Author: Momo Chan

My best friend and I transmigrated into a book with a mission: save the brooding second male lead and the gentle third male lead. Just when we were both pregnant and waiting for our happily ever after, the sky fell. The moody Billionaire Heir she married had been keeping a sugar baby on the side. The serene Zen Master I married was secretly pining for his “White Moonlight”—his first love. To make matters worse, the sugar baby and the first love teamed up to livestream a smear campaign against us right on our doorstep. Bestie: “Are we throwing hands?” Me: “If you throw hands, I throw hands!” Impulsive violence felt great in the moment, but by midnight, regret was clawing at the walls. Terrified of retaliation, we chose to fake our deaths and escape the book world, taking a massive payout to live a life of debauchery and luxury. But we didn’t even make it two years. She was caught lounging on a male model’s abs by the Billionaire Heir. And I was cornered against a wall by the Zen Master. Me and Bestie: “System, are you kidding me right now?!” 1 Inside the ultra-luxury mansion, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. My best friend, Chloe, and I were huddled in front of the security monitors, watching the mob outside and roasting each other. Chloe: “Liv, you absolute noob!” “Five years of攻略 (conquering) and you still haven’t eliminated the White Moonlight in the Zen Master’s heart? You’re an embarrassment to transmigrators everywhere.” I wasn’t taking that lying down. “And you aren’t?” “Your Billionaire Heir’s sugar baby is practically taking a dump on your head! And you’re laughing?” We were spitting facts, exposing each other’s failures. “So, what now?” Chloe slumped on the floor, messing up her hair in frustration. I facepalmed. What a disaster! We originally transmigrated to save the second and third male leads. Five years of hard labor. She took the unloved, isolated Damien White and turned him back into the revered heir of the White empire. I saved the suicidal, sickly boy, Sebastian Shen, and held down the fort at the Shen family estate so he could be the worry-free Zen Master. We were both pregnant, waiting for the mission complete notification. Who knew Damien would get exposed for keeping a mistress, and Sebastian’s unrequited love would suddenly return from abroad? Knowing they were about to go full “yandere” (obsessive-crazy) for these other women, we panicked. Mission status: FAILED. I tried to demand an explanation from the System, but the damn thing flickered twice and went black! I stomped my foot in rage! Zero stars! Review: Would not recommend! Suddenly, the keypad lock beeped open. Led by the White Moonlight and the Sugar Baby, a crowd swarmed in and surrounded us. Livestream cameras were shoved right into our faces. The Sugar Baby sobbed, “Sister, Damien and I have been through so much. Please, don’t tear us apart.” Meanwhile, the White Moonlight was screaming, “If you’re that desperate for love, go die! Stop rubbing your cheap self all over my man!” Chloe and I exchanged looks. We kept a low profile, sure, but were we invisible? Who gave these clowns the audacity to bark at the main wives? “Here’s my marriage certificate with Sebastian…” I tried to pull out my phone, but the White Moonlight slapped it out of my hand. “You slept your way into my boyfriend’s life with your trashy body, and now you’re photoshopping pics? Shameless!” I stumbled back from her shove and fell to the floor. Chloe tried to help me but was tackled by the Sugar Baby. The livestream chat was vile. 【Eww, what a slut! Disgusting!】 【Homewreckers deserve to die!】 … The White Moonlight looked around and started smashing everything related to Sebastian and me. The Sugar Baby took the opportunity to rip the jewelry off Chloe’s body. The place was a wreck. Chloe looked at me, eyes burning. “Fighting?” I looked back. “You fight, I fight!” 2 Chloe delivered an elbow strike that sent the Sugar Baby stumbling back. Not to be outdone, I marched up to the White Moonlight and slapped her across the face. “Are those eyes just for decoration? I said I’m married to Sebastian! Married! Do you not speak English?” I grabbed my phone and stood by the door. “You think just anyone can walk into the Shen ancestral home?” Chloe shoved her phone into the Sugar Baby’s face. “You know exactly who the mistress is here!” The internet sleuths quickly analyzed our complex relationships and concluded: These two were running a scam. Public opinion flipped instantly. Bruised and battered, the two intruders fled. Chloe and I sat on the floor, gasping for air, when the door was kicked open again. Damien stormed in and slapped Chloe. “Who gave you permission to touch her!” I rushed over, slapped him back, and shielded Chloe. “Damien White, you dare?” “If it wasn’t for her pulling strings for you all these years, you’d still be rotting in the White family’s basement!” Damien’s voice was cold. “I never asked for her help.” He glared at us. “Touch my person again, and I’ll end you.” Before leaving, he glanced at me. “Good luck. You think Sebastian Shen is going to let this slide?” I shivered. Sebastian played with prayer beads and acted harmless, but he was ruthless behind the scenes. Last time someone insulted his White Moonlight, he broke their legs. This time I slapped her. He was going to skin me alive. Chloe looked at her pregnancy test and smiled bitterly. “I was going to surprise him.” I touched my stomach, eyes stinging. We were both orphans. When we read the book, we saw ourselves in these broken characters. So when Chloe threw herself into saving Damien, I wasn’t surprised. I also wanted to protect the fragile boy who had been kidnapped and abused. We healed ourselves by healing them. But fake is fake. Chloe wiped her face. “I’m done playing. Death?” I made up my mind. “You die, I die.” “What about the baby?” I asked. “The father doesn’t want it, why should I care?” She waved her hand dismissively. We agreed immediately: find the System and execute the “Death Escape” protocol. Unexpectedly, while we were at the hospital arranging our “final affairs,” we ran into Damien. He was supporting the Sugar Baby and sneered, “Stalking me?” 3 “Did you find out my baby is sick and decide to get sick too to win me back?” The Sugar Baby hid behind Damien, acting coy. “Yesterday Damien was too rough, I couldn’t handle the pain so I came to the hospital.” “Sister, don’t copy me, okay?” Chloe rolled her eyes and tried to walk around them, but he grabbed her. “Apologize to her!” “For what?” Chloe screeched, like a cat with its tail stepped on. “Get it straight, she hit me first!” She tried to reason with him. Damien was arrogant. “You’ve enjoyed the title of Mrs. White in her place long enough. So what if she slapped you a few times?” As soon as he finished speaking, Chloe turned red. The next second, she slapped the Sugar Baby and kicked Damien! “You’re both animals! Don’t pretend to be human!” Damien stood between them to protect the Sugar Baby and shoved Chloe. Chloe tumbled down the stairs. Blood spread across the floor from under her dress. I screamed as I ran to her, “Doctor! Doctor! Help! She’s miscarrying!” “She’s pregnant?” Damien asked. The Sugar Baby panicked. “Impossible! Sister hit me so hard, she must be faking it.” “Let’s go, my tummy hurts.” She dragged Damien away. I didn’t have time to think, I rushed to the ER. The doctor told me the baby was gone, and multi-organ failure from cancer meant she could only be kept alive by machines. It would be painful. This was the System’s custom death scenario. I relaxed a bit, thinking the System had a pain blocker. But then I saw her curled up, sweating profusely, biting her lip until it bled. “System! What’s happening?” I yelled in panic. The System’s voice crackled, barely alive. “Host… she transferred all her pain blocking points to you.” “So right now, she feels the same pain as a real cancer patient.” My eyes burned. “Chloe, are you plotting against me?” Chloe weakly lifted her hand to pat my head. “I’m dying. What if they bully you when I’m gone?” “Leaving you a bit extra is always good.” I was touched to tears, but then she added, “I’m not losing out. You gave me your reward points.” “I die first, I enjoy first.” Fine! She has a conscience, but not much. I went to find a doctor, hoping to ease her pain. But the top specialist had been summoned by Damien. I called him. “Damien, send the doctor back. Chloe has cancer, she’s in agony.” He scoffed. “Chloe is as healthy as a horse. She took a knife for me and was jumping around the next day. Now she’s dying because I haven’t seen her for a few days? Who are you kidding?” 4 Damien was impatient. “My baby having a stomach ache isn’t a small matter. You can’t have the doctor. If Chloe wants to die, let her die.” My voice was heavy. “Just help me this once, for Sebastian’s sake. Help her ease the pain.” Before I finished, the phone changed hands. A familiar, cool voice spoke. “Liv, from the moment she returned, we were done.” It was Sebastian. He didn’t even bother settling the score with me; he was already with his White Moonlight. Sebastian paused. “A is always A, but B can be anyone.” “Consider this a lesson. Learn your place.” He cut ties with me in three sentences, kicking me aside like trash, disregarding all our history. The laughter from the other end of the line wove a net that suffocated me. Screw them all! Not a single good man among them! The days dragged on. I gossiped with Chloe, watching the headlines about Damien taking his Sugar Baby to events. People joked that the Prince finally revealed his protected rose. Sebastian also showed off occasionally, giving his personal prayer beads—a symbol of his status—to the White Moonlight. The internet swooned, saying the Zen Master fell from grace for his goddess. Chloe was covered in tubes, laughing heartlessly. “Mix some glitter in my ashes. Even dead, I gotta sparkle.” “And burn some paper effigies of hot guys for me…” My nose stung, but I cursed her. “You dog, I gave you the money, find real hot guys!” No response. She stopped breathing in my arms. Chloe donated all her organs for cancer research. I took her ashes home. Damien wanted to annul the marriage but couldn’t find Chloe, so he barged into the villa. “Where the hell is Chloe? Get out here!” Damien shouted. I pointed to the urn on the table. “She’s right there.” He froze, then knocked the urn over. “You guys are really committed to the act, huh? Faking death to hide from me? That’s low.” The ashes scattered in the wind. Actually, the glitter did look nice. I threw the death certificate and the organ donation certificate at him. Everything was clear. No faking. He read them and tore them to shreds, refusing to believe it. He asked around, confirmed the truth, turned pale, and mumbled about how it was impossible. I smirked, mocking him. “When you hid your Sugar Baby and used Chloe as a human shield, did you ask if she would die?” “When you pushed her down the stairs, knowing she was pregnant and had cancer, but hogged the doctor, did you ask if she would die?” “Now you’re happy? You scattered her ashes yourself.” Damien knelt on the ground, trying to gather the powder, but he couldn’t pick it up. Tears fell on the floor. He sobbed uncontrollably. He frantically looked for anything Chloe left behind, trying to grasp something. But he found nothing. Right. He originally had nothing. Damien went mad, hugging the urn and threatening suicide. Sebastian clearly looked relieved when he saw I was alive. “Liv, the position of Mrs. Shen will always be open for you.” Sebastian was unusually gentle. “But… you are not qualified to bear my child.” “She saved my life. I love her.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387630”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My boyfriend, Nate, casually started complaining about a freshman girl he was “mentoring.” “Lily is so clueless, she can’t even make a PowerPoint.” “Good thing I was there to help, or the poor girl would have cried her eyes out.” “But honestly, she’s kind of cute. Like a little lost kitten.” After he finished, I mimicked his tone, casually bringing up my own day. “Really? We have a new freshman in my department this year too. Total klutz, trips over his own feet.” “I just helped him to the campus clinic today, and he sent me ninety-nine roses.” “So dumb, right? But he is way hotter than you.” “By the way, babe, I have plans tonight. I won’t be spending Valentine’s Day with you.” Chapter 1 Nate was so lost in his own world, he didn’t reply for a long time. Only his buddy, Brad, sitting next to him, couldn’t help but laugh. “Bro, your girl is gonna have a baby… with someone else.” I ignored them, sipping my boba tea and typing away on my phone, occasionally letting out a shy giggle. Nate saw my expression and finally seemed to realize something was up. His face darkened, and he dragged me away from the table. Outside the restaurant, Nate, clearly in a bad mood, pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. I was too busy replying to texts to pay him any attention, unconsciously muttering, “That’s hilarious. You’re so funny, freshman.” Hearing this, Nate angrily threw his cigarette on the ground and snatched my phone. He glanced at my chat screen, shook his head disdainfully, his voice tinged with anger. “It’s just a meme of a dead pig. What’s so funny?” I quickly snatched it back, rolling my eyes. “It’s hilarious, okay? Why are you so boring?” Then I looked him up and down with disgust. “What do you want to say? It’s hot out here.” “Hurry up, I have plans tonight.” Nate was getting anxious but looked at me with confusion. “Plans tonight?” “Aren’t we supposed to go see a movie? What plans?” I brushed him off nonchalantly. “Oh, I already saw that movie. Go find someone else to watch it with.” “I’m going to pull an all-nighter gaming with someone else tonight. Way more fun than your movie.” At that, Nate completely lost it, stomping his feet in impotent rage. “It’s Valentine’s Day! You’re ditching your boyfriend to play games all night with someone else?” I responded flatly, acting innocent. “Yeah? Is that not allowed?” “If you’re bored, go hang out with someone else too. I’m not stopping you.” Just then, another message popped up on my phone. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing again. I sent a voice reply: “That GIF is hilarious too. I love it.” Then I walked back into the restaurant with my phone. Ignoring Nate, who was hopping mad behind me. Chapter 2 We were almost done eating when the “clueless freshman” Nate mentioned appeared at our usual spot—Chicken Kitchen. Nate spotted her immediately and excitedly introduced her to Brad. “Brad, that’s the girl I was telling you about. Lily. Cute, right?” Brad looked up at me, suppressing a laugh. “Yeah, she’s cute.” “But I think you’re pretty clueless too. And cute.” He burst out laughing, accidentally spraying juice on Nate’s face. “Sorry, sorry, bro. Couldn’t help it. My bad, I’m clumsy. I’ll drink to punish myself.” He downed half a glass of juice in one go. Nate wiped the pulp off his face, then eagerly waved at Lily. “Hey! Fancy meeting you here.” Lily blushed and nodded, shyly clutching her backpack as she walked to the counter. On the way, she almost tripped over nothing. Nate chuckled, finding it adorable. He whispered affectionately, “Dummy, your shoelace is untied.” Then he walked over to her with a look of helpless indulgence. Brad told me to look up and stop playing on my phone, warning me my boyfriend was about to get stolen. I shrugged indifferently and looked over. Nate was squatting on the floor, tying Lily’s shoelace into a perfect bow. When he stood up, he couldn’t resist patting her head. “Why are you so silly? Didn’t even know your shoe was untied.” Lily stared at the ground, blushing. “Sorry, Nate. Made you worry.” Nate sighed lovingly. “Alright, be good. Go order your food.” He watched her get in line, reluctant to leave. Finally, unable to stand it, he grabbed her number ticket and stood in front of her. “Go sit down. I’ll wait in line for you. Don’t want you tripping and spilling your food.” Lily made a playful face at him and sat down at a table behind him. I watched their little performance blankly. I felt absolutely nothing. Instead, the boy serving the food caught my attention. I watched him working diligently, feeling strangely satisfied. Brad, seeing I wasn’t going over to tear them apart, was shocked. “Zoe, what’s going on? You’re not gonna cause a scene?” “Where’s the Zoe who once fought the entire Law department?” I gave a vague “Huh?” and replied casually. “Those are past glories. Not worth mentioning.” I continued to admire the busy boy. He filled Nate’s bowl of Braised Chicken Rice entirely with potatoes. I finally burst out laughing. The boy scratched his head awkwardly in my direction and gave a goofy smile. I silently gave him a thumbs up. Good job. Soon, I got a text. “Zoe, does anyone really love potatoes that much? No meat at all? Weird.” I replied calmly. “What’s weird about it? I love meat. Hate veggies.” The boy blushed slightly. Another text came in. “I… I like meat too.” I smiled and typed. “Don’t forget your ID tonight.” He replied instantly. “Okay. I’ll bring extra boxes of that too.” I was just about to say I prefer strawberry flavor when my phone was snatched away. I looked up to meet Nate’s gaze. He was scrolling through my chat history. I wasn’t scared. I let him read. And watched him crumble. His face went pale. “You’ve only added him for two weeks, and you’ve talked this much?” “Wait, why are you telling him everything? Even an ant carrying away your dropped ice cream is flirty conversation?” “I can’t believe this. You told him about that? I was just a little quick that one time! I last a long time usually!” “Ha, I get it. Eighty percent of your chat is about me.” “You’re just using him to make me jealous, right?” He started trying to convince himself. Then, as if he’d figured it all out, he looked at me smugly. “Hmph, and what’s this about IDs and bringing extra boxes? You’re just going to an internet cafe to game, right?” “You girls and your little tricks. Naughty.” “Lily is different. She’s too innocent. She definitely doesn’t scheme like you.” I widened my eyes innocently. “No, you misunderstood. We’re not gaming. We’re getting a room.” Seeing his disbelief, like he wanted to debate me for another few rounds… I didn’t have the patience. I yawned and brushed him off. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You guessed it.” “Your Lily is innocent, everyone else is scheming. Happy now?” “Give me my phone. I need to go home and shower first.” Nate laughed angrily and threw my phone on the table. “You’re serious?” I gave him a meaningful look, then stared calmly at him as he teetered on the edge of a breakdown. Nate sensed I wasn’t joking. He couldn’t accept this shift. After all, I once fought the entire Law department to chase him. Tore up hundreds of love letters. Broke my nails multiple times. Someone who loved him that deeply couldn’t just suddenly start flirting with someone else. To him, this was fantasy. But I can only say, it didn’t happen suddenly. If he hadn’t hurt me first… I wouldn’t be treating him this way. Chapter 3 They say a woman’s love makes a man forget to look in the mirror. It’s true. I spoiled him too much. Too many girls were lining up to take my place, boosting his ego. So he grew colder towards me. Started flirting with every new girl he met. Lily wasn’t the first girl he talked about in front of me. Before her, there was Jen from Dance, and Courtney from Sports Medicine. He always did this. Never did anything big enough to make me hate him and leave completely. But he couldn’t stop flirting to prove his charm. I was exhausted. Tired, disgusted, and conflicted about whether to end it. I put so much effort into chasing him. Ending it felt like losing. During that time of hesitation, Xander appeared. He’s the nephew of the Chicken Kitchen owner. I used to see him doing homework in the shop back in high school. When he wasn’t in class, he helped out. He just happened to get into my department this year, so I recognized him immediately. One night, I went down for dinner late and ran into him alone in the shop. He gave me extra chicken leg meat. It tasted better than usual. Turns out, it was his secret recipe. To eat his cooking again, we exchanged WeChats. Sometimes he’d deliver to my door. Sometimes I’d go down when he was free. We got close. Initially, I was in it for the food. But then I realized he was funny. And we were fated. Every time Nate bailed on me, Xander appeared nearby. So for the last two weeks… The movies, escape rooms, claw machines, and music festivals I was supposed to go to with Nate… Xander filled in. As for what Nate was doing? Brad told me. This summer, Nate and Lily got a part-time job. Ten dollars a day. Working from 8 AM to 10 PM. Just making PowerPoints for a project. When I heard the wage, I was speechless. Everyone knows Nate is a trust fund kid. Does he need ten bucks? That doesn’t even cover his socks. He just wanted to flirt with the freshman. Giving me crap about “work-study” and “experiencing life.” But this time, I didn’t make a scene. Because of Xander, I felt less angry. Every time Nate was slaving away with Lily for ten bucks… I was out having fun with Xander, losing track of time. I know I’m not exactly a saint right now. Stringing two guys along. But you reap what you sow. Xander was willing to be flirted with. And I was willing to take the heat. Life is short. Screw it. Today, I’m ditching my boyfriend to go to a hotel with Xander. Who wouldn’t want to share a bed with a guy who’s 6’3″, has an eight-pack, a voice like velvet, and a soft personality? He paints. He cooks. And most importantly… he looks like my celebrity crush. Basically, I’m sleeping with my idol. Chapter 4 Nate read my chat history with Xander over and over, right in front of me. He remained convinced I was just doing it to make him jealous. I was too lazy to explain. Seeing Xander’s shift end, I grabbed my phone and left. But when I was dressed up, perfume on, heading downstairs… Nate was waiting outside my building. “Zoe, I know I’ve been close with some girls, but I never crossed the line.” “If you leave today, that’s cheating. You’ll be blasted on the campus confession wall. In the old days, you’d be shunned.” He grabbed my wrist, trying to preach repentance. But all I could think about was my 6’3″ crush. Is he packing? I didn’t have the energy for Nate. I cut him off fast. “Okay, you’re right, I’m wrong, I’m sorry.” “Post me on the confession wall if you want. Just make sure to use the photo from my trip to LA in April. Not that ugly candid you took by the river.” “If you don’t know which one, text me. I can take a new one for you.” “But I have an urgent matter right now. No time to chat. I’ll apologize properly tomorrow, okay?” I tried to hail a cab. Nate blocked me again, looking furious. “It’s Valentine’s Day! What ‘urgent matter’ do you have with another man?” “Who are you trying to fool?” Then he pulled his ultimate move. Crossed his arms, looked away, pouting like a wronged housewife. “If you dare leave today, we’re breaking up.” I clicked my tongue, expressionless. Then I hopped into a taxi. “Driver, Holiday Inn. Fast, please.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387629”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My stepbrother, Adrian, hated me for ten years after his “white moonlight”—his first love—fell to her death. Even when I used despicable means to possess him completely, he never truly forgave me. Until I ran away to a war-torn country in a fit of rage and got caught in a riot. Adrian didn’t hesitate. He shielded me with his body and took the bullet meant for me. Dying in my arms, his last words were: “I spoiled you too much.” “I truly regret… being your brother.” Everyone said I was crazy. That I ruined Adrian—a man who was upright, noble, and full of promise. So, I knelt on the long stone steps of the temple for fifty years. Begging for a second chance. This time, I will let him go. I only pray for him to have a life of peace and happiness. 1 “Sophie, look at this filth you wrote. Doesn’t it make you sick?” “How could you… have these kinds of thoughts about your own brother!” A voice I hadn’t heard in a lifetime exploded in my ears. I opened my eyes to see Adrian holding my diary, his face flushed crimson with rage. That diary was filled with my twisted desires for him. Lust. Obsession. Sin. But instead of the crushing shame I felt the first time, I started sobbing with relief. I really was reborn. I was back to the day of our first big fight, the day he discovered my secret. Seeing him alive, vibrant, and breathing in front of me made my body tremble uncontrollably. Thank God. He’s alive. Adrian noticed something was off. His anger flickered, replaced by confusion. He pointed to the floor. “Take all of this… and burn it.” In my past life, hearing those words made me snap. I went hysterical, pinned him against the wall, and kissed him. Adrian was horrified. He fled, and from that day on, he drifted away from me. That forbidden kiss broke something inside me. My obsession grew darker, and my hatred for Lily—the girl who “stole” him—festered until it caused a tragedy. So this time, I wiped the tears from my face. I picked up the box filled with my diaries. “Okay.” “I’ll burn them.” 2 Those diaries held the record of over a decade of our lives together. My mom and Adrian’s mom were best friends. But my mom had terrible taste in men. She married an abuser. When I was five, my mom died from her injuries. My dad, a drunk, drove his car into a ditch on the way to turn himself in. Adrian’s mom adopted me. But tragedy struck again when Adrian and I started middle school. She passed away, leaving us alone in that big, empty villa with only a few servants. Adrian was only a few months older than me, but while I was a troublemaker, he was the responsible one. He spent his childhood cleaning up my messes. When I got gastroenteritis, he stayed up all night watching my IV drip. When I got into fights, he backed me up. When I was scared of thunderstorms, he’d drag his pillow and blanket into my room to keep me safe. Even after Lily died because of me, even when he hated me to the bone… When the riot broke out, he still shielded me without a second thought. My brother was perfect. The only problem was that he loved me as family. And I loved him with a guilty conscience. In my past life, our housekeeper, Mrs. Wu, wept uncontrollably when she heard of Adrian’s death. The driver, Uncle Zhang, pointed at my nose and cursed me. “Sophie, you’re insane! You’re cursed! Are you only happy when everyone around you is dead?” I remembered Adrian’s last words again. “I truly regret… being your brother.” He regretted it. And so did I. They said the temple on the north side of the city was miraculous. I wanted to pray that in the next life, Adrian would never meet me. But maybe my sins were too heavy. The Abbot refused to see me. So I knelt. Year after year. From black hair to white. The bloodstains on the stone steps were from my knees and forehead. Finally, when I was old and withered, the Abbot agreed to see me. He said: “What has happened cannot be changed, but perhaps a new life awaits.” “You are his fated calamity. If it is not resolved, all efforts are in vain.” He pressed a small silk pouch into my wrinkled hand. “It will guide you to the moment of rebirth.” When I woke up clutching that pouch, I knew it wasn’t a dream. This life, I won’t make the same mistakes. I’ll pay any price to keep my brother safe. 3 The next morning on the way to school, the car was suffocatingly silent. Neither of us mentioned the diary. As I got out, Adrian finally spoke. “You hurt Lily a few days ago. Go apologize to her today.” His tone was stiff. He expected me to throw a tantrum. But I just nodded calmly. “Okay.” Adrian looked surprised, but he didn’t say anything else. During lunch break, I went to find Lily as promised. I found her with Adrian. The afternoon sun was warm. The girl was laughing, playfully punching the boy on the chest. Then she saw me. She immediately shrank behind Adrian, clutching her bandaged hand, looking terrified. Adrian instinctively shielded her. “What are you doing here?” His voice was guarded. He’d already forgotten he told me to come apologize. I couldn’t blame him. I was crazy. My possessiveness over Adrian was legendary. He was handsome, gentle, and rich. Plenty of girls liked him. And I chased every single one of them away. I mistook Adrian’s tolerance for love. I deluded myself into thinking he felt the same way. Like in my past life, when I drugged his water. I forced him to cross the line. Even though he resisted, I read pleasure in his broken moans. I ignored the fact that it was just a physiological reaction. Lily was special to him. Even ten years after her death, he never forgave me. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and bowed deeply to Lily. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you, and I shouldn’t have humiliated you in public.” “Can you… forgive me?” Lily glanced nervously at Adrian. Seeing he stayed silent, she whispered, “It’s okay. I forgive you.” I looked up and met Adrian’s eyes. They were swirling with emotions I couldn’t read. 4 In my past life, I hated Lily for another reason. I saw her hanging out with Tyler, the school bully. Tyler was Adrian’s nemesis. He loved making Adrian’s life miserable. I suspected Lily was a spy sent to toy with my brother’s feelings, so I targeted her. This time, I needed to know the truth. I needed to get these two back on track. So, I started pestering Lily, claiming I felt guilty and wanted to be friends. At first, she was wary. But eventually, she let her guard down. I asked her casually, “What do you think of my brother?” Lily’s ears turned pink. “Adrian… he’s helped me a lot. And he loves animals. He feeds the stray cats and pays for their vet bills.” “I think he’s really kind.” So it was true. They liked each other. Lily was the classic “tough weed” heroine—poor family, scholarship student, hardworking. My brother was the prince—handsome, top of the class, rich. A match made in heaven. Even knowing this, my heart felt like it was soaking in lemon juice. That night, Adrian knocked on my door. He didn’t come in. Last time he barged in, he found the diary. He was scarred. “I’m just looking at colleges,” I called out. “Nothing else.” Since my rebirth, I felt Adrian distancing himself. Even without the kiss, he couldn’t handle knowing his little sister lusted after him. And even without the kiss, I couldn’t stop loving him. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Why haven’t you been coming home with me lately?” I was surprised. Because I need to get used to life without you, I thought. Even looking at colleges, I was picking ones far away from him. He and Lily would go to the same top-tier university. I needed to be as far away as possible. I lied. “I get along with Lily. We walk home together to chat.” Adrian stared at me so intensely my scalp tingled. “Am I interrupting something?” I asked defensively. He frowned and flicked my forehead. “What are you thinking? There’s nothing going on.” He ruffled his hair, looking annoyed. “Whatever. It’s good… that you’re making friends.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387628”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When Christian broke up with me for the nth time, I was pulling an all-nighter for my annual performance review. “Chloe, I’m giving you twenty minutes. Get to the club and apologize, or we’re done.” I instantly broke down. “This report is critical for my promotion. Can you pick another day to throw a tantrum?” His tone was light, dismissive. “Tantrum? Looks like your job is more important than me. Fine, let’s break up.” “Oh, and by the way, I can be pretty petty.” “Stopping your promotion is just one phone call away.” I slammed the phone down, furious. But suddenly, a stream of floating comments—like a Twitch chat—appeared in front of my eyes. [Does the FL (Female Lead) actually believe his threats? The ML (Male Lead) already secretly approved her promotion. He just wants to surprise her!] [As long as she shows she’d choose him over her career, he’d give her the CEO chair if she asked. He’d never actually ruin her future.] [Avoidant attachment style at its finest. Says ‘go away’ but means ‘hug me tight.’ He needs her to cling to him.] [The ML is literally standing outside her door right now, waiting for her to run out and comfort him. This angst is delicious!] I was skeptical, hand hovering over the doorknob to go find him. Then, a WeChat notification popped up. “Heard your promotion is dead in the water, Miss Zhou. Interested in jumping ship?” 1 I stared at the message from a user named “Wings.” After racking my brain, I ruled out a prank. Was this Christian using a burner account to test me? No. Christian was too arrogant for that. In our ten-year relationship, I was always the one to cave, to apologize. The drama of me rushing over to beg for forgiveness? We’d rehearsed it a thousand times. My unconditional love had made him fearless. So who was this? The floating comments gave me the answer immediately. [The ML’s arch-nemesis is trying to poach her! He overheard the ML on the phone in the club bathroom. He texted the FL the second he walked out. Ruthless.] [The FL isn’t just the ML’s girlfriend; she’s a key player at the company. Julian Gu, the rival CEO, naturally wants to steal talent.] [Let’s be real, Julian has been thirsting after the FL for ages. This is personal.] I narrowed my eyes. Julian Gu. My team beat his company, Gu Corp, in the last bidding war. At the after-party, people joked that we should connect. Back then, he didn’t even look at me. I stood there, smile freezing on my face, until he finally, coldly, let me scan his QR code. I thought he’d delete me the next day. Turns out, he kept me. But I only half-believed the comments. Christian never hid our relationship, but in public, he treated me with the cold detachment of a superior. To outsiders, I was just a corporate slave making $3,000 a month. Julian loved mocking Christian for it. “Finding a corporate slave who doubles as a free bed-warmer? Christian really is a brilliant businessman.” Julian looked down on me. His job offer felt less like an opportunity and more like a way to piss off Christian. I scrolled past his name. Christian’s assistant had sent a voice note. “Chloe, please come quick. Mr. Pei is drunk and refuses to leave.” He also sent a video of Christian making a scene. I hesitated, about to change clothes, then froze. There she was. Bella, giggling in the background at the 30-second mark. [The ML is pulling this stunt again. Calling the Second Female Lead over just to make the FL jealous.] [He knows she falls for it every time. Scare her a little, and she loses her mind.] [Go to him, girl! I bet my membership on it—if you apologize tonight, he’ll be on his knees waiting for you.] [I get the ML. Seeing your partner suffer over a breakup feels so validating. It proves they love you.] I was stunned. The floating text wasn’t a hallucination. They called me the FL, and Christian the ML. Christian was exactly as they described—always threatening breakups, waiting for me to salvage things. If I didn’t go, he’d get everyone around us to pressure me. But even when I went, he wouldn’t soften immediately. Last time, I took a red-eye train just to comfort him. I walked in, exhausted, and he didn’t even look at me. Instead, he leaned into Bella. “Who told her to come? I thought you had a backbone. Didn’t we break up?” But seconds later, his body betrayed him. He clung to me. That night, he wouldn’t let me go. Seven times. The next day, he showered me with bags and trips, overcompensating. I once asked him, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away if you treat me like this?” He buried his face in my neck. “Wifey would never leave me over something so small.” “Chloe, as long as you take one step toward me, I’ll walk the remaining ninety-nine steps to you.” But he didn’t know. After being tortured like this repeatedly… I didn’t want to take a single step anymore. I was too tired for this exhausting love. Seeing no reply from me, the assistant kept calling. I hesitated. Should I coax him one more time? Then Bella sent a message. “Christian says don’t bother coming. He wants me to watch the sunrise with him!” She sent a short video. “Christian, Chloe isn’t coming. Is she really breaking up with you?” Christian downed his drink. “We broke up. Don’t mention her.” “Didn’t you want to see the sunrise? Let’s go.” He glanced at the camera. He knew she was recording. I took a deep breath and threw my phone onto the couch. I turned back to my laptop. Optimizing my PPT. Instead of believing the comments about a secret promotion, I chose to believe in my own competence. I wasn’t Christian or Bella, born with a silver spoon. I grew up poor. I had to seize every opportunity myself. 2 Christian didn’t come home all night. I didn’t sleep a wink. The next morning, I walked into the office with a heavy heart. Christian was already there. Impeccably dressed. Stern face. Radiating the oppressive aura of a CEO. A complete 180 from the childish drunk he was last night. I presented my performance review nervously. When I finished, he applauded with everyone else. His gaze was calm, even friendly. I was confused. Did me ignoring him actually fix things? After the meeting, I noticed a small gift box on everyone’s desk. The Finance Director next to me eyes lit up. “Wow, having a CEO boyfriend is nice. You get a promotion, we get gifts?” The admin girl cleared her throat. “This is a welcome gift from the new Executive Assistant.” The Finance Director was shocked. “Everyone gets a limited edition perfume as a hello?” “What is this, a new way for rich kids to flex on us peasants?” The admin glanced at me uneasily. She pulled the Finance Director aside. “The new assistant is the only daughter of the Bai Group, our biggest client.” “Mr. Pei paid for the gifts. Said he wanted to help his childhood friend make a good impression.” Bella. I understood immediately. Bella had always wanted to work at Pei Corp to get close to Christian. The Bai family had proposed a marriage alliance multiple times. Christian had always refused because of me. But after one night, he agreed. And he put her in the CEO’s office as his private assistant. A position I, his official girlfriend, wasn’t allowed to hold. I tried not to think about what happened between them last night. I opened a file, trying to work. A colleague told me Christian was looking for me. I headed straight to his office. When I walked in, I saw Bella sitting on Christian’s desk, her back to me. Her waist, snatched in a pencil skirt, was leaning against Christian’s hand. My palms stung. I never thought I’d see Christian intimate with someone else. I coughed lightly. Bella jumped off the desk. Seeing it was me, her smile vanished. She pouted. “You’ve worked here for years, don’t you know how to knock?” I paused. I never knocked when entering Christian’s office. “Sorry. Next time you guys are doing something inappropriate, lock the door.” Christian, who was expecting me to explode, changed his expression slightly. But he kept his cool. “Did you need something, Mr. Pei?” He replied calmly, “The board decided to put your promotion on hold.” Bella shot me a triumphant look. I stared at my shoes. “Mhm.” He didn’t lie. Just because I didn’t baby him last night, he halted my career. It felt like a boulder crushing my chest. My eyes burned. Thanks to the floating comments, I was prepared enough to keep my composure. “Okay. Understood.” Silence stretched between us. Dead air. “If you want to fight for it…” I cut him off. “I don’t. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.” I turned quickly. He called out. “Also, the Project A account. Bella will handle it from now on. Hand it over to her today.” I whipped around. “What did you say?” I had spent six months prepping Project A. No days off. The stress was so bad I needed pills to sleep. This project was my hope. I wanted to prove I wasn’t just riding Christian’s coattails. He knew how much it meant to me. He even helped me get resources behind the scenes. Now, right before the finish line, he was giving it to Bella? “Bella is new. She needs a win to establish herself.” “Project A is high profile and almost done. Perfect for her to practice on.” I fought back tears. “You know this project is my life.” “Why are you doing this to me?” He smiled vindictively. “I told you. I’m petty.” “Besides, I’m the boss. I don’t need your permission to assign projects.” “If you don’t like it, you can quit.” Bella giggled, covering her mouth. I looked at them coldly. One gloating, one arrogant. Both sure I wouldn’t leave. “Fine. I quit.” Christian’s smile vanished. He stared at me in disbelief. He raised his voice. “Chloe, don’t think being my girlfriend gives you the right to throw tantrums.” “Don’t test me. I will let you go!” I looked him dead in the eye. “Mr. Pei, you seem to forget. We broke up.” He choked. Bella, seeing the tension, smirked. She put on a worried act. “Christian, maybe we should forget it. Don’t fight because of me.” She added provocatively, “I’m so clumsy. What if I ruin Chloe’s hard work?” He patted Bella’s head indulgently. “It doesn’t matter if you ruin it. It’s just a small project. Worthless.” Blood rushed to my head. It took everything I had not to slap them both. My nails dug into my palms until they bled. “A company that uses projects to flirt with women isn’t worth staying at.” “Consider my years of hard work dog food.” Bella put her hands on her hips. “Who are you calling a dog?” I sneered. “If the collar fits.” “Chloe!” Christian’s face was livid. I turned and walked out without looking back. 3 I walked back to my desk like a zombie. Only when no one was looking did the tears fall. The floating comments appeared again. [The FL is so confused! The ML was putting on a show! The second she left, he kicked the Second Female Lead out!] [He just wanted to see her get jealous and submit. He didn’t expect her to be so stubborn and actually quit.] [Dating a superior means swallowing your pride. She wants the money AND the dignity. Greedy.] [She’s not thinking straight. Without this job, who pays for her sick mom’s medical bills? Can dignity pay for chemo?] The comments were right. My mom’s life depended on expensive imported drugs. Christian’s salary kept her alive. If the money stopped, my only family in this world would die. Just as I was agonizing over money, Christian messaged me. A rare initiative. “Come apologize to Bella, and I might consider giving the project back.” “I’ll even give you the new Pei Corp projects for the second half of the year.” “And your ID badge. Come get it yourself.” This was the first time Christian had ever offered a compromise. The comments rallied for him. [He finally lowered his head! You have no idea how hard this is for Mr. Pretend-He-Doesn’t-Care.] [As an avoidant myself, I’m moved. We have to love someone A LOT to swallow our pride! Cherish him, girl!] [Aside from being a tsundere, he’s rich, hot, and devoted. Don’t throw him away.] True. Aside from being a drama queen, Christian was good to me. If I could tolerate this, he was an excellent boyfriend. But I refused without hesitation. “I’m handing my resignation to HR today.” He replied after a long pause: “For real?” “Fine. Don’t come begging later.” “Don’t regret throwing away a perfect relationship and career over your ego.” I buried my head in my arms and cried silently. I mourned ten years of love. I mourned the job. But I couldn’t accept being treated like this anymore. He had a black hole inside him where love should be, and he tried to fill it by torturing me. I couldn’t see a future in that darkness. Instead of endless pain, I chose to end it myself. 4 I sent the resignation email, then pulled up Julian’s contact. “Mr. Gu, is your offer still valid?” He replied instantly: “Valid. But no girlfriends of Christian Pei allowed.” Me: “Broken up. Resigned.” Julian went silent. My heart was in my throat. Did I guess right? Was he just trying to get back at Christian? A long time later, my phone pinged. Julian sent a photo of a huge corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. “Office is ready. Want me to pick you up to see it?” I laughed and cried at the same time. How much did Julian hate Christian? I was just a mid-level manager. Did I deserve this? “Let me finish the handover first.” Him: “Skip it. Screw Christian over. Whatever the penalty is, I’ll pay.” Before I could reply, he sent another one. “Actually, never mind. Say goodbye properly. I know how breakups feel.” “Need to get drunk? Call me. Designated driver included.” I facepalmed. No wonder people said Julian Gu was eccentric and flashy. What a character. … Christian didn’t show up all afternoon. His assistant said he was escorting Bella around to every department. The CEO acting as a tour guide. A privilege I never had. When I joined, Christian had just secured his position. He didn’t want people gossiping, so we kept it secret. He asked me to understand. Christian was kidnapped as a child. We scavenged for scraps together in the slums for three years. When the Pei family found him, they had already moved on to their second son, the golden child. Christian was the awkward extra. He studied hard and worked like a maniac to gain their approval. To support him, I pretended we were strangers for two years at the company. Only after I nailed several huge projects did we go public. In contrast, Christian knew people shipped him and his “childhood friend” Bella… Yet he paraded her around without a care. The bias was unbearable. “See? I knew the CEO would marry someone of his own status. Bella entering the company is just prep for becoming Mrs. Pei.” “Some people sleep their way up and think they can become the lady of the house. Delusional.” Knowing I was leaving, colleagues who disliked me stopped whispering. I ignored the gossip. I grew up picking through trash for tuition. I was used to discrimination. HR called. She sounded awkward. “Ms. Zhou, Bella says she likes the view from your office. She wants to move in.” “So… can you pack up immediately?” Before I could answer, IT was at my desk. “Ms. Zhou, I’m here to watch you delete files. To ensure no corporate data is stolen.” He spoke loudly. Everyone stared. I looked at my computer, access already revoked, and smiled bitterly. Christian was humiliating me on purpose. Holding back tears, I numbly packed my box. I threw the gifts Christian gave me and our framed photo into the trash. Walking to the elevator, I ran into Bella holding small gift bags. And Christian, with her arm linked through his. She blocked me. “Don’t go, Chloe! Christian is treating the whole company to a Japanese buffet tonight to welcome me. Stay and eat?” Christian stood silently beside her. The comments were more agitated than I was. [The Second Female Lead is shameless! The dinner was originally booked to celebrate the FL’s promotion! The ML is just using her to provoke the FL!] [Please, girl, just give in! If you don’t turn back now, the ML is going to get drunk tonight, Bella will take him home, and once they sleep together, it’s really over!] I pushed her away. “Move. I’m busy.” She grabbed my arm. “Is it because you’re embarrassed about being dumped?” “Or because you were fired for incompetence and are running away in shame?” Looking at her arrogant face, I snapped. I backhanded her across the face. Slap. “Get lost. You’re not worthy of eating with me.” Bella screamed and threw herself into Christian’s arms. “Christian! She hit me! She’s crazy!” Christian shielded Bella, looking at me with eyes full of fire. I took a step forward. “And you.” I raised my hand to Christian. “You’re trash too.” As my hand came down, Christian caught my wrist in a vice grip, then shoved me hard. “Chloe! Stop acting like a shrew!” I slammed into the wall. Pain shot through my back. I held back the tears and stood straight. I scanned Christian’s icy face. “Mr. Pei, I slapped your little mistress. If you’re unhappy, call the cops.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387627”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Strange girls always appear around my childhood friend. I know they’re trying to “conquer” him. But none of them ever succeeded. Until Sarah showed up. She was different from all the other girls. She would praise his clean, efficient method of dissecting butterflies. She would agree with his most shocking, terrifying thoughts. She bragged to me triumphantly, believing she was the savior who would redeem this dark, brooding boy. But she never noticed that the look in his eyes when he watched her… Was exactly the same as when he watched those butterflies. 1 My childhood friend, Silas Vane, is a psychopath. When we first met, he was six years old. He looked like an exquisite porcelain doll, harmless and sweet. His smile was sugary, like marshmallow fluff. I let my guard down and took the chocolate bar he offered. The moment I peeled back the wrapper, a swarm of red fire ants crawled out. I looked up. Silas was smiling sweetly at me. I calmly picked the chocolate up from the ground and tossed it into the trash can. After washing my hands, I slowly turned to him and said, “Thanks for the welcome gift. I hated it. Don’t do it again.” Silas stopped smiling. His pitch-black eyes stared straight at me. I saw right through him. “Surprised I’m not scared?” I smiled slightly. “That trick was amateur. Not nearly as interesting as the surprise my mom got me.” For my fifth birthday, Mom gave me two beautiful butterfly knives. I practiced for a year before sharpening them. After I showed Silas my knife skills, he walked away with a tight face. I rested my chin on my hand and thought, He probably won’t be back. 2 A week later, I received a huge bouquet of flowers. Little Silas smiled angelically. “I picked these from my backyard. Hope you like them.” The roses were vibrant, still dewy from the morning. I smiled back. “Thanks.” The second he left, I threw the flowers into the trash. A moment later, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and caterpillars crawled out of the roses. I stood up, dusted myself off, and went home. The next day after school, a snake appeared in my room. I grabbed the snake by its head and tossed it into the Vane family’s backyard. 3 From then on, all sorts of weird things started popping up in my house. I knew it was that little psycho. Every time, I returned the favor. 4 Until one day, Silas invited me to his house. His room had an entire wall filled with butterfly specimens. Silas’s voice came from behind me. “Isn’t it beautiful?” “Beautiful things in this world are fleeting, but there’s always a way to make them eternal.” “Specimens preserve the beauty of butterflies forever, keeping them in their most stunning moment.” I took a sip of my milk and said flatly, “But they lost their freedom.” “What does that matter?” Little Silas laughed, his voice full of childish innocence. “As long as they can stay with me forever.” “Don’t you think so, Jo?” I didn’t answer him. I closed my eyes and collapsed to the floor. After a long silence, a delighted laugh rang through the air. “Now, you’re mine too.” He hummed a happy tune, took a syringe from a drawer, and crouched beside me. The next second, I flipped over, pinned him down, and snatched the syringe. I pressed the needle against Silas’s neck, looking down at him. “You want to turn me into a specimen too?” “Don’t you want to be with me forever, Jo?” He blinked, not feeling a shred of guilt. I hauled him up, slammed him against the wall, and beat him up. Only after dunking his head into the bathtub for the third time did I let go. I said coldly, “Don’t cross my line, little psycho.” Silas pushed his wet hair back, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes that shone with terrifying brightness. He actually started laughing happily. “Jo, I like you so much.” “I don’t want a specimen anymore. I want a living Jo.” “Let’s be friends forever, okay? We’ll even die together.” “Get lost. I’m not dying.” 5 Since then, I’ve been stuck with this little psycho. But over the years, I noticed something amusing. Strange girls would always appear around Silas, stay for a while, and then disappear. Later, I found out they were trying to “conquer” him. Like a game. But no one ever succeeded. Except for Sarah. She stayed by Silas’s side the longest. Maybe because she was the most unique of them all. 6 That day, I walked past the flowerbed and saw Silas chatting with Sarah, a polite smile on his face. I listened for a bit. It was the same script he used on everyone. Feeling bored, I turned to leave, but then I heard Sarah say: “It’s not your fault, Silas. You are a good person. Blame Jo and your parents. It’s all their fault.” Me: “?” What did I do? Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, her expression a mix of sympathy and heartache. “I came too late. If I had appeared sooner, I would have protected you. I wouldn’t have let Jo hurt you.” “If I had a cold childhood friend like Jo and parents who ignored me, I’d be twisted too.” “I understand you, Silas. Let me be with you.” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Silas needing protection. That was the best joke I’d heard all year. Sarah noticed me and shrieked, “Why are you hiding there eavesdropping?!” I kindly warned her, “Silas isn’t a good person. You’d better stay away from him.” But Sarah acted like she was facing a great enemy, shielding Silas behind her and glaring at me warily. “You’re trying to steal Silas, aren’t you? Jo, keep dreaming! Silas told me everything. You’ve been giving him the cold shoulder for years, causing his psychological distortion. Now that I’m here to protect him, I will never hand Silas over to you!” “I know what you’re planning. You’re trying to drive a wedge between us, hoping I’ll doubt him and leave. But I’m not weak. I will not only save Silas, I will make him better.” Disappointment and condemnation filled Sarah’s eyes. “Jo, you really don’t deserve to be his childhood friend. Please let Silas go. Since none of you care about him, from now on, I will be his salvation.” I thought she was baffling, so I turned and left. 7 The girls who appeared before Sarah usually forced themselves to stay for a few days before vanishing without a trace. But Sarah was different. She praised Silas’s technique with the butterflies. She validated his horrifying ideas. When she saw the things Silas kept in the basement, her eyes lit up as she said, “Silas, you’re so special.” Even Silas found it strange and asked why she wasn’t scared. Sarah actually claimed he was forced to be twisted by us, so being different was normal. Hilarious. Silas’s parents loved each other deeply. They were open-minded and raised Silas with a hands-off approach. As for me “cold-shouldering” him? Complete nonsense. Silas was just born sick. I don’t know what Kool-Aid Sarah drank to convince herself Silas had a tragic childhood and needed saving. She probably didn’t notice that the way Silas looked at her… was the same way he looked at those butterflies. 8 The results of the joint exams came out. I habitually looked at the first line, but my name wasn’t there. First place: Sarah. My rank had dropped to below 800. Impossible. I went to the office and requested to see the original exam paper. My homeroom teacher helped me log in, comforting me, “Must be a scanning error or a miscalculation. With your grades, we can definitely fix it.” The dean nodded. “Right. If we don’t fix it, our school loses its top student.” But when we saw the original scan, we all fell silent. The answer sheet was largely blank, with only a few lines of scribbles. Yet, the candidate information was definitely mine. The teacher frowned, hesitating. “Jo, what happened?” Staring at the handwriting on the screen—identical to mine—I thought of Sarah’s first-place score. I knew what happened. But I couldn’t explain it. Who would believe that Sarah somehow magically swapped my answer sheet?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387626”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Two years after I died, I suddenly regained consciousness. My mom had found a new man and was living her best life. My dad got everything he ever wanted and was enjoying his golden years surrounded by grandkids. My bestie, the only person who truly got me, finally stopped grinding her life away for her career and decided to retire early to Europe. And the guy I secretly crushed on for ten years was finally walking down the aisle with the love of his life. Everyone was doing great. I thought it was great, too—even if my grave felt a little lonely sometimes. The night before the wedding, I floated into Lucas’s bachelor party. After a few rounds of drinks, I saw my bestie raise her glass to Lucas. “Lucas, honestly? I’ve always hated your guts.” “You shamelessly soaked up all of Jenny’s affection and effort while completely ignoring her feelings.” “But I know if Jenny were standing here today, she’d genuinely wish you happiness. ‘Happy wedding, happily ever after,’ all that jazz.” “So, I’ll say it for her.” “Happy wedding. Happily ever after.” 1 Hearing those words, I froze. Lucas, as always, kept his face devoid of emotion. “Rachel, you’re drunk.” “Fine, assume I’m drunk. Assume I’m talking nonsense,” Rachel said, downing her drink in one gulp. “Anyway, Jenny’s been gone for two years.” “I booked a flight for tomorrow morning. I won’t be at your wedding.” Rachel handed Lucas two red envelopes. “Here. One from me, one for Jenny.” Lucas didn’t take them. “Why are you giving me Jenny’s share?” “Why do you think? She prepared her gift money ages ago. Made me promise to give it to you.” “Hey, come on, it’s a happy day. Don’t bring the mood down,” an old friend chimed in, trying to smooth things over. “We know you and Jenny were tight, but Jenny never said she liked Lucas, right?” “Besides, she’s been gone a year. What’s the point of bringing this up now?” “Saying this the night before Lucas’s wedding… what is the bride supposed to think?” Rachel sneered. “I don’t give a damn what she thinks! I’ve hated her since day one.” “Relax. Even if I hate you guys, this is the last time you’ll see me.” Rachel shoved the envelopes into Lucas’s pocket and stormed off. I floated there, panicked. I looked at Lucas, hesitated for a second, then chased after Rachel. “Rach! Rach, slow down! My little legs can’t keep up!” Rachel always speed-walked when she was mad. She was tall, all legs. I always had to hustle to keep up. But every single time, she would eventually stop, huffing, and wait for me. Then she’d poke my forehead and call me a dummy. Too bad she couldn’t see me now. So she never stopped. 2 I never expected her to drive to my cemetery in the middle of the night. When I first woke up, I was tethered to my grave. There were no other ghosts around, so I just sat on my headstone like a gargoyle, watching the sun rise and set. No one talked to me. No one saw me. I talked to myself a lot. Sometimes I’d pop up in front of mourners and make faces. They’d chat right through my soul, and I’d call them rude. Then one day, I realized I could wander further. So I went to check on my old crew. They were all living good lives. So I figured, as long as they were happy, it didn’t matter if they visited me or not. 3 Rachel brought a handkerchief. She squatted in front of my grave and meticulously wiped away the dust. “Sorry. I know you hate being lonely, but I haven’t come to see you in so long.” Rachel sat down, leaning her back against my headstone. I sat down next to her, shoulder to shoulder. “You always said you were a coward, but you were way braver than me. Look at me. Even today, I can’t accept that you’re gone.” “I didn’t bring flowers today. Didn’t bring those candied apples you love. Are you mad at me?” I hugged my knees and smiled at her. “Since you cleaned my grave, I’ll forgive you.” “Jenny, I’m leaving.” “I’m emigrating. Probably won’t come back much.” “There’s nothing left for me here. Even you left me. No point staying.” I nodded. “It’s okay. Go if you want. Follow your heart.” “I know you’d support whatever I do. But I still have to tell you something that might make you mad.” “Lucas is getting married.” “To Chloe.” “I told him you had a crush on him for ten years. You probably hate that.” “But I just couldn’t get over it.” “Not throwing my drink in their faces was already me taking the moral high ground.” “I’ll never forget the look on Chloe’s face when she stood in front of you, calling you a desperate pick-me who throws herself at men for free.” “Your taste in people was always trash. Whether it was me, your friend, or Lucas, the guy you loved… we were never considerate enough.” “Most of the time, you were the one accommodating us.” “Jenny… is there another world after death? Are you happy there?” I thought for a moment. “I don’t know if there’s another world, but I’m doing okay right now.” Not super happy, not super sad. Just okay. “Rach, you don’t need to feel guilty. And you don’t need to take it out on Lucas. He didn’t do anything wrong.” “He just didn’t like me. That’s all.” 4 I always thought I was lucky. I was the product of a business marriage. My parents had their own careers and lovers; they rarely looked my way. But I lived a cushy life. Designer clothes, best schools. I was introverted. In high school, bullies targeted me constantly. But the worst time, I met Rachel. She bravely called the cops and even got hurt protecting me. I had no ambition, just wanted to coast. My parents didn’t care about my future, so I was lost. But Lucas stood out. The way he spoke on stage captured my heart instantly. To chase him, I studied my butt off and got into the same university. Rachel called me a chicken. She said I followed Lucas around like a puppy for years, and he didn’t even know I existed. So I gathered my courage and approached him as a “fellow alum.” Classmate, acquaintance, friend, good friend. That path took me forever. I thought about confessing. Even bought a gift. But Lucas had a traumatic childhood. He had severe issues with intimacy. So I thought, fine. Don’t force it. Just being friends was enough for me. Then one day, Lucas went on a business trip for a week. When he came back, he had a woman with him. Chloe. The high school prom queen. Now Lucas’s girlfriend. That’s when I realized: “trauma” and “walls” are just excuses. When you meet the right person, the walls come down. The shadows disappear. I couldn’t do it. But Chloe did. Love is so unreasonable. It doesn’t care about first come, first served. When “The One” shows up, everyone else becomes a background character. Too bad. I had main character energy but a side character destiny.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387625”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Right before the SATs, my new homeroom teacher suddenly decided to implement “pressure cooking” education. I scored a 1550 on the mock exam, but my math score dropped by a measly 5 points. She still publicly roasted me in front of the whole class: “Today you drop 5 points, tomorrow you’ll score a 300. Keep slacking on math, and you won’t even get into community college!” Every class, she targeted me with impossible questions. If I couldn’t answer, I had to stand in the “shame corner” for the entire day. When I got bullied, she said, “It takes two to tango,” and told me to reflect on my own issues. When I called in sick with a fever, she bombarded the class group chat: “Being poor is one thing, but lying about being sick to skip class? Pathetic.” “If you can’t handle this little bit of pressure, just drop out. You’re better suited for flipping burgers!” Eventually, the psychological torture broke me. I bombed the SATs and didn’t get into any colleges. Meanwhile, the guy who was always second to me—Kyle—ended up as the state Valedictorian and snagged a massive scholarship. The day I went back to school to pick up my transcripts, I saw my teacher hugging Kyle, beaming. “That poor loser thought he could beat my son? The Valedictorian title belongs to you, honey.” I stormed in to confront them. In the struggle, they pushed me down the stairs. I broke my neck and died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the day the new teacher transferred in. 1 After failing to get into college, I felt like a walking corpse. My mind was consumed with thoughts of ending it all. My therapist diagnosed me with severe depression. I didn’t get it. I had grinded for twelve years, only to lose everything in the final battle. All my past glory instantly became worthless. Like my soul had been sucked out, I walked back to school to get my files. As I approached that office I both hated and feared, I heard a laugh. It sounded familiar. Suspicion pricked at me, and I moved closer without thinking. The voices became clearer. “That poor loser thought he could beat my son? The Valedictorian title belongs to you, honey.” “Haha, Mom, you’re amazing. You crushed him just by talking. I heard he’s clinically depressed now and wants to kill himself!” “Hmph, let him die. Anyone who can’t handle a little pressure deserves to be played.” Those words froze me to the bone. In an instant, everything clicked. Kyle, the guy I always beat, was Mrs. Lee’s son. The news always celebrates the Valedictorian. Who remembers the Salutatorian? So, there was no “pressure cooking” education. Mrs. Lee was targeting me on purpose! She wanted to break my spirit so her son could take the top spot! Rage instantly fried my brain. I kicked the door open and stormed in to confront them. Mrs. Lee immediately shielded Kyle behind her, denying everything. “Jason, stop talking nonsense! When did I target you? Failing the SATs is your own fault!” Kyle peeked out from behind her, hurling insults. “Ten years of sharpening a sword, only to find out it’s a needle when it’s time to fight. Hahaha, Jason, you’re a waste of space. Just admit it!” I roared in frustration, pulling out my phone to expose them. Mrs. Lee rushed over to grab it. In the struggle, they shoved me. I tumbled down the stairs, the back of my head slamming against the concrete steps. Lights out. Terrified, the two of them fled the scene. Later, Mrs. Lee destroyed the security footage and spread rumors online, claiming I “committed suicide at school due to depression.” I became a trending topic, a cautionary tale for the whole internet. My parents, forced to bury their child, cried until they had no tears left. Their hair turned white overnight, aging decades in a single day. I wasn’t ready to go. My soul wandered in limbo for who knows how long— When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mrs. Lee clicking into the classroom in her high heels, carrying a messy stack of mock exam papers. I stared at her in disbelief. She tossed the papers onto the podium, leaned forward on her hands, scanned the room, and locked eyes with me. “No pressure, no diamonds. We’re handing back the mock exams now. “Some students whose grades have tanked… go squat in the back corner yourself!” This familiar scene. It stopped my breathing for a second. Wait, I can breathe? I’m alive again! 2 The class knew a new homeroom teacher was coming. Rumor had it Mrs. Lee was a fan of “tough love.” Her students were always stressed out of their minds. Right now, everyone was stiff as a board, holding their breath, terrified of being made an example of. The mock exam was our lifeline. Those who weren’t confident were already sweating bullets. As scores were read out, Mrs. Lee ignored students who dropped dozens of points, just like in my past life. But when she got to my score, her brow furrowed instantly. “Jason! As the number one student in the class and the grade, why did your math score drop so much?!” “Today you drop 5 points, tomorrow you score a 300. With this kind of imbalance, you won’t even get into community college!” The rage from my past life was still burning. I almost stood up to expose her entire scheme right there. But I snapped out of it quickly. No evidence. Accusing her rashly would only make me look like a disrespectful student, giving her more ammo to target me. In my last life, her private messages robbed me of my future and my life. Just pointing out the truth wasn’t enough. How could I be satisfied with just that?! “Jason, go squat in the back!” Mrs. Lee pointed at me from the podium, her voice sharp. I sat in my seat, not moving an inch. “Why?” Mrs. Lee frowned deeper, clearly not expecting me to talk back. “Jason, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me? Anyone whose grades dropped needs to go squat in the corner!” I tried my best to stay calm, forcing a fake smile. “Mrs. Lee, do I need to replay what you just said? You said ‘grades dropped significantly.’ I don’t think I fall into that category.” “As the top student, the pride of the class, dropping 5 points is worse than someone else dropping 50!” Mrs. Lee suddenly shouted, pointing to the back again. “I’ll say it one more time. Go squat in the back!” 3 I glanced at Kyle in the next row out of the corner of my eye. He was smirking, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards, clearly enjoying the show. In my past life, I was terrified of being scolded by a teacher. I went to the back without complaint, squatting against the wall. The “gaze” of my classmates felt like knives stabbing my heart. Mrs. Lee kept twisting the knife, saying I was arrogant because I was number one, that I didn’t even take the questions seriously. She claimed my imbalance was intentional, a ploy for attention. She insinuated I was manipulative and impure, saying if I continued like this, I’d become the scum of the class and a cancer to society. I was belittled into nothingness. Just because I scored 5 points less in math, she painted me as an unforgivable sinner. Some classmates, jealous of my success, looked at me with pure schadenfreude as the teacher tore me apart. I squatted there for a whole period. Even when the bell rang, Mrs. Lee wouldn’t let me stand up. She opened the back door, letting students from other classes gawk at me like a zoo animal. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I was filled with grievance. Later, my legs were so numb I couldn’t stand. I had to be helped to the nurse’s office, missing math class. From that day on, I lived like that until the SATs. Every day felt like a year. I hated school. The sight of the building terrified me; the bell made me want to vomit. “I’m talking to you! Do you hear me?!” Seeing no reaction, Mrs. Lee slammed her hand on the desk. The class jumped, looking between her and me. I couldn’t get angry. Couldn’t be scared. Otherwise, I’d fall into her trap. I kept calm, looked up at her, and held her gaze. “Sorry, I don’t think losing 5 points is a ‘significant drop,’ and I don’t believe being number one means I can’t lose a single point.” “I’m human. I have good days and bad days. Also, test scores depend on the difficulty of the questions.” “So, I’m not going.” In my classmates’ eyes, I was always the nerd who kept his head down and took whatever was dished out. Seeing me fight back now, their eyes widened in shock. A small group looked excited, eager to see what this “tough love” teacher would do. Mrs. Lee was furious, slamming the desk and yelling about rebellion. 4 “Jason! Do you think just because you have good grades, the teachers and students should pamper you?!” “Let me tell you, this arrogance will only ruin the class atmosphere!” “Class! Look closely! The SATs are coming up. Don’t let his behavior influence you, or you won’t get into college!” Mrs. Lee was trying to turn the whole class against me. I wasn’t going to let her win. I immediately fired back. “Mrs. Lee, let’s take a step back. What did Kyle, the second-place student, score?” Everyone looked at Kyle. Kyle twitched. “What does this have to do with me?” “Joke’s on you. Aren’t you in this class? Is Mrs. Lee’s new rule custom-made for me? The first place is arrogant, but the runner-up isn’t?” Kyle’s face darkened. Mrs. Lee immediately retorted. “Kyle’s total score increased by 10 points compared to last time. What is there to compare?” “What about the ranking?” I pressed, confident. Mrs. Lee paused. Kyle nervously gripped the edge of his desk. Because the SATs were approaching, the school didn’t rank the recent mock exams to avoid stressing the students. But I was too hard on myself. I always kept a mental scoreboard. Once the final math scores were out, I calculated everyone’s ranking. We were the honors class. 68 students. We almost always took the top 100 spots in the school. Being first in the class basically meant being first in the school. Ironically… this perfectionism was the main reason for my depression in my last life. But now, I was going to use this. I was going to use Mrs. Lee as a weapon to stab her precious son right in the heart! I couldn’t handle it in my last life. Now let’s see if Kyle, the eternal runner-up, can handle it!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387624”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My whole family transmigrated into a book. My mom was a scammer, my dad was a thief. My sister had a body count (literally), and my brother sold the hard stuff. I was the only one who started as a fictional character—specifically, the tragic heroine of a angst-filled romance novel. The male lead stormed into my house, ready to force me into a “relationship.” As soon as he stepped through the door, my entire family was there, sharpening kitchen knives with murderous glints in their eyes. “So, you’re the punk making our girl cry?” 1 My life sucks. My dad is a gambling addict. But he thinks he’s a god at poker. The reason he loses nine times out of ten? Because my mom and I are “bad luck.” So every time he loses his shirt, he comes home and uses us as punching bags. But a year ago, he suddenly changed. He quit gambling. Quit smoking. Quit drinking. Every time he came home, he brought stacks of cash for my mom. He even bought me a Cartier bracelet and a Hermès bag. Said they were vintage, but guaranteed authentic. My mom thought he’d been possessed. She was so happy, like a freed slave. She hugged the bracelet and bag, hyperventilating with joy. Then she passed out from excitement. When she woke up… She changed too. Her eyes, usually clear and foolish, suddenly held a depth I couldn’t read. The first thing she said to me was: “Little girl, give me a hundred bucks. Auntie will help you get a Lululemon haul for zero dollars. Trust me, I’m a pro.” Before I could process that, my usually whiny, green-tea sister spoke up in a voice like a foghorn: “I want one. If you dare scam me, I’ll kill you. Don’t test me, I have a record.” She was playing with a kitchen knife. A chill ran down my spine. Suddenly, my brother slid up next to me, flashing a small packet hidden in his sleeve. He whispered: “Pure stuff. Top-tier high. You want some?” I was stunned. Petrified. “Bro, weren’t you trying to sell me off for a dowry to get a wife? Since when did you start dealing?” He rubbed his nose. “Sorry, occupational hazard. I meant to ask… do you want some catnip?” … My house was chaos. I decided to just roll with it. 2 That night, we had a family confession circle. Dad said: “I was a thief. Fell into an open manhole after a job one night and woke up here.” Sister said: “I was a murderer. The prison food was too good, I ate too fast and choked to death. Poof, here I am.” Brother said: “I was a drug dealer. Got shot during a deal gone wrong because the buyer tried to rip me off.” Mom said: “I was the last great MLM queen of Indonesia—” Dad, Brother, Sister, and I yelled in unison: “Tell the truth!” Mom twiddled her thumbs honestly: “Fine. I was a scammer. Got punched in the face while begging with a fake baby at a KFC. Woke up here.” Wow. A family of villains. I teared up. My original life config was: Gambling Dad, Sick Mom, Green Tea Sister, Jerk Brother. Now updated to Version 2.0: The Suicide Squad. My life sucks even more. I trembled. “I don’t have much money. I have three hundred bucks from shaking milk tea. Take it all, just please spare my life.” The four of them froze. Sister spoke first: “What are you talking about? We’re here to save you. You’re the heroine of a tragedy novel. Your future is miserable. Dumped, beaten, framed, forced, miscarried, imprisoned, wrist-slashed, jumping into the ocean. Why should everyone else enjoy life while you suffer?” She propped her leg on the coffee table. “I’ve got experience chopping people. I’ll just hack that guy, Christian, and solve the problem once and for all!” Dad looked serious. “Not ideal. I say I tunnel into his mansion and steal everything he owns. Make him poor. Robbing the rich to feed the poor is my specialty.” Mom nodded in agreement. “You steal the assets, I’ll drain his bank accounts. I have a thousand scam scripts; one of them will work on him.” Brother was succinct. “Too much hassle. I’ll just shoot him up with something strong. Let him OD.” I was moved, but shook my head frantically. “I don’t want you guys committing crimes for me. I promise I’ll stay far away from him.” Sister patted my head. “Don’t worry, sis. With us here, no one can bully you.” Dad pulled a handful of luxury watches from his pocket. “Dad’s treating. Hot pot tonight.” Brother pulled a stray calico cat out of nowhere with the catnip. “Here, a gift. For you to play with.” Mom leaned in close with a sincere smile. “Lend me that three hundred. Seriously, I’ll get you that Lululemon. I have a feeling that brand is gonna blow up.” “…” 3 Dad gave me a lot of pocket money. I saved it all. Just in case the family needed bail money someday. I kept shaking milk tea. Before, I worked to support the family. Now, I worked hoping they’d retire from crime early. To avoid the “Male Lead” they talked about, I barely spoke to any men. But I still fell into a trap. At a team-building event, I was forced to drink a shot of something strong. Blacked out. Woke up in a hotel suite. Clothes scattered. Hickeys everywhere. A man with an overpowering aura looked down at me with cold eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of women like you, scheming to climb into my bed. Not bad, though. Name your price.” In the past, I might have accepted my bad luck and asked for enough money to stop my dad from gambling or cure my mom. But now? This guy was just annoying. I put on my clothes calmly and said: “Let’s just say fate brought us together for a nap. Don’t worry about it, I don’t need money. Just don’t bother me again, or my family will be upset.” The man clearly didn’t expect that. Before I could leave, he grabbed my wrist. He frowned. “That’s not a normal reaction. What if I said you’re pretty enough to be my mistress?” He seemed to expect me to be thrilled. Instead, I checked the time. “It’s late. My mom’s calling me for dinner!” I wasn’t lying. I checked my phone outside. Over a hundred missed calls. Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister. Everyone was blowing up my phone. WeChat was exploding. Dad: [Who stays out all night at 23? Ask around!] Mom: [Baby, if he’s a good guy, use protection. If it’s Christian, go for the eyes then kick the balls.] Brother: [Send location. I’m coming to get you.] Sister: [SIS!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!! DID CHRISTIAN EAT YOU??? I told you I should have chopped him up!!! AHHH—] I went home guilty. I said I got drunk and crashed with a female coworker. The family sighed in relief. But while I was showering, my sister came in to brush her teeth. She saw the marks. She exploded. Screaming as she ran out. “Code Red! Code Red! That bastard Christian got to her! AHHH—” Twenty minutes later. The whole family sat around my bed, looking disappointed. I lowered my head, ready for a scolding. Dad raised his hand. I flinched reflexively. But his hand landed gently on my head, ruffling my hair. “We didn’t protect you well enough. Dad should have picked you up.” Mom sighed. “Are you hurt anywhere?” Brother said seriously: “Your coworkers probably set you up. I’ll investigate.” Sister grabbed a cleaver and headed for the door. “I’m killing him.” Brother dragged her back. I tried to tell myself it was just bad luck. But my eyes welled up. So this is what having a family feels like. I sniffled. “I won’t be careless again. I’m staying home.” Sister stood like a philosopher. “You can hide for a day, but not forever. Christian’s type? He’ll dig you out of the ground. We need a plan. We fight back!” The family agreed. They made a group chat immediately. Group Name: “Operation Castrate Christian.” The next second. The doorbell rang. My house was surrounded by men in black. 4 The leader claimed to be Christian’s butler. “Ms. Wen, Mr. Pei suffers from chronic insomnia, but he slept soundly with you. He would like to hire you as his exclusive sleep companion.” Behind the door, my family was rolling their eyes so hard they almost fell out. I asked: “What if I refuse?” The butler smiled silently and glanced at the goons behind him. Meaning: come willingly or be dragged. Sister gritted her teeth. “Let me chop him.” I gave everyone a reassuring look. We have a plan. Let’s do this. In the car. I kept updating the group chat. [This Rolls Royce is nice. Brother would love it.] [The estate is huge. Dad could plant so many flowers here.] [The snacks are delicious. Mom would love them.] [These dresses are expensive and pretty. I stuffed a few in my bag for Sister.] No reply. Twenty minutes later, I checked again. Still nothing. I told myself they were busy. But I felt uneasy. Stylists swarmed me. By the time they were done, it was late. I sat on the edge of the bed, hugging my knees, waiting. I hid my phone behind the tissue box. If Christian tried anything, I’d record it. 1 AM. Christian woke me up. He was in a bathrobe, freshly showered, smelling of expensive cologne and arrogance. I gripped the sheets. He leaned into my ear, chuckling darkly. “Thought you were playing hard to get? Yet here you are.” His voice was deep, vibrating in my chest. I scooched away. “Mr. Pei, let’s be clear. I’m here to help you sleep, not sleep with you.” He sneered and grabbed my chin. “Who do you think you are? Serving me is your honor.” He bit my lip hard. A warning. I tasted blood and struggled. But he pinned my hands. I remembered Mom’s advice. Just as I was aiming for his crotch… CLANG. A silver tray smashed into the back of Christian’s head. His eyes went wide, and he collapsed like a sack of potatoes. I kicked him aside. There was my mom, wearing a maid’s uniform, casually dusting off the tray. “Mom!” I whisper-shouted. “Why are you here?” Mom smirked. “Saw they were hiring. Came to protect you.” I was shocked. “Don’t they have high standards?” Mom blew on her nails. “Nah. Just fluent in eight languages, housekeeping, etiquette, and martial arts.” I gaped. “You know all that?” Mom said: “I know how to lie a little.” She pulled out another tray loaded with desserts and a pot of Earl Grey tea. “Baby, what do you want for breakfast? Order the expensive stuff. Mom will make the chef cook it.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387623”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On the day of high school graduation, in front of the entire class, I slapped a stack of cash onto Christian’s chest. “I’ve had my fun. We’re done.” He bent down, picking up the bills one by one from the floor. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. “Okay.” Summer ended. Christian boarded a train to Harvard Med. I flew to Switzerland to start a grueling round of chemo. Years later, I was back in the States, lying in a hospital bed, bald from the treatment. I was busy scrolling through wigs on my phone when the door opened. Christian, wearing a white coat, walked in. Our eyes met. 1 When Christian walked in, I was in a very undignified position—butt in the air, face buried in the pillow. My phone was blasting a livestream: “Black Friday sale! Don’t miss out, fam!” “Ms. Montez, shopping for wigs again?” The noisy ward fell silent. The nurse pointed at me. “Dr. Vance, this is the new patient for your group. She’s signed the consent forms.” The moment Christian looked over, I froze. My brain went blank. It had been ten years. The man I thought I’d never see again was now my attending physician. And he caught me doing yoga stretches on a hospital bed. Kill me now. I scrambled up, adjusting my crooked face mask. Silence. I didn’t dare look him in the eye, but I could feel his gaze on me. It was cold. Zero warmth. Nothing like the gentle, exasperated look he used to give me when I messed up a math problem. “Ms. Montez, this is Professor Christian Vance. He’ll be in charge of your treatment plan.” I avoided his eyes and gave a quick nod. Didn’t make a sound. The intern next to him, holding a clipboard, started reading my history like a good student. “Luna Montez, female, 28. Ten years ago, a physical revealed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Initial diagnosis was Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Further pathology showed—” “Skip the history.” “Huh? Do you know the patient, sir?” My heart was in my throat. I pretended to be busy with my phone. I felt Christian’s gaze land on my ridiculous sheep-horn beanie. After a long pause, he said flatly, “I don’t know her. Her case is unique, so I reviewed it beforehand.” My phone auto-jumped to the checkout page. The payment countdown was ticking. Seconds passed. I zoned out, finger hovering over the “Buy” button but never pressing it. The intern dutifully reported the treatment plan. Christian listened, his tone devoid of emotion. “Okay. Continue current treatment. Re-examine tomorrow.” Then, he moved to the next patient. Rounds lasted twenty minutes. He didn’t look at me again until he left. I moved my stiff neck and realized my back was soaked in sweat. The wig I wanted was sold out because of the distraction. Ugh, just my luck. But the silver lining was: Christian had forgotten me. Even when the intern said my name, he didn’t react. 2 Christian and I didn’t start off on the right foot. Back in high school, I was a rich brat—terrible grades, worse attitude. My homeroom teacher made Christian my desk mate to “influence” me. At first, Christian ignored me. He just did practice tests, over and over. He was smart, nice, handsome. His only flaw was being poor. I was the opposite. Dumb, mean, rich. Sitting next to him, I felt like a brainless ATM. But I had charm. While other girls wrote him love letters, I bought him SAT prep books. I paid for all his study materials. In less than a semester, I bagged him. The day I kissed Christian, it was his birthday. His white shirt was rumpled, his lips stained with my lipstick. He looked down, eyes hooded. “What does this mean?” It was my first time kissing a guy. My brain short-circuited. I stammered, “D-don’t you get it? Be my boyfriend.” Christian’s ears turned red. He whispered, “Okay.” Those days were beautiful. I hated studying, but I sat obediently next to him, letting him tutor me. In a year, my SAT score went up by 300 points. I calculated it—I could get into a college in Boston. No long-distance relationship necessary. If only that physical hadn’t happened… “Ugh—” The sound of me retching echoed in the ward. I hugged the toilet bowl, seeing stars, covered in cold sweat. My bestie patted my back. “This isn’t working. You’re reacting too strongly. I’m getting a doctor.” I grabbed her hand. “Don’t. I’m used to it.” Twenty-seven rounds of chemo abroad, all alone. I survived that. I fought for ten years. Now it’s back. Who knows how much longer I’ll suffer? I didn’t want to be the annoying patient. My bestie wouldn’t let it go. “Isn’t Christian your doctor? I’ll find him. He’ll help.” I hugged her leg. “Girl, please. Be quiet. You should be glad he didn’t recognize me. If he did, he’d prescribe a hundred rounds of chemo just for spite.” “Who told you that you need a hundred rounds?” A cool voice came from behind. I stiffened. I didn’t dare turn around. My bestie sighed in relief. “Dr. Vance, Luna isn’t feeling well—” “It’s a normal reaction to chemo. If she can’t handle it…” I didn’t hear the rest. My brain was screaming: Did he hear what I just said? 3 That evening, a nurse came to give me an anti-nausea shot. She probed, “Do you know Professor Vance?” I flopped onto the bed, dead inside. “Nope. Why?” “He never micromanages like this. He specifically went to the attending physician and ordered this shot for you.” I looked in the mirror. Gaunt. Pale. Sickly. Compared to ten years ago, I looked like a different species. Impossible… Christian has a good memory, but— Wait. He has a great memory. What if he’s holding a grudge? The name “Luna Montez” was on the chart. How could I think he wouldn’t know? My bestie chimed in, “Your Professor Vance is only 28, right? A professor so young?” “Wow, you know your stuff! He did an accelerated MD-PhD program. Graduated at like 26. He’s a unicorn. Regular people can’t compare.” Seeing my bestie’s interest, the nurse laughed. “Planning to chase him? Save your energy. He’s taken.” My bestie winked at me. Then the nurse added, “The Dean’s daughter. Ivy League grad. They might get married any day now.” My bestie’s smile froze. I picked at a loose thread on my hospital gown, suddenly finding it fascinating. After the nurse left, my bestie whispered, “Luna, sorry…” “Eh, what for?” “I’m 28, not 18.” The dream of the cold, aloof genius falling for me died ten years ago. 4 I didn’t see Christian after that. I heard about him, though. Academic conferences, research labs. He did rounds once a week to check meds. Between chemo cycles, patients could go home. So until I was discharged, I didn’t see him. On the way home, my high school class president called. “Luna! You still in Boston? How’s treatment?” Background noise was loud. The class rep jumped in. “Why didn’t you tell us you were sick? If the Prez didn’t mention it, we wouldn’t have known.” I was popular back then. I still kept in touch. I laughed awkwardly. “Didn’t want to bother anyone.” “Don’t say that. Where do you live? We’re coming over tomorrow.” I couldn’t say no. I gave them the address. My parents spent a fortune on my treatment. Thanks to my bestie, I found a cheap rental in the city. First floor, south-facing yard. If I got better, I could plant flowers, maybe get a dog. Most of my classmates stayed in our hometown. Only a few were scattered around. So only five or six people showed up. They brought groceries. “We were gonna do hotpot, but it’s hot. Let’s stir-fry.” I wore a thick beanie. “It’s fine, we have AC. I want hotpot.” Everyone swarmed the kitchen. The house came alive. It felt like graduation all over again. The Prez was washing veggies. “Have you contacted Christian?” I froze. “What?” “Dude, didn’t you know? He’s a hematology expert. specializes in lymphoma. You should ask him.” “Oh, I—” I really didn’t want to get involved with Christian. Then the doorbell rang. The Prez wiped his hands and opened the door. Cheers erupted. “Christian! You made it!” “Whoa, Professor Vance, long time no see.” “Come in! Luna wants hotpot. You’re the expert, can she eat it?” I stood there like an idiot. Unwashed face. No mask. Exposed. I never expected them to invite him. Or for him to see me like this. Christian looked at me calmly. “Clear broth is fine.” “Okay, okay! Clear broth it is!” Everyone got busy again. Christian changed into the slippers the Prez offered. He handed a bag of fruit to someone in the kitchen. The Prez tried to smooth things over. “Hey, let bygones be bygones. Christian, be the bigger man. Don’t hold a grudge against Luna.” Someone shoved a colander of spinach into Christian’s hands. He was pushed onto the sofa opposite me. Suddenly, it was just the two of us in the living room. The AC hummed in the corner. I avoided his eyes, fumbling for the mask in my back pocket. Snap. Christian broke a spinach stem. “I already recognized you. Is there a point in hiding?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387622”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When I found out the Prom Queen had made a bet to ruin my brother’s chances at college, I made a choice. I hugged my little piggy bank tight and went to find the town’s most notorious villain—a guy whose family had just gone bankrupt. “If you can protect my brother,” I told him, “I’ll give you my entire allowance. All of it.” Later, when the Prom Queen brought my brother breakfast, the villain spiked it with laxatives. When she asked my brother to a midnight movie, the villain crouched by the wall and unleashed a rabid dog to chase them… And right before the biggest exam of their lives, when the Prom Queen faked an illness to lure my brother away… The villain pinned him against the wall and threatened, “If you don’t get into an Ivy League, your sister belongs to me!” My brother: “Wait, what??” Chapter 1 In the morning, I stood at the school gates, clutching my piggy bank and craning my neck like a turtle, waiting for Shane. He was the tyrant of Northwood High. And in my dreams, he was the ultimate villain. Last night, I had a vision. I dreamed that because my brother, Ethan, got involved with the school’s golden girl, Chloe, his grades tanked. He even got his right hand broken in a fight defending her honor. On the day of the SATs, he chose to skip the test to save Chloe from a “kidnapping.” But in reality? It was all just a bet Chloe made with her friends to see if she could ruin him. The guy she actually liked was Jared. Jared was the son of my dad’s new wife, Jolene. Chloe’s goal was just to make Jared jealous, and to help him by removing my brother—his biggest academic rival—from the scoreboard. In the dream, after graduation, Chloe and Jared got into Stanford together. They became the internet’s favorite scholar couple. And my brother? He failed. People said his past grades were cheated. They called him a homewrecker who tried to get between Chloe and Jared. My dad kicked him out of the house. We only found out later, when the police called. He had slit his wrists in a bathtub. Jared inherited my family’s entire fortune. And me? One day, Jolene took me shopping and “accidentally” left me on the side of the highway. I was hit by a truck. I was only five years old. But in that dream, I also saw Shane. His family used to be the biggest real estate developers in the state. Three months ago, they went bankrupt. His dad jumped off a building, and his mom had a mental breakdown and was hospitalized. From then on, Shane became dark and violent. Fighting became his daily routine. But three years after graduation? He became a Wall Street shark, a financial predator who went toe-to-toe with Jared’s company and nearly drove him into the ground. He was the only monster scary enough to save us. “Hey, shortstack. You’re blocking the road.” A cold, deep voice dropped from above. I looked up into a pair of pitch-black eyes. Shane was half a head taller than my brother. His black school blazer was unbuttoned, showing a white tee underneath. There was a fresh cut near his left eye, probably from a fight. “Big brother,” I gulped. “Can I pay you money to protect someone?” He looked terrifying. Shane raised an eyebrow at me. “Kid, go find a cop if you want protection. I don’t do murder and arson.” He reached out and flicked my piggy bank. The guys around him burst out laughing. My face burned hot instantly. I stammered, “No… no. I want to ask you to help my brother.” Shane shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at me. “Who’s your brother?” “Ethan. Ethan Xu from Class 2. They say… they say you run this school! Please, I’m begging you, save my brother.” “He went out last night and didn’t come back. He won’t answer his phone.” I started to sob. Last night, I overheard my brother’s phone call. Chloe asked him to a bar for her birthday. In my past life, she rigged a game of Truth or Dare there, forced him to choose Dare, and he ended up locked in an abandoned factory all night, missing his mock exams the next day. I wasn’t sure if Shane would help. The only time Ethan and Shane ever crossed paths was on a rainy night two months ago. Shane had been beaten up in an alley. When Ethan and I walked by, we called 911. Ethan even put his jacket over Shane while we waited for the ambulance. Hearing the name “Ethan,” Shane paused. He reached out, took my piggy bank, and roughly wiped the tears off my face with his thumb. Chapter 2 “Even the Boy Scout gets into trouble, huh?” “Consider this the down payment.” I froze, stunned that he agreed so quickly. Shane pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Kyle, track Ethan’s location. Yeah, the Valedictorian, Ethan.” When he hung up, I grabbed his sleeve. “Can I go too?” He glanced at me. “You get carsick?” “No!” I answered way too fast, terrified he’d change his mind. Shane raised an eyebrow, then suddenly bent down and scooped me up like a sack of potatoes, tucked me under his arm, and marched toward a black motorcycle by the curb. I barely got the helmet on before the engine roared and we shot forward. He drove like a maniac. He ran three red lights and weaved through traffic like he had a death wish. My stomach started to churn. My vision went black around the edges. When the bike slammed to a halt, my breakfast surged up to my throat. The inside of the helmet filled with the sour smell of fermentation. Oh no. I was gonna hurl. “Shortstack, if you dare puke in my helmet, you’re dead!” Shane’s voice yelled. He ripped the helmet off my head just in time. The world suddenly got bright. I swallowed the vomit back down—hard—and stood there with tears and snot smearing my face. He lifted me off the bike like a wet kitten, looking disgusted, and shoved a bottle of water into my hands. “Rinse.” I was so dizzy I just chugged half the bottle. He stared at me, eyes wide, like he was looking at a ghost. I felt awkward. Was that not right? Shane parked the bike and frowned at the factory ahead. “Why would a straight-A student run off to a dump like this?” His crew pulled up on their bikes behind us. “Yo, is this place haunted?” Kyle asked, shivering. Shane walked in front, glaring back at him. “Shut up.” “But Boss, this place is slated for demo. I saw the ‘Demolition’ sign on the wall. Kid, what’s your brother doing here? If he gets buried alive, we won’t find the body for years.” My hand shook, and I almost dropped the piggy bank. My voice trembled. “My brother is scared of ghosts. Do you think a ghost ate him?” The gang members behind us gasped and exchanged terrified looks. Shane scoffed. He reached out and ruffled my hair. “If a ghost ate him, I’d make it spit him out.” His words made me feel weirdly safe. We searched room by room until we found him in the furthest workshop. My brother was sitting on a wooden chair, back to us. His hands were tied behind him with rope, and he was trying to saw through it using the sharp edge of the chair. “Ethan!” I couldn’t help but scream. My brother whipped his head around. His eyes went round when he saw us. “Lily? What are you doing here?” His expression wasn’t just surprised; it was embarrassed. Shane raised a brow and signaled the guys behind him. Two of them stepped up and cut the ropes. I rushed forward and hugged him, tears streaming down my face. “You didn’t come home! I was so worried! I thought bad guys took you!” Ethan’s face stiffened. He patted my back. “I… I just went to celebrate Chloe’s birthday. I lost a game. They were going to come untie me in half an hour.” Shane let out a cold laugh. “This place is in the middle of nowhere. It takes thirty minutes just to drive here from the city. You think she’s coming? I saw her eating breakfast with Jared.” Ethan’s face instantly turned pale. Chapter 3 “Impossible,” Ethan whispered. “She said it was just a game punishment.” “Heh. You got played, nerd,” Shane deadpanned. I was angry. I couldn’t imagine how scared my brother must have been alone here all night. “Wait… what time is it? I have to get back for the exam!” Ethan suddenly remembered the test. He looked at Shane. “Can I borrow your phone to call home? I’ll ask our driver, Mr. Lee, to pick up Lily.” Shane raised an eyebrow and tilted his chin at Kyle. “Kyle, you take Ethan back to school on your bike.” Ethan blinked. “Aren’t you guys taking the exam?” Kyle grinned. “I could throw the test on the ground and stomp on it, and it’d still score higher than me. My dad’s donating a building so I can get into college anyway! And Shane? He’s not going. We got a rumble with the Northside High crew.” Shane shot him a glare. Kyle shut his mouth. Watching my brother disappear on the back of the motorcycle, panic seized me. Go home? But home had Jolene. And the big dog. My heart started hammering, my breath coming in short gasps. Shane straddled his bike, ready to lift me on. I twisted my body, dodging his hands. “Shortstack? You want to stay here and wait for the ghosts?” He looked at me, confused. “I… I don’t want to go home,” I whispered, my voice as small as a mosquito. “Why?” Why? Because Jolene’s pitbull loved to bare its teeth at me. Because whether I did something wrong or not, if Jolene was in a mood, she’d lock me in the cage. She wouldn’t let me use the bathroom. If I peed myself, she’d laugh at me loud enough for the neighbors to hear, then tell Dad I did it on purpose to cause trouble. “Dad’s new wife doesn’t like me. She keeps a big dog, and she bought a big cage,” my voice choked up. “When Dad and Ethan aren’t home, she puts me in the cage and leaves the dog outside it.” “She said I can’t tell Ethan or Dad, or she’ll drown me.” Ethan lived in the dorms and only came home on weekends. Once, Jolene beat me until my backside was bruised. I tried to tell Ethan, but she put laxatives in his food so he was too sick to listen. Jolene threatened me: if I didn’t shut up, next time it would be rat poison. My dad was busy. Jolene never let him be alone with me. The one time I went into his study to find him, he wasn’t there. When he came back, he found his computer soaked with water and files torn up. The maid said only I had been in there. I stood in the corner all night as punishment. Shane’s expression turned terrifying. “What the hell? What century is this? Evil stepmother? Is your dad dead?” “No,” I answered blankly. “Is there a difference?” he muttered. He scooped me up with one arm, put the helmet on me, and his movements were a lot gentler this time. “Hold on tight,” he ordered. “Where are we going?” I yelled over the wind. “My place.” Twenty minutes later, we pulled into a run-down apartment complex. Shane carried me inside. When the door opened, an old man with white hair was watching TV. He looked surprised. “Master Shane? Aren’t you at school? Why are you back so early?” Master Shane? But wasn’t Shane’s family broke? “Old Joe, this is a classmate’s sister. She’s crashing here. Her brother… saved my life once.” Shane seemed to respect this old man. He briefly explained my situation. When he mentioned the dog cage, Old Joe’s face filled with shock and horror. “What a sin! Little girl, don’t be afraid. No one dares bully you here at Grandpa Joe’s.” Chapter 4 Old Joe shook his head and sighed, then immediately shooed Shane out the door. “Master Shane, go take your exam! Hurry, or you’ll be late!” “Remember, don’t hand in a blank paper! And don’t forget to write your name!” Shane covered his ears, looking annoyed. “I know, I know.” After the door closed, Old Joe showed me around. Even though the family was bankrupt, the three-bedroom apartment was warm and cozy. He made me lunch and gave me a pile of snacks. Old Joe rambled on about Shane’s childhood. He said Shane was actually a soft-hearted kid, just bad at showing it. In the evening, Shane came back. Trailing behind him was a depressed-looking Ethan. “Ethan! Why are you here?” I jumped up in surprise, but froze when I saw his face. Ethan slumped onto the sofa, eyes dead. “I got caught cheating.” My eyes widened. “Impossible! Your grades are perfect. Why would you cheat?” Shane threw his bag on the sofa and smirked. “He didn’t cheat. I did.” Old Joe and I looked at him, confused. Turns out, during the test, the guy sitting in front of Ethan threw a paper ball back. Before Ethan could react, Shane, sitting next to him, snatched it. The proctor demanded they hand it over. Shane shoved the paper into his mouth and swallowed it whole right in front of everyone. “Teacher told me to write a self-reflection essay due Monday,” Shane said nonchalantly. Then he raised an eyebrow at Ethan. “That note was from your goddess, Chloe.” Ethan looked incredulous. “H-how do you know it was Chloe?” “Because I saw her pass it to the guy in front of you,” Shane sneered. “Don’t tell me it was a love letter. Who passes love letters during a midterm?” “Want me to vomit it up so you can see if it’s a poem or the answer key?” “She… maybe she just…” Ethan stammered. “Maybe what? Maybe she suddenly realized our Valedictorian is handsome and fell in love?” Shane’s shoulders relaxed. “Last time it rained, I forgot my umbrella. She lent me hers. I see her feeding stray cats on campus. Maybe you misunderstood her. She’s kind.” Shane scoffed. “That makes her kind? Ethan, did studying rot your brain?” He gave Ethan a meaningful look. “Stay away from her. Or you’ll be sold for spare parts and you’ll be the one counting the money for them.” “I know,” Ethan whispered. He looked so defeated it made my chest tight. I knew Ethan wouldn’t actually stay away. He was too soft. If someone showed him even a tiny bit of kindness, he would return it a thousand times over, even if they didn’t deserve it. Outside, the sky was completely dark. Ethan suddenly stood up. “Lily, I’ll take you home. Dad is back from his business trip tonight. We can’t keep bothering Shane.” My body went stiff. “I don’t want to go!” “If you put half the effort you put into Chloe into your sister, maybe you’d have noticed she was being abused,” Shane said, his voice icy. “Lily was abused?” Ethan looked stunned. Old Joe explained what Jolene did to me. Ethan stumbled back, eyes full of shock and guilt. “I’m going back to ask! If she really did that to Lily… I won’t let her get away with it!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387621”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel