The aroma of the noodle soup was mouthwatering, and the vor was even richer than its scent promised. Just a single sip of the broth was enough to make it impossible to stop.


    In no time at all, Nita had polished off the entire bowl.


    Even after finishing, she still felt unsatisfied, wishing there was more.


    "That was delicious," Nita sighed, halfughing. "Looks like someone like me is only meant to eat cheap food."


    She set down her spoon and continued, "Honestly, I never liked sushi. I just can''t stand raw food. There was this one time at a department dinner, we went to this all-you-can-eat ce. I saw a long line and figured it must be good, so I joined in. Turned out, all I got was three slices of salmon sashimi."


    "I took one bite—it was just like eating raw fat. And that wasabi? The taste shot straight up my nose, made me feel like I was going to die right then and there. After that, I just couldn''t eat the rest. I wrapped the other two pieces in a napkin and threw them away when no one was looking."


    "I really don''t get why people love sushi so much. But that''s just my opinion."


    Effie patted Nita''s hand gently. "You don''t have to force yourself to fit in just because other people like something."


    Nita gave a soft "mm" of agreement, then looked down at her empty bowl. "But... what about families you don''t like? Can you just... not belong to them?"


    Effie sensed there was more to Nita''s words than just food. She wrapped her arms around Nita and rubbed her back, soothing her. "We don''t get to choose our parents. But now that we''re grown, we do get to choose the life we want to live."


    "Take my dad, for example. He''s a real piece of work. Every time I see him, I curse him out and tell him to stay far away. I''m not letting him mess with my life anymore."


    Nita looked at Effie and managed a small smile. Sometimes she really envied Effie; at least when someone like Shepard turned out to be a terrible father, Effie could just refuse to acknowledge him.


    But her parents weren''t quite the same. They did their duty as parents-they never abandoned her, never mistreated her, even though she was a girl. They gave her money, sent her to college.


    She studied hard, won schrships, stopped asking them for money, even managed to send some back home.


    She used to think she was lucky, that her life was different from other girls in her vige.


    But one day, she overheard her parents whispering. That was when she realized: in their eyes, she was nothing but a cash machine.


    They were leeches, determined to squeeze everyst drop of value out of her.


    She remembered them saying how fortunate they were to have a daughter, because her little brother''s wedding, the new house, the renovations, even their own retirement—all of it would be paid for with her money.


    Nita''s voice was quiet as she spoke. "Today, my mom called just to yell at me. She said I had no right to criticize my brother in public. Then she told me they used the money I sent home to build a new house-two and a half stories. The first floor is the living room, dining room, and a bedroom for my parents. The second floor is for my brother and his future wife."


    Talking about it made Nita''s chest feel tight.


    "I was actually happy at first," she went on. "I asked my mom, what about my room? I figured if there wasn''t one for me on the first or second floor, maybe that little half-story up top would be mine. But she just told me I didn''t have a room. Because I''m a girl, and I''ll get married and leave, so there''s no need to give me a ce in the house at all."


    Nita looked up at Effie, tears stinging her eyes. "Effie, do you think girls ever really have a home when they grow up?"