Chapter 2

I stripped the bed of the bedsheets and washed them before I went to work the next day. I packed the bedsheets into my suitcase when I was done.

I planned to terminate my lease. Coincidentally, the apartment's lease expired in the afternoon on the first day of summer break.

My company had approved my request to move into the employee dorms a month ago. At first, I planned to take my time moving into the dormitories after the break ended, but after receiving Mom's voice messages, I changed my move-out date to that day.

The realtor looked at the pile of cardboard boxes in the living room when he dropped by to inspect the house. "Are you moving out right now?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. "I'm moving to a new place."

He then looked at the selfie lights, phone stands, and unopened LED light panels in the living room. "Are you taking those with you?"

I shook my head. "They belong to my sister."

All the filming equipment belonged to Tiffany. She had left them behind the last time she dropped by to film in my apartment, claiming that she had too many things to take with her. She said that she would only leave them for a few days, but she didn't retrieve them even after six months had passed.

I sent a message to Tiffany. "I need to move your filming equipment today. Send me your address."

Tiffany replied with a question mark. "What are you talking about? I need to use them for my livestream on the first day there."

"I'm not extending my lease," I replied. "I'm returning the keys to the landlord today."

A few minutes passed without a response.

Mom called me a few seconds later, and I answered.

"You're terminating the lease?" she demanded, her voice low and urgent. "Why didn't you discuss this with us beforehand?"

I placed the freshly washed mugs in a cardboard box. "I'm the one renting this apartment. Besides, I already informed my landlord of my decision a month ago."

Mom inhaled sharply. "Where will we stay then?"

"You can book a hotel room."

"Do you know how expensive hotels are during summer break?" she demanded, raising her voice. "Besides, Elise and her family already know that we're supposed to stay with you. Your father will be utterly humiliated if we tell them that we need to book a hotel room now."

I didn't respond.

Mom swiftly changed her tone when she realized that I had no plans to continue the conversation.

"I'm not blaming you, Michelle, but you can't make such sudden decisions. Elise and her family have already bought their tickets. Are you really going to let them drag their suitcases around the station?

"Talk to your landlord. Tell him that you want to extend your stay for a few days. We'll figure out the payment later."

"Who's going to pay?" I asked.

Mom paused.

Dad's voice resounded from next to her. "She already paid her rent this month. Surely her landlord will allow her to stay for a few more days."

Mom covered the receiver with her hand, but I could still hear her. "Stop it. She's in a prickly mood."

I wrapped up the last bowl and placed it in a cardboard box.

"I'm moving out, Mom," I said. "If you insist on coming to New Grandia, I can send a few links of nearby hotels to you."

Mom was about to say something else when Dad snatched the phone from her.

"Are you doing this on purpose, Michelle?" he snapped.

"The lease expired. I simply chose not to extend it."

Dad scoffed. "Don't try to fool me with the lease. You just don't want your relatives to stay at your place. Well, let me make things clear for you. We've already bought the tickets and planned the welcoming party. It's too late for you to change your mind now."

"You used my card to pay for the tickets and welcoming party," I said.

"So what if I did?" Dad demanded stubbornly. "You're my daughter. If you're planning to humiliate us in front of Elise and her family, I'm going to drop by your company and let them know that they employed an ungrateful wretch."

I moved the phone away from my ear.

In the past, I would be terrified whenever Dad threatened me. I was scared that he would actually drop by my company. I was scared that the neighbors would find out, scared that my relatives would talk about me behind my back.

Later, I realized that they used my fear against me, forcing me to bend to their will.

"Feel free to do whatever you want," I said.

Dad was stunned.

I hung up.

…

My landlord, Arthur Wilson, dropped by at 3:00 pm to retrieve the keys.

He checked the water and electricity meters, then signed the termination form when he determined that everything was in working order.

I placed the bunch of keys on his palm.

The apartment was starkly empty when the door clicked shut.

I stood in the stairwell, clutching the termination form. I didn't feel any reluctance. On the contrary, I felt relieved.

…

That night, Tiffany sent a selfie of herself at the high-speed rail station into the group chat.

"We're setting off to spend our summer break at Michelle's home!"

Mom, Dad, Aunt Elise and her family, and Tiffany were smiling widely in the photo.

Tiffany even tagged me in the chat. "Don't forget to pick us up at the station, Michelle. Don't make Aunt Elise and her family wait too long."

I sent a map of the subway in response. "Transfer to the No. 10 line after taking the No. 2 line. Walk eight minutes to leave the station."

The group chat fell silent for half a minute.

"Where are you?" Dad finally asked.

"On duty," I replied.