When the parents of the Male Lead came to the orphanage to adopt, they had a choice. Between the chatty, golden-retriever-energy Female Lead and the quiet, reserved me. They chose me. Suddenly, floating text—like a live stream chat—drifted across my vision. [They picked the mute, fragile side character because she seems easier? Little do they know the Heroine is the only one who can truly save the Male Lead!] [The Male Lead is actually a snake-shifter. He was hurt by humans as a kid, so he became dark and withdrawn. Doesn’t even speak.] [This side character is useless. She tried to suck up to him, but the moment she saw his true form, she cried like a baby.] [Just wait. Once the parents return her for being defective, our cute, chatty Heroine will take the stage!] Snake? I am terrified of snakes. Urged by his parents, the Male Lead hugged me with a blank expression. I was trembling so hard I blurted out, “N-no…” His eyes suddenly lit up. He put on a heartbroken act. “Do you hate me too? Figures. Once people see what I really am, no one likes me…” I squeezed my eyes shut and hugged him back, shaking. “N-no, I… I really like Big Brother.” The floating chat exploded. [Why isn’t he acting all depressed and emo?] [OMG the side character baby is so scared it’s cute! She was literally frightened into speaking!] [The Male Lead has said more words in the last minute than in his entire life just to coax her into talking.] 1 When the prospective parents came to the orphanage, I was quietly massaging the Director’s back. At the Director’s signal, I poured two cups of hot tea and handed them over. Before they could speak, I shyly hid behind the Director. The Mom’s eyes lit up. She started hitting the Dad’s shoulder excitedly. “She’s so good! So well-behaved! This is exactly the daughter I imagined!” The Dad patted her hand soothingly. “Okay, okay, I know. But we have to ask her first.” He looked at me kindly. “Sweetie, how old are you?” My face turned red, and I twisted the hem of my shirt helplessly. The Mom started hitting the Dad again, suppressing a squeal. “So cute~” The Director stepped in to save me. “To be honest, Penny is a good child. Everyone here loves her. It’s just… she can’t speak.” The parents looked at each other, surprised. My heart sank. I lowered my head. Many people had wanted to adopt me before. But once they found out I was mute, they all gave up. This time would be the same. Just then, a commotion erupted in the hallway. The door banged open. A teacher rushed in, trying to catch a girl with twin ponytails. “Mia! You little rascal! Give Charlie his hearing aid back!” The girl stuck out her tongue and grinned. “Hi Auntie, hi Uncle, hi Director!” Then she zoomed off again. Rows of text floated across my vision. [Our cute little demon spawn Heroine is here!] [The parents still prefer the quiet mute girl, but the Heroine is the real soulmate who can save the Male Lead.] [The Heroine gets the Male Lead to talk using just a stinky sock! The parents were so happy.] [Hurry up and ditch the useless side character! Take our baby Heroine home!] Reading the text, a sour feeling spread in my chest. These “comments” started appearing about two weeks ago. I was slowly understanding what they meant. Apparently, I was in a story where everyone loved the main character, and I was just cannon fodder. The comments loved comparing me to Mia. Using her liveliness to highlight my dullness. The Director spoke up. “If your son is withdrawn, it might be better to choose a livelier girl to keep him company. I worry Penny might not meet your expectations.” The parents fell silent. I stared at my toes. I was used to this. The Director was just worried I’d be returned if I didn’t fit in, which would only hurt more. The parents huddled together and whispered. Then the Mom made a decision. “So what if she can’t speak? My son doesn’t speak either.” “Exactly. Like father, like son. If we like Penny this much, our son won’t be too bad.” “Worst case, the whole family learns sign language! It’s a new skill!” The Director paused, a look of relief in his eyes. He bent down to look at me, smiling kindly. “So, Penny, would you like to go home with this Auntie and Uncle?” The parents looked nervous. I looked at them, eyes red, and nodded. 2 As soon as we got in the car, Mom hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Yay! I finally have a daughter!” Dad chuckled as he drove. “Hehe, finally don’t have to stare at that bratty son all day.” My face burned. I didn’t dare look at them. Mom… smelled so good. Their house was huge. Beautiful. The housekeeper had a table full of food ready. It was still steaming when we arrived. Sitting at the table was a boy in a white shirt. His features were as exquisite as a painting. Mom and Dad happily pulled me forward to introduce us. The boy glanced at me indifferently, then stood up without a word and went upstairs. The floating text got lively. [The Male Lead is definitely disappointed. The side character is nothing like the sister he wanted.] [He wanted a cute, bubbly girl like Chibi Maruko-chan.] [This girl is too gloomy. She looks like she’s scheming.] [The parents are busy and don’t have time for him. The house is already cold enough.] [Finally gets a sister, and she’s a mute. Of course he’s disappointed.] I froze. My chest felt tight, my eyes stung. It… it’s okay… Afraid of crying and upsetting Mom and Dad, I held it back desperately. It’s normal for a brother to want a better sister… I understand. Mom patted my head apologetically. “Brother has always been shy. Don’t mind him, Penny. It’ll be better once you get to know each other.” Dad said angrily, “So rude. I’ll teach him a lesson later. Penny, are you hungry? Let’s eat first.” Mom added, “Yeah, look, are there any dishes you like?” I looked up and forced a smile at them. Mom and Dad were really gentle… Even if I get sent back later, I want to cherish every day with them. 3 Even though my new brother disliked me, the food was amazing. How could every single dish be so delicious?! I was timid at first, only taking small bites of the dishes and shoveling rice. But Mom and Dad kept putting food in my bowl. “Honey, look at Penny eat. Like a little hamster. So cute.” “I know, right? Watching her makes me hungry.” “Hehe, I’m gonna take a picture and send it to that brat. Make him jealous.” “I’m posting it to the family group chat to make everyone envious!” Thinking I might be sent back tomorrow and never eat this well again… I fought back the sadness, grabbed a drumstick in one hand and a spoon in the other, and went to town! That night, lying in the soft, fragrant bed. I burped happily. Just as I was drifting off, I opened my eyes. In the moonlight, I saw a small black snake on my pillow. It lifted its head, looking at me curiously. My face went pale. I hid under the covers, shaking. Text floated by. [Hehe, is the Male Lead trying to scare her away?] [His true form is a snake. Humans hurt him when he was little, so he became dark and mute.] [This side character is useless. Wanted to suck up to him but cried as soon as she saw the snake.] [If the Heroine hadn’t been picked by that infertile couple two days ago, the side character wouldn’t even be here.] [It’s okay. Once she gets returned, our chaotic demon king Heroine will take her place! Hahaha~] I shook even harder. The text meant— This… this snake… Is my brother? Director Grandpa, I want to go home!!! 4 At breakfast. I was on pins and needles. But I didn’t see my brother the whole time. My nerves finally relaxed. I racked my brain trying to avoid him. Even going to the bathroom was a stealth mission. I held it until I couldn’t anymore. First, I’d crack the door open. Check for “brother” activity. Then tiptoe out. Done. Sprint back to my room. Lying in bed, I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. Safe. Didn’t see the snake. To stop him from slithering under the door, I blocked the gap with books before bed. Windows locked tight. I played it safe for days and didn’t see him. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But living under the same roof, this couldn’t last. Sure enough, two days later, Mom and Dad brought him to me. To show family unity, they almost forced him to hug me. My face turned red, but I couldn’t refuse. I couldn’t speak, and I didn’t want to make them sad. Mom and Dad stood at the bottom of the stairs, beaming with expectation. Urged by them, my brother walked up the stairs expressionlessly, bent down, and opened his arms. I was shaking, so scared I blurted out, “N-no…” His eyes suddenly lit up. Like he found something interesting. He studied me for a long time. Then he leaned in and whispered. His voice was raspy, like he hadn’t used it in ages. “You can talk?” I clamped my mouth shut and shook my head frantically. He looked at me, a strange light in his eyes. The chat was shocked. [I’m more surprised than the Male Lead. She can talk?] [Why didn’t she speak before?] [Did you guys forget? She could always talk. She just had psychological trauma.] [Her mom had her out of wedlock, then remarried. Hid her in the basement so the new husband wouldn’t know. Forbade her to make a sound.] [One time she got scared by a rat and cried. The husband found out and dumped the mom.] [The mom blamed her, said she ruined her happiness, and dumped her at the orphanage.] [Since then, she never spoke. She thought her mom abandoned her because she made noise.] [She’s a pitiful baby too.] Reading the text, I lowered my head. Nose stinging, eyes burning. But I held it in.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386733”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The System told me to redeem the villain, but I set my time travel coordinates to the year before the villain was even a fetus. The System was dumbfounded, then it clicked: “Oh, you’re planning to adopt the villain later and give him a complete, happy childhood, right?” I shook my head, looking gently at the little girl squatting on the ground, shivering in the cold. “No, I’m here to save the villain’s mom.” 01 “True,” the System mused. “Instead of trying to conquer the villain with romance, it’s better to influence him with familial love so he doesn’t grow up twisted… Wait, what did you say? You want to save the villain’s mom?!” The System panicked and tried to stop me. “Host, are you confused? If the villain isn’t redeemed, you’ll be erased!” I chuckled lightly. “System, are you stupid? What’s the main reason the villain goes bad? Being abandoned by his mother. “And why was he abandoned? Because his mother’s life was miserable. “So, if I save the villain’s mom, and she raises him with a healthy mindset, won’t he turn out just fine?” The System crashed after my barrage of questions. It took a while for its slow little brain to reboot. “That… actually makes sense.” I wagged a finger at it. “So don’t question a boss lady again, okay?” The System nodded dumbly, and I turned my attention back to the little girl in front of me. It was a freezing December, and she was curled up outside the door in thin clothes, shivering like a little quail. Red blotches covered her exposed forearms. Sensing my gaze, she looked up with a cold, guarded stare. Then she quickly looked down again. That look was exactly why her biological parents didn’t like her. Well, that and the fact she was missing a certain appendage. I stepped past her, grabbed the heavy knocker on the wooden door, and banged it hard. “Who is it? Who’s banging on the door this early?” A middle-aged woman in a red padded jacket came out, cursing. She looked me up and down, her eyes filled with disdain and hidden jealousy. “Who are you?” I cut to the chase and threw an IOU at her. “You’re Hank’s wife, right? Hank owes me two hundred bucks. I can’t find him, so you pay up. Or I’ll tell everyone in town about your husband visiting hookers and skipping out on debts.” The woman picked up the note and panicked. “Liar! My husband isn’t like that! You seductresses must have seduced him! I knew it just by looking at you…” Before she could finish, I impatiently picked up a wrist-thick wooden stick from the ground and snapped it in half right in front of her. “Pay your debts. It’s the law of the universe. Pay up or else.” I flashed a smile, showing all eight teeth. The woman was scared silly, her arrogance gone. She smiled fawningly. “It’s not that I don’t want to pay, we really don’t have the money. Maybe wait until my husband comes back…” I frowned. The woman shut up immediately. My gaze swept around the small courtyard, finally landing on the little girl squatting by the door, secretly peeking at me. “Then give me your girl to clear the debt. She’s young, but she looks okay.” The woman froze, looking from me to the broken stick at my feet. Ten minutes later, the little girl was trudging behind me, one shallow step after another. 02 It wasn’t until we got into the taxi heading to the city that the little girl spoke in a muffled voice. “You’re a trafficker, aren’t you? Where are you selling me?” I was surprised. “Why would you think that? I’m your family’s creditor.” The little girl shook her head. “My mom can’t read, but I can. The paper you threw at her was a supermarket receipt.” I asked the System in my head. “Did the villain’s mom ever go to school?” The System confirmed and gave me a brief recap of her life. “Helped with farm work until she was sixteen. Ran away to the city to avoid marrying a rich old man. Worked odd jobs, tricked a rich CEO into sleeping with her, got pregnant with the villain. Later, the CEO’s first love returned from abroad. The villain’s mom couldn’t win against the first love and was driven to death by the CEO. She’s also a cannon fodder villainess.” I shook my head, tsking. “They’re all villainous supporting characters. Why does the System only redeem male villains and not female ones? If you gender-swapped this character, he’d be a dark, tragic, sympathetic boy. In the end, she just lacks a certain part.” Seeing I wasn’t talking, the little girl tugged at my sleeve. When I looked over, she immediately pulled her hand back, as if afraid of dirtying my clothes. “Can you sell me to the city? I look okay. I’ll fetch a good price there.” The driver in the front kept glancing back in the rearview mirror. I face-palmed and quickly explained: “I’m not a trafficker. I’m just a poor mother who recently lost her daughter. So I want to adopt you.” Well, I was a mom in the last mission world. Since I left that world, it counts as losing a daughter, right? The little girl stopped talking. She lowered her head like a dirty kitten. Seemingly defenseless, but tense all over, ready to explode at any moment. I recalled my parenting experience and reached out to hold her red, cold little hand. Only then did I realize how rough her hand was, covered in calluses. Meeting her whites-showing eyes, I took off my coat and draped it over her. She instinctively tried to take it off. I stopped her. “You won’t sell for a good price if you freeze.” She froze and stopped moving, wrapping herself tightly in the down jacket, only her fuzzy head showing. My heart suddenly softened. “Don’t worry, I don’t have a son. I won’t sell you for a dowry later.” 03 My identity in this world was a fake heiress who had just jumped into a river after finding out the truth. She died, so I borrowed her identity. When I walked into the villa with the little girl, a voice was still trying to persuade the real heiress. “Although she’s not related by blood, the years of affection are real. And although Julian was originally your fiancé, Ann has been with him for so long. How can we just give him to you?” “I don’t want to hear it! If not for her, why would I have suffered for so many years! Now you’re taking her side! I hate you, I hate you!” Their argument stopped abruptly when I walked in with Yuen. Yuen was the name I gave the little girl on the way, taking my surname, flower. Full name: Flora Yuen. The real heiress, Flora Ran, turned her head away, refusing to look at me. Mother Flora asked gently. “Ann, who is this?” “My adopted daughter, Flora Yuen. Yuen, say hello to your grandma and auntie.” With the System’s help, Yuen, who had just been registered, finally stopped suspecting I was a trafficker. Right now, she greeted the two stunned people obediently. “Hello Grandma, hello Auntie.” Mother Flora reacted first. “Wait, Ann, what did you say? Your adopted daughter? Registered? Why didn’t you discuss such a big thing with the family? And your fiancé Julian, how could he accept this!” Flora Ran focused on: “Why should she call me Auntie? I don’t want to be your sister!” Before I could speak, Yuen instinctively stepped in front of me. She hunched slightly, arms tense, like a mother leopard protecting her cub. I paused, then reached out and held her small hand. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain after Yuen settles in. As for Julian, I’ll break off the engagement.” Mother Flora got anxious. “Are you worried your dad and I won’t want you after Ran came back? Don’t worry, you’ll always be our daughter.” Flora Ran rolled her eyes. “Here we go again. Playing hard to get, huh? Stupid green tea b*tch.” I shook my head and pulled Yuen upstairs. Dropping a bombshell on them along the way. “I got sterilized. I plan to stay single and raise Yuen. Tell Julian to give up.” With that, I silently pulled Yuen out of their sight, leaving them in the wind, savoring the words “sterilized.” 04 Back in the room, I collapsed on the bed. The System was still yammering. “Host, when did you get sterilized? Why didn’t I know! Aren’t we together 24/7!” I rolled my eyes. “System, are you stupid? If I didn’t say that, how could the real heiress let her guard down? “Instead of playing happy sisters, giving up inheritance rights is much more effective for her.” System: “Oh, right.” I suddenly remembered something and turned my head. Sure enough, a certain little dumpling was still standing stiffly at the door. On the way here, I bought her new clothes and took her to a salon for a hair wash. The stylist gave her two little buns. She looked like a doll from a New Year painting. I waved at her. Yuen slowly shuffled over. “Are you going to get kicked out?” I pulled her onto the bed and asked, “Why do you think that?” She whispered, “Because you’re not their real daughter.” I looked at Yuen’s pointed chin. Good, this kid is smart. No homework tutoring needed. I didn’t explain immediately, just followed her logic. “So what if we get kicked out and have no money?” She said seriously, “Then I’ll farm to support you. I’m good at farming. I can make compost, sow seeds, and weed. I planted the cornfield behind my house.” Her head lowered further. “As long as you don’t send me back.” I finally knew where all the calluses on her hands came from. My heart soured. I hugged her, letting her small, pointed chin rest on my broad shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t send you away. Not in this lifetime.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386732”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On the day my boyfriend of seven years proposed to me. Just as I was about to say yes, rows of floating text—livestream comments—suddenly appeared in front of my eyes. [LMAO, the side character is actually crying. Does she really think the Second Male Lead is going to marry her?] [Doesn’t she know he’s only proposing because he’s drunk and mistook her for the Heroine?] I pretended not to see them, nodding my agreement through tears. Afterward, some busybody told me the “truth.” Everyone was certain I would throw a fit. But not only did I not make a scene, I magnanimously forgave Liam. They didn’t know I was a “Strategy Gamer.” As long as the Second Male Lead proposed to me, my mission was complete. Three days later, the System confirmed with me: [Mission Complete. Initiate world exit?] I lay in the bathtub, smiling with relief: [Yes.] 1 Looking at the barrage of comments floating in the air, I froze for a moment. Subconsciously, I contacted the System. After running a diagnostic, it told me: [There’s a slight glitch. I’ve already submitted a ticket.] I nodded. In front of me, Liam stared blankly, asking again: “Evelyn, will you marry me? “Please, marry me, okay?” He was obviously a little drunk. Everyone’s eyes were on me. Like they were watching a play. It was clear they all knew Liam had mistaken me for someone else. I still nodded. Liam looked at me affectionately and slid the ring onto my finger. But the next second, someone in the crowd said: “Liam, you got the wrong girl. That’s Evelyn.” Liam froze. His gaze landed on my face. Instantly, his expression stiffened. “Why is it you?” A flash of regret passed through his eyes. A few busybodies next to me explained: “Sorry, Evelyn, Liam made a mistake. “He thought you were Sophia.” Everyone was waiting for my reaction. Expecting me to break down crying the next second, or start a huge fight with Liam. After all, who could tolerate their boyfriend of seven years doing something like this? Liam even chimed in: “I drank too much.” I twitched the corner of my mouth. Only after hearing the System announce the mission’s success did I speak: “It’s okay.” I simply asked the System: [Can I leave now?] It paused: **[Of course. [In seven days, you can return to your own world. [Are you sure you want to leave everything here behind and choose to exit this world?]** I gave an affirmative hum. [Yes.] [Okay. Due to the glitch troubleshooting, the departure time will be in seven days.] I nodded. It just so happened I still had some things to take care of in this world. 2 While the atmosphere was tense, Sophia’s voice emerged. “Why is it so quiet? “Is Evelyn here? Did the proposal work?” Her gaze landed on Liam and me. “I just mistook her for someone else.” When Sophia walked out, Liam instinctively explained. As if he was worried I would take this proposal seriously. I didn’t speak. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, others started to smooth things over. “Come on, come on, let’s keep the party going.” Only I stood rooted to the spot. Sophia looked at me with an apologetic smile: “Evelyn, I’m so sorry. He was holding a diamond ring and saying he wanted to propose. “I thought he was looking for you, so I called you. “You’re not mad, are you?” Yeah, I rushed over here because I got a call from Sophia. … Liam sat to the side, drinking the hangover remedy brought by a waiter. Hearing this sentence. He just said faintly: “It’s fine.” Consider it him bailing Sophia out. 3 Ever since Sophia returned from abroad seven days ago, Liam had barely come home. At first, he just lied about working overtime. Even when he was home, one call from Sophia and he would immediately drop me and leave. Later, I saw his messages with Sophia and learned everything. That day I got angry and made a scene. Liam just coldly left me with one sentence: “You should know your place.” Then he slammed the door and left amidst my confusion. He didn’t come back after that. Until this morning. Sophia updated her Instagram: [People who are loved don’t have to shell their own walnuts.] The picture showed the background of Liam’s office, and she was holding a jar of shelled walnut kernels. It was the jar I had peeled for Liam a while ago, worried that working too much overtime was bad for his health. I stared blankly for a long time. Looking at my scarred hands. I finally saw this relationship clearly. The Heroine will always be the Heroine. Even though I stayed by Liam’s side for seven years, it couldn’t compare to the seven days she had been back. … I came to this world after a car accident. The System told me my mission was to redeem the Second Male Lead. But when I approached Liam, he was cold and detested me. Back then, he wore a faded T-shirt, his bangs slightly covering his eyebrows. Since he wasn’t willing, I gave up. Even though the System told me if I gave up, I wouldn’t be able to return to my own world, it didn’t matter. I was an orphan anyway; it was the same wherever I was. But later, I became Liam’s junior in college. When he was drugged, I was the one who took him to the hospital. That day, Liam actively pursued me. I agreed immediately. Two people who weren’t living great lives coming together seemed to give life a taste of happiness. When I worked part-time during holidays, Liam got off work earlier than me and stood at the door to pick me up. The year we graduated college, he started a business, and I accompanied him. Just like that, I followed him for seven years. Even though I knew he was the devoted Second Male Lead, I firmly believed everyone had a past. The Heroine had also gotten her happy ending with the Male Lead. 4 And right now, Sophia sat next to Liam, speaking in a delicate voice: “Evelyn, that jar of walnuts in Liam’s office was pretty good. Where did you buy it?” Seeing Sophia’s interest, Liam’s gaze also fell on me. He was mostly sober now and hadn’t explained what just happened to me. He seemed to be waiting for my answer. After a long time, I calmed the emotions in my heart and looked at Liam. “The shop on 2nd Street in Southtown. “Since there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first.” With that, I prepared to turn and leave. Sophia’s friend called out to stop me. “Evelyn, that ring on your hand was handmade by Mr. Xie. Please take it off. “I mean, Mr. Xie only proposed and gave it to you because he mistook you for Sophia. Obviously, the owner isn’t you.” My fingernails dug deep into my palm. Enduring the pain in my heart, I smiled. “Of course.” With that, under Liam’s gaze, I took off the ring without hesitation. I casually tossed it into the decorative fountain behind me. I strode away without looking back. The floating comments in front of my eyes were still jumping: [The side character is mad, right?] [Honestly, anyone would be mad. She’s been with the Second Male Lead for seven years. Seven years, a heart that won’t warm up isn’t worth warming up anymore.] [Finally a normal person. I also want to say, is the author’s moral compass really okay? Since the Second Male Lead hadn’t cleared his heart, why pursue the side character?] 5 After getting home, someone anonymously sent me a video. Opening it, I heard the voices of Liam and his best friend. “Bro, Sophia went to the bathroom, no one else is here. Talk to me. Evelyn said yes, why didn’t you just roll with it? Why explain immediately and embarrass her? “She’s waited for you for seven years. In a few more years she’ll be thirty. She’s not getting any younger. “Tell me the truth, when do you plan to marry Evelyn?” In the video, Liam swirled his wine glass and thought for a moment: “Never.” Everyone went silent. After a long time, he continued: “If I hadn’t been drunk and mistaken her for Sophia this time, there is no way I would have proposed to her.” … After the voice stopped. I subconsciously looked up and saw myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror, face covered in tear streaks. Tears can fall without you realizing it. These words were cruel to the extreme, every word punishing the heart. Like mocking how cheap my seven years of emotional investment were. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, from twenty to twenty-seven, in the best years of my youth, how could I not have loved him? And I also discovered that when I cry, I look somewhat similar to Sophia. I finally understood Liam’s words: “You should know your place.” So that’s what it meant. He treated me as the Heroine’s substitute.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386731”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My cousin Sophie is going to Paris to study ballet. My mom asked me for $10,000. I sent her a screenshot of my bank account balance—$10,000.20. Not a penny more. Five seconds later, her message popped up: [Keep twenty dollars for food. Send the rest.] 1 Before my finger could even touch the screen, another message from Mom jumped out: “By the way, when are you coming home? I’ll make that coconut chicken soup you like.” “My CD matures next month. I’ll pay you back every cent then.” Go home? I actually went home yesterday. A high school friend got married in our hometown, and I specifically told my mom last week that I’d stay the night after the reception and head back to New York the next morning. She agreed enthusiastically over the phone, promising to leave the door unlocked for me. But when I got to the door, it was deadbolted. Just as I was about to knock, Mom’s voice drifted out: “I’ll ask your sister for the money tonight when she gets off work. You just focus on signing up for that ballet intensive.” “Auntie, will Jojo agree? It’s ten grand, after all. And you haven’t paid her back for the last loan yet.” “Why wouldn’t she? She’s got a soft heart.” Mom let out a light laugh, tinged with disdain. “You know she’s plain-looking and has a bad temper. If she wasn’t pulling in $80,000 a year now, do you think I’d even bother with her?” Sophie whined, “But you bought her an iPhone right after graduation and gave her money.” Mom’s voice shot up: “Silly girl, if I hadn’t waited on her hand and foot after graduation, coaxing her, do you think she would have chosen computer science? Remember Mrs. Wang’s son? He went to a state school and is making over $50k. You’ve been out of school for a while now; have you calculated how much I’ve spent on networking for you?” Mom’s tone softened into pure doting: “You! You’ve nearly spent my coffin money. If I hadn’t had the foresight to make Jojo subsidize the bulk of it, how would you be living this good life?” Sophie cheered: “Auntie, I knew you loved me more than my own mom! When I go back to LA this time, come with me. I’ll take you sightseeing!” “Alright! My Sophie is so thoughtful!” I had drunk some wine at the wedding, and my stomach was churning. I wanted to throw up but couldn’t. My first reaction was actually gratitude that I never paid to replace this thin, non-soundproof door. I drove back to New York overnight. 2 Mom kept blowing up my phone, so I turned it off and slept. Early the next morning, I went into the office. In this world, the only person who won’t betray you is yourself. When it rains, it pours. At 10:30, my stomach started cramping violently. My phone vibrated. Mom’s WeChat messages were like a death warrant. “Why aren’t you replying? What are you doing?” “When can you send that $10,000 we talked about yesterday?” … I replied: “Stomach hurts. Talk later.” “Why does your stomach hurt again? I tell you to cook at home every day, but you insist on eating takeout. Of course your stomach hurts!” I didn’t bother replying. Do I look like I have time to cook when I’m working overtime every day??? Her kind of “concern”—all talk, no effort, just to earn the reputation of a caring mother—was laughable. I was the fool for not seeing through her tricks earlier. “Jojo, you’re white as a sheet.” Wendy brought me a coffee. “Did you eat something bad?” I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound through the pain. I waved my hand. She grabbed me: “Don’t be stubborn. I’m taking you to the ER.” The lights in the emergency room were blinding. When the nurse handed me the report, her eyes held a trace of pity: “Suspected malignancy. We recommend a biopsy for further pathology.” I stared at the line on the report, suddenly feeling the absurdity of life. Just last night, I was calculating that a few more years at this company would get me a down payment to move out of my cramped rental. I was planning to stop giving Mom money, travel abroad, eat good food, wear nice clothes, and love only myself for the rest of my life. And now, fate hit me with a sledgehammer. 3 It was late when I got home. Wendy comforted me the whole time and helped me apply for a day off to rest before dealing with the next steps. My mind was a mess, and of course, Mom sent another voice message. I declined it: “Busy.” “Busy with what? Did you take what I said seriously? Your sister’s tuition is due the day after tomorrow. Any later and it’ll be too late.” “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back.” Heh. Believing she’d pay me back was like believing the sun rises in the west. The empty promises she’d made over the years could fill a warehouse. “Wait for Dad’s paycheck, I’ll buy you a new backpack.” “After Sophie’s performance, I’ll use the leftover money to buy you a dress.” “Mom will keep your Red Envelope money safe and add some more to give back to you later.” … It all turned into bubbles. 4 I took a deep breath and called her: “Mom, I really want to ask you, have you ever genuinely treated me as your daughter? I’ve always been curious why you’ve disliked me since I was little.” Mom sounded confused: “Why are you asking this all of a sudden? You’re overthinking again. Stop talking nonsense, when is the money…” My tears started falling. I took a picture of the medical report and sent it: “I’m sick. I need this money for treatment. You guys figure something else out. If you have any money left, lend me some.” Mom immediately sent a voice message: “Stop joking, Jojo. Don’t learn those trashy pranks from the internet. Joking about illness is bad luck. Your sister is so close to making it. After this intensive, she’ll definitely become a principal dancer! When she starts making money, she won’t forget you…” Suddenly, I didn’t want to hold back anymore. I grabbed the phone and said weakly: “Do I owe you anything? If she wants money, tell her to sell her blood or a kidney!! Don’t come to me!” I turned off my phone. I hid under the covers and cried my eyes out. Then I told myself, quietly: That’s it. This is the last time I cry for people who aren’t worth it.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386730”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

While filming a reality show, I made instant noodles for my sister. She immediately called me out, claiming I made it wrong. “Mom always puts two eggs in when she makes noodles,” she insisted. I stared at her. I have never in my life eaten instant noodles with eggs in them. Right there on set, we called our mother. Mom admitted it. “It’s just a small thing. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? You’re being so petty.” That day, a discussion thread quietly climbed the trending topics. The title: [Turns out hearts really are crooked; parents never love equally.] 1 When I called Mom, I was still convinced my sister, Bella, was remembering wrong. Growing up, we were poor. Instant noodles were a luxury, reserved only for birthdays. I remembered clearly: there were no eggs in the noodles. Bella wasn’t backing down. “There were! Mom always poached two eggs at the bottom of the bowl. You just forgot.” Since the show was live-streamed, the comments were buzzing, placing bets on who was right. The call connected quickly. Bella, always the fast talker, blurted out the situation immediately. Silence on the other end. Then, Mom admitted it. “Yes, I always put two eggs in for Bella.” Seeing Mom admit it, Bella looked triumphant. My heart sank to the bottom of an icy lake. I asked, “Then Mom, why did I never get any eggs growing up?” Mom’s tone was dismissive, even accusatory. “It’s just two eggs. Why are you so petty, holding a grudge against your sister over something so small?” I lowered my eyes and said nothing. I wasn’t grudging two eggs. I wanted to know why she had them, and I didn’t. Bella realized something was off and stopped smiling. On the phone, Mom was still laughing. “Anna, you’re not seriously mad about two eggs, are you? Fine, fine, stop fussing. Next time you come home, I’ll boil ten eggs just for you.” She attributed my silence to missing out on eggs. I knew if I argued further, Mom would dig in her heels and get angry, probably asking if I’d be happy only if my sister dropped dead. Often, I’m not trying to win an argument. I just want fairness. 2 We were still live, so I didn’t dare listen to what else Mom might say. I hung up. The viewer count spiked. [Anna’s mom totally missed the point. She doesn’t even think she did anything wrong.] [Kinda feel bad for Anna. Her parents don’t seem to treat her very well.] [If they actually cared, they wouldn’t have let Anna enter the entertainment industry at fifteen. Look at her sister, studying abroad since she was a kid.] [Hilarious. A bunch of maids feeling sorry for the princess.] [Here we go again. Everyone knows Anna has bad grades. She didn’t even finish high school.] More viewers meant more varied opinions. The production team quickly started moderating the comments and asked me if I wanted to control the narrative. “It’s fine. Any publicity is good publicity,” I said. I didn’t care if people cursed me out. The director looked at me with some hesitation and told me the plan for tomorrow. “The production team saw the traction on the ‘family trauma’ topic. We want to hold a roundtable discussion tomorrow about toxic families. Anna, can you participate?” I nodded. My background wasn’t a secret in the industry, but few knew the details. I was born in a poverty-stricken mountain region. It was so poor there wasn’t even a proper school. That’s why I never finished my mandatory education. Later, a photo of me went viral, and I stumbled into show business. My parents used the money I earned to send my sister abroad for school. They always said I was “sensible,” that I could earn money early so they didn’t have to worry about me. In reality, I wasn’t sensible by choice; I was forced to be. We were poor, so they went to the city to work. They said city life was expensive, so they had to leave me in the village. I never resented them for that. But later, when they had my sister, they kept her with them. I asked why. Didn’t they say it was too expensive in the city? Why could they take Bella? They said I was the older sister, I had to be understanding. Bella was young; she couldn’t be without Mom and Dad. They felt sorry for Bella being small. When haters mocked me for being uneducated, my parents desperately sent Bella to study abroad to get a good degree. I comforted myself over and over. I am the older sister. I need to be understanding. Mom and Dad don’t not love me; it’s just that when I was little, the conditions weren’t right. But today, hearing Bella say her noodles always had two eggs… The lie popped like a soap bubble. 3 At 1:30 PM, the livestream started on time. Bella arrived promptly. Several industry veterans were also participating. Bella was outgoing and knew how to charm the elders. Completely different from me. When I entered the industry, I was like a little mushroom growing in a dark corner. I couldn’t even speak standard Mandarin properly, let alone flatter people. “Juilliard? That’s impressive,” said Kyle, a famous music producer. “Anna, your sister is amazing.” I nodded with a smile. Bella was indeed amazing. Unlike me, she sparkled. [Juilliard? I just googled it. Number one music school in the world. Insane.] [More than that. Kyle tried to get in back in the day and failed. They only take geniuses among geniuses.] [Anna and her sister are opposites. One is an illiterate dropout, the other is an academic elite.] The chat quickly dug up details on Bella’s school. Bella tried to pull me into the conversation. I shook my head, not feeling like talking. The host arrived with the topic for the afternoon discussion. Theme: What is the best gift your parents ever gave you? Bella spoke first. She didn’t seem to care about anyone’s gaze, always confident. The kind of high-energy sunshine girl everyone loves. You could tell she grew up surrounded by love. I looked at her with envy. Bella talked for a long time. Most of it I knew, some I didn’t. She said: “All the family properties are in my name. Since I was born, they bought an insurance policy for me. Once I turn 25, I get $8,000 a month.” She smiled slyly, eyes twinkling. “Mom said, no matter how bad inflation gets, even when I’m eighty, I’ll still get the money they saved for me. I can tell everyone enviously watching, ‘This is the candy my mom and dad bought me.’” The chat flew by: [So jealous. Am I the only one finding out about this insurance now?] [Don’t be jealous. That policy costs like $30k a year. You have to pay from birth until 25.] [Aren’t Anna and Bella sisters? Didn’t she say her family was poor? How did her sister have this insurance since birth?] Some people on set who knew my background glanced at me, their looks ranging from curious to knowing. The host threw the question to me. “Anna and Bella are sisters. Did you know about this insurance?” They thought my “poor family” story was just a persona. They wanted to dig up dirt. I said, “Ah,” looking embarrassed. “I don’t think I have that insurance.” If I did, I wouldn’t have dropped out of school because of poverty. The atmosphere stiffened. The host changed the subject. “Anna, can you tell us what the best gift your parents gave you was?” “Probably… a silver bracelet.” I unconsciously twisted the bracelet on my wrist. I had worn it since my debut. It was my thirteenth birthday present. In middle school, silver bracelets were trendy. Most girls got them from their moms. They said wearing silver was good for your health. I wanted one too. So, I carefully asked Mom. Mom was still working out of town then. She was impatient. She said silver was expensive and told me to be sensible. But on my thirteenth birthday, I received a silver bracelet. I thought Mom was just tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Later, Mom let it slip. The bracelet appeared because… Bella wanted a silver bracelet, got one, wore it for a few days, and didn’t want it anymore. She thought it was tacky and ugly. So it ended up on my wrist. I was angry when I found out. Mom just laughed it off, telling me not to be so petty. The matter was dropped, and no one mentioned it again. I thought I had forgotten these things. I didn’t expect a few questions to bring it all back. Wounds I thought were healed were just hidden. They didn’t heal with time; they festered, red and swollen. Occasionally stinging, always uncomfortable. 5 The chat went silent after I spoke. It took a long time for new comments to appear. [That’s so unfair. The sister gets everything, and Anna only has a bracelet to talk about.] [You guys mock Anna for being uneducated, but she never got a good education. She dropped out.] [This hurts. Anna’s parents are so biased. They gave the sister the best conditions but left Anna behind.] A discussion quietly climbed the trending topics. Title: [Turns out hearts really are crooked; parents never love equally.] Viewer numbers surged. After me, it was Kyle. He thought for a moment, seemingly stumped. Apologetically, he said, “Sorry, I don’t think I have one.” Many people in the industry had unhappy childhoods. Kyle was a child star. His parents were in the industry. He was in the public eye very young. But in his teens, he got hated by the entire internet, so he quit. When he returned, he was a producer behind the scenes. Few knew what he went through those years. When discussing this topic, most avoided it. The chat viewers started sharing their best gifts. [I feel the best gift my parents gave me was being born a global citizen, letting me choose my nationality.] [For me, it was probably them sending me abroad instead of making me take the SATs.] [Must be nice. If not for you guys, I wouldn’t even know what a global citizen is. But I’m not doing bad, I have lots of love. My parents love me very much.] But most were silent. The host realized the roundtable was getting too depressing. He quickly introduced the next segment. We were led into separate small rooms. There were questions on the wall. “Do you think your parents loved you?” “If you had a time machine, what would you say to your younger self?” The director asked me to pick a few to answer. I looked at the questions. The director really knew how to twist the knife. All of them hit the heart. I was silent for a moment, then bared my heart to the public for the first time. “I think my parents… probably loved me.” They loved me, but not enough. Their love was mixed with other things. I remembered getting my first paycheck in the entertainment industry—$500. I kept $200 and sent the rest home. After receiving the money, Mom and Dad asked me: “Are you cold in Beijing? Are you eating well?” That was the first time I felt their concern. They finally remembered their eldest daughter. They often sent me food packages. Occasionally called to check on me. But I was always confused. I felt this might not be love. I said: “They love me, but they love my sister more.” “Their love for me is conditional. Their love for my sister is unconditional.” The chat was silent for a long time before scrolling again. [Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.] [That’s parental love for you. Not too much, not too little, just enough to trap you completely. Can’t cut them off, can’t forget the pain. Just stuck there, suffering.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386729”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The System told me to capture the Male Lead’s heart. Halfway through the romance arc, the System deleted the Male Lead. Casually, he said, “Whoops, my hand slipped.” Me: “…” Later, he took over the Male Lead’s body. He unbuttoned his shirt, leaning back and inviting me to sit on his lap. “Come on. Use all those tricks I taught you. Seduce me. Conquer me…” 1 The System has been acting weird lately. He stopped teaching me how to romance the Male Lead, Julian. My affection score with Julian is stuck at 60 and won’t budge. Seeing that Julian’s “white moonlight”—his first love, Sophie—is about to return from abroad, I decided to take drastic measures. Like, seducing him. This afternoon, I went to Julian’s penthouse. I ditched the innocent girl persona and went full femme fatale, using the tricks the System taught me. Wearing a red slip dress, I snuggled into Julian’s arms. On the sofa, I toyed with his tie, looking at him with dewy eyes. “Julian, forget about Sophie. Be with me, okay?” Sophie is Julian’s first love, returning tomorrow. Even though he likes me now, the power of a first love is unpredictable. To prevent them from rekindling their flame, I had to act before she landed. Julian stared at me, his eyes darkening. After a long silence, a husky voice broke the air: “Maybe.” “But… asking me to forget her? In what capacity are you making this request?” I noticed his gaze lingering on my chest for several seconds, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I blushed. “Girlfriend?” Then I hooked my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear. “Julian, be my boyfriend, okay?” Julian chuckled low in his throat. Clearly, my words pleased him. “Beg me. “Beg me, and I’ll say yes.” His eyes were dark as he gripped my waist. He squeezed so hard tears welled up in my eyes. I bit my lip, crying beautifully. “Please. I’m begging you.” A woman’s tears are a man’s aphrodisiac. The harder you cry, the more excited they get. The System taught me that. Sure enough, the desire in Julian’s eyes burned brighter. He threw me onto the bed, his voice raspy. “You asked for this.” Seeing him about to take off his clothes, I quickly warned the System in my head. [Don’t look!] A cold sneer echoed in my mind. What did he mean by that? Disdain? Good. They say the first time boosts affection points significantly. Watching a half-naked Julian, I was fantasizing about how many points I’d get tomorrow. Suddenly—THUD. He collapsed on the floor, lifeless. Me: ? After processing what happened, I stared at the scene in disbelief. I backed away, my voice trembling. [Sys… System? [What happened to the Male Lead?!] Silence. Then, a casual voice: [My hand slipped.] 2 The System’s name is Cypher. He taught me how to romance the Male Lead step-by-step for years. Because of a “slip of the hand,” he took over the Male Lead’s position, playing the role of Julian. His explanation: The Male Lead is gone, someone has to fill in. So, he filled in. Now, I have to romance him. I sat in the corner of the CEO’s office, nervously clutching my dress, afraid to speak. Reason being: I was terrified. Yesterday, with a wave of his hand, Julian’s body turned into pixels and vanished into thin air. If I make him angry, will he delete me too? … Soon, Cypher finished his work. He tossed the file onto the desk. He looked up lazily, seemingly bored. “Start.” Start what? It was obvious. There are many ways to increase affection points, and physical intimacy is the most effective. I hesitated for two seconds, looking at his perfect lips, and made up my mind. I put my hands on his shoulders, closed my eyes, and kissed him. He didn’t refuse, but he didn’t cooperate either. His lips were cold. I kissed him clumsily, struggling. After kissing for what felt like half an hour, there was still no notification of increased affection. Confused, I opened my eyes and crashed into Cypher’s gaze. Wicked, mocking, smiling. Like a hunter, watching my antics quietly. He hadn’t closed his eyes the whole time. Realizing this, my blood ran cold. We stared at each other, and I didn’t know if I should continue. He pushed me away, wiping the blood from his lip where I’d bitten him. His tone was lazy: “Aria, I’m not Julian. “What worked on him won’t work on me. “Go back and think it over before trying again.” 3 I thought about it for days. Cypher doesn’t like aggressive women. He probably likes the innocent type. I put on a white knee-length dress and went to find him at a gala. The gala was bustling with people and clinking glasses. I didn’t need to look hard. He was a natural protagonist. Standing in the crowd, his noble and elegant aura was impossible to ignore. I was about to approach him when I was blocked. It was Sophie, fresh off the plane. She held a glass of wine in her right hand, swirling it gently. She walked up to me, a malicious sneer on her lips. “Aria, Julian is mine.” I didn’t care whose Julian was, but seeing the glass about to slip from her hand, and her grabbing my arm while leaning back… I instantly realized she was framing me. This angle was a blind spot for cameras. With just her word, I’d never clear my name. In a crisis, I instinctively looked for Cypher, because he always helped me before. Luckily, when I looked over, he happened to look my way. Unluckily, he looked at me with amusement, a smile of indifference on his lips. My heart went cold. I suddenly remembered Cypher telling me that when he took over the Male Lead, he inherited Julian’s affection points. Julian’s affection for Sophie was 65. For me, 60. Cypher is a System. He exists to execute rules. Since his programming, rules are everything. So in this situation, I guess… he probably won’t help me. … I had to save myself. In a flash, before Sophie’s glass hit the floor, I yanked her toward me. And I threw myself down with the momentum. Glass shattered. Shards pierced my calf. Broken skin, embedded in flesh. It hurt. “Ah—” People gasped. Many turned to look. 4 I hit the ground hard, landing right on the broken glass. Red wine mixed with blood, staining my dress. Shards cut my leg like countless razor blades, burning with pain. Blood flowed like a stream down to my ankle, dripping onto the floor. More and more people looked over. The guests here were either rich or powerful—corporate tycoons or industry upstarts. I saw fear, disdain, and condemnation for Sophie’s actions on their faces. Good. If I had been a second late, I would be the one facing this. After all, Sophie is the heiress of the Su Group. Framed for harming her? My current identity couldn’t handle that charge. Cypher walked over. His voice was cold. “What happened?” I had to admit, his acting was impeccable. If I didn’t know he wasn’t Julian, I wouldn’t have noticed the switch. Seeing him, people scrambled to explain. Accusing glares stabbed at Sophie like knives. Sophie panicked, stepping back in confusion. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it. “It was you! You framed me! You did it on purpose! “Julian, believe me, I didn’t push her!” She grabbed Cypher’s sleeve, teary-eyed and pitiable. Cypher looked at me calmly. I don’t know why, maybe intuition. I felt he wasn’t happy right now. His eyes were bottomless pools of cold darkness. Afraid he’d side with Sophie, I bit my pale lip, my wet eyes reddening, looking at him with grievance. “Julian, don’t blame Sophie. She probably didn’t mean it. “I just lost my balance. Don’t worry about me. “I… I can get up.” I frowned in pain, trying to stand, but my leg gave out, and I fell back down. Glass dug deeper into the wounds, blood flowing freely. The pain made tears roll down my cheeks. Cypher scoffed, a mocking smile appearing. His voice was unhurried. “Aria. “You’re really smart.” He brushed off Sophie’s hand and picked me up. ? I froze for a second. He praised me? And held me? Did his affection for me surpass Sophie’s? I felt a burst of joy. But the next second, my face froze. [Cypher Affection -5.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386728”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When my childhood sweetheart, Leo, brought up that scholarship student for the third time, I teased him with a smile. “Do you think she likes you or something?” His expression turned serious, and he told me earnestly: “Sarah, don’t make jokes like that. She’s different from us. Never look down on anyone who’s working hard.” I pouted, feeling wronged. In the end, they both went to the top music conservatory in the country together. And I threw away my violin, went abroad, and switched to finance. The battle between the Red Rose and the White Rose had long since become smoke and mirrors. The day I returned to the States, he invited me to dinner and put a piece of fish on my plate. I subconsciously pushed it to the side. He froze, and silence stretched between us for a long time. 1 When I returned to the States, I only briefly told my parents. But the Zhou and Song families had always been close. So, seeing Leo at the airport arrival gate wasn’t a surprise. It had been years. He was still handsome. Features like a painting, an air of nobility, wearing a dark trench coat, walking toward me at a measured pace. Maybe it was that musician’s aura, but girls nearby were stealing glances at him. He walked over with a smile and naturally took the suitcase from my hand. “Sarah, tired from the flight?” “The AC is on in the car, go ahead and get in.” Seeing I didn’t move, his smile deepened. “Uncle Song asked me to pick you up.” I hesitated for a moment, then got into the back seat. “Aren’t you busy?” I asked casually. “It’s Monday.” “The Little Princess is back. Even if I’m busy, I have to come, right?” His eyes were deep, emotion unreadable. I looked away, waving my hand with a smile. “Stop teasing me. That’s such a childish nickname, it’s weird now.” He paused. But quickly returned to his natural self. “It’s been so long. Let’s grab dinner.” It was getting late. I hesitated. “Sure.” In the rearview mirror, Leo’s gaze lingered on me intermittently. I pretended not to notice, looking down to reply to messages. [Yeah, just got off the plane.] The reply came quickly. [You have fun in NYC first. I’ll finish up things here and arrive next week.] Just as I was typing, he sent another: [Exhausted lately. Miss you.] The London stock market had been active recently; he was probably busy with meetings. My heart softened. Seeing me looking down at my phone, Leo spoke softly. “Don’t stare at your phone in the car, you’ll get dizzy.” I froze. That familiar, caring tone. Gentle and doting. I couldn’t help looking up at him. It had been years since we fell out. We hadn’t spoken in a long time. Leo acted like nothing had happened. His smile revealed shallow dimples. I put down my phone. “How are my parents’ health?” This trip back was mainly to see family. Seven years had passed. I rarely obsessed over the past anymore. “Auntie was discharged a few days ago. The surgery went well.” His tone was relaxed. “Don’t worry, I was there, wasn’t I?” I fell silent. His uncle was a famous doctor in NYC, and the Zhou family had indeed helped a lot. I smiled politely. “Thanks.” The word hung in the air. Leo froze. I used to be a brat, making him buy me boba, demanding he massage my hands when they were sore from playing violin. Even acting helpless so he’d squat down to tie my shoelaces. I’d hug his neck with a grin, never saying thank you. He’d always flick my forehead helplessly. “You really have no manners. You have to grow up sometime.” At a red light, Leo rested his arm on the window. He asked casually: “And you? How have you been all these years?” 2 After I freshened up, he took me to a nearby French restaurant I used to like. The waiter served the steak. I replied nonchalantly, “Not bad. London is pretty nice.” Leo smiled gently. “I’ll visit sometime.” Halfway through the meal, watching Leo swap my red wine for juice, I said helplessly: “You know, I’m an adult now. You don’t have to do this.” He insisted stubbornly. “Girls shouldn’t drink too much.” There was a professional music stage in the hall. A few girls playing music on stage ran over with stars in their eyes to ask Leo for an autograph. He signed, whispering something to them. The girls covered their mouths, glancing at me, then ran back excitedly. Soon, a familiar melody began. My hand paused. Violin. Norwegian Dance. A complex piece, with the refreshing scent of summer. I still remember the summer I was 17. Leo sat beside me, patiently accompanying me through practice after practice. In the candlelight, his smile was tender. “By the way, Sarah, come by my house sometime. My parents always ask about you.” “And your favorite mille-feuille. The calico cat had kittens last year…” As he spoke, he naturally placed a piece of salmon on my plate. I looked down and pushed it to the side. Leo stopped talking. He was silent for a long time, rubbing his brow. Suddenly, he looked at me with exhaustion. “Sarah, after all this time, do you still hate me?” I stopped eating. Leo looked genuinely confused. “We grew up together. Just because I held her hand during the curtain call?” In the hall, the violin music continued to drift. At the next movement, the melody changed flavor, bringing up memories from even further back. Memories that made me angry, disgusted. Leo’s voice grew louder. His finger tapped lightly on the wine glass. “You gave up your music dream just like that? Never touched a violin again? Abandoned everything to go abroad alone?” He frowned. “And I just didn’t shake off her hand when she came close…” “That was on stage. Why have you always been so willful?” Many people nearby looked over. I stopped moving. Bringing up old history again made the complex tangle of emotions uncomfortable. My knife and fork clattered back onto the plate. I tilted my head, smiling with curved eyes. “Mr. Zhou, I’m sorry, I really don’t understand what you’re talking about.” “Youth, a beautiful first love. It’s a romantic story.” I looked puzzled. “Why should I be angry?” Leo stared at me intently. I picked up my bag and said calmly: “You have your dreams, and I can choose my own path.” “There’s no need to bring up past events.” I glanced at the stage and said honestly: “Besides, I think this piece sounds terrible.” The music stopped abruptly. As I turned to leave, Leo stubbornly grabbed my hand. His eyes betrayed no emotion. “So, you studied finance, which you’re not good at, and accepted a family arrangement?” “Married a man you don’t even know, just to get back at me?” He shook his head faintly. “Sarah Song, have you lost your mind?” I calmly pulled my hand away and whispered: “None of your business.” “Leo Zhou, from what position are you speaking to me right now?” His eyes were dark as ink. He opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. I smiled. Before leaving, I remembered something. “By the way, I heard you and Mia were both named Principal this year. Congratulations.” 3 Headache was killing me. I went to a nearby cafe and ordered an Americano. While waiting, a short-haired girl in a business suit sat opposite me. Her gaze swept over me inadvertently. Surprise flashed across her face. “Sarah! What a coincidence.” The girl put down her phone and extended her hand happily. “Haven’t seen you in so long! I was your high school classmate!” I was a bit dazed. That period of time I deliberately erased had become blurry. “You and Leo helped me with tuition back then. I always wanted a chance to thank you…” Seeing my lack of reaction, she waved her hand with a smile. “It’s normal you don’t remember me.” “You two were so dazzling, helped so many classmates.” “A perfect match is perfect everywhere. You’re still super beautiful after all these years!” I was silent, looking down. The girl seemed to have opened a floodgate, gossiping excitedly. “By the way, you guys are too low-key. No news for so long.” “There was an interesting bet on the school forum back then.” “Red Rose or White Rose. The debate was fierce.” She sipped her coffee, indignant. “Pissed me off. How could Mia compare to you? How could she beat a childhood sweetheart…” “Miss, your Americano is ready.” I stood up, suddenly finding it funny. I remembered that. Seven years ago, arrogant and proud, I voted for myself under my real name in that forum. I never expected I’d be the one fleeing in humiliation. I turned and apologized. “Something urgent came up. Sorry, I have to go.” The girl didn’t mind at all. She waved at me with smiling eyes. “Sarah, when can I come to your concert? I’ll buy out the house.” I paused, pushing open the door hastily. Looking at her expectant and certain gaze, I didn’t have the courage to tell her. I had long abandoned that dream. I hadn’t touched a violin in seven years… Nights in NYC are always dry and cold, unlike the drizzle of London. Some memories can’t be forgotten, easily disrupting everything. My thoughts drifted far away. Back then, everyone knew I had two loves in life. One was the violin, two was Leo Zhou. No reason other than I knew Leo since childhood, and we started playing violin together. We lived in the same neighborhood, our parents were close friends. We shared a tacit, innate talent for music. We practiced in the music room together, read scores, competed. We knew everything about each other, shared interests, complementary personalities. I was proud and bratty, he was gentle and attentive. Growing up, we did everything together. Skiing in Aspen, getting into elite schools, biking home. He carried my bag, handed me boba, tied my shoes. Background, looks, talent—a perfect match. Back then, everyone thought I would become a world-class concert violinist. And then, marry Leo. But the summer of junior year, someone completely different appeared. Her name was Mia Guan. An ordinary girl. 4 The first time Leo noticed his desk mate was when he casually handed her a cup of boba. The barista messed up the order, and I was picky. He shrugged, about to toss it in the trash. “Um, can I have it?” A weak voice spoke up. Mia looked up at him timidly. On the way home, Leo mentioned it to me. “Seems like low blood sugar, no money for food.” He showed emotion for someone else for the first time. Arrogant as I was, I thought he was just soft-hearted. In the advanced class, Mia was the hard-working type, always at the bottom of the rankings. Always in a generic school uniform. Panicking and crying whenever she missed a beat on the piano. A cowardly look. Just an unremarkable, ordinary girl. But later, Leo talked about her more and more. Saying how excellent she had become, how much he admired her. Every time I disagreed, “But I’m clearly a hundred times better than her.” He would stop and say seriously: “Sarah, she’s different from us. Don’t look down on anyone who is ordinary but working hard.” Sometimes in class, laughter came from the back. Students turned to see Leo blushing, frantically covering Mia’s mouth. She blinked innocently, meeting my eyes. Sometimes when Leo brought me things, he’d bring a portion for her too. He let her use our practice room. He never refused her. Many people started joking. Mia was the White Rose (the pure, gentle love), I was the Red Rose (the passionate, intense love). One pure and simple, one proud and bright. The battle of Red and White Roses was talked about for three years. And that name followed me like a shadow, haunting me. Wherever Leo and I were. We were compared. “But with her princess temper, Mia is much better.” “Guys prefer the gentle type, understandable. Mia is really pitiful.” “Sarah Song is too competitive, but prettier than Mia.” Mia, Mia… I started getting anxious. I threw tantrums. I found it unbelievable. “Do you really like her?” He would always flick my forehead helplessly. “Don’t talk nonsense, it’s bad for her reputation.” At the school anniversary gala, Leo agreed to accompany her on piano. They performed flawlessly, winning applause. Nervous, Mia held his hand tightly during the curtain call. Blushing with joy, the usually plain girl looked somewhat pretty. And Leo hesitated, but didn’t shake her off. Photos were posted online. White shirt and white dress. Viral. Red-eyed, I threw away all his white shirts. We had a cold war for a long time because of this. From then on, seeing white clothes made me want to vomit.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386727”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

As a girl from the sticks, I used to envy the daughter of the richest man in town. Why? Because once, the tangerines from our village fell on the ground and stained her designer heels. With a single phone call, she had every tangerine tree in our village uprooted. But then one day, the richest man personally came to find me. Turns out, I am the real heiress. I packed my bags overnight, grabbed my little yellow dog, and enthusiastically said goodbye to the uncles and aunties in the village. The whole village waved goodbye with teary eyes: “Little Lin, live that heiress life well! Don’t come back to this hardship!” I shook my head vigorously. No way! The billionaire’s estate isn’t even as big as one hill in our village; it’s not enough space for me and my dog, Buddy, to run two laps. I’m just going to collect my compensation. But if they refuse to pay… well, things are going to get crazy. 1 On the way to pick me up, my billionaire father, Samuel Stone, set three rules for me: First, I cannot publicly reveal my identity without permission. Second, I cannot kick out the fake heiress, Sarah. Third, I cannot compete with Sarah for affection. So, when I walked into the living room and saw Sarah crying like a delicate pear blossom in the rain, I immediately turned around with Buddy in my arms and headed for the garden. “Sarah, don’t cry, you will always be my only daughter.” Mmhmm, that’s my biological mother, Mrs. Stone. “Exactly, you are my only sister. That hillbilly doesn’t deserve to call me brother.” I raised an eyebrow. That’s my brainless brother, Shawn. I didn’t bother listening to the rest. I just ran two laps around the garden with Buddy. Buddy stuck out his tongue in disdain. I nodded. The Stone family’s garden isn’t even as big as a single hill back home. No wonder Buddy isn’t impressed. Estimating that Sarah’s performance should be over, I took Buddy and walked straight into the living room, finding a single sofa to sit on. Buddy obediently lay at my feet. As soon as I sat down, my billionaire father, Samuel, who had been benevolent in the car, looked at me coldly. “Did you forget everything I just said?” My wonderful brother, Shawn, looked at me coldly, like I was something dirty that shouldn’t be there. I pointed a finger at Sarah. “First, I didn’t reveal my identity. Second, I didn’t kick her out. Third, I didn’t fight for affection.” Samuel paused, choking on his words. “Sister, do you dislike me?” Sarah looked aggrieved, her eyes quickly reddening. Mrs. Stone immediately patted her hand in comfort, then turned her sharp tongue on me: “Lin, since you’re back in the Stone family, you need to learn our rules. Don’t bring your rough country ways here.” “And that dog, filthy. How can you bring it into the living room? Get rid of it tomorrow.” I slowly stroked Buddy’s head before looking up at her directly: “When he came to pick me up, he promised I could bring Buddy.” “As for rules, I followed the three he set. My rule is that people should keep their word.” I emphasized the word “he,” turning my gaze to the silent Samuel. Samuel looked a bit embarrassed and coughed. Shawn, who hadn’t spoken, snorted coldly: “Dad was just placating you. But the family image is important.” “You need to adapt to high society quickly, instead of bringing village stuff here.” He paused, the disdain in his eyes deepening, “After all, your last name is Stone now.” “My last name is Lin.” I corrected him calmly, “Like the forest.” The atmosphere in the living room solidified. Sarah’s tears finally fell: “Brother, don’t talk to sister like that. It’s all my fault. If not for me, sister wouldn’t have suffered so much outside.” “Sister, you should blame me. Hit me, scold me, as long as you can vent your anger. Even if you kick me out, I…” I watched this family of four. One playing the victim, one the protector, one the peacemaker, and one looking down from high above. A perfect performance. They wanted to intimidate me, make me realize my place, make me grateful, and make me feel guilty towards Sarah. Unfortunately, they got it wrong from the start. I didn’t come to claim kinship. I came to collect a debt. From my canvas bag, I took out a stack of A4 papers, neatly stapled, and placed them in the center of the coffee table. “So, next, let’s talk about the compensation.” Instantly, everyone froze. 2 Shawn sneered as if he heard the biggest joke in the world and reached for the papers. He flipped through two pages, and his expression went from mocking to livid. “Tangerine grove damage assessment… based on the average yield of the past five years, estimated total yield loss for the next ten years… including labor costs, land maintenance costs, brand value loss… totaling $18.5 million?” His voice trembled as he read the final number, and he slammed the papers onto the table, scattering them everywhere. “Are you crazy? This is extortion!” Mrs. Stone snatched a few pages, her eyes widening, then screamed: “You ungrateful wretch! The Stone family brings you back to a life of luxury, and instead of being grateful, you want money? Eighteen million? Why don’t you just rob a bank!” I ignored their hysteria and looked at Sarah. Her performance was right on cue. Tears fell like broken beads. She stood up, swaying, her voice filled with endless grievance and self-blame. “Sister… I know it’s all my fault. I was ignorant and ruined the village’s tangerine grove…” “But I didn’t mean to…” “Blame me if you want, hit me or scold me, but why use money to hurt Mom and Dad’s feelings? We are family…” She started to kneel towards me, “I apologize, I’ll kowtow to you, please don’t do this…” Shawn and Mrs. Stone rushed to support her. The family huddled together, glaring at me as if I were the villain tearing apart their happy home. “Lin! Look what you’ve done to Sarah!” Samuel finally slammed the table and stood up, pointing at my nose, full of disappointment and anger: “The Stone family owes you nothing! Bringing you back is a favor, not an obligation! If you keep making trouble, get out!” I waited for them to vent, then spoke slowly, my voice not loud but clear enough for everyone to hear. “First, this isn’t extortion, it’s compensation.” “What Sarah destroyed was the livelihood of over a hundred families in the village for the next ten years. This data was recorded by my grandfather in his ledger for decades, stroke by stroke, accurate to the harvest of every single tree.” I paused, my gaze sweeping over each of them. “Second, I already said, my last name is Lin. I came back not to recognize any relatives, nor to be anyone’s sister.” I stood up, looking down at this ridiculous family of four, finishing my sentence word by word. “I am here to collect a debt. Paying debts is the law of the universe.” “Your Stone family affection is worthless to me. I don’t want it.” 3 Samuel eventually accepted my $18.5 million compensation list. He didn’t say he would pay, nor did he say he wouldn’t. Instead, he looked at me with a new, complex gaze for a long time, then made a decision: send me to school. The same school as Sarah, Derby International High School. Mrs. Stone was all for it. She looked at me with malicious glee: “It’s time to learn some manners. Don’t always act so uncultured and embarrass the Stone family.” Shawn added with contempt: “Sarah’s circle is full of elites. Going there will open your eyes. Don’t just think about your tangerine money, your vision is too small.” I understood their intention. Throw me into an environment completely foreign to me, where background and status matter everywhere. Make me feel ashamed, make me see the vast difference between Sarah and me. So I would retreat in defeat, obediently give up that “extortion” sum, and become a docile puppet dependent on the Stone family. Nice calculation, but useless on me. On the first day of school, I became a celebrity at Derby High. Not because I was the real heiress of the Stone family, but because I wore faded canvas shoes. Carrying a canvas bag printed with “Serve the People,” followed by a little yellow dog wagging its tail. Of course, Buddy couldn’t enter the school building, so I let him wait by the security booth at the gate. The security guard was nice and gave him a bowl of water. Sarah’s lackeys were active. The leader was named Jessica. They buzzed around me like flies. They would “accidentally” spill milk on my homework; Loudly discuss my “street vendor clothes” behind my back; Even stuff trash in my desk. Sarah always put on an innocent and helpless look, occasionally coming over to fake-persuade: “Jessica, don’t treat my sister like this. She’s new and not used to it.” Then Jessica and the others would intensify their efforts, claiming to “fight for justice” for Sarah. I couldn’t be bothered. Arguing with a bunch of spoiled brats is a waste of time. My purpose here isn’t to make friends or fit into any circle. I’m just waiting for my $18.5 million to hit my account. Soon, the school organized a grade-wide placement test. This became the new fun for Jessica and her crew. They spread rumors everywhere that I, the “illiterate” from the mountains, probably didn’t even know how to fill out a Scantron sheet. They said I would definitely rank last in the school, disgracing Sarah’s class. On the day of the exam, I finished all the papers half an hour early, then slept on the desk until the bell rang. This behavior solidified my image as a “slacker” in their eyes. Sarah looked at me with a hint of pity. The day the results were posted, the bulletin board was crowded, three layers deep, noisy as hell. I had no interest in joining the fun and was about to walk around. Then I heard a collective gasp from the crowd, followed by deathly silence. Then, everyone’s eyes turned to me like searchlights. I was baffled but still dragged to the bulletin board by busybodies. The crowd parted automatically for me. I looked up at the red list at the very top. In the first place, two words were clearly written: Lin Ya. 4 Followed by a string of numbers: English 145, Math 150, Science 148, Social Studies 305, Total 748. A score so high it was terrifying, leading by a mile. Second place was the usual grade leader, with a total of 695. As for Sarah, I scanned down and found her name in seventh place, total score 681. The hallway was silent. Jessica’s mouth hung open, looking like she’d seen a ghost. Sarah stood not far away, face pale, knuckles white from clenching her fists. That night at the dinner table, the atmosphere was heavier than ever. Samuel, Mrs. Stone, and Shawn held copies of my report card, reading it over and over, as if trying to find a flower blooming in the numbers. For the first time, no one dared treat me like a silly girl from the village anymore. After the placement test, the Stone family quieted down a lot. At the table, Mrs. Stone stopped mocking me, and Shawn stopped using his elite theories to belittle me. They just ate in silence, looking at me with probing, scrutinizing, even wary eyes. This silence felt more fake than the previous noise. I knew this was just the calm before the storm. If one strike fails, they switch to a more covert, vicious method. Especially Sarah. Her look changed completely. Before, it was teasing and pity like a cat with a mouse. Now, it was a coldness mixed with jealousy and malice. In front of me, she still tried to maintain that gentle, kind, harmless appearance, but her acting skills had degraded. The hate deep in her eyes occasionally leaked out, like a poisoned needle, sharp and cold. Soon, her self-perceived opportunity arrived. 5 The school was hosting its annual Chemistry Competition. Winners not only get extra credit for college applications but also a significant boost for Ivy League admissions. As a perennial top student, Sarah was determined to win this award. The competition was in pairs. To everyone’s surprise, Sarah actively invited me to team up with her. She stood at my desk, smiling sweetly: “Sister, let’s participate together? Your theoretical knowledge is so good, and I’m better at hands-on experiments. If we team up, we’ll definitely be first.” I put down my pen and looked up at her. Then I nodded calmly, “Okay.” I knew it was a trap. But I also knew you can’t guard against a thief every day. I came to the Stone family to collect a debt. A gleam of success flashed in Sarah’s eyes, almost too fast to catch. From that day on, a small gadget I bought online came in handy— A micro voice recorder that looked exactly like a regular fountain pen. The preparation phase seemed normal. The afternoon before the competition, we were running a final data simulation in the lab. Halfway through, Sarah suddenly said she felt unwell and went to the infirmary, leaving Jessica to keep me company. I nodded and continued processing the reagents. After Sarah left, Jessica leaned in: “Lin, is there something wrong with the scale on that beaker? Let me check it for you.” Just as she pretended to help me check the instrument to distract me, I heard a faint zipper sound behind me. And the tiny sound of a memory card being pulled out of the data logger. I didn’t turn around. When I turned back, Jessica was back in her original position, just a bit pale. And the data logger slot on the lab bench was empty. “Where is my data card?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386726”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My sister invited me to her wedding, but when I arrived, I saw a familiar face. The same man who, this morning, kissed me goodbye and left for work. Now, I’m watching him recite his vows and exchange rings with her. My sister, elegantly clinging to his arm, reminded me: “I asked Liam to take care of you before, but now, Elara, it’s time you found a boyfriend of your own.” I glanced at Liam. He smiled softly at my sister, offering not a single word of explanation. Whatever. I don’t want him anymore. Even if he comes crawling back to our apartment door later, calling me “baby,” I don’t want him anymore. 1 When Liam left this morning, he kissed my cheek. He reminded me, just like always: “Leftovers are in the fridge. Heat them up when you wake up. Remember to eat.” So when I saw Liam’s face at the wedding, my first reaction wasn’t anger. It was confusion. As the officiant read the vows, Liam stared intently at my sister, leaving me only his profile. There was a tiny mole at the corner of his eye. Countless times, when he flaked on me for work and made me angry, he would whine and cuddle up to me. “Let me kiss the mole by your eye. Don’t be mad, I know you like it.” I couldn’t be mistaken. But why was it Liam? After being brought back to the Vanderbilt family, I rarely appeared in public. I never claimed to be a Vanderbilt. I never coveted anything that wasn’t mine. I couldn’t choose my birth, but I tried my hardest to avoid the family drama. But why is my boyfriend involved with my sister? Suddenly, my older brother, Ethan, gripped my wrist. The officiant was asking Liam: “Do you take Sophia Vanderbilt to be your lawfully wedded wife…” Ethan’s voice dropped into my ear simultaneously. “Forgot to tell you. Liam and Sophia are childhood sweethearts. We’ve spoiled Sophia, so she does whatever she wants.” “I apologize on her behalf.” The “little sister” he referred to wasn’t me. It was Liam’s bride, Sophia. The elegant Miss Vanderbilt. Ethan always did whatever he pleased. Being this polite wasn’t out of respect; it was out of disdain. I deliberately ignored Ethan’s words, staring fixedly at Liam. He didn’t even glance at me. He only looked at my sister, his gaze tender and devoted, answering firmly: “I do.” I couldn’t ignore his words. My heart twinged with pain, and tears rolled down involuntarily. Ethan released my wrist. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him wiping his hand with a handkerchief. His disdainful voice floated over lightly. “Elara? You really are delusional.” 2 “Sophia, come here. Let your brother see how beautiful you look.” Sophia lifted her skirt and trotted over, Liam carefully guarding her from behind. “Ethan, is it pretty? Liam spent months picking it out.” Sophia had tiny diamonds at the corners of her eyes. When she moved, they sparkled in sync with the crystals on her dress. She was beautiful. Ethan returned to his usual nonchalant self. “Of course my sister is beautiful. You’d look good even without that brat Liam picking it out.” His tone was familiar. He smiled gently at Sophia and Liam. Liam wore a faint smile, a look I had never seen on him. “Ethan, we still have to toast the guests. Sophia and I will go find Mother first. We’ll catch up later.” Throughout the exchange, I didn’t get a chance to say a single word. No one even spared me a glance. The contempt was obvious. Just like the day I first arrived at the Vanderbilt estate. My mother knelt on the ground, begging: “She’s your daughter, you can’t just ignore her…” The family sat on the sofa, busy with their own things, even discussing an interesting news story, as if they didn’t see us standing at the door. Simple indifference crushed us completely. Just like now. I suddenly lost the will to argue. I didn’t care how Liam became my sister’s husband. I just wanted to get away from the Vanderbilts, go back to my crappy apartment, and cry my eyes out. Tomorrow morning, I’ll still be Elara, the girl with zero connection to the Vanderbilt fortune. 3 “Ethan, I’m leaving then.” I tried to keep my expression composed. “Don’t go. Why leave? Liam took care of you for so long, you should say hi.” “Sophia is willful. She insisted Liam take care of you. You didn’t misunderstand anything, did you?” Misunderstand what? That Liam clung to me saying “I love you”? That he whined he only liked me? Wasn’t this all a game you were in on? Only I was the fool being played. After revealing the truth, you still have the nerve to check on the fool’s mental state? You people are bored out of your minds. I adjusted my emotions and lifted my chin. “I didn’t misunderstand.” “Ethan, if you had told me earlier that Liam was someone Sophia hired to take care of me, I would have treated him better.” “At least I wouldn’t have made him squeeze into a rental apartment with me.” Ethan probably didn’t expect me to switch gears so fast. He froze for a moment. Behind me, Sophia’s voice rang out: “Elara, come here. Let your brother-in-law and I toast you.” She walked towards me with a wine glass. Beside her, Mrs. Vanderbilt glanced at me with disdain and turned away. Sophia stood in front of me. Liam reminded her, “Drink less, or your stomach will hurt later.” Watching this display of deep affection, I thought: Wow, you people are great actors. The man who was begging for kisses this morning could switch roles in less than three hours and care for another woman. Disgusting. I raised my glass. “Wishing my sister and brother-in-law a hundred years of happiness and many children.” Sophia smiled and clinked glasses with me. I couldn’t stay a second longer. I turned to leave. She reminded me from behind. “Elara, those plushies and watches you gave Liam were really cheap, so I threw them away. Don’t blame me.” I stopped. I remembered when I was with Liam, he loved rituals. He would whine for gifts on every holiday, big or small. I didn’t have much money. I used my part-time wages to buy him small gifts. Scarves, flowers, watches. I picked each one carefully, hoping to see him happy. But the gifts I gave him always disappeared the next day. He lied to me, saying he treasured them and put them away for safekeeping. Turns out, this was the reason. That woman didn’t teach me much, but I remember when she was at her peak, she told me: “The more down and out you are, the more dignified you must appear.” Even though she couldn’t keep it up herself, I remembered those words. Being stabbed in the wound like this, I dug my nails into my palm and feigned calmness. “Just cheap trinkets. Toss them if you want.” I walked forward on trembling legs, not looking back at their expressions. 4 Back home, I started packing Liam’s things. From the bedsheets he picked out to his toothbrush and rings. I gathered a lot of stuff, packing them into three bags to throw out. The apartment complex had a nice environment, lots of gardens and trees. Outside the window, the silk trees were in full bloom. When we looked at apartments in the spring, Liam fell in love with this place because of the tall silk tree out front. But the rent was high. I had to take double the freelance work to afford it, on top of my lab work. In the end, he hugged me and pouted, blinking pitifully. I gave in and agreed. There was no elevator. I dragged the bags down the stairs. The silk tree out front was blooming vigorously, looking like a pink cotton candy cloud from afar. It was hot. My back was soaked with sweat. The heavy bags left red marks on my palms. I was agitated. With a yank, one bag ripped. Clothes tumbled down the stairs. I stared at the clothes rolling down to the next floor. I blinked, emotions swirling, but just dragged my stiff body back upstairs to get a thicker bag. While I was squatting on the stairs picking up clothes, the neighbor grandma came home. Seeing me, she greeted warmly, “Elara, cleaning up? I see Liam’s clothes are still good. Don’t spoil him too much.” Even the neighbor I met only a few times knew I spoiled Liam. I paid the rent. I paid for meals. I bought his clothes. If he whined a little, I abandoned my principles. Maybe because I lacked love growing up, when I caught someone, I spoiled them desperately, regardless of their intentions. My throat tightened. I wiped my face with my arm, composing myself before answering. “Grandma, I know. I won’t anymore.” After throwing everything in the dumpster, I threw myself onto the bed and forced my eyes shut. When I opened them again, the room was pitch black. I found my phone and called my senior from the lab. “Sarah, can I still move into the campus dorms?” After that, I texted the landlord: “I’m moving out.” I buried my head in the pillow, muttering uncontrollably. “It’s okay. Just treat Liam like a dream.” “I am still me. An ordinary girl who got into the lab on her own merit.” “My mom was wrong. I need to stay away from the Vanderbilts. I have nothing to do with them. Nothing.” …

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386725”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Five years ago, I saved a handsome fox out of kindness. I thought he might come back to repay the favor. Instead, the old fox dropped off three little foxes at my doorstep as his “gift.” I stared at them, ready to say no thanks. Suddenly, a stream of text—live comments—scrolled across my vision. [Damn, the Real Heiress is fumbling the bag! Those aren’t just foxes; they’re about to shift into drop-dead gorgeous men! Tall, handsome, and… capable.] [The Fake Heiress really has an eye for talent. While the heroine is still buffering, she’s about to snatch up a whole reverse harem and live her best life.] [Seriously though, each fox has a special power. They’ll help the Fake Heiress steal her parents’ love, the family fortune, and even the Real Heiress’s fiancé. By the time she realizes what happened, it’ll be too late.] I frowned, half-believing. But then, my exquisitely selfish fake sister, Bella, leaned in toward the box of foxes. “Since you hate animals so much, sis, why don’t you just give them to me?” I snatched the box back immediately. “Nah. Some men are better raised by yourself.” 1 As Bella reached for the box, my body moved faster than my brain. I shielded the box behind me. “I couldn’t possibly trouble you. I found them, so I’ll take care of them.” Five minutes ago, those weird comments started appearing. Thanks to them, I learned that I’ve been living inside a novel called The Fake Heiress Snaps Back and Lives Happily Ever After. And me? I’m the “native” Real Heiress, existing solely to be the villainous foil. The Fake Heiress, Bella Sterling, acts greedy and desperate to leave this wealthy family, but somehow ends up being everyone’s favorite. Meanwhile, I, the Real Heiress who actually craves family connection after being switched at birth and living in poverty for 18 years, am universally despised no matter what I do. And it all starts with this litter of foxes. Bella uses them to steal my “Main Character Energy.” Without my protagonist halo, I hit wall after wall, eventually jumping off a building in despair. But now that I’ve seen the spoilers? No way in hell is she getting them. I gripped the cardboard box like my life depended on it. Bella’s hand froze in mid-air. Her expression shifted instantly. She tilted her chin up, giving me a look that was half-smile, half-sneer. “Sister, you won’t know how to raise them. You grew up in the countryside… did your village school even teach basic pet care? Oh, right, I forgot. You probably don’t know anything about raising exotic animals.” Bella’s words made me stiffen. My face must have looked delightful. Before I could clap back, a smooth, magnetic male voice drifted from behind us. “Chloe? What are you fighting with Bella about now? Don’t you have everything she has? Can you stop targeting her? The Sterling family has compensated you enough. Aren’t you satisfied?” The speaker was decked out in designer sportswear, handsome features sharp and defined, hair styled perfectly. It was the Sterling family’s adopted son, Julian Vance. And currently, my fiancé in name only. 2 Five years ago, while shucking corn at my grandma’s place, I saved an injured fox. He was majestic—snow-white fur, piercing blue eyes that were chillingly beautiful. I heard foxes were spiritual beings who repaid debts. So, just in case, I left my address and ID number. Didn’t want him thanking the wrong person. I waited and waited. The fox didn’t show up. Instead, a convoy of luxury cars arrived, led by the richest man in our region, Mr. Sterling. They said there was a mix-up at the hospital years ago, and I was the true heiress. I thought, This must be the Fox God’s blessing! But after returning to the Sterling mansion, I realized how awkward my position was. My biological parents had zero emotional connection with me. Sure, they pitied my hard life—adopted parents dying early, living in poverty with Grandma. But they felt money was enough to fix it. Meanwhile, Bella, who took my place, was so sweet and charming that the Sterlings couldn’t bear to send her away. She stayed. Now, technically, I was the eldest daughter. She was the adopted second daughter. But her status in this house was way higher than mine. And Julian? Thanks to the comments, I now knew he was the main male lead of this harem novel. As the adopted son, everyone assumed he was Bella’s future husband. But when I, the real daughter, returned, the old childhood engagement contract meant Julian was suddenly my fiancé. Watching his true love slip away because of me, naturally, he hated my guts. But it didn’t matter. The Sterlings promised that if I came back, they’d pay for Grandma’s eye surgery and put her in the best nursing home. My lips twitched as I stared at Julian. “Satisfied? What should I be satisfied with? A fake heiress occupying the nest, acting crazy in front of me all day? I haven’t even lost my temper yet, and you’re lecturing me? Who are you? Just a dog of the Sterling family? So, be a good dog and don’t block the way.” I tried to leave with the box. Just now, I saw a comment: [The first fox, the Boss, is about to open his eyes. The first person he sees becomes his master. Boss Fox represents wealth. He brings insane financial luck to his owner.] Holy crap. Wealth! A money god! If I get this little guy on my team, I can walk sideways through this stupid novel! Bella must have seen the comments too. She lunged, trying to snatch the box. “Sister, don’t be mad! I didn’t mean you were uncultured! I’ve been the heiress for eighteen years, and you just came back… I really didn’t mean to look down on you! Julian is just worried about me, you don’t need to use such ugly words!” I rolled my eyes at her, ignoring her completely. My brain was on repeat: [Boss Fox is opening his eyes! His power is WEALTH! Bella baby, grab him quick! If he imprints on Chloe, it’s game over!] [Boss Fox shifts tonight! He’s super hot, 6’2″, pale skin, long legs!] I stopped reading and sprinted for my room. Even if I couldn’t make him imprint on me, I wasn’t letting Bella have him. Bella realized what was happening. She grabbed my sleeve, refusing to let go. In the struggle, the box fell. Thud. I heard a soft yelp. In the chaos, I locked eyes with a pair of amber beast eyes. Bella turned pale, tears instantly filling her eyes. “Chloe! I know you suffered growing up, but it wasn’t my fault! Punish me if you want, but why hurt innocent animals? They didn’t do anything! Please, just give them to me!” Seeing that force didn’t work, she switched to the “White Lotus” routine. I ignored her. She lunged for the box. A white blur shot out of the box and vanished instantly. Damn. One got away. Bella covered her mouth in feigned shock. “Chloe! I didn’t mean to! Why did you have to fight me for it? If you didn’t fight, he wouldn’t have run away!” I body-checked both of them aside, grabbed the box, and bolted for my room. The moment I locked the door, I felt movement inside the box. I opened the lid. Only two sleeping fox cubs remained. The one who opened his eyes was gone! 3 My Money God ran away! The gloating comments returned. [Hahaha, Boss Fox ran! He definitely went to find our Bella baby. What is this dumb Real Heiress thinking? This is a Villainess Redemption novel! Whatever Bella wants, she gets!] [Once Bella gets the Money Fox, she inherits the entire Sterling fortune. Julian is already hers. They’re gonna break that window paper tonight, hehehe.] I was shaking with rage. Why? The old fox came to repay me. These cubs were meant for me. She snatches them and thinks she’s justified? Just because she has the “Redemption” script, she can ignore morality? Bang! Bang! Bang! Someone was pounding on my door. “Chloe Sterling! You better come out and apologize to Bella right now! Mom and Dad are coming back from abroad tonight. If they find out you’re bullying Bella again, I won’t defend you!” It was Julian. When I didn’t respond, he added coldly: “Don’t blame me for not warning you. They’re distributing shares tonight. Don’t you want your tuition and allowance?” I sneered. “If I want it, will they give it to me? Keep it. You and Bella are their precious darlings. I’m just an outsider, right?” They treated the fake daughter better than me, their own flesh and blood. Bringing me back was just to make her look better by comparison. Would anyone care if I lived or died? Instead of waiting for their scraps, I’d rather rely on these foxes. 4 I didn’t leave my room that night. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling didn’t come to see me. The next morning, they deliberately didn’t call me for school. After I returned, we all attended the same elite private school. Usually, a luxury car took us. But Bella told everyone I was the maid’s daughter and that she brought me along out of pity. She encouraged the class to isolate and bully me. I had no friends. I hid the other two foxes and took several buses to school. According to the comments, in the original plot, Boss Fox shifted last night and went to school with Bella today to execute the first “face-slapping” scene against me. As soon as I entered the classroom, the text appeared again. [The Real Heiress is here! Showtime! Today is the scene where she wins first place in the essay contest and gets the $5,000 prize, right?] [Yup! She treasures that money, wanting to send it to her blind grandma in the village. But Bella snatches it! Chloe doesn’t know Boss Fox swapped her original manuscript. As long as Boss Fox is with Bella, all of Chloe’s financial luck gets stolen.] [She deserves it. Why does she act so pitiful? She should just hand over her resources. Finders keepers!] I ignored the text and looked at Bella. Standing next to her was a boy in our school uniform. Silver hair. Skin so pale it glowed. Even his eyelashes were white. He looked down, features too beautiful to be real. He stood obediently by Bella’s side. Bella lifted her chin and patted his head like a puppy. “He’s my friend. He’ll be coming to school with Julian and me from now on. Don’t bully him, okay?” Seeing me, Bella’s smile turned nasty. “Sorry, Chloe. Julian wanted dumplings from the south side, so the driver left early. We forgot to pick you up.” I smiled calmly and walked toward her. “You better hope you actually forgot and aren’t just acting. Whether it was intentional or not, you know deep down.” I shoved my desk over. Several mice and a green snake scurried out from inside. These little tricks had been constant since I enrolled. I was used to them. I endured it because the Sterlings paid for Grandma’s eye treatments. Until yesterday, when I saw the comments. I learned the Sterlings forced Grandma to move out of her home, and on Bella’s suggestion, stopped paying the nursing home fees. Grandma died of illness and neglect. I’m done enduring. I’m taking back everything she stole! Screams erupted in the classroom. I stepped on the snake’s tail, grabbed it by the head, and thrust it into Bella’s pale face. The snake hissed, tongue flickering. Bella’s pupils dilated in terror. “You’re crazy, Chloe! Get it away! Get it away! AHHH!” I leaned closer. Julian tried to stop me but was afraid of the snake. He yelled, “Chloe, are you insane? It’s venomous! Come at me if you have a problem!” I glanced at him. “I’ll deal with you after her. Wait your turn.” Just as I was about to drop the snake down Bella’s collar, the white-haired boy frowned. He grabbed my hand. And the snake. I looked at him. Amber beast eyes met mine. The old fox… He blinked at me, confused.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “386724”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel