Author: Momo Chan

The day I left the Lu mansion, Logan Lu leaned against the doorframe. Watching me pack my bags, he gave a mocking half-smile: “What’s wrong?” “Did you realize that even giving birth to my kid couldn’t force me to marry you?” “So you decided he’s useless now, and you’re not taking him with you?” Before I could speak, Leo Lu, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, walked in. He carefully poured the money from his piggy bank into my hand. “Mom, you need to take good care of yourself.” “And, can you please promise me that you are never coming back?” “Aunt Stella said she’ll only agree to be Leo’s mom if you leave for good.” Chapter 1 Leo finished his plea. His dark, round eyes blinked up at me, practically bursting with hope. Logan lowered his voice, the tone laced with warning. “Leo Lu.” “Is that how your school taught you to speak to your mother?” Leo hung his head, pouting. “But last time, Aunt Stella asked Dad if he was falling for Mom, and you said you weren’t.” “And I don’t really like her either…” “So if Mom wants to leave, just let her go, okay…” His words no longer hurt me. A week ago, on his sixth birthday, he insisted on celebrating with Logan and Stella Song. I realized I was suddenly free of my anxiety and attachment. I didn’t try to stop him at all. Even when I passed that restaurant in the evening. And heard him introduce Stella to the violinist as his mother, my heart remained calm. Chapter 2 Because I was packing, I was squatting. My eyes were level with the small figure of Leo. I accepted his piggy bank money and gave a slight nod. “Okay, I promise you.” I didn’t refer to myself as “Mom” anymore, quietly stating: “I won’t ever come back to this house.” “And I am no longer your mother. Leo, you’re free.” He seemed surprised that I agreed so easily. He stared at me blankly for two seconds. Then he burst into a smile. “Yay!” “Aunt Stella will be my mom now!” He ran out, shouting that he was going to call Stella with the good news. I packed my last item of clothing. I closed the suitcase and stood up. Logan had been silent the whole time. But as I walked past him, he grabbed my arm. His eyes were half-closed, unreadable. “Ava Tang, ‘not loving you’ doesn’t mean ‘hating you.’” “I’m used to you after all these years.” “What’s the point of this dramatic exit?” By the end, his voice was tinged with irritation. I wanted to explain, but it felt pointless and overly sentimental. So I simply pulled my arm back and instructed him: “Take care of Leo.” I dragged my suitcase out of the Lu mansion. It was a long walk out of the gated community. The weather was poor. A cold wind swirled the fallen leaves onto me. It felt easy to let myself look pathetic. But I didn’t look back, not even once. Chapter 3 I had rented an apartment in advance and quickly found a job. Based on my old major, I applied to be an art teacher for an after-school kids’ program. On my first day of work. I walked into the office and saw several female teachers huddled around a little girl. “Chloe, darling, does your Uncle Ace like desserts?” “And, tell me, what kind of girls does he go for?” “Oh, Chloe sweetie, is he picking you up tonight?” The girl was expressionless. “Teachers, you asked me to come here to discuss issues with my painting style, didn’t you?” The teachers exchanged embarrassed glances. “If there are no issues, I’ll head back to class.” The girl turned, saw me. She gave a brief greeting, “Hello, Teacher.” And then walked straight out. Chapter 4 The teachers were very friendly to the new arrival. After showing me the ropes, they brought up the girl again. “You wouldn’t know it, but that kid’s uncle is Ace Harrington.” “He and Logan Lu are known as the city’s most eligible bachelors.” “Oh, wait, I heard Logan Lu is already with his girlfriend, Stella Song, who just got back from overseas.” “So now, it’s just Ace Harrington left.” Hearing Logan’s name again, I felt calm, as if he were a stranger. But Ace Harrington… I sighed silently. He was Logan’s business rival. He always disliked me, and every time we met, I was guaranteed to be the target of his sarcasm. “Pathetic, aren’t you? Logan and Stella’s kissing photo is trending, and you don’t even dare to speak up.” “What did you get from being with Logan? A title? Status?” “Ava, why the hell don’t you look around at other people?” I’d better stay away from the girl named Chloe. If Ace found out I worked here, he might use his connections to get me fired. Chapter 5 Logan called while I was packed into a subway train on my way home. “Hello?” The noise on my end made him pause. After a few seconds, he asked, “Where are you?” “On the subway.” He gave a barely audible laugh. “Riding the subway?” “Ava Tang, this is what you get for being stubborn.” I gripped the overhead bar and only asked, “Do you need something?” The sound of his footsteps, even distorted by the poor connection, was slow and measured. Just like him. I could almost picture him walking from his desk to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Leo has a fever.” He said, “Tell me your address. I’ll come pick you up and bring you home.” “No need.” I looked down. “The Lu family will take good care of him.” “He doesn’t need me.” Logan’s voice deepened slightly. “Are you really going to abandon him?” “Ava Tang.” He sounded incredulous. “Just because he said he prefers Stella?” Logan never seemed to understand my feelings for Leo. Even though I explained countless times. I took the morning-after pill after the accident, but he never believed me. Because I had been in love with him for years. So he was convinced I deliberately got pregnant with Leo to force him to marry me. In his mind, my feelings for Leo weren’t deep. He was just a tool, a bargaining chip. He couldn’t know that my fear of Leo growing to prefer Stella had driven me to countless nights of heartbreak and anxiety. The subway reached the transfer station. The carriage suddenly emptied. “That’s not it, Logan.” I found a seat, my aching legs finally getting a rest. I said softly: “It’s because he genuinely prefers Stella.” “And I don’t want to force myself anymore to try and win him over.” Logan tried to say something else. The next second, Leo’s voice came through the phone, confirming my words. “Dad! Leo’s fever is gone!” “Can we go see Aunt Stella tomorrow?!” Logan cleared his throat. “Ava Tang, listen to me…” I hung up the phone. And got off at the next stop. Shaking off the phone call.

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My carefully cultivated Princess Scarlett roses were all ripped up by a viral reality star during filming. Her tone was utterly innocent, “Such pretty flowers should be made into a wreath. Your owner just doesn’t know how to use them efficiently.” “Let me make sure you reach your highest potential.” On the show, her smile was bright as she showed off her new wreath to her fans. Afterward, she refused to apologize and sicced her fans on me for cyberbullying. Looking at my messy, ruined garden, I smiled, too. “That garden is insured for ten million dollars.” “According to the contract, you owe me one hundred million!” Chapter 1 I was startled awake by the security camera alarm. I threw on a robe and went outside. By all accounts, my little cottage was in a remote location, and the gate was locked. Who would trespass on private property early in the morning? But inside the yard was a swarm of people. A dozen people surrounded my property. The beautiful climbing roses I had trained over the gate for aesthetic purposes had been violently torn down. The branches lay ripped and discarded on the ground, and the wooden gate hung crookedly on the fence posts. A clean path had been crudely trampled right through the middle of the neatly arranged flower beds. A few large men were carrying cameras, filming a beautiful, bright-faced girl standing in the center of the flowers. She was casually tearing off a few blooms, weaving a wreath. “Bae-bies, look how pretty this wreath is! Isn’t it perfect for me!” “If only I had other flowers to mix in, it would be even better.” Her smile was dazzling, with faint dimples. I recognized her: Maya Brooks, the hot new Hollywood “It Girl.” I was actually watching her show. Online, she was praised as a sweet, kind, and graceful angel. I had always liked her, but I never expected my first encounter to be this. Looking at the wreath on her head and the complete devastation in my garden, I was furious. “Who are you people? Who gave you permission to come in here?” The director’s team was startled to see someone emerge. The director paused for a second, then quickly explained, “We’re with a reality show. We’re filming a segment here.” “Can’t you see this is private property? You broke my gate to trespass!” Maya took the wreath off her head. “Oh, please. They’re just flowers. Here, take them back.” She offered the wreath. I didn’t take it. Seeing my refusal, Maya threw the wreath to the ground angrily. She looked me up and down, sizing me up. “Here’s five hundred bucks. Is that enough? For a country woman like you, that’s probably all your flowers are worth.” Her assistant pulled out a five-hundred-dollar bill and tossed it at my feet. “Take the cash and step aside. Don’t interrupt Maya’s filming.” The director’s team tried to usher me away. A few assistants held up blocking screens, attempting to shield me from the camera. Country woman? I genuinely laughed. I might have just thrown on a robe and walked out with messy hair, but I was certainly not some “country woman.” Trespassing, vandalizing someone’s private property, and then trying to buy off the owner with pocket change. You people are truly shameless. Chapter 2 I originally just wanted them to give me a proper apology, and I would have let the matter drop. But given their sheer arrogance, I wasn’t going to be nice anymore. “What show are you with?” The director thought I was backing down, and his voice softened. “Little sister, we’re from the Charming Acres reality show. We just saw this beautiful little yard and wanted to film a segment.” I scoffed. You just wanted to film, so you violently forced entry and destroyed property? The director looked around at the damage and knew he was in the wrong. He tried to negotiate. “Okay, how much compensation do you need? What’s a fair price?” I let out a light laugh. “How much? I doubt you can afford it.” These weren’t just common roses. They were the world’s most expensive variety, the Princess Scarlett Rose (a popular nickname for the Juliet Rose). The Juliet Rose is notoriously difficult to grow. I had invested massive amounts of time and money cultivating them. Moreover, I had insured the entire garden for ten million dollars. Maya, who had been resting nearby, interrupted impatiently. “Director, why are you wasting time arguing with a hillbilly? She just thinks five hundred is too little. Give her two thousand and get rid of her.” I walked straight up to Maya and slapped her across the face. “Hillbilly? Wasn’t your family from the sticks too?” My action was completely unexpected. Maya’s personal assistant didn’t react in time to stop me. Five clear fingerprints swelled on her face. Maya clutched her cheek. Tears streamed down from the pain. “You actually hit me! I’m going to kill you!” She lunged forward to attack me. I sidestepped. She stumbled forward from momentum and fell flat on the ground. Her assistants finally reacted and helped her up. “What are you standing around for? Go hit her!” Maya put her hands on her hips and screamed at the assistants. “You’re all useless! Hit her!” I clicked my tongue in disbelief. Wow. This aggressive, trashy behavior was a far cry from the “graceful angel” persona. A few assistants charged at me. I didn’t panic. I have training in Taekwondo and self-defense. I wasn’t afraid of a few low-level thugs. “Stop!” The director, as if remembering something crucial, made the assistants halt. He then whispered something in Maya’s ear. The group started packing up, preparing to leave. Maya shot me a venomous glare before leaving. “You bitch, you better watch your back!” I glared right back. We’ll see about that. Chapter 3 That afternoon, I was still leisurely drinking coffee when my assistant’s call came through. “Ms. Xu, you’re trending!” “Send me the link.” Liam, my assistant, quickly sent the link. I opened it. It was a video posted by the show’s official account. The video was heavily edited. It only showed me entering the yard and confronting them, the director politely trying to explain, Maya offering the wreath which I refused, the assistant trying to pay me off, and then me slapping her. The video ended right when Maya was holding her cheek, tears welling in her eyes. The video had only been posted for twenty minutes, but it had already dominated the trending topics. The comments numbered in the hundreds of thousands. [Who is this woman? She dared to hit our Maya! People, I need all her info now.] [Look at that handprint! My heart breaks for her.] [Poor Maya. Why didn’t the staff stop her?] [What were the director and staff doing? Why didn’t they protect Maya?] [Staff, hit her back! Hit her!] [Secretary, I need the address ASAP! I’m going to get revenge for Maya!] [Don’t you guys think this is the show’s and Maya’s fault? They trespassed!] [Yeah, the video shows the yard is a mess. They must have destroyed the owner’s property. That’s why she was so mad!] [Maya’s reaction is so catty!] [The person above me: Our Maya offering to use those country flowers was an honor for her.] [Side note: Honestly, this girl is quite pretty, even without makeup.] [… ] A few comments spoke up in my defense, but they were quickly buried. Maya also posted on social media: [Thanks for all the concern, babies. I’m okay now.] She included a photo showing the faint red marks on her face. The comments were immediately filled with support for her and condemnation of me. I didn’t want to look at them anymore. A cropped and edited video is useless. If you want to see it, watch the full version. The production team clearly didn’t realize that my little yard was covered by hidden cameras. Their entire operation had been clearly recorded. Chapter 4 That evening, I uploaded the complete video online. I paid Liam to run a ten-thousand-dollar ad campaign to ensure the video instantly appeared in everyone’s feed. Since I released the video during the peak online activity time, and all the major gossip accounts jumped on the opportunity, reposting it immediately. By the time Maya’s team and the production crew tried to manage the PR disaster, it was too late. A massive wave of new comments appeared under the video. [Reversal! Huge reversal! So this is what Maya is like in private! Unfollowed.] [The production team is shameless! Trespassing and acting like they own the place!] [That beautiful yard was ruined. I’d be furious too.] [I support the young lady! The show and Maya are disgusting.] [That slap was epic! I love her!] [The yard didn’t say ‘No Entry.’ The show and Maya must have entered without knowing it was private property.] [Besides, what’s the big deal about borrowing a location? Why is she so petty? Maya and the show gave her publicity! The country girl should be paying them for the exposure!] [Exactly! Maya even offered five hundred bucks! That’s more than enough for those flowers. She must have been holding out for more cash.] I laughed coldly at the comments. Publicity? Entrance fee? As expected, the dogs followed their master—equally shameless. Just then, I heard shouting outside my yard. “You bitch, come out!” “Come out! How dare you set me up and leak that video online!” I walked out. There were three people outside: Maya in the middle, the assistant who threw the money at me, and a man I hadn’t seen before, probably her manager. Maya was kicking my gate. Seeing me, she started screaming again. “You bitch!” “Ms. Brooks, you know there’s surveillance here. Should I release this footage to your fans?” “You…” Maya glared at me, but didn’t dare to move. “Miss, my client, Maya, was impulsive today. Could you let us in so we can discuss this properly?” the manager said. “No need to come in. Say whatever you need to say right here.” “We’re here to negotiate compensation and the removal of the video.” The manager slipped a contract through the gate. “Please take a look.” I flipped through the contract. It stated that Maya’s team would pay me one hundred thousand dollars, and I, in turn, had to delete the video and publicly explain that I wasn’t the owner of the garden, but a friend watching the property. The explanation would claim that the show had negotiated with the owner, and I, being uninformed, had interfered. “Miss, this hundred thousand is compensation. If you’re not satisfied, we can offer you a job. What do you say?” The manager offered me a stack of cash. “I can delete the video, but I won’t make any public statement. Also, Ms. Brooks needs to apologize to me.” I shook the stack of cash in my hand. “You have no right to demand an apology from me!” Maya yelled defiantly. “Well, Ms. Brooks clearly isn’t willing. In that case, there’s no need for a contract. You’re free to go.” I threw the hundred thousand dollars back at Maya. The bills fluttered around her. Through the gap in the gate, I could see the fury on her face. “Maya, apologize!” the manager commanded, his voice sharp. “No, I’m not accepting any apology now. Let’s just leave it at this.” I cut them off before Maya could speak. “Don’t push your luck! Do you know who my connections are? My boyfriend is the heir to the Latham Group!” “Alex Latham?” I asked, uncertainly. Maya thought I was terrified. Her voice was full of arrogance. “Yes! You’re terrified now, aren’t you? Now, you need to kneel and apologize to me and delete the video, or I’ll make sure you can never show your face in public again!” “What’s there to be afraid of? We’ll see who can’t show their face in public.” I turned and walked back inside, ignoring Maya’s insults. Alex Latham’s girlfriend? She probably doesn’t know that Alex Latham is my…

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When my childhood best friend was surrounded by fire, he calmly looked in my direction. I knew he had reincarnated, too. Suddenly, a stream of comments flashed across my vision. “LOL, the thirsty female side character is going to rescue the male lead again.” “Wait for the female side character to save the male lead, get sixth-degree burns, and be shipped off to the sticks. Then the male lead can introduce the poor female lead as the fake daughter to the side character’s family. Childhood romance trope, so sweet.” “Our pure female lead just wants a home. The reborn male lead definitely won’t let the side character return to threaten her happiness.” Is that so? What if, in this life, the one who gets sixth-degree burns is my childhood friend, not me? Chapter 1 The fire crackled loudly. The hot, scorching smoke made it impossible to breathe. “Coral, don’t worry about me. Run!” That familiar scene and voice made my entire body tense up. I thought I was dead. Dead, after my childhood friend and the fake heiress tormented me. Dead, caught in a once-in-a-century blizzard. “It’s okay, even if I die here, it doesn’t matter. As long as you live, that’s all that counts.” “Coral, you’re the kindest, most innocent girl I’ve ever met. I just wish I had met you sooner in the next life to protect you.” Anyone hearing those passionate, sorrowful words would feel compelled to stay. In my past life, I was fooled by them. But in this life, my heart is colder than a sword forged in the mountains for sixteen years. I looked up and met the flawlessly handsome face of my childhood friend, Henry Wen. His expression seemed fearful, but his eyes held an unsettling calm. With that single glance, I knew he had been reborn, too. I curved my lips, about to speak, when a stream of comments flashed across my vision. “LOL, the thirsty female side character is going to rescue the male lead again.” “Wait for the female side character to save the male lead, get sixth-degree burns, and be shipped off to the sticks. Then the male lead can introduce the poor female lead as the fake daughter to the side character’s family. Childhood romance trope, so sweet.” “Our pure female lead just wants a home. The reborn male lead definitely won’t let the side character return to threaten her happiness.” Oh, how amusing. Not only am I reborn, but I can also see these bizarre comments. This second life is going to be far more entertaining. Chapter 2 Just like in the past life, I said, sounding frantic: “Coco! I won’t let you die!” Henry curved his lips into a mocking smile, but just as his smile peaked, I spoke again. “You wait here! I’m going to call the cops and get help!” “Henry, wait for me!” With that, I turned and ran. I ran so fast I almost stumbled and fell. I wasn’t rushing to save him, but this fire was going to spread rapidly. The area was full of dry brush, and it could easily get out of control. Even though the fire didn’t spread in the previous life, I couldn’t risk it. My life is valuable. I have to stay alive until these scumbags are dead! Henry watched me run until I was far away, realizing I wasn’t joking. He started yelling for help. “Help!—Help me!” “Skylar Li! Come save me! I’m going to burn to death!” Hearing that, I finally stopped. Relief flashed in his eyes, but when he saw me simply standing there, arms crossed, watching lazily, he panicked for real. He tried to save himself, rushing toward the ring of fire, desperate to escape. But the idiot was too busy posing. The fire was much bigger than he anticipated. He even deliberately sent the housekeeper away and told the security guards he was setting off fireworks so they wouldn’t disturb him. He wanted the fire to spread quickly so I would burn. Now he’s getting a taste of his own medicine. The comments section exploded. “Is this side character crazy? Why isn’t she saving the male lead!” “WTF, is the handsome male lead going to die in the first chapter?” “No way! He’s the male lead, the Chosen One! Others might die, but he’ll probably just get burned, then get reconstructive surgery to look even hotter. That’s the standard trope.” I smirked. I don’t know who’s posting these comments, but they’re all idiots. Henry can’t get plastic surgery because he has a tendency to keloid scarring. And the Wen family isn’t as wealthy as mine. He absolutely cannot and will not be reborn as a success. I swear, even Jesus can’t help him! … Five minutes later, a passing neighbor heard his cries for help and frantically called the police and an ambulance. I watched him being carried away on a stretcher from a distance. The white sheet didn’t cover his face, which told me the jerk wasn’t dying yet. Good. Chapter 3 After a night of emergency surgery, Henry woke up. His proudly long legs were amputated, and his handsome face was melted by the flames. The smell of burned flesh permeated the air. Henry’s parents almost passed out from grief. This was their only son. When my parents and I stepped into the hospital room, Henry, numb and despairing from the pain, instantly roared with incandescent fury: “Skylar Li! I was so good to you! How could you just watch me burn?” “Do you know my leg was amputated? I’ll never stand again! I have sixth-degree burns and I’m crippled! You could have just reached out and saved me! Why were you so cruel? Why did you ruin me? What did I ever do to deserve this? Are you happy now that you see me like this?” His desperate accusations sounded like a spiteful woman. He looked nothing like the refined, gentle boy he used to be. I wasn’t this unhinged when he ruined me in the past life. I pursed my lips, feigning innocent distress. “Henry, how could you accuse me? Everyone knows I do whatever you tell me.” “You set the fire! You drew that big circle with gasoline and said you were going to show me a magic trick! I thought you were putting on a show again. And you kept insisting I leave. I thought it was part of the act, so I listened and left!” Henry’s mom wiped her tears, complaining. “You left, but you should have called the police! How could you just watch him burn like that?” I spread my hands, looking even more innocent. “I didn’t leave. I was standing right there, watching Henry’s performance.” Henry’s mom’s face went white with anger. She was about to point at me, but Henry’s dad stopped her, trying to soothe her. “Calm down. It’s over now. Henry did set the fire, and he did tell Skylar to leave. She’s only twelve. It’s normal for her to think it was a magic trick.” My parents had already heard my side of the story on the way over. While I might have been partially involved, they couldn’t blame me entirely. My mom quickly added: “We’re so sorry. We spoiled Coco too much. We truly apologize for this.” “I’ve already spoken to the hospital director. They’re contacting the best specialists globally for Henry’s treatment. Technology is so advanced now, he’ll be able to get prosthetic legs soon and walk again. Please let us know if you need anything at all.” Ha, dream on. My parents spent a fortune in the past life trying to get me back on my feet. It was useless. His injuries were too severe. The amputation went up to his thigh, and he damaged his reproductive organs. He’ll never have children unless he’s getting cheated on. Chapter 4 My dad gently patted Henry’s dad on the shoulder, sighing. “I know our children are our lives. I understand how you feel.” “But life must go on, no matter how hard it is. Once you’ve recovered, let’s start the wind power project together. The approval documents just came through.” Instantly, Henry’s parents’ expressions softened. They were just waiting for my dad to say that. After all, their son was crippled—that’s a fact. And it was his own fault. Blaming me was pointless. Better to exchange the misery for a multi-billion dollar partnership. Henry’s dad nodded. “You’re right. We have to keep living.” Henry expected his parents to demand justice for him, to make me pay a painful price. Instead, he realized they were using him as a tool for business interests. He was so angry his face turned crimson. He was about to curse me, when I leaned in and whispered mockingly in his ear. “Henry, I lied to them just now.” “I knew you weren’t doing a magic trick, and I deliberately didn’t save you. You can forget about advanced prosthetic legs. The scars will be permanent.” “I personally ruined you, but this is just the beginning.” The words were devastating. So devastating that his hysterical screams started only after I pretended to tuck him in. “Skylar Li, you bitch! You devil!” “Mom, Dad, she just admitted it! It was all deliberate! She wanted to ruin me! No, she wanted to kill me!” “Mom, Dad, you have to kill her! Kill her—” He didn’t finish. Henry’s dad angrily yelled at him. “Henry Wen!” “Are you done throwing a fit? You’re still trying to blame Skylar!” “You set the fire yourself, and you told the security guards it was fireworks so they wouldn’t check! Everything that happened is your own damn fault! Be thankful Skylar didn’t get hurt, or your life wouldn’t be enough to pay for it!” Henry was so enraged he started spitting up blood. Doctors and nurses rushed him to the operating room for emergency treatment. The comments section was livid. “WTF, the side character is seriously insane! Absolutely unhinged!” “Did the side character reincarnate too? She’s brutal! Her words are murderous. It’s pathetic how the male lead is being destroyed by her.” “Honestly, this psycho side character is kinda hot. The male lead wanted to kill her, and she reversed the outcome. That’s fair.” “Haha, when you put it that way, it’s actually pretty cool.” I smiled. Of course, it’s cool. Compared to the hypocritical male lead and the weak, fake female lead, a vicious side character like me is much more entertaining. I’m ready to kill them both. Don’t bother trying to bind me with morality. A devil who clawed her way out of hell has no morals whatsoever. Chapter 5 The national wind power project was a massive opportunity. So tempting that Henry’s parents quickly forgot about their son still in the hospital. And I, the vicious side character, used the excuse of taking care of him to visit the hospital every day, just to provoke and disgust him. I read him the love letters I received. I danced the ballet I just learned right in front of him. Dancing alone is boring, so I brought a handsome, gentle boy to dance with me. I frequently brought his former rivals to visit him. I shared good news, like getting first place in the entrance exam… He couldn’t take it anymore and complained to his parents, begging them to keep me away. Henry’s dad was furious, accusing him of being ungrateful. He said I was so busy, yet I made time to visit and even brought friends to cheer him up. He called Henry a spoiled brat. Henry developed full-blown depression. I used the opportunity to suggest: “Maybe the hospital environment isn’t good for Henry’s recovery.” “My family owns a villa in the countryside. The scenery is beautiful, the people are kind, and the food is all organic and healthy. With a private nurse and two caregivers, the recovery results would be much better than here.” “Then we can get Henry the most advanced prosthetic legs, and he can play basketball again.” Henry’s dad instantly agreed. “You’re so thoughtful, Coco. We’re too busy to be with him.” The decision was finalized then and there. He was sent to the countryside that afternoon. He fought and screamed and threatened a hunger strike. But what could he do? They just packed him up and put him in the car. He didn’t even have the strength to fight back. The comments lit up. “The side character is a poison! So cruel! The poor male lead is ruined…” “This plot is familiar. Is the side character planning to do everything the male lead did to her, back to him?” “Who says the side character has to die? This counterattack is so satisfying!” “What if the side character takes a cute guy and trains him to be her submissive boyfriend? That would be so hot.” Even the cutest guy wouldn’t be as handsome as the male lead, right? The male lead is the handsomest. Wait, there’s a major villain, Alec Lin, who’s supposedly just as handsome. But Alec’s ruthlessness matches his good looks. He’s a cold-hearted bastard. “If the side character and the ultimate villain team up, the destruction of the world is basically imminent.”

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My brother hated me for ten years. The last time we fought, I left town alone and was caught in an unexpected earthquake. Just as a hotel chandelier was about to crush me, my brother suddenly appeared, shielding me with his body. “Sunny, run! Don’t look back!” The chandelier crashed down, snapping his spine. Yet, he smiled at me, a look of profound relief on his face. “Mom and Dad’s last wish—that I take care of you—I finally fulfilled it.” “If there’s a next life, I hope you stay far away from our family.” I was held back, forced to watch as my brother was completely buried under the rubble. That night, having lost the last person related to me, I jumped into the river without hesitation. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I was found. I saw my brother waiting outside the police station. I walked toward him, brushed past him, and called out to a boy behind him: “Brother.” … “You don’t remember anything at all?” The female officer looked at me, pen in hand, determined not to miss a detail. “Try to think. Like your last name, where you lived, or who was in your family?” “You were seven or eight when you were kidnapped. You should have some memories.” I lowered my eyes, speaking slowly. “I was constantly beaten there. Once, I was hit on the head and passed out. When I woke up, I couldn’t remember much.” The officer’s eyes filled with sympathy. She put down her pen. “It’s okay. If you remember anything later, you can call us anytime.” I walked out of the station, heading toward the temporary shelter they arranged for me. Then, I saw a familiar figure rushing over. My brother? My heart clenched. In the last life, the police contacted the Green family, and Zack Green reluctantly came to pick me up. Why was he here already? Zack saw me, his eyes lighting up. He rushed over in three quick steps. I was about to speak, but he beat me to it. “I’m warning you, don’t try to claim any relation. The Green family already has a daughter.” I understood instantly. Zack had been reborn, too. No wonder… He was afraid I would go back and claim my identity, so he rushed here to stop me. My heart ached, but I looked up, feigning confusion. “Who are you? What are you talking about, the Green family?” Zack looked at me with suspicion. “What trick are you pulling now?” I pointed to my head and said matter-of-factly, “I really don’t know you. I hurt my head before, and I can’t remember much.” Hearing about my injury, a flicker of guilt crossed Zack’s eyes, but it vanished instantly. “I don’t care if you’re faking or not. Just know this: the Green family is not the place for you.” He paused, then continued. “Even though we’re strangers, I’ll give you some money and find you an apartment until you turn eighteen. Just don’t run your mouth to the police or bother my family.” I shook my head. “Thank you, but I don’t need it.” Ignoring his stunned look, I got into the car the police arranged for me. I thought about Zack’s final moments, smiling as he said he could finally reunite with Mom, Dad, and his sister. My heart was heavy and bitter. He saved my life at the cost of his own. But in his heart, his sister was someone else… If their family of four was happy without me, then let them remain happy in this life, too. Chapter 2 At the shelter, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. Staring at the dark night sky, memories flooded in. In the last life, the police rescued me from the mountains that same year. I cried, giving them Mom and Dad’s names and address, thinking I was finally going home. But when I was brought back, there was a stranger—a different girl—in my house. Mom and Dad awkwardly explained that they adopted her because they were so heartbroken after I was kidnapped. Her name was Amy. They looked at me with complex eyes, as if I were a stranger who had suddenly intruded. They were warm and affectionate toward Amy, treating her like their true daughter. But… they used to love me the most. I broke down, screaming hysterically. I pointed at the girl, calling her a thief who stole the home that was rightfully mine. Mom and Dad scolded me, calling me selfish. I cried until my throat was raw. “I suffered so much! Why does she get to enjoy the love that belongs to me?!” Mom and Dad stared at me in silence. There was pity in their eyes, but also hesitation. That night, the girl left a note and quietly slipped away. She said she was going back to the orphanage; she didn’t want their family to be torn apart because of her. I was nervous. But Mom and Dad didn’t scold me. They just sighed, saying they would go to the orphanage to bring her back. They stopped my brother from going with them. “You stay with your sister. She just came home. You need to take good care of her.” They never came back. Their car crashed on the way to pick up the girl. All three of them died. From then on, my brother hated me. He hated me for ten long years. The thought made my throat tighten and my eyes burn. I wiped the tears away. Now, since I can’t go back to the Green family, I have to figure out what to do next. I’m under sixteen; I need a guardian. A name suddenly surfaced in my mind. Shane Yu. A skinny boy who always protected me during the beatings. In the last life, if it hadn’t been for him, the village idiot—the son of the family who bought me as a child bride—would have ruined me. When we were locked in the pigpen, shivering, he wrapped his only shirt around me. “I’m your big brother now. I’ll protect you.” We endured countless horrible days together. But later, he was sold to a different village. When I was rescued, the police said the people in his village had been rescued before us. In the last life, I wanted to find him. But the sudden tragedy in my family kept me from going. This time, I decided to find him. The next morning, I went to the police station at dawn. “Officer, I remember where my family is.” After giving my information, I turned to leave the station. But Zack Green suddenly grabbed my wrist, rushing in. “You tricked me again! You were faking it before!” “Why do you insist on going back to the Green family? We don’t want you.” His voice trembled, suppressing massive anger. “Don’t you get it? I already have a sister. Mom and Dad love her to death. They don’t need an extra daughter.” I yanked my hand away and kept walking. Zack was so angry his eyes were red. He suddenly yelled, “You were kidnapped! Why didn’t you just stay in the mountains forever?” His hysterical outburst was identical to when he had pointed at me after our parents died, screaming, “Why didn’t you die instead of them?” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. “Slap!” The loud noise silenced him instantly. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” I stared at him, asking deliberately. “People who get kidnapped deserve to die out there, in your mind?” The slap seemed to wake Zack up. He stumbled back a step, his eyes showing regret. “I’m sorry…” The female officer finally walked over, frowning as she shielded me. “Sir, watch your language. This young lady is looking for her family. Who are you to interfere?” Zack was silent for a while. Finally, he looked at me coldly and grabbed my arm. “You want to go home? Fine. Let’s go.” But I pulled my hand free. To his astonishment, I hid behind the female officer. “I am going home, but what does that have to do with you?” Chapter 3 “My brother’s name is Shane Yu, and he lives in S Province.” I spoke every word clearly to Zack. Zack froze, then looked at me in utter disbelief. “Skylar! You’ve got some nerve!” “Where did you get a brother named Shane?!” The officer immediately pulled me behind her, protecting me. She turned to Zack. “Young lady, do you know him?” I shook my head, my voice quiet. “No. And… my name isn’t Skylar. It’s Shen.” Zack’s expression morphed into pure shock. He suddenly realized something. “You came back too, didn’t you?” I lowered my head, squeezing my skirt hem. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Skylar!” The hatred in Zack’s eyes was intense. “Do you think faking amnesia or playing dumb can erase the fact that you’re a murderer?” “You’re inventing a fake name to trick me.” He sneered. “What, you thought I’d be desperate to claim you?” “I won’t.” He stepped closer, his eyes scornful. “Fine. Your brother is Shane Yu? Go find him.” He stared at me triumphantly, convinced I would panic. “You’re a lunatic!” The officer snapped, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the police car. “Let’s go. Ignore him.” Zack panicked and chased after the car, banging on the window. “Where are you going?!” He only managed to inhale a lungful of exhaust. The car drove for a long time, finally stopping in front of a sprawling, beautiful house. I was surprised. Shane’s family must be wealthy. My confidence in moving in with him increased. We walked up and knocked. After a long wait, the door opened. The man standing there was tall and lean, with handsome features, but a sickly pale complexion. His messy hair partially covered his eyes. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing slender wrists. Seeing us, he froze. “Who are you?” “Brother, I’m your little sister!” I threw myself into his arms. His body went rigid, but he didn’t push me away immediately. “Skylar, are you crazy?” Zack suddenly rushed up the steps, yanking me away. He pointed at Shane, furious. “What are you doing? Do you know who he is? Jumping into his arms? What if he’s some creep?!” Zack looked disheveled and covered in dust, clearly having followed us the entire way. Just like in the last life, when he secretly followed me and then saved my life. I looked at him, my expression unreadable. “He’s my brother. What right do you have to insult him?” Zack laughed, the sound cold and angry. “He’s your brother? Skylar, open your eyes!” I countered, “If he’s not my brother, are you?” I stared at him, and I saw Zack open his mouth. The word “Yes” was practically on his tongue. But he stopped himself. He glared at me, finally scoffing, “You almost trapped me. I told you, I’m not your brother. You don’t deserve to be my sister.” I gave a self-mocking smile. The officer finally intervened, losing patience. “You two! Which one of you is her actual brother?!” Chapter 4 The moment I rushed into Shane’s arms, He recognized me. Seeing the pleading in my eyes, Shane sighed and turned to the officer. “I am her brother. Thank you for finding my sister for me.” Zack’s face was incredulous. “Fine. Great.” He looked at me darkly. “This wasn’t my choice. This is yours. Don’t regret it later.” He turned and walked away. Watching Zack leave, a bitter feeling surged inside me. Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted? Me staying away from the Green family? But why did he look so betrayed? After everyone left, I whispered to Shane, “I’m sorry for the trouble.” “Was that your biological brother?” Shane asked. “If you’re having family trouble,” Shane advised, “you should make up with them and go home.” I shook my head, the events of the last life flashing in my mind. I couldn’t go back. I was about to speak when my eyes caught the bottle of pills on the table that he hadn’t put away. Seeing the label, my heart sank. Looking at the man who was staring down, his expression unreadable, I grabbed Shane’s hand. “You once told me that if I didn’t have a home, you’d be my brother and take care of me forever.” My voice was shaking. “Does that promise still hold true?” Shane was silent for a very long time, so long that I thought time had stopped. Finally, he nodded. “It does.” I rushed to hug him happily. “Then from today on, you’re my real brother, and I’m your only sister.” I looked up at him. “We’re each other’s family.” “Now… Brother, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten all day.” Shane looked surprised. “Okay. I’ll go buy groceries. What do you want to eat?” “Scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Anything else is fine.” I said casually. Shane nodded and went out. I took the opportunity to sweep all the pills off the table and into a drawer. I pretended I hadn’t seen anything. But soon, a knock came at the door. “You’re back so fast?” I opened the door, only to see Zack Green standing there, his face stormy. “Why you?” Zack grabbed my hand without a word and pulled me outside. “Come with me.” I pulled my hand away. “Where are you taking me?” “Home! Skylar, stop playing games! Are you really going to stay with a random stranger?” Zack’s voice suddenly sounded tired. “Since we’re both back, let’s forget about the last life. Come home with me, be a good sister, and Mom and Dad won’t mistreat you. Just stop trying to compete with Amy…” I cut Zack off. “If I say the condition for me to come home is for Amy to leave, would you agree?” The air froze. Zack stared at me in disbelief. Then, hatred flared in his eyes. “I knew it! You’re evil by nature! Why do you have to drive Amy away?!” “I’m telling you, keep dreaming. Amy has been with Mom and Dad for years. They treat her like their own daughter!” “See?” I sneered. “I just brought up the possibility, and you reacted this strongly.” “The situation between Amy and me was unfair from the start!” My voice began to shake. “Did any of you ever consider my feelings? Did I choose to be kidnapped? Do you know how much I suffered during those years?” “Why should I just graciously accept having the love that was mine stolen by someone else?” “You were kidnapped because you were playing around!” Zack blurted out, “Who is to blame but yourself?” I looked up sharply, my eyes burning. “Are you sure I was playing around?” I walked toward him slowly. “Zack, you’ve been lying to everyone for so long. Have you started lying to yourself?” His face instantly turned white. I knew he remembered.

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When my childhood crush told me he was breaking up with me because my family was too poor, I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God I was just acting broke, not actually broke. He had no idea my mom made me pretend we were poor because she was afraid he would be intimidated by our wealth. It was exhausting playing poor. Now I finally don’t have to anymore. Chapter 1 Jake Chen was destined to be my future husband. My mom spotted him on the street when he was a kid and immediately declared him the most devastatingly handsome child she’d ever seen—he had to be our son-in-law. To ensure I could snag Jake’s heart early, Our entire family moved from our luxurious penthouse downtown to a rundown apartment next door to his house. Jake and I naturally became childhood sweethearts. After befriending Jake’s family, my mom stopped her regular spa appointments, quit mahjong and golf. She spent her days elbowing Jake’s mom at the supermarket, fighting over discounted eggs and clearance produce. She gave up her socialite life, all for this future son-in-law. I told my dad, My mom was so nuts she’d be canceled by the internet. My dad just quietly pocketed the Rolls-Royce keys. He pulled out the scooter keys and drove me to school. Ugh. My dad is just like me. He has no say in this family. I once asked my mom when I could finally be my true self around Jake. She said adolescence is when self-esteem is most fragile. What if Jake found out how rich we were and got insecure? I don’t know about Jake getting insecure. But I was going crazy. One night, I couldn’t handle it anymore. I marched into their bedroom. I confronted my mom: “Is Jake your secret love child?!” “I don’t care if he is! Just let Dad and me move back downtown!” “We’re willing to accept the secret love child!” The answer was a synchronized beating from both my parents. My butt hurt. Fine. I’ll just suck it up a little longer. Chapter 2 Thankfully, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The day Jake fell for someone else. After school today, Jake refused to take the public bus with me. “Stella, my family’s old house was demolished. You know that.” “Do you know how much the payout was?” He gestured with his hand. “Thirty million dollars.” “I won’t be taking the public bus anymore.” “You know what that means, right?” Honestly, I didn’t. I replied blankly: “Sure. Let’s take an Uber then!” Jake sighed dramatically. “It’s not about the Uber fare.” “Then what is it about?” Jake’s tone suddenly felt unfamiliar. “My mom said we’re moving out of the old neighborhood in a few days.” “I mean, I’m basically an A8 family now. What about you?” “What about me?” Jake sighed again. “I didn’t want to be blunt. Why are you so slow?” “I believe everyone has the right to pursue better things. You can’t stop me from moving on to someone better, right?” “So, Stella, you get my point?” After all that rambling, I finally understood Jake’s point. His family just got a massive payout. And I, his girlfriend, was no longer good enough for him. He was dumping me. “Fine.” He looked surprised that I agreed so quickly. I got nosy. “Who’s the ‘someone better’?” “Summer Lei.” “I think she’s the most suitable match for me right now.” Oh, the school beauty, gorgeous and from a good family. “Got it.” I pulled out my phone. “I agree to the breakup, but you have to tell my mom yourself.” Jake frowned. “Stella, we’re adults. Why involve our mothers?” My attitude was firm. “She won’t believe me if you don’t tell her.” He sighed again. “Fine.” “Breaking up with poor people is such a pain.” Poor people? Is he talking about me? I dialed the number. My mom was excited when she heard Jake’s voice. “Jake, sweetie, want to come over for dinner tonight?” “Your mom hasn’t answered my calls or texts all week. I wonder what she’s so busy with.” Jake was silent for two seconds, sounding slightly guilty. “Auntie, I called to tell you something.” “I think we need to focus on our studies right now. We shouldn’t be distracted by romance.” “So, Stella and I have decided to break up peacefully.” “What peaceful breakup?!” I screamed into the phone. “Jake, why don’t you tell the truth!” “Mom! His family got rich, and he thinks I’m not good enough!” “He’s dumping me to chase the school beauty!” Jake hung up the phone. “Stella!” This was the first time he had ever yelled at me. “Can’t you be mature about this?” “Why do you have to leave a bad impression on my aunt?” Me: ??? What a jerk. “Whatever. It’s over now.” “I’m officially pursuing Summer starting tomorrow. Please tell the class we’ve broken up.” I watched Jake walk away. I was suddenly glad my mom made me pretend to be poor. How else would I have seen his true colors? But what made me happiest? I finally didn’t have to pretend anymore. And no more riding the public bus. Chapter 3 Today, I splurged and took a private car home. The moment I walked in, my mom interrogated me frantically. “What happened with you and Jake? Did you fight?” I shrugged helplessly. “Can’t you see? His family got rich, and he thinks we’re too poor for him.” My mom was in denial. “No way. Jake’s not like that.” “Do you think… he has a terminal illness and is breaking up with you so he doesn’t drag you down?” I rolled my eyes. “Stop reading romance novels. They’ve ruined your brain.” She insisted. “We’ll spend everything we have to save Jake!” My mom grabbed my arm, dragging me out the door. Jake’s house was right across the hall. After knocking several times, his door finally opened. Jake’s mom looked awkward seeing us. “Oh, you’re home.” “You promised we’d go fight over discounted eggs this afternoon. Why didn’t you answer my messages?” My mom has an incredibly high tolerance for rejection. She didn’t notice that the other party clearly didn’t want anything to do with her. She continued: “Jake called to say he was breaking up with Stella.” “I wanted to know if something was wrong.” Suddenly, Jake’s mom became incredibly snobby. “What could be wrong? Are you cursing my Jake?” “They broke up because he doesn’t like her anymore. What’s the problem?” She was about to close the door. But she added one more thing. “Oh, right, Stella’s mom.” “I forgot to tell you, our old house was demolished. We got a thirty-million-dollar payout.” “We just picked up a Porsche today and are moving to a place that costs fifty thousand a square foot next week.” “So, this is where our story ends. No need to keep in touch.” The moment the door slammed shut, I swear I heard my mom’s heart break. My mom still couldn’t believe she misjudged him. Until she saw that her chat window with Jake’s mom had a red exclamation mark next to it (Blocked). That night, she shook me awake. “Stella, let’s move back downtown.” “The penthouse, the concierge service, the luxury spa. I miss them.” I bolted upright in bed and nodded, relieved. It took forever, but my mom finally saw the light. My dad and I drove the Rolls-Royce straight back to the penthouse that very night. We finally didn’t have to pretend to be poor anymore. My custom clothes, luxury bags, limited-edition blind boxes. I bet you missed me. I’m home! Chapter 4 The next day, I walked into the classroom wearing my limited-edition sneakers. Summer Lei scoffed loudly. The other students looked over. “Stella and Summer are wearing the same shoes.” “It took me one second to guess who’s wearing the fake ones.” “Stella bought knockoffs? No wonder Jake dumped her. She’s so shallow.” “I heard Stella is still harassing Jake, clinging to him even after his family got rich.” “She was wearing eighty-dollar sneakers yesterday. Now she’s in twenty-thousand-dollar shoes? Who’s going to believe that?” Summer played the generous angel. She pretended to be understanding. “It’s okay. Stella probably just doesn’t know about brands.” I slapped her hand away. “Who the hell doesn’t know about brands?” Summer was embarrassed but couldn’t show it. She forced herself to look hurt. “Why are you so mean?” “If you’re mad because Jake is chasing me,” “I just won’t say yes to him.” ??? Who’s mad about that? Jake swooped in like a hero, protecting his potential girlfriend. “Stella, we’ve known each other for years. Don’t I know exactly who you are?” “You know the most about two-dollar street food and seven-dollar instant noodles. You know anything about designer sneakers?” The class erupted in laughter. “I saw Stella arguing with an old lady over fifty cents! She’s desperate!” “She thinks wearing the same shoes as the school beauty makes her one? Or is she trying to win Jake back?” “No matter how hard she tries, the school beauty’s style is still low-budget on her.” Maybe the thirty-million-dollar payout gave him confidence. Jake decided to test me. “Since you claim you know shoes.” “What’s the name of the founder of this brand? What’s his birthday?” The name and model number were on the tip of my tongue. You don’t ask the brand name? You ask about the founder and his birthday? My face was red with fury. Before I could explode, Jake assumed I was humiliated. “Enough. I know breaking up with me hit you hard.” He pulled a meal card out of his pocket. “There’s five hundred dollars on this. It should last you one semester.” Seeing me refuse, he shoved it into my hand. “Stop pretending. I know you need it.” “Consider it compensation for the breakup.” I rolled my eyes and threw the meal card back at him. I sat back down in my seat, only to realize Jake had moved. He moved next to Summer, claiming he was helping her study. But everyone knew his real motive. Jake was gone. No one wanted to sit next to me. But a poor student in the class, Chloe Xie, took pity on me and silently moved to the empty seat. As Chloe moved, Summer leaned on my desk and sneered: “The whole class hates her now. Moving next to her? You know what that means.” Chloe still moved next to me. I asked her why. She said she couldn’t stand Jake and Summer using their money to bully people. I felt slightly offended. It’s still TBD who’s using money to bully people.

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At a high-level executive meeting, Ethan Fu’s newly hired assistant threw a whole cup of bubble tea in my face. “You, the slacker who just hides in the office playing video games all day, dare to question my proposal?” “I hereby announce you’re fired. Get out!” I calmly stood up, wiped the liquid from my face, and looked at Ethan Fu. He frowned, deliberately avoiding my gaze, choosing silence. I smiled, pulled out my phone. “Dad, did you hear that?” “They told me to scram.” Chapter 1 1 It was Monday, and I was deep in a gaming session when the office door suddenly knocked. “Ms. Lynn, Assistant Winnie is calling all managers to the main conference room in ten minutes.” Jess, from Administration, stood at the doorway, sounding rushed. I didn’t look up, my fingers flying over the keyboard. “Nope. Not going. No time.” In the six months since I joined the company, I hadn’t attended a single meeting. Not because I didn’t have to, but because I didn’t want to. “But…” Jess hesitated. “Assistant Winnie specifically said no one can be absent today. She said it was Mr. Fu’s order.” My fingers paused. My game character was instantly killed by the BOSS. As the screen went gray, I cursed silently and closed my laptop. When I arrived at the conference room, it was already packed. Several people gave me strange looks, whispering to each other. “Why is Manager Lynn here?” “Doesn’t she skip every meeting?” “Who knows? Assistant Winnie must have insisted.” “Winnie’s always been picking fights with her. I bet there’s drama today.” … I ignored the gossip, picked the seat furthest in the corner, and pulled out my phone to continue the game. Ethan Fu and Winnie Mian-mian finally arrived thirty minutes late. Winnie was clutching a stack of files, a smug, satisfied smile on her face. “Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this meeting.” Ethan Fu scanned the room. His gaze landed on me for less than a second before moving on. “Today, Assistant Winnie has an important proposal to announce to everyone.” Winnie cleared her throat and began droning on about her “revolutionary” marketing plan. I played my game, half-listening, and the more I heard, the more ridiculous it sounded. The budget was insane, and the plan didn’t match our company’s market positioning at all. “…Therefore, I believe we should immediately invest eighty million dollars to dominate the high-end market in three months!” Winnie concluded passionately. A sparse round of applause filled the room. I couldn’t hold back. Without looking up from my phone, I said, “Spending eighty million on meaningless exposure? You might as well throw the money off the company roof. That would generate more buzz and traffic.” The conference room went silent. Ethan Fu frowned. “What did you say?” Winnie’s voice spiked. I finally looked up and said slowly. “I said your plan is full of holes.” “First, the target customer group is wrong.” “Second, the distribution channel is inappropriate.” “Finally, the ROI calculation method is fundamentally flawed.” “That twenty million you plan to spend is basically flushing cash down the toilet.” “No, wait. Flushing cash makes a noise, at least.” Winnie’s face turned scarlet. She grabbed the bubble tea on the table and rushed over to me. “You, the slacker who just hides in the office playing video games all day, dare to question my proposal?” She practically screamed it. Then. Splash! The entire cup of bubble tea hit my face. The liquid streamed down my cheeks, staining my white dress brown. The conference room was dead silent. Everyone held their breath. “Skye Lin! I, as the CEO’s assistant, announce you are fired! Get out!” Chapter 2 2 Winnie looked down at me from above. I slowly stood up, pulled out a handkerchief, and methodically wiped the mess from my face. Then I looked at Ethan Fu. He frowned, then avoided my gaze, choosing silence. I suddenly smiled. I spoke into my phone, which was on speakerphone: “Dad, did you hear that?” “They told me to scram.” The other end was silent for two seconds. Then a low, powerful voice answered. “Got it. I’ll make the arrangements.” The reason I took this job was entirely because of a marriage contract signed by my grandfather. Ethan Fu was my fiancé. I hate arranged marriages, but my dad guilt-tripped me, practically using filial piety as a weapon. I had no choice but to agree. To deepen our relationship, my dad insisted I join Fu Corp. In the six months I worked for my fiancé, even though I played games all day, looking like a total slacker. Behind the scenes, I was leveraging my own resources to make the company’s performance soar, even pushing for its IPO. Fu Corp became a star company overnight, and Ethan Fu made the city’s rich list. Despite helping him immensely, we rarely talked. In our few mandatory dates, I learned that he only knew I was his arranged fiancée. He had no idea who I truly was. …… I sat back down in my chair, picked up my phone, and resumed the game that was interrupted. My fingers flew across the screen. I acted as if the tension in the conference room had nothing to do with me. Winnie’s face went from red to green. She clearly didn’t expect me to ignore her authority. She slammed her hand on the table. Her voice was sharp. “Skye Lin! What do you think this is?” “Everyone here is focused on the meeting, and you’re playing a game?” I sneered, “I’ve already hit my annual performance goal. Why can’t I play a game?” “If you don’t get out now, I’m calling security!” I didn’t even look up. “Go ahead.” The other executives exchanged uneasy glances. Some pretended to check files; others secretly watched Ethan Fu, waiting for his reaction. Ethan Fu finally stood up. He was dressed in a sharp black suit. His expression was cold and stern. He looked at me, his eyes filled with impatience and indifference. “Skye Lin, your performance is good.” His voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. “But this is the company, not your home.” “Please leave the conference room immediately and stop disrupting the meeting.” My fingers paused. My character died again. I looked up, met his gaze, and curved my lips into a playful smile. “Mr. Fu, are you sure you want to kick me out?” Ethan Fu frowned, his tone even colder. “I won’t repeat myself. If you have any professional ethics, you should know where the line is.” “What if I don’t want to leave?” “Then don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Seeing Ethan Fu on her side, Winnie grew bolder. She rushed over and slapped my phone from my hand. “Smash!” The phone hit the floor, the screen shattering into a spiderweb pattern. “Skye Lin, stop pushing your luck!” She grabbed my collar and yanked me up. “Mr. Fu told you to leave. What are you doing still sitting here? Get out!” From the day she became the assistant, Winnie had hated me. Once, when I passed the CEO’s office, I heard her pontificating, “Mr. Fu, the company isn’t a charity. It’s unfair to the other employees to spend so much money on a slacker who just plays games all day.” Her voice was low, but loud enough for me to hear outside. Ethan Fu didn’t reply. But through the window, I saw him pause while flipping a file. After that, Winnie only got worse. She started “casually” mentioning my “great achievements” in department meetings. “Some people get a huge salary but don’t even attend meetings. I wonder if they’re here to work or on vacation.” Gossip about me spread through the company. Some said I was a spoiled rich girl who used connections. Others said I slept in my office all day. Some even started betting on when I’d be fired. I knew all of it. I just didn’t care. Chapter 3 3 But the more I ignored her, the more entitled she became. This time, she seized the opportunity and acted completely unhinged. I wasn’t going to tolerate it. I grabbed her wrist and twisted hard. “Ah!” Winnie cried out in pain and instinctively released my collar. As she pulled away, her arm slammed into the edge of the conference table. Her expensive watch hit the solid wood with a sharp clink. She stumbled back, looked down, and her face went white. The face of her pricey Patek Philippe watch had a clear scratch, glaring under the light. “You… you…” She raised her trembling wrist, her eyes blazing with fury. “Skye Lin, do you know how much this watch is?” “It was a birthday gift from Mr. Fu! It cost eight hundred thousand dollars!” I slowly straightened my wrinkled collar. “You stumbled. Whose fault is that?” “Skye Lin!” Ethan Fu finally roared. “That’s enough!” “You’re disrupting the meeting, and now you’ve deliberately damaged someone else’s property.” “As the CEO, I officially inform you that you are fired.” “Now, collect your things and leave the company immediately!” Winnie screamed, “Mr. Fu, don’t let her off the hook! She has to pay for the watch!” The conference room was silent. Everyone looked at me with pity or schadenfreude, waiting for the show to begin. “Fine, I’ll pay.” “Eight hundred thousand, right?” I bent down to pick up my broken phone. The screen was cracked, but it still worked. I dialed a number, about to speak, when Winnie sneered, “Eight hundred thousand? It’s eight million!” I paused and looked at her. “Are you sure?” “I’m absolutely sure!” Winnie said haughtily. “A gift from Mr. Fu is priceless! Saying eight million is already letting you off easy!” “Tell everyone I’m right!” Winnie was determined to pin this on me. She knew my salary couldn’t cover that. She just wanted to humiliate me. The other executives chimed in immediately. “Yes, how can you put a price on a gift from Mr. Fu?” The finance director adjusted his glasses. “Manager Lynn, you should just admit your fault.” “The company isn’t a charity. If you break something, you pay for it.” The marketing director scoffed. “But with Manager Lynn’s salary, she’ll be paying until retirement, right?” Everyone laughed, their eyes full of mockery. They had always disliked me, the slacker. Now that I was in trouble, they were happy to kick me down. Ethan Fu stood by, frowning, but didn’t stop them. I ignored their sarcasm and looked up at Winnie. “Eight million. You won’t add any more zeros, right?” Winnie froze, then sneered. “Skye Lin, why are you pretending? You’re broke!” “You make barely anything. How are you going to pay eight million?” I ignored her, picking up my phone. “Prepare eight million in cash and deliver it to the Fu Corp conference room. ASAP.” Winnie looked disdainful. “Tch. Who are you trying to fool? You think you can call someone and magically get cash?” I didn’t answer, just waited quietly. Less than ten minutes later, the conference room door opened. A man in a sharp suit walked in. Behind him were three bank employees, each carrying a case. He walked straight to me and bowed respectfully: “Ms. Shen, here is the eight million you requested.” I nodded. “Thank you. Just put it here.” As the three cases were opened, the neatly stacked hundred-dollar bills shone under the lights. The conference room was silent. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the cash. The air seemed sucked out of the room. Even breathing was subdued. Winnie’s face was pale, and she couldn’t utter a single word. She stared hard at the cash, then looked up at the man in the suit. Suddenly, the finance director’s face went white. “Lu… President Lu?!” Chapter 4 4 Lu Ming-yuan, the CEO of the City Bank’s main branch. A powerful figure who was rarely seen. Even Ethan Fu’s grandfather would have trouble getting an audience. Yet, he was standing here, respectfully calling me “Ms. Shen.” Ethan Fu paused for a few seconds, then quickly stepped forward, offering his hand. “President Lu, why did you come personally?” “My grandfather often speaks of you. He would love to see you again.” Lu Ming-yuan didn’t even look at him. He simply nodded and addressed me. “Ms. Shen, if you need anything else, just say the word.” With that, he turned and left with his team. Quick and decisive, as if staying a second longer was a waste of time. Ethan Fu’s hand was frozen in mid-air. His face flushed with embarrassment. Winnie’s arrogance was long gone. Her legs were shaking. She was barely standing, her forehead covered in cold sweat. I slowly pulled a stack of bills from a case and gently patted her cheek. “Assistant Winnie, eight million. Not a penny less.” “Now, this watch is mine.” I ripped the Patek Philippe off her wrist and tossed it into the trash can in front of her. “You!” Winnie was livid. I turned to Ethan Fu and smiled faintly. “Mr. Fu, I paid for the watch.” “Now, let’s discuss compensation for my phone.” Winnie stared blankly, then sneered, as if I’d said the most hilarious thing. She crossed her arms, mockery in her tone. “How much could a Huawei possibly be worth?” I held up one finger. “It’s cheap, actually. Only about one hundred million dollars.” The room gasped, then burst into laughter. The marketing director dramatically slammed his hand on the table. “One hundred million? Manager Lynn, did the bubble tea fry your brain?” The finance director adjusted his glasses, mockingly serious. “According to company policy, damaged items are compensated at market price.” “Manager Shen, the market price for your phone is probably less than the interest on that sum.” Winnie was smug, seeing everyone agree with her. She walked up to me, smiling. “How about this? I’ll be generous and contact a psychiatric hospital for you.” “Delusions are a disease, after all. You need treatment.” Ethan Fu stood by, his brow furrowed, but remained silent. I remained calm amidst the mockery. “You’re right. A regular Huawei phone isn’t worth much.” Winnie sneered. “Glad you know. Stop making a fool of yourself!” “Too bad this isn’t a regular Huawei.” Just as I finished speaking, the conference room door opened again. This time, a middle-aged man in a gray jacket walked in, followed by eight bodyguards. Hank Huo, Senior VP of the Huawei Group. He only appeared at major press conferences. Ethan Fu’s expression changed instantly. He rushed forward. “Mr. Huo? What brings you here?”

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The villain was a total chatterbox, and I was a mute. To keep up his cool, detached image, the villain only ever opened his mouth around me. The more he talked, the more uninhibited he became. “Got asked out again today. The girl complimented me so much I was dizzy, didn’t know which way was up.” “Why aren’t you saying anything? Jealous?” “I was totally indifferent to you at first, but the way you ignore me is honestly captivating. I’m in love, I’m in love.” “You love me, I love you, Sweetheart Ice Cream, so sweet, so smooth~” (A localized take on a jingle) “Alright, since we’re clearly crazy about each other, let’s get married right after graduation.” My eyes went wide. I forced out a croaking sound. “I don’t—” The villain clapped a hand over my mouth. “Mumbling something? Come here and give me a kiss, quick.” 1. The Big Reveal Jack and I stared at each other, eyes locked. It took him a good long while to finally remove his hand from my mouth. “Wait… you can talk?” I nodded, then shook my head. “I can… but it hurts.” Because of an injury when I was a kid, I could only manage two or three words at a time. And every time, a stabbing pain shot through my throat. Over time, I just stopped talking, becoming the “mute” everyone knew. I’d been sitting next to Jack for so long, and this was the first time I’d ever spoken. I had simply been pushed too far. 2. The Backseat Life I’d known since I was little that I was living inside a novel. My drunk dad, my timid mom, my rebellious little brother, and me, the damaged one. But I wasn’t the main character, Mia—I was just a side character, a wallflower. I figured I’d have no connection to the main cast. That changed in senior year when I was sorted into their class and ended up as the desk partner of the “villain,” Jack Coleman. Jack was a rich punk. Aloof, aggressive, and ready to throw down at the drop of a hat. At first, I was terrified, walking on eggshells, worried he’d clock me if I upset him. Maybe it was because I didn’t speak, and Jack had a strange soft spot for the “disabled,” but we actually got along okay. No matter how much of a villain Jack was supposed to be, right now, he was just an eighteen-year-old kid. Cocky, loved to show off, obsessed with air-shooting hoops. And, a complete motor-mouth. But to maintain his cool exterior, he only talked around me. Since I was the “mute,” I wouldn’t spill his secrets. So, I was forced to learn the color of Jack’s boxers every day. I heard about his mom’s three-ring circus fighting off the mistress. I was even privy to the steamy affair between the school janitor and the cafeteria lady. I knew way too much I shouldn’t know. I desperately wanted to fight back, to tell Jack, “I’m a mute, not deaf!” But I didn’t dare. Little by little, Jack became more and more unhinged. He stopped getting into fights, stopped sleeping in class. The moment his eyes opened, he started talking. Even when I pretended to sleep, he’d lean into my ear and whisper endlessly. Finally, I snapped. I pinched his lips between two fingers and used my other hand to make a “shush” sign on my own mouth. Jack’s face immediately flushed beet red, like a traffic light turning to stop. Scared, I quickly let go. To my surprise, Jack didn’t punch me. He just stayed red for half the class, stole glances at me all afternoon, and occasionally let out a weird, muffled chuckle. From that day on, Jack changed. He went from being a chatterbox to a chatterbox who seemed to like me. 3. A Box of Mints Jack was in a slump. It had been three days since I rejected him, and he hadn’t said a single word to me. I peeked up, stealing a glance. Jack was frowning, reading a book, only giving me his profile. I had to admit, Jack was better looking than the main hero, Ethan Miller. Chiseled nose, thin lips, sharp jawline. But shouldn’t he be fighting Ethan for Mia, the main girl? Why would he like me, the mute? Sensing my gaze, Jack snorted coldly. “In love with me now?” I quickly shook my head and yanked my eyes away. The truth was, I was afraid of losing Jack as a friend. Since I couldn’t speak, I had no friends. No one wanted to talk to a mute. Except for Jack. He could gossip non-stop for an entire day and never get bored. I didn’t want to lose that. The more I thought about it, the sadder I got, and a tear silently dripped. “Ugh.” A soft sigh came from beside me. A box of lozenges was pushed in front of me. Jack pulled his hand back, leaning lazily against the window. “Good for your throat.” I sniffled, unwrapped one, and popped it in my mouth. Minty. 【Are we still friends?】I wrote on a sticky note. Jack didn’t answer. He just said, “I’m taking you to the doctor this weekend.” I looked at him instinctively. He added, “And don’t even think about saying no.” 4. The Male Lead’s Interruption My voice couldn’t be fixed. I could speak before I was five. Then, my mom had my little brother, and my dad started hating the sight of me. One night, drunk, he choked and beat me. When I woke up, my mom was crying, saying my vocal cords were damaged and wouldn’t heal. Since then, I hadn’t spoken a full sentence. So, when the doctor looked troubled, I didn’t feel much. But Jack asked, over and over, “She can get out two or three words. Maybe there’s still a chance?” “She can vocalize? What does she say?” the doctor asked. Jack, his face dark, replied, ” ‘I don’t.’” The doctor and Jack talked for a long time. I don’t know the details; Jack told me to wait in the hallway. A full hour passed, and he didn’t come out. Someone at the end of the hall suddenly called my name. I looked up. It was Ethan Miller, the main hero. Ethan was our class president and my neighbor. Though for the past eighteen years, we had barely known each other. We had zero contact, really. I was wondering why Ethan would call out to me. He walked over, crouched down to my level, and asked, “What are you doing at the hospital? Are you hurt?” I shook my head and pointed to my throat. “Here for your voice?” he asked. I nodded. Ethan glanced at the closed office door. “Who brought you?” Even if Ethan and I weren’t close, we were neighbors for eighteen years. He knew my parents wouldn’t bring me to a doctor. I opened my mouth. “…Jack.” Just then, the office door opened. Jack, holding a bag of medication, stood backlit. Seeing Ethan, his face instantly soured. Ethan spoke first. “Her voice can’t be fixed.” He was, of course, talking about me. I lowered my head, silently twisting my fingers. “None of your business,” Jack snapped impatiently. “Did you take her to a doctor? Did a doctor give you that diagnosis? Stop being a know-it-all.” Jack grabbed my arm and pulled me away. I twisted my head back to see Ethan still standing there, unmoving. “What are you looking at?” Jack’s voice was sharp with annoyance. He didn’t wait for my reply, launching into a rant. “We’ve been desk partners this whole time, and you only managed a few words for me. But Ethan asks you a question, and suddenly you can talk?” “But hey, at least you said my name.” “Otherwise…” Otherwise, what? I asked Jack with my eyes. He huffed. “Otherwise, I’d be jealous.” The boy’s eyes were sparkling, making my heart flutter. I scribbled on a notepad: 【What did the doctor say?】 “It can be fixed.” I stared at him in disbelief, my voice raspy. “…It can?” Jack nodded confidently, giving me a wide, mischievous grin. “Well… the process is gonna be a little complicated.” 5. Therapy Via Sass I soon learned just how “complicated” Jack’s process was. Jack talked more than ever before. “The cafeteria lady’s husband found out the janitor was the other man. Guess how he found out?” I shook my head, my eyes prompting Jack to continue. Jack smiled mysteriously. “You guess first.” He was clearly not going to speak until I did. I struggled to speak. “You told him.” Jack looked genuinely surprised. “No way! You really are my girl! Such a perfect guess! Come here and give me a kiss!” I blushed and pushed his hand away. Jack, the “villain,” loved chaos. He’d definitely be happy to tattle. “Also,” his face turned serious. “You won’t answer your phone or texts. Our baby has a fever of 105°F, and I walked 24 hours carrying them over a mountain pass to get to a clinic.” “And you’re still sitting here doing math problems. I seriously don’t know what the point of this marriage is.” I looked at the math homework on my desk and slowly raised a questioning eyebrow. “Honey, unless you give me an explanation today, I am not letting this go!” Jack continued. The person in front of us shot us a look of confused but profound shock. I quickly blurted out. “No…” “No what?” Jack grabbed my hand and gave me a playful wink. I was silent for a long time. “…Sorry.” Jack grinned. “My love is so good. Let’s kiss again!” “Stop…” “Are you rejecting me again?” Jack’s face fell. “I already swore on a stack of Bibles I wouldn’t give you the silent treatment or play mind games. We’re adults, let’s talk things out. Keeping things bottled up is bad for both of us. If you keep this up, I might just stop talking to you.” Jack said he might stop talking to me. I panicked. “Don’t… ignore me.” “Then do you accept a military marriage?” he asked. I looked up at Jack, his mouth twitching with suppressed laughter. “I… I’m a psycho-soldier, hahahaha.” Jack had gone nuts. Everyone in class thought I’d driven him crazy. Because I wouldn’t talk, they thought I was constantly giving Jack the cold shoulder, which made him lose his mind, like a concubine locked away in a cold palace. Soon, everyone was looking at me weirdly. Ethan even pulled me aside privately. “Do you want to switch seats? I’ll talk to the teacher.” “No…” I refused. I knew the truth: Jack was pushing me to talk more. I had gone from only simple words to being able to squeeze out full sentences. Jack deserved all the credit. He was helping me, I knew it. Besides forcing me to speak with his constant chatter, Jack also taught me how to articulate properly. He bought flashcards used for kindergarteners learning phonics and patiently coached me. “Big open mouth, A as in apple. Roaring like a lion, O as in orange. The big white goose, E as in egg…” “Got it?” I opened my mouth wide. “I… learned-it.” (A play on words implying I’ve “abandoned” the learning process, similar to “feigned” learning). Seeing the results were slow, Jack changed tactics. He placed my fingers on his mouth, letting me feel the vibrations of his speech. “I,” Jack said, instructing me to follow. His warm breath sprayed my fingers, and I unconsciously curled them. “…I.” “Like.” “Like.” “You.” “You.” The afternoon sun fell across Jack’s face. In the shifting light, he raised an eyebrow. “Why did you stop following along?” I pulled my fingers back, my voice muffled. “You’re…” “…an idiot.” The smile on Jack’s face froze.

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I caught Ethan talking softly on the phone late one night. His voice was intimate, laced with a tenderness I’d never known. “Sleep tight, honey. Don’t cry. I’ll be there as soon as I wrap up.” He refused to divorce me, choosing instead to torture me with his infidelity. What for? I decided to turn up the heat. I found my old college friend, Ryan, to play the part of my own ‘fling.’ We made sure to be seen in the areas where Ethan frequented. I figured, with both of us cheating, and the marriage already this rotten, he’d finally agree to a divorce. 1 It was four in the morning. I was heading downstairs for a glass of water when I heard Ethan on the balcony, his voice deliberately low. In the dead of night, his deep, tender whispers pierced the darkness. “Sleep tight, honey. Don’t cry. I’ll be there as soon as I wrap up.” A sharp pang of pain hit my chest, and my drowsiness vanished instantly. I quickly ducked down, hiding behind the stair railing. I heard him lock his phone, walk back into the master bedroom, and close the door. Only then did I exhale, concluding— He was cheating. They say when a man cheats, his wife is often divinely inspired—running into him at the most coincidental, yet inevitable, moment. Look at me: I just happened to get thirsty at this exact hour; the water in my room just happened to be gone; and I just happened to run into him making that call. If that’s not divine intervention, I don’t know what is. Ethan is nine years older than me. Back then, my dad’s company was facing bankruptcy and desperately needed cash flow. Ethan generously invested three hundred million dollars, pulling my dad out of a tight spot. Dad knew Ethan didn’t do business for charity, so he asked what return Ethan wanted. Ethan leaned back on the leather sofa, just smiling at my father. After several proposed payback plans were turned down, Dad thought of trading his daughter. “My daughter, Chloe, is gentle and beautiful. A fortune teller once said she’s a home-blessing, husband-prospering charm. Might Mr. Grant need a wife?” Ethan stopped smiling and said solemnly, “Then I’ll leave it to you, Dad.” I was nineteen, a freshman in college. Dad persuaded me, “Mr. Grant is handsome, steady, and sharp. You won’t lose out marrying him, Chloe.” A year later, Ethan and I were married. On our wedding day, I overheard his staff gossiping. They said he had a ‘one that got away,’ a first love, but since she was married, he just settled for someone else. After the wedding, I moved into Ethan’s secluded villa in the Lakeside district. For three years, I lived upstairs, and he lived downstairs. We were like neighbors, like roommates, but not like husband and wife. He was always busy. I could count the number of times we ate together on one hand. In the corporate world, he was a jack-of-all-trades: cool-headed, decisive, with impeccable foresight and sharp execution. Headlines were always showing his photos, where he looked handsome, composed, and controlled. To promote a new line of men’s clothing, he even did a personal photoshoot on the green campus of State University, where I was studying. Nearing forty, he stood quietly under the trees, blending maturity and youth, holding a perfect balance between restraint and flair. The photos caused a stir at State U. Those pictures moved my heart, too. But so what? He didn’t love me. He hadn’t touched me in three years. I was in the prime of my youth, watching my classmates cuddling and being mushy with their boyfriends. I felt a sudden sense of loss, like my spring was being nipped in the bud. The culprit was Ethan, who gambled my whole life away for some ridiculous payback. I’d brought up divorce before, two or three times every year. The first year, he replied, “Your father’s company is still shaky. Pulling out the investment now… have you thought this through?” The second year, when Dad’s company started turning a steady profit, I brought it up again. He replied, “Mrs. Grant, a marriage license isn’t a joke. It’s a lifelong commitment. Think about it some more.” The third year, he said, “It seems you haven’t made up your mind. You need to keep considering it.” It was always the cold, clinical ‘consideration,’ mixed up with family interests. To be fair, I hadn’t had a solid reason, and he had helped my family. But now it was different. He was cheating. I felt a little sad, but secretly, a little thrilled. 2 I reached out to Ryan Carter, a guy I’d recently met in a college leadership program. Ryan was sunny, handsome, the Student Body President, and a part-time race car driver. I heard he was every girl’s dream guy on campus. Once, I saw him working at a convenience store, realizing he was short on cash, so I proposed a deal. “You just need to pretend to be my boyfriend. Three thousand dollars per meeting, paid in cash. What do you say?” Ryan frowned, looking confused. “Isn’t your husband good to you? Why go through all this to get a divorce?” I didn’t want to explain, just said, “Can you handle this, Ryan? It’s a bit tricky. My husband has some serious connections, and there might be some personal danger.” Ryan gave a slight smile. “I’m only worried about your reputation, Chloe.” “You don’t have to worry. My husband is cheating, too. If he dares expose my secret, I’ll expose his. I have nothing to lose.” Ryan looked momentarily speechless, probably intimidated by the adult world. But after a moment, he took the job with interest. “Alright, I’m in.” My second step was hiring a private investigator to look into Ethan. The results came back quickly. Ethan’s ‘one that got away’ was his childhood friend, Jenny Moore, who had moved to New Zealand. She was currently going through a rough divorce. His four a.m. call was likely to her. One in the US and one abroad—it was probably just an emotional affair, but that was just as unforgivable. I instructed the P.I. to stick close to Ethan. Then, I started my own ‘cheating’ plan. Ryan and I agreed to meet in the commercial area below Ethan’s company building. The P.I. had mentioned Ethan often went to a specific Cantonese restaurant to talk business. So, I took Ryan there. I saw Ethan escorting two people into a private room called the ‘Serene Garden.’ A moment later, I caught sight of Ethan striding out. He stopped short, almost stumbling, when he saw Ryan and me conspicuously seated in the main dining hall. I pretended not to see him, laughing and chatting with Ryan, and even deliberately picked up a piece of jasmine rice and fed it to him. Then, I pulled out a napkin and gently wiped his lips. Ryan had his back to Ethan, smiling broadly at me. He was handsome, his eyes were full of playful affection, and his ears were actually red. Man, Ryan is a great actor, I thought. I needed to keep up with his pace. So, when Ryan fed me, I returned the favor with a look of pure, sweet adoration. Ethan must have been absolutely furious, ready to sign the divorce papers on the spot. He’d want to save face after the public humiliation I was putting him through. Sure enough, less than ten seconds later, my phone flashed with a text from Ethan: 【Where are you?】 I had to play the part convincingly. I glanced around nervously, acting out the guilty, stolen feel of an affair to perfection. I actually hoped he’d show up and confront me, but he seemed to have retreated. I didn’t reply right away. After a forty-minute dinner, while I was letting the food settle, I casually picked up my phone to text Ethan back: 【At the school cafeteria.】 You’ve been openly lied to by your wife. You should be blowing up! Burn, Mr. Grant, burn in the fiery pits of your rage! However, the dialogue box just kept showing ‘Ethan is typing…’ About ten minutes later, a message finally popped up: 【Hm, the food at the cafeteria can’t be good. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have the housekeeper pack you lunch and send it over.】 Me: 【No, thanks! I’m happy eating with my friends.】 Ethan: 【Be a good girl, don’t argue. Or I’ll have to personally deliver it.】 Me: 【Oh, okay. The housekeeper can do it, then.】 “…” Why isn’t he storming over to catch us red-handed? He should be signing the divorce papers in a fit of rage, so he can finally marry his ‘one that got away’ and live happily ever after! The P.I.’s report that day said: Ethan quickly ended his restaurant meeting and rushed back to the company to meet with his executive team. He wore a dark expression the entire time, snapping at anyone who dared to speak out of turn. Also, he hired someone to follow me. 3 The war had begun, and I was on high alert. That night, I purposely came home late. The villa was pitch black and silent. I thought Ethan hadn’t returned yet. The moment I stepped into the living room, I noticed a figure in the sofa’s shadow. I jumped and quickly turned on the light. Ethan looked up at me, his face drawn and weary—the kind of exhaustion that comes after a major outburst. His resentful gaze lasted two seconds, quickly masked by a forced calm. “You’re home. How was school lately?” His voice was low, all emotion carefully constrained. I replied cheerfully, “Everything’s great. And you, Mr. Grant?” “Mhm, all good.” It was as if nothing had happened. His sharp, deep-set eyes fell on my handbag, specifically the new charm dangling from it— A heart-shaped charm of two black and white swans entwined. A symbol of love. The hand resting on the sofa instinctively began to scratch at the leather. I felt like any second, he’d charge over, rip off the charm, and throw it in the trash. After five seconds of tension, he unclenched his hand, forcing an ugly smile. “What’s that?” “Just a little charm. A friend bought it for me.” I actually bought it myself, just to needle him. He nodded impassively, then offered a strained, polite compliment: “It’s nice.” My only assessment of his calm reaction: He’s a slippery snake. Time to turn up the heat again. That night, I paced between the living room, the kitchen island, and the second floor several times. I was humming a cheerful pop song: “It’s four a.m., I see the begonia blooms still awake. Perhaps a crush is hidden within the tears…” “It’s five a.m., trying to lull this longing to sleep…” His call was at four a.m., wasn’t it? Such an obvious hint—what would he think? Since the ‘cheating’ plan started, I’d changed my look. I usually went bare-faced, but now I wore light makeup. I ditched the cartoon cotton pajamas for a sleek, sexy silk nightgown. Eighty percent of my ‘college student’ innocence instantly vanished. Ethan stayed seated on the living room sofa, furiously typing on his laptop. But the corner of his eye was wrapped around my movements like a vine. He was a careful and cautious man. If he found me annoying, he could easily face the floor-to-ceiling windows. The villa sat halfway up a hill, and the view from the windows offered a stunning panorama of the city lights. He always faced the windows before. But tonight, he insisted on sitting where he could face the stairs, the island, and the entire living room. Suddenly, he asked, “What song are you singing?” “It’s a viral track, ‘Forbidden Love: The CEO’s Secret Marriage Trap.’” “Hm.” After a moment of silence, he asked, “Do you like silk nightgowns?” “Ah, haha, well…” I paused dramatically, pretending to search for a cover-up. “Lately, I just feel like they make me feel more… womanly.” The hand resting on his keyboard tensed into a fist, then slowly relaxed, and the tight line of his jaw eased slightly. Then, with a hint of dark humor, he let out a chuckle. “In that case, I should thank whoever inspired you. How considerate of them.” He slammed his laptop shut, covered the distance in a few steps, and loomed over me with intense pressure. I instinctively backed up, but he kept advancing until my back hit the wall. Then, a strong hand grabbed both my wrists and pinned them against the wall. The aggressive, dominant move forced my body flush against his. The heat of his chest seeped through the thin fabric of my nightgown, making my throat go dry. I thought he was finally going to exercise his rights as a husband. After all, his gaze was hotter than I’d ever seen, suppressing a torrent of complex emotions. “Then I absolutely must try out this damn good ‘hand feel.’” He practically bit the words out. Immediately, his warm palm traced my lower back, rubbing slowly. A wild look entered his eyes. But then he let me go, saying unconvincingly, “I tried it. It’s not good at all. Don’t wear it again.” “Some people will lie to you to get what they want. You’re still young, and you can’t tell the difference. You’ll get hurt.” His words left me one-third confused and two-thirds angry. I felt like my intelligence was being insulted. Also, I was practically advertising my cheating, and he didn’t care? Only a lack of love could produce such generosity. Or maybe, he was terrified of bringing his reputation into question. Husband and wife both cheating—this marriage was completely trashed. Yet, he could endure it all, like a ninja turtle, just to protect his image. I started drafting the divorce agreement while re-evaluating: The fire isn’t hot enough yet. 4 I woke up the next morning to music blaring from Ethan’s room: “It’s four a.m., I see the begonia blooms still awake…” After breakfast, he insisted on driving me to school, a first. I begrudgingly sat in the passenger seat. And in the car, it was again: “It’s four a.m.…” I was going insane. Was he challenging me? Was he trying to make sure I knew he was pining for Jenny? Just you wait, Ethan. Today, I’m giving you a real reason to leave! I slammed the car door shut and immediately went to find Ryan. I spotted a figure quickly dodging behind a column. A small smirk played on my lips. I wrapped my arms around Ryan’s neck and jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Ryan had to quickly put his hands on my rear to support me. I admit, it was a little much, but Ethan forced my hand. Since I was already doing it, I might as well make it realistic. I planted a light kiss on Ryan’s cheek. Ryan’s acting was truly superb. He immediately flushed crimson, stammering in a low voice: “C-Chloe, is this… okay?” I behaved like a giddy freshman girl lost in the throes of romantic love, smiling like a kid who’d just been given candy. “It’s just acting. Don’t take it seriously.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Ryan’s eyes, but he quickly smiled and nodded. Ryan took the day off from his classes and spent the day dedicated to our performance. We held hands, ate, shopped, played arcade games, and watched a movie… We did everything a young couple would do. Beyond the acting, Ryan was a great companion; he made everything fun. I had a genuinely great time. That evening, before leaving campus, Ryan and I stood under the cherry blossom trees to say goodbye. I transferred his pay, plus an extra two thousand dollars. I added, “You gave me your first kiss. This is only fair.” Under the cherry blossom tree, bathed in the soft, yellow street light, Ryan was radiating a beautiful, youthful haze. He was a picture. He put a hand to his forehead and laughed out loud. Then, he cupped my face and dipped his head, gently pecking my lips. “Chloe, this is a first kiss. I took the money, so I have to deliver the service.” His voice was low and seductive. I was momentarily stunned. Then, I heard the sound of someone falling into the bushes behind us. Got him. Ryan, the drama master, was truly something.

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I’m a born actress. I only ever wanted the big bucks and the fancy life—not an ounce of genuine affection. I went from being a nameless orphan to the daughter of a billionaire. But before my butt could even warm the seat, the Grant family supposedly went bust. I was packing my bags, ready to bail, when I overheard the doctor tell my ‘dad,’ “Aren’t you afraid of breaking the kid’s heart…” Without a second thought, I spun around and rushed into the room, hugging my ‘mom.’ “Mom, I don’t care if we’re poor. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you both.” Poor for a while versus poor forever—I, Clara Reed, know how to run the numbers. I glanced at the expensive watch under Dad’s cheap shirt sleeve—a watch that could buy half the block—and offered a silent, shallow smile. 1 I dragged my leaden legs back to the dumpy little rental apartment. Clutching the hundred dollars in sweat-soaked cash from my extra work, I raced to the pharmacy for Dad’s imported meds. Then, I detoured to that ridiculously upscale French patisserie and bought Mom’s favorite raspberry tart. That tiny thing cost me hours of background acting pay. I pushed the door open. Dad was slumped on the sofa, his face ashen, the collar of his cheap cotton tee stretched out. Mom sat beside him, her eyes vacant. I handed over the medicine and the fancy little box, forcing my most demure smile. “Dad, your meds. Mom, your favorite.” “Clara, you…” Mom looked at my sweaty, haggard appearance, then at the nasty scratch on my arm. Her eyes instantly welled up. “It’s nothing, Mom.” I waved it off, making my voice sound deliberately tired and hoarse. “I rushed back. Didn’t want you guys to worry.” I quickly poured water for Dad to take his pill. In the process, the wound on my arm accidentally scraped the corner of the table, making me hiss in pain. “Oh, honey! You’re hurt that badly, and you didn’t say anything!” Mom jumped up in a panic. Dad struggled to sit up. “Quick, take care of it!” I pulled away. “Honestly, it’s fine. Just a scratch. If you two are okay, I’m relieved.” Out of the corner of my eye, I perfectly caught the sight of that expensive watch—a watch that could buy half the neighborhood—peeking out from beneath Dad’s threadbare sleeve. I lowered my gaze, hiding the brief, fleeting smile on my lips. Broke? Yep. This is a massive setup. 2 I, Clara Reed, am a born actress. I only seek wealth and glory, not a single shred of true feeling. When I was five, the first old woman who found me wanted me to be a child bride for her simple-minded grandson in exchange for scraps of spoiled food. At her worst, she even grabbed a stick, threatening to break my hand and throw me out to beg. I used my brilliant acting to lull her into a false sense of security, called the police, and identified her as a trafficker. Watching her get handcuffed, I felt nothing. Then, I was sent to the orphanage. Director Chen acted like a saint but was a monster behind closed doors. When the whip came down, I didn’t cry or fight. Instead, I became her most ‘loyal’ little shadow. I knew that in a place like that, you had to cling to the most powerful person just to breathe. When the big-shot officials came to inspect, the rebellious kids who usually got the worst beatings were locked in a pitch-black storage room. I followed the Director everywhere, pouring tea and water, smiling sweetly and timidly. While pouring, I ‘accidentally’ hiked up my washed-out, old sleeve, revealing the crisscrossing scars of old lashings. A sharp-eyed official asked what happened. I immediately yanked my sleeve down, shaking my head like a bobblehead, my voice trembling just right. “N-Nothing. I fell. Mother Director… Mother Director is so good to us!” The officials exchanged glances, their eyes filled with pity: This child is clearly too terrified to speak. I subtly let my eyes drift, guiding them to the tightly locked storage room… The day the police took Director Chen away, the entire orphanage felt like Christmas. A bully named Terry apologized to me, red-faced, saying he’d misunderstood me. I rubbed my arm where he used to shove me and smiled radiantly. “Apologize for what? I’m not a good person, you know.” They burst into laughter, swarming me. “Clara is joking again!” See? My acting is so good that when I tell the truth, no one believes me. I somehow became the ‘light’ in their hearts. Later, the news coverage of the ‘uncovering’ of the abuse featured my wide-eyed, terrified, bare face. A scout noticed me, and I stepped into show business. The money wasn’t great, but at least I wasn’t worried about my next meal. That is, until the billionaire Grant family tracked me down and brought me home. The father-daughter bonding act had barely started when Dad burst into tears and announced bankruptcy, immediately ‘fainting.’ Heh. My acting skills must be hereditary. 3 In the luxurious walk-in closet, I deftly slipped the last diamond necklace into my bag. I never got to enjoy this wealth. Why should I stick around to suffer with them? My attendance is excused. I crept past the study. Through the crack in the door, Dad’s voice sounded weak, yet laced with an unidentifiable undertone. His doctor friend, who was always on call, was there too. The doctor sighed. “Aren’t you afraid of breaking the kid’s heart…” The rest of the conversation was fragmented, but that sentence hit me hard. My steps suddenly froze. My mind instantly replayed Dad’s overly dramatic hand-to-the-chest gesture before he ‘fainted.’ In a flash, one thought became crystal clear—A test! This was their test for me! Authentic human emotion might fail a test like this, but my acting? My acting is flawless. Grant Family Method Acting. Show time! I decisively kicked the packed bag into a corner and spun toward the master bedroom. Mom was staring out the window, her back looking desolate. “Mom!” I rushed over, my voice hoarse, as if from crying, and hugged her tightly. “I’m not leaving! I’m not going anywhere. No matter how bad things get, I’ll stay with you. I don’t care if we’re poor, I’ll take care of you and Dad!” The tears came on command, scalding her silk nightgown. I looked up, my eyes filled with reckless determination. Mom’s body stiffened, then began to tremble violently. She hugged me back, sobbing uncontrollably, a flash of reluctance in her eyes. “Clara… my Clara…” I felt the warmth of her embrace, and with my face buried in her shoulder, my lips curled up infinitesimally—a movement unseen by anyone. Poor for a while versus poor forever. I, Clara Reed, knew exactly which was the better deal. 4 Back in the rental apartment, Mom was still choked up, moved by the fact that I’d bought her the dessert despite being broke. I casually walked to the large window and pulled back a corner of the heavy curtain. Downstairs, a few burly men in black T-shirts had gathered. But the man leading them stood out. Lean but clearly muscled, he wore a nice, dark, casual suit. His eyes were calm like a deep pool, lacking any menace, yet commanding a silent control. That air of calculated certainty only made the atmosphere more tense. A layered test, huh? They even hired ‘debt collectors’? So realistic! “Mom,” I whispered, “Someone seems to be outside… it doesn’t sound good. Don’t make a sound.” Mom’s face went white. She nodded frantically. The knocking soon turned into brutal pounding. “BANG! BANG! BANG!” The rental apartment door groaned under the assault. “Who is it?!” Mom finally cried out, trying to stop it. Too late! The moment the door splintered open, I ‘just happened’ to be standing right behind it, ‘frantically’ trying to brace it with my body! A massive force slammed the door! “CRASH!” A dull, sickening thud. The door hit me square on. A sharp, explosive pain shot through my nose! A warm liquid instantly gushed out. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. The door was completely broken open. A tall, aloof man strode in first. He didn’t spare a glance for me, who was clutching my nose with blood seeping through my fingers. His gaze, sharp as a knife, swept past my terrified mother. His voice was cold enough to form ice. “Mom, are you okay?!” “Ethan!” Mom rushed forward, shielding me. The pain in my nose made my vision swim, and tears streamed out—a purely physical reaction. Worth it. This self-inflicted misery act is completely worth it.

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When I woke up again, I was the real daughter kicked out of the house. My biological family called me a wicked failure and showered the fake daughter with love. My foster mother took my hand and brought me home. Everyone expected me to self-destruct, to fall apart. But I didn’t. I loved this era where women could hold up half the sky. Here, there would be no female scholar wrongfully executed. No endless condemnation or hateful public torture just because of my gender. In this life, I would stand tall on the world stage. 1 “Skylar Hayes, I don’t have a vicious daughter like you!” “You have repeatedly harmed Brooke Sutton. Our family won’t tolerate a person with such a wicked heart!” “Here are your bags. Go live your life!” I rubbed my head and sat up in a daze. I saw several people in front of me, dressed in strange, modern clothes, looking at me with expressions ranging from disgust to smug satisfaction. “Who are you…” Before I could finish my question, they turned and walked away. They acted as if I were something dirty, something they couldn’t stand to look at for another second. The ornate iron gate slammed shut. I looked around blankly. Unfamiliar buildings, unfamiliar streets, unfamiliar air. Wasn’t I dead? Disguising myself as a man! Treason against the Emperor! Death by a thousand cuts! Why was I here again? A cold wind blew, and I clutched my thin clothes tighter. A shadow fell over me, and a rough hand pulled me up. I looked up and saw a woman with salt-and-pepper hair. She was very thin, her face gaunt, not someone who immediately looked kind. “Daughter, come home with me.” That’s what she said. I followed her home, absorbing the original owner’s memories along the way. I had time-traveled. This body was also named Skylar Hayes. At birth, a nurse’s mistake led to me being switched with Brooke Sutton. A cliché ‘real vs. fake daughter’ drama. Brooke was raised in the wealthy Sutton family, a spoiled little princess. Skylar, meanwhile, was taken back to a cramped apartment by Amelia Reed, who had given birth alone. Amelia’s husband died in a construction accident when Skylar was five. Because the contractor and the boss shifted blame, they only received meager compensation. The mother and daughter relied on Amelia working odd jobs. Skylar grew up in poverty and low self-esteem until she was seventeen. That’s when the Sutton family showed up. The original Skylar, tired of her poor and insecure life, decisively followed them back to the Suttons. Amelia, the foster mother, had come to the door to protest. But neither her biological nor her adopted daughter wanted to return with her. She finally left in solitude. She didn’t take a penny of the massive compensation the Suttons offered. The original Skylar was only home for half a year, clashing constantly with Brooke. Skylar always lost. She ended up being kicked out of the house. “We’re home. It’ll just be the two of us again. They don’t want you, but Mom wants you.” I looked up and saw the gentleness in Amelia’s eyes. Actually, the situation wasn’t so bad. 2 Amelia’s apartment was a rented two-bedroom. The room with the best sunlight was always reserved for Skylar. I walked into the room, seeing all the familiar items of the original owner. The Suttons favored Brooke. But Amelia clearly favored Skylar. Regardless of wealth, motherly love was equally precious. I flipped through a stack of books on the desk, my heart warming slightly. In my past life, I was a farm girl. I learned by listening outside the classroom window while I tended the cows. I went through countless hardships, borrowing someone else’s identity to take the Imperial Examinations. I had a photographic memory, a true prodigy. My only failure was being born a woman. In my past life, even when I topped the exams, I was disguised as a man. In this life, I could finally study openly. I will make my name, Skylar Hayes, legitimately top the charts. No matter the obstacles ahead, I will master every single book. Nothing will stop my ascent to the summit. 3 The next day, I took the bus to school, following my memory. As soon as I arrived, I was called to the office. “Skylar Hayes, you have the brain of a slug! You’re a scholarship student, but you scored like that? You must have gotten lucky in the midterms!” “Look at your grades! Seven hundred fifty is a perfect score, and you got three hundred. You’re twenty-eighth from the bottom!” “Even if I had a pig take the test, it would do better than you!” “Our Class 1 is the ‘Rocket Class,’ not a place for every waste of space!” “I’ve already reported this to the grade level dean. Get out of Class 1 right now!” “Go to Class 11. That’s the trash bin where garbage like you belongs!” I looked up at the Class 1 homeroom teacher, Ms. Williams. “Heh! That’s not what you said when you were taking the check from the Suttons.” Ms. Williams didn’t expect me to talk back. Her lips trembled, ready to unleash a torrent of insults. I reached out and motioned for her to keep quiet. “Shh! I’m just a poor student now. I have nothing to lose.” Ms. Williams’ face shifted several times, but she ultimately kept her mouth shut. Under her gloomy glare, I slowly walked away. At the same time, I had already guessed the reason for her actions. The Sutton family must have put in a word. Did they think this would crush me into the dirt, preventing me from ever getting back up? They severely underestimated me. In my previous life, I gained knowledge by listening outside a classroom window while tending cattle. This life was already so much better. It was just a change of classroom. To me, this was an insignificant distraction. And the Sutton family would eventually regret their actions today. I wasn’t in a hurry. I had a long life ahead of me. They could just wait and see. 4 I went to Class 1 first to move my books and supplies to Class 11. Brooke Sutton stood with her arms crossed, leaning against a desk at the back, looking at me smugly. She was surrounded by a circle of admirers, the center of attention. Before she could speak, someone next to her started attacking me. “Well, well, look who it is! Isn’t this our scholarship star? What happened?” “I heard the scholarship star only scored three hundred points. Kicked out to the loser class!” “A failure like this dares to challenge Brooke? She should look in the mirror and see her low-life poverty!” I looked at each of the speakers. One beautiful girl sitting next to Brooke lifted her chin arrogantly. “What are you looking at? Look again, and I’ll gouge your eyes out, peasant.” She meant it. She was totally capable of it. This was Cassidy Stone, the sister of Brooke’s fiancé. Thanks to Brooke’s instigation, she had bullied the original Skylar relentlessly at school. She was arrogant and cruel. When the original Skylar told the Suttons, they always told her to look inward, never bothering Cassidy. That was because Cassidy’s father was a big deal. The Suttons depended on the Stones. Since Brooke was favored by the Stones, she was naturally the Suttons’ darling. In contrast, the original Skylar, the biological daughter, was disposable trash. I knew Cassidy’s biggest obsession was her grades. She had been the top student for two consecutive years. Any student who had surpassed her mysteriously ended up dropping out. “I’m taking your first place.” Cassidy froze, then burst into roaring laughter. “Oh my God, the three-hundred-point loser wants my top spot? I’m so scared!” Everyone around her laughed too. No one took my words seriously. I didn’t argue. The results would be the best counter-attack. Amidst the laughter, I walked out of the Rocket Class. Ahead was the battlefield that belonged to me.

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