The moment the exam bell screamed, my admission ticket vanished. In the pouring rain, the help my mother offered me was, unbelievably, my twin sister’s ID! “Use her identity for the exam!” She pleaded, her words—laced with the supposed unbreakable bond of family—tightening around my throat. Five years of my life’s dedication instantly became a mere stepping stone for my sister! In the heavy rain, an icy chill pierced me to the bone! But this time, I wouldn’t be a pawn in their game any longer. If they wanted to steal my future, then with this stolen identity, I would personally lift them to the highest heights. And then… watch them shatter into a million pieces. 1 The admission bell for the National Board Exam for Licensed Architects echoed sharply through the torrential rain. I stood under the eaves outside the exam hall, body numb with cold. My heart, however, felt like it was being roasted over an open flame, so anxious it threatened to explode. Both my exam permit and ID card were gone! Just completely vanished! That clear file folder, holding five years of my relentless effort and countless sleepless nights, had disappeared into thin air. I frantically rummaged through every pocket on my person, but came up empty. Rainwater dripped from my hair, mixing with the tears blurring my vision. “Don’t panic, don’t panic…” I mumbled to myself, my hands trembling as I borrowed a phone from a kind student nearby and dialed my mom’s number. On the other end, my mom’s voice sounded even more panicked than mine: “What? It’s gone? Aurora! How could you lose something so important… Wait there, I’ll bring it right over!” Hanging up, I stared at the bright red countdown clock by the exam hall entrance: 3:00 PM. Only fifteen minutes left until the exam ended. I studied architecture. This exam would determine the trajectory of my entire professional career. For it, I’d turned down every project at my company, locked myself in my room for a whole year, sketching drawings that piled higher than I was tall. A taxi suddenly tore through the rain curtain, screeching to a halt at the roadside. My mom rushed out, heedless of her appearance, her hair plastered to her face in wet strands. She clutched a file folder tightly to her chest, as if protecting a priceless treasure. “Aurora, hurry! Take it!” She shoved the folder into my hands, panting. I was so grateful I almost cried. But when I shakily opened the folder and pulled out the exam permit and ID card, my entire body froze. The person in the photo had a face identical to mine. But the name was Celeste. My twin sister, Celeste. “Mom… you made a mistake, this is Celeste’s.” My voice was as dry as sandpaper. My mom’s eyes flickered for a second, then she quickly pulled me aside to a more secluded corner. Her voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with an undeniable plea: “Aurora, there’s no time left, just use Celeste’s identity to go in and take the exam.” I stared at her in disbelief: “What did you say?” “Your sister…” My mom’s eyes instantly welled up, “Her heart condition has worsened again. The doctor said she can’t handle any more stress, she needs complete rest, and more importantly… hope. She registered too, but with her health, how could she possibly endure such a high-pressure exam?” The rain was heavy, but every word my mom spoke felt like a poison-tipped needle, accurately piercing my heart. “Aurora, just help your mother, help your sister. Your grades are always so good; you can definitely pass if you retake it next year. But Celeste is different. She needs this certification to prove herself, it’s her motivation to live!” Parents and students sheltering from the rain nearby vaguely overheard our conversation, casting sympathetic glances our way. Someone even whispered in admiration: “What a wonderful mother, such deep sisterly love.” Sisterly love? An icy chill shot from my feet straight to the top of my head. My whole life, whatever Celeste wanted, I had to give up. She liked my new dress, and my mom would say: “Celeste isn’t well, wearing something pretty will lift her spirits, just let her have it.” She admired a painting I’d won an award for, and my mom would say: “It’s just a painting, let your sister hang it by her bed, it’ll bring more life to her room, don’t be so petty.” Now, even my entire professional future, which I’d gambled everything on, had to be given to her. Because she wasn’t well. That reason, like a shackles, had bound me for twenty-five years. “Mom, this is the exam I’ve been preparing for five years.” I practically squeezed the words out through gritted teeth. “I know, I know you’re upset.” My mom gripped my arm tightly, her nails almost digging into my flesh: “But your sister… she might not have another five years! Can’t you sacrifice just this once for her?” “Ding—” The final admission bell rang. My mom abruptly pushed me, propelling me towards the exam hall entrance: “Quick, go in! Aurora, I beg you! Your mother is begging you!” Mr. Harrison, the invigilator, glanced at “Celeste” on the admission ticket, then looked up at me. We were identical twins; we looked exactly alike. He didn’t suspect a thing, waving me inside. I numbly walked into the exam hall, sat in “Celeste’s” assigned seat, my mind a complete blank. My future, my life, in that moment, had been stolen by my own mother’s hand. The moment the exam-ending bell rang, I was practically the first person to rush out of the hall. The rain had stopped, and the sky was a dull gray, matching my mood. I borrowed a phone again and called my mom, wanting to ask her where she had put my admission ticket. The call connected, but the other end was noisy. My mom’s voice was light, as if a huge burden had been lifted: “Oh, Aurora, are you done with the exam? I’m with Celeste at the hospital right now; she said she felt a bit of chest tightness, so I rushed her here. You can just take a taxi home yourself, okay.” The call was abruptly cut off. I stood alone in the empty plaza, feeling like a joke abandoned by the whole world. I hailed a taxi and rushed home. The moment I pushed open the door, a wave of eerie silence washed over me. Celeste’s bedroom door was slightly ajar. I walked over and saw her leaning weakly against the headboard. She was holding an architecture atlas, her face as pale as paper. My exam permit and ID card lay quietly on her desk, next to her almost untouched study materials. Seeing me, she flinched, her eyes filled with fear and a hint of almost imperceptible triumph: “Sister… you’re back.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” I stared at her, my voice trembling with fury, “This was *my* exam!” “I… I was scared…” She bit her lower lip, wronged tears instantly welling up, “Sister, I didn’t mean to, Mom… she said… she said this was the best gift for me…” Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Mom. I thought it would be a greeting, even a fake one. But the screen starkly displayed a line of text: “Aurora, was the exam hard? How did you do? Make sure Celeste passes, this is her only hope for the rest of her life.” Her only hope… I looked at my phone screen, then at my sister on the bed, feigning vulnerability, and suddenly I laughed. One of them planned, the other enjoyed. What did they take me for? A tool to fulfill their wishes? What about *my* hope? Who would fulfill *my* hope? I clutched my phone, my knuckles turning white from the force. A crazy idea, for the first time, sprouted in my mind. You want “Celeste” to pass the exam? Fine. I’ll grant your wish. 2 I decided to grant their wish. Back home, I didn’t cry, nor did I throw a tantrum. I simply walked calmly into Celeste’s room, retrieved my exam permit and ID card, and put them back in my wallet. My composure seemed to scare them more than any hysteria could. Celeste struggled to sit up from the bed, timidly tugging at my sleeve: “Sister, don’t be angry…” My mom also came in, cautiously observing my expression: “Aurora, Mom knows you’re upset. But think about your sister, she…” “Stop.” I cut her off, my gaze slowly moving from her face to Celeste’s. “You want me to take the exam using your identity? Fine.” I saw a spark of surprise simultaneously erupt in their eyes. “But,” I changed my tone, my voice as cold as a surgeon’s scalpel, “From today onwards, neither of you is to ever mention those three words to me again: ‘Celeste isn’t well.’ I don’t want to hear it.” Celeste’s face turned pale. My mom immediately nodded repeatedly: “Alright, alright, we won’t mention it. Aurora, you really are Mom’s good daughter!” She moved to hug me, but I instinctively sidestepped. The hug missed, and my mom’s arms hung awkwardly in mid-air. I didn’t look at them again, turning and returning to my room, closing the door. Outside the door, I heard my mom let out a long sigh of relief, followed by her hushed words of comfort to Celeste: “There, there, it’s okay, your sister agreed. Celeste, now your life has hope.” I leaned against the cold door, smiling silently. Yes, Celeste’s life had hope. Hope bought with my future. For the next two months, I became a precise studying machine. I meticulously re-organized everything I had learned in five years: all my painstaking notes, every rejected drawing, every summarized exam point. I wasn’t doing it for myself, but to give “Celeste” an impeccable, perfect score. I wanted the name “Celeste” to become a legendary overnight sensation in the architectural design world. A perfect lie, built with my flesh and talent. The day results were announced, my mom was even more nervous than I was, refreshing the computer screen again and again. When the words “Celeste, Total Score 288, National Top Scorer” popped up, my mom was so excited she almost fainted on the spot. 288 was the highest score ever recorded in this National Board Exam for Licensed Architects. She hugged Celeste, crying and laughing, and the phone at home immediately started ringing off the hook with congratulations from relatives and friends. Celeste became the pride of our family, and even the entire extended family. And I, Aurora, because I hadn’t taken the exam, had a blank space in my results column. I became a deserter who abandoned the exam, a dim shadow under my sister’s dazzling halo. No one asked me why I didn’t take it. They were all too busy fawning over Celeste, the lucky one crowned “genius prodigy.” At the celebratory family dinner, my mom, her face beaming with pride, boasted to everyone: “Our Celeste, you know, she’s been talented since childhood, and her health isn’t good, we were always worried about her, but who would’ve thought, this child is so remarkable! She just went and got national first place!” Celeste nestled beside her, displaying a shy yet graceful smile. Occasionally, she would cast a complex look my way, containing guilt, boastfulness, and a hint of condescending pity. I felt like an outsider, coldly observing this celebration meticulously planned for me, yet not belonging to me. The red wine in my glass tasted like bitter blood. September arrived in a flash, and Celeste was off to Northwood University – the country’s most prestigious architecture school. Of course, using my achievements and her name. In the VIP lounge at the airport, my mom kept fussing over Celeste: “Northwood City can be chilly, did you pack enough clothes? Make sure you take your heart medication on time, and never push yourself too hard, okay?” She turned, finally remembering me, but her tone was like instructing a servant: “Aurora, what are you standing there for? Go buy your sister a hot drink, her stomach is sensitive, she can’t drink cold things.” I nodded, turning without a word. Just as I was heading towards the coffee bar near the lounge entrance, a clear, somewhat uncertain voice sounded behind me. “Aurora?” My footsteps froze in place, as if nailed to the ground, and all the blood in my body instantly turned to ice. That voice… I stiffly turned around, seeing a face I would never forget. Liam Thorne. He was dressed in a well-tailored casual suit, dragging a minimalist suitcase, standing not far away. His handsome brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes filled with surprise and confusion. He had been the star student during our university days, and my only true rival. We had competed in our major for four years; from design drawings to models, every time we were neck and neck, impossible to tell who was better. He was the person who knew my abilities best. He had also taken this exam. Why was he here? Liam’s gaze swept past me, landing on the group behind me. Celeste, like a princess, surrounded by my mom and several relatives. He heard the excited conversations of the relatives. “Celeste is such a genius! National top scorer for the architect’s exam!” “Yes, and she’s off to Northwood University now, unlimited future!” Liam’s eyes snapped back, focusing on me once more. The surprise and confusion in his gaze instantly deepened into a more profound scrutiny and suspicion. That look seemed to ask: Aurora, the national top scorer they’re talking about is your twin sister? What about you? With your abilities, how could you not have won anything? What in the world was going on? 3 Liam’s eyes were like two sharp probes, trying to peel back my calm facade and peer into the truth that had already festered within. I couldn’t let him see it. “Long time no see, Liam.” I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice as light and natural as possible, “Are you going to Northwood City too?” “Yeah, my company has a project there.” He nodded, but his gaze didn’t leave my face. That scrutiny made me feel like I was under intense observation. “Aurora, I checked the exam results; your name wasn’t there. Did you… drop out?” This question, like a bullet, accurately hit my weak spot. I lowered my eyes, avoiding his overly sharp gaze, and mumbled a vague “Mm.” “Something came up, so I couldn’t make it.” “Is that so?” Liam’s tone carried a hint of imperceptible doubt, “I thought this year’s top scorer was going to be you, without a doubt.” My heart gave a violent lurch. “Sister, who are you talking to?” Celeste’s voice cut in at just the right moment. She swayed over, naturally linked her arm through mine. She gave Liam a sweet, harmless smile: “Hello, I’m Aurora’s sister, Celeste.” Liam’s gaze swept back and forth between my identical face and Celeste’s, his brow furrowing deeper. “Hello, Liam Thorne. Your sister’s college classmate.” He introduced himself simply, but his gaze returned to Celeste, carrying a professional scrutiny, “I hear you’re this year’s national top scorer?” “Y-yes… that’s right.” Celeste’s smile stiffened slightly, and she instinctively tried to hide behind me, “Just lucky.” “Lucky?” Liam chuckled softly, his laugh carrying a hint of mockery, “Miss Celeste, are you also an architecture student? Which university did you graduate from, if I may ask?” At that question, Celeste’s face instantly went white. She had studied nursing in college. Because of her heart condition, my mom had said it was an easy major, convenient for taking care of others, and for being taken care of. Her knowledge of architecture was limited to looking at a few pretty atlases; she didn’t even understand basic architectural mechanics. My mom immediately sensed her daughter’s predicament and quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “Oh my, sir, why are you asking so many questions? Our Celeste has always been smart since she was little, isn’t it alright if she’s self-taught? We’re about to board, so let’s not chat anymore, alright?” With that, she pulled Celeste, almost fleeing towards the boarding gate. Before she was pulled away, Celeste glanced back at Liam, her eyes extremely complex. There was panic, embarrassment, and even a trace of… imperceptible admiration. My heart sank. Only Liam and I were left in the waiting room, and the atmosphere instantly turned heavy. “Aurora,” Liam stepped forward, closing the distance between us, his voice low, carrying an unquestionable dominance, “Tell me, what’s going on?” I was cornered, my back against the cold glass wall. “Nothing, it’s just as you see it.” I turned my face away, not daring to meet his eyes. “As I see it?” Liam suddenly scoffed, “You expect me to believe that the Aurora I’ve known for four years—the one who would go three days and three nights without sleep for a single model, who had every code and diagram memorized backward and forward like a maniac—would hand over the national top score to a sister who’d spout nonsense like ‘self-taught genius’?” Every word he spoke felt like a heavy hammer, pounding on my heart. He knew, after all. “Aurora, look at me.” He cupped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, “I know a bit about your family situation. Are you in financial trouble? If so, I can help you. You don’t have to sacrifice your future for it.” His eyes were so sincere, with a hint of urgency I’d never seen before. For a moment, I almost broke down, wanting to tell him all my grievances and frustrations. But reason ultimately triumphed over impulse. What good would telling him do? Let him pity me? Feel sorry for me? Or would it make him expose this lie, turning my family and me into an utter joke? I took a deep breath, pushed him away forcefully, my eyes hardening into a cold, distant gaze once more. “Liam, this is my family’s business, it has nothing to do with you.” He stumbled back a step, his eyes filled with disbelief. I didn’t give him a chance to question further, turning and walking away. “Aurora!” He called out behind me, “If you ever need help, you can always find me. But if you dare use your talent to do something against your conscience, to uphold a lie, I will never let you off the hook!” My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn back. I was afraid if I did, all my pretense would disappear. Leaving the airport, I walked aimlessly through the streets like a lost soul. Having sent Celeste and my mom off, for the first time, I didn’t want to go home. My phone rang. It was Mrs. Davis, my landlady. “Aurora, when are you coming back to move your stuff out? The new tenant is moving in this afternoon.” I was stunned: “Mrs. Davis, what are you talking about? Didn’t we just pay the rent?” “Pay what?!” Mrs. Davis’s voice was loud, “Your mom came by this morning, got a refund for the remaining rent, and said she wasn’t renting anymore, that she was going to Northwood City to accompany your sister for school and wouldn’t be coming back! She also said all your things weren’t needed and told me to dispose of them as I saw fit!” *Boom!* I felt like my entire world had exploded around my ears. Not coming back? All my things weren’t needed? I had been abandoned. After I personally put them on that plane, sending them towards a bright future paved with *my* efforts, they ruthlessly cut off all my escape routes. They wouldn’t even leave me a home. I hung up the phone, standing on the bustling street, and suddenly felt a dizzying wave of lightheadedness. Just then, a black Bentley slowly pulled up in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Liam’s sharply defined face. His eyes looked at me with a complex expression, as if he already knew everything. He spoke softly, his voice quiet, yet it struck me like a thunderclap. “Aurora, get in. I just acquired the design firm where you interned. From today on, I’m your new boss.” 4 I stood there dumbfounded, staring at the familiar yet strange face in the Bentley, my brain completely overwhelmed by the information overload. Liam… acquired the design firm where I interned? He became my new boss? This was even more surreal than the landlady telling me I’d been kicked out. “Get in.” Liam’s voice was devoid of emotion, yet carried an undeniable command. I mechanically pulled open the car door and got in. The warm air conditioning and the scent of premium leather enveloped me, creating a stark contrast with my terrible predicament. I felt like a clown who had stumbled into high society. The car moved forward smoothly. Liam didn’t ask why I was standing in the street, nor did he mention what had happened at the airport. He just focused on driving, the lines of his profile appearing somewhat rigid in the city’s flowing lights and shadows. “Where to?” He finally spoke. “I…” Only then did I remember, I had nowhere to go. The place I had lived for over twenty years had completely expelled me. Seeing that I couldn’t speak for a while, Liam seemed to understand. He didn’t press further, but drove the car into the underground garage of a high-end apartment complex. “Stay here for now.” He handed me an access card, “Building 3, Apartment 1801. The password is your birthday. It’s a company-provided apartment for director-level employees, and it’s currently vacant.” I clutched the cold card, feeling as if I were holding a hot iron. “I can’t…” “Why not?” He cut me off, turning his head, his dark, deep eyes looking straight into mine. “Aurora, put away your pathetic pride. You don’t even have a place to live right now. What position are you in to bargain with me?” His words were like knives, accurately piercing my most vulnerable spot. “What do you want?” I looked up, meeting his gaze. I didn’t believe in selfless kindness in this world, especially from Liam. He quirked his lips, revealing a meaningful smile: “Simple. I need you to complete a project for me, one… that only you can complete.” “What project?” ” ‘The Palace on the Clouds.’ ” At these words, my pupils suddenly contracted. “The Palace on the Clouds” was the most anticipated architectural project in the country for the past decade, located at the city’s highest point, touted as creating a sky garden suspended among the clouds. The project was extremely difficult, with almost苛刻 requirements for designers. Even when I was an intern, I’d heard that countless top domestic and international designers wanted to win it, but ultimately failed because their proposals couldn’t meet the investors’ demands. The investor had only one requirement: it had to be stunning, disruptive, and create an unprecedented marvel. “This project… didn’t it stall a long time ago?” I murmured. “That’s because they hadn’t found the right person.” Liam’s gaze was fervent, “And now, I have.” He looked at me, saying each word distinctly: “Aurora, I know you harbor a true ‘Palace on the Clouds’ in your heart. Your university graduation project, which your professors deemed ‘too idealistic to be realized,’ I still keep it to this day. Now, I want you to make it a reality.” My heart skipped a beat. That graduation project was the starting point of all my dreams, and the culmination of all my talent. I had named it “Floating Light,” a truly integrated aerial building. Everyone at the time said I was a whimsical dreamer, but only Liam, after the defense, said to me: “Your idea is very bold, but in the future, it might not be impossible to achieve.” I hadn’t expected him to remember. “Why me?” I asked. “Because the current investor for this project is the Dean Emeritus of Northwood University’s Architecture School.” Liam slowly uttered the last crucial piece of information, “And your sister, ‘Celeste,’ with the title of national top scorer, has already become his most favored student.” I understood instantly. He wasn’t helping me; he was using me. He wanted to use my design to challenge Celeste, who was basking in my glory. He wanted to tear apart this massive lie on the most authoritative stage. It was an open conspiracy. He was certain I would agree because I wanted to prove myself more than anyone. “Fine.” I took the access card, my nails digging deeply into my palm, “I agree. But I also have a condition.” “Speak.” “The designer for this project must be credited as Aurora.” I looked at him, my eyes firm, “I want everyone to know who designed ‘The Palace on the Clouds.’ ” Liam smiled, a hint of approval in his expression: “Deal.” Over the next month, I moved into the apartment Liam had arranged for me. It was a large, flat apartment with a spectacular view, huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city’s twinkling lights. Even when my mom suddenly called, I barely paid attention. I locked myself in the studio, drawing and building models day and night. I painstakingly refined the raw “Floating Light” proposal from my student days, making it more mature, more breathtaking. Liam gave me maximum authority and support; his company’s resources were mine to command. He often came over late at night, staying up with me until dawn to discuss the plans. It was as if we were back in university, two equally obsessed individuals working together towards a common goal. I almost forgot about my mom and Celeste, until late one night, an unknown number called. The moment I answered, my mom’s hysterical cries came through the receiver: “Aurora! You need to come to Northwood City right away! Your sister is in trouble!” My heart sank. “What happened to her? A heart attack?” “No!” My mom’s voice was filled with terror and despair, “She… she assaulted someone at school! She broke a male student’s leg! Now they’re pressing charges, and the school wants to expel her! She… she’s run away, no one can find her! Aurora, please, help me find her! If anything happens to her, I won’t live either!” I held the phone, feeling a wave of absurdity. Celeste? That delicate girl who couldn’t even twist open a bottle cap and would get winded after just a few steps? She broke someone’s bone? How was that even possible? Before I could think it through, Liam’s call came in, his voice unusually grave. “Aurora, something’s happened.” “The design proposal for ‘The Palace on the Clouds’ has been leaked.” 5 Two pieces of news, like two bombs detonating simultaneously, sent huge waves through my mind. Celeste had assaulted someone and run away. The design proposal for “The Palace on the Clouds” had been leaked. Could these two things be a coincidence? I forced myself to calm down, my brain working at lightning speed. “Liam,” my voice was unusually calm, “Who was the proposal leaked to?” Liam on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, then uttered a name I hadn’t expected: “Northwood University’s Architecture School, Celeste.” Of course! I closed my eyes, and everything clicked into place. My mom hadn’t simply come to see me. Celeste hadn’t assaulted anyone and run away; she had taken my design proposal to curry favor! She knew her own capabilities, knew she couldn’t fool the Dean Emeritus. So she stole my proposal, hoping to use this perfect blueprint to solidify her “genius prodigy” reputation and strengthen her standing with the Dean. As for the supposed “male student with a broken leg,” that was likely just a charade she cooked up to lure me to Northwood City, with my mom playing along! What a perfect lie. That mother and daughter duo truly had lying etched into their very bones. “Where are you? I’ll come to you.” Liam’s voice pulled me back from my furious thoughts. “No need.” I opened my eyes, my gaze cold, “I know what I need to do.” Hanging up, I immediately booked the earliest flight to Northwood City. I didn’t tell my mom, nor did I contact Celeste. If you two like to act, then I’ll make this play even more spectacular. Two hours later, dragging my suitcase, I stood beneath the grand archway of Northwood University’s Architecture School. I didn’t look for Celeste, but went directly to the Academic Affairs Office. “Excuse me, Professor, my name is Aurora. I’m Celeste’s twin sister. My sister suddenly went missing this morning, and I can’t reach her on the phone. I’m very worried about her. Could you please help me check her class schedule for today?” I fabricated a plausible reason, a perfectly timed worried expression on my face. The responsible professor, seeing my face which was identical to the one in the student records, had no suspicion. He quickly pulled up Celeste’s timetable. “…3 PM this afternoon, in Building C, Room 301, is the Dean Emeritus’s public lecture.” That’s it! I thanked the professor, checked the time – 2:45 PM. Perfect timing. I arrived at Building C, and from a distance, I could see a crowd gathered at the entrance of the lecture hall, Room 30
Clearly, the Dean Emeritus’s public lecture was extremely popular. I didn’t rush in, but found a corner and dialed my mom’s number. The phone was answered almost immediately. “Aurora! Where are you? Have you found Celeste?” My mom’s voice was still filled with urgent anxiety. “Mom,” I lowered my voice, my tone tinged with tears and panic, “I just got to the university. I heard the place where Celeste had trouble was Building C. I’m scared to go alone, can you please come with me?” “Okay, okay, okay! Don’t be afraid, I’ll be there right away! Wait for me at the entrance of Building C!” My mom agreed without thinking. Hanging up, I looked at my phone screen, a cold smile curving on my lips. The bait had been cast. Now, it was time to reel them in. I entered Room 301. The massive tiered lecture hall was packed. On the podium, an energetic, stately elderly man was speaking; he must have been the Dean Emeritus. And in the very center of the first row sat my dear sister, Celeste. She was wearing a tasteful white dress today, with delicate makeup. She was listening attentively to the lecture, occasionally exchanging a few words with the Dean beside her. She looked every bit the brilliant, highly esteemed student. On the table in front of her, conspicuously displayed, was a roll of blueprints. It was “The Palace on the Clouds,” the design I had poured countless sleepless nights and all my heart and soul into. I found a seat in the back row, near the door, and waited quietly. As the public lecture drew to a close, the Dean smiled at Celeste, his voice full of admiration: “…Finally, let’s give a warm round of applause to our most outstanding freshman this year, the national top scorer of the architect’s exam, Celeste Sterling, as she presents her brand new conceptual design for ‘The Palace on the Clouds’ project!” Thunderous applause erupted, and all eyes focused on Celeste. Celeste stood up, a confident and proud smile on her face. She walked to the podium, ready to unfurl the blueprints that belonged to me. Just then, the back door of the classroom was violently pushed open. My mom rushed in, breathless, her face still streaked with fresh tears. She spotted Celeste on the podium at once and cried out: “Celeste! You… you didn’t run away? What are you doing here!” The entire room instantly fell silent, everyone staring in confusion at the woman who had suddenly burst in. Celeste’s smile instantly froze. She looked at my mom in horror, her face turning ashen: “Mom? You… why are you here?” My mom also froze. She looked at Celeste on stage, then instinctively scanned the crowd for me. I slowly rose from the back row, meeting the bewildered gazes of everyone, and walked, step by step, towards the podium. I walked up to Celeste, and under her terrified gaze, took the blueprints from her hands. Then, I turned to face the bewildered Dean and hundreds of teachers and students below. And I showed them a smile identical to Celeste’s, yet a hundred times brighter. “Hello everyone, my name is Aurora, and I am Celeste’s twin sister.” My voice, amplified by the microphone, clearly resonated throughout the entire classroom. “I apologize for the interruption. My sister is not feeling well today and seems a bit disoriented, so the following presentation of the proposal will be delivered by me, the true designer of these blueprints.” ###截断点 6 My voice wasn’t loud, but it detonated like a depth charge in the silent classroom. Everyone’s gaze flitted between me, Celeste, and my mom. Their faces were etched with shock, confusion, and scrutiny. Celeste’s face, in an instant, went from white to green, then to a deathly gray. Her lips trembled; she couldn’t utter a single word, her body swaying precariously. My mom finally realized she’d been tricked by me. She rushed forward, trying to snatch the blueprints from my hand. She babbled incoherently, trying to explain: “No… it’s not true! Dean, professors, don’t listen to her nonsense! She… she’s my older daughter, she’s jealous of her sister’s success, she’s lost her mind!” “Lost her mind?” I sneered, unfurling the blueprints across the podium. The exquisite design was instantly revealed to everyone. “Then I must ask my dear mother, how could someone who’s ‘lost her mind’ design this ‘Palace on the Clouds’?” I ignored them and turned to face the Dean, calmly beginning my presentation. “I’ve named this design ‘Floating Light,’ inspired by mirages. My core concept is to utilize the latest photosensitive suspended materials and holographic projection technology to create a dynamic building that truly integrates with the clouds and light, an architectural wonder…” I didn’t refer to any notes; all the structures, data, and material parameters were already etched into my mind. From design philosophy to structural mechanics, from material application to ecological cycles, I spoke flawlessly. That inherent confidence and professionalism, ingrained in my very being, was something Celeste could never imitate. The entire classroom was silent; everyone was captivated by the architectural marvel I described. The Dean’s eyes, from initial confusion, gradually turned to astonishment, and finally to undisguised admiration and excitement. As for Celeste, she stood aside, like a clown stripped of her fine garments, utterly mortified. My mom collapsed onto the floor, her face ashen. When the presentation ended, the applause was ten times more enthusiastic than before. The Dean walked up, gripped my hand tightly, and said excitedly: “Aurora! You are the true genius! This is precisely the design I’ve dreamed of! I announce that the ‘Palace on the Clouds’ project will be entirely under your charge!” Just then, Celeste, who had been silent, suddenly let out a piercing scream. She stared intently at me, her eyes filled with venom and madness: “Aurora! Why are you destroying me! I worked so hard… everything I worked so hard to get! It’s all you! You ruined me!” With that, she suddenly lunged at me like a madwoman, trying to tear up the blueprints on the table. I instinctively protected the blueprints, pushing her away. She stumbled back a few steps, then suddenly clutched her chest, her face contorted in extreme pain. Then she fell straight backward. “Celeste!” My mom screamed, scrambling to her daughter. The scene instantly descended into chaos. An ambulance arrived, sirens wailing, taking Celeste and my mom away. I stood on the chaotic podium, clutching the blueprints that had vindicated me, but felt no joy of victory. Instead, I was gripped by an unsettling premonition. I saw Celeste’s eyes clearly the moment she fell. Her gaze wasn’t one of pain from a sudden heart attack, but more like… triumph. By the time everything was handled, it was late at night. Liam drove to pick me up. The Dean personally escorted me to the campus gate, repeatedly urging me to rest well and not rush the project. Getting into the car, Liam handed me a bottle of warm water. “Well done.” He said simply. I leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes tiredly: “I just have a feeling things aren’t that simple.” “Are you saying your sister faked it?” “I don’t know.” I shook my head, “But my gut tells me she has another trick up her sleeve.” No sooner had I spoken than my phone rang. It was the hospital. A cold, formal voice came through the receiver: “Is this Celeste’s next of kin? The patient suffered acute heart failure, and after resuscitation efforts failed, she was pronounced deceased five minutes ago.” Deceased? I held the phone, completely stunned. How could… how could this be? Wasn’t she faking it? Liam saw the change in my expression, immediately pulled the car to the side of the road, Took the phone from my hand, and after listening for a few moments, his face also instantly darkened. “Aurora,” He hung up the phone, looking at me, his tone unusually serious, “Your sister is dead. And, the police just received a report. The caller is your mother, and she’s accusing you… of deliberately pushing and provoking Celeste during the public lecture, leading to her heart attack and death.” “She… she’s accusing me?” I looked at Liam in disbelief, a chill shooting from my feet straight to the top of my head. My mom, she was actually going to accuse me of killing her daughter? “That’s not all.” Liam’s face grew even uglier, “At the exact same time your sister was pronounced dead, Northwood University’s Dean Emeritus’s computer was hacked. An identical copy of ‘The Palace on the Clouds’ design proposal you submitted was sent, via anonymous email, to all the bidders for the project.” I was completely dumbfounded. Celeste was dead. My mom was accusing me of murder. My design proposal had been leaked to all my competitors. All of this, had happened within a few short hours. One linked to the next, each move deadly. I finally understood what Celeste’s triumphant gaze meant when she fell. She used her death to engineer a conspiracy against me. She wanted to ruin my reputation, leave me with nothing, and even… send me to prison. How ruthless. Truly ruthless. I looked at the city lights outside the car window, feeling utterly cold. Could someone who was already dead really lay such an intricate trap? Or was there another mastermind, hidden behind her, pulling the strings?
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