On New Year's Eve, my boyfriend of five years sent me a 40-dollar red envelope.

I accepted the red envelope, but his mother inexplicably sent me an 800-word essay accusing me of being materialistic.

After returning to his hometown with my boyfriend, I found out that he had spent 400 thousand dollars on his another girlfriend.

1

"Wendy, what are your plans for tonight?"

"Oh, why bother asking her? Wendy and her boyfriend have been dating for five years, of course they're going on a date!"

In the WhatsApp group, a few friends were discussing tonight's plans.

I forced a bitter smile.

Everyone thought that as someone like me who had a boyfriend, I would definitely go on a date on New Year's Eve.

Except for my boyfriend, Troy Shaw.

About a week ago, I had already hinted to Troy several times that I wanted to watch the fireworks with him on New Year's Eve.

Troy always used the excuse of being busy with work and having to work overtime to brush me off.

We had been in a relationship for five years, I naturally knew that he was a workaholic, so I didn't say much.

But when the clock struck midnight, I sat alone in the house we rented, feeling a bit disappointed as I saw sweet photos posted on other people's social media and heard fireworks exploding outside the window.

A few friends who care about the sense of ceremony sent me New Year's greetings at midnight. After replying to them, I opened the WhatsApp chat box with Troy.

The chat records made me feel a bit dazed.

In the past, we used to share everything with each other, even if it was just a beautiful cloud or a cute dog we saw on the way to work.

When did we stop having endless conversations?

I still sent a New Year's greeting to Troy first.

Troy didn't reply to me until the next morning at 10 o'clock.

[Baby, I worked overtime yesterday and slept at the office. Happy New Year!]

Troy sent me a red envelope.

I received it, there were 40 dollars inside.

After graduating for many years, we have long lost our youthfulness.

He earned 7000 thousand dollars a month, which was similar to me.

For us, such a 40-dollar red envelope was really like a joke.

But I didn't say anything, it was Troy who explained as if he was afraid that I would think too much.

[We need to save money to buy a house for marriage, so I won't give you more this time.]

Yes, we were already preparing for the wedding.

In Atlanta, the housing price was high, and we were not locals, nor did we have strong family support.

After saving for several years, we have only saved a little over 400 thousand dollars, just enough for a down payment on a small house.

I replied to Troy.

[I know, are you not coming back today?]

Troy didn't send a message until a long time later.

[Resting today, I'm going out with friends first.]

I didn't know what to say for a moment.

Troy rarely took a break, but he didn't mention anything about his breaking day. He choose to go shopping with friends.

This made me feel uneasy.

But Troy quickly dispelled my uneasiness.

[I'll bring you a small cake when I come home later.]

When I saw this message from him, I relaxed.

Maybe it's just me overthinking.

We all had our own friends, and no one had ever said that couples must always stick together.

But I didn't expect that Troy hadn't come back yet, and I received a short essay from his mother first.

After all, we had already been discussing our marriage. Troy and I had met each other's parents and added each other as friends.

When I received a message from Troy's mother, I was still thinking if there was something wrong. But when I saw the content, I couldn't help but frown.

[Wendy, Troy works hard to earn money. As a daughter-in-law of the Shaw family, you must learn to be thrifty and manage the household well.]

[There are many high-end things in the big city. It's just a New Year's Eve. You shouldn't buy and spend everything.]

[You know, as a woman working hard in Atlanta, if it weren't for Troy, it would be difficult for you to live this kind of quality life on your own, right?]

The entire screen was filled with this short essay, and every word and sentence was accusing me of spending too much money.

Being scolded for no reason, I felt a bit angry.

I had been with Troy for so many years, and I had long known that we had no support.

I lived with him in a narrow rental house and commuted by subway.

Although my monthly salary was considered top-notch in the company, I was not willing to buy expensive cosmetics, and I had never asked for gifts on holidays or anniversaries.

Even when preparing for the wedding, I only looked at the few wedding planning companies with the best cost performance.

I did these in order to buy a house that belonged to both of us as soon as possible.

What did I do wrong to make her scold me like this?

Just because Troy sent me 40-dollar red envelope?

But 40 dollars was not even one percent of my monthly salary.

I suddenly remembered a blogger I saw on a short video just now.

She asked her boyfriend to book the top floor of the tallest building in Atlanta just to watch a magnificent drone show.

After a trip, at least one or 400 thousand dollars was needed.

The comments section was full of self-proclaimed slaves joking.

I didn't have any emotions at that time.

But now, I still envied that girl a little.

If I had money, I probably wouldn't have to be called materialistic for receiving so little money now.

When Troy went home, I couldn't completely detach myself from my emotions.

Seeing me with red eyes, he frowned and put down the small cake in his hand.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

I threw my phone at him in anger.

"Take a look at what your mother said to me."

Troy took the phone and finished reading the chat records.

His expression was a bit ugly, as if he couldn't believe his mother would say such things.

"My mom..."

Troy sighed.

"Wendy, my family is in the countryside and the conditions are not good. My mom is used to being frugal, so she may speak inappropriately for a moment. I'm sorry."

With his explanation, I couldn't calm down at all. I just sneered, "What does it have to do with me, Troy, if your mom is used to being frugal? I just accepted a 40 dollars red envelope from you, that's all!"

"I dare not accept this red envelope anymore, I'll return it to you."

I had always had a mild temper, but Troy became a little flustered when he saw that I was really angry.

He held me in his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I made you suffer."

"I will talk to my mom, Wendy, can you please not be angry anymore?"

"Look, I brought you a small cake, your favorite strawberry cake."

It's one thing if he didn't say that, but when he said it, my grievances well up from the bottom of my heart.

I leaned on Troy's body and my tears fell heavily.

"Troy, I dare not eat the cake. How much have you spent on me over the years, you know about it."

Troy's body stiffened for a moment, and he reached out to stroke my back.

"Hmm, I know."

With my head lowered, I didn't see the complexity that flashed through his eyes.

After hugging Troy like this for a while, my emotions calmed down a lot, and I gave him a way out.

"Let me see the cake you bought."

Troy breathed a sigh of relief and handed me the cake as if he what he gave me was a treasure.

"Well, this shop is now very popular. I queued for half an afternoon to buy it."

The small cake was indeed exquisite.

When did Troy start to know about popular shops?

When I told him about these shops before, he never had any patience to listen to me.

Who could be the friend who went shopping with him?

My heart was in chaos.

Before going to bed at night, I habitually opened the short video app and saw the woman I saw last time."

Today's content was about her shopping with her boyfriend.

The man who didn't appear in the camera generously and readily bought various expensive cosmetics for her.

In the video, the woman with fair and smooth skin smiled brightly.

"Sisters, remember, as women, we should love ourselves more!"

I subconsciously touched my face.

Once upon a time, I was also the focus of attention in school.

I was good-looking and good at studying.

But at the last class reunion, they all said I had changed.

My skin was dull, and I was not willing to buy expensive clothes. Even though I was not yet thirty, I looked more and more like a shrewd aunt in the market.

I turned my head and looked at the soundly sleeping Troy beside me.

Compared to my dullness, time hadn't left too many traces on his face.

Of course, although we were saving money to buy a house, his investment in himself was far greater than mine.

I used to not care, but now, I couldn't help but reflect.

Was my choice really right?