Author: Momo Chan

When I learned that the high school student I was sponsoring was the future villain of the story, he knocked on my door. I opened it to see a nervous boy carrying a bag of local specialties from the mountains, his eyes bright with hope. Rows of comments floated across my vision: [Is this the future human trafficker villain in the book?] [Tsk tsk, the mad dog in his domestic phase.] [Just wait until he becomes successful; he’ll be the biggest stumbling block for the male and female leads.] [The villain will seek his own death and end up being destroyed by the male lead, leaving nothing but ashes.] I paused, instinctively taking two steps back. Liam’s eyes dimmed, revealing a bitter smile. “Sorry, I just wanted to come and thank you, Miss Carter.” He put down the fertilizer sack he was using as a bag and turned to leave. I frowned and called out to him, “Wait!” 1 Liam froze, slowly turning around. He kept his head down, not looking at me, his voice low and hoarse. “Is there anything else you need me to do, Miss Carter?” I asked him, “You’re leaving just like that?” Liam nodded. “School is on summer break, and I just wanted to see you. Now that I have, it’s time to go back.” Comments floated by: [The villain is actually kinda pitiful. If he could keep this loyal dog persona, he’d definitely be a top-tier character!] [Seriously, bro? You took a motorcycle from the village to town, a bus from town to the county seat, another bus to the city transit center, then a subway to the train station, and endured a 13-hour hard seat ride to New York, just to give your sponsor a bag of local produce?] [This produce is what the villain got in exchange for helping an old lady in the village with farm work. How did such a good seedling grow crooked?] [I really feel for the villain now. God knows how many eye rolls and disdain he suffered carrying that fertilizer sack on the way here!] My throat tightened. Looking at his sweat-streaked face, I couldn’t help but say, “Never mind. Come in and cool off for a bit.” Liam was clearly reluctant, stepping back a few paces. “My… my shoes are a bit dirty.” I looked down. His white sneakers, washed until the fabric was fuzzy, were grey with dust. But it was clear they had been scrubbed clean by their owner many times. I didn’t say anything, just pointed at the fertilizer sack. “Help me carry that in. I have slippers for you.” Liam looked up sharply, stunned. I took out a new pair of slippers for him. “Put these on.” Liam put down the produce and stood awkwardly in the living room. I poured him a cold drink and smiled, “Sit on the sofa. What are you standing there for?” Liam gave me a forced smile. He seemed terrified, as if afraid of dirtying my sofa. I asked about his studies, finally diverting his attention. As soon as studies were mentioned, Liam visibly relaxed. His grades were excellent. He was top of his class at the best high school in his county. I listened quietly, suddenly feeling that this boy was nothing like what the comments described. His eyes were very dark and bright, hiding a resilient strength. That was clearly a hope for the future, a desire to make something of himself. How could a kid like this become the kind of person who would bleed for a woman, as the comments claimed? 2 After he finished, I asked him, “What are your plans for the summer?” Liam paused, scratching his head a little sheepishly. “I plan to do some practice problems, preview the next semester’s content…” [The villain really has a talent for lying from a young age. He was clearly planning to tutor someone else.] [Don’t delay the SATs, big bro! Even if you’re a villain, the obsession with college entrance exams is carved into our bones!] [Ten dollars an hour? Even slave labor isn’t this cheap, right?] [And that parent has a terrible temper and is hard to talk to. If their kid’s grades don’t improve, they scold the villain. The villain suffers endless eye rolls and ridicule, and his heart starts to twist!] [Upstairs, he has no choice. The villain only wants to spend the sponsor sister’s money on his studies; he insists on earning his own living expenses.] I interrupted Liam’s lie. Choosing my words carefully, I asked, “My friend’s bookstore is hiring. If you’re willing…” Before I could finish, an anxious look appeared on Liam’s face. “Is it a very important friend? Can I really help?” My probing words got stuck in my throat. Staring at the boy’s overly handsome face for a few seconds, I slowly nodded. “Can you watch the store for her? I’ll pay you 100 a day.” Before Liam could speak, the comments exploded. [What is this sponsor sister doing? If the villain doesn’t go through those hardships, how will he become that paranoid, gloomy business tycoon later?] [Exactly! If the villain doesn’t go back to tutor the rich kid in the city, how will he accidentally meet the female lead who is traveling there?!] My heart moved slightly. Suffering has never been a necessity for success. If possible, who wouldn’t want to walk in the sunlight? As for the female lead mentioned in the comments… If she would only bring pain to Liam. Then what meaning did their meeting have? Why should Liam, with such a bright future, become the touchstone for the main couple’s love? Liam nervously picked at the seam of his jeans, “I… I haven’t done this before. I’m afraid I won’t do a good job…” I smiled at him and patted his shoulder encouragingly. “It’s okay. There’s always a first time for everything. I believe in you.” Liam was a little stunned. His droopy puppy eyes suddenly widened. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something. But he was interrupted by the sudden sound of the door opening. “Cousin! I had a huge fight with my mom!” The comments suddenly started scrolling. [Great! The female lead is here!] [Oh ho! Turns out the sponsor sister is the female lead’s cousin!] 3 Female lead? Who? My cousin? I looked up at Chloe at the door, a flash of surprise on my face. But I quickly understood. Chloe is my aunt’s daughter. Her parents are loving, and the Su family has been in business for generations—a standard wealthy family. She has a naive and straightforward personality, holding a natural kindness towards everyone and everything. Looking at it this way, she really is the standard configuration for a novel’s female lead. [Damn it! Our male lead is still on his way, why did the villain meet her so early?] [It’s okay. When the female lead goes abroad to study, the Su family will face a crisis, and the female lead can get engaged to the male lead!] [The main couple marries first and loves later, falling for each other without knowing it. Luckily, the villain became a business upstart by then, appearing beside the female lead to make the male lead feel threatened.] Me: ? Wait— According to the comments. The Su family’s company is operating well; how could a crisis suddenly appear? Liam is already successful and famous. How can he still be a part of the main couple’s play?? In the blink of an eye, Chloe had already walked up to me. “Sis, I want to go to an ancient town in the Southwest to sketch, but my mom just won’t agree. You have to persuade her!” After saying that, she realized there was someone else in the living room. Chloe paused, holding my hand: “Oh, we have a guest.” I came back to my senses and introduced, “This is Liam, the student I’m sponsoring.” Turning to Liam, I said, “This is my cousin, Chloe.” They greeted each other. I watched helplessly as Liam’s gaze stayed on Chloe’s face. Then it traveled down, fixing on our joined hands. The comments were excited: [Who can resist the aura of the little sunshine female lead!] [Haha, the villain must be lovestruck already.] [The place the female lead wants to go is where she meets the male lead, right? So the plot is advancing ahead of schedule.] [Oh my god, sponsor sister, quickly separate the female lead and the villain! Our female lead baby belongs to the male lead!] I frowned slightly in discomfort. Afraid Liam would feel uncomfortable, I told Chloe to wait for me in the study upstairs. After she left, I looked at Liam: “Since I asked you to stay, you can live here. There are many guest rooms on the third floor; pick one.” Liam gazed at me and slowly nodded. “I’ll listen to you, Miss Carter.” After settling Liam, I immediately went to the second-floor study. Listening to Chloe chatter about the causes and consequences, I finally understood. It turned out she went sketching to put together a portfolio to apply to prestigious art schools abroad. Superior family background, prestigious school degree. It seemed indeed to be a good path. I nodded, “I’ll help you persuade Auntie.” Before leaving, Chloe asked me: “Sis, you’re a college student. Why sponsor a high school student?” 4 Choosing to sponsor Liam was a coincidence. I am a person with very low material desires. Just started college, my mom gave me fifty thousand dollars a month for pocket money. Accidentally scrolled onto a post seeking sponsorship. Found many children from impoverished areas leaving messages in the comments. I felt at the time that money sitting in my card was just a dead object; better to use it for something more meaningful. I left a sentence in the comments section, stating I could sponsor. Nearly a thousand people messaged me privately. Liam was just one of them. I started sponsoring 30 students. Later I found out that only a very small number of them were truly poor. So 30 people were reduced to 18. Liam was still among them. But I only had a very shallow impression of him. We truly became familiar because after he finished his high school entrance exams, he got first place in the county and received a scholarship of a thousand dollars. He transferred all that thousand to me. [Miss Carter, I know this money isn’t much, but I earned it myself. Could you please accept it?] It was from that moment that I noticed this orphan child. Destitute but proud. Insecure yet resilient. Every holiday, I would receive his greetings on time. For the money sent every month, he would also be meticulous, sending me a breakdown of expenses. But what he sent more often were his grades, ranking first in his grade every time. I checked the high school Liam attended. It was a key county school. Although the teaching resources were limited, it was a solid good school. The competitive pressure was immense, making the first place in the grade even more rare. I told Chloe all this. She was a bit surprised, murmuring: “…So that’s how it is.” Chloe changed the subject. “But just because of that, you let him live in your house?” I paused. Outside the window, the sun was bright, and the cicadas were loud. For no reason, I thought of Liam carrying his schoolbag and the fertilizer sack. And then I thought of the comments saying Liam would do anything for Chloe, becoming crazy and demonic. I exhaled heavily. I don’t know if I was saying it to myself or to Chloe. “Maybe, it’s because I feel he shouldn’t have that ending.”

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My stepbrother has split personalities. During the day, he’s the epitome of a gentleman. At night, he’s dangerously intimate. One night, when the distance between us was negative, his primary personality suddenly woke up. Seeing my body covered in bite marks, his eyes widened in disbelief. “Shawn?” he called out hesitantly. But the lust in his voice was like a wildfire, paralyzing him with fear. The gentle, clear-headed brother who wouldn’t bear to say a harsh word to me in daily life… He had no idea that the person bullying me most ruthlessly was him. 01 While heating milk, I stared blankly at the bubbling foam. Caleb’s arm reached over my head to grab cereal from the top shelf. He’s my stepfather’s son, but after our parents passed away, it was just the two of us. “Good morning, Shawn,” he said nonchalantly, picking at the wet ends of my hair. “Back from your morning run?” “Yeah, just showered.” I stared at him unblinkingly, not wanting to miss a single micro-expression. Caleb smiled refreshingly as usual. “Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?” I looked away in disappointment. “No.” He really didn’t remember. I pulled my collar up to cover the red marks on my collarbone, even though Caleb hadn’t noticed them at all. I turned off the stove, and the bubbles burst mercilessly. Just like my fantasies. 02 Before leaving, I tied Caleb’s tie in the entryway. He lowered his eyes, seemingly deep in thought. “Shawn, something’s on your mind.” It was a statement. “Worried about my group project,” I paused, making up a random excuse. Of course, Caleb could tell I was lying. He ruffled my hair. “If you need my help, just ask.” I stepped back subtly, brushing his hand away. “I have to go.” “Be safe. See you tonight.” Caleb’s smile didn’t change. But in my blind spot, his hand quietly clenched into a fist. 03 I stayed in the library until midnight, deliberately taking my time packing my bag. When I got home, Caleb wasn’t back yet. My heart felt empty, but also relieved. Not having to try so hard to hide things from him made me relax. But before I could sit down, there was a racket outside the door. Supporting Caleb was a despairing-looking Ryan. “Phew! Is this ridiculous or what? Knows he’s a lightweight but still drinks like a fish? When your brother wakes up, tell him to pay me overtime.” He pushed Caleb onto me like throwing a sandbag and rotated his wrist. “But seeing our little Shawn after so long isn’t a loss.” Ryan tried to pat my shoulder, but was blocked by the drunk Caleb. “Don’t touch him!” Caleb leaned into my arms, his fierce expression like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Then he hugged my waist tight, giggling foolishly. “Mine.” As if showing off. My heart tightened. Afraid Ryan would notice something strange, I turned away to hide my burning ears and let Caleb lean on the sofa. “Thanks for bringing my brother home.” “Something definitely happened between you two,” Ryan propped his chin up, looking ready for a show. “Caleb, this kid, really knows how to act. Usually, he doesn’t touch a drop of alcohol just to be your model brother. Do you have any idea why he insisted on getting drunk today?” The reason… I knew all too well. But I couldn’t say. 04 After sending Ryan off, I looked distressingly at Caleb, who had somehow ended up lying on the sofa. “Bro, go sleep in your room.” He was sleeping soundly, defenseless, cheeks flushed, wearing a happy smile, dreaming of who knows what. Like a ghost possessing me, I reached out my fingertips to trace his brow and eyes in the air. But my wrist was suddenly grabbed. “Come here, Shawn.” Caleb’s eyes curved into crescents. “Come closer to me.” Such a sweet command, I couldn’t refuse. But the next moment, a smooth touch sobered me up. Caleb bound my hands tight, using the tie I had tied for him that morning. Then he patted my cheek with his palm. “So easy to trick.” “Bro?” Guessing a certain possibility, my voice was unconsciously tinged with terror. “Shh, your brother is asleep.” The cruel angel in front of me revealed a triumphant smile. “The one playing with you now is me.” To others, his words might be as incomprehensible as the Oracle of Delphi. But I knew this was the signal that the monster lurking within Caleb had awakened. “Let go.” I felt my heart pounding wildly, like a pigeon struggling desperately, longing to break out of its cage. He turned a deaf ear, straddling my legs, unhurriedly unbuttoning my shirt. “Shawn, Bro’s hands are so cold. Warm them up for me.” “Don’t talk like my brother!” “Strange, how did it become me and him? I’m the primary personality. The hypocrite you see during the day is the fake.” I couldn’t bear it anymore. “Shut up!” My brother could never have such a vile personality. I finally struggled free from the tie, grabbing the hair of the person groping me and yanking his head up. But just as I was about to punch, he lifted his face, a look of victory. “If you hurt me, how will you explain it to your brother?” An instant spell that made my fist soft. Seeing me close my eyes in defeat, Caleb sneered lowly. “Stop pretending to be a gentleman. You’ve fantasized about this too.” The shame and embarrassment of being pried into overwhelmed me. “Nonsense.” My rebuttal lacked confidence. My body suddenly felt light. Opening my eyes, I saw him kneeling on the floor, pressing down my knees, deftly undoing my belt. I panicked and tried to dodge, but he caught me first. Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Running away?” He picked up the tie I had just thrown aside. “If you don’t like your hands tied, let me tie somewhere else.” 05 He tortured me. Tortured me with waves of pleasure. When I clung to his shoulders, my brain was battered by the waves of desire. The spark of reason was too weak, easily extinguished. Somewhere bound by the tie throbbed painfully, as if a wound-up toy soldier inside was desperately spinning and beating a drum, persistently shouting: “Release me! Release me now!!” Caleb’s satin-like hair swayed rhythmically in front of me, carrying a certain lyrical quality, like willow in early spring. I wanted to touch it, but as soon as I reached out, the motion was shattered. Hot steam rose around us, fogging up the originally clear windows. In the reflection, two intertwined figures became hazy. Whether I begged for mercy, cursed, or bit him fiercely in anger, he remained unmoved. He would only wait until I was crying hard, then cup my face and kiss me teasingly. Entangled with Caleb to the death, as if tomorrow would never come. 06 I woke up with a start. I only calmed down when I realized I was in my own room. Checking my body, I gritted my teeth in anger. Psycho! He didn’t stop even after I passed out last night. At least he had the conscience to clean me up and send me back to my room. Otherwise, waking up in Caleb’s bed would have been another terrifying scene. While I was still scared, Caleb poked his head in from the door. “Breakfast is ready, Shawn.” Wearing an apron, he was back to being that gentle brother. The domineering and paranoid man from a few hours ago had vanished without a trace. “Okay.” Rubbing my sore waist, I sorrowfully confirmed one thing again: Daytime Caleb doesn’t remember a thing about the night. 07 After the torment of the previous night, I couldn’t act as if nothing happened and tie Caleb’s tie, so he could only go to work wearing a crooked tie. One day, two days, three days. I allowed myself to deliberately delay the time for mental preparation. Caleb couldn’t figure out the reason. He was a bit sad but wouldn’t force me, just waiting eagerly at the entryway every day. When I looked back after fleeing out the door, his expression was like a puppy sunbathing happily at the door, only to have its food bowl kicked over for no reason. Quite pitiful. “Wait, Shawn, did I make you angry?” He chased after me uneasily and took my hand. “You’ve been so cold lately, and you always come home late.” Coming home late was to avoid him. But I couldn’t tell the truth. “Don’t overthink it, I’m not mad at you, Bro,” my gaze drifted. “Just a bit busy lately. Group project requires a lot of research.” I’ve never been good at lying. Caleb knew this about me. Lies are the tombstones of trust. Once suspicion starts, it becomes endless. An irreparable rift appeared between Caleb and me. Trying to fill it with clumsy lies was as fanciful as trying to sew a canyon shut with a needle and thread. “Shawn has secrets he can’t tell Bro now.” He listened quietly to my defense, a bitter smile curving his lips. “I shouldn’t interfere too much. I’m sorry.” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. I didn’t want to see him look so lonely… Guilt and shame were turning me into a bitter lemon. 08 Night fell. Caleb opened my bedroom door with the spare key. He skillfully climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. Inciting kisses fell like fine rain on my neck. I weakly blocked his lips. “I’m not in the mood… What are you doing?!” Rustling sounds. Caleb crawled under the covers, conducting a secret and sinful exploration on his own. “Please, don’t do this with my brother’s face.” I pushed him in panic but failed to intercept. “Don’t you like it?” He spoke slurringly. “Haa, stop.” My voice trembled along with my legs. Attempts to push him away only backfired. Caleb let out a muffled laugh and lifted my waist high. The visual impact was too intense. “Ah, slower, a bit slower.” I gripped the sheets tightly. Before reaching the peak of pleasure, my brain went blank for a moment, my body like a taut string. The player, however, didn’t intend to let me go. The rhythm of plucking became more urgent. “Move away!” Tears of bliss blurred my vision. Caleb straightened up, fluids sliding down his jaw. He licked the corner of his lips nonchalantly. “Your brother got wronged, so you vent on me? Wayward enough.” That nasty smile again. “Then it’s only fair I do as I please too.” With that, he lifted me onto his lap. “Shawn, Bro is so sad,” he said while moving, the corners of his eyes red with excitement. “Come comfort Bro.” “Wait! I just…” He didn’t give me a chance to finish. The world was smashed into pieces again.

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I lost a bet with my colleague. She demanded that I use the boss’s photo as my profile picture for a day. I pleaded and bargained it down to one hour, gritting my teeth as I changed it. Who knew that an hour later, the boss’s profile picture suddenly changed to my photo? “…” I fell silent. 1 “Alright, that’s it for today’s meeting.” As the department head walked out of the conference room, my colleagues immediately checked their phones for the time. “Dragged on for exactly 27 minutes. Who was closest?” My colleague, Jessica, stood up excitedly, raising her hand. “Me! Me! I guessed 27 minutes!” Instantly, all eyes in the room turned to her. We had just made a bet. Knowing our department head was notorious for talking nonsense and dragging things out, we secretly bet on a meeting originally scheduled to end in 45 minutes. Betting on how long he would drag it out. Clearly, Jessica won. Her gaze swept over us, and she suddenly grinned. “Jessica, have mercy!” “Jess, you know we’re besties.” Colleagues pleaded with her one by one. I, however, found it hard to speak up. Because my relationship with her… was a bit awkward. There was a project before that Jessica really wanted, but the department head gave it to me. She probably thought I fought for it behind her back. Since then, I could feel a subtle malice from Jessica towards me. Jessica put her hands on her hips, pointing at us one by one: “You, bring me breakfast for a week!” “You, be my sidekick for a day!” “You—” At this moment, Jessica was like a queen holding the power of life and death. The colleagues she pointed at were either happy or worried. Soon, it was my turn. Sensing Jessica’s gaze land on me, I felt inexplicably nervous. She chuckled lightly and said: “You, use Mr. H’s photo as your profile picture for a day!” I looked up, staring at her in disbelief. Before I could argue, colleagues were already speaking up for me: “That’s too much, isn’t it? It could easily cost her job.” “Yeah, with Mr. H’s personality, who dares to mess with him?” “Maybe change the punishment?” Jessica was dissatisfied: “We agreed to accept the loss. Why change it when it comes to Sarah?” I pursed my lips and begged her: “Can we change it to something else?” She was resolute: “No.” She looked at me: “Changing a profile picture is so easy. I’m not asking you to do anything else. Don’t push your luck, okay?” “…” Changing a profile picture is indeed easy. But the key is that the photo I have to use is of the company’s big boss, Mr. H, aka Julian Harrison. He is also the boss you least want to mess with. As my colleagues said, it could easily cost me my job. Is this called pushing my luck? I wanted to beg for mercy, but Jessica added: “Besides, Mr. H doesn’t know you. Do you have him as a friend on WeChat? Maybe after a day, not many people will even notice you changed your profile picture… just for fun.” Her last three words were directed at the other colleagues. Clearly, Jessica’s argument convinced some people. “True, Sarah doesn’t have Mr. H added.” “Only a few people here have added Mr. H, but isn’t the danger of this matter exactly because he is Mr. H?” “But Mr. H is so busy, he won’t have time to care about this kind of thing, right?” Jessica agreed: “Exactly, so Sarah, you can change it with confidence.” I was still hesitating. The point of my hesitation was that I not only had Julian as a friend. I even had a marriage certificate with Julian. 2 Julian and I are indeed married. Although it was a flash marriage with no emotional foundation, we chatted almost every day. He would ask me routinely: what time I get off work, if I want a ride, what I want for dinner… topics like that. This meant. If I used his photo as my profile picture for a day, he would definitely know. Maybe he would overthink it. Suspecting I was hinting at something. I really didn’t want to add unnecessary emotional color to this pure relationship, so I was very hesitant. Jessica frowned and said critically: “If you can’t afford to play, you shouldn’t have agreed to bet with us in the beginning.” “You can’t say that. At first, we just said it was a game!” “Yeah, involving the big boss, anyone would be cautious, right?” “But there’s no need to be cautious about this. Mr. H doesn’t know who Sarah is.” “But what if? What if this reaches Mr. H’s ears?” Arguments arose around us. I took the opportunity to pick up my phone and send a message to Julian: [What are you doing?] Julian replied instantly: [Preparing for a meeting. What’s up?] My heart skipped a beat, and I hurriedly asked: [How long will it take?] He: [An hour and a half maybe. Why?] I replied “Nothing,” and an idea suddenly formed in my mind. I looked at Jessica: “I can change it, but only for one hour.” Changing the profile picture while Julian is in a meeting can perfectly avoid all problems. Afraid Jessica wouldn’t agree, I added: “If you don’t agree, then consider me a sore loser. I won’t participate in such activities anymore. Sorry, everyone.” “Oh, no need to make it like this.” “One hour counts as punishment. Don’t hurt the department’s harmony over a small matter.” Under the persuasion of other colleagues, Jessica finally reluctantly agreed: “Fine, one hour it is.” I waited deliberately. Waiting until Julian’s meeting started, I took a screenshot of his ID photo from the company’s official website and set it as my profile picture. The moment it was set successfully, my profile picture became his photo. To be honest, it was very creepy. Even though he is handsome, using his photo as a profile picture is just weird. The kind that feels like it shortens your life just by looking at it. I didn’t dare look at it for even a second more. Whispering “Changed it,” I put away my phone, trying to numb myself with work. But the more I didn’t want something to happen, the more it happened. Within this hour, the number of colleagues chatting with me privately surged. [Holy crap!!! What’s going on with you??] [Girl, you scared me to death, okay? If I hadn’t looked at the remark, I would have thought my WeChat was haunted!] [Do you have a death wish? Daring to use Mr. H’s photo?!] [Gods and spirits, show yourselves!] [Sorry, I didn’t know you and Mr. H… just pretend I didn’t confess the day before yesterday. You won’t tell Mr. H, right?] These were colleagues from other departments who knew about the bet. I explained with a bitter face. More and more people chatted privately, and there were even chat records from their department’s small groups privately. My name paired with my profile picture, a sigh of amazement: [I thought Lu Bu was invincible in the world, didn’t expect this person to be braver. Who is this general!] Colleague’s comment: [You’re famous.] I was about to cry. The moment the countdown alarm rang, I felt like I was saved. I hurriedly tried to change back to my original profile picture. Who knew the colleague sitting next to me suddenly exclaimed: “Holy crap!” I looked at her. She looked at me with even more horror, lips trembling for a long time before saying: “Sarah, Mr. H’s profile picture changed to your photo.” !!! 3 It took me a few seconds to understand what she meant. Subconsciously, I wanted to pick up my phone to check Julian’s profile picture, but just as I unlocked the screen, I stopped. No! This would expose the fact that “I have Julian’s contact information.” I forced myself to be calm, showing horror on my face: “How is that possible!” “It’s true!” My colleague shoved her phone screen in front of me. On it was Julian, who had just changed his profile picture. He even posted on Moments! Although he just reposted a tweet from the company group’s official account. But the three words “Julian Harrison” plus the profile picture being my photo, how weird is this scene! I almost fainted from fright. A thousand words stuck in my chest. After holding back for a long time, I squeezed out a sentence: “How could…” Wasn’t Julian in a meeting? How did he know about me changing my profile picture? The key is, even if he knew, why did he change his profile picture to mine? I didn’t even know how to explain this. Me changing his profile picture could be said to be excusable, but him changing to my profile picture… Would the colleagues around me misunderstand? Although my relationship with him is a fact, I really don’t want to be misunderstood like this! My heart was in a mess. Subconsciously wanting to contact Julian, Jessica walked over gracefully: “Sorry, Sarah. I have a friend who knows Mr. H. I just shared this with him for fun, didn’t expect Mr. H to find out.” I looked up at her. She said apologetic words, but there was not a trace of apology in her eyes. “You did it on purpose?” Jessica looked innocent: “Don’t wrong me. How would I know this would happen?” I looked at her silently. “Really just for fun.” Jessica raised her hands to clarify, “And I didn’t expect it. I just casually joked with my friend that maybe Mr. H could also change to your profile picture. He actually did it…” Jessica lowered her head slightly, observing my expression: “You won’t mind, right?” At this moment, I understood. Why Julian knew! Why Julian changed his profile picture to me! Actually, I was a little angry, but Jessica was still waiting to see my joke. I smiled slightly and said, “I don’t mind.” “That’s good.” She looked kind, “If you need to explain to Mr. H, you can contact me.” Emotions rising, I forgot to cover up: “You know Julian well?” Jessica was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting me to call Julian by his first name. After a moment, she said, “After all, it’s my responsibility. With these profile pictures of you two, people who don’t know might think something is going on.” She looked like she was watching a good show. I didn’t talk to her anymore. Also completely gave up the idea of contacting Julian. Damn Julian! Actually teaming up with outsiders to bully me! At least I am his wife in a legal sense. How could he do this! The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. But the person involved was unaware and contacted me as usual: [Going home together today?] I typed on the keyboard loudly: [Not going back!] Julian didn’t understand: [Does this mean going back with me or not going back?] I was even angrier: [None of your business!] Julian tactfully didn’t send any more messages. I stared at the chat interface between him and me. His profile picture was mine, my profile picture was his… People who didn’t know would think we were showing off our love officially. How ironic. I took a screenshot and sent it to my best friend. Just about to complain, she had already typed a screen full of exclamation marks. Bestie: [You guys went public?!!!!!] “…” I was speechless for a while. Deleted the unfinished complaint in the dialog box and argued: [This is clearly evidence of Julian’s crime!] Bestie: [This is clearly going public!!] I was even more speechless. Simply told her everything that happened today, emphasizing Julian’s despicable act of helping Jessica instead of me! My best friend was instantly angry: [Dog man! Divorce!] I felt better. 4 After work, I went straight to my best friend’s place. While eating takeout with her, I complained about Julian: “How could he do this! Even if I don’t have feelings for him, I am his wife after all. Why did he stand on Jessica’s side—” The phone dinged. It was Julian with my photo as his profile picture sending a photo. Dinner he made: asparagus with shrimp, green peppers stuffed with meat, stir-fried bok choy, and mushroom soup. All my favorites. I hummed, looked away, and continued to complain: “And what I don’t understand the most is that he actually listens to Jessica. What kind of friend? Ask him to change his profile picture and he changes it. When has he ever listened so—” The phone rang again. Julian: [What did you have for dinner? Should I save some for you?] I cursed inwardly: Save what for me? Save it for your Jessica. I wanted to complain more, but my best friend stopped me: “Something’s wrong.” “What’s wrong?” “What if that Jessica is lying?” my best friend said. “With her character, there must be something wrong. Lying a little is normal.” I emphasized: “But Julian really changed his profile picture.” “He saw you changed yours, so he changed his too!” I was silent for a moment, then said: “He had no reason to do that.” My best friend didn’t understand: “Why no reason? He thought you wanted to go public, so he cooperated with you!” I didn’t dare admit this. The second I learned Julian changed his profile picture to mine, a similar thought sprouted in my mind. But this thought was quickly pricked by Jessica. So now I just find it ridiculous. I shook my head to deny reality: “We are not in a relationship to go public.” “Others don’t know how we got married, don’t you know? He has no feelings for me, and I—” My best friend raised her chin, interrupting me: “I think he has feelings.” On the phone was Julian’s latest message: [What time are you coming home? Do you need me to pick you up?] I was speechless for a moment. On the surface, Julian was indeed a very good husband. He was caring, considerate, and took meticulous care of me. But— “We’ve been married for a few months, always sleeping in separate rooms. We don’t even hold hands usually, let alone hug or kiss. Are there any loving couples like this?” My best friend touched her chin and scrutinized: “You sound regretful?” “…” “I just want to explain that we are not in a relationship where he would change his profile picture for me.” My best friend sighed: “Forget it, let’s not talk about him. Drink!” I slept at her place that night. Checking my phone before sleep, Julian didn’t send any more messages. Clicking into the dialog box, I realized he had already changed back to his original profile picture. Everything returned to the beginning. As if nothing happened today. Even the gossip group didn’t talk about the profile picture storm. They were discussing Julian’s new Moment: [No betting in the company!] I specifically clicked into his Moments to check, but couldn’t find this one after searching everywhere. What happened? Blocked me? I was even more confused. It wasn’t me who asked him to change his profile picture. Why did he block me! I asked my best friend to analyze: “What do you think he means?” My best friend looked at the time. “Analyzing him at 2 AM? Don’t tell me you fell in love with him.” I panicked and quickly threw the phone away: “Sleep!”

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I am the lowest-ranking, disabled wolf in the pack. Yet, I still manage to keep myself sleek and well-fed. My secret is simple: shamelessness. Every time Alpha Julian eats, I dare to stick my head right next to his jaws and snatch a piece of meat. Every wolf in the pack believes I will sooner or later be bitten to death or exiled by Julian. Only I know that Julian looks fierce, but he’s actually just a paper tiger who only knows how to bare his teeth. Until the blizzard sealed the mountain, and rutting season arrived. In order to steal a bite to eat, I accidentally crawled into Julian’s fully enclosed den. Those eerie green eyes lit up in the darkness, filled with a greed I had never seen before. He stepped on my tail, not taking human form, his voice hoarse and dangerous: “My dear Uncle Leo, you’ve been mooching off me for so many years… this time, which part of your meat are you planning to use to pay me back?” 1 I am the sole disgrace of this wolf pack in the far northern wilderness. Even the pups just weaned can chase rabbits in the snow. I can’t. My front left leg was broken once, the bone never set right. I run with a limp, looking like a comical cripple. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, trash like me should have been thrown into an ice hole to feed the fish or eaten by other predators long ago. But I wasn’t. Not only am I alive, I’m living better than anyone else. The midday sun shone on the snowfields as the hunting party returned. The massive black wolf at the head was a size larger than the average male. His fur was as black as ink, muscles taut, every step on the snow carrying a suffocating pressure. That was Julian. Our King. And currently, my biggest meal ticket. All the wolves lowered their heads submissively, lying on the ground to welcome the Alpha’s triumphant return. Only I, dragging my crippled leg, trotted up to him obsequiously. “My King! You’re back! Truly majestic, swallowing mountains and rivers with your presence!” I wagged my big, dusty gray tail, circling Julian with utmost flattery. Julian stopped, his cold, eerie green eyes looking down at me from above. In his mouth hung an ibex that had just breathed its last. That was the Alpha’s trophy. According to the rules, only after the Alpha eats do the beta wolves get a turn, and the leftover bone scraps are for omega wolves like me. But I couldn’t wait. I was hungry. I stared at that ibex, drooling uncontrollably. But I knew my limits. First, I rubbed my head against Julian’s front leg, letting out a soft “awoo,” and then, under the horrified gazes of all the wolves— I bit onto one of the ibex’s hind legs. Yanked hard! It didn’t budge. Julian was biting down tight. I drooped my head and looked at him, meeting those emotionless eyes. A threatening low growl rolled in his throat: “Grrr—” This was the Alpha’s instinct to protect his food. The surrounding wolves stirred, all waiting for Julian to crush my skull with one paw. I was panicking inside too. But I was betting he wouldn’t. So instead of letting go, I widened my eyes round. Putting on a shameless “even if you beat me to death I’m eating” face, I let out a pitiful “whimper” from my throat. A stalemate for three seconds. A flicker of extremely human helplessness passed through Julian’s eyes. Then, he let go. I rolled backward with the momentum, hugging the leg of lamb bigger than me, and happily took a big bite. The scent of blood and meat exploded in my mouth. Julian snorted a jet of hot air from his nose, seemingly cursing something. But I didn’t care. As long as I can eat meat, who needs dignity? 2 Actually, I wasn’t always this shameless. Two years ago, when the old Alpha was still in power. I was the second-in-command of the pack, glorious and infinite. At that time, Julian was just a young, reckless kid who had just come of age. Although he was big, he was withdrawn and antisocial. I bullied him quite a bit back then. Relying on my seniority, I loved to pull rank in front of him, ordering him around. “Hey, Blackie, go scout the path ahead.” “Hey, Little Black, this meat is too tough, I won’t eat it, you take it.” How arrogant I was back then. Until that tragic “Battle for the Throne.” A pack of rogue male wolves invaded, and the old Alpha died in battle. We were losing ground. Seeing the pack facing extinction, Julian stood up. He fought like his life didn’t matter, literally biting the enemy leader half to death. At the critical moment, an enemy wolf tried to sneak attack Julian. I don’t know what wire crossed in my brain at that moment. Maybe I felt it would be a pity if this kid died, or maybe it was the sense of responsibility as the second-in-command acting up. I rushed over. Took the hit for him. The price was my front left leg was ruined. That bite severed my tendon and damaged the bone. From the high and mighty second-in-command, I instantly fell to the bottom, becoming a cripple who couldn’t even catch a rabbit. Julian became the new King. According to our wolf pack’s tradition, useless trash doesn’t deserve to live. But when I woke up, I found myself lying in Julian’s den. He was licking my wounds. Seeing me awake, he said coldly: “Not dead?” I grimaced in pain: “Almost.” From then on, my status became very awkward. I was a bottom-tier wolf, but I lived closest to the Alpha. I was useless, but I ate better than anyone. Everyone said Julian was a loyal and righteous Alpha, repaying a debt of gratitude. I deeply agreed. And I decided to “squeeze” this gratitude to the very end. 3 Recently, my days haven’t been going too well. Because winter has arrived. The winter in the far north is cold enough to freeze piss into icicles. My injured leg hurts like hell in this weather. Also, I found Julian acting a bit strange lately. He’s become very irritable. Before, when I snatched food from his mouth, he would at most snort. Now he stares at me with those deep, heavy eyes, staring until my back bristles. Once, when I was eating happily, I felt a scorching gaze. I looked up to find Julian staring at my butt. Like he was looking at a juicy piece of meat. I was so scared the bone fell out of my mouth. I suspect he’s getting sick of me. After all, gratitude has an expiration date. I’ve been mooching off him for two years; he must think I’m a burden. Plus, food is scarce now. He must be planning how to kick me out, or… eat me for nourishment. A sense of crisis arose spontaneously. I must save myself. I need to find a “next partner.” Preferably someone with a good temper, who, although can’t beat Julian, can at least protect me, warm my bed, and bring me food. I locked my eyes on the third-in-command of the pack, a male wolf named “Grey.” Grey is an honest wolf with a mild personality and has always been polite to me. Most importantly, he is a beta wolf. He doesn’t have the suffocating pressure of an Alpha, but has the strength to protect me. After making up my mind, I acted. While Julian was out patrolling the territory, I limped over to Grey’s side. Grey was gnawing on a frozen piece of deer hide. I leaned in, sweeping the tip of my tail across his nose. “Hi, Brother Grey.” Grey jumped, dropping the hide from his mouth: “S-Second Boss? Something up?” I blinked my big eyes: “I see this hide is too tough, how can you eat it? I have a piece of tender meat stashed away, how about… come to my place to eat?” Grey was flattered: “Th… that wouldn’t be good, right? That’s what the King gave you…” “It’s fine, the King isn’t here.” I hinted: “We can partner up in the future. Although I can’t run, my brain works fine. I can teach you how to hunt with the least effort.” Grey scratched his head honestly: “Really?” “Truer than gold!” Just as I was about to succeed in my con and trick Grey back to my little den. A dark shadow loomed over us. The temperature dropped sharply. My tail tucked, I turned my head stiffly. Julian had returned at some point. He stood on a high rock, backlit so I couldn’t see his expression clearly. I could only see those eerie green eyes staring dead at Grey, low thunder rolling in his throat. That was a sign of extreme anger. Grey was instantly scared into airplane ears, lying on the ground shivering, then scrambled away: “King! I was wrong! I didn’t do anything!” “…” Watching Grey’s retreating back, I cursed ten thousand times in my heart. Julian jumped down, walking step by step in front of me. His massive shadow covered me completely. He lowered his head, hot breath spraying on my face, carrying a smell of blood and some indescribable thick musk. “Partner up?” “Find him?” “What about me?” Three questions stumped me. I swallowed, instinctively wanting to retreat, but my legs were weak and I couldn’t move. “That… I was just joking.” I immediately put on my signature ingratiating smile, rubbing my head against his chin: “I just wanted to tease that fool. In this pack, who can be more majestic and domineering than you? How could I look at him!” Julian didn’t speak. He stared at me for a long time, resentment soaring to the sky. Finally, he sneered. “Stay away from him from now on.” “If I smell another wolf on you again…” He bared his fangs, his claws making a vague gesture at my neck. “I’ll bite off your leg. The other one.” I shuddered, nodding frantically: “Got it, got it! I promise to keep myself pure as jade!” 4 Although Julian let me go, the crisis in my heart grew heavier. That was a threat just now, right? Definitely a threat! He doesn’t want me to find another partner, does he want to keep me as reserve food? Too sinister! For the next few days, Julian watched me even more closely. I was like a prisoner under house arrest. Moreover, the weather was getting colder and colder, and a blizzard was coming. The scariest thing was, I found Julian’s scent getting heavier and heavier, making me dizzy. Other wolves in the pack stayed far away. Even the few female wolves in heat dared not approach. I knew this was a male wolf’s “rut.” Male wolves at this time lose all reason and act on instinct, extremely dangerous. I must hide far away. But the problem is, I’m hungry. The blizzard sealed the mountain, no prey. My stash was long eaten. Thinking of fat rabbit legs, tender venison, fish in the ice lake… Saliva started to flow disappointingly again. I lay in the cold cave, looking at the snowstorm filling the sky outside, feeling desolate. Am I, Leo the Moocher, a hero of a generation, going to starve to death here? No way. I have to eat something. I thought of Julian’s den. As the Wolf King, his den must be stocked with the best food. And I observed, Julian went out just now, probably to vent excess energy. This is a golden opportunity! Wealth comes from danger! Dragging my crippled leg, braving the wind and snow, I quietly sneaked towards Julian’s den. That was the driest, most spacious cave at the highest point of the cliff.

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I was secretly dating my roommate, the campus heartthrob, Liam. But then, he fell in love at first sight with my sister. He deleted my contact info without hesitation and warned me coldly: “I’m not gay, and I never liked you. You were just a pastime. Don’t take it seriously.” Afraid I would pester him, he even introduced me to his straight best friend, Tanner. He casually suggested I try to turn Tanner. But I didn’t seem to try very hard… and he turned on his own. That day, Liam caught us kissing and punched Tanner like a madman. “You said you didn’t like guys, that’s why I felt safe introducing you to him.” “How dare you kiss my person?!” 1 Inside the basketball court. As the final whistle blew, I walked towards Liam with an iced passion fruit juice in hand. But the scene before me made me stop. My sister, Jenna, had already run up to Liam with water. Liam took it, smiling as he pressed the cold bottle against her cheek. “Cool?” “Mmhmm! But this is for you to drink.” “You must be thirsty after playing.” Liam’s eyes were full of indulgence as he chuckled: “You cooling down is more important. Don’t get heatstroke.” My sister’s face turned redder than before. She turned her head shyly and saw me. She took Liam’s hand and walked over to me. Smiling, she introduced us: “Liam, this is my brother.” “Bro, this is my boyfriend, Liam.” Our eyes met. Liam frowned almost imperceptibly. His gaze on me was cold. Knowing him for so long, it wasn’t hard to understand his meaning: He was warning me not to expose our relationship right now. A sense of powerlessness pressed heavily on my chest. I smiled faintly. “Hello.” He nodded indifferently, his attitude cold. Jenna noticed the cup in my hand and made a confused sound. “Bro, aren’t you allergic to passion fruit?” “Who is that for?” My hand tightened around the cup, and I instinctively looked at Liam. But he just glanced at it and looked away, as if it had nothing to do with him. Jenna caught this. Her gaze darted hesitantly between us. “Bro… why are you looking at Liam…?” Just as the atmosphere turned tense, the passion fruit juice was snatched from my hand. It was Tanner, Liam’s teammate. Also the heartthrob of the Computer Science department. He opened the bottle and took a swig. “I asked him to bring it for me.” He gave Liam a mocking look and walked away. He didn’t even spare a glance for me, still standing there in a daze. Jenna was visibly relieved. But the smile on her lips became a bit stiff. “By the way, Liam, my brother is different from ordinary guys.” He raised an eyebrow. “How so?” Jenna’s cheerful tone sounded a bit harsh at this moment. She said: “My brother, he’s gay.” “Do you know what that means?” “It means he could potentially steal you from me!” My hand hanging by my side clenched involuntarily. I looked at Jenna immediately. But the next second, she laughed happily. “Just kidding! My brother definitely wouldn’t steal my boyfriend.” Liam never looked at me from start to finish. He just smiled casually at Jenna. “I’m straight.” “That hypothesis will never stand.” In the humid air, the feeling of suffocation was amplified infinitely. I moved my lips. “Jenna, that joke isn’t funny.” She smiled and didn’t reply. 2 Liam didn’t return to the dorm until 9 PM. It was a two-person apartment, but most of the time, I was alone. When Liam brought up ending our relationship, I wasn’t surprised at all. “Okay.” I nodded. Liam paused for a second, seemingly not expecting me to be so decisive. He looked at me silently. After a long time, he spoke lightly. “Josh, I have two conditions.” I looked at the man leaning against the door frame, my tone calm. “Go ahead.” “I don’t want your sister to know about what happened between us.” “After all, I never liked you. I’ve never been gay. You were just a pastime.” He paused, lowering his head and curling his lips meaninglessly. “Second, after we break it off, you can’t pester me.” “Josh.” “This is the first time I’ve liked someone so much. Don’t be a stumbling block.” 3 I knew why he said that. One day, shortly after Liam and I got together. When we returned to the dorm at night, he pinned me on the bed and kissed me. I saw a lipstick mark on his collar. “Wai… wait.” I endured the heat burning my ears. I turned my head to stop him. “Hmm?” Liam wasn’t satisfied. He chased after me, pecking at the corner of my mouth. “Not letting me kiss?” I looked at his collar and asked somewhat blankly: “Why is there a lipstick mark here?” He glanced at it and looked away indifferently. Kissing my lips densely, he explained casually: “Went to a club tonight. Someone probably brushed against me.” “I didn’t notice.” My heart, which had just risen, settled down a bit. I lifted my chin and kissed him actively. I said gently, “Then be careful to keep your distance in the future, okay? Don’t let people get lipstick on you again.” Liam stopped kissing me. He stood up from over me, scrutinizing me from above. “Josh, you’re crossing the line.” In the moonlight, the man’s brow was colder and more distant than the night. I froze for a second, my limbs turning cold involuntarily. But I still asked unwillingly: “Aren’t we dating?” “Why… is saying something like that considered crossing the line?” Liam lit a cigarette. Hearing this, he bit the cigarette and smiled absurdly. “You insist we’re dating—” He paused and nodded slightly. “That’s fine.” “But I don’t like being restrained. I know my limits.” Smoke dispersed between us. The distance radiating from Liam, keeping strangers away, was fully revealed at this moment. “Last point, I don’t want anyone to know about our relationship.” “Can you accept that?” He looked at me and smiled lightly. “It doesn’t matter to me whether we date or not.” I thought, he was the first person I liked so much. At that time, just thinking about separating from him felt like dying. So, I endured my red eyes and stood up. Walked over and hugged his waist. My voice passed through my dry throat. After a long while, I trembled: “Okay…” “Liam, I like you…” He gave a “hmm” and bit my ear intimately. His volume was extremely low. “I know.” But it was strange. After that day, I was still clingy with Liam. But unconsciously, I prepared an exit. Letting the love drain away bit by bit. 4 My thoughts returned to the present. Liam’s words “Don’t be a stumbling block” still echoed in my ears. I came back to reality, my expression still calm. “Okay.” “Liam, let’s part on good terms.” “I won’t bother you again.” He stared at me, unresponsive to my words. A moment later, he spoke in a tone colder than before: “Josh, I hope you do what you say.” Liam turned and left after dropping that sentence. “I won’t be back to sleep tonight.” I hurriedly called out to him. “Liam!” The man stopped. A very light sneer came over. “What?” My tone became much more serious. “Jenna hasn’t dated before. Don’t hurt her.” “After you get together with her, don’t be ambiguous with others like before.” “She’ll be sad.” I didn’t say the rest. Because I had tried that feeling. It was so uncomfortable it felt like dying. After a few seconds of silence, Liam slowly turned around. He hooked his lips and chuckled. “What do you mean?” “Josh, do you think I messed around when I was with you?” I turned my head away, physically and mentally exhausted to the extreme. Too tired to deal with him. I just said: “You can go.” The next second, rapid footsteps sounded behind me. Liam grabbed my wrist and slammed me against the door. I groaned in pain. He was 6’3″, four inches taller than me. Even slightly hunched, he was imposing. He slammed his hand heavily on the door panel beside my ear, making my eardrum ache. The hostility around him was impossible to ignore. “Listen carefully, I’ll only say this once. As of now.” “Except for you, I haven’t kissed anyone or slept with anyone.”

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I was my stepbrother’s little shadow, always chasing after him. But he hated me, the child his stepmother brought into the family. Still, I never learned my lesson. Even when bullied, I would just bury my face in his palm and cry: “Brother, I like you the most.” It seemed that no matter how he treated me, I would always adore him. Later, when college applications came around, everyone thought I would apply to the local university to continue being his sidekick. Instead, I decisively applied to A University, the furthest one from home. 1 After submitting college applications, my classmates laughingly asked where I applied. Before I could answer, someone chimed in. “Do you even need to ask? He definitely applied to the local university. Look at how clingy he is with his brother. Total bro-con!” “True, but his brother treats him really well. Latest sneakers, limited edition figures, whatever he wants, he gets. His brother goes to all the parent-teacher conferences, and if it rains, one call and his brother picks him up right at the school building!” Their tone was half teasing, half envious. Ethan Vance was rich, powerful, and doted on his younger brother. Who wouldn’t want a brother like that? I smiled without saying a word. As if silently agreeing that I would apply locally. In reality, I had already applied to A University, the furthest possible choice. I’ve been Ethan’s dog for eight years. Finally, I see the dawn! 2 But before the acceptance letter arrived, I still had to be Ethan’s obedient little brother. One call from him, and I rushed home in a panic. The villa was brightly lit. Ethan had come back early from his business trip. The front door was open. Like a beast with its mouth wide open, waiting for me, the lamb, to walk right in. With no one to supervise me for a while, plus the excitement of escaping Ethan soon, I had let myself go completely. Drinking, clubbing, staying out all night. Afraid Ethan would find out, I always snuck out from the second floor. Who knew he would come back early? In the study. Ethan sat in a leather chair, flipping through a document. His brow was cold, black shirt sleeves rolled up slightly, looking abstinent and noble. When I came in, he didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Where did you go?” He asked calmly, but I could feel the immense pressure in those words. Coming back at 2 AM to find his good little brother had snuck out and stayed out all night. His anger must be extraordinary. The more scared I was, the sweeter I smiled. I squatted beside him, looking up to act cute. “Bro, I swear this is the first time! My friends asked me so many times before I went. We just sang some karaoke.” Only then did he lower his eyes to look at me. Ethan usually fell for my coquetry. But this time, I couldn’t brush him off. He sneered lightly, no smile in his eyes. “Little Yan learned to lie to his brother too?” Cold sweat instantly broke out on my back. He knew everything. Ethan stopped talking, looking down at my collar. His gaze grew colder and colder. I followed his line of sight and looked down. There was a lipstick smudge on my collar. It happened at the bar when I helped a girl who almost fell. I’m done for. “Bro, this isn’t…” Before I could explain, I heard him say calmly. “Eighteen years old. Old enough to date.” He looked at the lipstick mark, seemingly finding it an eyesore, then looked up at me again. His thumb rubbed against my lips. Using some force. I cried out in pain, and his finger slipped into my mouth. I didn’t dare bite him, just kept my mouth open obediently. Ethan’s eyes were dark, his tone indistinguishable: “Doing it until midnight?” I had a puppy love phase before, which Ethan nipped in the bud. He warned me not to date before I was an adult. Now that I’m an adult. His reaction didn’t seem any more lenient than before. I quickly explained: “I didn’t date, and didn’t do anything. This was an accident, really! If you don’t believe me, look!” Afraid of his misunderstanding, I lifted my shirt to show him. Except for the lipstick on the clothes, there were no marks anywhere else! Ethan’s gaze stopped on my lean waist and abdomen, his eyes darkening slightly. “Take it off.” 3 I didn’t think much of it, lifted the hem and took off my shirt. Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze moving down to my belt, darker than before. He seemed to be signaling me to continue. I was a bit embarrassed. “I don’t need to take off more, do I?” “Shy?” Who’s shy? Maybe the alcohol went to my head, I couldn’t help but retort. “Then why don’t you strip?” Ethan’s lips curled slightly at my words, saying meaningfully: “Want to strip mine?” Is this something a brother should say to his brother? I only dared to complain internally. “If Bro wants me to strip, of course I will.” We have the same parts, why be afraid of you looking? I was confident in my figure. Stripped down to my boxers. Seeing Ethan with legs crossed, watching leisurely. His expression was calm, seemingly unmoved. I was a bit annoyed. Hooked the edge of my boxers and pulled down two inches, teasingly. Satisfied to see Ethan squint. I thought I must have disgusted him. What man likes looking at another man’s body? I was happy and licked my lips. Asked him in a fake sweet tone: “Bro, strip more?” “No need. Close the door on your way out.” His voice was slightly hoarse, as if suppressing something. He looked away, not looking at me anymore. Hehe. I knew I disgusted him. 4 I came to the Vance family with my mom when I was ten. We were a blended family. I thought we were moving from one apartment to another. Turned out we moved into a huge manor. Got the hidden rare edition. Mom said there was an older brother at home, told me to be good and listen to him. Ethan was already very handsome as a teenager, high nose, thin lips, noble and arrogant. I listened to my mom and tried to please him, being his little shadow, running after him. The most frequent thing I said was: “Brother, I like you!” But his attitude towards me was very cold. I knew he didn’t like me. One day I waited for him at his classroom door as usual, but heard he left ten minutes early. He was annoyed that I came to find him. It rained heavily that day. I walked home alone in the rain. When the driver found me, I was freezing all over. Got a high fever after getting home. Everyone surrounded me, but I only wanted my brother. Ethan condescended to come. Clearly he was the culprit who left me behind and caused my fever. But I just pitifully buried my face in his palm and cried. “Brother, I like you the most.” Ethan had heard this many times. It seemed no matter how he treated me, I would always like him. My burning face buried softly in his palm. He looked down at me, holding my tearful face. For the first time, he didn’t resist my closeness. Heard me whispering. “Brother, I like you, I listen to you, please don’t hate me, okay?” “Brother, I’m so scared, sleep with me, okay?” I waited for a few seconds, thinking there was no hope. But heard him agree: “Mmh.” His expression was still cold, but something seemed to melt in his eyes. I was stunned. That night Ethan really slept next to me. I deliberately burrowed into his arms, breathing against his face. Ethan didn’t push me away, instead let me hug him. The next day he got a fever too. Actually, I could have just waited at school yesterday; the driver would have come back for me. But I insisted on leaving and deliberately broke my phone watch. Deliberately got rained on to make Ethan feel guilty, and wanted to pass the cold to him. Resulting in an unexpected harvest. Since that time, he no longer resisted contact with me, his stepbrother. Tacitly allowed my approach, giving whatever I asked. Seemed to have circled me into his territory. My status skyrocketed. From the unfavored stepbrother to the brother’s palm treasure. The premise was I had to be his obedient little brother.

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It was snowing heavily. I was walking down the street. Suddenly, my foot slipped. My hand accidentally grabbed onto the villain’s tofu stand for support. He looked at me coldly: “You touch it, you buy it. Ten dollars a portion.” Helplessly, I took out my phone to pay, but accidentally slipped again. This time, I didn’t dare grab the tofu stand. In my panic, I grabbed the villain’s collar. With a rip, his shirt tore open, revealing half of his chest muscles. When I reacted, my other hand was wrapped around his waist. I asked cautiously: “Do I have to buy this too if I touch it?” Before he could answer, a line of subtitles floated before my eyes: [This cannon fodder passerby is done for! Not only did she wreck the villain’s stall, but she also humiliated him. When the villain stands at the top of the pyramid of power, the first thing he’ll do is eliminate everyone who humiliated him!] 1 It was snowing heavily. The snow on the road was thick. Because I was in a hurry, my foot slipped. I accidentally grabbed onto the fermented tofu stand next to me for support. Trays of fuzzy fermented tofu were messed up by me, and a few pieces fell onto the ground. The vendor was a thin, handsome boy. He looked at me coldly: “You touch it, you buy it. Ten dollars a portion.” Helplessly, I took out my phone to pay. But I was bumped by someone rushing past. Accidentally slipped again. This time, I didn’t dare grab the tofu stand. In my panic, my hand grabbed the boy’s collar. With a rip, his shirt tore open, revealing half of his chest muscles. When I reacted, my other hand was wrapped around his waist. I asked cautiously: “Do I have to buy this too if I touch it?” The boy’s body stiffened noticeably. He looked down at his open shirt front. Before he could answer. Many bullet comments floated before my eyes. [The villain finally saved enough money to buy a cheap cotton coat, and this passerby ripped it apart just like that. Great, a week’s worth of fermented tofu sold for nothing.] [This cannon fodder passerby is done for! Not only did she wreck the villain’s stall, but she also humiliated him. When the villain stands at the top of the pyramid of power, the first thing he’ll do is eliminate everyone who humiliated him.] ? God, are you playing with me like this? I just accidentally smiled while scrolling through videos this morning. I didn’t have any happiness at all. Now, just because I accidentally slipped, you want me to die?! The boy in front of me stared at me with a gloomy and heavy gaze. The cold air was pressing, and I felt like I couldn’t escape. I let go of him trembling, wanting to take a step back. As soon as my ankle twisted, a piercing pain shot through. Seems like I sprained it. I endured the pain and squatted down, preparing to check the injury. My phone rang suddenly. I pressed answer. The boss’s displeased voice came from the other end: “Shen Wei, do you know how late you are?!” “Boss, it’s snowing today, the road is hard to walk, I…” “What you, everyone else can come, but you can’t come on time, right?” “No.” I looked at my red and swollen ankle and whispered: “I want to take a day off today.” “I told you long ago, ask for leave in advance! How about this, I’ll just approve a long vacation for you. Starting today, you don’t need to come!” The call was hung up. Damn it. Stupid company, thunderous boss. I didn’t want to work there long ago anyway. Although comforting myself like this. But at this moment, the pain in my ankle and the stinging pain of wind and snow blowing on my face filled my whole body. Tears still overflowed my eyes uncompetitively. “Are you okay?” A clear voice came from above my head. I quickly wiped away my tears and stood up enduring the pain. Not wanting him to see my embarrassment, I changed the subject: “How much is the fermented tofu I messed up just now? I’ll pay you.” I just wanted to pay and get away from him quickly. To save my life in time. But unexpectedly, the movement of entering the payment password was stopped by a slender hand. “No need.” “It’s on me.” The boy still had no expression on his face. He scraped the tofu into a small basin piece by piece with a spatula. Then added spoonfuls of sauce, mixing evenly in the iron basin. His fingers were slender, with distinct joints, a pair of very beautiful hands. But at this moment, from fingertips to knuckles, they were frozen into a kind of bluish-white red. I looked around. The weather was too cold, and not a single vendor was seen. Only he and that stall made from an old broken tricycle stood there lonely. Snowflakes fell on his black hair tips and thin shoulders, and some drilled into the ripped clothes. My foot hurt as soon as I moved. I couldn’t run even if I wanted to. Could only stand there, thinking if he would poison me. The bullet comments suddenly started to feel distressed. [The villain is actually quite pitiful. Bullied by classmates and suffering from defensive ability delay disorder. This disease makes his reaction beat slower even when raising his hand to resist bullying. He can only freeze and let others hurt him, forgetting how to struggle even in pain.] [Not only that, he was also despised by his adoptive parents. The adoptive parents’ family moved away happily without leaving a penny, leaving only him and his sick grandmother at home. He is a senior high student, and still has to make time to set up a stall to subsidize the family.] [Fortunately, he met the female lead later, untied his heart knot, and cured his illness. So even if the female lead hurt him later, he never abandoned her.] [His life is bitter like this. It’s already amazing that he didn’t have a tug-of-war with the beam with his neck.] I keenly captured the key information in the bullet comments. Is it true that as long as his defensive ability delay disorder is cured, I won’t have to die! Just thinking, the packed jar was handed to me. I didn’t take it, tentatively asking: “Excuse me, can I borrow your stall for a moment?” 2 I didn’t have much hope originally. But unexpectedly he agreed surprisingly. He rode the tricycle to take me to the hospital for a checkup. And carried me on his back, climbing up step by step to the rental room on the sixth floor. The injury wasn’t serious. The doctor prescribed medicine and said to move less and rest more. On the way, I asked his name. Liam Chen. I praised his name for sounding good, but he didn’t respond. Arriving at the door, he put me down and turned to leave. Throughout the process, his brows were always covered with a layer of coldness. Unwilling to reveal any emotion, nor willing to talk much with me. I simply had no way to start. I was anxious in my heart and hurriedly called him: “My foot hurts, walking is difficult. Can I trouble you with one more thing? There are ingredients in the fridge, can you help me cook a meal before leaving? Haven’t eaten since morning till now, so hungry.” He frowned. Remained silent for a few seconds. But still rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen. I thought to myself, maybe his illness is easier to treat than imagined? I shouted towards the kitchen: “Make more! I’m starving!” The bullet comments started to complain non-stop: [This passerby is really in the way, delaying the villain making money. Grandma is sick now, the job of selling fermented tofu is left to him, and he can only rely on this job to maintain life. The money earned every day, besides buying medicine for grandma, the rest is only enough to buy two steamed buns in the cafeteria to fill the stomach.] [Sigh, actually the villain was quite kind when he was young. Pity he was always bullied, suffered too much malice, and the defensive ability delay disorder became more and more serious, eventually making him lose emotions and become cold-blooded and cruel.] [This passerby better not overestimate herself. This illness didn’t happen in a day or two, how can it be cured so easily? Better accept fate early!] I ignored the bullet comments. Taking advantage of the gap when Liam was cooking, I limped to the bedroom. Dug out a men’s down jacket, a base layer, and a pair of jeans from a plastic bag. These were originally bought for my ex-boyfriend. But before I could give them to him, he broke up with me. The clothes passed the return period. So they were kept at home. Didn’t expect them to come in handy today. 3 When I walked out with the clothes. Liam was putting a bowl of steaming noodles on the coffee table. I took the initiative to smile at him, “Thank you.” “By the way, I tore your clothes. I found two pieces of clothes that no one wears at home for you. Don’t know if they fit.” I held up the clothes beside me and gestured towards him. “Try them. Although not new models, they are clean.” A trace of fluctuation flashed in his eyes, then dimmed again. “No need.” “But if you go home like this, your family will be worried seeing it.” Liam remembered grandma was still at home. He remained silent for a few seconds. Didn’t agree, but didn’t refuse either. I forced the clothes into his hands. Liam finally compromised. I thought while eating noodles, the size of the clothes might be a bit big for him. The moment Liam pushed open the bedroom door, my eyes lit up. These clothes on him were a bit loose. But he was tall and filled them out, looking stylish instead. The bullet comments suddenly became lively. [Damn, this looks much more handsome than the cheap cotton coat the villain bought for 9.9.] [I announce, throw away the previous pants, and throw that broken cotton coat even further away. What kind of quality was that.] [Who would have thought, this contrast makes me feel a trace of pity for this beautiful villain.] [Have to say, this scene is quite heartwarming.] [What’s the use of being heartwarming? The school will hold a parent-teacher meeting in a few days. Every time there is a parent-teacher meeting or home-school activity, the villain never had a relative appear at school. So those bad kids dare to bully him, especially one called Zhou Yao. They bet no one would come to hold a parent-teacher meeting for him, and even made him kneel and bark like a dog, and his clothes would be made dirty and torn again.] [Moreover, the villain goes to school on financial aid. Once he finally mustered up the courage to resist, the bullying school leaders, in order to reduce trouble, actually forced him to apologize first. As a result, his illness became more serious. Maybe this is also a defense mechanism. If he hadn’t endured all the time, maybe he wouldn’t even be able to go to school now.] [Yeah. They also spread rumors that the villain sent photos of his lower body to girls. Those rumors couldn’t be clarified, and the whole school thought he was a pervert. Because of this illness, the villain didn’t have the courage to resist, so he buried these malices in his heart until he completely blackened.] [No way, he is so smart. Originally he was material for top universities. If he gets into a good university, he will definitely have a boundless future.] [Pity there’s no chance. This parent-teacher meeting is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. The humiliation from those bad kids will make him lose face in the whole class, his illness will worsen, his studies will also be affected, and later he was forced to drop out. This is his fate.] What? A seedling for top universities forced to drop out? My heart tightened, frowning. What fate or not. His fate is up to me, not heaven, hehe. My fist hardened silently by my side. This must be handled as a matter. I want those bad kids who bully Liam and the stupid school leaders to know. Their strictest mother is here. Liam saw my changed expression and thought I was dissatisfied. “Is it unsuitable? I’ll take it off right now.” He turned to go into the room to change. I hurriedly stopped him: “No no no, it fits very well, you look very handsome in it!” He looked away a bit embarrassedly. I took the opportunity to serve a bowl of noodles and pushed it in front of him. “You gave me fermented tofu, I treat you to a bowl of noodles, very reasonable, right?” 4 Watching Liam eating noodles. I suddenly sighed heavily: “Sigh! If my brother were here, he would be as big as you, pity.” Liam’s hand paused. “Pity, he was hit by a car and died when he was in high school five years ago.” Lying to him. Actually, my brother didn’t pass the high school entrance exam at all. He stole my betrothal gift money to gamble, causing my parents to force me to marry the fool at the village head. Later I secretly ran away from them and cut off relations with them. Liam stopped eating noodles, looking guilty: “Sorry, made you think of sad things.” I tried hard to squeeze out two tears. “Sigh, in the end, I haven’t even held a parent-teacher meeting for him, haven’t seen his youthful and energetic appearance at school, what a pity!” Liam lowered his head and pondered for a moment. Subsequently, he looked at me carefully: “If you don’t mind, can I invite you to help me hold a parent-teacher meeting?” “Just treat it as… holding it for your brother.” I smiled and nodded at him, “Of course!”

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I was handpicked by the head of the Sterling empire. My job? To be the perfect, obedient “trophy” for his wild younger brother. Don’t control Asher. Let him race his cars. Let him get into brawls. Let him party until dawn. I was useful because I was invisible. So I happily collected my double paycheck. Until that night. I stood there, tears welling up in my eyes. “Asher, please don’t race tonight. I’m really scared…” Asher just idly touched his cigarette. He smirked. “Relax, babe. Your husband is invincible.” I turned my head, following a gut feeling. I looked at the prize for tonight’s race. It was a girl. A girl in a white dress. Damn it. There goes my double salary. I silently unlocked my phone. And I started drafting my resignation letter to his brother. 01 Asher Sterling was a certified hell-raiser. His hobbies included, but were not limited to: Running people off the road with his sports cars. Sending other trust-fund kids to the ER during bar fights. Refusing no one. This caused socialites to tear each other apart, eventually dragging the drama to the Sterling doorstep. Because of Asher’s chaotic track record, the Sterling Group’s stock prices were a rollercoaster. Eventually, a secretary brought me before the eldest Sterling brother. Harrison Sterling. He sat with his long legs crossed, assessing me calmly. The secretary spoke respectfully. “She’s the most beautiful hostess at The Onyx Lounge.” A long silence followed. Harrison withdrew his gaze. His long fingers wrote out a check. He handed it to me. I glanced at the number of zeros. I paused. Then I smiled. “Does Mr. Sterling want a sugar baby?” The secretary clarified immediately. “It’s for the Second Young Master, Asher.” Then came the instructions. Asher likes girls with long hair. White dresses. He hates personalities that are too sharp. He wants someone submissive. He hates being lectured. After the briefing, Harrison spoke his first words to me. His tone was cold. “You’ll get this amount every month. Wired to your account.” He was certain I wouldn’t refuse. I held the check. After a moment, I gave Harrison a brilliant smile. “Deal.” I really couldn’t refuse. 02 I was delivered to Asher’s side. The third time he played the hero to save me, he looked down. He curled his lip. “Hey doll, we seem to have a connection.” I lowered my head shyly. I whispered, “I’m sorry to trouble you again.” Asher tutted. His fingertip caught a lock of hair by my face. “Being too pretty isn’t always a blessing. Why are you always getting bullied?” The night wind lifted the hem of my white dress. My long hair danced gently in the breeze. My eyes reddened. After a long pause, I hummed softly. “I… I’m used to it. It’s been like this since I was little.” Asher froze. Just then, his friends stumbled out of the bar, looking for him. “Asher, why are you hiding in this alley?” One of them sized me up. He reached out with a grin to touch my face. “Where’d you find this beauty? She looks fresh.” Smack. Asher slapped the hand away. He frowned deeply. “Back off.” The others immediately smoothed things over. “My bad, my bad. If she’s pretty, she’s obviously Asher’s girl.” Once they awkwardly left, tears I couldn’t hold back finally spilled. I tugged at Asher’s sleeve. He didn’t pull away. I looked up, meeting his gaze with pitiful adoration. “Because you’re here, they don’t dare bully me anymore.” Asher bent his finger. He wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. My eyelashes trembled. I summoned my courage. “Do… do you have a girlfriend?” The night wind was cold. It made me shiver. Asher bent down. He effortlessly scooped me up into his arms. His tone was casual. “Not right now. And I don’t plan to in the future.” I stared at him blankly. Asher carried me toward the sports car parked at the intersection. Many eyes turned our way. Embarrassed, I buried my face in his chest. I murmured, “It’s okay… I… I don’t need a title.” My answer was within his expectations. After all, a girl’s love and dependence are always so obvious. So intense. Asher gave a lazy, satisfied smirk. He placed me in the passenger seat. And dropped a kiss on my lips. “Good girl.” 03 Everything went smoothly. In everyone’s eyes, I was beautiful, gentle, and clueless about Asher’s wealth. I simply loved Asher, the man. I loved him so much I worried about him every second. I didn’t want him racing or fighting. I was terrified of him getting hurt. I didn’t want other girls around him. I feared losing him. Even though I had no official title, I never threw tantrums. I would only cry silently. Begging him with pathetic weakness. Luckily, Asher really liked me. As long as I cried, he compromised on everything. He settled down for a long time. It shocked everyone. Asher took me shopping. Movies. Trips. We just spent time kissing and sleeping. His friends said he had turned over a new leaf. Harrison must have been satisfied too. He tripled my salary. I became the canary in Asher’s palm. Pampered and spoiled. In many eyes, I was the top candidate to be the future Mrs. Asher Sterling. Honestly? I didn’t know if Asher actually cared about me. Maybe it was just the novelty. But I knew Harrison would never allow a hostess to marry into the family. Even though I was taken to Harrison on my very first day at the club. But in the eyes of these elites, just squeezing into their circle was my honor. I couldn’t ask for more. Harrison was right. Asher was right. So, when I stood there crying again, begging Asher not to race… He just idly touched a cigarette. “Relax, your husband is invincible.” This was the first time, outside of the bedroom, that he refused me. My eyes were red as I looked at him. “Asher.” He didn’t look at me again. He crushed the cigarette. He walked toward the black sports car he hadn’t touched in ages. His back was tall and imposing. The crowd whistled in excitement. This was Asher’s first race in a year. I had a sudden premonition. Slowly, I turned my head. A girl in a white dress was being pulled onto the podium. She looked down uneasily. She incited pity. In that moment, I felt a mix of emotions. A rich heiress glanced at me. She inspected her nails. “She was sick a few days ago. That girl is a hostess who got harassed. Asher saved her.” I blinked slowly. I digested the information. In those few seconds, doubt flashed through my mind. Did Harrison customize another perfect canary for Asher? Unlikely. Harrison wouldn’t be this sloppy. Plus… although the girl looked scared, she was stubborn. She lacked my practiced affectation. I sighed. I looked up at the sky sadly. Tears filled my eyes. Purely muscle memory at this point. But I was genuinely sad. My double salary was gone. The heiress saw my expression and scoffed. “You really don’t know your place. This day was bound to come.” I silently opened my phone. I Googled: “How to write a resignation letter.” How to write it professionally yet emotionally? I needed to get one last severance package from Harrison. After all, I worked so hard. 04 Asher won. The other driver’s car spun out and crashed. The scene was chaotic. Ambulance sirens drew closer. The crowd didn’t dare blame Asher. So they vented their anger on the girl. “If anything happens to Liam, you’re done for! Just wait.” The girl backed away. She trembled with fear. Asher sneered. He stepped in front of her. “You guys are pathetic. What does this have to do with her?” I stared at them for a few seconds. Then I walked over. I took off the jacket Asher had draped over me. I put it on the girl. I spoke gently. “It’s cold tonight. Be careful.” Ignoring Asher’s probing gaze, I smiled. “When you helped me, it was a night just like this.” The girl stared at me blankly. Then she turned to Asher. “Mr. Sterling, is she…” Asher didn’t answer. He just lowered his eyes, staring at me. Under his gaze, I couldn’t even fake a smile anymore. I could only twitch my lips bitterly. After all… With this incident, forget the bonus. Harrison might dock this month’s pay. Sigh. Fine, deduct it. I’ve saved enough anyway. Wait. I won’t be held legally responsible, right?! The thought scared me. My expression nearly crumbled. The girl anxiously grabbed Asher’s hem. “What… what’s wrong with her? Does she not like me?” Asher withdrew his gaze from my face. He comforted the girl flatly. “No. Don’t be afraid.” I turned around. I walked away, looking like I had lost my soul. Many people were watching the drama. They didn’t expect my day of abandonment to come so soon. Asher didn’t chase after me. The girl was sweating from fear, so Asher took her to change. I was sweating too. I took out my phone, leaving a sweaty print on the screen. I wiped it on my dress. I opened my email. Sent. The drafted resignation letter was on its way to Harrison. Sincere language. Gratitude to the boss. Before I get blamed, I need to cut ties! Just then, I got a call. It was the manager at The Onyx Lounge. “Chloe, can you come back tomorrow? You left stuff in your locker.” I paused. “Okay.” After hanging up, I hailed a cab. I went to the apartment I secretly bought. To maintain perfect skin for Asher, I rarely stayed up late. But tonight, I relaxed. I pulled out the SIM card. I played on my phone in bed until dawn. I slept until evening. I woke up, put in a new SIM card. I threw on a loose T-shirt and shorts. I went to The Onyx Lounge bare-faced. I hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time. The manager was briefly stunned when she saw me. She led me to get my things without asking questions. I grabbed my stuff. I waved goodbye. I turned to leave. “Is this the place?” A familiar voice. Magnetic. Lazy. A girl whispered, “Yes.” The entourage behind them exclaimed. “Asher is so good, finding the place for the little lady.” Asher looked at the manager. “Bring the people who were in her group.” I silently pulled a mask from my pocket. I lowered my head, trying to slip away. “Chloe?” Someone gasped. No way. They recognized me like this? I messed up my hair and shook my head. The manager stepped forward, smiling. “Who is that? Ladies and gentlemen, let me take you to the VIP room.” I felt a surge of gratitude. The next second, my wrist was grabbed. Asher’s voice rang out in the gilded lobby. “Look up.” “Take off the mask.” I froze. But I didn’t move. I stared at the floor, playing deaf. The room was dead silent. Until a weak voice called out mournfully. “Asher, my stomach hurts.” A stalemate for a few seconds. Asher finally let go of my hand. He walked toward the girl. I walked out step by step. My nerves were pulled tight. I was terrified there was still a scene for me to play. Only when I was in the taxi did the realization hit me. The scent of cedarwood on Asher… It was replaced by a faint floral perfume. They must have been together for a long time. To catch each other’s scent like that.

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I spent years chasing after my legal guardian, putting my heart on the line. Finally, on my nineteenth birthday, I summoned the courage to confess my love. But Julian looked at me with cold fury. “Hazel, don’t forget your place in this family.” Yet, clearly, three years ago at that gala, he was the one who pulled me into his arms. With the scent of whiskey on his breath, he whispered in my ear: “When you grow up, let’s get engaged, okay?” I took his drunken promise as gospel. He treated it like a forgotten dream. The day he publicly announced his engagement to his long-lost “one that got away,” I showed up with my suitcase. People scanned us with amused eyes, asking how I felt. For the first time, I didn’t cause a scene. “I wish Julian all the happiness in the world. As for me, I’m leaving the country to study.” He crushed the champagne flute in his hand, his eyes darkening for the first time. Later, he canceled the engagement. He stopped me on a snowy street in a foreign city, lowering his head in defeat for the first time. “I was wrong. Please, Hazel… come home with me.” 1 “Thank you, Professor Miller, but I won’t be joining the exchange program. Please give the spot to someone who needs it more.” After hitting send, I exhaled a shaky breath. A heavy weight lifted off my chest. This year, the university had a prestigious dance program in Europe. Professor Miller had been pushing for me to go. But my body… it could no longer support the dream of being a dancer. A cold wind cut through the air, and I couldn’t stop coughing. When I pulled the tissue away, it was stained crimson. Before stepping into the elevator, I crumpled the tissue and tossed it into the trash. Today was my nineteenth birthday. I couldn’t let Julian see this. Three years ago, he held my hand and told me to wait until I grew up. I had waited long enough. My phone buzzed. It was Julian. “Hazel, are you home yet?” Julian was my guardian. The man who raised me. I smiled involuntarily, my voice lightening. “Not yet, I’m just unlocking the door.” His voice sounded unusually exhausted. “Happy Birthday. Something came up tonight. I’ll be back before midnight.” I understood. I looked down and opened the door. The lights flickered on, revealing a room filled with pink flowers and blue balloons. On the table sat a velvet box containing the blue agate necklace I had begged him for last month. It was exactly what I expected. My mood soared, and my courage swelled. “Julian, I… I want to tell you something.” “Something I’ve kept buried in my heart for a long time.” Before I could spill my secret, the line went dead. Beep. I lowered my eyes, quickly composing myself. I placed the necklace back in the box, still hopeful, waiting for him to come back and clasp it around my neck himself. Midnight came. The clock struck twelve. Julian didn’t show up. This was the first time he had completely missed my birthday. I felt dazed. He must be too tired. That’s why he didn’t make it. Calculating it now, this was my tenth year living with Julian. When my parents passed away in a suspicious accident, rumors swirled that they had crossed the wrong people in the underworld. They left no bodies to bury. I went from being the pampered princess of the Cloud family to a girl standing in the mud. My father’s legacy was devoured by his so-called “best friends” and business partners over drinks and laughter. Red-eyed, I went from door to door, begging for help. But nobody in the city dared to take in an orphaned girl with a mountain of debt. On the day of the funeral, only one man in black arrived to pay his respects. Julian. I had never met him. Rumor had it he was a dangerous man, a fixer from the shadows who had lost all his own kin. He reached out his hand to me, his lashes lowering. “If you’re willing… you can come with me.” That was ten years ago. 2 The coughing fit returned. I swallowed a handful of pills with warm water and let the medicine drag me into a fitful sleep. When the sky began to lighten, a rustling sound woke me. “Hazel. Long time no see.” A woman stood in the kitchen, wearing Julian’s oversized shirt, busy plating food. Her shoulder was exposed, pale and marked with red hickeys. I froze, my hands clenching my sleeves. Vanessa. The woman Julian had placed in his heart years ago. Seven years ago, when Julian was in deep trouble, she left without a word. Why was she back now? My gaze shifted, and my breath hitched. She was wearing the necklace. The blue agate necklace Julian gave me for my birthday yesterday. I pointed at her neck, my voice trembling. “That belongs to me.” Vanessa looked at me with amusement. She wasn’t surprised. Instead, she yanked the necklace hard. Snap. “Ah!” She screamed dramatically and lunged toward me, whispering in my ear as she fell: “Hazel, you haven’t improved a bit in all these years.” Before I could react, she threw herself onto the floor. The necklace skidded across the tiles. “Hazel, I didn’t mean to wear your necklace! I’m sorry!” I narrowed my eyes. I walked over, picked up the necklace, and dusted it off. I suddenly remembered how many traps she had set for me seven years ago. How many fights she caused between me and Julian. I stood over her, my voice cold. “It’s been seven years. You still love framing people? There’s no one else here, Vanessa. Who are you acting for?” The next second, I was shoved aside. Julian stormed past me, helping the weeping Vanessa up from the floor. “Hazel, where are your manners?” I stood there, stunned. “She did it herself…” Vanessa cut me off, looking up with red, teary eyes. She looked fragile, like glass about to shatter. “I know… you blame me for leaving Julian seven years ago. You blame me for abandoning him when he needed me most.” “But I had my reasons!” She sobbed, collapsing into Julian’s arms, looking at me like I was a monster. But I caught the glint of victory in her eyes. I stood frozen. Since living with Julian, I had never been treated like this. I sneered. “Miss Vanessa, save the acting for the stage. Do you think this soap opera routine still works?” The air turned deadly silent. Only Vanessa’s soft sobbing remained. Julian looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over Vanessa. His expression was unreadable. I stood my ground, watching their eyes meet, gripping the necklace in my hand until it hurt. 3 Vanessa wiped a tear, her eyes darting between Julian and me. Her tone was aggrieved, pivoting away from our confrontation to something sharper. “If I had known you and Hazel were together… maybe I shouldn’t have come back to disturb you.” My secret was out in the open. I forced myself to stay calm. It wasn’t a secret that I loved my guardian anyway. Julian raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning cold. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Vanessa let huge tears roll down her face. She tried to take off the apron and leave, but Julian grabbed her wrist. A stack of photos spilled out of the apron pocket. When I saw what they were, I froze. They were photos I had secretly taken of Julian. Candid shots that revealed my hidden admiration, my secret love. I had hidden these deep in my bookshelf. No one knew about them. A wave of shame washed over me. I looked at Julian. He stared at the photos scattered on the floor, his brow furrowing deeply. A moment later, he picked one up and tossed it into the lit fireplace. “These are just a child’s games. They don’t count.” I panicked, grabbing his sleeve. “How can this be a game? I’m nineteen, Julian! I’m not a child anymore!” “Do you remember… three years ago at the gala at the Royal Hotel? I came to pick you up. You said… you said when I grew up…” “Impossible.” Julian cut me off coldly, his eyes darkening into an abyss. “Hazel, I’ve indulged you too much.” “I have always seen you as a child. You shouldn’t have such disgusting thoughts.” I closed my eyes. My face went pale. I had anticipated the worst outcome, but hearing it broke me. He had spoken casually while drunk. I was the fool who took it seriously. Julian’s voice came from above, leaving no room for argument. “I bought a condo in the suburbs. The deed is in your name. Pack your things. You move out tomorrow.” I heard myself give a soft, defeated “Okay.” He was angry. I always thought I was special to Julian. That maybe, just maybe, he loved me too. The kitchen window was open. The wind blew the photos across the floor. I sniffled, squatting down to pick them up one by one. The cold air hit my lungs like razor blades. I couldn’t suppress the violent coughing. I felt the metallic taste of blood rising in my throat. I panicked, searching my pockets for a tissue, turning my back to wipe the blood and tears from my face. Julian glanced at me coldly, then walked around me. “If you’re sick, go to the hospital. The Sterling family isn’t so poor that we can’t afford a doctor.” Vanessa followed him closely. I stood up. “Julian.” I refused to give up. “You said last time you’d go to the hospital with me. I want to go tomorrow.” Julian stopped walking. I stared at his back, stubbornness fueling my voice. “I’ll wait for you tomorrow.” 4 The weather in the city turned bleak. Heavy rain poured down. I waited alone at the hospital for a long time. I waited until the storm turned into a drizzle. My heart sank. Finally, only Wes, his assistant, showed up. “Mr. Sterling said he’s accompanying Miss Vanessa shopping today. Here is a card. Buy whatever you need.” I pulled my coat tighter, asking the question I didn’t want the answer to. “Did he say anything else?” Wes lowered his head, hesitating. “Say it,” I urged. “Mr. Sterling said… he hopes you remember your position.” “In one month, he will be engaged to Miss Vanessa.” Engaged? I took the card expressionlessly. I finally realized that my relationship with him was gone. He was eager to start a new life. My feelings were a stain he wanted to wipe away. He was reminding me, every second, to remember who I was. In that moment, I felt foolish. Holding onto a drunken sentence for years? Pathetic. Fortunately, the test results came back. Not cancer yet, but I needed surgery. The doctor suggested I go north, or even abroad, for treatment. After hesitating, I decided to tell Julian everything one last time. When I arrived at the company, it was late. The light was still on in Julian’s office. Just as I was about to walk in, a woman stepped out of the shadows. It was Vanessa. She was sneakily arranging her clothes, hiding a file behind her back after snapping photos of it. Her phone screen lit up. She hurried to a quiet corner to make a call. The office was empty. I followed her to the stairwell. Her voice was light and triumphant. “Don’t worry, I got it. This data is enough to bring down Sterling Corp.” “Of course. He loves me so much, getting the key to his safe was easy.” My hands shook. I pressed the record button on my phone. Vanessa turned abruptly. The clicking of her heels got closer. She was coming towards me. I backed away, trying to keep my breathing steady. I retreated out of the stairwell, my heart pounding. Vanessa was dangerous. I had to tell Julian immediately. As I backed up, I bumped into a broad, warm chest. “You’re looking for me?” Julian was behind me. He took a deliberate step back to create distance. I was so panicked I almost cried. I played the recording. “Julian! I saw Vanessa stealing documents in your office! She’s on the phone with someone planning to destroy the company…” Julian’s face went rigid. To my shock, he snatched the phone from my hand. His expression was pitch black. Without hesitation, he pressed delete. “Since I’ve chosen to marry her, she will be your sister-in-law. I don’t want to see you doing this again.” “When did you become like this? Using such underhanded tactics?” I looked at him in disbelief. It felt like I was meeting a stranger. Julian was supposed to be sharp. Calculating. Ruthless to his enemies. Could a man like that lose all judgment over love? I fought back the tears, looking straight into his eyes. “Is that really how you see me, Julian?” He turned his back to me and lit a cigarette. I took a deep breath, wiped the corner of my eye, and let my heart die. “I came here to clear things up. I was immature before. I had feelings I shouldn’t have had.” “From now on, I wish you and Vanessa a long, happy life.” I did as he asked. Overnight, I moved everything out. I waited in the small condo for two weeks, confirming my surgery date abroad for the end of the month. While packing, there was a knock on the door. “Delivery.” I opened the package. It was a gold-embossed engagement invitation. Julian Sterling & Vanessa Li. Inside was a photo of them. Vanessa holding Julian’s arm, smiling brightly. I realized today was the engagement party. After packing the last of my life into a suitcase, I went to the venue. Before I even entered the hall, I heard the cheers. “Congratulations!” “What a perfect couple!” “Kiss her! Kiss her!” The moment I stepped through the doors, the room fell silent. All eyes fixed on me.

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The day before my boyfriend, Ethan, and I were supposed to get engaged, we were having lunch. He suddenly said, “I had a dream about Sarah last night.” “She was gorgeous. Pale skin, long legs, and her voice was so soft.” He laughed it off immediately. “Just kidding, babe. Don’t take it seriously.” I didn’t think much of it until I saw the chat history between Ethan and Sarah. They worked together on the Student Council. They shared the mundane details of their days. They talked about their dreams over drinks at the local dive bar. Later, I got into Columbia Law School. Ethan got rejected everywhere. He cried, begging me to take him back. I just laughed coldly. “Go back to dreaming about her.” Chapter 1 “I had a weird dream about Sarah from my department last night.” “I have to admit, she’s got a great figure. And her legs… they’re flawless. No scars.” I was eating lunch with Ethan in the campus dining hall when he dropped that comment out of nowhere. My hand, holding the fork, froze mid-air. I looked down at the jeans I wore from summer through fall. There is a long, jagged scar running down my calf. It happened when we were kids. Ethan fell off his bike in the alley behind our houses. I rushed to help him and scraped my leg against a rusty fence. Ten years have passed. The wound healed, but the scar remains—a shocking, ugly mark. Ethan quickly tried to backtrack. “I mean, Sarah is pretty, but you’re cuter. You have more… character.” I kept my head down, saying nothing. My fingernails dug deep into my palms. Ethan never made jokes like that. What was wrong with him today? A woman’s intuition is rarely wrong. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Ethan didn’t notice my mood shift at all. He kept smiling, talking about our plans after graduation. He said after we finish our grad school applications and get engaged, we’d buy a condo. He said we’d decorate it in that Modern Farmhouse style I liked. It would have a big backyard. We could barbecue in the summer and watch the snow fall from the bay window in the winter. He even said if I didn’t want kids, he would respect my decision 100%. Finally, realizing my hands were ice cold, Ethan stood up. “Babe, I’ll go grab you a hot latte.” “Wear an extra layer tomorrow, okay? It’s getting chilly.” I watched his back as he walked away, my heart a mess of conflicting emotions. The truth is, Ethan treated me well. We were childhood sweethearts. Middle school, high school, college—our paths were identical. We’ve known each other for fifteen years. We’ve dated for four. We occupied the biggest chapters of each other’s lives. He remembered my cycle. He remembered my food allergies. He loved surprising me. But that random comment he made just now… it made me panic. I couldn’t tell if he was being honest or just making a stupid joke. In my confusion, I glanced at Ethan’s phone, which he’d left on the table. The screen was still lit. It was open to a chat window. My heart dropped. The profile picture was a girl. A very pretty girl. The contact name was saved as “Sarah.” Driven by a ghost, I reached out and started scrolling. The latest message was sent five minutes ago. Sarah: Ethan, what are you up to? Ethan: With the girlfriend. She wanted steak, so I’m playing the good boyfriend for our anniversary. Sarah: … Ethan continued typing. Ethan: By the way, do you like steak? I can pack some for you. Sarah: It’s fine. I’m not busy tonight. I can swing by and drop that thing off. My finger trembled as I scrolled. While Ethan was sitting across from me, playing the perfect partner, he was texting her. Just seconds before, he had tenderly asked what flavor latte I wanted. I bit my lip and scrolled back further. Three days ago. Ethan: Morning, Sarah. Sarah. I suddenly remembered a package I received a few days ago. The recipient’s name was just “S.” inside was a set of black lace lingerie. I was confused, but Ethan called me right away. He said his sister bought it. He used his sister’s Amazon account to buy me gifts sometimes. She must have forgotten to switch the address. It was a funny mix-up. His tone was so sincere. I believed him. I even joked, “You should buy me a set next time.” Time ticked by. My hands were shaking uncontrollably now. Three days ago. One week ago. One month ago. The chat history went back forever. I scrolled until my thumb hurt, but there was no end. Greetings, memes, life updates—they filled every hour of every day. He edited her essays. He brought her an umbrella when it rained. He fixed the leak in her dorm. She brought him lunch. She picked up his packages. She sewed a button on his shirt. A few months ago, my dad passed away. I knelt before my father’s casket, eyes swollen from crying. I told my dad that Ethan was good to me. That he was responsible and knew his boundaries. That he was a man worth trusting for a lifetime. My mom was happy with Ethan too. She said even though we weren’t married, he ran around helping with the funeral like a true son-in-law. Everything was moving forward, steady and happy. So where did this rot come from? Just then, a steaming Hazelnut Latte was placed in front of me. Ethan was as gentle as ever. Half-sugar, extra hot, just how I like it for my cramps. “Chloe, I got it extra hot for you.” Chapter 2 Before he returned, I had already locked the phone and put it back exactly where it was. The steam from the latte spiraled up into the air and vanished, just like my trust. Ethan has been in my life for as long as I can remember. The night of our high school graduation, he texted me to come out and watch the fireworks. I ran downstairs in my pajamas and bumped into him. His face was flushed red. Ethan asked me, “Will you be my girlfriend?” I asked him, “Why me?” He stuttered, “Because… because you’re beautiful.” I wasn’t beautiful. High school was nothing but studying, dark circles, and rough skin. But in that moment, something possessed me, and I nodded. Ethan smiled like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Fireworks exploded the second I nodded, lighting up the dark sky. Because we grew up together, our college relationship was incredibly smooth. In four years, we never had a screaming match. We never even blushed with anger. I thought life would continue this way. Study, Grad School, Engagement, Family. But as senior year came to a close, the ground shifted. Ethan’s “joke” and those chat logs became a thorn lodged in my heart. It made me question everything. He could celebrate our anniversary while texting another girl with complete composure. Did he change? Or was he just an Oscar-worthy actor this whole time? Ethan didn’t notice my silence. He kept chatting about the engagement. “After the LSATs in December, let’s have the engagement party.” “My parents are already prepping. They love you so much.” I quietly pulled my hand out of his. It felt like a thousand tiny needles were pricking my heart. Ethan finally sensed something was off. “Chloe? What’s wrong?” Yeah, what was wrong? We’ve loved each other for years. We grew up together. We were about to get engaged. Everyone was happy. Everything was perfect. So why did it feel like the world was ending? I looked up, tears blurring my vision. Ethan panicked instantly. “Chloe, why are you crying?” “Was the steak bad? We can go somewhere else tomorrow…” Looking at his concerned face—the same face I’ve loved for years—I felt a wave of nausea. The more he cared, the more I suffered. It felt like everything I owned was a hologram. After a long silence, I nodded slightly. “Let’s… let’s talk about the engagement later.” Chapter 3 Ethan didn’t understand why I was suddenly moody, but he patiently walked me home. As I walked up the stairs to my apartment, his texts came in. Ethan: The stairwell is dark, use your flashlight. Ethan: Also, throw out that yogurt in the fridge if it’s expired. I’ll buy you fresh ones tomorrow. Ethan: Maybe engaging right after the exams is too rushed. We can take it slow. No pressure. I cleared the notifications. I bit my lip and didn’t reply. The moment I unlocked my door, the calmness I forced myself to maintain shattered. I collapsed, sobbing until I couldn’t breathe. When I was too tired to cry, I opened my phone. I looked at the screenshots I had secretly airdropped to myself during lunch. Maybe I was still delusional. I wanted to prove that a fifteen-year bond couldn’t just dissolve like smoke. But the more I looked, the colder I felt. One week ago, Ethan sent Sarah a song. Sarah replied with a cute sticker. I checked the timestamp: 5:23 PM. At that exact moment, Ethan was with me at Barnes & Noble, buying my LSAT prep books. Two weeks ago, Sarah complained about cramps. Ethan replied: Leave it to me. At that time, we were on a FaceTime call. Two months ago, Sarah said she was feeling down. Ethan replied: I’ll wrap this up and come have a drink with you. I looked at the date. September 11th. I took a sharp breath. The pain was physical. September 11th was the day my dad died of liver cancer. It was the day of his funeral. Ethan looked so sad that day. So heartbroken. He held me tight and whispered, “Chloe, don’t be scared. I’ll always be with you.” I looked into his sincere eyes and truly believed he was my salvation in a dark world. But three minutes after comforting me, he effortlessly switched off his grief to text another girl. The betrayal wrapped around me like vines, suffocating me. It wasn’t just these three moments. It was everything. Ethan’s life wasn’t just about me. His timeline was cluttered with Sarah’s shadow. I called my mom, my hands shaking. “Mom, I’m going to break up with Ethan.” I told her everything. But my mom was silent for a long time. Then she said: “Honey… just tolerate it.” I felt like I was drowning. I screamed into the phone. “Mom! I dated him for four years! He’s been talking to her for four years!” My mom sighed. “But Chloe, they’re just chatting. They didn’t go to a hotel.” “Maybe they are just friends. Don’t overthink it.” “Besides, you don’t have proof of actual cheating, do you?” I froze. Then I laughed. Right. Ethan and Sarah are just “soulmates.” Strictly speaking, he didn’t cheat physically. To an outsider, I was the one making a scene over nothing. “Ethan is practically a son to me,” my mom continued. “He’s a good kid.” “Listen to me. Forgive him this once.” “Relationships have bumps. You two are about to get engaged. His parents love you. Is it worth throwing it all away over this?” Click. I hung up. I slumped against the sofa, my head pounding, gasping for air. Even my own mother was telling me not to leave him. For a second, I doubted myself. Was I being petty? But every time I thought of our intimate moments, I saw her shadow. I saw his disloyalty. It felt like a ball of cotton was stuck in my throat. I couldn’t spit it out, and I couldn’t swallow it. Suddenly, my screen lit up. Ethan: Babe, I can’t go to the library with you tomorrow. Something came up. Study hard for me! I laughed out loud, tears still streaming down my face. Tomorrow is Sarah’s birthday. I saw it mentioned in a chat from a month ago. Ethan really is attentive. He remembers our anniversary, and he remembers her birthday. If he hadn’t made that stupid joke, I never would have checked his phone. I never would have known that behind our perfect romance lay such a filthy truth. I stared at his text until the screen blurred. Finally, my finger hovered over the send button. Chloe: Let’s break up. Chapter 4 After sending the text, I took a deep breath and blocked Ethan on everything. We never fought. Even our breakup was terrifyingly quiet. I remember the kiss he gave me under the fireworks. Pure. Shy. A feather-light touch on my cheek. He said he’d waited a long time for that. He said he’d never let go of my hand. His eyes were so bright. I believed him for so many years. On the sofa sat a blue plush bunny Ethan brought back from his study abroad trip. I suddenly remembered a text from Sarah. She asked him to bring her a bunny. She wanted pink. Ethan said yes. Shortly after that, he called me. Chloe, they were out of pink bunnies. Is blue okay? Actually, I prefer pink. But I smiled and said, “I love anything you get me.” I didn’t realize that even in gift-giving, Sarah came first. He didn’t “fail” to get the pink one. The pink one just had a better owner. And that owner wasn’t me. Sorrow hit me like a tidal wave. I can handle fights. I can handle disagreements. But I cannot handle being the second option disguised as the first. I started purging the apartment. I tore up photos. I threw away gifts. Until I saw the ring box on the corner of the table. I broke down wailing. I remembered what he said when he got down on one knee. “Chloe, I will only be good to you for the rest of my life.” Promises are as fragile as glass. … I cried until I passed out on the rug. The grief wrecked my stomach. I woke up the next morning and vomited bile. Bitter. Salty. Like my tears. I locked myself in the dark apartment. No water. No food. I just sat in the corner, replaying everything. The signs were there a year ago. The way he giggled at his phone. The new emojis he started using. That “wrong address” lingerie. But I was too confident in our history. I filtered out the red flags. When I looked at my phone again, I had dozens of missed calls from Ethan. I deleted them. I put on a coat and walked out. I needed air. I walked past the Student Union building. There was an “Honor Roll” board. I saw Ethan immediately. A group of girls was standing there, gossiping. “That’s President Ethan. And that’s Sarah, the VP.” “They are so nice. They got sponsors for us in the rain, and they always buy us snacks.” “Yeah, last week Ethan bought us those expensive Godiva chocolates.” I froze. Godiva chocolates. That was the birthday gift I gave Ethan last week. He told me he loved them, so I saved up money from my tutoring gig to buy them. And he gave them away? To the club? My nails dug into my palms until they bled. One of the girls noticed me. “Hey, you look familiar… oh! You’re the girl in President Ethan’s cover photo!” Another girl leaned in, eyes sparkling. “You must be so happy being his girlfriend. He’s so gentle and attentive. We’re all so jealous.” I gave a bitter laugh. Ethan was great. Everyone who met him praised him. That impeccable reputation is why no one believes he failed me. Even my mom sided with him. It wasn’t winter yet, but I felt frozen to the bone. I nodded stiffly. “Thanks.” I turned around, tears falling freely. Behind me, they kept talking about how great he was. I walked aimlessly down the path. Ding. Since I blocked him on WhatsApp, he sent an SMS. Ethan: Stop joking about breaking up. Ethan: It’s getting cold today. Wear a jacket. If yesterday hadn’t happened, I would have smiled and replied, You too. But time doesn’t reverse. The balance and happiness Ethan carefully maintained collapsed the moment I saw those texts. Realizing the love around you was a mirage is a million times more painful than never being loved at all. I unblocked Ethan on WeChat. I posted a “Moments” update visible only to him. It was a stock photo of two hands holding tight. Caption: We finally made it official today. Minutes later, a message popped up. Ethan: Who did you make it official with? I’m your boyfriend! Ethan: Please. Don’t leave me.

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