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Han Tao's simple words pierced through Zhu Suosuo's layers of pretense of strength.

She abruptly raised her head, her eyes instantly reddening slightly. She forced a smile, but her voice was uncontrollably hoarse.

"Brother Han, thank you. Over the years, very few people have been able to see through my unhappiness at a glance."

Everyone thinks I'm outgoing, eloquent, and get along well wherever I go; it seems like no trouble in the world can stump me.

She paused here, a bitter smile on her face, "But only I know in my heart that ever since my mother abandoned us when I was eight years old, I have never had a home that truly belongs to me."

My father was a seaman who was often at sea, so I was rarely seen throughout the year. In the end, I had to be fostered by my uncle.

My aunt was remarried and had a cousin who wasn't related to me by blood. In that family, I was always an unwanted outsider.

Even though my father sends back the full amount of living expenses every month, enough to cover the daily expenses of my uncle and aunt's family, I am still an outsider in her eyes.

All the drawers in the house are locked. I always have to wait for Luo Jiaming to pick out the dishes before I eat. I start doing the laundry and washing the dishes as soon as I rinse the water. I have more years of service than the average restaurant dishwasher.

The sleeping area was just a small cubicle partitioned off from the balcony. There was no air conditioning in the room, so it was drafty in winter and stuffy like a sauna in summer.

When my older cousin got into trouble as a child, my aunt would never bother to find out the truth and would always blame me for everything. I didn't even have the right to speak up.

At this point, Zhu Suosuo took another big bite of bread, but the sweetness couldn't suppress the bittersweet feeling welling up inside her:

"So, over the years, I've long since learned to read people's faces and to say nice things that everyone wants to hear."

I try my best to please everyone around me, just because I don't want to endure those open and covert cold looks anymore. I'm doing everything I can to seize any opportunity for stability.

My biggest wish is to have a small space that is completely my own, so I don't have to live under someone else's roof anymore, and I don't have to live cautiously, always having to watch other people's faces.

Han Tao listened quietly, truly being a qualified listener, without interrupting, offering opinions, or echoing anything.

Time passed slowly, and Zhu Suosuo talked for a long time, as if she wanted to express all the grievances in her heart.

Suddenly, she sighed, turned her head to look at Han Tao beside her, who had a calm and gentle demeanor, her eyes filled with undisguised envy.

"You are different from all of us. Nan Sun has a grandmother who favors boys over girls and is never recognized at home. I don't even have my own room."

You have a decent and stable job, and you can acquire a detached villa on Fuxing Road without relying on anyone's help. You never need to depend on others or deliberately please anyone.

I've seen too many rich kids who live off their family's wealth, and I've also seen many ordinary working people whose lives are predictable and unchanging.

But I've never met a man as independent as Brother Han, who relies on himself for everything.

Han Tao listened quietly to her entire heartfelt story, without offering any empty or tedious words of comfort. He simply nodded gently and said sincerely, "Suo Suo, I can completely empathize with your anxiety."

  

People who have been wandering alone for too long never crave great wealth and status, but rather a place to settle down where they don't have to live a life of constant displacement.

In the two years following my parents' passing, I also experienced the feeling of being helpless and alone. I can somewhat understand the fear and longing in your heart.

In his previous life, Han Tao worked in college admissions and career planning for fifteen years. He had seen countless graduates like Zhu Suosuo who lacked a sense of security due to their families of origin.

Many of them are young people who want to rely on marriage and their partner to get a stable life, and they already have a mature and objective way of thinking about how to guide them.

"But there is one thing you must understand: never place all your hopes for a stable home on someone else."

He spoke calmly and logically, explaining the road ahead to her: "You are quick-witted, good at dealing with people, and have many advantages that ordinary people do not possess."

To own your own little home, the first step is never to find a well-off place to rely on, but rather to achieve physical independence.

Zhu Suosuo paused slightly upon hearing this, then looked up at him blankly: "Physical independence, what do you mean?"

"Literally, it means independence at the physical level." Han Tao nodded slightly, patiently explaining.

"There's no need to force yourself to buy the whole house right away. Let's start by moving out of my uncle's house, even if it's just sharing a place with someone else."

Having a room that is entirely your own means you can close the door and not have to worry about your aunt's attitude.

Of course, you don't need to cater to your cousin's habits. Having your own private space is the first step towards independence.

"Then find a job that suits you, save your salary steadily, plan your savings slowly, and gradually build up your financial security for your little home."

Only by achieving economic and lifestyle independence can you avoid making hasty decisions and stop constantly relying on others for security.

His words struck Zhu Suosuo like a thunderbolt, piercing through the point she had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding for years.

For so many years, she has been deeply convinced that the only shortcut for girls from the lower classes to escape the fate of being dependent on others is to rely on marriage and men.

No one had ever told her as calmly and objectively as Han Tao that she had the confidence to stand on her own two feet.

"Rely on my own to rent a place and save money through work?" Zhu Suosuo repeated, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

"I've already tried. I've been working odd jobs since graduation. But with a regular bachelor's degree and no specialized skills, it's impossible to find a high-paying, stable job."

Therefore, I can only do basic positions like clerical or sales. Renting a decent apartment on my own in Shanghai would be very difficult.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning, but take it slow. Sharing the rent with a roommate will greatly reduce the pressure. The key is to take the step of leaving your uncle's house."

Han Tao smiled faintly, "Only when you move out and live alone will you truly understand how easy it is to live without having to worry about other people's opinions."

Remember, it doesn't matter if you don't have a high level of education, a good background, or anyone to support you, because failure itself will accompany us throughout our lives.

Or rather, success is forged from a great deal of disappointment; this is unavoidable and inescapable.

We all came empty-handed, so what are we afraid of losing? We must believe that until the very end, the outcome is uncertain, and we could all be dark horses.

Zhu Suosuo pondered these words carefully, and suddenly understood. She didn't think it was some kind of motivational platitude, nor was it empty or false comfort.

Han Tao is a prime example. He didn't have a good family background either, but he still achieved his current success through his own efforts.

Moreover, she didn't want to be seen by Han Tao as a woman who only wanted to depend on rich people and live a stable life.

She wanted Han Tao to respect her and wanted to stand on her own two feet instead of relying on others to support her.