Affluent Parents Pretending to be Poor

During the New Year's holiday, my parents once again left me alone at home to chase after their bonuses.

I felt sorry for them working overtime, so I took Christmas cookies to accompany them.

But my parents got out of the luxury car, hugged a boy of my age.

And went to a five-star hotel, talking and laughing.

"Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Vivienne alone at home?"

My mom casually replied, "It's fine, she's used to it."

My dad added dismissively, "She can't compare to you. You're our precious one!"

I turned and left.

They've been deceiving me by pretending to be poor.

This time, I don't care for their company either!

1

I returned home and dumped all the food on the table into the trash.

In the past, I definitely wouldn't have wasted it.

Ever since I could remember, I knew my family's financial situation wasn't good. All my food and clothing came from my parents' frugal saving. Even my clothes were rarely new.

Every season, my mom would bring home a bag of secondhand clothes. She'd try to convince me: "These are all worn by the older sisters of Mommy's coworkers. They've been washed clean, so we don't need to buy new ones."

I didn't know where she got those used clothes from. Throughout my childhood, I hardly ever wore anything new. I was always in ill-fitting hand-me-downs. My classmates would make fun of me, saying I looked like a ragpicker.

I could only throw myself into studying, thinking that one day, I'd be able to buy new clothes with my own efforts.

During holidays, I'd hand over all the cash gifts from relatives to my parents, just to ease their burden.

But who knew, they never had any financial pressure at all.

I checked, and that luxury car belongs to the wealthy Harrington Estate in the city. The young master of Harrington Estate once drove that car, parading around town with a celebrity actress.

I saw that gossip news too. The face of that rich young man was unmistakably the same as the boy I saw tonight. Turns out, I'm actually a wealthy heiress!I laughed to myself and sniffled, then went back to rummage through my parents' room.

I don't know if they were just careless, but they actually dared to leave the contract at home.

When I saw my dad's signature on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Mont Blanc pen tucked inside the document, my anxious heart finally sank.

I put everything back the way it was, silently returned to my room, and buried myself under the covers to sleep.

I just hoped that when I woke up, it would all be a dream.

Early the next morning, my parents were already busy in the kitchen.

Looking at the breakfast laid out on the table, I suddenly realized - who eats seafood porridge first thing in the morning?

This porridge tasted exactly like the seafood feast the professor treated us to last time.

I glanced at the garbage bag by the door, and sure enough.

"Mom, Dad, did our family strike it rich?"

I sat at the table watching them. My mom looked puzzled, "Vivienne, what are you talking about?"

"Then how can we afford such expensive seafood porridge?"

I pointed at the garbage bag by the door, and my mom's face instantly changed.

My dad chuckled beside her, "Oh that? I was working late with the boss last night and he got it packed up for me. I couldn't bring myself to eat it, so I brought it home."

"With our measly salaries, how could we afford seafood porridge!"Originally, that was it. I nodded, sipping my porridge while inwardly smirking. Seafood porridge, $58 a serving. Last night's dinner must have cost thousands!

If they were truly poor, I would have found this porridge delicious.

Now, it tasted like cardboard.

I only took two bites before getting up.

"I'm full."

"Vivienne, why did you eat so little? Are you feeling unwell?"

My mom looked worried, her concern for me seeming genuine.

I shook my head and smiled, "No, aren't we going to Grandpa's today? I'm saving room to eat something nice for lunch!"

Hearing this, my mom sighed in relief. My dad looked guilty and was about to say something when his phone rang.

I glanced at the screen, the contact name read "Precious Son Kael".

Kael was his precious son, so what was I?

My dad hurried to the balcony, with my mom following. I vaguely heard him saying something about being sensible and not letting me find out.

My heart turned ice cold. So, they knew all along and were in cahoots to keep me in the dark.

I even began to wonder if the world I lived in was like Truman's world.

Yet they seemed so real.