Category: English

To trick my mom into letting me leave for school a week early, she eyed me suspiciously: “The Chen boy next door goes to the same university as you, why isn’t he leaving early?” I nervously rubbed my hands. “You’re going to see a boy, aren’t you? It’s fine, I’m not some old-fashioned prude. Here’s an extra three hundred bucks, go have fun.” I accepted it with overwhelming gratitude: “Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say!” My mom bought it. On the train, I pulled out a brand-new physics textbook and scratched my head, desperately copying notes. What boyfriend? I was going back early to take a makeup exam! On the way to the makeup exam. My mom video-called me. “Sweetie, let Mommy see your new boyfriend.” 1 I’m doomed. I only have new test scores, not a new boyfriend! Driven by desperation, I could only point the camera randomly at a passerby. “Mom, he’s the reason I left for school early.” When I lie to my mom, I always commit fully. I was planning to just use the side of the passerby’s face to fool her. But no matter how softly I spoke. The handsome guy in the camera still turned his head. My mom screamed from the other end of the video: “He’s so handsome?! Are you dating a celebrity? Bring him home this weekend!” “Gotta go, I’m going to take screenshots and show off to my friends, hahahaha…” The video call ended with my mom’s exaggerated, boomer-style laughter. Leaving me and the handsome guy staring at each other in the wind. The guy stood tall and straight, his facial features sharp and handsome—a literal god. I scratched my head and laughed awkwardly. “Sorry about that, classmate. I was too embarrassed to say I came back early for a makeup exam, so I lied to my parents and said I was coming back to see my boyfriend.” The handsome guy expressed understanding. And he sped up his pace alongside me. Looks like we’re in the same boat. I struck up a conversation while practically jogging: “Classmate, are you here for the physics makeup exam too?” The handsome guy didn’t speak, just kept rushing forward. He didn’t have any study materials on him. At a glance, you could tell he was an honest kid. Cheating on such a hard class was a must, he was definitely going to fail! A plan formed in my mind: “Bro, how about this: I have a lot of cheat sheets on me, I basically copied down all the formulas. I’ll share some must-pass tips with you, and you come home with me this weekend to meet my parents, deal?” As soon as I said that. He stopped in his tracks. Seeing that he was bought off by me. The beginner’s guide to cheating begins now! I pulled out the tissue paper with key points from my pocket. Then I fished out a ten-fold formula sheet from my knee-high socks. The most, most important thing, of course, is the phone! The handsome guy was confused: “How do you bring a phone into the exam room? The proctors always use metal detectors!” I smiled wisely: “Heh, the teachers only scan your body, they never check what’s in your hand! And mine is a flip phone!” “What about the signal jammers?” “Those old jammers our school has can’t block 5G signals at all, the connection is perfectly fine.” The handsome guy nodded thoughtfully, and continued to ask sincerely: “Since you have so many tricks, how come you didn’t pass the final exam?” I waved my hand, patting his shoulder earnestly: “Let’s not dwell on past failures, let’s look forward together!” After arriving at the classroom. I saw a few of my suffering sisters. Great, our mutual aid group was assembled in a second. But I didn’t forget the handsome guy I just met. I quickly pulled him in. Seeing how breathtakingly handsome he was, the sisterhood agreed immediately. Everyone started sharing their cheat sheets and how they planned to pass answers right under the proctor’s nose later. The handsome guy must have been moved by me. He even proactively asked for the names of everyone in our mutual aid group. I raised an eyebrow at him, signaling no thanks needed. As good bros, this is how we do it. Enough for him to remember for a lifetime. 2 There were only ten minutes left before the exam. The students had finished all their preparations. But the proctor was nowhere to be seen. My best friend, Jessica, started gossiping about the proctor. “I heard the proctor for our room is the male god from University A, a second-year PhD student, super handsome, exaggeratedly better looking than Timothée Chalamet. He’s only proctoring at our University C today as a favor to a friend.” “Rumor has it he’s a research genius, already being fought over by research institutes from University A and University C before even graduating, with starting salaries in the seven figures.” Chloe from the sisterhood slammed the desk in regret: “Damn it, if I had known, I would have done a full face of makeup.” “Sigh, then we need to be careful when cheating.” “It’s fine! A good student like him, he’s never seen our high-tech cheating methods!” … It wasn’t until the roving proctor outside the classroom delivered the exam papers that everyone quieted down. “Hey, where’s your Teacher Gan? Wasn’t he supposed to be here early?” Teacher Gan? I whispered to the sisterhood: “What a weird last name, hilarious. If he’s Teacher Gan (Dry), am I Teacher Shi (Wet)?” (Translator’s note: In Chinese, “Gan” means dry. The protagonist makes a dirty joke contrasting it with “Shi” meaning wet). The dirty-minded girls instantly thought the wrong thing. Giggling endlessly below the desks. My face felt a bit hot: “I didn’t mean it like that!” But no matter how much I defended myself, it was useless. Just while everyone was still grinning. The handsome guy who had been sitting in the corner slowly stood up. He calmly accepted the exam papers, pulled a proctor ID from his pocket, and stood at the podium. “Hello everyone, I am your proctor for today, Arthur Gan.” No way. Excuse me? Is it too late for me to apologize with my death right now? 3 Obviously, it was too late. Forget the phones and cheat sheets. Even the smartwatch Jessica hid in her pant leg was confiscated. Arthur said he meant no harm. I agree. He simply didn’t want us to live. Without any suspense. The sisterhood and I were completely wiped out by Arthur, forcing us all to retake the class. In sheer desperation, I could only kneel to the sisters in our group chat: “I’m sorry, I invited the wolf into our house. To make amends, I’m willing to give you my life!” Chloe sent a “disgusted” emoji: “Only offering useless things.” Jessica immediately followed up: “Since you sincerely want to make it up to us, we will show great mercy and give you a chance to redeem yourself.” I nodded like a chicken pecking at grain: “Tell me, tell me.” “Arthur will be taking a part-time job at our University C this semester, and he just happens to be our physics teacher. Go seduce him, claim him, ravage him! Help the sisters vent our anger, and then get the exam paper from him at the end of the semester.” Huh? Me? What kind of thing am I, that I even deserve a second glance from Arthur? I was helpless: “Jessica, do you have a filter on me? What makes you think I can take down the male god of University A?!” Jessica was full of confidence: “Based on my years of experience navigating the world, the way Arthur looked at you that day was definitely not innocent. You just need to crook your finger, and he’ll take the bait.” I don’t know if Arthur’s eyesight is good or bad, but Jessica’s eyesight is definitely bad. But since things have come to this, I can only try to treat a dead horse as a living doctor. Besides, I failed the makeup exam. I absolutely can’t let my parents guess that I came back early for the makeup exam. The day after tomorrow is the weekend. No time to lose, I need to hurry to University A and find Arthur to go home with me this weekend. 4 Before setting off, the whole dorm helped me put on a super stunning succubus makeup look. The head-turning rate was indeed quite high. Our University C and University A are only separated by College Avenue. Arthur is very famous. I just asked a random student and found out his dorm building. When I arrived at his dorm building, I was shocked. As expected of a PhD student. A single room for one person is one thing. This dorm building was like a luxury apartment. It made me want to apply for a PhD too. Very luckily, after squatting downstairs for half an hour, I caught Arthur. He wore a crisp black shirt, the cuffs slightly rolled up, revealing his prominent wrist bones. Unlike the messy look when I first met him. Today, his hair looked meticulously styled, every single strand radiating handsomeness. I was so struck by his handsomeness that my breath hitched. Dressed up, he was far too high-profile. Passing girls all looked over. “Looking for me?” He raised an eyebrow. “How did you know?” I was puzzled. The corners of his mouth curved up slightly: “You’ve been squatting at this door for twenty-eight minutes. You didn’t stop any of the many guys walking by, but as soon as I came down, you came to meet me.” Taking him to play a murder mystery game would definitely be an easy win. I got straight to the point: “Yes, I want you to go home with me this weekend pretending to be my boyfriend to deal with my mom.” He crossed his arms: “Why should I?” “Because you used me to infiltrate our sisterhood, making me the target of public criticism, failing the makeup exam, and unable to answer to my parents!” I was anxious. He still had the nerve to ask me why. If it weren’t for him, I would have passed the makeup exam long ago. And I wouldn’t have to beg him to go home with me. He frowned slightly: “Is your cheating really that justified?” “You!” I licked my lips, unable to refute. True. He, a PhD student at University A, hadn’t done anything wrong either. What capability did I have to make him pretend to be my boyfriend? It seems Jessica’s eyesight really is problematic. Saying the way he looked at me wasn’t innocent. We’re the ones who are truly doomed if we mess with him. Seeing Arthur turn around, about to go back inside. A clear, cold voice interrupted my thoughts. “Mia, why are you here?” “Senior Ethan?” 5 Ethan is a senior at University A. We met at a mixer. He had a good impression of me. Gentle, considerate, polite, and proper. So I used the excuse of liking aloof men to reject him directly. At this moment, my eyes darted around, and I quickly grabbed his sleeve: “Senior Ethan, are you free this weekend?” Ethan had just opened his mouth. When Arthur turned back, looking at me coldly: “He’s not free.” “Huh? Teacher Gan, I…” “Have you submitted your graduation thesis?” Speaking of the thesis, Ethan was not only unpanicked but quite confident: “Not yet, but I’ll finish it next week!” “Too late, Professor Huang wants it this Saturday, he asked you to go see him on Saturday.” Ethan panicked a little: “There was no notice.” Arthur spoke slowly: “Professor Huang will notify you tonight.” Ethan nodded, then said to me: “Then I’m free on Sunday.” My originally dimmed eyes lit up again, hope rekindled. Arthur glanced at me, his tone calm but unquestionable: “Sunday won’t work either, the short essay for my class is due on Sunday.” Ethan gasped: “What? Teacher Gan, you didn’t mention that.” Arthur calmly took out his phone and operated it for a bit: “The notice has already been sent to your phones.” Seeing he still wanted to say something, Arthur continued: “The mock test that hasn’t been scheduled yet is also set for…” “I’m not free!!” Ethan turned his head, looked at me, and said firmly: “Sorry Mia, I’m not free this weekend. I have to study this weekend. I love studying. I’m going to go study now, bye.” 6 “I can agree to pretend to be your boyfriend, but you have to agree to one request of mine.” After Ethan left, Arthur leaned in close to me and said. His exquisite features suddenly magnified in front of me, and I leaned back a bit: “Sure, as long as you come home with me this weekend, I’ll agree to ten of your requests!” “Okay, my request is that you come home with me tonight first.” “Huh?!” I widened my eyes, suspecting there was something wrong with my ears. Arthur looked at me expressionlessly: “What, just said you’d agree to ten requests, and now you’re chickening out on the first one?” “No, your request… is it proper?” I shrank back warily. Arthur raised an eyebrow: “You want an improper one?” “I don’t!” He turned to leave: “Then forget it.” “Wait, wait, wait!” I grabbed his sleeve: “I’ll go! Who’s afraid of who! It’s a society ruled by law, what can you possibly do to me? But we have a deal, if I go to your place, you have to come home with me this weekend.” Arthur looked down at my hand gripping him, the corners of his mouth curving slightly: “Deal. I’ll pick you up for dinner at my place around mealtime.” While following him toward the apartment building, I frantically messaged the sisterhood group chat: [Sisters, Arthur wants me to go home with him tonight.] Jessica replied instantly: [Holy shit! You’re amazing, sis! This progress bar is moving faster than a rocket!] Chloe: [The girls at University A all say Arthur could outshine Timothée Chalamet and Tom Holland if he debuted. Mia, you should just start a masterclass.] Rachel types very slowly, with grandma-speed: [Remember to wear ultra-thin 0.01.] Concise, straight to the highway. Me: [Wear your head, I’m going to exchange favors with him.] Chloe sent a “let’s get dirty” emoji: [Going to his place to exchange? Exchange what? Positions??] Jessica: [Oh my god, Mia, you’re something else! A pure female college student on the outside, playing so wild behind closed doors?] Me: [Can you guys be a little pure! He’s a PhD! He’s about to be our substitute teacher! Do you have any professional ethics?] This group of women, whether it’s red or black, they’ll turn it yellow for you. (Translator’s note: In Chinese slang, “yellow” means pornographic/dirty). Chloe: [Tsk, he just caught you cheating, and turns around and asks you to his place. Savor this operation, savor it carefully.] Me: […Savor what, I can’t savor anything.] Jessica: [I savor that he wants to tutor you privately! One-on-one! Private lessons! Close-contact teaching!] Chloe: [The kind where you wear tight clothes.] Me: […I’m wearing a hoodie and jeans, thank you.] Jessica: [Tsk, so unromantic. Hurry up and go buy a battle outfit! There’s a new mall outside the school!] Me: [I have no money!] Chloe: [Didn’t you just scam three hundred bucks out of your mom?] Me: […] 7 Arthur’s apartment is in a high-end complex next to University A. In the elevator, I was so nervous I was picking at my fingernails. He, on the other hand, was completely composed, leaning against the elevator wall scrolling on his phone. I secretly glanced at his profile. Really handsome. Hiss, why does he feel a bit familiar? I seem to have seen him somewhere before. Sigh, handsome guys always look handsome in the same way. Only ugly men are ugly in all sorts of strange ways. “Have a seat anywhere.” Arthur poured me a glass of water. Holding the glass, I sat awkwardly on the sofa, not knowing where to look. Arthur sat across from me: “Your name is Mia Lin, sophomore in Computer Science at University C, living in Happy Community, Hangzhou. Right?” I almost spat out a mouthful of water: “How do you know?!” He gave me a flat look: “The day you cheated, I memorized the names of everyone in your mutual aid group, and casually checked your files.” I gasped: “What exactly do you want to do?” Arthur didn’t answer, instead asking: “When did your mom ask you to bring me home?” “Saturday noon.” “Okay.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, swiped a few times, and handed it to me. I took it and looked. It was a list: Two cases of premium liquor. Two boxes of bird’s nest. Two cartons of imported cigarettes. Two boxes of cherries. Two boxes of sea cucumber. Two boxes of abalone. Two cases of olive oil. Two cases of milk. “This is?” Is this trying to move a supermarket to my house? “The standard package for meeting the parents.” Arthur replied with his head down, looking at the list and pondering: “What do your parents like? Add it on, I’ll go buy them tomorrow.” I stared at him blankly: “Why does it feel like you sincerely want to go home with me?” “After all, I can’t let you squat for those twenty-eight minutes for nothing.” His tone was very calm, but I always felt something was off. Just then, his phone rang. The screen flashed two words: “Queen Mother”. He answered, and before he could speak, a powerful female voice came from the other side: “Son! Let me tell you, that boy Auntie Li introduced to you, he’s a piano teacher, super handsome. I sent you his photo on WeChat, see if you like him!” Me: “???” Boy??? Arthur rubbed his temples: “Mom, I don’t need it.” “Why don’t you need it? You’re so old and haven’t even been in a relationship once! Mom isn’t some old fuddy-duddy, whether you like boys or girls, Mom supports you! This one is really super handsome, just meet him once…” “Mom, I have a girlfriend.” The phone went quiet for two seconds. “What?!” “Really, you can come see for yourself right now.” “Stop lying to me! Last time you said you had a partner, you brought back a cat!” I couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing with a “Pfft”. Arthur shot me a chilling glare. The mom on the phone obviously heard it too: “Son, is there someone next to you? Who is it?” Arthur was silent for a second: “The cat.” “…” “…” Me: “???” You’re the cat! Your whole family is a cat! 8 After Arthur hung up the phone, he put on an apron and started cooking. I was still brooding over that “cat” comment. “Arthur, how am I like a cat?” Arthur glanced at me while chopping vegetables: “You squatting downstairs curled up in a ball, doesn’t look like a cat?” I looked at him suspiciously. Could it be that he had been staring at me from upstairs the whole time? But I was too embarrassed to ask. Arthur chopped vegetables very quickly. His wrist bones were prominent, his knuckles like jade. And very agile. Seems like he’s quite strong too. ? Why did my thoughts suddenly turn dirty? Sure enough, he who lies with dogs shall rise with fleas, and he who is near yellow gets yellow! Arthur skillfully heated the wok, poured oil, and stir-fried. In no time, the aroma of food filled the air. “Wow, I couldn’t tell you knew how to cook.” I started showering him with compliments. The corners of Arthur’s mouth turned up: “There are plenty of things you can’t tell.” Holy cow, one compliment and he’s already this cocky. “Can you cook?” He asked me while offering me a taste. Of course I can’t. I took his offering with my mouth: “Haha, when I cook, I mainly focus on forfeiting color, aroma, and taste.” Soon, the second dish went into the wok. Right then, the sisters in the group asked me how the battle was going over here. I sneakily took a profile photo of Arthur cooking and a photo of the food. Jessica sent a picture of a fitness pause: [Looks like a girlfriend-perspective Timothée Chalamet. No wonder they say cooking is the best plastic surgery for men. I’m not working out anymore, whoever wants to work out can work out, I’m going to be your fragile beauty.] Chloe sent a “666” emoji: [Sis, if you meet a culinary school chef, just marry him, you won’t have to worry about food for the rest of your life.] Rachel, as always, types the slowest but drives the fastest. [Why are you serving dishes, serve him!] [Have you been in rehab? Being with such a huge handsome guy, can you resist?] The black text made my heart race. Just then, Arthur poked his head over: “What are you looking at, your face is so red?” I immediately switched to a study app interface, and said seriously: “Doing my daily study modules, party members are required to get a daily average of 30 points or more.” He glanced at my phone screen and laughed: “So this is the reason for your total score of 300? Looks like you joined the party ten days ago?” I swallowed nervously: “No, no, the points reset every so often.” Sure enough, one lie requires countless lies to cover it up. “Oh? Then why do my points never reset?” He opened his study app interface, showing a score of 51,753 points. His mouth was curled up, the corners of his eyes full of amusement, even carrying a trace of malice. Even that little canine tooth was rippling with mockery towards me. I gave him a thumbs up: “Teacher Gan, you’re really amazing!” Hearing the word “Teacher”, he quickly waved his hand: “Hey, I’m just teaching you this semester, don’t call me teacher.” I said fawningly: “How can that be? A teacher for a day is a father for life.” “No, no, no!” Seeing how resistant he was to me calling him teacher, an evil thought popped into my head: “Since I can’t call you teacher, and you’re not my parent, how about I call you ‘Brother’?” As soon as my voice fell. His face turned completely red in a second. This much fun? I leaned on his shoulder, deliberately whispering with a light laugh in his ear: “Brother.” I saw his Adam’s apple bob rapidly, his body stiffening. He abruptly lifted me onto the dining table, resting his hands on either side of my body. A gentle, abstinent aura gradually washed over me. “Mia, did you do that on purpose?” I didn’t expect one “Brother” could make him react this strongly. I took the opportunity to wrap my arms around his neck: “Brother, do you like me calling you that?” 9 After hesitating for a few seconds, he nodded. “Then if my friends and I call you ‘Brother’ every day from now on, will you let us pass the final exam?” As soon as my voice fell, Arthur’s movements froze. The air suddenly went quiet. His eyes reflected me, looking full of expectation. I was still eagerly waiting for his answer. Arthur, who had been a bit shy just a moment ago, suddenly had a dark look on his face. He gritted his teeth and said: “You really prioritize your career.” Of course! To a student, exams are the most important thing! “Ding dong, ding dong.” The doorbell rang, accompanied by a middle-aged woman’s voice: “Son, open the door, it’s Mommy.” What? His mom is here? My conditioned reflex was to dive under the table. Arthur squatted down to look at me, his tone holding back laughter: “Mia, your reaction is muscle memory, huh? Do you often sneak men in?” Arthur’s mom was still knocking on the door. I rolled my eyes: “How are you going to explain to your mom why I’m appearing in your house late at night!” His hand had already grabbed my arm: “Explain what? I brought you here to help me dispel rumors.” Oh, I understand. He wants to use me to trick his mom into believing he’s straight! Then he… Is actually gay? I was still immersed in my own shocking deductions. Arthur’s mom had already come in. She was wearing an exquisitely tailored white suit, the fabric gleaming with a pearl-like luster. At a glance, it was the kind of haute couture that screamed, “This one piece of clothing of mine is enough to pay your four years of tuition.” She didn’t even take off her shoes. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. She walked quickly towards me, her stilettos making crisp “clack clack” sounds on the floor. Then she gave me a big hug. Ah, Mom, smells so good. A scent of high-end perfume I had never smelled before wafted over me. One sniff and you knew it was the kind of luxury fragrance where “one milliliter of this is enough to feed you for two months.” “Wow, you are so cute! This skin, this little mouth, these eyes! Hey, I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.” She let go of me, cradled my face, and examined it from left to right, her emerald ring rubbing against my face. Huh? I smiled sweetly: “Hello Auntie, I’m Mia. Maybe I just have a common face, so I look familiar.” Arthur’s mom patted her head: “Oh, I saw you in Arthur’s art studio!” Hiss. This Auntie must definitely have mistaken me for someone else. I have zero artistic cells, so I never go to art studios. But I didn’t contradict her. Anyway, just smiling foolishly was enough. At the dinner table, Arthur’s mom was still incredibly extroverted. She made me, a normal person, feel socially anxious. “Oh my, these ribs are good.” Auntie put a few more ribs into my bowl, which was already piled like a mountain: “Try them quickly, if you like them, let Arthur cook them for you every day.” Uh… That really isn’t necessary. “So when are you two moving in together?” I almost spat out the rib I was eating. Arthur answered speechlessly: “We just got together.” Auntie: “How long have you been together?” Arthur: “Three months.” Auntie: “How old is she?” Arthur: “October 10, 2006.” Auntie: “Where is she from?” Arthur: “Hangzhou.” The mother and son went back and forth. It was like a rapid-fire Q&A session. Auntie: “What do you like about her?” Arthur: “Brave, humorous, cute, pretty, smart, hardworking, persistent…” I saw Auntie reveal a meaningful smile: “Not bad, you memorized it very well.” Arthur picked up a chopstick full of shredded potatoes: “Not as well as your background checks.”

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The night I was kicked out of my marriage with nothing, I wandered the streets alone. By chance, I saw a small flyer on a lamppost: [Wanted: Stepmother for a child. Age and appearance not an issue; must be patient with children. Room and board included.] The “room and board included” part caught my eye. That very night, I dragged my suitcase to the address. And walked into the home of the city’s richest man. Later, my ex-husband asked me with a condescending tone: “Chloe, do you realize your mistake now?” The four-year-old little tyrant roared: “What mistake?! My mom is the best in the world!!!” The billionaire put his arm around my shoulder: “My wife, even if she is wrong, she is right.” 1 I never expected that the flyer posted on a telephone pole belonged to the richest man in the city. Right now, I was standing at the entrance of a grand villa. Beside me was a haughty butler. “Our employer is looking for a stepmother for his child, not a wife for himself. You must remember that.” “Our employer is very wealthy; do not entertain any inappropriate thoughts.” I kept my head slightly bowed, my gaze fixed straight ahead. I deeply sighed; this job was absolutely perfect for me. To put it bluntly, isn’t this just hiring a high-end nanny for the child? I just got divorced this morning. If you asked me to remarry right now, I honestly wouldn’t have the energy for it. But taking care of a child meant I had a place to stay, and I wouldn’t have to spend money renting an apartment. For someone as destitute as I was right now, this was like receiving a delivery of coal in the middle of a snowstorm. I nodded respectfully. “I understand. I will absolutely not entertain any inappropriate thoughts.” The butler nodded and led me into the dining room. Next to a massive, long dining table, a young father was engaged in a tug-of-war. The intense-looking man held a bowl and a spoon, his expression displeased. A melancholic little boy bit his lip, refusing to open his mouth, not backing down an inch. Time seemed to stand still. After a long while, the man sighed, the first to concede defeat. He put down the bowl in frustration. His knuckles, sharp and defined, pinched the bridge of his nose. He lowered his voice: “Just one bite, just a tiny bite, okay?” The butler stepped forward: “Sir, another applicant has arrived. This one seems quite grounded today.” The man slowly turned around. He was wearing simple black trousers and a white dress shirt, with the top button undone, faintly revealing the shadow of his collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong, pale forearms. I had seen this face on the financial news. He was striking and excessively handsome, the kind of face you’d never forget after seeing it once. Earlier, I had secretly worried if this might be a scam. Now, seeing his face, I completely relaxed. A man of his status had absolutely no reason to spend effort scamming a destitute, divorced woman like me. The man’s deep gaze swept lightly over me. His voice carried a trace of exhaustion. “What’s your name?” I guessed he had probably just finished a busy day at work and hadn’t even had time to change his clothes before coming to feed the child. Only to suffer a heavy blow. Feeding a child was probably harder for him than signing a billion-dollar contract. “Chloe Hastings,” I said. He gave a barely perceptible nod and handed the bowl to me: “You try.” After the man finished speaking, he stood up, moved to the sofa, and crossed his arms, watching me with a relaxed posture. This must be the job interview. I had to perform well. If I could stay, at least I wouldn’t have to sleep under a bridge tonight. Holding the bowl, I curved my lips into what I considered a motherly smile and walked toward the boy. But before I could take two steps, the boy darted under the table with a whoosh. Only a pair of large, dark eyes, like black grapes, peeked out. He yelled angrily at the man: “I don’t want to! Tell her to get out! I won’t let her feed me! They are all bad women!” It seemed that before me, the boy had already dealt with who knows how many “stepmothers.” Then I really needed to show what I could do. I glanced around and noticed Ultraman toys scattered everywhere in the room, and an idea popped into my head. I grabbed a few Ultraman figures and placed them on the floor next to the boy under the table. I smiled and said: “Don’t worry, I’m not feeding you. I’m feeding Tiga and Seven. You don’t need to worry.” With that, I pretended to feed the Ultraman figures: “Eat up. You need to be full to save the world.” “Kids who don’t like to eat have skinny arms and legs. If you can’t even protect yourself, how can you protect humanity?” “Oh, you want vegetables? Good boy, eating spinach gives you strength.” The boy lay pitifully to the side, looking like he had been forgotten. He smacked his lips a few times, but I pretended not to notice. It wasn’t until his nose turned red with anxiety and he was about to cry that I acted as if I had just discovered him: “Oh my! Why is there a baby Ultraman here? Tiga, can you share some of your leftover food with him? He needs to eat to grow strong like you.” Tiga: “Yes.” I smiled: “Alright, since Tiga said so, I’ll share a little with you. But you can’t eat too much, or you’ll grow bigger than Tiga, and he’ll be sad.” The boy nodded vigorously. Before my spoon even reached him, he opened his mouth and took a big bite. After eating several large mouthfuls, he even accused me with his eyes: “Why aren’t you giving me vegetables? Are you afraid I’ll surpass Tiga? Bad woman!” I turned to look at the man. His brow had relaxed, and he gave me a look of approval. 2 That night, I moved into the villa. The villa had three floors. I lived on the second floor with four-year-old Leo Vance, while Ethan Vance lived on the third floor by himself. The butler repeatedly instructed me: “You are absolutely not allowed to go up to the third floor. Before, there was a woman who didn’t know her place and sneaked up in the middle of the night to climb into Sir’s bed, and she was thrown out the window by Sir.” I nodded repeatedly, promising not to cross the line. Like father, like son; the billionaire’s son could sleep by himself at four years old, which saved me a lot of trouble. The next afternoon, when Ethan came home from work, I was at the front door feeding Leo. Leo had a dog leash around his neck, sitting side-by-side on the ground with a large Golden Retriever. One bite for the Golden Retriever, one bite for Leo. They were having a grand old time. Ethan’s face darkened on the spot. “Chloe, what do you think my son is!” His voice was fierce and cold, startling me. “Woof!” Leo spoke first, “Dad, Chloe and I are playing a role-playing game. Look, I’m eating way more than the Golden Retriever! Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof woof!” Ethan’s frown deepened, and he slowly turned to the butler. The butler’s expression was complicated. He hesitated before speaking: “Sir, although Miss Chloe’s method is a bit peculiar, the results are obvious! Before, we had to chase him to feed him, and the young master still wouldn’t eat. But this afternoon, the young master has already eaten two bowls of rice, swearing he must eat more than the Golden Retriever.” Ethan’s face was a mask of dark lines, his thin lips pressed tightly together. He coldly watched his son take big bites of rice, vegetables, and meat, and slurp down soup. He let out a breath: “Um, people and dogs still need to use separate utensils.” I immediately replied: “Don’t worry, Sir. Your dog is very clean; he hasn’t even touched the young master’s spoon.” Ethan was stunned, his face darkened further, and he turned and walked into the villa. Leo inhaled two and a half bowls of rice in one go. His stomach was bloated like a balloon, and he kept stretching his neck, hiccuping continuously. I had no choice but to take him and the Golden Retriever for a half-hour walk in the downstairs garden to help him digest before heading upstairs. What I didn’t know was that Ethan was standing at the second-floor window, watching us. Watching his son happily race the Golden Retriever, barking “woof woof woof,” the corners of his tightly pressed lips curled into a long-absent smile. The butler sighed repeatedly: “This Miss Chloe is truly unorthodox! The young master, who usually doesn’t like to eat, doesn’t like to talk, and doesn’t like to exercise, has changed so much in just one day. Sir, it seems we’ve found the right person this time.” When I went upstairs, Ethan was sitting on the sofa on the first floor, his long legs crossed, exuding an outstanding aura. I took the dog leash off Leo. Just as I was about to take him upstairs for a bath, Ethan called out to me: “Chloe, let’s talk.” “Oh, okay, Mr. Vance.” I handed the child over to the butler and sat properly across from Ethan. “You’re very good at interacting with children. Have you had children before?” “I haven’t had children, but I helped take care of my ex-husband’s sister’s child for two years.” At that time, my ex-husband’s family felt I was earning too little and ordered me to quit my job. After I quit, they felt I was lazy, so they fired his sister’s nanny and made me take care of the child. Ethan nodded: “Your profile says you are divorced?” “Yes.” “What was the reason?” “We were from different social classes.” Ethan gave me a deep look: “You saw the job posting yesterday. I want to find a mother for Leo. The child lacks a sense of security and only wants to stay at home. He refuses to go out, let alone go to kindergarten. I’m very busy with work, so I want to find a patient woman to be his mother.” “I will sign a prenuptial agreement with you and have our assets notarized.” I nodded: “I understand.” 3 That’s how these wealthy families operate. Although my previous marriage was based on free will and love. But because of the huge difference in status, we also signed a prenuptial agreement. So when the feelings faded and we divorced, I was left with nothing, even my wedding ring was taken back. For a top-tier wealthy family like Ethan’s, marriage was treated with even more caution. “Actually, just having a place to stay is enough for me. We don’t need to get the marriage certificate,” I said. Ethan insisted: “Getting the certificate is for Leo. I want to find him a long-term mother, and marriage is the most solid contract.” I nodded submissively: “Then we’ll do as you say.” “Don’t worry, I will give you an allowance of a hundred thousand a month for your expenses.” This was the issue I cared about the most, having been burned in this area before. “Mr. Vance, I’d like to ask, if we get divorced in the future, can I take the allowance you give me?” “Naturally, that money is given to you.” “That works.” “Regarding marital intimacy, I currently have no such needs. Therefore, you will still sleep on the second floor.” “Okay, I don’t have any either.” And just like that, on the third day after my divorce, I was married again. Just like my first marriage, there was no wedding ceremony. At dinner, the butler specially added a few more dishes. Ethan handed me a diamond ring. I waved my hand and said: “There’s no need.” Ethan said: “It’s for Leo.” “Oh, okay, thank you for the expense.” That night, just as I lay down, Leo pushed open my bedroom door and stood there, looking extremely conflicted. “What’s wrong?” I asked. He twisted his fingers, speaking awkwardly: “Chloe, can you read me a bedtime story?” “What?” I thought I heard wrong. Leo bit his lip: “I’ll ask my dad to give you a raise. Of course, if you don’t want to, forget it.” “Come here.” I beckoned to him. I lifted the covers, and the little boy happily crawled in. That night, after finishing the book, Leo fell asleep in my bed. Early the next morning, Ethan was very shocked to hear about it, and admiration appeared on his face once again. “Chloe, thank you for your hard work. I’ll add another fifty thousand to your monthly allowance.” “Mr. Vance, that’s too much!” It really was too much. After all, I contributed much more in my previous marriage, yet when we divorced, I was so poor I couldn’t even afford a motel. During the day, I took care of my ex-husband’s sister’s child. At night, I cooked for my ex-husband, fulfilled his physical needs, and then had to get up in the middle of the night to clean the house. Because my mother-in-law said: “Even though we don’t lack the money to hire a nanny, it doesn’t look right for Chloe to just sit around the house every day doing nothing.” Even so, during the divorce, the Davis family claimed I had enjoyed three years of luxury. “Mr. Vance, you’re giving me too much. I actually really like Leo; he’s cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and very kind. I’m just reading him a book, it’s no trouble at all.” As we were talking, I suddenly felt something warm grab my right hand. I looked down and saw Leo holding my hand, looking up at me. His little face was serious, but his large, black, grape-like eyes were watery and cute. I didn’t expect him to be moved so easily. Ethan said: “The women who came before only cared about pleasing me and ignored Leo’s feelings. Adding the fifty thousand is settled.” Unable to decline, I could only say thank you. From that day on, Leo and I were inseparable. Ethan was very busy, so most of the time, it was just the two of us at home. Until the day I needed to go to the hospital for a follow-up and to get my medication. The butler had explicitly told me that Leo couldn’t go out the main gate of the villa, or he would have a stress reaction. So I discussed it with him, asking him to wait for me at home and promising I’d be back as soon as possible. I didn’t expect Leo to hold onto my hand tightly, refusing to let go. He didn’t speak, just looked at me with those beautiful, melancholy eyes. The butler sighed: “He’s afraid you’ll leave and not want him anymore.” I patted his head: “I’m not leaving. I’ll come back and read with you as soon as I see the doctor. You play by yourself for a bit, okay?” While I was trying to explain to him, he took the lead and climbed into the car. The butler asked anxiously: “Young Master, are you also going to the hospital with Auntie Chloe?” Leo nodded silently. The butler instantly burst into tears: “The heavens have eyes! God bless the Vance family!” 4 The doctor said my depression had improved recently and encouraged me to continue staying positive and relaxed. Before I left, he prescribed a bunch of medication for me. Coming out of the consultation room, Leo asked awkwardly: “Chloe, are you sick?” “Yeah, Auntie didn’t eat properly, so she got sick. Leo, you must absolutely not be like Auntie!” “Will it hurt?” His large eyes were full of worry. “If it hurts, I can give you candy.” Saying that, he pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket and placed it in my hand. “Eating candy makes you forget the pain. My dad told me that.” Looking at his innocent and concerned little face, my tears fell without warning. During my three years with the Davis family, whenever I cried, they said I was being dramatic, that my lower-class background made me unfit for the life of a young madam. When I said I had depression, Mark said I was being melodramatic, intentionally trying to annoy him and cause trouble. Even the little nephew I had carefully looked after for over two years called me an ugly monster who caused trouble during the divorce. But this cold-faced child was willing to give me his favorite candy to comfort me. Unable to hold back, I pulled Leo into my arms. He curled up quietly in my arms, a tiny little bundle, and patted my back with his chubby little hands. “Chloe, I will definitely eat well. When I grow up, I can protect you.” I broke into a smile through my tears: “Then you need to grow up fast!” When the two of us came out of the hospital with red eyes, a low-profile Maybach was parked at the entrance, and Ethan was leaning against it. His tall, straight figure and cold, noble face immediately attracted a lot of attention. I took Leo’s hand and walked over. “Mr. Vance, why are you here?” Ethan picked up his son, looking at his calm demeanor, his eyes reddened slightly, and his voice was a bit hoarse. “I heard from the butler that Leo went out with you. I was worried, so I came to check.” Leo leaned against Ethan’s chest, holding my hand. “Dad, as long as I’m with Chloe, you don’t need to worry.” Ethan gave me a deep look and nodded. “Dad knows.” That night, Ethan wanted to increase my allowance again. I was so terrified I repeatedly refused. He asked again: “Chloe, if you have any requests, you can mention them.” I hesitated for a long time before saying: “Could you help me find a used car? Something around five thousand dollars total, so it’s easier for me to get around.” Ethan said: “You can go to my garage and pick any car you want.” “The cheapest car in your garage is over two hundred thousand, I wouldn’t dare drive it.” Ethan nodded: “Okay.” Early the next morning, a five-thousand-dollar minivan was parked next to Ethan’s luxury cars. He also invited a psychologist, supposedly globally renowned, to the house. The diagnosis was the same as the hospital’s. Except the medication prescribed to me was entirely replaced with imported drugs I couldn’t bear to spend money on before. Before leaving, the doctor advised Ethan: “Mr. Vance, your wife needs her family’s companionship, don’t put too much pressure on her.” Ethan nodded: “I’ll remember that.” The next day, I drove Leo out to play. He lacked a sense of security before, and even a slight scare outside could make him hysterical, so he had been to very few places. Now, I wanted to show him more of the outside world. We went to the amusement park first, then to the wet market. The little tyke followed behind me, helping me carry a lively, flopping fish, his handsome little face drawn into a tight line. “Chloe! I don’t want to carry this!” “But my hands are too full, can you please help me?” I acted pitiful. Leo gritted his teeth, holding the fish as far away as possible, looking incredibly disgusted, but said: “Fine! I’ll only help you this one time!” “Don’t buy fish next time!” I chuckled secretly. But when we got to the parking lot, I heard a familiar voice. “Chloe?” 5 It was Mark, my ex-husband. He wore a crisp suit, his hair perfectly styled, looking very handsome and suave. Hearing this voice again after over a month, my heart involuntarily clenched. Mark and I got together in college, and after graduation, he overcame all obstacles to marry me. I had received a lot of neglect in my family of origin, and Mark swore at our wedding to protect me for life. But later, after he took over his family’s business, he increasingly felt that I was holding him back and couldn’t help his career. He started finding fault with everything. He made me quit my job, made me take care of the entire Davis family, made me babysit his sister’s child, and made me walk on eggshells around his family. I could endure all of this. After all, we married for love. I didn’t receive much love from my original family either. Now it was just a change of environment. But later, I caught Mark kissing a glamorous woman at a high-end club. I could no longer suppress my emotions. I cried, I made a scene, I demanded he swear he would never do it again. The entire Davis family thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They thought I didn’t appreciate what I had. “What successful man doesn’t have a woman on each arm?” Mark even said that the way I was acting was because he had spoiled me. From that day on, our cold war began. He stopped coming home and blocked all my contact information. My condition worsened. The doctor warned me not to endure any more stress. In utter despair, I asked for a divorce. Mark thought I was using marriage to threaten him. The Davis family told him not to let me get my way, otherwise, I would just push my luck. He immediately had a lawyer draft a divorce agreement, demanding I leave with nothing. I signed it without hesitation. Four years of dating, three years of marriage, abruptly ended. At this moment, while I was still immersed in the sorrow of the past, Mark had already walked towards me. He glanced at the groceries in my hand, then at Leo beside me, his gaze finally landing on the minivan next to me. A trace of contempt showed in his eyes. He smiled mockingly: “Chloe, a graduate of a top university like you running off to be someone’s nanny, what were you thinking?” “None of your business.” “Chloe, why don’t you understand? From the day you married into the Davis family, you no longer represented just yourself; you represented the face of the Davis family.” “Mark, we’re already divorced. I have absolutely nothing to do with your Davis family now.” The mockery in Mark’s eyes deepened: “Chloe, after a divorce, you’re my ex-wife. When people mention you, they will still bring me up. Can you please stop embarrassing me? Can you think before you act? Stop letting your emotions dictate your actions all the time.” I didn’t want to hear his words anymore. Even less did I want to let these words pollute Leo’s ears. I immediately took Leo’s hand to get in the car. Mark grabbed my hand: “Chloe, you’ve been out for so many days, it must have been tough, right? Are you missing the life of a young madam at the Davis family?” “If you admit your mistake and genuinely reform, I can consider remarrying you.” “Those women outside are just flings. The position of my wife, I haven’t considered anyone else for now, I’ve saved it for you.” “As long as you change your terrible temper and bow your head to apologize to my family, I—” I forcefully shook off his hand: “No need to save it. President Davis can give that prestigious position to someone else, I don’t want it!” 6 On the way back, another number called me. It was Mark’s little nephew, the child I had carefully looked after for two years. Although I blocked the Davis family, I only kept his number, feeling that the child himself wasn’t at fault, but rather the adults guiding him. Besides, after taking care of him for two years, I felt we had formed a bond. “Hello, Kevin.” I adjusted my emotions, making my voice sound as gentle as possible. “Chloe! Abandoned woman! My mom wants to talk to you!” Kevin yelled viciously. All my tenderness was choked in my throat. Then, Mark’s older sister took the phone: “Chloe, I heard from Mark that you went to be someone’s nanny?” “Can’t you look at the bigger picture? By doing this, aren’t you directly slapping Mark in the face, slapping the Davis family in the face? What will people say about our Davis family behind our backs?” “Chloe, no wonder I looked down on you. You really are, as always, degrading yourself, unfit for high society!” I hung up and blocked the number. Pulling the car over to the side of the road, I finally couldn’t control my emotions, leaned on the steering wheel, and sobbed out loud. I don’t know how much time passed, but the pent-up frustration I had accumulated for so long finally dissipated somewhat, and I wearily sat up straight. Yet I still felt a deep sense of powerlessness. “Chloe, here’s a tissue, wipe your face.” Leo suddenly spoke. I then remembered Leo was still sitting in his car seat in the back, and right now he was looking at me eagerly. A small hand offered a tissue. “I’m sorry, did I scare you?” I tried my best to curl the corners of my lips upwards. The butler had repeatedly told me Leo couldn’t handle stress, and I was afraid that scene just now would leave him with childhood trauma. But Leo slowly shook his head. “Chloe, I’m not scared. You can cry slowly, I’ll wait for you.” “It’s not embarrassing for adults to cry, I won’t laugh at you.” I was amused by his childish words. “Thank you, you little sweetie. Auntie has cried enough, and won’t cry again. Let’s go home!” That night, because I wasn’t in a good state, I returned to my room early. A knock sounded on the door. “Chloe, may I come in?” Ethan asked. I had just finished showering and my hair wasn’t dry yet. I carefully pulled my bathrobe tight, confirming nothing was exposed that shouldn’t be, before speaking: “Come in.” Ethan was wearing light gray loungewear, his dark hair falling loosely over his forehead, his tall figure looking somewhat more refined. He sat on the chair by my bed, glanced at my damp hair, unnaturally turned his head, and began to survey the guest room. “The clothes in the walk-in closet, how come I haven’t seen you wear them?” he asked. “Those clothes are too expensive, I’m not used to them.” Being married into the Davis family taught me a lesson. If it’s not your circle, don’t force your way in. Otherwise, when you get kicked out, you’ll look pathetic. Although I got a marriage certificate with Ethan, in essence, I was just a high-end nanny. What nanny wears limited-edition dresses? What’s the difference between that and putting lipstick on a pig? Ethan didn’t understand: “Are the styles not to your liking? If you don’t like them, I’ll have the designer come to the house to custom-make some for you.” I hurriedly waved my hand: “No need, no need. Mr. Vance, besides taking care of Leo every day, I have no occasion to wear clothes like that, I really don’t need them.” He fell silent for a few seconds, then asked: “I heard you ran into your ex-husband today. Your ex-husband’s last name is Davis? Is it the Davis family in medical devices?” I froze. I guessed Leo had told him. I pursed my lips and nodded: “It’s that Davis family, but it’s all in the past.” He saw I was unwilling to talk more about the Davis family, so he changed the subject: “Chloe, since you came to the house, Leo has been much happier. Thank you.” His thanks were very sincere, his dark eyes looking closely at me. I felt a bit uncomfortable: “You’ve given me so much money, this is what I should do.” “Chloe, you can make requests of me, I should be able to satisfy them all.” He added. “Mr. Vance, I really don’t need anything.” Ethan was silent for a moment again, his fingers subconsciously clenching, before he nodded and left. 7 Lately, Ethan had been coming home from work very early. Every night he would have dinner with Leo and me. After dinner, he even played family games with us for a while. As the richest man, this unusual behavior worried me. He wasn’t going bankrupt, was he? I wasn’t actually worried about him going bankrupt. I was worried my monthly salary of a hundred and fifty thousand would be gone. “Mr. Vance, why are you coming home so early lately? If you have business, go attend to it, I’m here for Leo.” Ethan picked up a red building block, his expression natural: “The doctor said you need the companionship of your family. Right now, Leo and I are your family, we have to shoulder this responsibility.” What kind of family are we? I thought to myself. But I didn’t dare say it. “Actually, having Leo accompany me is enough. The doctor said my condition is improving largely because of Leo.” Ethan looked up at me, that one glance containing an indescribable emotion. I didn’t think much of it, taking Leo’s hand: “Come on, Auntie will read with you, Dad still has to work.” Leo obediently let me lead him away, but his dark eyes glared at Ethan. I don’t know if it was my illusion, but in that glance, there seemed to be a bit of disappointment in his father’s lack of progress. “Chloe!” Ethan suddenly called out to me. “What’s wrong?” The tips of Ethan’s ears were actually a bit red, he coughed lightly: “Tomorrow night, I have to attend a banquet, and it’s required to bring a female companion. Can you go with me?” “Me?” I blinked. “Yes, you. Because time is tight, it’s a bit too late to find someone else. I can pay you an appearance fee,” he said. There’s still a whole day left, and with his status, he can’t find a female companion? But I didn’t probe further. After all, there was an appearance fee to be earned, and I’m not stupid. I nodded: “Of course. It’s just that I don’t really understand your social etiquette, will I embarrass you?” Although the Davis family was also wealthy, Mark never took me to high-end events like this. Because his mom said I was an empty vase unfit for public display: “You reek of a petty background, don’t go out and embarrass us!” Ethan’s brow relaxed: “You just need to stay by my side, don’t worry about the rest.” The butler chuckled: “Miss Chloe, you don’t need to understand social etiquette; our Sir is the social etiquette.” Okay, I had no objections to that. After all, Ethan was the man with the most authority in this city. The next afternoon, a styling team arrived at the house. I say “team” because there were five or six people, mostly foreigners. Some were responsible for clothes, some for makeup, some for hair. They gathered together discussing for a long time, looking very professional. It showed how big of a deal the billionaire’s household was, and I instantly became a bit nervous. Ethan came home from work to pick me up. The moment he saw me, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes. Leo held my hand, asking proudly: “Dad, look how pretty Chloe is!” Ethan corrected him: “Call her Auntie.” Leo turned his head with a “hmph,” ignoring him. I patted his head: “It’s okay, call me Chloe, it makes me feel young.”

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Just as I was about to go to sleep, someone tagged me in the class group chat: “Mr. White, why did I only get a 61 in Physics? I want to see my exam paper!” It was Chloe, a student from the Electronic Technology major. I immediately pulled up her exam to double-check. Her raw score was 37. Take the square root of 37, multiply by 10, and you get 61. 【Chloe, 61 is your final, adjusted score.】 【You purposely tanked my grade and now you’re acting all high and mighty? We’re college students, don’t play these games with us! I’m going straight to the academic affairs office to file a complaint!】 1 To make the final physics grades look less disastrous, I used the “saving formula” invented by the legendary physicist Qian Xuesen: take the square root of the raw score and multiply by 10. This ensures the majority of the class doesn’t fail. Chloe’s 61 came from exactly that. 【Chloe, if you have questions about your grade, you can come talk to me privately.】 【Talk privately? Mr. White, what do you have to say that you can’t say in front of everyone? Are you feeling guilty? Do you really think you can treat us students like this just because you have a little bit of power?】 I was getting annoyed and didn’t want to keep arguing with her, but she seemed relentless. 【A male teacher wanting to ‘talk privately’ with a female student late at night? Are you hinting at something, Mr. White?】 That accusation made me panic a bit. Several universities had major scandals regarding sexual harassment this year, causing massive public outrage. Being associated with something like that was social suicide. 【Chloe, please don’t misinterpret my words. I meant that if you have questions, you can come to my office tomorrow to discuss them.】 【Sorry, too late. Since you don’t want to explain, I’ll see you at the academic affairs office!】 Boosting students’ grades to help them pass is a common practice among professors, but it’s certainly not something you can broadcast publicly. The professors know it, the administration knows it, and there’s an unspoken agreement. But now that Chloe was demanding a formal review, this was definitely going to blow up. I worried about the unnecessary trouble it would cause, so I sent her a private message. 【Chloe, your grade was actually curved up. Don’t go asking for a review, or it’s going to look bad for everyone.】 The moment I sent it, Chloe took a screenshot of my message and posted it in the class group, tagging me again. 【Mr. White, are you threatening me? What do you mean it’s going to ‘look bad’?】 I was doomed. The more I tried to explain, the worse it looked. Thankfully, Mia, the class representative for physics, chimed in to help me out. 【The physics exam was pretty hard this time, so Mr. White gave everyone a reasonable curve. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.】 Seeing that I wasn’t replying but someone else was defending me, Chloe immediately aimed her fire at Mia. 【You got a 90, of course you’re taking his side because he gave you a huge curve! He lowered our grades just to make sure you guys got the ‘Excellent’ marks, didn’t he?】 Generally, universities have a rule capping the “Excellent” grade rate at 30%. Having all “Excellent” grades significantly boosts a student’s chances of getting a recommendation for graduate school. This was likely the real reason Chloe was so upset about her 61. Mia, probably speechless, fired back: 【I’m just stating the facts!】 【Stating the facts? Then tell me, what were you doing bringing a huge bag of stuff to Mr. White’s office a few days ago?】 That single sentence made the group chat explode. Students who failed or scored in the low 60s started getting restless, sending passive-aggressive emojis. 2 Seeing the group chat teetering on the edge of chaos, I immediately called the academic counselor and asked her to talk to a few of the students so we could sort it out in my office tomorrow. Meanwhile, Chloe was still riling everyone up in the chat. 【Looks like I got a 61 because I didn’t ‘show my appreciation’ to the teacher. Look at what a 90 gets you!】 Several students who scored in the 60s started joining the mob. 【Yeah, there’s obviously a reason she gets to be the class rep.】 【Thanks for speaking up, Chloe! I support an exam review!】 Soon, many others started a chain message showing their support. Mia was probably crying from the stress. She came from a poor, mountainous region, and her parents were farmers. When I found out they had some local produce they didn’t know how to sell, a few other professors and I pitched in to buy it to help her out. But this was something I couldn’t easily explain. Mia was a prideful girl, fiercely independent with top grades. I didn’t want to announce to the whole class that I was doing it to help a student from a low-income family. Just then, Chloe tagged me again: 【Mr. White, instead of fixing the problem, you’re trying to use the administration to silence us?】 【What’s going on?】 The chat immediately went into gossip mode. 【I just got a call from the counselor telling me to stop making a fuss. Am I the one making a fuss? I’m the victim here! But whatever, I recorded the call. See you all online!】 Crap. My intention was to keep the situation contained, but now I had dragged the counselor into the crossfire. Shortly after, Chloe posted a link to her social media account. 【Everyone, please like and share this to blow this up! Otherwise, certain teachers are just going to keep doing whatever they want!】 Watching Chloe’s actions, my head started pounding. 【Mr. White, this isn’t over. I’m filing a formal complaint tomorrow!】 According to university policy, a student just needs the administration’s approval to review their exam paper. Chloe could have completely resolved this by simply submitting a request. But she clearly wanted to make a huge scene and went straight to writing a formal whistleblower complaint. The next day, right after my morning classes, the administration called me in and handed me a document. 【To the Esteemed Leadership of Academic Affairs: My name is Chloe, a student in Electronic Technology Class 1702. I am officially reporting Professor Liam White for severe and intentional grade suppression on the recent Advanced Physics final exam. There is a massive discrepancy between my actual exam score and the final grade posted. Professor White refused to explain this discrepancy. Furthermore, late at night, he hinted that as a female student, I should ‘communicate privately’ with him. When I sternly refused, he resorted to personal threats. To uphold fairness and justice, I demand the following: First, the immediate public release of my original exam paper and the detailed grading rubric; Second, the formation of an independent third-party committee by the university to regrade ALL exam papers; Third, the termination of Professor Liam White!】 The manipulative phrasing sent a chill down my spine. Sitting across from the Director of Academic Affairs and the Vice President, I realized this situation was officially out of my control. “Professor White, what exactly is going on? This complaint didn’t just come to us; Chloe posted it all over social media. There are tens of thousands of people following the story online.” “Private late-night communication,” “personal threats,” plus a male teacher and a female student. In the current social climate, it was impossible for those buzzwords not to go viral. I had already seen her video the day before. Tens of thousands of comments were accusing me of abusing my power to exploit students. Some people had painted me as a corrupt, lecherous academic tyrant, when in reality, I was just a stressed-out junior faculty member. I didn’t dare hide anything. I immediately gave them a completely honest account of how I curved the students’ grades. The Director thought for a moment. “This method of curving grades to save students is something everyone uses, it’s just never discussed openly. However, since a student has formally reported it, we have to handle it seriously.” The Vice President nodded. “Right now, it’s not just about the grades. The more pressing issue is managing the public fallout. Try to accommodate the student’s demands as much as possible. Director Lee, arrange this and handle it quickly. I’ll have the PR department contact you. Once we have a result, the university committee will discuss it and issue an official statement.” As I was nearing the door, the Vice President called out one last instruction. “Of course, it would be best if you could resolve this with the student through mediation. After all, word getting out that we arbitrarily boost grades to ensure passing rates isn’t exactly honorable. It’s an academic incident and it damages the university’s reputation.” 3 The department quickly organized an internal mediation session. Chloe, seeing both the department heads and me present, remained incredibly arrogant. “Dean, my demands are simple. First, fire Professor White. Second, regrade the exams. Not just mine, but every single person’s exam must be thoroughly reviewed!” “Chloe, let’s put aside your first demand for now. If you have doubts about your own grade, the university is certainly willing to help you review it. But regarding other students’ grades…” “No! The university limits the percentage of ‘Excellent’ grades. If you only check mine, even if I actually scored a 90, Mia could just be curved up to a 100!” The Dean frowned. Director Lee, sitting next to him, coughed. “Miss, regrading all the exams is an enormous amount of work. Furthermore, individual grades are the privacy of other students. Without sufficient justification, it’s very difficult for us to do that.” Chloe rolled her eyes, stood up, and pulled out her phone. “Justification? Are tens of thousands of eyes watching this online not enough justification? Is Professor White admitting to curving grades in WeChat not justification? If other people got a 50-point boost and I got nothing, what’s the point of only checking my paper?” As Chloe got more worked up, Director Lee hastily stood up. “Okay, okay. Please don’t get excited. The exam papers are all still here. If you insist on checking them, we can do that. As for your claims about Professor White threatening or harassing you, I’ve reviewed the WeChat logs and it appears to be normal communication…” “Normal communication? If the university refuses to handle this, I’m calling the police right now!” Before any of us could react, Chloe dialed 911. The Dean and the Director watched this unfold, visibly annoyed. She was calling the cops in the middle of an internal mediation. I wasn’t going to say anything, but seeing Chloe’s relentless, scorched-earth attitude, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Chloe, do you realize that if your regraded score is failing, you lose your eligibility for scholarships and honors this year? And you’ll permanently lose your eligibility for a grad school recommendation…” “Professor White, stop trying to scare me with that! I just want fairness and justice! I can’t let you teachers do whatever you want!” The absolute hard requirement for a grad school recommendation at our university is zero failed classes. Even if every other grade is an A, if you have one fail, you’re out. If you don’t fail, your extracurriculars, research, and competitions can boost your chances. But a single failure disqualifies you from recommendations, honors, and scholarships entirely. Chloe was currently under review for a scholarship this year. All this fighting was just to bump her ranking up slightly for the grad school recommendation list. If her actual grade was published, both her grad school hopes and this year’s scholarship would vanish. You can’t save someone who’s determined to jump off a cliff. I decided to keep my mouth shut. 4 Before long, a police cruiser pulled up outside the academic building. A crowd of students gathered, and rumors immediately started flying that someone was going to jump off the building because they failed a class, drawing an even larger crowd. The police officers looked at the “evidence” Chloe provided with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “We can’t handle the grading review; that’s an internal university matter. As for the harassment and threats… we’ve looked at the chat logs, and it constitutes normal communication.” “Telling me to ‘communicate privately’ in the middle of the night isn’t harassment? Telling a female student to secretly meet a male teacher late at night, isn’t that disgusting?” “Miss, you have to look at the context. You asked a question, and the teacher gave a single reply regarding your question. Furthermore, he didn’t tell you to come find him in the middle of the night!” “Fine. Then what did he mean when he privately messaged me saying it’s going to ‘look bad for everyone’? Is he saying he’s going to make me look bad if I ask for a review? If that’s not a threat, what is?” I was so angry I stood up to explain, but the officer waved me off. “The teacher said the grades were adjusted. If this is made public, everyone will be embarrassed. ‘Look bad’ means exactly that—it’s an embarrassment. It doesn’t mean he’s going to attack you! I’m an outsider and I understand that perfectly. Are you telling me a college student doesn’t?” Chloe wasn’t buying it and started questioning the police. “Why are you just trying to sweep this under the rug? Do you only take things seriously when someone actually dies?” The officers’ eyes went wide. “Alright, then both of you are coming down to the station to give official statements!” “I didn’t do anything wrong, it’s his problem! Why should I go? Do you have any sense of logic?” The officers were completely stunned by Chloe’s thought process. “This is standard police procedure! Both the person reporting the crime and the involved party need to give statements!” “That’s so annoying. Fine, I’m not reporting it anymore!” The two officers were instantly furious and began reprimanding her. “Miss, calling the police is a very serious matter, and you’re treating it like a joke?” “Why are you yelling at me? Is this how you serve the public?” At this point, not only was my jaw on the floor, but the university administrators were also staring in shock. “Miss, I am now officially summoning you to the police station. Please come with us!” Hearing this, Chloe aggressively shoved the officer. “What are you doing?!” Seeing the situation escalating, the Dean quickly stepped in to block the officers. “Officers, please, I’m so sorry. She’s just a student, she’s young and doesn’t know any better. We will definitely strengthen our disciplinary education…” 5 The Dean spent a long time pleading before the officers finally agreed not to press charges. As they left, they kept shaking their heads, muttering about “what’s wrong with college students these days.” I thought that after experiencing that, Chloe would calm down a bit. But perhaps she hadn’t fully vented her anger at the police, because she immediately turned her sights back on us. “Teachers, if you want to keep protecting this unethical professor and refuse to regrade everyone’s exams, I will continue exposing this to the media!” The Dean was losing his patience. “Chloe, do you know what the most important prerequisite is for a grad school recommendation at this university?” “I know. No failed classes!” “Then have you ever considered what the consequences will be if your regraded physics score is a failing grade?” The Dean’s words made Chloe freeze for a second, but she quickly recovered. “Dean, you don’t need to try and scare me with that. I know what my actual score is!” The Dean, completely exasperated, slammed his hand on the table. “What exactly will it take for you to drop this? Why are you so dead-set on creating a media circus?” Seeing the Dean get angry only made Chloe more smug. “If the university can truly be fair and transparent, what are you afraid of being posted online? If you’re afraid, it means the university is hiding something!” Every single teacher in the room was left speechless. Watching Chloe’s smug, fearless demeanor, I was practically shaking with anger. “Dean, no matter what, my unauthorized adjustment of the students’ grades counts as an academic incident. You can discipline me however you see fit. As for Chloe’s demand to regrade all the exams, I support it! And regarding the incident with Mia bringing things to my office, the entire physics department knows exactly what happened. You can just go ask them. I also have the transfer records for the payment we made to her.” “Who knows if you just faked those transfer records later!” Chloe snapped. “Look for yourself!” I slammed my phone with the transfer records down in front of her. “Professor White, calm down.” The Dean placated me, then turned back to Chloe: “Is there truly no room for mediation?” Chloe pretended to think about it. “Actually, it’s not impossible to mediate…” Seeing a sign she might yield, the Dean immediately pressed: “Tell us, what are your conditions?” “Give me a guaranteed spot for the grad school recommendation program!” 6 That single sentence plunged the entire room into dead silence. I let out a cold laugh. “So this is the ‘fairness’ you’ve been demanding? In your eyes, ‘fairness’ is just a bargaining chip?” “It’s not like there isn’t a precedent. Are there really that few reports of this kind of thing online?” I finally understood. From the moment she sent that first WeChat message, her goal was to blow this up as much as possible, and this was her ultimate endgame. Her logic was actually: Some universities give students grad school spots to silence online PR disasters, so why can’t my university do the same? “Absolutely not! Grad school recommendations are evaluated based on a comprehensive review of grades, research capabilities, competition results, and moral character. They are not bargaining chips for negotiation.” The Dean immediately rejected Chloe’s proposal. I wasn’t going to hold back anymore either. “Dean, let’s just follow Chloe’s demands and regrade every single student’s physics exam. I am willing to accept any punishment from the university!” The Dean’s face was dark. “Very well. I will report this to the university leadership immediately. Pending the investigation, Professor White is suspended from all teaching and research duties, and is disqualified from all upcoming promotion and honors evaluations!” With that, he turned and left without looking back. I understood. This was an academic incident, and I could accept this level of discipline. Chloe hadn’t expected the Dean to refuse so flatly. But hearing that my teaching, research, promotions, and honors were all suspended, she looked at me with smug satisfaction. “Chloe, have you ever considered what you’ll do if your grade really isn’t a 61?” “Impossible. I checked my answers against the key. Besides, students who are worse than me scored in the 70s. How could I possibly only have a 61?” Seeing her absolute confidence, I sighed. “But what if? What if your grade is a fail? Your future honors, grad school recommendations, and scholarships will all be gone!” Chloe sneered. “Professor White, you can’t even save yourself right now. Who are you trying to scare?” 7 Soon, the university agreed to regrade everyone’s physics exams. To ensure fairness, in addition to the professors from the physics department, they specifically invited several PhD students from the graduate school to jointly review all the exams. Furthermore, the university’s PR department publicly promised that, with the students’ consent, they would release the original exams for public review. Chloe was incredibly smug, feeling that the university had completely capitulated to her demands. She figured the moment they found an issue, she would demand I be fired. Of course, she likely also planned to use it as further leverage to negotiate for that grad school recommendation spot. Seeing the official notice from the university, the students who had scored in the 60s and joined the mob in the group chat started messaging me privately. “Professor White, we were misled by Chloe. She said we could fight for higher grades, and that the university would try to quietly settle this. She even said we might get grad school spots. Could you… maybe not regrade our papers?” Looking at these students, I knew exactly how they had been dragged into this. But they had also fanned the flames. If even one of them had spoken up for me, it wouldn’t have escalated to this point. They weren’t innocent. “I’m sorry, but this regrading is organized by the university. I have no power over it. You’ll have to talk to the administration.” Chloe had completely obliterated the option of “private communication.” I wouldn’t do it, and the university certainly wouldn’t do it. Who knew if these students would just turn around and report us again after the communication? The university also spoke with me. They told me to prepare myself: if I truly had maliciously suppressed grades targeting specific students, the university wouldn’t be able to protect me. I had nothing to prepare for. My conscience was clear, and all the exams could stand up to scrutiny. Chloe continued to vocalize her grievances on social media. Her targets were no longer just me; they now included the “corrupt university protecting an unethical teacher,” the “useless police trying to sweep it under the rug,” and the “incompetent administration.” Driven by her relentless narrative, more and more people started following the story. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that public opinion is a double-edged sword. However many people supported her now, even more would turn around and cyberbully her once the results came out. Everything she was doing now was just laying the groundwork for her own future destruction. After a week, all the exams had been reviewed by multiple different people, and the final results were submitted to the academic affairs office. To ensure absolute accuracy, the office randomly selected several exams and sent them to an external university for a final audit. Once everything was fully prepared, the university published the official handling of the incident on its website. 8 Because Chloe filed a formal complaint, the academic affairs office had to give her an official response. Before the public announcement, Chloe and I were called into the office. Director Lee pulled out Chloe’s exam, along with the results of the cross-audit by the two external professors, and handed them to her. “Chloe, this is your exam paper. It shows Professor White’s original grading, as well as the cross-audit by two other professors. Your final, actual score is a 37!” Hearing that score, Chloe froze in place, seemingly completely unable to believe it. She frantically flipped through her exam, muttering to herself, “Impossible, impossible, I checked the answer key, it should be at least a 70…” “Actually, according to university policy, a score between 40 and 60 allows you to take a makeup exam. However, a score below 40 requires you to retake the entire course. You will need to pay the retake fee, and since Physics is only offered in the Fall semester, you will have to wait an entire year!” I suspected the academic affairs office did that on purpose. Chloe hadn’t even processed the shock of the 37 before they delivered another fatal blow. Hearing that she didn’t even have the chance for a makeup exam, her face turned stark white. Of course, whether it was a makeup exam or a full retake, the difference for her wasn’t that big. Either way, her eligibility for grad school recommendations, honors, and scholarships were completely wiped out. “What about Mia? What about everyone else? Are you guys targeting me?!” Chloe frantically threw her exam paper on the floor and rushed at Director Lee. But Director Lee remained completely calm. “Out of 50 students, 45 had originally ‘passed.’ But after the regrade, the raw scores of 17 of those students were actually below 60. Fortunately, the majority of them scored above a 40, so they only need to take the makeup exam next semester.” Chloe stood frozen. In that moment, she seemed to finally realize that the grad school recommendation she had obsessed over was permanently out of reach. The scholarship she was supposed to get this year had vanished, and any hope for honors next semester was dead. More importantly, how was she going to face the 16 classmates she had dragged down with her, and the hundreds of thousands of netizens who had supported her crusade? “I don’t believe it, I need to see for myself!” She crawled on the floor, picking up the pages of the exam she had thrown, organizing them, and checking every single question one by one. But how could three different physics professors all make a mistake?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394492”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During the year my boyfriend was at his absolute poorest, I broke up with him. Later, he achieved success and fame, and used every means possible to marry me. Everyone said I was the love of his life, his most cherished wife. Until later, when he brought a different woman home every night, breaking my heart, turning me into a laughingstock in our circle. And I neither cried nor made a scene, quietly staying in the study, never disturbing his affairs. He went mad with anger, kissing my lips fiercely, asking in a low voice: “Aren’t you jealous?” He didn’t know I was sick. Every day he sought his crazy revenge on me, I was silently counting down how many days I had left to live. 1. In the third year of my marriage to Arthur, he took a young, beautiful college student as his mistress. The girl’s name was Mia, she looked pure and cute, exactly the type Arthur liked a lot. Arthur kept her for over half a year. Besides me, she was the woman Arthur kept by his side the longest. Friends advised me to be careful. They all said Arthur seemed to have developed real feelings for Mia. The first time I met Mia was on my birthday. I had been having nosebleeds since morning. I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said I would probably only live until next spring. I nodded gently and whispered, it’s okay. I wasn’t afraid of dying, but I was a little afraid of pain. I heard there was a very expensive medicine that could make me live a bit more comfortably. There wasn’t enough money in my bank account, so I went to Arthur’s company to find him. I happened to run into Mia there; she had just graduated and was working as Arthur’s secretary. Arthur was in a meeting, so I sat outside waiting. Mia kept staring at me, secretly whispering to the colleagues around her: “Is that the boss’s wife? She’s so ugly, all dried up, looking like she’s about to die.” “You all say I look like her, where’s the resemblance? I’m way prettier than her.” The bright glass reflected my image: no makeup, bundled in a bulky down jacket. I really wasn’t pretty, and I really was about to die. A colleague pulled Mia back and whispered, “That’s just because she isn’t dressed up. If she put on some makeup, ten of you combined wouldn’t be as pretty as her.” “Also, don’t provoke her just because the boss spoils you.” “You don’t know how much the boss loves her. If you make her unhappy, be careful the boss doesn’t kill you.” 2. Hearing that Arthur loved me very much, Mia pouted unconvinced and rolled her eyes at me. She brought me a cup of tea, asking in a soft, delicate voice: “Chloe, how could the boss bear to make you wait this long?” “So strange. Before, whenever I came to see him, no matter how busy he was, he would always keep me company first. He said I was the most important.” “I thought he was this considerate to other women too…” She curved her eyes and smiled sweetly; the way she smiled looked very much like me when I was younger. I thought about it, Arthur and Mia were indeed different. He had countless mistresses, using them as tools to spite me, bringing a different woman home every night, testing my reaction time and time again. Arthur never tangled with them for long, maybe a day or two, maybe a couple of weeks, he always got bored quickly. Only Mia, Arthur kept her on the outside, accompanying her to dinner, shopping, and movies. They were like an ordinary, loving couple. Arthur gave her money, and also gave her love. I looked at Mia, smiled at her, and gently asked: “Since you are so important, how can Arthur bear to make you a shameful mistress?” “You should talk him into divorcing me sooner and marrying you.” Mia’s face instantly changed. Angered out of embarrassment, she cursed me in a low voice: “The unloved one is the mistress, you are the redundant one!” “Aren’t you just relying on having met Mr. Vance a few years earlier than me? But look at you now, old and ugly, what do you have to compete with me…” Her colleague was probably afraid I would get angry, and quickly came over to grab her arm, trying to pull her away. Actually, I was fine with it. I had long ago promised myself that I wouldn’t get angry for Arthur, nor would I be sad for him. Even less would I fight with other women out of jealousy over him. He wasn’t worth it. 3. Mia was yanked back by someone, lost her balance, and fell to the ground. The teacup in her hand shattered, leaving a deep gash on her palm, blood spilling all over the floor. Through the glass of the conference room, Arthur saw the injured Mia. With everyone watching, he threw down the documents in his hand, pushed the door open, walked over, and scooped Mia into his arms. He cursed coldly: “Who the fuck hurt her?” The well-meaning colleague backed away two steps, pale with fear. I sneered and said: “I did it, and she deserved it.” Mia glared at me through her tears, shouting loudly: “Yes, I deserved it! Who asked me to fall in love with someone I shouldn’t have, getting cursed at as a homewrecker and a mistress.” “But Mr. Vance, as long as you love me too, I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life. No one can separate us.” She cried so adorably, even saying such absurd things seemed brave and resolute. Arthur was amused by her, raised his hand to wipe away her tears, coaxing her: “Be good, you’ve cried so much you look like a little kitten.” He really treated her differently. I lowered my eyelids, too lazy to look anymore, and only said to Arthur: “For my birthday this year, I want fifty thousand.” It sounds funny, we were husband and wife, yet we didn’t even have each other’s contact information. Except for asking for money, I never sought him out on my own. Before we got married, we had an agreement. He wanted my person, I wanted his money. Arthur always hated that I was a gold digger. But in the past, whenever I asked, no matter how much money, he would give it to me, always more, never less. Only this once, he looked at me with a smile, smiled very coldly, and said slowly: “You want money, sure.” “But, Chloe, lower your noble head first and say sorry to Mia.” Arthur wanted to use two hundred thousand to buy my pride and buy an apology for Mia. This was the first time he humiliated me with money for another woman. I slowly clenched my fists and smiled softly. Enduring the sudden surge of pain in my body, I turned and walked away. The money, I don’t want it anymore. I’m suddenly very curious, Arthur. If one day, you knew this money could have let me live a little longer, knew how much I suffered before I died. What expression would you have? 4. I went home alone, curled up painfully under the covers, sweating cold sweat from the pain. Taking some sleeping pills, I lied to myself. Once I fall asleep, it won’t hurt anymore. In a groggy state, I had a dream. I dreamt of when I was twenty, Arthur was very poor, but he loved me very much. That year on my birthday, passing by a cafe, I saw a couple sitting by the glass window. The girl held a pristine white little cake in her hand, looking very delicate, very delicious, and also very expensive. I still remember, it was snowing heavily that day. I held a small pile of snow, smiled at Arthur, and asked him: “Arthur, look at this pile of snow, does it look like a cake?” Arthur gritted his teeth, reached out to hug me tightly, not letting me see his secretly reddened eyes. Three days later, he appeared downstairs at my dorm holding a large cake. Buying a whole cake cost $35. And he stood on the wind-blown, snowy street, handing out three thousand flyers, just to earn $15. I looked at the chilblains on his fingers and cried uselessly. Looking up at him, I yelled: “Arthur, your hands can be used for reading, for writing, but you ruin them just to make me happy.” I said, I was completely unworthy of such an expensive cake… Arthur frowned and immediately refuted me. He said: “Chloe, you are the best girl in the world. You deserve all the good things in this world.” That day, I cried while eating the whole cake. It’s been a long time, I can’t even remember its taste anymore. I only know that since that day, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a cake that tasted better than it. I slept for a long time. Groggily, I heard my phone ringing. Answering the call, I heard Arthur calling me from the other end: “Chloe.” I smiled softly and called him sweetly: “Arthur, it’s snowing heavily, I want to eat cake.” Without waiting for him to speak, I rolled over and fell back into a deep sleep. 5. I slept all the way until midnight when I was woken up by hunger. I went to the living room to find something to eat, only to discover Arthur had actually come back. He had bought a large house for Mia. They lived there together. Mia would cook for him, make him happy, and wait for him to come home. Arthur was doing very well, he hadn’t come home in a long time. He leaned lazily against the floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette in his mouth, staring intently at me. With downcast eyes, I walked past him, only to be grabbed by him. He frowned, asking me softly: “How did you lose so much weight?” His tone was gentle, as if he still loved me very much. I froze for a moment, shook off his hand hard, and cursed him: “Arthur, are you crazy?” He looked at his empty hand, his face slowly turning cold. When I walked over to the dining table and saw a cake covered in candles, I realized that the phone call hadn’t been a dream. I said I wanted to eat cake, and Arthur went and bought it. What was this? Suing for peace? But I was already dying. I didn’t need a cake anymore, and I didn’t need Arthur anymore. I grabbed the cake and threw it into the trash can. Arthur gritted his back teeth, reached out, and pinned me against the wall. He cursed viciously: “Chloe, are you fucking playing me?” I smiled and admitted it: “Arthur, I am playing you, so what?” “I say I want cake, and you go buy cake. Why are you still as pathetic as before?” I deliberately stabbed at his heart, watching Arthur’s face turn completely cold. He ruthlessly put out his cigarette, dragged me into the bedroom, and threw me onto the bed. Arthur was probably mad with anger. He acted like an out-of-control beast, roughly tearing open my nightgown. I was scared, clenching my fists to hit him: “Arthur, you bastard! Don’t touch me! You disgust me!” He pinned my legs down to stop me from struggling, lowered his head, and bit my neck, the pain bringing tears to my eyes. He pressed against my ear and cursed me: “Chloe, would it kill you to soften up to me?” “Do you know how many years I’ve waited for you to coax me?” “Do you know how happy I was when you told me you wanted cake?” “And then you fucking treat me like a fool?” He looked up, staring at me with bloodshot eyes. I held back my tears and glared back. In the dim room, neither of us spoke, neither willing to admit defeat first. Arthur leaned down, getting closer and closer to me. Just as he was about to kiss my lips, his phone suddenly rang. It was Mia calling. Arthur paused but still answered it. I heard Mia crying and asking him: “Mr. Vance, are you really not wanting me anymore because of Chloe? You clearly like me.” “I’m at a bar right now, I drank a lot, and a man is harassing me…” “I’m so scared. Come pick me up and take me home quickly, okay?” Arthur didn’t speak. He just stared at me, smiling coldly, and softly commanded me: “Chloe, beg me.” “Beg me to stay. As long as you beg me, I won’t go.” He seemed to have forgotten. A long time ago, I had also put down my pride and begged him: “Arthur, can we have a calm and peaceful talk?” “Can we stop fighting?” “Can we just be good to each other?” “Can you treat me a little better?” That day, Arthur stared at me coldly, smiled, and said: “Chloe, you don’t deserve it.” Those three words had always pierced my heart. Until today, I could finally return them verbatim. I grabbed his collar, enunciating each word clearly: “Arthur, you don’t deserve it.” Arthur was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly. He brought the phone to his ear and told Mia: “Wait for me to take you home.” Without sparing me another glance, he got up, slammed the door, and left. 6. The next day, photos of Arthur getting into a fight with another man over Mia spread through our circle. This was the first time his affairs with other women became widely known. Several reporters were waiting at my door. When I went out, they harassed me with endless questions. Arthur’s company had grown rapidly in recent years, gaining a lot of influence in Capitol City circles. He was young, wealthy, and handsome, very famous online, and frequently trended. A girl asked me: “Mrs. Vance, what do you have to say about the incident between Mr. Vance and Mia?” I kept walking, not even turning my head as I asked her back: “One is a man who cheated during his marriage, and the other is a woman who knowingly became a mistress. What do you expect me to say?” The girl chased after me, continuing to ask: “But I heard that when Mr. Vance was at his poorest, you dumped him for money.” “Later, when he became successful, you emotionally blackmailed him and used every means to marry him…” “Now that Mr. Vance has found true love, and he and Mia are a perfect match, it’s you who insists on occupying the position of Mrs. Vance, and you even call her a mistress.” “Don’t you think you’re bullying people?” I stopped, looked back with a sneer, and grabbed the press badge on the girl’s chest. She was an intern reporter, and the back of her badge holder also had a student ID from South Mountain University. I calmly asked her: “You’re Mia’s friend, right?” “Back then, Arthur used unscrupulous means to marry me. Did you really think I wanted to marry him?” “Everyone in our circle knows this. Are you telling me you don’t? Or did you come here specifically to sling mud at me just to help your little friend take my place?” Her expression changed. She snatched her badge back nervously and defended herself righteously: “I am her friend, but I am a reporter, and everything I say is objective and fair.” “If you really didn’t want to marry Mr. Vance, and now he loves someone else, why don’t you divorce him?” I smiled, just about to speak, when my nose suddenly started bleeding again, making me look a mess. Someone laughed at me, saying: “Mrs. Vance says she doesn’t care and was forced to marry Mr. Vance, so why are you so anxious and angry that your nose is bleeding?” I reached out a fingertip and wiped away the blood that had fallen on my lip. I said calmly: “I’m not angry, I’m just sick. I’m dying. I’ve been getting nosebleeds a lot lately.” The crowd suddenly went quiet, and everyone stopped laughing. Only that girl continued: “Stop pretending. You get a nosebleed and start playing sick and playing the victim.” “I really can’t stand women like you. Fighting over a man all day, threatening suicide, using all sorts of shameless tricks. You’re a disgrace to women.” After saying that, she tossed her ponytail and walked away. Her back, just like Mia’s, was infuriating. 7. The video of me being surrounded and interviewed by reporters quickly started trending. Arthur responded directly. He said: “I will never get a divorce. Stop bothering my wife.” That afternoon, Mia’s reporter friend was fired. Many netizens cursed me: “This woman is so disgusting. If she doesn’t want to be married, then don’t be. Acting like someone held a knife to her neck to force her, pretending to have no choice.” “She even claims to be Boss Vance’s one true love. I think she’s just a manipulative ‘white lotus’.” “Boss Vance defends her so much, I’m getting jealous…” “And this woman dumped CEO Vance for money in the past, and now married him for money.” “Her saying she doesn’t want to is just playing hard to get, being a hypocrite.” Suddenly, a netizen interjected: “Keep your mouths clean. If you don’t know the truth, then shut the fuck up.” Everyone started chasing him, asking, what is the truth? The truth, when told, is actually quite cliché. That year, my mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The doctor said the genetic probability of this disease was very high. Not only could I be struck by serious illness at any time, but if I married and had children, my kids would probably also face the risk of getting sick. The day my mom got sick, she bled a whole basin of nosebleeds. She lost too much blood and was in a coma for three days. After she woke up, she told me to break up with Arthur. I stared at her blankly, whispering: “Mom, he won’t despise me.” It was as if I was saying it for my mom to hear, but also for myself. My mom gently held my hand, nodded, and said: “Mom knows, he’s a good boy.” She paused, smiling as she said: “You two have been dating since high school. He rides his bike to wait for you at the alley entrance every morning, did you think I didn’t know?” “Once I saw him buy a meat bun for your breakfast.” “He only had a dollar twenty in his pocket. The meat bun cost a dollar, and with the remaining twenty cents, he bought two cups of soy milk. One for him, one for you.” “You were so greedy and clueless then. He lied and said he had already eaten, and you believed him, happily eating the meat bun.” “Little Arthur was so pitiful back then. His parents divorced, no one wanted him, and they only gave him a tiny bit of living expenses every month. He lived like an orphan.” “A dollar twenty was probably his living expenses for the whole day. He didn’t even think about it, just spent it all on you.” “At the time, I felt my daughter was so lucky to have found such a good boy.” “He’s a good student, a good person, good in every way.” “It’s precisely because he’s so good that Mom’s heart aches for him.” That year, Arthur’s grandmother also fell ill and was hospitalized. He grew up with his grandmother and they were very close. To pay for his grandmother’s medical treatment, he was overwhelmed with busyness every day. My mom said Arthur’s wings were too thin. Carrying his grandmother, and then carrying me, he wouldn’t be able to fly. I pinched my palms, and after a long time, my voice trembling, I managed to say: “Mom… I can’t bear to let him go.” One sentence of “can’t bear to let go”, and tears fell like rain. 8. Things from ten years ago still make my heart ache when I think of them now. I bought persimmons, which were my mom’s favorite, preparing to go to the cemetery to see her one last time. I’m going to die soon, I need to tell her, and then, I won’t come again. Before going, I went to Arthur’s company first to get something from him. When my mom was still alive, she always liked Arthur. That year, before she got sick, Arthur and I still deeply loved each other. My mom went to the temple to pray and got two lucky dolls. Inside a boy lucky doll was Arthur’s birthdate, and inside a girl lucky doll was my birthdate. To protect our safety, health, and ensure that the two people in love could be together forever. My mom told me to give the dolls to Arthur. Arthur didn’t want his doll, insisting on taking mine. He said the girl doll with the red cheeks looked just like me, ugly-cute. He said looking at her was like looking at me. He liked looking at me. That lucky doll was still sitting on Arthur’s office desk to this day. I was afraid that after I died, Arthur would throw it away like trash. That was bought for me by my mom, I had to bring it back, put it in front of her tombstone, and let it keep her company for me. When I arrived at the company, Arthur was watching my video from this morning. In the video, I had a bloody nose and was saying I was dying. Seeing me, he tossed his phone aside, saying nothing, asking nothing. I looked at his desk; the spot where the lucky doll used to be was empty. Frowning, I asked him: “Where’s my lucky doll?” 9. Mia chased after me. Hearing me ask for the item, she said with a smile: “A couple of days ago I pricked my finger, and Mr. Vance felt very bad. He said he couldn’t bear to see me hurt, so he gave me that lucky doll.” “He also said that doll looks a lot like me, kind of clumsy, but he really likes it.” “Chloe, do you think he’s talking nonsense? I’m so pretty, I don’t look like that ugly doll at all…” I clenched my fists fiercely, glaring at Arthur, demanding: “What right do you have to give my things to someone else?” “That’s what my mom prayed for for me. What right do you have to give it to someone else!” He smiled, acting like a bastard to anger me: “That lucky doll was yours? Sorry, I forgot. I thought it was just some worthless junk…” Before he could finish, I picked up the ashtray on the desk and threw it at him. Arthur didn’t dodge. The crystal ashtray hit his forehead, drawing blood. Mia screamed and scolded me: “Are you crazy? Hitting someone over a broken doll!” She turned and ran out, returning quickly, clutching my lucky doll in her hand. She threw the doll at me, yelling: “Your thing, have it back!” “It’s a cheap piece of junk that no one cares about even if it’s thrown away. Did you think I’d covet it?” “Stop acting crazy, take your things and get out!” The ceramic lucky doll fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. I saw my name and my birthdate broken into several pieces, just like my life, probably never to be repaired. I suddenly felt that I really was going to die. But I didn’t want to die yet, I hadn’t seen my mom yet. I was afraid that if she didn’t see me, she would keep waiting for me. My head buzzed. I raised my hand and slapped Mia, screaming like a madwoman: “That’s my mom’s thing! It hurts me! My heart hurts!” Before I could finish, my tears fell. I reached out to grab Mia, but Arthur grabbed my wrist and stopped me. My eyes burned. Staring fixedly at him, crying and crying, I started to laugh. I scolded him: “You know I’m dying, and you still bully me. Arthur, you really are a piece of work.” He raised his hand to wipe away my tears, asking in return: “First the cake, now you’re dying. Chloe, is playing me for a fool really that fun for you?” “You don’t need to cry for me to see, I won’t feel sorry for you anymore…” Before he could finish his sentence, a drop of blood suddenly fell, landing on the back of his hand. I got a nosebleed again. This time, it was worse than before. My legs went weak, my whole body aching so much I couldn’t stand, and I fell straight down. Arthur caught me, shouting: “Call an ambulance!” He was powerless, only able to watch as my blood flowed more and more, staining his white shirt red.

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As the college entrance exams approached, my crush, to encourage me to study hard, made a deal. For every problem I solved correctly, I’d get a kiss. Later, my lips were red and swollen, and his buddies noticed. Facing the crowd’s teasing, his expression remained flat: “We’ll cut it off after the exams.” Later, he asked me where I wanted to go for college. I thought about it, named a random city, and deleted all his contact info. When we met again in college, he pinned me fiercely against a corner wall. “You said you were going to Capitol City, but then what?” “Were you playing me?” 01 “I can’t do it!” Late at night, in the school hallway. Ethan Vance, wearing a pristine white uniform, flipped through the past three years’ college entrance exam papers with his long fingers. His expression was aloof, yet carried an inexplicable laziness. It made my heart flutter again; I liked him so much. I pulled at the sleeve of his uniform: “Hey, I said I’m done!” Ethan looked over, the corner of his mouth curling up lazily. “Yeah.” “I can’t do… mhm…” My lips were blocked by the boy. A clean, pleasant minty scent filled my nose. My heart pounded violently. Just when I was about to suffocate— The boy let me go, his thumb brushing across my lips, saying flatly: “Next time you can’t solve the final problem, sit here.” He pointed to his lap. My eyes lit up instantly! “I definitely will!” 02 The deal with Ethan originated from his parents and mine. We were childhood friends who grew up together. After my eighteenth birthday, even his parents started worrying about my studies. But I was mischievous by nature. Faced with his cold, boring tutoring, I would just rub my foot against his clean white sneakers. And say lazily: “Ethan, I’m so tired, I don’t want to study.” Ethan looked at me and grabbed my offending ankle. His tone as cold as ever: “What do you want?” I had liked Ethan for a whole ten years. He always had that lukewarm attitude. He indulged me like a neighborhood little sister. But that was it. After my eighteenth birthday, I suddenly developed a sense of “adult” rebellion. For the first time, I took control. I stood right up from the desk. And leaned close to him. I lightly caressed his pinky finger with my thumb. Once, twice… Until he couldn’t take it anymore and pulled me down. We looked at each other at eye level. I smiled, still with that careless, willful look: “If I solve one problem, Ethan will give me a kiss, okay?” 03 To be honest, when I made that request. My heart was in my throat. But I didn’t expect Ethan to actually agree. His handsome, regular features showed no emotion. He just nodded. “Fine, as long as it gets you to finish the work.” At that moment, my immense joy was slightly dampened. Ethan might have a cold personality, but he always listened to his parents. Agreeing to my absurd request— Was probably just for their sake. But, I had always been careless. As long as I got to kiss him, it was fine. Who cares about the reason? And so it went. In the garden behind the track field. On the rooftop before evening study hall. And in the school hallway after evening study hall. Conservation of momentum, ion equilibrium in electrolyte solutions, solid geometry… We kissed wildly in places where no one was around. Even once when Ethan and I came out of the stairwell one after the other. We happened to run into his buddies. Their expressions were ambiguous and playful. Darting back and forth between Ethan and me. But they tactfully nodded to me. And didn’t ask much. Thinking I was far away, they started teasing him: “Alright, Ethan, I was wondering why you wouldn’t eat with us after school, or walk home with us after evening study hall.” “So you were here keeping little sister company!” “You hid it well, when are you going to make it official?” In the deep night, the moonlight slanted down on the boy’s aloof, handsome face. Making him look even colder and more refined. “What nonsense are you talking about?” He said flatly: “We’ll cut it off after the exams.” 04 The people around dispersed. I stood behind the stairs. For a long time, I couldn’t snap out of it. Right. Ethan kissing me was just to complete a task. It wasn’t because he really liked me. So what was there to be sad about? Wasn’t it just for fun? Chloe, what were you expecting that you shouldn’t have? My old brick of a phone suddenly rang in the empty night. It was a message from Ethan: [Where are you? Let’s go home together.] I didn’t hesitate and immediately replied: [No need, I’ll walk myself.] Ethan didn’t insist. When I came out, the empty street was deserted. I held my breath in my chest. And sent him another message: [We don’t need to walk together anymore.] After a long while, he replied: [Okay.] 05 From that day on. Ethan and I still exchanged correct answers for kisses. But outside of that, I avoided him whenever possible. I stopped pestering him to eat together. To go to and from school together. Even when discussing college applications. I asked my parents to find an experienced senior to help me. And didn’t go to him. When he came to my house, the senior was helping me look at related majors and explaining them. “You’re a bit better at humanities, but the job market isn’t great. You need to think carefully…” The senior was elegant and polite, his smile warm and gentle. Looking at him, I inexplicably thought of Ethan’s sour face again. And then mentally slapped myself hard. Heh. There are so many guys, why do I have to think about him every day? I leaned closer to the senior, my voice sweet: “Mhm, I understand. Thank you, Senior…” The door was pushed open, and a ray of sunlight shone in. Perfectly illuminating our overlapping silhouettes. Ethan’s handsome face tightened slightly. A moment later— He returned to normal. “We haven’t done today’s problems,” he said flatly. I absolutely hated his expressionless face. I deliberately turned my head away: “I don’t need you to teach me today, someone else is.” Ethan’s hand on the doorknob tightened. Then relaxed. “Mhm, fine.” He left. Without even looking back. 06 He was ruthless. I swore I would never think about him again. But my mom rushed out and smacked me on the head. “How can you be so rude! Ethan teaches you every day, he’s ranked first in the grade, gives you handwritten notes, and you treat him like that!” “Get over there and do your work, be a good girl!” I said goodbye to the senior, and was dragged kicking and screaming to Ethan’s house by my mom. Mr. and Mrs. Vance were as nice to me as ever. Bringing me fruit, bringing me snacks. And even gave me a plush toy I loved. Their affection made me too embarrassed to continue my protest. I could only sit obediently in front of Ethan. In the sunlight, the angles of his face were sharp, only his eyes carried a faint teasing smile: “What? Not going to the senior anymore?” “None of your business!” I bit my lip, acting fierce: “Just explain your problems!” The smile in Ethan’s eyes vanished, and he coldly explained the problems I needed to do today. I had actually practiced those problems privately many times. Originally, it was just to make Ethan fulfill his promise. The steps were already firmly etched in my mind. But today, while taking the test. I looked up at Ethan many times. The boy was bland, aloof, like a high-altitude flower. The kind I couldn’t reach. Forget it. I raised my hand and deliberately wrote a wrong answer on the final step. “Done.” Ethan slowly walked over and took a look. “Hmm?” “It’s wrong, I guess. I’ll go back and correct it. We don’t need to…” I lifted my leg to walk out. But was suddenly pulled back by him. Picked up. And placed directly on… My long-awaited wish was fulfilled just like that, inexplicably. 07 My center of gravity was unstable. Afraid of falling, I could only wrap my arms around his neck. A sense of humiliation welled up in my chest. I struggled and hit him hard. The usually emotionless boy seemed exceptionally strange today. Proactive, fierce. He pressed against the back of my neck and threatened in a low voice: “Want them all to hear?” I instantly quieted down. In the parents’ minds, I was the quintessential good girl. How could they know I was using math problems to… Ethan smiled in satisfaction and continued kissing. After a long time, my legs went numb. I asked weakly: “Why did you… mhm… what did I… do wrong?” Why was he doing this? “Yeah, it’s a punishment,” Ethan said. After a long time, I really couldn’t hold on anymore, struggling to ask him: “When are you… mhm… going to be done?” Ethan was still rubbing against my lips, his voice cold but carrying an ambiguous undertone: “I can let you go.” “But you’re not allowed to see that senior anymore.” The fire in my heart surged even higher. Who are you? You’re going to cut ties with me after the exams anyway. What right do you have to dictate my social circle? But with my whole body still nestled in his arms, I had no choice but to be honest: “Mhm, fine, you, stop kissing.” “Put me down first.” But Ethan didn’t move. Then he asked me another question: “Decided where you’re going? What are you studying?” I looked into his eyes. Slowly, I named a city that had absolutely nothing to do with my dream college choices. “Capitol City.” Ethan’s gaze was faint, his hands resting behind my head. His tone lazy: “That’s going to be tough.” Me: … Even now he doesn’t forget to insult me. I pinched him hard: “Get lost!” The boy started laughing. His chest vibrating violently. 08 The next day, Ethan’s desk was empty. “I heard he went to a competition training camp.” “He’s a genius, seriously.” “That university in Shanghai already offered him a spot.” “Why is he insisting on testing into Capitol City?” “Who exactly is in Capitol City?” My desk mate, Mia, mumbled in my ear. The hand holding my test paper trembled. I didn’t speak for a long time. Just kept my head down, doing problems. The workbook was compiled for me by Ethan. Densely packed, it was entirely made up of my weak spots. So it was very difficult to get through. During the break, I was racking my brain. My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I took it out, a message from Ethan: “If there’s anything you don’t know, text me.” “Just send the page and question number.” Looking down, in front of every single problem— There was a 1, 2, 3 written on them. My heart felt like it was touched by something. And then ruthlessly pushed down. I replied: “Okay.” I turned and poked Mia. “Do you know how to do this problem?” Mia was holding a small mirror, adjusting her pretty hair. Her smile innocent and pitiful: “Babe, I failed math last time.” “Are you sure you want to ask me?” Me: … I just instinctively didn’t want to ask Ethan. I didn’t notice who I was asking. 09 For a whole two weeks. I asked every student in the class with good grades. Mia watched me running around like a headless chicken. Resting her chin on her hand, she said slowly: “By the way, aren’t you and Ethan neighbors?” “Why don’t you take your problems to him?” I froze. I hadn’t contacted Ethan for over two weeks. I didn’t look for him. And he didn’t look for me. The empty chat box. Only my messages flirting with him remained. It felt like a lifetime ago. I gripped my pen and told the truth: “We’re not that close.” We just kissed. It’s not like we’re boyfriend and girlfriend. Mia frowned, looking confused: “That doesn’t make sense, just a few days ago I saw you chasing him around every day.” “You two even went to the stairwell together?” “How come you’re suddenly not close?” I frowned. The old history of flirting was brought up. My face felt like it couldn’t hide it. I forced a smile, pretending to be a clever imp. My tone nonchalant: “Oh, I did that on purpose.” “You know my parents are very strict with me, they don’t let me do this, they don’t let me do that.” “I just wanted to be rebellious.” Mia was thoroughly confused by my explanation. She blinked, very bewildered: “So, you don’t like Ethan?” “Of course I don’t like him.” I didn’t give myself time to think. While talking, I folded up the problems I didn’t know how to do. “It could have been a Liam, or an Oliver…” “As long as it made my parents mad, that’s enough.” Mia was completely stunned. Her gaze stared blankly at a corner behind me. I sensed something was wrong. And looked up. I met Ethan’s gaze dead on. He was still dragging a suitcase. It seemed he hadn’t even gone home, coming straight here. The boy was wearing a loose hoodie, his hair messy, his uniform thrown on carelessly. He looked like a very youthful, bad-boy heartthrob. His handsome face was tense, his gaze meeting mine deeply. My heart pounded. I didn’t know how much he heard. After a long time, the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile. As if he didn’t even see me. He walked straight to his seat.

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My best friend’s brother was discharged from the military. Word was he got injured during a mission and lost his ability to have children. My best friend was sighing non-stop: “I’m happily child-free, and now my brother got injured. Looks like the mighty Hayes bloodline is going to die out with us! What a tragedy!” A few days later, I finally met this legendary tough guy. I was completely stunned. How does he look exactly like the guy I slept with a few years ago—the father of my child?! 1 “I blame my dad for giving us such unlucky names. I’m Hope Hayes, and my brother’s name is Hunter Hayes. With names like that, we were doomed to be hopeless hunters of love!” At the barbecue joint, my best friend Hope was hugging a beer bottle, howling like a banshee. “Originally, I was hoping he’d come back so I could set you two up, and my goddaughter Lily could officially become my niece.” “But what good is a man who can’t have kids? He’s basically useless. We’re such good friends, I could never do that to you!” Just as she was speaking, her phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Hunter. Hope was already passed out on the table, completely oblivious. I hesitated for a moment, but when the impatient ringtone sounded for the third time, I answered it for her. “Mom says if you aren’t dead, drag your ass home.” The voice was deep. Surprisingly pleasant. I pinched my inexplicably warm earlobe. “Hello, I’m Hope’s friend.” “We’re at a barbecue place. Do you have time to come pick her up?” Looking at my best friend’s state, it was going to be a struggle for her to get home on her own. I had drank quite a bit myself. It would definitely be easier if someone came to pick her up. Before the person on the other end could respond, my supposedly passed-out best friend suddenly sprang back to life. “Oh, my poor brother! Went to the military academy so young, he’s practically an old man now and still a virgin! And with his condition now, I’m afraid nobody will ever want him…” An eerie silence fell over the other end of the line. The sheer awkwardness made me sober up a bit: “She’s… really had a lot to drink.” “Address.” “South Loop, Number 8.” The call disconnected. 2 I had heard about Hope’s brother before. A tough guy with a will of iron. He had been her idol since childhood. But when we first met, her brother was already deployed on missions. I had never met him. It wasn’t until a week ago, when he was discharged, that I learned he had been severely injured. Seeing it was about time, I supported Hope and waited at the entrance. From a distance, I saw a black car approaching. A tall man stepped out. He was wearing sleek cargo pants, with broad shoulders and long legs. I couldn’t see his face clearly, only catching a glimpse of his sharp silhouette. At that exact moment, a video call came in. “Is it Lily?” Hope glanced blearily at my phone screen. “Calling this late… hope nothing’s wrong.” “You answer it, my brother is already here.” Saying that, she waved at the man approaching in the distance. I was a bit worried about my daughter, too. Not having time to greet the man, I quickly stepped to the side to answer the video call as he got closer. Almost instantly. Lily’s little face appeared on the screen. “Mommy!” Seeing the little girl smiling brightly, I finally let out a sigh of relief. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “I missed Mommy!” Then, my mom’s voice came through the phone. “I took her to the countryside to catch shrimp today, and she had too much fun. Refuses to sleep, insisting on video calling you. You’re still out? Why aren’t you home yet?” “I’m out hanging with Hope.” My mom took the kid back to our hometown for a few days, so I finally had some rare free time. “Is Auntie Hope there too?” Lily’s little face squeezed back into view: “Mommy, I want to talk to Auntie Hope!” I turned to look at the main entrance. Hope was already slung over the tall man’s shoulder, tossed like a sack of potatoes directly into the SUV parked nearby. Yes. Tossed. My mouth twitched. He really does have… the tough guy style. 3 Having Lily was an accident. Four years ago, I had just gone through a breakup. I went to a bar to drink my sorrows away and met a man. He was sexy and restrained. Every breath he took hit my aesthetic sweet spot perfectly. Riding the buzz of the alcohol, I slept with him. Surprisingly, we clicked incredibly well that night. Even now, I remember the slight shivers caused by his rough, large hands brushing over me. At the time, I thought maybe starting a relationship wouldn’t be so bad. I didn’t expect that when I opened my eyes the next morning, he answered a phone call and his expression instantly turned deadly serious. “Copy that. I’m on my way.” He quickly got up and got dressed. He jotted down a string of numbers on a piece of paper: “I have an emergency mission right now. You can reach me at this number.” Throughout the entire thing, I didn’t even know his name. I originally thought our paths would never cross again, but a month later, I found out I was pregnant. Out of sheer desperation, I called that number. No one answered, several times. I figured I had been scammed. He probably wasn’t interested, made up an excuse to leave, and gave me a fake number so I wouldn’t cling to him. Due to health reasons, I ended up keeping the baby. But I never regretted that decision. Lily is sweet and smart, and I’m incredibly grateful for her company all these years. Early the next morning, my best friend sobered up and called me to complain. “My brother is so rough, he bruised my arm! Let me tell you, never look for a guy like him, he definitely has violent tendencies…” Before she could finish, a deep, warning voice came from her end: “Hope.” Hope immediately shut up, then, remembering something, her voice turned sycophantic: “Brooo, are you free this afternoon? Want to help my friend move some inventory?” “No.” “Awesome!” Hope completely ignored what her brother said, telling me, “I found you some muscle! He’ll help you move your stuff this afternoon.” “No, no, it’s fine. I can handle it myself this afternoon.” “We’re basically sisters, don’t be shy! He’s just sitting at home all day doing nothing anyway.” I originally thought my best friend was just joking. I didn’t expect her to actually show up that afternoon. Followed by a tall man. 4 I run a women’s lingerie boutique downtown. I’ve been managing it for years, and business is pretty good. I never hired any employees; I handle everything inside and out myself. Sometimes when it gets too busy, Hope comes over to help out. I was doing inventory in the afternoon when I heard people arguing outside. “The inventory you want me to move is women’s lingerie?” “So what if it’s lingerie? Do you go out without wearing underwear, Hunter? If you keep acting like this, I’m telling Dad you’re sexist!” “You feel like you haven’t been disciplined enough, don’t you?” The man’s tone was clearly impatient. “Are you saying you’d hit a woman? I’ll tell the whole world!” Seeing that the two of them were about to start fighting, I hurried outside. “It’s okay, it’s okay! There isn’t that much inventory, I don’t need this much help.” I looked up to apologize to my best friend’s brother: “I’m so sorry, Hope didn’t explain what kind of store this was and just dragged you over here. I…” Before I could finish, I got a clear look at his face. Chiseled features, handsome and sharp. A wave of pure testosterone hit me, rolling off his dark brown jacket. I completely forgot what I was going to say. The memories from four years ago came rushing back like a tidal wave. Fingers tangled in my hair, veins popping on his forearms, the heavy, forceful panting. I was shocked that I remembered every single detail so vividly. “Forget it, forget it. If you don’t want to help, then leave. Don’t stand there with a sour face acting like we’re begging you!” Hope rolled her eyes and linked her arm through mine. “Don’t apologize to him. He hasn’t been back in years, and now he doesn’t have an ounce of gentlemanly manners!” “Hold on.” The man blocked our path. His gaze was locked firmly on me. I suppressed the storm raging in my heart and pretended to look back calmly. He coughed lightly: “Where’s the stuff?” “What stuff?” “Didn’t you say you needed help moving inventory? Where is it?” 5 Hunter took off his jacket, revealing a plain black T-shirt underneath. He was incredibly strong. The heavy boxes looked like toys in his hands. He carried four or five boxes at a time. With him there, Hope and I instantly became beautiful, useless decorations. Hope stood to the side, sipping milk tea and scrolling on her phone. Commanding her own brother to do manual labor with absolute peace of mind. I hid in the storage room, pretending to be busy doing inventory. My heart was a complete mess. I never expected Lily’s biological father to be my best friend’s brother. So… does he remember me? He probably doesn’t, right? After all, it’s been so long… While my mind was racing, a male voice suddenly called out. “Everything outside is moved in.” “Ah, thank you!” The already cramped storage room felt even more crowded with a man inside. I instinctively took a half-step back, accidentally knocking over something next to me. The man bent down and picked it up before I could. “You dropped this.” In his hand was a black, bunny-ear lace bra. The thin straps dangled from his fingertips, creating a bizarre contrast with his stark, masculine presence. I remembered that night, what I was wearing seemed to be… My face instantly turned beet red, and the man’s dark eyes grew deeper as he stared at me. He suddenly leaned in close: “You seem very afraid of me. Why?” My breathing quickened, our gazes tangled together. With nowhere to hide, my brain short-circuited, and I suddenly blurted out: “Hope said you hit women!” Without waiting for his reaction, I squeezed through the gap beside him and rushed out. Hope, hearing the commotion outside, walked over. “Hit women?” “Which son of a bitch dares to hit women?!” Hunter’s face grew even darker. “If you say one more word, I might actually hit you.” Thanks to Hunter, the moving process sped up dramatically. A job that was supposed to take until seven or eight o’clock was completely finished by four. Hope didn’t want to bother me further and dragged Hunter to leave. The tall, muscular man stood steadily in the middle of aisles filled with lingerie. “Is Boss Sarah so stingy she won’t even buy me a meal?” My cheeks flushed slightly: “I will! What do you guys want to eat?” Hope’s eyes widened in shock. “Hunter, how could you be so shameless? Making my friend pay for dinner, are you even human?” “You guys pick the place, I’m paying.” “That’s more like it!” My best friend was finally satisfied. She hooked my arm and lowered her voice. “My brother actually has quite a bit of money. It’s rare for him to bleed cash. Think hard about what you want to eat, and absolutely do not hold back!” I don’t know if it was intentional or not. But the place they finally chose. Was right next to the bar where Hunter and I first met. Both Hunter and I aren’t very talkative. Thank god my best friend was there to liven up the atmosphere, so it wasn’t too awkward. But I could constantly feel Hunter’s gaze, subtle but present, resting on me. With an undisguised, burning intensity. Suddenly, my phone rang. My best friend immediately leaned over to look at the screen: “Is it Lily? I haven’t seen her in so long, I miss her so much!” The expression of the man across the table instantly became incredibly weird. It wasn’t until I stepped outside to answer the phone that I heard his deep voice. “She’s… married?” 6 Hunter’s words immediately triggered a backlash from my best friend: “What do you mean by that? Can’t someone have a kid without getting married? You’re such an old-fashioned boomer!” “Not married, huh?” Hunter’s posture returned to its original relaxed state. He leaned back in his chair, took a sip of tea, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “That’s good. Have you met the guy? What’s his background?” My best friend stared at him, her expression slowly turning weird. “Bro, honestly, your secret joy is a bit too obvious. Just because you can’t have happiness anymore, doesn’t mean you can’t stand seeing other people happy, right?” Hunter: ? My best friend continued: “When Sarah gets back later, absolutely do not bring up Lily’s dad. I suspect the reason she hasn’t dated anyone in all these years is because she still hasn’t gotten over that scumbag.” Hearing this, the smile on Hunter’s face slowly vanished. It wasn’t until the siblings finished their loud gossip that I found an appropriate moment to sit back down. I had never told Hope the details about Lily’s dad. First, because when we met, Lily was already born. Second, because I felt I would never see him again, so there was no need to talk about it. I just vaguely said that after I got pregnant, I lost contact with the father. But Hope must have misunderstood. She assumed he was a massive scumbag who abandoned me. Out of consideration for my feelings, she never explicitly asked about it. And now, things were awkward. Although lying to my best friend isn’t great, I didn’t dare casually reveal Lily’s parentage to them right now. After all, I didn’t know Hunter. If things went south, it would ruin my friendship with Hope as well. That night, Hope and I drank. Hunter voluntarily took on the role of designated driver. As the car headed north, Hope pressed her face against the window: “Wrong way, wrong way! Sarah’s house isn’t in this direction!” “I’m dropping you off first. I have somewhere to go later, I’m not going home.” Hearing this, Hope got annoyed and muttered: “If I knew you weren’t going home, I wouldn’t have let you drive us. Sarah and I could have found another spot to keep drinking.” Hunter glanced at her but didn’t say anything. The car stopped smoothly at the Hayes residence. Hope got out reluctantly. I felt awkward being alone with Hunter, so I also prepared to get out. “It’s not far from my place from here. I can just take a cab. Since you have things to do, I won’t bother you…” “It’s no bother. It’s on my way.” My best friend nodded: “Exactly! Just let him drop you off. It’s not like whatever he’s doing this late at night is anything important anyway!” Declining again would seem too deliberate, so I could only gladly accept his offer. “Where to?” “Happy Road Apartments.” The man glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes holding a smile: “Don’t want to keep drinking? I can take you now.” “No, no, Hope was just joking earlier.” I thanked him politely. “Thank you both so much for today. I really troubled you.” “Being so polite, treating me like a stranger?” I didn’t expect him to ask so directly, and my breathing instantly quickened. Before I could answer, he stated confidently: “You remember.” “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Liar.” The man lowered his voice. “Didn’t Hope tell you what I used to do? I’m best at analyzing emotional states by listening to breathing.” Hearing this, I instinctively held my breath. He ended up laughing out loud: “I made that up.” “Hunter!” “That’s more like you. You were acting way too tense when you saw me today.” Afraid of giving anything else away, I didn’t dare say another word for the rest of the ride. 7 Thankfully, Hunter didn’t tease me anymore on the way. After getting home, I played a round of games with Hope online. Only then did I slowly take a shower. While hanging up my laundry, I accidentally glanced out the window and noticed the SUV that dropped me off was still parked in the exact same spot downstairs. After debating for a long time, I threw on a coat and went down. The car was still running. I tapped on the window. “Hunter?” The window rolled down, revealing the man’s resolute face. “Did the car break down?” “No.” “Then why haven’t you left? Didn’t you say you had plans to meet friends later?” “I don’t have plans. It was just an excuse to drop you off alone.” The air stilled, and I pursed my lips. I don’t know why, but a long-hidden anger rushed to my head: “Do you just really like making up excuses?” “What do you mean?” “You know exactly what I mean.” After saying that, I turned to leave. He frowned and grabbed my hand: “Explain yourself.” “Emergency mission.” Only then did he remember the words he said to me years ago. His voice was raspy: “I didn’t lie to you. It really was an emergency notification that time. I had just gotten home on leave when a sudden disaster occurred. I was out doing relief work the entire time.” “What about the phone number? No one answered that number at all!” “During missions, our phones are all confiscated…” Before he could finish, he realized: “You tried to find me?” I turned my head away, unwilling to admit it at this moment. “You really tried to find me.” A look of intense regret flashed across Hunter’s face. “I didn’t expect the mission to last that long. I should have proactively asked for your contact info.” The past is the past. There’s no point in arguing about it now. “Since you’re fine, I’m heading back up.” “Don’t go yet.” Hunter pulled me back, his large hand completely enveloping mine. “Hope said you still haven’t forgotten him?” “Who?” “That scumbag.” It took me a while to realize he was talking about Lily’s dad. My expression grew complicated, and I vaguely replied: “It’s not what you guys think. Actually… he’s not that bad.” As soon as I finished speaking, his brows instantly furrowed into a straight line. “As expected, you’re still defending him even now.” “I’m not.” “Forget him. From now on… there will be someone who treats you well.” I wanted to say something else, but he squeezed my hand firmly and then let go. “I don’t want to push you. It just feels a bit surreal running into you again, I need a moment to process it.” “It’s getting late, go back and rest.” I opened my mouth but ultimately didn’t say anything. I dreamt again that night. I dreamt of being held in Hunter’s arms, his teeth gently grazing the base of my ear. In the dream, I was like a small boat, rising and falling with the turbulent waves. I don’t know how much time passed, but my phone vibrated a few times. I blearily glanced at the screen and realized it was already late morning. Opening the chat, I saw a string of messages from my best friend. 【Extra, extra! My brother didn’t come home last night!】 【My mom is already burning incense to the Buddha, praying that he spent the night at a woman’s house.】 【Did the ancient iron tree finally blossom? Tsk tsk, do you think the other person knows he’s a barren fig tree?!】 What iron tree, what fig tree? I hadn’t fully processed it yet. More messages came in. 【I think I already guessed whose house my brother stayed at.】 I suddenly grew tense. 【Who?】 【Chloe.】 The unfamiliar name made me breathe a sigh of relief, but also left me stunned. Hope explained: 【A classmate from his combat training class back in the day. She’s incredibly badass; her combat skills are on par with my brother’s.】 【You don’t know this, but even though my brother looks rebellious, he actually has a moral cleanliness obsession. I’ve never seen him get close to any girl. The only one he hung out with was Chloe!】 【Since he got back, he’s only been in touch with her. If it’s not her, who else could it be?!】 Last night he said he had no plans. And now he stayed out all night. And suddenly a female classmate with shared interests pops up beside him. I couldn’t describe what I was feeling right now. It felt like someone had grabbed my heart and squeezed it hard, but there was also a sense of relief, like surviving a disaster. Good thing I didn’t tell him about Lily’s parentage, otherwise it really would have just added unnecessary trouble.

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I posted a piece of music my boyfriend composed online, only for people to dig up that it was a song he wrote for his first love. In an instant, I became the target of everyone’s mockery. “The song is beautiful, but what a pity it wasn’t written for you.” “He’s remembered her for seven years? What about you? How many years will you make him remember you?” “I guarantee you, there is another woman living in his heart besides you.” Everyone said I was acting like a clown, but I refused to break up. After all, the only reason I chased him for so long was because he had a pair of eyes— Eyes that were identical to someone else’s. 01 While moving, I found a piece of sheet music in my boyfriend’s drawer. I casually snapped a picture and posted it online, never expecting it to blow up. “Found this in my boyfriend’s drawer, can any music experts tell me what piece this is?” Currently, the top comment in the section reads: “Ah, I’ve heard this song before.” “It’s the one the hottest guy in our college played for his girlfriend at the campus anniversary festival back in the day.” Obviously, this “girlfriend” wouldn’t be holding up the sheet music asking questions about it online. Instantly, the comment section flooded with all sorts of remarks. Some mocked me, some pitied me, and some felt indignant on my behalf. I was still scrolling through the endless comments when Ethan pushed the door open and walked in. 02 He wrapped his arms around me, kissed my chin, and asked what I was looking at. I pointed at the comment my eyes were fixed on. “After all these years, he still kept the sheet music. Your boyfriend must love his ex very, very much. Much more than he loves you.” He stared at the screen intently for a long time, then raised his long, elegant fingers and pressed the button to turn off my screen. “Why did you post a piece of music I wrote online?” “Don’t read this nonsense when you have nothing better to do.” I looked up, staring at him unblinking. “Do you still love her, Ethan?” The man’s long silence was my only answer. He had a mole near the corner of his eye. It sat there, looking just like a star spilled from the Milky Way. After a long while, he raised his hand and pinched my cheek. “What do you want for dinner? I’ll go make it for you.” I really wanted to tell him: Ethan, your subject changes are terrible. 03 I leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching the man’s busy back. Actually, there were some differences between him and that person. For example, he was a great cook. And, his personality wasn’t actually that cold. But they were also very similar. Their mannerisms, their movements, everything was so alike. That was why I had persistently chased him for two years. I still remember the sixth time I cornered him on his way home from work, shoving a bright bouquet of daisies into his arms. I told him, “Professor Hayes, I still can’t play that Chopin Nocturne.” He sighed, gently pulling a petal off a daisy. “Then how do you expect me to teach you?” I leaned in close, my hands behind my back, my face almost touching his lips, and said straightforwardly: “I heard kissing can speed up brain function. Do you want to try it, Professor?” His ears turned completely red, but his eyes were bright, like the Milky Way. He actually leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Like this?” Back then, I didn’t know how much I looked like his long-lost first love. Nor did I know that the scar on his wrist was carved because of her. 04 “Ethan, I’m just saying… if I and your ex-girlfriend fell into the water at the same time…” During dinner, I was idly chewing on my spoon, making trouble. “Who would you save first?” “Her.” I didn’t expect him to answer without hesitation. I blinked. “Why?” “Because you talk too much.” As he said that, he placed a peeled shrimp into my bowl. I popped it into my mouth, but I couldn’t taste anything. Even though I knew he was half-joking, mostly just teasing me, my heart still felt incredibly empty. I think I really was falling for Ethan. This wasn’t good. They always say whoever catches feelings first loses. We both saw each other as replacements; it was better to just stick to playing the role. I finished my meal feeling gloomy. He, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. That evening, he sat at his piano, preparing for his classes. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his long fingers danced across the keys. He looked indescribably handsome. Ethan taught piano at the conservatory. Tickets for his recitals started at hundreds of dollars, but he let me listen to him play casually at home, and I still complained it was hurting my ears. So, I quietly snuck up behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and caused trouble. “Professor Hayes, teach me too, okay?” Then, I didn’t even know how I ended up pinned against the piano. His kisses trailed down my jawline. The curtains were drawn, letting a pool of moonlight spill across the floor. At some point, a heavy bass key was pressed, sending a deep resonance vibrating through the piano. I pushed against his chest. “Not here… your piano… is very expensive.” He lowered his eyes to look at me, answered very seriously, and then rained down a flurry of dense, soft kisses. “It doesn’t matter.” Later, when I wrapped my arms around his neck and tilted my head back, I somehow caught sight of a dreamcatcher dangling precariously by the piano. He always kept it with him. It went without saying who had given it to him. In the soft drizzle of the night, I reached out with a hoarse voice, pulled down a white feather from it, and asked him: “This dreamcatcher is too old. Can we throw it away?” But even in such a quiet, intimate moment, he refused to give me a direct answer. After a long pause, he endured my gaze. “No.” 05 The post I made online was still gaining traction. The next afternoon, I received a direct message. “Hey girl, I was in the same class as your boyfriend in college. I know some things about him and his ex-girlfriend. Do you want to hear them?” “To be honest, I feel pretty sorry for you.” This kind of thing is like Pandora’s Box. Even though I knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience, I couldn’t suppress the overwhelming desire to know. So, that afternoon, I sat on a bench outside a convenience store and read the story of him and that girl, word by word. “I remember he and his girlfriend were pretty famous at our university back then.” “He was the prodigy of the piano department, and she was the stunning beauty of the literature department. Plus, they apparently grew up together, childhood sweethearts.” “During a campus anniversary event, he played this song on stage. He wrote it specifically for her, played it just for her.” “It actually got pretty popular locally at the time. I heard if he published it, he could have made a lot of money, but he said he wrote it for her, and only she was allowed to listen to it.” “My roommates and I were dying of jealousy back then. Until, right before graduation, the girl made a huge fuss about going abroad, I don’t know why.” “It was a massive fight. In the end, they broke up. Then I heard he practically gave up his life trying to get her to come back.” “But she still left in the end, didn’t she? Anyway, I just feel like your boyfriend probably loves his ex-girlfriend very, very much.” “That kind of love, time can’t wash it away, and the years can’t take it from him. Think about it, going that far for her.” “Girl, you shouldn’t be kept in the dark.” Reading the final word, I took a deep breath. I couldn’t describe the feeling. My heart felt a bit numb, but I also felt like… yes, this was exactly the kind of thing someone like Ethan would do. He was always looking at another girl through my eyes. I knew that. After a pause, I still asked the person: “Do you have a picture of that girl?” “Ah, hold on. I think there’s one from a spring trip. Let me look.” About twenty minutes later, she sent over a slightly faded photo. The quality wasn’t great, but you could still see that in the blurry image, the girl circled in red was beautiful. She had long hair, leaned against the shoulder of a young, green Ethan, and smiled radiantly. I gently brushed my finger across the screen. I looked up, staring at my own reflection in the convenience store window. No wonder. The shape of my brow and hers were at least seventy or eighty percent similar. 06 I don’t know how I got home. Passing by a hair salon, I gestured to the stylist and had them chop my hair off right at my jawline. This felt like the first time in my life I had ever cut my hair short. Looking in the mirror, I felt like I didn’t even look like myself anymore. And I also looked a little less like that girl. I didn’t know how Ethan would react when he saw me. I sat at home, waiting patiently for him. But I waited until past midnight, only to receive a completely drunk man. Professor Hayes had a business dinner tonight, apparently. He walked through the door. The moment he saw me, he froze. I thought he would have some other reaction, but unfortunately, no. I stood there, and he collapsed against me, calling my nickname. “Lena…” His breath ghosted over my neck. The smell of alcohol mixed with the cold, crisp scent of cedar on his body. He held me, and eventually, we both tumbled onto the living room sofa. Lena. But wait. My name is Lana. The alcohol blurred his syllables, but the vowel shifted just a fraction. He wasn’t saying Lana. He was saying Lena. I remembered asking this afternoon. That girl’s name was Elena. His kisses fell on my neck. He must have been truly drunk. His fingers tangled in my hair as he called her name, over and over again. I like you. I love you. I miss you. Word by word. I knew that even though he was looking at me with eyes full of emotion, the words weren’t meant for me. As I was held in his arms, I gripped the edge of his coat, tilted my head, and stared at the dim yellow light in the entryway. I told him: “Ethan, look closely. I’m not Elena.” “I cut my hair short. Your Elena has long hair.” He stared at me for a moment, then crushed his lips against mine. Just like that. He wouldn’t even let me speak. 07 I don’t know how long I was tossed around that night. I’m a light sleeper, and I woke up again in the early hours of the morning. I heard the sound of heavy raindrops violently smashing against the glass. I remembered the weather forecast said there would be a massive thunderstorm. I was locked in his embrace, a thick blanket pulled over me. I was so exhausted last night, I didn’t even know how he carried me to bed. As I lay there listening to the rain with my eyes open, the doorbell downstairs suddenly rang. At first, I thought I misheard, but a few dozen seconds later, it rang again. I squinted, lacking the energy to get up. So I nudged the man sleeping beside me. “Ethan, someone’s ringing the doorbell.” He raised a hand, rubbed my head, and then pulled me back into his arms to sleep. He clearly wasn’t fully awake. But the doorbell kept ringing. I kicked his shin. “Ethan. Go get the door.” … The difference between Ethan and that person was that Ethan didn’t get angry when woken up. Woken up by my kicking, Ethan looked down at me with sleepy eyes, then got up and did as I asked. Sometimes he was… really quite obedient to me. Thinking about this, I curled up in the warm blankets, my head a mess, wondering who would be ringing the doorbell this early in the morning. But I waited for a long time, and the man didn’t come back. I was worried something had happened to him. So I grabbed a random coat, threw it over my shoulders, and leaned against the staircase railing as I followed him down. “Ethan, who is it?” The next second, I froze. The heavy rain outside was still pouring down. Standing there was a girl with long hair, wearing a white dress, completely soaked to the bone. Sometimes it’s just a strange intuition; the moment I saw her, I knew it was her. The Elena that Ethan both loved and hated, the one he could never forget. Right now, she was lifting a pale, pitiful face, looking up at him desperately. “Ethan, you won’t hide from me anymore, will you?” “I won’t leave this time. I really won’t leave.” “Please don’t be with any other women anymore, okay…?” 08 I stared at that girl through the curtain of pouring rain. Her eyes were very clean. The way she looked at me was almost a pure, simple observation. So pure that she clearly didn’t consider me a threat at all. Of course. Ethan had almost given his life for her. She held all the winning chips. I instinctively tightened my grip on the staircase railing. I raised my voice, trying my best to sound like I didn’t care. “Looks like someone you know, Ethan. Aren’t you going to invite her in to sit down?” I thought if I acted magnanimous enough, my heart wouldn’t feel like it was being twisted into knots. But the uncontrollable tremor in my voice betrayed the chaos in my mind. As if suddenly awakened by my voice, Ethan slammed the door shut. I never expected him to be so ruthless as to literally shut his first love out in the rain. The heavy downpour continued. I walked over to his side, reaching out to open the door for him. “It’s not right to leave her out there in the rain…” Then, the man gripped the back of my neck. His fingers, slightly damp from the rain, pressed me against the wooden door as he kissed me softly. I stared at the fine beads of water clinging to his eyelashes. “Be good, don’t make a fuss.” Ethan’s voice was hoarse as he pressed into the crook of my neck. In his heavy breathing, I could see exactly how turbulent his emotions were. He didn’t not care. He cared far too much. 09 Over the next few days, I constantly saw that girl’s silhouette around Ethan. On his way to work, on his way home, on the path to his office. It was like a relentless pursuit, constantly clinging to him. “Ethan, please forgive me, okay?” “Ethan, how long are you going to keep living with that woman?” “Ethan, you don’t love me anymore? I don’t believe you.” Actually, I should have broken up with Ethan amicably. I was originally just looking for the shadow of another person in him anyway. But I just couldn’t do it. By the time I sadly realized I couldn’t bear to let Ethan go, it was already too late. For instance, right now. I was carrying a bento box I spent all morning making, intending to bring it to Ethan. Only to see that white silhouette beside him. The girl rested her chin in her hands, watching the man eat slowly. She looked like she had finally gotten her way, every strand of her hair practically radiating sunshine. “Ethan, admit it, you still prefer my cooking, right?” “That woman doesn’t even know how to cook, does she?” She chattered endlessly like a bird. The man silently swallowed his food, but didn’t answer. Actually, silence was basically an admission. Ethan was always very gentle with me, but in front of that girl, he was ice-cold. But I knew that this only proved he cared. He cared that she left him. He cared that she abandoned him in this country. I don’t remember who told me this, but sometimes hate surges far more violently than love. I tightened my grip on the lunchbox in my hands, unlocked my phone, and sent him a message. “Ethan, what are you doing?” He was always very prompt in replying to me. Even now, he looked down at his phone and typed a response. “Eating.” “Are you eating alone?” The man stared down at his screen for a long time. I waited for a long time, watching him through the window. My heart started to beat erratically, betraying me. Then, a single word came back. “Yeah.” … You see, Professor Hayes, who never lied, had lied to me. Just because of that woman who constantly badgered him. Even if he treated her with cold eyes, he couldn’t resist the subconscious urge to protect her.

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When the college entrance exam results were released, Arthur took the top spot in the state. Meanwhile, I, who had consistently maintained the number one rank in our grade, didn’t even make the cut-off for a bachelor’s degree. Arthur smiled, a brazen and reckless expression on his face. “Chloe, a bet is a bet. You are my girlfriend now.” I walked up to him and shoved him off the roof. Everything around me began to play backward like a rewinding movie. Time rewound to the day Arthur transferred to our school. Staring at that annoying face on the podium, I tightened my grip on my pen. It doesn’t matter. I will eliminate this obstacle of a male lead, time and time again. 1 The first time I realized I was the female lead in a sweet campus romance novel, The story had already ended a long time ago. I had been married to Arthur for eight years, and our son was six. He was a highly anticipated rising star in the tech world, while I held a token position in his company. My main responsibility was staying home and taking care of our child. It was our eighth wedding anniversary. Arthur was in a car accident. By the time I rushed to the hospital, he had just come out of surgery. The doctor said he needed a family member to stay and observe him for 72 hours post-operation. I sat by the hospital bed, looking at Arthur. His head was wrapped in bandages, one leg in a cast suspended in the air. His breathing was faint under the oxygen mask. Secretary Sullivan stood at the door of the hospital room, her eyes red, looking pitiful and delicate. “Mrs. Vance, I’m so sorry. If it weren’t for me, Mr. Vance wouldn’t be hurt so badly.” She covered her mouth, choking back sobs. My son, who was on the sofa, immediately ran over and took her hand. “Don’t cry, Miss Sullivan. Daddy will be fine!” That scene was particularly glaring. My own flesh and blood, after his father’s car accident, Was comforting his secretary, not me. “Leo,” I said, my voice terribly hoarse. “Come to Mommy.” My son turned to look at me with undisguised disgust. “Can’t you see Miss Sullivan is crying?” “Mom, you’re not a kid anymore. Stop making a scene.” Secretary Sullivan hurriedly wiped her tears. “Be a good boy, Leo. Go to your mom. I’m fine.” That’s what she said, but she didn’t let go of the child’s hand. 2 I looked away and turned my gaze back to Arthur on the bed. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the blinds, Casting alternating stripes of light and shadow on his face. I had looked at this face for thirteen years. From seventeen to thirty. From our school days to walking down the aisle. Why did it feel increasingly unfamiliar to me? I thought of this morning. While chopping vegetables in the kitchen, I accidentally cut my hand. Blood gushed out for quite a while before I reacted and looked for a Band-Aid. Enduring the pain, I finished cooking three dishes and a soup. I rushed to deliver it to Arthur’s company before twelve. When the two young girls at the front desk saw me, they exchanged a knowing look. “Mrs. Vance, here to deliver lunch again? Mr. Vance is in a meeting.” “I’ll wait for him.” “Maybe you should just leave the food here. Mr. Vance has been quite busy lately, he might not have time.” “I’ll wait for him,” I stubbornly repeated. They curled their lips and ignored me. An hour later, Arthur finally stepped out of the elevator, Surrounded by a group of people in suits. Seeing me, he frowned and walked over. “Why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you to get a good rest at home?” He had a smile on his face, but his tone carried a faint hint of impatience. “I made your favorite crab-roe pork meatballs…” Arthur took the insulated bag and put his arm around my shoulder. “What happened to your hand?” He noticed the Band-Aid on my finger. “I accidentally cut it while chopping vegetables.” Arthur’s voice dropped: “You can’t even do such a simple thing right…” Noticing the gazes from the people around us, he immediately switched to a gentle tone: “You’ve worked hard, honey. You must be more careful in the future, okay?” At that moment, I felt very strange. I felt like an exhibit. Used to showcase Arthur’s “loving husband” persona to the public. 3 We ate lunch in Arthur’s office. He took a few bites and put down his chopsticks. “The meatballs are too mushy, the ribs are dry, and the asparagus is overcooked.” I nervously rubbed the hem of my shirt. “I’m sorry, I’ll pay more attention next time.” “It’s not about paying attention,” Arthur pulled a tissue and wiped his mouth. “It’s an attitude problem. I’m so busy with work every day. Is it too much to ask for a decent meal when I come home? Maya pulls all-nighters for projects, working non-stop, coordinating domestically and internationally. You just stay at home and do this little bit, and you can’t even do it right?” Maya. Maya Sullivan. It’s her again. My son had said something similar to me yesterday. I was tutoring him in math, but no matter how I explained it, I couldn’t make it clear. I was sweating profusely from anxiety. “Mom, you’re so stupid.” My son sneered and pushed the workbook away. “Last time Miss Sullivan explained a problem to me, I understood it immediately.” “Dad is right. You’re just not as smart as Miss Sullivan.” The words of a six-year-old child cut like a knife. When did this start? It seemed to be after Leo was born. My brain felt like it was getting worse and worse. Papers that I used to memorize after one read, I now had to read over and over again, and I would still forget them right after. Math problems that I used to solve effortlessly, I now stared at for ages without a clear line of thought. The doctor said this was due to hormonal fluctuations postpartum, a normal phenomenon. Arthur said I was just too anxious and needed to rest more. But I knew that wasn’t it. Something had been extracted from my body a long time ago. “The patient needs to rest. One family member is enough to stay and observe.” The nurse’s voice pulled me back to reality. Secretary Sullivan had already stood up, holding my son’s hand. “Mrs. Vance, I’ll take Leo to get something to eat first.” “You look terrible. Do you need me to order some food for you?” “I’m not hungry.” “Then we’ll be going now. Remember to let me know when Mr. Vance wakes up.” She gave me a deep look, unable to hide the smugness at the corner of her lips. “If Mr. Vance hadn’t shielded me immediately, I would be the one lying there.” I looked at Maya, this woman who thrived in Arthur’s company like a fish in water. Young, beautiful, smart, and capable. Everything I once possessed but now lost. She had it all. 4 The door closed, leaving only me and the unconscious Arthur. I stared at the ECG monitor, my mind beginning to wander. After failing the college entrance exam, my college applications were a complete mess. Eventually, I ended up at a local community college. Arthur went to a top university in New York. We started a long-distance relationship. He called me every week. In his words, he casually mentioned how heavy his coursework in New York was. How outstanding his peers were, and then he would change the subject: “But you wouldn’t understand this anyway.” “By the way, did you eat on time today? Don’t forget because of studying. That school of yours, there’s not much point in studying anyway.” During my three years of college, no matter how hard I tried, My grades remained mediocre. It felt like I had really become stupid. Later, Arthur successfully launched his startup. After graduation, I naturally joined his company. I held a token position as an administrative assistant. He said it would be easier to take care of me this way, saying my current state wasn’t suitable for a high-pressure job. Marriage, having a child, becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom. Eight years. I looked at the cut on my finger. The edge of the Band-Aid was already peeling up slightly, Revealing the pale flesh underneath. If the seventeen-year-old me saw the thirty-year-old me now, what would she say? That girl who once dreamed of joining the astrophysics department. Would she recognize this housewife who couldn’t even explain an elementary school math problem, Who was despised as stupid by her son, whose cooking was criticized by her husband, and who was looked down upon by his secretary? The ECG monitor suddenly emitted a low alarm. Arthur’s fingers twitched, his brow furrowed; it seemed he was about to wake up. In that moment, a sudden surge of hatred rose from the bottom of my heart. Like a trapped beast discovering it had been imprisoned for eight whole years. Discovering its claws and fangs had been pulled out one by one. Discovering its pride had been ground away little by little. Just to become an auxiliary piece that fit the “loving husband male lead” persona. My hand reached toward Arthur’s face, pausing in mid-air. Then, moving downward. Past his eyes, the bridge of his nose, his jaw. And gripped that oxygen tube. 5 “Arthur, do you remember when you transferred to our school in junior year?” “On the first monthly exam, you scored a 32 in math, and the teacher asked me to tutor you.” Arthur’s eyelids fluttered; he seemed to hear me. “I explained the problems to you, but your mind was elsewhere.” “You said, what’s the point of girls reading so many books? They’ll end up getting married anyway.” “At the time, I thought you were so shallow, so ridiculous.” My fingers tightened. “Now I understand, the ridiculous one was me.” I gave a hard yank. The oxygen tube disconnected. Arthur’s breathing suddenly became rapid, his chest heaving violently. The ECG monitor blared a piercing alarm. I watched Arthur struggle. Watched his face turn purple from oxygen deprivation. Watched his mouth unconsciously open and close. There was no fear, no regret, only a strange sense of satisfaction. It felt like I had finally pulled out a thorn that had been stuck in my throat for eight years, pulling it out with flesh and blood. The ECG line eventually flatlined. The walls of the hospital room began to distort, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling stretching into blurred bands of light. Time began to rewind. The smell of disinfectant was replaced by a faint, milky scent. 6 I sat on the bed in my bedroom, holding a soft infant in my arms. The baby had just finished feeding, his tiny hands tightly grasping my collar, sleeping soundly. This was when Leo had just turned one month old. The bedroom door was pushed open, and Arthur walked in holding a cigarette. It made me cough. “Don’t smoke in the house, the baby is still small.” Arthur clicked his tongue impatiently but still crushed the cigarette out in the ashtray on the nightstand. “My mom called today, said she wants to come over and help with the baby. I told her there’s no need, you’re just at home doing nothing anyway.” I looked down at the baby in my arms, my voice very soft: “I want to wait until Leo is six months old, wean him, and go back to work.” “Work?” Arthur looked as if he had heard a joke. “What can you do in your current state? Your memory is so bad. Last time I asked you to get a document from the company, you got the wrong one.” “Staying at home and taking good care of the baby is your most important job right now.” He lit another cigarette, this time sitting directly on the edge of the bed to smoke. The smoke billowed toward me. Little Leo squirmed uneasily in my arms, whimpering softly. Arthur blew out a puff of smoke, looking at me through the haze. “Is the money I make not enough to support you? Why must you go out and show your face in public?” “Do you know how fierce the competition is out there now? With your current condition, what kind of job could you possibly do well?” Ash fell onto the bedsheet, burning a tiny black hole. I watched that black hole expand continuously. Like a trapped beast, opening its massive maw. Wait, I remember I killed Arthur. In the hospital room, I pulled his oxygen tube. And then I returned here. “I’m talking to you, did you hear me?” Arthur frowned, reaching out to touch my face. “Postpartum depression still hasn’t cleared up? Should we go see the doctor again?” His hand froze in mid-air. I had already raised that ashtray. With all my strength, I smashed it viciously against his temple. 7 Arthur’s expression froze, his eyes widening in shock. He seemed entirely unable to comprehend what had happened. Blood flowed from his temple, Down over his eyebrow, into his eye. He opened his mouth but made no sound. His body fell backward, crashing heavily onto the floor, a large pool of fresh blood spreading. The world began to twist and spin again. The baby’s cries faded, the weight in my arms disappeared. The smell of blood was replaced by the fragrance of flowers. I stood in the middle of a lawn, wearing a pristine white wedding dress. Holding a bouquet of fragrant, blooming flowers. Time had rewound again. The young and handsome Arthur, dressed in a suit and tie, held the rings, a brilliant smile on his face. The officiant asked: “Miss Chloe, do you take Mr. Arthur Vance to be your wedded husband, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?” The eyes of all the guests were focused on me. Everyone’s face radiated with blessings and smiles. It was a perfect wedding scene. But the hand holding my bouquet was trembling. Not out of fear, but out of excitement. The pervasive sense of confinement that had followed me like a shadow for eight years—making me increasingly dull, increasingly submissive—was vanishing. My mind was clearer than it had ever been. Like a dense fog dispersed by a gale, I clearly remembered everything. How I had securely held the number one rank in my grade for three years of high school. I remembered the gold medal in the national physics olympiad. I remembered the dreams of the stars and the sea written in my notebooks. I remembered the absurd failure on the day the college entrance exam results were announced. I remembered the day Arthur transferred to our school. Speaking carelessly to me: “You’re the top student? You don’t look like much.” This wasn’t a love story. It was a meticulously planned theft. My life, my talent, my future. They were all altered by an invisible force, And grafted onto Arthur. The meaning of my existence was merely to serve as a footnote in his perfect life. To make the readers sigh: “Look, even the most outstanding, top-student female lead fell for him, willing to give up everything to support her husband and raise their child.” All the charm bestowed upon him was to gild his mediocre essence. 8 “I do not.” My voice echoed through the microphone to everyone’s ears. The smile on Arthur’s face froze. A collective gasp echoed from the guest seating. Arthur’s parents stood up abruptly, their faces extremely ugly. The officiant hurriedly tried to smooth things over: “The bride is too nervous and misspoke. It’s okay, let’s do it again…” “I do not want to marry Arthur.” I interrupted the officiant, articulating every word with absolute clarity. “Not today, not tomorrow, not in this lifetime.” Arthur reacted, stepping forward and grabbing my wrist. His grip was strong enough to crush my wrist bones. He forced a smile on his face. “Chloe, stop making a scene. So many people are watching.” “Let go,” I said. “Do you know what you are doing?” Arthur’s voice was very low, carrying a threat: “Hurry up and finish the ceremony. Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it when we get back!” The murmurs from the crowd grew louder. I looked at Arthur’s face, twisted with anger and embarrassment. And suddenly smiled. “Arthur, do you know why you were able to become the top scorer in the college entrance exam?” He froze. I leaned close to him. And said in a voice only the two of us could hear: “Because there was a thief.” “A thief who stole what was mine and stuffed it into your empty brain.” Arthur’s pupils shrank abruptly. The next second, I grabbed his tie backhandedly. And with all my might, I slammed him into the champagne tower next to us. Amidst the sound of shattering glass, the back of Arthur’s head hit the corner of the table hard. Blood and golden champagne mixed and flowed everywhere. Screams rose and fell around me. But I could no longer hear them. The world spun and inverted. The pristine white wedding dress was replaced by a blue and white school uniform. Time had rewound to the day the college entrance exam results were announced. 9 I stood on the roof of the high school building. The hot summer wind blew the hem of my shirt. A red banner hung at the school gate: “Congratulations to our student Arthur Vance for securing the top spot in the state sciences!” The sports field was buzzing with voices. Everyone was marveling at Arthur being a dark horse, a genius. The protagonist of their conversations stood opposite me, leaning against the roof railing, smiling brazenly. “Chloe, a bet is a bet. You are my girlfriend now.” He opened his arms to me, waiting for me to throw myself into his embrace with tears of gratitude. I looked at Arthur. Looking at this idiot forcibly elevated to the altar by the rules of the plot. Every ounce of his charm was built upon my plundered life. Arthur judged from on high: “You girls are all like this, lacking stamina. No matter how hard you try, you can’t compare to a boy putting in just a little effort.” “Look, I just casually studied and easily defeated you.” How ridiculous, how unscientific, how shameless. “Arthur.” I spoke calmly: “Do you believe in karma?” He tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled, “What?” “Things stolen must be returned one day.” I took a step forward. Arthur instinctively stepped back, his back hitting the roof railing. I reached out, but not to hold his hand. Instead, I pressed against his chest and shoved hard. Arthur’s smile vanished, replaced by pure terror. He flailed his arms wildly in the air, trying to grab something. But only air passed through his fingers. “Chloe, are you cra—” The voice abruptly stopped. The speed of the fall was very fast, so fast I could barely hear his shout. Immediately following were shrieks of horror exploding from below. I had already turned and left the roof. The world disintegrated behind me. The school building collapsed like a sandcastle, the sky shattered into pieces. Revealing the void of darkness behind it. Then, light flooded back in.

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When the female lead appeared, I was already pregnant with Ethan’s child. Unable to fight fate, he had once desperately broken off his engagement with the female lead for me, but that only made her hate me to the bone, detesting the very sight of me. Eventually, I grew tired. I threw away our tangled feelings, and even gave up the child. Until a late afternoon, six years later. A tender-faced child knocked on my door. He kept a straight face, acting like a little adult: “My dad doesn’t want me anymore, can I come live with you?” 1 I froze for a moment, speechless. Leo pursed his lips unhappily, tilting his pretty little face up, and said earnestly: “My teacher said that parents have the responsibility and obligation to raise their children…” The half-open door cut off the rest of his sentence. I stepped aside slightly and said calmly: “Come in.” The dim, yellow light inside illuminated his slightly widened eyes. His eyes flickered inexplicably. He lifted his chin, let out a “hmph,” and obediently walked in. Closing the door, I turned around to see Leo curiously looking around. Seeing me look over, he immediately retracted his gaze, nervously gripping his backpack straps, his little face tense: “My name is Leo Vance.” It sounded like a self-introduction, yet also a reminder of his identity—the child Ethan and I had together. I knew. From the first glance, I confirmed who he was. Because his features were almost an exact replica of Ethan’s. Seemingly disappointed by my calm reaction, he unhappily turned his head away, refusing to look at me. I placed his small, bright yellow backpack by the entryway and led him to wash his hands. “Let’s eat first.” Leo obediently said “oh,” and by the time I brought the food out, he had already climbed onto a chair by himself. I asked him why he came looking for me so suddenly. Leo kept his head down, poking at the small greens in his bowl. His little round, black head drooping, his voice muffled: “I had a fight with him. He threw things and told me to get out, saying I should never come back.” So it was just a temper tantrum and running away from home. Then Ethan should be coming to pick him up very soon. Makes sense. After all, the Vance family fought ruthlessly with me for Leo’s custody six years ago. Now, it was even more impossible that they didn’t want him. My chopsticks paused, unable to define the feeling in my heart at this moment. I didn’t know Leo was coming tonight, so I only had a simple meal of two dishes and one soup. He was a picky eater, avoiding onions and carrots, until eventually, he had no vegetables left to eat. Leo glared bitterly at the mashed vegetable leaves, stole a glance at me, and guiltily swallowed them. When we first met, he had a touch of arrogance and haughtiness. Now, being a picky eater who didn’t like greens, it was clear he was pampered and spoiled at the Vance house. He shouldn’t have suffered any real grievances. I relaxed a bit. After washing the dishes, I waited for Ethan to send someone to pick him up. I waited until nine-thirty. Six-year-olds get sleepy early. He pulled his pajamas out of his backpack, looking around with his eyes, and pouted: “There’s only one room.” “Are we squeezing into one bed tonight?” I glanced at the clock on the wall. For some reason, the Vance family still hadn’t sent anyone. I had to compromise. “Yeah, you’ll sleep with me tonight.” I originally thought Leo would throw a tantrum. After all, a modest one-bedroom apartment was naturally nowhere near as comfortable as the Vance family’s luxurious mansion. But Leo just pursed his lips, his eyes flickering. After wiping his face, he grunted as he changed into his pajamas, kicking his legs to climb onto the bed by himself. Just like how, despite looking disgusted during dinner, he silently finished the greens I put in his bowl. He wriggled under the covers, making a little mound, pulled out a fairy tale book from who-knows-where, and peeked out to look at me, urging: “Aren’t you going to coax me to sleep?” He looked quite happy. 2 After coaxing Leo to sleep, I pulled up Ethan’s number. I hesitated for a long time, but still didn’t dial. Ethan and I had been apart for six years. At first, we both thought we could fight fate. Back then, my family suddenly went bankrupt. The Vance family broke off our engagement and, hiding it from Ethan, engaged him to Mia. For me, he broke off the engagement with Mia regardless of the consequences. He even gave up his position as the heir, taking a beating from Grandpa Vance according to family law that left him bedridden for half a month. Seeing me cry, he endured the pain, a lazy smile on his lips as he coaxed me in a low voice. I thought everything would be fine. The bankruptcy would be fine, Ethan would be fine, the future would be fine. But it wasn’t. Ethan and I secretly got married, hiding it from everyone. Perhaps because of Ethan’s unwavering commitment to me from beginning to end, after getting pregnant, I never once thought about not wanting the baby. Until the eve of giving birth. I endured the pain and called him for a long time, but Ethan never answered. My neighbors rushed me to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw a cold and indifferent Ethan. I didn’t know why someone could change so drastically overnight. So much so that his eyes were filled with unfamiliarity and disgust when he looked at me. Mia came to see me once. From her, I learned the truth about this world. Due to a system error in timing, when the late female lead appeared, the male lead had already developed feelings for someone else. As the price of correction, the male lead’s erroneous feelings began to invert. However much he loved me before, that’s how much he hated me now. Mia looked at me with pity and sorrow. Before leaving, she asked in a low voice, have you thought about what will happen to your child’s future? I was suddenly stunned, feeling a bit lost. I didn’t know who to hate anymore. Should I hate Ethan? But he didn’t even understand his own feelings. Should I hate fate? But what’s the use of hating? I couldn’t change anything. At that time, my parents were in a car accident on their way to the hospital to see me. They were in a coma and might be vegetables for the rest of their lives. I was on the verge of breaking down. My mind kept replaying everything Mia had said. I just felt that this bastard world was so, so exhausting. When I pushed open the window and looked down, the baby by the hospital bed suddenly started wailing loudly. I thought in a daze, what would happen to him if I died? Would this world tolerate his existence? Would he be abused by Mia? Or would he be like me, despised by Ethan, enduring countless grievances alone, and finally dying silently while everyone hoped for it? I started trembling all over. I went back to the bedside, my hands shaking as they reached for his neck. I wanted to take him with me. But then he stopped crying. His red, teary eyes stared at me eagerly, as if no matter where we went, he just wanted to be with his mother. It wasn’t until the nurses and bodyguards noticed something was wrong, rushed in, and pushed me away hard. I looked down at my trembling hands, only then realizing what absurd thing I had almost done under Mia’s suggestion. The news quickly reached the Vance family. Grandpa Vance specifically asked to see me, starting a fight for custody of the child. I didn’t ask for anything. I threw away the Ethan who despised me, gave up custody, and straightforwardly signed the divorce papers. I only asked for two million dollars. Youth doesn’t know the taste of sorrow. The Miss Hastings who once casually threw around millions would now find herself at a dead end for a few thousand dollars in hospital bills. From beginning to end, Ethan never appeared. His disgust for me reached the point where he didn’t even want to look at me. So, I accepted my fate. I threw away our tangled feelings, and even gave up the child. I let him go, and I let myself go. I didn’t snap out of my reverie until a soft little bundle buried its head into my arms. Leo closed his eyes, let out a soft grunt, and curled up sweetly in my arms. As if finally finding a comfortable position, he fell fast asleep. He uneasily gripped the hem of my shirt tightly, as if afraid I would disappear the moment he opened his eyes. I looked at that innocent, tender face and couldn’t help but sigh softly. If he knew his mother had wanted to strangle him right after he was born, would he still have come looking for me? He would probably run as far away from me as possible. 3 By morning, Ethan still hadn’t appeared. I didn’t know what he was trying to do. Back then, the Vance family fought so ruthlessly for custody, and now they were acting like they could just throw him away. I woke Leo up early and called a cab to take him to school. The kindergarten he attended wasn’t in the same city as where I lived, but luckily, it was only an hour’s drive away. Before getting out of the car, he made me promise repeatedly that I would pick him up after school, whining and clinging to me, refusing to let go. Until he saw a car parked in front of the kindergarten. His eyes lit up. He hurriedly pulled me out of the car, but as we got closer, he deliberately slowed down, pretending to casually block the path of a chubby little boy who had just gotten out of a car. As if doing it on purpose for him to see, Leo waved our linked hands in front of him. Then, very loudly, so everyone could hear, he asked me: “Mom, you’re picking me up after school, right?” This was the first time Leo called me “Mom.” Perhaps because of my six-year absence, he had never proactively called me “Mom” even when he knocked on my door. The chubby boy stared at me intently, saying in disbelief: “If you have a mom, why didn’t she drop you off before?” Leo scoffed, his gaze disdainful: “My mom is busy with work. Today she specifically took time off to drop me off.” He emphasized the word “specifically.” He held my hand, walking up to the main gate of the kindergarten in front of everyone, as if showing off, wanting everyone to see. Before parting, he awkwardly asked one more time: “…You’ll come pick me up, right?” Seeing me stay silent, he glared at me, then said very frantically and quietly: “You promised me in the car. Adults aren’t allowed to lie!” I helplessly squatted down, flattened his turned-up collar, and ruffled his hair. His hair was dark and soft, feeling great to the touch. “Okay, I’ll pick you up.” He couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, then tried hard to keep a straight face, acting mature, lifting his chin and saying reservedly: “Hmm, I’ll remember to wait for you.” I only retracted my gaze after his figure completely disappeared from my sight. I found his teacher and asked about Leo’s situation in kindergarten. The teacher hesitated, finally sighing and complaining with a frown: “I know the Vance family is powerful, and my words might not hold much weight.” “But Leo’s Mom, no matter how busy you are, you can’t just completely ignore your child, right?” “Since he enrolled, no one has ever come to a parent-teacher meeting!” “Now all the kids in the kindergarten are saying he doesn’t have a mom. If this continues, it will be very bad for his physical and mental development.” No one has ever come to a parent-teacher meeting? Even if Ethan is busy and dislikes this child, is he too lazy to even have an assistant handle it? I frowned, feeling for the first time that I might have made the wrong decision. …Maybe I shouldn’t have given up custody back then. But I was penniless then, my parents were in a coma in the hospital, and I couldn’t even support myself. How could I talk about raising a fragile child? I pulled up Ethan’s number, hesitated for a moment, but still dialed it. I decided to have a good talk with him. If Ethan really didn’t want to raise him anymore, I would take him back with me. Although the current me couldn’t provide him with the excellent conditions of the Vance family, it was still enough to raise a child. Just as the call went through, a ringtone sounded behind me. As if realizing something, my fingertips trembled, and I turned around. I saw Ethan stepping out of a black Bentley. Six years had passed. He seemed to have changed, yet also seemed the same. He half-lowered his eyelashes, looking at the lit screen, his wrist bones clearly visible, his cold, sharp face hidden in the shadows. Unrushed, he slightly raised an eyebrow and suddenly looked up. “You’ve been hiding from me for so many years.” “Want to talk?” Unlike my disheveled state over the years, Ethan remained composed and steady. His features were exactly as I remembered, but the look in his eyes as he gazed at me was inexplicably deep. Even the dappled light filtering through the tree branches seemed to favor him. I heard he had already taken over the Vance family’s entire estate from Grandpa Vance. I heard the brand he founded was popular worldwide. I heard he had secretly married years ago and kept a low profile. The decades of memories I had deliberately ignored surged forward like a collapsing dam, a fine, dense pain spreading across my chest. It wasn’t until the moment I saw him that I suddenly realized. I thought I had moved on. It turns out I hadn’t. In our youth, he wove grass ring rings for me and kicked the person who bullied me into the pool. No one could have imagined that we would end up in such an awkward situation today. Actually, he hadn’t changed; he just didn’t love me anymore, that was all. It really has been a long, long time, Ethan. 4 We walked in silence and found a nearby cafe. Before the coffee even arrived, I got straight to the point, as if to cover something up: “Do you still want the child?” For the past six years, I had fantasized about reuniting with Ethan to the point of near torture. So much so that now I could pretend to be indifferent. Ethan raised his eyes, glanced at me, without hesitation: “Of course I do.” I pursed my lips, staring at the street sign outside the floor-to-ceiling window, let out a low “hmm,” and stood up. “Then remember to pick him up after school. If you don’t have time for parent-teacher meetings, you can notify me. I won’t disturb you and—” I still couldn’t say Mia’s name calmly. I couldn’t help but dig my nails into my palms, the sharp pain keeping me lucid, forcing myself to say: “…Won’t disturb your life.” I glanced at the time and was about to leave. As we brushed past each other, I only heard Ethan ask out of the blue: “So you only want to talk to me about Leo now?” My steps faltered, not quite understanding. Things between us were settled clearly six years ago. He found another love, and I took the two million and walked away cleanly. It was that simple. Besides Leo, what else was there for us to talk about? Ethan let out a soft breath, his pitch-black pupils fixed on me, and spoke again: “Alright then, I don’t want Leo anymore.” He sounded so self-righteous, as if he wasn’t the one changing his mind at the last minute. I furrowed my brows, unable to help but ask him: “What do you mean?” Ethan’s jaw lifted slightly, tapping the seat opposite him, motioning for me to sit back down. “Exactly what it sounds like.” “You want to raise the child, fine. The child is yours.” “Considering the child’s physical and mental health, every Friday night I will go to your current residence to fulfill necessary shared parenting duties with Leo, and drive back to the company Monday morning.” Watching him calmly spout nonsense, I only felt it was absurd. Driven beyond patience, I reminded him: “We are already divorced.” “Are we?” Ethan let out an ambiguous scoff. “I didn’t sign.” I belatedly understood the meaning of that sentence. When Grandpa Vance had me sign the divorce agreement, I thought Ethan despised me so much he didn’t even want to see me one last time, so he never appeared from start to finish. He said he didn’t sign. But why come looking for me only after six years? I wouldn’t flatter myself into thinking he still had any feelings for me. Maybe that agreement was lost, or there was some loophole that required a supplementary agreement; anything was possible. I pursed my lips, cooperating nicely: “Then we’ll sign a new one.” Ethan didn’t even look up: “Not signing.” I spoke to him in an even tone: “Signing it makes us even, isn’t that good?” “No, it’s not.” “Do you have any concerns? I don’t want shares or money, consider it me leaving with nothing.” “Don’t want it.” Those three ‘no’s made me angry yet dazed. Perhaps Ethan himself didn’t even remember, but this is exactly how he was in his youth. That day was his birthday party. Someone cornered me, their gaze frivolous and disrespectful, spouting nonsense. Ethan kicked the guy into the pool with one strike. It caused a huge scene. The guests were all prominent figures in Capitol City, and the elders from several families looked displeased. When asked for the reason, Ethan never offered an explanation. To avoid rumors and protect my reputation, Ethan didn’t even mention me from start to finish. He refused to admit fault and stubbornly took a beating from Grandpa Vance. I suppose no one could have imagined that this future business mogul spent his eighteenth birthday in a confinement room. The door was completely locked, not even medicine could be delivered. I curled up outside the door, saying very softly and guiltily: “I’m sorry.” Through the door panel, he paused for a moment, making some rustling sounds. It seemed he sat down by the door too. His voice was a bit muffled. He let out a soft “oh,” then said: “Not listening.” I buried my forehead against my knees, saying sullenly: “Actually, you didn’t have to kick him. Just waiting for him to finish would have been fine, he didn’t dare to actually do anything to me.” “Wasn’t going to wait.” I didn’t speak again. Maybe my voice was too muffled earlier and he misunderstood something. After a moment, he said again: “No crying.” He knocked on the door panel, clicking his tongue lightly: “I did it willingly, it has nothing to do with you, no crying.” I snapped back to reality, trying my best to hide the sourness in my eyes, but I seemed to hear his “no crying” from many years ago again. Ethan sat under the light, smiling faintly. The fine dust caught the scattered light, drifting down. His old silhouette had long silently sharpened over the years. He looked up and raised an eyebrow at me. As if answering what I had said earlier. “Chloe, we can never be even.” 5 I don’t quite remember how it ended. I only remember that I was so angry I left without even saying goodbye. Because I parted on bad terms with Ethan, I wasn’t sure if he was just saying that or if he really intended to do it. I hesitated for a moment but still didn’t take a cab back. Perhaps the round-trip fare was almost equal to a day’s wages for me, and taking time off seemed better than going back to work. Or perhaps it was the maternal love absent for six years acting up; I didn’t want to break my promise to Leo. I waited until four-thirty in the afternoon when kindergarten let out. Most of the children in this kindergarten came from prominent families. Among the coming and going luxury cars, I saw that Bentley stop in front of Leo. So I didn’t step forward. I turned around, slowly walking in the direction I came from, suddenly feeling my previous worries were ridiculous. What was I thinking? How could the Vance family really let the child leave with me? That Bentley quickly drove away, kicking up thick dust as we brushed past each other. I inexplicably thought of that tender little face. We probably won’t see each other again. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, I turned my head for one last look. After the black car left, the previously obscured road on the other side was revealed. Leo stood all alone at the kindergarten gate. His wide, round eyes met my gaze. His eyes lit up, and he was about to rush toward me, but was stopped by a teacher beside him. He scrunched up his little face, seemingly saying something to the teacher in frustration. Afraid he’d run blindly across the street, by the time I snapped out of it, I had already unconsciously taken several steps toward him. The teacher saw me, and only then did she let Leo come over. He ran over, panting, his dark, round eyes sparkling. He only slowed down when he got close, deliberately putting on an air of indifference, acting coy but happy: “…You, you really came to pick me up?” His soft little hand tentatively held my fingertips. Seeing I didn’t pull away, he pursed his lips, sneaked a glance at me, and gripped tighter. I gave a soft “hmm,” asking him a bit uncertainly: “Aren’t you going with him?” Mentioning Ethan, Leo’s face puffed up like a little gas tank ready to explode: “I don’t want him! Plus, he’s not here to pick me up!” “He said you work hard dropping me off and picking me up, that my constant clinging would annoy you, and told me not to bother you at work.” Looking very opinionated and seemingly quite disdainful of Ethan, he spoke solemnly and proudly: “I’m not as stupid as him!” “I talked to the teacher about transferring schools today, so you won’t have to spend so much time dropping me off anymore!” He tilted his little face up, his gaze expectant, seemingly waiting for me to praise him. I couldn’t help but rub his round, little black head. There was a lot of traffic on the way home. After buying groceries at the market, the sky grew dark as I led Leo home. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he muttered casually: “Oh right, Uncle Driver is picking me up after school tomorrow. Dad said I have to go home tomorrow to get my change of clothes.” “But I’m still coming back here to sleep! You’re not allowed to forget me!” Tomorrow was Friday. I unconsciously tightened my grip on the plastic bag holding the ingredients for braised pork, paused for a moment, and said gently: “Okay.” Children have short memories. Perhaps after one weekend, he would be coaxed by his family and then, forget me. Every time we met, I treated it as the last time. Because only by doing so would I not feel disappointed during the long waits. 6 By ten-thirty Friday night, Leo still hadn’t returned. I calmly put away the pajamas he had left on the edge of the bed that morning and stuffed the extra dishes I had made into the fridge. I turned off the lights, spaced out in the dark for a while, and closed my eyes. When I woke up again, I heard the sound of rain pattering outside the window. The sky was just getting light. I had nightmares all night and woke up with a splitting headache, throbbing in waves. There were a few unread messages on my phone. Before leaving yesterday, Leo hugged my leg, pestering me for my phone number. The earliest voice message was sent at midnight. It carried a hint of guilt, sounding a bit defensive, yet like an explanation. [I didn’t mean to be late!] [I had my clothes ready by six! But Dad got sick again and doesn’t seem to have the energy to drop me off.] [He’s so useless!] The second message came half an hour later. Cautious, with a hint of crying. [Mom, are you angry?] [Do you not want me again?] [I don’t want to stay here either, but, but I don’t have a choice. I don’t have Uncle Driver’s phone number—] … The last one was from ten minutes ago. He took a picture of the instructions for a fever reducer, asking me what it said and if kids could take this medicine. I quickly called his number back. The phone was answered in a second, and the sound of sniffling came from the other side. “Mom.” My phone automatically went on Do Not Disturb at night. I couldn’t even imagine how frightened and anxious Leo must have been all night. Afraid of scaring the child, I took a deep breath, tried to keep my voice steady, gripped the phone tightly, and asked gently: “Do you have a fever? Can you tell Mom where it hurts?” There was a sneeze on the other end of the line. He didn’t answer the question, but asked cautiously with a nasal voice: “Mom, can you come pick me up?” I knew it. I couldn’t refuse. 7 Following the location Leo sent, I found a villa complex in Capitol City. It seemed they had been informed in advance, as the guards didn’t give me much trouble and easily let me in. Standing in front of the door, I inexplicably felt this villa looked very much like my old home. Just as I was about to ring the bell, a hand blocked me first. I saw Mia’s reflection on the doorbell screen. My pupils shrank. My mind buzzed. Mia frowned, seemingly unable to understand: “Why are you here?” Almost like a conditioned reflex, I threw off her hand. Under her astonished gaze, I pursed my lips: “I came to pick up Leo.” Mia froze, seemed to think of something, and said pointedly: “Actually, you really shouldn’t have given up custody back then.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a trace of pity: “You know, Ethan doesn’t like this child.” “He’s stubborn and difficult, not lovable at all. He still refuses to call me ‘Mom’.” “Oh right, haven’t you experienced it before? Those who go against the protagonist never have a good ending.” She smiled faintly. A light sentence, yet it sent me right back to that cold winter six years ago. But this time, I didn’t step back. “He has a mother; he doesn’t need a second one.” “As for the ‘no good ending’ you mentioned—” I took a step towards her, staring into her eyes, retorting sarcastically: “Since you know exactly what happened back then, you should also know very well that I have nothing left to lose now.” “You can go ahead and try what you just said.” I smiled and said: “Anyway, I have nothing but a worthless life. When that day really comes, I’ll make sure to take you with me before I go.” Mia instinctively took a step back, seemingly not expecting the person who had broken down in despair six years ago to now know how to fight back. She bit her lip and didn’t speak. Ignoring her, I rang the doorbell directly. Not long after, the door was pushed open from the inside. The door revealed a sickly, listless face. Ethan seemed not to expect me to appear here, instinctively asking: “Why are you—” The next instant, his eyes grew cold, and he said almost indifferently: “Get out.” Was everything that happened six years ago going to repeat itself because of Mia’s appearance? I tugged my lips in a near-mocking smile: “Don’t worry, I’ll leave as soon as I pick up Leo.” But as if unable to bear it anymore, he grabbed my wrist. Then, without a word, he pulled me inside the house, using half his body to block me, and slammed the door shut with a cold face. Before the door closed, I clearly saw the smile Mia had just put on turn rigid. I looked up at Ethan blankly. …Ah. Did he grab the wrong person? 8 The temperature of the hand gripping my wrist was scalding. The burning sensation told me it wasn’t an illusion. Ethan explained to me in a low voice: “I wasn’t talking about you.” I belatedly realized I seemed to have misunderstood something and uncomfortably pulled my hand back. He just looked down at his empty hand, couldn’t help but curl his fingers, and then dialed the guard’s number. His expression was aloof and cold. “Didn’t I tell you not to let her in?” A flurry of panicked apologies came from the receiver, and something else seemed to be said. Not long after Ethan hung up, a surveillance video was sent over. He handed the phone to me. I looked blank and confused, so he explained: “I never let Mia in. She snuck in right behind you.” Seeing I didn’t take it, he seriously stuffed the phone into my hand and carefully closed my fingers over it one by one. “Evidence, hold onto it.” But I caught a faint scent of alcohol. Is Ethan a lightweight? I belatedly realized that Ethan right now did indeed seem quite different from usual. My vision went dark. Besides me, probably no one else knows just how difficult a drunk Ethan can be. Under Ethan’s pressure, I forced myself to finish watching the surveillance video under his supervision. He stood by me the whole time, and even used his gaze to urge me to speak after the video ended, seemingly waiting for my “post-viewing thoughts.” I laughed a bit nervously, forcibly changing the subject, and kindly reminded him: “You seem to have a fever.” He reached out to touch my forehead, seemed to think about it seriously for a moment, and said solemnly: “Oh, it seems so.” …He’s silly, there’s no saving him. I couldn’t help but turn my head and sigh, only to see Leo dragging a suitcase out of his room, panting heavily. He froze when he saw me by the entryway. He dropped the suitcase that was as tall as his shoulder, his eyes red, and was about to throw himself at me. “Mom!” Ethan unhappily swatted away Leo’s hands hugging my legs, his expression very fierce: “Don’t call out randomly, this is my wife.” Leo was pushed until he stumbled, so angry he was about to cry. His little face was flushed from the fever, and he scrunched up his face, glaring at him hatefully: “Are you a bandit? Mom clearly came looking for me!” My ears hurt so much. Chirping away, like I was raising two sparrows. Before I could speak, Ethan had already pulled me into the bedroom with a cold face. Leo indignantly kicked his little legs, trying to follow, but was stopped by Ethan pressing an index finger to his forehead, pushing him out expressionlessly. The door closed with a smack. The world was quiet.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394495”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

For the three years I was with Liam, I was known in his circle as the absolute perfect, obedient girlfriend. I never checked his phone, never cared how many other women he flirted with, and never fought with him no matter how late he stayed out. Liam was always very smug about it, bragging to his friends about how much I loved him. Until one day, by chance, he saw an old social media account documenting my relationship with my first love. The me in those videos was petty, jealous, and completely lacked the “emotional stability” I had now. In the video, my first love smiled helplessly and asked me: “Why is your temper so bad?” I answered self-righteously: “I only get mad because I love you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t care at all.” Liam was stunned. 1 When I bumped into Liam at the bar, there was a beautiful girl in a spaghetti-strap top and hot pants sitting on his lap. Her slender, pale arms were wrapped around his neck, and the lips smiling down at him were coated in glittering lip gloss. The few friends in the booth who were married or had serious girlfriends had already stood up, laughing apologetically at Liam. “Sorry about this, Liam. The wife runs a tight ship, she’s called a few times already to rush me. If I don’t go back now, I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.” Liam let the girl take the cigarette from his mouth and place it between her own lips, scoffing: “You’re all useless. Letting a woman control you like that.” The other single guys started cheering: “We should all learn from Liam! No matter what time he goes back, his girl never dares to check up on him. Tell us your secrets, bro. Teach us how you trained her!” The girl sitting in his lap giggled, leaning her upper body against Liam. “Yeah, Liam, if you act like this with me, aren’t you afraid your girlfriend will see and get mad?” Liam played with his lighter, a look of boastful pride rising on his face: “She loves me to death. She does whatever I tell her to do. In the three years we’ve been together, she’s never fought with me once.” “Damn! Liam is the man!” The guys next to him all laughed, looking envious. “All these years Liam’s been playing around, and his girl hasn’t dared to say a single word. That’s a real man right there—” His words cut off abruptly as he saw me standing nearby, completely expressionless. Liam saw me too. There wasn’t a trace of panic on his face. He simply pushed the girl off his lap, raised an eyebrow, and waved me over. “What are you doing here?” I paused for a second, then walked over, saying calmly: “I came with some friends.” The girl who had been pushed away looked annoyed. She looked me up and down, forcing a strained smile. “Hey, Sarah.” Only when I got closer did I recognize her. She was the new junior secretary at Liam’s company. I think her name was Chloe. She went to a mediocre state college, but Liam had personally approved her hiring after seeing her resume photo. I didn’t expect him to hook up with her so quickly. I ignored her. Liam looked like he had drank quite a bit. His beautiful, expressive eyes were misty, looking devastatingly handsome in the blurred lighting. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. “You came out to play and didn’t even tell me. Give me a kiss.” He leaned toward the corner of my mouth. I instinctively dodged him. I didn’t know if he had just kissed Chloe or not. I thought it was dirty. Liam’s expression changed, the smile slowly fading from his lips. Even though he was the one sitting, the way he looked at me felt like he was looking down from a great height. “Sarah, what’s that supposed to mean?” I turned my head and said softly: “You’re drunk.” “You think I’m dirty?” Probably because I embarrassed him in front of his friends, Liam’s eyes turned icy. He suddenly grabbed Chloe, who was standing nearby, pulled her onto his lap, and held the back of her head. Chloe looked thrilled and submissively accepted his kiss. The two of them exchanged a wet, deep kiss right in front of me. When Chloe pulled away panting ten seconds later, a silver thread of saliva still connected their lips. She glanced at me, a smug smile playing on her lips. Liam looked at me provocatively. His other friends all fell silent, their eyes fixing on me. No woman could tolerate her boyfriend kissing another woman right in front of her. They probably thought I was finally going to snap. I just met Liam’s gaze and said flatly, “You’re drunk. I’m leaving.” As I walked away, I heard the stunned murmurs of Liam’s friends. “Damn, her emotional stability is insane! She’s not even mad!” “Liam really has her under control. She doesn’t dare get mad at him, probably afraid of getting dumped.” “She loves him too much. I heard she chased Liam for a whole year. She obeys his every command, she’s in way too deep!” Liam let out a laugh, laced with contempt. “She can’t live without me. She doesn’t dare get mad at me.” The deep winter weather felt like knives. I didn’t know when it started, but it was snowing outside. The flurries drifted down, illuminated red by passing taillights one moment, then turning a murky yellow under the streetlamps the next. I pulled my scarf tighter, leaned against the wall, and lit a cigarette. The mint-flavored smoke mixed with the freezing air, stinging my lungs as I inhaled. This was my first love’s favorite cigarette. When we were together, I used to constantly pester him to let me smoke one, and he would scold me every time: “Sarah, what’s wrong with you? If I catch you smoking, I’ll break your legs!” On the day we broke up, I bought a pack myself, coughing as I smoked it. After that, there was no one to manage me, so I just kept smoking. I rarely smoke these days. But sometimes, when my emotions flare up, I still can’t control it. Watching Liam kiss someone else, I really wasn’t angry. Because I simply didn’t love him. 2 I was the one who pursued Liam. The first time I saw him was at a newly opened bar. He was there as an investor. The table in front of his booth was covered in expensive liquor, and the beautiful women around him were giggling at his jokes. That face attracted the gaze of every girl in the room. I remember a lot of people went up to ask for his number that night. I did too. Many people liked Liam, but I was the one who persisted the longest. For a year, I was at his beck and call. Just one word from him, and no matter how far away I was, I would appear in front of him. Liam’s playboy lifestyle was famous in our circle. There was never a shortage of women around him. Even if he had just finished fooling around with some girl, I would go pick him up with just one phone call. I wouldn’t ask anything, wouldn’t say anything, I’d just make him a pot of hangover soup. Everyone thought I was madly in love with him. They all said the Davis family was a disgrace. It was bad enough that my family went bankrupt, but for the only daughter to be so infatuated with the young Mr. Sterling that she insisted on acting like his lapdog? The catalyst for us getting together was a night we both drank too much and ended up rolling into the same bed in a hazy stupor. I only remember Liam being particularly rough that night. I cried a lot, holding onto him and crying the whole time. When we woke up in the morning, Liam looked at the marks all over my body and my swollen, teary eyes. Maybe he felt a rare moment of softness. He lit a cigarette and asked me very casually: “Do you want to be with me?” “Let’s get one thing straight,” he lit his cigarette, biting the filter. “From now on, don’t try to manage me. I hate women who try to manage me.” I stared at the blanket covering my chest, zoning out for a moment, then said: “Okay.” Liam always thought my tears that day were tears of joy. He didn’t know that that day was my first love’s birthday. His side profile looked very much like my first love’s. At that banquet, I spotted him in the crowd with a single glance. Under the dim lighting that night, for just a fleeting moment, I felt like that person had returned to my side. … I was with Julian from the time I was seventeen until I was twenty-five. Almost ten years. He was the only student on financial aid at our elite private school, specially recruited for his top grades. I heard his family used to be very wealthy, but later his father was betrayed by a business partner. Unable to handle the blow of bankruptcy, his father committed suicide. His mother was already in poor health and passed away from grief shortly after. Overnight, he went from a pampered young master to a penniless orphan. But Julian recovered quickly. He was never subservient or arrogant. Even in a private school full of rich kids, he maintained the number one spot in academics and was even elected student body president. Who wouldn’t like someone like that? I confessed to him many times and was rejected every time. But I never gave up; I just kept liking him. Many girls liked him, but slowly gave up after his repeated rejections. Only I was relentlessly persistent. Finally, right before graduation, when I confessed for the sixth time, he asked me helplessly: “What exactly do you like about me?” My face was flushed, tears welling in my eyes as I looked at him stubbornly. I didn’t know if I was angry or sad. I just knew I liked Julian. There’s no reason. Liking something is inherently unreasonable sometimes. “I just like you. I like everything about you!” Julian’s expression was complex. After a long time, he said softly: “But I have nothing. I can’t give you anything. A guy like me… do you still like me?” I said loudly: “Yes! Julian, even though I like you, I have a bottom line too! If you don’t agree this time, I’m never going to ask you again!” Julian looked at me for a long time, then let out a long breath. It looked like exasperation, but also like surrender. After a long time, he gently hugged me. “You really are an idiot.” My eyes widened. My heart skipped a beat, then started pounding violently. That was the first time I understood the feeling of my heart bursting with joy. It turns out when people are happy, fireworks really do go off in their hearts. After that, Julian and I were together. He had great grades; mine weren’t as good. To be with me, he intentionally skipped two major questions on the college entrance exams so he could apply to the same university as me. When I found out, I cried my eyes out. He just held me and laughed. “Idiot, why are you crying? All universities are pretty much the same. Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t let you suffer.” He didn’t make promises lightly. Starting his sophomore year, Julian began his own startup. He and a group of friends launched a company and made their first pot of gold. By the year we graduated, he had already bought a luxury penthouse in the city center. He renovated it in my favorite style, planning to use it as our marital home. Everything was going smoothly. In our plans for the future, there was only each other. Neither of us ever doubted we would make it to the end. Until after graduation, when I brought him home to meet my parents. And then I saw my dad’s face drastically change. Julian’s body swayed, the color draining from his face inch by inch. Later, I found out my dad was the business partner who betrayed Julian’s father, destroying his family. The world is absurd like that. Because my dad was constantly traveling for business, Liam had never seen him before. None of us could have predicted this possibility. That day, my dad asked my mom and me to leave so he could talk to Julian alone. Not long after, Julian left without saying goodbye and went abroad. He didn’t leave me a single word. He said nothing to me. The man who, because of one sentence from me saying I missed him, would cross half the campus to keep me company; the man who promised to love me forever; the man who knelt on one knee with red eyes asking me to marry him, saying that with me he finally had a home… just abandoned me like that. And I couldn’t even hate him. Because it was my dad who ruined him. Who wouldn’t harbor hatred? If it were me, I would hate him too. I don’t know if it was karma, but after that, my dad’s investments failed, he committed suicide, and my family went bankrupt. Julian, on the other hand, thrived abroad. He had a great eye for investments, caught the right market trends, and in just a few years, his company went public on NASDAQ. He became a famous tech billionaire. The tables had turned. Our paths never crossed again. And it was impossible for them to ever cross again. So when I saw Liam, I felt my long-dead heart seemingly start beating again for the first time in a long while. To me, what difference did it make who I was with? The fact that Liam looked so much like Julian was already a blessing from above. For the sake of his face, I had been utterly obedient and at his beck and call these past few years. Whenever he needed me, I was always there. No matter how late he stayed out playing, one phone call and I would get out of bed to go pick him up from another woman’s hands. My birthday, our anniversary—he remembered none of them. On my birthday, he didn’t even come home; he was out having a blast with a girl he just met. Liam had always been a notorious playboy in our circle. He loved to play and knew how to play. The women around him changed faster than his clothes. Before my family went bankrupt, I had heard of his reputation. After getting together with me, he didn’t dial it back at all. Several times, women even came directly to confront me. I could tell several times that he wanted to break up with me, trying to use those incidents as an excuse to start a fight. But I never got jealous, and I never fought with him. Over time, he slowly got used to my presence. He and his friends all thought I loved him to my very core, loved him so much I was pathetic. But the truth is, I genuinely didn’t care. I just wanted to be able to look at that face occasionally in the dead of night. To fantasize that Julian was still by my side. Relying on that, I could keep going. 3 It was a friend of Liam’s birthday. They invited people from our circle to dinner, and everyone brought their plus-ones. Liam brought me along too. But I didn’t expect Chloe to be there as well, naturally taking the seat right next to Liam. She even asked me: “Sarah, you don’t mind if I sit here, do you?” Liam glanced at me. I didn’t say anything. His smile gradually faded, and with a cold scoff, he put his arm around Chloe. Chloe seemed genuinely infatuated with Liam. Throughout the meal, she constantly toasted him, even pressing close to him whispering who-knows-what, occasionally laughing uncontrollably and leaning against him when he teased her. I wasn’t angry in the slightest, sitting quietly to the side eating my food. Liam’s friends clicked their tongues in envy, saying to their own girlfriends: “Look how magnanimous she is. Not like you, getting jealous over every little thing. Learn from her!” His girlfriend had had a bit too much to drink, and scoffed dismissively: “She only cares if she likes you. If she doesn’t like you, she won’t care at all!” I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but after she said that, the entire room went quiet. Liam clearly heard it too. The smile remained on his face, but the hand gripping his glass tightened until the veins popped. His friend froze, immediately trying to smooth things over with an apologetic smile: “Sorry, Liam, my girl had too much to drink. She didn’t mean it.” His girlfriend also started apologizing. Liam didn’t say anything, but his gaze fell on me. I turned my head, avoiding his eyes. He suddenly asked me: “You really aren’t angry at all?” “What is there to be angry about?” I was confused. “Isn’t this the freedom you wanted?” I got to look at that face every day. And he got the freedom he wanted. We both got what we wanted. What was wrong with that? After all, when Liam first agreed to be with me, he warned me not to manage him. These past few years, his side flings never stopped. I thought this was the arrangement he liked. But Liam seemed unhappy. He got even closer to Chloe. Chloe was practically sitting on his lap, and the two of them exchanged a wet kiss right in front of me. Completely ignoring me, his girlfriend. The others were used to it, though a few looked at me with sympathetic expressions. I was scrolling through my phone’s photo album to kill time, waiting for the dinner to end so I could go home. After a few more rounds of drinks, Chloe started feeling buzzed. Perhaps she finally couldn’t hold back her ambition to usurp my position, she eyed me a few times and started picking a fight: “What year is it, and you’re still using an iPhone 12? Pretty retro, huh.” I ignored her, but she got even more aggressive. “I’ve forgotten what an iPhone 12 even looks like. It’s an antique by now. I’m actually a bit curious. Sis, why don’t you let me see your phone?” “No,” I tightened my grip on my phone. “Liam~ tell Sarah to let me see it. It’s just a phone, what’s there to hide?” Seeing I wasn’t speaking, Liam frowned: “She wants to see it, just let her see it.” “No.” I refused again. “Liam~” Chloe grabbed his arm, whining. Probably feeling embarrassed that I rejected him, Liam’s face turned cold as he held his hand out to me: “Phone.” I remained silent. “What’s in the phone anyway?” Chloe added fuel to the fire. “It couldn’t be something inappropriate, could it?” Liam’s eyes darkened, and he reached over to snatch my phone. “What are you doing?!” I was startled. The phone slipped during the struggle. I instinctively shoved Liam away to catch it. His lower back hit the corner of the table, and he let out a muffled groan of pain, cursing at me: “Are you psycho, Sarah?! It’s just a stupid phone! If it breaks, I’ll buy you a new one—” The next second, looking at the video playing on the lit screen, all his words stopped abruptly. The video I had just been watching on my phone started playing again. It was from when I was still with Julian. I was on his back. Not knowing he was recording me, I was pouting and lecturing him. “Why were you talking to that girl for so long today?!” Julian sounded helpless: “She’s the vice president of the student council. We were talking about official business. Look at you, how can you be so jealous every day? Are you the reincarnation of a vinegar jar?” I got even angrier: “I’m jealous because I like you! If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t care if you dropped dead!” Julian just laughed, hiking me higher up on his back. “Okay, okay, okay, you like me, I get it. So I should be happy then?” I poked him in the back: “From now on, you’re not allowed to talk to other girls, you’re not allowed to add their contacts, and you’re not allowed to like anyone else!” “Okay, whatever you say. Where did you get such a bad temper…” The video continued playing. I picked up the phone and turned it off. Liam maintained his posture from a moment ago, completely motionless. No one expected things to develop this way. They fell silent, their eyes fixed on us. The next second, Liam suddenly snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it violently onto the floor! Instinctively, I slapped Liam across the face, then bent down in a panic to pick up the phone. This was the last memento Julian had left me. The phone was smashed beyond recognition, the screen completely black. I grabbed the phone, finally realizing what I had done, and turned to look at Liam. That slap wasn’t that hard. But Liam was stunned. He didn’t even cover his face. He just stood there blankly, looking at me. He seemed somewhat lost, as if he didn’t recognize me anymore. Everyone was shocked. Not a single person dared to make a sound. You could hear a pin drop in the room. I regretted it a little, but somehow, inexplicably, I also felt a sense of relief. I didn’t actually want to hit Liam; it was just a reflex. But since things had come to this, I knew it was over between Liam and me. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and left. As I walked out the door, I sent Liam one last message. “Let’s break up.” 4 I walked aimlessly down the street, but suddenly spotted a familiar silhouette at the corner! In that instant, the sounds of the traffic all vanished. All I could hear was my heart skipping a beat before roaring back to life! That silhouette looked exactly like Julian. But by the time I rushed over, he had already disappeared into the sea of people, impossible to find again. I stood there in a daze, completely devastated, until the cars behind me honked to rush me. Only then did I turn away blankly. It seemed to snow especially heavily this winter. After sitting in a park for a while, I felt a slight chill on my eyelashes. Only then did I belatedly realize everything around me had turned completely white. I slowly curled up, not wanting to leave. I didn’t know where to go. After my dad died, my mom quickly remarried and moved abroad. I didn’t have a home anymore. Julian once gave me a home, but then he left me all alone. With Liam? That was even less of a home. I had places to stay, but I didn’t have a home to return to. Tears slid down my cheeks. I wiped them away gently and was about to stand up when a shadow suddenly fell over me. I thought it was Liam coming out to find me, but when I looked up, my breathing instantly stopped. That face that had appeared in my dreams countless times had crossed the boundary between fantasy and reality, appearing right in front of my eyes. And I couldn’t tell dream from reality. My fingers began to tremble, but I didn’t dare touch him. Snow clung to Julian’s eyelashes, slowly melting. For a moment, I thought the man from my memories who loved me had returned. He said gently: “I’m back.” … I forgot how I ended up back at Julian’s apartment with him. I only remember crying non-stop, clinging to him tightly, refusing to let go, until he helplessly held me as we lay on the bed, patting my back. “Stop crying, I’m not going anywhere. If you keep crying, you’ll get a headache.” I couldn’t even speak properly, lifting my head and sobbing brokenly: “When did you come back?” “A few months ago.” I paused for a second, then cried even louder: “Then why did it take you so long to come find me?!” Julian looked down, his eyes filled with complex emotions I couldn’t read. “I heard you were dating someone. I didn’t know if I should bother you.” “Then why did you come now?” “I couldn’t help it.” He seemed to finally admit defeat: “I couldn’t forget you, Sarah. I couldn’t let you go.” “I missed you so much it was killing me. I admit defeat. I have no other choice.” My hand paused. I sat up. Julian leaned down. On that freezing winter night, with heavy snow falling, this kiss that was delayed for far too long was scorching hot. Neither of us said another word. We had been together for so long, our mutual understanding was too profound. Neither of us needed to say anything more. We didn’t even have a brief moment of unfamiliarity; we knew each other’s bodies far too well. It wasn’t just about lust; it was about longing and possession. When my brow furrowed, I held onto him with an almost fearful grip, terrified this was just a dream. Then I realized, he was holding me even tighter. In a trembling embrace bordering on pain, we finally re-confirmed each other’s existence. When I woke up, it was broad daylight. The snow outside was still falling, the dark clouds pressing down heavily, casting a hazy gloom over everything. The bed beside me was empty. I panicked. Clutching my chest, I stumbled out of bed, about to run out the door, but crashed straight into Julian, who had just returned. The light in the room was dim. Shadows fell across his sharp features. Probably because of our intense activities, his M-shaped lips were flushed a deep red. He looked devastatingly handsome. I let out a sigh of relief and grabbed his forearm. “I thought…” I thought I was dreaming. During the years we were apart, I had too many dreams about him. But the happier the dreams were, the more devastated I felt when I woke up. After leaning against his chest for a long time, I finally mustered the courage: “Are you leaving again this time? About my dad…” Julian rested his chin on my head. After a long silence, he finally spoke: “At the time, I just couldn’t accept it. I didn’t know what to do. I truly hated him, and I couldn’t help but hate you too. All these years abroad, I was hating you while loving you at the same time. It was driving me insane. I saw a therapist, but I couldn’t help it.” “I kept dreaming about you,” he held my hand, his voice very soft. “I dreamt of you crying, asking me, ‘Julian, why don’t you want me anymore?’ My heart hurt so much. I’d wake up and smoke all night. I didn’t know what to do. Sarah, what did you expect me to do?” “Later, I slowly figured it out. Your dad is your dad, and you are you. What your dad did has nothing to do with you. And now your dad isn’t here anymore either. I’m willing to let it go. We can start over.” He slowly hugged me tighter: “I’m not leaving. I’m never leaving again. That apartment wasn’t good anyway. I bought a new house. We can decorate it from scratch together, okay?” My eyes stung and slowly blurred. I hugged his arm tight. “Okay.” The sunlight broke through the clouds. I didn’t know when, but the snow had stopped. My sky had finally cleared up, too.

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