I transmigrated into a high school romance novel as the home room teacher, and my first move was to break up the main couple. “No dating in this class!” I split them up, sat them on opposite sides of the room, and crushed their secret crushes. Finally, after my tireless efforts, the rebellious bad boy became a model student, and the broken girl got into Harvard. Just as I was happily calculating my bonus for being “Teacher of the Year,” the bad boy blushed and asked me: “Miss, if I pursue you now, it doesn’t count as underage dating anymore, right?” Me: ??? Then, a cold voice came from behind me. It was the girl. “Back off. She’s mine.” My vision went black… Help! How did the plot collapse like this? Chapter 1 Who can relate? Staying up all night crying over a novel. The male lead goes to jail, the female lead becomes disabled, ten years wasted, a tragedy that chills you to the bone. “What kind of trashy angst novel is this?!” I threw my phone in rage. “Stupid kids! Why don’t you just study? What’s the point of dating!” The next second, a piercing alarm rang. I groggily reached for my phone but touched an ID card instead: [Willow Mitchell, 22, Senior Class 4 Homeroom Teacher, Southside High] “Willow! Where are you?! Late on your first day?” My phone vibrated violently. The head of the department’s loud voice pierced my eardrums. Wait??? Did I transmigrate into the book? And I became the background character teacher who only exists in the protagonists’ flashbacks? “On my way!” I scrambled out the door. Damn it! Late as a student, late as a teacher? 8 AM classes are a cosmic curse! It looked like I was done for. Suddenly, a motorcycle roared past. Silver hair, full sleeve tattoos, ripped jeans, studded jacket, ear piercings blindingly bright. “Hey! Take me to Southside High!” I slapped a hundred-dollar bill on the gas tank. The boy lazily looked up. “Lady, I’m not a taxi.” I gritted my teeth and slapped another bill down. “Two hundred!” He sneered, jutting his chin toward the back seat. “Get on.” Done! I clambered onto the hard back seat. Just as I sat down, before I could find anything to hold onto… Vroom! The force threw me back! I instinctively grabbed forward! My hands landed on a firm waist and abs. Through the thin T-shirt, I could feel the muscle definition and body heat. “Tsk.” An annoyed sound came from the front. I let go instantly, clutching the seat handle for dear life. I spent the money, now I might lose my life too! The scent of mint hit my face. In the rearview mirror, his amused eyes reflected back at me. “Scared, lady?” “Shut up and watch the road.” I shakily pulled out my teacher ID and hung it around my neck. “Drive straight into the school later. Just say I’m the new teacher!” Chapter 2 At the school gate, the balding Dean was blowing his whistle like crazy. “Jagger! Late again! Where’s your uniform?” My legs went soft. I almost fell off the bike. Jagger? Isn’t this the crazy male lead from the book who goes to jail for love? The Dean’s gaze landed on me, eyebrows shooting up. “Bringing your girlfriend too? Openly dating now, huh?” “You, which class?” My PTSD from getting caught at school flared up instantly. I blurted out: “Four… Class 4.” “Why haven’t I seen you before?” Wait, no? I’m a teacher now!!! I hurriedly held up my teacher ID: “Colleague…” The air suddenly went quiet. Jagger suddenly leaned down close to my ear. “Miss Mitchell? Why didn’t you say so? I would’ve given you a discount.” His breath brushed my neck. I jumped three meters away. In the end, Jagger got detention, and I got my pay docked. Damn, what a loss! I should have just said I was a student. Chapter 3 The moment I pushed open the classroom door, dozens of eyes shot toward me. The blonde boy in the back row whistled. “Jagger brought his girl to class?” “She’s pretty hot.” Jagger threw his backpack backward without looking. “Blind? Didn’t see the teacher ID?” He sat lazily in his seat. Next to him, a girl in a faded uniform whispered with her head down: “Jagger, you’re late again…” He scoffed disdainfully. “None of your business.” I suddenly remembered. Isn’t this the tragic, bullied, pure-hearted female lead from the book?! And right now, she’s sitting next to Jagger, the walking disaster! According to the plot, this is the beginning of the tragedy! No! This ship must sink! Immediately! Right now! Nip it in the bud! I stormed onto the podium, imposing and fierce. “I am your new homeroom teacher, Willow Mitchell. In my class…” “No dating allowed!” The class erupted instantly. “What the hell? Starting with this?” “Who is she? The new teacher?” “Controlling everything, even our love lives?” Jagger leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching like it was a show that had nothing to do with him. I waved my hand grandly. “Now, we’re changing seats!” “Claire!” My voice was decisive. “You! Front row! Far left seat!” Claire’s pale face was written with shock. Finally, she silently stood up to pack her things. Her movements were careful, carrying a long-ingrained timidity. “Jagger!” I pointed my finger at the silver-haired boy next to her. “You! Next to the podium! A solo seat!” The playful smile on Jagger’s face froze. He looked at me, then at the “VIP seat” right next to the chalk tray, under 360-degree surveillance. “Teacher, I…” “Shut up! Move!” I cut him off, leaving no room for negotiation. For a troublemaker like him, you need the hardest steel! Jagger stared at me, his eyes filled with hostility narrowing. After a three-second standoff, he finally let out an extremely annoyed “Tsk.” Dark-faced, he walked toward the “Super VIP Seat.” Good. One left, one right. Separated by the podium’s blind spot, let’s see how you make googly eyes at each other! I picked up the roster, my brain rapidly recalling the character relationships from the book. Who’s secretly dating whom, who’s still lingering with an ex, who’s crushing on whom… precise strikes are mandatory! “Zack!” I called a name. It was the blonde boy who heckled earlier. “You sit next to Luna!” Luna was his ex-girlfriend. The blonde boy wailed. “Teacher! Don’t! Anywhere but there! Please!” “Shut up! Move!” I wasn’t done. I continued deploying my “battle formation.” “Ethan, sit in front of them.” Ethan was the current boyfriend. Triangle formation. Drama mode activated. Let’s see how you have fun now! My brain quickly recalled the other couples mentioned in the book, as well as those deep-hidden crushes. The principle was simple and brutal: Breakups sit together, lovers separated by a galaxy, crushes sent to opposite poles. Little brats. The rain I walked through back then, today I’m breaking your umbrellas! Let you taste the bitterness of love. Chapter 4 Under my command, the whole classroom fell into a moving frenzy. In the midst of this chaos, an accident happened. As Claire walked to her new seat holding her books, a pad hidden inside accidentally fell out. “Maxi Pad! Your big Band-Aid fell out!” The blonde boy immediately yelled out. Several boys started jeering like they were watching a show. Claire hunched her back, face pale, body trembling slightly from embarrassment. In the original story, Claire was often mocked for being well-developed, causing her insecurity. She always wore ill-fitting bras because of it. A wave of anger shot straight to my brain! I slammed the podium! “What did you call her?” The blonde boy grinned nonchalantly. “Teacher, I was complimenting her chest.” I chuckled coldly. “I see your butt is pretty big too. From now on, we’ll call you Big Butt Bro.” Silence. Then— “Pfft!” “Hahahaha!” “Big Butt Bro! Hahahaha!” “Freaking Big Butt Bro!” Roaring laughter erupted. The blonde boy’s face turned purple instantly. I looked around the room, smile gone. “Laughing? Is it funny?” My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the laughter. “From now on, in this class, if I hear anyone making jokes about someone’s body, appearance, or physiological traits—” “First time, parents called! Learn to speak like a human before coming back!” “Second time, transfer out! Class 4 doesn’t recycle trash!” The classroom went dead silent. My gaze fell on the bright pink pad on the floor. “Also, never seen a pad before? What’s so funny? Weren’t you born from a mother? Girls getting their periods and using pads is as normal as eating and drinking! From now on, if any boy dares to joke about this again—” I raised my hand, pointing at the small pad by Claire’s feet, my voice rising sharply. “I’ll have the girls stick a pad right on his face! So he remembers it well!” Silence. Then: “Good!” “Teacher is awesome!” “We support Miss Mitchell!” Many girls’ eyes were shining, looking at me with excitement and approval. Claire silently bent down, quickly picked up the pad, stuffed it into her pocket, and walked fast to her new seat. Her back was still thin, but it seemed a little straighter.

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I’m shallow. I like pretty things. Specifically, pretty boys. After asking out the class heartthrob, Asher Vance, for the 99th time, he still coldly rejected me. I overheard his friends laughing about it later. “Uh oh, Asher hesitated this time.” “I heard she wants to go to the same college as you.” “Are we going to be drinking at your wedding after graduation?” Asher threw a basketball at them in disgust. “Don’t associate me with that kind of shallow girl. It makes me sick.” On the first day of college, I bumped into Asher at the campus gate, holding a box of freshly baked cupcakes. His eyes lit up when he saw me, then he awkwardly looked away. “Don’t bake for me next time. I don’t like sweet things.” I looked past him at the campus crush standing not far away. Sigh. How do I explain to Asher that the person who loves sweet things is actually my boyfriend? Chapter 1 I’m an average girl. Average hair, average face, average everything. But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating beauty. As my mom always says: “Men are all the same anyway, so you might as well pick a handsome one. At least you won’t wake up in the middle of the night crying because there’s a beast lying next to you.” I took that to heart. Since I was little, I only chased the best-looking boys. If I couldn’t get the cutest boy in first period, I’d go for the one in second period. If that failed, third period. You get the idea. In high school, most guys hit that awkward puberty phase where their looks took a nose dive. Only Asher Vance stood out. He was breathtakingly handsome. So, naturally, I locked onto him. Asher was smart, handsome, and played the violin. When he stood on stage, eyes lowered, long fingers flying over the strings, he looked like a painting. After his performance, applause filled the auditorium. But the sound of my own heart beating was louder than anything else. The first time I confessed my feelings to Asher, he asked coldly: “Hazel, what do you like about me?” I tilted my head, thought about it seriously, and answered: “You’re the best-looking guy in school.” He sneered. “Everyone who chases me says that.” “Too bad. I hate girls like you the most.” Damn. Even when he was mocking me, he was beautiful. I was so mesmerized by his face that I didn’t really process what his little mouth was saying. I don’t know which part annoyed him. From that day on, he hated me. He hated the warm milk I slipped into his desk every morning. He hated seeing me hand him water on the basketball court. He hated our “accidental” encounters even more. But for that face, I endured it all. I was Asher’s shadow for three years. I confessed so many times I lost count. And unsurprisingly, I was rejected every time. My best friends were frustrated. “Hazel, this isn’t how you chase a guy. The internet calls this ‘simp behavior’.” Is it? So be it. I scratched my head calmly. They don’t understand. I simp because the view is worth it. Chapter 2 It was Asher’s birthday. I stood outside the private room of the karaoke bar, holding a carefully wrapped gift. The conversation inside drifted out clearly. “Ash, be honest, do you have feelings for Hazel?” I stopped, eavesdropping through the crack in the door. “Uh oh, he’s silent.” “I knew you hesitated when you rejected her last time.” Someone started evaluating me. “Hazel’s face is mid, but she’s got a great body. Plus, she’s a total simp, easy to control.” “Ash likes the ‘butterface’ type. Lights off, it’s all the same, right? It’s all about the feel. Hahaha.” “I heard she applied to the same college as you.” “Are we going straight to your wedding after graduation?” The laughter grew louder. Thud. A basketball slammed into someone. A grunt of pain, then silence. The noisy room went dead quiet. Asher stood up. On that beautiful face, his expression was twisted with anger. “Great body? Easy to control?” “If you like her so much, date her yourself.” “Don’t associate me with that kind of shallow girl. It makes me sick.” I looked down at the canvas bag in my hands. It had started raining on my way here. I didn’t have an umbrella, so I was soaked. But the bag was dry, protected in my embrace. Inside was the sheet music for Chopin’s Tristesse (The Farewell Waltz). It was the birthday gift I had spent forever choosing for Asher. I wanted to tell him that even after graduation, we would meet again at our dream college. If he was willing, we would start a new chapter. There would be no farewell. “My bad…” “Hazel isn’t good enough for you, Ash. I shouldn’t have said anything.” The guys inside were apologizing. Asher’s friends always had trash mouths. But his answer still echoed in my mind, refusing to fade. Suddenly, it all felt pointless. That face I could stare at forever… how could it say such hurtful things? I gently placed the music book on the floor, turned around, and left without looking back. Chapter 3 The next day, I called in sick for the morning. As soon as I pulled out my books in the afternoon, Asher walked over. He knocked on my desk. “Hazel, homework.” His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. “Finals are right around the corner. Where were you yesterday? I didn’t see you.” “I came to school yesterday. I turned in my homework on time too.” I didn’t understand where his interrogation was coming from. “Yeah, you were at school, but yesterday was my birthday. You didn’t come to my…” I couldn’t help but interrupt him. “You hate me so much. Shouldn’t you be happier that I wasn’t at your party?” My voice sounded like a broken gong from being sick. Asher choked on his words. He froze, his anger dissipating. “Your voice… were you sick yesterday?” The next second, Asher tossed a box of medicine onto my desk. “Don’t run around after school. Getting sick now will affect your finals.” He paused. “Don’t misunderstand. As class president, it’s my duty to monitor everyone’s study condition.” “You said you wanted to get into Stanford.” Stanford had always been Asher’s dream. Even though Berkeley was a better fit for me, I had always planned to apply to Stanford, to be someone standing in his bright future. But I didn’t think that way anymore. I decided to apply to Berkeley. But I didn’t plan on telling Asher I changed my mind. I just gave a perfunctory answer: “Thanks, Mr. President. I’ll work hard.” Asher smirked with satisfaction. He instinctively raised his hand, as if he wanted to pat my head. Or maybe I was imagining it. The hand hovered awkwardly in mid-air, then dropped back to his side. Before leaving, he dropped a confusing sentence: “If you have any math questions, you can ask me anytime.” “Helping you get into Stanford is also my duty as class president.” He emphasized the last few words, as if worried I would get the wrong idea. Or maybe he was saying it to himself. Chapter 4 After finals, everyone got busy. Graduation, applications, results… Summer moved forward methodically, accompanied by the endless drone of cicadas. Near the start of the semester, my best friend dragged me to a high school reunion. Seeing me, she screamed: “Omg! You got a perm! It’s so pretty!” “When you get to Stanford, you’re going to dazzle Asher, that poser.” I felt a little guilty. “Actually, I didn’t apply to Stanford. I got into Berkeley.” “And I have a boyfriend. We’re just waiting for school to start to meet up.” Her eyes widened in shock. “You chased Asher for three years, dropped him just like that, and got a boyfriend this fast?!” “How did you meet?” Under her interrogation, I confessed: “His name is Julian. I saw him in the comments section of the Berkeley confessions page.” Thinking of Julian’s handsome face, I blushed slightly. “I didn’t want to move on so fast, but he’s just too good-looking!” “And Julian was so easy to chase. We added each other, chatted for a few days, and he said yes when I confessed.” My friend squeezed closer, demanding to see Julian’s photo. “Holy crap. I approve of this marriage. He is genuinely hot!” Just then. A familiar, clear male voice sounded from behind. Asher stood behind me, a rare, warm smile on his lips. “Hazel, I heard you got in too?” “Congratulations.”

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Ten days stranded on a deserted island after a company retreat gone wrong. Finally, a ship appeared on the horizon. Everyone was ecstatic, screaming and waving. But my husband, Mark, the CEO, stopped us. He handed the only flare gun to the intern, Chloe, with a look of pure adoration. “Let Chloe be the hero who saves the team,” he said. Chloe fumbled with the gun, whining about how heavy it was, wasting precious time. Seeing the ship about to turn away, I snatched the flare gun from her hands and pulled the trigger. We were saved. Back in the city, Mark promoted me to General Manager, skipping several levels. But at my first performance review, he handed me over to our biggest rival company as a “gift”—a plaything. I cried, begging him for an explanation. His eyes were full of hate. “If you hadn’t stolen Chloe’s moment, she wouldn’t be depressed right now!” “Since you love the spotlight so much, I’ll make sure you get plenty of attention!” I was used, abused, and eventually sold into trafficking rings across the globe. I died alone, humiliated, in a foreign land. When I opened my eyes, I was back on the island. Back to the moment Chloe held the flare gun. This time, I smiled as I watched her fire the only flare we had—straight into a tree. Chapter 1 When Mark insisted on shoving the flare gun into Chloe’s hands, everyone looked annoyed. Everyone except Chloe, who looked like she’d just been crowned Prom Queen. “Markie, thank you for letting me be the hero,” she cooed. She lifted the gun with trembling, delicate hands, aiming it at the sky, then lowered it again with a whimper. “Markie, I don’t know how to pull the trigger. Teach me?” The ship we had waited ten days for was getting smaller. Panic set in among the team. “Can she do it or not? If not, let me!” “Stop wasting time! We’re all going to die here!” Instead of hurrying, Chloe turned her big, tear-filled doe eyes to Mark. “Markie, they’re being mean to me…” “Am I too stupid? I’m sorry, I can’t be the hero…” Mark’s face darkened instantly. He glared at the employees like a wolf protecting its cub. “Say one more word and you’re fired the second we get back!” Everyone shut up. Silence fell over the beach. Mark was the boss. In this economy, losing a job was a death sentence. Most of us were fresh grads with student loans or parents with mortgages. We couldn’t afford to cross him. Mark gently wrapped his arms around Chloe, patiently explaining the mechanics of a flare gun like he was teaching a toddler. Chloe praised him with every breath, looking at him with worship in her eyes. Mark ate it up, rambling on about his “military knowledge” from video games. Only when the ship was a speck on the horizon did Mark stop talking. Chloe posed again, lifting the gun. In my last life, I couldn’t stand it. I grabbed the gun and saved us. I saved everyone’s life, and Mark hated me for stealing Chloe’s thunder. He destroyed me for it. This time, I stood at the back of the crowd, arms crossed, watching the show. Just as the ship was about to vanish, Chloe finally squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger. Bang. The red flare shot out—and slammed directly into the trunk of a palm tree ten feet away. Chapter 2 Our only chance of rescue fizzled out in the branches. With death staring us in the face, nobody cared about their jobs anymore. “Chloe, are you brain-dead? There’s one tree in that direction! A blind person could have missed it!” “You want to play the clumsy cute girl, fine, but don’t gamble with our lives!” Chloe’s eyes welled up. She looked at Mark helplessly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” “It’s my hand… ever since I pulled my brother out from under that car three years ago, I damaged the tendons…” “It spasms uncontrollably. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to feel guilty, but I can’t hide it anymore…” Mark was moved to tears. He hugged her tight. “Chloe, it’s not your fault. It’s mine…” “Don’t worry, I will get you out of here!” An impatient girl from accounting rolled her eyes. “The flare is gone. How exactly are we getting out?” Mark smirked, pulling a GPS locator out of his pocket like it was the Holy Grail. “Relax. Before the trip, I set up a failsafe with security. If we don’t check in for two weeks, they send a chopper.” A collective sigh of relief washed over the group. People started counting their remaining protein bars, calculating how to survive four more days. But then, Chloe’s face went pale. “I… I took the SIM card out and threw it away…” Dead silence. Even Mark looked shocked. Chloe stammered, “I just wanted the retreat to be more exciting! More authentic! I didn’t think we’d actually get stuck!” “Markie, punish me. It’s all my fault.” She looked like she was about to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. Mark softened immediately. He pulled her up. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I know you love adventure. You just wanted everyone to experience real survival. Your heart was in the right place.” Chloe smiled through her tears, the guilt vanishing instantly. “Then… will you come explore that cave with me? I’m not done having fun!” Mark nodded, completely enchanted. They walked hand-in-hand toward the dark cave entrance. I couldn’t help myself. I called out, “Careful! That cave is full of snakes.” Mark froze. He was terrified of snakes. Even a picture on a screen made him sweat. But Chloe didn’t notice. She tugged on his arm. “It’s just a few little snakes. Markie will protect me, right?” Mark puffed out his chest, glancing at me with disdain. “Chloe is braver than you’ll ever be. You think everyone is a coward like you? Always scared of everything.” With that, they disappeared into the cave. I nearly passed out from anger. We’d been married three years. I helped Mark build his company from nothing. Every decision he made, I analyzed the risks. At first, he respected me. He called me his partner. But as the company grew, he started seeing my caution as weakness. He gave decision-making power to Chloe, the new intern. Chloe was reckless. She made messes, and I cleaned them up. Mark took the credit, Chloe took the praise, and I took the blame. My fault for being a doormat in my last life. I touched the single vial of antivenom in my backpack. They were definitely going to get bit. And there was only enough serum for one. Let’s see if the “brave” couple is still so fearless when death comes knocking. Chapter 3 While they played explorer, I led the team in weaving nets to catch fish. Our food was almost gone. After two hours, we caught a pot full of small fish. We boiled them whole, guts and all, to maximize the calories. It tasted awful, but everyone ate like it was a Michelin meal. Suddenly, Mark burst out of the cave carrying Chloe. “Help! Snake bite!” We rushed over. Both had two bloody puncture wounds on their fingers, oozing dark blood. Mark was sweating buckets, screaming at me. “Sarah! Do something!” Now he remembers me. I put on a panicked face. “That looks like a highly venomous viper! We need to amputate the fingers immediately. It might save your lives.” Chloe wailed. “No! No! If I lose a finger, how will I wear my wedding ring?” She buried her face in Mark’s chest. Mark stomped his foot, turning his rage on me. “You knew we were coming to an island! Why didn’t you bring medicine?” “I’m not asking you to—” He choked on his words. Because Chloe wanted “adventure,” Mark picked this remote island. I tried to stop him, but he threatened divorce. Before we left, I packed first-aid kits for everyone. But Mark said I was overreacting. “Why carry this junk? It’s heavy.” Chloe chimed in, “Is Sarah trying to curse us to get hurt?” So Mark ordered everyone to dump the kits to make room for Chloe’s skincare products. Only I kept mine. Mark and Chloe’s arms were turning black. They collapsed on the sand, breathing hard. Just as they were about to pass out, I slowly pulled the antivenom from my bag. “Oh, right. I forgot I had this.” “But… there’s only one dose.” “You two decide who lives.” Death by poison was too easy for them. In this life, I wanted them alive to suffer. Mark cursed me for not bringing more, but Chloe was faster. She snatched the vial. “Markie, you’re a man. You’re strong.” “Let me have it. Or I’ll die.” Mark wasn’t backing down. “If you hadn’t insisted on exploring that cave, we wouldn’t be in this mess! Don’t drag me down with you!” He tried to grab the needle. Chloe played her trump card. “Markie… you said you’d love me forever. You said you’d do anything for me.” Mark scoffed, about to argue, when Chloe clutched her stomach. “Baby… Mommy is sorry. I couldn’t find you a good daddy.” Mark froze. “Chloe… you’re pregnant? From that one time?” Chloe smiled sadly. “What does it matter? We’re both going to die anyway…” Mark didn’t hesitate. He plunged the needle into Chloe’s arm. But he stopped before it was empty, saving a third for himself. Having temporarily cheated death, Mark looked at me coldl.y “Don’t worry. When the baby is born, you can be the godmother.” “Childbirth is hard. Chloe is doing it for you. You should be grateful to her!” In the past, I would have screamed. Now, I didn’t bother. Chloe whined that she needed nutrients. She grabbed the pot of fish soup and chugged it. A second later, she gagged and vomited everything onto the sand. “Gross! It smells so fishy!” She kicked the pot over, spilling the rest into the ocean. Chapter 4 That was the food we spent hours catching. The team looked ready to murder her. But Mark stood in front of her, shielding her. Emboldened, Chloe pointed at me. “You! Go catch me some sea cucumber!” The team finally snapped. “Are you blind? Look at Sarah’s injuries!” “Sea cucumber? Why don’t you eat sand!” Night fell. The cold wind stung my wounds. On the first night, while building a shelter, Chloe “accidentally” tripped me. I fell down a rocky slope. I was covered in cuts and bruises. When I tried to use my first-aid kit, Mark took it away. “Why were you standing in her way? If Chloe gets a scar on her face, I’ll never forgive you!” He used all the antiseptic and bandages on a tiny scratch on Chloe’s cheek. Ten days later, my wounds were infected. Mark looked at my leg, almost softening, but then glanced at Chloe’s stomach. “Chloe is pregnant. She needs good food.” “You’re just hurt. Is your pain more important than my child?” I laughed coldly and refused. Mark grabbed my collar and dragged me toward the water. The salt water burned my open wounds. I screamed. The more I screamed, the more excited Mark seemed. I realized with horror—the snake venom. It made him aggressive. He grabbed my hair and dunked my head underwater. Suddenly, a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. Warmth spread between my legs. I reached down— In the moonlight, I saw blood. A shapeless mass floated in the water. My miscarriage. Mark stared at the blood, stunned. Then, insanely, he scooped up the tissue and ran to Chloe. “Chloe! Look! Nutrients! Eat this for the baby!” I vomited bile. Just then, someone shouted. “A boat! There’s a boat!” We waved torches. Without Chloe sabotage, the fishing boat docked. Mark picked up Chloe and rushed the gangway. The captain blocked them. “Only one of you can board.”

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It was the second year of my mission to seduce the Hero, and I had accidentally fallen for the Villain. He was obedient, sweet-talking, and knew exactly how to look at me with those puppy-dog eyes. He’d beg for hugs and cling to me like his life depended on it. We had been fooling around for a month when the Hero, face black as thunder, threw me over his shoulder and carried me back to my room. “Have you had enough fun yet?” he gritted out through clenched teeth. Before I could answer, the heavy oak doors of the chamber were blasted off their hinges. The Villain stood in the doorway, a terrifyingly charming smile on his face. “Asking that now… don’t you think it’s a little too late?” 1 The Order of the Silver Flame accepted a new recruit. Rumor had it he was gorgeous—pale skin, red lips, the works. I caught a glimpse of him passing the training grounds. The rumors didn’t do him justice. He was surrounded by a crowd, but his eyes locked onto mine from across the field. He bowed slightly, flashing a smile that was equal parts innocent and mischievous. Like a little fox. I nodded politely, turned around, and walked away. Inside my head, I was screaming at the interface. System! System! I want to switch targets! I want to switch targets right now! The System finally pinged. [System: Sorry, Host. You don’t have enough points for that transaction.] How many am I short? [System: Only 50 points! Just complete the main quest and you’ll have plenty!] Useless. Absolutely useless. I rubbed my temples. Five years ago, I transmigrated into this fantasy romance novel. No cheats, no inventory, no System. Just when I accepted my fate as a background character, sweeping floors for three years, the System finally booted up. [System: Hiii! Sorry I’m late! I’m Seven, your Romance Guide!] I threw my broom. Late? You call three years late? [System: Spatial turbulence, you know how it is. Anyway, your mission is to conquer the Male Lead. Make him fall at your feet!] I sighed. Who is he? [System: Look up!] I looked. Walking down the marble stairs was a man in pristine white armor. Handsome, yes. But cold. Frozen. Kaelen. The High Commander. The “Ice Prince.” He cared about nothing but duty, honor, and slaying monsters. He was famously celibate. I turned around to leave. Forget it. I’d rather die. [System: Then you will be struck by lightning as a penalty.] I spun back around with a bright smile. Challenge accepted. So, I spent two years chasing Kaelen. I climbed the ranks from a servant to an elite soldier just to be his adjutant. But the guy was a stone wall. Zero romantic progress. So, I gave up. I started “quiet quitting.” 2 I was lounging in a tree on Skyfall Peak, eating grapes, when a loud crash shook the forest. I levitated over to investigate. Someone was face-planted in the dirt, legs kicking in the air. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Senior…” a muffled voice came from the ground. “A little help?” I cast a simple wind spell to pull him out. It was the new kid. His hair was messy, a few leaves stuck to his cheek, but he still looked devastatingly pretty. His eyes were wet, like a startled deer. “Sorry, Senior,” he said, dusting himself off. “I hit the barrier while practicing my flight spell.” “You’re the new recruit?” He nodded eagerly. “Name?” “Damon,” he said, eyes curving into crescents. Ding. [System: New Character Unlocked: Damon. Role: The Main Villain.] My smile froze. Damon? The Shadow Lord? The guy rumored to be a bloodthirsty, ruthless monster with fangs? I looked at the boy in front of me. He looked like a cinnamon roll. Then I noticed his wrist was bruised purple. “You’re hurt,” I said. Minutes later, I was leading the Big Bad Wolf to the infirmary. Villain or not, building connections never hurt. Damon followed me like a lost puppy. While I applied the salve, he winced. I decided to tease him and pressed a little harder. He bit his lip, eyes reddening. “Senior… gentle, please.” Oh, god. My heart skipped a beat. “I’m still bad at flying,” he whispered, tugging my sleeve. “Can you teach me?” I cleared my throat. “Come to Skyfall Peak every evening at sunset. I’ll teach you.” He beamed. “Senior, you’re the best!” 3 The next evening, Damon arrived with his training sword. He learned fast. Too fast. I suspected he was faking his incompetence. He was the Shadow Lord, after all. “Look, Senior!” he shouted, spinning in the air. Suddenly, he wobbled and plummeted. I flew up to catch him princess-style, but at the last second, he twisted and wrapped his arms around my waist. We floated down together, spinning slowly. Definite on purpose. “Don’t underestimate me, Senior,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. I pushed him away, face heating up. “Focus!” From then on, he came every day. He brought snacks. He covered me with his cloak when I napped. One night, while I was getting ready for bed, I heard a thud at my window. “Who is it?” I grabbed my robe. “S-sorry! I brought fresh fruit…” I opened the window. Damon stood there, blushing, holding a basket of glowing moon-pears. His collar was loose, exposing his collarbones. I took the fruit and flicked his forehead. “Use the door next time.” He nodded and ran away. [System: Host, remember the mission! You’ve been fooling around with the Villain for a month! Progress with Kaelen is zero!] Mute. 4 The Grand Tournament was approaching. Kaelen was busy hunting demons. I was relaxing under a pear tree when a figure materialized out of thin air. Damon. But today he wasn’t wearing the standard recruit uniform. He wore black silk robes embroidered with dark gold. He looked dangerous. And beautiful. “You look good,” I said honestly. He smiled, flashing into the seat next to me. “I’m glad you like it.” He looked at the grapes in my hand. “Senior, feed me?” I tossed him one. He shook his head. “I want to taste the one in your mouth.” I choked. This was… aggressive. Before I could respond, the System screamed. [System: Kaelen incoming! Kaelen incoming!] I jumped up. Kaelen stood under the archway, radiating frost. His expression was darker than I’d ever seen. “Master Kaelen,” I bowed. He ignored me, glaring at Damon. “Who are you?” “Damon,” he replied cheerfully. “Nice to meet you, High Commander.” “Skyfall Peak is restricted,” Kaelen said, ice in his voice. “Get out.” Damon blinked, then leaned closer to me. “Senior said I could come.” Did he just throw me under the bus? Kaelen looked at me. “Is this true?” “He… he just came for sword lessons…” “Lessons?” Kaelen scoffed. Damon pouted. “Senior… he’s so scary.” Kaelen’s hand went to the hilt of his sword. “You’ve been bewitched by this boy for a month?” Damon tried to hook his pinky with mine. Shing. Kaelen’s sword unsheathed, pointing straight at Damon’s throat. “Back off.” Damon chuckled. His form dissolved into black mist. “See you tomorrow, Senior.”

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I was my husband’s lucky charm. He brought me to every single business negotiation. As long as I was in the room, no deal ever fell through. But his childhood friend, who had just returned from abroad to work as his secretary, looked down on me. Behind my husband’s back, she mocked me for being a useless trophy wife. I was so upset I cried. That same day, my husband’s company lost two major contracts, and its market value evaporated by hundreds of millions. By the time he dragged his childhood friend to apologize, I was already on a plane, heading overseas to clear my head. Chapter 1 When my mom was pregnant with me, she hired a psychic to calculate the perfect birth date, hoping I’d be born with a silver spoon in my mouth. But the day before that “perfect date,” my mom tripped on a flat sidewalk and went into labor early. So much for the silver spoon. The psychic looked at my chart and declared: “This girl has no fortune of her own. She’ll have to rely on men to survive.” My mom was so furious she trashed the guy’s shop and called him a fraud. This became the cautionary tale my mom told me every time I bombed a test, whipping me into studying harder to change my “fate.” I never took it seriously. But despite calling the psychic a fraud, my parents were secretly terrified every time they saw my abysmal grades. My mom went full tiger mom, tutoring me every night after work no matter how tired she was. Thanks to her iron fist, I clawed my way from the bottom of the class to somewhere in the middle. In middle school, when the subjects got too hard for my mom, my dad started pouring money into cram schools. My mom worried I wouldn’t be able to feed myself. My dad, a six-foot-tall softie, just couldn’t handle the idea of his precious, innocent, beautiful daughter being dependent on a man instead of being an independent woman. Honestly, they worried too much. My dad was handsome in a rugged way, and my mom was delicately pretty. I was a blend of both—cute, clean-cut, but ultimately, pretty average. I had the kind of face you’d lose in a crowd. But weirdly enough, boys loved me. From kindergarten on, boys would bring me snacks and give me their favorite toys. In elementary school, before I even knew what a crush was, I was getting love letters. In middle school, my parents went on high alert, crushing any signs of puppy love. By high school, between regular classes and cram schools, I barely had time to sleep, let alone date. Then I went to college out of state. Without my parents hovering, my “bad romance” curse activated. I was a magnet for jerks. Every relationship, no matter how passionately it started, ended with me catching them cheating. The strange thing was, every guy I dated had insane luck with money while we were together. Their startups boomed, or they got promoted rapidly. As they got richer, they were generous with me. But money changes men. Having me wasn’t enough; they needed the thrill of other women. I didn’t get it. If they had that much energy, why not donate it to charity? Why be a scumbag? Chapter 2 After getting cheated on enough times, I stopped believing in fairy-tale romance. But the suitors kept coming like weeds after rain. Between the harassment and my struggle to find a job, I acted on impulse. I decided to just find a man to marry for peace of mind. I signed up for a matchmaking service behind my parents’ backs. I figured the guys at a matchmaking agency would at least be vetted. I provided the criteria; the matchmaker provided the service. My requirements were shallow: Tall, handsome, high IQ. If I married a hot guy and he made me mad, at least I could look at his face and calm down. If I married an ugly guy and he made me mad, I’d just hate myself for being blind. When I told the matchmaker this, her face said, You have zero self-awareness. But the next day, she excitedly told me a wealthy businessman had seen my profile and wanted to meet. I went alone. He brought a Feng Shui master. The master took one look at my face and said I had “prosperity written all over me” and would bring immense luck to my husband. I almost walked out from second-hand embarrassment. If I was destined for riches, why were my parents still scrimping to pay off the mortgage? But the businessman… Julian Thorne… bought it. He grew up in a superstitious family and, despite being a modern tech mogul, still believed in Feng Shui and destiny. He was blunt. His company was hitting a bottleneck. The master looked at his chart and said he needed a “prosperity wife” to break through. Basically, he needed a lucky charm to marry. And apparently, that was me. I appreciated his honesty. I didn’t play coy. I was there to get married, after all. If the terms were right, I’d sign the papers immediately. Julian was a man of action. Seeing I wasn’t repulsed, he drove me straight to a law firm to draft a prenup. He told me to name my terms. Anything he could do, he would put in writing. A legally binding contract was way sexier than empty promises. My terms: Absolute loyalty, and no forced pregnancy. If he violated either, I could file for divorce and take half his assets. His terms: I had to accompany him to business dinners whenever requested. If I refused, he’d deduct from my allowance. At the time, I didn’t know how rich he was, so the “allowance” threat didn’t register. I just wanted a marriage without betrayal. We signed the papers, got our marriage license, and he took me home to meet his parents. Chapter 3 As the car pulled into the driveway of a sprawling estate that screamed “old money,” I realized I had misunderstood the matchmaker’s definition of “wealthy.” I thought wealthy meant a nice house and a few million in the bank. I didn’t know it meant dynasty wealthy. Huge mistake. I had just accidentally married into the 1%. And I hadn’t told my parents. They were going to kill me. When I took Julian to meet them, my mom, with her fiery temper, tried to smack me. Julian stepped in and took the slap for me. While my mom raged, my six-foot-two dad was bawling in the corner, mourning the loss of his innocent baby girl. Thankfully, they didn’t force me to divorce him. My life with Julian was surprisingly harmonious. Mostly because Julian was a workaholic. His energy went into making money. He left early and came home late, always texting me his schedule. We lived under the same roof but rarely saw each other. I slept in; he went to work. I went to bed early for my beauty sleep; he came home late. Unless there was a dinner I needed to attend, we lived separate lives. I thought it was perfect. He seemed satisfied too. He’d randomly transfer money to me. He said the master told him the more I spent, the smoother his business would go. So whenever he hit a snag at work, he’d send me cash and tell me to go shopping. I couldn’t spend it fast enough. My monthly allowance was seven figures. He’d randomly drop another seven figures as “pocket money.” Designer clothes and jewelry were delivered to the house on his tab. Aside from food, I barely had anything to spend money on. I thought this life would last forever. Until the glitch in the matrix appeared. Chapter 4 It started when I found a long, curly strand of hair in a jewelry gift bag Julian gave me. It was jarring. Deliberate. The next night, I stayed up late waiting for him. Unsurprisingly, I smelled women’s perfume on him. When he saw I was awake, his fatigue vanished. The sofa was huge, but he insisted on sitting right next to me. Up close, the mix of his crisp cologne and the cloying sweetness of the other perfume hit me hard. He didn’t seem to notice. He leaned in, eyes burning, wanting a kiss. I pushed him away. “Babe…” His voice was low and husky, full of intent. I felt a twinge of regret. I shouldn’t have stayed up just to play detective. There was a reason I went to bed early. Julian looked like a stoic CEO, but in private, he was clingy. His energy was either on work or on me. I couldn’t handle it. But I was weak for a handsome face. When Julian turned on the charm, I crumbled. Before he could lean in again, I told him to go shower. At least wash off the other woman’s scent. Instead, he scooped me up. “Let’s shower together,” he said, ignoring my protests as he carried me to the bathroom.

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My childhood friend and the billionaire heir both chased me. I chose the billionaire. My childhood friend was furious. “Don’t mock a youth for being poor. One day, I’ll make you regret this.” Six years later, he drove a luxury car, a beautiful woman on his arm. He ran into me selling grilled sausages on the street. He sneered, “Since we’re old friends, I’ll take two.” 1 The next time I saw my childhood friend, Luke, I was selling grilled sausages on the side of the road. He had his arm around a young girl’s waist, mocking me: “Hah, Sarah, you’ve been reduced to a street vendor?” “The Pierce family went bankrupt, so your rich boyfriend can’t support you anymore?” Caleb Pierce, who was casually fishing a sausage out of the fryer, asked me, “Who is this?” Luke’s face turned green, choked into silence. I stifled a laugh and explained, “Luke, your college roommate.” The girl next to Luke, holding a sausage in one hand, looked confused. “Luke, you know them?” He patted the girl’s head affectionately. “Just old acquaintances. It’s cold out, go wait in the car.” Under Luke’s smug gaze, I looked up at the SUV parked by the curb. “Sarah, seems like your taste isn’t great either. You dumped me for the richer Caleb Pierce, do you regret it now?” I rolled my eyes. “Five bucks total, don’t forget to pay.” “My girlfriend loves these. Fry two more, help boost your sales.” I wanted to tell him to get lost. Caleb patted my shoulder nonchalantly, pushing me aside. He fried the sausages with good temper, packed them nicely in a bag, and handed them to Luke. Luke pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the change. Eat something good tonight.” Caleb didn’t take it, a cryptic smile in his eyes. “No need. Since we know each other, it’s on me.” Luke scoffed. “Don’t try to save face at a time like this.” Caleb glanced at the car by the road. “That car is second-hand, right?” Luke stiffened. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Let me give you a piece of advice. This woman could dump me back then, she can dump you now.” He dropped that sentence, turned around, got in his car, and left. Leaving Caleb and me staring at each other in the cold wind. “Why didn’t he say ‘don’t mock a youth for being poor’ just now?” I was speechless. “Probably forgot.” Caleb took a bite of a sausage and asked amusedly, “Will you dump me?” “Not necessarily.” “Will we be together forever?” “Hard to say.” Caleb: … “How did you know his car was second-hand?” I asked. “Because when it was first-hand, it was mine.” While we were bickering, the real stall owner came back. He was Caleb’s best friend. He fell out with his family because he refused an arranged marriage. His parents cut off his cards, and he swore he would start his own business. Selling grilled sausages. He snatched the sausage from Caleb’s hand, cursing. “Bro, I went to the bathroom for a second, you ate six, and didn’t make a dime!” Caleb: “Some idiot just bought sausages and didn’t pay.” “Who the hell was it? This is my blood and sweat money!” Luke daring to provoke us meant he must have gotten wind of the news. He wasn’t wrong. The Pierce family was indeed facing bankruptcy. 2 Luke and I were neighbors since childhood. We went to school together, did homework together, accompanying each other for over a decade. After graduating high school, we came from our small town to New York for college. Luke’s family ran a small factory, which was considered well-off in that small town. My mom was an English teacher, my dad a math teacher. They valued my grades highly. I was an only child, and all the family’s resources tilted towards me. Pretty dresses, exquisite stationery, the occasional expensive accessory, and pricey dance lessons every year. After starting college, I realized the prosperity of the big city was far beyond what that small town could compare to. New York’s wealth was dazzling. I was still a student, able to enjoy college life freely with the allowance from home. But what about after graduation? I wanted to stay. When I chose to be with Caleb, many people felt indignant for Luke. They said I was greedy, vain, and dumped my childhood sweetheart. Greedy for wealth? I admit it. Who isn’t? The Pierce family’s listed company was incomparable to Luke’s small factory. But dumping Luke? I don’t admit that. We were never together. Now, the Pierce family faced bankruptcy, and everyone avoided them like the plague. Luke, however, was no longer the same. The food factory expanded, caught the wave of the internet, and started live-streaming sales. They opened over twenty stores and made a fortune. Many people were waiting to see me become a joke, laughing at my short-sightedness and wrong choice. 3 Caleb was a law student; I was in Foreign Languages. We wouldn’t have crossed paths. I knew him because he was Luke’s roommate. Knowing his background, I was polite to him. Being on good terms with him couldn’t hurt. Ideally, make friends and develop connections. His attitude towards others was always mild. Not cold, but not warm either. A bit cool. Freshman year, apart from classes, my mind was full of making money. At first, I worked part-time in the cafeteria, selling pasta. When Caleb came to eat, the cafeteria was almost empty. Seeing it was me, he was slightly surprised. “You need money?” I wasn’t embarrassed. “Not really, just earning some extra cash.” He nodded and asked, “Which flavor is good?” “I like the tomato one.” “Then I’ll have that.” After working in the cafeteria for a month, I quit. Reason being: too much work, too little pay. The boss said, “You can eat for free, save on living expenses.” Sounds nice, but I can’t eat pasta for every meal. Before leaving, though, I introduced a classmate who wanted a part-time job to him. The next time I saw Caleb, I was in the mailroom. He chuckled lightly. “You’re quite busy, working multiple jobs.” I teased, “What, the young master shops online and picks up packages too?” He accepted the title without hesitation. “Young masters are human too.” “Shouldn’t you just make a call and have someone deliver it directly?” He rolled his eyes. “Read fewer novels.” A month later, I quit the mailroom job too. A senior introduced me to a translation gig. 4 On Luke’s birthday, we celebrated at a KTV, inviting many classmates. Caleb was there too. A girl with pink hair and a fresh face caught my eye. Very cute. I noticed her because she gave Luke a watch, and my gift was also a watch. Her watch cost nearly four thousand, a bit expensive for a student. Everyone knew my relationship with Luke and was curious about what I gave. Looking at my three-hundred-dollar watch, I felt a bit embarrassed to take it out. Luke chuckled. “I like whatever Sarah gives.” After that, singing, chatting. I didn’t participate, sitting aside eating and watching them play. Luke, maybe a bit drunk, suddenly shouted, “Our Sarah learned classical dance. How about she performs for us?” Others joined in, urging me to dance. Seeing Luke showing me off like a trophy, my face stiffened. “My clothes today aren’t suitable. I’ll dance for you another time.” I kept a polite smile. Luke’s other roommate, Mike, had no tact. “Just improvise a bit, don’t be a buzzkill.” I looked at Luke for help, signaling him to control his roommate. I didn’t want to dance on such an occasion. But he pushed me. “Sarah, it’s my birthday, do it for my sake.” Since he put it that way, I stopped indulging him. “What sake do you have?” The scene froze instantly, everyone looking at each other. Luke’s face turned ugly. This wasn’t my fault anyway. I stood up nonchalantly. “Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.” When I came back, Luke and the others were chatting again, as if the little episode never happened. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard the conversation inside. Through the crack, Mike asked curiously, “Luke, are you and Sarah together or not?” “Didn’t you say you were childhood sweethearts?” Luke explained with a smile, “We played together since we were three. Our parents always wanted to matchmake us, but I haven’t decided yet.” The pink-haired girl chimed in, “That’s just the elders’ wish. Knowing each other since childhood doesn’t mean you have to be together.” Mike: “I saw Sarah working part-time in the cafeteria a while ago. A pretty girl like her, why work in a cafeteria?” Luke frowned, sounding concerned. “She really is something. Why didn’t she tell me if she needed money?” I had an urge to rush in and curse. Luke continued, “After high school graduation, Sarah confessed to me. I didn’t say yes, but our families are close, I didn’t want to make it awkward.” “Heh.” A cold snort came from the corner. Caleb, who hadn’t spoken much, smiled thoughtfully. “What’s the big deal? If you don’t like her, just reject her directly.” Luke wasn’t happy. “Caleb, you don’t understand. Sarah and I have known each other for so many years, our feelings are deep.” Caleb said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. Maybe she isn’t as good as you think.” “Huh? Why do you say that?” “Because I made it up.” Luke: … Me: … Saying speechless things with a straight face. I had a new understanding of Caleb. He didn’t play by the rules. Luke said helplessly, “Caleb, you really know how to joke.” Caleb continued asking, “So do you like her or not?” Luke fell silent. He always stood perfectly in the friend zone, unwilling to take a step forward, yet unwilling to reject clearly. Caleb walked to him, patted his shoulder, sounding like a wise mentor. “You’ll meet many people in four years of college. Trust me, you deserve better.” Luke hesitated. “But Sarah…” “She’s the best, not suitable for you.” “…” Outside the door, I almost burst out laughing. Caleb’s nonsensical remarks left everyone speechless. Wanting to laugh, but couldn’t. “Caleb, you…” Luke looked stiff, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Caleb ignored him and walked towards the door. My heart tightened. I quickly ran to hide around the corner of the corridor. Slowly calming my breathing, I heard footsteps getting closer. “Stop hiding, come out.” I didn’t move. “If you don’t come out, I’ll go back and tell them you were eavesdropping.” “…”

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I was the scholarship kid sponsored by the wealthy Sterling family. After seven days of the silent treatment from Holden Sterling, the family’s heir, over a trivial argument, I finally cracked. I planned to use discussing college applications as an excuse to apologize and make up. But when I walked into his classroom, I saw him sitting at the new transfer student’s desk, helping her pick colleges. After a long while, he finally looked up, his gaze bored and dismissive. “What do you want?” “I don’t care where you apply. I don’t want to go to the same school as you anyway!” I looked up, stunned. Suddenly, a barrage of floating text—like a livestream chat—scrolled across my vision: 【Ugh, the second male lead is being stubborn again. So annoying.】 【He says he doesn’t want to go to the same college, but he secretly bought two sets of dorm supplies.】 【Please, girl, don’t chase him anymore! North State is great, you’ll meet the real male lead sooner!】 【Exactly! The male lead is handsome, smart, and totally devoted. Way better than this arrogant jerk who can’t express his feelings!】 Chapter 1 It was “College Decision Day” at our high school. The moment I walked into Holden’s classroom, laughter erupted. “Oh look, Holden, your little shadow is here again!” “Does the Sterling family still adopt her even after graduation? They’re too kind.” “I heard they were betrothed as kids, didn’t you know?” “To be fair, Luna is pretty. Having her as a girlfriend wouldn’t be a loss.” The jokes flew around the room. Holden didn’t move. He didn’t even turn his head. He wasn’t at his own desk. He was sitting next to Chloe, the new transfer student, holding a fountain pen, meticulously analyzing her SAT scores and potential colleges. Only when Chloe nudged his shoulder and pointed at me did he lazily look up. His eyes were full of boredom and annoyance. “Luna.” “You need something?” I took a deep breath, remembering why I came. “Holden.” “Applications are due tomorrow… Your mom asked me to check with you.” “Which university are you aiming for? We could apply to the same one, look out for each other.” Silence hung in the air for a second. Holden turned his face away. “Did my mom send you?” He scoffed. “You’re so obedient.” “But forget it.” “You don’t need to ask me. I don’t want to go to the same place as you, so apply wherever you want.” Chapter 2 My heart sank. In the beginning, Holden wasn’t this cold. My father and his father were best friends. They grew up together, were college roommates. Our parents even joked about us getting married one day since we were the same age. But the jokes ended when tragedy struck. My parents’ company was framed, plunging into a massive crisis. On their way to fix the mess, they died in a car crash. They never came back. The little assets left were devoured by greedy relatives. Nothing remained. And I became a burden. No one wanted me. In the end, it was Holden’s parents who took me from the empty, foreclosed house. Little Holden followed behind, tugging at my shirt, stumbling as he tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, Luna.” “Follow me from now on. I’ll protect you. No one will bully you!” He kept that promise. For years, he always took me with him. He acted like a big brother, the first to fight anyone who mocked me for being an orphan living on charity. Until high school. Sophomore year. Rumors started spreading about us. They said I was his “child bride,” that the Sterlings only adopted me to fulfill an old engagement. At first, Holden didn’t care. But the gossip grew. And Chloe, the new girl who quickly became part of Holden’s group, kept teasing him. “For real, Holden? Is that little follower really your child bride?” “So you’re taken? Aww, I better stay away so people don’t call me a homewrecker, haha!” Holden’s face changed. A few days later, on the way to school, he pulled me aside and drew a line between us for the first time. “Luna, stop following me all the time.” “Don’t you think it’s annoying?” “Let’s keep some distance.” Chapter 3 From that day on, Holden stopped walking to school with me. Even on campus, he avoided me. I could feel he hated the rumors. But today, I only came to tell him something important. According to the adoption agreement, the guardianship ended when I turned eighteen. After graduation, I would leave the Sterling family. Mrs. Sterling felt that since we grew up together, we shouldn’t lose touch. She wanted us to go to the same college, to support each other. But… If Holden didn’t want that, then fine. I heard Chloe giggle. “Come on, show some respect to the class beauty!” “So, Holden, I want to go to North State University. Want to come with me?” Holden twirled his pen. He looked up nonchalantly and smiled. “Sure.” “You like it there? Then I’ll apply there too.” A hand squeezed my heart. Acidic pain spread through my chest. I looked up, blinking hard to hold back tears. That’s when the text appeared floating in the air. [Comments] User1: Ugh, typical second male lead behavior. Talking trash again. So annoying. User2: Exactly. He’s been secretly in love with the heroine since childhood but acts like a jerk to distance himself. User3: Saying he’s going with the transfer student? He’s just saying that for Luna to hear! User4: Why does the heroine have to follow them? Can this guy just exit the story already? User5: It sucks that the real male lead is at South U. Luna won’t meet him until after graduation… User6: Ahhh Luna, stop coaxing him! Go to South U! User7: The male lead is handsome, smart, and a total simp for her! Six-pack abs under that white shirt… a total dreamboat! … “South U?” I froze when I saw the comment. I didn’t care about “male leads” or whatever. But South U had the best program for the major I wanted! It fit my career plans perfectly. In fact, the summer of freshman year, I mentioned South U to Holden. Back then, we weren’t distant. Walking home, we dreamed about the future together. “South U?” I remembered Holden frowning, looking at me. He hesitated, then ruffled my hair. “Nah, Luna.” “South U is in the south. It’s humid and hot. I hate that weather.” “Plus, Archer got into South U this year. I don’t want to be his junior.” “Let’s…” “Let’s go north. How about North State? It’s just as prestigious.” Chapter 4 Archer Sterling was Holden’s cousin. Holden’s grandfather had two sons. Archer’s father and Holden’s father. Rumor had it the brothers were only harmonious on the surface, fighting a secret war for the family business. Archer and Holden were constantly compared. I had never met Archer. But I heard the stories. Elders described him as brilliant, mature, decisive, and cold. A natural-born CEO, even at eighteen. Holden’s grandfather clearly favored Archer. At family dinners, he’d bluntly compare them. “Archer is already analyzing financial reports, and you’re still playing basketball and video games!” Over time, Holden grew to resent his cousin. That summer, he tugged at my backpack, pleading. “If I follow Archer, they’ll just compare us again. Besides, Archer is awful. He’s strict, cold, and heartless. Let’s stay away from him, okay?” “He’s in the south, so we go north.” What did I say back then? I laughed. “Is he really that scary?” “Fine, fine. We won’t go.” “But north or south, you have to study hard.” But now… The boy who promised to go to college with me had let go of my hand. Since he made his choice, whatever I put on my application wouldn’t break our promise. South U? Sounds good. Based on my grades, I had a good shot. I nodded. “Don’t worry, Holden.” “I’ll fill out my application alone tomorrow. I won’t bother you again.” “And I’ll make sure to avoid the place you want to go.” Everyone was surprised by my decisiveness. The room went quiet. Holden looked up sharply. He stared at me, unblinking. His gaze was stunned, mixed with a trace of resentment. “Is that so?” “Fine. Remember what you said, Luna.” “Don’t regret it.”

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On a variety show, the host asked us to confess the most wicked thing we’d ever done. I smiled shyly. “When I was a kid, my best friend and I hid all of her older brother’s pants.” The other guests leaned in, their faces full of curiosity, demanding to know what happened next. Beside me, the famous movie star smiled and finished the story for me. “And later, she turned around, provoked me, and threatened to pants me herself.” I froze. 1 I ended up on this variety show as a favor to a friend, basically just to fill a seat. In the first episode, the host asked us about the most wicked thing we’d ever done. I fell silent for a moment. Not because I couldn’t think of anything, but because I’ve done so many questionable things growing up. Where to even start? After everyone else shared their stories, the camera panned to me. I picked the crown jewel of my childhood pranks without hesitation. “When I was a kid, my best friend and I hid all of her older brother’s pants.” The memory was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but giggle. Sitting next to me, fellow guest Lexi leaned in, eyes wide. “And then what happened?” I racked my brain, then hesitated. I was too embarrassed to finish the story. The truth was, I didn’t apologize. Instead, I doubled down and taunted him. I hadn’t dared to show my face in front of him since. Seeing me stammer, Lexi let her imagination run wild. “Did you get beat up?” I shook my head. “Did you guys start dating?” I shook my head violently like a rattle drum. Lexi, impatient as ever, stomped her foot. “So what happened? Tell us!” I scratched my head, about to speak, when the movie star next to me smiled and chimed in. “Later, she turned around, provoked me, and threatened to pants me herself.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Him? He was Liam Stone? Lexi’s gaze darted between me and Liam, her brain clearly overheating. After a long pause, she finally asked, “So, the poor guy who got his pants stolen… was you?” Then she looked at me. “And the little devil who stole them… was you?” I kept my head down, my eyes involuntarily drifting toward Liam. I couldn’t figure it out. I just wanted to share a funny story. How did I end up sitting next to the victim? 2 It wasn’t entirely my fault I didn’t recognize Liam. Back then, he wore a black mask all day long, acting all mysterious. My best friend, Lola Stone, constantly cried to me about how cruel her brother was. Stealing her allowance, eating her snacks… you name it. Eventually, she invited me over to steal Liam’s pants. She called it “teaching him a lesson.” I was at that age where justice felt paramount, and after hearing Lola’s tales of woe, I agreed in a burst of righteous indignation. Our plan was simple. I’d be the lookout in the living room while Lola sneaked into his bedroom to grab the goods. But there was a snag. As I was helping Lola transport the loot to her room, we ran smack into Liam. Remembering his cold stare still makes me feel guilty. But thinking of how much Lola suffered under his tyranny, I summoned my courage and shouted, “If you bully Lola again, next time I’ll pants you myself!” Years later… Lola got drunk and accidentally spilled the beans. The stolen allowance? The snatched snacks? All lies. Just stories she made up during her dramatic phase. I kept a straight face, but inside I was screaming. The stories were fake, but my threat to Liam was very real! Since then, I haven’t dared to see Liam face-to-face. 3 Believing in owning up to mistakes, I immediately apologized to Liam. “I’m so sorry. I was young and ignorant. I’ve learned my lesson. Please forgive me, Mr. Stone.” How profound was this lesson? Well, since that incident, I only believe about a third of what Lola says. The live comments were going wild. [Haha, look at Anna looking like a scolded elementary schooler.] [Mr. Stone, forgive our Anna! She’s just a little bit clueless.] [Don’t blame Anna! Being clueless isn’t a crime!] [I’m crying. I told my bestie my brother bullies me, and she said, ‘Good job, bro.’] [Okay, but Liam doesn’t look mad at all. He’s been smiling the whole time.] Seeing that last comment, I looked up at Liam. Our eyes met. Liam seemed to remember something, and let out a low chuckle. I was terrified. Lola’s words echoed in my mind: Liam has evolved. He’s learned how to play dirty. I pulled out my phone and texted Lola for help. Even from across the ocean, she replied instantly: [Be careful! My brother texted me hours ago saying he ran into you. I could feel the murderous intent through the screen!] Combined with Liam’s meaningful smile, my hands trembled as I typed: [What do I do?] [Your brother holds grudges like crazy!] [Help me! How do I apologize so he’ll accept it?] Lola went silent. I was panicking like an ant on a hot pan. Just then, the director told us to pick partners for the upcoming tasks. Lexi, enjoying the drama, nudged Liam. “Want to partner up with Anna?” Liam smiled, eyes crinkling. “Of course.” Before I could panic, he added, “I want to see how she plans to pants me.” Me: [Internal Screaming] 4 After pairing up, Liam naturally sat next to me. I struggled internally for a long time before finally whispering, “Can I not be your partner?” Liam raised an eyebrow but said nothing. According to Lola, this was the calm before the storm. I lowered my head, speaking fast. “I was young and dumb when I helped Lola hide your pants. I really know I was wrong.” “And I swear, I never actually wanted to pants you! Really!” I even raised my hand in a vow. Liam leaned back on the sofa. “You think I picked you to get revenge for the pants incident?” Talk about stating the obvious. But I nodded anyway and apologized again. “I really know I messed up.” Liam looked at me for a few seconds, then laughed. “Your apology seems sincere enough.” I quickly ran through Lola’s teachings but couldn’t decipher the emotion behind his words. So I sneaked a glance at him. Okay, he’s smiling. That means he’s probably in a good mood. Relieved, I asked, “So about the partners…” Liam kept smiling, but his words killed my hope. “Of course we’re staying together. We’re old acquaintances. Our chemistry should be great.” I tried to smile, but my face wouldn’t cooperate. Seeing my despair, Liam’s mood improved even more. Before leaving, he ruffled my hair and dropped a bomb. “Why has your courage shrunk so much?” I smoothed my hair, staring at his back, thinking angrily that Lola was right. Liam Stone is not a good person!

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I deliberately ignored the bank’s collection calls, let my accounts freeze, and officially became a “deadbeat.” I wasn’t panicked, but the intern sure was. In my past life, on Black Friday, the intern used my identity to take out a massive loan, treating the entire company to a shopping spree at the mall. It left me saddled with millions in debt. When I confronted her, demanding she pay it back, she threw herself into my boyfriend’s arms, sobbing. “Sarah, just because I have money doesn’t mean you can accuse me like this!” My boyfriend was even worse, screaming at me. “Sarah, you’re just vain! You took out those loans to buy luxury goods yourself, and now you want to frame Bella to pay for it? How can you be so vicious?” In the ensuing argument, I was pushed down the stairs and fell to my death. My boyfriend and my colleagues all testified for the intern, claiming I fell on my own. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the intern invited the whole company on a shopping spree. Chapter 1 “Tomorrow is Black Friday! To thank everyone for taking care of me, I asked Jake for the day off. I’m taking the whole team to the mall for a shopping spree. It’s all on me!” Hearing Bella’s familiar voice, I looked at the clock on the wall and realized instantly: I had been reborn. The next second, Bella grabbed my arm. “Sarah, new members get a 10% discount at that mall. Can I borrow your ID to sign up?” My body trembled violently. The pain of falling down those stairs in my past life flooded back. In my previous life, on this exact day, Bella invited the company to shop. She used the excuse of a “new member discount” to borrow my driver’s license. It wasn’t until the debt collectors showed up that I realized the million dollars she spent was a loan taken out in my name. When I confronted her, she played the victim, crying into my boyfriend Jake’s chest. “Sarah, just because I have money doesn’t mean you can accuse me!” Jake shouted at me, “Sarah, you’re just jealous and vain! You bought luxury goods and now you’re trying to pin the debt on Bella? You’re disgusting!” During the argument, I was pushed. I died. And they all lied to cover it up. Thinking of the pain, I gritted my teeth. Before I could react, Jake snatched my purse, dug out my license, and handed it to Bella. I snapped back to reality and ripped it out of Bella’s hand. “Jake! Who gave you the right to take my ID?” Jake looked at me with annoyance. “Sarah, what is your problem? Bella is treating everyone tomorrow. She just needs your ID for a membership card. Give it to her and stop holding everyone up.” Bella held my hand, smiling sweetly. “Sarah, if we open the card, all the reward points will go to you. You can use them to buy whatever you need for the house.” Jake put his arm around Bella, eyes full of adoration. “Bella, you’re such a saint. Always thinking of others.” Chapter 2 Jake glared at me impatiently. “Sarah, I wish you were half as sensible as Bella. She’s always thinking of you, and you just hurt her feelings over and over. Give her the ID and apologize.” I laughed out loud. “No thanks. Give your charity to someone else. I can’t afford it.” Jake exploded. He slammed a folder onto my desk. “Sarah! You are targeting Bella on purpose! She’s being nice to you, and you’re being ungrateful! Apologize to her right now or we’re done! I hate jealous, petty women like you.” If this were the old, love-struck me, I would have been introspective, blaming myself. But now? Watching their performance just made me sick. I looked at him coldly. “Fine. Let’s break up. You and your ‘little sister’ can live happily ever after.” Jake’s eyes widened. He looked shocked that I would actually agree to a breakup. “Sarah, are you crazy? Do you know what you’re saying? I only see Bella as a sister! Stop projecting your dirty mind onto us!” Bella looked at me with big, teary doe eyes. “Sarah, Jake takes care of me, but we really are just like siblings. Please don’t fight because of me. How about this? Tomorrow at the mall, I’ll buy you a new Hermès bag. Consider it a rental fee for your ID.” Jake sneered at me. “Sarah, isn’t that what you wanted? Taking advantage of Bella? Without her, you’d never even set foot in an Hermès store in this lifetime. Give her the ID and stop wasting our time.” Colleagues chimed in. “Bella uses your ID but gives you the points AND a luxury bag? People would kill for that deal. Stop being ungrateful.” “You’re just jealous because Bella is a rich intern. She must be some heiress. You could work for a hundred years and never be on her level.” “Seriously, Sarah. As a manager, you only buy us cheap coffee once a week. So stingy. No wonder everyone likes Bella more.” I used to buy them drinks out of my own pocket every week, and they never complained. Now I’m stingy? Ungrateful wolves. Fair-weather friends. Bella started getting impatient. “Sarah, please stop making a scene. Give me the ID. I need to go to the mall after work to set up the card so we don’t waste time tomorrow.” I clutched my bag tight, staring her down. “I have plans tomorrow. I’m not going. I don’t need you to buy me anything. Borrow someone else’s ID.” A flash of malice crossed Bella’s face before she switched back to the crying victim. “Sarah, I know you don’t like me. But everyone has been working so hard… I just wanted to treat the team. If you’re not happy, let’s just forget it. Everyone can just come to work tomorrow instead.” Chapter 3 Bella’s words painted me as the villain who canceled the party. Instantly, my colleagues turned on me. Someone shoved me to the ground. Another splashed water from a cup onto my clothes. “Sarah, do you hate seeing us happy? Just because you don’t want to go, you have to ruin it for everyone?” “How can you be so toxic? We finally get a day off and a shopping spree, and you ruin it out of jealousy?” Someone kicked me in the stomach. I gasped in pain. “You always act so high and mighty. Now you’re ruining everything for us just because you’re envious?” Ignoring the pain, I grabbed a vase from a desk and smashed it on the floor. The crash startled everyone. I used the moment to push them away and stand up. “Are you all insane? I never said you couldn’t go shopping! I just refused to let her use my ID! If you want to go, give her your IDs! Why does it have to be mine?” A colleague rolled her eyes. “It’s just an ID. Why are you being so petty?” She pulled out her own license and handed it to Bella. “Bella, ignore Sarah. She’s ungrateful. Use mine. I’m new too.” “Bella, use mine! I don’t mind. Just buy me a bag!” Bella looked at the people offering their IDs with hidden disgust, but kept a smile plastered on her face. Near the end of the day, I had a sudden stomach cramp and went to the restroom. When I came back to grab my bag and leave, I paused. Something felt off. I remembered leaving my bag unzipped because I was in a rush. Now, it was zipped. I checked immediately. Everything was there. My license was still in the inner pocket. I breathed a sigh of relief. Jake walked by and chuckled. “Sarah, do you have a persecution complex or something?” I rolled my eyes and ignored him, walking out. That night at home, I felt restless. Something was wrong. Just as I was about to sleep, my phone rang. It was a woman from the bank. I had borrowed $300,000 six months ago and missed the payment. It was a month overdue. I checked my records. A year ago, my cousin had an emergency and needed money. Since I was estranged from my parents because of Jake, my funds were frozen, so I took a loan to help her. I had been so busy with work I forgot to pay it back. I was about to transfer the funds when the bank employee continued: “Miss Vance, if you do not repay immediately, you will be blacklisted. All your credit lines across all major banks will be frozen, and no new loans will be issued.” My finger froze. An idea struck me. “I’m sorry. I don’t have the money right now. Go ahead and freeze all my accounts.” I hung up and blocked the number. Finally, I relaxed. Even if Bella had stolen my info, she couldn’t take out a loan now. Chapter 4 The next day, I got a call from our family butler. “Miss, today is your mother’s birthday. Are you coming home? She misses you terribly.” I looked at the calendar. A wave of sadness hit me. It was Mom’s birthday. I hadn’t been home in over a year since the fight. Thinking about how much I hurt my parents for a scumbag like Jake made me want to slap myself. “Uncle Lee, I know. I’ll be there tomorrow.” After hanging up, I decided to go to the mall—one owned by my family—to buy a gift. I walked into a luxury boutique and spotted a new limited-edition bag. Just as I reached for it, another hand snatched it away. I looked up. It was Jake and Bella. Jake handed the bag to Bella. “Bella, this is the new Hermès. There’s only one. It suits your elegance perfectly.” Bella looked at me provocatively. “But Sarah seems to want it too. Maybe I should let her have it?” Jake sneered. “Oh look, it’s Manager Vance. Didn’t you say you weren’t coming? Tell you what—if you get on your knees and apologize to Bella right now, I’ll let you join our shopping trip.” I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. Jake grabbed my arm and threw me to the floor. “Sarah, stop pretending! Without Bella, a bag like this would cost you three months’ salary. I’m giving you a chance. Don’t be ungrateful.” I rubbed my sore arm, stood up, and slapped Jake across the face. His eyes bulged. “Sarah! You dare hit me?!” Bella started crying immediately. “Sarah, I’m sorry! I won’t treat everyone anymore!” My colleagues rushed over, surrounding me. “Sarah, did you do this on purpose?” “Why are you so toxic? You’re like a ghost haunting us!” “Bella is paying for us, and you keep trying to ruin it! You just can’t stand seeing us happy!” Someone grabbed my hair and forced me down. Another sprayed perfume directly into my eyes. It burned like fire. Another colleague took off the shoe she was trying on and pressed the sole into my face. “Sarah, if not for Bella, you’d never even smell luxury like this. Consider this a favor.” The sales associate tried to intervene. “These items are not testers! Once opened or damaged, you must purchase them!” Jake scoffed. “Ignorant. Bella can buy out this whole store with a wave of her hand.” He smashed a vase on the floor next to me. “Sarah, apologize to Bella now!” I struggled up and pushed Jake. “I did nothing wrong! Why should I apologize?” My colleagues started throwing items from the counter at me. The store was a mess. The staff tried to stop them but got pushed down too. “Relax! We’re paying!” The store manager walked up with a card reader. “Then please pay for the damages first. It’s roughly $800,000. Or I’m calling the police right now.” Everyone stopped. “Blind fools. No wonder you just work retail. Bella, pay them so we can leave this dump.” Bella pulled out a black card and tapped it on the machine. Beep. “Insufficient funds. Transaction declined.”

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The lab fire was sudden and violent. My boyfriend instinctively raised his hand to shield me, losing a layer of skin in the process. On the day we broke up, I deliberately aimed for his deepest wound. “Every time I look at those hands, I feel physically sick.” Years later, he became my father’s attending physician. Before discussing the prognosis, he asked with a calm expression: “Miss Miller, will my hands cause you any physiological discomfort?” 1 Yesterday, a friend called to say there might be hope for my dad’s condition. A doctor named Dr. Vance had just returned from studying abroad at their hospital, specializing in exactly this rare disease. But I never expected this “Dr. Vance” to be Julian Vance. “Dr. Vance is so handsome. If only his hands weren’t burned like that, he’d be perfect!” “I heard from Dr. Reed that his ex-girlfriend caused it. She even broke up with him because of it.” “What? That’s disgusting.” Passing the nurses’ station, I overheard their chatter while they prepped medications. My steps faltered, then I forced myself to continue down the hall. With every step closer to that door, my heart pounded faster and faster. My hand was trembling as it touched the doorknob. But the moment I saw that familiar figure, everything went quiet. The man in the white coat stopped writing and looked up at the sound. Our eyes met, and my heart seemed to stop. My whole body went rigid. To be honest, I was prepared for Julian’s mockery. Because— I was that disgusting ex-girlfriend. 2 But as long as he could give my dad a fighting chance, I would take anything. In a flash, he looked away. “You must be Mr. Miller’s family. Please, have a seat.” His voice was cold and distant. I remembered he had this unapproachable aura when I first pursued him, too. He gestured to the chair opposite him with his chin, then… Went back to writing. Was he— Pretending not to recognize me? The thought flashed through my mind but was instantly dismissed. How could he pretend in front of someone he loathed? He was proud. When he got tired of my chasing back then, he would just turn and leave without a word. But thinking about it, maybe he really didn’t recognize me. I was wearing a mask, and I had bangs now. So many years had passed. My heart, suspended in my throat, slowly settled. After sitting down, my eyes involuntarily drifted to his terrifying hands. The raised scars from the burn were stark against his pale skin. My heart clenched. The pain buried deep inside resurfaced. Back then, a girl in my lab group caused a flash fire due to improper handling. Flames erupted instantly. Julian was right next to me. His reaction was lightning fast. He shielded my face with his hands. In that instant, his skin burned away, revealing horrifying red flesh. It was terrifying. I cried and asked him why he did it. He lowered his head, wiped my tears, and looked straight into my eyes. “Because it’s you, I’d do anything.” Those scars made me certain about Julian. So much so that on the day I broke up with him, I used those very scars to end it. The vicious words still echoed in my ears. “You know, every time I see your hands, I feel sick to my stomach.” “I can’t stand it for another day.” He must hate me to death. The scars he bore for me were met with such cruelty. … “Miss Miller?” I didn’t know when Julian had looked up, but his gaze was fixed on my face. “Yes.” He raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, noticing where I was staring. “My hands won’t cause you any physiological discomfort, will they?” 3 I shook my head awkwardly. “No.” How could they? He got them for me. I only felt heartache; how could I feel disgust? He curled his lip slightly and explained patiently. “That’s good.” “Everyone has different sensitivities. I have to ask beforehand.” “Have the blood count and bone marrow biopsy been done?” “Yes.” “When was the last transfusion?” “Two months ago.” “What is your relationship with Carter?” Carter was the friend who referred me to Julian. But what did that have to do with my dad’s illness? The answer stopped at my lips, suspicion creeping in. “Do… do you need to know that too?” He glanced at me calmly. “Of course. It’s protocol.” He was the doctor; I was the patient’s family. Naturally, I answered whatever he asked. “College classmates.” Those dark eyes suddenly stared straight at me, scrutinizing, as if trying to discern something. Before I could speak, he pulled out the prepared files, switched to a professional demeanor, and began outlining the treatment plan. A while later, the door opened. “Julian, what do you want for lunch?” 4 Behind the sweet, light voice was a face that was adaptable and soft-featured. I recognized her almost instantly. It was Sarah Reed! She was the girl who made the mistake in the lab. Luckily for her, her injuries back then weren’t severe. It really is a small world. She stared at me, too. Slowly, the smile on her lips began to fade. A deep, magnetic voice cut off the name Sarah was about to say. “Whatever you want.” “Or that Thai place downstairs.” “You go get a table. I’ll be done in a minute.” They spoke across me. From this angle, I could clearly see Julian’s sharp jawline, and… The gentle look in his eyes, devoid of any guard. That look used to belong to me. In high school, Sarah was in our class but wasn’t close to Julian or me. Many times during breaks, I would go to Julian. Sarah sat behind us. I always saw her sitting quietly at her desk, alone. Maybe it was awkwardness, unable to join our conversation. Sometimes when our eyes met accidentally, she would immediately look away. Now the roles were reversed. I had become the outsider. Sarah looked at me one last time before closing the door, her expression back to normal, nodding politely. Once again, it was just me and Julian in the office. He naturally exuded an oppressive aura, suffocating the space around us. I lowered my eyes, resting my elbows on the edge of the desk, heart still racing. Suddenly, the light in front of me was blocked by a shadow. His broad frame leaned forward, looming over me. Almost instinctively, I leaned back, creating distance. His hand froze in mid-air, his face turning completely cold. “What are you hiding from?”

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