In the seventh year after being brought back home, I had already followed my parents’ demands, married a man I didn’t like, and raised a three-year-old daughter. The fake heiress, one year older than me, still acted spoiled in my family’s arms because she was “still young.” The dispute between the real and fake heiress had long become a thing of the past. My home should have returned to peace. So, when I was about to be beaten to death by my husband, I called my family. “I’m dying. Can you come and pick Lily up, just like you picked me up back then?” 1 I knew I was finally dying, so I didn’t call 911, but called my family instead. Mom answered the phone. She was getting her nails done, her tone a bit impatient: “What is it?” I covered my constantly bleeding neck and said I was about to die, could they come and pick Lily up? Lily is only three years old, sleeping upstairs, completely unaware of the mess downstairs. My blood wouldn’t stop, broken pieces of a red wine bottle were beside me, and my husband, after committing the violence, fell on the sofa and slept soundly. “Ava, are you done yet? Putting on such a show every now and then!” My brother Ethan snatched the phone and cursed at me, “You’ve been married for four years. Every time you contact us, it’s either about divorce or saying you’re about to be beaten to death. Are you really that miserable!” I fell silent. Don’t know if I was numb from pain or lost too much blood, I felt a bit tired. Recalling the past, I’ve actually been tired for many years. Kidnapped at five, working like a slave in the mountains, never seeing the sun, tired until my back couldn’t straighten. Finally returned home at fifteen, facing the favored fake heiress, I lived carefully in the cracks, tired from secretly sobbing countless nights. Forced to marry at eighteen, married to a rich second-generation scumbag who liked domestic violence. To avoid being beaten, I could only be a humble and virtuous wife, working hard without complaint to coax him happy. Tired until every inch of my skin twitched. At twenty, I had severe depression, relying entirely on my daughter Lily’s smile to survive, staring into the abyss at the edge of the cliff every day, wanting to jump, but not daring to. Tired until my ears rang and eyes dazzled, heart stinging. Finally, at twenty-two, my carotid artery was cut by a piece of red wine bottle. Suddenly not tired anymore, because I can finally die. I answered Ethan: “This is not acting this time, I’m really dying. Can you come over immediately? I’m afraid of scaring Lily.” Actually, over so many years, I didn’t “act” many times. I only mentioned divorce to my family three times. They got annoyed, so I dared not mention it again. I also only mentioned being injured to my family four times. They didn’t believe it, so I stopped mentioning it. From being brought back home until now, a total of seven years, seven calls for help. Can’t be considered many, right? “Then go die. Once you’re dead, we’ll pick Lily up!” 2 Ethan hung up the phone. I knew he wouldn’t come to pick Lily up. Seven years, the eighth call for help, still failed. I smiled bleakly, leaning weakly against the wall, feeling half of my body was hot. Blood was rising with heat. Looked upstairs, quiet, Lily hadn’t woken up yet. Or maybe she woke up, but dared not come down. She must be shrinking under the quilt shivering. Thinking of this, my heart twisted in pain. Tried to get up, but my strength was exhausted. What to do? My daughter is so young, shivering under the quilt, but I can’t help her at all. After I die, if no one comes to pick her up, she will face that devil alone. How will she live? The phone suddenly vibrated, a message came. I gasped, trying hard to see the message clearly. It was from the fake heiress Bella. [Ava, today is my twenty-third birthday party. Family is accompanying me, so no one wants to pay attention to you.] [Actually, I don’t understand. You’ve already lost so thoroughly, why still refuse to give up?] I moved my lips, the smell of blood spreading. I didn’t refuse to give up, I just couldn’t let go of Lily. Don’t know where I got a bit of strength, I tried my best to send a voice message to Bella. Asking for help from this person I hated the most. “Bella… sorry, I was wrong… I shouldn’t have been hostile to you… shouldn’t have competed for favor with you… I kowtow to you, begging you to pick up my daughter…” Intermittently, I kept bleeding, and also weeping. The dignity of many years collapsed completely at this moment, crushed into the mud by myself. I never bowed to Bella. Because I always believed that I was the real daughter of the Gaines family, and she was just a counterfeit occupying the magpie’s nest. But now, I bowed. I admitted defeat. “What?” Bella was obviously stunned, then laughed loudly: “No way? You… too funny, you kowtow to me? Real or fake? Then kowtow quickly!” 3 Yes, kowtow to Bella. I held the voice message button, leaned my body down, and hit my head hard on the floor. Bang, bang, bang! The sound of kowtowing was sent, and I almost fainted, lying on the floor like a dog, panting heavily. Bella laughed loudly again: “No, you really kowtowed? Haha, honestly, it feels quite good. Seven years, I finally waited for you to admit defeat!” Yes, I admitted defeat. “Pick up Ava… home…” I shivered and sent the last voice message. Bella’s face changed instantly: “Ava, are you kidding me? Wasn’t it picking up your daughter? How did it become picking you up again? Subconsciously you still want to come back, right!” I was stunned, my brain muddy. Did I say pick up Ava home? No, I should say pick up Lily home! I don’t have to go home, but Lily must go home! But I had no strength to say a word anymore. “Ava, speak! Dared not make a sound after I exposed your thoughts?” Bella questioned me sternly. Her voice message also contained my dad’s majestic voice. “Ava, stop making trouble. I will visit the Reed family in half a month, I’ll see you then!” Half a month later, family finally coming to visit me? But I can’t wait, because I’m dying. Lily, sorry, Mom ultimately failed to let you escape this devil’s den. Hope there are ghosts in this world, so Mom can look at you a few more times. 4 Opening my eyes again, I was floating above my corpse. There really are ghosts in the world! It was already dawn, but the villa was quiet inside and out. My husband Lucas Reed had dismissed all the nannies long ago, forcing me to be the nanny, also making it convenient to abuse me unscrupulously. So, even during the day, no one would come to the villa. I found Lucas was about to wake up; his snoring stopped. I ignored him, hurried to float upstairs, and drilled into the bedroom. Lily was indeed shrinking under the quilt, eyes tightly closed, tears wetting the pillow. There was also a wet mark in the quilt; she wet the bed, but dared not move, just fell asleep like this. I was extremely heartbroken, bent down to touch her face, but my hand passed through. Lucas’s exclamation sounded downstairs. He probably discovered my body. Sure enough, he soon started dismembering the body. Even though I was already a ghost, I still felt chills all over my body. The evil of human nature was fully revealed in Lucas. But unfortunately, he was the ideal son-in-law my family fancied. Actually, initially, my parents wanted to marry Bella to Lucas. The two families had verbally agreed on the marriage alliance. The Reed Group behind Lucas is a leading enterprise in the city, and Lucas himself is handsome and promising. Bella also liked him very much and even dated him. But later scandals about Lucas came out. He abused a girl to death in a bar, causing extremely bad influence. Parents and brother got worried, afraid Lucas was a beast in human skin with a perverted personality, so they decided not to let Bella get too close to Lucas. But they couldn’t break ties with the Reed family, so they let me marry over instead of Bella. [Ava is our biological daughter, she is a better match for Young Master Reed.] [Our Ava is virtuous and gentle, unlike Bella, running around all day, not ladylike at all!] [Bella refuses to have children, she herself is a child who won’t grow up, better not marry her out first, to avoid embarrassing us!] At that time, my parents said so. Every word was disliking Bella, finally making the Reed family nod and marry me. Thinking about it now, that dislike in every word was clearly full of love. I smiled self-deprecatingly and floated into the bathroom to watch Lucas dismember the body. 5 Lucas looked pale, cursing while chopping bones. He seemed to insult me to comfort himself. Called me a slut, said I was used by hundreds of men, completely unworthy of him. I deserved to die! I didn’t understand, how was I a slut? Lucas’s self-talk gave the answer: “Don’t blame me, you slut. Bella told me long ago, don’t know how many customers you took in the village, even had abortions and gave birth, what face do you have to marry me? “I abused you because you deserved it, you died because you asked for it!” I realized then, it turned out Bella was behind this. No wonder when I first married Lucas, he was friendly and treated me with respect. But later his temperament changed suddenly, abusing me unscrupulously, eventually causing my death. Bella, you are so cruel. Clearly I had lost so thoroughly, you still wouldn’t let me go. When the sun set in the west, Lucas finally finished. He bagged my body piece by piece, filling two large refrigerators. Then cleaned up the living room to look brand new, leaving no trace. Don’t know when Lily got out of bed, she squatted by the second-floor handrail, looking downstairs timidly. Lucas looked up and glanced at her, tone gloomy like an evil ghost: “Lily, what did you see?” Lily dared not make a sound. “I told you to speak!” Lucas shouted violently, scaring Lily into shaking her head quickly: “No… don’t know…” I was both heartbroken and angry, wishing I could bite Lucas to death. But couldn’t touch him at all. Lucas snorted coldly, grabbed a few bags of bread from the snack cabinet and threw them upstairs. “You are not allowed downstairs. Dare to come down, I’ll break your legs!” Lily nodded in horror and scurried into the bedroom. Lucas didn’t stay any longer, carrying a bag of meat pieces, hurrying out while it was dark. Lily then carefully slipped out, looked around on the stairs for a long time, then trembled and moved downstairs. My heart lifted, what was Lily going to do? Saw her walk to the refrigerator, forcefully prying open the lower refrigerator door. My head was hidden in a pile of frozen meat. “Mommy…” Lily called out. My tears came down. She saw everything. 6 The following days were days for Lucas to dump the body. He took part of the body pieces out every day. But sometimes brought them back home to freeze again. The bustling big city wasn’t easy for dumping bodies. At least my head stayed frozen in the refrigerator. Lily was very obedient, only sneaking down to see me after Lucas went out, then running back to the bedroom crying. Her eating, drinking, and bathroom needs were all on the second floor, food only snacks and bread. Such days were desperate and suffocating even for adults. I was unspeakably heartbroken, finally floating out of the villa, hoping to find a way. Unknowingly, floated to my parents’ home. That villa familiar yet strange to me, emitting warm light. I floated in like a ghost, seeing Bella throwing a tantrum on the sofa. “Agreed to go traveling tomorrow, I’ve done all the planning!” Bella is obviously one year older than me, but always acts like a child at home. My dad smiled dotingly: “Dad got confused, have to go to Reed Group to sign a new round of contracts tomorrow, stop by to see your sister by the way. Dad will take you traveling the day after tomorrow.” “Yes Bella, contract matters can’t be delayed, don’t throw a temper.” Mom shook her head, but her mouth was full of smiles. Brother Ethan flipping through documents looked up: “I’ll go sign the contract, you guys accompany Bella traveling, that’s important.” “Yes yes yes, I want to travel!” Bella kicked her legs throwing a tantrum, very willful. Honestly, I envied her. Kidnapped for ten years, when have I ever acted spoiled like this? After coming home, where did I dare to act spoiled like this? Only in vague memories, when I was five, could I act spoiled unscrupulously. “This…” Dad hesitated, “Have to go see Ava, haven’t visited her for many years after all.” Hearing this, Bella’s face turned black, arms crossed humming: “Fine, go then, after all she is your biological daughter.” Dad was anxious instantly, coaxing like a child: “I didn’t mean that. I just think not visiting for too long, the Reed family will think we don’t care, looking down on them.” Mom chimed in: “Yes, marriage alliance between two families, should pay attention. “How about this, tomorrow I accompany you traveling, your dad goes to sign the contract.” Bella was satisfied then, eating dessert smilingly. The family was happy and harmonious again. I floated silently in mid-air, motionless for a long time. Mom suddenly glanced at me, naturally seeing nothing. But she rubbed her chest, muttering: “Don’t know what happened, suddenly palpitations.” “Mom, are you okay?” Ethan asked. Dad and Bella also looked at Mom. Mom waved her hand: “Fine, can’t say what’s wrong, seems a bit uneasy, maybe getting old.” The family laughed. Bella quickly praised Mom for still being young and beautiful, causing Mom to laugh. Just she kept rubbing her chest.

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When the plane crashed. Everyone was crying and sending their last messages to their loved ones. I clicked on my nemesis’s chat box and unleashed my passion: “Are you blind or what? Can’t you see I like you? “Last time I pretended to be drunk to let you make a move and you didn’t. Serves you right, no use regretting now. “My life is about to reset—” 1 My body was falling rapidly. Hypoxia blurred my consciousness, and strength drained from my body. After a violent bump, my phone slipped, and I subconsciously reached out to grab it, but caught something soft and warm. Strange… is there anything with this texture on a plane? In the dead silence of the cabin, a voice suddenly rang out. “Hey, how long are you going to hold on?” How could someone still be talking… obviously, everyone was already in shock. “Deaf? Oh… don’t want to let go?” Again. Closer and clearer this time. And exceptionally familiar. My brain reacted sluggishly, ah, it’s that person’s voice. I was just passionately typing in his message box, but now my momentum was gone. At the final moment, I had to admit that my carelessness was fake. Actually, I was very unwilling, so unwilling that I hallucinated. But this voice… why does it feel so distant? With a nostalgic boyishness. I struggled to think with my scattered consciousness, and suddenly felt a tug on my arm. Like a drowning person pulled out of the water, the moment I gasped for air, I suddenly opened my eyes and saw the person in front of me clearly. Raised eyebrows, reckless and flamboyant smile, a face that was aggressively handsome. Lucas Vance. In an instant, the lost five senses poured back into my body. The midsummer insects chirped loudly, the wooden floor exuded a mellow scent under the sun, and sweat slowly trickled down my forehead. And, I was holding Lucas’s hand. Is this, a hallucination? “Leo, don’t tell me you’re going to confess to me too?” Not a hallucination. I dazedly withdrew my hand and opened my palm. Under the skin was a healthy pale red, and the pulse was strong. Clench, release, clench, release. I could control my body. “Really stupid? Tsk, told you not to just study, now you’ve become a nerd.” I looked up and saw the blue on Lucas’s school uniform. This is the summer of 2016. This year, I was a junior in high school, and Lucas was a senior. 2 We never got along. I was annoyed by his slacker, cynical attitude. He disliked me for being too rigid and dull, lifeless. But his biological brother Liam Vance was my best friend. I always came to his house after school to do homework, like today. “Disgusting.” Lucas leaned lazily by the window and sneered. I followed his gaze downwards. In the small garden downstairs, Liam was being confessed to. By a boy. Among the three Vance brothers, the youngest, Liam, was the prettiest boy and had many suitors. “Damn gay, even running to someone’s house, disgusting.” Lucas turned his head, staring straight at me, corners of his mouth hooked in mockery, “Right?” Don’t know if it was an illusion, his expression was playful, but his eyes were serious. Seriously waiting for my answer. Seventeen-year-old Leo, even if he couldn’t stand Lucas, would agree on this issue. But inside this body now was a twenty-five-year-old soul. Eight years, we went through a lot. I went from hating him to liking him, liking him so much that he was the only person I thought of before dying. Didn’t want to go against my heart. So I shook my head, “Don’t understand.” Lucas was stunned, his expression darkened inexplicably. “Tch, nerds are boring.” His back looked quite unhappy. I stood there watching him leave, a bit bewildered. Couldn’t determine if this was time travel or rebirth. But either way, it means twenty-five-year-old me is dead, right? When Lucas hears about my death, how will he feel? Will he feel guilty? After all, I got on that crashed plane to attend his engagement party. 3 Eighteen-year-old Lucas had not yet stepped into the hall of marriage. He was annoyed that I couldn’t catch his ball. “The grade’s top student can’t even catch this kind of ball? I practically fed it to your racket. Are your two eyes just decorations?” He roared until my eardrums hurt. Don’t know why, the feeling of imminent death still lingered around me. I seemed to be still on the plane, my brain dizzy from time to time. I put down the tennis racket. “Not playing anymore.” Liam came over to smooth things over: “Don’t mind my brother, his mouth has been mean for more than a day or two, not targeting you.” I knew, Lucas didn’t have a good face for anyone, often attacking indiscriminately with words. But especially to me. Sitting on the bench in a daze, a bottle of water was suddenly thrown onto my lap. I didn’t catch it, and the water bottle fell to the ground again. “Tsk.” Lucas bent down to pick it up and handed it over again. “Drink some, your face is so white, I’m afraid you’ll die on me.” Seeing me not moving, he took it back cursing, unscrewed it, and forcefully stuffed it into my hand. “Ancestor, waiting for me to feed you?” Words came to this point, I could only obediently raise my hand and take a sip. Grapefruit flavor. Sweet. His expression softened, looking like ‘that’s more like it’. Then he moved my racket away and sat aside, lazily watching the two people playing back and forth on the court. “Slept in the early morning again last night? Doing your broken test papers?” My house and the Vance’s are neighbors, our rooms only separated by a flower path, close enough that if he changed clothes by the window, I could see it just by looking up. “Can’t you do one less and sleep earlier? Is your first place in the grade hanging on that paper?” His words were really ugly. I wasn’t a submissive character, always rude to Lucas. You really want to see me fail the exam? Logically, I should have retorted like this. But opening my mouth, words choked in my throat. When voiced, it became: “Are you caring about me?” As soon as the words fell, Lucas’s pupils shrank suddenly, and he straightened up abruptly. “Bullshit!” He dropped a sentence and hurried back to the court. Like losing his soul, he didn’t catch any of Liam’s serves. I slowly screwed on the bottle cap, heart beating uncontrollably fast. Going back to the past, did God want me to reverse regrets? Or rather, let me see something I once ignored. Like the conversation just now, young me only felt targeted and mocked. Wouldn’t think at all, was Lucas just being stubborn and arrogant (tsundere)? I clutched my chest, taking deep breaths to suppress the surging ecstasy. Lucas ran back again, his voice tight, “Damn, feeling unwell?” “No.” I shook my head. Sunlight dazzling. If life comes again, Lucas and I… 4 Fell asleep with infinite longing for a second life. However, waking up, I saw the ceiling of the university dorm. I thought I saw wrong. Closed eyes, opened again. Still in the dorm. I lay still. An unbelievable thought climbed up my body like wet cold moss, brain buzzing, blood cooling bit by bit. Not rebirth, nor time travel. It’s the flashing memories before death. Fate did not favor me, nor did a miracle descend. I was still heading towards the predetermined death, unable to change anything. Liam knocked on my bed board. “Go straight to my house after class this afternoon.” Stiffly lit up the phone, the reminder on the screen wrote Liam’s birthday. I remember this day forever. Halfway through Liam’s birthday, the entire villa area suddenly lost power, and the repair was delayed for a long time. I went back to my own home in the dark, and Lucas followed behind to see me off. “You heard it too, right?” The exact same dialogue as in memory. “The two of them kissed secretly.” I opened the door, squatting down in the entryway groping to change shoes. “Very normal, they are a couple.” Liam got a boyfriend in his freshman year, his roommate, and the relationship was very stable. I was long used to their occasional PDA as if no one else was there. Lucas didn’t mean to leave. He leaned against the door, expression unclear. “Leo, I remember your first kiss hasn’t graduated yet, right?” Exact same development as in memory. Next, I should retort in shame and anger: “So what, none of your business.” Then he would say mercifully: “So pitiful, how about you beg me? I can reluctantly help you out.” The help he meant was pressing me against the wall and kissing until the power was restored and the lights came on. Afterwards, he explained that it was too dark that night, sensory emotions were infinitely amplified, and stimulated by the sticky sounds of Liam’s pair, acted on impulse, hoping I wouldn’t take it to heart. My heart was moved messily, hearing this, it sank silently. To hide disappointment, I could only pretend to be open-minded and agree: Yes, yes, two boys kissing is nothing, no different from kissing pork. Back to reality, here Lucas saw me silent for a long time, laughed: “What, embarrassed to admit?” “No.” I denied, “It’s gone.” Lucas was stunned, unbelievable. “With whom? Are you dating?” After asking, he answered himself, “Impossible, Liam said you’ve been single. Oh~ you mean that time in kindergarten? That little girl with pigtails? “Leo, that counts as a fart first kiss. Kissing of course has to be with someone you like…” Voice stopped abruptly. Lucas was right about one thing, darkness does amplify perception, like now, I clearly felt his breathing was momentarily messy. “Hmm?” Very curious about what he would say next, I pretended to realize suddenly, “So that’s it, then the first kiss is indeed still there, any problem?” Lucas fell silent. After a long time, he stammered: “Then do you need… need me…” “Need you for what?” He fell silent again, took a deep breath. “Hearing them like that, don’t you have an impulse… want to kiss too?” I stared tightly in his direction, heard myself say: “No.” Actually very much want to. But I also knew, no matter what choice I made in this scene, it wouldn’t affect the future outcome. So what if it’s meaningless, I just wanted to confirm that these years weren’t my unrequited love alone. Lucas ran out of excuses. The two fell into a stalemate. I relented first: “Okay actually a little bit, but you also said, this kind of thing only counts if done with someone you like.” Am I someone you like? “You can imagine me as the person you like.” Lucas approached me, hot breath pressing down, “Like that junior sister in your club, you’re interested in her, right? Heard you asked her out for several meals alone, haven’t got her yet?” Junior sister? Graduated for so many years, I almost forgot this person. Recalling slightly, seemed to have participated in a competition together as a team, no other contact. “Guessed right?” Lucas raised his hand and pinched my chin, the force inexplicably a bit strong. “No…” A slight click suddenly sounded above, the next second, the field of vision brightened. I closed my eyes involuntarily. “The light is on.” Lucas stared at me, eyes deep. He raised his hand to cover my eyes, “Not on.” Warm and soft pressed against lips, slowly grinding deeper. I wanted to ask him, did the clumsy and dull me miss a lot. When did you start liking me? Why couldn’t we be a bit braver? Everything is too late. I couldn’t bear to push him away. Ask after it ends. When this kiss ends, I will confirm his feelings properly. Then even if we can’t be together, there will be no regrets. But when I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the entryway. A colleague supported me walking towards the hotel room, Lucas’s voice came from behind. “Why drink so much?”

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Relatives partnered up to start a business and made five hundred million dollars. But when it came time to divide the dividends, my dad ended up owing fifty thousand. When Uncle Richard called everyone together to collect their dividends, he suddenly pulled out a big cardboard box, “This year we’ll distribute the dividends in a more exciting way.” The relatives looked at each other, wondering what was different from usual. Uncle Richard threw the cardboard box on the table, “There are words on the slips of paper inside. You get however much you draw.” Half of the company’s shares were in Uncle Richard’s hands. Although the relatives looked helpless, they could only do as they were told. Just as my dad reached out to draw, Uncle Richard slapped his hand away. “It costs five thousand dollars to draw once. The grand prize inside is five million dollars. A small investment for a big return, you won’t lose out.” Uncle Richard watched us draw one cent in turn and said sarcastically, “Don’t say I didn’t put the grand prize in there!” Saying that, he reached into the box and pulled out ten thousand dollars. When my family’s account balance turned to zero, my dad knelt before me crying, asking me what to do. My mom was also complaining about my dad’s incompetence on the side. I watched the smug Uncle Richard and stepped forward. “Uncle Richard, I’ll draw on behalf of my dad.” 1 “You’ve never been as good as your brother since you were little. Now you’ve lost all the family fortune just drawing for dividends. Marrying you was the worst luck of my life!” My dad knelt on the ground crying, my mom’s fists pounding on him one by one. “I just wanted to trade five thousand for five million, to get more money for our family. I didn’t expect my luck to be so bad. Fifty thousand dollars only drew two cents. Now even the money for Jason’s surgery is gone…” I looked at Uncle Richard sitting arrogantly in the chair and spoke, “I’ll draw on behalf of my dad.” Just after I told Uncle Richard I wanted to draw, Dad thought I was delirious from losing too much money. He hurriedly pulled me aside to persuade me, “Claire, come back quickly. Our family has no money left, don’t try to be a hero!” I patted Dad’s back to tell him to relax. Everyone spent a hundred thousand dollars drawing these slips, and the total amount drawn was only a few hundred dollars. It would be one thing if only Dad had bad luck, but it’s not an accident if everyone has bad luck. I realized he must have done something to the box and walked straight forward. Uncle Richard looked contemptuous, “We are all shareholders representing our families to draw dividends. What are you, a kid, joining in the fun for? Besides, do you have money?” Hearing this, I took out my phone and fiddled with it, borrowing from all possible platforms, plus the scholarships I saved from school. I showed the phone screen to Uncle Richard, “It adds up to more than forty thousand. That should be enough for me to draw a few times.” Dad pounced forward trying to snatch my phone, but I dodged sideways. “You child, if you don’t draw anything, our family will really fall apart!” Aunt Susan also advised earnestly on the side, “Claire, don’t draw. Look, I only drew fifty dollars with thirty thousand. With so many slips inside, who knows if there’s a grand prize.” Uncle Richard pointed at Aunt Susan’s nose and scolded, “You damn woman, so much trouble. Daring to slander my character.” He stiffened his neck, looking unconvinced, “All the dividends from this project are in there, including my share! I kindly wanted to distribute more money to you, don’t slander people!” “I originally thought whoever was lucky would take the grand prize. Now you blame me because you can’t draw it yourself!” “I’ll draw one on the spot for you to see right now!” Uncle Richard said and reached into the box to grope around. Not long after, Uncle Richard took out the selected slip. “Look clearly, I also took it randomly. See if it’s really your bad luck!” He said as he unfolded the slip in his hand. Ten thousand dollars was clearly written on the paper. The surrounding relatives exclaimed instantly, “So there really is a prize, we just didn’t touch it.” Uncle Richard sat in the chair with his legs crossed, looking smug, “See! Whoever wants to draw a prize, bring me the money!” The relatives’ eyes were eager, but they dared not draw again because they had lost too much before. I fiddled with my phone and transferred five thousand dollars to Uncle Richard. “Money transferred. I want to try drawing once.” Uncle Richard pointed to his side with a cigarette in his mouth. “The box is here, hurry up and draw. I want to see what new tricks a different person can have.” 2 First draw. I sat upright in front of Uncle Richard and looked at him, “I want to see how my luck is today.” Saying that, I reached my hand into the big box and stirred it for full three minutes. Uncle Richard rolled his eyes and shrugged, “Hurry up. No matter how much you touch, it’s just that little stuff. If you ruin the paper by touching it, how can others draw!” I touched a slip from the box and threw it casually on the table, not in a hurry to open it. Uncle Richard looked me up and down and joked, “You little brat, I’m optimistic about you. Don’t tell me you won on the first try!” Hearing this, I smiled and greeted the surrounding relatives to come and see. “Uncle Richard, you said there is a grand prize of five million here. Don’t tell me if I really draw it out, you won’t redeem it for me. You should put the money here first to prove it!” Relatives also nodded one after another, “Who doesn’t know Richard’s family is famously stingy. When taking dividends before, he dragged us for almost half a year.” “Exactly, exactly. Now taking dividends and making this fuss. This is what we deserve, and now we have to spend money to get it.” “He said there was a grand prize himself. So many of us spent so much money and only drew more than three hundred in total.” I didn’t miss the flash of guilt in Uncle Richard’s eyes, but his tone remained tough, “Don’t blame the road for being uneven if you can’t walk. You saw me draw a prize with your own eyes!” I sneered in my heart. Uncle Richard really calculated well. Not only did he want to monopolize all the dividends alone, but he also wanted to empty our family fortune. Seeing that everyone around was staring at him suspiciously, Uncle Richard turned and rummaged through his satchel. Slap. Three bank cards were placed on the table. “This one has fifty thousand, this one has five million, and the last one has fifty million. The passwords are written on the back of the bank cards.” “Whether you can take them away depends on your ability.” I smiled harmlessly at Uncle Richard, “Let’s open the prize.” Under everyone’s gaze, I slowly opened the slip. Thank you for your patronage. Uncle Richard’s burst of laughter was out of place with the sighs of others. “Oh my, my luck is bad. Another round!” “Drawing one by one is boring. Give me five draws, twenty-five thousand!” Dad’s face turned livid at this time, walking over with a serious face, “Claire, if the family savings are gone, we can earn money again. If you owe so much money at a young age, you will be ruined in the future.” Looking at my dad’s graying hair, I squeezed his hand, “It’s okay Dad, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” My dad has always cared about face since he was young. As long as someone provokes him, he gets agitated immediately. Uncle Richard is the most successful one in our family, and even has a high status in the whole village. He looked down on my dad from the beginning. In order not to lose face in front of Uncle Richard, Dad lost himself in Uncle Richard’s words and lost everything. Uncle Richard pulled me away from my dad, “I say, brother, the child is grown up and sensible. Don’t restrict her in everything. It’s a good thing for the child to have her own ideas.” “Don’t raise the child to be as shrinking as you.” “If it really doesn’t work, you guys should go home and farm early!” Uncle Richard really understands my dad. He knows my dad can’t stand this the most. Although he said so, the expression on his face betrayed him. I hooked the corners of my mouth and transferred another twenty-five thousand to Uncle Richard’s account. Since Uncle Richard wants to suck our blood to get rich so much, he can’t blame me. 3 Uncle Richard handed the box to me with a beaming smile. “Heh, draw, draw. Hundreds of slips, choose however you want.” I drew five slips as seriously as last time. Groping in the box for a full ten minutes. Reached out and opened the first one. Thank you for your patronage. The second one was still Thank you for your patronage. Dad’s face turned red with anxiety, “Don’t draw anymore Claire! Return the remaining three, Dad will pay the loan for you!” Uncle Richard was immediately unhappy and squeezed my dad aside, “What are you doing! No returns once the bet is placed!” Dad couldn’t care about anything else at this time, “Honey, quickly persuade Claire!” Mom looked indifferent, “The child isn’t anxious, what are you anxious about! We are all a family, why fuss so much?” Dad slapped Mom angrily, “Is Claire your daughter or not? If this continues, her life will be ruined. How will she get married in the future!” Surrounding relatives came over to persuade the fight. Mom glared at Dad and stepped aside covering her face. “Are you still drawing or not? If not, this year’s dividends end here!” Uncle Richard pretended to take the box and leave. I stopped Uncle Richard. “Don’t rush. Haven’t I finished opening yet? Besides, I still have a few thousand in my pocket.” Uncle Richard nodded, “Your daughter is better than you. Your dad is like a sissy. You are more like a man than your dad.” Saying that, I opened the third slip. Five thousand. Dad and the surrounding people exclaimed instantly, “Opened a prize! Really opened a prize!” I cast a reassuring look at Dad. Uncle Richard frowned and muttered in a low voice, “How is this possible? Did something go wrong?” At this moment, I still had two slips in my hand. I opened them one after another under everyone’s attention. The fourth one, Thank you for your patronage. The fifth one, one dollar. Although reluctant, Uncle Richard took out five thousand from his pocket and slapped it on the table. “Don’t say I didn’t give you money. Take it.” I could feel Uncle Richard’s heart bleeding. Taking money out of Uncle Richard’s pocket was simply killing him. Uncle Richard frowned and said nothing. He was about to reach into the box. I pulled Uncle Richard back. “Uncle Richard, we all paid to draw. It’s not good for you to draw directly like this.” “For fairness, you should also take five thousand to draw. You drew once before, adding up to ten thousand.” “You…” Uncle Richard stared at me angrily, speechless for a moment. Seeing all of us looking at him, he was embarrassed to draw directly. Took out ten thousand from his bag and slapped it on the table. “Is it enough now?” “Uncle Richard, please.” I made a gesture inviting him over. Uncle Richard froze as soon as he put his hand into the box. His eyes were red, staring at me fiercely, “What did you do!” 4 We were startled by Uncle Richard’s sudden scream. I looked at Uncle Richard innocently, “I didn’t do anything. Didn’t you watch me draw? What could I do?” I groped in the box for a long time and learned that Uncle Richard had stuck all the grand prizes to the upper part of the cardboard box. And those at the bottom of the box were small prizes not exceeding fifty dollars. I put my hand in the box just now to deliberately swap positions, sticking a bunch of non-winning slips around the box as well. I deliberately drew a five thousand to let Uncle Richard discover the anomaly and reach in to feel for the prize himself. Uncle Richard looked at me as if he wanted to eat people. I pretended not to see anything. Mom was also shocked at this time. Recovering, she walked towards Uncle Richard with concern, “Big brother, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so angry? Harmony breeds wealth.” Uncle Richard pushed Mom away in a rage, “It’s all because of your good daughter!” Although Mom was full of doubts, she didn’t know what happened. In this situation, she couldn’t ask privately. My eyes circled around Mom and Uncle Richard, pondering for a moment. Mom has never cared about Dad so much. Every quarrel is muddying the water. Saying something like a family should know how to be modest. I piled a smile on my face, “Uncle Richard, why are you so angry? Continue the lucky draw dividends!” “Good good good, continue drawing. Now I want to participate too.” Uncle Richard gritted his teeth, “There are hundreds of slips inside. I don’t believe you have so much money to draw them all. When you spend all your money, the fifty million is still mine!” In his anger, Uncle Richard finally exposed his intentions. The relatives looked at Uncle Richard with resentment. I turned sideways to make way for Uncle Richard, “Uncle Richard, please.” Just now, drawing prizes cost a total of thirty thousand. Now I have fifteen thousand left in my hand, only enough for three draws. I transferred this little surplus money to Uncle Richard, “Give me three more times.” Uncle Richard was wealthy and generous. He took out a bank card from another bag, “Here is the money your dad and those aunts transferred to me.” “I have withdrawn it to the card. A total of one hundred thousand. Enough for me to draw twenty times!” “Then I’ll go first. I only draw three times.” Uncle Richard waved his hand to let me go ahead. First slip, ten dollars. Second and third slips were both Thank you for your patronage. Uncle Richard breathed a sigh of relief, “You are all small fights. As long as I throw enough money, the grand prize will eventually be mine.” I sighed and shook my head, “My luck is no good. Uncle Richard, you do it.” Uncle Richard was disdainful. He reached into the box and dug for three minutes before getting all twenty slips. He sat and looked at them one by one slowly. With every one opened, the gloom on his face increased. Ten minutes passed. Fourteen Thank you for your patronage, four one-cents, one five-dollar, and one fifty-dollar. Uncle Richard banged the table angrily, suddenly changing to a smile thinking of something. “You have no money either, right? Since no one has money, I’m taking the grand prize away?” I looked at Uncle Richard, “I still want to draw!”

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In the office, the boss was discussing with HR in Korean: “Let Vice President Willa resign voluntarily before International Women’s Day. It can save fifty dollars in holiday gifts.” “If she refuses to leave, block her reimbursements. Her grandfather has a tumor and needs money badly.” I clenched the contract in my hand. They didn’t know—I had taught myself Korean and had long reached level T5. Since they are so ruthless, I don’t need to be polite anymore. It’s time to take the core technology and start my own business… 1 After the morning meeting, I walked out of the boss’s office. Thinking back to how they discussed firing me in Korean right in front of me, treating me like a fool, they were probably still smug about tricking me, right? It’s laughable that they didn’t know I had already taught myself Korean to T5 level! I knew all their schemes. Passing by the break room, I suddenly heard people discussing me inside. “Director Lee from the tech department left to start his own business. Why didn’t he take Willa, whom he relied on the most?” “Why else? Willa has no ability and no value, right? The new company didn’t want her. Only our boss is kind enough to let her stay in the company and leech off.” Listening to the slander inside, anger rose in my heart, but I couldn’t refute it. Could I rush in and shout loudly: Director Lee invited me privately before he left, offering me a monthly salary of $5,000 and the position of tech director, but I rejected it? Then I heard them continue: “If she has no ability, why is she so aggressive every day? Daring to challenge the boss?” “That’s why she’s still single at 35. What man can stand her…” “Do you know what’s the funniest part? A few days ago, I heard from the HR director that Willa, a vice president, has been with the company for 6 years and her salary is only $1,500! Haha, the new employees I recruited this year have a monthly salary of $2,000.” $1,500? $2,000? Hearing this accidentally, I was furious. The company strictly prohibits employees from discussing salaries with each other. I have adhered to this rule for so many years, but I didn’t expect to be exploited by the boss to this extent! Thinking of the new employees in the tech department who knew nothing, only knew how to leech, yet had a higher monthly salary than me, a vice president, I couldn’t bear it anymore and wanted to rush to the boss’s office to question him. My angry steps suddenly stopped. After a long while, I sighed dejectedly and walked back to my desk with heavy steps. What’s the use of making a scene? The boss and directors had long suspected that I was a mole left by Director Lee and couldn’t wait to kick me out. But I didn’t want to leave this company. 2 Although I was ostracized after Director Lee left, and the boss cut my salary and suppressed me, this company had one advantage that other companies couldn’t match. Less than 500 meters east of here is the city’s most famous cancer hospital, where my grandfather is undergoing long-term treatment. It is the critical moment of treatment now, convenient for me to go over and take care of him after work. And I must ensure a fixed income, and I cannot let my grandfather know that I am about to lose my job, otherwise he will definitely refuse to accept the expensive treatment plan. This is why I didn’t leave with Director Lee when he invited me with a high salary. After Director Lee resigned, I took over the unfinished project team. From market research to planning to three sets of proposals, even the final event host script was written by me. The final draft submitted last week was unanimously approved by the board of directors. Once implemented, it can bring at least ten million in profit to the company. I thought these could win back the boss’s trust, and the value I created was enough to raise my salary partly. But today the boss discussed forcing me to resign with the HR director in Korean in front of me, just to save $50 in holiday fees! I have worked conscientiously for six years, bringing at least ten million in profit to the company, yet I don’t deserve a ridiculous $50! In that case, don’t blame me for being impolite. There are three days left before International Women’s Day, enough for me to prepare a big gift for them. Just as I was planning to counterattack the boss, I was called to the boss’s office again. “Willa, this is Dr. Zhao, who returned from overseas. He will be responsible for leading the overall work of the tech department in the future. He is not very familiar with our company yet, you have to cooperate with him well.” This is stealing my thunder! The project that no one was optimistic about after Director Lee left was thrown to me. I worked overtime alone for a month, and unexpectedly it passed the board’s decision and became the company’s leading project this year. Now that the plan is about to be implemented, I am suddenly kicked out and replaced? The boss spoke straightforwardly, not caring about my feelings at all, nor did he communicate with me, the vice president of the tech department, in advance. The grievances and exclusion I suffered in the past month surged into my heart instantly. I could endure their whispering and pointing behind my back, pretending not to know. I just played dumb when they created groups and established new R&D teams behind my back. They took away the planning proposal just passed, and I chose to swallow my pride seeing the situation was unclear. Now they are pushing their luck! Thinking I am a soft persimmon, they can manipulate me as they please, not treating me as a human at all. If this goes on, anyone can step on me. Losing power, my plan will be difficult to implement! 3 I said euphemistically: “Boss, since you think he is not familiar enough with the company, shouldn’t you not arrange him in the position of tech director?” “Technology leads the market! This is what you have emphasized repeatedly. The importance of the tech department is evident. Is it a bit trifling for you to let a 28-year-old young man who just came out of school be the tech director?” If the boss hired a tech director with qualifications far superior to mine from outside with a high salary, I would have nothing to say and step aside obediently. But Dr. Zhao is a novice, just because he is the boss’s nephew, he wants to stand on my head and dictate to me! Sorry, I can’t accept it! The boss was also annoyed by my questioning that didn’t give him face: “Little Zhao is a Ph.D. from Yale University, much more capable than you, a master from a domestic university! Little Zhao won many planning awards when he was still in school, with a flexible mind and extraordinary talent!” “I’m just notifying you about this, not asking for your opinion. Just cooperate well with the work! Get out.” I sneered. What gold content do school planning awards have? I also won a state-level design award during my school days. Anger surged, but after a while I held it back. For the plan in my heart, I can’t flip the table directly, can’t let the boss detect that he is about to lose all this. Yes, I didn’t plan to leave with resentment, but planned to make the boss and a group of parasites here get out in disgrace! Although I am not a top student from Harvard or MIT, my mentor is also a top figure in the field of food additives. Although retired, his students are everywhere. My senior fellow apprentice sister opened a food additive company—ZEUS, which became the industry leader with my mentor’s patented technology. It is the ZEUS Group President who is currently discussing acquisition with the boss. And I have long been promised by the senior sister to be the executive director of the branch company! Since the boss likes laying off staff before International Women’s Day so much, I will satisfy his last preference. Will he be very happy to receive the dismissal notice on International Women’s Day? 4 I stayed here to select talents for the establishment of the new company. Now this timing is suitable for me to see clearly the warmth and coldness of human feelings. Therefore, I absolutely cannot announce this news now. I pretended to compromise: “Boss, I have been with the company for 6 years, and I also led the planning of a big project this year. Can I get a raise?” The boss was stunned, seemingly not expecting me to make such a request: “Raise? Didn’t I raise your salary by $20 every year? Why didn’t I raise it for you this year? How did Little Liu handle things? Go call her!” Looking at the boss’s matter-of-fact look, I was angry enough to laugh. “Boss, you don’t think $20 a year is a lot, do you? Should I be grateful and devoted to you for this paltry sum?” “Don’t play dumb with me. Although it is strictly forbidden to inquire about other people’s salary income within the company, I still understand the general salary status of our food additive industry. I have been in the industry for 10 years and with you for 6 years. Asking for a salary of $2,500 is not excessive!” The boss laughed loudly: “$2,500? Based on you, an ordinary master’s student? Or based on you being the apprentice of a traitor? Weigh yourself piece by piece to see if you are worth this money! Do it if you want, get out if you don’t!” The boss’s straightforward “look down” made my face turn green and white. Dr. Zhao also looked me up and down with critical eyes. In their eyes, I seemed like a clown at this moment! I pretended to swallow my pride and left the office, but the boss misunderstood that I was afraid and laughed arrogantly behind my back. “Haha, still dare to clamor with me! Little Zhao, did you see? Dealing with such old employees requires being tough! A bunch of cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong!” “I suppressed her arrogance for you today. Arrange heavy and tiring work for her in the future. You just need to grasp the general direction! If she dares to disobey, tell me, I have plenty of ways to punish her!” “Just an old woman nobody wants. Her previous leader didn’t take her when he went out to open a company. I gave her a meal and she didn’t know how to be grateful, and dared to bark at me, humph!” Because of this scene, the whole company knew that I had become a marginalized person. Those who used to curry favor with me because of my outstanding ability retreated one after another, all pretending not to know me well, afraid of being implicated and leaving a bad impression in the boss’s heart. I sneered in my heart: A group of snobs! You tried every way to curry favor, but in the end your fate will be just like mine. Relationship hires can be parachuted in anytime! These people will not be within the selection scope of my new company. Just as I was sorting out the usual attendance and overtime records, finance suddenly called: “Little Wang, your reimbursement materials for last month are unqualified and cannot be reimbursed.” Little Wang? So I’m not Director Wang anymore? It seems that those hitting a person when they’re down have come. 5 Because of work reasons, the finance manager had many conflicts with me. Before, I was valued by the leadership and made him suffer many times. This time can be considered a turn of fortune. I took a deep breath and went to the finance office. “Manager Sun, where are the reimbursement materials unqualified? I’ll fix it.” The finance manager glanced at me and took my pile of reimbursement forms. “Logistics personnel do not have gas subsidies. Before, your tech department Director Lee abused his power and approved your gas fee reimbursement. From now on, everything will follow the rules and regulations, so this $50 gas fee cannot be reimbursed!” I said angrily: “This is the gas money I spent going to City K to deliver materials for the boss. It belongs to official business travel. Why can’t it be reimbursed?” The finance manager sneered: “You say it is, so it is? Who knows if you used the public car for private purposes?” I retorted: “I usually only ride an electric scooter to work! Besides, the key to the public car is in the administration’s hands. How do I have the chance to use it privately?” The finance manager threw the pile of reimbursement forms disdainfully. “I say it can’t be reimbursed means it can’t. If you have the ability, go find the boss to sign! Or… heh, your new tech director signing is also fine. Go back and fill out the reimbursement form again, hand it over before off work, no waiting after time!” After speaking, he looked at me mockingly, his eyes clearly saying: “I’m just making things difficult for you, what can you do to me? Who can you find to help you?” I went to find the boss angrily. Now the new company has not been established yet, and grandpa needs a large amount of medical expenses every day. Every penny of mine must be spent wisely. “Boss, please sign to reimburse the money for gas for my business trip last month.” The boss took the form and frowned: “What gas fee do you need to report? How come I don’t remember arranging a business trip for you?” I reminded him coldly: “Last Saturday of last month, I was accompanying my grandfather for chemotherapy in the hospital. You called me to immediately go to City K to deliver a document to the client! I drove there, and brought drunk you back at 12 am.” The boss suddenly realized: “Oh, there was such a thing.” Saying that, he picked up a pen and pretended to sign: “But Little Wang, I remember our company’s reimbursement rule is no overdue reimbursement, right? These are expenses from last month. Signing for you will make it difficult for finance.” I didn’t expect reimbursing a mere $50 expense would be so troublesome! At this moment, I completely gave up on this company and the boss, wishing to make him get lost immediately! The evidence I organized is enough to ruin his reputation. Presumably, he is still fantasizing about becoming a major shareholder of ZEUS Group, right? It doesn’t matter, there are three days left, I endure.

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Life has entered a countdown, and I’ve started to rot. Giving up the hustle and bustle of the big city, I returned to a small town. I heard from a neighbor that the local police handle a wide range of business. Neighbors can go to them for anything, including collecting bodies and arranging burials. I’m afraid one day I’ll fall asleep and never wake up, and no one will arrange my funeral. Unexpectedly, I went to the police station. And saw my ex-boyfriend who I broke up with six years ago. When enemies meet, their eyes turn red. He didn’t give me a good face and told me to get out. I had no way out, so I could only bite the bullet: “I can’t get out for the time being, can you wait a little longer?” With him around. It will be lively after I die. After all, he said it. The day I get my retribution and die, he will buy fireworks to celebrate. 1 The first day I returned to my hometown. I busied myself tidying up the house. Then I lay in bed waiting for death. Suddenly, a neighbor lady knocked on the door. She brought me homemade pastries. And enthusiastically told me: “Young lady, you are at home alone. If you encounter any trouble, go to the police station at the corner of the street.” “After all, you are a young girl at home, you need to pay more attention to safety. I have Officer Miller’s WeChat. Why don’t you add him? If something happens, you can contact him.” “And you should be about the same age as him. Maybe you can make a good match.” Aunt Zhou covered her mouth and teased. It doesn’t matter if it’s a match or not. Anyway, I only have the last month to live. Don’t delay others. Now I just hope to have someone to help me handle my funeral. After thinking about it, I think this proposal is feasible. Maybe there will be a place to rely on this police officer in the future. Aunt Zhou quickly pushed Officer Miller’s WeChat over. His WeChat profile picture is a girl with her back to the light. Still talking about making a good match. Maybe he already has a girl he likes. I applied to add friends. Soon, the other party sent a question mark. Are police officers so cold nowadays? Looking again, I noticed that I forgot to enter the verification information. I re-entered: “Hello, I’m Chloe Jiang, a resident who just moved back to the small town.” Now, he should agree. However, this time he didn’t reply again. Until the evening, when I almost forgot about this matter. He suddenly said: “What crazy are you sending?” 2 I was stunned. Why did he scold me? I found Aunt Zhou. Confirmed again and again, only to be sure that I didn’t add the wrong person. “Auntie, does this police officer have a bad temper?” “How is it possible? Officer Miller is cold-faced but kind-hearted. When we encounter things, he actively helps.” That’s strange. I didn’t provoke him, why scold me? I patiently explained the reason for adding him as a friend. But he still didn’t reply for a long time. Aunt Zhou gave a solution, “It’s okay, I’m free tomorrow, I’ll take you to get familiar with them. It will be convenient to ask them for help in the future.” The sky darkened. My body can’t stand staying up late. After sincerely thanking her. I went back to wash and rest. But lying in bed, I couldn’t sleep no matter what. My muddled brain was a little confused. The room I live in now is the one I lived in when I was a child. I didn’t tidy up other rooms. Especially Grandma’s room. I couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning in bed. Suddenly, my nose felt a little hot. Reached out and touched it. My finger was stained with sticky blood. I was completely awake at once. By the moonlight coming through the window. I covered my still bleeding nose and struggled to turn over and sit up. I fumbled to the bathroom. Turned on the light only to find that my pajamas had been stained with blood. I familiarly dealt with the bleeding nose. Brain was dizzy for a while. I held onto the washbasin firmly, looking at myself in the mirror. Scattered long hair messily stuck to my face. Face was pale and bloodless. When the dizziness faded, I began to clean up the blood stains on my body. Fortunately, I chose to return to my hometown. Otherwise, if the patients in the hospital saw me like this, they would feel distressed again. They always said that I was young and it was unfair for God to let me get this disease. Subconsciously, they would feel sorry for me and take care of me. I like getting along with them. But I can’t stand the person who was smiling with me the day before. The next day, only a gray cold name remains. So I chose to come back. My head hurt badly, and I couldn’t sleep lying in bed, so I walked to the balcony. Unexpectedly, I saw Aunt Zhou, who went out for a walk after dinner, being sent back limping. I subconsciously wanted to call her. And the man supporting her impressively raised his head. There was a bright street lamp by the road. The light was dazzling. I don’t know if something was wrong with my eyes. I couldn’t see his face clearly. 3 I rubbed my eyes fiercely. He was still standing there. Just in his eyes, perhaps there was disgust and indifference. I shook for a moment. I think, maybe my illness is serious again. I actually saw Lucas Miller. The way he looked at me was just like when we broke up six years ago. With hatred and unwillingness. That day should have been his happiest time. Because he received the admission notice from the National Defense University. He happily came to share the joy with me, but I interrupted his happiness and cruelly said: “Let’s break up.” He was stunned and said in disbelief: “What did you say?” “I said, let’s break up, I’m tired of it, I don’t want to be with you anymore.” He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling: “Chloe Jiang, are you playing for real?” That day, we made it very ugly. Said a lot of heartbreaking words to each other. He is just like now. Looking at my eyes, wishing he could strangle me to death. Reacting over, I realized. The person standing downstairs is really him. Hot sweat emerged from my back. Don’t know why, I felt a little guilty. Fortunately, he didn’t stand long before leaving. I immediately breathed a sigh of relief. My legs were weak. In these six years. I have imagined countless times what it would be like when we meet again. Only didn’t expect it would be like this. 4 The next day, the enthusiastic Aunt Zhou took me to the police station at the corner of the street. She introduced the policemen working here to me one by one. When her eyes stopped on the tall man wearing a blue police uniform. I paused. “Little Jiang, this is Officer Miller I mentioned to you. He is responsible for our area. You can find him if you have anything in the future.” Lucas looked cold and his eyes were unwavering. It was like, it was the first time meeting me. I held out my hand and greeted him, “Hello, Officer Miller.” He looked indifferent, as if saying: What are you pretending. He stood in place, no action. I felt slightly embarrassed and withdrew my hand. Fortunately, Aunt Zhou was coordinating nearby. She mentioned adding friends. Lucas reluctantly took out his mobile phone, but his voice was cold to the extreme, “When you look for me, you’d better have something.” I know. He meant for me not to annoy him like before. I nodded and said sincerely: “Don’t worry, I will only find you when I am about to die.” Otherwise, no one will handle my funeral. Lucas’s fingertips paused slightly, and his eyes were fierce. “Better be like that.” 5 His eyes were like a sharp sword, stabbing me. Didn’t expect that after six years, he still hated me so much. Good, with him around. I’m relieved. After all, he once said. When the day comes that I get my retribution and die, he will set off fireworks to celebrate. In that way, when I leave, it won’t be lonely.

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When I was seventeen, I had a secret crush. My family was poor, so to buy him a birthday gift, I saved money for a whole year. The day my mom had her accident, I left school early. Just in time to hear him laughing and saying to his friend: “This thing? Even the third prize at a restaurant is better than this.” His friend laughed loudly and said: “I know you don’t care for it, Ethan, so give it to me. I can sell it and pay for a few internet cafe sessions.” “You want it? Then take it.” Ethan Vance threw it to him with disgust, and his gaze met mine. Later, at a class reunion, I heard that Ethan Vance had been looking for me for eight years. 1 When my eyes met Ethan’s, his expression stiffened slightly. The male classmate holding the watch scratched his head awkwardly and said, “Do… do you want it back?” I looked at the watch in his hand, which was mishandled and obviously not cherished. The watch wasn’t great, costing around a hundred dollars, but I had saved for nearly a year. It was saved dollar by dollar from my lunch money. My gaze fell on Ethan’s wrist; he was wearing a watch today. I couldn’t recognize the brand, but I was certain that the watch on his wrist was much better than the one I gave him. I silently took the watch from Ethan’s friend, looked at Ethan, and said slowly, “Sorry, I’ll handle it myself.” Ethan lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and remained silent. I rubbed the watch in my hand in embarrassment, turned around, and walked away. Passing the first trash can at the school gate, I hardened my heart and threw the watch directly into the trash can. I turned back and glanced at him. He lifted his eyelids nonchalantly, a smile on his lips, his eyes full of mockery. I was stunned and lowered my eyes. It was humiliating, my secret crush. At that time, I didn’t know that this look from Ethan would become my nightmare. 2 When I got home, my dad was sitting at the door, a cheap cigarette in his mouth, his face full of sorrow. My mom wasn’t there. He handed me a report saying my mom had breast cancer. My dad took a hard drag on his cigarette and said, “The treatment for breast cancer costs tens of thousands. Your mom and I discussed it… we won’t treat it.” “Your mom said she wants to eat the braised ribs I make. You go buy some, and I’ll pick your mom up later.” I didn’t believe it. I flipped through the report repeatedly, my voice trembling, “Is it confirmed? There are many misdiagnoses for this kind of thing. I’ll take mom to check again tomorrow. This must be a misdiagnosis…” I looked at my dad stubbornly. My dad’s eyes were red. He just looked at me and didn’t speak. At that moment, my tears flowed down uncontrollably. Finally, I cried and said, “I won’t go to school anymore. Let’s treat mom’s illness.” My dad lowered his head. I knew my dad was no less sad than I was. My dad was disabled in his right leg. At that time, only my mom was willing to be with him, didn’t despise him, and always encouraged him. Although our family was poor, my dad and mom were very loving. In middle school, classmates started to have their own beliefs. I asked my dad, “Dad, what’s your belief?” My dad didn’t understand what belief meant, so I explained it to him briefly. He scratched his head embarrassedly and said, “My belief is your mom.” Later… I also had my belief. I wanted to grow up, make money, and take my dad and mom to see the world. Now my dad’s belief has collapsed. So has mine. I held my dad’s hand and said to myself, “I won’t study anymore. I’ll go to work. Let’s go to the big city to treat mom’s illness.” My dad smoked and didn’t speak. But I had already decided. I asked my dad to pick up my mom, then packed up to go to the city. I went back to school myself. 3 It started to rain halfway. Pedestrians on the road were rushing, trying to avoid the heavy rain. Only then did I dare to cry, rain and tears mixing together. When I arrived at school, there was almost no one there. I reached out towards the dirty trash can. The foul and pungent smell kept surging up. I searched several times, but the watch I threw away wasn’t there. I bit my lip, wanting to slap myself for throwing the watch away. Selling it could have gotten me some money! I searched for several hours, turning over every piece of trash in the can, but there was no watch. I walked home in despair. At this time, there were no people on the street. The rain was heavy, hitting my body painfully. When I got home, my dad hadn’t come back yet. The usually warm home now felt cold to me. I waited and waited… Finally, I only waited for someone rushing to tell me: “Your dad and your mom jumped into the river!” That year, I was a senior in high school, lost both parents, and became an orphan. 4 Eight years have passed, and I still can’t forget what happened that day. I sat up from the bed, turned on my phone, and found it was only 4 a.m. I called out softly and aggrievedly to the empty room: “Dad, Mom…” As usual, there was no response. I lowered my head. For eight years… They refused to come see me even once. In my dreams, there was only Ethan with a smile on his lips and mockery in his eyes, asking me with a laugh: “Have you no shame? Hannah.” Every time I shouted loudly that I had shame, the dream ended. I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I got up to pack. After numbly handling my parents’ funeral back then, I left that place. Went to a new city, working while studying. Studying and working at the same time was really bitter. But I didn’t dare let myself stop. Once I stopped, I wanted to cry. I went to the hospital. The doctor said I had moderate depression and needed someone to lead me out of that day. But there was no such person… Leaving for 8 years, in recent years I wanted to go back more and more, to see the river where my parents jumped. I wanted to jump down and ask why they were so cruel. I was really tired… Since I was going back anyway, I didn’t reject those classmates from back then anymore. So when the class monitor asked if I was going to the class reunion, I was the first to say yes. I haven’t spoken in the group chat for 8 years. Classmates were also deleted cleanly. Including Ethan Vance. 5 Buying the earliest high-speed train ticket, my mood was very relaxed. For eight years, not a single day was more relaxed than now. I admired the scenery outside the window and smiled while talking to the young couple in the seat next to me. The girl said: “Sister, you don’t know, it was so hard for me to pursue him back then. He had many girls chasing him, but I persisted for two years. Now I’m taking him to meet my parents!” “Sister, are you so happy because you’re going home too? I feel the wind on the way to see parents is sweet.” I was silent for a moment, then forced a smile and said, “Mm, I’m going home too.” “Going home… to see parents.” I said the latter words very quietly, only I could hear them. But this sentence pleased me. I would soon… be able to see my parents. I hummed a song all the way. Getting off the high-speed train, I went directly to the place booked by the class monitor. 6 When I arrived, almost everyone was there. As soon as I entered, it became instantly quiet inside. I sat down by myself at the place closest to the door. I put away the smile on my face. The class monitor pushed his glasses and broke the silence: “Hannah, you’re here?” I nodded. Zoe, a girl who didn’t get along with me before, tutted eccentrically and said: “Yo, isn’t this the hardest-to-invite top student Hannah? Seeing your face makes me eat one less bowl of rice. Someone remind Ethan not to come today…” No one knew the reason why I dropped out back then. But the fact that I liked Ethan and gave him gifts, they all knew. The girl sitting next to Zoe pulled her. The class monitor also frowned and said: “Say less. Ethan has been looking for Hannah for eight years. Tell him, and he will only be happy.” Zoe chuckled and said: “Ethan is kind. Who knew he had to apologize for not liking someone…” “Looking for eight years was just to apologize to Hannah.” “Is it wrong not to like someone? Who doesn’t know Hannah transferred schools because Ethan embarrassed her? You make it sound like Ethan likes her.” “Doesn’t Ethan have someone he likes? Heard she’s a rich and beautiful girl. Besides being good-looking, what is worth remembering about Hannah? A disabled dad? A family poor as church mice?” “Come on…” Zoe said more and more excessively, and others frowned. I stood up, my expression not angry, “I won’t eat. You don’t have to worry about not being able to eat. I just came to see everyone. Now that I’ve seen you, I’m leaving.” After saying this, I opened the door and walked out. The class monitor chased out. He grabbed my hand, his expression serious: “Ethan really looked for you for eight years. Won’t you wait for him?” Ethan’s appearance appeared in my mind. Very handsome, nice eyes. But when looking at me, his eyes had no emotion, and his mouth held a mocking smile. I shook my head and said with a smile: “I’m in a hurry. When you see him, help me say sorry. Really… very sorry.” The class monitor froze in place.

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My five-year-old daughter claimed in front of the whole family that she was reborn. She said: “In two minutes, Mom will personally hand me over to human traffickers and gouge out my eyes.” Everyone thought my daughter was talking nonsense, but two minutes later, she really disappeared. When she was found again, her eyes were just a bloody mess. I held my daughter and rushed her to the hospital, but she said: “In the next second, Mom will fake a car accident to kill me completely because she suspects I’m not her biological child.” Sure enough, the next second, a truck overturned the ambulance. Now, the whole family began to believe that my daughter was really reborn. I crawled out desperately, just wanting to save my daughter, but was grabbed angrily by my husband, beaten up, and thrown on the roadside, left to bleed profusely. My daughter was saved. She said: “Mom is a mistress. She got pregnant with me on purpose to steal Dad away from Auntie Jessica. She doesn’t love me at all.” The whole family felt extremely distressed for my daughter. My husband immediately proposed a divorce and kicked me out of the house. I lived on the streets and eventually died of an infected wound in a garbage dump. When I woke up again, I was back to the day my daughter said she was reborn. 1 “I am reborn and can predict the future.” My five-year-old daughter’s childish voice rang in my ears. I opened my eyes and found her standing on the table arrogantly with her hands on her hips. The whole family sat together, treating it as a five-year-old’s innocent remark, and no one took it seriously. But I felt a chill down my spine. In my previous life, it was this sentence from my daughter that led to my tragic death on the roadside. Touching the healed wounds on my body, the pain was still fresh in my memory. My mother-in-law chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes, our Nina is a prophet, and she will definitely accomplish great things in the future.” But my mother-in-law’s perfunctory attitude caused my daughter’s dissatisfaction, and she shouted loudly. “I am really reborn. In my previous life, Mom killed me and personally sent me to human traffickers.” “My eyes will also be gouged out, and I will become blind.” My daughter stared at me angrily, as if it were true. Her words immediately caused my father-in-law’s dissatisfaction, “Hey, what nonsense are you talking about, child? Watched too many cartoons, haven’t you?” Hearing my father-in-law’s words, my daughter threw herself into my mother-in-law’s arms with a grieved look. “Grandma, I didn’t lie. Mom is a bad person, I don’t want to die.” “Children’s words carry no harm, why take it seriously? Why scold the child?” Seeing my mother-in-law spoiling the child so much, I couldn’t help sneering. What a “children’s words carry no harm.” If I hadn’t died because of my daughter’s mouth in my previous life, I might really have believed it. After my mother-in-law finished talking to my father-in-law, she turned to look at me again. “Sarah, don’t just stand there like a fool. I think the salt in the kitchen is gone. Go downstairs and buy a pack.” I nodded, thinking about how to deal with my daughter, and was just about to go out. Just then, my daughter looked at me in horror. “Ah? Mom is going out to contact human traffickers. Mom, don’t take me away!” My daughter’s sudden reaction worried my mother-in-law, who immediately hugged her tightly. “Oh my, what’s wrong with this child today? Why is she always talking nonsense?” I stopped at the door, looking at my daughter curled up in my mother-in-law’s arms, and then glanced at the wall clock. At this time, it was one minute away from the time my daughter said I would hand her over to human traffickers. Previously, because I was worried that my daughter was frightened, I didn’t go out to buy things but let my mother-in-law go instead. As a result, when she stayed with me, she said she had a stomachache and wanted to go to the toilet. After I sent her to the bathroom, she disappeared. Recalling it now, I still find it bizarre. It wasn’t until the human traffickers called for ransom that we knew our daughter was really kidnapped. At that time, the police sent specialists to check the toilet, but they still didn’t know how a five-year-old child could appear a hundred miles away within an hour. I hesitated for half a second, closed the door, took out my phone, and called my husband Ethan White. “Hello, remember to bring a pack of salt back when you get off work. Our daughter is making a fuss at home, maybe she is sick.” Ethan’s impatient voice came from the other end of the phone, “Damn, I’m busy negotiating with clients. What are you doing at home? Buy it yourself!” After speaking, he hung up the phone. I wasn’t annoyed either, turned around and entered the room. 2 “Mom, I think Nina might be frightened. Let’s accompany her in the living room.” “I’ll make an appointment with a psychologist to come and see her later.” My mother-in-law frowned as soon as she heard it. “Is it necessary to make such a fuss? The child is just naughty.” “The child’s health is very important. Mental health is also health. Who calls me a mother?” I pretended to be very worried, walked closer and touched my daughter’s face, then got up and pushed open the bathroom door. “Mom, didn’t I say the toilet needs to be washed often? Look at the cockroaches running around. Just happened that I bought a new insecticide. I’ll spray more. Don’t go to the toilet within three hours, otherwise, it’s easy to get poisoned.” My operation obviously disrupted my daughter’s plan. Her expression was obviously a bit messy. This time, let’s see how you verify your so-called rebirth prophecy. Two minutes passed quickly, and my daughter’s rebirth prophecy was self-defeating. The whole family didn’t take it seriously. Just then, my daughter suddenly shouted. “No, I’m going to poop in my pants.” My mother-in-law became anxious as soon as she heard it. “Oh my, what to do? Sarah, can the toilet be used?” From just now, I noticed my daughter’s eyes wandering, obviously planning something. Looking at her, I took out the basin prepared long ago. “Poop here. The toilet definitely can’t be used.” “I want to use the toilet, don’t want to poop in the basin, or I’ll poop in my pants.” My five-year-old daughter threatened, but I just sneered. “Then poop. Anyway, the toilet can’t be used today. If you poop, I’ll buy you new pants.” My answer left my daughter unsure how to respond, and she shouted. “Mom is a bad person. Grandma, call the police quickly and arrest Mom, otherwise, she will kill me.” “Okay, let your grandma call immediately. When the police come, I’ll say you pooped in your pants.” Seeing me unmoved, my daughter simply pouted and chose to hold her breath, turning her face red in a while. “Oh my, Nina, what are you doing? Open your mouth quickly.” My mother-in-law was really afraid she would suffocate herself, so she hurriedly pried open her mouth. Looking at her angry look, I didn’t feel anxious at all. For my daughter, I think my education has no big problems. Whatever she wants, as long as it is within a reasonable range, I try my best to satisfy her. I tried my best to turn my child into an honest and loving person, but I don’t understand why she turned out like that in the end. Seeing that I wouldn’t relent, my daughter actually held it in and pooped directly in her pants. A foul smell filled the air, and my mother-in-law covered her nose and cursed. “You little bastard, you really pooped.” Saying that, she went to get a basin of water to wash her butt. I didn’t stop her either, just calmly got up and went to the room to get her a new pair of pants. However, when I came out of the room with the pants, I was dumbfounded. I saw my mother-in-law holding the water basin with a blank face, looking at me. My daughter was gone! The living room was empty. My father-in-law was lying on the sofa and had fallen asleep at some point. The pants soiled by my daughter were still on the floor. My mother-in-law couldn’t help but get anxious, searching inside and outside the house, but couldn’t find anyone. No sound of opening or closing the door, no footsteps. A five-year-old child just disappeared bizarrely like this again. “How is this possible?” 3 More anxious than my mother-in-law was me. I clearly knew what would happen next. “Is it really unchangeable?” I gritted my teeth, searching the room desperately trying to find some clues, but still found nothing. I panicked and subconsciously made the exact same choice as in my previous life, calling the police. While waiting for the police, I didn’t stay idle either. I searched the entire community but still didn’t see a trace of my daughter. Unwilling to give up, I requested the property management to retrieve the surveillance video, but there was no footage of my daughter appearing at all. After the police arrived, the subsequent development was almost exactly the same as in my previous life. They also didn’t find any valuable clues, left a sentence asking us to wait patiently, and left. Until I received the video of my daughter’s eyes being gouged out again, I despaired. What should come still came. The human traffickers called home demanding a ransom of one million dollars. Seeing my daughter’s appearance, my mother-in-law cried her eyes out. Ethan also left his work and returned home. When he saw the video of our daughter being abused, he slapped me twice backhand and roared angrily. “I let you take care of the child at home, is this how you take care of her?” “If anything happens to Nina, I’ll make you pay with your life!” If the police weren’t present, Ethan would probably have killed me on the spot. Later, when the police asked again about the anomaly when my daughter disappeared, my father-in-law seemed to suddenly think of something. “I remember Nina said at that time that her mother would personally send her to the human traffickers and gouge out her eyes.” My daughter’s prophecy came true, and my mother-in-law also made a look of sudden realization. “Yes, I happened to be filming a TikTok at that time, and it seems I recorded it.” My mother-in-law took out her phone and showed the video she took today. In the background of the phone, my daughter was standing on the table shouting the sentence that plunged me into the abyss. I was dumbfounded because from beginning to end I didn’t notice when my mother-in-law recorded the video. Before I could fully react, Ethan suddenly rushed up like crazy and grabbed my collar. “That’s your biological daughter. How could you bear it? Are you an animal?” Before the police could pull him away, he kicked me in the chest. I was kicked to the ground, and the severe pain sobered me up instantly. “No, what’s wrong?” My mind raced, until I saw Ethan’s angry and hideous face, I realized instantly. “You believe the nonsense of a five-year-old child?” “Your mom and dad were both at home at the time. Why don’t you say they did it?” Seeing me glaring at them, my mother-in-law seemed a bit guilty, “Yes, Ethan, Sarah was at home with us taking care of Nina the whole time. How could it be her?” “Then what’s going on now?” Ethan wished he could rush up and give me another kick. At this time, the police couldn’t stand it anymore. “Alright, saving the child is important. Why quarrel over a sentence?” The police’s words calmed Ethan down a bit, but he still stared at me deadly. The police asked me to use my phone to dial the trafficker’s number again so they could determine the trafficker’s location. But at this moment, a sentence from my mother-in-law sobered me up instantly. “Don’t know who she learned those words from. Could she really be a reborn person?” I was slightly stunned. If my daughter is a reborn person and has confronted me for so long, could she not discover that I am also reborn? Who is instigating my daughter to lie? 4 “No need to call. I know the trafficker will meet me there.” The police looked at me in confusion. To prevent Ethan from having any abnormalities, I specially pulled the police into a separate room and told him a location. The police didn’t believe it at first, until my phone received a transaction text message from the trafficker, and the agreed location on it was exactly the same as what I said. Although surprised, the police had to listen to my arrangement first to save people. I requested the police to deploy only a small amount of police force at the agreed location for arrest, and at the same time deploy heavy forces to intercept passing vehicles on the way to the hospital. “This won’t work. It’s too dangerous. I have to be responsible for the hostage and my team members.” “What if these traffickers are just ordinary people in disguise? The real murderer is waiting on the road to kill me and my family!” I looked emotional, “I don’t want to watch them die.” The police saw my abnormality. Finally, they agreed to my request, but also stated that if the situation was wrong, they would make adjustments immediately. Actually, I dared to do this because there was a basis. In my previous life, after the police successfully arrested them, they interrogated the traffickers who kidnapped my daughter by surprise and found that they were just a group of college students looking for work. They said someone asked them to act, so they went, but didn’t expect it to be true. I arrived at the location agreed with the traffickers and brought the money. Like in my previous life, the police arrest went smoothly, and my daughter was rescued. Due to serious injuries, my daughter was sent to the hospital for treatment immediately. On the way, I stayed with my daughter all the time. She looked very uncomfortable, and the wounds in her eye sockets had begun to get infected. After all, she was only five years old and my daughter. Seeing her like this, I inevitably felt distressed. This time, without waiting for her to speak first, I finally asked the doubt in my heart. “Nina, tell Mom, did Dad make you do this?” But I didn’t expect that as soon as I finished saying this, my daughter suddenly screamed again. “Ahhhhh, Mom don’t kill me, I was wrong, I will never talk nonsense again.” But at the same time, my daughter secretly stuffed a watch into my hand. With a loud bang, a fully loaded truck rushed towards us without warning. The vehicle my daughter and I were in rolled over. In the end, what should happen still happened. I climbed out of the side window of the ambulance again. The strong dizziness made me feel a bit nauseous. I saw Ethan and my in-laws getting out of the police car in a hurry, rushing over to save people. However, when my daughter was rescued, she had completely stopped talking. Half of the ambulance body was almost crushed, and a medical staff member also died on the spot. The police pulled the truck driver out of the seat and controlled him quickly. “My daughter!” Just when I was looking blank, Ethan’s shrill cry came into my ears. I turned my head and found him holding my daughter’s body crying in despair. That real emotion was definitely not fake. “It’s you, you killed my granddaughter. I just heard it, she begged you not to kill her.” “You return my granddaughter, you return my granddaughter…”

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Helping my childhood friend, who was hospitalized, to the restroom, I bumped into my ex-boyfriend whom I hadn’t seen for five years at the door. He was half-hugging a pregnant woman, head slightly lowered, in an intimate posture. I vaguely heard the pregnant woman call him “Hubby.” Five years after the breakup, I had imagined the reunion scene countless times, but never dared to think he was already married. 1 My mom repeatedly instructed me that Ethan Cole had just undergone surgery and needed someone to stay with him and take care of him for a few days. And this burden naturally fell on me, who had just resigned. Before leaving, my mom saw my reluctance and her tone was quite resentful, “Ethan is a good kid, and I watched him grow up. How is he worse than that Caleb Rivers? Why are you so stubborn…” “Mom!” I stopped her sternly almost immediately. Never thought that even after five years, just hearing this name would make my nose burn terribly, and my heart still had a deep stinging sensation. “You guys just keep trying to matchmake blindly. Anyway, Ethan doesn’t like me.” I tried my best to control my breathing, threw down a hard sentence, and left with the thermos. Arriving at the ward, Ethan was holding his phone, eyes focused, slender fingers jumping back and forth on the screen. A girl’s coquettish voice came through the receiver, sounding exactly like the type Ethan liked. “Do you look like a patient at all?” He glanced at me and smiled carelessly, “Jealous?” I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to him and picked up a book to read on my own. Half an hour later, Ethan suddenly grabbed my arm. “Speak.” I didn’t look up. He was silent for a while, almost gritting his teeth to say, “I need to go to the bathroom.” My movement paused, looking up, just in time to see Ethan’s slightly turned profile and reddened ear tips. Helping a six-foot-three adult was really a bit strenuous. He was very weak, and almost all his weight was on me. Walking to the bathroom, I almost fainted from exhaustion. Finally waiting for him to finish, this guy still had some conscience, leaning against the wall himself, letting me rest a bit more. Raising my hand to wipe sweat and tidy up my disheveled appearance, I saw Caleb Rivers in a white coat just like that. He seemed to be waiting for someone. In the dim light, the man’s features were distinct, with a high nose and thin lips, cold eyebrows slightly lowered, gradually overlapping with the clean and indifferent young man in my memory. All reason, restraint, and forbearance were shattered, and I almost rushed up. If a pregnant woman hadn’t appeared beside him. He lowered his head slightly, half-hugging the pregnant woman, in an intimate posture. What chilled my heart even more was that I vaguely heard the pregnant woman call him: “Hubby.” 2 “Holly, lost your soul?” I suddenly came back to my senses, almost dropping the IV bottle in my hand. Ethan raised the corner of his eye with a smile, “Thinking about a wild man behind my back? Hmm?” Don’t know if this guy did it on purpose, but when he said this, his whole body leaned on me again, not to mention his voice was quite loud. The warm breath fluttered on my ears, making me shrink my neck uncomfortably. Just wanted to push him away, suddenly felt a gaze sweep over. I looked at Caleb not far away almost subconsciously. Eyes met. If the Caleb from five years ago saw this, he would definitely walk over with a cold face, hug my waist firmly, and declare sovereignty through gritted teeth. At night, no matter how I coaxed him physically, he wouldn’t let it go. Even in the end, he would act aggrieved, “You are not allowed to like anyone else.” Such a petty Caleb, such a Caleb who loved me… Now he just looked at me calmly, without any waves. He said lightly to the pregnant woman beside him, “Let’s go.” Watching the backs of the two leaving, my heart seemed to have a big hole. Five years after the breakup, I had imagined the reunion scene countless times, but never dared to think he was already married. I bit my lip tightly, trying to soothe the sour emotion in my heart, but it still kept fermenting and spreading in my chest. For a moment, I really wanted to rush over and question him regardless of everything, but found that I didn’t even seem to have the qualification to question. After all, I was the one who mentioned breaking up first back then. He was such a proud person, yet at that time he used almost every method and put down all his self-esteem to keep me. It was me who couldn’t stand the pressure and gave up on him. “I asked for you, he is still single.” Ethan’s single sentence successfully made me hold back my tears. “Huh?” Ethan looked at me with a smile, “He is my attending physician, coincidence, right?” I was stunned, and a little hope rose in my heart, “Did you ask him personally?” “That’s not it.” Ethan touched his chin, “I heard it from those nurses.” Ethan has always been popular with the opposite sex. He learned from those nurses that Caleb suddenly transferred from Boston a month ago, and the information submitted when he joined was unmarried. My chest was still stuffy, “But that pregnant woman just now…” I know Caleb, he disdains lying and won’t wrong himself. If it wasn’t a fact, the moment the pregnant woman called him hubby, he would definitely deny it. But he didn’t. Ethan looked at me and didn’t speak. He thought for a while and proposed a possibility, “Maybe it’s unmarried pregnancy?” At night, when Caleb came for rounds, my eyes were already swollen from crying. Don’t know if it was my illusion, I felt Caleb seemed to be slightly stunned. But soon, he withdrew his gaze, strode to Ethan’s side, and began a routine check. First, he asked about Ethan’s injury in a businesslike manner, then asked some routine questions, without looking at me again throughout the process. My hand in my pocket clenched, and my heart felt soaked in acid water. “What did you eat today? Has the frequency of headaches increased or decreased?” Caleb asked. Ethan answered unhurriedly, “Today I ate the porridge Holly made for me personally. Heard from her mom that she cooked it at home for three hours and almost hurt her finger when dealing with crabs. Even her ex-boyfriend didn’t get this treatment!” “Strange to say, after drinking Holly’s porridge, my head doesn’t seem to hurt anymore, tsk.” Caleb’s movement paused then, turning his head, he looked at me indifferently. 3 Clearly didn’t do anything wrong, but I felt inexplicably guilty, my body subconsciously retreating. In the past, Caleb spoiled me too much. When we were together, he did all the cooking, almost nothing for me to worry about. It can be said that my body, heart, and stomach were all tightly grasped by him. It was only in recent years that I learned to cook. Thinking of this, my eyes felt sour again. Then heard Ethan issuing an eviction order, “Since there are no problems, Dr. Rivers go back and rest early.” He stared straight at Caleb, saying lazily, “It’s inconvenient for you to stay longer.” I came back to my senses, glanced at him with a warning, but was directly ignored. Just about to speak, Caleb’s emotionless voice rang in my ear, “Oh?” I was stunned, my heart suddenly beating a bit fast. Ethan turned his head, raised his eyebrows at me extremely quickly, and then turned his gaze back to Caleb, “Not a big deal either. Just…” He smiled, slowly and meaningfully, “Haven’t showered for a few days, Holly said she would wipe my body.” Hearing this sentence, Caleb obviously paused. Just when I thought he would say something, or even do something, he stood up directly, picked up the medical record, and walked away crisply. I stood there in a daze. Unwilling to admit, but had to admit. Caleb seemed to really not care about me anymore… “Holly?” “I’m fine.” I stared dead at the floor, hands trembling slightly. Don’t know how long passed, a tissue was handed over from the side. It was Ethan. I looked up, meeting his bottomless eyes. He stared at me for a while before asking nonchalantly, “It’s been almost five years, still can’t let go?” I sniffled, without any hesitation, “Can’t let go.” Ethan was silent for a moment, still smiling and said, “You also sent me a love letter back then, how come you let go so quickly?” That embarrassing incident was suddenly mentioned, I was slightly stunned. Reacting, somewhat unable to laugh or cry, “That was how long ago. Besides, didn’t you reject me at that time, and said you only treated me as a sister.” Ethan looked at me, smiled lightly, didn’t speak. 4 Perhaps the atmosphere became a bit strange, I took the thermos and left the ward with an excuse. Closing the door, I received WeChat messages from my mom, several long voice messages. Between the lines, applying both soft and hard tactics. Roughly meaning I should take good care of Ethan and seize the opportunity. I leaned weakly against the cold wall outside the ward, somewhat dazed. Since divorcing my dad, my mom changed. She rarely smiled, became strong, irritable, and had a strong desire to control me, always afraid I would leave her like my dad. I haven’t even left the state since childhood, except for college. As for Ethan… From kindergarten to high school, childhood sweethearts for more than ten years, following behind him since childhood, how could I not be moved. But he didn’t like me. The year of graduation, I summoned up the courage to hand Ethan a love letter. He finished reading the letter word by word in silence, very seriously and frankly said to me, “Holly, I only treat you as a sister.” Ethan was born with a face that attracts peaches (romance), he has always been frivolous, lazy, and casual. Rejecting my confession was the most serious thing he had ever done to me. Later, Ethan told me he had a girl he liked very much, met during a physics competition, and he planned to follow her to study abroad. What did I feel at that time? Can’t remember clearly. Only remember Ethan sent me a text message before leaving, “I know you want to go to medical school in Boston, Holly, never disappoint your own life.” Then I changed my application behind my mom’s back and went to Boston. And thus met Caleb. When I inadvertently mentioned Caleb’s name to Ethan across the ocean countless times, not only Ethan but I also realized something. During that time, Ethan lost contact for a long time. When he messaged me again, I was already with Caleb. 5 That was the first night Caleb and I lived together, I happened to be on my period. Caleb held me on his lap, slender fingers gently and softly kneading my lower abdomen through a thin layer of clothing. When the pain eased a bit, he brought a bowl of hot porridge. I had bad intentions, hooking his little finger with mine, “I won’t eat without a reward.” Caleb was unmoved, but still couldn’t withstand my pestering, big palm holding the back of my head, gave me a very soul-hooking, fatal kiss. Stopping at the right point. Finally, he straightened me up, eyes full of spring, paralyzed in his arms smiling badly, face indifferent, but voice hoarse, “Porridge is getting cold, drink quickly.” Probably because I chased Caleb first back then, and he was always cold to me at that time, after being together I liked to tease him, provoke him. The more indifferent he was, the more I liked to see him lose control. Later when we really started having sex, Caleb began to know the taste, and the proactive, uncontrolled person became him… Ethan’s message was sent at that time. He said, “Holly, I’m coming back.” Facing Caleb’s obscure, slightly probing eyes, I was open and frank, “He is my neighbor, also my brother, known for more than twenty years.” Caleb barely believed me, but every time Ethan sent a message, he looked like facing a big enemy, wanting to pretend indifference but failing, really cute. Due to many factors, gradually, I stopped contacting Ethan. At that time, Caleb and I agreed to get the certificate upon graduation. But who knew, as soon as I graduated, something happened to my family. Relatives called me saying my mom was seriously ill. When I bought a ticket and rushed over, I found they united to lie to me. My mom never forgave me for changing my college application without permission. She hated me, hated me for disobeying her, hated me for escaping her control. Even, she never accepted Caleb from the bottom of her heart. “Holly, you want to study medicine, clearly you could go to college here at home. You want to get married, Ethan is a good kid.” “Everything Mom arranged for you is what suits you best!” During that time, my mom locked me at home, confiscated my phone, and forbade me to contact Caleb. Even used my phone to send some humiliating words to Caleb in my tone: “Why do you think I would marry into a family with a father addicted to gambling and a disabled mother?” “Do you really think Ethan is just my brother? You are just a spice for my boring college life.” When I discovered all this and wanted to find Caleb to explain regardless of everything, my mom completely exploded. She stood on the balcony, veins popping on her hand gripping the railing due to force. At that time she was emotionally out of control, crying and threatening me, if I didn’t break up with Caleb, she would jump down from the twelfth floor immediately. At that moment, I retreated. No matter how much I loved Caleb, I couldn’t watch my mom die. That night, Caleb stood downstairs, pale and much thinner. He seemed to have lost all pride, clearly received those hurtful text messages, clearly thought I loved someone else, yet still almost in a humble posture, carefully begging for reconciliation. However, facing my mom’s threat, I couldn’t even go downstairs to see him once.

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Ethan is five years older than me, but I never call him “brother.” Watching him switch girlfriends one after another. For each one, I would obediently call her “sister-in-law.” On my twenty-second birthday, I waited all day, but Ethan didn’t come. I made a wish to never like him again. After my birthday, when I went downstairs to throw out the trash, I saw a familiar figure. It was Ethan’s best friend, Caleb. “Caleb, why are you here?” “Ethan couldn’t get away, so he asked me to bring you a gift.” “Oh, thanks. Where’s yours?” He smiled and said: “I prepared two gifts. I’ll decide which one to give you after you answer my question. “Ava, liking him is tiring, right? How about trying someone else? Be my girlfriend.” 1 I looked at Caleb in surprise. When did he find out I liked Ethan? I clearly hid it very well. I never showed a trace of jealousy in front of Ethan. “Caleb, I don’t understand what you mean.” He pressed his lips together, clearly smiling. But there seemed to be some nervousness in his eyes. “Then let me rephrase. “Ava Lin, I like you. “I want to ask you, would you give me a chance to date me?” But he is Ethan’s best friend. When I was five years old and met Ethan for the first time, Caleb was right beside him. Come to think of it, I’ve known Caleb for seventeen years too. I stared at his face and suddenly remembered the wish I made tonight. Caleb laughed out loud under my stare. “Why look at me like that? “Think I’m causing you trouble?” I shook my head. Not trouble, just a bit unexpected. Caleb is different from Ethan. Knowing him for so long, I don’t seem to have seen him date anyone. For a while, I even treated him as a love rival. While Ethan, never lacked women around him. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was pricked by a thorn again. After a sharp pain, I looked at him and said: “I just wished to be in a relationship tonight, and you delivered yourself to my door. “Caleb, you must have been arranged by Cupid. “Then I’ll follow God’s will and date you!” Caleb was stunned, seemingly not expecting me to really agree. He looked at me for a while, then smiled. He turned around and took out a beautifully wrapped gift box from the car. Handed it to me. “This one is for my girlfriend.” 2 I opened it in front of him. It was a necklace set with small diamonds, looking very expensive. “Isn’t this too expensive?” I knew his family was rich, but usually for birthdays, his gifts were similar to Ethan’s. When it was his birthday, I would return a similar gift. Caleb walked over and rubbed the top of my head. “It’s for you, not expensive.” As soon as he got close, the faint scent of cologne on him drilled into my nose. Different from the scent on Ethan. His was colder, like bitter lemon filled with ice cubes. I quietly stepped back, creating distance. Just as I was thinking about how to return the gift, Caleb’s phone rang. “Caleb, is the gift delivered?” The night was quiet, and Ethan’s voice came through the receiver. Along with the laughter of the girl next to him, clearly audible. “Mm, delivered.” When Caleb spoke, he kept looking at me. I felt inexplicably cramped. Eyes looking elsewhere, ears still listening to the voice on the phone. “That’s good. I just called Ava and she didn’t answer, thought she was angry.” Caleb chuckled low. “No, she went downstairs to throw out the trash and didn’t bring her phone.” “Right, she has a soft temper, never gets angry with me. “Hey wait, how do you know she didn’t bring her phone? Is she next to you? Let her answer the phone.” I turned my head immediately, afraid Caleb would hand the phone over. I just agreed to be his girlfriend. Now asking me to answer Ethan’s call. It felt awkward no matter how I thought about it. Unexpectedly, Caleb turned around and lowered his voice: “It’s not convenient for her to answer. If you have anything to say, just say it, I’ll pass it on.” “Then wish her a happy birthday, and strive to get a boyfriend this year. Every time I take her out for dinner, I have to explain unnecessarily, lest people misunderstand she’s my girlfriend.” Ethan’s teasing voice lightly spoke of my embarrassment. I clenched my hands, nails digging into my palms. Caleb lowered his voice and chuckled. “Won’t happen in the future.” Ethan paused for two seconds, his voice turned cold. “What do you mean? She’s dating?” Caleb stepped forward, his free hand holding mine. I was stunned, wanted to pull my hand away, but he interlaced his fingers with mine tightly. Caleb looked down at my eyes and whispered: “Mm, she’s with me. She’s my girlfriend from now on. If you have nothing else, hang up.” 3 Hanging up the phone, Caleb didn’t let go of my hand. “Any plans for tomorrow?” I stared at the ground and whispered no. “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow to go out and play. It’s quite cold at night, you go up first.” I nodded. Waiting for him to let go, I fled upstairs. Caleb called me from behind: “Ava, you won’t regret it, right?” I stopped but didn’t dare to look back. “No.” “That’s good. If you regret it, I’ll have to pester you relentlessly.” My face felt hot. Walked into the elevator without looking back. After returning home, sure enough, I saw missed calls from Ethan on my phone. And many messages. [Happy birthday, Ava.] [Bro is busy outside. Caleb was passing by your place on a business trip, so I asked him to bring the gift over.] [You’re with him?] [Since when?] [Why didn’t you tell me?] [Didn’t see you talking much with him usually, how come you’re dating?] [Is he pursuing you and you’re embarrassed to refuse? Don’t be afraid, bro will go talk to him for you.] I looked at the messages. Heart felt heavy. Couldn’t describe the feeling. The pleasure of revenge? Guilt towards Caleb? Or, unwillingness, grievance… After considering for a long time, I replied with a “Mm”. Ethan called via voice chat immediately. But I didn’t want to answer, clicked reject. Ethan sent another message. [Ava, have you really thought it through?] Thought it through. Don’t want to like you anymore. Ethan’s message popped up again. [Do you like him?] I don’t know. The Caleb I knew always had a faint sense of alienation at gatherings. But that superior face and cool temperament often attracted flirtations. Tonight he confessed first. Besides being surprised, I was a bit panicked. Now calming down, I also felt that agreeing to him was a bit impulsive. But Caleb might not be a bad choice. Ethan couldn’t wait for my reply and called again. I accidentally answered by mistake. “Ava, are you really with Caleb?” Ethan on the phone sounded anxious. So he can panic too? I gave a low “Mm”. Then heard him curse irritably. “Caleb forced you, right? Damn it, he knows you’re my sister, yet still made a move!” “Ava, you don’t need to be afraid of him. I’ll go talk to him—” I interrupted him, asking: “I’m not afraid of him. He said he likes me, so I agreed.” And you never said you liked me. So, why are you angry? Ethan’s anger stopped abruptly. Followed by the sound of smashing things. A woman’s frightened voice came from the side. Screaming asking him what happened. I suddenly felt that all the complex emotions just now disappeared. Ethan belongs to any woman. But impossible to belong to me. I should have seen it clearly long ago. I looked at the necklace Caleb gave me. Whispered: “Ethan, I thought you would bless me.” Before, I called him Ethan by full name. And was scolded by him for being impolite. Why call Caleb “Caleb” but not call him “Brother.” But now, I called him brother, and he’s unhappy again. Rustling sounds came from the opposite side, Ethan’s voice was tight. “Ava, wait for me, I’m going back now. We’ll talk when we meet.” The call hung up, Caleb’s message came just in time. [Ava, if Ethan comes back to find you, don’t be soft-hearted, okay?] [Give me some face, dating for a week is fine too.] I imagined what expression Caleb would have when saying this. Probably with helplessness, and faint pampering. I couldn’t help but smile. Replied “Okay” to him. 4 The next day after nine o’clock, Caleb called to ask if I was up. I hadn’t reacted yet. “Anything wrong? Caleb.” Only heard Caleb chuckle softly on the other end. “Forgot as soon as you woke up.” I immediately remembered agreeing to date him last night. Sat up abruptly. “Ah, I didn’t forget, I’m getting up now.” Caleb’s smile deepened. “It’s okay, no rush. Let me know when you’re ready.” After hanging up, my heart pounded. Covered my face in regret. Before when meeting Caleb. Ethan was always present. Oh right, speaking of Ethan. He said he was coming back to find me today. Thinking about it makes it more chaotic. Don’t know what crazy fit he’s throwing, getting so excited hearing I’m with Caleb. He doesn’t like me. Why care who I’m with? Clearly last night on the phone, I heard a woman’s voice beside him. I adjusted my mood and set Ethan’s WeChat to do not disturb. Forced myself not to think about him. Since I agreed to be with Caleb. Focus on it. When I dressed and went downstairs, I saw Caleb’s car parked downstairs. His tall figure leaned against the car door. Wearing a cashmere coat, standing posture lazy and casual. The indifferent face, upon seeing me, revealed a smile. Lifted his foot to welcome me. “Caleb, sorry, I overslept.” He gave a “Mm”. “Then how do you plan to compensate me?” I didn’t expect him to say that, stunned on the spot. “Then, I treat you to dinner?” He smiled and came to hold my hand. “Okay, but I hope you agree to another condition of mine more.” Although didn’t know what condition Caleb would raise. But being late for the first date is indeed impolite. I could only bite the bullet and agree. “Sure, say it, as long as I can do it.” “Change the way you address me, don’t call me Caleb.” (Note: In English, using first name is already intimate, so the distinction is less stark than Chinese. Assuming the request is to drop formalities or use a nickname.) “Ah? Then call you what?” “Cal.” After he finished speaking, he looked down at me. Face faintly showing expectation. “Cal” read once in heart. When about to say it out loud, it felt like burning my mouth. “C-Cal.” My voice was as small as it could be. Still heard by Caleb. The smile on his lips deepened, and he responded to me very seriously. “Mm, I’m here.” Setting aside the relationship with him. Caleb’s face, when smiling, is really lethal enough. Especially when you know, his smile is because of you. It makes one even more shy. I blushed and changed the subject. “Let’s go eat, I’m hungry.” Caleb said nothing, took my hand. He seems to like interlacing fingers very much. Last night when I agreed to date him, he held me like this too. But I’m not used to it. After eating, Caleb pulled me to see an art exhibition. “Cal, aren’t you here on a business trip? If the company is busy, we won’t go see the exhibition, you go back first.” Caleb’s family wanted him to go back to manage the company. But he said before thirty, he wanted to start his own business first. Before, every time there was a gathering, he would come sit for a while and leave. During the meal, calls and emails were endless. In my impression, he is a CEO busier than a workhorse. But today while eating, he didn’t look at his phone once. Now he wants to take me to see an art exhibition. Unexpectedly, Caleb said lightly that the company’s affairs were handled last night. Today’s time all belongs to me. I blushed, pretending to be calm. “Cal, I’m not a child, don’t need you to accompany me.” “Oh, then I am a child, I need you to accompany me.” Help, face hotter.

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In the third year of my secret crush on Ethan Sterling, his younger brother took a liking to me. So the always rebellious young master dyed his hair back to black. Quit racing, stopped playing extreme sports. Just followed behind me every day, sweetly calling me “Sister.” Everyone could see he liked me. So could Ethan. So he gave me a card: “It’s good that he has ambition now. Humor him.” Instantly, I felt it was utterly pointless. Later, Ethan got drunk and whined to me about stomach pain. But he heard sticky, wet sounds. He questioned who I was with. My breath was unsteady, and I laughed. “Humoring your brother.” 1 This is the third time Caleb Sterling has come to me with documents today. I lowered my eyes, trying not to meet his burning gaze. Adhering to professionalism, I taught him bit by bit. After explaining, a cup of brown sugar water at the right temperature was handed to me. Caleb smiled very sweetly, his canine teeth a bit wild. “Sister Jasmine, are you thirsty?” The teasing eyes of colleagues around were pinned on us. My face was a bit hot, heart moved. Don’t know how he knew my period came. Smiling and joking with him: “So meticulous, did you understand everything I said?” Caleb raised his eyebrows, confident and relaxed. Hands propped on the desk, leaning forward to circle me in his arms. Chest leaned falsely against the back of the chair, just the right sense of boundary. Don’t know what cologne he used, like sunshine, surrounding me warmly. I was a bit distracted, until he spoke smugly: “Done, amazing right?” Only then did I suddenly wake up. Pretending to be calm, checked it once, sure enough all correct. Caleb looked at me expectantly, waiting for praise. I dodged his gaze a bit evasively, dryly said: “Learned very fast.” Waiting for Caleb to leave with disappointed eyes, Luna, who has a good relationship with me, couldn’t help but crowd over: “No, Ms. Jasmine Lane, can’t you really tell he likes you?” “If you ask me, you are successful in your career now, should also spare some thought for other places.” “I think Caleb is quite good, top-quality little wolf dog (young, aggressive but loyal man), typical obedient under bed, wild on bed type.” “When first saw him, lip studs, eyebrow studs none missing, studs on ears more than moles on my face. For you, he has honestly been a good boy for three months.” Seeing me a bit distracted, she hated iron for not becoming steel, emphasizing her tone: “And I heard he keeps himself clean, is the boss’s brother, no pressure, just trust fund millions a month, also smart and romantic.” She rambled a lot. I knew she meant well for me. But she didn’t know, I didn’t accept Caleb, not because he wasn’t good enough, but because there was someone in my heart. 2 After delivering coffee to Ethan daily, I just wanted to retreat, but was stopped by him. I quickly went over it in my mind. Repeatedly confirmed several times there was nothing needed to discuss one-on-one with me, only then dared to generate a few points of expectation. Not official business, then what could it be? Ethan looked up at me, “Did Caleb trouble you again today?” Turns out he wanted to ask about his brother’s recent situation. I suppressed the disappointment in my heart, reporting dutifully: “No, he just asked me some questions.” Unexpectedly Ethan sneered: “Joined three months still have endless questions, then his Imperial College London degree is wasted.” Caleb certainly isn’t that stupid. On the contrary, he is very smart, sweet and caring. Asking me questions, picking times when I was not in good condition. Answering some simple questions, not counted as slacking off at work, could also rescue me from heavy work, letting me take a breath. Not to mention, his constant feeding made my condition much better during this time. But anyone could see, he was pursuing me like this. My eyes flickered, didn’t want to talk about this issue with Ethan. Being liked by the brother of secret crush object, actually not counted as happy. But Ethan obviously didn’t think so, tone deep and slow: “He was born with a lack of emotion and pain sensation, so he likes to pursue stimulation. When abroad, he liked playing extreme sports, drag racing, skydiving, entered ICU several times. Parents and I as brother are very worried about him.” 3 Ethan speaks little. But hearing him say so much today, I was not happy. When first became his secretary, many people praised me as clever, didn’t need words to be clear to understand. Now I wished I was a bit duller. So that heart wouldn’t sink to bottom, even uncontrollably wanted to cry a bit. Could only lose composure leaving a sentence: “Sorry, I still have urgent matters not finished, you can find someone else to confide in.” Embarrassed wanting to flee in defeat. But was nailed in place by Ethan’s sentence: “I want you to do me a favor, as a friend, Jasmine Lane.” Not Secretary Lane, but Jasmine Lane. Jasmine Lane who accompanied him from campus to workplace. Just like back then, he entered the company under pressure. People around only called him Little President Sterling, contemptuously, looking down. Attributing all his success to Father Sterling’s support, he also called me like this: “Jasmine Lane, they all bully me, can you come accompany me.” But I’d rather he didn’t play this emotional card on me. He shouldn’t trample my love like this. Nor should he push me to someone else so easily. Maybe disappointed to the extreme, I could calm down instead. Calmly, like a truly submissive subordinate. “President Sterling, you say.” Ethan frowned, a bit dissatisfied with this address. But soon restrained emotions. Being in high position for so many years, he was long used to not letting personal emotions interfere with decisions. He handed me a card: “Caleb rarely has so much ambition, Jasmine Lane, can you humor him, this is remuneration.” He still wanted to add: “No need to really accept his confession, you just need to string him along…” “Okay.” Before he finished, interrupted by me. I ignored the astonishment in Ethan’s eyes. Just like agreeing to him at school back then, so decisive. 4 Until off work, I was spiritually listless. When Caleb stopped me, I was even a bit annoyed. Tone was also bad: “Don’t you have other things to do?” Caleb thick-skinned, not hit at all: “Yes, for example I want to see the sea now, are you going?” Very inexplicable. Anger hit a soft nail. I died down a bit, couldn’t help asking why. Caleb raised eyebrows, asked back: “You don’t tell me why you are in bad mood, why should I tell you the reason I want to see the sea.” I rolled my eyes. “Oh, then I also have no reason to accompany you.” Strange to say, I could always be myself more easily in front of Caleb. Maybe the power of dislike is just this strong. Also let Caleb like the most real me. A round of eye confrontation. Caleb lost first, raised hand signaling surrender: “Afraid of you, then you smile once and I’ll tell you.” Very doting eyes. Caleb is really good looking, like the mischievous and charming childhood sweetheart in everyone’s fantasy. Made my face a bit hot, very deliberately smiled skin not meat (insincerely): “Say or not? Not say I’m leaving.” Finished speaking postured to leave. Sure enough not two steps, wrist was pulled. Caleb tone matter-of-fact: “What reason needed to see sea, want to go then go.” 5 Shoulders draped with Caleb’s coat, lower abdomen stuck with heat patch he prepared don’t know when. Ethan is a workaholic, after becoming his private secretary, I also accompanied him. Many times were latest leaving company. And now my work task became Caleb. Today is my first time getting off work so early, also first time driving to chase sunset. Car parked by sea. I looked at everything open, listening to sea sound, heart suddenly quieted down. Didn’t even react when Caleb approached me, touched my face. Wet tears wiped away gently, I realized, I cried. I waited for Caleb to continue asking like a curious baby. A bit smashing jar smashing fall (giving up on oneself), impulse to tell him everything. Unexpectedly he took out a bottle of red wine and wine glasses from nowhere. He winked at me: “I asked doctor, drink small amount, benefit qi activate blood.” Too smug. I couldn’t help laughing out. “Just you most meticulous.” We drank red wine, watching last trace of sunlight fall into sea bottom, as if nothing in world couldn’t be solved. Sky will darken, also will brighten. I turned head look at Caleb. From first time seeing him, I always felt his nose like Ethan, thin lips also cold like Ethan. But now I found his eyes bigger than Ethan. A very light small mole on lip, disappeared when smiling. Little bit freckles, very cute. Completely different from Ethan. I couldn’t help reaching out to touch his ear riddled with holes. Caleb very sensitive, neck and face red patches. But still obediently lowered head, convenient for me to touch. Like a small animal having weakness held, obediently explained: “Don’t look scary, actually not painful at all, doctor said my constitution good, pierced so many at once didn’t inflame.” I said nothing, didn’t respond either. Wait till he couldn’t help, turned head to look at me apprehensively. Eyelashes very long, like deer eyes. Suddenly couldn’t help laughing out loud. “Caleb, try chasing me see.” 6 Impulsively finished that sentence, I regretted a bit. Condemned myself in heart, want to walk out of emotional injury shouldn’t use Caleb. I could see, he really likes me. With this guilt, I didn’t have heart to refuse Caleb’s request to freeload meal at my house. Went to supermarket bought some meat and vegetables together. I stood in kitchen cooking noodles. Caleb couldn’t help, squatted at kitchen door with my big Golden Retriever, whispering: “Does Mom really know how to cook noodles? Wangwang, have you eaten before?” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t bark, go sit on sofa play.” Caleb was scolded, rubbed nose sheepishly, obediently left. I felt a bit funny, also completely relaxed. Didn’t expect, not even half minute, Caleb flashed back again. This time he had official business as excuse, tone proud: “Your phone rang.” I was busy cooking noodles, signaled Caleb to answer phone on speaker. Unexpectedly it was Ethan’s call. His tone tired: “Jasmine Lane, latest project bid proposal is with you right? Trouble send in to me.” Probably thought I was still working overtime in company with him as usual. My mood complex, momentarily didn’t know what to say. Instead Caleb spoke dissatisfiedly: “Bro, still making people run back company to send files after work time, what extinct skinning capitalist are you.” Air silent. After long while, Ethan spoke, voice very deep: “You are at her house?” 7 I took over phone, signaled Caleb to serve noodles. Avoided his question, answer very official: “Project proposal file I put on computer desktop, if you need urgently can go copy one yourself.” On phone end, Ethan voice dry: “So late, you keep him at home, do you know he likes you?” I rarely distracted a bit, watching Caleb silly holding plate bottom directly with empty hands. Walking slowly, still had mind to tease dog. Like not afraid of hot at all. Brow twitched, put down phone, took plate from his hand. Looked at his palm, sure enough red patch. Hurriedly pulled him to rinse water, no time to listen what Ethan said. Instead Caleb raised voice, like a silly sweet: “Sister of course knows, she agreed me chasing her today!” Water sound swallowed Ethan’s answer. I glared at Caleb, a bit angry: “Big young master, don’t even know how to hold plate, are you a child?” Caleb hummed twice, like puppy interacting with owner. Also a bit enjoying, tone indifferent: “I just want hold steady like this, anyway actually not painful either.” My movement paused, remembering his lack of pain sensation. Hindsight realized what a terrible disease this is. Cannot sense danger, naturally lost ability to escape danger. Finally hurt without knowing. Caleb saw my mood wrong, changed topic,贱兮兮 (cheekily/cheaply): “Okay, actually not completely painless, need sister help me blow to work.”

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