I was sent to live at the rich kid’s mansion. Turns out, my mom’s hard of hearing. She heard “School Bully” as “Star Student.” So, I spent all my time tutoring the jerk. I accidentally forced the failing King of Campus straight into a Top-Tier State University. At his college acceptance gala, the golden boy looked at me, eyes glistening: “I have to thank my girlfriend. She made me truly believe: Believe in the Power of Belief!” Me: ??? 01 My sophomore year, I moved into the mansion of the campus bully. The gorgeous, arrogant trust-fund kid, Ethan Knight, looked down his nose at me: “Don’t think just because you have a decent face, you’re the heroine in some cheesy K-drama.” Me: ?? He elegantly strode down the grand staircase: “Don’t catch feelings for me, okay? I know I’m naturally stunning and totally down-to-earth, but a sparrow can’t date an eagle, right?” He then tripped, hands jammed deep in his pockets, nearly face-planting like a dumb puppy. Good thing I was quick. I caught him in a steady princess carry. The stunned young master, cradled in my arms, blinked his huge, double-lidded eyes. A weird pink flush rose on his pale face. “The Suspension Bridge Effect? That’s some smooth game.” He suddenly scoffed: “Still, pretty cheap tricks.” Me: ??? 02 My mom is mute. She’s the live-in housekeeper for the Knights. The school had recruited me on a full scholarship, which is how I ended up in the city and in Ethan’s class. Mr. and Mrs. Knight were generous enough to let me stay in the staff quarters. They sent the chauffeur to drive us to school together. Ethan protested: “If the students see us in the same car, my seventeen years of pure, untouchable status will be ruined!” He told me not to tell anyone I lived here. He then wheeled out a pricey racing bike from the garage. I thought it was for me. “Thanks.” He hopped on: “I’m not trying to be a gentleman. My six-pack has just been slacking lately. Gotta get some cardio in.” And he sped off. I was three pages into my vocabulary review by the time he showed up. His slicked-back hair was damp with sweat. A dark strand clung to his forehead, like a damp little dog curl. It was honestly gross. I instinctively reached up and smoothed it back. Ethan bit his lip, pretending to be angry: “Ugh! I told you, watch the PDA in school!” But his mouth was twitching like he was struggling to hold back a smile. 03 The students were way friendlier than I expected. I got eighteen love notes by lunch. After class, I was heading back from the restroom when a guy blocked the hallway, demanding I scan his Snapchat code. I told him I couldn’t—my cheap flip-phone didn’t do that. He called me stuck-up and snarled: “Do you know who my dad is?” I asked: “Doesn’t your mom know?” His face went white. The next second, Ethan Knight appeared, holding a Starbucks, and bowed like a butler: “Princess, your coffee.” The whole hallway exploded: “Clear the halls! The Queen has arrived!” I asked him why he made such a scene. He just said he loved watching pathetic losers look terrified. He also added the coffee was from one of his stalkers and he didn’t want it, so I shouldn’t “read too much into it.” I found out later: Ethan Knight was the School Bully. He was so icy and menacing that not a single girl dared to actually pursue him. 04 The manor was massive, with a staff dining area, but the parents insisted Ethan and I eat together to prepare for our college exams. That evening, studying in the staff room, Ethan knocked and handed me a phone. It was the latest Pura80Pro+1TB. He said it was standard for Knight staff and came with mandatory monitoring software to prevent privacy leaks. Since I lived there, I had to use it. I was ecstatic! My first smartphone! I could finally look up study guides! The next day, I saw the chauffeur using an old iPhone. I asked Ethan about it. He said slyly: “You think those guys know how to use all this tech? I had to secretly hack their old phones to install the listening apps. Gotta keep them off the scent, wouldn’t want to tip them off.” I remember thinking, living in a rich family is deep water. I later found out the whole monitoring thing was a lie. He just wanted to buy me a phone. 05 Mr. and Mrs. Knight warned me: “Ethan has a terrible temper. If he’s rude, you tell us.” I smiled: “He won’t be. He’s actually very sweet and kind-hearted.” Ethan said nothing, only constantly peeled shrimp for my plate. Me: “Thanks, you really are thoughtful.” The Knights looked genuinely shocked: “Is this our son?” After that, Ethan became incredibly gentle and considerate. When it got cold and I forgot a jacket, he took off his and gave it to me. I casually mentioned wanting coconut water, and he produced one at the next break. When my mom threw out her back, he snatched the mop from me and scrubbed the entire mansion floor until it was clean enough to ice skate on. I thanked him: “Seriously, you’re the best.” Ethan: “It’s nothing, honestly!” Mr. and Mrs. Knight stared at him, bewildered: “What is wrong with you, kid? Look in my eyes!” 06 My mom, with her hearing issues, signed to me that Ethan was an Academic Whiz. I argued: “No, Mom, he failed his last math test!” She signed back that he was probably just hiding his true power as a form of rebellion against his parents. My view of Ethan changed instantly. I thought I was being too shallow, judging based on scores. A true High-Level Player wouldn’t care about meaningless vanity. 07 When I hit a wall with math, I finally gathered the courage to knock on the “Master’s” door. “Could I ask you about a few problems?” Ethan’s handsome face cracked: “Ask me?” “Yes! My mom says you’re a genius,” I said earnestly, “I want to look up to you and study hard!” Ethan slammed the door. He opened it moments later, took my worksheets, and sat at his desk, snapping multiple photos of the questions. I asked: “Why the pictures?” Ethan didn’t miss a beat: “My apprentice, you don’t know the secrets of the Master. I am recording your path to mastery.” I was touched. “Thank you, Master!” He had wireless headphones in. I asked: “Master, who are you talking to?” He looked offended: “Silence! I’m listening to music! Have you not read the martial arts novels? This is the Art of Simultaneous Learning, the Left and Right Hand Technique! You’ve never seen it?” I was impressed beyond measure: “You are truly amazing!” When he explained the problems, he paused after every single sentence. I got impatient: “I get this part, can you skip ahead?” He tapped my head with his pen: “Such a rough personality! Temper your impatience, or you’ll never achieve greatness.” I humbly accepted: “The Master is right.” 08 After the term finals, everyone was checking answers. I only had Ethan. He scolded me: “Checking answers is the stupidest habit after a test. It ruins your focus.” I mumbled: “…Oh.” To avoid stressing out, I skipped checking answers. When the results were posted, I was dreading it. Ethan tried to reassure me: “There’s a gap between our schools. It takes time to adjust. Don’t worry, your Master won’t fault you.” The scores came out: I was Number One in the class. Top Ten in the whole school. Wait?? Is this a joke? Wasn’t the Master a genius? Why… why did he score dead last in the class?! Ethan was calmly reading a superhero manga: “I’m suppressing my power, lest I shine too brightly. Don’t want the Ivies fighting over me and stressing out the students.” He took a sip of his coffee: “I’m handsome and rich. I have to have one flaw to keep everyone else feeling balanced.” I was full of respect: “Such nobility, sir!” 09 One summer day, the parents and my mom were out. The chef had the flu. Ethan, full of bravado, insisted on showing off his cooking skills. He only managed to chop some chilies before running to the bathroom. He came back, red-faced, doubled over in pain, claiming a stomach ache, and collapsed on the sofa. I insisted on taking him to the ER, but he refused. He kept running to the bathroom, but never seemed to get better. When the Knights returned, they asked why their son looked half-dead. I told them about the chili and the bathroom trip. I rushed to hand Ethan the hottest water bottle I could find: “You have a stomach ache! Maybe your stomach is cold. Hold this!” Ethan: “!!” The Knights stared at him with tragic concern. As Ethan stoically hugged the boiling hot water bottle to his groin, the three of them—Ethan, Mr. Knight, and Mrs. Knight—all screamed in unison: “S-S-S-S-S!” 10 Mrs. Knight later mocked him: “With your cooking skills, you could barely boil water in a microwave, let alone ‘show off’!” I shook my head. He was just being humble, Mrs. Knight! I enlightened her: “Smart people excel at everything; it’s all connected.” Mr. Knight looked confused: “Smart? Who?” I guaranteed them: “Ethan is a fantastic cook. I fully expect him to show off his talent again.” Ethan, sitting next to me, puffed out his chest, completely confident. His nonexistent tail was practically wagging: “You bet I will!” From then on, he spent all his time in the kitchen (I figured he was supervising). Once, I caught him secretly chopping potatoes late at night. He claimed it was “art therapy” for his “highly sensitive” nature. Before school started, I finally tasted his cooking. It was incredible: spicy pork, sweet and sour pineapple… The steamed custard was like freshly unpacked pudding, smooth and jiggly, without a single air bubble. I told them: “See? Ethan is brilliant. Everything he tries, he succeeds at.” Mr. and Mrs. Knight just kept eating his amazing food, their eyes silently filling with tears. Me: ?? Are you from the South? Can’t handle this little spice?

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It was an elective, and my boyfriend had, yet again, only saved a seat for his childhood best friend. This time, I didn’t fight her. I didn’t make a scene. I clutched my textbook and walked over to sit next to the campus brainiac, Ethan Knight. While my boyfriend and his “bestie” were getting all handsy, I tugged on Ethan’s sleeve. “Your girlfriend is flirting with my boyfriend. Aren’t you jealous?” Ethan’s gaze was cool: “I don’t have a girlfriend.” I bit my lip and leaned closer: “Well, do you want one?” “What’s the upside?” He stopped writing and looked at me. My cheeks flushed: “You de-stress, I fix my hormones. Win-win.” 01 The moment I walked into the lecture hall, I spotted my boyfriend, Liam Ford. And right next to him, laughing and draped over his shoulder, was his childhood friend, Jenna Wells. They saw me, too. Liam instinctively moved to push Jenna away. But Jenna, smug as ever, just arched an eyebrow at me: “Oops, sorry! Liam only saved the one extra seat. First come, first served.” The classroom went silent. Everyone was watching. This wasn’t the first time Liam had only saved a seat for Jenna. The first time, I was devastated. I cried and ran out. The second time, Jenna provoked me again. I fought her, had a screaming match, and snatched my seat back. Because of Jenna, Liam and I had nothing but fights. All that stress had totally messed up my hormones. This time, seeing them pull the same tired stunt, I just felt utterly bored. I didn’t fight Jenna. I didn’t yell at Liam. I didn’t even look at either of them. I just hugged my textbook and walked straight to the only empty seat in the back row. “Excuse me, is this spot taken?” 02 Ethan Knight, who was writing notes with his headphones on, looked up. His gaze seemed to pause on my face for a second before shifting. Then, he stood up and gestured for me to slide in. I quietly thanked him and settled into the inner seat. Up front. There was a loud thud as a textbook was slammed onto a desk. I looked up. I met Jenna’s glare. Her eyes held a clear, burning resentment. I suddenly remembered a rumor I’d heard when I first arrived at school. Jenna supposedly had a childhood engagement—a “betrothal”—to Ethan Knight. I couldn’t help but look at the guy next to me. He had put his headphones back on and was bent over, focused on a problem set. I could only see his cool, remote profile, radiating an air of untouchable distance. My phone buzzed. It was Liam. [Lost a bet last night, that’s why I saved the seat for Jenna today.] [Don’t be mad, babe. Taking you out for a steak dinner tonight.] Reading his words, I just felt ridiculous. There was always an excuse. It was never that he stood me up, it was because Jenna was sick and he had to take her to the clinic. It was never that they were flirting, it was because they grew up naked together and were “pure bros.” If there was really anything going on, would he even be dating me? Liam was my first boyfriend. I had taken the relationship seriously. That’s why I was always so easily swayed by his mood swings. But now, I just felt empty. I didn’t reply. I just closed the chat. During the break. Jenna and Liam started wrestling. “Oh, you’re gonna use the strong arm against your dad, huh, Liam?” Jenna lunged, chasing Liam around. They looked more like they were heavily flirting. Jenna went for his neck, playfully choking him. Liam looked completely into it. “Okay, enough, act like a lady for once,” he chuckled. “My dad here isn’t one of those dramatic girls,” Jenna said meaningfully, glancing over at me. “I won’t cry a few ‘cat tears’ for attention.” “And I don’t use a squeaky voice, it’s sickening.” I looked down and curled the corners of my mouth. Under the desk, my hand lightly tugged the sleeve of Ethan Knight’s shirt. “Ethan.” He turned his head to look at me. I pressed my lips together and pointed to his headphones. Ethan didn’t speak, but he lifted his hand and removed the headphone from my side. I lowered my voice and, just as Jenna had described, gave it a slight squeak. “Your girlfriend is flirting with my boyfriend. Aren’t you jealous?” 03 Ethan’s eyes were utterly clear: “I don’t have a girlfriend.” “But I heard she has a betrothal—a childhood engagement—with you.” “Utter nonsense.” Ethan’s voice suddenly grew cold. I couldn’t help but look at him again, my gaze tracing his sharp, defined jawline. Then slowly moving down to the hand holding the pen. The sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in light. His long fingers were like polished jade. I bit my lip, leaned in close, and whispered. “Well, do you want one?” “Want what?” Ethan suddenly turned his head to face me. I didn’t have time to pull away. I was hit with a faint but clean, cooling scent of peppermint. My breath hitched: “A girlfriend.” Ethan put his pen down decisively: “What’s the upside?” My cheeks flushed, and I lowered my long eyelashes. There was a red, angry pimple on my chin. It was throbbing and itching. My roommate said it was stress and a hormonal imbalance. Up front, Liam and Jenna were still being handsy. Jenna was sitting on the desk, teasingly kicking Liam. Every now and then, she would look over at me and laugh—loudly. Her laughter sounded carefree, but it was grating on my nerves. When Jenna first met me, she was instantly hostile. Liam introduced us. She stood next to him, arm hooked over his shoulder like any of his “bros.” She looked me up and down. Then she punched Liam’s arm: “You’re dating one of those delicate ‘little white flowers,’ huh, Dad?” “If you ever ditch your friends for her, I’ll be the first to call you out.” Liam had laughed happily. He probably enjoyed that dynamic all along. I took a deep breath. As Jenna looked over again, laughing on purpose, I tugged Ethan’s sleeve under the desk. “You de-stress, I fix my hormones. Win-win.” I’d heard whispers that Ethan’s current research project was incredibly difficult. He’d been pulling all-nighters in the lab. Ethan didn’t speak. His beautiful hand picked up the pen and twirled it. After a long moment, he looked back at me and curved his lips. “Sounds promising, but…” I unconsciously held my breath. The sunlight vanished behind a cloud. Ethan’s voice was suddenly cold: “I’m not interested in other people’s girlfriends.” 04 Class resumed. Jenna was seated properly now. The professor walked in. The noisy classroom quieted down. I leaned in and whispered so only Ethan could hear: “I’ve already decided to break up with him.” Ethan kept his eyes straight ahead at the whiteboard. “Then break up first.” I didn’t dare speak to him again. He was famously the top scholar on campus. When he got serious, he had an air of cold, untouchable seriousness. For the rest of the half-hour lecture. I kept my eyes obediently on the board and the professor. But only I knew my mind was already a million miles away. Just before class ended. Liam suddenly sent another text: [Something came up. Let’s meet tomorrow.] I quickly replied: [No need to meet again. We’re done. Break up.] [Stop being dramatic, Riley. I promise I’ll make it up to you this weekend.] [How many times do I have to say it? Jenna and I are just friends.] [Fine, I guarantee I won’t let her crash our date this weekend.] I didn’t reply again. As soon as class ended, Jenna grabbed Liam and rushed out. As she left, she glanced back at the back row. This time, she wasn’t looking at me—she was looking at Ethan. But Ethan was organizing his books with his headphones on, not looking up. Jenna looked slightly disappointed and quickly pulled Liam away. “Ethan, let’s exchange numbers.” I called out to him as he stood up, summoning my courage. Ethan didn’t scan my QR code. “Break up first.” He was so tall. Looking down at me, I always felt like there was no hiding from him. As if nothing could escape his notice. I didn’t dare look him in the eye. I pulled up the chat with Liam and showed him. I whispered: “See, it’s done.” Ethan looked at it. Then, right in front of him, I deleted and blocked Liam. “Do you believe me now?” Ethan’s impossibly handsome face still showed no emotion. But he pulled out his phone, brought up his QR code: “Add me.”

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My son, Leo, was clinging to life in the hospital bed. He grasped his father’s hand and cried: “Daddy, save me! I don’t want to die!” My husband, David King, averted his gaze, claiming he just hadn’t raised the twenty thousand dollars for the emergency surgery yet. But the bank statement proved he had wired a full one hundred thousand dollars this past week to an account saved as “My Baby.” Confronted by his family, he tearfully confessed: “She told me her daughter was kidnapped while studying abroad. I was just being charitable…” I wrapped my arms around my husband, offering a soothing whisper: “It’s okay. I’ve already notified the doctor… to sign the DNR for our son.” 1 “What did you just say?! That’s our own flesh and blood!” My husband, David, was stunned. He yelled at me, disbelief twisting his features: “How could you be so heartless! He’s only seven! He’s just a child! You’re just going to let him die?” I looked at his crimson face, my own expression unnervingly calm: “Do we have the money for the surgery? Twenty grand.” “You just told me yourself that your bank account is practically empty.” David shoved me away, falling to his knees and wailing: “But I can’t let Leo die!” “It’s just money! I’ll borrow it, I’ll beg, I’ll even kneel and plead with the doctors to save my son! Leo is my only boy!” I let out an internal, cold laugh and reminded him: “Borrow? You’ve already burned every bridge. We have outstanding debt to this hospital. We’re on a two-hour clock. If the surgery isn’t paid for now, Leo is gone.” “We’ll both have to watch our son die!” Just then, a nurse from the room shouted: “Patient is crashing! Quick, to the OR!” David stumbled up, following the frantic pace of the gurney. He pleaded desperately: “Why the sudden crash? Please, I’m begging you! Save my son!” The nurse shook her head regretfully: “We will do our best to stabilize Leo.” “But… without the surgery, his condition could get worse anytime. If we delay beyond two hours, even if we operate, the child may not survive.” On the bed, Leo weakly pulled David’s sleeve, crying out: “Daddy, save me! I don’t want to die!” Hearing my son’s desperate cry tore me up inside. But I forced a cold response: “If it comes down to it, sign the DNR.” “Our family simply can’t afford it.” I watched the nurse push Leo into the emergency room. In the hallway, David went ballistic at my ruthless words. He grabbed my arm, shaking me violently, and demanded: “Sarah! Are you even human?” “Saying you’ll pull the plug right in front of him! That’s our Leo!” “You’re trying to murder him!” Seeing David’s tortured, desperate look, I had to admit he was putting on a decent show of fatherly anguish. But I knew it was all a lie. I coldly snatched my arm away from him, looked at his repulsive face, and delivered a wide, stinging slap. I pointed right at him and cursed: “You are the reason Leo is in this state, David!” “No money? Your parents liquidated their assets and gave you a hundred grand. To save Leo.” “So, where is that money? I’m asking you, where is it? You couldn’t spare twenty grand to save Leo?” David clearly hadn’t expected me to know the amount. He was dumbfounded. He covered his cheek, his eyes darting away: “The money… I…” Seeing him trying to cover up, I slapped him again. I scoffed: “Because you wired it all to your mistress, didn’t you?” 2 “So, when Leo needed it most, you, his father, couldn’t spare twenty thousand. And you have the nerve to say I’m killing him? If anything happens to Leo, you, David King, will be the executioner!” David broke down completely, clutching my legs and wailing: “No! I’m Leo’s father! I would never want to hurt him!” “Sarah, you’re an only child. Your parents must have money to save Leo. Our family’s only male heir cannot be lost!” I felt sick to my stomach hearing that. He gave his son’s rescue fund to his side chick, and now he was plotting to drain my parents. Just as I was about to kick him away, my in-laws arrived. My mother-in-law rushed over, grabbing my hand: “What is this? You texted me that the surgery can’t happen?” “Leo’s health suddenly crashed, but we already sold the house and got the money! A full hundred thousand! Why can’t the surgery happen?” I gently pulled my hand away and showed them the documents: “If there was still a hundred thousand, Leo wouldn’t be fighting for his life.” “The moment the money hit his account, David wired it all out. Now he only has ninety-three cents left. Enough for what surgery?” “Here’s the bank statement. See for yourselves!” David stared at me, eyes wide with shock. He never expected me to be this prepared. My in-laws snatched the statement. After two seconds, my mother-in-law was livid. She grabbed David’s collar: “Who did you wire it to? Who is more important than my grandson!” David’s eyes darted away, stammering: “A college friend.” “She said her family ran into trouble with an overseas business deal and needed a loan. I just lent her the hundred thousand.” I sneered and jammed my phone into David’s chest: “Lent? Then call it back.” “That’s your son’s life savings. The doctor said if he doesn’t have the surgery in two hours, Leo dies.” David took the phone, his hand trembling, but he wouldn’t unlock it. He just stared at me, pleading silently. My father-in-law kicked David in the shoulder and roared: “Call her! What are you paralyzed for? Leo is coding in there! Why are you hesitating! Screw that ‘friend,’ I want my grandson!” Just as the chaos peaked, the nurse pushed open the ER door. “Patient’s family! Patient’s family!” We rushed her. The nurse’s face was grim: “The prognosis is not good.” “His vitals are very poor. The family needs to prepare. If he doesn’t have the surgery in the next hour, we won’t be able to sustain Leo.” My in-laws collapsed. David was paper white. Only I remained lucid. I signed the consent form for the prognosis: “When the time is up, you can remove the mask.” “We can’t afford the surgery. We have to let Leo go.” My mother-in-law lunged at me: “That’s my grandson! How could you be so cruel!” “Are you even his mother? How can you talk about pulling the plug? The King family relies on a single male line! You’re destroying our heritage!” I didn’t waste time on her. I tilted my chin toward David on the floor: “Me?” “Your son wired the medical fund to some pathetic friend, and now he refuses to call it back. He’s the father who is personally killing his son!” My in-laws turned their fury back on David. Just then, a woman jogged down the corridor: Vivian May. The woman David had saved in his phone as ‘Baby.’ She looked frantic, exquisitely dressed, clutching a high-end designer bag. She rushed up to David, crying: “David, the kidnappers raised the price!” “The hundred thousand wasn’t enough, send me another twenty thousand! Quick!” 3 David instinctively tried to hide, frantically pushing Vivian away: “What hundred thousand? I don’t know you!” “Don’t shout that! Get lost, or I’m calling security!” Vivian refused to leave. She grabbed David and hugged him publicly, declaring her love: “David, I’m not leaving!” “Nicole and I are waiting for your money. We can’t live without you!” My in-laws finally understood everything. They grabbed Vivian’s arm, demanding the money back: “David, who is this woman?” “This is the slut who stole my grandson’s life money, right? Give it back! You stole my grandson’s money! Pay it back now, or I swear I’ll kill you!” Vivian staggered back but didn’t look angry. She drew herself up, pulled a photo from her bag, and played the victim: “Ma’am, I’m Vivian May. David only loves me. I’m no slut.” “My daughter, Nicole, and David’s child, was kidnapped while studying abroad. The local gang wants a ransom. I had no choice but to ask David for money. We thought a hundred grand was enough, but they suddenly raised the price by twenty thousand.” “You don’t just have Leo. You have Nicole, too! Look at the picture. Isn’t Nicole adorable?” Vivian shot a triumphant look at me. I barely blinked. Vivian was a fool. She didn’t understand what truly mattered to my mother-in-law! Vivian held her chin high, intending to use Nicole to force the Kings to accept her. Suddenly, my mother-in-law slapped the photo across Vivian’s face. She spat, then slapped her again, cursing mercilessly: “You piece of trash! Claiming that picture is my son’s baby!” “Even if she is, a girl! Can she compare to my grandson? Shameless! Seducing a married man and having a cheap daughter! And now you hijack my grandson’s medical funds! Pay it back, or I’ll end you!” Vivian covered her face, horrified that David’s mother was such a rigid traditionalist. She knelt down, begging David to take her side: “David, say something!” “You promised me! Nicole is the most important! We only need twenty thousand more! Give me the money!” My father-in-law kicked David in the back again: “You bastard! If you dare save that illegitimate child, I’ll disown you!” “Get the money back! Leo is your only son!” While David was paralyzed by indecision, Vivian’s phone rang. She looked at the number, panicked, and tried to stand up to take the call. I snatched her phone and put it on speaker. On the other end, a frantic man’s voice spoke: “Vivian, it’s a disaster.” “Nicole really has been taken. The kidnappers are demanding twenty thousand now, or they’re going to send her home in a box!” The color drained from Vivian’s face. She collapsed against the corridor wall. Coincidentally, the nurse opened the ER door again. “It’s worse! Leo’s condition has worsened again!” “He needs surgery immediately! Do you have the money or not? It’s just twenty thousand! It’s the child’s life!” The family dissolved into complete chaos. David was at his breaking point, torn between his son and his mistress’s daughter. I let out a cold laugh, looking at the weeping David: “My parents just texted me. They wired twenty thousand into your account.” “They sold off the family land for that. Go pay for Leo’s surgery! Your son is waiting!” As David reached for the card, Vivian grabbed his hand, clutching the photo, and wailed: “David, save Nicole!” “We were living abroad with no status for you! You promised to protect us! This money has to save Nicole!” I pulled out my phone and played a recording of Leo. The tiny, painful voice: “Daddy, save me! Daddy, save me!” David looked devastated. My in-laws screamed: “Save Leo! He’s a boy! Our only heir!” The nurse urged him to pay. David looked at Vivian’s red eyes and Nicole’s sweet smile in the photo. He made his choice: “Save… Nicole first.” Even though I knew what was coming, hearing my husband choose his illegitimate daughter over his own son’s life choked me. The vows, the promises—they were all worthless! But before anyone could react, the ER door opened. A miraculously stable Leo stood safely in the doorway: “Daddy, you don’t want me anymore.” 4 Leo’s face was cold, his eyes fixed on David, utterly calm: “Daddy, you don’t want me anymore.” “I don’t want you either.” David froze. He couldn’t believe Leo was standing there, having heard everything. He stumbled forward, trying to hug Leo. Leo dodged him instantly, hiding behind me: “Go away! I don’t want you as my dad!” “Don’t you have Nicole now? Leo isn’t your only baby anymore. Daddy, you abandoned me!” Leo was still small. He started crying sadly. David was helpless, stammering an explanation: “I… Daddy was desperate.” “Daddy didn’t know you were okay. I…” Leo buried himself deeper into my arms. I shielded him and snapped: “Stop it!” “Whether Leo was okay or not, you weren’t going to save him! You chose to save your mistress’s daughter instead of your son. David King, do you still think you qualify as a father?” “David, I gave you two chances! There won’t be a third!” My in-laws breathed a huge sigh of relief. My mother-in-law reached out to touch Leo’s head. Leo quickly avoided her and shouted: “No Grandma and Grandpa! I only want Mom!” “Mommy…” My father-in-law pleaded: “Leo, I’m Grandpa! Give Grandpa a hug!” Leo ignored them. When my father-in-law tried to force a hug, I blocked him: “Do you really think Leo is so naive he doesn’t understand? You talk about loving him. Do you love Leo the person, or do you love the male heir? You know the answer.” “And you two were right here when I put the card in David’s hand. Did you stop him? Did you try to prevent his decision? You had the strength to slap him, but when it mattered, you just stood there?” Leo, who had been silent, acted again. He struggled out of my arms, grabbed the transforming toy David had given him, and hurled it at David. He sobbed: “Go away, you bad guy!” “I don’t want your presents anymore. You said Mom and I were your most important. Only bad guys lie! I never want to see you again! Why didn’t you save me, Dad?” “Leo called for you so many times, why didn’t you save me?” David stood there, taking the hit to his forehead without flinching. He managed a pathetic, resentful smile and looked at me: “Sarah, you orchestrated this whole elaborate trap to fool our family.” “Are you satisfied now? You got what you wanted?” I scoffed. David had the nerve to ask that? “Fooled? You started it, David King!” “When I was pregnant, you claimed ‘business trips.’ Weren’t you secretly seeing Vivian overseas every day? When our son had a fever, you claimed ‘working late.’ Weren’t you celebrating your illegitimate daughter’s birthday?” “David, how dare you speak to me in that tone?” David looked disgraced but tried to defend himself: “But still, you shouldn’t have used Leo’s safety in such an elaborate scheme!” I almost burst out laughing at David’s delusional attempt to shift blame. I tilted my head and waved at the group of people walking toward us: “You’re right. It was a great idea. I should thank Vivian for the inspiration.” “After all, you gave me the inspiration, didn’t you?”

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My dad was the driver for the Worthington family, and my mom was their housekeeper. But I was the restless one. I spent every day glued to Ethan Worthington’s side, a fixture he couldn’t shake. He walked, I cleared the path. He ate fish, I picked out the bones. He was annoyed, I fought his battles. It took ten years, but after high school graduation, Ethan finally agreed to let me attend the same elite college as him. His buddies joked that I was Ethan’s most loyal dog. I ignored the whispers and veiled insults. They didn’t matter. Then, the family started arranging Ethan’s engagement. My best friend, Chloe, came rushing over to talk some sense into me, only to find my parents and me frantically packing suitcases late at night. “I know you like Ethan, but the gap is too huge. It’s never going to happen for you,” Chloe whispered. “Wait, what are you guys doing?” I clapped a hand over her mouth, looking around nervously. “Keep your voice down. You think this is something to be proud of?” “I finally saved up enough money from the Worthingtons to study abroad! Don’t ruin my great escape!” 1 Chloe’s face was a portrait of total bewilderment. “Wait, so you don’t like Ethan? It was all an act?” I handed my mom a towel, signaling Chloe to speak softly. “Why call it an ‘act’? My love for my Sugar Daddy was absolute and genuine!” “So all those years…” I understood her meaning and smiled slyly. “They all thought I wanted to be a sparrow flying onto a penthouse balcony, but I’m not stupid enough to dream that big.” “I provided Emotional Labor. Ethan provided money as compensation. It’s a fair trade, isn’t it?” I held up my bank book, showing a balance of half a million dollars. Savings give me security. Love doesn’t. Growing up, my family was poor. When we first arrived at the Worthington estate, I was shy and terrified of messing up and costing my parents their jobs. One day, I found Ethan, the pristine young master, sitting by the fountain in the garden. He seemed unhappy. Excited to see someone my age, I sat down and chattered endlessly. When I went back to the staff quarters that evening, I learned from my parents that he was Mr. Ethan Worthington. I was horrified and spiked a fever that night, delirious with self-reproach, terrified I’d gotten my parents fired. When the fever broke, I was relieved to find out the Worthingtons hadn’t fired my parents. They’d actually given them both a thousand-dollar raise because I had cheered Ethan up. From that day on, I started sucking up to Ethan. He walked, I cleared the path. He ate fish, I picked out the bones. He was annoyed, I fought his battles. Everyone called me Ethan’s most loyal dog. Even Ethan wrinkled his nose and told me to get lost. “Riley Chen, can you stop being so pathetic?” But I didn’t care. Thanks to my efforts, my mom was moved from the brutal kitchen staff to the front of the house, my dad became Mr. Worthington’s exclusive driver, and I got into the best private prep school in the city. But that wasn’t enough! Through college, I endured the shade and the dirty looks, pretending I enjoyed every minute. Finally, I had saved enough to move my whole family far away. My mom squeezed my hand. My dad shrugged nonchalantly. “Whatever you decide, we support you. Worst case, we do our old jobs somewhere else. I hear the pay is better overseas!” Chloe beamed: “So when are you leaving? I want to see you off.” I considered this seriously. “Three days. I’m finishing a research project with Ethan. Once that’s done, the resume entry will make my overseas applications smoother.” I was too excited to sleep that night. 2 The next morning, the cook, Mrs. W., came to my room. “Riley, the Young Master wants you. Hurry.” I was uneasy and headed to the living room, dark circles under my eyes. Inside, I heard laughter, and someone mentioned my name. “Yo, why isn’t little Riley glued to him today? Did the dog get jealous and throw a tantrum?” Ethan’s voice was cold. “Why bring her up?” “Come on, you won’t let a female mosquito near you in school, but you tolerate Riley. Don’t play dumb.” “Seriously, are you actually doing the engagement? Aren’t you worried Riley will be heartbroken and hang herself?” Ethan paused, then scoffed disdainfully. “My parents let her hang around, so what was I supposed to do? Tell her no?” “She’s fine for killing time, but the Worthington engagement is serious. Who does she think she is to influence my decisions?” The guys roared with laughter, pitying my misplaced devotion. I arched an eyebrow. Great, here we go again. I’d heard this garbage for ten years. I was about to leave. “Hey, you must be Riley Chen. Why don’t you come in?” A female voice called out. Everyone inside turned to look at me. The rich kids who had just been making fun of me looked embarrassed. When my eyes met Ethan’s, I saw a flicker of panic in his gaze. He snapped at me coldly. “Riley, what are you doing here? Don’t you know how to knock?” I was annoyed. You called me here! Now you’re yelling at me? The next second, his eyes lit up. “Phoebe, you’re here?” It was the first time I saw a genuinely soft expression on Ethan’s ice-cold face—something he had never shown me. The woman behind me was slender and elegant, clearly a rich heiress. Ah, so that’s the type he likes. From middle school through college, Ethan had an endless stream of admirers. His locker was stuffed with love letters I dutifully handled. He never stopped me. Now I knew: he wasn’t immune to love; he just hadn’t met the right person yet. “I wanted to meet Riley, so I took the liberty of calling her over. Don’t be mad at her.” The woman, Phoebe Cho, was gentle and thoughtful, yet I felt an instant hostility from her. She chose this deliberately awkward moment to call me in and humiliate me, even though a discreet call would have been easier. “Miss, do we know each other?” “You don’t know me, but I know you.” “Everyone in the circle knows how close you are to Ethan. Can I ask you for advice if I have questions in the future?” Phoebe tilted her head, looking innocent. I was instantly on high alert. When I heard her request, however, I felt a rush of excitement. A potential Sugar Mama! “Me? Sure, I’d be happy to help. I’ll share everything I know. But consultations are by the hour. You look like a lady of means, Miss. How about five hundred dollars an hour?” Silence fell. Everyone was stunned. Phoebe’s polite smile froze. I regretted it immediately, fearing I’d scared her off with the high price. Ethan’s face darkened instantly. He must have thought of something, because he scoffed mockingly. “Riley Chen, you are the daughter of our staff. Stop pretending we’re friends.” One of his buddies chimed in. “Hey, Riley, why are your dark circles so bad? Did you hear about the engagement and haven’t slept in days? We know you care about Ethan, but stop playing games.” “Sadly, no one buys it. Go back to your room.” Ethan gave a look of confirmation. “Why are you still standing there? Get lost.” My face fell into an expression of abject misery, mourning the loss of a great payday. “Mhm, okay.” Ethan looked satisfied with my suffering. 3 Back in my room, I quickly put the incident out of my mind and focused on packing. The crystal lamp Ethan had casually gifted me? Worth a few thousand. Packing it. The designer pen Ethan discarded? Definitely high-end. Packing it. I was so focused, I didn’t notice someone enter my room. “Riley Chen, what are you doing?” Ethan’s voice. I whipped around, my heart hammering. If he knew I was packing to flee, would he demand I return all this expensive loot? “I… I was just getting ready to rent an apartment, you know, to avoid any misunderstandings with outsiders.” I lied quickly. Ethan stared at the meticulously packed valuables in my suitcase, looking utterly mortified. “Riley, I’m warning you, stop dreaming. It’s never going to happen between us!” I realized he thought I was packing because I was desperate for him. But these things were worth money! I wouldn’t return them. I zipped the suitcase shut while placating him. “I know. I promise I won’t bother you again.” I meant: I won’t even have to see your face again. Ethan looked annoyed and closed his eyes. “Forget it. I just came to tell you that the Cho family is interested in my new project. Phoebe will join the team tomorrow. Stop causing trouble around her. If you don’t want to be kicked off the project, keep a low profile.” So, that woman was the engagement candidate. Ethan waited for my reaction. I frowned deeply, my eyes showing pain and reluctance, but only managed to speak after much deliberation. “If another person joins the project, will our payout be smaller?” Ethan’s face was stunned. “That’s what you thought about for that long?” I looked confused. “Well, yeah. I’m part of the team. I’m about to make money, and suddenly someone new comes in to cut the profit. Why would I be happy?” Ethan scowled and finally said coldly. “Don’t worry, Phoebe isn’t superficial like you. She’s just helping out. She doesn’t need the money.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.” Ethan tested me again. “Aren’t you upset?” Upset? About a new team member who won’t take a cut? I’m thrilled! Ethan was completely fed up with my reaction, sneered, and left. I was left wondering why he was so mad. I reveled in the thought of studying abroad and crossing social boundaries. I just didn’t expect trouble to arrive so soon. And the trouble wasn’t caused by me; it was by Phoebe. 4 The moment I walked into the project office, the atmosphere was dead silent. Everyone looked devastated. Phoebe, it turned out, was in charge of liaising with the equipment investor. Yesterday, due to her poor handling, a crucial piece of equipment fell from the crane. Not only were several workers injured, but all the research data was lost. The company that paid a fortune for our findings filed a lawsuit that day, demanding compensation. Phoebe, teary-eyed, came out of Ethan’s office to find me. “Riley, Ethan wants you.” I assumed this had nothing to do with me. Surely, they wouldn’t blame me? When I walked in, Ethan’s hesitation was obvious. Phoebe followed me in, and Ethan finally spoke. “Riley, we need you to take the fall for this.” “What!” My eyes widened in disbelief. You can insult my character, but I will not be your scapegoat! Ethan impatiently tapped his fingers. “Phoebe is new. I had you overseeing the details. Did you do your job? After such a disaster, don’t you feel responsible?” My eyes welled up with genuine despair over losing the project credit. No credit, no acceptance into the foreign university! Tears streamed down my face. I cried hysterically while subtly watching their faces. “No one in this office respects me! No one treats me like a real partner! They only give me grunt work and errands.” “Even Phoebe rejected all my input.” “I have no authority! Why should I take the blame?!” I fell dramatically to the floor, adopting the pose of a soap opera heroine. “Ethan, you can despise me, but don’t you dare insult me like this!” Seeing my heartbroken display, Ethan finally spoke with patience. “The Worthington and Cho families rely heavily on this project. If Phoebe takes the blame, it damages the reputation of both families. She needs this project to establish her career. We can’t let her get a black mark.” “Look at everyone else on the team. They need this entry on their resume. You’re the exception. You only want the money. This won’t affect you.” “I will remove your name from the project logs as a public explanation.” I sat on the floor, crying silently, stubborn. Bro, why are you giving me excuses? Ask me nicely and give me the money! Phoebe looked uncomfortable. “Forget it, if Riley doesn’t want to, I’ll just beg my father for help. I’ll just have to deal with his disappointment.” Ethan looked pained, frowning at me. “Riley Chen, this isn’t a game! How long are you going to let your petty jealousy ruin things? I’ll compensate you. Name your price!” My downward gaze snapped up. There it is! That’s what I was waiting for! This tactic always worked. When I displayed mock hurt, the rich jerks always doubled down with scornful, dismissive cash attacks. They thought it was humiliation. To me, it was raining money! My fake tears were finally worth it. “Who said I don’t agree? Since you asked, I won’t be shy. Half a million dollars. Wired to my account tomorrow. No less.” Phoebe gasped. “That’s extortion!” I shrugged nonchalantly. “You know how much this project is worth. Besides, I’m taking the fall for a massive screw-up. I deserve the money. Do you really think you’re worth less than that, Miss Cho?” The resume entry was only insurance for my school application. With half a million dollars, I could pay my way into the best schools! My body was shaking with genuine excitement.

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My best friend is a total bombshell, a man-eater who’d already poached eight of my boyfriends. This time, she set her sights on the CEO, Ethan Vance, and successfully bagged him. I finally thought I could catch a break and have a normal relationship while she was busy conquering Ethan. But just as my boyfriend and I were about to get married, she poached him again. And Ethan found out. To be precise, Ethan and I caught them cheating together. We were standing outside the door, listening to our respective partners going at it inside. Ethan looked mortified. The CEO was facing a fresh, green lawn on his head for the first time. I leaned in and offered: “So, you want revenge? How about you try me?” 01 My best friend, Sasha Bell, is a stunning beauty. She turns heads just walking down the street. She’s long been used to it, and honestly, she finds most men she meets boring. One day, we were walking home after shopping. We ran into my college crush, Ethan Vance. Ethan, six-foot-three, with chiseled features, was waiting for someone outside a luxury store in his expensive sedan, looking like he belonged on a magazine cover. On impulse, I waved, and he actually nodded back. Sasha’s attention immediately snapped to him. She wouldn’t shut up when we got home. “You knew a high-value man like that and never introduced me!” “Ugh, I haven’t seen a guy like that in forever—a total ‘suit killer!’ Hot as hell! Exactly my type!” I was curled up on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, not looking up: “I didn’t even know he remembered me.” “He was the big campus star, now he’s a tech magnate. He’s the complete package. If you caught him, half the women on the street would stare at you.” “And what makes you think he’d want to be friends with me?” Sasha nudged me with her butt, complaining: “You went to school with him. Didn’t you even have a crush?” I thought about it: “Well…” I gave her an obvious look-over, sizing up her curvy figure: “A hunk like that needs a bombshell like you. Even if I tried my hardest back then, he wouldn’t have looked twice.” “I’m just an average person. I can only admire the high-level dating game from a distance.” I’m conventionally pretty, but next to Sasha, I fade into the wallpaper. Ethan is always surrounded by women who look just like Sasha. My flattery clearly worked. Sasha looked quite pleased. She hummed, picked up her lipstick, and reapplied it while strutting in front of the mirror. “You’re right. He’s standing there just waiting to be claimed by me. This is definitely going to be a tough conquest.” I knew she’d win. In the ten years I’ve known her, Sasha has never failed to land a man. In Sasha’s world, there are only men she likes and men she doesn’t. If she likes him, he’s hers. That includes my ex-boyfriends. Sasha never truly wanted my boyfriends. But she’d lift a finger, and they’d be obsessed with her. Then, within a week, she’d dump them and block them. She called it: “They fell for me too easily. These guys weren’t serious about you anyway. I’m just helping you vet them!” “And I only do it because you’re my best friend~!” 02 Sasha has the strongest execution I’ve ever seen. The next day, she insisted I go with her to find Ethan Vance. Ethan is a single tech CEO, currently fending off interest from old-money socialites and high-profile beauties. I knew he was waiting for some heiress outside the store because I was currently interviewing people at his company. Whenever I showed my press badge, his female employees were always eager to gossip about their rich, young boss. I wanted to see how Sasha would take down this ice prince. The opportunity finally came. Ethan’s company was hosting a celebration party. His PR team had invited me, and I managed to snag an extra invite for Sasha. Sasha showed up in a floor-length black mermaid gown. Every head in the room turned. She was stunning—a bold, vibrant beauty. Every curve looked sculpted, and her movements were pure Venus. She instantly eclipsed the blonde, pure-as-snow heiress standing next to Ethan. Sasha walked up to Ethan naturally: “Hello.” Ethan paused, then extended his hand. Even a CEO who’s seen it all couldn’t resist a beautiful woman radiating that much confidence. My female colleagues next to me were whispering: “Who is that? The CEO actually talked to her? Every other girl who tried to approach him got shut down.” “I thought he was a total ice cube. She shattered my illusion.” “Maybe that’s the difference between average and drop-dead gorgeous. She’s prettier than the models we hire, just a unique vibe…” “What’s beauty matter? She’s here for him. Don’t be naive.” “But isn’t the CEO about to get engaged to that heiress? Now? Ugh…” I looked back. Sasha and Ethan were already deep in conversation. The blonde heiress was completely ignored, stomping her foot in frustration: “Where did that cheap tart come from? Look at her wiggling!” 03 Half a month later, Sasha came home one morning radiating the joy of victory. I handed her two fried eggs: “Congrats.” Beauties have strict diets, and Sasha usually criticized my eggs for having too much oil. But she was in a good mood, so she devoured them happily. Only the red marks on her neck were a little distracting. “I succeeded again.” I nodded: “Congrats. I also have something to tell you.” I paused for a moment before saying: “I’m dating someone.” Sasha frowned: “Since when? We live together; we’re best friends. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “What? Were you worried I’d steal him, too?” I quickly waved my hands: “No, no.” Sasha rolled her eyes, casually eating her eggs. “Don’t worry. I have Ethan Vance. I won’t be interested in anyone else for a while. He’s the highest-value man I’ve landed in years.” Sasha is so beautiful that every other woman pales in comparison. I’m her only friend. Besides poaching my boyfriends, she’s always been good to me. She always brings me designer goods from her dates and never brings men back to our apartment. And because she kept poaching my exes, I became a total workaholic, focusing entirely on my studies and career, which is why I’m so successful now. But because she was always around, I never dared to date seriously. Until I met Andrew Ford. He graduated from medical school, works at a top hospital, isn’t overtly handsome, but comes from a stable background. He ticked all my boxes for a potential husband. Most importantly, he seemed very grounded, exactly what I wanted for marriage. I managed the relationship carefully, and we were happy. But I was always terrified of letting him meet Sasha. No boyfriend of mine had ever escaped her pull. But now, I finally dared. With Ethan Vance on the scene, how could she possibly be interested in a doctor? When Andrew came over, Sasha was painting her nails on the sofa. She only glanced at him, barely acknowledging his presence. After Andrew left, she said casually: “Your taste is improving. He’s much better than the last ones. If I didn’t have Ethan, I’d definitely want a taste of that.” I was instantly panicked: “You’re not serious, are you?” Sasha didn’t even lift an eyelid: “Please. He’s just a small-time doctor. Why would I give up a CEO for a doctor?” 04 But I had underestimated Sasha again. I was at Ethan’s company, reviewing an article with the PR manager. As I was about to leave, Ethan blocked my path. This was the first time he’d ever spoken to me directly. My heart pounded. It couldn’t be work; the CEO wouldn’t bother with me over small stuff. It had to be about… Sasha. I was right. Ethan pulled me aside: “Do you know what Sasha is doing today?” I shook my head, feigning sincerity: “I’m not sure. She said she had a date with you today and left early.” Ethan frowned: “She did not have a date with me today.” “Huh?” Ethan’s face darkened: “Where did she go? You’re her best friend; you must know. Take me to her.” I looked bewildered: “Why?” Ethan, the businessman, saw my press badge and added: “I promise I’ll give you interviews with me and several other rising tech CEOs in the city.” Seeing my hesitation, Ethan upped the ante. “A guaranteed exclusive. Just for you.” It was a crucial time for my career advancement. His offer was irresistible. I looked up at Ethan, making a decision. If he was going to expose his own heartbreak, who was I to stop him? “I heard her mention that the M Hotel has really good desserts. She’s brought them back a few times. At this hour, she might be…” Ethan’s face grew colder. I was right. He had never invited Sasha to the M Hotel. Someone else was having fun with Sasha there. And I already knew who it was. 05 I rode in Ethan’s luxury car to the hotel. I gave the front desk Sasha’s ID. Thanks to Ethan’s massive influence, we quickly found the suite registered under Sasha’s name. Standing outside the door, we could hear the sounds of passion inside. Sasha’s voice was full of cooing and excitement; the thrill made her voice sharp. “Be gentle… I can’t take this, oh my God.” “Mm, did you ever feel this way with her?” “Of course not. She’s like a dead fish in bed. You have so many tricks, baby.” “But you still have to marry her… Men always say one thing and do another, ah…” Ethan and I listened for a few minutes. My face went pale. Ethan was enraged, his face flushed. He looked ready to kick the door in and confront Sasha. Just before he lost it. I tugged his sleeve and whispered awkwardly: “The man inside… I think that’s my boyfriend.” Ethan instantly froze. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with sympathy.

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It was Summer Boot Camp, and my period arrived. When I reached for my custom-ordered silk pads, I found them replaced with sandpaper. I was about to report the theft when my childhood friend, Ethan Jones, stopped me: “I’m sorry, Audrey. I gave your pads to Carly. Just use hers for now.” I picked up the package of “sandpaper” pads, asking him incredulously: “You want me to use this cheap trash?” His expression darkened: “Audrey, that’s humiliating. Carly doesn’t come from money, but you shouldn’t call her pads trash.” “Boot camp is supposed to build character, not be a vacation.” “My mom says you need to drop this spoiled attitude. If we ever get married, I won’t be able to afford your ten-dollar-a-piece silk pads.” I didn’t argue. I just called my estate manager and told him to clear Ethan and his mother’s belongings out of the staff apartment immediately. I was almost laughing at the sheer audacity. I hurled the package of “pads” at him. He slapped the sandpaper box away, frowning disapproval. “Don’t be so dramatic! My mother won’t accept a daughter-in-law who acts like this.” I was stunned by his self-righteousness. Who the hell said I was marrying him?! I was about to let him have it, but the constant flow between my legs forced me to stop. I grabbed the half-empty box of tissues on the table and rushed into the bathroom. Once my pants were down, I realized the flow was heavier than usual. The camouflage pants were already soaked through. The few tissues I brought were useless. I grabbed my phone to call my personal assistant, but there was no signal. I suddenly remembered the camp had installed signal jammers for “character building.” Looking at my completely saturated underwear, I begged Ethan through the door: “Please, can you go buy me some pads?” “Audrey, I’m not enabling you anymore. You can either use Carly’s pads or stay in the bathroom.” He shoved something under the door. I picked it up. It was the same box of sandpaper pads. Ethan’s voice rang out again: “Formation is soon. I’m leaving. Listen to me, stop being stubborn. You’ll get penalized if you’re late.” His voice faded. He was really gone. I wanted to punch the wall, but I couldn’t stay here. I had to fold the entire tissue box into thick layers, cinch my belt tight, and hobble out, clutching the wall. When I reached the field, students were mingling. Their eyes turned strange as they saw me. “Is she insane? A poor scholarship kid wanting silk pads? She must be crazy jealous of Carly!” “Talk about delusional. ‘Princess Syndrome’ with no ‘Princess Bank Account.’ She even tried to steal pads!” As I tried to process the whispers, Carly walked right up to me. “Audrey, I know you’re jealous that Ethan bought me ten-dollar silk pads, but you can’t steal!” 2 “If you really want one, beg me, and I’ll toss you a piece.” She slipped a pad into my pocket. “I stole?” I whipped around to face Ethan, who instantly looked guilty and stared at the ground. “Okay, Carly, ignore her,” my roommate Kayla snaked an arm around Carly, sneering at me. “The fortunate ones should be generous. You have a boyfriend as rich and hot as the squad leader. Don’t waste your breath on a pathetic beggar who can’t afford hygiene.” I stood there, feeling utterly ridiculous. Fortunate ones? Was she talking about Carly, who was only here because my father sponsored her tuition, or Ethan, the son of our housekeeper? Rest period ended. The drill sergeant told us to stand at attention. Moments later, I heard Kayla whisper behind me: “Look at Audrey’s crotch. It’s bulging. She looks like a sheep with a big diaper. So gross.” “Don’t say that,” Carly’s voice was deliberately loud. “Maybe Audrey has a medical condition and needs to wear diapers…” Naturally, the boys behind me snuck glances. Ethan suddenly spoke up: “Stop staring. Anyone who looks gets penalized.” His voice held clear annoyance. Carly’s face fell. Then, she faked dizziness and lunged toward me, grabbing my pant leg and yanking down hard. My belt was cinched tight. She didn’t manage to pull them off. I stumbled forward, ripping my leg away from her: “Carly, are you sick?!” “Who said that? Fall out!” The sergeant roared. I pulled up my pants and stepped out. “Sir, Carly grabbed my pants first.” The sergeant looked at Ethan: “Squad Leader, tell me what happened.” Ethan quickly glanced at me, then paused on the sight of Carly’s trembling shoulder. He finally spoke after a hesitation: “Carly might have lost her balance and accidentally bumped Audrey…” “Ethan!” My voice shook with rage. “You watched her grab my pants! And you’re saying she lost her balance?” “Enough!” He suddenly yelled at me. “Can’t you just let it go? Do you always have to make a scene?” The sergeant’s face was dark: “Standing at attention is not enough punishment! Go, run twenty laps around the field! Don’t stop until you finish!” I bit my tongue, not arguing further. I turned and headed to the track. The noon sun was scorching. Less than one lap in, a drilling pain erupted in my lower abdomen. I was sweating. The tissue padding started shifting. I had to clamp my legs together, praying it wouldn’t slip out. I don’t know how long I ran before the sergeant dismissed everyone. The students gathered at the edge of the track, pointing and staring at me. Sweat poured into my eyes, making it impossible to see. I reached into my pocket for a tissue, accidentally pulling something out that clattered onto the ground. Silence fell, followed by a burst of horrible laughter. “Holy crap, what is that?” “Looks like a pad, but… why is it so dirty?” “Oh my god, did she steal a used one? That’s disgusting!” 3 I froze, looking down. A soiled pad lay on the ground, dark red stains showing. Carly faked shock, opening her mouth wide: “That… wasn’t that the one I threw away this morning? Audrey, how could you…” “Carly slipped it into my pocket…” I rushed to defend myself, but Ethan cut me off, his voice sharp: “Audrey, that’s disgusting! You’d stoop so low as to frame Carly! No wonder you wouldn’t leave the bathroom—you were stealing it then!” I looked up sharply, my voice raw: “Ethan, are you accusing me of stealing a used pad?” A flash of panic crossed his eyes, but he kept his composure: “Isn’t that obvious? It fell out of your pocket. You can’t deny it.” “Deny it?” I laughed. “Does the daughter of the biggest tech billionaire in the city need to steal that?” I stared hard into his eyes: “Ethan, you know exactly how much my family is worth.” The jeers instantly died. Dozens of eyes turned to Ethan. “Stop acting! The daughter of a billionaire? You’re crazy!” Kayla immediately sneered. “Is she delusional? Is the stress making her invent stories?” “Ethan, you grew up with her. What’s her deal? Is her family poor?” The whispering started again. Ethan’s face cycled through red and white. He stammered for a long time before finally forcing out: “She… her mother is our nanny.” The crowd erupted. “Holy crap, the nanny’s daughter! And she was pretending to be rich?” “Look at her! The master’s charity probably put her through school, and she grew up to be a thief. What a waste!” “The nanny’s daughter can’t hide her class. The squad leader was kind enough to keep her close, and she repays him by doing this trashy stuff.” Carly smirked, but she didn’t notice Ethan’s face turning deep crimson. I spoke slowly: “What’s wrong with being the nanny’s daughter? A nanny works hard for her money.” “It’s better than living in the owner’s house, spending the owner’s allowance, and forgetting who you are.” I glanced at Ethan’s burning ears: “Is being the nanny’s daughter something to be ashamed of?” “I think it’s better than someone who has less than ten cents to their name, but has to steal others’ things to pretend to be generous.” My implication hit home. The murmuring grew uncertain. The judgmental eyes started shifting between Ethan and me. “Wait a minute…” someone muttered. “I remember the city’s top billionaire’s name is Xu, right?” “Audrey Xu? Yes, Audrey Xu!” someone else confirmed. “The financial channels always talk about her. She’s the only heir…” Ethan’s face turned ash gray. 4 Carly shrieked, cutting through the silence: “No way! She looks too poor! She’s lying!” Before she finished, she charged at me like a maniac, reaching for my pocket: “I want to see if a ‘billionaire’ has any cash!” I struggled, and my nail raked across her arm. Ethan instantly shoved me to the ground. “Audrey, that’s too much! You hit her!” “Ethan!” Carly immediately cried, covering her arm. “She didn’t just try to steal, she scratched me!” “You…” I pushed up on the ground, my knees trembling. I looked up at Ethan. Tears suddenly burned my eyes. The memory of a ten-year-old Ethan flashed in my mind: My father patting his shoulder: “Ethan, I’m sponsoring your education. I only ask one thing: take care of Audrey, be her companion, protect her.” He had nodded firmly, his eyes shining: “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll protect Audrey forever!” “Ethan…” My voice trembled, carrying my last shred of hope. He deliberately avoided my gaze, his voice harsh: “You attacked first. Apologize to Carly.” He then grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to bow to Carly. “No!” I struggled fiercely. In the chaos, the tissues I had wedged tightly between my legs slipped down my pants. Plop. A stack of blood-stained paper landed on the track. “Oh my God, she was using that cheap paper!” “She can’t afford pads but claims to be a billionaire’s daughter? Hilarious!” “That’s gross, using that kind of thing…” Ethan stared at the soiled tissues, a flicker of pain in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Carly beat him to it. “Audrey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were in such trouble…” She apologized falsely, then deliberately stumbled toward me, ramming her shoulder hard into my lower abdomen. “Ah!” A blinding pain shot through me. I doubled over, clutching my stomach. Carly also cried out, collapsing dramatically. Ethan took two steps toward me, but before he could kneel down, Carly screamed: “My arm hurts! I think it’s broken!” Ethan froze. His eyes showed a flicker of internal struggle, but he immediately turned to Carly. “Don’t worry, Carly. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” He scooped her up, never looking at me again. The pain in my stomach was a dull, twisting ache. I huddled on the ground. The jeers felt like needles: “Stop faking it,” Kayla sneered, crossing her arms. “Does she think she’s a princess who needs coddling? The nanny’s daughter isn’t worth anyone’s time.” Just then, a black Maybach suddenly sliced through the crowd and stopped in front of me. The jeering stopped instantly. The door opened. A tall man in a black coat stepped out. He gently lifted me into his arms: “Don’t worry, Audrey. I’m here.” As he carried me toward the car, Ethan suddenly rushed over, blocking the way: “Julian! Why are you here? Audrey is…” “Get lost.” Julian sidestepped him, not even looking. Julian carefully placed me in the back seat. As the car started, Ethan rushed to the window, desperately gripping the car door. “Audrey! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Tell Julian to stop! I need to talk to you…” I turned my face away, closing my eyes. I didn’t want to look at him. After the car left the base, I endured the pain and called my estate manager. Meanwhile, on the field, Ethan stood paralyzed. Carly tugged his arm, demanding: “Why were you chasing that tramp’s car! I…” The phone in Ethan’s pocket vibrated violently. “Ethan! Come home! The Xu family threw all our things out! The manager said… he said I’m fired, and you won’t be going to college now! What the hell is going on?” Ethan froze, and his phone clattered to the ground. 5 At the hospital, Julian rushed me into the emergency room. The doctor confirmed it was just severe cramps, prescribing rest. Julian finally relaxed, fetching a basin of hot water and kneeling by the bed to wash my feet. “Too hot?” He checked the temperature before letting me dip my feet in. I shook my head. Julian is five years older than me, a close family friend. Even when he was abroad, he never missed sending me a birthday gift. He always warned me on the phone: “Ethan seems reliable, but he’s got ulterior motives. Don’t let him fool you.” I used to think he was just being an overprotective old man. Now I know he was right. He dried my feet and asked: “How did you get into this state?” I asked: “When did you get back?” “Last week,” he said. “Your birthday is coming up. I came back for it. What happened?” The door opened. My father walked in, his eyes red: “Audrey!” The day’s suppressed pain burst out. I flew into his arms, sobbing: “Dad, I don’t want to go to school with Ethan anymore.” “That Ethan again? What did he do to you, sweetheart?” My father tenderly stroked my forehead. The door burst open. Ethan rushed in, gasping, and lunged for my hand: “Audrey, are you okay? Where does it hurt…” I violently pulled my hand away, looking at him coldly: “When you and Carly were tormenting me, did you ever consider if I was comfortable? Why the sudden act now?” The color drained from his face: “I’m sorry, Audrey. Carly was hurt, and I was panicking…” His evasion made my stomach turn. I leaned over and vomited all over his uniform. The mess splattered his camouflage. He looked horrified, but still tried to steady me: “Are you okay?” My father shoved him away: “Ethan, tell me the truth! What did you do?” He slammed his hand on the bedside table. Ethan flinched, falling to his knees. He stammered before finally squeezing out: “I… I’m sorry, Mr. Xu. I… I lent Audrey’s pads to someone else…” “I really didn’t know she would get so upset. I promise I’ll never do it again…” He pleaded sincerely. I looked at his fake remorse and felt only scorn. “Is that all?” I sat up slowly, looking down at him. “Who forced me to use sandpaper pads? Who accused me of stealing? Who watched Carly try to strip me and then sided with her?” Every question made my voice shake. Tears streamed down my face. My father’s face was terrifyingly grim. He gave Ethan a thunderous slap: “Listen to the mess you made!” The sound echoed in the quiet room. Ethan turned his head, speechless.

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I died while he was flirting with the florist. I haunted him for three years over it. The moment I materialized, scaring off his date, the girl trembled: “Your place is haunted!” He looked unbothered, smirked, and said: “Yeah. A really hot one.” 1 The beauty screamed “You’re sick!” and bolted. Ethan Vance walked her to the door politely: “Won’t you stay? She’s actually very understanding!” The girl was too terrified to hear him. She just shrieked in humiliation: “I came here to see your cat do flips! Go to hell!” Ethan chuckled, closed the door. He turned to see me, arms crossed and furious, completely unfazed by my spectral presence. “Which one is this, this month?” He sounded bored, not mad at all. “The third,” I said proudly. Ethan flopped onto the sofa, and I bounced right off him—my ghost self lifted a foot in the air. “Molly, are you trying to make me a monk?” Ethan pointed to himself: “Three years of celibacy, thanks to you.” I scoffed: “Look how healthy you are now.” When we were dating, he was a wreck. He gave a dry laugh: “My body’s fine, but living just feels meaningless.” I couldn’t argue with that. Ethan used to be a total playboy. He was handsome, rich, successful, and a guaranteed catch. I fell for his vibe: that lazy, seductive quality. He was a Black Baccara rose in full bloom, intoxicating and dark. When I was falling hardest, he gave me the cold truth: “I will never get married, and I won’t be devoted to just one person. I live for the moment. I won’t be responsible for anyone.” He was cool, collected, and totally reckless. Yet, we were stuck in a messy, two-year, on-again, off-again cycle. Our story ended when the blood soaked the concrete. The last sound I heard was the dull thud of a bat hitting my head. Before the attack, I had quickly wiped my phone. The last message I received wasn’t from Ethan; it was a photo from a friend. Ethan was holding flowers, and the florist was smiling up at him. A perfect pair. I knew it. The playboy wasn’t going to turn his life around for me. My last thought before I faded was: “I wonder if Ethan Vance will still have the nerve to date the florist when he finds out I’m dead?” 2 Ethan picked up the white roses on the coffee table, carefully arranged them in a vase, and spritzed them with water. The droplets clung to the velvety petals. He bought flowers constantly after I died. Not for me, of course. It was because the florist was gorgeous. He used the excuse of buying flowers to flirt with her. It must have felt cursed because his first date with the florist was the day I died. So, no matter how hard the florist tried, Ethan never touched her. Ethan admired the roses and casually instructed me: “Your spectral presence is cold. Stay close to the vase. The low temperature will help keep them fresh.” You know how to be practical, I’ll give you that. I got mad, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply. Ethan looked smug. He wore that “I’m the king” expression. “Want a new dress? I can burn one for you.” He was obscenely rich. That’s why I’m the best-dressed ghost in the afterlife. My dead friends are constantly jealous of my designer gowns. Ethan buys the clothes based on my spectral instructions. He comes home late. He sets the charcoal pit under the old oak tree and meticulously burns the clothes and some cash for me. The black smoke billows out, stinging Ethan’s eyes. A passerby shouts angrily: “Who the hell is burning trash here?” Ethan coughs: “Sorry, sir! I’m just sending some things to my ex. I’ll be quick!” An old lady walks up and pulls the man away: “Leave him alone. The poor guy’s girlfriend was murdered a couple of years ago. It was brutal. He’s gone a little crazy. I often see him talking to thin air.” “Wow, how sad.” “I know. No one wants to date him anymore.” My hands clenched. Ethan remained calm, ignoring everything. I felt a pang of guilt. Ethan was usually a magnet for attention. “Ethan, let’s go.” He lifted an eyelid: “Almost done. Did you receive it?” “Yup. The underworld post office signed for it.” He smiled: “Good.” 3 Ethan woke up, tears tracing his temples. He wiped his eyes and whispered hoarsely: “Molly.” “Hmm?” I was trying on the new dress. Seeing me, Ethan sighed, closed his eyes, and covered his face with his arm. His breathing hitched, then calmed. I put on the new Chanel jacket and twirled in front of him. “Do I look good?” He looked up. In the sunlight, his eyes were a clear, light brown. His voice was teasing: “You look better without it.” I blushed: “Stop that!” He laughed, just looking at me. I sighed: “It’s my birthday in two days.” “I know.” “Go visit my grave, would you?” He didn’t answer. I sighed again. “Ethan.” I held my hand up to my chest, indicating a height. “My grave grass is already three feet tall. You haven’t visited once.” Ethan really was stubborn. I was an orphan and not close to many people. The police could only find Ethan to claim my body. I managed a dark laugh. Figures Ethan would be the one to send me off. He claimed my body from the morgue. My body was brutal—my head bashed, covered in bruises. He couldn’t see me then. I watched his hand tremble as he pulled back the sheet. A normal person would have been hysterical. But Ethan was cold. He just stood there, staring at me. He should have at least cried, just for show. We were together for three years! After a long time, he gently brushed my nose with his index finger. He said: “I hope you died for a good cause.” The empty room offered no reply. He calmly told the police about my life. “She likes pink.” “Her job was a reporter.” “She has a small mole on her thumb web.” “I was her boyfriend, not her husband. We had no legal cohabitation.” It’s funny. Ethan told me upfront: “Don’t look for security in me. I don’t have it. Don’t try to change me with love. I will never get married, so if that’s your goal, leave now.” Everyone thought we’d crash and burn. But he knew me best. His eyes were hollow, his thin lips reciting my habits. I wondered if he knew my favorite position. I couldn’t help but criticize him— Ethan, couldn’t you pretend? You’re too calm. Won’t the police suspect you’re involved in the murder? But my ghost worries were unnecessary for the living. Finally, Ethan leaned forward, clasping his hands. “I want to see the security footage of the incident.” Ethan watched the footage and then left. He never went back to the precinct. He never came to see me. The mountain didn’t come to me, so I went to the mountain. I watched him quit his job. Not for me, of course. He wanted to start his own company. Being an investment banker was lucrative, but Ethan wanted to be the boss. The startup phase was hard. So, I understood why he missed my funeral. The funeral home occasionally called him for payment confirmation. He always said: “Use the most expensive option.” He was most attractive when he was being financially ruthless. 4 “But no one has visited my grave in three years.” I felt genuinely upset. Ethan was unmovable. “I hired someone to clean it.” And paid them well. I scoffed: “You could burn that money to me, and I could sweep it clean with a single gust of cold air.” He smirked: “I’ll burn you more later.” “Are you really not going?” I held up three fingers aggressively. “Three years! Don’t you even wonder if my looks have changed?” He laughed: “How would you change?” “Get old?” He denied it: “No. Your life is permanently twenty-five.” That hit both of us. I died three years ago. The day after I died was my twenty-sixth birthday. I would never be twenty-six. The air grew heavy. Ethan asked: “What’s the afterlife like?” “It sucks.” “How so?” I shook my head mournfully: “A male ghost hit on me the other day. I was lonely and almost said yes, but he drank the River Styx water and didn’t remember me five seconds later.” I gave him the finger: “Are all you men so forgetful?” He changed the subject: “So you’re dating other guys behind my back?” I was equally sharp: “Aren’t you dating other girls behind my back?” We were even. Ethan smiled and shook his head: “At least I brought them home for you to inspect.” I dismissed that. But I was curious: “You’ve been celibate for three years. Seriously, no urge?” He shrugged: “I even lost interest in porn.” I leaned in, unbuttoning my second button, raising an eyebrow suggestively: “How about this?” He glanced at my chest. “What is that? A ghost movie?” He really knows how to kill the mood. I got angry and turned to leave. Ethan instinctively reached out, but his hand passed right through me. He looked lost for a moment. He quickly recovered. “Fine, I’ll go.” “Huh?” “I’ll visit your grave. Should I bring fried chicken?” My eyes turned into stars: “And beer~” He smiled: “Deal.” Ding-dong. Ethan’s phone displayed a news notification. Headline: “Three Years Ago: Vicious Assault and Death of Young Woman, One Participant Released from Prison.” It featured a photo of a man with a buzz cut in an orange jumpsuit. He looked clean-cut, but the image of him smoking, the red glow of the cigarette at his lips, sent shivers down my spine. I clenched my hands, trying not to lose my composure in front of Ethan. I gave a casual wave: “Gotta run.” “Where to?” “Stop being so clingy, dude. I’m a busy ghost.” I have a ghost life to live. I need to sleep and work. 5 Ethan doesn’t know this. Standing next to him all day drains my energy. I have to go back to my grave to recharge. That’s where my ashes are. And every day, the old man who cleans the cemetery comes by and tells me about his slow-burn romance with the cafeteria lady. It’s a special kind of torture. I never told Ethan any of this. He doesn’t want to visit me anyway. The old man is the only living person who talks to me. I shouldn’t let Ethan take that away. I’d be bored to death. Under the moonlight, I shared my offerings with my dead friend. Her name is Chloe. She died of cancer. She’s my neighbor and senior ghost. “Molly, why haven’t you moved on yet?” I took a bite of cake and shook my head: “Not yet.” “Why?” “You haven’t moved on either.” She laughed: “I’m staying to watch my jerk ex and his ‘true love’ suffer.” Hilarious. After Chloe died, her ex realized she was his soulmate and went completely insane. Chloe stayed just for the drama. He also had one redeeming quality: he kept burning designer clothes for Chloe. “What about you? Why are you staying? Is it to watch what happens to the people who killed you?” What happens? They are powerful. They hired people to take the fall. They didn’t spend a single day in jail. Bad people always win. Life is unfair. “I don’t care how they die…” The wind howled, making the quiet cemetery even more desolate. “I’m just worried about someone.” I said quietly. There’s no one in the graveyard at night. The living only visit in the daytime, when the sun is warm. And I, a ghost. I only live in the dark. I accepted this fact, and Ethan should too. “Are you talking about your ex? Didn’t you say he’s still clubbing and working? Take it from a seasoned ghost: the living move on quickly. You might not be as important as you think, babe.” Chloe wasn’t being cruel. We ghosts can’t linger too long. We start to fade and forget the way to the Underworld. My memory has been getting foggy lately. The price of lingering for the wrong person is too high. But Ethan is worth it. He is worth it.

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I was rushed to the hospital after passing out from morning sickness, and my attending physician was my ex-boyfriend. He gave me a cold smirk: “Severe morning sickness is usually because the man’s quality sucks. Of all the guys you could pick, you chose some weak sauce dude.” I secretly grumbled in my head: “You got that right, you weak sauce bastard!” The words had barely left my mind when the look in his eyes changed completely. “Who did you just call weak sauce?” Me: … Wait, how did he hear my thoughts?! Chapter 1 Three in the morning. I had just sent the revised proposal to the client when a wave of acid reflux hit my stomach. By the fifth time I was convulsing over the toilet, I finally realized this bout of morning sickness was seriously messed up. The ringing in my ears was getting louder, and I quickly fumbled for my phone to dial my emergency contact. “Cece, I…” Before I could get to the point, another jet of sour bile erupted from my throat. A dizzying, spinning sensation suddenly overwhelmed me. Before I blacked out, I only heard Cece’s booming voice screaming. When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on a gurney. Cece’s face suddenly popped into my vision, and she started sobbing. “My queen, you’re finally awake! You almost scared me to death!” I tried to talk, but my throat was painfully raw. The ambulance took a sharp turn, and my stomach immediately churned again. The nurse quickly handed me an emesis bag, and I grabbed it and started throwing up. “Hyperemesis Gravidarum. She’s already dehydrated. Contact the ER, prepare for IV fluids.” Hearing the nurse’s words, my hand trembled uncontrollably. Looking at the nurse’s uniform, it was from St. Jude’s Hospital. He worked at St. Jude’s. I had deliberately detoured to St. Mary’s—the one farther from home—for all my check-ups. Just to avoid running into him. There’s no way… I couldn’t be that unlucky to run into him, could I? I instinctively reached a hand to my lower abdomen, filled with deep regret. I wish I hadn’t drunk so much that night two months ago. Now I was paying for it. By the time the ambulance stopped, I had thrown up twice more. Cece half-carried, half-dragged me out of the vehicle. The harsh light of the emergency room made me squint uncomfortably. A nurse wheeled over a chair, and I sank onto it, feeling limp and useless, like a waterlogged biscuit. In my fuzzy state, I heard a nurse tell her colleague: “Did you notify Dr. Chen?” The surname hit me like a jolt, instantly clearing my chaotic mind. There’s no way this is happening… No, no, no, it can’t be, Chen is a common surname. But wait, at that reception, didn’t someone introduce him as an OB-GYN at St. Jude’s… I sucked in a cold breath and reached out to grab the nurse’s sleeve, about to ask. A pair of long, lean hands took the chart from the nurse and quickly flipped through the pages. The hands had defined knuckles, and the nails were meticulously manicured. These were the very hands that, just two months ago, had ruined my rented dress! Not only did it cost me a fortune to replace, but it also led to this entire ordeal. I lifted my head and met Ethan Chen’s gaze. His eyes, behind the wire-rimmed glasses, were still as cold as frost. His entire demeanor radiated a powerful Stay Away vibe. He looked at me as if he didn’t know me, yet calmly spoke my name. “Sophie Li?” Chapter 2 My heart stuttered. This was utterly excruciating… I worked overtime on a project, and now I was sent to the hospital because of morning sickness. And the doctor treating me was the ex-boyfriend I’d had a one-night stand with two months ago! Why does everything bad happen to me! Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but I suddenly felt terribly wronged. My nose stung, and tears began to fall. The nurse, thinking I was scared, kindly tried to comfort me: “Don’t worry, this is very common. Dr. Chen is back from his fellowship abroad and he’s excellent. He’ll make sure both you and the baby are safe.” Of course, I knew he was excellent. Back in college, he was the highly admired academic superstar. Not only was he brilliant in school, but in other aspects… he was perfect. Ethan didn’t say anything, his eyes quickly moving between me and the medical record. “Hyperemesis Gravidarum?” I nodded awkwardly, my throat too dry to speak. My stomach cramped again. I quickly doubled over, dry-heaving into the emesis bag. A cold sweat instantly drenched my back. “Get an IV line started. Fluids first.” “Check blood ketones and electrolytes.” When Ethan’s fingers landed on my wrist, I flinched uncontrollably. He frowned, his tone firm. “Don’t move.” His breathing was right there, close, and he smelled faintly of mint. I froze, but my heart was pounding furiously. The intimacy two months ago could be dismissed as an alcohol-fueled mistake. But now… Fortunately, Ethan quickly pulled his hand back and took the newly arrived lab report. “Nine weeks pregnant. Ketones three-plus. Electrolyte imbalance.” He let out a cold snort, his voice precise like a surgical cut. “Throwing up this badly. Her partner didn’t come with her?” I bit my bottom lip, not daring to answer. He suddenly gave a short, cynical laugh, loud enough for the nurses around to hear: “Severe morning sickness is often due to poor sperm quality from the partner.” He looked up, his eyes sharp as a razor behind the glasses, his voice edged with anger. “Of all the guys you could pick, you had to choose a weak sauce dude.” The nausea surged again. Hearing Ethan’s comment just then made me feel even more miserable. But I couldn’t talk, so I just vented in my head. “Oh, yeah, exactly, you’re so right! You weak sauce bastard!” Ethan instantly looked up, his eyes widening in a strange, intense way. “Who did you just call weak sauce?” The chaotic emergency room instantly fell silent. The nurses all turned to look. I was startled. Wait, I didn’t speak! I clearly cursed him in my head! Did I… somehow say it out loud? Chapter 3 A nurse smoothly broke the deadlock, walking over with the IV bag. “The line is ready.” Ethan immediately returned to his collected, professional doctor demeanor. “Observe for four hours. Recheck blood ketones after the fluids are done.” “If it’s still positive, we’ll consider admission.” Admitted! I wanted to cry. “If I’m admitted, I’ll have to face Ethan Chen on his rounds every single day?!” “No, please, can I request a different doctor?!” Ethan, who had turned to leave, suddenly stopped and walked back to me. He leaned close to my ear, his voice a devilish whisper: “A hospital isn’t a restaurant, you can’t order off a menu. Besides—” The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile devoid of warmth. “Ms. Li, you’re high-risk for hyperemesis. As your attending physician, I have a responsibility to personally follow up.” He deliberately emphasized “personally,” making me feel vaguely that he was asserting some kind of ownership. “Get some rest. We’ll have a… proper chat later.” Ethan paused, then looked up slightly. “Don’t even think about running away again.” My jaw dropped. He really can hear me! I was absolutely certain I didn’t speak that time! My God, how can he hear my inner thoughts? Does that mean he already knows the baby is… And this “proper chat” of his, is he going to try to convince me to get an abortion? But this is my baby. I’ll give birth to it and raise it myself. Even if the sperm is his, we have no relationship now. He can’t stop my decision! At that thought, I had only one idea in mind. RUN! The moment the IV finished, I practically scrambled up. I grabbed Cece and fled the hospital without looking back. Once in the car, Cece worriedly wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. “What happened? You look terrified… Oh my God! Ethan is at this hospital. You didn’t…?” Tearfully, I nodded and recounted everything that happened in the emergency room. “Cece, he… can he really hear my thoughts…?” Cece immediately burst into loud laughter. “Are you sick to the point of brain damage? Mind reading? Seriously? But only you would dare call Ethan Chen weak sauce. Do you realize he’s the star OB-GYN at St. Jude’s now? How many pregnant women are clawing their way to get an appointment with him…” Cece’s eyes were alarmingly bright with amusement. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. The cold-as-ice campus god ended up being tamed by you into a perfect boyfriend… Hey, wait a minute! Forget the mind reading. Nine weeks pregnant! The night two months ago… do you think he figured it out?!” I shook my head, exhausted. It didn’t matter if he knew or not. This city was huge; as long as I made an effort, it would be hard to run into him again. Cece sighed, her voice full of concern. “Why don’t you just tell him? You’ve gotten so thin from the morning sickness. If you have him, a professional and the baby’s father, it would be so much easier on you.” My fingertips trembled slightly as I silently watched the neon lights flash past the car window. How could I? He must hate my guts. Ethan was one year ahead of me. So when I graduated, he, the med student, also finished his undergrad. The beautiful, wealthy girl and the excellent, devoted, handsome academic—it looked like a fairy-tale ending. I thought so too, initially. Until graduation neared. My family went bankrupt, my dad took his own life, and my mom was diagnosed with liver cancer. Meanwhile, he held an offer from Johns Hopkins Medical School; his future was boundless. A massive gulf opened up between us. I couldn’t stand the thought of becoming a heavy anchor dragging down his brilliant career, and I was terrified he would give up his dreams for me. So I chose to escape. Before leaving, I staged a performance. At our graduation party, I borrowed Cece’s then-boyfriend and showed up in front of Ethan, publicly accepting the guy’s “confession.” Ethan looked at me with raw disbelief, demanding an explanation. In front of all his friends, I sneered at him. “You’re leaving the country. You honestly think I’m going to wait for you? Ethan Chen, you can’t give me the stability I want.” “We’re over. Don’t you ever contact me again.” Block, disappear. I made a clean break. A month later, I happened to overhear his friends talking at the restaurant where I was waitressing. They mentioned he had left for his program abroad. His friend asked the others if they had my contact information. “What a pity. Ethan entrusted me with a message for Miss Sophie Li.” Curious, I listened in. “What else? She messed with my brother’s heart for four whole years. He told me to pass on three words to Sophie if I ever had the chance.” Three words. There were so many combinations that could be loaded with meaning. But when I heard those three words, I couldn’t stop crying. [Go to hell.] I didn’t die, but I certainly got my retribution. My mother passed away in less than a year. This accidentally conceived baby was now my only family. Ethan, who hated me enough to damn me, would never tolerate this child. Chapter 5 Cece drove me home, her face etched with worry. “Are you really not going to stay at my place? What if you start…” I quickly cut her off. “Knock on wood! Don’t jinx me! I’m just exhausted from working all night. Once this project is done, I’ll ask for time off and rest.” I paused, still bothered by the ER incident. Since I wasn’t sure if Ethan knew about the baby, I needed to preempt him. “Cece, you have to help me create a baby daddy persona! The kind that would make Ethan Chen absolutely furious!” Cece’s eyes lit up. “A 6’3” jock? A six-pack, golden retriever type? Or a DILF CEO?” I couldn’t help but smile viciously. “All of the above! Starting today, the baby’s dad is a 6’3”, 25-year-old, eight-pack wolf cub!” After Cece left, I had just settled down when my phone rang abruptly. It was an unknown number. I hesitated for a long time before answering. Ethan’s cold voice came through the receiver: “Sophie Li, who gave you permission to run? Are you suicidal?” I felt inexplicably guilty. “It was an emergency… I… my records are at St. Mary’s. I’ll follow up with the doctor there…” Ethan’s cold voice cut me off. “The ER chart lists you as my patient. Hyperemesis Gravidarum requires strict follow-up. 11 AM tomorrow, OB-GYN Clinic 3, for your check-up.” “I’m not…” He gave a harsh scoff, interrupting again: “That’s a doctor’s order. Don’t make me come and get you myself.” He hung up immediately. I stared at the phone, my hand shaking with anger. This was a world away from the Ethan who used to hang on my every word! But a moment later, Cece called me back. “My friend just said Ethan contacted their department chair, asking about your medical files. What did you two do now?” I gritted my teeth and repeated Ethan’s words to her. Cece laughed out loud. “Then go! It’s the perfect chance to test if he can truly hear your thoughts.” I… Fine. The next morning, I reluctantly went to St. Jude’s. Clinic 3 was crowded. I hid in a corner until the screen flashed my name repeatedly, then slowly dragged myself in. Ethan was sitting behind his desk, reviewing a chart. He didn’t look up, only pointing to a chair. “Sit.”

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I wasn’t sick, but I chewed an entire box of antacids like jelly beans. It was because, in my previous life, my roommate, Lina Wells, who couldn’t handle a dash of pepper, transferred all the side effects of her extreme spicy food challenges onto me. She would coolly swallow the Hellfire Buldak Ramen, while I writhed in the dorm room with stomach spasms. She rocketed to fame as an “Eating Challenge Queen,” while my tongue was scorched raw and ulcerated; even drinking water felt like swallowing razor blades. I cried, begging my boyfriend, Brad Wilson, to save me, but he angrily shoved my hand away. “I think you’re just jealous she’s famous! You secretly ate spicy chips and messed up your stomach, and now you’re trying to blame her!” After that, Lina became utterly brazen. Right in front of me, she took on challenges involving the Carolina Reaper, tear-gas mustard, demon noodles, and even industrial-grade capsaicin. I instantly hemorrhaged from my orifices and collapsed into a coma. Doctors scoured my reports but could never find the specific pathology, concluding it was a complete physical breakdown due to extreme psychological stress. Later, I died a painful death from massive gastrointestinal bleeding and multi-organ failure. Lina, however, became a food influencer raking in millions a year, and she lived happily ever after with my ex, Brad. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she signed up for her first spicy challenge. Chapter 1 “Girls, the grand prize for this Hellfire Buldak Ramen challenge is fifty thousand bucks!” My roommate, Lina, waved her phone, showing us the fiery red contest poster. She adjusted her hair in the mirror. “Jenna,” she said to me, “what do you think? If I win, I’ll be the first food content creator influencer at our school.” The other roommates laughed. “Lina, come on. Last time we got hot pot, you asked for the broth to be clear water. You want to take on extreme spice?” Lina’s face flushed. She looked at me, seeking affirmation. In the last life, I sincerely warned her that her stomach was sensitive and that eating such intense food would ruin her health. She gave me a grateful smile then, only to transfer the sheer hell of the burning pain entirely onto me during the challenge. This time, looking at her expectant eyes, the smile on my face grew wider. “Go for it! Why wouldn’t you?” I hopped off my bed, walked over, and linked my arm through hers. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll be famous overnight.” Lina looked stunned, clearly not expecting that reaction. Ignoring her surprise, I pulled her toward the door, speaking loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. “Guys, Lina from our dorm is joining the Spicy King Challenge! She’s going to make our English department proud!” Heads immediately popped out of doorways down the hall, all staring at Lina in surprise. “No way! Lina’s doing it?” “That’s savage! We have to go cheer her on!” I pushed her gently toward the crowd, smiling. “Lina is the hope of our dorm. She’s always been secretly amazing at handling spice, but she’s just modest and doesn’t like to show off.” “This time, for the honor of our department, she’s decided to unleash her full power!” In the crowd, a younger student, who was filming a vlog on her phone, had her eyes light up and immediately turned her camera on us. I subtly clocked the camera. My smile deepened. The cheers and attention made it impossible for Lina to back down. She loved being the center of attention. She straightened her back and stated confidently, “Of course! I always keep my word!” Her calculating eyes focused on me. “After all, Jenna, you’ve helped me so much. This time, I have to achieve something big and not disappoint you.” I just smiled, saying nothing. When she tried to get close, I subtly stepped back half a pace, ensuring no skin-to-skin contact. Chapter 2 The moment I stepped into the classroom, I was shoved against the door. “Jenna, are you crazy?!” My boyfriend, Brad, was furious, his face white. “You know how sensitive Lina’s stomach is, right? She can’t handle any spice!” “As her friend, instead of talking her out of it, you egged her on in front of everyone, putting her on the spot! What are you planning, exactly?!” I shoved him away. “She said she was going, she said she could win. Who are you, an outsider, to lecture me?” “And listen up, Brad, I’m your girlfriend, not Lina!” Clap, clap, clap— A crisp round of applause came from the doorway. Our academic advisor, Professor Hayes, stood there, nodding at me with a smile. “Jenna Li is absolutely right.” Professor Hayes adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharp and shrewd. “This is precisely the time for encouragement. This is not only a fantastic opportunity for Lina, but also a great PR opportunity for our English Department.” Brad’s fists were tightly clenched. “But what if she fails? The entire school will laugh at her! Her reputation will be ruined!” I watched Brad, flushed with anxiety over Lina, and almost burst out laughing at his pathetic loyalty. The advisor sighed with a look of disappointment. “If she fails, we’ll spin it as Lina being brave for taking on a challenge, emphasizing that participation matters most. It’s normal for young people to be impulsive. Either way, our department gets attention, and we gain valuable publicity material for this year’s Outstanding Department evaluation.” “If she succeeds, even better. We’ll have a famous influencer come from our department, which is a massive benefit for recruitment and promotion.” Brad, who had just been yelling at me, was now speechless. The advisor gave him a warning look. “This concerns the honor of our department, Brad. As a student council executive, you need to understand your priorities and not mess things up.” Brad’s attempt to stand up for Lina was extinguished by that bucket of cold water. After the advisor left, Brad looked at me with open disgust. “You know Lina can’t handle it, but you just watched her walk into the fire. You truly disgust me.” “I’m warning you, if anything happens to Lina, I will never let you get away with it!” Watching his spineless reaction, I truly felt blind for loving him in my past life. I sneered, “Let’s break up then.” Brad looked startled. “What? I was just saying that in anger. If Lina…” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to his excuses. I shoved him out of the classroom and slammed the door shut. “Don’t force me to go to your parents!” Outside the door, Brad’s voice instantly cut off, followed by his stomping retreat. His parents were traditional, elderly teachers who prized reputation above all else. If they knew he was causing a scene with me, his official girlfriend, over another girl, they would absolutely ground him for life. Chapter 3 Three days later, the Spicy King Challenge took place as planned. On stage, Lina, under the bright lights, finished an entire bowl of Buldak Ramen drenched in red spicy oil without changing her expression. The audience erupted in thunderous applause. That evening, I was studying in the library when a familiar, agonizing cramp hit my stomach. I bit down hard on my lip, cold sweat immediately soaking my shirt. The pain was identical to what I felt in my previous life. But this time, I hadn’t touched Lina once, hadn’t even taken a sip of water she offered, yet the pain was here. I realized this wasn’t simple contact contagion, but a more bizarre, parasitic “Harm Transfer.” I immediately rushed to the ER and got an emergency appointment. The results came back quickly—acute gastric mucosal lesions with erosive bleeding. My phone rang. It was Brad. He sounded excited: “Lina won! Our whole club is throwing a celebration party for her now. Hurry up and come cover the bill!” I covered my mouth, struggling to suppress a groan of pain. “I have a fever, I’m not well. I can’t make it.” Lina’s smug, gloating voice cut in from the other end. “Jenna, it’s just a little cold, what are you worried about? If anything’s wrong, you have to tell me, okay? I’ll have Brad drive you to the hospital.” She clearly knew I was suffering. I forced back the surging nausea. “I really appreciate your concern, my dear roommate.” “Lina, you’re just too nice!” another girl’s voice chimed in. “If Jenna hadn’t pushed you to do it, you wouldn’t have had to take such a huge risk. If I were you, I’d stop being friends with her!” I didn’t care for their performance. I hung up immediately and turned off my phone. Overnight, Lina, just like in my previous life, became the talk of the campus. She struck while the iron was hot, announcing a month-long “Ultimate Spice Challenge,” taking on the Carolina Reaper, tear-gas mustard, and demon noodles. To make her show even more dramatic, I took a week off school, claiming illness. I went to the hospital every day for endoscopies and medication. My medical reports grew worse by the day, going from mucosal lesions to gastric ulcers, then to a perforated stomach. The doctors and nurses who examined me looked at me with an expression that shifted from sympathy to sheer perplexity. Lying in the hospital bed, I read about strange, worldwide phenomena. Combining the two “transfer” experiences, I gradually pieced together the full picture of this bizarre ability: it was a parasitic form of “Harm Transfer.” When Lina consumed a stimulant, she could transfer the physical pain to me. I tried to concentrate and resist, but my body’s instinctual reaction made it impossible to completely block. I realized that to fully reject the transfer, I needed a much stronger mental anchor. Chapter 4 A week later, I swallowed several painkillers and dragged my weak body back to school. The moment I entered the dorm, Lina gasped at my pale face. “Oh my gosh, Jenna! What happened to you? I haven’t seen you in a week, and you look so run down!” She moved to reach out and touch my forehead. I instinctively took a step back, looking at her warily. A lackey standing behind Lina immediately rolled her eyes at me with disdain. “Psh, she still thinks she’s hot stuff. Lina is the most popular person in school now. Who even remembers her?” “Lina is being nice by worrying about you, and you won’t even accept it. You’re so ungrateful!” She fawned over Lina: “Lina, it’s only been a week, and you already have over 100k followers! I bet you’ll be a million-follower VIP soon!” Lina clearly enjoyed the flattery, smiling with false humility. “Jenna, if you’re uncomfortable, you must tell me. I have some clout now, I can help you contact the best gastroenterologist and get you an expedited appointment.” “Getting her an expedited appointment is just wasting medical resources.” Brad’s voice cut in from the doorway. Seeing my sickly appearance, the disgust in his eyes deepened. “How did you let yourself get into such a mess?” Lina suddenly shrieked, pointing at my lips. “Oh my God! Jenna, what happened to your mouth? It’s covered in sores!” “It looks like canker sores, really severe ones!” Instantly, everyone in the room focused on my face. I subconsciously covered my mouth with my hand and backed away. “I’m fine, don’t come near me!” A hand suddenly reached out and brutally pulled my arm away. My mouth, which was severely ulcerated from chronic acid reflux, was fully exposed to everyone. Lina’s lackey gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. “Aren’t you that girl who was diagnosed with severe oral herpes at the campus clinic a few days ago? Oh my God, you’re Lina’s roommate!” “That’s contagious!” Lina immediately put on a serious face and reprimanded her. “Don’t say that! I forbid you from slandering my roommate!” But the other girl quickly defended herself. “It’s true! My cousin is an intern at the county hospital. She saw your file with her own eyes! It’s her! She’s probably embarrassed and didn’t dare to tell the dorm!” Brad backed away two steps in horror. I was trembling all over, tears welling up in my eyes. I looked helplessly at Lina. “Lina, you’re so successful now, you must be able to help me, right?” “Please, save me. I don’t want to be disfigured.” In my past life, I knelt and begged her to stop, but she showed no mercy. In this life, she wouldn’t either. She smirked triumphantly, about to utter some high-and-mighty rejection. Suddenly, a man in a suit burst into the room and grabbed a handful of Lina’s hair. “You liar! Give me back my company’s reputation!” “Why did you pull this fake publicity stunt?! I want you to compensate us for our losses!” The man was the marketing manager for the sponsor of last week’s Spicy King Challenge—a quick-serve food company. Lina shrieked, struggling. She asked, completely confused, “What are you talking about? Didn’t I help you promote your product?” Slap, slap! The manager slapped Lina across the face, his face crimson with rage. “Promote? My poor company is being dragged online as a scam! They’re saying our product isn’t even spicy, and we hired an actress! We’re being exposed!” In the corner, my lips slowly curled into a smile. Seeing this, Brad grabbed my arm and demanded, “You did this, didn’t you?!”

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Right after high school graduation, I, the most homebody person I knew, chose a college two thousand miles away. My parents roared in fury, “All this over a single room?!” Yes. I was an only child from a middle-class family that owned three properties. Yet, for eighteen years, I was never allowed to have my own independent room. Chapter 1 At my eighteenth birthday party, I loudly made my wish in front of all our family and friends. “I want my own little room.” The room went silent. A relative looked utterly shocked: “She doesn’t have her own room? A girl her age needs some privacy.” “She’s an only child! My husband and I have two kids, and we gave up the living room just to make three bedrooms.” Ignoring the instant change in my parents’ expressions, I gave a frank smile: “That’s right, I don’t have my own room.” My dad struggled to force out a laugh: “She’s kidding. We only have one daughter and three houses. Would we deny her a room?” My mom desperately tried to signal me with her eyes: “Sunny is just messing with us. Quick, make another wish.” I sighed inwardly and stated solemnly: “Mom and Dad, I’m eighteen now. I genuinely want my own private space.” The room fell silent again. Relatives exchanged glances, then looked at my parents with complicated expressions. Both my parents had stable, respectable government jobs. They projected the image of doting parents who spoiled their only daughter. Yet, their own flesh-and-blood didn’t have a bedroom? My Grandma suddenly started crying, “It’s my fault. I took over my granddaughter’s room. I’m so old, I’ve become a burden to my children and grandchildren.” I felt a pang of guilt. Grandma had always been distant, but living with her for over a decade meant I wasn’t completely devoid of feeling for her. Was I being too extreme? As I hesitated, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. My dad stood there, hand raised, breathing heavily. “You ungrateful kid! You haven’t even done anything, and you’re already blaming your Grandma.” My mom awkwardly rushed to pull my dad away, then worriedly checked my face. “Sunny, let’s talk at home. Your parents would never say no to you.” I stood frozen. I had briefly owned my own room. But when I was six, my grandpa passed away, and Grandma was moved from the countryside to live with us. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment. My parents had one, and Grandma had to share mine. I’ve wanted my own room and have been protesting since I was six. But every time I brought it up, they’d just laugh it off. Or they’d patronize me: “You and your Grandma are the same gender, what’s the big deal about privacy? Besides, if you don’t have enough space for your stuff, we can install two more shelves.” But what I needed was independent space, a room that belonged only to me! Under the stress of studying, I needed a place to decompress. I wanted my room filled with things I liked, not Grandma’s vitamins and drab, dusty clothes. Grandma snored, she ground her teeth, and the elderly wake up often. I was constantly sleep-deprived and dozed off during the day. For the three days of my finals, Grandma was finally picked up by my Uncle Kevin. Chapter 2 I thought it was finally over, that I could finally breathe. I was mentally decorating my room the way I wanted, picturing inviting friends over. But the moment my exams finished, Grandma was brought back. It was a total letdown. I had even humbly suggested to my parents: I could make a small partition in the utility room, the kitchen, or the balcony. Just a private space. Even if it was cramped or smelled a little, I didn’t care. My mom stared at me with the look you give a clueless child, scolding gently: “You’re our only beloved daughter. How could you sleep in the bathroom or kitchen? What would people say? It would be so embarrassing.” My dad chuckled, patting my head. “Silly girl. If my colleagues found out that I, the big head of the department, made my daughter sleep in the bathroom, I’d be drowned in judgment.” Knowing that protesting was futile, I had decided to go all-in today, hoping the relatives’ comments might finally motivate them to get me a room. More than anything, I wanted to remind my parents that I was eighteen, an adult, and I needed physical private space. Was this really such an extravagant request? The hotel restaurant was buzzing, but my dad’s bloodshot eyes were fixed on me. It seemed hitting me once wasn’t enough to satisfy his anger. My mom and the other guests were holding him back, saying something I couldn’t make out. I felt like I couldn’t hear anything. My face was throbbing. I covered my cheek and ran out of the hotel. The evening breeze cleared my dizzy, miserable head. The streetlights cast a dim glow on the surrounding houses, and I felt utterly empty inside. My cousin, Dahlia, with whom I’ve always had a cold relationship, texted me: [I used to envy you when we were kids. Your parents both have government jobs, stable income. Unlike mine, hustling at the market for barely enough to feed and clothe me.] It was true. I always had the newest dresses and went to the most reputable tutoring centers. In terms of education and material possessions, my parents never seemed to hold back. When my peers complained about having to share snacks and toys with younger siblings, I even felt lucky to be an only child, my parents’ only darling. So, facing the fact that I didn’t have a room, I even used to reassure myself that my parents must have their own reasons. After all, with their income and assets, getting me a room would be easy. I didn’t reply. Dahlia’s message continued: [But I stopped envying you a long time ago. Want to know why?] I turned my phone off, ignoring Dahlia’s attempt to rub salt in the wound. I sat on a bridge. The river below was too dark to see the bottom. Just as I suddenly couldn’t see the depth of my parents’ affection for me. After an unknown amount of time, I heard a police siren. Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t noticed the crowd gathered on the opposite side of the bridge. My mom was standing out, shouting: “Sunny! We had already decided to move! We just hadn’t told you yet! Please come down!” My dad’s eyes were also red, and he was violently slapping his own face: “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have hit you! It was just impulse!” I looked down at myself. I was sitting so close to the edge of the water. It seemed like if I stretched my leg, I’d fall in. It turned out to be a massive misunderstanding. I apologized to the police and quickly walked off the bridge. My parents hugged me tightly, as if I were some lost treasure they had miraculously recovered. Chapter 3 “Sunny, you are our most precious darling.” “That’s right. We’re going to finalize the new house tomorrow.” I didn’t explain. If I could finally get my own room, I’d let them misunderstand my actions just this once. Putting aside the room issue, they were indeed flawless in every other aspect of my life. My parents took me out for another dinner. It was my favorite, spicy hot pot. My parents couldn’t handle spice, but they watched me eat, their faces smiling and tender. One poured my drink, the other wiped my mouth. We looked like the most loving family of three, with me as the absolute center. A few girls at the next table shot me envious glances. In that moment, I soaked up all their parental affection. Satisfied that I had finally weathered the storm, and with a touch of defiance, I replied to Dahlia: [My parents decided to move to a bigger house. Keep envying me.] Dahlia didn’t reply immediately. I thought I had won. Dahlia should feel ashamed of her words. I even regretted my impulsiveness that day, causing my parents to lose face. They were clearly already planning to move. They were thinking of me. That night, Grandma was picked up by my Uncle Kevin, but her clothes and belongings remained. I knew she would keep staying with us. But it didn’t matter. I could tolerate it a little longer. I had endured so many years; dawn was finally here. I spent the night in my small room for the first time. I binge-watched a TV show, drank soda, and laughed freely. I threw trash wherever I wanted; I could always clean it up in the morning. I wore something skimpy, put my feet up on the desk, not worrying about being seen. I even pulled out old love notes written by boys at school from the bottom of my drawer. I read them out loud, shamelessly enjoying the admiration. The next day, I was more excited than my parents to look at houses. They were looking at a retirement-friendly community, quiet and peaceful, with a community cafeteria nearby. The community had just opened, and because the prices were good and the location was excellent, units were quickly selling out. When we looked, only a few three-bedroom and two-bedroom units were left. One three-bedroom unit wasn’t too high up, and all three rooms were spacious. The only drawback was the connecting corridor, which meant the light might not be great. I carefully watched my parents’ faces. Seeing no obvious dissatisfaction, I completely relaxed. I happily spun around in the smallest room. I imagined placing my small bed here, and a big wardrobe for my beloved Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing). I wouldn’t have to worry about Grandma’s drab clothes mixed in, making them look out of place. I could also put all my figurines on the shelves, without worrying that Grandma’s poor eyesight would cause her to knock them down. The sales agent held up the contract: “Look how much the young lady loves it. You two should put a deposit down quickly.” My parents exchanged a glance, shaking their heads quickly. “We rushed out this morning and forgot our bank cards. We’ll come back this afternoon to sign.” Chapter 4 After viewing the house, our university group chat sent out a message: it was time to finalize our college applications. My dad smiled, asking me, “Your scores are good enough for a top local school. You can even come home on weekends.” My mom squeezed my hand. “That’s right. You’ve never left me. Honestly, I’m not ready to let you go.” I leaned into my mom’s arms. “I’m a Mama’s Girl, a Daddy’s Girl. I told you I wouldn’t go to a school more than twenty miles away.” My parents exchanged proud, hearty laughs. I knew we were all content. The previous day’s bitterness was completely gone. After all, what child holds a grudge against their parents? That evening, I was scrolling through my phone when I saw a new post from the sales agent we met today: [Another unit sold at Building 5! So happy!] My hand froze. Building 5 units were all large two-bedroom units, which the agent had emphasized. When we were viewing the house, the agent, trying to expand his network, had added my WeChat. My parents were whispering about the structure in the hallway and hadn’t noticed. His post was made around 3 or 4 PM, exactly when my parents went to put down the deposit. I had wanted to go with them, but my mom pinched my cheek. “My girl’s skin is too delicate. We can’t let you get a sunburn.” I had whined and asked them to bring me ice cream on the way back. My mom, not knowing which flavor I wanted, bought every flavor. I had happily posted a picture on my social media with the caption: [Love my parents the most.] I tried to stay calm: What if I misheard or misremembered? I suppressed my hammering heart and messaged the agent. The agent was in a great mood and quickly replied. “Your folks picked a great unit for you. Local parents really love their daughters. Even though it only has two bedrooms, it’s a perfect fit for a family of three.” My heart plummeted. My mind went blank. Dahlia’s message popped up at that moment: [Your mom once told my mom to have a son so I wouldn’t envy you anymore.] [I’m a true only child. You’re just a policy-only child. I’m not bragging; I just want you to see the truth, but clearly, you’re very slow.] No, that’s not right! I shook my head violently. What if Grandma doesn’t plan on living with us anymore? Maybe she has other plans? Clutching onto that last shred of hope, I slowly walked out of my room. My parents were sitting on the sofa, calculator in hand, discussing: “The money from selling this apartment can cover the remainder of the new house.” “The new house is move-in ready. We can probably just leave the furniture here.” They saw me and immediately waved me over. “Sunny, come help us with the calculations. Your young brain is much sharper.” I tried to keep my voice as normal and calm as possible. “Will Grandma still be living with us?” Chapter 5 My dad didn’t look up, answering casually: “Of course. I’m the eldest son. I have the responsibility of caring for your Grandma.” My mom frowned slightly but said nothing, continuing to calculate with her pen. Some details I had ignored suddenly became glaringly obvious. My Grandma has two sons. My mom had complained before, wondering why my Grandma didn’t go to my Uncle Kevin’s house. My dad had said, “The nephew is a boy. It’s inappropriate for him to live with my mom.” My mom never brought it up again. My mom isn’t the type to tolerate everything. She once raged at my dad for forgetting to bring her local specialty food from a business trip, forcing him to take a long-distance bus to buy it again before she forgave him. Yet, ever since Grandma moved in, when my uncle came to sponge off us, my dad just turned a blind eye. They rarely fought over their respective families anymore. They seemed to have maintained a delicate balance. And I was the weight that could be sacrificed. “Don’t I deserve my own room? Mom and Dad, we have the means. Why are you specifically making me uncomfortable?” I couldn’t suppress the hurt and anger anymore. After yelling, I was shaking all over, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Facing my breakdown and rage, my parents remained strangely calm. My dad shook his head, sighing. “You found out?” My mom took a tissue to wipe my tears, chiding me gently: “You’ll only be home for a few days when you’re in college. Why waste an entire room? Listen to me, the three-bedroom unit had poor lighting. No sunlight is bad for your health.” “The large two-bedroom unit is south-facing and has a great layout. And let’s be honest, your Grandma is old. Once she’s gone, won’t that room be all yours?” My mom kept rambling, but I only caught one sentence. “Why waste an entire room.” “So, in your hearts, you see me as a daughter who will eventually marry out. I’m an outsider. I don’t deserve a room, or reserving a room for me is a waste. If I were a boy, would you have given him an independent room?” The room was deadly silent. It was only now that I truly understood Dahlia’s words. Ha, a policy-only child. How ironic. My proud status as an only child was merely a necessity forced on my parents. My parents, both working in the public sector, couldn’t risk their careers to have a second child, a son. They only had me, their daughter, but in their hearts, they still cherished an “invisible son.”

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