People say I’m the white moonlight of Gideon, the overbearing president. I spent seven years abroad, and during that time, I heard that Gideon dated numerous women who resembled me. I couldn’t care less. When we broke up, we agreed to go our separate ways, so there’s no point in pretending there’s still something deep between us. When my stomach condition landed me in the hospital, Gideon showed up with a girlfriend who bore a slight resemblance to me, suggesting she donate a kidney to me. I said, “That’s absolutely unnecessary.” I had no interest in either Gideon or his girlfriend. But surprisingly, a few days later, his girlfriend secretly came to me for help. … In the karaoke bar room, a group of people was being loud and chaotic, dancing wildly. “Come on, let’s raise our glasses to celebrate the return of Mr. Gideon’s ‘white moonlight,’ Miss Nora!” As soon as they said that, the room filled with laughter and scattered blessings. A blond guy held a microphone in one hand and a glass in the other. I lifted my foot from the sofa and kicked him right on the butt. “Jasper, watch your words. Who allowed you to add random adjectives in front of your sister’s name?” Jasper took a big tumble, and the laughter in the room grew louder. My best friend, Hazel, suddenly whispered in my ear. “Nora, you have no idea. Mr. Gideon is crazy about you. Over the years you’ve been abroad, he’s dated countless lovers who all looked like you.” I scoffed cynically, “Who still plays the game of unattainable love these days?” “Sure, I was the one who suggested breaking up, but he agreed too. Even after I went abroad, if he really liked me, wouldn’t he come find me? Can’t Mr. Gideon afford a plane ticket? You visited me four or five times a year.” Hazel looked at me with a realization, as if she had suddenly understood something incredible. My parents’ company used to have a significant position in the New York social circle. But who knew we’d be betrayed and go bankrupt overnight? My father had to take us and our last savings overseas, seeking refuge with my grandparents. Thankfully, after seven years of hard work, my father regained his footing in the business world. This time, we’re back to expand our domestic business. Gideon was my first love. Everyone said we were the perfect couple. I thought we’d marry and spend our lives together. But then my father went bankrupt unexpectedly. During that time, I was as anxious as my father and became irritable. We argued with Gideon every few days. Later, when my father decided to go abroad, we naturally broke up. There was no tragic love story, just reality, bad timing, and a lack of fate. Seven years have passed. The feelings are long gone. He’s had one lover after another, and I’ve almost had a team of boyfriends. These are old stories. Everyone should move on. Just then, the room door opened. “Nora, why didn’t you contact me when you returned? Do you know how hard I’ve waited for you?” The man had sharp brows and starry eyes, a tall figure, clearly charismatic. But now, his eyes were red, like a discarded big dog. “Gideon?” I exclaimed in surprise. I saw Hazel give me a mischievous look, mouthing words silently, but I understood her after years of friendship. “What did I say?” I felt a bit awkward. Could the slap in the face come this quickly? What was Gideon playing at? I planned to welcome Gideon in. But as soon as I stood up, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach, and cold sweat drenched my bangs. Just my luck. I must’ve aggravated my chronic stomach condition by drinking on an empty stomach. I didn’t bring any stomach medicine. That was my last thought before everything went black, and I fainted. When I woke up, I saw a pale ceiling and had an IV drip in my hand. “You’re awake. You scared me to death.” I turned my head slightly; it was Hazel. Memories of last night slowly returned. “It’s nothing, just my old stomach problem. You brought me here last night, right? Thanks for the trouble.” Hazel’s eyes, originally filled with worry and concern, turned ambiguous when she heard me. I had a bad feeling. “I wanted to, but as soon as I called 911, Gideon carried you out. You should’ve seen his terrifying look, as if he’d drag everyone down with him if anything happened to you.” I pulled a corner of my mouth, admiring her imagination. Could it really be that dramatic? But the next second, I couldn’t laugh anymore. The hospital room door opened, and in came a man and a woman. The man was Gideon, with a gloomy face. I didn’t know the woman, but she had a pained and desperate look. Before I could speak, Gideon let go of the woman’s hand. His previously fierce eyes suddenly became gentle. “Nora, don’t be scared. I took her for a check-up, and her kidney is a match for you. I’ll take you for more detailed tests later. I’ll make sure you’re cured.” His words shocked me. Never mind whether this was legal, but why would I need her kidney? “Gideon, I have a stomach illness. What’s it got to do with my kidney?” Gideon’s face froze at my words, a bit embarrassed at his mistake. “No worries, you might need it someday. Better safe than sorry.” I was stunned again, shocked by his outrageous words. I looked at the trembling girl beside him and said, “Don’t jinx me. I prefer to keep my original parts.” At this point, I looked closely at the girl. She really did resemble me by about sixty percent. Remembering what Hazel said and all the rumors, could this world be a giant CEO romance novel? “Nora, take care and rest. I’ll come by again in the afternoon.” With that, he left with the girl. “Did you see? That girl, Gideon’s new flame, Phoebe, looks a lot like you.” Hearing that name, I paused. Memories, almost forgotten, surged in my mind. I knew her, Phoebe, a college classmate of Gideon and me. Though Gideon pursued me openly, his charm was undeniable. Not only was he handsome and rich, but he was also top of the class and a star on the basketball court. He always had admirers. He used to place his bag and clothes on my seat, making others think it was his spot. My desk was often filled with love letters for him from other girls. Seeing me jealous, he’d laugh happily. When I was really about to get mad, he’d hold my face and say, “I only love you.” Phoebe was one of Gideon’s admirers. I remembered her not for her resemblance to me but for her love letter. Once, while grabbing a book from my desk, I noticed a red stain. I thought a red pen had leaked, but I found an envelope with red marks. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it. The words inside were so chilling that my hand trembled. The dark red letters resembled red ink or blood. The writing was smudged, but I could vaguely make out “responsible,” “love you,” “beg you.” The signature was clear, written in black: “Phoebe.” As I frowned, trying to make sense of it, Gideon hugged me from behind, asking what had me so engrossed. He snatched the letter and tossed it in the trash. “Some people keep writing these things. It’s pointless. Don’t look. You know you’re the only one in my heart.” As a young girl, I was naturally swept off my feet by his words. Later, in casual chats with friends, I heard Phoebe’s name again. They said she gave birth to a stillborn baby in the school bathroom, and no one knew who the father was. Her parents caused a scene at school for two days, and rumors flew among classmates. It was Gideon’s family who paid to hush it up. I had marveled at the Gideon family’s wealth and generosity. Seeing Phoebe today brought those memories back. Lying in the hospital bed, I reflected on everything. My mindset and thoughts weren’t those of a teenager anymore. Something felt off. This unsettling feeling soon had an answer. I got a call from Phoebe. In an upscale, private club, Phoebe sat without makeup. She wasn’t the fragile girl from the hospital. “Is Gideon good to you?” Phoebe opened the conversation. I frowned, puzzled. Did the hospital incident upset her? When I didn’t answer, she repeated the question. I looked at her expression, sipped my tea, and chose my words carefully: “If you’re asking about when he was my boyfriend, he was nice. He knew how to sweet-talk. But since I’ve returned, I haven’t sought Gideon out. That day at the restaurant, I just wanted to clarify things. You don’t need to worry, Miss Phoebe.” Phoebe smiled faintly and shook her head. “No, he’s not good to you.” I found her words amusing but was more confused. Phoebe didn’t seem to be marking her territory or showing off. “Miss Phoebe, I don’t understand, but I wish you and Gideon a long and happy life together. I’ll leave now. I won’t be staying in the country, so you needn’t worry about me disrupting your lives.” I spoke sincerely. “Miss, wishing a long and happy life with Gideon is a curse. Besides, he really wronged you.” I started to grow impatient, tapping my fingers on the table. Phoebe gave a slight smile. She shook her head and said, “No, he’s not good to you.” I found Phoebe’s words tinged with irony, but more than that, I was puzzled. Phoebe didn’t seem to be asserting any kind of dominance over me, nor was she boasting. “Phoebe, I don’t understand what you mean, but I do wish you and Gideon a long and happy life together. I’ll be leaving now. I won’t be settling down in this country, so you don’t have to worry about me interfering in your lives.” I said sincerely. “Miss, wishing you a long and happy life with Gideon is a rather harsh blessing. Besides, he truly wronged you.” I started to get a bit impatient, tapping my fingers on the table. “Phoebe, what exactly are you trying to say?” “The child I lost was Gideon’s, and your family’s bankruptcy was orchestrated by his family.” My hand, reaching for my bag, froze. I looked at her in disbelief. Under the overhead light in the private room, Phoebe appeared like a chess player with a winning strategy. My fingers gripping the table’s edge turned white. I steadied myself and said with forced calm: “Phoebe, you shouldn’t speak so carelessly.” She looked at me with a bit of pity, much like how I used to look at her. She didn’t respond to what I said, just pushed a stack of papers in front of me. “Take a look.” Half an hour later. With a sense of inevitability, I released the crumpled papers in my grasp, staring blankly at the stack. My chest felt tight, as if being squeezed.
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