My newlywed husband and I time-traveled back three years. At that time, my boyfriend was still his best friend. He looked at me with a cold face: “Break up with him. I won’t be the other man.” I smiled at him heartlessly: “You’re too optimistic. Forget about being the other man, you wouldn’t even be number five in line.” 1 Without warning. My newlywed husband, Caleb Vance, and I time-traveled together. But the timing was terrible. We landed right when my boyfriend at the time was taking me to meet his bros. The moment the private room door opened. My boyfriend, Julian Zhou, had his hand on my shoulder, while my new husband, Caleb Vance, was sitting on the sofa, staring coldly at the two of us. “…” Just one look. I knew clearly that he had time-traveled too. After all, the old Caleb would never look at me like that. He was always aloof and arrogant. So arrogant that he could ignore everything around him, including me, who was his best friend’s girlfriend at the time. If his relationship with Julian wasn’t solid enough, he wouldn’t even have attended this gathering. But this situation was tricky… On the surface, I was Julian’s girlfriend, but in reality, I was also Caleb’s newlywed wife from three years in the future. What should I do? Before I could come up with a plan, the room erupted in cheers. Someone excitedly rushed forward and punched Julian on the shoulder: “You kid, not bad!” “No wonder you were hiding her, your girlfriend is gorgeous.” “No way, you have to treat us tonight! You’re treating from now on, single dogs like me can’t stand seeing you lovebirds being so sweet.” Julian accepted all the teasing with a smile. His hand on my shoulder tightened slightly as he comforted me: “Don’t mind them, they just love to mess around. Come, let me introduce you to my best friend—” My feet felt like lead. I was forced to stand in front of Caleb. Julian’s face was full of joy: “Caleb, like I told you, this is my girlfriend, Harper He.” I was so awkward I didn’t dare look at Caleb’s face, keeping my head down as I extended my hand: “Hello.” It took a long, long time for that hand to shake mine back. A very light grip. Fleeting, yet full of pressure and burden for me. Julian seated me next to Caleb and whispered: “You sit here, I’ll go greet the others first. Don’t be afraid, if you need anything, ask Caleb, he’ll take care of you for me.” After saying that, Julian threw out a “Thanks, Caleb,” and turned to leave. Only Caleb and I were left on the long sofa. The atmosphere froze. I silently did some mental preparation. Actually, there was no need to be scared. Caleb might not necessarily guess that I traveled back too. Just pretend nothing happened and follow the timeline. After all, I am currently Julian’s girlfriend, and the marital relationship with Caleb can be pushed back three years, so there’s really no need to— “Where did you put the tie you used to blindfold me last night?” Caleb said. “I couldn’t find it this morning.” I froze, subconsciously answering: “I think it’s on the sofa.” Caleb chuckled low: “Got it.” “…” I realized belatedly, I think I just got played by Caleb! 2 A more difficult situation arose. Under the premise that both parties knew we shared a bed just last night, how could I continue to pretend to be Julian’s girlfriend as if nothing happened? Caleb’s advice was simple: “Break up.” I protested in a low voice: “He and I are still in the honeymoon phase, how could he accept a cliff-like breakup!” I remember this gathering happened when I had been dating Julian for six months. Not long ago was his birthday. That day, he held me and made a wish sincerely: “Baby, would you be willing to meet my friends? Everyone knows I’m dating, but no one knows who my girlfriend is, not even my best friend. I want to introduce you to them, can you fulfill this wish for me?” I was bewitched and finally agreed. Caleb said indifferently: “You’re going to break up sooner or later anyway.” True. My relationship with Julian was destined to end in a breakup. But does a love with a bad ending mean the process can’t be enjoyed? I shook my head: “Not breaking up yet.” “Then what about me?” Caleb asked. To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it either. If Caleb and I were a deeply affectionate, inseparable newlywed couple, then abandoning Julian to choose him would be the natural course of action. But the problem was, we weren’t. A flash marriage, taking what we needed from each other. I shouldn’t have to be responsible for Caleb now, three years before we had any relationship, right? Caleb sneered: “Harper, good for you.” “Wait wait wait!” I subconsciously grabbed him, pleading softly, “Let me think about it.” I indeed didn’t need to be responsible for Caleb three years ago. But what if we travel back? Traveling here was without warning, what if one day we travel back without warning… facing the newlywed husband Caleb then, wouldn’t I be dead meat? I pondered for a long time and made up my mind: “I will break up, but you have to give me some time.” Caleb: “Heh.” While we were talking, the protagonist of the night, Julian, returned. He didn’t sit between Caleb and me, but instead put his arm around my shoulder, leaning over me to talk to Caleb. This posture. Instead, it pulled the distance between him and me closer. Julian wasn’t behaving while talking either, occasionally winking at me, his face full of happy smiles. Caleb looked over several times. Probably finding it an eyesore, he finally couldn’t bear it anymore, stood up and said: “Change seats.” Seats rearranged. Caleb sat in the very middle. Julian didn’t mind and continued talking to him about the gossip he just heard. Bored, I started peeling lychees from the fruit platter. One after another. The flesh was plump and juicy, I couldn’t stop eating. Suddenly, I felt a light touch on the skin of my outer thigh. My skirt was short. The touch of cool fingertips sliding across my skin spread绵绵 to the bottom of my heart. I looked up and met Caleb’s eyes. Taking advantage of Julian drinking water, he mouthed silently: “Eating so much? Forgot who was crying about a stomachache last time?” I shivered. I didn’t dare eat the one I just peeled. Unknown when, Julian came over, bit the lychee off my fingertips, and sat down beside me carelessly. Mumbling with his mouth full: “Lychees peeled by wifey are the sweetest!” The atmosphere stagnated. For some reason, I didn’t dare look at Caleb’s eyes. …What is this feeling of having an affair on both sides! I was really scared of this Shura field (complex relationship drama), racking my brains to think of a countermeasure. Before I could think of one. Caleb beside me spoke first, his voice cold: “Who is your wifey?” 3 Julian froze, the expression on his face went blank. He swallowed the lychee flesh whole, looking like he wanted to explain, but opened his mouth without saying anything. I hurriedly stood up to control the situation: “Me! I am his wifey, he’s calling me!” Caleb and Julian looked over at the same time. Especially Caleb’s gaze, so cold it could flay me alive. I clenched my palms, withstanding the pressure to look back: “Is there a problem?” Julian smiled: “No problem, baby.” He even had the mind to explain to me: “Caleb is a more traditional person, we haven’t confirmed a marital relationship, so me calling you wifey unauthorized probably seems inappropriate to him. He has no malice.” Saying that, Julian even threw a teasing look at Caleb across the air: “Come on man, why are you managing our couple’s business.” Caleb’s face turned even darker. Afraid he would say something shocking, I quickly stood up: “Suddenly remembered something, I might have to go first.” Julian held my hand: “What is it?” I recalled the situation I might have been in three years ago and made up a lie: “My advisor said there’s a problem with my thesis!” “Then I’ll take you there,” Julian said immediately, standing up. I was terrified: “That’s not necessary, right?” “Silly baby?” Julian pinched my face intimately, “Your laptop is still at my place, how is it not necessary.” This time I was really silly. After all, I really didn’t remember what happened three years ago today, let alone my laptop being at Julian’s place. I could only bite the bullet and go along: “Haha, look at my brain, hahaha…” “Silly piggy.” Julian said goodbye to everyone, paid the bill, and held my hand walking to the parking lot. My phone dinged. At the top was an unread message from an unknown number. A simple and clear question mark: [?] I felt inexplicably guilty, knowing at a glance it was from Caleb. While worrying about how to reply, Julian brought a bottle of water, unscrewed it and handed it to me: “Are you okay? Is it tiring today?” My body wasn’t tired, but my heart was super tired! I got a headache just thinking about the situation just now. I smiled awkwardly: “It’s okay.” “Looks like meeting the parents has to be pushed back,” Julian said with a smile, “My parents have been saying they want to meet you, I’ve pushed it back several times.” Looking at Julian’s profile, I inexplicably connected it to the reason for our breakup. This meeting with the parents was the fuse. Julian’s parents were very kind, and there was no deliberate difficulty at the dinner table. But they informed Julian that he needed to stay abroad for a few years after graduation, firstly to gain knowledge, and secondly to open up overseas markets for the company. They hoped I would go with Julian. For this, they could cover my tuition, living expenses, and all other costs, on the condition that I must be with Julian. At that time, I guessed that Julian and his parents might have reached some kind of deal. Probably because of me, Julian had requested not to go abroad, so his parents compromised and allowed Julian to bring me along as his girlfriend. But I didn’t want to go abroad. Especially this kind of going abroad purely as an accessory. I had just received an offer from a top domestic company, my dreams were about to set sail, the future was bright, there was really no need to give up just like that. So I refused. Conflicts began to appear between Julian and me. There were no arguments, Julian couldn’t argue with me. He just humbly requested, hoping I could make some changes for him and this relationship. After seeing my hard-heartedness, he finally chose to give in, claiming that a long-distance relationship was also fine, and he would fly back often to see me in the future. But I already felt bad then. Probably after rational analysis, I felt I didn’t love him that much, so I broke up with him before he went abroad. Julian’s fingertip suddenly poked my dimple: “What are you thinking about? You didn’t answer when I called your name.” I started, answering casually: “Thinking about meeting the parents.” Surprise burst into Julian’s eyes: “Really! Baby, are you really willing to accompany me to meet my parents? God, I’m so happy!” He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, stroking my head and murmuring: “Baby, how are you so good!” I thought, actually I’m not good at all. Just as I wanted to push him away, the car window beside me was knocked. Caleb’s handsome and elegant face appeared in my line of sight. He curved his lips in a light smile, polite and courteous: “Sorry to disturb, can I hitch a ride?” “…” 4 Caleb said he left something at Julian’s place, so he had to go there with us. Julian didn’t suspect anything and let him in immediately. In the car, they chatted happily. While my phone received messages from Caleb non-stop. [You guys hugged?] [If I wasn’t there, what else were you planning to do?] [Did I ruin your good time?] [Harper He, this is cheating!] [How could you cheat right in front of my face?] [Speak!] A message every few minutes, as if sent on a timer. I ignored him. Just like that, we stalemated all the way to Julian’s house. The laptop was indeed at his place. Only then did I remember that my laptop had a small glitch before. I originally wanted to send it to a repair shop, but Julian said he could handle it, so the laptop was sent to Julian’s house. But Caleb obviously thought wrong. He lowered his head and started being sarcastic again: [So sweet!] I really couldn’t hold it back and replied to him: [Hehe.] Caleb instantly went silent. There was no reason to stay longer after getting the laptop, plus I didn’t want to stay in this chaotic situation, so I stood up to say goodbye to Julian. Julian immediately said: “I’ll send you back to school.” “Let me send her,” Caleb said, “I’m going back to the Songpu house, it’s on the way.” I found Caleb an eyesore, retorting: “You hitchhiked here yourself, how can you send me?” Caleb laughed: “The driver has been following behind.” “…” Julian probably really trusted Caleb, raising no objections at all. Only when sending us to the entrance, as if suddenly remembering something, he wondered aloud: “Didn’t you say you left something at my place, what was it?” Caleb casually picked up a crystal ornament at the entrance. “Didn’t I say I’d give it to you before? I came to get this.” Only after getting into Caleb’s car did my tense nerves relax somewhat. But Caleb’s performance was really bad, I couldn’t help scolding: “Can’t you restrain yourself a bit? What if he finds out?” “Find out what? That you are my wife?” Caleb sneered, “I’ve only heard of the mistress needing to hide, this is the first time I’ve heard of the husband needing to hide.” “But this is three years ago!” I couldn’t help reiterating, “In the present, in this relationship, you are the mistress.” “Then break up with him,” Caleb said, “I won’t be the other man.” “It’s not up to you whether you want to or not.” I muttered softly, “I still want to go back, I still want to go back alone, but is it useful for me to want it?” Caleb glanced at me sideways. I stopped talking. Silently, I thought about the trigger for traveling here. It really was without warning. I was shopping in the supermarket when I accidentally met Julian who returned from abroad. Reunited with an old friend, I said awkwardly: “What a coincidence.” He stared into my eyes: “You married Caleb?” This wasn’t a secret, so I nodded again. His face became extremely ugly instantly, he stepped forward, grabbed my wrist tightly, and pulled me out: “Do you know what kind of person Caleb is? You married him? You don’t understand him at all, he’s not the gentle and polite noble son you imagine, he—” I struggled with all my might. My heart and eyes were full of breaking free from his hand. Didn’t notice what he said, nor did I notice when the scene beside me changed. The surroundings were no longer the crowded supermarket, but the empty corridor of the clubhouse. Julian wasn’t cold-faced, instead he was coaxing me with a grin: “Baby, you’ll see my friends soon, nervous? Don’t worry, my friends are all very nice people, especially Caleb, he has always taken care of me, you will definitely like him.” I looked at everything in front of me with suspicion and surprise, even forgetting to break free from Julian’s hand. Until the private room door opened in front of me. Until the cold Caleb appeared in front of me. Only then was I dazed, did I time travel? “Do you have a way to travel back?” “Can you keep some distance from Julian?” Two voices sounded at the same time. I recalled what Caleb just said in my mind, a bit broken. Whatever. At a time like this, the pig teammate is still considering this kind of thing? I said indignantly: “If we don’t travel back soon, I guarantee I’ll give you a green hat!”

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After my brother became an idol, I became his dedicated fansite photographer. In my photos, the background was razor-sharp, but my brother’s face was melted like butter. After seeing the pictures, my brother was silent for a long time. He Venmoed me fifty bucks to delete them. I didn’t give up. I tried again and again, failing every time. Finally, my brother couldn’t take it anymore and told me to go photograph his “nemesis,” Julian Chen. The result? A casual snap I took became a legendary photo, gaining Julian 100,000 followers overnight. Unwilling to admit defeat, my brother made me, who had already infiltrated Julian’s fandom as a “big fan,” come back to photograph him. After I “left the fandom,” countless fellow fans DM’d me crying, begging me to return. One DM stood out. It was from Julian himself. “Am I really not as good as him?” 1 My brother, Liam, went abroad to study but ended up becoming an idol halfway through, ruining my hobby of chasing stars. I switched to photography but struggled to find subjects. Liam had a brilliant idea: “Why don’t you be my fansite master? How are your photography skills?” I answered cautiously, “Uh, passable.” I asked him for front-row tickets to his latest concert and went with my heavy-duty camera lens. Liam was a bit awkward but excitedly instructed me: “Sis, make sure you make your bro look handsome.” Me: “Got it, got it, Bro.” After the show started, Liam glanced at my spot several times. Even his teammate, Julian Chen, looked over. But I was wearing a mask and dressed like an auntie; no one recognized me. I gave Liam a determined look. He returned an even more determined look. Then Liam started posing and dancing on stage, while I sat below on pins and needles. After all, watching your own brother twerk requires a certain amount of courage. Suddenly, a scream erupted from the crowd. I looked. Oh god, Liam took his shirt off. Thankfully, just the top. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, and I squeezed mine shut tight too. Fans around me screamed hoarsely: “Liam Su! Legendary photo incoming! It’s here!” Subconsciously, I pressed the shutter. After snapping hundreds of shots blindly, I finally dared to open my eyes. No, Bro, why are you still shirtless! Are you trying to ruin me? Desperately, I turned my lens toward his teammate, Julian Chen, and survived the rest of the concert relying on his peerless beauty. After the concert, I didn’t check the photos and rushed backstage to wait for Liam. Liam was taking forever. I huddled in a corner, texting him to hurry up. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I heard a hesitant voice. “…Harper?” I looked up to see Julian’s calm face. He was still wearing his stage outfit. His blonde hair was soaked with sweat, and as the lights swept over him, he seemed to shimmer with starlight. I smiled awkwardly. “Long time no see. You’re even more handsome than in high school.” He looked down at me, sweat sliding down his neck into the slightly open collar of his outfit. His dark eyes landed on my face. “Long time no see. Are you… waiting for someone?” 2 Liam never knew that his teammate was my high school deskmate. In our sophomore year, Julian suddenly dropped out and left school quietly. I lost my study buddy! Later, when Liam complained about an annoying junior member parachuting into the group, I realized Julian had also become an idol. Their group was a limited-time project pushed by the company. Liam was just living out his idol fantasy; he’d have to come back and inherit the family business with me eventually. Julian was different. In Liam’s description, Julian got into the company relying solely on his face, easily securing a debut spot. But during training, he worked harder than anyone. He was young, hardworking, and polite to everyone—except he was cold to Liam. Liam, having been a young master for over twenty years, had a bad temper and almost fought Julian several times. After debuting, they became “nemeses” because they were equally popular. He called me every day to complain about Julian. I could only nod along. I didn’t dare reveal my high school connection with Julian. Similarly, I didn’t dare let Julian find out that the teammate he had been feuding with for three years was my brother. I answered vaguely, “Yeah, I’m a fan of Liam Su. Used some connections to get in… Is he busy now?” Julian’s thick eyelashes trembled imperceptibly. “He shouldn’t be free right now. I saw the manager looking for him.” But Liam clearly said he asked for leave and would come find me right after the concert? I looked at my phone, confused. “Don’t wait here. Let me treat you to dinner?” Julian suddenly stepped closer, interrupting my thoughts. I hesitated for a second, then heard my brother’s voice. “Harper, waited long?” Liam walked out of the lounge briskly. Before he looked over, I subconsciously stepped back, putting distance between me and Julian. “Didn’t wait long… Starving! Let’s go get late-night snacks!” I hugged my brother’s arm and guiltily dragged him away. Liam glanced at the dejected Julian but noticed nothing, asking smugly: “How was Bro on stage just now?” I perfunctorily said, “Bro was so handsome, handsome to death!” But I couldn’t help looking back. I saw half of Julian’s face hidden in the shadows, his expression unreadable. 3 After eating with Liam, I imported the 700+ photos to my phone and looked through them with him. Opening shot: Lightning strike. In the first photo, the background was razor-sharp, but Liam’s face was melted like butter. A second before Liam exploded like gasoline. I quickly said, “Don’t panic! That was an accident!” I thought, out of 700 photos, there must be one good one, right? Until we scrolled to the last one, the private room remained in dead silence. In the few photos where his face was visible, Liam either looked like his dentures had fallen out or his face was as rugged as moon craters. It wasn’t that I didn’t capture him; I just precisely captured every moment Liam rolled his eyes. Liam didn’t speak. He opened his front-facing camera to confirm he hadn’t mutated. Then he asked me. “Harper, you did this on purpose, right?” I lowered my head: “Even on purpose, I couldn’t take photos like this, right?” Liam nodded: “True. Even my enemies would forgive me after seeing these.” He Venmoed me fifty bucks to delete them. I was reluctant. This was the first time I photographed my brother’s concert. It had sentimental value. I explained, “Bro, I think it’s not my technique, it’s the camera.” “What’s wrong with the camera?” “It’s a Nikon. Maybe if you imitate a bird, spreading your arms and hopping on stage? It might focus better!” Liam asked in disbelief, “You’re saying, let me, an idol, fly like a bird on stage? Am I crazy? Isn’t there a more dignified way to get good photos?” I whispered, “Bro, don’t you want to see the legendary photos your dear sister took of you?” Liam sneered: “No.” At the second concert, during Liam’s part. Everyone saw him singing, his expression suddenly becoming determined. Then, inexplicably, he spread his arms and flapped them vigorously with conviction. I quickly snapped the shot. Afraid that if I was a second late, Liam would flap himself into a cold. The audience fell silent for a few seconds. “What is Liam Su doing?” “I don’t remember this move in the dance?” “So weird.” Surprisingly, Liam’s teammates held it together and didn’t laugh on stage. Otherwise, it would have been a stage accident. Julian couldn’t help but look back at Liam several times. Then with a dark face, his gaze precisely found my direction. My hand shook, and I accidentally took a photo of Liam looking like a Special Grade Curse. I left halfway through, ran to the hotel, and started editing photos furiously. This time, although the focus was clear, I couldn’t find a single one that looked human. I closed my eyes and decided to act first, report later. I uploaded a few barely passable photos to my newly registered account “BowlOfFish.” I believed there must be fellow fans who could appreciate them! Two minutes later. I was dragged into the anti-black list by Liam’s fans. Sky fell! 4 I tried to explain in the Super Topic that I wasn’t an anti-fan, even posting photos of the merch Liam gave me to prove my fan status. But they firmly reported my photos and advised me together. “Go home, child, okay? We’re glad you like Liam Su and have unique insights, but liking him doesn’t mean you have to take photos of him.” Liars, they didn’t believe me at all. My alt account lurking in the fan group clearly saw them discussing. [She’s an anti, right? And a solo stan for someone else. She made our 6-foot Liam look like Danny DeVito, but P-shopped Julian, who only showed half a face next to him, to be so handsome. Who believes she’s a fan?] [Stabilize her first, or we’re doomed if she posts more black photos.] [What sin did Oppa commit to meet someone like this!] The next second, Liam called. “Harper, I beg you, delete the photos!” He sounded broken. I refused toughly: “No! Where are they ugly? You look exactly like in the photos!” Liam was almost driven mad, cursing: “Delete them, hear me? Keep them as family heirlooms or what?” I lifted my chin: “Yeah!” “Try making a donkey noise at me again? Harper, I’m telling you, I’ve tolerated you for a long time. If you don’t delete them, wait for a beating!” Phantom pain hit my body. I remembered Liam hadn’t beaten me for three years since going abroad. Just as I was about to yield to the Demon King, Liam’s cursing suddenly paused. I heard Liam’s impatient voice fuzzily from the other end: “Julian Chen, are you sick? I wasn’t scolding you, why are you so agitated?” My heart moved. Julian was there? Feeling an approaching low pressure, Liam covered the phone mic and turned, looking at his teammate who was emitting a chill. “Who did you say you were going to beat?” Julian’s face was dark, eyes deep. He just came out of the practice room, wearing a simple black t-shirt, arm muscles smooth but tense. His cold gaze fell on the phone Liam was covering. Liam was confused but instinctively cursed back. “Took the wrong meds? None of your business! You want a beating too?” Julian took a deep breath, laughing in extreme anger: “So, this is how you usually treat her.” From that accidental glimpse of his teammate’s lock screen, the darkness and jealousy that continued until now seemed like a joke. So the person he was jealous of was just a man who would speak abusively to her? Liam asked back with clear stupidity: “Otherwise? Treating her like an ancestor? Just coaxing her!” Julian suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly. “Indeed, I have no right to blame you.” He looked at Liam steadily and said word by word: “Treat her better.” Watching him walk away, Liam picked up the phone again: “My teammate seemed to have an episode just now. You think he’s actually sick?” I didn’t dare say a word the whole time, and I didn’t dare comment now. I had a flash of wit: “Bro, did you block me on Weibo?” Liam: “Yeah.”

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After Chase finally became my boyfriend, he was ruthless in hunting down “the other woman.” He would throw a fit if I ate with a colleague. He would cry if I said hello to a neighbor. When my ex got hit by a car and I went to visit him, Chase went absolutely berserk. Suffocated by his possessiveness, I got into a huge argument with him outside the hospital room. “I was just delivering a fruit basket!” I yelled. “Yeah, well, I used the ‘pretending to be sick’ trick to get you in the first place!” he shot back, his eyes rimmed with red. “Don’t think I didn’t hear him! He just said if he had another chance, he’d cherish you and wouldn’t let me take advantage of the situation.” “Nora, if we did it all over again, I wouldn’t be the ‘other man’ either! A man needs dignity this time!” As he wished. The next day, everything reset to the day my ex first introduced Chase to me. 1 Last night, Chase stormed out with red eyes, slamming the door. He always runs away when we fight. I was used to it. Thinking he’d soothe himself and come back乖乖 tomorrow, I climbed into our king-sized bed and slept peacefully. When I woke up, I was lying on a twin XL mattress in a college dorm. My roommate pulled back the curtain. “You up? Your boyfriend texted me saying you weren’t replying and asked me to wake you.” I picked up my phone, bewildered. A message from Ethan popped up instantly. Ethan: Still sleeping? Get up and put on makeup. Ethan: My roommate is treating us to dinner today. Staring at the word “roommate,” my heart skipped a beat. I recalled Chase’s tearful face last night and the words choked in his throat. “Nora, if we did it all over again, I wouldn’t be the ‘other man’ either! A man needs dignity this time!” After a few seconds of silence, I replied. Me: Sorry Ethan, I’m not feeling well today. Apologize to your roommate for me. Ethan called immediately. I hesitated, then answered. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” The voice of teenage Ethan wasn’t much different from my memory. I made up an excuse and hung up. Lying in bed, I tossed and turned. This year, Ethan and I were the model couple everyone envied. No one expected things to get so ugly six months later. My head was a mess, so I got up to take a hot shower. When I returned, my roommate turned to me. “Your phone kept ringing. No caller ID, so I didn’t answer.” I walked over and picked it up. Seeing the familiar number, my heart missed a beat. It rang again. I swiped to answer. The person on the other end was silent, like they were in a standoff. I didn’t speak either. Finally, ten seconds later, Chase gritted out a few words. “Nora Quinn, good for you!” He hung up. I climbed back into bed and rubbed my temples. Clearly, Chase had traveled back too. Because the Chase of this time didn’t know me yet and wouldn’t have my number. We were supposed to meet at dinner tonight, introduced by Ethan. But I didn’t go. And he was angry again. But this time, I wanted to give him a chance to choose again. In our past life, Chase and I were together for three years. He spent two and a half of them angry. I didn’t mind, but I often saw him sitting up at night crying. I was worried he’d die of anger eventually. The next day, Ethan called, saying he was downstairs at my dorm. I hesitated, then asked, “Are you alone?” Ethan paused. “Yeah, who else?” I couldn’t describe the feeling. Chase didn’t come. It seemed he also accepted that everything was back on track. “Thanks for breakfast.” I took the food. Ethan reached out to ruffle my hair. “Why so polite today?” But my subconscious dodge made things awkward. Ethan’s eyes darkened for a second, then returned to normal. “I have a basketball game this afternoon. Come bring me water.” As a girlfriend, bringing water to declare sovereignty seemed mandatory. But Ethan never used to let me go. I remembered clinging to him and whining, “Are you afraid other girls will get jealous?” Ethan had pushed me away gently, guilt written all over his face, but back then I was too blind to see it. “I…” I didn’t want this “honor” anymore. While I was thinking of an excuse, Ethan leaned in. I stepped back abruptly. The darkness in his eyes deepened. “Babe, what’s wrong with you today?” I laughed dryly and changed the subject. “What water do you want?” Seeing me agree, his expression improved. 2 I guessed Chase would be at the game. I didn’t plan to avoid him. We went to the same school; we’d meet eventually. But from the moment I entered the court, the feeling of a burning gaze sticking to me made me helpless. I looked up, but he wasn’t looking at me at all. “Babe, over here!” Ethan waved at me loudly. In my memory, he was never this high-profile. Was that gaze just now for him? I gripped the water bottle and ran over to him. People around us were jeering. “Yo, finally bringing her out to show us?” “I was wondering why he kept her hidden. She’s a beauty.” Ethan took the water, eyes shining. “I’m so happy you came.” I couldn’t focus on him. Because I felt a chill down my spine. I turned my head slightly and saw Chase standing there, expressionless. When our eyes met, he looked away indifferently and took water from a girl standing next to him. “Hold my jacket for me, Wifey. I’ll take you to dinner after.” Ethan’s voice pulled my attention back. I was slightly stunned. Wifey? Is Ethan sick? Was he this cheesy before? In my memory, Ethan was very cold when we dated. “Mm.” The moment I agreed, a loud crash came from a nearby trash can. Everyone looked over. Chase dusted off his hands. “Just throwing out trash.” Me: … I was too familiar with this look. He was angry again. And not just a little. But the current Chase had no right to be angry. Before, he could argue and fuss with me. Now, we were strangers who hadn’t even met. I didn’t understand basketball, so I sat in the stands watching quietly. Ethan was my current boyfriend. But my eyes kept drifting to Chase. I rubbed my forehead, annoyed. So I just looked down at nothing. After who knows how long, a pair of basketball shoes appeared in my vision. I looked up and locked eyes with Chase. Compared to the Chase three years later, his features weren’t as sharp yet, but he was still blindingly handsome. His gaze was cool. Neither of us spoke. “Excuse me.” Finally, he spoke. Voice cold and hard. Knowing him, he was probably about to pass out from anger but was holding it together. Looking at the wide path around me, I silently pulled my legs back. A familiar scent wafted past as Chase walked by expressionless. My heart tightened. Chase had never been this cold to me. It hurt a little. But before I could hurt for two seconds, the man turned back. “Excuse me.” Me: … I watched speechlessly as Chase moved water bottles from his left to his right, one by one. Walking back and forth in front of me. He walked past a dozen times. Until Ethan’s voice sounded. “Babe, jacket.” I looked up. Veins popped on Chase’s hand gripping a water bottle. He stared at us quietly. Ethan smiled gently, taking the jacket and holding it to his chest. “So fragrant. It smells like you.” The sound of a water bottle crushing was loud. We looked at Chase. He calmly tossed the empty bottle. Lifted his jersey to wipe his hands, “accidentally” revealing his eight-pack abs. “I’m used to washing my hands with mineral water. Tap water is dirty.” It felt like watching someone I know try to act cool. My mouth twitched. I wanted to laugh. Ethan’s smile stiffened for a second. He put his arm around my shoulder. “Forgot to introduce. Babe, this is Chase Sterling, my roommate.” I nodded. Ethan patted my head affectionately. “This is my girlfriend, Nora Quinn.” The air was weirdly quiet. Ethan dropped his hand and held mine tightly. I stiffened. Why did it feel like I was being stabbed by eye daggers eight hundred times?! “Let’s go eat.” Before we turned, Chase spoke again. “I haven’t eaten either.” Ethan smiled. “Then go eat.” I felt something was off. In my memory… was the relationship between Chase and Ethan this awkward? 3 Chase pursed his lips. “Together.” Ethan nodded. “Okay, I’ll call a few more friends. My treat.” He took out his phone to call, but his hand gripped mine tightly. It felt awkward, but I didn’t want to pull away, so I stood there stiffly. I turned and saw Chase taking a jacket from a girl. Turns out, Chase’s jacket had been with the water girl this whole time. I looked away indifferently. … “The heat is on inside. Want to take off your coat and give it to Hubby?” As soon as we entered the private room, Ethan sat on my left and tugged at my cardigan. I was embarrassed. Was Ethan really this greasy before? Calling himself Hubby is really cringe… But before I could take off my coat, someone sat on my right. Seeing who it was, I froze. Ethan pulled my chair closer to him. “He just finished playing, he smells like sweat. Don’t want to stink you up, babe.” Before he finished, Chase’s chilly gaze swept over. “Didn’t you just finish playing too? You don’t sweat?” “My sweat doesn’t stink. My girlfriend won’t mind.” “People can’t smell their own body odor.” I sat in the middle, listening to their back-and-forth, like a helpless wife. Trying to ease the awkwardness, I finally squeezed out a sentence. “No, neither of you stink. You both smell fine.” The atmosphere got even weirder. A chuckle came from the right. The girl next to Chase smiled at me. “Sister-in-law is so cute. No wonder she caught Ethan.” “By the way, teach me how you caught him.” She looked at Chase ambiguously. Chase’s face got stinkier. This was his sore spot after we got together. Although Chase had many sore spots. But the fact that I pursued Ethan actively was something he always held a grudge about. To use his words when drunk: “I tried so hard to seduce you, but he just stood there and you loved him.” Very cringe. But Chase cried hard at the time. He was genuinely hurt. Ethan propped his head up, looking at me sweetly. “She’s clumsy. She doesn’t know how to chase guys. Her love letter had typos…” Screech. The sound of a chair dragging across the floor was ear-piercing. The three of us looked up at Chase. 4 Chase’s face was terrifyingly dark. I suspected he might punch Ethan the next second. But he just stood up, said “Bathroom,” and left without looking back. Ethan’s friends arrived one by one, but Chase didn’t return. Ethan enthusiastically introduced me to everyone. His friends, in both my past and present life, didn’t really like me. Ethan didn’t like me interacting with his friends. A chubby guy sat in Chase’s seat. He smiled meaningfully, raising his glass to me. “Sister-in-law, didn’t expect Ethan to introduce us to you. Drink?” Silence for two seconds. A few guys exchanged winks. Ethan frowned and reached for the guy’s glass. “She can’t drink. Don’t bully her.” Before he finished, a large hand landed on the guy’s head. Chase had just come out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his hands. He shook the guy’s head like solving a Rubik’s cube. “Chubby, get up. That’s my seat.” The guy’s face changed. He turned around sharply. Seeing Chase’s height, he gritted his teeth and moved away. Ethan cleared his throat. “They just like to joke. If you don’t like it, I won’t bring them next time.” Of course I knew what he was covering up. Ethan had an ambiguous childhood friend, “Little Green Tea.” His friends all knew. They claimed pure friendship, but it was friends with benefits. That girl had liked Ethan for years. She was “self-sacrificing” and had a “good personality,” so Ethan’s friends felt injustice for her. But instead of targeting Ethan, the culprit, they targeted me. Seeing his guilty look, I said nothing. A tsk came from beside me. “Has he not washed his hair for days? Filthy. Nora, tissue.” Chase poked my arm, forcibly pulling my attention back. The girl next to him handed him a tissue. He pursed his lips, staring at me stubbornly. I pretended not to see. The girl took the tissue back. Now Chase had nowhere to wipe his hands. So, like a three-year-old, he angrily wiped his hands on his own chest. The girl’s mouth twitched. Probably a germaphobe, she stopped pestering Chase and turned to talk to the guy on the other side. As soon as a dish was served, Chase frowned and moved it away. Then placed another dish in front of me. In a few minutes, everything in front of me was my favorite. I curled my lips but said nothing. Ethan silently put a piece of meat in my bowl. “Babe, eat.” I looked at the meat and calmly moved it aside. Chase’s mouth was about to curve up to the sky. He imitated Ethan and put a piece of meat in my bowl. The temperature on Ethan’s side dropped a few degrees. I moved both pieces of meat aside. Chase’s smile instantly collapsed. It was definitely colder on Chase’s side. He was angry again. Anyone with eyes could see the two were competing. The pile on my plate grew higher, but I didn’t touch it. Near the end, I stood up to help a girl pack leftovers. She said she had a dog at home. Ethan drank a bit too much; he slurred and pulled my arm. “Babe, really like… really like you.” He used force. I didn’t react in time and fell onto his lap. Silence. Chase stood up, eyes suddenly red, glared at me, and stormed out. I scrambled off Ethan’s lap. Looking at the phone on the table, I chased after him. The night wind was strong. Chase’s shadow was elongated by the streetlight. I called him. “Chase?” The man turned around, speaking arrogantly. “Why aren’t you with your boyfriend? Chasing me?” “You forgot your phone…” As soon as I finished, Chase’s face dropped again. I sighed. “What do you want? You said yourself you didn’t want to be entangled this time. Now you’re crying…” Chase exploded like a firecracker. “Who’s crying?! Who’s crying?! I said I’d do it, no entanglement! I absolutely won’t be shameless this time!” “You can be with whoever you want, I don’t care at all!”

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My childhood friend, Sawyer, funded the development of a new type of bionic leg. It was meant to replace human legs, helping paralyzed patients walk normally again. To make his sponsor happy, Sawyer strongly insisted on being the first test subject. But who could have expected the machine to malfunction during use? To save Sawyer, my legs were caught in the gears and ground into mincemeat alive. Sawyer was filled with guilt, swearing to protect me for life. But turning his head, he complained to his sponsor: “She has no legs now; she can only crawl on the ground like an animal every day.” “You don’t know, every time I sleep with her, I feel like a bitch is in front of me.” Hearing this, I completely broke down, rolling down the stairs wheel and all, falling to my death. Opening my eyes again, I returned to the day Sawyer’s sponsor developed the bionic leg. 1 The Lab. Chloe Zhou announced excitedly and excitedly. “Ta-da~ Miss Chloe is announcing good news!” “My new bionic leg experiment has come to a perfect end. This research, which is about to go down in history, is now just short of a human subject for testing. If the test passes, it can be on the market!” “Now let me see who is willing to be my first guinea pig? I’ll treat them to breakfast for a week.” The senior brothers immediately laughed and joked around. “Your experiment hasn’t even been tested, and you dare to find a human subject? Do you think we’re stupid!” “That’s right, for your breakfast, we might break our legs. It’s not worth it. Hurry up and find an animal to test first.” Chloe Zhou immediately put her hands on her hips and pouted, snorting with dissatisfaction. “Fine, you mortals just don’t believe in Miss Chloe’s strength. When the test is successful and it goes on the market, you’ll be crying!” As soon as the words fell, my childhood friend, Sawyer Ping, immediately volunteered. “Since they all have no eyes, let me be the first guinea pig for Miss Chloe Zhou!” Seeming afraid that Chloe Zhou would refuse, he actively started putting on the bionic leg. In my past life, seeing this scene, I immediately went forward to dissuade him, including other senior brothers who also started persuading. After all, this hasn’t been tested yet, and rash experimenting could have unimaginable consequences. But all the words couldn’t stand against Chloe Zhou’s delicate smile: “I knew Senior Brother Sawyer was the best to me.” So he plugged it in without hesitation, and then screamed in pain. I was worried about accidents, so I stood by watching. I pulled him out immediately, but my legs were rolled into minced meat. But in this life, I just took two steps back, crossed my arms, and watched appreciatively. The senior brothers took turns persuading Sawyer Ping, but he wouldn’t listen. Everyone looked at me, asking me to persuade him. After all, in everyone’s eyes, we were childhood sweethearts who grew up together and were even engaged. So I also spoke up hypocritically. “Sawyer, this is very dangerous. Don’t try it. After the experiment passes and there are no problems, you can be the little junior sister’s guinea pig again.” “Otherwise, if there’s really an accident and your legs are gone, what will you do? You are still so young; it will be too late to regret later.” Chloe Zhou immediately snorted with dissatisfaction. “Senior Sister Li, I think you are jealous that I developed the bionic leg before you, so you are deliberately pouring cold water.” “But Senior Brother Sawyer is the best to me; he won’t listen to you.” After finishing speaking, she provocatively acted coquettishly towards Sawyer Ping. “Senior Brother Sawyer, am I right?” Sawyer Ping nodded dotingly. “Yes, yes, yes, whatever my little junior sister says is right!” “It’s just an experiment, Ari, don’t make a fuss.” Hearing this, the smile on my lips became brighter. I also specially took out my phone to start recording all this. This wonderful moment is worth my lifelong aftertaste! 2 Sawyer Ping seemed afraid that any of us would stop him. His movements were very fast. After putting it on, he grinned at us. “It’s a pity you didn’t participate in the test.” “It feels very comfortable to wear. Even before pressing the switch, I can feel the support on my calves. This can not only allow paralyzed patients to stand up but also allow people with poor physical strength to climb mountains.” “Little junior sister, you are amazing! Let’s witness this miraculous moment!” After speaking, he pressed the switch excitedly. In a flash, sparks flew, and the air was filled with a burnt smell. Immediately afterwards, Sawyer Ping’s screams of pain resounded. “Ah——” “My leg, help! Help!” Sparks burst out, but the flames were small and not dangerous. But even so, Chloe Zhou was frightened, covering her mouth and screaming, then trying to run out. It was the senior brothers who stopped her quickly and shouted. “Chloe Zhou, the switch is right next to you. Hurry up and turn off the switch!” “Don’t run. This is the experimental product you developed; only you understand it best. Turn it off quickly!” “Hurry up, or Sawyer Ping will be strangled to death!” Chloe Zhou shook her head frantically. “No, it’s too scary. I’m afraid.” “You are his brothers, you save him, or Senior Sister Li saves him. She is Senior Brother Zhou’s fiancée; she saves him!” After finishing speaking, she pushed me towards Sawyer Ping and then ran out of the lab. This escaping from battle at the last moment directly made Sawyer Ping miss the best rescue time. Blood and minced meat flowed out from the gaps of the bionic leg, bright red and dazzling. I couldn’t help licking my lips; it was really good-looking. Although I still wanted to appreciate his painful screams and struggles for a while longer. But if I don’t take action, I’m afraid he’ll die here. That would be too cheap for this animal. So I pretended to react, feigning urgent concern: “Sawyer, hold on, I’m coming to save you. You must be okay!” “The power cord is burned out, and the fuse has blown. Conventional methods of turning it off won’t work. I can only try to use scissors to cut the connecting wire for you. Although it’s dangerous for me and I could easily be crushed, I’m willing to do it for you!” “What are you still doing standing there? Call 911 quickly!” In this instant, everyone would feel that I loved him incredibly. For him, I could even give up my life. 3 The ambulance arrived very quickly. Sawyer Ping, whose lower body was mangled into a pulp, was rescued by me. I was covered in blood, but not a drop was mine. After five hours of emergency rescue in the operating room, his life was barely saved. Uncle Song and Auntie, who rushed back from abroad immediately, both had eyes swollen red from crying. They reprimanded the principal and professors who came to console them. “What is going on here? My good son was sent to school, and he almost lost his life.” “Is this the result of my annual donation of five million? Who approved such a dangerous experiment? Why wasn’t a professor watching by the side? Are you all useless? Does this school still want to remain open!” The Song family is a big family in New York’s elite circle, once standing at the top of the pyramid. Their strength and connections are unquestionable. Just as the professor wanted to explain, Chloe Zhou hurriedly rushed to answer and shift the blame: “Uncle and Auntie, this is all an accident. It was Senior Brother Sawyer who actively wanted to do this experiment; the professor didn’t know at all.” “Senior Brother Sawyer becoming like this now is caused by Senior Sister Li Jinhe not turning off the power in time. She was standing by the side at the time, and among everyone present, her professional level and practical operation are the strongest. Only she could have saved Senior Brother Sawyer.” “If she had taken action immediately, Senior Brother Sawyer wouldn’t have become like this.” After finishing speaking, she looked at me with red eyes full of sorrow and indignation. “Senior Sister Li, why are you so vicious? Senior Brother Sawyer just turned 22. How can you be so cruel?” “You are childhood sweethearts and even engaged. He treats you so well. You are really too much!” This ability to counter-accuse is really master level. Other senior brothers in the same laboratory looked complex and lowered their heads. This silence was an admission. If Chloe Zhou hadn’t bought them off, then only Sawyer Ping remained. Sure enough, he spoke weakly and with difficulty. “Ari, I love you so much. How can you treat me like this?” “It’s true that I didn’t accompany you to watch a movie the day before yesterday because the experiment was too busy. You can be angry and ignore me, but why didn’t you save me? Do you hate me that much?” If it were just Chloe Zhou’s words, I could still refute and explain. But these words from Sawyer Ping would completely nail me to the pillar of shame for ruining him. My whole family would owe him. Then they would justifiably occupy my family’s property to further strengthen the Song family. It really is killing two birds with one stone. It’s just a pity that I filmed a video in advance. 4 Auntie Song questioned me with a livid face: “Li Jinhe? Is what my son said true?” “My son hasn’t treated you badly these years, right? Your uncle and I also claim to have taken good care of you. Whenever there are good things, we always save the first one for you. Is this how you treat my son?” “Do you have a conscience!” I was not polite either and retorted directly. “Auntie, I know you are very angry, but wait a moment before being angry, because I am angrier than you now.” “I risked my life to save Sawyer, but ended up being slandered by him and Chloe Zhou together. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have saved him!” As soon as these words came out, the ward fell silent. Sawyer Ping looked at me in disbelief, not expecting me to still be so stubborn at this time. The corner of Chloe Zhou’s mouth held the arc of a successful scheme. She calculated that my temper was not good and would definitely get angry. At that time, my reputation for bad temper and viciousness would definitely spread. This matter would also completely dissociate from her. And just at this time, my phone was already connected to the TV, directly projecting the video recording the entire process of Sawyer Ping’s accident. Before the accident happened, Sawyer Ping’s proactive diligence and ingratiation. When the accident happened, Chloe Zhou, who was scared into screaming, shirking responsibility, and finally fleeing. In the end, it was me who disregarded the danger and rushed up to save people, me who asked classmates to call 911, which completely saved Sawyer Ping. Being exposed by me, Sawyer Ping not only didn’t apologize but became angry from embarrassment: “Li Jinhe, why did you take a video? What are your intentions?” “I am your fiancé. You should have risked your life to save me. You clearly could have saved me earlier, but you deliberately delayed the time. You just wanted to harm me!” Uncle Song angrily shouted: “Enough, Sawyer Ping, there should be a limit to your nonsense!” “Li Jinhe doesn’t owe you anything. That she could disregard her life to save you in such a critical situation is already worthy of you and worthy of us!” “You brought this matter upon yourself. Knowing there were risks, you actively wanted to experiment. Now you deserve it!” After teaching his son a lesson, he looked at Chloe Zhou with cold eyes. “It’s you who caused my son to become like this.” The aura was too strong. Chloe Zhou was scared and cried directly, legs weakening and almost kneeling down. Sawyer Ping hurriedly played the hero saving the beauty: “Dad, this matter has nothing to do with Chloe Zhou. It was me who initiated it!” Just as the words were finished, Mrs. Song’s slap landed hard on Chloe Zhou’s face. A dozen slaps directly caused her face to swell up, all the skin broken. “Our family kindly funded you, and this is how you requite kindness with enmity, right?” “Seducing my son is one thing, but also almost harming my son’s life. I tell you, my son is ruined, and don’t you think about having an easy life either!”

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I have a body like a pin-up model, but a voice that sounds like a toddler who swallowed a helium balloon. It’s a fatal mismatch. Every time I open my mouth, I get roasted. [Shut up! Does it hurt to pinch your throat like that all day?] [Stop faking it! You have a femme fatale face, why force the baby voice? Unfollowing!] The entire internet had been dragging me for a year. But I was a coward, so I never dared to clap back. Then came the reality show. I was publicly humiliated, pointed at, and cursed out in the streets. I finally snapped. I grabbed the Film Emperor standing next to me and wailed, completely breaking down. “Waaaah! I told you I wasn’t faking it! I wasn’t!” Unexpectedly, the usually toxic-tongued Film Emperor broke character instantly. His ears turned bright red, and he patted my head, looking completely panicked. The netizens, ready for a show, were confused. [Wait, is she… is she crying or flirting? Is it physically possible to sound that cute while having a breakdown?] [Xavier, why are you mute? Tell her she’s fake! Why are you blushing like a schoolboy?!] [LOL, spread the word! Hollywood’s sharpest tongue has malfunctioned. I think his bones just melted from that voice!] 01 I’ve had this baby voice since I was a kid. I also hit puberty early. Because of this, my dad hated me, and my mom said I was born to be a trophy wife for some rich old man. Later, a talent scout scouted me for my looks. When I debuted, my manager, Sarah, swore on her life I’d be a star. “With that face! With that body! You just stand there and you’ll be trending in minutes!” She laughed at the sky, convinced I’d take over Hollywood. But everyone underestimated the destructive power of my squeaky voice. A whole year passed, and my public image was in the gutter. It got to the point where people rolled their eyes the moment I opened my mouth. [Chloe Song is such a pick-me! If she just acted like a cool girl, I’d stan. Why force this sweet girl persona?] [Honestly, it was cute at first, but now it’s just annoying.] [Can she just shut up? If she wants to seduce men, go to a club, don’t disgust us on the internet!] The insults were endless. But I was too timid. I could only bite my blanket and swallow my tears. Sarah tried to comfort me. “Bad publicity is still publicity! Listen to me, with this contrast, if we just focus on your career, you’ll be rich sooner or later!” I burst into tears. “Is this the netizens’ revenge?” Sarah, a fiery Texan woman, felt she had developed the patience of a kindergarten teacher after managing me for a year. My voice made women scream and men weak in the knees. But the contrast between the sound and my appearance was too great. No one believed it was natural! The damn netizens insisted Sarah had no taste, ruining a “cool girl” by forcing her to be a “cutesy baby.” Who would understand her pain? “I begged every contact I have and got you a spot on a huge reality show,” Sarah said, gritting her teeth. “This time, we’re taking back everything that belongs to us!” She believed that once people saw me up close, men and women alike would fall into my net. Sarah giggled, lost in her own fantasy. 02 But before I even got to the variety show, I was trending for all the wrong reasons. #XavierKnightCallsChloeSongDisgusting# #ChloeSongFakeVoice# The trending topic was a clip of Xavier Knight, the youngest Film Emperor, streaming a video game. It had over a million reposts in half an hour. In the video, a teammate was dragging the team down. After dying a few times, she apologized in a pinched, nasal voice. Xavier laughed in anger and started roasting her. “Wow, did you swallow glue? Why are you pinching your throat like that?” “If you can’t speak normally, shut up! Don’t bark here! Your mouth is spewing nonsense.” Xavier had incredible acting skills, but his reputation was mixed. His mouth was venomous. His sarcasm was unmatched, making fans love and hate him. This had nothing to do with me, until Bella, the current “It Girl,” commented under the video. [That girl’s voice is so sweet, just like our Chloe on set.] A vague comment that twisted the narrative instantly. Netizens turned their firepower on my Twitter. [I knew that pick-me voice sounded familiar. It’s Hollywood’s resident baby, Chloe Song!] [Who else is that fake? Daring to use a baby voice in front of Xavier? Everyone knows he hates that.] [Doesn’t sound like her to me… Chloe is annoying, but not that bad, right?] [Comment above is a paid bot. If not her, is it Bella? Bella is known for being naturally sweet, they aren’t even comparable!] The internet was full of curses. I was almost dug out of my grave by netizens analyzing every video of me speaking. I was sitting at home, minding my own business, when the pot fell from the sky. Sarah was furious. “That damn Bella is the real fake! She thinks just because she has a cute face I can’t tell? That teammate was probably her, and she dragged you down to hide it!” Even though I was used to being flamed for my voice, this was my first time being mass-attacked on a trending topic. I felt like dying. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The next second, my phone rang. “Chloe! Log in! Bro is gonna take you to the Rift to slap Xavier Knight in the face!” 03 Jordan is the most famous male voice actor in the industry. We met in a dubbing club in college. He was indignant. “WTF, my sister’s voice is so sweet. Is Xavier deaf or just looking for a fight?” I was moved to tears, swearing to hug this brother’s thigh forever! Before I could react, Jordan pulled me into a lobby and matched us against Xavier. I started playing in a panic. But I suck at games. Fierce as a tiger in spirit, 0-5 in stats. Xavier’s gnashing teeth came through the headset. “Uninstall the game. Go play Candy Crush! You’re so bad you’re carrying the other team.” The chat went wild. [Did Xavier step in dog poop today? His luck with teammates is terrible.] [It’s probably another girl. Is she gonna apologize in a baby voice again?] Jordan was anxious, urging me on the phone. “Scold him back! Why are you here? If you don’t roast him, you’re getting flamed for nothing!” provoked, I turned on my mic. But having always been the one scolded, I stuttered for a long time before weakly replying: “So… so what?” Jordan almost coughed up blood. “Listen to me! I’ll say a line, you repeat it!” I nodded like a chicken pecking rice, stammering as I roared after him. “Did I eat your rice? Why do you care so much?” “If you hate me that much, you can die first!” “Did I ask you to speak? Why are you barking!” Just as I was getting into the rhythm, Jordan went silent. I was dumbfounded. And then? I froze for a while. Then, Xavier’s stammering voice sounded. “Sorry.” On the screen, the tips of his ears seemed a bit red. “Another round? Duo queue?” AHHHH! I curled my toes in embarrassment, my hand shook, and I swiftly exited the game. 04 I ran away, but the internet exploded. [Holy crap, so sweet! Who can resist that little voice?!] [Wait, she scolded him and ran? Who taught her that? Did you see Xavier freeze up?] [LMAO, this guy changed faces so fast. Half an hour ago he was a demon! But that girl’s voice really is too sweet!] Even more ridiculous, Xavier posted a tweet apologizing for his behavior tonight. [I was too fierce tonight, don’t take it to heart…] Since Xavier didn’t know it was me, I casually replied. [It’s okay, it’s okay. Just another day of being blamed for things I didn’t do.] I scolded him back anyway. Maybe because I was too D-list, I never realized the impact of interacting with a Film Emperor. My casual reply caused my notifications to explode. [You? Chloe Song, where do you get the nerve to leech off this?] [Do you really not know how annoying your voice is? Don’t make us laugh!] [It’s easy to tell the difference between a fake pick-me and a natural sweet voice, okay?] The harsh comments kept coming. But among them, I noticed a default-avatar account constantly defending me. [Her voice is sweet! What’s it to you?] [So what? I like it!] [Still calling her fake? What are you? Deaf?] [Damn it, if my main account wasn’t banned, I’d expose you all!] He attacked every negative comment indiscriminately. The style was vaguely similar to… Xavier? I shook the thought from my head, moved to tears. I secretly liked a few of his comments. Brothers for life!

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Married for five years, I finally got pregnant. When my husband, Ethan Sterling, heard the news, he spent a fortune booking the entire VIP wing of the hospital to ensure my safe delivery. I thought I had married the perfect man. That was until I woke up in the middle of the night and heard Ethan whispering into his phone in the hallway: “Chloe, don’t be angry. I’ll come to keep you company tomorrow. She’s due soon. The baby’s cord blood will definitely save our son.” “I know you’re terrified of pain, that’s why I’d never let you suffer through childbirth again. Besides, she wanted a child so badly. Let’s just consider this me giving her a chance.” 1 Standing at the bathroom door, my blood ran cold. The baby in my belly seemed to sense my distress and kicked me hard. I couldn’t help but let out a gasp. A flushing sound came from the bathroom, and Ethan walked out. His face paled when he saw me, a flicker of panic in his eyes. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you standing there?” “I… my stomach felt uncomfortable. I just got up to use the restroom, and the baby kicked me.” I really wasn’t feeling well. My blood was boiling, and the realization of Ethan’s scheme cut through my heart like a knife. “I’ll take you to the hospital!” I didn’t refuse. Ethan carried me out and sped to the hospital. Fortunately, the baby was fine. However, because my emotions were volatile, the doctor insisted I stay for observation. After tossing and turning all night, I finally fell into a heavy sleep. The next morning, I woke to find Ethan sitting by my bed, his eyes bloodshot. “Ava, how do you feel? Are you hungry? I’ll go buy you breakfast.” I nodded. Ethan turned and left. The nurse who came to check my temperature looked envious. “Mr. Sterling is so considerate to you.” Considerate? Sure. How could he not be considerate to the incubator carrying the cure for his real son? I forced a smile and touched my stomach. Seven months. If I gave birth now, the baby would survive. This pregnancy hadn’t come easily. My fallopian tubes were blocked. I had endured hundreds of IVF injections to conceive this child. But Ethan said the cord blood was to save that woman’s baby. Was I just a tool? A biological vessel? I struggled to sit up and checked Ethan’s location on my phone. He played the role of the devoted husband perfectly, never hiding his phone or privacy from me. We even had location sharing enabled for safety. He probably forgot about it. He said he was buying breakfast, but the dot on the map showed he was in a different ward on the floor below. I walked straight down, dragging my heavy body, until I reached the stairwell corner. There, I saw two entangled figures. Chloe, Ethan’s first love. Ethan was holding her chin, his voice husky. “Babe, this is a hospital.” “It’s a Sterling family hospital. You own it. What are you afraid of?” “But what about Ava? Our son’s condition is worsening. We can’t let anything happen to her pregnancy. If it weren’t for preserving my figure, I wouldn’t let her carry your child!” “It’s brilliant that you came up with this plan.” Chloe’s hand traced circles on his chest before she grabbed his tie and pulled him into a blind spot away from the cameras. Hearing the sounds of intimacy, I clamped my hand over my mouth and turned back to my room. The baby moved again. My stomach hardened, and I started to sob quietly. The child I had prayed for wasn’t even mine? Ava, you are pathetic. He played you like a fiddle. Why? Why should I bear the consequences of their karma? My quiet sobbing turned into loud wailing, scaring the rounding doctor half to death. Ethan rushed back. Seeing me like this, he roared at the staff, “How are you taking care of her?! If anything happens to my wife, I’ll sue you all!” He knelt by the bed and hugged me. “Ava? Ava, look at me. What’s wrong? Tell me, I’ll fix it.” I looked at him through tear-filled eyes. My gaze landed on his tie. I grabbed it and flipped it over—there was a smear of lipstick on the back. It was Chloe’s provocation. My stomach churned violently, and I leaned over and vomited all over him. 2 Physiological disgust made me retch until there was nothing left but bile. Tears mixed with vomit; I looked wretched. Ethan was frantic, calling doctors over to check on me. When I finally caught my breath, I pushed him away. “Get away from me. You smell disgusting.” His face went white. The doctor explained, “Pregnant women are extremely sensitive to smells. It might be your cologne or body odor triggering it.” Ethan seemed to realize something. He immediately stripped off his jacket and threw it in the trash. “Ava, I’m sorry. I didn’t change my clothes from yesterday. I must smell stale. It’s my fault.” I shook my head weaky. “I want to sleep.” “Okay, I’ll stay with you.” He sat beside me. I pretended to sleep. Before long, Ethan grew restless. “Ava? Ava, are you asleep?” I didn’t make a sound. He tiptoed to the door and whispered to someone outside, “Why are you here again? What if she sees you?” “Junior wants to see you!” “Daddy!” Even though I was prepared, hearing that child call him “Daddy” made me tremble uncontrollably. Ethan sensed something and shut the door tight, cutting off the sound. Tears streamed down my face as I cried silently under the covers. I took a deep breath, wiped my face, and calmed myself. I turned and saw Ethan’s phone on the nightstand. I picked it up. He didn’t use a privacy screen with me. I unlocked it easily. The chat history was clean. Chloe wasn’t even in his contacts. Ethan was cautious. But with a three-year-old kid involved, there had to be traces. I remembered a trick I saw online about hidden interface systems. Following the tutorial, I found the second profile. I entered the password again—my birthday. The irony. The background was a family photo of the three of them. The hidden profile was filled with memories of him and Chloe. After reading everything, I silently put the phone back. Pain climbed from my heart to my limbs. Suddenly, the door opened. Chloe walked in. She smirked when she saw me awake. “Ava, you heard everything, didn’t you?” I looked at her coldly. “How old is the child?” “Junior is three.” Ethan and I had been married for five years. The child was three. That meant when I miscarried my first baby, hers was being born. Chloe seemed to read my mind. She looked at me triumphantly. “That night you called Ethan? I was in labor. He booked the entire building. The medical team was on standby for me.” “Junior was born that day. You called, his phone was off. Later he told you he was in a meeting, right?” “He was actually holding my hand in the delivery room. He spent the entire month of my postpartum recovery with me.” “When you were hospitalized for the miscarriage, I was on the floor above you.” “Speaking of which, aside from the marriage certificate, he really is a devoted husband.” I remembered. The first year of marriage, I got pregnant. Ethan was “busy,” always in meetings or locked in his study. But that night, he said he had a business dinner. I got up to use the bathroom, missed a step, and fell down the stairs. The pain was blinding. I called Ethan. His phone was off. I had to call the ambulance myself. I lost the baby alone. 3 Ethan didn’t come home until dawn, red-eyed and unshaven. He held my hand and swore he’d never leave me. I smelled milk formula on him then, but I was too naive. I thought I was useless for losing the baby. Ethan Sterling, what a master of time management. “Ava.” Chloe walked over and patted my hand condescendingly. “Give birth to this one, and I’ll tell Ethan to treat you a little better.” She turned and left. I clutched my stomach, feeling suffocated. After the first miscarriage, Ethan cooked all my recovery meals personally. I felt so guilty back then. Now I realized, those meals were probably practice for Chloe’s postpartum care. Three years of dating, five years of marriage. Eight years of my life, living a lie, just to be a blood bag for her son. What a joke. I threw off the covers and walked out. I saw Ethan talking to Chloe at the end of the hall. I walked straight up to them. Ethan rushed over. “Honey, why are you out of bed? You’ll catch a cold!” I shoved him aside, walked up to Chloe, and—right in front of Ethan—slapped her across the face. Twice. Ethan gasped. “Ava!” “Chloe, why are you still haunting my husband!” I turned to Ethan. “Can you not forget her? If that’s the case, I’ll grant you your wish and leave!” Ethan panicked. “No! It’s not like that!” “Chloe, tell my wife yourself what happened!” Chloe looked indignant. “My son is hospitalized. I asked Mr. Sterling for a loan, but he refused. He said it’s my problem, not his!” “Mrs. Sterling, sorry to disturb you!” She gave me a hateful look and stormed off. Ethan took my hand and pressed it to his cheek. “Honey, are you relieved? Hit me if you’re still mad.” I didn’t hesitate. I used all my strength and slapped him. Silence filled the corridor. Ethan didn’t get angry. He rubbed my hand tenderly. “Did that hurt your hand? Let me rub it.” I sneered internally. He really could bend and break. “Ethan, I want crystal pork elbow and soy duck. Go buy it.” He agreed immediately and ran off. A nurse behind me sighed, “Mr. Sterling treats you so well.” “That’s not love,” I said coldly. “That’s guilt.” I went back to the room, took out the saffron I had prepared, brewed a strong tea with dozens of strands, and drank it all. Ethan, you owe me. Today, you pay. I went down to the pediatric ward. Chloe glared at me when I entered. “What do you want?” “I came to see my husband’s bastard son.” The pale boy in the bed was pitiful, sure. But wasn’t I pitiful too? Chloe was furious. She shoved me toward the door. “Ava, I’m warning you, stay away from my son!” She dragged me to the end of the hallway. “If you’re scared, why provoke me!” I laughed. “I know Ethan won’t give you a title. You’re forever in the dark. Chloe, you’re pathetic. You’re a mistress, and your son is illegitimate. He’ll be laughed at his whole life.” I patted my stomach. “The one I give birth to is legal. No one can take that away.” She realized that as the legal wife, I held the cards. “You’re dreaming! Once that baby is born, Ethan will kick you out! I am the real Mrs. Sterling!” I mouthed the words at her: Mistress. Bastard. Chloe snapped. She shoved me hard. “I am not a mistress!” I smiled at her as I let my body fall backward. I tumbled down the stairs, watching the horror dawn on her face. Pain hit me as expected. I felt the warm blood beneath me and smiled. Ethan, this is the karma for your betrayal. 4 The surgical lights overhead flickered. I woke up some time later to see Ethan’s anxious face. His voice was hoarse, his collar crumpled. He looked nothing like the decisive CEO. “Honey, you’re awake!” “Our baby…” I touched my flat stomach, my face a mask of grief. “He’s in the incubator. The doctor says he’s fragile, but don’t worry, specialists are watching him.” Seven months premature. He would live, but after that much saffron tea, the child would likely have issues. Ethan, are you happy now? “Can I see him?” Ethan held me down. “Don’t rush. Recover first.” “Call the police. Chloe pushed me! She killed our baby!” I wept. Ethan looked pained. He had someone bring Chloe in. Her face was swollen with slap marks, her hair messy, blood at the corner of her mouth. Ethan had already punished her. “Mrs. Sterling, I’m sorry.” Ethan kicked her in the shin. Chloe fell to her knees with a thud. “Honey, let’s not involve the police. We can handle her ourselves.” Ethan clenched his fists, glaring at Chloe. I said calmly, “Something this big happened. Where is Ms. Liang’s husband? Why isn’t he here?” “She did this to me. Her family should be apologizing. Or is her son a bastard who can’t be seen in public?” “Ava!” Ethan shouted suddenly. I looked at him. “What? Did I say something wrong? She caused my premature labor. Her family shouldn’t apologize? A mistress is a mistress.” Chloe turned pale. Ethan couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough, Ava. She acted alone.” “Fine. Then I want to press charges. No settlement.” Ethan agreed quickly. “Okay, we’ll call the police.” “Ethan!” Chloe cried, begging him with her eyes. Ethan remained expressionless as the police took her away. I let out a breath. However, Chloe was out in three days. My private investigator sent photos of Ethan’s assistant picking her up from the station. I sneered. Ethan, you’re soft-hearted after all. She’s your son’s mother. What am I? I pretended not to know. I stayed in the hospital for a week, then moved to a high-end postpartum center. Ethan spared no expense. I accepted it all. I needed to recover. I contacted my best friend, Mia, to draft divorce papers. She was shocked. “Ava, are you crazy?” “Everyone knows Ethan treats you like a queen!” “I had a premature birth because his mistress pushed me. And the baby in my belly… wasn’t even mine.” Before the “accident,” I had secretly done an amniocentesis. The DNA didn’t match mine. They used my womb for their embryo. Mia was furious. “What kind of animals are they? Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Ethan arrived shortly after I hung up. He held flowers and a gift box. “What’s this?” “A custom necklace. You’ve worked hard, honey.” Inside lay a sapphire necklace. Expensive. “You mentioned it last time. I remembered.” I smiled. “Thanks, I love it.” If I recalled correctly, this was a set. Necklace, ring, bracelet. Ethan, who is wearing the other two pieces?

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Bad news: My husband, who is five years older than me, seems to be able to hear my thoughts. Worse news: He can only hear a few words. Me: “Hmm, Elias, the roast beef you made today is a bit tough.” What he heard: 【Elias is a bit tough.】 Me: “It’s getting late to take Elias out for dinner. How about we go for Peking duck tomorrow instead.” What he heard: 【Elias is no match for a duck.】 Me: “If my bestie doesn’t hurry up, I’m going to sneak a piece of cake. Gogogo.” What he heard: 【Sneak out to eat. Gogogo.】 … In the last few days, I’ve noticed Elias looking at me with a strange expression—aggrieved, restrained, and despairing. He seems about to shatter. 1 At my best friend’s birthday party. I lost a round of Truth or Dare. Under everyone’s pressure, I posted a Facebook status— “Just dropped off my young boyfriend with the six-pack. Lit a cigarette in the car, mind filled with thoughts of my white moonlight ex. Checked my phone, and my washed-up old husband messaged again asking why I’m not home yet. Ugh, so annoying. If he rushes me again, I’m divorcing him.” After editing, I hit send without hesitation. My best friend giggled and draped her arm around my shoulder: “My dear princess, aren’t you going to block your lawyer husband from seeing this post? Be careful, if he sees it and gets jealous, you might be in trouble when you get home tonight.” I shook my head subconsciously: “He won’t.” My best friend blinked excitedly and patted me firmly: “Who would’ve thought, Stella. I never expected that boring, rigid, stick-in-the-mud old relic, Elias, would be so easily wrapped around your finger?” Stumped by her question, I paused gloomily for a few seconds, then reached out to spin the bottle on the table. “Today is your birthday, why are we talking about me? Let’s keep playing.” At my urging, the game quickly moved to the next round. No one took my best friend’s passing remark to heart. Except for me. I stared quietly at the spinning bottle on the table. By some strange impulse, I clicked into my chat with Elias. The latest notification on the screen read: The other party retracted a message. It was two minutes after I posted that Facebook status. Elias sent me two messages in a row, then retracted both. I frowned in confusion and sent a question mark. Elias replied instantly. 【No, it’s nothing, just a slip of the hand. I didn’t mean to rush you, absolutely not.】 【I just wanted to say… that restaurant you love is now delivering. You’ve been using a lot of energy, do you want me to order you something to replenish it?】 He paused, then added. 【…I, I’ll order a meal for two.】 I glanced at my buzzing phone and replied while playing the game. 【Not now, my mouth is numb and spicy from all the food, it’s a bit inconvenient.】 Elias suddenly went quiet. 2 The party ended at 11 PM. My best friend thoughtfully called her college cousin to be my designated driver. The alcohol went to my head, and in my daze, I couldn’t help but recall the bits and pieces of this marriage. Elias and I were in an arranged marriage. At the time, my parents asked me to choose between two stepbrothers from the Xi family. One was the calm and reserved Elias, five years my senior. The other was Elijah, my age, lively and outgoing. Initially, I chose the younger brother, who had a similar personality and shared interests with me. But on the day of the engagement, Elijah overslept after partying with his friends the night before. His car broke down on the way over. When he finally arrived at the venue, he opened the box containing his engagement suit, only to find Crayon Shin-Chan pajamas inside. This series of events made the usually proud me lose face in front of everyone. In my anger, I grabbed Elias, who was standing beside me dressed like a peacock and looking perfectly suited for the role of the groom. Then, I kissed him hard on the lips, tasting the faint peppermint flavor in his mouth. I still can’t forget Elias’s expression—shocked, angry, astounded. He looked like a good man who was being forcibly taken but was helpless to resist. Under everyone’s gaze, he pursed his lips tightly, pointed a trembling finger at me, and said word by word: “I am a decent man from a good family, an innocent young lad…” Me: … And so, Elias and I were united by a strange turn of events. Over these two years of marriage, I’ve discovered that Elias has a very different attitude toward this marriage than his rigid appearance suggests. He is extremely indulgent with me, not caring who I go out with or what time I come home at night. Even if I stay out until 2 AM, all I get is the living room light left on, a bowl of hangover soup with an increasingly strong aroma on the table, and a nonchalant remark: “You have work tomorrow, go to sleep early.” Although we started as an arranged marriage, Elias is tall, handsome, and capable. He’s incredibly service-oriented, reliable, and has plenty of money. I’ve gotten used to his presence, his habits, and I even get butterflies from his inadvertent touches. But when I think about my best friend’s analysis of his personality and his actual attitude toward me, I can’t help but feel distressed. Elias seems to regard our relationship merely as an arranged marriage. He fulfills his duties and obligations as a husband, but has no romantic feelings for me. 3 The more I thought about it, the more my headache grew. I stumbled as I pushed open the front door, suddenly sensing something was wrong. Usually, the house is brightly lit, but tonight only a single chandelier in the living room was on. The entire house seemed shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere of resentment, thick and damp, like it could breed a hundred evil spirits. I shook my head, laughing at myself for drinking too much and hallucinating. But when I turned around, I was startled and jumped by Elias standing in the shadows behind the door. Elias was shirtless, looking like he had just returned from a run outside. His cool white skin was flushed an unnatural red, his abdominal muscles trembling slightly with his breath, and his wrists had several scrapes oozing blood droplets. I patted my chest and said irritably: “Elias! What are you doing standing here like a ghost?” Elias’s dark eyes locked onto me. After a long silence, he mechanically moved his lips. “You’re back. I’m here waiting for you to come home.” His voice was hoarse, his tone flat like dead water, sounding for all the world like a loyal husband waiting for his wife who returned late from drinking. I sniffed. Besides the citrusy hormonal scent on him, I seemed to smell an out-of-place scent of skincare products, very much like my whitening and brightening serum. Elias pursed his lips in forbearance, his dark gaze bypassing me to look gloomily out the window. I followed his gaze and saw the retreating figure of my best friend’s cousin. I subconsciously explained: “Oh, that person is…” Before I could finish, Elias interrupted me hurriedly, his voice trembling slightly. “Person? …Where is a person? What person? I was just thinking about work matters, I didn’t see any person, completely didn’t see anyone, where is there a person…” I was silent for a moment, examining Elias with a strange look. Elias immediately turned his head to avoid my gaze and whispered. “Why don’t you change your shoes first… I, I’ll get you a glass of water.” With that, without waiting for my reply, he fled into the kitchen. The sound of water boiling soon came from the kitchen. But besides the sound of water boiling, there seemed to be other strange noises mixed in. I listened carefully. Hmm, when did Elias buy another kettle? And one that made such desperate and miserable crying sounds. So noisy. 4 Half an hour later. Elias finally emerged from the kitchen. Besides hot water, he also brought a late-night snack. I leaned comfortably on the sofa, waiting for him to serve me. The light from above the coffee table annoyed me, and I waved my hand vigorously. “The living room lights are too yellow. It’s hurting my eyes. So annoying.” As soon as I spoke, Elias paused. Boiling water splashed out. Instantly scalding the back of his hand red. Yet he seemed not to feel the pain. Instead, he pressed hard on the burn on his hand as if punishing himself. After a few seconds of eerie silence, he murmured softly: “Is the lighting… really all you wanted to talk about?” I tilted my head in confusion: “Elias, are you talking to me? What did you say? My headache made me miss it…” Elias turned away, brought the water glass over, and forced a stiff smile: “No, nothing. Drink some water.” I blinked, my gaze falling on an open, exquisite gift box on the table. Inside the box lay a chain with several large, sparkling diamonds embedded in it, and two silver letters—X and W—hanging at the end. Elias wasn’t the kind of romantic man who would buy a necklace as a gift. So, it’s very likely that this necklace was given to him by someone else. I hesitated for two seconds, then whispered sourly: “Where did this necklace come from? Such an old-fashioned style and design, looks like something older people would buy to wear…” As soon as the words fell, the air in the living room suddenly solidified. Elias’s breathing stopped abruptly, as if someone was choking him. I sensed something strange and looked up at him instinctively. Under the glaring light, Elias stood stubbornly, looking shattered, his eyes empty, like a pathetic puppy abandoned by its owner. This reminded me of our wedding night. At that time, Elias was on the verge of losing control. His eyelashes trembled, his voice choked up, and warm tears fell like broken beads onto my collarbone. At the very last moment, he buried his face in the crook of my neck and said huskily and seductively: “Stella, it feels so good…” …

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When I was six years old, my parents had my little brother. Crouched in a corner, I saw him get swapped with another baby with my own eyes. I silently switched them back and told no one. Eighteen years later, a boy in ragged clothes and faded jeans ran up to my parents, crying his heart out. “Mom, Dad, you’ve been loving the wrong person! I’m your real son!” 1 When I returned home after closing a hundred-million-dollar deal, the atmosphere was weird. My parents sat silently on the couch. I instinctively looked for my brother, Liam. He wasn’t there. Probably still at school. Upon seeing me, my parents’ grim expressions relaxed a little. “Asher, you’re finally home! Something huge has happened.” Mom hugged me, eyes red. My heart skipped a beat. “What is it?” Dad hesitated before speaking. “Asher, Liam… might not be my son.” I looked at Mom in shock. “What nonsense! Liam isn’t my son either!” Mom looked furious. I narrowed my eyes. “Alright, who’s the idiot spreading rumors that Liam isn’t your kid?” My parents started explaining what happened while I was out closing the deal. It was simple. Just after I left, a boy in shabby, washed-out clothes ran up to my parents. He cried as if his heart was breaking. “Mom, Dad, you’ve been loving the wrong person! That Liam is a fake! His biological father switched us at birth!” Because of this, my parents had been distressed all day. I understood. “So, you believed him? You guys are so gullible. Here, transfer me a hundred million first, let me see just how easy you are to fool.” My parents glared at me and started explaining why they believed him. “You don’t know, he knew Liam’s birth date perfectly, even the attending doctor’s name. He knew everything in detail.” My expression didn’t change. “So what? Lots of people knew that back then.” “And!” Mom paused, then continued, “Remember your grandma’s family heirloom jade bracelet? He has it.” “When Liam was born, your grandma was still alive. She adored him and insisted on tucking that bracelet into his swaddling clothes, saying it was for his future wife.” Dad nodded. “Right. But later, when your grandma remembered the bracelet, she couldn’t find it anywhere. She searched until the day she died and never found it. She regretted it so much.” Their words reminded me of something. When Liam was born, I was six. The nanny took me to the hospital and pointed at Liam, saying this was the new brother Mom and Dad gave me. I liked him a lot and stared at him for a long time. Dad had to go back to the office for something urgent, and Mom fell asleep from exhaustion. The nanny took a call and left in a hurry. I was sleepy too and dozed off in the corner behind the curtain. When I woke up, I saw a man sneaking in. He placed the baby in his arms into my brother’s crib and took my brother away. I rushed out and saw the man enter a room at the end of the hall. I didn’t leave. I waited until the man and a haggard woman in a hospital gown went to a corner to talk. Avoiding their line of sight, I snuck in from their blind spot and switched the babies back. I never told anyone. It happened so long ago that I sometimes thought it was a dream. It felt unreal. I gathered my thoughts. So now, someone has shown up with the jade bracelet Grandma gave Liam to claim his parents? Leaving aside whether the dream was real or not. If it was real, Liam is my brother, the brother I protected with my own hands. If it wasn’t, even better. That means my brother was never switched. I snapped back to reality and looked at my parents. “So, how did you settle him?” Mom pursed her lips, looking a bit guilty. “Remember that villa not far from our house?” “Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “You not only gave him a house but one near us? Are you guys okay?” 2 Mom bit her lip. “He’s had a hard life all these years!” I scoffed. “What? Planning to acknowledge him already? Did you do a DNA test?” Silence. “If the test comes back positive…” Dad stopped mid-sentence, his voice choking up. I understood. They were afraid. Afraid it was all true. Afraid their biological son had suffered for eighteen years, and afraid Liam really wasn’t their son. “You must do a DNA test!” I said firmly. “Find time to meet him, collect whatever samples you need, and do it yourselves.” “As for Liam…” I paused. “Keep it from him for now.” Otherwise, he’d be heartbroken. My parents agreed. Whether Liam was their biological son or not, eighteen years of love couldn’t be faked. With a plan in place, my parents were still anxious. “Asher, if, just if, this is true, what about Liam…” I looked up at them seriously. “Then call the police, confess whatever needs confessing. As for the two victims, you figure out the other one. Liam stays with me. I’ll take care of him. Besides, he just turned eighteen. He doesn’t need you anyway.” My parents mumbled something but didn’t speak. Just when I thought we’d get results soon, something happened at Liam’s school. Liam got into a fight. I was surprised. In my memory, Liam was gentle and never got angry with anyone. When I rushed to the school, Liam’s fists were still clenched, his eyes red with rage. My heart skipped a beat, terrified he was hurt. “Liam, are you okay? Are you hurt?” I checked him two or three times, confirming he was fine before relaxing. Liam started complaining the moment he saw me. “Bro, your fiancée, Chloe, that shameless woman is hooking up with another guy!” Chloe Jiang, daughter of the Jiang family. My fiancée by arranged marriage. We didn’t have deep feelings for each other. I agreed to the arrangement only because my first impression of her was decent. Hearing this, I looked at Chloe, whose nose was bruised. “What happened?” Standing next to Chloe was a boy about Liam’s age, wearing clothes washed white with age. They stood close, clearly more than just friends. “Asher, your brother is crazy! Hitting a woman? Is he even a man?” Chloe was furious. “And Matt and I are just friends! Why is he freaking out?” Liam’s fist clenched again, ready to swing. “Stop pretending! I saw you sneak a kiss! Shameless!” I quickly grabbed Liam and looked at the boy next to Chloe. “This is…” His clothes didn’t look like they came from high society, nor did his mannerisms suggest a wealthy upbringing. I had never seen him at any banquet either. Must be a commoner. So how did the Jiang family princess know him? A flash of guilt crossed Chloe’s face. “He… he’s just a friend. We go to the same school, met by coincidence.” Before I could speak, Liam exploded. “Keep pretending! Your lips were practically on his face! I didn’t know the Jiang family had such upbringing. I’m going to ask Uncle and Auntie Jiang about this!” Liam never let me be wronged. He didn’t know our engagement was purely business; he thought I really liked Chloe. Now Liam was all thorns, wanting to prick Chloe to death. The teacher arrived and started discussing a solution. Before I could voice my opinion, Chloe spoke coldly. “If you want to resolve this, fine. Liam hit me, he must apologize!” 3 My gaze fell on Chloe. She seemed exceptionally bold today. “Don’t you know why Liam hit you? You want him to apologize? Where’s your shame?” Chloe’s face turned green then white. Before she could speak, the boy beside her spoke up. “Brother, you misunderstood. Chloe and I are really just friends.” The moment he opened his mouth, the smell of “green tea” (manipulative innocence) overflowed. “Are you shameless? Clucking like a hen? Are you laying an egg? A grown man acting like a green tea bitch!” Chloe frowned and suddenly jumped out, furious. “Asher, enough! Matt is your biological brother! Do you have to humiliate him like this? Let me tell you the truth! The brother you’re protecting so carefully is the fake!” I narrowed my eyes, confirming my suspicions. Before I spoke, Liam exploded again. “Are you psychos? Who the hell isn’t my brother’s brother? Do you have no shame? Haven’t had a brother in eight hundred lifetimes so you come to steal mine?” I didn’t speak, seemingly defaulting to Liam’s words. The next second, Matt’s eyes turned red. Coupled with his decent looks, it was quite striking. Giving off the vibe of someone who suffered a massive grievance. I frowned. Then I heard Chloe’s furious voice again. “Liam, let me tell you the truth. You aren’t a child of the Lin family. You were switched by your biological father! Matt is the real Lin family son!” Matt. That was indeed the name of the boy my parents mentioned. Strange. When did Matt get involved with Chloe? And how much of Chloe’s hand was in this mess? While I was thinking, the murmurs around us pulled me back. Headache. I planned to suppress the news. Now not only did Liam know, but the whole world was about to know. This couldn’t be kept secret anymore. Liam didn’t believe it at first, until Chloe pointed the spear at me. “He’s so capable, he definitely knows. Ask him if you don’t believe me.” Liam looked at me. “Bro, is what she said… true?” I didn’t know what to say to Liam in that moment. Seeing I didn’t answer immediately, Liam understood. His face went pale. I understood. Anyone would panic in this situation. But I would never abandon my brother. 4 The world went silent for a moment, a silence that made Matt uncomfortable. “Brother, Chloe and I really are just friends. We got close because she helped me meet Mom and Dad, giving me a chance to reclaim my identity.” I didn’t speak, just pondered. I wondered how a poor kid like Matt got into my parents’ high-end villa community. Turns out it was Chloe’s doing. Matt didn’t stare at me constantly, but his gaze drifted to Liam now and then. I clearly caught the jealousy in his eyes. I didn’t call him out, just warned him. “Mom and Dad said they’re doing a DNA test tomorrow. They should have told you. Be there on time.” “As for your identity, don’t say anything to me until the results are out. And don’t call me brother.” I pulled Liam behind me and looked at Chloe. “Miss Jiang, I hope one day I can meddle in the Jiang family’s business too.” Implying she was meddling. Chloe exploded instantly, furious. “I was kind enough to help the Lin family, afraid you’d be scammed by a fake, and you’re ungrateful? You don’t know what’s good for you!” “And Matt! Matt is your real brother, yet you only care about a fake. Ridiculous!” Impatience showed in my eyes. “That’s none of your business either!” I didn’t want to tangle with them anymore. I dragged Liam home.

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Ethan’s first love was accidentally locked in the office. To punish me, he locked me in an abandoned cold storage unit to reflect on my actions. “You need to taste what Lily went through, so you’ll learn your lesson!” He locked me inside with only a bowl of water. But he didn’t know it wasn’t abandoned. After he left, the unit turned on. I froze, trembling uncontrollably, crying for help until my bloody handprints covered the door and walls. Seven days later, he wanted an apology and had the unit opened. He found a frozen corpse. 1 Ethan checked the time after a busy day. “It’s been three days. Has Chloe admitted her mistake yet?” “That woman is stubborn!” His first love, Lily, entered with chicken soup. “Ethan, let it go. She didn’t mean to.” “Three days is enough.” Ethan’s expression softened when he saw her. “You’re too kind. If Chloe had even a fraction of your understanding, it would be great.” “Don’t be mad at her. She just cares too much about you.” Hearing this, Ethan took out his phone and called his subordinate. “Has Chloe admitted her mistake?” “No, there’s no sound from inside. Mr. Ethan, could something have happened?” “What could happen? Since she won’t admit her mistake, let her stay there!” Hanging up, he returned to his cold demeanor. Lily looked smug beside him. Ethan, you’ll never get my response. Because I’m already dead! I died three days ago. That “abandoned” cold storage unit turned on after they left. I was trapped inside, crying out to no avail. At first, there were voices outside. I banged on the door and begged, but got only indifference from the guards. “Mr. Ethan said you need to reflect in there, ma’am. Please don’t make it difficult for us.” “No! Please, the unit is on! Someone help!” But there was no sound outside anymore. They left. At first, I was calm, looking for a way out. But as the temperature dropped, I couldn’t think. I ran in circles to generate heat. In the end, I couldn’t run anymore. I felt frozen stiff. I curled up in a corner, hoping to get warm. This place was originally for seafood storage. After the goods were moved, only shelves remained. I piled the shelves in front of me, hoping to block the cold air. But it was useless. The moment I realized I was dying, my heart went cold bit by bit. When I saw my own corpse, I was shocked! The frozen me in the corner, eyes full of despair, door and walls covered in bloody fingernail marks. Just as I was about to go over, a force sucked me out, and I ended up beside Ethan. Hearing his words now, I found it ridiculous. Ethan, I reflected with my life. I hope I never have to see you in the next! I stood by, watching Ethan and Lily look into each other’s eyes. Lily handed him her phone. “Ethan, I booked tickets for the art exhibition. Come with me tomorrow!” “Okay. It’s late. Go rest.” Lily took his hand. “I’m afraid of the dark. Stay with me.” Ethan reluctantly agreed. I forgot, Lily lived in our house. After returning from abroad, the first thing she did was contact Ethan. Using the excuse of being unfamiliar with the place, she asked to move into our home. Ridiculous. She was local. Five years abroad and suddenly she’s unfamiliar? When I objected, Ethan looked impatient: “Chloe, her parents aren’t here. Do you know how dangerous it is for a girl to live alone?” I knew. Before marriage, I also lived alone in a rented apartment. Ethan said to me then: “Chloe, girls should respect themselves. I don’t want to cohabit before marriage.” Now thinking about it, he played the double standard game perfectly. Ethan accompanied Lily to the guest room. It was called a guest room, but it was right next to our master bedroom. I originally intended it for the nursery. But as soon as Lily arrived, she said the room had good lighting and she liked it, so Ethan gave it to her directly. 2 I watched coldly as Ethan walked her to the guest room. Lily was about to leave when a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. With a crack of thunder, she screamed and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. Ethan stiffened, and Lily held onto him tightly: “Ethan, I’m so scared. Can you stay and keep me company?” Ethan’s hand lingered on her back for a moment, then he patted her, “Okay.” At that moment, I felt like a clown because I was also afraid of thunder. I remembered when I lived alone, a sudden heavy rain and thunderstorm came one night, and the power went out. I was so scared I almost cried. So I called him, wanting comfort. But what did Ethan say? “How old are you to still be afraid of thunder? Chloe, don’t use this method to get my attention. You need to know that you are an adult and independent. Be good, okay?” He hung up the phone, and that night I tightly wrapped myself in the quilt, relying on the phone flashlight to get through. I couldn’t fall asleep until dawn. Thinking back now, I was truly humble. Clearly, Ethan didn’t care at all. There seemed to be a wall between him and me forever. I laughed bitterly. Although I was dead, I was still afraid of the thunder. I hugged my arms and shivered. I wanted to leave, but I couldn’t go anywhere. I could only stay and watch Ethan comforting Lily in his arms. And she shrunk into Ethan’s arms, her eyes sharp and proud. I sighed. Lily would always be the vermilion mole in Ethan’s heart. What was I? I shook my head and looked outside. Even in death, I was still afraid of thunder. Fortunately, this moment didn’t last too long. The thunder stopped after an hour, and Ethan left the guest room. Lily watched his back and smiled proudly, murmuring to herself: “Ethan. You will always be mine, no one can take you away!” I was a bit surprised to hear this. She still wanted Ethan even now. Then why did she leave back then? Ethan too. Since he couldn’t forget her, why did he marry me? After returning, Ethan acted uncharacteristically. He looked at my photo on his phone and said in a deep voice: “Chloe, I hope you can learn a lesson. If you soften up and admit your mistake, I’ll let you out!” Looking at Ethan’s face, I just felt ridiculous. Soften up? Admit mistake! What did I do wrong? I didn’t lock Lily in the office! But Ethan wouldn’t listen to my explanation at all because Lily acted like a green tea bitch, saying she didn’t blame me, so Ethan was certain I did it. He locked me in the abandoned cold storage unit, killed me, and now wants me to admit my mistake? Ridiculous. Ethan is also a smart person, being able to sit in the position of company president means he’s not brainless, but when it comes to Lily, he becomes deaf and blind. The next morning, the guards of the cold storage unit felt something was wrong and reported tremblingly: “Mr. Ethan, should we let the madam out? There’s no sound at all from inside, and a bowl of water can’t last for five days!” Ethan hesitated for a moment, then said coldly: “Without food or drink, a bowl of water is fine for ten days. Since she’s so stubborn, let’s continue. I want to see how long she can hold on!” “But, but there’s no sound at all from inside. We are worried, what if the madam…” “Don’t worry, Chloe is just pretending!” 3 Ethan’s sentence sealed my fate, so the guards didn’t say anything more. At this time, Lily walked in and heard him say this, a smile appeared on her lips, “Ethan, forget it, it’s been several days, I’m fine!” “No, she made you stay locked in the office for so long, she should be punished.” Lily had a smile on her face, but said: “Ethan, isn’t it too much? After all, she is your wife.” “She treated me… it’s also my fault, always troubling you, making her jealous. Just let her go!” Lily sounded nice, seemingly excusing me, but every sentence nailed me down. Ethan fell for it. “Lily, you are always soft-hearted. Fine, for your sake, I’ll give her a chance!” Lily’s face stiffened, not expecting Ethan to say this. “What’s wrong?” Seeing her expression changed, Ethan asked: “What’s wrong?” “Nothing, just thinking that I haven’t seen her for days, better bring a doctor along!” Is Lily that kind? I doubted it. But she was right, bring a doctor to confirm my death. To save trouble later. Ethan, I looked forward to you finding out the truth, really wanted to see your expression when you know I’m dead. Ethan took a deep breath and held Lily’s hand, “If only she had a fraction of your understanding.” “Ethan, she is your wife after all.” Ethan’s eyes were complex, and I sneered. I never intended to fight Lily for anything. Wife? This title was ironic. Even without this so-called reflection, I planned to divorce him. I really had enough. It’s just a pity about that little life. I involuntarily touched my lower abdomen, feeling pain in my heart. At this time, Ethan’s face darkened, and his voice was unquestionable: “No need, you don’t need to plead for her. Chloe is just putting on an act!” “Every time it’s either this pain or that pain, or saying she didn’t do it. I’ve seen through her!” “None of you are allowed to plead for her!” “Unless she apologizes, she is not allowed out!” Hearing this, Lily seemed relieved and stood aside without speaking, while I was a little stunned. Ethan, so this is what I am in your heart. A sting in my heart. Fortunately, I’m dead, I don’t care anymore. Ethan finally remembered me and took people to the abandoned cold storage unit. When they got to the door, the guards were trembling, “Mr. Ethan.” “Has Chloe softened up yet?” “Mr. Ethan, no. We asked through the door, no response from inside.” “Madam, could something have happened?” “I’m worried…” Ethan snorted coldly: “What’s there to worry about? Just playing tricks!” “Open the door! I want to hear this woman apologize personally!” Lily smirked, and the guard quickly went over. They were dumbfounded when they opened the door of the cold storage unit. Ethan’s voice came from behind, “Let her come out!” “Mr., Mr. Ethan, the cold storage… the cold storage seems to have started!” Ethan walked over, “What started? You want to shirk responsibility, right!” At this time, he was standing at the door, and the cold air from inside continued to pour out, making people shudder! Ethan’s face turned pale, “Chloe, don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you turned on the cold storage. Get out here!” Silence. Everyone around looked at each other. Ethan was furious. After hesitating for a long time, he said coldly: “Bring her out for me!” As soon as the voice fell, several people rushed in. When they saw the frozen corpse curled up behind the shelves, they were terrified! “Madam… Madam froze to death!” 4 Ethan flew into a rage, “Nonsense! How could she die!” He rushed in, and vaguely saw a person curled up behind rows of shelves. Ethan trembled. I followed him. Although I was prepared, seeing my own corpse still scared me. I opened my eyes and looked straight ahead, staring at him, my face covered with frost, and my ten fingers were full of dried blood. There were traces of my struggle everywhere on the ground and walls. The moment our eyes met, Ethan staggered twice and knelt down in front of me with a thud. He stretched out his hand trembling, wanting to touch but daring not. “No, this is not her, impossible!” “The cold storage unit was abandoned, how could she freeze stiff!” “Get the surveillance video for me, see what happened!” He turned his head and saw the bloody handprints on the wall, his lips quivered, he stood up and rushed to stroke the wall, then looked at me in the corner. Although my hands were frozen hard, they were still bloody, all ten fingers covered in blood. Ethan went mad, suddenly rushed forward and hugged me, “Chloe, you did it on purpose, didn’t you? This is all fake, you are scaring me, aren’t you? Get up, get up!” “I don’t believe you just left like this, Chloe, hurry up, I don’t blame you anymore, I won’t punish you anymore, you don’t need to reflect, quick! Get up!” “Speak to me!” He pulled and dragged me frantically, but my body was frozen stiff. Being pulled by him, I hit the ground with a thud! Ethan staggered twice and fell to the ground. Lily outside the door was so frightened that her face turned pale, then a trace of calm flashed in her eyes, “Ethan, she’s dead, you need to restrain your grief.” Ethan turned his head to look at her, and roared the next second: “She’s not dead! How could she die, impossible!” The doctor he brought came forward directly, shook his head and said: “Mr. Ethan, there are no vital signs.” At this time, the guard ran over in a hurry, “Mr. Ethan, the surveillance was destroyed, but our people have been guarding outside the gate!” Ethan was stunned. If so, it meant that when I went in that day, it was already a functioning cold storage unit! His eyes were about to burst as he looked around: “How did you guard it!” He took off his clothes and wrapped me up, hugging me and rushing out! “Chloe, I’ll take you to the hospital, you won’t die!” “If you can’t be saved, I’ll make all of you be buried with her!” Ethan went mad, stepped on the gas pedal and rushed out, heading straight for the hospital! I followed all the way, seeing him hysterical, couldn’t help sighing. “Ethan, what are you pretending for now? When I begged you heartbrokenly to investigate the truth, you just didn’t believe me and insisted on punishing me.” “Now that I’m dead, what deep affection are you acting here? So boring!” A touch of mockery appeared on the corner of my mouth, watching Ethan holding me rushing into the hospital, the doctors were all shocked by him! “Hurry up and save her! Hurry up!” The doctor saw him holding the frozen me over, his pupils tightened instantly. After confirming that I had no vital signs, he shook his head: “Sorry, the patient has died.” “Nonsense! She was obviously still breathing, why don’t you save her!” “Why!” Ethan made a scene in the emergency room. Helpless, the hospital could only call the police. When the police arrived and saw me, they were also incredulous, because I was frozen to death alive. It’s summer now!

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My parents died in an accident. My relatives fought over their inheritance while simultaneously treating me like a burden. Only my Uncle Xander, who wasn’t related by blood, extended a hand when I had nowhere else to go. He asked if I wanted to go with him. He raised me well. Everyone said I was the rose he cherished most. And on the night of my twentieth birthday, he personally plucked the rose he had nurtured for years. The next day, as I endured the soreness all over my body, shy yet happy, I went to find him on the balcony. Instead, I heard him talking casually on the phone. “Marry her? Don’t be ridiculous. An uncle marrying his niece? I can’t afford to lose face like that.” “Sleeping with her? That was just to prevent the rose I raised myself from being plucked by some other wild man first.” Chapter 1 It was still that familiar, magnetic, yet nonchalant voice. It was high summer. The wind blowing onto my face from the balcony carried heat, yet my whole body felt like it had fallen into an icy cellar. Chilled to the bone. Steady footsteps approached. In a trance, the man’s smiling, handsome face appeared before me. The Creator had favored him, carving his features with care. Deep-set eyes, sparkling peach-blossom eyes that gave the illusion of deep affection when he looked at you. When I spoke, I realized my throat was incredibly dry. “Last night…” I stammered, my heart trembling at what I had just heard. His lazy eyes looked me over. “We were both drunk last night. Let’s just pretend nothing happened.” He paused, then added cruelly. “Besides, no one wants to marry the elder who raised them. People with such thoughts only disgust me. What do you think… Nora?” His tone last night was so passionate, even his fingertips were burning. But today, he spoke the most heartless words. Drunk? He could have used any other excuse, but he chose “drunk.” A man who could drink half a bottle of liquor without batting an eye claimed he got drunk on a glass of red wine? Just half a year ago, on New Year’s Eve. He promised to spend it with me. But he was held up by elders at the dinner table. Glass after glass went down. The hands on the antique grandfather clock were ticking towards twelve. Just then, Uncle Xander’s deep, slightly drunken voice called me: “Nora.” He stood up, staggering, almost falling. I rushed to support him. He smelled of alcohol mixed with the crisp scent of pine. With a sleepy look, he pleaded with the elders: “Really can’t drink anymore. If I keep going, I’ll sleep on the floor tonight.” The elders laughed and let me help him leave. I helped the unsteady Xander upstairs, wondering how I had so much strength to support a grown man. Until my shoulder felt light. Caught off guard, I turned my head and met a pair of smiling, clear eyes. Nothing like the drunkenness he showed downstairs. I was stunned. “Weren’t you drunk…” “That little alcohol? Ten times that wouldn’t knock me down.” “Then why did you pretend?” “If I didn’t pretend, would you want to spend New Year’s Eve alone?” He reached out and gently rubbed my head. So he knew. He knew that because I was an orphan, I was isolated by the younger generation of the Xu family. He noticed my loneliness. I looked up at his handsome profile. My heartbeat slowed down for no reason. His large palm took my hand. “It’s almost twelve. I’ll take you to see something.” He took me to the roof. The wind whipped around us, but I didn’t feel cold. He covered my eyes. Everything went dark. He counted down behind me: “Ten, nine, eight… three, two, one.” When he let go, the darkness was replaced by brilliant fireworks. Amidst the explosions of light, I heard the best blessing of the year. “Nora, Happy New Year! Happy every year!” He asked if the fireworks were beautiful. “Beautiful!” I shouted. But actually, I didn’t see the fireworks. Because there was something better than fireworks that captivated all my attention. What I didn’t know then was that fireworks are fleeting. And so are human hearts. Chapter 2 So, he wasn’t even willing to come up with a good lie. Caught off guard, my tears fell. I lowered my head, not wanting him to see my pathetic state. He reached out and gently tidied my messy hair, just as he always did. He still seemed to be the Uncle Xander who wanted the best for me. “I advise you not to say anything.” “After all, for men, this kind of thing is just a romantic affair.” “But for you…” His voice dropped lower. “Others will only think you’re shameless. An ungrateful girl who seduced her uncle and climbed into his bed.” “Remember to take the pill. Unwanted children shouldn’t be born into this world, right?” My heart felt like it had been pierced by ten thousand needles. I wanted to scream at him. He said people who liked their guardians were disgusting. But last night, he was clearly sober. He tormented the girl he raised all night long. Did he not find himself disgusting? But in the end, my lips closed weakly. Saying anything now seemed meaningless. Chapter 3 I silently moved back to the school dormitory. Xander didn’t contact me. The next time we met was at the monthly family gathering. Everyone was there, except him. Grandfather Xu let us start eating. But then, Xander arrived late, holding hands with a gentle-looking woman. I was surprised. “This is…?” “This is my girlfriend, Chloe Zhang. Dad, you can call her Chloe.” My hand holding the chopsticks froze. “Nora… Nora…” I didn’t even hear Grandfather Xu ask me to greet her. When I snapped back to reality, Grandfather Xu smiled. “Greet Chloe. You should call her…” Before Grandfather could finish, Xander spoke up, his voice deep and pleasant. “Just call her Aunt Chloe.” The whole family looked at him in surprise. Xander looked unfazed. “Why are you looking at me? I’m at that age, and Chloe is very nice. She’s suitable for marriage.” Grandfather Xu smiled, eyes narrowing. “I told you to get a girlfriend last week. You work fast! Nora, quickly call her Aunt Chloe.” I told myself not to have hope. But thinking that he was intimate with me just last month, and today he was holding another woman’s hand talking about marriage… My heart felt bitter. I squeezed out a difficult smile. “Aunt Chloe.” The words felt like razor blades in my throat. Chloe smiled gently. “Nora, right? I knew about you before. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you just like your uncle does.” Between Xander and me, no matter who was right or wrong, it shouldn’t involve an innocent woman. So I sincerely said, “Thank you, Aunt Chloe.” I don’t know why, but my sincere “Aunt Chloe” made Xander’s face turn black. His eyes narrowed slightly. Later, at the table, he suddenly said to me in a helpless tone: “Still angry with Uncle? I apologize, okay? Move back home. I’m worried about you living in the dorms.” Grandfather Xu glared at him. “Did you bully her? Tell Grandpa!” But then Grandpa added, “But your uncle is right. We’re worried. Dorm life is hard.” “My roommates are nice,” I said softly. I couldn’t read Xander. He said I disgusted him. Fine, I stayed away. Now he insisted I move back? Chloe also spoke up. “Nora, move back. Your uncle cares about you. Sometimes he stares at dishes you like when we eat. He even buys durian cakes for me, knowing I hate them, just because you like them.” She smiled shyly. “If you don’t move back, people will think I drove you out.” Grandfather Xu made the final decision. “It’s settled. Nora, move back.” I had no room to refuse. Chapter 4 That evening, I went home with Xander. Unexpectedly, Chloe came too. She went upstairs with us, and I realized… they were already living together. As soon as I entered, I hid in my room. My cat, Angel, immediately clung to me, meowing complaints about my absence. I squatted down and smoothed its fur. It was a stray I saved years ago. Xander didn’t like cats, but he let me keep it. He even fed it when I was at school. Soon, the kitten purred. But just then. The sounds from the master bedroom next door made my body stiffen. Crisp kissing sounds. Faint gasps. “Nora… mm… will she hear?” “We’re adults. So what if she hears? Don’t you want to?” What he did to me last month, he was now doing to another woman, just a wall away. I felt covered in something dirty and sticky. I ran to the bathroom and threw up until I choked on bile. The noise next door got louder. Angel circled me uneasily. Suddenly, the noise stopped. Then, a knock on my door. I knew I shouldn’t, but I fantasized that maybe Uncle just couldn’t accept my feelings. Maybe Chloe was just an act. Maybe nothing happened. Holding this pathetic hope, I opened the door. Xander stood there in a loose white shirt, buttons undone, revealing his collarbone. A collarbone marked with red scratches. His eyes were clear. My heart went cold. “What is it?” I struggled to speak. “Can you run an errand?” “What?” Xander looked at me, his gaze indifferent. “Go buy two boxes of condoms.” I looked at him in disbelief. Asking the girl who loved him, the girl he slept with, to buy condoms for him and his girlfriend? My heart felt like it was being shredded. “What if I say no?” He sneered. “Are you that anxious to hold a little nephew or niece?” Humiliation washed over me. Just then, Chloe’s shy voice floated from the bedroom. “Nora, please… I don’t want children yet.” I forced out a word. “Okay.” I took the elevator down. It was raining. I rushed into the rain. I couldn’t delay their “urgent need.” I bought the boxes, face burning at the checkout. Walking back, I heard the clerks gossiping. “Who makes a girl buy that stuff? So tasteless.” Raindrops hit my face. He asked me to buy protection for another girl, but told me to take pills that hurt my body. The difference between love and not love was obvious. I stumbled and fell hard on the stairs. My palms scraped raw, my leg throbbing. I limped home. The fingerprint lock wouldn’t open. It beeped an error. The door opened from the inside. Xander stood there. He glanced at my wet hair and frowned. I tried to hand him the boxes, but the corner touched my wound. “Hiss.” Xander looked at my bleeding palm. His brows locked tight. Just when I thought he might care, he clicked his tongue. “How did you get the package so dirty?” He snatched the boxes. I felt ridiculous for expecting care. He took the boxes to his room. I limped to mine. I listened numbly to the rising sounds next door. Angel nestled in my arms, comforting me. That night, I had a fractured dream. On one side, Xander and Chloe entangled. On the other, the day Xander first reached out his hand to me.

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