Author: Momo Chan

After I closed a $50 million deal for the company, my boss told me: “Honestly, you’re really not as outstanding as Tiffany.” Who? The intern I’ve been mentoring? Seeing my confusion, he doubled down: “Isn’t it true?” “We’ve worked together for years, but you’re always strictly business. No personal touch at all.” “Unlike Tiffany. She hasn’t even gotten her first paycheck, yet she paid out of her own pocket to buy everyone a latte.” “She understands the principle of ‘being a person before doing business’ better than you do.” I suddenly understood. You prefer a $3 latte over a $50 million contract, right? No problem! Right in front of his face, I dialed a number. “Is this Sarah? About that job offer you mentioned last week… I’m in.” “Yes, I’m bringing a $50 million contract and over a hundred client accounts with me.” 1 The final signature was inked on the project proposal. The $50 million letter of intent was a done deal. I dragged my exhausted body back to the office, feeling like I was about to fall apart after three consecutive all-nighters. My temples throbbed painfully. Just as I sat down, before the chair even warmed up, Tiffany walked in carrying a huge bag of coffee. She breezed through the cubicles and headed straight for the boss’s office. Her voice was crisp, laced with that specific, careful eagerness to please that interns have. “Mr. Wallace, you’ve been working hard. Have a coffee to perk up.” Soon, a cup of cheap coffee appeared on everyone’s desk in the office. $3 a cup, thanks to a coupon deal on DoorDash. Tiffany used her meager intern salary to treat the entire team. For a moment, the office was filled with the sound of straws piercing lids and murmured thanks. My boss, David Wallace, walked out of his office holding that cup of coffee, his face glowing. He cleared his throat, and the air in the room seemed to freeze for a second. “Everyone got their coffee, right?” “This is from Tiffany, out of her own pocket. She said it’s a treat for everyone’s hard work lately.” He raised the paper cup like he was making a toast. “This spirit Tiffany has is something we should all learn from.” “An intern who hasn’t even been paid yet, but knows gratitude, knows how to give back to the team.” “What is this called? This is called knowing how to be a person! She has a bright future!” His gaze swept across the room, pausing on me for barely a second before moving on, as if I were just a potted plant on a desk. There was no praise in that look, no acknowledgment, not even a ripple of emotion. For this project, I led the team through a month of overtime, sleeping in the office for the last three days. The $50 million deal I secured was enough to support half the company’s revenue for the coming year. Yet in this moment, the value of all that seemed to vanish into thin air. The air was thick with the cloying scent of cheap creamer, drilling into my nose and making me nauseous. Colleagues around me sipped their coffee, heads down. No one looked at me—maybe they didn’t dare, or maybe they felt it wasn’t necessary. Tiffany stood beside the boss, head slightly bowed. A shy, proper smile played on her lips, like a newly bloomed, harmless white lotus. The sheer absurdity of it washed away all my exhaustion. I stood up, washed my face, grabbed the signed contract, and knocked on David Wallace’s door. “Come in.” I placed the contract on his desk, concise as always. “David, it’s done. Take a look.” He leaned back in his chair, slowly took a sip of his latte, and then flipped through the contract. He didn’t read the specific terms, just flipped to the signature on the last page, nodded, and pushed the contract aside. Then he looked up, scrutinizing me. My expression was probably blank. I couldn’t even squeeze out a perfunctory smile. He saw it. He put down the coffee, interlaced his fingers on the desk, leaned forward slightly, and adopted a “fatherly advice” posture. “Jane, sit.” I didn’t move. He didn’t care and started talking anyway. “Are you upset because I praised Tiffany out there and didn’t mention your contribution?” 2 I remained silent. He sighed, as if disappointed by my lack of understanding. “Jane, to be honest, you really aren’t as outstanding as Tiffany.” He said this as casually as if commenting on the weather. I looked at him—this boss I had followed for seven years, helping him grow the company from a tiny workshop to its current scale. His face wore an earnest look of “I’m doing this for your own good.” “We’ve worked together for so many years, but every time, you’re strictly business. No personal touch at all.” “Project finished, report submitted, and then what? Nothing.” “Have you ever thought about how to win people’s hearts? How to build team cohesion?” He pointed at the latte on the desk, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. “Unlike Tiffany. She hasn’t even gotten her paycheck, yet she paid out of her own pocket to buy everyone a coffee.” “It’s not much money, but that thoughtfulness? How many people can do that?” “She understands the principle of ‘being a person before doing business’ better than you do.” I listened expressionlessly, my heart calm, even finding it a bit funny. So the $50 million I exchanged for my health and energy was worth less to him than a $3 latte. He seemed to forget that the project bonus for everyone in the team would be enough for them to buy a franchise of that coffee shop. I looked at his self-righteous face, slightly puffy from years of wining and dining. Suddenly, everything became clear. Moments from the past that I had deliberately ignored, comforting myself with “he’s just focused on the work,” now flashed through my mind like a movie reel. This wasn’t the first time. Shortly after Tiffany arrived, we were bidding for a municipal project. He asked me to mentor her. Since she was new, I didn’t dare give her core tasks, just let her review materials from my past projects to get familiar with the workflow. Meanwhile, I locked myself in a conference room with two others, grinding day and night for half a month to produce the bid proposal. Every figure was accurate to two decimal places; every plan had a risk assessment. Tiffany, finding the work I assigned too easy, spontaneously made a “conceptual” presentation using a PowerPoint template—only a dozen slides, but with beautiful graphics and cool animations. But at the final internal review meeting, David slammed my proposal on the table and pointed at Tiffany’s PowerPoint. “Jane, look at this! This is visualization! This is user experience!” “Your report is hundreds of pages of dense text. Who has the patience to read that?” “Learn from her! Highlight the key points, make it clear at a glance!” He publicly praised Tiffany for being “inspired” and “understanding communication,” completely ignoring my painstaking cost-benefit analysis. In the end, he demanded I “optimize” my proposal according to Tiffany’s PPT style. I told him many ideas in that PPT were flashy but impractical and impossible to implement. He called me stubborn, inflexible, and “too rigid.” I compromised. I spent two days stuffing my hard work into that hollow, flashy shell. We won the project, of course, because the core data and plans were mine. But at the celebration dinner, David specifically called Tiffany to the main table and said in front of everyone: “We won this thanks to Tiffany’s creativity. Young people have such lively ideas.” 3 Another time, to land a difficult client, I studied all their public information beforehand, even reading several industry papers the client had published. At the negotiation table, I pinpointed his pain points and proposed a partnership plan he couldn’t refuse. On signing day, the client privately told me: “Jane, your professional capability is the strongest I’ve seen.” The company held a celebration dinner. During the meal, Tiffany went around toasting the leaders, spouting flattering words that made David beam with joy. She even remembered David didn’t eat cilantro, silently picking it out of the dish in front of him. After the dinner, in the parking lot, David stopped me, reeking of alcohol. “Jane, look at Tiffany. She knows how to handle people.” “And you? You just buried your head and ate the whole time. The client was sitting next to you, and you didn’t even chat with him.” “Business isn’t just about professional skills. When will you learn how to navigate social situations?” In that moment, I felt incredibly tired. I won the client with professionalism, by creating value for them. Not by flattering them at a dinner table or remembering their dietary restrictions. It’s not that I can’t do these tricks; I just disdain them. I thought that in the workplace, ultimately, results speak for themselves. Now I understand, I was wrong. In David’s world, capability is important, but that’s the baseline, taken for granted. The “social skills” that satisfy his vanity as a boss, making him feel respected and surrounded by admirers, are the bonus points. He doesn’t need a warrior who can conquer territories; he needs a servant who knows how to kowtow. The company’s business model is mature, the client base stable. In his eyes, my value has been squeezed dry. I am a high-speed machine that can now be replaced by countless younger, cheaper, more “personable” parts. He no longer needs a hero to open new frontiers; he needs a courtier to sing his praises. I watched his mouth still moving, spewing clichés about “growth” and “long-term vision.” I confirmed it. The time had come. Seven years. I spent my best years here. I charged into battle for him, cleaned up countless messes, and created countless profits. I hold over half the company’s core client resources in my hands and know the critical points of every link in the business line. I thought this was my career, the fruit of my blood and sweat. But now it seems I was just a self-important employee. Fine. I interrupted his lecture, my voice calm enough to surprise even myself. “…Mr. Wallace, you’re right.” He was still droning on, spittle almost flying onto my face. Those grand principles about “big picture,” “EQ,” and “team cohesion,” coming from his greasy mouth, tasted like chewed-up sugarcane—flavorless. I looked at him and nodded solemnly during a pause in his speech. My face showed a perfect expression of “sudden realization” after being enlightened. “Mr. Wallace, I understand now.” A smug look appeared on his face. He was about to add a few concluding remarks to wrap up this “teaching moment” perfectly. But I didn’t give him the chance. Meeting his surprised gaze, I took my phone out of my pocket, unlocked it, found a number, and pressed dial. The call connected almost instantly. “Hello, Jane? Have you thought about it?” A capable, steady female voice came from the other end. I glanced at David. His expression shifted from smugness to shock, his brows furrowing tightly, eyes full of confusion and wariness. He thought I was acting, threatening him in a childish way. I put it on speaker. The voice wasn’t loud, but clear enough for the other person in the office to hear. “Sarah, about the job offer you mentioned last week… I’m in.” 4 David’s pupils constricted sharply. I continued, my tone as calm as if confirming a regular order. “Yes, I can bring a $50 million annual contract and over a hundred core client resources I’ve maintained for years with me.” “I’ll email you the specific handover list and resource assessment tomorrow.” “That’s wonderful! Jane, I knew I didn’t misjudge you!” Sarah’s voice was filled with undisguised joy. “Don’t worry, the salary and position will definitely satisfy you. We’ve reserved the largest share of the option pool for you. You are welcome anytime!” “Okay, thanks Sarah. I’ll come over once I finish the procedures here.” I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket. The whole process was smooth, without a single hitch. Deathly silence filled the office. David’s face had gone from shocked to completely livid. His chest heaved violently, as if punched in the gut, unable to catch his breath. He stared at me, eyes a mix of disbelief and rage. “Jane!” He slammed the table, making the latte jump. “What is the meaning of this!” “Literal meaning.” I said. “Mr. Wallace, you taught me: be a person first, then do business.” “I think I should change places and learn how to ‘be a person’ properly.” “You…” He was shaking with anger, pointing at my nose, lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence. He probably never imagined that I, the stable, reliable, even “rigid” machine in his eyes, would one day pull my own plug. His anger finally found an outlet. He grabbed the internal phone, his voice shrill with rage. “Call everyone! Conference room! Now! Immediately!” Ten minutes later, the entire department sat in the conference room, looking confused. The air was heavy; everyone sensed the storm coming. I walked in last and found a seat in the corner. David stood at the head of the table with a dark face, pacing like an enraged bull. He opened with a thunderous accusation. “I called everyone here today to announce something, and to let everyone see someone’s true colors!” His gaze was like a knife, shooting straight at me. “Jane, from our department. An old employee the company spent seven years cultivating.” “Just now, for a meager salary increase, decided to betray the company and jump ship to our competitor!” Gasps filled the room. Everyone’s eyes focused on me, filled with shock and confusion. “That’s one thing. Everyone has their own aspirations, and I, David Wallace, won’t force anyone to stay!” He got more agitated as he spoke, his voice getting louder. “But what is she doing? She wants to take the company’s biggest order and most important client resources with her!” “What kind of behavior is this? This is naked betrayal! Ingratitude! Commercial theft!” He pounded the table, heartbroken, painting himself as a benevolent victim stabbed in the back by his most trusted subordinate. “Did I treat her badly? Which project did the company shortchange her on?” “Relying on a bit of performance, she became self-righteous, arrogant, with zero team spirit!” “The company isn’t hers alone; it belongs to everyone!” “By doing this, she wants to destroy our entire department and smash everyone’s rice bowl!” His speech was impassioned and inflammatory. Colleagues’ expressions shifted from shock to doubt, then from doubt to condemnation. Just then, Tiffany, who had been sitting in the crowd, stood up with red eyes, timing it perfectly.

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The childhood best friend who took care of me for thirteen years… In the fourteenth year, he called me a r*tard and a psycho. On my birthday, he dumped me at a bus stop and left with the new transfer student. I have autism. I hid behind the bus stop sign until late at night. His dad dragged him over to apologize, but he wasn’t having it. “I don’t owe her anything! She’s autistic! If I hadn’t taught her how to speak word by word, she wouldn’t even be functioning like a human!” “I’ve been her nanny for thirteen years. I don’t want to take care of her anymore!” Suddenly, floating comments (danmu) appeared before my eyes: [The male lead is jealous!] [His twin brother pretended to be him and hung out with the heroine all day. She didn’t notice and kept calling him ‘Brother Liam.’ Our jealous puppy was so mad he dug his nails into his palms.] [The heroine is born without empathy. The male lead is using this method to make her understand his feelings.] I froze. So it was his brother that day… Then, is it okay if he keeps pretending? 1 As soon as the school bell rang, I walked over to Liam’s desk. The new girl, Sarah, was standing next to him. Seeing me approach, she nudged him with her elbow. “Your little wifey is here.” Liam was correcting Sarah’s test paper. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t move. I called him: “Brother Liam, home.” Liam didn’t even lift his head. “Go back by yourself. I’m going to the library with Sarah.” I froze. Sarah explained, “It’s for the final sprint before exams. You probably don’t need it.” Autism makes it hard to adapt to change. In my understanding, going home with Liam after school is a fixed rule. Him telling me to go back alone left me at a loss. So I grabbed his hand. “Brother Liam, home.” I said it three times. Liam ignored me. Seeing me tugging at Liam, Sarah suddenly burst out laughing. “She’s like an NPC.” She tilted her chin at Liam. “Didn’t you say Ava listens to you?” Liam’s face changed. He suddenly shook me off with force. Affected by the sudden aggression, I screamed uncontrollably. The whole class looked over. Sarah hid behind Liam. “Whoa, is she crazy?” Liam dragged me out. He was furious. As we walked, he said, “You’re just a psycho who doesn’t know good from bad! Why act like you can’t live without me? You don’t need to study, but I do, okay?” I didn’t quite understand. I asked him, “So are we going home?” He had already dragged me to the bus stop. He sneered. “No!” He left me there and walked back. “Take the 362 home yourself!” 2 My hearing is sensitive. The noise of traffic and strangers affects me greatly. Without someone beside me, I didn’t dare move. I squatted behind the bus stop sign, covering my ears. Liam and Sarah walked past me. I called him, but he walked faster. Bus after bus drove by. I hid behind the sign until night fell. I don’t know how much time passed before Mom drove over and found me. Seeing me curled up in the dark, she hugged me with red eyes. She gave me my medicine, called Liam’s dad, and then took me home. There were many people at home, some I knew, some I didn’t. Mom helped me change into a beautiful princess dress, led me into the crowd, and asked me to cut the cake. Oh. Today is my eighteenth birthday. I didn’t cut it. I promised Brother Liam he would get the first piece of my birthday cake. I ran to the balcony to wait for him. The wind on the balcony was a bit strong, making my eyes sting. I craned my neck to look outside. My neck was sore by the time I saw Liam’s dad dragging Liam from the roadside. Half of Liam’s face was swollen. Uncle Miller scolded Liam, “How could you leave Ava at the bus stop! She’s never taken a bus alone!” Liam retorted, “Is she stupid? Can’t she swipe a card and get off at the stop? What could happen?” Uncle Miller slapped him on the back of the head. “What if she got lost? What if she got hit by a car? Can you handle the consequences if something happened to her?” Mom said if I see someone getting hit, I should stop it. Just as I was about to speak, I saw Liam shake off his dad’s hand and yell. “Why should I bear the consequences? It’s you guys who owe her family! I don’t owe her anything! She’s autistic! If I hadn’t taught her to speak word by word, she wouldn’t even be human! I’ve been her nanny for thirteen years, what more do you want?” I froze, belatedly clutching my chest. It seemed to hurt a little. Uncle Miller pointed at Liam. “You, you…” He stammered for a long time but couldn’t get the words out. Finally, he sighed, “But she only recognizes you…” Liam said resentfully, “No!” He continued, “I don’t want to take care of her anymore. I want freedom! Anyone can take care of her from now on, just don’t drag me into it!” Mom told me to observe and listen more, saying it helps me understand emotions and meanings. But they jabbered a lot, and all I understood was that Liam didn’t want to talk to me anymore. It was getting hard to breathe. A row of bullet comments (danmu) suddenly popped up above Liam’s head, scrolling from right to left. [Male lead is jealous!] [His twin brother replaced him and played with the heroine all day. She didn’t realize and kept calling him Brother Liam. Our jealous puppy was so mad he dug his nails into his palms.] [The heroine is born without empathy. The male lead is using this method to make her understand his feelings.] Male lead? Heroine? What does that mean? Liam turned to leave. Uncle Miller shouted at his back, “What about Ava’s birthday party?” Liam didn’t look back. “Can’t she not tell the difference? Let Lucas go!” The comments scrolled faster. [Heroine, don’t give up on the male lead! He hasn’t gone far. Just call him and cry, and he’ll come back immediately.] [He made you a necklace! He even planned when to kiss you!] [Anyone can be a heroine these days? Mute, blind, and now an emotionless autistic girl! The devoted male lead has it tough!] [Little autistic girl, if you don’t realize it soon, your Brother Liam won’t want you anymore!] … Don’t want me anymore? Liam’s back was disappearing. Panic seized me. I wanted to chase him downstairs, but suddenly saw a car stop at my gate. Someone got out. He stood up straight, revealing a face that was a carbon copy of Liam’s. He met my gaze and smiled at me gently. I stopped. My breathing… Seemed to return to normal. 3 I have autism. I couldn’t speak until I was five. I have all the typical characteristics. No eye contact, no communication, no socializing, no empathy, weak emotions. Luckily, my parents are rich. After discovering these traits, they took me to see countless experts. They decided to build an inclusive kindergarten for me, accepting kids who couldn’t afford tuition, asking teachers to guide them to play with me, hoping I would learn to speak through daily interaction with peers. That’s where I met Liam. We first met outside the kindergarten. I chased a little girl out and snatched her lollipop. The girl cried. Her grandma scolded me in words I didn’t understand and pinched my arm. While I lay on the ground screaming, he walked by with his small backpack. He asked the grandma what happened. After understanding, he went to the convenience store next door, bought a lollipop, gave it to the girl, and apologized for me. The grandma left with the girl. Liam wanted to take me back. I didn’t move, pointing at the convenience store. Liam patted his pockets. After a while, he said, “Call me brother, and I’ll buy it for you.” I called him. And got what I wanted. He helped me, and made me speak. My parents reciprocated, showering Liam’s parents with gifts, quickly becoming friends. Not long after, Liam’s parents sent him to my house. When they arrived at the door, I was counting the railings on the balcony. I heard the conversation between Liam and Uncle Miller. “Why me? Clearly…” “Ava has autism. She needs a playmate by her side 24/7. She needs you.” “But I need you guys too!” “We owe them untold amounts for your brother’s illness. We have to repay the favor. Besides, the house is crowded now. Don’t worry, they will treat you very well.” Uncle Miller wasn’t wrong. My parents treated him very well. The room prepared for him was right next to mine. He got everything I got—new clothes, new toys. He even had a card. My parents said our allowance was managed by him. But Liam still cried the first night. I followed the sound and curiously touched the water flowing from his eyes. “I don’t like you,” he told me. “You’re just like my brother, a burden.” How could there be so much water in his eyes? I kept wiping, wiping, endlessly wiping. He finally hugged me back. My parents didn’t actually ask much of Liam, but he was stubborn. He said he wanted to make me useful. He made me call him Brother Liam. He would hold my hand all the time, teaching me when to say hello, when to say no, when to say sorry and thank you. He even acted like a tutor, assigning me tasks and giving rewards. I don’t know if my parents’ investment of money and manpower paid off, or if a couple of my wires finally connected, but under his help, I improved rapidly those years, becoming closer and closer to a normal person. And I became more and more dependent on him. My parents had connections. Liam and I were in the same class for kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. High school was a bit harder, so my parents donated a building to achieve the goal. In freshman year, I got my period in class. Because I was scared, I threw myself onto Liam. Liam pushed me away and ran to the school store to buy pads. The stain soiled my pants and his. After that day, Liam suddenly moved out of my house and went back to live with his family. I wasn’t used to it and threw a tantrum. He kept a straight face, ears red, and said, “We should keep a distance.” “No.” “Didn’t you hear what the classmates are saying?” I heard. They said I was his little wife. But I didn’t care. “Brother Liam, come home. I want to be with Brother Liam.” He looked at me with a complex expression. “Do you really want to be with…” Then he shook his head. “Forget it, you wouldn’t understand…” I don’t know what decision Liam made privately, but he suddenly changed. He managed me more and more, stricter and stricter, with more specific demands, as if trying to turn me into someone else. My mom clearly told me I could just study casually, but he insisted on my grades. He wanted me to go to A University with him. Seeing me score only two or three hundred points each time, he would get angry. He was anxious, and his anxiety infected me. I started getting irritable. Once, pushed to the edge, I threw a pencil case at him. He apologized, but didn’t change. “I know you’re tired, but if you want to be with me, you have to do these things.” My medication dosage increased. He didn’t care. If I didn’t listen, he would ignore me. I was terrified of him ignoring me. It caused physiological panic and shortness of breath. He was part of two-thirds of my life. All the rules I knew were related to him. I couldn’t imagine life without him. So I bowed my head to him again and again, until the transfer student Sarah appeared. Sarah was lively and jumpy, a huge variable in my stable relationship with Liam. She said she wanted to be friends with us and offered to help me study. But I couldn’t understand her notes. She always talked to Liam, making him laugh. She even took the reward stickers Liam bought for me. I pushed her down. Liam yelled at me for the first time. He sternly demanded I apologize to her. He was obsessed with correcting my behavior, not caring about my reasons. He yelled until I cried. I apologized because I listened to Liam. But to make amends, he gave my breakfast to Sarah. He bought water for Sarah in P.E. class. He was supposed to tutor me, but tutored Sarah instead. He even told Sarah about my autism. Sarah mocked me in the classroom. “Heard that getting you to say a sentence earns a thousand dollar reward. I talked to you so much, do you owe me tens of thousands?” “Liam says you’re obedient if given candy. Here, candy for you. Meow like a kitten for big sister?” I didn’t quite understand why she said these things, but I recognized the malice in her eyes. I threw the candy at her. Liam wanted me to apologize again. I refused. “If you don’t apologize, I won’t take you to the amusement park this weekend.” He kept a straight face. “You can’t hit people for any reason. An aggressive autistic person won’t have friends. I hope you remember this.” He didn’t seem wrong. But why did my chest feel so tight? Mom said if someone hits or scolds me, I can hit back. I yelled, “I don’t want her as a friend!” Liam roared, “Ava!” I turned and ran. I didn’t want to bow my head anymore. Mom found out about this when I got home, but she still took me to the amusement park. The sky was blue, and the balloons at the gate were pretty. I stared at the fountain in a daze. “Liam” arrived. Mom told me to call him Brother Liam. He agreed and accompanied me into the park. “Are you not angry anymore?” “Why would I be angry?” “I hit someone.” “You had a reason, right? Were you bullied?” I nodded. “Peaceful resolution is best, of course, but if not, just protect yourself…” He smiled. “I’ll handle the apologies.” He seemed a bit different. Very gentle, spoke slowly, walked slowly. Whatever I did, he looked at me with a smile. When I got my hands dirty eating cotton candy, he didn’t lecture me, just wiped my hands and praised me for eating well. I vaguely saw another identical face when I looked back once that day, but his face was livid. But “Brother Liam” was right beside me, so I didn’t mind. Turns out the one beside me that day was his brother, Lucas. 4 “Ava! Your Brother Liam is here! Come cut the cake!” Mom called me. I saw Lucas standing next to the cake with Mom, smiling at me. He wore a nice suit that made his waist look slim and legs long. The star pattern on the fabric matched his eyes perfectly. I ran down the stairs, slipped somehow, and flew forward. Lucas reached out to catch me, and I knocked him and the cake onto the floor together. Under everyone’s gaze, my eighteen-layer cake turned into a pile of smashed dough on the floor. Lucas landed on his back, and I fell on his chest. He hissed in pain but didn’t forget to shield my head with his hand, saving me from being smashed by cream. This scene happened so suddenly that the room went silent. “Ava! Apologize!” Liam’s angry face suddenly drilled into my mind. It was like a conditioned reflex. I panicked, scrambled up, hunched my shoulders, and hid behind Mom. Mom helped Lucas up. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Lucas shook his head, then smiled at me. “Did it hurt, Ava?” I turned a deaf ear, staring at the shapeless cream on him, murmuring, “The first piece of cake was for Brother Liam.” Lucas realized. He bent down, picked up a piece of cake from the floor, and put it in his mouth right in front of me. “Thanks, Ava,” he smiled. “It’s delicious.” I stared at him blankly, unable to understand my emotions for a moment.

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During the hottest week of boot camp training, the “Class Beauty” decided to help everyone beat the heat with her family’s secret recipe for a “Cooling Drink.” I saw her making it. I knew the secret ingredient was 96% ABV Spirytus Vodka. Drinking that kind of high-proof alcohol in extreme heat is basically a death wish. I tried my best to stop her, urging everyone to take heatstroke medication instead. But no one listened. Even my own boyfriend thought I was just jealous and trying to steal her spotlight. Helpless, I told everyone the truth. The class was furious. Not only did they refuse the drink, but they also turned on the Class Beauty for being so reckless. She was ostracized. Unable to handle the isolation, she left a suicide note blaming everyone and ended her life. After her death, the whole class blamed me. They said I drove her to it. To avenge her, my boyfriend and the rest of the class locked me in a sweltering, unventilated basement until I died of heatstroke. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she brought out that deadly drink. This time, I smiled brightly and gave her a thumbs up. “Wow! That cooling drink looks so refreshing!” Chapter 1 “I saw the weather forecast—it’s going to be scorching today. So I stayed up late making this special Cooling Drink for everyone!” “It’s my family’s secret recipe. I’ve been drinking it since I was a kid. No matter how hot it gets, you won’t get heatstroke if you drink this.” “It’s way better and tastier than those nasty herbal meds our dear Class Monitor bought!” Listening to Bella (Wang Yuxin) speak, I suddenly realized—I had been reborn. I was back at the start of our university’s mandatory military training (boot camp). We were hit with a rare heatwave. The news was full of stories about heatstroke and heat exhaustion, so everyone was terrified of getting sick. As the Class Monitor, I had prepared ahead of time, buying herbal supplements and electrolyte tablets for everyone. Bella, always needing to be the center of attention, stayed up all night to make her “Cooling Drink.” It looked icy and delicious, and the whole class was eager to try it. In my past life, I stopped them. I knew her “secret family recipe” was just some cocktail mix she found online. It was loaded with Spirytus—96% alcohol by volume. Drinking that under the blazing sun was a recipe for disaster. Because of me, everyone took the meds instead and got through training safely. But they were angry at Bella for trying to poison them, so they isolated her. Bella couldn’t handle being ignored. She staged a fake suicide attempt for sympathy, but it went wrong, and she actually died. She left a letter claiming the drink had no alcohol and that I made it all up out of jealousy. Even though I tried to explain, my boyfriend, Kevin (Wu Chongnan), slapped me across the face. “Would Bella use her life to frame you?!” he screamed. “We don’t want to hear your excuses. Go explain it to Bella in hell!” Remembering the despair and pain of my death, I made a decision right then and there. I wasn’t going to save these ungrateful idiots this time. Chapter 2 I pinched my thigh hard to stop myself from speaking out. Instead, I forced a smile. “Bella, this drink really looks amazing. You have to share the recipe with us sometime!” Bella looked shocked. She clearly didn’t expect me to be the first one to support her. But she quickly assumed I was just trying to play along. She rolled her eyes and scoffed lightly. “Of course! But you know, even with the same ingredients, not everyone can make it taste this good. It takes talent.” “Right, Kevin?” Kevin nodded enthusiastically, completely forgetting I was his girlfriend. He looked at me with disdain. “Exactly. Your brain is just full of books. You don’t know how to think creatively for everyone.” “All you know is buying ready-made medicine. Like we can’t afford to buy it ourselves?” In my past life, I would have argued back, hurt by his words. But this time, I just lowered my head and nodded like a fool. Bella looked disappointed that I didn’t fight back. It felt like punching cotton. But she didn’t stay mad for long. She immediately handed a cup to me, then distributed one to everyone else. In the end, there wasn’t a drop left for herself. I held the icy cup, finding it hilarious. Bella clearly knew this stuff wasn’t safe to drink. Kevin immediately snatched my cup and offered it to Bella. “Here, you drink hers. She bought her own medicine, she can take that. We can’t have you getting heatstroke!” Bella didn’t take it. She just smiled sweetly. “I drank some while making it last night, and more on the way here. If I drink any more, my body will get too cold.” Chapter 3 Kevin reluctantly shoved the cup back into my hand, muttering, “Lucky you.” I kept my silly smile and stayed silent. The others downed their drinks in huge gulps, eyes lighting up. “This is delicious! I’ve never had anything this good!” “Way better than the Monitor’s bitter medicine. That stuff is trash compared to this!” “Bella, you’re perfect! Beautiful, kind, and talented!” The drink was loaded with syrup and mint to mask the harsh alcohol taste. Plus, most of these students weren’t heavy drinkers, so they just thought it was a unique, tasty beverage. Bella noticed I was just holding my cup. She frowned and walked over. “Monitor, why aren’t you drinking?” I waved my hand. “I…” Before I could finish, Bella’s face fell. “I know you don’t like me. You think I’m just a pretty face. But this drink really works.” “You just praised it a minute ago. Was that fake too?” “I put a lot of effort into this. It’s clean, I promise! I even added extra goji berries to yours for health. Not drinking it is wasting my kindness!” I looked down. My cup did look different. The liquid was darker—she must have poured extra vodka in mine. Seeing my silence, Bella put on her best “wronged victim” face, tears welling up. Just then, the drill instructor blew his whistle. “Stop hiding in the shade! Formation! Now!” Chapter 4 The whistle saved me. But before I could relax, Bella called out in her sweetest voice, “Report! Instructor, it’s so hot today. I made cooling drinks for everyone. Can we please finish them before we start?” The instructor wasn’t strict, and Bella was pretty. Her request seemed reasonable. He nodded. “Fine, drink up quickly!” The class cheered and chugged the rest of their drinks, leaving only ice cubes. Bella turned to me. “Monitor, you’re the only one left. Drink it!” Kevin popped the lid off my cup. “Drink it! Stop targeting Bella. Not drinking it means you look down on her!” The others joined in, pressuring me. They looked ready to pry my mouth open and pour it down my throat. But I wasn’t scared. I sighed loudly. “I really want to drink it, but I’m on my period today. I can’t have anything ice-cold!” “I was holding it, waiting for the ice to melt so I could drink it at room temperature!” Bella raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but I didn’t give her the chance. I walked straight to the instructor. “Report!” “I’m having severe cramps today. I request permission to sit out.” The instructor frowned. It’s a common excuse to skip training. But when he saw my face, he couldn’t refuse. Although I wasn’t actually on my period, the trauma of dying in my past life still lingered. My face was ghostly pale. I probably looked like a walking corpse. He waved his hand. “Go, go rest. Don’t faint on me.”

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My brother is a superstar. On a family reality show, the host asked each of us to share a funny story about him. My older sister: “He bought out an entire shop just so I could get the blind box figure I wanted.” My younger sister: “He tried to send a photo to our family group chat but accidentally sent his nude pic.” My brother’s ears turned red: “Shut up!” The audience erupted in laughter. The host then turned to me: “Did you save that photo, Second Sister?” I shrugged: “No, because I’m not in the group chat.” The atmosphere turned awkward. The host quickly changed the subject: “Then he must have bought you a lot of blind boxes too.” I smiled shyly: “No, but he did give me a four-leaf clover necklace once.” The audience gasped collectively. Rich. Generous. I blinked my eyes: “It was originally a gift for my older sister, but he gave it to me to convince me to move out and live in the dorms.” “When my sister saw the necklace on me, she called me a thief.” “My dad threw me into the pool to ‘sober me up.’ Later they found out it was a misunderstanding. Funny, right?” “Huh? Why aren’t you guys laughing?” 1 The show was live. The large screen in front of us scrolled with real-time comments: [I smell tea.] [Family secrets? Shocking insider info?] [Come quick, there’s drama!] [Didn’t the superstar say he only had one older sister and one younger sister? Where did this second sister come from?] [I just checked his bio, and there really is no mention of this second sister in his family relations. What’s going on?] [Doesn’t look adopted either; she clearly looks like the mom.] The netizens were sharp. I am indeed a daughter of the Vanderbilt family. We share blood, but not much else. My parents had four children in total: one son and three daughters. I was the second to last. Our family originally lived in a small coastal town in Maine. My uncle struck it rich doing business out of state and wanted to bring my parents along. But he could only secure spots for three children in the new school district. After discussing it, my parents decided to leave me behind in the small town. They found a former colleague of my dad’s to take care of me, promising him $500 a month for living expenses. I finished middle school in that small town before coming to the Vanderbilt estate. By then, they were already living in a massive mansion in the Hamptons. I only lived at home for one semester of high school. After transferring, I chose to live in the dorms. I barely went back once a month. I almost never appeared in the same frame as my parents or siblings. It’s normal that netizens haven’t seen me. If the production crew hadn’t shown up at the door while I happened to be home, no one would have known the Vanderbilts actually had another daughter. 2 [Ahhh! This girl is my classmate! The valedictorian of North High! She just graduated this year. We only knew she was smart, didn’t know she was a rich heiress!] [North High?? A Vanderbilt kid going to North High? Are you joking?] [It’s true! She transferred from the prestigious St. Jude’s Academy.] [Huh? Why give up a mansion for a regular high school? That’s wild.] Seeing the comments dig deeper, I smiled: “Don’t misunderstand, everyone. After clearing things up, they all apologized to me.” “Our family values integrity. My dad is particularly strict about moral education. He only got rough because he cares.” “High standards for character lead to better business development, right?” “My brother asked me to live at school to foster my independence. It was for my own good.” “Besides, after the misunderstanding was resolved, my dad transferred me a huge sum as compensation.” The host immediately asked: ” reveal a specific number to broaden my horizons.” I turned to my dad: “Dad, how much was it again?” My dad didn’t bat an eye: “$20,000.” “Wow!” The audience looked envious. Dad continued: “Our family rewards the right and punishes the wrong. No nonsense. Running a business is the same…” The skepticism in the comments turned into praise: [As expected of a business mogul, principled.] [Papa Vanderbilt, how about you kick me too and give me $20k?] [Sob, I want a good brother like that too.] Amidst the flattery, the show ended successfully. My dad, looking high-spirited, actually offered me a ride home in his car. I looked at my younger sister, Chloe, who was pouting. “No thanks. Let Snowy sit there. He doesn’t like me getting close.” Snowy is the Doberman Chloe raises. Very vicious. I still have a scar on my calf from where he bit me. Mom glanced at Chloe reproachfully: “You child, you’re so spoiled. Make him move for your sister.” Chloe nuzzled the dog’s head, her eyes shooting daggers at me. “I’ll move him, but let’s see if Second Sister dares to sit.” “You,” Mom scolded her helplessly, then turned to me, “Then Ava, you can take a cab to The Banquet Hall yourself.” They had planned to go for a late-night meal after the show. But at that time, I wasn’t part of the plan. I looked at the simultaneously darkening faces of my older sister Bella and Chloe, and smiled: “I’m a bit tired, I won’t go.” Mom secretly sighed in relief but didn’t forget to complain: “You child, you just won’t warm up to us. You never participate in family activities, and then you’ll say I’m biased.” “Mom, stop it.” Liam walked over and grabbed my hand. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.” 3 Unlike her coldness toward me, Chloe leaned on the car window and repeatedly urged: “Brother, hurry up! We’ll wait for you.” I tried to pull my hand away: “I can just take a cab, no need to trouble you.” Liam didn’t let go: “You’re my sister. How is it trouble?” I raised an eyebrow in surprise. So Liam can speak human language too. Glancing at the fans secretly taking photos around us, I understood. I cooperated and got into the car, staring blankly out the window. While waiting at a red light, Liam suddenly said: “I didn’t expect you to remember that incident.” I smiled, still looking out the window. He sighed: “Anyway, thanks for today.” Rare indeed. The proud and noble top-tier idol actually thanked me. Just as I was about to tease him, my phone pinged with a notification. [Dad transferred $200,000.00 to you.] [Good performance today. Your reward.] I accepted the money and showed the chat to Liam: “Brother, how about a tangible thank-you gift?” Liam agreed readily: “I already ordered the latest four-leaf clover necklace. You’ll receive it tomorrow.” I smiled brightly: “Thanks, Brother.” Liam looked a bit unnatural: “No need to thank me. I should have given it to you long ago.” That wasn’t a lie. Sophomore year, he used a necklace to exchange for me leaving home to live at school. But he didn’t tell Bella beforehand. Seeing the necklace on me, Bella decided I was a thief. The whole family stood by her side. I couldn’t swim, but Dad kicked me into the pool to “sober me up.” I choked on water, struggling miserably. They stood on the shore, watching coldly. Luckily, Liam came back in time and fished me out. Bella pinched the necklace, looking arrogant. “I don’t care. If it was given to me, it’s mine.” Dad stuffed a few bills into my hand: “It’s just a necklace. If your sister likes it, let her have it. Go buy one yourself.” That money totaled $120. It was also the first allowance I received after returning to the Vanderbilt family. The lights outside flashed by rapidly. I narrowed my eyes: “It’s okay. Better late than never.” 4 Chloe called at least three times during the ride. Liam dropped me off at my door and left in a hurry. I took a bath. Just as I lay comfortably in bed, my phone chimed with a series of notifications. Looking at it, Bella had added me to the family group chat. [Bella: Welcome Ava. My bad, I forgot to add you before.] [Chloe: (Yawning) Actually, we don’t really talk much in this group anyway. Doesn’t matter if she’s added or not (Doge face)] [Bella: (Smile) (Smile) (Smile)] [Liam: Ava, anything you want to eat? I’ll pack it for you (Image) (Image) (Image)] A row of food photos flooded the screen, pushing Bella and Chloe’s conversation up. I wanted to refuse, but changed my mind: [Anything is fine. Thanks, Brother.] Liam replied with an OK. After that, no one spoke in the group. I opened another chat and transferred the $200,000: [Uncle Ji, the hospital in Boston is arranged. Take Brother Jing for the prosthetic eye surgery next week. I’ll come later.] The “typing…” indicator at the top flickered for a long time. Finally, only a few words came back: [Be careful. We’ll wait for you.] My nose stung, and tears rolled down. Soon. Very soon.

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I scrambled to grab my emergency inhaler. Only to find the canister empty. My boyfriend, Ethan, explained: “Chloe said her throat was dry, so I gave her the inhaler. Just have a cough drop, it helps too.” But my breathing was getting harder and harder. “Her throat was dry? Why didn’t she just drink water? You guys are going to kill me!” He frowned, dissatisfied. “Can you stop being so dramatic? You always act so fragile, like you’re some delicate princess.” “Chloe is right, you’re just needy.” I didn’t argue further. I texted my mother: “My asthma is acting up, but Ethan gave my inhaler to Chloe.” 1 Ethan saw the message and scoffed. “Pulling this again? Always tattling like an elementary schooler?” He snatched my phone, holding it high, looking down at me. I tried to grab it back. But as soon as I stood up, my vision went black, and I fell back down. “I’m having an asthma attack, help me,” I gasped urgently. Just then, Chloe walked over, waving the inhaler in her hand. “Oh my, Princess Sophia, are you really feeling bad? Or just trying to get attention?” “Ugh, I knew we shouldn’t have brought a girl to a guys’ night out. Always causing drama and competing for attention.” I gasped for air, staring daggers at Chloe. She was Ethan’s childhood friend. She always hung out with the guys, acting like “one of the bros.” Ethan had mentioned her to me more than once, praising her for being a “cool girl.” At first, I had a good impression of this carefree “bro-girl” Ethan described. After we got serious, Ethan introduced me to his circle. Chloe always acted very supportive of girls. “Wow Ethan, you have good taste! Where’d you find this princess?” “Yas queen, let’s stick together and ignore these smelly boys.” But I could always feel a hint of malice in the way she looked at me. Her methods were subtle. She claimed to support girls, but her actions deliberately ignored me. For example, at parties, she would always bring up inside jokes from their childhood. I couldn’t join in, forced to sit silently on the side. Then, she would loudly joke with me. “What’s wrong, Princess? You’re not upset because I’m talking to Ethan, are you?” I told Ethan how uncomfortable this made me. But Ethan just called me petty. He said Chloe was just trying to liven up the atmosphere, and I was too sensitive. But now, Chloe’s malice was undisguised. “A princess is always a princess. Is it because we aren’t revolving around you that you’re unhappy, so you’re faking being sick?” Hearing her words, the guys around us snickered. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice. Seeing me like this, the room went quiet for a second. Then erupted into even louder laughter. Chloe put her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. Watching me gasp for air, she laughed so hard she leaned back. “Wow, the acting is on point. Ethan, you’re not feeling sorry for her, are you?” The others goaded Ethan too. “Yeah, Ethan, you’re not gonna be whipped after you get married, right?” “Don’t embarrass us, bro! The man is the head of the house. If a woman misbehaves, you gotta teach her a lesson.” Ethan couldn’t stand the provocation. He stiffened his neck, avoiding my eyes. “Who feels sorry for her? She needs to be taught a lesson, always making trouble out of nothing.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately pulled at Ethan’s sleeve, making wheezing sounds from my throat. “Save… me…” Seeing me like this, Ethan hesitated. But Chloe spoke up again. “Alright, alright Sophia, we’re all straight dudes here, no one buys your damsel in distress act.” Knowing I couldn’t get through to him, I tried to leave the room. But just as I propped myself up, Chloe pushed me back down. “The party isn’t over, how can you leave? That’s so disrespectful to me.” She pushed hard. I wasn’t paying attention, and the back of my head hit the wall. Thud. My head spun even more. Before I could react, Chloe screamed first. 2 She covered her mouth, exaggerating her shock. “Omg? You are so manipulative.” “I barely touched you, and you hit your own head against the wall to frame me?” Hearing this, Ethan looked at me with even more impatience. “Sophia, you’re crossing the line.” I bit my lip, trying to stay conscious. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want someone to die, stop it.” My throat hurt; every breath felt like inhaling glass shards. Chloe waved the inhaler in front of my face tauntingly, taking a dramatic puff. “Can’t give it to you, my throat is dry.” “Gotta say, expensive stuff is good. This feels great to use.” I struggled to raise my hand to grab it. She laughed and held it high, dodging me. “Nope, not giving it.” I was so angry my vision went black again. Ethan stood by with his arms crossed, watching. “Look at you, begging like a beggar. Chloe just wants to use it for a bit, don’t be so stingy.” “Chloe saw your medical report. You don’t have asthma, you’re just short of breath sometimes.” I tried to calm myself down. “Ethan, haven’t you seen me have an attack before? What reason do I have to lie to you?” Before Ethan could answer, Chloe cut in. “For attention, obviously. In this day and age, there’s always some attention seeker faking illness.” “Hehe, Sophia, are you like those internet snowflakes who claim to have depression too?” Hearing this, Ethan’s bros laughed even louder. Someone whistled. “Ethan, your girlfriend is too petty. Not even half as cool as Chloe.” “Yeah, you’re gonna suffer when you marry her.” I gasped for air, using my last bit of strength to reach for the inhaler in Chloe’s hand. But just as my fingers were about to touch it, she dodged nimbly. I lost my balance and fell forward onto the carpet. “Oops, the acting is so realistic!” Chloe exclaimed dramatically. Then she squatted down, whispering so only I could hear. “Hehe, hurry up and die. If you die, Ethan and I can finally be together.” She stood up, raising her voice deliberately. “Sophia, stop it, get up. Everyone is waiting to toast you and Ethan.” Ethan felt something was wrong. He stepped forward to help me up. “What’s going on with you, are you really sick?” “Help me…” I struggled to spit out the words. My hand gripped Ethan’s wrist tight, only able to emit broken gasps. “In… inhaler…” Ethan’s brows knit tight, panic and struggle finally appearing in his eyes. He looked at Chloe. “Chloe, maybe give it to her.” Chloe’s face fell instantly. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stomping her foot in frustration. “Ethan, are you blind? She’s obviously faking it! Did you forget what a diva she used to be?” Saying that, she suddenly shouted to the others. “Look guys, this kind of competitive girl just knows how to act. And of course, Ethan falls for it.” The guys immediately backed her up. “Ethan, we grew up with Chloe. Would she harm you?” “These princesses just love making trouble out of nothing. Don’t spoil her.” Ethan’s face changed. His grip on me loosened. I could feel his hesitation. Between my painful attack and Chloe’s manipulation. “But, her face looks really pale…” 3 Ethan was worried, his eyes on my bloodless lips. Chloe suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh!” “I saw her take a tampon to the bathroom earlier. She must have period cramps.” She acted like she was being considerate. “Sophia, if it’s cramps, just say it’s cramps. Why lie about an asthma attack? Making Ethan worry for nothing.” Hearing this, Ethan sighed in relief. He looked at me with blame. “Don’t joke like that again. You almost scared me to death.” I had no strength left. Luckily, I took preventive medication before leaving the house. Otherwise, with their stalling, I would be dead already. Chloe hid behind Ethan, smiling provocatively at me. Then she pulled a small bottle from her bag. “Here, I have throat lozenges. Sophia, didn’t you say your throat hurts? Have one!” She shoved the lozenge into my mouth. The minty flavor rushed into my nose, making the burning in my throat worse. I wanted to spit it out. But she gripped my jaw tight. “Swallow it! What is wrong with you? You really are faking it for sympathy.” She only let go when I started dry heaving, then turned to Ethan. “See? She won’t eat it. If she’s not faking, what is it?” Ethan looked at me, then at the spat-out lozenge on the floor. The panic in his eyes vanished, replaced by annoyance. He felt I was making a big deal out of nothing. He sighed heavily and dropped me onto the sofa. My back hit the armrest, pain making me gasp. “Fine, let’s drop it. Don’t do this again.” “No, I…” I wanted to explain, but my throat could only make wheezing sounds. Chloe patted Ethan’s shoulder. “Come on, ignore her. Let’s go drink. If no one pays attention to her, she’ll be fine in a bit.” Ethan nodded. He glanced at me one last time before leaving. That look held impatience and annoyance, but no worry. Dragged by Chloe towards the crowd, he dropped one last sentence. “Behave yourself. Don’t embarrass me again.” The crowd dispersed with them, running off to drink. I curled up in the corner, watching Ethan and Chloe being urged to drink a “cross-cupped wine” (a wedding tradition/intimate gesture). “Come on, cross cups!” “Don’t be a killjoy, drink up!” “It’s just a game, your girlfriend isn’t that petty, right?” In my blurred vision, I saw Ethan glance at me from afar, then put his arm around Chloe and kiss her… I felt the air in my lungs being drawn out bit by bit. I really couldn’t breathe. My phone was thrown on the floor by Ethan. But I didn’t even have the strength to crawl to it. In despair, I suddenly remembered I had put an asthma pill in my bag last month. Summoning my last bit of strength, I fumbled around. My heart jumped when my fingertips touched the chain of my bag. I clawed at the strap, dragging it over. Leather rubbed against the sofa. The bag was open. I tipped it. A pill rolled out onto the carpet. This is it! Although just an emergency release tablet. Slower than the inhaler, but it could buy me time. I almost cried. But just as I reached out, fingertips about to touch the pill—a high heel stepped on it. 4 Right in front of my eyes, the heel ground the pill into dust. It was Chloe. She smiled down at me, toe still twisting. “Oops, almost let you eat the medicine.” Blood rushed to my head. “Get out! I’ll kill you! My mom won’t let you get away with this.” Suffocation surged. After saying this, I collapsed back onto the sofa, like a dying beast. “Heehee, seeing you rage helplessly makes me so happy.” Chloe squatted down, poking my face with her long nails. “You deserve it. Trying to take my things. Ethan is mine. Even if I don’t want him, it’s not your turn.” saying that, she yanked my hair hard. “Alright, you can die now.” My scalp stung. I wanted to struggle. But I couldn’t even lift my arm. “I am… Xu Group…” In my blurry vision, Chloe’s face twisted. She cut me off. “Ethan is drinking over there.” She leaned close to my ear, voice sickeningly sweet. “He can’t be bothered with you. Say, if you died right now, would he be sad?” I tried to bite her hand, but she dodged easily. She stood up, patted my face, then shouted to Ethan in the distance. “Ethan! Come look! Sophia seems really mad!” Ethan came over. Seeing me limp on the sofa, his frown deepened. “What are you doing now? It’s just cramps, don’t act like you’re dying. Every woman gets cramps.” “I, I really have…” I gasped weakly, “Asthma…” Ethan’s gaze swept over my pale face, then looked at Chloe. Chloe shrugged helplessly, indicating she couldn’t do anything. Ethan fixed his eyes on me, full of disappointment. “Sophia, I’ve had enough of you. If you keep this up, we’re breaking up.” With that, he turned and left. Chloe trotted after him, turning back to flash me a “V” sign. I felt my lungs were like leaking bellows, every breath tearing with pain. Static filled my vision. Chloe’s face in the distance zoomed in and out in the halo, like a demon from hell. My eyelids were heavy. Over there, the crowd cheered around Chloe. In my peripheral vision, Ethan toasted with his bros. Chloe pretended to be drunk and leaned into Ethan’s arms. He didn’t push her away; instead, he held her waist tighter. “Ethan…” I used all my strength to call him. Voice weak as a mosquito. He turned back inexplicably. Chloe immediately whispered something in his ear. He frowned, shaking his head impatiently. In that moment, the last warmth in my heart turned cold. I slowly closed my eyes. I regretted it so much. Why was I with Ethan? Ethan was just a poor student from an ordinary family. And my mother was a billionaire entrepreneur. Afraid Ethan would feel inferior, I never told him this. He always thought my family was just slightly better off than his. Chloe walked back. She squatted in front of me. “I heard you’re from a single-parent family. If you die, your mom will cry to death, right?” “But it’s okay. Ethan will handle your funeral as your fiancé. Maybe your mom will be touched and give all the inheritance to Ethan…” Chloe sure could dream. But before she finished, the private room door was suddenly pushed open. “Sophia!” It was Mom’s voice.

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The year my foster mother beat me half to death was the same year I found out I was the “real” daughter, switched at birth on purpose. After a whirlwind transition back to the wealthy Sterling family, I instinctively chose the smallest, shabbiest room in the mansion. My biological mom immediately stopped me. “Why are you going into the maid’s quarters? Your room is upstairs.” My brother walked towards me with his hand extended. Conditioned by habit, I lowered my head and meekly handed over my monthly allowance. His eyes widened in shock. “I’m your brother! I was reaching out to bandage your wounds, not take your money!” Then came Chloe, the girl who took my place. She walked towards me with a tear-streaked face. I braced myself, turning my left cheek like they do in the dramas, ready for the slap. I expected a stinging pain. Instead, I got a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry, big sis. Can you please not hate me?” 1 The scenery outside the car window blurred past. The woman sitting next to me held my hand, her grip slightly nervous. Maybe my expression was too numb, because she kept throwing out topic after topic. “Do you like Barbies, Ava? Mom will buy you a bunch, you can pick whatever you want.” “How are your grades? Is there anything you’re particularly interested in? Mom can sign you up for some classes.” “Oh, I’m talking too much. How about you decide what we eat for lunch, Ava? We can have the chef make it, or Mom can cook. My specialty is steamed egg custard, I just don’t know if you like it.” She gave me an awkward smile. Her hands were well-maintained, soft and fair, not looking at all like the hands of a forty-year-old woman. I lowered my head and whispered, “Whatever is fine.” My foster mother used to say my voice sounded like a rooster crowing—annoying as hell. Every time she saw me, she got irritated. Since then, I tried not to speak unless absolutely necessary. I was afraid if I opened my mouth, I’d scare this new mom, and she’d send me back. After all, she didn’t raise me. She might find me repulsive. 2 The day my mom found me, my foster mother had gotten into a huge fight with my drunk foster father. She took all her anger out on me. A wooden stick as thick as a thumb—she said she’d break it on me, and she did. I didn’t have a single patch of unbruised skin left. beaten to within an inch of my life, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. Hot tears fell on my face. In my daze, I thought I had gone to heaven. I didn’t want to die, but heaven seemed okay. There was a woman with a gentle voice guiding me. Life there probably wouldn’t be too hard. At least, it couldn’t be harder than this. “My daughter… I finally found you. My poor baby.” I was sent to the hospital and recovered for a month before my mom took me home. My dad is the CEO of a publicly traded company, my mom owns an art gallery. I have a brother in his junior year of high school, and a sister in the same grade as me—freshman year. A sister with zero blood relation to me. We live in a villa, with countless luxury cars, a housekeeper, and bodyguards. After entering the house, Mom went to the kitchen to check on lunch. She told me to pick a room first. “You can have whichever one you want.” I pursed my lips and carefully walked around the first floor. Even the bathroom was bigger, brighter, and cleaner than the entire house I used to live in. I picked the only room that seemed “small and shabby” compared to the others, though it was actually spacious, bright, and had AC, a washer, and an ensuite bathroom. In my old life, I wouldn’t have dared to dream of this. Just having a bed was a luxury. I figured this one would do. I shouldn’t be greedy as the newcomer. Not sleeping in the security booth was already a win. I started walking towards that room. Mom poked her head out of the kitchen and saw me. She immediately called out, “Ava, why are you going into the maid’s room? That’s for the housekeeper! Your room is upstairs!” 3 I sighed softly. I knew I didn’t have that kind of luck. The upstairs room must be cramped, dark, damp, and stuffy. Walking up the carved wooden staircase, I was dazzled by the exquisite paintings on the walls. I didn’t dare touch anything, not even a corner. I was terrified Mom would make me pay for it. Even if I sold my worthless life, I couldn’t afford it. When I got to the second floor, I was dumbfounded. Every room was twice the size of the ones downstairs. The luxury was jaw-dropping. Just as I was debating whether to sleep on the stairs or in the small storage closet at the end of the hall, a boy with striking eyebrows and bright eyes put his hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him. He looked about 50% like me. He had a sunny smile on his face and a backpack over one shoulder, looking like a high schooler who just got home. “You must be Ava. I’m your brother, Liam.” He looked apologetic. “Sorry I didn’t visit you in the hospital earlier. I was at a training camp, and the coach wouldn’t let me leave. I just got back.” “You’ve suffered all these years. As your brother, it’s my fault for not protecting you back then. If I had been a bit older, you wouldn’t have been taken.” His eyes were filled with pain. I couldn’t help but comfort him, “It’s okay. I’m fine now.” It wasn’t their fault. Liam looked up. “You were picking a room, right? Why don’t you take the one next to mine? Easier for me to look out for you.” I wanted to refuse, but he didn’t give me a chance. So, half-pushed, half-led, I chose the room next to his. Liam left for a second and came back holding a small box. He sat down in my room and extended his hand towards me. “Come here.” Right. Every time my foster brother, Tyler, needed money, he would sweet-talk me before extending his hand. This meant he wanted money. I dug out an envelope from my pocket. It was the allowance Mom had just stuffed in there. It wasn’t even warm yet. I was self-aware. I meekly handed over my living expenses. It wasn’t my money anyway. I had no attachment to it. Just like the twenty bucks I earned collecting bottles—I handed that over too. Liam’s eyebrows knitted together in displeasure. He looked at me, then at the envelope. Was he dissatisfied with the amount? Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. “I’m your brother! I was reaching out to bandage your wound, not take your money!” He pulled my sleeve, looking anxious and angry. He took out a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, lifted my hair, and gently applied it to the wound, even blowing on it softly. “This cut hasn’t healed properly. Wait a sec, I’ll put a band-aid on it. Your hair must have been covering it; Mom didn’t even notice.” “If anyone hits you in the future, you hit them back. I’ll take the consequences. If I can’t handle it, Mom and Dad will. You’re my biological sister; you can’t just let people bully you for nothing, understand?” I nodded blankly. He stuffed the envelope back into my hand. He seemed satisfied. “Although no one would dare bully you with me around, there might be times when I’m not there. How about this? I’ll sign you up for a kickboxing class.” He looked at me with burning intensity. I actually laughed. “Sure, why not.” Liam muttered helplessly, “Finally heard you speak. I almost thought you were mute.” Just then, Mom called from downstairs, “Dinner’s ready!” 4 I walked down the stairs stiffly, my feet feeling like I was walking on cotton. I was afraid if I stepped too hard, I’d wake up and realize this was all a dream. I was starting to get attached to this dream. The dining table was filled with over a dozen dishes. It was a grand affair. Mom and Liam kept piling food into my bowl until it was overflowing. “I peeled the shrimp for you, eat it while it’s hot.” “This abalone is really fresh, try a bite.” “This carp soup is the housekeeper’s specialty. Mom will get you a small bowl. Careful, it’s hot. Drink it when it cools down.” I took a cautious sip. Just then, Dad walked in holding my sister’s hand. Even though he was the CEO of a listed company, he was carrying her small backpack himself. My sister was cute, looking like a delicate doll. She had pigtails and a bunch of clips in her hair, looking like a princess living in a fairytale castle. Seeing me, she timidly called out, “Sister?” I bit my lip. Was my dream going to shatter this quickly? Mom had apologized to me before: “I’m sorry, Ava. We discussed it for a long time, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to send Chloe back. After all, we raised her for 15 years.” “If she went back, the drop in lifestyle would be too huge. She wouldn’t be able to handle it, and it would break our hearts.” “Even though there’s no blood relation, in our eyes, she’s been our daughter for a long time.” “I know you suffered and went through hell, but it wasn’t her fault. Chloe cried so many times, saying she didn’t mean for this to happen, that she’ll make it up to you and earn your forgiveness. Please let her stay, okay?” “I promise, even if I’m biased, I’ll be biased towards you.” Facing Mom’s pleading eyes, I couldn’t refuse. I had no right to refuse. After all, to this family of four, I was the real “outsider.” Whenever I dreamed of things I didn’t deserve, my foster mother would curse me out and slap me. “You stupid little wretch! Look in the mirror at your ugly face! Do you deserve anything? Pfft!” “Let me tell you, rotten melons don’t produce good seeds. You’re delusional! A toad wanting to eat swan meat! You just don’t have the destiny for it!” Back then, I was hung up and beaten for a whole day. And the reason? I saw other classmates eating lollipops and begged my foster mom to buy me one. That lollipop was on special at a new store. It cost ten cents. I lowered my head and stopped drinking the soup. I was waiting. Waiting for Chloe to throw herself into Mom and Dad’s arms and cry, asking why they brought me back. Waiting for Mom and Dad to make me apologize, scolding me for making their daughter unhappy. Waiting for my brother to heartache for Chloe and cut ties with me. “Get out! You’re not my sister! I hate you!” It was so strange. I had only been with them for a short time. Why did imagining these scenes feel like a knife twisting in my heart? Clearly, this was normal. I had always been the child who wasn’t favored. Why did it hurt so much? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe walking towards me with a mournful face. Sigh. Isn’t that how it goes in TV dramas? I accepted my fate. I closed my eyes and offered my left cheek. My right cheek was still swollen from my foster mom’s beating. If she hit the left one, at least I’d be symmetrical. I waited for a long time. I expected a burning pain. Instead, a pair of soft, warm lips pressed against my left cheek. Not only did I not get hit, I got a kiss. I opened my eyes in surprise. Chloe threw herself into my arms. She was wailing, her small arms wrapped around my waist, melting like a little snowman. “I’m sorry, big sis! Can you please not hate me?” “I really don’t want to leave this home. Please don’t kick me out, okay? I didn’t mean to take your place.” “I won’t acknowledge my biological parents, never in this life. I only acknowledge you as my sister. Good sister, can you please like me in the future? I promise I’ll be good!” She… she wasn’t following the script? Was it my imagination? They seemed… actually welcoming? Even Dad, who had been stoic the whole time, had tears in the corners of his eyes. No, no, no. This must be their disguise. My foster mom said I was the worst child in the world and no one would like me. Yes, that must be it.

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When I was seven, my father stuck a piece of straw in my hair and sold me to a human trafficker. Later, like a piece of cargo, I was resold by the trafficker to a nanny working for the Sterling family. The nanny twisted my ear and dragged me in front of the young miss. “This stray bone from the outside needs to be taught a lesson.” I shrank back, daring not to speak. The young miss frowned, but said nothing to her. Instead, she started talking to me about independent personalities, women’s liberation, and “Mr. Democracy and Mr. Science.” I didn’t understand a word. But for the first time, I felt like a real person, standing tall and upright. 1 I was born strong, ate a lot, and wasn’t much to look at. My parents never liked me. When I was seven, a drought hit. The harvest failed, and the village was starving. My father stuck a piece of straw in my hair—a sign that I was for sale—and led me to the trafficker. He traded me for two measly pieces of silver. Clutching the money, he smiled so wide his eyes disappeared. He turned and left without a single glance back. I stood next to the trafficker. I didn’t chase him, didn’t cry. I didn’t even ask why he didn’t want me anymore. The trafficker wasn’t a bad person. She didn’t mistreat me or let me starve. She kept me for a few days, taught me some basic manners, and then sold me to the Sterling family, a high-ranking political household. The woman who came to buy me was a thin, stern-faced woman the trafficker called Nanny Wen. She looked a bit fierce. “From now on, you’re a maid in the Sterling household. Behave yourself.” 2 I got lucky. The Madam heard I was strong and looked honest, so she assigned me to be the young miss’s maid. I was taken to the miss’s courtyard. Nanny Wen lectured me on rules the whole way. This time, she wasn’t so fierce. “The Third Miss has been weak since birth. You need to be extra attentive.” “Everyone knows the Third Miss has a kind heart. Don’t you dare take advantage of her kindness and act out.” “The Sterling family never lacks for food or clothing. Follow the miss properly, and you’ll live a more decent life than even the daughters of wealthy merchants outside.” Back then, I was ignorant. I only remembered “work hard” and “no shortage of food or clothes.” “What is your name?” The young miss held my hand warmly. I nervously clutched the corner of my shirt. “I… this servant is called Weed.” The miss frowned slightly. “That’s not a good name.” She thought for a moment. “Do you have a wish?” “This… this servant just wants to work hard for Miss and not worry about food or clothes,” I stammered, accidentally repeating what Nanny Wen told me. The miss chuckled softly. “Let’s call you Hope then.” “In this chaotic world, hoping for peace and safety is a good life.” From then on, Weed, whose life was as cheap as grass in the village, was gone. There was only Hope, the maid by the side of the Sterling family’s Third Miss, Evelyn. Evelyn treated me well. She didn’t make me kneel or bow constantly, didn’t let me call myself “servant,” and even taught me to read and write. I waved my hands in panic. “The teacher said ignorance is a virtue for women. Reading is for men. Isn’t it an insult for me to learn?” Evelyn spat in disgust. “Listen to their ghosts talk. Men and women are no different in this world. High status or low, it doesn’t stop us from improving ourselves. Maid or miss, we are all just people. Never belittle yourself.” Under Evelyn’s insistence, I became the only maid in the Sterling household who could read and write. Everyone envied me. Occasionally, they’d ask me to write letters home for them. But I never wrote home. My parents didn’t want me, so I didn’t want them either. Evelyn always shared her delicious food with me. Soon, I grew as tall as her. Evelyn never disliked my strength or big appetite. She told me, “Being able to eat is a blessing. Strength is your talent.” Nanny Wen was right. Being with Evelyn was my blessing. I grinned foolishly at her. Evelyn suddenly asked me, “What do you want to do in the future?” Future? It seemed like a distant word. I had never thought about it. “I want to serve Miss forever.” Thinking of my past and my current good life, this seemed like a good plan. Evelyn lightly knocked my head. “I’m asking what your dream is?” I insisted, “I just want to serve Miss.” Evelyn still looked disapproving. I didn’t want to make her unhappy, so I started thinking about “dreams” and “future.” It seemed so far away from me. At home, I hoped my parents would treat me just a little better. Not much, just half as well as they treated my sister and brother. But when the famine came, they abandoned me without hesitation. From then on, their future would not include me. And my future would no longer have their shadows. Evelyn treated me well. She fed me, clothed me, didn’t mock me, and always encouraged and supported me. I wanted to protect Evelyn forever. Couldn’t that count as a dream? I suddenly remembered reading in a book that generals could protect their families and defend the country. Defending the country should include protecting Evelyn. I told her, “I want to be a general.” But could a woman really be a general? Evelyn didn’t think I was delusional. Hearing my words, she hired a master to teach me martial arts. She said, “Since you have such ambition, you cannot bury your talent.” Wearing the training clothes Evelyn had the tailor make specially for me, I felt a bit awkward. But Evelyn held my hands, looking me over with satisfaction. “Not bad, you look the part. I really look forward to seeing our Hope in full armor.” To live up to her expectations, I trained even harder. Even the master praised me as a natural martial artist. In her spare time, Evelyn would personally teach me military strategy. 3 When I was nine, I accidentally bumped into the Second Miss in the Sterling mansion. Upon learning I was from Evelyn’s courtyard, the Second Miss wanted to punish me with ten lashes. Her mother, Concubine Chu, was the childhood sweetheart and favorite concubine of the Master. She always disliked the Madam. Influenced by this, the Second Miss, Victoria, had been at odds with Evelyn since childhood. I knelt at Victoria’s feet, head buried in the ground, apologizing repeatedly. Victoria rolled her eyes and told me, “As long as you say Evelyn always scolds and beats you, I won’t punish you.” I was young, but not stupid. I knew ladies of noble families cared most about their reputation. A ruined reputation would affect future marriage prospects. Even if Evelyn didn’t care about these things, I couldn’t let her get a reputation for being arrogant and domineering over something so small. I pressed my lips tight and said nothing. I was dragged away and beaten with ten heavy boards. When Nanny Wen found me, I had already fainted from the pain. When I woke up, Evelyn was sitting by my bed with a dark face. Nanny Wen shouted happily, “She’s awake! She’s awake!” Later I learned that the beating almost killed me. Evelyn and Nanny Wen guarded me for three days. Evelyn looked at me solemnly. “I will get justice for you.” I shook my head and refused. I was just a servant. How could I let two young misses fight and cause family discord over me? If they really fought because of this, the Madam would beat me to death. Evelyn was truly a noble lady. Her heart was good, but she was a bit naive. I lay in bed for three months before I could walk. Not long after I recovered, Evelyn asked me to go for a walk in the garden with her. Victoria happened to be chasing butterflies in the garden. She seemed to be having fun and had left her maids behind. There was no one around. Evelyn smirked at me, put a finger to her lips, and said “Shh.” The next second, she charged straight at Victoria’s back. Both of them fell into the water. I never thought Evelyn would take revenge for me this way. But seeing Evelyn struggling in the water, I couldn’t think too much. I screamed in horror, “Miss has fallen into the water!” While shouting, I jumped in to save her. Evelyn choked on a lot of water. The maids and I knelt in the courtyard, waiting for the Madam’s questioning. After the doctor said Evelyn was fine, the Madam began investigating the cause. Her face was dark. “What happened?” I cried out before anyone else, crawling to the Madam’s feet. “It was the Second Miss who pushed Miss Evelyn.” Just then, the Master and Concubine Chu walked in. Hearing this, Concubine Chu immediately retorted, “My Victoria is quiet and polite. She would never do such a thing as harming her sibling.” Victoria’s maid also crawled out to clarify for her mistress. “It wasn’t the Second Miss, it was… it was the Third Miss who bumped into the Second Miss.” “You weren’t even there, how can you slander our Miss?” I bit my lip, pointing at Victoria’s maid, face full of disbelief. “Our Miss has always been weak. Why would she frame the Second Miss and make herself suffer so much? The Second Miss has always hated our Miss. A while ago, this servant offended the Second Miss, and she was going to punish me. But then, she told me that as long as…” I covered my face and sobbed. The Madam, hearing this, got anxious. “As long as what?” “As long as this servant said that Miss Evelyn frequently beat, scolded, and abused me, she wouldn’t punish me.” I took the opportunity to tell the whole story from three months ago. Concubine Chu wanted to argue, but was silenced by the Madam’s glare. “Is what you said true?” I kowtowed heavily. “This servant swears on her life, every word is true.” The Madam sneered and looked at the Master. “You heard it. It was Victoria who harmed my Evelyn.” Concubine Chu tugged at the Master’s sleeve. The Master frowned. “Madam, it’s just children fighting…” The Madam interrupted him. “Fighting? Victoria wanted to ruin my daughter’s reputation, and now she wants to take her life. Is this fighting?” “You can’t fully trust a servant’s words.” The Madam slammed the table, making me tremble. “She’s only nine. Can she lie? It’s true that Victoria privately punished my daughter’s maid, and it’s true my daughter fell into the water. Such a vicious heart at such a young age. I think she’s been raised crooked by Concubine Chu. If we don’t discipline her, she’ll shame the Sterling family in the future.” The Madam was the daughter of a Marquis. She married down to the Master. He respected her, but didn’t love her. The Master coughed lightly. “Then what do you suggest, Madam?” The Madam snorted coldly. “Kneel in the ancestral hall for three days. I will hire someone to teach her rules properly!” Victoria knelt in the ancestral hall for three days as soon as she recovered. Her legs were swollen. She then studied under the Madam’s supervision for three months before being taken back by a wailing Concubine Chu. Evelyn had a fever for a whole day. Her first sentence upon waking up was: “Hope, I got revenge for you.” My eyes filled with tears. I just felt that since Evelyn treated me so well, I must protect her well in the future and never let her get hurt again. 4 Evelyn was in poor health, but she was lively and bold. When she first took me out dressed as men to jump the wall, I was terrified. But by the tenth time, I could jump over and catch Evelyn as she came down. “Hope is awesome. Sending you to learn martial arts wasn’t in vain.” I was helpless. I learned martial arts to protect her, not to help her jump walls. But Evelyn liked it, so it seemed okay. The capital was prosperous. It felt novel no matter how many times we visited. When we wandered to the entrance of a brothel, Evelyn excitedly wanted to go in. I desperately pulled her sleeve, looking like I was about to cry. “Miss, we really can’t go in there.” Evelyn was high-spirited. “This is a must-have element for time travel. If I don’t go once, I’ve come for nothing.” I was used to new vocabulary popping out of her mouth. Looking at her shining, expectant eyes, I couldn’t refuse. Fine. My kung fu was decent after these years. If something really happened, protecting Evelyn as we escaped shouldn’t be too hard. “Are you two waiting for someone?” A man walked towards us, blocking the probing gazes of others. “How did you know I’m a girl?” Evelyn was shocked. The man chuckled low. Evelyn looked suspiciously at her outfit. Turns out Evelyn could be silly too. Her male disguise wasn’t convincing at all. Even I could tell. But I didn’t say it. I didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm. The man walked closer and whispered, “Miss Sterling should leave early. There are many people here, mixed company. If word gets out, it will be bad for your reputation.” After we left, Evelyn muttered, “I dressed as a man, how could he still tell I’m a woman? That’s not how it happens on TV.” Fortunately, Evelyn didn’t propose going to the brothel again.

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On my first day at my new high school, I got cornered by a gang of punks. I clutched my wallet tight, shouting, “Take my life, but you’re not getting my money!” They grabbed me by the arms, laughing, “Take her back to the boss!” Later, I was dragged into a shady pool hall. There, I saw my own biological brother sitting on a single sofa like a king. And standing next to him was the hot guy I had drunkenly force-kissed just last week… 1 Walking into the pool hall, the smell of stale cigarettes hit me in the face. I waved my hand to clear the air and glanced at the boy sitting on the single sofa, freezing instantly. Isn’t that my straight-A, model-student brother? “Boss, we brought you a hottie!” The blond punk presented me like I was a trophy. The boy had a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, head down, playing a mobile game. Hearing this, he looked up, and the cigarette fell straight out of his mouth. “Sienna?” Ethan jumped up. “What are you doing here?” I rubbed my wrists and said sarcastically, “I was kidnapped by your minions, Big Brother.” He froze, then realized what happened. He cursed, “You idiots are robbing high school students again?” The blond punk started sweating. “We haven’t done that since we started following you! We just thought she was pretty and wanted to bring her back to be your girlfriend.” Ethan laughed in disbelief. “This is my sister! My biological twin sister! Can’t you see we look alike? If your eyes are useless, donate them!” Dead silence filled the room before the gang bowed in unison. “So it’s Big Sis! Our bad!” Wow, somehow I became the mob boss’s sister. I sighed, sat on the sofa, and crossed my legs elegantly. “Bro, if Mom and Dad find out you’re smoking and running a gang, do you think they’ll turn you into a human beyblade?” Ethan’s face went pale. “Sienna, don’t do me like that.” “Then next month’s allowance?” “Half.” “Hmm?” “All of it! All of it!” Ethan cried. “And do my math homework!” “Sienna Su! Don’t push it!” Suddenly, a light chuckle came from the distance. I looked up and fell into a pair of beautiful brown eyes. The boy was tall and lean, features exquisite, skin glowing white. Even the tacky blue and white school uniform looked like designer wear on him. He looked familiar. I scratched my head, trying to recall. Then it hit me. Holy crap, isn’t this the hot guy I force-kissed when I was drunk last week? 2 It was my best friend Zoey’s birthday. She invited a bunch of people to karaoke. I got wasted and walked into the wrong room after using the bathroom. A room full of hot guys looked at me in unison. I picked the hottest one and pounced. “My brother always says he’s the most handsome guy in the world, hic… let me take a pic, I need to humble him, hic…” The boy looked down at me, eyes dark under the flashing lights. “Which room are you in? I’ll take you back.” I waved my hand and grabbed his collar. “Ooh, North High uniform. A smart guy…” I patted his cheek playfully. “Great, I like smart guys…” He frowned and grabbed my wrist. “Stop moving.” I couldn’t break free and got annoyed. “L-let go, or I won’t be polite. I-I’ll mess you up.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “How?” I stared at him. Suddenly, I stood on my tiptoes and, amidst the gasps of the room, I bit his lip. Back in the pool hall, the orange sunset slanted through the windows. The boy walked over, backlit by the sun, looking like a scene from a movie. My heart skipped a beat. I looked away unnaturally and dramatically tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Caleb, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting forever,” Ethan said, walking up to the boy and casually slinging an arm around his neck. “Did you get stopped by girls asking for your number again? Which school this time?” “Don’t talk nonsense.” He pushed Ethan away, his gaze landing on me. “Have we met somewhere?” My breath hitched. I forced a smile. “I don’t think so.” “Really? You look familiar.” Ethan snorted. “Of course she looks familiar. Don’t you think she looks like me?” Caleb nodded slightly. “Yeah, especially the eyes and nose.” I thought I got away with it and secretly sighed in relief. But then Caleb added, “Ethan, I heard you tell people you’re the most handsome guy in the world?” My heart dropped. My brain went blank. Ethan touched his hair narcissistically. “Am I not?” Caleb gave me a meaningful look, and I lowered my head with a dry laugh. 3 Because of our parents’ jobs, we moved from Seattle to New York. Ethan, being the genius, got into the best school, North High. As for me, the academic failure, my parents paid extra to get me into Brightwood High. Brightwood started late, so I reported a week after Ethan. Calculating the dates, the day I met Caleb at karaoke was the day before Ethan started school. Ethan probably never dreamed that the genius deskmate he’d been raving about all week had already been assaulted by his own sister. While my thoughts wandered, someone rubbed my head. “It’s late, go home and do your homework.” Ethan threw his wallet at me. “And don’t blab when you get home.” I squeezed the wallet. “What about you?” “We’re going out to eat.” “I want to go too.” “Go home.” While we stared each other down with hands on our hips, Caleb suddenly spoke up. “I just remembered I have something to do, so I won’t join you guys. By the way, Ethan, isn’t your house on the way to mine?” Caleb took me away just like that, openly. We walked in silence until we passed a convenience store. Caleb went in and bought me a strawberry ice cream cone. I took it, blushing. “Thanks, Caleb… brother.” The sun dipped low, hanging in the sky like a giant orange. Pale golden light enveloped the boy, outlining a warm and soft silhouette. I stole glances at him, quickly looking away when our eyes met. An indescribable feeling spread in my chest, sweeter than the ice cream. “Sienna.” He suddenly called my name. I got nervous and got ice cream on my nose. He chuckled. “Are you scared of me?” I shook my head awkwardly. He knew what I was worried about and said calmly, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell your brother about that. It does me no good.” I pursed my lips and mumbled, “Caleb, sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to you… anyway, I’m really sorry. And thanks for taking me back to my friends, or I would have been lost.” He nodded, accepting my apology. “Sienna, don’t drink until you graduate.” “Huh? But I’m eighteen…” “Can’t promise?” I mumbled, “Fine, I won’t drink.” He smiled and wiped the ice cream off my nose. “So reluctant?” His fingertips were cool, smelling faintly of mint. In that moment, I felt like I lost my soul. I forgot how I even got home. Later, I called Zoey and told her everything. She said, “You’re done for, Sienna Su. You like him.” That simple sentence sobered me up instantly. 4 After that, I visited Ethan often. Conveniently, I ran into Caleb every time. Seeing him more often, we got familiar. Unlike the oblivious Ethan, Caleb was gentle and detailed. He played with me, helped me with homework, and took care of me in small ways. I felt like he was treating me like a child, even though he was only a few months older. One sunny afternoon, I was reading manga at a bookstore near school. The boy pushed open the glass door, walked towards me, and handed me a hot milk tea. “Thought you were studying, wanted to reward you.” He looked at the manga in my hand and teased, “Bought it for nothing?” I quickly poked the straw in and took a big sip. “Reading manga is a form of learning too.” He smiled slightly. “Is that so? Let me learn too then.” Sunlight fell into his brown pupils, looking like melted chocolate. In that moment, I could clearly feel my heart accelerating. Crap, I think I like him even more. What about him? Does he like me? He should, right? Why else treat me so well? I was overjoyed, gradually developing unrealistic thoughts. One night I even dreamed of Caleb confessing to me. I woke up grinning. Later, I heard from Ethan that Caleb’s goal was Columbia University. I started studying hard, planning to get into a school near Columbia. During that time, I fell in love with memorizing poetry and English essays. Even the hateful math symbols became cute in my eyes. 5 I heard Caleb’s birthday was coming up. I planned to ask the blond punk about what he liked. This was the first time I was giving him a gift; I had to make an impression. However, when I happily went to the pool hall that day, I overheard something unexpected. “The ‘Big Sis’ comes every day lately, think she likes me?” one guy asked. “Dream on, don’t you have a mirror?” “Don’t deliver lies, she keeps peeking at me.” “She’s looking at Cheng’s abs. That’s why Cheng’s been shirtless lately.” “No, I think she’s looking at Caleb.” “Oh sh*t, possible, very possible!” I held my breath, pressing my ear to the door. “Then she’s screwed. Caleb has a girlfriend.” “What? Since when?” “Just the day before yesterday. I saw him pick up a girl at the gate of High School No. 3.” “Eh, could just be a friend.” “I heard the girl tell people Caleb is her boyfriend, and he didn’t deny it.” “Damn, so Big Sis is heartbroken?” “Don’t talk nonsense, I still think she’s looking at Cheng’s abs.” My head buzzed. I held onto the wall in a daze. Caleb has a girlfriend? How did he suddenly get a girlfriend? At that moment, my heart felt like it was being crushed by a hand, hurting so much I couldn’t breathe. Just then, there was movement inside, someone coming out. I held my breath, turned, and fled.

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When I rushed back from abroad, all that was left of my daughter, Anna, was a cold urn. Her husband, Lucas, clutched the urn, his face pale, head bowed in silence. Her son, Mason, had a glint of barely concealed delight in his eyes as he whispered, “Finally, Auntie Chloe can be my mom.” Chloe stood beside them, weeping delicately, looking so fragile that a gust of wind might knock her over. She looked like the world’s most innocent victim. I didn’t understand. Since Anna had the courage to commit suicide, why didn’t she just go crazy and take everyone down with her? Now she was gone, leaving them to enjoy their “happily ever after.” I walked up and snatched the urn from Lucas’s hands. Someone had to be the villain and finish this story properly. 1 Smack! I slapped Chloe hard across the face. She stumbled back, nearly falling to the ground. Mason’s eyes widened. He rushed in front of Chloe, shielding her with his small body. “Grandma, why did you hit Auntie Chloe!” His voice was shrill, protesting for the “perfect future” he envisioned. I sneered, my gaze landing on Chloe’s pristine white dress. That was a custom-made birthday gift Lucas had ordered for Anna just months ago. Back then, Anna had video-called me to show it off. Now it seemed the gift was just a guilt offering for his affair. I tilted my head, signaling the bodyguards behind me. The sound of tearing fabric and Chloe’s screams pierced the air of the cemetery. Mason tried to stop the bodyguards, but his small frame was useless against the hulking men. “Grandma, you’re too much! Mom agreed to give this dress to Auntie Chloe!” Mason’s face turned red as he shouted at me, “You’re just as unreasonable as Mom was!” I glared at him coldly, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close. I ripped the protective amulet from his neck. Mason had been sickly as a child. Anna had walked miles, kowtowing every few steps to a temple, to get this amulet for him. “You don’t deserve this!” My voice was cold as ice. Mason, rubbing the red mark on his neck, tried to act tough. “Who cares! I wouldn’t wear that ugly thing if she hadn’t forced me!” Chloe curled up on the ground, looking at Lucas with pathetic, pleading eyes, begging for protection. Lucas seemed not to see her. He walked forward like a lost soul and knelt before me. “Mom, please. Give Anna back to me.” “You don’t deserve to speak her name.” I glanced at him coldly and turned to leave. “Enough,” Arthur, my husband—Anna’s father—finally spoke. “Fiona, what’s done is done. Let Anna rest in peace.” I let out a cold laugh, anger surging like a tide. “Rest in peace? While you all live happily? How can she rest?” 2 The next day, I brought a renovation crew and movers to Anna and Lucas’s house. Lucas came from a humble background. I had opposed their relationship, not wanting my daughter to suffer. To marry Anna, Lucas worked day and night for five years to afford the down payment on this house. Moved by his dedication, Anna married him despite my objections. When Anna tried to convince me, her eyes sparkled as she described their future. She told me how hard Lucas worked, how great the location was, how it was near the best schools… After the down payment, Lucas had no money for renovations. So, Anna used all her savings—money she’d kept since childhood—to renovate and furnish the place herself. Anna said this was the starting point of their happiness. Every table, chair, and plant in this house was carefully chosen by Anna. Chloe… how dare she live here? I had the bodyguards throw Chloe out. Then I ordered the movers to take everything that belonged to Anna. As for the things that couldn’t be moved, along with anything belonging to Lucas, Chloe, or Mason, I had them destroyed and thrown out. I then ordered the renovation crew to tear down everything—walls, floors, fixtures—and clear out the debris. When Lucas rushed back, all he saw was an empty concrete shell. It was as if Anna had never poured her heart into this place. “I’m giving you and Chloe a fresh start,” I told Lucas with a mocking smile. This man never understood Anna’s sacrifices. Now, I would make him lose her completely, leaving him nothing to hold onto. Lucas stood silent, his eyes wandering the empty room, searching for any trace of Anna. Chloe hid behind him, her voice weak and innocent. “Auntie Fiona, I’m sorry. I didn’t take good care of Anna. You have every right to be angry.” 3 I stared coldly at Chloe’s pitiful act, the fire in my chest burning hotter. “Didn’t take good care of Anna?” I repeated, my voice sharp as a blade. “Do you have the right to say that? If not for you, you ungrateful leech, would she have ended up like this?” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes. She looked as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t. Her helpless act made her look like the victim, painting me as the bully. Anna had lived a smooth life; she was too pure. She never stood a chance against Chloe. I stepped forward, grabbed Chloe by her hair, and dragged her out from behind Lucas. She screamed and struggled, tears streaming down her face. But my bodyguards held her fast. “Auntie Fiona, please! I know I was wrong, please let me go…” I took the scissors a bodyguard handed me. “Wrong?” I scoffed, hacking away at her hair. The snip, snip sound of scissors cutting through hair filled the room. “Your mistake is that you’re still alive,” I said coldly, continuing to cut. I was a grieving mother who had lost her daughter. Did I need to be rational? Chloe’s hair fell to the floor in messy clumps, much like the lies she had woven over the years were finally unraveling. “When Anna first met you, you had just had your hair cut off by bullies like this. She saved you. She pulled you out of despair and protected you until today.” Chloe trembled, tears falling to the floor, her voice choked. “I… I know she saved me…” “And yet?” I interrupted, stopping the scissors and staring at her ruined hair. “What did you do with her kindness? You betrayed her, stole everything from her, and caused the death of her unborn child!” “Lucas…” Chloe cried, gasping for breath, reaching out to him. Lucas kept his head down, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. He seemed deaf and blind to everything. His shoulders shook slightly as if stung. He looked up, eyes full of exhaustion and despair, voice raspy. “Mom… she… she’s pregnant. I had no choice.” Pregnant? I sneered, a sarcastic smile forming on my lips. Great. Now Chloe could experience another hardship Anna went through. 4 The next day, news that Chloe had moved into Anna and Lucas’s marital home spread online. Someone soon dug up the fact that Chloe was pregnant. This confirmed the rumors that Lucas had cheated and, along with his mistress, drove his wife to suicide. Overnight, Lucas went from “young entrepreneur” and “handsome CEO” to the target of endless ridicule and curses. I was the one who leaked the news, but not just to ruin their reputation. I wanted them locked together. Chloe was pregnant. If Lucas abandoned her now, he would be branded as irresponsible on top of everything else. Regardless of his feelings for her now, he couldn’t dump her. He had to swallow this bitter pill. Netizens started photoshopping “ghost marriage” pictures of them. The public waited for a wedding announcement but instead saw a missing person notice for Chloe. Unlike usual missing person cases that get shared with concern, the comments under Chloe’s notice were full of sarcasm, accusing her of pulling a stunt for attention. Surprisingly, the first person to lose his cool and barge into my house was Arthur. Two police officers were with him. “Chloe is missing,” he said, his voice low. I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the police, then coldly asked Arthur, “Are you notifying me or suspecting me?” “Fiona…” Arthur frowned, using his controlling tone. “I know you’ve always disliked her, but we watched her grow up…” “Child?” I laughed, cutting him off. “She destroyed my daughter. What is she to me? Or do you think I did something to her?” The officers shifted uncomfortably under my gaze. One of them spoke up. “Ms. Fiona, you had a conflict with Chloe before she disappeared. We need your cooperation.” “Conflict?” I stood up, stepping closer. “I just lost my daughter. I have things to do. Do you think I care about a clown like her?” The officer glanced at the urn on the table. “There were witnesses at the cemetery.” “The cemetery?” I looked him in the eye. “My daughter is dead. They tried to usurp everything she had. I was just getting justice for her.” “Do you think warning a shameless homewrecker and an ungrateful wolf counts as a murder plot?” The officer hesitated, looking at the urn again. “You are a person of interest. This is routine. Please cooperate.” “Suspect? What suspect? Was she kidnapped? Or arrested?” My tone was unfriendly. I didn’t need to be normal or reasonable right now. “Maybe she’s just hiding somewhere. She always used these stunts to grab attention and affection.” “Fiona,” Arthur interrupted again. My words clearly hit a nerve. He looked annoyed. When Anna went missing, Chloe had told him the exact same thing. So, he gave up looking for Anna. “We aren’t accusing you,” he said tiredly. “We just hope to find Chloe soon to avoid bigger problems.” “You care about her so much,” I looked at him coldly. “Did you ever care about your own daughter like this?” Arthur looked at Anna’s urn, opened his mouth, then sighed wearily. “Anna’s situation was my negligence. But you can’t blame Chloe for that.” I snorted, having nothing left to say to him. With no evidence, the police asked a few routine questions and left quickly.

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Believe it or not. I, a somewhat obscure internet “Pick-Me Girl,” was offered five hundred million dollars by the richest couple in New York City to be their daughter-in-law. Why? Because their son, Liam Stone, the city’s golden boy, refused to be a prince and instead chose to be a simp for a broke “campus beauty.” “We wouldn’t mind if that girl truly loved our son,” Mrs. Stone scoffed. “The worst part is, she keeps rejecting him while exploiting his status to funnel benefits to her own family!” Mr. Stone added, clearly frustrated. “Our son seems to have a thing for manipulative girls. So, we decided to find the ultimate ‘Pick-Me Girl’ to beat her at her own game—fight fire with fire!” Honestly, I felt a little offended at first. But staring at that black card loaded with five hundred million dollars, I decided to accept the arduous task of “saving the billionaire’s simp son.” When I saw the file on the target, I laughed. This “little witch” was none other than my manipulative stepsister, the one I defeated years ago. Chapter 1 The love story between New York’s prince, Liam Stone, and the poor campus beauty, Chloe Shen, was legendary. He had money and power but chose to be a doormat; she was broke but acted high and mighty, rejecting him 999 times! Their romance, straight out of a Wattpad novel, garnered a massive fanbase. There were even fan clubs dedicated to them. Everyone shipped them hard, just waiting for Chloe to finally say yes! Consequently, any girl with “ulterior motives” who tried to get close to Liam was ripped apart by their rabid fans. But on my first day transferring to their elite university, I leaked the news that I was Liam’s fiancée. So, the moment I walked into the classroom, a bucket of ice water drenched me from head to toe. My long hair plastered to my face, my mask soaked. The class erupted in laughter. Chloe Shen walked in from the hallway, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “Are you okay? It’s just that everyone loves me so much, they couldn’t accept you right away. Please don’t blame them.” A girl behind her sneered, “Chloe, you’re too kind. This woman is obviously here to steal Liam, and you’re still worried about her?” Several boys stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “We poured the water. It has nothing to do with Chloe. If you’re going to be a homewrecker, don’t blame us for being rude!” Any normal person would have run away crying after such humiliation. I just sighed inwardly. Years later, and Chloe’s tactics haven’t evolved a bit. Today, big sister is going to teach you what a true “Pick-Me Girl” looks like. My pale fingers trembled as I removed my soaked mask, gently brushing the wet strands of black hair from my cheek, revealing a face that was fair and delicate. The moment they saw my face, I heard gasps around the room. Chloe looked like she’d seen a ghost, her face draining of color. My eyes reddened slightly, and I bit my lip, my voice choking up. “I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship. The engagement was arranged by our parents. I’m nobody; I don’t have the power to refuse.” “Chloe, you can rest assured. I won’t fight you for him, and I couldn’t win even if I tried.” I looked up at the boys staring at me, my voice filled with loneliness. “I just wanted to come to the big city, study, and make friends. But now, everyone hates me. What should I do…” The classroom fell dead silent. The boy who was hostile just moments ago turned as red as a boiled lobster, stammering. “I… I’m sorry. My name is Mark. I’d love to be your friend.” Even the girl behind Chloe softened her expression. “Don’t cry. We didn’t mean it like that.” Chloe hadn’t expected me to diffuse the situation with just a few sentences, turning the tide in my favor. She stared at me, as if possessed, her face twisting as she screamed. “Sarah Shen! It’s you, you bitch! Why are you showing your face here?!” I shrank behind Mark like a frightened rabbit. “What’s wrong with Chloe? Does she not like me?” Mark frowned, shielding me from the hysterical Chloe. “Chloe Shen, this isn’t her fault. You don’t need to take your anger out on her.” This action triggered Chloe further. She rushed at me like a madwoman and slapped me hard across the face. As I fell backward, I saw a figure sprinting toward us. The fish had taken the bait. Chapter 2 As predicted, I fell into a warm, broad embrace. The man looked detached as he steadied me and then let go. “Are you okay?” I lifted my fragile neck, clearly in pain but pretending to be strong. “I’m fine. I just lost my balance.” Sure enough, the moment our eyes met, he paused for a second. But to Chloe, this looked very different. “Liam! Why did you hug her? Is this bitch seducing you again?!” She screamed and charged at me once more. But before she could touch me, Liam grabbed her arm. “Chloe, what is wrong with you today?!” “Sarah is just a fiancée my parents decided on verbally. The only person I love is you.” “But if she gets hurt because of you, my parents will hate you even more. How can I marry you then?!” A flicker of impatience crossed Liam’s eyes, but he still patiently explained everything to Chloe. Mark spoke up for me. “Yeah, Sarah has been nothing but polite. Why did you hit her, Chloe?” Chloe was panting heavily. Realizing the situation was turning against her, she forced a smile uglier than crying. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I mistook you for someone else.” I stole a glance at Liam and lowered my head dejectedly. “It’s okay. I was the one who intruded.” Liam glanced at me subtly, seeming a bit uncomfortable. He took a box out of his pocket and handed it to me, speaking briefly. “A welcome gift. My mom asked me to give it to you.” Then, he opened a fancy shopping bag he was holding and took out a palm-sized velvet box, handing it to Chloe. “I bought this with my allowance. Whatever others have, you have too.” Chloe’s tense expression finally relaxed. Seeing the ruby jewelry set inside, she beamed with joy. “Thank you, Liam! I love you so much!” I opened my box. Inside was just a simple, semi-luxury hair clip. The difference in importance was clear. Chloe glanced at me, barely hiding her smugness. “Wow, your hair clip is pretty too. Put it on.” Under everyone’s gaze, a few crystal-clear tears rolled down my cheeks. Mark looked at me nervously, and even Liam’s smile faded significantly. “Thank you, but I can’t accept it.” Liam was confused. “Why?” I looked up, my eyes filled with inferiority and loneliness that pierced him. “Chloe is the future mistress of the Stone family. Of course she deserves the best—clothes, jewelry, bags. She deserves it all. I’m just a kid from the countryside. Being able to go to the same university as you guys is already a blessing. How could I dare ask for more?” I wiped the tears from my cheeks vigorously and handed the box to the girl behind Chloe, smiling bravely and sincerely. “Pretty sister, I think this suits you better than me. As a good friend, Chloe has so much jewelry but didn’t give you any. So, I’ll give you my hair clip.” Knowing Chloe, she was never generous. Sure enough, surprise flashed across the girl’s face. “Thank you! No one has ever given me such a precious gift!” “I’m Jenny. Sarah, we’re best friends from now on. Come to me if you need anything!” Because of my self-deprecation, no one doubted the sincerity of my gift. A hint of appreciation flashed in Liam’s eyes. Chloe looked awkward, holding her jewelry box in mid-air, unsure whether to offer something or not. With this one move, I earned sympathy and provided emotional value to others. Chloe, on the other hand, left an impression of being stingy and petty. As we were leaving, Liam stopped me and stuffed a card into my hand. “The Stone family owes you. Don’t sell yourself short. Use this money to buy something you like.” My ears turned slightly red, and I nodded shyly. Chloe glared at me with venom in her eyes but said nothing. It wasn’t until I walked out of the school gate that I realized why Chloe had held back. Walking briskly toward me were my biological parents. Chapter 3 “You ungrateful wretch! Why aren’t you in the mental hospital? Did you escape to ruin your sister’s life again?!” I was slapped hard across the face. The woman with the mean face raised her hand to hit me again, but Liam frowned and blocked her. “What’s going on? Do you know each other?” I covered my face, looking fragile and helpless. “Uncle, Auntie, do we know each other?” Chloe was grinding her teeth in hatred. “Liam, you don’t know. Sarah is my mentally ill sister! Five years ago, she turned our home upside down, so Mom and Dad kicked her out. She holds a grudge. Now she’s changed her identity to get close to us, definitely trying to destroy my life and steal you!” “But I knew you wouldn’t believe me if I just pointed it out, so I called Mom and Dad to catch her in the act.” A look of confident triumph flashed in Chloe’s eyes as she looked at me with mock pity. “Sister, has your condition worsened? Looks like we need to send you to a mandatory care facility this time.” My father, Mr. Shen, also looked at Liam fawningly. “Yes, son-in-law, this wretched daughter of mine is crazy. She might hurt Chloe. Please don’t let her off easily.” Saying that, the two of them tried to drag me into a car parked on the roadside. I didn’t show the terrified expression they expected. Instead, I widened my eyes, revealing a hint of envy. “If only I really had parents…” Then I shook my head, tears swirling in my eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall. “Chloe, I know you hate me. But you are a princess in the sky, loved by parents, protected by Liam. You deserve the best.” “And me? I’m just a countryside girl whose parents died. Coming here to study is already a gift. How could I dream of fighting you for the position of Mrs. Stone?” “Why do you have to make up such lies to slander me?” Liam actively spoke up for me. “Sarah is the orphan of my father’s comrade. She grew up in the countryside. You’ve mistaken her for someone else.” He probably didn’t even realize his attitude toward me had shifted from indifference to protection. Mrs. Shen stomped her foot in anger. “You slut! Still denying it! You lived in the Shen house for over ten years; I can find proof!” But the more she searched her phone, the paler her face became. “Impossible… how is this possible…” Chloe also leaned in anxiously, but no matter how they searched, they couldn’t find a single photo of me. Joke’s on them. I dared to show my face because I was fully prepared. The Shen family hated me, so they naturally wouldn’t keep photos of me. And with the Stone family’s help, any remaining evidence was wiped clean. “Enough! How long are you going to make a scene?!” Liam looked impatient. He already disliked Mr. and Mrs. Shen, and now even Chloe looked unpleasant to him. “Liam, don’t you believe me? Sarah really is my crazy sister.” Chloe panicked. Liam rubbed his temples in frustration. “I thought you were different from your parents. But what are you doing? Dragging your whole family to frame an innocent girl, rubbing salt in her wounds. I’m so disappointed in you.” Chloe was about to speak, but I gently took her hand, full of understanding. “Chloe, I grew up without parents, so I know how painful it is. You mistook me for your sister because you haven’t visited her in a long time and miss her. Go visit her more often when you have time; she must miss you too.” With one sentence, I solidified my kind persona. And pointed out how the Shen family mistreated their other daughter. I could feel Liam’s gaze shift from pity to heartache. And heartache is often the beginning of falling in love. Chapter 4 Someone filmed me being slapped and posted it on the campus forum. Many people started defending me. “Sarah is the fiancée engaged by the Stone family. Technically, Chloe is the homewrecker, right?” “I’ve disliked Chloe’s arrogant attitude for a long time. Her dad is just new money who got lucky because Liam liked her. What’s she so proud of?” Of course, there were people calling me a “white lotus” and a “Pick-Me Girl.” But by the next day, all negative comments about me would vanish. I knew this was Liam’s doing. These days, his attitude toward Chloe had cooled significantly. He stopped driving her to and from school and stopped sending gifts every other day. Living in the Stone mansion, I saw Liam constantly. He would occasionally buy me small gifts, and I would post them on social media with grateful captions. Life was calm, but the seeds of affection were slowly sprouting. However, someone couldn’t sit still. Her former sycophants were now my friends, and even Liam was ignoring her, sometimes laughing and chatting with me instead. Chloe was going crazy. A week later, she stopped me on my way home from school. “Sarah, I’m really sorry about the other day. Are you free today? I want to treat you to dinner to apologize.” I didn’t miss the dark glint in Chloe’s eyes, but I nodded and agreed. You couldn’t beat me five years ago. Now? You’re dreaming. Chloe chose a very private restaurant. It was just the two of us in the VIP room. As soon as we sat down, a strange smile curled her lips. She picked up her phone and dialed, her voice filled with tears and panic. “Liam, come save me! Help!” I sensed something was wrong. As I stood up, a group of thugs burst through the door, blocking me in. Chloe messed up her collar and looked at me triumphantly. “When Liam gets here and sees me being bullied while you stand there unharmed, who do you think he’ll blame?” The thugs laughed lecherously at Chloe’s signal. “Sarah hired us. She wanted to ruin Miss Shen’s purity.” I was pinned to the chair, unable to move. Chloe waited leisurely for the show to begin. Soon, chaotic footsteps echoed in the hallway. I knew that if Liam saw this scene, a wedge would be driven between us forever. Even if I proved my innocence, the doubt would remain. And Chloe could use Liam’s guilt to regain her position. “Chloe, I’m here to save you!” The moment the door burst open, the thugs released me and rushed toward Chloe to play their part. At that exact moment, I bit down hard on a thug’s hand, my voice stubborn and desperate. “Don’t touch my friend, you scum!” The thug yelled in pain and flung me away. “Bitch, get lost!” I used the momentum to fall backward. My forehead slammed into the sharp corner of the table with a sickening thud. Shattered glass exploded at my feet, cutting my skin and drawing blood. Compared to Chloe, who was just screaming, my injuries made everyone gasp. Meeting Liam’s gaze, I smiled with satisfaction and humility, not hiding the love in my eyes. “Don’t be afraid. I protected the girl you love.” Before my consciousness faded, I saw Liam’s expression—shocked and bewildered. When he rushed toward me without even glancing at Chloe, I closed my eyes in relief. Chloe Shen, you lost again. And this time, you lost everything.

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