Valentine’s Day. It was my son’s birthday. It was also the fifth year of my mission to conquer my husband, Harrison Sterling. That night, my son, Noah, made a wish in fluent German, looking straight at his father. “I wish Dad and Mom would get a divorce. I want Aunt Bella to be my mom.” Harrison smiled and replied in German, “Your wish will come true very soon.” Aunt Bella. That would be my biological older sister, Bella. Ten minutes later, Harrison called me into the study. He slid a divorce agreement across the mahogany desk. “Let’s divorce. I’m giving you a billion dollars as a settlement. You need to retire from acting and move abroad permanently.” I stared at the papers, my throat tight. “Harrison… did you ever love me?” He set down his pen and looked me dead in the eye. “Chloe, have you forgotten? You were just a stand-in for your sister.” “Now that Bella is back, you need to exit the stage.” His words were precise, surgical cuts to my heart. The light in my eyes finally went out. Five years ago, Harrison was in a car accident and ended up in a coma. His fiancée, Bella, refused to marry a vegetable and fled the country. The family forced me to take her place. I agreed because I had terminal cancer, and a “System” offered to cure me if I successfully made Harrison fall in love with me. For five years, I waited on him hand and foot. When he woke up, he protected me. He flew halfway across the world when I was sick. He even got jealous of our son. I thought he loved me. I was wrong. “Sorry,” I said, my voice steadying. “I lost my composure.” I picked up a pen. “I’ll sign.” Harrison looked at my red-rimmed eyes. He remembered how I’d given up my career for him, how I’d run out at 3 AM in a blizzard just because he craved dumplings. His conscience pricked him. “As long as you don’t disturb my new life, I’ll bring Noah to visit you abroad when I have time…” The room was warm, but I felt freezing cold. He left the door ajar when he walked out. through the crack, I saw Noah cheering. “Dad! My birthday isn’t over yet! Let’s go find Aunt Bella!” Noah shouted in German. “Aunt Bella plays the violin so well. She speaks different languages with me. She lets me eat ice cream. I love being with her.” “Unlike Mom. She always makes that gross sugar-free chocolate cake. I hate it. Aunt Bella brings me imported Godiva.” “Mom is so annoying. Why can’t she be like Aunt Bella?” Every word stomped my heart into the dirt. Harrison laughed. “Let’s go then. To Aunt Bella’s.” I closed the door emotionlessly. They didn’t know I spoke eight languages. I understood every word. The son I poured my life into wanted me gone. I made sugar-free cake because his teeth were rotting. He forgot who carried him to the ER when his toothache made him scream. He forgot who stayed up all night telling stories when he was scared of thunder. Five years of devotion couldn’t beat the three months Bella had been back. Ding. My phone buzzed. A special notification. It was Harrison’s Instagram post. #HarrisonSterling: The only one for me in this life. The photo showed him holding hands with Noah and Bella, standing in front of the Sterling family estate. In five years of marriage, he never took me there. He said his parents thought an actress was too low-class. Now, Bella had been back for three months, and she was the lady of the manor. The post trended immediately. And naturally, my name was dragged through the mud. #Ex-MovieQueenChloe Dream Shattered! I looked at the toxic comments. My heart finally flatlined. I logged into my account, tagged Harrison, and typed: #Congrats to the happy couple. Thanks for the billion-dollar breakup fee. I loved them with everything I had. If they didn’t want it, I’d take it back. For the first time in four years, I summoned the System. “System, I request to leave this world permanently.” Three seconds later, the mechanical voice echoed in my head. [According to mission parameters, the Host successfully completed the conquest four years ago upon the birth of the target’s son. Request approved. You will be permanently deleted from this world in 10 days.] Chapter 2 I had actually completed the mission years ago. But because Noah was small, and because I truly loved Harrison, I chose to stay. Now, neither of them wanted me. The System tried to comfort me: [Host, nobody here loves you anyway. Take the billion dollars and live it up for the last ten days. Then I’ll take you to a new world.] I teared up. It was pathetic, really. I had parents, a husband, a son. None of them loved me. They only loved Bella. When we were kids, Bella danced ballet. My parents bought her a condo as a reward. I practiced until my feet bled and won first place. I thought they’d praise me. Instead, Bella pushed me down the stairs. I broke my leg. My parents said, “You deserved it for stealing your sister’s spotlight.” That’s when I knew I was an orphan with living parents. I tried to build a new family with Harrison. It failed. Fine. I didn’t want any of them anymore. … One hour later. I walked into “The Olympus,” the most exclusive host club in the city, carrying a black card with a billion-dollar limit. On the left, rows of “puppy dog” types calling out “Big Sister.” On the right, “wolf types” smoldering. I waved the card. “Bring me your best-looking guys. I have a billion to burn!” Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm hard. I turned around. Harrison. His eyes were burning with anger. “Posting on social media wasn’t enough? You followed me here? Are you trying to ruin Bella’s welcome party on the 88th floor?” “She’s your sister. Why must you always fight her?” Noah stood beside him, looking disgusted. “Mom, stop embarrassing us. You’re so petty. Being jealous just makes Daddy hate you more.” It stung. I shook off Harrison’s hand. “I don’t have time to disturb your love nest. My schedule is open; if you find me annoying, stay out of my way.” I turned and walked deeper into the club, ignoring them. Harrison watched my back, a strange irritation rising in his chest. … I rented the VIP penthouse at The Olympus. I ordered bottles of Ace of Spades. I hired guys to sing, dance, perform magic tricks. I tipped $50,000 just for a smile. Laughter filled the room all night. But I didn’t smile once. Soon, I was trending again. #HarrisonThrowsPartyForBella #ChloeHiresMaleModels #FallenStar: Chloe Spends Billions on Men! The comments were brutal. “She’s disgusting. Look at those photos, surrounded by men. Does she have a disease?” “How can a classy artist like Bella be related to this trash?” “Die, homewrecker!” I didn’t look at my phone. I just drank, glass after glass. The next morning, a call woke me up. My head was splitting. I answered, and my mother’s screeching voice drilled into my ear. “You ungrateful wretch! You have no shame!” “I…” “Shut up! You’re ruining Bella’s reputation with the Sterling family elders! Get out of that filthy place and go back to the villa! Fix your image or I’ll freeze your accounts! You’ll sleep on the street!” She hung up. Every word was a brand on my soul. I rubbed my temples. “It’s okay, Chloe. You’re leaving soon.” I did go back to the villa, though. Not to apologize, but to get my ID and transfer the money to an account my mother couldn’t touch. I had 9 days left. I was going to enjoy them. … I arrived at the house I’d shared with Harrison for five years. It was quiet. I thought they were out. I went upstairs to the master bedroom. Through the door, I heard low, ambiguous moans. My heart felt like it had been stabbed. Shaking, I reached for the handle. Suddenly, a small body slammed into me like a cannonball. Noah blocked the door, glaring at me with hatred. “Bad Mom! You can’t go in! Daddy said he’s making me a new little sister with Aunt Bella. Do not disturb them!” Chapter 3 I stared at my son. He stood there, arms spread wide like a guardian of justice, protecting the people who were betraying me. I realized then what a failure my life was. I didn’t say a word. I turned around and walked away. When you’re sad, you have to buy happiness. I went to the bank, withdrew cash, and called The Olympus. “Send me seven of your handsomest guys. Top tier.” “Make me happy today. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, I’m paying.” And so… We drove limited-edition sports cars. We ate at Michelin 3-star restaurants. We went drag racing on the cliffside highway. We bought out luxury stores. I did everything the internet said would make a person happy. Finally, exhausted, I parked by the beach and slept in the car. I woke up at 10 AM the next day to a call from Noah’s teacher. “Hello? Is this Noah’s mom? It’s 10 o’clock, why isn’t he at school? is he taking another day off?” I said calmly, “Sorry, I divorced Noah’s dad. Please call him for anything regarding the child.” I hung up. Since Noah was born, I handled everything. School, health, playdates. Before Bella returned, he was a good kid. Three months ago, after Bella came back, Noah hit a kid at school. When I tried to discipline him, he screamed: “You just want me to apologize! Why?! Aunt Bella said kids should release their nature! People should be selfish! I hit him because I wanted to!” “You’re useless! You don’t deserve to be my mom!” He was poisoned. It didn’t matter. I was leaving. Let Harrison clean up the mess. Seconds later, Harrison called. “Chloe! What kind of mother are you? Your son has a high fever at home! Even Bella cares more than you do—she’s crying her eyes out at the hospital right now!” “Even if we’re divorced, don’t take it out on the child!” He berated me like I was garbage. Three months ago, the first time he compared me to Bella, I cried into my pillow all night. Now? I felt nothing. “Wait,” I said. “Weren’t you and Bella with him yesterday? I wasn’t even home. What were you doing?” Harrison choked. “I was busy with work! Bella has been at the hospital all morning. This is your job!” “Come to the hospital. Now.” He hung up. I didn’t rush to the hospital. I didn’t panic. My head still hurt from the hangover. I decided to go back to the VIP suite at The Olympus to sleep. But at the entrance, a swarm of reporters blocked me. “Chloe! You’re partying with male models while your son is in the hospital? Are you fit to be a mother?” “Sources say you stole your sister’s husband because you look like her. The Sterling family never accepted you. Is it because you’re cheap?” “Your sister is taking care of your son right now. Are you ashamed?” Buzzkills. I grabbed a microphone and smiled lazily at the camera. “Did Bella send you?” The reporters froze. Their questions were designed to lift Bella up and crush me. Fine. Let’s give Bella some PR work to do. “You guys are right,” I said clearly. “I can’t compare to Bella. She refused to marry her fiancé, ran abroad to study, forced her little sister to be a substitute bride, and then came back to steal her sister’s husband and child.” The crowd exploded. I ignored them and walked into the lobby, heading for the elevator to the 99th floor. The doors opened, and I ran straight into Harrison. He grabbed my wrist, furious. “Chloe! Who told you to say that nonsense? Do you know how much damage those rumors do to Bella?” I opened my mouth to speak, but a metallic taste flooded my throat. I vomited a mouthful of blood. Chapter 4 The bright red blood splashed onto the white carpet. I collapsed in my red dress, looking like a withered rose. “Chloe?” Harrison’s pupils constricted. He caught me, his voice trembling with a panic he didn’t realize he felt. “Chloe!” My vision blurred. [System, what’s happening?] [System: Host, your physical body still has terminal cancer. However, since the mission was successful, I have disabled your pain receptors.] I blinked, trying to clear my head. Harrison looked terrified. “What is this blood? Chloe, what are you playing at?” Oh. He thinks it’s a trick. I pushed him away and stood up, wiping my mouth. I smiled. “Mr. Sterling, you can’t tell?” I pointed at the floor. “It’s fake. Ketchup. You aren’t actually worried about me, are you?” If he knew I was dying, he’d probably say I deserved it. Harrison’s face went black instantly. “Stop using these stunts to get attention. No matter how jealous you are, you shouldn’t slander Bella publicly.” “Bella had her reasons for leaving back then. She’s kind enough to forgive you. For the sake of our past, if you apologize publicly, I won’t sue you.” I laughed. “Sue me. Send the lawyers. I’m waiting.” … The next day was my birthday. My last birthday in this world. I spent a fortune renting out the Skyline Ballroom at the most expensive hotel in the city. I decorated it beautifully. A farewell party for myself. Before it started, I ran into Harrison and Noah in the lobby. Harrison walked straight up to me. “Chloe, cancel your party.” I laughed. “Excuse me?” “I’m using this venue today to clarify the rumors about Bella.” “And that concerns me… how?” Noah tugged on Harrison’s hand. In German, he said, “Dad, let’s go. If Mom wants to embarrass herself, let her.” Harrison glared at me. “Don’t regret this.” I turned away. Regret? The only thing I regretted was falling in love with him during the mission. At 8 PM, my party started. The giant screen played pre-recorded birthday wishes from industry friends. I drank wine, cheeks flushed, smiling brilliantly. “Thank you, everyone. I’m so happy today.” Suddenly, the screen glitched. It cut to a livestream. My parents’ faces appeared. “Chloe maliciously slandered her own sister. She is rotten to the core. From today on, we disown her!” Then, the screen switched to Harrison and Noah. “My mother, Chloe, abandoned me when I was sick to party with male models. I want to sever the mother-son relationship!” Noah declared. Harrison looked into the camera, ice-cold. “I have divorced Chloe. She defamed my fiancée, Bella. Effective immediately, Chloe is banned from all Sterling properties. Security, please remove her from the Skyline Ballroom.”

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My boyfriend called me to break up. I paused for a second, then replied, “Weren’t we always just friends?” The other end went silent for a beat, then exploded with noise. “Sister-in-law is savage!” “Boss, how have you been simping for so many years and still haven’t locked it down?” Chase Sterling coughed lightly. “Sorry, excuse me. I need to handle some family business.” 1 Chase emphasized the words “family business.” He was definitely pissed. I hung up before he could say another word and immediately turned off my phone. I spent the whole day in class feeling like a dead woman walking. When the old professor called on me, I actually gave a serious answer instead of my usual sarcastic quip. He pushed his reading glasses up his nose. “Well, well. Has Lily been possessed?” I grinned sheepishly. “Nah, just trying out a new persona for the semester: the quiet, studious girl.” The class erupted in laughter, breaking the tension. The professor nodded. “Right. That’s the Lily we know.” After evening classes, I kept my head down and rushed toward the dorms, trying to avoid detection. Suddenly, my roommates sandwiched me, bumping my shoulders. “Hey, hey! Look at the school gate! That’s a Porsche Cayenne. Looks expensive.” “I don’t know cars, but the pretty boy standing in front of it is definitely expensive…” I looked up. The “pretty boy” with platinum blonde hair was walking right toward us. He flashed a sunny grin and shouted confidently, “Hi! Sister-in-law… I mean, Lily!” My roommates, bless their hearts, had zero chill. They shoved me forward and vanished into thin air. I stumbled, nearly face-planting into Jax’s chest. Jax looked terrified, closing his eyes and stepping back. “You little sh…” Before I could finish cursing, someone scooped me up by the waist. When did Chase get out of the car? I didn’t have time to think. I stood up straight and swallowed the curse words. Jax let out a huge breath, patting his chest. “Thank god you’re okay, Sister-in-law.” I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed nervously. “Don’t be mad, Lily. We were playing Truth or Dare with the Boss!” Uh-huh. And? “Boss lost. He picked Dare. The breakup call was my bad idea.” Jax shook my arm like a little kid. “Hit me, scold me, whatever you want. Just don’t be mad at the Boss, okay?” Chase swatted Jax’s hand away. “Alright, get lost.” So he dragged Jax out here just to explain things to me? 2 Achoo! The AC in the car was blasting. I sneezed. Chase glanced at me and turned the temperature up two degrees. But even the warmer air couldn’t fix the icy atmosphere coming off him. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low. “What did you mean by ‘Weren’t we always just friends?’” Uhh… “Listen, let me make up… I mean, explain…” “Lily, don’t forget. We’re already married.” I slumped back, adjusted the seat to maximum comfort, kicked off my shoes, and curled up. “You were the one who said ‘break up’ first…” I muttered in protest. Chase’s hand on the steering wheel paused. He tossed a blanket over me. “Fine. Neither of us will say it again.” “And… don’t sit like that in other people’s cars.” Like what? I looked down. Oh, right. I forgot I was wearing a skirt… I quickly pulled the blanket over myself. Help. Did he see something? “Did you see anything?” “No.” “What color?” “White…” Hmph. He totally saw it and won’t admit it. Fast reflexes. I peeked at him, blushing. His nose was high and straight, jawline sharp, lips perfectly shaped. The sunset streaming through the window softened his features. Even his side profile was devastating. I noticed the tips of his ears turning pink. Click. I snapped a photo with my phone. Chase’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “What… are you doing?” So handsome! I admired my composition and lighting. “This photo should sell for a lot! I bet your fans would fight over it.” Chase scoffed. “Why? Is the allowance I give you not enough?” Enough? It was more than enough. Being Chase Sterling’s secret wife came with a monthly stipend of $50,000. It was a very friendly agreement we reached. 3 Chase was the highest-ranked esports player in the league. His hands were steady. His driving was even steadier. Every time I sat in his car, I fell asleep. I must have stared at his photo too long because I started having weird dreams… In the dream, my fingers traced over his brow bone, his nose, his lips… And just as he was getting worked up, I kissed him. “Mmph!” I opened my eyes to see Chase’s flushed face right in front of mine. Not a dream! “Breathe.” I finally found some air. Chase chuckled lightly. “Clean up. We’re here.” Looking in the mirror at my watery eyes and swollen lips, I took several deep breaths and cursed internally: Chase Sterling, you animal! I looked outside. It was that private kitchen restaurant I said I liked. Chase was a regular here. The owner greeted him warmly. But today, the owner seemed overly enthusiastic, until he saw me behind Chase. He rubbed his hands together awkwardly. I looked toward the window and realized why. Sitting there was Sienna, the youngest Best Actress winner in history. And Chase’s “white moonlight” ex-girlfriend. “What a coincidence,” Sienna said, smiling. As expected of a movie star. Stunning even without makeup. Chase paused for a few seconds, then nodded. He reached back and pulled me forward. Thanks a lot, buddy! Sienna looked visibly surprised when she saw me, then smiled again. “I didn’t know you liked this place too.” Is it too late to say I hate it now? Sienna bit her lip, eyes slightly red, staring at Chase with deep affection. Old lovers reuniting. Sparks flying. Since it was a private kitchen and everyone knew each other, Sienna suggested we eat together. She sat opposite Chase, chatting casually about recent events. “Congratulations on founding the top esports club in the country.” “Thanks.” “Chase, I’m planning to develop my career back in the states now…” I channeled my third-wheel energy into my appetite. You guys talk. I’ll eat. I looked out the window. Maybe I wouldn’t be by Chase’s side much longer. The owner came over. “Drinks? Iced or room temp?” Chase and Sienna said in unison: “Room temp.” I yelled alone: “Iced!” Sienna giggled shyly. “I can’t believe you still remember…” Chase swapped my iced Coke for a warm one. “Don’t you know you can’t have ice the next couple of days?” Facing Chase’s sudden concern, I instinctively looked at Sienna. The shy blush hadn’t faded from her face yet, but her knuckles were white from gripping her glass. Hiccup. The atmosphere was too awkward. My body betrayed me. 4 Liking someone is like a hiccup. You can’t hide it. Apparently, awkwardness is the same. After my nth hiccup, Chase finally couldn’t hold it in and laughed out loud. I glared at him. Drinking water and eating rice wasn’t helping. Help me. Why am I hiccuping in front of my love rival??? Watching Sienna sitting elegantly across from us, I wanted to cry. Chase patted my back indulgently. He took away the water glass I was reaching for. “That won’t work. I have a method. Want to try?” I nodded like a bobblehead between hiccups. “Look over there!” Huh? I followed his finger. The next second, his large hand cupped the back of my head, and he kissed me! “You you you… what are you doing?” My face exploded with heat. I pushed him away in a panic. He licked his lips like he wanted more. “What? Hiccups gone, now you’re a stutterer?” I stammered for a while, unable to form a sentence. Crash. Sienna’s glass hit the floor. Her eyes were red, voice trembling. “Sorry. Slipped.” She walked toward the restroom, looking strong yet fragile. A classic “pity me” flower. I peeked at Chase. He was unmoved, seriously eating his food. Something’s off. Did he kiss me just to make Sienna jealous? Is his calmness just a front? I lost my appetite. Sienna came back. She looked like she’d been crying. A pear blossom bathed in rain. Truly pitiful. I tactfully opened my Uber app. “Um, I’ll call a car back to school. Chase, you drive her home!” Chase snatched my phone and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, walking me out. “Miss Sienna doesn’t need me. I’ll drive you.”

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After my movie star mother was sent to a mental hospital, I was tortured to death by my manipulative “green tea” stepmother. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn… as a four-year-old! On a family reality show, the Green Tea stuffed me into a washing machine to frame my mom. I wailed at the top of my lungs. “The Bad Auntie told me to get in! She said there was a kitty inside! She said she’s gonna be my new mommy and I can’t listen to my old mommy anymore!” The Green Tea tried to shush me, whispering threats. I screamed louder, backing away in terror. “Auntie, I promise I won’t tell the truth anymore! Please don’t kill me!” She stood up in shock, and I threw myself down the stairs. “Mommy! Daddy! Help! Auntie’s threats didn’t work so now she’s trying to silence me for good!” She exploded, trying to explain herself, but literally zero people believed her. [She’s four years old! How could she frame you?] [I swear, if this Green Tea tries to hurt anyone else, I will drag her until she quits the internet!] Watching her get torn apart online, her reputation in tatters, I smiled. Your tricks might work on a toddler, but this time? The tables have turned. 1 “Summer!” Chloe, the Green Tea in question, gritted her teeth. “Look at the camera and think carefully before you speak. Did Auntie tell you to get in, or did your mommy forget you were inside when she started the laundry?!” Seeing Chloe on the verge of a breakdown, I cried even harder. “Waaaah! It was you! You told me to get in! I was scared because Mommy said the washing machine is dangerous, but you said there was a kitty inside! You said you were too big to fit, so I had to save the kitty!” Chloe looked like she was about to explode. She couldn’t understand. She had me wrapped around her finger before. Why was I suddenly not playing along? Not only did I refuse to frame my mom, Scarlett, but I was exposing her right in front of everyone. How could a four-year-old know how to do this? She stomped her foot in frustration. She had no idea that I was reborn. In my past life, Chloe tricked me into climbing into the washing machine, then publicly accused my mom of having postpartum depression and trying to kill me. Four-year-old me didn’t understand anything. I was just scared by the yelling and cried. Chloe took the opportunity to “protect” me in her arms, secretly pinching me to make me nod along with her lies. My mom spiraled into depression because of these setups. She started doubting herself, even engaging in self-harm. My dad tried to protect us, but soon after, Chloe snuck into his room, took compromising photos, and leaked them. After that, my happy family fell apart. Mom had a complete breakdown and was sent to a sanitarium. Dad, under immense public pressure, married Chloe. A year later, I “accidentally” fell and became paralyzed. My life became hell. No outdoors, no friends. Just lying in a dull room, staring at the ceiling, waiting to die. I prayed countless times to go back to the moment I first met Chloe. I swore if I got a second chance, I would tear off her mask and make her suffer a thousand times over. And now, I’m back. Chloe, the show is just beginning. Noticing the commotion, the crew started to gather around. I wailed even louder. “Auntie, I’m sorry! I won’t tell the truth anymore!” “I won’t tell everyone you like my daddy and want to be my new mommy! Please stop pinching me!” Chloe shot up from her chair in rage. I saw my chance and rolled myself down the stairs. “Help! The weird Auntie is trying to kill me because I won’t listen to her!” That scream brought everyone running. My parents, Jason and Scarlett, who were downstairs cooking, rushed up. Mom grabbed me, while Dad, radiating a chill, slapped Chloe hard across the face. “Are you insane?! She’s a child!” Chloe was stunned. “I didn’t! It wasn’t me! She’s framing me!” Mom gritted her teeth, ignoring the cameras, and slapped her twice more. “Why would she frame you? She’s four years old!” Chloe clutched her face, stammering, unable to say a word. In that moment, everything felt right. In my last life, I was too young to understand the dark currents between adults. But now, the one who couldn’t explain herself was finally Chloe. The crew arrived just in time to see me fall as Chloe stood up. They didn’t hesitate to testify for me. The producers were furious and wanted to kick Chloe off the show. At the critical moment, I hugged Chloe’s leg. “Auntie said she didn’t mean to push me. I’m not hurt. Please don’t punish her.” My parents looked at my pitiful face, tears welling up. “Sweetheart, she bullied you so much, and you’re still defending her… oh…” The livestream comments were flooded with praise. [Is this Jason and Scarlett’s daughter? She’s adorable and so kind-hearted! I’m in love.] [Only the children of movie stars could have such great character. I’m a fan!] [I’m watching this show solely to protect Summer. If Chloe hurts her again, I’m rallying the girls to cancel her into oblivion!] Amidst the praise, I looked at the defeated Chloe. “Apologize to me, and we’ll forget about it.” Chloe clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. But even so, she knew she had to bend. “I’m sorry.” I smiled politely. Seeing me forgive her, no one else pressed the issue. But this sealed her fate. She apologized, which meant she admitted to bullying a child. She bowed to stay on the show, but to the world, that bow was a confession. Chloe would never escape the label of a child abuser. Forevermore, people would remember her as the woman who pushed a kid down the stairs because threats didn’t work. Just thinking about it felt good! 2 The show went on. My parents comforted me, checked for injuries, and went back to cooking. This time, they were smarter. They sat me on a little stool right by the kitchen door. I swung my legs, and soon enough, I spotted a sneaky Chloe. She was holding a beautifully wrapped bento box, smiling at me with sinister intent. Meeting my gaze, she forced her expression into a twisted, ugly smile. “Sweetie, Auntie doesn’t know what I did to make you misunderstand me.” “Look, Auntie made you pudding. Try it. Consider it Auntie’s apology, okay?” I smiled back. It didn’t reach my eyes. “Sure!” I snatched the pudding and ran toward my parents on my short legs. “Look! The weird Auntie made me pudding! Yay! It’s mango flavor!” Hearing “mango,” my parents’ faces went pale. They abandoned the stove and lunged at me. “Don’t eat it! You’re allergic to mango!” I stopped immediately and spat the pudding out obediently. “That’s so weird. The weird Auntie knows I’m allergic. Why did she give it to me?” “Oh my gosh, is she trying to hurt me?” My parents turned green. They unleashed hell on Chloe. “Are you sick in the head?! The production notes clearly state Summer is allergic to mango! Feeding her allergens on purpose? You’re trying to kill her!” “Summer is four! How did a child offend you so much that you’d push her down stairs and then poison her?! If you have a problem with us, come at us! Leave the kid alone!” “Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?!” Berated by my parents, Chloe pointed a trembling finger at me. “Summer, I never said that was for you! You’re framing me again!” I spread my chubby little hands. “Check the cameras then.” The laundry room didn’t have cameras, so I had to rely on the hallway cam to catch my fall. But the kitchen was on the first floor. Cameras everywhere. Video and audio. Chloe’s arrogance vanished. “Th-there’s a misunderstanding. I bought the pudding. I didn’t know it had mango.” I pouted. “Tch.” “You just said you made it yourself. Do you really think I’m a three-year-old?” The comments went wild. [Four-year-old Summer be like: I’m not a three-year-old.] [Why is a grown woman always trying to hurt Summer? Does she get off on abusing kids? Investigate her!] [Stop laughing guys, allergies can kill. This isn’t a joke.] Everyone held their breath, waiting for my parents’ decision. They looked at me. I nodded seriously. “Since Auntie says I framed her, let’s check. I’m just a kid, I can’t grow up being called a liar.” Chloe’s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. “Don’t…” Her reaction said it all. The people here were entertainment bigwigs. They weren’t stupid. Someone pulled the footage. Chloe tricking me into eating the pudding was played back in high definition for everyone to see and hear. Chloe was dumbfounded. In my last life, she gave me mango pudding too. Right before dinner. After watching me eat it, she added mango jam to the dessert Mom made. During dinner, I went into anaphylactic shock. Swelling up, suffocating. Everyone investigated. They found mango in Mom’s dessert. Dad was disappointed. The public attacked her. Mom was consumed by guilt. She truly believed she was a bad mother. She spiraled into regret and self-blame, afraid to even touch me after that. It gave Chloe the perfect opening! Thinking of Mom’s broken tears, my heart ached. I buried my face in her chest and sobbed. “Mommy, I’m scared. Will the allergy kill me? I don’t want to die.” Mom held me with one arm, clenched her other fist, stood up, and punched Chloe to the ground. “You animal!” The comments exploded. [That punch was clean! Is this the power of a mother?] [Scarlett’s range just expanded. She can do action movies now!] [Well deserved! Anyone who hurts kids is a psycho. She deserved that beating!] The slap mark on Chloe’s face had just faded, and now it was swelling up again. She was livid! “How dare you hit me!” She looked at my dad, acting fragile. “Jason, look at her. How can she be so violent…” Before she finished, Dad punched her on the other side of her face. “What is your problem? You poison my daughter in front of me and then try to tattle on my wife?” “I don’t hit women or children, but for an animal like you, I’ll make an exception!” I couldn’t help but giggle. The room filled with stifled laughter. Chloe gritted her teeth for a while, then ran off crying. This time, the producers didn’t let it slide. They issued a termination notice. Since it was late, they told her to pack up and leave first thing in the morning. I didn’t argue. I knew Chloe would use the remaining time to pull something else. The tighter the deadline, the more pressure she’d feel, and the more mistakes she’d make. That night, the group dispersed early because of the drama. I deliberately pestered Mom to take me outside to count stars. Soon enough, I saw a thin figure by the hotel corridor window. Someone couldn’t wait. Hook, line, and sinker! “Mommy, let’s go find Daddy!” “Can you start a livestream? I want everyone to see Daddy reading me a bedtime story!” Bedtime stories were our family ritual. Tonight was Dad’s turn. Considering I fell down stairs and almost got poisoned today, Mom didn’t lecture me about privacy. She played along and started the stream. I held the phone, my little legs pumping fast. [Hi brothers and sisters! Want to hear a story with Summer?] The comments praised my parents for spoiling me, asked about my health, and laughed at my precociousness. Soon, I led Mom to quietly ambush Dad’s room. “Mommy, let’s sneak in. We’ll scare Daddy with the fans!” Mom laughed and tiptoed along with me. We snuck to the bedside. I jumped up and slapped the light switch. And there, two million viewers came face-to-face with Chloe, wearing risqué lingerie. In the dead silence, I let out an ear-piercing scream. “Why is the weird Auntie naked?! Why is she wearing bunny ears?! Scary!!” Mom covered my eyes and started kicking Dad, who was in the bed. “Jason! Get up!” Dad swayed but didn’t react. My heart went cold. “Oh no! The weird Auntie killed Daddy!” Mom realized something was wrong and called the medics. Checkup result: Dad was in a coma from an overdose of sleeping pills. And the source of the pills… Everyone looked at Chloe. Chloe was taken away by the police for investigation before she could even explain. A few days later, the results were out. Chloe drugged Dad and stole his key card, planning to create a scandal to force his hand. The news nailed her to the cross of shame. She became the most hated female celebrity of the year. Bar none. Her career was over. Contracts were canceled due to the morality clause. She was drowning in debt. I finally breathed a sigh of relief, hugging my parents tight. In this life, I won’t lose you again.

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After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, I decided to go rogue. Toxic childhood frenemy? Seduce him. Hot, stoic neighbor? Seduce him too. Good news: The cancer was a misdiagnosis. Bad news: The doctor says I’m pregnant. I stood there, completely stunned. Wait, seriously… who the hell is the father? 01 In the hospital corridor, I clutched the lab report, feeling like the sky was crashing down. Cancer? “I just had a few nosebleeds!” I shrieked internally. “Cancer?!” The doctor sighed a heavy, dramatic sigh. “Young lady, life is unfair. But listen, for this final stretch… just relax. Eat well, drink well, don’t overthink things.” Translation: You’re doomed. Go home and wait for the reaper. Grief hit me like a truck. I stood there sobbing like a boiling teakettle. This can’t be happening. “God, don’t bully me like this!” I’m a pure, blossoming flower of a girl. I haven’t even held a man’s hand romantically yet… How can I die now? I refuse. I absolutely refuse to die a virgin. 02 I left the hospital and went straight to the mall. I bought a pile of sexy slip dresses and mini-skirts. I swore to myself: Before I kick the bucket, I am going to land a man. As for the candidate… Jax is my nemesis. But he’s also my childhood best friend. We grew up together. I know his roots, his dirt, everything. He’s never even held a girl’s hand. His track record is clean. I guess I’ll start with him. I showed up at his place. Jax was lounging on the sofa, back to me, long legs stretched out. “Why are you here in the middle of the night, Chloe? Finally realized you want my body?” I choked. He’s always had a smart mouth. Usually, I’d roast him back. But this time… he was right. When I didn’t answer, he spun around with a sneer. “Cat got your—” “Holy sh*t.” Jax saw the dress. He stiffened immediately, eyes wide with suspicion. “Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going? A date? Did you come here for a fashion check? The audacity.” He talks so much. And why does he sound like he’s grinding his teeth? “Why are you firing words like a machine gun?” I asked, confused. “Because of you!” Jax’s face looked dark. “Why the sudden style change? It’s weird.” True. I usually live in oversized hoodies and sweatpants. I’m practically a nun. But I couldn’t exactly say: Jax, I want to jump your bones. I rubbed my nose, guilty. My eyes drifted down. Under his crisp white shirt, Jax’s collarbones were playing peek-a-boo. Lower… broad chest, tight waist. Okay, he’s actually kind of hot. I gulped. If only he were mute, he’d be perfect. 03 I hesitated, stepping closer. Jax looked like he was facing a bomb squad. “Chloe, what’s the play? Did you break something of your parents’ again? Fine, I’ll take the blame. Just… stop.” “You don’t need to dress like this.” He turned his head away, breathing heavy. “And you d-d-don’t need to stand so close.” If I don’t get close, how do I make my move? I felt a little embarrassed, too. But then I looked closer—Jax was red from his cheeks to his neck. Usually, he’s the definition of “arrogant.” Now he’s stuttering? Oh, I am so into this. How do they do it in romance novels? I had a lightbulb moment. I went up on my tiptoes, did a little spin, and— Oof. I threw myself right into Jax’s arms. His scent was warm. I landed on his lap. Instinctively, his hands gripped my waist. The dress was short. His palms touched bare skin. He let go like he’d touched fire. “Do you not have eyes, Chloe?!” Jax gritted his teeth. His hot breath tickled my neck. I shivered. “Hubby… why are you so mean to me?” I buried my face in his chest, peeking up to check his reaction. The internet said: Girl chases boy, it’s easy. Just call him Hubby. Jax looked like he was going to explode. He was cooked-shrimp red. I wanted to laugh, but that would kill the mood. I suppressed the giggles and pressed the attack. One arm around his neck. The other hand tugging his collar. Forcing him to look down, closing the distance. “Hubby.” I blew gently into his ear. “Am I pretty?” 04 Jax froze. His ears were burning. “P-pretty… pretty ugly!” “Chloe, you’ve lost your mind.” He pushed me away, swearing. “You’re heavy. Get off me.” I exploded. I’m casting pearls before swine here! I raged. “Fine! I’m getting off!” He dared to call me heavy? I needed to roast him back. “You misunderstood anyway. I was just practicing on you.” “Did you think I liked you?” “Looking at you makes me tired.” “And by the way, stop keeping the TV remote in your pocket. It’s digging into me.” Jax paused. He looked even angrier. “Practicing? For who?” “Chloe, what is wrong with you today?” “Where did you learn to dress like this? It’s ugly. Change back.” “I’m telling you, it’s ugly—” This guy is hopeless. I got annoyed, grabbed him, shoved him out the door, and slammed it. I could still hear him yelling “Don’t wear that!” from the hallway. Absolute terminal straight male energy. I looked in the mirror. I looked hot. Jax has zero taste. I deflated. Dammit. An enemy is an enemy. He’ll never be Hubby. Jax is a bust. Time to scout a new target. 05 My neighbor across the hall is a single hottie named Liam. Handsome, refined, aloof but gentle. Crucially: He’s nice. The weather forecast said rain. I timed my exit for when he’d be home. I deliberately left my umbrella, walked around the block in the downpour until I was soaked, and pretended to lose my keys. Then, I knocked on Liam’s door. “I forgot my keys… could I borrow your shower?” Classic K-Drama move. Liam is kind. He agreed. The plan was perfect. But I underestimated the rain. I got a fever and literally fainted in his bathroom. I did make it to his bed, though. In my delirium, I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Hubby…” “Uh? Why do you have a remote in your pocket too…” Liam froze like a statue. After a minute, he snapped out of it and touched my forehead. “You’re burning up.” “I’ll get you some medicine. Be good and lie down, okay?” I wouldn’t let go. He let me cling to him. He didn’t rush me, didn’t scold me. Didn’t even frown. 100 times gentler than that trash Jax. Decision made: I’m going to ravage this man. Our faces got closer, closer… And then I passed out cold from the fever. Just my luck. 06 Liam took care of me all night. 360-degree VIP service. I woke up the next morning feeling human again. I checked my phone. Jax had blown it up. Jax: [Where are you? Why aren’t you home?] [Seriously? Ignoring me? Chloe, you’re dead.] [Say something. Where are you??] [Hello???] [You think the silent treatment will make me apologize?] [Fine. I shouldn’t have yelled last night. I’m sorry.] [Chloe, where the hell are you??] I put the phone down. Ignored. He wrecked my confidence. I’m not talking to him. As for Liam… I rubbed my hands together. Round two. I vaguely remembered last night. In my fever haze, I asked, “Am I pretty?” “You’re beautiful.” He answered with sparkling eyes. No hesitation. “Do you have a girlfriend?” “No. My mom tried to set us up once, remember? She always mocks me for being single.” Liam touched my forehead again. I get it. He’s hinting. He wants a title? I reached out, causing chaos with my hands. Liam caught my wrists and pinned them above my head. He looked down, gaze intense. “Chloe. Some things… you can’t just do randomly.” “If we do this, I have to take responsibility. Forever.” Honestly, forever isn’t necessary. I’m dying soon. Just a few months. Let me have some fun before I go. So I pushed back. “Liam… I want to know.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Are your lips as soft as your heart?” Liam’s lips pressed into a thin line. Redness crept up his neck. Finally, he practically fled the room. Oh my god. I am a predator. This time, I’m definitely bagging a man. 07 But… I’m actually a coward. I’ve never done this. I went to Reddit to ask for help anonymously. Title: Help! How do I sleep with my Crush? Context: He seems aloof, totally the ascetic type. Kind sisters replied instantly. [Ascetic types are the easiest. They’re either bad in bed, or terrifyingly good.] [Just be direct. It’ll either happen immediately or never.] Makes sense. I latched onto one user, “Anon123”, for specific advice. “Urgent! Any tips?” [Don’t call me baby. I’m a guy. I have someone I like.] Wow, a loyal king. Even online. Nice. A moment later, he replied: [Sorry, I have zero experience.] [But I think… nighttime amplifies tension.] [I never dare to be alone with her at night.] Another lonely soul. I chatted him up. “How’s it going with your crush?” He typed for a long time. [She called me Hubby. But I feel like she’s… just playing with me.] I pictured a pure-hearted college boy. Poor guy. I typed back: “For a girl, ‘Hubby’ isn’t a word used lightly.” “She definitely likes you.” “Even if she’s playing, if you like her… why not let her play?” He hesitated. [That… makes sense.] “Good luck with your girl tonight!” I checked the time. 3 PM. Sunset soon. I showered, applied perfume to my wrists and behind my ears. Put on the slip dress. I am a woman of action. Tonight, Liam is mine. 08 I thought about it. Jumping him sober is too aggressive. Liquid courage. That’s the key. I poured a glass of wine. I texted Liam: “Ugh, insomnia again.” He replied fast: “What’s wrong? Feeling sick again?” “Why are you upset?” Liam is the anti-Jax. Gentle. Patient. I continued the act: “Physically fine. Just frustrated.” “Insomnia. If I can’t sleep, how can I sleep with you?” Silence. Crap. Is Liam the “bad in bed” type Anon123 warned about? I doubled down: “I’m 99% sure I like you.” “The 1% is missing your kiss.” Liam replied with one word. “Okay.” Okay? Just okay?! Suddenly, the room spun. F*ck. Nobody told me this wine was so strong. I forgot the mission. My heart was beating in my forehead. The weightlessness made me panic. I sent a distress signal. [Come to my place. Save me.] Ding ding. My phone buzzed. Huh? Jax was still texting me? The words were swimming. “I… something… owe you?” Whatever. Can’t read. But Liam is coming. I was happy. I benevolently replied to Jax: “Home now.” Added: “Do not disturb.” Almost forgot he has a spare key. Can’t have him ruining my night. A polite knock. I dropped the phone, opened the door, and fell straight into the visitor’s arms. My wrist was caught. “You’ve been drinking.” Liam frowned, looking worried. I blurted out: “Drinking makes it easier.” “Liam, I want to sleep with you.”

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On the day my sister and I were born, a wandering fortune teller came to our door. She prophesied that one of us would soar to the top, marrying into unimaginable wealth. The other would fall from grace, becoming a shameless beggar. After graduation, my boyfriend, the heir to a multi-billion dollar empire, proposed to me. But on the eve of my wedding, I was in a horrific car accident. My parents told everyone I was in a vegetative state and had my sister take my place at the altar. The next day, my sister wore my wedding ring and sat in the bridal car. Meanwhile, my parents pulled the plug on my oxygen, watching me suffocate to death. They cremated my body and buried the urn in an unmarked grave in a potter’s field. Ten years after my death, my sister finally gave birth to a son, securing her position as the heir to the family fortune. The city’s elite came to celebrate. But at the baby’s first birthday party, the child began bleeding from every orifice, wailing in agony. My sister fell ill, wasting away to nothing. My “husband” personally flew in a Feng Shui master from Hong Kong. He held my sister, comforting her: “Don’t be scared, babe. Once I destroy that bitch’s spirit, I’ll use her soul to make a chamber pot for our son.” My parents invited the clan elders to curse my name. “Restless even in death! Haunting our precious daughter and grandson… you deserve to have your soul shattered!” The master set up his altar on the unmarked grave where my urn was buried. But suddenly, his face went pale. “Her name isn’t in the Book of Life and Death. Who exactly died ten years ago?” 1 As soon as the master spoke, my parents and sister turned white as sheets. They stammered, “Of course… of course it was Ella. Our family hasn’t had any bad luck except for her.” My parents were being evasive, but the guests watching the spectacle exploded with whispers. “Who else could it be? Mr. Jiang has been charitable his whole life, it’s just his bad luck to have such a cursed daughter! How could the master not find her name?” “Master! Are you scared?” “No,” the master frowned, his fingers moving rapidly in calculation. When he looked up again, his expression was graver than ever. “I have consulted the spirits, and the spirits do not lie. The deceased is absolutely not the elder sister, Ella!” He suddenly leaned into my sister’s face. “Mrs. Chen, do you feel like your insides are being pierced by ice picks? Do you feel a chill in your bones? This is a sign of a vengeful spirit attachment. If we don’t resolve this soon…” “I’m afraid you and this little young master will be buried with her overwhelming resentment!” Everyone took a step back in fear. My sister clutched her chest and let out a scream that didn’t sound human. “Ah—it must be Emma! She’s back! She wants revenge, she wants to kill me…” My parents’ faces darkened. They rushed forward to cover her mouth. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Everyone in the city knows your sister died in an accident. It has nothing to do with you. You’re just suffering from postpartum depression…” The master smirked, a meaningful glint in his eye. He raised his peach wood sword and began chanting. My father finally lost his patience, pointing at the master’s nose. “Do you know what you’re doing or not?” My ex-boyfriend, Julian Chen, handed over a blank check. “If you can scatter that evil spirit’s soul, the Chen family will reward you handsomely.” The master stopped moving and said quietly: “Karma is inescapable. Mr. Chen, if you want her name written in the Book of Death, condemning her to eternal suffering, you must tell me everything the deceased experienced in life.” He paused. “And, the deceased’s real name.” My parents looked at my sister, who was screaming in pain while clutching her sick child. Heartbroken, they nodded and began their story. Back then, my car was found at the bottom of a cliff on a winding mountain road. Fallen with it was a truck driven by a notorious local thug. My car was smashed to pieces, and I was barely breathing. Police investigations later revealed witnesses who saw me acting intimate with the thug before the accident. Some even claimed I got out of his truck with disheveled clothes. The story was that we were fooling around too intensely, causing both vehicles to plummet off the cliff. At this point, my father sighed heavily. “A family tragedy.” “We never expected Ella to fulfill the fortune teller’s prophecy. Shameless, mixing with thugs, ruining herself until she lost her life.” The master murmured, seemingly communicating with something invisible. The next moment, his voice became ethereal and commanding, as if channeling a god. “Incorrect. There was more than one death.” “Mr. Jiang, if you truly want to save your daughter and grandson, you must tell the whole truth.” My father clenched his fists, his old face flushing red. “Indeed, there was more than one. It was too shameful, so our family kept it a secret.” “But to save my daughter, I have to say it today.” “We privately hired a forensic doctor back then. In Ella’s womb… there was a three-month-old bastard child. Sinful!” When my parents spoke of this, their faces were full of disgust and regret. “If we had known she was fooling around and got pregnant, we should have broken her legs and locked her in the house.” “To be honest, this isn’t the first time she’s harmed my other daughter. Ten years ago, when she first married Julian, she was pregnant, but miscarried for no reason.” “Thinking back now, it must have been Ella and that bastard child haunting them from underground!” As the words fell, the air around Julian instantly dropped to freezing point. “Good… very good.” “If I don’t destroy this ghost myself and avenge my unborn child, I am not a man!” He looked at my sister with pity. “Baby, you’ve suffered all these years.” While he gazed lovingly at my sister, the master interrupted coldly. “Still incorrect!” “If the deceased’s life experience is wrong, her name cannot be entered into the Book of Death!” “If Mr. Jiang still refuses to tell the truth, then I cannot help you.” My parents froze, conflict in their eyes. Just then, the baby’s cries became even more piercing, as if someone was strangling him. My mother sighed deeply. “At this point, there’s no need to hide it.” “Ella wasn’t just involved with a thug; she was also entangled with a group of beggars. She really fulfilled the prophecy of becoming a beggar.” “We don’t know if the child in her belly belonged to the thug or one of the beggars. It’s truly a sin!” My mother wiped away tears. “The Jiang family has been scholars for generations, clean and innocent. Why did such a scandal happen to us… it’s my failure as a mother.” The master pointed his peach wood sword directly at my father, shouting sternly. “Still can’t write it! What secret is so big that you’d risk your own daughter and grandson’s lives?” My father couldn’t say another word. My mother looked at my sister with tears in her eyes, a mix of heartache and helplessness. Julian supported my father, his voice deep. “Father-in-law, don’t worry. I swear here and now, no matter what happened, I will always love my wife.” My father was moved to tears. He looked at my mother and decided to stop hiding. “With Julian’s word, we might as well tell the truth.” “Actually, the one who died wasn’t the older sister, Ella. It was the younger sister, Emma.” His thoughts drifted back ten years. “The night before the wedding, Emma suddenly got into a severe car accident and fell into a coma. After discussing it, we decided to have Ella pretend to be Emma and marry in her place. We thought we’d switch them back when Emma woke up.” “None of us expected Emma to just… go. Later, we thought if Ella’s identity was revealed, it would ruin your marriage.” “Helplessly, we had to go along with the mistake. Ella became Emma, and the dead Emma… we renamed her Ella.” The master realized. “No wonder I couldn’t find the name Ella in the Book of Death.” After the truth was out, the master’s ritual went smoothly. “The Book is ready, but the dead soul’s resentment has not dissipated. The problem must be at her burial site.” Everyone arrived at the desolate potter’s field and froze. The master looked at the scorched earth amidst the tall weeds, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Miss Emma died with no one to mourn her. Her resentment has solidified and can now harm the living! She came back this time for revenge.” Hearing this, my parents’ faces turned extremely ugly. My sister collapsed to the ground, blood seeping from under her skirt. “Emma, don’t blame me. I didn’t mean to steal your Julian…” Her eyes reddened, and she cried miserably. “I’m sorry, Emma. If you want a life, take mine alone, don’t hurt my child! I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I couldn’t bring you back, I could only take care of Julian for you. Please, rest in peace!” She kowtowed desperately to the scorched earth. I floated in mid-air, feeling like my chest was blocked by these hot tears. Ever since that fortune teller made the prophecy, my parents decided my sister was the future “Golden Phoenix” and pampered her. As for me, the daughter destined to be a shameless beggar, they treated me like trash. My sister lived in a sunny luxury suite; I was banished to a damp, dark storage room with a broken bed. Growing up, they always called me shameless. If I smiled at a delivery guy, they accused me of being loose. I grew up in silence. Until I met Julian, I didn’t know life could be sweet. He never thought I was unlucky or weird. He never looked at me with charity. I still remember him ruffling my hair with a smile. “Emma, there is no destiny in this world that cannot be broken.” I used to believe him implicitly. Until we met again ten years later. Julian had a child with my sister. They were a loving couple. So what if he once loved me like his life? Ten years is enough to wash away any love completely. My sister is the Golden Phoenix. I am the shameless beggar. This is my fate. When I snapped back to reality, Julian had already ordered men to dig up the scorched earth. There was only an overturned, rotten wooden box. Seeing what was under the box, everyone gasped sharply. “What is that? Why is it so evil?” The box was opened, revealing a pitch-black clay jar. The mouth of the jar was covered in dense charms drawn in cinnabar. My ashes were gone. Seeing this, my parents panicked too. “We watched Emma’s ashes being buried with our own eyes. How could they be gone? And this jar…” The master sucked in a cold breath, fear appearing on his face. Ignoring everyone’s questions, he closed his eyes tight. After a long while, he opened them, sweating profusely. “Since the older sister took the younger sister’s identity, their birth dates should have been swapped too. But the birth date suppressing this jar is still Emma’s own. It can no longer suppress the vengeful spirit!” “Also.” He turned abruptly, meeting my sister’s panicked eyes. “The younger sister has used the birth date to attach herself to the older sister! The missing ashes… must be with the older sister!” As his words fell, my sister instinctively touched her handbag. It felt cold and slimy. She shuddered, realizing her bag didn’t contain designer lipstick, but a handful of bloody ashes! “Something’s wrong.” My sister screamed, throwing the bag far away. The master shook his head. “Throwing it away is useless. The power of a vengeful ghost isn’t something mortals can resist. Her hatred is focused entirely on you.” My sister crawled over, crying and kneeling before the master. “Master, save me!” “I’m already sick like this. Her next step is definitely my life!” My parents forced themselves to calm down. “As long as you can save our daughter, the Jiang family will reward you heavily!” “First, we must swap the birth dates back. Since fate was exchanged, ‘Ella’ is already dead. The birth date on the jar must be changed to hers.” The master pondered. “As for the rest… the only plan now is to lure her out. But who has the courage?” “I do.” Julian stepped out from the crowd after comforting his sick son. His tall figure radiated reliability. “Whether you are Ella or Emma, you are the wife I’ve loved for ten years. Since someone wants to harm you and our child, I will make her wish she were dead!” “The ghost Emma hates my wife because of me. Since her hate is born of love, I will hold a grand soul-summoning ceremony for Emma to lure her out.” My parents exchanged glances and sighed in relief. My sister felt the deep love and leaned weakly into Julian’s arms. “Julian, I’m so scared. Luckily I have you. The baby and I only have you.” Julian held her steady, his eyes gentle. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Through that slightly weathered face, I could faintly see the boy from ten years ago. In a rainstorm, he used all his strength to push me away from a mudslide, breaking his own leg. When I was kidnapped, he blocked a fatal knife for me, leaving a hideous scar on his left shoulder. In a fire, he gave me the only respirator, nearly dying from smoke inhalation himself. But ten years later, he doesn’t belong to me. To lure me out and destroy me, Julian bought a full-page ad in the newspaper announcing the grand soul-summoning ceremony. When my sister had nightmares because of this, he dropped contracts worth hundreds of millions to stay by her side all night. Never leaving her. He even played her favorite piano pieces. Back then, I begged him several times to play for me. He always said he was too busy. I thought he was just bad at expressing himself. Now I know, he just wouldn’t play for me. When my sister fell asleep in his arms, he lovingly wiped away her tears. “Don’t worry, babe. I will protect you forever.” “Whether it’s a person or a ghost hurting you, I won’t let them have a good end!” Everyone said Julian was determined. Once he dealt with my vengeful spirit, he would surely forgive my sister’s well-intentioned deception and reconcile. But they didn’t know— Julian had been waiting for this day for ten years. 2 The soul-summoning ceremony was set for three days later, on the top floor of the city’s most luxurious hotel. Julian rented the entire venue, decorating it even more grandly than our wedding ten years ago. A red carpet stretched from the elevator to the altar, lined with white roses—my favorite flower when I was alive. All the city’s media were invited, cameras aimed at the center of the altar. Julian stood there in a black suit, his face cold. My sister, the fake “Emma,” wore a white dress, holding his arm. Her face held a sickly flush and a hint of smugness. She knew that after today, the vengeful spirit of Emma would be gone from this world. She, the real Ella, would be the rightful, unique Mrs. Chen. My parents came too, sitting in the front row, looking at Julian with the pride of having snagged a golden son-in-law. The master paced on the altar, his peach wood sword glinting coldly. The auspicious time had arrived. With a shout, the master pasted my birth date onto a straw effigy. “Emma Jiang, I know your resentment is deep, and you died with grievances!” “Today, Mr. Chen has set a feast for you to settle this!” “If you know what’s good for you, drink this wine of reconciliation and reincarnate early. If you persist in your obsession, don’t blame my sword for being ruthless and shattering your soul!” He poured a cup of wine on the ground. Julian took the peach wood sword and walked step by step toward the straw effigy representing me. His eyes held a coldness and resolve I had never seen before. Ten years ago, he used those hands to bandage my wounds, wipe my tears, and put a ring on my finger. Ten years later, he was going to use those same hands to send my soul to the eighteenth level of hell. I floated in the air, feeling a tearing pain in my heart. I hated him. I wanted to appear right now and ask him: what did our companionship ten years ago, those life-and-death moments, mean to him?! The corners of my sister’s mouth were already curving up. She spoke softly, her voice low but caught by the surrounding microphones. “Julian, let it go. My sister… she’s pitiful too. Let’s not be too ruthless.” She acted kind as always. Julian didn’t turn his head. “Mercy to an evil ghost is cruelty to the living.” He raised the peach wood sword, aimed at the straw effigy’s heart, and stabbed down hard! Thud. A muffled sound. But the one who fell wasn’t the straw effigy. It was my sister, Ella. She spat out a large mouthful of black blood and fell straight to the ground, twitching all over. The crowd went into an uproar. My parents screamed and rushed up. “Ella! Ella, what’s wrong?!” The master froze too. He looked at his unharmed altar, then at the fallen Ella, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “No… this isn’t right…” “My soul-summoning array… wasn’t summoning Emma…” Julian turned slowly and threw away the peach wood sword. He looked down at Ella struggling in pain on the ground. There was not a shred of pity on his face. Instead, there was a bottomless, suppressed hatred of ten years. He squatted down, leaned into Ella’s ear, and asked in a voice only they could hear. “Ella.” “Ten years ago, at the winding mountain road where Emma crashed… why were you waiting there in advance?” Ella sounded like a strangled chicken, making gurgling noises. She opened her mouth, blood foam bubbling out, but she couldn’t say a word. My parents were stunned too. My dad pointed a trembling finger at Julian. “Julian… what does this mean? Why is Ella…” Julian ignored him. He just stared coldly at Ella, like looking at a corpse. “Ten years, Ella. I’ve thought about this question every day.” “The road where Emma crashed was remote, late at night, with no cameras. How could you be there so coincidentally?” “You told me you were there to pray. Praying for our wedding.” His voice was soft, but it cut into Ella and my parents like a knife. “I believed you then.” “I held you, comforted you, told you everything would be fine.” “I even agreed to your parents’ ridiculous request to let you take Emma’s identity.” He smiled, a smile full of endless mockery and icy hate. “I was such a fool, wasn’t I?” “I treated the murderer who killed my fiancée like a treasure and protected her for ten years.” Dead silence in the hall. Reporters’ flashbulbs went crazy, capturing this dramatic reversal forever. The master had quietly retreated to the side, wiping sweat, acting like none of this involved him. My mom finally reacted, screaming and lunging at Julian. “You’re talking nonsense! Our Ella is so kind, how could she harm her own sister! Julian Chen, are you crazy?!” “Crazy?” Julian stood up slowly, straightening his immaculate suit. He didn’t even look at my mom, his gaze locked on the twitching Ella. “I wish I were crazy. Then I wouldn’t dream of Emma every night.” “She asks me, covered in blood, why.” “Why didn’t I trust her.” “Why did I marry her murderer.” His voice suddenly rose, filled with ten years of suppressed pain and rage, like a desperate beast. “You tell me, why!” He kicked over the champagne tower next to him. Glass shattered piercingly, accompanied by gasps from the guests. My dad’s face was ashen, clinging to the last shred of dignity. “Julian, let’s talk calmly. There must be a misunderstanding…” “Misunderstanding?” Julian looked like he heard the biggest joke. He pulled a phone from his pocket and played a recording. A rough man’s voice echoed through the hall, sounding drunk and boastful. “…That Jiang family eldest daughter, she’s slutty and ruthless. Gave me a pile of cash to hit her sister’s car… said just to injure her, stop the wedding. Who knew that bitch’s life was so cheap, she rolled right off the cliff…” “…Afterwards, the eldest daughter gave me hush money to disappear. Heh, with that money, I’ve been living like a king…” The recording wasn’t long, but it exploded like a bomb in everyone’s ears. My parents’ faces drained of color instantly. Ella stopped twitching, staring at Julian with utter disbelief and despair. “No… not true… this isn’t real…” she mumbled, voice broken. Julian stopped the recording and threw the phone at my father’s feet. “Father-in-law, you shouldn’t be unfamiliar with this voice.” “Ten years ago, the one who handled the aftermath of Emma’s accident was this Captain Wang. He took 500,000 in bribes from the Jiang family to hastily rule a murder as an accident.” He paused, a cruel arc forming on his lips. “And that thug who caused the accident didn’t die either. He is currently in my basement, waiting for a reunion with his old lover, my dear wife, Ms. Ella Jiang.” 3 When the thug was brought up, the air in the banquet hall seemed to solidify. He was beaten black and blue, dragged like a dead dog by two bodyguards, and thrown in front of Ella. Ten years of easy living made him fat, but that face, those cloudy, greedy eyes—Ella and my parents recognized him instantly. “Ah!” Ella let out a piercing scream, crawling backward on hands and knees, trying to get away from the man. My parents were shaking, pointing at Julian, lips trembling, unable to form a sentence. “You… you…” Julian ignored them. He squatted down, grabbed the thug’s chin, and forced him to look into Ella’s terrified eyes. “Look closely. Is it her?” Scared out of his wits by the killing intent in Julian’s eyes, the thug nodded frantically. “It’s her! It’s her! Mr. Chen, she ordered everything back then! She said if I stopped her sister’s wedding, she’d give me a huge sum…” “Shut up! Shut up!” Ella screamed hysterically, cutting him off. Her hair was a mess, makeup ruined like a ghost. Not a trace of the elegant wealthy wife remained. “Julian, listen to me! It’s not like that! I was tricked by him! He… he blackmailed me!” “Blackmailed you?” Julian sneered. “Then what about this child?” He threw a document onto Ella’s face. A paternity test report, black ink on white paper, like a death warrant. “Ella, I had a vasectomy ten years ago. After Emma died, I never planned to have any children.” “Whose bastard is in your belly?” Ella’s crying stopped abruptly. She looked at the report in disbelief, then at Julian, and finally her gaze landed on the dying infant. The “Golden Grandson” she used to solidify her status and inherit the billions. Now, it was a joke. Irrefutable proof of her infidelity and promiscuity. “No…” She broke down completely, holding her head, letting out inhuman wails. My parents collapsed too. It was over. Everything was over. They schemed for ten years, thinking they finally flew up the branch to become phoenixes. In the end, it was all for nothing. The so-called billionaire heir was a bastard! My mom suddenly went crazy, rushing up to slap Ella’s face left and right. “You slut! Shameless thing! You’ve lost all the Jiang family’s face!” “How dare you! How dare you do such a thing!” My dad recovered too, roaring at Ella. “We raised you for nothing all these years! This is how you repay us? Huh?” A luxurious night banquet turned into an ugly farce. Guests pointed, reporters’ cameras faithfully recorded everything. The Jiang family was finished. From today on, they would be the city’s laughingstock. And the orchestrator of all this, Julian Chen, just watched coldly. Like watching a monkey show that had nothing to do with him. Only when Ella was beaten half to death by my mom did he wave his hand, letting bodyguards pull them apart. “Don’t kill her yet.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “I haven’t told you why she and your precious grandson fell ill.” He turned to the master who was already scared silly. “Master, tell them what ‘Midnight Soul-Breaking Powder’ is.” The master walked out trembling, falling to his knees. “Mr. Chen, spare me! Spare me!” “This ‘Midnight Soul-Breaking Powder’ is an ancient poison. Colorless, tasteless. Mixed into food, even gods can’t detect it. The poisoned person will feel like ten thousand ants eating their heart every midnight and noon. Bone-piercing pain. Day after day, until their essence is exhausted and they die.” “And this poison passes from mother to fetus.” “The young master… he… carried the poison from the womb…” Hearing this, my parents were struck by lightning, standing frozen. They looked at the infant with blue skin and weak breath on the hospital bed, then at Ella who was like mud on the ground. The last light in their eyes went out. “The poison… you poisoned them?” My dad asked hoarsely. Julian didn’t deny it. “Yes.” He looked at Ella. No love, no hate in his eyes. Only dead barrenness. “The bird’s nest soup I fed you daily, the milk I fed that bastard… I added something to all of it.” “Ella, you made me lose my love and my unborn child.” “I will make you, and your bastard, taste what it means to live a life worse than death.” 4 The sky fell on the Jiang family. Overnight, Jiang Group stocks hit limit down, partners withdrew investment, banks called in loans. The empire my father spent his life building collapsed instantly under Julian’s thunderous revenge. Media coverage was overwhelming, headlines shocking. [Billionaire Wife Swap: Sister Murdered, Elder Sister Takes Over with Bastard Child!] [Ten-Year Scam: Chen CEO’s Revenge, Jiang Family Becomes Laughingstock!] [Venomous Heart: Sister Murders Sister to Marry into Wealth!] My parents became rats crossing the street; everyone shouted to beat them. As glorious as they were before, they were that pathetic now. Villas seized, luxury cars towed. Even buying groceries meant getting pelted with rotten leaves. They finally understood what it meant to be deserted by all, to have nothing. They came to find Julian, kneeling outside his company, begging with snot and tears. “Julian, for Emma’s sake, give us a way out!” “We know we were wrong! We really know!” Julian looked down coldly from the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor at the two tiny figures below. Like looking at ants. He didn’t go down. He just had his assistant send them something. A USB drive. Inside was a video. Ten years ago, in a VIP hospital room. I lay on the bed, covered in tubes, vital signs weak. My parents stood by the bed. No sadness on their faces, only impatience and calculation. “Why isn’t this girl dead yet? Every day is another medical bill,” my mom complained. My dad frowned, looking at the door, lowering his voice. “Wait a bit. After Ella and Julian’s wedding, we’ll say… rescue efforts failed.” “Wait for what! Long nights bring many dreams!” My mom’s eyes turned vicious. “She’s a vegetable anyway. Keeping her is a burden. Why don’t we…” She reached out, slowly moving toward my oxygen tube. “…give her a hand.” The video ended there. I floated in the air, watching my parents’ faces twist in extreme terror. So, my death wasn’t an accident, wasn’t fate. It was my own parents, paving the way for their “Golden Phoenix,” who pulled my oxygen plug with their own hands. They suffocated me to death. Julian’s assistant stood before them, conveying his boss’s words expressionlessly. “Mr. Chen says he has already given this video to the police.” “Also, Mr. Chen found out some other things.” The assistant paused, tone mocking. “For example, that fortune teller’s prophecy that Miss Emma would be ‘shameless and become a beggar.’ It was actually because since she was a teenager, Miss Emma secretly donated all her allowance to a homeless shelter. She often volunteered, chatting with homeless people, bringing them food.” “In those people’s eyes, she wasn’t bad luck. She was an angel.” “But the Jiang family twisted this kindness into ‘fooling around with beggars’.” “Truly laughable.” My parents were completely dumbfounded. They stood there blankly, as if their souls had been sucked out. They always thought I was a stain that would shame the family. They used that ridiculous prophecy to define my life, feeling justified in their coldness, cruelty… even murder. But in the end, they discovered that what they destroyed with their own hands was the only light in their family. Regret and despair drowned them like a tide. They finally understood that Julian’s revenge wasn’t for money or power. He wanted to execute their hearts. He wanted them to rot slowly in endless regret and pain.

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I was left paralyzed after trying to catch a baby girl thrown from a twenty-story apartment building. The baby’s family never visited me in the hospital. They never mentioned a cent of compensation. When reporters asked them about it, they cursed me out. “She’s just a busybody. Who asked her to interfere? Why doesn’t she just die?” “Compensation? I won’t pay a dime! It would have been better if she got crushed to death. What’s the point of hanging on like a vegetable?” I didn’t have enough money for treatment. I lay in a hospital bed, unable to move, rotting in my own filth. In my final moments, I swore I would never be a “good person” again in my next life. When I opened my eyes, I was back on that day. 1 “Look! What is that? Is that a baby?” “Oh my god, it is. That woman is holding a baby over the balcony. What is she doing? That’s so dangerous!” The feeling of rot and numbness was gone. My body felt incredibly light. I wiggled my fingers. A movement that used to be impossible was now effortless. I covered my face, trembling with excitement. I was reborn. I wasn’t the invalid paralyzed in bed, unable to even use the toilet. The noise around me grew louder. A crowd was gathering at the base of the high-rise. I looked up. On the twentieth floor, a woman stood on the balcony, holding a bundle. It was too far to see clearly, but the silhouette was unmistakable. She was extending the baby out, past the safety railing. If she let go, that child would plummet twenty stories. The crowd below was buzzing, necks craned upwards. “What is she doing? Postpartum depression?” “Call the police! I’ve seen this before. Postpartum psychosis is real. She might jump with the baby!” Jump? My eyelid twitched. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin. That woman didn’t jump. But she did throw the baby. In my past life, I tried to catch that baby. The impact shattered my spine, leaving me with high-level paraplegia. Basically a vegetable. I was an orphan. My adoptive father died before I started college. I worked part-time jobs to put myself through school. Just as I graduated, before I could even start my life, I ended up paralyzed in a hospital bed. At first, the hospital suggested I seek compensation from the baby’s family. The incident was witnessed by many and made the news. But the family refused to pay. They went on TV and screamed at the reporters. “She’s just a busybody. Who asked her to interfere? Why doesn’t she just die?” “Compensation? I won’t pay a dime! It would have been better if she got crushed to death. What’s the point of hanging on like a vegetable?” During my entire hospital stay, no one from that family visited. Not even a thank you. I had no money. Treatment was expensive. I couldn’t even afford a caregiver. I lay there, fully aware of my misery. Every second, I wished for death. But dying is a slow process. My body rotted from bedsores and neglect. My muscles atrophied. But I just wouldn’t die. Every day, I lay there filled with resentment. Resenting why I had to be the hero. Why, out of all the people watching, I was the only idiot who ran forward. I resented the baby’s family for their cold-blooded cruelty. I resented that my life ended before it began. When death finally came, it was a release. 2 I snapped back to reality. I was standing near the building, surrounded by the crowd. I pulled my hat down low, intending to walk away quickly. “Where is the fire department?” “Ah! She moved! What is she doing?!” “Oh my god! She threw the baby!” “The baby is falling! Help!” People were screaming, but no one moved a muscle. Everyone knew. Twenty stories. Even a small object would kill you from that height. Let alone a ten-pound baby. Catching it meant risking your own life. Society isn’t totally heartless yet, but few are willing to trade their life for a stranger’s. Suddenly, someone shoved my shoulder hard. “Miss! Go help! You’re the closest!” I just wanted to leave this cursed place. But I lived in this complex. I had just walked out the door. I was the closest. The crowd was packed tight. Before I could move, someone called me out. I ignored him, looking for a way out. “Hey! You, girl! Someone is jumping upstairs! Go help!” His loud voice drew everyone’s attention to me. Now I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. Seeing no reaction from me, the man continued, “Miss, you’re right there! Do something!” In my past life, being closest was why I reacted first. Why I ran to catch her. I looked at the people around me. Everyone shouting “save the baby,” but no one taking a step. Just watching the show. They blocked my path. I couldn’t get out. Just then, the crowd shrieked. “AHHH!! The baby fell!” “Help! Someone help!” “Oh god!” In that split second, only one thought crossed my mind. Reborn, facing the same moment. Do I save her? 3 The baby plummeted straight down. Everyone saw the woman throw her. Some said she was crazy. Some said postpartum depression. But all eyes were on the falling bundle. To save or not to save? I looked up. I could hear the baby crying. I didn’t have time to think. I ripped off my jacket. Thank god it was winter. My coat was thick. People were screaming. I roared, “Shut up! Come help!” I grabbed two corners of the coat. A few people instinctively grabbed the other corners, forming a small, flimsy safety net. It seemed useless. But seeing my action, others started stripping off their coats, piling them onto mine. In seconds, the “cushion” grew thicker. The baby fell fast. In a blink, she passed the tenth floor. More people threw their jackets into the pile. Ninth floor. Eighth floor. … When she passed the third floor, her cries were piercing. Hoarse, terrified cries. I heard them in my last life too. The pile of coats might not work, but it was better than nothing. No one wanted to catch her with their arms. This was the only way to assuage the guilt. Second floor. Almost there. The baby was coughing from the wind rushing into her lungs. First floor. I saw her purple face. THUD. A heavy, dull impact. The baby hit. 4 She landed on the mound of clothes. A muffled grunt. The crowd held its breath. Silence. “Is… is she okay?” “Did she make it?” Someone bold checked for breathing. “She’s breathing!” Relief washed over the crowd. Falling twenty stories… no one could guarantee survival. But alive was a miracle. Knowing they contributed a coat made people feel like heroes. The baby’s eyes were shut tight. The impact, though cushioned, must have shattered something inside. She couldn’t even cry. She passed out immediately. Sirens wailed. Ambulance and police arrived. The paramedics loaded the baby. It was a police matter now. I let out a breath, ready to leave. Suddenly, a disheveled woman burst out of the building entrance. “Where is she? Is she dead? Did she die?” She looked deranged. It was the mother. From the balcony, she had seen the pile of clothes below. She saw the ambulance taking the baby away alive. She went berserk, stomping on the coats. “Why?! Why didn’t she die?! Who put these clothes here? Who?!” She screamed, stomping frantically. She pointed a shaking finger at a bystander. “Was it you? Was it your idea?” The person shook their head in terror. She pointed at another. “You?” “No! It was that girl over there! She started it! You should thank her, otherwise your baby would be…” Before he finished, the woman lunged at me like a demon. Her long nails aimed straight for my eyes. “You busybody bitch!” I dodged, but my body was still getting used to moving again. I was a split second too slow. Her nails raked across my cheek, leaving a burning trail of blood. The police roared, tackling the crazy woman. Moments later, a man and an old woman came out of the building. The husband and mother-in-law. “You crazy woman! How dare you act up in front of the police?” the man shouted. Seeing them, the woman went silent, trembling instinctively.

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A new noodle shop opened downstairs in my apartment complex. Not only was the food delicious and affordable, but the owner had a drop-dead gorgeous son who made every meal taste better. Naturally, I became a regular from day one. I ate there every day for three months straight. Then my cousin opened a new restaurant right across the street and insisted I come to support him. I had just sat down when someone walked out of the noodle shop opposite. He stared at me with dark, brooding eyes: “What, does his place let customers touch their abs too?” 1 My cousin has had a girlfriend for years. Just as they were preparing to get engaged, they had a fight, and she refused to talk to him. Coincidentally, she lives in the same apartment complex as me. To win her back, he thought long and hard and decided to open a noodle shop downstairs to create more “accidental encounters.” I figured it was just some weird couple’s game. And since it was the grand opening, as his cousin, I had to show my support. What I didn’t expect was— His shop was directly across the street from my regular spot. So when I walked into my cousin’s place, I felt inexplicably guilty. I mean, I hadn’t missed a single meal at the other place for three months. The owner even gave me free side dishes and perks. We had a bond. Eating somewhere else felt like cheating. But I brushed it off. I walked into my cousin’s shop, triggered the automated “Welcome!” greeting, and saw my cousin rushing out of the kitchen, soaked to the bone. It was hot out, and he was only wearing a thin white T-shirt. Wet, the shirt clung to his skin, becoming translucent and revealing the outline of his abs. Seeing me, he immediately waved me over. “A pipe burst in the back, soaked me. The plumber just fixed it. Since you’re here, I’ll make you a bowl, then I’m heading to your place to change.” He disappeared back into the kitchen without waiting for a reply. We grew up together, so he knows my tastes perfectly. No need to order; he knows what I want. I sat at the table waiting, chin in hand, habitually looking across the street. Wonder if he’s there today. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me, and a tall figure walked into the shop. “Chase? What are you doing here?” seeing him, guilt spiked in my chest. Getting caught eating elsewhere after months of loyalty was awkward. His expression was calm, his dark eyes fixed on me. “My dad said you were late today. He was worried something happened, so he sent me to wait for you.” He paused, frowning slightly as if recalling something unpleasant. “Then I saw you sneaking around like a thief, darting into this new place without even looking back at me.” He scanned my cousin’s shop with disdain. “When this place was being renovated, my dad talked to the owner. Heard he’s a fresh grad, athletic build.” I nodded. My cousin was a fresh grad and a sports major, so yeah, good build. But… isn’t his focus a bit off? Is his lukewarm attitude towards me because… he doesn’t like women? Despair washed over me. But before I could speak, Chase’s cold demeanor vanished. He looked at me with haunting eyes. “What, does his place let customers touch their abs too?” 2 Chase. The son of the noodle shop owner next door. Incredibly handsome. But cold. Even after knowing him for three months, I’d barely seen him smile. And he barely spoke. Most of the time, I’d eat my noodles while throwing cheesy pick-up lines at him. He usually stayed silent. Occasionally, he’d sit opposite me and ask how to make me shut up because I was too noisy. In this regard, my cousin and I are alike. We have the “simp” gene. So I grinned and said, “Tell me your name first.” Initially, I just wanted his name. Then, his height, weight, hobbies, and most importantly, relationship status. Finding out he was single made me ecstatic. I unleashed a basket of pick-up lines. He still ignored me, which was frustrating. I almost gave up. As for the abs incident… Total accident. One day, I was eating lunch at his place when a flasher walked in wearing only boxers. He came straight for me. Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and tried to put it on his belly. A huge, beer-gut belly. Sweaty and gross. He leered, pressing my hand down. “Never felt a real man? Let me show you…” Then, Chase punched him. I got in a couple of kicks too. The owner called the cops, handed over the pervert, and Chase took me to wash my hands. I scrubbed my hands with soap, disgusted. “So gross. Do I need to cut this hand off?” Tears were welling up. Chase, who had been silent, suddenly grabbed my wrist. He lifted his shirt and pressed my hand onto his abs. “Still feel gross?” he asked. I shook my head frantically. How to describe it? Hard yet soft. Bouncy. Powerful. In that moment, I forgot the trauma and tremblingly extended my left hand. Holding back drool, I looked at Chase with hope. “He touched this hand too.” Chase told me to leave before he hit me. I offered my cheek: “Just hit me gently.” His look of horror deepened. I kept going back. Maybe out of guilt, the owner gave me extra portions and made Chase sit with me for protection. Eating noodles while admiring eye candy was great. I gained three pounds in a week. I asked if my hand was fully purified yet, requesting another touch. Chase smiled without humor: “Sure, help yourself.” How could I? Hehe… I put my hand on his abs and squeezed. He frowned, looking away. But he didn’t push me away. It became a tacit agreement. I tested boundaries, and he occasionally allowed it. Usually twice a week. Just a little treat. So hearing Chase’s question gave me an idea. I know my cousin’s girlfriend. Cute, lively. And like me, she appreciates male beauty. But since she has a boyfriend, she only looks. So if my cousin wants to win her back… Seduction is the key, right? But my cousin is simple. Good, kind, but dense. He probably never thought of using his body to win her over. As his cousin, I have to teach him. Seeing my silence, Chase frowned. “Hard to answer?” I shook my head frantically. “No, no, I’m not that kind of person…” Before I could finish, my cousin walked out with a steaming bowl of noodles. His shirt was soaked, and the kitchen was hot. So he took it off. He was shirtless in just shorts. You know how it is. World’s unfair. Fat guy shirtless? Put a shirt on! Hot guy with an eight-pack? Thank you, universe, for the meal and the show! But I didn’t think that. He’s my cousin. He’s taken. He needs to have morals. So I said, “Put a shirt on! Don’t let people see.” He put the bowl down, wiped sweat from his forehead, and grinned like an idiot. “It’s fine, I won’t show anyone else.” He pointed to a red spot on his abs where oil had splashed him. “I do need a shirt, though. Oil burns hurt.” I handed him a tissue. Then I heard a ghostly voice from behind: “You really care about him, huh?” I nodded without thinking. Of course. We grew up together. I’m a good cousin. “By the way, Chase…” I turned to introduce my cousin. But Chase was already walking away, face cold as ice. I didn’t think much of it. He was always cold to me at his shop, walking away when I talked too much. Watching him leave, my cousin looked thoughtful. “Sis, don’t tell me that’s the high-and-mighty god you’ve been simping for for three months?” I cupped my chin, starry-eyed. “You don’t get it. He’s top tier.” Face: top tier. Abs: top tier. I wonder if… Other parts are top tier too. I’m so curious. 3 I finished eating and planned to head home. My cousin’s shop didn’t have a shower. Going home and back would take two hours, so he asked to shower at my place. “I’m looking for an apartment in this complex too.” He blushed. “Thinking about living in the same complex as Babe makes me shy.” I rolled my eyes. They’ve been dating for years, met the parents, planned to marry. She suggested living together. He refused because he was “shy.” She was embarrassed and never brought it up again. Hence the rocky road to reconciliation. Because he avoids the right choices like the plague. I left the shop. My cousin had to do dishes and close up, so he’d be ten minutes behind. As soon as I stepped out, I saw Chase standing in front of his shop. He walked straight to me. “You usually take an hour to eat. Today took two.” “Had a good chat?” I nodded. “Yeah, pretty good. Didn’t notice the time.” My cousin had been spilling family tea. I love gossip almost as much as I love hot guys. My aunt and uncle are professional gossips, so my cousin knows everything. He told me stories while I ate. The tea was piping hot, so dinner lasted two hours. Seeing me nod, Chase pursed his lips, looking unhappy. Standard expression. “So you’re going back tonight?” I nodded again. I hadn’t finished hearing the gossip. My cousin left a cliffhanger to ensure I’d return. Chase’s face got colder. I assumed he was worried about losing a customer. “Don’t worry! Uncle’s noodles are delicious and cheap. Still my top choice. Going across the street is just for something fresh…” “Fresh?” Chase interrupted, a weird smile on his face. “The noodles? Or the person?” I didn’t get it. Before I could ask, he said, “Are his abs nice to touch?” “They’re okay.” We fought a lot as kids. I scratched him a few times. Felt decent. But I remembered I was chasing Chase. “Don’t worry! His abs aren’t as good as yours!” Chase smirked. “Thanks for the comparison.” “Of course!” I patted my chest, glanced at my apartment building, and tested the waters. “Business is slow today, your dad can handle it. Want to come to my place and watch a movie? I found a great horror flick.” I love horror movies. Friends scream watching them with me. If I watch with Chase, he’ll get scared and jump into my arms. Then… hehehe. “Wipe your drool.” Chase interrupted my fantasy. I blinked at him. “Really not coming? It’s really good.” “No.” He turned and walked back into his shop without hesitation. Meanwhile, my idiot cousin had closed up and was running toward me. “Horror movie? Let’s go! I’ll keep you company. Just gotta shower first…” Chase stopped dead in his tracks. 4 I didn’t notice. I nodded at my cousin. “Sure. I have snacks and beer.” Chase spun around and marched back. Lips tight, face cold. “You’re watching a horror movie with him? And drinking?” My little habit. Horror movies need beer. It’s cozy. “Yeah. Problem?” I felt the temperature drop around Chase. “Whatever,” he said, and walked away fast. I wanted to chase him, but didn’t want to be clingy. Internet advice: Push and pull. So I took my cousin upstairs. He went to shower in the guest bath. I prepped snacks and beer and picked a movie. Doorbell rang. I opened it to see Chase holding a takeout container. “My dad’s new recipe. Said you’re a loyal customer, have to try it first.” He looked reluctant. “I didn’t want to come. He made me.” My Uncle Jing is great. Always giving me free food. I took the noodles happily. “Want to watch the movie?” Expected rejection. He turned to leave, then looked back. “I hear water running.” “Justin’s showering.” I pointed to the bathroom. Chase frowned deeply. “Lena, are you sure about this?” About what? I was confused. Chase closed his eyes, took a breath, and said slowly, “You’re really watching a horror movie with him?” “Well, you won’t join me.” I shrugged. Just then, my cousin walked out. White T-shirt. Boxer shorts. Relaxed. He walked to the living room, cracked a beer, and chugged. He looked at the door. “Hi. I know you. Chase, right?” “I know you too. Justin.” “Lena, hurry up, movie’s starting.” “Since you’re busy, I’m leaving.” Chase turned and left before I could speak. What a waste. If he stayed… Horror movie. Beer. Maybe… hehehe. “Wipe the drool.” My cousin interrupted my fantasy. Annoying. I threw a slipper at his head. “Ow! Still so violent, Lena!” Call me sister! “You live alone. How can you give your apartment number to a man? Aren’t you afraid?” I slumped on the sofa. “I wish.” I hinted so many times, he never came. I promised only movies, no touching, he didn’t believe me! Am I that untrustworthy? Ha. Maybe. My cousin looked terrified. Doorbell rang again. He scrambled to open it. “Chase? Again?” Chase stood there with another bowl of noodles. Sweating a little. “My dad…” “Another new recipe?” I finished his sentence. He nodded, handed me the noodles. Sweat dripped down his neck. “But I can’t eat two bowls.” My cousin grabbed it. “It’s fine, I’ll eat what you can’t. I don’t mind.” I felt a chill. Chase looked at me, then left without a word. We opened the noodles. Tasted the same, just one spicy, one mild. Doorbell rang again. We both went to the door. Chase. Third bowl. “This is my dad…” “Third new recipe?” Chase nodded. He handed it over. He was sweating profusely now. “Look, we can’t eat three bowls. Please, help us eat one and watch the movie?” I expected rejection. He thought for a second, then walked in. “Fine. I don’t want my dad’s hard work wasted.” He agreed! Suddenly, Justin looked very superfluous.

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I lay in a hospital bed covered in blood after a car accident. My father muttered, “Money loser, we’re broke…” Then he picked up his phone, excitedly praising my brother: “Great job, son! First place in the class gaming tournament? Dad’s coming home to celebrate!” When he left me alone in the hospital, I wasn’t surprised. I even laughed at myself for the flicker of hope I felt when I first saw him, thinking he might actually be worried about me. Under the angry yet sympathetic gazes of the medical staff, I didn’t feel helpless or sad. I was just thinking about how to get the doctor to give me more anesthesia for the surgery. Because it hurt so much. Just then, an elegant couple walked into the ward, led by the hospital director. They said I was their daughter, switched at birth. Compared to their excitement and joy, I seemed rather calm. I only asked one question. “Will you pay for my surgery?” “Will you pay for my college tuition?” After getting affirmative answers, I called them directly. “Mom, Dad.” It didn’t matter if they truly loved me. I didn’t ask about the girl who was switched. When Grandpa Joe was still alive, he told me that in this life, you can only rely on yourself to be invincible. So all I have to do is live well. Use them as a stepping stone to climb up. 1 The surgery went well. I was transferred to a VIP room for post-op observation and recovery. These were the most comfortable and quiet days I could remember. It was in this hospital room that I learned my biological father was William Sterling, chairman of the famous Sterling Group in this state, and my mother was Eleanor Vance, the eldest daughter of Vance Electronics. Turns out, two months ago, when I worked part-time as a greeter at a Sterling Group event, I was earning my own family’s money. What was the theme of that banquet? Oh, right, it was to celebrate the 18th birthday of the Sterling Group’s only daughter. It was so grand that financial news and entertainment news across the state were scrambling to report it. As an outdoor greeter, I wasn’t even qualified to enter the venue, shivering in the early spring wind. After Grandpa passed away, no one remembered my birthday, let alone a coming-of-age ceremony. Peeking through the cracks at the fragrant clothes, shadows, clinking glasses, and blessings inside. At that time, I thought, look at her, loved by thousands, and look at me, peeking at the princess’s happiness like a rat in the sewer. Worlds apart. That day was also my unnoticed 18th birthday. When I got home that night, I faced: “Where the hell have you been? Don’t you know to come home and cook?” “Your brother is about to take his high school entrance exams. What if he starves?” “Money loser. We should have given you away when you were born, saved us money.” Hearing this, I sneered in my heart. They wouldn’t have been willing to give me away. When I was born, the area where we lived was being demolished for redevelopment. To get an extra apartment allocation based on headcount, they registered me. And if it weren’t for Grandpa insisting, my name on the birth certificate wouldn’t be Grace, it would have been “Asset.” But I wouldn’t argue back because that would make them angrier, and my adoptive father would hit me. I’d suffer too much. That’s the experience I’ve summed up over the years. Don’t speak, just do the work silently, and it will pass. At that time, my only hope was the SATs, to test into a college far, far away. Knock, knock. A gentle knock sounded. My biological parents walked in, followed by a tall, handsome young man in a suit. “Grace, this is your brother. We came together to pick you up.” As I guessed, this was the crown prince of the Sterling Group, Liam Sterling. I had long heard that this prince spoiled his only sister excessively, giving her the moon if she asked for stars. Of course, that sister wasn’t me. Watching him stride over, looking reserved, his gentle tone slightly stiff. “Grace, I’m your brother.” I looked up, smiled slightly, and said softly, “Brother.” When I was bullied by classmates, seeing other brothers protecting their siblings, I also longed for a brother. Liam was stunned for a moment when he heard me call him, then relaxed. “Mom, Dad, and I discussed it and felt it’s better to visit your adoptive parents’ home.” “We investigated what happened back then. It was an accident.” “They raised you after all. And about Bella… she’s still abroad…” I looked at their guilty faces, their eyes dodging mine but full of love. For the sake of this love, I tentatively said, “They treat me bad…” “Grace,” I was interrupted by Liam before I could finish. “Your adoptive family isn’t exactly poor based on my investigation. Raising you for eighteen years deserves gratitude.” Seeing the slightly disapproving looks from my parents behind him, I fell silent. So this love wasn’t just for me. It was more for the daughter they had loved for eighteen years. Judging me as ungrateful and vain based on an unfinished sentence. Fine. “Okay, let’s go now.” 2 With their surprised expressions, I got out of bed holding my bandaged left arm and left the room. Since the love isn’t exclusive, I’ll use your guilt to fill the gap. It was lunchtime when we arrived at the Zhou house. I unlocked the door and went in first. The family of three, eating fish and meat, paused when they saw my sudden intrusion, then continued eating as if nothing happened. “Just in time. Go wash the clothes in the bathroom.” “Mom, I told you she has secret money. Look, she got out of the hospital fine without us giving her a cent.” “Damn girl, always out. Who knows how you earn that money? Disgusting.” I stood there, a look of horror on my face, shrinking back in fear. Seeing me stand still, my adoptive father’s face darkened. “What are you standing there for? Didn’t you hear your mother tell you to wash clothes?” I whispered fearfully, lifting my arm slightly. “I… I just got out of the hospital. My injury hasn’t healed. I can’t hand wash. Can I use the machine?” As soon as I finished, my adoptive mother’s harsh voice followed. “Does the machine run for free? Don’t you have another hand?” “I…” Seeing I wanted to speak again, my adoptive father’s temper flared. He threw his empty bowl and walked towards me under the gloating gazes of my adoptive mother and brother, Tyler. Raising his hand to hit me. I quickly squatted down, holding my head, chanting non-stop. “I was wrong, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have talked back.” “I won’t dare again. Dad, don’t hit me, don’t hit me. I’ll wash the clothes right now, by hand.” As expected, the slap didn’t land on me. Liam, who came in a step later, grabbed my adoptive father’s arm and pushed him aside. My parents surrounded me to comfort me, eyes full of heartache and guilt. Seeing the sudden intruders, my adoptive mother quickly got up to support my adoptive father. She screeched, “Who are you people?” Seeing my parents comforting me, she realized and cursed at me. “Bitch, bringing outsiders home to bully your parents, huh?” “Raising you is worse than raising a dog. Should have thrown you in the river to drown.” Next came money loser, slut, uneducated—whatever was ugliest, my adoptive parents said it. I was confused. They didn’t know I wasn’t biological yet. Why could they insult and beat a daughter so extremely, yet spoil a son so extremely? Especially incomprehensible was my adoptive mother. She was a woman once too. Why did she become the executioner hurting her younger “self”? I thought she was bound by old-fashioned thinking and had no choice. Later, I realized she was just bad. Narrow-minded. If she suffered, her daughter must suffer too. Even double the suffering. When I was little, I got good grades and awards, longing for her love and praise, but got ignored and mocked. From childhood to adulthood, the nastiest words came from my adoptive mother first. Now I’m immune to these curses. I can ignore them and do my own thing. But my biological parents looked terrible, and my brother clenched his fists in anger. Oh well, I achieved the desired effect, exceeded expectations even. Next, I didn’t need to do anything. I just had to be scared. This feeling of having family protecting me in front was nice. I once longed for it. Now? It’s optional. It’s no longer a necessity for my life. And this love was calculated. I don’t think it will belong to me completely in the future. There’s still a Sterling family princess they raised for eighteen years. Hearing I wasn’t their biological daughter, my adoptive mother wanted to make a scene, but my adoptive father sized up my parents and quickly started negotiating terms. My brother rubbed my hair and said gently, “Go pack your things with Mom.” “Dad and I will handle this.” I nodded timidly and went to my room under Mom’s pitying gaze. 3 The renovated storage room. One side for junk, one side for my bed, an old wardrobe, and a desk. That was it. I saw Mom’s red eyes, pretended not to see, and packed. When she saw me stuffing faded jeans and jackets into the worn suitcase. She couldn’t hold it back anymore. She walked over and threw everything in my hands onto the narrow bed. Her voice choked. “Grace, no more. Leave these. Mom will buy you new ones.” I looked up in confusion. “But these aren’t worn out yet. I can still wear them.” Mom’s lips trembled, unable to speak. She hugged me, tears wetting my shoulder. My shirt was wet. When I changed, I was wearing a sports bra, and I heard sobbing behind me again. “Grace, what happened here?” Mom pointed at the burns on my back and arms. Before I could speak, the door opened. Father and Liam stood there looking at my scars. The air went silent. My adoptive father followed, squeezing in when he saw no movement. Yelling loudly, “What are you doing? Hurry up and leave, then send the money.” Then seeing me, he froze for a second, then got angry. “Damn girl, what are you looking at? Didn’t you do that yourself?” Then he reached to grab me. I flinched slightly and spoke with difficulty. “Yes, I did it myself by accident.” My brother stepped forward, pushed him out of the room, and roared, “Behave if you want the money! Is my sister someone you can shout at?” Father’s eyes were red too. “Grace has suffered.” I shook my head and didn’t speak. In the car back, I was still thinking. It went smoothly. At least with my biological parents’ help, I can completely get rid of this rotten family. My silent contemplation was mistaken for shock. “Grace, it’s our fault. We shouldn’t have brought you there.” “It’s our fault. If we found you earlier, you wouldn’t have suffered so much.” “Grace, don’t worry, Brother will get revenge for you.” “From now on, with Mom and Dad here, no one dares to bully you again.” Looking at the unconcealed guilt and love in their red eyes, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t touched at all. But only a little. Revenge? I can take it myself later. Suffering? It’s all in the past. The car stopped. Standing before the “Jade Palace No. 1” I had only heard about in gossip at banquets. For the first time, I felt the extreme gap in this world so directly. I lowered my eyes. I’m a little tempted. I am one of the heirs to this boundless wealth and power. “Sir, Madam, you’re back.” The butler led the servants out to greet us. Seeing me surrounded, he hesitated. “This is the Second Miss. Take good care of her from now on.” Father said as he led me inside. The surrounding servants bowed and said yes. As soon as I entered the hall, I looked up and saw the girl standing by the stairs. The girl I swapped lives with for eighteen years. 4 She was beautiful. Exquisitely noble, raised on money and power. Now she looked like a broken doll, eyes red and swollen. The moment she saw us enter, tears fell like pearls. Truly pitiful and lovable. Her voice trembled as she pointed at me. “Mom, Dad, are the rumors outside true? Are you abandoning me now that you brought her back?” Hearing this, Father frowned and scolded. “Bella, no manners. This is your sister’s home. Of course we bring her back.” Bella looked incredulous. “Dad, you yelled at me?” Then she turned and ran upstairs, shouting with a sob. “Fine, I’m not biological anyway! I’ll leave now! I won’t be an eyesore!” Father opened his mouth but said nothing, grunting and heading to the study. My brother looked at me apologetically. “Bella is spoiled. Grace, don’t mind her. I’ll go check on her.” Then he ran to comfort Bella. Seeing Mom looking back anxiously, I spoke sensibly. “Mom, go comfort Sister too.” Mom paused. “Grace, you’re a good child. Mom will go check, be right back.” She turned and hugged me, then went to comfort Bella too. The family that was just fussing over me instantly surrounded another girl. Leaving me standing alone in the hall. Worthy of the golden branch and jade leaf pampered for eighteen years. Deep feelings, hard to let go. I understand. I lowered my head. Does it matter? No hope, no disappointment? But my heart was uncomfortable. The butler stepped forward. “Second Miss, your room is this way. Let me show you.” “Thanks.” The mother who said she’d be “right back” didn’t show up all afternoon. I didn’t have the mind to think about this family affection for now. I couldn’t pin my future life on these relatives. So at dinner, seeing only Father at the table, I ate quietly without throwing a tantrum. After eating, I spoke. “Dad, can I get a tutor? The SATs are in a month.” “I’m afraid I won’t adapt if I go to school now. can I study at home with a tutor?” Father was stunned, then nodded. “Just tell Butler Li. He’ll arrange it.” “Good child, ask for whatever you need. If Dad isn’t here, find Butler Li.” I smiled shyly. “Thank you, Dad.” Seeing my obedience, Father sighed in relief, patted my shoulder hesitantly, and went to the study. After washing up with the maid’s help, just as I was about to lie down, there was a knock. Opening the door, it was Mom. “Grace, Bella has a bad temper. Please bear with her.” “You just arrived. Want to take a walk with Mom, get familiar?” I nodded and went out in my pajamas. Bella was still standing at the stairs, eyes still red, but I saw the smugness and provocation in her eyes clearly. I nodded and smiled at her. “Sister came out too?” Mom turned to look. “Why are you out? Go back to sleep. Your eyes are swollen like walnuts.” Bella quickly composed herself, smiled obediently, and went back to her room. The night breeze blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness. Jade Palace No. 1 lived up to its name. “Grace, Mom wants to discuss something with you.”

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When I was seven, my brother sold me to human traffickers to save himself. Years later, I finally made it back home, only to find my parents had “replaced” me with a new daughter. She was draped in designer clothes and jewelry. When she saw me, she covered her nose, looking at me like I was trash. “Where did this beggar come from? She stinks. Does she have diseases?” With just one sentence, my parents’ eyes changed. My brother looked at me with pure disgust. “Why did you come back to ruin our happy life? For money?” That’s when I realized: the fake daughter had become the real one, and I was just a stumbling block. In the end, my brother helped the fake daughter torture me to death while my parents watched and did nothing. When I opened my eyes again, I was five years old. This time, I chose to save myself. Evil brother? Biased parents? You can all go to hell together! 1 “This is my brother. Boys are worth more money. I promise I won’t call the police.” I shoved my brother hard towards the trafficker, then turned and ran on my little legs. The greasy middle-aged man grabbed my brother and dragged him toward a beat-up van. My brother was only seven, still just a kid. He struggled and screamed, “Sissy, save me! Save me!” His eyes were full of fear and begging. The orange soda in his hand spilled all over his clothes. Snot and tears smeared his face. The trafficker looked satisfied. He picked up my brother, threw him in the van, and drove off. The broken license plate rattled against the bumper as they sped away. “Save you? In your dreams.” I turned and ran toward the convenience store. Colorful lollipops and sticky rice cakes—sweet and delicious. I bought some to calm my nerves. I ate while walking home. My parents had just returned from work. Seeing me alone, they asked, “Where’s your brother?” I sucked on my lollipop and said in a sweet, childish voice, “Didn’t brother come home first? Mommy, Daddy, do you want some rice cake?” My parents immediately started searching the neighborhood. They checked with the neighbors we knew, but found no trace of him. Now they panicked and called the police. In an era without surveillance cameras everywhere, finding a trafficker was like finding a needle in a haystack. Even the police found it strange: “Your neighborhood has the best security in the area. How could there be traffickers? Security didn’t see anyone suspicious enter or leave. Have you offended anyone recently? Could this be revenge?” Or maybe they just flashed their wealth too much and got targeted. Mom sat on the floor, devastated. Dad cried his heart out. I sat on a chair, swinging my little legs, watching them with wide, unblinking eyes. Look at them, so heartbroken. So why, in my past life, did they watch me die with such indifference? Right. My brother’s life matters. My life doesn’t. Fine. Then let’s all not live. 2 That night, missing person flyers plastered every street and alley. The TV news broadcasted my brother’s disappearance, offering a $50,000 reward. In an era where the average annual salary was a few hundred bucks, $50,000 was an astronomical sum. I wondered if my brother was even worth $50,000. Would the traffickers send him back for the money? But once the flyers went up, I knew there was zero chance of him returning. Compared to $50,000, life was more important to those criminals. Six months passed. New cases piled up, and my brother’s case went cold. Thinking back to my past life, my brother pushed me toward the traffickers and ran away. I was just learning from him. We are siblings, after all. The same blood runs in our veins. I started using my wits. I often came up with money-making ideas to divert my parents’ attention, helping them slowly move on from the grief of losing their son. Dad rubbed my head happily: “Our little Mona is the family’s lucky star! You’ve helped us earn so much money.” I giggled. “Daddy, on TV, lots of rich people have houses with swimming pools and garages. So fancy.” “Mommy, Daddy, let’s move to a big house too! If we live around rich people, maybe we can make even more money!” “Like they say, your circle determines your income.” My parents were shocked by my words. They immediately decided to buy a villa. They had made enough money to afford a new house anyway. But more importantly, they thought: if my brother ever came back, he might find this place. I needed to cut off that hope completely. I needed to erase the memory of my brother from their minds. “Mona is right. Nothing is more important than your social circle.” The next day, my parents went house hunting. After asking around, they spent a fortune on a luxury hilltop villa. Our neighbors were all VIPs and big shots in the city. I carried Mom’s homemade cookies and visited our neighbors one by one. I was sensible and cute, so I quickly got familiar with them. My parents got quite a few projects through these connections. Even if the profits were thin, they built good relationships. Seeing the timing was right, I spoke up: “Mom, Dad, why don’t you adopt a brother? You’re always busy with work and have no time for me. I’m lonely and want someone to play with.” Why a brother? To completely replace my biological brother’s position in my parents’ hearts. To prevent a scenario where he returns and my sexist parents give him all the credit for my hard work. I wasn’t letting that happen. Now, my status in my parents’ hearts was unshakable. They would agree to whatever I said. 3 You can’t choose your parents, no matter how useless they are. But a brother? That’s different. If I could choose, I was going to pick one to my liking. Stupid ones were out; they’d mess things up. Ugly ones were out; looking at them would be annoying. Besides being kind-hearted, the most important thing was a good personality. I didn’t want another ungrateful wolf for a brother. We visited every orphanage in the city. Finally, I found one that didn’t disappoint. The hint of ruthlessness in his eyes satisfied me. Having seen monsters in human skin in my past life, I knew his type would be hard to control later. I had to cultivate feelings from a young age. “Here~ have some candy.” I took a White Rabbit creamy candy from my pocket and placed it in his slender hand. I said in a soft, sweet voice, “If you eat this candy, you’ll be my brother.” “I have lots of toys and snacks at home. If you like them, I’ll share half with you. How about it, brother? Will you come home with me?” No little boy could refuse such a cute little girl. He was no exception. He carefully took the candy but didn’t dare touch my hand, as if afraid of dirtying it. I reached out and grabbed his hand, showing him off to my parents happily. “Daddy, Mommy, I found the brother I like.” He was clean and good-looking. My parents were satisfied. They asked a few symbolic questions and found him articulate and polite—a rare well-behaved child. So they agreed to my request. … “From now on, your name is Star.” Looking at his beautiful eyes that shone like stars, I announced loudly. He nodded in agreement. The room opposite mine was given to him. My parents had planned to save it for my biological brother, but now it was put to good use. At dinner, he sat in Dad’s lower seat—where my brother used to sit. Slowly, he truly replaced my brother’s position. My parents got used to taking him out, attending events together, and privately referring to him as “our son.” Star was extremely uncomfortable with this change at first, but with my encouragement, he became outgoing and confident. Perhaps the impression of our first meeting was too strong. He truly treated me like a sister to be protected. Every night before bed, he would tell me fairy tales and coax me to sleep. He would quietly eat the food I didn’t like from my bowl. Even if I accidentally bumped into something, he would immediately look pained, wishing he could take the hurt for me. 4 In the blink of an eye, high school arrived. Wrapped in love, Star began to shine. The moment he stepped into school, he caused quite a stir. We were in the same class. Both he and my parents hoped this would better protect me. An old acquaintance from my past life appeared—the fake daughter who tortured me to death, Crystal. She looked delicate and fragile. Every frown and smile carried a “pity me” vibe. Especially her big, watery eyes; it was hard not to feel sympathy for her at a glance. “Star, look at twelve o’clock. What do you think of that girl?” Star followed my gaze and saw Crystal in her pale yellow floral dress, long hair flowing. He didn’t understand my meaning. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I don’t know. Maybe the type most boys like?” Not just boys. My brother was obsessed with her type. For her, he helped torture his own sister. I licked my lips. “Is she your type too?” A flash of disgust crossed his eyes, but his face remained relaxed. “I don’t like her.” I chuckled. “Then what type do you like?” He looked down at me, raising an eyebrow. “Must be the arrogant, willful, unreasonable type.” Me: “…” Crystal was my classmate, but she didn’t test in. She was admitted under a special quota for underprivileged students. Every year, the elite private school accepted a few poor students to show off their “equal education” philosophy. But in reality, these students were usually bullied. After all, the classmates were either heirs or trust fund babies. In my past life, with my brother protecting her, she lorded over everyone. But now, my brother was gone. Let’s see how she acts tough now. The first class usually involved self-introductions. Everyone went up generously, without stage fright. Given their backgrounds, they weren’t afraid of such scenes. When it was Crystal’s turn, her face flushed. She twisted and turned, looking reluctant. “I… I’m too shy.” The teacher smiled. “It’s okay, it’s everyone’s first time. Just relax. Let’s give her a warm round of applause.” Applause filled the room. Star saw I didn’t react, so he didn’t clap either. After three rounds of applause, everyone was getting impatient, but Crystal still hadn’t gone up. She bit her lip tightly, face red, tears falling from her eyes. Really, you can’t polish a turd. 5 After this incident, everyone distanced themselves from Crystal. They found her off-putting. “Crying at the drop of a hat. People might think we bullied her. Disgusting.” “Exactly. She wasted so much time, I didn’t even have time to go to the bathroom during the break. Annoying.” “When we pick seats this afternoon, don’t sit with her. Bad luck will affect my aura.” Everyone chatted freely. Crystal heard every word and ran to tell the teacher. This behavior might work in a normal school, but in an elite private school, it was just humiliating herself. “Student Crystal’s situation is special. I hope everyone can be more tolerant.” “Is there anyone willing to sit with Crystal? She’s timid. If we look out for her, I believe she’ll get used to the school environment quickly.” The teacher waited, but no one raised their hand. Instead, sneers filled the room. The teacher coughed lightly. “How about this? Crystal, who do you want to sit with?” Suddenly, Crystal wasn’t shy anymore. She pointed at Star. “I want to sit with Brother Star.” … That “Brother Star” was called out so coquettishly, people would think they knew each other. The boys jeered, and the girls rolled their eyes in disdain. The teacher nodded. “Okay then. Star, you sit with Crystal and take good care of her.” Star immediately stood up and refused. “Sorry, Teacher. I’m allergic to tears.” The classroom went silent, then erupted in laughter. I curled my lips. He has a way with words. The teacher frowned, realizing it was a flat refusal. But Star was the heir to the Ran Corporation in name; no one could afford to offend him. The teacher had to find a more easygoing girl to sit with Crystal. … After class, Crystal went straight to Star. She acted pitiful. “Brother Star, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you just now. I just felt you were very kind, like I’ve seen you somewhere before.” No wonder my stupid brother in my past life was wrapped around her finger. Her tricks came in waves. On stage, she resolutely chose to satisfy a boy’s vanity. If that didn’t work, she’d lower her posture in private and play the emotional card. An ordinary boy would have been easily taken down. Too bad she met the oil-and-salt-proof Star. “Are you a pigeon? Cooing ‘brother’ all the time?” Crystal’s eyes reddened with tears. She bit her lip lightly. “Does Brother Star misunderstand me? Or did you hear someone say bad things about me? Although I grew up poor and everyone looks down on me, I just want to make friends. I don’t want to be lonely.” Star snorted with laughter. “Then you should make friends with girls?” Crystal blurted out, “Girls are too much trouble. I prefer playing with boys. No schemes, comfortable to be around.”

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I was dead last in my class. The System told me the only way to fix my brain and raise my grades was to bind myself to the student ranked #1 and establish “physical intimacy.” So, I became a simp for my toxic childhood friend, Julian. I followed him around like a lost puppy, ignoring his mockery and disgust, doing everything to please him. Then, I got a new desk mate. Liam was a transfer student, already scouted by Ivy Leagues. He was smart, gentle, and his smile looked like the sun. He brought me breakfast every day and patiently taught me how to solve math problems. Julian hated him. He ordered me not to speak to Liam. I obeyed. Until the next mock exam results came out. My new desk mate had dethroned Julian. Liam was the new Number One. (01) The noon heat after the mock exams was suffocating. As I walked up to the classroom to deliver porridge to Julian, I heard the boys laughing inside. Their tone was flippant, stinging my ears. “Did Stella actually go buy medicine?” “Yeah, I just casually mentioned Julian wasn’t feeling well, and she bolted.” “It’s like a hundred degrees out there.” “So what? She’s so obsessed with Julian, if he told her to bark, she’d probably get on all fours.” “Actually,” someone mused, “Stella is pretty cute. She’s got a nice face and a good temper.” Someone jeered, “You like her? Ask Julian to pass her to you.” “Julian, would you miss your little sidekick?” Silence for a few seconds. Then, Julian’s cold, clear voice cut through the air. “Get lost.” He sounded annoyed. The room went quiet, then someone asked hesitantly, “We tricked Stella into thinking you were sick so she’d run errands in this heat… you’re not mad, right?” “Why would I care?” Julian paused, his tone indifferent, dripping with his usual disdain. “If she’s stupid enough to believe whatever people tell her, how is she any different from a pig?” The room erupted in laughter. Someone was even pounding the desk. It was lively inside. I looked down at the porridge and medicine in my hands. Julian has a weak stomach. I’ve seen him pale, vomiting, and weak. That’s why when I heard he wasn’t feeling well and saw him face-down on his desk, I ran to the pharmacy. Turns out, I was being played. I stood there, dazed. (02) I couldn’t go back into the classroom, so I found a shaded spot to sit. I hadn’t eaten lunch, and my stomach was growling. The porridge steamed, smelling savory. It smelled good. I was hungry. I figured since Julian wasn’t actually sick, there was no point going in. I might as well eat it myself. [Julian is such a piece of trash! Can he even speak human?] The System’s voice exploded in my head. It sounded like it had been holding back for a long time, gritting its virtual teeth. [Stella, let’s go in there and slap him! I can’t take this anymore! So what if he’s #1? Unbind! We are not serving him anymore!] I was opening the lid of the porridge. I paused. “Huh? Can we do that? But he’s the top student.” The System: […] It reviewed the records. Julian had indeed been #1 on every single exam. So my binding target had never changed. The System deflated. [Fine. Forget it, Stella. Eat first. Eating is important.] As the warm food filled my stomach, the sadness from the scene upstairs finally hit me, slow and heavy. I was born with slow reactions. My emotional processing is weak. I learn things slowly and forget them quickly. That’s why I’ve always been dead last in the rankings. It’s not that I don’t try. I just don’t have the talent. My stupidity feels innate. Even if I do the same math problem a thousand times, I’ll forget the formula the next time I see it. Julian is different. He’s been #1 since kindergarten. The “neighbor’s kid” everyone compares you to. I used to envy him. How could someone be so smart? Then, in high school, I bound with the “Academic Genius System.” The System told me my intelligence was “locked” by some force. To “unlock” it and improve my grades, I had to be in close contact with the smartest person around. It called it “osmosis.” Before my parents died, their only wish was for me to study hard and get into a good college. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I tried my hardest. But it was useless. With my grades, community college was a stretch. So, even though I knew Julian despised me, I followed him like I did when we were kids. I became his gofer. I agreed to every demand. I ran errands, bought water, held his umbrella. Because he was my target. Julian was cold, sharp-tongued, and arrogant. He was moody. When he was in a bad mood, he’d say things like he did today. He called me dumb, laughed at my IQ, called me a leech. But when he was in a good mood, he’d teach me how to solve a problem. Once, during a storm, I gave him my umbrella and prepared to run home in the rain. He grabbed me and pulled me under the canopy with him. The streetlights cast a warm yellow glow, softening his sharp features. He said, “Stella, are you an idiot? This umbrella is big enough for two.” His body heat traveled through his palm into my arm. We walked side by side in the rain. I didn’t know what “intimacy” the System required, so I just tried to be good to him. It hadn’t worked much before. But that moment under the umbrella, when Julian pulled me close… My heart pounded. I felt like my brain actually cleared up. When I got home, I didn’t forget what I studied. Sure enough, on the next monthly exam, I went up ten spots. Still at the bottom, but not the bottom. I might be slow, but I understand fairness. I don’t actually like Julian. He’s too mean. I approached him to use him for grades. Even though the System said my “borrowing” his intelligence didn’t hurt him, my parents taught me never to take advantage of people for free. So I tried to repay him. And since I couldn’t tell anyone about the System, I had to hide my true motive. That’s why I tolerated his cruelty. But today was different. I went to buy medicine because I was worried about him. When I ran out of the school gates, I wasn’t thinking about him as a target. I thought of him as a friend. I couldn’t watch a friend suffer. When we were kids, he used to look at me with disgust and say, “You’re as dumb as a pig. I don’t make friends with pigs.” So I stayed away. When he shared his umbrella, I thought we were friends again. But it was just me thinking that. I didn’t need the System to tell me. He said those things today because he doesn’t see me as a friend. Julian has never changed. (03) After finishing the porridge, I headed back to the classroom. Most students were napping, but Julian was sitting there, staring into space. He looked annoyed. His brows were furrowed, only relaxing slightly when he saw me. He lowered his voice. “Where did you go?” I told the truth. “I went to buy something.” His brow smoothed out more. He huffed lightly. “Where’s the porridge and medicine?” I looked at him. I really wanted to ask: You weren’t sick, so why are you asking for it? But it felt unnecessary. Compared to the System’s rage, I felt calm. Because I just didn’t care that much anymore. Julian isn’t my friend. No matter how mean he is, I won’t get angry. As long as he’s #1, I’ll keep following him to fix my grades. My reactions are slow. I don’t process hurt quickly. The sadness from earlier had already blown away with the wind. “I ate it,” I said earnestly. “I’ll buy it again next time you actually need it.” He looked stunned. His eyes darkened, and he looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped. As I walked past him, he said stiffly, “Stella, I want breakfast from Golden Lotus Dim Sum tomorrow.” Golden Lotus is a super popular spot. I’d have to wake up at 5 AM to queue. The System was grinding its teeth: [Stella, don’t debase yourself! Let him starve! Buy him breakfast? I say pour boiling water on him! We don’t need him, we’ll become geniuses on our own!] Me: “…” Me, a genius? I didn’t want to crush the System’s spirit, so I comforted it. “It’s okay. I like Golden Lotus too. I can buy some for myself.” When I got to my desk, I saw the desk next to mine was dusty. I took out a wet wipe and cleaned it. Julian turned around, saw this, and sneered. “Doing useless things every day. No wonder you fail every exam. If you spent this time on two math problems, maybe you’d get a pity point.” I didn’t understand why he was mad again. But I just gave a soft “Oh.” The System was furious: [He refuses to sit next to you, but gets mad when someone else does? He’s just jealous because the other guy got scouted by a top university!] I didn’t use to have a desk mate. Liam, the transfer student, arrived this semester. He wore a mask, but his eyes were beautiful. On his first day, he smiled and asked if he could sit next to me. He was smart and gentle. He patiently explained questions and never called me stupid. But he seemed sickly. He always wore a mask, coughed often, and had a raspy voice. I did his cleaning duty once, and he brought me breakfast for a whole week. Liam Xubai. Even his name sounded nice. Julian hated him. Every time he saw me talking to Liam, his face looked stormy. Finally, one day, he ordered me to stay away from Liam. I asked why. Julian said “no reason” and asked if I still wanted to study with him. I had to agree. I tossed and turned all night, not knowing how to tell Liam. It was the first friend I’d made in a long time. Luckily, I didn’t have to be mean. Liam stopped coming to school after that day. The teacher said Liam had secured his college spot and was busy with other things. Liam was a genius on the same level as Julian. Maybe geniuses just naturally repel each other. Julian looked at me, his tone cold but casual. “Stella, about you wanting to be my desk mate… I thought about it. As long as you don’t annoy me, it’s fine. When the rankings come out tomorrow, go tell the teacher to move you next to me.” I didn’t speak. I felt much happier sitting next to Liam than Julian. But Liam wasn’t coming back. Tomorrow, the results would come out, and Julian would still be #1. The college entrance exam (Gaokao) is coming. I have to get into college. I lowered my eyes and gave a soft “Mm.” (04) Results day. I woke up early to queue at Golden Lotus. I walked into school carrying the bags, still half-asleep. The bulletin board had just been updated. Only a few people were there. As I walked over, a voice like a clear spring stream sounded beside me. “Good morning, Stella.” I turned. A tall, bamboo-straight figure stood there. The boy looked down at me with a smile, making even the ugly school uniform look high-fashion. His face was unforgettable. But I felt like I’d never seen him before— Then I met those beautiful eyes. I hesitated. “Liam…?” “Yeah,” he said. “Long time no see.” I was happy. “Did you come back to school?” “Finished my business,” he said nonchalantly, stopping beside me. His smile was bright, like a summer breeze. “So I came back a couple of days ago to take the exam.” The crowd around the bulletin board grew loud. “Holy crap!” Someone screamed. “The #1 spot isn’t Julian anymore! Who is Liam Xubai?!” “718 points? Is he human? He beat Julian by like twenty points…” “Liam? The transfer student? I think I saw him during the test.” “Three years, and Julian finally lost the top spot!” The noise grew louder. My eyes grew wider. I looked at the handsome youth standing before me, stunned. “You’re the Class Rank One?” [OH MY GOD!!! STELLA!! We don’t have to look at Julian’s stank face anymore!!] The System screamed in my brain. [Switch binding! Switch binding! Processing now!!] I stared at Liam blankly. “If there isn’t someone else with my name, then I guess so,” Liam said casually, changing the subject. “It’s still early. Want to go to the cafeteria for breakfast?” Breakfast. I looked down instantly at the shrimp dumplings and scallop porridge in my hand. The aroma was amazing. Better than the cafeteria. “Do you eat this?” Without hesitation, I held up the plastic bag. “Here. Let’s eat together.” “Really?” He looked surprised, then his eyes curved into crescents. “Then I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow. Deal?” Julian had never said anything like that to me. He never brought me breakfast. I didn’t know how to react, but something deep inside me cracked open, and a warm feeling sprouted from the fissure, spreading through my limbs. The System eagerly displayed a holographic screen: [Please confirm switch. Target Julian Xu changed to Target Liam Xubai.] In my heart, I whispered: “Confirm.” It was done. I looked at Liam, pursed my lips, and smiled. “Mm!” “Stella.” A familiar voice rang out. I turned. A group of boys stood behind me—the same ones who were laughing yesterday. In the center, Julian stood with a face dark as thunder. He must have been watching for a while. He stared at the breakfast I was handing to Liam. He pulled the corners of his mouth into a sneer and commanded, “Come here.” In the past, I did whatever he asked. Even when I didn’t want to. But Julian never cared about what I wanted. I shook my head. “I’m going to eat breakfast.” Julian looked incredulous. It was like he couldn’t process me rejecting him. But quickly, he reverted to form. Looking down at me, his voice cold and threatening, “Stella. I won’t say it a second time.” Last time he used this tone, he ignored me for two weeks and threw all my gifts in the trash. He knows I’ve always been afraid of him ignoring me. It always works. People were watching. I swallowed my words, turned my back to him, and looked at Liam. “Let’s go.” In that moment, the certainty in Julian’s eyes shattered. He instinctively took a step forward, like he wanted to grab me. But he stopped. He looked at me for a few seconds, then turned and walked away without a word.

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