To save up for the down payment as quickly as possible, my life turned into something close to self-torture.

I moved out of my rental in Mirnivia to Skyren, a rundown place that required a 20-minute ride by bicycle just to reach the subway. My rent dropped from 650 bucks to 300 bucks.

My daily commute stretched from an hour and a half to three hours.

I woke up at half past five each morning and got home at ten in the evening.

I cut out every unnecessary expense, including coffee, dining out, movies, and new clothes.

Breakfast was two buns from a street stall. Lunch was the cheapest set at the company cafeteria. Dinner was usually discounted ready-made food from the supermarket after work.

I started taking on freelance work like crazy. Weekends and nights were spent doing project proposals and industry reports for small companies. Each job paid a couple of hundred. It was exhausting, but money came fast.

In three months, I lost 20 pounds. I looked gaunt with hollow eyes and pale skin. My coworkers joked that I looked like I'd been abducted by aliens for experiments.

Only I knew that I was trading my life for money.

The figure in my bank account climbed slowly but steadily.

It went from 115 grand to 120 grand and then to 130 grand. Every extra 1,500 bucks felt like a step closer to my goal.

During this period, my parents tried to reach me through relatives.

Aunt Selvy said, "Evan, your mom cries every day. She misses you."

I replied, "Then video call me. Oh wait. I forgot. I blocked her."

Uncle William said, "Your dad's blood pressure has been high lately. Keep this up, and you'll kill them both."

I replied, "They've got 300 grand saved and a nephew who received 600 grand from them. They'll survive."

Logan even called once. His tone carried a mix of smugness and fake concern.

"Evan, I heard things have been tough lately. Do you need help? My wife gave me 45 grand after the wedding. I've got money to spare."

"No."

"Come on, don't blame your parents. They just care about me. How about this? I'll send you 300 bucks a month for living expenses. Consider it support from your dear old cousin." He sounded like he was talking to a beggar on the street.

I laughed. "Logan, how's that 600 grand treating you? Enjoying the Ferrari? Is the big house comfortable?"

He was stunned. "Evan, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about me. Save your money for my parents' retirement. After all, you're their most successful investment."

I hung up before blocking him and his wife too.

At the end of the year, the company held its annual dinner.

Thanks to my outstanding performance, I won the top sales title. The bonus was 45 grand.

On stage, my supervisor gave me the award and told me to deliver my acceptance speech.

I picked up the mic and looked at my hundreds of colleagues off-stage. My mind went blank.

"I'd like to thank the company, my supervisor, and my team–" I mentioned all the usual things one was supposed to say during such speeches.

In my mind, I was thinking, 'With the 45 grand, plus my savings and freelance income, I have 205 grand in total. I still need 60 grand.'

Suddenly, I saw Ruby Lawrence in the crowd.

As a former employee, she had been invited to the annual dinner too.

She had on a beautiful evening gown and intricate makeup. She was talking and laughing with a well-dressed man beside her.

Our eyes met briefly.

There was a look of surprise in hers and something else I couldn't quite place.

I nodded politely and looked away.

At that moment, I felt nothing.

After the annual dinner, everyone went to a karaoke place.

I didn't go. I walked home alone.

My phone rang. It was Ruby.

"Evan, congratulations."

"Thanks."

"You've lost a lot of weight."

"I'm fine."

"I heard about your family and how hard you've been pushing yourself."

"Yeah."

She was silent for a while. "Evan, can we go back to how things were?"

I stopped walking and stared at my blurry reflection in a shop window.

The man staring back looked thin and worn, but there was an indescribable look of determination in his eyes.

"Ruby, we can't go back," I said calmly.

"Why? Weren't you working hard for our future? You got the bonus now. You almost have enough for the down payment–"

I cut her off. "That was in the past. Now, I'm doing it for myself."

She didn't say anything else.

"I wish you happiness," I said and hung up.

That night, I had a dream.

In that dream, Ruby and I were back in college. We were walking on the track field.

She asked where I wanted to settle down in the future.

I said 'Seahaven. I want to build you a home there.'

I woke up from the dream. The spot next to me was cold.

I opened my banking app and looked at the figure.

[205 grand.]

I was almost there.

I didn't go home for the new year's season.

I applied to stay on duty for triple pay.

On New Year's Eve, I sat alone in the empty office. I ate instant noodles and stared at project data on my screen.

Outside, fireworks lit up Seahaven like it was celebrating other people's family reunions.

My phone buzzed. It was a video from Grandpa.

In the video, he sat at the head of the table. He was surrounded by my parents, my uncle's family, and a bunch of other relatives.

"Evan! Happy New Year! Take care of yourself in Seahaven!" Grandpa called out.

My parents sat beside him. They looked awkward. My mom's eyes were bloodshot. My dad kept a stiff face and said nothing.

Logan raised his glass. His face was flushed. "Evan, Happy New Year! My wife and I wish you big success in Seahaven, and I hope you find a new girlfriend soon! Hahaha!"

In the background, my aunt Serena Clark's shrill voice cut in. "Why say that? It'll only make him feel worse! Logan, you're the lucky one. You have everything right out of school!"

The video ended abruptly.

I closed it with a blank expression and finished every drop of my instant noodle soup.

On the third day of the new year, Edith called.

"Evan, you've got the nerve to not come home for New Year. Do you know your mom barely ate and kept crying?"

"Oh."

"Your dad too. He gets drunk and calls you ungrateful."

"Let him."

"Your cousin's been married for six months. His wife is pregnant with twins!" Edith suddenly sounded excited. "Your parents are overjoyed. They said the Clark family's lineage is safe. They're planning a celebration."

"Congratulations to them."

"Your aunt wants your parents to spend their remaining 300 grand on Logan to upgrade to a bigger house in a better neighborhood. She also suggested a nicer car so that it'd be easier for the kids to get to school."

My heart pounded.

"Did they agree?"

"Your mom's hesitant. Your dad hasn't decided. Your aunt keeps pushing by saying Logan's twins are still Clark family descendants. It was the same as if you had kids. Two at once, what a contribution." She paused. "Evan, I'm telling you this because if you don't come back, that 300 grand might really be gone."

My grip tightened on the phone. My knuckles turned white.

"Edith, thank you. I understand."

After hanging up, I immediately opened the ticket app and bought a high-speed rail ticket home for the next day.

I wasn't going back to fight for money.

I was going back to end this once and for all.