My father was a grifter. Out of 365 days a year, I was lucky to see him for 65. The rest of the time, he was darting between casinos. During the rare times we spent together, my father taught me a lot about the art of cheating. I learned quickly and mastered the techniques, but he always warned me: I could learn all the tricks, but I could never use them. If he ever found out I stepped foot in a casino, he’d break my legs. Life went on like that. Until that night. A frantic knock at the door startled me awake. When I opened it, the first thing I smelled was blood. Several burly men dragged a man covered in blood, dumping him at our doorstep. The man, drenched in crimson, his right hand severed, was my father! 0I couldn’t reconcile the man before me, covered in blood, his face swollen beyond recognition, with my once dashing and charming father. I froze, feeling as if all strength had been drained from my body by an unseen hand. My mother had passed away early, and in my father’s absence, it had always been just my younger brother, Finn, and me, relying on each other. Now, seeing our father drenched in blood, Finn and I were both completely panicked. My father was rushed into the ER. The doctor, stone-faced, presented the bill and told me to pay. “Three thousand dollars for the surgery, not a penny less, or we can’t proceed. If you want him to live, pay up.” But where was I supposed to find three thousand dollars? Mom was gone… if Dad died too, our family would fall apart. I glanced at Finn. He’d just stumbled at a crucial point in his life, unsure of his future. Expecting him to produce that much money was absurd. I stood by the hospital window, feeling desperate and helpless. Through the glass, I saw a bright neon sign hanging on the building across the street. It read: Card Room. Those two words felt like a mystic master, pointing the way. As if they were telling me, *Come on in.* *Step inside, and you’ll have the money to save your father.* The words “Card Room” seemed to possess an immense magic, pulling me in, as if all I had to do was walk through the door… and I’d have the cash to save Dad. I handed Finn my savings book, which held a few hundred dollars, and told him to handle things at the hospital for now. “I’ll figure out the rest of the money. If the doctors ask, tell them I’ll have it by tomorrow morning.” Clutching the last few hundred dollars I had, I quickly walked into that card room. Inside, cigarette smoke hung thick in the air. People sat at card tables like zombies, their eyes hollow, as if their souls had been sucked out. “A haze of smoke and raw despair” was the perfect description for this place. I stood near the door, observing carefully, finally settling my gaze on a table in the corner. They were two players short, needing a third for a fast-paced card game. The minimum bet was fifty dollars, the maximum two hundred. This was within my budget. I pulled up a chair and sat between the two players. I looked them over: one with a round face, the other with messy, instant-noodle hair. Both had dark circles under their sunken eyes. They were clearly seasoned gamblers, regulars here. I nonchalantly pulled out a cigarette and put it in my mouth, feigning ease. Rocky, the round-faced one, was the dealer. Spike, with the messy hair, was my downstream player. I was caught in the middle, like prey between two predators. We started placing our bets. The first hand began. We each held sixteen cards. The first one out took all the money from the last one remaining. The second one out broke even. So, whoever was last lost the most. 0

Three gamblers, including myself, sat around the cramped card table. Since we were playing a fast-paced game, two Kings, three 2s, and one Ace were removed from the deck. Each player received sixteen cards. The card combinations included singles, pairs, three-of-a-kind with a kicker, four-of-a-kind with two kickers, straights (like a “plane with wings”), and four-card bombs. Among all cards, three Aces were the highest, able to beat any combination. Among single cards, the 2 was the highest. Among four-card sets, the King was the highest. Whoever held the 3 of Spades led the first hand. While drawing cards, I meticulously watched Rocky’s hands. I was absolutely certain he’d get the lead. As he shuffled, he’d subtly hooked a card with his pinky finger. Though he was quick, it didn’t escape my notice. Sure enough, Rocky chuckled. He tossed out a 3 of Spades. I was next. I played a 5. Then it was Spike’s turn. He did something completely unexpected: he slammed down a King. I noticed Rocky’s brow furrow. He couldn’t help but curse. “A 5, and you waste a King on it? What a needless sacrifice of a strong card!” With that King played, no one could top it. The lead passed to Spike. In that brief hand, I saw it: Spike and Rocky were putting on a show for me. The more they acted, the more I felt something was off. My father once told me that in this world, whether it’s Pai Gow, Mahjong, or Poker, Ultimately, you’re playing against people. For a grifter, technique always comes second. First is reading people. But you can’t truly see into a person’s heart; you can only rely on your gut. When you feel like the people at the table are trying to trick you, Trust your instincts. I glanced at my hand; my cards weren’t great. That’s why I needed to seize the lead, to buy myself time to think. I had to find a way to prolong this hand. The longer it lasted, the more likely Rocky and Spike were to slip up. In this world, no cheating technique is foolproof. If you cheat, you will eventually be found out. The only way not to lose is not to gamble at all. From the moment I sat down at that table, Rocky and I, only one of us was walking out of this card room intact. So, when Spike threw out a pair of 5s, I slammed down a pair of Kings. Rocky hissed, like he had a toothache. He licked his dry lips and squeezed out a single phrase from between his teeth: “Can’t beat it.” Spike also shook his head, letting me lead. After gaining the lead, I immediately played a pair of 5s, discarding my weak cards. Rocky then played a pair of 7s. Spike waved his hand, couldn’t beat it. I played a pair of 10s. While Rocky was thinking, I quickly started recalling the cards still in play. No Aces. No 2s. Now, I was certain Rocky and Spike were working together to cheat. That meant 80% of the high cards were in Rocky’s hand. When he dealt the cards, he must have swapped them. In grifter’s slang, that’s called “card-switching” or “palming”—stealing crucial cards during the deal, then restoring the deck. This technique only works in small card rooms like this. In larger casinos, with hidden cameras and surveillance everywhere, such methods are impossible to pull off. If the hidden cameras caught you in a big casino, they’d chop you to bits. Breaking such a cheat isn’t impossible, though. I needed to take a gamble… But if I lost… I might end up just like my father. 0

The best way to counter a cheat is to crush them with a superior technique. I pretended to pick up my lighter and light the cigarette in my mouth. While I was taking a drag, I watched Rocky. During that time, he made no small movements, just impatiently tapped the table, urging me to play faster. My role right now was the prey. I needed to wait for Rocky, the hunter, to make a mistake, then devour him whole, leaving not a single bone. It looked like a simple card game, but the fate of all three of us was tied to this table. I couldn’t afford to be careless, not for a second. After gaining the lead, I thought for a full thirty seconds, then threw out a three-of-a-kind with a pair. Seeing me play such a hand, Spike couldn’t help but make a clicking sound, seemingly displeased with my move. I leaned back in my chair, the nearly burnt-out cigarette dangling from my lips, and mimicking Rocky, tapped the table, signaling him to make a decision quickly. “Can’t beat it. Your turn.” I instinctively touched my nose, then played a seven-card straight (3-4-5-6-7-8-9). Now I had five cards left: two 6s, two Js, and a single 5. Rocky shook his head, didn’t play, passing the lead to Spike. I knew Rocky was intentionally letting me play. He hadn’t intended to take the lead in this hand; he wanted to lure me deeper. He would make me believe his hand was weak, then, when I had only one card left, he’d sweep the whole game. A true grifter plays the long game, baiting big fish, letting you nibble at the hook bit by bit until you’re deeply ensnared and can’t escape. Of course, a grifter must never be greedy; no greed, no mistakes. I wasn’t greedy, and neither was Rocky. He was a tough opponent. One wrong move, and I’d be utterly crushed. Compared to him, Spike seemed very one-dimensional. He was more like an automated machine. Looking at it that way, the situation became clear. Rocky was the brain; Spike was the hand. They were teaming up to fleece me like a fat pig. The cards in the deck, Rocky and Spike could manipulate through their methods, turning them into any card they desired. This was the grifter’s craft. With a teammate’s cooperation, it was almost unstoppable. If they continued working together, I would definitely lose. But I couldn’t lose!

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In my last life, my parents gave me a choice: pick a husband from the city’s three most powerful families for a strategic alliance. Without a moment’s hesitation, I chose Liam Sterling, the man I believed I loved most. But on our wedding day, he died in a car crash on the way to pick me up. The Sterlings were shattered, crying their hearts out. They never dared to say anything to my family, but I was consumed by guilt. I unconditionally transferred all my assets and shares to them. It wasn’t until twenty years later, during a business trip abroad, that I saw him. He was passionately kissing my former bridesmaid, Chloe Miller, right there on the street. The heirs from the other two powerful families, Brandon Hayes and Noah Collins, were there too, looking on with envy. “Twenty years of faking his death, and he found his one true love. Not a bad deal,” Brandon chuckled. “And that tired old hag, Aria Thorne, actually stayed loyal to him for twenty years. What a joke!” Noah added, laughing. I lunged forward in a rage to confront them, but Liam had eight men grab me and drag me into a pickup truck, where I was humiliated. He smirked, his face twisted in a cruel grin. “You just *had* to choose me back then, didn’t you? It led to Chloe getting drunk and being assaulted by eight men!” “Since you came looking for trouble, I’ll make sure you get a taste of what it’s like to wish you were dead!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents told me to pick a husband. I pointed to the tall figure standing quietly in the corner, the nanny’s son. “Him,” I declared.

My parents froze for a moment, then stood up, their faces etched with disbelief. “Aria, what kind of joke is this?!” I calmly replied, “No joke at all. I want Julian Vance.” My gaze settled on the tall, handsome man in the corner, and my heart inexplicably skipped a beat. In my previous life, after Liam’s fake death left me utterly heartbroken, it was Julian who slowly helped me pick myself back up. He stayed by my side my entire life, until the moment I died. Through a blurry haze, I saw him holding me, sobbing uncontrollably. It was only then that I realized he had loved me all those years. “Aria!” My father urged, his voice hushed and urgent. “Didn’t you always say you liked Liam Sterling the most? And even if not him, there’s always the Hayes and Collins families!” “You grew up with all three of them; you know each other inside and out.” “Besides, Julian Vance is just a nanny’s son. What can he offer you?” My mother was almost in tears. “You’re my only daughter! How can I stand by and watch you marry someone like that and struggle?” I smiled, leaned in, and whispered a few words into their ears. Their expressions instantly solidified. My father’s voice trembled slightly. “Is that… really true?” I nodded firmly. My parents exchanged a look, finally sighing in relief. “Alright then, in three days, your wedding will be hosted by the Thorne family.” Once that was settled, I turned, took Julian Vance’s wrist, and pulled him along. “Come on, let’s get you some suits.” He looked confused but just smiled foolishly, letting me drag him. The moment we stepped into an upscale boutique, I immediately spotted the three men circling Chloe Miller. Liam was helping her try on a diamond necklace, Brandon was kneeling to tie her shoelace, and Noah was holding a huge bouquet of roses. The instant Chloe saw me, she feigned panic, quickly hiding behind Liam. Her voice was soft and innocent, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh, Miss Thorne, please don’t misunderstand. I really didn’t intentionally try to keep Mr. Sterling from going home and marrying you.” Liam pulled her into his arms, then looked up at me, his voice cold. “Aria Thorne, I’ve already told my family I won’t be marrying you.” “In this life, I only love Chloe.” Brandon and Noah also rushed to shield her. “You’re the city’s richest heiress, you can have any man you want. Why do you have to fight Chloe for them?” “Exactly. A spoiled heiress like you, all you care about is yourself. You can’t compare to innocent Chloe.” I couldn’t help but laugh, furious. Chloe Miller was just a poor college student I’d sponsored. I’d sympathized with her past, brought her to the city to live, and genuinely cared for her, even inviting her to be my bridesmaid. But I never expected that she had been secretly seducing my three childhood friends all along. No matter. Reborn, I finally see things clearly. Before I could even retort, Julian, his face dark, cut them off. “Since the Sterling family refused, what about the Hayes and Collins families?” Brandon and Noah immediately scoffed. “Even if we can’t have Chloe, we’d never marry Aria Thorne and break Chloe’s heart.” “She considers us good friends; how could we betray her?” Liam eyed me warily. “As long as Chloe is fine in this life, I have no regrets.” I looked at Liam, a flicker of surprise hitting me. In my last life, he hadn’t been so quick to refuse the alliance, nor had he so openly declared his love for Chloe. Could he have been reborn too? Seeing my silence, Liam impatiently grabbed my wrist. “You’re just so set on marrying me, aren’t you? All for the business interests between the Sterling and Thorne families?” “If you kneel and apologize to Chloe right now, and promise me that our marriage would just be a formality—” “And after the wedding, we live separate lives, you can’t object to me and Chloe sleeping in our marital home, and you ensure Chloe never foolishly hurts herself again—then I’ll agree.” This time, before I could open my mouth, Julian swung his fist straight at Liam’s face. “What status, what position does your Sterling family hold?! How dare you speak to Miss Thorne like that!” That’s right, the Thorne family is the richest in the city. How *dare* they?!

Julian’s punch packed a lot of force; Liam was sent sprawling to the ground. He recovered, scrambling to his feet, and pointed a finger at Julian’s nose, cursing, “A nanny’s son! How dare you hit me!” Chloe started to cry, gently touching Liam’s face, then turned to me, whining, “Miss Thorne, if you’re angry, take it out on me! How could you let him hit Mr. Sterling?” The words had barely left her mouth when I couldn’t resist. I slapped her. “I’ll hit him, and I’ll hit you too!” Chloe clutched her face, tears instantly gushing out. Brandon quickly shoved me away. “Aria Thorne! Even if you’re the richest heiress, you can’t behave like this!” “No wonder Liam wouldn’t even look at you all these years. You’re just too vicious!” I turned to them, sneering, “Have you forgotten that your family businesses all depend on *our* Thorne family to thrive?” “Even Julian, who’s not even part of your elite circles, understands that, so why don’t you?!” At my words, Brandon instantly clamped his mouth shut. Noah also looked away, stammering, “So what? Does that mean you can force us to marry you?” I scoffed disdainfully. “I never said I wanted to marry any of you three losers.” Liam’s head shot up at my words. “Aria Thorne, what game are you playing now?!” Chloe nestled into his arms, her eyes red, saying, “It seems Miss Thorne is still angry with me. I shouldn’t have told you I was in a bad mood today…” Hearing this, Liam anxiously wiped away her tears. “It’s not your fault. Aria Thorne has been clinging to us three for years; everyone knows she can’t live without us and wouldn’t dare do anything serious.” “I just can’t stand her always bullying you. She just needs a lesson.” I was speechless. If they didn’t believe me, then I wouldn’t bother explaining. I turned to link my arm through Julian’s, ready to leave, but Liam grabbed my arm, stopping me. His gaze fell on our intertwined arms. “Since when are you so close to a nanny’s son?!” I slapped his hand away, enunciating each word. “What nanny’s son? Julian Vance is my fiancé.” “He’s the man I’m going to marry.” At this declaration, everyone stared at me in unison. Especially Liam. He widened his eyes, pointing at Julian, and roared, “You’d say you’re marrying a nanny’s son just to humiliate me?! Are you out of your mind?!” I felt Julian’s arm tense; clearly, he was also startled by my words. Brandon and Noah snapped out of their shock, stepping forward to mock me. “Aria, you really aren’t picky, are you? You’d even stoop to a nanny’s son!” I pointed at Chloe and retorted with a smile, “Well, you haven’t exactly picked well yourselves.” Chloe instantly swayed, choking out, “Miss Thorne, don’t say such things carelessly.” “While the three young masters have been kind to me, I haven’t done anything to offend you. You don’t need to be so sarcastic.” She paused, then looked at Liam with a contrite expression. “It’s Miss Thorne who knows what she’s done.” “Actually, I’ve long noticed your nanny’s son often going in and out of your room…” “It’s all my fault. I protected you before and didn’t tell Liam…” I used to consider her my best friend, even let her be my only bridesmaid. And she just spouted such nonsense? Liam snorted, pulling her back. “Chloe, you’re still too naive. You’re even covering for Aria Thorne!” “I think she’s just jealous of how good we are to you, so she’s trying every trick to get our attention.” “A dirty, stinking nanny’s son like him? We wouldn’t even give him a second glance.” I nodded, perfectly satisfied. “If that’s the case, then I won’t disturb your little ‘harem’ then.” With that, I pulled Julian into the upscale boutique next door. I pointed to the most expensive suits on display. “Get all of these down. My fiancé needs to try them on.” Julian snapped out of his daze and looked at me. “Miss Thorne, a joke is a joke.” I looked at him, amused, and smiled. “I’m serious. Don’t you want to?”

“How could I not want to…” He was about to speak when Liam’s voice cut in from the doorway. “Buy out the entire store!” His voice was laced with unconcealed rage. “I’ll give them to beggars!” A sales assistant, holding the suits I’d picked for Julian, looked at Liam hesitantly. “These have already been bought by Miss Thorne…” Liam sneered, “She hasn’t paid yet, has she?!” With that, he pulled out his black card and waved it in front of the assistant. “I’ll pay first, then they’re mine!” I chuckled, taking the suits from the sales assistant. “Just deduct it from my prepaid card.” The assistant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to swipe the card. As I left, Liam shouted behind me, “Aria Thorne, stop pretending!” “Aren’t you just playing hard to get with us?! Your tricks are too childish!” I ignored him, quickening my pace. On the way home, Julian held my hand tightly, his eyes filled with earnestness. “Aria, don’t worry. If you marry me, I’ll never let you suffer any injustice.” I couldn’t help but smile, seeing his serious expression. Suffer injustice? How could I? He still thought I didn’t know who he really was. The next day, I took Julian to our new home to arrange it, but what I saw shocked me. The grand villa, which my Thorne family had paid for, was completely filled with Chloe Miller’s favorite pink Hello Kitty décor. Even the master bedroom’s accent wall prominently displayed wedding photos of Liam and Chloe. The butler stammered, “Mr. Sterling insisted he was your fiancé, and said you’d agreed to the décor for the wedding home…” Just as he finished, Liam called me. His voice was dripping with smugness. “Our wedding is the day after tomorrow. Don’t be so picky.” “After we’re married, Chloe and I will sleep in the master bedroom. If you like, you can occasionally join us there.”

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The night before my crucial athletic scholarship tryout, a gang broke into the stadium. They beat me and humiliated me. The next day, my ex-girlfriend, Amber, spread rumors all over social media, claiming I cheated and was only after my family’s money. Back in our quiet town, my parents were suffocated by the whispers and rumors. Overwhelmed by the crushing despair, they tragically took their own lives. I promptly broke up with Amber and reported everything to the police, armed with evidence. The hospital report came back: my spine was damaged, making it impossible for me to stand for long periods, let alone run long distances. My appeals were rejected, one after another. That’s when Eleanor Vance, a powerhouse attorney, found me. She fought my case day and night. The day we won, she proposed to me. We were together for three years. My legs were useless, and I relied on a wheelchair, but she never left my side. Until today. I wheeled myself to her office to pick her up, only to overhear her tenderly coaxing her foster brother: “You said you envied his running skills? Well, he can’t run anymore.” “You admired his tall, strong build? I tampered with his medical records, making it seem like his leg nerves were damaged, so he’d be forever dependent on a wheelchair.” “Now you’re saying you envy his amber eyes? I can’t exactly gouge them out and make amber cufflinks for you, can I?”

“Why not, sis? Ever since Mom and Dad died, I only have you. You promised them you’d give me everything I wanted. Are you going back on your word?” Damian, her foster brother, wrapped his arms around Eleanor’s arm, his voice laced with a hint of grievance. Eleanor looked down, her fingertips gently tapping his nose. It was a comforting gesture. “Tonight is our three-year anniversary. All I have to do is sweet-talk him, and he’d give me anything, not just his eyes, but his very life.” Eleanor’s legal assistant, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mr. Alex has suffered enough these past years, Ms. Eleanor. Mr. Damian, you already got what you wanted: first place in the tryouts, a strong physique, and Amber’s attention. Why keep tormenting Mr. Alex?” Amber! Those two words pierced my heart like ice. Wasn’t that my ex-girlfriend’s name? Damian laughed, a bit too loudly. He reached out and pushed the assistant’s shoulder. “I’m getting together with Amber next month, but the damn thing is, she still has that cripple’s photos on her phone.” “Even in her sleep, she’d gaze at his eyes, claiming she’d always admired how focused and profound Alex’s eyes were.” He changed the subject, turning his head to Eleanor. “Sis, tell me, are that cripple’s eyes really that beautiful?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, looking nonchalant. “His eyes?” “How would I know? My gaze never lingered on trash like that. All I care about is my precious little brother being happy.” The early spring evening wind was still chilly. My hands, gripping the wheels of my chair, were stiff with cold. So love really can be faked. Was the salvation I once believed in just another abyss? I scoffed at my own foolishness, furiously pushing the wheels, desperate to escape. But my wheelchair got stuck in a pothole. I pushed frantically, my hands already raw and bloody. With a violent shove, the chair made a loud noise, a part seemed to come loose. I tumbled out of my wheelchair. The commotion caught Eleanor’s attention at the company entrance. She rushed towards me, kneeling down and shielding me with her body.

Seeing the scrapes on her arm, my heart lurched. “Alex, what are you doing here? It’s windy out, and you’re always so frail. What if something happened to you? How would I live alone?” The love in her eyes seemed to overflow. She looked at my bloody hands, her face filled with anguish. For a moment, I was disoriented, unable to tell which version of her was acting. It wasn’t until her tears fell onto my wounds, stinging, that my mind cleared. “Alex, why aren’t you speaking? Are you scared? It’s okay, I’ll take you home. Don’t be afraid.” She had said those same words three years ago, the day she confessed her feelings to me. She told me we were both people with no one to rely on, and she wanted to be my rock. I believed her. But at that moment, I realized it was all a joke. It was she who had turned me into someone with no one to rely on. Damian, unable to hold back, strode towards me. “Brother-in-law, I’m here for you too. Don’t worry, even if you’re not as mobile now, we won’t ever look down on you.” “From now on, just tell me if you need to go out. I’ll go with you. It’ll be safer that way.” On most days, Damian was cheerful and handsome. Living under the same roof, we’d never even had a single argument. When I fell down the stairs that year, he was the first to find me and rush me to the hospital. The conversation between the siblings at the company entrance echoed in my ears. As I thought about it, my chest tightened, and my whole body went numb. So that oily spill that caused my fall down the stairs that year was all his doing. And my legs, which could have recovered, were made worse by Eleanor’s fake medical records, making me miss the optimal treatment time, forever losing the ability to walk normally. I shoved Eleanor away from me, my eyes wide with horror. She froze for a second, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. As if she had no more patience to console me. She shot a look at her assistant. “Get him in the car. I rented a yacht. Tonight’s anniversary has to be perfect.” I lifted my gaze in terror, meeting Damian’s eyes. He was staring at my eyes with a knowing, significant smile. My eyes inexplicably stung, and I remembered Eleanor saying she’d gouge my eyes out for Damian’s cufflinks. My stomach churned with nausea. The usually impartial, sharp, and capable legal elite was secretly involved in so many unspeakable deeds. I was forcibly helped into the car, sitting in the back seat with Eleanor, trembling uncontrollably. The assistant stepped on the gas, and the car headed towards the coast. I clung to a sliver of hope, looking at Eleanor. Her expression remained unchanged as she scrolled through her phone. The screen showed her chat with Damian. “Damian, don’t worry. I’ll give you whatever you want. Don’t be mad, it’s not good for your health if you get angry.” “Sis, you don’t worry either. I’ll be fine for you. You’re always the one I love most. If it weren’t for society’s views, I’d definitely choose to be with you.” Eleanor’s lips curved into an unstoppable smile as she read Damian’s messages. Sensing my gaze, she blacked out her phone screen and placed it face down on her lap. Her face remained calm, and she even reached out to caress my hair. “Alex, you once said you loved watching the sea.” “Tonight, you can watch as much as you want before we head back.” She shifted her gaze to my eyes, her hand slowly moving to my cheek. Her thumb caressed my eyelids: “I never noticed before, but Alex, your eyes are so beautiful.” I was trembling like a leaf, yet I dared not provoke her. “Watch as much as I want?” “Are we never going to the beach again?” “Or is it that my eyes are having problems too?”

Eleanor’s hand froze. A moment later, her gaze darted away, and she withdrew her hand. “Nonsense. If you want, we could buy a house by the sea. Then, you could every single day…” Watch the sea? She left those two words unsaid, and a dead silence filled the car. The assistant driving jolted their hand, swerving the steering wheel. I slammed into Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor immediately pulled me into her embrace, gently stroking my hair. “It’s okay. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.” Looking at the face I had loved for three years, I couldn’t bear it and closed my eyes. After a long while, Eleanor seemed to think I was asleep. She let out a cold laugh and called her assistant’s name. “I’m warning you, if you dare to spill anything to Alex, your family will share the consequences with you.” The assistant stammered, their voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.” Eleanor finally relaxed, sighing. “Blame him for getting in Damian’s way. Tonight, bring those thugs from before. I’ll get him drunk tonight, and you make sure they’re ready. Have them destroy his eyes. Even if it gets investigated, it’ll have nothing to do with us.” “If it goes to court, we’ll just say… it was those men retaliating against Alex after they got out of prison.” The assistant hesitated. “But Ms. Eleanor, Mr. Alex has a deep trauma from those men. He trembles just seeing strangers, let alone anyone besides you.” “If Mr. Alex is too traumatized, the consequences could be dire!” Eleanor reached back and gripped her assistant’s shoulder, her voice filled with cruelty. “So what? The worst that could happen is he goes insane. We’ll just keep him in the basement. I have plenty of money to support him anyway. He can live comfortably without ever working. He should be grateful.” “Unless you have feelings for my husband? Is that why you keep spouting such nonsense!” The assistant, cowed by Eleanor’s aura, could only squeeze out a few words of pleading. The car came to a smooth stop on the beach. I opened my eyes, clenching my fists as I looked at the turbulent sea. In this life, I had endured too much. I couldn’t bear this inhuman torment for another moment. Tonight, to be buried in the sea I loved most. Perhaps it was my best option. But before I die, Eleanor. I will make you pay for your actions! Eleanor thoughtfully prepared a new wheelchair for me, and she was now pushing me towards the yacht. The aroma of the early prepared dinner was inviting, but I had no mind to savor it. As she positioned my wheelchair, I slipped a sleeping pill into her drink. As we clinked glasses, Eleanor’s face flushed pink. Her movements became increasingly sluggish. My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket; it was a message from a reporter. “We heard about your experience and hope to speak out for you. Although you declined our invitation last time, I’d like to try again.” “As a rising star in the sports world back then, you were highly anticipated. But due to an assault by thugs and betrayal by your ex-girlfriend spreading rumors, your career and life plummeted.” “Although you won the lawsuit back then, the arrested individuals were hired. The real mastermind is still at large. Do you truly not want to uncover the truth of what happened that year?” My grip on the phone tightened. The hatred in my heart grew deeper. Eleanor, who was now slurring her words, looked up at me. “Alex, who are you texting? Didn’t I tell you?” “There are too many bad people in this world. It’s my fault for protecting you too well, making you so unguarded.” “You shouldn’t talk to outsiders. Be a good boy, give me your phone.”

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When I woke up in the hospital, I suddenly realized I could see a number floating above everyone’s head. The number above my best friend Tiffany’s head was 206. My boyfriend Jason’s number was 34. After a passionate night with Jason when I returned home from the hospital, his number changed to 33. I realized the numbers represented how many times a person had had sex. Just as I was thinking this superpower wasn’t very useful, I attended Jason’s grandfather’s birthday party. Jason took my drunk friend Tiffany upstairs to rest. When they came back down, their numbers had changed to 205 and 32. I turned my head and saw Jason’s uncle Ethan coming down the stairs. The number above his head was… 1683. “Aria, are you okay?” Jason instinctively tried to cover up the red mark Tiffany had “accidentally” left on his neck. I glanced coldly at the “32” floating above his head, my eyes filled with disdain. They say men hit their sexual peak at 25, but it seems Jason was determined to prove that wrong. “It’s nothing,” I replied dismissively, turning my gaze to the glowing four-digit number above Ethan’s head. My interest was piqued. “How old is your uncle?” “He’ll be thirty after his next birthday.” Ah, thirty years old. The prime of his life, it seems. Noticing my odd expression, Jason wrapped his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, trying to appease me: “My uncle’s having a birthday party next week. Want to come?” “Sure,” I replied without hesitation. Jason glanced at Ethan, who stood a short distance away in an impeccable suit. With his sharp features, Ethan was the type to command attention wherever he went. Jason let out a small huff, jealousy evident in his eyes. “Aria, you’re not interested in my uncle, are you?” “Of course not. I can barely handle you, let alone anyone else,” I said, pinching Jason’s cheek and wriggling out of his embrace. I started walking towards Ethan. Jason was about to follow when Tiffany, who had just come downstairs, suddenly twisted her ankle. With a cry of surprise, Jason immediately turned to play the hero. I grabbed a drink and approached Ethan. “Uncle Ethan?” Ethan turned, frowning slightly when he saw me. “I’m Jason’s girlfriend, Aria.” “Aria?” Ethan’s deep, pleasant voice repeated my name. My heart fluttered as I heard him ask, “Which Aria?” “The one meaning ‘song’,” I replied with a smile, gazing into his eyes. Suddenly, a waiter appeared behind me and bumped into me. I stumbled forward, falling against Ethan’s chest. He politely steadied me by the shoulders, but the drink in my hand spilled all over him. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Ethan!” I exclaimed in panic, grabbing his wrist. “Let me help you clean up!” Somehow, Ethan found himself being pulled by me to the empty bathroom. I frantically dabbed at his clothes with paper towels, my face flushed bright red. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Ethan. I’m such a klutz. Is there any way to fix this?” I bent over to wipe his clothes, looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes. He looked down at me, our positions incredibly intimate as we stood there, until he finally cleared his throat. “There are spare suits upstairs. I can just change.” Ethan turned to leave but suddenly heard a soft sob from behind him. “I’m so useless. Jason will be so angry with me… Uncle Ethan, please don’t tell him, okay?” Ethan turned back to look at me, confused. “It’s just clothes.” I leaned against the edge of the sink, looking at him with teary eyes. “But I can tell Jason doesn’t like me as much anymore. He and Tiffany…” I bit my lip in shame, my lips trembling. Ethan sighed lightly, remembering Jason’s irresponsible behavior. “I won’t tell him.” My face lit up with a smile. “Thank you, Uncle Ethan!” Ethan’s expression froze for a moment. He said nothing more and left the bathroom. Only after he was gone did the smile slowly fade from my face.

After returning home, while Jason was in the shower, I grabbed his phone and quickly found Ethan’s contact information. I searched for the number on my own phone and sent a friend request. I was about to turn off Jason’s phone and put it back when it suddenly lit up with a new message. “You were so sweet today. Make sure to hide the gift I left for you well – don’t let Aria see it.” It was a message from Tiffany. I raised an eyebrow, putting the phone down without reacting. The next morning, Jason had already left for work by the time I woke up. He was interning at his family’s company, with Ethan as his direct supervisor. He didn’t dare be even a minute late. I had the day off from the hospital, so after getting up I went to the supermarket to buy groceries. I spent the morning cooking and prepared two lunch boxes. Then I drove to Jason’s office. Before leaving, I took a photo of the lunch boxes and sent it to Tiffany. “Tiffany, I spent all morning making lunch for Jason. What do you think?” Tiffany replied quickly. “That lucky guy! He must be over the moon!” I smirked, closed my phone, and drove off to the office. One of those lunch boxes was indeed for Jason, but it wasn’t made specially for him. On the contrary, I needed Tiffany to help distract Jason, my little stumbling block. Sure enough, when I arrived at the office, Jason’s desk was empty. His computer was still warm – he’d left recently. A helpful coworker nearby said, “Aria, Jason often goes to play games in Mr. Jiang’s office. Why don’t you check if he’s there?” Perfect. I smiled and nodded, then knocked on Ethan’s office door. “Come in.” Ethan didn’t look up until he sensed the person at the door seemed hesitant. Then he raised his head to look at me. “Aria?” “Uncle Ethan.” I called out timidly, glancing around the office. “Is Jason not here?” So she’s looking for Jason. Ethan lowered his eyes nonchalantly. “No.” “Can I wait for him here?” I asked carefully. “You may.” I entered the office with the lunch boxes. “Uncle Ethan, have you eaten yet?” Ethan continued writing, giving a soft “Mm” in response. “I made lunch. I prepared a portion for you too, to apologize for my rudeness yesterday.” I placed one of the lunch boxes on the desk and turned to look at Ethan. “Do you have any foods you don’t eat, Uncle Ethan? I cut the carrots into little dog shapes. They’re really cute.” Ethan put away his documents and moved to sit on the couch. I opened the lunch box and pushed it in front of him. “Try some.” Ethan took a few bites. Seeing me staring at him expectantly, he had no choice but to comment, “It tastes good.” “Thank you, Uncle Ethan. I’m glad you like it.” My gaze met his eyes. His eyes were very dark, with slightly downturned outer corners. As I looked at him, I glanced at the number above his head in my peripheral vision. It was still steadfastly at 1683. My heart began to pound like a drum. “Uncle Ethan, your eyes are so beautiful.”

Just as I finished speaking, the office door suddenly opened and Jason walked in. “Uncle Ethan…” Jason’s voice abruptly stopped. I quickly averted my gaze, lowering my head in embarrassment as my ears slowly turned red. “Aria, why are you here?” The strange atmosphere made Jason sense something was off. His tone was somewhat accusatory. “Why didn’t you wait for me outside?” “I told her to come in and wait for you,” Ethan said, putting down the lunch box and turning to look at Jason with a cold expression. “Where were you during work hours?” “I… I went to the bathroom,” Jason mumbled vaguely. He looked at the half-eaten lunch box on Ethan’s desk, and that inexplicable anger inside him rose up. For once, he gave his uncle a cold look. “Uncle Ethan, you ate my lunch.” “No, yours is right here.” I took out the other lunch box and handed it to Jason. Jason opened it and saw that his carrots were cut into heart shapes, while Ethan’s were just dog shapes. He let out a satisfied little huff. “Aria, let’s not disturb Uncle Ethan’s lunch.” With that, Jason took my hand and led me out of Ethan’s office. After we left, Ethan picked up his chopsticks again and looked down at the little dog-shaped carrots in the lunch box. The more he looked, the more annoyed he felt. He ended up throwing them in the trash. Outside the office, Tiffany came to greet us. “Jason, you’re so lucky! Why don’t I ever get to eat Aria’s homemade lunches?” Tiffany said teasingly. I coldly observed the number 204 above Tiffany’s head and the 31 above Jason’s, inwardly sneering. At some point, Tiffany had started calling Jason by his first name instead of “that guy.” Now I realized I’d noticed too late – they’d been hooking up for a while. Tiffany had gotten her job at the company through my recommendation. It seems I’d invited the wolf into our home. “The lunch isn’t a big deal. Soon enough, you might be eating at our wedding,” I said happily, looking at Jason. Jason’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Aria, you’ve agreed to marry me?” “We’ll see how you behave,” I said lightly. “I have to get back to the hospital for work, so I can’t stay for lunch. Tiffany can keep you company.” With that, I turned and left, ignoring Jason’s elated expression and Tiffany’s pale face behind me. The show was just beginning. I couldn’t bear to end it so quickly. That evening, Jason came home two hours later than usual. I sat on the couch reviewing some medical files while waiting for him. I heard him open the door. “Honey, I’m exhausted…” Jason looked refreshed but acted worn out as he collapsed into my arms, hugging me and mumbling complaints. I gently stroked his hair, glancing at the number above his head out of the corner of my eye.

It seems Tiffany was even more impatient than I’d imagined. I looked down at Jason’s handsome, sunny face and the dark circles slowly forming under his eyes. With a mix of pity and mockery, I lightly caressed his cheek before pushing him away. “Did you work overtime today?” “Yeah,” Jason lied smoothly. “Uncle Ethan gave me so many tasks. I’m exhausted, baby. Give me a kiss…” I ruthlessly pushed away his approaching face and stood up to turn off my computer. Jason’s eyes filled with hurt. “Aren’t we getting married soon? Why are you being so cold, honey? Don’t tell me you can resist my perfect body when it’s right in front of you?” “How could I?” I answered absent-mindedly. “Of course we’ll get married, but have you proposed yet?” Jason’s eyes immediately lit up again. “I will! Of course I will!” I smiled and patted his cheek lightly. “Wash up before you come to bed.” Then I got up and went to the bedroom to sleep. … Jason moved quickly. He was the type to wag his tail and beg for praise after doing even a small good deed. Although he hadn’t told me the date of the proposal, I’d already guessed based on his behavior. Of course, I shouldn’t be the only one who knew about this. While out shopping, I “accidentally” told Tiffany about Jason’s upcoming proposal. “He’s so silly, preparing everything in secret and thinking I don’t know anything. But there are so many holes in his plan.” I smiled happily, pulling Tiffany close and “sincerely” sharing my joy with her. “Tiffany, I feel like he’s the one for me. You can see how much Jason loves me, right?” “Right,” Tiffany nodded absent-mindedly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. On the day of the proposal, Jason tricked me into going to the venue under the pretense of meeting friends. I carefully chose a white dress and opened my chat with Ethan, which so far only contained greetings. “Uncle Ethan, I think Jason is going to propose to me today. I’m so happy!” Ethan didn’t reply, but that didn’t stop me from sharing my joy. I sent him photos of the decorated venue, along with a smiling emoji. As I expected, I waited until after 8 PM but Jason never showed up. His phone was turned off. Heartbroken, I sat alone at the venue drinking a lot of alcohol. As I was preparing to leave, I accidentally twisted my ankle. Crying, I called Jason. He finally answered. “I’m so sorry, Aria. I had an urgent matter come up and couldn’t make it. I promise I’ll make it up to you when I’m done!” “Jason, I’ve twisted my ankle… I can’t move…” Flashes of lightning crossed the summer night sky, and the rain started pouring down unexpectedly. “Aria, find somewhere to take shelter from the rain. I’ll send someone to pick you up!!” The call was hurriedly ended. I stared at the black screen of my phone, my expression gradually turning cold. After sitting in the rain for a long time, headlights finally flashed nearby. A car stopped not far away, and Ethan got out with an umbrella, stopping in front of me to shield me from the rain. “Jason asked me to take you home.” “Uncle Ethan…” I started crying pitifully. “It hurts so much…” Ethan frowned and bent down to check my ankle. The rain was getting heavier, so he had no choice but to pick me up and carry me to a nearby hotel to get a room first. In the air-conditioned elevator, our two rain-soaked bodies were pressed tightly together. Ethan’s burning body temperature enveloped me, and my face turned red and hot. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or desire affecting me. After entering the room, Ethan set me down on the couch and got a towel to dry my hair. My head softly leaned against his waist, and I was almost falling over on the couch. He bent down and caught me in one smooth motion. I opened my eyes and looked at him hazily. His face was very close to mine, so close that I could hear his breathing. “Uncle Ethan, thank you…” I drowsily moved closer. “I like you so much…” My cold lips slowly pressed against his. They were so hot and soft. My fingers trembled as I involuntarily grasped his hand. Ethan’s previously restrained hand somehow relaxed, interlacing our fingers… In the heat of the moment, his hand unconsciously gripped my waist tightly. I cried out in pain. “Honey, be gentle…” Ethan’s eyes darkened, his voice hoarse: “What did you call me?”

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On my first day as a postpartum nanny, the client’s mother-in-law dragged me into the kitchen. “These are our family rules. You must memorize them backwards and forwards. When you’re in our house, you follow our rules,” she hissed. I took the papers she thrust at me and flipped through page after page… There were over 800 rules crammed onto those sheets: “The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill…” “Rule 1: The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. This will cultivate the baby’s independence from an early age. Less contact with mom prevents the baby from becoming a mama’s boy.” “Rule 2: The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. Our family’s precious heir can’t be corrupted by outside influences too early.” “Rule 3: The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill. As the baby’s mother, she must always be vigilant and can’t live too comfortably.” “Rule 4: It’s forbidden to teach the baby to talk. The later a child speaks, the smarter they are. Newton didn’t start talking until he was 4.” “Rule 5: It’s forbidden to put diapers on the baby…” The list went on and on. I nearly fainted. Was I hired to be a nanny for the royal family or something? Barbara was still rambling on, her voice growing hoarse from reciting so many rules. Finally, she shoved the stack of papers at me and told me to read them myself. After chugging several glasses of water, she started complaining again: “I told Lucy not to stay at that fancy postpartum center. What a waste of $5,000 for a month! And now they’ve hired you. Do you know how hard my David works for his money?” “Be honest with me, you must make at least $800 a month, right?” I looked at the old woman’s fierce expression and kept quiet. I was afraid if I told her I made $1,800 a month, she might have a heart attack. I peeked into the bedroom – thankfully Lucy was still asleep and hadn’t heard any of this. Drawing on my professional ethics, I put on my best smile and said: “Ma’am, I’m afraid these rules won’t work. Modern childcare is based on science. Many old practices are actually harmful to the mother and baby’s health!”

Barbara’s face darkened. “Bullshit! Your so-called science is the outdated nonsense. This is how my mother raised me, and my precious grandson deserves even better care.” “Besides, who do you think you are? Just a nanny trying to act smart? Don’t make me fire you right now!” She was really on a power trip. Too bad for her, as a postpartum nanny with 15 years of experience, I’d seen plenty of difficult characters like her before. I kept smiling politely and nodded. “Of course, you’re absolutely right.” Seeing my submissive attitude, a smug look spread across Barbara’s face. I added: “However, if you fire me now, the $300 deposit is non-refundable.” Barbara’s lips trembled. “What? $300? You’ve only been here one day and you’re keeping the deposit? Is there no justice? Why don’t you just rob us outright!” She cursed my entire ancestry, then demanded to speak to my manager. I calmly handed her my manager’s business card from my bag. The manager is actually my son-in-law. He’s very understanding and knows I’m professional and dedicated. Whenever he gets a complaint about me, we end up cursing out the complainant together. Barbara seemed to do some mental calculations and decided firing me wasn’t worth it. She opened her mouth, then closed it without saying anything more. I smiled again and said: “Mrs. Quinn is my client. Ensuring her and the baby’s physical and mental health is my responsibility.” “If you have any issues with me, you’re welcome to file a complaint. You can even request a replacement if you’d like!” Honestly, when dealing with difficult mother-in-laws like her, I’d be more than happy to leave. Barbara’s face grew even darker. Just then, we heard the sound of the door code being entered. David walked in carrying a pack of diapers.

I took the diapers from him, praising him effusively: “Wow, great job picking out the perfect diapers on your first try! You’re clearly a natural at taking care of the baby. Keep up the good work!” “These days, many fathers are even more skilled than mothers at childcare. I’m sure you’ll be amazing too!” David grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. “Sorry Jane, we weren’t prepared before.” Barbara stepped forward and violently snatched the diapers from my hands, flinging them aside. “Didn’t we agree not to use diapers and use cloth nappies instead? Who’s in charge in this house, me or her?” “My friend Susan’s grandson used diapers and ended up with bowed legs! You’ll see what happens if you dare use these!” “This is your first child. I have way more experience than you – just listen to me and you can’t go wrong!” Lucy heard the commotion and came out of the bedroom. “Mom, let’s use the diapers. All the childcare experts say the benefits outweigh any drawbacks. They won’t cause bowed legs, they’re breathable and comfortable, and they prevent diaper rash better than cloth nappies.” “Besides, people used cloth before because that’s all they had. Now that we can afford better options, why not use them? It’s more convenient for everyone.” Barbara snorted. “What do you know? You’ve all been brainwashed by the diaper companies!” David tried to reason with her too: “Mom, we already bought the diapers. Let’s just use them!” Seeing she was losing the argument, Barbara’s beady eyes darted around. Then she dramatically plopped herself on the floor and started wailing. “Your father died so young, leaving me to raise you three kids all alone, working my fingers to the bone… And now that you’re all grown up with your own wings, none of you listen to me anymore…” “Each of those diapers costs at least a dollar. Don’t you know how hard David works for his money?” I could see this circular argument wasn’t going anywhere. I quickly tried to smooth things over. “We can use cloth nappies too. We’ll just need to wash them thoroughly and change them frequently. Babies have such delicate skin – we don’t want them getting diaper rash.” Lucy and I went into the bedroom to discuss our strategy. We agreed that no matter what ended up in the cloth nappy, we’d immediately toss it in the trash. Within half a day, we’d thrown out all the cloth nappies.

I was just about to have David open the new pack of diapers when Barbara stormed in carrying a pile of ancient undershirts and long johns. She angrily cut them into cloth nappy squares and thrust them at me. “Let’s see who dares throw away my things again!” she snarled. I calmly accepted them, but continued with our previous plan. As soon as one got dirty, I’d change it and toss it. By evening, Barbara exploded when she found all the nappies in the trash. “Are you all deaf? Why the hell did you throw them away again?” Most nannies would have quit by now. But she was dealing with me. The only one getting angry would be Barbara. I calmly explained: “Ma’am, even washed cloth nappies can harbor bacteria. It’s safer for the baby to use fresh ones each time!” Barbara fished all the soiled nappies out of the trash. “I washed these squeaky clean. There’s no damn bacteria! You’re talking nonsense!” I replied: “Well, if you’ve washed them so thoroughly, I’ll leave that task to you then!” After just two days, not only did the whole house reek of urine and feces, but Barbara’s hands were red and raw from constant washing. Seeing Lucy come out of the bedroom for some water, Barbara dramatically tossed aside the nappy she was scrubbing: “Back in our day, we’d be out working the fields right after giving birth. Not like you young people nowadays, eating and sleeping all day long. You have it so easy – you can’t even be bothered to wash a few nappies!” She pointedly glared at Lucy as she said this. I had to admit, this mother-in-law was a real piece of work. She insisted on using cloth nappies and washing them herself, but after just two days she was already complaining. Now she was turning her venom on Lucy.

I pulled David aside. “Your wife needs plenty of rest during this postpartum period. She absolutely can’t do any chores. Overexertion now can lead to lifelong health issues.” “For example, she mustn’t cry or get her hands wet with cold water during this time…” David nodded obediently. But when he turned around, he found Lucy in the bathroom washing nappies with cold water. Her hands were already red and chapped. David quickly grabbed Lucy’s hands: “Honey, let me do that! You need to rest!” Lucy wiped away her tears. “It’s okay, I don’t want Mom to work so hard. I’m young, I can handle it. Mom said that back in her day, women would be out working right after giving birth. I feel bad seeing her do all the work…” Hearing his wife say this, David became furious. It was clear his mother had been guilt-tripping Lucy. He stormed over to confront Barbara, who was scrolling through TikTok on the couch: “Mom, why are you making Lucy wash nappies? She just gave birth!” Barbara didn’t even look up. “Oh please, we’ve all been through childbirth. Besides, she doesn’t even have to take care of the baby. Finding some chores to do is good for her!” Her unreasonable attitude made David explode. He grabbed all the cloth nappies and furiously stuffed them into a garbage bag, then tossed the whole thing into the dumpster outside. Seeing her son truly angry, Barbara didn’t dare say anything. As David passed by the master bedroom, he noticed the air conditioning was on and set to cool. Barbara let out an outraged shriek and glared daggers at me. “Are you deaf AND blind? Didn’t I tell you not to use the AC? If my precious grandson catches a cold, will you take responsibility?” Seeing her losing it, I calmly said: “Well, if we can’t use the AC in the bedroom, we should turn off the living room AC too. Otherwise, the cold air might seep into the bedroom and the baby could catch a draft.” Before Barbara could react, I dashed to the living room and switched off the AC. Barbara muttered something under her breath that I couldn’t catch. After that, whenever I saw her, she was either fanning herself while watching TV or scrolling on her phone while sweating profusely. Well, nobody enjoys 86°F weather without AC. But the next day, angry red rashes appeared all over the baby’s face. Lucy anxiously examined the rashes while asking me: “Jane, are the rashes serious? Will they leave scars?” I had just taken out some rash cream from my suitcase when Barbara burst in. “Didn’t I say the mother shouldn’t have contact with the baby? Are you deliberately trying to defy me?”

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The Elder had spoken, his voice echoing a chilling prophecy: a week from now, a devastating apocalypse would descend upon us. Everyone was convinced it would be a zombie apocalypse. Harper, with her formidable combat skills, was instantly elevated to the status of a living savior. As for me, with my water-based power, I was labeled a useless freak. “I believe your power is water, isn’t it? You lame-ass, with that pathetic ability of yours. What, are you planning to go spray the zombies awake?” Harper, my arch-nemesis, sneered. “Tell you what, why don’t you get on your knees, grovel a bit, then sleep with that homeless guy over there, and finally transfer eight hundred thousand to me? Then I’ll consider protecting you, no hard feelings. What do you say?” But soon after, the sun fractured, splitting into three. It turned out to be a scorching heat apocalypse. And there I was, riding my husky, Mochi, like a deity incarnate. “You pathetic losers, kneel before your Queen!” **1** On the day the nine stars aligned, the most revered Oracle in the sanctuary delivered a chilling prophecy: a week from then, a devastating apocalypse would arrive. After uttering his prediction, the Oracle departed from this world. From then on, no one knew what kind of apocalypse it would be. As for me, upon hearing the news, I was so excited I tumbled down the stairs and injured my leg. I was left hobbling around on a crutch, limping out the door. Only… I’d barely taken a few steps outside when Mochi, my husky, came trotting out. The little jerk immediately started mimicking my limp. Right behind him, a Corgi, a Golden Retriever, and a Shiba Inu quickly followed, copying Mochi’s absurd walk. Seriously? What is wrong with you guys? Fuming, I raised my crutch, ready to whack them. Just then, a startled cry came from nearby: “Look at those dogs! Their walk is so weird. What if they’ve caught the zombie virus?” “The Oracle’s apocalypse prediction… it couldn’t be a zombie apocalypse, could it?” My lips twitched. Without a word, I swung my crutch right at Mochi’s butt. He yelped, then bolted, charging toward the chatting group with an even more bizarre limp. Seeing this, the group looked even more terrified, running several blocks with Mochi hot on their heels. The news of a zombie apocalypse spread like wildfire. **2** As soon as the news broke, Harper, possessing the most powerful combat ability, was instantly hailed as the savior, poised to rescue the world. Unfortunately, Harper and I had a bit of history. It was nothing original—just the cliché scenario where her crush confessed his feelings to me. Even though I turned him down, for some reason, she was hell-bent on labeling me a shameless bitch. “Looking to buy instant noodles? Fine, get on your knees and beg me nicely, and I *might* consider selling them to you.” I’d just picked up a pack of instant noodles when an unwelcome guest appeared. Harper, chin haughtily raised, arrogantly kicked me – crutch and all – sending me flying. I gasped, a sharp sting shooting through me. Combat powers were no joke; she really knew how to make it hurt. I scrambled back up, rubbing my bruised arm. “Do these instant noodles have your name on them? Do I need your permission to buy them?” At that, Harper burst into what sounded like the biggest joke ever. “Oh, everyone, listen up! Is this little bitch dreaming? Did she hit her head when she fell? I’m dying laughing. Does she even know what my status is now?” The people around us immediately chimed in: “Yeah, do you even know what kind of apocalypse is coming? A zombie apocalypse! Harper’s power is the strongest for fighting in this sanctuary. She’s a hero who’s going to save the world!” “Let me tell you, Harper’s a huge deal now. Forget a single store; if she wanted the entire bank vault, all she’d have to do is snap her fingers.” “No exaggeration, forget instant noodles. Even if a penny fell from the sky right now, it would belong to Harper. Got it?” “The apocalypse is in a few days. Without her, we’d all be dead. Forget about eating instant noodles.” Listening to their endless sucking up, Harper smiled smugly. “Hear that? Zombie apocalypse. If you want my protection, you’d better behave. Otherwise… oh, I remember your power is water, right? Just that pathetic ability. What, are you planning on giving the zombies a refreshing shower?” Waves of laughter erupted around us. I just smiled slowly, unhurriedly, blinking my eyes. “But I remember the Oracle’s prophecy didn’t specify what kind of apocalypse it would be, did it? Who said it’s definitely a zombie apocalypse? What if it’s a heat apocalypse?” **3** At my words, everyone froze, seemingly pondering what I’d said. Seeing their resolve waver, Harper quickly jumped in: “Heat apocalypse? It’s been raining constantly for months! How could it be a heat apocalypse? I think you’re just jealous that I can save everyone!” “Don’t listen to this little bitch spreading dangerous lies! Everyone saw it that day; that dog clearly mutated! Yesterday it was a dog, tomorrow it could be people! What else could it be but a zombie apocalypse?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’ve heard of people hiding behind a dog’s bark, but never a human *relying* on one.” Especially when it was *my* dog. The nerve! Harper’s eyes blazed with fury, and she raised her hand, ready to slap me. “What did you say? Did you just insult me?” Just then, Mochi, who had gone out for a stroll, came running back. I casually grabbed a hot dog from a shelf and dangled it in front of him. He immediately flopped down, drooling and grinning. I raised an eyebrow. “Besides, mutated? Zombie dog? With this level of stupidity?” The crowd whispered again, “He doesn’t look *that* abnormal…” “What do you mean not abnormal? Look, would a normal dog drool non-stop and get this fat? Isn’t that abnormal?” Before Harper could finish, Mochi snarled and barked furiously at her. Harper jumped, but quickly regained her composure, her expression certain. “See? Barking for no reason! That’s a sign of zombie virus infection! Because the mutation started with Blair’s dog, she’s afraid everyone will blame her, so she’s trying to confuse you all. If you believe her and get infected when the apocalypse hits, don’t come crying to me to save you!” Mochi barked even louder. I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless. Seriously? Someone calls you fat and abnormal, and you don’t even object? And then you blame my dog for barking. You’re literally worse than a dog. I dug in my ear, then whispered to Mochi, “They won’t let me buy you food, and they’re calling you abnormal. Can you really stand for that?” Then, I loosened my grip. Sure enough, the next second, he charged at Harper, boiling with rage. Harper was afraid of dogs. Seeing Mochi charging, she shrieked, forgetting all about her own power, and bolted. But two human legs were no match for four dog legs. Just as Mochi was about to catch Harper, a furious roar came from behind. “Stop it!” **4** I followed the sound and saw Aiden. The man who had confessed to me, and Harper’s crush. Tall, with broad shoulders, a lean build, and a physique that just screamed ‘hot’ in those gray pants. I rubbed my chin. I had to admit, Harper had good taste. Aiden seemed to realize that telling a dog to “stop it” was a bit pointless. He turned to me, furious. “Blair, get your dog to stop right now! I know you can’t accept the news about Harper and me, and jealousy is a natural human emotion, I get that. But do you have any idea how many people you’ll get killed by seeking revenge like this? How can you be so malicious?” When people are truly speechless, they just laugh. Any fleeting good impression I had of him instantly vanished. “Oh, *you’re* not malicious, so why don’t *you* go save her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Or are you scared of being bitten by a dog too?” Aiden’s face flushed red as his secret was exposed. He retorted angrily, “How could I be? I’m being cautious! Do you even know what my power is? Healing! How many people are depending on my power to survive the zombie apocalypse? If something happened to me, could you take responsibility?” As he spoke, he became more and more self-righteous, as if he truly believed himself to be a white knight saving lives. I couldn’t help but chuckle. We hadn’t even figured out what kind of apocalypse it was yet, and he was already this high on himself? What a character. “Oh my God, a healing power! That’s definitely going to be a huge help in a zombie apocalypse! We’re saved!” “Perfectly complements Harper’s combat power. I’m shipping it! I approve this marriage!” “Absolutely! Only a divine figure like Harper deserves to be with Mr. Aiden. How could Blair, with her useless water power, even dream of him?” The surrounding chatter grew louder. I frowned. Before I could say anything, he cleared his throat and continued, “Although you were the one who originally tried to seduce me, wearing that short dress and skirt, I admit, I was fooled and charmed by you for a while. But now it’s the apocalypse, and your water power is simply too useless. I can’t tolerate being with a nobody. So, I’m sorry, we’re not a good match. My heart now belongs only to Harper.”

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Adrian and Olivia had been together for three years, but she still couldn’t forget her first love. There was a locked room in her house, a promise she kept for her first love. If he ever came back, there would always be a place for him in her home. For his sake, she abandoned Adrian time and time again. The last time, Adrian left only a breakup message before vanishing without a trace. But she seemed to go mad, searching for him everywhere. Finally, at the cemetery, she discovered the truth behind everything. Red-eyed, she pointed at the black and white photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to her and demanded: “Adrian, tell me—” “Who were you really thinking of every time you looked at me?” On Olivia’s birthday, Adrian brought a few of her close friends back to their place to prepare a surprise party for her. At the height of the celebration, everyone started chanting for them to kiss: “Olivia, you need to cherish such a thoughtful boyfriend!” Olivia gazed at Adrian, her eyes shining brightly, as she slowly leaned in. Adrian lowered his head to meet her, and just as their lips were about to touch amidst the cheers of their friends— The door suddenly burst open. A man drenched from the rain stood in the doorway. Olivia froze in place. Adrian turned to look and saw a face that bore a striking resemblance to his own. “Olivia…” the man called out softly. His tone intimate and familiar. Olivia seemed dazed for a moment before her expression changed: “Why are you soaked? Quickly go change into some dry clothes.” The friends around them reacted faster than Adrian, greeting the newcomer naturally: “Ethan, you’re suddenly back? Done with your wandering?” The man stood stunned in the doorway, a faint smile appearing on his face: “It’s been a while.” Olivia’s gaze remained fixed on him, not sparing Adrian a single glance. Adrian wanted to ask who he was. Before he could speak, Ethan walked straight upstairs. Towards that room in Olivia’s house that was always locked, the one she had repeatedly emphasized to Adrian was absolutely off-limits. Ethan skillfully pulled out a key and unlocked the door with ease.

When Ethan came back down, he had changed into dry clothes and casually took an empty seat at the dining table. The friends, tipsy from drinking, naturally draped an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Ethan, stay longer this time. Olivia will always keep a room for you anyway.” “How nice, to always have someone as your solid backup.” “I say, you two might as well get marr—” Olivia cleared her throat lightly. She moved closer to Adrian, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: “Adrian, thank you again for helping celebrate my birthday today.” The scent of lily of the valley enveloped him, but Adrian felt a chill run through his body. Adrian had always known that Olivia had a deeply meaningful first love – Ethan. When Olivia’s company was just starting out, Ethan had quit his high-paying job at a foreign firm without hesitation to support her. Even now, years after Ethan had left, Olivia’s friends were still so close with him. They laughed and joked together, reminiscing about old times. Adrian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. But he couldn’t taste anything.

This celebration that belonged to them continued until 10 PM. As everyone was leaving, it started pouring rain. In the end, only the three of them remained in the house. Olivia’s face was flushed from alcohol as she leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, looking small and delicate. I, her actual boyfriend, felt like thin air at that moment. “I’ll take you to a hotel,” I said. “I’m not leaving,” Ethan replied coldly. “That room is mine.” “You promised,” he continued. “No matter what, there will always be a room for me in your home.” I felt like an insignificant backdrop, ignored by them both. Olivia was at a loss for words. She looked to me pleadingly: “Let him stay.” “The rain is getting heavier outside.” “Just for one night, okay?” Olivia gazed at me, her eyes flickering with a hint of apology on her face. “Adrian, I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together and walked past them to go upstairs.

I didn’t sleep well that night. The storm raged on, and a loud clap of thunder woke me with a start in the middle of the night. I instinctively reached out to hold the person beside me. But my hand fell on empty space. I only felt cold sheets. A sliver of light seeped in through the crack in the door. I opened it slightly to peek outside. The living room lights were on bright. Ethan, wearing an apron, brought out a bowl of noodles and set it on the coffee table. Wisps of steam rose from it. He looked every bit the man of the house. I saw his lips curve into an indulgent smile as he spoke softly: “You’re still the same as always.” “Scared by thunder and needing someone by your side to feel safe.” Olivia stood nearby, a smile on her face. Ethan hugged her from behind. I clearly saw Olivia’s body stiffen for a moment. But she didn’t push him away. The warm glow of the living room lights fell on them, inadvertently revealing an air of intimacy. They looked like a couple that no outsider could ever come between.

I met Olivia when I was 22. I had just graduated and started working at her company. My desk was right in front of her office. When her office door wasn’t fully closed, I would peek through that tiny gap to look at her. To gaze at that face that looked 70% similar to the one that had appeared countless times in my dreams. They really looked so alike, especially the dimples that appeared when they smiled. Later, my colleague Sam caught me looking. He pressed an iced coffee against my face, startling me. I turned to meet his eyes as he said, “Adrian.” He smiled and handed me the coffee, his tone light as if joking: “Don’t go falling for Ms. Olivia.” “She’s got someone in her heart already.” I blinked at him. He leaned in to gossip: “Ms. Olivia has a first love she can’t forget.” “Not sure exactly how long they were together, but I think they knew each other since they were students.” “When the company was just starting out, they were still together. He’d come by sometimes to bring her lunch.” “Once during a meeting, she got a call saying he was sick. She immediately left everything behind to go to him.” “Can you believe it? Such a workaholic, dropping everything for her boyfriend.” “Pretty romantic, huh?” I held the coffee and asked softly: “What happened after that?” “They broke up later.” “I don’t know the details, but I think Ms. Olivia still has feelings for him.” “She even keeps his photo on her desk.” Sam shrugged and smiled, “I guess her first love probably hasn’t let go either.” “Loving each other but unable to be together – it’s like a bittersweet ending straight out of a novel.” I was stunned for a moment hearing this. Just then, Olivia’s office door suddenly opened and her secretary came out: “Adrian, Ms. Olivia is calling for you.” When I went in, Olivia was looking over some documents. Seeing me enter, she looked up with a smile. Two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. My gaze fell on a framed photo standing on her desk. I stared at it, my mind full of Sam’s wistful expression from earlier. “…Adrian, will you be my boyfriend?” Olivia suddenly asked. Caught off guard, I answered reflexively: “Okay.”

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I never thought my wife’s business failure and massive debt would lead to such a devastating chain of events. Despite my cancer diagnosis, I worked tirelessly to ease her financial burden. One day, I accepted an urgent delivery job for a large family portrait, hoping to earn enough to buy my wife a new dress and my daughter some art supplies. But when I arrived at the birthday party venue, I was shocked to see a happy family of three posing together – a man with a woman on each arm, beaming with joy. Guests whispered enviously: “The Johnsons are so wealthy. They spent millions just for her husband’s birthday.” “Their daughter is loaded too. She inherited a fortune in company shares and even ordered this family portrait for her dad today.” I froze, unable to move. The two women weren’t strangers – they were my supposedly bankrupt wife and beloved daughter. 0 With a loud crash, the massive family portrait slipped from my hands, shattering into pieces. All eyes turned to me as I stood there, feeling sick to my stomach. The party planner berated me harshly: “What kind of delivery guy are you? You broke Miss Johnson’s custom portrait! You broke delivery guy, how are you going to pay for this?” I stared blankly at the shards on the floor, piecing together the man’s face – a perfect match for the guy in the designer suit on stage. In our line of work, there’s a rule against peeking at customers’ orders. I had no idea the man in the portrait was Nathan Pierce, my wife’s childhood friend. At that moment, he stood there looking blissful, holding hands with my wife and daughter on either side. They looked like a real family of three. A glass of water hit my forehead, snapping me back to reality as warm liquid trickled down my face. The pain confirmed this wasn’t just a bad dream. Nathan’s eyes flashed with malice for a split second, too quick to catch. He started to reach for me in a show of concern, but suddenly I was kicked from behind, sprawling face-first onto the floor. I turned to see my daughter Emily glaring at me, her little face scrunched up in anger. “You ruined my daddy’s portrait! I’m going to report you!” I instinctively pulled my face mask tighter, realizing she didn’t recognize the father who had sung her lullabies just last night. Olivia’s voice rang out, accompanied by the click of high heels. She narrowed her eyes at me haughtily. “Since it’s my husband’s birthday, I’ll let this slide. Take this money and get out of here.” She carelessly tossed a wad of cash at me. I stared at the money on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. The medical bills I couldn’t afford for my cancer treatment were nothing but loose change to them. My chest ached as if I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach cramped painfully. I clutched my abdomen, reaching out to grab Olivia’s arm. But Emily snatched an expensive bottle of wine from the table and smashed it over my head without hesitation. The little girl glared at me fiercely. “You keep trying to ruin things for my mom and dad. Don’t blame me for not being nice!” The room fell silent. No one dared stop a child, simply because her mother was Olivia Johnson – rich and powerful. I watched helplessly as mother and daughter tenderly presented birthday gifts to Nathan. My vision blurred as I lost consciousness. When I came to, I found myself in a hospital bed. A nurse noticed I was awake and exclaimed happily: “Remember when you were diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer here a few months ago? The head doctor says it was a misdiagnosis – you don’t have cancer after all! That diagnosis report was fake!” Her smile faded as she added worriedly: “But your body is severely malnourished and overworked. You’ll collapse if you keep this up.” I clutched the fake cancer report tightly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. I had been surviving on one pack of ramen a day, working myself to the bone even as my stomach bled. In what I thought were my final weeks of life, I pushed myself relentlessly so my wife and daughter could have a slightly better life after I was gone. My sweet daughter never complained or asked for expensive things like her classmates. Just last night, my wife had curled up in my arms, saying she’d washed dishes as a housekeeper that day to buy me new clothes. I had felt so guilty then, hating myself for failing as a man and forcing them to live in such hardship. But now I knew the truth – Olivia’s casual birthday gift to Nathan was an entire public company. Even my daughter’s present was an exquisite emerald watch. I looked down at my patched-up, faded clothes. Tears streamed down my face unbidden. I clenched the fake cancer report in my fist. If the man they wanted wasn’t me, then I would disappear from their lives for good. The nurse left to get medication, and I received a video message on my phone. The clip showed Olivia and Nathan kissing passionately in front of a volcano. Emily stood nearby, happily snapping photos of the moment. Nathan teased: “Olivia, you’re spending all your money on me. What about your husband?” Olivia scoffed dismissively. “You’re the one who saved my grandfather’s life. He insisted I marry that penniless nobody instead. Why else would I have married him?” An awkward silence fell after her words. Emily’s sweet voice piped up: “Uncle Nathan, you’re the best daddy ever! I don’t want some poor loser as my dad!” In that moment, my heart shattered completely. But confusion mingled with the pain. Five years ago, Olivia’s grandfather had nearly drowned. I was the one who dove in to save him without hesitation. To this day, my leg still aches in rainy weather from the injury. Sadly, we couldn’t revive her grandfather, but on his deathbed he had made Olivia promise to treat me well. So why did Olivia believe Nathan was her grandfather’s savior? A memory flashed through my mind – I had lost my mother’s heirloom necklace while rescuing her grandfather. It took me ages to find it again afterwards. But today, I saw an identical necklace around Nathan’s neck. My own necklace was safely stored away in a small box. I had been saving it in case I really did pass away suddenly, hoping to leave Olivia and Emily with something valuable to sell. As the pieces fell into place, my mind reeled. Olivia had mistaken Nathan for the real hero, so she orchestrated this elaborate bankruptcy charade to string me along. Even my own daughter wasn’t on my side. What did all my years of sacrifice mean to them? I yanked out my IV and headed to my delivery company’s headquarters. Thanks to Emily’s stunt, I had received over a thousand negative reviews today. My boss fired me on the spot. After collecting my final paycheck, I mechanically made my way back to our tiny rented room. The dark, damp space was home to rats and roaches – and us. My lips twisted in a bitter smile. I had to admire how well mother and daughter had played their roles all this time. I had barely finished packing a small bag when Olivia walked in with Emily. They had changed into shabby, worn-out clothes. Emily hugged my leg like a sticky rice ball, her little face full of adoration. “Daddy, look at the drawing I made for your birthday!” My daughter was incredibly talented at art, especially portraits. But I could tell at a glance this wasn’t her work – probably just a cheap sketch bought from a street vendor to appease me. My wife had already tied on an apron and was setting out a bowl of noodles with a gentle smile. “Jack, I made you longevity noodles for your birthday. Thank you for always standing by us through thick and thin.” She must have been too careless in her act, forgetting I was severely allergic to the seaweed she had added to the dish. If I hadn’t witnessed how they celebrated another man’s birthday with my own eyes, I might have still been fooled by this mother-daughter duo. Noticing I wasn’t smiling like usual, Olivia spoke up nervously: “Honey, do you think the noodles I made are too plain?” Emily’s face scrunched up, looking on the verge of tears. “Daddy, do you not like me anymore? You don’t want my gift?” I looked up, noticing the obvious bite mark behind Olivia’s ear and the gold bracelet peeking out of Emily’s pocket. Just moments ago, Nathan had posted an update on social media. The photo showed an opulent mansion, with Olivia and Emily in designer dresses presenting another birthday cake to him. Nathan stood between them like a precious treasure being pampered. The caption read: “Money buys love. You two are the best birthday gifts ever!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but suddenly I felt like laughing. These two had really gone all out to deceive me. They didn’t even notice the injury on my forehead that they had caused themselves. My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, choking me. I used to be a volunteer teacher before marrying Olivia. After our wedding, I quit to take on multiple part-time jobs. Once, a young girl was going to be forced into an arranged marriage for money. I frantically called Olivia, asking if she had any extra cash so I could help save the girl. But my calls went unanswered. With no money of my own, I couldn’t do anything to stop it. Reality had dealt me a cruel blow. Wasn’t I just like that helpless young girl? The person I loved most had been lying to me all along. For their sakes, I had worked my body to the bone, never eating a full meal or getting a good night’s sleep. But now I knew the truth. They had been deceiving me this whole time. Before I could speak, Olivia took a call behind my back. After hanging up, she looked at me apologetically. “Honey, I’m so sorry. My boss just called me in to do some laundry. It pays $100 per load.” She quickly changed out of the apron and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “Once I pay off our debts, I promise I’ll give you a proper birthday celebration.” She grabbed Emily’s hand and hurried out into the night, seeming eager to leave. If I hadn’t overheard Emily’s excited whisper as they changed clothes, I might never have known: “Mommy, are we going to see Daddy now? This place stinks, I can’t stand being here another second!” I didn’t try to stop them. There was no point in holding onto people who wanted to leave. My mind was in chaos as I stumbled out, clutching our marriage certificate. Somehow I ended up at the registry office. Deep down, I knew I wanted a divorce. I didn’t want Olivia or Emily anymore. “Mr. Wilson, after careful examination, we’ve found your marriage certificate to be fraudulent. The official seal is forged,” the clerk informed me matter-of-factly.

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My brother always hated me. He once told me to my face that he wished I would just die. So I granted his wish and got stomach cancer. But he regretted it. I still died anyway. With a smile on my face, right in front of him. Jake’s call came just as I arrived home. The diagnosis report in my bag was already crumpled into a ball. He never used to call me on his own initiative before. “It was Dad’s birthday two days ago,” he said, his voice cold as ice. As always. “Why didn’t you come back…” “Because I didn’t want to,” I cut him off. “You went back, didn’t you? That’s enough.” “Tina came back from abroad at the beginning of the month.” Tina was my uncle’s daughter who had lived with us since childhood. “If she was there, that’s fine. After all, you only treat her like a sister anyway.” The person on the other end seemed to suddenly flare up in anger, calling my name in a low voice: “Mia!” I hung up. The last bit of sunset glow fell into the room. I sat at the desk, tearing the diagnosis report into tiny pieces. As the shreds of paper fluttered down onto the table, my phone screen suddenly lit up. Jake: Mom’s death anniversary is coming up soon.

Jake was my brother. He had always hated me. Because I was the culprit who took away his mother. Over twenty years ago, my mother died in childbirth. As I was born, she lost her life forever on the operating table. It was a murder disguised as new life. No one welcomed my arrival. Because of me, Dad lost his beloved wife. And Jake lost his mother. This long-standing resentment began from the day I was born and has continued until now. I didn’t intentionally skip Dad’s birthday. It’s just that day, the abdominal pain was so severe I nearly passed out. That’s when I first realized something was wrong. But actually, if I didn’t go, he would probably be more at ease.

Jake didn’t contact me again. I was standing outside the company building when I took a deep breath. After graduation, I had joined his company. Working my way up from the bottom, but no one ever discovered our connection. The number of times I met with him was even fewer than his meetings with ordinary employees. Last week, a senior executive left, and this Monday they were to announce the successor. Everyone said the position was mine for sure. At least before I got the diagnosis report, I had thought so too. In the hallway, I ran into a colleague who greeted me and then excitedly came closer: “Mia, don’t forget to treat us to a big dinner when you get promoted.” I smiled and looked down: “It’s not certain yet.” “It’s definitely going to be you,” she linked arms with me, “You’re the best out of everyone here.” When we entered the conference room, Jake was there. I happened to meet his gaze for a moment before we both looked away like strangers. “Good morning, Mr. Jiang.” He didn’t look at me, just nodded slightly. As indifferent as if our argument that night had never happened. People gradually filled up the conference room. Jake cleared his throat, and my colleague immediately gave me a meaningful look. I lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. The next second, I heard a familiar name. “Tina Tang.” A familiar figure entered from outside. Slender and graceful, Tina smiled as warmly as ever. Jake stood beside her, introducing her to everyone: “Miss Tang has just returned from abroad and will be taking over the deputy manager position.” Some people instinctively glanced at me. I avoided their eyes and looked at the beaming Tina on the stage. The atmosphere in the room seemed to stagnate for a moment. Invisible undercurrents stirred. I smiled and applauded. Scattered applause broke the slightly awkward atmosphere in the conference room. Tina met my eyes, her expression warm and friendly.

The coffee smell in the break room was so strong it seemed about to overflow. I stirred it with a spoon, took a sip, and felt some acid reflux as I swallowed. My colleague stared angrily, fuming with indignation. “How is this fair? She just parachutes in and steals your position? Is this blatant nepotism?” “Mia, aren’t you angry?” “This position was meant for you. You worked so hard, even almost ended up in the hospital from overworking last time.” Her gaze fell on the dark circles under my eyes: “Mia, I’m telling you, there’s no need to work yourself to death like this. Cut back on the coffee.” The warmth of the coffee seeped through the ceramic mug into my hands as I thanked her softly: “Mr. Jiang must have his reasons.” The girl’s eyes widened as she was about to complain in a low voice when a phone rang abruptly. Jake’s voice was crystal clear in the small break room, tinged with barely suppressed anger: “Mia, come to my office.” My hand shook, spilling a few drops of coffee on my white shirt. The heat seeped through the fabric, scalding my skin. I responded quietly: “Okay.”

The moment Jake’s office door opened, I saw Tina sitting on the sofa, her head slightly bowed. She was clutching a piece of paper in her hand. And Jake, sitting there with a cold expression, suppressing his anger. People used to say that even though Jake and I came from the same womb, only our eyes looked alike. Upturned at the corners, when not smiling, they naturally carried a cold aura that kept people at a distance. Unfortunately, neither of us liked to smile. And Jake had never smiled at me. “Although Tina is new, she has the qualifications for this position.” “Mia.” Jake frowned deeply as he called my name. “If you have complaints, say them directly. Gossiping behind people’s backs, ganging up with colleagues to isolate Tina – Mia, is your viciousness ingrained in your bones?” In just half a day. I glanced sideways at Tina. She happened to look up and meet my eyes. Her face, in her early twenties, was full of collagen. Her eyes were slightly red, with tears reflecting tiny flecks of light. Then she quickly lowered her head again. All the actors in this farce were in place, just waiting for me to play my part. But I really had no interest in acting out their drama. “What other people say with their own mouths has nothing to do with me.” “Besides-” “Everyone’s not stupid.” A sob and the sound of something falling to the ground rang out simultaneously. The expensive pen that had been on the desk was now shattered into pieces. Black ink spread by my feet. “Mia! You…” A light piece of paper fell on his desk. Jake’s words were cut off. When he saw the text clearly, his anger immediately resurged: “Mia!” “Are you still a child?” “Are you throwing a tantrum?” The crisp new resignation letter was crumpled into a ball and thrown back at my feet like trash. It’s not a tantrum at all. I’ve known for a long time. I don’t have the right to throw tantrums. Only children who are coddled have that privilege. And I don’t. “I’ll go to HR myself.” As I closed the door, his roar was shut out along with it. But I hadn’t walked far before Tina caught up with me. “Mia.” Her voice still had a nasal quality, and she carefully reached for my hand. “Mia, don’t be angry. I don’t want this position. I’ll go talk to Jake. Don’t be upset.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have come back. Mia, don’t let me ruin the relationship between you and your brother.” There was no one in the hallway. I stopped and looked at her. Tina’s eyes naturally carried an air of innocence and pitifulness. Combined with her slightly reddened eyes and nose tip, she could easily win others’ favor. She looked just like she did over ten years ago, when she first came to our home. “Tina.” I moved closer to her, gripping her chin, “This trick never fails-” “Does it?” Tina’s face instantly turned pale. The elevator arrival chime sounded. I let go of her and walked towards the elevator. She seemed not to have recovered, standing rooted to the spot. I smiled at her: “You know very well, there was never any sibling affection between him and me.” “Come to think of it, you’re more like his sister.”

As the elevator doors closed, I saw my expressionless face reflected in them. My abdomen cramped with pain. Actually, in the beginning, my relationship with Jake wasn’t as bad as this. When we were young, although he didn’t like me, he never did or said anything too extreme. Compared to Dad who treated me like I was invisible, Jake as a brother was the only person I felt close to. Back then I thought, even if Jake didn’t like me, we were still family. That’s what blood ties meant. Until middle school, when Tina came to live with us. That’s when I realized. Brothers could actually be so nice to others. Not always wearing a cold expression, not telling her to “get lost,” not mocking her with sarcasm. That was how a brother should really treat a sister. But Tina wasn’t satisfied. On the fifth day after she transferred to my middle school, when I came home from school, Jake slapped me hard across the face. I held my cheek and stared at him in shock. He was saying things I couldn’t understand. Bullying. Evil. Vicious. Apologize. But when I saw Tina standing behind him, head bowed and clutching his shirt, These scattered words suddenly pieced together into a complete lie in my mind. I tried to explain. But he didn’t believe me. The argument that erupted that day and the obvious favoritism suddenly shattered the naive and foolish thoughts I once had. Jake wasn’t stupid enough to be unable to tell right from wrong. It was simply that he chose not to. I seemed to belatedly realize on that day. My brother truly harbored genuine hatred towards me. My relationship with Jake deteriorated rapidly. Unfortunately, in my foolishness and immaturity at the time, I only thought that rather than having him treat me like a stranger like Dad did, I might as well antagonize him. At least then, Jake would see me. The tense relationship between us continued until I was eighteen. At eighteen, I was dragged into hell. After eighteen, my relationship with Jake suddenly became that of strangers. Like a war that abruptly ceased. We no longer argued, no longer lashed out hysterically, no longer confronted each other. Just cold indifference, as if we didn’t know each other at all.

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I told the school’s notorious bad boy that I was Briar’s real boyfriend. I pulled out all the stops to keep them apart. After graduation, Briar found out the truth and broke down, crying. She hated me for destroying her love story. Even on the day I died, she was still cursing me, calling me selfish, a despicable jerk, worse than a dog. As a twisted form of revenge, she deliberately didn’t tell my family about my critical condition. I never got to say goodbye to them. I died with my eyes wide open, consumed by bitterness. After I was reborn, I chose to let go. She finally got her wish, pregnant with the bad boy’s baby. The valedictorian and the school’s bad boy were an item. Our entire senior year was buzzing with this gossip, everyone’s faces alight with barely contained excitement. I sat at my desk, quietly working on practice problems, completely oblivious to the chatter in the hallway. It wasn’t a surprise to me. Yesterday, Jax wrote Briar’s name on the blackboard, confessing his feelings to her in front of everyone. The whole class saw that cheesy, copy-pasted love confession from the internet. Briar, far from being angry, completely fell for it. Her face flushed crimson, but her eyes and brows, though, sparkled with an irrepressible delight. She pretty much gave him her silent approval. Just like that, they became the main characters of some high school romance drama. It had only been one night, and their social media profiles already sported matching couple avatars, openly declaring their relationship on SnapChat. They couldn’t wait to scream their love to the world. The old Briar would never have done something like that. But she’d changed. Ever since she met Jax, she wasn’t the Briar I knew anymore. “Ugh, how could a straight-A student like her fall for that punk? He’s always getting into trouble outside of school. Who knows if he’ll even get into college.” Leo, my best friend, sighed behind me, poking my arm with his pen. “If you ask me, Jax is miles below you.” “Should’ve known Briar liked wild types. You shouldn’t have been such a doormat for her.” I stopped writing, saying seriously, “I haven’t liked her for a long time.” Yeah, I liked her in my last life. Not this one. I still remembered her face at my hospital bed, eyes filled with such visceral hatred. She cursed me over and over, her gaze practically spat daggers at me. “Asher, you deserve this! You’re going straight to hell when you die!” “Do you know how much Jax meant to me? How dare you make decisions for me back then?!” “Karma’s a real b*tch, Asher. You don’t deserve to live.” As she ranted, tears streamed down her face, her voice choked. “Do you know he was the one I loved most…?” When she saw my life slipping away, watching the heart monitor flatline, She didn’t show an ounce of pity. She even deliberately didn’t inform my family. Leaving me to die alone. Her last words before I faded away were: “Asher, now you know what regret feels like, don’t you?” Yeah, I do. Given a second chance, I’ll be a silent shadow. I won’t get in your way and Jax’s ever again. The bell for class rang, pulling my memories back to reality. Jax swaggered in, his rebellious face practically oozing pride and arrogance. Briar followed close behind him, clutching her sleeve tightly. Her lips, redder than the ripest cherries, looked like they’d just been thoroughly kissed. I watched them calmly. It reminded me of Briar and my marriage, a long time ago. That was the first time I ever saw that kind of shy, maidenly expression on her face.

Our families tried to set Briar and me up. I never thought she’d agree. After all, we were like oil and water back then. She’d even glare at me just for walking past. After high school, Briar got into one of the country’s most prestigious universities, and I became her schoolmate. The day I received my acceptance letter, I told Briar about Jax’s crush on her. Part of it was selfish, yes. But mostly, I didn’t want romance to mess with Briar’s studies. Everyone knew what kind of person Jax truly was. He’d only been at our school for a year, but he’d already racked up a ton of disciplinary actions, constantly breaking school rules and getting into fights off campus. Not only did he smoke and drink, but he’d also gone through more girlfriends than red marks on his report card. He only saw Briar as a game. But Briar, for some reason, liked guys like him. With that charming, yet absolutely toxic, look of his, he’d sit in the back row, humming love songs all day. He’d fold his textbooks into paper airplanes and casually toss them out the window. We’d been childhood friends for so many years; I knew Briar better than anyone. If she knew Jax was planning to confess to her, she’d agree without a second thought. Then she’d fall deep and never pull herself out. “Jax, I know what you’re up to. I suggest you don’t do it, or you’ll regret it big time.” That afternoon, Jax was excitedly grabbing chalk to write on the blackboard, taking advantage of the empty classroom after school. I stood at the back door, my voice cold, cutting him off. “Why not?” He raised an annoyed eyebrow. “Because I’m Briar’s boyfriend.” “You—” The name ‘Briar’ instantly changed his expression. He knew we’d been best friends since kindergarten, in the same class since then, and our parents were even neighbors in the same building. He thought our friendship was purely platonic. “You don’t want her to reject you in front of everyone, do you? You’d lose all face at Northwood High.” I continued, showing him the hair tie on my wrist, silently asserting my claim. It was the same kind Briar wore. Jax’s clenched fist tightened, then loosened. “Oh, and by the way, we’ve been together longer than you’ve even known her.” As I left, I didn’t forget to twist the knife, making sure Jax completely gave up. I lied to Jax. But the hair ties really were from Briar. She was always losing things, so she just gave me a whole box of them. She’d just hold out her hand for one when she needed it. Soon after, Jax shifted his attention to other girls, and we had a peaceful senior year. Later, Briar went crazy trying to chase him, hoping to make up for that missed love. She found out Jax had already moved abroad. They were worlds apart. “Asher, I hate you…” She pounded my chest repeatedly, her tears flowing like a broken dam. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I have just let them be? But then I saw Briar, standing tall, going straight from her undergraduate to her PhD, becoming a dazzling female executive in the finance world, securing a future everyone envied. I still felt it was worth it. After thirty, I was still single, and so was she. Our elders started getting anxious. “Fine,” Just as I was about to refuse, Briar nodded, agreeing to the marriage. It completely blew my mind. She smiled at me, her eyes holding a tenderness I’d never seen before. Suddenly, an unrealistic fantasy sparked within me. After all these years, Briar had finally let go of Jax and was willing to look back at me. I loved her. It was the deepest secret buried in my heart. I don’t think any guy could resist a lively girl with sweet dimples who was always by his side. Her soft, long hair brushed my fingertips, sending an uncontrollable tremor through my heart. But a fantasy is just that, a fantasy. She could nonchalantly pick out a wedding dress, do a photo shoot, finalize wedding arrangements. But she would never actually say she loved me. Jax was her one true love, her ‘what if’ dream. So, she ran away on our wedding day. I was completely humiliated in front of all our guests. The video went viral, and someone even posted a breakdown of the whole story. Netizens mocked me, calling me a pathetic doormat who ended up losing everything. That manipulative snake who ruined true love deserved to be abandoned. Briar had successfully completed her long-planned revenge.

“Briar, your grades slipped by dozens of ranks in the last monthly exam. You really need to take this seriously.” Mr. Harrison, our class teacher, said earnestly, holding her report card. He glanced at Briar, then at Jax waiting outside his office, shaking his head with a sigh. “It’s normal to have crushes at your age, but you need to keep your eyes open and make smart choices. Classmates should push each other to improve, not just think about having fun all the time.” “I think Asher is doing great. He ranked first in the entire grade this time. He’s a role model for the boys…” “Mr. Harrison.” Briar cut him off, seeing Jax’s annoyed expression. “I’ll handle my own affairs. You don’t need to worry about me.” Briar snatched the report card from his hand and walked off towards Jax without a backward glance. Jax brazenly blew a whistle, practically preening, then threw his arm around Briar’s shoulders, completely ignoring everyone else, and swaggered off. No one at this school could control Jax. His parents were prominent entrepreneurs. The new school building being constructed was a donation from their family. Mr. Harrison stared at their retreating backs, a pang of heartache hitting him. He never imagined his best student would turn out this way. I was on my way to turn in homework when I ran into Briar and Jax. “Asher…” Briar was about to greet me, but swallowed her words. Jax had her hand clutched tight. I felt his hostile glare. Briar was quick to obey him, immediately averting her gaze. She walked past me like a stranger. Jax was jealous of me; I knew Briar must be thrilled about that, loving every minute of it. She thought possessiveness was a sign of love. That was fine. Time to draw a line in the sand. We’d go our separate ways.

Mr. Thompson asked me why I hadn’t been walking home with Briar lately. I hesitated for a long time but still didn’t tell him about her early relationship. Though, I figured her parents would find out soon enough. With Jax by her side, no matter how late she stayed out, Briar always made it home safely. After school, you could often see them running hand in hand down the street. Their laughter and playful teasing drifted to my ears, sounding as distant as if from another world. Some classmates even spotted them at night in the small grove at the park. Under the dark, windy sky, Jax had Briar pinned against a tree, kissing passionately. Their reputation instantly flipped. From rebellious, passionate lovers, they became the shameless, scandalous couple everyone whispered about. Briar was angry at first, but then she just stopped caring, letting them say whatever they wanted. She continued to spend every waking moment with Jax. Jax had money and bought Briar many designer lipsticks, so Briar learned how to do her makeup and dress up. She started looking down on girls who showed up to school barefaced every day, disdaining to stand next to them. She also looked down on guys who only bought a single boba for dates, secretly calling them poor. She didn’t understand that in student days, a girl’s most beautiful face was her unadorned one. Youth was them, not them transforming into youth. Even a cheap boba could leave a lasting impression for many. The last time Briar spoke to me first was when she threw a small note to Jax during class, accidentally tossing it onto my desk. “Nerd, pass it over, quick.” Briar urged impatiently, afraid I might peek. She no longer called me Asher with a cheerful smile, but adopted Jax’s habit of giving people nicknames. The next second, the math teacher stood in front of my seat, his face stern as he confiscated the note. I heard Jax click his tongue in annoyance, kicking his desk leg. Then he stood up and slammed the door as he walked out. Briar glared at me, her eyes spitting venom. She blamed me for getting them caught. Our math teacher was famously strict. After reading the inappropriate content, he immediately called both sets of parents after class. Jax’s parents, of course, didn’t show up. They let their son run wild. Rumor had it, as long as Jax didn’t get anyone pregnant, his parents didn’t care how many girls he dated. Mr. Thompson, getting the news, rushed back from the construction site, still clutching his hard hat, sweat mixed with dirt caked on his tanned skin. He finally understood why Briar had changed so much lately; it was because she was always with the school bad boy. He was utterly disappointed in his precious daughter. Mr. Thompson hit her for the first time. Briar clutched her face in disbelief, immediately protesting vehemently. You could hear the furious argument from the other end of the hallway, even sitting in the classroom. It lasted a whole afternoon.

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