Chapter 1

My parents gave me a bank card and transferred twenty thousand dollars into it every month for my living expenses.

But they never told me the PIN, so I couldn't access a single penny.

When I couldn't afford to eat and applied for financial aid, my mom tore into me.

"We already gave you the bank card, and twenty thousand a month---you're still not satisfied? You ungrateful little jerk!"

Then my dad suddenly fell into a coma and needed money to save his life.

My mom got on her knees and begged me to take out all the living expenses they'd transferred to me over the years.

I threw the bank card on the ground.

"Mom, you forgot---you never told me the PIN. The money can't be withdrawn."

My mom's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Late at night, my phone buzzed twice. My mom sent me a screenshot.

Cross-bank transfer -$20,000. Note: Living expenses.

[Iris, this month's twenty thousand has been transferred to you. Don't let yourself go without at school.]

The phone screen's light reflected on my face. I stared at that string of numbers, my fingertips going cold.

[Mom, I need to talk to you about something.]

My mom seemed to be in a good mood: [Sure, go ahead.]

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice from sounding too tense.

[Could you... tell me the bank card PIN?]

I waited an hour before my mom replied:

[Why are you suddenly asking for the PIN? Are you getting into trouble out there? Twenty thousand a month and you're still not satisfied?]

I gripped my phone tightly, my heart pounding.

No, Mom, you transfer living expenses to the card but never told me the PIN.

I can't withdraw a single penny.

Lately I've been eating nothing but bread rolls.

I really can't take it anymore. I don't need that much money a month.

Five hundred would be fine. Just transfer it directly to my SnapChat instead of the bank card.

I can't access it.

The next moment, my mom's name flashed on the screen. I quickly put in my earbuds.

"Iris, have I been bad to you? Twenty thousand a month!

I even gave you the bank cardwhat more do you want?

Always making demands. You ungrateful little jerk!"

"Mom, the card is useless to me if I don't know the PIN..."

My mom's voice turned shrill.

"Why should I tell you the PIN?

That's your father's and my money!

We're not dead yet, and you're already eyeing our assets.

Have you no shame? I gave you the card, I transferred the money and now you want the PIN too?

Why don't you just fly to the moon? So greedy!"

I instantly understood what my mom was implying: the money was transferred for show, not for me to actually spend.

The call ended. I climbed down from my bed, pulled out a bread roll from a plastic bag, and slowly took a bite.

The roll was cold and hard. I nearly choked and had to gulp down several mouthfuls of cold water.

My roommate looked at me sympathetically. "Iris, eating bread rolls again? Don't your parents send you any living expenses?"

I nodded.

It was laughable, really. My other roommates got two thousand a month and lived comfortably.

I supposedly got twenty thousand a month but couldn't access a dime of it, surviving only on part-time jobs.

I'd lived like this for three whole years.