My job...

Gone just like that!

Although this job only paid three thousand, given the current economic situation... finding another job was just too difficult.

"Why... why am I being called morally corrupt and unprincipled?" Yan Jiayu, her face etched with grievance, could only turn to her best friend for comfort.

This originally had nothing to do with her. Now, the whole world... seemed to be targeting her.

It was the other person who went into the water. What did it have to do with her? Just because they saved her dog, she couldn't be expected to become a slave to their parents, could she?

"Jiayu, don't be too sad. Your company probably fired you due to public pressure. There's no need to stay in a company like that," Liu Die hugged her best friend and quickly comforted her. "Coincidentally, my company is still hiring. Come to my company, and we good friends can go to and from work together!"

After this comfort, Yan Jiayu finally felt a little better.

This relentless barrage of setbacks... was just too sudden.

Misfortune in love was bad enough, but now her job was gone too. She was just someone who lived paycheck to paycheck. Besides her rent money, she spent whatever else she earned. Now, without a job... she had lost her source of income and might not even be able to afford next month's rent! Thankfully, she still had a good friend willing to take her in.

RING RING—

Not long afterward, the phone rang again.

Yan Jiayu shuddered, still traumatized, and didn't dare to answer the phone again.

"It's your dad calling," Liu Die glanced at the caller ID and reminded her.

Yan Jiayu swallowed. Only then did she relax slightly.

She took the phone and called out grievously, "Dad."

But...

"Don't call me Dad! You're my dad!" On the other end of the phone, an uncontrollably furious voice erupted. "You said you were going to the big city to make something of yourself. Now you've really learned a thing or two, haven't you? You don't even act like a decent human being anymore, is that it? Do you know that people have thrown over a dozen rotten eggs at our front door? When your mom goes out, even to the market, she has to endure people pointing and staring. Do you know what the neighbors are saying about your mom? 'She raised a murderer!' What did I teach you? Someone helps save your dog from drowning, and you just run off? Have you even compensated them yet? Because of you, your mother and I can't hold our heads up high anymore! We barely dare to step outside unless it's absolutely necessary! Don't call me Dad anymore! I don't have a daughter like you!"

On the phone, the middle-aged man seemed extremely emotional. As he spoke, he almost broke down into tears, purely from anger.

And Yan Jiayu, already full of grievances, retreated into herself again after the tirade.

She had hoped that when her father called, she could pour out her troubles. Who would have thought... this call was also to condemn her.

"Dad, I... I, I... I want to come home," Yan Jiayu said softly, her eyes red and swollen.

"Come home?" But over the phone, the response came with a cold laugh. "You better not come back! We can't afford to lose face like that! You know how those neighborhood aunties love to gossip. I don't know where they heard it, but they've spread the news of your 'good deeds' all over the community! If you come back, you'll only drag us down with you!"

His words made it clear he was desperate to cut ties with her.

The moment he finished speaking, the tears Yan Jiayu had been holding back finally surged forth.

At this moment, no matter how strong she was, she couldn't withstand this relentless series of blows. Even her own parents... didn't want anything to do with her.

On the other end of the phone, after his outburst, his voice seemed to calm slightly. Seeing that she hadn't said anything, he continued, "What did the boy's family say?"

Yan Jiayu choked up and replied, "They... they demanded 200,000."

Regarding this, she didn't hide it. There was no way she could come up with that much money. She knew her parents' situation well. They were an ordinary family without much savings.

On the other end of the phone, there was silence for a moment before he slowly said, "Your mom and I have saved some money over the years for your dowry. I'll transfer the money to you later. You pay it back and properly apologize to them."

"But... that money..." Yan Jiayu choked out, suddenly reluctant, wanting to object.

"I've spoiled you too much in the past! They didn't owe you anything. They helped you, and someone lost their life. This is what you owe them!" The voice on the other end, sounding a bit hoarse, said, "Alright, that's it then. Don't come back for the next couple of years."

Finally, her dad, apparently not wanting to say more, hung up the phone directly.

Yan Jiayu, her eyes red and swollen, listened to the dial tone.

Her expression was dazed. Love. Career. Family. The blows kept coming, one after another, each more crushing than the last. Her emotions were teetering on the brink of collapse. The whole world seemed to be against her. Netizens were cursing her. The law didn't support her. She wanted to sue the entire internet, but her finances wouldn't allow it. The boy's relatives showed no understanding for her situation. Her boyfriend had abandoned her when things got tough. The company was utterly heartless. Even her parents... felt she had brought shame upon them.

If this was how things were... what was the point of living?

"Jiayu, you mustn't let yourself despair. Things are already this bad; they can't get any worse," Liu Die, seeing her state, tried to comfort her again.

But Yan Jiayu remained unresponsive, her expression blank. No matter what Liu Die said, she showed no reaction.

"Jiayu, don't scare me..." Liu Die also grew frantic and continued to patiently try and persuade her.

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