Category: English

When my boyfriend found out I had a thousand dollars loaded onto my campus dining card, his eyes practically turned into dollar signs. Under the guise of “helping me budget,” he convinced me to let him hold onto it. But when I bought a $15 steak for lunch, he completely lost it. “Fifteen dollars? That’s enough for me to eat in the dining hall for three days. If I ate ramen and beans, it would last me ten days!” “My parents have worked their fingers to the bone their entire lives, and they’ve never even smelled a steak like that. And you? You’re playing the rich heiress with your parents’ hard-earned money?” “Go return that steak right now and get a $5 combo meal.” I laughed out of sheer anger. My parents loaded a thousand dollars onto my dining card so I could eat well every meal, not so I would have to walk on eggshells to get a bite of food. 01 At lunchtime, I used my dining card to buy the daily special: a $15 pan-seared steak. The moment I sat down, my boyfriend, Ethan, suddenly snapped at me. “Chloe, are you insane? Fifteen dollars for a thin piece of meat? Do you think money grows on trees?” “My parents work themselves to death all month just to scrape together a few of those fifteen dollars. They don’t even know what a steak tastes like! And what are you doing? Acting like some spoiled trust-fund baby?” “Go return it right now. Go get a $5 value meal.” My fork froze mid-air. I looked at my inexplicably furious boyfriend in confusion. I swiped my card. Why was he so agitated? I knew Ethan came from a struggling rural family. His parents farmed to put him through college. His monthly allowance of $150 wasn’t even enough to cover one nice dinner out for me. He pinched pennies in his daily life. He only bought things on extreme clearance and only ate the cheapest meals. The faded white button-down he wore was supposedly from middle school; he hadn’t thrown it away in eight years. Mindful of his financial situation and afraid of hurting his pride, I suppressed my anger and tried to explain gently. “Ethan, I only eat this occasionally. It’s not like I’m having it every meal. Plus, the quality of this steak is really high. It’s definitely worth the price.” I held up a piece of the steak on my fork to show him. Plump meat, a beautiful rosy color, seared perfectly. A steak of this quality would easily cost forty or fifty dollars at a restaurant off-campus. “Eat? Do you even deserve to eat something this expensive? Look at you. Who besides me could stand a spendthrift like you?” Ethan interrupted me impatiently, slamming his hand on the table and knocking the fork right out of my hand. The piece of steak tumbled to the floor, instantly drawing the attention of the students around us. My eyes widened with a mix of disbelief and anger. Just as I was about to fire back. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed several students pointing and whispering about us. Some even had their phones out. “He’s so mad, his girlfriend must have maxed out his dining card.” “I think I’ve heard of that guy. He’s a senior, really good grades, but he’s on a low-income grant. He probably snapped because he can’t afford his gold-digger girlfriend.” “That girlfriend is so clueless. Her boyfriend is broke, and she’s maxing out his card? She’s obviously just a leech.” Hearing the whispers around me, my cheeks burned like fire. I reached out to grab Ethan’s sleeve. “If we’re going to fight, let’s do it outside. There are so many people here, aren’t you embarrassed?” “Besides, I spent money from my own dining card! And my parents loaded all that money because they want me to eat well. It’s just a piece of steak. It’s not like I can’t afford it.” Ethan violently shook off my hand. Ignoring my resistance, he forcefully dragged me to the next table, pointing at a student who was gnawing on a plain bagel. “Look. This is what you call knowing how to live. A vain parasite like you should be forced to eat plain bagels and cheap beans every day.” “If you’re willing to blow $15 on something as flashy as a steak today, what’s next? Are you going to want a $50 salad? A $20 bottle of water? How can I trust you with our family’s finances in the future if you act like this? You aren’t thinking about our future at all!” “Think you can just swipe your card whenever you want? Dream on. I told you I’d manage your dining card, and I’m a man of my word. I need to monitor every meal you eat to keep you from wasting your parents’ hard-earned money!” Under the strange gazes of the crowd, I stared at the steak lying on the floor, trembling with rage. Ethan holding onto my dining card was like him choking the very breath out of me. I felt incredibly stifled. Using my own dining card had somehow become a “sin” worthy of public criticism and education. I couldn’t help but regret agreeing to let him manage my dining card in the first place. 02 At the beginning of the semester, when Ethan found out I had a thousand dollars on my dining card, his eyes lit up. He told me he was a Taurus, that he had been good with money since he was a kid. He said that since I was a freshman, I wouldn’t know the ins and outs of the dining halls—which had over fifty different food stalls. He was afraid I’d get ripped off and offered to manage my dining card, promising to save me money while making sure I ate well and cheaply. “Chloe, you’re young and don’t know how to budget. Let me hold onto your dining card. Tell me when you want to eat, and I’ll be there on call.” Thinking that as a junior, he definitely knew the dining halls better, and swept up in his sweet-talk of “doing it for my own good” and the rose-colored glasses of new love, I foolishly handed over my dining card. Ever since Ethan took over my dining card, every time I wanted to use it, I had to report to him first. He would interrogate me in agonizing detail about what I wanted to buy and how much it cost. At first, I thought he just cared about me. I even happily told him I wanted to buy some fresh strawberries for $10. Ethan sucked in a breath of cold air. “Ten dollars? Do you know how many pounds of bananas you could buy with that?” “Instead of eating 50-cent bananas, you insist on strawberries. You girls are all just following trends, eating whatever’s expensive. You deserve to be ripped off by these greedy merchants!” “Strawberries and bananas have the same nutritional value. Listen to me, just buy a pound of bananas.” In the end, I went back to my dorm carrying clearance bananas that cost a dollar a pound. Ethan was very satisfied. He said it all looked the same once it hit your stomach, so there was no need to pay extra for how it looked. I felt incredibly frustrated. There were many similar incidents. Every time I wanted to buy something, Ethan would “kindly” find a so-called cheap alternative. Boba tea was swapped for tap water. A slice of cake was swapped for a plain muffin. He even wanted to swap a $2 yogurt for a free promotional drink his roommate got with takeout. Pile upon pile, Ethan’s words felt like iron chains binding me, stripping away my freedom. But I never imagined that the Ethan who once promised to be “on call” would now lecture me over spending a few dollars. This was completely different from what he said about “saving me money” when he asked for my card. This was him actively restricting my spending. I stubbornly started a cold war with Ethan and went to the dining hall with my roommate, Sarah. It just so happened the dining hall had opened a new premium stir-fry stall. The food looked amazing and smelled divine. It cost $8 a plate. Since Ethan had my physical card, I used the mobile app linked to my account to pay via QR code. Right after I paid, my phone started ringing immediately. “Chloe, what did you buy that cost $8? You just can’t change, can you? I confiscate your physical card, and you just use the app?” “Fine, I’m coming to the dining hall right now to show everyone what a spoiled brat looks like!” His angry voice drew stares from the students around me. I felt embarrassed and angry. “You don’t need to come. I already got it to go.” “Besides, I just bought a plate of stir-fry. Is it a crime to use the money from my own account?” “Chloe, we’re dating, and you’re already dividing what’s yours and what’s mine? What are we going to do when we get married? Split everything 50/50? Can you stop being so selfish? Can you think about us for a second? Do you think it’s easy for your parents to make money? Don’t you feel guilty spending it like this? Listen to me. From now on, if it costs more than a dollar, ask me first.” Seeing the strange looks from the people around me and Sarah’s probing gaze, I was flush with shame and anger. Tears welled in my eyes as I hung up the phone. The delicious stir-fry, just like the steak that day, turned into something that made me lose my appetite. Back in the dorm, Sarah saw my red eyes, let out a muffled laugh, and then offered some hypocritical comfort. “Oh, Chloe, Ethan is just looking out for you. Look at me, when I want to eat something nice, I don’t have anyone to tell me no. He’s talking to you because he cares. Unlike me, a loner with no one to love or care for me.” “It’s rare to find a guy who knows how to budget like him nowadays. He’s so busy all day, but he still finds time to pay attention to what you eat. Even if he plays the bad cop, he’s trying to help you break your bad spending habits. He genuinely wants a long-term future with you.” I responded with a few annoyed “mhm”s and climbed into bed, closing my eyes to sleep. But lying in bed, my chest felt like it was being crushed by a heavy stone. It was so suffocating. It was already 3 AM, but I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I just couldn’t understand. Why did “looking out for me” mean losing the freedom to choose what I eat and drink? Why did it mean only consuming cheap alternatives? For the first time, I realized that I couldn’t handle this “good intention” from my boyfriend in the name of love. 03 After evening study hall, my stomach rumbled. I wanted to go to the late-night snack window at the dining hall. I didn’t expect that Ethan, afraid I’d spend money, had actually disabled the quick-pay feature on my app. Furious, I went straight to his dorm building to get my physical card back. When he came downstairs, his first sentence was an interrogation about what I was going to buy. I told him straight up that I was hungry and wanted some soup and a small piece of cake. Ethan looked confused, looking me up and down for a solid minute. “No way! Look what time it is. Eating soup and cake now? It’ll make you fat and waste money. Just endure it. Go drink some water. You won’t be hungry once you’re asleep.” Shock spread across my face. He actually wanted me to fill up on water? The burning sensation of hunger gave me strength. I stood firm and refused to back down, confronting him in front of the busy dorm entrance. Finally, with a dark expression, Ethan followed me to the dining hall. Taking long strides, he swiped the card before I could say anything, bought a plain, dry roll, and handed it to me like charity. “Fine. Eat. Stop walking around with a long face like I’m abusing you. I’m providing for you, what more do you want?” I frowned at the roll in his hand—harder than a rock and completely unappetizing—and shoved it away forcefully. I was exhausted after a whole night of studying. I absolutely refused to eat a dry piece of bread for a late-night snack. Ethan, seeing my reaction, immediately threw the roll onto the floor! “Eat it or don’t. Starve, you deserve it. It’ll help you lose that fat anyway.” Looking at the roll rolling on the floor, my stomach cramped in pain, and my heart felt even more suffocated. Hungry and feeling deeply wronged, I went to find my best friend, Mia, crying as I poured out the details of this terrible conflict caused by the dining card. Ethan was my first boyfriend. I valued this relationship very much. We originally met online. I posted on a forum asking for advice on college applications, and he patiently guided me and encouraged me to apply to his university. Online, he was funny, humorous, attentive, and considerate. He would send me ginger tea when I had my period. For my birthday, he sent a matching couple’s bracelet he wove himself. When I had a cold, his heart ached so much he stayed up all night on a voice call with me, constantly muttering: “God above, transfer all her pain to me. Just let my baby be healthy and safe.” When the semester started, I was full of anticipation to meet him in person. But I never expected the real-life him to be completely different from the gentle, considerate boyfriend online. I knew our living standards were vastly different. I’m the only daughter of a family in California. My parents run a successful international trading business. They provide for all my needs. For my 18th birthday, I got a luxury condo in Los Angeles. When I was eating $100 sushi, he was eating plain bread with hot sauce before running an hour to do a $15 tutoring session. But he had good grades and ambition. Even though he had a year left until graduation, he had already secured an internship at a Fortune 500 company. His future was bright. He also promised me: “Baby, when I graduate and get a job, I’ll give all my salary to you.” I didn’t have a very profound concept of money. My parents told me to keep a low profile at school, to avoid showing off wealth, and to avoid bringing unnecessary trouble to the family. So, after starting college, I gave up eating at high-end restaurants and squeezed into the dining halls with my classmates. With Ethan, I also believed that after he graduated and had a stable income, the gap between us would narrow. But I never expected the conflict exposed by the dining card would make me realize that our entirely different concepts of consumption couldn’t be resolved simply by compromising. The gap in our backgrounds was like an uncrossable chasm. After Mia understood the whole story, her words hit the nail on the head. “He took your dining card? That’s robbery. It’s manipulation. It’s psychological control!” “Saving you money? Bullshit! He’s jealous. He’s insecure. He can’t stand seeing you live better than him. He wants to drag you down into the mud so you rot with him.” “Managing your dining card? The next step is making you hand over your living expenses, your salary, turning your money into his money. Wake up, Chloe! This is the beginning of a crime!” Mia reminded me seriously: “Go check your dining card balance immediately. With a guy like this, who knows if he’s been secretly spending your money!” I woke up as if from a dream, realizing the severity of the problem. It turns out that true “good intentions” lift you higher. They don’t clip your wings and then blame you for not being able to fly. I pulled out my phone and immediately texted Ethan. [We’re done. Return my dining card immediately.]

When we moved into our new home, my mom warned me over and over not to expose my succubus identity. But it didn’t take long before I was starving, and my true form popped out right in my second stepbrother’s arms. He wickedly tugged at my tail. My face was flushed, my voice trembling: “Ethan, I let you touch my tail and ears. You can’t tell a third person…” Before I could finish, I saw my oldest stepbrother, fresh out of the shower, standing at the bedroom door. “Too late. Unless you let me touch them too.” 01 I was curled up in Ethan’s arms, burning up. His hand was kneading the tip of my tail, giving it a wicked tug every now and then. That tingling sensation almost made me cry. To make matters worse, his other hand was playing with my ears, his fingertips brushing lightly behind them. “Ethan… don’t touch the ears…” I bit my lip, my voice as faint as a mosquito. A succubus’s ears and tail are incredibly sensitive. Growing up, I had never been touched like this by anyone. “Hmm?” Ethan’s breath ghosted over my ear. “Didn’t you say I could touch everything?” I shuddered and shook my head frantically. “I take it back… I take it back!” But my tail unconsciously wrapped itself around his finger. A low chuckle came from above my head. “Your mouth says no, but your tail is very honest.” I buried my face in his wrinkled shirt, dying of embarrassment. This was a completely instinctual reaction. I swore I really couldn’t control it! A succubus’s tail has a mind of its own. Ethan moved again, his long fingers slowly tracing up my tail. Like he was playing with a fascinating new toy. “Tsk, are all you succubi this soft?” As a newly-adult succubus, having my true form played with like this… I was going to explode. 02 I always thought I was a normal human. Until I turned 18, and fluffy ears and a tail popped out of nowhere. Looking at myself in the mirror, my world collapsed. My mom told me the truth. Turns out, she was a succubus who married a human, and then they had me. I originally had a fifty percent chance of being a normal human. She patted my head and sighed: “My genes were just too strong. I didn’t expect you to inherit the succubus trait.” Before I could even recover from the shock of not being human, my mom dropped another bomb the next day: she was divorcing my dad. I was devastated all over again. “Do you guys not love each other anymore? Am I not going to have a dad?” My mom shook her head, stroking my face with pity. “Your dad has already been sucked dry by me. It’s time to swap for a new one.” On the day of the divorce, my biological dad, Robert Miller, held a massive bottle of Viagra and testosterone boosters, crying his eyes out. His steps were weak, his face pale, but he still clung to my mom’s dress, begging her not to leave. My mom didn’t say anything; she just patted his shoulder. “Take care of your health.” I thought my mom would be sad for a while, but less than a month later, she came to me glowing with vitality. “Chloe, we’re getting a new family.” According to my mom, my stepdad’s ex-wife divorced him because she complained he was like a horny teenager. When he met my mom, sparks flew. It was a perfect match. They eloped within a month. It was only when we moved into our new home that I was told I had two stepbrothers. The eldest, Liam Vance, was the current CEO of the Vance family’s investment firm—cold, aloof, and completely untouchable. The second brother, Ethan Vance, I actually knew of. He was the captain of the basketball team at my university, radiating serious bad-boy energy. Our stepdad, Richard, told them to take good care of me. During our first meeting, Ethan sat lazily on the couch, his long legs stretched out. Seeing me, he waved his hand dismissively. “Come here.” 03 I obediently walked over to him. When I got close, I finally noticed the small beauty mark near the corner of his eye. “Call me Ethan.” “Ethan.” Ethan ruffled the top of my head and let out a low chuckle. “Pretty obedient.” I don’t know why, but my whole body suddenly felt scorching hot. I barely managed to hide my ears and tail. My oldest stepbrother, Liam, was very busy with the company, so I rarely saw him. One day, I ran into him at home, and he handed me a bracelet. I didn’t recognize the luxury brand, but my intuition told me it was incredibly expensive. I hesitated, too scared to take it. Liam looked up at me. His sharp nose and slightly pressed lips gave off an intimidating, authoritative aura. “Don’t like the welcome gift?” I flinched, quickly shook my head, and took it. “I love it. Thank you, Liam.” “Mm.” Liam reached out and patted my head. The scent of his expensive cologne drifted into my nose. It smelled really good. I felt my ears and tail itching to pop out again. I quickly escaped to my room and frantically texted my mom for help. [Mom, why do I keep getting burning hot lately, and why do my ears and tail want to pop out?] Mom: [Now that you’ve matured into a succubus, you need to be ‘fed’ regularly.] [Hugs, kisses, and physical touch from the opposite sex all work. Otherwise, your succubus features will expose themselves. Ideally, you should go all the way… that’s the most effective.] [If you go too long without being satisfied, your whole body will burn up with fever…] Reading this, my face turned beet red. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. What kind of spicy, rated-R setup was this?! Why did it have to happen to me? And never mind going “all the way.” Growing up, I was so innocent I hadn’t even held a boy’s hand! Where the hell was I supposed to find a guy to do that with right now? Another text from my mom popped up. [Chloe, it’s all my fault. I was so focused on making you study for your SATs that I never taught you about this. I thought you were human, I didn’t realize you were just a late bloomer.] [Don’t worry, Mom will absolutely scout out a great boyfriend for you! If you find someone you like, make a move! Until we find you a boyfriend, just hold it in. DO NOT let your ears and tail show, and whatever you do, don’t let your stepdad or stepbrothers find out!] I nodded to myself in the empty room. [Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll definitely hold it in!] 04 I couldn’t hold it in. That night, I curled up under my blankets, helplessly biting my pillowcase. Why did it hurt so much? My scorching body temperature felt like it was setting me on fire. My skin was burning; I felt so hot and restless. I texted my mom for help, but she didn’t reply. I threw on a jacket and decided to go knock on her door. The heat was frying my brain. I stumbled blindly to a door and knocked. The door opened. But wait, why was Ethan the one opening the door? Ethan leaned against the doorframe, looking at me lazily. “It’s late. Something wrong?” I looked up, staring straight at him. My brain was completely mush. “Nothing…” I just wanted to get closer to him. Closer, just a little closer… My body moved on its own, wrapping my arms around him. I buried my face in his hard chest and rubbed against it. A satisfied sigh escaped my lips: “Ethan, you smell so good.” Ethan’s body stiffened. He shoved me away, his voice sounding unnatural. “What are you talking about?” His hands gripping my shoulders felt searing hot, but I couldn’t resist pressing myself against his arm, rubbing my cheek against it. So cool, so comfortable. “Ethan, just one hug…” Before I could finish, I was yanked into his room. From the hallway, I heard my mom’s voice: “Weird, she texted me, but she’s not in her room…” Inside the room, Ethan pinned me against the back of the door, clamping his hand tightly over my mouth. I took the opportunity to run my hands over his abs. Ethan sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed my wandering hands. “Hiss… stop touching me.” Before he could finish, he stared blankly at the top of my head, looking completely bewildered. “Holy shit, why do you have ears?” He didn’t know I had a tail, too. My tail had slipped out of my nightgown and was wagging frantically behind his back. 05 Once the noise in the hallway disappeared, Ethan let go of me and touched my fluffy ears. He even pinched them. As if trying to confirm if they were real, he then gave my tail a tug. A tingling, electric sensation shot from my tail through my entire body. I shuddered, unable to hold back any longer, and pounced on him. He caught me in a full embrace. “Holy— what are you doing, stop, hiss…” Ignoring his protests, I grabbed him and aggressively inhaled his scent. By the time my sanity barely returned… I realized I was straddling Ethan. I had even ripped several buttons off his shirt. His large hand was firmly pressing my head down to stop me from rubbing against him, while his other hand propped him up on the bed. He looked like he was losing his mind. “Chloe, what the hell did you grow? And stop rubbing your ears and tail on me.” Realizing what I had just done to my stepbrother… I didn’t dare look up. I answered him in a tiny voice: “We succubi… we grow ears and tails.” After saying that, I tried my hardest to restrain myself, scooting my butt backward. I heard another sharp intake of breath above my head. His hoarse, warning voice sounded: “Succubus step-sister, stop moving.” Uh-oh. Under my butt, there seemed to be something… Suddenly, a knock on the door. “Ethan, the shower in my room is broken. Let me use yours for a bit.” I was still sitting on Ethan’s lap. My entire succubus brain went completely blank. We locked eyes. Crap, I didn’t want Liam to find out! Was there anywhere I could hide?! Ethan reacted fast. He shoved me straight under his duvet. “If Liam finds out you’re in my room this late, I won’t be able to explain it. Don’t make a sound.” After warning me, he dove under the covers too. His long legs formed a tent under the blanket, giving me space to hide. As if afraid I’d move around, he firmly pressed my head against his abs. Feeling the warm skin against my face… I swallowed hard. Ah, his abs smell so good. I want to bite them. In the room, it sounded like Liam had walked in. “Why is your face so red?” Ethan’s hoarse voice replied: “It’s nothing. If you’re going to use the shower, hurry up… mm.” Halfway through his sentence, he let out a muffled groan, gritting his back teeth. Under the blanket, I honestly couldn’t resist. I nuzzled my face against Ethan’s abs and planted a kiss right on them. 06 Liam looked at Ethan’s flushed face and the shifting lump under the duvet. His deep, smooth voice carried a hint of amusement. “You’ve got a lot of energy for this time of night. Looks like I interrupted your fun.” Ethan’s face turned beet red. His tone sounded like he was swallowing broken glass. “It’s nothing. Just go take your shower, bro.” A moment later, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Ethan yanked me out from under the blanket by the scruff of my neck. He held the back of my head, his narrow eyes glaring fiercely at me. “Do you have a death wish?” Now that I couldn’t rub against his abs anymore… I pouted. “I just wanted a hug.” He stared at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Fuck.” I persisted, leaning closer: “Ethan, if I let you touch my ears and tail, will you let me hug you?” The look in Ethan’s eyes instantly darkened… His shirt was hopelessly wrinkled from me grabbing it, and two buttons were torn open, exposing his defined collarbone. I swallowed frantically, using all my willpower not to bite him. Just from hugging him earlier, I had finally regained my sanity. I carefully begged him not to tell anyone. Ethan tugged at my tail, revealing a playful, roguish smirk. His raspy voice sounded: “Then let me touch them some more. I haven’t had enough.” I trembled under his hands. Every second was pure agony. I looked up at him with teary eyes: “Ethan, I let you touch my tail and ears. You have to promise me you won’t tell a third person.” He tipped my chin up, his handsome face inches from mine. The corners of his eyes curved up slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Don’t worry, why would I let anyone else know…” But before he could finish his sentence, the familiar scent of expensive body wash hit my nose. I snapped my head up. My oldest stepbrother, Liam, was leaning against the doorframe, wearing loose loungewear, his chest partially exposed. He was staring at us, his eyes dark and unfathomable. 07 I froze. How much did Liam see? “Looks like I finished at a bad time.” Liam’s voice was low, but his gaze made me inexplicably panic. Ethan’s hand was still resting on my tail. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t even say anything when you got out of the shower?” Liam spoke slowly: “I did. You two were just too invested to hear.” My face instantly caught fire. I struggled to slip out of Ethan’s arms, but he pulled me even closer. Liam walked over, his usually stoic face unreadable. “Since I’ve already seen everything, how about you let me touch them too?” Hearing Liam’s words, my brain short-circuited. Liam, you too?! I shook my head frantically: “No!” “Why not?” Liam sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes darkening. “You let Ethan touch them, but not me. That’s not fair.” I looked at Ethan pleadingly, but he just shrugged at me. “I listen to Liam.” I was so mad I wanted to bite someone. Since when were these two so synchronized?! Liam reached out, his long fingers gently brushing the tip of my ear. I shuddered, my tail unconsciously wagging. “So cute,” Liam chuckled. “Like a little bunny.” I was dying of embarrassment, but completely helpless. A succubus’s ears and tail were simply too sensitive. Being played with like this, I didn’t even have the strength to stand. To make matters worse, Ethan wickedly raised his knee, forcing me deeper into his lap. “You… you guys can’t tell anyone…” I said, my voice thick with unshed tears. “Of course.” Liam’s finger traced the curve of my ear down to my neck. “But on one condition.” “What condition?” “From now on, whenever I want to touch them, I can.” My eyes widened. “No way!” Liam let out a low laugh. “Yes way.”

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I am the untouchable “first love” to a group of rich, arrogant bad boys in a dark romance novel. Because the innocent, naive female lead looked a bit like me, they bullied and humiliated her, treating her like a plaything until she was crying every single day. When I returned to the country, they were suddenly worried I would bully her, and ran over to warn me to back off. I was just planning to stay far away from them, far away from everything. But one of them pinned me into a corner, his eyes dark and obsessive: “Do you know why we all liked her? Because the untouchable moon that can finally be defiled… is the cutest.” “Letting us hold her, kiss her, and…” He leaned close to my ear to whisper that last word. 01 I am the untouchable “first love” to a group of rich, arrogant bad boys in a dark romance novel. They treated me like the moon in the sky, holding me high on a pedestal, desperately yearning for my affection. Until I went abroad to study, and they found a poor, innocent girl who looked about thirty percent like me. Timid, soft-spoken, and from a struggling family. As if they had found a new source of twisted amusement, they poured all their dark, long-hidden malice onto her. But then… At some point, the malice and affection began to blur together. … I jolted awake from the dream. Covered in cold sweat. This time, I had finally dreamed of the story’s ending. Tomorrow was the day I was scheduled to return to the States. And this group of boys, upon my return, would waver between me and the female lead, yet they never stopped bullying her. Until the male lead finally felt a pang of sympathy for the pitiful girl, using threats and coercion to kidnap her and lock her away in a gilded cage. Only then did the group of bad boys realize their true feelings and begin to feel profound regret. And everyone blamed the entire mess on me. Later. My family went bankrupt. I fell terminally ill. I foolishly thought they would consider our past friendship and lend me money for treatment. I even swore, “I never wanted to bother you guys, I just… I’m dying.” But they rejected me with haughty disdain, “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have lost her.” Until one of them grabbed my wrist, thin down to the bone, his eyes dark and murky, “You want money? Trade yourself for it. “After all… the untouchable moon that can finally be defiled is the cutest.” 02 But I couldn’t see the face of the boy who trapped me at the end. I didn’t know which of the four it was. In the quiet night, only my heart pounded wildly. Just then, the fully charged old phone I kept emitted a notification chime. I looked down and unlocked it. Messages in a group chat were refreshing rapidly: [The little munchkin’s birthday is tomorrow. What are you guys getting her?] [Duh, the reward is she gets to hang out with me for the whole day!] [? Psycho, back off. You want to hog her all to yourself? Do you think we’re dead?] [She’s been avoiding me these past few days. Let’s take her to The Viper Room tomorrow. Disobedient little kittens need to be taught a lesson.] [Tsk, don’t break her. But I gotta admit, it’s pretty hot when she cries.] A moment later, someone suddenly chimed in the chat. [Serena is coming back tomorrow.] The chaotic group chat went silent for a good while before someone replied: [Then you guys take the little munchkin out tomorrow.] [Holy shit, been having so much fun messing with the little munchkin these past two days I totally forgot about that. I need to go see Serena too. I’ll make it up to the munchkin for her birthday later, alright?] … [But with her crybaby personality, won’t she be heartbroken?] [So annoying. I’ve never met anyone so high-maintenance.] [Whatever. I’ll text Serena. We’ll throw her a welcome-back party in a few days.] As soon as that message was sent, my other phone received a text from Cole: [Serena! You’re finally coming back! Missed you to death. But we have a robotics competition these next few days. We’ll throw you a welcome-back party in a few days, cool?] I replied instantly: [Sure.] After I replied, the other phone started buzzing with messages again: [Ok, Serena agreed. Keep the munchkin company for her birthday tomorrow.] [Fuck, I pushed off seeing Serena for her, she better let me hold her and touch her good tomorrow.] [Don’t scare her, she’s so timid.] In the final seconds before the plane took off, I turned off my internet. Unable to receive new messages, I scrolled up to read the previous chat history. Two months ago, their chat logs looked like this: [I miss Serena so much… I just ruined a photo of her, do you guys have any extras?] [Idiot. It’s Serena’s misfortune that you like her.] [She’s coming back in two months.] [Oh right. I’ll try to hold on a bit longer. When she gets back, I’m going to have my dad propose an arranged marriage. God, I keep dreaming about her in my arms calling me ‘hubby’.] [? Do you even deserve her? Arranged marriage? If you get hit by a car and die tomorrow, she can just visit your grave. That’s enough.] Then they started arguing again, throwing around every dirty word in the book, even threatening to fight each other. And shortly after that chat. Their conversation started centering around a codename. “The little munchkin.” At first, they complained that she was stupid, that she cried too much, that she was a hassle and annoying to look at. They said she was doing stupid things while wearing a face that looked like mine. They said they needed to teach her a lesson. Later on. The tone changed. It was like immature boys bullying the girl they liked just to get her attention. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach as I read. I schemed in my head, how could I make them stop wavering between me and the female lead, and firmly choose her? As long as they didn’t hurt the female lead because of me, there wouldn’t be that whole series of “regretful bad boy” events later on, right? —An arranged marriage. As long as I entered into an arranged marriage with someone else, they would completely give up. 03 After getting off the plane, I was waiting for an Uber. The other phone started vibrating wildly again. Bored while waiting, I opened it to look. Cole tagged Julian: [Bro, aren’t you going to the munchkin’s birthday? She likes you the most.] [Yeah.] [Don’t tell me you’re sneaking off to see Serena behind our backs?] [I have things to do.] [Fine, whatever. Tsk, the munchkin’s true feelings are wasted on you. I’m going to make sure she knows who really likes her the most, so she stops throwing herself at you every day.] Julian didn’t reply again. There were five people in this group chat, including me. This account was an alt that Cole used in high school to hide from his parents and play games. There was a time when he was grounded and couldn’t get his phone, so he begged me to do his daily game quests for him. He just gave me the login info to make it easier. In this alt account, besides the gaming group, there was only this group chat with the five of them. The group creator was Cole’s main account, and I knew the other three as well. I originally didn’t want to pry too much into the kids’ privacy, but a message popped up: [Serena got even prettier. Love it.] My eyelid twitched, and I couldn’t control myself from clicking into the chat. And then I saw a lot of… fanatical comments. Cole was the worst. I scrolled through several pages of chat logs in silence. My mood was inexplicably complex. I couldn’t decide whether Cole had genuinely forgotten this group existed on his alt account, or if it was intentional. Intentional so that I would see it. I had only managed the account for a few days, then found Julian, who posted the most normal things in the group, and sent him a voice message, trying to sound as normal as possible: “Julian, Cole asked me to do his game quests a few days ago, but I’m too busy lately. Tell him for me, or you guys can just do them for him.” Julian was silent for a few seconds before calmly saying, “Okay.” After that, I actively avoided Cole a bit, but he just clung to me even more. After that incident, I happened to get a new phone, so I never logged into that WeChat account again. Until I went abroad. The old phone had some backups on it, so I just brought it with me. Two months ago, while digging through my things, a message notification popped up, and that’s when I took a look. I guess Cole had forgotten about this account too; he never logged in again, and it just stayed on my phone. It seemed this alt account was just a tool—once he was done with it, he didn’t need it anymore. … I reeled in my messy thoughts. I looked up and saw a familiar, yet somewhat unfamiliar figure. The boy stood in the shadows just ahead, his figure tall and lean. He was much taller than before, his features more defined. His expression was unreadable, but his dark eyes were fixed on me. I froze, instinctively taking a step back. Seeing that I recognized him, he took a step forward with his long legs and took my suitcase with his slender hand. “I’ll take you home.” I looked down. My Uber driver hadn’t moved from his spot on the map. I hesitated for a moment, then cancelled the ride. I followed Julian’s pace. The moonlight illuminated his striking brow bone, straight nose, and the shadows cast by his thick, long eyelashes. Compared to his previous boyishness, his current stunning appearance made me stare at his profile for a long time. It wasn’t until we got in the car and it started driving smoothly. It was already past midnight; it was technically the next day. I subtly probed, “Cole texted me saying you guys had a robotics competition today. Picking me up this late, don’t you need to rest up?” The corners of Julian’s mouth curled up in an almost imperceptible arc. I couldn’t tell if it was indifference or mockery. “No need,” he said casually. I wasn’t giving up. “By the way, I heard from some friends that you guys have been really close with a girl lately?” He glanced at me sideways and gave a noncommittal “Mhm.” No explanation, no further answer. I suppressed the annoyance rising in my chest. Seeing that he didn’t want to talk about it, I didn’t press further. It wasn’t until the car pulled up to my apartment building that Julian, without waiting for me to speak, went straight to grab my suitcase from the trunk. The words “It’s fine, there’s an elevator” got stuck in my throat. 04 After getting inside, before I even had a chance to turn on the lights. The sound of the door closing echoed. Julian suddenly spoke: “They all really like that girl lately.” I was stunned for a moment, then gave a slow “Oh.” I know. “She looks a bit like you.” “…” I know that too. “Aren’t you curious? Why they liked you so much at first, but now they’ve switched to her.” I carefully chose my words: “Well, it’s hard to explain why people like things.” The apartment was dark; the only light came from the moonlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. The boy in front of me slowly closed the distance between us. The corners of his lips were turned up in an innocent smile, but the darkness between his brows was unmistakable. “Do you know what they want to do? Let them hold her, kiss her, and…” He leaned close to my ear to whisper that last word. I went rigid. Only the hot breath against my ear made me shiver. This guy, who I thought was the most well-behaved and aloof of them all, was now pinning me against the door, saying inexplicable things. He didn’t even step back after speaking; there was almost no space between us. I opened my mouth, speaking unnaturally: “…As long as you guys like her.” “Why are you sweating?” Julian’s fingertips brushed against my forehead, which was glistening with a thin layer of sweat. I wanted to dodge, but realized my back was already pressed flat against the door. The sudden ringing of a phone shattered the early morning silence. Julian answered the phone expressionlessly. Cole’s voice came through clearly. “Hello? I thought you weren’t going to pick up. You’re not asleep yet?” “Just say what you want.” A flash of impatience crossed the boy’s dark eyes. “Oh, tonight Tristan went looking for the munchkin. That animal! He looks all polite and refined, but he ended up bullying the munchkin until she cried. Now she’s throwing a fit and saying she won’t let us celebrate her birthday.” Julian: “So?” Cole sighed. “We need you to come coax her.” “Me? Now?” “Yeah. At The Viper Room.” Hearing their conversation, I let out a massive sigh of relief and mouthed to Julian: Go coax her. Julian’s dark eyes stared straight at me. For some reason, the atmosphere around us seemed to drop a few degrees. After a long moment, he turned his head and said into the phone, “Fine.” After he hung up, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “Drive safe on your way there.” Julian smirked: “You wouldn’t care even if I died on the way there, would you.” His tone was calm, and he gave me one last, deep look before leaving. 05 I slumped onto the sofa. I patted my chest. Trying hard to calm my emotions. Knowing I was destined to be a tragic side character, I could no longer treat them like younger brothers, coddling and spoiling them like I did before I left. I even couldn’t help but feel a sense of rejection and distance towards them. I looked sideways at the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling window. Because of me, they and the innocent female lead had a tempestuous, angsty romance. So if I just wandered around in front of them… If I just found a high-quality guy for an arranged marriage, wouldn’t everything be solved? And… I had planned on an arranged marriage before I went abroad, but back then, they were in high school—a bunch of rebellious kids afraid of nothing—and who knows how many of my blind dates they sabotaged. So the arranged marriage thing kept getting put on hold. Now that they have a new obsession, my smooth transition into an arranged marriage should be a piece of cake, right? I sighed inwardly, picked up my phone, and started scrolling through the photos my dad had sent me. I picked out a few good-looking ones. Until I saw the last photo, and I was silent for a long time. [Why is Alexander here? Isn’t he notoriously uninterested in women and opposed to arranged marriages?] After sending the message, I realized it was past midnight. The old man was probably asleep. I suppressed my curiosity, washed up, and flopped onto my bed. When I was scrolling through Instagram before sleeping, the newest post was from Cole. I tapped to enlarge it. A petite, cute girl stood among four tall, handsome guys. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her almond eyes shimmering. She was wearing a pale yellow mini skirt that showed off her straight, pale legs. In front of them was a table lined with expensive liquor. Except for Julian on the far left, I hadn’t seen the other three boys in a long time. Cole, Tristan, and Mason. They had all grown up. Even though everyone except Julian was smiling, there was still a sense of intimidating presence. Intimidating presence? Blame the damn plot for making me feel intimidated by a bunch of kids. I sighed, liked the post, and kept scrolling. I didn’t expect that a few minutes later, Cole’s post would be gone. I felt a strange sense of unease. At that moment, my other phone started blowing up with notifications. Cole: [Holy shit, Serena liked my post.] Tristan: [What, do you still have feelings for Serena?] Cole: [No way. How is that possible? The munchkin would cry her eyes out. Am I the kind of guy who changes his mind so easily?] Tristan: [Who knows.] Cole: [I’m warning you, Tristan, stop playing the good guy with the munchkin and saying shit you shouldn’t to stir up trouble. I have absolutely zero interest in Serena now.] Mason: [Then why did you delete the post?] Cole: [I was afraid Serena would see it and do something to the munchkin! After all, the munchkin is poor and easily scared. Anyone could bully her.] Is this the power of the main characters and the plot? A few months ago, I was the most beautiful, kindest, and most forgiving ‘Serena.’ Now, without having done anything, I’m suddenly going to bully someone? I was completely speechless. Let the world burn. A moment later, Cole posted again: [I’m being serious. If Serena comes back and finds out no one likes her anymore, she won’t go crazy, will she? If she dares to hurt the munchkin, I’ll make her pay.] I stared at that sentence and laughed out of sheer annoyance. Aren’t they taking themselves a bit too seriously? Tristan: [I’ll protect Mia.] Cole: [Stop pretending! I can protect her perfectly well by myself!] Mason: [So are we still throwing that welcome-back party for Serena?] Cole: [Yeah, why wouldn’t we? I also need to parade the munchkin in front of her to show the munchkin I’ve got her back.] I numbly locked my phone screen. I lay in bed. My heart throbbed with a dull ache, accompanied by a trace of confusion. I clearly… hadn’t done anything. After a long time, I did a sit-up and texted my dad: [Alexander. I want to meet him for dinner today.] Alexander was Cole’s older brother. Before I left, I thought he was a perfect candidate for an arranged marriage. But rumor had it he was completely closed off to women in his private life, so I gave up on the idea at the time. If I could actually secure an arranged marriage with Alexander… Wouldn’t the others finally be able to peacefully love the female lead? 06 It was already afternoon when I woke up. My dad had sent me a voice memo: “Alex? His family is pushing him to get married. You two should test the waters. But let me be clear, if he ultimately refuses, there’s nothing I can do.” Then he sent me the restaurant address. “Tonight at six. Don’t be late.” I got ready and went to the restaurant. Alexander was already seated in the private room. He was wearing a crisp, fitted white dress shirt, his posture impeccable. Seeing me enter, he gave a slight nod. His pitch-black eyes were cold and distant. A completely different style from Cole. After I sat down, I took the menu from the waiter and smiled brightly, trying to strike up a conversation with Alexander: “I’ve heard so much about you, Mr. Vance. Do you have any dietary restrictions?” “My brother likes you.” Alexander, legs crossed, stated this calmly. I paused. I met his scrutinizing gaze. “Really?” I smiled. “I wasn’t aware. But kids’ crushes come and go.” He tapped his knuckles on the table. “I remember you and Cole and the others being pretty close?” Alexander’s voice was cold, and his overwhelming presence was suffocating. Especially with that interrogating tone. Did he think I was his subordinate? I closed the menu, my smile fading slightly. “Does that have anything to do with why we’re here today?” Silence filled the room for a few seconds. “No,” he said, then handed the menu to the waiter. “The usual.” I ordered a few random dishes, stood up, and said to Alexander, “Excuse me for a moment.” … On the way back from the restroom, I was full of annoyance. I didn’t even realize someone had grabbed me until a second later. “…Julian?” I looked in astonishment at the person holding me. The boy lowered his eyes, looking down at me. “Why are you here?” “Business,” I deflected. “This place is for banquets and parties. Who are you eating with?” His long fingers gripped my wrist tightly. I paused. Although it looked like Alexander and I weren’t going to work out, that didn’t mean I would let my blind dates get sabotaged like before. My expression hardened when I heard a familiar voice and a girl’s giggle. I quickly pulled Julian into an empty private room nearby. In the darkness, every breath felt amplified. “Afraid to see Cole?” he asked. “No, if they saw us together, it would be hard to explain.” I kept my voice low. “Besides, what if the girl you like sees us?” The breathing of the person next to me suddenly grew heavy. I went “Ah.” “What are you guys doing here? When are you leaving?” After I spoke, I remembered. They were celebrating a birthday. Julian ignored my questions. “There’s no sound out there. They probably went into their room.” I listened carefully for a moment, and only when I was sure it was quiet did I open the door. Then I started walking towards my room. “You should hurry back to them. Don’t keep them waiting.” Right as I was about to push the door open, I realized Julian had quietly followed me the whole way. Me: ? I was annoyed and speechless. “What are you doing? Are you stalking me?” The next second, I heard laughter from inside the room— Cole chuckled: “Little munchkin, let me introduce you. This is my older brother. I’ll generously allow you to call him ‘brother’ too.” A soft, sweet girl’s voice: “…Hello, brother.” Alexander’s flat voice: “Hello.” “Bro, what are you doing here? Having dinner with some girl? Is she my future sister-in-law?” After Cole finished his joke, a burst of laughter erupted from the room. Until Tristan’s voice broke through: “Where’s Julian? Didn’t he go to the room we reserved?” Cole’s voice got closer to the door. “Whatever, I’ll go find him and tell him to come toast my brother.” As the footsteps approached, my heart stopped. I turned sideways, wanting to leave. But it was too late. I could only watch helplessly as the door was pulled open, and the bright light from the room spilled out. Instantly, dead silence.

After testing into the same university as my online boyfriend, he sent me a photo of a girl and asked for a breakup: “I’ve fallen in love with her. I’ll compensate you.” I laughed: “Unless she’s willing to be the side chick, I can’t let you go.” He got annoyed: “Silly girl, I’m a cheater and I’m terrible in bed. I don’t deserve you.” The funny thing was, the girl in the photo was me. He then sent me a picture of an incredibly handsome guy. “This is my roommate, the campus heartthrob. His family is rich, he’s never had a girlfriend, and he’s packing 8 inches. I’ll have him date you, okay?” I swallowed hard: “Okay, but don’t come begging for me back.” He swore: “Don’t worry, whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” But later, the usually rebellious and cool guy was wearing a collar, kneeling at my feet like a dog, crying and begging: “Please get back together with me, or let him be the main guy and I’ll be the side piece. I’m not terrible in bed, I’m a natural-born machine.” “Please?” 01 [Babe, let’s break up.] Even though this online relationship was something I could take or leave, getting a sudden breakup text from Julian was still very surprising. I called to ask him why. Julian was very honest: “I saw a freshman today. She completely fits my aesthetic, like she was tailor-made for me.” “I feel like if I can’t be with her in this life, living will have no meaning.” “So Babe, let me go. I’ll make it up to you.” I laughed: “You used to say that if you couldn’t be with me in this life, living would have no meaning.” Julian cleared his throat guiltily: “Guys say all sorts of nonsense when they’re chasing girls, but she’s different. I’m serious about her.” Serious after just seeing her? I didn’t believe a word of it. Besides, Julian and I had been dating online for a year. He was a highly intelligent straight-A student, with sharp, handsome features and eyes that naturally tilted up at the corners, looking like they had hooks in them when he wasn’t smiling. He was exactly my favorite type of bad-boy handsome. I wanted to get a taste of him before breaking up. I tried to keep him: “A lot of people also say I’m super pretty. Why don’t you look at me first before deciding?” I opened my photo album. “No need, I’ve seen your pictures. I know you’re very pretty, but you’re the mature, older-sister type. I prefer her kind of cute, sweet vibe.” My pictures are the mature type? “Julian, are you mistaken? I have nothing to do with the mature type.” Julian sent a photo. “Before, to chase you, I lied and said I didn’t care about a girl’s looks. I never video-chatted with you, and never asked you to send photos, because I had already seen you from your profile picture history.” I looked at the beautiful woman in the photo he sent, sitting on a motorcycle, wearing a black leather jacket, looking heroic and cool. But that wasn’t me; that was my actual older sister, Sarah. Julian sent another photo of me. “Let me show you my dream goddess.” “Speaking of which, you two have somewhat similar eyes, but your vibes are completely different.” “You’re beautiful and badass, looking cooler than me. If your voice didn’t suit my taste, I actually wouldn’t have chased you.” “But she’s different. Big eyes, small face, a sweet voice. She’s completely stolen my soul.” “Anyway, showing you the photo is just to say I’m serious. Don’t use her photo for anything bad.” I didn’t expect Julian to like me this much. I burst out laughing. I decided to mess with him a bit. “Unless she’s willing to be the side chick, I can’t let you go.” Julian sighed heavily: “Silly girl, I’m a cheater and I’m terrible in bed. I don’t deserve you.” Liar. He was the captain of the college basketball team, with incredible stamina and impossibly long legs. When we were on the phone, his “solo sessions” started at half an hour minimum. Just as I was about to say the second photo was me. He suddenly sent a picture of an incredibly handsome guy. “This is my roommate, the campus heartthrob, Liam. His family is rich, he’s never had a girlfriend, and he’s packing 8 inches. I’ll have him date you, okay?” The Liam in the photo had pale skin and red lips, with a high nose bridge. He was wearing a clean, neat white button-down shirt. The fingers holding the pen were long and slender, the nails neatly trimmed. Sitting at a desk bathed in sunlight, he looked like a piece of clear, flawless jade. My heart skipped a beat. And it was that skipped beat that made me realize. I didn’t really have a favorite type of handsome guy. I was just shallow. Besides, I hadn’t met a guy I felt stronger about right now. I might as well try dating Liam. But. “Will he really date me?” “He will. We’re best friends. If he dares not to date you, I’ll put a knife to his neck.” I laughed: “Okay then, but don’t come begging for me back.” Julian swore: “Don’t worry, whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” Heh. Did he think I would beg to get back together? I used to date online secretly because my parents were strict about my studies. Now that I was admitted to UCLA, my family supported me dating. I couldn’t wait to date all the handsome guys. I would never go back to an ex. “Which university are you at? I’ve given Liam your Snapchat. I’ll have him ask you out tomorrow.” Before, to surprise Julian, I only said I was studying in California, I didn’t specify UCLA. But there was no point in hiding it now. I was just about to say it. “Forget it, you guys chat yourselves. I need to prepare things to confess to the sweet girl tomorrow. Bye.” Julian hung up the phone. Immediately after, Liam sent a friend request on Snapchat. 02 But I played hard to get and didn’t tap [Accept]. Today, on move-in day, someone took a picture of me and put it on the campus forum, causing a minor sensation. The next day, during freshman orientation, many people came specifically to see me. Among them was Julian. He stood in front of me holding a huge bouquet of red roses and three hard-to-get Sonny Angel blind box figures. He was direct: “Hello, Mia. I’m Julian from the Computer Science department, a junior this year. I fell in love with you at first sight. Will you be my girlfriend?” I looked closely at Julian. To be honest, he was even more handsome than in his photos. The faint outline of his abs under his black t-shirt, the bulging muscles and twisting veins on his arms. He practically radiated sexual tension. The surrounding students started cheering: “Say yes! Say yes! This is Julian, the Computer Science god, the face of the school! Usually, it’s girls chasing him to confess!” “I never thought I’d see the day Julian begged for love. Seeing how he avoided women before, giving off total unattainable vibes, I used to lament that he was wasting all that good hardware.” When Julian and I dated online, he was full of dirty talk, nothing like “unattainable.” I was amused by the students’ silly comments. Julian mistakenly thought I was satisfied with him. He revealed a winning smile. “Sorry, I don’t want to date you.” Julian’s smile froze on his face. The cheering students also went silent. The scene was very awkward. “Why?” Because you just broke up with me last night and even set me up with a high-quality match. But I didn’t say that. I waited for him to find out himself. When we first met in a game, he liked my sweet voice, and I liked his good looks. To spend more time with him, I pretended to be a bad student, always pestering him to tutor me. He was also very patient, not only teaching me how to solve problems but also frequently sending me money, showing off his boyfriend material. But I didn’t expect that right when we could meet in person, he changed his mind and broke up. Since he wasn’t really invested in me, I wouldn’t call him a jerk. “I already have someone I’m interested in.” “So you’re not dating yet? Then give me a chance to pursue you, okay? I will definitely treat you better than that guy.” “No, I have no interest in you.” Julian looked embarrassed. Someone in the crowd gasped in disbelief. “But you’re the only one for me. I won’t give up on you. Please accept these gifts.” Those Sonny Angels were really cute. But I didn’t want to get tangled up with Julian. I shook my head and refused. Julian tried to force me to take them: “If you don’t take them, I’ll throw them in the trash.” “Then throw them.” I don’t know if Julian threw them or not. I took my roommate Chloe’s arm and walked away without looking back. Chloe: “You’re so fierce, daring to reject Julian in public.” “It’s fine. I’m just using him to warn off the guys looking to confess to me, so I don’t have just any guy coming up to me.” “That’s true. I saw on the campus forum that many guys were talking about coming to confess to you.” Speaking of which, I remembered Liam. I accepted his friend request and agreed to have dinner with him. 03 In the restaurant. Liam was sitting at a window seat. Seeing me sit across from him, his eyes lit up, then he froze. I smiled at him: “I’m the girlfriend Julian introduced to you, Babe.” “Are you curious why I look different from the photo?” Liam said “Yeah,” his voice deep and pleasant. Seeing me staring straight at him, his ears suddenly turned completely red. He used drinking water to cover up his shyness and nervousness. I was surprised. And a little troubled. I didn’t expect there to be such pure guys these days. I kinda didn’t want to date him anymore. After all, I was just in it for physical fun, not emotional connection. But he was really attractive. And his lips were red and soft, looking very kissable. Sigh. I’ll let him choose himself. “So do you want to date me, or do you want to date the girl in the photo?” “If it’s the girl in the photo, I can introduce you.” “You.” Liam didn’t hesitate. Then he couldn’t blame me. After all, he might not be emotionally invested in me either. Or like Julian, he might be invested for a while, and then change his mind. So whatever, let’s just enjoy the moment first. “Julian said you have 8 inches, is that true?” “I’m not talking about age.” I asked bluntly. Liam suddenly stiffened. He turned bright red. He couldn’t speak for a long time. I frowned: “Do you not? If you don’t, then I won’t date you.” Liam looked around and whispered: “I do.” “Can I see?” “R-right now?” “Well, no, let’s wait until we finish eating.” Liam nodded, the blush on his face deepening. He handed me the menu. Seeing it was my first time there, he thoughtfully recommended the restaurant’s specialties. Halfway through the meal, Julian called Liam. The volume was quite loud, I heard it all. Julian: “Did you meet Babe?” Liam: “Yeah.” “I didn’t lie, right? She’s very pretty, isn’t she?” “Yeah.” “Then you date Babe properly. It’s best if you give her all your free time, don’t let her have time to think of me. That Mia is harder to chase than I thought. I have to really figure out how to get her, I don’t have the energy to deal with Babe.” “Yeah.” “Thanks, having you is really my blessing. I’ll treat you to a big meal tomorrow.” “No need, I’m eating right now, hanging up.” “Okay.” Liam put down his phone. I suddenly remembered something: “Do you know my name?” Liam paused for a few seconds: “I don’t.” “My name is…” “Sorry.” Liam suddenly interrupted me, “I need to go to the restroom.” Liam walked away quite hurriedly after saying that. Like he couldn’t hold it in. I continued eating. By the time Liam came back, I had forgotten to tell him my name. After leaving the restaurant, Liam offered to get a hotel room. Me!! 04 Did I misjudge him? He’s actually this open! Liam seemed to see through my thoughts and hurriedly explained: “Don’t misunderstand, I don’t want to have that kind of relationship with you.” “You can inspect the goods first. I didn’t lie to you. I want you to feel secure being my girlfriend.” Oh, so that’s it. But suddenly having to look at that, it’s pretty awkward. “Can we wait a few days? Getting a room just to look at that seems like a waste of money.” “As long as it makes you feel secure, the money isn’t wasted. Besides, I have a lot of money.” Liam was very insistent. I felt he really was too innocent. And exceptionally considerate of others. I agreed to him. Afterward. A blushing Liam looked at a blushing me. “I’m very traditional.” “I’ve shown you my most important thing. From now on, no matter what happens, you can’t break up with me.” My mind was entirely filled with how it was so… Would it really feel that good to use… I completely didn’t hear what Liam was saying and just vaguely agreed, saying “Okay.” Liam was very happy and took me back to school. Right before reaching the dorm building, I saw a couple making out in the distance. I stopped and asked Liam: “Can I kiss you?” “You can.” Liam, with red ears, cupped my face, lowered his head, and gently kissed my lips. And quickly separated. He seemed very nervous. Even his fingers were trembling slightly. He looked incredibly cute. And his lips were so sweet and soft. A light touch like that was definitely not enough to satisfy my craving. “Can we kiss a little longer? A little harder?” “I’ll try, but it’s my first time kissing someone. If I hurt you, remember to tell me.” “Mhmm.” Liam lowered his head to kiss me again. This time was okay. It’s just that he didn’t use his tongue. Just as I was about to pry open his teeth. Julian’s shocked voice suddenly came from behind. “Liam! Babe?” Liam and I both froze. Liam pulled me into his embrace, letting my face bury into his chest. His hand was also touching my face, seemingly intentionally blocking it. But I didn’t have time to think about it. My thoughts were entirely stolen by his wildly beating heart. Just one kiss, and his heartbeat was this erratic. Then wouldn’t that mean… I was immersed in dirty thoughts. Julian walked over step by step, saying happily: “You brought Babe to campus to hang out.” Uh. It seemed Julian really didn’t expect that I, the “bad student,” could study here. Liam’s voice was cold: “Why are you here?” “I came to give Mia something.” “Congratulations, you guys got together so fast.” Liam gave a very faint “Yeah.” Julian looked at my back and asked with a smile: “Babe, you’ve been hiding in Liam’s arms this whole time. Are you shy because I saw you kissing? Aren’t you going to say hi to me?” I wasn’t shy. And I could definitely say hi. So, feeling mischievous, I turned around and smiled at Julian.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “409916”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

In the college group chat, the academic advisor posted the list of accepted students for the highly coveted internship program. Immediately, my roommate sent three “celebration” emojis, pushing the image up. I scrolled up and stared at the screenshot for a long time, only to realize my name wasn’t on it. How could that be? I got the Dean’s List scholarship every year, and my interview had gone flawlessly. Besides, Horizon Tech was the only company I wanted to intern for. I gathered my courage and DM’d the advisor to ask why. I didn’t expect him to ignore my private message and instead post a passive-aggressive comment in the main chat: “If you didn’t get accepted, just don’t ask. You’ll only humiliate yourself.” “If you’re not cut out for campus recruiting, just be a good girl and apply for a minimum-wage factory job.” I wanted to explain. But he just blocked me. Left with no other choice, I had to swallow my pride and call my dad: “I didn’t get the internship at our subsidiary.” 01 At 11:59 PM, the group chat, which was supposed to announce the accepted interns today, finally showed some activity. But strangely, the advisor only posted an image without tagging anyone. I was puzzled. As soon as I refreshed the chat, my roommate, Chloe, spammed three “party popper” emojis. “Chloe, stop messing around.” I anxiously scrolled up to find the image and my eyes widened in shock. My name wasn’t on the list. I remembered clearly that the HR representative was very impressed with me during the interview. He even said he’d keep a close eye on me once I joined the company. But now, everyone in my dorm except me had been accepted. Even Chloe, who failed classes regularly, got in. I, the one who won scholarships every year, was the only one rejected. A cold sweat broke out on my back as I counted the names on the list again. Exactly eight. No more, no less. Which meant there was no “accidental omission.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Meanwhile, Chloe had somehow produced a bottle of champagne. “Girls, let’s party! We got into Horizon Tech, our futures are bright!” Horizon Tech was a major player in the electronics industry, definitely a step up from the other companies recruiting on campus. I was frustrated. I gathered my courage and DM’d the advisor. “Mr. Davis, do you know why I didn’t pass?” I just wanted to know the reason. I didn’t expect him to not only ignore my direct question but also post a snarky comment in the main chat: “If you didn’t get accepted, just don’t ask. You’ll only humiliate yourself.” Confused, I slowly typed a question mark. It was like I had stepped on his tail. He unleashed a barrage of messages in our private chat: “What do you mean by that? Are you suspecting some kind of shady business?” “Don’t think you’re so great just because you have good grades. Companies look at overall soft skills.” I felt he was misunderstanding and tried to explain. But the messages kept coming: “If you’re not cut out for campus recruiting, just be a good girl and apply for an assembly line job at a factory.” “Why keep asking? What’s there to ask? Look at the time! You have zero professional etiquette!” I really didn’t get it. What time was it? Why did he post the list at this hour? I was going to swallow my pride and play nice to smooth things over. But then, he blocked me. My anger flared up. In a flash of realization, it hit me— “Chloe, why did you spam three emojis right after the list was posted?” 02 The air in the room froze for a second. “Aria, what are you trying to say?” “Are you implying that you not being on the list is because of my three emojis?” “Why did I do it? I was trying to be considerate! I was afraid you’d be heartbroken, so I tried to push the message out of sight.” “You’re biting the hand that feeds you!” The more she spoke, the more “hurt” she became, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath. “Chloe, don’t cry. Don’t let her get to you.” The dorm RA frantically handed Chloe tissues. The other two roommates also jumped to her defense. “Aria, I can’t believe you’re such a bitch. Taking out your failure on someone else.” “Exactly! Chloe even said she was going to share her champagne with you to spread the good luck.” “I don’t think you should drink it anyway. Bad vibes.” They teamed up, rolling their eyes at me. If this wasn’t a modern, science-based society, I’d seriously suspect they were possessed. Normally, we all got along great. Before every finals week, I tutored them for free. Except for Chloe, who was truly hopeless, the others barely managed to pass because of me. They always thanked me profusely: “Aria, thank god for you! You’re an absolute angel!” I didn’t expect that after three years of being an “angel,” I’d suddenly become a “bitch.” I replayed my tone from earlier in my head. It was calm, not emotional at all. Besides, I was positive the image hadn’t been in the chat for more than two seconds before her emojis pushed it up. Chloe was lying. She couldn’t have opened the image, read the list, and reacted that fast. She knew the results beforehand! I clenched my fists in anger. The RA stood up and yelled at me: “Aria, you’re definitely in the wrong here.” “But we’re all sisters. If you apologize to Chloe, she’ll forgive you.” I found it laughable. What kind of “sisters” were these? They were clearly taking her side. I couldn’t be bothered to argue further and pulled the covers over my head to sleep. But it wasn’t over. The advisor called me five times in a row, screaming the second I picked up: “Who do you think you are? How dare you bully a classmate?” “Sometimes, grades really don’t reflect a person’s character.” “I’m warning you! If you don’t apologize to Chloe, don’t even think about graduating!” He had a lot of nerve! I glanced at Chloe, who was still putting on a tearful act. Why was the advisor protecting her so fiercely? 03 The next day, I went to the career services office and got the contact info for the Horizon Tech representative. He remembered me and enthusiastically asked if I was ready to sign the internship offer letter. I was confused. I opened the group chat image and stared at it. It didn’t look Photoshopped. I hit record on my phone and asked him, “Mr. Smith, I was accepted by your company, right?” His voice rose with excitement. “Aria, you were the very first candidate we decided to accept.” I knew there was something shady going on! I immediately contacted my academic counselor. The counselor promised to investigate but stalled me for three days. During those three days, the advisor didn’t post anything in the group chat. But the other students had already quietly signed their offer letters. I was furious and stormed into the counselor’s office. She looked sympathetic and handed me a bottle of water. “You can’t really blame Mr. Davis for this. The company only wanted to hire 8 people, but because there were so many outstanding candidates, they accepted one extra. So when Mr. Davis took the screenshot, he just cropped it wrong.” Seeing I didn’t move, she shoved the water into my hand. “Don’t worry. A student as excellent as you will do just as well at any other company.” “It’s just an internship. Does it really matter where you go?” “The ultimate goal is graduation, right?” This was getting ridiculous. “Counselor, there were 9 names on that list. You expect me to believe he accidentally cropped out the very first one?” She patted my shoulder, continuing to gaslight me. “The company has already finalized the process. You need to let it go. Besides, causing a scene won’t do you any good. A major company like Horizon Tech usually only recruits from Ivy League or top-tier universities. This is their first time partnering with a state school like ours. If word gets out that there was a mistake on the acceptance list, it’ll ruin the school’s reputation.” I refused to back down: “I was supposed to be notified to sign the offer letter days ago! He clearly did it on purpose!” Seeing she couldn’t fool me, her face hardened. “Aria, why are you being so difficult?” “Even if you take this to the Dean or the President, the administration will prioritize the university’s interests.” “The best way to resolve this is to say Mr. Davis cropped the image incorrectly, and that you voluntarily declined the offer.” She shifted the blame onto me and threatened: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you tarnish the university’s reputation, you won’t be graduating.” Graduation, graduation, always threatening me with graduation. I was burning with rage. Why was everyone against me? 04 When I got back to the dorm, my roommates were happily packing their bags. “Oh my god, this is great. We can apply for early departure in a few days.” Seeing me return, Chloe cleared her throat very dramatically. “Girls, let’s keep our excitement to ourselves so we don’t upset the jealous monster and have her snap at everyone.” “I heard that if we perform well during the internship at Horizon Tech, we might get full-time offers.” “It’s normal for some people to be jealous of us.” She was saying it specifically for me to hear. And I gave her the reaction she wanted. “Chloe, how do you have the nerve to show off?” As far as I knew, Horizon Tech had a cutthroat corporate culture. “With your grades? Barely passing makeup exams after begging the professors? Are you sure you can survive at Horizon Tech?” Maybe because I was usually so easygoing and rarely argued, Chloe wasn’t expecting such a strong reaction. She froze for a second, then lashed out in embarrassment and anger. “Aria, stop bringing up grades every time you open your mouth.” “Whether I survive or not, at least I got in.” “And you? You don’t even have an internship. What right do you have to put me down?” “So what if you have good grades? So what if your resume is perfect? It was all for nothing! I hate your arrogant ‘I have good grades so I’m better than everyone’ attitude!” I didn’t know she resented me that much. But back when I stayed up late designing that perfect resume, they all praised it and practically stole it to use as a template. They even had me review and edit theirs. I remembered Chloe putting a lot of false information on hers. I warned her then that getting caught lying wouldn’t be worth it. She brushed it off, saying she was just “embellishing.” But Horizon Tech’s HR department wasn’t stupid. How could they not see through her cheap tricks? Unless Horizon Tech was in on it too? Then I really was going to have to “snap at everyone.” “Chloe, since I’m such a ‘jealous monster,’ I’m going to report you to Horizon Tech right now for resume fraud.” Chloe didn’t seem scared. She smirked at me smugly. “I always knew you were a snake.” “Do you know why Horizon Tech came to our school to recruit this year?” “Because of me. I’m the reason there are 8 spots.” She paused. “If I don’t go, I can’t guarantee those other spots will still be there.” That bombshell shocked my previously silent roommates into attacking me. “Aria, we’ve been friends for years. Why are you doing something so vindictive that ruins things for everyone?” “If you dare ruin this for us, I swear I’ll curse you to get struck by lightning.” It wasn’t even raining. I grabbed the door handle to leave. My arm was yanked back by the RA, who gritted her teeth. “Aria, let it go. I can get you a job soldering circuit boards at my uncle’s factory, okay?” She acted like she was making a huge concession. “That factory pays really well.” I felt sick to my stomach. “Go work there yourself.” 05 Hearing that the 8 Horizon Tech internship spots were at risk, the advisor rushed over. “There’s another good company coming to recruit soon. I’ll give you a strong recommendation.” His expression was like he was bestowing a massive favor upon me. The counselor, who must have heard the rumors, also called me. “Aria, doing this is unfair to the other students who earned their spots.” “You need to understand, this is how the real world works. Connections matter everywhere.” “You can’t just think about your own interests. You have to look at the big picture.” Fairness? The big picture? They really thought they could walk all over me. I contacted Mr. Smith and reported Chloe for resume fraud. But Chloe didn’t seem worried at all. Not only was she partying every day, but she also completed her early departure paperwork right on schedule. On the day they were leaving campus, Mr. Smith finally replied. He said the documents had been verified and there were no issues. I found that strange. “Her fake credentials passed the initial screening?” This time, Mr. Smith didn’t reply. What was even more interesting was that in the internship group chat, the advisor stopped being sneaky about Horizon Tech info. He made a very public announcement tagging everyone: “Notice: The eight students accepted by Horizon Tech, please gather at the school gates today at 2:00 PM. The company will send a private shuttle to pick you up.” Chloe replied “Received” instantly. Then she DM’d me to gloat. “How does it feel? Have you accepted defeat?” “If you get on your knees and beg me, maybe I’ll consider bringing you along.” Ha, does she think her family owns Horizon Tech? I ignored her and headed straight for the university’s disciplinary committee. They seemed to be expecting me and deliberately stalled, much like the counselor had. Taking my statement alone took two hours. It didn’t matter. I pressed the button on the voice recorder in my pocket. I was going to take down this whole nest of rats. Walking out of the disciplinary office, I instinctively checked my phone. Chloe had posted a Snapchat story and specifically tagged me. “Just finished washing the balcony, and this crazy wind blew all my hard work away. So tragic.” The attached photo showed a floor covered in clothes, pants, and underwear, soaking in a puddle of muddy water. Coincidentally, they were all mine. Immediately following that, Chloe messaged the dorm group chat. “We’ve been roommates for years, so I helped you put the clothes back on your bed.” Wow. She didn’t even spare my bed. She had been holding this in for days just for this moment, right? I rushed back to the dorm. There wasn’t a soul in sight. I furiously took photos of the disaster on my bed, posted them on my story, and tagged a bunch of people. “What should you do when you’re bullied by roommates?” Not long after the post went up, the advisor called, demanding I delete it. “What are you trying to do? How does smearing the university benefit you?” “Aria, I’m officially notifying you: given your recent behavior, the university will not recommend you to any recruiting companies. You’re on your own for an internship.” Through the phone, besides the advisor’s vicious threats, I could also hear Chloe’s gloating laughter: “Acting so arrogant with zero backing. Truly stupid.” “A nerd who only knows how to study. Do you really think you can find an internship on your own?” “My advice for her: if you’re incompetent, just go work an assembly line at a factory.” They seemed really obsessed with forcing me to work in a factory. I didn’t have any other special skills, so I had to humbly contact my dad: “I didn’t get accepted into our subsidiary.”

On the day of high school graduation, in front of the entire class, I threw a thick stack of cash at Silas Carter’s feet. “I’m bored with this. Let’s call it quits.” He knelt down, picking up the bills one by one. With a raspy voice, he said only one word: “Okay.” By the end of summer, Silas boarded a train for Harvard. I boarded a flight out of state to begin a long, grueling journey of chemotherapy. Many years later, I returned home. I was lying in a hospital bed, my hair completely gone from the treatments. Just as I was busy picking out a wig on my phone, the ward door swung open. There stood Silas Carter in a white lab coat. Our eyes met. 01 When Silas walked in, I was facedown on the bed, positioned awkwardly for an exam. My phone was blaring the high-pitched voice of an Amazon influencer: “Prime Day deals! Don’t miss out, these wigs are selling fast!” “Miss Bennett? Looking at hair pieces again?” The noisy room went silent instantly. The nurse pointed at me. “Dr. Carter, this is the new patient for the clinical trial. She’s already signed the consent forms.” The moment Silas looked at me, I froze like a deer in headlights. My mind went completely blank. Ten years. The man I thought I’d never see again had suddenly become my attending physician. And he walked in right while I was doing my post-op exercises. I wanted to die. I scrambled up, frantically adjusting my lopsided surgical mask. I sat there, frozen. Even though I didn’t look him in the eye, I could feel his gaze landing on me. It was icy. Cold. It was nothing like the helpless, gentle look he used to give me when I got a math problem wrong ten years ago. “Miss Bennett, this is the head of our department, Dr. Silas Carter. He will be personally overseeing your treatment plan.” I dodged his gaze and gave a quick, jerky nod. I didn’t make a sound. The med student standing beside him opened my chart and began reciting my history. “Maya Bennett, female, 28. Ten years ago, a routine physical revealed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Initial diagnosis: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Further biopsy showed—” “I don’t need to hear the rest,” Silas interrupted. “Oh? Do you know this patient, Doctor?” My heart jumped into my throat. I pretended to be busy fiddling with my phone. I could feel Silas staring at the ridiculous knitted beanie on my head—the one with the little sheep ears. After a long pause, he said flatly, “I don’t. But her case is unique. I reviewed the files beforehand.” My phone screen automatically jumped to the checkout page. The timer was counting down. Seconds ticked by. I was so dazed that I forgot to hit “buy.” The med student finished reporting the plan. Silas listened, his voice devoid of any personal emotion. “Fine. Continue the current regimen. Recheck tomorrow.” Then, he moved on to the next patient. He was in the ward for twenty minutes. Until the moment he left, he never looked at me again. I moved my stiff neck and realized my back was soaked with sweat. The link for the wig had expired. It was sold out. Dammit. But the only thing I could be grateful for was that Silas had clearly forgotten me. Even when the student read my full name, he hadn’t flinched. 02 When Silas and I first met, we didn’t get along. I was a brat with a rich father, acting out and failing every class. The principal, hoping Silas’s brilliance would rub off on me, made him my desk mate. At first, Silas ignored me. He spent every day buried in his SAT prep books, over and over. He was smart, kind, and gorgeous. His only “flaw” was that he was poor. I was the opposite. I wasn’t smart, I wasn’t particularly kind. Sitting next to him, I looked like a brainless socialite. Luckily, my social intelligence was high. While all the other girls sent him flowers and love letters, I bought him the most expensive Princeton Review and Barron’s prep sets. I bought every single one of his textbooks and exam fees. Within a semester, I had won him over. The day I tentatively kissed him was his birthday. His white shirt was wrinkled, my lipstick was smudged on his lips, and he looked down at me. “What does this mean?” It was my first time kissing a boy. My brain short-circuited. I stammered, “D-don’t you get it? Be my boyfriend.” The tips of Silas’s ears turned red. He whispered, “Okay.” Those were the good days. I hated studying, but I would sit obediently by his side in the library, listening to him tutor me. In one year, my scores went up by hundreds of points. I was on track to get into a university in New York. I wouldn’t have to do long-distance with him. If only that physical hadn’t happened… “BLEGH—” My retching echoed in the hospital bathroom. I clutched the toilet, my vision swimming, drenched in a cold sweat. My best friend, Chloe, rubbed my back. “This isn’t working. Your reaction is too intense. I’m going to find the doctor.” I grabbed her hand. “Don’t. I’m used to it.” During my first bout years ago, I went through 27 rounds of chemo alone. I survived. I held on for ten years, but the cancer came back. I didn’t want to be a nuisance to the doctors every time I felt sick. Chloe wasn’t having it. “Isn’t Silas your lead doctor? I’ll find him. He’ll have a way to help.” I hugged Chloe’s leg. “My dear, please, just drop it. You should be glad he hasn’t recognized me. If he does, he’ll probably order a hundred more rounds of chemo just for revenge.” “Who told you we do a hundred rounds of chemo?” A cold voice came from behind us. I froze. I didn’t dare turn around. Chloe let out a breath of relief. “Dr. Carter, Maya isn’t feeling well—” “It’s a normal reaction to the treatment. If she can’t handle it…” I didn’t hear what else he said to Chloe. My mind was stuck on one thought: Did he hear what I just said? 03 That evening, the nurse came in to give me an anti-nausea shot. She looked at me curiously. “Do you know Dr. Carter personally?” I lay on the bed, feeling like a ghost. “No. Why do you ask?” “Dr. Carter never handles these small details himself. But he went to the office personally today to tell your primary care physician to order these specific shots for you.” I looked at myself in the mirror. I had lost so much weight. The pain had drained the color from my face. Compared to ten years ago, I looked like a different person. There was no way… Even if Silas had a great memory… Wait. He did have a great memory. What if he was just biding his time to get back at me? The name “Maya Bennett” was right there on my chart. How could I think he wouldn’t know? Chloe chimed in, “Is your Dr. Carter really only 28? He’s already a department head?” “Oh, you did your research! Dr. Carter was a prodigy. MD-PhD, graduated by 26. His resume is one in a million. Most people can’t compare.” The nurse saw Chloe’s interest and smiled. “Thinking of chasing him? Save your breath. He’s already spoken for.” Chloe winked at me. The nurse continued, “The Dean’s daughter. She’s a PhD from Oxford. Word is, they’ll be married soon.” The smile died on Chloe’s lips. I started picking at a loose thread on my hospital gown, suddenly finding it the most interesting thing in the world. After the nurse left, Chloe whispered, “Maya, I’m so sorry…” “Hey, it’s fine.” “I’m 28 now, not 18.” The dream of the cold, handsome god falling for me ended ten years ago. 04 I didn’t see Silas again after that day. I couldn’t see him, but I heard about him. He was either away at a medical conference or in the lab doing research. He only came for rounds once a week to adjust treatment plans. During the break between chemo cycles, patients are allowed to go home. I didn’t see him until the day I was discharged. On my way home, I got a call from my old high school class president, Marcus. “Maya! Are you still in the city? How’s the treatment going?” The background was noisy. It sounded like a party. The old valedictorian’s voice cut in: “Why didn’t you tell us you were sick? If Marcus hadn’t mentioned it, we wouldn’t have known.” I was actually pretty popular in high school. I’d kept in touch with Marcus and a few others. I laughed weakly. “I didn’t want to bother anyone.” “That’s nonsense. Where are you staying? We’re coming to see you tomorrow.” I couldn’t say no to their kindness, so I gave them my address. My family had spent a lot of money on my treatments over the years. Thanks to Chloe, I’d found a relatively cheap apartment to rent near the hospital. It was a ground-floor unit with a small yard. When I felt well enough, I could plant flowers or maybe get a dog. Half our class stayed in our hometown; the rest were scattered across the country. Only five or six people showed up. They arrived with bags of groceries. “We wanted to go out for hot pot, but it’s too hot. Let’s just cook here.” I was wearing a thick beanie. I smiled. “It’s fine, I have AC. I missed hot pot.” They piled into the kitchen, shouting and laughing. The house suddenly felt alive. It felt like graduation all over again. Marcus asked while peeling carrots, “Have you reached out to Silas?” I froze for a second. “What?” “Come on, didn’t you know? He’s a world-renowned specialist in hematology. He specializes in lymphomas. Why didn’t you ask him for a consult?” “Oh, I—” I really didn’t want to be linked to Silas again. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Marcus wiped his hands on his apron and went to open it. Then, I heard the cheers. “Silas! You actually made it!” “Wow, Dr. Carter, long time no see.” “Come in! Maya wants hot pot. You’re the expert—can she even eat that?” I stood there like an idiot. My face was bare, no mask, no makeup. I felt exposed, like I was standing under a spotlight. I didn’t expect them to contact him. And I definitely didn’t expect to face him while I looked like this. Silas looked at me calmly. “Keep the broth mild,” he said softly. “Right, right! Listen to the doctor. No spicy broth!” Everyone went back to being busy. Silas took off his shoes and stepped into the guest slippers Marcus gave him. He handed a bag of fruit to the people in the kitchen. Marcus tried to lighten the mood. “Hey, whatever happened is in the past.” “Let bygones be bygones. Silas, you’re a big-shot now, don’t hold a grudge against Maya.” “Here, help us prep the greens.” Silas was handed a colander full of spinach. He was pushed toward the sofa. Suddenly, it was just the two of us in the living room. The AC hummed in the corner. I dodged his eyes, frantically reaching for the mask I’d left on the couch. Silas snapped a spinach stem with a crisp pop. He said flatly: “You’ve already recognized me. Is there really a point in hiding?” 05 The atmosphere was suffocatingly awkward. Actually, I was the only one who felt awkward. I hesitated, then slowly pulled my hand back, feeling defeated. “I thought you didn’t recognize me. That’s why I didn’t say hi at the hospital.” “There was no need.” “What?” “We aren’t close. No need for greetings.” Silas kept his head down, expertly prepping the spinach. He had no intention of chatting. I nodded silently and pushed a glass of water toward him. “Drink some… water.” “I’m not thirsty. Thanks.” Cold. So cold. Since he rejected me, I didn’t want to keep embarrassing myself. I just sat there. I tried to remember if I’d done anything humiliating during my hospital stay. Marcus poked his head out of the kitchen. “Maya, we’re out of paper towels. Grab me a roll?” “Oh, sure.” I stood up quickly and started rummaging through the bottom of a cabinet. The landlord’s furniture was old. When I pulled the drawer, the whole cabinet shook. A heavy photo frame on the top shelf lost its balance and started to tip. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I just crouched down and covered my head. I waited for the impact. The next second, the light dimmed. Silas had reached out and caught the frame. Because his back was to the light, I couldn’t see his face, but the air around him felt frigid. He didn’t look happy. “Thanks,” I whispered. Silas ignored me. When I crawled out from under the cabinet, I saw what he was looking at. It was a photo I’d secretly taken of Silas sleeping ten years ago. The summer sun was filtering through the trees, landing on his sharp profile. He was fast asleep. He hadn’t even noticed me tentatively reaching out to touch his hand. In that moment, I seriously considered snatching the photo and eating it. “Maya Bennett.” “Yeah?” “Explain this.” I paused, instinctively reaching up to scratch my head. A clump of hair came away in my fingers. Under Silas’s freezing gaze, I forced a laugh. “It’s just… an ‘Ex Wall,’ right? Haha. Just for memories—” “Oh? Is that so?” Silas pointed to a group of photos of me and Chloe. His voice took on a sharp edge. “According to you, you’ve dated girls too?” I swallowed hard. “Y-yeah. I… I’ve dated everyone.” Silas’s sharp gaze felt like it was burning through me. I couldn’t keep the fake smile up. I looked everywhere but at him. “Maya, you guys—” Marcus opened the kitchen door, sensed the weird tension, and immediately shut his mouth. Silas’s face was dark. He put the frame back, wiped his hands with a tissue, and grabbed his jacket. “Hey, Silas! Where are you going?” “Emergency at the hospital. I have to go.” “Wait, we haven’t finished talking about Maya’s case… Silas, stay for dinner!” Silas stood at the door and looked at me. I said nothing. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. But he was disappointed. I stayed silent. Silas let out a very soft, mocking laugh. “Is there really a point in an unwelcome ex staying here?” The door clicked shut. Silas was gone. 06 Silas’s departure cast a shadow over the room for a minute. But soon, the smell of Marcus’s hot pot broth brightened things up. “Marcus, you’ve still got it. Your cooking is amazing.” Marcus chuckled, holding a beer. He nodded at me. “Maya, don’t take it to heart. Silas… hey, I’ll talk to him! He’s got to give his old class president some respect!” The others chimed in with comforts. “When I called him, he sounded busy. But he’s a professional, he’ll help you.” “Yeah, let’s eat!” I wasn’t actually that hurt. Mostly, I just felt guilty. In my mind, Silas and I shouldn’t have any more overlap. I didn’t want to bring him more trouble because of my illness. We had a lively dinner. Marcus even started a FaceTime call with the whole class group. The group chat exploded. For a moment, it felt like the days before the SATs. Everyone was talking about their dreams. Planning graduation trips. Back then, Silas and I were desk mates. A week before the finals, he came back from the teacher’s office and saw me with a red marker, doodling on a map. He asked, “What are you doing?” I held up the map and waved it in front of him. “Can’t you tell? It’s New York!” I’d drawn two red circles. “This is your school. And this one… this is mine.” I drew a straight line between them. “The shortest distance between two points. That’s how far apart we’ll be.” Silas couldn’t help but smile. “You think you can get into a school in the city?” “What, you wouldn’t be happy?” He sat down next to me, neatly stacking his papers. He said softly, “I’d be very happy.” But my luck was bad. A few days later, I got my physical results. The labs were a disaster. Warning arrows covered the page. The doctor told my parents we needed to go to a specialist in the city immediately. From the looks of it, I wouldn’t be going to college at all. I tentatively asked Silas, “Hey, what if I got really sick one day and couldn’t go to New York? What would you do?” Silas’s pen stopped. He frowned. “Are you sick?” “No! Don’t jinx me! It’s an online personality quiz! Answer seriously!” “I’d probably get into the best med school I could. I’d just change my major.” That answer made my heart ache. I pushed my math homework onto his desk. “Whatever, just do your math problems! Nerd.” He loved math. Why would he want to be a doctor? On the afternoon the finals were ending, I got a nosebleed. Blood stained the exam paper. I didn’t know if it counted as “tampering” with the test. It didn’t matter. I left that night for a hospital out of state. Standing on a busy city street, I wanted to cry. The New York promise… I was the one who arrived first. Then came the diagnosis. Packing my bags. I threw that cash at Silas in front of everyone. I ended our story with a messy, cruel period.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “409918”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was trying to catch up on sleep on my flight when a flight attendant unexpectedly shook me awake. “Excuse me, ma’am. I noticed you didn’t order a meal. Are you feeling unwell?” I shook my head. “Just tired. I’m going to sleep. No food for me, thank you.” But ten minutes later, the exact same flight attendant woke me up again. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to eat? We have a wide variety of options for our in-flight service today.” I waved my hand dismissively. “Please, I just want to sleep. I really don’t want to eat.” I had finally managed to string together a few minutes of interrupted sleep. I didn’t expect to open my groggy eyes and be met with the flight attendant’s overly eager gaze yet again. “If you’re not eating, I need you to fill out this survey and explain exactly why.” “And you can’t just check the multiple-choice boxes. This is so we can provide you with better service in the future.” 01 After pulling an all-nighter, I was flying out of state for a business trip. Tray table locked, seatbelt fastened. The sound of the plane’s engines roaring to life was my favorite lullaby, signaling my long-awaited date with the Sandman. This particular client was notoriously difficult to please. The night before the trip, they were still asking me to “make the black pop” on our presentation design. Thankfully, after rushing and burning the midnight oil, I finally submitted a deck they were satisfied with. A three-hour flight isn’t incredibly long, but it isn’t short either. It was just enough time for a deep, restorative nap. Terrified of being disturbed during the meal service, I pulled out a sticky note I had written while waiting at the gate and slapped it right on the seatback in front of me. Neon yellow paper, bold red Sharpie. “Please do not wake for meal service. Thank you.” Normally, I’m not this aggressively extroverted. But having a deep, sweet sleep interrupted is a cruel and unusual punishment. My eyelashes fluttered shut, and I drifted off beautifully. But before I could even reach the drooling stage of a good nap, a warm touch pressed against my arm. At the same time, a saccharine female voice leaned close to my ear. “Ma’am, what would you like for your meal today?” I waved my hand in despair and pointed at the sticky note on the seat in front of me. But the voice beside me didn’t disappear. Instead, it went up an octave. “We have the beef bowl or the chicken and rice. Which one would you prefer?” “Ma’am? Ma’am?” Through the relentless calling, I forced myself to muster a shred of consciousness. “No, thank you. I’m not eating. Thanks.” Forcing a chronically exhausted corporate drone to speak and answer questions is a cruel thing, but I figured the flight attendant was just doing her job. Wage slaves shouldn’t make life harder for other wage slaves. That was a core philosophy I adopted after entering the corporate world. My eyelids grew heavy. I snuggled into my seat, desperately hoping to seamlessly transition back into sleep. But the very next second, the flight attendant’s voice rang out again. “Are you really sure you don’t want to eat, ma’am?” “The food on this route gets great reviews. People rave about it on TikTok and Instagram all the time.” God help me. Was this airline meal made of gold? Was it mandatory that I eat it? “Thank you, but I really don’t want to eat. I just want to sleep.” “And please, you don’t need to ask me again. Thank you.” I pointed to the sticky note on the seat again, blindly grabbed my noise-canceling headphones from my pocket, and put them on. My verbal, physical, and visual rejections didn’t buy me peace. Instead, the flight attendant crouched down and spoke in a voice that sounded sincere, but was perfectly calibrated to carry to the rows in front of and behind me. “It’s completely fine, ma’am.” “These meals are complimentary and included in the price of your ticket. There’s no extra charge, so you really don’t need to worry about the cost.” That woke me up. I was pissed. “I told you I want to sleep and not to wake me up. What is your goal in repeatedly harassing me and asking me questions?” “And bringing up the cost? With your twisted logic, working as a flight attendant is a waste of your talents. You should go write soap operas; you’d probably get a billion views overnight.” “Just go, go away. I’m begging you.” I put my hands together in a pleading motion, turned my body away, closed my eyes, and tried to salvage the rest of my time. But a second later, the flight attendant stood up, her voice choking with tears. “Ma’am, are you feeling unwell?” “I apologize, I was only worried about you.” “Ma’am? Ma’am?” 02 I wasn’t a “Ma’am.” I was a victim. I was a corporate workhorse enslaved by my boss, and currently, I was a monkey in a zoo being gawked at. I opened my eyes, my gaze slowly sweeping over my surroundings. Even through the haze of sleep deprivation, I could clearly feel the burning stares coming at me from all directions. “Alright, alright, don’t give her a hard time. The flight attendant is just doing her job.” “Seriously. She’s just a young girl, why does that passenger have such a nasty temper?” “She’s probably just jealous because the flight attendant is pretty. She’s giving her a hard time on purpose.” They weren’t just staring; they were gossiping. And they weren’t even whispering. I rubbed my aching neck, took a deep breath, and didn’t rush to respond to the teary-eyed flight attendant. Instead, I looked straight at the older couple who were gossiping the loudest. I didn’t say a word. I just stared. However long they kept talking, this “hard-working” flight attendant would have to stand in front of my furious face. This is called pressure transfer. My boss uses it in meetings all the time. I took the best parts of the tactic and discarded the rest. The results were instantaneous. Soon enough, the flight attendant standing before me, as well as the nosy passengers on either side, followed my gaze to the couple. The couple exchanged an awkward glance and sheepishly lowered their heads. External threats neutralized; time to handle the internal issue. I slowly looked up at the flight attendant in front of me. She blinked her reddened eyes, looking at me innocently. It was as if I were the wicked hunter, and she was a cornered, helpless fawn. Finally realizing I wasn’t an easy target, she spoke, her voice pitiful. “Ma’am, I am so sorry. I only wanted to provide you with better service.” “I’m still in my probationary period. Please give me a chance, okay?” “Please don’t file a complaint against me. I promise I’ll be more careful and fix my mistakes in the future.” An apology was fine. There was no need to push someone to the brink. Even though I still felt incredibly annoyed, I shook my head at her. “It’s fine. I won’t report you. We’re all just trying to make a living.” “I just want to sleep. Until the plane lands, please do not wake me up for meal service or anything else.” “Seriously. Please.” Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. This time, I watched the flight attendant turn around and walk toward the other end of the plane before finally burying my face back into the seat cushion. The unpleasant interruption was finally over. If I didn’t catch up on sleep now, I would be nodding off like a pigeon pecking at grain during my afternoon meeting. My meticulously prepared presentation—the “minimalist but with flair” deck—would be dragged through the mud by the client. All my hard work, and the final payment, would vanish into thin air. Interrupted sleep is incredibly hard to resume. After repeatedly inhaling and counting sheep, drowsiness finally hit me. Just as I was sinking into that hazy, blissful state, a sharp pain shot up my arm. I opened my eyes, wincing. The next second, the sharp, stiff edge of printer paper was thrust into my face. The flight attendant had returned. She solemnly handed a pen to me. “Ma’am, if you’re not eating, I need you to fill out this survey and explain exactly why.” 03 I looked at the red scratch on my arm, then at the printer paper now resting on my tray table, densely packed with questions. It was the middle of summer, and I had been sweating profusely. The fresh paper cut stung like fire as sweat seeped into it. Anger flared up inside me, burning so hot my tongue felt tied into knots. Just as I was trying to find the words to express my fury, the flight attendant leaned in and meticulously instructed me. “You can’t just check the multiple-choice boxes. Please make sure to fill out the detailed comments section as well.” “This is so we can reflect and summarize our performance, allowing us to provide you with better service in the future.” My tongue untied itself, but my brain felt like it was short-circuiting. My only request was that she leave me alone so I could sleep. Why was it absolutely necessary for her to repeatedly wake me up? If I were sitting in the emergency exit row, I would force myself to stay awake to fulfill my duties, no matter how tired I was. But I was just a regular passenger. Saying no to food is a right. Saying no to a survey is a right. Seeing me sit in stunned silence, a flash of impatience crossed the flight attendant’s eyes, though her smile grew even sweeter and more accommodating. “Ma’am, are you having trouble reading the English on the form?” “If needed, we can provide Spanish or French translation services for you.” Before my exhausted brain could even process the insult, she leaned down, starting her unsolicited translation. “Estimada pasajera… Dear passenger, thank you for your cooperation…” Her accent was terrible. Honestly, if this were any other time, I might have found the sheer audacity amusing. But right now, I had absolutely zero patience left. “You want feedback? Here’s your feedback.” I grabbed the pen she had forced on me and aggressively drew a massive ‘X’ across the entire survey. I pressed down so hard the pen tore right through the paper. “Ma’am, you…” The sudden outburst left the flight attendant—who had been smugly butchering her translation moments before—staring in utter shock. Before she could react, I whipped out my phone and snapped a photo of the torn survey and her face. I take back what I said earlier. I was reporting her. As soon as I got off this business trip, I was filing a formal complaint. I’ve flown countless times, and I had never met a flight attendant this unhinged. “You can leave now. Save yourself the effort of trying to patronize me.” “And you don’t need to ‘reflect and summarize’ for the future, because I will never fly this airline again.” I didn’t mince words. I crumpled the torn survey into a ball and tossed it into the seatback pocket, completely ignoring how the flight attendant’s smile was freezing over, inch by inch. “Ma’am, I am so sorry.” “Please do not let my individual mistake affect the evaluation of our entire flight crew.” “You can apologize to me however you want, but my colleagues are innocent. Please do not project your anger onto innocent people.” “Adults should know how to maturely manage their emotions, instead of…” Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over, but she stubbornly held them back. Her voice was full of grievance, every word articulated clearly. I squeezed the airsickness bag in my hand until it crumpled. Excuse me? When did I say I was reporting the entire crew? What kind of toxic, guilt-tripping corporate logic was this? Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in again. I looked at the flight attendant, who was putting on a tearful performance while stubbornly refusing to leave my side. There truly is a wall in communication between some people. With bizarre individuals like her, the best tactic is to completely ignore them. Thinking this, I pulled out my laptop. Since sleep was out of the question, I might as well use the time to review my presentation one more time. But the very next second, a scalding cup of hot coffee was splashed all over my keyboard. Watching the dark brown liquid seep deeper and deeper into the keys, I frantically leaned over, trying to dig through my bag for tissues. But before I could even pull them out, a heavy coffee pot hovered directly over my arm, blocking my access to the tissues. “I’m so sorry, I just wanted to pour you a cup of coffee to apologize…” 04 “I’m so sorry, I just wanted to pour you a cup of coffee to apologize.” “Please don’t be angry. I’ll pour you a fresh cup right now.” “Please, I beg you, do not report our crew…” Buzz, buzz, buzz. Her voice echoed relentlessly in my ears. I wearily lifted my head and looked at her. Both of her hands were tightly gripping the coffee pot. She lowered her eyes, looking like a child who had made a mistake. Yet, right next to her on the beverage cart sat a thick stack of life-saving napkins, which she conveniently ignored. “Move your hands first. Let me grab some napkins to wipe off my keyboard.” I spoke, my voice dripping with exhaustion. At this point, the only thing that mattered was saving my laptop. I truly didn’t have the energy to care about anything else. The sticky coffee liquid dried on my dark clothing. After a lot of scrubbing, the keyboard finally looked somewhat normal again. Though it was a mess, at least my most crucial piece of equipment had survived. I slumped numbly back against the seat, glancing at the time on my desktop screen. There was an hour and a half left until landing. Instead of trying to salvage a fragmented nap, I decided to go to the lavatory and wash my face. With that in mind, I unbuckled my seatbelt and started to stand up to head toward the back. The next instant, a splash of hot coffee was dumped directly onto the top of my head. Drip, drop. The coffee ran down my hair, soaking into my undershirt. I stood frozen in shock, instantly transforming into a walking espresso machine. “What the fuck…” Feeling the sticky, hot mess covering my body, and remembering my tight schedule after landing, my rage finally overpowered my exhaustion. I wrung the coffee out of my bangs and glared coldly at the flight attendant who caused this disaster. Just as I was about to speak, she set the coffee pot down and looked at me with disdain. “Ma’am, I have already apologized to you.” “You can be unhappy with me, but we are in a public space. Please mind your manners.” ??? She was speaking English, but put together, I didn’t seem to understand the logic at all. Remembering the photos I had taken on my phone, I forcefully swallowed my anger. I turned sideways to avoid brushing against the seats and walked into the lavatory. Splashing cool water on my face made me feel slightly better. After landing, I’d get my checked luggage first, then change my clothes in an airport restroom. I had a Ziploc bag in my carry-on with a spare change of clothes. I could send the dirty ones to the hotel’s laundry service later. As for my hair… I’d have to see if I could find a salon near the meeting location to get it quickly washed and blown out. With the next steps clear in my head, I wiped the stains off my body. But the moment I pushed open the lavatory door and stepped out, I was met with two eager faces. “Hello, I am the Purser for this flight.” “I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Connor and I were both high-profile attorneys. He was a rising star in corporate finance, while I specialized exclusively in divorce litigation. Our relationship was stable, our careers complemented each other, and we had been featured multiple times in legal magazines. In the industry, we were considered the model power couple. That was, until a college reunion. Connor’s college sweetheart suddenly teared up, mentioning that she had married the wrong man and was living a miserable life. Finally, she looked at Connor with tear-blurred eyes. “Connor… do you take divorce cases?” 01 Neither Connor nor I had originally planned to attend this alumni reunion. But I wrapped up my casework early and decided to tag along with him. Besides, at a reunion like this, running into an old flame and catching up was perfectly normal. I figured my presence there might just be a third wheel. Connor couldn’t help but laugh. “Attorney Chloe, you’re just a workaholic without a husband for the night, but you sure know how to spin it. You truly deserve your title as the firm’s top litigator.” “Everyone agreed to bring their plus-ones. We have a beautiful life together, there’s no lingering ‘what-ifs’ from the past.” “Do me the honor and come with me?” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My remaining workload wasn’t urgent, so I changed my clothes and headed out with him. Who knew my passing thought would become a prophecy. At the reunion, we really did run into Connor’s “one that got away,” Olivia. Olivia was Connor’s girlfriend in college. Back then, they were the golden couple—the handsome scholar and the beautiful campus queen. After graduation, Olivia entered the workforce, while Connor stayed for his master’s in law. They say graduation season is breakup season. Add to that the crushing workload of law school, and Connor couldn’t even provide her with basic companionship. Olivia quickly found a new boyfriend. Rumor had it, he was the heir to the company she worked for. I didn’t know if Connor had been devastated by the breakup back then. But whenever he mentioned that past relationship to me later, he brushed it off with a few casual words: “We just wanted different things.” But unrequited young love—how could she not be the elusive “white moonlight” in his memory? Olivia looked a bit thin. Her porcelain face had light makeup, her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she was still undeniably beautiful. Yet, she was alone. A curious classmate asked about the “plus-one” rule, wondering why she hadn’t brought her other half. Olivia just smiled and said nothing. I lifted my gaze to glance at Connor. He was focused entirely on peeling shrimp for me. Hearing the question, he even shared a knowing smile with me, his expression completely unfazed. After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew lively. The conversations deepened. Some people were networking and referring jobs, while others silently exchanged business cards. We were all adults in our thirties now; the unspoken rules of society were ingrained in our minds. The passionate bonds of our college days, sealed with a warm “plus-one” invite, were now just the perfect bridge for exchanging resources. Only Olivia sat alone in the corner, looking slightly out of place. She had lived a life of luxury for years, and these corporate struggles were completely alien to her now. Someone walked over to her with a wine glass, half-joking: “I heard our campus queen married into serious money! It’s a shame you didn’t bring your husband today. Otherwise, us corporate drones could have asked the billionaire heir for a leg up.” Olivia remained silent for a long moment before raising her glass and downing her wine in one gulp. Her eyes turned red, and even her voice trembled: “I don’t think I can help you guys with that. I… I’m planning to get a divorce.” 02 The classmate had only been making polite banter. But at Olivia’s words, a wave of awkwardness washed over his face. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea…” The private dining room gradually quieted down. Olivia’s tears suddenly spilled over. She looked utterly heartbroken. “It’s my own fault for being blind. I married the wrong man. I can’t blame anyone else.” A female classmate handed her a tissue. Between sobs, Olivia began to tell her story. It was nothing new: her husband was unfaithful, the family assets were entirely controlled by her in-laws, and his mistress had even provoked her so aggressively that it caused her to suffer a miscarriage. A beautiful woman crying is always a compelling sight. The old classmates listened, filled with righteous indignation. “What a scumbag! Why haven’t you divorced him yet?!” “Exactly! Our campus queen has the looks and the degree. Why should you put up with this?” “Divorce him today, find a young boy toy tomorrow! Life is short, live it up while you can.” Naturally, someone took the opportunity to point to Connor and me. “Hey, don’t Connor and Chloe run their own law firm? With our top-tier attorney here, you have nothing to worry about! Not only will you get the divorce, but they’ll strip that billionaire of everything he’s got!” Olivia’s eyes lit up, and her sobbing slowly ceased. I turned to look at Connor as well. His face was calm. He merely squeezed my hand a little tighter. He spoke in a steady voice, “My wife is the head of our divorce litigation department. If you need anything, you can consult her.” The atmosphere froze for a second. Olivia bit her lip, staring at me for a long moment before asking softly: “I’ve heard of Attorney Chloe’s stellar reputation. I wonder if it would be too much trouble to ask for some help?” I sighed inwardly. Her situation was actually very clear and painfully typical. Trust fund kids might be blinded by love, but the first-generation wealth builders are always ruthlessly clear-headed. Many wealthy families operate this exact way. They let the woman marry into the family, they let her live in the lap of luxury, but by the same token, they can kick her to the curb at any moment. All the legal procedures and financial structures are ironclad, leaving zero loopholes. I weighed my words carefully, trying to analyze her situation as objectively as possible: “…From a legal standpoint, the marital assets available for equitable distribution are practically zero.” “Even if he is the party at fault.” Olivia’s mouth dropped open in shock. I pointed to the rare leather Hermes Birkin bag sitting on her chair. “Perhaps, you should try to strategize and ask for more high-value gifts.” “Jewelry, designer clothes, and luxury goods like that are typically not subject to asset division during a divorce. They default to the woman’s personal property.” Olivia’s face instantly changed. She stared at me with a dark, heavy gaze: “So, what you’re saying, Attorney Chloe, is that after all my years of youth and sacrifice, all I can walk away with is a few handbags?” I was slightly surprised by her reading comprehension, but I nodded anyway. “It’s incredibly common for the ultra-wealthy to do this kind of pre-marital legal structuring.” A female classmate muttered a curse at the scumbag husband, while others whispered their sympathies for Olivia. Olivia ignored me completely. Instead, she turned her gaze back to Connor. “Connor, do you agree with this?” Connor stiffened, his grip on my hand tightening even more. I had to use a considerable amount of force to pull my hand away. With Connor’s professional experience, he understood this situation even better than I did. Sure enough, he remained silent. Seeing this, Olivia let out a few cold laughs. Then, she grabbed her bag and stood straight up: “I may not be as successful as you, Attorney Chloe, but I’m not so pathetic that I’d trade years of my relationship for a few handbags.” “Tell me, Attorney Chloe. Right now you’re advising me to trade my love for bags. What’s the next step?” “Are you going to suggest I pop out a few kids to extort them for child support?” “If this is the kind of advice a ‘top-tier’ divorce lawyer gives, then I don’t need it.” 03 Because of the scene Olivia caused, the reunion ended early. The restaurant was quite a distance from our house. Even with clear night traffic, the drive took nearly twenty minutes. Connor sat in the passenger seat in complete silence. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. His eyes were half-closed, but his brow was deeply furrowed. This was the exact expression he wore whenever he encountered a particularly thorny case. I understood. After all, anyone would be slightly shaken by everything that had happened tonight. When we got home, I went into the study to handle some work. Connor didn’t follow me in like he usually did. I didn’t mind. That was, until the sound of shattering glass suddenly echoed from the living room. I walked out to see Connor standing in front of the wine cabinet. Red wine was splattered across the floor, looking like a gruesome crime scene. I frowned. “Why the massive mood swing?” Connor paused as he reached for a glass shard. “What?” I kept it brief: “Olivia.” Connor fell silent again. A trace of annoyance suddenly flared up inside me. Regarding tonight’s events, I was the one who should be angry. Olivia’s inexplicable outburst before she left had left me speechless. So, I coldly reminded him: “Connor, I told you early on I didn’t want to go. You insisted I come along.” “You were also the one who directed Olivia to ask me for advice.” Connor looked up at me, the bloodshot veins in his eyes clearly visible: “Yes. But Chloe, did you really have to be so harsh with your words?” I experienced a brief moment of pure confusion. I seriously had to think about whether the “harshness” he referred to was my conversation with Olivia, or my current tone with him. Connor rubbed his temples wearily: “Chloe, you’re so smart, and you’re always the objective observer. You saw at a glance that it was a dead end.” “But did you ever put yourself in her shoes? As the client, she’s already in immense pain from a miserable marriage.” “Why did you have to rub salt in her wounds?” He even looked at me dead in the eye. “Chloe, where is your empathy?” I literally laughed out loud from the sheer absurdity. Thankfully, years of courtroom conditioning meant my mouth reacted faster than my brain: “Connor, get your facts straight. I am not the cause of Olivia’s miserable marriage.” “Instead of preaching to me about meaningless empathy, you should teach Olivia how to leverage her resources.” “If she had even an ounce of sense to use what she had, she wouldn’t have ended up in this pathetic situation.” “Besides, when it comes to asset protection and legal structuring for high-net-worth clients, you know the drill better than anyone.” “What, did you just never imagine that one day those tactics would be used against your precious first love?” Connor’s face turned ugly. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so sharp-tongued. He instinctively opened his mouth to explain, “Chloe, that’s not what I meant…” I curled my lips into a sneer, unable to hold back my sarcasm: “Then what did you mean? Don’t tell me you actually think that in this day and age, a mere marriage certificate is enough to walk away with half an empire built over generations?” “Or when you go to court, are you going to negotiate with the judge about how much ‘feelings’ and ‘youth’ are financially worth?” “Connor, what exactly are you so angry about?” Connor stayed silent for a very long time, then let out a heavy sigh. I watched as he meticulously wrapped the glass shards in paper, and painstakingly cleaned up the spilled red wine. Once everything was handled, he reached out and pulled me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Chloe.” “I know everything you said was the truth. I just lost my head for a second.” “I just… felt a little sorry for her.” “But at the end of the day, it was her choice, and it has nothing to do with anyone else.” 04 I didn’t let the argument escalate further. First, he had already apologized to me with utmost sincerity. He bought flowers, bought gifts, spent money, and put in the effort. He even thoughtfully left a note on the bank transfer that read: “Voluntary Gift.” Second, I didn’t hold my partner to some impossible standard of perfection. Olivia was a preexisting fact long before I came into the picture. No matter how they broke up, the beautiful moments of their past love wouldn’t just change or disappear. Perhaps people change, and things fade. But those memories will always become precious under the weight of time. I allowed Connor to keep that preciousness. People are emotional creatures, after all. Even an object becomes hard to part with after a long time, let alone someone you once loved. If I were in Connor’s shoes today, I might not be entirely stone-hearted either. And objectively, Olivia’s situation was pitiful. Putting aside her Ivy League degree and the bright future she should have had. As a woman, I sympathized with the pain and despair of being betrayed by the person she shared a bed with. I also admired her resolve to choose divorce when faced with a rotting marriage. That was part of my genuine inner thought. When I first entered the legal field, I didn’t have the luxury of picking my cases. Whatever landed on my desk, I poured my soul into it. Later, as I climbed the ranks and gained authority, I truly pivoted toward becoming a specialized divorce lawyer. Of course, before things truly fell apart, I believed every relationship deserved to be treated with care. Connor was exactly that. He was handsome, had a great personality, excelled at his job, and was a fantastic cook. In his early thirties, he maintained a strict fitness routine. His abs were clearly defined, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist—he was vibrant and full of life. By all worldly standards, he matched my preferences perfectly. So, this marriage, as it stood, was worth protecting. Life moved forward calmly. Connor and I worked as usual. If we happened to get off work early, we’d catch a movie or he’d cook a massive dinner. Olivia seemed like a side quest in a video game that briefly popped up. If ignored, it would quickly disappear. I didn’t hear about her again until half a month later. It was a small get-together with friends, and coincidentally, one of Connor’s old classmates was there. The classmate suddenly brought her up. “She and her husband have been fighting like crazy lately. Her Instagram used to be so aesthetic and peaceful, but now it’s all dramatic, depressing quotes. It’s a mess.” “Oh right, Connor, what’s up with you two playing the cold, elite couple in the group chat?” “Was it because of that night? Because she inexplicably blew up at Chloe?” I froze, lifting my gaze to look at Connor. Connor was busy boiling some vegetables in the hotpot. He thought for a second, then unlocked his phone and pushed it in front of me. He kept it brief: “She tried to add me a few times. I didn’t accept.” I glanced at the screen. Olivia had sent five consecutive friend requests. The first was the default system message. The second had a note: [It’s Olivia]. The third said: [I have something to ask you]. Clearly, Connor had ignored the first three. So for the fourth, she wrote: [Are all you lawyers this arrogant and condescending?] Connor still didn’t accept. The most recent one read: [I was overly emotional that night. Please apologize to Attorney Chloe for me.] I looked at Connor. “You’re not going to respond?” Connor furrowed his brow. “There’s no need.” I thought for a moment. Then I clicked reply under Olivia’s final message: [No need. This is Chloe.] I assumed this would be the end of it. But a few days later, our law firm welcomed an unexpected guest. Olivia. 05 A visitor is a guest; there was no reason to refuse her entry. When I finished a meeting and returned to the office area, she was standing in front of the firm’s Wall of Honor near the entrance. It was covered in the firm’s history, profiles of our practicing attorneys, and various awards. Olivia had her head tilted up, reading through them one by one. Finally, her gaze locked onto a specific spot. It was the page for the firm’s partners. Connor’s photo hung in the most prominent spot, his name followed by a long list of honors and awards. I stood behind her for several minutes before she finally snapped out of her daze. I cut straight to the chase: “Is there something we can help you with today, Ms. Olivia?” She smiled, her eyes curving. “Attorney Chloe is so brilliant, can’t you guess why I’m here?” I feigned curiosity: “This is a law firm. Naturally, you’re here for a lawsuit.” “Don’t tell me you just came to sightsee.” The smile in her eyes vanished inch by inch. “Yes.” “But I have a question. Are all the divorce cases here handled exclusively by you, Attorney Chloe?” I leaned back against the wall, quietly assessing her. She was wearing a hot pink slip dress today. Compared to the light makeup from that night, this was a bold, intense look that certainly caught the eye. With every movement, a strong scent of perfume wafted through the air. The corners of my lips curled up slightly: “Divorce isn’t exactly a complex legal matter. The facts are usually clear, the targets are simple.” “Any of the attorneys you just saw on that wall are more than capable.” She stared intensely into my eyes: “What about Attorney Connor?” I raised my hand and pointed down the hall: “Connor’s office is right over there.” “But he’s in a meeting right now. You’ll have to wait.” “Thank you, Attorney Chloe.” Olivia tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “But I already made an appointment with the receptionist.” At 4:30 PM, Connor returned to his office. The receptionist must have informed him beforehand; his expression didn’t change much when he saw Olivia. He walked over to me first. “Chloe, wait for me. We’ll head out exactly at 5:00.” I nodded. We had a movie date at 6:00 PM. Olivia followed Connor into his office. To protect client confidentiality, it was standard practice to close the door during consultations. I watched as Connor noticeably hesitated, then opted to leave the door slightly ajar. Low voices drifted out. It was mostly Olivia speaking, with Connor occasionally asking a question. I couldn’t be bothered to eavesdrop, so I used the time to review my case files. At 5:00 PM, the Slack notification popped up right on time, reminding everyone the workday was over. I glanced over at his office. They weren’t done. Colleagues began filtering out one by one. The sweet girl at the front desk came over to ask if I needed her to order overtime dinner. I smiled and shook my head. “No thanks, I’m leaving right now.” By 5:30 PM, the door across from me had somehow been shut completely tight. Olivia’s hot pink silhouette reflected against the frosted glass, looking even more vibrant under the bright office lights. At 5:40 PM, I grabbed my bag, left, and drove to the movie theater. Connor never showed up. But during the movie, my phone kept blowing up with texts and calls from him. Annoyed, I just switched it to airplane mode. Peace at last. When the movie ended, I followed the crowd out and immediately spotted Connor standing by the exit. His gaze cut through the sea of people, landing heavily on me. He stepped forward, his tone rushed and panicked: “Chloe, I didn’t mean to miss it. I lost track of time, and then I couldn’t reach you.” “I rushed over as fast as I could, but they said I was 20 minutes late and wouldn’t let me in. All I could do was wait here.” A faint, unmistakable perfume drifted off his clothes. Fighting down a wave of nausea, I cut him off. “Let’s just go home.” 06 Connor took Olivia’s case. He brought it up the second we walked through the door: “Olivia wants me to represent her in this lawsuit. She spent the whole time detailing everything that’s happened over the last few years, which is why I missed the movie.” “She’s had a really hard time. She just wanted a normal life, but then she got tangled up with a family like that…” “But Chloe, if you’re uncomfortable with it, I can drop it.” As he spoke, he took a step closer to me. That wave of nausea hit me again. I couldn’t help but say bluntly, “Your perfume smell is a bit strong.” He froze, immediately explaining: “Olivia’s heel broke. I just caught her so she wouldn’t fall.” “I’ll go shower right now.” Two days later. A girl from the admin department brought over a stack of representation agreements for the firm’s official seal. I glanced at them, and Olivia’s contract was right on top. The “Lead Attorney” line was blank. I asked, “Is this case signed?” “Attorney Connor said he’ll sign it later,” she explained, then added, “But her retainer has been paid in full.” I nodded. That afternoon, Connor specifically sought me out. He even brought his tablet with the preliminary case files, looking incredibly serious. “Chloe, she can’t drag this out any longer. She needs someone to guide her and cut the Gordian knot.” “Connor, I didn’t realize you weren’t just a lawyer, but a magician too.” He blinked. “What?” I burst out laughing. “Isn’t it all right there in the background check?” “The company and the real estate are all under his parents’ names. Even the husband himself lives off a trust fund allowance.” “Good thing Olivia hasn’t worked since they got married, otherwise she’d be giving him half her income.” “For a case like this, she’s paying you top dollar. Honestly, unless you have some kind of magic wand, what can you do?” Connor’s face went pale. He looked at me: “Chloe, I haven’t signed it yet.” “If you’re really this upset, I can transfer it to another colleague.” “But trust me, I know what I’m doing. I promise you, it’s strictly professional.” I smiled. Just listen to him. From ‘I can drop it’ at the beginning, to ‘I can transfer it’ now. The difference in commitment was glaringly obvious. And, of course, the prerequisite was still ‘if you’re really this upset.’ I waved my hand, replying warmly: “I’m just joking, don’t take it so seriously.” “The client already paid the retainer. If you should sign it, sign it.” “At the end of the day, it’s revenue for the firm.” … Olivia began frequenting the law firm. At first, she would politely greet me, or specifically mention that if I was worried, I could sit in on the meetings in Connor’s office. After I politely declined a few times. She started just standing outside my door, giving me a curt nod before twisting her hips and walking straight into his office. I looked up. The glass door across the hall was shut tight. Faint, scattered laughter drifted out, the tones drawn out and flirtatious, designed to tug at a man’s heartstrings. I got up and went to the conference room. Today was our regular staff meeting. After reviewing the month’s cases. A junior associate asked, “Chloe, where’s Connor? Why didn’t he come to the meeting? I had a case I wanted his advice on.” I said, “He’s busy.” The colleague let out a disappointed ‘oh,’ then smiled: “Chloe, you handled that case last time so brilliantly! I read the ruling. The husband didn’t get away with a single cent. That has to be one of the most satisfying divorce victories in years, right?” “That case was indeed a textbook example. I’ll summarize the key points and post it in the group chat later.” “Thank you so much! I really want to study it.” Right then, Connor pushed the door open and walked in. “Study what? Chloe, why didn’t you grab me for the meeting?” Before I could speak, the junior associate chimed in: “Chloe said you were busy.” Connor froze. The associate smacked his forehead: “We were just talking about studying Chloe’s amazing case file.” “Oh right, Connor, didn’t you just take on a new divorce case? You should check the group chat too, it might come in handy!” Connor hesitated, glancing over at me. The corners of my lips curled up. “Attorney Connor’s case is highly complex. I’m afraid my methods won’t apply.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “409920”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During my first trimester, my husband’s grandmother showed up at our door to lay down the law. She intentionally killed the dog I had raised for three years and made a stew out of it just to sicken me. At the dinner table, she smugly bragged: “Meat from a mutt raised on expensive kibble sure is tender~” After dinner, she tried to force me to kneel and kowtow to a turtle she had kept for forty years, demanding I acknowledge it as my “God-Grandmother.” I obediently played along. What she didn’t know was that while acknowledging a “God-Grandmother” is easy, sending her off is a whole different ballgame! 01 My grandma was a professional contrarian, and my mom was a spitfire. The two of them battled it out their entire lives, ready to throw hands the moment they saw each other. Growing up immersed in their constant warfare, I mastered the art of managing in-law dynamics at a very young age. When people saw me, they stayed out of my way; when dogs saw me, they ran. But unfortunately for my skills, I married into a family of absolute softies. I had a whole arsenal of tactics with nowhere to use them. Life was smooth sailing, and I even gained six pounds. When I went to the clinic to ask about safe ways to lose a little weight, they checked my vitals and told me I was pregnant. The doctor said the first trimester is the most critical time. My in-laws treated me like fragile glass, terrified I might bump into something and hurt the baby. But just as I hit my third month, an old lady showed up at our house. The moment we locked eyes, I knew exactly what I was dealing with. The universally despised family troublemaker had arrived! The way she looked at me was exactly the same way my grandma used to look at my mom—desperate to find a bone in an egg, just looking for an excuse to pick a fight. My usually cheerful mother-in-law, Martha, was pale, currently on her hands and knees, scrubbing the hardwood floor inch by inch with a paper towel. My usually reasonable father-in-law, David, was trembling like a frightened quail, not daring to breathe too loudly as he brewed tea and poured water for her. My husband, Liam, stood there dumbfounded and blurted out: “Grandma!” Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward our bedroom. “Honey, pack a bag. We’re going to stay at a hotel for a few days. You’re pregnant, you can’t handle this kind of stress!” My phone chimed with a notification. Three thousand dollars had just been transferred to my account from my in-laws. Their goal was very clear: they wanted us to stay somewhere else for a while. Whenever his grandma decided to head back to her hometown, we could come back. “Is she really that terrifying?” I asked. “Terrifying doesn’t even cover it! She’s an absolute nightmare!” Liam gave me a quick rundown of the old lady’s dark history. When he was six, his grandma cooked the pet rabbit he had been raising for two years and tricked him into eating the meat. After he finished eating, she took him to see the bloody pile of rabbit fur. Liam was terrified and bawled his eyes out. The old lady sat there eating sunflower seeds, spitting the shells right at his face: “It’s just an animal. It died, so what? Are you really crying over it? “You don’t have an ounce of masculinity! Don’t you dare go outside and tell people you’re Agatha’s grandson! “You little brat, remember this: an animal is just an animal. I don’t care if you raised it for two years or twenty, it’s still just an animal. It will never be more important than your family!” When Martha came over to comfort Liam, the old lady kicked her hard in the stomach. “You jinx! Walking around with a long face every day, teaching my grandson useless nonsense. So a rabbit died, big deal! Are you trying to kill me, you old woman?” That single kick caused Martha to miscarry. It was a three-month-old female fetus. Martha wept uncontrollably in the hospital. The old lady sat at home, smoking her pipe, feeling completely justified: “It was just a money-losing girl. She’s gone, so she’s gone. What’s there to cry about?” David was furious and went to confront her: “That was your own granddaughter!” The old lady scoffed: “What ‘own granddaughter’? She wasn’t even fully formed, hadn’t even been born, and you dare call her my granddaughter? “And so what if she was a granddaughter? Girls just cost money! With that one kick, do you know how much money I saved you? Instead of being grateful, you’re here demanding an explanation? I see you really are an ungrateful wolf, forgetting your own mother the second you get a wife!” David was so angry he wanted to take Martha and Liam and cut ties with the old lady completely. The situation escalated and eventually reached the neighborhood association. The older generation places the utmost importance on filial piety. David wasn’t good with words. The old lady, however, had a silver tongue and twisted the facts completely. By throwing a massive tantrum, she somehow made David’s family look like heartless, unfilial children. The old lady blatantly favored David’s older brother, Robert. She took David and Martha’s hard-earned money to subsidize Robert, paying for his college and buying him a house in the city. Later, Robert married the daughter of a local official. The old lady moved in with them to enjoy the good life, which was the only reason she finally let David’s family off the hook. Outside the bedroom door, the old lady was currently berating David: “You ungrateful little brat! Now that you’ve made it big, living in a big house, driving luxury cars, you just sit back and watch your older brother and his family scrape by? You think you’re pretty great now, don’t you? Feeling real smug, aren’t you?” “Mom, we never thought anything like that.” “Shut your mouth! It’s all because of that seductress you married! If it weren’t for her whispering in your ear, would my son ignore his own mother? “Don’t think that just because you secretly moved out of state, I couldn’t find you! Let me tell you, you can run, but you can’t hide! I’ve been keeping a ledger of all the money you owe your brother all these years!” The old lady threw down a yellowed, tattered little notebook. David picked up the ledger and flipped through a couple of pages: “Mom, since when do we owe Robert over forty thousand dollars?” “What do you mean ‘over forty thousand’? It’s exactly forty-seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty-five dollars and thirty-seven cents! If your brother hadn’t jumped into that freezing river to save you, ruining his health, he would have been a high-ranking military officer by now! And I only gave you a discount because you’re my biological son and Robert’s blood brother! “You ungrateful little brat! Not only did you not try to make up for the damage you caused your brother, you even teamed up with this jinx to hide from me?! “Don’t call me Mom! I don’t have a shameless son like you!” “It wasn’t Robert who saved me; a bystander saved Robert!” Martha couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to explain things for David, only to receive a resounding slap across the face. “You home-wrecker! When I’m talking to my son, it’s not your place to interrupt! I said Robert saved him, so Robert saved him! “Cut the crap. I’m here on serious business. My oldest grandson is getting married in a few days. Clean out this house and empty it in the next two days so Tommy can use it as his marital home!” “Absolutely not! This is the house we prepared for Chloe and Liam!” Martha clutched her red, swollen cheek, refusing flat out. “You jinx, when is it your turn to speak?” While she was talking, I walked over to the dog crate and let Buster out. Buster is a Belgian Malinois. He’s incredibly protective of his owners and fiercely obedient. He’s just very energetic and always wants to be near me. After I got pregnant, my in-laws kept Buster in his crate to prevent him from accidentally knocking into me. “Buster, go!” Hearing the command, Buster shot forward like a bolt of lightning, stopping right in front of my in-laws. Under the threat of the Malinois, the old lady was forced to jump on top of the sofa, her spindly little legs shaking uncontrollably. “Y-you… stay away from me! I’m not afraid of you! “Don’t, don’t bite me! “Are you all dead? Hurry up and stop him! “H-help!” My in-laws stood frozen in place. I walked over, my heart aching as I helped Martha up: “Mom, your face is swollen. Liam, go down to the pharmacy and buy some anti-inflammatory ointment for Mom.” Hearing my voice, Buster happily trotted over to my side, rubbing his head against me affectionately. “Good boy!” I rewarded Buster with a nice scratch behind the ears. Seeing this, the old lady quickly realized what was going on. She pointed at my nose and screamed furiously: “Alright, you little tramp! You’re directing this wolf-dog to abuse an elder, aren’t you? You better slaughter this dog right now! Get on your knees and kowtow to me to apologize, or I’ll make my grandson divorce you! Let’s see what a used-up piece of trash like you will do then!” “Mom, Chloe and Liam have a very strong relationship; there’s no way they’re getting a divorce.” Martha spoke up for me, only to earn another glare from the old lady. I gave Buster a light smack on the rear. “Bark, bark, bark!” This time, Buster didn’t just bark at the old lady; he started lunging at her. And I showed absolutely no sign of calling him off. After a few lunges, the old lady’s eyes rolled back into her head, and she fainted dead away. After she fainted, Martha transferred another few thousand dollars to me. “Chloe, hurry up and go stay somewhere else with Liam for a bit. We’ll never forget how you and Buster helped us today, but the old lady isn’t someone you want to mess with. When she wakes up, she’ll probably come up with some scheme to make things difficult for you!” “Yeah, Chloe, you’re still pregnant. The doctor said you shouldn’t experience extreme emotional swings. If the sky falls, Mom and Dad are here to hold it up. Just treat this as a second honeymoon with Liam!” “Mom, Dad, what are you talking about? The old lady might be hard to deal with, but I’m no pushover either! As for the baby, don’t worry about it. If it can’t handle a little turbulence like this, it doesn’t have the right to be my child!” I cooked dinner that evening, and the old lady finally came to. At the dinner table, she intentionally started picking fights. “The meat is so tough, are you trying to break my teeth?” “Didn’t you know I don’t eat seafood? And you purposely made smoked fish!” “Living the high life now, huh? Starting to waste food! Four people and you made eight dishes!” As she spoke, she tried to take the beef and smoked fish in front of me and put them in the fridge. “Put it down. “I said put it down, didn’t you hear me?” “You just won’t listen to reason, will you? Buster, up!” Amidst the furious barking, the old lady resentfully put down her bowl and chopsticks. I tilted my head and looked at her: “If you think the meat is too tough and hurts your teeth, then eat the porridge. Do you know why long-lived people live so long?” My husband weakly chimed in: “Because they love eating porridge! Porridge is good for you!” “No, it’s because they’re smart. They know who not to mess with!” I looked right at the old lady: “Grandma, you’re a smart person, aren’t you?” The old lady didn’t speak; she just glared at me. “Buster~” “Yes, yes, yes!” “Bark, bark, bark!” “Are you crazy? I said yes, and you’re still letting your dog bite me!” “Relax your foot, you’re stepping on his toy!” With Buster around, the old lady didn’t dare pull any stunts for the rest of the night. When we went to bed, Liam wrapped his arms around my waist. Tears soaked my shoulder as he cried like a little boy: “Chloe, where have you been all my life! “Sob, if only I had met you sooner! “Sniffle, I love you so much, honey.” A night of sweet dreams. The next morning, Liam got up to feed Buster. He searched the whole house but couldn’t find Buster anywhere. He looked at me, his eyes red: “What do we do, honey? Buster is gone!” As he spoke, he suddenly realized something. He ran to the kitchen and found a puddle of blood on the floor. The trash can also had a few tufts of black fur in it, exactly like Buster’s. Liam stormed over to the old lady, confronting her: “Tell me, did you kill Buster?!” “You little animal, is that how you speak to your grandmother?! Do you have any respect for God?! I got up bright and early to make breakfast for you all, and now I’m the bad guy?” “It was you! You cooked my rabbit back then!” “David! Control your son! He’s a grown man in his twenties and has absolutely no manners! Yelling at his elders like this!” David was called out of his room, Martha following closely behind. The old lady grabbed Martha: “You tell them! You were up earlier than me. Did you see me kill a dog?” “N-no, I didn’t.” Martha’s eyes welled with tears. “Forget it. It’s not a big deal. We’ll just look for him after we eat. He won’t stay lost forever anyway.” “Exactly, exactly. At least my grandson’s wife has some sense.” At the dining table, the old lady served me a bowl of meat broth. “Granddaughter-in-law, at least you’re reasonable. Unlike these others, who don’t know anything about human relationships. An animal is an animal. I don’t care if you’ve raised it for two or three years, or even decades, it’s never going to be more important than a person.” “You’re absolutely right.” “Everything has a destiny. Don’t blame me for speaking harshly, but if Buster really was killed and eaten, that was his karma. Don’t blame anyone else; blame it on the fact that he committed too many sins in his past life, or perhaps the owner who raised him committed too many sins. Granddaughter-in-law, do you think I’m making sense?” I nodded: “What Grandma says makes perfect sense.” She nodded in satisfaction. It wasn’t until she saw me finish the entire bowl of broth that her expression changed, and she asked me with a wicked grin: “How did the broth taste?” “Very tender.” “Of course it is! Meat from a mutt raised on expensive kibble sure is tender~” Liam was so furious he slammed his bowl onto the floor: “I knew it! You did it!” “You little bastard, shut your mouth! Who gave you the right to speak! Is your skin itching for a beating?” After scolding Liam, she turned her attention to me. “And you, you dog-relying thing! I gave you an inch and you thought I was actually afraid of you! Without that Malinois, you’re nothing! Take a look in the mirror, you’ve got the face of a widow. Only a blind fool would want you!” She got more and more smug as she spoke, laying down several “rules” for me. Riding the high of her own speech, she even demanded I acknowledge the turtle she had kept for forty years as my “God-Grandmother.” “I’ve raised this turtle for forty years. It’s old enough to be your grandmother! Letting you acknowledge it as a God-Grandmother is an honor. Don’t be ungrateful.” I nodded in agreement. However, she searched for a long time but couldn’t find her forty-year-old turtle anywhere. I unhurriedly stood up, fished a turtle shell out of the broth pot, washed it, dried it, and handed it to her: “Oh my, Grandma, the ‘God-Grandmother’ you were talking about… it wouldn’t happen to be this one, would it?”

While walking my dog in the neighborhood, a handsome guy driving a Maybach asked if the dog was for sale. I said, “Not on his own.” He hesitated, looked at me for a few seconds, and drove off. Both the dog and I stared longingly at his receding taillights. I cursed in utter frustration, “I’ll sell him on his own! I’ll sell him on his own! Damn it! What a jerk, he wasn’t even serious about buying!” Who knew his car would actually come to a stop, and then the door opened… The dog instantly broke free from my grip and bolted right in. The handsome guy looked at dumbfounded me and asked, “Aren’t you going to bolt in too?” 01 Walking the dog around the neighborhood, my Samoyed, Yeti, was acting like a total maniac, sprinting with all his might! Holding the leash, I ran behind him, nearly dying of exhaustion. Then, as we ran to the busy road outside our subdivision, he suddenly stopped, staring at the endless stream of cars, drooling. We both stared together. Both of us dreaming of striking it rich. Yeti has this one specific trait: he is incredibly snobbish and materialistic. He absolutely loves luxury cars. Time and time again, he’s tried to climb into the passenger seat of high-end vehicles, ready to abandon me and live the good life. But I keep a tight grip on him. I’ve never let him succeed. 02 Right now, he was gazing eagerly at those luxury cars, looking utterly pathetic and wronged. We live in a standard middle-class complex. Across the street is a high-end gated community. There’s also a massive area of luxury estates nearby, so there are a ton of high-end cars around. I said to Yeti, “Yeti, stop looking. I’m definitely not letting you go off and live the good life without me.” He rolled his eyes at me. I chuckled to myself. It was like he actually understood what I was saying. I tugged his leash. “Let’s go. To the park. We still have to run a lap around the park today.” He wouldn’t budge. Suddenly, a Mercedes-Maybach S680 Haute Voiture pulled up right in front of us. 03 Both Yeti and I were completely stunned by the magnificent car. And then we were stunned again by the incredibly handsome, almost ethereally beautiful face behind the lowering window! Holy crap. Nowadays, guys can actually drive Maybachs just on their looks alone. What excuse did Yeti and I have for not trying harder! People who are better looking than you are working even harder than you. I made a decision. When I got back, I was giving Yeti a full grooming makeover. The handsome guy slowly exhaled a smoke ring, looking from me to Yeti. Yeti and I were both watching him with buzzing excitement. I was even thinking about how to get his number—maybe he could introduce me to a single, rich, handsome friend. While the two of us and the dog were in this standoff, the handsome guy spoke first. “Hey beautiful, is the dog for sale?” 04 Yeti was so excited he started chasing his own tail on the spot, completely losing his mind with joy. He whined, trying to act cute for the guy, then barked loudly at me, pulling with all his might to break the leash. I was furious. I raised this dog for nothing. But I put on my gentlest, most charming smile. “Not on his own.” I pointed to the dog, then to myself. “It has to be a package deal.” Handsome Guy: “Tying sales is an unfair business practice. It violates antitrust laws.” He looked like he was ready to step on the gas and leave. In a moment of desperation, I let out a loud ‘Woof!’ and asked, “Handsome, which one do you want to buy?” Yeti was utterly enraged. He started barking furiously at me, cursing me out in filthy dog language. I pretended not to hear him. The handsome guy shook his head, rolled up the window, and gorgeously… drove off! 05 Yeti and I were completely dumbfounded. He stopped barking. I stopped being a smartass. We watched the Maybach’s taillights, feeling like even the exhaust fumes it emitted carried the sweet fragrance of money. This was the closest we had ever been to true wealth. Once I snapped out of it, I immediately started yelling at the car that was already far away: “I’ll sell him on his own! On his own! Damn it! What a jerk, he wasn’t even serious about buying!” “Son of a bitch, does he think he can just brush me off because he’s good-looking? Does he think I only care about his money? Pfft! I’m definitely not a gold digger!” “Even if God gave me another chance, I would still firmly say—” The car slowly came to a stop again. Just then, a city bus pulled up in front of me, and the driver yelled out, “Miss, no dogs allowed on the bus.” I looked over and realized the Maybach had just stopped right in the bus lane… I stuck my tongue out, apologized to the bus driver, and quickly chased after Yeti. 06 The handsome guy opened the passenger door, and Yeti instantly bolted inside. I wanted to bolt in too, but an 80-pound large dog was already sitting in the passenger seat. There was no room left for me. The guy opened the driver’s door and got out. Wow. Not only did he have a gorgeous face, but he was also really tall. Nowadays, the standards for marrying a sugar daddy are getting really high. How could I possibly pull that off! The handsome guy looked at me and smiled. When he smiled, it was absolutely soul-stealing. I said firmly, “Bro, I’ll sell him alone. Just him. Let me know where you live, I can come with you and stay with him for a bit so he can get adjusted. Let’s exchange numbers, I can text you all his habits and routines.” Handsome Guy: “Emma Davis, do you really not recognize me?” My eyes went as wide as saucers. I actually didn’t remember such a handsome classmate. I really wanted to slap myself across the face. Come on, stupid brain, think! Who exactly is he? I put on a face of sudden realization, exclaiming with pleasant surprise, “Oh! It’s you! Oh my god, I didn’t expect it to be you! What a coincidence, running into you here! Good lord!” He was also pleasantly surprised: “I really didn’t expect to run into you right after moving back!” 07 I asked, “Oh my god, you graduated and moved back? You’re doing great!” He smiled: “Not as good as you. You got such great grades. Even if you didn’t go out of state, you still got into a great university.” It seemed he was a high school classmate whose grades weren’t as good as mine. No wonder I didn’t recognize him. Who is this guy? I racked my brain, then asked, “So, are you working now?” He thought for a moment and said, “I guess you could say that.” I warmly invited him: “Then hurry up and get into the grind. The economy is ‘great’ right now, you can even work on weekends. A thousand bucks for a whole week of work. We really picked a fantastic time to join the workforce.” He started laughing out loud: “You’re still as cute as ever.” ??? Who is he? Even after dragging the unsold Yeti back home, I still hadn’t remembered who he was. Did he get plastic surgery? I need to ask which plastic surgery clinic he went to. It was way too successful. I had absolutely zero impression of him. 08 Luckily, we exchanged numbers and added each other on socials. But his profile showed we had actually added each other a few years ago. Back then, I had just gone off to college, gained my freedom, and was extremely guarded. I rejected all requests from strangers. He had actually requested to follow me several times. Oh my god, I really was an ignorant, self-righteous little nun back then. I searched his name on my contacts and, sure enough, he was in the high school alumni group chat. But not in my specific homeroom group. It seemed he was a classmate from the same graduating class. I quickly took a screenshot of his profile and sent it to my best friend, Sarah, asking who he was. Sarah replied instantly: “Whoa, how did you get curious about him?” Me: “??? Is he a big deal? Do I know him?” I told her about running into him today. Sarah laughed for a good while before saying, “He was a total legend at our school! But back then, you only cared about studying, so even if I told you, you wouldn’t have paid attention.” So I didn’t know him, right? Turns out he was Oliver Stone from the AP Honors track. 09 I knew his name, but I had never seen the guy in person. In our high school, students were split into different tracks. I was in the standard college prep track. Back then, I had heard rumors about Oliver Stone. They were always about how ridiculously good-looking he was, how rich his family was, or gossip about girls obsessing over him. I never heard anything about his grades being amazing. After all, back then I was obsessed with my GPA. If someone wasn’t in the top 20 of our graduating class, I didn’t bother knowing them. Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles, right? Plus, if people’s grades are similar, you have more to talk about, like discussing difficult test questions. And after graduation, I actually kept in touch with those top students quite a bit. As for other people, I really wasn’t interested. My parents were also very strict about my friends back then. If I hung out with kids who didn’t have good grades, my parents would scold me, ground me, and confiscate my phone. If I hung out with kids who had straight A’s, my parents were completely fine with it. At that time, I was at an age where I would scoff at handsome guys, thinking they were a distraction that ruined ambition. I thought, what was the use of being good-looking? What mattered was studying hard and getting into a top-tier college. And when classmates gossiped, I didn’t like to listen. I thought it was a waste of time. I’d rather go do a few practice tests. I was quite arrogant, thinking I was refined and above it all, not like those busybodies who loved to gossip about who liked who. Looking back now, I really was a total fun-killer, completely brainwashed by the system. 10 The next day, Oliver sent me a message: “Want to walk the dog?” I looked at his message, biting my finger and giggling like an idiot. I had already started dreaming that because we walked dogs together, we would fall in love over time, he would finally marry me, my dowry would be a dog, and we would live happily ever after. But my mom shattered my dream with a smack to the arm. She snapped angrily, “Hurry up and put your makeup on. Stop dawdling. The older you get, the more trouble you are.” Today was Sunday. My mom was taking me on a blind date. It was the nephew of a colleague at her government agency. He also worked a stable civil service job. I chose a photo of Yeti and sent it to Oliver, then replied: “I have to head out right now. No time to walk him.” He replied instantly: “Then I’ll walk him for you?” I looked at Yeti’s silly, blank expression and considered the very real possibility of him being dognapped. My worry for Yeti won over my desire for extreme wealth. I said, “Tomorrow. I’ll walk him tomorrow and come find you. Around 6:15 to 7:15 PM.” He replied instantly: “Sounds good.” After thinking about it, I added: “Don’t feed him for half an hour before the walk. When he gets the zoomies, I’m afraid he’ll run you so hard you’ll throw up.” 11 The blind date was manageable. By the book, and he was very enthusiastic. My mom was quite satisfied with his family’s background. His mom had passed away, and his dad had some influence and could probably pull strings to get me a promotion down the line. Both our families only had one child. If we got married, with family subsidies and both of us working stable government jobs, it would be a divine, stress-free life. At least, that’s how my mom pitched it to me. I shrugged and thought it wasn’t bad either. Except for the fact that his incredibly average face didn’t spark any romantic feelings whatsoever. A marriage like this always felt like it was missing a little something. My mom said to me, “What’s the use of a man being good-looking! You can’t eat a handsome face. You just need someone average-looking. That’s the kind of guy who will be honest and settle down to live a quiet life with you.” I didn’t understand what kind of “quiet life” I was supposed to be settling down for. And, who says a man’s good looks are useless? Oliver Stone was driving an S680! Well, although it was his family’s money. But even if he didn’t have money, with that face, I’d be willing to pay for his meals. 12 After work the next day, I rode my electric scooter home, then put Yeti on his leash to meet Oliver at the subdivision entrance. He arrived before us, wearing a white casual athleisure outfit. He even brought dog treats for Yeti. Yeti was instantly bought and paid for. I asked him, “Do you live around here?” He pointed to a luxury estate a few blocks down: “Over there. Just moved in recently.” I was so envious I was practically drooling. I said, “It must be so nice to be your dog, living in a mansion.” He smiled, looking radiant and handsome. He said, “Why don’t you say it would be nice to be my girlfriend or wife?” I scratched my head: “Didn’t you want to buy the dog?” He took the leash from my hand. “I also want to find a girlfriend.” “Are you single?” His eyes went wide. “If I wasn’t single, would I be hitting on you?” I still held onto my original point: “Didn’t you want to buy the dog?” “So you really want to be sold to me along with Yeti?” He thought for two seconds. “Why don’t you name a price?” And then we both started laughing. After laughing, my face turned beet red. I was actually shy. 13 I originally thought this was a great opportunity to cultivate some romance with a handsome guy. I had to be gentle, sweet, and approachable. But as soon as we got to the park, Yeti acted like a rabid dog, running like an absolute maniac! Oliver was caught off guard and nearly got dragged face-first into the dirt. I quickly grabbed the leash back, running with Yeti. My voice drifted back in the wind: “Hurry up and keep up!” And then the two of us were sprinting wildly after Yeti. Every now and then, I would angrily yell: “Yeti Davis! You’re running so fast, you’re going to kill your mother!” “Yeti Davis! I’m going to sell you!” He just ran even happier. In the park, it should have been a handsome guy and a pretty girl walking a dog, looking like a picture-perfect couple enjoying a leisurely stroll. But the reality was, the three of us were running so fast it looked like we were being chased by ghosts… By the end, my hair was a complete rat’s nest looking like a madwoman, and I sat panting heavily on the grass. Yeti flopped onto his back beside me, limbs splayed, demanding I rub his belly. Oliver also sat beside me, wiping the sweat from his face. “I didn’t expect that when you said ‘walking the dog’, this is what it looked like.” Yeti let out an ‘a-woo’, his tongue lolling out, looking at me with total innocence. I petted him. “Yeah. He thinks taking a leisurely stroll down a tree-lined path is beneath him.” “So you have to walk him like this every day?” “My parents are getting older. They absolutely cannot handle him. But when my younger cousin comes over, he helps walk him.” 14 Once we had rested enough, we walked back to my neighborhood. At the entrance, we happened to run into my dad coming home from work. I called out ‘Dad’, and Oliver called out, “Hello, Mr. Davis. I’m Oliver Stone.” My dad sized Oliver up, then said enthusiastically, “Oh, Oliver! Come on, come over to our place for dinner.” I stared at my dad in utter shock. I didn’t expect my dad to be so warm and welcoming to him. Oliver didn’t stand on ceremony either. He said, “Then I’d be honored.” My mom looked at Oliver and asked, “Arthur, did you bring a new intern home again?” My dad works as an engineer for a government contractor and often brings new hires home. My dad said, “Isn’t this the blind date you set Emma up with?” I quickly said, “Not the blind date. He’s a customer who wants to buy Yeti.” Oliver chimed in: “I’m Emma’s high school classmate. We just recently reconnected.” 15 The atmosphere got slightly awkward. But before long, my mom was enthusiastically inviting him inside, and then the demographic interrogation began. Finally, my mom let out a slightly disappointed sigh. This made everyone’s hearts jump into their throats. She concluded: “Let’s eat, let’s eat. Does my cooking suit your taste, Oliver?” Oliver quickly said, “I love this kind of home-cooked food.” My mom said, “Then eat up. Even if the dog sale doesn’t work out, we can still be friends.” Me: ??? Yeti and I looked at each other. He was busy eating the kibble in his bowl, rolling his dead fish eyes, and letting out a pitiful whine. After dinner, Oliver left. My mom said to me, “Sigh, he’s just a little too good-looking. When a man is this handsome, the amount of women throwing themselves at him is definitely not normal. It’s not safe! Better to stick with honest, average guys. Noah is much more reliable.” She added, “His family background is also a little too good. Although our family isn’t bad, it would definitely be reaching out of our league. Tsk tsk tsk, not a matched pair!” I also went “tsk tsk tsk” twice. 16 Because he lived close by, Oliver would come walk the dog with me every few days. He even sent premium groceries over to our house three times: once a whole cooler of fresh seafood, once imported fruit, and once high-end steaks. Every time, the amount was so huge we couldn’t finish it, so my mom had no choice but to give some away to the neighbors. Because of this, whenever my mom cooked something delicious, she’d have me call him over to eat. We truly became neighbors. I was also still chatting with my blind date, Noah. Although every time we texted, we’d run out of things to say in less than 10 messages. Over the weekend, I was shopping at the mall with Sarah, and we happened to see Noah arguing and grabbing at a girl. The girl was crying, pulling on Noah and accusing him: “You need to explain this to me! We dated for 7 years! Now you say we’re breaking up just like that, is that fair to me?!”

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