I secretly traveled to my online boyfriend’s city to surprise him. But instead of a sweet reunion, I overheard him talking trash with his friends. “What’s the point of a sexy voice if she won’t even send a pic? She’s definitely ugly.” “If the campus queen hadn’t rejected me, I wouldn’t waste my time sexting someone like that.” “It’s bad enough she’s probably a troll, but she’s thirsty as hell. Kept demanding to verify the goods before we met.” His friend laughed, “So you showed her?” My boyfriend smirked. “Yeah. But it wasn’t mine. It was Xavier’s.” “Holy sh*t,” his friend gasped. “Your roommate? You said he was packing at least 8 inches. For real?” “Of course it’s real. Why would I lie?” “Xavier’s a real one. Saw I didn’t want to send nudes, so he offered to be my stunt double.” The group erupted in laughter. I laughed too. I’ve heard of hand doubles and leg doubles, but a “d*ck double”? That’s a first. I need this man’s file on my desk in three minutes. 1 I’m a “good girl.” Polite, modest, well-read, and respectful. Optimistic, cheerful, hardworking. Bullsh*t. That’s just the persona I maintain in front of the elders. The real me… Rebellious, spicy, wild at heart, petty, and definitely not to be messed with. And I have cravings. In every sense of the word. After high school graduation, I spent my days scrolling through hot guys on TikTok. Lean swimmers, golden retrievers, cold and aloof scholar types—liked and saved them all. Scrolling and scrolling, my heart started racing, and I got restless. So, I got myself an online boyfriend. Julian. One year older than me, currently in college. 6’0″ barefoot, broad shoulders, a tapered waist, abs you could grate cheese on. Most importantly, he’s allegedly packing 8 inches. I can’t believe I stumbled upon such a prime specimen. Life is good. Surprisingly, Julian turned out to be an upperclassman at the university I was about to attend. It felt like destiny. But Julian knew nothing about this. I kept it a secret because I wanted to surprise him when the semester started. To keep the mystery alive, I never sent him a face pic. Julian got annoyed about it, saying I wasn’t being sincere. He sounded so dejected on the phone. His hometown was just a city over from mine, less than thirty minutes by train. After thinking it over, I decided to just go find him. 2 To give me “security,” Julian reported everything to me. He even texted me where he was eating with his friends. Saved me the trouble of fishing for info. I followed the GPS and easily found the BBQ joint where they were hanging out. Among dozens of tables at the roadside stall, I spotted Julian instantly. He was even better looking in person than in his photos. It was midsummer, the wind was hot, and as it hit my face, my cheeks felt even hotter. I steadied my breathing and was about to walk up. Suddenly, Julian slammed his beer glass on the table, a mocking look in his eyes: “What’s the use of a sexy voice if she won’t even send a pic? She’s definitely a troll!” I stopped in my tracks. The blush on my face receded like a tide. Julian continued, “Just playing around. If the campus queen hadn’t rejected me and I wasn’t bored out of my mind, I wouldn’t even give her the time of day.” “It’s bad enough she’s probably ugly, but she’s thirsty as hell. Kept demanding I send nudes.” I pursed my lips, fists clenching involuntarily. Wait a minute. He was the one who bragged about his size and asked if I wanted to see. Why wouldn’t I look? Free show. Now he’s acting like I forced him? Amidst the jeering, someone asked, “So you showed her?” Julian smirked, looking proud. “Yeah. But it wasn’t mine. It was Xavier’s.” “Holy sh*t,” his friend gasped. “Your roommate? You said he was packing at least 8 inches. For real?” Julian took a drag of his cigarette. “Of course it’s real. Why would I lie?” “Xavier’s a real one. Saw I didn’t want to send nudes, so he offered to be my stunt double.” The table went silent for a second, then burst into laughter. “Bro, I’m dead. So this relationship is superficially two people, but actually two people plus a…” More laughter. Julian frowned. “What relationship? It’s just sexting. She’s basically my dog. Once summer break is over, I’m kicking this ugly troll to the curb immediately.” Hearing Julian say these things again, I surprisingly didn’t feel much. Because right now, my mind was filled with that impactful photo. What was his name again? Oh, right. Xavier… 3 Sitting on the train back home, I started scrolling through Julian’s Instagram. But the guy was too narcissistic; he posted nothing but himself. I sighed. Looks like if I want to see what Xavier looks like, I’ll have to wait for school to start. I felt a pang of regret for a second, then opened TikTok to scroll through hot guys again. Just as I was about to arrive, I swiped onto a campus interview video. The topic was “Who is your campus heartthrob?” I wasn’t interested and was about to swipe away. But suddenly, I heard the name “Xavier.” The arrival announcement chimed. I turned up the volume on my earbuds as I walked out. I listened several times. I definitely didn’t mishear. And the university name matched. I thought back to that photo… Campus heartthrob Xavier. Pretty wild in private, huh? 4 As the semester approached, Julian grew colder. He took days to reply to messages. I gritted my teeth. If he wasn’t still useful to me, I would’ve blocked him ages ago. That night, looking at the one-sided chat log, I sent Julian a sticker, refusing to give up. This time, Julian replied quickly: “Hey, I don’t think we’re suitable. We can be friends, but let’s forget about dating.” I was lying on my bed with a face mask on, legs crossed. Seeing this message, my eyes lit up. I’ve been waiting for this day! I typed with a smirk: “Why? Did I do something wrong? Finger guns sticker” Julian replied: “No, don’t overthink it. It’s my problem.” I rolled my eyes silently. Classic f*ckboy line. Zero creativity. Inner monologue over, time to unleash my acting skills. Crying sticker “You don’t need to comfort me. I know I’m not good enough for you. You deserve a better girl. I wish you happiness.” Julian paused, his heart inexplicably twitching. A while later, he replied: “You’re great. Be confident, babe. It’s me who let you down.” “If you have any requests, just ask. I’ll fulfill them.” I got excited, ripped off my face mask, sat up straight, and voice-called Julian directly. When he picked up, I sniffled first, adding a hint of a sob to my voice. “Will you really agree to any request?” Julian gave a solemn “Mmhmm.” “Actually, I kind of know you’re not confident about your looks. Don’t worry, I don’t care. If you want to meet me, I can right now…” “Then introduce me to a new boyfriend.” I really didn’t have the patience to listen to his rambling anymore, so I interrupted. Julian froze. Three seconds later, he reacted: “Huh?”

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The year my foster mother beat me half to death was the same year I found out I was the “real” daughter, switched at birth on purpose. After a whirlwind transition back to the wealthy Sterling family, I instinctively chose the smallest, shabbiest room in the mansion. My biological mom immediately stopped me. “Why are you going into the maid’s quarters? Your room is upstairs.” My brother walked towards me with his hand extended. Conditioned by habit, I lowered my head and meekly handed over my monthly allowance. His eyes widened in shock. “I’m your brother! I was reaching out to bandage your wounds, not take your money!” Then came Chloe, the girl who took my place. She walked towards me with a tear-streaked face. I braced myself, turning my left cheek like they do in the dramas, ready for the slap. I expected a stinging pain. Instead, I got a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry, big sis. Can you please not hate me?” 1 The scenery outside the car window blurred past. The woman sitting next to me held my hand, her grip slightly nervous. Maybe my expression was too numb, because she kept throwing out topic after topic. “Do you like Barbies, Ava? Mom will buy you a bunch, you can pick whatever you want.” “How are your grades? Is there anything you’re particularly interested in? Mom can sign you up for some classes.” “Oh, I’m talking too much. How about you decide what we eat for lunch, Ava? We can have the chef make it, or Mom can cook. My specialty is steamed egg custard, I just don’t know if you like it.” She gave me an awkward smile. Her hands were well-maintained, soft and fair, not looking at all like the hands of a forty-year-old woman. I lowered my head and whispered, “Whatever is fine.” My foster mother used to say my voice sounded like a rooster crowing—annoying as hell. Every time she saw me, she got irritated. Since then, I tried not to speak unless absolutely necessary. I was afraid if I opened my mouth, I’d scare this new mom, and she’d send me back. After all, she didn’t raise me. She might find me repulsive. 2 The day my mom found me, my foster mother had gotten into a huge fight with my drunk foster father. She took all her anger out on me. A wooden stick as thick as a thumb—she said she’d break it on me, and she did. I didn’t have a single patch of unbruised skin left. beaten to within an inch of my life, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. Hot tears fell on my face. In my daze, I thought I had gone to heaven. I didn’t want to die, but heaven seemed okay. There was a woman with a gentle voice guiding me. Life there probably wouldn’t be too hard. At least, it couldn’t be harder than this. “My daughter… I finally found you. My poor baby.” I was sent to the hospital and recovered for a month before my mom took me home. My dad is the CEO of a publicly traded company, my mom owns an art gallery. I have a brother in his junior year of high school, and a sister in the same grade as me—freshman year. A sister with zero blood relation to me. We live in a villa, with countless luxury cars, a housekeeper, and bodyguards. After entering the house, Mom went to the kitchen to check on lunch. She told me to pick a room first. “You can have whichever one you want.” I pursed my lips and carefully walked around the first floor. Even the bathroom was bigger, brighter, and cleaner than the entire house I used to live in. I picked the only room that seemed “small and shabby” compared to the others, though it was actually spacious, bright, and had AC, a washer, and an ensuite bathroom. In my old life, I wouldn’t have dared to dream of this. Just having a bed was a luxury. I figured this one would do. I shouldn’t be greedy as the newcomer. Not sleeping in the security booth was already a win. I started walking towards that room. Mom poked her head out of the kitchen and saw me. She immediately called out, “Ava, why are you going into the maid’s room? That’s for the housekeeper! Your room is upstairs!” 3 I sighed softly. I knew I didn’t have that kind of luck. The upstairs room must be cramped, dark, damp, and stuffy. Walking up the carved wooden staircase, I was dazzled by the exquisite paintings on the walls. I didn’t dare touch anything, not even a corner. I was terrified Mom would make me pay for it. Even if I sold my worthless life, I couldn’t afford it. When I got to the second floor, I was dumbfounded. Every room was twice the size of the ones downstairs. The luxury was jaw-dropping. Just as I was debating whether to sleep on the stairs or in the small storage closet at the end of the hall, a boy with striking eyebrows and bright eyes put his hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him. He looked about 50% like me. He had a sunny smile on his face and a backpack over one shoulder, looking like he just got home from school. “You must be Ava. I’m your brother, Liam.” He looked apologetic. “Sorry I didn’t visit you in the hospital earlier. I was at a training camp, and the coach wouldn’t let me leave. I just got back.” “You’ve suffered all these years. As your brother, it’s my fault for not protecting you back then. If I had been a bit older, you wouldn’t have been taken.” His eyes were filled with pain. I couldn’t help but comfort him, “It’s okay. I’m fine now.” It wasn’t their fault. Liam looked up. “You were picking a room, right? Why don’t you take the one next to mine? Easier for me to look out for you.” I wanted to refuse, but he didn’t give me a chance. So, half-pushed, half-led, I chose the room next to his. Liam left for a second and came back holding a small box. He sat down in my room and extended his hand towards me. “Come here.” Right. Every time my foster brother, Tyler, needed money, he would sweet-talk me before extending his hand. This meant he wanted money. I dug out an envelope from my pocket. It was the allowance Mom had just stuffed in there. It wasn’t even warm yet. I was self-aware. I meekly handed over my living expenses. It wasn’t my money anyway. I had no attachment to it. Just like the twenty bucks I earned collecting bottles—I handed that over too. Liam’s eyebrows knitted together in displeasure. He looked at me, then at the envelope. Was he dissatisfied with the amount? Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. “I’m your brother! I was reaching out to bandage your wound, not take your money!” He pulled my sleeve, looking anxious and angry. He took out a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, lifted my hair, and gently applied it to the wound, even blowing on it softly. “This cut hasn’t healed properly. Wait a sec, I’ll put a band-aid on it. Your hair must have been covering it; Mom didn’t even notice.” “If anyone hits you in the future, you hit them back. I’ll take the consequences. If I can’t handle it, Mom and Dad will. You’re my biological sister; you can’t just let people bully you for nothing, understand?” I nodded blankly. He stuffed the envelope back into my hand. He seemed satisfied. “Although no one would dare bully you with me around, there might be times when I’m not there. How about this? I’ll sign you up for a kickboxing class.” He looked at me with burning intensity. I actually laughed. “Sure, why not.” Liam muttered helplessly, “Finally heard you speak. I almost thought you were mute.” Just then, Mom called from downstairs, “Dinner’s ready!” 4 I walked down the stairs stiffly, my feet feeling like I was walking on cotton. I was afraid if I stepped too hard, I’d wake up and realize this was all a dream. I was starting to get attached to this dream. The dining table was filled with over a dozen dishes. It was a grand affair. Mom and Liam kept piling food into my bowl until it was overflowing. “I peeled the shrimp for you, eat it while it’s hot.” “This abalone is really fresh, try a bite.” “This carp soup is the housekeeper’s specialty. Mom will get you a small bowl. Careful, it’s hot. Drink it when it cools down.” I took a cautious sip. Just then, Dad walked in holding my sister’s hand. Even though he was the CEO of a listed company, he was carrying her small backpack himself. My sister was cute, looking like a delicate doll. She had pigtails and a bunch of clips in her hair, looking like a princess living in a fairytale castle. Seeing me, she timidly called out, “Sister?” I bit my lip. Was my dream going to shatter this quickly? Mom had apologized to me before: “I’m sorry, Ava. We discussed it for a long time, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to send Chloe back. After all, we raised her for 15 years.” “If she went back, the drop in lifestyle would be too huge. She wouldn’t be able to handle it, and it would break our hearts.” “Even though there’s no blood relation, in our eyes, she’s been our daughter for a long time.” “I know you suffered and went through hell, but it wasn’t her fault. Chloe cried so many times, saying she didn’t mean for this to happen, that she’ll make it up to you and earn your forgiveness. Please let her stay, okay?” “I promise, even if I’m biased, I’ll be biased towards you.” Facing Mom’s pleading eyes, I couldn’t refuse. I had no right to refuse. After all, to this family of four, I was the real “outsider.” Whenever I dreamed of things I didn’t deserve, my foster mother would curse me out and slap me. “You stupid little wretch! Look in the mirror at your ugly face! Do you deserve anything? Pfft!” “Let me tell you, rotten melons don’t produce good seeds. You’re delusional! A toad wanting to eat swan meat! You just don’t have the destiny for it!” Back then, I was hung up and beaten for a whole day. And the reason? I saw other classmates eating lollipops and begged my foster mom to buy me one. That lollipop was on special at a new store. It cost ten cents. I lowered my head and stopped drinking the soup. I was waiting. Waiting for Chloe to throw herself into Mom and Dad’s arms and cry, asking why they brought me back. Waiting for Mom and Dad to make me apologize, scolding me for making their daughter unhappy. Waiting for my brother to heartache for Chloe and cut ties with me. “Get out! You’re not my sister! I hate you!” It was so strange. I had only been with them for a short time. Why did imagining these scenes feel like a knife twisting in my heart? Clearly, this was normal. I had always been the child who wasn’t favored. Why did it hurt so much? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe walking towards me with a mournful face. Sigh. Isn’t that how it goes in TV dramas? I accepted my fate. I closed my eyes and offered my left cheek. My right cheek was still swollen from my foster mom’s beating. If she hit the left one, at least I’d be symmetrical. I waited for a long time. I expected a burning pain. Instead, a pair of soft, warm lips pressed against my left cheek. Not only did I not get hit, I got a kiss. I opened my eyes in surprise. Chloe threw herself into my arms. She was wailing, her small arms wrapped around my waist, melting like a little snowman. “I’m sorry, big sis! Can you please not hate me?” “I really don’t want to leave this home. Please don’t kick me out, okay? I didn’t mean to take your place.” “I won’t acknowledge my biological parents, never in this life. I only acknowledge you as my sister. Good sister, can you please like me in the future? I promise I’ll be good!” She… she wasn’t following the script? Was it my imagination? They seemed… actually welcoming? Even Dad, who had been stoic the whole time, had tears in the corners of his eyes. No, no, no. This must be their disguise. My foster mom said I was the worst child in the world and no one would like me. Yes, that must be it.

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I woke up to a blinding beam of light burning into my retinas. My mother was standing over my bed, shining a high-powered tactical flashlight directly into my eyes. “Mom! What the hell are you doing?” I shielded my face, heart pounding. She let out a breath she’d been holding, her voice tight and unnatural. “Just checking… checking if you stayed up late on your phone.” Before I could argue, she turned and walked out, heading straight for my brother’s room. Worried she was going to start a fight with him, I quietly followed. I watched from the hallway. She stood over Liam’s bed, training that intense beam of light on his face for ten full minutes. Liam didn’t flinch. He didn’t even twitch. He remained in a deep, death-like sleep. Suddenly, Mom pulled a knife from her robe. Without a sound, she raised it and plunged it down toward his chest. “Mom!” I screamed, rushing in to grab her arm just in time. She turned to look at me, her eyes wide and manic, and whispered one sentence: “He stayed up late.” 1 In the dim moonlight, Mom’s expression was terrifyingly paranoid. Even with me gripping her arm, she refused to drop the knife. My mind was racing. I glanced at the bed. Liam was still lying there, eyes closed, expression peaceful. That flashlight was industrial strength. It was bright enough to wake the dead. Yet Liam hadn’t moved a muscle. There was only one explanation: He was pretending to sleep. But Mom had just tried to stab him. How could he keep pretending through that? I dragged Mom out of Liam’s room and down the hall. “Mom, are you okay? You need to sleep. You’re exhausted.” Since Dad died in that factory accident six months ago, our family had collapsed. The burden fell entirely on Mom, and I watched her wither away day by day. I was terrified she was finally snapping. Suddenly, she leaned in close, her voice a frantic whisper. “Maya, listen to me. That thing in there… it’s not your brother.” Her hair was a mess, her face pale as a sheet. “Haven’t you noticed? Liam is a completely different person. He’s been replaced by a monster.” That was the first time I heard the word—Mimic. According to Mom, a Mimic is a creature that silently replaces a human, slowly evolving to perfectly imitate the host’s personality. She didn’t know how they parasitized people, but she claimed there was only one way to identify them: Shine a strong light in their eyes while they sleep. If they don’t wake up, they are a Mimic. By the end of her explanation, she was sobbing. That attempt in the bedroom had drained all her strength. Even if I let go of her now, she wouldn’t have the energy to hurt him. I felt a chill run down my spine, mixed with pity. Logic told me my mother was sick. Mentally ill. I didn’t believe in “Mimics,” but I had to admit—Liam had changed. My brother used to be the typical spoiled golden child. He was selfish, had a short fuse, and treated Mom like a servant. He barely acknowledged my existence. But recently? He’d become gentle, polite. He stopped getting into fights at school, his grades shot up from D’s to straight A’s, and he quit gaming to help around the house. I was happy about the change. Mom was terrified. Every time she saw him doing chores, she’d scream at him, saying this wasn’t what her son did. I realized then: It wasn’t just grief. She was terrified her son was gone. I sighed, speaking gently. “Mom, isn’t it possible Liam just grew up? Being the first one to see Dad’s accident… that kind of trauma changes people.” 2 My parents both worked at a chemical plant just outside of town. Six months ago, Mom was hospitalized for surgery. I was away at college. Dad was stuck watching Liam. To keep him out of trouble, Dad made Liam come to the factory after school to do homework in the breakroom. One day, Liam tried to sneak out. Dad caught him and chased him onto a catwalk. Dad stepped on a rusted grate. It gave way. Liam watched his father fall into a vat of high-concentration chemical waste. He heard the screams. He watched him struggle and die. When they fished Dad out, he looked… wrong. The chemicals had reacted with his skin. He looked pale, smooth, and rubbery. Like a silicone doll. Liam had a high fever for three days after that. When he woke up, he was a different person. It made sense for Liam to change. But Mom? She hadn’t cried much. Instead, she became paranoid. I spent hours convincing her to see a doctor. Finally, I broke down. “Mom, please. Dad is gone. It’s just us now. If something happens to you, what happens to me and Liam? Please.” She stared at me for a long time before reaching out a trembling hand to wipe my tears. “Okay. You’re all I have left. I’ll go.” The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of cooking. Anxious about last night, I rushed to the kitchen. Liam was already up, making pancakes. Mom was sitting at the table, smiling. She smiled at me. “Maya, you won’t believe what your brother did.” “What?” I asked, relieved to see her calm. “He’s been working a secret part-time job to buy you a new laptop for your graphic design classes! Look at him, he’s so tired he fell asleep standing up.” I was shocked. “Liam? Working for me?” Liam ducked his head, smiling shyly. “I saw your old one crashing all the time. I just want to help.” This redemption arc was almost too perfect. Mom was looking at him lovingly, giving him instructions for the day. But then I noticed her eyes. There was no warmth in them. She wasn’t looking at his face. She was staring at his throat. And then I saw it. Liam was eating with his left hand. Was he always left-handed? I couldn’t remember. Noticing my gaze, Liam flashed me a stiff smile. When I blinked, the fork was back in his right hand. Was I hallucinating? After breakfast, Mom stood up. “Didn’t you say we were going to the doctor?” “Right,” I said. “Appointment’s at ten.” We walked out of the house. About five minutes down the road, Mom stopped dead. She turned to me, the mask of sanity crumbling. Her voice shook. “You saw it too, right?” 3 “Saw what?” “I watched him while he ate,” she whispered. “Every single bite. No matter what he put in his mouth… he chewed exactly twenty times. Not nineteen. Not twenty-one. Twenty. Every. Single. Time.” My nerves were already frayed. I fought the urge to scream. “Mom, stop it. Maybe he has OCD! Does chewing twenty times make him a monster?” She looked at me with profound disappointment. “You don’t believe me. That’s fine. I’ll prove it to you.” We drove to the psychiatric center in silence. Two hours later, the doctor came out, looking exhausted. “Maya, the preliminary results are in. Your mother is suffering from delusional disorder, specifically Capgras syndrome—the belief that a loved one has been replaced by an imposter. It’s accompanied by severe anxiety.” I let out a long exhale. Thank god. It was an illness. Not a sci-fi nightmare. Just an illness. “We strongly suggest inpatient care,” the doctor continued. “Her delusions are fixed and potentially dangerous. We need to stabilize her in a safe environment.” “Yes,” I nodded quickly. “Let’s admit her.” The doctor added, “Don’t blame yourself. We’ve seen a spike in these cases lately. Extreme stress, grief… the mind breaks in strange ways.” We processed the paperwork. Mom sat on the hospital bed, quiet as a porcelain doll. I took her hand. “Mom, listen to the doctors. Get some rest. When you’re better, Liam and I will take you home.” Her eyes slowly focused on mine. The look in them was unreadable. Suddenly, she gripped my wrist, her nails digging into my skin. “Maya. Be careful of Liam. You have to be careful. That thing is not your brother. If you don’t believe me… look in my closet. Under the clothes.” Her voice rasped with terrifying intensity. “I know,” I lied, pulling away. “Rest now.” I fled the room. As I waited for the elevator, I heard screaming from an office down the hall. “Doctor, please! That is NOT my daughter! She’s been replaced!” I froze. “My daughter is a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins! She’s brilliant! But that thing sitting in the lobby can’t even do basic math! She just repeats what people say to her!” The doctor’s voice was calm, soothing. “Ma’am, trauma can cause cognitive regression…” “She’s not sick! She’s hollow! It’s a shell! Why won’t you believe me?!” I stumbled into the elevator and mashed the button. The woman’s screams echoed in my head, mixing with my mother’s warnings. If Mimics were real… would Mom be the only sane one left? I got home. Liam was mopping the floor. “How is she?” he asked gently. “She has to stay for a while,” I said. “Don’t worry, Sis. It’s just stress. We’ll take care of things until she’s better.” It was the most mature thing he’d ever said. I felt zero comfort. At dinner, I couldn’t eat. I stared at his mouth. One. Two… Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Swallow. “Sis? Why are you staring at me?” “Nothing. Eat.” I counted again. Fifteen… Twenty. Twenty. Twenty. My back was soaked in cold sweat. Later that night, I was working on some designs. Liam was gaming. I reached for my stack of scratch paper. It was gone. “Liam, did you take my scratch paper?” He turned his head. Instantly. It was too fast. Not a human reaction time. His eyes didn’t blink. “Oh, yeah. I took it to school by mistake. I’ll go buy you more right now.” He stood up, grabbed his phone, and walked out the door without a second of hesitation. I was alone. I put down my pen. I walked into Mom’s bedroom. 4 I looked under her pillow first. I found a book. The Guide to Identifying Mimics. But the pages were torn and chewed up. Only the cover remained intact. I suppressed the shiver running down my spine and went to the closet. I pulled the handle. The closet wasn’t filled with clothes. It was stacked, floor to ceiling, with flashlights. Rows and rows of identical, high-powered tactical flashlights. Hundreds of glass lenses staring at me like dead eyes. I stepped back, terrified. How many nights had she stood here, staring at these lights, picking one out to test us? Scritch. Scratch. A strange sound came from the kitchen. Mice? No, we kept the house spotless. My heart dropped. Liam? I grabbed a flashlight from the closet and walked toward the kitchen on legs that felt like jelly. The door was ajar. I pushed it open just a crack. Under the pale moonlight, a familiar figure was squatting on the floor, back to me. His shoulders were moving rhythmically. Scritch… crunch… I watched, numb with horror. My brother was eating my scratch paper. He was shoving sheets of white paper into his mouth, chewing them with gusto, swallowing them dry. Suddenly, he stopped. He turned around slowly. A wet, half-chewed piece of paper was stuck to his teeth. His eyes were dead calm. “Sis. Sorry. I ate your paper. I’ll buy more tomorrow.” “…It’s okay,” I croaked. He paused, as if buffering, then said seriously, “It’s Pica. An eating disorder caused by stress. Common in adolescents.” I knew what Pica was. But a normal person would be embarrassed. They would hide it. He explained it like he was reading from a dictionary. I took a deep breath. “Okay. Just… keep it down.” I walked back to my room. Behind me, the chewing sound started again. 5 I lay in bed for two hours. I heard Liam finish his “meal” and go to his room. I waited another hour. I took the flashlight and walked into Liam’s room, just like Mom did. I turned it on max brightness and shone it directly into his eyes. I expected him not to wake up. But a few seconds later, his eyes snapped open. “Sis? What are you doing?” “Checking if you’re on your phone,” I said automatically. “Does having eyes open mean I’m on my phone?” he asked, genuinely confused. “Yes.” He seemed to process this. Then he asked, “Sis, do you think I’m acting weird lately?” You think? “I’m just under so much pressure. Keeping this secret…” He sat up. “Sis. Mom killed Dad.” My brain short-circuited. “What the hell are you talking about?” “I was there. I brought Dad his lunch. I was hiding behind a vat. Mom… she wasn’t in the hospital. She was there. Dad was checking a pipe. She pushed him.” His voice was monotone. “When Dad fell in, he grabbed the edge. Mom squatted down and pried his fingers off. One by one.” The description was so precise it made me want to vomit. “Stop it!” Liam went silent. He lay back down, staring at me while the flashlight burned into his retinas. He didn’t blink. “You’re crazy. Mom wouldn’t do that. The police ruled it an accident.” Liam smiled. A perfect, empty smile. “Ask her. Go ask Mom. Okay, Sis?” “Okay.” The next morning, I was standing by Mom’s hospital bed. “Mom, how did Dad really die?” I expected her to get angry, or deny it. Instead, she looked at me, her voice calm. “I killed him.” My blood ran cold. First Mom says Liam is a monster. Then Liam says Mom is a murderer. Who is the monster? Who is lying? “I killed him,” she repeated. “Because he begged me to.” “What?” Mom’s eyes were hollow. “He found out. He found out he was… turning into one of them. He begged me to end it before he was gone completely.” She looked at me. “He said it was the only way to protect us.”

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I opened my eyes in a new body, and my phone buzzed with a text. Are you dead yet? If not, get your ass over here and apologize. If Sarah forgives you, I’ll consider not breaking up with you. I dragged the System out and demanded an explanation. “…It’s like this. The original owner of this body completed the male lead’s 100 demands and has already returned to her original world to save her lover. So, I dropped you in here.” I grabbed my head and screamed, “I asked you to find me a man, not a scumbag!” “Don’t panic! I didn’t say you have to be with the male lead. There are plenty of hot guys here. Plus, the original owner saved up tens of millions of dollars that she didn’t spend. I brought you here to enjoy life!” Tens of millions? Suddenly, I felt much better. My phone vibrated again. Be in this VIP room in 30 minutes. Fix your attitude. Don’t be stubborn. My fingers flew across the screen: Account owner deceased. I hacked this account. Blocked. 1 ? You’re dead, so a ghost is replying to me? Stop playing these childish games. You know I don’t have much patience. Tsk. Technically, when the original owner left this world, if the System hadn’t dropped me in, this body would be dead. So I didn’t lie. Whatever. I’ve seen this script a million times. This male lead’s “100 demands” were definitely inhumane. Kneeling in the rain at midnight, donating corneas, kidneys, livers—the usual “abused heroine” tropes. I never understood the System’s twisted tastes. Seeing this kind of guy makes me lose my appetite. I have zero interest in dealing with him. After all, I’m rich now! Tens of millions! “System, check my account. Exactly how many millions are we talking?” “Let me see… eighty million. Why are you looking at me like that? You want to spend it now?” I was so happy I almost threw my pillow at the ceiling. “Spend! Of course I’m spending it! Having money and not spending it is a crime! Quick, find me the most expensive, most luxurious club in the city with the hottest male models!” “I want to order eight of them at once!” I was poor my entire last life. Finally, it’s my turn to be a sugar mama! 2 I quickly applied a cold, glamorous “ice queen” makeup look, picked out a stunning bright red dress, and spun a few times in front of the mirror. Great body. Curves in all the right places. Just like the real me. Satisfied. Just as I was about to leave, the phone rang. No caller ID. I answered it directly. “Chloe, it’s been thirty minutes. Why aren’t you here yet?” “Don’t think just because you’re my girlfriend you can do whatever you want. When you make a mistake, you apologize. Did you forget how to be a decent human being?” The disgust and impatience in his voice were practically dripping through the phone. I realized immediately—it was the scumbag. Gross. But I was in a good mood, so I decided to explain one last time. “Buddy, your girlfriend kicked the bucket. I’m a possessing spirit. So no, I won’t be coming.” “This person has absolutely nothing to do with you anymore. Don’t contact me again. Byeee~” I hung up swiftly and blocked the number. Flipped my hair, stepped into my heels. “Let’s go! Platinum Club!” 3 When the manager heard I wanted the most luxurious VIP suite and the most expensive male models, his smile nearly split his face. He hurriedly had someone show me the way and promised to bring their top guys over shortly. I was grinning ear to ear too. Never enjoyed life like this before. But before I even reached the suite, someone stopped me. “Yo, isn’t that Chloe?” “I thought you had a backbone. You kept saying you wouldn’t come, but here you are, rolling over like a dog.” “Liam! Your girl is here!” I looked the guy up and down, confused. He was dressed decently, but his face screamed “NPC.” Then, a stream of people poured out of the adjacent room. Someone started clapping. “I won the bet! I told you, she’s trained like Liam’s dog. Even if she throws a tantrum, she always comes back obediently.” “Ten grand. Pay up.” Another guy shook his head, sighing as he took out his phone to transfer the money. A man and a woman walked out from the center of the group. Judging by their looks and positioning, they were the alpha couple of the pack. The man sneered. “You finally decided to show up? I thought you were dead.” I silently assessed the group and called the System. “System, who are these people? Is that the male lead?” “…Yes. I didn’t know he was here.” So this is the male lead, Liam. And the woman next to him must be the female antagonist, Sarah, that he mentioned. But— What does that have to do with me? I smiled and gave him an OK sign. “Yes, that’s right. You should treat me as dead.” “If you see me in the future, act like you saw a ghost. Pretend you didn’t see me, okay?” I turned to enter my suite, but my arm was grabbed. Liam’s face was long. “You’re not apologizing?” “Why should I apologize?” “You knew Sarah was allergic to mangoes, yet you ordered a fruit platter with mangoes. She almost went into shock and had to go to the hospital. Shouldn’t you apologize?” I laughed. “She knew she was allergic to mangoes, yet she ate from a fruit platter with mangoes. Is she brain-dead?” A weird silence fell over the scene. Until a sob broke it. “Liam, don’t make it hard for Chloe. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose. It was dark in the room, I ate the wrong thing by mistake. Let’s just let it go.” I immediately jumped on that. “Hear that? The Pick-me Girl said she ate it by mistake. What’s wrong with you, forcing me to apologize?” “Let go. Let go.” I shook his paw off my arm. Looking back, everyone’s expressions were colorful. Sarah pointed at herself in disbelief. “…Did you call me a Pick-me Girl?” “Yeah, I speak my mind, don’t take it personally. Besides, your face looks pretty green right now, any problem?” “Chloe, don’t push it!” Liam roared. “If you didn’t come to apologize, then why are you here?” “To beg me not to break up with you?” “Is this your attitude when begging me?” I crossed my arms, narrowed my eyes, and looked at him like he was an idiot. “Beg my ass. Dude, this is a club. What do you think I’m here for?” Just then, the manager arrived leading a row of flamboyantly dressed male models right to me. Every type you could imagine. The manager bowed fawningly. “Ms. Fang, I brought the guys. are you satisfied?” Silence fell over the hallway. I scanned the line, my eyes lighting up. “Yes! Yes! Bring them all in!” I told the manager to bring them into the suite and ordered several bottles of expensive wine. Looking back, Liam’s group stood there, dumbfounded, staring at me like they had actually seen a ghost. 4 Just as I was about to enter the suite, my hand was grabbed for the second time. Again? Liam gritted his teeth. “Chloe, you came here to find men?!” I rolled a massive eye. “None of your business. I told you already, I’m not your girlfriend. Go accompany your high-maintenance tea set and stop annoying me.” I tried to shake him off but couldn’t. So I lifted my high heel and stomped down hard with the pointed stiletto. No mercy. Liam’s face turned green, and he let go instantly. He wanted to scream but held it in, his face twisting, mouth twitching. “Fine, Chloe. You’re really something.” “Don’t come crawling back to beg for my forgiveness later. Let’s go!” Liam waved his hand, leading his group back into their room in a huff. But the people behind him seemed reluctant, clearly wanting to watch more drama. I flipped them off with zero class and click-clacked into my suite. As expected of the city’s biggest gold mine. The quality of the male models was top-tier. Tan skin, pale skin, everyone had an eight-pack. Calling me “Sister” sweetly enough to melt my heart. I opened 6 bottles of champagne and touched enough abs to last a lifetime. I picked up the microphone and started singing my heart out. The boys were very supportive. Even though I sang terribly, they listened as if entranced. My piercing high notes occasionally attracted people passing by to peek in. Whatever. A diva naturally attracts an audience. I sat on the shoulders of the tallest, most muscular boy, singing with abandon. Just as I was about to hit a high note, Boom! The door was kicked open. Simultaneously, the 7 boys around me popped their party poppers. Confetti and petals filled the room, covering the intruder. Seeing the scene inside, the group at the door gasped. Liam was shaking with rage. “Chloe, get down!” … This dog again! I patted the muscle boy’s shoulder, signaling him to put me down. “Bro, you’re haunting me. What do you want now?”

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The System said: “Julian Sterling is going to destroy the world. You must stop him.” I pulled out my phone. “I’m calling the cops.” The System screamed, “Stop! Do you know what love is? Do you understand what ‘redemption’ means?” Redemption. Save and redeem. I nodded. “I got it.” The next day, when I tied Julian—the billionaire heir—to a chair in my apartment, the System collapsed screaming: “YOU DON’T GET IT AT ALL!!” 1 The System was emitting a high-pitched screech in my brain. I was annoyed. “Didn’t you say ‘save’? How am I supposed to save him without tying him up? How else is his family going to pay the ransom?” The System was losing its mind. “Are you a college student or a felon?! I swear I’m going to call the cops on you! Chloe, haven’t you read a romance novel? Redemption means saving his soul! Filling his heart with love! With sunshine!” I paused for a moment. “You mean… you want me, a broke college student, to save the soul of a billionaire heir with assets worth hundreds of millions? And fill his heart with love?” What the f*ck. I wake up every day and grind just to survive. Who’s coming to redeem me? Forget it. I’m going to destroy the world too. Julian had woken up. A pair of cold, dark eyes were staring right at me. “How much do you want?” he asked calmly. Wait, is this for real? I blurted out, “Two thousand dollars!” Silence. The System and Julian both went quiet. The System broke first. “Oh my god, why did I choose someone so useless! Kidnapping is bad enough, but who kidnaps a billionaire for two grand?!” I wanted to slap this foul-mouthed System. “Ask for too much and it becomes a felony kidnapping! Do you know the law? Use some common sense!” “I’ll give you twenty thousand. Untie me,” Julian said after a long pause, sounding almost like he was sighing. My rental apartment was shabby. The young master was thrown onto my small bed, lying on his stomach, hands and feet tied behind his back. The posture was undignified, but his expression was calm. He asked unhurriedly, “You kidnapped me for two thousand dollars?” The System kept barking in my head: “Don’t say it’s for money! Make him feel your love! Love! LOVE! Do you understand?!” Under the System’s duress, I stiffly changed my tune. “I did it for love.” The young master finally lost his composure. His handsome face was written with confusion. He paused. “Is thirty thousand okay?” Thirty thousand. That’s thirty thousand dollars. With tears in my eyes, I gritted my teeth and shook my head. “I don’t want money. I just want your happiness.” Julian was silent for even longer this time. He thought I was sick. I thought I was sick too. He struggled to lift his head to look at me, trying to figure out my angle. “You know my family will find this place. Soon they’ll find you and send you to the police station. It’s not too late to let me go.” Julian negotiated patiently. “Don’t worry. As long as you let me go, I won’t let them send you to jail. I’ll even give you a large sum of money. Is fifty thousand enough?” Fifty thousand! Oh god, fifty thousand. How many DoorDash meals is that? Just as I was calculating my beautiful life with fifty grand, Julian raised the stakes. “One hundred thousand. Let me go and I’ll transfer it now.” Stop talking, rich boy. I really can’t hold out much longer. I gritted my teeth and said, almost angrily, “I don’t want anything!” Julian was lying on his stomach. I sat halfway on him, untying the ropes on his hands with tears in my eyes. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. He’s so rich, why does he want to destroy the world? My life is so hard, why do I have to save him? Let him live my life where I can’t afford meat once a day, and I guarantee he won’t have time to destroy the world! It’s just rich people problems. I was so mad my teeth itched. I couldn’t help but slap the back of his head hard. “Let me tell you, go back and live a good life! Be positive, love life, do charity! If you’re bored, sponsor a poor student like me!” Julian got smacked. He buried his face in my mattress and didn’t speak for a long time. The room was quiet. The System spoke faintly in my mind again. “The villain definitely hates you now. It’ll be harder to redeem him.” I stopped untying the rope. “What do you mean? Is he going to take revenge on me?” “Hard to say. The only info I have is that he’s vindictive, ruthless, and cruel.” I looked down slowly. Julian’s wrists were red from the ropes. I was sitting on the noble ass of a billionaire heir. And I had just suicidally slapped the back of his head. I quickly got off him and used all my strength to help Julian up. Blinking my big eyes with utmost sincerity, I said, “I have no malicious intent towards you, and I won’t take your money. But to prevent you from taking revenge on me in the future, I have to do one thing.” The young master immediately went on alert. “What are you doing?” I reached out with trembling hands, trying to unbutton his shirt. “You dare?!” Julian’s face flushed red, and he began to struggle frantically. His white dress shirt buttons were hard to undo. I was already nervous, and he was struggling violently. I could only coax him gently, “It’s okay, it’ll be over soon. I’ll finish quickly.” Maybe because I had loosened the rope a bit earlier, the knot on Julian’s hands actually came undone. Before I could dodge, he flipped me over and pinned me under him. His face was cold and menacing as he choked my neck. “Who sent you?” I confessed without thinking. “The System! That money-losing System made me do it!” “Chloe!!” The System roared. “You coward!!” Julian frowned slightly. “What did he make you do?” “Make me… make me love you.” I thought about it and shook my head. “No, make you love me.” I spoke sincerely, and Julian believed it. He nodded calmly. “Oh.” I just breathed a sigh of relief when the large hand on my neck suddenly tightened. His dark eyes were cold and emotionless, as if looking at a dead object. I couldn’t breathe. The feeling of suffocation made my vision go black. “Relax. It’ll be over soon,” Julian comforted me gently. His low, melodious voice sounded like the whisper of the Reaper. In the moment of life and death, I finally grabbed his critical area. And squeezed hard. Come on! Mutual destruction! Julian’s face changed. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he didn’t dare apply more force. I raised my eyebrows arrogantly. Julian stared at me grimly. Our eyes met, filled with pure hate. He loosened his grip a little, and I loosened mine a little. But no one let go first. The System, which had crashed from fear earlier, was now mentally broken. It laughed inexplicably. “Haha, how is this not a match made in heaven? Maybe you’ve pioneered the path of pure hate redemption. Haha, I might as well die.” After speaking, the System went completely silent. During the standoff, the front door slammed onto the floor. I looked over in shock. Immediately, a crowd rushed in through the door. Police, reporters, countless flashes going off at Julian and me. Why are there reporters? A beautiful woman crying squeezed through the crowd. “Julian! You died so…” Her crying stopped abruptly when she saw the two of us. Julian suddenly lowered his head and kissed my cheek. “Baby, let go first. We’ll continue later.” 2 I reacted instantly, covering my face quickly, not forgetting to act. “I’m so scared.” “It’s okay.” Julian sat up, rubbed my hair, and slowly untied the rope on his feet. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding.” Actually, there was no misunderstanding. The reporters were driven away. Julian faced the police alone. “This is my girlfriend. We usually play like this.” I sat in the back nodding furiously, chiming in, “Right, so what about my door?” Sadly, no one paid attention to me. “Your stepmother called the police, saying you were kidnapped by a gang of bandits.” The young and beautiful stepmother looked guilty. “Julian, I thought you were kidnapped, so I called the police.” Julian sneered. “Then I should thank you for caring about me so much.” Zero people care about my silently deceased door? I rent this place! And I am absolutely not paying to fix the door. I quickly got up, grabbed Julian’s arm, and said sweetly, “Auntie, then you have to pay for the door. You wasted police resources and trespassed on private property. But considering your age, I won’t hold it against you. Just pay me some emotional damage fees and repair costs.” Julian’s stepmother froze, looking helplessly at Julian, tears welling up again. “Julian, I…” Don’t even think about using relationships to get out of paying! I interrupted her quickly, stopping her pitiful act. “Auntie, don’t worry, we’re family. I won’t scam you. You’re a decent person; you’d be unhappy if I didn’t let you pay. Ju-Ju said you’ve always been generous.” “Ju-Ju?” Julian’s stepmother seemed unable to believe her ears. Julian also looked at me. I held his arm tightly to prevent him from turning hostile. “Yes, that’s my nickname for him. Calling him Julian feels so distant. Don’t you think Ju-Ju is catchy and positive?” She wanted to say something else, but I didn’t give her the chance. I decisively pulled out my phone and opened my QR code. “Let’s add each other on WeChat, and you can transfer the money to me.” She looked at Julian, then at me, and finally silently added me. “Taking classes for him? Taking exams? Picking up delivery?” She looked at me with a complicated expression. “Does Julian not spend money on you?” I said righteously, “We have a pure physical relationship.” Julian’s stepmother didn’t say a word and turned to leave. I didn’t forget to remind her, “Remember to transfer the money, Auntie!” Hearing this, the stepmother paused, then immediately transferred five thousand dollars. Wow! Rich people are generous! I gave a thumbs up and said sincerely, “Ju-Ju, your stepmom is a great philanthropist.” Julian stared at me for a while, then suddenly smirked. His handsome face coupled with that soul-snatching smile made it hard to look away, but I sensed a hint of danger. “Since we’ve met the parents, why don’t you come home with me?” I wanted to refuse, but his words were full of threats. “Do you want people to think you’re really a kidnapper?” Considering the police officer was still there, I swallowed my curses and smiled. “Sure, I’d love to.” Julian handed over the aftermath to someone else and prepared to take me home. I asked him to wait while I packed. I picked up my pot. Julian stood behind me. “Put it down.” Fine. Then I’ll take my fan. Julian said coldly, “Put it down.” I tentatively picked up the desk lamp. He was like a repeater. “Put it down.” Can’t take this, can’t take that! I turned around angrily, about to curse him out. Julian seemed to predict my move. “I’ll transfer you ten thousand later. Don’t take anything, okay?” I instantly softened, grinning. “Okay.” Sitting in Julian’s luxury car, I held my broken phone, grinning from ear to ear. I made fifteen thousand in just one day. Anyone would say I have a good life. Julian closed his eyes and suddenly asked, “What did you mean by that System you mentioned?” “Just what it means.” I was busy buying a new phone and didn’t have time for him. He paused and asked again, “What’s your name?” “Chloe. Chloe Fang.” He asked again, “How many people in your family?” I was getting impatient. “I’m an orphan.” “In college?” Julian opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.” I said seriously, “I have to remind you, your whereabouts are very easy to track. Why were you sleeping on the roof for no reason? It’s dangerous. If someone wanted to kill you, they could have just thrown you off.” Julian stared at me indifferently. “Then why didn’t you throw me off?” I quickly cleared my name. “Hey, watch your words. I’m not a psychopathic killer. I just wanted to redeem you.” “Redeem?” He smirked. “Are you going to redeem me in the future too?” I clasped my hands together, devout and serious. “Actually, I support you destroying the world. After I finish spending this fifteen thousand, can you blow up the world? I don’t want to face the life of a broke person anymore.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “I will destroy the world in the future?” So he doesn’t want to destroy the world yet? I called the money-losing System in my mind. “Come out! What now? What do I say?” The System was silent. He was staring at me with those clear, dark peach blossom eyes. I laughed awkwardly and explained, “No, I was talking nonsense.” He smiled without speaking. The more Julian smiled, the more panicked I got. I pleaded earnestly, “Why do you want to destroy the world? There’s no reason, Ju-Ju. Don’t you think I just love talking nonsense? Actually, I’m mentally ill. Don’t believe me, okay?” “No.” He sat up straight, half-smiling. “Starting now, I want to destroy the world.” I suspect this kid is targeting me on purpose. I darkened my face and threatened him half-heartedly, “If you want to destroy the world because of one sentence from me, then I’ll have to redeem you. From now on, I will haunt you like a ghost and make you fall in love with me.” The car slowly stopped. Before getting out, Julian chuckled low in my ear. “It’s okay, take your time.” “Maybe you won’t live to see that time.” He is definitely targeting me. With that, he turned to get out of the car. I gritted my teeth with hatred and kicked his raised butt. Get down. Julian was kicked out, stumbled, and almost fell flat on his face. “Ah, baby, I’m so sorry.” I quickly got out to help him up, patting his butt. Julian’s face was iron green, but I smiled cheerfully. “I didn’t mean to. You surely won’t be mad at me, right?” The Sterling family butler came out to greet us. A smile appeared on Julian’s face. He reached out and pinched my cheek hard. “How could I be mad at you? Baby, you are so cute. So cute I really want to strangle you.” I was in pain but couldn’t scream. I could only look at him with a smile, reaching out to pinch his cheek just as hard. I said sweetly, “Baby, actually, I love you so much I want to strangle you too.” 3 Julian and I entered the Sterling house with red marks on our faces. Grandpa Sterling was waiting for us. He heard there was a granddaughter-in-law and couldn’t wait to see me. Julian’s stepmother sat obediently by his side, eyes lowered, looking very meek. I was dressed very plainly. I thought I would be looked down upon, but the old man seemed to appreciate a broke person like me. “Look, kids these days are rarely this simple and unpretentious.” Old man, open your eyes to the world. All broke people are as unpretentious as me. “Eh? Why do you have red marks on your faces?” Grandpa Sterling asked suddenly. I smiled and touched my cheek. “We just love to play rough. Sorry you had to see that, Grandpa.” Hearing this, Julian’s stepmother turned pale and slowly stood up. “Dad, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go back first.” “Go, go. Sickly all day, no energy.” The old man seemed to dislike her, frowning impatiently. Before leaving, the philanthropist glanced at Julian. The look had a hint of resentment, quickly withdrawn, but I keenly caught it. I thought it was a plot where the stepmother hires a hitman, but it turned out to be a soap opera drama. Unfortunately, the feelings were unrequited. Julian never looked at her. I chatted with the old man for a while until he got tired. Julian helped him to rest, and the butler took me to my room. As soon as I entered the room, I stopped. Black curtains drawn tight, black carpet, black bed, even the closet was black. This was very unfriendly to someone like me who insists on pink bedsheets. I turned to look at the butler and asked sincerely, “This looks like hell. It’s so dark. Can I not stay here?” “Aren’t you staying with the Young Master? Madam said your relationship is good, so she didn’t prepare a guest room.” I smiled and shook my head. “Our relationship isn’t that good. Can I trouble you…” Before I could finish, Julian walked up from behind and interrupted me. “Uncle Zhao, she’s staying with me. You can go.” With that, the young master smiled at me slightly. “Baby, stop joking like that, or people will think we are liars.” Under duress, I had to swallow my anger and reluctantly walked into the room so dark I couldn’t see people. The door closed. Julian turned on the light, but I still looked resentful. “You didn’t say we were living together before coming.” “Didn’t you want to make me fall in love with you?” Julian walked past me, slowly taking off his watch, speaking calmly. “Spending day and night together, maybe you’ll succeed.” I didn’t think this psycho would fall in love with me, nor did I think I had that charm. But since I’m here, I just have to make the best of it. “So you’re sleeping in the same bed as me?” I asked the most critical question. The young master sat down calmly, took out a glass from the cabinet, and opened a bottle of wine that looked expensive. He poured himself a glass. “You can sleep on the floor or the sofa, but I will never sleep on the floor or the sofa.” I sneered immediately. “Then we sleep together. If I snore, grind my teeth, or fart at night, don’t regret it.” “Mmh.” Julian was as calm as could be. “If I sleepwalk in the middle of the night, just don’t be scared.” A worthy opponent. The wine on the table looked expensive. I poured myself a glass angrily. This wine must cost a fortune. Not drinking it is a waste! First time drinking liquor, I downed it in one gulp. Julian glanced at me but didn’t speak. “What kind of crappy wine is this? So bitter. Bitter and spicy.” I choked, taking a while to recover. After a while, my chest felt hot, and my consciousness drifted a bit. I sat next to Julian, staring at his face, forgetting what I wanted to say. After a long time, I finally remembered. I reached out to cup his face and shouted in surprise, “I remember! I wanted to tell you, you’re actually pretty big!” Julian slapped my hand away, his ears turning completely red. “What nonsense are you talking about?!” I took the opportunity to persuade him. “Look at you. Rich, handsome, highly educated, and remarkably well-endowed. What’s there to be unhappy about?” Thinking of my own crappy life, comparing it to others felt like a joke. I sighed. “I can’t even imagine what troubles you could have.” I suddenly remembered the philanthropist. “Don’t tell me it’s unrequited love. Your dad will die sooner or later. Your good days are ahead.” Julian finally snapped back and pushed me away. I floated down onto the sofa. Well, wherever I fall is where I’ll sleep for a while. “No sleeping.” Julian patted my cheek. “Tell me what else you know.” I suddenly felt so wronged. Sleeping was my only joy. Before, I had to work and study and never got enough sleep. Why can’t I sleep now? I was aggrieved to death. I asked him, “Why can’t I sleep? I haven’t slept well in a long time.” Julian frowned and lowered his voice. “I’ll let you sleep after you finish talking.” “What did the System tell you?” I thought about it. “He said you will destroy the world in the future, and no one can stop you. He also said you are vindictive and ruthless. He told me to love you, fill your heart with love and sunshine, treat you well, and redeem you.” “Anything else?” I closed my eyes again, planning to sleep. “Nothing else.” Julian picked me up, forcing me to stay awake. “Did anyone send you to assassinate me? Is the System a code name? Where is he?” This guy is too suspicious. “No.” I had to open my eyes. “The System is just a system. He crashed and stopped contacting me. How would I know?” I leaned on his shoulder, unable to control myself, complaining, “Do you have persecution mania? Do you think the whole world is your enemy? In this world, only I have the obligation to be good to you, and you don’t even cherish it.” Julian stopped talking. I was drowsy but felt something was wrong. Why did I answer whatever he asked? Is this what they call “truth after drinking”? Whatever. Sleep. I had a terrible dream. I dreamed I was tightly wrapped by a giant python. The black python was thick and strong, wrapping around my whole body. It didn’t eat me, just waited slowly for me to suffocate to death. No, no. This feeling of death-like suffocation was incredibly real. I struggled, trying desperately to break free. “Help, don’t eat me.” In the nick of time, I finally shouted out. A hand broke free and slapped the python’s big head. A crisp sound rang in my ear. My palm stung slightly. I opened my eyes slowly, confused. Because Julian was holding me in his arms in an extremely ambiguous posture. He buried his head in my hair, seeming to smell my scent. “What are you doing?” I was speechless. His expression didn’t change, nor did he try to explain. He slowly let go. There was a clear red mark on Julian’s fair face. Just as I was about to ask if he planned to murder me, the butler knocked on the door. “Sir is asking for you two.” … Yes, he has persecution mania. He had this problem since childhood. After some treatment, he still always feels someone is trying to harm him. Chloe fell asleep in his arms. Julian thought about it and didn’t let go. She had a reassuring scent. Holding her felt safe. At first, he only wanted to hold her for a while. Somehow it evolved into holding her tightly. A slap came. Julian froze, looking down. Their eyes met. Julian suddenly thought she looked cute. Her eyes were bright, like a puppy. He wanted to laugh, but he held it back. Because if Chloe knew his thoughts, she would jump up and hit him on the head. Flailing her claws, as if afraid of nothing. Chloe walked in front of him. Although she had never been here, never met his father, she was confident, as if she could solve any problem. Julian followed closely behind her. 4 Julian’s father expressed great disappointment about today’s events and told Julian to break up with me as soon as possible. I lowered my eyes, but Julian didn’t seem to listen at all. He held my hand in his and kept kneading it. He pinched my fingertips. I glanced at him unhappily. Do you have a death wish? This is a hand, not a stress ball. Julian’s father also noticed his small movements. In a rage, he slammed the table. “Look at what you’ve become!” Father Sterling was furious, but Julian smiled very happily. I silently stared at Julian. Does this guy have Oppositional Defiant Disorder? “I don’t even want to talk about that slap mark on your face!” Father Sterling glanced at me, then took out several stacks of cash from the safe behind him and slammed them heavily on the table. I finally stopped playing dead. I pulled my hand back sharply, sat up straight, and looked at Father Sterling expectantly. Come on! Smash me with money! Give me money, let me roll! Father Sterling’s face turned red. He pointed at Julian and roared, “Slap him again for me, and all this money is yours!” My eyes lit up. Really? Daddy. Is money this easy to earn? “You dare.” Julian glanced at me and said in a low voice. I slapped him without thinking. “Bold! Is this how you talk to your father? I hit you not because of the money, but because you failed your father’s painstaking efforts!” Julian looked at me gloomily. I widened my eyes. “What are you looking at? Apologize to Uncle!” I stood up abruptly and advised earnestly, “I know you are a filial person. Uncle treats you so well. I can’t bear to let you father and son have differences because of me. No choice, Ju-Ju. I love you very much, but I still have to go. Let’s break up!” Although no tears came out, my tone was very sincere. I looked grief-stricken and reached for the tens of thousands of dollars on the table. Too sad. Can only run away with the money in tears. Just as I reached out, Father Sterling suddenly held my hand, seemingly deeply touched by my words. “Chloe, children as sensible as you are rare nowadays. Uncle spoke a bit heavily just now.” I froze. “Now it seems you and Julian are a good match. You must discipline him well.” Julian also stood up and put his arm around me. “Dad, now you know? Chloe is such a simple, unpretentious, non-greedy girl. You give her money, she doesn’t even want it.” Father Sterling withdrew his hand in shame and stuffed all the money back. “Uncle was too shallow. Chloe, don’t hold it against me.” I really wanted to cry this time. Not taking this money is no different from losing it. I walked downstairs in a daze and ate with the Sterling family. At the dinner table, I learned Julian has two younger brothers. One about his age named Ryan. They didn’t look much alike. Ryan sat the farthest away, eyes lowered. After saying hello, he sat down obediently to eat. There was also a four-year-old brother named Nate, looking sturdy and cute. Julian’s stepmother is named Catherine. She went to the same school as me before. After graduating from college, she married Father Sterling. The Sterling family relationships aren’t too complicated. After dinner, Julian had things to deal with and asked me to go back to the room to rest first. When I went upstairs, I met Ryan following behind me. To be polite, I waited for him. Ryan looked up at me. His dark brown eyes had no emotion. He said nothing. I didn’t know what to say either, so I smiled at him. We walked upstairs side by side and separated at the stairs. I lost tens of thousands of dollars. I lay on the sofa sighing in despair. When Julian came back, I threw a pillow at him. “That was tens of thousands of dollars! Julian, are you targeting me on purpose?” He caught the pillow easily and smirked. “I haven’t settled the score with you for hitting me yet.” I cursed his entire family in my heart. Julian walked slowly to me, sat down slowly, and said casually, “Stay away from everyone in this house, especially Ryan.” I always take such advice to heart. I nodded and silently moved away from Julian. Julian noticed my movement, glanced at me, and pulled me back with a cold face. “Not including me.” He knocked on my head with his finger, frowning slightly in confusion. “Aren’t you afraid of bad guys trying to harm you?” I really wanted to say, no one in this world is worse than you. But I didn’t say it. I just told him sincerely, “Nothing in this world scares me except poverty. As long as I have money, I am invincible.” Hearing this, Julian curled his lips slightly but said nothing. A large sofa. He read beside me, and I lay by his legs catching up on villain redemption novels. The quiet and comfortable environment was relaxing but also made my mind wander. I suddenly sat up. Julian looked up at me. I looked at him seriously. “Were you bullied?” He said without hesitation, “No.” I didn’t give up. “Then were you bullied by your family?” Julian didn’t change his expression, saying coldly, “No either. As you can see, no one in this house can do anything to me yet.” Impossible! There’s always a reason for becoming a villain! I held his hand, intending to warm his heart through thermal transfer. “Then tell the truth. Are you rebellious because of Catherine?” “Catherine… she is indeed a bit annoying.” He thought for a moment, closed the book with his other hand, and squeezed my hand slightly. “She chased me for a long time. Very annoying.” Me: “…Then what is the biggest setback in your life?” Julian smiled. “Baby, I’m different from you. My life has no setbacks.” I couldn’t smile. What does that mean? Is this dead thing speaking human language? Is he inhuman? The villain with no setbacks pulled the phone from my hand, glanced at the book title. “Better uninstall it. Reading this stuff all the time, you won’t live until the day the world is destroyed.” I raised an eyebrow and retorted, “If your life has no setbacks, why do you suspect someone wants to kill you?” Julian pinched my fingers, answering slowly, “If you hadn’t kidnapped me, I wouldn’t suspect someone wanted to kill me.” So it’s all my fault? I was dead inside. I exited the reading app, slightly dissatisfied. “I also think these redemption novels are unreliable. Kissing and hugging for no reason, is that serious redemption?” Julian always has a sharp tongue. I thought he would laugh at me, but he put the book aside. “It’s late. Time to sleep.” Julian slept on the bed, I slept on the sofa. All these years, I could sleep in any harsh environment. Sleeping on a soft, large sofa was already very good. The pitch-black environment helped sleep. I fell asleep in a while. I dreamed I was wrapped by a giant python again. Help. Why are there pythons everywhere? This time the python wrapped tighter, even biting my neck. So scary. Pythons evolve. I opened my eyes groggily. The pitch-black room prevented me from seeing who was beside me. Hot breath scattered on my neck and chest. My waist and back were hugged tightly. Julian buried his head in my neck like a dying ghost, inhaling deeply, as if he were a plant dying of thirst, lying on me to absorb water and nutrients.

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The year Liam and I hated each other the most was the year he tortured and killed the dog I had raised for ten years, just to please his little secretary. In retaliation, I stabbed the secretary five times. I watched her scream and lose her mind like it was a work of art. Everyone thought Liam would take my life. Instead, he just threw divorce papers at me and said coldly: “You’re nothing but a dog the Miller family raised. If you want to be crazy, get out.” After that night, I disappeared. Until five years later, when I attended a gala in my father’s place and saw Liam’s secretary again. She poured red wine on me. “I was wondering who this was. Turns out it’s the dog the Millers threw away.” I grabbed a bottle of champagne and smashed it over her head. “Five years didn’t teach you how to be human. Today, I will.” 1 Sarah’s screams echoed through the hall. Her entourage immediately swarmed in front of her, yelling at me. “Who the hell are you?!” “Do you know who you just hit?!” “Let me tell you,” the loudest one pointed a finger in my face, “she is the fiancée of the heir to the Miller Group! You offend her, and Liam won’t let you off!” Someone even blocked my path, sneering, “I want to see which idiot has no eyes and dares to offend Liam’s heart. Everyone knows Liam is a wife-guy. Usually, if Miss Sarah even loses a hair, Liam turns the world upside down. And you just broke her head open!” Sarah clutched her bleeding forehead, glaring at me viciously. “I’m telling you, Charlotte, I was kind enough to let you go five years ago, but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you now! You were just a dog Liam kept at home! Five years ago I could ruin you, and since you dare to show up today, I can ruin you again!” I looked at the changes in Sarah over the last five years. I had to admit. Liam had taken good care of her. The woman who used to timidly call me “Mrs. Miller” could now publicly threaten to “ruin” me. Unfortunately, I’ve never been a pushover. Not five years ago. And certainly not now. Surrounded by the crowd, I looked at the shattered glass on the floor. I bent down, and to everyone’s shock, picked up a sharp shard. I smiled. “Sarah.” I walked towards her step by step. “Five years ago,” I dangled the bloody shard, “I gave you too much face.” “What?” I stared at Sarah’s lower abdomen, dragging the shard’s path through the air from her face down to her stomach. “Stabbing out your uterus wasn’t enough to teach you a lesson?” “In that case.” My smile turned sinister. Before anyone could react, I raised the shard and stabbed it violently towards her stomach. But. Before I could make contact, my wrist was suddenly grabbed. I heard a scream, and then Sarah’s tearful voice. “Liam.” “I’m scared.” Five years ago, when I pinned Sarah to the ground and stabbed her again and again, she had looked at him with the same terrified eyes and cried the same words. “Liam, I’m scared.” Time overlapped. A familiar voice came from behind me. “Charlotte, it’s been five years.” “How come,” Liam’s voice was dark, “you still haven’t learned to behave?” My wrist was yanked hard. The pain made me frown, but I didn’t submit like I did five years ago. Instead, it ignited the suppressed violence in my blood. I gripped the shard tightly, feeling it cut into my own palm. Just as Liam was about to snatch it away… I turned my head quickly and smiled at him. “Long time no see.” “Liam.” I drove the shard deep into Liam’s arm. Blood sprayed, blurring my vision. 2 The venue descended into chaos. I heard countless screams, shouts for security, and whispers of shock. “Who is this woman? Is she crazy?! She dared to stab Liam Miller!” “Wait, I heard Miss Sarah say five years ago… Didn’t Liam kick out an orphan the Miller family adopted, his nominal wife, five years ago? Holy sh*t, is that her?” “Doesn’t look like her.” “I heard that orphan had no family, only a dog. And because the dog offended Miss Sarah, it was tortured to death all night! Everyone in the elite circle has seen that video! The dog was skinned alive!” “Look! Liam is actually laughing!” Blood seeped from Liam’s arm. Sarah screamed, “Liam!” Then, ignoring her own bleeding forehead, she rushed at Liam like a maniac, shielding him behind her and screaming at me. “Charlotte! How dare you hurt Liam!” “The Miller family raised you for twenty years, and this is how you repay them? You ungrateful wolf! Apologize to Liam right now!” Watching Sarah act like the mistress of the Miller household, ordering me around, I only found it amusing. I looked at Liam. “Raised for five years, and you raised a dog to bark for you. Liam, do you feel satisfied?” Sarah’s face went pale. Liam immediately pulled Sarah behind him, just like five years ago. “Charlotte, we were done five years ago.” “I told you, my heart only has Sarah. I won’t love you, and I can’t like you,” Liam looked at me coldly. “I don’t care how you lived these past five years, or how you got an invite to sneak in here.” “But I will never let you return to the Miller family to harm Sarah again.” “Charlotte.” Liam looked down at me from his height. “I could have ignored your existence today, but since you hurt Sarah, you have to pay the price.” Liam clapped his hands, and a group of security guards surrounded us. “Do you choose to do it yourself, or should I?” A guard handed him a knife. Liam took it, waiting for my answer. But I laughed out loud. “Liam, do you think the world revolves around you?” I pointed at the knife in his hand. “If you have the guts, you’d better finish me today,” I stepped closer. “Otherwise, when it’s my turn to deal with you…” “Don’t you dare,” I leaned in close, articulating clearly, “kneel and beg for mercy.” “Hahaha.” My laughter echoed in the silent banquet hall. Liam’s face was dark. Seeing him tremble with rage reminded me of five years ago. He used my dog, Buddy, to force me to kneel and kowtow. He locked Buddy in a cage, taped his mouth shut, and threatened to slice him open if I didn’t beg. My pride was shattered. Watching Buddy in agony, I knelt and begged. “Liam!” I cried and pleaded. “Don’t hurt Buddy.” “I admit it! I was wrong! I know I was wrong!” I only had Buddy. My only wish was to take Buddy and leave the Miller family. I begged desperately. “Let Buddy go! Please let him go!” I will never forget the look of pain in Buddy’s eyes. And I will never forget the hatred carved into my bones. Facing Liam now, all that remains is unburned rage. “Liam, you’re just a dog played by Sarah,” I said word by word. “If your grandfather knew he handed the family to you, he’d crawl out of his grave to strangle you!” “After all, the Miller family is completely finished!” 3 My throat was strangled tight. My breath was stolen. Oxygen was fading. I met Liam’s crimson eyes and heard his vicious, insane voice. “Charlotte, don’t think I won’t kill you!” “You are just a dog of the Miller family,” Liam slammed me onto the floor. Champagne glass shards pierced my skin, cutting countless tiny wounds. The pain made me shudder. Liam grabbed my hair. “If I want you to kneel, you kneel!” “If I want you to die! You die!” Liam smirked at me. “But today, I don’t really want you to die.” “After all,” Liam patted my face, “such a good toy shouldn’t be broken so easily, right?” I looked at Liam, inches away. I remembered the day Sarah sent me that video, her tone bragging. I just told Liam the dog scared me, and he skinned it. Say, if next time I tell Liam you scare me too, will he skin you as well? So funny! Nominally you are Mrs. Miller, but you are lower than a servant. Now, looking at Liam’s expression, a metallic taste rose in my throat. As he raised his hand to slap my face again, I spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto his face. Seeing the momentary shock turn to disgust on his face, I laughed. “That’s right, Liam.” “How can you die so quickly,” I mimicked his tone and laughed, “After all, such a fun game has to be played to the end.” Since I came back. I never planned to let the Millers go. Everyone who hurt Buddy will pay. Buddy died a cruel death; how could I spare them? Seeing my stubbornness. Liam suddenly let go of my hair and wiped the bloody spit off his face. “True.” “Some things need to be tortured slowly.” “Since you’re back,” Liam looked at me, “let’s play.” Liam stopped looking at me and ordered the guards. “Watch her.” “Don’t let her run.” Then, Liam returned to his gentle self, turning to Sarah. “Does it hurt?” He gently wiped away Sarah’s tears. “I’ll take you to the private room.” Sarah collapsed into his arms, sobbing. “With you, it doesn’t hurt.” “With you here,” she choked out, “I’m not afraid of anything.” I watched Liam carry Sarah away. I sat on the floor, the tiny cuts stinging. The sycophants around me started spewing venom. “Who does she think she is? Daring to hurt Liam. It’s a mercy he didn’t half-kill her today. Get lost.” “Exactly! I heard before, she’s just an orphan Old Man Miller picked up. The family raised her, and she bit the hand that fed her by attacking Miss Sarah. She deserved to be kicked out.” “By the way,” someone laughed and opened their phone, “I still have the video of that dog.” The person opened their gallery and found the torture video. Others crowded around. “Let me see.” “I want to see too.” 4 Buddy’s screams rang out. It triggered something in me. I picked up a shard from the floor, grabbed that guy by his hair, and stabbed it into his eye. Screams drilled into my ears. I admired it like art, turning to see the people who were pointing at me moments ago now silenced. No one dares to mess with a lunatic. Especially a lunatic like me, who dared to take the life of the Miller heir. Even the security guards didn’t dare touch me. I looked at the crowd of cowards, spat out a mouthful of blood, dropped a “Useless,” and headed in Liam’s direction. Liam took Sarah to the private room and called his private doctor. The doctor carefully examined Sarah’s wound, but she cried, “Don’t look at me, look at Liam.” “I really didn’t expect,” Sarah choked, “Charlotte is even crazier after five years. I shouldn’t have been soft-hearted back then. She’s here now because she can’t let go of you.” “Back then, everyone knew Charlotte loved you to death. Just because you were a little nice to me, she embarrassed me in public and slapped me.” Sarah wiped her tears. “Liam, don’t let her ruin our relationship again, okay?” Liam sat by the bed, holding Sarah’s hand, comforting her softly. “I won’t, don’t worry.” “To me,” Liam scoffed, “Charlotte was just a toy. When I was bored as a kid, I’d lock her in a dark room and scare her with snakes and rats. Listening to her cry was fun.” “Later, I found out she was feeding stray dogs, so I poisoned a few. She actually pulled a knife on me for those animals.” Liam gritted his teeth. “That dog deserved to die.” I reached the door of the private room just in time to hear this. I remembered back then, Liam chained me up for three whole days. I was covered in wounds, yet he still choked me and demanded: “No birth control!” I still remember Liam’s sick, obsessive eyes clearly. “Since playing with you isn’t enough, then carry my seed. I want to see if your bones are still this hard when you’re pregnant with my child!” Later, Buddy brought the Old Man to save me. Buddy went with me to the hospital, where I ensured I could never be a mother. Even if I could never have children. I would never give birth to a child with Liam’s blood. That was also when. Liam decided to kill Buddy. My phone vibrated. I looked at the caller ID, my face softening. “You went to the gala for Dad?” His voice was gentle. “Heard the ex-husband is there too. Why didn’t you wait for me?” Hearing his voice, I couldn’t help complaining. “I’m about to get killed! Come save me before I die!” I hung up. I heard Sarah ask him, “What if Charlotte still wants to be with you?” Before Liam could answer. I kicked open the door. Facing Sarah’s shocked face, Liam immediately shielded her. “Charlotte! You really have no shame!” “You chased us here!” Liam looked at me with amusement. “What, want to come back and be Mrs. Miller? Who do you think you are—” I raised the knife in my hand, rushed to Liam, and stabbed it into his abdomen. I sneered at him. “Liam!” “Go to hell!”

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I used a rock to smash a car window, saving my uncle who had driven his car into a river. But instead of thanking me, he blamed me for accidentally scratching his paint job and demanded my family pay him $20,000 in repair fees. My grandma chimed in with even more shocking logic: “All he had to do was open the door and swim out! Who told you to go smashing windows? If you ask me, your family owes your uncle a brand-new car!” My mom snapped back on the spot. “If it weren’t for Jane saving him, he’d be fish food by now. Forget twenty grand—I’d burn a hundred cars for him at his funeral!” Denied his compensation, my uncle flew into a rage. He drove his truck and rammed our family car off a bridge and into the river. “Won’t pay? Fine! Let’s see how you like having your car wrecked!” My parents died instantly. I ended up in the ICU. But Grandma took the money meant for my life-saving surgery and gave it to my uncle. “Even if your parents are dead, a debt is a debt! He needs a new car!” As I died filled with hatred in that hospital bed, my uncle was happily picking up a new car at the dealership. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the riverbank, watching the car sink rapidly into the water. This time, I’d like to see how my unconscious uncle plans to just “open the door” and swim out. 1 I was awakened by the loud crash of my uncle’s car hitting the water. I opened my eyes to see the vehicle already drifting toward the center of the river. The water was swallowing the car at an alarming rate, seeping into the cabin and submerging most of the seats in seconds. Even though the water was up to his legs, Uncle Rick was slumped over the airbag in the driver’s seat, motionless. Without rescue, an unconscious Rick would sink to the bottom of the river with his car within five minutes. In my past life, seeing this, I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed a rock from the bridge and smashed the window. I knew that once a car is submerged, the water pressure makes opening doors impossible. Smashing the window is the only way out. I never expected that this common-sense act of survival would bring total destruction upon my family. After escaping through the window I broke, Rick didn’t offer a single word of thanks. Instead, he blamed me for scratching his paint job with the rock, leaving three coin-sized dents. I explained that the car was drifting in the current, making it hard to aim. But he wouldn’t let it go. “I just bought this BMW! Your daughter smashed it up. Family or not, business is business. You owe me twenty grand!” My parents called him ungrateful. But Rick insisted he would have survived without me. “There are plenty of ways to escape! Who said you have to break the window? Someone else might have saved me without damaging my car!” “Your daughter just had to play hero and ruin my window. Now I have to spend an extra grand fixing it. I’m being generous not asking for that too!” Hearing that Rick had to pay for the window, Grandma turned on me. “You little brat, can’t keep your hands to yourself! Opening the door is easy! Who told you to smash the car?” Then she demanded my mom buy Rick a whole new car. “Your brother’s nice car is ruined because of your daughter. If you don’t pay him back, don’t call me your mother anymore!” 2 Usually, Mom gave in to Rick and Grandma’s demands. But seeing their greed grow out of control, she finally woke up and firmly refused. “Jane did nothing wrong. We won’t pay a single cent!” Rejected, Rick locked the gate, trapping us, and threatened violence. This infuriated my parents. They warned him that if he didn’t let us go, they’d report his drunk driving to the police and sue him for the $15,000 he’d borrowed over the years. Hearing “police,” Rick reluctantly let us leave. But as we drove onto a nearby bridge, Rick chased us down in his truck and rammed our car into the river. “Won’t pay? Fine! Let’s see how you like having your car wrecked!” My parents drowned. I suffered severe brain damage and was rushed to the ICU. Friends and coworkers pooled money for my surgery. Grandma promised them she’d do everything to save me. Then she turned around, signed a “Do Not Resuscitate” order, and gave the money to Rick to buy a new car. She cremated my parents and told everyone they died due to drunk driving. While I lay dying in agony, Grandma comforted Rick. “Don’t blame yourself! Their deaths have nothing to do with you. It’s their own fault for being bad people!” “Look! You both drove into the river, but you’re fine and they’re dead! If that’s not karma, what is?” Karma. I clenched my fists tight. I hope that in this life, when Grandma sees Rick’s corpse, she can still casually call it karma. The crash naturally attracted the villagers. But it took nearly a minute for anyone to actually walk to the riverbank. Several elderly voices rang out. “Did I hear that right? Sounds like a car went in the water?” “Let me put on my glasses… Oh my! It really is a car. We should call 911!” “Huh? Where’s my phone?” Watching the old folks slowly patting their pockets for phones, I almost laughed. In my past life, when Rick woke up on the shore, the police and fire department had already arrived, leading him to believe plenty of people could have saved him. He didn’t know that the only reason a kid like me had to smash the window was that the first responders on the scene were geriatrics and toddlers. 3 In Grandma’s village, most young adults had moved to the city for work. The place was populated almost entirely by the elderly and children left behind. Though there were many people, almost none had the ability to save Rick. As the crowd on the riverbank grew, I squinted, scanning the faces. Soon, the person I was waiting for appeared. Grandma squeezed her way to the front of the crowd of old ladies with surprising agility, craning her neck toward the center of the river. I pricked up my ears, waiting for her reaction. But to my surprise, upon seeing the car, Grandma put her hands on her hips and laughed out loud. “Haha! Serves him right! Driving like a maniac in the village! Hope you drown, you bastard!” I was stunned. The onlookers were stunned too. “Martha, why would you say that? Do you have a grudge against the driver?” “Yeah! Do you know whose car that is?” Seeing that the villagers didn’t recognize the car, I remembered. Rick had bragged about “just picking up” the BMW in my past life. I thought he meant he bought it recently, but now I realized this was the first time he’d driven it back to the village. Even his own mother didn’t know it was his car. Grandma said angrily to the villagers: “I don’t know him! But this car almost hit me on the road just now. If I hadn’t dodged fast, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you!” She pointed at her clothes. “Look! I had to roll on the ground to dodge him. Look at my new clothes!” Grandma was wearing the new outfit my mom brought her today. It was a light blue jacket, now covered in mud, looking almost brown. Looking at Grandma’s clothes, I slapped my forehead. I remembered something else. In my past life, after waking up, Rick said he was going to settle the score with an old lady in blue. He claimed he drove into the river because that old lady suddenly jumped in front of his car, causing him to panic and swerve. Well, well, well! So the person Rick almost hit was Grandma. I was so focused on saving him last time that I missed the drama on the shore! I was getting more and more curious about Grandma’s expression when she realized the person in the car was her son. Strangely, despite hearing Grandma’s near-death experience, none of the other elderly people responded to her. Another minute passed. The kids finally managed to find two middle-aged men. As soon as they saw the car, they started discussing rescue plans and asking the elderly folks for help. “Did anyone call 911?” “Quick, take a picture and send it to the village group chat. Let’s see whose car this is! Get their family here!” “Who has tools? We need something to break the window!” 4 With someone taking charge, the elderly folks finally mobilized, taking pictures, making calls, and hobbling home to find tools. Seeing the villagers ignoring her and obeying the newcomers, Grandma unhappily tried to make her presence known. “What’s the rush! Wait until you drag the body out, then call the family to identify it!” Grandma’s mouth was always venomous, and after nearly getting hit, she was in full curse mode. “Martha, the man isn’t dead yet! Save your breath for prayers!” “Exactly! They’re going to save him!” Grandma got riled up and started arguing. “Driving like that, even if he doesn’t drown today, he’ll crash eventually! He didn’t hit me this time, but what if he hits someone else later? You’re saving a murderer!” I don’t know how others felt hearing this, but a chill ran down my spine. However, the villagers were much busier than me. They had no time to argue with Grandma. The two middle-aged men had stripped down and jumped into the water. The elderly folks were handing them tools. “See if this works for the window!” “Take this inner tube! Be safe!” In the bustling crowd, only Grandma was as idle as I was. She sat on a stone bench, crossed her legs, and started pouring cold water on the rescue efforts. “Ooh! You guys really aren’t afraid of death. So many people have drowned in this river. Aren’t you afraid of the water ghosts pulling you down instead of saving anyone?” This made a few teenagers who wanted to help hesitate. The river currents were strong, and there were whirlpools. People really had drowned here. Plus, it was Ghost Month. The mention of “water ghosts” scared the superstitious elders into holding their grandkids back. “Go home! This isn’t for you!” Seeing Grandma discouraging everyone, Mrs. Lee from the east side of the village couldn’t take it anymore. “Can you stop talking! It’s a human life! Are you going to watch him drown? Your Rick drives too. If this happened to him, would you want everyone to just stand by?” Hearing this, Grandma jumped three feet in the air and grabbed Mrs. Lee’s hair. “You old hag! How dare you curse my Rick to drown? I’ll throw you in the river right now!” Mrs. Lee’s son was one of the men in the water. He had already swum out a few meters. Hearing the commotion, he looked back to see Grandma shoving his mother toward the water. He had to turn back immediately. Seeing the rescuer return to shore, others who planned to help stopped. “What’s wrong? Is there something in the water?” The momentum to save the person deflated significantly.

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My boyfriend of five years, Justin, promised me a “huge surprise” for my birthday. I was full of anticipation, thinking he was finally going to propose. But at exactly 1:14 PM, he sent me a Venmo for $0.25 with the note: “Read it backward.” When I called him out for being cheap and thoughtless, he got defensive. “I timed it perfectly for 13:14 (1:14 PM military time, sounds like ‘forever’ in Chinese slang) to send you that red packet, and you’re calling me thoughtless? Chloe, you really are a gold digger!” I was shaking with anger, but he just slammed the door and left. That same night, he took his childhood sweetheart to a charity auction and spent $520,000 on a “Heart of True Love” necklace for her. I packed my bags and left him without a word. A year later, we met again at a business gala. Seven months pregnant, I leaned into my billionaire husband’s arms and introduced Justin: “Honey, this is the ex-boyfriend who sent me 25 cents and told me to read it backward.” Chapter 1 When I ran into Justin’s best friend, Liam, I was already seven months pregnant. I was bored, so I went to the supermarket with our housekeeper. While she was in the produce section, I wandered into the home goods aisle and bumped into Liam. He looked shocked, pacing back and forth near me until I finally called his name. He rushed over. “Chloe? Is that really you? Where have you been? It’s been so long!” I nodded politely. “I went to Hong Kong. Just got back recently.” Liam’s jaw dropped. “Hong Kong? Justin has been going crazy looking for you!” Hearing Justin’s name again didn’t even cause a ripple in my heart. I replied casually: “Why is he looking for me? We don’t really have any reason to be in contact.” “Huh? Aren’t you guys still together…” “We ended things a long time ago.” It ended the day he sent me that $0.25. A year ago, on my birthday. Justin, my boyfriend of five years, said he had a surprise for me. I excitedly waited, thinking a proposal was coming. Instead, at 1:14 PM, I got a notification: You received $0.25. “My birthday, and you send me a quarter?” I looked at Justin in disbelief. “Justin, five years, and this is how you treat me?” Facing my questions, Justin acted even angrier than I was. “Read 0.25 backward! It’s 520! It means ‘I love you’!” “And I specifically waited until 13:14 (forever) to send it! Instead of being moved, you call me thoughtless?” “Is it because it’s too little money? Sarah was right, you really are just after my money!” With that, he slammed the door and left before I could react. I was shaking with rage, tears streaming down my face. But thinking about my birthday and our five-year relationship, I endured it. I pulled myself together, cooked a table full of his favorite dishes, and waited for him to come back so we could talk. I waited and waited. The clock ticked from 11:59 PM to 0:00 AM. The food went cold. My birthday passed. Justin never came back. Just as I picked up my phone to call him, a headline stabbed me in the eyes: “Heir to the Lin Group Spends $520k Just to Make a Beauty Smile” My hands trembled as I clicked the link. The article detailed Justin’s glorious deed at the auction that night: spending $520,000 on the “Heart of True Love” necklace for his childhood sweetheart, Sarah. There was even a photo of Justin smiling as he put the necklace on a blushing Sarah. I stared blankly at my phone, tears blurring my vision, my heart filled with bitter acid. On my birthday, he sent me $0.25. Then turned around and dropped half a million on Sarah. Was he telling me I was only worth a quarter? Five years of love, traded for this humiliation. My heart died that night. I packed my bags and moved out. I deleted Justin from everything, blocked everyone associated with him, and changed my number. Later, I met my current husband and moved to Hong Kong with him. A year had passed. I had long forgotten Justin. If I hadn’t run into Liam, I probably wouldn’t have remembered he existed. Chapter 2 “You and Justin were together for five years, how can you just cut it off like that?” Liam looked disapproving. “Chloe, Justin hasn’t stopped looking for you all year. Stop being stubborn and just contact him.” I asked him back, “You think I’ve been holding a grudge for a whole year?” Liam was speechless, looking a bit awkward at my indifference. “Ma’am, I’ve got the groceries. We can head back now.” My housekeeper walked over with the bags, speaking respectfully. Liam exclaimed, “You’re married?!” I nodded calmly. “Yes, I am.” “You’re really married? Then Justin…” “Doesn’t Justin have Sarah? They seem close. Haven’t they settled down after all these years?” “What are you saying? Sarah and Justin are just friends…” Liam’s voice trailed off under my gaze. Clearly, even he felt Justin and Sarah’s relationship crossed the line of “just friends.” “Oh well, not my business anyway. I’m going home; my husband gets off work soon.” With that, I left with the housekeeper. I thought that was the end of it, but I ran into Justin at a gala. He was wearing a bespoke suit, chatting elegantly. When he saw me, he froze, then rushed over aggressively. “Chloe?” I gave him a faint nod, feeling annoyed. If I knew he was here, I would have ordered room service. Seeing my indifference, Justin’s face stiffened, then he demanded angrily, “Liam told me he saw you, and I didn’t believe him. A year without a word, and you have nothing to say to me?” I looked at him, confused. Did I have anything to say to him? Justin’s face went cold. “You left me because you thought 25 cents was too little, and now look at you. Is this the life you wanted?” What’s wrong with my life? I looked down at my pajamas. Sure, they were a bit out of place compared to the haute couture at the gala. But I had just woken up hungry and was too lazy to change, so I threw on a shawl to find food. If I knew I’d see him, I wouldn’t have come down. “Chloe, long time no see.” Sarah appeared out of nowhere, linking arms with Justin. Her eyes were full of disdain. “Haven’t seen you in so long. Didn’t expect you to become a mistress.” I frowned at her. “What nonsense are you spouting?” “Isn’t it true?” Sarah scoffed. “This gala is invite-only for VIPs. You have no background, no status, and you’re wearing a bathrobe. You obviously sold your body to get in here.” I rolled my eyes at her certainty. Not wanting to deal with this drama, I turned to leave. But Justin grabbed my wrist, believing her instantly. “You actually became someone’s mistress!” His grip was tight, hurting my wrist. I cried out in pain, “Let go!” “Justin, take it easy. Look at her, she probably just crawled out of someone’s bed.” Sarah fanned the flames. Red-eyed with rage, Justin raised his hand to slap me. The slap landed heavy on my right cheek. It swelled up immediately. I stumbled, instinctively protecting my belly. Sarah saw my movement and yanked off my shawl. My seven-month baby bump was exposed for all to see. Chapter 3 “You’re pregnant?!” Anger practically spilled out of Justin’s eyes. “Chloe, you left me without even a breakup, and now you’re a mistress carrying someone else’s child!” “In the end, you really are a gold digger. You left just because I didn’t give you enough money, didn’t you!?” Watching him rage, I found it hilariously pathetic. He always thought I was with him for his money. He forgot that when we met, I didn’t even like him. I stayed away from his “rich heir” identity. He claimed love at first sight, chased me relentlessly for three years, and even got injured saving me before I finally agreed to date him. Now he accuses me of wanting his money. “What? Silence because Justin hit the nail on the head? Embarrassed?” Sarah taunted. I took a deep breath and looked at her blankly. “Sarah, if you like Justin, go chase him. Why are you obsessed with me?” “I have a husband who loves and spoils me. I stopped liking Justin a long time ago. What’s the point of targeting me?” Sarah’s face froze. She glanced at Justin and denied it instantly. “What are you talking about?! I only see Justin as a friend!” A friend she wants to sleep with? I scoffed, ignoring them, and turned to leave. But Sarah stepped forward, grabbed my arm, and with a fake stumble, snapped the pearl necklace around her own neck. She shrieked: “I spent a million dollars on this necklace at an auction! Why did you break it?!” Pearls scattered everywhere, attracting everyone’s attention and blocking my path. I frowned, annoyed. “What do you want?” Sarah sneered. “You broke my necklace, obviously you have to pay for it!” I looked at her coldly. “You know exactly who broke it!” Sarah leaned in, whispering maliciously: “If I say you broke it, you broke it. Do you think people will believe you or me?” Seeing her smug face, my stomach started to cramp. To avoid trouble, I thought about transferring the money first and dealing with her later. Then I realized I didn’t have my phone. “I didn’t bring my phone. Let me go back to my room to transfer it.” Sarah laughed like she heard the biggest joke. “Transfer money? A mistress like you has that kind of money? This is a million dollars, not a hundred bucks!” “Oh, or do you need to go back and spread your legs for your sugar daddy to get it?” Her words made everyone look at me with disgust and contempt. Humiliated, I pressed my lips together, one hand guardedly over my belly. Sarah smirked, then suddenly grabbed a wine glass and threw it at me. I dodged, face pale. My stomach cramped painfully. “Oops, hand slipped.” Sarah shrugged, her malice intensifying. “I know you can’t afford it. How about we play a game?” “This necklace cost a million. Let me throw things at you 100 times, and we’ll call it even!” She grabbed a plate and threw it. I stumbled back. The plate shattered at my feet, shards cutting my ankle. I gritted my teeth. “Sarah, are you insane!?” Sarah smiled. “98 to go.” Panting, I looked around. Everyone was watching like it was a show. I looked at Justin, hoping he would control her. Justin sighed, looking like he was compromising. “Chloe, just admit you were wrong back then. I’ll pay the million for you. You don’t have to be a mistress anymore. Come back to me, I’ll treat you well.” Sarah’s face darkened. She forced a smile. “Justin, she’s pregnant with another man’s child…” Justin clenched his fists, voice strained. “Then abort it!” I was shaking with anger. Sarah was mad with jealousy. She grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it at me. I barely dodged, but slipped and fell hard. Warm liquid gushed between my legs. My face went white. I almost fainted from the pain. Suddenly, the banquet hall doors burst open. A crowd sycophantically surrounded a handsome, noble-looking man as he entered. The man frowned, his deep eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. His expression turned to panic. “Chloe!” Chapter 4 Watching Ethan rush toward me, I teared up, feeling wronged. “Hubby… my stomach hurts…” Ethan squatted beside me, carefully letting me lean on him. He didn’t dare move me, only soothing me gently: “Baby, don’t be scared. Bear with it, the doctor is coming.” His assistant had already run to find a doctor. “I thought she was a mistress? Doesn’t look like it…” “Yeah, look how precious she is to him. Is that his wife?” Whispers spread through the crowd. Sarah stepped forward first. “Who are you? Chloe’s sugar daddy?” Her voice was shrill. She looked at Ethan with admiration that quickly turned to jealousy. She didn’t expect my “sugar daddy” to be such a quality man. Ethan looked at her darkly. “What did you say?” Sarah shrank back from his cold glare but straightened up again. “Isn’t it true? You look like someone with status. Why pick a vain woman like Chloe as a mistress? Did she trick you?” Ethan ignored her, looking down at me. “Did she bully you?” I nodded weakly. “She framed me for breaking her necklace, then threw glasses and bottles at me. She said if she threw 100 things at me, she’d let me go…” Veins popped on Ethan’s forehead. His eyes were murderous. He waved his hand, and several bodyguards immediately pinned Sarah down. “What are you doing!?” Sarah panicked, screaming for help from a stunned Justin. “Justin! Save me!” Justin snapped out of it, trying to pull the bodyguards off, but was shoved away. He turned to Ethan. “Sir, I don’t know who you are, but Sarah is the daughter of the Su family. Offending the Su family for a mistress… might not be wise.” Ethan sneered. “I didn’t know I ever needed to fear a tiny Su family! And since when did my lawfully wedded wife become a mistress?” Justin stared blankly. “You’re really Chloe’s husband?” Ethan glared at him, displeased he used my first name. “And who are you?” I tugged weakly at his sleeve. “Hubby, this is the ex-boyfriend who sent me 25 cents and told me to read it backward…” Justin’s face paled. Humiliated by my introduction, he roared red-eyed: “Chloe, stop bringing up the 25 cents!” “I just wanted you to understand my heart! If you had seen my sincerity back then, I would have taken you to the auction the next second and proposed with the Heart of True Love!” “With your 25-cent sincerity?” Ethan laughed mockingly. He looked down at me, chiding gently, “Chloe, your taste back then was terrible. You picked this thing?” I tapped his chest feebly. He suddenly lifted my chin, looking at my swollen cheek. “Who hit you?!” I glanced at Justin. Two more bodyguards immediately pinned him down and started slapping him left and right, hard. Justin’s face swelled up quickly, blood trickling from his mouth. “Good. Very good!” Ethan’s voice was ice-cold. “Bullying my wife at my Emerald Group gala. You people have guts!” His words were like thunder, freezing everyone in place. “What did you say!? You are Ethan Jiang, CEO of Emerald Group!?” Chapter 5 Sarah’s eyes bulged in disbelief. “How is that possible!? That slut Chloe, how could she be the wife of the Emerald Group CEO!?” Before she finished, a bodyguard slapped her twice. Her cheeks burned red, but she kept screaming, “Impossible! This is impossible!” Justin stared blankly at us, his expression shifting complexly. The doctor arrived. After a checkup, he confirmed it was just a fright, nothing serious. Ethan finally relaxed and picked me up princess-style. “However these two bullied my wife, pay it back tenfold! If anyone has a problem, tell them to come find me personally!” “As for everyone who stood by and watched my wife get bullied, don’t bother seeking cooperation in the future. Emerald Group is out of your league!” Ethan’s cold voice rang out. The banquet hall fell silent, followed by a chorus of begging and apologies. “Mr. Jiang! Misunderstanding! We didn’t know she was your wife!” “Yes, Mr. Jiang, this is the Su and Lin families’ fault! Please don’t punish us!” “Mr. Jiang, wait…” Ethan ignored them, carrying me out. Back in the room, he placed me on the bed with a cold face, then sat by the window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. He had quit smoking since I got pregnant. Starting again meant he was extremely agitated. I pursed my lips, standing up to approach him. Ethan snapped, “Don’t come over!” My eyes reddened instantly, voice choking up. “You’re yelling at me…” “I smell like smoke… never mind.” He crushed the cigarette and walked over, helpless. “I really owe you in a past life, little ancestor.” I leaned into his arms, sobbing. “I was hungry, I wanted to find food. I didn’t know I’d run into them…” “I was already bullied and upset, and now you’re yelling at me…” “I didn’t yell at you.” Ethan sighed, kissing away my tears. “I’m angry at myself for not protecting you, letting you get scared.” “You’re carrying a baby. No crying. Remember, the baby will come out ugly.” I suddenly got annoyed. “In the end, it’s all for the baby. Is the baby more important or am I?” Ethan paused, then coaxed me helplessly, “You. Of course you. No one is more important than my baby girl. Hungry? I’ll have food sent up?” I nodded haughtily. After eating and cuddling with Ethan for a while, I fell into a deep sleep. The next day, I walked downstairs yawning to find the living room full of people. Ethan was drinking tea on the sofa. Justin and a middle-aged couple stood on one side. On the other were Sarah and her father. I recognized them. Justin’s parents and Sarah’s dad. “Awake?” Ethan saw me first. He got up, wrapped me in a blanket from the sofa, and picked me up like a child. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? You’ll catch a cold.” He placed me on the sofa. “Wait here, I’ll warm up some milk.” I nodded obediently, watching him walk to the kitchen, ignoring everyone else. “…Um, Chloe, long time no see.” I turned to look at Justin’s parents, their faces awkward and fawning. “Mr. Lin, Mrs. Lin. Long time no see.”

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My online boyfriend loves ordering me food. But I live out in the boonies. Afraid he’d look down on me, I always gave him my friend’s address in town. Every time I was busy with farm work, I told him I was “at the office.” I tried so hard to maintain my persona. But one time, while we were gaming, my rooster crowed right outside the window. Crap! I logged off immediately. “My grandma’s calling me to shuck corn, gotta go.” Later, standing in a cornfield in the pouring rain. The man looked at me with a smile. “Caught you, you little liar.” 1 The July sun was brutal enough to render fat. I spent the whole afternoon shucking corn in the field. Just as I was catching my breath, the phone in my pocket buzzed. It was a message from Caleb: Haven’t gotten off work yet? I wiped the dirt off my hands. Replied: Just got off. Checking the time after sending, it was 3 PM. Damn. Who gets off work at 3 PM? I quickly added: Can you believe it? Leaving early is actually kinda nice haha. He paused for a moment. Sent a confused panda sticker. Rough day. Ordered you some boba, be there in thirty. Shit! I ripped the straw hat off my head and jammed it onto my grandma’s head. Then I sprinted for the house. Grandma shouted after me. “Where you goin’? Where you goin’? You ain’t done yet and you’re runnin’ off?” I looked at the field, still half full of corn. Can’t finish. Simply can’t finish. “Grandma, hold the fort! I gotta run to town, be right back!” Back home, I splashed water on my face. Grabbed the keys, jumped on my e-scooter, and gunned it. Before zooming off, I managed to reply to Caleb. Thanks babe~~ Love you~ Although the sun was scorching, the wind felt sweet on my way to pick up the delivery. 2 Caleb is my online boyfriend. We met three months ago playing PUBG Mobile. Teamed up with randoms. A couple, single dog him, single dog me. Map was Karakin. Hot drop. I landed and didn’t find jack. Enemies everywhere. The couple’s voices filled the headset. “So many people.” “I only have a shotgun, what do I do?” “Babe, don’t move, I’m coming to you.” Seconds later, ear-piercing screams came through the mic. “Ahhhhh!” My hand shook, almost dropping the phone. The girl died. Thirsted immediately. She complained: “This map sucks, babe let’s go back to Erangel.” The guy said okay. And fragged himself. Two absolute legends. I carefully prepared to camp my way to the final circle. Unexpectedly, Number 4 was a pro. The kill feed was full of his name. I couldn’t help but shout, “Nice one!” The next second, I heard Number 4 turn on his mic. His voice was crisp and clean, like a cold soda fresh out of the fridge. Cool, wrapped in a smile. “Thanks.” In that moment, my face felt a little hot. I’m a sucker for voices. Number 4’s voice was literally my type. After the game, I shamelessly added him. “Wanna play together?” He accepted quickly. 3 After adding him, I camped online every day waiting for him. His IGN was Moon. Avatar was a crescent moon, cold and mysterious. Heaven rewards the faithful. On the third day, I finally caught him online. I messaged immediately. “Play?” He replied: “Sure.” That night we duo-queued until dawn. His gameplay was smooth as silk; I just followed him around looting boxes. Originally, I was pretty decent too. The type randoms often praised. After teaming with him, I became the one shouting praises. Caleb didn’t talk much. But Level 3 helmets, Level 3 vests, whatever. He’d drop them for me. I was giddy inside. “Why give them all to me~” He paused, hesitating. “So you die slower.” …… Damn! Later, we added each other on WeChat. Topics slowly shifted from the game to our lives. My friend said: “Lily, you’re done! You’re falling for an online relationship!” I gripped my phone. Thinking. So what if it’s online? It’s Caleb. The first voice call was on a rainy night. I was bringing in clothes under the eaves when a call request popped up. The name “Caleb” danced on the screen. I was so nervous my hands shook. “Hello?” “Busy?” His voice was clearer than in the game, with a slight static buzz. I quickly put down the clothes: “Not busy.” He paused, then suddenly said. “It’s raining.” I looked up at the drizzle outside the eaves. “Raining there too?” “Yeah.” There was a smile in his voice. “Just… suddenly wanted to hear your voice.” In that moment, I felt something explode in my chest. The sound of rain, heartbeats, and his breathing intertwined. “Do you… usually flirt with girls like this?” A low laugh came from the other end. “No, this is the first time.” The rain got heavier. Hiding under the eaves. I felt my whole body burning up. 4 When I got to my friend’s house. She was already waiting at the door with the door open. Holding my boba. I laughed guiltily. “Hehe, sorry to trouble you again.” Caleb is great in every way, except he loves ordering me food. In his words. It’s “feeding.” The first time he ordered for me was because I casually mentioned I was hungry while gaming at night. “What do you want?” he asked. I instinctively said. “McDonald’s.” “Okay, give me your address.” ? I was dumbfounded. “Huh?” Caleb: “Didn’t you want McDonald’s? I’ll order it for you.” I looked at the big courtyard outside. How do I fill this address? Some Town, Some Village, Some Household, Big Courtyard? I declined. “No need~ I can order it myself.” He insisted. “I’m ordering.” Finally unable to dissuade him. I gave my friend’s address in town. Late at night. I called my friend with a bitter face. “I ordered food to your address, babe, please grab it for me.” Then rode my little e-scooter. Heading to town. When I got to her place, she raised an eyebrow. “Ordering McDonald’s late at night to my address? Tsk, something’s fishy.” Couldn’t hide it. So I told her everything. After listening, she bit into a chicken wing. “So what about the future? What’s your plan? You can’t come to town every time you need to pick up food, right?” I swore with my fingers up. “Don’t worry! This is definitely the last time.” Didn’t expect Caleb to get addicted to ordering food. Feeding me constantly. Cake, boba, pizza. Every time, I had to ride my e-scooter for an hour in tears to pick it up. My friend commented. “Gotta say, your boyfriend is actually pretty nice.” I smiled bitterly. 5 My friend sighed and handed me the boba. “How long do you plan to keep this up?” I lowered my head, mumbling: “We’ll see.” She didn’t get it. “Living in the country isn’t shameful.” I looked down at the condensation on the cup. “You don’t understand.” My friend shook her head. “I don’t understand, but I know.” “Lying to him like this will only make it uglier later.” Phone buzzed again, message from Caleb. Is it good? I quickly snapped a photo of the boba and sent it. Super good! The new shop downstairs is awesome~ My friend shook her head beside me: “Sinful.” Riding home, I thought about her words. True, lying isn’t a solution. But every time I wanted to tell the truth, I’d think of Caleb’s Instagram. Him in a white shirt standing before floor-to-ceiling windows. Behind him, the bustling night view of City A. And myself in the scooter mirror. Sun-reddened cheeks, pants stained with mud. The gap was too big. Back home. Grandma was sitting in a chair shelling beans. “Back?” I nodded and handed over the boba. “Grandma, try this.” She squinted at it. “What’s this? Black stuff.” “Boba tea, city folks love it.” She took a sip, brows furrowing tighter. “Too sweet, burns the throat. What’s good about this?” I smiled without speaking, taking out my phone to message Caleb. Finished the boba, so satisfied! Caleb replied quickly: That’s good. Game later? Okk

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The first time, I built my life on a desperate lie. I stole the identity of a rich man’s son. I spent half a lifetime shoring up that deception, constantly looking over my shoulder, consumed by fear. It ended exactly as it should: abandoned by everyone, betrayed by my own wife and her family. This time, the lie dies here. Let the gilded cage rot. The rich boy’s life is a trap. 1 The whisper was still ringing in my ears, cold and clear as mountain air. “You’re useless to me now. Just help me cash in the insurance, darling.” And then I woke up. My body ached with a familiar, deep fatigue. I looked around. I was back in the cramped, dusty living room of my childhood home in the Flats, the low-income neighborhood I grew up in. I blinked, momentarily disoriented. How was I here? I was dead. Pushed. Gone. My body felt smaller, lighter, but the ache was the same. The chronic, grinding soreness of a body that was overworked, underfed, and perpetually fighting the cold. My skin was rough, my clothes threadbare. I realized: I was back. I’d been reborn. In my past life, the Beaumonts—the family who’d lost their golden boy—had finally tracked me down. To them, I was a rough diamond they needed to polish. I’d fought tooth and nail to marry Finn’s girl, Sloan, cutting off the real, deep connections I had left, all for the shallow promise of status. I wondered if they felt relieved after I died. If the pressure was finally gone. I dragged myself to the peeling wall calendar. The date was exactly one week before the Beaumonts’ staff would descend on the Flats. I remembered the motorcade of black SUVs, the gaggle of sharp-suited men who’d filled the tiny, pathetic yard. They’d asked me, frowning at the grime, if I was the child who lived here. Terrified of being left alone, terrified of the responsibility, I’d choked out, “No.” They’d assumed I was the missing heir, their lost Asher Beaumont. I realized then, and later confirmed, that they had simply picked up the closest child who fit the rough age and location. They had the wrong kid. That mistake forced me to live in constant, crippling fear of discovery. This time, if they came, I’d answer, “Yes.” Let someone else take on the gilded cage. I preferred the dirt. 2 A few days back in the Flats, and the bitter memories of that hardscrabble life were already fading, replaced by the grim reality of needing to eat. All I could think about was money. In the past, the Beaumonts hadn’t been generous. They were embarrassed by my roots, constantly trying to compensate for their loss while simultaneously looking down their noses at my “lack of refinement.” They pushed endless prep courses on me but kept my wallet empty. I needed to see if the endless, agonizing studies and lessons I’d been forced to endure—the things I thought were useless—could actually give me a head start this time. My stomach rumbled. First, food. I scavenged in the tiny, overgrown yard for anything edible. After eating, I started cleaning. I’d been living in the opulent Beaumont mansion for so long that my old home felt like a literal slum. If I was going to stay here and build a real life, it had to be a tolerable space. In the late afternoon, after a full day of work, I returned home. And there they were. A column of polished black SUVs and a dozen men in dark, conservative suits. The entourage was the same, filling the small yard, making the whole street look ridiculous. The lead man, a severe-looking older guy, frowned at me. “You the boy who lives here?” I stood up straight, shoulders back, and answered clearly, forcefully. “Yes. What’s it to you?” That’s it, I thought. No more gilded cage. Poverty isn’t a crime. The man looked at my clothes, my scraped knuckles, and then merely waved his hand. “Take him.” 3 Same question, different answer, and the result was identical. I was being dragged back to the Beaumont estate. How could they mess up twice? I had tidied the house, cleaned the yard, and started making plans to hustle for cash. Now, I was being uprooted again. In my first life, my total lack of funds was my ultimate downfall. After I stole Finn’s fiancée, Sloan, she discovered I had no real capital, only a generous but capped allowance. The family abandoned me, and Sloan cut me loose, leading to the insurance scheme and the cliff. Stepping inside the sprawling foyer, the atmosphere was instantly toxic and familiar: Finn, the younger brother, frowned, radiating petulance. Paige, my older sister, looked at me with an expression of polite revulsion. Mr. Beaumont wasn’t present, but Mrs. Beaumont stood ramrod straight, all rigid posture and forced composure. “You’ve got the wrong person. I am not a Beaumont. Send me back,” I stated flatly. This time, Mrs. Beaumont’s reaction was different. She didn’t show the subtle annoyance of the past life. Instead, she rushed forward and pulled me into a tight, tearful embrace. “Oh, my darling boy. You’ve been through so much. I won’t let them send you back.” Ah, I realized. In my first life, she assumed my terror was greed. This time, she thought my rejection was trauma and disinterest in material wealth. I was still wondering why answering “Yes” didn’t change my destiny. Was this a fixed loop? I was escorted to my room—the same room as before: the first floor, right by the staff wing. “Easier for the help to attend to you,” was the official line. I was the one who suffered on the streets, I was the one who was brought back—yet I was the one they had such a massive problem with. Last time, I constantly demanded compensation for my lost childhood. This time, I’d be quiet, keep my head down, and save enough money to leave permanently. I refused to be a burden or a point of contention. 4 I found Paige’s room and knocked, entering before she could answer. Paige, despite her initial coldness, was the only one in the family who never truly looked down on me in the past life. She was one of the few who tried to help, even if grudgingly. I didn’t mince words. “I need to borrow some money. I’ll pay you back. Every dime.” “What for?” she asked, setting down her phone with a sigh. “To get out. To start my own life so I’m not underfoot. I need seed capital.” She sighed, a sound of deep, resigned helplessness, but she wrote me a check. A generous amount—tens of thousands. I took the money and immediately had a driver take me straight back to the Flats. No one at the Beaumont house asked where I was going. My real mother, Elaine, was living under the brutal thumb of her own mother and my deadbeat father, a drunk and a gambler who’d quickly run through any money Elaine earned. In my past life, I’d cut ties, believing I had to sever everything. But Elaine had sent me money, bits and pieces, when I was struggling most in the Beaumont house. She was my true family. I found her working in the community garden. She was still heartbroken that I had been taken. Seeing me made her face light up with a genuine joy I hadn’t seen on any Beaumont. “Asher, my baby, you’re safe! Go back and live your good life. Don’t worry about me,” she insisted, pressing my face between her calloused hands. I waited until my father was drunk and passed out, then quietly took Elaine. I rented a small, safe apartment in the city, gave her the money, and promised to visit often. I forbade her from ever going back. Then, I snuck back to the Flats. Under the cover of darkness, I hiked up the back mountain trail. The very trail that, in my previous life, was discovered to be a botanical goldmine soon after I married Sloan Rhodes. My mother had given me five thousand dollars from the sale of a small plot on that mountain to help with the wedding expenses, money my father immediately gambled away. This time, I was getting there first. I knew what was there: rare herbs, wild ginseng, and premium fungi that no one in the Flats understood the value of. This was my seed capital, my true exit ticket. I had to monetize it before the big companies discovered the tract. 5 That night, I went back into the city, carrying a heavy burlap sack. I knew exactly where to go: Stonehaven Botanicals. In my past life, Sloan had mentioned it only in hushed, reverent tones—an exclusive, old-money operation whose owners were untouchable, even by the prestigious Rhodes family. I knew they specialized in the exact high-end, wild-harvested material I had. I walked in, found the older man at the counter, and laid the sack on his pristine oak desk. “I’m here to talk business,” I said. The boss, a shrewd-looking man, chuckled. “A young man like you? What kind of business?” He glanced quickly toward the back room, a move I barely registered. “I have superior-grade, wild-harvested botanicals. I want a long-term contract. I don’t know market price, but I expect a fair deal. And I have one condition: cash only, and I need it immediately.” I rubbed my fingers together. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, dealing with people the Rhodes family couldn’t even get an audience with. The boss smiled. “Let me see the material.” He took the sack, walked to the back, and told me to wait. When he returned, he had a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills. It was more than I had expected. “The materials are excellent, young man. I’ll buy whatever you bring. We won’t cheat you.” I counted the money, nodded, and left quickly. Finally, I had the capital I needed. I arrived back at the Beaumont house to find the whole family waiting in the grand salon. “Where were you?” Mr. Beaumont’s voice was a gravelly demand. “Getting my bearings. Just looking around.” “Insubordination. Paige will see to your social education. You will not embarrass this family.” He stood and walked away. The mandatory education. In my first life, I’d desperately tried to learn finance and management to prove I deserved the family wealth and a good wife. It failed. The Beaumonts had been grooming their own for years; I was clumsy and slow. The rich kids laughed at my nouveau riche attempts. “Give me the cash. I’ll handle the lessons myself,” I said. Finn and Paige openly scoffed. I knew I wouldn’t get the cash. “You’ve never managed money. You’d just squander it. Tell us what you want to learn.” Fine, I thought. If I have to play their game, I’ll choose my own weapons. I remembered the useless but hyper-specific skills Sloan had forced me to master to impress her powerful business contacts. “Auto Racing, Equestrian, Archery, and Golf. I want to start with those.” The entire room—Mrs. Beaumont, Finn, and Paige—was stunned into silence. These were high-status, networking-heavy sports, not management degrees. This was the way to build genuine, valuable connections, and, more importantly, money. 6 Paige recovered first, a mischievous smirk touching her lips. Finn, the younger brother, tried to probe. “Don’t you want to learn the family business, Asher? Get into corporate?” In the past life, my answer had been “Yes, I want to learn.” That led them to believe I was trying to steal Finn’s inheritance, which only hardened their animosity and severed my access to independent funds. I refused this time. Finn looked genuinely surprised. The heir apparent was a smooth operator, raised in the elite bubble, always calculating the angle. Paige, though she protected Finn, didn’t have his ruthless competitive edge. I knew I had to watch Finn like a hawk. “Fine. You’ll start training immediately to temper your spirit. Your father is hosting a gala next week to formally announce your return. Don’t be a liability.” I spent the week training furiously. I also used some of my botanical stash to negotiate an apprenticeship at Stonehaven Botanicals. They agreed to teach me herbalism and pharmacology in exchange for regular shipments. The night of the gala, I walked downstairs in dark jeans, a crisp white button-down, and a decent jacket. Last time, I’d dressed in the most expensive black tie I could find, trying too hard to be a Beaumont. I ended up looking like a costumed monkey, providing the guests with endless entertainment. This time, I’d learned the lesson: In this circle, confidence is currency. Casual is powerful. I grabbed a plate of canapés and retreated to a quiet corner of the garden. I was virtually invisible. Last time, my awkward attempts at networking had driven Mr. Beaumont’s guests away early. Tonight, my absence meant everyone was relaxed. “Sloan,” Finn’s voice cut through the quiet. “My brother is back.” I looked up. Sloan Rhodes. She was stunning, a captivating trophy, exactly why I had been so obsessed with her. She was new money, but her family was a rising power. She was undeniably attractive, but beneath the polish was a ruthless ambition I knew all too well. She was the second child in her family, eclipsed by an older sister, and she was desperate to climb. That desperation, I knew, was what led her to me—the eldest Beaumont son. She needed a ticket to the top, and I was just an expendable launchpad. I sank deeper into the shadows. I was not playing that game again. If Finn and Sloan got married, maybe they’d be blissfully happy. That was his problem now. 7 I stayed hidden for half the evening. In my first life, I would have been swaggering around, trying to introduce myself, a spectacle for the guests. This time, my low profile meant a much smoother evening. It was as if I didn’t exist at all. “Asher, Finn, Paige. Come with me. We have an important guest.” This was new. This didn’t happen last time. Maybe my past awkwardness had shut down this opportunity. A woman was seated across from Mr. Beaumont, radiating a power that dwarfed his own seasoned gravitas. “Thank you, Ms. Stonehaven, for honoring us with your presence.” Ms. Stonehaven? Kinsley Stonehaven? The heir to the Stonehaven empire—old wealth, far-reaching influence. The kind of person Sloan had spent years trying to get a meeting with. Her presence here was monumental. Paige quietly whispered to Finn: “The Stonehaven family runs this city. Their heir, Kinsley, is ruthless. She cleared out all the old relatives and took over the firm herself.” Mr. Beaumont clearly wanted an alliance. Was he vetting both Sloan and Kinsley for Finn? I didn’t know this person from my past life. My best bet was to stay silent. Kinsley’s eyes, sharp and dark, landed on me. “Mr. Beaumont,” she said, her voice like silk over steel. “Your son is dressed quite simply. Does the Beaumont estate not treat its children well?”

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