Chapter 1 Goodbye, This World

Xia Xiao, who was about to graduate from her master's program this year, had already interned for a year at a well-established public company. As long as she received her diploma, she would be hired full-time, and her salary would double. Therefore, her mood had been quite good lately, brimming with energy.

On her way to work, Xia Xiao's phone rang inside her bag, and she took a look at the caller ID before answering.

"Mom."

"Xiaoxiao, your brother is getting married, and the bride's family is asking for a dowry of 200,000 yuan. You need to think of something quickly,"

Mrs. Xia's voice came through the phone without any pleasantries, getting straight to the point.

Xia Xiao said helplessly, "Mom, I've just graduated, where can I find 200,000 yuan for you?"

"Aren't you working at a big company? Borrow from your colleagues for now. Your brother's fiancée said you could take out a loan from the company. Just gather the 200,000 yuan for now and slowly pay them back after your brother and his wife get married."

"I don't have the money, let alone 200,000 yuan," Xia Xiao's complexion worsened, 200,000 yuan, as if she ran a bank.

"Xiaoxiao, how can you be like this? He's your brother. Your father and I raised you, paid for your education..." Mrs. Xia began to reproach her daughter discontentedly.

"Yes, you gave birth to me, raised me, and paid for my education, so I will support you and dad in your old age, but that doesn't mean I have to slave away for my brother. My college tuition was on a loan, and I earned Ah Yong's vocational school tuition and living expenses with part-time jobs. Even the money for his girlfriends, I had to pay as his sister. He's over twenty and instead of working properly, he changes girlfriends yearly. Mom, I'm telling you, you're spoiling your son like this, you'll regret it. If he's capable, he should marry with his own abilities, relying on the difficulty of parents and a sister, even if he gets married, he won't be able to shoulder the responsibilities."

The Xia family had two children, and the parents had a tendency to favor boys over girls, so Xia Xiao's brother was spoiled beyond measure, and Xia Xiao felt helpless.

"Xiaoxiao, you're too heartless. He's your brother, if he doesn't have the money to get married, how can you as his sister not help? What's the use of raising a daughter like you," Mrs. Xia accused.

Xia Xiao felt disheartened and said coldly, "I really am useless, so Mom, you shouldn't count on me to come up with 200,000 yuan for Ah Yong's marriage. If the bride's family wants a 200,000 yuan dowry, how much dowry will they give? If you can't come up with 200,000 yuan, what do you plan to do? Sell the house?"

"How could we sell the house? If we sell it, where would the family live? Your brother's fiancée's family is not well off either; they can't come up with a substantial dowry. But she's pregnant with Ah Yong's child, and he won't marry anyone else. Her mother said if we can't provide 200,000 yuan dowry, she'll take her daughter to terminate the pregnancy. That's our Xia family's grandchild. Xiaoxiao, you have to think of a way to help your brother, don't let your nephew die."

Xia Xiao nearly laughed in anger; apparently, she also had to cough up money to bring a so-called ancestor into the family. She hadn't met this future sister-in-law, but from what she'd heard from her mom, her brother was very fond of her, even spending half of each month living at the girl's place. Moreover, ever since they started dating, it had been all take and no give, and her brother always came to her for money.

Now they needed 200,000 yuan. Xia Xiao clenched her teeth; even if she had the money, she wouldn't give it.

"No, even if you sell me, I don't have 200,000 yuan." At the moment, her assets consisted of just 2,000 yuan in her bank account, 500 in cash, and a single credit card—she was poor.

"Xiaoxiao, your aunt has introduced a man to you, the big boss from around here. He owns dozens of internet cafes, gaming centers, and even a cinema, with over ten properties to his name. I heard he's the major shareholder of a newly opened building complex. He wants a beautiful and talented graduate for a wife; he's seen your photo and is very pleased. If you marry him, he'll give a dowry of 500,000 yuan and transfer a luxurious duplex apartment in the new complex into your name."

"Heh, turns out I'm quite the commodity, worth millions, huh? Mom, the guy isn't in his forties or fifties, fat and with big ears, short and dark, divorced with kids, is he?" Xia Xiao said with a sarcastic smile.

"What are you talking about? Is being handsome any use for feeding oneself? Aren't all businessmen like that? He's about your height, fair, and chubby—a sign of prosperity. He's still young, just a little over forty. Divorced from his previous wife, he has two daughters. As long as you marry him and have a son, all his money will be yours. He even wants your brother and cousin to manage his internet cafe and gaming hall for him," Mrs. Xia said, getting excited.

Xia Xiao's expression grew colder as she listened, finally saying, "No matter what, I won't marry. Don't even think about forcing me."

She was only 1.6 meters tall, and the man was not only much older but short and overweight, and divorced with children. Yet, because he was rich and offered a large dowry, her mother seemed eager to sell her off.

"Xiaoxiao, have you become stupid from all that studying? How much do you earn in a month? Marry a big boss, and you can avoid a lifetime of struggle. Others would fight for such a blessed opportunity. If he hadn't taken a fancy to you, do you think it would be your turn?" Mrs. Xia was getting impatient, even uttering many unpleasant words, and she expressed regret for letting her daughter study so much that she became disobedient.

"No matter what, I won't marry. If you're so desperate for money that you'd sell your own daughter, I have a suggestion. Ah Yong is also quite good-looking, right? Didn't you say some wealthy woman fancied him before? If he's willing to be a kept man, he too can avoid a lifetime of struggle," Xia Xiao finished, closing her eyes, hurting her family in the process, and feeling no better herself.

But she had had enough.

"Xiaoxiao, how can you say such vicious things? You're being so inappropriate. Mom is doing this for your own good. Hurry back and settle the marriage; I won't hold it against you. Otherwise, I'll come to your school and company, and don't blame me for being ruthless. A woman ultimately marries. Didn't I have you study so much just to help you marry better?"

Xia Xiao felt an extreme chill, her body quivering with anger, and she said coldly, "Then go make a fuss. It'd be best if it were reported on the news and broadcast on TV, letting the whole world know that you pressured your freshly graduated daughter to pay 200,000 for her brother's bride, forcing your daughter to marry a middle-aged businessman and become a stepmother for the money. Make a big scene, then I won't have to live since life is so meaningless."

Having said that, Xia Xiao hung up the phone and hurried towards the company.

"Watch out!"

Before Xia Xiao could react, she was struck by a stone flying from who knows where.

"It's terrible, someone's dead."

"Call an ambulance quickly."

Xia Xiao's spirit drifted from her body, watching her bloodied, closed-eyed self lying on the ground, observing the crowd around her as if she were merely a spectator.

She had actually died; indeed, one shouldn't curse oneself. Just after saying she didn't need to live, she was killed by a stone. Xia Xiao was depressed; her prime youth, her prime years, her life's ideals, and ambitions had just begun, only to be destroyed by a stone.

She wondered if her family, upon hearing of her death, would feel sad—or perhaps grieve that her value was lost.

With a mix of unwillingness and relief, Xia Xiao's spirit quickly dissipated in the early sunlight.

Farewell, this world.