Author: Momo Chan

My girlfriend became an A-list actress. The very first night she hit the big time, she stabbed me seventeen times. I bled out and died. But after killing me, she took her own life. In her hand, as she died, was a voice recorder. Engraved on it: “To Liam.” Inside, it was filled with a raw, agonizing mix of adoration and longing. Liam was her idealized crush, the one she’d yearned for three years. He’d died in a car accident before she ever got the chance to confess her feelings. On the recording, she sobbed, her voice tearing through her, “It’s all because of you! You made me lose my love!” When I opened my eyes again, I watched her run toward the surging traffic. I didn’t stop her. Instead, I poured every ounce of my being into saving *her* love. Seeing her hold him close, like she’d found the most precious treasure, I let out a bitter, mocking smile. This time, Chloe, I set you free. Just don’t come crawling back. “Alex, thank you for supporting me all these years. I’m truly grateful.” The woman before me smiled, radiant as a blooming flower. But my legs gave out beneath me, and I could only cling to the tablecloth as I crashed heavily to the floor. Plates and bowls clattered and shattered around me. I watched, my stunned gaze fixed on the beautiful woman as she slowly, deliberately pulled a sharp knife from within her clothes. A chilling glint of satisfaction danced in her eyes as she approached. In my dazed state, she plunged the blade deep into my flesh. A scream tore at my throat, but no sound escaped. The pain was excruciating. I wanted to demand, *Why?* Her heavily made-up face twisted into a grotesque mask. “It’s all your fault Liam died! Why wasn’t it *you* who died instead?!” “This is what you owe Liam! You deserve to die! Because of you, I never even got the chance to confess to him!” It hurt. So much. But I couldn’t open my mouth. I could only helplessly widen my eyes, watching her plunge the knife into me again and again. I guess I died. Killed by a woman, by the girlfriend I’d pampered for seven years. What a pathetic way to go. After I died, my soul floated above, watching Chloe frantically stab my corpse. My body was riddled with holes, blood pouring out relentlessly, making the scene a horrific, foul-smelling mess. She seemed to finally believe I was dead. Her hands trembling, she pulled out an old high school uniform and crammed herself into it. The clothes were ridiculously ill-fitting, and with her heavy makeup, she looked like a grotesque clown. My eyes widened in disbelief. The next second, the sharp blade pierced her own heart. A faint smile on her face, Chloe slowly collapsed to the ground, whispering faintly, “Liam, I finally got revenge for you. Just wait for me down there, I’ll be right there with you!” I watched her bleed out. I watched her take her last breath. *Liam*, I thought. *Who the hell is Liam?* I floated there for two hours, waiting for the housekeeper to arrive and call the police, waiting for the fully armed officers to sweep into the scene. Finally, deep from the recesses of my memory, I dredged up some long-forgotten past. Liam was Chloe’s high school sweetheart. He’d died seven years ago. And Chloe had only agreed to date me the month after Liam died. At the time, I thought she’d lost her love and desperately needed a relationship to heal herself. I poured everything into pleasing her, treating her like a fragile porcelain doll, coddling and spoiling her. Throughout our entire relationship, she never had to lift a finger at home. I thought, after all my effort, after seven whole years by her side, even a block of ice would have melted. But it hadn’t. Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the silence, sobbing, her voice tearing through her. I snapped back to attention. A police officer had pulled a voice recorder from Chloe’s grasp, his finger still on the play button. “Alex Cooper, you forced me to stay by your side, making me waste seven whole years of my youth!” “Yes, I killed you. I want you to feel how painful death is, so you can know how much pain I suffered! This is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, I would have never lost Liam!” The recording ended with her saying, “Alex Cooper, I hate you! I want you to go to hell and atone to Liam!” I, along with the police, listened to that recording five times. The scene was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. I was utterly speechless. Suddenly, my death felt so meaningless. What on earth did I ever love about that lunatic?

But her craziness didn’t stop there. The day after Chloe took her own life, the audio from the voice recorder was posted on her Ins account. It was a scheduled post. Seems like she’d set it up before she died. The recording, combined with a lengthy, emotionally manipulative caption, was enough to utterly ruin my reputation. That day, her fanatical followers flooded my DMs with messages too vile to even glance at. Even though I was already dead, even though I couldn’t reply or defend myself, they remained obsessed, and negative headlines spread like wildfire. Chloe truly lived up to her “A-list actress” title; she’d even orchestrated our deaths for her own narrative. Her fans didn’t see her as a murderer. Instead, they believed she’d endured and schemed for years, all to make me pay for what I’d done out of love. I, the victim, was painted as the ultimate villain, the one who tore a perfect couple apart, the one who caused such a talented actress, in the prime of her life, to die. My entire life story was dug up and aired for public consumption online. My tombstone became a twisted landmark for her crazed fans, who found sick joy in defacing it. If the staff hadn’t stopped them, they probably would have dug up my ashes and scattered them to the winds. The Cooper Group’s stock crashed. Even worse, the rival company mysteriously got their hands on the Cooper Group’s confidential core data. In just a few days, my family’s company was facing bankruptcy. My name, my career, my life—Chloe had utterly destroyed everything. Even my very existence was taken by her hand. Never had I realized so clearly that the woman who’d slept by my side for so many nights had only ever wanted me dead. That’s when it finally hit me why Chloe hated me. Seven years ago, I’d blocked Chloe from rushing into oncoming traffic. Because of that, Liam was hit and killed by an out-of-control car. It turned out, from that moment on, Chloe had blamed everything on me. She said I made her miss the chance to confess to Liam, the idealized crush she’d worshipped from afar for three years. It made no sense. Even if I hadn’t confessed to her that day, she wouldn’t have confessed to Liam anyway. I was just unlucky. Unlucky not only to confess to Chloe the day Liam died, but to fall in love with that lunatic. I thought, *This time, I truly regret it.* The next moment, a piercing shriek dragged me back to reality. A figure slammed into me, pushing me hard, then sprinted toward the surging traffic. “Alex Cooper, get out of my way! If anything happens to Liam, I’ll make you pay for it with your life!” I watched her hold Liam close, like she’d found the most precious treasure. I let out a bitter, mocking smile and tossed the bouquet in my hand into a nearby trash can. *Pay for it with my life?* *Does Liam even deserve that?* By the time I died, I’d already figured it out. There are so many women in the world. Why was I so hung up on *this one*? She was a beautiful but poisonous poppy, demanding my very life. What was the point?

My current situation was crystal clear. A bouquet, a confession, and a car accident. Chloe looked at me with pure disgust in her eyes. She appeared so innocent and young. This couldn’t be the Chloe I’d spent seven years with, the one who’d been steeped in the entertainment industry and learned to mask every emotion. This Chloe couldn’t hide a thing. Only one possibility remained. I had been reborn. And the woman in front of me was Chloe, seven years ago. I immediately turned to walk away, desperate to put eight hundred miles between myself and that lunatic. But she suddenly called out to me. “Alex Cooper, what are you doing?! Can’t you see Liam’s hurt? Aren’t you going to help?!” I glanced over. He was indeed badly hurt. Though Liam hadn’t been dragged under the car like in my previous life, he hadn’t managed to fully escape either. His legs limply collapsed, like raw spaghetti, blood soaking through his pants. Oh. He’d probably be a cripple. A perverse satisfaction swelled in my chest. *Help? Get my hands dirty? No way.* Out of a sense of humanitarian duty, I dialed 911. “The ambulance will be here any minute. Before I go, there’s something I want to tell you.” The girl looked at me, her expression growing even more haughty. She seemed afraid I’d grab her, unconsciously hugging Liam even tighter. “If it’s a confession, don’t bother. I—” I chuckled, cutting her off. “Not a confession. Just a blessing.” The ambulance sirens wailed in the distance. I met the girl’s stunned gaze and offered a smile. “Chloe Jenkins, I wish you and Liam Anderson all the happiness in the world.” *Hopefully, you’ll stay together forever.* Chloe’s face darkened. Without waiting for her to speak, I turned and left. I needed to go home and figure out exactly what point in time I was in, and what I could do about it. Now, I was sitting back in a classroom. It felt like another lifetime. The droning lecture on trigonometry was a lullaby to most of my classmates, who were slumped asleep, but my eyes were wide awake and bright. “Alex Cooper is doing great today, full of energy! Everyone should learn from him!” The teacher praised me, a rare occurrence. But there were no approving murmurs. Instead, I could hear two guys next to me, deliberately loud, sneering. “Learn what? How to simp for a goddess? Or how to keep last place in the class?” “Everyone knows what he’s like. He just has a bit of dirty money, that’s all. Why’s he acting so smug? Probably just waiting for Chloe to come back so he can fawn all over her again!” I said nothing, just smiled. They weren’t wrong. I did have a bit of dirty money, and I’d consistently held the last place in class for years. Those weren’t my weaknesses. The stupidest thing I’d ever done in this class was fall for Chloe. Now, she was tied up with the hospital, unable to return. I glanced down at my phone. The media swarmed her like blood-sucking locusts. She would undoubtedly be tied up for a while. I was enjoying my newfound freedom. Unfortunately, I soon realized that those good days were coming to an end. Just as class was in session, someone knocked on the classroom door. I looked up and met the gaze of the person standing at the front. Her eyes still held that familiar haughty stare. *Ugh.* Chloe had managed to get away so quickly and was back in class. Just my luck. I thought she’d at least be a little wary of me. But then, Chloe pointed across the room from the front of the class. “I want to sit next to Alex Cooper.” My smile faltered. I froze in my tracks. Chloe sat down next to me, but I still couldn’t understand her motive. “Surprised to see me?” She slid a note across to me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297198”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

My wife, Tori, locked our son in her car in scorching heat while she was busy helping her male assistant pick out a new car. Leo ended up suffering a severe heatstroke. I rushed with my security detail to rescue our son and got him to the hospital, where he was immediately admitted to the emergency room. Barely holding back my rage, I called Tori. “You left our son locked in your car for two hours just for an assistant? He’s in the ER right now, fighting heatstroke!” To my disbelief, Tori actually laughed. “Oh, my bad. I just didn’t realize a kid would get heatstroke after two hours in a car.” Moments later, that male assistant, Lucas Miller, sent a provocative photo dump, flaunting his new car. His caption was pure smugness: *“My powerful boss’s generous favors… even if it means neglecting her own kid, I still get the best.”* My blood ran cold. I immediately sent my men to grab that bastard. We dragged him straight to the biggest, hottest room in the company’s old boiler house. He was about to get a taste of exactly what my son went through.

My bodyguards and I kicked open the door to Tori Hayes’ office. Lucas Miller was on his knees by her feet, his clothes a mess. The scene reeked of something intimate, but I ignored it. I roared, “Tie him up!” My bodyguards immediately gagged Lucas and dragged him out. Behind me, Tori’s piercing shriek followed, “Alex Thorne! Where are you taking Lucas?!” In the center of the old boiler room, the massive heating unit was already roaring, churning out waves of scorching heat. The temperature was horrifying. I pointed at the monstrous heater. “Throw him in!” My bodyguards ignored Lucas’s desperate struggles, shoved him into the chamber, and quickly retreated. Even they couldn’t stand the blistering heat and steam. I watched coldly as the chamber shook violently, Lucas trapped inside, his struggles futile. Tori rushed in on her heels, screaming into her phone. “Alex Thorne! Let Lucas go, or I’m calling the police!” “All the evidence is here! Don’t you dare forget this is a society of laws!” I grabbed her chin and slapped her hard. “Our son is still in critical care because of him! Now, it’s his turn to feel his body temperature spike, to slowly get cooked alive by the despair!” Tori froze, then lunged at me like a madwoman. “So what if our son got a little heatstroke? A bit of heat is good for building immunity!” “And didn’t you say boys should be raised tough?!” I stared into her shifting eyes. “I’m going to be with our son now. Lucas *will* stay in that room for two hours! If you dare release him, I’ll pull all my investments and bankrupt Hayes Industries immediately!” I shoved her away and drove to the hospital. My car had barely stopped when my assistant called. The moment I left, Tori had ordered the heat to be turned off. Lucas, red all over from the heat, was sent to the hospital. And she even put it on the company’s tab. I scoffed and texted Arthur, my executive assistant, to withdraw all my funds from Hayes Industries. Less than half an hour later, Tori was calling me like a madwoman.

The moment I answered, Tori’s accusations came flying at me like a barrage. “Alex Thorne! What the hell is wrong with you? Unfreeze my accounts right now! Don’t you know Lucas is waiting for surgery?!” I sneered, “Lucas? You call him so intimately. Did you forget you have a husband and a child?” “Our son ended up in the emergency room because of him, so he won’t get off easy either!” “As for you, for now, it’s just a withdrawal of funds. But I’m certainly not opposed to bankrupting Hayes Industries entirely!” Tori’s aggression instantly vanished. She stammered, asking to visit. Soon after, Tori appeared in front of the emergency room. Her eyes welled up with tears. “Honey, I really had no idea two hours in the car would send our son to the ER.” “He’s my flesh and blood; how could I not feel heartbroken?” She took my hand. “After all these years of marriage, don’t you trust me?” For Leo’s sake, I decided to give her one more chance. Seeing my expression soften, Tori quickly spoke. “Lucas is seriously injured. You froze Hayes Industries’ accounts. Without funds, you’re practically forcing him to die.” “Just give me the money first, so I can pay for his surgery.” I laughed in disbelief. “So you came here just for him! You want me to save him? Dream on?!” Tori’s face shifted drastically. She forced a smile and pouted, “We’re family, and you have so much money. What’s wrong with helping him out a little?” I stated firmly, “I won’t!” Her face completely darkened. She yanked her hand away and pointed a finger at me. “How can you be so cruel? You have so much money; what’s wrong with taking out a little?! “You’re going to let someone die right in front of your son’s surgery room. Aren’t you afraid your son will face retribution and die on the operating table?” She stormed off in a huff. Soon, Arthur reported that Tori had mortgaged some fixed assets under Hayes Industries. At my direction, she only managed to get out a couple hundred thousand dollars in cash. She hesitated for only a moment before transferring the entire sum to Lucas’s account. My heart turned to ice. “Prepare the divorce papers. Send all of Lucas’s dirt to Tori’s email. If she doesn’t act by noon tomorrow, she’ll leave with nothing!” Arthur nodded. The next afternoon, news of Lucas’s plagiarism and fake graduation experiments became a top trending topic. His university immediately announced the revocation of his diploma and degree. Lucas Miller, once an academic elite, instantly became public enemy number one. A photo of Lucas, hunched over and spitting blood in the hospital parking lot, landed in my inbox. My eyes were cold. Filth! After my son recovered, I arranged for him to go on vacation with a professional psychological support team to his grandparents overseas. My parents were furious when they learned what their precious grandson had endured; they almost had heart attacks. Years ago, Hayes Industries was on the brink of bankruptcy, and Tori’s father committed suicide. Tori and her mother were like headless chickens, trying to manage everything. I, out of old school ties, lent her a hand. She clung to me like a drowning person to a last straw, crying and begging to marry me. My parents disagreed, but I overruled their objections, using every means possible to marry her. I used my family’s resources to revive Hayes Industries, even helping them achieve their dream of going public. But now, for her lover, she abandoned her ailing mother, harmed her own son, and forgot the Thorne family’s kindness. I couldn’t show a shred of weakness to such an ungrateful woman!

My company assistant called me: “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes found out Arthur was behind exposing Lucas’s academic fraud. She’s gone mad, she’s got a knife and is threatening to dismember Arthur!” “Arthur can’t lay a hand on Mrs. Hayes, he can only run!” My face instantly darkened. Arthur had been with me every step of the way, shielding me from countless open and hidden attacks. How dare she touch him? “Withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries immediately. I want to see news of Hayes Industries’ bankruptcy within five minutes!” By the time I floored the gas pedal and arrived. The office building was in chaos. Tori, like a madwoman, held a fruit knife, glaring at me and screaming. “Alex Thorne, Lucas is still locked in that hot room, covered in burns! Why won’t you let him go?!” “I married you, I didn’t sell myself to you!” “If you won’t let me have peace, I’ll make you taste what it’s like to lose your most trusted confidant!” With that, she aimed the knife at Arthur’s wrist and lunged. I grabbed her hair, pulled her back, and kicked the knife out of her hand. I said coldly, “Are you done making a scene?” The door suddenly opened, and Lucas, looking weak, stumbled in. He tenderly rubbed Tori’s wrist. “Ms. Hayes, it’s not worth it for me!” He turned to me and immediately knelt. “Mr. Thorne, Tori and I have a purely professional relationship. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was the shameless one who seduced her.” “As long as you forgive Tori, I’ll leave immediately and never appear before you or her again.” He spoke with such apparent sincerity. I nodded. “You *are* shameless!” But Tori instantly went berserk, pointing at me and cursing, “Alex Thorne! Enough is enough! You’ve already made Lucas spit blood, and now you want to ruin his education and career?!” “Catching cheaters requires proof! Where’s your evidence? How dare you bully a newcomer to the workplace?!” “Your dog bites its mistress, and you still protect it! Lucas is *my* man! Touch him again, and I’ll make your life hell!” I sneered and slapped her again. “You’re so busy scolding him, you forgot about yourself. He’s shameless, are you trying to be too?” Tori choked. The next second, her phone rang like a death knell. “It’s bad, Ms. Hayes! Several clients suddenly backed out and canceled their collaborations.” Then a photo appeared on her phone: Hayes Industries’ stock, which had been soaring that morning, suddenly plummeted in the afternoon, hitting rock bottom. The green screen reflected on Tori’s distorted face. Tori thought she had Hayes Industries completely under control these past few years, but she didn’t know that I had been secretly protecting it all along. “I advise you to think things through carefully.” I left her with that warning and walked out with Arthur.

After I pulled my shares, I also withdrew the technical support and sales teams. Seeing this, other shareholders quickly followed suit, pulling their investments. Hayes Industries’ stock instantly crashed. The shadow of bankruptcy loomed, and the Hayes Industries office building became eerily silent. Tori stood where her father had jumped years ago, her expression one of utter despair. I was waiting for the show to begin when I suddenly received a call from Leo’s caregiver. “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes forced her way into the hospital and took the young master!” Enraged, I dialed Tori’s number. “Where’s my son?!” Tori’s laughter was maniacal. “He’s on the Ferris wheel.” “As long as you stabilize the stock price and reinvest, he’ll come home safe. Otherwise…” Her voice was laced with poison. “If the Ferris wheel has an accident and the child falls to his death, it’s only right that I, a heartbroken mother, sue for compensation!” I roared, “You’re crazy! If anything happens to Leo, I’ll make you and your mother wish you were dead!” Tori shrieked, “Threats are useless! Alex Thorne! I married you and had a child only to save Hayes Industries! Now you want to destroy it over a small matter, so I’ll destroy what you care about most!” With that, Tori hung up. My mind went blank for a moment. I sped towards the amusement park like a madman. Finally, when I reached the base of the Ferris wheel, my blood ran cold. The Ferris wheel’s window had been pried open, and Tori was holding our son, suspended high in the air with one hand. Half of Leo’s body dangled outside, his face pale. Tori called me. “I know you’re watching. Transfer two billion to Hayes Industries’ account immediately, then bring the tech team back, or I’ll push him out!” “Fine! I’ll transfer it now!” My hands trembled as I made the transfer, my eyes fixed on the dizzying height. The moment the money hit her account, Tori’s lips curled into a smirk, and then she abruptly let go. Leo still had a smile on his face as he plummeted towards the ground. My eyes widened in terror. I instinctively lunged forward. “No—!” My son was left dangling in mid-air, swaying back and forth, a thin rope suspending my last breath. The next second, she placed a knife against the rope. “If you kneel and beg me, I’ll pull our son back up. Otherwise…” Leo was turning blue from the rope constricting him, crying out “Daddy” repeatedly. I knelt on the ground without hesitation. Tori held up her phone, laughing maniacally. “Thanks to Lucas’s idea, I get to see the high and mighty Mr. Thorne looking as pathetic as a dog!” “Weren’t you so tough with me yesterday? How come you’re on your knees now?” Tori laughed as she pulled the rope up. The moment she descended from the Ferris wheel, the people I had arranged for rushed out of the shadows and immediately pinned her to the ground. I tenderly held my son in my arms, my gaze sharp as I looked at the wildly struggling Tori. I had originally shown her mercy, not wanting to destroy everything she had, considering she bore me a child. But she actually dangled our son from a Ferris wheel for an assistant. In that case, she shouldn’t blame me for destroying everything she holds dear! I had arranged everything the moment I received that call. Coming alone was merely to buy Arthur more time.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297197”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I was born with a fiery passion, sometimes needing to release it three times a day. But our marriage was a business arrangement. So even when it came to *satisfying* me, Dax would only symbolically use toys. His movements were precise, devoid of warmth, never a personal touch. Every time we finished, he’d politely ask, “Are you done?” As if it were a chore completely unrelated to him. But after my unexpected death, I saw this man I’d always shunned like the plague go utterly insane for me. He was like a silent, lone wolf, personally eliminating everyone who had harmed me, both openly and secretly. He kissed my stiff forehead, his voice humbled to dust: “Elara, if there’s a next life, please love me properly, just once, okay?” He held my cold body, then detonated explosives, taking down my enemies with him. The moment his soul scattered, I finally saw all the hidden depth of his love, beneath that icy facade. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn to the first year of our marriage. Overwhelmed with joy, tears blurred my vision. This time, I swore to love him properly. But he was a changed man. He was obsessed with Seraphina, the pole dancer from the club, going completely wild for her. He even wanted to harvest my heart and liver, to concoct medicine for her. I yelled, my voice raw, “You loved me so much in the last life! Why suddenly not anymore?” In my past life, he clearly loved me to his core, loving me enough to be utterly destroyed just for a chance at my love in the next. How could this be? He turned back, his voice chillingly cold: “It was just an arranged marriage. When did I ever love you?” Utterly disheartened, I called my parents. “I want to divorce this heartless man.”

The printer spit out the final page of the divorce agreement. I stared at it for a long time, a few tears escaping. I never imagined the love in this life would dissipate so quickly. I put the papers away, opened my phone, and saw an Ins video notification. It was Seraphina, the dancer, and it already had thousands of likes. In the video, Dax embraced her from behind, his chin resting intimately on her shoulder as he pointed at a limited edition Iron Man model, explaining something in a low voice. The video title read: “My Alpha CEO’s Secret Toy Collection, Worth $10 Million, And Only I’m Allowed In!” My breath hitched. I remembered that global limited edition model; he and I had pulled three all-nighters to assemble it. The moment we finished, we were as happy as kids with candy. He took my hand and gently placed it on the Iron Man’s metal palm. “Elara, this room, and everything in it, is our private fortress. The key is only for you.” A heavy knot formed in my chest at the thought. In my past life, he had broken countless rules for me. He’d canceled multi-billion dollar international meetings just to watch a midnight animated film with me. He hated animal fur and noise, yet he silently allowed me to keep that shedding, yappy Corgi. He never believed in ghosts or gods, but when I was sick, he knelt outside a sacred shrine for a day and a night, praying for my recovery. I gripped the divorce papers tightly and walked straight to that collection room. I didn’t need permission; I had supreme access. He’d promised me that himself. The door wasn’t locked. The moment I pushed it open, languid music washed over me. I froze. In the center of the room, a long pole had been erected at some point. And Dax, sitting on the very couch we had chosen together, was watching that dancer sway on the pole. With a shriek, Seraphina slipped hard from the pole, falling onto the carpet. Her short skirt flew up, revealing she wore absolutely nothing underneath. A glaring red mark had appeared on the inner side of her pale thigh. Dax, without a second thought, knelt down, sucking on the wound. His movements were incredibly gentle. I let out a bitter laugh. When he satisfied me, he’d only use those cold toys, like a cold, unfeeling surgeon. But for her, he could kneel so devotedly, kissing her with his own lips.

I pushed the door open completely and walked in. At the sound, he glared at me, annoyed. “Why didn’t you knock?” I didn’t understand his question. I flung the divorce papers at his feet. “Sign it.” He was perhaps eager to return to their interrupted spectacle. He snatched the pen without even looking at the document. He scribbled his name carelessly. His hormones were clearly dictating his actions. I picked up the agreement and turned to leave, without a single shred of regret. Half an hour later, I had just stepped out of the villa’s front door. A Rolls-Royce pulled up directly in front of me, blocking my path. The window rolled down. Seraphina, the dancer, sat in the back, greeting me. “Elara, where are you going? Dax is taking me to the ‘Black Orchid’ private auction tonight to bid on a dance outfit. Want to come along?” “No.” My voice was cold. Seraphina’s eyes instantly welled up: “Elara, do you hate me?!” “Elara,” Dax’s voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. “Seraphina is kindly inviting you. Don’t be ungrateful.” In the end, I was shoved into the back seat of that car. The auction house was set up in a private estate. Dax was incredibly generous, bidding on a performance outfit worn by the famous star Lady Gaga for Seraphina, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. The auctioneer cleared his throat, his voice carrying a hint of mystery: “The next item up for bid is somewhat special. It’s an original, never-before-seen copy of a video. The protagonist is a rising star in the dance world. Starting bid, five million.” A highly intimate video of Seraphina and her ex-boyfriend flashed across the large screen. The entire room erupted in uproar! The high-definition footage, amplified gasps, made every explicit detail excruciatingly clear. “What a figure, truly explosive…” “Those twin peaks, I’d love to play with them. Must feel great.” Lewd laughter from men, mixed with women’s gasps and disdain, instantly exploded into chaos. Seraphina’s face went ashen. She pointed at the screen, trembling uncontrollably: “It’s not me! That’s not me!” Suddenly, she spun towards me, tears streaming down her face: “Elara! Can you really not tolerate me?! Did you have to use such a low-down trick to ruin me?!” With that, she sobbed, covered her face, and ran out. Dax’s eyes darkened. He stood up, his voice low, yet it made the entire room dead silent. “This video, and all its backups, sent to my office within an hour. One second late,” He scanned the room, “I promise you, no one in this room will see the sun tomorrow.” Then, he turned and stared at me: “Elara, you’d better pray this has nothing to do with you.”

My mind was a blank, a chill seeping into my bones as I returned to the villa. I stared at the ceiling. How did it come to this? I sat there numbly all night until, at dawn, the front door was kicked open with a bang! Dax stormed in, radiating cold fury, his eyes bloodshot. “Do you know Seraphina tried to cut her wrists?!” His voice was a raw roar. “If she hadn’t been found in time, she would be dead!” “How could this happen? I didn’t do this!” I couldn’t hold back any longer and stood up from the couch. He sneered, pressing closer: “Not you? She’d just try to kill herself for no reason?” “You must have forced her! Don’t push your luck!” I knew I was innocent, and further explanations were useless if he was determined to believe otherwise. “I’m tired, Dax.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to explain anymore.” He seized my wrist, his grip making me wince in pain. “You’re tired?” “Elara, you ruined her, and now you say you’re tired?!” My heart twisted violently, a sharp, suffocating pain gripping my chest, stealing my breath. I clutched my chest tightly. My vision began to spin. In my previous life, he knew I had a congenital heart condition and couldn’t handle stress. My vision went black, and I collapsed straight down. In a haze, I felt myself fall into an embrace. He caught my falling body, his face etched with terror. I heard him scoop me up, racing out like a madman. “Elara! Hold on! I’m taking you to the hospital!”

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. Dax’s grim face was hovering close by, looking down at me. “Elara, you certainly know how to pick your moments to get sick,” he slowly began. “Seeing Seraphina try to cut her wrists, you decided to use your illness to stage a bigger drama, hoping to guilt-trip me?” He let out a cold laugh, leaning closer. “Cut the act. Our marriage is just a contract. I don’t have time for your melodramatic performances, and I certainly won’t pity you.” My heart felt utterly cold. Sure enough, the look of panic I’d seen on him before I passed out was just a hallucination brought on by my sudden cardiac arrest. The day I was discharged, I pushed open the door to a scene I wish I hadn’t witnessed. Seraphina was wearing my silk robe, curled up in Dax’s arms on our matrimonial bed. When he saw me return, he pulled Seraphina even tighter into his embrace and said to me: “Seraphina just got out of the hospital. The doctor said she has severe depressive tendencies and needs 24-hour care.” “All of this is your fault. At my home, at least I can ensure she won’t do anything foolish again.” He seemed afraid that I might act on impulse and hurt her further. But I had no strength left to argue: “Whatever.” Anyway, the divorce agreement was signed. Soon, this wouldn’t be my home anymore. Just as I was about to speak, Seraphina tugged at his sleeve, her voice weak: “Dax, it’s time for my medicine.” She lowered her gaze, but her eyes, at the very edge, darted a defiant look at me, “The doctor said to take it with 104-degree Fahrenheit warm water; it’s good for recovery… Elara, could you get me a cup?” Dax turned to me and snarled, “Didn’t you hear her? Go pour it.” I walked towards the bar counter in the living room, which was covered in Dax’s various business trophies. “Is the water not ready yet?” Seraphina’s voice came from behind me. I ignored her. Suddenly, she ran over and violently smashed one of the crystal trophies onto the floor! After a sharp, shattering sound, she lunged, grabbing my hand and violently pressing it against the razor-sharp crystal base! “Ah—!” I shrieked. Excruciating pain shot through my entire body like an electric current, and blood instantly gushed out. When I pulled my hand away, my palm was mangled and bloody, the bone clearly visible. Seraphina quickly picked up a small shard and lightly grazed her forearm with it. Then she stumbled and fell to the floor, her eyes immediately welling up. “What’s going on?” Dax rushed in at the sound. Seraphina immediately started crying: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Elara to get me water… otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten angry, deliberately smashed your trophy, and then used the pieces to cut me…” Dax’s face instantly hardened. He strode over to me, seizing my injured wrist. “Are you out of your mind?!” I was shaking uncontrollably from the pain. I held up my mangled, bloody, and horrifying hand. “Dax! She did this herself!” I stared at Dax intensely. “The living room is covered in surveillance cameras… One look at the footage would prove it!” “No need to check.” He cut me off coldly. “I believe Seraphina.” I felt as if my heart had been hit by a large truck, shattered into a thousand pieces. “Elara, you truly are beyond redemption.” Dax’s voice was laced with icy venom. His eyes swept over me, then he grabbed my other, uninjured hand, holding it in a vise-like grip! “No—! Dax! You’ll regret this!!” My scream was swallowed by the sickening scrape of flesh against crystal. The intense burning pain made my vision go black.

When consciousness returned, both my hands were wrapped in thick, white bandages. The pain had dulled to a throb. Mr. Henderson, our old butler, was standing by the bed, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Madam, you’re finally awake. I’ll go inform the master.” “No need.” I managed a weak smile, my voice hoarse as if sandpaper had scraped it. “These hands, he destroyed them.” Mr. Henderson’s body stiffened, his face etched with incredulity. “How could… the master used to not even let you clip your own nails, fearing the scissors would harm you…” Tears finally streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. Yes, the whole world knew he once cherished me. But why, after being reborn, was that deep affection completely gone? It didn’t matter now, anyway. The agreement was signed; soon, I’d be completely free of him. Thinking that I would leave soon, I had to say goodbye to Grandpa Arthur, no matter what. As soon as I entered, I saw him leaning on the couch, looking unwell. “Grandpa, Dax and I… are separating.” Noticing the pain in my voice, Grandpa Arthur sighed deeply and patted my hand: “Never mind, that boy doesn’t have the good fortune. Even if I die, I’ll never let that kind of woman into my family’s home!” My nose stung. In my past life, Grandpa Arthur protected me just the same way. “Grandpa, it’s time for your blood pressure medicine.” I stood up. “I’ll get it from the next room for you.” When I returned with the medicine, I was about to knock, but heard a muffled groan from inside through the door crack. Pushing the door open, I saw Seraphina standing in front of Grandpa Arthur, a pillow on the floor. The old man’s wizened hands hung limply, he was close to suffocating. “Let him go!” I pushed her away like a madwoman. Grandpa Arthur was breathing weakly, his eyes rolled back. “Help! Call a doctor, fast!” My scream drew everyone’s attention. Dax’s face changed instantly at the sight: “Grandpa!” He roughly pushed me aside and rushed out, carrying Grandpa. Inside the recovery room, Dax looked at us, his face grim. “Tell me, what happened?” “It was Elara!” Seraphina shrieked, pointing at me. “I saw her smother Grandpa with a pillow!” “She… she was trying to harm Grandpa! I tried to stop her, but she tried to attack me too…” Dax’s gaze was like ice: “Grandpa treated you like his own granddaughter. How could you do such a thing?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297196”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

“Jasper, we’ve known each other for 18 years, and been together for four. Does my presence really mean less to you than a pheromone scent?” “I’m so sorry, Rowan. It was just an accident. You’re the only one I love.” I was just an ordinary Beta, but to get stronger, I faked being an Omega at the military academy. One day, I discovered my Alpha boyfriend had marked Ashton, my true Omega roommate. I stared at Jasper. “Cheating is never a one-time thing. It’s always the first step to countless times.” “We’re over.” The day Jasper and I broke up, I underwent my second differentiation, turning into… Now, all those sarcastic remarks I’d thrown at the Alphas at school? They were about to come back to haunt me. “You said you differentiated into… what?” My best friend, Caleb, yelled, disbelief etched all over his face. Everyone in the coffee shop turned to stare. I ducked my head, wishing I could just vanish. “Lower your voice! Is it something to brag about?” Caleb winced, then leaned closer, whispering, “Did you really differentiate into an Alpha?” I nodded. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Then you and Jasper are completely impossible now, aren’t you?” I offered a bitter smile. “It was impossible anyway. He already marked Ashton. A rabbit doesn’t eat the grass around its burrow, but he betrayed someone right under his nose.” If it hadn’t been my roommate, Ashton, who Jasper got involved with, I wouldn’t have been so devastated. We’d shared a dorm for three years, and Ashton and I had always been good friends. He even used to playfully tease me about Jasper and me. Now, though, there was a fresh mark from Jasper on the back of his neck. I’d been betrayed by both my boyfriend and my roommate. I grabbed my drink from the table and took a long swig. “Alright, I’m officially saying goodbye to the past.” “Help me move out of the dorm.” Since I’d differentiated into an Alpha, I obviously couldn’t stay in the Omega dorms anymore.

I purposely chose to move when Ashton was in class. But I hadn’t expected him to take the day off. He was lying on his dorm bed, a fever-reducing patch on his forehead, and Jasper’s scent was overwhelmingly strong on him. When I was a Beta, I couldn’t smell it, but now it was crystal clear. I frowned, the instinctive repulsion of an Alpha to another Alpha’s pheromones kicking in. But Ashton seemed to misunderstand. He struggled to prop himself up. “Rowan, let me explain…” I packed the last few scattered items into a cardboard box. “Go on, I’m listening. Explain away.” After a long pause, a timid voice came from behind me. “Rowan, you have no idea how much I envied you. I used to think you were an Omega, you chose mecha piloting, and your grades were just as good as those Alphas. Plus, you had such an amazing boyfriend… Jasper really loved you. “Jasper and I, it was truly an accident. My heat came early, and if Jasper hadn’t been kind enough to help me, I would have gone into heat in a public place. The consequences would have been unthinkable… “Rowan, you’re not an Omega. You don’t know how terrifying that situation is for us Omegas.” I turned, hugging the box, and smiled at Ashton. “You’re right. I can’t understand why you’d go out without an inhibitor when your heat was approaching.” “Nor can I understand why you, knowing other students around had inhibitors, chose to throw yourself into Jasper’s arms and cling to him instead.” “But none of that matters. Since Jasper likes to go around cheating and marking others, I don’t want him anymore.” “You like him, you can have him.” I leaned down, raising an eyebrow at Ashton. “If he’s even willing, that is.”

The moment I stepped out of the dorm building, I saw Caleb and Jasper facing off. To be precise, it was Caleb relentlessly snapping at Jasper. Jasper just stood there, eyes downcast, ignoring him. He was tall, with handsome features, and his messy hair fell across his forehead. He hadn’t changed out of his training uniform yet. He stood tall and striking, with a hint of an unspoken melancholy that made the Omegas walking by steal glances at him. The instant I walked down the stairs, he seemed to have a built-in radar, snapping his head up to look at me. It had always been like that. Even when I was a Beta with no scent, he could always find me first in a crowd. The first person I’d ever babbled a name to wasn’t my parents, but this neighbor boy, a year older than me. “Rowan.” He strode towards me, reaching for the box in my hands. I dodged, stepping aside. The breeze he brought with him carried Ashton’s scent. An Alpha, when marking an Omega, is also marked by the Omega’s scent. Jasper’s hand hung in mid-air. He looked at me, hurt. His voice was hoarse. “Rowan, I’m sorry. It was just an accident. You know you’re the only one in my heart.” Suddenly, I released my own pheromones, letting them clash with his. We both winced. But then I smoothed my face into a smile. “I’ve differentiated into an Alpha too, Jasper. We’re completely impossible now.” “You can make a better choice.” I looked upstairs, and he understood what I meant. I knew that his and Ashton’s pheromone compatibility was actually very high. “My best choice is you! I only love you!” He stubbornly grabbed my arm. I yanked my hand away with force. “But I won’t be with an Alpha. I’m going to find an Omega from now on.”

After moving, I invited Caleb to dinner. He asked me, “Can you really let him go?” “I have to,” I replied. There’s no good outcome for two Alphas. I didn’t believe love could overcome pheromonal repulsion. Did Jasper love me? Of course. I never doubted his love. I was a mischievous kid. I’d try to run before I could even walk properly. I fell countless times, but whenever Jasper was there, he was always the one to cushion my fall. He had so many small scars from protecting me. I was naturally stubborn. In middle school, I differentiated into a Beta, but I was determined to get into the best military academy to study mecha operations. Jasper never complained, training with me for four full years. Then he joined the military academy with me, taking care of me everywhere. Because I found it painful, he never fully took me. Even when he was right on the verge of taking me, he’d still catch his breath and comfort me. But Jasper, who was so good to me, was different the first time he saw Ashton. Others might not have noticed, but I knew his gaze on Ashton was softer than on anyone else. He was uncontrollably drawn to Ashton. I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly. “Every time Jasper went through a rut, I used to wish I had differentiated into an Omega. Then I could ease his pain.” “Now I’ve differentiated into an Alpha too.” I shrugged. “The bond between an Alpha and an Omega is innate. He could hold back from making love to me, but he couldn’t resist marking Ashton…” I trailed off, a shaky laugh escaping me. I couldn’t bring myself to say more. I rubbed my face roughly. Caleb looked at me with sympathy. “Alright, alright, don’t overthink it. Let’s live for today!” He refilled my beer glass. I have a terrible tolerance for alcohol, but tonight, I just wanted to get completely wasted.

I blacked out. My head was pounding. The scene before my eyes sent a jolt of terror through me. A pale-skinned, long-haired man lay beside me, completely naked. His shoulders, chest, and abdomen were covered in scratches and bite marks. And I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing either. The air hung thick with the scent of some bodily fluid, mingled with the pheromones of two Alphas. Clearly, this man was also an Alpha. I had slept with an Alpha who wasn’t Jasper? The thought left my mind utterly blank. I checked myself. No obvious discomfort down there. I was on top? Just as I thought about quietly making my escape, The man’s eyes snapped open without warning. He stretched lazily, like a regal Persian cat. The blanket slid off his body. His chest muscles were well-defined, his abs sculpted, and his V-line sharp. A vein above his lower abdomen pulsed twice. He was a muscular power bottom Alpha. My mind went blank for a second, and then I blurted out: “We’re both Alphas, I don’t need to take responsibility for you, right?” “Hmm?” The man emitted a low, lazy hum from his nose. Then he propped his head on his elbow, raising an eyebrow slightly. “Do you want to take responsibility?” As I fully took in his face, I realized he was strikingly handsome, almost aggressively so. I swallowed hard. “Can I… not?” “You can.” “Then, farewell.” I scrambled into my clothes and bolted.

Why did I pretend to be an Omega at the military academy in the first place? Because I desperately wanted to get stronger. As a plain Beta, if I tried to provoke those arrogant Alphas in the mecha department, Most people wouldn’t even give me a second glance. But an Omega? That was different. They’d get excited, eager to conquer me. So, when I first enrolled, I set myself up as a beautiful, sharp-tongued Omega. No strong Alpha from the mecha department, across three different years, had escaped my sarcastic remarks. Now, I’d differentiated into an Alpha, and my karma was here. The Alphas who had held back, thinking I was an Omega, no longer showed any mercy. Several mechas ganged up on me at once. I had only recently differentiated and hadn’t adapted yet. For a moment, I was completely overwhelmed. Until another dark blue mecha charged in, taking out the other mechas and rescuing me. It was Jasper’s mecha. In the locker room, I changed out of my training uniform, my hair soaked with sweat. Jasper walked in, watching me silently. For some reason, I thought of the long-haired man from a few days ago, and a strange, guilty feeling, like I was cheating, washed over me. But then I immediately dismissed it. We had already broken up. “Don’t help me next time.” I draped my towel over my shoulder. “I need to learn to handle everything on my own.” “Jasper, we’re done.” “Rowan!” Jasper cut me off, a rare flash of anger on his face. “Don’t be like this.” “I never agreed to break up. You’re still my partner. There won’t be anyone else.”

Jasper and I parted ways on bad terms. After leaving the training ground, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed to a diner not far from campus to meet Caleb. “How have you been?” Caleb asked. “Same as always, I guess.” “You don’t look too cheerful.” My mind immediately flashed back to Jasper’s pained expression earlier. After so many years together, how could I not feel miserable? “So, what’s going on with you and Jasper?” I frowned, not wanting to talk about him. “Why are you asking?” Caleb sighed. “If you still like Jasper, then just be stubborn for a while, but now you’re both miserable.” “Before, you were in the Omega dorms, roommates with Ashton, and Jasper wanted to stick to you twenty-four-seven, so it was easy for him to run into Ashton. Now that you’ve moved out, they won’t have any reason to interact.” “Rowan, I hope you think this through. You and Jasper have been together for so many years; it wasn’t easy. With your terrible temper, do you really think you’ll find anyone else more tolerant than Jasper?” I fell silent, Jasper’s pained eyes replaying in my mind. Hesitation crept into my heart. I believed the decision I made was for the good of both of us. It was precisely because I loved Jasper that I couldn’t bear to see him suffer so much during his rut. Even if we loved each other, the mutually repelling pheromones between two Alphas would make even kissing painful. If we kept dragging it out, it would only erode all the good memories we had… “Can love truly conquer pheromones?” I asked Caleb. Caleb replied earnestly, “You never doubted it when you were a Beta. Why are you so hesitant now that you’ve differentiated into an Alpha?” “Ashton aside, do you lack confidence in Jasper, or in yourself?” It suddenly clicked for me. After dinner, I sent Jasper a message, asking him to meet so we could talk things through. Just as I reached the school gate, I suddenly heard someone say: “Holy crap, I heard an Omega in the Omega dorms went into heat, and an Alpha hooked up with them right in the dorm…”

The message I sent Jasper on my phone remained unanswered. Except for specialized classes that required mecha operation, he always replied to my messages instantly. Even late at night. I gripped my phone tightly, my unease growing. I followed the crowd towards the Omega dorms. The area within twenty meters of the Omega dorm building had already been completely cordoned off. Omegas were continuously being helped out. People around me muttered, “Who went into heat?” “It sounds like the campus heartthrob from Information Systems, last name… Henderson or Hernandez?” My hand, resting by my leg, clenched sharply. I mumbled, “Information Systems… Ashton.” “That’s it! That’s the name!” I forced a smile and asked, “Does anyone have an Alpha inhibitor?” “You came here without an inhibitor?! Are you crazy?” The person looked shocked. Then they kindly pulled out an inhibitor shot. “Thanks.” I took it, mumbling my thanks mechanically. I jabbed the needle directly into my arm vein, the cold liquid pushing into my body, merging with my bloodstream. The empty syringe fell to the ground. I ripped open the barrier tape and charged inside. “Whoa, dude, what are you doing?!” “Hey, student, this dorm is locked down right now!” I quickened my pace, heading for the dorm building. My legs moved faster and faster, until I was outright running. “Student! Student, stop!” The voices behind me grew distant. The moment I stepped into this familiar Omega dorm building, I was hit by the scent of an Omega. A thick, sweet strawberry candy smell. When I was a Beta, Ashton often shared strawberry candies with me. Jasper, as my boyfriend, had naturally tasted them too. But after eating one in his freshman year, he never had a second. Even that one, he’d frowned slightly after putting it in his mouth. He then leaned down and passed the candy to my mouth. “Too sweet. You eat it.” I rolled my eyes at him back then, chewing the hard candy in my mouth. The sweetness on my tongue intensified. Even then, unknowingly, he would still keep his distance. Now, I stood before the door of the dorm room I’d lived in for three years. I hadn’t even pushed open the door yet, but I already knew the answer. That Alpha was Jasper. The Omega’s heat pheromones continuously assaulted me. Even though I didn’t like Ashton, even loathed him,

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297195”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I was added to a weird group chat with the whole class. The group name: **[High-Temperature Apocalypse]**. Everyone else picked a safe house in the wilderness or a place with abundant water. I chose a high-rise apartment with no water or electricity. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, mocked me. No one wanted to team up with me, betting I’d die within three days. When it came to choosing abilities, everyone went for spatial or water-based powers. I picked reverse photosynthesis, which lets me get energy from air humidity. The group chat immediately muted me. They didn’t want to see my dying pleas for help. When the system removed the team-up and admin functions, everyone saw the group name reset: **[Heavy Rain Apocalypse]**. On that scorching summer day, my whole class and I were dragged into a strange group chat. **[Hello, 50 Hosts. Your group admin is the Apocalypse System.]** **[Survive for one week in the game, and you’ll receive a 100 million bonus.]** As if expecting skepticism, it immediately sent out a 1 million cash bonus in the chat. The students, who’d initially thought it was a prank or scam, instantly perked up. They frantically scrambled to split the bonus. “Holy crap, a week from now, I’ll be set for life!” “Quick, open it! Open it!” Only Finn, the class Vice President, seemed confused. “And if we don’t make it, do we die?” **[A total wipeout will reset the game. If there’s a winner, the game closes. Mid-game quitters must return the 1 million.]** Everyone exploded. Those who hadn’t snatched a bonus screamed even louder. “See, I knew it was a scam! I’m leaving the group!” “Go ahead, let’s see if you really have to return the 1 million.” But half an hour passed, and the number of members didn’t drop. Everyone was successfully hooked. The admin ignored the commotion and presented an option. Choose your safe house: 1. A 20th-floor apartment in a downtown city complex, no water, no electricity. 2. A countryside cabin, suitable for farming. 3. An uninhabited island, rich in food resources. 4. A city air-raid shelter, sturdy door, low temperature. 5. A food factory, abundant resource reserves. “Vice President, pick the food factory! You’re always so nosy and like managing things anyway.” “Yeah, Iris, then we can be merciful and team up with you.” Ultimately, no one chose option 1. Except me. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, gasped dramatically. “Iris, are you insane? A high-rise apartment with no water or electricity in a high-temperature apocalypse? You’ll be baked alive by the third day!” “Is it because you want to seem trendy living in the city, so you picked it without thinking it through?” “And she’s the Vice President, how dumb~” Chloe was usually everyone’s darling. As soon as she spoke, several guys agreed with her, mocking me. Even a few students who were about to pick option 1 canceled and chose something else. Five minutes passed, options closed, and the admin spoke again. **[Each Host is a temporary administrator. Hosts with the same option can choose teammates. Teammates will be allocated to the same safe house by default.]** Chloe immediately got excited. “Are there any lucky souls who chose the island like me? We can have a party there!” As soon as she said that, a dozen guys jumped out, begging to team up with her. She beamed, then mockingly @-ed me. “Oh my, so many classmates want to team up with me! Maybe I can spare a few for Iris @Iris? No one picked her, how pathetic!” Yes, everyone had teamed up. Except me.

After enduring dozens of mockery messages, Finn finally stepped in to restore order. “Hey, everyone, stop fighting! Admin, when does it start?” **[One more option: your ability for the coming week.]** 1. Infinite fresh water resources. 2. Invulnerable steel body. 3. Teleportation. 4. Infinite storage space. 5. Reverse photosynthesis. The chat instantly grew serious. Everyone started analyzing these abilities for high-temperature survival rates. Chloe got excited, giving a bunch of totally illogical advice, urging her male admirers to pick the infinite fresh water resource, claiming it would boost their survival rate. She chose infinite storage space herself: “I can help everyone store resources and avoid conflicts, after all, you’re all my good little babies~” Finn chose teleportation: “I can instantly go to your locations to save people.” In the end, no one chose option 5. Except me. I was mocked for dozens of messages again. “What kind of weird ability is that? Sounds like some random filler picked by the test setter to make themselves look smart.” “Hahahaha, what the hell did Iris pick? Doesn’t that mean she gets hungrier in the sun? Won’t she die even faster?” “Must’ve studied herself silly. Good thing we’re not in the same safe house as her!” “Some people act like Miss Perfect on her high horse, but now she’s just picking random abilities for herself. She should learn from Chloe and actually think about others!” I just took all their mockery, saying nothing. Finn, however, seemed to sense something subtly. He private messaged me. “Why are you being so foolish? You’ll be eliminated so quickly!” “Are you still mad I rejected your confession? Are you trying to make me worry this way?” I rolled my eyes and blocked him. Back in the group chat, everyone had confirmed their choices. The admin spoke again. **[Preparations complete. Game starting soon.]** **[Admin privileges will be disabled on the third day. Everyone can modify their teams before then.]** **[Deploying safe houses.]**

Day one, light rain. My apartment was calm and peaceful, with only the patter of rain outside. “Chloe: @everyone See? It’s raining! It definitely has to rain to cool things down before the heat wave, right?!” She followed up with a smug, sassy head-toss emoji. “Some people @Iris, feeling scared now? While it’s not hot enough to die today, hurry up and get a basin to collect water! Tomorrow, the moment the sun comes out, your crappy building will turn into an oven. Don’t go crying and quitting the group on the second day, that’d be so embarrassing!” The others, who had been wondering about the rain, immediately became lively, praising her intelligence. Finn’s message seemed out of place. “@Iris, how are things on your end? Did you find any supplies in your safe house?” This concerned inquiry provoked Chloe’s displeasure. “Vice President! Why are you so worried about her?!” “If you were so worried, why didn’t you team up with her back then? Feeling sorry for her now? Then go find her yourself! Humph!” Followed by a string of exaggerated emojis. Finn fell silent. The group chat also became eerily quiet for a few seconds, with only the faint sound of raindrops hitting the window. Soon, one of Chloe’s minions jumped out, directing his anger at me. “What’s wrong with the Vice President caring about everyone’s safety? Iris, you’re digging your own grave, don’t drag the Vice President into getting yelled at by Chloe!” “Exactly! Just seeing her message annoys me. Let’s mute her. That way, if she’s really dying, she won’t be whining and crying for help in the group, wasting resources and ruining everyone’s mood. Anyway, zero people want to save her!” **[Administrator ‘Mike’ has muted ‘Iris’.]** The cold system prompt popped up on my phone screen. No one said a word for me. Good. Peace and quiet. I put down my phone and started searching the apartment. The space wasn’t large, the layout was straightforward, but it was empty—not a single grain of rice. Finally, I pushed open the balcony door and took a deep breath. The scent of water molecules in the air filled my body. Reverse photosynthesis. As long as there are water molecules, I can replenish my energy. This time, I wouldn’t be troubled by any resource shortages. I felt mentally refreshed, and the faint hunger disappeared.

I sealed all windows except for the balcony, making sure the house wouldn’t get damp later, then I checked my phone. The class group chat was still flooded with messages. “Haha, the heavens sent us water! The field was just tilled, perfect for planting! I’m going to grow a whole vegetable garden in these ten days!” “Good haul, guys! Just went to sea and caught a few big fish! Fish BBQ party tonight!” Chloe also sent a photo: a beach and palm trees on an island, with a mountain of supplies in the center of the frame. Cases of bottled water, vacuum-sealed meats, canned goods, and even a few bottles of red wine. A few guys were gathered around her, their faces plastered with fawning, ‘look what I got for you’ smiles. “Oh my, I just can’t with them~” “I told them not to give me so much! Good thing my portable space is big enough, so I’ll grudgingly help everyone store it~ To be fair, if anyone needs anything, remember to register with me, okay~” Messages of envy and flattery flooded the screen. Some also grumbled about the piled-up resources. “…So much stuff, can it really all be registered and distributed? Feels like it’ll be a mess…” “Alex, what do you mean? Are you questioning Goddess Chloe?” “Chloe is doing this to prevent a free-for-all! If you’re not happy, go team up with Iris! Her crappy high-rise, not even a bottle of water there, absolutely no one will fight you for anything!” I closed the group chat, and with the sound of rain outside my window, I fell into a deep sleep.

Day two, heavy rain. It was no longer yesterday’s gentle drizzle but a torrential downpour. Water quickly accumulated in the city’s low-lying areas. The balcony of my 20th-floor apartment had become like a grotto with a cascading waterfall. I walked barefoot to the balcony door, greedily soaking up the water molecules. My whole body surged with power! I reinforced the balcony door and carved out the bottom of the railing to create a simple drainage system. Unless the balcony’s weight bearing capacity failed and it collapsed, the rainwater wouldn’t get into the house. The class group chat had already exploded. “Damn it, the rain’s too heavy! All the seeds we just sowed are ruined! The water’s almost flooding into the house!” “Help! The island’s tide is rising! Our high ground is almost submerged, and a lot of our food has been washed away!” “My ability is even water generation, completely useless now!” “@Chloe! Didn’t you say this ability was life-saving? What do we do now?!” With their interests jeopardized, many people turned their anger towards Chloe, who had been everyone’s darling just yesterday. Chloe looked aggrieved: “?? My fault?” “Did I hold a knife to your throats and force you to choose fresh water resources? You were all fawning over me, scrambling to pick it just to show off to me! And now you’re blaming me?” Finn tried to maintain order, his voice betraying a hint of imperceptible anxiety. “Everyone calm down!” “Chloe, this isn’t the time to argue. You have so many resources stored in your space, quick, take them out for everyone in this emergency!” Chloe’s voice rose even higher, laced with a tearful, spoiled tone. “Why should I?!” “I worked hard to collect those! I haven’t even finished registering them! And you want me to take them out now when the situation is unclear? What if the sun comes out tomorrow? Fifty-degree heat! That water will be life-saving!” Her words were like cold water splashed into a hot oil pan. “Chloe, are you still thinking about your registration at a time like this! Still thinking about high temperatures tomorrow? Does this rain look like it’s going to stop?” “You hoarded so many resources in your own space, aren’t you just trying to hold us hostage?” “Vice President, say something!” The group chat erupted into chaos, full of accusations and dissatisfaction directed at Chloe. Finn, overwhelmed trying to mediate, seemed to suddenly have an idea and @-ed me. “@Iris, aren’t you in a high-rise? It must be safe! Quick, tell us your address, I’ll teleport the people from the island over there to take shelter!” This move, however, triggered Chloe again. “Vice President, why are you always thinking of being with Iris! Do you like her?!” “I forbid it! Anyone who dares to go find her, I’ll never give them resources!” Finn said helplessly: “Chloe, stop messing around, lives are at stake!” “Who’s messing around? Don’t people need my space? Whoever swears not to go suck up to Iris, I’ll let them into my space for shelter!” With Chloe’s interference, I, who had just regained some attention, was once again forgotten by everyone. They went back to begging her for resources. She was once again the center of attention. I put down my phone and walked to a corner of the living room, where several unassuming cardboard boxes were stacked. Opening one, inside were neatly arranged power banks, laptops, and tablets, their indicator lights showing full charge. Another box held several thick physical books, a few board games, and even a small projector. These were the supplies I had quickly gathered in the few minutes when the system announced the rules, and everyone else was busy snatching cash bonuses and mocking me—some of the most useless items in a high-temperature apocalypse, but essential for maintaining sanity in a confined environment, “non-survival necessities.” I picked up a fully charged power bank, plugged it into my phone, and watched the heated arguments in the group chat. Day three, precipitation doubled again. If yesterday’s downpour was somewhat normal, today was a hurricane-level storm.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297194”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

Five years after we broke up, I heard Julian Albright was getting married. So, I finally felt safe enough to come home. But the moment I landed, he had me pinned against the airport wall. “Fake news. Just bait to lure you back.” “But I’m already married!” I declared, flashing my diamond ring, trying to sound tougher than I felt. He stared at the ring, then let out a low chuckle. “Then we’ll just live as three.” My jaw dropped. *What?!* Julian was getting married. When I heard the news, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep a wink. I booked a flight and was back the very next day. “Ugh, I’m finally back home!” The moment I landed, I called my best friend, practically wailing, “This foreign food was killing me! I’ve been dreaming of spicy crawfish, BBQ, hotpot, snail noodles, malatang, and bubble tea…” Just as I was excitedly telling Chloe, “This time, I’m reclaiming all my favorite foods!” a hand suddenly wrapped around mine. The next thing I knew, I was slammed against the wall. My phone clattered to the floor. I stared at the man in front of me, a head taller, radiating a cold, aristocratic aura. His bone structure was impeccable, his face so stunning it was almost ethereal. My mind went blank. Then, Chloe’s anxious voice came through the fallen phone. “Aria, stop rattling off food names! The news about Julian getting married… it’s fake! Run!” Me: … *Why didn’t you tell me before I walked into this?!*

I wanted to run, but Julian’s grip was shockingly strong. He wasn’t even using much force, yet I couldn’t break free. So, I just hunkered down, head bowed like a scared little bird, not daring to speak. I secretly peeked around, looking for an escape route. After all, when we broke up, Julian had sworn he’d kill me if he ever saw me again. I’d just managed to come back home! I hadn’t even had a bite of the food I’d been dreaming about for five years. I really didn’t want to die! “Nothing you want to say to me?” Seeing my silence, Julian gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. I was trapped, staring into Julian’s deep, beautiful eyes, now shimmering with unshed tears. My heart clenched, and my throat was thick with bitterness. I fought back the urge to cry, forcing the tears back, then turned my face away. My voice was cold and hard. “No.” With that, I struggled again, trying to push him away. “No?” Julian tightened his hold on me, his voice hoarse, with an almost imperceptible catch in it. “You truly are heartless.” Before I could react, he grabbed my jaw and kissed me, completely ignoring the people passing by. The moment our lips met, my eyes widened in shock. Julian’s kiss wasn’t gentle at all. It was punishing, almost vengeful, and I couldn’t break free. My tongue felt numb from the sheer intensity. In a fit of anger, I suddenly spotted someone in the distance pulling out their phone, about to record us. Almost instinctively, I bit Julian. He was unprepared, and his lip bled slightly. He looked momentarily stunned. That’s when I pushed him away and slapped him across the face. “Are you insane?!” I glared at Julian, reminding him, “You’re about to get married!” I’d put a good amount of force into that slap. Julian’s head snapped to the side. He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, touched his bruised face, then pressed his bitten lip. He let out a low, soft chuckle. “It was just fake news to get you back.” I was completely dumbfounded. *Fake news?! So what was all this for? Had I just walked straight into his trap?!* I was too shocked to notice the flicker of twisted satisfaction and pleasure in his eyes after I’d slapped him. Then, Julian took my hand, kissed my palm tenderly, and asked if I was hurt. Me: *What?!* I’d slapped *him*, and he was asking if *my hand* hurt?! Something felt very wrong here! But I couldn’t think about that. My mind was consumed with avoiding a repeat of what happened five years ago. In a flash, I saw the diamond ring on my left hand. I collected myself and spoke again. “But I’m married.” The air instantly froze. Julian lowered his gaze, staring intently at the diamond ring on my finger, silent. Just as a chill ran down my spine under his intense gaze, Julian suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Then we’ll just live as three,” he said calmly, as if stating a perfectly reasonable solution. I was so startled I almost bit my tongue. “Are you out of your mind?!” *What did he mean, “live as three”?! Did he even know what he was saying?!* Still reeling from the shock, Julian effortlessly scooped me up into his arms.

Julian tossed me into the back seat of his Maybach and told the driver to drive. “Julian, this is illegal detainment!” My heart pounded faster as I watched him tell the driver to raise the privacy partition. Ignoring the fact the car was moving, I fumbled with the door handle, ready to jump out and run. But Julian was too quick. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. The car screeched to a halt. The sudden stop sent my body lunging forward, almost hitting the partition, but Julian swiftly caught me, pulling me back into his arms. “Are you trying to kill yourself?!” Julian held me tight, his arms trembling slightly, clearly shaken. His warm, familiar embrace made me momentarily lose myself. Memories flooded back, but immediately followed by the words of Julian’s mother. I closed my eyes, suppressing all the emotions welling up. Taking a deep breath, I pushed Julian away with all my might and sat in the furthest corner from him. Then, I deliberately twisted the knife. “Don’t hold me so tight. My husband will get jealous!” With that, I deliberately displayed the diamond ring on my finger. Julian’s eyes flashed with a momentary ruthlessness when he saw the ring, but it was so fleeting, I thought I’d imagined it. “Where’s he from?” Julian took a cold beer from the car fridge, opened it, and chugged it down, as if making idle conversation. “What?” I hadn’t registered the question at first. “I asked where your husband is from.” Julian crushed the beer can in his hand as he spoke. “Oh, right.” I caught on, thought for a moment, and said, “He’s French.” “Hmm, good. How old is he?” Julian casually pulled off the beaded bracelet from his wrist, fiddling with it as he asked, seemingly offhand. “Twenty-nine.” I replied, a little absentmindedly. *Was I imagining things earlier? I swear I saw a lot of scars on Julian’s wrist.* “Is he in good shape? How tall is he, how much does he weigh?” Julian pressed on. My thoughts were pulled back. “He’s in great shape. Six feet tall, and… about 165 pounds.” I was still a bit distracted and didn’t notice the increased urgency in Julian’s tone. “How did you two meet?” Julian followed up instantly. I racked my brain, paused for a few seconds, and continued to spin my tale. “He lost his wallet, and I lent him some cash, and then…” I hadn’t finished speaking when Julian cut me off. “Who else is in his family?” “…He has a mom and dad, and a younger sister…” My answers were starting to falter. Julian’s intense interrogation was making me incredibly nervous. He asked me seven or eight more questions: What does he like to eat? Where was your first date? What movie did you watch on your first date? Where do you usually like to hang out? What are his hobbies, what’s his favorite position, and so on. His questions were getting increasingly tricky. As I grew more and more anxious, Julian asked, “How old is he?” “Twenty-eight!” I blurted out. “And his height and weight?” Julian’s voice was rapid-fire. “Six-one! One-forty pounds!” The words tumbled out. As they did, I saw Julian’s fingers, which had been fiddling with his bracelet, still. He chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow. “Hmm, sounds like he’s in great shape.” My mind raced. Wait, something wasn’t right. What was going on?! **截断点** As I struggled to figure it out, Julian gently took my hand, slipped off my ring, and with lightning speed, replaced it with a cushion-cut pink diamond—it looked like it was easily over ten carats.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297193”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

They say dreams from deceased loved ones can shield you from harm. After my mom passed away, I dreamt of her three times. The first time, she silently blocked me in my dream, refusing to let me go to work. The next day, I spiked a high fever and couldn’t go in. It was a twisted blessing in disguise; I dodged the massive fire at my company building. The second time, Mom visited my dream again, stopping me from moving into the neighboring complex. A week later, the arsonist was apprehended in that very complex. Each time Mom appeared, her form grew a little more translucent. Eventually, she stopped appearing in my dreams altogether. Until ten years later, when I found a baby in a trash pile downstairs and brought him home. That night, my almost transparent mom suddenly burst into my dream, her face contorted in pure terror. She shook me frantically, screaming with all her fading strength: “Alex, wake up!!” “Run!!!!” I gasped, clutching the duvet, my body slick with sweat, a thick layer of beads on my forehead. My wife, Chloe, stirred awake by my movements. Her voice was soft, sleepy. “What’s wrong, honey? Bad dream?” I’d dreamt of my deceased mom again. The last time I’d seen her in my dreams was ten years ago. She hadn’t visited me for an entire decade. Back in my hometown, there was an old belief that a relative’s spirit, visiting in a dream, could ward off disaster. I didn’t used to believe it, not until I dreamt of my mom twice in a row. The first time was right after I returned from studying abroad and had just started my new job. In the dream, she silently blocked me, locked my bedroom door, hid my car keys, trying every way possible to stop me from going to work. “Mom, stop messing around. I’ll be late tomorrow.” But Mom shook her head. Unlike her usual self, she was adamant, refusing to let me go to the office. I woke up with my head pounding, splitting open, my whole body burning hot. The next day, my body stubbornly gave in to a high fever. I had to go to the hospital for an IV drip, so I called Mr. Harrison, my supervisor, to ask for time off. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, I think I caught a cold last night. I’m running a 102° fever.” Mr. Harrison’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Alex, taking a day off on your very first day? Your attitude… seriously?” I humbly begged for the day off, then slammed the phone down in frustration. As I lay there alone in the hospital, getting my IV drip, I thought about that bizarre dream from last night, and that strange old legend from my village when I was a kid. *Dreams from deceased loved ones can ward off disaster.* Even though my mom had left me a substantial inheritance, she never wanted me to be a slacker, living an aimless life. I knew she wanted me to find work I truly loved. Why would Mom try so hard to stop me from working in that dream? After my IV drip finished at noon, my heart felt heavy. At the subway station, I saw the train heading towards my company building, but I turned and boarded the one going in the opposite direction. I quietly reassured myself, “Well, I’ve already asked for the day off. What’s another half-day?” I murmured, “What if the legend is true?” That evening, as I was having hot pot alone at home, a news alert popped up on my phone, making my eyes widen in shock. “Massive Fire at Financial Tower in City A: Hundreds of Casualties.” The burning building, spewing black smoke, was my company’s office. The fire had just been extinguished. And the fire started on *my* floor. Currently, no one on that floor had survived! I immediately opened SnapChat to call Sarah, another new hire like me, but there was no answer. I went back to SnapChat and messaged Mr. Harrison: “Sarcastic much? I’ve got money to burn, old man! I quit!” Half an hour passed, no reply. A cold sweat instantly broke out on my back, and my hair stood on end. My colleagues were all dead in that fire! That meant if I had gone to work today, I’d probably be burned to ashes right now!

Suddenly, Mom’s dream from last night and that strange village legend swirled in my mind like a kaleidoscope. I looked at a photo on my phone, one where I was hugging Mom. I understood then: Mom had given me a second chance at life. Later, I found a new job I loved, but that day’s events left a deep scar on my heart. My new job was in design, which I loved, but I was lacking inspiration. So, I decided to move to a nice new townhouse. The complex next door was newly developed, and the prices were incredibly good. The night before I was supposed to move in, after signing the contract and finishing the renovations, Mom appeared in my dream again. In the dream, her figure was far more translucent. She looked furious, scolding me. “Alex, why are you wasting money on another house? Buying this house now is a foolish choice!” “How many times have I told you not to waste money? Isn’t that penthouse apartment I left you big enough?!” In the dream, her face was grim, her voice sharp as she pointed her finger at me. “Cancel the contract immediately! We’re not taking this townhouse!” This was a side of Mom I’d never seen. Growing up, she’d always doted on me, supported me, and provided everything I could ever want. She even said she’d disown me if I insisted on moving into the new house. I was heartbroken in the dream, waking up with tears still in the corners of my eyes. Day broke, and the moving truck I’d hired was almost here, but the dream from earlier made me hesitate. Remembering the previous dream, my palms grew sweaty. Was something else about to happen? I put my moving plans on hold and didn’t move into the new complex. A week later, the arsonist was finally caught in the neighboring complex. He was a madman seeking revenge on society, specifically targeting wealthy neighborhoods for arson and murder. This time, he had set fire to a townhouse belonging to a wealthy expat doctor living alone. The man was eventually rescued but suffered extensive burns and disfigurement. He was a trust fund kid, but no amount of money could truly compensate for the damage he’d endured. I read the news, my heart unable to calm down. The victim’s townhouse was right next to the one I’d bought. If I had moved in then… I probably would have been the victim today! Mom had saved me again. This incident solidified my belief in that old legend. I even made a special trip to the cemetery. “Mom, you’ve given me a third life.” I thought Mom would continue to protect me, but after that, she never appeared in my dreams again. Not even when I accidentally scalded my arm with boiling water, or when I broke my left leg in a car accident. Mom didn’t visit my dreams before any of those things. My faith started to waver again. Didn’t they say dreams from deceased loved ones could ward off disaster? Why wasn’t my mom sending me dreams anymore? Remembering how translucent Mom’s spirit had been the second time, I wondered: did sending these dreams cost Mom something? Until today, ten years later, when I brought a baby home, and Mom appeared in my dream once more. By now, she was almost completely transparent, but she was desperately trying to shake me awake, her expression more terrified than I’d ever seen. “Alex, wake up!!” Then, with all her fading strength, she screamed: “Run!” My wife, Chloe, poured me a glass of warm water, soothing me gently. The baby’s cries echoed from the other bedroom, but I shivered.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297192”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I went to a clinic for breast reduction surgery, only to find the handsome doctor was the same guy I had a blind date with yesterday. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled, his voice deep and calm: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.” My face burned as I underwent the examination, but then I couldn’t for the life of me hook my bra back up. Dr. Wyatt called for a nurse to help me. My brain completely short-circuited. I quickly refused, flustered: “No, it’s fine! You can just help me yourself!” The next second, Dr. Wyatt’s arms gently wrapped around me… Before I left for my blind date, my mom glared at my oversized, thick hoodie with pure disdain. “Can’t you ever bother to dress up a little? Do you really think he’ll want you looking like that?” She forced me into a slightly tighter top, then snatched my glasses off my face. “What are you doing with those glasses? What if he thinks you’re too bookish, or that you just don’t care about your appearance? What if he thinks you’re not *trying* to look good enough for him?” I habitually hunched my shoulders, mumbling defensively, “I can’t see without them.” My mom snorted. “Don’t try to fool me. That’s a mild prescription; you’re not blind! How could you not see the road?” “Are you deliberately trying to ruin this date?” “Let me tell you, this guy has amazing prospects. So many girls would kill to marry him. Don’t be so ungrateful.” I wanted to say I also had astigmatism and things looked blurry, but I just shut up. My mom’s decisions were set in stone. She only believed what she thought was right. My vision was blurry as I left the house, and because I couldn’t make out the numbers, I missed a bus. By the time I reached the downtown coffee shop, I was 10 minutes late for our appointment. I scurried into the coffee shop, squinting to find a man in a white shirt. By the window, a man in a white shirt looked up at me. It must be him, right? I hurried over, my face full of apologies. “I’m so sorry, I’m a little late.” The man seemed to freeze for a moment. “You are…?” “I’m Chloe.” “Chloe?” A smile appeared on his face, his voice sounding a little strange. “I’m… Wyatt.” His voice was deep and pleasant. Though his features were a bit blurry to me, I could tell he was good-looking. Tall and broad-shouldered. Fair-skinned with thick hair. He also had a pleasant woody cologne scent. I awkwardly lowered my gaze. My mom was right. Such a handsome blind date wouldn’t possibly be interested in just an average girl like me. Sure enough, a few minutes after I sat down, Wyatt took a call. “Excuse me, I have something to take care of. Can you wait for me here? I’ll be right back.” With that, he swiftly strode out of the coffee shop with his long legs. I let out a bitter laugh. His excuse was so lame. He probably just set an alarm to escape, right? And he didn’t even ask for my contact info. Clearly, he wasn’t interested. But I hadn’t really expected anything to come of it anyway. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. My phone rang. It was my mom. As soon as I picked up, I was hit with a torrent of scolding. “Chloe, where did you go? The young man has been waiting for you for 20 minutes!” I quickly explained. “We just met. He wasn’t interested and he already left.” My mom’s voice grew even shriller. “What nonsense are you talking about? He just told me he’s still waiting for you and hasn’t seen a single sign of you!” My heart dropped. There were two coffee shops side by side here. In my haste, and with my blurry vision, I must have walked into the wrong one. So the guy I just met wasn’t my blind date?

After hanging up, I rushed to the coffee shop next door. There, I met my real blind date. He wore glasses, had a round face, and was a bit balding. He didn’t really look like a “young man.” I was so late, he was clearly annoyed. “We in the government sector are very strict about punctuality.” I quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s fine, I’ll forgive you this time. I’m quite the gentleman, you know.” I didn’t know what to say. This blind date was arranged by my mom. She said she was afraid I’d say the wrong thing and offend the guy. So she added him on SnapChat herself, chatted for a few days, and once she felt he was suitable, she pushed me out to meet him. My date pulled out his phone. “Let’s swap SnapChat info. Your mom told me all about you. I gotta say, I’m pretty happy with your appearance.” He then flashed a sleazy grin, teasing, “Your chest is huge, like a dairy cow’s. Our kids will never go hungry for milk!” As he spoke, he gestured with his hand, drawing a half-circle in the air. My face flushed crimson. “Are you out of your mind?!” Then I stormed out. Back home, I was met with my mom’s explosive fury. “Chloe, he said he was interested in you, and you just turned around and ran off! Are you trying to kill me?!” “You’re a woman over 25, almost 30! Do you even want to get married?!” I mustered my courage to retort, “That guy’s a creep! Who says someone’s chest is huge like a dairy cow’s the first time they meet them?!” I thought she’d understand. When I first started developing, she’d always told me that having a big chest was shameful for a girl and I should hide it. She’d warned me to stay away from boys who stared at my chest. So I’d gotten used to hunching my shoulders, wearing loose clothes, and trying to conceal my prominent chest. But my mom just scoffed. “He was just making a joke, and you’re overreacting! No wonder you don’t have any friends!” “Besides, a woman’s chest is for her husband and children! If you didn’t have that ‘asset,’ why would a decent guy from a stable government job even look at you?!” I was so angry I didn’t want to talk to her, so I just went back to my room. My mom kept yelling outside the door. “Chloe, your mom’s never wrong. Only your mom truly cares about you in this world!” “Women are only young for a few years! Stop being so picky! You’re no supermodel, and this guy is more than good enough for you…” Annoyed, I put on my headphones and started scrolling on my phone. I knew my mom loved me. But when it came to my relationships, she became completely unreasonable and spoke without thinking. She’d try to verbally force me to find a man and get married quickly. She’d strictly guard me in school, not even letting me talk to boys. But just a couple of years after graduation, she was demanding I go on blind dates and have children. Any old loser was a “good man” in her eyes. While I definitely wasn’t a supermodel, didn’t I deserve to marry a *normal* guy? I sighed. I accidentally clicked on an ad. Starlight Aesthetics Clinic. I was about to close it when four words caught my eye. [Breast Reduction Surgery…] I looked down at the two troublesome mounds on my chest. Memories flashed through my mind: classmates’ teasing in school, the blind date’s vulgar comments, and my own figure looking like a barrel in a sweatshirt… I was just an average girl, but these burdens always drew unwanted attention. It made me feel awkward and self-conscious, so much so that I rarely walked with my head held high. I hesitated for a moment, then dialed the consultation number.

The next day, Sunday, I made up an excuse to my mom and left the house. Coincidentally, Starlight Aesthetics Clinic was right across from the coffee shop where I had my blind date yesterday. Sitting in the consultation room, I felt a little nervous. The nurse who led me in poured me a glass of water. “Please wait a moment, ma’am. Dr. Wyatt will be in for your consultation shortly.” Perhaps seeing my tension, she tried to reassure me. “Dr. Wyatt is excellent! He guarantees beautiful results wherever you go!” Well, I don’t need *that*… just make them smaller. After waiting a bit longer, I heard footsteps outside the consultation room. A handsome guy, easily six feet one, walked in wearing a white lab coat. I was stunned. He looked incredibly handsome, making even a lab coat look like a designer trench coat. He paused when he saw me, a slight flicker of surprise in his eyes. I awkwardly stood up, my face heating up. It was the first time such a handsome man had stared at me, though his gaze was a little strange. “Dr. Wyatt, hello. I’m here to consult about… breast reduction surgery.” I said the last four words barely above a whisper. Dr. Wyatt snapped back to attention, a smile gracing his lips as he sat opposite me. I froze for a moment; his smile was truly captivating. If all my blind dates looked like him, that would be amazing. Dr. Wyatt first looked over the personal information the nurse had filled out for me, then asked: “Do you have a boyfriend?” “Huh?” I stared at him in surprise. “Does that have anything to do with the surgery?” Perhaps it was my imagination, but a hint of awkwardness flashed across Dr. Wyatt’s face. “Just casual conversation. Let’s see, your request is to reduce your cup size to an A?” I nodded, my voice a mosquito-like whisper. “No boyfriend. Yes, flat-chested would be best.” I was so envious of girls with smaller chests. Everything they wore looked so chic and sophisticated. Unlike me, I looked plump in too many clothes and trashy in too few. Dr. Wyatt looked thoughtful. “What’s your current cup size?” My face instantly flared crimson. “It might be… an E, I think… I’m not really sure…” My bras were all randomly bought online; the same size could be loose or tight. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled. “Would you mind if I took some measurements?” I felt myself flush from head to toe, unable to believe what I was hearing. “C-can I… have a female doctor instead?” Dr. Wyatt replied gently, “Breast reduction is a complex procedure, with high risks. If not done well, it can cause mammary gland damage. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it to anyone else.” I was startled. I mentally chanted, “It’s professional. It’s for my health,” and nodded in agreement. He stepped outside and called a nurse in. I secretly let out a sigh of relief. So it wasn’t just the two of us for the examination. Dr. Wyatt pulled back a curtain in the consultation room, gesturing for me to go inside. “There’s a camera there, but this area is out of its view.” My legs were trembling with nerves as I shuffled in, taking tiny steps. The nurse stayed outside the curtain and didn’t follow me in. A deep male voice resonated near my ear: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.”

I closed my eyes and did as I was told. A sudden coolness spread across my chest. Dr. Wyatt held a stiff ruler and a soft measuring tape, moving them across my chest. My heart pounded like thunder, and I felt breathless. When he measured around, his fingers inevitably brushed against my skin. It felt like an electric shock, a current surging from my toes to my head. I awkwardly turned my head away. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I saw that Dr. Wyatt’s gaze was utterly focused and professional. Those few minutes felt like centuries. Finally, Dr. Wyatt spoke. “You can put your clothes back on now.” I fumbled to put my clothes on, but I just couldn’t hook my bra. Dr. Wyatt, turned to the side, tidying up his instruments. He hesitated, then asked, “Do you need the nurse to help you?” I quickly shook my head. “N-no… no, it’s fine. You can just help me yourself.” The moment the words left my lips, I saw Dr. Wyatt’s movements freeze. He looked stunned. I bit my tongue, wishing I could just bang my head against the wall. What a pathetic mess I was. How could I have blurted out the thought that had just flashed through my mind? Oh no. A handsome man like Dr. Wyatt, how could he possibly tolerate me saying something like that? He wouldn’t just kick me out, would he? I was sweating with anxiety, but my bra hook was stubbornly refusing to cooperate. A pleasant woody scent suddenly grew stronger. Dr. Wyatt’s face was right in front of me. He gently wrapped his arms around me, his hand reaching behind my back, and in one swift motion, he fastened my bra hook. His warm breath accidentally brushed against my earlobe. My whole body tingled. I didn’t dare to move. Afraid the man in front of me would hear my heart pounding like thunder. Dr. Wyatt’s expression remained composed. He绅士ly pulled away from me. “Alright, let’s talk at the desk.” Sitting back down, I was so nervous and embarrassed that I didn’t quite catch what Dr. Wyatt was saying. He good-naturedly repeated, “Your actual cup size is a D. It just appears much larger than other D-cup sizes because your breast shape is conical, unlike round or teardrop shapes.” “I don’t think this size should be impacting your daily life. Could you tell me your reason for wanting the surgery?” My gaze dropped, not daring to look at him. “Because they’re too prominent. They always attract attention.” Dr. Wyatt smiled. “You’re so beautiful, why are you afraid of people looking at you?” I looked up in surprise. “What?” Dr. Wyatt didn’t seem to be teasing me; his smile was utterly genuine. He stood up, leaned one hand on the desk, and bent over. His elegant, slender fingers gently removed my glasses. His voice was soft, almost caressing: “I think you look even better without your glasses.” The world suddenly turned blurry, and Dr. Wyatt’s handsome features looked like they were covered in a faint mosaic. I felt like I had seen him somewhere before. I murmured, “Wyatt?” He tilted his head. “Finally remember me?” His tone was as if… we were old friends reunited.

No one in my family had poor eyesight. I deliberately ruined my eyes. Back in school, my mom would always scold me whenever I looked at her. “Why are you staring with those big eyes? Do you think big eyes are pretty? Don’t you know you look so naive and uncultured like that, only attracting street thugs?” I was terrified of her and never dared to argue that I wasn’t staring. I could only read in the dark, writing with my face very close to the paper. Finally, I managed to develop nearsightedness and astigmatism, and I got to wear glasses as I wished. My mom picked out the most old-fashioned black frames with thick lenses for me. She finally seemed satisfied. “Now you look like a diligent, studious child.” But she was always contradictory; she never liked me wearing glasses on blind dates. That’s why it took me until now to realize that Dr. Wyatt was the same person I mistakenly thought was my blind date yesterday! How could it be such a coincidence?! I was so embarrassed I wanted to curl up and disappear. He wouldn’t think I tried to hit on him yesterday and then deliberately came here to harass him today, would he? And also, was Wyatt nearsighted too? Otherwise… otherwise, how could he say I was pretty? Wyatt picked up a large round mirror from the desk and held it in front of me. “My vision is perfect, 20/20. Don’t you ever look in the mirror?” Huh? I said what I was thinking out loud again? Today was truly mortifying. I instinctively looked at the mirror. My mom’s voice automatically echoed in my ears. “Your eyebrows are too thick, like a man’s. Your eyes are big but lifeless. Your nose is too small, your lips too thick. Your face is pale as a ghost, and your chin is too pointed, you look like you have no luck in life…” I’d heard those words for nearly twenty years. Every time I looked in the mirror, I’d think, maybe she was right. I really wasn’t good-looking. That’s why boys always teased me in school, and why so many blind dates after work never worked out. I lowered my head again. “Dr. Wyatt, I apologize for bothering you twice. Please don’t tease me.” Seeing my disbelief, Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “How about we make a bet?” I put my glasses back on, asking dumbly, “Huh? A bet… about what?” Wyatt’s handsome, thin lips opened and closed, glistening. I was mesmerized, instinctively nodding. When I came to my senses, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Wyatt’s slender, defined fingers tapped the desk. “Alright, if you lose… you have to grant me one wish.” “If I lose, I’ll perform your surgery for free.”

That afternoon, Wyatt took me to a high-end department store. A place I always passed but never dared to enter. He picked out two dresses for me, one black, one white, both absolutely gorgeous. I tried them on. The dresses had tight waists, making my chest look even more voluminous. The skirts flared slightly, revealing my legs, which were quite fair since I always wore long pants. Standing in front of the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I quietly said to Wyatt, “Department store mirrors are really something, huh? They have a built-in slimming effect.” Wyatt covered his forehead with a hand. “The mirrors are normal. Trust my aesthetic judgment, I am a plastic surgeon, after all.” “I think both dresses look great on you. Which one do you like?” I hesitated. I was too embarrassed to tell him I had trouble making decisions. Normally, when online shopping, I’d procrastinate until the minute before coupons expired before finally choosing. Maybe I should just pick one randomly? But the black one was more practical… the white one was more special… Which one to choose? Seeing I didn’t answer, Wyatt made the decision for me. “Let’s get both. They’re different styles anyway.” He pulled out his phone to pay, and I quickly stopped him. “I’ll pay myself.” I checked the tag—five digits. Two dresses would wipe out my savings. It hurt a little. Maybe I should just pick one? While I was still stunned, Wyatt had already paid, picked up the bags, and motioned for me to follow. It seemed treating decision-making paralysis just required money. I looked at the reflective floor of the mall, thinking hard, but couldn’t figure it out. What was Wyatt’s angle? I was so plain, so broke, so uninteresting… Was I really worth him spending so much money? Next, Wyatt took me to get my eyes checked and fitted me for daily disposable contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel, apparently, also very expensive… It was my first time wearing these, and I was clumsy. Wyatt gently caressed my cheek with his fingers, helping me put them in. The world was clearer than ever before. Except everything seemed a little bigger. I stared at the man’s Adam’s apple, swallowing hard. Wyatt looked at me with satisfaction. “Your skin is beautiful; you don’t even need makeup. You’re a natural beauty.” My face flushed again, a little thrill going through me. Maybe… I did have some good qualities?

After a busy half-day, we finally got to the main event. Wyatt and I stood at the door of a private karaoke room. He gave me a reassuring smile. “They’re all my friends inside. Don’t be nervous.” He suddenly leaned close, whispering in my ear. “If I win, don’t you dare refuse my… request.” With that, Wyatt pushed open the door to the room. Suddenly, I felt a strange anticipation for myself to lose. What request would he make? As I stepped into the room with Wyatt, under the dim lights, a dozen men and women turned to look at us. It was my first time being the center of attention in such a setting, and I nervously clutched the hem of my dress. The atmosphere froze for a second, then erupted into cheers. “The sun must be rising from the west! Dr. Wyatt actually brought a girl to a party! And she’s a beauty!” Wyatt subtly held up one finger to me. “Old Wyatt, where did you meet such a beautiful girl? You’re so lucky!” Wyatt curved his lips into a smile, holding up two fingers. “Hi, Future Sister-in-Law! You’re so pretty!” I quickly waved my hands. “We’re… just friends.” Wyatt mouthed the words: “Three.” Besides Wyatt and me, there were eight other people in the room. The bet was that if half the people complimented my looks, Wyatt would win. It wasn’t even half. He was going to lose. I knew it. Wyatt must have bad eyesight. Those three who just complimented me must have just been being polite. I lowered my head, feeling self-conscious. I didn’t see Wyatt’s face suddenly darken. A sophisticated-looking woman immediately pulled me to sit next to her. “I love sitting with pretty girls! I’m Stella, what’s your name, sweetie?” “Hi, I’m Chloe.” Wyatt won. He seemed to be in a great mood and picked a song. “Hard to forget the first time I saw you, those captivating eyes, your image in my mind… I can’t shake it…” Did Wyatt have *no* flaws? How could he even sing so beautifully?! He looked deeply into my direction. Was he looking at me?

I sat awkwardly in the corner. Wyatt’s friends were very welcoming and even pulled me into their group chat for planning get-togethers. Someone invited me to play dice. I shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t know how.” Someone asked what song I wanted to sing. I gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’ll just listen to you guys. I’m tone-deaf.” In the end, everyone else was enthusiastically enjoying themselves, while I shrank in the corner, scrolling on my phone. Just like every other friend gathering I’d ever been to. I swiped my phone screen back and forth, pretending to be busy. Someone next to me handed Stella the microphone. “The next song is a must-have for every gathering—your love duet with Wyatt!” “You two have been singing love songs together for years. When are you and Old Wyatt finally going to make it official?” Stella laughed playfully. “No rush. Old Wyatt and I have known each other for years; we understand each other perfectly.” Oh. So Wyatt wasn’t looking at me earlier. For a second, I actually thought he was singing that song to *me*. Of course, I was just deluding myself. Stella seemed like a girl a hundred times better than me. I picked up a drink from the table and gulped it down. My phone vibrated. It was my mom. I jumped in fright. If my mom found out I was at a karaoke bar, I’d be dead. Wyatt finished singing. Stella took the microphone and walked towards him, ready for their duet. I quietly ran out of the room to answer my mom’s call. “Chloe! What time is it?! Aren’t you coming home? Don’t you have work tomorrow morning?!” I timidly replied, “I’m on my way back now.” “You don’t have a boyfriend! A single girl staying out until 10 PM, people will say I raised you poorly…” I quickly hung up. Stepping out, I realized it was raining. And it was coming down pretty hard. The ride-sharing app showed 200 people ahead of me in the queue. I was about to dash into the rain when someone grabbed my arm. I turned around. Wyatt’s face was expressionless. “Was my singing that bad? Did it scare you away?” I stammered, “I-it was… really good. My mom called and told me to come home. Aren’t you supposed to sing a duet with Stella? So I didn’t say goodbye.” Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t want to hear me sing a love song with someone else?” I lowered my head. “No…” What right did I have not to want to hear it? A large hand gently stroked the top of my head. “Why are you always so cautious? Never mind, if you don’t like these kinds of places, I’ll drive you home.”

The car was parked in the open-air lot. Wyatt told me to wait while he drove it over. I felt a little guilty enjoying the ride, so I ran with him to the parking lot. The rain was heavy, and it was windy too. By the time I struggled to reach the car, I was soaked from head to toe. Once inside, Wyatt rummaged for tissues. I couldn’t take my eyes off his drenched T-shirt. “One, two…” Two clean white tissues were offered to me. “What are you counting?” “Abs…” I answered subconsciously, then immediately realized what I’d said. Wyatt didn’t seem embarrassed at all. Instead, he leaned his arm back. His T-shirt clung to his body, clearly revealing a six-pack and two pink n*pples peeking through. A perfectly sculpted body like something out of a comic book, paired with his handsome face. I couldn’t control myself and swallowed hard. A little embarrassing. Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile. “Checking me out before you pay, is that fair?” “What?” Before I could react, Wyatt’s fingers pinched my chin, and he kissed me. At first, it was just a gentle brush, a tentative touch of lips. My hands were on Wyatt’s shoulders. I meant to push him away, but somehow, they ended up circling his neck instead. Wyatt seemed encouraged. His tongue gently parted my lips, stealing all my breath. The temperature inside the car instantly soared. The single sip of alcohol I’d had earlier seemed to spread through my entire body, making my limbs go weak. Wyatt’s kisses grew more aggressive, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I let out a soft moan of discomfort. I was suffocating. I still hadn’t learned to breathe during a kiss. After a long while, Wyatt finally took pity on me and pulled back slightly, but he didn’t get up. He leaned against my cheek, whispering in my ear: “Chloe, you really should see how beautiful you are right now.” His hot breath brushed my earlobe. His muscular chest pressed tightly against my softness. Making my body tremble from head to toe. “Wyatt…” My phone buzzed with continuous SnapChat notifications. The intimate atmosphere in the car was instantly shattered. I didn’t even need to look to know my mom was bombing me with messages and voice notes again. Wyatt pulled away from me, glanced at the screen, and asked, “Is it okay not to reply?” I clutched my phone, embarrassed and furious, and pressed the power button, turning it off. I’d been a good girl for twenty-something years. What if I let loose for one night? The feeling just now was too good. I really wanted it to continue. If Wyatt asked if I wanted him to take me home, how should I answer? Would it be too forward to say I didn’t want to go home? But I really wanted to keep kissing… Unknowingly, I started overthinking again. Wyatt chuckled softly, then leaned in once more. I closed my eyes, only to feel a cool sensation across my chest. Huh? He had pulled out my seatbelt and fastened it for me. “To my place.” It wasn’t a question. Wyatt knew what I wanted at that moment. A spacious penthouse in the city center. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an entire wall dedicated to a wine collection.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297191”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The rescue team called me, saying my parents had ventured into the uncharted wilderness and were now calling for help. They told me to be ready for the huge rescue fees. My husband suddenly snatched my phone. “These are just scam calls, don’t believe them.” He then threw my phone, threatening to divorce me if I dared use our money for the rescue. But he had no idea that the tour package he’d booked for my parents had been stolen by *his* parents. Now, trapped in the wilderness and waiting for rescue, were *his* parents. “Ms. Miller, this is the rescue team. Your parents have entered an uncharted wilderness. We are not a volunteer service, so the cost to get them out will be approximately $150,000.” The number they quoted was huge. It sounded like a lot, but with years of savings between my husband and me, we could still manage it if we really pushed ourselves. I immediately said, “Of course, rescue them! How do I transfer the money to you…?” Before I could finish, my husband snatched my phone. He stated flatly, “Those two old people went into the wilderness on their own. We don’t need to waste our tax dollars. Thanks for your time, but no thanks.” What kind of talk was that?! I immediately tried to grab my phone back from his hand, but he just threw it on the floor and smashed it. He glared at me, his face red with fury. “Ashley, do you know what you were just saying? That’s years of our savings, just gone like that? Don’t you think that’s a waste?” I stared at him, shocked. “What are you talking about? That’s our parents! You’re always saying how hard they worked to raise you, how we needed to honor them!” I picked up my phone from the floor. Luckily, my phone case was shockproof, and with the tempered glass protector, it only shattered the screen protector when it hit the ground. Seeing the phone was okay, I sighed in relief. The rescue team’s call was still connected on the screen. I knelt on the floor and replied, “I’m willing to pay for the rescue!” My husband rushed over, snatched my phone again, and yelled into the receiver, “Rescue who, exactly?! I said no damn way! Those worthless old people had nothing better to do than wander into that wilderness. They deserved whatever they got!” With that, my husband hung up. I looked at him in disbelief. “Blake Hayes, are you even human?! Those are your parents!” He scoffed. “My parents? No, those are *your* parents. Ashley Miller, let me tell you, if you dare spend a dime to rescue them, I’m divorcing you. Don’t forget, you have no right to touch our joint assets without my consent.” After saying that, he went back into the bedroom, even locking the door to keep me out. My heart turned to ice. I sat on the floor, trying to compose myself, already thinking of ways to get around him and pay for my parents’ rescue. Suddenly, I realized something was off. What he’d just said clearly showed he thought it was *my* parents who were trapped in the wilderness. But it was *his* parents who had taken the tour tickets.

A week ago, Blake was humming a tune as he walked in. Seeing me, he pulled two tickets out of his bag. “My friend opened a travel agency, and they’re doing a promotion right now, so I bought two tickets. Aren’t your parents always talking about traveling? This is a perfect chance to send them off on a trip.” I stared at the two tickets. The price tag on them was hefty: $800 a head, flights not included. Clearly not a budget tour. Holding the tickets, something felt off. I asked, “Blake, didn’t you say before that my parents traveled too much, that it was a waste of money? Why the sudden change of heart, sending them on a trip now?” He sat on the couch, smiling. “Oh, old people have so few hobbies, right? They’ve got plenty saved up, their retirement funds are solid. It’s good for them to get out, stretch their legs, and stay active.” Hearing Blake say that, I felt genuinely happy. Looking at the two tickets to the Northwest, I immediately called my parents. After hanging up, Blake smiled at me. “Happy?” I nodded repeatedly. “Yeah, I am. How about this, we buy two more tickets and send your parents along too?” “No way. They can’t go!” he blurted out. I looked at him, confused. “Why? If you think it’s too expensive, I’ll chip in some extra money. Four old people could look out for each other on the trip.” Blake always said his parents were simple country folk, born and raised in the sticks. Besides coming to the city for our wedding, they spent most of their time in the countryside. They’d never traveled before, and this was a great opportunity. My parents, who were seasoned travelers, could take his parents along, and they could look out for each other, so nothing would go wrong. He frowned, thinking for a long time before replying, “They’re just country bumpkins, practically born with mud on their boots. They don’t deserve such a fancy trip. A little sightseeing around the city is enough for them.” “No way! There’s a first time for everything! Those two have worked hard their whole lives, what’s wrong with them enjoying themselves a little?” I opened my phone. “Send me your friend’s travel agency info; I’ll buy the tickets.” Blake stood up and put his arm around me. “Honey, their travel agency just opened, and the special tickets are all gone. How about this, next time we go on a trip, we’ll invite them along.” “Oh, and remember to book the flights for your parents. The tour tickets are redeemed in person. I’m going out of town tomorrow, so I’ll leave you to handle the arrangements. I trust you with it.” He was so adamant that I had no choice but to agree. That night, after he fell asleep, I slipped out of bed and went to the living room, taking the two travel tickets to search for the travel agency online. But after searching for a long time, I couldn’t find any information about that travel agency. “Could it be that it’s a new agency, so there’s no info yet?” I mumbled to myself. The thought of Blake sending my parents on a trip while leaving his own at home made me feel a little guilty. Finally, I found the travel agency my parents usually used and asked if they had any new packages. They quickly replied, “Of course, ma’am. Same great service, guaranteed to satisfy.” “$200 a head, flights not included.” Looking at the package they offered, the itinerary was packed, but the price was incredibly cheap. Since it was a travel agency we’d worked with for years, I immediately transferred the money. After doing all that, I returned to bed and slept soundly.

After Blake left for his business trip, I called both sets of parents and told them we’d booked a trip departing from our city. My father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately told me to book business class flights for them to come from the countryside. As soon as they walked in, my mother-in-law started grumbling, “Going out to play again, how much money have you even made to be so wasteful?” My mother-in-law was always like that—loud and incredibly stingy. After years of being married to Blake, I’d long learned to just let her nagging go in one ear and out the other. I smiled and pulled my mother-in-law into the house. “Mom, Blake said you two have never traveled before, so this is a chance to send you off! Besides, money’s meant to be spent, right?” My mother-in-law sat down, scrutinizing me. I smiled and showed her my phone. “See, this travel agency is great. My parents go there all the time. No forced sales, the guides are fantastic speakers, their descriptions of the sights are so vivid and engaging. The itinerary is well-planned, and they book five-star hotels.” My mother-in-law glanced at it, clearly tempted. She scrolled through my chat history with the travel agency for a bit, then suddenly looked displeased. “You’ve sent your parents off so many times, and we get booked on this little tour?” She looked at me and snorted dismissively. “My son makes so much money, and it all goes to your parents.” I kept a smile on my face. “If one isn’t enough, we can add more activities, go to more places, right?” As I spoke, my father-in-law suddenly stood up, picked up two travel tickets from the coffee table, glanced at them, and immediately got angry. “You booked us a $200 tour, and sent your parents on an $800 one?!” My mother-in-law snatched the tickets from his hand. After looking at them, she was so furious she stomped her foot, then plopped onto the floor, dramatically slapping her thigh. “Oh, the horror! I thought you were finally being merciful, having a change of heart and wanting to send us on a trip, but I never expected you to book us on this garbage tour!” I quickly explained, “Blake bought these to support his friend’s business. They were special discount tickets, not expensive.” With that, my mother-in-law shoved the two travel tickets into my arms. “Anyway, it’s all just travel. We want to go on the $800 one.” “This…” I hesitated. After all, the $800 tickets were bought by Blake. My mother-in-law immediately burst into a tirade. “You just don’t want us to enjoy anything good. You look down on us country folk, don’t you? Such a cheap tour, who are you trying to fool?!” Even my usually quiet father-in-law spoke with a hint of anger now. “We’ve seen videos online. Cheap tours lock old people in rooms. If you don’t buy expensive goods, they don’t give you food, water, or even let you use the bathroom. If you want to abuse us, why use such a method?!” I had no idea how to explain. I pointed to my past chat records with the travel agency. “I’ve sent my parents on this tour several times; this travel agency is really good.” My mother-in-law swatted my phone to the floor. “Hmph, I don’t care. Hurry up and book our flights. We’re going to the Northwest.” I picked up my phone, feeling helpless. Seeing my mother-in-law’s insistence, I called Blake. The first call was hung up. Just as I was about to dial again, my father-in-law spoke up. “Don’t bother him. A man’s busy with work. What are you, a woman, doing, telling him what to do?!” Having lived with my in-laws for years, I knew how to avoid their temper. “I just wanted to confirm with Blake.” My father-in-law was impatient. “Does this little thing need confirmation from the man of the house? I’ve always said a man’s place is at work, a woman’s place is at home. Women shouldn’t interfere when a man is out building his career. Hurry up and book our flights.” My mother-in-law chimed in, “Exactly! It’s normal for our Blake to ignore us for a month or two when he’s busy. Don’t you dare bother him when he’s trying to get a promotion.” Stay calm, stay calm. Mother-in-law relations have always been tricky. We only see them twice a year, so I’ll just consider this my good deed for the year. I sighed and had no choice but to open my phone to book flights. I entered their information, selected tonight’s flight, and as I was about to pay, my mother-in-law snatched my phone again. She suddenly yelled, “Why are you booking us economy class?! That’s for the common folk! Our son can afford a house in the big city; how can you make us fly economy?!” After several rounds of this, I was too tired to argue. If she wanted first class, so be it. Payment, of course, would be from my husband’s bank card. Only after the tickets were successfully purchased were they satisfied. “Then I’ll postpone the original tour I booked for you. It’s just a reservation; you can go any time within a year.” My mother-in-law wasn’t happy again. “Don’t think I don’t know, you just want to subject us to a cheap tour! We’re not going. Either refund it, or let your parents go.” Then, my mother-in-law’s eyes darted. “Oh, right, just let your parents go on the $200 tour. Let them suffer a bit, and they’ll never want to travel again!” My good intentions were completely wasted on them. Even though I was used to letting their words go in one ear and out the other, I felt a little angry now. “Fine, then my parents will go on the $200 tour.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. I quickly opened it; it was my parents. As soon as he walked in, my dad cheerfully said, “Ashley, what kind of tour did Blake book for us?” Then he noticed the two older people in the room and quickly greeted them. “Oh, in-laws, you’re here too! Is it just the four of us older folks going off without you two young ones this time?” My mom also smiled slightly. “We travel often, so we know all the ins and outs. When we’re on the road, we’ll give you tips.” I was about to speak, but my mother-in-law cut me off. “I don’t need your tips! My darling son booked us an $800 tour, not like your daughter, who’s so cheap, only booking you a $200 one.” She cast a sideways glance at me. My mom paused. “An $800 tour? That’s pretty good.” My mother-in-law gloated, “That’s because my son has been filial since he was little. He feels bad for us old folks in the countryside, so he booked us an $800 one. Your tour is too cheap; we won’t go with you.” Then, my mother-in-law said with fake sympathy, “But dear in-laws, you need to be careful. There are a lot of cheap tours online that will make you spend money to leave. You should be careful, or maybe just don’t go.” Who couldn’t hear the underlying meaning of those fake sympathetic words? My mom was naturally gentle and kind to everyone. Even after hearing that, she didn’t show any anger towards my mother-in-law, maintaining her smile. She reached out and patted my back, comforting me slightly. “The city has many tourist attractions close by, and a two-day itinerary is plenty. This price includes two nights’ accommodation, which is a great deal. Just the other day, your dad and I were talking about booking this package. I guess mother and daughter really are on the same wavelength.” Seeing that my mom wasn’t angry at all, my mother-in-law realized her taunts were falling flat. “Hmph, you’ll know when you’ve suffered a bit. Honey, let’s go now. No need to see us off. Just take your parents on their trip.” My father-inin-law and mother-in-law turned and left. Only my parents and I remained in the house. After they were gone, I took my mom’s hand. “Mom, I really didn’t think all this through. The tour I booked for you, there were plenty of cheaper ones, but you know this travel agency’s value.” My mom shook her head. “That $800 tour was originally for us, right?” My mom had seen right through it, of course. I was about to tell her that I would rebook a trip to the Northwest for them later, but then my mom spoke. “Your in-laws have spent their whole lives in the countryside and have never traveled. It’s a rare chance for them to go, so of course they should enjoy themselves. Don’t worry, your dad and I won’t mind.” I looked at my parents with gratitude and immediately contacted the travel agency to change the passenger names.

After seeing both sets of parents off on their trips, I was alone at home. I went about my usual routine: working, coming home, cleaning the house. I also received different photos from both sets of parents. Mother-in-law: “Oh, my son is so filial! This $800 trip is just different.” Mother-in-law: “Look at this grand hotel, how luxurious! Those country folks would never get to stay in a place like this. My son is a city man now, with a car and a house, he’s amazing.” Mother-in-law: “Oh, this vast, sandy desert is truly something else. Most people wouldn’t even understand it. In a couple of days, our guide is taking us to a famous landmark. Ordinary people can’t get in there, only those with our $800 tickets can.” I looked closely at the photos my mother-in-law sent, frowning. The package clearly stated five-star hotels, but the place they were staying didn’t look like a five-star hotel at all. It looked more like a budget motel. I was about to type a message, telling my mother-in-law to ask the guide about the accommodation, but after typing a few words, I deleted them all. Better to avoid trouble. After so many years married to Blake, I already knew how to handle his relatives. If I opened my mouth and said the hotel was wrong, my mother-in-law would probably scold me. Then I looked at the messages my mom sent me, all beautiful landscape photos. As I was looking at my mom’s photos, Blake came home. “Did you send your parents on their trip?” He asked casually, changing his shoes. I nodded. “Yeah, they’re having a great time. Want to see photos?” I even purposefully held my phone out to him. But he frowned and pushed my hand away. “I just got back from a business trip, I’m a little tired. As long as they’re having fun, that’s enough.” It was normal to be tired after a five-day business trip, so I didn’t think much of it. But unexpectedly, the very next day after he returned, I received an unfamiliar call.

Now, sitting on the floor, I kept replaying everything, and suddenly, from a mess of “something’s wrong,” I finally pulled out the crucial thread. There was no “friend’s travel agency.” It was clearly a setup he orchestrated, to lure my travel-loving parents to the Northwest, then have his contacts guide them into the uncharted wilderness. My parents’ emergency contact was me. The rescue cost was too high, and no one offers free rescue. So, naturally, they contacted me to get them out. In my initial panic, I hadn’t thought much. But now, calm, I knew that regardless of whether it was my parents or his, if either pair of elderly people were in trouble in the wilderness, I would pay to rescue them. However, Blake’s words just now had completely extinguished that notion. He was so resolute, demanding no rescue. Why should I make him act like a devoted son? Thinking this, I stood up and knocked on his bedroom door. “Come out. I want a divorce.” The door opened, and Blake stared at me, utterly shocked. “Are you insane? You want to divorce for those two old geezers, willing to waste so much money? I’m not giving you the money, and now you want a divorce?” I nodded. “Divorce, and divide the assets. My parents paid the down payment on this house, and we’ve been jointly paying the mortgage. Your family paid for the renovations and appliances. So, we’ll split it equally by market value: the house goes to you, and the money comes to me.” “Our joint assets will be divided equally. Don’t worry, we had a prenuptial agreement notarized, so our pre-marital assets won’t be mixed in. “One car each.” At this moment, I was even more grateful that I had considered getting pregnant some time ago. For it, I had specifically asked experienced colleagues with children, bought folic acid and other prenatal supplements, and downloaded an app to calculate my ovulation day. But these were just preparations. Just as I was about to start, some things got in the way. I even decided I didn’t want children this lifetime. Without children, dividing assets would be incredibly easy. Seeing my resolve, Blake sneered. “You think threatening me with divorce will make me pay that money? Ashley Miller, don’t dream. Your money is also mine. You won’t get a divorce.” I looked at him, stunned. It was hard to imagine the man who used to show up under my dorm building every day, who knelt on one knee to propose and promised to treat me well for life, had turned into this. “Are you really willing to let our parents die?” I struggled to control my breathing, staring at him coldly. He sighed. “Ashley, I know it wasn’t easy for your parents to raise you for so many years, but you have to think about our future. We’re both only children; we already have four elderly parents to support. If we have two kids too, can we afford it?” I said grimly, “My parents have their retirement funds; we don’t need to worry about their retirement.” He looked at me coldly, his eyes even showing clear dissatisfaction. “But now we’re talking about $150,000 for one rescue, and there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it out alive! Wouldn’t that $150,000 just be wasted? How many years will it take us, with our salaries, to save up that much?!” Hearing this, I felt utterly sick to my stomach. Perhaps it was psychosomatic, but I clutched my stomach and gagged. Seeing my action, Blake’s eyes suddenly lit up. “If you won’t consider us, at least consider our child, right?” Pregnant? How could I be pregnant? He moved to hug me. “Honey, you’re pregnant, you’re tired, don’t stress over these things. Don’t worry, after this is over, I’ll contact a search and rescue team to try and retrieve your parents’ bodies.” “I remember your parents should have a few insurance policies, and you’re the beneficiary. Once the money comes in, we can move my mom to the city. She can live in your parents’ house. That way, everyone in our village will say you’re a filial daughter-in-law.” “Once the baby is born, we can pool our money to buy him a house. Wouldn’t that be amazing later?” Oh, he’d already planned everything, even for the money after my parents died, and the house we were living in now. When did Blake start having these thoughts? I dodged his embrace. “Are you sure you don’t want a divorce?” Blake nodded. “No divorce, no divorce. You’re pregnant now, why would I divorce? Think about it, wouldn’t it be better to spend that $150,000 on our child than on rescuing two elderly people with slim chances of survival?” I took a long, hard look at Blake, hoping he wouldn’t regret his decision today. After that, Blake became incredibly attentive, even specifically telling me not to be too upset, and to remember to think more about our child if I felt overwhelmed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297190”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

It was the third year with Landon when I overheard his buddy ask him: “Landon, you had your brother pretend to be you? Dating and even kissing your little naive boyfriend? He seriously won’t figure it out?” Landon exhaled a puff of smoke, utterly unconcerned. “We look practically identical. Julian’s simple-minded; he won’t notice a thing.” “Besides, my brother is totally homophobic. And he doesn’t do used goods, so he’d never actually sleep with him.” I lowered my gaze, pretending I didn’t know. For three years, the one I’d been dating, holding hands with, kissing – it was all Landon’s brother. The one who gripped my waist every night, whispering for me to call him ‘Husband’ – that was him too. 0 Landon’s supposedly homophobic brother was now holding me in the bathtub, gently murmuring. “Just let me clean you up, sweetheart. You’ll get sick.” I turned my face away, feeling drained. His expression remained unchanged. He could talk dirty and still look like a perfect gentleman. Who knew his kinks ran that deep? While I was silently fuming, a phone chimed. I watched Jasper subtly angle his phone screen away. I knew immediately it was Landon on the other end. Sure enough, he kissed my forehead. “I’ll just step out for a call. If the water gets cold, let me know.” I stood up, following him silently. *Click.* The sound of a lighter sparked from the balcony first. “Bro, is he with you right now?” “Hm.” Jasper lowered his head, loosely gripping the cigarette between his teeth. A moment of silence passed on the other end. “You really don’t need to go to such lengths. Just string him along normally. Why let him stay over… I went to his dorm tonight, couldn’t find him.” “Didn’t you tell me to pretend to be you and keep him placated?” Jasper exhaled a thin stream of smoke, unhurried. “What, changed your mind? You’re not chasing girls anymore, and now you want to date a guy?” “How could I?” Landon’s voice instantly filled with disgust. “He’s nowhere near Stella. At most, I’d just take pity on him and sleep with him a few times, that’s it.” Laughter and jeers erupted from the phone, and Landon’s voice grew even more contemptuous. “A real relationship? He’s not worthy.” I stood behind the door, listening silently, my throat tightening. “Landon, are you really okay with just tossing him to your brother like that? Julian is way prettier than a lot of the girls at school.” They were probably at a bar; Landon’s voice slurred with drunkenness. “No matter how pretty, he’s still just a guy. Can’t even get pregnant.” “Damn, you’re getting me all worked up!” “—Last time Julian kissed you, his lips were so red. Jasper, tell him, wasn’t that just so damn tempting?” “Knock it off! You know my brother’s homophobic. Kissing a guy is his limit. Right, bro?” Jasper slowly toyed with the lighter in his hand, not answering. The air suddenly went still. “Bro?” In the almost eerie silence, Landon’s voice grew noticeably tense. I quietly peeked at the man standing in the night. After our intimate moments, Jasper still looked perfectly put-together, not a hair out of place. He leaned against the railing, slowly exhaling smoke. After a long moment, he finally stubbed out the cigarette, speaking faintly. “Mm.” 0

“And you guys, don’t think I don’t know you’ve all been secretly eyeing Julian. Fine, crack all the jokes you want, but don’t you dare lay a hand on him. I’m not sharing my leftovers.” “Hey, aren’t you almost done reeling in the campus queen? Why are you still playing Julian? Honestly, Julian’s pretty innocent; he just got turned gay by you because the campus queen likes you—” “Who said he was turned gay by me?” On the phone, Landon let out a short, lazy laugh. “He secretly hid a photo under his pillow. He’d been crushing on me for ages.” At the mention of the photo, my breathing hitched. Then I heard him slowly utter the last few words: “He’s just inherently wired to be used by men.” “Holy shit, Landon, you’re a legend!” The call ended abruptly. I gently exhaled. That dull ache had long since passed, but there were always these tiny cuts. Fine, fragmented, like ants gnawing at me. … I don’t know how long I’d stood outside in the breeze, but when Jasper wrapped his arms around me from behind, there wasn’t a trace of cigarette smoke left on him. I instinctively melted into his embrace. But I really hate being deceived. So, when he cupped my chin and kissed me, I mumbled in protest, “Landon…” The hand exploring my waist paused, his voice husky. “Call me Husband.” I squeezed my eyes shut, silently resisting. Jasper didn’t get angry. He slowly lifted me. My waist dipped into a breathtaking arch. He coaxed softly, “Come on, call me Husband, okay?” … I finally couldn’t hold back a choked sob. But the man behind me had already cast aside his gentle facade. “Husband, Husband—!” Remembering Jasper’s dominance, I quickly twisted around, rubbing my face against his hand. Coaxing, “Husband, it hurts.” “Hurts?” The one who had been silent finally spoke. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” His long fingers brushed away the damp hair from my forehead. “Let Husband see.” “…You’re really crying hard.” His tone was loving, yet his gaze was clearly one of appreciation. My limbs felt weak as I buried my face in his chest. I couldn’t help but curse, “You jerk.” “Jerk?” he repeated, then smiled meaningfully. “You always did like jerks.” … 0

Compared to Jasper, Landon really was more of a jerk. I discovered this relationship was just a game of conquest. It was the second week after we got together, when Landon took me to meet his friends. Having crushed on him for two years, I knew he only liked girls before. I was terrified his friends wouldn’t approve. So, regardless of whether their intentions were malicious, or what kind of alcohol it was—red or white— I accepted every drink they offered, pouring it all down my throat. Finally, when I was too drunk to keep my eyes open, slumping softly into Landon’s arms, he finally spoke, lazily. “Enough. Can’t you see he’s already passed out?” “Tsk.” Someone’s hand brushed my face. “Damn, that face is really something.” Then a pinch on my waist. “Holy shit, his waist is tiny too.” “If you don’t like guys, Landon, why don’t you give him to me?” A puff of smoke was playfully blown into my face. “I love guys like this.” What was he saying…? I lay uncomfortably on Landon’s lap, coughing tears from the smoke. “Oh, can’t stand smoke?” The guy suddenly got excited. “Then imagine smoking while doing him—wouldn’t that be the best? Haha…” What on earth were they talking about?! My remaining consciousness waited for Landon to scold them. But no matter how long I waited, he remained silent. “So it’s settled.” “Kyle, wanna join tonight? The hotel downstairs has everything, it’ll be epic…” “Enough.” Landon pushed the guy away, his voice low. “Don’t even think about him.” “No way, Landon.” The guy laughed exaggeratedly. “Do you want to taste what a guy feels like, or are you getting soft on him?” “Come on, this is the guy the campus queen likes, he’s your rival. How can you be soft on him?” “Damn it, are you deaf?” Landon slammed his lighter on the table, his voice impatient. “I told you I’d hand him over to my brother. Once I get Stella, I’ll just find an excuse to dump him. If I hand him over to you, you’ll try to kill him? I don’t want a murder on my hands.” “As for getting soft,” Landon sneered. “The thought of being intimate with a guy makes me sick.” …No wonder. No wonder every time I tried to kiss him, he’d turn away with a dark look. I thought I was being too eager. Turns out, he just found me disgusting. …Good thing my face was down. I struggled to keep from throwing up, trying to find some bitter amusement in the situation. Otherwise, a grown man crying with snot and tears everywhere would look pretty bad, right? 0

“This is truly absurd.” When he placed me in the passenger seat, I distinctly felt him wearily rub his brow. “Landon, how could you come up with something so ridiculous?” “I don’t want my crush to like someone else, bro. I know you’re homophobic, and this is a huge sacrifice, but just help me out this one time, okay?” “I promise, I won’t touch a race car for at least a month afterward.” “That’s not the same thing.” Jasper’s tone was firm. “When will you ever grow up…” “Ugh.” My stomach churned from all the alcohol, and I couldn’t help but turn over. I met the gaze of the person leaning over to buckle my seatbelt. …They really did look alike. Even the mole at the corner of their eyes was identical. Yet, despite having the same face, Landon was ostentatious, wanting the whole world to fall in love with him. This man, however, meticulously buttoned his shirt to the very top, his sleeves rolled up only a tiny bit, revealing his wrist-watch. It gave him an almost unapproachable, ascetic air, combined with an undeniable hint of raw desire. His gaze lingered briefly on my lips for a few seconds before subtly shifting away. His long fingers tapped the steering wheel. “Fine, just this once.” … Later, everything proceeded smoothly according to Landon’s wishes. The two of them took turns holding my hand, going on dates with me. Every day, I received two hefty allowances and two sets of gifts. With one exception. Jasper would take me to bed. In stark contrast to his reserved and self-possessed exterior, his desires were intense, and his repertoire varied. Every time, with his back covered in scratch marks, he’d casually kiss my trembling inner thigh while calmly responding to Landon’s calls: “No, he’s been very well-behaved.” “Hmm, didn’t notice a thing.” Then he’d pull my groggy body into his arms. “Come on, sleep a little before school, okay?” … By routine, yesterday should have been Landon’s turn. But perhaps things with Stella had finally progressed, so he couldn’t even bother to pretend. He just turned off his phone and went sea fishing with his beauty. By the time he remembered me that evening, Jasper and I had already had several rounds in bed. 0

The next morning, Landon was waiting downstairs early. “Sit in the back. The front passenger seat is Stella’s spot.” Perhaps he thought I was an idiot, but Landon never bothered to hide his disdain for me. Or his unique special treatment for Stella. It seemed things were indeed getting serious. After just one day, the car’s decorations and air freshener had changed to styles Stella liked. I paused, hand on the door, and didn’t say anything, dutifully getting into the back. “Wait.” In the rearview mirror, Landon’s half-lidded eyes narrowed. “What’s that on your collarbone?” I followed his gaze and touched my skin,愣了一瞬. It was a tooth mark. Jasper, that jerk. “Probably a mosquito bite.” I cursed Jasper silently, then nonchalantly pulled up my collar. “A mosquito could do that?” Landon frowned. When he leaned closer, as if to inspect it, I suddenly felt a surge of weariness. So I curved my lips slightly. “Wasn’t it you, Husband?” “When the hell did I—” Landon suddenly fell silent. “Can we not go on for so long tonight? I’m really tired.” I yawned, fanning the flames. “…Okay.” Landon gritted his teeth, his face thunderous, dark enough to curdle milk. Sure enough, not long after I got out of the car, I heard him questioning Jasper’s voice. “Bro, did you touch Julian?” I don’t know what Jasper said, but Landon suddenly kicked the front of the car violently. “He’s my boyfriend! How could you touch him?” I walked back a couple of steps and heard the unhurried rustle of Jasper flipping through papers. “Aren’t you about to win Stella over? It’s the perfect time to break up with him.” Then a pause. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Julian.” “I…” Landon irritably tugged at his collar. “Even if I don’t like him, he’s still my boyfriend. No one else touches him but me, damn it.” “I’ve been unfair to him these past three years. Once I sort things out with Stella, I’ll consider forcing myself to try with him.” “Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave you once he finds out the truth?” “No.” Landon’s brow instantly relaxed a little. “He loves me a lot.” “Sorry, bro, I shouldn’t have suspected you like that. You two definitely don’t have anything going on. Once I handle things here… No, I’ll take him to meet everyone around me tonight. It’ll be compensation.” “From now on, Julian won’t be bothering you, bro. You’ve worked hard these past few years.” Jasper turned another page. “No trouble at all.” 0

For the next few days, Landon truly seemed to have settled down, dutifully staying on campus. Several times, I intentionally made movements to get close to him, just like before, and he surprisingly didn’t resist at all. In fact, his reactions were quite intense. The next time I evaded his pursuing lips, Landon finally couldn’t hold back. He forcefully pressed me down beneath him. Panting, he commanded, “Open your mouth.” “I’m a bit tired today.” I innocently repeated his old excuse. “And a little unaccustomed to it.” Landon’s breath hitched for a moment, and he slowly released me. He lowered his gaze, muttering to himself, “It’s okay, after tonight…” I didn’t know what he had planned. But I tilted my head and thought. Whether it was with Landon or Jasper, it was time for this game to end. So I obediently nodded. “Okay.” 0

I didn’t expect Landon to be off his game even before evening. “I’m going out to take a call.” After dodging five consecutive calls, he finally couldn’t hold back, grabbing his phone and rushing out. As soon as he stepped out of the dorm building, a girl threw herself into his arms. “You said you liked me, so why did you suddenly stop coming to see me?” The girl sobbed, complaining indignantly. The one who had been constantly saying he needed to sort things out with Stella let her wrap her arms around his waist. His hands hesitated for a few seconds before finally resting on her shoulders, holding her tight. … “Ah!” Stella suddenly shrieked. I instinctively tried to step back, but someone wrapped an arm around my waist, kissing my neck with a low chuckle. Landon finally looked up, his eyes landing on me. “It’s not what you think!” He abruptly pushed the girl away, trying to walk over and explain. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the person beside me. “…Bro?” I pulled my hand from Jasper’s grasp, about to speak. Then I heard Jasper calmly respond, “Hm.” “I haven’t introduced you two yet.” Just like someone introducing their partner to family, Jasper calmly gestured towards Landon. “This is my brother, Landon. And as for Julian,” He didn’t bat an eye, taking my hand and intertwining our fingers once more, a smile playing on his lips. “This is your sister-in-law.” 0

“…What are you talking about?” It wasn’t just me; Landon’s face also went momentarily blank. I hadn’t expected Jasper to still be pretending to be his brother at this point. Seeing Jasper calmly pull me closer, Landon’s eyelid twitched. “When did he become your—!” “Are you asking when we got together?” Jasper’s lips curved slightly, but there wasn’t a hint of a smile in his light eyes; instead, there was a cold, cruel glint. “But are you sure,” “You want Julian to hear what I’m about to say?” “You bastard!” Landon quickly strode over, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall like a furious lion, his eyes bloodshot. “He’s my—!” “Address me properly.” Even in such a disheveled state, Jasper met his gaze with an unnerving calm. Landon’s fury slowly dissipated under that steady stare. “…Sister-in-law.” He glared at Jasper, gritting his teeth. “Happy now?” Jasper nodded slightly, but he wasn’t done. “Didn’t you say you were introducing your girlfriend to everyone tonight? Julian isn’t an outsider; he can witness it too.” “Going, sweetheart?” Both men looked at me. Our eyes met, and I suddenly felt a sense of relief. For Stella, Landon had concocted this ridiculous rotation game. Now that he saw I wasn’t clinging to him anymore, he must be thrilled. So I smiled and leaned into Jasper’s embrace. “Of course, I’ll go. Landon’s brother is my brother, after all.” 0

Perhaps they’d already been briefed, but when we walked into the private room, everyone enthusiastically stood up. A chorus of “Sister-in-law” was on the verge of escaping their lips when they saw Jasper behind me. Their expressions immediately became a sight to behold. “Uh, L-Landon?” They took a few seconds to react, perhaps thinking Landon had suddenly changed his mind again. So they all pretended to be familiar and clapped Jasper on the shoulder. Then, the real Landon walked in, a dark scowl on his face. “Holy shit.” Someone finally couldn’t help but blurt out a curse. “Why are you looking at me? Order the food.” Landon, still fuming, sat down next to me. “Aren’t you going to introduce everyone first?” Jasper, while naturally sanitizing my forks, smoothly steered the conversation. “This is Stella,” Landon gritted his back teeth. “My girlfriend.” Stella shyly leaned against him. Landon immediately looked at me nervously. Seeing my lack of reaction, his face grew even darker. He finally ignored everyone’s winks and nudges, silently peeling a shrimp for me. “Eat shrimp.” Before I could even reach for it, the person on the other side snatched it with his forks. “You f**king done with your—” Landon slammed his forks on the table. Before he could unleash his anger, he heard Jasper casually say, “He’s allergic to shrimp.” Landon’s rage immediately died down. “I didn’t know.” He looked uncharacteristically flustered. Ignoring how bizarre it was for him to serve me, he eagerly picked up a piece of chicken. “You can eat this, right?” “Thanks, I can eat it.” I gave him a slight smile, and as his face relaxed in relief, I promptly put it into Jasper’s bowl. “But I don’t like it.” The smile on Landon’s face completely vanished. “Wanna step out for a smoke?” As if he couldn’t hold back his fury any longer, he stood up and tapped twice on Jasper’s chair back. It was boring to stare at a bunch of guys who enjoyed humiliating me, and I also wanted to know what Jasper’s game plan was. So I found an excuse and followed them out. Sure enough, around a corner, I heard Landon’s vicious voice: “Bro, what the hell is your deal? Are you addicted to pretending to be me, or did you seriously fall for your own brother’s boyfriend?” “It’s perfectly natural for me to get him food,” He let out a short, neurotic laugh. “But what right do you have to care what he’s allergic to?” “I don’t have the right.” Jasper held a cigarette in one hand, bringing it nonchalantly to his lips. Then he casually stubbed it out. “But I will soon.” Landon exploded, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall, his eyes bloodshot: “Jasper! Are you really stealing your brother’s boyfriend?!” “What’s the rush?” Under Landon’s furious glare, Jasper remained outwardly calm and relaxed. His long legs, encased in tailored trousers, were sprawled lazily. “If I hadn’t pushed you like this, would you ever have seen your true feelings?” “What do you mean?” Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “If I hadn’t forced your hand tonight, would you still be wavering between Stella and Julian?” “No matter how much Julian loves you, there’ll always come a day when he loses heart.” Jasper freed his collar from Landon’s grip. Like a dependable older brother, he patiently guided him: “Now do you know what to do?” Though still half-skeptical, Landon finally relaxed his hold on his brother, who he’d trusted for over twenty years. He snorted. “Alright, let’s switch roles back then. And book me a room.” “Condoms and stuff are basic, but get a few more varieties of kinks.” He carefully watched Jasper’s expression. “Something this simple, surely nothing else could go wrong, right?” “Of course.” Jasper’s expression was as usual. … When they re-entered the private room, the two had indeed switched seats. “Can we sleep out tonight?” Landon, now in different clothes, lightly bit my earlobe. A disagreeable stickiness immediately washed over me. I instinctively flinched away, my hand accidentally brushing against Jasper’s thigh. Just as I was about to move it back, my pinky finger was gently hooked. I looked up to see Jasper calmly sipping tea, his face devoid of expression. Noticing my gaze, he even raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” “…Nothing.” So, under everyone’s watchful eyes, right next to his own brother, Jasper subtly intertwined his fingers with mine, his ‘brother’s boyfriend,’ beneath the tablecloth. Slowly. So slowly. Then he squeezed tight. “I’ve booked a room.” Seeing I didn’t respond, Landon thought I was shy, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. “I—it’s my first time too, but I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. Okay?” My fingertips were gently caressed by another, and my heart couldn’t help but quicken a few beats. But I carefully held back my answer. Because I knew Landon wasn’t the only one waiting for my reply. Landon was doing this for Stella. But what about Jasper? Was simply humoring his brother reason enough to sacrifice himself and sleep with a man? I’d even secretly wondered if he liked me. But then why had he lied to me for three years, never revealing his true identity? Yet, recalling the brothers’ interaction just now, I finally spoke with a smile. “Okay.” Since Jasper had gone to such lengths, even booking us a room. How could I possibly disappoint his efforts?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297189”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance