Category: English

After I started dating Leo, my Good Luck System suddenly vanished. Meanwhile, his childhood friend, Brittany, rocketed from dead last in her class to number one. She even won a ten-million-dollar lottery, earning everyone’s envy. But my life became a nightmare. I was constantly drained and plagued by bad luck. That’s when it hit me: Leo had transferred my Good Luck System to his childhood friend. I confronted them, but Leo just shrugged. “Chloe, you had such an amazing system and weren’t using it properly. I transferred it to Brittany so it could be put to good use!” Brittany was even more arrogant. “Wondering why you’ve been so unlucky lately? Because I also have a Bad Luck System.” “If you don’t want to die, I suggest you shut up.” I just smiled. They didn’t believe me, but my Good Luck System had a specific rule. Abusing it would lead to a backlash. Plus, the Good Luck System had chosen me as its true owner. What was mine would always be mine. I was just waiting for the day they’d regret everything!

Even after I stopped arguing, Brittany wouldn’t let me leave. She declared she was going to teach me a lesson and ordered Leo to do it for her. “Leo, it’s our first day together. Why don’t you personally give her a little lesson?” Leo hesitated for a second, then nodded. In less than a moment, my insides screamed with pain. Leo completely dropped his simp act. His voice was condescending. “Chloe, how does it feel to be in excruciating pain?” “They say cancer pain is the absolute worst kind. My grandpa had it. Now, you’re experiencing it for him, so I guess I can feel like I’m doing something good for my family.” I grabbed Leo’s sleeve, my hatred boiling. I wanted to tear him apart. He let me pull him closer, taking a perverse pleasure in my agony. “You honestly thought I pursued you because I liked you? I just wanted to confirm if that Good Luck System was really yours.” “Chloe, I never liked you. I hated that aloof attitude of yours.” The torment left me speechless. I watched Brittany lean against Leo’s shoulder, her voice soft. “Leo, you don’t blame me for making you use your last transfer ability, do you?” Leo ran a hand through Brittany’s hair, a doting smile on his face. “Of course not. I know what you’re thinking. This way, no one can ever take your Good Luck System away.” “This ability only had two uses anyway, and both were well spent.” Brittany’s smile grew wider. She confidently promised Leo, “Leo, don’t worry. I’ll share my good luck with you.” As she promised, Brittany didn’t forget to trash-talk me. “I would never be as selfish as Chloe!” “She actually said abusing the Good Luck System would cause a backlash! She must think we’re idiots!” They gazed at each other, lovingly, right in front of me. Just then, a classmate ran over to say the awards ceremony was starting and told Brittany and me to head over. Brittany vanished in an instant. This was a national math competition. The department faculty had been counting on me, really grooming me to win. But on the day of the competition, I tripped over absolutely nothing and missed the whole thing. Brittany came back with the trophy. The department threw an awards ceremony, and Brittany became the faculty’s new darling. I walked with heavy steps, my forehead beaded with sweat from the pain. Brittany rushed over to support me, exclaiming, “Oh my god, Chloe, are you sick? Do you need a doctor?” The department head immediately looked at me with concern. After all, I was still one of their star students. Seeing me like this, they immediately called the school nurse and took me to the infirmary. Brittany smirked, telling the department head, “Chloe, the award ceremony is starting and you’re sick? What a coincidence. The doctor will know if you’re really ill when they get here.” In that instant, I understood Brittany’s game. This transferred pain wouldn’t show up in any medical tests. The department head would just think I was faking illness to skip the ceremony. Suddenly, the Good Luck System’s voice echoed in my mind. “Host, Brittany is trying to harm you again!”

My eyes lit up. The pain in my body significantly lessened with the Good Luck System’s words. “You… you mean you’re coming back?” I was so excited I stammered. The system’s voice was low, “Not yet, Host, but soon. Brittany just needs to abuse me one more time before I can return.” “But she’s been using me too much these past few days, so the backlash is coming for her soon!” “Oh, and guess what? Brittany’s Bad Luck System has already been subdued by me! It can’t come out and help Brittany cause any more trouble.” My heart swelled with joy, and a smile unconsciously curved on my lips, even as the pain washed over me again. I cried out a few times, but before I could ask if it could ease my suffering, the school nurse arrived. Brittany dragged Dr. Alex over to me. “Dr. Alex, can you tell if Chloe is genuinely sick?” Dr. Alex’s voice was cool and steady. “She’s not sick.” Brittany got the answer she wanted and raised her voice. “Aha, Chloe! You’re faking it! Just because I won, you’re intentionally trying to skip the award ceremony, aren’t you?” The department head looked at me strangely. Dr. Alex scoffed. “Brittany, didn’t you hear my tone just now? How would I know what illness she has without examining her?” “Why are you so eager to say Chloe is faking it?” Brittany was stumped. The department faculty realized their mistake and quickly told Dr. Alex to take me for an examination. The dean cleared his throat. “Well, then, let’s postpone the awards ceremony for another day.” Brittany stood there, dumbfounded. Dr. Alex took me to the examination room. I was about to thank him for what happened earlier when he pulled out a bottle from a cabinet, poured out a pill, and quickly popped it into my mouth before I could react. It melted instantly on my tongue. I didn’t even have a chance to spit it out. Before I could question him, the pain in my body vanished. I stared at Dr. Alex, wide-eyed with surprise. “I’m all better!” He gave a slight smile. “No need to thank me. I have a Special Healing System.” Our eyes met. I understood what Dr. Alex meant and muttered to myself, *So many people are binding systems these days.* But I really was lucky. *I wonder if Brittany will be furious when she finds out!* As I thought that, a gust of wind swept by. The bottle of medicine Dr. Alex had placed on the table was snatched by Brittany, who then swallowed its entire contents. Right after that, Leo rushed in, breathless. “Dr. Alex, please check Brittany! She’s not feeling well!” Entering the room, Leo also saw Brittany, who had just downed the whole bottle of pills. He frowned, a hint of accusation in his voice. “Brittany, why are you taking random medicine?” Brittany was drenched in cold sweat. She pointed at Dr. Alex. “He cured Chloe!” Leo didn’t stop her, but his gaze at me was filled with resentment. Ten minutes later, Brittany’s furious roar echoed through the room. “Chloe, you poisoned me!”

Brittany’s loud shout drew the department faculty, who hurried to the scene. Brittany was already slumped on the floor, her face contorted in pain. I looked at Dr. Alex, who shrugged and said four words: “I can’t help her.” I almost burst out laughing. I knew Brittany was suffering from the backlash. Leo knelt beside her, gazing at her with loving eyes. “Is the medicine not working?” Brittany was sweating profusely, shaking her head frantically. She turned to the faculty. “Teachers, please control Chloe! She’s going to kill me!” The teachers didn’t question me. Instead, they asked Dr. Alex to examine Brittany. After a thorough check, Dr. Alex presented the results to everyone. The conclusion was that Brittany was perfectly healthy. Brittany became even more convinced I had harmed her. “It was Chloe! Chloe tricked me into taking this medicine!” “Chloe, you must be in unbearable pain too right now, you’re just faking it to trick me into taking the medicine!” I sneered. “Brittany, words mean nothing. I could say you’re slandering me!” “There’s surveillance in this room. It’ll be clear who’s lying and who has ill intentions.” The department faculty nodded and had the surveillance footage pulled up. After watching it, Dr. Alex spoke. “Chloe had a headache, and this is headache medicine. Who knew Brittany would snatch it and take it all herself?” Brittany’s face turned beet red as she tried to argue, “You’re lying! You clearly said you had a Special Healing System, and besides, Chloe’s ‘illness’ wasn’t a headache at all!” Brittany was spiraling out of control. The faculty members were normal people; they had no idea what a “system” was. After Brittany’s prolonged tantrum, even the most patient department faculty couldn’t help but get angry. “Brittany, while the department is pleased you won an award, that’s no excuse for you to target Chloe like this!” “The award ceremony doesn’t need to be postponed. It’s canceled altogether.” The faculty didn’t linger. Only Chloe, Dr. Alex, Brittany, and Leo remained in the room. Hatred flickered in Brittany’s eyes. She once again demanded to know what I had “poisoned” her with. I stated the truth again. “I told you, it’s the backlash from abusing the system, isn’t it?” Brittany still didn’t believe me. Her eyes narrowed. “Chloe, you’re a classic case of not seeing the coffin until you’re in it!” “Since we were classmates, I’ll let you choose how you die.” “Do you want to be crushed by something falling from a height, run over by a car, or stabbed by thugs?” I smiled faintly. “Sorry, I choose none of the above.” Brittany still didn’t realize her Bad Luck System was gone. “You don’t get a choice!” “If you don’t choose, I will. Let’s go with getting run over. That’ll be a beautiful sight.” “People like you don’t deserve to live!” I was about to tell Brittany to stop dreaming when a voice cut in. “Yeah!” A crowd of classmates suddenly poured into the room. They surrounded Brittany, united in their resentment towards me. “Brittany, we just heard what happened. We totally believe Chloe hurt you.” “Yeah, Chloe’s so selfish. She’s nothing like you, Brittany, so kind and beautiful.” … I looked at each person speaking: Ashley, my desk-mate, and Jessica, my childhood friend. They used to be my best friends. After Brittany won the lottery and handed them a few crumbs, they all turned on me and sided with Brittany, isolating me instead. Yet, I had never treated them badly before. I never even used the Good Luck System to win a lottery myself. I only used it a handful of times, always to help others. Brittany, her face pale from the backlash, lifted her chin, basking in their compliments. Leo lifted his eyelids slightly and addressed the students surrounding Brittany. “Since you all think Chloe is so despicable, why don’t you beat her up and let Brittany vent her anger?” Ashley and the others hesitated. Brittany’s face darkened. “You won’t even help me with something this small? Are you not truly my friends? You can forget about getting any more favors from me in the future!” Ashley and the others began to step closer to me. Beyond disheartened, I spoke calmly. “If Brittany is so great, why doesn’t she share her good luck with all of you?” Ashley and the others froze. When Brittany won the lottery with the Good Luck System, she gave Ashley and the others benefits every day.

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My wife has always been cold and distant. In the ten years we’ve been married, she’s never said she loves me. Before I died, I discovered a love letter she had been preparing for years. But my name wasn’t on it. It turns out she was only indifferent towards me. After getting a second chance at life, the first thing I did was cancel our engagement and help her deliver the love letter. She turned red with anger and yelled at me for the first time: “Jack, who asked you to meddle in my business?” 0An hour before the elevator accident, I was cleaning the attic when I found a yellowed love letter. The handwriting was familiar, as was the signature. But the name at the beginning wasn’t mine. It was a love letter Fiona had written to another guy. In the moment the elevator fell, I was still thinking— I never got to know who the man she liked was, what he looked like, or if he was much better than me. When I woke up again, the sun outside was blinding. My head was fuzzy, and my friend William sighed beside me: “You’re finally awake. You scared me to death earlier. Luckily, someone reacted quickly and brought you to the infirmary.” The boy in front of me, wearing a high school uniform, made me feel disoriented for a moment. Seventeen-year-old William? The warm sensation on my hand told me this wasn’t a dream. I really had been given a second chance at life! Footsteps echoed from the doorway, and a figure emerged from the light, appearing before me. “Are you okay?” Fiona looked at me coolly, holding bread and milk in her hands. Familiar memories suddenly flooded back. That’s right, I had overslept that day and didn’t have time for breakfast. I fainted during PE class due to low blood sugar. Fiona handed me the food and watched me eat. That morning, Fiona’s class had a physics quiz, but she skipped it because of me. Later, she was scolded by her homeroom teacher. At seventeen, I was still lost in the fantasy that she cared about me, but with my 32-year-old mindset, I now knew clearly that Fiona was only taking care of me because she had promised my father. Fiona’s father and my dad were war buddies. After Fiona’s father died in the line of duty, her mother took the compensation money and ran off. My dad, seeing Fiona alone and helpless, took her in and raised her. Because she was dependent on us, she always listened to my dad and never dared to disobey. From that day on, Fiona became my little shadow. Everyone teased us behind our backs, saying I had an obedient childhood sweetheart. Later, when my dad noticed my feelings, he joked about Fiona becoming our daughter-in-law. She didn’t say a word. Back then, I thought she was just shy and reserved. Now that I think about it, I was such a fool. During class, I was distracted, constantly replaying the events of my past life. I didn’t want to ruin Fiona’s life again. Perhaps if we didn’t get married, she would be happier, and I wouldn’t die either. After the evening study session, the teacher kept us for an extra ten minutes. When class was finally over, students rushed out in a flurry. As I packed up my things, I saw Fiona waiting for me at the door, her head lowered as she looked at her error correction book. The light shone on her, making her appear even more aloof and cold. As we walked out of the school building, silence hung between us. Fiona was always like this – cold, indifferent, as if nothing interested her. I watched her back and suddenly stopped in my tracks. “Fiona, you go ahead. You don’t need to walk with me anymore, and you don’t have to wait for me in the future either.” “Why?” “No reason.” You’re free, Fiona. I headed towards the back street of the school, planning to buy some exercise books to improve my lackluster math skills. The person behind me caught up, asking coolly: “Jack, what’s wrong now?” “Is it because I arrived too late this morning? Or you didn’t like the milk I bought? The store only had that flavor left…” The moonlight shone on her, cold and clear. Her gaze seemed to say: What are you up to now? I tried to explain: “It’s really not that. The college entrance exam is coming up soon, everyone’s time is precious. You don’t need to waste yours on me. I need to study hard too.” Fiona stood there, stunned. It was probably the first time she had heard me say something like this. I used to love sticking close to Fiona. I didn’t get into North City University, but Fiona did. However, because of a single comment from my dad, she chose to stay in our hometown with me. At the time, I foolishly thought she liked me and just wouldn’t say it out loud. She must have regretted it, after all, that was her dream university. 0

Fiona didn’t follow me this time. I walked into the bookstore and picked out a few workbooks suitable for my level, along with a composition guide. When I went to pay, I realized the money in my pocket was gone. Puzzled, I retraced my steps through the store but couldn’t find it. I wasn’t sure if it had been stolen or if I had dropped it somewhere. I sighed, planning to come back and buy the books tomorrow. As I turned to leave, I bumped into someone. “Whoa!” the person exclaimed, dropping their comic book but managing to protect the bowl of barbecue in their hands. “I’m sorry.” “It’s you again?” The familiar voice and intonation caught me off guard. I looked closely and realized it was Sophie. My best friend from university – how did I run into her now? “What a coincidence, classmate. My friend and I took you to the infirmary when you fainted this morning. Are you feeling better?” “Oh… yeah, I’m fine. Thank you…” I was caught off guard, never realizing we had such an encounter in my previous life. Sophie picked up her comic book and, noticing my hesitation, took the books from my hand and paid for them along with hers. “I saw you wandering around the store earlier, like you were looking for something. What’s up, did you lose your money?” I nodded quickly, impressed by her observation skills. No wonder she would become a criminal investigator in the future. I told her I’d pay her back tomorrow, but Sophie waved it off. “Just treat me to a meal tomorrow, and we’ll call it even.” As we walked out onto the back street, the night had grown quiet with only a few students passing by. Noticing a group of delinquents smoking together not far ahead, I turned to Sophie and offered to walk her home. I went to the garage and retrieved a black motorcycle. After dropping her off at her building, the roar of the motorcycle finally died down. She was worried about disturbing the neighbors and asked me to keep it down when leaving. I smirked, “Can’t keep it down, I’m afraid. My baby’s just that powerful.” “…” That came out sounding weird. When I got home, I ran into Fiona at the entrance of our apartment complex. Strange, didn’t I tell her to go back first? How come she’s even slower than me? Fiona and I went up together, an inexplicable pressure building in the silence. As the elevator doors closed, she suddenly spoke: “Is that girl the reason you’re trying so hard?” “…No, we just happened to meet.” “What a coincidence.” Her tone was flat, as if she didn’t care much, so I didn’t bother explaining further. Back home, Fiona would usually finish her homework and then take a shower. While she was in the bathroom, I snuck into her room and found the love letter. She always hid things in the same place – under a stack of books. Easy to find. I opened the letter, pondering who this “Lucas” could be. Maybe it was someone from her class? Given how cold she always is, I doubt she’d ever catch up to anyone else. Well, why don’t I give her a hand? 0

The next day, I went to school with dark circles under my eyes. After investigating all night, I discovered there were no boys named Lucas in Fiona’s class, only two girls with that surname. Math class went by in a blur again. Even with a second chance at life, the problems I couldn’t solve before were still beyond me. It seems the gap between Fiona and me was destined to remain unbridgeable. At lunch, I was about to go meet Sophie when I found Fiona waiting for me at the classroom door, holding a bag of my favorite roast chicken. “Didn’t I tell you not to wait for me anymore? You should do whatever you want.” “Oh.” She handed me the bag. “Thanks, but you don’t need to buy this for me in the future.” “…” Fiona looked at me, puzzled, and sighed slightly: “Jack, what have I done to upset you? You’ve been avoiding me lately.” “It’s not your problem, it’s mine. I’ve just realized some things.” I walked towards the cafeteria, then remembered something and turned back to her seriously: “By the way, when my dad said you should be my wife, he was just joking. You don’t have to take it seriously or listen to him too much.” “Fiona, good luck with your college entrance exam. Go to your dream university.” “…” Fiona frowned, as if not understanding why I was saying all this. I arrived at the cafeteria where Sophie had already found a table and was waiting for me. “What’s this?” Sophie glanced at the bag in my hand. “Roast chicken. Here, you can have it. Thanks for helping me yesterday.” “Hey, no need to be so formal.” Sophie waved it off but couldn’t resist the aroma of the chicken and ended up eating a drumstick. One thing led to another. She was eating with gusto, her mouth covered in oil. I was about to remind her when a cold voice interrupted. “So this is why you had to get rid of me. You two are dating?” Sophie nearly choked in surprise. I turned around to meet Fiona’s cold gaze, feeling as if I’d been caught cheating. No, no, we’re not a couple anymore. “It’s not like that. We just met, we’re just classmates…” I was telling the truth, but Fiona impatiently cut me off: “You don’t need to explain to me. “I won’t tell Uncle about this. There’s no need to avoid me in the future.” She said coldly, turning away with a hint of anger. Sophie came back and quietly asked me who that was. Seeing her gossipy look, she probably thought Fiona and I were a couple. I briefly explained our situation, and Sophie nodded in understanding. “Oh, childhood sweethearts, huh? She seems to care about you a lot.” “…It’s not like that.” Fiona couldn’t wait to get rid of me.

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I was bound to a system. It told me I was the female lead in a sweet romance novel, and my childhood friend was the male lead. But the story had gone off track. The system demanded I win over the male lead, achieve a sweet ending, and save the world. Yet, after three years of trying to pursue him, Jaxon detested me. The moment he saw me, his face was filled with impatience. He even frequently hurled insults my way. Finally, after I approached him proactively one more time, he said: “You act like such a simp, constantly clinging to me. It’s genuinely sickening. I like Luna. Can’t you just like someone else?” “Host, detecting you have one opportunity to change your target. Would you like to switch?” “Switch! Switch immediately! Switch right now! I should have switched ages ago!” I instantly replied to the system. Whatever the reason for changing targets, I was immensely grateful. “Host, please wait. Retrieving data…” I waited intently for the system’s reply. Completely ignoring the dog-like human beside me. Jaxon was handsome, with a wild aura. His big, bright eyes were so clear and soulful, he could make a brick wall seem romantic. But at this moment, his slightly reddened thin lips curled in scorn, spitting out cruel words without mercy. “You always act like some kind of stalker, following me around and obsessing over me. It’s disgusting. Do less of that from now on.” “Ah, yes, yes, yes.” The disgust in Jaxon’s eyes deepened. He turned his head away, as if I were something dirty, beneath his notice. I secretly rubbed my hands together, buzzing with anticipation, waiting for the system to churn out a new target for me. Jaxon and I were childhood friends. We’d known each other since we were five, and it had been sixteen years. When I first learned Jaxon was my target, I was secretly happy for a long time. At five, Jaxon protected me from other kids bullying me. He didn’t say a word and took on three of them, then got a good beating. Even though he lost badly, I was completely unharmed. At eight, I fell out of a tree in the wilderness and hurt my leg. Jaxon cried the entire way as he practically dragged me home. Though I ended up more injured from the dragging, he didn’t abandon me when I was scared. At fourteen, my first period started, and I was so mortified I couldn’t even bring myself to go to the restroom during class. It was him who took off his jacket to cover me and, blushing, went to the supermarket to buy me pads. … Before I turned eighteen, I was the only girl in Jaxon’s circle. Back then, he genuinely treated me so, so well. I liked him. I thought he liked me too, at least a little bit. I imagined if Jaxon was the target, we’d quickly achieve our happy ending. Never thought… Three years. A full three years. His favorability for me just kept plummeting, and honestly, mine for him did too. It must be in the negatives by now. I sincerely prayed in my heart. “Oh, all-powerful deities, Buddha, Saints above, please, please, grant me a normal, handsome guy, at least 6 feet tall, with a killer physique for a target!” “I’d willingly trade thirty years of Jaxon’s life for it!” Jaxon said impatiently, “I’m never going to be with you in this lifetime. Now get lost.” I didn’t even clearly hear what Jaxon said, just casually brushing him off, “Mm, okay, okay.” I focused on my silent prayer, this one just my safety net. “God, please grant me a normal target. I, your humble servant, would trade thirty years of Jaxon being forced to eat kale for it. Amen.” Jaxon looked at me for a moment, slightly surprised, then disdainfully turned away again. Jaxon’s friend, Leo, came to find him: “Jax, Luna, the campus queen, is waiting for us in the VIP booth. Let’s go!” “Alright.” Leo: “Jax, I just heard Elara say she’s not going to bother you anymore. You really don’t care?” Jaxon scoffed, “Do you believe that? It’s just a new trick to get my attention.” “You watch, in a few days, when that doesn’t work, she’ll be sticking to me like glue again.” “She loves me too much to let go.” Leo: “That’s our Jaxon, always knows how to handle his women.” “Enough. Why are we talking about her? It’s disgusting.”

Standing in place, I stared at the system panel. “Host, your new target is Caleb.” Caleb was the school’s academic genius, smart and from a good family. He and Jaxon were hailed as the school’s male idols. He was the secret crush of countless girls at school, but because he was so outstanding, few dared to confess. Most importantly, Caleb was over 6 feet tall, handsome, I hadn’t seen his physique but it must be good, and he had no rumored relationships, completely single. I laughed out loud in delight, deciding I’d visit a temple and light some incense when I got a chance. I had to properly thank all the deities. I started gathering information on Caleb’s whereabouts, planning to orchestrate a casual encounter. I heard Caleb was at the library. I found a pretty floral dress, put on light makeup, and tied my hair into pigtails. Going for a pure and innocent vibe. I grabbed a book I’d borrowed before, planning to use returning it as an excuse to make an impression on Caleb. But just as I was about to head out. I got a call from Jaxon. He immediately started giving haughty orders: “Luna wants desserts from the Sweet Haven. Go buy a few, and pair them with some boba tea. Deliver them within half an hour.” I wasn’t angry at all. Honestly, if I truly let myself get angry with Jaxon, I’d probably explode and become a walking drama bomb. “Jaxon, find someone else or go buy them yourself. I’m busy, I don’t have time for you.” Jaxon completely ignored me, finished his spiel, and hung up: “Hurry up, I’ll only wait half an hour. Even when you’re playing hard to get, know your limits.” Psychopath, narcissist, self-absorbed jerk. Ugh, such a turn-off!!! I cursed him under my breath and blocked his number. Not having to deal with Jaxon the Maniac, watching him throw a fit, was simply wonderful. Finally, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting stress-related illnesses anymore. At the library, I pretended to stand there returning a book, but my eyes were scanning nonstop, trying to pinpoint Caleb’s location. Soon, I found him. It wasn’t that my eyesight was exceptional; it was that Caleb practically glowed, and his handsomeness was on a whole other level compared to everyone else. I secretly made a decision to work on my complexion when I got back. Otherwise, standing next to him, I’d just be the background, like a firefly next to a street lamp. Alright, next up, the approach. The most inconspicuous yet noticeable accidental encounter in a library is probably standing on opposite sides of the same bookshelf as Caleb, pulling out a book, and then our eyes meeting. When our eyes met, I should subtly smile. It was both sweet and romantic, and easy to execute. Ugh, darn it, that trick wouldn’t work. The school bookshelves were double-layered; you’d have to pull out two books to make eye contact. The chances of Caleb and I simultaneously pulling out opposing books and achieving that “across the bookshelf eye contact” feat were too low. And if I pulled a book after he did, just to meet his eyes, it would be too obvious. Gotta think of something else. Got it! The bookshelves are so tall; it’s perfectly normal for me not to reach a book. Caleb is such a tall, strong guy; he’d probably be happy to help a delicate girl like me grab a book, right? As long as he helps, we’d have a connection, an excuse to talk to him, ask for his help, invite him to dinner. One thing leading to another, we’d get to know each other, and feelings would develop. Hey, if it works, it works. Once I had a plan, I immediately put it into action. I walked to a bookshelf not far from Caleb, randomly picked a book, and began to stand on my tiptoes, reaching for it, putting on a full show of being able to touch it but not quite grab it. But after reaching for a while, no one came to help. I subtly turned my head, using my peripheral vision to see what Caleb was doing. Only to find that spot empty. I stepped back from the bookshelf and saw Caleb already seated in the reading area. I inwardly grumbled that he was so oblivious. I went to the fiction section and picked out a romance novel that suited my taste.

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The day I received my wife’s diagnosis, she suddenly installed a camera in our bedroom. That night, I saw her swear on the phone: “I won’t let him touch me again. I’ve sent you the account and password. You can log in and check anytime.” “I’ve decided to stay chaste for love.” Watching her flushed, impassioned face, I silently put the diagnosis report into the shredder. Stay chaste for love… Well, let’s make it a lifetime then. When I saw the letters “ALS” on Arianna’s diagnosis report, I nearly lost my balance. Three months ago, Arianna was injured in a hiking accident. During her hospital stay, I had the doctors do a comprehensive checkup, hoping for peace of mind. I never expected such a result. “ALS currently has no cure. We can only use medication to slow its progression, but the final outcome is irreversible,” the doctor said, looking at me sympathetically. Arianna was the quintessential career woman. Beautiful features, but not delicate. Her every move exuded a composed and elegant feminine charm. As a renowned divorce lawyer, she was brilliant and rational despite being a woman – a steel magnolia in her colleagues’ eyes. In private life, she was disciplined and routine-oriented, enjoying fitness and hiking, extremely particular about quality of life. I couldn’t bear to imagine someone like her becoming a helpless ALS patient in the future. Sitting on a street corner, watching the endless stream of people, I slowly stood up after a long while. I had made up my mind. As husband and wife, we should face everything together. No matter what she becomes in the future, I will face it with our son by her side. It was dark when I got home. Our son Ethan was quietly playing chess in his room. At seven years old, he had reached the level of chess master and had been interviewed on TV as a “child prodigy”. “Have you eaten?” I asked him gently, adjusting my mood. “Yes, the nanny made pork rib soup today,” he replied without looking up, focused on the chessboard. “Where’s Mom?” “She went for a run.” Ethan was quiet by nature, speaking concisely and clearly. Just like us. Two hours later, as I was lying in bed debating whether to tell Arianna about her condition, she came back. Wearing a hoodie and yoga pants, her whole figure looked graceful and spirited. I became anxious, “It’s only a few degrees outside, why are you dressed so lightly?” One of the precautions the doctor had mentioned today was that ALS patients produce less heat due to muscle atrophy and shouldn’t get cold, as it would accelerate the disease progression. Arianna’s face was expressionless as she said flatly: “This is how I always dress for running.” She opened the box in her hand and took out a camera, setting it up on the dresser opposite the bed. Pointing right at the bed. I was a bit confused. “Why are you suddenly installing a camera?” “There have been some burglaries in the neighborhood. Having surveillance is safer.” “Aren’t you worried about privacy?” I asked hesitantly, knowing Arianna was extremely concerned about personal privacy. She glanced at me and scoffed: “Privacy? Who’s interested in your privacy?” Various emotions swirled in my heart, but I didn’t want to argue with her. Before bed, she lay down with her back to me, far away, clearly too exhausted to talk. I sighed inwardly. She had just finished a high-profile celebrity divorce case. Let her relax for now that the pressure was off. In the middle of the night, I woke up suddenly, my mind unsettled. The bed beside me was empty. Arianna wasn’t there. I felt a surge of panic and got up to look for her. On the balcony, she was making a phone call in the night breeze, wearing only a thin nightgown. I hurried over with a coat. “I won’t let him touch me again…” Her soft voice reached me, and I paused. “I’ve sent you the password and account. You can log in and check anytime.” “I’ve decided to stay chaste for love.” Through the glass, I stared blankly at Arianna. This usually elegant and proud woman was now overflowing with intense emotion. Watching her flushed, impassioned face, I slowly processed the logic of her words. For a moment, I felt like I didn’t know her at all.

Arianna was quite uninhibited in the bedroom. Elegant and proper during the day, demanding at night. In recent years, as her stress increased dramatically, she had to be meticulous and airtight in her words and actions as a famous female divorce lawyer. As a result, she increasingly lived in a closed-off mode. Only in the intimate moments of the night, when she was panting with desire in my ear, could I find traces of that shy girl who used to blush at the sight of me. We were classmates in a graduate seminar. She pursued me. The proud and vivacious girl only had affectionate, shy glances for me. I fell for her quickly. Later, I stayed at the university as a psychology professor. She started as a salaried lawyer and worked her way up to partner, becoming a nationally renowned female divorce lawyer earning millions a year. We had many similarities in personality: Emotionally stable, rational and pragmatic, objective and calm, particular about quality of life, willing to work hard for our ideals. I had a stable and respectable job that allowed me to take care of the child and family. She was successful in her career, soaring in her professional field. Married for eight years, we respected each other and achieved together, living in a million-dollar apartment with an easy-to-raise “genius” son. You could say we were an enviable family. But half a year ago, she suddenly changed. She had a habit of night running. She used to leave at 8 pm and return at 9 pm, then shower and spend half an hour of family time. Like clockwork. But six months ago, she suddenly started leaving at 7 pm and not returning until 10 pm. When she came back, she seemed exhausted and went straight to bed after showering. Family time was naturally cancelled. I asked her why her night runs had become so long. She said flatly, “The case is at a dead end. Staying out longer helps clear my head.” Mental labor can sometimes be more tiring than physical labor. I understood. Later, she seemed to suddenly lose interest in intimacy. Not only did she no longer initiate, but she repeatedly rejected me, citing being “too tired”. I thought it was because of her stress and was very worried. That’s why after she was hospitalized for the hiking injury, I strongly urged her to take a break from work and recuperate for a while, and had the doctors do a full checkup. But now it seems the situation was not as I had imagined… I lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark with wide eyes. Her words earlier made her seem like a stranger, and the expression on her face felt even more unreal. So much so that after suffering two major blows today, intense curiosity overrode what should have been feelings of heartbreak and anger. I was really curious. What kind of man was on the other end of that call, to make Arianna, who had become utterly rational in recent years, behave like that? I’ve always been direct in my actions. The next night, I slipped sleeping pills into her milk.

As she slept heavily, I used her finger to unlock her phone. I found yesterday’s late night call number and looked at it for a while until something clicked. I had seen this number before. Three months ago, after Arianna was hospitalized for her hiking injury, I asked the police for the contact information of the first person who found her and called for help, wanting to express my gratitude. This was the number the police gave me. I have an excellent memory, especially for numbers. I couldn’t be wrong. I called the number in front of the police officer, and a man answered. His voice was steady, his manner gentle. He said there was no need to meet, and thanks were unnecessary. He said this was what any normal person would do. After hanging up, the police officer smiled and told me that while others might ask for a reward, he definitely wouldn’t. I asked why. The officer said he recognized the man during questioning – he had been in the news as the “Most Devoted Husband”. “He’s had a hard life too. His wife became completely paralyzed from a sudden illness at their wedding, leaving behind a 7-year-old son from her previous marriage. He didn’t abandon her, taking care of her day and night for thirteen years, while also raising that child alone. His wife passed away last year, and he finally got through it. Now he runs a small food stall selling lamb soup at the entrance of the suburban park.” “How could someone with that kind of moral character accept your reward money!” I nodded in admiration at the time, “My wife was lucky to have met him.” Now, in the dead of night, I held the phone for a long while, then opened the photo gallery. I don’t know if Arianna was confident in herself or trusting of me, but she had hardly hidden anything. What greeted my eyes was a screen full of photos of a man. The same man. A small stall lit by warm lamps under the starry night sky. The man had handsome features and a warm smile. He was either cutting ingredients, ladling soup, or chatting with customers. Every scene exuded warmth and an air of peaceful contentment. In the hundreds of photos, the man’s clothing changed from short sleeves to thick cotton jackets. The time span was half a year. The third day, I went to the suburban park and sat down at the small stall with a sign that read “Zack’s Lamb Soup”. I watched Zack from a short distance away. He was crouched in front of a flower bed, speaking softly to a stray kitten. Two women stood in front of his stall, joking: “Zack only has eyes for these cats and dogs. He’s not even trying to make money anymore.” Zack hurriedly stood up, explaining apologetically in a gentle voice: “I’m sorry, I just felt bad for them and got too absorbed. I didn’t see you there.” One of the women waved her hand, “You’re doing a good deed. These strays treat this place like home. They know you’re soft-hearted and all come to you for food. It’s a heartwarming scene – we enjoy watching it too.” After the two women left, I walked over. “One bowl of lamb soup, please.” Zack responded with an “Ah” and smiled as he ladled the soup for me. Across the rising steam, I quietly observed him. About 35 or 36, tall and well-built, with handsome features. Dressed simply but neatly, with gentle eyes and a friendly smile. His whole being exuded the warm and steady charm of a mature man. “It’s your first time here, friend. I’ll add some extra lamb lung for you to try.” I sat at the small table, slowly savoring the flavor. My mind kept wrestling with one question. Would someone like Zack, with his background and character… Would he do something like interfere in someone else’s marriage? Would he?

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He Left Me To Die, Then Begged For My Love I nourished a beast-hybrid bodyguard with my very lifeblood. For six years, I cherished him, poured out my entire heart, only to receive a single cold declaration in return: “Don’t ever think you can tame me.” During the Great Beast Uprising, he shielded another girl, letting me be trampled underfoot. He was *my* bodyguard, for crying out loud. Yet he always, *always* abandoned me. He even coiled his scorpion tail tightly around my throat, forcing me to use my precious blood to revive that girl. He didn’t know that every drop of blood I shed meant a piece of my life force withered away. He didn’t know this was my final breath, my last remaining lifespan. “Aurora, I swear I’ll make it up to you, I’ll be everything you want. Please, save her.” The arrogant beast-hybrid, who had always scorned submission, finally knelt before me, acknowledging me as his master. My fingers were fading, turning translucent against the light. “But… there was no ‘us’ anymore. No future.”

Ryder’s scorpion tail thrashed wildly, his eyes glazed over, consumed by pure bestial rage. He was in a frenzy. “Ivy…” Even then, with me bleeding out, he still whispered *her* name. I let him bite into my arm. Only when my blood flowed down his throat did he slowly calm. “Thank you…” I didn’t whine or complain about the pain like I usually would. Instead, I pushed him away, wiping the remaining blood onto a withered plant. The dry, shriveled leaves instantly burst back to life. Another chunk of my life force had drained away. “I’m moving near the lab. You’re my bodyguard; you have to come with me.” Ryder flinched. “But…” “I feed you my blood every month, Ryder. It’s not so you can run off to deal with Ivy’s wild episodes.” His chest was covered in love bites and hickeys. I forced my gaze away, my eyes burning with unshed tears. The accusation was on the tip of my tongue. But it twisted, becoming a threat instead. “Don’t forget your duty. If anything happens to me, the Federation won’t let any of you off the hook.” The world had ended. The ecosystem was shattered, and food plants were on the brink of extinction. I was the Federation’s only botanist. “Understood.” Ryder lowered his gaze. “I’ll go out first, then.” As he reached the door, I called out to him. “Ryder, what do you think we are to each other?” He stopped. His broad shoulders shrugged. His tanned muscles tensed, and on his waist, the indelible mark of a ‘discarded genetic experiment’ was still visible. If I hadn’t risked half my life to save him back then, he’d be long dead. “Employer and bodyguard. You give me blood; I protect you.” It was the answer I expected. No matter how much I gave, his heart wouldn’t hold even an ounce of space for me. Why force it? He wasn’t Julian. He wouldn’t cherish me, not truly. No matter how much he looked like him, he wasn’t him. Tears blurred my vision. I tried to wipe them away, but my fingertips were already fading, turning translucent. “I might not be able to pay your salary anymore.” **I’m fast disappearing.** Ryder didn’t take it seriously. “Then I’ll just find another employer.” He took long strides and left, leaving the door ajar and me, quietly sobbing. I always joked with him. But this time, it was real.

I’d just woken up, and Ryder was already standing by the front door, ready to go. “Your clothes are all here. The files are organized too.” His brow was slightly furrowed, and his strong, bony fingers pushed back a stray lock of hair as he meticulously checked the luggage. “The calming incense got a bit damp, so I didn’t bring it. I’ll buy you a new one later.” “I packed your plushie in a separate bag…” “Throw it away.” I said flatly. That plushie, Ryder had given it to me. It was meant for Ivy. She refused it, and then he just passed it on to me. The pathetic thing was, I’d treasured it. Ryder paused, looking stunned. “Why? Didn’t you like it? Just keep it…” This was the first time he hadn’t obeyed my order. “Ryder!” The girl skipped into the small yard, light on her feet, and threw herself into Ryder’s arms. “Thank you so much for yesterday! I came to thank you in person.” Ryder stiffened, his hands hovering awkwardly, unsure where to place them. His ears, unseen by her, burned bright red. His scorpion tail was held high, as if afraid to accidentally hurt her. I glanced at the back of my hand. Last night, his venomous stinger had grazed me, leaving my hand red and swollen, almost breaking the skin. Perhaps I was just used to it, but I barely felt any pain. “Oh! Is this that plushie I didn’t want?” Ivy picked up the beautifully wrapped plushie, examining it. “How did it get here? Did you give it to Aurora?” Ryder glanced at me. He hesitated. “Uh… no.” I turned my face away, my hand hanging by my side unconsciously clenching. He said, “I just forgot to throw it out when I was home. It’s trash, really.” His scorpion tail flicked. The plushie was sent flying into the overflowing trash bin. Its soft, plush face, still plastered with a cheerful smile, rolled into the depths, becoming soaked and soiled. “I knew it! Why would you give my unwanted junk to Aurora?” Ryder’s eyes flickered to my pale face, a tremor running through his pupils before he quickly looked away. I couldn’t tell if it was guilt, or a flicker of pain. He was afraid Ivy would misunderstand. So he chose to hurt me. And, of course, what comparison was there between us? Even gifts, I only got what she didn’t want. I unclenched my hand. My palms were marred with crescent-shaped indentations from my fingernails. “Throw away all my luggage. I’ll buy new things.” “I don’t want any of it anymore.” I looked at Ryder. “And that includes you, Ryder. I don’t want you anymore.”

I applied to the Federation for a new bodyguard. “Are you sure?” The Commander chuckled. “Ryder is the one you risked half your life to save, Miss Aurora. It took half your blood, you know.” “And where you knelt and begged before the Elders, green grass has sprouted. I bet that beast-hybrid doesn’t know that, does he?” “That failed genetic experiment, he wasn’t worth risking your life for.” “Oh, I forgot. He looks just like your childhood sweetheart, Julian. No wonder…” I was determined. I would replace Ryder and never be entangled with him again. The next day. My new bodyguard from the Federation arrived. It was a tiger beast-hybrid, even taller and more imposing than Ryder. His long, snow-white tail curled around my luggage. “Greetings, Miss Aurora.” I cleared out the room I’d prepared for Ryder and let the tiger beast-hybrid move in. I was explaining his duties when the doorbell rang. I didn’t open it. Ryder waited for a while, assuming no one was home, and tried the passkey himself. “Password incorrect.” He thought he’d misheard. He tried again. “Password incorrect.” He began to pound on the door. I was tired of it. I told the tiger beast-hybrid to get rid of him. A thunderous crash shook the entire house. I rushed out to find Ryder and the tiger beast-hybrid locked in a furious brawl, tearing down the very front door in their struggle. “Stop it!” Ryder looked up, his jealousy so thick it felt like it could drip from his eyes. His scorpion tail plunged forcefully into the tiger beast-hybrid’s side. I heard a strangled gasp, and the tiger beast-hybrid crumpled, his skin visibly turning purplish-blue. “Are you insane?!” I slapped Ryder across the face. His head snapped to the side, a few drops of blood flying. Only then did I notice the bloody gouge on the back of his head where the tiger beast-hybrid had clawed him. “Who is he?” Ryder glared, his eyes fixed on the other man. “My new bodyguard.” I helped the tiger beast-hybrid up, swiftly cut my arm, and pressed it to his lips, letting him drink. Ryder’s eyes went crimson. “I’m your bodyguard.” His defiance deflated. He stood there, utterly lost, especially when I offered no response. Even his scorpion tail drooped. “I’m your bodyguard…” “You can’t protect me,” I said coldly. “Get out.” He stood rooted to the spot. Perhaps realizing how terrible he’d been before, his lips trembled, unable to form a single word of protest. “I can…” “I promise I’ll protect you properly from now on, I’ll protect you with my life…” The glass reflected Ryder’s face, his jaw tight, his gaze locked onto me. He didn’t even blink, despite the blood streaming into his eyes. “Give me another chance.” The tiger beast-hybrid stirred. He pushed past me and bolted for the door, terrified of another sting. “Aurora, no one’s better suited for this job than me,” Ryder took a step forward. “I *can* protect you.” I was silent for a long moment. I looked at him. “You said you’d protect me with your life.” Ryder nodded frantically, like a bobblehead. “I promise.” I could feel my life force slipping away. I was inexplicably exhausted, sleeping longer and longer hours. Even the plants in the lab weren’t responding to my touch as they used to. “I’m tired. I’m going home.”

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I had been in a contract marriage with Noah, the incubus CEO, for three years without any real relationship. The day I proposed divorce, he calmly agreed, but suddenly pop-up comments appeared above his head: “You psycho, the chains and toys in the basement are already customized to her size. Stop pretending to be a gentleman.” “Girl, the second you sign those papers, you’ll wake up in an intimate situation with that creepy guy you hate.” “Oh boy, the captivity play is finally coming! With all that pent-up hatred, it’s gonna be intense! Isn’t an incubus supposed to have barbs? Little miss evil deserves to have her eyes roll back…” “Sigh, you fool. If you had just been a bit nicer to him these past few years, this love-crazed psycho would’ve worshipped the ground you walked on. Now his love has twisted into hatred…” My hand trembled as I was about to sign. I looked up at the expressionless man before me: “Um, maybe we shouldn’t get divorced after all.” 0 “What?” Noah’s thin eyelids flickered slightly, his tone indifferent. His nonchalant attitude made me wonder if I had imagined those pop-up comments. I took a deep breath, put down the half-signed pen, and scrambled for an explanation: “I suddenly don’t want a divorce anymore. We’ve been together for three years, we’re used to each other’s presence. To be honest, I think I’d miss you…” As I trailed off, the man’s expression grew increasingly confused. I lost my confidence and my voice got softer and softer. My marriage to Noah had been an accident. Five years ago, ever since a poor intern named Tina Su joined the company, my smooth-sailing life had fallen apart. My childhood sweetheart, who had promised to take care of me for life, fell for her instead. He publicly broke off our engagement, humiliating me. Even my usually doting parents inexplicably took Tina’s side. Consumed by jealousy, I impulsively married Noah Song, the rumored cold and vicious incubus CEO that everyone avoided, just to prove I wasn’t unwanted. For three years after the wedding, I kept trying to get back at Tina but failed miserably each time. Either Noah would find out and stop me in advance, or my schemes would backfire spectacularly. Recently, my attempts to frame Tina were exposed. I became a social pariah, with many friends cutting ties. I knew Noah had always despised my vicious behavior and favored Tina. I figured I might as well dump him first before he could abandon me like the others. It would at least make me look more in control. When I texted about wanting a divorce, Noah was in the middle of an important meeting. But he called back almost immediately. “Reason?” His voice came through the phone. I laughed maliciously: “Last time I accidentally saw your tail when the bathroom door wasn’t closed properly. It was all slimy and gross.” So now when I said I “couldn’t bear to leave him”, it was so unconvincing that even I didn’t believe it… “You’re sure you don’t want a divorce?” Instead of the expected cold laughter, the man’s deep voice snapped me back to reality. “I don’t want to divorce for now.” I studied Noah’s expression, but saw no trace of joy on his face. “As you wish.” After a few seconds, he took the half-signed divorce agreement on the table and put it through the shredder. The pop-up comments appeared again: “What’s going on with the evil female lead? Did she suddenly grow a brain?” “Is Lily finally wising up and planning to use Noah? It might be too late though, his hatred has already taken root.” “Who says it’s too late? The timing is perfect! Didn’t you see how pleased he looked when he shredded those divorce papers? That paper shredder cracked me up, the guy is so afraid she’ll change her mind!” “Keep it up girl, don’t stop! Go all in! Noah’s a psycho incubus with no morals, and you’re the villainess. You two are made for each other. If you win him over, taking down Tina will be a piece of cake!” 0

It took me an afternoon to process everything. I finally understood that the world I lived in was actually a romance novel. Tina was the female lead, while I was the evil supporting character destined to be imprisoned to death by the male lead. No wonder everyone who got close to Tina was drawn to her, as if the whole world revolved around her. There was too much information to take in today. After showering that night, I opened my phone hoping to relax my mind a bit, only to see an onslaught of hateful comments. All my social media accounts had been flooded. Netizens were defending Tina and criticizing me. My ex-fiancé Ethan sent me a Snapchat message: “Lily, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You’re just using these dirty tricks to try and force me to leave Tina and be with you.” “Hah, all this trouble just to see me? Fine, you win. Meet me at the usual place Friday afternoon!” I didn’t reply. I blocked him and turned off my phone screen. The pop-up comments scrolled by: “I’m not trying to whitewash her, but the villainess’s actions aren’t completely unreasonable. A proud princess of a wealthy family, overnight her parents, lover, and friends all became obsessed with another girl and ignored her. I’d go crazy too if I were her.” “The villainess is beautiful and rich, why does she keep losing to the female lead who can’t even tell Word from Google Docs? This stupid novel has no logic…” “If I were the author, I’d slap some sense into the female lead, punch the male lead twice, lock up the villainess with the psycho second male lead, and not let them out of the basement until they have 8 kids. How’s that?” “…” Not good at all. After calming down, I prepared for bed. Just as I took off my underwear, the bedroom door suddenly opened. Noah’s gaze traveled up and down my body. I quickly grabbed my robe and covered myself. “Sorry, you didn’t lock the door.” Noah stared at me intently, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Black scales flickered across his skin. Incubi involuntarily reveal their true form when aroused… The word “Get out” was on the tip of my tongue. But I saw the pop-up comment: “I can already guess the villainess is going to say ‘get out’ with a look of disgust on her face. What a waste of a good woman. This is how the second male lead’s love gets eroded bit by bit.” “Lily, be gentler with your husband! If you slap him now, your mouth is going to suffer greatly in that basement later. Split lips are very painful, you know.” Warned by the pop-up comments, I quickly changed my tone and gave Noah a slight smile: “It’s okay, hon-” Noah was about to leave the room but stopped in his tracks. His eyes darkened as he waited for me to finish. Damn, it was those pop-up comments constantly saying “hubby” that threw me off… “Hurry up and say it! One ‘hubby’ and he’d give his life for you. The female lead would be nothing.” “Can we not make the second male lead sound so cheap? After three years of cold violence, he definitely hates the villainess more than he loves her. Besides, didn’t you guys forget? The second male lead imprisoned the villainess to death to protect the female lead.” The pop-up comments split into two arguing factions. I raised an eyebrow, wanting to test the validity of this information. I decided to flirt a bit: “Noah, do you think I have a nice body?” “It’s alright.” The man lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. “You stubborn idiot, you won’t get a wife by being so tight-lipped. No wonder the villainess still likes the male lead after marrying you for so long. You kind of deserve it.” “Is it just me or does the villainess suddenly not seem to hate the second male lead anymore? Are we evil couple shippers finally getting some good content??” Not giving up, I took a step forward and teased: “How would you know if you haven’t looked properly?” “I don’t need to look.” Noah replied coldly, but his fingertips involuntarily curled, the joints turning slightly pink as he nearly tore holes in his pants. I never noticed before how cute this man looked when he was shy. I noticed Noah’s collar was messed up and reached out to fix it for him. “Don’t touch me.” A cold warning sounded above my head. Harsh. I froze, remembering the arguing pop-up comments from earlier. It made sense. I had never shown Noah any kindness these past three years. Meanwhile Tina was like a little sun, always warmly encouraging him to overcome his trauma. It was normal for Noah to hate me. I laughed self-deprecatingly and withdrew my outstretched arm: “Remember to close the door on your way out. I’m going to sleep.” The man closed the door, but instead of leaving, he walked towards me step by step. His breathing grew increasingly hot and heavy, his eyes reddening from the effort of holding back. I finally realized something was wrong: “Noah, what’s wrong? Do you have a fever?” Pop-up comment: “More accurately, he’s in heat… Noah, don’t fall too hard! The villainess was just casually flirting, and you’ve already triggered your mating season early.” “Mating season?” I muttered to myself. How did I never know Noah had a mating season in our three years of marriage? Pop-up comment: “The villainess is so clueless, she actually thought the second male lead was asexual. Hello, he’s an incubus! Plus you have an amazing body and the best looks in the whole book. He just didn’t want to force himself on you.” “During previous mating seasons, Noah would steal one of your worn clothes and hide away, not letting you see him.” “Speaking of those clothes, they’re in quite a pitiful state now, nearly worn through by the well-endowed second male lead…” I stared blankly at the scrolling comments, feeling like I was looking at a screen full of censored text. So earlier when he didn’t let me touch him, was it because of his mating season? Noah buried his face in the crook of my neck, nuzzling back and forth restlessly. His pale skin flushed red with desire, weakening his usual aloof aura. Before, I had been so focused on getting back at Tina and trying to win back Ethan that I never really looked at Noah properly. I didn’t realize this man could be so breathtakingly handsome. His features were even more exquisite than those of TV stars. 0

“There’s… medicine and syringes in the study drawer… go get them…” Noah’s voice was broken and intermittent as he tried desperately to hide the patterns and scales emerging on his body. Looking at the man pushed to his limit, his lips bitten bloody, his clothes soaked with sweat and clinging to his body, outlining tantalizing abdominal muscles… I suddenly changed my mind. Three years of sleeping alone in an empty bed, while I may not have the intense urges of an incubus, I was still a normal person with needs. Although the first clause of our marriage contract, which I wrote myself, stated: No romance, only money. Taking advantage strictly forbidden. But I was the morally bankrupt villainess, wasn’t I? What use did I have for keeping promises… Having made up my mind, I gently patted the man’s face and whispered: “Noah, remember to be gentle.” “Don’t touch me, I’m dirty…” Noah’s whole body trembled at my touch, but he still clung to his last shred of self-control. “But I want to…” I took off my robe, used my fingertips to wipe the blood from his lips, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. Pop-up comments: “What’s going on, the villainess actually made the first move!” “That face pat, ahhhh, I’m so invested! Sister, do you need another dog?” “Love mixed with hate, perfection. Love born from hatred, even better!” “My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, are our villainous couple finally going to do the deed?!” The moment our lips touched, Noah immediately took control. His large warm hands gripped the back of my head. The air was forcibly stolen from my lungs, making my legs go weak. A thick black “rope” had wrapped around my waist at some point. It was too tight, causing me some pain. I let out a muffled groan and tried to push it aside. “I’m sorry, don’t… don’t look…” Noah snapped out of his daze, his pupils contracting sharply as he desperately tried to hide the tail that had emerged due to his arousal. Before I could react, the man had already fled the room in a panic. Soon, I heard the sound of drawers being rummaged through in the study next door. The air filled with an indescribable medicinal smell. Leaning against the wardrobe, I gasped for fresh air while reading the scrolling pop-up comments: “Noah, you coward, get back here! I’ve already taken my pants off, why are you running?” “Enough, am I the only one who feels bad for the second male lead? He’s been bullied and humiliated since childhood for being an incubus. He was overjoyed to marry his dream girl, only for her to find him disgusting too. Of course he’d be insecure.” “Villainess, my dear child, did you really have to act disgusted by his true form at a time like this? He’s really about to break.” It’s not like that, I’ve been wronged! I really just wanted him to loosen his grip a bit… 0

The next morning, Noah was nowhere to be found when I woke up. As I ate my breakfast sandwich, I took a deep breath and opened my phone after a 3-second mental preparation. To my surprise, all the hateful comments seemed to have evaporated overnight. The media outlets that had criticized me most harshly even had their official accounts suspended. One of the few media friends I was still in contact with sent me a photo of my parents visiting their company, with the caption: “It’s all taken care of.” I smiled. I knew my parents wouldn’t really abandon me. After all, they had always stepped in to smooth over all my big and small troubles before. Pop-up comment: “I can’t believe it, every time the second male lead quietly helps the villainess, he has to give all the credit to those good-for-nothing in-laws…” “Noah, the champion of the CEO world at washing underwear with a cold face. When his wife is in a good mood, he happily serves her. When his wife is in a bad mood, he coldly serves her.” “What a shame, the villainess doesn’t understand anything. She was so blatantly disgusted last night. Even though she avoided divorce for now, she probably can’t escape her fate of being forcibly imprisoned in the end.” Shocked, I shifted my gaze from the pop-up comments to my phone screen. I stared at the photo of my parents for a full ten minutes before finally noticing signs of Photoshop… I opened Snapchat and scrolled to the very bottom to find Noah: “Are you free today? I have something to discuss with you.” He replied instantly: “Wrong person.” “…” “No, it’s not~ Hubby~” This time he replied much slower: “I’m very sorry about last night, for letting you see those disgusting things. I’m very busy today. If you want a divorce, contact a lawyer first.” “No no no,” I quickly refuted, “It’s not about divorce.” Noah: “Alright, see you this afternoon.” Pop-up comments: “LOL, ‘divorce’ – no time. ‘Not divorce’ – see you this afternoon.” “That was close, the villainess narrowly avoided the dark room play again. Why do I feel like she’s becoming self-aware and trying to save herself?” “Why do I have a feeling something bad is about to happen at this plot point, but I can’t quite remember what…”

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Before my business trip, I left my daughter an unlimited black card. My only rule was for her to spend at least five million a month, to cultivate good spending habits. At first, I thought that if my daughter spent well, it would motivate me to earn more. But after a while, something felt off. She bought hundreds of luxury items in three days, ten villas in five, and yesterday, she even bought 100 adult novelty toys. I secretly flew back to investigate. But to my horror, as soon as I landed, I was informed that my daughter had been hit by a car while scavenging for anything to sell and was in the hospital, unable to even pay for her medical bills. The nurse’s voice on the phone was laced with blame: “Ms. Cross, I’ve never seen parents as neglectful as you. If you don’t come soon, you might not see your child again!” My heart pounded as I rushed to the hospital, where I found her frail and emaciated body. As my heart ached, my phone suddenly pinged with a notification: the black card had just been used for a high-end spa. I immediately stopped my assistant from canceling the black card, a faint smile playing on my lips. She likes swiping cards, does she? Then let her swipe to her heart’s content!

I got off the plane, holding a meticulously chosen birthday gift, my mind filled with fantasies of my daughter’s adorable face when she saw the surprise. But as soon as I exited the airport, I checked my phone to find over a dozen missed calls. My phone rang again. I picked it up without thinking. “This is Crestwood Hospital. Are you Skylar Cross’s mother?” “She was hit by a car on the street yesterday while scavenging for anything to sell and was rushed to our hospital.” “She’s been revived, but you need to pay the medical fees.” I froze, completely stunned, as if struck by lightning. “How is that possible?” I blurted out, instinctively. The nurse’s voice on the other end suddenly grew louder: “You’re not trying to bail on the bill, are you? Get to the hospital and pay up, or we’ll have to throw your daughter out to fend for herself!” Then, she slammed the phone down. Confusion and alarm surged through me. I immediately told my driver to head to the hospital. How could Skylar be scavenging for anything to sell? Even if she ran out of money, with a nanny at home, she wouldn’t go hungry. And with an unlimited black card, how could she not afford medical bills? As soon as the car stopped, I sprinted to her room, where I saw my emaciated daughter lying on the bed. Her arm and right leg were broken, encased in thick plaster casts, making her already delicate limbs look even thinner. When she saw me, her once dull eyes instantly welled up with tears. I went over and pulled her into my embrace, patting her back to comfort her. “It’s okay, sweetheart, don’t be scared. Mommy’s back.” Her face was covered in bruises and swelling, and her exposed arms were full of scars. In just one year, my vibrant little princess had turned into this. My daughter’s tears poured out of her. She clung to my shoulder, sobbing, “Mommy, the nurse said today’s the deadline. If we don’t pay the medical fees, they’re going to throw me out.” Her tears burned my chest, making my heart clench. I stroked her hair and asked softly, “Didn’t Mommy leave you a black card? How could you be out of money?” Her small body trembled. Only with my encouraging gaze did she finally speak: “Brandon snatched my black card and gave it to Cassidy. He said I didn’t deserve to be a Thorne family heiress, or to be with him.” Brandon Miller was the son of Doris Green, our nanny. Cassidy White was the child who was swapped at birth, and they had grown quite close. Many people said Brandon was meant to be the Thorne family’s future son-in-law. After Skylar was found, I was worried she’d be unhappy, so I immediately sent Cassidy out of the mansion, giving her enough money to live comfortably for a lifetime. I thought I had been more than fair and generous with her. I never imagined these ungrateful vipers would dare to bully my daughter. I’ll make them regret it. Seeing my daughter’s timid and haggard appearance, my heart twisted in agony. “Mommy won’t let them get away with this. No one will ever dare to bully you again.”

Just as I finished speaking, a grim-faced nurse stormed in and threw a bill onto the bed. Her eyes practically rolled into her head: “Pay the medical fees quickly, don’t think you can get away with it!” I looked at the stale, dim, multi-bed ward, and the filthy bed my daughter was lying on. I couldn’t take it anymore. With one phone call, the Dean, along with dozens of medical staff, rushed in. The nurse’s face paled. “Your attitude towards patients makes you unfit to work here. You’re fired.” After the Dean’s declaration, he immediately bowed deeply and respectfully to me, apologizing profusely. “Ms. Cross, it was our oversight. We’re so sorry your daughter was subjected to such treatment.” Only then did the nurse realize who she had angered. She tried to plead, but security guards dragged her out. I declined the Dean’s offer to transfer rooms and made another call. Less than ten minutes later, a professional medical team arrived and escorted Skylar to a private car. My sharp, efficient assistant followed behind me, her heels clicking against the floor. She reported respectfully: “During your absence, Brandon Miller started his own company, claiming to be your future son-in-law to gain advantages.” “He said you would eventually let him inherit the company and took many projects from our firm.” “He also claimed he only recognized Cassidy White as his fiancée. Cassidy has taken possession of all the assets you prepared for your daughter, and… she even kicked your daughter out of the Thorne family mansion.” The more she spoke, the colder my expression became. I had seen some cleverness in Brandon. I’d paid for him to attend the most exclusive private academies since he was little. He got a little kindness and thought he was hot stuff. Cassidy had lived a heiress’s life for over a decade in my daughter’s place. Not only did she feel no guilt, she tried to usurp her rightful place. I clenched my fists. They seemed to have forgotten what I was capable of. No one messes with Victoria Cross’s daughter! Just then, my phone buzzed with another black card spending alert. I opened it to see an entry fee for an auction. “Ms. Cross, do you need me to cancel this black card immediately?” my assistant inquired. I curved my lips into a smile: “Not so fast. Just cancel it before seven tonight.” “Also, Skylar and I will be attending tonight’s underground auction.” “Understood, Ms. Cross. I’ll make the arrangements right away,” my assistant replied respectfully. They like money, do they? I’ll give them a grand gift soon enough. “Also, investigate how Skylar got those injuries.” Thinking of the numerous scars on my sweet daughter, I felt both furious and heartbroken. The chilling aura around me startled Skylar. She cautiously tugged at my sleeve. “Mommy, are you mad at me?” “I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t say bad things about my sister anymore. You can give her anything.” “Please don’t abandon Skylar.” Seeing her timidly trying to please me, my nose stung. What had they been feeding her?! How could I ever abandon her?! “Mommy isn’t mad at her sweetheart. Mommy’s mad at herself for not protecting her precious daughter better.” “No one can snatch what belongs to Skylar, and how could Mommy ever abandon you?” Hearing my words, her eyes suddenly lit up, sparkling brighter than stars. Soon, though, she lowered her head again, murmuring, “But Brandon said Mommy would definitely prefer the more excellent Cassidy, and if I wasn’t obedient, I’d be sent away.” “He’s the son-in-law chosen by Mom and Dad. Whoever he chooses is the Thorne family heiress.” I chuckled coldly. Where did Brandon get such confidence? He was Skylar’s senior in school, seemingly excellent in both character and academics. Young girls usually liked that type. At the time, I was worried Skylar wouldn’t know anyone when she first came back, so I allowed Brandon to continue living in the Thorne mansion to look after her. I hadn’t expected to let a wolf into the house. I lifted Skylar’s chin, looking at her tear-filled eyes. I said each word carefully: “Skylar Cross, you are the only child of the Cross and Thorne families. You will inherit everything we have.” “There’s no such thing as that ‘sister’ nonsense, and you don’t need some husband to help you. You will be the future CEO.” “Did you get that?” The little girl’s brow gradually relaxed, and she nodded vigorously. That’s more like it.

At seven in the evening, I took Skylar into the opulent and dazzling auction house, located nine floors beneath the city center. Here, anything could be bought. “Distinguished guest, please proceed to the third-floor private rooms.” A hostess in a sleek, elegant gown saw me present my badge and immediately greeted us respectfully. This badge wasn’t something you could obtain with just money; it required both wealth and power. Fewer than five guests were allowed on the third floor. The people on the first floor were multi-millionaires, yet they were lucky to even get a regular seat. “Eat up.” The private room was filled with expensive, exquisite pastries and thousands of dollars worth of drinks. I handed a plate of delicate butterfly-shaped pastries to Skylar. Through the one-way glass, I saw Cassidy White and Brandon Miller among the crowd on the first floor. Cassidy was surrounded by her entire class like a princess. Seeing her fair, supple skin and the latest designer couture, then looking at my frail daughter, My heart felt like it was being constantly twisted by a knife. The auction quickly began. Cassidy announced it was her birthday and she wanted to buy something extravagant for everyone. Every time she made a bid, I would relentlessly raise the price. “Who’s that on the third floor, always going against me? Aren’t they afraid of offending the Thorne family?” Cassidy sounded annoyed, seeing an accessory that was originally one million suddenly inflated to five million. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Money is just a number. Once it’s over, I’ll find out who they are and make them pay,” Brandon said gently, pulling out a black card to soothe her. Skylar looked at me nervously, seeing me only bid up prices but never buy anything. Thinking she might want something, I, as if by magic, pulled out a black velvet box. “Those things outside are all common. This is the birthday gift Mommy prepared for you, sweetheart.” “See if you like it?” She took it, stunned. Inside was a rare emerald necklace, once worn by a British princess. It was one-of-a-kind and utterly priceless; all the items in today’s auction combined couldn’t buy it. “It’s too precious, I don’t deserve it…” The girl didn’t even dare to touch it. I took it directly from the box, my voice brooking no argument. “Only you deserve it, my little princess.” I personally fastened it around her neck, speaking seriously. Like she had received a priceless treasure, she hugged me for the first time. “Thank you, Mommy.” *Thank you, Mommy, for not despising me, utterly worthless as I am.* A wave of warmth spread through my chest. I resolved to give her the best of everything. Anyone who had bullied her would face severe consequences. After a brief mother-daughter chat, I took a work call. When I returned, I saw Skylar surrounded on the first floor. “Skylar Cross, Cassidy didn’t even invite you. Why are you so thick-skinned, tagging along?” “Today, Miss Thorne is treating the whole class to an experience, and she’s bought something extravagant for each of us, but that doesn’t include a little street rat like you!” “What cheap garbage is that around her neck? So green, it looks totally fake.” The short-haired girl spoke, and directly yanked the necklace off Skylar’s neck, leaving a bruised, bleeding mark. “I bet she’s still dreaming of being a rich heiress. She even has the nerve to say she’s a Thorne family member, hahaha!” A jock said this, and everyone burst into laughter, throwing insults at her, a barrage of “bitch” and “imposter.” In the chaos, someone snatched her crutch, and several hands pushed her to the ground. Seeing this, I instantly understood how Skylar had gotten her injuries. “Stop!”

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I was pulled into an apocalypse game with my entire class. The group chat title was `[Zombie Siege]`. Everyone else picked weapon depots, military bases, or reinforced prisons as their safe houses. I chose the most indefensible spot: the Downtown Hospital. The school’s queen bee scoffed, saying my bleeding heart was acting up, wanting to save lives even in an apocalypse. She bet I wouldn’t survive the first night. When it came to weapons, everyone snatched up guns, knives, or explosives. I picked the only support item: a `Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide`. The group chat immediately kicked me out. Nobody wanted a deadweight doctor. But after the first zombie wave, everyone saw the group chat title reset: `[Plague Apocalypse]`. *** 01: `[Welcome, hosts, to the Apocalypse Game.]` `[Game Name: Zombie Siege.]` A cold, mechanical voice echoed in every classmate’s mind. The next second, our phones lit up simultaneously. A new 50-person group chat was forcefully created. `[Survive one week in the game, and you’ll receive a one hundred million dollar prize.]` As if predicting our doubt, the system dropped a massive red packet into the chat. “Holy sh*t! A million bucks!” “Seriously? Grab it!” The previously dead-silent chat instantly exploded. Everyone was frantically tapping their screens. “I’m rich! In a week, I’ll be a billionaire!” “Let the game start! I can’t wait!” A wave of greed spread through the group. Only Asher, the class vice-president, remained rational. “What if… we fail?” `[If all hosts are eliminated, the game restarts. If a winner emerges, the game closes. Hosts who quit midway must repay ten times the received reward.]` The chat blew up. A few students who were too slow to grab the red packet started cursing. “Scammers! This is a trap! I’m quitting the group!” One student who’d snagged the money gloated, typing: “Go ahead, quit. Let’s see if you really have to pay back ten million.” Half an hour passed. The group chat still had 50 people. Nobody dared to risk it. The system ignored the uproar and directly popped up the first option. `[Please select your safe house:]` `1. City Prison, with high walls and electric fences.` `2. Underground Military Base, with a sturdy entrance.` `3. Large Weapon Depot, ample ammunition.` `4. Downtown Hospital, no special defenses.` `5. Suburban Villa, comfortable environment.` Brittany, the school’s queen bee, was the first to speak up, her voice sharp and domineering. “Listen up, everyone! Pick the prison! That place is built for the apocalypse! Anyone who follows me, I’ll make sure they survive!” She usually ran the class with an iron fist, and now she naturally took on the role of leader. “Brittany’s right! Prison it is!” “Yeah, the prison’s the safest!” Over a dozen of her cronies immediately followed suit. Most other classmates hesitated for a moment, then also chose the prison or military base. Next to “Downtown Hospital” on the option list, the number remained stubbornly at 0. Until my avatar lit up. `[Chloe, has selected ‘Downtown Hospital’.]` The group went silent for a second, then erupted into massive jeers. Brittany immediately tagged me, her tone overly dramatic. “@Chloe, Class President, is your bleeding heart acting up again?” “It’s the apocalypse, and you still wanna play Florence Nightingale? You’re uniquely stupid!” “Hahahaha, does she think this is some kind of make-believe game?” “Maybe she wants to inspire the zombies with her kindness?” The mockery flooded in like a tide. No one understood my choice, and no one wanted to associate with this “idiot.” Five minutes later, the options closed. `[Safe house selection concluded. Now, choose your initial weapon.]` `M1911 Pistol (includes 20 rounds)` `Machete` `Fire Axe` `Military Crossbow (includes 10 bolts)` `Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide` “No question! Gotta be a gun!” “A knife’s most practical, bullets run out!” Brittany snatched a machete and posted a photo in the group chat. The blade gleamed wickedly. “Just you wait, this chick’s gonna carve up every single zombie!” I made my choice again. `[Chloe, has selected ‘Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide’.]` This time, the group completely lost it. “Pfft! A useless book? She’s really lost it!” “I take back what I said, she’s not stupid, she’s crazy!” “She’s such a liability, whoever teams up with her is screwed!” Even Asher, who had been silent, couldn’t resist DMing me. “Chloe, don’t be reckless, your life’s on the line!” I didn’t reply. Brittany started a poll in the group. “See? This woman is completely useless! Raise your hand if you agree to kick this deadweight ‘doctor’ out of the team!” `[Poll Initiator: Brittany.]` `[Poll Topic: Should Chloe be considered a team burden and rejected for any form of cooperation?]` `[Agree: 49 votes.]` `[Disagree: 0 votes.]` The system’s cold notification sealed my fate. I became the class’s lone wolf. Everyone had decided I was the first night’s casualty. *** 02: The game began. A few hoarse growls came from outside the hospital. Zombies. But they moved slowly, joints stiff, their roars weak. Like a bunch of patients who’d just snuck out of a nursing home. Over at the prison, Brittany’s wild laughter echoed in the group chat. “That’s it? *These* pathetic things are zombies?” She posted a photo. In the picture, her foot was on a zombie’s head, the machete completely clean, her face filled with disdain. “@Chloe, see that? That’s what real strength looks like.” “You’re probably cowering in some corner of the hospital right now, right? Beg me, call me Queen B, and when I get tired of killing, maybe I’ll consider saving you.” Her cronies immediately started showering her with praise. “Queen B is awesome! These zombies aren’t even a warm-up for her!” “This game is too easy! A hundred million in the bag!” Other teams also reported “victories.” “Weapon depot’s cleared too, barely used any guns.” “The military base is super safe, zombies can’t even get in.” The group chat was filled with a lively atmosphere, as if the hundred million dollar prize was already in their pockets. The topic quickly shifted to how the money would be divided after they won. Brittany domineeringly declared: “After we clear this, all resources go to me for allocation. Any objections?” A student at the weapon depot scoffed: “Why you? We have the most guns here, *we* should get the credit!” Another at the military base also spoke up: “Exactly, Brittany. You have numbers, but you can’t make all the calls, can you?” Brittany sneered. “Disagree? Fine, when the game ends, go brave the outside world yourselves. Don’t expect a single grain of rice from me!” Asher tried to smooth things over. “Guys, let’s not argue. We’re all classmates. Let’s talk it out.” Brittany immediately turned on him. “Asher, why are you playing the nice guy? Hypocrite! Are you still holding a torch for Chloe?” “Let me tell you, when we clear this, the meds in her hospital might be worth a fortune. They’ll all be mine!” The group chat drama spiraled. I ignored it. The hospital I was in was eerily silent. My first move was to lock all external doors and windows, barricading them tightly with hospital beds and cabinets. Then, I pushed a medical trolley towards the pharmacy. “Amoxicillin, Cefazolin, Penicillin…” I muttered to myself, sweeping box after box of antibiotic raw materials into the trolley. Distilled water, medical alcohol, sterile syringes, petri dishes, centrifuges, microscopes… I emptied out everything from the lab and the sterile storage room, item by item. I found an ICU intensive care unit with its own fresh air system. This would be my temporary lab. I moved all the supplies inside and locked the door again. Outside, the survivors were reveling. But I was calmly preparing the only “ammunition” for an invisible war. I opened the thick `Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide` and began a pharmacological analysis, cross-referencing my list of supplies. *** 03: Game Day Two. The temperature plummeted. A cold, fine rain began to fall. Someone in the group chat started complaining. “Damn, why’s it suddenly so cold? I think I’m getting a cold.” It was one of Brittany’s goons, his voice thick with congestion. Brittany immediately snapped: “Useless! You’re getting sick after killing a few zombies? Drink some hot water, don’t spread it to us!” The guy didn’t dare to speak again. Another weak voice piped up: “Brittany, I… I feel really bad too, my head’s throbbing.” Brittany’s voice grew even more impatient: “Want hot water? How many zombies did you kill today? If you didn’t contribute, just suck it up!” The voice vanished instantly. But soon, more and more people spoke up, the group chat filled with suppressed coughs. “I feel a little dizzy too, no energy.” “Cough, cough… I’m coughing too, my throat feels like it’s being cut with a knife.” “I have a fever, 102 degrees! Anyone have fever reducers? I’ll trade a can of spam for it!” As soon as the requests for medicine appeared, the group chat went silent for a brief moment, then was quickly swallowed by greed. “One can isn’t enough? At least three!” Everyone blamed it on “getting wet,” “staying up late,” or “a common cold.” “Must be from getting wet yesterday, so unlucky,” someone tried to comfort themselves. No one thought deeper. They continued to hunt the weak, frail zombies outside the prison, arguing endlessly over the resources dropped by them. “I saw this bottle of water first!” “Bullshit! I ripped it off that zombie myself!” Brittany roared, cutting off the argument: “Shut the f*** up, all of you! All supplies go to me! I’ll distribute them! Anyone who dares to hoard, don’t blame my knife for being merciless!” Asher vaguely sensed something was off. He warned everyone in the chat: “Guys, practice good hygiene. It’s best not to directly touch zombie fluids or blood.” A hesitant voice echoed him: “The class vice-president makes sense, better safe than sorry…” His words were cut off by Brittany before he could finish. “Makes sense my ass!” She jumped back in to mock Asher, “The vice-president’s just a coward, these zombies’ blood is cold, what kind of virus could they possibly have?” “I bet you’re just jealous we’re getting more kills and looking for an excuse to make us stop, right?” Brittany’s tone turned vicious: “Asher, if you dare to spread dissent and rattle everyone’s nerves again, watch it, or I’ll be the first one to toss you to the zombies!” Asher fell completely silent. I turned off my phone, blocking out the foolish arguments in the group chat. Inside the ICU ward, where I was, it was warm and dry. I was wearing a full set of protective gear I’d found in the operating room, goggles and double-layered gloves, sitting at the microscope. Under the lens was an air sample I’d collected from the hospital’s ventilation system. In a constant-temperature petri dish, a never-before-seen, strangely shaped superbug was dividing and reproducing at a visible rate. Their edges were oddly serrated, like tiny, deadly gears. It was them, alright. I put down the microscope and glanced at the gloomy sky outside the window. I knew their time was running out. I took a deep breath. The air was filled with a death they couldn’t see. I no longer hesitated. I lit the alcohol lamp, its blue flame dancing quietly. I began the initial separation and purification experiments for the antibiotics, following the guide’s procedures. Glassware clinked softly as I worked. The sound was like Death’s countdown. *** 04: Game Day Three. Panic completely erupted. “Help! I can’t breathe!” “Someone save me… I feel like my lungs are going to explode…” Over half the people in the group chat were sick. High fever, severe coughing, difficulty breathing, full-body aches. The symptoms were a hundred times worse than the most severe flu. Suddenly, a student in the prison let out a terrified scream. “My arm! The cut I got from a zombie yesterday, it healed!” Another person yelled too: “Me too! I got bit, and I’m absolutely fine now!” A girl typed shakily: “What in the world is going on?” Something even more terrifying happened. Someone who hadn’t spoken much suddenly piped up: “Wait… haven’t you guys noticed? The sickest ones… are the ones who killed the most zombies before!” “Brittany! And her cronies! They’re all about to die!” This sentence was like a lightning bolt, waking everyone up. The strongest people, those who killed the most zombies and had the most contact with corpses, were the ones who got the sickest. Brittany, the first to fall ill, was now coughing so hard she couldn’t type a full sentence. Everyone finally realized that the threat wasn’t the zombies at all! “How can this be? What kind of sickness is this?” “Help! Someone save me! I feel like I’m going to die!” “Medicine! The hospital! Chloe must have medicine!” The group chat was filled with wails and pleas for help, despair spreading like a plague. Some began to regret, screaming curses hysterically. “If only… if only I had picked the hospital… Why did I trust that idiot Brittany?!” “@Brittany! You b*tch! This is all your fault! I’ll never forgive you, even in death!” “What’s the point of saying that now! Think of a solution, quick!” Brittany, already on her last breath, used her remaining strength to type in the group chat, every word dripping with venom. “@Asher! Can’t you… cough cough… teleport?!” “Get to the hospital! Grab that b*tch Chloe… drag her over here! Force her to give us the medicine… save us!” “If you don’t go… you’re next to die!” Asher’s voice was filled with despair. “It’s useless… The hospital is surrounded by zombies, thick as a wall… I can’t get in…” “And we don’t even know what this sickness is, or what medicine to use… We’re doomed!” Just as everyone plunged into despair, and the group chat was completely drowned out by cries and curses… A cold system notification appeared at the top of everyone’s phone screen. Unequivocal, like a divine decree. `[Group chat title has been reset from ‘Zombie Siege’ to ‘Plague Apocalypse’.]` The entire group chat fell into a deathly silence. Everyone seemed to have been choked, the uproar instantly ceasing. Immediately after, a second announcement popped up. `[WARNING: Scratches or bites from zombies will not lead to infection.]` `[The true threat is the highly antibiotic-resistant Y-3 Superbug, which has spread through the air in all areas.]` The group chat remained utterly silent. Everyone could hear their own hearts pounding and teeth chattering. A few seconds later, the final announcement, like a crushing blow, completely shattered their last shred of hope. `[Friendly Reminder: The currently known, and only potentially effective, treatment plan is recorded in the ‘Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide’.]` *** 05: `[Friendly Reminder: The currently known, and only potentially effective, treatment plan is recorded in the ‘Basic Antibiotic Preparation Guide’.]` After the deathly silence, came a collapsing roar of utter breakdown.

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In my last life, a severe illness I had prevented my husband from traveling to the border for a business trip. He immediately canceled his flight, pulled me into his arms, and gently comforted me. On the phone, he only told my sister: “The project is crucial. You go in my place.” But no one expected that the so-called partner was a black-hearted scam company. My sister had her organs harvested and was tortured to death. I was heartbroken. He held me as I broke down, promising in a choked voice that even though my sister was gone, he would love me twice as much. He kept his word. For ten years, he wouldn’t let me suffer a bit, spoiling me into a useless mess. Until the day I went into labor, in such agonizing pain I nearly passed out. Yet, he pressed down hard on the call button, his words dripping with venom. “If you hadn’t gotten ‘sick’ so conveniently back then, I wouldn’t have let her go alone to that meeting! I could have saved Chloe! You killed her!” “Chloe must be so lonely down there. You and this bastard child, go keep her company!” Only then did I realize that ten years of ‘love’ had been nothing but a cruel deception. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day he was supposed to leave for the border. This time, I took the phone from his hand and personally booked two one-way tickets for him and my sister.

“Anya, are you really sure I don’t need to stay? Your health…” Liam held my hand, his brow furrowed, his face etched with worry and reluctance. “I’m fine. And Mom and my mother will both take care of me. You go, don’t worry.” I shook my head, my voice hoarse, “Besides, how important is this project? It’s the result of countless all-nighters you and Chloe pulled. We’re so close to the finish line; how can we let it be delayed because of me?” Liam’s mom patted his shoulder, “Exactly! Anya’s right! You and Chloe have both lost weight because of this project. It’s about to succeed, so hurry up and get ready to leave.” My mom quickly echoed, “Yes, Liam. Chloe’s only been with your company for a year, and she’s already helping you shoulder such an important project. It’s all thanks to your guidance.” “We’ve got Anya covered here. You two just go, don’t worry.” Liam leaned down and pressed a kiss on my forehead, his voice gentle, “You focus on recovering. We’ll bring back good news.” I nodded obediently, watching him and my sister, Chloe, leave the hospital room. My dear sister and husband, in this life, I’ll grant your wish. May you be a cursed pair, bound even in the afterlife. Half an hour later, Chloe’s SnapChat updated. She leaned intimately against Liam’s shoulder, their heads close as they looked at documents, a palpable intimacy between them. The caption was a brutal stab to my heart: “My hard work and my love are both by my side. How incredibly lucky I am!” I stared at that photo, my stomach churned violently. A year ago, Chloe graduated from college and joined Liam’s company. I never imagined that, under the guise of work, the two would spend their days and nights together. The office, hotels, the car, even the marital bedroom Liam and I shared—all had borne witness to their intimate moments. For the sake of this family, I swallowed my pain and tried everything to win my husband back. Thinking about it now, it was utterly ridiculous. How could someone whose heart had already changed ever want to come back? In my last life, I deliberately stood in a heavy rain to get a high fever, stopping my husband and sister from going on that business trip to the border. I succeeded, but I didn’t foresee Chloe choosing to go alone. Nor did I foresee that the project was a vicious, predatory scam that devoured people whole. When the news came that my sister had died in a foreign land, I lived in endless self-blame and guilt. I thought I had killed her, that my pathetic selfish desire had destroyed her life and their shared career. It wasn’t until the day before I was due to give birth that I discovered a recording of my sister and husband plotting to kill me after they returned. Only then did I see their true faces! My emotional agitation from the recording led to a difficult labor. And my husband seized the opportunity to personally send me and my unborn child to the chopping block. Starting over, I only wish that despicable pair, so consumed by their twisted ‘love’, may they be a cursed pair, eternally bound even as ghosts in the afterlife! My phone screen lit up again. Chloe sent a SnapChat message, her tone innocent: “Sis, guess what surprise brother-in-law has prepared for me tonight?”

I sneered, not bothering to reply. Liam’s FaceTime call arrived as expected: “Anya, we’ve arrived. Just got to the hotel.” He looked at the camera, his voice tender: “Feeling better? Did you take your medicine?” “Did you eat well? Is your body feeling better? I’m not there with you, I can’t even feed you myself.” If I didn’t carry the memories of two lifetimes, I might have continued to drown in his fake affection. But now, I leaned weakly against the headboard, softly murmuring, “Hmm.” “I ate. You don’t need to worry. Get some rest.” “How can I not worry? Not seeing you, I always feel uneasy.” His voice was sickeningly sweet, dripping with feigned tenderness. In my last life, I was so moved by his meticulous care that I was completely infatuated, thinking he was just having a moment of foolishness and still loved me. So I willingly played the fool and waited for him to come back, only to finally be killed by him, along with my unborn child, all for his ‘love’. The next second, Chloe burst into the frame. She was wearing a bathrobe, her face flushed, with faint marks of intimacy visible around her collar. Seeing me in the camera, Chloe feigned surprise and covered her mouth: “Oh, brother, are you video calling sister?” Liam turned and looked at her fondly, then explained to the camera: “Chloe’s room’s water heater broke, so she had to come here to shower.” What a pathetic excuse. Chloe walked closer with a smile, naturally wrapped her arms around Liam’s waist, and leaned her head intimately against his broad back, flashing me a provocative smile. “Don’t worry, Sis, I’ll take good care of brother-in-law for you. Look, he’s had a long day, I was just about to give him a massage.” Before I could react, she pulled a black card from Liam’s pocket. “Oh, by the way, Sis, look at this,” Chloe’s voice was innocent: “Brother-in-law said that after this project is successful, he’ll use the credit on this card to buy me an ‘Ocean’s Heart’ necklace as a reward. He said that only I deserve the elegance of that necklace.” Ocean’s Heart! Last year, for my birthday, I had pestered Liam repeatedly about wanting that necklace, but he refused, saying it was “too flashy, not suitable for you!” A rush of blood went straight to my head, my nails digging deep into my palms. Liam gently ruffled her hair: “Anya, Chloe has put a lot into this project. This is her deserved reward. You’re always so generous, you won’t mind, right?” I masked all my emotions, weakly coughed a few times, my voice hoarse: “…I don’t mind. Then you two… get some rest early.” With that, without waiting for their reaction, I hung up the video call. The screen went dark, reflecting my pale, cold face. Less than ten seconds later, Liam sent a SnapChat message. [Anya, I’m sorry. Chloe didn’t mean it. She’s just a childish act. Don’t be mad at her.] [About the ‘Ocean’s Heart,’ I was wrong. When you get better, I’ll take you to pick out an even more beautiful one, okay? Please don’t be angry with me.] I looked at his hypocritical explanation and found it utterly ridiculous. Did he think I was still the fool from my last life, who would soften with a few sweet words? I didn’t reply, throwing my phone to the side.

The next morning, my fever broke. Despite the nurse’s objections, I checked myself out of the hospital and returned to the home Liam and I shared. I stood up, ready to clear out Liam’s belongings and start my new life. While tidying the study, I found a locked metal box. In my last life, I had curiously asked Liam what was inside, and he just smiled gently, saying it contained some of his little secrets. I never thought to open it. But now… I found some tools and pried open the small lock. The moment the box opened, my breath hitched. Inside were a thick stack of photos and a journal. All the photos were of Liam and Chloe. There were pictures of them together at the beach when I didn’t know; pictures of them at an amusement park wearing matching couple headbands; and there was even one… of Chloe in my pajamas, kissing Liam’s cheek, in Liam’s and my own bedroom. The earliest one was from the second year of our marriage. My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. I opened the journal. The first page of the journal read: “To my one true light, my Chloe.” It documented all the little moments of his and Chloe’s “love.” [April 7th, Sunny. Today, Anya got upset with me again because of work. I’m a bit annoyed. Only when I’m with Chloe can I truly feel relaxed and happy. She’s like the sun, capable of illuminating all my shadows.] [August 15th, Rainy. Chloe said she liked that limited edition bag, so I secretly bought it and gave it to her. Seeing her surprised smile, I felt it was all worth it. Anya never gets happy over these small things; she’s too boring.] [December 1st, Cloudy. I argued with Anya again today. She doesn’t understand how hard I work. I ran away from home, and Chloe found me. She stayed with me all night in the cold wind, even taking off her own jacket for me. At that moment, I truly wanted to abandon everything and elope with her.] So it wasn’t a case of love blossoming at work; they had been secretly involved for ages! Nauseating. Absolutely sickening! I had to burn all memories of Liam. I grabbed a bucket and a lighter, then lit and tossed all the photos and gifts I had gathered into the bucket. Burn! Burn it all! Burn away this disgusting past! I stood over the pile of ashes, feeling something within me slowly peel away. Just then, my phone buzzed incessantly. It was a message from my sister, Chloe. She and Liam were walking side-by-side on a bustling foreign shopping street, Liam patiently choosing an expensive scarf for her. They were dining in a high-end restaurant, she held up a wine glass, smiling brightly, and Liam looked at her with doting affection. The latest message showed a foreign businessman enthusiastically clapping Liam’s shoulder, saying in broken English: “Mr. Miller, your wife is truly young and beautiful, you two are such a perfect match!” Chloe shyly lowered her head and linked her arm through Liam’s, and Liam, too, just smiled, silently confirming everything. I finished watching with a blank expression, then tossed my phone aside. No anger, no sadness. After all, that despicable pair was about to embark on their “bright” future together. The next morning, just as dawn broke, my phone suddenly rang. The name “Liam” flashed on the screen. My heart clenched. Was he calling to announce a death? I took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. “Anya, darling, are you awake?” Liam’s voice was as gentle as ever. I froze, unable to speak for a moment. How could this be? In my last life, wasn’t Chloe tortured to death on the third day? Had the torture lasted longer for both of them this time? “Good news! The project is a success! They loved our proposal and signed the contract first thing this morning!” Liam’s voice was filled with joy: “I’ve bought tickets for tomorrow. I’ll be home soon!” Boom!

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For seven years, I lived under a different name overseas. Now, to celebrate my sister’s graduation, I secretly came back home. I went straight to the Art Authentication Gallery where she was interning, only to find the three prospective fiancés I’d arranged for her years ago, sneering and mocking her. “You ungrateful brat, you’re nothing but trouble! Stealing Serena’s clients was bad enough, but how dare you accuse her of stealing artifacts?” “You’re such a lowlife, no one would touch you even if you were naked on the streets!” “Serena comes from a respectable family, unlike you. A commoner like you shouldn’t dream of marrying into our league!” Behind the three men, Serena Vance stood, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly wronged. “I treated you like a sister, and yet you slander me like this…” The crowd around them pointed and whispered, their judgment heavy in the air. After returning home, I’d planned to surprise my sister at her internship and scout the local antique market for future investments. But no sooner had I stepped into the firm’s showroom than I walked straight into this drama. My sister, Chloe Adams, was being openly ridiculed by the onlookers. Some even thrust their phones in her face, recording short videos. Her face was pale, and beneath her feet lay an ancient painting, covered in muddy footprints. The three men leading the charge were the prospective fiancés I’d chosen for her before I left the country: Brandon Hayes, Kyle Jensen, and Liam O’Connell. All of them were either rich or well-connected. Beside them, Serena Vance sobbed uncontrollably, pouring out her grievances. The three prospective fiancés launched into Chloe, one after another: “Chloe Adams, you better explain yourself!” “You secretly took a five-million-dollar appraisal fee, then swapped the original, and now you’re trying to deny it?” As he spoke, one of them pulled out a voice recorder. The next second, an edited recording played through the speakers. “The money’s in your account, the goods are yours.” It was a woman’s voice, and if you listened closely, it sounded exactly like Chloe’s. Then he pulled up a transfer screenshot, clearly showing “Five Million Dollars.” Instantly, the crowd erupted, whispering and loudly accusing my sister. “You pocketed the appraisal fee AND stole the painting? Talk about being greedy and shameless! How low can you get?” “Using such tactics in an appraisal firm is utterly despicable!” “Who knows? With all this evidence, how can she possibly deny it?!” Chloe clutched the hem of her shirt, biting her lip, her face a mask of humiliation. “I didn’t do it, this is slander…” Before she could finish, Serena burst into even louder sobs. “If I’m making this up, everyone is welcome to check! This authentic Tang Palace Lady painting is a genuine piece worth eight million dollars, and now it’s a fake! She was the only one who appraised it; isn’t it obvious she swapped it?!” The onlookers even raised their phones, live-streaming the scene. My eyes narrowed. I spotted a tiny, almost invisible mark on the edge of the painting. That was the Vance family’s signature forgery technique. Only an expert would notice it. It suddenly clicked. The girl standing there was Serena Vance, the daughter of our next-door neighbors. Years ago, my family owned a vast collection, which made our rivals jealous. They conspired against my parents, setting a trap that ultimately led to their deaths. To survive, I sold off all our family assets for a pittance and went into hiding overseas, living completely off the grid. Before leaving, I had to entrust my sister to the Vance family as their foster daughter, and arranged for the sons of three families we’d been close to for generations – the Hayes, Jensens, and O’Connells – to look after her. But judging by what I was seeing now, was this how they “looked after” my sister? I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Get the owner of this appraisal firm here, now!” “Tsk tsk tsk, you think just holding a magnifying glass and waving it around makes you an appraiser? You’re nothing but a charlatan!” Brandon Hayes sneered, grabbing the magnifying glass Chloe had used and tossing it into a trash can. Chloe gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes. Seeing this, Brandon seemed to think it wasn’t dramatic enough. He turned to the operating desk. “Since the painting can’t be appraised now, why don’t we look at something more interesting instead?” Before he finished speaking, he tapped a few keys on the computer, and a set of high-definition pictures popped up on the large screen. They were explicit photos of my sister in the shower! The scene immediately exploded into chaos, mixed with crude jokes and cheers. “Holy hell, this is way better than any old painting!” “If I could sleep with her for a night, that’d be incredible!” Brandon Hayes remained unruffled, speaking slowly. “Chloe Adams, since you like stealing things and playing risky games, you won’t mind if everyone else gets a thrill, right?” Someone whistled, others started taking pictures, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control. My fists clenched instinctively, my knuckles turning white. I remembered Brandon Hayes was the one Chloe liked most when they were kids. I turned and called my assistant, instructing him to immediately investigate what was going on. “Brandon Hayes, didn’t you say you’d marry me if we had a child? Are you trying to ruin me now?!” Chloe’s voice trembled as she asked. Brandon laughed wildly, a cruel, mocking glint in his eyes. “You actually believe what a guy says in bed? Who knows how many men you’ve slept with?” Chloe was trembling with rage. “You bastard! What exactly do you want?!” she screamed. “Simple. Transfer five million dollars back to the Vance family’s account, and publicly admit you swapped the painting and faked the appraisal. Do that, and I’ll take the photos down immediately. Otherwise, I’ll add another one every minute.”

“Wow, how exciting! Can’t wait!” “From what Chloe said, Brandon actually slept with her. Who does she think she is, trying to marry into the Hayes family?” “I heard Chloe is just a foster kid the Vances took in, but she actually dared to scheme against their real daughter?” “I heard she even tried to steal Serena’s boyfriends. Everyone knows those three guys are crazy about Serena.” But before the crowd could finish gossiping, my sister’s photos suddenly flooded the Antique Exchange SnapChat group. My phone buzzed relentlessly, flooded with vile, malicious gossip and rumors. “Brandon Hayes, have you lost your mind?!” Chloe’s eyes turned red. “Chloe Adams, if you want to stay in this industry, get on your knees and apologize to Serena right now, plus five million in compensation. Otherwise, I’ll post all these photos online! If you don’t care about the shame, keep refusing…” Chloe lowered her head, but then, after a long moment, she looked up, surprisingly calm. “Apologize? You’re dreaming. I have evidence that Serena was the one who swapped the painting. As for compensation, there’s no telling who will be paying whom.” “Ha, evidence? If you really had evidence, you would’ve shown it already. Why would your appraisal qualifications almost be revoked? Stop acting, Chloe Adams, stop deluding yourself.” The onlookers chimed in, enjoying the show. “Yeah, if you’ve got proof, spill it, don’t just run your mouth.” Chloe ignored them, only letting out a cold laugh. “Since we’re talking about compensation, Serena Vance, you’ve pulled off countless switcheroos like this before! If you had to pay for all of them, you’d be bankrupt a hundred times over!” The atmosphere went strangely silent for a few seconds. Brandon Hayes was the first to speak, his voice filled with sympathy and indignation. “Chloe Adams, you’re being far too aggressive! Serena is older than you, she’s your sister! How can you make such baseless accusations?!” But his words only fueled Chloe’s anger. She was trembling. “Brandon Hayes, I must have been blind to ever like a beast like you!” “Chloe, don’t misunderstand. I’m just being objective. If you can provide evidence, of course I’ll help you.” Chloe’s face went pale, and her voice trembled. “Brandon Hayes, considering our families have been close for generations, can’t you… not be so cruel?” “Of course…” He drawled playfully, then paused, changing his tone. “Besides the photos, I have videos too. Does everyone want to see them?” The crowd instantly erupted. “Yes! She’s got a great body!” At this moment, my assistant, Ryan, who had been investigating the authenticity of the photos, reported quietly: “Ms. Sterling, we checked the photos. No tampering, they’re original uploads.” “How did Chloe get these kinds of photos?” “Brandon Hayes is behind it. He didn’t just trick Miss Adams; I heard he’s brought dozens of young women to his bed. The guy’s a total playboy, he must have countless explicit photos.” Ryan’s face was grim as he cursed under his breath. I took a deep breath and asked, “Has the appraisal firm owner arrived?” “Still on the way.” “Add this: if he’s not here within ten minutes, I’ll smash everything in this place!” “Understood. I’ll relay that immediately.” The crowd continued to buzz, all eyes on Chloe Adams and Serena Vance, waiting for the next round of drama. “I can overlook the things you’ve stolen before, but this painting isn’t something your Vance family can touch. It was part of my family’s collection, and my sister will definitely come back to claim it.” The moment Chloe finished speaking, Brandon Hayes and the others burst into laughter. “You’re trying to make me die laughing! Your sister abandoned you and fled overseas years ago; by now, she’s probably dead in some ditch.” “Even if she’s alive, it’s been so long, and she hasn’t come looking for you. She’s probably too poor to survive, much less come back for you, hahaha.” Chloe’s eyes flashed with fierce light as she glared at them. “You don’t need to worry about whether my sister’s alive, but if you don’t hand over that painting, I’ll give the police evidence of all the things you’ve stolen before!” Serena Vance’s face instantly twisted into an ugly mask, but she still puffed out her neck and shrieked: “Chloe Adams, I haven’t done anything! You’re clearly slandering me now!” Just then, a portly, greasy middle-aged man pushed through the crowd and strode in. “What’s all this racket about? Disperse, now!”

“Mr. Davies, please, you’re the manager, tell us, isn’t it Chloe Adams who’s behind this artifact theft and swap?” Serena Vance called out to the man. Mr. Davies’ face immediately stiffened, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. “Mr. Davies, just tell the truth…” Serena Vance whispered something to him, and he finally nodded in agreement, speaking up: “Indeed… Chloe Adams did swap the ancient painting. There are major loopholes in the appraisal firm’s management, and we will handle this with the utmost severity!” At that moment, the crowd erupted in an uproar, low murmurs spreading like wildfire. “Mr. Davies, you’re talking nonsense! I absolutely did not…” Chloe’s voice was firm and clear. Serena Vance’s lips curled into a sneer as she slowly approached. “Chloe Adams, if you’re still going to be stubborn, why don’t we search you? Everyone here knows you’re the prime suspect!” As soon as she spoke, the three men beside her snickered. Kyle Jensen tutted. “Since Chloe Adams is a suspect, why don’t we search her publicly? Let’s see if she’s hiding the ancient painting on her person?” The surrounding crowd clamored, “Yeah! She claims she has evidence but can’t produce it. If she’s so brave, let us search her!” Chloe, furious, retorted, “Serena Vance, if you’re not convinced, let’s sign a gambling agreement. Whoever is proven to have swapped the artifact will pay the other ten million. Do you dare?” After she spoke, Brandon Hayes sneered, “Oh? You dare to gamble? So you’re that rich? Well, use that ten million to get your photos back! Otherwise, I’ll publish them one by one online and let the whole world see your explicit pictures.” A female colleague added fuel to the fire, “Manager, we have eyewitnesses and physical evidence right here. You must stand up for Serena!” Mr. Davies’ face was ashen. After hesitating for half a minute, he said coldly, “Chloe Adams, the evidence is strongly against you now. If you admit it, you might get a lighter sentence.” Suddenly, all eyes fell on my sister. Some people were already eager to approach her. Chloe’s face was pale, and she retreated two steps. “You… don’t come any closer!” Serena Vance sharply interjected from the side: “Chloe Adams, I saw you sneaking around last night. If you’re innocent, are you willing to let an expert publicly search your clothes?” Kyle Jensen also spoke up for her, “How about this, you strip down and let us inspect you. If you’re innocent in the end, we’ll call it even. But if it’s confirmed you stole something, all your assets will belong to me.” Chloe scoffed, a look of disdain on her face. “Serena Vance, since we’re making a bet, let’s be clear upfront. All my assets as your stake is fine, but you should reciprocate fairly. Your total shares in the Vance Group are only 5%, which probably isn’t enough, is it?”

Brandon Hayes’ lips curved into a smile. “My three art galleries operate with top museums across multiple countries. Their market value alone leaves you in the dust.” Kyle Jensen and Liam O’Connell quickly chimed in. “My Jensen family’s malls are also on the line.” “And my O’Connell family’s villas as well!” Brandon Hayes proudly spoke again, “Don’t forget, Chloe Adams, I still have those photos of you. If I win today, this wager, at the very least, needs to double.” The crowd whispered amongst themselves, full of taunts and eager anticipation for the show. Serena Vance sneered, bending down close to Chloe Adams’ ear, whispering provocatively, “What, Chloe Adams, chicken out? If you admit you’re incapable now, it’s not too late. Be obedient, sign the voluntary transfer agreement, then kneel and kowtow three times to me, and today’s matter will be over. Maybe you can even keep some dignity.” My sister clenched her fists, her nails digging hard into her palms. A moment later, she pulled out a red file and let out a cold laugh. “One last chance. Do you still want to bet?” Brandon Hayes stretched his neck, staring intently at the file. The surrounding whispers suddenly erupted: “Isn’t that… a Judicial Appraisal Center’s evidence collection order?!” “Seriously? How does Chloe Adams have that kind of authority?” Someone questioned. “She’s probably just trying to scare people with a fake document, even resorting to this?” Serena Vance chuckled without humor. “Don’t you dare pretend you have any authority with some flimsy piece of paper. What can a crumpled piece of paper prove?” With that, she raised her hand and slapped my sister across the face. Chloe stumbled and fell to the ground. I quickly rushed forward to help her up. Chloe recognized me and was about to call me “sister,” but I stopped her with a glance. Serena Vance, however, laughed mockingly from behind me. “Oh! Look who it is! Isn’t this Chloe Adams’ useless sister who’s been fooling around somewhere unknown?” My eyes coldly swept over them. I sneered, “You’ve got a lot of nerve! Who gave you the courage to hit someone?” The three men stood protectively in front of Serena Vance. Liam O’Connell scoffed, “Where did this psycho come from? Here to cause trouble, are we? I’ll teach you a lesson!” Before he could make a move, Mr. Jenkins, the appraisal firm owner, finally arrived, albeit belatedly. “Ms. Sterling, my apologies, my apologies. I just finished a meeting, I’m late. What brings you here?” When Mr. Jenkins addressed me by my name, a wave of shock rippled through the onlookers. I didn’t give him a pleasant look. I asked coolly, “Mr. Jenkins, your firm certainly has a knack for chaos these days. I’m truly impressed.” “I’m truly sorry to have made you witness this!” Mr. Jenkins said, squeezing through the crowd and loudly signaling, “That’s enough gawking, everyone, disperse! We have an important guest today, don’t embarrass the company!” He spotted Mr. Davies not far away and frowned. “Why are you still standing there watching the show? Shouldn’t you be maintaining order?” Mr. Davies was momentarily speechless. “I was just handling a conflict between colleagues. This Chloe Adams…” “Shut up!” Mr. Jenkins’ face darkened. “Keep meddling, and I’ll fire you on the spot, believe me?!” Chloe, however, seized the opportunity and loudly declared: “Mr. Jenkins, Serena Vance swapped a client’s original with a fake! You must uphold justice today!” Mr. Jenkins’ brows furrowed, a difficult expression on his face. “Chloe, I’ll resolve this for you, but not now. We have important guests. Why don’t you go back for now?” “Mr. Jenkins, is this how you handle things?” Mr. Jenkins quickly explained, “They’re making a mess here, I’ll clear them out immediately.” I said coldly: “Mr. Jenkins, given the chaos here today, I can’t help but notice someone’s crying injustice. And it just so happens everyone is here. Why don’t you clear her name right now?” Brandon Hayes quickly interjected: “Chloe Adams, don’t think you can scare people with a fake investigation order. If you don’t have the guts, just admit defeat early! Apologize to Serena and clear her name!” Mr. Jenkins finally understood the full story and said sternly, “Chloe Adams, quickly return the real painting to the client, don’t delay things and bring bad publicity to our company.” My face instantly darkened. “Mr. Jenkins, since so many people are here, why don’t we continue the wager? A clear win or loss would serve to set an example and clean up this mess.” The onlookers, seeing the tension escalate, grew excited and chanted: “Boss, judge it fairly! We want to see what happens next!” Mr. Jenkins, seeing everyone’s interest growing, and at my insistence, could only give a helpless, wry smile. “Since Ms. Sterling has spoken, this matter will proceed. I will serve as the impartial arbiter.” I stepped forward, helped my sister up, and embraced her. “Who’s that new woman? Mr. Jenkins is practically bowing to her.” “Never seen her before. Probably some company bigwig. But… I saw her and Chloe Adams exchanging glances earlier, like they know each other?” Mr. Jenkins adjusted his glasses, a hint of impatience in his voice.

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