Category: English

1 My wife’s whole family was dying from pufferfish poisoning. The only antidote was made by her company. After 99 calls, she finally answered, annoyed: “Why are you blowing up my phone over one dance with Leo?” I begged her to bring the antidote—her parents and brother’s family were dying. But she gave it all to her first love, Leo, whose family was also poisoned. “They’re my assets. I decide,” she said coldly. “If your family died, that’s their bad luck.” She showed no remorse and even signed a settlement for me, protecting those responsible. When I demanded a divorce, she scoffed, “Your family’s dead—is that really a big deal? They were greedy to eat that fish anyway.” Righteous and unmoved, she still didn’t realize… the dead were her own family. My in-laws were rushed to the hospital after dining at a new upscale restaurant. Pufferfish poisoning. By the time I got there, they were already fading. The doctor was blunt. The only thing that could save them was a specialized antidote manufactured by my wife Chloe’s company. I started calling her immediately. She didn’t answer. Call after call went to voicemail. Finally, on the ninety-ninth try, she picked up. Before I could even speak, her voice, dripping with annoyance, cut through the phone. “It was Leo’s company gala. I danced one cha-cha with him. Why are you blowing up my phone?” The mention of Leo Vance sent a familiar spike of irritation through me. I wanted to confront her, to demand answers, but the thought of my in-laws fighting for their lives in the ER silenced the angry words in my throat. My voice trembled as I got to the point. “Your parents… your brother and his family… they’ve been poisoned by pufferfish. It’s bad, Chloe. The doctor said only your company’s antidote can save them. You have to bring it back, please…” Before I could finish, a cold, dismissive laugh cut me off. “Your family gets pufferfish poisoning, and I’m just supposed to hand over the antidote? Do you have any idea how much that stuff costs?” Her tone was chillingly detached. “I’m a businesswoman, Benny, not a charity. Call me back when they’ve scraped the money together.” Then, as if she couldn’t wait to be rid of me, she hung up. The dial tone buzzed in my ear. I just stood there, stunned, unable to process the cruelty in her words. How could that have been Chloe? My phone vibrated. A text message. It was from the bespoke watchmaker, asking if I was satisfied with the quality of my custom timepiece. It was a birthday gift from my parents. I’d been so swamped with work I hadn’t even had time to pick it up. Chloe must have gone behind my back. And I knew exactly what she’d done with it. She’d given it to Leo to make him happy. It wasn’t the first time she’d done something like this. Every time I confronted her, she’d sneer. “Look at yourself, Benny. Do you even think you deserve a watch like this anymore? It looks better on Leo. He has the class for it.” So generous with Leo, handing over a ten-thousand-dollar watch without a second thought. But when it came to an antidote that could save five lives, she had to nickel and dime me. Rage burned through me. I tried calling her again, but her phone was off. A few minutes later, I was scrolling through my phone when I saw her Instagram post from half an hour ago. A picture of her and Leo, dancing, his arm wrapped around her waist. He was wearing my watch. The caption read: “Gifting my love a custom watch and dancing the night away. Pure bliss!” I was shaking with a fury so intense I felt dizzy. As if on cue, a new post popped up on my feed. It was Leo. “Because of you, my family is safe. I’ll love you for a billion years!” The photo was a selfie. He was holding up a vial of the antidote, planting a kiss on Chloe’s cheek. I wanted to tear her apart. Her own family was dying, waiting for that very medicine, and she was off playing the hero for another man. Just then, the door to the emergency room swung open. The doctor approached me, his expression grim. “I’m sorry. We did everything we could.” The tears came instantly. I had braced myself for it, but hearing the words still felt like a punch to the gut. Five lives. Just gone. Wiping my eyes, I pulled out my phone and called the watchmaker. “I never authorized anyone to pick up my watch,” I said, my voice cold and steady. “I think you’ve been scammed. You should call the police.” Five deaths put immense pressure on the police. It didn’t take them long to identify the owner of the restaurant. It wasn’t a stranger. It was Leo Vance’s parents. For a moment, I didn’t know how to feel. All my grief suddenly felt like a joke. I was a clown, mourning for the family of a woman who had just saved their killers. A bitter, humorless smile touched my lips. I hoped Chloe would never regret this day. The police officer explained, apologetically, that they couldn’t make an arrest yet. The restaurant owners, he said, were also in the hospital being treated for the poisoning. My face remained a mask of stone. “I know they were poisoned.” “But they’ve already been saved.” I looked the officer dead in the eye. “I will be pressing charges. I expect to see them in court.” My certainty seemed to surprise him, but he saw the look on my face and didn’t ask how I knew. He just gave a firm nod. “Rest assured, Mr. Knight. This is a five-person homicide case. We will investigate it to the fullest and bring justice to the deceased.” After finishing the paperwork, I collapsed onto a waiting room chair, every ounce of strength gone. That’s when Chloe called. She didn’t give me a chance to speak, launching into a tirade. “You had the store call the cops? Benny, are you insane? I’m your wife! How dare you accuse me of fraud?” “Because my father paid for that watch, Chloe. And speaking of which, where is the birthday gift my parents gave me?” Silence. After a long pause, her voice returned, softer now, laced with that familiar manipulative sweetness. “We’re a team, aren’t we? What’s yours is mine. Leo has wanted a custom watch for so long, just a little something to reward himself. How could I say no? You should have seen how happy he was.” “He’s not selfish like you,” she cooed. “He even told me to thank you on his behalf.” “Honestly, Benny, look at the difference between you two. The man has class…” She kept rambling, her voice a grating buzz in my ear, until I couldn’t take it anymore. “Shut up!” I roared. The word slammed into her, and she fell silent, stunned. A moment later, her voice came back, laced with disbelief and a wounded tone. “Benny… you told me to… shut up?” Chloe came from nothing, and I’d always been so careful with her pride, always spoken to her gently. I had never, not once, raised my voice to her. But today? Today she had chosen Leo over five human lives. I had no more ground to give. Even a dog shows gratitude when you feed it. She was worse than a dog. “Enough of your nonsense,” I said, my voice flat and cold. “The entire family is in the hospital morgue. Get back here and arrange their funerals.” Her response made me realize that comparing her to a dog was an insult to dogs. “They’re dead, so they’re dead. What’s there to arrange? The company needs to improve the antidote. They can finally be useful and contribute to the research.” “Leo had a scare today,” she added breezily. “I need to comfort him. I don’t have time for this. Just remember to have the bodies sent to the company labs.” She hung up before I could reply. And that’s when it fully hit me. Chloe still had no idea it was her family that was dead. I thought about it for a long moment. Then, I decided to honor her wishes. I would send her family’s bodies to her company. Let them be useful. Given that it was a case of five deaths, the legal proceedings moved quickly. That afternoon, Chloe stormed into our home, her face a mask of fury, and slapped me hard across the face. “Benny, when did you become so vicious?” she shrieked. “Leo’s parents just barely escaped death, and you’re already suing them? Are you trying to push them over the edge?” I held a hand to my stinging cheek, my voice void of emotion. “And they only escaped death thanks to your antidote, didn’t they?” She flinched, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, but she quickly covered it with defiance. “They’re my assets, so I decide what to do with them. If your family died, it was just their bad luck. Why did they have to get poisoned at the same time as Leo’s family?” Her voice grew louder, more self-assured with every word. “Leo’s parents are good people! It’s not like they killed your family on purpose. Can’t you be a little more generous? It was a small mistake, and you’re clinging to it.” “Even if you sue them, even if they go to jail, what good will it do? It won’t bring your family back.” Seeing my expression remain unchanged, she switched tactics, her tone softening into a coaxing purr. “I know it’s hard to accept their deaths right now, but you can’t bring them back. Those of us who are still alive have to move on.” “I’ve already talked it over with Leo. We’ll give you a hundred thousand dollars in compensation.” “Just drop the lawsuit,” she said, her voice light, as if a hundred thousand dollars could simply erase five lives. “Let’s just put this all behind us.” A morbid curiosity sparked within me. I wondered if she’d sound so casual if she knew it was her family we were talking about. When I didn’t respond, her face darkened again, her tone becoming hard and final. “You’ll agree whether you like it or not. I’ve already signed a settlement agreement on your behalf, as your wife.” “With my help, Leo’s parents will be fine, whether you drop the suit or not. But if you refuse, you won’t even get the hundred thousand.” A dry, humorless laugh escaped my lips. I looked at her, my voice laced with ice. “If you’re so determined to protect the people who killed your entire family, there’s nothing more for me to say.” “I just hope you don’t regret this later.” “Regret what? Since you’ve agreed, I’ll call Leo right now.” She seemed surprised by my quick surrender, but she was too eager to think about it. She immediately dialed Leo’s number. Through the phone, I could hear his insincere, syrupy voice. “Chloe, darling, please tell Benny how sorry I am for his loss. I never imagined such a tragedy could happen…” I knew perfectly well Leo couldn’t come up with a hundred thousand dollars. But Chloe would cover for him. He’d probably contribute ten grand, if that. Sure enough, after she hung up, she disappeared into the bathroom. Less than two minutes later, a notification lit up my phone. A hundred thousand dollars had been transferred to my account. Seeing the bank alert, a knowing smile spread across my face. Then, slowly and deliberately, I pulled out the divorce papers I’d already prepared. “Sign them,” I said. “I can’t stay married to an accomplice in my family’s murder.” Chloe froze. Then she snatched the papers, her hands moving to tear them in half. I crossed my arms, my voice calm. “If you tear those up, I’m sending the hundred thousand right back to Leo. And our entire agreement is off.” Her hands stopped. Her eyes widened as if she were seeing a stranger. “You’re threatening me? Benny, you’re actually threatening me?” She completely lost it. “So your whole family is dead. Is that really such a big deal?” “Besides,” she raged, “if your parents and your brother weren’t so greedy, they never would have eaten the pufferfish in the first place!” “You’d divorce me over a bunch of dead people? Are you even human?” I just raised an eyebrow, perfectly calm. “No more talk. Are you signing or not? The choice is yours.” A storm of emotions crossed her face—white, then red, then dark, like a twisted kaleidoscope. The standoff lasted for what felt like an eternity before she finally ground out the words through clenched teeth. “I’ll sign.” She scanned the document, then angrily scrawled her name, the pen tearing through the paper. She threw it on the table with a sneer. “A hundred thousand dollars for five lives. Your family really went cheap.” I pressed my lips together, saying nothing. The fool. She still hadn’t noticed a single thing was wrong. She still had no idea. “Chloe,” I said. “Before the papers are final, we’re still husband and wife. Let’s go see Mom, Dad, and my brother’s family off one last time.” “After all,” I added, “I did what you asked. I sent them to your company, so they could keep being useful.” She was about to refuse, but my last words made her pause. Reluctantly, she nodded. In the company laboratory, Chloe stared at the five bodies covered by white sheets, her expression placid and detached. My own heart was a tangled mess of grief and a sharp, cruel satisfaction. “Dad, Mom, my brother Michael, his wife Sarah, and little Joey… Chloe’s finally here to see you…” Joey. That was her nephew’s nickname. The moment she heard the name, her calm expression shattered, ripped apart by a tidal wave of shock. As if struck by lightning, her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor, the blood draining from her face.

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I was being framed for shoplifting by the campus convenience store owner. Just as he reached out to “search” me—a thin excuse to rip my clothes off—I raised a wooden stick in rage, ready to smash this dump to pieces. But suddenly, a barrage of crystal-clear comments floated right in front of my eyes, stopping me cold. (Nora! Stop! Don’t smash anything! He’s trying to provoke you on purpose!) (Trust us, we’re here to help. This creep took money from the principal to humiliate you. If you trash the store, they’ll call the cops, you’ll get a record, and you’ll be expelled…) (That disgusting pig is trying to strip-search you! Get your phone out and record his ugly face instead! Let the internet see what he really is!) Thank god they stopped me. Otherwise, I would have been totally screwed. Chapter 1 I held the stick frozen in mid-air. The owner, a greasy man named Mr. Zhu, grew impatient and lunged to grab my shirt. I dropped the stick and started screaming like a banshee. “Back off! Back off! Eeeeek! Help!” While I channeled my inner screaming marmot, I frantically texted my roommates under the counter. Just as Mr. Zhu’s filthy hands were about to touch me, my five roommates burst in like the Avengers. “Let her go!” My roommate, captain of the cheer squad, Sam, launched a flying kick at Mr. Zhu. It looked cool as hell, but Mr. Zhu barely budged. He was built like a brick outhouse; I couldn’t blame her. Mr. Zhu swatted Sam’s leg away, knocking both of us to the ground. He spat, “Birds of a feather! Thief’s friends are probably thieves too. Probably stole half my inventory already.” “Little delinquents. I’ll teach you a lesson today…” I ignored his filth and scrambled up. Following the floating comments’ advice, I started my counterattack. My roommates and I had telepathic chemistry. One look, and they knew the plan. I acted terrified and begged for mercy, while they backed out of the store. Another roommate, Hannah—a beauty influencer with a decent following—had already quietly raised her phone to record. Mr. Zhu, chin up and lips curled in a smug sneer, pressed his advantage. “Hurry up! You stole from my store and won’t admit it? If you don’t strip to prove your innocence right now, I won’t let you leave.” I wailed loudly, clutching my clothes tightly. “Sir, I only bought three packs of ramen! I swear I didn’t steal anything!” Mr. Zhu stroked his chin, eyes leering. “I saw you sneaking stuff into your clothes. Who knows if it’s in your pockets or down your pants?” I feigned a mental breakdown. I frantically shook my pants and turned my pockets inside out. “See? Can you see now? I didn’t steal anything!” Mr. Zhu wouldn’t let up. He insisted on a full strip search. I screamed, “I’d rather die!” and threw myself toward the wall. The video cut there as my roommates rushed in to “stop” me. Mr. Zhu, seeing I hadn’t actually cracked my skull, continued to harass me. “Tsk tsk tsk. Thought you were gonna end it all? Why stop? Guilty conscience, huh? The stolen goods are in your pants, aren’t they? Take them off.” My five roommates were seeing red. They pointed at him and unleashed hell: “You look like a pig and think with your dick! Do the world a favor and drop dead!” “Look at that perverted face! Everyone knows what you’re trying to do! Disgusting!” “Karma’s gonna get you, old man. Watch your back.” “Everyone knows you’re scum. Charging twenty bucks for a ten-dollar item. Black-hearted greed!” “What? Can’t make money ripping people off anymore, so now you’re framing students? If you can’t afford to run a business, close it! Stop being gross!” Mr. Zhu flew into a rage. He grabbed a baton from behind the counter and swung it at us. I didn’t dodge. The baton cracked right against my forehead. Blood sprayed instantly. On my signal, Hannah uploaded the video to our class group chat. Students eating in the cafeteria saw it and exploded. They swarmed over like a tidal wave. They arrived just in time to see me get hit, blood pouring down my face. The rage was instantaneous. They roared for vengeance. Mr. Zhu, seeing thirty angry students, quickly hid the baton behind his back, pretending nothing happened. The basketball captain, Tyler, dumped his lunch tray right on Mr. Zhu’s head. “You dare touch my classmate? You must have a death wish! Get him, boys!” Chili oil dripped into Mr. Zhu’s eyes. He squealed like a stuck pig. Before he could wipe it off, the guys grabbed every bottle of Coke and Sprite from the shelves, shook them violently, and sprayed him down. He looked like a drowned rat. Meanwhile, I lay on the floor playing dead, waiting for the ambulance. Chapter 2 The video of Mr. Zhu humiliating me spread from the class chat to the whole school. One to ten, ten to a hundred. Within minutes, almost every student knew. Mr. Zhu was the only game in town, and he abused his monopoly. Ten bucks for a soda, fifty for a pack of pads. He had made plenty of enemies. Now, seeing him pull this crap? The students snapped. Impulse took over. Hundreds of students stormed the store. Seeing Tyler and the boys already engaging, the mob lost all restraint. They rushed in. Smash! Crash! “Eighty! Eighty!” In minutes, the convenience store looked worse than a landfill. The siren of the ambulance finally halted the chaos. Everyone watched as the paramedics loaded me onto a stretcher. The moment the ambulance doors closed, the students scattered like roaches in the light. Mr. Zhu, covered in footprints and sticky soda, couldn’t catch a single one. He pried open his swollen, chili-burned eyes to see his ruined store and let out another pig-like wail. Before he could finish screaming, the cops handcuffed him. That hit gave me a concussion. I was going to sue him for every penny. Sitting in the interrogation room, Mr. Zhu finally realized he had screwed up. He hadn’t provoked me into smashing the store; instead, he had assaulted a student. How would he explain this to the Principal? Desperate, he lied to the cops. He claimed I was “loose,” that I stole from him, and then called a gang to beat him up. He said he only grabbed the baton for self-defense, and accidentally hit me while protecting himself. He claimed my injury was just bad luck and had nothing to do with him. The cops laughed in his face. He didn’t know that the video of him harassing me was already trending on local news. Netizens were ripping Mr. Zhu and his ancestors to shreds. Principal Higgins was fuming in his office, cursing Mr. Zhu for being useless. I was in the hospital, so Higgins couldn’t touch me yet. In his rage, he took it out on Tyler and the boys. He called them to his office and screamed: “Nora Vance stole things! She had a conflict with Mr. Zhu! What does that have to do with you? You smashed his store! You’re all paying for it!” Tyler was smart. His retort nearly gave Higgins a stroke. “First: Nora didn’t steal anything. She’s the victim.” “Second: We didn’t smash anything. Don’t slander us without evidence. My aunt is a top lawyer. I’ll have my parents sue you for defamation if you’re not careful.” Tyler’s family was full of legal sharks. He wasn’t scared of a high school principal. The other boys chimed in: “Yeah, we saw Mr. Zhu had chili in his eyes. We just opened some sodas to help him wash it out! We were being good Samaritans!” “When we left, the store was fine. We don’t know anything…” Mr. Zhu had to eat the loss. He had turned off the surveillance cameras to frame me, so there was no footage of who smashed what. He literally played himself. Principal Higgins didn’t get to vent; he just swallowed more anger. Chapter 3 Lying in my hospital bed, I scrolled through the floating comments. From them, I learned this world was a novel. And I was just a stepping stone for the male and female leads’ romance. In the original plot, Mr. Zhu framing me and trying to strip me was all orchestrated by Principal Higgins. The reason? The school had two guaranteed spots for a prestigious study abroad program. They belonged to me and the male lead, David Chen. Principal Higgins’ daughter, Jessica Higgins—the female lead—wanted to go abroad with David. So she begged her daddy to get rid of me and give her my spot. But as long as I didn’t drop out, Higgins couldn’t touch that spot. So he resorted to this dirty trick to force me out. In the book, I fell for the trap. I was humiliated, smashed the store in rage, and got expelled. Jessica took my spot, went abroad to get “gold-plated,” and returned as a celebrated success story. Meanwhile, with an expulsion on my record, I hit wall after wall in society. I worked like a dog. Finally, I got into a decent company and was about to be promoted… When Jessica returned, parachuted in as my boss, and stole my position. She didn’t feel an ounce of guilt. Instead, she sabotaged me at every turn until I was forced out. If these comments hadn’t saved me, I would have lived through that hell. Just thinking about it made my chest ache with rage. Damn Higgins. Damn Zhu. And that trash female lead. I wasn’t letting any of them off. Chapter 4 After the injury assessment, I was discharged. Nothing serious. Mr. Zhu was still in lockup. I hired a lawyer for compensation. I definitely wasn’t settling. The moment I returned to school, Higgins called me to his office. Before I could enter, he had a female teacher frisk me to ensure I had no recording devices. Only then did he close the door and start his high-and-mighty lecture. “Why didn’t you report this to a teacher? Why did you have to be so barbaric?” “I know all about what happened with Mr. Zhu. It was a small misunderstanding that you blew up into a scandal.” “It takes two to tango. Why would Mr. Zhu accuse you for no reason?” “Reflect on yourself. Was it because you were dressed inappropriately?” He glared at me with his dead fish eyes, spouting victim-blaming nonsense. I cut him off calmly. “Principal, didn’t you see the video of him verbally sexually assaulting me?” Higgins scoffed. “He just used some improper language. You were the one who overreacted.” “Now Mr. Zhu is in jail because of you. Don’t you feel guilty? You’re stubborn.” “You need to sign a settlement and get him out. Otherwise, don’t blame me if this goes on your permanent record.” I sneered. “Are you threatening me, Principal?” Higgins bared his yellow teeth, thinking he had me cornered. “Threatening? I’m educating you! Sometimes you have to forgive and forget. Don’t be ungrateful.” I was disgusted. I fired back. “Since you’re so generous, why don’t you send your daughter, Jessica, over to Mr. Zhu for a ‘chat’?” “I have dignity. I can’t handle that kind of humiliation. Since you can, I hope your daughter meets a man like Mr. Zhu every day. My ancestors were shamans; my curses stick. Good luck to her!” Higgins slammed his desk. “You little bitch! Dare curse my daughter? I’ll make sure you never graduate!” “Get out! You’re done here!” I laughed loudly. “Why so mad? Weren’t you just preaching forgiveness? Now that it’s your daughter, it hurts?” “You hypocritical tyrant! You stab others but scream when you get pricked!” “Forgive and forget? You’re unreasonable, yet you argue. I’m right, so why should I forgive?” I didn’t hold back. I aired all his dirty laundry. Higgins took over three years ago. The previous principal, Mr. Shen, was an honest man who clashed with Higgins. Mr. Shen had a disabled son. With approval from the board and the education bureau, Mr. Shen hired his son to work in the print room. Minimum wage. Not taking a teacher’s headcount. The son cherished the job. In five years, he never missed a day. The moment Mr. Shen retired, Higgins fired the son, citing his disability. No severance. Mr. Shen had to sue to get the pension. Everyone knew Higgins was a scumbag for that. I threw that in his face. He nearly passed out from anger. Beep… beep… beep… … After thirty minutes of verbal combat, he couldn’t take it anymore. Panting like a cow, he kicked me out. The comments helped. For every sentence he said, they gave me ten comebacks. Chapter 5 Because I refused to settle, Mr. Zhu stayed in jail. His store was trashed and uncompensated. His family took a huge hit. Soon, they hired shady bot accounts to smear me online. They said I was an attention whore trying to become an influencer. That Mr. Zhu was innocent. Since the video only showed verbal abuse, they spun a story. They claimed students stole so much that Mr. Zhu was going broke. That he had an 80-year-old mother and a toddler to feed. That he snapped under pressure. Some business owners bought it. They started cyberbullying me. Higgins saw the tide turning and started dreaming again. He thought he could kick me out and send his daughter abroad. He was grinning ear to ear. I didn’t panic. I had the ace up my sleeve. A student filming from a distance had captured the entire incident and sent it to me. Before my roommates arrived, Mr. Zhu had said some truly vile things and physically groped me. I waited for the rumors to peak, then sent the full video to a local news reporter. The video dropped in the morning. The internet exploded by noon. The people who defended Mr. Zhu felt like idiots. Their shame turned to rage. They doxxed Mr. Zhu’s family. His wife got fired. His son, Zhu Jr., was stripped and humiliated on his way home from school. Don’t feel bad for the kid. He was a bully too. He once blinded a classmate in one eye with a ruler. Because he was ten, his parents just paid a fine. The blinded kid’s parents set off fireworks for a week when they heard the news.

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After I died, my best friend organized a memorial service for me. It was crashed and trashed. Anti-fans swarmed the funeral home, selfie sticks held high, live-streaming the chaos. “Serves him right!” they chanted. The chat was flooded with comments like, “Is he finally dead for real?” Meanwhile, my ex-husband was celebrating on a luxury yacht, toasting champagne with his lover for seven days straight. It seemed my untimely death was nothing less than poetic justice. Until one day, my diary was made public. Only then did everyone realize… In my entire life, I was truly happy for only a fleeting moment. 1. On a variety show, the host suddenly went off-script. “Mr. Thorne, your ex-husband recently passed away due to illness. How do you feel about that?” Caleb Thorne, the newly crowned Best Actor, scoffed. “Nothing. I heard his memorial got trashed. Good riddance.” The host smiled slightly, lowering his gaze. “You don’t mind talking about him? After all, his death is trending.” Usually, capitalizing on the dead gets you cancelled. But when the dead person was me, Julian Vance, nobody cared. “Ask whatever you want,” Caleb said. “I’m curious,” the host began. “Everyone says Julian Vance was a villain. So why did you marry him?” The Best Actor fell silent. He probably couldn’t remember why either. The host chuckled. “We actually have Julian’s diary here. Would you mind if we shared it with everyone?” Caleb smirked. “He barely finished high school. Could he even write a diary? Go ahead, show it.” When the worn notebook was opened, everyone froze. The handwriting was neat and elegant, nothing like the scribbles of a madman. “Let me read it then,” the host said, smiling. 2. October 3, 2020 Today, I’m getting married! And who’s the lucky groom? My Caleb, of course. Who else would I want to marry? And who else would he dare marry? If he dared, I’d tear him to pieces. We’ve been together for six years. Today, I finally married the man I fell in love with at 18. Dear Diary, you should have seen how nervous Caleb was when he put the ring on my finger. His ears were burning, and his eyes turned red instantly. They say men’s tears are a woman’s weakness. It’s true. I couldn’t stop smiling. But, Diary, I’m not afraid you’ll laugh at me. When Caleb got drunk and collapsed into my arms later, I cried even harder than he did. He whispered in my ear, “Julian, I love you. I love you so much. Thank you for being my husband.” Actually, I should be thanking him. Because of him, for the first time in my life, I feel like I belong. At the wedding, Caleb’s mom hugged me. When she held me, I wanted to cry. It was the first time an elder had ever hugged me. So, this is what a mother smells like. Growing up in an orphanage, I didn’t understand hugs. Orphans like us, no matter how good we were, no one held us. When we cried, we just lay on the mats on the floor until we stopped. At school, teachers always said we were “good kids.” Actually, we just knew that crying got no response. And good kids don’t get loved; they get ignored. So we learned to hide our feelings. Meeting Caleb taught me that I could be myself, and he would still love me. Now, Caleb and I finally have a home. Even if we’re broke. Life will get better. I told Caleb: This is the happiest moment of my life. He held me tight, his heart aching for me. “Not the happiest. After today, every day will be happy.” Marriage is wonderful. I have someone to accompany me, and I have a family. I’m not alone anymore. Oh, here’s a wedding photo! It’s small, only 12 inches. I’m wearing a cheap suit I bought online for $80, and Caleb is wearing the only decent suit he owns. We look simple, but our smiles are the sweetest. Caleb promised me. When he makes big money, he’ll take me to a beach in Malaysia to take proper wedding photos. The host finished reading and took a deep breath. No one expected the “vicious” me to have such memories with Caleb. The words were playful and sweet, radiating pure happiness. Expired sugar is the deadliest poison. Caleb froze for three seconds. These memories had been buried deep in his mind. Back then, marrying me felt like winning a war to him. He had forgotten all of it. The netizens were confused. This was miles apart from the image of the evil Julian Vance. “Reading the diary, he sounds like a totally different person.” “Fake, right? That handwriting doesn’t look like Julian’s.” “Julian was an orphan? No wonder he had no manners.” The host looked at Caleb. “When you got married, it seems you were both very happy.” Caleb seemed dazed, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. “He used to be decent. Too bad you can’t judge a book by its cover.” The host smiled. “Perhaps. Let’s read the second page.” “Honestly, I’m curious too. What happened to turn Mr. Vance into the public enemy everyone hates?” 3. January 6, 2021 Dear Diary, I’ve been so busy with extra work lately, I neglected you. Sorry! I have to rant again today. Is there any way to make big money fast? What if I spend $10 on lottery tickets every day? A meal on set is $10. If I skip dinner, I can save that. What if I win the jackpot? Diary, I don’t want to daydream. But I really, really need money. I can’t ask Caleb. He’s under so much pressure already. He films night scenes every day. During the day, he edits videos for extra cash. He’s so tired, but he always pretends to be fine and tells me, “Hubby isn’t tired.” My heart breaks for him. Whatever. I’ll figure it out myself. Attached photo: Caleb’s sleeping face. Perfection. When life feels hopeless, I just look at him~ The host paused. “Mr. Thorne, I have to ask. Did you know Julian was this desperate for money back then?” Caleb shook his head. “I was his husband. If he needed money and didn’t tell me, it must have been for something shady.” “No wonder he did all those disgusting things later. For money, he really had no dignity.” The host sighed and continued reading. 4. January 10, 2021 Dear Diary. My best friend died. We grew up together in the orphanage for over ten years. He just left me. Because we couldn’t scrape together $5,000. I told him I’d find a way. I told him to wait. Even if I had to deliver food 24/7, I would pay for his treatment. But while I was working on set, he pulled his own oxygen tube. He left a recording. He said: “Julian, we were abandoned as kids. Most of us aren’t healthy. Living to 25 is already a bonus for me.” “Julian, don’t be sad. Maybe in heaven, I’ll see the parents who threw me away.” “I’m going to settle the score with them.” “You and Caleb take care.” “Oh, and remember to get regular checkups. We poor people can’t afford to get sick.” I cried until I couldn’t breathe. I was so close. If he just waited a little longer… Diary. Why is life so unfair? Today on set, I heard the lead actress’s sponsored handbags cost $5,000 each. One bag could have saved my friend’s life. Writing this, I suddenly remembered another friend from the orphanage. His name was Victor. Victor means victory. He had a round face and eyes that crinkled into crescents when he smiled. Compared to us, he was full of life. Maybe too full of life. When he was eight, a rich family adopted him. When we said goodbye, I was so happy for him. But he came back a year later. He was thin. He didn’t smile. Most importantly, he was mute. He wrote down that he had been tortured for a year. The adoptive family was afraid he would talk. So they cut out his tongue. I ran to the Director for help, but I got beaten half to death. The Director took hush money from that family to bury it. Victor… he killed himself not long after. Now this friend is gone too. There aren’t many of us left from the orphanage. Diary, I really want to tell Caleb all this. But looking at his exhausted, smiling eyes… Never mind. Maybe when life gets better. I won’t burden him. Goodnight, Diary. Hope I get a callback for an audition tomorrow morning. The host’s voice trembled as he read. Netizens: “So he needed money for a friend?” “What kind of orphanage is that? Investigate immediately!” “Seems like an attempt to whitewash his image, but you can tell Julian was just jealous. Otherwise, why envy a $5,000 bag?” The host sighed and turned to Caleb. “Mr. Thorne, did you know your husband needed $5,000?” “You were both 25. Did you really not have $5,000 in savings?” Caleb’s pupils contracted. His mouth moved silently. “In 2020, we saved $10,000 together. I promised to buy him a gold bracelet…” “But at the end of the year, my mom got sick.” “It cost us everything…” “Later, he didn’t bring it up, and I didn’t buy it.” Caleb lowered his eyes, his voice fading. The chat exploded. “So Julian gave all their savings to treat his mother-in-law and ended up with nothing for himself?” “What is the comment above saying? Marriage means being a family.” “If he had the gold bracelet, maybe he could have saved his friend.” Actually, Caleb didn’t tell the whole story. His mother had insurance. It covered most of the costs. After the reimbursement came, I didn’t see a dime. When my friend got sick, I hesitated but eventually asked my mother-in-law for a loan. I was ridiculed. “Marrying a losing investment like you was charity enough.” “And you dare ask me for money?” “You’re an orphan. No one has your back.” I froze. My ears rang. The woman who said she’d treat me like a son at the wedding now looked at me with contempt. When I married Caleb, we didn’t have a ceremony, just a dinner. No ring, no dowry. In the end, no respect either. Later, I learned the truth. Once you’re married, the masks come off. Especially for someone like me, with no family to back me up. The grievances I didn’t write in the diary were far more than Caleb ever knew.

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The ceremony had reached the exchanging of the rings when my husband suddenly announced he needed to pause for five minutes. Then, he turned, walked over to his unforgettable first love, and dropped to one knee. “Lily,” he said, his voice ringing through the silent hall, “I once promised you that I would propose in front of everyone. So, in another life, would you marry me?” Lily covered her mouth, nodding through her tears as she threw herself into my husband’s arms. Then she looked over at me. “Grace, even though I won’t get the chance to marry Julian in this lifetime, I hope you’ll take good care of him for me.” Whispers and stares pricked at me from all sides. Across from me, the groom was locked in a passionate kiss with another woman. Everyone was waiting, watching, ready to see the bride become a laughingstock. Instead, I smiled and walked toward Lily. I shoved my bridal bouquet into her hands. “What do you mean, no chance? If you can’t let go of this piece of trash, then by all means, you can have him.” 1. For ten years, I humbled myself, bending over backwards to please Julian’s family, desperate for their approval. In the end, it was only the baby in my belly that earned me this long-overdue wedding. I thought that once we were married, once the child was born, Julian would finally settle down. But now, I was watching the man who was supposed to be vowing his life to me, kissing someone else as if I didn’t exist. I dug my nails so deep into my palms that they drew blood, but my heart still ached with a pain so sharp it felt like I couldn’t breathe. And in that moment, something inside me snapped. My words made Lily clutch her chest and collapse into Julian’s arms. Without a moment’s hesitation, he swept her up and rushed toward the exit, shouting over his shoulder that I was a “vicious, petty bitch.” He yelled that it was a simple five-minute gesture, but I had to make it into a humiliating spectacle for everyone. Neither his parents nor mine could stop him. And so, I was left to face the fallout alone. The officiant stood awkwardly, holding his script. My mother, ashamed of me, started hitting my arm, sobbing that I had to go chase after Julian and bring him back. My father just snorted, told me to sort out my own mess, and dragged my mother away. My mother-in-law, who had never thought I was good enough, now sneered that I was a classless country bumpkin. She lectured me that to marry into a family like theirs, I had to learn to swallow my pride and not embarrass my husband in public. For the first time in ten years, I realized that devotion doesn’t always earn devotion in return. And I no longer wanted to be a part of the Thorne family. They left with the remaining guests, telling me to walk home and think about what I’d done. I stood at the entrance, holding the white satin of my wedding dress, and watched them drive away. Behind me, the hotel was silent and empty. In front of me, the sky opened up and a torrential downpour began. After the Thornes and their guests were gone, a car pulled up. It was my parents. My mother rolled down the window. The sight of them made all the grief and humiliation I’d been holding back surge forward. My voice was a raw whisper as I choked out, “Mom.” I reached for the door handle, but I heard the click of the locks engaging. I stared at them, stunned. My mother’s voice was sharp with disappointment. “I told you this would happen. Now you listen to your in-laws, go home and reflect. Figure out a way to win Julian back. You’re carrying their grandchild. No matter what, that Lily girl can’t take your place.” “Mom, how can you say that…” She ignored me, rolling up the window as the car sped away, leaving me standing in the rain. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, watching the taillights disappear into the storm. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free. 2. The wedding venue was a resort hotel built halfway up a mountain. There was no cell signal to call a cab. A kind server took pity on me and handed me an umbrella. I thanked her, then, holding the umbrella with one hand and the heavy train of my dress with the other, I started the long, difficult walk down the mountain. The slanted rain soaked through my dress, a bitter cold seeping into my bones. The back of my heels were rubbed raw, a bloody mess. When my phone finally buzzed with a signal, a dozen messages flooded in. All from Julian. Every single one was an accusation. He’d already explained that Lily was just like a sister to him, so why did I have to keep targeting her? I ignored him. A second later, a video came through from an unknown number. It showed Julian at the hospital, holding Lily’s hand tightly as she went through some tests, periodically kissing her fingertips, his eyes red as he begged her to be okay. I thought back to when I first found out I was pregnant. I had fainted in the bathroom from low blood sugar. I broke my leg in the fall, and a sharp pain radiated from my stomach. Terrified, my first instinct was to call him, to seek his comfort. He had just barked at me over the phone, “I’m not a doctor, what good is calling me?” I was in the hospital for two weeks. He never showed up once. I found out later that on the same day I fell, Lily had cut her hand while cooking. The doctor told her it might leave a scar, and she cried hysterically. So Julian had vented all his worry and frustration on me. I stopped walking and laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. It had taken me far too long to wake up. That’s why I was in this humiliating mess. As I was trying to hail a cab, Julian called. After a barrage of insults, he was breathing heavily. He told me I’d scared Lily so badly she was having heart palpitations, and that I needed to get my ass over to the hospital and apologize. I struggled to keep the flimsy umbrella steady. “I’m still at the hotel,” I said calmly. Just then, a bolt of lightning split the dark sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Julian’s tone shifted. “It’s pouring out there. They didn’t take you home? I’ll come get…” He was cut off by Lily’s sobbing in the background. “Is Grace angry? It’s all my fault. Maybe I should have just died when I was abroad…” Julian’s voice immediately softened as he soothed her. Then he turned his anger back on me. “You brought this on yourself. What do you have to be upset about? It was five minutes, Grace. If you had just been a little more gracious, I wouldn’t have left you…” The last thread of hope inside me snapped. I cut him off, a ghost of a smile on my lips. “Let’s get a divorce. I’m not apologizing to Lily. I was never the one in the wrong. You two were.” If they couldn’t let each other go, why did he ever come into my life in the first place? He was the one who confessed his feelings first. He was the one who promised me forever. That’s why I chose him without hesitation. Ten years. Were their feelings and their history so precious, while mine were worthless? After hanging up, I finally got a cab. As I sat in the back seat, another text from Julian arrived: 【Grace, when you do something wrong, you admit it. You’ve been mine for ten years. You’re used goods. Who else would want you? Especially now that you’ve schemed your way into getting pregnant with my child.】 I stared at the screen, numb. I thought nothing could possibly hurt more than what had already happened today. I was wrong. I rolled down the window, letting the cold wind whip against my face, the sting slowly clearing my chaotic mind. I told the driver to turn around. We were going to the hospital. 3. I walked into the hospital lobby in my mud-stained wedding dress. A nurse immediately asked if I needed help. I told her calmly that I was there for an abortion. She stared at me for a moment, her eyes filling with sympathy, then led me to the third floor. Lying on the operating table, listening to the strong, steady heartbeat of my child on the ultrasound monitor, I made one last call to Julian. Lily answered, crying and apologizing profusely. Then Julian snatched the phone. He sneered, “Grace, it’s too late to be sorry now. You caused Lily so much pain. Unless you get over here right now and get on your knees to beg for her forgiveness, I will never forgive you.” The words I was about to say died in my throat. I looked at the doctor. “Please, you can begin.” “The baby is very healthy. Are you sure you don’t want to discuss this with the father?” “There’s no need.” … When I returned to our apartment, nothing had changed. It seemed Julian had been with Lily this whole time. I opened Lily’s social media. She’d posted several new updates. The high-and-mighty Julian Thorne, cooking for the woman he loved. It drew a chorus of envious comments. I saved every single picture, then turned off my phone. I packed a small bag and checked into a hotel. After a long, hot bath, the chill finally started to leave my body. I took a few days off work. As my body started to recover, my mother called incessantly, asking if I had made up with Julian yet. I told her it was over between us. Her histrionics were more than I could handle, so I just stopped answering her calls. When I returned to the office, everyone looked at me strangely. My colleague, Sarah, pulled me over to my desk. I finally noticed that my story was all over the news sites. “I can’t believe I’ve been working next to a secret millionaire!” she said, grabbing my hand, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and envy. “I always thought Lily was the future Mrs. Thorne. I had no idea it was you, Grace.” I managed a weak smile and scanned the articles. Someone had filmed the scene at the wedding and posted it online, spinning a lurid tale of a wealthy heir choosing his mistress over his wife. Julian’s bizarre behavior had even started to affect the Thorne Corporation’s reputation. Before, I would have been frantic to help him manage the scandal. But now that I was leaving him, I couldn’t be bothered. At the end of the workday, Julian was waiting for me at the company entrance, something he’d never done before. I tried to slip away, but he caught up to me in a few long strides and forced me into his car. “Still angry? A wedding or a person’s life, Grace, which is more important?” “You’re a grown woman. Running away from home and talking about divorce… aren’t you being childish?” “Alright, enough. You’ve always wanted to go to that planetarium restaurant downtown, right? I’ll take you now.” He opened the glove compartment, took out a gift box, and tossed it into my lap. A diamond ring rolled out. It looked significantly more expensive than the one from the wedding. Julian looked at me with a self-satisfied smirk, as if to say, There, you should be happy now. “Lily’s heart is weak. Since that ring is already on her finger, she can keep it. This one cost a lot more, so stop being so petty.” I toyed with the ring. The $99,999 price tag was still attached. He must have bought it on his way here. It used to be that when I was upset, he would cook for me, patiently watch movies with me, or spend a whole day shopping to find the perfect gift. Now he was just like his family, putting a price tag on my feelings and expecting me to be grateful. I put the ring back in its box and shook my head. “This is too much. You should save it for Lily.” “And I’m not throwing a tantrum. Since you and Lily can’t let each other go, I’ll give her my spot as Mrs. Thorne. We should find some time to finalize the divorce.” We had already gotten the marriage license before the ceremony. Now we had to legally undo it. I once overheard him at a dinner with Lily and their friends. Someone had asked why a man like him would fall for a plain woman like me. He popped a peeled grape into Lily’s mouth and laughed. “It’s not love. But Grace was with me for ten years, and now she’s pregnant. It would be cruel not to marry her. It’s just a title. It’s nothing to give her.” To him, our marriage was charity. To me, it was everything. But now that I didn’t love him anymore, I didn’t want the title either. I thought he would be happy that I was setting him free. Instead, his eyes turned red with fury. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “Grace! What’s the point of saying all this? You spent years acting like a dog trying to please my parents, and you schemed to get pregnant. It was all to become Mrs. Thorne! Don’t tell me you’re doing this for my sake. How ridiculous can you be?” “So the wedding didn’t happen. We’ll have another one! And whose fault was that anyway? I agreed to marry you, and all I did was propose to Lily. You’re the one who acted like a shrew!” He always said I schemed to get pregnant. But he was the one who said he wanted his parents to accept me, that he wanted us to have a child of our own. He only started regretting it after Lily came back, and then he blamed it all on me. He laid on the horn, a long, piercing blast. The old me would have been crying, apologizing, trying to explain. Now, I didn’t have the energy to argue. I just turned and looked out the window. After a long silence, when he didn’t get the tearful apology he was expecting, he turned to me. “Grace,” he said, his voice softer. I closed my eyes and didn’t answer. The GPS occasionally announced our route. When we were just a block from the restaurant, his phone rang. It was Lily, crying that her heart was acting up again, asking if she was going to die. Frankly, I was sick of hearing it. Ever since she returned, her heart conveniently acted up on every holiday, every special occasion. Anyone could see she was faking it. Anyone but Julian. I spoke first. “You can drop me off at the next corner.” Julian looked at me, surprised. “You’re not angry? You’re not going to insist on coming with me?” I shook my head. I used to hate him being alone with her, so I’d offer to go with him to help take care of her. He would explode, calling me disgusting and petty, telling me to learn to be as pure and kind as Lily. His lips tightened. His phone was still vibrating. He pulled over at the intersection. I grabbed my bag, but as I went to get out, he grabbed my wrist. His expression was complicated. “I’ll just go check on her. I’ll come back and take you to dinner later. Don’t worry, the position of Mrs. Thorne is yours. Don’t be angry.” “Mhm, I’m not angry,” I said, trying to pull my arm away. He held on tighter. “Grace, you’re different. Why aren’t you…” “Jealous?” I finished for him, a small, cold smile on my face. “Why would I be jealous? The poor girl sees you as a big brother. It’s only natural she’d call you first when she’s in trouble. You should go.” I pried his fingers off my wrist and got out of the car. I hailed another cab, went back to the hotel, ate at the buffet, and went straight to bed. Sometime in the middle of the night, Julian called. He explained that Lily couldn’t be left alone, so he couldn’t take me to dinner and that I shouldn’t wait up. I just said, “I already ate.” There was a long silence on his end, then he asked through gritted teeth, “Are you really going to be like this?” I just said, “Yes,” and hung up, rolling over and falling back asleep. The next morning, I saw a text from him, warning me not to play with fire. 4. When I got to work, I understood what he meant. All the projects I had been managing were now under Lily’s name. She was my new team lead. She would smile sweetly as she assigned me an endless list of menial tasks. Julian came every day to take her to lunch. He would look at me with eyes as cold as stone. The scandal online was only getting worse. He told me I had to attend a press conference with him on Monday. I was to explain that Lily wasn’t a homewrecker. The story would be that I had taken advantage of her being abroad to get between them, and then used my pregnancy to force him into marriage. He made it sound so simple. I would still be the enviable Mrs. Thorne; I would just have to endure a little public scorn. This way, the company’s reputation would be saved, and Lily wouldn’t be affected. He said this was all my fault for being so difficult at the wedding, so it was only right that I fix it. Of course, I refused. I blocked his number. Then his parents came to see me, warning me to do as I was told and not to think that being pregnant with their grandchild gave me a free pass. I gave them the same treatment as Julian. And then I resigned from my job. I was good at what I did, and I’d had offers from other companies before. But now, when I reached out, they were all strangely hesitant. I knew it was the Thornes’ doing. They were trying to force my hand. But this time, I wouldn’t give in. After another failed job application, a former client contacted me. He said his company was expanding their overseas operations and needed someone with my skills. The pay was comparable to what I was making at the Thorne Corporation, but the job was abroad. He asked if I was interested. I was an only child. Thinking of my parents, I told him I’d consider it. When I got back to the hotel, my dad called. He said my mom’s headaches were back. I rushed home. When I opened the door, Julian was there. My mother took my bag, looking perfectly healthy. I stared at her, my heart sinking. I knew, once again, I had been sold out by my own parents. 5. At the dinner table, Julian sat beside me, constantly putting food on my plate. The three of them were a picture of harmony, as if they were the real family. My mother couldn’t stop praising him. “Julian is such a wonderful son-in-law. Not only is his family prominent, but he’s so considerate of Grace.” My father, despite being the elder, had a sycophantic smile on his face as he poured Julian wine, telling him that I was the one who had been too impulsive at the wedding, and that they were grateful for Julian’s tolerance. Their groveling made my resolve crumble. My eyes burned. I clutched the glass of milk my mother had placed in front of me. “It’s fine,” Julian said, his eyes fixed on me with a look of smug contempt. “We’re going to be husband and wife. Even if Grace makes a mistake, I’ll be patient. But about the press conference…” My grip tightened. Milk spilled over the rim of the glass, dripping onto the floor. I couldn’t take it anymore. I looked at my parents. “Am I your daughter or not? Why is it that my entire life, whenever there’s a problem, you never, ever stand by my side? I told you, I’m done with Julian Thorne!” Julian’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t understand why, after giving in so many times, I was being so stubborn now. My mother paused, then threw the milky rag she was using to clean the table at my head. Sticky, gray-streaked milk ran down my face. She turned to Julian with an apologetic smile. “Julian, it’s my fault. I didn’t raise her right, to make such a fuss over something so small.” Then she slapped me across the face, her voice sharp. “Grace, do you think you’re still a twenty-year-old girl? You’re thirty! A woman on the wrong side of thirty is damaged goods. Julian is willing to overlook that, to overlook your tantrums. You should be grateful! And you want a divorce? Do you have any decency?” “It was a tiny incident at a wedding! How long are you going to drag this out? If you won’t think about yourself, at least think about your baby and your parents!” My face stung, the print of her hand burning my cheek. Julian seemed surprised that my mother would actually hit me. He shot to his feet and steadied me, taking her next blow on his own shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern. “Let me take you to the hospital.” Then he turned to my mother. “Ma’am, she is my wife, and she is carrying my child. If this ever happens again, I don’t care if you’re her mother, I will not be so understanding.” My mother froze. I let out a bitter laugh, my eyes full of disgust. “Julian, stop pretending to be the good guy. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted to see?” My look seemed to unnerve him. For the first time, the ever-confident Julian Thorne looked lost. “Grace, you…” “So, this is how badly you want me to take the fall for Lily, isn’t it? Fine. I’ll go to your press conference. But you’ll all regret it.” With that, I slammed the door behind me.

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In the middle of a 104°F heatwave, the new dorm manager cut off the AC for our room—and only our room. Turns out, she was the future mother-in-law of our pregnant roommate. “Only weak girls need AC in weather like this,” she declared. “My precious grandson is going to be a man. He needs to build his masculinity in the heat.” In our past life, my two other roommates and I tried to reason with her. We told her it was superstition, that prolonged exposure to extreme heat could cause heatstroke and endanger both the mother and the baby. Scared by our warnings, the dorm manager grudgingly turned the AC back on. But when our roommate eventually gave birth to a girl, the manager blamed us. She claimed the AC “cooled off” her grandson’s masculinity and turned him into a girl. To get revenge, she had her thug of a son sneak into our dorm at night and torture the three of us to death. When I opened my eyes again, we were back to that moment. The manager was ranting about her grandson’s “masculinity.” I exchanged a look with my other two roommates. None of us argued. Instead, we immediately went to the RA and requested a room transfer. Let him build his masculinity. I want to see what kind of monster she cooks up this time. 1 “Don’t say I never treat you well.” “You three better take good care of my precious grandson. Soak up some of that masculine energy.” “Maybe it’ll help you find a man as good as my son someday.” In the dorm, the new manager, Mrs. Liu, had her nose in the air, acting like she was bestowing a great honor upon us. Hearing these familiar words, I snapped back to reality. I had been reborn. Back to the day Mrs. Liu cut our AC. In my last life, my roommates and I took turns persuading her. We finally got her to turn the AC on. But our reward was her calculated revenge. The most chilling part was that we did it for her pregnant future daughter-in-law, our roommate, Sarah. Yet when we were being tortured to death by her thug son, Sarah just watched coldly. “Serves you right,” she sneered. “Who told you to meddle?” “If it weren’t for you, my precious son wouldn’t have turned into a useless girl.” “You made Liam and his mom blame me. You deserve to die.” Remembering the agony of my past life, a chill ran down my spine. Then I noticed Sarah staring at me. Just now, hearing Mrs. Liu refuse the AC, Sarah was unhappy too. A small, stuffy dorm in 104-degree heat is basically an oven. But she didn’t dare openly defy her shrew of a future mother-in-law. So she looked at me with pitiful eyes. “Chloe…” I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to be her mouthpiece. In my last life, I stood up for her. And the result? She threw me under the bus, and I ended up dead. This time, I scratched my head, stared at my phone, and pretended I was deaf. Seeing I wasn’t biting, Sarah turned to my other roommates, Lily and Jess. But they also kept their heads down, glued to their phones, ignoring her. Seeing a scene so different from my past life, a thought flashed through my mind. I quickly made a group chat with Lily and Jess. Me: [Did you guys come back too?] Lily: [You too?] Jess: [You too?] We exchanged glances. We had all been reborn. Back to before everything went to hell. 2 Mrs. Liu was still rambling. “Lily, you’re in charge of bringing food for my grandson. Get nutritious stuff—sea cucumber, abalone. How else will he grow strong?” “And you, Jess. Take my grandson out for sunbathing every afternoon. Bring fruit, too. Cherries are acceptable.” The three of us rolled our eyes in unison. Mrs. Liu spoke as if these were facts. She demanded the best. But she never mentioned money. She was clearly trying to mooch off us. And she acted like we should be grateful. She wasn’t done. She turned her imperious gaze to me. “As for Chloe, you’re responsible for…” I started coughing violently, cutting her off. Mrs. Liu looked at me with disgust. “What do you have? Don’t pass it to my grandson.” “So unlucky,” she muttered. I shook my head weakly, coughing harder. “I… cough… I don’t know…” “Cough… but don’t worry… cough… I will definitely… help take care of… your grandson… cough cough…” I made a move to lunge towards Sarah. Mrs. Liu, terrified for her “grandson,” blocked me immediately. “Stop! Stop! How can a sick person get near my grandson?” “If you infect him, can you afford the consequences?” I looked at her innocently. “But… but didn’t you just say I should serve your grandson?” Meaning: You asked for this. Why are you blaming me now? Mrs. Liu didn’t care about logic. She only cared about the baby. She practically threw herself on the ground, throwing a tantrum. “I don’t care! Move out of this dorm right now!” “If my grandson catches anything from you, I won’t let you off!” Since she insisted… I “reluctantly” agreed. “Okay… okay… cough…” “I’ll… move out as soon as possible…” Seeing this, my roommates followed suit. One claimed a headache and fever. The other said she had chickenpox recently and was still contagious. Seeing all three of us “useless,” Mrs. Liu cursed up a storm. As she shooed us out, she couldn’t help but make snide remarks. “You girls have no luck.” “My grandson is enduring this heat so he’ll be born with masculine energy.” “I wanted you to serve him so you could catch some luck and find a husband.” “Guess you don’t deserve that blessing.” Her tone was smug, as if serving her unborn grandson was the highest honor. We had just spoken to the Resident Director about switching rooms. Since he approved, we were already packing. Hearing Mrs. Liu, we rolled our eyes again. Whatever. Whoever wants that “blessing” can have it. We sure as hell don’t. 3 Before we left, Sarah grabbed our hands, squeezing out a few fake tears. “Chloe, you guys are leaving…” “I’ll be scared all alone in the dorm…” My eyes almost rolled into the back of my head. Scared? Scared no one will wait on her hand and foot. In our last life, Sarah used her pregnancy to boss us around like servants. If we didn’t do exactly as she pleased, she’d clutch her belly and cry pain. We endured it because we were roommates. And look where that got us. Now? Whoever wants to serve her can go ahead. We quit. But we had to put on a show before leaving, just in case she tried to stop us. I pinched my thigh hard, forcing out some tears. “Sarah… cough… we don’t want to leave either…” “But… cough… we’re afraid of infecting… cough… infecting you…” The moment I coughed, Sarah snatched her hand back like she’d touched fire. Her eyes were full of undisguised disgust. When I looked up, she quickly masked it with a fake sad face. “Chloe… since you’re leaving…” “Can you leave me something to remember you by?” “I’ll miss you guys so much…” She stared greedily at the designer bags in my closet. She was basically trying to rob me in broad daylight. I sneered internally. She wasn’t even hiding it anymore? My family is well-off. As an only child, my parents spoil me. Many of those bags were birthday gifts. In our last life, Sarah constantly “borrowed” my bags. She needed one for a date. She needed one to show her parents she was doing well so they wouldn’t worry. I believed her lies and lent them to her. She never returned them. Whenever I asked, she’d make excuses. If I pressed, she’d clutch her stomach and wail. She just wanted to steal them. And now she wants more? Keep dreaming. 4 I pretended not to understand her hint. I blinked innocently. “Sarah, I really want to leave you something.” “…Cough… but I don’t know if this sickness spreads through contact…” “If… cough… the germs get on the stuff and infect the baby… that would be bad…” Hearing that her precious grandson might get sick, Mrs. Liu stepped in immediately. She glared at Sarah. “What do you want their stuff for?” “Can those trashy things compare to my grandson?” “If anything happens to him, I’ll skin you alive.” Sarah was terrified. She smiled ingratiatingly. “Mom, I know.” “I was just saying it. I didn’t think Chloe would take it seriously.” I was speechless. So if I gave it to her, it would be my fault? And calling her “Mom” before the wedding? Sarah really has no shame. But none of this mattered anymore. That night, Lily, Jess, and I moved into a new dorm room. It was empty, so it was just the three of us. Perfect. We didn’t want another Sarah. 5 That night, the building group chat exploded. “I can’t take it anymore… can someone handle this dorm manager? @ManagerLiu” “She forced me and my roommates to move to Room 103.” “And she expects us to wait on her pregnant daughter-in-law? Is she insane?” Another girl chimed in: “I thought moving was no big deal to avoid trouble.” “But this lady demands we buy expensive food and drinks for the pregnant girl? With what money? She didn’t give us a dime!” Before the gossip could settle, a third girl spoke up: “The craziest part…” “This psycho cut our AC in 104-degree heat.” “She said her grandson can’t have AC or he won’t have ‘masculine energy.’” “If you want masculine energy, why don’t you send your daughter-in-law to live on the sun?” “Did you get dropped on your head as a baby?” The chat was filled with onlookers eating popcorn. The three girls kept tagging @ManagerLiu, demanding an explanation. Finally, Mrs. Liu replied. Her words made everyone want to vomit blood. “Serving my grandson is a blessing you earned in a past life.” “What do you know? He’s a man born with masculine energy.” “Maybe you’ll get lucky and find a man like my son later.” “You’ll be thanking me then.” Her tone wasn’t apologetic at all. She was proud. Like we were the unreasonable ones. The chat went nuclear. “What is this? Did a fossil from the Qing Dynasty come to life?” “Someone call an ambulance, she’s having a stroke.” The three girls didn’t take it lying down. They went to the Resident Director the next morning. After hearing the story, the RD moved them back to their original room and summoned Mrs. Liu. Surprisingly… Mrs. Liu wasn’t fired. Rumor had it she fell to her knees, crying about how hard her life was and how she was just worried about her grandson. She begged for another chance. The RD, soft-hearted, gave in. But she was on thin ice.

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My childhood friend’s favorite “innocent” flower was being accused of having her skirt peeped on by the scholarship student. To vent his anger, my friend slapped the poor guy across the face five times in the middle of the cafeteria. The student, who suffered from Hyperventilation Syndrome, collapsed on the spot, gasping for air. I was just about to call 911 when suddenly, floating text comments—like a live stream chat—scrolled across my vision. 【Is this side character even human? Just because the male lead is the only guy in class not worshipping her, she frames him for peeping? He was just crouching down to pick up a pen… That was the only black pen he owned!】 【The second male lead is a total rage-monster too. Go ahead, hit him. When the male lead falls down the stairs during his hyperventilation struggle and damages his frontal lobe, his personality will completely flip. He’ll turn dark. Forget about you and that pick-me girl—even your childhood friend’s entire family won’t escape his revenge. It’s going to be a total massacre!】 I froze. The comments were still scrolling. 【Actually, the childhood friend was planning to call an ambulance, but it was too late. For hyperventilation, they need to inhale carbon dioxide. Someone needs to find a paper bag…】 I didn’t wait for the comment to finish. I rushed forward, grabbed the scholarship student by the collar, and smashed my lips against his. You need carbon dioxide? Then suck it out of me, you little brat! 1. Jax’s lip had split from the slap; I could taste a faint metallic tang of blood. When he realized what I was doing, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he started struggling frantically. I licked my lips, grabbed his chin, and deepened the kiss. Gasps erupted from the surrounding students. I didn’t say a word. I just kept exhaling air into him. I was just trying a Hail Mary pass, but surprisingly, it actually worked. A moment later, Jax—who had been struggling for every breath, chest spasming, nearly suffocating—visibly relaxed. Seeing this, I slowly released him. 【…Bro, what just happened? Who is this girl forcing a kiss on the male lead?】 【She’s not forcing a kiss; she’s performing first aid! Hyperventilation Syndrome, or respiratory alkalosis, happens when you exhale too much carbon dioxide, messing up the body’s pH balance. That leads to trouble breathing, chest pain, and numbness.】 【Usually, you help the patient relax and re-inhale CO2, like using a paper bag. But in an emergency without tools… mouth-to-mouth works too.】 【Wait, that’s the second male lead’s childhood friend and fiancée, Chloe Sterling. What the hell? Why is she saving the male lead right now?】 【Is this really first aid? Because the chemistry between them is off the charts…】 I coughed awkwardly and subconsciously wiped the corner of my mouth. Jax was panting. His hair was a mess, and he was wearing a thrifted, oversized uniform. He was tall and thin, his skin deathly pale, with a flush on his cheeks from the violent coughing earlier. His eyes were wet, but his gaze was dark. His pitch-black pupils were fixed on me. In the dead silence of the cafeteria, under his creepy, unblinking stare, I silently reached out and wiped a bit of saliva from his lip. 【LMAO… This girl is bold.】 【The male lead’s eyes are 30% confusion, 50% despair… and is that 20% murderous intent?】 【Chloe: Chat, on a scale of 1 to 10, how dead am I?】 “Chloe! What the hell are you doing?!” Someone grabbed my arm from behind and yanked me back. I clicked my tongue and turned around. Austin looked furious. Sophie was cowering behind him, looking like a frightened deer. “Do you know he’s a pervert who looks up girls’ skirts? And you kissed him? Are you insane?” Sophie’s clear, innocent eyes darted between Jax and me. She hesitated before asking, “Chloe… are you two close? Then… tell us the truth. Does him peeping on me have anything to do with you?” “Is this because Austin didn’t celebrate your birthday last time? I was sick, and I’m really sorry. Please don’t be jealous. But even so, you can’t do this. You’re a girl, how could you… how could you…” Sophie choked up, as if she couldn’t bear to continue. Veins bulged on Austin’s forehead. He looked at me with unprecedented coldness. “Chloe, is what Sophie said true?” 2. Facing Austin’s gaze, my heart sank. The surrounding students started whispering. “Did Chloe really put him up to it?” “It’s not the first time she’s targeted Sophie. Just because she grew up with Austin and calls herself his fiancée, she bullies her every day…” “That’s disgusting. Using a guy to harass another girl?” Behind me, Jax’s breathing started to hitch again. He was on the verge of another attack. I ripped my arm out of Austin’s grip, turned around, and hugged Jax, patting his back soothingly. “He didn’t peek at her.” Austin sneered. ” defending him even now? You’re hopeless.” “You say he didn’t look. Do you have proof?” “Oh, so Sophie said he looked. Does she have proof?” Austin paused, then frowned deeply. “Can you stop being so unreasonable? What girl would joke about something like that? Sophie and Jax have no grudges. Why would she lie?” I laughed coldly. “That’s exactly why her behavior is so despicable. False accusations like this lower public sympathy and trust for actual victims. The only ones who suffer are the innocent women who really get hurt. Her heart is rotton.” “And no grudges? If I remember correctly, last semester she accused Jax of stealing her spot for the financial aid grant, didn’t she?” Sophie had transferred here last semester. Her mom was the housekeeper for Austin’s family. Sophie had bad grades, but got into our honors class through Austin’s connections. Immediately, she applied for the poverty subsidy. But our class only had one slot, and it had always gone to Jax. When Sophie found out, she went to Jax with red, teary eyes and showed him her “old” backpack. “Jax, I’m from a single-parent home. My mom works so hard as a maid. I really need that money. Please, can’t you let me have it this once?” Jax didn’t say anything. He just showed her his desk. He didn’t even have money for a backpack. Inside his desk, there was a single black pen. Sophie stomped her foot. “How can you be like this? You’ve gotten it so many times, you won’t share even once?” “Jax, I heard you have great grades and get the top scholarship. Why can’t you give this slot to a student in need? You’re hoarding survival resources. You know that’s selfish, right?” Jax ignored her and went back to studying stone-faced. Sophie bit her lip and walked away silently. In the end, the teacher gave the slot to Jax. However, the day Jax received the money, Sophie came to class early. She was carrying a luxury bag Austin had bought her—worth about twenty times the poverty subsidy. Sophie blocked Jax, her pale, delicate face full of stubbornness. “Jax, I just wanted to tell you. Things that belong to others… no matter what tricks you use, you can’t steal them.” Remembering this, Austin’s expression shifted slightly. But soon, he doubled down. “Even if that’s true…” I cut him off, enunciating every word. “No matter what, Jax would not look up her skirt. He wouldn’t look at any other girl.” Austin instinctively asked, “How do you know?” I looked him dead in the eye. “Because I trust his character.” Jax lifted his head, looking at me with a mix of confusion and curiosity. I paused. “And… and because Jax is my boyfriend. He’s obsessed with me. He would absolutely never look at another girl.” 3. Jax suddenly started coughing violently. 【Whoa, whoa! Is this canon? When did you two start dating? In your dreams?】 【Chloe, you’re confused! That’s the male lead! The mad dog who returns in five years to bankrupt your family, drive your parents to jump off a building, saddle you with massive debt, and sell you to a organ farm in Myanmar!】 【To be fair, he wasn’t targeting her specifically. It’s just that the Sterling and Song families are business partners with an arranged marriage. To take down Austin, he couldn’t spare Chloe’s family.】 Jax looked at me blankly, breathing fast, seemingly wanting to speak. “You…” In for a penny, in for a pound. I grabbed his collar and aggressively blocked his mouth again. Jax, the gloomy mushroom who lived in the corner, finally broke down during round two. His face turned beet red. “Mmph… mmph…” “Baby, are you having trouble breathing again? It’s okay, I’m here. Don’t worry, I’m your medicine!” I treated him like a balloon and blew air into him with all my might. Jax went from struggling to losing all strength. Meanwhile, Austin, face twisted, tried to pull me away, but I kicked him back. When I finally released Jax, he was completely silent. I panted, looked around the cafeteria, and shouted. “As you can see, we are a couple. So it’s impossible for Jax to be peeping at girls’ skirts. Please don’t spread rumors. If I hear any more slander, I will take legal action.” After that, I grabbed Jax and marched out. Once we were far away from the cafeteria, Jax, who had been obediently letting me drag him, suddenly stopped. He looked at me quietly, his voice very soft. “…Why did you help me?” I stared at his handsome but gaunt face. My brain was looping the words: Bankruptcy. Parents jumping. Organ farm. After a long silence, I said firmly. “Because I like you. I want to date you. Jax, please like me back, just like I said earlier!” Jax was silent for a moment. “I think we…” “$15,000 a month.” “?” My eyes were resolute, my words powerful. “$30,000. I’ll open a bank account for you. Tax-free.” “No handling fees.” Jax looked bewildered and opened his mouth. “Wait a second…” “$70,000.” “……” He stopped talking. I pressed the attack. “Not only that, I’ll take care of you. I won’t disturb your studies. And if you hyperventilate again, I’ll give you artificial…” Jax’s face flushed. He interrupted me. “Stop, stop! I get it!” He clenched his fists and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Chloe. But before that, I want to ask you… what exactly do you want? Aren’t you engaged to Austin? I heard you arguing once; he said your parents arranged it.” “If you’re using me to make him jealous or win him back, I…” He paused, looking grim, but continued. “You helped me, so I…” I said frankly, “It’s not like that. It’s just a verbal agreement between elders, a joke really. It doesn’t count. I don’t like him. As for my purpose…” I looked him in the eye. “I like you. I’m serious.” “Jax, please be my boyfriend, and then marry me.” “……” Jax lowered his eyes, his bangs covering the emotion in them. He was silent for a long time, then slowly nodded. …… As I walked away, his gaze followed my back tightly. After a long while, he whispered something. His voice was barely audible. “…You said it, Chloe.” I didn’t hear that last sentence. 4. Once I was alone, I finally started analyzing the bullet comments. The chat was already boiling over. 【The childhood friend is quick-witted. I didn’t know you could treat respiratory alkalosis like that.】 【The key is that the plot has changed. The crucial turning point for the male lead’s villain arc just got erased?】 【It’s useless. Avoiding the first time won’t stop the countless times that follow. The second male lead is the heir to the city’s richest family. It’s too easy for him to target the male lead. Even with the childhood friend…】 【Don’t mention it. Chloe can barely save herself. She and Austin really are childhood friends, engaged by their parents. But ever since the female lead moved into Austin’s house with her mom, Austin’s heart strayed. He makes Chloe yield to her in everything, and accuses Chloe of bullying her out of jealousy. No matter how much she likes him, her heart has been broken. She just can’t fall out with him because of family pressure.】 【Sob… both babies are so pitiful…】 I scratched my head awkwardly. Even though the comments said that, I still had to help Jax. First, I don’t want to go bankrupt. Nobody can separate me from my money. I have a balance with that many zeros, and a huge, beautiful villa. Second, speaking of huge… Jax seems… …Getting off track. Anyway, I already have a rough plan for my future with Jax. The next day, I asked the teacher to switch my seat so I could sit next to Jax. Jax was brilliant but silent and socially isolated. The guys thought he was arrogant, so he was unpopular. Combined with his refusal to talk to girls, his presence in class was like a mushroom growing in a dark corner. After class, I sat next to him, spinning my pen into a blur while staring at his pale lips. Then again, even if he is a mushroom, he’s a beautiful, poisonous mushroom. Thinking this, I asked, “Baby, are you thirsty? Want some water?” I pulled out my Crayon Shin-chan “kissy face” tumbler (500ml). Jax, whose gaze had been drawn to me, suddenly froze. “……” A question mark slowly floated up from the dark mushroom’s head. I shoved the cup toward him. “Come on, baby, your lips are dry. Take a sip. Ahhh—” As the Crayon Shin-chan on the lid slowly approached, Jax went stiff, staring deathly at the giant, puckered “O” shaped lips. “……” “Hahahahahaha!” I couldn’t help slamming the desk and laughing. The comments were having a field day. 【I can’t breathe. The male lead’s face!】 【Anti-social Mad Dog ✗ Poor Puppy Defeated by Abstract Art ✔】 【Am I the only one wondering? Chloe, do you usually bring your pretty face close to that cursed cup…】 After teasing him enough, I finally poked the straw into the cup. “Just kidding. It has a straw. Drink up.” Jax still hesitated. I poked him with my finger. “I washed it right before coming to school. No cooties.” “I wasn’t…” “Besides, we’ve kissed like eight hundred times. Do you still care about this? Drink, your lips are cracking.” Jax’s pupils trembled. “Eight hundred times???” LMAO. This little thing is so fun to play with.

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1 To pay for my boyfriend’s heart condition, I scrimped and saved, refusing to even buy medicine when I was sick. I worked eight different jobs a day, pushing myself to the point of collapse. To get the money for his treatments, I signed up for a “Gold Rush” event at the local mall. I crawled on my hands and knees like a feral dog, desperate to find the tiny gold-painted rice grains that could be exchanged for cash—cash that could save his life. It wasn’t until I went with a staff member to cash in my findings that everything fell apart. Through a thin partition wall, I heard a reporter interviewing my boyfriend. “Mr. Hatton, you spent three million dollars on this event just to see Miss Vance smile. Your love for her is truly something to be envied.” “That amount of money is nothing,” a familiar voice replied. “If it makes Sierra laugh, then these peasants have served their purpose.” I clutched the three thousand dollars I had just received for my golden rice, the irony a bitter pill in my throat. … My boyfriend, Thomas Hatton, was a broke kid with a congenital heart condition who couldn’t even scrounge up three hundred dollars. So when I heard that voice, my first thought was that it couldn’t be him. He couldn’t afford three hundred, let alone three million for some publicity stunt. Besides, he was in the hospital, recovering from a heart episode. It had to be a coincidence. Someone who sounded like him, who also had the last name Hatton. But the next sound I heard shattered my last sliver of hope—a woman’s flirtatious giggle from the other side of the wall. “Thomas, they look like little dogs crawling on the floor! It’s hysterical! Especially that one who looks like your girlfriend, Kate. She’s really going for it. Is she that desperate for money?” I heard Thomas’s breath catch. He was staring intently at a monitor. Then, his fingers tapped on his phone. A second later, my own phone buzzed. [Baby, where are you? If you’re tired, take a break. Don’t push yourself too hard.] A bitter laugh escaped me. My hand trembled so badly I could barely hold the phone. [Don’t worry, I’m resting now. I found a really generous employer today. Made a full three thousand.] He sent back a kissing emoji. [That’s my girl. Three thousand will cover my hospital room for another few days.] Hilarious. My lips stretched into a grotesque smile as tears streamed down my face like broken pearls. Once he was sure the woman on the monitor wasn’t me, Thomas relaxed. He scoffed. “Crawling on the ground like that… she looks like a dog begging its master for a bone.” The room erupted in laughter. “Look at the way her ass is sticking up! Isn’t it just like a dog wagging its tail?” “People like that would do anything for money. If you told her to lick your shoes, she’d do it without a second thought.” “Mr. Hatton’s shoes are custom-made! They’re worth millions! Letting a peasant like her lick them would be an honor!” On my side of the wall, I stared in shame at my big toe, peeking through a hole in my worn-out shoe. In that moment, my pride shattered into a million pieces. I took the money and turned to leave. But I ran straight into Thomas. He saw me, and for a split second, panic flashed in his eyes. His gaze dropped to my tattered work uniform, and a flicker of disgust crossed his face. Then, he barked at the security guard. “How did a participant get in here? What are you people paid for?!” The staff member with me quickly explained, “This participant needed to cash in her winnings for a medical bill. I’m sorry, Mr. Hatton. We’ll leave immediately.” I stared at Thomas, my mind reeling. He was dressed in a bespoke suit, looking every bit the arrogant, wealthy heir. There was no sign of sickness. The fabric of his suit was exquisite, some parts even threaded with gold. I could probably never pan that much gold in my entire lifetime. My throat was raw. I couldn’t tell if I was trembling or just unable to speak. “Thomas, are you going to pretend you don’t know me?” Before Thomas could answer, the people who had been mocking me just moments before went pale. “Is this the girlfriend? But… her clothes…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone in the room knew what he meant. I was sallow, my skin loose from exhaustion, dressed in rags. I had just been crawling on the ground like an animal. I looked like I was on the brink of starvation. How could I possibly be Thomas Hatton’s girlfriend? Thomas’s face darkened, a vein throbbing in his arm. His eyes were cold as he looked at me, as if my very presence was a source of deep embarrassment. The woman next to him, Sierra, let out a dramatic yawn. “Trying to get Thomas’s attention again? Honestly, I’m so tired of these desperate tactics…” Thomas seemed to finally find his voice, a way out. He stepped around me without a second glance. “That’s a really pathetic way to get a guy’s attention.” The bitterness in my mouth was overwhelming. My mind flashed back to college. My freshman year, I was hazed by the student council and forced to run five miles. I refused and stood up to them. They retaliated by dumping a bucket of toilet water on me. They made me stand in the blazing sun for two hours until I finally collapsed. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Thomas, scooping me up and rushing me to the infirmary. He told me the defiance in my eyes shone like a star. From that day on, he always stood in front of me, protecting me. He didn’t care if he offended the rich kids, if he got punished or bullied for it. He didn’t care if I was covered in filth. His love for me had felt so real, so genuine. It’s why I stayed with him, even after I learned about his heart condition. The man from my memories and the man standing before me now were two different people. I don’t know where the courage came from, but I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. White fingerprints appeared on the expensive fabric of his suit. His brow furrowed with annoyance. “You probably couldn’t afford to replace this even if you sold yourself…” “If you’re not sick, and you’re not poor,” I interrupted, “can you… can you give me my money back?” Because I am sick… With a single look from Thomas, the others in the room discreetly filed out. “I pretended to be poor and sick to test you,” he said, his voice cold. “To see if you were like all the other gold-digging women, only after my money.” “And it looks like you’re all the same.” I didn’t argue. I just looked at him and repeated, “Can you… give me my money back?” Thomas yanked his arm away with such force that I stumbled and fell to the ground. “You stained my suit, and you have the audacity to ask me for money?” He saw the tears welling in my eyes, and his tone softened slightly. “Don’t work for the next few days. Just rest. I’ve scheduled some appointments with a few stylists to give you a makeover.” “Until the makeover is done, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other, okay?” It was as if I hadn’t heard him. I enunciated each word, my voice flat. “Give. Me. My. Money. Back.” His patience wore thin. Thomas’s eyes darkened, and he spoke through gritted teeth. “If you just behave, I’ll give you as much money as you want.” He looked as if he was making a great sacrifice. “Even if you were only with me for my money, fine! I’ll accept it!” I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall. “Thomas, let’s break up.” He smirked, a look of “I knew it” on his face. “Afraid I’ll think you’re a gold digger, so you’re preemptively breaking up with me?” “You found out who I am and deliberately joined this event.” “Even the way you were sticking your ass in the air… you did that for us to see, didn’t you?” I stared at him in disbelief. I had never known he could be so irrational. “Thomas, how did I never realize how disgusting you are?” “If you hadn’t pretended to be sick, would I have had to work myself to death?” “My life would be better without you.” He scoffed. “Still acting?” “Without me, do you think you would have graduated from college?” “Without me, do you think you would have landed a job at a Fortune 500 company right after graduation?” “You’re nothing without me!” I turned away, done with him. His confident voice followed me. “You’ll be back. I give you a week.” The next few days were a nightmare. First, all my part-time jobs suddenly “no longer needed” me. Then, my full-time job at the corporation fired me, offering a generous severance package just to get rid of me. The moment the money hit my account, long-lost relatives appeared out of nowhere, claiming my parents had owed them money. After everything, all I had left was the three thousand dollars from the Gold Rush. My chest ached. It was hard to breathe. Three years of sleeping only five hours a night had taken its toll. My body was shutting down. After buying the medicine I desperately needed, I didn’t even have enough left for rent. Every company I applied to rejected me the moment they heard my name, Kate. Just when I thought all hope was lost, I got a call for a one-day gig. When I arrived, I found that my employer was Sierra Vance. She poured a bucket of water on the floor and ordered me to clean it up on my hands and knees. One of her servants used a thin rod to poke at me while I was bent over. “Ugh, you stink,” Sierra said with a theatrical grimace. Then she kicked me into the swimming pool and watched me struggle to stay afloat. She threw banknotes at me, which stuck to my now see-through clothes. When I didn’t react, she seemed to get bored. “Have you no dignity?” I gathered the money, carefully tucking it away. “Dignity is a luxury for the rich,” I said. “You wouldn’t understand.” She smiled slyly. “And this? Does this mean nothing to you?” I stared in shock at the necklace in her hand. It was the only thing I had left from my mother. I had given it to Thomas on his birthday. Something inside me snapped. I lunged at her, but a strong arm caught me. Thomas held me back easily, looking at me like I was a misbehaving pet. “Sierra has a heart condition. Go easy on her.” “How much is the necklace? I’ll buy it from her for you.” How much was my cheap, pathetic love worth? The thought was so ridiculous, I started to laugh. “Thomas, you promised me forever. That’s why I gave you the necklace.” “To me, it’s not just a memento from my mother. It was her blessing.” “It’s priceless. Do you understand?” Thomas looked at me, confused. “If you don’t want money, that’s fine. I’ll take you to a jewelry store. You can pick out whatever you want.” A wave of helplessness washed over me. How had I never realized he was completely incapable of understanding anything? As he watched in shock, I slowly sank to my knees. “Miss Vance, please. Give me back my necklace.” A cruel smile played on Sierra’s lips. “Thomas gave it to me. I can do whatever I want with it.” She tossed the necklace to her pet dog. The dog’s sharp teeth snapped down on the delicate chain, breaking it in two. Shattered. Just like my heart. I flew into a rage, scrambling on the ground with the dog, fighting for the broken pieces of the necklace. Thomas was startled, but his body instinctively moved to shield Sierra. My hands were bleeding, but I clutched the pieces of the necklace to my chest. I was crying with joy. A flicker of pity crossed Thomas’s eyes, but he didn’t help me up. He just frowned. “I didn’t expect that to happen. I’ll have someone transfer you some money.” In his world, there was nothing money couldn’t fix. I was done being a rich man’s toy. I looked at him, my eyes clear. “Thomas, as long as you use money to measure a person’s worth, you will never find real love.” I turned and walked away. The moment his money transfer came through, I bought the first bus ticket out of the state. I was never coming back to this city. After Kate left, Thomas stood frozen. Her words echoed in his mind, unsettling him. Her hands were still bleeding, her face was deathly pale. Yet, she had walked away with such finality, her back so straight. It reminded him of how she had stood under the blazing sun in college for two hours, refusing to bow her head. He had thought back then, if she wasn’t after his money, he would find a way to be with her forever. How could he be sure if a person was truly a gold digger? He had asked his assistant. Pretend to be poor, pretend to be sick, the assistant had advised. So he pretended to be poor. Kate hadn’t been disgusted at all. In fact, she had spent her scholarship money to buy him fruit. Then he pretended to be sick. Kate had worked eight jobs a day and had never once considered leaving him. But Sierra had told him that women like that were cunning. She probably knew his identity all along and was just putting on a show for him. He decided to continue testing her. His family’s empire was vast; he had to choose its future mistress carefully. But Kate was too stupid. She didn’t understand his intentions. He pretended not to know her to protect her from being looked down upon. All his tests were to build a foundation of trust for their future. Why couldn’t she understand? It didn’t matter. When she ran out of money, she would come back. He refused to believe that someone who would trade her dignity for money could resist the temptation he offered. But for some reason, a heavy feeling settled in his chest, and it annoyed him. Thomas called his assistant. “Notify all the Gold Rush participants. We’re holding a follow-up interview. Everyone who attends gets another fifty thousand.” He didn’t believe Kate could resist that. I used the money Thomas gave me to create a fake death certificate. To make it more believable, I even bought a burial plot. I changed my identity, my phone number, everything. After leaving the city, I returned to my hometown. It was a small, underdeveloped town with poor transportation. But there was no Hatton Industries here, and no one would pretend to be poor to test me. I found a job and rented a small house with a garden. I wasn’t making a lot of money, but life was peaceful. I spent my days gardening and cooking. It was a quiet, contented existence. One day, while scrolling through my phone, I saw Thomas on the news. He was known for his extravagance, and he was offering fifty thousand dollars to each Gold Rush participant who came for an interview. People flocked to the event. But Thomas seemed distracted, his eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for someone. When he couldn’t find who he was looking for, his expression soured. He waved his hand and increased the offer to one hundred thousand. But no matter how long he waited, the person he was looking for never showed up. On the live broadcast, Thomas’s face was cold as he asked, “Where is the participant who collected the most golden rice?” A staff member, avoiding his gaze, stammered, “Her phone has been disconnected. We can’t reach her…” Thomas finally lost his composure. He opened his contacts, his finger hovering over a certain number. After a long moment, he pressed it. The call connected to a cold, automated voice. “The number you have dialed is no longer in service…” The impatience in his eyes intensified. Thomas’s grip on his phone tightened, the veins in his hand bulging. “Disconnected her number? Fine.” “Find her. I don’t care how much it costs. Turn this entire city upside down, but find her!” Thomas’s men searched for seven days before they found a lead at a hospital. Kate had been there two weeks ago. She had been diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and didn’t have long to live. Two weeks ago. The day I broke up with him. Thomas clutched the report, a cold smile on his face. To make him regret it, Kate would go this far. She worked eight jobs a day without any problems. How could she have stomach cancer? But then, his men found a gravestone with Kate’s name on it in a cemetery. Thomas’s composure finally shattered. He rushed to the hospital, demanding to speak to the doctor. The doctor explained that Kate’s cancer was caused by prolonged malnutrition, an irregular diet, excessive fatigue, and a compromised immune system. He suddenly remembered a day when Kate had told him her stomach hurt. He had dismissed it, telling her to hurry up and get back to work. He had killed her. Thomas finally broke. They say that day, he went to the cemetery and started digging at her grave with his bare hands. He was going to unearth her body and rebury her in the Hatton family plot. Even in death, he said, she would be with him. His men tried to reason with him, to tell him to let her rest in peace.

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I was pregnant with the devoted second male lead’s child. But when I was hemorrhaging during a difficult labor… He was by the female lead’s side, showering her with care and concern. I was in agony, my body slowly turning cold. The moment my soul left my body, I murmured a self-deprecating vow: “If I could do it all over again, I would never feel sorry for a man.” 1 I opened my eyes. I had been reborn, back to the beginning of the story. At that time, the male and female leads were at each other’s throats, looking like a classic bickering couple. And Liam Vance, the gentle second male lead, was the female lead, Chloe’s, childhood friend, always silently protecting her. In the book, he was the typical “beautiful, strong, and miserable” character. Raised by a single mother who was critically ill, he studied while working to support the family and pay for his mother’s medical bills. His life was a series of tragedies: his mother’s death, failing the college entrance exams, a failed startup… As the devoted second male lead, he was Chloe’s eternal safe harbor, her strongest shield. After the main couple got married, he went abroad, achieving the “forever alone” ending. He earned plenty of tears from the readers. I’ve always been a sucker for the gentle, devoted type. After finishing the novel, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly sorry for him. In my past life, after I died, I inexplicably transmigrated into the book as a beautiful background character. Reason told me not to get involved in their story, to just be a quiet extra. But feelings won over reason. Maybe out of pity, I couldn’t help but get close to Liam. I willingly protected him. I did everything I could to redeem him. I wanted to give him my whole heart. But everything I did couldn’t compare to Chloe’s tearful plea: “Liam, I miss you so much.” So Liam abandoned me in the hospital while I was waiting to give birth, rushing to comfort Chloe, who had run away after a fight with the male lead. Under the extreme emotional stress, my water broke prematurely. And then, I died on the cold operating table. 2 I actively distanced myself from the main cast. Liam quickly noticed something was wrong. After all, I had been the one thick-skinned enough to cling to him and force myself into their group. My sudden distance was obvious even to outsiders. My nerdy deskmate whispered to ask if I had fought with Liam and the others. I patted my workbook and smiled generously: “Of course not. I need to focus on my studies. Finals are coming up, and I don’t want to be at the bottom of the class again.” As soon as I said that, a piercing gaze shot at me from the front row. I didn’t need to guess to know it was Liam. He had been secretly watching me a lot these past few days, always looking like he wanted to say something but stopping himself. But he was clearly afraid Chloe would misunderstand something, so he didn’t dare approach me. In my past life, I was stupid and pathetic, thinking I could save him. I never expected to end up as such a joke. Now, I couldn’t even muster the energy for revenge. First, I didn’t want to have anything to do with the main characters anymore. Second, I really didn’t have the ambition or courage to be a villain. Current me just wanted to enjoy my wonderful life. After dying twice, I cherished being alive even more. Life is hard to come by. Whether in the real world or the book world, I had never truly lived freely. Before I transmigrated, I was my mom’s precious treasure. But back then, I had congenital leukemia. My dad ran away, and my mom had to work very, very hard to raise me alone. But later… I was only fifteen when I fell to my death. My mom must have been heartbroken. Thinking about it, my nose tingled, and I almost cried. Suddenly, Chloe’s sickly sweet voice sounded behind me: “Gwen, why haven’t you been hanging out with us lately? Did you fight with Liam?” I looked up and met Liam’s probing gaze not far away. The next second, I gave him the middle finger and mouthed: “Idiot.” His smile froze, staring at me in disbelief. 3 Looking at the female lead’s innocent expression, I smiled slightly. “Yeah, we fought. It was a huge fight.” “Huh? How did that happen?” She looked surprised, but there was a hint of secret joy in her eyes. She was young, after all; she hadn’t learned to hide her thoughts yet. “Because—” I acted very sad and angry, “I found out he likes you, so I don’t want to like him anymore.” Hearing this, Chloe’s face turned pale, and she nervously glanced around. After a while, she stammered a defense: “Ah, Gwen, w-what are you talking about!” “I’ve always seen Liam as a brother, and he definitely sees me as a sister too.” “We’re just very good friends, don’t talk nonsense…” As she spoke, she lost confidence, clearly guilty. It was kind of funny. Everyone could see Liam liked her. Did she really not notice at all? In the end, it was just using the “sibling” label to act like lovers. Not refusing, not initiating, not committing. As long as she didn’t break the window paper, she could unscrupulously enjoy Liam’s kindness. Too lazy to watch her face change colors, I grabbed my vocabulary book and went out to memorize words. I brushed past Liam, who was walking over. He tried to grab me. I spat out a pleasantry: “F*ck off!” The gentle smile on his face completely vanished, replaced by confusion in his slightly angry eyes. The male lead, Noah, came over to join the fun, wanting to mock Liam. Me: “You f*ck off too!” Useless idiot who can’t watch his own girl. I hated everyone in the main cast equally! Noah jumped, then resentfully turned back to Chloe. “Tigress! Did she eat dynamite?” I shoved past Liam, who was blocking my way, and quickly left the classroom. 4 For a few days, everyone stayed in their lanes. We were strangers. After school that day, I went to the alley as usual to feed Fatty. Fatty was a stray orange cat, very wary of humans. I planned to kidnap him home once he warmed up to me. In my past life, Chloe and I both wanted to adopt him. Fatty was about to go with me, but Liam intervened. After his repeated persuasion, I gave Fatty to Chloe. But because Noah didn’t like cats, she casually dumped the cat on Liam. So I took the chance to ask for him back. This time, I was definitely going to strike first. Just as I reached the alley entrance, I heard Chloe’s giggle. “Wow, Liam, this cat is so cute! I want to take it home…” I ran over and blocked her hand reaching for the cat. “Don’t touch! Fatty bites.” She withdrew her hand reluctantly and questioned me unhappily: “Oh, Gwen, is this your cat?” Funny, she changed her tune fast! Finally stopped calling me “Gwen-Gwen.” Sounded like a pigeon spirit. “Yes, my cat,” I answered expressionlessly, squatting down to put out cat food. Chloe bit her lip and said timidly, “But it looks like a stray. Why don’t you let me give it a home?” “No!” I refused flatly. “This is my cat. I’m taking him home.” I wouldn’t yield. And Chloe was dead set on having him. Liam looked at her with helplessness and affection. He said to me very politely: “Gwen, could you give this cat…” I couldn’t be bothered to waste words with them. I picked up Fatty and started walking. Strangely, Fatty didn’t struggle this time. He was unusually well-behaved. Seeing I was taking the cat, Chloe panicked. She whined, refusing to give up: “Liam, help me—” Liam sighed with a smile: “Tsk, I really can’t say no to you.” So he chased after me and blocked my way, putting on his usual gentle offensive. Looking at the boy with the warm smile in front of me, I hated him so much. It was this gentle and broken expression that made me fall for him again and again in my past life. I helped him through his mother’s death. I helped him through his failed exams. I gave him my heart and soul. It was clearly he who confessed to me first, making me have delusions I shouldn’t have had! It was clearly he who proposed to me, promising me forever. But why did he still have to be entangled with Chloe!? At this moment, the pain and sorrow of my past life surged into my heart. I couldn’t suppress the resentment anymore. Slap! I couldn’t control my hand and slapped him hard. “You spineless man!” “Ah! Gwen, how can you hit people!” Chloe screamed in anger. Liam’s head was knocked to the side. My nails scratched his chin, and beads of blood seeped out. I withdrew my hand, still unsatisfied. This slap was for your cold heart, for your fickleness. Chloe was heartbroken, righteously accusing me of being vicious, destroying what I couldn’t have. “Then call the police—” I retorted with a smile. “Also, what do you mean ‘destroy what I can’t have’? I don’t understand.” “Why don’t you explain the context to me, Chloe?” Ha, as if she could explain! If she explained, wouldn’t she be piercing the paper window right in front of him? How could she be “siblings” with Liam then! Sure enough, Chloe lost her momentum instantly, looking at me in panic, afraid I would say something I shouldn’t. Tsk tsk, she had a “guilty conscience.” But how could I possibly “remind” Liam? This was the fate he deserved! Remembering Nanny Wang was still waiting for me in the car, I took out a few hundred-dollar bills from my backpack. Because I didn’t want to get close to these two, the bills fluttered to the ground. “Liam, this is for medical expenses. Enough? If not, I’ll add more.” “Gwen, you’re going too far!” Chloe became angry out of shame again. “So what if you have money! Apologize to Liam right now!” I ignored her and sized up Liam. Even a clay figurine has some temper. The gentler and more amiable a person is, the more earth-shattering their anger. I knew him too well after being with him for so many years in my past life. What he hated most was having his dignity trampled on the ground. And now, I was doing exactly that. He was indeed angry, his face terrifyingly dark. Even though the anger in his eyes was about to burst out, he still smiled and comforted Chloe, saying it was okay. As expected of the devoted second male lead! I rolled my eyes and left with Fatty without looking back.

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My adopted brother, whom I’ve had a crush on forever, has always been cold to me. I thought he just wasn’t the smiling type. Until one night, I heard his raspy voice calling someone’s name: “Sisi.” Heartbroken, I packed up my pet snake and moved out. Suddenly, floating text comments appeared before my eyes: [Girl, you are killing me! He wasn’t calling a girl’s name! Snakes make a ‘hissing’ sound!] [The Male Lead is never going to hiss again. He’s probably trying to poison himself mute right now.] [Did you seriously not notice that your pet snake and your brother never appear at the same time?] The day I moved out, a crack finally appeared in Ethan’s icy facade. He frowned slightly, lifting his eyelids. “Why?” I avoided his gaze, flustered. “I graduated. I can support myself now. It’s not good to keep living at home.” I was adopted by the Reed family. This reason should be reasonable enough. I really couldn’t say the truth. Hearing him call someone else’s name made me feel sad and awkward. I just wanted to run away. Ethan has always been a cold, self-restrained person. But that night, when he called “Sisi,” his voice was low and raspy. Like it was soaked in some deep emotion. Just thinking about it still shocks me. My suitcase was packed and sitting by the door. As expected, Ethan didn’t ask me to stay. He just opened the door to his study, dropping one sentence: “Don’t forget to take your pet.” He was cold to me, and cold to my pet. He never visited my little snake, let alone touched it. Now, he couldn’t wait to kick it out too. I was heartbroken. I grabbed the snake, terrarium and all, and left alone. The floating comments—like a livestream chat—appeared after I moved into my new apartment. I unpacked my stuff and collapsed on the sofa. My little white snake slowly crawled out of the open terrarium, climbing up my calf. Its cool scales pressed against my bare skin. Like always, I bent down and scooped it up. It climbed up my arm and settled on my shoulder. I started to suspect the mushrooms I fried for lunch weren’t fully cooked. Lines of text started popping up in front of my eyes. [Why did she move out?! My favorite trope of angsty tension under one roof is gone!] [Forget tension, the plot is about to hit the highway and you’re still driving a tricycle.] What are they babbling about? Highway? I just got my driver’s license; I’m not allowed on the highway yet. I looked down and started googling “What to do for mushroom poisoning.” I’ve heard of seeing little green men, but never floating text. While my mind wandered, I switched to my messages and saw Ethan pinned at the top. His profile picture was pure white. The messages stopped a day ago. Me: “Brother, I’m moving out.” Him (replying much later): “Okay.” So perfunctory. I got dumped before we even started dating. I buried my head in my knees, ready to cry my eyes out. I forgot the snake was still on my shoulder. It suddenly slipped into my collar, then stopped. Leaving a cold, slippery sensation. And… a snake tongue that didn’t retract in time. The snake seemed stunned too, freezing in place. My scalp tingled. I frantically fished it out. It still left a faint red mark. Emo mode paused. The text scrolled by rapidly. [Male Lead be like: Sorry, I type slow.] [Female Lead: Stop pretending.] [He wasn’t being perfunctory! You were playing with him at the time; he couldn’t free his hands. He typed that ‘Okay’ with his tail!] [Holy crap! Just joined the stream and it’s already this spicy.] [Ethan must be in heaven.] I understood the words, and my face instantly turned red. Is this snake… Ethan? He always wears gold-rimmed glasses. Is he a cobra? (Note: ‘Spectacled Cobra’ in Chinese/culture reference) Suspicion: Hallucinations from mushroom poisoning. I put the snake back in the terrarium and wanted to text my best friend. To tell her I might be tripping on mushrooms. My finger swiped, and I saw the messages I sent her last time. Me: “It’s over. I have no chance.” “Ethan seems to like someone!” “He even called her ‘Sisi’!” “Sob.” The comments seemed to be peeking at my screen. [Girl, you are killing me! He wasn’t calling a girl’s name! Snakes make a ‘hissing’ sound!] [The Male Lead is never going to hiss again. He’s probably trying to poison himself mute right now.] [Did you seriously not notice that your pet snake and your brother never appear at the same time?] Hey, didn’t I put on a privacy screen protector? I deleted the unsent text. I looked hesitantly at the terrarium by my feet. The white snake was wrapped around a grape vine, head raised, staring quietly at me. It and Ethan… really never appeared together. [Question Xu Xian, Understand Xu Xian, Become Xu Xian.] (Reference to the Legend of the White Snake, a man who fell in love with a snake demon) [Try this, feed Ethan some realgar wine. If he faints, he’s a snake. If not, he’s a snake demon.] I pursed my lips. I found Ethan’s number in my contacts and dialed it. The white snake’s eyes seemed to widen. Then, its tail started rattling. I don’t know the principle behind it, but… I understood. I hung up. That night, I was drawing on my tablet in my room. I actually received a message from Ethan first. “Forgot to tell you.” “The snake cousin gave you back then… it’s a rattlesnake.” [Male Lead trying to cover his tracks.] [What rattlesnake rattles with a ringtone sound?] My cousin gave me the snake. In high school, I was stressed and randomly wanted a pet snake. My cousin heard and brought one over. “Home-bred. Different from the ones you buy.” “Long life span, smart, obedient, clingy. Great emotional support.” “Knows to find food when hungry, knows to come home when it rains.” It was true. It understood all my commands. It was clingy, often wrapping around my calf. It slept with me at night. I thought I found the perfect snake. Turns out it was my brother. …It feels really weird. My secret crush and my favorite pet merged into one. Whatever. I can pretend I don’t know. I put down my pen and tablet, opening the door. The white snake had crawled out of the terrarium at some point and was waiting at the door. I hesitated, then squatted and held out my hand. It climbed onto my shoulder and shook its tail. The tail made a shhh-shhh sound, clear as day. [Male Lead trying SO hard to prove he isn’t himself.] [He doesn’t dare let her find out he’s a pervert.] [That is a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. In the US, they bite more people than any other snake…] Maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I felt like this snake looked a lot more handsome now. It leaned in, nuzzling my cheek with its nose affectionately. Tentatively, its tongue flicked the corner of my mouth. Leaving a cold, wet sensation. My breath hitched. I took it off, put it outside the door, and locked it quickly. [Male Lead got rejected just like that. But a snake is kinda hard to accept.] [Only in novels. If I saw a snake that big in my house, I’d move out overnight and leave the deed to the snake.] I threw myself onto the bed, burying my head in the quilt. My face was burning. It took a while to calm down. I texted my best friend. “Can you understand Xu Xian?” The comments were shocked. [???] [So you’re shy, not rejecting him?] Bestie: “???” “Is your latest obsession a snake-man character?” “If he’s hot, I totally get it.” I draw a lot of fan art. She probably misunderstood. I didn’t explain. Ethan’s human form is too handsome—cold and abstinent. His snake form is also special, iridescent scales, looking expensive. I just made the mistake every simp makes. I adjusted my mindset, opened the door again, and brought the snake back in. Petting time. The high-and-mighty Ethan was now at my mercy. I squeezed and petted him, taking revenge for his coldness. He didn’t resist at all. He even seemed excited, trembling slightly. [Which part of the snake corresponds to which part of the human?] [Look at him acting cheap. She hasn’t even used any tricks yet and he’s already surrendered.] I wanted to continue my revenge. But my hands were tired, and he wasn’t tired at all. I gave up and tossed him aside. Maybe the contact tonight was too intimate. I had a very… vivid dream. The snake repeated that accidental movement from the afternoon. Coiled on my chest. But not cold. Slightly hot. Scales rough, sliding over me slowly and gently. I couldn’t take it, grabbing the corner of the quilt, arching my back. The sensation blurred the line between dream and reality. So much so that when I opened my eyes, I was still dazed. The room was dim. I turned on the nightlight. The white snake was lying by the bed, motionless, sleeping soundly. So it really was a dream. Because the night was too hot, the first thing I did after waking up was shower. I have mild dermatographia; a touch leaves a red mark, but it usually fades fast. The mark from yesterday afternoon still hadn’t faded. Faintly red. Maybe I should get that treated. Wrapped in a towel, I pushed open the glass door. The snake was awake, coiled in a circle, sitting at the door. Staring at me intensely. When I first got the snake, I learned most are nocturnal. So I tried not to disturb it during the day. But my cousin said: “Don’t worry about him. He plays when he wants. He can adjust.” He sure can adjust. His schedule matches mine now. I clutched my towel, unable to squat down to pick him up. The snake and I stared at each other. [Ethan’s expression is killing me. Why so aggrieved?] [Your wifey won’t pick you up.] He paused for a moment, then slithered up on his own. Snake tail wrapping around my calf. The first time he climbed up from there. I hadn’t wiped the water off my body yet. The cold scales sliding against my skin… Tingling. Numbing. He wrapped tight. I could barely walk. I stumbled to the bedroom door and fell onto the bed, no time to read the comments. …… I grabbed the snake by the seven-inch point (neck), held him up, and threw him out. “Get out. I need to change.”

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The day my med school application madness hit its peak, my wealthy biological parents showed up. Turns out, I was the real heiress, switched at birth. The moment I stepped into their mansion, the fake heiress, Isabelle, started sobbing about how the shock of not being their real daughter was making it hard for her to breathe. My eyes lit up. “Hold still. I’ve dissected a frog. Let me have a look.” My new father frowned, warning me in a stern voice not to bully her. I ignored him, spun around, and slid to my knees in front of my new brother, grabbing his hand with feverish excitement. “Bro, you have to have a rich pre-med friend, right? Oh my god, please, I will literally worship the ground he walks on!” 1 Isabelle stood there, clutching the handle of her suitcase, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “Mom and Dad said what happened in the past has nothing to do with me, but I’m so scared my sister won’t forgive me! I should just go!” She said she was leaving, but her feet were glued to the marble floor. My mother wrapped a comforting arm around her, stroking her silky hair. “Isabelle, what are you talking about? You’ve lived in this house your whole life. You’re our precious daughter! No one is kicking you out.” My father’s expression darkened as he turned his intimidating gaze on me. “That small town you came from is a complete backwater. Isabelle couldn’t possibly live like that. Just think of her as your new little sister and try to be more accommodating.” I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood, but I couldn’t stop myself. “Wow, a classist and a bigot. Is there a tumor pressing on your frontal lobe? You should really get that checked out.” My father, realizing his gaffe, froze. His face went rigid, and he didn’t say another word. Just then, I spotted a young man in a sharp suit walking in from the entryway. He had the same eyes as me. My focus shifted instantly. I scrambled over, a huge grin plastered on my face, and grabbed his hand. “Hi! You must be my brother, Liam, right?” Liam’s face soured, and he tried to yank his hand away. But I clung to it like a lifeline, letting him pull me into his chest rather than let go. His expression grew even darker. “Yes,” he bit out through clenched teeth. My smile only widened. “Bro, you have to have a rich pre-med friend from an Ivy League school, right?” To get into a top medical program, I would do anything. I didn’t care if my brother was biased. I needed to get in. The entire hall fell silent. Liam’s face was a thundercloud. He squeezed my hand hard, pushed me to the ground, and loomed over me. “You just got here and you’re already causing trouble. I’m warning you, drop the sleazy social climbing act.” Isabelle quickly suppressed a smirk, tapping her designer leather shoes anxiously. “Liam, how could you push her? It’s all my fault. Seeing me obviously makes her uncomfortable. Blame me, don’t be angry with her!” I blew on my scraped palm, flicking away a small piece of gravel embedded in the skin, and looked up at him. “You know, after that little push, I could say I’m dizzy, nauseous, and my limbs feel weak. Then I could stand up, spin around a few times, and collapse. I could probably sue you for a condo, you know that?” My mother rushed over to help me up, but her eyes were fixed on Isabelle. “Isabelle, honey, don’t overthink it. It has nothing to do with you. You’re Mommy’s good girl. If anyone says otherwise, I’ll rip their tongue out!” Then she shot a glare at Liam. “Why would you push your sister? Honestly, you’re all brawn and no brain! Go to the backyard and pull weeds. No dinner until you’re finished!” Liam’s eyes flickered with a hint of regret as he saw the blood beading on my hand. But at the mention of weeding, his face hardened, a vein throbbing in his forehead. “What? I barely touched her! Who knows if she’s…” Isabelle immediately stepped in front of him and took my hand in a gesture of faux intimacy. “Sister, it’s okay, Liam didn’t mean it. Let me blow on it, it’ll feel better…” I calmly pulled my hand away. “No thanks. Your spit would be more effective. At least saliva has some antibacterial properties. Your breath isn’t exactly magical, and frankly, I find it a little gross.” As a med student, my precision was impeccable. I mentally gave myself an A+. The concern on Isabelle’s face froze, and she was left speechless. Then, a thought struck me. I frowned at her. “By the way, you don’t have tuberculosis, do you? Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be transmitted through respiratory droplets.” I took a deep breath and forced a warm, sunny smile at Liam. “But hey, we’re family, right? Of course I don’t blame you… bro.” The last word hit him like a physical blow. His face flushed a deep red. He let out a sharp scoff, turned on his heel, and stalked off toward the backyard. 2 The dinner spread was magnificent. But I was so hungry I was seeing stars, and I still hadn’t had a single bite. “Isabelle is so sweet. She won’t eat because she’s worried about her brother still weeding the garden,” my mother cooed. “Honey, just start without him,” my father added. “We can’t have our baby girl starving! That brother of yours made a mistake, he deserves to be punished.” Isabelle smiled shyly, her cheeks blushing. “It’s okay, Mom and Dad, I can wait. Let’s all eat together when Liam gets back. He’d be so sad if he came back to a table of leftovers.” She shot me a triumphant glance, then leaned in conspiratorially, her voice dripping with pity. “Sister, what happened this afternoon was Liam’s fault. I apologize on his behalf. Can you please forgive him and let him come eat?” My blood sugar was already dangerously low. It had started with tingling in my hands and feet, then blurry vision, and now a ringing in my ears. I was so deep in my own world I couldn’t process any external information. My breathing grew shallow. I started talking to myself. “The body burns carbohydrates first for energy, then fat, then protein. I think I’m about to hit stage two.” My mother, who was also worried about her son but too proud to admit it, seized the opportunity to lecture me. “Ava, I know your brother was also in the wrong this afternoon, but you’re siblings. You can’t be so petty. Look at your sister, she’s so much more mature. I know you’ve had a hard life, and I understand, but that’s not Isabelle’s fault…” Finally, my brain performed a forced shutdown. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I slumped sideways. As I fell, my hand conveniently knocked a bowl of lukewarm curry soup all over Isabelle. The unappetizing yellow liquid stained her limited-edition dress in ugly blotches. Her face turned green. “My new dress!” she shrieked. Liam had just walked in the door and saw me slide off the chair like a limp noodle. He sprinted over and caught me just before I hit the floor. He heard the shriek and instinctively looked up, only to see Isabelle recoiling from me in disgust, her brow furrowed as she stared down at her ruined dress. Sensing Liam’s gaze, she belatedly snapped back to reality, her face paling. “Liam… is Ava okay? The soup just burned me a little, but I’m fine, she’s more important!” Ignoring the mess on her clothes, she rushed over as if to help me. Liam’s flicker of suspicion vanished. He gave a distracted nod and lifted me into his arms, carrying me to my bedroom. My parents, startled by the sudden turn of events, followed anxiously upstairs. The dining room fell silent, leaving Isabelle alone, her fists clenched in rage, her beautiful, pitiful face twisted with resentment. When I woke up, I wasn’t staring at the moldy ceiling of the orphanage or the cramped walls of my dorm room. I was in a princess-style bedroom with a sparkling crystal chandelier. A teasing voice sounded from my side. “You’re awake?” “So, I hear you were asking for me.” 3 I turned my head. A man about my brother’s age was standing there, wearing a white lab coat. A jolt went through me. I shot up in bed. “Whoa, easy there! Don’t get too excited. I know I’m devastatingly handsome, but please, try to contain yourself.” “Did you graduate from King’s College of Medicine?” I asked, kneeling on the edge of the bed and staring at him with manic intensity. Miles Kent was silent for a moment, then looked up at the ceiling as if asking for divine intervention. “Can you please not call it that? It’s one of the top medical schools in the country.” The confirmation sent another jolt of excitement through me. “So, about my application…” Before I could finish, the door burst open. It was Isabelle, her voice edged with urgency. “Miles, you’re here!” She turned to me. “Ava, come down for dinner. Mom and Dad had the cook make a whole new meal. I wasn’t trying to be difficult earlier, I just wanted to wait for Liam…” Her eyes reddened as if she’d been deeply wronged. I tasted something sweet in my mouth—the glucose Miles must have given me—and gave a distracted nod. At the dinner table, a medium-rare steak was placed before each of us, flanked by a neat arrangement of knives and forks. Isabelle was exceptionally attentive, constantly refilling our parents’ glasses, earning their praise for being so filial. After sitting down, she gave a subtle smirk and looked at me with feigned concern. “Sister, why aren’t you eating? I had the chef make this steak especially for you. It’s perfect!” She gracefully cut a small piece with her knife and fork, but didn’t eat it. “Oh, sister, I’m so sorry. You probably don’t know how to use a knife and fork, do you? I can help you.” At her words, all eyes turned to me. One of the maids let out a small, derisive snort. My father’s face was stone, his eyes filled with disgust. I calmly pressed her hand down. “No need.” Was she kidding me? I aced my anatomy practical. I could isolate any nerve in the musculature of a cadaver on command. This little piece of beef was nothing. In seconds, it was cut into perfectly uniform cubes, neatly arranged on my plate. Isabelle’s nails dug into her palms, her smile strained. The rest of the meal was tasteless. My parents and Miles chatted amiably. I leaned closer to Isabelle. “Do you know what part of the cow this tenderloin comes from?” I whispered. “My guess is it’s equivalent to the psoas major in a human. Originating from the transverse processes and lateral aspects of the vertebral bodies from T12 to L5, extending down through the pelvis to insert on the lesser trochanter of the femur.” I continued, lightly tracing a line along her slender waist. “What do you think would happen if someone were to, say, stick a knife in right here?” Isabelle’s entire body went rigid. She started to tremble. When she didn’t respond, I kept going. “The books say this is a deep muscle group. If the person holding the knife had an unsteady hand, which nerve would they likely damage? Oh, right. The lumbar plexus.” The color drained from Isabelle’s face. She shot to her feet. Realizing her overreaction, she forced a stiff smile. “I’m… I’m full. I’m going to head up.” Everyone at the table stared. I spoke up, my voice light. “Where is she going? The guest hasn’t even finished eating. Don’t you think you spoil her a little too much, Mom and Dad?” My mother gave an awkward laugh, at a loss for words. My brother just kept his head down, lost in thought. After dinner, I went straight to my room. I’d heard the application review didn’t have a written test, but the professors would ask questions on the spot. I needed to review all the key concepts in internal medicine and surgery before the interview. 4 After my little scare tactic, I thought Isabelle might back off for a few days. I had no idea she was about to go completely off the rails. I was oblivious to her careful plotting. The application system allowed for three choices. I only submitted one: King’s College. All or nothing. This was it. “Hi, Miles. It’s Ava. So, I’ve been having some recurrent tonsillitis. On examination: T 36.2, P 78, R 16… apical impulse is located in the fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line…” Miles sounded annoyed. “Just send me a picture of the case study.” “Okay, Miles!” My relentless academic questioning finally wore him down. He offered to take me out to dinner. As I was leaving, I ran into Isabelle. She was dressed to the nines, looking stunning, clearly on her way to meet someone. “Oh, are you going out too, sister? Be careful on the road. It would be a shame if something happened to you. Mom and Dad would be so sad, I think.” Her words struck me as odd. My gaze fell to her exposed back. “You know, you have an issue with your back.” “Your scapulae are protruding. The medical term is winged scapula.” Isabelle, furious, slammed her purse against her leg and stormed out to her car, her usually sweet voice stiff with anger. “Sorry, sister, I’m in a hurry. You’ll just have to let me go first. Didn’t Mom and Dad tell you to take care of me?” I rolled my eyes and headed for the subway station. As I passed through a narrow alley, a sudden sense of unease washed over me. Suddenly, a sharp blow struck the back of my neck. He missed his mark. But I didn’t want a second hit, so I let my eyes roll back and went limp, collapsing to the ground. Several pairs of hands stuffed me into a burlap sack and threw me into the trunk of a car. I opened my eyes, turned on my phone’s video recorder from inside the sack, and sent a quick text to Miles. “I’ve been kidnapped. You’ll have to eat dinner alone.” Miles: ? “The assailant was an amateur,” I typed. “He was probably aiming for my carotid sinus to induce syncope, but he hit my cervical spine instead. The carotid sinus, as you know, is located on both sides of the neck and contains a high concentration of baroreceptors. Impressive, right? Even under duress, my foundational knowledge is solid.” I heard the trunk open and quickly put my phone away. They pulled me out of the sack and threw me on the ground. A cloyingly sweet perfume filled the air. It was familiar. It was Isabelle’s. “Okay, untie her, then tie me up. And then you need to cut me,” Isabelle’s delicate voice instructed from above. As soon as the ropes were off, I discreetly angled my phone’s camera towards her. She was just as ruthless as her mother, the nanny who had switched us at birth. The bodyguard hesitated, unwilling to cut the now-bound Isabelle. “Useless!” she hissed. “If you don’t cut me, how am I supposed to frame that bitch Ava? The more pathetic I look, the more Mom, Dad, and Liam will pity me, and the more they’ll hate her!” When the bodyguard still didn’t move, she got up and stumbled into the knife herself. “…Ouch. Okay, Mom and Dad should be here soon. You can go now. I’ll wire you the money, every last cent.” Not long after the bodyguards left, my parents and Liam rushed in. “Isabelle! Oh, Isabelle, please be okay! If anything happens to you, what will I do?” my mother wailed. “Don’t be afraid, sweetie, Dad’s here to save you! Ava! Get out here!” I chose that moment to let out a faint groan, giving them a clue to my location. Isabelle was trembling, tied up, tears streaming down her face like a tragic heroine. “No… sister, please let me go. I’ll never try to compete with you for Mom and Dad’s love again. I’ll leave the family right now, I’ll get out of your sight, just please don’t kill me…” My mother saw her pitiful state and the blood, and all the color drained from her face. She lunged forward. “Isabelle! Mommy’s here! Are you okay? Oh my god, the blood…” My father aimed a kick at me. I dodged to the side. Missing me only made him angrier. “You monster! You psycho! How could you do this to your own sister? I should never have brought a venomous snake like you into this house!” I pulled out my phone, opened the video, and held it out for them to see. “Watch for yourselves. It’s not like you’d believe anything I say anyway.”

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