When Ethan Sterling once again allowed others to call his sister-in-law “Mrs. Sterling” under the guise of business, I didn’t lose my mind. I didn’t scream. I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I raised my champagne glass, smiling obediently as I echoed the compliments from the guests. “Yes, they really are a perfect match.” Ethan jerked his head up, unable to hide the shock in his eyes. “What did you call her?” I looked at his pale face and smiled lightly. “Mrs. Sterling.” 01 Ethan’s shock lasted only a second before his expression returned to its usual indifference. “Leah, do you have to talk like that?” He frowned, his tone impatient. “New Year’s Eve is the day after tomorrow. Bella and I are flying to New York to meet clients.” “Stay home and behave. Don’t try to ruin things. We are just…” He paused, as if waiting for me to explode. But I just nodded. “Mm. I know. You’re always together for work.” He narrowed his eyes, studying my calm face, trying to find a crack. “She’s also going to be the face of the new brand,” he added tentatively. “You know…” I curled my lips into an understanding smile. “I know. Helping Bella build her career was Ryan’s dying wish.” “As his older brother, it’s your duty to fulfill it.” He froze again. He looked like he wanted to say something. “Leah, you…” I smiled calmly. “Don’t worry.” “I won’t disturb you anymore.” 02 Ethan seemed to want to say more, but he was cut off by Bella’s sweet, coquettish voice. “Ethan, come here! It’s time to cut the cake—” On stage, Bella acted every bit the hostess. She waved at him openly. Under the spotlight, her skin was white as snow, a rose blooming in full glory. The next second, a photo of the two of them, intimate and close, appeared on the giant screen. Cheers erupted from the crowd. “What a match!” “The boss’s wife is gorgeous!!” The company annual gala was being held like their wedding reception. The company had expanded fast. Few people knew that I was the real Mrs. Sterling. A few old employees cast sympathetic glances my way. Ethan didn’t move. He just glanced at me lazily. He was waiting. Waiting for me to lose control like before, to scream, to smash the cake into Bella’s smug face. But I simply took out the gold-wrapped gift box I had prepared for a long time. I handed it to him. “A late gift for the IPO. Congratulations, Mr. Sterling.” He was clearly stunned, then the corners of his mouth hooked up in his usual lazy smile. “The IPO was ages ago. You just remembered?” He took the box, his fingers brushing against my skin. “Finally learned to be sensible.” Beneath the glittering gold wrapping, a divorce agreement lay quietly inside. Thinking about it now… We started with a gift, and we ended with a gift. A fitting conclusion. “Leah,” his voice softened suddenly, the warm light giving him a gentle façade. “Come up with me.” Was he making a peace offering? No, it was charity. Giving me a little sweetness in public to keep me leashed. I shook my head. “No thanks.” After all, last time, when I self-righteously stood by his side, I was ruthlessly shoved away by an employee who didn’t know me. “This is Vice President Bella’s spot. Who are you to steal the center stage?” Back then, Ethan acted like he hadn’t heard, indifferently letting me be embarrassed. Then he affectionately pulled Bella to his side. The past was unbearable to look back on. I shut down the memory immediately. His eyes turned cold instantly. He stepped closer, his lowered voice audible only to us. “Playing the magnanimous wife? What’s this new game?” His breath hit my forehead. “Half a month ago, who was kneeling on the floor begging me not to leave? Leah, who are you performing for?” I looked up, meeting his eyes clearly. “I’m not pretending.” I said. The tsunami in my heart had long since subsided. After all the pain, madness, and unwillingness evaporated… I had no reason to stay. 03 He turned and walked onto the stage, face tight, the spotlight chasing him. That tall figure suddenly overlapped with old memories. I had almost forgotten that he was once the man who held the whole world out to me. One evening without warning, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and a petite figure stumbled, letting out a soft cry as she fell right into Ethan’s arms as he was leaving. He caught her almost instinctively. I still remember her tear-streaked face as she spoke words so absurd I couldn’t believe them. “Ethan… Ryan is gone…” “The things he promised… he didn’t get to do…” “He said… you would do them for him. Is it true?” In her hand, she clutched a long list of Ryan’s so-called “dying wishes.” Kissing by the lake in Seattle, a wedding on a cliff… Asking my husband to romance his dead brother’s girlfriend? But this ridiculous request made Ethan silent. His silence was like ice, spreading inch by inch across my chest. “You aren’t… really going to date for your brother, are you?” I asked hoarsely, my voice trembling. He met my eyes, the coldness on his face vanishing instantly as he hugged me gently. “What are you thinking?” “If I chase a girl for Ryan, who’s going to love my wife?” My suspended heart settled back into place. But later… He flew to Tibet with Bella on our anniversary for a “pilgrimage hike.” On New Year’s Eve, he went diving with her in the tropics. When I finally realized it… The simple silver band on his ring finger had been replaced by a priceless diamond ring matching Bella’s. Facing my breakdown and questioning, he said lightly, “Respect the dead.” “It’s just a list. Ryan owed her. I have to pay it back.” He started taking her everywhere in the name of work. Vice President title, million-dollar salary, always together. In that moment, I understood. There were no dying wishes. It was just a man’s premeditated change of heart, and another woman’s guilt-free plunder. And I became the most pathetic joke in this game. 04 Arguments, interrogations, screaming. I tore the upbringing I had accumulated over twenty years into shreds. Late at night, I screamed at my phone screen, “The list says a wedding! Are you going to marry her too?!” He didn’t answer. He only left me with longer silences and later returns. My final breakdown happened at his funding celebration party. The champagne tower refracted blinding light. Bella held his arm, accepting compliments about what a beautiful couple they made. I stared at them dead on. “Mistress.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it silenced the room instantly. The look Ethan turned on me was so cold it froze my blood. A week later, I received a termination letter from the university and a notification that my platform account was permanently banned. The professional image I had built over ten years was destroyed overnight. I rushed into his office like a madwoman, smashing the papers onto his desk. “Clarify it! Ethan, go explain to them—” He leaned back in his chair slowly, his gaze sweeping over my tear-stained face. Like he was appraising a defective product. “Look at yourself,” he smirked. “Do you look like a crazy person?” “Aren’t you a psychologist?” He leaned forward, articulating every word. “With this behavior, how can you counsel anyone else?” “I told you long ago, Bella is with me for work.” He picked up the termination letter with a sneer and tossed it lightly back at my feet. “You insisted on making a scene. Leah, you deserve this bitterness.”

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After the Male Lead went bankrupt, I followed him into a damp basement. Money was tight, and life was hard. Yet, he still tried to provide for me, his “spoiled and vicious” wife. The System ordered me to maintain my character persona. But my conscience was too heavy. Every time I did something “bad,” I was consumed by guilt. So, after bullying him, I would secretly cry. Late at night, I snuck into his makeshift room and lifted his sleeve. A four-inch gash, angry and terrifying. That was the price of the winter coat I had forced him to buy. He had worked himself to the bone for it. Applying ointment to the wound, I wept silently. “System, when will he finally ask for a divorce?” I didn’t want to be the villain anymore. I didn’t want him to get hurt because of me. The System looked at his arm, wet with my tears. Then it looked at his eyelashes, which were trembling slightly. It sighed. [Divorce?] [He’s going to love you for the rest of his life.] Chapter 1 “Thank goodness no one picked it up. See? I told you it was pretty. Even the ribbon is tied perfectly.” It was 10 PM. I stood under a streetlamp, holding the bouquet I had just retrieved from the trash, my voice full of delight. The System responded with a cold sneer. [Five-dollar roses, eight-dollar jasmine, and ten dollars for the wrapping.] [A cheap gift worth less than twenty-five bucks, and you sneak out in the middle of the night to dig through garbage for it? You might as well just live in the dumpster.] I fell silent for a moment before whispering, “System, you’re mean.” The System scoffed again. But honestly, I didn’t have much ground to stand on. After all, not long ago, I had said equally terrible things to Ethan. I had smashed the flowers onto the floor right in front of him. When he bent down to pick them up, I screamed at him: “Other women get 999 roses! And you? If you’re broke, don’t embarrass yourself by giving gifts. It’s ugly and takes up space. It’s humiliating!” “Can’t you make more money? Being married to a pauper like you is the worst luck of my life.” It wasn’t just flowers. There was also a box of fresh strawberries. His boss had given them to him after a site visit. Ethan didn’t eat a single one. He brought them all home for me. The System rolled its eyes, clearly disdainful of my attachment to the trash-picked flowers. [Can you stop caring about meaningless things? Stick to the script! You are a vicious, unreasonable supporting character. Your only purpose is to humiliate the Male Lead. I’ve had enough of your stupidity!] Its tone was irritable, urging me to go back. I pretended not to hear. I squatted down, carefully pressing the jasmine flowers into a bookmark before slowly walking back. The strawberries he saved for me. The flowers he went out of his way to buy. If these things, despised by the System, were meaningless… Then what in this world had meaning? Chapter 2 [Next mission: Force the Male Lead to buy you an expensive coat before Christmas.] That was the System’s answer. Ethan was home early for once. He was standing on a stool, fixing the broken lightbulb. The basement was old, the wiring faulty. It broke, he fixed it. It broke again. “I bought a rechargeable lamp. I charge it every day at work. If the light breaks again, don’t touch it. Just turn on the lamp and wait for me.” I held a glass of warm orange juice, my face clean and soft, standing gently behind him. Ethan, whose hands were once pampered and smooth, now had fingers stained with grime and palms covered in small cuts. “I…” I stammered for a long time before delivering the scripted line: “Christmas is coming. You have to buy me an expensive coat so I can dress up. Otherwise, how can I celebrate Christmas properly?” I showed him a screenshot on my phone, feigning ferocity: “This one. You must buy it for me. If you can’t, you useless trash, don’t bother coming home.” Ethan washed his hands thoroughly before taking the phone. He looked at it for a long time, then looked up. His voice betrayed no emotion. “Just this one?” At the same time, the System shrieked in my head: [What the hell? $120? Are you crazy? Where did you find a ‘luxury’ coat for that price?] The brand required by the plot was too expensive. Luckily, I was smart and scoured Poshmark and eBay. Sure enough, I found someone selling a $600 coat for $120, shipping included. Dropping the price to $120 meant Ethan would have to work a few less days, sweat a little less. “Just this one?” Ethan asked again. Long afterwards, I would understand the obscure emotion in his eyes. Once, $120 wouldn’t even buy a button on his shirt. But for me, squeezed into this dilapidated basement with him, it was a “luxury” coat I longed for. When he was at his peak, I received nothing. When he fell, I suffered with him. But at that moment, I didn’t understand. I thought he felt the price was too high, that I was bullying him too much. Ashamed, I started babbling: “Oh, um, well, I can haggle. Maybe I can get it for less than $120…” I almost forgot my persona, my mind filled with panic and bargaining strategies. Suddenly, my hand was empty. Ethan had reheated the orange juice and handed it back to me. “Lipstick, hat, scarf, Christmas tree, apple, cake.” Outside, the cold wind howled. Inside the narrow room, it was peaceful. I was guided to sit on the sofa in a daze. Ethan half-squatted in front of me. I looked into his dark, beautiful eyes. “You need those too,” “To celebrate Christmas properly.” He said. Chapter 3 Ethan was a man of his word. The day before Christmas, I received the “unreasonable” gift. Perfect cut, soft fabric, vibrant color. The System sighed in relief: [You almost messed it up. Luckily, the Male Lead bought it new from the mall. Hahaha, you didn’t know he’s a germaphobe, right? Who would buy second-hand clothes? Only someone with a donkey brain like you…] The System mocked me mercilessly, but I didn’t care. “You said… he bought it at the mall?” After Ethan went bankrupt, his former rivals targeted him. He couldn’t work at big companies or find a proper office job. He could only go to construction sites, warehouses, docks—doing manual labor paid by the day. And I, his vain and spoiled wife, squandered his wages the moment I got them. I pressed my lips together. “$600. Where did he get the money?” Chapter 4 Soon, I found out. Someone posted a photo online. Because the person in it was so handsome, it went viral locally. [Our building management hired a window cleaner. Hot, right?] [Damn, I want a handsome guy at my door too… Wait, why doesn’t my building offer this service? 0 stars!] [I live in that complex! The people upstairs are trash. They left a flower pot on the ledge. It fell and hit the guy. Huge gash, blood everywhere. It scared me to death.] [Yeah, the guy has a good temper. He just asked for private compensation. If it were me, I’d expose those neighbors online!] That night, I snuck into Ethan’s “room.” It was just a corner of the living room curtained off with a folding bed. Another bad thing I did: I hogged the bedroom and wouldn’t let him in. I lifted his sleeve. Sure enough, a four-inch gash, angry and terrifying. Suspended 26 stories high, clinging to the outside of a window. Holding on by a single rope, descending from the sky. Meeting the judgmental gazes of strangers as he cleaned glass pane after glass pane. Ethan, had you already decided to buy that coat when you were up there? “You didn’t even tell me you were hurt.” The wound had been treated hastily. Ethan pretended nothing was wrong. At dinner, he gave me an apple but didn’t peel it like usual. He said: “Christmas apples should be eaten with the skin. That keeps the peace and safety intact.” It wasn’t about tradition. It was because his left hand was injured. He couldn’t hold the knife, so he made up a clumsy lie. And that lie only fooled the stupid, vicious me. Applying ointment to the wound, I carefully traced the scars on his wrist. This one was from a construction tool when he moved bricks to pay for my fever medicine. This one was from a steel pipe when he fought someone after I demanded a gold necklace. And this one… that one… I tried to control my emotions, but the more I tried, the more tears fell. The System tried to comfort me: [Stop crying. Honestly, you’re the unlucky one. If you’d married him a year ago, you’d be a rich wife with multiple properties. Now you get nothing but a basement. Spending a few bucks of his is nothing.] I should blame Ethan. Blame him for going bankrupt, for being poor, for not giving me a good life. But Ethan… fell from the sky into the mud overnight. Mocked, humiliated, enduring strange looks while doing hard labor under the scorching sun. And when he came home, all he got was my spoiled accusations: “You useless trash. No ambition. You can’t even buy me jewelry. If I were you, I’d hit my head against a wall and die.” In the dead of night, Ethan, when you look at the moldy ceiling… Do you think of the high-spirited, promising man you were a year ago? Outside, the bleak wind blew. Inside, his eyelashes trembled. I pressed my cheek against his palm, my tears slowly soaking his wrist. “System, when will Ethan ask for a divorce?” I don’t want to do bad things anymore. I don’t want to bully him. This Christmas Eve is dim, and the apple is bitter. If he divorces me… Will he stop working himself to death? Will he stop needing three jobs a day? Will he stop getting hurt?

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I am known in Hollywood for my hourglass figure and seductive roles. A bombshell, they call me. Yet, for five years in this industry, no one dared to touch me with “unspoken rules.” Because behind me stood the Prince of New York, Christian Vance. We were together for seven years. I thought we would get married. Who knew that on my 28th birthday, I would hear him laughing with his friends: “Playing with Sophia is fine, but for marriage? I have someone else in mind.” So I took back my heart. As he wished, I stayed only for the money, not the man. But Christian wasn’t used to it. He stared at me intently: “Besides the villa, you don’t want anything else?” I feigned surprise: “You mean I can ask for a Rolls-Royce too?” 1 Christian got out of bed with a dark face, dressing with his back to me. The scratch marks I left were still visible on his skin. From dressing to leaving, he didn’t say a single word. I watched his retreating figure in confusion, unsure why he was suddenly so angry. Did he think I was too greedy? Fine. Contentment is key to happiness. I hesitated for a few minutes between calling to apologize or leaving him alone, and chose to put down my phone. A sensible mistress shouldn’t interfere too much in her patron’s private life. It’s annoying. I walked barefoot into the living room. Several Hermès bags sat on the sofa. Christian brought them back from a business trip to Paris. Exclusive editions, not available here. I picked the one I liked best. For the others, I took photos and sent them to my contact, [Luxury Resale Kelly], with a note: [Brand new with receipt.] She quoted a price quickly. My eyes lit up. Not enough for a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but a base model Ghost would be no problem. I had no hobby of collecting designer bags. To me, they were no different from a $20 bag from Amazon, unless I needed one to keep up appearances at a specific event. But Christian loved to give them. Every year’s new collection was delivered to me. This year, everything he gave me was converted into cash, sitting in my bank account earning interest. Better than collecting dust. I put the bag away and went to sleep beautifully. I slept soundly all night, not caring where Christian went. 2 Early the next morning, I got a call from my best friend, Chloe. Chloe swallowed hard and asked carefully, “Did you break up with Christian?” I wasn’t fully awake yet. “No, why do you ask?” “Check the trending topics.” I opened Twitter with sleepy eyes. The number one trending topic was: Christian Vance and Isabella Astor, daughter of the Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia-Pacific, are rumored to be tying the knot. The photo was incredibly artistic. In the Vance estate gardens, they stood by the lake. Isabella wore Christian’s grey suit jacket over her shoulders, tilting her head and smiling at him. Only half of Christian’s face was visible, his mesmerizing eyes lowered. Though unclear, outsiders could imagine the deep affection in his gaze. I sighed. The photographer was a genius. 【Prince of NY vs. Auction House Heiress. This is what a power couple looks like!】 【Cinderella stories only exist in novels. Real life is about matching status.】 【Didn’t rumors say Bombshell Sophia was backed by the Prince? So who’s the side chick?】 【Obviously Sophia. No acting skills, no family background. Just a face and body. How could she enter the Vance family?】 【Don’t call her Bombshell Sophia anymore. Call her Mistress Sophia.】 I scrolled through the comments, dazed. Chloe kept calling my name: “Sophia, Sophia!” I finally snapped back. “Mm.” She lowered her voice, asking carefully, “Sophia, are you… sad?” I smiled. “Sad? Why should I be sad?” What right do I have to be sad? 3 Junior year, I was an exchange student in New York. At a party for international students, I met Christian. Even among international students, there’s a hierarchy. He was at the very top, the center of attention. The party was even at his penthouse. I was the unlucky one pushed into the pool by a rejected, angry suitor. My bikini top was ripped off in the struggle. I curled up in the corner of the pool, enduring the gaze of the crowd. Angry, humiliated, wishing I could drown. They whispered about whether I did it on purpose—a commoner trying to use her body to climb the social ladder. Christian descended like a god, draping a bathrobe over me. He bent down and said, “Go to the bathroom and clean up.” Looking at his face, my heart suddenly raced. I could hear the thunderous beating of my heart. I wondered if he could too. I wrapped the robe tight. “Thank you.” I rushed to the bathroom and changed. When I came out, I saw the guy who pushed me laughing in the crowd. I charged over, grabbed his hair, and dunked his head into the pool water. I held him there until his cursing turned to begging, then to crying and pleading for mercy. Finally, I yanked off his swim trunks and threw them away. When I let go, he didn’t dare look at me, scrambling to find his trunks. I raised my chin proudly like a victor. Turning around, I met Christian’s amused gaze. My mind went blank. Oh no, would he think I was too aggressive? Later, Christian said he loved the way I proudly dunked that guy’s head, like a strutting peacock. Between us, he started it. He pursued me passionately, confessed, and declared my status to the world. Even after I entered Hollywood, he cleared obstacles for me, becoming the ladder I climbed step by step. But, he was also the one who personally cut off my delusions. 4 Six months ago, on my 28th birthday, he organized a celebration, promising the grandest party ever. This year was our seventh year together. I thought he might propose, so I couldn’t resist sneaking a peek beforehand. Instead, I overheard him chatting with a few friends. “Chris, you put so much effort into Sophia. Planning to propose?” Christian, in a bespoke white suit looking like a prince, spoke words that instantly froze my heart: “Sophia is beautiful. But playing with her is fine. For marriage? I have someone else in mind.” “Is it Miss Astor?” He scoffed. “You think you know everything?” “So you’ll break up with Sophia after getting married?” “Yeah. Loyalty in marriage is basic respect for a partner.” His friend gasped. “Sophia will cry herself to death. She loves you so much.” “Love? It’s just a transaction of needs.” The friend’s eyes lit up. “Say what you will, Sophia is gorgeous. The most beautiful in Hollywood. When you break up, can I keep her?” Christian shot him a cold look. They might have said more, but I couldn’t listen anymore. He said our seven years were just a transaction. I stepped back, found a secluded spot, and cried for half an hour until my makeup was ruined. Finally, I redid my makeup, changed into a gown, and attended the party he threw for me as if nothing happened. Fireworks bloomed for thirty minutes, but I only saw four words: Transaction of Needs. Since then, I reminded myself repeatedly: Do not invest feelings anymore. I thought I couldn’t do it. But I discovered human potential is infinite. I gradually withdrew from the emotion, becoming someone who only wanted money, not the man. 4 (Continued) Since that’s the case, I won’t be a hypocrite. I smiled at Chloe on the phone. “Christian and I aren’t what you think. You don’t need to worry about me.” When I refreshed the page, the trending topic and photos had disappeared. I knew the Vance family had intervened. However, if it wasn’t true, who would dare gossip about Christian’s marriage? This meant his “good news” was indeed approaching. No wonder he left so fast last night. He was getting married and wanted to save money for his wife, so he didn’t want to give me this villa. I sighed, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and took in the magnificent view, reluctantly saying goodbye to this luxury villa worth nine figures. For the next few days, Christian didn’t contact me or come back. I knew he was waiting for me to leave voluntarily. During these days, I sold the remaining designer bags. In the end, I only took one suitcase, packing my few belongings. Dragging the suitcase downstairs, the housekeeper, Mrs. Zhang, asked, “Miss, going to film again?” I smiled and nodded. “Yes. Goodbye, Mrs. Zhang.” This life of luxury was over. I had bought my own place years ago. Though not as grand as the Vance Villa, it was spacious and clean. I had no work, sleeping at home until I didn’t know if the sun was up or down, calling it “healing from heartbreak.” Chloe, worried I might do something stupid, visited often. Seeing me eating and drinking well, she got ideas and dragged me to a very private bar. In the car, she winked at me. “The quality is excellent.”

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Under a TikTok video of me looking fabulous, I saw a girl tag her boyfriend. [Move over everyone, my man loves this type, let him see first!] I clicked on her profile and froze. It was the girl who bullied me relentlessly in high school. I’d recognize that face even if it were turned to ash. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. I went through every single one of her videos, then clicked on the boyfriend she’d tagged. I sent him a DM. [You there?] 01 Before seeing Chloe again, I’d imagined countless times what she would be like now. I thought bad people would get their karma, that she’d be living a miserable, poverty-stricken life. But no. In the videos she posted, she was at a $5,000-a-night hotel in the Maldives one day, seeing the aurora in Iceland the next, and then driving a convertible into the sunset on the West Coast. In her most recent photo, she was sitting in a black Rolls-Royce, wearing a Chanel suit, smiling brightly at the camera, not a care in the world. She seemed to be living a truly great life. But why? I stared at her smiling face on the phone screen. Slowly, that smiling face turned into her in her school uniform, laughing while slapping me, over and over again. When her hand hurt, she let the people behind her take over. She laughed from the side, pointing a camera at my swollen, bleeding face: “Smile, Lee. Don’t you love being a little slut? Why aren’t you smiling anymore?!” She grabbed my hair forcefully, her smile widening: “Smile!” Chloe’s malice towards me started when the boy she liked gave me a birthday gift. On my birthday, he gave me a bag. I heard his mom brought it back from Paris, worth over $3,000. I was scared stiff and refused to take it. In a fit of pique, he threw the bag at me, saying he’d just trash it if I didn’t want it. While I was holding the bag, at a loss for what to do, Chloe walked in. She snatched the bag away, looked at it for a while, and suddenly smiled. But that smile was twisted, making me shudder. “I begged him for this bag for three months and he wouldn’t give it to me. I didn’t expect he wanted to give it to you.” She looked up at me, a look that made my hair stand on end: “Lee, you’re quite capable.” From that moment on, Chloe started targeting me constantly. The thing I feared most every day was school ending, because I never knew when she and her clique would corner me in the bathroom, followed by beatings and humiliation. During that time, I lived in fear every day and had nightmares every night, but I didn’t dare tell anyone. My parents divorced when I was young, and both had new families. Only my grandma, who had a limp, was willing to take me in. She ran a small deli, working from dawn till dusk selling sandwiches to support my schooling. I was one of the few students in that private school who was admitted on a full scholarship because of excellent grades. I didn’t dare tell the teachers because Chloe threatened me with my grandma. And I knew the school would turn a blind eye to Chloe, whose family had power and influence. I could only study harder, thinking about testing out early and leaving this place. But even that little hope didn’t materialize in the end. The night before the SATs, Chloe locked me in the bathroom again. This time, she had people strip me and take photos. I was locked in the bathroom all night and couldn’t leave, so I didn’t know that those photos appeared in various local group chats that very night. I also didn’t know that Chloe deliberately had someone go to my grandma’s store and show her the photos. Grandma was anxious because she couldn’t find me at home, so she limped her way to the school to look for me. Then, because she was too anxious and didn’t look carefully when crossing the street, she was hit and run over by a semi-truck driven by a drowsy driver. She died on the spot. I only found out the news the next morning when the janitor let me out. I saw stars, my head was spinning, and my mind went blank as I lay on the floor. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. In one day, I lost the chance to change my destiny through the SATs, and my grandma, who was my only family. I hardly remember anything about what happened after that day. Probably because the physical pain was too great, my body turned on a self-protection mechanism and sealed away that memory. I only remember a teacher coming to see me. I heard her saying regretfully to others in the hallway: “She was ivy league material. What a pity.” Nothing happened to Chloe. She was just called to the principal’s office and criticized. Because her dad was a famous local entrepreneur and a major taxpayer, the principal didn’t dare offend him. I used the last bit of money my family had to handle grandma’s funeral. I didn’t have money to repeat the year, so I could only find a factory job to support myself. Chloe, on the other hand, was sent to a university in California and started her wonderful life. …… I sat on the bed. The lights were off in the bedroom, and I just stared blankly at the dark ceiling like this. During the hardest years, I often stared blankly like this. Actually, life got much better later. After I made money, I took adult education courses, saved some money, and opened my own online women’s clothing store. I was my own model. Fortunately, I was good-looking and caught the trend. Business got bigger and bigger over time, and now I’m financially free. I thought I had forgotten the past. I thought I could start a new life. But the moment I saw Chloe’s face, I suddenly realized that I had never let it go. I hated her, hated her to death. I sat there until dawn, my slightly stiff fingers finally clicking on the account she tagged. It was a male profile with just a few simple lines, no videos posted. But I quickly found out his identity. Nate Quinn, Chloe’s fiancé. The Gu family nearly went bankrupt when she was in college, and finally came back to life through marriage. The Quinn family was the big tree the Gu family leaned on. It was also the guarantee that Chloe could live such a privileged life now. Chloe didn’t remember me anymore. It’s funny to say, she personally pushed me into hell. Her smiling face was in every one of my nightmares, but she didn’t remember me anymore, and even tagged Nate in my comment section to see. I clicked on the chat icon next to Nate’s profile picture, thought for a moment, and sent him a DM. [You there?] 02 Three days later, I opened Nate’s chat box for the umpteenth time. He still hadn’t replied. I wasn’t surprised. Judging from the information I’d collected these days, Nate was pretty clean in terms of relationships. Chloe tagging him should just be a casual joke. She knew Nate wouldn’t be interested. It’s strange to say, he’s the heir to the Quinn family. Judging from the videos and photos found, he’s at least 6’2″. Thanks to his celebrity mom, he also has a face that could debut right away. Such a standard rich, tall, handsome guy, his favorite activity isn’t picking up girls, playing with cars, or showing off wealth, but fishing. Yeah, like an old man, finding a seaside or pond, setting up a fishing rod, and fishing all day. Seeing that online DMing wasn’t going to work on him, I checked a lot of information about him, and even followed him downstairs at his company. Nate’s life is very regular. Two points and one line every day, and then he will take out one day every weekend specifically to go fishing. After figuring out his off-work time, I drove my car behind him. After a red light, I cut in behind his car and slammed right into it! With a “bang”, the car in front stopped. Then Nate, dressed in a suit, walked down with a frown and tapped on my car window. I smoothed my hair and glanced at the rearview mirror out of the corner of my eye. I specially hired a makeup artist with a five-figure price tag to apply makeup, ensuring every eyelash was exquisite while not looking too made-up. Sure enough, when I opened the car door, Nate’s furrowed brows relaxed a bit. Chloe must know that Nate likes my type to tag him. He might not be interested just because of a face, but at least he wouldn’t feel disgusted with me. I looked up, revealing a perfectly angled face of 45 degrees, apologizing in a panic: “Sorry, I’m a new driver. I was too anxious just now and didn’t react. Are you okay?” Nate shook his head, walked to the back of the car and took a look: “It’s not very serious. Let’s drive away first and don’t block the road here. We’ll go through insurance directly later.” I nodded, and the two of us stood by the roadside like this, waiting for the insurance company people to come and finish the whole process. Then I naturally took out my phone, opened the QR code and handed it to him: “Let’s add WeChat. Contact me if there’s anything.” My attitude was too natural, not giving him a chance to refuse. Nate paused, took out his phone and scanned me. “I’m really sorry today. Let me treat you to a meal some other day?” I looked up at him. “No need. Insurance is done. Contact me on WeChat if there’s anything.” He refused me as I expected, got in the car and left. I watched his car merge into the traffic flow, clenched my phone, and a smile appeared at the corner of my mouth. Today’s goal has been achieved. I didn’t expect to get close to Nate so quickly. Getting his contact information is already a success. I like people who are challenging. If he takes the bait too quickly, it wouldn’t be fun. I found all of Chloe’s social media accounts. She seems to really like Nate. Almost nine out of ten posts are about Nate. She’s obviously obsessed with him. The Gu family has shown more and more signs of decline in recent years. If it weren’t for the capital injection from the Quinn family to support it, it would probably have gone bankrupt long ago. Chloe. I’d like to see if she can still live so comfortably without Nate. If God doesn’t give her retribution, I’ll come myself. 03 I studied Nate’s Moments overnight. He’s really a person with a very simple life. Almost no updates. He only shows off in his Moments when he catches a fish. I didn’t actively chat with him, just posted a photo in my Moments after a few days. The ripples in the dark pool water were blown up by the wind. I held a big silver carp and pursed my lips at the camera. [Another day without coming up empty-handed!] I waited for a week. Nate didn’t like or comment. But he didn’t post to Moments this week either, obviously didn’t go fishing. In the second week, I continued posting. Still silver carp, still that deep pool, just that the fish this time was a circle bigger, weighing four or five pounds. [Big fish!] He still didn’t reply. In the third week I continued. [Can’t catch ’em all, literally can’t catch ’em all.] Then I went to apply a face mask and sleep. I turned on my phone early the next morning. Among the dozens of like avatars, I finally saw the one I was waiting for. Nate commented: [May I ask where this is?] I looked at the phone and curled the corners of my mouth. Hooked. 04 When I saw Nate again, he was obviously more talkative. “Is the fishing spot you mentioned really have that many fish?” I looked him over discreetly. He was wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. His black hair wasn’t slicked back with hair gel, but scattered naturally on his forehead. When talking about things he was interested in, his eyes opened slightly and shone brightly. He didn’t look like the indifferent and noble person in financial magazines at all, but more like a young man in his early twenties. I nodded: “You’ll know when you go. I haven’t come up empty-handed many times I’ve been there.” Actually, I didn’t know how to fish at all. I frantically caught up on knowledge these days just to catch Nate, this fish. This fishing spot was also discovered by me after inquiring from countless people and wandering around the mountains by myself. Nate, on the other hand, when fishing was mentioned, obviously talked a lot more. When he got excited, he showed me videos of him fishing for catfish in the Amazon River. I was amazed again and again, and then showed him photos of me fishing for tuna out at sea. His eyes lit up, and then he felt a bit regretful: “I wanted to go fishing for tuna before too, but I’ve been too busy and haven’t had the chance.” He looked up at me and looked straight at me for the first time: “I didn’t expect you to like fishing so much too. Girls who love fishing are really rare.” We talked more and more, starting to talk about sports, favorite music, movies and books. Then he was surprised to find that we actually have quite a few common hobbies. We both like skiing, both like Mishima Yukio’s “Afternoon Towing”, both like listening to Koji Tamaki, and we can also understand each other’s preferences in places where we differ occasionally. When we finally recovered, we realized that we had chatted for a whole afternoon, and it was getting dark. After that, we often went fishing and chatted together, and we even raised a little wild cat together. This yellow kitten was only a few months old. Every time we went fishing, it would obediently lie aside waiting to eat fish. Sometimes when we both didn’t catch a fish, it would anxiously meow to urge us. I named it Nian Nian, meaning having abundance every year. Every time I went, I would kiss and hug it. Nate wasn’t so interested in it. Every time Nian Nian went to rub against him, he would avoid it. He’s a bit of a germaphobe and dislikes cat hair sticking to him. That night, Nate asked me for the first time when parting: “When will you come next time?” I thought for a moment: “Work is busy recently, hard to say.” A trace of disappointment that was hard to detect flashed across his eyes, but he still nodded politely and didn’t say much. I didn’t go for the next week. It wasn’t until the second week that I arrived late. Seeing me again, Nate didn’t show it on his face, but quickly moved his chair towards me. “Where have you been these days? Why haven’t you come fishing?” I walked over and touched Nian Nian lying on the ground. It stretched its body on the ground. Its little belly was bulging and it had gained a lot of weight. Its fur was sleek and smooth. It looked well cared for. “Have you been feeding it these days?” Nate raised his chin reservedly, his tone carrying a hint of blame: “You insisted on naming it, but haven’t cared for it these days.” He soon became a bit proud again: “Of course I took care of it. I come to fish for it to eat every day.” Nian Nian walked over and rubbed against his leg. Nate frowned, disdaining verbally: “Can you stay away from me? Every time you rub hair all over me.” But his hand picked it up familiarly and put it on his lap. Nian Nian laid comfortably on him. His black jacket was immediately covered in cat hair, but he didn’t mind. Instead, he scratched its chin with ease. I watched from the side and made a conclusion in my heart. Turns out he’s a tsundere. I secretly laughed inwardly and sat aside to hold the fishing rod, but accidentally got my hand pricked by the fish hook. I hissed and squeezed my finger. A drop of bright red blood emerged. Nate immediately put Nian Nian down, took out a Band-Aid from the box on the side, and walked over frowning. “Why so careless.” I wanted to take the Band-Aid, but he naturally said: “Hand.” “You’re quite prepared——” I looked up with a smile, but swallowed the rest of the words when I ran into his line of sight. Too close. Unknowingly, we seemed to be too close. The bright orange setting sun in the mountains gradually dyed blue and dimmed. The wind was trapped in the valley, bringing up moist water vapor. I could smell the faint woody scent on Nate. I didn’t know if it was perfume or aftershave. His pupils were lighter than average people, with a kind of inorganic coldness and clarity. At this moment, however, they reflected me completely. The wind blew my hair across his face. He just looked at me blankly like this until Nian Nian meowed impatiently from the side. We both recovered at the same time and suddenly took a step back respectively. Nate quickly turned his head with his back to me, squatting down and stroking Nian Nian’s back: “Fish. It’s starving.” I burst out laughing. In the dim light, his ears turned red inconspicuously. He sat aside fishing without speaking. However, Nate, who usually had great patience, fidgeted all evening tonight and didn’t catch a single fish all night. From that day on, there seemed to be a tacit understanding between us. When he came fishing, he would always ask me to come along. We went out at least twice a week. Sometimes it was in desolate mountains, sometimes it was on the boundless sea, sometimes it was at a fishing farm he rented out. However, every time there were only the two of us. During this period, I kept paying attention to Chloe’s Weibo. Her posts showing off her relationship became fewer and fewer, and in the end, she hadn’t posted a single one for several days. I watched coldly, and then met her boyfriend in my best condition with the most exquisite makeup during the day. This kind of relationship, where both knew it clearly but pretended to be confused, fermented for two months before I felt the time had come. That night, when he was holding Nian Nian, I suddenly asked: “Nate, do you have a girlfriend?”

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I pulled back the covers. But I didn’t see Zhou Li’s face. The first thing he did was shield the woman’s face beside him with the bedsheet. Only then did he lift his eyelids, fiercely spitting out a sentence at us: “If you don’t want to die, get the hell out!” My best friend was terrified by him, desperately pulling me to leave. But my body was stiff, I stared dead at him, motionless. Because I am Zhou Li’s official girlfriend. 01 “Wait.” Zhou Li suddenly called out to stop us. He methodically lit a cigarette, slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, and his gaze landed on me: “If any video from tonight gets out, no matter who took it, I’m putting it on you.” “Chen Yin, did you hear me clearly?” Zhou Li called my name, his voice still holding a bit of post-coital laziness: “Don’t pull any little tricks behind my back, it’s annoying.” The moment his voice fell, I suddenly let out a low laugh. The sound was slightly jarring in the quiet hotel room. Li Yue hid behind me, frantically tugging at the hem of my clothes, anxious and sweating profusely. I knew what she meant; she wanted me to leave here first and then talk. After all, Zhou Li’s family had power and influence, and he also had intermittent explosive disorder. If he really got ruthless, he wouldn’t care if you were a man or a woman. And seeing how defensive Zhou Li was of that woman. Li Yue was really afraid that I would suffer if I caused a scene. But I didn’t want to leave. I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was upright and honest, there was no reason for me to retreat, and I didn’t want to retreat! “Zhou Li, your self-righteousness really confuses me a bit.” I pushed away Li Yue’s hand, stood firmly in front of Zhou Li, and flashed a sarcastic smile at him: “I’m very curious, is it you cheating or me cheating right now?” Who exactly was caught in bed in a hotel? It wasn’t Zhou Li, naked and leaning against the headboard smoking a cigarette. Could it be me, who just barged into this room without even taking off my shoes? “What are you pretending for?” What are you being so fierce for? Why, when you did something wrong, do you still threaten me? I clenched my hands tightly, my voice trembling out of tune. Even though I frantically told myself in my heart not to lose ground. But when I looked down and saw Zhou Li in a protective posture, firmly shielding the woman beside him, my eyes were still stung. I pulled out a mocking smile, tasted a mouthful of sourness, and even my hands were shaking. “I am your fucking official girlfriend!” I shouted at him with red eyes: “You won’t let me see, then I insist on seeing!” “She has the nerve to do such a ugly thing, doesn’t she have the nerve to see people?” The moment my voice fell, I lunged at the woman who had been invisible from beginning to end, frantically trying to pull off the bedsheet to see her face clearly. Even if I died, I wanted to know who I lost to! My movements were too fast, too sudden, Zhou Li was obviously startled. But he quickly reacted, his face turned cold instantly, he grabbed my back collar directly and yanked backward forcefully. The moment I lost my balance and fell backward, Zhou Li lifted his foot and kicked my stomach mercilessly! I was kicked backward by him and fell straight to the ground. A sharp pain came from my tailbone, it hurt so much that I let out a shrill scream. “Zhou Li.” My eyes were red, because of the severe pain, my voice trembled terribly, but I still stubbornly looked at him, saying word by word: “I am your girlfriend!” “So what?” An impatient look had already appeared on Zhou Li’s face. He frowned, looking down at me from above and asked: “Chen Yin, is cheating against the law?” 02 “What, what did you say?” My mind went blank, I couldn’t think of anything. I stared at Zhou Li’s good-looking lips and asked with a smile uglier than crying: “Zhou Li, what did you say? What do you mean?” How could a normal person with morals ask such a question? But Zhou Li didn’t look at me, only caring about lowering his voice to ask if the person under the quilt was okay. Only after the person inside nodded and responded softly that she was fine. Did he breathe a sigh of relief, and have time to cast his eyes back on me. In that moment when our eyes met, I looked at his eyes filled with coldness and suddenly felt like all the strength was drained from my body. I have known Zhou Li for five years and have been together for three years. I understand him too well. So understood that just by looking at each other once. I knew clearly that the person in front of me seemed to no longer love me. When he looked at me, his eyes no longer hid a smile like before. Instead, they were filled with strong disgust. As if looking at me for one more second would make him vomit directly. This discovery made my heart suddenly stop. I struggled to climb up from the ground, knowing the answer well, but still holding a glimmer of hope, I trembled and said: “Zhou Li, do you mean you want to break up with me now?” “You like this mistress who destroys other people’s relationships so much?” I finally couldn’t help it, raised my volume, pointed at the figure on the bed, and questioned with red eyes. But the next second, Zhou Li directly threw the unfinished cigarette in his hand in my direction and roared: “Shut up!” “Chen Yin, this is my last warning to you.” “This is between the two of us, don’t drag her into it.” Zhou Li stared at me coldly: “She is different from you. If I hear any disgusting words from your mouth again, I promise that next time it won’t be as simple as just making you shut up.” “You know that I always mean what I say.” I looked at him blankly, dumbfounded in place, not dodging the cigarette that still had sparks at the end. The cigarette butt hit precisely under my eye, and a red mark was burned in the blink of an eye. The hot ash splashed into my eyes following the trajectory, bringing a burst of severe stinging pain. In just an instant, my right eye was covered in scarlet. I reached out in hindsight, touched a patch of warmth, physiological tears mixed with blood, falling out along the eye socket. Looking at the blood on my fingertips, my ears suddenly buzzed, and I couldn’t hear anything. I saw Li Yue running towards me with an anxious face. Saw Zhou Li’s disgusted look. His face was dark, his mouth opened and closed, seeming to be uttering some ruthless words. But I couldn’t hear anything. It wasn’t until Li Yue grasped my hand that I slowly heard sounds from that buzzing noise. Also heard the sentence Zhou Li cursed out: “Which fucking law did I break by cheating?” He looked at me coldly and asked word by word: “Is it your turn to be the messenger of justice to judge me?” “Don’t say you are my girlfriend, even if you were my wife, I cheated, so what?!” “You are so excited, do you want me to help you find a cop to arrest me?” My body suddenly paused, looking at him in disbelief. Looking at this man I have been with for more than three years. To this day, I suddenly realized that after sleeping in the same bed for three years. I have never truly understood him. For a long time, I suddenly pulled out a smile and replied lightly: “Okay, I know.” “Zhou Li, you are right, cheating is not against the law.” I said word by word: “So let’s break up.” Zhou Li was stunned. 03 Zhou Li seemed a little surprised, frowning and staring at me for quite a while. He probably didn’t expect me to be so decisive this time. After a while, he lit another cigarette and said to me indifferently: “Fine, whatever you want.” “Get out.” As Li Yue and I were leaving, he called out to me again, still that sentence: “Remember to delete the video, I don’t want to see it anywhere else.” I said: “Okay.” Maybe because I agreed too quickly, too casually. Zhou Li paused in his smoking action, a bit puzzled, but asked nothing. I walked out of the room and very smoothly closed the door for him. The moment the door was locked, I let go of the hand tightly gripping Li Yue, and the disappointing tears kept gushing out. I had to bite my lower lip very hard to manage to suppress the crying that was about to rush out of my throat. I told myself not to cry. It’s just a cheating man. If we break up, we break up, what’s there to cry about? How does a scumbag like him deserve to make me cry? But no matter how hard I swallowed, the tears couldn’t help but burst out. The pain and grievance in my heart churned incessantly, bringing bursts of stinging pain that made me unable to stand steady at all. Zhou Li and I have been together for three whole years. Three years, even if I raised a dog, I would have developed feelings for it. Not to mention a living person. He used to kiss and hug me every day. Would drop everything at hand to travel around the world with me. Would appear in front of me on the earliest flight the next day just because I casually said I missed you. Actually, I once thought about many futures for Zhou Li and me. Thought that we might get married in the future, or might break up peacefully. But I never thought that Zhou Li and I would end in such an unbearable way. End with him cheating and threatening to kill me for the mistress. How ridiculous. My three years really seem like a joke. I squatted on the stairs outside the hotel, hugging my knees and crying out of breath, asking Li Yue. “Do all relationships end in this idiotic way?” Li Yue wiped my tears with a tissue, sighed, and was about to speak when her hand suddenly paused. Then I heard her eagerly say in my ear: “Don’t cry first.” “I have a chance for you to vent, quickly wipe away your tears and stand up!” I was stupidly pulled up by Li Yue, and before I could react, I saw Li Yue’s eyes breathing fire, dragging me and rushing towards the couple who had just come out of the hotel. Only when we rushed in front did I realize that the man was Li Yue’s boyfriend. Just saw the panicked look on his face. The next second, he was smashed full in the face by the studded handbag in Li Yue’s hand. “I let you cheat!” Li Yue screamed, shouting with red eyes: “Scumbag man, I let you cheat! Let you find a mistress!” Li Yue grabbed the mistress’s hair and smashed another handbag over. Her boyfriend saw the situation was bad and wanted to run, but was grabbed firmly by the neck by Li Yue and thrown to the ground. Immediately following was a fierce kicking with all her strength. The high heels stepped solidly on his face, frantically stepping on his lower body. Finally, Li Yue finally vented enough anger, spat on the person’s face on the ground, and then shouted: “Bah! None of you men are good things!” “All trash!” After shouting this sentence, Li Yue dragged me and ran. We ran fast, so fast that my tears dissipated in the wind. Finally, we stopped at a street corner. The moment we looked at each other, we couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Li Yue gasped for breath and asked me: “Are you still sad?” “A little bit.” I replied breathlessly, smiling: “But it’s not uncomfortable in my heart, it’s mainly my eye seems to have been burned just now, it hurts a bit now.” Might have to go to the hospital. “It’s good that it hurts.” Li Yue looked at me with a complicated expression, taking a taxi to take me to the hospital while saying to me: “Remember this pain, it was brought to you by Zhou Li, you must not soften your heart and get back together with him.” I lowered my eyes, looked at the scarlet on my fingertips, twitched the corner of my mouth and said: “I won’t.” I won’t have anything to do with Zhou Li anymore. I’m not that cheap yet. Rushing to send myself to him to be beaten. 04 Zhou Li and I broke up completely. My eye is okay, no big issue. Just some damage to the cornea. There will be a strong foreign body sensation in the short term, a stinging pain, and constant tearing. I put on a medical eye patch and got some medicine before leaving the hospital. Li Yue said she wanted to take me back, but I refused. Our homes are not in the same direction. If she sends me back, it will take an extra hour, which is unnecessary. She couldn’t convince me, so she had to compromise and let me send her a message when I got home. “Okay.” I waved goodbye to her with a smile: “Get in the car quickly, don’t keep the driver waiting.” Li Yue agreed and got into the car. I kept smiling as I watched her leave. Only when the car’s shadow completely disappeared did the smile on my face drop bit by bit. I knew I shouldn’t be sad. I knew Zhou Li was a scumbag. He was clearly a scumbag, scumbag right out in the open. But I was still disappointing. Still would be sad, would be in pain. Would be wrapped in sourness, the whole person like a bitter and sour lemon. I muddled into a convenience store, bought a can of beer, sat in front of the French window, staring blankly at the traffic outside. I don’t want to go anywhere now, don’t want to do anything, just want to empty myself completely. So I sat in the corner of the convenience store and drank one can after another silently. Three cans of beer down, finally suppressed the surging pain in my heart, the side effect is that my head is a little dizzy. I staggered to get up and leave, but two punk-looking blondes appeared beside me, leaning close to me with a grin, putting their hands on my shoulders, breathing on me: “Hey beautiful, it’s boring to drink alone, why not join us.” I didn’t notice for a moment and was staggered by their pull. I don’t know if it’s because only one eye works, or because of the effect of alcohol, the picture in front of me is shaking terribly. I wanted to get rid of them, but I couldn’t exert any strength no matter how hard I tried. One of them showed a meaningful smile at his companion, then reached out to hug me. “Get lost.” I trembled all over with anger and shouted curses: “Don’t touch me!” “I’ll call the police!” But not only were they not afraid, they even giggled and formed an encirclement posture, sandwiching me out left and right. The cold wind outside blew, making my chaotic brain finally sober up a lot. I struggled hard to break free, but the more I struggled, the tighter they grabbed. One of them was even afraid that I would scream, covered my mouth forcefully, and dragged me into the dark alley. I opened my eyes wide in horror, struggling desperately, but two fists cannot beat four hands, there was no room for escape at all! I panicked, looking around for passersby, trying to seek help. While eyes anxiously looking around. Suddenly saw a familiar pair of eyes. That person stood across the street with a cigarette in his mouth, carefully shielding a slender figure as she got into the back seat of a car. Seeming to sense my gaze, he raised his eyes and glanced over here. In the moment our eyes met, there was a slight pause. Zhou Li saw me. This realization made my heart beat like a drum. He saw me! He must have seen me being held hostage and taken away. He definitely saw my reluctance and fear! My heart beat fast in this moment, and I reached out to him for help subconsciously. In the past, when Zhou Li saw me being bumped on the shoulder by a passerby from a distance, he would rush up with a dark face, pull the person away, and hold me in his arms possessively. He said he would protect me. I shouted his name silently, looking towards him through blurred, teary eyes. But the next second, Zhou Li casually look away. As if he hadn’t seen anything, he lowered his head and lit a cigarette lightly. My breath stopped abruptly, the whole person seemed to be poured over by a basin of cold water from head to toe, cold enough to make me shiver uncontrollably. The moment I was dragged into the alley by those two people dully, I suddenly burst out endless strength, taking advantage of the moment one person relaxed, broke free my hand, and punched him in the bridge of the nose backhanded! While that person let go of his hand in pain and squatted down howling in pain, I picked up my bag and smashed it hard at the other person’s lower body, then turned and ran, never looking back, running fast. Only I didn’t expect that when I ran to the entrance of the alley, I would run head-on into a familiar embrace. Familiar woody tea fragrance mixed with a hint of sweet orange perfume scent. I was stunned for a moment, raised my head, and met Zhou Li’s gaze. The next second, I pushed him away suddenly, swung the bag in my hand with all my strength, and smashed it directly at his face fiercely. “Only focused on beating those two scumbags, forgot to beat you.” Zhou Li staggered from the beat, and his entire face instantly turned red from the smash. “You hit me?” He touched his cheek in disbelief and raised his eyebrows. But I completely ignored him, turned and ran, found a taxi parked on the side of the road and rushed in. Throwing all the dirty things tonight behind. Bullshit Zhou Li, bullshit love! It’s all fucking fake! I wiped away the tears in my eyes forcefully, gritted my teeth and told myself not to cry anymore. After tonight, if I still shed tears for Zhou Li. Then I really look down on myself!

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In the third year of our arranged marriage, I discovered my husband, Julian, was keeping a young mistress. He cut his overseas meeting short and flew back overnight. “She won’t affect your status as Mrs. Sterling. “So, don’t touch her.” The man who was usually unflappable now couldn’t hide the anxiety in his eyes. Terrified that I would hurt the person at the tip of his heart. I nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave. Julian was used to being the heir to an empire. But I still wasn’t used to being a socialite wife who danced with wolves. What suited me best was still the barren land ten thousand miles away. 1 Julian came back fast. 5 AM. I leaned against the sofa, my head throbbing. Leather shoes stopped in my line of sight. “She’s already moved out.” His voice was calm. I nodded. “Fast.” Worthy of the decisive CEO Sterling. Able to comfort and settle his lover in one night, then come home to clean up the mess. I stood up, wanting to go back to my room for a nap. As we brushed past each other. He grabbed my forearm. “This was an accident. In the future, she won’t affect your position as Mrs. Sterling. “So, Leah, don’t touch her.” His gentle tone carried a warning that couldn’t be ignored. I looked down. Julian was still wearing our wedding band on his ring finger. The plain platinum band glinted in the dim light of the floor lamp. “Julian,” I heard my own voice, “what is your relationship?” Asking it, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. A man hiding a young, beautiful girl in a villa for years… what else could it be? Before he could speak, I broke free from his grip. “It doesn’t matter.” I thought I maintained the dignity an adult should have. But I don’t know what triggered Julian. “Leah Vance, you don’t need to be like this.” A layer of anger coated his eyes. “From the beginning, this was a business marriage. We each take what we need. “In this circle, who doesn’t have women outside?” It felt like a silver needle piercing my heart. “Are you making excuses for yourself, or do you really think that?” I looked at him calmly. “Other wives might accept it, but I can’t.” 2 Discovering Bella was an accident. In a vacant villa in the Hamptons. She stood on the stairs in a white dress. When our eyes met, hers were panicked. “Leah… why are you here?” When my mom was alive, she often took me to see the students she sponsored. Bella was one of them. After Mom died, I went to the Middle East and never saw Bella again. I didn’t expect our reunion to be like this. 3 Back in my room, I lay in bed. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep well. Gunshots, explosions, crying filled my dreams. I asked the Chief of Surgery to fill my schedule with operations, leaving no time to think about anything else. Just after finishing a night shift, I walked out of the hospital. I saw Julian’s driver trotting over. “Ma’am, Mr. Sterling asked me to pick you up for the Old Master’s birthday banquet.” I remembered then. It was Julian’s grandfather’s birthday. I took a deep breath and sat in the back seat. No one else was inside, only two exquisitely wrapped gift boxes. Julian had prepared the gift and the dress I was to wear. I didn’t take them. I asked the driver to detour, and I bought a gift myself. In my three years at the Sterling house, Old Master Sterling had always treated me sincerely. Before we parted ways, I should go see him. 4 The historic Sterling estate was brilliantly lit tonight. When I walked in, Julian’s friends greeted me. “Sister-in-law, you’re finally here. Our Julian is turning into a stone waiting for his wife tonight.” In the past, they always joked like this. Making me think Julian was just cold by nature and bad at expressing himself, but had me in his heart. Until I saw Bella yesterday, I realized being loved was just my hallucination. Trust in his character was just my naivety. “If you don’t want your mouth, sew it up.” Julian’s voice came from behind. Max laughed roguishly: “Clearly loves his wife to death but acts tough. Bro, be careful or you’ll be chasing your wife in the crematorium later.” Julian glanced at him, then at me, opening his mouth. I stepped away. Ignoring his changing expression. I didn’t come to see him anyway. After seeing Old Master Sterling and giving my blessings. As I was leaving, I accidentally bumped into a waiter carrying red wine. I went upstairs to change. When I came out, voices came from the next room. “Leah knows about Bella? No wonder she looked bad just now.” I stopped. “Did she make a scene?” “No.” “Julian, what if Leah makes you cut ties with Bella?” Silence for a few seconds, then Julian’s voice sounded. “Bella never asked for status. If Leah is smart, she should know her boundaries.” Someone chimed in: “Tsk tsk, Julian, watching you care so much about Leah these past few years, I thought you really fell for her.” Through the crack in the door, Julian’s face was grim. “Just a marriage alliance.” Someone agreed: “Bella went to war zones as a volunteer exchange student. Our Julian was a war correspondent there too. Someone like Leah, born with a silver spoon, can’t resonate with Julian’s soul like Bella can.” “Exactly. With Leah’s cold, aloof personality, I wouldn’t want to get close even if she’s beautiful. Bella is sweet and sensible.” Max snorted coldly: “Ungrateful bastards. Last month when your mom was sick, Leah did the surgery herself.” “She’s a doctor, isn’t that her job? Why are you defending her so much? If Julian divorces her, you marry her then.” “Damn it!” Max raised his voice and grabbed the guy’s collar. “Enough!” Julian shouted low. “Even if I don’t love Leah Vance, she is still my wife. It’s not your place to joke about her.” I didn’t want to listen anymore. I left the banquet. Those years rooted in the Middle East, the Vance family claimed I was studying abroad. So few knew about that experience. After all these years, I still disliked this glitzy vanity fair. I guess it’s because Julian and I were never compatible to begin with. Separating now isn’t a bad thing. Back home, I opened the back of a drawer. I took out the divorce agreement prepared before the marriage. I signed my name stroke by stroke, then put it back on top. On my phone video, Syria was engulfed in war, starving bodies everywhere. A little boy smiled bitterly at the camera: “Children here don’t grow up.” Julian was right. Who in this circle didn’t have women outside? It’s just that. He is used to being a wealthy heir now. But I’m not used to being a socialite wife. What suits me best is still the barren land ten thousand miles away.

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Five years after our breakup, my ex-boyfriend’s sister exposed me on a reality show. “My brother dated this girl once. A total gold digger.” “After they broke up, she sent him hundreds of texts begging to get back together.” “But, you know, I deleted all of them.” Netizens immediately pinned the “gold digger” label on me, a washed-up actress. To grab headlines, the paparazzi dug me out from a pile of “dead bodies” on set. I wiped a smudge of ash from my face and smiled at the camera: “We really weren’t close. Otherwise, would I be here playing a corpse?” The interview video blew up. Ethan Sterling flew back from overseas. That night, I saw him at my apartment door. “Not close? So for all those years, I was sleeping with a ghost?” 1 After the clip of Bella Sterling exposing me aired, it simmered overnight and hit the top trending spot. On screen, she smiled nonchalantly at the camera, dispensing justice and executing the gold digger. “Anyone with eyes could see she was after our family’s money. My brother actually thought she was innocent.” “You know, those girls who pretend to be innocent are actually the scariest. None of our friends in the circle liked her.” “But my brother was like he was under a spell. He almost turned against the family for her.” “My mom wanted to break them up forcefully back then. I advised her not to ruin her relationship with her son over a gold digger.” “Later, I had to infiltrate from the inside and use some tricks to make that woman reveal her true colors.” “I really saved my brother’s life. For families like ours, marriage must be a match of equal status so both families can be satisfied.” Bella entered the entertainment industry with the title of a wealthy heiress. Publicly, she was the daughter of Sterling Real Estate. Naturally, everyone assumed the “brother” she mentioned was the heir to Sterling Real Estate. But in reality, Sterling Real Estate was just a small asset of the Sterling family empire. But I digress. Playing a dead body means you can’t check your phone. I only heard about what Bella said on the show from the paparazzo next to me. Somehow, connecting the dots of the past, the public’s gaze turned to me, a has-been star. “Is it really not you?” The director yelled “Cut,” and the paparazzo and I crawled up from the ground. He was dedicated. To dig up news, he snuck in to play a corpse with me. I dusted off my gray robe and grinned: “Really not me. If I could climb up to such a high-status young master, would I need to be here playing a dead body?” He spat out a blade of grass. “Stop pretending. I’ve been watching you since you debuted. I could never get a shot of your ex-boyfriend back then. Now with this scoop, doesn’t it fit perfectly?” I ignored him, bending over to fish out a crumpled business card from my robe and jeans pocket. I stuffed it into his hand ingratiatingly: “Boss, remember to call me if you have work. Dead bodies, corpses, background filler—I can do it all. My professional ability is guaranteed.” This paparazzo had been betting on me since my debut. In my peak years, he bought a condo in LA just by making up dirt on me. All these years, as I faded into obscurity, only this guy still had hope, always expecting me to make a grand comeback like a queen reclaiming her throne. He snatched the card, cursing. “I’m convinced, Chloe. If you were a stock, I’d have lost my underwear betting on you all these years.” “Chloe, you were so glorious back then. How did you end up like this?” I sighed and rubbed my hands. “A hero doesn’t mention past bravery. Rain, just throw some work my way in the future, and I’ll be grateful.” I looked at his back, craning my neck to shout again: “Rain! I can play anything! Just give me a role!” The autumn wind was cold. I looked away and wrapped my robe tighter. If he hadn’t mentioned the past, I might have really forgotten. Glorious. I was very glorious once. 2 At eighteen, I was selected from an open casting call at the film academy. At nineteen, I exploded into stardom. The tabloids criticized me daily, but were somehow friendly. Vanity Fair was the most exaggerated, writing headlines praising me as the brightest star in the galaxy. I lived up to expectations, skyrocketing in popularity in a short time. In my brightest year, my face was on billboards from New York to LA. Bella always said I relied on her brother, aiming for their money. Others might not know, but Ethan knew best. I met him when I was nineteen. Back then, I had boundless prospects and was arrogant. He didn’t know how to pursue someone, only how to throw money: “Be with me, and I’ll invest in your movies.” I threw the money back in his face, chin high: “I need you to invest? Directors are lining up to give me scripts.” He smiled, not angry, and reached out to stop the people behind him who were pointing fingers at me. After that, he changed his approach, lowering his proud stance. He squeezed into buses with me to shoot in the mountains, huddled in rental apartments with me, cooked for me, made soup. I took it for granted, patting his shoulder, honored for him: “I’m a superstar! Others can’t even dream of cooking for me!” “In the future, when I win the Oscar and I’m famous worldwide, you’ll have face too. Tell me, in this sea of people, how did you pick a treasure like me?” Ethan ran his fingers through my long hair, unconditionally agreeing with all my nonsensical words. “That’s why I say I have good taste. I knew you’d make it since you were little.” Back then, I saw Ethan as no different from those other second-generation rich kids, except for a good-looking skin. He really liked me then. The patience cultivated from a privileged upbringing was all spent on me. I became famous early, young and aggressive, proud and arrogant, not knowing how to bow my head. No one restrained me, no one regulated me. I offended quite a few people along the way. At such a young age, I did whatever I wanted in that circle. Not because I was amazing, but because in those years, Ethan was always there to clean up the mess. In those years, if he dared to hand me a sword, I dared to unsheathe it. Female star marrying a tycoon—this pairing is never outdated in any era. At that time, I thought, I was somewhat of a star. If I married Ethan, I wouldn’t say how much face he gained, but at least he wouldn’t lose out. So I naively thought that between us, it was just a matter of my nodding. 3 But later, I saw the true difference between clouds and mud. Ethan’s mother didn’t like me. His friends looked down on me. With my strong self-esteem, I should have broken up with him. But I couldn’t bear it. Couldn’t bear to leave him, couldn’t bear not to love him. I lowered my head, I endured, unwilling to retreat. Bella broke in at this time. She was Ethan’s adopted sister. Her father was the Sterling family driver. When she was five, he died saving Ethan, so the Sterling family adopted her. Maybe it was gratitude, maybe it was childhood friendship. In short, Bella had a lot of say in that circle. The first time she saw me, she showed huge enthusiasm. “Brother, this is the sister-in-law you found for me? So pretty.” She took my arm, pointing at the circle of people, giving orders: “I’m telling you all, be polite to my sister-in-law. With me here, no one can bully her.” In my most confused moments, I treated her as an ally. Asking her about Ethan’s mother’s opinion of me, asking her how to please his mother. Bella comforted me: “Oh, don’t worry, Aunt Lan is just sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. You and my brother just hold on. One day, get pregnant first and tell her later. Give her a grandson, and she’ll be too happy to care.” “At worst, just wait it out. When my brother gets older, she’ll naturally compromise.” Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to force a marriage with a child. But Bella’s words gave me some confidence at the time. I thought Ethan’s mother was like all mothers in the world, ultimately unable to win against her child. So when Bella told me Ethan’s mother wanted to see me, I believed her. I did the most appropriate makeup, wore the most appropriate clothes, nervous and uneasy. That was the first time I met Ethan’s mother face to face. At such a grand occasion where I clearly shouldn’t have appeared, I intruded rudely without permission. In that moment, I saw thick disgust in Ethan’s mother’s eyes. I looked at Bella, hoping she would say something. She smiled and said ambiguously: “Aunt Lan, don’t blame her. She just wanted to please you too much, so she inevitably lacked a sense of propriety.” My pupils shrank, my whole body cold as ice. The incident was too big. Ethan flew back overnight. The moment he saw me, his eyes were tired: “Chloe, I told you I was making plans, I was thinking of a way. Why were you in such a hurry? Do you know what occasion that was? How many important figures attended? You barged in like that, what do you expect my mom to think of you?” I knew he was fighting with his family, working hard for us. In many sleepless nights, we hugged tightly, hearing him whisper to hold on a little longer. So I knew I was wrong. My eyes were red: “I’m sorry, I was too anxious. It was Bella, she told me to go…” The long confrontation with his family had worn out his patience: “Why blame her? Even if she wanted to help you build a bridge with my mom, you’re an adult. Couldn’t you read the room?” He didn’t believe me, and also thought I was eager for quick success, desperate to climb the social ladder. 4 From then on, we began endless arguments and cold wars. Bella remained the same in front of people, pretending to consider everything for me, acting intimate with me. But behind my back, like everyone else, she despised me. Planning to separate from Ethan was because the messy relationship stagnated my career. On the eve of deciding to separate, Bella sent me a video. In the frame, Ethan sat on the living room sofa, familiar faces sitting around him. His mother’s tone was strict: “You and that girl, how long will this go on!” Ethan didn’t look up, tone lazy: “Just playing, what’s the rush.” Along with the video came a text message from Bella. “Sister-in-law, don’t misunderstand. My brother is just like this, unforgiving with his mouth. He always said he was just playing with those girlfriends before, but he gave money and resources generously. Dating him for a few days means not worrying about food and drink for lifetimes.” I didn’t take the video to question Ethan’s thoughts, but directly proposed a breakup. But Ethan only thought I was throwing a tantrum, dealing with me patiently. To disgust him, I said all sorts of cruel things. “Yeah, I found a better backer. If you can provide, others can provide for me too!” “You think your family is royalty? Let me tell you, I don’t care!” The argument exploded instantly, entangled and unrelenting. Many times, I thought. If Ethan had let go then, if I hadn’t had that extra bit of attachment then. Maybe I wouldn’t have walked into the trap set by Bella. I wouldn’t have been branded a mistress climbing into a director’s bed at my peak, with explicit photos flying everywhere. I wouldn’t have paid damages until I had nothing left, wouldn’t have ended up playing dead bodies now. Pity there aren’t so many “ifs.” Love tripped up the first half of my life, trapping me in prison.

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My fiancé slept with my sister. On the day of our engagement party, I heard their tearful confessions of love with my own ears. It was enough to make me physically sick. 1 Ethan and I had been together for seven years, ever since our sophomore year of college. Bella followed me around like a shadow, calling him “Ethan” in that sweet, syrupy voice for seven years. In my eyes, they were always just brother and sister. Yeah, right. Ethan might have seen her as a little sister, but what she saw him as… well, that’s a whole other story. 2 Bella is my half-sister. Same dad, different moms. My parents divorced early. I stayed with my dad. Because I had a talent for dance, he doted on me. Bella was cute when she was little—chubby cheeks, babbling, drooling, always wanting to sleep in my bed. But once she hit kindergarten, the cuteness wore off. She mastered the art of playing the victim early on— “It’s my fault, not Harper’s.” “Daddy, if you’re going to punish someone, punish me!” “You guys are fighting… I’m scared, sob.” “If Harper likes it, let her have it!” “I didn’t mean to… Harper, can you forgive me?” I didn’t know the term “Pick-me Girl” back then. How could such a small child have such manipulative thoughts? But my dad’s attitude towards me shifted from good to bad, and then from bad to worse. Plus, my stepmom was her biological mother. My position in the house became precarious. I poured everything into my studies and dance, hoping my dad would love me a little more. It was useless. He always thought I was bullying Bella, and that Bella was suffering in silence. 3 You think I didn’t guard against Bella when I started dating Ethan? The first two years were fine. I was in college; she was in high school. But when I graduated and she entered college, she had more time, and the drama started. Every weekend, when Ethan and I had a date, she would show up rain or shine to “bond” with her big sister. If I tried to send her away, she’d turn on the waterworks: “Harper, do you hate me now? Tell me what I did wrong, I’ll change! …You’re breaking my heart!” I’d roll my eyes. “Do you have to be a third wheel?” Bella would look at Ethan with red-rimmed eyes, pleading for help. Ethan always played the peacemaker, saying Bella was still young, that she just looked up to me, and telling me not to be so harsh on her. We fought about this several times. He said I was unreasonable for holding a grudge against a kid. I said he didn’t know the half of it and had no right to judge. We almost broke up. But we didn’t. After that, whenever Bella clung to me, Ethan stopped interfering and let me handle it. 4 By the way, I’m a dancer. My name is Harper Vance. I work for the State Ballet Theater, practically a principal dancer. Ethan works in IT, a software engineer. He’s a project manager at a tech startup—young, promising, and still has a full head of hair. Everyone said we were a perfect match. Countless people asked when we were tying the knot. We decided to have an engagement party first. Ethan and I booked a ballroom at a local luxury hotel. We chose it for its layout—a grand staircase and a mezzanine. Crystal chandeliers, a spiraling staircase. The ground floor for the guests, the upstairs suites for changing and resting. I was in the dressing room, touching up my makeup. “Harper, your dress is stunning! It shows off everything perfectly! Unlike me, stuck in t-shirts and jeans every day.” “That lipstick shade is perfect on you! Is that the one everyone’s talking about? I’m so clumsy with makeup. Harper, will you teach me later?” I looked at her through the mirror. “Sure.” She beamed with joy. Sometimes, I wondered if she was genuinely oblivious or just that good at acting. For years, my dislike for her was palpable. How could she still pretend we were best friends? “Harper, it’s almost time. I’m going down to keep Mom and Dad company!” Bella turned and ran out. The makeup artist watched her leave and sighed. “Ms. Vance, your sister is so… innocent and lively! Everyone else is in evening gowns, and she’s the host’s family wearing jeans.” I smiled but didn’t reply. some dirty laundry shouldn’t be aired. 5 Ethan was late coming to get me. He wasn’t picking up his phone. I called a friend downstairs who told me he had come up a while ago. A while ago? A woman’s intuition is a powerful thing. In that moment, my mind flashed to Bella. Without hesitation, I stood up, gathered my skirt, and walked out. Two doors down from the dressing room was a lounge. The door was ajar. Voices drifted out. I walked closer— “Ethan, this is the last time I’ll call you by your name… soon you’ll be my brother-in-law… it hurts so much!” “Harper is so lucky to marry you… You’re such a good man. She must have saved the galaxy in a past life.” “Ethan, what do I do? I really, really like you…” “Bella, don’t do this. Your sister and I are about to get engaged…” The voices stopped. I hesitated for two seconds, then kicked the door open. The two of them were tangled on the sofa. Ethan was pressing Bella down, kissing her. His hand was sliding under her shirt, lost in the moment. My blood froze. This was our engagement party. Did they have no shame? “Harper…” Bella saw me first. They scrambled off the sofa in a panic. One with hair like a bird’s nest, the other with a crumpled suit. “Sister, it’s not what you think!” “Harper, listen to me!” Ethan stepped in front of Bella, shielding her. That protective stance said everything. How long had this been going on? Even if today was the spark, the fuel had been piling up for a long time. I looked at Bella and forced a smile. “It’s not what I ‘think,’ it’s what I ‘saw’!” Then I looked at Ethan, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your mouth says no, but your body seems pretty honest… No need to cancel the party, just swap the bride! Ethan, we’re done. Pretend we never met.” I turned to leave, tears instantly blurring my vision. Years of love, gone just like that. Bella rushed out and grabbed me, dropping to her knees with a thud. She slapped her own face. Smack! The sound echoed. The noise downstairs died down. In the sudden silence, only Bella’s crying could be heard: “Harper, forgive us just this once… I didn’t mean to! I was ready to call him brother-in-law! We… we just couldn’t help ourselves… we didn’t go all the way… Please believe me, I’m begging you. Go get engaged to Ethan, okay? Sob, sob…” I laughed out of pure anger. After this, how could we get engaged? Did she think I had no dignity? Ethan stood at the lounge door, not taking a single step forward. He looked at me, then at Bella. His eyes were full of heartache—for her. My heart sank to the bottom of the ocean. “I didn’t realize you two were so deeply in love that you ‘couldn’t help yourselves.’ You… you guys are really something!” I laughed through my rage and turned to run downstairs. 6 3-inch heels. A floor-length gown with a train. I lifted the front of the skirt, but someone stepped on the back. I tumbled down the stairs like a ragdoll. The physical pain was sharper than the gasps from the crowd. Everyone rushed over. I struggled to stand, only to realize my right ankle wouldn’t move. I’m a dancer. I know the difference between a sprain and a bone injury. My heart went cold. “Call an ambulance! Now!”

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After getting back together with Asher, everyone around him said I had changed. I used to be notoriously high-maintenance. I demanded to check his phone, clung to him like a second skin, and needed to know his every move. It wasn’t until I drowned in the gap between our social classes that I suddenly realized: everyone around him thought I wasn’t worthy. Later, I became his mistress. Obedient, considerate, terrified to say the word “love,” and an expert at exchanging sweet nothings for his black card. But he gripped my hand tight, his eyes red, asking me why I didn’t love him anymore. 1 When I reunited with Asher Sterling, I was busy drinking with an investor. My startup was bleeding cash. I had been scolded for hours, forcing a smile while pouring whiskey into an empty stomach. I rushed to the restroom, forcing myself to throw up until my eyes were red and stinging. That’s when I locked eyes with Asher. He was surrounded by people, the center of the universe, looking like the moon among stars. In my daze, his gaze swept over me lightly, indifferent, as if looking at trash. I remembered when we broke up, I had stomped my foot and screamed at him, “What’s so great about having money?” Now, after being beaten down by society eight hundred times, I finally knew: having money is actually fantastic. After the breakup, I was living like a dog, and my ex saw it all. When I pushed the private room door open again, the investor who had been fierce moments ago was now smiling fawningly, calling him “Mr. Sterling.” The investor extended a hand. Asher didn’t shake it. The atmosphere grew awkward. The investor was my client; Asher was my client’s client. I couldn’t afford to offend either. I had to be the smooth operator. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize Mr. Sterling just now. I’ll drink three glasses as an apology.” The spicy liquor burned down my throat, suppressing the insignificant bitterness in my heart. The investor’s face relaxed. Asher looked at me and asked directly, “How much funding are you short?” My company was on the verge of bankruptcy. The startup phase burns money like paper. My eyes lit up. Right there at the dinner table, Asher signed the investment agreement with a wave of his hand. “I don’t think I have your contact info. Report the company’s operating status directly to me from now on.” He capped his pen, clasped his hands, and looked at me with composure. The posture of a superior. I quickly took out my phone, skillfully playing the role of a sycophant. I re-added the WeChat I had once blocked, the one I swore I’d never contact again until I died. I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Sure enough, he messaged me immediately. [Come to me after this.] I treated myself like a piece of meat on the chopping block. I rinsed my mouth carefully and used perfume to mask the smell of alcohol he hated most. Then I knocked on his car window and gave him my sweetest smile. That day, I exchanged my body for resources. It was no big deal, I told myself. To climb up by any means necessary, to make the company grow, I was destined to sacrifice some dignity. During this reunion, Asher didn’t say a single soft word. He kept a straight face in the car, letting me rack my brains to find topics of conversation. Then, in the heat of the moment, he pinched my chin and smiled cruelly. “I knew you would come back to me.” He stroked my hair, absent-mindedly, like petting a dog. “Be good from now on. Don’t threaten to break up again, okay?” 2 After that day, I moved into Asher’s penthouse. I was shocked. Three years after the breakup, the layout of his home hadn’t changed a bit. The lemon tree on the balcony, which I bought, had grown taller. The antique shelf still held the cheap trinkets I had bought randomly; they looked ridiculous against the luxury decor. On the fridge, a note I once wrote was yellowing and fading. Piggy, I love you so much! I made breakfast, remember to eat it. I plan to miss you 100 times today. XOXO. I shuddered, shaking off the goosebumps. The walk-in closet was mostly empty. Asher’s clothes occupied only one section. The bags I didn’t take when we broke up were still displayed there. It felt strange yet familiar. “Don’t overthink it. I rarely come back here. I just forgot to throw things away,” Asher added. I remembered the past. I loved to cause drama just to test my place in his heart. That’s why none of Asher’s friends liked me. When we broke up, his childhood friend, Vanessa, told me bluntly that I was too full of myself. Asher didn’t defend me. Looking back, I was the immature one. If you want the money, don’t ask for love. We were naturally unequal. I nodded calmly and even managed a smile at Asher. “I’m honored Mr. Sterling kept these things. I was immature back then, please don’t take it to heart.” Asher’s face visibly fell. He wanted to say something but remained silent. 3 I only brought a few sets of clothes, all identical business suits. The closet looked barren. This was a lesson learned from the last breakup. That day, I discovered Asher’s family was looking for a fiancée for him, and he hadn’t refused. My tears flowed like a fountain. I cried messily, sniffling constantly. It was ugly and pathetic, as if preventing snot from running down was the last shred of dignity I had left. Asher and a group of his friends sat in the living room, watching me squat on the floor, stuffing clothes into my suitcase one by one. Their eyes held silent pity and mockery. Vanessa even held my hand. “Elena, even if Asher has a fiancée, it won’t affect your relationship. In this circle, everyone knows how it works. You need to be understanding.” I shouted that they were disgusting, that they were all psychopaths! Then, under their gaze, I dragged my heavy suitcase and shuffled to the door, step by step. That day, my love and dignity shattered into pieces. I swore I would never let myself fall into such a predicament again. “I’ll have someone come over tomorrow to measure you. We need to add some dresses,” Asher said, frowning at the empty closet. I wanted to refuse, but then I thought, better outfits for meeting clients. So I turned around, wrapped my arms around his neck coquettishly, and kissed him on the cheek. “Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sterling.” The smile on Asher’s face froze. He stared at me for a long time. “You didn’t call me Mr. Sterling before. Don’t you think it’s too distant?” Before, I had many nicknames for him. Baby, Honey, Ash. Thinking about it now makes me nauseous. Later, I realized his family and close friends called him “Ash.” He never told me to use that name. Just like he never brought me into his social circle. I was always the intruder who didn’t know the rules. I turned and smiled even sweeter. “Sorry, Ash. I wasn’t paying attention to the details.” Asher’s face grew darker. He walked out without a word. This man is impossible to please! 4 Enemies meet on a narrow road. The next day, just after playing tennis with a client, I bumped into Vanessa and Asher. A trace of awkwardness flashed in her eyes. We didn’t exactly part on good terms. I always felt Asher and she were too close. They could share a drink, wear the same jacket, and Vanessa could even pick his future wife. I thought it crossed a line. But Asher hated when I cared about these things. “I will never think a girlfriend is more important than my social circle. After all, you have nothing and bring me nothing.” In a past argument, Asher had spoken the truth while drunk. I dug my nails into my palms to hold back tears. Poverty is humiliating enough. Being with someone who doesn’t love you deepens that humiliation. Look at me now. I’ve grown. I can curse Vanessa in my heart while running over with a surprised look to give her a dramatic hug. The client hadn’t gone far. I needed him to see clearly that I was good friends with the heiress of the Wen family. Vanessa hugged me back, even though I knew she was rolling her eyes internally. “Ash said in the group chat that you guys got back together. I’m so happy! I missed you so much, Elena!” She gave me an exaggerated air kiss, ignoring Asher’s confused look. I used to hate that they had a separate group chat for their inner circle. Asher wouldn’t add me. He replied to them faster than me. They talked about things I couldn’t join in on. Now, I had learned the wisdom of not caring. “Oh, I was so immature back then, no sense of boundaries. I was too embarrassed to find you later. Bestie, you don’t blame me, right?” I held her hand falsely, acting like we were the best of friends. “How could I! When Auntie was looking for a fiancée for Ash, she asked me to check them out. I looked at everyone, and I still think you’re the best.” Vanessa always spoke with hidden meanings. In one casual sentence, she told me she had status in the Sterling family and that after we broke up, Asher was indeed looking for a marriage partner. “I don’t have a marriage partner, and I haven’t met anyone.” Asher had grown too. He deigned to explain. He pushed the freshly served ice cream toward me. Vanessa took a spoonful first. “Vanilla! Better than my matcha.” She squinted and smiled at Asher. Then, Asher handed the spoon he used to me. Pupil! Earthquake! With the Sterling family’s massive wealth, could they not afford another ice cream? Did we have to share saliva? I used to love sharing food with Asher. Now, I attribute that to a lack of hygiene knowledge. The current me couldn’t handle it. I pushed the ice cream back toward him, keeping my expression smooth. Declined. “Sorry, Ash. I can’t eat cold things on my period.” Asher waved for the waiter and ordered me a hot chocolate. “If I remember correctly, Elena is allergic to chocolate.” Vanessa stopped him. Asher looked at me in shock, seeking confirmation. Even Vanessa knew. So, when we were dating, just how little did Asher care? Fortunately, I had learned expectation management. I no longer expected anything from him, so I couldn’t be disappointed. 5 Leaving the tennis court, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Liam. My best friend Sarah’s favorite tennis player. I pulled out my phone, snapped two pics, and sent them to her. She immediately replied with a string of “AHHHH.” I chatted and laughed. Asher leaned over to look at my screen. Instinctively, I switched apps. The corners of his mouth dropped. He radiated anger. Can’t let the patron get mad. I took the initiative to hold his hand. “Sorry, after working, I’m not used to people looking at my phone. I didn’t mean it.” I learned that the person in the lower position can’t throw tantrums. You have to be proactive, humble yourself, to maintain the balance of the relationship. After all, I was getting a lot out of him. It wasn’t a loss. “Why don’t you share these things with me anymore?” Asher interlaced his fingers with mine and looked down at me. I used to tell him everything. I saw a sunset, I got a smelly taxi, I petted a cute dog. When I loved him most, I had an overwhelming desire to share, even if his responses were sparse. I held his arm and shook it gently. “You’re too busy with work. I don’t want to bother you.” Actually, I just didn’t think of him. Asher touched my hair and said nothing. From that day on, he started texting me like he was possessed. When I was dining with a client, he sent a photo with two words: [Lunch.] ? A question mark popped up in my brain. Why send me this? The client was there; being on the phone was rude. Only after sending them off did I have time to reply. [Meat and veggies, looks great! 👍👍] Driving, the phone buzzed again. [Social event tonight. Home late, around 11. Don’t wait for me.] Asher added: [Hate these events.] Suppressing my annoyance, I replied. [Me too. Don’t drink too much, take care of yourself 😭😭] After our positions swapped, I finally realized— How annoying my frequent texting used to be. I quickly messaged my company’s programmer to install an AI auto-reply assistant on my WeChat. Let AI replace me as the perfect girlfriend who replies instantly.

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After the divorce, I threw myself entirely into my acting career. Aside from our scheduled weekly visitations with our son, I had zero contact with my ex-husband. Until one day, I accidentally stumbled upon Lucas’s social media account. He had become a parenting influencer with millions of followers. For three years, I watched him expertly change diapers and prepare formula. He transformed our babbling baby into a sweet, well-behaved angel. In his latest video, our son asked, “Why can’t Mommy stay with me every day like you do?” Lucas was silent for a moment before answering seriously: “Because she is herself first, and your mother second.” I rubbed the screen, quietly feeling the sudden flutter in my chest. We had a child. We got divorced. We had clearly reached the end of our story. Yet, I was just starting to fall for this man. 1 Lucas Sterling and I were a business marriage. Two years married, still strangers. I had just started making waves in Hollywood when my father cut off all my resources, effectively blacklisting me. Forced into a corner, I had to obey his arrangement and agree to the marriage. Lucas was the best choice. He had no interest in romance but needed an heir. We agreed to divorce once the child was born. To return to the set sooner, I entangled with him every night. Bodies burning and intertwined, hearts cold and distant. After countless nights, we would silently turn away from each other. Soon, I gave birth to a boy. Lucas named him Leo. He valued our son, and that was enough. After Leo turned one, we finalized the divorce. I don’t know how Lucas explained it to the Sterling family, but they had no objections. His mother even looked at me with a hint of pity and guilt. She promised the Sterling family would do their best to support my career and always have my back. I accepted graciously, of course. To be fair, Lucas was dutiful as both a husband and a father. As for my dad, since Lucas initiated the divorce and the child solidified the alliance between our families, he couldn’t control me anymore. He just stayed silent for a long time before saying calmly: “Elena, you’re just as heartless as your mother.” Heartless? My mother was once a top ballerina in New York, with a limitless future. But she was forced to give up her career to marry my father. The difference was, she had loved him for years, so it was a dream come true for her. My father came from old money, elite education, traditional values. Profit was his god. He wanted a wife to manage the home and raise children, not to show her face in public. After marrying him, my mother’s vibrant soul withered day by day, leaving only the shell of a perfect trophy wife. After having me, I became her only emotional anchor. Until my father demanded a son to inherit the family business, and my mother asked blankly: “What about our daughter?” “She’ll marry for the family, of course. It’s the responsibility she bears for enjoying this wealth.” He answered as if it were natural. “Isn’t our marriage the same? You should have been prepared.” In that moment, the last shred of expectation she had for this man shattered. She finally realized how ridiculous it was to give up her career for him. So she refused to let me follow in her footsteps. Ignoring everyone’s opposition, she resolutely chose divorce. The day she left for Paris, five-year-old me cried and asked if she didn’t want me anymore. She squatted down, looking at me with sadness and tenderness. “Elie, you will be the only child I ever have. I love only you, and I will support you unconditionally.” “I’m not abandoning you. Mommy just wants to live for herself once. You’ll understand when you grow up.” She returned to the stage, and her dazzling brilliance made the world cheer. Several times, my father would freeze while pouring tea, watching her smile on TV. Even when the tea overflowed, he didn’t notice. She taught me by example: never give up your career for anyone. I carried Leo for ten months; how could I not love him? Even when I suffered from insomnia postpartum, seeing his small sleeping form softened my heart completely. But he wasn’t my whole life. I had my own dreams and pursuits. I made the same choice as my mother, and I fully understood her. But he would be my only child, and my motherly love would never be absent. This was also my agreement with Lucas. On the day of the divorce, his only request was that I set aside time every week to visit Leo at the estate, or video call if I absolutely couldn’t make it. I agreed without hesitation. It was my duty as a mother. I just didn’t expect him to value the child to this extent, even becoming a parenting influencer. In two years of marriage, we barely interacted except in bed. I wasn’t interested in his private life. So when I accidentally scrolled onto his video, I was stunned for a long time. It turned out that in the year I was busy getting back in shape, taking acting classes, and networking, Lucas had taken on the nanny’s job. He changed diapers, fed him, and put him to sleep, ensuring I had enough rest when I came home. I thought the nanny was just doing a good job, ignoring the dark circles under Lucas’s eyes. 2 Since following Lucas’s account with my burner, my gaze lingered on him longer and longer. Lucas not only took care of Leo’s every need but also raised him well. Every time we met, the first thing Leo said when he jumped into my arms was, “Mommy, you worked hard.” No resentment or distance due to my busy schedule, only understanding and respect. Even when reluctant to part, he would just say with red eyes that he would miss me every day. Behind this sensibility must be Lucas’s countless explanations and guidance. He never brushed off Leo’s imaginative emotions or questions but responded seriously, breaking down the world’s rules for him. He guided him to read classics and learn history, so my three-year-old son understood many principles early on. The comments were often like this: [I lived half my life to understand what he knows at three. Parental education is crucial!] Some were curious: [Why is there no trace of the mom in the videos?] Lucas would reply: [In our family, mom works, and dad stays home. Mom brings home the bacon, I take care of the baby.] Many were charmed by him, and his mysterious wife was often envied: [Girl, busy all day, coming home to a husband warm in bed and an angel son, you must be smiling in your sleep!] [Congratulations! (Jealous glare)] [Natural birth isn’t as fast as ‘picking one up.’ Isn’t adoption advocated? I want this one, self-pickup available!] Although the facts weren’t exactly like that. But I occasionally blushed at these comments. Seeing the word “husband material,” the first image in my mind was Lucas frying steak in the kitchen wearing a black turtleneck cashmere sweater. Every time I went back to the estate, he would cook a big table of dishes Leo and I liked. Although surprised, I never asked, as he was always a thoughtful and decent person. Lucas was best at teaching by example. At the amusement park, he held wet wipes and a thermos in one hand and held a parasol for me with the other, asking our son to carry my bag. When I tried to refuse, he explained it was to let Leo learn by example and develop the habit of caring for and respecting women. As I marveled at his thoughtfulness countless times, our distance gradually closed unknowingly, as if we were a real family. And he silently occupied a corner of my heart. After shooting a sunglasses commercial, I sat in the nanny van watching the latest video on my tablet. In the video, Leo’s eyes were red. “My deskmate’s mom picks her up every day. Why can’t my mom stay with me like you do?” Lucas was silent for a moment, then told him seriously: “Because she is herself first, and your mother second. She is an independent and free individual. Everyone has their own dreams. Just like your dream is to become a great entrepreneur, would you be happy if Mom and I didn’t support you and asked you to give up?” Leo sniffled and shook his head. “No.” “Similarly, you can’t ask Mom to give up her dreams just to revolve around you. As her family, we should support her, right?” My son was quickly comforted and smiled again. He hugged Lucas affectionately. “What about you, Daddy? Don’t you have a dream?” Lucas’s voice was calm and low. “I want to be the tallest tree in the forest, watching you and Mom fly high and far like free eagles. When you are tired, you can see me at first glance and rest safely on my branches. I will shelter you from the wind and rain until you are full of energy to start the next journey.” Every word landed clearly and powerfully in my ears. Beating heavily on my heart like a drum. I rubbed the screen, quietly feeling the sudden flutter in my chest. We had a child. We got divorced. We had clearly reached the end of our story. Yet, I was just starting to fall for this man. 3 Back at the hotel, clutching my phone, I hesitated for a long time before dialing. When the familiar voice sounded, my heart skipped a beat. Me, who was calm in front of any camera, was as flustered as a teenager in this private space. My voice was a bit hoarse. “…Is Leo asleep?” Lucas didn’t reply immediately. I noticed it was already 10 PM, and Leo slept at 9:30 sharp. “Ah, sorry, I just saw the time. I was just missing him.” The clumsy excuse made me scratch my hot face in embarrassment. Actually, I could see them tomorrow at the estate. But right now, I just really wanted to hear his voice, that’s all. “I won’t disturb you then, bye.” He seemed to chuckle, his voice gentle. “See you tomorrow.” Three simple words, somehow sounding romantic, like lovers looking forward to tomorrow’s date. My face heated up, and I hung up in a panic. My calmed heartbeat threatened to accelerate again. I tossed and turned all night, my brain excited as if injected with caffeine. When the Sterling family driver picked me up the next day, I wore sunglasses. At the estate, Lucas’s parents, who had been traveling abroad, were back. Seeing the faint circles under my eyes, his mom asked with concern: “Is filming too tiring lately? You must rest well.” Lucas looked over. The moment our eyes met, I turned my head. I didn’t really want him to see me in this state. “I just didn’t sleep well last night. It’s okay. I’ll go play with Leo.” I stood up and fled. His parents exchanged a look, standing on the same front. “Lucas, did you bully her again?” Lucas: “…” 4 I was building blocks with Leo in the playroom. He suddenly asked: “Mommy, did Daddy do something wrong?” I was startled. “Why do you say that?” “Because Daddy is fidgeting today, just like my deskmate when he got a zero and was afraid to go home.” Me: “…” Leo sighed like an old man. “Although Daddy is sometimes immature and talks back to Grandpa, can you not scold him for my sake?” I was surprised. Before I could ask, Lucas’s voice sounded at the door. “Leo Sterling, what bad things are you saying about me?” Leo immediately put on a good boy face. “No, Daddy, I’m saying good things! Ask Mommy!” Lucas’s gaze moved to my face, and he coughed lightly. “Leo likes butter cookies lately. I’m going to bake some. Do you want to take some home?” I nodded instinctively. He said okay and turned to the kitchen. Leo napped soon after. I closed his door and went to the kitchen. Lucas wore a dark apron, tall and straight, sleeves rolled up revealing forearms with visible veins. He was focused on mixing butter and powdered sugar. I watched from the door for a long time, couldn’t help but speak up. “Um, do you need help?” His back stiffened for a second, but he was calm when he turned around. “No need, go rest. It’ll be done soon.” I fought the awkwardness of not knowing where to put my hands and feet, trying to act natural. “I want to learn.” He paused, a smile appearing in his eyes. “Okay, I’ll teach you.” But my chaotic heartbeat made my hands clumsy. He looked at my face, now comical with flour, and said helplessly: “Let me do it.” I just wanted to flee, not noticing the egg I dropped on the floor. My foot slipped. Seeing the floor rushing at my face, I closed my eyes and grabbed Lucas instinctively. Unexpectedly, he hit the ground before me. I landed on him unharmed, except our lips were touching. Lucas’s pale pupils shrank, his long lashes trembling non-stop. His ears turned red instantly. My first reaction was: We have a kid, how is he still so innocent? “Lucas, you—” His mom walked in on this scene and lost her voice. I scrambled up, waving my hands frantically. “No, we—” She said nothing, clutched her chest, and silently closed the kitchen door for us. Her steps were much faster than usual. I didn’t dare look at Lucas, who was frozen like a statue. I mumbled “Sorry” and fled.

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