My name is Hao Siyu. On this day, I was playing computer games in my university dorm room while my roommate, Chen Li, was doing a facial mask. Sometimes, I would get surprised when I looked back at her. It was a pretty relaxed life.
I had been playing games almost all night, and at that moment, I started feeling a bit tired. Suddenly, I remembered something important and quickly grabbed my phone to check my account.
"…Um?"
The balance in the account was only two digits, which made me scream in confusion.
"What's wrong, Siyu?" Chen Li asked, her voice muffled by the facial mask.
"I feel like there's a problem with my bank account," I said, feeling anxious. I checked my bank card, Alipay, and WeChat accounts, but there was no money transferred.
I started to panic. I called my parents right away, realizing something was wrong.
"Dad, why didn't I get my allowance today like usual? You always send it early on the 10th of each month," I asked, trying to sound calm but feeling anxious.
My dad's voice sounded tired and worn out, more so than mine. It seemed like he was the one who stayed up late, not me. The stress of low funds and asking for money from my family had kept me wide awake.
"Siyu, your mom and I talked about it, and we've chosen to stop giving you money for living expenses" my dad said slowly.
They really cut off my money!
I got scared and woke up a bit more.
"…Dad, you want your son to die."
"You are obviously a daughter, right?"
I couldn't help but smile bitterly when I heard this because I am indeed a girl, but I always wear boys' clothes, and my daily routine, personality, and behavior are the same as those of a boy. My friends once joked that even if I were thrown into an all-boys school, people would think that I was more delicate than ordinary boys and would not look out of place at all, so they gave me the nickname tomboy.
My parents had never corrected me before, but today they reminded me. They were likely going to talk to me about something important, and I felt worried.
"Dad, this is not funny. How will I live without money?"
"I'm not saying we can't help, but you need to do three things for me," my father answered.
I felt better and thought that if I could do these three things, it wouldn't be hard with my brains. I was sure I wouldn't go hungry. But my confidence was gone when my dad said the three things that I need to do.
"The first thing." He said" Is to get a boyfriend."
I blinked, feeling my stomach drop. "A boyfriend?" I stammered.
He then added. "The second task is to score an A in your upcoming college exam."
"Da!" I gasped, feeling even more anxious. "An A?" I repeated, my voice trembling.
"And the third thing." He concluded"Is to have perfect attendance."
My heart raced. "Dad, do you want me dead?" I cried out in despair.
Just hearing these requests made me want to hide away. "Let's not discuss this further!" I defended, trying to sound calm. "The next university exam is in two weeks, and I've been present every day, so the perfect attendance prize is guaranteed. But it's only awarded at the end of the semester, in two months.I'll be dead in two months! Before I can get my allowance."
My father remained unmoved by my protest. "Why rush? Listen to me. For each of these tasks you accomplish, we'll provide one month's allowance. If you finish them all, we'll reinstate your regular allowance. You're an adult now. It's time to think about the future, not just about playing games!"
I let out a big sigh. "Dad, universities these days are different. Love is like an optional subject, and sleep is a must-have. Who still takes these things so seriously?" My parents' traditional beliefs annoyed me greatly. Before I could continue, the phone suddenly disconnected with a click. "Hello? Dad? You still there?" I yelled into the phone, feeling my heart race. But there was no answer, just the cold, relentless dial tone.
I called right away, but my calls went to voicemail. Frustrated and worried, I tried again and again, but they kept ignoring me.
Feeling hopeless, I covered my face and let out a long, tired sigh. I didn't know how to do any of these things. Each task felt as hard as climbing a huge mountain for someone like me. It seemed like everything was going wrong.
Feeling hopeless, I went back to my room and crashed into Chen Li, my roommate, with a sad face. I pushed too hard, and we both ended up on the floor in a tangle. I didn't even say sorry. I cried out, "Chen Li, please help me find a way out!"
Chen Li, my close friend, was a source of peace in my busy life. She was very pretty and caught the eye of many boys. Whenever she strolled on campus, she was surrounded by admirers. However, she turned them all down, regardless of their looks. Some girls, envious, spread rumors that she and I were more than friends due to my boyish look. In truth, she was practical, not interested in college guys without good earning potential or promising futures.
At that moment, Chen Li was wearing her headphones and carefully putting on makeup that I couldn't even identify. Lost in her beauty routine, she didn't notice my distress. When I accidentally bumped into her, her face reddened, and she frowned in annoyance. "Hey, can you stand up first? If someone sees us like this, we're in trouble."
Feeling a mix of shame and urgency, I stopped crying and released Chen Li. She gave me a stern look, clearly irritated. "Next time you crash into me like a headless chicken, don't blame me for falling out with you. And do you realize it's not good for someone's heart to be tackled like that? You're as heavy as a sumo wrestler!"
I nodded enthusiastically, holding up three fingers as a promise. "I'll be more cautious next time, but please don't criticize me personally. I know I'm not as attractive as you, but I feel pretty good-looking in this outfit. Do I really look that bad? Does it bother you?"
Chen Li rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Your insecurity is not my main concern. The issue is that you look too good in men's clothes. It's awkward. Sometimes you make my heart flutter, but if rumors spread, how will I face others on campus?"
Her words hurt a bit, but I knew she was partly kidding. Chen Li was always straightforward. Biting her lips and frowning a bit, she asked, "So, spill it. Why were you freaking out and bawling like that?"
She understood I was emotionally tough, so if I was that upset, it meant something major had occurred. "My family stopped supporting me financially!" I blurted out in a voice of desperation.
Chen Li looked at me, surprised. "...That doesn't sound like a big issue," she said calmly.
"You! Are you pushing it too much? This is a life-or-death situation for me!" I gestured towards Chen Li, feeling frustrated.
Chen Li raised her hands in a calming gesture. "Relax. Start from the beginning," she said.
I took a breath and explain the phone conversation with my dad and the unreasonable request he had made to reinstate my allowance. I explained the first task of finding a boyfriend, the second of scoring an A on my upcoming exam, and the third of earning a perfect attendance award. Throughout my story, Chen Li attentively listened, her expression changing from curiosity to understanding.
"Got it." Chen Li replied after I explained everything. "It's not fair for you to handle this on your own."
I agreed, feeling a bit relieved. "Yes, you see how tough it is, don't you?"
Chen Li was well-off compared to me. Her allowance for a week exceeded the monthly earnings of some families. Seeking survival advice from her was like expecting a fish to climb a tree. Yet, she was my closest friend, and I wished she could provide some help.
"I just need a little help with one thing," I begged. "Could you introduce me to a guy or two who can act as my boyfriend? It doesn't have to be real."
Chen Li sighed, giving me a sympathetic yet frustrated look. "I understand you're not well-versed in romance. Despite being in college, you still spend most of your time playing games. Your love life looks uncertain. But requesting 'one or two' boyfriends? Are you aiming to cheat or build a harem?"