Author: Momo Chan

After my husband’s unexpected death, I stayed to care for his parents. I served my paralyzed father-in-law for five years and accompanied my mother-in-law Lillian through the rest of her life. But when I went to handle the inheritance, my husband who had been dead for eighteen years suddenly appeared. He had his arm around a strange woman’s waist, with a twenty-year-old kid beside him: “Valerie, what right do you have to inherit my parents’ house and money!” That’s when I learned the accidental death all those years ago was just a lie he made up so he could run off with another woman! To fight for the family assets, he spread rumors everywhere, saying I’d abused the elderly and had long been scheming for the family fortune. Online trolls who didn’t know the truth began cyberbullying me. The judge also ruled in his favor as the “first-order heir,” awarding him all the house and money my in-laws left behind. At my most desperate moment, I chose to end my life. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn to the day Lillian blushed and said someone was pursuing her. I grabbed her hand. “Lillian, is that man in good health? Can he still have children?”

Lillian froze, then her face turned even redder. “We haven’t even started anything yet, how can you already be talking about having children?” I was almost crying tears of joy. Joy that the rebirth was real. Tears that this time, I could rewrite my own fate with my own hands. I gripped Lillian’s hand even tighter: “What do you mean we haven’t started? If this works out in the end, having kids is just a matter of time, right?” Lillian looked uneasy. “But… I can understand remarrying at my age, but getting pregnant again… won’t people laugh at me?” I immediately objected: “Lillian, you’re only in your forties. You’re completely capable of having children.” Lillian could hardly believe it. “Valerie, you really support me having another baby?” I lowered my eyes as memories from my past life flooded back. After Ethan Collins faked his death, Lillian had wanted to have another child. But at that time, my father-in-law was bedridden and paralyzed, and her health wasn’t great either. Later, after my father-in-law died, she was barely fifty and had thoughts of remarrying again. But the man pursuing her at that time already had a son and daughter. I analyzed the pros and cons for her, saying remarriage was fine but having kids was off the table. In the end, after much consideration, plus seeing her best friend’s unhappy remarriage, she gave up on the idea. But this time, I nodded vigorously. “Of course! You lost your son and then your husband in middle age. Pursuing your own happiness is your right. I have no reason to object.” “But you need to find someone with good character who won’t take advantage of you.” Lillian hesitated: “He’s a good man, just has a slight defect…” My heart sank. Could he not have children after all? The next second, I heard Lillian say: “He has a slight limp. You know him actually—it’s Charles from downstairs…” My heart leapt with joy. “Charles is great! Sure, his leg isn’t perfect, but he has no children and he’s a few years younger than you, right?” “You two could have your own child together.” Though I had selfish motives, I’d gotten along well with Lillian in my past life. Even if remarriage served my purposes, I hoped she’d find a good man. Besides, when I was at my most desperate in my past life, Charles was the only one who extended a helping hand to me. More importantly, I’d heard he used to be well-connected in both legitimate and underground circles. That way, even if Ethan came back later to make trouble, he wouldn’t be able to cause much of a stir. Lillian’s eyes welled up with tears: “Valerie, I was so afraid you wouldn’t agree at first… I’m so glad you understand…” I held her hand as warmth flooded through my heart. As for Ethan… He liked playing dead to avoid responsibility, wanting to swoop in at the end and reap all the benefits? I’d like to see his reaction when Lillian remarried and had a second child. When he came back from his fake death, he’d find: No home, no house, his mom remarried, and all the family assets belonged to his stepfather and half-brother! He and his illegitimate child wouldn’t get a single penny!

With my support, things between Lillian and Charles took off like a rocket. A week later, Charles showed up at our door with bags of gifts. He looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m here to… discuss engagement details.” Lillian brought tea out from the kitchen, her face red as an apple. I couldn’t help but smile and invited Charles to sit down. “Charles, I won’t beat around the bush. She may be Lillian, but I’ve always treated her like my own mother all these years. I have no problem with her marrying you, but I need to ask you a few things.” He sat up straight. “Go ahead.” “Are your feelings for Lillian genuine?” “Absolutely genuine.” When he said this, his eyes never left Lillian. That kind of gaze couldn’t lie. I nodded and asked my second question. “You have no children. If Lillian wants to have one in the future, can you support the child?” At this, Lillian nearly dropped her teacup and glared at me with a red face. “Valerie! What are you saying!” But Charles laughed—a big, hearty laugh. “Valerie, I can’t promise much else, but supporting a child is absolutely no problem.” That’s when I learned Charles owned an entire building unit in the North District. With the rental income alone, he could support not just one child, but ten. Though I’d known Charles was a catch and many people had tried to set him up before, but he’d never been interested, hearing him state his assets firsthand still shocked me. In that area of the North District, a two-bedroom apartment rented for at least three thousand a month. Twenty-four units would bring in several hundred thousand a year. With that settled, I didn’t need to ask any more questions. I squeezed Lillian’s hand. “Charles, I’m entrusting her to you. If you treat her badly, I won’t forgive you.” He immediately pulled a card from his pocket and pushed it across the coffee table to me. “Valerie, this is eighty thousand—consider it a wedding gift.” I gave the card to Lillian. “Charles, I’m not after your money. I just want you to treat my mom well. This money is for her.” Lillian’s eyes instantly reddened as she tried to push the card back into my hands. “That won’t do. Charles gave it to you, you should keep it. Actually, I needs to discuss something with you.” “These years haven’t been easy for you. Without you, this family would have fallen apart long ago. I’m planning to transfer the furniture factory to your name, and leave the house and savings to you too.” I was stunned. Originally, I only wanted to take back what was rightfully mine. But I never expected her to give me everything. I was about to speak when Lillian raised her hand to stop me. “Valerie, let me finish first.” She wiped away tears. “All these years, the hardships you’ve endured in this family—caring for your father-in-law for five years without complaint—I’ve seen it all.” “Now I’m remarrying. These things originally belonged to you and Ethan. Since Ethan is gone, they should be yours. I can’t let you walk away with nothing.” My heart churned with indescribable emotions. Ethan was a bastard. He’d wronged me. But Lillian had genuinely treated me well. I couldn’t let her suffer a loss either. In the end, I only took the factory and savings, leaving the house to Lillian. I also added another twenty thousand to Charles’s card, making it an even hundred thousand as Lillian’s wedding gift. As for whether Ethan could eventually get his hands on any of Lillian’s money, that would depend on whether she could accept her son rising from the dead. After handling these matters, Lillian and Charles officially registered their marriage. I suggested they have a travel wedding, booking international flights and a five-star hotel for a month-long honeymoon trip. I had a vague sense that Ethan had planted informants around us. Otherwise, in my past life, he wouldn’t have appeared so quickly to fight for the inheritance right after Lillian died. If we held a big wedding ceremony or if news got out about Lillian moving to Charles’s place, who knew what trouble might arise. Before sending them off to the airport, I even slipped some intimate aids into Lillian’s suitcase. I hoped this month and a half trip would help them conceive.

When I got home, I suddenly felt completely unburdened. The shackles that had weighed on me in my past life—responsibility, morality, obligation… In this moment, they all fell away. I was no longer a daughter-in-law of the Collins family, no longer the free caretaker dealing with bedpans, no longer the fool paying off someone else’s debts. I had my own factory, my own savings, my own life. This lightness lasted only a few days. One day, just as I reached the apartment building entrance, Mrs. Wilson from the next building stopped me. “Oh, Valerie! You’re back!” “I haven’t seen Lillian out dancing these past few days. Is she not feeling well?” Looking at her eager face, my heart tightened, but I still smiled. “No, she went on a trip.” Monica Wilson leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Who did she go with?” “I saw her getting pretty friendly with Charles from downstairs the other day. They were laughing and chatting together. Don’t tell me they’re an item?” As her words fell, my suspicions crystallized. I’d wondered before whether Ethan might have planted informants around us. Now it seemed my guess was right. This Monica Wilson always found ways to ask about our family affairs. Today she’d ask how Lillian’s health was, tomorrow whether anyone had visited, the day after how business was at the furniture factory. I used to think it was just sisterly concern between dancing buddies. Now, connecting all the dots, her son apparently worked at the crematorium. No wonder I’d watched with my own eyes as Ethan was pushed into the cremation furnace, only to have him suddenly come back to life. This Monica Wilson must be the informant Ethan had planted. Seeing my silence, Monica Wilson’s brow furrowed slightly. I suppressed the hatred churning in my heart and put on a helpless expression. “Mrs. Wilson, don’t say that. Charles is ten years younger than my mom. He just wanted to replace some furniture recently, so when Lillian had time, she took him to the factory to look around.” Monica Wilson breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, I see. I was going to say, with such a filial daughter-in-law like you, your mother-in-law should just enjoy her golden years. She definitely shouldn’t go find another man to serve.” Then she put on a concerned expression. “Look at you—your father-in-law was paralyzed for years, and you handled everything at home. If your mother-in-law remarried, there’s no telling who’d end up with the family assets, right?” I nodded with an “I think so too” expression. After chatting a bit more, Monica Wilson said she needed to go cook dinner and left. I watched her figure disappear around the corner, my smile fading bit by bit, then followed her. She found a secluded corner, pulled out her phone, looked around, and made a call. “Mr. Collins, I’ve found out about your family situation.” My heart clenched. It really was Ethan. “Your mom went on a trip. She probably doesn’t have plans to remarry. I also gave Valerie a little warning, so she should…” I didn’t keep listening. I turned and went home. Ethan, you like spying? Then I’ll let you spy to your heart’s content. In the following days, Monica Wilson kept coming around like before. I played along, acting obedient while feeding her false information. A month later, I got a call from Lillian. She said she didn’t know if it was the change in climate or menopause, but her period was a week late and she felt tired. She wanted to come home early. My heart leapt and I nearly jumped off the sofa. “Lillian, could you be pregnant? Have you tested?”

Lillian kept saying it was impossible, but that same day she went to the hospital and confirmed she was pregnant. The doctor said the pregnancy was still unstable. I suggested they not rush back. I don’t know what Charles managed to arrange, but they ended up staying over three months. During that time, Monica Wilson asked several times. Each time I smiled and said: “Still traveling and relaxing. They’re having such a good time they don’t want to come back.” When Lillian returned, her belly was already about four months along. Since it was winter, people just thought she’d gained a little weight. But over time, Monica Wilson would eventually find out. Lillian also worried that being seen by others would lead to questions that might affect her mood. I booked a suite at the best prenatal care center in the province, with the reservation running until Lillian’s due date. Five months later, Lillian safely delivered a healthy baby boy at the hospital. On the baby’s celebration, I went door to door delivering gifts and sharing the good news. Monica Wilson took the gift, her eyes wide as saucers: “Valerie, when did you have a baby?” I smiled without answering her question, just pushing the gift into her hands. “Mrs. Wilson, remember to come visit!” As soon as she closed the door, I heard her making a phone call. “Mr. Collins, we have a problem…” I smiled with satisfaction and turned to leave. After all, Lillian was at that age—her body hadn’t fully recovered by the Sip-and-See Party. I had her rest in the back room while Charles and I greeted guests at the entrance with the baby. Just as the guests were settling in and the atmosphere was getting lively, a figure strode in through the hall entrance. “Valerie!” After all this planning, Ethan finally appeared. He walked right up to me. “How dare you! Going behind my back to have a bastard child, thinking you can take over the Collins family assets?” Charles obviously hadn’t processed what was happening—his face showed only shock at seeing the supposedly dead Ethan. The woman beside Ethan sneered. “Valerie, I understand you’ve been lonely too long and wanted a man, but couldn’t you have found someone better? This man is old and crippled…” Before Sarah could finish, my palm struck her face: “Watch your filthy mouth!” Ethan immediately jumped to her defense, his voice rising eight octaves. “Valerie, have you no shame! Acting like a whore and then daring to hit people?!” I looked at him with cold eyes. “If you can fake your death and run off to live it up, why wouldn’t I dare hit someone?” Ethan froze, as if unable to understand how I knew about his faked death. But after the shock, he grew even angrier: “I don’t care what you say today or who you’re with!” “But the Collins family house and factory—you and this bastard child won’t get a penny!” Charles finally snapped out of it, his expression darkening. He was about to speak when I stopped him. Then I smiled slowly. “Who told you this is my son?” He froze, then sneered. “You’re carrying a baby around delivering gifts to everyone. If he’s not yours, whose is he?” “You think you can use this bastard to claim a share of the Collins family assets? Dream on!” He rambled on, spittle flying, his face full of a victor’s smugness. I looked down at the baby in my arms who’d been woken by the noise and gently patted him. Once he quieted down, I raised my head to look at Ethan. “You got one thing wrong. He’s not a bastard. He’s your biological little brother.”

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My husband, Ethan Smith, is a major internet influencer with tens of millions of followers across all platforms. Online users ship him with another female influencer named River Johnson. During their joint live streams, they create physical contact and openly flirt with each other. Netizens call them the “streaming couple.” For all these years, their fans have been attacking me relentlessly. They say I’m a homewrecker who got between him and River. They’ve even exposed my personal information and harassed my family and child. I’ve fought with Ethan about this, cried about it, and even attempted suicide during my most vulnerable moment. But all I got in return was one sentence from Ethan. “Vivian, can you stop making a scene? We’re just business partners. Can you not be so petty?” So from that day on, I stopped making scenes. Until Ethan told me— “Vivian, I want to hold a wedding with River.” He said this while I was in the kitchen pan-searing a steak for him. Seeing I had no reaction, Ethan continued talking to himself. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just to fulfill the fans’ dream and sell some products along the way. My traffic’s been terrible lately. I need to create some buzz.” He was about to continue when I answered him straightforwardly. “Fine. You don’t need to consult me about this kind of thing. As long as it helps your career, I have no objections.” Ethan froze, clearly not expecting this reaction from me. I brought the pan-seared steak to him and asked softly. “Is there anything you need me to prepare for the wedding? Are the venue and wedding dress already booked?” Only then did he snap out of it, his tone carrying a hint of surprise. “Oh, no need. We’ve already chosen everything. Just letting you know.” I nodded obediently and said nothing more. Ethan looked at me with some puzzlement. “Why are you so compliant today? Not making a scene?” “I was immature before. Now I’ve come to terms with it.” I said this while serving him the steak. Ethan was very satisfied with my response. “If you’d been this compliant earlier, we wouldn’t have fought so much.” He lowered his head to eat the steak. I quietly took out my phone. Opening TikTok, my DMs were filled with the familiar abuse. “You bitch, can’t you just disappear? Must you seek attention?” “Ethan marrying you is the worst luck. He and River are the real couple! You’re the mistress!” “Why haven’t you divorced Ethan yet? Haven’t you milked him enough over these years?” I’d been reading these messages for a full eight years. Exiting the DMs, their names were prominently displayed on the trending searches. “Heaven and River Unite — Wedding Stream Coming with Fan Giveaways!” All the comments below were filled with anticipation and blessings. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Ethan was a married man. In the past, I would have cursed back at every single DM and tried to stop Ethan from doing such ridiculous things. But now, I’m tired. I’ve finally seen clearly that Ethan has never had me in his heart. He only cares about his own future. No matter how much humiliation and abuse I suffer, he only tells me to endure it. Since that’s the case, I’ll just pretend not to see it. After all, he hasn’t mistreated me materially, and we can’t get divorced anyway. When we got married, because he was an influencer, we signed an agreement. Only he can initiate divorce, not me — otherwise it would damage his image. What’s more, we have a daughter. She’s my everything now. After dinner, River came to our house, saying she wanted to discuss the wedding live stream sales pitch with Ethan. I smiled at her politely, then left to pick up our daughter from school, proactively giving them space.

River was very surprised by my transformation. Ethan boasted to her proudly. “I’ve trained Vivian to be very obedient now. Don’t worry, she won’t give you attitude anymore.” When he said this, his tone was like someone showing off an obedient dog. When I arrived at the school gate, I saw a group of people wearing masks surrounding the school so tightly that not even water could pass through. An ominous premonition instantly rose in my heart. I desperately pushed my way in. Surrounded in the middle was my daughter, Sophie. My daughter was already crying in fear, her body trembling nonstop. Several young girls in front of her were hurling vicious words at her. “You’re that bitch Vivian’s child — just like your mom, a little bitch!” “Do you know your dad doesn’t even like your mom? You’re a mistress’s kid!” “Ethan is only staying married because of the child. Let’s throw her somewhere remote and Ethan can divorce Vivian!” Seeing this scene, my blood pressure instantly shot through the roof. I immediately rushed forward and shielded my daughter behind me. “Who are you people? Stay away from my daughter!” The leading girl’s eyes lit up when she saw me. “Vivian, perfect timing! Ethan’s about to hold a wedding with River. Now you finally know your place, right? Hurry up and divorce him and get lost!” I ignored her, crouched down to pick up my daughter and tried to leave. When the girl saw me trying to leave, she immediately reached out and viciously grabbed my hair. “You dare leave? Did you hear me? Stop clinging to Ethan!” A sharp pain shot through my scalp. I could no longer suppress the fury in my heart. “Let go of me! Are you all insane? Ethan and I are legally married. Whether we divorce or not has nothing to do with you!” The moment those words left my mouth, the group exploded. Everyone surged forward, punching and kicking me. I immediately crouched on the ground, using my body to shield my daughter, terrified she might get hurt. The beating lasted a full five minutes until passersby called the police and they scattered. I collapsed on the ground, not knowing how many kicks I’d taken. I only felt like the bones in my back were broken, the pain causing unstoppable tears to flow. But in front of my daughter, I still forced myself to stay composed. “Sophie, are you okay? Were you scared?” My daughter looked at me with hollow eyes. Ignoring the severe pain in my back, I immediately got up and took her to the hospital. After examining her, the doctor told me my daughter was just frightened — nothing serious. With some psychological counseling, she would gradually forget. Hearing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor then examined my back. The result was a spinal fracture requiring immediate surgery. Before entering the operating room, I received a call from Ethan. “Hello? Where are you right now?” “The hospital. What’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice suddenly rose. “You have the nerve to ask me what’s wrong? Did you fight with my fans again today? Do you know I lost twenty thousand followers because of you? They’re all telling me to divorce you now!” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and spoke calmly. “Oh, then let’s divorce. Having a father like you is Sophie’s tragedy.” With that, I hung up directly. Ethan must have seen the video of me being beaten, but his first concern wasn’t the safety of me and our daughter — it was his precious followers. Men like this are truly disgusting. After the surgery, I stayed in the hospital for a few days. Once my body recovered somewhat, I took my daughter home.

As soon as I entered, I saw River wearing my pajamas, sitting on the living room sofa like the lady of the house watching TV. Ethan was right beside her. Seeing me return, Ethan immediately stood up and questioned me. “Where the hell have you been these past few days? I’ve been waiting for you to record an apology video. My fans are asking me every day to give them an explanation!” I handed my daughter to the nanny. After she went upstairs, I turned to look at Ethan. “Why should I apologize to your fans? Do you know they blocked Sophie’s school gate and cursed at her?” Ethan’s eyes flickered. “How could they curse at Sophie? Besides, even if they did, couldn’t you just tell the child to endure it? Fans are my bread and butter!” That phrase again. Every time his and River’s fans bullied me, he told me to endure it. “Ethan, Sophie was so frightened she developed psychological issues, and I was beaten by your fans until my spine fractured. Not only will I not apologize, I’m going to hold them accountable!” Ethan suddenly stood up. “Vivian, what crazy talk is this? If you dare sue my fans, I’ll cut off your mother’s medical expenses!” This sentence instantly extinguished all my emotions. Right. My mother is still lying in the hospital. Every month’s medical expenses all depend on Ethan. I smiled bitterly. “You’re threatening me with this? But you’ve forgotten why my mother became like this, haven’t you?” Back then, it was Ethan’s fanatical fans who exposed our home address. Several people secretly broke into our house wanting to teach me a lesson but accidentally encountered my mother. My mother bore this senseless disaster in my place. She had a heart attack, and because rescue came too late, she became a vegetable. Afterward, I cried until my eyes nearly went blind, clutching Ethan’s hand and begging him to find the culprits and send them to prison to get justice for my mother. But just like now, he only told me to endure it and not make things difficult for him. Now, he’s actually using my mother’s life to threaten me. Ethan frowned, too guilty to speak. River spoke up from the side, her words twisting the knife. “Vivian, you can’t blame Ethan for this. It was your mother who couldn’t withstand the shock. Our fans didn’t know she had a heart condition. Besides, Ethan works so hard to earn money — isn’t it all for your family?” This sentence immediately gave Ethan an out. “Right, I’m doing all this for you, aren’t I?” I didn’t respond. Step by step, I walked to River and slapped her across the face. “You leaked my daughter’s school address to those fans, didn’t you?” River covered her face, staring at me blankly. After recovering, she immediately denied it. “Of course it wasn’t me!” Ethan immediately rushed over to shield her. “Vivian, what are you doing? How can you hit people?” My gaze moved past him to River behind him. “If not you, then who? Only Ethan and I know Sophie’s school address. We didn’t even tell the nanny.” River defended herself guiltily. “Maybe the fans found out themselves, or you accidentally exposed it. Don’t frame me!” Ethan warned me again. “Vivian, stop causing trouble, or I’ll cut off your mother’s medical expenses right now!” Thinking of my mother in the hospital bed, I took a deep breath and stepped back. Seeing me yield, Ethan quickly struck while the iron was hot. “Wait here. I’ll get the phone stand. You’re recording the apology video right now.” With that, he turned and went upstairs.

Seeing Ethan leave, River immediately dropped her pretense and showed her true colors. “So what if I did it? Ethan won’t believe you anyway.” She walked up to me, her tone contemptuous. “Besides, even if you’re his legal wife, so what? The one who gets to stand by his side is me. Do you really think he’d give up his influencer status and me for you?” I stared at her face, my fists clenching tightly. “Those fans only hate me so much because you’ve been manipulating them behind the scenes, right?” River smiled disdainfully. “Manipulated? They all just think River and Ethan are perfect for each other.” I raised my hand to hit her again, but she grabbed my wrist. “I let you hit me just now as an act for Ethan. Now that he’s not here, don’t even think about touching me again. Let me give you some advice — stop making trouble. In the end, you’ll only humiliate yourself.” Just as she finished speaking, Ethan came downstairs. River immediately let go of my hand. “Vivian, come apologize.” “No need.” I refused coldly. Ethan’s face darkened. I continued. “Aren’t you two holding a wedding? I’ll apologize then. It’ll add some heat to your live stream.” River’s eyes lit up, thinking this would humiliate me more. She immediately persuaded Ethan. “Ethan, I think that’s a good idea. We can sell products first, then have her apologize at the end to keep the viewers. The effect will definitely be better.” Ethan was convinced and nodded. “Fine. Memorize your lines. Don’t mess up on the day.” He handed me a piece of paper. I took it, nodded, and turned to go upstairs. Of course I wasn’t actually compromising. I agreed to apologize because I’d just received a friend request. The requester was River’s boyfriend. He sent me a bunch of materials along with a message. “I saw the video of you being mobbed by those fans. I think you need this. Let’s work together.” Those materials both shocked and delighted me. I’d finally found a way to utterly destroy Ethan and River’s reputations. That’s why I agreed to apologize during the live stream — just to give them a huge surprise that day. Over the next few days, I stayed home quietly. Ethan went out early and came back late every day, busy preparing for his and River’s wedding, more devoted than when we got married. Soon, the day of the live stream arrived. Ethan and River held a grand online wedding in the live stream. The public screen was densely filled with the same phrase. “Dream come true.” After the ceremony, they started selling products with perfect coordination and constant small gestures. When Ethan introduced hand cream, he deliberately touched River’s hand. When River introduced a belt, she slyly mentioned she knew Ethan’s waist size. The live stream viewers were charmed and started ordering frantically. All products quickly sold out. Ethan was so happy he got carried away. In front of millions of viewers, he directly kissed River. “River is my bride for the day. One kiss isn’t too much, haha.” The live stream’s popularity instantly peaked. Ethan struck while the iron was hot and immediately called me out to apologize. I straightened my clothes and slowly walked into the live stream. As soon as I appeared, the public screen was once again flooded with abuse. Ethan urged me to speak. I smiled slightly at the camera and slowly began. “Hello everyone, I’m Vivian. I have a question for you all.” “Ethan just said River is his bride for the day. Does that mean they can also sleep together?”

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The day the TV drama wrapped, I was once again thrust onto trending topics by paparazzi photos. But the person in the photos wasn’t me. It was my husband, Gideon, the Best Actor, kissing Lillian Ross, the second female lead who played my rival in the show. Along with the trending post came this caption: “Shocking Revelation: After Actress Serena Winters Wraps Her Drama, Best Actor Gideon’s Ninth Secret Rendezvous with Different Lovers Exposed!” The story’s popularity continued to climb. Gideon himself appeared in the comments section, posting an intimate photo with Lillian Ross. “With you, for the rest of my life.” Everyone thought I would make a scene and fight with Gideon like I always did, throwing away all my dignity. But this time, I simply removed my diamond ring with composure. I posted it on my blog along with that photo of Gideon’s secret rendezvous and kiss. With the caption: “I wish you both the best in your acting careers and your relationship. May both continue endlessly, without limit.”

After confirming the post was published successfully, I finally put down my phone. Just last night, the paparazzi had sent the photos to my email first, using the photos as blackmail, demanding five million from me. If this had been before, I would have run to Gideon like a madwoman and made a scene. In front of everyone, abandoning all my pride and dignity. Without caring about my image, I would have thrown myself at them both, scratching and hitting them wildly. Crying and fighting until Gideon chose between me and that woman. Every time I shed tears, Gideon would decisively cut things off with those women. Then he’d pull me into his arms, kissing my forehead over and over. “Serena, I get bored after a while. They’re just toys to pass the time when I’m idle.” “Your place in my heart—no one can shake it even a fraction. Be good.” “You’re an obedient wife. You’ll handle those reports for me, won’t you?” For the past five years, to raise money for my mother’s surgery, I’d practically lived on set without a moment’s rest. One drama after another that I starred in became hits. One mistress after another appeared by Gideon’s side. The money I earned, aside from keeping my mother alive, all went to cleaning up Gideon’s scandals. I naively thought that one day, Gideon would remember how good I’d been to him and return to me. But when public opinion reached its peak and everyone was waiting to see me humiliated, he appeared in the comments section himself. That intimate photo he personally posted felt like a vicious slap across my face. My heart plummeted to rock bottom in that moment. I suddenly realized that everything I’d done to win Gideon back was utterly pointless. My phone kept buzzing nonstop. In less than an hour, my post had been viewed and shared over a hundred million times. My blog completely crashed. I’d just closed the comments section when Gideon kicked the door open, his face dark with rage. He grabbed my wrist so hard I nearly cried out in pain. “Serena Winters, have you lost your mind?! Delete your post right now and issue an apology to Lillian Ross!” “Do you know that because of what you said, she’s being harassed everywhere as a homewrecker!” “Even the brands that were ready to work with her have terminated their agreements. Are you trying to destroy her?!” My face went pale. I pressed down the bitterness in my heart, trying to force out a dignified smile. But seeing Gideon defend the woman who’d destroyed our marriage, the tears I’d been holding back finally fell. How ridiculous. I was clearly Gideon’s legal wife, yet I had to apologize to the mistress who’d deliberately destroyed my marriage. Seeing my tears, Gideon’s tone softened somewhat. Like always, he pulled me into his arms, gently wiping away the tears at the corners of my eyes. “Serena, Lillian Ross is just a minor celebrity. She’s nowhere near as famous as you.” “What you’re doing will ruin her.” “Be good, don’t make a scene. Don’t take your anger out on an innocent person.” “Just delete the post now and hold a press conference to apologize to Lillian Ross…” In Gideon’s eyes, this homewrecker who destroyed someone else’s marriage was the innocent party. And I, the wife seeking justice for myself, was making an unreasonable scene. How utterly ironic! “No!” I broke free from Gideon’s embrace and cut off his unfinished sentence sharply. “Gideon, you’re the one who’s lost his mind!” “I’m clearly the victim here. What gives you the right to tell me to apologize to a mistress who seduced my husband and destroyed my marriage?” At that, Gideon’s voice rose sharply, and the distress on his face vanished completely. “Serena Winters, have I spoiled you too much?! Do you know Lillian Ross nearly committed suicide two days ago because of this?!” “When did you become so vicious?!” I closed my eyes and raised my voice involuntarily. “You spoil me? You call cheating on me again and again ‘spoiling’? You call letting others humiliate me at will ‘spoiling’?” “I’m vicious?! Gideon, aren’t you two the vicious ones?!” “You’re the ones who pushed me to this point! Why should I apologize to you adulterous pair—” “Slap—” A vicious slap struck my face, and in an instant, all the arguing stopped. The blow knocked my head to the side. Warm, metallic liquid trickled down from the corner of my mouth. Pain shot straight to my head. Just moving my lips slightly pulled at the muscles in my nasal cavity, making even breathing hurt. Gideon stared at his own hand in disbelief, frozen in place. “Serena…” He took a trembling step forward, wanting to wipe the blood from my lips. The next second, I swatted his hand away decisively. 2. Gideon froze in place after I pushed his hand away. When his gaze fell on the bright red handprint on my face, his eyes slowly filled with regret and distress. “Serena, I’m sorry…” “I didn’t mean to. Come here and let me see…” I’d just retreated two steps, covering my face, when Lillian Ross appeared in the doorway, pale-faced and crying. She ran up to me and dropped straight to her knees. “Serena, none of this is Gideon’s fault. It’s all my fault…” “If you want to blame someone, blame me. I’ll accept whatever punishment you give me. But why did you incite online users to cyberbully me?” “During this time, I nearly lost the will to live because of this…” Gideon stood between us, but he quickly made his choice. Turning his back to me, he lifted Lillian Ross from the ground with tender care, gently wiping away the tears falling from her eyes. His movements were so gentle, as if he were handling some priceless treasure. The look in his eyes when he gazed at Lillian Ross—filled with such distress—felt like thousands of fine needles piercing my heart. The pain made it almost impossible to breathe. Once upon a time, that same look had been directed at me. When I was eighteen, Gideon would charge alone at street thugs harassing me, his eyes red with rage. All to defend me and seek justice. The golden glow of the setting sun fell upon the young Gideon. That’s when I noticed a ten-centimeter knife wound across his chest, streaming with blood. The doctor who treated him said if it had been an inch deeper, even a miracle worker couldn’t have saved him. When I tearfully rushed him to the hospital, Gideon—standing just one step away from death’s door—showed no fear of dying in his eyes. Only endless distress at my tears. In the final moment before the emergency room doors closed, he was still gently comforting me. “As long as I’m alive, I’ll protect you.” “No one in this world can bully my Serena!” “And if they do, I’ll make them pay a thousand times over, even if it costs me my life!” In that moment, my heart thundered in my chest, and my tears flowed even more freely. For his reckless, devoted love, and for my own hopeless infatuation. Later, God took pity on that brave young man. The scar on his chest became his get-out-of-jail-free card with me, used again and again. Now, watching the two of them in front of me looking so in sync, images involuntarily flashed through my mind of Gideon being intimate with one mistress after another. Finally freezing on the moment when I knelt on the ground begging him to come back, while people around me pointed and mocked. I suddenly understood—for these past five years, from beginning to end, I hadn’t been begging for him to change his heart. What I’d really been begging for was to see through it all myself. To finally give up hope. At this realization, my emotions shifted from grief and fury to complete calm in an instant. I instinctively touched my slightly burning eye sockets. They were completely dry. Looking up again, meeting Lillian Ross’s provocative gaze, I said, “I’ll let you have him.” The moment those words left my mouth, I turned to leave, but Gideon suddenly grabbed my arm. His eyes were red, a flash of imperceptible panic crossing his face. His voice even carried a barely detectable tremor. “Serena Winters, stop right there!” “If you dare take one step away from here, I swear I’ll—” Before he could finish, I pulled my arm free. “Then as you wish. Let’s get divorced.” Gideon anxiously tried to follow, but Lillian Ross’s tears held him back. By the time he’d comforted her, I was already long gone from his sight. 3. To raise money for my mother’s next surgery, I quickly threw myself into a new production. But just after I’d finished makeup and shot my scene in the water, I discovered the entire set was eerily empty and silent. Looking up, I saw Lillian Ross standing there with a smug expression on her face. She stood on the shore, reached out, and grabbed my hair hard. Then she shoved me back down underwater. The earthy smell from the water rushed into my nose. The suffocating sensation quickly spread through my entire body. I tried to struggle, only to realize with horror that my hands were tied and twisted behind my back. The slightest movement produced a muffled crack. “Don’t move,” Lillian Ross’s cunning voice came from above, even carrying a laugh. “If you move around anymore, the ties in back will come loose. Tomorrow the whole world will be flooded with topless photos of our top actress! Hahaha!” A chill shot from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head. Underwater, all I could hear was my pounding heartbeat mixed with my cries for help. The next second, someone yanked me up from the water. The thin fabric covering my chest was sliding down from the force of gravity. I instinctively tried to bend my arms to cover myself. But my wrists were still locked in place, unable to move. “Serena, smile! Let’s take a photo together!” Lillian Ross quickly pressed the shutter. The screen reflected my face—pale, helpless, lips trembling non-stop. Rage and humiliation nearly consumed my entire mind. I struggled desperately against the restraints behind me. “Slap—” I used all my strength to deliver a vicious slap across Lillian Ross’s face. Her right cheek quickly swelled with a large bump. Her eyes went wide with instant fury. But just as she was about to grab my hair, she suddenly fell backward with tears streaming down her face. “Serena… I just came to try out for the second female lead position…” “I never intended to steal your leading role. Please, stop…” Lillian Ross’s sudden change caught me completely off guard. “What are you talking about?” “Serena Winters! What are you doing?!” An angry shout came from behind me. Gideon had already crossed to stand in front of me and slapped me hard across the face. Intense pain exploded, spreading rapidly from my cheek through my entire skull. My vision darkened. The world spun. Lillian Ross’s aggrieved crying reached my ears. “Gideon, Serena saw me and immediately…” “Maybe she thought I was trying to steal her leading role, so in her panic she…” Her voice was thin, carrying a timid caution. After speaking, she deliberately revealed the bruised half of her face. Lillian Ross’s complete distortion of the truth hammered heavily at my heart. Gideon’s expression grew darker and darker. His gaze toward me was cold as ice. “You’re lying! Lillian Ross, you’re completely twisting the truth!” “You—” “What is she lying about! I saw it with my own eyes!” “Serena Winters, I thought your quiet behavior these past few days meant you’d recognized your mistakes. I didn’t expect you to remain so unrepentant.” Gideon’s chest heaved with anger. Even the finger he pointed at me was shaking. “Lillian Ross didn’t even press the issue about what happened before, and you still can’t tolerate her?!” I just stared at Gideon’s eyes, red from anger. Somewhere in my heart, it felt like a huge hole had been torn open. Cold wind passed straight through, leaving only the whistling sound of wind. “It’s like this again, Gideon. Your eyes are wasted on you…” “You’ve never believed me…” I murmured repeatedly, and without realizing it, I was laughing through my tears. “Gideon, are you truly blind in both heart and eyes? You’re supposed to be a Best Actor, yet you can’t even see through such poor acting.” “Serena Winters, you’re being completely unreasonable!” “You love acting so much, don’t you? Let’s see how you perform without any roles!” My heart sank suddenly, plunging into an icy abyss. Sure enough, the next second, Gideon called over the director. He gave all my scenes to Lillian Ross. Lying in Gideon’s arms, Lillian Ross shot me a victor’s smile when he wasn’t looking. “No, Gideon, you can’t do this!” “This production is very important to me. I can’t lose it…!” I closed my eyes. My mind filled with images of the hospital’s payment reminders and my mother lying alone in her hospital bed. “Serena Winters, you only have yourself to blame.” “This is what you owe Lillian Ross. Consider this role your compensation to her!” My mind went blank. The terror of losing my mother consumed my entire consciousness. Lillian Ross’s triumphant, provocative gaze pierced through my heart like madness. I lost control and charged forward. But a massive force grabbed my arm. Gideon threw me hard to the ground. He held Lillian Ross tightly in his arms, his eyes full of rage. “Serena Winters, have you gone insane?!” I screamed hoarsely through my tears. “Gideon, can you really not see the truth?! You know how much I need this—” “Slap—!” All sound stopped abruptly with Gideon’s slap. Through my blurred vision, I saw countless curious and horrified eyes staring in our direction. I could no longer feel the burning pain on my face—only overwhelming humiliation scorching my skin at every moment. “Serena Winters, I can’t let you run wild anymore!” “From start to finish, all I see is your viciousness! Someone, throw her in the water to reflect on her actions!” Someone held me down and shoved me into the water. Murky river water poured into my nose and mouth. That cold, deadly sensation washed over me again. Tears mixed with river water, drowning out my cries for help. 4. I don’t know how much time passed. Just when I thought I would die there, someone pulled me from the water. I vomited up water weeds mixed with mud all over the ground. They tossed me aside in a corner like a drowned dog. Gideon grabbed my jaw, forcing me to lift my head. “Serena Winters, when will you finally understand?” “Life only gets better when you learn to behave.” I struggled to open my eyes and saw clearly the endless disappointment and disgust hidden in Gideon’s gaze. After speaking, he didn’t spare me another glance. He picked up Lillian Ross and strode away. The cold wind lifted the thin fabric on my body. I knelt on the ground, trembling violently. But colder than this wind was the inescapable sense of humiliation from being publicly exposed. I didn’t understand why, even after I’d chosen to withdraw, they still wouldn’t let me go. Why use my life and my mother’s as fuel for their love story? My phone on the ground kept vibrating with a buzzing sound. Following my gaze downward, I saw it was the hospital calling. Ignoring the pain in my body, I hurriedly picked up the phone. “I’m sorry, I might need to pay this time’s fees a bit lat—” “Ms. Winters, because you’ve been delaying payment for the imported equipment for too long and the surgery couldn’t be scheduled in time, your mother…” “Please accept our condolences.” “What…?” Tears and phone both fell to the ground at once. The voice on the other end was still notifying me about funeral arrangements. Tears blurred my vision. I slowly crouched down. With trembling hands, I fumbled on the ground for a long time before finally touching my phone. Using all my strength and suppressing the pain in my throat, I responded with a simple, “Okay.” Then, ignoring the shouts behind me and the strange looks from passersby, I ran barefoot straight toward the hospital. The howling wind roared constantly in my ears. Tears mixed with sweat soaked through my clothes. The hospital was eerily quiet. The empty ward contained only my mother’s bed. A large white sheet covered her body. She’d been lying here alone like this for so long. I stopped in my tracks. All the strength drained from my body in an instant. I crawled trembling to my mother’s bedside, reaching out to touch her pale but kind face. The moment I felt her cold skin, I truly realized it. Mother was really dead. I collapsed desperately on the floor. Surging pain nearly drowned me completely. I’m sorry, Mom. I came too late. I left you sleeping alone in this awful place for so long. I’m a terrible daughter, aren’t I? Wind from outside blew in. The curtains lifted with a rustling sound. I leaned against the wall, slowly propping up a body that no longer seemed to belong to me. My hands hurt. My face hurt. My heart was numb with pain. But my head felt light and airy. As the wind blew past, it felt like my head had been freed from some heavy shackle. As if possessed, I climbed to the window. I saw Gideon downstairs, carefully applying medicine to Lillian Ross’s cheek. But at this moment, my heart could no longer stir up any waves. Golden sunlight poured in. I suddenly remembered how my mother loved freedom most when she was alive. In that instant, I seemed to understand something. I reached for the lighter on the ground. I threw the lit flame toward the bed curtains. Mom, I’m coming to join you.

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The night I slept with drunk Mabel, I had just broken up with my ex-girlfriend. Out of responsibility, I married her. Our marriage was peaceful and stable. I once thought this would last forever. Until my ex-girlfriend passed away from illness. When I went to pay my respects, I learned that she had left back then because she discovered what happened between us that night, and her heart had completely died. And my secret diary was discovered by him at exactly that moment. He was convinced I had deliberately sabotaged their relationship, and he hated me to the bone. He divorced me, made me leave with nothing, and suppressed me at every turn. On the verge of death, all I heard was his cold voice: “Your love truly disgusts me.” When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn to the day he broke up with his ex-girlfriend. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out of my room, knocking on his ex-girlfriend’s door. Seeing me, Lily froze for a moment. Her eyes were red and swollen—she’d clearly just been crying. “Mabel? How did you…” “Lily.” I tried to keep my voice calm. “Can I come in and talk?” The living room was a mess, with a half-eaten cake on the table. I smiled and got straight to the point: “I’m here to apologize on behalf of Mason. He forgot your birthday—that’s his fault.” Lily pressed her lips together without speaking. “It’s not that he doesn’t love you. He’s never been good at expressing himself since childhood. You mentioned breaking up, and now he’s at a bar drinking alone.” I paused. “Lily, go find him.” In my previous life, after he married me, every year on Lily’s birthday he would drink alone at a bar. He had never let her go. Lily looked at me, then suddenly smiled, though her tears flowed even harder. “With Mason’s cold personality, how did he end up with such a thoughtful sister like you?” “I’ll go right now.” “Thank you, Mabel.” After telling Lily which bar Mason was at, she changed clothes and left. I watched her figure disappear, letting out a long breath. In this life, that night would never happen. Back home, I dug out the diary hidden deep in my closet. When I was ten years old and wandering the streets, eighteen-year-old Mason found me. He was cold to outsiders, but gentle with me. When I first awakened to love, I knew—I had fallen for him. But this was a crush I could never voice. I took it out and tore it apart, page by page. The torn pieces fell into the toilet, and I flushed them away with my own hands. About two hours later, the door opened. Lily helped the drunk Mason inside. Mason held her tightly, mumbling: “Lily… don’t break up… I was wrong… I was really wrong…” Lily looked helpless, agreeing repeatedly: “Okay, okay, we won’t break up.” Seeing me, she breathed a sigh of relief: “Mabel, could you heat up some milk? I’ll help him to his room first.” “Sure.” Lily helped him into the bedroom. I stood in the kitchen waiting for the water to boil, listening to the sounds coming from the bedroom. He was acting cute, she was laughing. When Mason first introduced me to Lily in my previous life, I knew immediately—they were perfect for each other. Lily was bright and generous, from a good family, well-mannered, and treated me, his sister, very well. She was a good person. If not for me, she wouldn’t have died, and they would have been happy. In this life, I would make amends.

Lily stayed in Mason’s room taking care of him all night. The next morning, when I came downstairs, I saw Mason busy in the kitchen. He fried eggs, heated milk, and arranged toast triangles on a plate. Then he brought it to Lily, his voice gentle: “Eat it while it’s hot.” Lily smiled and poked him: “When did you learn to take care of people so well?” His gaze settled on Lily’s face. He didn’t speak, but the corners of his mouth curved upward. In my previous life after we married, he would also cook for me. When I had my period, he would clumsily make warm milk. I stood at the bottom of the stairs, my footsteps pausing. “Mabel, come have breakfast.” Lily called to me. Mason looked up at me, his gaze indifferent. No extra words, no extra expression. I sat down at the table, and he stood up, keeping one seat between us. The way he looked at me was like looking at a stranger. It reminded me of the ruthlessness in his eyes when he forced me to leave with nothing in my previous life. After forcing down a piece of bread, I stood up: “I’m full. I have class at school, I’ll head out first.” Lily said: “So soon? You haven’t had your milk yet…” “I’m running late.” I grabbed my bag and escaped out the door. All day, I searched for study abroad information in the library and filled out applications. In my previous life, I gave up my chance to study abroad to stay by Mason’s side. This time, I would go far, far away and live for myself. That evening, I planned to stay in the dorms, but Lily called. “Mabel, come home for dinner, I have big news!” When I got home, Mason opened the door. Seeing me, he frowned: “Why did you come back?” Clearly, he wasn’t the one who wanted me back. “Lily said there was something.” I said quietly. Lily poked her head out from the kitchen: “Mabel’s back!” She pressed me down on the sofa and handed me the remote: “You watch TV, dinner will be ready soon!” Mason helped her in the kitchen. Through the glass door, I watched him lower his head listening to Lily talk, his lips curved in a slight arc, his eyes so tender they could overflow. He had also cooked for me before. When I had a fever, he stayed up all night and made me porridge in the morning. On my birthday, he canceled his business dinners and came home to cook a whole table of dishes. “What are you spacing out about?” Seeing me lost in thought, Lily pushed Mason out of the kitchen. “You go keep Mabel company. I can handle the last soup myself.” Mason reluctantly wiped his hands and sat down on the single sofa across from me. The distance was far. Silence spread between us. The TV played some boring variety show, the laughter sounding particularly harsh. “Mabel.” Mason suddenly spoke. I looked at him. He looked at me, his eyes heavy: “Study hard, be more grounded, don’t think about things you shouldn’t.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight. Things I shouldn’t think about. In his eyes, my feelings for him were things I shouldn’t think about. In my previous life when he discovered my diary, he said: “Mabel Parker, you truly disgust me.” He thought I deliberately sabotaged them, thought I was greedy and ungrateful. But I just liked him. I never said anything to Lily to damage their relationship. He didn’t believe me. “I understand.” I heard my own calm voice. “I won’t.” During dinner, Lily announced with flushed cheeks: “Mason proposed to me today!” She extended her left hand, the diamond ring on her ring finger sparkling under the lights. “Congratulations.” I showed a genuinely happy smile. “Mason, Lily, I wish you both happiness.” Mason’s hand holding the knife and fork paused, and he looked up at me. I lowered my head to eat, pretending not to notice. After dinner, I volunteered to clean up the dishes. Vague laughter came from the living room. Lily was talking about her vision for the wedding, and Mason responded in a low voice, his tone indulgent. After washing the dishes, I dried my hands and was about to go out and tell them I had things to do at school. Just as I reached the living room doorway, I heard Mason’s voice: “…After she graduates, let’s have her move out. I’ll buy her an apartment near school. It’s not convenient for a young woman to keep living with us.” Lily disagreed: “But isn’t it unsafe for Mabel to live alone?” “Besides, you two are siblings, what’s wrong with living together?” Mason’s voice was flat: “She’s grown up, she should have her own life. We also need our own space.” I stood in place, not listening any further. I turned around, quietly went upstairs, grabbed my bag, and left. After getting far enough away, I sent Lily a message: 「Lily, something came up at school suddenly, I’m heading back. Good night.」 I took a deep breath. Moving out was for the best. The farther away, the safer.

Three days later, while researching materials in the library, I suddenly remembered something. In my previous life, Lily died from bone cancer. By the time it was discovered, it was already late stage. Which meant that right now, cancer cells might already be in Lily’s body. I suddenly stood up, knocking over my chair and drawing sidelong glances from those around me. Without bothering to apologize, I rushed out of the library, calling Lily while running. “Lily, are you free this afternoon? I’d like to treat you to afternoon tea.” At the café, when I told Lily I wanted her to go for a health checkup with me, she couldn’t help laughing: “Mabel, why do you suddenly want a checkup? Are you not feeling well?” I made up an excuse: “The school organized it. Lily, I’m scared to go alone, can you come with me?” Lily looked at me suspiciously: “Really?” I tried to look as sincere as possible: “Really. And I also want you to get checked. Consider it… a pre-wedding checkup? After all, you’re going to marry Mason.” Lily’s face flushed red, and she chided: “You…” Just then, her phone rang. It was Mason. “Where are you?” “Having afternoon tea with Mabel.” There was silence on the other end: “Come home early.” After hanging up, Lily smiled at him: “Clingy.” I forced a smile, made an excuse about having class, and arranged to meet her on the weekend. Just as I reached the school gate, I saw Mason’s car parked there. He got out of the car, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me to a corner. Before I could react, he shoved me away. I stumbled and fell to the ground. My knees and elbows burned with pain. Looking down, I saw the skin was scraped and blood was seeping out. He looked down at me from above, his eyes cold as ice. “Mabel Parker, I’m warning you, stay away from Lily.” “Don’t say things you shouldn’t say, don’t do things you shouldn’t do.” I braced myself with my arms and stood up, my voice shaking: “I didn’t.” “I just wanted her to go for a checkup with me.” He paused: “Are you sick?” The words came out almost reflexively. I froze, then shook my head: “No, the school requires it.” He stared at me for a long time, his expression slowly changing. As if remembering something, or confirming something. After a moment, he crouched down and looked at the wound on my knee. “Get in the car.” He took me to a pharmacy to buy iodine and gauze, then crouched by the roadside to treat my wound. His movements weren’t exactly gentle, but they were careful. His voice was low: “This weekend, I’ll take you both for the checkup.” I lowered my head, staring at my toes, everything blurry. The day the test results came out, Lily cried until her whole body shook. Early-stage bone cancer. The doctor said: “It was discovered very timely. The cure rate is very high.” Mason held Lily, his hands trembling with fear. Lily looked at me with red eyes: “Mabel, thank you… really, thank you.” I shook my head and patted her back. Mason’s gaze moved past Lily’s shoulder and landed on me. Deep and heavy. I remembered the day Lily died in my previous life—it was raining heavily. After Mason learned that she left back then because she discovered what happened between us that night, he stood in front of her grave all day, soaked through. When he came home, he smashed everything he could, then found my diary hidden at the bottom of a drawer. So he was convinced I had deliberately told Lily. I explained. He didn’t believe me. He divorced me, made me leave with nothing, and prevented me from finding any work. In the end, I died of illness in a rental apartment with no one by my side. Now, there was still time to fix everything. Lily would live. Mason wouldn’t blame me in the future. And I would leave. A huge weight finally lifted from my heart. Leaving the hospital, the sun was setting. Mason went to handle the admission procedures while Lily and I sat in the lobby waiting. Lily leaned on my shoulder and said softly: “Mabel, I’m scared.” I patted her hand: “Don’t be afraid. Mason will always be with you.”

Lily was hospitalized. The surgery was very successful, followed by chemotherapy. Mason pushed aside all his work to stay at the hospital with her every day. I ran back and forth between school and the hospital while also preparing materials to study abroad, so busy my feet barely touched the ground. That day when I came home from the hospital, Mason called out to me. “Mabel.” I stopped and turned to look at him. He handed me a key: “I bought an apartment near your school, two bedrooms and a living room, already furnished. You should… move there soon.” I froze for a moment, then took it and nodded: “Okay.” No questioning, no hesitation. Mason looked at me, seeming to want to read something from my face. But I simply calmly pocketed the key, turned, and went upstairs. The next day, I started packing. Most of my things I planned to donate or throw away. In the new apartment, I would buy all new things and start a completely new life. I came home later and later, barely appearing at the dinner table. The things in my room decreased day by day. The bookshelf emptied, the closet emptied, only a lonely jewelry box remained on the dresser. That evening, I didn’t get home until after ten. Mason sat on the living room sofa without turning on the lights. In the darkness, the cigarette tip flickered on and off. “So late.” He spoke, his voice cold. “Where were you?” My movement of changing shoes paused: “I had things at school.” After changing shoes, I headed straight for my room. Behind me came the sound of a cup knocking against the table. Lily’s chemotherapy went smoothly. Three months later, the doctor said she was recovering well and could go home to recuperate with regular checkups. On the day of discharge, I went too. Lily had lost quite a bit of weight, but she was in good spirits. Mason went to handle the discharge paperwork while Lily and I waited in the ward. “Mabel.” Lily suddenly said, “Did you and Mason… have a fight?” I froze. Lily sighed: “He’s been in a terrible mood lately.” “Everyone at the company avoids him when they see him coming.” I didn’t speak. Lily gripped my hand: “I know about him making you move out.” “I scolded him for it. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, that place will always be your home.” I held her hand back and said very seriously: “Lily. I’ve grown up, I should have my own life. Besides, I’m already processing paperwork to study abroad. I’ll probably leave next year.” Lily’s eyes widened: “Study abroad? Where? For how long?” “England, for graduate school. Probably two or three years.” Lily’s eyes reddened again: “Then… you have to take good care of yourself when you’re there alone. If anything happens, you must tell us, okay?” “Mm.” Lily wiped her eyes, then suddenly smiled: “Mabel, let me introduce you to a friend. He’s my schoolmate, works in architectural design, a really great person.” I shook my head: “No need.” “Why not? You’ll be so lonely by yourself.” I hesitated, then told the truth: “Actually… I’m already seeing someone.” “What?” Lily’s eyes widened. “I met him while processing study abroad paperwork. We’re planning to apply to the same school together.” Lily’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands: “That’s wonderful! I have to tell Mason! We need to check him out first, can’t let you be deceived!” “No need…” I tried to stop her, but she had already picked up her phone. “Oh, he’s back.” Lily put down her phone and looked toward the door. Mason pushed the door open, holding the discharge documents. Seeing our hands clasped together, his eyes darkened. “What are you two so happy about?” He walked over and naturally put his arm around Lily’s shoulder. Lily looked up at him, her eyes bright: “I just said I wanted to introduce Mabel to someone, guess what?” He glanced at me, his tone certain: “She definitely refused.” “That’s right, she didn’t agree.” He gave a light “mm”: “She’s been attached to me since childhood, didn’t even want to live in dorms for college. Do you think she’d be willing to date?” Lily continued with a smile: “But she said she has a boy she likes, and she’s going abroad with him!”

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It was my twentieth birthday. My friends and I were celebrating at a busy interactive restaurant—think melting pot, loud music, and staff that made a big deal out of birthdays. I had brought a small, artisanal four-inch cake to share after dinner. Before we’d even ordered, a little girl started staring. She wanted a piece, bad. When I refused, she threw a full-blown tantrum right on the floor. But I don’t negotiate with terrorists, no matter how small. I just smiled and said, “Aww, you poor thing. Your parents can’t afford to buy you your own cake?” My roommate, Piper, instantly jumped on my case for not having a heart. In a dramatic display of virtue-signaling, she gave the girl her own slice of my cake. That very night, I received a frantic text from our RA. The girl’s mother had shown up at campus security with a doctor’s report. It said: Food Poisoning. 1 To celebrate my twentieth birthday, I treated my roommates to dinner at a lively interactive fondue place downtown. Since we planned on getting the dessert fondue, I only bought a small, gourmet four-inch cake just for the tradition of blowing out the candles. We had barely sat down when I noticed a little girl at the next table staring intently at the cake box. “Happy Birthday, Miss!” she said, walking over. “When are you guys going to eat that?” Before I could answer, she reached out, trying to open the intricate box. She was too short and almost pushed it off the table. I caught her hand just in time. “Sweetie, where are your parents?” She pointed to the table behind us. There was a woman sitting there alone. Looking closer, that must have been her mom. Hearing the commotion, the woman looked up, glanced at us indifferently, and immediately went back to scrolling through her phone. It was obvious she had zero intention of coming to get her child. The girl continued, “I want some cake. Can I have a piece, please?” She looked about four or five years old. That is the prime age for eating something random and getting sick. If something happened, I’d be held liable. I wasn’t willing to gamble on that. Besides, I didn’t know this kid. So, I ignored her question. Since she didn’t get an answer, she just stood right next to our table, staring at the four of us. It made the entire atmosphere incredibly awkward. Finally, a server walked over. “Hey guys, are we saving the cake for later, or do you want me to bring out plates now?” “Could you keep it in the back for us? We’ll have it after dinner.” Children have zero ability to hide their emotions. As soon as she heard “after dinner,” her face completely dropped. “But can I just have one little bite now? My mommy is almost done eating.” This was the first time I’d ever met someone demanding a piece of someone else’s birthday cake before dinner. But I was having a good day, and I didn’t want to argue. I forced a polite, friendly smile. “I’m sorry, sweetie, we can’t do that.” 2 She made a small, annoyed sound. It was quiet, but I definitely heard it. She tried to keep up her polite act. “Okay, I’ll just come back later, then.” The entire time, her mother never once tried to pull her back to their table. If I were a kidnapper, she’d be in deep trouble. Once the girl left, Piper turned to me. “Maya, that was kind of mean. Why were you so cold to a little kid?” “Kids that age just love sweets. We should definitely give her a piece later.” My relationship with Piper was purely professional roommates. We weren’t friends, but we didn’t hate each other. I only invited her because we lived in the same quad, and it would have been awkward to leave one person out. But who was she to call me mean? Especially on my birthday. I was visibly annoyed, but I tried to explain patiently. “I don’t know that kid. Walking up to our table and demanding cake is incredibly rude. Her mom is sitting right there ignoring her. And if she gets sick eating my cake, do you guarantee her mom won’t sue me?” “Also, it’s my birthday. Could you maybe not criticize me today?” Piper was defensive. “Maya, I totally disagree. You shouldn’t assume everyone is a bad person. She’s just a kid who wants a treat.” “I’m just a blunt person, don’t take it personally. I don’t have any malicious intent.” I rolled my eyes. Calling rudeness “bluntness” is just an excuse to be an asshole. Piper always did this passive-aggressive, high-ground act. My other two roommates, sensing the tension, quickly jumped in. “Alright guys, let’s keep it fun. Happy birthday, Maya! Let’s eat, the food is here.” I was in such a good mood before. My dad had sent me a $300 Venmo this morning, and now this was ruining it. 3 The little girl, whose name I found out later was Lily, was incredibly sharp. She knew Piper was on her side. While we ate, Lily stood right next to Piper. “You’re so pretty,” Lily told her. Piper beamed, blushing slightly. “Aww, thank you, Lily. You are too sweet.” “I think you’re the prettiest girl at this table.” Piper was practically floating. She gave Lily a thumbs-up. “Great eye for style.” I made eye contact with my other two roommates, Chloe and Harper. We all shared a look of pure exasperation. If I had known this was going to happen, I never would have invited her. It was my birthday, and she was having a whole talent show with this kid. Lily looked at us with big, innocent eyes. “Is it your birthday today?” “No,” Piper said, pointing at me. “It’s hers.” Lily pouted, sticking out her lip. “Oh.” I noticed her mom asking for the check. I let out a massive sigh of relief. Finally, they were leaving. But Lily made zero move to go. I couldn’t help asking, “Aren’t you going with your mommy?” “Mommy is getting her nails done at the spa next door. I’m not in a rush. I’ll just play with you guys for a bit.” Unbelievable. She was determined to get that cake. The whole time we were eating, she kept pestering us. “You guys eat so slow. Can you please eat faster?” “When is it going to be cake time?” I looked at her. “Lily, you should always chew your food thoroughly. Eating too fast isn’t good for your tummy.” “But how much longer?!” “I have no idea. Why don’t you go check on your mom and see if she’s done, then go home with her?” With bratty kids, sometimes you just have to give them a taste of their own annoying medicine. Of course, Piper had to enable her. “Maya, stop it. She’s just a child. Can’t you have a better attitude?” “Really? I’m just being blunt, no malicious intent here. Honestly, people might think you’re her mother with how protective you’re being.” “I… you…” Chloe and Harper both hid their faces in their hands, trying not to laugh at Piper getting roasted. 4 We continued eating slowly for another half hour. Once we were done, I asked the server to bring the cake back out. The girl’s mother had finished her spa treatment and walked over to our table. For a split second, I thought she was going to take her kid and leave. A split second later, I knew I was wrong. Lily told her mom, “I want cake.” The mom smiled at her daughter. “Okay, then make sure you sing ‘Happy Birthday’ super loud, and the pretty ladies might share.” So, my hours of “no” meant absolutely nothing. Lily started singing “Happy Birthday,” but she never once looked at me. Her eyes were fixed on the cake. As soon as I started cutting, she pushed to the very front. She started making demands. “I want the first piece. Make sure you get that strawberry on it, and I want the chocolate bear decoration too.” I finished cutting the first piece and set it right in front of myself. “I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s my birthday. Doesn’t the birthday girl get the first piece?” “But I’m just a kid! Big sisters are supposed to let kids have things first!” Ah, a lecture on manners from a preschooler. “I’m a kid too,” I said. “Just a twenty-year-old one.” Lily glared at me and huffed. Seeing me slice the rest of the cake without making any move to give her a piece, she realized I wasn’t joking. As I handed the final slice to Piper, Lily finally snapped. She threw herself on the floor and started screaming. “She lied to me! I said ‘Happy Birthday’ and I sang the loudest, and she won’t give me any!” “Mean sister! Mean! Mean! Mean!” Her mother just stood there, watching her daughter have a tantrum without doing a single thing. Piper looked at me with that judgmental look again. “Why are you fighting with a child?” “Lily, come here. You can have my piece.” I spoke up. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You are giving her your piece. If she gets sick, do not blame me.” “It’s just one piece of cake. What could happen? I’ll take responsibility.” “Great. I’m recording this conversation.” Piper rolled her eyes. “Maya, you are so petty. I can’t believe you’re recording over something so small.” She handed her slice to Lily. “Here you go, Lily. Have mine.” Unbelievably, Lily wasn’t satisfied. “I don’t want that one! I want the first one! I want that one!” Piper’s slice was from the side and didn’t have the big strawberry or the chocolate bear. Lily wanted mine. Right in front of Lily, I bit the head off the chocolate bear and ate the strawberry in one go. Lily went ballistic. She lay spread-eagled in the middle of the main walkway, screaming her lungs out, blocking other customers. “Who does this kid belong to? Doesn’t anyone manage her?” customers were muttering. Someone asked me, “Is she your sister?” I looked at Piper. “Is she your sister?” Piper was too embarrassed to own up to it now. She just turned away and ignored the question. I looked at the screaming child. “Well, she is clearly some trashy parents’ bad kid.” I made sure I said it loud enough for Lily’s mom to hear. Lily’s screaming was echoing through the entire restaurant. 5 Finally, a manager walked over. “Whose child is this? Where are the parents?” It was a weekend, and the place was packed. They hadn’t noticed the disturbance until it blocked the walkway. “She’s mine,” the mother finally admitted, acting as if she just noticed. I looked at them both and said, “Aww, you poor thing. Lily, it’s so sad that your own mommy won’t buy you a cake, so you have to scream at strangers.” The mother’s face twisted in rage. “You stuck-up brat! She’s just a little girl. She wanted to wish you a happy birthday, and you couldn’t even share a bite of cake. You are so incredibly selfish.” Finally, the mask was off. Now I knew where Lily got it from. It was all parenting. “I bought the cake,” I said calmly. “It is my property, and I decide who eats it.” “Sharing is kindness, not an obligation. And I don’t know you. Why should I share my birthday cake with strangers?” “And frankly, ‘Ma’am,’ if she wanted cake so badly, why didn’t you go buy her one from the millions of bakeries around here? You let her stand here begging like a street urchin for hours.” The woman lost it. “Who are you calling ‘Ma’am’? I’m twenty-seven!” “Stop fighting, stop fighting!” Piper jumped back into her superhero role. “Maya, you’re being way too mean to a mother and her child.” “Lily, please, just take this piece.” Piper crouched down and stroked Lily’s head. “Go on, take it. It’s better than nothing, or that mean witch over there will just laugh at you again.” I needed to make this absolutely clear to the mother-daughter duo. “I am stating this for the record: This cake belongs to me, but I did not give it to the child. Piper is the one giving it to her.” Lily’s mom waved her hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. What could possibly go wrong?” Under the watchful eye of the manager, they finally left. Lily turned back, smirked at me, and made a face. “Old witch!” 6 Even after they were gone, Piper didn’t stop. “Maya, I can’t believe you. If you had just given her a bite of your cake in the first place, none of this would have happened. We wouldn’t have annoyed the other customers.” My other roommate, Chloe, couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Are you serious right now, Piper?” “Stop gaslighting Maya. You act like you’re some moral authority.” “We weren’t even going to invite you. If Maya wasn’t nice enough to invite her roommate, Harper and I would have been happy to leave you at home.” Harper added, “We’re going to that new karaoke place now. You are not invited. Bye, Piper.” “Let’s go, Maya.” Piper was clenching her teeth in fury. “You guys are unbelievable. I was just being a good person and helping a kid.” Seeing us actually walk away, she stamped her feet in frustration. “I’m telling Ms. Vance that you guys are bullying me!” I turned back to Piper. “We aren’t bullying you. We just don’t like you. There’s a difference.” And we left. It was my birthday, and despite the drama, I was determined to have a good time and not let people who aren’t worth my energy ruin my mood. When we got back to the quad at 10:00 PM, my phone rang. It was Ms. Vance, our RA. “Maya, I just had a woman call campus security. She claims her five-year-old child is in the emergency room right now with food poisoning, and she is holding you responsible for the hospital bill because of the cake you gave her.” I guess I was right. Trouble was bound to find us. I wished I hadn’t had my ID card out on the table. She must have caught my name on it. I handed the phone to Piper, putting it on speaker so she couldn’t lie. “RA needs to talk to you.” Piper was ecstatic. “The RA? Why is she calling you? Did my scholarship application get approved?!” The next second, her face went utterly pale. “Ms. Vance, I had nothing to do with this. It was Maya’s birthday, she bought the cake.” “You guys need to figure out who is responsible. The child is at the city hospital right now. We need a resolution immediately.” She hung up. Piper looked completely lost. I couldn’t believe she still tried to push the blame on me. It was a quiet night in our dorm room. Ms. Vance woke me up with another call at 7:00 AM the next morning. “Have you guys resolved this? The mother called the Dean’s office. This is going to be a huge issue for the school if it escalates.” “Ms. Vance, I have a recording of the entire conversation. Piper insisted on giving her the cake. Chloe and Harper can testify that I tried to stop her.” “So you guys didn’t talk at all last night?” “I am not responsible for this. Call Piper directly.” I wasn’t a candidate for any scholarships or leadership awards, so I didn’t need to treat Ms. Vance like she was royalty. Besides, I hadn’t done anything wrong. 7 I had just closed my eyes again when the phone rang again. Ms. Vance sighed. “I can’t get through to Piper. Is she in the room?” I looked at the top bunk across from me. I could hear snoring. “She’s sleeping.” “She is sleeping? After this?!” “Maya, please wake her up. The mom is threatening to file a police report for assault.” Now Piper was in deep trouble. I knew that mother-daughter pair was trouble the second I saw them. A normal person, seeing their child begging like a homeless person for cake, would manage their kid. She did nothing. I kicked the bottom of Piper’s bunk. “Are you crazy? Why are you waking me up?!” she screamed. “Maya, stop screaming at me while I’m on the phone!” Seriously? She was screaming at me. She loved playing the good guy, and now that it blew up, she was trying to dodge responsibility. She rolled over, ready to go back to sleep. Ms. Vance’s voice came through. “Is she awake? Let me talk to her.” I climbed out of bed and ripped open her bunk curtains. “Seriously, what is wrong with you?” I handed her the phone. “RA needs to talk to you.” She covered her ears and pretended not to hear. “Piper, don’t be a coward. Deal with the mess you made.” Ms. Vance was losing patience. “Piper, get out of bed now. If this goes on social media, you can kiss your scholarship goodbye.” Hearing her scholarship mentioned, Piper bolted upright. She grabbed my phone out of my hand. “Good morning, Ms. Vance, sorry. I’m up. I’ll deal with it.” 8 While Piper was getting ready, Ms. Vance sent me a text. “The three of you need to go to the hospital. I’m on my way now to talk to the mother.” Reading that text made me see red. I woke Chloe and Harper. “I heard the RA call you,” Chloe muttered, getting dressed. “This is ridiculous. Piper literally pushed us aside to give that kid the cake, and now we all have to suffer.” “Why didn’t some so-called good person just tell Ms. Vance that she was the one who gave the cake?” Harper glared at Piper. Piper said nothing. Before we even got downstairs, we heard screaming outside. I looked out the window. It was Lily’s mom. I have no idea how she found out where we lived. She was arguing with campus security at the entrance to our hall. “Let me in! Tell Elena Blake to get down here right now! My daughter is lying in a hospital bed!” “She’s only five! She was maliciously poisoned by one of your students!” “And now they won’t even pay the hospital bill, and they’re denying everything!” She started sobbing dramatically. I closed my eyes in frustration. I am never leaving my ID card on the table again! A crowd of students was gathering to watch the drama. “Poisoned? Oh my god, that’s terrible!” “Who would do that to a kid?” “I know Elena Blake. She’s in the legal studies program. She’s usually really nice. I doubt she’d poison a kid, there must be some mistake.” … Campus security was easily managing the woman, preventing her from getting in, but the woman, desperate, grabbed the security guard’s arm and bit him. “Holy cow! Are you a dog?” the guard yelled. “You Sterling Academy trash are trying to protect a criminal!” Ms. Vance finally ran over. “Ma’am, please calm down. We can talk about this.” Ms. Vance frantically called us. “Are you guys coming or not?! I rushed to the hospital, and they told me the mom had left, so I had to rush back here!” “Piper is still doing her hair.” “What?! In the middle of this, she’s doing her hair? It’s her fault, and she’s treating it like a spa day? Does she want to get expelled?” “Five minutes, Elena. If you guys aren’t down here in five minutes, I am not protecting you.” 9 Piper finally came downstairs. As soon as Lily’s mom saw her, she marched over and slapped Piper right in the face. “Elena Blake, why did you give my daughter a poisoned cake?! How could you be so evil?!” Everyone, including Ms. Vance and security, was shocked. Harper spoke up from behind me. “She’s not Elena. That’s Piper.” Finally! The truth was out! I wasn’t going to get blamed for Piper’s mistakes. Ms. Vance and security quickly pulled the woman off Piper. The woman glared at Ms. Vance. “Are you these girls’ dean?” Ms. Vance nodded, clearly intimidated. I have never seen her look so small. “Looks like your school’s moral education has failed. Your students are out here poisoning five-year-olds.” Piper, now nursing a red cheek, was not about to take this. “Your daughter was staring like she was starving to death. I gave her my piece out of kindness! Did I do something wrong?” “Besides, I didn’t buy the cake. Elena over there bought it. If you want someone to blame, blame her.” Piper pointed at me. “It was her birthday yesterday, and she bought it. Everyone knows she hates me. Maybe she poisoned it for me, and your daughter just accidentally ate it. So this is not my fault.” Piper’s ability to lie was terrifying. I simply hit “play” on my phone recording. Everyone heard the entire argument from last night. The crowd went silent. Even Ms. Vance looked shocked. “Ms. Vance, Ma’am, you both heard the recording. I begged Piper not to give Lily the cake. We all know kids have sensitive stomachs, and it was a cold cake. I told Piper not to give it to her, but she ignored me.” “It was my birthday yesterday. Why on earth would I poison my own cake? And my other two roommates ate it, and they are perfectly fine.” Piper glared at me, disbelief on her face. “I can’t believe you actually recorded that. You are so petty.” “If I hadn’t, I’d be the one getting slapped and accused of poisoning a child right now.” Most of the original crowd had gone to class, but a new group of onlookers had gathered. “Wow, it was Piper. I heard she was an honors student, I guess grades don’t mean you’re a good person.” “Grades and morals are two completely different things.” I really hoped people would start sharing the real story, otherwise I’d be known as the girl who poisoned a kid forever. Seeing she wasn’t getting anywhere with me, Piper turned to Lily’s mom. “And again, your daughter demanded it. I was just trying to be nice.” “You think talking now is going to help? My daughter is lying in a hospital bed because of you. The doctor said she needs to stay for at least a week.” “Lily is lying there crying, asking why the ‘pretty sister’ tried to hurt her.” Lily’s mom started crying. It was heart-wrenching, honestly. As much as I disliked her, I couldn’t imagine how a mother felt seeing her child suffer in a hospital bed. Even the security guard she had bitten was starting to console her. “Ma’am, it’s going to be okay. Kids are resilient. When I was a kid, I ate bad food all the time, and I turned out fine.” “Yeah, definitely,” we all chimed in, supporting the guard. Ms. Vance immediately said, “Piper, apologize to her right now.” With the RA and the Dean of Students pressuring her, Piper had to apologize, whether she wanted to or not. Through clenched teeth, she forced out the words, “I’m sorry.”

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I had a reputation for talking so much I could cure three cases of autism just by chatting. As a result, the aloof and reclusive Cole Hayes was essentially gifted to me as an arranged, live-in boyfriend. I used to hit him with terrible pickup lines: “Did you just fart? Because you blew me away. But not as much as I think about you.” He would snap his head up: “I did not.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ eyes lit up with hope. From then on, I kept him company for four years. Until he met another girl. He talked with her all night about the Riemann Hypothesis. In the early hours of the morning, he turned to me and said for the very first time: “You’re very loud. “Can you shut up?” That night, he received a text message: [Take one of these pills, and Maya Evans will stay five hundred feet away from you.] Cole swallowed the entire bottle of pills. But what he didn’t know was that the bottle only contained calcium vitamins I had swapped in. 01 I was born with the gift of gab. I talked so much that cats and dogs found me annoying. In an attempt to mold me into a “proper young lady,” my mom forbade everyone in our house from talking to me. As a result, my masochistic tendencies skyrocketed. Silenced at home, I would go outside and strike up conversations with stray dogs. My crowning achievement was using just my mouth to “cure” three kids with autism. Unsurprisingly, my mom got called into the principal’s office. The teacher spoke earnestly: “Since she loves to talk so much, keep her home until she’s talked enough, then send her back. She’s disrupting the other students.” My mom immediately abandoned me and the whole mess: “Are you doing this on purpose to make me look bad? “I can’t control you. Do whatever you want, but once you step out of this door, don’t expect me to come to school and clean up your messes.” Also called to the office that day was the top student in our class—Cole Hayes. “Your son, Cole, has excellent grades. He’s clearly Ivy League material. “It’s just his personality… he’s too isolated. When teachers or classmates ask him something, he ignores them completely.” Mrs. Hayes sighed helplessly and explained to the female teacher: “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Davis. Our son was born with a touch of autism.” Suddenly, the math teacher at the next desk had a flash of inspiration: “Mrs. Evans, Maya Evans can strike up a conversation with a dog on campus! Whenever we sit her next to an autistic kid, she manages to talk them into a milder point on the spectrum. “How about we sit her next to Cole Hayes!” Mrs. Hayes’ eyes lit up. 02 My mom didn’t want to deal with a problem child. But Mrs. Hayes did. Not only did she beg the teacher to let me sit next to Cole, but she also had me stay at the Hayes’ house to accompany Cole to and from school. But Cole wasn’t autistic. He just had Asperger’s syndrome, often called the “genius disease,” and possessed extraordinary talent in math and computer science. He just felt that his peers were too immature and therefore found it beneath him to communicate with us. Under Mrs. Hayes’ expectant gaze, I felt the task was incredibly daunting. I babbled at Cole: “Bro, who do you think is a better cook, Gordon Ramsay or Bobby Flay?” “Which chicken makes the best fried chicken?” Cole turned a deaf ear, lowering his eyes to quietly solve math problems. I leaned in close, staring blankly, trying to count exactly how many lower eyelashes he had. I was counting so intently that my warm breath puffed entirely onto his eye. Cole’s eyelashes fluttered, and then he shot me a cold glare. His mouth was sealed tighter than a vault. I didn’t want to disappoint Mrs. Hayes, so I frantically fired off terrible pickup lines: “Did you just fart? Because you blew me away. But not as much as I think about you.” Three seconds later, he snapped his head up: “I did not.” Huh, I think I figured out the access code to get Cole to speak. 03 I lived at the Hayes’ house for four years. In Cole’s world, besides vibrant and complex mathematics, there was now a shadow who scored a solid 30% in math. While I was furiously scribbling down his homework, he would coldly interject: “That’s an integral sign, not a giant parenthesis. Also, the density of water is not equal to 5.” I would immediately bow and scrape: “You’re absolutely right, bro. This problem is too advanced for me. I won’t copy it.” Occasionally, he would chime in on my random ramblings: “Yeah, Professor Snape hated Harry Potter because James Potter bullied him in school.” “Hamilton was Jefferson’s biggest rival. They disagreed on almost everything. Left leg.” I gnawed on my popsicle and obediently propped my left leg on Cole’s lap. Watching him tie my shoelaces. His brow was furrowed deep, as if contemplating the mysteries of the universe. Only I knew that his OCD gave him an inexplicable urge to perfectly control the bows on my shoes. After high school graduation, he started preparing for his college applications. He supervised me every day as I memorized vocabulary for the SATs. At that time, I felt my life revolved entirely around the 26 letters of the alphabet. And it also revolved entirely around Cole. It couldn’t be helped; Cole couldn’t do without me. 04 Until Cole went to Boston to attend a mathematics salon. He met a girl, Chloe Zhou. White dress, low ponytail; you could tell at a glance she was smarter than me. They sat together, chatting all evening about the Riemann Hypothesis. I just felt a bit stuffed from the lobster roll I had for dinner. Cole was exceptionally talkative that day, but I couldn’t understand a single word of what they were discussing. I couldn’t even get a word in edgewise. In the past, during such awkward moments, Cole would always lower his intellectual level to say a few words to me. So I wouldn’t sit there looking like an idiot. But today he seemed to be enjoying the conversation too much and forgot about me. Luckily, a chatterbox can fit in anywhere. I met another guy whose math score was probably also hovering around 30%. Julian lowered his voice: “Does it feel like listening to a foreign language?” I nodded: “Tell me about it! Especially those two over there,” I jutted my chin toward Cole’s direction, “I feel like they’re going to ascend to a higher plane of existence any second.” Julian burst out laughing: “I get it. I was dragged here by my dad for ‘exposure’. What about you?” I blanked for a second: “I’m here accompanying my tutoring client. My job is to teach him how to talk to people more.” Julian suddenly looked toward Cole and said, “Then I’d say you’ve over-delivered on your assignment?” His good-natured teasing felt like a tiny thorn, pricking me ever so slightly. I instinctively looked over at Cole again. He had his head turned slightly, focused intently on whatever Chloe was saying, a very faint smile even playing on his lips. That was an expression I had spent four years, countless terrible pickup lines, and meaningless chatter to earn on rare occasions. And in this moment, Chloe had easily achieved it with a bunch of symbols I couldn’t understand. Somewhere in my chest, it felt like that lobster roll was making me even more uncomfortably full. “Yeah, over-delivered. Looks like I can retire early.” I retracted my gaze. “What about you? Has the ‘exposure’ yielded any results?” 05 “I discovered the cake here is pretty good,” Julian shrugged, pointing to the half-empty fruit wine I had been drinking. “The wine is good too.” We steered clear of the unfathomable math discussions and started chatting about everything under the sun. “I think the sweet and sour ribs at Dining Hall Two are the best!” “I vote for Dining Hall One!” “Is the male lead in that newly popular anime a jerk or what?” “I think so. He goes off to conquer the world with the second female lead and leaves the main girl at home. Pfft.” “Our school just introduced a bizarre new rule—boys and girls aren’t allowed to have physical contact for more than ten seconds.” “So, is the dean going to patrol with a stopwatch? Hahaha.” … Our laughter wasn’t loud, but in a salon so quiet you could hear a pin drop—save for the math jargon—it seemed a bit out of place. Until I felt a gaze land on me. I instinctively turned my head. At some point, Cole had stopped his discussion with Chloe. His brow was slightly furrowed. Those aloof eyes, usually immersed in their own world, were looking at me. More precisely, they were looking at me laughing hysterically, and at Julian beside me, who was laughing just as unreservedly. The smile on my face froze a bit, and that uncomfortable fullness in my chest sharply morphed into a stinging sourness. “What’s wrong?” Julian noticed something was off. “Nothing.” I shook my head. 06 After the salon ended, Mrs. Hayes happened to swing by to pick us up. I didn’t expect the fruit wine to have such a kick. I was feeling incredibly dizzy. “Bro, why are there two of you? When did you learn to clone yourself?” I squinted, trying hard to figure out which one was real. Cole, caught between laughing and crying, pinched my cheek to stop me from leaning in closer: “Maya Evans, you’re drunk.” I thought, Cole really is cured. I don’t even have to use pickup lines, and he can say this many words. But I had memorized quite a few lines today; I had to use them. “Bro, I might not be able to fawn over you for a while. Do you know why?” He asked, “Why?” I giggled: “I’ve been running a fever lately, and I’m afraid I’ll burn you if I get too close.” “Bro, if you cheat once, I’ll let you off the hook. If you cheat twice, I’ll let you off the hook. If you cheat three times, I’ll let you off the hook.” “But bro, remember this: I’m a forgiving goddess, not your wife.” After I finished, I cracked myself up, bending over with laughter. Cole was acting very out of character today. He nudged me and asked: “What else?” I instinctively replied: “I say ten sentences and you only reply with one…” Before I could finish, my arm was grabbed, and I was hauled up from the sofa like a carrot being pulled from the dirt. I hadn’t fully processed it as I slowly spat out the second half of the sentence: “…Then fine, from now on, for every ten times you thrust, I’ll only moan once.” The other Cole—the one with the deadpan face—was as cold as ice. He gripped me with one hand and covered my mouth with the other: “Shut up.” “We’re going home.” Mrs. Hayes was standing behind him, instinctively reaching out to take me from him, but Cole dodged her. It turned out I had mistaken someone else for him. I clamped my mouth shut tight. Chloe looked surprised: “Oh, you came with someone.” Mrs. Hayes smiled: “Yes, Cole and Maya are always inseparable. He’s basically her arranged husband.” Cole’s face turned instantly grim. He looked at Chloe and said seriously: “No, I’m not.” “I have nothing to do with her.” “I hate stupidity.” 07 I was remarkably well-behaved even when drunk; no screaming or yelling, just extremely chatty. With my face wedged in the gap of the car seats, I could even chat with Mrs. Hayes. Mrs. Hayes said: “You seemed to be having a great time chatting with that boy today.” I nodded: “Auntie Hayes, you don’t even know. He goes to the same school as Cole! We hit it off so well.” Mrs. Hayes smiled: “He seems good at making you laugh?” I instinctively replied: “My sense of humor is just broken, I laugh at everything. Not everyone can be like Cole, walking around with a scowl every day like someone owes him money.” “Auntie Hayes, you don’t even know. He told me the spicy stir-fry at the East Dining Hall is the best. It’s a shame I’ve graduated and never got to try it.” “He said the city youth chess tournament is happening at the rec center the day after tomorrow and asked if I wanted to go watch. I told him the only game I know how to play is Connect Four…” Cole suddenly whipped his head around, snapping, his voice cold and distant: “You’re very loud.” “Can you shut up?” A suffocating silence fell over the car. Only the sound of the traffic outside, flowing like a silent river, separated us. Mrs. Hayes was the first to speak: “Cole, what nonsense are you talking about?” “Maya, don’t take it to heart. You know him, his EQ is terrible. He doesn’t know how to talk.” I nodded, but didn’t know what to say. I felt inexplicably terrible. I figured it must have been because I was drunk. The next day, Cole received a text message on his phone: [Take one of these pills, and Maya Evans will stay five hundred feet away from you.] Without a moment’s hesitation, Cole swallowed the entire bottle of pills.

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It was crawfish season again. I pulled up my ex’s contact and texted him: “Get back together?” He replied: “No, I’m seeing someone new.” “Stop using these childish tricks to try and win me back. It’s stupid.” I slowly typed back: “Oh.” “Then do you and your new girl want some crawfish?” 01 “I’m downstairs at your apartment.” I spoke quietly into the phone. “I brought fifteen pounds of crawfish.” The sound on the other end of the line abruptly stopped. Caleb seemed to be in disbelief, or maybe he just thought the whole thing was absurd. Then I heard him take a deep breath. Lowering his voice, he asked through gritted teeth, “What did you just say?” “Repeat what you just said to me!” I hadn’t realized Caleb was already going deaf at such a young age. I paused, then quietly repeated myself: “That crawfish place we always go to is running a special. Buy five pounds, get two free.” “And so you bought ten pounds?!” Caleb’s voice suddenly spiked. Even through the phone, I could hear him losing his mind. “Maya, are you crazy?!” I silently pulled the phone a little further away from my ear. I waited a good while. After Caleb seemed to have calmed down slightly on his end, I brought the phone back and carefully asked, “So, do you and your new girl want to eat some crawfish?” “Get lost!” Caleb roared his final sentence into the receiver and hung up cleanly. I stood downstairs outside his apartment complex, holding the massive bags of crawfish. I looked up at the floor where he lived and let out a deep sigh. Well, this was a disaster. I’d calculated everything, but I hadn’t calculated that Caleb would have a new girlfriend. I had no idea how long it would take me to peel these fifteen pounds of crawfish by myself. I sat on the planter outside Caleb’s building for a while, feeling a bit lost. For a moment, I didn’t know what to do. I opened my contact list, wondering who I could ask to help me polish off this mountain of food. But at this hour, everyone had just finished dinner. They wouldn’t have the stomach space. I sighed again, stood up, and grabbed the four huge bags, preparing to head to the complex entrance to call an Uber. I hadn’t walked far when I bumped into Caleb. His face was ashen. I had no idea when he’d come downstairs. He stood stiffly in front of me. He didn’t speak; he just stared at me coldly, staring inexplicably for a long time. I blinked, hoisted the bags of crawfish, and asked, “Fresh out of the pot. Want some?” Caleb’s face was dark. He took two bags from my hands and turned to leave without saying a single word. “Wait a second!” I couldn’t help but call out to stop him. Caleb turned sideways to look at me. His lips were pressed tightly together, but his eyebrows raised slightly. Caleb and I had been together for four years. I knew all his little habits intimately. You could say I knew him too well. He didn’t even need to speak for me to know what he was trying to convey. Just like right now. He wanted to say, “Spit it out, I don’t have all night.” But he was too lazy to open his mouth. A cold stare and a raised eyebrow were enough for me to understand. I paused for a moment, then quietly said, “Five pounds of crawfish is thirty-five dollars.” Caleb’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. I met his gaze in silence. After a long moment, I heard Caleb let out a cold laugh. “Fine! Fine!” “Maya, you really are something else!” “If I ever pay any attention to you again, I’m a dog!” After Caleb Venmo’d me the money, he didn’t look at me again and quickly walked away. Before he left, I saw him angrily kick a trash can on the street. The trash can sustained minor injuries; Caleb sustained major ones. He curled in on himself for a second in pain. But he insisted on acting like nothing happened, limping away into the distance. 02 That night, Caleb, who rarely posted on Instagram, suddenly uploaded a story. In the video, he was meticulously peeling an entire bowl full of crawfish meat. Then, he pushed the bowl in front of a pretty girl wearing a breezy top and light-ash-brown hair. The moment the girl smiled, puckered her lips, and leaned in, the video abruptly ended. I silently liked the video, then turned off my phone screen and stared blankly at the crawfish in my hands. Actually, I had thought about Caleb getting a new girlfriend. I just didn’t expect that day to come so quickly. When we broke up, Caleb’s eyes had been red. He’d bitten his lip hard and said to me through clenched teeth, “Maya, if you dare find another man, I will haunt you even as a ghost!” Caleb said he would wait for me forever. I believed him. But six months later, he had a new girlfriend. I silently ate a piece of the crawfish I’d peeled by hand. It tasted a bit sour and bitter. It used to be so delicious. Caleb and I would go eat it so many times every summer. But eating it today, I felt the taste was off. Something was always missing. I silently opened my chat with Caleb, wanting to ask him if the crawfish tasted different this time. But just as I finished typing the message, I realized something. Caleb seemed to have a new girlfriend. It probably wasn’t a good idea for an ex like me to keep bothering him. I slowly deleted the text in the chat box, letter by letter. Just as I deleted the last word, I saw that Caleb’s profile picture, which hadn’t changed in years, had updated. It was now a picture of that girl with the light-ash-brown hair. The next second, I saw a message from Caleb pop up: “Let’s just delete each other.” “I’m worried my girlfriend will get upset.” I didn’t reply. I stared at those two sentences for a long time. I wanted to reply “Okay,” but I was afraid I’d get the red exclamation mark showing I’d been blocked. I thought about it for a long time. I didn’t reply, nor did I block or delete Caleb. Whatever. He had definitely already deleted me anyway. Whether I deleted him or not didn’t really matter. I silently spat out the crawfish meat in my mouth, losing my appetite for the remaining six pounds. I went to the kitchen to wash my hands. When I came out, a text message popped up on my phone screen. I glanced at it casually and saw it was from Caleb. It just said: “Test.” It was a random, out-of-context message, and it was immediately “unsent” with blazing speed. I was confused and sent a question mark back. The next second, a red exclamation mark popped up in the chat box. Message Not Delivered. This time, Caleb had truly blocked me. I held my phone in silence for a long time. Ten minutes later, after some thought, I sent a message to the account that had blocked me: “Well, I guess I can move on too.” I hit send, and it went through successfully. There was no red exclamation mark in front of the sentence. I froze for a moment, then belatedly realized what had happened. Caleb hadn’t deleted me. He had just blocked me, then unblocked me a moment later. Caleb’s status showed “typing…” for a long time. He typed for ages before I finally saw him send: “Oh.” “Suit yourself.” I looked at those words, my eyelashes trembling slightly. I tapped on his profile picture and stared at it for a while, then pursed my lips and deleted him from my contacts. It was just like eating too much crawfish; it’s bad for your body. Caleb had a girlfriend now. It was time for me to look forward, too. 03 I was thinking very clearly. So, at work, when the nice lady from accounting asked again if she could introduce her younger brother to me, I didn’t smile and change the subject to decline like I usually did. Instead, I smiled and said, “Sure! Give me his number!” “We can get to know each other first.” That same day, I added Julian—no, wait, I can’t use that name. I added Liam’s contact info and sent a simple greeting. The other party didn’t seem to have much interest in chatting. I’m not the type to force a conversation on someone who’s giving me the cold shoulder, either. After two or three awkward exchanges, the conversation died. I figured Liam probably wouldn’t initiate contact again. I didn’t expect his sister to like me so much! That day after work, she asked her brother to pick her up. Then she found an excuse to treat me to dinner. She brought me and Liam to a restaurant, and then immediately claimed she had to use the restroom and disappeared, leaving Liam and me staring at each other awkwardly. It was our first time meeting, and we were both a bit embarrassed, unsure of what to say. “I’m actually not that hungry,” I hesitated for a moment, then suggested quietly, “How about we just leave?” Liam nodded hastily, agreeing completely. But just as Liam and I were about to get up and leave, the waiter started bringing out food. That’s when I realized that before his sister left, she hadn’t just thoughtfully ordered for us—she had also paid the bill! Now it felt really rude not to eat. Liam sat back down, rubbing his temples, and looked at me helplessly. “Sorry about this. My sister’s antics are sometimes so frustrating.” I burst out laughing and said, “It’s fine. I actually think she’s a great person with a great personality.” Liam looked at me in disbelief. After a long silence, he replied, “I finally know why she likes you so much.” “No wonder she’s always going on and on in my ear about how great you are.” “She’s talked about it so much my ears are bleeding.” I blinked, intrigued, wanting to know what his sister had said about me. Once that topic came up, Liam wasn’t tired or awkward anymore. He perked up, determined to spill some tea about his sister. I listened and laughed, and the two of us slowly started getting along really well. Just as Liam and I were hitting it off, a cold laugh came from above our heads. “Heh.” I looked up and met Caleb’s mocking expression. “What a coincidence. Your new boyfriend?” I paused, momentarily unsure of how to explain. But Caleb didn’t seem to need my explanation. He just stared at me fixedly, gritting his teeth as he enunciated every word: “This restaurant is full.” “Mind if my girlfriend and I sit with you guys?” 04 Without waiting for me or Liam to decline, Caleb had already brought his girlfriend over and sat down at our table as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I had been afraid Caleb was here to start trouble, but it turned out he really did just want to share the table. After sitting down, he didn’t look at me again. Instead, he leaned his head close to the girl beside him and started ordering food on his phone. When he saw an interesting dish, Caleb would lean into her ear and whisper something, quickly eliciting low giggles from her. She leaned into Caleb’s chest, laughing non-stop. The two of them looked exceptionally intimate and sweet, making Liam and me look a bit awkward in comparison. Especially when Caleb occasionally looked up and his gaze swept over Liam sitting next to me. His eyes were not exactly friendly. Liam, sitting beside me, was given several hard looks by Caleb. Feeling a bit awkward, he couldn’t help but send me a text: “Are these your friends?” I had no intention of hiding anything, so I replied concisely: “Yeah, the guy is my ex.” “The girl next to him should be his current girlfriend.” Talk about a showdown between the ex and the current! Liam looked down at the message, and for a moment, he couldn’t hold it back. He almost choked on the lemon water in his mouth, nearly spraying it everywhere. Caleb didn’t hesitate at all; he immediately shielded his girlfriend. I quickly grabbed some napkins and handed them to Liam, terrified he was actually going to spit water everywhere. “I’m fine.” Liam clumsily tried to take the napkins I offered, but accidentally grabbed my hand instead. The next second, as if my hand had burned him, he hastily let go, his face flushing bright red. “Sorry.” Liam turned his head and apologized somewhat bashfully near my ear. I turned my head, intending to say something to him as well, but as soon as I looked up, I caught sight of the tips of his ears, which were tinged with red. Because we were so close, I could even clearly see the lingering blush on Liam’s cheeks and the fine peach fuzz on his face. I had meant to say it was fine, but what came out of my mouth was: “I didn’t expect you to be so shy.” “Have you never dated before?” Otherwise, why would he blush so furiously just from simply brushing a girl’s hand? Liam suddenly started coughing violently again, his entire face turning beet red. I quickly handed him some water and patted his back to help him catch his breath. After fussing for a good while, Liam finally recovered. He gave me a somewhat resentful look, and I couldn’t help but let out a muffled laugh. At the exact second I laughed, there was a sudden, loud CRASH of glass shattering on the floor nearby, startling Liam and me. I instinctively turned to look and saw only shards of glass scattered across the floor, along with Caleb’s expressionless face. Meeting the gazes of Liam and me, Caleb pulled his hand back, lowered his eyes, and said in a completely flat voice: “Sorry, my hand slipped.” 05 “Sorry about that. Scared you guys, huh?” Caleb gave Liam a long, hard look and said with a fake smile: “Let me order you a steak to make up for it.” “No need, no need. We’re both full.” Liam hastily and politely declined. But Caleb completely ignored him. He stubbornly called the waiter over and added a steak and four desserts to our order, managing everything for us without asking. Liam watched his actions, raised an eyebrow, and turned his head as if he wanted to say something to me. But before he could speak, he was interrupted by Caleb next to him. “You two don’t look very compatible,” Caleb said, staring at Liam with that fake smile. “How did you guys end up together?” “Mind telling me?” Three sentences, every single one laced with thorns. It also carried a heavy air of condescension. It was incredibly uncomfortable to hear. Even someone with a good temper like Liam couldn’t help but frown. I sighed, patted Liam’s arm to signal him to stay calm, turned around, and calmly said to Caleb, “Our business doesn’t seem to have anything to do with you.” “We don’t need the steak. We’re full, so we’re going to leave.” I stood up, taking Liam with me, gave Caleb’s girlfriend a slow smile, and said softly, “Enjoy your meal.” With that, I pulled Liam to leave, but Caleb’s face darkened, and he yelled coldly, “Did I say you could leave?” I ignored him, but halfway there, Liam’s arm was suddenly grabbed hard by Caleb, freezing him in place. “You running away the second there’s trouble? You run pretty fast for a guy. Are you even a man?” Liam’s brow furrowed tightly. He was clearly angered by Caleb’s words. But Liam could also see that I didn’t want to stay here any longer. He suppressed his anger, forcefully shook off Caleb’s hand, and strode to catch up with me. Neither of us paid Caleb any attention, which made his face grow darker and darker, looking like a thundercloud about to burst. To the point that, when Liam and I were almost out of the restaurant, Caleb suddenly slammed his hand hard on the table. After drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant, he gritted his teeth and yelled at Liam: “Hey, Carter!” (Wait, the instructions said no Chinese surnames. I’ll use a placeholder). “Hey, Liam!” “You’re with Maya, right? Did she ever tell you that she was sexually assaulted?” Liam’s body went stiff, and my footsteps abruptly halted. I froze in place. In that instant, the gazes of everyone in the restaurant seemed to land on me. I closed my eyes tightly, hearing the sound of whispers behind me. My fingertips trembled, and I pinched my palms as hard as I could, trying to ignore the suffocating feeling spreading from my heart. “She didn’t dare tell you, did she?” Caleb let out a mocking smile and walked toward us step by step, until he stood right in front of me. “If she won’t tell you, how about I give you the details?” “After all, you guys are together now.” Caleb stood firm in front of me, his gaze fixed on Liam, full of provocation. “I just wonder, will you still like her after hearing this!” “Shut your filthy mouth!” Liam was tense all over. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his eyes locked onto Caleb in a death stare, as if he would punch him in the face if Caleb said one more word. Caleb wasn’t afraid; he laughed instead, raising his voice again: “We’re both men here. Everyone knows how it is. What are you pretending for?” “Then tell me. I want to hear it.” A sudden sentence interrupted Caleb’s mockery and stopped Liam from throwing a punch. When Caleb heard the voice clearly, he violently turned his head to look at me. The moment he saw the calm expression on my face, a flash of panic crossed his eyes. He couldn’t maintain his expression, but he still asked me: “What did you just say?!” “I said, I’ve almost forgotten about it. Since you remember it so clearly, why don’t you say it out loud so I can hear it too?” I repeated it expressionlessly. As my words fell, the ridiculous expression on Caleb’s face instantly froze. At this moment, he seemed to finally realize that while he was using these words to sting Liam, I, the person it actually happened to, was standing right in front of them. “Maya!” Caleb couldn’t say anything else. After holding it in for a long time, he only managed to choke out my name. He panicked and reached out to grab me. I watched him in silence until Caleb’s hand stopped stiffly just inches from my skin. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Caleb, his face pale white, tried to explain. I didn’t want to hear explanations. I just asked: “Aren’t you going to say it?” “I won’t say it!” Caleb answered loudly without hesitation. His voice was sharp, as if he were swearing an oath. He hurriedly added, “How could I possibly say it? You know me!” “I could never hurt you! I didn’t mean it like that!” The more Caleb explained, the more panicked he became. He was frantically scratching his head and ears, so panicked he looked like he was about to cry. I watched him go crazy in silence. Before turning to leave, I gave him a long, deep look, parted my lips slightly, and left him with only one word: “Coward.” He dared to do it but didn’t dare to own up to it. If Caleb wasn’t a coward, what was he? I spoke calmly, turned, and walked away. As I stepped out of the restaurant doors, I heard a heavy, muffled thud of something being thrown to the floor inside. 06 After coming out of the restaurant, I stared blankly up at the sky. Only then did I realize that it had started drizzling at some point. The rain wasn’t heavy, just a fine mist hitting my face, bringing a bit of a chill. I hadn’t brought an umbrella. I sighed and prepared to run to the subway station in the rain. But just as I was about to dash out, my arm was suddenly grabbed. I looked back and met Liam’s face, who was trying hard to stay calm. “Where are you going?” “It’s dangerous walking in the rain right now. Don’t walk around alone. Where do you want to go? I’ll go with you.” “It’s not dangerous in this weather,” I replied silently. It was just a light drizzle. There wasn’t even any wind or lightning. But Liam refused to let go, still gripping my arm tightly. I frowned and was about to explain further, but I paused when I saw the panicked expression on Liam’s face and how his fingertips were trembling slightly as he held me. I suddenly, belatedly realized. Liam seemed to be worried that something would happen to me. After realizing this, the emotions I had barely managed to calm down suddenly began to surge wildly. My heart gave a heavy thud, bringing with it a hint of sourness that spread through my whole body. “I’m fine,” I tried to smile and explain to him. “I just want to run to the subway station and take the train home.” Liam frowned, his suspicious gaze falling on my face, looking completely unconvinced. “I’m really fine!” I gently pried his fingers off my arm, gave him a reassuring smile, and explained with a normal expression, “What he said is a fact. I have nothing to be angry about.” I couldn’t deny the fact that I had been sexually assaulted when I was a teenager. Just as I couldn’t deny that Caleb and I had truly had an unforgettable relationship. It just ended up as a chaotic mess, leaving behind nothing but a floor covered in feathers. “Think on the bright side,” I patted his shoulder and said with a smile. “At least I was only assaulted, not murdered. That’s a silver lining, isn’t it?” Liam was so shocked by my words that he was almost struck dumb. He probably never expected that I seemed to have no trauma from this tragic past, and could even calmly bring it up to comfort someone else. “When I was eighteen, I might have been so ashamed I’d want to die if he ripped off my scars in public like that.” “But I’m twenty-eight now.” I explained: “I know very well that what happened wasn’t my fault.” “The person who should really be so ashamed they want to die shouldn’t be me.” Actually, I was just a little confused. I paused for a moment. Caleb’s face inexplicably popped into my mind, and I clenched my fists tightly. I just didn’t understand why Caleb had turned out like this. Before, when I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Caleb had gripped my hand tightly and told me firmly, over and over again: “Maya, it’s not your fault. We aren’t going to cry!” But in the blink of an eye, he had morphed into that mocking face, yelling loudly in front of everyone: “Did you know Maya was sexually assaulted?” I lowered my eyes, unconsciously pressing my hand against my aching heart, trying to make myself feel less miserable. Liam looked at me deeply for a long time, his expression complex. After a long while, I finally felt the hand holding mine slowly let go. “You’re right!” Liam’s voice was hoarse, but he spoke firmly. “It wasn’t your fault! The person who truly deserves to die is someone else!” I snapped out of my daze and blinked at him. Liam stared at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, then said to me with a hoarse voice, “I left something in the restaurant. I need to go back and get it. Wait here for a second, okay?” 07 I paused, not having had time to react before Liam had already taken off running back inside. A few minutes later, his hair and clothes were a bit messy, and he came out panting, holding an umbrella. He flashed me a huge smile and said, “Let’s go! I’ll take you home!” I thought it would have been fine for him to just walk me to the subway, no need to take me all the way back. Because I remembered his house was in the opposite direction of mine. Liam was unexpectedly insistent. When I said it wasn’t necessary, he just murmured his agreement. But in reality, he just stood right behind me, not moving an inch. I couldn’t talk him out of it, and I had no choice but to let him walk me all the way to my front door. Since he was already at my door, I felt it would be a bit rude not to invite him in for a glass of water. As soon as I asked him, Liam seemed to think of something. His face instantly turned red. He scratched his head and stuttered, “Uh, maybe next time. Coming in empty-handed now doesn’t seem right.” “Huh? But I live alone,” I silently explained, not understanding his train of thought. But my explanation made things worse. As soon as I said it, Liam’s face turned even redder. No matter how I invited him, he stubbornly stood at the door talking to me, not daring to come in, and his gaze didn’t even dare to dart inside. I really had no choice but to go inside, pour a glass of water, and let him drink it at the door. Liam didn’t stay long. After he left, I closed the door, preparing to take the glass back to the kitchen. But after I’d taken just two steps, there was a sudden knock on the door again. “Did you forget something?” I asked as I opened the door. The next second, I heard a familiar mocking voice from above my head. “Who forgot something? Your new lover?” “What, you’ve only known him for how long, and you’re already bringing him home?” Caleb gritted his teeth. His voice was flippant, carrying a thick undertone of humiliation. “Maya, how come I never noticed before? Are you that desperate for a man? You can’t stand it for a few days without one?” I looked up. The second I met Caleb’s eyes, I violently swung my arm and slapped him across the face with all my might! Caleb’s head whipped to the side from the force. He kept his head lowered, pushed his tongue against his numb cheek, and let out an inexplicable laugh.

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Under a trending TikTok video, a woman tagged her boyfriend to watch. [Everyone move over! My hubby loves this kind of thing, let him watch first!] I clicked on her profile picture and froze. She was the girl who bullied me in high school. I would recognize that face even if it turned to ashes. I stayed up all night scrolling through all her videos, then clicked on the boyfriend she tagged. I sent a DM. [You there?] 01 Before seeing Chloe Vance again, I had imagined many times what she must be like now. I thought bad people would eventually get their karma, that she would be living a miserable, impoverished life. But she wasn’t. In the videos she posted, today she was at the Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives, a hotel that costs tens of thousands a night; tomorrow she was flying to Iceland to see the Northern Lights; the day after, she was speeding down the West Coast in a sports car at sunset. Her most recent photo showed her sitting in a black Rolls-Royce, wearing a Chanel suit, smiling brightly at the camera, without a hint of worry on her face. She looked like she was living an incredibly good life. But why did she deserve it? I stared hard at her smiling face on my phone screen. Slowly, that smiling face morphed into her wearing a high school uniform, slapping me while laughing, again and again, until her hand hurt, then switching with the person behind her, laughing as she aimed her phone camera at my swollen, bleeding face: “Smile, Maya! Weren’t you the one who loved acting like a slut the most? Why aren’t you smiling now?!” She yanked my hair hard, her smile growing wider: “Smile!” Chloe’s malice towards me started when the boy she liked gave me a birthday present. He gave me a designer bag for my birthday, supposedly brought back from Europe by his mom. It cost over three thousand dollars, and I was so scared I refused to take it. He got mad and threw it at me, saying if I didn’t want it, I could just throw it away. While I was standing there holding the bag, not knowing what to do, Chloe walked in. She snatched the bag, stared at it for a moment, and suddenly smiled. But that smile looked incredibly twisted, making my blood run cold. “I asked him for this bag for three months and he wouldn’t give it to me. I didn’t expect he actually wanted to give it to you.” She looked up at me, her gaze making my hair stand on end: “Maya, you’re pretty capable, aren’t you.” After that, Chloe started constantly targeting me. My biggest fear every day was school letting out, because I never knew when she would bring people to corner me in the bathroom for a beating and humiliation. During that time, I lived in constant fear every day, plagued by nightmares every night, but I didn’t dare tell anyone. My parents divorced when I was young, both starting new families. Only my grandmother, who had a bad limp, was willing to take me in. She ran a small deli, waking up early and staying up late to sell food to pay for my schooling. I was one of the few students at that private school who got in on a full scholarship because of my excellent grades. I didn’t dare tell the teachers, because Chloe threatened me with my grandmother. I also knew that the school would definitely turn a blind eye to Chloe, whose family was powerful and influential. I could only study harder, hoping to get into a good college early and leave this place. But in the end, I couldn’t even realize that small hope. The night before the SATs, Chloe locked me in the bathroom again. This time, she had people strip off my clothes and take photos. I was locked in the bathroom all night and couldn’t leave, so I didn’t know that my photos had already appeared in various local group chats that night. I also didn’t know that Chloe intentionally had someone go to my grandmother’s deli to show her those photos. My grandmother was worried sick and couldn’t wait for me to come home. She limped all the way to the school to find me. Then, because she was too anxious and didn’t look carefully while crossing the street, she was hit and run over by a fatigued truck driver, dying on the spot. I only found out the news the next morning when the school janitor let me out. I saw stars, my head spun, and I collapsed on the ground, my mind a complete blank. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. In one day, I lost the chance to take the SATs and change my fate, and the grandmother I depended on for survival. I remember almost nothing about the aftermath of that day. My body was probably in so much pain that it triggered a self-protection mechanism and sealed away that memory. I only remember the teacher coming to see me then. I heard her telling someone else in the hallway with great pity: “She had the potential for the Ivy League. What a shame.” Chloe got away scot-free, only being called into the principal’s office for a scolding. Because her dad was a well-known local entrepreneur and a major taxpayer, the principal didn’t dare offend him. I used the remaining money we had to arrange my grandmother’s funeral. I didn’t have money to retake the year, so I could only find a job at a factory to support myself. Meanwhile, Chloe was sent to the US for college, starting her fabulous life. … I sat on the bed in the dark bedroom, just staring blankly at the pitch-black ceiling. During the hardest years, I often spaced out like this. Actually, life got a lot better later on. After I started making money, I got my bachelor’s degree through adult education, saved up some money, and opened my own online women’s clothing store, acting as my own model. Luckily, I was pretty, caught a trend, and business boomed. Now, I have achieved financial freedom. I thought I had forgotten the past. I thought I could start a new life. But the moment I saw Chloe’s face, I suddenly realized that I had never let it go. I hated her. I hated her to death. I sat there until dawn, my stiff fingers finally clicking on the account she tagged. It was an account with a minimalist line-drawing avatar, with not a single video posted. But I quickly found out his identity. Liam Sterling, Chloe’s fiancé. The Vance family was on the verge of bankruptcy when she was in college, and finally managed to bounce back through an arranged marriage. The Sterling family was the powerful backer the Vance family clung to. It was also the guarantee that Chloe could live such a luxurious life now. Chloe didn’t recognize me anymore. It was truly ironic. She had personally pushed me into hell, and I saw her smiling face in every nightmare, but she didn’t remember me anymore, even tagging Liam in my comments section for him to see. I tapped the chat icon next to Liam’s avatar, thought for a moment, and sent him a DM. [You there?] 02 Three days later, I opened Liam’s chat box for the umpteenth time. He still hadn’t replied. I wasn’t surprised. From the information I had gathered these past few days, Liam was actually pretty clean when it came to his relationships with women. Chloe tagging him was probably just a random joke; she knew Liam wouldn’t be interested. It’s really quite strange. He’s the heir to the Sterling family, and from the videos and photos I found, he’s at least 6’2″. Thanks to his movie star mother, he also has a face that could instantly debut in Hollywood. For such a quintessential tall, rich, and handsome guy, his favorite activity wasn’t picking up girls, playing with sports cars, or showing off his wealth. It was fishing. Yeah, like an old man, setting up a fishing rod by the ocean or a pond and fishing all day. Since sending a DM online clearly wasn’t working, I looked up a lot of information about him, even following him to the bottom of his office building. Liam’s life was very routine—just commuting between home and work, and dedicating one day every weekend solely to fishing. After figuring out his quitting time, I drove my car behind his. Waiting for a red light, I pulled up behind his car and intentionally rear-ended him! With a “bang,” the car in front stopped. Then, Liam, wearing a suit, frowned, got out, and knocked on my window. I smoothed my hair, glancing at the rearview mirror out of the corner of my eye. I had specifically hired a makeup artist who charged five figures to do my makeup, ensuring every single eyelash was exquisite while not looking like I was wearing much makeup. Sure enough, when I opened the car door, Liam’s furrowed brow relaxed a bit. Chloe must know Liam likes my type, which is why she tagged him. He might not be interested in me just because of a face, but at least he wouldn’t feel disgusted by me. I looked up, revealing a perfectly angled face, and apologized panickily: “I’m so sorry, I’m a new driver. I was too anxious just now and didn’t react in time. Are you okay?” Liam shook his head, walked to the back of the car, and took a look: “It’s not very serious. Let’s move the cars first so we don’t block traffic, and we can just go through insurance later.” I nodded. The two of us waited by the side of the road for the insurance agent to finish the whole process. Then I naturally pulled out my phone, opened my Venmo QR code, and handed it to him: “Let’s add each other. We can contact each other if anything comes up!” My attitude was too natural, giving him no chance to refuse. Liam paused for a moment, took out his phone, and scanned me. “I’m really sorry about today. How about I treat you to dinner sometime?” I looked up at him. “No need, the insurance is sorted out. Just contact me on WeChat if anything comes up.” He rejected me as I expected, got in his car, and left. I watched his car merge into traffic, holding my phone, a smirk playing on my lips. Today’s goal was achieved. I hadn’t expected to get close to Liam so quickly; getting his contact info was already a success. I like a challenge. If he took the bait too fast, it wouldn’t be fun. I found all of Chloe’s social media accounts. She seemed to really like Liam, with almost nine out of ten posts being about him. They were blatantly filled with her infatuation with him. The Vance family had been showing more and more signs of decline these past few years. If it weren’t for the Sterling family’s capital injection holding them up, they probably would have gone bankrupt long ago. Chloe Vance. I’d really like to see if she can still live so comfortably without Liam. If God won’t give her karma, I’ll deliver it myself. 03 I stayed up all night studying Liam’s Instagram. He really was a guy with a simple life. He barely had any posts, only showing off on Instagram when he caught a fish. I didn’t initiate a conversation with him; I just waited a few days and posted a photo on my story. Ripples blown by the wind on a dark, deep pool. I held up a large carp, smiling at the camera with my lips pressed together. [Another day without getting skunked!] I waited a week. Liam didn’t like or comment. But he didn’t post on his story that week either. Clearly, he hadn’t caught any fish. The second week, I continued posting. Still a carp, still that deep pool, but this time the fish was a size bigger, weighing at least four or five pounds. [Big catch!] He still didn’t reply. The third week, I kept posting. [Can’t finish catching them, literally can’t finish.] Then I put on a face mask and went to sleep. Early the next morning, I opened my phone. Among the dozens of likes, I finally saw the person I was waiting for. Liam commented: [Excuse me, where is this?] I looked at my phone and smirked. He took the bait. 04 When I saw Liam again, he was noticeably more talkative. “Is there really that many fish at the spot you mentioned?” I discreetly sized him up. He was wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants, his black hair unstyled, falling naturally over his forehead. When he talked about something he was interested in, his eyes widened slightly, shining brightly. He looked nothing like the cold, aloof heir in the financial magazines; he felt more like a college student in his early twenties. I nodded: “You’ll know when we get there. I’ve never been skunked any of the times I’ve been there.” Actually, I didn’t know how to fish at all. I had frantically crammed for this just to hook Liam. I found this fishing spot after asking countless people and wandering the mountains for days. When Liam first commented, I ignored him. I didn’t leisurely reply until the next day after posting another story: [It’s up in the mountains, pretty hard to find.] This time he replied instantly: [Could I trouble you to bring me along next time you go? Thank you.] I put down my phone and ate dinner, estimating he was getting impatient before replying: [Sure.] … I cast my line a few yards away from Liam. He didn’t initiate conversation, and I wasn’t going to kiss up to him. Occasionally, when there was a bite, we would glance at each other. I could tell that when I hooked a fish, he really wanted to come over and look, but he was a bit too embarrassed, just pretending nothing was happening while his gaze swept back and forth. From Chloe’s Instagram, Liam was the kind of guy who was a bit cold. He wouldn’t even offer perfunctory politeness for things he didn’t like. He probably grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and with his excellent personal qualities, he rarely encountered situations where he had to please others or take the initiative. He was used to having others revolve around him. There probably hasn’t been a shortage of crazy admirers throwing themselves at him over the years. If I was too proactive, I’d probably just end up like those other women in his mind, not worth paying attention to. After taking Liam there the first time, I didn’t contact him again, but I figured out his schedule. I staked out the spot every day, ensuring I bumped into him at least once a week. But the process of waiting for a fish was too boring. After our third meeting, he finally started talking to me. “How did you find this fishing spot?” “I’ve been to most of the fishing spots and fisheries nearby. They were boring. I accidentally saw this one while hiking and thought I’d give it a try. Didn’t expect it to be this good.” Once we started talking about fishing, Liam became noticeably more talkative. When he got excited, he showed me a video of him catching catfish in the Amazon River. I was full of praise, and then showed him a photo of me deep-sea fishing for tuna. His eyes lit up, and then he felt a bit regretful: “I wanted to go tuna fishing before, but I’ve been too busy and haven’t had the chance.” He looked up at me, truly looking at me for the first time: “I didn’t expect you to like fishing so much. Girls who love fishing are really rare.” We talked more and more, moving from sports to our favorite music, movies, and books, and then he surprisingly realized we actually had quite a few shared hobbies and interests. We both liked skiing, we both liked Yukio Mishima’s The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, we both liked listening to Koji Tamaki. We even understood each other’s preferences where we differed. By the time we snapped back to reality, we realized we had chatted the entire afternoon, and the sky was dark. After that, we often fished and chatted together. We even adopted a little stray cat together. This little orange cat was only a few months old. Every time we came fishing, it would lie quietly nearby waiting for fish to eat. Sometimes when neither of us caught anything, it would meow anxiously, urging us on. I named it “Nian Nian,” meaning surplus year after year. Every time I went, I would kiss and cuddle it. Liam wasn’t as interested in it. Every time Nian Nian went to rub against him, he would dodge. He was a bit of a germaphobe and hated getting cat hair on him. That night, when we said goodbye, Liam asked me for the first time: “When are you coming next?” I thought for a moment: “Work has been pretty busy lately, it’s hard to say.” A barely noticeable hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he still nodded politely and didn’t say much more. I didn’t go for the entire next week. It wasn’t until the second week that I finally showed up. Seeing me again, Liam’s face didn’t show it, but he quickly moved his chair closer to mine. “What have you been doing these past few days? Why haven’t you been fishing?” I walked over and pet Nian Nian, who was lying on the ground. He stretched his body lazily on the ground, his little belly bulging. He had gained a lot of weight, his fur was glossy and smooth, looking like he was being taken very good care of. “Have you been feeding him these past few days?” Liam lifted his chin reservedly, his tone carrying a hint of blame: “You were the one who named him, but you haven’t taken care of him at all these past few days.” He quickly became a bit smug: “Of course I’ve been taking care of him. I’ve been catching fish for him to eat every day.” Nian Nian walked over and rubbed against his leg. Liam frowned, complaining: “Can you stay a little further away? You always get hair all over me.” But his hands familiarly picked it up and placed it on his lap. Nian Nian lay comfortably on him. His black jacket was immediately covered in cat hair, but he didn’t care. Instead, he expertly scratched its chin. I watched from the side, drawing a conclusion in my mind. Turns out he’s a total tsundere. I smiled inwardly and sat on the side holding my fishing rod, but accidentally pricked my hand on a fishhook. I hissed and squeezed my finger, and a bright red bead of blood popped out. Liam immediately put Nian Nian down, took a Band-Aid from the box beside him, and walked over with a frown. “Why are you so careless?” I wanted to take the Band-Aid, but he naturally said: “Give me your hand.” “You’re quite prepared—” I looked up with a smile, but swallowed the rest of my words when I met his gaze. Too close. Without realizing it, we seemed to be too close. The bright orange sunset in the mountains gradually faded into blue, darkening. The wind was trapped in the valley, bringing up damp moisture. I could smell the faint woody scent on Liam, subtly drifting over. I didn’t know if it was cologne or aftershave. His pupils were slightly lighter than most people’s, carrying a kind of inorganic, cold clarity, but right now, they were entirely reflecting me. The wind blew my hair across his face. He just stared at me blankly until Nian Nian meowed impatiently from the side. We snapped back to reality at the same time, abruptly stepping back from each other. Liam quickly turned his head, squatting with his back to me, petting Nian Nian’s back: “Stop calling, I’ll get you some food right away.” I burst out laughing. In the dim light, his ears turned noticeably red, and he sat on the side fishing without saying a word. However, Liam, who was usually very patient, kept fidgeting that night and didn’t catch a single fish the entire time. From that day on, there seemed to be a tacit understanding between us. Whenever he went fishing, he would always invite me, and we would go out at least twice a week. Sometimes in the desolate mountains, sometimes on the boundless ocean, sometimes at a fishery he rented out. But, it was always just the two of us. During this time, I constantly monitored Chloe’s Instagram. Her posts showing off her relationship became fewer and fewer, until eventually, she hadn’t posted a single one for several days. I watched coldly, making sure to present my best state and most exquisite makeup whenever I met her boyfriend during the day. This kind of relationship, where we both knew what was going on but kept playing dumb, fermented until two months later, when I felt the time was ripe. That night, while he was holding Nian Nian, I suddenly spoke up: “Liam, do you have a girlfriend?” 05 Chloe posted on Instagram again. But this time it wasn’t showing off Liam, it was: [Some people are just born cheap, they love eyeing other people’s men. Don’t let me find out who you are.] I leaned against the window, exhaling a puff of smoke, and curled my lips into a smile. Looks like they had a fight. Chloe’s relationship with Liam seemed to have always been a one-sided chase on her part. I had looked through his old blog from his study abroad days and his current Instagram, and there wasn’t a single post about Chloe. A relationship maintained by only one person, now with me added to the mix, had finally become precarious. Liam didn’t answer my question today, but we both knew the silent answer. Neither of us spoke that day; we hastily packed up our gear and went home. But I knew that Liam’s heart was definitely not as calm as his expression right now. However, I couldn’t predict whether things would go well or badly. He might not have much feeling for Chloe, but the Sterling and Vance families have had close business ties for years, and the arranged marriage was no joke. He might have good feelings for me now, but how much could it really be? Could it compare to his career? Sure enough, that same day Liam sent me a text. [I won’t be going fishing anymore. Sorry to have bothered you during this time.] He kept his word and really stopped going fishing. I went to various fishing spots every day, but he seemed to be hiding from me, never showing up again. Nian Nian was gone too. I wanted to adopt him, but I searched the entire nearby area and couldn’t find him. Only his profile picture changed, to a ginger cat lying on a rug, yawning. I zoomed in to look closely. That was Nian Nian. … Half a month later, I posted a photo on my Instagram Story of me holding up a fish with another man. The man was 6’1″, with honey-toned skin, his black tank top stretched tight over bulging pecs, one arm slung around my shoulder, smiling brightly. This was a male model I specifically hired, costing $300 a day. Fishing requires skill; just throwing bait aimlessly won’t catch you the right fish. The next day, when I went back to that pond, a shadow suddenly loomed beside me. I looked up. Liam, his face expressionless, sat in the chair next to me, took out his fishing rod, and cast his line without saying a word. But he didn’t even bait the hook. We sat in silence like that for a long time before he finally spoke, his voice betraying no emotion. “Who was that guy yesterday?” I said lightly: “You already have a girlfriend. What does it have to do with you?” He stopped talking. For the next half hour, I kept catching fish, but Liam didn’t catch a single one. He didn’t seem to realize he hadn’t put bait on, the air pressure around him heavy, lost in his own thoughts. I stood up. Having sat for too long, my legs were numb, and I stumbled, almost falling. Liam instinctively stood up and caught me. The moment our eyes met, he suddenly grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me. It was a completely unromantic scene. Around us were just the two of us, not-so-clever anglers, the fish swimming in the water, and an unromantic kiss. Rather than a kiss, it was more like a duel. His force carried an aggressive edge. I didn’t back down, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my tiptoes. I don’t know how long passed, but just as I was oxygen-deprived and almost blacking out, he let me go. I looked up at him, panting: “Liam, I won’t be the other woman.” His under-eyes flushed a dark red. It took him a long time to steady his breathing. “I know.” “I don’t want to make excuses, but I want to be clear with you. She was arranged by my family, and I have no feelings for her. I will make things clear to her. Give me a little time.” … That night, I opened Chloe’s Instagram again. She hadn’t posted anything; it was perfectly quiet. But I knew she definitely wasn’t having a good time right now. Sure enough, late that night, she posted several consecutive, frantic updates, finally ending with a few words. [Just wait. I won’t let this go so easily.]

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My mother-in-law wanted to bring all five of her nieces and nephews from her hometown to spend the summer at our place. My husband, terrified I would refuse, kept following me around, repeatedly asking if I minded. I just smiled. “They’re your family. You decide.” My husband looked at me in disbelief. “You really agree?” Of course I agreed. Even if I didn’t, my mother-in-law would bring the kids over anyway. Only, in this life, you all can choke on the bitter fruits of your own actions. 1 That’s right, I’ve been reborn. I was reborn on the exact day my husband, Mark, told me his mother wanted to bring her nieces and nephews from her hometown to stay with us for the summer. In my previous life, I adamantly refused. First of all, Mark and I had no safety net. We built everything from scratch. We had a mortgage weighing us down, very little savings, and simply couldn’t afford the expenses for that many people. Secondly, our apartment was a cramped 800 square feet. There was no physical way to fit that many people. But the moment Mark agreed to reject his mother’s plan, she showed up on our doorstep anyway, bringing his sister-in-law, his younger sister, and the five kids. Every day, besides scrambling at work, I had to cater to a massive household, managing every meal and chore. If the slightest thing wasn’t to my mother-in-law’s liking, she accused me of mistreating them. I also had to endure the five endlessly rowdy kids and the constant instigating from my sister-in-law and sister. Eventually, due to a minor scuffle between the kids, they verbally abused and blamed me. It escalated until Mark’s emotionally volatile cousin pushed me down the stairs, killing me. After my death, for a measly $10,000 settlement, my mother-in-law’s entire family committed perjury, claiming I tripped and fell on my own. When my own mother heard the news of my death, the shock triggered a massive heart attack, and she couldn’t be saved. Opening my eyes again, I heard Mark hang up the phone. He looked at me hesitantly. “Maya, summer vacation has started. Mom wants to bring the nieces and nephews over to stay for a few days. What do you think?” I took a moment to steady my thoughts, suppressing the deep-seated hatred in my heart, and said calmly, “They’re your family. You decide.” After saying that, I quickly went into the bedroom and started packing my bags. Mark looked at me, bewildered. “Mom and the others aren’t taking our room. Why are you packing?” What a joke. I’m packing because I’m running away. You just stay here and enjoy the massive “gift” your mother brings you. 2 I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue, making my eyes red, and said to Mark, “My mom’s heart is acting up again, and she’s been hospitalized. The doctors say she might need surgery.” “I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time. I have to go back and see if she needs the surgery or not.” “I didn’t know your mom was bringing the kids over for the summer. Please explain it to them for me. Since I won’t be here for the next few days, you’ll have to play the good host, honey.” I grew up in a single-parent household, and Mark knew I was very close to my mother. Hearing she was sick, he nodded and, with a pained expression, transferred me a hundred and fifty dollars. “It’s hard for me to get time off work, and Mom and the others are coming over, so I won’t be able to go back with you this time.” “Take this hundred and fifty bucks. Buy your mom some nice supplements.” I kept my expression neutral, thanked him, and accepted the money. In my previous life, I thought I had married a practical, “budget-conscious” man. So, when Mark was stingy with his money towards me and my family, I rationalized it as him being financially responsible. But later I realized that he scrutinized every extra penny spent on me and my family. Yet, when it came to his parents, his older brother, his sister, and the whole clan back in his hometown, he was incredibly generous. Not long after we got married, his mother said they didn’t have enough money to build a new house in their hometown. Without hesitation, Mark transferred the $15,000 we had painstakingly saved right into her account. That was the money we had set aside to start a family. In our second year of marriage, my mom said we should have a baby while she was still young enough to help take care of it. I brought up trying for a baby, having finally managed to save another $7,000. Then, his mother said his older brother’s son wanted to go to an exclusive private boarding school and needed a hefty “school choice” fee. They were exactly $7,000 short. Mark, down to the last cent, sent that $7,000 to his brother. Not to mention the holidays. His mother, obsessed with saving face, made Mark buy expensive liquor and cigarettes for the relatives and give generous cash envelopes to all the kids. Because of this, no matter how hard Mark and I worked and saved, every time we went back to his hometown for Christmas, we returned with empty pockets… Thinking about it now, it’s a blessing we never managed to save any money. I felt so insecure that I never wanted a child. 3 The day after I left, my mother-in-law arrived with Mark’s sister-in-law and younger sister. They also brought his older brother’s son and daughter, his sister’s son and daughter, and his cousin’s son. In total, a chaotic mob of eight people. They squeezed into our cramped 800-square-foot apartment. Seeing that I wasn’t there, my mother-in-law’s face immediately soured. “Mark, where is Maya?” “Did she know we were coming today and go out to buy groceries? Why didn’t she wait for us to get here before going?” “Call her right now. Tell her to buy some good food. Tell her to order some of those King crabs and Boston lobsters. And kids love fried chicken, burgers, and fries—tell her to buy a lot of that too.” “It’s rare for everyone to visit. You and your wife can’t be stingy. You have to buy the good, expensive stuff. Don’t let the people back in the village laugh at us.” Hearing his mother’s demands, Mark stammered, “Mom, Maya went back to her hometown to see her mother. She’s not here…” My mother-in-law exploded. “What?! She’s not here?! As the daughter-in-law of this family, instead of staying home to serve us, she’s running around? She’s completely out of line!” “Then who’s going to wash our clothes and cook for us these next few days? Who’s going to take my grandchildren out to play?” Mark tried to appease her. “I’ll order takeout for you guys, and I’ll take them out to play.” “As for laundry, we have a washing machine, it’s very convenient. And I can cook dinner when I get home from work.” “Besides, Maya’s mom is in the hospital. She went back to check on her. She might be back in a couple of days.” “Mom, just put up with it for a couple of days. When Maya gets back, I’ll make sure she makes it up to you.” Hearing Mark say this, the sister-in-law and the younger sister exchanged a look and pulled my mother-in-law aside to whisper. My mother-in-law finally relaxed her brow and reluctantly agreed. In my past life, Mark thought that bringing five kids into the house just meant making sure they were fed three meals a day. Whenever I complained about being overwhelmed, he would accuse me of looking down on his family and not trying hard enough. Soon enough, he’s going to experience the true power of having five extra kids in the house! 4 Since my mother-in-law and her entourage arrived in the afternoon, Mark easily solved the dinner problem. He ordered several dishes for the adults and a mountain of burgers, fries, and fried chicken for the kids, earning praise from his mother and unanimous approval from the children. My mother-in-law immediately started showing off, taking out her phone to video call the relatives back in their hometown. “Look at this! I told you my son is successful and generous. As soon as we got here, he ordered this huge feast for us. And he says this is just a quick bite to tide us over.” “Mark also said he’s going to buy us lobster and crab tomorrow! See? You guys didn’t want to come, now you’re regretting it, aren’t you?” “Free food, free lodging, and sightseeing. It’s too late to regret it now…” Basking in a chorus of compliments, my mother-in-law hung up the video call, thoroughly satisfied. With their bellies full, the real main event began. The two older nephews, the sons of his older brother and cousin, were in middle school. One grabbed a smartphone and started scrolling through TikTok. The two younger kids fought over a tablet to play games. The youngest niece, his sister’s daughter, threw a tantrum wanting to watch TV. Mark spent a long time fiddling with the projector before getting it to work. After pacifying the kids, a new problem arose for the adults. Whenever my mother-in-law visited in the past, I would meticulously arrange her food, clothing, housing, and transportation in advance. My mother-in-law’s visits were always about taking advantage. She never brought a single change of clothes, expecting me to buy her a completely new wardrobe. The sister-in-law and younger sister followed her lead, only packing a set of pajamas for their kids before coming over. When it came time to wash up for bed, my mother-in-law asked Mark for pajamas, towels, and toothbrushes. The sister-in-law and sister stood by, looking expectantly at him. Mark was completely bewildered. How could he know how much trouble it was to host guests? He had always been a hands-off husband, happily entertaining his hometown relatives while doing none of the work. Because of our past affection, I had always willingly handled all the arrangements for his family. Every time his mother visited, I would have new pajamas and slippers ready for her, buy her two new outfits, and she would even take the slippers with her when she left. Without my advance preparation this time, Mark, let’s see how you manage to keep your hands clean. 5 Urged on by his mother, Mark frantically called me. “Maya, where did you put the pajamas and slippers you prepared for Mom, Sarah, and Amy?” “And where are the spare towels and toothbrushes? I can’t find them.” I feigned innocence. “Mom didn’t tell me to buy those things beforehand.” “Sarah and the others came on a trip and didn’t even bring pajamas?” Mark was momentarily speechless. He paused before patiently explaining, “Mom and the others rarely get to visit. It’s Sarah and Amy’s first time at our place. As the lady of the house, shouldn’t you have prepared these things in advance?” “Besides, didn’t you always handle these things perfectly in the past?” Heh. So he did know that I was the one running around arranging everything whenever his family visited, yet he completely ignored my efforts, taking his role as a hands-off husband for granted. He always talked about honoring his parents, how hard it was for his mom to raise him, and how his older brother gave up the chance to go to college for him, so he had to repay him. But he didn’t even know to prepare basic daily necessities like toothbrushes, towels, and slippers for them in advance. Looking at my mother lying in her hospital bed, I knew it wasn’t the time for a complete fallout just yet. I deliberately acted hurt. “I’m sorry, honey. My mom was hospitalized, and I was in such a rush to get home that I forgot to prepare the toiletries for your mom and the others.” “They arrived so suddenly, and I forgot to tell you beforehand.” “The stores are still open. Why don’t you go buy them some?” I hung up the phone and continued watching the live feed from the security camera in our living room. My mother-in-law crossed her arms, pulling a long face, cursing relentlessly. Mark apologized profusely before leaving to buy the supplies, looking miserable. I watched the chaotic living room through the camera with a mocking smile. This is just the beginning, Mark. Your days of suffering have only just started… 6 After Mark bought everything and everyone had showered and settled down, the kids started acting up. The two older boys refused to sleep, wanting to team up with friends to play video games. The younger ones, seeing the older ones awake, also refused to sleep, running around the apartment fighting and shouting. My mother-in-law yelled at them to go to sleep, but no one paid her any attention. The sister-in-law and sister had retreated to the master bedroom early on to play on their phones, leaving this mess to Mark and his mother. Even though Mark was already exhausted, his back aching, he still had to force himself to stay up and supervise them. We live in an older apartment building with terrible soundproofing, so they quickly received complaints from the neighbors. Someone pounded on the door, shouting from the hallway to keep the noise down because their kids were trying to sleep. My mother-in-law felt insulted and, unwilling to swallow her pride, exploded on the spot, yelling back without even opening the door. “Why is it too loud for you? No one else is complaining! You’re just a busybody! This is our house, we can do whatever we want. It’s none of your business!” The neighbor wasn’t a pushover either. They kicked the door with a loud bang, threatening to teach Mark a lesson if they didn’t open up. Mark didn’t dare act tough. He immediately opened the door and apologized: “I’m sorry, man. It’s a misunderstanding. My relatives’ kids are here for the summer. They’re just excited. I’ll make them go to sleep right now.” Actually, the arrival of so many people at our apartment had already caught the attention of several neighbors that afternoon. Hearing the argument, a few more opened their doors to watch. Some neighbors who had been too polite to complain earlier now joined in, seeing someone else taking the lead. “Yeah, it’s almost midnight. It’s so loud we can’t sleep. It’s summer vacation for you, but we still have to go to work tomorrow.” “The adults have to work, the kids have daycare, we all have to get up early. With so many kids making a racket every day, how are we supposed to live here?” Seeing so many neighbors criticizing them, my mother-in-law grew even more combative. “If you can’t live here, then move! Let me tell you, my son is a top executive at his company. If you keep causing trouble, he’ll make your lives miserable!” The neighbors were so angry they threatened to call the cops. Mark didn’t dare let his mother speak anymore. He pushed her back inside while apologizing profusely, promising to send the kids back as soon as possible. After finally placating the neighbors, my mother-in-law started throwing another fit, threatening to kill herself. 7 My mother-in-law cared about “face” more than anything. Losing face in front of so many people, and then hearing Mark say he was going to send the kids away, she plopped down on the floor, slapping her thighs and cursing loudly. “Mark, you unfilial, heartless son! Are you trying to anger me to death? You’re slapping me in the face!” “We’ve only been here one day, and you’re already rushing to send the kids away. Your brother gave up college to support you, and when you were little, your cousin shared every good thing he had with you. Now that the kids have had one meal at your house, you’re already annoyed and want to send them back. Where am I supposed to put my face?” “I’m telling you right now, if you try to send them back, it’ll be over my dead body!” Mark was terrified of this tactic. Plus, he did have genuine affection for his brother and cousin. He had no choice but to swallow his pride and promise his mother he wouldn’t send the kids back. My mother-in-law looked satisfied. From the looks of it, she planned to stay until school started again. Watching this scene of “motherly love and filial piety” on the video, I sneered. Calculating the time, the cousin was probably already on his way. This time, I was definitely going to steer clear of their family’s messy drama and avoid becoming collateral damage. Before, I had lied to Mark about my mom being hospitalized so I could get away quickly and avoid getting tangled up with his family. Once I got home, I immediately took my mom to the hospital for a check-up. In my past life, the shock of my death caused her to have a fatal heart attack. That was my biggest regret. My mom was still so young. I hadn’t taken her traveling or let her enjoy a comfortable life. Fortunately, my mom’s heart didn’t have any major issues; it was just a narrowed blood vessel. Getting a few stents placed early could prevent the tragedy of my past life. I got my mom admitted, and the next step was to confirm the surgical plan with the doctor. Now, all I had to do was wait for chaos to erupt in Mark’s household again, and wait for his cousin to arrive and deliver the fatal blow. 8 The next day, chaos reigned from the crack of dawn. Before, when Mark and I both had to go to work, we’d grab some bagels and coffee from downstairs to save time. Upon hearing Mark tell them to go downstairs for breakfast themselves, my mother-in-law exploded again. “Mark, do you have any conscience? Your old mother only comes to visit a few times a year, and you expect me to get my own breakfast?” “What did you say yesterday? You promised we’d be well-fed for every meal. Were your words just farts? Just hot air?” “I don’t care! If you don’t buy breakfast and bring it back today, don’t you dare call me your mother!” My mother-in-law’s temper flared. She pointed her finger at Mark’s nose, demanding he prepare breakfast before leaving for work. Mark was sweating profusely, frantically trying to appease her. “Mom, look, I’m going to be late for work. If I wait to buy everyone breakfast, I’ll miss the subway. If I’m late, they’ll dock my pay, and I’ll lose my perfect attendance bonus.” My mother-in-law refused to listen. This was her moment to establish authority; she couldn’t tolerate Mark’s disobedience. Besides, she had already bragged to everyone in the village that her son would serve them three square meals a day. It was only the second day, and he wanted them to buy their own breakfast. If the busybodies back in the village found out, where would she put her face? Unable to argue with his mother, Mark had to sprint downstairs to buy breakfast for the entire family. To save time, he bought bagels and coffee for everyone. Seeing the plain bagels and coffee on the table, the kids started complaining too. “Uncle, I don’t want bagels, I want pancakes and hot chocolate.” “I want chicken nuggets and donuts.” “I don’t want coffee, I want a smoothie and breakfast burritos.” The kids talked over each other. Mark’s head was about to explode, and he finally grew a spine. “Stop arguing! It’s so annoying! Eat it or don’t! If you don’t eat, you go hungry!” Seeing that he really was out of time, Mark grabbed his bag and sprinted out the door amidst his mother’s scolding. He thought he’d find some peace at the office, but he forgot his promise to take his mother out for a big meal today. Seeing that it was almost noon and Mark wasn’t answering his phone, my mother-in-law, unwilling to wait any longer, led the entire clan out the door.

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After high school, homebody me chose a college two thousand miles away from home. My parents roared in anger, “Just because of a room?” Yes. As the only daughter of a middle-class family with three houses. I grew to the age of eighteen without ever having a room of my own. 1 At my eighteenth birthday party, I made a loud wish in front of all our relatives and friends. “I want a small room of my own.” The venue went quiet. My relatives looked at us in disbelief. “She doesn’t have her own room? A girl this big needs her privacy.” “She’s an only child! Even if they have a two-bedroom apartment, they could partition the living room to make a third bedroom.” I ignored my parents’ instantly darkening faces and smiled generously. “That’s right, I don’t have my own room.” My dad forced a strained smile. “She’s just joking. She’s our only daughter, and we have three houses. How could she not have a room?” My mom winked at me frantically. “Emma is just teasing us. Quick, make another wish.” I sighed inwardly and said solemnly, “Mom, Dad, I’m eighteen now. I really want my own independent space.” The room fell dead silent again. The relatives exchanged glances and looked at my parents with complex expressions. Both of my parents had comfortable government jobs. To the outside world, they were parents who spoiled their daughter rotten. How could they not have a room for their own flesh and blood? My grandma suddenly started crying. “It’s my fault. I took up my granddaughter’s room. I’m so old, I’ve just become a burden to my kids.” I felt a flash of guilt. Even though my grandma had always been distant with me, we had lived in the same room for over a decade. I wasn’t completely devoid of affection for her. My actions today were a bit extreme. While I was hesitating, a heavy slap landed on my face. My dad stood there, hand raised, panting heavily. “You ungrateful brat. You haven’t even achieved anything yet, and you’re already discarding your grandma.” My mom frantically tried to stop my dad, then checked my face with concern. “Emma, we can talk about this at home. Do you really think we wouldn’t agree to it?” I stood there, stunned. Actually, I had a room of my own for a short time. But when I was six, my grandpa passed away, and my grandma moved in with us from the countryside. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment. My parents had one room, and Grandma had to share the other with me. I wanted my own room and protested from the time I was six until today. But every time I brought it up, they just laughed it off. When they got annoyed, they would brush me off: “You and your grandma are both girls. What’s the big deal? Besides, if you don’t have enough space for your things, we can just install more shelves.” But I needed an independent space! A room that belonged only to me! Under the heavy academic pressure of high school, I needed a place to decompress. I wanted a room filled with things I loved, not my grandma’s supplements and drab, dusty clothes. Grandma snored in her sleep and ground her teeth. She woke up constantly during the night. I rarely got a good night’s sleep and would doze off during the day. During the three days of my SAT exams, my uncle finally took her away. 2 I thought everything was over and I could finally take a breather. Just as I was excitedly planning how to decorate my room and inviting classmates over to see it… Grandma was sent right back. Because my exams were over. My joy was for nothing. I had even humbly suggested to my parents before: I could set up a small partition by the bathroom, the kitchen, or the balcony. As long as it was a private space, even if it was cramped or smelled a little, I didn’t care. My mom had looked at me like I was a senseless child and scolded me: “You’re the apple of our eye! How could you sleep in a bathroom or kitchen? We’d be a laughingstock.” My dad had chuckled and patted my head: “Silly girl. If my colleagues found out that a respectable school administrator made his daughter sleep by the bathroom, they’d drown me in spit.” It was precisely because I knew protesting was useless that I decided to burn my bridges today. I hoped my parents would be swayed by the relatives’ gossip and finally get me a small room. More than that, I wanted to remind them that I was eighteen. An adult. Not a child anymore. I needed a physically private space. Was that really such a delusional demand? The restaurant was in an uproar. My dad glared at me with bloodshot eyes. It seemed that one slap wasn’t enough to vent his anger. My mom and a crowd of guests held him back, trying to persuade him. I couldn’t hear anything clearly. My face burned with pain. I covered my face and ran out of the restaurant. The evening breeze cleared my chaotic, sad mind a bit. The city lights glowed along the street, but my heart felt entirely empty. My cousin Brittany, who I had never been close with, sent me a text: [When we were little, I used to envy you. Both your parents have stable state jobs, unlike my parents who bust their asses at a street stand just to feed and clothe me.] It was true. Growing up, I had the newest dresses and went to the best tutoring centers. When it came to my education and lifestyle, my parents never seemed stingy. When peers complained about sharing snacks and toys with siblings, I used to feel lucky to be an only child—my parents’ one and only treasure. So, regarding not having my own room, I even consoled myself that my parents probably had their own considerations. After all, with their energy and finances, getting me a room would have been incredibly easy. I didn’t reply. Brittany’s messages continued: [But I stopped envying you a long time ago. Want to know why?] I turned off my phone, ignoring her attempt to kick me while I was down. I sat on a bridge, staring down at the murky river water in the dark. It was just as murky as my parents’ love for me. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but police sirens suddenly wailed in my ears. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t realized a crowd had gathered on the other side of the bridge. My mom stood at the front of the crowd, screaming: “Emma! We actually decided to buy a new house a long time ago, we just hadn’t told you yet! Please come down, okay?” My dad’s eyes were red, and he was slapping his own face frantically: “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have hit you! I acted on impulse!” I looked down at myself. I was sitting so close to the edge of the bridge that one slip of the leg and I would have fallen in. It was a huge misunderstanding. I apologized to the police and quickly got off the bridge. My parents hugged me tightly, treating me like a precious, lost treasure they had finally found. 3 “Emma, you are our most precious baby.” “Yes, we’ll go put a down payment on a new house tomorrow.” I didn’t explain. If I could really get my own room out of this, I’d let them misunderstand just this once. Aside from the room issue, they truly were impeccable parents in every other aspect. My parents took me out for another meal. It was a spicy hot pot place I loved. Neither of my parents could handle spice, but they watched me eat with gentle smiles. One poured my drink, the other wiped my mouth. We looked like the most loving family of three, and I was the absolute center of it. A group of girls at the next table looked at me with envy. At that moment, I was basking in my parents’ total, undivided love for their only daughter. Filled with a hard-won sense of satisfaction and a bit of competitiveness, I finally replied to Brittany: [My parents decided to buy a new house. Keep envying me.] Brittany didn’t reply for a long time. I thought I had won, and that she was ashamed of what she had said. I even regretted being so impulsive today and making my parents lose face. They clearly were already planning to buy a house; it wasn’t like they never considered me. Grandma was picked up by my uncle that night, but her clothes and daily necessities were still there. I knew she would continue living with us. But that was fine. I could endure it a little longer. After all, I had endured it for years, and dawn was just around the corner. I imagined myself in my little room for the first time. Binge-watching shows, drinking cola, and laughing out loud without a care in the world. I could throw my trash wherever I wanted, knowing I’d just clean it up the next morning. I could wear a tank top and prop my feet up on the desk without worrying about exposing myself. I could dig out the love notes from high school boys hidden at the bottom of my drawer and read them out loud without fear. When we went house hunting the next day, I was even more excited than my parents. They found a gated community that was perfect for retirement. It had great amenities and a quiet environment. But because it was a new development with reasonable prices and a great location, properties were selling out fast. By the time we looked, there were only a few three-bedroom and two-bedroom units left. There was one three-bedroom unit on a lower floor. The rooms were spacious. The only downside was the layout, which meant the natural light wasn’t great. I carefully watched my parents’ faces. When I saw no obvious signs of dissatisfaction, I let out a sigh of relief. I happily spun around in the smallest bedroom. I imagined my bed here, a large clothing rack for my favorite dresses, without having to worry about Grandma’s clothes mixing in and making it look out of place. I could display my collectibles on the shelves without worrying that Grandma’s failing eyesight would knock them over. The real estate agent held the contract: “Look how much she loves it! You guys should lock it down now.” My parents exchanged a glance and waved their hands. “We left in a hurry this morning and forgot our checkbook. We’ll come back to sign this afternoon.” 4 After looking at the house, a message popped up in my high school group chat. The college application portal was open. My dad smiled and asked, “Your grades are good enough for the top state university here. You could even come home on weekends.” My mom held my hand, “Yeah. You’ve never left my side your whole life. I really couldn’t bear to let you go.” I leaned into my mom’s embrace. “I’m a total mommy’s girl and daddy’s girl. I told you I’d never go to a college more than twenty miles away.” My parents looked at each other and laughed, sounding hearty and proud. I knew we were all completely content today. Any past grievances had vanished into thin air. After all, what parent and child hold grudges overnight? That evening, I was scrolling through my phone when I saw a new post from the real estate agent: [Another unit sold in Building 5! So happy.] My hand suddenly froze. Building 5 was all large two-bedroom units. The agent had explicitly pointed that out. When we were viewing the houses, the agent, likely wanting to build his network, had also asked for my Instagram. My parents had been whispering by the doorway discussing the floor plan at the time and hadn’t noticed. His post was from around 3 or 4 PM, right when my parents went back to pay the deposit. I had originally wanted to go with them, but my mom pinched my cheek: “Look how delicate your skin is. You shouldn’t be out in that harsh sun.” I had acted spoiled and asked them to bring me back some ice cream. Because she didn’t know which flavor I wanted, my mom had bought every single flavor available. I had even happily posted a picture on Instagram with the caption: [I love my mom and dad the most.] I steadied my racing heart: What if I misheard or misremembered? I messaged the agent to casually say hi. The agent was in a great mood and replied quickly. “Your dad picked a great master bedroom for you guys! You locals really know how to spoil your daughters. Even though it’s only a two-bedroom, it’ll be super comfortable for a family of three like yours.” My heart sank straight down. My mind went entirely blank. Brittany’s message came through right at that moment: [Years ago, your mom urged my mom to have another kid to get a son, and that’s when I stopped envying you.] [I’m a true only child. You’re just a ‘circumstantial’ only child. I’m not showing off, I just wanted you to see the truth. But clearly, you’re pretty dense.] It wasn’t like this. I shook my head desperately. What if Grandma wasn’t planning to live with us anymore? Maybe she had other plans? Clinging to that final shred of hope, I walked out of my room step by step. My parents were sitting on the couch, punching numbers into a calculator. “The money from selling this place will cover the balance for the new one.” “The new place is move-in ready, we won’t even need to buy furniture.” When they saw me, they immediately waved me over. “Emma, come help us with the math. You’re young and quick.” I tried to use my most normal, calmest voice to ask: “Is Grandma still going to live with us?” 5 My dad didn’t even look up as he answered casually: “Of course. I’m the eldest son. It’s my responsibility to take care of her.” My mom frowned slightly, but said nothing, continuing to calculate with her pen. Details I had previously ignored suddenly glared at me. My grandma had two sons. My mom used to complain about why Grandma didn’t go live with my uncle. My dad would say: “My nephew is a growing boy. It’s not convenient for him to share a space with my mom.” And my mom never brought it up again. My mom wasn’t the submissive type. She once threw a massive fit because my dad forgot to bring back a local souvenir from a business trip, forcing him to drive all the way back to buy it before she let it go. But ever since Grandma moved in, whenever my other uncle came over to ask for handouts, my dad just turned a blind eye. They rarely fought over their respective families anymore. They seemed to maintain a delicate balance between them. And I was the sacrificial bargaining chip to keep that peace. “Do I just not deserve my own room? Mom, Dad, it’s not like our family can’t afford it. Why does it always have to be me who compromises?” I could no longer suppress my grievances and yelled. After I yelled, my body shook, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Faced with my breakdown and fury, my parents remained unusually calm. My dad shook his head and sighed: “So you found out.” My mom grabbed a tissue to wipe my tears, scolding me gently: “Emma, why are you being so stubborn again? Once you go to college, you’ll barely be home anyway. Why waste an entire room? Let me tell you, that three-bedroom had terrible natural light. No sunlight is bad for your health.” “The two-bedroom unit is south-facing, and the layout is great. To be blunt, given your grandma’s age… when she passes, it’ll still just be your room.” My mom kept rambling, but I only caught one phrase. Why waste an entire room. “So in your hearts, because I’m a daughter who will eventually marry and leave, I’m an outsider. I don’t deserve a room, and keeping a room for me is a waste. If I were a boy, would you have given me my own room?” The room was dead silent. I finally understood Brittany’s words. Heh, ‘circumstantial only child’. How ironic. My identity as an only child, which I had been so proud of, was merely a product of their circumstances. Both my parents were tenured state employees; they couldn’t risk their careers by trying for a son. Even though I was their only daughter, they still harbored a “phantom son” in their hearts. 6 My parents finally put down the calculator and pen. My dad reacted first, carrying the embarrassment and anger of having his true thoughts exposed: “You ungrateful daughter! We raised you all these years just so you could interrogate us?” “Girls in poor areas don’t even get to go to school and have to marry early to pay off family debts. You’re sitting here being picky? We really spoiled you.” My dad was panting heavily after his outburst. My mom poured him some water while glaring at me reproachfully: “Emma, why are you digging yourself into a hole again?” “Mom, you pulled a lot of strings to get my cousin into that good school district, didn’t you? So your nephew could go to a top high school.” “Dad, I heard my other cousin is going to an expensive private college. Are you footing the bill for that astronomical tuition?” My parents’ faces showed a flash of unnatural guilt, which quickly morphed into anger. “Your uncle only has one son! His future is important!” “Your cousin is the only male heir to our family line. In the future, he’ll be your family backing. Stop with the passive-aggressive tone!” I laughed. I laughed so hard I doubled over, tears smearing my face. I had personally shattered the self-righteous illusion I held: that I was the beloved, pampered only child. My mom worriedly grabbed my dad’s arm. “What’s wrong with our daughter?” My dad scoffed coldly, “It’s all your fault for spoiling her. Girls should just be raised casually.” My mom shot back: “Why don’t you casually raise your useless nephew? He didn’t even get into a public university.” My dad retorted: “And how great is your brother’s son? Failing classes in elementary school!” They started arguing, completely ignoring that I had gone back to my room. Maybe having a massive blowup actually calmed my emotions. I opened my laptop and changed all my college applications to universities on the East Coast, two thousand miles away. If there’s no place for me here, I’ll find a place for myself elsewhere. That night, my parents knocked on my door to call me for dinner, acting like nothing had happened. Noticing their slightly unnatural gazes, I looked at my favorite dishes on the table and screamed in excitement just like I always did, giving them all the emotional validation they craved. “Wow, dinner looks amazing! You guys are like master chefs. Are we celebrating our new house?” My parents were very pleased with my “forgiving” attitude. They exchanged a smile and whispered: “See, I told you. What parent and child hold grudges overnight? It’s just a kid throwing a tantrum. She’s fine now.” “Yes, yes. This is our sweet little girl.” My dad, having had a bit of wine, looked at me with loving eyes: “Emma, when you go to college, come home for dinner every weekend. Dad will cook your favorites.” My mom poured tea, smiling and shaking her head: “Look at you spoiling her. She’s going to stick to me like glue.” I pretended to be too busy eating to talk, just nodding enthusiastically. “Look at her, all grown up and still acting like a kid. It’s all because you spoil her.” “She’s our only baby, of course we’re going to spoil her!” I laughed along with them, looking completely carefree. 7 Our family dynamic seemed closer than ever before. Because of my excellent SAT scores, my parents’ colleagues were constantly inviting our family of three to dinner. The excuse was to have them share their parenting secrets. My dad’s school issued a commendation letter, and my mom’s department gave her a bonus. My dad was beaming with pride, and my mom looked ten years younger. Right up until the night before the acceptance letters were due, I was still being dragged to dinner parties. My dad’s best friend had a bit too much to drink and became talkative. “I always said having a daughter is better! She goes to college locally, marries locally, and when the parents get sick, it’s easy for her to take care of them. Unlike my brat, he’s so wild, insisting on going to a school a thousand miles away.” “Statistically, you usually stay where you go to college. When I’m old, no one will take care of me. Ah, daughters really are more caring.” My dad waved his hand dismissively, but the smugness in his eyes was overflowing: “Not true, sons and daughters are equally caring.” My mom peeled a shrimp for me while sneaking glances at my aunt sitting across the table. It was Brittany’s mom. “Did you hear about my cousin? She actually let her only daughter go to Boston for college! She’s probably going to marry someone out there. Both she and her husband have high blood pressure. If something happens to them, what are those two old folks going to do? Our Emma is much better. She’s going to be mommy and daddy’s little girl forever.” She reached over and affectionately pinched my nose. My mom wasn’t quiet, and the whole table heard her. Especially my aunt, whose face turned incredibly sour. My dad gently scolded my mom: “You talk too much. Come on, let’s drink.” Brittany, who happened to be sitting next to my aunt, let out a cold laugh. She suddenly stood up and raised her glass to me. “You’ll be my junior soon. Aren’t you going to toast with me?” My mom turned her slow, bewildered gaze toward me. I knew I couldn’t hide it anymore, and I didn’t want to. I said calmly, “I applied to the University of Michigan. I’m pretty sure I got in.” My mom swatted my arm. “You and your cousin are just messing with us. Everyone knows you cling to your mom and dad the most.” My dad laughed too. “Silly girl, you wouldn’t be able to stand the freezing winters out there.” The dinner continued, and people kept joking, but the atmosphere was noticeably less lively. Especially my parents, who kept zoning out. We finally made it through the dinner. On the ride home, my dad spoke up first. “Emma, you applied to the local state university, right?” My mom shot my dad a glare. “Our Emma is the most obedient, don’t you know that?” They both looked at me simultaneously. Their eyes held expectation and a sliver of… Anxiety. I blinked. “I won’t let you down.” I’ll just make you incredibly angry. They both breathed a sigh of relief and started talking about picking a good date to move into the new house. The next morning, the mail carrier delivered my college acceptance letter.

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