Only Family

Listening to the fading sound of high heels, Eileen felt her breath quicken… she was almost suffocating, a strong sense of asphyxiation tightening around her chest.

But Eileen was already used to this.

She forced her willpower to suppress these thoughts, trying her best to fill her mind with happy things… though she could hardly find any, even the attempt itself was enough to calm her.

Give up on herself…

Heh, of course.

Eileen leaned against the corner wall and smiled with resignation.

Other than her face, she had nothing.

She had always relied on it to make money and survive. The day she lost her looks… she would just die.

There was nothing worth holding onto in this world — war, revolutions, coups, oppression, hunger, cold… all worse than her past life. Maybe after death, she’d even go back? As if waking from a dream.

But for now, she wanted to live on, a little longer…

Pulling herself up from the ground, Eileen took a deep breath and slowly headed toward the third floor… the orphanage was empty of other children now.

Most had gone to earn money; no one stayed here waiting to die.

Climbing the concrete stairs, she stopped before her door and pulled out a cold brass key with worn edges…

The door opened.

A stronger stench of mold and dust poured out.

The room was tiny, barely ten square meters.

The only window was a narrow vent-like slit high in the wall, no larger than a gun port.

The light that slipped in was pitiful, leaving most of the room in shadow.

The walls were bare, rough cement, the corners covered in irregular dark patches of damp mold, like spreading maps of fungus.

The floor was cold concrete, only covered in the middle with a worn, faded rug.

Still, there was a table, a bed, a mirror, a lamp, and a wardrobe. Surviving here wasn’t impossible.

Riebe would still provide food, still tidy the bed, the bed…

Huh?

Someone was in her bed?

The lamp was off, the room dark, but Eileen could see a figure clinging tightly to her pillow, as if asleep.

Click.

Her face cold, Eileen chambered a round in her pistol but didn’t switch off the safety.

Who? Who was in her room? If someone had dared rummage through her things and stolen her money, she would fight them to the death!

“Eileen… Eileen…”

Just as she approached with her gun raised, she heard strange, sticky, almost sobbing breaths.

The figure on the bed clutched her blanket and pillow with arms and legs, gasping greedily for air.

Shit… no way.

Roshakaya?

Her sister? Was she crying?

“Roshakaya?”

Eileen cautiously called out. The figure on the bed froze as if struck by lightning.

After a long pause, she turned slowly, staring at Eileen, who had already lowered her gun.

“Sis!”

The moment she saw Eileen, the small figure lunged forward, clinging to her like a sloth to a tree.

A tiny golden silhouette — short golden hair, green eyes.

Eileen already thought herself small, but her younger sister was even more petite.

This was her sister. Probably blood-related… Eileen never understood why their hair and eye colors were different, but she didn’t want to ask.

This was her only family, her only reliance in this world.

And she was Roshakaya’s only reliance too.

Roshakaya’s personality was gloomy and timid.

Eileen wasn’t surprised; growing up here and not turning insane was already a victory.

This character was at least manageable.

As an orphan, she too had to pay fees, but Eileen had taken full responsibility for them.

That was why she had to pay so much money… but it was worth it. With Roshakaya’s abilities, she would otherwise be sold off for sure.

“I’m here, don’t worry about me.”

Eileen’s voice softened unusually, and she reached out to wipe the tears from her sister’s face… She had been gone three or four days, unconscious for a long time.

It was natural Roshakaya was worried.

“I… I thought I lost you… stupid sister…”

Her voice broke with sobs, fragmented and trembling, making Eileen’s heart ache. This little one must have been terrified.

“I won’t leave… not until you find a home. Be good, sis has to make money now, so let go.”

Eileen struggled gently, finally loosening Roshakaya’s desperate grip.

But the girl immediately stood by the bed, obediently watching as Eileen pried open the iron box hidden in the wall and began counting money.

Sigh… last month’s savings weren’t enough. Only four thousand left, just barely enough for next month’s debt. Nothing left for anything else.

Turning back, she saw Roshakaya nervously tidying the bed.

Startled by Eileen’s gaze, she almost jumped, but when she saw her sister open another hidden box, she bit her lip and whispered:

“Sis… is there no money left?”

“No. I can earn more. Don’t worry. How’s your studying?”

Roshakaya was a good student. Eileen was too — she hadn’t wasted her years of learning — but her money-making left her less than top-tier. Still, she truly hoped her sister could someday escape this hell through study.

“Sis, don’t change the subject. It’s been days since the break started… is there no money left? I still have some…”

Without hesitation, she pulled out a pouch and produced a wad of bills — about a thousand yuan. Since she didn’t pay debts herself, she still had plenty. She usually made money selling drinks at a stall.

“I don’t want it. Use that money to make friends, buy some nice clothes, good food. Look how skinny you’ve gotten… How’s the game console? Should I get you a new one?”

Eileen smiled as she refused. This child… this was why she loved her.

But she had the ability to earn money herself, and with her tools, her chances were better.

“No… but you must take it. If you don’t, I’ll feel awful…”

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Eileen softened, stroked her head, and accepted the money.

“What do you want to eat? Sis will buy it for you. If you need anything, just tell me.”

Maybe she’d buy her a new game console.

Roshakaya was a gaming otaku, like Eileen herself… though she couldn’t play for long, she could at least share.

“No need, sis. Go do your work… I’ll wash your blankets…”

Since earlier, Eileen had noticed her sister’s nervousness.

She now clutched the blanket tightly, refusing to let go, hurrying to leave.

Strange… but Eileen didn’t think much of it. She only smiled, nodded, and walked out with the money.

Five thousand one hundred yuan… enough to buy quite a bit.

But with her savings gone, she needed to find a profitable place first, save up for a batch of equipment, and then return to what she did best…

Scavenging.