In my past life, my parents died in a car crash. My twin sister and I were left behind. She was adopted by the richest man in the city, while I was taken in by a flashy, nouveau riche couple. The billionaire’s only son was a psychopath. My sister became his plaything—tortured, disfigured, and eventually paralyzed from the waist down. Meanwhile, the nouveau riche couple groomed me carefully. I entered the entertainment industry and became a rising star. Consumed by jealousy, my sister set a fire and burned me alive. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of our adoption. This time, my sister threw herself at the feet of the nouveau riche couple, calling them Mom and Dad. She didn’t know. The billionaire’s son might be cruel, but he was just a fifteen-year-old boy with issues. The nouveau riche couple? They clawed their way up from the gutter. Their methods were far more sinister. How could a pig-brained girl like her survive them? In the end, she walked a path of self-destruction. As for me? I tamed the psycho brother. He pinned me against the wall, whispering, “Sister, you’ve been dishonest. Big brother has to punish you.” 1 “Auntie, Uncle, I want to be your daughter! I’ll be so good, I promise!” My twin sister, Chloe, ran up to the flashy couple, her voice sweet and pleading. The couple hesitated, whispering to each other. “They’re both ten, look the same. Which one should we pick?” Hearing this, Chloe sold herself even harder. “Pick me! Please! I’ll work hard to repay you for raising me!” Seeing her desperation, I knew. She had been reborn too. In our last life, the couple couldn’t decide between us. Then, the billionaire Mr. Sterling arrived with his son, Julian. Hearing “billionaire” and seeing the handsome boy, Chloe chose them first. I was left with the flashy couple, the Millers. But fifteen-year-old Julian was a monster. Mr. Sterling was always away on business, leaving Chloe at Julian’s mercy. He tortured her until she was unrecognizable and wheelchair-bound. 2 I, on the other hand, was carefully cultivated by the Millers. I became talented, beautiful, and poised. They spent a fortune paving my way into Hollywood. Within two years, I was a star. But behind the glamour lay a darkness I dared not remember. The Millers scrutinized me. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly pulled out a photo of our late parents and started crying. “Boohoo, Mom, Dad, I miss you so much… No one can ever replace you…” The Millers’ faces soured. The woman pointed at Chloe and whispered, “This one seems loyal. That one’s a lost cause. Let’s take her.” Chloe dropped to her knees, ecstatic. “Mom! Dad! I’ll listen to whatever you say!” Just then, the orphanage director arrived with Mr. Sterling. Seeing me crying over my parents’ photo, Mr. Sterling looked touched. He thought I was a girl who valued family. He decided to adopt me on the spot. Chloe sneered at me, whispering, “Sis, I’m so jealous. You got a billionaire dad and such a handsome brother!” Then she turned to Julian. “Big brother, she’s your family now. Take good care of her.” She emphasized “good” with malice. Julian ignored her, looking at me with amusement. Chloe gave me one last look—like she was looking at a dead person—took the Millers’ hands, and left without looking back. I watched them go and sighed in relief. Sister, congratulations on taking my place in hell. In our past life, while Chloe was being broken by Julian, I became a household name thanks to the Millers. I starred in a blockbuster movie and won Best Actress. To the outside world, I was in heaven, and she was in hell. Chloe thought so too. She blamed me for her misery. When she set the fire that killed me, she didn’t know I had wanted to die for a long time. 3 She didn’t know that the heaven she was rushing toward was the real hell. Thinking of this, I looked at Julian sitting beside me. Compared to the nightmares of my past life, he looked like an angel. After all, what psycho brother doesn’t love his little sister? Chloe failed because she was stupid. In the car, Julian noticed me staring. He said coldly, “Seen enough?” His expression was terrifying for a fifteen-year-old. Dark and heavy. My heart jumped. Time to start the conquest. “Big brother, I’ve never seen a boy as good-looking as you. Are you really going to be my brother?” I smiled sweetly, eyes full of admiration and longing. Julian turned to look at me. A hint of mockery flashed in his cold eyes. “You really want to be my sister?” … Duh! I’m ten years old and your dad just adopted me. Do I have a choice? “Yes! I’m so happy to have a brother to love me!” I feigned joy, then quickly turned anxious, lowering my head and twisting the hem of my ragged shirt. “But… you probably don’t like me either. At the orphanage, no one liked me. Everyone hated me…” Julian paused, speaking stiffly. “I don’t hate you.” I stopped sniffing and threw my arms around his waist. “Yay! Brother doesn’t hate me! Brother likes me!” Julian stiffened instantly. He shoved me away, his gaze turning dark again. “Get off. Don’t touch me without my permission.” … Classic psycho behavior. Moody. Mr. Sterling laughed from the front seat, telling Julian to get along with me. I knew this house would essentially be just me and Julian. Mr. Sterling was always flying around the world. Julian was the only constant. As long as I handled this psycho, I’d be safe. At the villa, the butler arranged for my room to be right next to Julian’s. 4 From then on, I began my campaign to tame my psycho brother. On the first day of school, I clung to his arm and cried, “Brother, don’t leave me! I’m scared, waah…” Julian looked at me, snot and tears running down my face like an abandoned puppy. He couldn’t bring himself to shake me off. I became his biggest fan. “My brother” was always on my lips, said with pride. When I was sick, I refused medicine unless Julian coaxed me. I pestered him to help with homework, demanding hugs as rewards when I got it right. I was his shadow, sticking to him everywhere. Three years passed. Julian grew used to my dependence. He stopped flinching at my touch. Even the butler remarked, “I’ve never seen the Young Master care for anyone like this. Miss, you are lucky.” Hearing that, I knew I had him. That night, during a thunderstorm, I crept into Julian’s bed. He came out of the shower and saw me, his face darkening immediately. “Brother, I’m scared! I had a nightmare. Can I sleep with you?” Before he could explode, I started crying. Julian’s face was a mix of anger, murderous intent, and deep helplessness. I thought, Oops, did I push too far? So I climbed off the bed, sobbing, “I’m sorry, brother. When I was little, Mommy always held me during storms. I just miss Mom…” A flicker of softness passed through Julian’s eyes. He muttered a curse. Just as I hugged my pillow to leave, he yanked me back. “Sleep on the edge. And stay still. Hear me?” I was shocked. It worked? That night, I slept in the same bed as Julian. Feeling him gently patting my back, a strange emotion welled up in me. I knew him from my past life. He wasn’t always a monster to Chloe. His mother died young, and his father was absent. He craved love. But Chloe, once she became the heiress, was vain and hung out with the wrong crowd. She saw Julian as a rival for the inheritance.

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I am allergic to scallions. When we ordered, I specifically asked several times: no scallions. But when the dish arrived, it was sprinkled with a generous layer of green onions. Frustrated, I asked the waitress to pick them out. My boyfriend, however, decided to play the peacemaker: “Let it go. The girl works hard; it’s not easy for her.” Seeing someone on her side, the waitress immediately put down her chopsticks. “Exactly. A little scallion makes it taste better anyway. If you’re this petty about everything, you’ll never be happy in life.” I was stunned. I waved her away. My boyfriend nodded in satisfaction. “See? People should be more forgiving.” Forgiving. What a great word. In that moment, I realized this relationship was rotten to the core. 1 “Let’s break up.” When I said this, Leo was still rambling on, criticizing me. One moment he said I was too calculating, the next he said I was too harsh. As if asking a waitress to remove an allergen was a heinous crime. “I said let’s break up. Did you hear me?” I repeated myself. Leo finally shut his mouth. Displeasure was written all over his face. “Stop joking.” “I’m not joking.” “You want to break up over something this small?” “This isn’t small.” I closed my eyes. “You studied bioengineering in college. You should know better than I do that severe allergic reactions can lead to shock, even death.” Leo was silent for a moment before frowning again. “You’re exaggerating.” That sentence again. I lowered my eyes, losing even the desire to argue. I grabbed my bag, stood up, and walked straight out. Panic finally flashed across Leo’s face. He chased after me and grabbed my arm. “Stop being angry. I’ll pick the onions out for you, okay?” “It’s not about the onions.” I pulled my hand away forcefully, enunciating every word. “It’s about the fact that every time my well-being is threatened, you never stand by my side. instead, you ask me to swallow it for the sake of peace.” 2 Similar incidents had happened too many times. Small things, like when a cashier overcharged me and I asked for a refund, Leo dragged me away because he thought it was embarrassing. Big things, like when a project I collaborated on won an award but my name was omitted. My colleague claimed she forgot to include me during submission and said we should just leave it. I called the organizers to withdraw the work, and Leo accused me of being unforgiving and undignified. Item by item… I really couldn’t understand. We were supposed to be the closest people to each other, yet he always helped others hurt me. I’d had enough. “Sarah.” Seeing I was determined to leave, Leo finally softened his tone. “Stop being mad, okay? We’ve been together for three years. Don’t you know me? No one loves you more than I do. My job just requires me to maintain a certain level of dignity. I thought you were used to it. Why the big reaction today?” That excuse again. Leo’s identity as a “university lecturer” was his go-to defense for everything. But if he hadn’t mentioned it, I almost would have forgotten— “You say you value dignity, but I heard you spent days sucking up to the administration to get Bella hired at your school. I heard you even made things difficult for other interviewees for her sake, to the point where someone got into a fight with you. Leo, is your dignity selective?” Leo looked surprised. He thought he had hidden it well. But the surprise only lasted a few seconds. He quickly regained his composure. His face hardened, and he looked at me coldly. “I was wondering why you were acting so crazy today. Turns out you’re just jealous and suspicious of my relationship with Bella.” 3 Naturally, we parted on bad terms. Leo drove off, leaving me at the restaurant entrance. I thought I would be sad. But in reality, too many similar things had happened. My feelings had been consumed bit by bit, my emotions diluted drop by drop… Watching the black sedan disappear into the distance, I felt nothing. I called a taxi and went to my apartment a few miles away. I bought this apartment when I first started working. At the time, Leo was dead set against it. He said he had already bought our marital home. He said buying this apartment was a waste of money, completely unnecessary. Looking back, I had foresight. I slept soundly that night. The next day, I specifically chose a time when Leo would be at work to return to our shared home to pack. But I didn’t expect to see him there. Or Bella. “Long time no see, Sarah.” Bella greeted me first. Still with that aloof, arrogant air. I nodded. It had indeed been a long time. Bella and I were roommates in undergrad. Her family was exceptionally wealthy back then. She only lived in the dorms for two weeks freshman year before complaining it was too crowded. She bought an apartment across the street and moved out. After that, she rarely came to class, and I rarely saw her. I started seeing her again when she started dating Leo, who was in the same club as me. Yes, she is Leo’s ex-girlfriend. Later, for some reason, they broke up. Bella and I never saw each other again. Leo, however, went to the same grad school as me. It was during grad school that he started pursuing me relentlessly. At first, I had zero interest in him and declined all his invitations. He wasn’t discouraged and continued to show concern and care for me every day. The turning point happened one night. I was walking back to the dorm from the library when a man jumped out of the dark bushes. He held a small knife, grinning at me with yellow teeth. He walked toward me, laughing. I was frozen with fear. Just then, Leo appeared out of nowhere. He kicked the man and started wrestling with him. Afterward, I accompanied him to the campus clinic to treat his wounds and asked why he was there. He looked a bit embarrassed: “I saw on the campus app that there have been creeps around lately. You’re so pretty, I was worried…” Seeing me frown, he quickly waved his hands: “Of course, I know you don’t want to see me, and I didn’t want to be annoying. I just wanted to secretly walk you back to the dorm and leave once you were safe.” My heart trembled imperceptibly. After that night, my relationship with Leo changed. Later, I accepted his confession. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. 4 “So you decided to come back?” Leo’s sarcastic voice pulled me back to reality. “I thought you had some backbone. Only one night away and you’re already crawling back to make peace?” Leo couldn’t hide the smugness in his tone. Before I could answer, he added: “I’m going to a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Bella later. I need to change into a suit. Pour her some tea and entertain her for me.” With that, he walked straight upstairs. I didn’t even want to acknowledge him and started packing immediately. Bella, arms crossed, walked over to me and chuckled, “Where’s the tea?” “Pour it yourself if you want it,” I said without looking up. Her laugh grew more scornful: “Sarah, oh Sarah, you’re funny. Back then you were so proud, refusing to bring me takeout even when I offered to pay you. Who knew that behind the scenes, you were picking up my leftovers?” “Did you hear that? She called you her leftovers.” I stared blankly at the space behind Bella. Her face froze instantly. She panicked and tried to explain: “I didn’t! She’s lying—” She stopped abruptly. Only then did she realize there was no one behind her. “You played me!” Bella glared at me, grinding her teeth, looking like she wanted to slap me. Gone was the noble, aloof demeanor. But I ignored her and continued stuffing things into my suitcase. Bella felt like she had punched cotton. Her chest heaved with anger, but she had no outlet. After a long while, she squeezed out through her teeth: “What do you have to be proud of? If I hadn’t gone abroad, Leo and I never would have broken up, and you wouldn’t have had a chance. Now that I’m back, let’s see if he still wants you.” Bang. I slammed the suitcase shut. “It’s me who doesn’t want him anymore. I’m returning this ‘item’ to you. Wishing you a hundred years of happiness and early childbirth.” With that, I picked up the suitcase and headed upstairs. There were still some expensive bags and jewelry up there. I wasn’t going to let Leo profit from them.

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My parents’ divorce split us apart. My sister went with Mom, and I was left with Dad. After the divorce, Dad’s temper grew worse. He spent his days drinking or beating me, ignoring everything else at home. With no money for food or necessities, I had to work under the table at the local market after school just to keep us afloat. One day, after Dad knocked me out and stole my hard-earned cash again, strange text floated across my vision like a livestream chat. [The little sister is still in the dark. She doesn’t know her parents never divorced.] [This is all just a reality show. They want to see the difference between raising a child in poverty versus wealth.] [The little sister is so pitiful, starving and cold, while the big sister lives in a mansion eating like a queen.] Following the chat’s instructions, I found where my sister lived. I saw her in an expensive princess dress, walking out of a villa arm-in-arm with our parents. They got into a Rolls-Royce and drove away. Clutching my aching, empty stomach, bitterness flooded my heart. So, they never divorced. So, I was the only one suffering. And the reason they chose me for the “poverty experiment”? Because I was the obedient one. 1 I stood there, frozen, staring in disbelief. If I had doubted the floating text before, seeing my well-dressed parents and sister together shattered any skepticism. They were still together. We weren’t broke. I was just the only one left in the dark. Was I abandoned because I was the good kid? I clutched my chest, the pain making it hard to breathe. The chat scrolling past my eyes told me this was all a game. Rich people behind screens loved watching this kind of “reality TV,” tipping thousands of dollars a day. So, my parents did this for money? Standing under the bright sun, I felt cold to my bones. My phone buzzed. A text from my sister, Chloe. “Sis, heard you’re working odd jobs to survive? Poor thing.” “But you’ve always been the sensible one. You’ll work hard, right?” Her tone dripped with schadenfreude. Chloe had always been the sweet talker, knowing exactly how to make our parents smile. I was the quiet one, always in the background. In middle school, I ranked first in my grade while Chloe was at the bottom. Instead of praising me, my parents scolded me for showing off in front of her. That was when I knew they favored her. “What are you doing?! Look at the time!” A familiar shout snapped me back to reality. I realized I had walked to my workplace without thinking. It was my daily part-time job. After the “divorce,” Dad became an alcoholic. He was either drunk, asleep, or hitting me. He never gave me a dime. Sometimes, he even stole my wages for booze. Because I was under eighteen, most places wouldn’t hire me. I could only work illegal shifts at the market. “I’m sorry…” I apologized numbly, took the greasy apron, and started working. It wasn’t until midnight that I clutched my day’s pay and carefully navigated the dark alley back home. I turned on the light. The dim bulb illuminated our dilapidated, damp apartment. Peeling paint, cracked windows, faded furniture. Dad, usually drunk at home, was gone. I guessed he was with Mom and Chloe. They were a happy family. I lived in a slum. After eating a cup of instant noodles, I lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. I knew there were cameras hidden in the corners, broadcasting my every move to screens elsewhere for entertainment. Unable to sleep, I took out my phone and scrolled aimlessly. The floating text suddenly displayed a website link. [This is their livestream site. Poor Little Sis doesn’t know anything, working so hard.] I held my breath and carefully typed the URL into my old phone. It was a hidden site with many live channels. In the most popular room, I saw myself. And my parents. And Chloe. They were in a high-end restaurant, feasting on lobster and abalone. I smelled the lingering scent of instant noodles in my room and swallowed hard. At this moment, I felt like the ugly duckling, peeking at the swans’ happiness from the shadows. 2 I got home at 9 PM. Final exam results came out today. I ranked first again. On the way back from the market, I bought a small piece of sponge cake as a reward. It was the cheapest kind, two dollars, no frosting. But it was the best I could afford. Back home, I placed the cake carefully on the table and broke off a small piece. The texture was rough, but the egg flavor was strong. My nose stung. I couldn’t remember the last time I had cake. Suddenly, the chat floated by again. [Little Sis is so sad. Celebrating first place with a two-dollar cake.] [Big Sis is different. Ranked last but feasting with parents.] The comments discussed the feast my family was having. The cake in my mouth turned tasteless. It was too quiet alone. I opened the livestream site again. Sure enough, Mom, Dad, and Chloe were gorging themselves at a fancy Japanese restaurant. I saw Mom smiling, patting Chloe’s head, saying grades didn’t matter as long as she tried. I saw Dad put a large piece of fatty tuna in Chloe’s bowl, saying even with bad grades, he’d send her abroad to study if she wanted. They chatted happily, planning Chloe’s future. Not a word about me. It was as if I didn’t exist. As if Chloe was an only child. I closed the stream, feeling dim. Halfway through the cake, heavy footsteps sounded outside. Dad was back. I wanted to show him my grades. I forced a smile. But before I could hand over the report card, he shoved me. “Got any money? Give me money for booze!” I shrank back. “I… don’t have much.” He had taken almost everything last time. “Working and no money? Liar! Go buy it!” He kicked my shin. Pain shot up my leg. A bruise formed instantly. I didn’t dare speak, grabbed my loose change, and ran out. I bought the alcohol and returned in the dark. “I got it.” Watching him drink, I gathered my courage. “Dad, exam results are out. I got…” Before I could say “first,” he roared impatiently. “What’s the use of a girl studying! You’ll just get married! Hurry up and graduate, get a job, and give me money! That’s what matters!” My eyes widened. I remembered the livestream. They encouraged Chloe to study, to see the world while she was young. Why was it useless for me? I crumpled the report card in my pocket and never took it out. Dad finished the booze and stumbled out, knocking over the table. My half-eaten cake fell to the floor. He stepped on it without a glance. Bang. The door slammed. Footsteps faded. I looked at the crushed cake and cried. 3 Dad didn’t come back for a long time. From the livestream, I learned Chloe wanted them to accompany her before the SATs (college entrance exams). I sat in the damp rental, feeling like my heart was soaked in ice water, shivering. On the day of the exam, I walked to school alone. Luxury cars zoomed past. I saw Chloe’s smiling face in one. After the exam, I saw my parents waiting at the school gate. I smiled instinctively. Just as I stepped forward, they waved enthusiastically in another direction. I followed their gaze and saw a beaming Chloe. I froze. I watched the three of them walk away together, arm in arm, until they disappeared. The chat filled my vision again. [Big Sis is truly the favorite. Three days of full accompaniment, eating gourmet food.] [Little Sis ate steamed buns and pickles for three days. No nutrition.] [Is torturing Little Sis just for the show?] I took out my phone and checked the stream. I saw my parents replying to comments. [It’s to toughen her up. Can’t spoil her young. Plenty of kids have it worse, why can’t she handle it?] [Once the acceptance letters come, we’ll bring her home. We won’t mistreat her then.] Reading their replies, I smiled bitterly. “Won’t mistreat her.” As if I should be grateful. Why? Did they think one sentence could erase six years of suffering? 4 After the exams, I frantically looked for more work. I didn’t know if they’d pay my tuition, but I knew they didn’t love me. Results day. I went to school. Looking at my score on the screen, my teacher was thrilled. “Maya, first place again! I knew you’d get into Capital University.” I rushed home, planning to dig out my savings for tuition. Money I had secretly saved from my jobs. But home was a wreck. My hidden money was gone. Dad was snoring on the sofa, clutching a bottle. I grabbed his collar, screaming, “Dad! Where’s my money?!” He woke up, pushed me away, and cursed. “Yelling at your father? Your money is mine! I raised you, spending your money is my right!” “That was my tuition! I got into Capital University!” He glared, fierce as a demon. “Study what? You’re eighteen! Go work! Don’t ask me for money!” I shook with rage, tears falling. “No. I’m going to college. I’ll earn the tuition myself.” I turned and left. The sun was scorching. I walked to the market, but my old stall was empty. Wondering where to find work, someone blocked my path. It was my sister, Chloe. She wore a brand new designer dress and crystal necklace. I looked down at my faded t-shirt and sweatpants, ashamed. “Sis, heard you did well? Your name’s on the honor roll. Amazing.” She smiled, voice gentle. “Looking for work? It’s too dirty here. I’ll introduce you to a tutoring job. It’s for a friend of Mom’s. Safe.” Seeing the concern on her face, I felt a pang of emotion. In the end, only she was willing to help.

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I possess a superpower: absolute obliviousness. My childhood frenemy, who has secretly loved me for years, performed a seductive dance right in front of me. Me: “If you’ve got a rash, go take a shower.” At a gala, an arrogant heiress tried to flex her massive diamond ring in my face. Me: “Sorry, I’m straight. Not interested.” The cold, abstinent billionaire heir of New York suddenly tripped and fell right into my arms. Me: “Mr. Thorne, do you have stamina issues?” His handsome face crumbled into heartbreak and despair. Suddenly, a stream of comments floated across my vision. [He’s winking at the blind! Fate is really pranking the Prince!] [Baby girl, open your eyes! I refuse to believe your head is that empty!] [Forget it, forget it. Our girl has terminal obliviousness. Julian, just go cry in the corner.] 1 I was born with a delayed reaction time. Everyone calls me the “Oblivious Beauty.” Honestly, I don’t care what they call me. As a wealthy heiress, my first twenty years were spent eating, sleeping, and repeating. Life was good. But today, my parents were crying, telling me the Winters family was bankrupt. Panicking, I shoved the last piece of fried chicken into my mouth and stared hungrily at my brother, Oliver’s portion. Oliver’s mouth twitched. “It’s already in your mouth, Lily. No one’s stealing it.” He turned back to comfort our parents. “It’s okay. We can sell the jewelry and the villa. We’ll make a comeback!” Hearing this, Mom and Dad cried harder. “Gone. It’s all gone. Jewelry sold, villa mortgaged.” Oliver looked like he was about to crack, but he kept a brave smile. “It’s fine. As long as I’m here, I can still earn money!” My parents suddenly exchanged guilty looks. “Well, son… actually, you’ve been mortgaged too.” “That Anderson girl promised our family ten million dollars. Your mother and I thought about it, and it seems like a solid deal…” Oliver finally broke. He snatched the chicken bone out of my mouth and made a show of gnawing on it. “Gwen Anderson is a tyrant! If I go to her house, I won’t even get to eat bones. I’d rather starve here!” I interrupted him. “Bro, you can’t get full on just one bone.” Oliver’s expression cycled through shock, confusion, sadness, depression, and finally, resolve. He let out a long sigh, patted my head, and shook our parents’ hands. Painful, yet determined. “Mom, Dad, Lily. I’m going. This might be goodbye forever. Don’t miss me too much.” Mom stopped him. “It’s just an arranged marriage, Oliver. What are you imagining?” Seeing Oliver’s tragic face, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Suddenly, my parents turned their gaze to me. Dad flashed a toothy grin. “Baby girl, don’t laugh. You have to get married too. Neither of you is escaping this.” !!! It took a moment to sink in. Then, I hugged Oliver, and we wept together. “Bro, we’ve been played by capitalism!” 2 To restore the family fortune, my brother, sobbing, was carted off by Gwen Anderson. I waved a tearful goodbye. Then, I immediately ordered a birthday cake. Today was the birthday of my childhood friend, Parker Yates. Speaking of arranged marriages, he was the first person I thought of. If I could marry into the Yates family, my life of luxury was secured. Unfortunately, Parker wasn’t just my childhood friend; he was also my nemesis. He’d been bullying me since we were in diapers. Carrying the cake, I followed the address he sent and walked into the VIP lounge. The moment I opened the door, I was hit with a scene straight out of a music video. Parker had his arms around two models, his collar unbuttoned, red wine sliding over his Adam’s apple and down his chest. His frat brothers were cheering. “Parker, you animal!” “As expected of the Yates heir, drowning in ladies.” “Haha, careful Parker, don’t let your little neighbor see this. She’ll get jealous.” Parker smirked. “My future wife has to be obedient.” I stood at the door, genuinely confused. Why would I be jealous? “Lily… Lily?” Seeing me, Parker stiffened. He shoveled the two girls away, dusted off his shirt, and walked toward me. “You’re late. Do you not care about my birthday at all?” He frowned, his eyes full of accusation. I placed the cake in front of him. His eyes softened instantly, and he coughed lightly. “Hmph. At least you have a conscience.” He led me to a seat. Everyone else kept their distance. One bold guy joked, “I heard the Winters family is looking for marriage alliances. Oliver got snatched up by Gwen at first sight. Who is Lily planning to marry?” The guy next to Parker chimed in, “Do you even have to ask? It’s obviously Parker. They grew up together. If Parker doesn’t marry her, who would dare?” Parker cut him off sharply. “Nothing’s happening. Don’t spread rumors.” But the corners of his lips were twitching upwards. I nodded dumbly. It was true; the marriage alliance was still just a pipe dream. “Yeah, exactly. Nothing’s happening, so stop talking nonsense.” Parker’s face instantly turned ice cold. See? I told them to stop talking nonsense, and now he’s mad. 3 “Who do you want to marry?” Parker suddenly grabbed my wrist, asking through gritted teeth. I was just about to discuss it with him. Should we give it a try? He’s a playboy, I’m a lazy couch potato. We’re a perfect match. But before I could speak, he let go and pulled a girl onto his lap who threw herself at him. “Mr. Yates, I’m a little tipsy~” A hot girl in a mini skirt. Definitely Parker’s type. “Whatever. I don’t care who you marry. Lily, I don’t like you anyway.” The room went silent. His friends looked at each other, awkwardness hanging in the air. Parker suddenly stood up, blasted the music, and dragged the girl to the center of the room. He gave a roguish grin. “Great stage. Shame not to dance.” I sat on the sofa and watched him. First, he danced with the girl. Then, he went solo. It got abstract. He was basically mopping the floor with his butt. I didn’t get the appeal. His eyes were full of provocation, as if saying: Listen up, Lily! I don’t like you! I don’t want to marry you! I figured I got the message, so I grabbed my bag to leave. Before I could stand, rows of text appeared in the air. [Damn Parker, stubborn mouth. His palms are probably sweating while he dances, right?] [Look at those hips moving, that seductive little look. He’s like a siren. Bet he practiced this K-pop routine at home a hundred times. What is his motive!] [Baby Lily is staring blankly. She’s probably drooling internally.] [Haha, Lily is terrified by Parker’s ‘hot’ dance. Look, she grabbed her bag. She’s about to flee.] I did want to flee. Can someone explain to me the connection between Parker’s dance and “hot”? Is he really not just cleaning the floor? After finishing his floor routine, Parker was panting, sweat glistening. He undid two more buttons. “Just something I learned casually. How was it?” Maybe I was seeing things, but why did he look… expectant? It was his birthday. I should have lied and praised him. But remembering he rejected the marriage alliance, the virtue of honesty suddenly possessed me. “Oh. If you’ve got a rash, go take a shower.” 4 Parker froze. His pupils dilated, his face went blank. He looked fragile, like he might shatter. After a long time, his mouth twitched. He looked at me with disgust. “Lily, is this revenge?” “The Winters family is bankrupt. Do you think you’re still some high-and-mighty princess?” “I don’t like crude, unromantic women like you. I won’t marry you. Get lost! As far as you can!” The price of honesty was getting kicked out. I couldn’t believe it. After more than ten years, Parker still couldn’t handle the truth. When I got home, I told my parents that Parker rejected the alliance. To my surprise, they just said “Oh.” I scratched my head. “Don’t you want me to marry into the Yates family?” Mom hugged me, her voice gentle. “Silly child, your father and I aren’t blind. We’re close with the Yates family, but that boy isn’t the right match for you.” I felt a belated wave of emotion. Compared to money, my parents cared about my happiness. I thumped my chest. “Don’t worry, Mom, Dad! There are plenty of rich guys in New York. I’ll snag a wealthy, handsome one!” Dad shook his head. “Honey, you don’t have enough brain cells for scheming. I never expected you to handle the alliance.” “The Anderson girl likes your brother. With Oliver taking one for the team, we three can relax. Come on, keep the music playing, keep dancing!” I felt a sudden pang of loss. So in my parents’ hearts, I was just a useless little waste of space? No! If Oliver can marry rich, so can I! Fueled by adrenaline, I ran upstairs and dug out my best dress. I remembered there was a gala next week. The elite of the city would be there. I was going to wear my battle armor and catch a man! That night, the floating comments popped up again. [Parker has such a bad temper. No wonder Lily hates him. He’s dishonest, dying of love but spewing hurtful words. Red flag, red flag!] [Wow, Baby Lily put on the dress! So pretty! She looks like a soft, sweet cupcake. Mwah mwah mwah!] [Parents are partying downstairs, Lily is dressing up upstairs. Meanwhile, our Big Brother Oliver is crying at the Anderson estate, getting his abs touched 18 times a day. Hehe.] [Who will Lily end up with? I’m so excited! Author update faster!] [Please not Parker. He hugged other girls, he’s dirty! I don’t want a redemption arc. Don’t let our Lily be a doormat!]

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I was the kidnapped heiress of the Sterling family. When my biological parents finally found me, I was hawking phone cases, three for ten bucks, at a street market. Looking up at their disdainful faces, a series of comments floated across my vision like a livestream chat: [Here comes the evil stepsister. My poor fake-heiress protagonist just got another bully.] [Boohoo, the protagonist is so tragic. Later she gets locked up by her psycho adopted brother, then tortured by the male lead. She breaks down and jumps off a building.] [It’s a tragedy novel, what can you do? Once she dies, the male lead and the second male lead will regret it forever.] [Exactly. Just endure it for now. The best part is when the guys spend their whole lives repenting.] I stared at the floating text, confused. Regret? Repentance? What use is that? I turned to look at the teary-eyed fake heiress. A man’s hand was reaching out to comfort her shoulder. I suddenly stood up and slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch her.” 1 My action stunned everyone. Mrs. Sterling was the first to react. “Anna, what are you doing? Julian is your biological brother.” According to the DNA report they just handed me, I was indeed their daughter. I didn’t answer. I stared straight at Julian, instinctively shielding the fake heiress, Stella, behind me. Meeting my gaze, Julian adjusted his cuffs to hide his annoyance. He flashed a perfect, practiced smile and introduced himself. “Hello, Anna. I’m your biological brother, Julian.” I ignored his outstretched hand. “First time meeting your sister, shouldn’t you bring a gift?” Julian glanced awkwardly at his parents and coughed lightly. “It was sudden. I didn’t prepare anything. I’ll make it up to you.” “It’s fine. That watch looks nice.” I had been eyeing his Rolex since they arrived. It looked expensive. Julian looked down at his wrist. “It’s a men’s watch…” “I don’t mind.” I cut him off mid-sentence. The floating comments exploded: [The evil sister is so greedy! Asking for a luxury watch before even stepping in the door.] [So petty. Typical poor person mentality, acting like she’s never seen anything good.] [Later she steals the protagonist’s stuff at home too. The author needs to kill her off sooner.] 2 In the end, Julian gave me the watch. I tossed it directly to my buddy, Cole. Cole had been watching over my stall this whole time, his eyes red. “Boss, what am I gonna do if you leave with them?” I grabbed a tissue and wiped his face, disgusted. “Do whatever you need to do. Sell this batch of cases first.” “That watch should be worth a lot. Find a reputable pawn shop and sell it. Don’t get scammed. It should cover your mom’s surgery.” Hearing this, Cole cried even harder. I jumped, slapping the back of his head. “Stop it! People will think I did something to you.” Cole’s sobbing quieted down. I pointed at the Sterlings’ black Bentley. “Your sister is going off to enjoy the good life, not dying.” “When I make it big, I’ll come back for you.” Cole held the watch with both hands, looking like an abandoned puppy, nodding pitifully. I couldn’t help but wipe his tears again before walking towards the Sterlings. Mrs. Sterling looked at Cole with disdain. “Anna, are you close with that hoodlum?” “You’re a Sterling now. Watch your behavior. Those types are trouble.” Mr. Sterling nodded in agreement, telling me to cut ties. I smiled. “Not that close. Just that when my adoptive parents beat me until I was bleeding, Cole and his mom took me to the hospital.” “Otherwise, I’d probably be dead.” Silence fell instantly. The Sterlings exchanged awkward glances and ushered us into the car. Sensing Stella didn’t want to sit next to Julian, I took the middle seat in the back. Julian glanced at me but said nothing. The comments went wild: [Here it comes! The evil sister is starting to compete for favor.] [I’m scared to watch. The protagonist gets bullied so badly later. Her adoptive parents mistreat her too.] [That’s why the second male lead brainwashes her into thinking she’s unlovable. It’s all the evil sister’s fault.] [Wait, Stella was adopted after Anna was kidnapped. Anna’s tragedy has nothing to do with her. Why blame Stella?] [I feel like Anna was helping Stella just now? Stella clearly didn’t want to sit near Julian.] [Also, Anna took the watch to pay for her friend’s mom’s surgery. are you guys blind?] [Whatever. She hurts Stella later. Just wait, you won’t be able to defend her then.] 3 In the car, the Sterlings asked about my adoptive parents. I raised an eyebrow. “They went to prison five years ago for child trafficking and abuse. Probably still sewing uniforms.” I knew early on I wasn’t theirs. No one treats their own child that cruelly. The atmosphere grew awkward again. I didn’t try to please Julian like the comments predicted. Instead, I closed my eyes, organizing my chaotic thoughts. From the floating text, I gathered I was the cannon fodder villainess in a tragic romance novel. Stella was the protagonist. Julian was the psycho second male lead. The male lead was Gavin, the heir to the Grand Corporation and Stella’s fiancé. Later, Stella would be mentally and physically abused by these two men in the name of “love.” Eventually, she would break down and jump off a building. Only then would the men regret everything. They would blame me, the one who bullied her, for her death. In the story, I was tortured by them, forced to apologize to Stella’s photo, and finally thrown into the ocean. This plot was insane. The men drove her to suicide, but they blamed me to alleviate their guilt? I decided then and there to stay far away from these two psychopaths. Since I was now a rich daughter, I needed to secure some cash. As for Stella, I had no interest in meddling. As long as I didn’t bully her, the future tragedy wouldn’t be on me, right? 4 Back at the Sterling mansion, the parents left for work, leaving me with Stella. Stella took me to my room. It was full of clutter and old furniture. Clearly, the Sterlings didn’t value their biological daughter much. The comments said they were sexist, viewing daughters only as tools for marriage alliances. Stella stood at the door, biting her lip nervously. “Sister, don’t be mad. It was too rushed, Mom and Dad didn’t have time to clear the room.” “But I wiped everything down this morning. They gave me money to decorate it for you. What do you like? I’ll buy it.” Stella finished in a rush, then rubbed the back of her head, as if afraid I’d slap her like I did Cole. I smiled, running a hand over the clean desk. “Buy whatever. I’m not picky. But I like gold. Real gold.” Stella’s eyes lit up. She started writing in a notebook. I glanced over and saw a small note at the bottom: Sister likes gold. Must save money to buy gold for Sister. I looked at her, puzzled. Was she a people-pleaser? We hadn’t even known each other for five hours, and I hadn’t been nice to her. Why buy me gold? After writing, Stella hurried away as if on an important mission. 5 Dinner was lavish. I ate heartily while answering questions. Learning I dropped out of high school, my parents decided to send me to a private academy. “Is Stella at that school?” I asked. Silence fell over the table again. Why did they always go silent? Too much internal drama. Finally, Julian spoke. “If Anna is uncomfortable, maybe we should transfer Stella to North High? That way they won’t conflict.” The parents nodded. The comments exploded: [The evil sister is at it again! North High is the worst school in the city. Stella will get bullied to death!] [Julian is pushing this so Stella becomes isolated and has to rely on him.] [Disgusting. The parents are bad, Julian is worse, but Anna is the worst.] Wait, what did I say? I just asked a question! Seeing them decide Stella’s fate so easily, I spoke up. “Is the family bankrupt? Can’t afford two tuitions?” They denied it immediately. “Then fine. Stella and I go to the same school. No need to transfer her.” I continued eating. I felt Stella’s grateful gaze but ignored it. I hate that look. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Julian smiling perfectly, but his grip on his chopsticks tightened.

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I time-traveled. The moment I opened my eyes, a man who looked like he’d been beaten with the ugly stick was sneering down at me. “Sarah, go kiss the ugliest guy in the room, and I’ll unblock you on WhatsApp.” Me: ??? Aren’t you the ugliest guy in the room? Then I followed his finger. In the corner sat a man in a crisp white shirt, looking aloof and stunningly handsome. Later, I found out this is a world where beauty standards are reversed. 1 “Sarah, hurry up! Go kiss him!” When I arrived in this body, the jeering around me was reaching a fever pitch. Kiss who? I blinked, confused. The mocking voices continued. “Chad really knows how to play. Making Sarah kiss the ugliest guy.” “Hahaha, the ugliest guy is obviously…” “This is brilliant. It humiliates him and pranks Sarah at the same time.” Someone winked and gestured in a direction. I instinctively followed their gaze. Holy crap! My eyes! My poor eyes! A man so ugly he could be a meme was sitting in the center, surrounded by people. Seeing me look, he hugged the girl next to him tighter and raised an eyebrow. “Sarah, we had a deal. I said the universally recognized ugliest guy. No cheating. Just one kiss, and I’ll add you back.” insert confused math lady meme Bro, look in a mirror. Is there anyone uglier than you here? Also, did you mix up your words? You’ll add me back? Talk about delusional confidence. The Ugly Man—Chad—saw me hesitate and thought I couldn’t find the target. He pointed again. I followed his finger. Guess what? My eyes, previously assaulted by ugliness, were instantly healed! In the opposite booth sat another group. But in their center sat a man with cold, refined features—a devastatingly handsome guy. Seeing him was like seeing the sun break through storm clouds in this dim bar. Forget arguing with Chad. I pressed my lips together, my voice trembling slightly. “You want me to… kiss him?” “I want you to kiss the ugliest guy here.” Chad grinned maliciously, staring straight at the handsome guy. I nodded, feeling a bit sorry for him. Not only was he ugly and mean, but he also needed an optometrist. 2 Listening to the raucous cheers, I didn’t hesitate. This wasn’t a humiliation; this was a reward. Most importantly, I fell in love with the handsome guy at first sight. The people around the handsome guy clearly heard the commotion and glared at me, telling me to get lost. I ignored them and sat directly next to him. I saw a flicker of humiliation in his eyes. I didn’t get it. I’m not bad looking. Even if he didn’t want a kiss, “humiliation” seemed a bit strong. Without thinking too much, I opened my mouth to confess. But the handsome guy glanced at Chad’s group and spoke with a hint of self-mockery. “I, Liam, may be ugly, but I only kiss my girlfriend.” Me: Excuse me? Handsome, do you hear yourself? You’re ugly? YOU’RE UGLY?! You could be a K-pop idol right now. But that wasn’t the point. My heart raced. I grabbed his hand. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Liam paused. “No…” I didn’t let him finish. “Well, you do now.” Liam: … “You’re not speaking, so I’ll take that as a yes.” “Since I’m your girlfriend, can I kiss you now?” Liam looked at me, let out a self-deprecating laugh, and leaned back against the sofa. “You’re really going all out for Chad.” That languid posture made me lose my mind. Knowing he misunderstood, I straightened up and leaned over him. Eye to eye, I whispered a compliment about his eyes, then kissed him. Liam looked shocked. His lips were soft, and I lingered. The crowd gasped. The next second, Chad’s angry voice rang out. “Sarah! What are you doing?!” I wanted to continue my exchange with Liam. But Chad was too loud. I turned around impatiently. “Are you blind? I’m kissing my boyfriend.” Liam instinctively put a hand on my waist. The scene descended into chaos. Chad tried to grab me, Liam protected me, and the two groups started fighting. I later learned they were arch-enemies. Chad just wanted to use me to humiliate Liam. 3 On the way back to the dorms in Liam’s car, I looked at the Rolls-Royce’s starlight headliner, then at him. Yep, he was definitely the better view. “Why are you staring at me?” “Because you’re good-looking.” As soon as the words left my mouth, Liam’s expression turned strange. “Sarah, for the sake of us being classmates, I helped you out today. Don’t push your luck.” What? Was he regretting it? I panicked. “I’m not joking! I really want you to be my boyfriend. Please, date me! I’m willing to ride in luxury cars and live in mansions if it means being with you!” Liam laughed in exasperation. After a moment, he asked, “You really think I’m good-looking?” I nodded furiously. Anyone with eyes could see that! If I wasn’t afraid of scaring him off, I wouldn’t even be going back to the dorms tonight. He smiled almost imperceptibly. “Since you’re my girlfriend, you can’t be involved with Chad anymore.” I agreed instantly. I can’t believe such good luck fell into my lap. When we arrived at my dorm, I lingered in the car. “Is there something else?” Liam asked. I twiddled my fingers, glanced shyly at the driver, and whispered, “Shouldn’t couples do something before parting?” He raised an eyebrow. The driver tactfully exited the vehicle. A few minutes later, I walked into the dorm building with swollen lips. In the car, Liam watched my retreating figure. “Sarah… you better not be lying to me.” 4 As soon as I entered the room, a sarcastic voice greeted me. “Well, look who’s back. The campus simp. Why are you back so early? Don’t need to run errands for Chad?” That was Zoe, my roommate who never liked me. I ignored her, washed up, and climbed into bed. I had swapped bodies with the original Sarah. We briefly exchanged memories, but I barely knew these roommates. No point explaining. I happily picked up my phone to text Liam. But when I opened WhatsApp, I saw a friend request. From Chad. His message was condescending, saying that since I obeyed him, he would graciously add me back. I rolled my eyes. The original Sarah only said she liked a guy named Chad. She didn’t mention he was ugly and trash. I accepted the request, watched the “typing…” indicator appear, and immediately blocked him. The next morning, my roommates were surprised to see me still there. “Aren’t you bringing Chad breakfast today?” I looked up from my chat with Liam. “Don’t mention Chad anymore. I have a boyfriend.” “What? Really? Who?” Before I could answer, Zoe scoffed. “Yeah right. Boyfriend. Everyone knows you’re Chad’s simp. You’re just playing hard to get to get his attention.” Me: … Their tone when talking about Chad was weird. Like he was some god. Before I could ask, someone knocked on the door. “Sarah, someone’s downstairs for you.” Must be Liam. He should have just texted. I skipped downstairs. I saw a tall figure in a white shirt waiting with his back to me. I pounced and hugged him from behind. “Haven’t seen you all night, I missed you!” The next second, Chad’s smug voice sounded above my head. “Sarah, I knew you were playing hard to get.” I froze and straightened up immediately. Crap, wrong person! Worse, Liam had arrived unnoticed and was standing nearby, witnessing the whole thing.

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My billionaire boyfriend came from old money, but in our seven years together, he never gave me a single gift. After proposing, he asked for the engagement ring back to return it for a refund. When we got our marriage license, he complained that the $35 fee was “too expensive” and “unnecessary.” Yet, the moment we broke up, he turned around and married his childhood sweetheart, booking the most luxurious hotel in the city for their engagement party. My grandma, unable to handle the shock of seeing the news, had a heart attack. I knelt before him, begging for the wages I had deposited with him over the years to pay for her surgery. He held his new fiancée, pretended not to know me, and told his bodyguards to throw me out, calling me a “lazy beggar.” Grandma died on New Year’s Eve, the sound of fireworks drowning out her last breath. During the holidays, while I handled her funeral alone, I accepted a job offer from a major tech company overseas. When I went back to pack my passport, he had just returned from meeting his fiancée’s parents, in high spirits. Seeing me, he assumed I was throwing a tantrum and, for the first time, made a generous offer: “Fine, your grandma will be okay. Worst case, I’ll pay for a lavish wedding to satisfy her vanity.” He didn’t know that from the moment my grandma took her last breath, I never wanted to marry him again. 1 As soon as I picked up my passport, a hand with distinct knuckles snatched it away. “What are you looking for so seriously? Didn’t even notice I was back?” My boyfriend, Julian Sterling, had just come in from the cold, the tip of his nose red. Realizing it was my passport, the slight smile on his lips flattened, and he frowned. “Why do you need your passport? Are you threatening to leave the country again? I told you, Sarah’s family is pressuring her. Getting the license with her is just to deal with them. We’ll divorce quietly in a while.” I didn’t even look up. I snatched the passport back with a cold face. He rubbed his cold fingertips together. In the past, I would have asked if he was cold, prepared heat packs, and poured him hot water. But today, I was unusually cold. He reached out and cupped my face, forcing me to look at him, the chill radiating from his hands. “Lily, aren’t you being a bit too jealous? Think about how many high society people were watching. If this gets to my dad, neither of us will have it easy!” I laughed self-deprecatingly. To him, I was just a shameful pastime. I pried his hands away, but he clung on. His cold fingers lifted my chin, examining the small scratch on my cheek with pity. “Those bodyguards must have a death wish, turning my Lily into a little scratched cat. I’ll dock their pay later!” Here we go again. In the past, no matter how angry I was, I would always forgive him after he pestered me enough. Not this time. Seven days ago at the engagement party, under Julian’s orders, the bodyguards threw me out of the hotel, pushing me to the ground. “A peasant wanting to be a princess? Mr. Sterling and Miss Sarah are a match made in heaven. I’ve seen plenty of gold diggers like you!” Passersby pointed and laughed, mocking me for being able-bodied but begging a man for money on my knees. My dignity was long gone. Snapping back to reality, Julian saw I was still unhappy and finally used his trump card. He brought in a box of health supplements from the door. “For your grandma. Don’t lie about her needing surgery again to get my attention. It’s boring.” My grandma, who raised me, said she wanted to see me and Julian get married so she could give us her blessing. Instead, she saw Julian marrying another woman on TV and collapsed on the spot. The doctor told me that with just $10,000 for surgery, she had a chance. I begged everyone I knew on New Year’s Eve. They either hung up or cursed me for being bad luck. Amidst the fireworks, grandma closed her eyes unwillingly, leaving me all alone… Thinking of her pale face, my heart felt like it was being carved by knives. Tears welled up instantly. I didn’t take the box. I just said coldly: “Julian, let’s…” Break up. Before I could finish, Julian interrupted: “Alright, alright. You and your grandma are celebrating the holidays, probably short on cash, right?” He tapped his phone and transferred me $200. “Consider this for grandma’s supplements. No need for an IOU.” It was laughable. Afraid I was a gold digger, he made me hand over my salary and approved my “allowance.” Every time he transferred money, he made me write an IOU. Seven years together, and I owed Julian a fortune on paper. I used to think that since his family ran a company, he was just sensitive about money. I indulged him. But his frugality was reserved only for me. He could spend millions on a diamond necklace for Sarah, or buy her a villa without blinking, making headlines every time. Where the money goes, the love goes. I immediately transferred the $200 back. “No need. I don’t want it.” Julian finally looked at me seriously. As if realizing something, he sighed helplessly: “Too little? Fine, I promise to hold a wedding with you. Let your grandma satisfy her vanity. Your family really is all the same…” Vanity. The word stung, but I had heard it for seven years. I just wanted a normal relationship with gifts and dates, but he accused me of being vain, of coveting his family’s money. “No need for a wedding. We aren’t husband and wife.” Julian’s handsome face fell, revealing a familiar annoyance. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Julian glared at me and turned to open it. The next second, his voice pitched up in delight: “What are you doing here?” I turned to see Sarah standing at the door, wearing a down jacket matching Julian’s. She playfully punched Julian’s chest and laughed brightly: “My Prince, my besties are here and want to see what my husband looks like. accompany me for one more day, please?” Looking past Julian, she blinked her innocent big eyes at me provocatively: “Lily, you won’t be mad, right? You weren’t mad a few days ago. Julian and I are just bros, you know.” As she spoke, she complained about the cold and interlaced her fingers with Julian’s, revealing their matching wedding rings. Julian looked at her dotingly, naturally stuffing her hand into his pocket to warm it. “Why would she be mad? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely give you face!” With that, Julian grabbed his car keys and turned to leave. After two steps, as if remembering me, he let go of Sarah’s hand, came back, cupped my face, and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Don’t worry, this is the last time. From now on, I’ll spend every day with you.” But Julian, we don’t have a “from now on.” I wiped my mouth hard, watching them playfully walk away. Then I turned around and picked up the resignation letter prepared on the table. 2 It was the first week back after the holidays. Seeing me arrive late, my colleagues snickered knowingly. “Lily actually dared to come back? She’s money-crazed. Causing a scene at Mr. Sterling’s engagement, kneeling for money. Shameless!” “She usually acts so high and mighty because she’s been with the boss for seven years. My dog has more dignity begging for food than she did begging for money. Deserved!” Ignoring the mockery, I walked straight into HR. The HR manager sneered: “I’ve already submitted the request. Once Mr. Sterling approves, you can pack up and leave. In your situation, don’t expect any severance.” I nodded, said nothing, and left the company. The sun was setting. The streets were filled with couples and families. I was alone. An immense loneliness washed over me. My only family, my career of many years, and my lover—all gone. I walked slowly down the path I had taken for seven years between home and work. Memories flooded back. When I was seven, my parents died in a car accident. Relatives took the compensation money, leaving me and grandma alone. Later, grandma saved Julian, who had fallen off a cliff while hiking. She treated him like a grandson. That’s how I met Julian. I was a college student working multiple jobs. Julian volunteered to visit grandma for me, sending updates. When I was about to break, Julian held me, comforting me, promising to stay by my side forever. He really loved me then. He wanted to be with me every day. Even when I wore plain clothes, he would hold my hand and introduce me proudly: “My girlfriend. Pretty, right? She’s the best girlfriend in the world!” But gradually, he started looking at me with suspicion, fearing I was after his family’s wealth. He demanded I hand over my salary for him to manage. His control grew tighter. Even a request for $5 for bubble tea made him suspicious. Until three months ago, when Sarah returned from abroad. He happily bought her a priceless gem and spent millions on a billboard message: Welcome back, Sarah! That was the first night he didn’t come home. When I found him with the police, he was drunk, grabbing Sarah’s arm, eyes red: “When we were five, you said you were the princess and I was the prince, that you’d marry me. Why did you leave?” I went cold. When he sobered up, we fought. He claimed I was overthinking, that if Sarah hadn’t left, he never would have met me. Only when Sarah posted about wanting to get married did Julian end the cold war, kneeling to propose to me. Laughably, I was ecstatic, thinking he chose me. I agreed with tears in my eyes. This absurd relationship was finally ending. I realized I had walked a long way. Noise came from nearby. “Brother-in-law! You can’t back out of Truth or Dare! Sarah is waiting!” Outside a karaoke bar, Julian was surrounded by people, holding Sarah’s hand tightly, shouting: “I, Julian Sterling, only love Sarah Miller!” He shouted it three times, louder and firmer each time, stopping traffic. The man who was usually so arrogant had red ears. Sarah held his arm naturally, smiling sweetly. The crowd cheered: “The mood is right, kiss already!” Julian froze. Sarah tried to smooth it over. “Don’t be too much, your brother-in-law is shy—” Before she could finish, Julian cupped her face and kissed her deeply. It was brief. Julian didn’t close his eyes. He looked at Sarah intensely, as if carving her into his heart, full of happiness and satisfaction. It seemed one kiss was enough. The next second, afraid Sarah would misunderstand, his ears burned as he stammered: “I… I lost my balance.” Before Sarah could speak, he hurriedly said: “It’s late. Time to go home, or my dad will use the family discipline.” The most precious thing in the world is a prodigal’s sincerity. Love is a hand wanting to touch but pulling back. I was only thirty feet away. The cold wind blew, grinding my already broken heart into dust. Julian, head down, rushing, bumped right into me. He looked up. Seeing my face, his pupils shrank. 3 “Sorry… I…” I interrupted him. “It’s okay.” I turned and walked away, opening a ride-hailing app. Behind me, confused whispers: “She looks familiar. Julian, isn’t that the gold digger who knelt for money at your engagement?” “She didn’t steal your wallet just now, did she? Check your pockets!” To these slanders, Julian remained silent. Back home, I paid for the ride. A notification popped up on my phone: Your flight from Seattle to Houston has been confirmed. Departure tomorrow at 3 PM. I sent the screenshot to the HR of the overseas tech giant. Before I could speak, she replied excitedly: Lily, I can’t wait! We welcome you tomorrow! My expression softened. No love, but I could pursue my career. I picked up my packed luggage, unwilling to stay another second. But I ran into Julian. He frowned, slamming the door shut. “Lily, where are you going?” Sarah, behind him, feigned concern: “Lily, don’t misunderstand. Julian and I are just buddies. He was helping me out. Don’t run away from home just because of me…” I didn’t want to listen. “Julian, let’s break up.” Julian was about to scold me for being jealous but froze. Eyes wide, he lost his voice: “Break up? Just because I played along with Sarah? Lily, do you still want the wedding or not?” In his mind, he probably thought I was still crazy about him, using the wedding as a threat. In the past, I would have humbled myself, begging him to stay. Now, I laughed mockingly. “Julian, we have no ties. What wedding?” “No ties?” Julian’s face frosted over. “That’s not what you said a month ago when you accepted my proposal. You said your dream was to marry me. The ring…” He frowned, rummaging through drawers, trying to find the ring to prove me wrong. I said calmly: “Don’t bother. You took the ring back, returned it for a thousand bucks, and bought Sarah a hair tie.” It was ironic. Seven years, and I got nothing from him. The gifts I scrimped and saved to buy him, he thought were cheap and sold second-hand. The only diamond ring he gave me, he took back after the proposal, saying it was wasteful and better to save for the wedding. Julian’s eyelashes trembled. He scanned the room, stubbornly saying: “No ring, but there’s what you bought me… what I bought you…” He stopped, face darkening. He realized he couldn’t find a single thing in this house that proved we were a couple. Sarah gloated, stirring the pot: “Okay Lily, stop it. You live off Julian, you should be generous and share his burden. He’s taking over the company, don’t cause trouble!” Julian gained confidence, crossing his arms with a sneer. “Sarah is right. Lily, stop being so shortsighted. Once I inherit the company, I’ll buy you anything. Put the luggage down, or I’ll cut off your allowance!” I let go of the suitcase and pulled out a box of IOUs. “Julian. In seven years, you gave me $200 a month for living expenses. For other costs, you made me write 500 IOUs, totaling $20,000. Grandma’s surgeries and treatments totaled $300,000.” “I deposited my salary with you. Seven years of wages, at least a million. Now, please return the remaining $680,000.” Julian flipped the box in anger. IOUs fluttered like snow. “Lily! We’ve been together seven years, and I’m worth less than a few hundred thousand to you? How are you so shallow!” His disgust made my voice hoarse. “Julian, that money is my hard-earned labor.” He exploded, kicking the coffee table. “Money, money, money! Lily, is there anything in your heart besides money? Why can’t you be like Sarah? She doesn’t care about fame or profit. She never asked me for anything!” “My dad was right. Dating a poor person like you is a waste of time. We aren’t in the same class.” “Your labor? Are you kidding? Without me, you’d be starving. That’s the salary I paid you!” I laughed at myself. Sarah didn’t fight or grab because she had everything. She just had to stand there, do nothing, and Julian would offer her everything, including his heart, on a silver platter. Seeing my silence, Julian sneered viciously: “Fine, Lily. Take the money. I’ll never keep it for you again!” The next second, he threw a bank card at my face. The edge sliced my cheek. I wiped it gently. My hand came away red. Julian panicked instantly, reaching for my face. “Lily, are you okay?” I laughed, blocking his hand. Looking at the panic in his eyes, I said bleakly: “Julian, aren’t you tired of playing Prince and Cinderella?” “I don’t want to play anymore.” 4 I picked up the bank card, stood up, and grabbed my suitcase. Then I walked over the IOUs that were the last proof of my connection to Julian. Julian looked dazed. As my hand touched the doorknob, he woke up and blocked me. “Lily, don’t be mad. Arguments are like this, I didn’t mean it…” I turned the knob, walked out, and never looked back. At the hotel front desk, I tried to pay with the card. “Insufficient funds.” I apologized and paid with the $20,000 signing bonus from the overseas company. In the room, I checked the bank statement. The money was long gone. Spent on couple’s restaurants, couple’s suites, luxury counters. Julian never spent money on me. It was obvious who it was for. Just then, HR messaged me: Lily, if you’re in a hurry, go find Mr. Sterling to sign it yourself tomorrow morning. I replied: Okay. I slept well. The next morning, passing the HR department, I saw Julian’s tall figure. HR was busy processing Sarah’s onboarding, flattering her: “Miss Sarah, Mr. Sterling treats you so well! You two are perfect!” Sarah looked smug, wearing a Vice President badge. “Julian, making me VP straight away… will people say I got in through connections? I remember Lily was with you for seven years and only made Team Lead.” Julian brushed her hair behind her ear nonchalantly. “You’re my wife. Who dares to gossip? Or… do you not want to use my connections?” They looked like a loving newlywed couple. Since I ran into him, I might as well save a trip. I handed the resignation letter to him. “Mr. Sterling, please sign.” Julian’s eyes lit up seeing me, taking it slowly. Scanning the letter, he smiled disappointedly. “Quitting? Pretending to have a backbone? Did you forget your grandma is sick? With your savings, you’ll be starving in days!” Sarah gloated. “Yeah Lily, don’t delay your grandma’s care just to be stubborn.” HR added, confused: “But… Mr. Sterling, Lily’s grandma passed away. She took leave a while ago.” Julian froze. His fingers holding the letter trembled. He looked at my calm face, suddenly guilty. “Why… didn’t you tell me?” Seeing his shifty eyes, I remembered years ago. Julian chopping wood and cooking for grandma, his handsome face smudged with soot, grinning at me. And grandma on her deathbed, holding my hand with tears: “Baby, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have set you up with Julian…” The pain still lingered. I said coldly: “Mr. Sterling, do I need to report personal matters to you?” Sarah frowned, about to scold me. But Julian suddenly dragged me out of HR. My wrist turned red from his grip, but I could feel him shaking. I hissed in pain. He let go abruptly, put the letter back in my hand, and showed rare weakness. “Lily, don’t be impulsive. Wait for me. Let’s talk after work, okay?” Just then, Sarah opened the door. “Julian, Dad called. He needs you.” Julian turned immediately, looking like he was fleeing. I shook my head. As I was leaving, Sarah blocked me with her foot. “Lily, hurry up and clear out your office. I’m moving in.” VP office and Team Lead office were different. I knew she was bullying me. But whatever. I was leaving anyway. Time to pack. As I was packing, there was a knock on the door. An employee from an auction house held an exquisite box, smiling fawningly. “You must be Mr. Sterling’s partner. This is the bracelet he won at the auction. Please try it on!” I stood still. A breakup gift? The others didn’t hear, just saw the Bulgari logo and whispered: “That’s Bulgari! At least $20,000! No wonder Lily is quitting, she found a sugar daddy!” Before I could speak, the employee took out the bracelet. Just as he was about to clasp it on me… “Lily! I know you’re poor, but I didn’t think you’d steal my bracelet using my name! I’m Julian’s partner. You’re too much!” Sarah appeared out of nowhere, ripping the bracelet off my wrist, looking at me with disdain. The employee panicked and apologized profusely. Sarah waved it off, then gave me a fake smile: “It’s okay. Lily comes from a small background, hasn’t seen good things. Getting greedy is understandable… but the company can’t tolerate thieves.” I touched the red mark on my wrist where she ripped the bracelet, laughing at myself. I knew Julian wouldn’t be this generous to me. The crowd urged Sarah to put it on. “Miss Sarah, Mr. Sterling is so good to you! A wife-spoiling maniac!” “Lily is shameless, impersonating you! Kick her out!” I laughed, picked up my box to leave. “Lily, what’s going on?” Julian’s voice. Everyone jumped to defend Sarah: “Mr. Sterling! Lily tried to steal Miss Sarah’s bracelet! Look at it, worth tens of thousands. Call the police?” “Yeah, a gold digger like her doesn’t deserve to be here.” Sarah smiled, showing off the bracelet. “Don’t listen to them, Julian. I love the gift.” Julian’s face went black. I looked down, waiting for him to call me vain and greedy. But he shouted at Sarah: “Take it off!”

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When I was little, I went to buy a soda and picked out a $3 bottle of Coke. My mom said, “A $1 bottle of water quenches your thirst just the same. Why spend the extra two dollars?” When we went out to eat, given the choice between a $25 Happy Meal or a $16 bowl of beef noodle soup, it was always the noodle soup. My clothes were always picked from the discount stalls at the market—the cheapest ones available. Then I grew up, and I brought home a boyfriend with bleached blond hair. My mom had a meltdown. 1 Staring at the man in front of her—sporting a mop of bright yellow hair, a studded leather jacket, skin-tight black leather pants, and a smile that was way too enthusiastic—my mom’s mouth hung slightly open. She couldn’t seem to close it. Finally, I had to snap her soul back into her body. “Mom, this is my boyfriend,” I introduced him. She had been on her way out to her dance class, but she immediately pulled her foot back inside. Hearing my introduction, Chad looked for a place to wipe his hands. But between the studs on his jacket and the leather of his pants, he couldn’t find a spot. He ended up shoving his hands inside his vest, rubbing them quickly against the lining. Then he grabbed my mom’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “Hello, Mom! I’m Chad! I’ll take good care of Emily.” Seeing my mom’s face turn whiter by the second, I quickly pulled him away. “You should go now. I’m home.” Chad realized he might have been a bit too intense. He let go immediately, but with enough force that my mom’s hand kept shaking for a few seconds. I hurried him out. As the elevator doors closed, he was still shouting, “Mom! I’m leaving now! I’ll come visit you again soon!” The moment the doors shut, my mom dragged me inside. She slammed the door hard, like she was afraid someone would break in. Her brow furrowed, her tone unkind. “How could you find a boyfriend like that?” I put down my bag and sat on the sofa. “Mom, he treats me really well.” “Don’t let his clothes fool you. He’s very responsible. He’s working hard to save up for a ring. He plans to marry me.” “His salary is really high!” Hearing this, my mom’s expression softened slightly. “What does he do?” she asked, fishing for details. “He’s a security guard at an apartment complex. He makes $3,500 a month, six days a week.” “What! $3,500 is considered a high salary?” Her voice rose an octave. “He’s still on probation. Once he’s permanent, it’ll be higher!” “How much higher?” “Another $500! That’s $4,000 a month!” “After rent of $1,000, food for $1,000, $500 for our dates, and $500 for living expenses, he can save $1,000 every month. That’s $12,000 a year for the wedding fund!” My mom sank onto the sofa, rubbing her temples. She looked at me with bewilderment. “What is good about a man like that?” 2 I poured her a glass of water from the coffee table. “Mom, when I was little, you always made me choose the $1 water.” “But the first time I met him, he bought me a $7 boba tea. Seven dollars! That’s so expensive!” “When we ate, he took me to McDonald’s. Not only did he order a $20 combo, he paid extra to get me the toy!” “In that moment, I thought, he treats me so well!” My mom slammed the glass down on the table, her voice thick with anger. “Just for a cup of tea? A Happy Meal? You think that’s treating you well?” “Do you have no brain?” I felt wronged but kept my voice small. “But when I was little, you bought the $1 water.” “When we had a choice for food, you picked the $16 noodles.” “I know, you haven’t really met Chad, so you’re worried. I’ll call him right now and ask him to come over for dinner tomorrow. Once you talk to him, you’ll know how good he is.” Before my mom could stop me, I dialed the number. “Hello~ Chad. My mom wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow.” “Bring something? No, it’s just a simple meal. No need for gifts.” “Yes, tomorrow night. Remember to dress nicely.” By the time I hung up, my mom was frozen in place. I smiled at her. “Mom, Chad says he’s not picky. You don’t have to work too hard, just make something simple.” “See? He’s so considerate! He was worried you’d be tired and told me to help you!” “I’m going to take a shower and sleep early. Gotta look my best to welcome him tomorrow.” With that, I got up and left. Before entering my room, I saw my mom still sitting there in a daze. Suddenly, she snapped out of it like she’d been electrocuted. She frantically grabbed the landline, her fingers fumbling before finally dialing. “Hello~ Husband, come home as soon as you get off work tomorrow.” “What’s important? I’m telling you, nothing is more important than tomorrow!” “If you dare not come back tomorrow, I’m divorcing you!” See? Mom is so happy! She even threatened Dad to make sure he comes home. 3 Sure enough, Dad came home early the next afternoon. He was carrying half a watermelon. Mom scolded him for wasting money while putting the melon in the fridge. “Just because you like it!” Dad replied casually, kicking off his shoes and flopping onto the sofa. Mom didn’t respond, but the corners of her mouth turned up, and her spatula moved more cheerfully in the wok. Dad was a factory worker. He lived at the factory dorms during the week and only came home on weekends. When there were lots of orders and overtime, he’d be gone for ten days or two weeks at a time. Mom handled everything at home—the household, the relatives, and me—single-handedly. Chad was punctual, knocking on the door just before dinner. Seeing my dad, he shouted with full lung capacity, “Hello, Dad!” Dad nearly fell off the sofa. Chad was carrying gifts: a large watermelon and a case of milk. He had dressed up today. His blond hair was slicked back, shiny and bright. He wore a normal white t-shirt, but paired it with a wild leopard-print vest and ripped jeans. Very trendy. I whispered to Chad, “My dad is introverted.” He patted his chest, reassuring me. “We’re family now. We’ll warm up.” Then he chased after my dad, chatting away. “Dad, I heard you’re a senior technician at the factory. What kind of senior?” “Are the dorm beds big? Is the food good?” Dad wasn’t much of a talker, but he responded with grunts and nods. “Well—” “Uh—” “Mm—” Seeing them chatting so happily, I snuck into the kitchen to check on dinner. “Mom, Chad is really too good.” “He bought us a whole huge watermelon! And a whole case of milk!” I chattered in Mom’s ear. Suddenly, she slammed the spatula down with a clang and said deeply, “Have I ever starved you?” I pouted. “Usually we only buy half or a quarter of a melon. Milk is bought one bottle at a time.” “Compared to that, he’s really generous!” Mom’s face was dark as she quickly plated the food. “Dinner’s ready.” I helped carry the dishes out. Chad is the best. Always smiling. On the table, Mom had made four dishes: braised fish, chicken wings, vegetables, and seaweed egg drop soup. “Wow, a feast!” I exclaimed, picking up my chopsticks. Usually, when it was just Mom and me, it was one meat and one veggie. Seeing my excitement, Chad immediately postured. “Next time I’ll take the family out to a restaurant. We can order five dishes and a soup.” I was moved. “Chad, you’re so good.” I glanced at Mom, wanting her to see how great Chad was. 4 Mom couldn’t hold it in anymore. She put down her chopsticks. “Emily told me your income. Do you think $4,000 a month is enough to support a future?” Chad put down his chopsticks too, confident. “Mom, don’t worry. Dad makes $2,800 and gives the family $2,500, and that supports the house. My income is higher than Dad’s!” “Plus, I can do food delivery on weekends. I can easily make $4,500 a month.” Mom was speechless, her face looking strange. She raised another issue. “Emily is a college graduate. You didn’t even finish high school. It might not be a good match.” Chad laughed out loud. “Mom, I used to think there was a big difference between college kids and uneducated guys like us. But Emily doesn’t even know how to order at a boba shop.” “Don’t worry, I won’t dislike her for it. I think she’s cute like that!” Dad reached his limit. “You dare dislike my daughter?” “Look at yourself! What kind of trash are you!” Hearing this, Chad’s face turned cold. “What kind of trash? At least I can buy Emily boba, take her to McDonald’s, and buy her clothes at the mall—even if they’re from the discount rack!” “And I can let her buy whatever drink she wants at the convenience store.” “Do you really think $4,000 can support her?” Dad raised his voice. “It’s $4,500!” Chad retorted, unbothered. “Dad, you support the family on $2,800. I make more than you. It’s definitely enough!” Finally, Dad turned red with anger. “Don’t call me Dad! I’m not your Dad!” He slammed his chopsticks on the table. They bounced into a dish, splashing sauce. To dodge the sauce, Chad stood up, knocking his chair over with a loud crash. I gasped. “Dad, what are you doing!” Mom looked furious, staring at me with disappointment. “What do you see in him! Are you possessed?” “What spell are you under?” I quickly handed Chad a tissue. Then I looked up at her with deep, dark eyes, saying nothing. Mom seemed to sense something. Disbelief filled her eyes, followed by panic.

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I was the kept woman of the Crown Prince of New York. Julian Sterling had the looks, the body, and the stamina of a god. Unfortunately, his personality was pure poison—sharp-tongued, manipulative, and rotten to the core. Three years into our beautifully toxic arrangement, my safety net collapsed. —Julian Sterling was switched at birth. He wasn’t the real heir to the Sterling empire. —He offended so many people for Chloe Tan. Let’s see how he survives now. —A peasant girl and a bastard. A match made in heaven. … Everyone was celebrating his downfall. I wasn’t particularly sad either. That night, Julian came home looking like a kicked puppy, only to be startled by me and the row of private security guards lining the villa. “Don’t be sad, Julian. I know you’re proud, but it’s okay. Your sugar mama has arrived!” “I’m done pretending. Cards on the table: I’m filthy rich, and now you’re my boy toy!” “You might have lost your crown in New York, but I’m still the Princess of Shanghai! Big sister’s got you covered!” Julian: “…Why are you so hyped right now?” I flipped the script on Julian, humiliating and bullying him to my heart’s content, laughing maniacally as he silently seethed. Until a week later, my adoptive father called me. “Come home quick, Chloe. We found your biological brother.” Looking at the photo he sent, I fell silent. 1 When the news of Julian Sterling’s bankruptcy broke, I was with my girlfriends, face masks on, getting pedicures. CEOs and tycoons have their cliques, and we “canaries” have ours. I listened leisurely as everyone passionately roasted their sugar daddies. Mr. Qi was a gossip, Mr. Shen was an idiot, Mr. Gu was cheap, Mr. Zhang was ugly… “And don’t get me started on Old Man Li. He’s old enough to be my dad,” Bella complained, shaking her leg, a tattoo peeking out on her ankle. Summer rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to eat. You have the nerve to complain? Everyone knows Shen treats you like a placeholder. His sickly white moonlight is coming back from abroad next week. Watch your kidneys.” … Two sighs echoed in my ears. “Chloe is the lucky one. Her Prince is young, rich, handsome, has stamina, and doesn’t force her to cosplay his dead ex-girlfriend.” “Yeah… he’s just got a foul mouth.” Foul was an understatement! “Oh my god! I’ve never met anyone with such a rotten personality. He’s impossible to please.” I sat up straight, ready to list Julian’s eighteen deadly sins, when the WeChat group exploded with notifications. “What’s happening? New member?” I opened my phone. 99+ messages. Just as I was about to dive into the gossip, a message popped up: You have been removed from the group chat. ? Three minutes later, Summer awkwardly handed me her phone. “Julian isn’t the Chairman’s biological son. Let’s see what Chloe has to brag about now.” “He’s been kicked out of the Sterling family. Left without a word. Looks like he’ll have to tuck his tail between his legs from now on.” “Julian used to be so arrogant. He offended so many people for Chloe. Lol, let’s see how this dog couple survives.” “A hillbilly and a bastard. Next time I see them, I’m spitting on them.” … Bella patted my shoulder. “Don’t be sad, Chloe. They’ve always been bitches. It’s nothing. In our line of work, change is constant. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to someone better.” I pursed my lips. “I need to go back first.” Kicked out. Someone as proud as Julian… he must be devastated. But… I had already booked my ticket back to Shanghai. 2 I was conflicted. This accidental arrangement started as exactly that—an accident. Three years with Julian, causing chaos in New York, partners in crime. Emotionally, it was meh. But personality-wise, we were a match made in hell. He was rotten to the core, speaking his mind with zero filter. I rode his coattails, becoming the center of attention even though New York wasn’t my turf. But a relationship that starts as a transaction can’t change its nature. Sugar daddy, sugar baby. He wanted beauty, I wanted money. Even though I didn’t need the money, I did it for fun. But people grow up, and fun ends. My contract with Julian was expiring. He was cold, his temper stank, and I never knew if I was special to him or just another accessory. Plus, news came from home. The Tan family was in chaos. My dad found his long-lost biological son, but the guy refused to return. I had to go back and keep the old man company. My phone buzzed again. Summer. She sent me contact cards for several rich second-generation heirs. I squinted. One of them was her stepson. Summer: [Add him. From now on, we’re family.] Me: [Is he legal? Isn’t this a crime? This is Lee, Julian’s best friend.] Summer: [So what? I trained him myself. Obedient and well-behaved. Don’t you hate foul-mouthed guys? This one is good. Very good.] Me: [No. No bottom line. My conscience would kill me.] Summer: [I get you, babe. But let me remind you. In this circle, don’t tell me you’re looking for true love. He wants your youth and beauty; you want his money. You pity Julian now, but when you’re old and your looks fade, will he pity you? Besides, he’s a fake prince. He didn’t share his glory with us when he was up; why should you share his suffering and revenge when he’s down?] I was silent. Summer was right. In the eyes of outsiders, even Julian’s, this is how it should be. But lying on the sofa, staring at my flight info, I hesitated for a long time. Should a canary be loyal? I sighed and closed my eyes, drifting off. When I woke up, I had been moved from the sofa to the bedroom. My clothes were changed into pajamas, and the sound of sizzling came from the kitchen. Julian must be back. Still half-asleep, feeling like I was in a dream, I shuffled to the entryway and stared at his back. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just an apron over his bare skin. Strangely erotic. I yawned. “It’s so late, you haven’t eaten?” He didn’t answer. I shook my head. “Are we doing it tonight? If not, I’m going back to sleep.” “The old dishwasher broke. I bought a new one. Put the dishes in after you eat. If you don’t know how, read the manual.” He still didn’t turn around. Just as I was about turn back, I heard a strange sound. Julian lowered his head, shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly. It took him a long time to compose himself before he looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “What is this? A breakup fuck?” His voice was soft, heartbreakingly careful. I shuddered, instantly awake. 3 Julian looked like he was about to shatter. Usually he strutted around like he owned the world. Now he looked pathetic and small. I remembered a celebration party two years ago. Everyone was drunk. Someone joked with him, “I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as Miss Tan.” Julian’s face was cold. The guy laughed again. “When you’re tired of playing with her, how about letting me have a turn?” He was drunk out of his mind. Sober, he wouldn’t dare speak to Julian like that. But he didn’t get an answer. He got a wine bottle smashed over his head. Premium red wine mixed with blood, dripping down his forehead. Julian sneered. “You worthy?” I thought he was sober and dragged him to a corner in panic. “Are you crazy? You’re going to be on the news tomorrow.” But he buried his face in my shoulder, looking aggrieved. “A boyfriend has to be loyal, right?” But when I brought it up the next day, he denied it flatly. “It’s Sugar Daddy. You heard wrong. Come on, dummy, call me Daddy.” … I pursed my lips, snapping out of the memory. A brilliant smile involuntarily spread across my face. I looked at Julian’s obviously crying eyes and said, “What’s the big deal? Crying like a baby? Are you in elementary school?” Before he could retort, I filled a bowl of rice for him, pulled him to sit, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it like I was feeding a child. “Here, say ahh.” Normally, Julian would be disgusted by now. Whenever he was grossed out, he’d launch into a roast session. Once he vented his spleen, everything was easy to solve. But he just lowered his eyes silently and actually ate the spoonful of rice. Eyelids trembling, long lashes fluttering, eyes misty. Every movement and expression fit that face perfectly. …I shivered. Possessed? Well, a blow like this would break anyone. “Mr. Sterling, I have something to say to you.” “Hm?” He looked startled. “Everyone is an individual. The world keeps spinning without anyone. No one stays with anyone forever. You’re young, you have opportunities. Even though you have no money and no home now, at least you still have…” To prevent him from mocking my narcissism later, I swallowed the word “me.” “At least you see people clearly now. You know who was fake and who treated you with sincerity.” I spoke earnestly, but the air around Julian grew heavier. After a long time, he looked up, meeting my eyes with a gaze so deep I couldn’t read it. “Is that so?” He smiled self-deprecatingly and whispered, “I understand.” 4 He pushed aside the freshly made food, picked me up, and carried me to the bedroom. I saw the sudden darkness in his eyes and gasped. But he did nothing. He held me tight, resting his chin on my forehead. “Chloe.” “Hm?” “Do you hate me?” I shook my head gently, sighed, then lifted his face with my hands. “Don’t talk to me like that. It’s scary.” He shut up. Still worried, I knelt on the bed and kissed his face. Seeing his stunned expression, I comforted him softly, “So what if your parents don’t want you? My parents dumped me when I was four, and I’m still alive and kicking.” “We have hands and feet. Worst case, we work. If you really can’t hack it, I’ll go home and sell seafood to support you.” He stared at me blankly. I wanted to be an actress and came to Beijing. My dad threw money at it, Julian threw money at it, but my three-minute passion burned out long ago. Looking at Julian’s face, even I felt impressed. Me, the queen of short attention spans, actually liked this person for so long.

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Five years into our “DINK” (Double Income, No Kids) lifestyle, my boyfriend started testing my limits. It started with a brochure for a luxury postnatal care center that mysteriously appeared in our house. It boasted “Top-Tier Postpartum Recovery” and guaranteed a return to pre-pregnancy form. My boyfriend, David, explained, “Oh, that’s from my buddy Will’s new business. He handed them out to everyone at the reunion.” “His wife just had a baby and is staying there. We should go visit sometime; their kid is adorable.” Mmhmm. A perfectly reasonable explanation. Almost flawless. But I wasn’t stupid. That very day, I broke up with him. And froze all his credit cards. 1 I found the brochure tucked inside a thriller novel. “Top-Tier Postpartum Recovery.” It promised to restore a woman’s figure to perfection, maybe even better than before. I am staunchly child-free. Logically, I am not the target audience for this ad. Its appearance in my life was no accident. Someone planted it. I picked up the novel, lost in thought. David gave me this book this morning. He claimed it was the most gripping thriller he’d ever read and swore I’d love it. I am a huge thriller fan, so I took his recommendation. Which meant the brochure was placed there deliberately by David. This wasn’t the first baby-related “coincidence” lately. Parenting videos popping up in my feed titled “Child-free Couple Finally Decides to Have a Baby.” David’s friends casually asking about our family plans. Even our date last week was at a theme park famous for being kid-friendly. All signs pointed to one conclusion: David, who once vowed to be child-free with me, wanted a baby. I decided to confront him. 2 David came home in the evening. It was pouring rain outside, but instead of changing his wet clothes, he went straight to the bathroom to prepare a foot soak for me, then to the kitchen to brew my favorite herbal tea. A perfect boyfriend, by anyone’s standards. As he placed the foot basin in front of me, I slid the brochure across the table towards him. Years of understanding meant he got the message instantly. He started explaining, “It’s for Will’s center. You remember Will, right? My dorm neighbor in college.” “He handed one to everyone at the reunion. I didn’t think much of it and used it as a bookmark in that new novel. I forgot to take it out.” David laughed, pulling the brochure out and tossing it aside. “Will always loves to brag. Postpartum recovery is tough, but he makes it sound so easy.” “But his center seems legit. His own wife is staying there! We should visit them sometime. Will showed me photos of his kid; he’s so cute!” David rambled on about Will’s happy family of three, a longing look in his eyes he probably didn’t even notice. I interrupted him. “David, are you doing all this to tell me that after five years, you want a child?” David’s expression shifted, then quickly returned to normal. He hugged me gently. “Peach, what are you thinking? I promised to be child-free with you.” “Having you is enough. Kids don’t matter. If you don’t like me talking about this, I won’t mention it again.” David was handsome, with charming eyes. His sweet words might work on younger girls. But I’m 30. I’ve seen it all. I pushed him away, showing him the inexplicable baby content on my phone. Then I opened the link he sent me days ago for “date ideas”—all family-friendly resorts. “David, I’m not stupid.” “People change. You want a child now. I don’t blame you.” “So let’s end this amicably.” David’s face turned ugly. “Peach, you’re breaking up with me?” I nodded and turned to pack. “I have a business trip tomorrow for a week. Use that time to pack your things and move out.” David kept rambling. “Peach, I promise, I don’t mean to pressure you. I respect your choices; that’s why I’ve stayed by your side all these years. The evidence you found is all just coincidence…” I ignored him. The doorbell rang. My driver and bodyguard were waiting. David tried to grab my arm but was blocked by the bodyguard’s imposing frame. His voice faded away outside the car window. 3 I met David when I was 25. At 25, I had finally solidified my position within the family business, officially becoming the head of Sterling Corp. That same year, I visited my alma mater and met David, who was five years younger than me and just starting his research. My mentor introduced him enthusiastically. “This is David. Only a sophomore and already working on projects with me. Bright future ahead!” David had a clean, handsome look, with upturned eyes that gave him a slightly enchanting allure. He blushed as he greeted me. “Hi, senior.” I looked him over. My type. Before David, I had dated the poor but upright scholar, the adrenaline junkie, and the refined rich kid. I hadn’t tried the “David” type yet. I started pursuing him. Nothing too overt—just dropping by the lab to offer guidance, helping him out when he was bullied by peers, and securing him an internship at a top firm… David confessed his feelings quickly. I accepted. Honestly, I just wanted to have some fun. I assumed he was like the others—after my money or power. Like the poor scholar who, three months in, started asking when we could get married. I found his search history full of “how to marry rich.” Or the rich kid, whom my security cameras caught poking holes in all the condoms in my nightstand. His family was on the verge of bankruptcy and needed a cash injection. Binding me with a child was a smart move. But David seemed different. He loved me. Or at least, he acted like he did. I was honest with every partner about being child-free. Most were shocked, as if no matter how high I climbed, my duty as a woman was still to reproduce. David wasn’t. He just held me, his voice low and gentle. “Peach, I don’t know much about childbirth. Maybe I should try to understand your decision first.” He didn’t just talk. He took notes on the child-free lifestyle. He even tried a labor pain simulator. Then he said, “Peach, I understand now.” “Just the physical pain alone… I couldn’t bear to let you go through that.” 4 Three years in, David became my longest relationship. I took him to visit my parents’ graves. When I was 18, my parents died in a car accident. I knew it was my mother’s doing. Since I was born, she had been slowly pushed out of power. The company changed names, my father cheated, everything changed. I learned this from her diary. The turning point was having a child. She found herself excluded from the core circle, with everyone deferring to my father. Worse was the toll on her body. Already weak from years of hard work, childbirth drained her. Her energy and memory faded, making her struggle with work. My father, the man who married into her family, seized the opportunity. Her last words to me were: “Peach, I’ve handled everything. The company is yours. But the road ahead, you must walk alone.” Her story shaped me. I have her blood and her ambition. I refuse to follow in her footsteps. Besides, the situation isn’t stable. Relatives on my father’s side, from his brother to distant cousins, are all eyeing my position. I have to fight to keep my throne. I can’t relax. David was the first man to hear this story. For three years, he was perfect. Not demanding, emotionally supportive, respecting my decisions. Sometimes, I allowed myself to fall for it. I told him, “David, do you understand? I can’t have kids. It’s never enough. I can’t stop. I have to climb.” He held my hand. “Then I’ll be the one watching you climb.”

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