Chapter 1 — They Teach Me To Grow Up By Abandoning Me

After I lost my job, my parents took me on a trip and then disappeared. After I was laid off by the company, my parents finally fulfilled the promise they had been hanging on for ten years - taking me on a long trip. But when I woke up the next morning, the bed opposite was empty. Luggage disappeared. People also disappeared. Even the plastic slippers my mother placed outside the door were gone. I called, the subscriber turned off the phone. Messaged WeChat, no sound. I was wearing only shorts, standing in the middle of the hotel hallway, with only 47.3 yuan left in my pocket. More than 1,200 km from home. Just like that... left behind. My name is To Van, twenty-six years old. Three days ago, the company "optimized human resources" and, to put it bluntly, was fired. When HR smiled and said to me:

“This is an adjustment to the company's business strategy, not related to your personal abilities.”

I almost believed it was true. It wasn't until I saw the betel pot on my desk being conveniently taken away by Mr. Vuong Patriarch next to me that I completely woke up. I'm really unemployed. The day I got home, my mother was stewing ribs in the kitchen. Hearing me talk about staff cuts, the shovel in her hand stopped for exactly three seconds. Then she turned around and shouted towards the bedroom:

"Mr. To! Your daughter has been fired!"

My father stuck half his head out of the room, his glasses hanging down on his nose, and still holding the phone in his hand. That's all. Even the short video he was watching didn't bother to pause. At that time, my heart turned cold. But right after that, dad did something that surprised me. He took off his glasses, cleared his throat, looked serious:

"Daughter, let's do this. While you're free, let's go on a trip as a family."

"Haven't you always wanted to go see the sea since you were little? Dad took you there."

I was stunned. This promise dates back to when I was in third grade of elementary school. At that time, I ranked first in the class, and my father patted his chest and said:

"Wait until summer break, dad will take me to see the beach."

After that, everyone can guess the result — don't go. The middle school told me to wait until the transfer exam is over and then go. Don't go. High school told me to wait until the university entrance exam and then go. Don't go. When he went to college, he said he would wait until he graduated before leaving. Still not going. A promise that lasted for seventeen years. I thought I wouldn't be able to do it in this lifetime. As a result, I was just fired, and he remembered again. Well... that's fine. Three days later, I sat on the old blue hard chair train, bumped until my whole body was numb, and finally arrived at that southern coastal city. The hotel is not large, three-star standard, old decoration style. But in the air there was the salty smell of the sea, and in the distance you could hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Mother stood next to the window, making a rare exclamation:

“It's really good, our whole family finally has a chance to hang out together.”

Dad nodded and yawned:

“Okay, okay, go to bed early, go to the beach tomorrow.”

That night I slept very well. I feel like being fired isn't necessarily a bad thing. At least… the family is still here. At least tomorrow we can still see the sea. The next morning, 7:15 a.m. I was woken up by the alarm on my phone. The bed opposite has neatly folded blankets. Empty. I got up and looked in the bathroom, there was no one. Balcony, no one there. Mother's suitcase — disappeared. Dad's travel bag — gone. The plastic slippers outside the door — also disappeared. The whole room... there was only me left. Counter My first reaction was that they went to buy breakfast. I picked up the phone to call. No waves? That's not right, there are waves. I called my mother.

“The subscriber you just called is currently switched off.”

Call dad.

“The subscriber you just called is currently switched off.”

I called back four or five times. All are turned off. I opened WeChat messaging, a gray exclamation mark appeared. Message cannot be sent. My spine started to feel cold.

“It's not okay.”

I put on my pants and rushed out. The reception desk is on the first floor. A young employee was sitting scrolling on his phone, his name tag read "Tieu Luu". I ran over, panting and asked:

"Hello, is anyone out of room 312 this morning? A middle-aged couple, about fifty years old."

Tieu Luu raised his head and looked at me, expressionless, typing a few times on the keyboard.

"Room 312? You mean the two guests staying with you?"

“Yes, yes, my parents.”

“They checked out at 4:52 a.m.”

“Check out… check out?”

"Yes. You two have checked out and paid for last night's room. Today's room is unpaid."

My mind made a "buzzing" sound. 4:52 am. I woke up at seven o'clock. When they left, I was still sleeping.

“Did they… say where they were going?”

Tieu Luu looked at me again. There was something in those eyes that was difficult to describe. Pity? Or are you waiting for something to happen?

"Do not have."

“Don't say anything?”

"Didn't you leave anything behind? Like a note or something?"

"Do not have."

I stood in front of the reception desk, wearing a wrinkled t-shirt, and quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants over shorts - this was the nicest set of clothes I could pull out in my panic. At my feet were the hotel's disposable slippers. Hair stands up and down. I thought I must have looked miserable at that time. Tieu Luu looked at the computer screen and then looked at me:

"Oh, also... girl, your room fee is still unpaid today. Check-out time is twelve noon. If you want to stay longer..."

I interrupted him.

“I don't have my wallet. That's not right… my wallet…”

I rummaged through my pockets. Phone. A room card. 47.3 yuan in change. My wallet is in my mother's pocket. My ID, in my mother's pocket. My bank card, also in my mother's pocket. Yesterday when we arrived at the hotel, my mother said:

“You're so clumsy, let me keep this important thing.”

Then she conveniently stuffed my wallet into her big black handbag. At that time, I felt relieved. Now that I think about it... The more I think about it, the more wrong I feel. That's not "helping". Obviously "confiscation". I stood frozen at the reception desk. The whole person turned to stone. Tieu Luu looked at me, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, waiting for me to answer.

"Girl? Today's room fee is 268 yuan, do you want to pay in cash or scan the code?"

I looked at him. He looked at me. The atmosphere was silent for about five seconds. Then I heard myself say an unprecedented and humiliating sentence:

“Brothers… can you give me a little alms?”

The corner of Tieu Luu's mouth twitched. Just one. But I see clearly. That twitch contained more information than my old company's year-end PPT report.

“Girl, this… I have to ask the manager first.”

He picked up the phone. I stood in the middle of the hall, behind me was a constant stream of people pulling suitcases back and forth. Someone goes He even turned to look at me. Maybe it's because of the disposable slippers on my feet. Maybe it was because of the look on my face that was about to burst into tears at that time. I, To Van, twenty-six years old, former programmer. Three days ago, the company "optimized human resources". Now I'm being "optimized" by my biological parents. But also in the physical sense.