle uneasiness lingered in my heart. After dropping off my parents, I went directly to the office. As soon as I arrived, Sarah from the finance department came up to me. “Ms. Jade, your parents came looking for you yesterday and asked quite a few questions about you.” My heart sank. “What did they ask?” “They asked about your position, roughly how much you earn, and… they wanted to know if the company has a loan policy for employees, saying your brother needed funds for his wedding.” I maintained my composure. “They were just concerned about me, asking a few questions. Thank you for not disclosing my privacy.” Sarah nodded and left, leaving me deep in thought. My parents clearly didn’t believe I only had fifty thousand saved; they were secretly investigating my true financial situation. I opened my computer and checked my bank accounts. Everything was normal. But I still felt a sense of unease, as if something was about to happen. After work, I went home and thoroughly checked my apartment, making sure my parents hadn’t rummaged through my documents or computer. Everything seemed normal, but I decided to change all my financial account passwords, just in case. Just as I opened my laptop to do so, my phone rang. It was my brother, Leo. “Hello, Leo,” I answered. “Jade, Mom and Dad are back. They said you’re only willing to give fifty thousand?” My brother’s voice was filled with displeasure. “Leo, I really only have that much right now…” “Stop lying!” My brother suddenly raised his voice. “You’ve worked in New York for so many years, making such a high salary. How can you only have fifty thousand saved? Are you saying you don’t want to help me?” I was silent for a few seconds. “Leo, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I genuinely don’t have more.” “Alright, if that’s what you say, then there’s nothing I can do.” My brother suddenly calmed down. “But Jade, some things, no matter how deeply you hide them, will eventually be discovered.” His words made my heart skip a beat. “What do you mean?” “Nothing, just a reminder. Anyway, I won’t bother your work anymore.” After hanging up, my sense of unease intensified. Leo’s words clearly hinted at something. Did he know something? I picked up the phone, wanting to call my parents and get to the bottom of it, but after hesitating, I put it down. Rather than provoking more suspicion, it was better to wait and see. But I knew this matter wouldn’t end so simply.
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