I thought Ryan had given me a second chance at life when he helped clear my family’s debts after our bankruptcy. We were together for nine years, seemingly deeply in love. Until Emma returned from abroad, and I discovered their past connection. To please Emma, Ryan was willing to use me, who’s afraid of water, as a bet in a pool game. Later, when I wanted to break up, Ryan laughed arrogantly, “Without me, what could you possibly achieve?” But in the end, he was the one who broke down. I smiled and said, “Can you not be so emotional?” 0On the rooftop pool. The Emperor’s Game. As night fell, under the dark blue lights, Ryan stood in his suit, bending over to explain the rules while holding a ring toss. Behind him, his friends were opening champagne and watching the show. “Everyone stand back,” he said, pointing to the pretty girls in swimsuits in the pool. “Each person only gets one chance, and can only ring one person…” I looked away, clutching the Basque cheesecake in my hand, and asked softly, “Ryan, come eat some cake first. You’ve been waiting for a while, right?” Emma saw me and enthusiastically called out, “Lily, you’re here! Do you want to play too?” Emma was Ryan’s childhood sweetheart. She had just returned from abroad a few days ago. Ryan had been away for several days since then. We had a big fight because of this and had been giving each other the cold shoulder for days. Until tonight when he called and asked me to bring a Basque cheesecake. In my eyes, this was a sign of reconciliation. So I carefully applied my makeup and changed into a pure white dress that he liked. Carrying the Basque cheesecake he wanted. I shook my head and walked over to open the cake box, “I’ll pass. I’m not good at ring toss.” Emma looked at me as if she had heard the biggest joke ever, and said mockingly, “Who said anything about ring toss?” She turned her head towards the girls in the pool and gestured, “It’s over there.” “Ryan, what do you think? It must be fun!” Emma’s words became increasingly sarcastic, and no one dared to interrupt her. I gripped the ribbon of the cake box tighter, staring blankly at Ryan. “Ryan, you know I can’t…” I can’t swim. “Go change.” Under everyone’s gaze, Ryan turned and grabbed a swimsuit from the sofa and threw it at me. The cold fabric hit my face. Seeing that I didn’t move, he frowned and turned to look at me, speaking earnestly. “Lily, it’s just a game.” “Don’t be such a poor sport.” “Yeah, Lily, it’s just for fun,” Emma chimed in. I looked at him, my eyes unfocused. I guess he had hidden it for so long that I almost forgot he was always a playboy at heart. Emma cut a piece of cake, picked it up, tossed it around, and threw it onto someone’s shirt nearby. “How convenient.” “Come on, play! This one’s got some weight to it.” I touched the burn mark on my left index finger, watching them carelessly waste the cake I had spent the whole afternoon making. My heart was as tangled as a ball of yarn that had been clawed by a cat. The sky darkened, and the wind on the rooftop became chilly. After a long while, I trembled, suppressing the sourness in my heart, and walked over to put the swimsuit on the sofa. “You guys play. I’m leaving.” As I was heading back, Emma caught up with me and smiled, trying to comfort me, “It’s okay, Lily. If you don’t want to, forget about it…” The next second, catching me off guard, she pushed me hard into the pool. A huge splash erupted. “Ah!” The girls in the pool desperately tried to dodge. I’m afraid of water. Water rushed into my throat, making me feel suffocated. I struggled to stand steady, my skirt floating up due to buoyancy. Everything was exposed. Vaguely, I heard someone exclaim. “Holy shit…” Emma cried out from the edge, “Oh my, Lily, how could you be so careless?” I kept thrashing in the water, trying to find my balance. On the platform, Emma urged Ryan to distribute the rings. “Hurry up, Ryan!” “I want to throw!” Ryan handed out the rings. In an instant, all the rings flew into the water. And I was casually ringed by Lucas. I was soaked from head to toe, not even having the chance to wipe the water from my face or the wet hair sticking to it. The ring landed around my neck. “Ryan, I…” Lucas nervously rubbed his hands, waiting for Ryan’s “rescue.” Lucas’s family business wasn’t big, and he always followed Ryan’s lead. In recent years, Ryan’s family had been flourishing, riding the wave of the entertainment industry. Living a life dependent on others’ favor, Lucas naturally didn’t dare to make any mistakes. Even though everyone knew Ryan had no real feelings for me. He had even just used me as a bargaining chip, a commodity. But I was still his nominal girlfriend after all. Ryan extinguished the cigarette in his hand and passed the ring to Emma. He squatted down and looked at me. His expression was dark. After a long while. “Take her away then.” 0
Those careless words silenced everyone around. With just three short words, I understood their game. I struggled to shore, not caring if my dress was see-through. I threw on a bathrobe and headed for the exit. “What’s she playing at? If it weren’t for Ryan, she’d probably be in some old baldie’s arms right now.” “It’s all because Ryan values loyalty.” Behind me, all sorts of hurtful comments kept coming. Constantly chipping away at the hard shell I had rebuilt around myself. Yes, if it weren’t for Ryan. I should be drowning in millions of debt now, a rat that everyone would chase down the street. That pampered Miss Lily who grew up as the center of attention was long gone. It was Ryan who saved me. So, in their eyes, I should be eternally grateful to him. What’s a little pool game compared to that? Ryan seemed to have had enough and shouted harshly, “Shut up!” I composed myself, took a deep breath, turned around with a smile, and looked at Lucas, inviting him, “Shall we go?” Lucas froze in place, dumbfounded. The place instantly fell silent, you could hear a pin drop. Ryan’s face turned ashen as he rushed over, wrapping the bathrobe tightly around me, grinding his teeth, “You wouldn’t dare!” Ryan forcibly took me home. I developed a high fever on the way. When we got out of the car, Ryan climbed into the passenger seat to carry me. I pushed him away in my hazy state, “Don’t touch me!” He slapped my waist, his face grim, “Lily, stop making a fuss!” “Can’t you take care of yourself?” “Are you trying to anger me to death?” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically, “Isn’t this all thanks to you?” Wasn’t it him who knew I was afraid of water yet still made me get in? Ryan’s face turned ashen, and he wordlessly hoisted me up. In the night filled with cicada sounds and wind, an “I’m sorry” blew past my ear. Ryan fed me medicine. He tucked in the blanket corners and went to the kitchen to make porridge for me. When he brought it to me, the porridge was still steaming hot. “Have some porridge, it’ll warm your stomach.” I closed my eyes and kept my lips tightly shut, not making a sound. He let out a long sigh, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and blew on it. “Honey, be good, okay?” “When you’re better, I’ll take you to the Maldives. Didn’t you want to go for a long time?” Ryan coaxed me, this was his usual style. Going to the Maldives was a promise we made before Emma came back. After Emma returned, Ryan’s attention wandered, we had a big fight, and the trip was forgotten. As we were at an impasse, Emma’s call came through. “Ryan, take me home!” “Otherwise my dad will scold me again. He feels at ease when you take me.” Under the dim table lamp, Ryan remained silent for a long time, put down the bowl, and glanced at me. “Ask Lucas to take you. I’m a bit busy.” Ryan rarely refused Emma. “I don’t want that. I want you to take me!” I stared at the dark ceiling, my head throbbing and my nose sour, and said in a low voice, “Go then.” “Don’t keep her waiting too long.” 0
The next day was Grandpa Harrison’s birthday banquet. Ryan and I attended. All the notable people in the city were there. Emma was no exception. Ryan went to a private room with his friends to discuss business. I was bored and went to the dessert table. “Harrison really doesn’t know better, inviting all sorts of riffraff. Isn’t he afraid of bad luck?” “Well, when your parents die leaving a mountain of debt, it’s all settled. If it were me, I’d have followed them long ago. Where would I have the courage to hook up with Ryan?” Behind me, several familiar voices rang out. “Wow, of course she has to hold on tight. After all, Ryan is probably the best catch among all the eligible options.” Emma, imagining something, added, “But, Ryan said she’s really boring in bed.” “Well, she used to be a good little rich girl, it’s not surprising she can’t satisfy someone as free-spirited as Ryan.” My face flushed red, my hand holding the macaron froze, trembling involuntarily. Listening to them casually sketching out my past, slandering me at will. “Enough!” I turned around and slapped Emma with all my might. The wine glass in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor, splattering wine on her skirt. “Clean your mouth before you speak.” The hall fell eerily silent. I smoothed my skirt and looked up, saying, “If you’re so capable, then make him dump me and be with you.” “Stop stirring up trouble here.” Emma didn’t expect me to fight back. Covering her face, she screamed hysterically, “Lily, what’s wrong with you?” “Do you think you’re still that high and mighty young miss?” “Wake up!” Ryan came at the sound, gently pulling Emma’s hand away, “Let me see. Does it hurt?” I hadn’t held back earlier, and Emma’s right cheek was already red and swollen. Ryan turned around and looked at me coldly, “Lily, apologize.” “Don’t go too far.” He wasn’t furious or agitated, but I knew he was extremely displeased now. “Ryan, it hurts,” Emma started her act again, sobbing, “I don’t know what I did wrong for her to hit me like this.” “It’s okay, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Ryan’s voice was gentle. I was tired of watching this drama of mutual affection, and tired of arguing with a habitual liar. “I wish you two a hundred years of happiness and an early child.” “My tongue is sharp, so I’ll spare you the nasty words.” I turned around and went home amidst the whispers and scrutiny of the guests. 0
I used to be one of them. Ryan and I were sworn enemies. I was well-behaved, he was wild, neither of us could stand the other. Emma was Ryan’s little fangirl, following him around calling “brother, brother” every day. When I was seventeen, my parents committed suicide after a failed investment, and I fell to rock bottom overnight. All my friends in the circle avoided me. Only Ryan, despite his parents’ opposition, used all his money and even borrowed money to fill my bottomless pit. Ryan, who always loved freedom and excitement, sold his Lykan and Porsche. He bought the mansion that my family was auctioning off. He said he couldn’t let me be without a home. Even though we later lived elsewhere, that house was never sold. A nouveau riche tried to humiliate me with money, boasting “If you’re with me, I’ll give you endless money to spend.” Later, he was also beaten up by Ryan. And now, it was also Ryan who put Emma first, trampling on my dignity without hesitation. Back then, I thought Ryan was my salvation. Little did I know, he always had Emma in his heart. But he helped me out of friendship, and developed feelings that shouldn’t have existed. I stayed at home for five days. When I finally calmed down and went out again. The streets were full of pink billboards. But it wasn’t some celebrity endorsement, it was Emma and Ryan’s wedding photos. The wedding ceremony venue they chose was my home. That Chinese-style mansion that had been empty for a long time. I walked in incredulously. The stone lions at the gate were wearing ill-fitting pink collars. The well-maintained lawn inside was full of holes dug to plant Juliet roses, with soil everywhere. On the central axis, a heavy gold nanmu wood frame was set up, with their huge wedding photos hanging on both sides. Even the rooms were in a mess. Broken vases, family photos carelessly thrown on the floor, walls drilled haphazardly for decorations… The home in my memory was turned upside down. A sharp pain came from my chest, like a knife stabbing in and out repeatedly. “Where’s Ryan?” I held back the tears in my eyes. Now I just wanted to find him and ask what was going on. Emma casually kicked the family photo by her feet, shattering the frame. In the photo, my parents smiled kindly, holding me. I hurriedly crouched down, brushing off the dust on the photo. Tears fell uncontrollably onto it, blurring the image. “What do you want with him? Still clinging on? Wake up, Lily.” “Look at yourself, what do you have left? Still dreaming of marrying him?” She hissed, pointing at the decorations in the yard, then changed her tone, “Lily, don’t get cocky. What you care about, what you cherish, hasn’t it all become mine now?” “I just mentioned that I liked him, and both families couldn’t wait to start preparing for the wedding.” “I just said this mansion looked nice, and he used it to arrange the wedding.” “And you?” “You’re just his dispensable entertainment, understand?” Ryan walked in carrying a wedding dress, frowned when he saw me, “Lily, what are you up to now?” “Come to see your blessing come true with your own eyes?” Looking at his face, my eyes gradually reddened, my throat choked up, and I pointed at his nose and questioned loudly, “Why did you turn my home into this?” “You can do whatever you want, but why did it have to be this mansion?” He knew this was my last refuge. Ryan’s expression was cold as he knocked my hand away, “Lily, can you not be so emotional?” “The deed has my name ‘Ryan’ on it, not your ‘Lily’. I’ll transfer the place you’re living in now to you.” “I don’t want it! I just want my home!” Ryan smiled wickedly and said, “If you want this house, fine.” “Lily, apologize to Emma.” “I might consider giving it to you.” This time, he finally became that person who humiliated me with money. I laughed lightly, spat at him, and said, “Ryan, you really disgust me.” At seventeen, I saw him as my salvation and support. At twenty-six today, he had become unrecognizable.
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