On the night my childhood friend got drunk, the secret that I am intersex was exposed. After things went too far, I fled the country overnight. Years later, I bumped into him at the gate of a kindergarten. He looked at the little girl beside me, his face darkening. “You’re married? “And this child… why does she look so much like me?” 1 “Can I bite here?” His familiar voice whispered in my ear. Causing ripples to spread through my body. I couldn’t see his face clearly. But I knew who he was. Lucas. The childhood friend I had secretly loved for years. After graduating high school, while tossing and turning over college applications, I realized my feelings for Lucas were different from ordinary brotherhood. But I couldn’t break that barrier. Not just because I’m a man. But because I’m intersex. A monster in other people’s eyes. I cautiously spent four years with him in college. On the day of graduation, we drank too much. I hugged him, borrowing courage from the alcohol. I just wanted to hold him for a moment and let go. But I don’t know who made the first move. Later, things spiraled out of control. He was drunk and seemed to mistake me for someone else. My secret was exposed that night. “Why is it a bit different?” Lucas looked at me, his face flushed. His gaze was unfocused. Fortunately, he blacks out when he drinks too much. “So strange.” He muttered while making me want to cry. “Do you like it?” He asked. Breathing became louder and louder. My heartbeat couldn’t hide the throbbing. Like. Always liked. Just as I was about to say it. Suddenly, I was pushed. “Daddy, why are you crying? Time to get up.” 2 I looked at my daughter, exquisitely carved like jade, beside the bed. I shook my head, realizing I had dreamed of him again. After that night, fearing Lucas would remember I was a monster, I ran away overnight to study abroad. Didn’t finish studying, but had a cub. Abroad, I just said my wife ran away and left the child with me. Everyone looked at me with sympathy. I got up to cook for Mia. My phone kept notifying me. The gaming group chat with my childhood friends was blowing up. [Lucas is getting married. Damn, he’s actually the first among us brothers.] [I’ve seen the girl, very beautiful. They make a perfect couple.] [Tagging Asher. Tell him to come back for the wedding and be the best man. weren’t they close? Why no news after going abroad?] I looked at the messages tagging me. My gaze fell on the engagement party invitation. Although I knew Lucas would marry a woman, seeing it still stung my heart. Mia finished her eggs and asked, “Daddy, when can I go to kindergarten?” She’s already three. Can’t stay abroad forever; she needs a proper education. I put down my phone and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Next month, we go back for school.” 3 I took Mia home. My parents didn’t expect me to come back with a child after one trip. Half joy, half worry. They thought I was deceived by a bad woman abroad. After handling the admission to the international school. I was worried Mia wouldn’t adapt and would cry. At dismissal time, I waited early at the kindergarten gate. Mia came out beaming, telling me kindergarten was fun and she made new friends. I carried her backpack. Turned around and bumped into an acquaintance. Lucas was more composed than in his student days, his phoenix eyes always carrying a faint smile, polite yet distant. He wore an expensive suit, looking like he just came from the company. Various words for a long-awaited reunion flashed through my mind. Finally, I only managed to stutter one sentence. “Long time no see.” “When did you come back? Why didn’t you say anything?” “Just came back recently, haven’t had time to notify anyone.” Lucas glanced at the child beside me. Mia was also secretly observing him. She tugged at me and whispered, “Daddy, this uncle is so handsome, like a star on TV.” The smile in Lucas’s eyes faded. “You’re married? When?” “No, unmarried parent.” “Who’s the mother?” “Um… someone I loved.” I tried to cover it up. “You don’t know her.” He sneered. “Suddenly left the country without a word, lost contact for so long. Turns out you went to chase love?” “…” I wasn’t that devoted. I was just afraid my secret would be exposed, so I became a deserter. “Why are you here? Picking up a child too? You’re an unmarried parent too?” I remembered his engagement and imagined a dramatic shotgun wedding scenario. Lucas was expressionless: “I wasn’t as fast as you. I’m picking someone up.” Just as I was about to ask who. Mia suddenly laughed: “Hello, Miss Jiang.” Miss Jiang greeted her, walked to Lucas’s side, glanced at me, and naturally took Lucas’s arm. “So you’re Mia’s father? Mia is very cute. She was the most active in the first class today.” Mia is a chatterbox, playful everywhere. I responded with a few polite words, staring at their intimate distance. Didn’t expect the child’s homeroom teacher to be Lucas’s fiancée. What a coincidence. Noticing my gaze, Miss Jiang asked and found out Lucas and I were childhood friends. “Would you like to have dinner together? We were planning to go to a nearby restaurant.” Miss Jiang smiled beautifully, her manners impeccable. I shook my head, “No thanks, you guys go ahead.” I didn’t want to be a third wheel, so I said goodbye and left with the child. Miss Jiang was still asking Lucas softly about which flowers to choose for the engagement party. I looked back. They really were a perfect match. If I were a normal person, maybe I could try pursuing him. But I didn’t even qualify to enter the competition. 4 Later, every time I went to pick up the child, I would bump into Lucas. He really liked Miss Jiang. Kindergarten dismissed at 3:30 every day, and he was always on time to pick her up from work. Didn’t he need to work? Must have inherited the family business. My parents were ordinary university professors, incomparable to his wealthy family background. In student days, everyone lived in the courtyard, mixing together like mud children. Growing up, the more I realized the vast difference between us. I found a job at a design company nearby. Occasionally when busy, I’d ask my friend Daniel to pick up the child. Daniel was also a returnee I met abroad. On a rainy day, Daniel said he didn’t pick up the child. My heart tightened, and I quickly called Miss Jiang. She said the weather was bad, she didn’t feel safe handing the child to a stranger, so Lucas took Mia away. Hearing the name Lucas, my temples throbbed. I never told Mia about her origins, wanting to wait until she grew up. But she talked a lot. Being with Lucas, I was afraid he would find out something. I rushed to the Villa District. Soaked by the heavy rain. When the butler opened the door, the sound of cartoons came from inside. Mia: “Uncle, I’ve seen you before. My daddy has your photo on his phone. He often…” “Mia!” I quickly interrupted her. “Daddy.” She rushed over to hug me. “Look, Uncle bought me so many toys.” The sofa was full of dolls, somewhat incongruous with the cold, luxurious interior. Lucas had quite a few sparkly stickers on his clothes, his hair messy. It seemed Mia had given him a hard time. I thanked Lucas and wanted to leave with the child. He pulled me back. “It’s windy outside. You’re soaked, you’ll get sick.” “It’s okay, I’ll just take a taxi.” “You’re okay, but what about the child?” “…” I looked at him and admitted defeat. Because of my physical condition, Mia was premature and weak. She really couldn’t handle the cold wind. “Go dry your hair. Dinner is ready. After you eat, I’ll have someone drive you.” Lucas said, already asking the maid to prepare towels and clothes.

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During a game of Truth or Dare, Lucas drew the “kiss the person to your left” card. His friends, seeing us sitting still, started jeering: “What are you hesitating for? You two have been engaged for three years, don’t tell me you haven’t even kissed yet?” “Wait, is this engagement fake or something?” Lucas tossed the card aside and pressed his thumb against the corner of my lips. He leaned in, smiling. “Sorry, I’m going to have to offend you a little.” To everyone else, from their angle, it looked like a passionate kiss. But in reality, his lips only brushed against his own thumb. My younger sister, sitting in the corner, stared at us. She was so angry she cried until her eyes were red. After the party, Lucas glanced at my sister, who had run off in a huff. He said lazily: “Fiancée, can you go home by yourself tonight?” “I think I need to go comfort my girlfriend first.” 1 I never thought Lucas would actually agree to the kiss. So when he leaned in, I was startled. Instinctively, I shrank back a little. Lucas laughed silently. “Dislike me that much?” I put my hand on his shoulder. “Don’t…” “I have to kiss you, fiancée.” He whispered in a voice only the two of us could hear: “The guy in the corner booth is someone your mom sent to watch us.” “If your mom suspects anything.” “She definitely won’t let me see your sister anymore.” This is the third year of my forced engagement to Lucas. It’s also the third year of his secret relationship with my sister, Chloe. Recently, my mom might have sensed something was off. She started sending people to watch us. The urging around us continued. “Are you gonna kiss or not?” “Stop stalling, you two have been engaged for three years.” Without waiting for my reaction, Lucas’s face instantly magnified before my eyes. As if knowing I would push him away. He grabbed my wrist first and pressed it against his shoulder. A second before our lips touched. He pressed his thumb against the corner of my lips, and his kiss landed lightly on his thumb. Everyone’s view was blocked by the back of Lucas’s head, so they couldn’t see clearly. Thinking he really kissed me, they cheered one after another. Amidst the noise, Lucas pulled back, looking at my stunned expression with a half-smile. “Scared?” Only then did I realize he never intended to kiss me for real. 2 By the end of the party, my sister’s eyes were swollen from crying. She grabbed her bag and ran off angrily without looking back. Lucas rubbed his brows with a headache and said lazily: “Fiancée, can you go home by yourself tonight?” “I think I need to go comfort my girlfriend first.” He picked up his coat and stood up. I looked up and asked him: “Have you ever thought about ending this twisted relationship between you, me, and Chloe?” He didn’t even look up. “Impossible.” “The marriage alliance between our two families maximizes the benefits for both companies.” “We have to get married.” I asked: “Then what about Chloe? Is she willing to go on like this forever?” He didn’t answer. My voice softened. “I’m not willing either.” Lucas looked back, smiling half-heartedly at me. “I haven’t provoked you, have I?” “We’ve been engaged for three years, after all.” “Even if you don’t treat me as a friend, you don’t have to avoid me like the plague and look so disgusted, right, Sarah?” Lucas walked away, and I remained sitting silently in the booth. He didn’t know. I avoided him like the plague because I used to like him. 3 Three years ago, I was found as the real daughter of the family. Chloe instantly became the adopted daughter with no blood relation. I was told I had a fiancé named Lucas. No one told me that Chloe and he had been together. They didn’t talk much in front of others either. So when I learned the truth, it felt like a blow to the head. It stunned me for a long time. Lucas seemed born knowing how to make girls happy. Plus, he was good-looking. Within two months, I fell for him, unsurprisingly. That day, Lucas and I agreed to go to the aquarium. I came out of the house and saw his car waiting at the gate. I jogged over and hugged him. “Why didn’t you come inside to wait for me?” Lucas paused for two seconds before hugging me back with his right hand. Then he raised his left hand, a cigarette burning between his fingers. “Wanted a smoke.” He was heavily addicted to smoking, lighting one up whenever he was annoyed. I was about to ask him what was wrong. My sister followed me out of the house. “Wow, you guys are so sweet.” “I won’t disturb you. I’m going to a concert today.” Lucas lowered his eyes, staring at the cigarette butt in his hand. As if he hadn’t heard her. All my attention was on my sister, waving at her. “Okay, bye.” “It’s going to rain this evening, remember to come home early, Chloe.” On the way to the aquarium, Lucas seemed absent-minded. I tugged at my seatbelt and asked him. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” “No.” He spoke slowly: “Sarah, let’s not go to the aquarium today. I’ll take you to meet someone.” I didn’t ask much, just said: “Okay.” “After the meeting, will you accompany me somewhere else?” “I saw a brochure last night, and I think there’s a place super suitable for us.” Last night, a wealthy heiress I just met sent an invitation. She organized a garden party with a couples theme. Inviting Lucas and me. I heard there were many games and competitions suitable for couples to experience together. Lucas is physically fit and good at games. We should be able to fight for first place. After a long while, he hummed a vague agreement. We arrived at a café I had never been to before. I was stunned. Chloe, who had left half an hour ago saying she was going to a concert. Was now waving at us through the window. “Sister, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” 4 Lucas and my sister sat opposite me. I sat stiffly, listening to them explain the truth. The original engagement was between Lucas and my sister. They got together as soon as they became adults. But more than two months ago, I came back. To ensure the stability of the marriage alliance, both families ordered them to break up. And transferred the engagement to me. Perhaps to help me and Lucas cultivate feelings better, everyone was asked to hide their affair from me. But in reality, the two secretly turned it into an underground relationship. “Sis, we observed you for two months and felt you are a good person. You probably wouldn’t do anything to break us up.” She smiled brightly. “Besides, it’s only been two months. You surely haven’t fallen for Lucas that fast.” “Even if you had some other thoughts, now that you know he’s your sister’s boyfriend, I believe you definitely won’t anymore.” “Basically, we just want to ask you to help cover for our secret relationship.” “That way, it’ll be a bit more convenient for Lucas and me to meet and date.” “Sis, please don’t refuse me.” They even considered the possibility of me exposing them. My sister acted coquettishly: “Telling others won’t do you any good. They’ll only force you to marry Lucas.” “Don’t you think it’s awkward to marry a man who loves your sister and become husband and wife?” I subconsciously looked at Lucas. He just looked out the window expressionlessly. He didn’t say a word from beginning to end. The coffee in front of me had been sitting for too long, the latte art becoming blurred. My phone notification sound rang abruptly. I unlocked it and opened it. It was the heiress who invited me last night. “Babe, have you discussed it with Lucas?” “Are you coming or not? I’m saving spots for you two.” I typed mechanically, feeling as if my limbs didn’t exist. “Not coming, sorry.” Leaving the café. My sister, afraid of being suspected, didn’t go back with us. On the way back, Lucas didn’t mention what just happened. He was calm, almost nonchalant. “Where did you say you wanted me to go with you earlier?” “Seeing you so happy, what, is there something fun?” My unfocused gaze stared out the car window. It felt like sandpaper was stuck in my throat. It took a long time to make a difficult sound. “Can’t go anymore.” “The event has been cancelled.” Red light, the car stopped slowly. Lucas lowered his eyes slightly, his low voice sounding. “Sarah.” I didn’t answer, and he didn’t speak again. He seemed to understand that saying anything was meaningless.

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I’ve been married to Ethan for three years. Everyone says we’re a loving, perfect match. But only I know that he has slept in the guest room for three years. He has never touched me. I placed the divorce papers on his desk, wanting to set him free. But then, I accidentally saw an open diary on the desk. “Today after she showered, she forgot to take her clothes. I held back for a long time, but I couldn’t control myself and hid one piece. I hope she won’t find out.” I froze. So the underwear I lost before was all taken by him. 1 Between the pages of the diary on the desk lay a black and gold fountain pen. It was the one I gave Ethan. But the underwear mentioned in the diary as being taken… Was bought by me just last week. Thinking back carefully, over these three years, I’ve lost more than twenty nightgowns and sets of underwear. I thought the wind blew them away. Or I forgot to bring them back from trips. I never suspected Ethan. Because he has a cold and aloof personality. After marriage, we’ve always treated each other with polite respect. When he talks to me, his eyes never wander. How could he do such a thing? But last night, Ethan said the faucet in the guest bathroom had no hot water. He borrowed my bathroom to shower. It took about half an hour in total, and he even said thank you when he left. I didn’t suspect a thing. I didn’t expect it was him who took it. But those are my intimate clothes, he can’t wear them, so what’s the use of taking them? Unsavory images suddenly popped into my mind. My face burned hot, daring not think further. I really wanted to go forward and read the previous content of the diary. I also wanted to rush into the guest room and rummage through his wardrobe. But that would be too unethical. I calmed down. Decided to pretend I saw nothing. Turned around and closed the study door. And those divorce papers were stuffed into the drawer of my vanity by me. True or false, I’ll know if I test him. 2 Ethan came back early tonight. Seeing the living room lights were off, he called my name. “Sarah.” I braced myself and walked out of the bedroom. “You’re back. I didn’t cook dinner tonight.” Ethan still had that serious look. Calling my name, always full name. But I read the diary! Thinking of him with this cold face, secretly using my nightgown to do that— I simply couldn’t look him in the eye. He didn’t notice anything unusual at all, handing over a blue gift bag. “It’s okay, we can go out to eat. “This is a gift for you.” I reached out to take it. My hand accidentally touched his fingertips. I quickly withdrew. Ethan’s eyes darkened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. Today is our third wedding anniversary. The gift I prepared for him was divorce papers. He bought me a pearl necklace. Suppressing complex emotions, I whispered: “I’m sorry, I forgot to prepare a gift.” Luckily he didn’t mind. “It’s okay, I don’t lack anything. “This necklace suits you well, so I bought it.” I whispered thank you. Ethan said lightly: “You’re welcome. Get ready, I’ll book a restaurant.” I changed into a strapless velvet dress with a fur shawl. Put on the pearl necklace he gave me. This outfit wasn’t overly flashy but very elegant. When I opened the door, Ethan looked up, clearly stunned for a moment. Our eyes met, my heart suddenly racing. Before I could speak, he had already looked away. “Let’s go.” Looking at his cold back, I secretly said: Let’s see how long you can pretend. … In the restaurant, the temperature was a bit high. Just as I was about to take off my shawl. He suddenly looked up and stared at me. Ethan has sharp features and deep eyes. Because of his glasses, he looked less aggressive and more refined. But at this moment, I saw danger in his eyes. “W… what’s wrong?” “Nothing, I’m going out for a smoke.” As soon as he left, the suffocating feeling relaxed a lot. I thought he was going to eat me just now. 3 During the meal, Ethan said he had a few days off. Asked if I wanted to go home. Actually, according to my plan, I intended to have a showdown with Ethan and go back after signing the divorce papers. After my family went bankrupt, my dad’s mental state was bad for a while. He went back to our hometown, rented a house, raised flowers and grew vegetables. Gradually adjusted. My dad always thought Ethan and I had a good relationship. I haven’t told him about the divorce. If I go back with Ethan, those divorce papers can only be put aside for now. Ethan was waiting for my reply. I could only bite the bullet and laugh dryly. “Sure, if you’re not busy, let’s go back together.” When leaving, Ethan didn’t move at the door. I looked at him. “Did you leave something behind?” His gaze fell on my shoulder, obscure. “Wear your shawl properly.” Perhaps realizing his tone was too cold and hard. He softened his voice and added: “It’s cold outside.” “…” After showering, I looked at the clothes in the laundry basket. Remembered my newly lost bra. Low-cut style, adorned with a circle of white lace. I liked it very much. Don’t know where Ethan hid it. I deliberately left the changed nightgown behind. Ethan will have to borrow the bathroom again tonight. If the nightgown disappears, then the evidence is solid. Sure enough, not long after, Ethan knocked on the door. Still that cold face. “Sorry, have to borrow it again tonight.” I smiled at him, generously saying: “It’s okay, go ahead.” Listening to the water sound in the bathroom, seconds felt like years. Reading a book, still on the same page. Finally, Ethan came out. His expression was as usual, whispering: “Rest early, goodnight.” “Mm-hm, goodnight.” As soon as he left, I rushed into the bathroom! Sure enough! My nightgown! Dis! Appeared! I was both ashamed and annoyed. Stormed to the guest room door. Just about to knock. Suddenly heard suppressed groans from the crack in the door. Could it be! Is he currently— My face burned hot. Afraid of seeing an awkward scene. Could only turn back to my room. Overthinking all day caused me to have strange dreams at night. In the dream, Ethan wore my underwear. Asking me if he looked good. I called him a pervert. He chuckled low and pressed over, whispering in my ear: “Nian Nian, then you wear it. “Wear it just for me, okay?” 4 Woke up the next day. I had two huge dark circles under my eyes. Ethan was already calling my dad. My dad heard we were coming back to stay for a few days. Happily said he would kill an old hen to make soup. The two chatted on the phone, the familiar atmosphere as if we were really a family. I packed my luggage with mixed feelings. Actually, Ethan treats me quite well. He supports me to continue painting. Didn’t make unreasonable demands because he saved my family from disaster. On the contrary, he respects me very much. Outsiders say we have deep feelings, the envy of everyone. I also had feelings for him. However, he attributed all kindness to repaying kindness. I had to think, maybe he just treats me like a sister. Except for a marriage certificate, we have no relationship at all. But now, thinking that my nightgown might be hidden in his suitcase, my scalp tingles. His seriousness turned out to be all an act. I closed the suitcase, putting away complex emotions. Made up my mind, after returning from my dad’s, I will end this absurd marriage. On the way back, had to drive for nearly six hours. Ethan is slightly germaphobic. So I didn’t open any of the big bag of snacks he brought me. I lay in the back seat playing games. Ethan looked at me from the rearview mirror. “Nothing you like to eat?” Wrong. He bought everything I love to eat. But this is his car, I still have to respect his germaphobia. So I was stubborn: “Oh, I’m not hungry.” Halfway, Ethan stopped the car at a service area. When I came out of the restroom, he stood under a camphor tree making a call. Sunlight shone through the leaves on him. Ethan, having taken off his suit and wearing a shirt, looked more boyish. He flicked the ash, brought it to his lips, and took a deep drag. Looked up and exhaled smoke. His straight shoulders and back relaxed at this moment. Looking sideways at me, there was still a faint smile on his lips. “Okay, hanging up now, call me if anything.” This gentle and humble appearance. Must be an act too! As soon as I got in the car, I covered myself with a jacket and pretended to sleep. Afraid he would talk to me again. Ethan drove very steadily. I pretended to sleep, and actually fell asleep. When I woke up, my dad had already opened the car door, greeting me to get off. “Nian Nian, you slept the whole way. You girl, didn’t switch driving with Ethan for a while?” I haven’t spoken yet. Ethan looked at me and smiled: “It’s okay, she’s not familiar with my car. It’s good for her to sleep more.” “Sleeping so long during the day, can you still sleep at night?” Ethan whispered: “If can’t sleep then don’t sleep, rare vacation.” A light sentence. But I felt a chill on my back. I got out of the car quickly and ran to the courtyard. Smelled the mellow chicken soup as soon as I entered. “Dad, I’m starving, let’s eat quickly.” “Okay okay okay, let you two taste dad’s cooking. Little Shu, take her to wash hands, watch her, don’t let her steal food!” Ethan took my suitcase, followed my dad, smiling and responding: “Okay, I’ll watch her.” I heard Ethan’s voice, my whole body tightened. As soon as he came in, I hurried out. My dad’s courtyard is spacious and bright. He also planted many flowers, I couldn’t name them. After washing hands, squatted aside and took a few photos to send to friends. Just typing, Ethan suddenly appeared behind me. “This is nodding clerodendron.” I was startled, stood up in panic. Didn’t stand firm, almost fell. Ethan reacted extremely fast, grabbed my arm, scooped me into his arms. “Careful.” The clean and cool scent on him drilled into my nose as soon as he approached. I only felt my heartbeat accelerate suddenly. Liking someone, you feel even his scent is a temptation. Just as I was about to push him away, my dad came out of the kitchen with chicken soup. “Eat eat—oops, I saw nothing, you two continue.” Ethan let go of me, I immediately rushed into the house. Awkward. Simply too awkward.

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My ex-boyfriend lives in the same dorm room as my brother. My brother, cursing under his breath, transferred my monthly allowance. “Happy now? You’re only with me for the money!” Seeing this, Liam added two zeros to the transfer amount. “Mine’s longer than his. I can make you happier.” Liam thought my brother was my current boyfriend. He made a bet with others, claiming he could easily win back a “gold-digger” like me just by beckoning his finger. I knew he was up to no good. Liam offered me his Black Card; I rejected it. My brother gave me a “spend ten get five off” coupon; I took it. Liam carefully selected expensive gifts; I rejected them. My brother gave me a half-used pack of tissues; I took it. Liam completely panicked. “Is my money Monopoly money? Would it kill you to spend it?!” 1 My brother transferred my allowance while grumbling. “Happy now? You’re only with me for the money!” I didn’t dare breathe too loudly, but on the other end of the line, I was grinning like a cunning fox, full of sycophancy. As soon as I received the money, I immediately loaded it all onto my meal card. I’ve been a foodie since I was little. The buffet place downstairs from our apartment complex opened for less than a month before the owner ran away overnight, hiding from me. When my family stocked up for the holidays, my parents would take turns guarding my door at night. Bought snacks I didn’t like? No problem, I’ll handle them. Leftover food? Put it down, I’m here. A mature woman’s greatest charm is solving problems. My mom says since I was born, our family has never eaten leftovers. The year I graduated high school, my dad asked where I wanted to apply for college. I immediately said I wanted to go to my brother’s school. My brother froze, then clutched his meal card like he was facing a formidable enemy. Oh no! Disaster strikes! I scrimped and saved every month just to treat my mouth well. But by the end of the month, I still had no money for food. At times like this, I would do some day labor jobs that provided meals. My brother, worried about me running around from dawn to dusk, had to grit his teeth and transfer five hundred dollars from his own allowance to me. As soon as my brother’s relief funds arrived, I couldn’t help but transform into his biggest fan. Before I could flatter him more, two notifications popped up on my phone. Another transfer message appeared, adding two zeros after the five hundred. My ex-boyfriend’s message followed closely behind. [Mine is longer than his. I can make you happier.] 2 It was noisy on my brother’s end; someone seemed to be calling his name outside the door. My brother threw his phone on the desk and went out. He forgot to hang up. On the other end of the line, Liam’s voice rang out. People around him were jeering. “He just broke up with Liam, and now he’s hooking up with someone else. Hmph.” “Liam dropped fifty grand just like that. That’s too generous for such a fickle woman.” Liam laughed carelessly, eyes slightly narrowed, playing with his phone with slender fingers. “A woman like Hailey? I just need to beckon my finger, and I can pry her back.” I stared at the fifty thousand dollars that just hit my account, falling into deep thought. When I first arrived at college, I ate all day long and advertised various restaurants on my social media. Whether it was collecting likes for discounts. Or sharing posts for free drinks. Give me a little benefit, and I’d take the bait. Some people said I looked like a paid shill for restaurants. Later, the rumors got more ridiculous, saying I tricked various men into eating at designated restaurants to get kickbacks. I don’t know where Liam heard this. With a halo over his head, he descended from the sky, deciding to punish a wicked woman like me. “Date me, I’ll treat you to meals. How about it?” Relief food falling from the sky? That was very kind. I nodded vigorously and agreed on the spot. Liam set up various traps, planning to expose my “true colors” in public. He asked me to take him out to eat. That day, he dressed formally, suit pressed, leather shoes polished. An outfit fit for any high-end venue, but I dragged him to the night market food street. Spicy snail noodles. Spicy duck necks. Spicy skewers. I ate until my face was red, turning to ask him: “Feels good?” Liam looked at me with his butt on fire. However long he tested me, I dragged him around the night market for that long. In the end, between enforcing justice on behalf of heaven and saving his butt, Liam chose the latter. He broke up with me. My dining partner was gone; I was sad for a long time because of this. Later, one of Liam’s good friends let it slip, and I learned the truth. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Screw him. There are always people wanting to bully honest, good women like us. I even felt resentment towards the fifty thousand dollars just transferred to me. Is this some new humiliation play? Afraid of a trap, I cautiously returned the money to Liam. On the other end of the line, the notification sound of fifty thousand dollars being returned rang out. The originally chaotic dorm room instantly fell into a deathly silence. My brother came back after finishing his business. He picked up his phone and said: “Hailey, someone just gave me two ‘spend ten get five off’ coupons. Do you want them?” I take advantage whenever I see it. “Yes!” Liam silently picked up his phone, typing a message to me. [Do you want my Black Card?] Just as he hit send, a red exclamation mark popped up, reminding him he was blocked. My brother chatted with me as if sorting through trash. “I have half a pack of tissues left here.” “Yes!” “Last time I bought a drink, I won a ‘one dollar for another’ prize.” “Bring it here.” “The cookies I bought got a little damp.” “It’s fine, I don’t mind.” “Liam, no swinging in the room!” “Okay… hmm?” My brother packed a box of junk for me. When I went to pick it up, I heard on the way that someone in the boys’ dorm had a hearty tug-of-war with a ceiling beam using their neck. I couldn’t help but sigh; it’s good to be young. The counselor and the school doctor surrounded Liam, asking about his well-being. Liam remained silent, head lowered. When he passed by my brother, my brother was still buried in his phone talking to me. “You can’t blab in front of my girlfriend. I don’t want her to know about our relationship.” I received the benefits and smiled slyly. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone know about us.” My brother was pursuing a senior who lived in the dorm opposite mine. Knowing this, I chanted his praises in the senior’s ear all day like a scripture, helping him gain presence. If the senior knew we were siblings, my previous praises would seem like self-promotion, with zero credibility. After hearing this, Liam’s face changed again and again. He looked at us with an extremely complex gaze. “Gavin, what is the relationship between… the two of you?” My brother answered honestly: “She’s my sister.” My brother took my dad’s last name, and I took my mom’s. My brother didn’t know Liam and I knew each other, so he didn’t explain much. Liam looked at me, then at my brother. He laughed mockingly, his tone becoming sarcastic. “So it’s a sister.” He took a utility knife from his pocket and aimed it at his wrist. “There seems to be a bug in my wrist, jumping around. I’ll pick it out.” The counselor turned pale with fright and roared: “That’s a freaking artery!” 3 My brother now had an extra expense for dating on top of his own living costs. And because of me, he had to save some relief food for me every month. I felt a little guilty. I happened to see someone recruiting day labor for hotel cleaning and asked who wanted to go. I signed up immediately. I wanted to scrape together some money to buy my brother those shoes he had liked for a long time. My brother was moved to tears when he found out, saying his sister had grown up. I worked all day, and it was dark when I got off work. Standing by the roadside, I called my brother: “It’s a bit remote here. Can you drive over to pick me up and take me back to school?” My brother said: “Find a place to wait for a while. I’ll drop your sister-in-law off first, then come pick you up. Just ten minutes or so.” I said okay, then stood by the roadside waiting. A few minutes later, a black Porsche stopped in front of me. The window rolled down, and I saw Liam’s face. He looked me up and down, then glanced at the hotel behind me. His brows furrowed slightly, the usual lazy smile on his face fading. “Why are you here alone? Where’s Gavin?” Seeing Liam’s face, I felt a nameless fire in my heart. It was all my fault for being blinded by greed back then, getting tricked by this vicious fox. Unconsciously, resentment crept into my voice. “He went to find his girlfriend.” Liam seemed to laugh angrily. “So he just abandoned you like this?” I scratched my head, feeling the words were weird but didn’t seem to have any major issues. I didn’t know how to answer, so I just stood there dumbly without speaking. “Get in. I’ll take you back to school.” Liam opened the car door for me. After getting in, I didn’t forget to tell my brother not to come, that someone was giving me a ride. Sitting in the passenger seat, I turned to look at Liam beside me. Two buttons of Liam’s collar were undone, revealing a silver chain around his neck. The pendant, reflecting a cold light, swayed with his movements. My gaze followed the pendant down, fixating on the section of collarbone at his neckline, unable to look away. “Why do this kind of thing?” Liam’s voice was cold. Upon closer listening, one could detect the anger within. Maybe he was disgusted by my behavior of working as a hotel cleaner. “What do you rich people know? If not for making money, who wants to do this kind of thing?” Liam’s hand gripping the steering wheel tightened, asking through gritted teeth: “Just for five hundred dollars?” “Yes, just for five hundred dollars!” I answered righteously. Although the work was dirty and tiring, and I encountered all sorts of weirdos, it paid well! And provided food! Liam asked: “Then why didn’t you take what I gave you?” “Is my money Monopoly money? Would it kill you to spend it?!” I wanted to take it too! But at that moment, my IQ took the high ground. By the time I came to my senses, the money had already been returned. Since it’s come to this, of course, I can’t say such spineless words now. I smiled faintly, like a clear breeze under a bright moon. “Because it’s inappropriate.” Liam closed his eyes as if life had lost all meaning, his voice light as if talking to himself. “Then is he appropriate?” My phone rang in my pocket. The ringtone drowned out his sentence. I pressed answer, and my brother’s voice sounded. “Hailey, are you at school? Who drove you back?” I turned to look at Liam. Liam shook his head, signaling me not to say it was him. I had to lie: “It was a colleague who drove me; he happened to be going the same way.” My brother told me to let him know when I got back to the dorm safely. I nodded and agreed. Liam’s car stopped at the school gate. After thanking him, I got up to leave. Just as I opened the car door, I heard Liam ask in a hoarse voice: “Hailey, do you have to go down this path? What he can give you, I can give you the same.” Give me what? Day labor wages? This damned fox always manages to hit my weak spot. Thinking of the things he said about me in the dorm during the day, I got angry. I dropped a decisive sentence: “No need!” Back in the dorm, scrolling through my phone, I saw Liam posted a new update. [My life has been ruined by a scumbag.] Me: “?” What’s wrong with him now? 4 I unblocked Liam from the blacklist, struggling half the night on how to advise him to see a neurologist. He was weird tonight. I suspect he damaged his brain from hanging himself. Holding my phone in a daze for a long time, drowsiness surged, and I unknowingly fell asleep. When I opened my eyes the next day, my phone screen was full of distress messages from my brother. [Sis, that roommate in the bunk across from me named Liam is acting weird. Your brother is a little scared.] [I opened my eyes today and saw him sitting by my bed, staring at me like a resentful wife. Scared me to death.] [Not only that, the way he looks at me is weird, his tone is weird, and the questions he asks are weird.] [He asked me what brand of body lotion and shampoo I usually use, and what style of clothes I like to wear.] [Just after I answered, somehow he got a bunch of the same items as mine and walked back and forth in front of me like a clone.] [So scary, sis. What is he doing! What is he doing!] I could feel my brother’s breakdown through the screen. Recalling Liam’s social media post from last night, a bold guess couldn’t help but form in my mind. [Bro, are you usually close with Liam?] My brother froze, then started counting one by one. [He doesn’t usually live on campus. I rarely saw him before. He only suddenly came back to live in the dorm recently.] [Oh right, I brought him lunch once. That’s when his eyes started looking weird, and then he started living in the dorm the next day.] [I think I also said good morning to him.] [I also helped him bring in his laundry.] [He even saw my broad shoulders, narrow waist, sexy and graceful body.] My brother counted one by one, getting more desperate as he counted. [Is that kid coveting my butt?] My mood became heavy and complex. My ex-boyfriend fell in love with my brother. Oh my god, is this a plot that should appear in a romance novel? Things have come to this; saying more is useless. I sighed. [Bro, go find someone to weld you a pair of iron underpants.] My brother didn’t dare stay in the dorm for another second. He grabbed his jacket and was about to run. Just as he stepped out of the dorm door, Liam’s chilly voice sounded in his ear. “Gavin, where are you going?” That day was the first time I saw my brother, a big guy over six feet tall, forced into such a state. Hiding in the bathroom, his voice was desperate and helpless when calling me. “These rich people simply don’t treat honest folks like me as human! I already have a girlfriend, but he still won’t let me go, constantly asking where I’m going, who I’m with, what I’m doing.” “I know I’m stunningly beautiful, putting the moon and flowers to shame, but a gentleman pursues properly. Forcing a good man into prostitution is simply despicable! My heart will only ever hold your sister-in-law. A married man can be killed but not humiliated. I will absolutely not yield to evil forces!” I made up my mind, slamming the table and standing up. “Bro! Your happiness and your butt, I will protect them!”

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My husband, who has been sleeping in the guest room for six months, stood at the top of the stairs, hugging his pillow, blocked by me. “Our combined age isn’t even fifty. We’re in the prime of our lives. Is sleeping in separate rooms normal?” He frowned at me, his gaze making my back sweat. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah, not very normal.” Taking a bold step, I snatched the pillow from his arms, complaining, “You weren’t like this before.” “What was I like before?” “You used to hug me to sleep every night, and call me ‘little darling’ before bed.” “…Is that so?” “Yes!” Look at me. Do these look like the eyes of a liar? 1 On the day of our divorce, my husband got amnesia. The bad news is we didn’t have much affection to begin with, and now divorce is off the table. The good news is he forgot the past, making it easier for me to make a move. After all, I’ve been lusting after him for a long time. Ethan, 6’1″, 163 lbs. This man graduated from an Ivy League school, and all his ex-girlfriends were ABCs (American-born Chinese). If it weren’t for my grandfather leveraging a favor owed by his grandfather, this man would be completely out of my league (literally, I’m only 5’4″). I still remember our blind date. He stood on the flower bed, looking down at me, frowning slightly. “Why are you squatting?” I was bent over, looking for a four-leaf clover in a patch of clovers, and felt very annoyed. “…I’m not squatting.” His face looked even worse. “From up here, you look incredibly short.” “Then come down and look.” He did come down, standing on the same level, but still looking at me with those two handsome nostrils. “And?” “You’ll realize I really am short.” Him: … 2 The Sterling family looked down on me, but they held their noses and let him marry me. Back in the day, his grandfather was sent to the countryside for re-education. Because he was close with my grandfather, he often mooched meals at my house. Food was scarce then, making our tight rations even tighter. My dad was growing at the time and ended up with stomach problems from hunger that haven’t been cured for decades. His grandfather accidentally learned the truth and insisted on getting us together. Because Ethan was unwilling, the old man cried miserably on his deathbed for half a month, only passing away after seeing our marriage certificate. To show his firm disdain for me, this man slept in the guest room for three months after the wedding, keeping a meter distance when speaking to me. Talk about chastity. If you ask if I felt wronged, not really. After all, as long as I lived in the house for a day, he paid me my usual salary. We also agreed that if either of us found someone we truly liked in the future, we would bless each other and part amicably. If not, we’d just be housemates. See, except for not loving me, this man had no faults. So upon learning he had amnesia, the first thing I did was move our toothbrushes from two bathrooms into the same cup. If we can brush teeth together, can sleeping together be far behind? 3 To be honest, although I’m short, I’m decent looking. I wasn’t the school beauty, but I was always considered the class beauty. I refuse to believe that with God giving me a second chance, I can’t take down Ethan?! Joke. Night fell. A Mercedes van slowly pulled into the garage. I quickly refreshed my perfume and ran downstairs to hand him his slippers. “Hubby, you’re back?” Ethan opened the door and was stunned to see me. He must have eaten by now, but to show attentiveness, I still went up to greet him: “Hard day, hubby? I made dinner, let’s eat together?” “…Mm.” Of course, it was impossible for me to cook for him. Ethan sat opposite me, his brow relaxing as he looked at the table full of takeout. “Thanks for your hard work, making so many dishes.” “You worked hard too, tired all day.” Hypocritical couple, daily fake smiles. After dinner, he went to shower. I specially turned on the ambient lighting, letting a thin strap slip off my pale collarbone intentionally, not pulling it up until he appeared at the door surrounded by steam. At this moment, he gave me a deep look, a hint of ambiguity quietly passing. “Sleep early.” Suddenly, darkness fell before my eyes. He had turned off the light. I jumped out of bed in anger: “Where are you going to sleep?” Hearing my voice change, he stood at the door asking, “What’s wrong?” I went up and dragged him inside. “You’re almost twenty-eight, seen any couple sleeping in separate rooms?” He froze. The curtains weren’t drawn. Moonlight spilled through the French windows, laying a long, frosty path on the bed. The object of my desire for so long fell onto the bed, his silk robe pulled into disarray by me, a flawless face under messy hair looking quite bewildered. “You really want to sleep with me?” Have to say, this scene was a bit overwhelming. I swallowed, fished up one of my legs, and hooked it firmly around his waist. “Of course.” He was silent for a while. “Sleeping like this… is it comfortable?” “Comfortable.” “…Alright.” After a long time with no follow-up, I forced one eye open to look at him, only to find he had closed his eyes, breathing evenly. Hey, if you’re uncomfortable, don’t you know to take some initiative? I closed my eyes and continued to fan the flames. “Hubby, don’t you think it’s a bit too quiet?” “Sleeping should be quiet.” “That’s a lack of imagination. Although we are statically sleeping, it doesn’t mean it can’t become dynamic.” “Why should it become dynamic?” Go away. I pulled my leg off his waist, turned over, and huffed: “Men, get into a little car accident and become like this. You used to call me ‘sweetheart,’ now you’re cold!” After a moment of silence, an arm wrapped around my waist, gently encircling me. “Alright, sleep early, sweetheart.” I was delighted and immediately pressed on: “Usually, besides sweetheart, you also called me little darling.” “Goodnight, little darling.” “Okay, big darling.” Hooked his waist, got called little darling. I hugged Ethan’s arm and fell asleep contentedly. 4 The next day I woke up groggy, shuffled to the bathroom in slippers to brush my teeth. As soon as I entered, I covered my eyes. “Oops, sorry!” After quickly closing the door, I felt something was weird… Wait, why am I guilty? Our relationship is protected by law. That bouncy man with broad shoulders and long legs inside, it’s my right to look at him! Thinking wildly, the door opened. Ethan, with a small new towel around his waist, stood inside looking at me, wet hair hanging on his forehead, steam all over. “Coming in?” Although screaming internally, I responded politely: “Okay, going to be late for work, let me squeeze in.” Married for over half a year, this was our first time brushing teeth together. In the mirror, his upper body was bare, muscle lines faintly distinct… Let me count, one two three four five… “Why is your face so red?” “Ah, I’m a little allergic (to your abs).” “Is it okay?” Almost blurting out my real thoughts, I touched my nose: “Small problem, I can overcome it.” Just look more often. After that, seeing me rushing with makeup in front of the mirror, he asked: “Want me to drive you?” “Okay!” Didn’t expect Ethan after amnesia to be so considerate. I got into his van. He navigated in the front: “Bella, send me the company address.” Hearing this, my face darkened slightly. He observed my expression carefully in the mirror: “What’s wrong?” “What did you call me?” “Bella?” Seeming to realize something, he suddenly blushed, coughing lightly: “Little… darling, send me the company address.” “Okay, big darling.” I moved my fingers, sending the location to his WeChat. Getting out of the car, I knocked on his window. After he rolled it down, I leaned in and kissed his slightly red handsome face. “Thank you, big darling.”

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In the middle of the night, my sugar daddy called me to deliver ultrathin condoms. Staring at my rain-soaked clothes, the man’s voice was husky. “Damn, who told you to be this obedient?” I handed the bag to Vincent, who was leaning against the door. “Here are the 0.01s you wanted.” He reached out, his calloused thumb deliberately grazing my knuckles, his eyes brimming with a seductive smile. “She’s not here yet. Why don’t we use one first?” While I froze, he chuckled. “Just teasing.” “I’ve arranged a blind date for you next Wednesday. You’ve been with me for so many years, I don’t want to shortchange you.” “Will you go?” 1 Vincent’s tone was negotiable, but his eyes carried a casual oppressiveness. He didn’t care about shortchanging me. He just wanted to dispose of me before his first love returned and discovered our relationship. My curled fingers tightened abruptly. I lifted my face, feigning calm. “Just send me the address.” Noticing the formal “you” in my tone, he frowned almost imperceptibly, but only for a second. Rainwater dripped from my hair onto my collarbone, making me shiver. I spoke tremblingly, “It’s late. I’ll be going now.” “Wait.” Vincent went into the living room and came out with a Burberry shawl. He wrapped me up tightly, leaving only my misty eyes exposed. In my panic, I looked up to thank him but crashed into his suddenly darkened gaze. His thumb lingered on the shawl’s collar, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Suddenly, he said, “Don’t leave tonight?” I froze, instinctively replying, “Isn’t someone else coming…” He interrupted me, his knuckles pressing against my head, his tone wrapped in impatient heat. “You actually believed that?” “In your heart, am I just a promiscuous scumbag?” “All these years, besides you, who else have I had?” Vincent carried me to the bed. In the heat of passion, he leaned over and whispered in my ear. “This is the last time.” “Evelyn is coming back.” “I don’t want her suspecting our relationship, so be a good girl and go on that blind date.” He finally told the truth. I bit down hard on his shoulder in resentment. 2 Vincent’s stamina was astonishing. The saying that men peak at twenty-five and decline by sixty didn’t apply to him at all. It wasn’t until the morning mist seeped through the curtains that he finally ended the battle and headed to the bathroom. As the sound of water started, I picked up my clothes and went to the guest room. This was our tacit understanding. Vincent was a light sleeper and disliked having anyone beside him. So, for five years, no matter how tired or sleepy I was, I would drag myself to the guest room. The next day, I woke up past nine. After washing up and rushing downstairs, I saw Vincent returning from his workout. He wore a white tank top, his shoulder and back muscles smooth and powerful. “I asked Mrs. Zhang to save breakfast for you.” I waved my hand quickly. “I’m going to be late for work. I need to catch the subway.” Vincent raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I just drive you?” Putting on my shoes at the entrance, I blurted out subconsciously. “No.” “The promotion results are coming out today. If my colleagues see me getting out of the boss’s car, I won’t be able to explain it even with ten mouths.” Vincent paused while unscrewing a water bottle. The air suddenly went silent. A moment later, he chuckled lightly. “Suit yourself.” Before I left, Vincent called me back and handed me a business card. “Your blind date for next week.” A buzz rang in my ears, dragging me back to reality. A night of intimacy almost made me forget. I agreed to deliver the condoms last night because I wanted to end this five-year illicit relationship. Afraid he thought I would still cling to him, I took the card, its sharp edges digging into my hand. My nose felt stuffy, and I gave a low hum. “I’ll go.” 3 Over the years, I stayed at Vincent’s every weekend. At first, I brought bags full of clothes and skincare products. He found it troublesome, so he had a vanity installed for me. Before leaving that day, I took everything. Including the pink slippers I usually wore and the pajamas in the closet. While I did all this, Vincent leaned against the door, watching me silently, his eyes unreadable. Until I finished packing and said goodbye. “From now on, we’re just boss and subordinate.” Seeing through my worries, Vincent scoffed. “Relax, I won’t make things hard for you at work.” 5 I ran all the way and finally reached my desk before ten. My colleague, Sarah, treated me to a coffee, which was rare. “Wendy, congrats in advance. Don’t forget our friendship when you become the department director.” I smiled shyly. “The results aren’t out yet.” She scoffed. “Why be modest? Among the candidates, you have the longest tenure and the most completed projects.” “Besides, everyone sees how hard you work.” “You becoming director is what everyone expects.” I stopped being modest and smiled at my colleagues. “If I succeed, I’ll treat everyone to the most expensive Japanese food in the city!” Cheers erupted in the office. Three minutes to ten. I checked my email countless times. I even ran to the bathroom three times out of nervousness. Until the email opened, and the bold text jumped out. “We regret to inform you that your promotion application was unsuccessful…” Boom. My mind went blank. My team members crowded around. Seeing the result on the screen, the lively office fell silent. Until the HR Director walked in with someone, breaking the silence. “Let me introduce everyone. This is Evelyn Lin, a master’s graduate from overseas, and the new Planning Director appointed by Mr. Sterling personally.” The moment I looked up, my breath hitched— The girl wore a sharp white suit, her hair loosely tied back, her neck slender and fair. She looked exactly like the person in the photo I once saw in Vincent’s wallet. 6 Like catching a severe cold, my nose was stuffy, and my mind was blank. I was pushed forward mechanically by a heavy force. The walk to Vincent’s office wasn’t long, but I couldn’t stop wiping my tears. Many people looked at me, but I didn’t care about embarrassment. I knocked on the door, and Vincent’s usual cold voice came from inside. “Come in.” I stood there with red eyes, tears falling as soon as I spoke. “Why?” He didn’t look up, his fingers still scrolling through documents. “Why what?” I raised my voice, unable to suppress my grievance. “There are so many positions. Why must Evelyn take my promotion spot?” Vincent finally looked up, his tone flat as if discussing something trivial. “She wanted to go to the planning department.” “Just because she wanted it, you can easily strip away my five years of hard work?” Did he not know? To ensure my promotion, I took an assignment in Africa that no one else wanted. I even contracted malaria and almost didn’t make it back. Vincent stood up, walked to me, and looked down with cold eyes. “Wendy, this is reality.” “Because I’m in this position, I decide everything.” My voice trembled uncontrollably. “I just want fairness. Is that hard?” As if I touched a nerve, Vincent chuckled low. “Fairness?” “You’re talking to me about fairness?” “Wendy, get this straight,” he leaned in, his cool breath almost touching my face. “If you hadn’t slept with me…” “With your mediocre degree from a state college, you wouldn’t have even passed the initial screening for Sterling Corp.” “Why don’t you ask those Ivy League graduates who interviewed with you if they want fairness?” “You enjoyed the convenience power gave you without a word, and now you want fairness?” Vincent’s words were like a slap in the face. My cheeks burned, and even breathing hurt. I suddenly understood. Despite working hard for five years to prove myself, never thinking of using my relationship with Vincent for convenience… I couldn’t change the fact that I got into Sterling Corp because of him. I truly had no right to talk about fairness. So, I decided to resign.

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My boyfriend, Liam, got amnesia. He forgot he was gay. He forgot me. Chasing him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I didn’t plan on doing it a second time. Coincidentally, his mother also hoped he could return to his “original” life track. I compromised and went back to being a stranger in his life. But when I pretended not to know him as I walked by, he suddenly pulled me into his arms. “Sorry if I offended you… it was muscle memory saying I should hug you.” 1 Before going to sleep, I remembered another one of Liam’s flaws and noted it down: [ severe procrastination, always waits until midnight to shower. ] Scrolling down the screen, I had already listed more than twenty items after racking my brains these past few days. I thought, when I hit fifty, I could completely let go of Liam. Liam was my boyfriend, a straight guy I had chased for a long time. He got amnesia. He forgot he was gay, and he forgot me. And there was almost no possibility of recovering his memory. This blow to me was no different from painstakingly setting up dominoes, only for them to suddenly collapse halfway through, wasting all previous efforts. We were both people with distinct personalities, and it took a long time to smooth things out between us. Compromising with each other, yielding to each other, changing ourselves to fit the other person. Just as life was getting more and more harmonious, the progress bar suddenly reset to zero. When his accident happened, I was on a business trip. Rushing back, I saw him smiling and joking with a beautiful nurse. I already knew the diagnosis on the way, but I still wondered if he was pranking me. Seeing that familiar yet strange smile, I realized it was real. He noticed me by the door, looked me up and down with an inquisitive gaze, and finally gave me a friendly nod. That distant attitude made my world spin, and I couldn’t breathe. Liam’s mother supported me and led me aside. Two years ago, she was very dissatisfied with me turning her son gay, but finally compromised out of helplessness. This accident, she said to me, might be a good thing. Sure enough, she held my hand and pleaded: “Alex, can you let him go and let him live a normal person’s life?” Erasing chat records, deleting photo albums, informing mutual friends. Exiting someone’s world turned out to be so simple. 2 Liam left quite a few things in our small home. I packed them all up and sent them back to the Zhou family. I confirmed with his mother that Liam wasn’t there before going, but unexpectedly ran into him returning just as I was leaving. As the elevator doors opened, he twirled his car keys, his eyes meeting mine, and let out an “Ah”. “It’s you.” He stepped aside. “Did you come to see me? I’m fine now. Thanks for coming.” I quickly controlled my expression and stepped out of the elevator. “No, I heard from your mom.” Liam hesitated to speak, looking a bit embarrassed. “Um… sorry, I lost a few years of memory, so I don’t really remember who you are… To visit me at home, was our relationship pretty good? Were we colleagues?” Although I was mentally prepared, hearing him say this still caused a dull pain in my heart, and endless bitterness welled up. Forcing down the surging emotions, I tried to keep my voice steady: “Yeah. We were in the same project group. I’m Alex. When you return to work, I can help you catch up.” Liam’s expression relaxed, revealing a grateful smile. “Thanks. Want to come up and sit for a while?” I could tell it was just politeness. Not long after we got together, Liam took me home. I wandered downstairs, hugging a pillar, afraid to go up. He hoisted me onto his shoulder and carried me into the elevator, trapping me in the corner so I had nowhere to run. At that time, he smiled and comforted me: “Don’t worry, my mom doesn’t hit people. If she really does, I’ll carry you and run.” I looked at Liam, who was wearing a distant smile now, and lowered my eyes. “No need. See you at the company.” Back in the car, I opened the memo app, fingers trembling as I noted another one: [ Taste regressed, the cologne he chose smells awful. ] Almost 30 items now. The progress I anticipated was already halfway done. But no matter how many flaws I came up with, none could erase even a bit of his weight in my heart. I leaned back against the seat and sighed, when suddenly there was a knock on the car window. It was Liam. I rolled down the window, and he leaned down to look at me. “Maybe I’m being nosy, but are you really okay? You looked a bit pale just now.” I rubbed my face: “It’s nothing, maybe just a bit tired.” “Should I call a designated driver for you? I got into an accident because I was distracted while driving, better to be cautious.” No one knew what he went out to do that day. A few days before the accident, I vaguely felt he was hiding something from me, but I was never one to get to the bottom of things. Now that the person involved had forgotten everything cleanly, I would never know. “Thank you.” After being thanked by him so many times these past two days, I finally returned one. “But don’t worry, I value my life very much, I’ll be careful driving.” 3 I didn’t tell him that actually, we weren’t just colleagues, we were also college roommates for a year. In my senior year, I took a year off due to illness. When I returned, I was assigned to Liam’s dorm. I originally thought that in the last year, most people would be studying or preparing for exams, so there wouldn’t be much interaction. But Liam swaggered into my life just like that. Considering my poor health during recovery, he fetched food for me, ran to the counselor for materials, accompanied me to follow-up checks, and even guarded outside while I showered, worried I might suddenly faint. He said: “We’re bros, I should do it.” If it were before, I would never provoke a straight guy. But after hovering between life and death—what’s there to restrain? I’m going to date the person I like, dammit. If he’s straight, then I’ll bend him. I want to live in the moment. I chased him for more than half a year, but didn’t succeed even by graduation. On the day of leaving school, I put the offer from the same company as him and the flight ticket back to my hometown in front of him, asking him to choose one for me. He glanced at it and said: “Stop chasing so dryly.” Hearing this, my heart died completely. I pulled my suitcase and was about to leave. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. I fell onto his lap, and before I could react, he held the back of my neck and kissed me hard. “Can’t you just kiss me directly?” 4 Liam’s return to work happened half a month later. The leader arranged a colleague for him to guide him back into the workflow. Amidst a circle of greetings and inquiries, he cast a puzzled look at me. I sat outside the crowd, head down, drinking water. He took the casual lie I told that day seriously. Unsurprisingly, he blocked me in the pantry. “Alex, why isn’t it you?” “I’ve been a bit busy lately.” I shoveled creamer into my coffee cup, masking my guilt. “So the team leader arranged someone else. He’s very capable, you’ll be fine with him.” “But… I asked others, and they said our relationship isn’t good at all, we barely talked.” … I thought for a moment and said sincerely: “They’re right. It’s just that I’m a person whose love overflows easily. Even when the cleaning lady sprained her ankle, I went to visit her.” Liam shut his mouth. His gaze moved down to my coffee cup, half filled with white powder. “You can’t drink that, non-dairy creamer is bad for your health.” These words, this tone, made me dazed for a moment, thinking he hadn’t lost his memory. Liam didn’t let me eat junk food, he was very strict. Every time I craved junk food, I could only order takeout behind his back. I’m really not good at disguising, always getting caught. On the days I got caught, he would torment me until dawn, claiming to help me metabolize it quickly. I smiled, brewed it in front of him, and gulped down a big mouthful. “I just like this cheap taste.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, clearly forcing words back down. “If there’s nothing else, hurry back to work.” I wasn’t sure if I stayed alone with him any longer, I might say something I shouldn’t. As I walked past him, an arm suddenly blocked my stomach, gently pulling me in. I blinked slowly. That second seemed to be infinitely prolonged. Body heat separated by two layers of clothes, a firm chest, warm breath on the back of my neck. I froze on the spot, and Liam immediately pulled back. He looked down at his hand in bewilderment, his devastatingly handsome face now flushed red. “Sorry, sorry.” He stammered, apologizing in panic, “I don’t know what happened, suddenly just…” Truly strange. The brain doesn’t remember, but the body has its own memory? Liam and I were an underground office couple. Others only knew we didn’t communicate much and had an average relationship. But they didn’t know about our fingers intertwining in crowded elevators, bold hugs in the empty pantry, kisses masked by the sound of machines in the copy room. Perhaps having done these things too many times, the body already had inertia.

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I was out shopping with my sister. Her gigolo boyfriend mistook me for her side piece and kicked me into a ditch. I said I was fine, but in reality, after running into him at school, I bagged him and beat him up that very night. Feeling satisfied, I walked away dusting off my hands. The next day, the campus forum exploded. The Physics Department’s heartthrob, sporting a battle-worn face and holding a limited-edition sneaker, posted a bounty online. “Whoever can find the owner of this shoe will be heavily rewarded!” Everyone joked that Cinderella and her crystal slipper had become reality. Meanwhile, I was hiding the other shoe while calling the “Old Witch”—my sister. “Sis! You didn’t tell me your gigolo had a twin brother?!” 1 The post instantly shot to the top three trending topics. Students hungry for gossip were all making jokes. [How is the Physics Hunk going to find them? Are we lining up to try on the shoe? Hahaha] [Who is this Cinderella! Please tell.] [To the person above, no obligation to tell, thanks. But seriously… who is it? Who dared to beat up our Physics God?] [Are there any more detailed clues, like body shape?] Lucas replied to this comment: [It’s a man. In the chaos, I hugged him. He’s about three or four inches shorter than me. Felt… okay to the touch. And he smelled a bit… fragrant.] The students exploded: [Bro, what exactly are you reminiscing about?] [Who describes a man like that? Especially one who beat you up.] [Is this revenge or romance? Hard to guess.] [I know this type. It’s giving gay vibes.] [Don’t say it, don’t say it.] The comment section weirdly spiraled in a certain direction. Someone asked: “There are tons of people who wear size 8 shoes. How do you know which one is him?” Lucas: “I’ll know him as soon as he appears.” Smack— My phone slipped from my hand and smashed heavily onto the floor, just like my shattered heart. I’ve heard of Lucas. He was the top scorer in the college entrance exams. But I’m a recluse. Aside from classes and eating, I hole up in my dorm. Let alone knowing Lucas, I don’t even know what he looks like. At most, I’ve heard his name praised by professors or gushed over by lovestruck girls. Supposedly handsome, rich, and has good grades. But you didn’t tell me he looks exactly like the gigolo my sister is dating?! I quickly dialed the “Old Witch.” “Yo, the sun rising from the west? You actually contacted your sister voluntarily?” I didn’t waste words, whispering: “Does your gigolo happen to have a twin brother or something?” “How did you know he has a brother? I think he goes to your school, what’s his name… Lucas? Yes!” Me: “……” The person looks alive, but inside, he’s been dead for a while. I wondered why it was such a coincidence. Just got kicked, then ran into him at school. Turns out it wasn’t even the same person! Looking at the limited-edition sneaker I saved my allowance for four months to buy, my heart was bleeding profusely. If I don’t confess, at worst I’ll get beaten up? No, no, too humiliating. Might even get a demerit from school. While I was pondering, the dorm door handle turned from the outside. I quickly hid the plastic-wrapped shoe under my quilt. My roommates, Old Wang and Xiao Lin, were grinning at their phones. “Bao, did you see the campus forum?” Xiao Lin asked. I nodded guiltily. “This guy’s got something. He actually made Lucas open a special session for him.” Old Wang rubbed his hands excitedly like a fly: “Reward is five thousand. Don’t let me catch him.” I swallowed silently, probing tentatively: “What if you find out it’s someone you know?” Both clapped and cheered: “Even better! Drag him directly to claim the bounty!” “……” Some plastic brotherhood this is. Seeing money, they can’t even walk straight. Old Wang’s eyes shifted, suddenly remembering: “Bao, I remember you wear size 8 too.” My heart instantly jumped to my throat. I raised my voice as much as possible to hide my panic: “Don’t get any ideas about me. I don’t even know Lucas.” “That’s true. Every day, aside from class, you’re lying in bed watching anime. Thinking with my toes, it couldn’t be you.” Hearing this, I let out a long sigh of relief. But the next second. 2 Xiao Lin frowned in thought: “Wait, I seem to have seen this shoe somewhere…” Haven’t you? I specifically asked you to help me choose the color back then. Luckily, I like collecting all kinds of sneakers. Xiao Lin probably wouldn’t remember this specific pair right away. Seeing him looking like he wouldn’t give up until he remembered, I immediately asked. “Want to play 5v5?” Hearing about the game, he stopped thinking and logged on directly. I slept extremely restlessly that night. In the first half of the night, I dreamed I was dragged by my roommates to confess before Lucas. “Summer, my foster father! Brothers are relying on you to get rich!” In the second half, I dreamed Lucas chased me with a whip for two miles. “Running? Still running? Hmm?” “Not running, not running!” I jolted awake from the bed. Six eyes met. Xiao Lin and Old Wang looked confused. “What did this kid dream about? Scared like this?” “Definitely a wet dream, probably zombies.” I was about to speak, but saw an existence more terrifying than a zombie. Why is Lucas here?! “He he he…” Old Wang looked in the direction I pointed, “Oh right: New roommate. Don’t need me to introduce, right?” Lucas nodded slightly at me, a bruise still visible at the corner of his lips. It’s over. The counselor told our dorm a few days ago that a new roommate was coming. Never expected it to be him. My vision went black, and I lay back down. When my toes touched the plastic bag at the foot of the bed, my heart contracted sharply. This thing must be removed, or there will be trouble later. Taking advantage of no one in the dorm, I sneaked out of bed. Before I could stuff the plastic bag into my backpack, a voice came. “Going out?” Lucas was like a ghost that comes and goes without a trace, standing behind me unbeknownst to me. I jumped, and the thing in my hand fell to the ground with a clatter. “What is this?” Just as his hand was about to touch the plastic bag at my feet, I snatched it back. “Don’t touch my stuff!” Lucas lowered his eyes: “Sorry, I just wanted to help you pick it up.” Realizing I overreacted, I tried to squeeze out a smile: “I just don’t really like people touching my things. I didn’t mean to blame you.” “I thought you didn’t like being friends with me.” “How could that be? Who wouldn’t want a genius friend?” “As long as you like it.” When Lucas smiled, his eyes curved. There was a mole on his left cheek. Looking closely, he was different from his brother. If his brother was a prickly hedgehog, then he was a gentle golden retriever. Since he’s so easy to get along with, should I just confess? But this thought was quickly extinguished. Since ancient times, a brother pays for a brother’s debt. It’s only natural. His brother kicked me into a stinking ditch! The little guilt in my heart vanished instantly. At worst, I lose a shoe. A man’s dignity cannot be lost! Just as I was about to get up and leave, Old Wang burst in loudly. “Tomorrow is Saturday. How about our dorm have dinner together tonight? Just right, as a welcome for the new roommate, how about it?” Everyone raised their hands in agreement, so I couldn’t refuse. Glancing at my beloved shoe on the bed, I planned to find a time to take it home for safekeeping. Inside the hotpot restaurant. This place was viral online; we waited a long time for a table. As we ate, someone started gossiping about Lucas getting beaten up. “I say, Lucas, what kind of grudge did that person have with you to ambush you from behind?” Xiao Lin tsked. Lucas shook his head: “I don’t know. Maybe I accidentally offended him somewhere.” I don’t know if it was an illusion, but his gaze seemed to linger on me for a moment when he said this. 3 Old Wang pondered slightly, “I think the most likely possibility is that the person was jealous of your beauty and talent.” I almost choked on a piece of tofu, subconsciously blurting out what was in my mind: “Is there a possibility that the person mistook you for someone else?” Three pairs of eyes stared straight at me. I swallowed: “What are you looking at? Can’t rule out that possibility.” “Something’s wrong, very wrong.” Old Wang circled me. “Usually, you would have turned into Detective Conan and started analyzing. Why so quiet this time? You have issues!” “How is that possible?” I grabbed the cup next to me, drinking water tactically. Damn! My face twisted in pain instantly: “Who ordered alcohol?” Xiao Lin raised his hand proudly: “A little drink for tonight.” I can’t touch alcohol. Just one sip and my face starts burning. “Eat slowly.” My face was cupped, and Lucas gently wiped the oil stain from the corner of my mouth. This sudden move scared me stiff. This guy is a bit too considerate, isn’t he? Luckily, I only had one sip. Plus, being scared by Lucas, I already have some trauma about this small cup. Thinking we see each other every day, if I can’t run, can’t I hide? I’ll avoid him as much as possible in the future. Just like that, the shoe matter was thrown to the back of my mind. The following weeks were full of classes, everyone busy with their own things. Just when I thought everyone had forgotten about it. Returning to the dorm one night, I unfortunately saw that shoe brought back by Lucas again. Xiao Lin looked left and right, rubbing his chin in thought: “This shoe… I really have seen it somewhere.” Lucas looked at him expectantly: “Think carefully.” Afraid he would suddenly remember, I quickly stuffed snacks into his mouth. He patted Lucas’s shoulder: “I’ll definitely tell you when I remember.” Lucas’s disappointed expression was captured by me. It’s been so long, and he’s still looking. Seems he’s really angry. Then I should hide the other shoe even better! Thinking this, I quickly confirmed the foot of the bed, then felt relieved. Rushing to 8 AM classes for weeks, I was like a walking corpse, grabbing pants and putting them on. When putting on shoes, I groggily put on one, but couldn’t find the other no matter where I looked. Looking up again, I met Lucas’s scrutinizing gaze. “Summer, you fit in it.” ???!!! I reacted violently, feeling my feet burning. To avoid being beaten, I could only bite the bullet and quibble. “I’m not the only one in the whole school with size 8 feet. Why do you think it’s me?” “Besides, we didn’t know each other before. I have no reason to beat you.” Lucas didn’t speak. After a long time, he got out of bed. “Can I hug you?” I crossed my arms, looking at him in shock: “In broad daylight, two grown men hugging, what is this!” “No, I just want to confirm.” “There are tons of people who feel the same. Anyway, I didn’t do it, means I didn’t do it…” My voice got smaller towards the end. I used the 8 AM class as an excuse and fled. Bored in class, I accidentally clicked into the campus forum. That post was still hot. I looked through the latest comments. Someone asked: “Did you find your Cinderella?” Lucas: “Have a suspect, but not sure yet.” “Then may I ask, if you find him, what do you plan to do?” Lucas: “Punish him.” Punish! Him! These two words were like a thunderbolt, frying me tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The scene of him chasing me with a whip for two miles in my dream involuntarily surfaced in my mind. Ew, this is too weird. Because of this, I ate two fewer bowls of rice for lunch. Listlessly returning to the dorm, Xiao Lin rushed towards me excitedly holding that shoe. “I remember!” 4 “Didn’t you ask me to help you choose a new shoe color before? It seems to be this… mmmph?” I covered his mouth, quickly checking the surroundings. Luckily, it was just the two of us in the dorm. Seeing my panic, Xiao Lin was a bit surprised: “It really is you?” “Aiya.” I messed up my hair irritably: “I just simply mistook the person. My original target was his twin brother.” Then, I told him the whole story: “Remember to keep it a secret.” Xiao Lin made a zipping motion: “But you’re too irresponsible. If you do something wrong, you have to admit it, right?” “Do you think I don’t want to admit it? If Lucas doesn’t forgive me and kicks me, wouldn’t I suffer a big loss?” Thinking of this made me angry: “The bruise on my waist hasn’t faded yet!” “Real or fake?” Xiao Lin lifted my clothes in disbelief. Because I landed on my butt, the marks were all below my waist. Just as Xiao Lin was about to pull my pants down to look, the door banged open. At this moment, I was supporting myself on the corner of the table with my back to Xiao Lin. And Xiao Lin had one hand lifting the hem of my shirt and the other pulling at my waistband. The posture of the two people had an indescribable ambiguity… Lucas stood at the door, the emotions in his eyes changing from shock to anger and finally to grievance. “I wondered why you wouldn’t let me hug you. Turns out it’s because of him?” Stop, stop, stop. Compared to our posture, his words seem more likely to be misunderstood, right? Sure enough, Xiao Lin immediately bounced meters away, shouting: “Injustice! Injustice!” He even dragged Old Wang, who had just returned and looked confused, out of the room. The door slammed shut with a “bang”. Immediately followed by a message in the dorm group chat saying the two of them weren’t coming back tonight. A fierce operation, leaving me messy in the wind. Four eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward. “Um… I’m not coming back tonight either!” I hugged my backpack and tried to dash out the door. Lucas stepped forward with his long legs, blocking me: “Are you dating Xiao Lin?” “No, he’s straight as steel.” “What about you?” Lucas pressed step by step, “Do you like men?” “I, I’m naturally straight too. Do I look gay?!” Okay, actually I’m pansexual for beauty. As long as it’s a beautiful person or thing, I accept them all. But he seemed to only hear “gay”, his eyes sparkling. No way, could he really be the gay guy the alumni talked about?! Lucas was about to speak when the surroundings suddenly went dark. His heart sank violently, and his breathing became rapid. I realized something was wrong with him and quickly asked about his condition. “What’s wrong with you?” “Summer…” Lucas’s hands grabbing me were sweating, “Hug me, please?” He’s trembling… I couldn’t care about anything else and hugged him directly to comfort him. A buzzing sound passed, and his vision gradually cleared. I was holding a flashlight, looking at him anxiously. The wailing of ghosts and wolves came from next door: “Auntie, the power is out in the dorm, dark and scary…” After drinking the water I handed him, he finally recovered. Finding himself held tightly, his ears inexplicably heated up. He gently pushed me away: “I’m fine…” Just as he stood up, his legs went soft and he fell back. Our lips accidentally touched, and both of us froze. Lucas licked his dry lips, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down: “Summer, I…” Snap— The originally dim dorm lit up again. The strong light made people unable to open their eyes, so much so that I didn’t know when the shoe in my bag fell out. I wanted to kick the shoe back in, but unexpectedly hooked it out. Before I could stop him, Lucas had already picked up the shoe. Since it has come to this, I had to accept my fate completely: “That’s right, the one who ambushed you that day was actually me. Punish me.”

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I debuted at the same time as the nation’s sweetheart, Serena Xu, but she has overshadowed me at every turn. To leech off her fame, I deliberately staged “accidental” run-ins, copied her outfits, and paid for PR articles claiming I wore them better. I thought bad publicity was still publicity. I never expected the internet to have a mind of its own. instead of hating me, they started shipping us as a “Rivals-to-Lovers” couple. [OMG, the Leopard and the Cat are matching again today! Stop pretending! When are you two going public?] After a busy day of scheming, I opened the comment section and felt the sky collapse. No, seriously… is this legal? 1 My name is Zoe Lane. Since I was a child, I’ve aspired to be a top-tier Hollywood star. Unfortunately, I’m the only daughter of a business tycoon, with millions in assets waiting for me to inherit. When applying for college, I tearfully gave up my dream film school and went to an Ivy League university for business, per my parents’ demands. However, under the double pressure of corporate finance and bland cafeteria food, I was diagnosed with mild depression upon graduation. Worried about my health, my parents finally relented and gave me five years of freedom. We made a deal: If I could become an A-list star within five years, they wouldn’t force me to take over the family business. If not, I had to obediently come home and become the CEO. 2 I don’t know why, but I was born feeling like I was made for stardom. Before entering the industry, I went to a psychic in Venice Beach to read my fortune. The psychic looked at me, looked at the tarot cards, and her face grew grave. Seeing this, I didn’t bat an eye. I stuffed a stack of cash into her hand and asked her to read the cards again. The psychic cleared her throat and said I was destined for “heat.” I was perfect for the entertainment industry. Only later did I realize what she meant. The “heat” she saw was the dumpster fire of my career. After starring in five consecutive flops, I looked at my dismal engagement numbers and doubted myself for the first time. Don’t mess with me; I’m aggressively unpopular right now! Seeing my depressed look, my assistant advised me to relax. I listened, opened TikTok, and was immediately hit by a critical strike. In the video, Serena Xu was wearing a black trailing gown, holding a golden trophy, and calmly delivering her acceptance speech. Looking at her exquisite, aloof profile, I ground my teeth in jealousy. Serena and I debuted on the same talent show. In three years, she had become an Oscar-winning actress, while I remained a D-list idol. I looked gloomy. “Why is she always one step ahead of me?” My assistant instinctively replied, “Probably more than one step.” Me: “…?” Although the gap in our status was wide, did she have to emphasize it? I gritted my teeth. “Don’t forget who pays your salary.” My assistant went silent, offering only an awkward smile. After a moment of emo time, I jumped off the couch. Even though I only had two years left on my bet with my parents, I wouldn’t admit defeat so easily. I ordered my assistant, “In three minutes, I want Serena Xu’s schedule for the next three months.” If I couldn’t get famous naturally, I’d become a “coattail rider.” And Serena was the unlucky victim I chose. For the next three months, I turned down all other engagements and tailored my flight routes entirely to Serena’s schedule. No matter what major event she attended, I would copy her makeup and outfit, pretend it was a coincidence, and repeatedly walk past the event location. Then, I’d post a video on TikTok as “evidence.” Hard work pays off. One day, a video my assistant casually shot went viral. In the frame, I glanced carelessly at the camera, then dragged my long tulle skirt up the stairs without looking back. Paired with a catchy beat, the video broke five million likes in less than three days. At first, the comments were full of generic thirst traps. But soon, sharp-eyed netizens noticed something: [Am I the only one who thinks this dress looks familiar?] [What a coincidence, my girl Serena wore this three months ago. Beautiful women have similar tastes.] [Passerby here. At first glance, I thought Zoe was Serena.] [Can we talk about how this idol is copying Serena’s makeup and style?] [Eh, even though they look alike, the Shadow Queen doesn’t own a patent on this style.] [Umm, but Zoe used to be the ‘sweet girl’ type. This change is too deliberate…] 3 Seeing the fanbases on the verge of war, I quickly contacted a bunch of gossip blogs and told them to fan the flames. In an instant, the internet was flooded with “Who Wore It Better” articles: [Same old money aesthetic. Oscar winner Serena Xu vs. Idol Zoe Lane. Who wins? Netizens say Zoe takes the crown!] [Zoe Lane clashes with Serena Xu in magazine shoots. Who won? Personally, Zoe pulls off this style better!] Serena’s fans quickly arrived to control the narrative: [Speechless. Serena is so chill, how did she get entangled with this drama queen?] [Not sure, don’t care, but Serena’s aura wins. Let’s focus on her new movie!] [I want to barf looking at Zoe’s plastic face!] I put down my phone with satisfaction. I thought bad publicity was still publicity. I never expected that after a busy day, when I opened the comments section, the wind had completely changed direction: [Hehe, when two men stand together you ship them. When two women do it, you compare them.] [Otherwise? Tell me how to ship two women?] [Check out the ‘Zero-Gravity’ ship (Zoe + Serena). Invest now, thank me later.] [OMG, the Leopard and the Cat are matching again today! Stop pretending! When are you going public?] [Moms are practically feeding the sugar directly to our mouths, boohoo!] Ah, what strange thing has infiltrated the chat? Confused, I typed “Zero-Gravity Ship” into the browser. I didn’t know until I searched, but I was startled. It was the ship name for me and Serena. No, sisters, is this legal? A ship can be niche, but it shouldn’t be hallucinations! I frowned and scrolled down, seeing many hot posts: [Zoe never wears backpacks, but today she wore the brand Serena just endorsed. Admit it, Zoe, you’re super in love!] [Rumor has it: Zoe had a commercial this week but suddenly canceled it. The next day she appeared at the same airport as Serena. My guess? Secret date!] My mouth dropped into an “O” shape. What do you mean I’m in love? I just purely love being a drama queen! Scrolling further, there was all kinds of fan art. The first few were quite pure, but the last one showed me in a maid outfit, with Serena holding my chin and feeding me wine, captioned: [Disobedient puppies need to be punished by Big Sister ^_^] I squeezed my eyes shut in terror. Don’t do this to me, I’m a hopeless straight girl! Just as I wanted to exit the topic, I glanced at the follower count. Twenty thousand. That was more than my actual active fans. I suddenly couldn’t bear to leave. Actually, I had been shipped with male stars before. But either there was no chemistry, or after the show ended, the few fans I gained were poached by the male side. Not only that, they would turn around and step on me, calling me a leech, a green tea b*tch, a flop. I accepted being called a green tea, but calling me a flop was intolerable! But shipping with Serena seemed to have no such worries. Everyone in the industry said she was super zen, didn’t like surfing the internet, and focused entirely on acting. She was the perfect candidate to leech off. From that day on, I paid even more attention to Serena’s every move and deliberately manufactured artificial sugar. When a reporter asked if she was dating, Serena denied it: “I have no plans to find a boyfriend in the near future.” That night, I posted a nine-grid selfie set captioned: “Tsk tsk, I’m a girl~” When the host asked her to summarize her new pet movie in one sentence, Serena said: “Puppies can’t say I love you, but they are good at expressing love through action.” I immediately posted a daily vlog of my dog, captioned: “Who’s coming to take this well-behaved puppy home?” When Serena posted behind-the-scenes footage of filming underwater, saying it was cold. I “casually” posted a landscape photo captioned: “It won’t be cold if we hug~” The CP fans went crazy. Not only that, I spent big money to hire many high-popularity artists, writers, and editors. I had them publish fan art, fan fiction, and fan edits on a schedule, and promoted their works. With this smooth combo, in less than half a year, the popularity of the “Zero-Gravity” ship skyrocketed, bringing me huge exposure. Then, my agent booked me a travel reality show. The production team was generous with the budget, and I played happily with the other guests all day. However, in the evening, the director suddenly announced a surprise guest was joining. I clapped along cooperatively, but felt a vague unease inside. The next second, a woman in a white dress carrying a suitcase walked in from outside. I looked up and met her cold eyes. 4 The moment I saw Serena Xu. My brain crashed. Wasn’t she filming a new movie in the mountains? Why did she suddenly appear here? I wondered why the director smiled so kindly at me today; he was waiting for this! The live chat overlay (Danmu) instantly boiled over: [Moms finally share the same frame ahhh!] [Serena, didn’t you say you wouldn’t do variety shows? You broke your rule to see your wife!] [So awkward, I’m flushing for them.] [What will they say? Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!] [Ah, the lilies of my hometown are blooming so beautifully!] I lowered my head guiltily. Although in the eyes of netizens, Serena and I were just one step away from a public announcement. In reality, we didn’t know each other at all. We hadn’t even exchanged contact info. The director, that old fox, stopped pretending. Ignoring the staff nearby, he called me out by name to help Serena with her luggage. Hearing this, Serena froze for a moment, waving her hand hesitantly: “I can carry it myself… hey?” Before she could finish, I had already carried the luggage to my room door in one breath. I leeched so much of her fame; carrying her luggage was the least I could do. However, I suddenly realized the rooms on the second floor were full. Where would Serena stay? The director’s punchable voice sounded behind me: “Oh my, I almost forgot. We don’t have enough rooms in the villa. Since our Zoe is so welcoming, Serena, you can share a room with Zoe.” I was stunned. This director dared to sell the ship harder than I did! Just as I wanted to politely refuse, Serena’s eyes curved slightly, and she nodded at me: “Sorry to trouble you, Zoe.” Her smile was clean, like snow melting in early winter. I cleared my throat and swallowed my refusal: “No trouble at all~”

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On New Year’s Eve afternoon, my best friend’s floral shop received an order from my husband. I stared at the customer’s WeChat on the shop’s phone, checking it over and over. There was no mistake. It was my husband, who was supposedly on a business trip out of town. But the recipient wasn’t me. I dialed a video call, and it took a long time to connect. Just as I was about to question him, my best friend squeezed into the frame, smiling and speaking before I could. “Not coming back for New Year’s? What gift are you getting our Nanny to make up for it?” The room on the other side was pitch black. My husband had the quilt over his head, squinting, the corner of his mouth twitching unnaturally. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” “I pulled an all-nighter yesterday, I’m exhausted. Let me sleep a bit more.” This interruption calmed me down significantly. I perfunctorily said a few words and hung up. Picking up the wrapped bouquet, I walked out the door. “I’ll deliver this order.” 1 The delivery address wasn’t far from the flower shop, a new luxury complex opened last year. The security guard stopped me. “No deliveries allowed inside.” I took out the shop phone, dialed the number, and pinched my voice to explain the situation. My husband’s voice came through. “I’m the owner of Unit 1603 in Building 5, Victor. Let her in.” The guard complied, letting me pass after registering my information. The elevator door dinged open, and I took a deep breath. “I’ll go in alone.” My best friend nodded, walking to the stairwell nearby. “Call me if anything happens.” I turned on my phone’s video recording and pressed the doorbell. Victor’s shout came from inside, “Honey, get the door.” After a flurry of footsteps, the door opened, and she froze. “Yoyo’s mom?” I froze too. She was my daughter’s art teacher from her after-school class. She quit six months ago due to pregnancy. Was it my husband’s child? Seeing the flowers in my hand, she looked me up and down, then lowered her head with a smile that was shy yet provocative. “Yoyo’s mom, are you delivering flowers now?” She was wearing a loose nightgown, her belly visibly protruding. The paper wrapping the flowers crinkled under my tightening grip. She reached out to take the flowers, looking considerate. “Thank you. It’s so cold out, you must be working hard. Want to come in and rest for a bit?” “Sure, thank you.” She was stunned, not expecting me to agree so easily. Her eyes darted towards the kitchen, then she smiled and opened the shoe cabinet, taking out a pair of slippers. There were many men’s shoes in the cabinet. One pair was the new ones I bought for Victor last month; he wore them the day he left for his “business trip.” A cartoon photo of the two of them sat on the entryway table. Lily sniffed the flowers. “My husband is always so romantic, never forgetting to arrange surprises for holidays.” I sneered. “Does he send them for Tomb Sweeping Day too?” Her mouth hung open slightly. She paused, then said, “Life after divorce must be hard, a rich wife delivering takeout.” I looked around the apartment. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Jade Lake, the sunset casting a breathtakingly beautiful light. But my heart could only feel its desolation. A dense, prickling pain spread through my body. “Yeah, unlike Teacher Lily. Following President Victor, your quality of life has skyrocketed.” With the relationship exposed, she became smug. “If it weren’t for Yoyo, President Victor would have divorced you long ago. But my child is more important. As soon as he heard I was pregnant, he divorced you immediately.” “Divorced?” “Stop pretending. Victor told me everything. Going back once a month is just an act for Yoyo. Since you’ve seen it, be sensible. Don’t use this to pester my husband.” “We’re both women; I know your little tricks clearly.” She spoke with her head held high, confident. Just then, Victor came out of the kitchen with a freshly stewed pot of chicken soup, carefully placing it on the dining table and ladling a bowl. He didn’t see me. Lily linked her arm through his, her voice sticky sweet. “Hubby, we have a guest.” Victor turned around. Seeing me, his hand shook, and the bowl smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces. “Why are you here!” Lily sighed with pity. “Yoyo’s mom is having a hard time, she’s delivering flowers now.” Victor glanced at the flowers on the table, recalling the delivery person’s voice sounded somewhat like mine, but he never expected it would actually be me. He pulled me nervously. “Listen to me, this…” Before he could finish, Lily pulled him back, declaring sovereignty. “You’re already divorced, what’s there to explain?” “Yoyo’s mom, President Victor will pay child support. Don’t be shameless and pester him.” I stared into Victor’s eyes. “It is time for a divorce.” 2 Victor shook off Lily and dragged me towards the door. “Let’s talk outside. Lily is in her third trimester, don’t scare her.” Lily slipped on a porcelain shard, falling to the ground unsteadily, grabbing Victor’s pant leg. “Hubby, my stomach.” Victor turned pale with fright, hurriedly picking her up. “Lily, don’t be scared, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I was knocked aside by his elbow, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. “Ah!” Victor instinctively looked back. “Nancy…” Lily moaned, interrupting him. Looking at the pained expression of the woman in his arms, he sped up, distressed. I walked out the door, and my best friend ran over to support me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” My best friend held up her phone screen. “I suspected he was secretly transferring assets, so I asked my brother to investigate.” Her brother is a lawyer. I nodded in thanks and sent over the video I just recorded. “That woman is Lily, Yoyo’s former art teacher. Ask your brother to draft a divorce agreement too.” “Okay, I’ll drive you back.” My best friend insisted I wasn’t fit to drive, took me home, and picked up Yoyo to stay with her for a couple of days. Her brother was fast. As soon as I got home, he sent over the information he found. The house and car under Lily’s name were bought by Victor, plus transfers totaling nearly ten million dollars. A year ago, Victor told me there were issues at the branch office requiring his frequent presence. Turns out it was a golden cage for his mistress. Every time he said he was on a business trip, he was actually with Lily. I immediately called the company’s financial director. “Director Wang, send me the accounts of the main company and branch office for the last few years.” “Madam, company secrets are not for you to view.” “I am a shareholder!” There was a two-second pause on the other end. “I’ll apply with President Victor. Once he signs approval, I’ll send them to you.” Good, very good. Since getting pregnant, I never asked about the company, spending my days shopping, getting spa treatments, and taking care of the child. Everyone thought I married well. Probably even Victor forgot that I am the company’s largest shareholder, with the right to dismiss him at any time. I started cleaning out the trash at home. Opening the closet, I threw Victor’s clothes on the floor one by one, tearing and stomping on them, venting my dissatisfaction like a madwoman. Finally, a storage box was revealed in the corner of the closet. Inside were all the things Victor gave me during our four years of college. Tulip LED night lights, hand-sewn backpacks, personally designed hair clips, star jars with sweet moments written inside, and so on. His family wasn’t well off, couldn’t afford expensive gifts, so most presents were handmade by him. I held them and cried loudly until dawn. The next morning, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law barged in early, cursing loudly at the messy room. “Nancy Shen, are you crazy? Smashing such expensive things? Do you think my son earns money easily? Why did he marry such a wasteful wife like you? Can’t even bear a son, and can’t manage a household.” Seeing me, she came up and slapped me. “Bitch, you almost harmed my grandson.” “Giving birth to a useless girl and you dare to show off in front of Lily. Be sensible and divorce my son quickly, get out of our family.” My sister-in-law packed all the bird’s nest, sea cucumber, aged ginseng, and other supplements from the kitchen into bags. “Wasting good stuff on her. Mom, let’s take these to nourish our little sister-in-law.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law rushed to the kitchen, packing things with both hands and feet. “Right, Lily is the great contributor to our family, she needs to be nourished well.” The day I gave birth to Yoyo, she took one look, saw it was a girl, and never appeared again. I didn’t care about her attitude, but that Lily actually gave birth? “Where is Victor?” My mother-in-law spat. “Of course accompanying my grandson. I’m warning you, if anything happens to him, I’m not done with you!” 3 Lily gave birth to a boy. The whole family knew about them long ago, keeping it from me. Victor didn’t come home until the afternoon, eyes tired, face full of impatience. “My mom just took some things from home, and you called the police? I bought all these with my money, what’s wrong with my mom taking them?” “Pack up and go to the police station to explain.” As soon as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law left, I called the police reporting theft. The home surveillance captured it clearly; the value of items taken exceeded a thousand dollars, enough to file a case. The police found them at the hospital. Left alone to care for everyone at the hospital, Victor was overwhelmed. Only after finally securing a confinement nanny did he have time to come back and settle scores with me. I looked at him and sneered. “Your money?” He seemed to hear a joke, his tone mocking. “If not mine, is it yours? For so many years, if I hadn’t propped up the company, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. I’ve been supporting you, letting you enjoy life for over a decade.” “Such a big company needs an heir. Just be your Mrs. Victor obediently, no one threatens your position.” I pointed at the family photo on the wall and questioned. “Is Yoyo not your child?” “What use is a girl? She’ll just end up in someone else’s hands eventually.” My heart trembled. What did he mean by ending up in someone else’s hands? Could it be… “Victor, was this the reason you approached me in college?” Victor lowered his head and grabbed my hand, softening his tone. “Nancy, I love you.” I threw the printed divorce agreement at him. “Sign it.” He glanced at the agreement twice, threw it on the ground, and sneered. “Nancy, look at others. Which one isn’t drinking and partying, keeping several mistresses? After so many years, I just made one small mistake, and you want a divorce?” “Stop making a fuss, okay? My mom wanted a son, and you couldn’t have a second child. I had no choice. At worst, when the boy grows up a bit, we’ll bring him back for you to raise.” His tone was as casual as commenting on the weather. I looked at him in disbelief and backhanded him two slaps. “Scum!” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Wifey, I know you’re angry, but how will you live without me? Really going to deliver takeout?” “Don’t forget, the company belongs to my family.” Victor chuckled. “Don’t be silly. It’s been over ten years; those people in the company stopped listening to you long ago.” “Let’s live well. I promise you, no one will ever affect your position as Mrs. Victor, and I won’t shortchange Yoyo.” “As long as I don’t agree, you won’t get custody of the child. Can you bear to leave her? Bear to let her have a broken home? For Yoyo’s sake, think it over carefully.” Ridiculous. He didn’t think of the child when cheating, but now he uses morals to kidnap me. When my father passed away, he gifted Victor 10% of the shares, hoping he would treat me well. Now it became a weapon against me. Before marriage, I hid my identity. After graduation, we joined the company together. While competing for an executive position, I found out I was pregnant. My father learned of this and hastily organized our wedding, ordering me to focus on the pregnancy at home. Soon after, my father fell suddenly ill and passed away. My depression led to a miscarriage, and after leaving the hospital, I suffered from severe depression. He took care of me while propping up the company. He said he would guard my father’s empire for me. I believed him and united other shareholders to support him as chairman. Under the circumstances, I indeed didn’t have the energy to manage the company. From then on, I became the envied Mrs. Victor and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. Because I lost a child once, I valued Yoyo immensely. Victor knew this, which is why he thought of using the child to persuade me. “Victor, the naive one is you, not me.” 4 A few days later, acting as a shareholder, I dismissed Victor from all duties and announced I would take over all company affairs. The email was sent to every employee’s inbox. I put on a business suit I hadn’t worn in a long time and walked into the company. The receptionist stopped me. “Miss, who are you looking for?” I hadn’t been in the company for at least five years; many employees didn’t recognize me. “I am Nancy Shen, here to work.” “Nancy Shen?” The receptionist muttered softly, then remembered the email she saw in the morning. “You’re the newly appointed Chairman!” She respectfully opened the door for me. The elevator rose to the 26th floor. As the doors opened, Victor stood there with other shareholders, as if waiting for me. His eyes smiled, seemingly mocking my overestimation of myself. The first to speak was Uncle Wang. He started the business with my father and watched me grow up. Now he put on an elder’s posture to lecture. “Nancy, Victor told us everything. You’re being too reckless! A lovers’ quarrel shouldn’t be brought to the company. Being Chairman is a serious matter, not something for you to use in a tantrum!” Employees watching the drama nearby chuckled. “The boss’s wife probably can’t even read a financial report, right?” “Should stay home and take care of kids, what’s she doing joining the fun at the company.” “I know this type of housewife, just afraid her husband runs off with someone else, coming out to mark territory.” Other shareholders also smiled and persuaded me. “Mrs. Victor, the Chairman position is no joke. You should go home and accompany your child.” “Nancy, Rongcheng has grown bigger and bigger under Victor’s leadership. Why are you causing trouble?” “The company isn’t yours alone. What right do you have to make such a decision?” Victor smiled confidently, smoothing things over for me. “It’s my fault, made Nancy angry, causing this trouble. I apologize to everyone on her behalf.” “President Victor is joking. Since it’s a family matter, we won’t get involved.” “Nancy, no more jokes like this!” A group of people laughed and started walking down the steps, preparing to leave in twos and threes. Victor bent down and whispered in my ear. “See? No one will stand on your side.” Many were confidants who followed my father for years, now siding with Victor. I looked around, the chill in my heart growing bit by bit, and spoke coldly. “Joke? I am the company’s largest shareholder. I demand the immediate removal of Victor from all positions.” The shareholders froze, looking at Victor in unison. Victor wasn’t angry. “Since everyone is here, let’s hold a shareholders’ meeting and elect a new Chairman together.” “Assistant Sun, take everyone to the conference room, and notify Director Li to come for the shareholders’ meeting.” We walked into the conference room. Victor naturally sat at the head of the table, taking out his equity agreement. He actually had 20% of the shares! “I’ve already acquired the scattered shares. I hold 20%, Nancy holds 35%. Who do you support?” Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhao, and others successively expressed support for Victor. Victor crossed his legs, looking down at me arrogantly. “Now 40% stand with me, you only have 35%. Admit defeat.” I looked at the door, waiting for another shareholder. Victor looked away, the corners of his mouth curling into a sarcastic smile. Half an hour later, Director Li arrived late, glancing at me. “Nancy, you shouldn’t be like this.” My eyes reddened instantly. “Uncle, Victor betrayed me.” Uncle pulled me aside to scold. “Even if Victor is wrong, you shouldn’t bring it out in the open. Men need face. Enough, you two solve this at home.” “I support Victor.” Others I could understand, but I didn’t expect my own uncle to help Victor. With that, Victor stood up to thank everyone. “Nancy, a total of 46% support me. What else do you have to say?” “President Victor, don’t forget, there’s a holder of 19% shares who hasn’t expressed their stance yet.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388274”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel