Category: English

I hit the grand prize. $8.88 million. But the State Lottery Commission refused to pay out. “It’s a fake,” the clerk said, her voice flat. “The machine won’t scan it.” My mind went blank. “That’s impossible. I just bought it yesterday. I watched it print out of the machine with my own eyes. How could it be fake?” The clerk shot me a look of pure annoyance. “Are you still trying to pull this act? You know damn well it’s a fake. Trying to scam the Lottery Commission… you must be desperate for cash.” A cold dread washed over me, my heart beginning to hammer against my ribs. “If you won’t cash it, then give it back to me.” She scoffed. “Give it back? So you can go try to scam someone else? Dream on. We’re confiscating this counterfeit ticket. Make any more trouble, and I’m calling the cops.” As she spoke, she motioned for a security guard to come and throw me out. My heart felt like it was about to explode, but a slow smile spread across my face. She didn’t know I have severe persecutory delusion disorder. A scenario I had already run through in my head three hundred times. 1 The security guard’s hand had barely brushed my shoulder before I let my body go limp, collapsing to the floor. The cold of the linoleum was a welcome shock, a perfect balm for my overheating brain. My name is Leo, and caution is practically coded into my DNA. Before leaving the house, I check the gas stove three times. When crossing the street, even on a green light, I look both ways four times, scanning for out-of-control trucks. The moment I confirmed the winning numbers last night, I locked myself in the bathroom and created a new file on my laptop: “Risk Assessment and Contingency Plan for an $8.88 Million Lottery Win.” Scenario 1: Relatives trying to “borrow” money and never paying it back. Scenario 2: Getting into a car crash on the way to claim the prize. Scenario 3: The Lottery Commission refusing to honor the ticket. Scenario 4: Being kidnapped and held for ransom. … Scenario 18: The ticket being confiscated on the spot. And right now, we were deep into Scenario 18. “Agh! He’s hitting me! Security is assaulting a customer!” I wailed from the floor, my voice a pitch-perfect symphony of pain and fear. The lobby was already dotted with people buying tickets or cashing in small wins. At the sound of the commotion, heads snapped in our direction, drawn by the irresistible pull of drama. The uniformed security guard, a big guy, stood frozen with his hand still hovering in mid-air, a look of complete bewilderment on his face. He’d barely touched me. I’d just folded. “What the hell? I didn’t even touch you!” he blurted out, panicked. The clerk behind the counter stood up, pointing a finger at me. “Don’t listen to him! This man brought in a fake ticket to try and scam us. Now that he’s been caught, he’s causing a scene! Scammers these days have no shame!” I clutched my chest, taking huge, gasping breaths. “I’m not a scammer… The ticket… I bought it yesterday… at the shop on Oak Street… I have the receipt… the transaction record…” I panted, fumbling for my phone with a hand that trembled like I had Parkinson’s. “If you won’t cash it, fine… just give me my ticket back… It’s mine…” Murmurs rippled through the crowd. “Even if it’s a fake, you can’t just shove a guy to the ground, can you?” “Yeah, just give him the ticket back. What’s this about confiscating it?” “The kid looks pretty harmless, doesn’t seem like a con artist.” “Is the Lottery Commission this shady now?” The clerk’s face soured. She hadn’t expected this. She probably thought I’d be some hothead who would scream at her, or a coward who would run at the first sign of security. She had severely underestimated the strategic mind of a paranoid man. To prevent being easily dismissed, I had deliberately worn a faded old t-shirt with a frayed collar and a pair of scuffed-up sneakers, crafting the perfect image of a downtrodden, honest man. “You… Stop playing dead!” the clerk stammered, a note of panic in her voice. “A fake ticket is a fake ticket! We have the right to confiscate it according to regulations!” “Which regulation?” I asked, my breathing suddenly even. My voice was quiet, but it cut through the noise. The clerk froze. “Which law states that a merchant can unilaterally declare a customer’s property fraudulent and confiscate it? Do you have forensic authentication credentials? Are you a law enforcement agency?” The words tumbled out, a script I had rehearsed all night. A few older men in the crowd, who clearly knew a thing or two, immediately chimed in. “He’s right. Even counterfeit money has to be turned over to a bank. Who are you to take his lottery ticket?” The tide had turned. The clerk bit her lip, glaring at me with venom in her eyes. She knew the security guard wasn’t getting rid of me now. “Fine. You want to stay?” She snatched the receiver of her desk phone. “I’m calling my manager. Let’s see how tough you are when he gets here. You won’t know what hit you.” 2 The manager was fast. In less than five minutes, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, his hair slicked back, emerged from an inner office. His name was Davies. I’d looked up this lottery branch last night. While he wasn’t the legal owner, he’d been the manager here for five years, with a reputation for having connections on both sides of the law. “What’s going on out here? What’s all this shouting? This is a place of business!” Davies first snapped at the clerk, then turned to me with a placating smile, extending a hand to help me up. “Sir, the floor is cold. Why don’t you get up and we can talk this through? We’re a legitimate establishment; we would never mistreat a customer.” A master. A true silver-tongued devil. He started with courtesy, diffusing the crowd’s anger and positioning himself as the reasonable authority figure. I let him help me up, patting the dust off my pants. “You’re the manager?” “I am,” Davies said with a nod, his smile never wavering. “I understand you came to cash a ticket, but my colleague believes it might be a counterfeit?” “It’s not a counterfeit. It’s real,” I said, looking him straight in the eye. “The grand prize. $8.88 million.” When I said “$8.88 million,” I saw a muscle in Davies’s jaw twitch. It was almost imperceptible. “Well, real or not isn’t something we can decide with words alone,” Davies sighed, adopting a professional, by-the-book tone. “Where’s the ticket? Let me have a look.” The clerk handed the ticket to him. Davies took it, held it up to the light, and ran his thumb over the paper. “Sir,” he began, placing the ticket on the counter and tapping it lightly with his finger. “There is, indeed, a problem with this ticket.” “What problem?” “The paper stock is wrong,” Davies said, his face a mask of sympathy. “This thermal paper… it’s not the same batch we use at the commission. And this security watermark, while it looks authentic at a glance, a professional can spot the flaws immediately. What’s more…” He paused, raising his voice just enough to capture the room. “What’s more, the serial number on this ticket does not exist in our system. Which means this ticket was never officially issued.” A gasp went through the crowd. “Not in the system? You mean it’s from an illegal lottery?” “Wow, the kid looked so honest. Turns out he’s a forger after all.” “He almost had me fooled. People like that are the worst!” The same people who had been on my side moments ago turned on me in an instant. That’s the nature of a mob. They follow whoever sounds the most authoritative, whoever speaks the loudest. Davies was clearly pleased with the effect. His eyes held a look of contempt, as if to say, You want to play games with me, kid? You’re out of your league. “Since it’s a counterfeit, we’ll have to handle it according to protocol,” Davies announced, casually tucking the $8.88 million ticket into his pocket. “Wait.” I spoke up. “You say it’s not in the system?” I pulled out my phone and played a video. “This is a recording I took when I bought the ticket yesterday. From the moment I paid to the machine printing it, to me taking it in my hand. It’s one continuous, unedited shot. The video even captures the time on the machine and the official number of this branch.” I held the phone screen up for Davies to see. The video clearly showed that very ticket spitting out of their machine. Davies’s smile froze on his face. He never expected I would have recorded it. What kind of normal person records themselves buying a lottery ticket? But he was a seasoned pro. The shock lasted only a second before he regained his composure. “Videos can be edited. It could be clever camera work,” Davies sneered. “With today’s AI deepfake technology, a fake video is nothing. Besides, how can you prove the ticket in that video is the same one you brought in today?” Shameless. Utterly, completely shameless. This is exactly why my paranoia exists. The wicked don’t need logic to do evil; they only need power, or in this case, a thick skin. “So what are you going to do?” I asked. “Nothing,” Davies shrugged. “To prevent you from attempting this scam elsewhere, we are required to destroy this counterfeit ticket.” “You wouldn’t dare!” I roared, lunging forward. The security guard immediately stepped in my way, shoving me back. “What are you doing? Trying to rob the place?” the clerk shrieked. The scene descended into chaos. 3 “I’m calling the police! I want to report this!” I yelled, stumbling backward as the guard pushed me. “No need. I already have,” Davies said, quicker on the draw. He held up his own phone. “This kind of fraudulent activity must be handled by the authorities!” The thief crying wolf. He wanted to strike first, using the authority of the police to definitively frame the situation. Once the police classified this as a dispute or attempted fraud and took me away, that $8.88 million would be gone forever. The people in the crowd were now looking at me like I was an idiot. From their perspective, the manager who willingly called the police must be in the right, while I, the one shouting and resisting, was clearly the one with something to hide. The wait for the police was agonizingly silent. I leaned against a corner wall, forcing myself to drink water from a bottle. My hands were still shaking, but I made myself count the tiles on the floor, anything to steady my breathing. Ten minutes later, two police officers walked in. “Who called 911?” “I did, Officer!” Davies transformed into a model citizen, rushing to greet them. “Officer, we have a man here attempting to commit fraud with a counterfeit lottery ticket. The amount is substantial, $8.88 million! When we discovered his scheme, he started causing a disturbance.” The lead officer was in his forties, with a square jaw and a calm demeanor. He looked at Davies, then at me, huddled in the corner. “Is that you?” the officer asked me. I stood up straight and presented the materials I had prepared. “Officer, I came here to claim my prize. This is my ID, this is the video of me purchasing the ticket, this is the digital receipt, and this is the audio recording of my conversation with the clerk…” Like a presenter at a conference, I laid out my evidence one by one. The officer took my phone and watched the video, his brow furrowing. The footage was crystal clear; it was undeniably this branch’s machine. “Sir, how do you explain this video?” the officer asked, showing the phone to Davies. Davies waved it away without a second glance. “Officer, that video is edited! You know what technology can do these days. And even if he did buy a ticket here, that doesn’t prove the one he brought in today is the real one. He could have bought a real one, then had an expert forger make a copy to cash in, keeping the original to claim the prize twice!” The logic was a perfect, insidious loop. As long as he insisted the ticket was “swapped” or a “high-quality forgery,” I was trapped. The physical ticket itself was the only proof. The officer seemed conflicted. This kind of dispute, especially one requiring technical verification, was difficult to resolve on the spot. “Alright, for now, give me the ticket. We’ll take it back to the station for forensic analysis,” the officer declared. “Of course, no problem. We are happy to cooperate with the police,” Davies said, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the ticket. But as he pulled it out, his wrist seemed to jerk. Sssshhh-rip! The ticket, worth $8.88 million, was torn in half in his hand. The entire room fell silent. Even the officers were stunned. “Oh, my goodness!” Davies exclaimed dramatically, letting the two pieces flutter to the floor. “So sorry, my hand slipped. This paper is so flimsy! See, Officer? These fakes have terrible quality. They just fall apart.” As he spoke, he made a show of trying to pick it up, his foot “accidentally” grinding one of the halves into the grimy floor. It was over. Utterly over. Even if the pieces could be reassembled, a ticket that damaged was completely void. “What do you think you’re doing!” the officer finally reacted, shoving Davies aside, but the damage was done. The ticket was now just a pile of worthless paper. Davies looked at the officer with an expression of pure innocence. “Officer, I truly didn’t mean to. Besides, it’s just a fake ticket. Tearing it up is probably for the best, keeps it from fooling anyone else.” A few whispers of pity and satisfaction rippled through the crowd. I just stood there, frozen. Anger? No. What I felt in that moment… was relief. It was as if the final boot I had been waiting for had finally dropped. They had actually done it. Exactly as I had predicted in my mental simulation, Scenario 18, Sub-protocol C: “Violent Destruction of Evidence.” A strange, exhilarating thrill coursed through my veins.

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The moment I found out I was the long-lost heir to the Marshall fortune, I spent the night cutting my already short hair even shorter. I was already five-foot-ten, so I slipped an extra inch of lifts into my shoes. When the old family butler who came to pick me up addressed me as “young master,” I simply gave a silent nod. I was terrified of getting caught in some predictable, dramatic clash between the real and fake heiress. But I never imagined the fake one wouldn’t let me off the hook anyway. At my own welcome-home party, she got me completely drunk. When I woke up, I was in her bed. Sophie Marshall was draped in my older brother’s suit jacket, her sobs wracking her body. “I don’t know… Alex… he said he’d had too much to drink… I didn’t know he would force himself on me…” A fist slammed into my face. It was my brother, Johnny. “You animal! That’s your sister! How could you do something like that to your own sister?” I turned my head, my cheek throbbing, and saw the profound disappointment etched on my parents’ faces. My mother was cradling Sophie, her heart breaking, pointing a trembling finger at me as if she wanted to scream but couldn’t find the words. My father’s face was a dark storm cloud as he apologized to the murmuring crowd. “My sincerest apologies to everyone. It seems I’ve failed in raising my son. I’m deeply embarrassed you had to witness this.” “Wait a minute!” Failed in raising your son? For crying out loud, I’m a woman! 1. “I didn’t do anything!” I shouted, cutting through the awkward attempts of the guests to smooth things over. My head was still spinning, but even a fool could see what was happening. Sophie was trying to frame me. After I was taken as a child, I ended up in a remote, impoverished rural town, adopted by a childless couple. Life was hard out there, and you had to be tougher to survive. For my own protection, my adoptive parents raised me as a boy. My height shot up to nearly six feet, and with my perennial short hair, I looked the part. When I returned to the Marshall family, my biological parents never even bothered to ask. They just assumed I was their long-lost son. I’d meant to correct them, but then I caught the wary look in Sophie’s eyes and understood. If they knew I was a girl, she would only see me as a bigger threat. But that was no damn reason to accuse me of rape! I gingerly touched my swelling cheek where Johnny had punched me. “Me?” I asked, my voice incredulous. “You’re saying I raped Sophie?” At my words, Sophie’s tears, which had momentarily subsided, burst forth in a fresh torrent. “Alex… I don’t blame you… This was all my fault to begin with.” She staggered, trying to climb out of the bed. “Dad, Mom, it seems Alex will never accept me.” “I know I’ve been a usurper all these years, living the life that should have been his. I’ve been your daughter for two decades… please, just let me bow to you one last time.” “After this, I’ll go back to the mountains. You won’t have to worry about whether I live or die anymore.” That was too much for our mother, Eleanor. She broke down completely, clutching Sophie as they wept together. Johnny pointed a shaking finger at me, his voice raw with fury. “Alex Marshall! You’re a monster! Sophie is a sweet, delicate girl. No matter how much you resented her, you had no right to destroy her like this!” “How is she supposed to face the world now?” I pressed my fingers to my temples, a splitting headache blooming behind my eyes. “That’s impossible!” I insisted. I might look like a guy, but I was one hundred percent female. What was I supposed to have raped her with? I had no idea what Sophie’s endgame was, but her intentions were clearly malicious. I mustered all my strength. “You can’t just decide what happened!” I yelled. “I’m a woman!” My voice, naturally a lower alto and not a high soprano, was now a rough rasp from sleep and stress. But everyone in that room had already made up their minds. Not a single person believed me. My own father, Arthur Marshall, stood to the side, his face a grim mask. Seeing his reaction, the guests began offering their “understanding” condolences. “Don’t worry, Arthur. Everyone in the city knows what a stand-up man you are.” “The young master just returned, after all. He didn’t grow up under your guidance. You’ll just need to spend more time with him.” “Thank goodness Johnny has always been so sensible and decent. He’s never given you a moment’s worry. I’m sure he’ll be more than capable of leading the company in the future.” I cursed my father silently. I thought pretending to be a boy would spare me this kind of drama, but it had played right into their hands. My eyes scanned the crowd, freezing when they landed on Johnny. Logically, he should have been consumed with rage and pity for Sophie, whose reputation was now in tatters. But for a split second, I saw a flash of triumph on his face. My gaze darted to Sophie, and I caught a glint of cunning in her tear-filled eyes. My mind went blank. The people around me were muttering about how I was dodging responsibility, how I was psychologically disturbed. Johnny lunged at me again, his fist raised. “You gutless coward! You ruin Sophie’s life and now you’re trying to lie your way out of it?” I was still weak, the drugs not fully out of my system, and I barely managed to stumble out of the way. My head felt like it was going to explode. “I’m a woman! How could I have possibly raped her?” Before the words were even out of my mouth, another punch connected with my jaw. “Have you no conscience? No shame?” Johnny roared. “You’d say anything to escape the consequences!” “Are you even a man?” Damn it, I thought. That’s the whole point. I’m not. 2. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. What would I even gain by publicly raping Sophie? A forced marriage into the Marshall family? Besides, I hadn’t done a damn thing! Did they really think I wouldn’t know what was, or wasn’t, between my own legs? “I told you, I was drugged,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “I’m a victim here, too. If you don’t believe me, check the security cameras.” My father’s face immediately hardened. Johnny sneered. “You have the nerve to bring that up? The security system has worked perfectly for years, but tonight, every camera malfunctioned. You expect us to believe you had nothing to do with that?” “Let me tell you something,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low threat. “Don’t think you can pull some disgusting stunt like this to trap my sister. It won’t happen.” I was trembling with fury. Seeing my state, Sophie only cried harder. “Father, Mother, I know Alex doesn’t like me. It’s all my fault he had to suffer for all those years.” “He’s getting his revenge now, and I don’t blame him…” She choked on a sob, her performance worthy of an Oscar. The onlookers’ faces were filled with contempt for me. Sophie added the finishing touch. “Alex, I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’ve already given you the most precious thing a girl has. I just beg you… please, leave me alone from now on.” With a dramatic flourish, she threw back the covers. There, on the pristine white sheets, was a stark crimson stain. Coupled with her look of shame and violation, the message was unmistakable: I had taken her virginity. A wave of condemnation washed over me from the crowd. “What an absolute animal. It’s not like Miss Marshall asked him to spend twenty years in some backwater town.” “He’s a grown man, for God’s sake. How can he have such a fragile ego, taking it all out on a young woman?” “I actually thought he was quite handsome, a good match for Miss Marshall since he’s a true Marshall. But who knew he was capable of something so vile.” My chest heaved with rage, and the lingering weakness from the drugs made my face turn deathly pale. I’m a woman, for crying out loud! Did Sophie prick her own finger or something? And why frame me like this? Just to ruin my reputation? That seemed incredibly stupid. My father, Arthur, pointed a trembling finger at me. “You wretched creature! How could I have fathered such a monster! Shut your mouth, I’ll deal with you later!” He clearly wanted to contain the scandal, to get everyone out and pin all the blame on me. My window to explain was closing fast. I took a deep breath, ready to scream the truth one more time, but Johnny kicked me square in the chest. The world spun, and before I could even curse him, everything went black. When I came to, Johnny had already packed my few belongings. “Get out,” he snarled. “Take your things and get out of this house. Don’t ever show your face here again.” Something felt wrong. “Where are Mom and Dad?” A cruel smile twisted Johnny’s lips. “You still have the nerve to mention them? Sophie’s in the hospital, traumatized. They’re with her.” “Get out before they come back. Stop poisoning this family with your presence.” I stared at Johnny, my mind racing. Even if they were all disappointed in me, wouldn’t my father, concerned with public perception, want to keep me under lock and key to prevent more trouble? Simply kicking me out without a word didn’t make sense. I hesitated. Seeing me stall, Johnny physically shoved me and my luggage into a car. My head was spinning with questions, but as I lay on the bed in my graduate school dorm later that night, I pushed them all away. Who cares? I never wanted to be a part of the Marshall family anyway. Their opinions meant nothing to me. The only reason I’d come back was to get them to pay for my master’s degree. My adoptive parents were getting older, and having the Marshalls foot the bill was a convenient solution. I buried my face in my pillow, inhaling deeply. Studying was what mattered. To hell with the Marshalls. With that, I threw myself into my research group’s work ahead of schedule. Just before the semester officially began, I received a rare call from Arthur Marshall. It was the first time anyone from the family had contacted me since Sophie’s setup. “You little bastard! Get your ass back home, now!” I was baffled. Was he having some kind of episode? Before I could ask why he was screaming at me, the line went dead. Damn it. He hung up. 3. Swallowing my rage, I stormed back to the Marshall mansion. What was with this family? One day I’m being framed, the next I’m being screamed at over the phone. If they didn’t want to pay for my tuition, they could just say so! I slammed open the grand front door. The moment Johnny saw me, he lunged, his fist flying toward my face again. This time, I was ready. I sidestepped his clumsy punch and planted a solid kick on his rear. A deep sense of satisfaction washed over me. The last time, I was drugged and caught off guard. Did he really think he could pull that again? I’d grown up doing hard farm labor, and I put every ounce of my strength into that kick. Johnny went down with a groan. Ignoring the shocked and furious expressions of the rest of the family, I strode to the sofa and plopped down. “What do you want now?” My sharp tone seemed to snap Arthur out of his stupor. While motioning for someone to help Johnny up, he turned to me, his face grim. “You have the audacity to ask? You monster!” “Sophie’s pregnant!” I spat out a mouthful of tea, drenching the newly upright Johnny. “What the hell? Are you kidding me?” How could I have gotten her pregnant? I didn’t have the necessary equipment! Sophie, clutching a pregnancy test report, threw herself into our mother’s arms. “W-what am I going to do?” she wailed. “Everyone in the city thinks I belong to Alex now, but if he won’t acknowledge the baby, it will be illegitimate.” “Dad, Mom, please don’t force him,” she sobbed. “It’s okay. We can just… get rid of it. I’m not afraid of hurting my body.” She cried as if her heart was breaking, which in turn brought fresh tears to our mother’s eyes. Johnny’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. “How dare you deny it? Who else could it be? What about Sophie’s reputation? What will people say about her now?” “You want her to have an abortion? What kind of man are you?” For the last time, I’m not a man! My face was a thundercloud. “A simple DNA test will prove whether or not it’s my child.” I grabbed Sophie’s arm, intending to drag her out the door. She resisted, weeping dramatically, but her words were honey-sweet. “Dad, Mom, it’s fine. A prenatal test is okay. It might be risky for the baby, but if Alex insists… I’ll have to apologize to my child first.” “Once the results are out and my name is cleared,” she declared, “I’ll just end my life. At least in death, my innocence will be restored.” I was floored by her masterful performance, staring at her in disbelief. Even an idiot could see what was happening now. She was knocked up and needed a scapegoat to play the fool, the cuckolded father. My intense gaze seemed to unnerve her. “Alex,” she whispered, “I won’t force you. You’re free. Don’t worry, I won’t pin this child on you.” “I just… I want you to acknowledge its existence. I don’t want it to be an unwanted child with no father.” I let out a cold, humorless laugh. I was drugged unconscious that night; I had no idea what really happened. If I hadn’t been a woman, I might have actually believed I’d been overcome by lust and assaulted her. But since I was missing a key piece of anatomy, I couldn’t very well take the credit. Johnny slammed his fist on the table. “Dad, Mom, Sophie, we’re keeping this baby! The Marshall family is powerful enough. We can certainly afford to raise one more child.” “Are we really going to let Sophie go through that kind of pain? And what’s the point of forcing this animal to acknowledge it?” He then turned to Sophie, his voice softening. “Don’t worry, I’ll be the baby’s godfather. I’ll help you raise it. Even if you never marry, your big brother can support you and the child for the rest of your lives.” I looked from one family member to the next, then spoke in a low, deliberate voice. “Why are you so worked up about this?” “It’s not your baby, is it?” 4. The moment the words left my mouth, the room fell silent. Johnny froze for a fraction of a second before his rage returned full force. But I saw it. That flicker of panic. A smirk played on my lips. So, Johnny was involved in this charade. Arthur started roaring about family discipline, and my mother pointed at me, calling me heartless. I couldn’t be bothered to respond. They wouldn’t believe me anyway. “No matter who the father is, it has nothing to do with me,” I stated flatly. “If you think I’m going to raise your bastard child for you, you can dream on.” With that, I turned and walked out. Back at university, I buried myself in the lab, often not returning to my dorm until the middle of the night. The next morning, I woke up to my phone exploding with notifications. When I saw what was trending on social media, the world went dark, and I nearly fainted. The top headlines were variations of the same theme: [MARSHALL SIBLING INCEST: A LIVE DRAMA], [THE TRUE HEIR RAPES THE IMPOSTER HEIRESS, SHOCKING PREGNANCY IN HIGH-SOCIETY SCANDAL!], [POWER PLAY OR PERVERSION? CUNNING HEIR’S FAMILY FEUD]. Attached was a video of Sophie standing on the edge of a river, preparing to jump. “It’s not Alex’s fault,” she cried to the cameras. “The Marshall family has been so good to me. The only way to repay them is with my life.” “Alex,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion, “I never blamed you. My only wish is that after I’m gone, you’ll give our unborn child a name.” Just as she was about to leap, Johnny rushed in from out of nowhere, pulling her back into his arms. He then faced the media, his voice ringing with righteous fury. “Alex Marshall is a wolf in sheep’s clothing! He has been disowned! The Marshall family no longer has a person named Alex Marshall!” I scrolled through the comments, my hands shaking with rage. The story had gone viral, and the internet was a cesspool of vitriol directed at me. “OMG, are all rich families this messed up? A brother raping his sister? My mind is blown.” “Honestly, it’s not the girl’s fault she was switched at birth. Taking it all out on her, what a coward!” “That’s how bullies are. They only pick on the weak. I feel so bad for Miss Marshall.” “Scumbags like him should be drawn and quartered! He doesn’t deserve to live!” A firestorm of anger churned in my chest, and my eyes burned red. I refreshed the page. The Marshall family had already called a press conference. On the screen, my father stood grim-faced while Johnny held a sobbing Sophie. I was trembling, not with fear, but with incandescent rage. I hailed a cab and sped towards the press conference. I arrived just in time to hear my father’s cold, measured words. “Alex did not grow up in this family. For him to commit such a monstrous act is a profound failure on our part as parents. We will accept all criticism.” “As for the child my daughter is carrying, if she wishes to keep it, the Marshall family will raise it as our own, with the same rights of inheritance.” A reporter shouted a question. “Mr. Marshall, what punishment will your son face for this unforgivable act?” Another followed up. “Will the Marshall family protect him because of his bloodline? If so, where is the justice? What about the law?” Johnny stepped forward, a cold sneer on his lips. “Alex refuses to take responsibility. He lacks even the most basic human decency. The Marshall family will not shelter such a monster.” “He made this disgusting mess, and he will face the consequences alone. We are officially disowning him, and he will be expelled from this family!” The room erupted in applause. The villain was getting his just deserts. I looked at Johnny’s self-righteous act and arched an eyebrow in disgust. Suddenly, a brilliant idea sparked in my mind. I pushed my way through the throng of reporters until I reached the stage. The crowd buzzed with excitement and disgust as they realized who I was. “Isn’t that Alex Marshall? How shameless can he be, showing his face here?” “A monster in a handsome disguise. He looks so polished, but he’s a beast!” I ignored their insults. When Johnny saw me, he pointed a finger at me, roaring, “What are you doing here? Don’t you dare try to hurt Sophie again!” The audience praised him for being such a protective brother. I rolled my eyes, then snatched a microphone from the podium, stunning him into silence. My voice was calm and steady. “Sophie and I… we’re in love.”

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I was a child bride, sold to the Sterling family out of desperation. Julian Sterling hated me from the start. He hated that I was older than him. He hated that I tried to manage him. He hated that I ate three white buns at a meal. “When I grow up, I definitely won’t marry you. Go back home!” Go home? Home meant endless beatings and bowls of watery vegetable gruel. I was terrified. Out of options, I made a deal with him: we would treat each other as brother and sister in private. Once he succeeded in life, we would go our separate ways and marry other people. Later, Mrs. Sterling passed away, and we had only each other to rely on. In our hardest year, I sold myself as a servant to a teacher so Julian could become his student. We endured. Finally, ten years later. Julian graduated top of his class from the academy, securing a bright future. But he reneged on our deal. 1 I wanted to go back home and get married. I had wanted to tell Julian this for a long time. Auntie May had sent a letter saying she found a good match for me. The second son of the town’s miller. His family was well-off, and he was a decent man. He had an older and a younger brother, so he didn’t need to carry on the family name and could marry into my family if needed. It sounded like a great match. But after Julian’s success, he was incredibly busy. Drinking with classmates one day, attending banquets with superiors the next. I tried to find him several times, but his assistant, Ford, always stopped me. “Mr. Sterling is a man of status now. He’s very busy. Please wait a little longer, Miss.” After hitting a wall several times, I gave up and started packing. I didn’t have much. Just like my ten years in the Sterling family, gone in a blink. My mother forced the Sterling family to buy me as a child bride. During the famine, with no way to survive, a twelve-year-old girl was sold for next to nothing. The Sterlings were once nobility in the capital. But a relative committed a crime, Mr. Sterling was implicated and executed, and Mrs. Sterling spent the family fortune to flee to the countryside with her young son. But a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The Sterlings at least had a sturdy house and ate white flour buns. Hearing the Sterlings wanted a child bride, poor families from miles around came. My mother pushed through the crowd, dragging me to Mrs. Sterling. Right in front of her, she lifted my shirt, patting her chest and guaranteeing I could bear children. I wanted to die of shame. Mrs. Sterling, born into a scholarly family and kind-hearted, saw no choice but to buy me. Because of this, nine-year-old Julian hated me. He was already in school and knew many principles. He said women should be modest and have a sense of shame. My behavior was shameless. He hated that I was older, bossy, and ate three buns a meal. “I won’t marry you when I grow up. Go back home!” I was terrified. Mrs. Sterling treated me well, never skimping on food or clothes, and even gave me pocket money. When I tucked Julian in at night, she made sure I had enough blankets. I didn’t have much work. When I picked Julian up from school, I could even listen in on the lessons. Who would want to leave this paradise? Home meant beatings and gruel. I didn’t want to suffer anymore. Desperate, I spent months coaxing Julian. “Treat me as your maid, or your sister.” “When you make it big, I’ll go home and marry someone else. We’ll have nothing to do with each other. Okay?” He tormented me for months before finally agreeing. We endured for ten years. Finally, Julian achieved top honors. According to our agreement, it was time for me to go. 2 The next day was Julian’s day off. He sent someone to take me to see the new house. When Julian and I first came to the capital for his studies, we were broke and rented an old house in a poor alley. A tiny courtyard, leaking roof, peeling walls. We lived there for years. After his brilliant performance in the final exams, the Emperor gifted him a large mansion. The new house was in the affluent West District. Ford led me in. A massive estate with five courtyards, white walls, and dark tiles. Pavilions and towers artfully arranged. Flowers and trees lined the winding paths. From a distance, I heard a gentle female voice. “Julian, she’s taken care of you for years. She deserves a title, even if it’s just for her hard work.” “Otherwise, after we marry, how will she stay in the household? Although the Carter family has a rule against concubines, if you agree, I’ll ask my father.” Clara Carter. The daughter of Julian’s mentor, Grand Tutor Carter. elegant and virtuous, she grew up with Julian. If the Sterlings hadn’t fallen on hard times, they would have been married by now. Now, their families were matched in status and knew each other well. They were preparing to discuss marriage. Ford stopped at just the right spot. Close enough to hear, but hidden from view. “She” must refer to me. Julian’s aunt sighed. “That girl is good. Decent looking, gentle personality. But being a concubine isn’t a proper life.” “I thought, after you marry, we could match her with an honest servant, add some dowry, and marry her off respectably.” Clara smiled gently. “Julian is sentimental; he must be reluctant.” “But Auntie’s thought is thorough. A woman is always more respectable as a main wife.” In a few sentences, my path was chosen. Marry me off to a servant far away. It saved the Sterling family’s face and made Clara happy. Julian hesitated for a moment. That moment made Clara’s face darken instantly. Seeing this, Julian laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice. “A servant girl. Is she worth all this trouble from you?” The wind picked up, chilling the sweat on my forehead. I lowered my eyes and exhaled slowly. Servant girl. Being a servant is fine. Ten years as a servant. I repaid Mrs. Sterling’s kindness. From now on, debts paid, ties severed. 3 After Clara left, I stepped out from the shadows. Dusk fell, servants lit the lamps. The wind blew through the courtyard, making the lights flicker. Perhaps due to hard work, Julian was thinner. His face was handsome, his brow showing a new maturity. Seeing me, his expression stiffened slightly. But in an instant, he wore a warm smile. “Sister, you’re just in time. The West Courtyard is ready. See if you need anything else.” I looked into his eyes and asked directly if our agreement still stood. Julian stared at me for a long time, then laughed. “Sister, you heard Clara just now and got mad, so you’re bringing up old history, right?” He was dodging the question. “The Carter family helped me greatly. Marrying Clara is repaying a debt and fulfilling a childhood bond. Sister, don’t overthink it.” His words made me want to laugh. Julian’s reaction was within my expectations. He had been smart and perceptive since childhood, always planning before acting. Such a clever person must have already decided my fate. I knew he didn’t want me to go. First, he was new to the political scene. A reputation for being heartless wasn’t good. Second, he was used to me handling everything. Keeping me around was convenient. But that wasn’t what I wanted. I asked again. “If the agreement is void, how do you plan to place me?” Julian’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his eyes darkening. The candlelight reflected in my eyes like stars. He looked for a long time, finally realizing I wasn’t joking. “Sister, our years together are different from others.” “I said I would give you a good life.” Thirteen-year-old Julian said that to me. When the local scholar took students, the tuition was thirty silver taels a year. I sold myself as a servant to the teacher in exchange for his spot. In the dead of winter, he visited me. Seeing me gnawing on a cold bun and picking at my chilblains, his eyes reddened. I teased him, asking what a good life was. He thought for a moment, eyes burning. “Sister, as long as you are with me, it’s a good life.” But now, his good life was a soaring career and a beautiful wife. He didn’t need me anymore. I shook my head gently and took a bird whistle from my pocket. Julian froze. The year I arrived at the Sterling house, Julian hated me and refused to call my name. He used this to summon me. One blow to wash his face, two to feed him, three to carry him out to play. Occasionally four blows meant I was in trouble. He was beautiful but full of tricks to drive me away. But later, this same whistle saved him. When bandits attacked our boat, the urgent blows helped me find him underwater. An old, worn safety amulet. When locusts plagued our hometown and Julian caught a fever, I kowtowed every step to the temple to get it. And an old silver hairpin. When Mrs. Sterling died and relatives tried to seize the inheritance, I stood in front of Julian, stabbing the first person who rushed up with it. These items represented the years of bond he spoke of. Years passed, and I learned to calculate too. I wanted to use this bond to buy my freedom. He still held my indentured servant contract. My chips were few. I could only gamble that he would honor our years of interdependence and let us part on good terms. Julian was moved. He finally compromised. “The agreement stands. But one thing, Sister must listen to me.” “The capital is full of talented men. With me to vet them, you will surely find a good husband.” He wanted me to marry in the capital. 4 News of my search for a husband brought matchmakers to the door. Thanks to Julian’s status, the list contained respectable families. He reviewed it carefully, circling several names for me to meet. But I met them all, and none were suitable. Though their backgrounds and looks were decent, they seemed frivolous. Seeing the delay, Clara got impatient. She visited specifically to tell me she found a good family. “Autumn, though you come from humble beginnings, you’ve been with Julian for years. You can’t delay forever.” A twenty-two-year-old spinster. Indeed, time was pressing. She said Commander Zhou of the Imperial Guard was looking for a caring wife. I stared at the portrait of the man with stern brows. Ethan Zhou. From the prestigious Zhou family of Hedong. Though a branch member, his talent was exceptional. He climbed to his position on his own. But rumors said he was cold and uninterested in women. Still unmarried at twenty-five. “Commander Zhou has no parents to serve, no siblings to raise. Once you marry, you’re the mistress of the house. You can close the door and live your life.” It was indeed a good match. High above my station. It showed how eager Clara was to marry me off. Born into a scholarly family, she was always polite and measured. She never lost her composure with me. Except when it came to love, she was assertive. From her perspective, it was understandable. I agreed.

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After a fight with my boyfriend, he video-called me from his dorm to apologize. In the background, his roommate scoffed: “What a pathetic simp. I’d never beg a woman like that in my life.” The next second, he walked past, and our eyes met through the screen. I found myself staring at my ex-boyfriend, whom I had broken up with a year ago. The last memory I had of him was the day we broke up. He was kneeling in front of me, eyes red, begging. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave me.” 1 I haven’t seen Liam in a year. He’s changed a lot. His features are still sharp, but the reckless arrogance has been replaced by a brooding steadiness. Our eyes locked for a second before he quickly looked away, sneering. “She’s nothing special.” Then he walked away. But as he left, he stumbled, his left foot catching his right, almost tripping. My boyfriend, Chase, wasn’t happy. He turned and yelled at him. “My baby is the most beautiful! You’re just jealous I have such a gorgeous girlfriend.” “Jealous? Bullshit.” Liam’s face darkened as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Chase turned back to the screen, voice soft. “Babe, don’t listen to his nonsense. I was wrong today. I really didn’t know you hated peeling shrimp. From now on, I’ll peel them all for you.” I didn’t say anything. He continued, “Didn’t you say you liked that new Chanel bag? And that watch you were eyeing? My mom is a VIC client, no waiting list. I’ll take you to get them tonight, okay?” I looked down at my nails. “Getting a manicure tonight. No time.” Chase’s voice remained gentle. “Then I’ll buy them and bring them to you. Do you like black or white?” “Both are nice. Can’t choose.” “Then I’ll buy both. Babe, please don’t be mad anymore? I’ll buy a bucket of crawfish and peel them for you too.” I finally nodded. “Fine, I forgive you this time. But don’t make me angry again.” Relief washed over Chase’s face, his smile returning. “I know. It won’t happen again.” If anyone saw Chase, the stoic Computer Science genius, acting this clingy and submissive, their jaws would drop. Liam sat nearby, staring at a blank phone screen. Every time we spoke, he’d let out a cold laugh, like a heckler in the audience. Finally, Chase couldn’t take it anymore. He turned around. “Liam, what’s your problem today?” Liam said coldly, “She’s this high-maintenance when you just started dating? You’re in for a world of pain. I advise you to break up now, or you’ll suffer later.” “I’m happy to suffer. It’s not your problem anyway.” Chase looked Liam up and down. “Liam, you usually don’t give a damn about girls. Why are you reacting so strongly to my girlfriend?” Liam’s face turned even darker. He sat there, stony-faced and silent. “Hang up,” I said, glancing at Liam’s collarbone. Suddenly, it all felt pointless. I didn’t want to flaunt my new relationship in front of my ex. It felt petty. I used to hate Liam. I used to imagine finding someone better and rubbing it in his face, showing him I didn’t need him. But now, I realized I had truly moved on. “Okay,” Chase kissed the screen. “I’ll pick you up for class later.” 2 I didn’t expect Liam to show up first. “Where’s Chase?” I looked behind him. “You said you didn’t have an umbrella. He went to buy you one.” Liam held his umbrella over my head, his expression grim. “How do you still not remember to bring an umbrella after all this time?” I ignored his question. “Why are you here?” His tone was aggressive. “I’m taking this class too. What, is that forbidden?” In the pouring rain, the umbrella cast a shadow over us, creating a small, isolated world. The scent of wet earth and freshly cut grass instantly pulled me back to the summer I was seventeen. I pouted, looking out the window at the torrential rain. “Liam, I just bought these sandals. They were expensive! They can’t get wet.” He looked impatient. “Why wear them if you knew it was going to rain?” “Because they look good! I wore them for our date. If you’re going to be mean, I won’t go out with you anymore!” “Fine, fine,” he sighed, squatting in front of me. “Hop on. I’ll carry you. You hold the umbrella, okay?” I smiled and jumped onto his back. The faint scent of mint and verbena on him mixed with the rain, creating a humid, earthy smell. I rested on his warm, dry shoulder, feeling the sting of the blisters from my new shoes fade away. Liam hefted me up. “Why are you so light? Did you skip meals again? Dieting secretly?” I mumbled, “It’s summer. I want to wear cute dresses. Don’t I look good skinny?” “You look like crap,” he tilted his head to dodge the umbrella I was struggling to hold up. “Skinny and ugly. Sarah, can you hold the umbrella properly? You hit me like three times!” “Oh.” I leaned close to his ear. “Do I really look ugly?” His face flushed red, the color spreading down his neck. He was speechless. I pressed my ear to his back, listening to his heart beat faster and faster. After a long while, a muffled voice came through the rain. “You look good. Happy?” Back then, I always felt that street was too short. So short that we’d arrive home before I finished talking, and I’d cling to him, dragging out the goodbye. But now, standing together, we had nothing to say. Chase arrived quickly. “The store didn’t have any nice umbrellas left, just this pink one. Use it for now, I’ll buy you a better one later.” He handed me the umbrella, then looked at Liam. Liam was holding his umbrella almost entirely over me, half his body soaked. His wet T-shirt clung to his collarbone, revealing a faint tattoo underneath. NZ “I didn’t know you had a tattoo,” Chase said curiously. “What is it? Your ex’s initials?” “Yeah.” Liam’s expression was blank. “You simp, and you have the nerve to call me one,” Chase smirked. “Funny coincidence, my girlfriend has a tattoo right there too.” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Really? You don’t mind?” “Mind what?” Chase didn’t catch the drift. “The tattoo? No, as long as she likes it.” Liam looked genuinely surprised. “She tattooed her ex’s name on her body, and you don’t mind?!” “What ex?” Chase looked at him. “It’s not an ex’s name. It’s a little fish.” Liam froze. Just then, a gust of wind blew my hair back, revealing the tiny, delicate fish tattooed on my collarbone. Liam stopped dead in his tracks, staring intensely at the fish. As if trying to see through the ink to the name buried underneath. 3 When I decided to get the tattoo, Liam mocked me for ages. “You? You cry for three days over a paper cut. A tattoo? Go home and drink your milk.” I wasn’t having it. “You got one, why can’t I? If only you have one, it’s not a couple’s tattoo!” “Fine,” Liam ruffled my hair, took out a pen, and wrote three letters on my wrist: HYC (Liam’s initials). “There, couple’s tattoo. Go play.” He was right. I was terrified of pain. I hesitated for a long time, finally deciding to do it on his birthday. Liam didn’t lie. It hurt like hell. I regretted it instantly, tears swirling in my eyes. The artist kept handing me tissues. “Almost done, just hang on.” But seeing Liam’s reaction made it all worth it. At first, he smirked. “Nice tattoo sticker. Looks real.” But when he touched it, he froze. I thought he’d be happy. “Looks good, right? I thought about the design for ages!” Liam didn’t speak. He just stared. After a long time, he hugged me tightly. So tight I couldn’t breathe. I pushed him. “Liam, stop! It hurts!” His voice trembled. “You’re so scared of pain. Why did you do it?” I grinned. “Because it’s your name. It doesn’t hurt.” After a silence, he sighed softly. “Idiot.” “Liam,” I teased him. “I heard laser removal hurts way more than getting a tattoo. Don’t break up with me, or I’ll have to suffer twice.” He looked me in the eye. “Never. We will never break up. “I won’t let you hurt again.” I laughed. I believed him. We grew up together. He had always been good to me. I was spoiled and dramatic, and even my mom said Liam enabled all my bad habits. She’d say, “Treat him well. Don’t always boss him around. If he gets fed up, you’ll never find anyone who treats you this well again!” I swore, “No way. Liam said he’d never leave me!” I genuinely believed nothing could separate us. I didn’t know that six months later, we would be strangers. When I went to cover the tattoo, I looked out the window at a fish swimming in a bowl and changed my mind. “Make it a little fish.” From now on, I’d be fine on my own. 4 The rain hadn’t stopped when class ended. My shoelace had come undone, and I frowned, shaking my foot. Liam instinctively squatted down to tie it. Chase, who had just lit a cigarette, clamped it in his mouth and squatted down, shoving Liam aside. “What are you doing?” He squinted at Liam through the smoke. “My girlfriend’s shoe is untied. Why are you squatting?” Liam’s outstretched hands froze in mid-air. He seemed to have forgotten that he was no longer the person entitled to tie my shoes. Chase looked away and quickly tied a perfect bow. He used to be clumsy too. I always complained his knots were ugly. Now he was practiced. Just like Liam used to be. And the first real fight I ever had with Liam was about tying shoelaces. … The first time I met Ruby, it was at Liam’s house. Liam had a serious illness as a child and needed frequent blood transfusions. He had Rh-null blood—”Golden Blood”—making donors scarce. Once, he almost died from blood loss. His parents spent a fortune finding donors. Ruby was brought by her parents, a pair of compulsive gamblers who saw a cash cow. They didn’t care that she was just a child. Liam’s mom couldn’t bear it and only took 400cc, finding other donors to make up the rest. But Ruby’s parents saw an opportunity. Every time Liam needed blood, they brought Ruby. Sometimes, desperate, Liam’s parents had no choice but to accept. You could say Ruby saved Liam’s life. But after Liam recovered, Ruby got sick. Her parents neglected her. A teenager, she looked like a ten-year-old. The frequent blood donations destroyed her health. Afraid she’d become a burden, her parents abandoned her. The Hendersons (Liam’s family), grateful for her help and pitying her, paid for her treatment at a sanatorium. When she recovered, they took her in. They didn’t formally adopt her, but she lived like a daughter. She received the same treatment as Liam. Ruby wasn’t pretty. She was plain, a bit countrified, and had a limp from an old injury. Liam’s parents transferred her to our school and told Liam to take care of her. At first, I pitied her. She knew nothing, didn’t even have a uniform. When kids mocked her worn-out dress, I lent her my spare uniform. In badminton class, when no one partnered with her, I volunteered. I liked Liam. She saved Liam. So I was nice to her. Until I noticed her feelings for Liam were… off. She always tagged along on our dates, saying she had no friends. Liam, soft-hearted, let her come. After school, she walked with us, saying people mocked her limp. Liam couldn’t bring himself to chase her away. Over time, our couple time disappeared. It was always the three of us. I complained to Liam multiple times. He was helpless. “She’s new and adjusting. Once she makes friends, it’ll be fine.” I believed him, until the shoelace incident. I went to find Liam to walk home, only to see him squatting on the ground, tying Ruby’s shoelace. The setting sun stretched their shadows long. Ruby’s plain face was flushed, her expression tender. Like a scene from an anime. Rage flared. I rushed up and shoved Liam. “What are you doing?!” Liam stumbled. “Ruby’s shoe came untied. Her leg hurts, she can’t squat. I’m helping her.” Maybe I was sensitive. But tying shoelaces felt too intimate. I kicked Liam. “If she can’t squat, she shouldn’t wear shoes with laces! Is she going to make you tie them every time?!” Liam was confused. “Why are you making a big deal out of this? It’s just tying a shoe. I’ve done it for you.” I felt wronged. “Am I the same as her?!” Ruby looked panicked. “Sarah, don’t be like this. My leg really hurts. Be mad at me, not Liam. I won’t let him do it again. I’ll do it myself!” She tried to squat but lost her balance and fell hard, face paling in pain. Liam rushed to help her up, then turned and yelled at me. “Is this necessary?!” It was the first time he yelled at me. For another girl. Tears welled up. “Liam, I’m breaking up with you!” … The cold war lasted three hours, ending with Liam apologizing. In the pouring rain, he stood downstairs with my favorite cake. Even my mom felt bad. “That’s enough. Let him in before he gets sick.” I went down reluctantly with an umbrella. Liam’s black hair was plastered to his forehead, water dripping from his lashes. His voice was raspy. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. She saved my life, I have to look out for her, but I promise it won’t happen again.” He held my hands, his palms warm in the cold rain. “Forgive me, okay?” I glared at him, still a bit angry. “From now on, you only tie my shoelaces.” Liam laughed. “Fine. Only yours. You really are my little ancestor.” He hugged me gently. “And you can’t just break up with me whenever. Who else is going to tie your shoes?” I raised an eyebrow. “Plenty of people! Don’t be ungrateful!” It was true. Plenty of guys chased me after we broke up. I believed any of them would do it. Including Chase, who treated me no worse than Liam did back then. Chase stood up, the ash on his cigarette long and precarious. I reached out, took a drag, and shared the Marlboro menthol with him right in front of Liam. He held me, smoke swirling between our lips, creating a barrier against Liam. Liam’s eyes darkened. “You let her smoke?” Chase exhaled a cloud of smoke, looked Liam up and down, and said: “She can do whatever she wants. Who am I to control her?” “But you, Liam… you seem a little too concerned about my girlfriend.” … After Liam left with a black face, Chase walked me back to the dorm. I decided to tell him about my history with Liam. Chase finished his cigarette and smiled. “I guessed. I’m not blind. He’s obvious. Usually so cool, but loses his soul when he sees you.” “You aren’t mad?” “Mad about what?” He tossed the butt in the bin. “You broke up with him and chose me. Doesn’t that mean I’m better? Besides, I know you, Sarah.” He tilted the umbrella toward me. “You look soft, but your heart is harder than anyone’s. Once you’re done, you don’t look back.” We locked eyes, rain falling around the umbrella. “So I won’t give you a reason to break up with me.” Chase put a hand in his pocket and lowered his head to kiss me. The lingering taste of menthol and rain filled my senses. I looked up, accepting his gentle but firm advance. The world went blank for a moment, as if only we existed. When he pulled back, I was lightheaded from lack of oxygen. I heard Chase chuckle as he wiped the corner of my mouth with his thumb. “Not enough? Want another one?” I blushed and pretended to kick him, but as I moved my leg, I saw Liam. In the torrential rain, he stood under a black umbrella, watching us. Who knows how long he had been there.

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Late one night, an Oscar winner’s unhinged confessional blew up the internet. 【Time flies. She’s on her second kid, and I haven’t even made it to the backup-boyfriend list.】 【Heard she’s into the puppy-dog type. Is it too late for me to become a lapdog?】 【I’m a traditional man. I’m willing to be the other guy.】 Netizens pulled an all-nighter, determined to unmask the mother-of-two who had humbled a global superstar. I was up late, scrolling through the gossip. Suddenly, someone tagged me. 【You went to high school with Henry Vance. Do you know who his secret crush is?】 1 After Henry’s private social media account was exposed, my own page was flooded with curious onlookers. 【We need to know who this woman is! The one who made a top-tier actor lose his mind in the middle of the night!】 I thought for a moment, then typed a reply: 【I have someone in mind.】 The second I hit post, before the speculation could even catch fire, my agent called and ordered me to delete it immediately. So, I obediently shut my mouth. And went back to scrolling. It wasn’t just my social media that had exploded. Our usually dormant high school alumni group chat was on fire. Henry had been a legend even back then. I was his little sidekick, the designated collector of his love letters. The girls all tried to butter me up, and I happily skimmed a few perks off the top. Henry wasn’t in the alumni chat, so everyone was speaking freely. 【I never knew Henry was such a romantic. The untouchable campus king, brought down by love!】 【It has to be Sophia, right? I remember she just got divorced, and she has two kids. It all adds up.】 【Definitely! Sophia was the girl every guy had a crush on back then.】 The chat was moving a mile a minute. Everyone started tagging Sophia, demanding confirmation. Soon, Sophia herself appeared. She sent a voice message, her tone a perfect blend of embarrassment and feigned exasperation. “Oh, you guys, stop guessing. That was all so long ago.” Her vague response was anything but a denial. It was a confirmation. The chat filled with messages of congratulations. I joined the chorus: 【Congrats, can’t wait for the wedding invitation.】 I had just closed the app when a private message from Sophia popped up. 【Clara, are you still in touch with Henry? Could you send me his contact info?】 I was surprised. They hadn’t spoken in all these years? Henry really knew how to keep a secret. I scrolled through my contacts, finally landing on his name. Henry had changed his number when he entered the entertainment industry. This old account hadn’t been active in nearly five years. I opened our chat history. The last messages were from a heated argument we’d had right after graduation, with him demanding to know why I’d changed my university choice without telling him. Looking back, the fight seemed so childish. I’d even given him the silent treatment. I typed and deleted my message several times before finally sending it. 【Hey, superstar. How have you been? I saw the news. Sophia’s single again, by the way. Thought you might need her number?】 【Is your mom feeling better? I was at the hospital a few days ago and heard she’d been discharged.】 【You’ll never guess, but we’re kind of in the same business now. Though I’m still a nobody actress, haha.】 【And about what happened back then… I owe you an apology.】 【If you ever see this, would you be open to meeting up?】 2 I chose a high-end restaurant for our meeting. The tea went from hot to cold, then hot again. The heavy pendulum of the grandfather clock in the corner swung its way to eight p.m. Henry never showed. I let out a bitter laugh. Of course he wouldn’t. He’d changed his number ages ago. He’d never even see the message. And even if he did, after how badly things ended between us, why would he come? The late autumn wind was sharp. I hunched my shoulders and stood by the curb, waiting for a cab. A sleek black sedan pulled up, stopping perfectly in front of me. A valet rushed to open the door. A pair of red-soled leather shoes hit the pavement, followed by a pair of impossibly long legs. My breath caught. I froze. It was Henry. A thousand different versions of this reunion had played out in my head. I frantically smoothed my hair and forced a smile. But Henry’s gaze swept over me without a flicker of recognition. Like he was looking at a complete stranger. The smile froze on my face. A famous director got out next, followed by a beautiful young woman. She looped her arm through Henry’s, and they walked past me, their shoulders brushing against mine. Even after they were several feet away, I could still hear her bright, clear voice drifting back. “That private account definitely isn’t yours. You’d never say things like that. It’s so off-brand for you!” “The internet is so wild. They even dug up your supposed high school crush.” Henry’s soft laugh followed. “Well, my new movie is about to be released. I guess someone decided to give me some free publicity.” I remained rooted to the spot long after their voices faded. A sharp pain lanced through my chest. It seemed he didn’t need my apology after all. We weren’t in the same world anymore. An old friend, and not even a simple “long time no see.” 3 The alumni chat had been buzzing lately. They were organizing a reunion. 【Big news! I got in touch with Henry, and he said he’s free on Saturday. He’s coming!】 【Sophia’s still got it. The second I told him she was organizing, he asked for the address.】 【@Sophia, the campus queen’s charm hasn’t faded a bit. No wonder he’s been hung up on you for all these years.】 【If you two get back together, don’t forget about us old classmates who played matchmaker!】 Amidst the teasing, Sophia popped up: 【I just missed you all and wanted to get together～】 The teasing only intensified. Suddenly, someone tagged me. 【@Clara I almost forgot we had another actress in here! You look amazing now, girl. I saw you in a show the other day and almost didn’t recognize you!】 【Remember how people didn’t believe you and Henry were cousins? Looking at you two now, your family’s got some seriously strong genes. Both of you ended up in showbiz!】 【@Clara, your big bro is coming, so you have to be there too!】 A sour feeling churned in my stomach as I read the messages. It was true, I had called Henry ‘brother’ for two years. But that was a lifetime ago. I was about to decline when a video call from Sophia came through. Her voice was pure saccharine. “Clara, you must know what’s going on with me and Henry. You have to come to the reunion and witness us get back together!” For some reason, I heard myself say yes. The reunion was loud and lively. When I pushed open the door to the private room, my eyes immediately found the striking figure in the center of the crowd. And right beside him, her head tilted towards his in conversation, was Sophia. Sophia saw me first and waved enthusiastically. “Over here, Clara! We were just talking about you.” Talking about me? My gaze instinctively darted to Henry. Our eyes met for a fleeting moment before we both looked away. Other classmates noticed me and gasped. “Oh my god, Clara, is that you? You look incredible!” Sophia pulled me over to a seat. “Leo was just looking for you. If you were any later, he would have burned a hole through the door with his staring.” Leo was my high school deskmate. He just smiled sheepishly, not denying it. They sat me down next to him. Which, as fate would have it, was also right next to Henry. 4 I was sitting on pins and needles. The man beside me had an overwhelming presence. I could only distract myself by making small talk with Leo. We talked about school, about work, about our pets. Henry took a call midway through and didn’t come back until dinner was served. The moment he sat down, my spine went ramrod straight again. During the meal, Leo kept putting food on my plate. I was too polite to refuse. Suddenly, a hand with long, elegant fingers reached over and took my bowl. Before I could react, Henry had replaced it with his own empty one. He looked directly at Leo. “She’s allergic to shellfish, and she can’t eat anything with ginger.” Leo blinked, then smiled. “My mistake. You’re a much more attentive big brother.” Others noticed the exchange and started teasing. “You two are still as close as you were in school!” My heart was in turmoil. If he wasn’t going to deny our “sibling” relationship, then why had he pretended I was a stranger the other day? I excused myself to the hallway for some fresh air. Coming out of the restroom, I saw him leaning against the wall, waiting. It was just the two of us. Pretending not to know each other now would be ridiculous. His dark eyes settled on my face. He spoke first. “You’re divorced?” After all these years, his first words were completely out of left field. He pressed on. “Are you dating Leo?” “No.” I answered the only question that made sense. Henry looked down, nodding slowly. His expression was unreadable. The silence was getting awkward. I tried to break it. “I heard your mom was in an accident. Is she doing okay?” “It wasn’t serious. I’ll take you to see her sometime.” “Oh, okay. I don’t have your number.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yes, you do.” I was still trying to figure out what he meant by that when Sophia appeared out of nowhere. I instinctively put some distance between myself and Henry. She linked her arm through mine, playfully scolding him. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen Clara. You can’t monopolize her! She’s all mine tonight!” With that, she pulled me away. I couldn’t help but feel that her grip on my arm was a little too tight. 5 After dinner, we moved to a karaoke bar. Someone suggested we play Truth or Dare. A few drinks in, the questions got bolder. The bottle spun on the coffee table and landed, perfectly, on Henry. The room erupted. Everyone was eager for some celebrity gossip. “I’ll ask something direct! Henry, are you in love with one of the women in this room?” Every eye in the room turned to Sophia. She blushed, her eyes shining with anticipation. I sat quietly in the corner and heard Henry answer without a moment’s hesitation. “Yes.” Someone grumbled, “That’s a lame question! You should have just asked who it is!” Henry leaned back into the sofa, a smile playing on his lips. “That’s for the next round.” Unfortunately, the bottle never landed on him again. Instead, I became the unlucky one, getting picked round after round. The first time it pointed to me, Sophia asked with a sweet smile, “Clara, everyone’s always been curious. Are you and Henry actually related?” I instinctively looked for Henry in the dim light. He was shrouded in shadows, his expression impossible to read. I answered calmly, “We’re not related.” A wave of murmurs went through the room. Even Leo looked at me in surprise. Only Henry remained silent. The second round, the bottle pointed to me again. Sophia jumped in with another question. “Clara, the person you had a crush on in high school… is he here tonight?” 6 A jolt went through my heart. I never thought Sophia would expose my secret in front of everyone. When I first transferred schools, I was bullied and isolated because of my weight. It wasn’t until Henry publicly declared that I was his sister that things changed. Because of that connection, the other girls started trying to get close to me, to find out what Henry liked. Only Sophia was different. She told me my smile was cute. We became inseparable, telling each other everything. I even told her my biggest secret: the name of the boy I liked had two syllables. But in the end, I discovered that Sophia had befriended me for the same reason as everyone else: to get to Henry. She cried and begged me to ask him to meet her in the lecture hall. My heart softened, and I agreed. I don’t know what they talked about in that empty hall that night. I only know that the next day, the entire school was buzzing with rumors that the campus king and queen had kissed. Now, Sophia was staring at me, a faint hint of hostility in her eyes. I took a deep breath and nodded. “He is.” Instantly, all eyes turned to Leo. After all, everyone had just seen him putting food on my plate. The game continued. The bottle seemed to have it out for me, landing on me a third time. Sophia took a long time to think of her question. “The person you like… is it Henry?” The room went dead silent. People looked at Sophia as if she’d misspoken. Leo frowned. Every single person was staring at me. My blood ran cold. It felt like I was being stripped naked in front of everyone. Sophia was doing this on purpose. She wanted me to confess my secret, only to be laughed at by the guests of honor at her reunion: her and Henry. My throat was tight. I couldn’t make a sound. The seconds ticked by. I was so tired. I didn’t want to answer anymore. I picked up my glass and downed the drink. In my peripheral vision, I saw Henry striding towards me. His eyes were a storm of emotions. He snatched the glass from my hand. “We’re leaving. You all have fun.” 7 The wind was biting. Under the dim glow of a streetlight, I yanked my hand out of Henry’s grasp. I knew my makeup was ruined from crying. I must have looked a mess. I didn’t want him to see me like this. But Henry stayed right behind me. I spun around and yelled, “What are you following me for? Sophia is back there!” “You’re drunk. I’m taking you home.” He reached for me, but I shoved him away. “You knew I was waiting for you at the restaurant that day, but you walked right past me like nothing happened.” “But I guess that makes sense. My dad and your mom are divorced. We’re not related anymore!” “If I still owe you an apology for not going to Westwood, then I’m sorry. Okay?” “From now on, we don’t owe each other anything!” Henry’s hand froze in mid-air, his eyes filled with hurt. “Clara, we…” The rest of his words were lost to the wind. I had already flagged down a cab and disappeared into the night. I got home in a daze and collapsed, sobbing my heart out. After I cried myself out, I pulled a dusty wooden box out from under my bed. My fingers trembled as I entered the old, rusted combination…

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Another “player” has set her sights on my boyfriend. When Julian plays basketball, she brings him candy. When he studies, she asks him questions. She uses every trick in the book, flirting relentlessly. I can’t help but laugh. After all, I’m a “player” too. Everything she’s doing? I did it first. 1 A new girl transferred to our class. She’s stunning, outgoing, and charming. Within a few days, she was friends with everyone. A classmate warned me: “Babe, watch out for that girl, Serena.” “I saw her giving water to Julian yesterday.” Julian is my boyfriend. Everyone in school knows this. Julian and I were even called to the principal’s office because of our relationship. In the end, we made a three-point pact: we can date, but no PDA at school, no crossing the line, and no affecting our grades. It was a huge topic of gossip back then, and people still bring it up. Serena is so popular; she can’t possibly be unaware. I paused while solving a math problem. “She’s just a nice person. Bringing water to a classmate is normal.” My friend looked around, then lowered her voice. “It’s not just water. She gave him gummy bears. Strawberry flavor, if I’m not mistaken.” “When has Julian ever eaten candy? You seriously need to watch out.” I finished the calculation and wrote down “A”. That was the last multiple-choice question on the practice test. Putting down my pen, I gave her a reassuring smile. “Thanks, but I trust Julian.” She pouted, looking at me like I was a lost cause. “You’re just too innocent.” “Be careful. I’ll keep an eye on things for you when I can.” I hugged her. “Babe, you’re the best.” She looked down at me and poked my forehead. “Use your head a little.” I smiled sweetly at her, my eyes curving into crescents. I didn’t tell her that the pack of strawberry gummies was in my backpack. 2 Strawberry gummies are my favorite. Julian couldn’t find them at the school store that day. Serena went to bring him water. Julian didn’t even glance at her. He just waved his hand slightly, the Hello Kitty wristband on his wrist catching everyone’s eye. I bought that wristband as a joke after seeing it on TikTok. Who knew that ever since I bought it for him, he would wear it every time he played basketball. Serena seemed prepared and didn’t mind. She opened her hand, smiling brightly. “I also brought you some candy. Want some to recover your energy?” Julian caught a glimpse of the candy, and his eyes changed instantly. His gaze moved slowly from the strawberry gummies to Serena’s face. Serena smiled, glancing at Julian and then looking away. Her expression was shy, like a girl playing hard to get with her crush. Even a heart of stone would be moved. Sure enough, Julian spoke to Serena. His first words were: “My girlfriend brought me water.” “My girlfriend likes this candy. Can I buy it from you to give to her?” Serena’s smile almost cracked. After a long pause, she managed to maintain her gentle facade and said softly: “It’s not worth much. Take it as a gift.” Julian frowned slightly, his tone a bit firmer. “She’s my girlfriend.” Watching this, I had a hard time holding back my laughter. When Julian brought me the candy, I almost kissed him right there. My eyes were overflowing with laughter. Julian just thought I was happy to receive the candy. He looked at me quietly, his eyes calm. I teased him. “Good boy. I’ll kiss you when we get home.” Julian froze for a moment, then softly hummed a “mm.” When he turned to leave, his slightly red ears betrayed him. So innocent. 3 That classmate was right. Serena does have designs on my boyfriend. She’s a “player” who transmigrated into this world with a mission to conquer him. Unfortunately for her, so am I. My system told me it could livestream her mission progress for me. She wouldn’t know. I really want to see how long she can keep this up. It’ll add some fun to my boring study life. 4 After finishing the math test, I took out my physics workbook to review my mistakes. When I got frustrated, I sneakily popped a gummy into my mouth. [System, can you just kill her? She’s seriously interfering with my mission to conquer Julian.] The gummy wasn’t even fully chewed when a cold female voice rang out. I turned my head slightly. Serena was staring at me intently. Seeing me look at her, Serena quickly put on an innocent smile, pure as a lotus flower. Her system replied: [This skill cannot be triggered in a sweet campus romance novel.] Serena pinched her fingers, unhappy but holding it in. Her lips moved, seemingly asking: “Do you like this brand of gummies too?” I pretended not to understand and smiled back. Trying to sow discord? Won’t work on me. Someone poked my back with a pen. Julian casually capped his pen. “Finished the problems?” “Focus.” He didn’t even look at me, flipping the page as he spoke. I caught a glimpse of the endless checkmarks on his page, choked up internally, and hurriedly turned back to my work. A soft chuckle came from behind. I didn’t need to turn around to imagine the helpless expression on Julian’s face.

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I am the actress universally recognized as the queen of “abstract” behavior in the entertainment industry. When haters called me a gold digger, I sincerely replied: [Someone called me a gold digger. I cried. Turns out there’s someone in this world who truly understands me. I’m not just a gold digger; I’m also a social climber, a hedonist, and a snob. But maybe it’s just my upbringing—I don’t usually expose people’s true nature so casually.] After filming in freezing water for two hours during my period, I emerged pale-faced and sighed: [I thought my burning passion would prevent uterine cold.] When my legs gave out from hiking on a reality show, I collapsed on the spot: [The strong never complain about their environment. I am the weak; I complain not only about the environment but also about the strong.] Because I was too abstract, I often seemed out of place. Until I went on a dating show with the award-winning actor, Julian Thorne, as a celebrity observer. While others were busy shipping couples, we were busy cracking jokes. I said: “Pretentious men are all like this; outsiders can’t stand them.” He replied: “I ship it a little, not much, about 40%.” We all have bright futures. But later, our secret accounts were exposed, and we were both mocked for our crumbling personas. Julian, who claimed “The wise do not fall in love,” turned out to be our number one CP fan and a fanfiction writer. And I, who claimed to be “physically pure but mentally yellow,” was actually Julian’s die-hard fan and a warrior for pure love. That night, we effortlessly soared to the number one trending spot. Netizens commented sharply: [That day, the weirdo met her match.] [Holy crap, I’ll never believe celebrity personas again! Even a ‘pure yellow’ persona can collapse. What is even real anymore?] 1 I used to be the industry’s recognized “Human Wealth Flower,” slaying everyone with my stunning beauty. But as they say, one wrong move and the whole game is lost. During the final voting for the title of “Human Wealth Flower,” I dropped the ball. Rival fans dug up my old quotes and spread them in the comments. When haters called me a gold digger, I sincerely replied: [Someone called me a gold digger. I cried. Turns out there’s someone in this world who truly understands me. I’m not just a gold digger; I’m also a social climber, a hedonist, and a snob. But maybe it’s just my upbringing—I don’t usually expose people’s true nature so casually.] After filming in freezing water for two hours during my period, I emerged pale-faced and sighed: [I thought my burning passion would prevent uterine cold.] When my legs gave out from hiking on a reality show, I collapsed on the spot: [The strong never complain about their environment. I am the weak; I complain not only about the environment but also about the strong.] [From today on, I am officially diagnosed as an egg tart: crusty on the outside, yellow (dirty-minded) on the inside. A little movement and I feel like I’m crumbling.] Overnight, I went from “Human Wealth Flower” to “Village Idiot.” I was kicked off the candidate list and given a nickname: “The Abstract Queen.” Netizens commented: [Such a beautiful face, ruined by that mouth.] [You know, a funny girl can’t be a great beauty.] Even my fans had to admit that the abstract track suited me better than the beauty track. Face fans were heartbroken, commenting: [Sister Summer lost to other girls again.] [For the first time, liking Summer Reed makes me feel inferior.] [At this moment, I lost all strength and means, but still unwilling to believe my glamorous star turned into a comedian so effortlessly.] I took it well, posting jokes myself and comforting my face fans: [Look left, look right, look forward. I remember all your kindness. At least without beauty, I can still charm fans with humor (touches nose bridge).] 2 My agent, Jessica, agreed deeply. She felt that being a great beauty was a waste of my mouth. But being a comedian was just right. So, during a break from filming, she effortlessly stuffed me into a dating show, Heart Signal, as a celebrity observer. This show… how do I put it? The female guests were all highly educated beauties. The male guests… were also males. Any male guest could be a textbook example of an overconfident, average man. Yet the celebrity observers on the show were afraid to offend anyone. They forced themselves to ship couples where there was no chemistry, crying fake tears over a male guest’s unrequited love, exclaiming: “I’ve never seen such thorough tragic aesthetics.” Me, a veteran of various fanfiction circles, was like: Are you guys starving? Eat something decent! Of course, I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t ship it. The audience was disgusted by the greasy men too. So, for the sake of the audience’s sanity, I decided to sacrifice myself and become the audience’s mouthpiece. I launched indiscriminate attacks on all the repulsive male guests. A male guest, 5’7″, 170 lbs, shaped like a cube, blurted out upon learning the female guest was 5’3″, 100 lbs: “You look nice, just a bit fat. If we get together, you need to lose weight.” Me: “Before picking on female guests, look at yourself. You have outer wear but no appearance; special effects but no looks; a frame but no figure. Life must be boring for a toad critiquing humans.” “Women excel at picking flaws in their perfect faces and bodies, magnifying them infinitely. Men excel at finding highlights in their mediocre faces and bodies, magnifying them infinitely, sighing: ‘I am so handsome!’ Do you not have mirrors at home? Can you check your hardware before being overconfident?” A creepy guy who liked a female guest unrequitedly sighed when she was busy with work and didn’t reply often: “Sigh, I feel like a simp.” Me: “? Did you spend money on her or provide emotional value? You claim to like her but make her pay for meals. You know she’s busy but spam her with greasy quotes. Comparing yourself to a simp? That’s an insult to dogs.” A guy with a mediocre master’s degree looked down on a female guest who started a business in college and earned millions a year: “There’s a saying, even a pig can fly in the wind. Sigh, high education is useless, look, not as good as you lucky ones. But I think it’s unstable for a girl to do business alone; she can’t take care of the family.” Me: “Pretentious men are like this; outsiders can’t stand them. I envy men. Women need certificates to be teachers; men become teachers automatically when they reach a certain age.” “Is this male guest an appendix? Why does he love to be inflamed (speak) so much?” 3 The comments went wild as I cursed them out. [Good scolding! Sister’s mouth is amazing. Love to hear it!] [Sis, take it easy. I’m afraid these average confident men might enjoy it.] The crooked melons and cracked dates on this show vividly illustrated the saying: “You there? I’m male. I said I’m male, bad signal? Don’t understand English? Hello? I am man. Is the phone broken? I am male, I am a dude.” [Passerby here. Thought Summer Reed was just pretty, didn’t know she was so good at roasting. Her mouth is dipped in honey. I love it. From today on, I’m a fan of Summer’s roasting (rose).] But fighting a battle of tongues alone is tiring. And my sanity is precious. Even an abstract artist like me couldn’t stand so many eyesores. So after the first episode, I posted on Weibo: [Really want to punch every man in the world (except handsome ones with good values).] Unexpectedly, ten minutes later, Award-Winning Actor Julian Thorne announced he was joining Heart Signal. And Julian is famous in the entertainment industry for being handsome, having good character, and being humble and polite. Also famous for being mysterious and elusive. Me: ? Did my wish come true? Netizens: [Sis, don’t be afraid, your match is coming!!!] 4 The night before recording the new episode of Heart Signal, I had insomnia. Probably because I filmed night scenes for ten days straight to catch up, and drank three iced Americanos during the day to reduce swelling and stay awake, forcefully turning myself into American time. After failing to count sheep, read physics books, and listen to English comprehension tapes, I resigned myself to sitting up in bed, missing my “Zhang Huaimin” (a friend to walk with at night). I wished my Huaimin was also awake to chat with me. This Huaimin better be good-looking, have a nice voice, and sing lullabies to me. But I have no Huaimin. At this hour, even the roosters aren’t up yet. I sighed and opened my phone. My agent was right. Idle time is idle time. As a female star, I must read more books and newspapers, eat fewer snacks, and sleep more. Since I can’t sleep anyway, I might as well use this time to study and keep up with the times. Thinking this through, I resolutely opened my book, titled— Golden Retriever Care Guide. It’s a new fanfiction by my favorite author. The author must be my solo fan. Since my debut, she has been writing fanfiction with me as the prototype, all female-centric power fantasies with no male lead. Her writing is super immersive, the style and stories are novel, and she updates fast. Over the years, she has accumulated many fans and gained me a lot of passerby fans. I originally just stumbled upon her, curious about fanfiction based on myself, and read a few chapters casually. The more I read, the more hooked I got. Now I’m her loyal fan, often commenting and tipping to urge updates. Because I always comment under the author’s Weibo, over time, she recognized me, and we started chatting often on Weibo. Since my old quotes were dug up last time, I got smart and started using an alt account for happy surfing. This Weibo account was created in high school, with no content. Only two posts: one is a quote from a favorite book, the other is a photo of flowers near the university, with only my hand in the frame. So no need to worry about being exposed. The latest chapter stopped right at the part where the male lead turns back into a human from a golden retriever. Leaving me blushing and wanting more. As usual, I opened the comments to urge an update. Funny Girl Jenny: [Wife, trouble! Our kid hit someone at school, the other parent wants 500,000 words compensation, I bargained it down to 5 million words, wife write quickly!!! Teacher, can we roleplay? You play the domineering CEO, slender fingers slowly reaching around the waist to pull out a draft from the pocket, Adam’s apple rolling, thin lips parting to say: ‘Woman, you successfully caught my attention. Here are ten draft chapters (flower), finish reading them.’] Just after commenting, I received a private message. It was from the author.

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The opening ceremony of the World Racing Championship. The cameras swept across the track, lingering on a couple lost in a world of their own, locked in a passionate kiss. The crowd erupted in a roar of cheers and whistles. I paused, instinctively pulling the brim of my cap lower. After five years of cutting ties with everyone from my past, I never expected to reunite with them like this. And Jett was the same as he’d always been. Reckless. Unrestrained. When he loved someone, he loved without reservation, eager to declare his devotion to the world, even at an event of this magnitude. And when he hated someone, he hated without mercy. He would seize any opportunity to grind them into the dirt, making sure they could never get back up. Unfortunately for me, I was the one he hated. The camera operator knew their angles. On the massive screen, the kiss was fiery, electric. Anyone watching would assume they were a couple deeply in love. The woman in Jett’s arms, Vivienne, was a vision in a stunning red dress, her gaze confident, almost defiant, as it swept over the crowd. She was a world away from the timid, shrinking girl I remembered from five years ago, the one who couldn’t even meet my eyes. Time is a strange and powerful thing. In just a few short years, it had reshaped everything. I lowered my gaze, about to turn and leave, when the man’s lazy voice echoed from the speakers, filling the entire stadium. “That’s right. This is my wife.” “I brought her here because I wanted her to share this honor with me.” “Why else?” Jett’s laugh was wild and free. “Because she’s worth it, of course.” My body went rigid. His cruel, sharp words from the past echoed in my ears again, and the old scars, long since healed, began to ache with a faint, phantom pain. I touched the jagged, terrifying marks on my wrist, and my mind drifted back to a summer day, ten years ago. That was the day I first met Jett. A fifteen-year-old boy, curled up in a corner by the dumpsters like an abandoned stray cat. A long, gaping wound on his wrist was bleeding profusely, staining the pavement crimson. I took him home. Back then, Jett was plagued by a profound world-weariness, tormented by depression and bipolar disorder until he was a ghost of a person. His father was in prison for gambling, his mother had run off with another man, and his relatives passed him around like an unwanted burden. His life had started to wither before it had even begun. Perhaps it was because we were kindred spirits, broken in similar ways. Even when he cursed me with venomous words for meddling. Even when, in a fit of madness, he bit clean through the palm of my hand, I never once thought of giving up on him. I spent five years pulling that sullen, self-destructive boy back into the world of the living. Jett told me I was his sun. He knelt before me, placing a simple silver band on my finger—a ring he’d earned by hauling a hundred bags of cement at a construction site. “Rhea,” he’d promised, his voice thick with emotion, “I’ll never try to die again. From now on, every single day, I’ll live for you.” In my innocence, I believed we would be happy forever. Until the year we graduated from college, when a distant cousin of mine, a daughter from a remote branch of the family, found her way to us. The girl wore ill-fitting rags, and the skin visible beneath them was a tapestry of purple and blue bruises. She looked up at me timidly and asked if she could stay for a little while. My heart went out to her. My cousin’s daughter, Daisy, grew up in a cramped, oppressive mountain village. Her mother died young, and her father was a violent alcoholic. Just after her sixteenth birthday, he’d eagerly sold her to the village chief’s idiot son for a couple of grand. She had fought her way here to escape that hell. I couldn’t possibly send her back. So, I took her in. Just like I had taken in Jett. But this time, my kindness was not rewarded. It became the single biggest regret of my life. “We hear today is also your wedding anniversary. Are you planning to give your wife the champion’s trophy as a gift, Mr. Jett?” a gossip reporter asked, thrusting a microphone towards Jett’s lips, his eyes gleaming with the hunger for a viral headline. The explosive question silenced the entire stadium. Jett’s smile was nonchalant. “Why else would I bring her here?” he retorted. “She’s the treasure I hold in the palm of my hand. I couldn’t let her come all this way for nothing.” The man’s arrogant confidence sent another wave of cheers through the crowd. The reporter, knowing he had his story, was trembling with excitement. “Wow! Jett, the devoted husband, lives up to his reputation! To have such an exceptional man dote on you for five straight years… do you have any secrets to share?” The reporter turned the microphone. “Would you care to answer, Ms. Vivienne Chen?” Vivienne Chen…? I froze for a second. It took me a moment to realize who they were talking about. The person I knew was named Daisy Chen. When she first told me her name, she trembled with shame, her small frame shaking. My heart ached for her. So when her family came looking for her, I didn’t hesitate to stand in front of her. Her drunken father stabbed me three times. I was rushed to the ICU and fought for my life for three days and three nights. The wound on my stomach required more than twenty stitches. I spent nearly ten days hovering on the edge of death, but I put that monster behind bars. I knew Daisy was timid, traumatized by years of abuse that left her with severe PTSD. So when I lay in a pool of my own blood, struggling to call Jett, and she just hid in the bedroom, shivering, I didn’t blame her. Jett, however, was furious. While I was in the hospital, he threw all her belongings out and even slapped her. They had a terrible fight. He sat by my hospital bed, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with rage. “She’s a curse,” he seethed. “It wasn’t enough that she got her own mother killed, now she’s trying to kill you!” “Rhea, let’s just kick her out, please? We’re not her parents. Why should we be responsible for her life?” During that time, even with me acting as a buffer, the tension between them was suffocating. No matter how carefully Daisy tiptoed around him, Jett never had a kind word for her. Even when she placed a plate of breakfast in front of him, he would just shove it to the floor. “What is this disgusting crap? You think this is worthy of being in front of me?” I’d shoot Jett a warning glare, and though he’d look resentful, he wouldn’t torment her further. He’d just pull a beautiful diamond bracelet from his pocket and fasten it carefully onto my wrist. “The latest from Cartier,” he’d say. “That’s my entire prize money from the last race, right there.” Daisy’s mouth would fall open. “That little chain is worth hundreds of thousands?” Jett would roll his eyes. “What does a country bumpkin like you know about diamonds or brands? One tiny diamond on this thing is worth more than your life.” Jett loved racing. It was more than a passion; it was his life’s work. In those difficult early years, he competed in countless underground races, day and night, just to give me a better life. The latest designer clothes, rare jewels from auctions, cutting-edge cosmetics—if other girls had it, I never went without. But those races were dangerous. Jett came home covered in injuries every other week. I hated seeing him hurt himself for me. He would just cup my face in his hands and kiss my eyelids gently. “But I can’t bear to see my favorite girl suffer,” he’d whisper. “My baby deserves to wear the most beautiful clothes, the most brilliant gems. She deserves to be spoiled like a princess.” To put my mind at ease, Jett formed a reluctant truce with Daisy, the person he despised most. Every time he came home injured, he would go to her room first to get cleaned up before seeing me. They even started conspiring together to hide it from me. Whenever I fell for their act, they would share a secret, knowing smile. Perhaps it was this shared secret that eased the tension between them. As her final exams approached, Daisy was buried in schoolwork. On a good day, Jett would even help her with a problem or two. But he still seemed to find her intensely annoying. “That pest is not only ugly, she’s stupid too,” he’d complain on our dates. “I’ve explained the same problem a dozen times, and she still doesn’t get it. And when I yell at her, she just stares at me with those big, red eyes. Does she think I’ll go soft on her? Ugh, it’s so disgusting it makes me want to puke.” During that time, I truly saw Daisy as my own sister. After she graduated, I worked tirelessly to plan her future, staying up until the early hours of the morning researching colleges and majors for her. I even planned to take her to the police station to legally change her name. I prepared thoughtful graduation gifts and surprises for her. Daisy was full of gratitude. She told me she would repay my kindness for the rest of her life, that she would never forget what I had done for her. “Sister,” she’d said, her eyes red, “when I start earning money, I’ll buy you clothes and jewelry. I’ll take care of you.” Jett had scoffed. “You’re just a little kid. You’ll be lucky if you can take care of yourself. Take care of Rhea? In your dreams!” Daisy had feigned annoyance and pretended to hit him. Jett laughed and dodged, teasing her for being short and slow. At the time, I didn’t see anything wrong. I was just relieved that their relationship had finally improved, that I no longer had to be the constant mediator between them. After graduation, Daisy was still young and withdrawn, like a turtle in its shell. Jett started taking her out to “see the world.” “I can’t stand her,” he’d grumble, “but she’s the sister you’ve taken in. I can’t have her getting bullied when she goes off to college!” He took her to his races, to parties in his social circle, introducing her to his friends. I thought it was an extension of his love for me. That he was treating Daisy like a sister. I forgot that between a man and a woman with no blood relation, the word that often gets added is not “sister,” but “lover.” It was the day of one of Jett’s major races. I had prepared a feast to celebrate with him. But I waited late into the night, and neither of them came back. I took a taxi to the racetrack. And I found them, their clothes in disarray. The girl was straddling the man’s lap, her slender body rising and falling with his movements, soft, cloying moans escaping her lips. And the race car—the one Jett cherished like his own life, the one that was supposed to bring him glory—was covered in sordid stains. In that moment, I lost all composure. I flew at them like a madwoman, hitting and scratching. Jett didn’t move, letting me vent my fury. Until I slapped Daisy across the face. Only then did he seem to snap out of his stupor. He shoved me to the ground, his eyes blazing red. “I’m the one who wronged you! Why are you hitting her?!” he roared. “Rhea, if you have a problem, take it out on me! Leave her alone!” I was stunned. Jett could be rough, fierce, even cruel to outsiders. But he had never shown me that side of himself. This was the first time. Tears streamed down my face. But the man who used to panic at the mere sight of my frown was now only concerned with the red mark on Daisy’s cheek. The scene was humiliating. I made sure everyone there knew what they had done. I filmed it and uploaded it to the internet. I only wanted to hurt them as much as they had hurt me, completely oblivious to the coldness hardening in Jett’s eyes. A story of a man caught cheating with the “other woman” by his partner is always guaranteed to go viral. The video shot to the top of the trending charts. The comments were a flood of curses against the cheating scumbags. Someone even doxxed Daisy, finding her school and demanding her expulsion. But the story quickly took a sharp turn. Jett posted a photo of his and Daisy’s marriage certificate online. “We are married. Unrelated parties, please stay out of it.” With that one sentence, he nailed me to a pillar of shame. The online mob, feeling duped, turned on me with a vengeance. “Are you serious, lady? They’re a sweet couple, and you just had to stick your nose in it. What, were you just using us as your personal army?” “This woman is just jealous. She’d even lie like this to steal a man. So pathetic and evil!” “And this bitch works for a Fortune 500 company? Hell no, I’m filing a complaint right now!” My social media was flooded with vicious curses. My doorstep was piled with garbage. The words “DIE, BITCH” were scrawled on my wall in what looked like chicken blood. Jett sent me a text. He said if I apologized to Daisy, he would help clear things up online. “Rhea, don’t be stubborn. When you do something wrong, you should apologize. It’s the best solution for all of us.” I huddled in my rented room, my hair a mess, looking like a ghost. “You’re the ones who did something wrong! Why should I apologize?!” I typed back, my fingers trembling. “Jett, people who betray love deserve to be punished. You and Daisy are both going to hell!” He never replied. I devised countless plans for revenge. But over the years, Jett had built a network of power and influence I couldn’t possibly imagine. My evidence was easily suppressed. My story was dismissed as the ravings of a lunatic. My pain became fuel for their love story. While I was at my lowest, Jett took Daisy to chase the Northern Lights in Finland, to ski in the Alps, to hang a jade charm on a cherry blossom tree at the foot of Mount Fuji, promising to love her for eternity. Those were the dreams I had cherished since I was a child. I had even planned the entire itinerary myself. As the person who knew me best, Jett always knew exactly how to twist the knife. I hid in my corner like a rat in the shadows, scrolling through photos of their happiness, my heart churning with a toxic brew of venom and envy. Daisy knocked on my door one day. She came with a three-month pregnancy test report. She clung to my legs, crying and begging me to let them be. “Rhea, sister, I’m so sorry, but Jett and I are truly in love!” she sobbed. “You’re the most important person to both of us. Without your blessing, we can never be truly happy together.” I was so disgusted I could barely breathe. I just wanted to shove her away. But somehow, she fell to the ground. A pool of blood spreading beneath her seared my eyes. And then, everything went white. A sharp slap sent me sprawling to the floor. It was Jett. “Rhea! Didn’t I tell you to take it out on me?!” he screamed, his voice raw with fury. “Are you that vicious? Do you have to target a poor, orphaned girl?!” My head was ringing. The only thing I could hear was Jett’s hate-filled warning. “If anything happens to her or the baby, I will never forgive you.” Daisy was young and frail. She lost the baby. And Jett blamed it all on me. Suddenly, a wave of my former classmates, roommates, and relatives began slandering me online. The company fired me for damaging its image. Wreaths were sent to my doorstep. My balcony window was shattered. Even when I went to take out the trash, people would point and whisper, calling me a venomous monster who had killed someone’s child. Jett had severe psychological issues in the past. He knew exactly how to push a person to the brink. I was afraid to look at my phone, afraid to leave my apartment. The slightest noise made me tremble. I started taking handfuls of sleeping pills. One cut on my wrist was followed by another, and then another. At my most desperate, I lay in the bathtub and watched as the warm water turned crimson. That was the closest I ever came to death. A cool autumn breeze pulled me back from the memories. I tightened my scarf, my first instinct to flee. But just then, a roving camera suddenly swept over my section of the stands. My pale, drawn face flashed across the Jumbotron.

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On New Year’s Eve afternoon, my best friend’s floral shop received an order from my husband. I stared at the customer’s WeChat on the shop’s phone, checking it over and over. There was no mistake. It was my husband, who was supposedly on a business trip out of town. But the recipient wasn’t me. I dialed a video call, and it took a long time to connect. Just as I was about to question him, my best friend squeezed into the frame, smiling and speaking before I could. “Not coming back for New Year’s? What gift are you getting our Nanny to make up for it?” The room on the other side was pitch black. My husband had the quilt over his head, squinting, the corner of his mouth twitching unnaturally. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” “I pulled an all-nighter yesterday, I’m exhausted. Let me sleep a bit more.” This interruption calmed me down significantly. I perfunctorily said a few words and hung up. Picking up the wrapped bouquet, I walked out the door. “I’ll deliver this order.” 1 The delivery address wasn’t far from the flower shop, a new luxury complex opened last year. The security guard stopped me. “No deliveries allowed inside.” I took out the shop phone, dialed the number, and pinched my voice to explain the situation. My husband’s voice came through. “I’m the owner of Unit 1603 in Building 5, Victor. Let her in.” The guard complied, letting me pass after registering my information. The elevator door dinged open, and I took a deep breath. “I’ll go in alone.” My best friend nodded, walking to the stairwell nearby. “Call me if anything happens.” I turned on my phone’s video recording and pressed the doorbell. Victor’s shout came from inside, “Honey, get the door.” After a flurry of footsteps, the door opened, and she froze. “Yoyo’s mom?” I froze too. She was my daughter’s art teacher from her after-school class. She quit six months ago due to pregnancy. Was it my husband’s child? Seeing the flowers in my hand, she looked me up and down, then lowered her head with a smile that was shy yet provocative. “Yoyo’s mom, are you delivering flowers now?” She was wearing a loose nightgown, her belly visibly protruding. The paper wrapping the flowers crinkled under my tightening grip. She reached out to take the flowers, looking considerate. “Thank you. It’s so cold out, you must be working hard. Want to come in and rest for a bit?” “Sure, thank you.” She was stunned, not expecting me to agree so easily. Her eyes darted towards the kitchen, then she smiled and opened the shoe cabinet, taking out a pair of slippers. There were many men’s shoes in the cabinet. One pair was the new ones I bought for Victor last month; he wore them the day he left for his “business trip.” A cartoon photo of the two of them sat on the entryway table. Lily sniffed the flowers. “My husband is always so romantic, never forgetting to arrange surprises for holidays.” I sneered. “Does he send them for Tomb Sweeping Day too?” Her mouth hung open slightly. She paused, then said, “Life after divorce must be hard, a rich wife delivering takeout.” I looked around the apartment. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Jade Lake, the sunset casting a breathtakingly beautiful light. But my heart could only feel its desolation. A dense, prickling pain spread through my body. “Yeah, unlike Teacher Lily. Following President Victor, your quality of life has skyrocketed.” With the relationship exposed, she became smug. “If it weren’t for Yoyo, President Victor would have divorced you long ago. But my child is more important. As soon as he heard I was pregnant, he divorced you immediately.” “Divorced?” “Stop pretending. Victor told me everything. Going back once a month is just an act for Yoyo. Since you’ve seen it, be sensible. Don’t use this to pester my husband.” “We’re both women; I know your little tricks clearly.” She spoke with her head held high, confident. Just then, Victor came out of the kitchen with a freshly stewed pot of chicken soup, carefully placing it on the dining table and ladling a bowl. He didn’t see me. Lily linked her arm through his, her voice sticky sweet. “Hubby, we have a guest.” Victor turned around. Seeing me, his hand shook, and the bowl smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces. “Why are you here!” Lily sighed with pity. “Yoyo’s mom is having a hard time, she’s delivering flowers now.” Victor glanced at the flowers on the table, recalling the delivery person’s voice sounded somewhat like mine, but he never expected it would actually be me. He pulled me nervously. “Listen to me, this…” Before he could finish, Lily pulled him back, declaring sovereignty. “You’re already divorced, what’s there to explain?” “Yoyo’s mom, President Victor will pay child support. Don’t be shameless and pester him.” I stared into Victor’s eyes. “It is time for a divorce.” 2 Victor shook off Lily and dragged me towards the door. “Let’s talk outside. Lily is in her third trimester, don’t scare her.” Lily slipped on a porcelain shard, falling to the ground unsteadily, grabbing Victor’s pant leg. “Hubby, my stomach.” Victor turned pale with fright, hurriedly picking her up. “Lily, don’t be scared, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I was knocked aside by his elbow, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. “Ah!” Victor instinctively looked back. “Nancy…” Lily moaned, interrupting him. Looking at the pained expression of the woman in his arms, he sped up, distressed. I walked out the door, and my best friend ran over to support me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” My best friend held up her phone screen. “I suspected he was secretly transferring assets, so I asked my brother to investigate.” Her brother is a lawyer. I nodded in thanks and sent over the video I just recorded. “That woman is Lily, Yoyo’s former art teacher. Ask your brother to draft a divorce agreement too.” “Okay, I’ll drive you back.” My best friend insisted I wasn’t fit to drive, took me home, and picked up Yoyo to stay with her for a couple of days. Her brother was fast. As soon as I got home, he sent over the information he found. The house and car under Lily’s name were bought by Victor, plus transfers totaling nearly ten million dollars. A year ago, Victor told me there were issues at the branch office requiring his frequent presence. Turns out it was a golden cage for his mistress. Every time he said he was on a business trip, he was actually with Lily. I immediately called the company’s financial director. “Director Wang, send me the accounts of the main company and branch office for the last few years.” “Madam, company secrets are not for you to view.” “I am a shareholder!” There was a two-second pause on the other end. “I’ll apply with President Victor. Once he signs approval, I’ll send them to you.” Good, very good. Since getting pregnant, I never asked about the company, spending my days shopping, getting spa treatments, and taking care of the child. Everyone thought I married well. Probably even Victor forgot that I am the company’s largest shareholder, with the right to dismiss him at any time. I started cleaning out the trash at home. Opening the closet, I threw Victor’s clothes on the floor one by one, tearing and stomping on them, venting my dissatisfaction like a madwoman. Finally, a storage box was revealed in the corner of the closet. Inside were all the things Victor gave me during our four years of college. Tulip LED night lights, hand-sewn backpacks, personally designed hair clips, star jars with sweet moments written inside, and so on. His family wasn’t well off, couldn’t afford expensive gifts, so most presents were handmade by him. I held them and cried loudly until dawn. The next morning, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law barged in early, cursing loudly at the messy room. “Nancy Shen, are you crazy? Smashing such expensive things? Do you think my son earns money easily? Why did he marry such a wasteful wife like you? Can’t even bear a son, and can’t manage a household.” Seeing me, she came up and slapped me. “Bitch, you almost harmed my grandson.” “Giving birth to a useless girl and you dare to show off in front of Lily. Be sensible and divorce my son quickly, get out of our family.” My sister-in-law packed all the bird’s nest, sea cucumber, aged ginseng, and other supplements from the kitchen into bags. “Wasting good stuff on her. Mom, let’s take these to nourish our little sister-in-law.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law rushed to the kitchen, packing things with both hands and feet. “Right, Lily is the great contributor to our family, she needs to be nourished well.” The day I gave birth to Yoyo, she took one look, saw it was a girl, and never appeared again. I didn’t care about her attitude, but that Lily actually gave birth? “Where is Victor?” My mother-in-law spat. “Of course accompanying my grandson. I’m warning you, if anything happens to him, I’m not done with you!” 3 Lily gave birth to a boy. The whole family knew about them long ago, keeping it from me. Victor didn’t come home until the afternoon, eyes tired, face full of impatience. “My mom just took some things from home, and you called the police? I bought all these with my money, what’s wrong with my mom taking them?” “Pack up and go to the police station to explain.” As soon as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law left, I called the police reporting theft. The home surveillance captured it clearly; the value of items taken exceeded a thousand dollars, enough to file a case. The police found them at the hospital. Left alone to care for everyone at the hospital, Victor was overwhelmed. Only after finally securing a confinement nanny did he have time to come back and settle scores with me. I looked at him and sneered. “Your money?” He seemed to hear a joke, his tone mocking. “If not mine, is it yours? For so many years, if I hadn’t propped up the company, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. I’ve been supporting you, letting you enjoy life for over a decade.” “Such a big company needs an heir. Just be your Mrs. Victor obediently, no one threatens your position.” I pointed at the family photo on the wall and questioned. “Is Yoyo not your child?” “What use is a girl? She’ll just end up in someone else’s hands eventually.” My heart trembled. What did he mean by ending up in someone else’s hands? Could it be… “Victor, was this the reason you approached me in college?” Victor lowered his head and grabbed my hand, softening his tone. “Nancy, I love you.” I threw the printed divorce agreement at him. “Sign it.” He glanced at the agreement twice, threw it on the ground, and sneered. “Nancy, look at others. Which one isn’t drinking and partying, keeping several mistresses? After so many years, I just made one small mistake, and you want a divorce?” “Stop making a fuss, okay? My mom wanted a son, and you couldn’t have a second child. I had no choice. At worst, when the boy grows up a bit, we’ll bring him back for you to raise.” His tone was as casual as commenting on the weather. I looked at him in disbelief and backhanded him two slaps. “Scum!” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Wifey, I know you’re angry, but how will you live without me? Really going to deliver takeout?” “Don’t forget, the company belongs to my family.” Victor chuckled. “Don’t be silly. It’s been over ten years; those people in the company stopped listening to you long ago.” “Let’s live well. I promise you, no one will ever affect your position as Mrs. Victor, and I won’t shortchange Yoyo.” “As long as I don’t agree, you won’t get custody of the child. Can you bear to leave her? Bear to let her have a broken home? For Yoyo’s sake, think it over carefully.” Ridiculous. He didn’t think of the child when cheating, but now he uses morals to kidnap me. When my father passed away, he gifted Victor 10% of the shares, hoping he would treat me well. Now it became a weapon against me. Before marriage, I hid my identity. After graduation, we joined the company together. While competing for an executive position, I found out I was pregnant. My father learned of this and hastily organized our wedding, ordering me to focus on the pregnancy at home. Soon after, my father fell suddenly ill and passed away. My depression led to a miscarriage, and after leaving the hospital, I suffered from severe depression. He took care of me while propping up the company. He said he would guard my father’s empire for me. I believed him and united other shareholders to support him as chairman. Under the circumstances, I indeed didn’t have the energy to manage the company. From then on, I became the envied Mrs. Victor and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. Because I lost a child once, I valued Yoyo immensely. Victor knew this, which is why he thought of using the child to persuade me. “Victor, the naive one is you, not me.” 4 A few days later, acting as a shareholder, I dismissed Victor from all duties and announced I would take over all company affairs. The email was sent to every employee’s inbox. I put on a business suit I hadn’t worn in a long time and walked into the company. The receptionist stopped me. “Miss, who are you looking for?” I hadn’t been in the company for at least five years; many employees didn’t recognize me. “I am Nancy Shen, here to work.” “Nancy Shen?” The receptionist muttered softly, then remembered the email she saw in the morning. “You’re the newly appointed Chairman!” She respectfully opened the door for me. The elevator rose to the 26th floor. As the doors opened, Victor stood there with other shareholders, as if waiting for me. His eyes smiled, seemingly mocking my overestimation of myself. The first to speak was Uncle Wang. He started the business with my father and watched me grow up. Now he put on an elder’s posture to lecture. “Nancy, Victor told us everything. You’re being too reckless! A lovers’ quarrel shouldn’t be brought to the company. Being Chairman is a serious matter, not something for you to use in a tantrum!” Employees watching the drama nearby chuckled. “The boss’s wife probably can’t even read a financial report, right?” “Should stay home and take care of kids, what’s she doing joining the fun at the company.” “I know this type of housewife, just afraid her husband runs off with someone else, coming out to mark territory.” Other shareholders also smiled and persuaded me. “Mrs. Victor, the Chairman position is no joke. You should go home and accompany your child.” “Nancy, Rongcheng has grown bigger and bigger under Victor’s leadership. Why are you causing trouble?” “The company isn’t yours alone. What right do you have to make such a decision?” Victor smiled confidently, smoothing things over for me. “It’s my fault, made Nancy angry, causing this trouble. I apologize to everyone on her behalf.” “President Victor is joking. Since it’s a family matter, we won’t get involved.” “Nancy, no more jokes like this!” A group of people laughed and started walking down the steps, preparing to leave in twos and threes. Victor bent down and whispered in my ear. “See? No one will stand on your side.” Many were confidants who followed my father for years, now siding with Victor. I looked around, the chill in my heart growing bit by bit, and spoke coldly. “Joke? I am the company’s largest shareholder. I demand the immediate removal of Victor from all positions.” The shareholders froze, looking at Victor in unison. Victor wasn’t angry. “Since everyone is here, let’s hold a shareholders’ meeting and elect a new Chairman together.” “Assistant Sun, take everyone to the conference room, and notify Director Li to come for the shareholders’ meeting.” We walked into the conference room. Victor naturally sat at the head of the table, taking out his equity agreement. He actually had 20% of the shares! “I’ve already acquired the scattered shares. I hold 20%, Nancy holds 35%. Who do you support?” Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhao, and others successively expressed support for Victor. Victor crossed his legs, looking down at me arrogantly. “Now 40% stand with me, you only have 35%. Admit defeat.” I looked at the door, waiting for another shareholder. Victor looked away, the corners of his mouth curling into a sarcastic smile. Half an hour later, Director Li arrived late, glancing at me. “Nancy, you shouldn’t be like this.” My eyes reddened instantly. “Uncle, Victor betrayed me.” Uncle pulled me aside to scold. “Even if Victor is wrong, you shouldn’t bring it out in the open. Men need face. Enough, you two solve this at home.” “I support Victor.” Others I could understand, but I didn’t expect my own uncle to help Victor. With that, Victor stood up to thank everyone. “Nancy, a total of 46% support me. What else do you have to say?” “President Victor, don’t forget, there’s a holder of 19% shares who hasn’t expressed their stance yet.”

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It was Valentine’s Day, and I wanted to give my boyfriend a thrill. The moment he walked through the door, I pounced on him, pushing him against the door for a wet, passionate kiss. I managed to pass the spiked wine from my mouth to his, but his reaction was cold. He didn’t say a word. He just pushed me aside and reached for the light switch. I held his hand down, whispering shyly, “Babe, don’t you want my first time?” Instantly, his breathing grew heavy. I smirked, reaching under his shirt. But suddenly, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the apartment. My boyfriend’s husky voice rang out: “Babe.” My best friend’s flirty voice responded: “Don’t be so impatient! Mmm~” Then came the sounds of blushing, heart-pounding kisses and heavy breathing. Before I could react, I was pulled into the closet. Was I catching them? Or was I being caught? 1 My scalp went numb. The closet was narrow. Two people pressed tight against each other, the air thick with tension. But what was happening outside was even more intense. Chloe moaned softly, “You’re so bad. Can you live with yourself doing this to Annie?” Tyler suppressed a heavy pant. “Can you?” “Besides, I only chased her in the beginning to get your attention.” What did that mean?! Not only a double betrayal, but it was premeditated?! I looked up in shock. Accidentally, the top of my head bumped the man’s chin. I instinctively wanted to put my hands together to apologize. But in the darkness, I brushed against that part of him. He was actually…! Oh god. I had just fed him the spiked wine. I was feeling hot all over now, too. I tried to pull away. I squirmed against the closet wall. Suddenly, I was pinned down. Hot breath sprayed onto the top of my head. A very quiet, yet pleasant male voice sounded in my ear: “Don’t move.” After saying that, he didn’t move again. He maintained the maximum possible distance between us. Clearly indicating he wouldn’t take advantage of me. My face flushed red as I secretly observed this man. In the dim light, I could only make out a superior facial profile. His voice sounded familiar. Was he a mutual friend of Tyler’s? Outside, the sticky sounds of kissing and rustling fabric paused briefly. Then came an even more unbearable conversation. Chloe asked breathlessly, “So, are you going to let Annie come over later?” “We’re already like this, and you still won’t break up with her?” I peeked through the slit in the closet door. Chloe’s legs were wrapped around Tyler’s waist. Tyler nibbled on her neck, looking up with eyes full of lust. “Are you in a rush to leave?” “Annie is old-fashioned and boring, but she only has eyes for me. It’s kind of entertaining.” “I plan to play with her a bit longer.” Chloe hooked her arm around his neck mockingly. “Annie is a bit stupid, and a bit unlucky.” “Her first relationship, and she meets a scumbag like you!” Tyler kissed Chloe hard and sneered. “She’s lucky. With her looks, she’s lucky to date me!” “True, desperate girls like her have a hard time finding guys.” Their tones were contemptuous as they smiled at each other. My body was hot. But hearing them mock me so recklessly made my heart run cold. The two people I trusted most. Betraying me and laughing at me behind my back. Tyler continued, “But it won’t be much longer.” “Maybe she’ll offer herself up today.” “Once I take her virginity, I’ll find a reason to dump her.” Chloe laughed and hit him. “Scumbag!” Tyler bit her earlobe and asked, “What about you? When will you let me graduate to boyfriend?” Chloe closed her eyes with a wicked smile. “After you take her down.” Tyler stopped moving and looked down at her. “Want to make a bet?” “Bet that I can take her this month?” My throat tightened painfully. There was a sliver of pleading in my heart. Hoping Chloe wouldn’t agree. It was too humiliating. Especially with someone else right next to me. But the next second, Chloe nodded with a smile. “Sure.” “But that’s too easy for you.” “Even though Annie is conservative, for you, it’s just a matter of beckoning your finger.” My heart sank bit by bit. Anger surged. I wanted to rush out and tear them apart. Tyler asked, “Then what?” Chloe flipped over, straddling Tyler. “You have to dump her, and make her kneel in public crying and begging you not to break up.” Hearing this, Tyler laughed. “You’re the real villain. Aren’t you best friends?” Chloe huffed. “I’ve been annoyed with her following me around for ages.” Tyler chuckled, holding Chloe’s waist. “If I win, what’s my reward?” Chloe pinched Tyler’s face. “If you win, I won’t chase your friend Ethan anymore. I’ll officially be with you.” “If you lose, you help me chase Ethan.” “Deal!” 2 I was trembling all over. Tears fell uncontrollably. Heartbreak and anger mixed together. My body felt terrible too. The urge to rush out and destroy everyone reached its peak. Suddenly, my ears were covered by warm, large hands. It was like entering a vacuum. The filthy sounds disappeared. Was this man helping me? I unknowingly calmed down. After a while. He let go of me. He pushed open the closet door. The sudden light made me squint. Before I could react. My wrist was grabbed. “Go.” I didn’t come to my senses until I was dragged next door. I looked up at the man. Tall stature, sharp features, an aura of cold nobility. It was actually the Finance Department’s “God,” Ethan. Tyler’s friend. The man Chloe just said she wanted to chase. “You.” I only managed one word. Ethan pressed his index finger to his lips, tilting his head to listen outside the door. Looking at those red lips. Thinking of the forced kiss in the dark. That soft touch. My face heated up. “Okay.” “They’ve gone far.” His magnetic voice rang out. My face was red, and I was incoherent. “Sorry about earlier, but thank you, I…” I sniffled. Thinking of what just happened. Tears couldn’t help but fall again. I wiped them while explaining, “Sorry, I might be allergic to the closet.” “It’s definitely not because of those two pieces of trash.” Ethan looked down at me and nodded faintly. “Finding out early is a blessing.” I carefully observed his expression; there was no look of disdain. Something in my heart felt inexplicably moved. Remembering something, I lowered my head in embarrassment. “Um, the drink I gave you had something in it… if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll pay for your hospital visit.” Seeming unwilling to go to the hospital for such a reason, Ethan refused directly. “No need, a cold shower will do.” I nodded quickly, wanting to leave. But he called me back. “What about you?” I curled my toes. “I only had a sip, I should be fine.” “I’ll call a cab and leave before the trash comes back.” Silence for a long time. I looked up at him. Our eyes met, and he looked away uncomfortably, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Okay.” With that, he turned and went into the bedroom. Soon, the sound of water running started. I moved to the sofa and opened the ride-sharing app. It was pouring rain outside. A concert nearby had just ended. No drivers were accepting orders. I felt so terrible I wanted to cry again. Dehydrated, my mouth was parched. I saw a canned drink on the coffee table. I ran to the bedroom door and asked quietly, “Can I drink your stuff?” After a long while, a muffled “Yeah” came from the bathroom. I thought it was a foreign energy drink. I took a big gulp. It was alcohol. A message popped up on my phone. Tyler: [Don’t come over, something came up last minute.] Because I had been helping my advisor with a project recently, I had been distant with Tyler. We hadn’t even been able to go on dates. To coax the unhappy Tyler, I had promised again and again that there would be a surprise at his house today. I was indeed ready for us to take that step. Resulting in the experiment ending early. Seeing that scene. He probably went to walk Chloe home and couldn’t bear to come back. Sure enough, Chloe posted a status on her private Instagram account. “Collected the Department Hunk. On a whim, ate and took everything~” The photo was her making a peace sign while leaning on Tyler’s shoulder. Although Tyler’s face wasn’t showing, the Chrome Hearts necklace he was wearing was the gift I saved up to buy him. Rage rose from my gut. I sent Tyler a text: [You piece of sh*t, eat crap, we’re breaking up!] Blocked and deleted him on everything. I took another swig of alcohol. The sadness of the breakup was gone. I thought angrily. A cheater who finishes fast isn’t worth it, the next one will be better! Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Ethan came out, hair half-wet, wearing only a towel. Overly handsome features, firm pecs, defined abs, a distinct bulge, thick thighs. The visual impact of this scene was too great. Boom. My brain was filled with: Want it, want it, want it. I stared straight at him. Ethan was clearly stunned to see me. “You haven’t left?” Hearing this, I felt instinctively aggrieved. “Are you chasing me out too?” 4 After I spoke. Something felt wrong. Ethan’s phone rang suddenly. Tyler’s irritated voice came through. “Ethan, check for me if Annie is at my place?” “I just stood her up, and she’s throwing a temper tantrum.” “Cover for me with a few words…” I was about to rush over and scream profanities. Ethan hung up the phone abruptly. I couldn’t stop my momentum and tackled him directly to the floor. Propping myself up halfway, I questioned him unhappily. “Why did you hang up?” “Pulling me to hide, were you trying to protect them too?!” “No.” Ethan denied it quickly, looking up at me. “I just wanted you to see clearly.” Seeing his serious expression, I was confused. “Aren’t you guys brothers?” Ethan frowned slightly, then denied it. “Just acquaintances.” “They don’t deserve for you to get your hands dirty.” Looking into his deep eyes, my brain became fuzzier. The cool skin beneath me made me want to snuggle closer. The atmosphere was suddenly ambiguous. My hands, wandering secretly, were grabbed. “What are you doing?” My mouth spoke my inner thoughts uncontrollably. “I want you.” I pulled out the small tool I brought. “Happy Valentine’s Day, a gift for you.” Ethan pursed his lips slightly, his eyes dark and unclear. The rejection was obvious. I realized the awkwardness belatedly. This was Ethan, the guy even Chloe wanted to chase. How could I be so brazen after a little alcohol? I explained incoherently. “Sorry, I drank too much and spoke nonsense.” “If I can’t get a cab, I’ll swim back.” I stumbled up, still babbling. “It’s not like it has to be you.” “Who says I don’t have anyone? I can just spend money.” My wrist was grabbed again. I looked down. Ethan sighed. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it.” Before he finished, I couldn’t help but bite that red, soft lip. When I came to my senses again, I didn’t know when, but Ethan had carried me into the bedroom. Sitting on his lap, I chased his lips with pecks. He held my shoulders to create a little distance. Ethan’s breathing deepened. His hands moved from top to bottom. We were already at this point. Why did he call stop? Regretting it? Looking at his lips, which I had bitten nearly to the point of bleeding. My brain was buzzing. My whole body itched terribly, like ants crawling all over me. “I still want it.” Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes terrifyingly dark. “Annie, do you know who I am?” His low, magnetic voice was full of temptation. I didn’t understand what he was saying. I only knew I really wanted it, crying out. “Ethan, are you giving it to me or not!” The next second, the world spun, and a burning kiss landed. Warm, powerful palms explored. The skirt was lifted. Small fabric torn away.

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