Category: English

I specialized in selling photos online to help people catfish. For extra cash, I’d even do voice messages and video calls. Until one day, a regular client messaged me: [Will you do an in-person meet-up for $100,000? You can keep whatever he buys for you, too.] Just as I was about to decline, my sworn enemy’s photo popped up on my screen. I stared blankly: [Are you telling me you’ve been using my photos and videos to date him?] 01 [Then you’ve been scammed, sister,] I replied earnestly. [Impossible,] she insisted. [He transferred a lot of money to me. Isn’t he the heir to the Sterling family?] Me: “…” I took the photo of Oliver Sterling she sent and ran it through a Google image search. It had been used to death by gossip blogs. I sent her a screenshot of the results. She remained utterly convinced, [We’ve been working together for so long, would I lie to you? The guy I’m dating online is definitely the Sterling heir.] I let out a helpless sigh. From what I knew of Oliver, the wealthy young master, his real-life romantic entanglements were already enough of a headache for him. Why would he bother with online dating? Especially using my photos and videos… if he saw them, he wouldn’t fall in love; he’d probably throw up. I replied to the client, [He looks at my photos and doesn’t say anything?] [He says they’re pretty, because you are pretty.] She paused, then added, [I even used your voice packs! Every time I use one, he sends me $5,200!] Mother of God. If Oliver actually heard my pinched, overly sweet voice, he’d probably lose his appetite for three days. It was absolutely confirmed: that guy was definitely not Oliver Sterling! Thinking about it, I went through all the photos and videos I’d sold to this client again. The photos were mostly normal selfies. But the videos… Various tight mini-skirts paired with cat ear filters. …It’s fine, as long as the guy isn’t Oliver. The client kept begging: [Babe, please help me out. Absolutely strictly platonic! I told him I’m not ready for physical contact yet. The meeting place is a busy mall downtown, lots of foot traffic.] Seeing I hadn’t replied, she anxiously added: [If you really can’t handle it, just see him for a minute and leave? Otherwise, he’ll think I’m a catfish, and how will I keep getting money out of him?] A few seconds after she sent that, my bank account received a $300,000 transfer from her. My fingers, poised to type a refusal, paused. Let’s rethink this. If that guy dared to use Oliver’s photo for online dating, how brave must he be to agree to meet in person? Wasn’t he afraid of looking nothing like the picture? This client wanted me to go in her place, but no one could possibly order Oliver Sterling around. Perfect timing. I’ll go see what kind of weirdo this guy is! I deleted my refusal. [Alright.] Looking at it this way, this client was a very big spender. Tsk, I felt like even Oliver himself wasn’t as generous as this impersonator. Afraid I’d change my mind, she quickly sent me several screenshots of her chat history with the fake Oliver. Left and right, it was “hubby,” “kisses,” and “I only love hubby.” The emojis were all cats spinning in circles, happy cats, and cats acting spoiled. Me: “…” The fake Oliver’s replies were consistently: [Baby looks so pretty.] Transfer. [Baby is so cute.] Transfer. … Transfer. Transfer. Transfer. God bless the God of Wealth. The client quickly sent me the location, [It’s this mall.] I took a look. Well, well. The Sterling heir really did like shopping at this mall; it was very close to one of his villas. Maybe I should… I dialed Oliver’s number. Would I get a chance to have the fake impersonator see the real Oliver appear right in front of him and scare him to death?! Uh. I forgot, I was blocked. I silently put my phone away. 02 Under the client’s countless reminders and instructions. I dressed up carefully as promised, arriving at the mall half an hour early to familiarize myself with the layout. I didn’t expect to bump into Oliver right here in the mall. He looked relaxed, one hand stuffed in his pocket. Beside him was a girl, chattering away continuously. Oliver wasn’t really listening, a careless smile hanging on his face. But he hadn’t shown any signs of impatience from start to finish, which was basically a miracle. I was stunned. Until Oliver noticed me, and his smile vanished. He muttered a low curse: “What rotten luck.” I heard him clearly, but kept my face blank. The girl instinctively grabbed Oliver’s arm and shot me an unfriendly look: “Who are you?” When I didn’t answer, she looked up at Oliver piteously. Oliver scoffed: “A broke loser.” Well, wasn’t that the truth? If I wasn’t broke, why would I be here meeting a fake Oliver? I let out a dry laugh, my tone lifting slightly, “To be hated by the great Young Master Sterling, I guess it’s an honor.” Hearing this, Oliver’s face instantly darkened. He crossed his arms, speaking without an ounce of mercy: “Evelyn, which item in here can you afford?” “As long as you can afford it, that’s all that matters.” I smiled and pointed to a nearby store, “Didn’t you buy me a bag from there before?” The girl’s eyes widened, “What is your relationship?” What relationship? First love. But dating this young master was the biggest mistake I’d ever made in my life. Oliver didn’t speak, and I couldn’t be bothered to make a fool of myself. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and prepared to leave. “Evelyn.” His tone was light, but carried the same condescension and arrogance as before. “Which guy did you trick into paying for you this time?” I turned back, “Don’t worry, Young Master Sterling, I haven’t managed to trick anyone more generous than you yet.” Of course, not counting the guy the client scammed. Oliver had been pampered by countless people since childhood; he never hid his emotions. For instance, right now, I knew he was in a very bad mood. Afraid he would delay my upcoming meet-and-greet, I paused and then tried to placate him: “You were right before, people like me won’t find happiness. But as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.” Actually, regarding this whole “sworn enemy” thing, I felt it was entirely Oliver unilaterally hating me. I had never liked making enemies, especially not with a first love who had been so generous. The young master, who had always been hard to please, was even less receptive to this now. He sneered, incredibly harsh, “Don’t leave. I want to see what kind of trash you’ve hooked this time.” I froze. I didn’t even know what kind of persona the client had established with this fake Oliver. If it was some pure, innocent “white lotus” type, wouldn’t this whole thing blow up in my face? With Oliver’s personality, a few words would likely expose me. I swallowed my pride: “He’s not as good-looking as you, and he doesn’t have as much money as you. Young Master Sterling, why are you trying to embarrass me?” The girl nodded along, “Yeah, Ollie, let’s just go.” Oliver didn’t even spare the girl a glance. His long fingers pulled a card from his pocket. The girl took it, her demeanor instantly changing, and she left efficiently, “Then I’ll go shopping. Ollie, just text me if you need anything.” I smiled, “She’s quite cute.” Oliver didn’t take the bait, but he also showed no intention of leaving, just glaring at me. But he was always like this, willful and unrestrained. Once, when he had a high fever, I was pacing around with worry. He just lazily held my hand, “Do you want to try 104 degrees?” My eyes widened, and my face instantly turned bright red. Not from shyness, but from anger. “Are you sick in the head?” His lips curved, trying to suppress a muffled laugh. We ended up trying it, and he ended up in the ER. … They were all childish memories. I lowered my eyes. Oliver quickly grew impatient. He lifted his eyelids, “You didn’t just make someone up, did you?” I stayed silent. His patience exhausted, he answered a call from a friend, “Fine, I’ll be right there.” Then he glanced at me, mockery floating in the depths of his eyes, “Instead of carrying that cheap canvas bag, you shouldn’t have been so stubborn about your pride back then.” With that, he took long strides outward, getting further and further away from me. I watched his tall silhouette. Even the way he walked had a careless swagger to it. Back when I broke up with Oliver, I packed up all the luxury goods he had given me and shipped them back to him. He only sent me a few words: [I don’t accept trash here.] And then he blocked me. As for those luxury goods, a friend told me he threw them all in the trash can outside his villa. My phone notification chimed non-stop. Ning: [Babe, are you there yet? [How about we meet at the cafe? I just told him I’d wait for him at the cafe? [Babe, text me back quickly!] I composed my emotions and replied: [Okay, I’m heading to the cafe now.] When I got to the cafe, I looked around. I texted the client: [Babe, bad news, Oliver isn’t here. Even worse news, there’s only one handsome guy here.] [Impossible! He said he’s already arrived!] she replied anxiously. I let out a sigh. Until I saw the only handsome guy walking towards me. The corners of his eyes tilted up slightly, a small red mole under his eye, smiling warmly. But he inexplicably had a kind of cunning, fox-like aura. I warily took a step back. He spoke, his voice magnetic: “Evelyn.” Me: “…” I looked down and texted the client: [Is your name Ning? Did you use my name?] She replied instantly: [Uh… yes. I didn’t dare use my real name, and since we were negotiating the price for the photos and videos, I just gave him your name.] Me: [Wow.] I put my phone away, took a deep breath, looked up, and greeted the man: “Hello there.” Up close, the man was even more handsome. He had delicate features, but didn’t look effeminate. A high nose bridge, thin lips curving slightly, a shiny stud in his left ear. He was much better looking than I had imagined, even somewhat breathtaking. Wait, he had absolutely no need to use Oliver’s photo! I offered an awkward smile, “You and the photo you sent me… look quite different.” He raised an eyebrow, “I don’t recall ever sending you a photo of myself.” Me: ? My expression lost control for a moment. This guy hadn’t even sent a photo, so how was the client so certain he was Oliver?! “Then I remembered wrong.” I fought the urge to grind my teeth, forcing a difficult smile, “Do you mind if I go to the restroom first?” “Sure.” He smiled brightly. Once in the restroom, I immediately called “Ning”. As soon as it connected, I unleashed a torrent of words: “I fucking told you, your online date is not Oliver, it’s not Oliver! Fine if you didn’t listen, I figured it was just a catfish. Turns out the guy never even sent you a photo, why did you think he was Oliver!” A long silence from the other end. After a while, a “Holy shit” popped out. It was actually a male voice! I was stunned. “He’s not Oliver? How is that possible? Then who is he?” he asked in a rapid-fire sequence. I was also losing my mind: “You’re asking me? Where did you fish this guy out from? This is so sketchy!” I thought she was just a sister scamming money online, who knew it was a guy? No wonder he had to buy voice packs from me. “What does he look like? Describe him quickly!” I didn’t expect this guy to be more anxious than me. Me: “He’s actually quite handsome, don’t worry about that.” Silence again from the other end. Long after, his voice sounded as if he had lost the will to live: “Does he have a red mole near his eye?” Me: “Yes.” “Ahhhhhhhhh! I’m doomed!” …Now you know you’re doomed, why weren’t you afraid of being doomed when you were scamming people for money. If he had actually scammed Oliver, he really would be doomed. With Young Master Sterling’s temper, he’d absolutely skin him alive; it’d be a miracle if he didn’t kill him. After a while, he asked painfully: “…Then what do I do?” I was curious, “I think this guy is way better than Oliver, what makes you think Oliver is such a prize?” “No, you don’t understand, this guy is way scarier than Oliver. If Oliver wants to teach me a lesson, my grandma can at least step in and stop him. If my brother wants to teach me a lesson, no one will dare say a word!” Saying that, he started crying bitterly again. My eyes widened: “…What did you say?” He was clearly desperate: “No wonder Oliver said I was stupid, am I really that stupid?” Me: “…What do we do now, do I make a run for it?” “Don’t!” He gritted his teeth, “If you run, he’ll definitely investigate. He’ll 100% trace it back to me!” I was speechless. He simply said: “Why don’t you just take over my WeChat account, let’s just pretend it was you talking to him the whole time. Anyway, my brother is not bad-looking, and he transfers a lot of money…” My pupils experienced an earthquake. Before I could answer, he mumbled to himself again: “I didn’t expect him to be so generous when dating. Fuck, why isn’t he like this when he gives me my allowance?” “Forget it.” I refused. Ever since I broke up with Oliver, I saw things clearly. What doesn’t belong to you, will never belong to you, no matter what you do. Especially with these wealthy young masters. Don’t harbor too many delusions about them. Not to mention, if I really got involved with this man and Oliver found out, who knows how the young master would freak out. Right, he might just mock the man: “You have terrible taste, getting involved with a woman like Evelyn.” I thought silently in my heart, and sighed again. The other end of the line was unhappy, “Aren’t you offering after-sales service?” Truly a family! This thought process is as sick as Oliver’s. I said flatly: “Hanging up.” “Fifty thousand! I’ll add another fifty thousand!” He panicked, “I’ll even take out my New Year’s red envelope money! You absolutely cannot let my brother find out.” Me: “…One million.” Him: “…Lion opening its mouth, you must be trying to drain me dry after milking my brother?” “Then forget it,” I said. “Deal!” He broke down. “What’s your brother’s name?” I asked. “Liam Sterling.” I jerked my eyes up, “Is that Oliver’s older cousin who’s always abroad?” “Yes.” 03 I adjusted my dress in the restroom, touched up my makeup, took a deep breath, and walked out. Liam was standing outside waiting for me. To be honest, Liam didn’t look as refined and orderly as his name suggested; he gave off a sense of ease that seemed detached from the rules. With a smiling face, he looked like a fox. A man with this much money and power, engaging in online dating? I proactively took Liam’s arm; he paused imperceptibly, his smile growing wider. “Want to buy anything? Or eat first?” he asked. “Anything’s fine,” I said. Then he took me shopping from store to store. Unlike Oliver, he would patiently comment on how every bag and piece of clothing felt on me, and then pay for everything. Oliver couldn’t be bothered to look; he’d just sit in the store, play on his phone, and wait for me to pick things out before paying and leaving. It was strange, feeling like a boyfriend had dropped from the sky. But Liam was definitely not as casual as he appeared on the surface. The more a person is like this, the more dangerous they are. But for now… He even called two bodyguards to follow behind carrying the shopping bags. “Evelyn, I’ve made a reservation at that restaurant you said you wanted to try before.” Liam curved his lips slightly. “Let’s go!” I responded briskly. “Do you still remember which one it was?” He lowered his eyes smoothly, his expression lazy. Just like looking at prey in the palm of his hand. …Which one. I don’t know! At a time like this, I couldn’t exactly pull out my phone and ask the “client.” The atmosphere fell silent. My heart trembled, and I pursed my lips. I also felt a chill. I finally understood what the guy meant when he said Liam was scarier than Oliver. Oliver’s emotions were written all over his face. If you provoked him, you’d know immediately. But Liam was different. I couldn’t read him. For example, right now, I didn’t know what he meant by suddenly asking this question. I moved my lips, but before I could speak, he gave a half-smile, his voice warm and deep: “It’s fine. Evelyn is busy, it’s normal to be forgetful. I’ll take you there, you’ll see.” I nodded hastily. Liam was still a good guy! If it were Oliver who found out I forgot something about him, he would have coldly mocked me for five hours straight without repeating a word. 04 After arriving at the restaurant, the waiter saw Liam and greeted him respectfully: “Mr. Sterling.” Then they led us to the innermost private room. The room had a great ambiance, even a pond with koi fish. I sat face-to-face with Liam. His cuffs were loosely rolled up, revealing hands with distinct knuckles. The pale skin made the slightly raised blue veins even more obvious. I didn’t pick up the menu. “You can just order; I’m not a picky eater.” Liam chuckled lightly, “Alright.” Taking this opportunity, I messaged the “client”: [Did you tell Liam you wanted western food? I almost got exposed. Are there any other details? Confess quickly.] Suddenly, the door to the private room was pushed open. A familiar voice rang out: “…Liam? You’re back?” I froze instantly. Oliver clicked his tongue, saying listlessly: “I thought this room was empty, so I didn’t make a reservation. The other rooms are full; let’s share a table.” I shrank like a quail, keeping my head down as low as possible. But I forgot that Oliver once told me that even if I turned to ash, he would recognize me and scatter me himself. … “Evelyn?” The voice that had just been casual instantly turned ice-cold. I didn’t dare to look up even more. But unexpectedly, my phone received a message right then, and the screen lit up: [Huh? How is that possible? I didn’t tell my brother where I wanted to eat. I don’t like western food; I like iron pot stewed goose.] My pupils dilated. “Raise your head, Evelyn,” Oliver gritted his teeth. Liam tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, “Is that how you talk to your sister-in-law?” “What did you say?” Oliver’s volume rose. At this point, I slowly lifted my head and offered a sheepish smile, “What a coincidence.” Then, following Liam’s cue, I added, “Little brother.” “Who the fuck is your little brother!” Oliver bristled immediately, pointing at me and questioning Liam, “She dated me, didn’t you know?” “Not anymore, not anymore. We broke up a long time ago,” I quickly interjected. “You shut up,” Oliver’s voice carried suppressed anger, every word seemingly squeezed from between his teeth. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. “Liam, didn’t you check when I was dating? And now you’re talking bullshit saying you don’t know Evelyn?” Liam sat with his legs crossed, his posture relaxed. Even in this suffocating situation, he could still chuckle leisurely, “Yeah. So what?” The corners of Oliver’s eyes turned red with anger. I sighed inwardly and spoke up: “Don’t be mad. Maybe we just weren’t meant to be. How about you drink some water and calm down?” Saying that, I prepared to stand up and pour water. “Evelyn,” Liam shot me a light glance. My heart tightened, and I immediately sat back down securely. Oliver couldn’t believe it: “You used to argue with me every day, and now you listen to him like this? Have you been bewitched?” Me: “…” It’s mainly because Liam has a more intimidating presence. After a long while. Oliver’s tone was slightly hoarse, “When did you two get together?” I couldn’t answer that. Liam spoke calmly: “At the end of last year.” “Specifically?” Oliver seemed determined not to stop until he got a specific time. “The day after Christmas.” My expression stiffened. Oliver’s mouth carried a mocking chill, “Evelyn, you’re really something.” I and Oliver had broken up on Christmas Day. But the person chatting with Liam the day after Christmas wasn’t me! I stayed silent, bitterly swallowing the truth and wearing the hat of a seamless transition. Oliver, seeing I didn’t dare to speak, directly slammed the door and left. 05 Liam didn’t seem to mind; he thoughtfully said, “If the food doesn’t suit your taste, remember to let me know.” I nodded trembling. He looked at me unexpectedly, “Are you afraid of me?” As he smiled, the red mole at the corner of his eye was captivatingly bright. I moved my lips: “…Did you investigate me before?” He nodded, taking his time to say, “Previously, the family was curious about Oliver’s girlfriend, so they had me look into it.” “Then you…” I was shocked, “Still got involved with me…” Liam’s smile deepened, “I’ve thought my future sister-in-law was quite cute for a long time.” I awkwardly touched my nose. But I still felt something was wrong? A long time ago? Before investigating me? Right, and Liam’s probing just now! Didn’t he know that the person he was online dating with was someone else? I was just a stand-in for the meet-up. I trembled, not daring to speak rashly. “Evelyn,” Liam said, “Come back to the Sterling family with me next week.” I was shocked, “What?!” He smiled helplessly, “You said before that you wanted to meet my family, and mentioned it several times. Don’t you remember, Evelyn?” My heart was full of apprehension. With my previous experience, I didn’t dare answer casually: “…I see.” “But I’m not ready yet.” I unconsciously clutched the corner of my clothes. “You said before that your family wanted a thirty million dollar bride price. Evelyn, I can transfer it to your card anytime,” Liam looked at me seriously. I was terrified. What astronomical bride price?! Was that what Liam’s brother said? My voice shook: “No rush, no rush. Let’s let things develop a bit more…” By the end, my voice was trailing off. This family is too terrifying. The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Liam lowered his eyes, his smile fading. He said softly, “Sorry, I was too eager.” I froze for a moment. Has he really fallen so deeply in love? If he finds out that the person whispering sweet nothings to him the whole time… is a guy… And I can be considered an accomplice with his brother, deceiving people together… I held my forehead. Things seem to be developing out of control. Looking at Liam’s expression, he seems genuinely sad. Sigh, that makes sense. If it weren’t true love, who would spend so much money on an online date? I silently stood up, “I need to go to the restroom again.” 06 [Your brother wants to take me back to the Sterling family.] I messaged “Ning”. Him: [Uh… just go.] Me: [? Is this right.] I thought he would definitely be jumping up and down, but who knew he would seem quite calm? [What’s done is done. Just name a price, help me cover up the lie.] I looked at the message weirdly. I replied: [This isn’t a question of whether to cover it up or not. Have you ever thought about having to use countless lies to cover one lie? What if I can’t get out of it safely?] He sent me a voice message: “Sigh, who knew it would develop like this? But honestly, being with my brother isn’t a loss for you. He’s handsome and rich, and has never been in a relationship. Although he’s not experienced, his assets are impressive! As long as you guide him a little, he’ll definitely become a perfect boyfriend.” The corner of my mouth twitched violently, losing the will to live: “…Your family really doesn’t have a single normal person.” “I just have one request. When you become my sister-in-law in the future, can you suggest to my brother to increase my allowance?” Me: “…I don’t think I’ve agreed yet.” If I ran into Oliver at the Sterling family, I’d be dead meat. I didn’t dare take the risk. Ten seconds later, five million was deposited into my bank account. The other side said with a hint of a spoiled tone, “Sis, just help a brother out. Let’s just get through this period first. When you get bored, you can break up whenever! Just consider it as a brother using your photos to scam people, and to atone for his sins, he helped you find a boyfriend, okay?” I stared at my bank account balance. …Well, to bring it back to the point. Even if I did get together with Liam, so what? Could Oliver kill me? ? Thinking this, I returned to the private room. Meeting Liam’s eyes, I blinked: “Which day are we going to the Sterling family?” 07 I held Liam’s arm and stepped through the grand doors of the Sterling estate. The sprawling manor was complex and opulent. Taking step after step, there were more and more people. Truly a massive family. I followed Liam’s lead in greeting everyone. The people of the Sterling family were very nice; there wasn’t the oppressive atmosphere I had imagined from a wealthy family. No one gave me dirty looks, and no one put on airs. They all smiled and greeted me: “Liam’s girlfriend, oh my, so pretty and fresh! The old lady will be so happy.” I smiled shyly. Until a teenager appeared, he chuckled, “Brother, sister-in-law.” Liam laughed coldly twice. The teenager immediately hid behind my other arm. “Corey Sterling.” With a faint utterance, the teenager stiffened instantly, turning his head mechanically. I followed the teenager’s gaze to find the source of the voice. Oliver had one hand in his pocket. But I didn’t make eye contact with Oliver. He glared at the teenager, “Why are you running around? Do you think you’re the only one with legs?” Corey pouted, feeling wronged, “Oliver, I just came over to say hi to my brother and sister-in-law. If I didn’t, you’d say I was impolite.” Oliver sneered, “Heh, sister-in-law?” My blood seemed to freeze in my veins. But Oliver didn’t say anything in the end. He didn’t look at me or Liam the entire time, just dragged Corey away, “Go do your homework. You failed your math test, and you still have the nerve to wander around?” Corey was dragged away looking miserable. I withdrew my gaze thoughtfully. Corey’s voice and “Ning’s” voice were almost exactly the same; it must be him. I asked Liam, “Is that your biological brother? Why is his last name Han?” Liam smiled faintly, “He took our mother’s maiden name.” I nodded. Before long, Liam was called up to the study. I went to keep the old Mrs. Sterling company. She stroked my hand, sighing: “You and our Liam are a perfect match.” As she spoke, she wiped away a tear. I quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it for her. “Liam, this child, matured early. His parents… sigh, it’s rare for him to find a girl he likes. You two must be happy!” The old lady looked dazed for a moment, then a wave of relief washed over her, and she gripped my hand tightly. I stayed with the old lady for a while, and she offered: “Liam said you don’t like it when it’s too stuffy. Our garden here is quite beautiful; you can go for a stroll.” “Okay,” I agreed. I walked into the garden feeling relaxed, enveloped in a faint floral scent. Liam saw that I wasn’t good at socializing, so he instructed the others to let me get some fresh air in the garden if I felt bored, and not to bother me. But some people clearly didn’t listen. I heard footsteps and wasn’t surprised, nor did I turn around. “Evelyn, what are you really thinking? Do you want to enter the Sterling family’s door that badly?” Oliver’s voice was freezing cold. My fingertips brushed past the rose petals, and I said indifferently: “You can expose my true colors in front of everyone in your Sterling family.” After a long while, Oliver’s voice sounded muffled: “…What true colors do you have?” I answered casually: “Your ex-girlfriend, spent your money. After breaking up with you, seamlessly transitioned to Liam.” Oliver was silent for a very long time. His thin lips moved slightly, “I didn’t want to leave a bad impression of you in their eyes.” I didn’t understand, “You still care about that?” His voice was hoarse and dry, “What if, one day in the future, you still have the identity of Oliver’s wife…” He realized what he was saying, and his voice stopped abruptly. My eyes widened slightly in astonishment. After a long pause, I shook my head, “That won’t happen.” The wine glass in Oliver’s hand dropped to the ground. It made a sharp sound of breaking glass. “Why did you get together with Liam the day after breaking up with me? How did you get together?” Oliver grabbed my wrist, his grip strong. I didn’t want to get into a tug-of-war with him here, “It’s none of your business.” “Evelyn!” My struggling stopped. I looked up in surprise. That cry from Oliver just now clearly carried a tearful tone.

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By the fifth year of our sugar daddy/sugar baby arrangement, he had become a household name, a superstar who no longer needed me. He started staying out all night and stopped clinging to me, whispering sweet nothings. The torment of his hot-and-cold attitude was excruciating. On my fifty-third sleepless night, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my phone, ready to call him and have a massive blowout fight. Suddenly, rows of bullet comments flashed before my eyes: [LOL, why is this cannon fodder male side character pushing his luck? A mere Beta actually thinks he can keep the protagonist top, an S-rank Alpha?] [Let him call and throw a tantrum. Once he does, Best Actor Song will realize how wonderful his gentle, lovable Omega little assistant is, and kick him to the curb!] [The Best Actor is going to dump him sooner or later anyway. After all, who would love an aging, broken Beta? Our precious bottom, who has a 98% compatibility rate and can release soothing pheromones, is so much better…] 1 The transatlantic call had barely begun to ring. Song Qingyu answered almost instantly. “Is it time for your check-in again, brother?” His deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of exhaustion and resignation. It was so obvious. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? The hysterical questions I had prepared choked in my throat, leaving me momentarily stunned. Song Qingyu quickly continued his report: “I just finished hair and makeup, we’re shooting on location soon… Brother, look at this, it’s from that place we ate at three years ago. Zhou Zhou specifically woke up early and waited in line for two hours to buy it for me…” Zhou Zhou. The protagonist bottom mentioned in the bullet comments, the little assistant who had been with Song Qingyu for less than a year. I don’t know when it started, but it felt like he couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning Zhou Zhou. The signs had been there all along. I had just been too careless, too blind. A suffocating, surging pain gripped my heart. I suddenly felt incredibly tired. I interrupted Song Qingyu’s endless chatter: “Let’s just end it here. I’m going to sleep.” Dead silence fell over the line. “That’s all you have to say?” “Yeah.” Usually, my check-in calls lasted twenty minutes at a minimum. Today, it was under five. Song Qingyu must be breathing a sigh of relief. Sure enough, he lowered his overly excited voice, a barely detectable tremor leaking through: “Brother, th-then wait for me to go to the bathroom…” “There’s no need.” Being forced to say cheesy things like “I love you forever” and “I miss you so much” won’t be necessary from now on. I forced myself to speak: “Goodnight.” Then, I swiftly hung up the phone. And casually turned it off. 2 I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The bullet comments kept mocking me in front of my eyes: [Has this cannon fodder realized his place yet? The two protagonists have high morals and won’t cheat. Can he just voluntarily step aside for our precious bottom?] [A capitalist hypocrite who uses the Best Actor to make money and sleeps with him too. It’s been five years and he still won’t let him go…] [Taking advantage of someone’s misfortune and then demanding gratitude for saving them… he’s the worst…] I stared at the dizzyingly reflective ceiling, memories flashing through my mind like a zoetrope. They were right. Five years ago, Song Qingyu agreeing to be with me was indeed the result of me taking advantage of his misfortune and demanding payback. Back then, he had offended a powerful foreign mob boss. Despite having a face destined for stardom, no company or production crew in the industry dared to hire him. I was young and reckless. Risking the complete destruction of my career, I took him in. I threw resources at him, orchestrated his debut, assigned him a top-tier manager, and promoted him with a massive, unsparing campaign. Even someone as proud and aloof as him was genuinely grateful to me back then. He hugged me, tears shining in his eyes, and promised: “Brother, I will definitely make a lot of money to repay you in the future. I won’t let you down…” He didn’t know I had selfish motives. I had long anticipated the immense profits he could bring the company, but I wanted more. The physique and looks of an S-rank Alpha are top-tier. As a perfectly ordinary Beta, it was hard not to be attracted. So, after helping him deal with a malicious director for the third time… I crushed out my cigarette, dropping my bluff, and said bluntly: “Qingyu, be with me.” 3 It’s been so long, I can’t clearly remember Song Qingyu’s expression at that moment. Maybe it was shock, astonishment, or perhaps anger and disdain. There was only a long silence as he weighed the pros and cons. Finally, he took the sugar baby contract, nodded expressionlessly: “Sure. “Jiang Yu, you can’t regret this.” … That very night, I regretted it a bit. What bullshit rumors about S-rank Alphas being gentle as water? Liars. An Alpha in his susceptible period was such a beast in bed that I wanted to tear up the contract, preferring to pay the astronomical breach of contract fee. That entire night, staring at the blurred, swaying chandelier, I cursed myself internally for digging my own grave. But the next day, after passing out from a mix of exhaustion and profound regret… I opened my eyes to see Song Qingyu leaning in close with his outrageously handsome face, lowering his eyes submissively, calling me “brother” and apologizing. All the anger in my heart vanished without a trace instantly. I tried to accept him, spoiling him without a bottom line. He also strictly adhered to his professional ethics, caring for me meticulously. Later, I clearly realized I had fallen for him. Reason told me I shouldn’t catch feelings, but instinct overpowered reason. I was a willing victim. This sugar daddy arrangement felt like a clingy four-year relationship. Until Song Qingyu became a megastar. He started getting so busy he was rarely seen, no longer sticking to me. He established his own studio, replaced the assistant I had assigned him, and started staying out all night regularly. This is how he mentioned me to others: “Gratitude for discovering me? I paid that back a long time ago. “I don’t owe Jiang Yu anything. He’s not my benefactor.” … I once thought that over a long period of time, I could make him love me too, keeping him by my side forever. I was wrong. 4 An S-rank Alpha looks down on an ordinary Beta. That was the conclusion I reached after a sleepless night. I took an ice pack from the fridge to apply to my eyes, quickly adjusted my emotions, and got ready for work. But just as I put on my shoes… The front door was suddenly kicked open. I looked up sluggishly, meeting the travel-worn, deeply hostile eyes of Song Qingyu, and my whole body trembled. “Why are you…” “Brother, why was your phone turned off last night?” Seeing I couldn’t answer, Song Qingyu kissed me without allowing any explanation. The force was so strong, it felt like he wanted to devour me whole. Fortunately, I’m not affected by pheromones. I gripped his jaw, pulled back to catch my breath, and asked: “Are you in your susceptible period?” Song Qingyu shook his head, then nodded. “You can’t go to the company today, brother.” He dragged me to the second-floor bedroom. After scanning the room, his movements became much gentler. After all, we’ve shared a bed for five years. He knows exactly how to serve me to give me pleasure. In a moment of hazy consciousness, I softened my tone and asked: “Didn’t you say you were shooting on location today? Why did you suddenly come back?” Song Qingyu’s movements didn’t pause. He blurted out: “Because I missed you, brother.” He tilted my face, forcing me to look at him: “We haven’t seen each other in so long, didn’t you miss me?” “…” For a moment, I almost forgot the bullet comments’ warning. But they quickly popped up again, haunting me: [LOL, is the cannon fodder male side character touching himself again?] [Why don’t you ask what our Best Actor Song really wants?] [Karma is a bitch. You used him before, now he’s just using you. There’s not a shred of genuine feeling…] My throat tightened. Feigning nonchalance, I turned my face away and awkwardly probed: “Tell me, what do you want?” Song Qingyu froze at that. And my breathing was caught with him. After a long pause, he forced a stiff smile and said he wanted the second male lead role in a major director’s upcoming finale film. “Director Zhao has a weird temper. Most people can’t hire him. I heard you have a history with him, brother…” I couldn’t hear the rest of his words clearly, and I forgot to wonder why he didn’t ask for the lead role. My mind was filled with one thought—the bullet comments were all true. But I just couldn’t bring myself to sever all ties immediately. I can only slowly withdraw, detach. 5 Zhou Zhou quickly showed up at the villa. He wasn’t an employee of my company. He shot me a somewhat reproachful glare before turning to advise Song Qingyu. “Qingyu, Cameron is already getting angry on set. You should head back…” He tried to reach past the front door to grab Song Qingyu, but I frowned and blocked him. “Did I invite you in?” This villa is my house. Zhou Zhou’s face turned ugly for a moment as he looked at Song Qingyu. “Why are you looking at me? Apologize.” Song Qingyu wrapped his arm around my waist, his expression equally displeased: “Who taught you to speak to your boss’s boss like that?” I was stunned. The bullet comments quickly filled the screen with curses. [It’s totally normal for the young couple to have separation anxiety. Can the male side character stop trying so hard to make his presence known?] [Actually, our precious bottom could also help the top get that role, but the top can’t bear to let money taint this relationship. He’d rather run back and act with the male side character than let our precious bottom intervene…] [Yeah, let the top keep pretending to be mean to our precious bottom. It definitely won’t be hard or tiring when he has to grovel to win him back later…] “No need to apologize. You go with him.” I pried Song Qingyu’s hand off. Uncharacteristically, I wasn’t aggressive, stepping back: “I’ll get you the second male lead role in that movie. You can go.” 6 After seeing Song Qingyu off, I still went to work. My secretary quickly dug up Zhou Zhou’s background. He was the only son of the Zhou family, the leading construction enterprise in the country. To pursue love, he condescended to enter the entertainment industry as a manager. I closed the file. It said he had been openly in love with Song Qingyu for four years. Before, so many wealthy Omegas had flocked to Song Qingyu, and he had completely ignored them all. Except for Zhou Zhou. He allowed an Omega with a 98% compatibility rate to stay by his side. Allowed someone with such obvious intentions to orbit around him all day… “Mr. Jiang, should we keep this newcomer?” Seeing me spaced out, Secretary Wu pushed another file in front of me, mechanically repeating the situation. I was annoyed and wanted to push it away, but when I saw the photo clearly, I froze. “Did you find him on purpose?” “He came to us on his own.” The boy in the photo looked 70% like Song Qingyu when he first debuted. Raw and green, but undeniable charismatic. But offering himself up at this specific time… Does he really think I’m just a lovestruck fool? I suddenly found it quite amusing and told Secretary Wu to keep him. Working late into the night, the bullet comments were still floating before my eyes. They talked about Song Qingyu and his little assistant acting ambiguously on set, then said he felt disgusted by last night and took several showers after returning to the crew… I tried desperately to ignore them. But every word stung my eyes. Disgusting enough to make me nauseous. After throwing up in the bathroom for a while, I forced myself to open my laptop at home to handle some business. Unexpectedly, a piece of paper fluttered out. Written in crooked handwriting: [Don’t turn off your phone, I need to check in, I’m begging you, brother QAQ] How funny. Who said Song Qingyu had bad acting skills because he was a nepotism hire? He’s acting pretty well right now. 7 I hadn’t made up my mind to let Song Qingyu go yet, so naturally, I didn’t plan on exposing him. While he was abroad shooting the movie, I didn’t show a hint of displeasure. I took his check-in calls on time and listened to his reports. Except, I wouldn’t ask a single extra question. Whether it was gossip about a certain actor on the trending list, or rumors of a showmance on set. Even when a foreign beauty suddenly crashed the video call, jokingly kissing him on the cheek. I remained unfazed. “Brother, don’t misunderstand, she’s my…” Song Qingyu frantically shooed the person out of the room, turned back to my completely impassive face, and instantly choked on his words. Even separated by thousands of miles. The air seemed to share the same dead silence. Seeing he had no desire to continue explaining, I yawned and casually ended the conversation: “Let’s stop here for today. You get back to work, I should sleep too.” For the next few days, Song Qingyu didn’t initiate contact. He was very busy. So I also worked my ass off to find things to do. I finished a month’s worth of work in one week, and used business dinners as an excuse to drink heavily. Secretary Wu couldn’t stop me. Halfway through getting drunk, while taking a break to vomit in the restroom, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. “Mr. Jiang, if your stomach is bad, stop drinking. I’ll drink for you.” I struggled to lift my eyes. It was the boy who looked 70% like Song Qingyu in the photo, Xu Heyin. 8 Xu Heyin finished the second half of the business dinner for me. I was indeed feeling too sick to touch another drop of alcohol, and I also wanted to see what kind of stand-in they had sent to mess with my head. “Mr. Jiang, am I good-looking?” On the way home, Xu Heyin, who had volunteered to be my “bodyguard,” turned his head and blinked at me mischievously. As an Alpha, he lacked Song Qingyu’s sharp, brooding edge, possessing more of a bright, sunny disposition. “Very good-looking.” I shifted my blatant gaze, looking out the window at the passing traffic. “Then do you think I can be famous?” he pressed. I nodded again. “Yes.” The industry had always lacked a beautiful, strikingly handsome male actor with a mixed-race vibe who still retained a masculine edge, like Song Qingyu. In all the years since his debut, there still hadn’t been a substitute for him. It must have been hard for them to find someone so similar for me. Hearing the satisfactory answer, Xu Heyin, like a child who just got candy, was in a great mood, humming a little tune all the way. The driver parked the car steadily in the courtyard, and he sensibly unbuckled my seatbelt and helped me out of the car. Despite drinking so much, it was as if he hadn’t drunk at all, tightly supporting my unsteady steps. He was attentive and polite throughout. Only when we reached the front door did he suddenly stop and turn his head. He leaned in slightly, whispering in my ear, his voice as quiet as a mosquito: “So, compared to Senior Song?” I was feeling a bit dizzy and nauseous, and his provocation made me shudder. It took me a moment to react: “What?” Xu Heyin smiled, straightened up, and raised his voice to repeat: “I said, compared to Senior Song Qingyu, who do you like more?” …What a boring question. Tired of dealing with him, I pushed him away, turned around, and started walking back. But before I could even raise my hand to scan my fingerprint… The front door suddenly opened from the inside. An Alpha radiating bone-chilling coldness gritted his teeth, pointed behind me, and demanded sinisterly: “Brother, who is he?” 9 I never expected Song Qingyu to return a month early. Even less did I expect him to coincidentally witness this scene. My stomach suddenly cramped. Too late to explain, I ran to the bathroom and dry heaved. But I couldn’t throw anything up. “Brother, take some medicine.” Song Qingyu handed me a glass of warm water, along with the stomach medicine we always kept at home. For some reason, my intuition told me it wasn’t a stomach issue. I just took the water to rinse my mouth. In an instant, the back of my neck was pinched and lifted, meeting the gloomy, terrifying gaze in the mirror: “You are covered in his scent.” Alpha pheromones—naturally, I couldn’t smell them. If I could, I’d probably be choking right now. Because according to the bullet comments, an Alpha of Song Qingyu’s caliber absolutely despises anyone else touching what belongs to him. This isn’t about love or affection; it’s purely an instinctive possessiveness. “Did brother not come visit me on set abroad because of him?” “Is he brother’s new favorite?” “I’m so sorry. I worked myself to death to finish filming a month early and rushed back, only to interrupt your date…” Song Qingyu casually glanced at the dining table downstairs, covered in dishes, as if watching a joke, his tone suddenly dropping: “Jiang Yu, is my timing really that bad? Did I interrupt your next step?!” “What right do you have to question me?” A flash of pain crossed Song Qingyu’s eyes, yet it pierced my heart precisely like a poisoned needle. I looked at the bullet comments detailing how much he loved Zhou Zhou. For a moment, emotions surged, and I exploded, almost hysterically: “Song Qingyu, we only have a sugar daddy arrangement. What right do you have to question me, to restrict my freedom, huh?!” 10 Everything was a complete mess. I never thought I’d say such sarcastic, hypocritical words to Song Qingyu, like a dancing clown. But words once spoken cannot be taken back. He was stunned for a long time before he recovered, his eyes red, panting heavily. The bullet comments, however, found it hilarious: [LOL, is the protagonist top’s acting too good? I almost thought he really loved this cannon fodder.] [It could also be because this cannon fodder deliberately said the opposite. The protagonist top always thought he liked him, but it turns out he doesn’t… basically, his unrequited feelings are a bit embarrassing hahaha.] [Stop talking. After the top finishes this scene, he’ll quickly go find our precious bottom to compensate for his mental distress…] Song Qingyu snapped back to reality, released my neck, and stormed out the door. I didn’t stop him. A bird forcibly kept in a cage will never truly belong to you. I went downstairs and sat at the dining table. The table full of delicacies was still steaming slightly. They were all my favorites. I buried my head and took a few bites, mixing my tears with the rice. It tasted awful. 11 Song Qingyu didn’t come back that night. Instead, it was Xu Heyin who, the next day, covered in bruises and with a slight bruise on his right cheek, cried uncontrollably in my office. [Gotta play the part. The top even pretended to be jealous and beat up his rival. What a brilliant move!] [As expected of a Grand Slam Best Actor…] So it’s acting again. Is it really all just acting?! Xu Heyin was giving me a headache. I just threw a big-budget movie his way to shut him up. At night, I wrote, deleted, and rewrote a text message on my phone, ultimately pressing delete. As for news about Best Actor Song, it gets pushed to me even without deliberately searching for it. He was shooting a commercial in the neighboring city today. In the video, Song Qingyu didn’t look well, so his manager Xiao Zhou was constantly fussing over him, fanning him, handing him water, and massaging him intimately… sparking suspicions among the melon-eating masses about their relationship. I didn’t make a furious phone call to question him like I used to. I just looked at it for a few extra seconds. Then, I deleted all draft messages and locked the screen. The next day, I traveled to various places for business trips. In foreign lands, I worked non-stop for three weeks. I successfully landed myself in the hospital. … When I opened my eyes again, the pungent smell of disinfectant flooded my lungs, making me nauseous. “Mr. Jiang. Mr. Jiang Yu.” My doctor friend pushed up his glasses, smiling at me, gritting his teeth as he asked: “Did you know that your ‘good’ male pet managed to get you, an infertile Beta, PREGNANT?” 12 How the f*ck was I supposed to know? A Beta, built like a robot, can actually get pregnant? If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone bareback just for the thrill… “Jiang Yu, are you listening to me?” Gu Chen flipped through the test results, snapping me back to reality: “This baby is only a month old, you should get rid of it. There are barely any cases of Betas giving birth domestically…” “What about abroad?” I actually kind of wanted a child. Or rather, as an orphan abandoned at the orphanage door right after birth, I wanted family, someone tied to me by blood, someone who wouldn’t easily leave me. “I have money, I can minimize the risks.” Gu Chen was momentarily speechless, frowning in silence. He knew I’ve always been stubborn. So he stopped trying to persuade me. “Do you really like him that much?” he just asked. I couldn’t be bothered to explain the real reason, so I just replied: “Help me keep this a secret, especially from him.”

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1 That night, at a friend’s gathering, I sat quietly on the sofa. Suddenly, my husband, Professor Alistair Berini, dropped to his knees before me with a thud. His face was contorted in a pained expression as he spoke. He said Celeste and I were a match for a heart transplant, and the surgery had to happen immediately. I froze, though deep down, I felt no surprise. I softly reminded him that everyone only has one heart. He instantly promised he’d arrange for the best surgeons in New York to install an artificial heart for me. I touched my belly, telling him I was three months away from giving birth. But he told me to give up this child first, saying there would be others later. As I sat there in a daze, Celeste’s clear, bright laughter reached my ears. She told my husband, “Happy April Fool’s Day!” and that the successful match was just a prank, never expecting he’d actually come to beg me. The friends around us erupted in cheerful chatter, teasing her about how awkward her joke was. Someone even quipped that if Celeste had claimed to be a match for them, Asher would have probably already dragged them to the operating table. Everyone was laughing. I alone sat in silence. After the party ended, I quietly took out my phone and booked an abortion for the next day. … Alistair had never truly been angry with Celeste. For his delicate, sickly student, he had always treated her with kid gloves, afraid to even raise his voice. But this time, after he rose from his knees, his face was uncharacteristically grim. The boisterous crowd grew quiet, sensing the shift. The air thickened. Someone quietly nudged Celeste. “You crossed a line with this prank, hitting a nerve with Professor Berini.” “He’s infamous for being devoted to his wife. The year he started teaching, a colleague made an offhand joke about Aurora, and Alistair beat him so badly he ended up in the hospital.” Celeste froze, then tears welled in her eyes. She carefully tugged at Alistair’s sleeve. “I’m so sorry, Professor Berini, it’s April Fool’s, I was just trying to play a joke.” When he didn’t speak, she turned to me, sniffling. “Mrs. Berini, I didn’t mean it. If you’re angry, scold me, I deserve it.” Friends quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over. “This girl is just a bit thoughtless, didn’t think before she joked. You two shouldn’t take it to heart.” “Exactly, Alistair. She’s been your star student for three years, even got a mention in your thesis acknowledgements recently. You can’t let an April Fool’s joke ruin everything.” Alistair’s expression finally softened a little. He reached up, gently wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye. “Don’t make jokes like that again.” Celeste nodded profusely. He then looked at me, a hint of apology in his voice. “I’m sorry, Aurora, I came to you for help before I even verified the information.” Such a massive thing as a heart transplant, casually wrapped up in “a little help.” It wasn’t the first time. Whenever something involved Celeste, Professor Berini, usually so clear-headed and rational, became remarkably emotional and vague. He would, in the dead of winter night, drive eight hundred miles to coastal cities because she mentioned menstrual cramps. When asked about it, he’d offer a helpless shrug: “The girl isn’t well, I worry about her.” But I was at home, five months pregnant, waiting through a cold, lonely night. He didn’t worry about me. I was in agony, speechless from constant fetal movements. He didn’t worry about me. My morning sickness, contractions, swelling, hair loss – none of it seemed to concern him. Facing me, he was always as rational as a machine: “Aurora, carrying a life is naturally difficult. It’ll be better once the baby’s born.” I became irritable, prone to outbursts, but he dismissed it as pregnancy hormones, offering a few casual words of comfort before retreating to his study. Each time, I’d force myself to suppress the urge to disturb his work. But that research paper, the one he’d poured five years of his life into, actually mentioned Celeste in the first line of the acknowledgements. A mere undergraduate student with, arguably, no professional competence. I only found out when the news broke. In the interview video, Alistair spoke with casual indifference. “In my five years of teaching, Celeste isn’t the most talented student I’ve seen. But she is certainly the most resilient.” “I’m grateful she appeared in my life. She gave me the courage to continue my research.” 2 That day, I accidentally shattered my favorite vase. When Alistair saw it, he simply calmly instructed the housekeeper to clean up the mess. But that vase, he and I had crafted it together in a small ceramics studio during the year we were most deeply in love. He’d even earnestly declared it would be a family heirloom. “Maybe… maybe I can put it back together.” I knelt on the floor, trembling, trying to piece together the tiny fragments. He frowned, pulling me up. “It’s just a cheap vase, Aurora, it’s nothing.” My eyes welled up, but his gaze fell to my belly. “Is the baby bothering you again?” I tried to reassure myself, telling myself he was a logical man, and it was perfectly normal for him not to care about such sentimental keepsakes. But that evening, when I went to his study to bring him fruit, I saw a locked, transparent display case. Inside, carefully preserved, was a twenty-dollar fountain pen Celeste had given him, the kind you buy at a stationery store. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head. I yelled at him, and even smashed open the cabinet, throwing the pen fiercely into the trash. But in the next second, he retrieved it as if it were a precious treasure. When he looked back at me, Alistair’s eyes were full of impatience. “Aurora, look in the mirror. See how much you resemble a shrew right now!” “You broke the vase yourself today. What exactly are you blaming me for?” I made him swear to God that he hadn’t fallen for Celeste. If he had, then neither of us would find peace. Alistair, the staunch materialist, hesitated. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “Yes, I have fallen for her.” “But we haven’t crossed a line, and we won’t. You don’t need to act like you’ve suffered some terrible injustice.” Tears streamed down my face. He sighed, reaching up to smooth my disheveled hair. “Aurora, we’ve been together for eleven years. There’s no novelty left.” “To be frank, when I kiss you, it feels like I’m just pressing my own lips together.” “Sometimes I even regret marrying you abroad right after college, but back then, I never imagined I’d fall for someone else a decade later.” He was the one who once lit up the entire city with fireworks to woo me. Now, he was the one looking down, coldly discussing his change of heart. “Celeste has a vibrant, lively personality, unlike your subdued nature.” “She loves to play pranks, she loves watching silly romance movies, she loves feeding stray kittens by the roadside.” “Even though these are all boring things you used to enjoy, when she does them, I find them incredibly endearing. I can’t help but be drawn to her.” Finally, he lit a cigarette, his voice gentle yet cruel. “As long as you’re willing, the position of Mrs. Berini will always be yours. But you must accept that my heart belongs only to her.” After that night, I plunged into a continuous spiral of breakdown and emotional turmoil, crying every day until my eyes were swollen and red. I tried to detach myself, deliberately ignoring his late nights, his repeated absences from my prenatal appointments, his taking Celeste on vacation to Hawaii. But it was always just me lying to myself. Until today, when he knelt before me in front of everyone, begging me to give my heart to Celeste, even willing to sacrifice our six-month-old child. I suddenly felt this marriage was utterly pointless. 3 “Mrs. Berini, I know I was wrong, please forgive me.” Celeste’s voice was much more confident now than before, a subtle, hard-to-miss smirk hidden in her eyes. Someone chimed in, “Aurora, Celeste didn’t mean any harm. She’s always been a bit wild with her jokes. She even said something about wanting to marry Professor Berini when she was drunk once.” At that remark, the atmosphere instantly went silent. The person slapped a hand over their mouth in chagrin. “I didn’t mean it like that! I meant she just doesn’t think before she speaks. Who doesn’t know you and Asher have been together for years, solid as a rock? There’s no room for anyone else!” I gave a silent, wry smile, then looked at Celeste. “It’s fine. I don’t blame you.” Everyone visibly relaxed. The next second, I continued. “Alistair and I are getting divorced soon. Consider this an early congratulations on getting what you wanted.” “Aurora!” Alistair’s face darkened. “Don’t talk nonsense in front of all these people.” I found it ironic. “You can beg me in front of all these people to give my heart to Celeste, but I can’t even mention divorce?” He frowned. “It was just an April Fool’s joke. What’s the big deal?” “Celeste has already apologized, and I’ve spoken to her. If you keep making a scene, it’s just going to make things awkward for everyone!” Our friends also started to advise me. “Calm down, Aurora. You’re pregnant, don’t let this trivial matter hurt your marriage.” “Exactly. We all saw how much Asher cared about you earlier. He never speaks to Celeste that harshly.” At their words, I slowly looked at Alistair, my voice surprisingly calm. “You weren’t angry because of me just now. You were angry because Celeste joked about her match, and you were disappointed when you heard the truth.” He faltered slightly. A moment later, a flicker of irritation crossed his brow. “Please, I’m begging you, can we not talk about this here?” “You might be shameless, but Celeste isn’t.” A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes briefly, then whispered, “Fine. See you at the courthouse next Monday.” As I stood to leave, Celeste suddenly knelt before me. “Mrs. Berini, please don’t be angry with Professor Berini, okay? He just wants me to have a healthy body.” I stared coldly at the girl, whose face was streaked with tears, and scoffed. “You went to all this trouble to make that joke, proving your place in Alistair’s heart. You must be quite pleased now.” She suddenly looked deeply humiliated, her face turning ashen. I averted my gaze, walking around her to leave. The next second, I heard a cold, biting voice. “Aurora, don’t forget that Mom is still at Berini Memorial Hospital.” My steps halted abruptly. Never in my life did I imagine Alistair would use my mother to threaten me. After a long silence, I forced a smile, helping Celeste to her feet. “Everything I said just now was a joke. I don’t blame you.” Her voice was choked. “That’s good. I was so scared I’d cause trouble for Professor Berini.” The charade ended there. Alistair drove me home. On the way, he uncharacteristically offered an explanation. “I was just forced to scare you back there; I wouldn’t actually do anything to Mom.” “I really put you through a lot today. As compensation, I’ll accompany you to your prenatal checkup tomorrow.” “Aurora, we’ve been together for over a decade. I’m not completely devoid of feelings for you. If possible, I hope you and Celeste can get along.” I leaned against the car window, perfectly calm. “What I said today was serious.” “Alistair, let’s get a divorce. From now on, your business with her has nothing to do with me.” 4 The air hung silent for two seconds. He suddenly let out a low chuckle. “This is the seventh time you’ve brought up divorce since you got pregnant. Next time you throw a tantrum, try some new tactics.” As he finished speaking, his phone rang sharply in the car. He answered the call, then slammed on the brakes. “You get out here. Celeste is having an episode; I need to get back to her.” I looked at the pouring rain outside the window, paused, and opened the car door. His urgent voice came from behind me. “Find somewhere to shelter from the rain and wait. I’ll take her to the hospital and come back for you!” Late at night, in a downpour, finding a taxi was impossible. I waited in a convenience store until three in the morning before finally getting a ride home. Three hours of waiting – enough time for Alistair to take Celeste to the hospital and back ten times over. Not enough time for him to take his six-month pregnant wife home. … In the morning, I went to the hospital. The doctor looked gravely at the test results in her hand. “Miss Berini, given your current physical condition, undergoing an induced abortion would likely mean you won’t be able to conceive again in the future.” “If you confirm, please sign here.” I was naturally prone to difficulty conceiving. At twenty-three, I’d had a child once before. Alistair was just starting to make a name for himself in the research world back then. During his busiest period, I traveled with him through three different countries in a single week, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. I woke up in the hospital to learn I was a month pregnant, but the prolonged travel had caused a miscarriage. That was the first time I saw Alistair cry. He held me, heartbroken, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Aurora, it’s all my fault for not taking care of you, I’m so sorry…” “We’ll have another one someday, we will.” Six years. Six years of praying at temples, monthly hospital check-ups, all to finally welcome this child. But everything had changed. I signed the papers in silence, following the nurse to the ward, only to unexpectedly run into Celeste. Her face was flushed with health, showing no signs of the “episode” Alistair had mentioned. “Mrs. Berini, are you here for a prenatal checkup alone? Why isn’t Professor Berini with you?” The next second, her lips curved into a smile. “Oh, I almost forgot. He’s helping me get my period pain medication.” “He’s really making too much of a fuss. It’s just normal menstrual cramps, but he insists on bringing me to the hospital for a check-up.” “Last night, too, I just casually mentioned we were a match, and I never expected he’d actually want you to give me your heart.” Seeing no reaction from me, she looked a little annoyed. “I’m sorry, I seem to have upset you again.” Alistair, who had just arrived, overheard her. He frowned, stepping in front of her protectively. “Aurora, can’t you just leave Celeste alone? She’s very weak right now!” I didn’t speak, simply walked around them. Alistair watched my retreating back, and his heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He stopped the nurse. “Where are you going?” The nurse politely replied, “Sir, we cannot disclose patient privacy.” He wanted to press further, but Celeste stopped him. “Where else would she go? For a prenatal checkup, obviously.” “Professor Berini, you promised to go see a movie with me today. Let’s go.” … During the two days I was hospitalized, I received eighteen missed calls from Alistair. In his texts, he sounded frustrated and angry. “Why aren’t you home and why aren’t you answering your phone? There’s a limit to throwing tantrums; this just makes me more annoyed.” “I’m going on a business trip to Europe soon. Let me know if there’s anything you want.” “How were your prenatal checkup results? Everything alright?” I texted back. “Don’t forget, courthouse tomorrow.” His reply was instant. “Are you serious?” “Fine. Just don’t regret it later and come up with some excuse about not feeling well.” The next day at nine, I waited outside the courthouse. Half an hour later, Alistair finally arrived. He slowly got out of his car, but the moment his eyes landed on me, he froze, staring blankly at my flat stomach. “…Aurora, where’s the baby?”

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That day, I decided to sleep apart from my wife after confirming her betrayal. For three months, I quietly gathered evidence. When I entered her room again, she hid her phone and pretended to sleep, her voice nervous: “I’m tired, I want to sleep.” I sat calmly on the bed. “We need to talk.” She replied impatiently: “What’s there to talk about? Go find someone else if you want. I’m just not in the mood.” I stayed calm: “If I did, what would you be here for? Have you ever shared the household expenses? Have you ever given me emotional support? I handle everything here. What do I need you for if I found someone else?” Victoria turned sharply: “What do you want?” “A divorce,” I answered directly. She sat up, stunned. “Daniel Huie, you’d divorce me just because I won’t let you touch me?” She grew louder: “You say I don’t contribute financially or emotionally—but whose child is this? Did he just appear out of thin air?” I looked straight at her and said clearly: “Save that ‘child’ excuse for the real father. “Do you think I am?” … “Daniel Huie, you bastard!” Victoria threw a pillow at me. “You’re insulting my character.” “Victoria, we’re both adults. We have to take responsibility for our actions.” “Do you think I’d spread rumors and shame myself without any proof?” “Fine, then show me the proof. If you can, I’ll agree to a divorce.” I slapped the paternity test report onto her face, “Open your damn eyes and see for yourself.” Victoria turned on the light, looking at the paternity test report. “Daniel, you actually did a paternity test on the child behind my back. You don’t trust me that much?” I glanced at her, “Go wash your face, calm down and rephrase your words. I don’t think what you’re saying right now makes any sense.” “You have absolutely no trust in me, so there’s really no point in continuing this marriage.” Victoria angrily began packing her things. About fifteen minutes later, she slammed the door shut and left. This wasn’t uncommon; in the past, no matter what the argument was about, she would leave home. She might be gone for a day, or two or three days. Blocking all contact, her emotional outbursts were maddening. To maintain this family, I was always careful, afraid of doing anything that might displease her. Even intimate matters between us, I endured again and again. But today, the moment she walked out, I immediately blocked and deleted all her contact information. Go look for her? No way. We’ll see if she comes back first to agree to a divorce, or if my court summons for divorce reaches her first. Not long after she left, I woke the child. I knew the child was innocent, but the moment I learned the truth, I couldn’t help but see him differently. There was no way I could continue pretending nothing happened and raise someone else’s child. I tried my best to control my emotions, made up an excuse for the child, and sent him to his grandma’s house that very night. My mother-in-law asked, “Daniel, the child has school tomorrow, why are you sending him over in the middle of the night?” I said nothing, merely dropping a paternity test report. Tonight, Victoria’s family home would likely not be peaceful. 2. The next morning, as soon as I got up, Victoria was already busy in the kitchen. Seven years of marriage, and it was the first time I’d seen her cook. When she brought breakfast to the table, it was clear this was far from her first time cooking. It looked and smelled delicious, I just wondered for whom she’d displayed her culinary skills before. She wore a chef’s apron and sat by the table, waiting, but I didn’t take my seat. After washing up, I placed the divorce agreement on the dining table. She grabbed my hand, “Honey, aren’t you going to ask me where I was last night?” “I only care about the whereabouts of the person I love. You’re not that person.” She started to cry, silently weeping, looking genuinely pitiful. I used to fall for this, but now my heart was completely unmoved. “Must it be a divorce?” “Yes.” “Honey, yesterday I went to my mom’s. When I got back in the middle of the night, my dad almost had an attack just suspecting we had an argument.” “If he knew I was divorcing, his health couldn’t take it.” “What does that have to do with me?” “How can you be so heartless?” Seeing Victoria still putting on an act in front of me, I directly exposed her lie. “Haven’t you noticed the child isn’t home? Yesterday I sent him to your mom’s, didn’t you see him?” Victoria’s expression froze, “I didn’t know how to tell my family, but my dad’s health is a fact, he can’t handle stress, that’s why I didn’t dare go home in the middle of the night.” She complained a bit, “You know he’s not well, how could you send the child over in the middle of the night?” I looked at her, “Think before you speak. You’re the one who cheated. Your cheating led to me sending the child over. You’re the real culprit causing your dad’s distress.” “What? Did you think your dad would be okay with it when you were cheating?” “I didn’t cheat.” Victoria cried even harder, “You can’t accuse me falsely.” “You know whether you’re falsely accused or not. I’ll give you three days to think. If you don’t agree to a consensual divorce, I’ll file a lawsuit.” “Also, pack your things and move out today. I find you disgusting.” Ignoring Victoria’s weeping, I got up and left. I had more important things to do today. Christopher Vance, an overseas master’s graduate, Director of Planning at Starstream Media Group. The man who put horns on my head. Today, I was going to confront him. Neither the adulterous dog nor the unfaithful bitch should be spared in this battle. To see this busy man required an appointment. I had the front desk contact Christopher, only mentioning my name, and he agreed to meet. In Christopher’s office, I looked at him, “Do I need to introduce myself?” “Anyone who doesn’t know Daniel Huie, the legendary Operations Director of Lux Media Group, doesn’t belong in this industry.” Christopher extended his hand, “Mr. Huie, I hope you’re here to discuss a partnership this time.” I didn’t shake his hand, “Have you sensed my intention?” Christopher gave an awkward laugh, “With your status, Mr. Huie, you certainly aren’t short of women. Is this really necessary?” “Then let me have some fun with your wife.” Christopher’s face darkened. He leaned back in his chair, “I admit it’s immoral to mess with a married woman.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “But… is it against the law?” “Mr. Huie, your business acumen in the industry is well-known. You’re this good?” He gave me a thumbs up. “However, when it comes to marriage, you’re this.” He pointed his pinky finger downwards, “Victoria learned a lot of tricks from me. Has she tried any on you?” 3. “Do you really want to hit me?” “Too bad for you, being with your wife isn’t against the law, but hitting someone is.” Christopher smirked, but didn’t actually laugh. Yet this silent provocation and mockery was clearly more infuriating. Unfortunately, he didn’t detect any anger on my face. I calmly took out a USB drive and pushed it towards him, “Take a look first. I believe you’ll change your tone when you talk to me.” I don’t fight battles I’m not sure of. I came here not to humiliate myself. I first saw Christopher three months ago at a business summit. At the time, I felt he looked very much like my son, more and more so the longer I looked. Afterward, I did a paternity test, confirming the child wasn’t mine. I used these three months to conduct extensive investigations. I had thoroughly gathered Christopher’s information. He and Victoria were high school classmates; he later studied overseas. After returning to the country, he married into the Hayes family, becoming a live-in son-in-law to a wealthy family. Ava Hayes, the heiress of Starstream Media Group, was Christopher’s wife. And he wasn’t just having an inappropriate relationship with Victoria; the USB drive held the evidence. Some of the videos were perfectly filmed, clearly documenting Christopher’s entire affair. Christopher’s face grew paler and paler. “If Ms. Hayes sees these videos, what do you think her reaction will be?” Christopher wiped the sweat from his forehead, “Daniel, it takes two to tango. I admit I’m a scumbag, but Victoria is no angel either.” “She was the one who contacted me first.” “We’re both men, you should understand it’s hard to refuse a woman throwing herself at you.” I asked, “Since we’re both men, don’t you understand what it feels like to be cheated on?” Christopher’s face grew even darker; he understood. Because he was a live-in son-in-law, he couldn’t control Ava Hayes. Ava had many lovers, but reality was cruel, their status and position were unequal. Ava could play around outside, but he couldn’t. Perhaps they had an agreement to live separate lives, but with the videos in my hands, things were different. If I exposed these videos, it would be a slap in Ava’s face, and she would have to react. Christopher clearly understood this. “Daniel, name your price, anything within my capabilities, I’ll definitely compensate.” I glanced at the teacup; he hastily poured water. “I’ve been reading a lot of CEO romance novels lately, and though I’m not a CEO, I want to experience what it’s like to have someone kneel at my feet.” Christopher’s face was grim, but he still knelt. Slap, slap, slap… I hit Christopher several times with both hands, “Mr. Vance, is it against the law for me to hit someone?” 4. Christopher forced a smile, “It’s illegal for others to hit me, but for you, Daniel, to hit me, that means you respect me.” “Well said, here are a few more for you.” Slap, slap, slap… Christopher dared not dodge, enduring several slaps. I looked down at him, “Now let’s talk business. I checked Victoria’s bank statements. Over the years, she’s transferred a total of one million and six thousand to you. Does that sound right?” Christopher’s face was grim, “That’s right.” “I won’t ask for much interest, just round it up to one point two million. Any problem?” “No problem, absolutely no problem.” Christopher answered quickly. “How long will it take to transfer?” “Three days, three days at most.” “Such a good boy, I almost can’t bear to hit you.” I said, giving him a few more slaps before getting up and walking out. “Daniel, the videos…” I turned back, “Depends on your performance.” Christopher’s face was grim, but he could only watch me leave. Leaving Christopher’s office, I rushed to work. Any anger I had was spent the day I discovered my son wasn’t mine. Now it was about recovering my financial losses and getting my life back on track. Victoria was destined to be a thing of the past. But I didn’t expect Victoria to still be at home after work that day. Not only her, but my parents and her parents were all there. Both sets of parents had prepared a lavish meal, with two good bottles of wine on the table. Victoria’s eyes were red, indicating she had cried for a long time. “Daniel, we’ve just been waiting for you.” Victoria hurried towards me, wanting to help me take off my coat. I disdainfully avoided her. It seemed she had called both sets of parents together. I was curious about what was to come; I wanted to see what she intended to do by bringing everyone together. I went over, greeted both sets of parents, and took my seat. Victoria quickly came and sat beside me. She picked up a piece of braised pork intestine and put it in my bowl, “This is your favorite, try it.” I directly threw the bowl, along with its contents, onto the floor. The atmosphere instantly became tense. My dad glared at me, “Is this never going to end?” Victoria quickly interjected, “Dad, it’s my fault, don’t blame Daniel, it’s all my fault.” She said this while wiping away tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice. “Daniel, Victoria told us everything.” My mom looked at me and continued, “This isn’t Victoria’s fault.” “Your parents understand you’re upset, but Victoria is the victim. You’re her husband, you should be more understanding.” “Victim?” I looked at Victoria in surprise, “I’m a bit confused, can you tell me what she said?” My mom looked at Victoria, “Victoria, haven’t you told Daniel yet?” “I… I…” Victoria looked at me then lowered her head, “I don’t know how to tell him, and I’m afraid he won’t believe me if I do.” “Don’t worry, your dad and I know you’re a good child.” My mom comforted her, “Since you’re uncomfortable saying it, I’ll tell him.” “Daniel, the child is indeed not yours, but it wasn’t Victoria’s intention.” “The year you got married, her classmates all attended the wedding, and afterward she gathered with her classmates again.” “As a result, some beast took the opportunity to get her drunk. Victoria was violated after drinking.” “Victoria had just married you; she was afraid to face this, and even more afraid to tell you. No one expected her to get pregnant with the other man’s child.” My mother’s expression was not good when she spoke, clearly she also found it hard to accept. She continued, “No one wants something like this to happen, and it’s understandable that Victoria was afraid to tell you then.” I stared at Victoria with a grim face. Victoria’s tears flowed even harder, “Daniel, I’m truly sorry, but I was really too scared at the time, afraid that if I told you, you’d divorce me.” I asked coldly, “Who was that beast?” Both sets of parents also looked at Victoria. I spoke again, “I have the right to know who that beast who hurt you was. If possible, I’d like to use my current connections to make him pay.” My mother-in-law quickly said, “Victoria, Daniel has a lot of connections now. Tell Daniel, maybe he can really help you get revenge.” “I… I…” Victoria stammered, her crying growing louder. “You won’t say, are you trying to protect him?” “Daniel, how can you say that?” My dad slammed the table. “Victoria doesn’t want to recall that past, it’s understandable.” My mom quickly intervened, “Let’s eat first, we can talk when Victoria is ready.” I said nothing, quietly took out my phone and called Christopher Vance. “Come to my place. I don’t need to tell you the address, do I?”

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Our seventh wedding anniversary. The hospital called, pulling me in for an emergency C-section. The Chief of Staff, Mr. Hill, his face grim, personally warned me: The patient was someone very important’s beloved. The surgery had to be flawless, or the entire hospital would face the consequences. I frowned, reviewing her chart. I’d always thought power players in this town, like my husband Asher, were devoted to their wives. A “beloved” who wasn’t his wife? That stung. The surgery was a success. The incision, neat and clean, was a testament to my skill. Just as I was letting out a relieved breath, a swarm of men in dark suits burst in. They shoved me roughly to my knees, right outside the patient’s room. Then, a voice, hauntingly familiar, pierced the air, sending a chill straight to my bones. “My wife says you hurt her during surgery. You’ll stay on your knees all night to atone.” Through the window, I saw him. My husband, Asher Hill, cradling a newborn, his eyes red-rimmed with tender concern. He was my husband, Asher Hill. And the woman in the hospital bed? The one he claimed he’d cut ties with three years ago. … 1 Six hours of surgery had already drained every ounce of my energy. The cold seeping into my knees was nothing compared to the icy stab in my heart. My lips parted, but no words came out. All I could do was stare blankly into the room. Asher’s eyes were bloodshot as he leaned over, pressing a kiss to the girl’s forehead. “Sweetheart, our daughter is beautiful.” “Thank you for this precious gift on our three-year anniversary.” Tears splattered onto the pristine hospital floor. So, Asher had never truly ended things with her. All those late nights he supposedly spent “at the office,” were they spent with her instead? The girl on the bed, her voice sickly sweet, grated on my nerves. It was just like Asher’s birthday, years ago. I’d swapped shifts with a colleague, rushing home early to surprise him. But when I pushed open our door, Asher was tangled naked with a stranger. I’d gone wild, flinging the birthday cake at them. Asher had dragged the girl to her knees, his eyes wild with a desperate, bloodshot plea. “Aurora, I’m so sorry. My friends got me wasted and brought her to my bed.” “I was drunk, I didn’t know who she was…” The girl, trembling, reached for my hand, trying to excuse Asher. “Mrs. Hill, it was my fault. I needed money, I seduced him, I even drugged his drink.” That night, Asher whisked the girl away at lightning speed, then tore into his buddies who’d allegedly set him up. He wrote a ten-page apology by hand, then knelt outside my bedroom door for an entire month. It even reached Asher’s mother. With tears in her eyes, she begged me to give him another chance. “Aurora, he can’t live without you. He’ll fall apart.” I locked myself in our room for three days and three nights, convinced I couldn’t sever the deep, searing love I felt for him. I forgave Asher. But I also warned him: if there was ever a next time, I would vanish from his life forever. Daylight broke, and the bodyguards finally let me go. Chief Hill, shaking his head, told me to pack my things and leave the hospital. I drifted home like a ghost, every muscle aching, my spirit a fragile thread. The candles on the dining table had burned down, the steak was cold. A tight, sickening ache filled my chest. I collapsed onto the floor, my eyes drawn to the enormous wedding photo on the wall. Asher in that picture, his gaze brimming with devotion, was the exact same man I’d seen doting on Felicity in the hospital room last night. Felicity pouted, asking for water. He carefully checked the temperature, then brought the glass to her lips. Felicity murmured her legs ached. He immediately searched online for how to massage a new mother. My eyes were vacant, tears streaming down my face, my heart spasming uncontrollably. Seven years of shared love, now reduced to ashes. Asher, I don’t want you anymore. 2 I packed a small bag, then sat alone until darkness fell. During that time, I called Asher over a dozen times. A part of me still couldn’t let it go. I wanted to ask him, face-to-face, how he could love two people at once. How could he lull me to sleep, then still have the energy to sneak off to Felicity? But the only response was a cold, dismissive text: “Don’t be silly. I’ll be home tonight to be with you.” Close to midnight, the lock clicked. Asher, seeing my red eyes, stiffened. He rushed to me, pulling me into his arms, feeling my ice-cold hands and feet. “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me anymore?” “You always make me worry, sweetheart.” Asher tucked me into bed, holding me tight, trying to warm me with his body heat. Years ago, before he made it big, we lived in a drafty, leaky apartment. Nights were brutally cold. Asher would hold me just like this, piling every warm piece of clothing onto me, his voice choked with promises. “Aurora, I’ll never let you suffer like this again.” Now, we had more money than we knew what to do with, our house warm year-round. But why was my heart growing colder by the day? My throat was raw and dry, and I couldn’t stop the tears. I was about to demand when he’d changed, when the strong scent of baby formula on him hit me. My stomach churned, and I pushed Asher away, rushing to the bathroom. In the mirror, my face was ghostly pale, a strange unease settling in my gut. Asher followed, gently patting my back, pulling out his phone to call our family doctor. “My wife isn’t feeling well. Be here in five minutes.” My hand instinctively went to my slightly swollen belly. I prayed there wasn’t a baby to complicate my plans. The doctor arrived quickly. After a brief check-up, he handed me a pregnancy test. “Mrs. Hill, have you been losing your appetite, feeling nauseous lately?” “It might be early pregnancy…” Asher’s eyes lit up, shining with a sudden, fierce hope. He practically dragged me into the bathroom. “Aurora, are we going to have a baby?” My fingers trembled, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. About three minutes later, two distinct lines appeared on the pregnancy test. Asher’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, his lips quivering uncontrollably. “Aurora, we’re having a baby.” He immediately instructed the family doctor to fill our house with supplements and delved into thick stacks of pregnancy guides. I gave a bitter smile, unable to grasp why this child had arrived at such an utterly wrong time. Years ago, while helping Asher with deliveries, we’d been in a terrible car accident. I’d instinctively shielded him with my body, suffering severe injuries that landed me in the ER. That’s when we lost our first child. The doctors said my uterine lining was thin, and it would be very difficult to conceive again after the miscarriage. Later, as Asher’s career took off, I started regulating my body, trying to get pregnant. Five years passed with no luck. And now, just when I’d caught him cheating, just when I was planning to leave, a tiny life was growing inside me. But what could I do? Let this child grow up without a father? Be ostracized in a single-parent family? I looked at Asher, a last sliver of hope in my voice. If he just confessed, I could convince myself to forgive him one more time. “Asher, is there anything you want to…” The insistent ringing of his phone cut me off. Asher glanced at me guiltily, his fingers flying across the screen. He came over, hugged me, his voice muffled. “Something urgent came up at the office. I need to go make money to support you and the baby.” I grabbed Asher’s hand, my throat tight. “Can you give me three minutes?” His phone continued to ring. He gave a helpless smile. “We can talk about it when I get back. Tomorrow, I’ll spend the whole day with you.” Half an hour after I watched Asher leave, a text message from an unknown number arrived. The photo showed the man who supposedly went to the office, kissing the girl’s lips, while the baby in their arms smiled at the camera. 3 Some questions, I realized, didn’t need answers. Thankfully, Asher had been good to me over the years. The zeros in my bank account were almost uncountable – enough for me to raise a child alone, comfortably. I stroked my belly, tears splashing onto my hand. “Baby, from now on, it’s just you and me.” Tonight’s flights were sold out. I only managed to book one for tomorrow night to Los Angeles. All night, my phone pinged with a new photo every ten minutes. Asher had bought the girl a villa, right in our own neighborhood. The photos showed Asher holding the girl’s hand, helping her write calligraphy. Amidst the blurred ink, I zoomed in, making out the words on the red banner: “A Happy Family of Three.” A dull ache started in my lower abdomen, and my hand slipped, losing its grip. The phone crashed to the floor, its screen fracturing into a spiderweb of cracks. It lit up, displaying a picture of Asher and me, our first kiss, the moment we fell in love. I went insane, smashing the phone to bits, then tearing down the photo wall opposite our bed. Over a thousand pictures, Asher always saying “I love you” each time the camera clicked. But he lied to me… how can you love someone and still seek out another? How could he bear to break my heart? I shredded every photo of us, tossed out the ceramic mugs we’d made together. As the sun rose, I slipped off my wedding ring, selling every piece of jewelry Asher had ever given me. Our once warm room became hollow. Just as I finished tidying the last remnants, Asher finally came home. He carried countless elegant gift bags, then noticed the empty space on the wall. “Aurora, where’s our wedding photo?” I looked at him with cold eyes, my voice soft. “The frame broke. I sent it to be repaired.” Asher’s tensed shoulders relaxed. He came to my side, tentatively speaking. “Have you been short on cash lately? A friend said they received some jewelry engraved with our names.” He opened a box, revealing everything I’d just sold. The pink diamond earrings, the first luxury item he’d bought me with his first big paycheck. To commemorate it, Asher had even hired a professional engraver to carve our names into them. I glanced at them indifferently, my voice flat. “Must have accidentally packed them with some other things I was getting rid of.” Asher rummaged through the glittering array of jewelry and pulled out a simple diamond ring. The diamond was tiny, almost unnoticeable. But it was the best Asher could afford back then, a symbol of his deepest love for me. Asher gently stroked my head, his tone indulgent. “My little scatterbrain, how could you lose your wedding ring?” He leaned down, kissing my ring finger, then slipped the ring back on. Afterwards, he transferred fifty million into my bank account. “If you need money, just tell your husband. Don’t try to handle everything alone.” “Aurora, try to rely on me more.” I didn’t say a word, feeling like a hollow shell from which the soul had been sucked out. These gifts were things he’d bought while out with Felicity. Not because he genuinely wanted to give them to me, but because someone had reminded him. Asher, how much genuine affection do you still hold for me? The entire day, Asher turned off his phone and stayed with me, almost like we were back in our dating days. He cooked my favorite century egg and lean pork congee, and meticulously followed a blogger’s recipes for my pregnancy meals. Time ticked by, and my app reminded me it was time to leave. I watched the busy Asher, unable to find an excuse to get rid of him. Just then, the doorbell rang.

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I’m a voice-over enthusiast, and I recently started an online relationship. The day we were finally supposed to meet in person was fast approaching when my roommate suddenly approached me. With a serious expression, she tried to talk me out of it, saying men with good voices usually weren’t much to look at. She even worried about me going alone and offered to go meet him in my place. Just then, some strange text appeared before my eyes, like comments on a movie scene. The text said things like, “The female lead is so smart, she just snatched the perfect male lead,” and scoffed, “The supporting female character was too scared to go herself, so the female lead got her chance.” It even mentioned later how “the clownish supporting character regretted it when she saw the handsome guy, but the male lead completely ignored her.” Seeing my roommate’s determined look, an idea sparked in my mind. I quietly messaged my online boyfriend: “Change of plans, could you come tomorrow instead?” 1. “Sweetheart, I’ve already booked my ticket.” My online boyfriend suddenly sent me a message, along with a picture of his flight arriving near A University this afternoon. “Sweetheart, remember to pick me up.” I tapped the voice message, and the man’s deep, captivating voice instantly flowed into my left ear, a tingling sensation that shot straight to my brain. So good to hear. Lisa’s voice was just too perfect. My face involuntarily flushed. I hurried to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. As I looked up, I saw my plain face in the mirror. Not ugly, exactly. Just not pretty, very ordinary-looking. A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. Would Lisa… look down on me? Find me unattractive? My gut told me he wasn’t that kind of person. But thinking of his incredible voice, I felt a pang of inadequacy. For a moment, I wavered. I didn’t reply to Lisa’s message immediately. Normally, we’d reply to each other in an instant. Nothing was ever left for later. So, Lisa quickly sensed something was off. He tentatively asked, “Sweetheart, are you not ready yet?” “It’s okay.” “Just being yourself is perfect, don’t be scared.” Afraid I’d feel guilty, Lisa quickly added that last bit. Just then, my roommate, Ashley Hayes, walked into the dorm, laden with gifts. Our eyes met, and sparks flew. I knew she’d heard. “Summer Brooks, have I ever told you that online relationships are unreliable and you should break up with him already?” Ashley frowned, her beautiful brows furrowed, staring at me with displeasure. She really lived up to her reputation as the campus queen. Even when she was angry, she looked stunning. But I wasn’t like her; I didn’t have a string of admirers. My social anxiety was severe, making me afraid to even step outside. Remembering how good Lisa was, I instinctively tried to defend him, “Lisa, he…” “Don’t you know how many female students get kidnapped because of online dating? Besides, a guy with a nice voice doesn’t necessarily mean he’s handsome, why are you so obsessed?” She impatiently cut me off, then, as if an idea struck her, she blinked her pretty eyes, “How about this, I’ll go meet him in your place today and see if he’s a demon or an angel!” In truth, no matter what Lisa looked like, I wouldn’t break up with him. But I wasn’t sure if he’d accept me. After all, not everyone was a voice-over enthusiast. As I was pondering the credibility of her words, text suddenly flashed before my eyes: “Tsk, this supporting character is so dramatic, online dating but too scared to meet up, isn’t she just messing with him?” “Hehehe, no worries, no worries, our female lead is super smart, after she goes to meet him, she’ll fall in love at first sight with the male lead and easily reel him in~” “Well, our female lead is a magnet for men~ Even the school’s top jock fell for her, let alone some small-time streamer.” “LOL, the supporting character will regret it once she knows how handsome the male lead is, she’ll beg the female lead to give her boyfriend back, but the male lead won’t even bat an eye at her, what a clown!” Seeing those negative comments pop up, I couldn’t help but freeze. My mind was a jumble. 2. Six months ago. I met Lisa in a game. That day, I had a seven-game losing streak and my lane was even stolen. I was simultaneously crying hysterically and cursing up a storm. I hadn’t noticed, though, that my voice chat was open to the entire team. Everyone listened to me rage for a whole game. “Waaah, waaaah, can’t you see I pre-picked? What are you stealing for, you jerk?” “So eager to die, do you want me to help you?” There were many more unpleasant things I said. But when the mid-lane fell into danger, my hands moved faster than my brain. Even as teammates spammed the ‘retreat’ signal, I instinctively rushed to save him. The mid-laner immediately got a penta-kill against the enemy. I suddenly fell silent, no longer cursing. But he opened his mic and chuckled softly, “Support, your voice is quite nice.” “Can I add you as a friend?” At that moment, all I wanted to do was post on Reddit asking, “What do you do when you fall in love with your arch-nemesis?” Lisa’s voice was inexplicably captivating. I, as if possessed, accepted his friend request and added him on Messenger. From then on, he would flirt with me constantly. “Can I invite you to a game?” “I just sang a song, want to hear it?” “Don’t misunderstand, it’s just a song exclusively for you.” “The weather’s great today. I mean, how are you? Or rather, can I be your boyfriend?” Later, I learned he was a faceless voice-over streamer on TikTok. He had tens of thousands of followers. Many people adored him. I was practically invisible at school, with only Ashley as a close friend. How could I resist such blatant pursuit? I instantly fell in love. I had thought about meeting him in person, but in Lisa’s social media, his university was a top-tier institution. He participated in academic competitions every month. He was too exceptional. It always made him feel unreal to me. Until today, I finally understood everything. This was a cheesy romance novel with a ‘magnet for men’ as the protagonist. The female lead was my roommate, Ashley Hayes, who could captivate hearts with every move. My existence was merely a bridge for her to meet Lisa. Because of my insecurity and timidity, Ashley would go meet him in my place this afternoon, then fall in love at first sight with the pure-hearted male lead, Lisa, and use all her charm to win the handsome man over. And I, out of jealousy, would cyberbully the female lead, demanding she give Lisa back to me. Constantly making a fool of myself and digging my own grave. Ultimately, I would meet a tragic end, despised by all. “Why is this supporting character still pretending to be noble? Didn’t the female lead say she’d go first to scout out the male lead for her?” “Relax~ Our female lead is so beautiful, she’s naturally afraid her boyfriend will be charmed away~” “Serves her right, not going to the meetup herself and letting someone else snag a great catch.” “The moment the supporting character gave up on meeting, the male lead was already in our female lead’s pocket~” I lowered my gaze, staring at the text. My hands clenched into tight fists. The next second, I forced a smile, my voice natural, “Okay, then you can go in my place!” “Have fun~” 3. I hadn’t given up on Lisa. I was the one who had spent hundreds of days and nights with him. I was still the one who had helped him win thousands of game matches. Such a long-standing relationship, it couldn’t just crumble overnight. Similarly, I wouldn’t abandon my love because of a few baseless comments. Watching Lisa send me the rescheduled flight ticket, a warmth slowly spread through my body. No matter how unreasonable or irritable I was, he always managed to calm me down immediately. Patiently waiting for my explanation. He was so good, I really shouldn’t have hesitated. After some thought, I turned to look at Ashley, who was changing dresses in front of the mirror. She hummed softly, trying on one dress after another. Finally, she settled on a pure white gown that perfectly matched her makeup. No embellishments. Making Ashley appear even more elegant and pristine. A silver necklace just barely concealed a faint red mark on her collarbone. The comments were all praising her: “Our female lead is so beautiful~ drool.jpg, no wonder she can even win over the aloof male lead!” “This magnet-for-men female lead is awesome! All the excellent men should be hers!” “Handsome guys should be with beautiful girls, right? How dare the supporting character, looking like that, even dream of our male lead?” “LOL, the supporting character was scared the male lead would be ugly and didn’t dare go, but turns out she’s the ugliest one.” Hearing these familiar comments, my heart no longer stirred. Normally, I had no friends. Only Ashley was willing to approach me, exuding kindness. But I knew she was merely trying to highlight her own goodness and beauty. Walking with her, everyone would instinctively look at the more beautiful Ashley. My secret crush would also be drawn to her, becoming one of her many admirers. I could let her have anything. Except Lisa. Before leaving, Ashley’s gaze lingered on me, subtly mixed with a hint of disdain. Yet her voice was soft and gentle, “Summer, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. I’ll ask you one last time, do you want me to go in your place?” I sat up, pressing my glowing phone screen, “Of course not, you’re so pretty, Lisa will be amazed when he sees you!” “Oh, I forgot to tell you, I never told Lisa my real name. When you pick him up, you need to shout out my online alias, okay?” “Tsk.” A flicker of annoyance crossed Ashley’s beautiful eyes, and she rolled them, “You online daters are such a pain, not even daring to say your real name, afraid he’ll secretly look up your photos?” “I hate you online dating types the most. You wave the banner of pure love and say you’re looking for a soulmate, but as soon as you send a photo, you’re nowhere to be found.” I was about to open my mouth to explain something when she abruptly cut me off, “Alright, alright, I’m leaving. Don’t waste my time.” 4. Only after watching Ashley leave did I continue to open Messenger. On the white chat background, the man’s skin was pale, his features delicate, and his attractive almond-shaped eyes had a faint redness at the corners. This was the only photo Lisa had ever actively sent me. This picture was also my phone’s wallpaper. So, I was very sure, that the ‘love at first sight’ the comments spoke of between Ashley and Lisa was a lie. Because she had already seen Lisa. Today’s charade was merely a performance for me. To shift all the blame onto me, and then brazenly start a new relationship with my online boyfriend. But I didn’t want to let her have her way. “Sweetheart, remember to pick me up tomorrow.” Lisa sent another voice message, making my heart flutter. My face turned red involuntarily, and I stammered, “I… I know.” Afterward, we both opened the game. About five matches later, the sunset outside the window disappeared, giving way to hints of black. My roommate, Ashley, finally pushed open the door with an explosive temper, her exquisite hairstyle disheveled and quite a mess. She was like a madwoman, “Summer Brooks! How dare you trick me?!” “I waited all afternoon, there was no online boyfriend of yours!” Saying this, she extended her newly manicured hand, poised to grab me. I retreated in fear, quickly squeezing out a few tears from my eyes, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would be like this.” “Lisa’s flight was delayed, I just found out too. See, I called you.” I forcefully placed my phone in front of her. It accidentally brushed against Ashley’s expensive earring, and she irritably pushed it away, “Alright, alright, so when is he actually arriving?!” I thought for a moment and replied, “Tomorrow.” “Lisa said tomorrow noon.” “Fine.” Ashley went back to her bed, about to rest for a bit, when something suddenly occurred to her, and she stared at me with a dark expression. “This time, you won’t stand me up again, will you?” “No, no, never.” The comments reappeared: “Is the supporting character an idiot? She said she’d let the female lead go for her, but didn’t tell her the flight was cancelled? Is she doing this on purpose to mess with the female lead?” “How could she? The supporting character is so dumb, only our female lead can play her, she’ll get her prize tomorrow, just be patient~” “The supporting character is truly speechless, making the female lead wait all afternoon for nothing, and delaying the male and female leads’ meeting again. She can’t sacrifice our female lead’s happiness for her own love, can she?” “Seriously biased, when will this annoying supporting character log off?!” Ignoring these sour comments, I lay down listening to the love song Lisa had specially recorded for me. And drifted off to sleep beautifully. 5. The next day. Ashley woke up early to do her makeup, and unlike yesterday, she wore a captivating smoky eye, a black fitted top, and a mini skirt. As she was about to leave, I slowly got out of bed and called out to her, my voice laced with hesitation, “Ashley, I think, I think you’re right. Meeting someone from online dating, of course, I should go myself. It’s the least respect I can show them.” “It was really out of line for me to ask you to go in my place!” After saying that, I quickly washed up and changed into clothes suitable for moving around. “You?” Ashley’s face turned green. Her fists clenched, knuckles cracking. To meet the legendary male lead, she gritted her teeth and started to manipulate me again, “Well then, why don’t I go with you? That way, we’ll have each other’s backs.” After a moment of hesitation, I accepted her suggestion. Lisa was punctual. He got off the plane at 11:45 AM. At 11:47 AM, I saw him walking towards me, pulling a suitcase, with his long, straight legs. Judging by his height, he must have been around six feet one. Suddenly seeing him in person, I felt shy and resisted the urge to rush forward. But Ashley, standing beside me, smiled brightly at Lisa and said in a natural tone, “You must be Lisa, right? I’m ‘Little Pig Who Eats Thirty Pounds of Feed and Never Gets Fat’~ your online girlfriend!” “Little Pig Who Eats Thirty Pounds of Feed and Never Gets Fat” was my alternate account’s online name. It seemed she remembered what I said yesterday very clearly. Lisa, having never seen her before, instinctively glanced in my direction. His eyes showed confusion. He seemed unable to recognize either of us. The comments quickly chimed in: “Tsk tsk tsk, the male lead is stunned, isn’t he! The elegant and alluring beauty is right in front of you, his eyes are glued~” “The male lead must be thinking, why is one so beautiful, and the other looks like an elementary schooler, flat-chested.” “Even a blind person would know which one to choose, right?” “Hehehe, soon we’ll get to see the juicy bits~” “Countdown to the clownish supporting character logging off!” But the next second, Lisa merely gave her a distant nod and continued walking towards me. “Summer, have you been waiting long?” His voice was just as pleasant as it was over the phone. He casually took my cheap handbag and slung it over his shoulder. The corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile. He was about to lead me away. Ashley’s outstretched hand and her smile froze on her face. Perhaps she didn’t understand why. So, I kindly reminded her, my tone sincere. “Ashley, thank you. You’re right, I should not only come to pick up Lisa myself, but also tell him what I look like earlier. I thought about it a lot last night and finally decided to send him my selfie.” “Thank you, really.” Instantly, countless “Btch, you f*ing btch!” comments flashed before my eyes. Unfortunately, they were blocked by something. She turned around, a fake smile on her face, “It’s nothing, lovers always find a way~ I guess I did a good deed~ But you, next time, don’t play around like this, okay? Lisa came all this way, and you made me pick him up, how rude of you~” As she spoke, she kept glancing at Lisa opposite her. I nodded seriously, “Ashley, you’re absolutely right.” “If you hadn’t suggested going in my place, I wouldn’t have realized how much I truly like Lisa.” This time, the comments were fuming again, spewing profanity.

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It was May 20th. My roommate, Kelly, announced her new relationship that day. In the photo, a diamond ring sparkled brightly on their tightly clasped hands. Her caption read: “This is the best thing he’s ever given me.” I zoomed in on the photo and suddenly saw a scar on the man’s index finger that was all too familiar. I turned my head and yelled to my dad, who was busy in the kitchen, “Dad, I feel sick, I want to throw up.” … 1 In the living room, Mom and Dad hovered over me, their faces etched with worry. I clutched the trash can, my stomach churning violently. Ever since I saw that social media post, my mind had been uncontrollably conjuring images of my dad and Kelly together. Each one made me physically ill. Mom gently rubbed my back, offering a perfectly tempered honey water, her eyes full of concern for me alone. Suddenly, I couldn’t meet her gaze, as if I was the one who had done something wrong. Perhaps I truly was to blame. If I hadn’t felt sorry for Kelly, working hard during summer and winter breaks, and hadn’t brought her home so often for meals to cheer her up… If I hadn’t constantly bragged that my dad was the best man in the world… Would none of this have happened? Self-inflicted blame and internal turmoil surged, and I almost blurted out: “Mom, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault Dad had the chance to betray you.” But before the words reached my lips, I regained my composure and rationality. I couldn’t just rip open this wound. Dad held all the financial power in the family. Why should Mom’s years of hard work and everything she built just be handed over to someone else? She can dream! I took a deep breath, and when I looked up again, my eyes were brimming with tears, my expression utterly distraught. “Dad, can you skip your company meeting tonight? I feel really unwell.” Dad didn’t hesitate for a second, nodding repeatedly. I was his little princess, cherished above all else. That evening, I still shared my daily life in the dorm group chat. [Anyone else feel me, fam? I’m getting force-fed puppy chow again.] In the video I posted, my dad, with a look of pure adoration, fed peeled shrimp to my mom. Aside from Kelly, the other two roommates responded with emojis like [eating puppy chow] and [can’t even look]. I tagged Kelly, asking with feigned innocence and curiosity: [Kelly, I saw your relationship announcement on social media. Congrats! You’re the first one in our dorm to get snatched up. I bet your boyfriend’s peeling shrimp for you on this romantic day too, right?] I wasn’t sure if Kelly’s post was public, so I used this method to gauge her reaction and that of the other two roommates. The other two roommates were surprised, asking in a flurry what social media post I was talking about. They screenshotted Kelly’s feed. The 5/20 announcement wasn’t there. I, in turn, screenshotted Kelly’s post from my own phone. The other two roommates, clearly annoyed, tagged Kelly. [Kelly, what’s the deal? We’re all roommates, and you’re blocking some of us from your posts? What’s up with that?] [Falling in love isn’t something shameful. Why hide it and not even show his face? Is your boyfriend some top idol or something?] I smirked behind my phone screen. Huh. Looks like that post was specifically set to ‘visible only to me,’ with a lot of thought. What was she trying to do? Covertly brag? Test if I could recognize the owner of that hand? Undermine my perfect family, which I always prided myself on? Whatever her reason, I would never tolerate or forgive it. I treated her as my best friend, always thinking of her when I had something good. Yet she maliciously wanted to destroy my family. The other two roommates’ barrage of questions quickly filled the screen. Kelly clearly hadn’t expected things to spiral in an unanticipated direction. She couldn’t play dead any longer, stammering explanations in the group chat, claiming she’d accidentally tapped the wrong setting when posting. The excuse was weak and transparent. No one was stupid; the other two roommates naturally didn’t believe her. The once lively group chat suddenly grew awkward. Since my family was local, I usually didn’t stay in the dorms. Kelly and the other two roommates lived there. Thinking about how Kelly would face them tonight, the pent-up frustration​ in my heart finally eased with a satisfying breath. Kelly wanted to snag a rich guy, that was her business. But when she tried to snag my rich guy, she shouldn’t expect me to be polite. … 2 To my parents’ astonishment, I drove my dad’s Porsche, which he’d given me for my eighteenth birthday. With a trunk full of belongings, I moved into my school dorm room with great fanfare. My excuse: independence and self-reliance. In the dorm, Kelly sat disconsolately, clutching her phone. Seeing it was me, she yanked her bed curtain shut. I happily and loudly announced to my other two roommates that I’d be living in the dorms and started bustlingly unpacking my things. I was in the thick of it when my phone rang with a video call. I pulled out my hand to answer. A rich, deep voice came through. “Cora, Dad just got home and saw your room half-empty. My heart sank. You’ve never been away from home your whole life. If you need anything at school, anything at all, you have to tell Dad. I’ll bring it to you.” From behind Kelly’s curtain, there was the sound of a dropped phone. I glanced over, playfully adding: “Dad, do you remember my roommate, Kelly? Her boyfriend gave her a huge diamond ring, it’s so beautiful, I’m so jealous! But I don’t have a boyfriend, sigh… Dad, maybe I should find a rich boyfriend, then I can have a big diamond ring too.” Kelly’s bed curtain remained motionless, but I could feel it. She was undoubtedly staring at me with cold fury from behind that curtain. On the other end of the video, a flicker of discomfort crossed my dad’s face, immediately replaced by anger. His tone was anxious, clearly afraid I’d actually start a relationship just for a diamond ring. “Cora! Don’t you dare! My daughter, Cora Tang, would never date for money like some gold digger. If you like diamond rings, Dad can buy you enough to fill ten fingers. Don’t ever say anything that demeans yourself like that again.” My dad angrily hung up the video call. Five seconds later, the dorm room echoed with the sound of [Alipay: 500,000 yuan received]. My roommate, Sarah, rushed over, exclaiming, “Oh my god, what kind of fairy tale dad is this? Cora, are you really going to buy ten diamond rings with 500,000 and wear them all?” I pulled back Kelly’s bed curtain, feigning innocence and a carefree smile. “If you wear one and I wear ten, would you be mad, Kelly?” Kelly seemed to be suppressing something, gritting her teeth as she squeezed out, “Does my being mad matter? You, Miss Tang, always do whatever you want, never caring about anyone else’s feelings.” I beamed at her words and happily walked out. I really did buy ten diamond rings. When curious people asked, I’d tell them my dad was so afraid I’d become a gold digger for a single ring that he filled my fingers with them first. Everyone then looked at the diamond ring that had suddenly appeared on Kelly’s finger with complicated expressions. In just a few days, Kelly couldn’t bear it anymore and voluntarily took off her ring. Yet every time she saw me, her eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness. Is that all it takes to make her feel wronged? To feel humiliated? This was just the beginning. I wasn’t exposing her yet. Not because I was afraid of her, but because I wanted to slowly torture her to death. After a few quiet days, Kelly started returning to the dorm later and later, almost always just as the doors were closing. Each night, she came back beaming. But on her, I smelled a familiar, high-end cologne. Kelly, giddy with delight, admired her new designer bag in the dorm mirror, her eyes twinkling with a smile as she asked me: “Cora, this is the bag my boyfriend gave me tonight. It’s a new style. Do you like it?” I surveyed her, my words sharp. “The bag’s alright. It just looks a bit… suburban on you. Don’t you think, everyone? Kelly looks neither rural nor sophisticated.” 3 The other two roommates took a careful look, nodding in agreement. Kelly stood in front of the mirror like a clown, her face alternating between green and white. Then, as if remembering something joyful, she said with a suggestive tone, “But my boyfriend says he loves my natural, country girl charm. Cora, don’t you think my boyfriend is great?” This time, I didn’t even bother to look up, my fingers flying across the screen. After a lot of effort, I had finally calculated our family’s approximate assets. I pinched the bridge of my nose, then slowly said, “That’s hard to say. Who knows if your boyfriend just got tired of all the fine dining and suddenly craved a bit of dandelion greens?” Kelly glared at me, her eyes red with fury. I hummed a tune, my heart filled with frost. Hating Kelly was true. But I hated my dad more. He knew Kelly was my roommate, knew how much Mom and I trusted him. Yet he entangled himself with Kelly, again and again. Perhaps, that perfect dad had always been just my own fantasy. Only because it was Kelly this time did I finally notice the cracks. I should be grateful, grateful for Kelly’s thoughtlessness and subtle bragging. It allowed me to see my dad clearly, and gave me time to make arrangements beforehand. I wouldn’t let either of them off the hook. That weekend, I drove to my grandparents’ house. The moment I walked in, I knelt before them and burst into tears. My grandparents cherished me like the apple of their eye, calling me their precious darling, frantic with worry. Between sobs, I told my grandparents, “I don’t want to live, Grandma, Grandpa. You’re the ones who love me most. I wanted to see you again before I die.” At my words, Grandma’s tears flowed freely, and Grandpa, a strong man his whole life, teared up, his voice trembling. The two of them held me, comforting and reassuring me, promising that no matter what injustice I suffered, they would stand up for me. I pulled out my phone, found the picture of Kelly and my dad with their fingers entwined, and then found the video I secretly recorded of Kelly showing off her new bag and asking me if her boyfriend was great. My grandparents, guided by my hints, recognized the scar on my dad’s finger. Grandpa’s eyes widened in fury, his face turning ashen. He stood up, ready to go beat my dad to death. Grandma grabbed me, insisting we go to the school to expose Kelly for breaking up a family. I cried, stopping them, my voice choked with grievance. “It’s no use, Grandma, Grandpa. A scar alone can’t prove this. And besides, if family secrets get out, where will Mom and I put our faces? I really don’t want to live, but I don’t want Mom to know any of this. I’m afraid she’ll do something rash, boohoohoo…” My grandparents were heartbroken, crying that if anything happened to me, it would be the end of them. When the moment was right, I spoke with a bitter tone. “Grandma, Grandpa, my roommate is clearly after Dad’s money. Every time she gets something, she subtly flaunts it in front of me. I’m so sad. Is there… is there any way to make sure Dad has no money for her? I’m afraid today she wants a diamond ring, tomorrow a bag, the day after a car, an apartment, and then Dad’s company. What will Mom and I do then, boohoohoo…” Grandpa and Grandma exchanged glances, lost in thought. A moment later, Grandpa put his arm around my shoulder, promising: “Don’t cry, sweetie. Grandpa has a plan. Grandpa will find a way to reclaim your dad’s assets and transfer them to your name. If that day comes, the only one left with nothing will be him, the one who made the mistake. You and your mother have Grandpa to protect you.” My objective achieved, I lowered my head to conceal the curve of my lips, my eyes clear and sharp. …

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Declan Martin, to save his terminally ill darling, made a deal with a mysterious system. The terms of the deal were brutal: he had to kill me, Nina Thorne, ninety-nine times, by various means, so his beloved could extend her life. The first time, it was in our marital home. He strangled me with his own hands. The twelfth time, we were hiking, and he deliberately orchestrated an accident, pushing me off a mountain. I fell to my death. He hired people to abduct me, then burned me alive. That was the thirty-sixth time. And the ninety-ninth time, I chose to end my own life. This time, I never woke up again. His darling finally recovered, but he didn’t go to see her. He knelt beside my cold corpse like a madman, hoarsely begging me to come back. I really wanted to ask him, isn’t your beloved perfectly fine now? Why are you unhappy instead? 1 Declan Martin’ ninety-eighth kill was to slit my wrists and then hold me down in a bathtub, drowning me alive. When I woke up this time, my face was blank. I gripped the edge of the tub, slowly pulling myself to my feet. Blood still swirled down the drain in the mirror. My skin was terrifyingly pale, only my eyes still holding a flicker of life. Declan had said the system indicated Clara’s heart needed a strong surge of life force. So, as he held the razor blade to my veins, his expression was devoid of emotion, intent only on quickly dispatching me, this nuisance. His gaze didn’t even linger on my face. I pulled the bathtub plug and watched the blood drain away. Then I picked up the showerhead, rinsing my body, as if cleaning a crime scene I wasn’t involved in. My life was merely a line item on Clara’s life-extension ledger, to be crossed out and rewritten at any time, until the damned ninety-nine deaths were complete. The system was as thoughtful as ever; upon rebirth, my wrist bore no trace of the wound. But the memories of my deaths became increasingly vivid in my mind. I walked out of the bathroom, put on clean clothes. Outside, dawn was breaking. A new day had begun, and so had my death countdown. The ninety-ninth time, what method would it be? A car crash? A fall from a building? Or something more novel? I was a little curious, a little numb. After all, repeating something ninety-eight times, no matter how painful, became a habit. My phone vibrated on the bedside table. It was a message from Declan. [Clara wants to go for a walk today. Get ready to accompany her to West Ridge Park.] His tone was like instructing a servant. When my sacrifice wasn’t needed, he didn’t treat me like a wife either. I replied with a single word: [Okay.] Then I tossed the phone back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. My heart was riddled with a dense ache. I suddenly yearned to know, when the ninety-ninth time arrived, would I truly be free? 2 Three years ago, Clara had a car accident. When I rushed to the hospital, Declan was kneeling outside the operating room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was grabbing the doctor’s white coat, roaring, “Save her! Whatever the cost, save her!” The doctor merely shook his head helplessly. Declan’s back slumped, and he crumpled into a defeated heap. Only then did I realize that he valued his beloved more than me, more even than his own life. But before I could even leave, a cold, mechanical voice simultaneously sounded in both our minds. [Detecting strong life prayer.] [Life Transaction System activated.] [Contract target: Clara Thorne.] [Contract condition: In exchange for the designated subject Nina Thorne’s ninety-nine deaths, the life signs of Clara Thorne will be restored and maintained.] I was utterly stunned. What system? What transaction? Declan abruptly looked up, as if clutching a final lifeline. He confirmed almost impatiently, “You mean, as long as Nina dies ninety-nine times, Clara can live?” The system responded coldly: [Yes.] “I agree!” He roared the words, without a hint of hesitation, not even glancing at me, as if afraid the system would back out a second later. In that moment, colder than the operating room lights, was my heart. I didn’t even have time to protest before the system’s voice sounded again: [Contract generated. Phase one: Restore Clara Thorne’s critical life signs. Requires Nina Thorne’s first life sacrifice.] [Execution method: Suffocation.] [Executor: Declan Martin.] I was frozen, backing away involuntarily. “Declan, listen to me, the system is nonsense, don’t believe its lies, don’t…” But Declan was beyond my pleas. His eyes were bloodshot, stained with an almost insane stubbornness. “Nina…” He walked towards me step by step, cornering me against the wall. “I’m sorry.” He reached out and choked me. Suffocation instantly overwhelmed me. I struggled desperately, looking at his face so close to mine. Tears streamed from his eyes, and he choked out, “I can’t lose Clara… I truly can’t…” My mouth was open, but no sound came out. My vision began to blur, and the air was sucked from my lungs. I stared fixedly at him. I wanted to ask, why me? Declan seemed to understand my gaze; he avoided my eyes. “The system chose you. This is your fate.” He didn’t dare look into my eyes, only increasing the force of his hands. That was my first death, accompanied by his tears and that fleeting ‘I’m sorry.’ When I woke up, I found myself in my bed at home. Declan was sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at me gently, as if the person who had strangled me last night was just a hallucination. At the time, I still harbored a foolish hope, believing it was just a nightmare. Until a few days later, news came that Clara was out of danger. And the system’s voice sounded again, reminding Declan that Clara’s body still needed subsequent life force maintenance, requiring a second sacrifice. This time, it was in our basement. He tied me to a chair and turned on the gas valve. His hands still trembled slightly, but his gaze was already much calmer. And later. The third time, he drove me to the beach, then crashed me into the sea. The fourth time, he poisoned my dinner. The fifth time, he pushed me from the top floor of the company, making it look like a suicide. … The twentieth time… The fiftieth time… His actions became more practiced, his eyes growing colder. From an initial apology, to later silence, and now to outright impatience. Each sacrifice’s reason was connected to Clara’s condition. “Clara’s heart is rejecting, needs life force to suppress it.” “Clara has a lung infection, needs life force to purify it.” “Clara needs stronger life force to fully stabilize…” And I was the sacrifice providing that life force. Ninety-nine times, like a curse, etched into my soul. I couldn’t break free, couldn’t escape. I could only hope to quickly complete these ninety-nine tasks, and finally be free… 3 On the tenth day after the ninety-eighth death, according to the usual pattern, Clara’s body was due for another small setback. Declan should also have received the system’s mission notification. The ninety-ninth time was almost upon me. I even started preparing in advance. I checked the gas pipes in the basement to ensure they were clear, loosened the screws on the balcony railing, and sharpened a dagger. This was so that if he found it inconvenient to act, I wouldn’t have to struggle fiercely and suffer more before I died. After doing all this, I looked at the withered flowers on the balcony, and for some reason, tears blurred my eyes. This was once the garden he and I had built together. But now it was somber and lifeless. I simply pulled out all the roses by their roots, threw them all away, along with all my personal belongings, discarding everything. Anyway, there was only one more time, and I would be free. Better to leave cleanly, without a trace. He returned, smelling of alcohol. Seeing the unusually empty and neat house, he was momentarily taken aback. “That dress… I remember you were as happy as a child when you received that gift.” I gazed at the brief moment of tenderness in his eyes, feeling a strange sense of unreality. The light blue dress I was wearing was indeed the first gift he had given me. Back then, he wasn’t yet the monster who would cruelly murder me for his beloved. “Really? I don’t remember.” “Nina, are you still sulking?” “Can’t you be a little more sensible? Clara only gets one life, and you’ve died ninety-eight times and you’re fine, aren’t you? One more time won’t matter.” “Just one more time. Once Clara fully recovers, I’ll compensate you properly. Then, whatever you want to do, I’ll be there with you.” Ha, how ridiculous. “Declan Martin, how can you kill someone ninety-eight times and still remain so unfazed, without a flicker of guilt?” I calmly threw the ring he gave me when we got married out the window. Watching the sparkling diamond disappear from sight, Declan suddenly felt a strange unease. Ninety-eight times, and Nina had never thrown away their wedding ring, but today she was so uncharacteristically defiant. He suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart, as if something important was being stripped from his life. He didn’t seem as decisive as he had been in the previous ninety-eight times he killed me. “Nina, maybe there’s another way to save Clara…” “It’s already the last time. You’re saying this now? It’s too late.” My unusual calmness unsettled him. He suddenly took a step forward, grabbing my wrist, staring intently into my eyes. “The last time. Do it.” He didn’t make a move, just impatiently tore off his tie and threw it on the floor. His grip on my hand was painfully tight. “Are you really so willing to die?” His voice held a hidden mix of reluctance and frenzy. I suddenly laughed. What was he so reluctant about? Three years ago, the first time he choked me, I begged, I questioned. I asked him why me, what our relationship meant, pleaded with him to let me go. But his eyes only saw Clara. Later, I tried to escape, to get away from them, away from this damned system! Yet no matter where I fled, even overseas, Declan would find me, bringing me back to this cage-like home. He wouldn’t allow me to leave without his permission, as I was tied to Clara’s health and the Martin family’s decade of kindness to me. So I compromised. At first, I still held onto hope, even if it wasn’t love, even if it was for that tiny bit of childhood sweetheart affection, hoping he might show me some pity. But now, with over ninety deaths accumulated, those questions, tears, and affection had long since vanished. 4 Seeing Nina in such a stubborn, broken state, Declan’s heart suddenly felt like it was crushed by a massive stone, muffled, unable to breathe. Just as he was about to say something more, the door suddenly opened. It was Clara. She wore a pristine white dress, her face flushed with health, looking perfectly recovered. Seeing the argument between Declan and me, she walked over in her high heels, gently removing Declan’s hand from my wrist, and softly whined, “Declan, don’t be so rough. Girls need to be cherished.” Then, with a radiant smile, she looked at me: “Nina, please don’t be angry with Declan, don’t blame him. Blame me instead.” “It’s all because of my poor health that Declan showed me more care. But don’t worry, he and I are just old school friends. I would never disrupt your relationship.” “And thank you for always taking care of Declan. He always tells me how wonderful you are. You two must stay strong together.” Seeing the irrepressible triumph in her eyes, I only felt cynical. Her words on my phone, “the unloved one is the home-wrecker,” were still fresh in my memory. What was she trying to act out for me? Declan, however, was blind. With his darling by his side, his gaze instantly softened. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Clara’s forehead, his tone a tenderness I had never heard: “Silly girl, why aren’t you resting at the sanatorium? What are you doing coming to find me in this cold wind?” Clara clutched her chest, her voice faint: “Declan, I… I feel a little tight in my chest. I couldn’t bear it anymore, so I asked the driver to bring me to you.” “I… I was just afraid I wouldn’t see you one last time.” This act, performed ninety-nine times, still didn’t tire Declan. But I was already scarred and exhausted, and I refused to play along any longer. I picked up the dagger I had prepared, placed it against my neck closest to the carotid artery, and gave him one last look. “Declan Martin, from this moment on, we are even.” Under Declan’s horrified gaze, I plunged the blade. The instant the knife sliced through my skin, blood spurted. Declan immediately flung Clara aside, rushing towards me, utterly desperate. I even saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. “No!” The system’s mechanical voice sounded again: [Contract complete.] [Target Clara Thorne’s life signs permanently stabilized.] Declan, congratulations. Your Clara is finally fully recovered. And I, at last, am free.

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I suddenly found myself in a world ten years in the future, adrift and disoriented on the streets. Instinctively, I headed for the villa belonging to Garrison Bale, my childhood friend. The door opened, revealing a cold-faced child who stood there and told me, “Go away. Don’t even think about pretending to be my mother.” I froze, still trying to grasp what was happening, when I noticed scrolling comments—the kind you see on online videos—floating in my vision. One comment read: “This ‘Player’ is too dumb. The kid’s already been successfully ‘captured’ by someone else, and she just shows up?” Another mentioned: “The other Player perfectly replicated the deceased wife, Natalie Reed, even down to all her memories. She’s probably sipping coffee in the villa right now.” And a warning: “The male lead, Garrison Bale, is on a plane heading back. This Player should run; the last person who tried to impersonate his wife? The grass on her grave is already two feet high.” I stared at these comments, slowly piecing things together until I finally understood a few things. First, Garrison and Natalie had married and had a child. Second, Natalie had died at the age of thirty. Third, there were these so-called “Players” attempting to “capture” Garrison. But they all had it wrong. I wasn’t some Player. I was twenty-one-year-old Natalie Reed. 1 Of all these revelations, the hardest to accept was this: Why did I die so young, at thirty? Even if I somehow went back to my own time, I would only have nine years left to live. Definitely not good news. So I bent down, earnestly addressing the child in front of me: “Um, how did your mother die?” When he didn’t respond, I pressed on: “Accident? Illness? Or… murder?” His brow twitched a few times, his face growing even fouler. Then, with a CRACK, the door slammed shut. I paused, a dawning confusion washing over me. Maybe that was a bit too blunt. A sharp pain suddenly shot through the sole of my foot. I slowly walked to the villa’s front steps and sat down, examining my foot. There was a cut, bleeding slightly, from a piece of gravel. Having walked three miles barefoot, it was probably unavoidable. I must have been sleeping in my dorm room when I transitioned. I woke up to find myself on a park bench, dressed in my pajamas, with no money, no phone, not even shoes. Fortunately, the park was close to the Bale’ villa. And for many years in the past, I had lived in the Bale’ villa and visited this park. That’s why I came directly to knock on the door. I just hadn’t expected… this scenario. The comments continued to scroll: [I can’t with this Player, she’s so funny.] [Son: Constantly provoking.] [She showed up in pajamas, looking so disheveled. Sister, put some effort into your job.] [Out of all the Players, the son only opened the door for the one who perfectly replicated his mother, the one currently inside.] [Pajama Lady, give up. You can’t even get through the Bale’ door. When the male lead returns, your life will be at stake.] Actually, I didn’t desperately want to go inside. I just wanted to see Garrison. I wanted to know what had happened to us over these ten years. But the next second, the door behind me opened again. The child still had a cold expression. “You, come in.” 2 I was puzzled. The comments were also puzzled. [What does this mean? Why did he let Pajama Lady in?] [Maybe he saw her and was reminded of his mother when she was younger? But there have been other Players like that before!] [Ahhh! She just walked in without wiping her feet! Doesn’t the son have mysophobia?] I glanced at my dirty feet. Quietly, I retreated to the rug in the foyer. The child, however, said nothing. He simply took out a pair of grey slippers from the shoe cabinet. As he handed them to me, he noticed the bloodstain by my foot and visibly winched. “So dirty.” “…” What have I given birth to? This kid’s temper was awful. Not like me, not like Garrison. I slipped on the slippers and walked into the living room. Immediately, I came face to face with a very familiar countenance. My own face. But it looked much more mature, bearing the marks of time. She tilted her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Are you… a Player? Please leave. Now that I’m back, there’s no need for your futile efforts.” I didn’t reply, simply studying her. Studying this “me” from ten years in the future. The child also remained silent, finding a first-aid kit and handing it to me. He pointed at my foot. “Clean that up.” My heart softened a little. I took the first-aid kit and thanked him. “Thank you. What’s your name?” His eyes dimmed, as if with disappointment. “Adam.” After that, he returned to the sofa, busying himself with his phone, not looking at me again. The Player also seemed to relax, settling comfortably beside Adam, smiling at me. “Next time, maybe do your homework before you come.” She peeled an orange and handed it to Adam, who naturally took it and put it in his mouth. Mother and son, harmonious. 3 I took the first-aid kit to the bathroom to clean my wound. The comments were laughing hard. [LOL, Pajama Lady doesn’t even know the kid’s name. What kind of people does the system find?] [The kid must be speechless. Never seen such a useless Player.] [Pajama Lady, be smart and leave. You can’t compare to even a single strand of hair on Replica Sister. When she arrived, the kid almost cried.] [Just waiting for the male lead. He’ll be here in half an hour. He’ll definitely choose Replica Sister too when he sees both Players.] [I bet on Replica Sister.] [You bet, I bet too. I bet Replica Sister ten coconut lattes.] [Agree!] [Also agree with the above.] … I couldn’t blame them. Even I wasn’t very confident. After all, Adam was practically a stranger to me. His personality, his preferences—I knew nothing. I hadn’t even imagined I would end up with Garrison. And certainly not that we’d have a child. He and I were just too different. 4 To be perfectly clear, Garrison and I were childhood friends. Or perhaps, “young master and bodyguard” would be more accurate. I was naturally strong, developing faster than my peers. When I was six, Garrison visited our orphanage during a kindergarten charity event. He was almost kidnapped, stuffed into a sack, but I saved his life. Garrison’s parents subsequently adopted me. But not into the Bale family directly. I was adopted under the name of the Bale’ housekeeper. It saved face and didn’t waste too many resources. So I moved into the Bale’ staff quarters. On my first night there, Garrison and I officially met. His face was pale and sickly, his features delicate, making him look almost androgynous. Seemingly harmless, his mouth, however, was sharp. “Oh my goodness! I wished for a gentle, cute sister! Why are you here?” I actually wanted to punch him. But being dependent on them, I could only feign obedience, smiling sweetly. “No, I’m not your sister.” I was just his bodyguard. Garrison was a premature baby, born with an underdeveloped heart valve. To live a normal, healthy life, he would need a valve replacement as an adult. Until then, he remained very frail and needed protection. And I was the best candidate. Later, Garrison and I grew up together. Wherever he went, I followed. I was also trained in various martial arts, winning numerous championships along the way. In Garrison’s senior year of high school, he must have been in an early relationship. As rivals, he got into a conflict with another wealthy young man. When I arrived, Garrison had just fallen to the ground. The wealthy young man frantically waved his hands. “He threw the first punch! Really! Everyone saw it! I dodged, he missed, and just fell over!” “…” Though it sounded absurd, for Garrison, it was perfectly normal. I carried Garrison on my back and turned to leave. Behind me, the other boy was still muttering, “I just casually asked if they’d gone all the way. Was it really necessary? She was already…” I walked further away, not quite catching the rest of his words. On the way to the infirmary, Garrison lay on my shoulder, uncharacteristically silent. Finally, he managed to blurt out: “I’m sorry, Natalie. Am I a lot of trouble?” It was the first time he’d smiled so weakly. “You’ve always protected me. I feel like I’ve never done anything for you.” My footsteps faltered slightly. I wanted to say that’s not true. Garrison had also done a lot for Natalie. He would pretend to have no appetite, bringing his nutritious meals back to the room and feeding them all to me. He would insist, in my early teenage years, that I should have the right to lock my own room. He would cancel pre-arranged dates when I had my period, deliberately staying in so I wouldn’t have to endure the pain of going out. I wanted to say, you really did so much. So much that I’ve developed feelings I shouldn’t have for you. But the words that came out were different. “Yeah, you did. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in the orphanage, and I wouldn’t have gotten into such a good school. Besides, aren’t you having surgery soon? You won’t need me after that.” Garrison fell silent again. This time, the silence stretched on for a very long time. It wasn’t until the school nurse finished examining him and confirmed nothing serious was wrong that he suddenly spoke. “Natalie, which university are you planning to go to?” A baffling question. Through the white privacy curtain, I couldn’t see Garrison’s expression, couldn’t guess his reason for asking. I ended up lying. I casually mentioned a university up north, but in the end, I went south. 5 Later, during my university years, Garrison came to find me once. But we parted on bad terms. After that, I heard he went abroad. We lost all contact. And now, there was Adam. And I was dead. What had truly happened in those ten years? What were these “male lead,” “system,” and “Players” all about? Could they be connected to my death? … I splashed water on my face; a cool rush instantly permeated my skin, waking me up. No matter what, I had to see Garrison first. If even he didn’t recognize me, then I’d make other plans. With that thought, I exited the bathroom, only to find the living room filled with fierce-looking security guards. They clearly intended to escort me out. The Player remained seated on the sofa, maintaining the demeanor of a hostess. “Now that everything is handled, please leave.” I didn’t agree. “Garrison will be here soon. I need to see him.” She sighed, as if regretting the next step. “Then don’t blame us for getting rough.” At her words, the security guards prepared to rush me. “Wait!” It was Adam. He stood up, looking at me, his small face serious. “Wait until Dad gets back to decide.” It had to be his own son. I felt a surge of emotion, about to speak, but the Player cut me off. She knelt, meeting Adam’s gaze, her expression pained. “Have you forgotten how Mom died?” Adam froze, a conflicted, hesitant expression appearing on his face for the first time. “I’m sorry…” He didn’t finish. But I was curious. “How did I… how did you die?” Regardless of whether I’d get an answer, any delay was a win. As I asked, I saw a fleeting look of disdain in the Player’s eyes. But quickly, she resumed her facade, patiently coaxing Adam. “See? She doesn’t even know how Mom died. How could she be real? Adam, you’ve always been a smart boy. You can tell the difference this time, right?” Adam looked at me deeply, the hope in his eyes completely extinguished. A moment later, he murmured, “You should go.” An inexplicable dull ache settled in my heart. 6 The security guards immediately surrounded me. The comments were also mocking me. [She doesn’t even know the cause of death. Pajama Lady, stop daydreaming.] [Replica Sister is so smart. She knows the cause of death is a hurdle the son can’t get over, so she used it to stop him.] [Speaking of the ex-wife’s death, it was truly tragic. Otherwise, why would the male lead have become so dark?] [I don’t understand why the son is hesitating. Shouldn’t he just kick Pajama Lady out? She’s been full of holes for a while.] [Actually, being dragged out by security is the good outcome. If the male lead arrives, it won’t be so simple.] I really wanted to know my cause of death. Yet, among all those comments, not one clearly explained it; they were all betting on how quickly I’d be thrown out. Too bad, I was about to disappoint them. I braced myself for the security guards’ attack. Just as I was about to punch one of them in the jaw, a deep, cold male voice suddenly cut through the air from the doorway. “What’s going on?” The chaos in the room immediately ceased. The security guards all turned to look back, allowing me to see the man as well. He was dressed in black, dusty from travel, his face a healthy pale, his features much sharper now. His gaze swept over everyone in the room. When he saw the Player who looked exactly like me, he paused slightly. But finally, his eyes locked firmly on me. A myriad of emotions swirled in his gaze. Shock, doubt, disbelief, regret, grief… And the wild joy of finding something lost and recovered. After a brief staredown, Garrison suddenly strode over and grabbed my wrist, his voice hoarse with a trembling intensity. “Natalie? Is that you?”

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1 “Sis, can I come over tonight?” Caleb’s strong arms wrapped around my waist, pinning me. He buried his head in the crook of my neck, deliberately lowering his voice to a playful whine. I chuckled, patting his back: “Next time.” Caleb lifted his head, his wounded gaze expressing his displeasure. “When’s next time? Tomorrow or next year?” I was about to answer when my peripheral vision caught sight of a black car stopped at the intersection, waiting for the green light. I nudged Caleb’s shoulder: “Be a good boy, let go. My husband’s here to pick me up.” … “You owe me a big one next time, Sis.” Caleb huffed lightly, reluctantly releasing me. “Mm, get going.” With that, I subtly widened the distance between us. Under my urging gaze, Caleb left, glancing back every few steps. No sooner had he gone than Adrian pulled up. Adrian seemed to have witnessed my interaction with Caleb. His face was somber as he asked, “Who was that? Fiona, are you two close?” My expression remained unchanged: “Just a colleague.” “Really?” Adrian remained suspicious but didn’t press further. It seemed he hadn’t seen Caleb and me embracing. I inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. “Fiona, guess what I brought for you?” A sweet aroma wafted towards me. I looked down to see Adrian holding a bag of my favorite roasted chestnuts. He peeled one open and popped it into my mouth: “Good?” I nodded, savoring the sweet, soft chestnut melting in my mouth. A warm cup of milk tea was suddenly placed in my hand, dispelling the chill from my body. Adrian led me to the car, thoughtfully opening the door for me. He never allowed anyone to eat in his car; I was the sole exception. Adrian drove, not forgetting to spare me some attention. “Fiona, tomorrow is our tenth anniversary. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?” I leaned against the car window. Hearing his words, I was momentarily lost in thought. So, we’d been together for ten years. Adrian was incredibly good to me. He woke up at 5:30 every morning, just to make me breakfast. No matter how busy he was, he would pick me up from and drop me off at work. He sent me flowers every week, each bouquet meticulously chosen by him. He never missed any anniversary. Yet, this seemingly perfect husband had already cheated. In our seventh year of marriage. Adrian, the cheater, showed no signs of abnormality. He continued to care for me meticulously, treating me well. If I hadn’t seen that message three years ago. Every winter, my hands and feet would be ice cold, no matter how many layers I wore, I couldn’t get warm. Adrian bought over a dozen hot water bottles and placed them on the bed. Since the hot water bottles couldn’t stay warm all night, Adrian set alarms. As soon as an alarm went off, he would crawl out of our warm bed to refill them with hot water. Two years ago, Adrian was busy day and night striving for a professorship, yet still worried about me in the evenings. I couldn’t bear it. I quietly turned off his alarm and tiptoed out of the room. I intended to boil and change the water myself, but an accident occurred. The kettle suddenly burst, and Adrian, startled awake from his sleep, saw the messy scene. He trembled as he rushed me, scalded, to the hospital. I was diagnosed with second-degree burns. Thirty-year-old Adrian lay by my hospital bed, crying without a shred of self-consciousness. “Fiona, does it hurt? Why didn’t you call me to change the water? I’d rather it was me who got burned.” I chuckled, wiping away his tears, my voice hoarse: “It doesn’t hurt.” He refused to go to school, taking a full month off. He stayed by my side all day, changing my clothes, applying medicine. Even when I had to use the restroom, he would carefully carry me, afraid of hurting me. He knew I valued my appearance, so to prevent scars, he started researching beauty broths. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, I felt nothing but heartache. It seemed I only ever caused him trouble. I forcibly pulled him onto the bed, and under his surprised gaze, I lifted my hand to cover his eyes: “Get some sleep.” He was exhausted and soon drifted off to sleep. His phone, carelessly left on the nightstand, suddenly lit up. I initially didn’t want to bother, but the screen lit up several times in a row. All of Adrian’s passwords were related to me. I just didn’t expect Adrian’s phone to have two separate spaces. As soon as I unlocked the phone, a message popped up. Chloe: [I learned a new trick. Coming over tonight?] My head buzzed, my body tensed like stone. What did this mean? I swiped up, and photos of a girl in skimpy lingerie filled my vision. The girl was Adrian’s student. Her chat history with Adrian was explicit. So, even Adrian, a man so traditional and rule-bound, could flirt. I saw a different Adrian. Dominant, assertive, fiercely possessive. But not towards me. My mind was a blank. Cold sweat streamed down my back, soaking my clothes. What should I do? I was a coward. I dared not wake Adrian and demand an explanation. I was afraid of losing him. I prayed and waited for Adrian to cut ties with the girl on his own. This wait lasted two years. By the third year, I couldn’t wait anymore. “Fiona, Fiona, what are you thinking about?” The car had stopped at some point. Adrian wiggled a finger in front of my eyes. I snapped back, answering his question: “I’m just tired. Let’s just celebrate our anniversary at home.” Adrian never contradicted me, never disappointed me. Even celebrating at home, Adrian’s anniversary preparations were perfect. Gifts, flowers, candlelight dinner—nothing was missed. Adrian placed the sliced steak onto my plate. He sought praise: “Fiona, have my cooking skills improved? Shouldn’t I get a reward?” He gently tapped his cheek with his index finger. The candlelight flickered, dancing on his jade-like face, just as when we first met. The first time Adrian cooked for me, he couldn’t tell the difference between chives and green onions. But that day, his braised fish was truly delicious. I remembered it for a very, very long time, and still haven’t forgotten. If I could, I wanted to eat his cooking for the rest of my life. Adrian saw I wasn’t moving, so he proactively moved closer to me, pressing a kiss on my cheek. Our noses touched; I could even feel his breath. “Fiona, am I not attractive to you anymore? You’re always spaced out lately.” Hearing his jocular words, Caleb’s face inexplicably popped into my mind. Caleb was very similar to him, yet different. Caleb was just as thoughtful, just as gentle with me. But Caleb would get jealous, would act playful. I had never felt these emotions from Adrian. A sudden, jarring ringtone broke my thoughts. 2 Adrian glanced at the caller ID and hastily hung up. His actions were quick, but I saw his reluctance and hesitation. The only person who could make Adrian show a different expression was Chloe. “If it’s an important call, just take it.” Adrian shook his head: “Today is our anniversary. Nothing is more important than being with you.” Since he himself refused, I said nothing further. But the phone’s ringtone, like a death knell, repeatedly interrupted Adrian’s and my conversation. I grew a little annoyed: “Just answer it.” Adrian gave me an apologetic look, then hurried to the balcony and picked up the call. I didn’t know what Chloe said to him, but his eyes changed instantly, seeming sharp yet also intrigued. A quarter of an hour later, Adrian returned. He stood before me, full of remorse: “Fiona, something came up at school. I have to go.” I toyed with the phone in my pocket, asking, “Will you be back tonight?” Adrian looked troubled: “I don’t know when I’ll be able to finish. If I don’t come back tonight, you should go to sleep first.” With that, he gently kissed my forehead. “Okay.” Having received my answer, he left in a hurry. I didn’t actually care if he came back or not; I just wanted to confirm. Because Caleb had texted me. He said he wanted to take me on a date. When I got home, Adrian hadn’t returned yet. He came back from outside after I had taken a shower. He must have drunk a lot, his eyes hazy. Seeing me, his lips immediately curved upwards, and he flung himself at me, his voice tender: “Fiona, I miss you so much.” If he didn’t reek of cloying perfume, his words would be more convincing. Adrian clearly realized this too, immediately springing up from me, hastily explaining. “Fiona, don’t misunderstand, the smell on me…” He stared fixedly at my neck, pointing at a red mark there, and asked through gritted teeth, “What’s this?!” I instinctively raised my hand to touch it; it was probably just a lipstick stain I accidentally brushed on. But my expression was calm, as if this was just a trivial matter: “It’s a hickey. Don’t you recognize it?” It was the first time I had ever seen Adrian wear a “the sky is falling” expression. It was both novel and amusing. I brushed over the spot: “Is it that strange? Adrian, haven’t you done these things to Chloe too?” Adrian felt as if his neck was tightly squeezed by a pair of large hands. He forced a sentence through gritted teeth: “You… you knew?” “Mm.” Adrian visibly panicked: “When?” His trembling pupils told me he was afraid. I revealed the truth: “Three years ago, when you and she first got entangled, I knew.” Adrian suddenly remembered something. Three years ago, when Chloe texted him, why did he read it but not reply? He thought he had simply forgotten to reply, but it turned out I had seen it. I asked: “I showed no abnormalities, so you thought I hadn’t found out, right?” No one knew how heartbroken I was then. My heart felt as if it had been ripped from my body, a living hell. Yet I had to hide my emotions, so Adrian wouldn’t discover them. Three years had almost worn away all my love and hatred. I didn’t want to continue like this. “Adrian, let’s get a divorce.” Adrian could no longer maintain his usual gentle demeanor; he practically roared, “I don’t agree!” I couldn’t help but frown: “Then can you break it off with Chloe?” Adrian hesitated. I gave him a knowing look: “See? You can’t let her go, Adrian. Your heart isn’t with me anymore.” “I just…” Adrian tried to explain, but I cut him off. “Adrian, do you know? Chloe actually came to see me.” That conversation with Chloe was what made me truly decide to let go of Adrian.

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