Category: English

I Have a Special Mind Reading Ability: I Can Hear the Thoughts of Those Who Don’t Love Me On the eve of my wedding, I suddenly heard my fiancé’s thoughts: “If she tries to hijack the wedding tomorrow, running away in dress shoes might not be the best idea.” I kept quiet and decisively boarded a flight out of the country the next day. Later, that wedding became the talk of the town – both the bride and groom had run away. I’ve always possessed a special mind-reading ability: I can hear the thoughts of people who don’t love me. This ability allows me to easily judge whether someone’s love for me is genuine or fake. I can quickly distance myself from fake friendships and remain unmoved by confessions from long-time crushes. Even when buying durian, I can use the vendor’s thoughts to pick the one with the most flesh and sweetest taste. Because I can hear every single thought clearly. To avoid too much mental noise, I usually avoid eye contact with strangers in daily life. But when I first met Derek, the world became so quiet that I could only hear our clear dialogue: “Hello, may I get to know you?” No thoughts. When our eyes met, I couldn’t read Derek’s thoughts. “Hello.” During the time Derek pursued me, the sounds in my ears were simple and pure. I believed he truly loved me. So we fell in love, dated, and then talked about marriage. For two whole years, I never heard his thoughts. But on the eve of our wedding, I suddenly could hear Derek’s thoughts. Due to the wedding, Derek had been especially busy lately. He came from a wealthy family and had successfully taken over his father’s position, independently managing the family’s financial company. Because of the wedding itinerary, we had many things to handle in advance, especially in the last two months. I’ve always been an independent woman and respected Derek’s career as well. So we hadn’t seen each other much lately. But today, as we were finalizing the outfits, I couldn’t help feeling sweet at the thought of our rare time together. When I arrived at the studio on time, he was already there trying on shoes. After saying something to the staff, he walked out while talking on the phone, his tone very reassuring. I could understand his busyness; managing a company wasn’t easy, especially since the White family had more than one heir. We exchanged a knowing glance. But suddenly I heard Derek’s voice in my head: “Yvonne says she’s going to hijack the wedding tomorrow. I should wear sneakers to run more easily.” Yvonne? Hijack the wedding? I froze on the spot, staring at his mouth, confirming this was indeed his inner thoughts. I didn’t know how to react. Even though it was a hot summer day outside, a chill spread through my body, paralyzing me. I could hear his thoughts now, and the implications were obvious. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the staff following his instructions, placing a pair of comfortable sneakers with the wedding attire. Derek nodded at me and prepared to walk out. This was our tacit understanding; he probably had some important matter to handle. But the words I just heard in my mind were undeniable, and I never mishear thoughts. My body almost moved on its own, following him. I called out, somewhat in disbelief: “Derek?” I was eager to read more of his thoughts, to understand what this man who bore the title of my fiancé was really thinking. Why did he suddenly have a change of heart right before the wedding? My call made Derek pause just as he was about to get into the backseat, but it was only a brief pause. He turned back, hastily explaining to me before instructing the driver to speed away: “Sorry, a client suddenly has an urgent matter. I need to rush over there.” He was lying. At that moment, what he was really thinking was: “I can tell from her voice that Yvonne is angry. If I don’t go comfort her now, she probably won’t let me come home tonight.” I’ve never been one to just wallow in self-pity. Rather than overthinking things myself, it’s better to take action. I directly found an excuse to meet Derek’s secretary privately, using my mind-reading ability to gather more information. Her name was Yvonne. She was Derek’s first love. Yvonne was the illegitimate daughter of the You family. Mrs. You never acknowledged her, so her position had always been awkwardly ambiguous. Unfortunately, Derek’s family opposed their relationship. Yvonne had too much pride and left Derek, disappearing without a trace after being humiliated. Derek’s love at first sight for me was simply because I somewhat resembled Yvonne in appearance. Now that the real deal was back, he naturally didn’t need me as a substitute anymore. The timing of Yvonne’s return happened to coincide with Derek being exceptionally busy two months ago. The logic was clear and fit perfectly. This kind of story made me shake my head and laugh helplessly. I never expected such a cliché “substitute” plot could apply to me. Yvonne wanted to use hijacking the wedding as a way to declare her ownership of Derek, while also getting revenge on me for occupying the “Mrs. White” position for so long. And Derek needed this occasion to prove his unwavering love for Yvonne, placate his angry little wife, and force his family to accept Yvonne. As for me and this carefully prepared wedding, we were just props in their play. This world is just one big cliché romance novel. Honestly, it was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but curse. That night, the lights in my apartment were still on. Even though the wedding was the next day, I was busy packing my luggage without a moment’s rest. Two hours ago, I had booked a first-class flight abroad. If they want to play games, I can play too. If Derek can let Yvonne hijack the wedding, I can naturally return the favor by pulling a “vanishing act” and running away from the wedding. Fortunately, my family had already settled abroad, and we hadn’t made a big fuss inviting relatives and friends from there to this wedding. We only invited some close friends in the country. Originally, we thought since both sets of parents had met during the engagement, we could have another ceremony abroad later, saving relatives and friends the trouble of traveling back and forth with language barriers. This plan actually made it convenient for me to run away from the wedding now. I briefly told my best friend Tessa about my thoughts. She silently took the packing box from my hands, looking serious. Unable to read her thoughts, I saw her reaction was off and had to ask: “Tessa, are you going to stop me?” Tessa rolled her eyes and retorted: “Hell no. I brought you a sturdy bag for packing stuff.” Oh right, I forgot Tessa’s family was in the agricultural business. On the wedding day, dressed in a greeting gown, I stood with Derek welcoming guests from afar. This time, Derek’s thoughts were so loud they gave me a headache: “Has Yvonne arrived yet?” “I can finally be with Yvonne. It’s been three years, I’ve waited for Yvonne for three years. She’s finally going to become Mrs. White.” “With this wedding hijacking, Yvonne will believe my heart has never changed, right?” … I couldn’t help but shudder and frown at Derek several times. But he didn’t show it on his face, still caring for me in his usual gentle manner: “Aria, you don’t look well. Why don’t you go rest in the lounge for a bit? I can greet the guests outside, and you can make your entrance when the ceremony starts.” That works. Actually, I should find an excuse to slip away soon anyway. I agreed, and just as I was about to change out of my little reception dress into casual clothes, I happened to run into Yvonne at the door. Thanks to our similar looks and my mind-reading ability, I recognized her at a glance. I held back Tessa’s arm as she was about to lunge at the mistress in her bridesmaid dress, pretending to be oblivious: “You must be Derek’s friend, right? Hurry inside, our wedding ceremony starts in a few hours.” Yvonne’s smile froze, seemingly displeased by my intimate way of addressing Derek. Her words had a sarcastic tone: “Miss Wood, I’m so sorry, but we seem to be wearing similar dresses today. If people who don’t know better see us, won’t they think I’m the bride?” Yvonne’s arrogant thoughts rang out in sync: “Go ahead and smile. In three hours, your groom will run away with me. Let’s see if you can still smile then.” I maintained my smile, shaking my head indifferently. I instructed a nearby waiter to show her to her seat: “Idiot, I’ve made it this obvious and she still doesn’t realize I’m here to cause trouble?” As we passed each other, Tessa couldn’t help but complain to me: “Did you see how arrogant she looked? I can’t stand it.” I nodded noncommittally: “She sees me as a joke now, after all Derek is prepared to let her hijack the wedding. Not only can the lovers finally be together, but she can also force the White family to acknowledge her status in front of me. ” The wedding venue wasn’t far from the airport. I sat in the waiting lounge, staring at the time on my phone, waiting for the farce to begin. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! My phone vibrated continuously as Tessa excitedly spammed me with live updates: “Aria, it’s really happening! It’s really happening!” “Damn, they’re making their affair look like some epic love story. So shameless.” The official ceremony had only started five minutes ago when Tessa sent me a video of the wedding scene. According to the program, after Derek went on stage and the host gave a sappy, emotional speech about their love story, the bride was supposed to make her entrance. And Yvonne planned to hijack the wedding at this crucial moment. Yvonne deliberately wore the same greeting dress as the bride, quickly went up on stage and snatched the microphone from the host. Despite the murmurs from the audience below, she poured out her love in an endless stream. Her bold and blatant words brought tears to Derek’s eyes. “Derek, will you come with me?” The guest seats erupted in an uproar. Taking away the groom on his wedding day – wasn’t this blatant wedding hijacking? The worst part was that Derek nodded in agreement with a moved expression, walking to Yvonne’s side and interlocking their fingers: “I will.” Yvonne’s vanity was fully satisfied at this moment. She even had the mood to give an “acceptance speech” to the bride separated by a large door, basically saying she knew I really liked Derek, but Derek loved her the most, and she hoped I would give them my blessing. In the video, Derek was wearing a pair of sneakers that clashed horribly with his formal suit. Yvonne could barely contain the smugness in her expression as she held the microphone. Yvonne was probably eager to see my devastated reaction. She had even prepared comforting words in her mind: “I hope Miss Wood can give her blessing to this beautiful love story between me and Derek.” “Miss Wood?” The atmosphere suddenly became extremely awkward at this point. After all, the person being humiliated wasn’t there, so this triumphant scene just became a clownish farce. “Miss Wood?” “Miss Wood?” … Yvonne called out several times with no response, until the etiquette officer opened the large doors. Behind them was an empty space, with only the carelessly discarded white veil symbolizing the bride’s unknown whereabouts. The crowd suddenly became noisy, and someone shouted: “Holy crap, did the bride run away from the wedding too?”

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On the day we gave birth, my best friend came to my bedside right after her C-section and swapped away my son. Twenty years later, my best friend’s spoiled son caused big trouble. In front of everyone, she pointed at my academically excellent daughter and proudly said: “Actually, this is my biological child!” I smiled: “They say nephews resemble their uncles. If your son shaved his head, he’d look exactly like your brother!” “This is indeed your biological son…” I saw a woman in a hospital gown at the door of the ward, hunched over and carrying a thick bundle. I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. She came in, as expected. Even while enduring the pain of a C-section, she still came to swap my child for a million dollars. After she left, I looked at my fair and chubby daughter lying beside me, my face full of love. Stroking my daughter’s face, I whispered, “That skinny, premature son – whoever wants him can have him.” Two hours later, my husband and in-laws arrived. My room was quiet, with only me, my husband, and the nurse. Olivia’s room was bustling with activity, surrounded by my in-laws, sister-in-law, and a group of relatives. My husband looked a bit embarrassed and comforted me, “It’s okay, Rachel. Our little princess has us, and that’s enough.” I patted his hand, “I just had surgery and I’m feeling weak. Since Olivia has the energy, let her entertain the guests.” She not only swapped babies but also greeted guests. That night, she suffered a severe hemorrhage and was rushed back to the operating room. After being discharged, we both moved into the family mansion to prepare for the babies’ one-month celebration. My in-laws gave Olivia the largest room with the best lighting. She insisted on giving it to me: “Chloe has more severe jaundice, so you should take this room, Rachel.” Looking at the skinny, yellow boy in her arms, and my daughter in mine, who only had a bit of yellow on her hands, I reluctantly accepted. “Thank you, Olivia. You’re such a good friend, forever.”

A year ago, shortly after I married into the wealthy family, my best friend Olivia would cry in front of me every day. She said I had forgotten our promise to “never forget each other if we became rich.” Looking at her strange heavy makeup and the exaggerated expressions on her face, I remembered how five or six years ago, after she hooked up with a rich guy, she cut off contact with all our old classmates. I could only laugh it off and repeatedly deny her accusations. Unexpectedly, half a month later, I saw her getting together with my gambling-addicted brother-in-law. My in-laws didn’t approve, but she got pregnant first and forced a marriage. Her baby was only a month behind mine. Seeing both daughters-in-law pregnant, my in-laws were overjoyed. They declared that whoever gave birth to a son would be rewarded with a million dollars. I didn’t care much, as I hadn’t married my husband for his family’s wealth. Besides, whether it was a son or daughter, both were blessings, and I would love either. Olivia didn’t see it that way. She went everywhere to get her fortune told. She consulted several masters, and they all said she was carrying a girl. She even spent a lot of money trying to change her luck, but to no avail. After all this trouble, she ended up in the hospital for a month to protect the pregnancy. When I was close to my due date, she kept staring at my belly. A mother’s instincts are unusually sharp, so I became wary. Sure enough, on the day my water broke, she arrived at the hospital right after me. She insisted that the doctors perform a C-section on her, saying she had consulted fortune tellers and today was an auspicious day. After my daughter was born, while everyone was distracted, I switched her son with mine in advance. So, the baby Olivia took away was actually her own son.

On the day of the babies’ one-month celebration, the entire mansion was decorated festively, with countless luxury cars gathering and guests filling the halls. The “crown prince” in Olivia’s arms wore a bright yellow outfit, making his little face look even darker. My daughter wore only a pink dress, prioritizing comfort. My in-laws displayed a million dollars in cash on a long table. Olivia’s family members guarded the table, afraid someone might steal a stack. I rolled my eyes. How petty, I thought. Everyone here today is from wealthy families; who would care about your small change? When my mother-in-law put a palm-sized solid gold longevity lock around Olivia’s son’s neck, she immediately took it off and insisted on putting it on my daughter. “Boys are tough; this longevity lock is better for Chloe to wear.” She then took the hollow longevity lock from my daughter’s neck. Everyone praised her for being virtuous, and I chimed in: “You’re so good to Chloe, sister-in-law. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was your own daughter.” She froze for a moment, then looked at my daughter in my arms with a loving expression. “Of course, of course. We’ve always been best friends, and now we’re sisters-in-law. I just adore Chloe.” I blocked her hand as she tried to reach for my daughter. “Sister-in-law, your son is crying. You’d better go check on him.”

When the children were two years old, they were playing together in the courtyard. Hearing a commotion, Olivia and I came downstairs one after another. Seeing several long, bloody scratches on my daughter’s face, I held her without a word, my face ashen. Olivia went berserk first, slapping her son’s face hard several times in succession. The child’s face immediately swelled up, and he cried breathlessly. After being hit, he still reached out to Olivia, “Mommy, hug.” Olivia kicked him away, “You worthless thing, how dare you bully Chloe? I’ll chop off your hands.” Hearing this, my daughter started crying in fear. Olivia glanced at her and became even angrier. She pressed her son’s head into the swimming pool. “You little bastard, you deserve a beating. Who do you think you are? If your sister’s face scars, I’ll kill you.” She only let go when the child’s little hands stopped struggling. Seeing the child about to sink to the bottom of the pool, I quickly pulled him out. After being rescued, the child kept coughing and spitting water. Olivia held my daughter, comforting her softly. I snorted coldly. A two-year-old child makes a mistake, and she wants to take his life? She thinks this is my son, so she treats him this way. If my daughter were in her hands, she might be even worse off. “Sister-in-law, no matter how wrong Ryan did, he’s still your own son. You almost killed him.” She didn’t even look up: “If he dies, it’s his bad luck. We can always have another one.”

Those words weren’t wrong. She got pregnant again, and this time it was confirmed to be a boy. My in-laws were so happy they couldn’t close their mouths, saying she should go ahead and give birth, and they would give her a million dollars for every boy, no less. Many children bring much happiness, they said. Even ten would be fine. It was because of this that she treated Ryan worse and worse. After all, that million dollars had already been spent. Her brother’s gambling debts, which were paid off with the million dollars at the time, had accumulated again over these two years. Her mother repeatedly came to ask for money, telling her that her own brother was even dearer than her son. From the time she wanted to hook up with a rich guy to buy her brother a phone and computer, I had warned her. Being an overbearing sister wasn’t a good idea; in the end, she would lose everything. She thought I was trying to drive a wedge between her and her brother and cut off contact with me. Now, she came crying to me about how her family was sucking her dry to support her brother. I advised her, “That’s your own brother. If you don’t take care of him, who will? I’ve heard that debt collectors have many tactics these days. If they come to your in-laws, they’ll definitely be unhappy.” Olivia only got a few tens of thousands in living expenses each month, which couldn’t keep up with her brother’s spending. She could only set her sights on having children.

When my daughter was eight years old and just started elementary school, she suddenly went to the hospital. The doctor said it was an allergy, and the symptoms were severe. Olivia arrived at the hospital before me. When I got there, she was arguing with the doctor: “She’s allergic to mangoes, how can it be this severe! You incompetent doctors, give me the most expensive medicine!” “If she gets any worse, I’ll shut down your entire hospital!” A nurse was quietly trying to comfort her, “Ma’am, please don’t worry. We’ve already treated her, and she’ll be fine in a while.” She shouted, “Easy for you to say when you’re not affected! How would you feel if it was your daughter lying there?” The doctors and nurses fell silent, not wanting to argue with her. I ran over, caught my breath, and patted the nurse’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’m the child’s mother. Thank you all, please go ahead with your work.” The doctor who had been scolded looked bewildered, “Then who is this?” I forced a smile, “This is the child’s aunt.” The doctors and nurses all looked over. As they left, they gave Olivia a look as if she were crazy. Before leaving, the doctor said, “Ma’am, our hospital’s psychiatric department is quite good. If you often feel overly anxious and stressed, you might want to go check it out.”

After Chloe was discharged, she rested at home for a few days without going to school. During these days, Olivia nearly turned the school upside down. First the principal, then the teachers, were all reported to higher authorities. She accused them of allowing students to poison others at school. She even bought off some tabloid reporters to interview at the school. Banners were hung all over the school. “Unscrupulous school endangers my daughter’s life.” “Corrupt principal allows poisoning and protects the perpetrator.” “Immoral teachers abuse students.” To substantiate the teachers’ crimes, she even beat Ryan, who was in the same class as Chloe, until his face was black and blue. She made Ryan tell the reporters’ cameras that it was the teacher who beat him. The incident involved school food safety and caused a huge stir. Ryan’s body was covered in new bruises mixed with old ones. Every day, Olivia dragged him out to kneel at the school gate, and he looked very weak. Onlookers began to speak up, “The child looks like this, why not take him to the hospital?” “These injuries are clearly new. Could the teacher still go to their home to continue beating?” “What a mess in your circle. Rich people don’t go to the police when something happens, just put on heavy makeup and sit in luxury cars blocking the school gate every day.” More and more onlookers were saying Olivia was putting on an act. It wasn’t until I brought Chloe to the school gate that this farce was stopped. I also called reporters and clearly explained the whole story. The child was allergic to mangoes, and her classmate didn’t know and shared some mango candy with her. It was our fault as parents for not doing enough. I hope everyone will stop discussing this matter. As for my sister-in-law’s disturbance to the school, I sincerely apologize. And the lawsuit against that classmate and their parents, we will withdraw it immediately. I hope everyone will let the children study in peace.

My in-laws care most about their reputation. After my husband told them about this incident, They were unforgiving towards Olivia, who had given birth to four grandsons. At a family gathering, they made her kneel down in front of everyone and reflect on her behavior. Olivia lost a lot of face, and my husband was very worried. “Will Olivia take it out on Chloe? After all, she did all this for our daughter.” I assured him, “She won’t. Olivia loves Chloe so much, how could she blame her?” She couldn’t wait to dote on Chloe; if she were to take out her anger on anyone, it would only be on her own son. That night, we heard ghostly wails and screams of a child being disciplined. Ryan cried the loudest, “Mom, I’m your son. Why do you always hit me because of my sister? I feel pain too.” “Shut up, or I’ll sew your mouth shut! How dare you mention Chloe’s name!” In the end, it was my in-laws who couldn’t bear it anymore and took Ryan away. They also stopped Olivia’s credit cards and forbade my brother-in-law from giving her money. Olivia indeed went through a year or two of poverty. She held onto her resentment, pestering my brother-in-law every day. Until she gave birth to her fifth son, she was overjoyed, thinking she would get another million dollars. My in-laws only tossed her twenty thousand dollars. “Having a child, twenty thousand is more than enough. From now on, you’ll have to pay for your own baby formula.”

With less money, she could only rely on quantity. In the following years, Olivia gave birth to three more children in succession. The damage from giving birth to so many children, plus managing eight children over these years, Left her face full of wrinkles, looking nearly ten years older than me. The little money she got was all given to her family. My brother-in-law kept a twenty-something-year-old mistress outside and rarely came home. Even if she wanted to have more children, she couldn’t find anyone. Everyone thought she would be discouraged, sighing like a bitter woman. But she remained energetic every day, even though her sons were all spoiled rotten. Uneducated and incompetent, they relied on the living expenses given by their grandparents, either staying at home playing video games or going out causing trouble every day. Some even dropped out of school, and Olivia indulged them. People were puzzled, but only I understood clearly in my heart. Now that Chloe is twenty years old, she’s already pursuing a master’s degree at a top university. Whether the family inheritance goes to the grandsons or the outstanding granddaughter, She would be the winner either way.

During the New Year’s Eve family gathering, Ryan fled home in a panic. He had taken a drunk girl to a hotel after drinking at a bar. Now she had reported it to the police, and he quickly ran back home. Kneeling in front of his grandfather, he begged him to save his eldest grandson. “Grandpa, please save your eldest grandson. When I helped that girl out of the bar, she clearly didn’t resist.” “Grandpa, don’t you have friends at the police station? This girl is falsely accusing me, you should have her arrested.” Seeing his grandfather’s face turning purple with anger, his father smashed the wine glass in his hand onto Ryan’s head. Blood flowed down his forehead, and Ryan crawled towards his mother, dragging his 300-pound body. “Mom, save me. I’m your own son.” His brothers standing nearby all folded their arms, watching with detached interest. It seemed as if the one kneeling on the ground begging for help wasn’t their brother, but an enemy. Olivia crouched down to wipe the blood from his face, “Ryan, you’ve caused such big trouble, even I can’t help you.” Grandfather exploded in anger, “Enough! Olivia, look at the good son you’ve raised. You take him to turn himself in right now. We didn’t see him today!” “And you, we can’t afford a daughter-in-law like you in our family. When you come back, divorce Tyler and leave with nothing!” Olivia panicked instantly. She grabbed Chloe, who was sitting next to her grandparents, and before anyone could react, she blurted out: “Dad, it’s not me who should leave. Ryan is Tyler and Rachel’s son, and Chloe is my real daughter!”

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Late at night, a note suddenly appeared at the door of Jefferson Hall. “Don’t make a sound. Your roommates are all pretending to be asleep!” Shortly after, I heard my roommate from the top bunk speak. “Ethan, you can’t sleep either?” My heart leapt into my throat. Wasn’t he supposed to be out all night? Content 0 “Ethan, why aren’t you answering me?” The bed frame above me creaked loudly. The note was clenched tightly in my hand. Instinct told me not to respond. I exaggerated my breathing, trying to mimic the rhythm of someone fast asleep. The creaking suddenly stopped. To be safe, I waited what felt like over ten minutes before curling under my blanket to check my phone. The screen’s brightness was dimmed to the lowest setting. No new notifications. Why was Connor, my roommate from the top bunk, suddenly back? Did I misremember? I opened the Dorm WhatsApp Chat. “Hanging out at Cyber Haven tonight. Won’t be back. Cover for me during the RA inspection.” I didn’t misremember. Then who was just on the top bunk? Suddenly, a new message popped up. “Haha, knew you weren’t asleep.” It was from Miles, another one of my roommates. So was it Miles who climbed onto the top bunk? My back broke out in a cold sweat as I recalled the words on the note. Then, I felt a chilling breeze across the top of my exposed head. Someone was breathing on me! In an instant, my entire body froze. The note in my hand trembled, my feet felt as cold as steel, and my heartbeat pounded so violently it felt like it might burst from my chest. I could vividly imagine someone gripping the bed’s frame above me, leaning their face close to mine, staring at me with unblinking eyes. I struggled to control my breathing. This night was too surreal. Gripping my phone tightly, I tried to keep my trembling under control. The phone suddenly vibrated. Who the hell was calling at a time like this? Now wasn’t the time for a call. Without looking at the number, I immediately declined it. The creaking from the top bunk returned. Then, silence. Whoever it was had laid back down. For now, it seemed I was safe. There was no way I could sleep. I reopened my phone. The call had been from an unknown number. My name is Ethan Gray. Most people just call me Ethan. My top bunk roommate was always Connor Pierce. Connor was a classic gamer. He rarely talked to us, preferring to immerse himself in online games. Since power at the dorm cut out at night, he often spent the night gaming at Cyber Haven. Miles, on the other hand, was the polar opposite—outgoing, playful, always joking around. I strained to listen. The room was quiet except for the even rhythm of someone’s breathing. Everyone seemed asleep. But who left the note? And what was Miles trying to do? Lost in thought, unease eventually gave way to sleep. 0

“Holy crap!” Derek’s voice startled me awake. “Miles… he’s… dead!” I shot up in bed. A large pool of blood spread across the floor. Blood dripped thickly from the rusty rod of the bedframe. The sight was horrifying. What the hell happened? Miles was fine last night! Derek stood frozen, his face pale as a sheet, his mouth trembling but unable to form words. He was completely paralyzed with fear. I scrambled out of bed and grabbed my phone to call the police. Summoning my courage, I glanced at Miles’s body on the bed. His position was contorted unnaturally. His head and neck were stretched awkwardly over the edge of the bed. His right hand clutched his throat, poking through the gap in the bedframe’s railing. The quilt was tightly wrapped around his right leg. It was clear he’d died in agony. The thick metallic stench of blood filled the air, nearly overwhelming me. Derek and I couldn’t hold back the nausea. We bolted from the room, barely making it to the hallway. My head spun, my ears rang. From last night to now, everything had spiraled into a nightmare. What the hell was going on? 0

The police arrived at the scene. Shortly after, Connor returned from outside. A death in the dorm drew school officials and a crowd of curious onlookers. The area was cordoned off with police tape. “Preliminary assessment suggests this was likely a homicide.” Miles’s death was beyond strange. I waited on the sidelines, feeling as though my head had been filled with lead. All I could think about was that massive pool of blood. The remaining three of us—Derek, Connor, and me—were taken to Hudson County Precinct for questioning. “Last night, it was just me, Derek, and Miles in the dorm. Connor went to Cyber Haven and should have been out all night.” “I woke up and found Miles dead. Yes, Derek woke up first and started screaming, which woke me up.” I recounted the strange events of the previous night and mentioned the note I had found, intending to hand it over to the police. “It’s gone!” I must have lost it in the chaos. The officer taking my statement stared at me intently, his gaze unnerving. Goosebumps prickled across my skin. “You can leave for now,” he finally said. The thought of the note and Miles’s behavior left my legs weak as I walked out. I couldn’t bring myself to return to Jefferson Hall alone, so I sat in the precinct’s lobby, waiting for Derek and Connor. Miles’s body had been sent for an autopsy, but the results weren’t in yet. As of now, the only suspects were Derek and me. And, of course, Connor. But last night, the dorm door had been locked. Even if Connor had a key, it would have been impossible for him to enter without making a sound. I’m a light sleeper, and my bed is right next to the door—I’d have noticed it opening. That left Derek as the most likely suspect. Before long, Derek came out of the interrogation room. “I think Connor killed Miles,” he said suddenly, staring at me. “They were gaming together yesterday afternoon, and they got into a huge fight. Connor’s face turned bright red—I’ve never seen him that angry before.” “But Connor was out all night at Cyber Haven,” I countered. “How could he have come back, killed Miles, and left without waking us up?” “Who knows… Maybe it’s possible,” Derek muttered. After some time, the police brought Connor out. “We reviewed the surveillance footage. He wasn’t at Cyber Haven last night, nor does he have any other alibi.” It really was Connor! He killed Miles! Connor remained silent, offering no explanation. Unfortunately, the dorm building is old, and with the school constructing new ones, there aren’t any security cameras inside. Until the autopsy results come in, Connor would remain under police supervision. Still, something about it didn’t sit right with me. How could he have silently unlocked the door and killed Miles without waking anyone? If it really was him, then the note must have been his, slipped under the door to confuse us. But that would mean the note’s claim—that everyone in the dorm was pretending to sleep—was false. Maybe I was so shaken last night that I slept more deeply than I thought. That explanation seemed to make everything fit. But then… Why did Miles behave so strangely last night? Am I overthinking things? 0

After Miles’s death, the school promised to reassign dorms for the three of us. But for tonight, Derek and I still had to stay in Jefferson Hall. The room had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the police finished their investigation. Still, every time I closed my eyes, Miles’s horrific death flashed before me. The dorm felt oppressively quiet. We were on a high floor, and the winter wind outside sounded eerily like someone crying. It was impossible to sleep. I scrolled through my phone to distract myself. Besides a class announcement in the Class WhatsApp Group Chat, the only other message was the one Miles had sent me last night: “Haha, knew you weren’t asleep.” What did Miles mean by that? Was he joking with me? Or… was that message not sent by him? And the person who blew on me last night—was it Connor? A chill ran down my spine as a terrifying thought crossed my mind. Was Connor testing me last night? If I had made a sound, would there have been more than one death? Just then, I heard a faint rustling sound near the door. Taking a deep breath, I peeked over the edge of my bed. There it was again—a note on the floor. “Don’t make a sound. Your roommate is pretending to be asleep!” It wasn’t the same note as last night, but the words were identical. My back broke out in goosebumps. Clutching the note and my phone, I turned on my side and curled up under the blanket. Connor was under police watch. So… The killer must be someone else. My thoughts turned to Derek. Tonight, it was just the two of us in the dorm. My heart pounded in my chest. Through the gap between the blanket and the bed, I glanced at Derek’s bunk. It looked like he was in bed, but it was too dark to tell for sure. Could the person who killed Miles be someone outside our dorm? I stayed frozen in my position, not daring to move. If there was even the slightest noise, I was ready to send an emergency text. Minutes passed. Nothing happened. I exhaled a shallow breath. My body was stiff from fear. There was no way I’d sleep tonight. I stayed like that, tense and alert, until dawn. After a distracted morning of classes, I brought the new note to the precinct. I didn’t tell Derek. I couldn’t fully trust him either. Until the killer was caught, I wasn’t safe. What if they were some kind of lunatic? “In the autopsy, we found only one fatal wound—a cut on the victim’s wrist,” the officer explained calmly. “We also found a blade inside his clothing, likely the tool used to make the cut.” “Additionally, Miles’s social media history shows recent posts with concerning, negative language.” “Based on the evidence, we’ve concluded that Miles committed suicide by cutting his wrist.” Suicide? How could that be? What about the notes? The officer didn’t have an immediate answer but said they’d continue investigating. For now, Connor was cleared of suspicion. Leaving the precinct, I felt numb. The past two days had been too much to process. Miles had committed suicide. He was always the one filling the dorm with laughter. He was so outgoing, with so many friends who adored him. How could this happen? I blamed myself for being so blind to his struggles. Maybe it really was him who sent that message. Was he asking for help? He must have been asking for help! If I’d responded, if I’d comforted him, would things have turned out differently? The thought made me want to cry. I hated myself for being so cowardly. Why hadn’t I just gotten up to check on him? But then again… If the note was just a prank, Then whoever left it was the one who distracted me, stopping me from helping Miles in time. 0

“Ethan… Are you unable to walk?” Suddenly, I heard the exact same voice from the night Miles died, coming from behind me. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed. I couldn’t feel any pain—there didn’t seem to be any injuries—but my head was spinning. “Ethan, how are you feeling? Do you feel better?” Connor and Derek were sitting at the bedside. My left hand was hooked up to an IV drip, and I weakly nodded in response. “You collapsed right in front of me. Scared the hell out of me.” So, Connor must’ve brought me to Willowbrook Medical Center. I vaguely remembered hearing someone call my name before everything went black. I couldn’t recall anything after that. The stress from the past few days, coupled with a lack of rest, had clearly taken a toll on my body. “Good thing I ran into you as soon as I was released from the precinct,” Connor added. So, that voice I’d heard earlier—it was his. I must have misheard it as my consciousness started fading. For a moment, I thought it was someone—or something—else. Just then, my phone rang. “We need you to return to Hudson County Precinct for another statement,” said the officer on the line. Connor and Derek received the same call shortly after. “Where were you that night?” I asked Connor, unable to hide my curiosity. “I didn’t go to Cyber Haven,” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. “But where I was… That’s not something I can tell the cops.” The room fell silent. Only the sound of the IV drip filled the air. “Ethan, did you hear someone call your name that night?” Derek suddenly broke his silence. So… he wasn’t asleep that night?

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“I don’t have one,” I replied, leaving the host momentarily speechless. Soren, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. “Is what’s written on the sign your wish?” After a brief pause, Soren spoke again: “I’m willing.” Instantly, the venue erupted in thunderous screams. Oh right, I forgot. The sign I was holding said, “Soren, will you be my boyfriend?” My name is Sunny, and I’ve known Soren since childhood because he’s my brother’s best friend. There’s only a three-year age gap between us, but it always felt like we were worlds apart. When I started middle school, he was a sophomore in high school. When I became a high school freshman, he was starting college. I worked incredibly hard to get into his university, thinking we could finally be together. But by then, Soren had become a superstar, and I could no longer catch up to him. From that point on, I could only admire him from afar. The first time I met Soren, I was very young. All I knew was that my brother had an incredibly handsome classmate, so I always loved tagging along behind them, grinning like an idiot. I’ve always been drawn to good-looking people, even as a child. “Oliver, are you going to play basketball? I want to go too.” “Oliver, are you going out? Can you take me with you?” “Oliver, let me come along.” “Oliver, Oliver, Oliver…” Oliver, now in middle school, was thoroughly annoyed by his little tagalong sister. But he had no choice. If he didn’t take me along, he wouldn’t get any allowance. And when I went out with my brother, nine times out of ten, we’d see Soren. Gradually, Soren and I became more familiar, sometimes even meeting up without my brother around. Later, we ended up at the same school, though I was in middle school and Soren was in high school. But even in the middle school section, there were always stories about Soren. After all, someone handsome and smart is popular anywhere. “Sunny, there’s a basketball game in the high school section later. Will you come watch with me?” my desk mate whispered while the teacher wasn’t looking. “I heard your brother and Soren are playing too. You can go cheer for your brother.” Yeah, right. As if I’d go cheer for Oliver. Of course I was going to watch Soren. We skipped a study hall period and rushed over. By the time we arrived, the game was already heating up, and it looked like there was some friction between the two sides. They had the referee sandwiched between them. At that hot-blooded age, neither side was willing to back down. It looked like a fight was about to break out. I saw someone push Soren, and my anger instantly flared up. I jumped up from my seat, grabbed a plastic chair from the side of the court, and charged over. “Don’t you dare bully my brother! I won’t let you get away with this!” They were probably startled by my forceful voice and all turned to look at me. My chair didn’t hit anyone. Instead, halfway there, I tripped over my own feet and fell spectacularly in the middle of the court, with the chair shattering beneath me. Back then, the term “social suicide” didn’t exist yet. I just wanted to find a hole to crawl into. It was so embarrassing. Soren was the first to rush to my side, seeing that I was still lying on the ground. He scooped me up and ran straight to the infirmary. Later, his team lost the game because two of their key players were missing, staying with me in the infirmary instead. “What were you thinking? You’re just a girl, how could you be so reckless as to try and fight high school boys?” My brother scolded me, still shaken by the incident. “I saw them about to hit you. You’re my brother, how could I just stand by and watch?” I said, not very convincingly. I was afraid he’d figure out it was because of Soren and beat me up. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.” Soren patted my head. “But next time, leave the fighting to your big brothers, okay?” Although my brother scolded me, he was touched that I stood up for him, and it made him look good. The opponents who nearly got into a fight on the court now envied him for having such a pretty and brave little sister. So as a reward, my brother gave me all of his allowance. I immediately took the money and secretly dragged Soren to the mall for a big meal. “Why hasn’t your brother arrived yet? Maybe you should call and hurry him up.” “Oh, my brother just texted me. He said something came up and he can’t make it.” I kept my head down, looking at the menu, not daring to meet Soren’s eyes. I felt guilty. At this moment, my brother was probably at home eating instant noodles alone. “Soren, have you ever dated anyone? Let me tell you, high school is crucial. You need to focus on your studies and not get distracted by relationships.” After starting middle school, I stopped calling Soren “big brother.” I had my own reasons – I didn’t want him to see me as a little sister. Soren didn’t seem to mind this change. He looked at me without saying anything, just smiling. I plowed on, explaining, “That’s what my mom tells my brother at home. Since you two are so close, I naturally wanted to pass the message on to you.” “Well, you can tell your mom that I won’t be dating early.” I quickly agreed, my mood greatly improved. The food on my plate suddenly tasted even better. In the end, Soren secretly paid the bill, telling me to keep the money to buy something I liked. After junior year of high school, my brother and Soren became even busier. They were either in class or doing practice tests. Following my mom’s instructions, I went to deliver something to my brother. At the stairway corner, I saw the familiar figure of Soren, but there was a pretty girl standing across from him. I didn’t dare get closer, so I couldn’t hear what they were saying. In the end, Soren accepted something the girl handed him, a smile on his face. I was stunned. It wasn’t like I’d never seen girls confess to Soren before. But he always rejected them coolly, never accepting anything from them. I felt a sense of unease. I secretly took a photo and then turned to leave. After a night of internal struggle, I anonymously sent the photo to their homeroom teacher. In the crucial final year of high school, how could they afford any distractions? I was doing the right thing. That day in class, I was distracted. As soon as school ended, I rushed home, wanting to ask my brother about it. But when I got home, my parents and brother were all there. High school seniors had evening self-study sessions. “Oliver, did you skip class?” “Your brother was caught dating. Your dad and I just got back from the school,” my mom said. Hmph, dating as a team, huh? “I’m not dating! That girl was chasing after me, but I don’t like her,” my brother explained, exhausted. “I can’t believe someone took a photo and reported it. If I find out who it was, I’ll beat them to a pulp.” I suddenly felt a chill down my spine and quietly slipped from the living room to my bedroom. Oh no, I reported on my own brother. What should I do? The next day, I saw Soren in the cafeteria. “Well, well, look who learned how to tattle,” Soren said as he sat down across from me. “I didn’t know it was my brother,” I mumbled. “So it would have been okay if it was me? And here I thought I’d been so good to you,” he teased. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell your brother. This can be our little secret.” Soren held out his pinky, as if to make a pinky promise. I was confused. “How did you know it was me? I sent it anonymously.” Soren smiled. “I had a hunch, but now I’m sure.” shift Middle schoolers are no match for high schoolers after all. My brother and Soren both got into top universities. I started high school, and the intense study atmosphere took some getting used to. Especially math and physics – I was getting worse and worse. My mom got worried and started finding tutors for me. Although I resisted, I didn’t dare go against my mother. On the first day of summer vacation, I stumbled out of bed with messy hair to find Soren sitting in our living room. It had been half a year since I’d seen him. He seemed even more handsome. “Soren, has my brother started dating anyone? He never tells me anything.” “No,” Soren replied, half-focused on the practice papers in front of him. “What about you?” I stared at him nervously, afraid of hearing an answer I didn’t want. Soren put down the papers and looked at me. “No.” I secretly rejoiced and pressed on, “So what are your requirements for a girlfriend?” “Just being of legal age.” “Anything else?” “Nope.” “That’s it? So simple?” I asked, incredulous. “Well, it’s not that simple.” Soren tapped the papers on the table, gesturing for me to start working. “Huh?” I didn’t quite catch that, but Soren didn’t elaborate further. Just one requirement, and I still didn’t meet it. The age part I couldn’t change, but everything else I could work on. Two more years. For the first time, I felt like time was passing so slowly. Soren tutored me in math and physics for a month, and also cooked for me and my hopeless brother. “Oliver, you’re so lazy. You’ll never find a girlfriend like this.” “Soren is hardworking, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend either.” Ugh, he had a point. I hoped Soren would continue not finding one. Soren’s tutoring was very effective. I got into the same university as them and finally welcomed my long-awaited 18th birthday. The long-held secret crush could finally emerge from behind the clouds and see the sun. I wanted to tell Soren, “I like you. I’ve liked you for a very, very long time.” But when I saw Soren again, he had become a popular singer. His latest single, which he wrote and composed himself, was playing online. As soon as it was released, it topped the charts on all major music platforms. With his superior singing skills and stunningly good looks, he attracted countless fans. Everyone said he was the star of tomorrow, a future superstar. I used to think that once I got to college, I’d have a chance. Now I realized that college wasn’t the beginning, but the end. I could never catch up to Soren again. A secret crush has always been one person’s own tumultuous battle. During the New Year holiday, my brother took me out for a meal, and we saw Soren after a long time. He was very busy, with activities all over the country, and didn’t have much time to keep in touch with my brother either. “Soren, long time no see.” I started calling him “Soren” again, as a reminder to myself. Soren heard my change in address and his hand, which was about to pat my head, stopped midair. “Sunny, have you adjusted to college life?” “It’s pretty good. The club activities are fun, and my classmates are easy to get along with.” “So, have you started dating anyone? You’re 18 now, you can date.” It used to be me asking Soren these questions. Now the tables had turned. “Yes, a senior at my school.” I kept my head down, eating from my bowl. I was afraid if I looked up, he’d realize I was lying. I wasn’t sure why I lied. Perhaps it was to completely cut off my own unrealistic fantasies. A hopeless crush should be nipped in the bud. On the way back, my brother seemed to want to say something several times but held back. He didn’t say it, and I didn’t ask. Soren became increasingly famous, winning more and more awards. Fewer and fewer people mocked him for relying on his looks. My roommate was his die-hard fan, with a complete collection of merchandise, posters, and albums. “Sunny, there’s an event with Soren this weekend. Come with me, please?” “I’m not going. I don’t like him.” “Oh, come on. Your phone is full of his songs, and every time I talk about Soren in the dorm, you perk up and listen.” I looked at my other roommates, and they all nodded in agreement. “There’s no shame in liking Soren. No need to hide it. Besides, he’s kind of our senior from the same school.” I had turned my love for Soren into a fan’s admiration for their idol, but I didn’t dare follow him openly, always carefully keeping tabs on him. One day, I had just returned from the cafeteria when I heard Lily talking in the dorm, “I can’t believe even someone like Soren would have unrequited love. The girl he’s pining for must be some legendary figure.” I opened my phone and saw the trending topic: “Soren – Unrequited Love – Exploded” It was a video clip of Soren being interviewed. Host: “People say many of your songs are about unrequited love. Is that true?” “Yes, it is.” “Is that because you’ve experienced it yourself?” “Yes.” “When did you start liking this person?” “A very long time ago.” “Do you still like them now?” Soren remained silent for a long time, never answering, and the video ended. That night, I tossed and turned in bed, my mind full of Soren’s interview. A very long time ago – that must mean during school. Thinking back, the people closest to him in school, besides my brother, were me. Surely Soren couldn’t have a crush on my brother, right? I opened SnapChat, wanting to ask Soren, but I never dared to. “Soren’s fan meeting is at the Cultural Center, just three subway stops from our school. It’s so close. Please go for me.” Lily tugged at my arm, begging. “Sunny, you’ve been secretly liking Soren for so long. Don’t miss this chance to see your idol in person. Trust me, once you see him with your own eyes, you’ll definitely fall in love with Soren.” I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t find a reason. Tickets for Soren’s fan meeting were in high demand. Lily had stayed up for three nights to snag a seat in the back corner. But when the day came, something urgent came up related to graduation. No matter how much of a fan she was, she couldn’t let it affect her future. She was reluctant to give up the ticket and asked me to go in her place, maybe even get a handshake or a hug. She said if I did, it would be like she got to hug Soren too. She didn’t know that if I went, there was no way I’d be hugging Soren. On the day of the event, it was incredibly crowded. There were even many fans without tickets gathered outside. I finally found my seat and immediately texted Lily to let her know I was there. “Girl, take out the sign and hold it up!” “No way.” “You have to! I had it specially blessed online. It cost me $50.” “Even if you spent $500, Soren still wouldn’t be your boyfriend.” “The fortune teller said the blessing wasn’t just for Soren, but for someone like Soren too.” That’s quite a broad blessing. “Sunny, do you really want to crush my dreams of love?” With no other choice, I reluctantly held up the sign. I even video called Lily to prove I was doing it. “Don’t think you can put it down right after. This fan meeting is being livestreamed. I’ll watch the replay when I’m done with my work, and if you didn’t hold it up, we’re through.” Great, my last escape route was blocked. At least it wasn’t too embarrassing. Lily’s sign was relatively tame compared to some of the others I saw in the crowd. After Soren sang a few songs, it was time for fan interaction. Selected fans could have a small wish granted on the spot. Usually, it was for an autographed photo or a picture together. “Soren, can I have a hug?” “I’m sorry, but we can shake hands.” Soren seemed to never hug female fans. Since his debut, he had never had any rumors or scandals. Could it be that Soren really liked my brother? “Number 3714, where is this fan?” It wasn’t until the girl next to me nudged me that I realized I had been picked. “What is this fan’s wish?” “I don’t have one,” I replied, leaving the host momentarily speechless. Soren, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. “Is what’s written on the sign your wish?” After a brief pause, Soren spoke again: “I’m willing.” Instantly, the venue erupted in thunderous screams. Oh right, I forgot. The sign I was holding said, “Soren, will you be my boyfriend?” In an instant, I became the center of attention at the venue. The lights and cameras were all focused on me. I could clearly feel my heart pounding and my cheeks burning. Thankfully, not wanting to be recognized by Soren, I had worn a hat and mask. When I finally came to my senses, under everyone’s gaze, I grabbed my things and fled through the back door. But as soon as I got out, I ran into Soren’s assistant. “This is Soren’s dressing room. The event should be over in about an hour and a half.”

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When his mother found out, she immediately brought me to their five-story mansion. Overnight, I transformed into a princess, surrounded by love and attention. Grandma: “My dear granddaughter-in-law, these are our family’s heirloom jade jewelry.” Mother-in-law: “Sweetheart, keep this black card safe. All our family’s money is managed by the women.” Father-in-law: “Darling, please sign this agreement to transfer some company shares. If you think it’s not enough, we can add more!” Running into Jasper and Ann at the hospital was something I hadn’t expected. When I was with Jasper, I knew he had a close junior from college. On Jasper’s birthday, Ann, who was studying abroad, made a special effort to send a video message with her wishes. Seeing how intimate they looked, my heart ached. We had only broken up two months ago, and he had already moved on? Even found someone new. I unconsciously clutched the pregnancy report in my hand, not wanting anyone to see it. Yes, I was pregnant, and the baby was Jasper’s, just over two months along. I watched their matching silhouettes and turned to leave. “Jane?” Hearing the familiar voice, my whole body froze. I gripped the report tightly, afraid to move. “Jasper, what’s wrong?” Ann asked. “Nothing,” Jasper replied in a low voice. I felt a wave of sadness. So Jasper truly didn’t love me anymore, treating me like a stranger even when we met again. Fine, let’s just be strangers then. I kept my head down and walked forward. “Wait! Jane.” It was Ann. I didn’t want to deal with this and quickened my pace slightly. But in high heels and with a baby on the way, I couldn’t move very fast. Surprisingly, Ann caught up and grabbed my hand, forcefully turning me to face her. This was my first time seeing Ann in person. She was beautiful and elegant, with bright red lipstick that highlighted her bold beauty. Jasper stood right beside her, his face cold and expressionless. It was so frustrating. The father of my child was here with another woman, and I couldn’t even say a word. After hesitating, I finally managed to ask, “Can I help you?” Ann’s face twitched slightly, as if she hadn’t expected me to respond this way. After composing herself, she said, “Of course I do.” She linked her arm with Jasper’s and continued, “I hope you’ll stop bothering Jasper from now on. Only relationships between people of the same social status can last. You’ll only hold him back.” Ann’s words hit a sore spot. This was the very reason Jasper and I had broken up. Our families were worlds apart. He was the sole heir to a wealthy family, while I was an overlooked girl from a humble background. My mom had tricked me out of my savings, claiming she needed surgery, only to buy my brother a house the next day. When I found out about the scam, I truly felt like I was dragging Jasper down. In an emotional moment, I suggested we break up. For some reason, he was in a bad mood that day too. He only asked once if I was sure, then agreed to the breakup. We ended things just like that, in a messy, unclear way, right up until our reunion today. “Ann, let’s go,” Jasper said, his face dark as if holding back something. How ridiculous! I should be the angry one here, being lectured by a stranger. If anyone should leave, it should be me first. I stormed off, fuming. As I went down the stairs, I accidentally missed a step. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, but luckily a kind lady caught me, and I grabbed her arm to steady myself. “Are you alright, dear?” The lady kept supporting me until I was stable. “I’m fine, thank you so much.” I accidentally glimpsed the lady’s Hermès Birkin bag and my heart skipped a beat. Thank goodness I hadn’t grabbed that bag – I could never afford to pay for any damage. “You dropped this.” She picked up my pregnancy report from the ground. Just as I was about to take it back, she paused. “Young lady, is your name Jane?” Her surprised tone left me confused. We didn’t know each other, did we? “Yes, how did you…” Before I could finish, Jasper’s voice suddenly rang out. “Mom, what are you doing here?” No way, how could this be so dramatic? Running into my ex-boyfriend while checking on my pregnancy was one thing, but meeting his mother too? There was no way I could hide my pregnancy now. “Jasper, is this Jane?” Mrs. Thompson’s tone became serious. Jasper’s silence said it all. “How could you be so careless! Such a big thing and you didn’t even tell me!” “Jane dear, you’re coming home with me right now. Pregnant women need extra care. Let me look after you properly.” Mrs. Thompson took my hand and started to leave. This… this… “Mom, what are you talking about?!” Jasper exclaimed. “Shut it, young man! I’ll deal with you later!” Mrs. Thompson threw my pregnancy report at Jasper. When Jasper saw the report, he looked completely shocked. Of course, the one with the most dramatic facial expressions was Ann. Her face turned from red to white, then back to red again, her lips trembling with anger. “Mrs. Thompson, there must be some misunderstanding. Jasper has already broken up with her,” Ann interjected. “Our family matters are none of your business, Miss Brown.” Mrs. Thompson shot Ann a sharp glare, causing her to lower her head in fear. “My precious daughter-in-law, will you come home with me?” When Mrs. Thompson spoke to me, her voice was incredibly gentle, and she looked at me with loving eyes. Faced with such a warm-hearted lady, I found it impossible to refuse. Before I knew it, I was being led away. By the time I came to my senses, I was already sitting in Mrs. Thompson’s car. Things were spiraling out of control. I carefully began, “Mrs. Thompson, Jasper and I have indeed broken up. I think it’s better if I stay at my own place. Besides, Jasper has Ann now, so we should probably keep our distance.” “Nonsense, silly girl! There’s nothing between Jasper and Ann, and I would never approve of them being together!” “The only reason Jasper is nice to Ann is because she once saved his life in college. Of course, we’re very grateful to her, and we’ve always tried to accommodate her requests over the years. That’s fine, but if she’s getting greedy and trying to ruin your relationship with Jasper, making you suffer, I won’t let her get away with it!” “Now that you’re pregnant, it’s our family’s responsibility. If you don’t want to stay at our place, I’ll move in with you instead.” “Mrs. Thompson, this…” “It’s settled then!” I’d heard from Jasper before that his mother was quite headstrong, and now I was experiencing it firsthand. Calling the movers, packing up, loading the truck – the whole process was seamlessly executed. I was whisked away to the Thompsons’ five-story mansion in the middle of the night. Jasper wasn’t home, but his grandmother and father were there. When I got out of the car, both elders were waiting at the front door, which made me feel a bit embarrassed. “Hello, Grandma. Hello, Mr. Thompson.” I greeted them politely. Mr. Thompson smiled and nodded at me. “Oh, hello, hello! Come here, dear.” Grandma Thompson warmly beckoned me over. Seeing that the elderly lady was using a cane, I quickly went to support her. The old lady held my hand as we walked into the mansion. The interior decor was absolutely extravagant, with a European palace style. Once again, I was acutely aware of the vast difference between Jasper and me. His family lived in a five-story mansion in the city center, while mine lived in an old, run-down apartment in the suburbs. His father was a CEO, while mine was an alcoholic taxi driver with a gambling problem. His mother was a renowned dancer, while mine was a supermarket clerk who only cared about her son. Two people from such different worlds, brought together just because we caught each other’s eye at a friend’s birthday party – looking back, it all seemed so naive. Not to mention that Jasper was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, standing at 6’2″ with sharp features. I’d heard from friends that Jasper had been the campus heartthrob during his school days. What made me feel most inferior wasn’t the stark economic difference between our families, but the contrast in family atmospheres. The Thompson family was warm and loving, while my family members only thought about how to squeeze every last penny out of me for their precious son. A bitter smile crossed my lips, but Mrs. Thompson’s words brought me back to reality. “Darling, you must be exhausted. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest? Your room is on the second floor. I’ve prepared everything for you.” Mrs. Thompson took my hand and led me to the room. “What do you think? Do you like it?” Mrs. Thompson smiled at me. The moment the door opened, I was truly amazed. It was an Instagram-worthy princess room, all in pink and white, completely fulfilling my childhood fantasies. There was also a huge wardrobe filled with various Barbie dolls and stuffed animals. When I was little, I loved Barbie dolls. Every year on my birthday, I would wish for my mom to buy me one. But my birthday wishes were never fulfilled, not even once. She would only buy limited edition Lego sets for my brother, never remembering my existence. A mix of sadness and gratitude welled up inside me. My eyes reddened, and I couldn’t speak as I looked at Mrs. Thompson. “Silly girl, why are you crying? I had this hastily arranged. Do you like it? If not, we can change it.” “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson,” I choked out. “No need to thank me, it’s what we should do. To be honest, I truly like you. Regardless of what happens between you and Jasper, I want to treat you like my own daughter. Jane, could you stop calling me Mrs. Thompson? Would you call me Mom instead?” She said the last part so carefully. I couldn’t bear to refuse, especially since Mrs. Thompson had been so kind to me. Although it was probably for the baby’s sake, I was still very grateful to her. “Mom,” I said softly. “Yes, dear!” Mrs. Thompson beamed with joy. “Now go and rest. I’ll have someone bring up some warm milk later. Drink it and get some sleep. I’ll be right next door if you need anything, okay?” That night, I slept more peacefully than I had in a long time. The next morning, after breakfast, I was taking a stroll in the Thompsons’ garden. The garden was full of roses planted by Mrs. Thompson, romantic and gentle. “Jane! What are you doing here?!” A sharp female voice, barely containing anger, interrupted my peaceful moment. I turned to see Ann carrying several bags of nutritional supplements, probably here to visit the Thompson elders. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation,” I replied. Ann stormed towards me, gritting her teeth as she said, “Did you not listen to what I told you last time? If you keep shamelessly clinging to Jasper, don’t blame me for not being polite!” “Oh? That’s quite a bold statement, Miss Brown. I’d like to see who dares to bully my daughter-in-law right in front of me!” Mr. Thompson’s authoritative voice rang out, accompanied by his stern face. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had appeared without me noticing. Mrs. Thompson walked over and put her arm around my shoulders, frowning as she looked at Ann. “Uncle, I didn’t mean…” Ann said pitifully. “Hmph.” Mr. Thompson let out a cold snort. “Jane, come inside with me. We have something to discuss. Miss Brown, you should come in too. There are some things we need to clear up with you.” We all went into the house together. Grandma Thompson seemed to be waiting for us in the living room. I sat down next to Mrs. Thompson, and then the three elders simultaneously took out something. What they said next left me completely stunned. Grandma Thompson: “Granddaughter-in-law, these are our family’s heirloom jade jewelry, passed down to each generation’s bride.” Mrs. Thompson: “Daughter-in-law, keep this black card safe. All our family’s money is managed by the women.” Mr. Thompson: “Daughter-in-law, this is an agreement to transfer some company shares. Please sign it. If you think it’s not enough, we can add more!” Finally, Mrs. Thompson said, “This is just a small token of our appreciation. We hope you’ll accept it.” She patted my hand gently. “Mrs… Mom, these things are too valuable,” I said, quickly correcting myself when I saw Mrs. Thompson’s hurt expression. “Sweetheart, it’s nothing. This is what our family should do. Don’t be shy! As for some people, they shouldn’t have any improper thoughts!” Grandma Thompson said slowly, clearly hinting at Ann. Ann’s face turned red, but she didn’t dare say anything. “Also, we elders have discussed and hope that you and Jasper can get married soon. Jane, when would be a good time to arrange a meeting with your parents?” Mrs. Thompson’s eyes sparkled as she spoke to me. How could I tell her that I had cut ties with my mother? How could I tell her about the dysfunction of my birth family? Just as I was hesitating, Jasper appeared. Seeing Jasper, Ann seemed to find her backbone. She immediately rushed over, grabbing his hand and saying pitifully, “Jasper, you’re finally here.” Jasper didn’t respond to her. He discreetly pulled his hand away from hers, leaving Ann standing there awkwardly. Jasper stared straight at me and said firmly, “I don’t agree to getting married. I’ll make my own decisions about my marriage.” Then he turned to Ann and said, “I’ll take you home.” I lowered my head, not wanting to see Jasper being gentle with another woman. “You little brat! If you dare walk out that door today, I’ll disown you!” Mr. Thompson shouted. Jasper paused for a moment, then left without looking back. Ann hurried after him. Jasper didn’t come back all day. To avoid me, he didn’t even want to come home. Perhaps leaving would be the better choice. I lay in bed unable to sleep, the image of Jasper leaving with Ann replaying in my mind. To distract myself, I opened my social media. The first post was from my aunt: “Congratulations to my sister on her new house, and to my nephew on his new home.” This family would be the same with or without me. I was always the extra one. I closed my eyes, letting tears soak my pillow. The next morning, I groggily opened my eyes to see someone standing by my bed holding a breakfast tray. It startled me, but it was just Jasper. I don’t know how long he had been standing there. I thought he had come to make amends, but I was wrong. “Mom said pregnant women sleep a lot, so she asked me to check if you were awake. Now that you’re up, eat your breakfast. We need to talk after.” He had stubble on his chin and looked tired. While I ate breakfast, Jasper sat nearby staring out the window, his brows furrowed. I swallowed the last bite and said, “Jasper, I’m done. What did you want to say?” “Do you really want to keep this baby?” Jasper looked at me intently, his eyes filled with emotions I couldn’t decipher. “Yes, I want to keep it.” “Hah, Jane. Do you think keeping this baby will guarantee you a comfortable life? You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you? It must have been exhausting pretending around me for so long.” Jasper’s words infuriated me. “Jasper Thompson! I never planned to tell you about the baby in the first place. Don’t worry, isn’t this what you wanted? To get rid of me? You don’t have to say it, I was planning to leave today anyway! I won’t stay here and bother you anymore!” “Get out of my way.” I pushed past Jasper and started throwing clothes into my suitcase. Jasper stood motionless, but I could see from the corner of my eye that his fists were clenched tightly, veins popping out. Our commotion alerted Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. “Jane, what are you doing?” Mrs. Thompson took the clothes from my hands, stopping my actions. Jasper and I were both too angry to speak. Mr. Thompson’s gaze swept over the luggage on the floor, then turned to Jasper, his face dropping. “Jasper Thompson! Did you upset Jane?!” Mr. Thompson shouted. “Not talking, huh? Maria, bring me my cane. If I don’t teach this boy a lesson today, he’ll never learn how to be a decent person!” “Honey, stay with Jane. Jasper, get out here!” Mr. Thompson dragged Jasper out by his collar. Jasper had told me before that his father was a strict parent. When he was young, he often got disciplined, but after his teenage years, Mr. Thompson had never raised a hand to him again. Mr. Thompson must have been truly angry today. Mr. Thompson’s trust in me provided a small comfort, but Jasper’s hurtful words still pierced my heart like a knife. Maybe it was because of the pregnancy, but I felt more emotional than usual. Large tears rolled down my cheeks. Mrs. Thompson hugged me tenderly, gently patting my back. She said, “Jane, don’t be upset. It’s all that silly boy’s fault. I’ll make him apologize to you! He’ll kneel on durian if he has to! Later, I’ll show you his embarrassing childhood photos. If he dares to upset you again, we’ll post them on social media and let him lose face!” I was crying and hiccuping, but Mrs. Thompson’s words touched my heart. Putting Jasper aside, having such a mother-in-law would truly be a blessing. That afternoon, while taking a walk in the park with Mrs. Thompson, I once again brought up the idea of moving out. Mrs. Thompson refused to agree no matter what. In the end, we both compromised. I would continue to stay with the Thompsons, but I wouldn’t accept the gifts they had given me. Jasper and I had already broken up, and I couldn’t accept things from his family without a clear status. Mrs. Thompson couldn’t persuade me otherwise, so she had to compromise, saying she would keep the gifts for me until Jasper and I got married. Jasper and I… could we really get married? That night when I entered my room, I found that my bed had been changed to a bunk bed. Was Mrs. Thompson planning to move in and sleep with me? The next second, Jasper walked in with a sour face. “I’m sorry. You’re pregnant now, so you shouldn’t get too emotional.” What a half-hearted apology. “It’s nothing. I’m leaving.” Jasper yanked the door open. “Ouch!” Mrs. Thompson, who had been eavesdropping outside, nearly fell over. “Mom, what are you doing?” “Smack!” A crisp sound as Mrs. Thompson’s hand landed on Jasper’s back. “Jasper Thompson, can’t you be more sincere?!” “And where do you think you’re going? Starting today, you’ll be sharing a room with Jane.” “What?!” Jasper and I exclaimed simultaneously. “You don’t need to go to the company for now. Just focus on taking good care of Jane.” “No way! I refuse!” Jasper reacted strongly. “If you don’t accept it, then get out!” “Fine, fine, I’ll leave. I wonder who’s really your child here!” His tone sounded almost hurt and jealous. Jasper really did leave, and he didn’t show up for several weeks. Days passed uneventfully. During my time with the Thompson family, I deeply felt the warmth of a loving home. Mrs. Thompson prepared nutritious meals for me every day, always trying new recipes. Grandma Thompson and Mrs. Thompson, afraid I might get bored, kept me company with flower arranging, chess, chatting, and walks. Mr. Thompson, though more serious, also cared about me, often bringing home various nutritional supplements. I became increasingly attached to this place, not wanting to leave. But I knew it was impossible, especially since Jasper seemed to dislike me so much. Thinking of this, I let out a helpless sigh. “Jane, what are you thinking about?” Mrs. Thompson asked. “Nothing,” I said with a smile, shaking my head. “Then why don’t you come with me for a spa day this afternoon!” “Sure.” It wasn’t until we arrived at the beauty salon that I realized Mrs. Thompson wasn’t here for a spa treatment at all. She was here to introduce me to the family! Jasper’s aunts and female relatives sat in a row, smiling at me. The feeling of being scrutinized by a group of wealthy ladies – who could understand! “Jane, this is Jasper’s eldest aunt.” “Hello, Eldest Aunt.” “This is Jasper’s second aunt.” “Hello, Second Aunt.” “This is Jasper’s…” … Mrs. Thompson led me through a round of greetings. I smiled and nodded the whole time, my face almost cramping. By the end of it, I had not only become familiar with everyone but also received a stack of red envelopes. During this time, I endured many exaggerated compliments.

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After seven years of marriage, Hudson Johnson removed the video of our wedding announcement from his streaming platform. He insisted, “To reassure my sweetheart, let me clarify once more: Sorry, I’ve always been single.” Meanwhile, his assistant’s account shared a photo with the caption: “Mom and Dad are really looking forward to your arrival.” In the photo, a man’s hand gently caresses her belly, as if it were fragile. I noticed the black mole on the man’s ring finger and pulled my daughter into my arms. “Sweetie, how about I find you a new dad?” My daughter nodded and then took the phone to comment: [Auntie, since my dad has a new baby, I should have a new dad too.] After typing, Stella turned around and hugged me, her small body warming me. “Mom, I’m here, I’ll always be with you.” Before I could even settle my emotions, Hudson Johnson called, ready to berate me. “Avery Johnson, haven’t you had enough? What are you teaching Stella this time?” “I’ve told you countless times, the relationship with Scarlett Lee is for the company’s image. When will you stop?” “Besides, you’re a mother now, still competing and being jealous every day. Do you really think you’re still young? Avery Johnson, you’re disgusting.” As soon as I answered, Hudson Johnson’s accusations came crashing down. I tightened my grip on the phone, a mocking look in my eyes. After seven years of marriage with Hudson Johnson, I know him too well. The louder he talks, the angrier he seems, the guiltier he actually is. I took a deep breath and asked, “Does your company need to fabricate a relationship to the point of causing a real-life scandal?” It was just a simple question, but on the other end, a woman’s sobbing came through. “Brother Johnson, you don’t need to explain for me anymore. If Sister Avery doesn’t like me, I’ll resign now.” Scarlett Lee’s pitiful act made Hudson Johnson instantly angry, “Don’t worry about her, you’re my assistant. Without my consent, let’s see who dares to fire you!” “Avery, if you keep involving Stella in your antics, don’t blame me for being harsh.” With that, without waiting for me to respond, Hudson abruptly hung up the phone. His cold voice still echoed in the room, scaring Stella. As I looked at the phone’s dark screen, my heart was calm. In the past, I would have made a scene at Hudson Johnson’s company, forcing him to fire Scarlett Lee. But now, there’s no need. Just like Stella said, if Hudson Johnson can have another child, then I, Avery Johnson, can find another partner. After all, my first love, Mason Carter, has returned to the country.

In the evening, after his streaming session, Hudson Johnson came back. Seeing Stella and me eating, he went to the kitchen as usual but didn’t find the soup I used to make for him. “Avery, where’s my soup?” Without looking up, I gave Stella a piece of meat and told her to eat quickly. Seeing my indifference, Hudson Johnson’s face darkened, “Avery, you know my stomach isn’t good!” Hearing this, I paused, showing a bit of sarcasm. Yes, I know he has a sensitive stomach, and with his streaming job, he can’t eat on time, so for seven years, I’ve made him a pot of nourishing soup every day. But what did he do? He gave my carefully prepared soup to Scarlett Lee, saying next time not to make it so salty because she doesn’t like it. “So what?” I lifted my eyelids and said calmly, “If your stomach isn’t good, take care of it. If you want soup, cook it yourself. I’m not your nanny.” After speaking, I began cleaning up the dishes, heading to the kitchen. Unexpectedly, as I passed Hudson Johnson, he grabbed my wrist, full of impatience. “Avery, what do you really want? Even mischief should have its limits!” I broke free from his grip, a cold smile on my lips, and said calmly: “I want a divorce.” Hudson Johnson’s hand froze for a moment, a trace of panic on his face, but he quickly returned to normal, releasing me with a sneer: “You’ve got some nerve now, daring to threaten me with divorce. Divorce, are you sure?” “Avery, do you really think you’re still young? You have a 5-year-old child, who would want you after divorcing me?” So, this is his reason for cheating? He figured I, having married and had a child, couldn’t remarry and could only depend on him. It’s absurd. I gave Hudson Johnson a deep look, then took Stella and turned to leave. Perhaps angered by me, Hudson Johnson didn’t come home for a week. This has always been his method after I upset him, using silent treatment to force me to comply. In the past, I would’ve been tormented, unable to sleep, calling to apologize tirelessly, sending gifts in his streaming room, humbly begging for forgiveness. But now, I’m busy moving into a new home, buying furniture, indifferent to whether he comes home or not. After all, I can’t still live in his house after divorcing him. At the furniture store. I was feeling the texture of a sofa when a familiar female voice reached my ears. “Oh, I’m so grateful to Brother Johnson for being here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do.” “What is everyone saying? What new couple buying furniture? I haven’t even confessed to Brother Johnson yet. Stop it, everyone, Scarlett’s shy~” It’s a small world.

Hearing Scarlett Lee’s pretentious voice, I frowned. Stella quickly ran over. “Stella, what are you doing here?” Turning around, I met Hudson Johnson’s face full of disgust. He frowned, grabbed Stella’s collar, and pushed her toward me, his tone full of disdain. “Avery, is it fun to stalk with Stella?” I steadied the stumbling Stella without explaining. A dirty heart sees everything as filthy. Hudson Johnson is sure I’d do such a low thing, so how could he listen to my explanation? I gave him a cold glance and asked: “Is it fun for you to avoid home and shop with another woman?” Hudson Johnson didn’t expect my usual silent obedience to turn into defiance, his eyes flickered. “Scarlett rented a new place. She’s a young girl who can’t choose furniture. As her boss, taking care of her and helping her pick furniture isn’t a big deal, right?” I looked at their interlocked fingers, my expression calm, and asked lightly: “So holding hands is necessary?” Hearing this, Hudson Johnson was stunned, hurriedly releasing their hands. His eyes flickered, his tone urgent, “It’s not what you think.” “Scarlett isn’t like you. Her health isn’t good, so with all the people around, I had to hold her hand to prevent her from getting hurt.” It’s not poor health, but pregnant, right? Looking at Hudson Johnson, who was cautiously watching me, I didn’t react as he expected, just chuckled softly. “You’re right; Scarlett Lee’s health is important.” Seeing me so calm, Hudson Johnson looked surprised. He seemed to want to explain more, but I interrupted, “Go ahead and pick your furniture. Don’t keep Scarlett waiting.” With that, I took Stella and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Scarlett Lee followed with a streaming phone. She gently caressed her belly with her left hand, smiling softly, her eyes showing a hint of triumph. Scarlett Lee squatted down, placing Stella’s hand on her belly. “Stella, do you want to see your little brother?” I darkened my expression, pulling Stella back, “She doesn’t have a brother.” “Really?” Scarlett Lee smiled faintly, leaning closer, “But I’m also carrying Hudson Johnson’s child.” Sensing something wrong, I wanted to back away, but Scarlett Lee had already retreated, sitting on the floor. Before I could react, a slap struck my face, my head hitting the corner of a solid wood display table, making me black out. Hudson Johnson rushed over, carefully helping Scarlett Lee up, yelling at me: “Avery Johnson, when will you stop your madness!”

“Mom!” Faced with this sudden change, Stella turned pale, rushing over to cover my forehead. Seeing the blood on her hand, her small hands trembled with anger, her little face taut as she looked at Hudson Johnson, “Apologize to Mom!” Hudson Johnson sneered, his eyes full of indifference, “Apologize? Your mom Avery is the one who should apologize. If anything happens to Scarlett, I won’t forgive her.” Scarlett Lee’s face was tear-streaked, looking considerate, a fleeting hint of smugness in her eyes, but she said: “Brother Johnson, don’t say that. I’m sure Sister didn’t mean to push me. Don’t be mad at her because of me…” “But, Brother, our child…” Hearing Scarlett Lee’s sobs, Hudson Johnson became even angrier, glaring at me. I felt his hatred, but my vision was still blurry, my chest tight and breathless. Stella couldn’t stand my humiliation, knowing the truth, she rushed over and pointed at Scarlett Lee to argue. “You’re lying, I saw it all. You fell by yourself.” “Liar, I hate you…” Before she could finish, I saw Hudson Johnson clench his fist. My heart tightened, and I used all my strength, my voice hoarse:

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I thought Ashton Bennett loved me intensely during our five years of marriage. Until the night Macy Hart, my half-sister, returned to the country. Ashton left me at home and went to the airport to pick her up. He didn’t come back that night. Early the following day, Macy posted a picture on her Instagram burner account: “When you’re with the right person, every day feels like Valentine’s Day.” The accompanying photo? Macy and Ashton are kissing and surrounded by his circle of friends, celebrating. Content After work, I grabbed dinner at a restaurant downtown and strolled through Riverfront Park. I delayed going home until it was completely dark. When I got back, the lights were on. Ashton was home—a rare sight these days. He took my coat and bag and hung them on the rack. “Why are you home so late?” he asked. “Did you eat yet? I can make you some noodles.” I used to be the one saying those lines and doing those things. Who was he performing for now? My voice was cold. “I have a meeting tomorrow. Don’t bother.” I caught a flicker of something in his eyes—guilt? Discomfort? It only made me feel more disgusted. Was this his attempt to make amends after sneaking off with Macy to a hotel last night? I headed straight for the guest room. Ashton grabbed my wrist. “Lila, about last night…” I turned around. The dim light from the hallway highlighted his pale face, beads of cold sweat glistening on his forehead. His usually sharp jawline was rough with stubble. For years, I adored that face. Now, it only repulsed me. Love and its absence—how starkly different they feel. I didn’t let him finish. I walked into the guest room, shutting the door in his face. Last night, I painstakingly prepared a special dinner and even reminded him to come home early. He had no idea I planned to tell him I was pregnant. But instead, he took a phone call, claimed he had to work late, and left for the night. I waited for him in silence, sitting on the couch until dawn. The dishes I’d cooked remained untouched, cold. The ice cream cake I ordered weeks ago sat in its box, melting into a sticky puddle on the floor. As I decided to clean up, my phone pinged with a notification. It was a post from a burner Instagram account I didn’t recognize, one of Ashton’s followers. The account posted a live picture just minutes ago: “When you’re with the right person, every day feels like Valentine’s Day.” The photo was of Ashton kissing Macy. His friends, all cheering, surrounded them. Those friends—five years of marriage, and I had never met them. Whenever I tried to join his social circle, he would brush me off, calling them mere drinking buddies. That night, I scrolled through every post-Macy had ever shared. It was all there—photos, captions, proof. They had been meeting behind my back for years. In her posts, Ashton was caring, attentive, and generous—willing to give her the world. This side of him was a stranger to me.

The guest room door creaked open. Before I could react, Ashton wrapped his arms around me, his body hot against mine. My skin prickled with revulsion as nausea climbed up my throat. His hand slid down my back, fingers restless and invasive. I shoved him off with all my strength, grabbed a pillow, and stormed out of the room. He stood frozen for a moment, his expression unreadable in the shadows. We grew up together in the same close-knit community. Our parents were lifelong friends, and our bond was unshakable. The summer after sophomore year in college, he confessed his feelings. We started dating soon after. But that same year, my father came home with the news: a mix-up at the hospital years ago. The daughter he brought home wasn’t his biological child—Macy was. Macy entered our lives, delicate and teary-eyed, clinging to my father like a lifeline. “Dad, why is she still here? Don’t you love me?” she sobbed. “Sorry, sis,” she whimpered, voice trembling with practiced innocence. “I know I’m intruding. I’ll go if you want me to leave—no matter how hard it gets out there. I’m used to suffering.” My father, overcome with guilt, told me to leave instead. I laughed bitterly, packed the savings my mother left behind, and walked out. A year later, Macy showed up at my university, courtesy of my father’s connections. She played nice on the surface but undermined me at every turn. She sabotaged my friendships and got my graduate scholarship offer rescinded using my father’s influence. She even got me evicted from my dorm. Her petty schemes didn’t faze me—I refused to waste energy on someone so cheap. I believed I had something she could never take: Ashton. Macy relentlessly pursued him, even publicly confessing her feelings. She cozied up to his friends, tried to learn his routines, and orchestrated run-ins on campus. On Instagram, she chronicled her infatuation, obsessively documenting every interaction. Ashton dismissed her as clingy and pathetic, openly humiliating her more than once. For three years, Macy stuck to him like glue.

I once thought she genuinely loved Ashton. That was until she smugly declared, “Sis, I’m going to take everything you have—starting with Ashton.” I brushed her off. I had no doubt Ashton loved me. Our bond was built on years of trust and affection. When I was kicked out of my dorm, he rented me a penthouse apartment near campus for a year. He remembered all my preferences, waited in line overnight for a Coachella ticket so I could get a front-row spot, and handled all the logistics for our ski trips. All I had to do was enjoy the scenery. I trusted him completely. Macy’s games could never shake that. After graduation, Macy disappeared without a word. I thought her obsession with Ashton was finally over. Then came the photo on Instagram. Her second year of chasing him was when things began to change. He started looking at her differently. Sitting in the living room that night, the air felt thick, suffocating. Ashton buried his face in his hands, silent. “What’s wrong with you?” He didn’t answer, so I pressed. “Explain last night.” “I told you, I was working late! Why are you so jealous all the time? This is why our relationship is strained—you don’t take any responsibility for your behavior!” I laughed, hollow and bitter. Once, I thought Ashton was the most honest, loyal, moral man in the world. I never checked his phone or questioned where he went. He always volunteered the details. I realized those updates were just excuses for sneaking around with Macy. He played on my trust, and I fell for it repeatedly. His voice grew harsher. “Do you want me to call everyone from work right now so you can interrogate them? Would that make you happy?” I felt drained. What was the point? Even if I uncovered the truth, the betrayal was already a wound too deep to heal.

Years of trust shattered overnight. It hurt, but I knew clinging to illusions would only worsen it. Facing the truth and letting go was the only real choice. Frustrated by my silent treatment, Ashton slammed the door and left the house, his face dark with anger. I didn’t care. I focused on work. A few years ago, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. His health rapidly declined, and so did the company’s finances. “The company’s cash flow has dried up,” he confessed. “It’s on the verge of collapse.” At that moment, I realized how trivial grudges and betrayals seemed in the face of life and death. Despite his faults, my father had raised me for eighteen years. I took over the failing company, juggling work demands and his hospital care. It was exhausting. On the other hand, Macy left the country and never came back to check on him—or anyone else. One morning, I dressed quickly to avoid running into Ashton, but luck wasn’t on my side. Stepping out of the bedroom, I saw him standing in the kitchen, smiling as if nothing had happened the night before. He gestured toward the table. “Come have breakfast.” His eyes lingered on my arm, and he silently handed me a custom-made long-sleeve shirt. He had ordered so many of these over the past five years, all to hide the scar on my left arm. It was from a fire during a trip overseas. A restaurant caught fire, and Ashton fainted from smoke inhalation. I had already escaped, but I went back to save him. A burst light fixture exploded, leaving my arm with a severe burn.

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My roommate likes to take cold showers on the porch balcony. She claims it helps detox her body and brightens her skin. I tried to warn her: “You really should protect your privacy.” Not only did she ignore me, but she doubled down, accusing me of being jealous of her figure. Eventually, photos of her showering were posted online. Some street punks came to our dorm to harass her, threatening to strip her clothes off. She pointed the finger at me, saying, “It’s her! She’s the shameless one showering out on the balcony!” I was dragged into Willowshade Park by those punks and violated until death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back the same day she started taking cold showers on the porch. …… Content “Juliette, can you grab my body wash? It’s on my desk.” “I’m busy showering. Not convenient.” Lyric Ashcroft, my roommate, was on the porch balcony, soaking in cold water and basking in the sunlight with an ecstatic expression on her face. Harper Hall Dorms wasn’t tall—just three floors. Down below, people came and went, and anyone glancing up could see Lyric’s display fully. But Lyric didn’t care. Instead, she twisted her body even more provocatively as if she wanted the world to admire her figure. The neighboring building housed the boys’ dorm. Some guys deliberately wandered past just to steal a glance at her. Watching Lyric flaunt herself like this made me tremble with rage. I wanted to storm out there and strangle her. The scene was identical to what I had witnessed in my previous life. I suppressed the fury bubbling inside me. Now wasn’t the time to act. Killing her would be too easy. I needed her to suffer the consequences of her actions—that was the only way to quench my burning hatred. Expressionless, I grabbed the bottle of body wash from her desk. So you love showering on the balcony? Fine. You’ll shower to your heart’s content. In my previous life, Lyric had come across a blog post claiming that cold showers followed by sunbathing helped detox the body, brighten the skin, and even achieve a perfect tan. She believed it wholeheartedly and began copying the routine. At first, she took cold showers in the dorm bathroom, wrapping herself in a towel to sunbathe on the porch afterward. That was somewhat understandable. But then she decided it was too much hassle. She installed a makeshift shower on the porch so she could wash and sunbathe simultaneously, claiming it was the most efficient detox method. Sunbathing in itself isn’t a big deal. But our dorm was on the third floor, and the porch had a clear glass railing. Anyone passing by could see her. While most people used the porch to dry clothes, Lyric used it to put herself on display. Worried she’d attract unwanted attention, I once threw a towel over her and dragged her inside. I tried to warn her that showering outside was a privacy risk and could invite trouble from the wrong people. Lyric just sneered and yanked off the towel. “If they’re only looking at me and not anyone else, doesn’t that prove I’m attractive?” she said smugly. “It’s the 21st century, Juliette. Are you some Victorian prude? Get with the times.” “And honestly? You’re just jealous because my body’s better than yours.” I was speechless at her twisted logic and could only let her continue her balcony antics. Eventually, someone uploaded photos of her to the Campus Buzz Board. Though her face was blurred, the rest of her body was straightforward. The photos caused a massive stir. Everyone speculated about who the girl was. Some guys even made crude jokes about bringing telescopes to the dorms for a better view. Soon, groups of male students—and even punks from off-campus—crowded below our dorm. It disrupted everyone’s lives. The uproar angered the female students, who banded together in protest.

The girls ranted in the WhatsApp Group, calling her shameless and indecent and accusing her of trying to steal their boyfriends. Lyric, furious, taunted them back, saying they were plain, unattractive, and lacked charm. “If your boyfriend leaves you for me, that’s your problem, not mine,” she snapped. Someone screenshotted her toxic remarks and shared them on MyCampus Forum and TikTok. The scandal grew, trending online as more and more people took sides. The outrage was fierce. Female students formed the Campus Conduct Task Force, vowing to expose and humiliate the girl in the photos. Before they could act, a gang of punks showed up at our dorm, demanding that the girl in the photos spend the night with them. Sensing danger, Lyric panicked. She pointed at me to save herself, accusing me, “It’s her! She’s the one showering on the balcony!” She even claimed I was the one who made nasty comments in the WhatsApp Group, using my account to post them without my knowledge. Before I could explain, the punks dragged me to Willowshade Park. Desperate, I begged our other roommate, Quinn Langley, to help me. Quinn coldly sided with Lyric. “Juliette, don’t try to blame this on Lyric. Own up to what you’ve done.” “At most, they’ll strip you. It’s not the end of the world.” “You need to take responsibility for your actions.” And so, I was dragged into the woods, violated until death, and left naked on the street like garbage. Passersby spat on my body, calling me disgusting, while my corpse rotted in the open. Lyric, untouched, posted an apology on my behalf, claiming she had tried to help me reform. The comments praised her while cursing me. Lyric became a viral content creator, landing brand deals left and right. Meanwhile, I was left to decay, forgotten and unloved. But fate gave me another chance. This time, I’ll make sure Lyric Ashcroft and Quinn Langley pay. “Juliette? What’s taking so long? Bring it here!” Snapped from my thoughts, I smiled faintly and handed her the body wash. “Here you go. Take your time. You said the longer you wash and sunbathe, the better the results, right? Make it even.” Lyric grabbed the bottle, pleased, and began lathering herself. “Juliette, do you think my skin looks better these days?” she asked, rubbing her arms. I glanced at the bustling crowd below. Morning classes had just ended, and the area was packed. “Definitely,” I said. “Cold showers and sunlight are magical for detoxing. Your skin’s glowing, and you’re more radiant than ever.” Flattered, Lyric became even more enthusiastic. She crouched, spreading her legs to wash herself intimately, entirely oblivious to the phones aimed at her from the boys’ dorm across the way. In my last life, her face was blurred in the photos, allowing her to blame me. Not this time. “Lyric!” I called loudly. “Do you need a towel?” Startled, she turned to look at me. The cameras caught her face, and her name was soon whispered among the growing crowd below. “She’s Lyric Ashcroft?” “Man, what a slut.” “She looks more like a working girl than a student.”

The whispers and stares from the crowd below reached Lyric’s ears, and her face turned pale. “Juliette! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? All those people downstairs—are you trying to humiliate me?” So, she does feel shame. It’s good to know she’s not entirely shameless. Maybe her attempt to pin everything on me in my previous life wasn’t just an accident. Feigning innocence, I said, “I was just worried you’d catch a chill from staying out here too long. Why would I try to humiliate you?” “You’re so magnetic, Lyric. Even showering gets you an audience. Just look at those guys—they can’t take their eyes off you.” “If I had your perfect body, I’d probably shower here too.” The words tasted bitter, and I barely stopped myself from gagging. Lyric, however, was flattered. She gave a smug, slight hum and kept on washing. “Well, of course, I have that effect.” Then she gave me a once-over, her tone dripping with disdain. “You? Please. You’re flat as a board. Even if you stripped naked, no one would bother looking.” I curled my lips into a faint smile but didn’t respond. Go ahead, Lyric. Laugh while you can. Her photos were plastered all over the Campus Buzz Board by the next day. The accompanying comments were merciless: “Hey, girl, how about maintaining a little dignity? Stop flaunting yourself.” “Does the college not have showers? Why the balcony?” “Most of us have partners here. Are you trying to tempt someone’s boyfriend?” “Cover yourself up. Don’t you feel gross?” Zooming in on the photo, I saw it was like in my last life—Lyric crouched, washing herself intimately, her face blurred out. The post caused an uproar in the WhatsApp Group, with some students even overhearing her name being mentioned near the dorms. Female students were outraged, calling her behavior disgraceful and immoral. The male students, meanwhile, reveled in the chaos, egging it on. “Free show, you all. Time to call up the squad!” “She’s a Modern Saint! Who needs to pay outside when she’s offering it for free here?” “Y’all just jealous of her figure.” The group was divided entirely. I casually handed my phone to Lyric, feigning concern. “Lyric, maybe it’s time to stop showering on the balcony.” “Sure, your skin looks amazing and gorgeous, but this kind of attention isn’t great. People are upset.” “Why not shower downstairs and come back up to sunbathe? Same results.” Lyric, seething as she scrolled through the comments, hurled my phone to the floor, then stormed around the dorm in a rage. “You conniving witch! Those jealous cows can’t stand that I’m prettier than them!” “They’re just ugly! Picking on me for no reason!” “Yes, I have an amazing body. Yes, I’m stunning! No matter how much they hate me, it doesn’t change the facts!” I calmly picked up my phone and patted her shoulder. “You’re right, you know. You’re just taking a shower. You’ve done nothing wrong.” “And look, you’ve got so many guys defending you. That’s your charm working its magic.” Lyric’s anger subsided slightly. “But maybe it’s better not to fight them,” I continued, gently fanning the flames. “Let it go?” Lyric took the bait, stomping her foot. “Let it go? Why should I? I’ve done nothing wrong! They’re the ones starting this!” She snatched at my phone, but I’d already set a password. “Stupid phone!” she fumed. I quickly reclaimed it. If she used my phone again, I’d be in trouble.

Frustrated, Lyric stormed off to Quinn Langley for help. “Quinn! Juliette is the worst!” “She won’t defend me in the group chat, even after all the hate I’m getting. And she won’t let me borrow her phone!” “If I could log in, I’d handle it myself!” She added a pitiful pout, her eyes glistening with fake tears. Naturally, Quinn fell for it. Quinn, our dorm leader and head of the college arts committee, loved bossing people around. She already disliked me for refusing to run her errands, which had made her and Lyric inseparable allies. If Lyric wanted something, Quinn was the first to help. She even bought Lyric the shower kit for her balcony antics. As expected, Quinn took Lyric’s side. “Juliette, what’s the big deal? Just let her use your phone!” “If you won’t speak up for her, fine, but setting a password? Seriously?” I smirked, grabbed Quinn’s phone, and handed it to Lyric. “You two are so close—why don’t you use her phone?” “Go ahead, Lyric. Quinn’s in the group chat, too. Use hers to respond.” “Show them who’s boss.” Quinn froze between anger and reluctance as Lyric gleefully took her phone. Lyric’s eyes gleamed as she launched into the chat: “Wow, so sensitive. If you’re that insecure about your age, maybe consider some cosmetic treatments.” “Can’t keep your boyfriend interested? Maybe that’s your problem for being boring and ugly.” “Let’s face it—you’re just jealous. Even if you stripped down, no one would care.” The chat exploded. Lyric felt vindicated, but Quinn began to panic as her notifications piled up with angry messages and threats. “Why’d you let her use my phone?!” she hissed. Feigning innocence, I shrugged. “Quinn, how could you say that? She’s your best friend. Why wouldn’t you let her use it?” Quinn fell silent, forced to leave the group in humiliation. But it didn’t end there. That night, the group chat leaked Lyric’s inflammatory messages and her uncensored photos online. By the following day, her antics on the porch balcony and her nasty comments had gone viral, making the rounds on TikTok and MyCampus Forum. That afternoon, our dorm door rattled with angry knocks. A swarm of female students crowded outside, their shouts echoing through the hall: “Get out here, you trashy little skank! You’re done!” “You had plenty to say in the chat—why are you hiding now?” “We’ll make sure you regret it!” Lyric turned pale as a sheet. From my bed, I stretched lazily, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Lyric sounds like they’re here for you,” I said. “Shouldn’t you go see what they want?” I nudged her lightly. She shrank back, trembling, and clung to Quinn. Lyric was all bark and no bite—a coward through and through. “Juliette, I’m scared! Can’t you check for me?” Like in my previous life, she tried pushing me into the fire.

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After Three Years of Caring for the Simple-Minded Prince, He Recovered The first thing he did was get engaged to his childhood sweetheart. I went to find him with a box of cash to cut off our relationship. He smiled and stuffed a wad of money into my hand, raising an eyebrow: “Seduction requires capital too.” 0I stared at the diagnosis in my hand, stunned for a long time. In the past, I wanted to die so badly, but attempts at cutting my wrists, jumping off buildings, and hanging myself all left me with a breath of life. Now that I finally had hope for living, heaven played such a cruel joke on me. After leaving the hospital, I kept thinking. If I died, what would happen to Summer? Summer was the simple-minded man I had taken in three years ago. If I died, what would happen to him? With a heavy heart, I returned home. The door was wide open, and my heart skipped a beat. A man in a suit stood in the room, smiling as he said: “Miss Evans, let’s have a chat.” “Summer.” Before I could finish, he opened the box on the table. Lots of money. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Thank you for taking care of our young master for so long, Miss Evans. This is a token of our gratitude,” he replied. “Also, I hope you won’t spread the word about our young master’s condition.” Though he was smiling, I could sense a clear killing intent. I swallowed hard: “I don’t want the money.” “You don’t want it?” He sneered, looking me up and down. “Is it not enough?” “Or are you aiming to marry into the Pierce family?” I was stunned for a moment. Just as I was about to speak, he handed me a business card. “If the money’s not enough, you can call the number on the front,” he said, glancing at me. “As for anything else, please keep it to yourself.” I crumpled the diagnosis in my hand, the hope for treatment dying in my heart. My only hope had been shattered. 0

Out of curiosity, I searched for the Pierce family online. The first thing I saw was Summer’s face. Everett Pierce, the crown prince of Beijing’s elite circles, heir to the Pierce family. He and I had always been worlds apart. The money in that box was more than I could earn in a lifetime. After some thought, I called the number on the business card. “Miss Evans, you’ve made up your mind so quickly?” the voice answered. I made a sound of agreement. “I don’t want this money.” “Not enough? That’s understandable. A single injection for cancer treatment costs $120,000.” “How much do you want?” My hand holding the phone trembled. “I’m not planning to get treatment.” There was silence on the other end for a moment before he spoke again: “Miss Evans, it’s not that easy to enter the Pierce family.” “Although you’ve taken care of our young master for three years, that’s not enough to qualify you to enter the Pierce family. Moreover…” “Our young master already has a fiancée.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a rope, making it hard to breathe. My voice shook as I replied: “I have no intention of becoming Mrs. Pierce.” “Nor will I tell anyone about Summer… about Everett Pierce’s condition.” “I just” “Simply don’t want to take your money.” It felt like if I took the money, my relationship with Summer would somehow be tainted. He paused for a moment. “Miss Evans, this is what you deserve. I’m just following orders, and you’re making this very difficult for me.” I wanted to say more, but the call had already been disconnected. The dim light illuminated the living room, with a bag of bottles Summer had collected still by the door. I hadn’t seen Summer when I came home from work yesterday either. After searching many places without finding him, I sat on the sofa and cried hard. Just then, Summer returned, covered in mud and carrying a sack. Seeing me cry, he panicked immediately. With a black eye, he smiled at me: “Sister, don’t cry. Look, I collected so many bottles.” “I even outran several old men to get them.” “Sister, I can support you. Please don’t be with that man, okay?” I hugged him, feeling both angry and amused. “If you run off like that again, I’ll abandon you,” I threatened. He looked at me with reddened eyes, tugging at my sleeve, saying he could collect lots and lots of bottles. Begging me not to leave him. Now, he had left. And it was he who had abandoned me. 0

Without a reason to live, there was naturally no need for treatment. I prepared to cancel my hospital admission. As I was leaving, I accidentally knocked over the clay figurine on the shelf. I glanced at it and closed the door. At the hospital, I successfully cancelled my admission, but saw Summer’s name on the inpatient list. I grabbed the nurse’s hand and asked: “Everett Pierce, is he the young master of the Pierce family?” She shook off my hand and sneered: “So what if he is?” She looked me up and down. “You think you can catch the eye of the crown prince of high society with your looks?” I didn’t dare meet her gaze and scurried away. After returning home, I took the box of money and went back to the hospital. I didn’t dare ask the nurses which room Summer was in, fearing their strange looks. I could only go floor by floor, peeking through the door cracks at the people inside. “Hey? Kaia?” I turned around, instinctively hugging the box to my chest. “Dr. Johnson.” He smiled and asked: “Here to pay the medical bills?” I shook my head. He looked surprised: “With treatment, there’s a very high chance your condition can improve.” There might be a chance of recovery, but no hope of living. “Why not get treatment if you have the money?” he asked again. I smiled bitterly: “Dr. Johnson, this money isn’t mine.” “Then whose-” I interrupted him: “Dr. Johnson, do you know which room Everett Pierce is in?” Dr. Johnson was silent for a moment before saying: “Fourth floor, second room on the left.” He patted my shoulder. “If you need any help, you can come find me.” I nodded and made my way to the fourth floor. Standing outside the room, I hesitated for a long time before knocking. The door was opened by a distinguished-looking man whom I recognized from the internet. Summer’s brother, Eric Pierce – the current head of the Pierce family. He didn’t seem surprised to see me and nodded: “Please come in.” I immediately spotted Summer lying on the hospital bed, with an elegantly dressed woman beside him. The woman was feeding Summer pieces of apple, and Summer looked at her with eyes full of tenderness. I lowered my gaze, my fingers turning white from gripping the box so tightly. Then, I slowly let go. Never mind. 0

Summer only noticed me after eating several pieces of apple. He wiped his mouth and asked: “What are you doing here?” He looked at me, his eyes cold. I instinctively took two steps back. This Summer felt so unfamiliar. Of course, he had regained his memories and was no longer the simple-minded boy who would chase after me calling “Sister”. He was now Everett Pierce – the heir to the Pierce family. I took a deep breath and opened the box. “I haven’t touched a cent of the money in here. I’m returning it to you.” Summer… Everett’s phoenix eyes curved slightly, but the smile didn’t reach them: “Then what do you want?” “The position of Mrs. Pierce?” I was shocked that he would say such a thing and looked at him in disbelief. “Do you think you’re worthy?” he said coldly, laughing. The room suddenly fell silent, with everyone’s gaze focused on me. I put down the box and fled the room. I leaned against the staircase, gasping for air, tears falling uncontrollably. “Crying?” came a familiar voice from behind. I wiped my tears and mumbled: “No.” Everett looked me up and down, smiling as he stuffed a wad of cash into my hand. He raised an eyebrow: “Eat more. Your curves have all but disappeared.” “Seduction requires capital too.” I stood frozen until his figure disappeared from sight before coming to my senses. I ran out of the hospital crying, not knowing where to go. I took out the money and stared at it for a long time. In this city, it seemed I was alone again. 04 Back home, there were broken pieces on the floor, along with many paper stars. I picked up a star and unfolded it. It read: “Sister, be happy every day!” This was the birthday gift Summer had given me. After my parents passed away, I lost all hope in life and hadn’t celebrated my birthday since. When I found Summer, he was lying in an alley, covered in blood. Out of sympathy, I brought him home. When he woke up, I realized he was simple-minded. But he was very obedient, sweetly calling me “Sister” and clinging to me. He became like a pillar of support for me in this unfamiliar city. Supporting me to keep living. I named him Summer. I had thought about sending him back to his family. So I took him to the police station and registered his information. He was well-behaved the whole way, until I was about to leave. He tugged at my sleeve, his eyes reddening: “Sister, are you going to abandon me?” I pulled my hand away, smiling as I said: “Sister’s going to buy Summer some candy. Be good and wait for me, okay?” He sat on the chair like an abandoned puppy, watching his owner leave with sad eyes. I thought that would be our farewell. But three days later, I ran into Summer rummaging through garbage bins on my way home from work. “Summer?” He froze for a moment before turning around, looking at me with tears in his eyes. He reached out, wanting to touch me but not daring to come closer. “Summer, why are you here?” I asked. He looked at me with reddened eyes, his voice trembling: “Sister, I’ll be very good.” “Can you… not abandon me?” It turned out he had run away from the police station the night I left. He thought I didn’t want him anymore. I hugged him, feeling both angry and heartbroken. The winter night was cold, and we two homeless children hugged each other for warmth. I once thought we would always be together. 0

The next year, I celebrated Summer’s birthday. His face was covered in cream from the cake, but he still smiled at me happily: “Sister, when is your birthday?” “December 22nd.” I thought he was just asking casually. But on that day, he carefully presented me with a clay figurine: “Sister, happy birthday!” The figurine was ugly, with “Summer loves only Kaia” carved on its belly. “Only love?” I asked him with a smile. “Do you know what that means?” Summer looked proud: “I know, it means loving only one person.” “I only love Kaia!” Now, the clay figurine with “Summer loves only Kaia” carved on it had shattered into several pieces. It couldn’t be put back together. At the time, I thought the clay figurine was all he had given me, so I put it away. I didn’t expect there was something inside. No wonder he had been sulking for days when he saw me not touching the figurine anymore. So that’s why. I unfolded another star. It read: “Let’s always be together.” At the end was a clumsily drawn heart, showing the creator’s thoughtfulness. I looked at it for a long time, my tears falling and blurring the heart on the paper. Little liar. 0

Leaves return to their roots. Now, I just wanted to go home. I sold the house. The money was just enough to buy a plot in the cemetery to be buried with my parents. I sold the bag of bottles Summer had collected. It totaled $16.50. “How can I support you with so little money?” I muttered to myself. The paperwork was done. In two days, I could leave this heartbreaking place. But the day before I was to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived. “Eric Pierce?” He looked a bit surprised: “Miss Evans, you know me? I’m honored.” “What brings you here?” I asked. Eric wore a gentle smile: “Miss Evans, I’d like to invite you to be my date.” “Your date?” I looked at him in surprise, unable to understand the thinking of rich people. He was handsome and wealthy. With a wave of his hand, countless women would throw themselves at him. Why would he choose me, a woman of ordinary background and looks? I was about to refuse when he said: “My brother Everett will be there too.” I hesitated. Even if I couldn’t say goodbye to Summer, it would be nice to see him from afar one last time. Although I didn’t know Eric’s motives, I agreed. I, a person with no parents and a serious illness, had nothing to be schemed for anyway. I wore the dress Eric had prepared, unconsciously touching the mirror. Eric’s eyes flashed with admiration as he placed a necklace around my neck, chuckling: “My brother is not only simple-minded but also blind.” I pressed my lips together, not responding. When we arrived at the banquet, I just wanted to flee. This wasn’t some business event, but Everett’s engagement party. He stood there, naturally exuding nobility and coldness, like a bamboo after snow – eye-catching. The woman beside him wore a white dress, as if she had draped the Milky Way over herself, dazzlingly beautiful. “Does Miss Sophia have anything to say?” the host asked. “I’m glad I could make a playboy settle down, and I’m glad I’ve always been by Everett’s side,” Sophia replied. I touched the bracelet on my wrist dejectedly. It was woven by Summer and contained some of his hair. But now, Everett only had a blindingly bright ring on his finger. Actually, I was also grateful to have met Summer during the lowest point of my life. He was like a dream I had, accompanying me through my darkest times before leaving. I just wished… the dream could have lasted a little longer. 0I wanted to escape, but Eric held me back. He smiled: “Don’t you want to offer your congratulations?” Reluctantly, I followed him to Everett’s side. Everett glanced at me, his tone frivolous: “So my brother likes second-hand goods.” I felt my breath catch, my heart inexplicably aching. Sophia beside him smiled at him: “Don’t say that. At least she took care of you for three years.” Everett made a sound of acknowledgment and asked someone nearby for a check, which he handed to me: “Fill in any amount you want.”

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In my previous life, my stepmother secretly changed my college application, sending me to a low-ranking community college. In my previous life, I sold the copyright of my novel for five million dollars, but my stepsister falsely accused me of plagiarism. In my previous life, my stepsister killed me and inherited my property without consequences. But now, I’ve been reborn, and I’m going to make my stepmother and stepsister pay… I was pushed off the roof by my sister Sophia. It was the 28th floor, and I died instantly. After my death, I became a wandering spirit, unsure where to go. I stood among the crowd, watching my lifeless body within the police cordon, listening to the murmurs around me. “I heard it was the daughter from the sixth floor. She just started college, so young and yet she decided to end it all.” “Which one from the sixth floor? Don’t they have two daughters?” “It’s the older one. I just saw the younger one a moment ago.” Soon after, my mom came down, with Sophia close behind. As soon as my mom arrived, she collapsed on the ground, wailing loudly. Sophia covered her face, sobbing quietly. I walked over, wanting to comfort my mom, to tell her I didn’t commit suicide. But I couldn’t. I was just a spirit now. My mom, Olivia, started crying out, “Emma, why did you do this? What could have been so bad that you couldn’t talk to me about it? Why did you jump? How am I going to explain this to your father?” People around her tried to help her up, consoling her. But as I stood in front of her, I could clearly see that there wasn’t a single tear on her face. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore. I turned and went back upstairs. Looking at the familiar surroundings of our home, I desperately tried to recall my memories of living here, but I couldn’t find a single happy memory. I returned to my room, curled up in the corner. I was dead now, and I didn’t know what would happen to me next. Would the grim reaper come for me? Or would I be reincarnated directly? Or would I just remain like this, a wandering spirit in the human world? The despair of death and the fear of the unknown, coupled with a sense of loneliness, all crashed over me at once. I don’t know how much time passed, but I heard the sound of the front door opening. I went out to see my mom and sister returning. As soon as they entered, Sophia collapsed on the floor. “Mom, I’m scared.” My mom rushed to help her up. “What happened? Don’t be afraid, Sophia. Tell mom, and I’ll help you solve it.” “Mom, I killed someone. I pushed Emma off the roof.” Olivia’s eyes widened in horror. She quickly covered Sophia’s mouth and pulled her into the bedroom. “What happened? Sophia, how could you do such a thing?” Sophia briefly explained what had happened. “I didn’t mean to, Mom. I didn’t mean to kill her. I just wanted to scare her.” “What are we going to do? Will the police come for me?” “Don’t worry, Sophia. Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you.” “What about Dad? He only has one daughter.” My mind went blank. What did Sophia just say? Dad only has one daughter? How could that be? Then I heard Olivia continue, “When your dad married me, he promised that as long as I treated Emma well, he would treat you like his own daughter.” “All these years, I’ve been pretending in front of your dad, and he’s always been good to you. He won’t suspect you.” “It’s good that little bitch is dead, just like her mother who died early. Now there won’t be anyone in our way anymore, and all her property will be ours.” These words hit me like a thunderbolt. Hearing this, what else was there not to understand? Olivia was not my real mother, and Sophia was not my real sister. No wonder they had always treated me poorly. No wonder Olivia always favored Sophia. No wonder Sophia didn’t share my dad’s surname. Just as I was thinking this, my dad came home. My dad was a long-haul truck driver, usually very busy with work and often not at home. As soon as my dad entered, Olivia went to greet him, putting on an act and starting to cry. “Jack, you’re finally back. What are we going to do? How could Emma think of ending her life like this?” After I had the accident, they had called my dad, and he had rushed back from out of town. He pulled his hand away and walked into my room without a word. I followed him in, watching as my dad locked the door, picked up the doll by my pillow, and sat on the edge of my bed. He just sat there, and soon tears were streaming down his face. He took a photo out of his wallet. I leaned in closer and saw that the woman in the photo looked a lot like me. I knew that must be my birth mother. My dad looked at the photo, repeating over and over, “Xiao Yun, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

My dad sat in my room all night, and I sat beside him, listening all night. He said so much to the photo. This was the first time I had heard my dad talk so much. He talked about how he met my birth mother, how they fell in love. He talked about how she insisted on giving birth to me despite the doctors’ and everyone else’s objections. He talked about how when I was little, I always pestered him for a mother, which was why he married Olivia. He said I looked a lot like her, talked about how much he missed her, and about how much he had failed me all these years. It was as if all these words were meant for me to hear, answering all my questions. By daybreak, I saw that my dad’s hair had turned noticeably grayer overnight. Suddenly, I lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I was in the afterlife. I heard someone say, “Number 7628, it’s time for your reincarnation.” But I didn’t want to be reincarnated. I didn’t speak, just lowered my head and cried, from silent tears to loud sobs. My crying angered the judge of the afterlife, who punished me by sending me to copy scriptures. Looking at the pen and ink on the table, I chose to compromise. I copied the scriptures day and night, channeling my hatred, sorrow, and resentment, along with my curses for Olivia and Sophia, into the energy I poured into the scriptures. I don’t know how long I copied for, until my strength was exhausted and my spirit began to dissipate… I heard someone calling my name. I fought against the drowsiness and struggled to open my eyes. Suddenly, I was startled. Where was I? Wasn’t I copying scriptures? How did I end up in my room? I sat up abruptly, looking around. I gradually realized that I had been reborn. I picked up my phone and turned on the screen. I had actually gone back to a year ago. I quickly got out of bed, wanting to open the door, but found it locked. I remembered now. Today was the day I was supposed to submit my college applications. In my previous life, the door suddenly wouldn’t open, so Olivia and Sophia went to school to submit my applications for me. They had deliberately locked me in the house, then took the application forms I had filled out in advance and went to school to submit them for me. What I didn’t expect was that they had actually changed my applications. In the end, with scores that could have gotten me into a top university, I ended up at the same third-rate college as my sister. I still remember in my previous life, when I got my acceptance letter, I asked Olivia why this college had admitted me. “Oh, how did this happen? I must have mixed up the application forms and used your sister’s by mistake. Mom didn’t mean to, you won’t blame mom, right?” In my previous life, I was so naive that I comforted myself, making excuses for her in my mind. Now I realize how stupid I was back then. In my previous life, it wasn’t until just before I died that I learned from Sophia’s own mouth that Olivia and Sophia had deliberately changed my applications. This time, knowing everything, I absolutely won’t fall into the same trap again. Outside the door, Olivia was calling my name. “Emma, why won’t this door open? We need to go to school soon to submit your applications.” I played along, pretending to be very anxious. “I don’t know either, the door just suddenly won’t open. What should we do?” “How about this, Emma, give me your application forms, and I’ll go submit them for you.” “Okay, I guess that’s the only way. Please make sure you don’t fill them out wrong.” “Don’t worry, your sister will be there to help too.”

After they left, I went back to bed to catch up on sleep. There were three days for submitting applications, and it wasn’t necessary to go to school to do it. But obviously, Olivia and Sophia didn’t know this, otherwise they wouldn’t have let me out the next day in my previous life to go work at my uncle’s supermarket. I have an uncle who owns a supermarket. He and his family have always been good to me. His name is Mike, and I guess he must be my real uncle. Since I was little, Olivia often sent me to stay with Uncle Mike. Later, when I started middle school, I would help out at Uncle Mike’s supermarket every weekend. But Uncle Mike never really made me do any work. Usually, I just did my homework there and tutored his daughter, Chloe. It wasn’t until one time when I discovered that Olivia had been asking Uncle Mike for my wages that I had an argument with her about it. That was also the first time I had ever argued with Olivia. I confronted her, asking why she was asking Uncle Mike for money. When it came to money, she didn’t even bother to pretend anymore. “You’re working at your uncle’s place, what’s wrong with me asking for some money?” “But Uncle Mike never made me do any work. They even give me pocket money.” Olivia acted like it was perfectly normal. “I sent you there to work. If he doesn’t make you work, that’s his business, but your wages should come to me, every cent of it.” I was heartbroken by her words. “What about Sophia? Why do you never send her to work at Uncle Mike’s?” Seeing that I was getting emotional, she started to explain in a conciliatory tone. “Your sister isn’t in good health, she can’t do heavy work. Besides, Sophia isn’t as good at studying as you are, she needs to take extra classes, so she doesn’t have time to go.” In my previous life, I always thought it was because Sophia was more likable, which was why mom favored her. I tried hard to make mom approve of me. Now I realize how ridiculous I was back then. … The door to my room wasn’t opened until the next day. During this time, I hadn’t eaten a single meal. Early the next morning, I went to Uncle Mike’s without even eating breakfast. As a result, I fainted at Uncle Mike’s doorstep due to low blood sugar. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the worried expressions on Uncle Mike and Aunt Linda’s faces. Suddenly, a wave of emotion washed over me, and tears started streaming down my face. Seeing me cry, they both panicked, not knowing what to do. “What’s wrong, Emma? Where does it hurt? Tell Aunt Linda.” She reached out to feel my forehead. “Does your head hurt?” I held onto Aunt Linda’s hand. “Uncle Mike, Aunt Linda, don’t worry. I’m not feeling unwell. I just missed you both.” I told them that I knew Olivia was my stepmother, and also told them about how badly my stepmother had treated me all these years. When I was very young, Olivia started making me wash clothes and cook. Whenever my dad wasn’t home, I was basically responsible for all the housework. Even in the cold winter, she wouldn’t let me use hot water to wash clothes or dishes. I had asked before why I had to do all these things while Sophia didn’t have to do anything. Olivia always brushed me off with excuses like “the older sister should look after the younger sister.” After hearing this, Uncle Mike was so angry he wanted to confront Olivia and Sophia right away, but Aunt Linda and I stopped him. Then they revealed the truth to me. “Your mother’s name was Lily. She and your dad were very much in love.” “When your mom was pregnant with you, she was diagnosed with a tumor. The doctors advised her to terminate the pregnancy, but your mom insisted on giving birth to you. Shortly after you were born, she passed away.” “Later, it was your dad who asked us to keep this from you. He said he hoped you could grow up healthy and happy like other children. Who would have thought Olivia would turn out to be such a cruel person.” After learning all this, I told them about the college application issue. “Uncle Mike, I need your help with something urgent now. I’ll deal with Olivia’s matters myself later.” I asked Uncle Mike to bring his computer, and I started filling out my college applications. When Uncle Mike saw the schools Olivia had applied to for me, he was both furious and filled with self-blame. After changing my applications, I also bought a few hidden cameras online, planning to place them around the house. So, under the guise of a part-time job, I stayed at Uncle Mike’s house. During this time, I went home twice to get clothes. This summer vacation was the happiest I had experienced in many years. At Uncle Mike’s house, I didn’t have to do any chores. I only needed to tutor Chloe a bit. Chloe was in her junior year of high school, and her studies were quite good, so tutoring her was particularly easy. Uncle Mike even bought me a computer so I could continue writing my novel.

I have a hobby of writing novels, which also earns me some pocket money. In my previous life, my novel caught the attention of a film production company during my freshman year of college. They bought the copyright to my novel. It suddenly gave me a windfall of five million dollars, and it was precisely this money that ultimately led to my demise. When I received this money, I excitedly told Olivia about it. However, when Sophia found out, she started accusing me of plagiarism, spreading rumors around the school that she had written the novel. At that time, I didn’t know how to explain. Although I could provide evidence, I kept quiet out of consideration for Sophia being my sister. Until that day at home, I asked Sophia to meet me on the rooftop to clear up the misunderstanding, but Sophia’s attitude was very poor. As we talked, an argument broke out, and in the end, she accidentally pushed me off. Although Sophia didn’t intentionally push me in my previous life, I won’t let her off easily this time. … That day, when the admission results were posted on various school websites, Olivia surprisingly called me, asking which school I had been admitted to. To avoid raising suspicion, I pretended to be sad and told her that I had been admitted to the same school as Sophia. I even thoughtfully provided an excuse for Olivia, “Did you perhaps mix up the application forms when you were filling them out?” After I said this, there was a two-second pause on the other end. Then, pretending as if she had just realized, Olivia said regretfully, “Oh no, I must have filled it out wrong by mistake.” “Well, there’s no way to change it now. We’ll just have to accept it. Don’t blame yourself, I don’t hold it against you.” After hanging up the phone, I checked the surveillance cameras at home and saw this conversation: Sophia asked eagerly, “Mom, how did it go? Which school did that little bitch get into?” “Little bitch” – that’s what Olivia and Sophia called me in private. Olivia burst out laughing, “That idiot actually thinks I made a mistake filling out her application. She even said she doesn’t blame me. It’s hilarious how stupid she is.” “She got into the same school as you. If I had known she’d be this easy to fool, I would have just put down a community college for that little bitch.” The mother and daughter laughed happily, using every vile word they could think of to curse me. I closed the video, saved the recording, and continued writing my novel. The acceptance letters were sent to the school. My letter arrived a few days before Sophia’s, so they didn’t find out. The day I got my acceptance letter, Uncle Mike’s family took me out to celebrate. Uncle Mike even allowed me to have some alcohol. Maybe it was because of the alcohol, but I became emotional and felt like crying again. I felt that this time, I had finally gotten into the university I wanted. I asked Uncle Mike to take me to my mom’s grave. Looking at the smiling woman in the photo on the tombstone, she seemed as gentle as a spring breeze and as warm as the sun. I imagined my mom must have been a very gentle person. She must have loved me very much. If she were still alive, I would surely be the happiest child in the world. I placed flowers in front of the grave. “Mom, it’s been a long time. I’ve come to see you. I’m sorry I forgot about you all these years and called someone else ‘mom’ for over a decade.” “Uncle Mike says you were a wonderful person. You were so good, you surely won’t be angry with me, right?” I wiped the tears from my face and took out my acceptance letter. “Mom, I got into a really good university. I wish you were still here. I heard my school is very big and beautiful. I really wish I could take you and dad to see it.” “Dad and I both misjudged people before, but we won’t anymore. I promise I’ll live a good life from now on. I won’t let your sacrifice in giving birth to me be in vain.”

Summer vacation ended quickly. My university was in Beijing, while Sophia’s low-ranking college was in our hometown. Our school started earlier, so I packed up and went to register at the university early. When Sophia sent me a message asking when I was leaving, I was already lying on my bed in the dorm at A University. I ignored her message and continued chatting with my roommates. All four people in the dorm were easy to get along with. I thought about my roommates from my previous life – they smoked, drank, fought, cheated on exams, loved to gossip behind others’ backs, and created eight group chats for six people, never inviting me to any of them. Back then, I thought I couldn’t fit into that dorm because of me. Now I understand that circle wasn’t suitable for me. We were just different types of people. Sophia sent me many messages, but I didn’t reply to any of them. Half an hour later, Olivia called. I went to the balcony to answer the call. Her tone had barely contained irritation. “Emma, where are you? Why aren’t you replying to your sister’s messages?” “I was just chatting with my roommates and didn’t notice.” “Roommates? Which building is your dorm in? Your dad is here too. Come out, let’s have a family dinner together.” “You know, your dad was originally planning to send you two together. Your sister wanted to come to school with you. Why did you leave without a word and have your uncle send you instead?” As she spoke more and more enthusiastically, I interrupted her, “I’m in Beijing. I can’t have dinner with you.” There was a pause on the other end, then disbelief, “Beijing? Why are you in Beijing? Are you not going to school?” “No, I’m not. Uncle Mike found me a job in Beijing. Room and board provided, 3,500 a month.” That evening, I received a call from my dad. He sounded upset. “Emma, is it true what your mom said about you not going to university?” I knew my dad would definitely call to ask about this, so I had prepared what to say in advance. “Dad, it’s not that I’m not going to school. But what I’m about to tell you, I hope you can keep it a secret and not tell anyone.” “Then what’s the real reason? Tell me, I promise I’ll keep it secret.” “On the day of submitting applications, mom went to help me fill them out. The next day when I logged into the system to check, I found out mom had accidentally filled in Sophia’s choices for me.” “Luckily I changed it back in time. Mom feels very guilty about this, so I want to give her a surprise. Please don’t tell her or Sophia for now.” I sent my dad my acceptance letter and photos of me with Uncle Mike’s family at the school gate. This finally convinced him. “Alright, I’ve neglected you kids a lot these past few years because of work. It’s thanks to your mom that she’s been taking care of the family all this time.” “I’ll do as you say and keep it a secret. Beijing is expensive, so I’ll give you more money each month from now on.” I felt that my dad still had some suspicions about Olivia. All these years, he had kept control of the family finances. My dad transferred our living expenses and tuition directly to Sophia and me, so Olivia never had a chance to interfere with that. But she took all the money I earned working at Uncle Mike’s to buy things for Sophia. For this summer’s wages, I still had Uncle Mike give it all to Olivia, and when transferring the money, he noted “Emma’s wages.” Olivia used this money to buy Sophia a new phone. I saw all of this in the surveillance videos. The reason I didn’t tell my dad the truth was that I wanted to gather more evidence. I wanted to make sure Olivia and Sophia had no chance of turning things around. And right now, the most important thing for me was to live my own life well. After military training ended, I began my busy college life. My roommates and I joined the student union together. We actively participated in various competitions at school, studied hard, and I still kept up with writing my novel every day. Because I had written the novel in my previous life, it was going very smoothly this time. I even improved the plot. So my monthly income was more than before. Everything seemed to be telling me that my life was heading in a good direction… I followed the confession wall of Sophia’s school. Sophia was very pretty, with an innocent look. So there were often people confessing to her on the wall. She was also very good at presenting herself as peaceful and aloof in front of others, so she was popular with the opposite sex. In my previous life, she was already famous at school, and it was the same in this life. But I knew some of her little secrets, which I had discovered by chance in my previous life.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294934”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School