At noon, my online boyfriend sent me a photo of his lunch, fishing for compliments. It was a steaming bowl of braised chicken and rice. [Baby, I’m eating my lunch properly, I’m being a very good boy, hurry up and praise me~] I was just about to reply, “Good boy,” when… I noticed four big red letters printed on the tray in the photo: Lanjing Technology. My heart instantly skipped a beat. Because… the company I work for is also called “Lanjing Technology.” I froze on the spot. Come on, bro, are you kidding me? The guy I’ve been dating online for over a year actually works at the same company as me? 1 It was lunchtime, and I was sitting in the company cafeteria, happily eating my favorite braised chicken. I remembered my online boyfriend telling me that he’s too busy at work and often forgets to eat lunch. So I sent him a kind reminder: [No matter how busy work gets, don’t forget to eat lunch. Be an obedient little puppy.] Ten minutes later, my phone lit up with a message from him: [Baby, I’m eating my lunch properly, I’m being a very good boy, hurry up and praise me~] [Image] I opened the image. It was a steaming bowl of braised chicken and rice. I was just about to praise him. But then I realized there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about this photo. After looking closely, I knew exactly where that damn familiarity came from: The four big red letters on the tray: [Lanjing Technology] And this is exactly where I work. I looked at the braised chicken in front of me, then at the photo my online boyfriend sent. Suddenly, the meat in my mouth didn’t taste so good anymore. The company cafeteria is for employees only. My online boyfriend actually works at the same company as me? I was speechless! 2 [Baby, why aren’t you praising me? (Puppy pouting face)] [I really listened to you and ate my food properly. (Puppy crying)] [Are you mad? What did I do wrong? (Puppy hiding in a corner crying silently)] My online boyfriend’s messages came one after another. I still hadn’t recovered. Although I knew we were in the same city. I never expected we would be in the same company. This damn fate! “Puppy, what company do you work for?” “Puppy, are you at Lanjing Tech?” I typed and deleted the words repeatedly. I didn’t know what to say. If I asked, he would definitely ask me where I work. He might even find out I’m also at Lanjing Tech. And then he would look for me. What should I do then? The thought of someone in the company calling me “baby” all day long made me want to die of embarrassment. Before I could even digest this fact. My online boyfriend sent another message: [Baby, you’re not ignoring me because you’re eating with someone else, are you!!!] [Baby, what’s wrong? I’m getting nervous…] To keep him from noticing anything unusual, I replied: [I was eating just now and didn’t see the messages. Good boy.] Only then did he stop bombarding me with messages. [Baby, I’ve finished eating, going back to work now~] 3 I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the cafeteria. There were hardly any people left. Most of them were women, and there was one white-haired older man. It couldn’t possibly be him. I forced my brain to calm down and organize my thoughts. Right now, I needed to figure out a few things: First, who is my online boyfriend? Second, what kind of person is he really? Third, if I find him, should I come clean, continue dating online, or break up? (After all, it really would be awkward.) Thinking back to when we first started talking. We had kept our privacy very well. For example, we never sent selfies, and we never shared our real names or addresses. He would only send me a few pictures of his abs when I specifically asked for them. Based on this alone, it would be really hard to find out who he is. I couldn’t just go around lifting guys’ shirts to compare their abs with the pictures, right? 4 After returning to the office, I looked at my male colleagues at their desks. I shuddered. We battle it out every day like sworn enemies. If my online boyfriend turned out to be one of them, I would literally die on the spot. I scrolled through my chat history with him, looking for clues. And I actually found something. Last month, he was struggling to choose a water bottle. [Baby, I’m shopping at Global Plaza with a friend and I want to buy a water bottle.] [Help me decide, which one looks better? I’ll buy one for you too.] He sent several pictures, and I helped him choose a titanium travel mug with traditional lacquer art. To ensure my privacy wouldn’t be compromised, I politely declined his offer to buy me one. [Whatever you choose is the best, baby.] He bought that water bottle right then and there, so I just needed to see who in the company was using it. I walked around the office several times, but I couldn’t find anyone using it. I messaged him: [Are you using the water bottle you bought?] He replied very quickly: [Baby, I’m using it right now!] [Image.] The water bottle was standing right on his desk. That’s weird. Why didn’t I see it? While I was still pondering this, a message from my boss, Mr. Shen, popped up on the software: [Lin Xu, there are still some issues with the proposal. Come to my office for a minute!] When I walked into his office, Mr. Shen was on the phone: “Baby, I miss you too. Come see me at the office tomorrow.” “Oh right, Arthur is coming tomorrow too, you can catch a ride with him.” “Aw, I’m just worried about you driving by yourself, it’s not safe~” “Okay, whatever you say. Come over whenever you’re ready, drive safe.” “I have to get back to work, hanging up now, mua~” I awkwardly turned my face away. I couldn’t bear to look, I really couldn’t. Our Mr. Shen actually had such a gentle side. He hung up the phone, coughed, and smiled at me. “Lin Xu, the investors looked at the proposal this morning. They’re generally very satisfied, but they brought up a few points. I’ve highlighted the details, so please revise it according to their suggestions.” “Okay, Mr. Shen.” Just as I was about to leave, I caught a glimpse of a water bottle sitting on the corner of his desk. It was the exact same titanium travel mug with traditional lacquer art! The exact same one I picked out for my online boyfriend! For a moment, I stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning! Seeing that I hadn’t left, Mr. Shen asked: “Hmm? Something else?” His voice pulled me out of my shock. I took a deep breath, pretending nothing was wrong. I pointed at the water bottle: “Mr. Shen, that’s a nice water bottle, where did you buy it?” He slowly uttered two words: “Global Plaza.” Me: “…” Mr. Shen smiled slightly, his eyes curving into crescents. “Why, do you like it?” I quickly composed my facial expression and waved my hands. “Ah, it’s nothing, just asking casually.” Then, I fled in a panic. An absurd thought popped into my head: Mr. Shen is my online boyfriend! But if I’m his girlfriend, who was he calling “baby” just now? Is Mr. Shen cheating on me? Holy shit! 5 I was completely out of it for the whole day. I didn’t even reply promptly to the messages my online boyfriend sent me. After suppressing my emotions and finishing the proposal revisions. I went home in a daze. My phone was full of messages from him. [Baby, what are you doing?] [Baby? Where are you?] [Baby, why aren’t you replying?] [Baby, why are you acting so weird today? Did I do something wrong? Tell me if you’re unhappy, I’ll definitely fix it!] [Baby, don’t scare me!] … With trembling hands, I typed a few words. [Puppy, are you hiding something from me?] He replied instantly: [No, baby. I always answer whatever you ask truthfully.] [Baby, is there a misunderstanding between us?] [No.] I tried to calm my chaotic mind. Now that I knew he was highly likely Mr. Shen, my next step was to figure out if Mr. Shen was really cheating. And who the “baby” he was talking to actually was. What if I was misunderstanding him? My online boyfriend sent another message: [Oh right, baby, brand V just released their latest clothes. Help me pick one out? I want to wear it tomorrow!] [Image.] I specifically picked out a solid black sweater with a logo on the left chest, so it would be easy for me to identify. I still held out a sliver of hope. If Mr. Shen didn’t wear this sweater tomorrow, it would prove he wasn’t my online boyfriend. Then I wouldn’t have to agonize over whether my online boyfriend was cheating or not. 6 The next day, I walked into Mr. Shen’s office with the proposal. He was sitting on the sofa drinking tea, and he was wearing the exact same black brand V sweater I picked out yesterday. Blindingly black. “Mr. Shen, the proposal has been revised.” He gave me a warm smile. “Good work, Lin Xu.” “The investors are coming this afternoon, please prepare.” “Okay.” I stared at Mr. Shen’s sweater, pretending to ask casually: “Mr. Shen, I’ve never seen you wear this sweater before, it looks nice.” He smiled: “Bought it yesterday.” This made me even more certain that Mr. Shen was my online boyfriend. Sitting at my desk, I absentmindedly stared at his office. He said yesterday that his “baby” was coming to the office today. I really wanted to know who this “baby” was. If it really was what I thought, then this relationship had to end. 7 An hour later, a woman with exquisite features walked straight into Mr. Shen’s office. I pretended to go get water. As I passed his office, I heard talking and laughing from inside. “Baby, I missed you so much. This sweater looks really good on you, I just realized black suits you.” Mr. Shen’s voice was gentle: “Baby, as long as you like it. I picked it out specifically. Aren’t we meeting your parents tonight? I was afraid they wouldn’t be satisfied with me.” “How could they? My parents will naturally like the person I like.” Hearing this, it felt like my heart had been dealt a heavy blow. So he asked me to pick out clothes for him so he could meet his beloved girlfriend’s parents. Then what am I? A secret mistress? The next second, I took out my phone and with great difficulty, typed a few words to my online boyfriend: “You are rotten to the core, let’s break up!” Then, I swiftly blocked and deleted him. 8 Mr. Shen walked out holding his girlfriend’s hand, watching her leave. Completely without any sorrow. I felt more and more like a clown. Thinking back to all the moments we shared, I felt a wave of bitterness in my heart. The only thing worth celebrating was that I used a secondary account for online dating. Otherwise, I would have been so embarrassed. I consoled myself: since love is gone, I should just focus on work. After all, I’m a rational woman, I can’t possibly quit my job over this. 9 In the afternoon, Mr. Shen sent me a message. [Lin Xu, the investor has read your proposal and thinks it’s feasible. Come in and give a presentation.] I gathered my emotions, held my head high, and walked in. “Lin Xu, this is the investor, and also my good buddy, Arthur Gu. Don’t be nervous, just explain your ideas to Mr. Gu.” I ignored Mr. Shen and looked at the person sitting on the sofa. And my eyes met Arthur’s. Unlike Mr. Shen’s gentleness, the man in front of me exuded a noble and unapproachable aura. He was wearing a black V-neck suit, the neckline perfectly revealing a black, slim-fit turtleneck sweater underneath. The sweater outlined his pecs, which were ready to burst out but perfectly concealed by the jacket. It left much to the imagination. His long, fair fingers picked up a water glass, and he took a small sip. I was completely intimidated by this man’s aura and nervously swallowed. Urged by Mr. Shen, I explained my ideas to Arthur. Once in work mode, I was confident and poised. When I finished, Mr. Shen clapped. “Lin Xu, very well said. Arthur, what do you think?” Mr. Shen and I looked at Arthur simultaneously, but Arthur’s gaze was fixed on my neck. He suddenly said: “Miss Lin, that’s a very nice necklace.” I looked down. The neckline of my outfit today was a bit low, and my crystal necklace was perfectly exposed. I panicked a little, because when I bought this crystal necklace, I had sent a picture to my online boyfriend. [Puppy, look at my new necklace, isn’t it pretty?] [Image] The image was a close-up of my neck wearing the necklace. He replied: [Baby looks good in everything.] Now that the necklace was exposed, Mr. Shen wouldn’t recognize me, would he? I glanced at Mr. Shen. Thankfully, he didn’t react much. He was still eagerly waiting for Arthur’s reply. Of course, he had a girlfriend, and he was just playing with me. Why would he remember these details? Only I remembered every little thing about our online romance. I hurriedly pulled my hand back and said: “Just bought it casually, for fun.”

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When the female lead appeared, I was already pregnant with Ethan’s child. Unable to fight fate, he had once desperately broken off his engagement with the female lead for me, but that only made her hate me to the bone, detesting the very sight of me. Eventually, I grew tired. I threw away our tangled feelings, and even gave up the child. Until a late afternoon, six years later. A tender-faced child knocked on my door. He kept a straight face, acting like a little adult: “My dad doesn’t want me anymore, can I come live with you?” 1 I froze for a moment, speechless. Leo pursed his lips unhappily, tilting his pretty little face up, and said earnestly: “My teacher said that parents have the responsibility and obligation to raise their children…” The half-open door cut off the rest of his sentence. I stepped aside slightly and said calmly: “Come in.” The dim, yellow light inside illuminated his slightly widened eyes. His eyes flickered inexplicably. He lifted his chin, let out a “hmph,” and obediently walked in. Closing the door, I turned around to see Leo curiously looking around. Seeing me look over, he immediately retracted his gaze, nervously gripping his backpack straps, his little face tense: “My name is Leo Vance.” It sounded like a self-introduction, yet also a reminder of his identity—the child Ethan and I had together. I knew. From the first glance, I confirmed who he was. Because his features were almost an exact replica of Ethan’s. Seemingly disappointed by my calm reaction, he unhappily turned his head away, refusing to look at me. I placed his small, bright yellow backpack by the entryway and led him to wash his hands. “Let’s eat first.” Leo obediently said “oh,” and by the time I brought the food out, he had already climbed onto a chair by himself. I asked him why he came looking for me so suddenly. Leo kept his head down, poking at the small greens in his bowl. His little round, black head drooping, his voice muffled: “I had a fight with him. He threw things and told me to get out, saying I should never come back.” So it was just a temper tantrum and running away from home. Then Ethan should be coming to pick him up very soon. Makes sense. After all, the Vance family fought ruthlessly with me for Leo’s custody six years ago. Now, it was even more impossible that they didn’t want him. My chopsticks paused, unable to define the feeling in my heart at this moment. I didn’t know Leo was coming tonight, so I only had a simple meal of two dishes and one soup. He was a picky eater, avoiding onions and carrots, until eventually, he had no vegetables left to eat. Leo glared bitterly at the mashed vegetable leaves, stole a glance at me, and guiltily swallowed them. When we first met, he had a touch of arrogance and haughtiness. Now, being a picky eater who didn’t like greens, it was clear he was pampered and spoiled at the Vance house. He shouldn’t have suffered any real grievances. I relaxed a bit. After washing the dishes, I waited for Ethan to send someone to pick him up. I waited until nine-thirty. Six-year-olds get sleepy early. He pulled his pajamas out of his backpack, looking around with his eyes, and pouted: “There’s only one room.” “Are we squeezing into one bed tonight?” I glanced at the clock on the wall. For some reason, the Vance family still hadn’t sent anyone. I had to compromise. “Yeah, you’ll sleep with me tonight.” I originally thought Leo would throw a tantrum. After all, a modest one-bedroom apartment was naturally nowhere near as comfortable as the Vance family’s luxurious mansion. But Leo just pursed his lips, his eyes flickering. After wiping his face, he grunted as he changed into his pajamas, kicking his legs to climb onto the bed by himself. Just like how, despite looking disgusted during dinner, he silently finished the greens I put in his bowl. He wriggled under the covers, making a little mound, pulled out a fairy tale book from who-knows-where, and peeked out to look at me, urging: “Aren’t you going to coax me to sleep?” He looked quite happy. 2 After coaxing Leo to sleep, I pulled up Ethan’s number. I hesitated for a long time, but still didn’t dial. Ethan and I had been apart for six years. At first, we both thought we could fight fate. Back then, my family suddenly went bankrupt. The Vance family broke off our engagement and, hiding it from Ethan, engaged him to Mia. For me, he broke off the engagement with Mia regardless of the consequences. He even gave up his position as the heir, taking a beating from Grandpa Vance according to family law that left him bedridden for half a month. Seeing me cry, he endured the pain, a lazy smile on his lips as he coaxed me in a low voice. I thought everything would be fine. The bankruptcy would be fine, Ethan would be fine, the future would be fine. But it wasn’t. Ethan and I secretly got married, hiding it from everyone. Perhaps because of Ethan’s unwavering commitment to me from beginning to end, after getting pregnant, I never once thought about not wanting the baby. Until the eve of giving birth. I endured the pain and called him for a long time, but Ethan never answered. My neighbors rushed me to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw a cold and indifferent Ethan. I didn’t know why someone could change so drastically overnight. So much so that his eyes were filled with unfamiliarity and disgust when he looked at me. Mia came to see me once. From her, I learned the truth about this world. Due to a system error in timing, when the late female lead appeared, the male lead had already developed feelings for someone else. As the price of correction, the male lead’s erroneous feelings began to invert. However much he loved me before, that’s how much he hated me now. Mia looked at me with pity and sorrow. Before leaving, she asked in a low voice, have you thought about what will happen to your child’s future? I was suddenly stunned, feeling a bit lost. I didn’t know who to hate anymore. Should I hate Ethan? But he didn’t even understand his own feelings. Should I hate fate? But what’s the use of hating? I couldn’t change anything. At that time, my parents were in a car accident on their way to the hospital to see me. They were in a coma and might be vegetables for the rest of their lives. I was on the verge of breaking down. My mind kept replaying everything Mia had said. I just felt that this bastard world was so, so exhausting. When I pushed open the window and looked down, the baby by the hospital bed suddenly started wailing loudly. I thought in a daze, what would happen to him if I died? Would this world tolerate his existence? Would he be abused by Mia? Or would he be like me, despised by Ethan, enduring countless grievances alone, and finally dying silently while everyone hoped for it? I started trembling all over. I went back to the bedside, my hands shaking as they reached for his neck. I wanted to take him with me. But then he stopped crying. His red, teary eyes stared at me eagerly, as if no matter where we went, he just wanted to be with his mother. It wasn’t until the nurses and bodyguards noticed something was wrong, rushed in, and pushed me away hard. I looked down at my trembling hands, only then realizing what absurd thing I had almost done under Mia’s suggestion. The news quickly reached the Vance family. Grandpa Vance specifically asked to see me, starting a fight for custody of the child. I didn’t ask for anything. I threw away the Ethan who despised me, gave up custody, and straightforwardly signed the divorce papers. I only asked for two million dollars. Youth doesn’t know the taste of sorrow. The Miss Hastings who once casually threw around millions would now find herself at a dead end for a few thousand dollars in hospital bills. From beginning to end, Ethan never appeared. His disgust for me reached the point where he didn’t even want to look at me. So, I accepted my fate. I threw away our tangled feelings, and even gave up the child. I let him go, and I let myself go. I didn’t snap out of my reverie until a soft little bundle buried its head into my arms. Leo closed his eyes, let out a soft grunt, and curled up sweetly in my arms. As if finally finding a comfortable position, he fell fast asleep. He uneasily gripped the hem of my shirt tightly, as if afraid I would disappear the moment he opened his eyes. I looked at that innocent, tender face and couldn’t help but sigh softly. If he knew his mother had wanted to strangle him right after he was born, would he still have come looking for me? He would probably run as far away from me as possible. 3 By morning, Ethan still hadn’t appeared. I didn’t know what he was trying to do. Back then, the Vance family fought so ruthlessly for custody, and now they were acting like they could just throw him away. I woke Leo up early and called a cab to take him to school. The kindergarten he attended wasn’t in the same city as where I lived, but luckily, it was only an hour’s drive away. Before getting out of the car, he made me promise repeatedly that I would pick him up after school, whining and clinging to me, refusing to let go. Until he saw a car parked in front of the kindergarten. His eyes lit up. He hurriedly pulled me out of the car, but as we got closer, he deliberately slowed down, pretending to casually block the path of a chubby little boy who had just gotten out of a car. As if doing it on purpose for him to see, Leo waved our linked hands in front of him. Then, very loudly, so everyone could hear, he asked me: “Mom, you’re picking me up after school, right?” This was the first time Leo called me “Mom.” Perhaps because of my six-year absence, he had never proactively called me “Mom” even when he knocked on my door. The chubby boy stared at me intently, saying in disbelief: “If you have a mom, why didn’t she drop you off before?” Leo scoffed, his gaze disdainful: “My mom is busy with work. Today she specifically took time off to drop me off.” He emphasized the word “specifically.” He held my hand, walking up to the main gate of the kindergarten in front of everyone, as if showing off, wanting everyone to see. Before parting, he awkwardly asked one more time: “…You’ll come pick me up, right?” Seeing me stay silent, he glared at me, then said very frantically and quietly: “You promised me in the car. Adults aren’t allowed to lie!” I helplessly squatted down, flattened his turned-up collar, and ruffled his hair. His hair was dark and soft, feeling great to the touch. “Okay, I’ll pick you up.” He couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, then tried hard to keep a straight face, acting mature, lifting his chin and saying reservedly: “Hmm, I’ll remember to wait for you.” I only retracted my gaze after his figure completely disappeared from my sight. I found his teacher and asked about Leo’s situation in kindergarten. The teacher hesitated, finally sighing and complaining with a frown: “I know the Vance family is powerful, and my words might not hold much weight.” “But Leo’s Mom, no matter how busy you are, you can’t just completely ignore your child, right?” “Since he enrolled, no one has ever come to a parent-teacher meeting!” “Now all the kids in the kindergarten are saying he doesn’t have a mom. If this continues, it will be very bad for his physical and mental development.” No one has ever come to a parent-teacher meeting? Even if Ethan is busy and dislikes this child, is he too lazy to even have an assistant handle it? I frowned, feeling for the first time that I might have made the wrong decision. …Maybe I shouldn’t have given up custody back then. But I was penniless then, my parents were in a coma in the hospital, and I couldn’t even support myself. How could I talk about raising a fragile child? I pulled up Ethan’s number, hesitated for a moment, but still dialed it. I decided to have a good talk with him. If Ethan really didn’t want to raise him anymore, I would take him back with me. Although the current me couldn’t provide him with the excellent conditions of the Vance family, it was still enough to raise a child. Just as the call went through, a ringtone sounded behind me. As if realizing something, my fingertips trembled, and I turned around. I saw Ethan stepping out of a black Bentley. Six years had passed. He seemed to have changed, yet also seemed the same. He half-lowered his eyelashes, looking at the lit screen, his wrist bones clearly visible, his cold, sharp face hidden in the shadows. Unrushed, he slightly raised an eyebrow and suddenly looked up. “You’ve been hiding from me for so many years.” “Want to talk?” Unlike my disheveled state over the years, Ethan remained composed and steady. His features were exactly as I remembered, but the look in his eyes as he gazed at me was inexplicably deep. Even the dappled light filtering through the tree branches seemed to favor him. I heard he had already taken over the Vance family’s entire estate from Grandpa Vance. I heard the brand he founded was popular worldwide. I heard he had secretly married years ago and kept a low profile. The decades of memories I had deliberately ignored surged forward like a collapsing dam, a fine, dense pain spreading across my chest. It wasn’t until the moment I saw him that I suddenly realized. I thought I had moved on. It turns out I hadn’t. In our youth, he wove grass ring rings for me and kicked the person who bullied me into the pool. No one could have imagined that we would end up in such an awkward situation today. Actually, he hadn’t changed; he just didn’t love me anymore, that was all. It really has been a long, long time, Ethan. 4 We walked in silence and found a nearby cafe. Before the coffee even arrived, I got straight to the point, as if to cover something up: “Do you still want the child?” For the past six years, I had fantasized about reuniting with Ethan to the point of near torture. So much so that now I could pretend to be indifferent. Ethan raised his eyes, glanced at me, without hesitation: “Of course I do.” I pursed my lips, staring at the street sign outside the floor-to-ceiling window, let out a low “hmm,” and stood up. “Then remember to pick him up after school. If you don’t have time for parent-teacher meetings, you can notify me. I won’t disturb you and—” I still couldn’t say Mia’s name calmly. I couldn’t help but dig my nails into my palms, the sharp pain keeping me lucid, forcing myself to say: “…Won’t disturb your life.” I glanced at the time and was about to leave. As we brushed past each other, I only heard Ethan ask out of the blue: “So you only want to talk to me about Leo now?” My steps faltered, not quite understanding. Things between us were settled clearly six years ago. He found another love, and I took the two million and walked away cleanly. It was that simple. Besides Leo, what else was there for us to talk about? Ethan let out a soft breath, his pitch-black pupils fixed on me, and spoke again: “Alright then, I don’t want Leo anymore.” He sounded so self-righteous, as if he wasn’t the one changing his mind at the last minute. I furrowed my brows, unable to help but ask him: “What do you mean?” Ethan’s jaw lifted slightly, tapping the seat opposite him, motioning for me to sit back down. “Exactly what it sounds like.” “You want to raise the child, fine. The child is yours.” “Considering the child’s physical and mental health, every Friday night I will go to your current residence to fulfill necessary shared parenting duties with Leo, and drive back to the company Monday morning.” Watching him calmly spout nonsense, I only felt it was absurd. Driven beyond patience, I reminded him: “We are already divorced.” “Are we?” Ethan let out an ambiguous scoff. “I didn’t sign.” I belatedly understood the meaning of that sentence. When Grandpa Vance had me sign the divorce agreement, I thought Ethan despised me so much he didn’t even want to see me one last time, so he never appeared from start to finish. He said he didn’t sign. But why come looking for me only after six years? I wouldn’t flatter myself into thinking he still had any feelings for me. Maybe that agreement was lost, or there was some loophole that required a supplementary agreement; anything was possible. I pursed my lips, cooperating nicely: “Then we’ll sign a new one.” Ethan didn’t even look up: “Not signing.” I spoke to him in an even tone: “Signing it makes us even, isn’t that good?” “No, it’s not.” “Do you have any concerns? I don’t want shares or money, consider it me leaving with nothing.” “Don’t want it.” Those three ‘no’s made me angry yet dazed. Perhaps Ethan himself didn’t even remember, but this is exactly how he was in his youth. That day was his birthday party. Someone cornered me, their gaze frivolous and disrespectful, spouting nonsense. Ethan kicked the guy into the pool with one strike. It caused a huge scene. The guests were all prominent figures in Capitol City, and the elders from several families looked displeased. When asked for the reason, Ethan never offered an explanation. To avoid rumors and protect my reputation, Ethan didn’t even mention me from start to finish. He refused to admit fault and stubbornly took a beating from Grandpa Vance. I suppose no one could have imagined that this future business mogul spent his eighteenth birthday in a confinement room. The door was completely locked, not even medicine could be delivered. I curled up outside the door, saying very softly and guiltily: “I’m sorry.” Through the door panel, he paused for a moment, making some rustling sounds. It seemed he sat down by the door too. His voice was a bit muffled. He let out a soft “oh,” then said: “Not listening.” I buried my forehead against my knees, saying sullenly: “Actually, you didn’t have to kick him. Just waiting for him to finish would have been fine, he didn’t dare to actually do anything to me.” “Wasn’t going to wait.” I didn’t speak again. Maybe my voice was too muffled earlier and he misunderstood something. After a moment, he said again: “No crying.” He knocked on the door panel, clicking his tongue lightly: “I did it willingly, it has nothing to do with you, no crying.” I snapped back to reality, trying my best to hide the sourness in my eyes, but I seemed to hear his “no crying” from many years ago again. Ethan sat under the light, smiling faintly. The fine dust caught the scattered light, drifting down. His old silhouette had long silently sharpened over the years. He looked up and raised an eyebrow at me. As if answering what I had said earlier. “Chloe, we can never be even.” 5 I don’t quite remember how it ended. I only remember that I was so angry I left without even saying goodbye. Because I parted on bad terms with Ethan, I wasn’t sure if he was just saying that or if he really intended to do it. I hesitated for a moment but still didn’t take a cab back. Perhaps the round-trip fare was almost equal to a day’s wages for me, and taking time off seemed better than going back to work. Or perhaps it was the maternal love absent for six years acting up; I didn’t want to break my promise to Leo. I waited until four-thirty in the afternoon when kindergarten let out. Most of the children in this kindergarten came from prominent families. Among the coming and going luxury cars, I saw that Bentley stop in front of Leo. So I didn’t step forward. I turned around, slowly walking in the direction I came from, suddenly feeling my previous worries were ridiculous. What was I thinking? How could the Vance family really let the child leave with me? That Bentley quickly drove away, kicking up thick dust as we brushed past each other. I inexplicably thought of that tender little face. We probably won’t see each other again. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, I turned my head for one last look. After the black car left, the previously obscured road on the other side was revealed. Leo stood all alone at the kindergarten gate. His wide, round eyes met my gaze. His eyes lit up, and he was about to rush toward me, but was stopped by a teacher beside him. He scrunched up his little face, seemingly saying something to the teacher in frustration. Afraid he’d run blindly across the street, by the time I snapped out of it, I had already unconsciously taken several steps toward him. The teacher saw me, and only then did she let Leo come over. He ran over, panting, his dark, round eyes sparkling. He only slowed down when he got close, deliberately putting on an air of indifference, acting coy but happy: “…You, you really came to pick me up?” His soft little hand tentatively held my fingertips. Seeing I didn’t pull away, he pursed his lips, sneaked a glance at me, and gripped tighter. I gave a soft “hmm,” asking him a bit uncertainly: “Aren’t you going with him?” Mentioning Ethan, Leo’s face puffed up like a little gas tank ready to explode: “I don’t want him! Plus, he’s not here to pick me up!” “He said you work hard dropping me off and picking me up, that my constant clinging would annoy you, and told me not to bother you at work.” Looking very opinionated and seemingly quite disdainful of Ethan, he spoke solemnly and proudly: “I’m not as stupid as him!” “I talked to the teacher about transferring schools today, so you won’t have to spend so much time dropping me off anymore!” He tilted his little face up, his gaze expectant, seemingly waiting for me to praise him. I couldn’t help but rub his round, little black head. There was a lot of traffic on the way home. After buying groceries at the market, the sky grew dark as I led Leo home. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he muttered casually: “Oh right, Uncle Driver is picking me up after school tomorrow. Dad said I have to go home tomorrow to get my change of clothes.” “But I’m still coming back here to sleep! You’re not allowed to forget me!” Tomorrow was Friday. I unconsciously tightened my grip on the plastic bag holding the ingredients for braised pork, paused for a moment, and said gently: “Okay.” Children have short memories. Perhaps after one weekend, he would be coaxed by his family and then, forget me. Every time we met, I treated it as the last time. Because only by doing so would I not feel disappointed during the long waits. 6 By ten-thirty Friday night, Leo still hadn’t returned. I calmly put away the pajamas he had left on the edge of the bed that morning and stuffed the extra dishes I had made into the fridge. I turned off the lights, spaced out in the dark for a while, and closed my eyes. When I woke up again, I heard the sound of rain pattering outside the window. The sky was just getting light. I had nightmares all night and woke up with a splitting headache, throbbing in waves. There were a few unread messages on my phone. Before leaving yesterday, Leo hugged my leg, pestering me for my phone number. The earliest voice message was sent at midnight. It carried a hint of guilt, sounding a bit defensive, yet like an explanation. [I didn’t mean to be late!] [I had my clothes ready by six! But Dad got sick again and doesn’t seem to have the energy to drop me off.] [He’s so useless!] The second message came half an hour later. Cautious, with a hint of crying. [Mom, are you angry?] [Do you not want me again?] [I don’t want to stay here either, but, but I don’t have a choice. I don’t have Uncle Driver’s phone number—] … The last one was from ten minutes ago. He took a picture of the instructions for a fever reducer, asking me what it said and if kids could take this medicine. I quickly called his number back. The phone was answered in a second, and the sound of sniffling came from the other side. “Mom.” My phone automatically went on Do Not Disturb at night. I couldn’t even imagine how frightened and anxious Leo must have been all night. Afraid of scaring the child, I took a deep breath, tried to keep my voice steady, gripped the phone tightly, and asked gently: “Do you have a fever? Can you tell Mom where it hurts?” There was a sneeze on the other end of the line. He didn’t answer the question, but asked cautiously with a nasal voice: “Mom, can you come pick me up?” I knew it. I couldn’t refuse. 7 Following the location Leo sent, I found a villa complex in Capitol City. It seemed they had been informed in advance, as the guards didn’t give me much trouble and easily let me in. Standing in front of the door, I inexplicably felt this villa looked very much like my old home. Just as I was about to ring the bell, a hand blocked me first. I saw Mia’s reflection on the doorbell screen. My pupils shrank. My mind buzzed. Mia frowned, seemingly unable to understand: “Why are you here?” Almost like a conditioned reflex, I threw off her hand. Under her astonished gaze, I pursed my lips: “I came to pick up Leo.” Mia froze, seemed to think of something, and said pointedly: “Actually, you really shouldn’t have given up custody back then.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a trace of pity: “You know, Ethan doesn’t like this child.” “He’s stubborn and difficult, not lovable at all. He still refuses to call me ‘Mom’.” “Oh right, haven’t you experienced it before? Those who go against the protagonist never have a good ending.” She smiled faintly. A light sentence, yet it sent me right back to that cold winter six years ago. But this time, I didn’t step back. “He has a mother; he doesn’t need a second one.” “As for the ‘no good ending’ you mentioned—” I took a step towards her, staring into her eyes, retorting sarcastically: “Since you know exactly what happened back then, you should also know very well that I have nothing left to lose now.” “You can go ahead and try what you just said.” I smiled and said: “Anyway, I have nothing but a worthless life. When that day really comes, I’ll make sure to take you with me before I go.” Mia instinctively took a step back, seemingly not expecting the person who had broken down in despair six years ago to now know how to fight back. She bit her lip and didn’t speak. Ignoring her, I rang the doorbell directly. Not long after, the door was pushed open from the inside. The door revealed a sickly, listless face. Ethan seemed not to expect me to appear here, instinctively asking: “Why are you—” The next instant, his eyes grew cold, and he said almost indifferently: “Get out.” Was everything that happened six years ago going to repeat itself because of Mia’s appearance? I tugged my lips in a near-mocking smile: “Don’t worry, I’ll leave as soon as I pick up Leo.” But as if unable to bear it anymore, he grabbed my wrist. Then, without a word, he pulled me inside the house, using half his body to block me, and slammed the door shut with a cold face. Before the door closed, I clearly saw the smile Mia had just put on turn rigid. I looked up at Ethan blankly. …Ah. Did he grab the wrong person? 8 The temperature of the hand gripping my wrist was scalding. The burning sensation told me it wasn’t an illusion. Ethan explained to me in a low voice: “I wasn’t talking about you.” I belatedly realized I seemed to have misunderstood something and uncomfortably pulled my hand back. He just looked down at his empty hand, couldn’t help but curl his fingers, and then dialed the guard’s number. His expression was aloof and cold. “Didn’t I tell you not to let her in?” A flurry of panicked apologies came from the receiver, and something else seemed to be said. Not long after Ethan hung up, a surveillance video was sent over. He handed the phone to me. I looked blank and confused, so he explained: “I never let Mia in. She snuck in right behind you.” Seeing I didn’t take it, he seriously stuffed the phone into my hand and carefully closed my fingers over it one by one. “Evidence, hold onto it.” But I caught a faint scent of alcohol. Is Ethan a lightweight? I belatedly realized that Ethan right now did indeed seem quite different from usual. My vision went dark. Besides me, probably no one else knows just how difficult a drunk Ethan can be. Under Ethan’s pressure, I forced myself to finish watching the surveillance video under his supervision. He stood by me the whole time, and even used his gaze to urge me to speak after the video ended, seemingly waiting for my “post-viewing thoughts.” I laughed a bit nervously, forcibly changing the subject, and kindly reminded him: “You seem to have a fever.” He reached out to touch my forehead, seemed to think about it seriously for a moment, and said solemnly: “Oh, it seems so.” …He’s silly, there’s no saving him. I couldn’t help but turn my head and sigh, only to see Leo dragging a suitcase out of his room, panting heavily. He froze when he saw me by the entryway. He dropped the suitcase that was as tall as his shoulder, his eyes red, and was about to throw himself at me. “Mom!” Ethan unhappily swatted away Leo’s hands hugging my legs, his expression very fierce: “Don’t call out randomly, this is my wife.” Leo was pushed until he stumbled, so angry he was about to cry. His little face was flushed from the fever, and he scrunched up his face, glaring at him hatefully: “Are you a bandit? Mom clearly came looking for me!” My ears hurt so much. Chirping away, like I was raising two sparrows. Before I could speak, Ethan had already pulled me into the bedroom with a cold face. Leo indignantly kicked his little legs, trying to follow, but was stopped by Ethan pressing an index finger to his forehead, pushing him out expressionlessly. The door closed with a smack. The world was quiet.

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I posted a piece of music my boyfriend composed online, only for people to dig up that it was a song he wrote for his first love. In an instant, I became the target of everyone’s mockery. “The song is beautiful, but what a pity it wasn’t written for you.” “He’s remembered her for seven years? What about you? How many years will you make him remember you?” “I guarantee you, there is another woman living in his heart besides you.” Everyone said I was acting like a clown, but I refused to break up. After all, the only reason I chased him for so long was because he had a pair of eyes— Eyes that were identical to someone else’s. 01 While moving, I found a piece of sheet music in my boyfriend’s drawer. I casually snapped a picture and posted it online, never expecting it to blow up. “Found this in my boyfriend’s drawer, can any music experts tell me what piece this is?” Currently, the top comment in the section reads: “Ah, I’ve heard this song before.” “It’s the one the hottest guy in our college played for his girlfriend at the campus anniversary festival back in the day.” Obviously, this “girlfriend” wouldn’t be holding up the sheet music asking questions about it online. Instantly, the comment section flooded with all sorts of remarks. Some mocked me, some pitied me, and some felt indignant on my behalf. I was still scrolling through the endless comments when Ethan pushed the door open and walked in. 02 He wrapped his arms around me, kissed my chin, and asked what I was looking at. I pointed at the comment my eyes were fixed on. “After all these years, he still kept the sheet music. Your boyfriend must love his ex very, very much. Much more than he loves you.” He stared at the screen intently for a long time, then raised his long, elegant fingers and pressed the button to turn off my screen. “Why did you post a piece of music I wrote online?” “Don’t read this nonsense when you have nothing better to do.” I looked up, staring at him unblinking. “Do you still love her, Ethan?” The man’s long silence was my only answer. He had a mole near the corner of his eye. It sat there, looking just like a star spilled from the Milky Way. After a long while, he raised his hand and pinched my cheek. “What do you want for dinner? I’ll go make it for you.” I really wanted to tell him: Ethan, your subject changes are terrible. 03 I leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching the man’s busy back. Actually, there were some differences between him and that person. For example, he was a great cook. And, his personality wasn’t actually that cold. But they were also very similar. Their mannerisms, their movements, everything was so alike. That was why I had persistently chased him for two years. I still remember the sixth time I cornered him on his way home from work, shoving a bright bouquet of daisies into his arms. I told him, “Professor Hayes, I still can’t play that Chopin Nocturne.” He sighed, gently pulling a petal off a daisy. “Then how do you expect me to teach you?” I leaned in close, my hands behind my back, my face almost touching his lips, and said straightforwardly: “I heard kissing can speed up brain function. Do you want to try it, Professor?” His ears turned completely red, but his eyes were bright, like the Milky Way. He actually leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Like this?” Back then, I didn’t know how much I looked like his long-lost first love. Nor did I know that the scar on his wrist was carved because of her. 04 “Ethan, I’m just saying… if I and your ex-girlfriend fell into the water at the same time…” During dinner, I was idly chewing on my spoon, making trouble. “Who would you save first?” “Her.” I didn’t expect him to answer without hesitation. I blinked. “Why?” “Because you talk too much.” As he said that, he placed a peeled shrimp into my bowl. I popped it into my mouth, but I couldn’t taste anything. Even though I knew he was half-joking, mostly just teasing me, my heart still felt incredibly empty. I think I really was falling for Ethan. This wasn’t good. They always say whoever catches feelings first loses. We both saw each other as replacements; it was better to just stick to playing the role. I finished my meal feeling gloomy. He, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. That evening, he sat at his piano, preparing for his classes. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his long fingers danced across the keys. He looked indescribably handsome. Ethan taught piano at the conservatory. Tickets for his recitals started at hundreds of dollars, but he let me listen to him play casually at home, and I still complained it was hurting my ears. So, I quietly snuck up behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and caused trouble. “Professor Hayes, teach me too, okay?” Then, I didn’t even know how I ended up pinned against the piano. His kisses trailed down my jawline. The curtains were drawn, letting a pool of moonlight spill across the floor. At some point, a heavy bass key was pressed, sending a deep resonance vibrating through the piano. I pushed against his chest. “Not here… your piano… is very expensive.” He lowered his eyes to look at me, answered very seriously, and then rained down a flurry of dense, soft kisses. “It doesn’t matter.” Later, when I wrapped my arms around his neck and tilted my head back, I somehow caught sight of a dreamcatcher dangling precariously by the piano. He always kept it with him. It went without saying who had given it to him. In the soft drizzle of the night, I reached out with a hoarse voice, pulled down a white feather from it, and asked him: “This dreamcatcher is too old. Can we throw it away?” But even in such a quiet, intimate moment, he refused to give me a direct answer. After a long pause, he endured my gaze. “No.” 05 The post I made online was still gaining traction. The next afternoon, I received a direct message. “Hey girl, I was in the same class as your boyfriend in college. I know some things about him and his ex-girlfriend. Do you want to hear them?” “To be honest, I feel pretty sorry for you.” This kind of thing is like Pandora’s Box. Even though I knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience, I couldn’t suppress the overwhelming desire to know. So, that afternoon, I sat on a bench outside a convenience store and read the story of him and that girl, word by word. “I remember he and his girlfriend were pretty famous at our university back then.” “He was the prodigy of the piano department, and she was the stunning beauty of the literature department. Plus, they apparently grew up together, childhood sweethearts.” “During a campus anniversary event, he played this song on stage. He wrote it specifically for her, played it just for her.” “It actually got pretty popular locally at the time. I heard if he published it, he could have made a lot of money, but he said he wrote it for her, and only she was allowed to listen to it.” “My roommates and I were dying of jealousy back then. Until, right before graduation, the girl made a huge fuss about going abroad, I don’t know why.” “It was a massive fight. In the end, they broke up. Then I heard he practically gave up his life trying to get her to come back.” “But she still left in the end, didn’t she? Anyway, I just feel like your boyfriend probably loves his ex-girlfriend very, very much.” “That kind of love, time can’t wash it away, and the years can’t take it from him. Think about it, going that far for her.” “Girl, you shouldn’t be kept in the dark.” Reading the final word, I took a deep breath. I couldn’t describe the feeling. My heart felt a bit numb, but I also felt like… yes, this was exactly the kind of thing someone like Ethan would do. He was always looking at another girl through my eyes. I knew that. After a pause, I still asked the person: “Do you have a picture of that girl?” “Ah, hold on. I think there’s one from a spring trip. Let me look.” About twenty minutes later, she sent over a slightly faded photo. The quality wasn’t great, but you could still see that in the blurry image, the girl circled in red was beautiful. She had long hair, leaned against the shoulder of a young, green Ethan, and smiled radiantly. I gently brushed my finger across the screen. I looked up, staring at my own reflection in the convenience store window. No wonder. The shape of my brow and hers were at least seventy or eighty percent similar. 06 I don’t know how I got home. Passing by a hair salon, I gestured to the stylist and had them chop my hair off right at my jawline. This felt like the first time in my life I had ever cut my hair short. Looking in the mirror, I felt like I didn’t even look like myself anymore. And I also looked a little less like that girl. I didn’t know how Ethan would react when he saw me. I sat at home, waiting patiently for him. But I waited until past midnight, only to receive a completely drunk man. Professor Hayes had a business dinner tonight, apparently. He walked through the door. The moment he saw me, he froze. I thought he would have some other reaction, but unfortunately, no. I stood there, and he collapsed against me, calling my nickname. “Lena…” His breath ghosted over my neck. The smell of alcohol mixed with the cold, crisp scent of cedar on his body. He held me, and eventually, we both tumbled onto the living room sofa. Lena. But wait. My name is Lana. The alcohol blurred his syllables, but the vowel shifted just a fraction. He wasn’t saying Lana. He was saying Lena. I remembered asking this afternoon. That girl’s name was Elena. His kisses fell on my neck. He must have been truly drunk. His fingers tangled in my hair as he called her name, over and over again. I like you. I love you. I miss you. Word by word. I knew that even though he was looking at me with eyes full of emotion, the words weren’t meant for me. As I was held in his arms, I gripped the edge of his coat, tilted my head, and stared at the dim yellow light in the entryway. I told him: “Ethan, look closely. I’m not Elena.” “I cut my hair short. Your Elena has long hair.” He stared at me for a moment, then crushed his lips against mine. Just like that. He wouldn’t even let me speak. 07 I don’t know how long I was tossed around that night. I’m a light sleeper, and I woke up again in the early hours of the morning. I heard the sound of heavy raindrops violently smashing against the glass. I remembered the weather forecast said there would be a massive thunderstorm. I was locked in his embrace, a thick blanket pulled over me. I was so exhausted last night, I didn’t even know how he carried me to bed. As I lay there listening to the rain with my eyes open, the doorbell downstairs suddenly rang. At first, I thought I misheard, but a few dozen seconds later, it rang again. I squinted, lacking the energy to get up. So I nudged the man sleeping beside me. “Ethan, someone’s ringing the doorbell.” He raised a hand, rubbed my head, and then pulled me back into his arms to sleep. He clearly wasn’t fully awake. But the doorbell kept ringing. I kicked his shin. “Ethan. Go get the door.” … The difference between Ethan and that person was that Ethan didn’t get angry when woken up. Woken up by my kicking, Ethan looked down at me with sleepy eyes, then got up and did as I asked. Sometimes he was… really quite obedient to me. Thinking about this, I curled up in the warm blankets, my head a mess, wondering who would be ringing the doorbell this early in the morning. But I waited for a long time, and the man didn’t come back. I was worried something had happened to him. So I grabbed a random coat, threw it over my shoulders, and leaned against the staircase railing as I followed him down. “Ethan, who is it?” The next second, I froze. The heavy rain outside was still pouring down. Standing there was a girl with long hair, wearing a white dress, completely soaked to the bone. Sometimes it’s just a strange intuition; the moment I saw her, I knew it was her. The Elena that Ethan both loved and hated, the one he could never forget. Right now, she was lifting a pale, pitiful face, looking up at him desperately. “Ethan, you won’t hide from me anymore, will you?” “I won’t leave this time. I really won’t leave.” “Please don’t be with any other women anymore, okay…?” 08 I stared at that girl through the curtain of pouring rain. Her eyes were very clean. The way she looked at me was almost a pure, simple observation. So pure that she clearly didn’t consider me a threat at all. Of course. Ethan had almost given his life for her. She held all the winning chips. I instinctively tightened my grip on the staircase railing. I raised my voice, trying my best to sound like I didn’t care. “Looks like someone you know, Ethan. Aren’t you going to invite her in to sit down?” I thought if I acted magnanimous enough, my heart wouldn’t feel like it was being twisted into knots. But the uncontrollable tremor in my voice betrayed the chaos in my mind. As if suddenly awakened by my voice, Ethan slammed the door shut. I never expected him to be so ruthless as to literally shut his first love out in the rain. The heavy downpour continued. I walked over to his side, reaching out to open the door for him. “It’s not right to leave her out there in the rain…” Then, the man gripped the back of my neck. His fingers, slightly damp from the rain, pressed me against the wooden door as he kissed me softly. I stared at the fine beads of water clinging to his eyelashes. “Be good, don’t make a fuss.” Ethan’s voice was hoarse as he pressed into the crook of my neck. In his heavy breathing, I could see exactly how turbulent his emotions were. He didn’t not care. He cared far too much. 09 Over the next few days, I constantly saw that girl’s silhouette around Ethan. On his way to work, on his way home, on the path to his office. It was like a relentless pursuit, constantly clinging to him. “Ethan, please forgive me, okay?” “Ethan, how long are you going to keep living with that woman?” “Ethan, you don’t love me anymore? I don’t believe you.” Actually, I should have broken up with Ethan amicably. I was originally just looking for the shadow of another person in him anyway. But I just couldn’t do it. By the time I sadly realized I couldn’t bear to let Ethan go, it was already too late. For instance, right now. I was carrying a bento box I spent all morning making, intending to bring it to Ethan. Only to see that white silhouette beside him. The girl rested her chin in her hands, watching the man eat slowly. She looked like she had finally gotten her way, every strand of her hair practically radiating sunshine. “Ethan, admit it, you still prefer my cooking, right?” “That woman doesn’t even know how to cook, does she?” She chattered endlessly like a bird. The man silently swallowed his food, but didn’t answer. Actually, silence was basically an admission. Ethan was always very gentle with me, but in front of that girl, he was ice-cold. But I knew that this only proved he cared. He cared that she left him. He cared that she abandoned him in this country. I don’t remember who told me this, but sometimes hate surges far more violently than love. I tightened my grip on the lunchbox in my hands, unlocked my phone, and sent him a message. “Ethan, what are you doing?” He was always very prompt in replying to me. Even now, he looked down at his phone and typed a response. “Eating.” “Are you eating alone?” The man stared down at his screen for a long time. I waited for a long time, watching him through the window. My heart started to beat erratically, betraying me. Then, a single word came back. “Yeah.” … You see, Professor Hayes, who never lied, had lied to me. Just because of that woman who constantly badgered him. Even if he treated her with cold eyes, he couldn’t resist the subconscious urge to protect her.

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As the college entrance exams approached, my crush, to encourage me to study hard, made a deal. For every problem I solved correctly, I’d get a kiss. Later, my lips were red and swollen, and his buddies noticed. Facing the crowd’s teasing, his expression remained flat: “We’ll cut it off after the exams.” Later, he asked me where I wanted to go for college. I thought about it, named a random city, and deleted all his contact info. When we met again in college, he pinned me fiercely against a corner wall. “You said you were going to Capitol City, but then what?” “Were you playing me?” 01 “I can’t do it!” Late at night, in the school hallway. Ethan Vance, wearing a pristine white uniform, flipped through the past three years’ college entrance exam papers with his long fingers. His expression was aloof, yet carried an inexplicable laziness. It made my heart flutter again; I liked him so much. I pulled at the sleeve of his uniform: “Hey, I said I’m done!” Ethan looked over, the corner of his mouth curling up lazily. “Yeah.” “I can’t do… mhm…” My lips were blocked by the boy. A clean, pleasant minty scent filled my nose. My heart pounded violently. Just when I was about to suffocate— The boy let me go, his thumb brushing across my lips, saying flatly: “Next time you can’t solve the final problem, sit here.” He pointed to his lap. My eyes lit up instantly! “I definitely will!” 02 The deal with Ethan originated from his parents and mine. We were childhood friends who grew up together. After my eighteenth birthday, even his parents started worrying about my studies. But I was mischievous by nature. Faced with his cold, boring tutoring, I would just rub my foot against his clean white sneakers. And say lazily: “Ethan, I’m so tired, I don’t want to study.” Ethan looked at me and grabbed my offending ankle. His tone as cold as ever: “What do you want?” I had liked Ethan for a whole ten years. He always had that lukewarm attitude. He indulged me like a neighborhood little sister. But that was it. After my eighteenth birthday, I suddenly developed a sense of “adult” rebellion. For the first time, I took control. I stood right up from the desk. And leaned close to him. I lightly caressed his pinky finger with my thumb. Once, twice… Until he couldn’t take it anymore and pulled me down. We looked at each other at eye level. I smiled, still with that careless, willful look: “If I solve one problem, Ethan will give me a kiss, okay?” 03 To be honest, when I made that request. My heart was in my throat. But I didn’t expect Ethan to actually agree. His handsome, regular features showed no emotion. He just nodded. “Fine, as long as it gets you to finish the work.” At that moment, my immense joy was slightly dampened. Ethan might have a cold personality, but he always listened to his parents. Agreeing to my absurd request— Was probably just for their sake. But, I had always been careless. As long as I got to kiss him, it was fine. Who cares about the reason? And so it went. In the garden behind the track field. On the rooftop before evening study hall. And in the school hallway after evening study hall. Conservation of momentum, ion equilibrium in electrolyte solutions, solid geometry… We kissed wildly in places where no one was around. Even once when Ethan and I came out of the stairwell one after the other. We happened to run into his buddies. Their expressions were ambiguous and playful. Darting back and forth between Ethan and me. But they tactfully nodded to me. And didn’t ask much. Thinking I was far away, they started teasing him: “Alright, Ethan, I was wondering why you wouldn’t eat with us after school, or walk home with us after evening study hall.” “So you were here keeping little sister company!” “You hid it well, when are you going to make it official?” In the deep night, the moonlight slanted down on the boy’s aloof, handsome face. Making him look even colder and more refined. “What nonsense are you talking about?” He said flatly: “We’ll cut it off after the exams.” 04 The people around dispersed. I stood behind the stairs. For a long time, I couldn’t snap out of it. Right. Ethan kissing me was just to complete a task. It wasn’t because he really liked me. So what was there to be sad about? Wasn’t it just for fun? Chloe, what were you expecting that you shouldn’t have? My old brick of a phone suddenly rang in the empty night. It was a message from Ethan: [Where are you? Let’s go home together.] I didn’t hesitate and immediately replied: [No need, I’ll walk myself.] Ethan didn’t insist. When I came out, the empty street was deserted. I held my breath in my chest. And sent him another message: [We don’t need to walk together anymore.] After a long while, he replied: [Okay.] 05 From that day on. Ethan and I still exchanged correct answers for kisses. But outside of that, I avoided him whenever possible. I stopped pestering him to eat together. To go to and from school together. Even when discussing college applications. I asked my parents to find an experienced senior to help me. And didn’t go to him. When he came to my house, the senior was helping me look at related majors and explaining them. “You’re a bit better at humanities, but the job market isn’t great. You need to think carefully…” The senior was elegant and polite, his smile warm and gentle. Looking at him, I inexplicably thought of Ethan’s sour face again. And then mentally slapped myself hard. Heh. There are so many guys, why do I have to think about him every day? I leaned closer to the senior, my voice sweet: “Mhm, I understand. Thank you, Senior…” The door was pushed open, and a ray of sunlight shone in. Perfectly illuminating our overlapping silhouettes. Ethan’s handsome face tightened slightly. A moment later— He returned to normal. “We haven’t done today’s problems,” he said flatly. I absolutely hated his expressionless face. I deliberately turned my head away: “I don’t need you to teach me today, someone else is.” Ethan’s hand on the doorknob tightened. Then relaxed. “Mhm, fine.” He left. Without even looking back. 06 He was ruthless. I swore I would never think about him again. But my mom rushed out and smacked me on the head. “How can you be so rude! Ethan teaches you every day, he’s ranked first in the grade, gives you handwritten notes, and you treat him like that!” “Get over there and do your work, be a good girl!” I said goodbye to the senior, and was dragged kicking and screaming to Ethan’s house by my mom. Mr. and Mrs. Vance were as nice to me as ever. Bringing me fruit, bringing me snacks. And even gave me a plush toy I loved. Their affection made me too embarrassed to continue my protest. I could only sit obediently in front of Ethan. In the sunlight, the angles of his face were sharp, only his eyes carried a faint teasing smile: “What? Not going to the senior anymore?” “None of your business!” I bit my lip, acting fierce: “Just explain your problems!” The smile in Ethan’s eyes vanished, and he coldly explained the problems I needed to do today. I had actually practiced those problems privately many times. Originally, it was just to make Ethan fulfill his promise. The steps were already firmly etched in my mind. But today, while taking the test. I looked up at Ethan many times. The boy was bland, aloof, like a high-altitude flower. The kind I couldn’t reach. Forget it. I raised my hand and deliberately wrote a wrong answer on the final step. “Done.” Ethan slowly walked over and took a look. “Hmm?” “It’s wrong, I guess. I’ll go back and correct it. We don’t need to…” I lifted my leg to walk out. But was suddenly pulled back by him. Picked up. And placed directly on… My long-awaited wish was fulfilled just like that, inexplicably. 07 My center of gravity was unstable. Afraid of falling, I could only wrap my arms around his neck. A sense of humiliation welled up in my chest. I struggled and hit him hard. The usually emotionless boy seemed exceptionally strange today. Proactive, fierce. He pressed against the back of my neck and threatened in a low voice: “Want them all to hear?” I instantly quieted down. In the parents’ minds, I was the quintessential good girl. How could they know I was using math problems to… Ethan smiled in satisfaction and continued kissing. After a long time, my legs went numb. I asked weakly: “Why did you… mhm… what did I… do wrong?” Why was he doing this? “Yeah, it’s a punishment,” Ethan said. After a long time, I really couldn’t hold on anymore, struggling to ask him: “When are you… mhm… going to be done?” Ethan was still rubbing against my lips, his voice cold but carrying an ambiguous undertone: “I can let you go.” “But you’re not allowed to see that senior anymore.” The fire in my heart surged even higher. Who are you? You’re going to cut ties with me after the exams anyway. What right do you have to dictate my social circle? But with my whole body still nestled in his arms, I had no choice but to be honest: “Mhm, fine, you, stop kissing.” “Put me down first.” But Ethan didn’t move. Then he asked me another question: “Decided where you’re going? What are you studying?” I looked into his eyes. Slowly, I named a city that had absolutely nothing to do with my dream college choices. “Capitol City.” Ethan’s gaze was faint, his hands resting behind my head. His tone lazy: “That’s going to be tough.” Me: … Even now he doesn’t forget to insult me. I pinched him hard: “Get lost!” The boy started laughing. His chest vibrating violently. 08 The next day, Ethan’s desk was empty. “I heard he went to a competition training camp.” “He’s a genius, seriously.” “That university in Shanghai already offered him a spot.” “Why is he insisting on testing into Capitol City?” “Who exactly is in Capitol City?” My desk mate, Mia, mumbled in my ear. The hand holding my test paper trembled. I didn’t speak for a long time. Just kept my head down, doing problems. The workbook was compiled for me by Ethan. Densely packed, it was entirely made up of my weak spots. So it was very difficult to get through. During the break, I was racking my brain. My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I took it out, a message from Ethan: “If there’s anything you don’t know, text me.” “Just send the page and question number.” Looking down, in front of every single problem— There was a 1, 2, 3 written on them. My heart felt like it was touched by something. And then ruthlessly pushed down. I replied: “Okay.” I turned and poked Mia. “Do you know how to do this problem?” Mia was holding a small mirror, adjusting her pretty hair. Her smile innocent and pitiful: “Babe, I failed math last time.” “Are you sure you want to ask me?” Me: … I just instinctively didn’t want to ask Ethan. I didn’t notice who I was asking. 09 For a whole two weeks. I asked every student in the class with good grades. Mia watched me running around like a headless chicken. Resting her chin on her hand, she said slowly: “By the way, aren’t you and Ethan neighbors?” “Why don’t you take your problems to him?” I froze. I hadn’t contacted Ethan for over two weeks. I didn’t look for him. And he didn’t look for me. The empty chat box. Only my messages flirting with him remained. It felt like a lifetime ago. I gripped my pen and told the truth: “We’re not that close.” We just kissed. It’s not like we’re boyfriend and girlfriend. Mia frowned, looking confused: “That doesn’t make sense, just a few days ago I saw you chasing him around every day.” “You two even went to the stairwell together?” “How come you’re suddenly not close?” I frowned. The old history of flirting was brought up. My face felt like it couldn’t hide it. I forced a smile, pretending to be a clever imp. My tone nonchalant: “Oh, I did that on purpose.” “You know my parents are very strict with me, they don’t let me do this, they don’t let me do that.” “I just wanted to be rebellious.” Mia was thoroughly confused by my explanation. She blinked, very bewildered: “So, you don’t like Ethan?” “Of course I don’t like him.” I didn’t give myself time to think. While talking, I folded up the problems I didn’t know how to do. “It could have been a Liam, or an Oliver…” “As long as it made my parents mad, that’s enough.” Mia was completely stunned. Her gaze stared blankly at a corner behind me. I sensed something was wrong. And looked up. I met Ethan’s gaze dead on. He was still dragging a suitcase. It seemed he hadn’t even gone home, coming straight here. The boy was wearing a loose hoodie, his hair messy, his uniform thrown on carelessly. He looked like a very youthful, bad-boy heartthrob. His handsome face was tense, his gaze meeting mine deeply. My heart pounded. I didn’t know how much he heard. After a long time, the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile. As if he didn’t even see me. He walked straight to his seat.

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Just as I was about to go to sleep, someone tagged me in the class group chat: “Mr. White, why did I only get a 61 in Physics? I want to see my exam paper!” It was Chloe, a student from the Electronic Technology major. I immediately pulled up her exam to double-check. Her raw score was 37. Take the square root of 37, multiply by 10, and you get 61. 【Chloe, 61 is your final, adjusted score.】 【You purposely tanked my grade and now you’re acting all high and mighty? We’re college students, don’t play these games with us! I’m going straight to the academic affairs office to file a complaint!】 1 To make the final physics grades look less disastrous, I used the “saving formula” invented by the legendary physicist Qian Xuesen: take the square root of the raw score and multiply by 10. This ensures the majority of the class doesn’t fail. Chloe’s 61 came from exactly that. 【Chloe, if you have questions about your grade, you can come talk to me privately.】 【Talk privately? Mr. White, what do you have to say that you can’t say in front of everyone? Are you feeling guilty? Do you really think you can treat us students like this just because you have a little bit of power?】 I was getting annoyed and didn’t want to keep arguing with her, but she seemed relentless. 【A male teacher wanting to ‘talk privately’ with a female student late at night? Are you hinting at something, Mr. White?】 That accusation made me panic a bit. Several universities had major scandals regarding sexual harassment this year, causing massive public outrage. Being associated with something like that was social suicide. 【Chloe, please don’t misinterpret my words. I meant that if you have questions, you can come to my office tomorrow to discuss them.】 【Sorry, too late. Since you don’t want to explain, I’ll see you at the academic affairs office!】 Boosting students’ grades to help them pass is a common practice among professors, but it’s certainly not something you can broadcast publicly. The professors know it, the administration knows it, and there’s an unspoken agreement. But now that Chloe was demanding a formal review, this was definitely going to blow up. I worried about the unnecessary trouble it would cause, so I sent her a private message. 【Chloe, your grade was actually curved up. Don’t go asking for a review, or it’s going to look bad for everyone.】 The moment I sent it, Chloe took a screenshot of my message and posted it in the class group, tagging me again. 【Mr. White, are you threatening me? What do you mean it’s going to ‘look bad’?】 I was doomed. The more I tried to explain, the worse it looked. Thankfully, Mia, the class representative for physics, chimed in to help me out. 【The physics exam was pretty hard this time, so Mr. White gave everyone a reasonable curve. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.】 Seeing that I wasn’t replying but someone else was defending me, Chloe immediately aimed her fire at Mia. 【You got a 90, of course you’re taking his side because he gave you a huge curve! He lowered our grades just to make sure you guys got the ‘Excellent’ marks, didn’t he?】 Generally, universities have a rule capping the “Excellent” grade rate at 30%. Having all “Excellent” grades significantly boosts a student’s chances of getting a recommendation for graduate school. This was likely the real reason Chloe was so upset about her 61. Mia, probably speechless, fired back: 【I’m just stating the facts!】 【Stating the facts? Then tell me, what were you doing bringing a huge bag of stuff to Mr. White’s office a few days ago?】 That single sentence made the group chat explode. Students who failed or scored in the low 60s started getting restless, sending passive-aggressive emojis. 2 Seeing the group chat teetering on the edge of chaos, I immediately called the academic counselor and asked her to talk to a few of the students so we could sort it out in my office tomorrow. Meanwhile, Chloe was still riling everyone up in the chat. 【Looks like I got a 61 because I didn’t ‘show my appreciation’ to the teacher. Look at what a 90 gets you!】 Several students who scored in the 60s started joining the mob. 【Yeah, there’s obviously a reason she gets to be the class rep.】 【Thanks for speaking up, Chloe! I support an exam review!】 Soon, many others started a chain message showing their support. Mia was probably crying from the stress. She came from a poor, mountainous region, and her parents were farmers. When I found out they had some local produce they didn’t know how to sell, a few other professors and I pitched in to buy it to help her out. But this was something I couldn’t easily explain. Mia was a prideful girl, fiercely independent with top grades. I didn’t want to announce to the whole class that I was doing it to help a student from a low-income family. Just then, Chloe tagged me again: 【Mr. White, instead of fixing the problem, you’re trying to use the administration to silence us?】 【What’s going on?】 The chat immediately went into gossip mode. 【I just got a call from the counselor telling me to stop making a fuss. Am I the one making a fuss? I’m the victim here! But whatever, I recorded the call. See you all online!】 Crap. My intention was to keep the situation contained, but now I had dragged the counselor into the crossfire. Shortly after, Chloe posted a link to her social media account. 【Everyone, please like and share this to blow this up! Otherwise, certain teachers are just going to keep doing whatever they want!】 Watching Chloe’s actions, my head started pounding. 【Mr. White, this isn’t over. I’m filing a formal complaint tomorrow!】 According to university policy, a student just needs the administration’s approval to review their exam paper. Chloe could have completely resolved this by simply submitting a request. But she clearly wanted to make a huge scene and went straight to writing a formal whistleblower complaint. The next day, right after my morning classes, the administration called me in and handed me a document. 【To the Esteemed Leadership of Academic Affairs: My name is Chloe, a student in Electronic Technology Class 1702. I am officially reporting Professor Liam White for severe and intentional grade suppression on the recent Advanced Physics final exam. There is a massive discrepancy between my actual exam score and the final grade posted. Professor White refused to explain this discrepancy. Furthermore, late at night, he hinted that as a female student, I should ‘communicate privately’ with him. When I sternly refused, he resorted to personal threats. To uphold fairness and justice, I demand the following: First, the immediate public release of my original exam paper and the detailed grading rubric; Second, the formation of an independent third-party committee by the university to regrade ALL exam papers; Third, the termination of Professor Liam White!】 The manipulative phrasing sent a chill down my spine. Sitting across from the Director of Academic Affairs and the Vice President, I realized this situation was officially out of my control. “Professor White, what exactly is going on? This complaint didn’t just come to us; Chloe posted it all over social media. There are tens of thousands of people following the story online.” “Private late-night communication,” “personal threats,” plus a male teacher and a female student. In the current social climate, it was impossible for those buzzwords not to go viral. I had already seen her video the day before. Tens of thousands of comments were accusing me of abusing my power to exploit students. Some people had painted me as a corrupt, lecherous academic tyrant, when in reality, I was just a stressed-out junior faculty member. I didn’t dare hide anything. I immediately gave them a completely honest account of how I curved the students’ grades. The Director thought for a moment. “This method of curving grades to save students is something everyone uses, it’s just never discussed openly. However, since a student has formally reported it, we have to handle it seriously.” The Vice President nodded. “Right now, it’s not just about the grades. The more pressing issue is managing the public fallout. Try to accommodate the student’s demands as much as possible. Director Lee, arrange this and handle it quickly. I’ll have the PR department contact you. Once we have a result, the university committee will discuss it and issue an official statement.” As I was nearing the door, the Vice President called out one last instruction. “Of course, it would be best if you could resolve this with the student through mediation. After all, word getting out that we arbitrarily boost grades to ensure passing rates isn’t exactly honorable. It’s an academic incident and it damages the university’s reputation.” 3 The department quickly organized an internal mediation session. Chloe, seeing both the department heads and me present, remained incredibly arrogant. “Dean, my demands are simple. First, fire Professor White. Second, regrade the exams. Not just mine, but every single person’s exam must be thoroughly reviewed!” “Chloe, let’s put aside your first demand for now. If you have doubts about your own grade, the university is certainly willing to help you review it. But regarding other students’ grades…” “No! The university limits the percentage of ‘Excellent’ grades. If you only check mine, even if I actually scored a 90, Mia could just be curved up to a 100!” The Dean frowned. Director Lee, sitting next to him, coughed. “Miss, regrading all the exams is an enormous amount of work. Furthermore, individual grades are the privacy of other students. Without sufficient justification, it’s very difficult for us to do that.” Chloe rolled her eyes, stood up, and pulled out her phone. “Justification? Are tens of thousands of eyes watching this online not enough justification? Is Professor White admitting to curving grades in WeChat not justification? If other people got a 50-point boost and I got nothing, what’s the point of only checking my paper?” As Chloe got more worked up, Director Lee hastily stood up. “Okay, okay. Please don’t get excited. The exam papers are all still here. If you insist on checking them, we can do that. As for your claims about Professor White threatening or harassing you, I’ve reviewed the WeChat logs and it appears to be normal communication…” “Normal communication? If the university refuses to handle this, I’m calling the police right now!” Before any of us could react, Chloe dialed 911. The Dean and the Director watched this unfold, visibly annoyed. She was calling the cops in the middle of an internal mediation. I wasn’t going to say anything, but seeing Chloe’s relentless, scorched-earth attitude, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Chloe, do you realize that if your regraded score is failing, you lose your eligibility for scholarships and honors this year? And you’ll permanently lose your eligibility for a grad school recommendation…” “Professor White, stop trying to scare me with that! I just want fairness and justice! I can’t let you teachers do whatever you want!” The absolute hard requirement for a grad school recommendation at our university is zero failed classes. Even if every other grade is an A, if you have one fail, you’re out. If you don’t fail, your extracurriculars, research, and competitions can boost your chances. But a single failure disqualifies you from recommendations, honors, and scholarships entirely. Chloe was currently under review for a scholarship this year. All this fighting was just to bump her ranking up slightly for the grad school recommendation list. If her actual grade was published, both her grad school hopes and this year’s scholarship would vanish. You can’t save someone who’s determined to jump off a cliff. I decided to keep my mouth shut. 4 Before long, a police cruiser pulled up outside the academic building. A crowd of students gathered, and rumors immediately started flying that someone was going to jump off the building because they failed a class, drawing an even larger crowd. The police officers looked at the “evidence” Chloe provided with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “We can’t handle the grading review; that’s an internal university matter. As for the harassment and threats… we’ve looked at the chat logs, and it constitutes normal communication.” “Telling me to ‘communicate privately’ in the middle of the night isn’t harassment? Telling a female student to secretly meet a male teacher late at night, isn’t that disgusting?” “Miss, you have to look at the context. You asked a question, and the teacher gave a single reply regarding your question. Furthermore, he didn’t tell you to come find him in the middle of the night!” “Fine. Then what did he mean when he privately messaged me saying it’s going to ‘look bad for everyone’? Is he saying he’s going to make me look bad if I ask for a review? If that’s not a threat, what is?” I was so angry I stood up to explain, but the officer waved me off. “The teacher said the grades were adjusted. If this is made public, everyone will be embarrassed. ‘Look bad’ means exactly that—it’s an embarrassment. It doesn’t mean he’s going to attack you! I’m an outsider and I understand that perfectly. Are you telling me a college student doesn’t?” Chloe wasn’t buying it and started questioning the police. “Why are you just trying to sweep this under the rug? Do you only take things seriously when someone actually dies?” The officers’ eyes went wide. “Alright, then both of you are coming down to the station to give official statements!” “I didn’t do anything wrong, it’s his problem! Why should I go? Do you have any sense of logic?” The officers were completely stunned by Chloe’s thought process. “This is standard police procedure! Both the person reporting the crime and the involved party need to give statements!” “That’s so annoying. Fine, I’m not reporting it anymore!” The two officers were instantly furious and began reprimanding her. “Miss, calling the police is a very serious matter, and you’re treating it like a joke?” “Why are you yelling at me? Is this how you serve the public?” At this point, not only was my jaw on the floor, but the university administrators were also staring in shock. “Miss, I am now officially summoning you to the police station. Please come with us!” Hearing this, Chloe aggressively shoved the officer. “What are you doing?!” Seeing the situation escalating, the Dean quickly stepped in to block the officers. “Officers, please, I’m so sorry. She’s just a student, she’s young and doesn’t know any better. We will definitely strengthen our disciplinary education…” 5 The Dean spent a long time pleading before the officers finally agreed not to press charges. As they left, they kept shaking their heads, muttering about “what’s wrong with college students these days.” I thought that after experiencing that, Chloe would calm down a bit. But perhaps she hadn’t fully vented her anger at the police, because she immediately turned her sights back on us. “Teachers, if you want to keep protecting this unethical professor and refuse to regrade everyone’s exams, I will continue exposing this to the media!” The Dean was losing his patience. “Chloe, do you know what the most important prerequisite is for a grad school recommendation at this university?” “I know. No failed classes!” “Then have you ever considered what the consequences will be if your regraded physics score is a failing grade?” The Dean’s words made Chloe freeze for a second, but she quickly recovered. “Dean, you don’t need to try and scare me with that. I know what my actual score is!” The Dean, completely exasperated, slammed his hand on the table. “What exactly will it take for you to drop this? Why are you so dead-set on creating a media circus?” Seeing the Dean get angry only made Chloe more smug. “If the university can truly be fair and transparent, what are you afraid of being posted online? If you’re afraid, it means the university is hiding something!” Every single teacher in the room was left speechless. Watching Chloe’s smug, fearless demeanor, I was practically shaking with anger. “Dean, no matter what, my unauthorized adjustment of the students’ grades counts as an academic incident. You can discipline me however you see fit. As for Chloe’s demand to regrade all the exams, I support it! And regarding the incident with Mia bringing things to my office, the entire physics department knows exactly what happened. You can just go ask them. I also have the transfer records for the payment we made to her.” “Who knows if you just faked those transfer records later!” Chloe snapped. “Look for yourself!” I slammed my phone with the transfer records down in front of her. “Professor White, calm down.” The Dean placated me, then turned back to Chloe: “Is there truly no room for mediation?” Chloe pretended to think about it. “Actually, it’s not impossible to mediate…” Seeing a sign she might yield, the Dean immediately pressed: “Tell us, what are your conditions?” “Give me a guaranteed spot for the grad school recommendation program!” 6 That single sentence plunged the entire room into dead silence. I let out a cold laugh. “So this is the ‘fairness’ you’ve been demanding? In your eyes, ‘fairness’ is just a bargaining chip?” “It’s not like there isn’t a precedent. Are there really that few reports of this kind of thing online?” I finally understood. From the moment she sent that first WeChat message, her goal was to blow this up as much as possible, and this was her ultimate endgame. Her logic was actually: Some universities give students grad school spots to silence online PR disasters, so why can’t my university do the same? “Absolutely not! Grad school recommendations are evaluated based on a comprehensive review of grades, research capabilities, competition results, and moral character. They are not bargaining chips for negotiation.” The Dean immediately rejected Chloe’s proposal. I wasn’t going to hold back anymore either. “Dean, let’s just follow Chloe’s demands and regrade every single student’s physics exam. I am willing to accept any punishment from the university!” The Dean’s face was dark. “Very well. I will report this to the university leadership immediately. Pending the investigation, Professor White is suspended from all teaching and research duties, and is disqualified from all upcoming promotion and honors evaluations!” With that, he turned and left without looking back. I understood. This was an academic incident, and I could accept this level of discipline. Chloe hadn’t expected the Dean to refuse so flatly. But hearing that my teaching, research, promotions, and honors were all suspended, she looked at me with smug satisfaction. “Chloe, have you ever considered what you’ll do if your grade really isn’t a 61?” “Impossible. I checked my answers against the key. Besides, students who are worse than me scored in the 70s. How could I possibly only have a 61?” Seeing her absolute confidence, I sighed. “But what if? What if your grade is a fail? Your future honors, grad school recommendations, and scholarships will all be gone!” Chloe sneered. “Professor White, you can’t even save yourself right now. Who are you trying to scare?” 7 Soon, the university agreed to regrade everyone’s physics exams. To ensure fairness, in addition to the professors from the physics department, they specifically invited several PhD students from the graduate school to jointly review all the exams. Furthermore, the university’s PR department publicly promised that, with the students’ consent, they would release the original exams for public review. Chloe was incredibly smug, feeling that the university had completely capitulated to her demands. She figured the moment they found an issue, she would demand I be fired. Of course, she likely also planned to use it as further leverage to negotiate for that grad school recommendation spot. Seeing the official notice from the university, the students who had scored in the 60s and joined the mob in the group chat started messaging me privately. “Professor White, we were misled by Chloe. She said we could fight for higher grades, and that the university would try to quietly settle this. She even said we might get grad school spots. Could you… maybe not regrade our papers?” Looking at these students, I knew exactly how they had been dragged into this. But they had also fanned the flames. If even one of them had spoken up for me, it wouldn’t have escalated to this point. They weren’t innocent. “I’m sorry, but this regrading is organized by the university. I have no power over it. You’ll have to talk to the administration.” Chloe had completely obliterated the option of “private communication.” I wouldn’t do it, and the university certainly wouldn’t do it. Who knew if these students would just turn around and report us again after the communication? The university also spoke with me. They told me to prepare myself: if I truly had maliciously suppressed grades targeting specific students, the university wouldn’t be able to protect me. I had nothing to prepare for. My conscience was clear, and all the exams could stand up to scrutiny. Chloe continued to vocalize her grievances on social media. Her targets were no longer just me; they now included the “corrupt university protecting an unethical teacher,” the “useless police trying to sweep it under the rug,” and the “incompetent administration.” Driven by her relentless narrative, more and more people started following the story. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that public opinion is a double-edged sword. However many people supported her now, even more would turn around and cyberbully her once the results came out. Everything she was doing now was just laying the groundwork for her own future destruction. After a week, all the exams had been reviewed by multiple different people, and the final results were submitted to the academic affairs office. To ensure absolute accuracy, the office randomly selected several exams and sent them to an external university for a final audit. Once everything was fully prepared, the university published the official handling of the incident on its website. 8 Because Chloe filed a formal complaint, the academic affairs office had to give her an official response. Before the public announcement, Chloe and I were called into the office. Director Lee pulled out Chloe’s exam, along with the results of the cross-audit by the two external professors, and handed them to her. “Chloe, this is your exam paper. It shows Professor White’s original grading, as well as the cross-audit by two other professors. Your final, actual score is a 37!” Hearing that score, Chloe froze in place, seemingly completely unable to believe it. She frantically flipped through her exam, muttering to herself, “Impossible, impossible, I checked the answer key, it should be at least a 70…” “Actually, according to university policy, a score between 40 and 60 allows you to take a makeup exam. However, a score below 40 requires you to retake the entire course. You will need to pay the retake fee, and since Physics is only offered in the Fall semester, you will have to wait an entire year!” I suspected the academic affairs office did that on purpose. Chloe hadn’t even processed the shock of the 37 before they delivered another fatal blow. Hearing that she didn’t even have the chance for a makeup exam, her face turned stark white. Of course, whether it was a makeup exam or a full retake, the difference for her wasn’t that big. Either way, her eligibility for grad school recommendations, honors, and scholarships were completely wiped out. “What about Mia? What about everyone else? Are you guys targeting me?!” Chloe frantically threw her exam paper on the floor and rushed at Director Lee. But Director Lee remained completely calm. “Out of 50 students, 45 had originally ‘passed.’ But after the regrade, the raw scores of 17 of those students were actually below 60. Fortunately, the majority of them scored above a 40, so they only need to take the makeup exam next semester.” Chloe stood frozen. In that moment, she seemed to finally realize that the grad school recommendation she had obsessed over was permanently out of reach. The scholarship she was supposed to get this year had vanished, and any hope for honors next semester was dead. More importantly, how was she going to face the 16 classmates she had dragged down with her, and the hundreds of thousands of netizens who had supported her crusade? “I don’t believe it, I need to see for myself!” She crawled on the floor, picking up the pages of the exam she had thrown, organizing them, and checking every single question one by one. But how could three different physics professors all make a mistake?

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The night I was kicked out of my marriage with nothing, I wandered the streets alone. By chance, I saw a small flyer on a lamppost: [Wanted: Stepmother for a child. Age and appearance not an issue; must be patient with children. Room and board included.] The “room and board included” part caught my eye. That very night, I dragged my suitcase to the address. And walked into the home of the city’s richest man. Later, my ex-husband asked me with a condescending tone: “Chloe, do you realize your mistake now?” The four-year-old little tyrant roared: “What mistake?! My mom is the best in the world!!!” The billionaire put his arm around my shoulder: “My wife, even if she is wrong, she is right.” 1 I never expected that the flyer posted on a telephone pole belonged to the richest man in the city. Right now, I was standing at the entrance of a grand villa. Beside me was a haughty butler. “Our employer is looking for a stepmother for his child, not a wife for himself. You must remember that.” “Our employer is very wealthy; do not entertain any inappropriate thoughts.” I kept my head slightly bowed, my gaze fixed straight ahead. I deeply sighed; this job was absolutely perfect for me. To put it bluntly, isn’t this just hiring a high-end nanny for the child? I just got divorced this morning. If you asked me to remarry right now, I honestly wouldn’t have the energy for it. But taking care of a child meant I had a place to stay, and I wouldn’t have to spend money renting an apartment. For someone as destitute as I was right now, this was like receiving a delivery of coal in the middle of a snowstorm. I nodded respectfully. “I understand. I will absolutely not entertain any inappropriate thoughts.” The butler nodded and led me into the dining room. Next to a massive, long dining table, a young father was engaged in a tug-of-war. The intense-looking man held a bowl and a spoon, his expression displeased. A melancholic little boy bit his lip, refusing to open his mouth, not backing down an inch. Time seemed to stand still. After a long while, the man sighed, the first to concede defeat. He put down the bowl in frustration. His knuckles, sharp and defined, pinched the bridge of his nose. He lowered his voice: “Just one bite, just a tiny bite, okay?” The butler stepped forward: “Sir, another applicant has arrived. This one seems quite grounded today.” The man slowly turned around. He was wearing simple black trousers and a white dress shirt, with the top button undone, faintly revealing the shadow of his collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong, pale forearms. I had seen this face on the financial news. He was striking and excessively handsome, the kind of face you’d never forget after seeing it once. Earlier, I had secretly worried if this might be a scam. Now, seeing his face, I completely relaxed. A man of his status had absolutely no reason to spend effort scamming a destitute, divorced woman like me. The man’s deep gaze swept lightly over me. His voice carried a trace of exhaustion. “What’s your name?” I guessed he had probably just finished a busy day at work and hadn’t even had time to change his clothes before coming to feed the child. Only to suffer a heavy blow. Feeding a child was probably harder for him than signing a billion-dollar contract. “Chloe Hastings,” I said. He gave a barely perceptible nod and handed the bowl to me: “You try.” After the man finished speaking, he stood up, moved to the sofa, and crossed his arms, watching me with a relaxed posture. This must be the job interview. I had to perform well. If I could stay, at least I wouldn’t have to sleep under a bridge tonight. Holding the bowl, I curved my lips into what I considered a motherly smile and walked toward the boy. But before I could take two steps, the boy darted under the table with a whoosh. Only a pair of large, dark eyes, like black grapes, peeked out. He yelled angrily at the man: “I don’t want to! Tell her to get out! I won’t let her feed me! They are all bad women!” It seemed that before me, the boy had already dealt with who knows how many “stepmothers.” Then I really needed to show what I could do. I glanced around and noticed Ultraman toys scattered everywhere in the room, and an idea popped into my head. I grabbed a few Ultraman figures and placed them on the floor next to the boy under the table. I smiled and said: “Don’t worry, I’m not feeding you. I’m feeding Tiga and Seven. You don’t need to worry.” With that, I pretended to feed the Ultraman figures: “Eat up. You need to be full to save the world.” “Kids who don’t like to eat have skinny arms and legs. If you can’t even protect yourself, how can you protect humanity?” “Oh, you want vegetables? Good boy, eating spinach gives you strength.” The boy lay pitifully to the side, looking like he had been forgotten. He smacked his lips a few times, but I pretended not to notice. It wasn’t until his nose turned red with anxiety and he was about to cry that I acted as if I had just discovered him: “Oh my! Why is there a baby Ultraman here? Tiga, can you share some of your leftover food with him? He needs to eat to grow strong like you.” Tiga: “Yes.” I smiled: “Alright, since Tiga said so, I’ll share a little with you. But you can’t eat too much, or you’ll grow bigger than Tiga, and he’ll be sad.” The boy nodded vigorously. Before my spoon even reached him, he opened his mouth and took a big bite. After eating several large mouthfuls, he even accused me with his eyes: “Why aren’t you giving me vegetables? Are you afraid I’ll surpass Tiga? Bad woman!” I turned to look at the man. His brow had relaxed, and he gave me a look of approval. 2 That night, I moved into the villa. The villa had three floors. I lived on the second floor with four-year-old Leo Vance, while Ethan Vance lived on the third floor by himself. The butler repeatedly instructed me: “You are absolutely not allowed to go up to the third floor. Before, there was a woman who didn’t know her place and sneaked up in the middle of the night to climb into Sir’s bed, and she was thrown out the window by Sir.” I nodded repeatedly, promising not to cross the line. Like father, like son; the billionaire’s son could sleep by himself at four years old, which saved me a lot of trouble. The next afternoon, when Ethan came home from work, I was at the front door feeding Leo. Leo had a dog leash around his neck, sitting side-by-side on the ground with a large Golden Retriever. One bite for the Golden Retriever, one bite for Leo. They were having a grand old time. Ethan’s face darkened on the spot. “Chloe, what do you think my son is!” His voice was fierce and cold, startling me. “Woof!” Leo spoke first, “Dad, Chloe and I are playing a role-playing game. Look, I’m eating way more than the Golden Retriever! Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof woof!” Ethan’s frown deepened, and he slowly turned to the butler. The butler’s expression was complicated. He hesitated before speaking: “Sir, although Miss Chloe’s method is a bit peculiar, the results are obvious! Before, we had to chase him to feed him, and the young master still wouldn’t eat. But this afternoon, the young master has already eaten two bowls of rice, swearing he must eat more than the Golden Retriever.” Ethan’s face was a mask of dark lines, his thin lips pressed tightly together. He coldly watched his son take big bites of rice, vegetables, and meat, and slurp down soup. He let out a breath: “Um, people and dogs still need to use separate utensils.” I immediately replied: “Don’t worry, Sir. Your dog is very clean; he hasn’t even touched the young master’s spoon.” Ethan was stunned, his face darkened further, and he turned and walked into the villa. Leo inhaled two and a half bowls of rice in one go. His stomach was bloated like a balloon, and he kept stretching his neck, hiccuping continuously. I had no choice but to take him and the Golden Retriever for a half-hour walk in the downstairs garden to help him digest before heading upstairs. What I didn’t know was that Ethan was standing at the second-floor window, watching us. Watching his son happily race the Golden Retriever, barking “woof woof woof,” the corners of his tightly pressed lips curled into a long-absent smile. The butler sighed repeatedly: “This Miss Chloe is truly unorthodox! The young master, who usually doesn’t like to eat, doesn’t like to talk, and doesn’t like to exercise, has changed so much in just one day. Sir, it seems we’ve found the right person this time.” When I went upstairs, Ethan was sitting on the sofa on the first floor, his long legs crossed, exuding an outstanding aura. I took the dog leash off Leo. Just as I was about to take him upstairs for a bath, Ethan called out to me: “Chloe, let’s talk.” “Oh, okay, Mr. Vance.” I handed the child over to the butler and sat properly across from Ethan. “You’re very good at interacting with children. Have you had children before?” “I haven’t had children, but I helped take care of my ex-husband’s sister’s child for two years.” At that time, my ex-husband’s family felt I was earning too little and ordered me to quit my job. After I quit, they felt I was lazy, so they fired his sister’s nanny and made me take care of the child. Ethan nodded: “Your profile says you are divorced?” “Yes.” “What was the reason?” “We were from different social classes.” Ethan gave me a deep look: “You saw the job posting yesterday. I want to find a mother for Leo. The child lacks a sense of security and only wants to stay at home. He refuses to go out, let alone go to kindergarten. I’m very busy with work, so I want to find a patient woman to be his mother.” “I will sign a prenuptial agreement with you and have our assets notarized.” I nodded: “I understand.” 3 That’s how these wealthy families operate. Although my previous marriage was based on free will and love. But because of the huge difference in status, we also signed a prenuptial agreement. So when the feelings faded and we divorced, I was left with nothing, even my wedding ring was taken back. For a top-tier wealthy family like Ethan’s, marriage was treated with even more caution. “Actually, just having a place to stay is enough for me. We don’t need to get the marriage certificate,” I said. Ethan insisted: “Getting the certificate is for Leo. I want to find him a long-term mother, and marriage is the most solid contract.” I nodded submissively: “Then we’ll do as you say.” “Don’t worry, I will give you an allowance of a hundred thousand a month for your expenses.” This was the issue I cared about the most, having been burned in this area before. “Mr. Vance, I’d like to ask, if we get divorced in the future, can I take the allowance you give me?” “Naturally, that money is given to you.” “That works.” “Regarding marital intimacy, I currently have no such needs. Therefore, you will still sleep on the second floor.” “Okay, I don’t have any either.” And just like that, on the third day after my divorce, I was married again. Just like my first marriage, there was no wedding ceremony. At dinner, the butler specially added a few more dishes. Ethan handed me a diamond ring. I waved my hand and said: “There’s no need.” Ethan said: “It’s for Leo.” “Oh, okay, thank you for the expense.” That night, just as I lay down, Leo pushed open my bedroom door and stood there, looking extremely conflicted. “What’s wrong?” I asked. He twisted his fingers, speaking awkwardly: “Chloe, can you read me a bedtime story?” “What?” I thought I heard wrong. Leo bit his lip: “I’ll ask my dad to give you a raise. Of course, if you don’t want to, forget it.” “Come here.” I beckoned to him. I lifted the covers, and the little boy happily crawled in. That night, after finishing the book, Leo fell asleep in my bed. Early the next morning, Ethan was very shocked to hear about it, and admiration appeared on his face once again. “Chloe, thank you for your hard work. I’ll add another fifty thousand to your monthly allowance.” “Mr. Vance, that’s too much!” It really was too much. After all, I contributed much more in my previous marriage, yet when we divorced, I was so poor I couldn’t even afford a motel. During the day, I took care of my ex-husband’s sister’s child. At night, I cooked for my ex-husband, fulfilled his physical needs, and then had to get up in the middle of the night to clean the house. Because my mother-in-law said: “Even though we don’t lack the money to hire a nanny, it doesn’t look right for Chloe to just sit around the house every day doing nothing.” Even so, during the divorce, the Davis family claimed I had enjoyed three years of luxury. “Mr. Vance, you’re giving me too much. I actually really like Leo; he’s cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and very kind. I’m just reading him a book, it’s no trouble at all.” As we were talking, I suddenly felt something warm grab my right hand. I looked down and saw Leo holding my hand, looking up at me. His little face was serious, but his large, black, grape-like eyes were watery and cute. I didn’t expect him to be moved so easily. Ethan said: “The women who came before only cared about pleasing me and ignored Leo’s feelings. Adding the fifty thousand is settled.” Unable to decline, I could only say thank you. From that day on, Leo and I were inseparable. Ethan was very busy, so most of the time, it was just the two of us at home. Until the day I needed to go to the hospital for a follow-up and to get my medication. The butler had explicitly told me that Leo couldn’t go out the main gate of the villa, or he would have a stress reaction. So I discussed it with him, asking him to wait for me at home and promising I’d be back as soon as possible. I didn’t expect Leo to hold onto my hand tightly, refusing to let go. He didn’t speak, just looked at me with those beautiful, melancholy eyes. The butler sighed: “He’s afraid you’ll leave and not want him anymore.” I patted his head: “I’m not leaving. I’ll come back and read with you as soon as I see the doctor. You play by yourself for a bit, okay?” While I was trying to explain to him, he took the lead and climbed into the car. The butler asked anxiously: “Young Master, are you also going to the hospital with Auntie Chloe?” Leo nodded silently. The butler instantly burst into tears: “The heavens have eyes! God bless the Vance family!” 4 The doctor said my depression had improved recently and encouraged me to continue staying positive and relaxed. Before I left, he prescribed a bunch of medication for me. Coming out of the consultation room, Leo asked awkwardly: “Chloe, are you sick?” “Yeah, Auntie didn’t eat properly, so she got sick. Leo, you must absolutely not be like Auntie!” “Will it hurt?” His large eyes were full of worry. “If it hurts, I can give you candy.” Saying that, he pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket and placed it in my hand. “Eating candy makes you forget the pain. My dad told me that.” Looking at his innocent and concerned little face, my tears fell without warning. During my three years with the Davis family, whenever I cried, they said I was being dramatic, that my lower-class background made me unfit for the life of a young madam. When I said I had depression, Mark said I was being melodramatic, intentionally trying to annoy him and cause trouble. Even the little nephew I had carefully looked after for over two years called me an ugly monster who caused trouble during the divorce. But this cold-faced child was willing to give me his favorite candy to comfort me. Unable to hold back, I pulled Leo into my arms. He curled up quietly in my arms, a tiny little bundle, and patted my back with his chubby little hands. “Chloe, I will definitely eat well. When I grow up, I can protect you.” I broke into a smile through my tears: “Then you need to grow up fast!” When the two of us came out of the hospital with red eyes, a low-profile Maybach was parked at the entrance, and Ethan was leaning against it. His tall, straight figure and cold, noble face immediately attracted a lot of attention. I took Leo’s hand and walked over. “Mr. Vance, why are you here?” Ethan picked up his son, looking at his calm demeanor, his eyes reddened slightly, and his voice was a bit hoarse. “I heard from the butler that Leo went out with you. I was worried, so I came to check.” Leo leaned against Ethan’s chest, holding my hand. “Dad, as long as I’m with Chloe, you don’t need to worry.” Ethan gave me a deep look and nodded. “Dad knows.” That night, Ethan wanted to increase my allowance again. I was so terrified I repeatedly refused. He asked again: “Chloe, if you have any requests, you can mention them.” I hesitated for a long time before saying: “Could you help me find a used car? Something around five thousand dollars total, so it’s easier for me to get around.” Ethan said: “You can go to my garage and pick any car you want.” “The cheapest car in your garage is over two hundred thousand, I wouldn’t dare drive it.” Ethan nodded: “Okay.” Early the next morning, a five-thousand-dollar minivan was parked next to Ethan’s luxury cars. He also invited a psychologist, supposedly globally renowned, to the house. The diagnosis was the same as the hospital’s. Except the medication prescribed to me was entirely replaced with imported drugs I couldn’t bear to spend money on before. Before leaving, the doctor advised Ethan: “Mr. Vance, your wife needs her family’s companionship, don’t put too much pressure on her.” Ethan nodded: “I’ll remember that.” The next day, I drove Leo out to play. He lacked a sense of security before, and even a slight scare outside could make him hysterical, so he had been to very few places. Now, I wanted to show him more of the outside world. We went to the amusement park first, then to the wet market. The little tyke followed behind me, helping me carry a lively, flopping fish, his handsome little face drawn into a tight line. “Chloe! I don’t want to carry this!” “But my hands are too full, can you please help me?” I acted pitiful. Leo gritted his teeth, holding the fish as far away as possible, looking incredibly disgusted, but said: “Fine! I’ll only help you this one time!” “Don’t buy fish next time!” I chuckled secretly. But when we got to the parking lot, I heard a familiar voice. “Chloe?” 5 It was Mark, my ex-husband. He wore a crisp suit, his hair perfectly styled, looking very handsome and suave. Hearing this voice again after over a month, my heart involuntarily clenched. Mark and I got together in college, and after graduation, he overcame all obstacles to marry me. I had received a lot of neglect in my family of origin, and Mark swore at our wedding to protect me for life. But later, after he took over his family’s business, he increasingly felt that I was holding him back and couldn’t help his career. He started finding fault with everything. He made me quit my job, made me take care of the entire Davis family, made me babysit his sister’s child, and made me walk on eggshells around his family. I could endure all of this. After all, we married for love. I didn’t receive much love from my original family either. Now it was just a change of environment. But later, I caught Mark kissing a glamorous woman at a high-end club. I could no longer suppress my emotions. I cried, I made a scene, I demanded he swear he would never do it again. The entire Davis family thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They thought I didn’t appreciate what I had. “What successful man doesn’t have a woman on each arm?” Mark even said that the way I was acting was because he had spoiled me. From that day on, our cold war began. He stopped coming home and blocked all my contact information. My condition worsened. The doctor warned me not to endure any more stress. In utter despair, I asked for a divorce. Mark thought I was using marriage to threaten him. The Davis family told him not to let me get my way, otherwise, I would just push my luck. He immediately had a lawyer draft a divorce agreement, demanding I leave with nothing. I signed it without hesitation. Four years of dating, three years of marriage, abruptly ended. At this moment, while I was still immersed in the sorrow of the past, Mark had already walked towards me. He glanced at the groceries in my hand, then at Leo beside me, his gaze finally landing on the minivan next to me. A trace of contempt showed in his eyes. He smiled mockingly: “Chloe, a graduate of a top university like you running off to be someone’s nanny, what were you thinking?” “None of your business.” “Chloe, why don’t you understand? From the day you married into the Davis family, you no longer represented just yourself; you represented the face of the Davis family.” “Mark, we’re already divorced. I have absolutely nothing to do with your Davis family now.” The mockery in Mark’s eyes deepened: “Chloe, after a divorce, you’re my ex-wife. When people mention you, they will still bring me up. Can you please stop embarrassing me? Can you think before you act? Stop letting your emotions dictate your actions all the time.” I didn’t want to hear his words anymore. Even less did I want to let these words pollute Leo’s ears. I immediately took Leo’s hand to get in the car. Mark grabbed my hand: “Chloe, you’ve been out for so many days, it must have been tough, right? Are you missing the life of a young madam at the Davis family?” “If you admit your mistake and genuinely reform, I can consider remarrying you.” “Those women outside are just flings. The position of my wife, I haven’t considered anyone else for now, I’ve saved it for you.” “As long as you change your terrible temper and bow your head to apologize to my family, I—” I forcefully shook off his hand: “No need to save it. President Davis can give that prestigious position to someone else, I don’t want it!” 6 On the way back, another number called me. It was Mark’s little nephew, the child I had carefully looked after for two years. Although I blocked the Davis family, I only kept his number, feeling that the child himself wasn’t at fault, but rather the adults guiding him. Besides, after taking care of him for two years, I felt we had formed a bond. “Hello, Kevin.” I adjusted my emotions, making my voice sound as gentle as possible. “Chloe! Abandoned woman! My mom wants to talk to you!” Kevin yelled viciously. All my tenderness was choked in my throat. Then, Mark’s older sister took the phone: “Chloe, I heard from Mark that you went to be someone’s nanny?” “Can’t you look at the bigger picture? By doing this, aren’t you directly slapping Mark in the face, slapping the Davis family in the face? What will people say about our Davis family behind our backs?” “Chloe, no wonder I looked down on you. You really are, as always, degrading yourself, unfit for high society!” I hung up and blocked the number. Pulling the car over to the side of the road, I finally couldn’t control my emotions, leaned on the steering wheel, and sobbed out loud. I don’t know how much time passed, but the pent-up frustration I had accumulated for so long finally dissipated somewhat, and I wearily sat up straight. Yet I still felt a deep sense of powerlessness. “Chloe, here’s a tissue, wipe your face.” Leo suddenly spoke. I then remembered Leo was still sitting in his car seat in the back, and right now he was looking at me eagerly. A small hand offered a tissue. “I’m sorry, did I scare you?” I tried my best to curl the corners of my lips upwards. The butler had repeatedly told me Leo couldn’t handle stress, and I was afraid that scene just now would leave him with childhood trauma. But Leo slowly shook his head. “Chloe, I’m not scared. You can cry slowly, I’ll wait for you.” “It’s not embarrassing for adults to cry, I won’t laugh at you.” I was amused by his childish words. “Thank you, you little sweetie. Auntie has cried enough, and won’t cry again. Let’s go home!” That night, because I wasn’t in a good state, I returned to my room early. A knock sounded on the door. “Chloe, may I come in?” Ethan asked. I had just finished showering and my hair wasn’t dry yet. I carefully pulled my bathrobe tight, confirming nothing was exposed that shouldn’t be, before speaking: “Come in.” Ethan was wearing light gray loungewear, his dark hair falling loosely over his forehead, his tall figure looking somewhat more refined. He sat on the chair by my bed, glanced at my damp hair, unnaturally turned his head, and began to survey the guest room. “The clothes in the walk-in closet, how come I haven’t seen you wear them?” he asked. “Those clothes are too expensive, I’m not used to them.” Being married into the Davis family taught me a lesson. If it’s not your circle, don’t force your way in. Otherwise, when you get kicked out, you’ll look pathetic. Although I got a marriage certificate with Ethan, in essence, I was just a high-end nanny. What nanny wears limited-edition dresses? What’s the difference between that and putting lipstick on a pig? Ethan didn’t understand: “Are the styles not to your liking? If you don’t like them, I’ll have the designer come to the house to custom-make some for you.” I hurriedly waved my hand: “No need, no need. Mr. Vance, besides taking care of Leo every day, I have no occasion to wear clothes like that, I really don’t need them.” He fell silent for a few seconds, then asked: “I heard you ran into your ex-husband today. Your ex-husband’s last name is Davis? Is it the Davis family in medical devices?” I froze. I guessed Leo had told him. I pursed my lips and nodded: “It’s that Davis family, but it’s all in the past.” He saw I was unwilling to talk more about the Davis family, so he changed the subject: “Chloe, since you came to the house, Leo has been much happier. Thank you.” His thanks were very sincere, his dark eyes looking closely at me. I felt a bit uncomfortable: “You’ve given me so much money, this is what I should do.” “Chloe, you can make requests of me, I should be able to satisfy them all.” He added. “Mr. Vance, I really don’t need anything.” Ethan was silent for a moment again, his fingers subconsciously clenching, before he nodded and left. 7 Lately, Ethan had been coming home from work very early. Every night he would have dinner with Leo and me. After dinner, he even played family games with us for a while. As the richest man, this unusual behavior worried me. He wasn’t going bankrupt, was he? I wasn’t actually worried about him going bankrupt. I was worried my monthly salary of a hundred and fifty thousand would be gone. “Mr. Vance, why are you coming home so early lately? If you have business, go attend to it, I’m here for Leo.” Ethan picked up a red building block, his expression natural: “The doctor said you need the companionship of your family. Right now, Leo and I are your family, we have to shoulder this responsibility.” What kind of family are we? I thought to myself. But I didn’t dare say it. “Actually, having Leo accompany me is enough. The doctor said my condition is improving largely because of Leo.” Ethan looked up at me, that one glance containing an indescribable emotion. I didn’t think much of it, taking Leo’s hand: “Come on, Auntie will read with you, Dad still has to work.” Leo obediently let me lead him away, but his dark eyes glared at Ethan. I don’t know if it was my illusion, but in that glance, there seemed to be a bit of disappointment in his father’s lack of progress. “Chloe!” Ethan suddenly called out to me. “What’s wrong?” The tips of Ethan’s ears were actually a bit red, he coughed lightly: “Tomorrow night, I have to attend a banquet, and it’s required to bring a female companion. Can you go with me?” “Me?” I blinked. “Yes, you. Because time is tight, it’s a bit too late to find someone else. I can pay you an appearance fee,” he said. There’s still a whole day left, and with his status, he can’t find a female companion? But I didn’t probe further. After all, there was an appearance fee to be earned, and I’m not stupid. I nodded: “Of course. It’s just that I don’t really understand your social etiquette, will I embarrass you?” Although the Davis family was also wealthy, Mark never took me to high-end events like this. Because his mom said I was an empty vase unfit for public display: “You reek of a petty background, don’t go out and embarrass us!” Ethan’s brow relaxed: “You just need to stay by my side, don’t worry about the rest.” The butler chuckled: “Miss Chloe, you don’t need to understand social etiquette; our Sir is the social etiquette.” Okay, I had no objections to that. After all, Ethan was the man with the most authority in this city. The next afternoon, a styling team arrived at the house. I say “team” because there were five or six people, mostly foreigners. Some were responsible for clothes, some for makeup, some for hair. They gathered together discussing for a long time, looking very professional. It showed how big of a deal the billionaire’s household was, and I instantly became a bit nervous. Ethan came home from work to pick me up. The moment he saw me, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes. Leo held my hand, asking proudly: “Dad, look how pretty Chloe is!” Ethan corrected him: “Call her Auntie.” Leo turned his head with a “hmph,” ignoring him. I patted his head: “It’s okay, call me Chloe, it makes me feel young.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394491”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After I went blind, my husband started sneaking out every night to fool around. Afraid I’d find out, he asked his best friend to come over and “take care” of me. Unaware of the switch, I treated his best friend just like my husband, doting on him. Until one day, I caught my husband and his friend swapping shifts. His friend asked, “Liam, aren’t you worried your wife will find out you’re keeping a mistress on the side?” My husband replied dismissively, “She can’t see anything anyway. Just don’t make a sound, and you’ll be fine.” No wonder last night, when I praised him for his stamina, he didn’t say a word. It turned out it was a completely different person. I sighed and continued pretending to be blind. Later on, my husband discovered my affair with his best friend. He couldn’t bear to blame me, so he just chased his friend around, trying to beat him up. I sat there eating snacks, listening to them brawl. After all, I’m just a blind woman. If I cheated, it was obviously because I was forced into it. 1 The moment Carter walked through the door, I planted a kiss right on his cheek, right in front of Liam. Liam was so terrified he didn’t dare make a sound. I then slipped my hand under Carter’s shirt, trailing from left to right, top to bottom, feeling every inch of his abs. Liam’s face turned completely dark, but he had to endure it silently. After feeling his abs, I wasn’t quite satisfied, so I reached toward Carter’s waistband. Liam panicked and frantically signaled Carter with his eyes, gesturing for him to push me away. Carter’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he gently pulled my hand out. I sat on the couch, looking disappointed, and threw a tantrum. “You’re my husband! Why won’t you let me touch you?” “The internet was right. When a man hits twenty-five, he might as well be sixty-five.” Carter stood to the side, trying his hardest not to laugh, while Liam crouched on the floor, trying to coax me. “Honey, can we just take it easy for a bit? I haven’t been feeling well lately. I’m afraid I won’t perform well and you’ll be disappointed.” Sneaking out every night to cheat on me—no wonder he’s drained. It’d be a miracle if he could perform well. I kicked him lightly. “Help me back to the bedroom. I want to sleep.” Liam pulled back the covers and helped me sit on the edge of the bed. After I lay down, he patted my back to soothe me to sleep. He didn’t even pat me for two minutes before pulling out his phone to text his mistress. The mistress sent him a selfie—the kind featuring lingerie that would make even a woman blush, let alone Liam. The blood rushed to his head, and he immediately sat up. He reached out and pinched my cheek a few times to confirm I was asleep. Then, he got dressed, got out of bed, and left the bedroom. His best friend, Carter, was in the living room drinking water. I quietly leaned against the door to eavesdrop. Liam asked Carter, “Has your sister-in-law been this clingy the past few days?” Carter shook his head. “No. As soon as you leave, she goes to sleep. I usually just sit in the living room and work. If she’s thirsty, I get her water. If she gets up to use the bathroom, I help her.” Liam nodded. “Don’t get too absorbed in your work. Keep an eye on her so she doesn’t fall.” Carter asked, “Are you still going to see her? It’s been so long, aren’t you bored yet?” “Of course not.” “You have no idea how seductive Chloe is. She’s so uninhibited and bold. I worshipped her like a goddess in college and never even dared to look at her. I never expected that after I got married, she’d throw herself at me.” “Don’t worry, I’m just playing around. Once your sister-in-law’s eyes heal, I’ll break it off with her.” Carter sounded incredibly reliable. “Then you should come back a bit earlier. I’m worried she’ll wake up in the morning looking for you.” Liam trusted him implicitly. “Bro, take my advice and get a girlfriend soon. Being celibate for too long is bad for your health.” 2 The second Liam left, Carter climbed into my bed. He woke me up with a kiss and then hurriedly started pulling off my clothes. I let out a cold snort, sat up, and slapped his hand away. “Just a minute ago you wouldn’t let me touch you, and now you’re throwing yourself at me? Cheapskate. Roll over.” He froze for a few seconds, and what followed was a much more ferocious, predatory assault. The normally serious Carter turned into a completely different person in bed, leaving me wanting more… Liam always said he’d never dated before and would stutter just talking to a girl. But in bed, his tongue was incredibly agile. This contrast was intoxicating to anyone. After an exhausting night, I woke up the next morning to find Carter already gone. He had helped me shower, changed my clothes, and even swapped the bedsheets for fresh ones. His attention to detail was terrifying; he had bought the exact same bedsheets. As soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, I bumped into Liam, who had just returned home. His dark circles were prominent—it looked like he hadn’t slept all night. He placed breakfast on the table for me, then went to the bathroom to get a hot towel to wipe my face. “Honey, let me wash your face, then I’ll feed you.” We’d been married for three years, and Liam had always been this attentive. Back in the day, I went through boyfriends like tissues. I’d date someone for a few days, get bored, and break up. I once even dated an entire frat house of handsome guys, one by one, until they all ended up causing a massive scene in front of my dad. My dad, terrified I was completely out of control, arranged a blind date for me with Liam the second I graduated. He happened to be my type, so I married him. Over the years, I played the part of the obedient, sweet wife, coaxing him into waiting on me hand and foot. I thought he was obsessed with me, but I never expected him to cheat. Logically, since he deceived and betrayed me, I should just be the bigger person and divorce him. But I refused to accept that. Why should he get to enjoy himself while I bear the pain? He needed to suffer just as much as I was. I decided to keep pretending to be blind and play them both like fiddles. Anyway, one serves me in bed, and the other serves me in daily life. Either way, I’m not losing out. Whenever I get bored of playing this game, I’ll just bring up the past and divorce him then. 3 After breakfast, Liam was washing dishes, and I sat at the dining table waiting for him. His phone rang. The caller ID said ‘Chloe.’ I conveniently picked it up. The woman on the other end spoke in a cloying, seductive voice. “Liam, babe, today is my birthday. You promised to buy me a Chanel bag. You can’t break your promise! I have a surprise prepared for you tonight.” I’m a polite person, so after taking the call, I immediately passed on the message. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Honey, your sister called! She said it’s her birthday tonight and she wants you to buy her a Chanel bag.” Liam didn’t have a sister. He turned off the water, rushed over in a panic, snatched the phone back, and yelled at Chloe, “Who told you to call me? You have no manners!” Hanging up, he explained, “That’s Carter’s new girlfriend. She’s young and doesn’t know any better, always demanding gifts for her birthday.” Since my eyes went “blind,” I hadn’t left the house in a long time. I told Liam to take me along. He was feeling guilty and didn’t dare refuse me. After thinking about it, he agreed. Liam held my hand as we walked into the private room. Even though Chloe was the only one in the room, he acted as if it were packed, shouting loudly, “Everyone, make way! My wife’s eyes aren’t good, don’t trip her.” After helping me sit down, he said he had to use the restroom, told me to wait patiently, and then went to coax Chloe. Chloe was throwing a tantrum because I was there; she even threw the gift Liam bought her on the floor. The music in the room was too loud, and her little mouth was moving rapidly—I couldn’t hear what she was cursing about, but she was clearly pissed. After a while, she stopped cursing because Liam pinned her against the wall and silenced her with a kiss. After making out, the two of them left the room. Right then, someone sat down next to me. It was Carter, arriving late to help Liam cover his tracks. I rested my head on his shoulder, my voice shy. “Honey, I’m hungry.” Carter used a toothpick to pick up a piece of orange and brought it to my mouth. I took a bite and spat it out. “I don’t want to eat this. I want to eat something else.” Once you’ve slept with someone, things are different. He instantly understood. He started kissing my neck. Within moments, my face was flushed, and my breathing grew heavy. Just as Liam returned, Carter stopped precisely on time and stood up. I was incredibly frustrated by being teased and left hanging. I shot him a resentful glare. Liam, seeing my flushed face, thought I was lacking oxygen and asked if I wanted to go for a walk outside. I agreed, complaining that the room was too hot. Liam took me to a nearby food street to buy ice cream to cool down. Before eating, I deliberately wiped off my lipstick. After finishing the ice cream, Liam brought me back. The moment I walked in the door, Chloe tripped me. Thankfully, Carter caught me. “Careful, Chloe.” I was angry at him for being a coward—teasing me and then not letting me enjoy it. I smiled, distant and polite. “Thank you, Carter.” After he let go of me, his gaze fixed coldly on my lips. A layer of frost covered his eyes, and his brow furrowed imperceptibly. 4 Perhaps to keep up the lie, Liam called a few other people over to celebrate Chloe’s birthday. Someone suggested playing a game. Everyone who came knew Chloe was Liam’s mistress. To cover for Liam, they all pretended not to know, and the way they looked at me was full of pity. I played dumb and asked Chloe how she and Carter got together. Chloe, glancing between Carter and Liam, said affectionately, “We went to college together. I had a boyfriend back then and didn’t know he had a crush on me. We ran into each other three months ago, had a few drinks, and one thing led to another.” What a coincidence. It just so happened that they got together right after I was in a car accident and supposedly lost my sight. Liam lost the game. He had to spin a bottle on the table, and whoever it pointed to, he had to kiss. Everyone told him to skip the spin and just kiss me. But Carter, sitting on the side, feigned seriousness. “Since we’re playing, we have to follow the rules. We’re all friends here; a little peck on Chloe’s cheek won’t matter.” The bottle pointed to Chloe. They kissed—on the lips. Their friends, afraid I’d get angry, didn’t say a word, just claiming he kissed her on the cheek as a token gesture. Then it was my turn to play. I controlled the force perfectly, and the bottle pointed straight at Carter. Everyone at the table stared at each other, waiting for the drama to unfold. Liam spoke up. “Let’s skip this round. Spin again.” Someone looking for drama protested. “Why? Carter just said we have to follow the rules. So what if you’re married? If you’re going to play, you have to be able to afford to lose.” Someone else tried to smooth things over. “Oh, come on. Chloe can just kiss him on the cheek, that’s enough.” I nodded. “Then I’ll just kiss him on the forehead. A kiss on the forehead between friends isn’t going too far.” When Carter leaned in, I went straight for his lips. After kissing him, I looked shy. “I’m sorry, I can’t see clearly. Did I kiss the wrong place?” The room erupted in laughter. Carter secretly smirked, but a second later, his expression returned to a look of bewildered innocence, as if nothing had happened. Flustered and confused. It was Liam who suddenly lost his temper. “I told you to skip it, but you insisted on playing. You guys are so tasteless. My wife was wronged, she’s going to cry when we get home.” Liam grabbed my hand, intent on taking me home. After helping me into the passenger seat and buckling my seatbelt, he patted my head. “Honey, don’t be mad. They were just teasing you. I won’t hang out with them anymore.” I smiled understandingly. “It’s fine, as long as Carter and his girlfriend aren’t angry.” 5 Liam had promised to drive me home, but the person in the driver’s seat was his best friend, Carter. And Liam was fooling around with Chloe in the backseat. As soon as the car music started playing, the two of them were kissing and groping, practically ready to get a room right there. I had been playing around behind his back, but he dared to do it right in front of me. I was so angry I clenched my fists. But after thinking of a wicked idea, I smirked. When we arrived home, it was Carter who helped me out of the car. We had barely taken two steps before the people in the car couldn’t hold back anymore. Liam was desperate, but Carter was equally eager. As soon as we stepped into the elevator, he pinned me against the wall and kissed me forcefully. I bit his lip until it bled, but he refused to let go. We kissed all the way from the elevator to the bed. It took a lot of energy, and Carter had a habit of drinking water halfway through. While he wasn’t looking, I slipped a sleeping pill into his glass. Carter usually woke up at six, but because of the pill, he slept until eight. And eight o’clock happened to be the exact time Liam came home. When Liam opened the bedroom door, I was naked, tangled in Carter’s arms, whimpering “honey.” Liam’s eyes widened in fury, looking like he wanted to commit murder. Afraid of startling me, he waited until Carter woke up before grabbing him by the throat and dragging him out. The two of them were fighting intensely outside. I pretended not to know and rested my eyes. Knowing they were beating the crap out of each other made me feel incredibly satisfied. I slipped on Carter’s dress shirt and went out to fan the flames. “Honey, why didn’t you bathe me today? I feel all sticky and uncomfortable.” Liam was stunned to see me wearing an oversized, sheer men’s shirt. Afraid Carter would look, he immediately wrapped his own jacket around me. “Honey, why aren’t you wearing your own clothes?” I lowered my head shyly and whined softly, “You tore my dress, and I can’t see to get a new one from the closet. I had to wear your shirt to make do.” “If I had known you were in such a rush, I wouldn’t have worn it. That dress was so expensive, my heart aches.” He caressed my cheek with immense tenderness. “Don’t be sad. If it’s ruined, it’s ruined. Your husband will buy you a new one.” Carter was trained in martial arts; Liam was no match for him. In the few minutes I was resting my eyes, he had already been beaten black and blue. Knowing his best friend had slept with his wife was a humiliation no man could swallow. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, ready for round two. Afraid I would hear the commotion, Liam turned on the TV and put on a boxing match. I opened a bag of chips, eating while I watched them fight. Carter let himself get pinned to the floor and hit a few times, then suddenly flipped Liam over, grabbing his collar and smashing him into the coffee table. The whole sequence was smooth and incredibly cool. If he hadn’t been fighting to uphold a blind woman’s honor, I would have clapped for him. Once I finished my chips, I turned off the TV. Liam lay on the floor, gasping for air. Carter stood up, walked over to me, pinched my chin, and a cryptic smile flashed in his eyes. “Are you happy now, sis?” I blinked, pretending not to understand. “Carter, you’re here. Where’s Liam? Where did he go?” 6 Liam lay sprawled on the floor, letting out a powerless roar. “Carter, stay away from her! Don’t touch her!” Carter ignored him, cast a cold glance in his direction, and left. Liam dragged himself up from the floor. After cleaning up the battlefield, he sat across from me and asked, his heart aching, “Honey, after you lost your sight, when did we first… sleep together?” I played dumb. “Haven’t we been sleeping together every day?” Liam usually coaxed me to sleep before leaving, pretending to go out and buy breakfast the next morning. He said, frustrated, “I mean sleeping together, doing husband and wife things.” I pretended to think about it and said earnestly, “The third day, I think. You suddenly pulled me into your arms and wanted to take my clothes off. I was too tired and didn’t really want to cooperate. You got mad and even tied my hands and feet. You were so fierce that day, honey. I was really scared.” Actually, that day, I realized no one was beside me in bed. I went out to find someone and bumped into Carter, who was working. Having been deprived for so long, the itch was unbearable, so I just went for it. He had some restraint, but not much. After holding back for a few minutes, he carried me to bed. Of course, I couldn’t say that. Carter was a skilled fighter and incredibly cunning. Liam would definitely come off worse if he tried to mess with him. This was my indirect way of punishing Liam. Liam asked again, “And every day after that, did we… do that?” My face flushed red. “Yeah, we’ve been so sweet lately. If it weren’t for my eyes not being healed, I would have wanted a baby.” Liam was filled with intense regret, practically beating his chest. “Honey, it’s all my fault. I’ll protect you properly from now on.” Having swallowed this bitter pill, Liam stopped sneaking out with Chloe and stayed home to guard me every day. He treated me even better than before. I enjoyed this guilt-driven compensation, making him take me to the mall and spending nearly a million dollars. The only downside was that he kept pestering me, wanting to sleep with me. But he had cheated. I found him disgusting and didn’t want to sleep with him. He was paranoid about another man having been in our bed, so he dragged me to the couch. I cooperated with his kisses, but as we kissed, I reached down to feel his abs—and found he didn’t have any. I immediately pushed him away. “Who are you? You’re not my husband! My husband has a great body, a real six-pack. There’s no way a scrawny guy like you is him!” He tried to explain, but I didn’t give him a chance, firing off words like a machine gun. “Let me tell you, don’t think you can trick me just because I can’t see! I love my husband very much, and I would never do anything to betray him!” “If you dare force me, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!” Saying that, I reached for a knife. Liam had just peeled an apple for me, and the knife was on the coffee table. I grabbed it instantly. I gripped the handle and pointed the blade at him. “Get out of here right now! If you don’t leave, I’m going to scream!” Liam, thinking I was having a trauma response, was pulling his hair out in absolute agony. Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—it was Carter—and answered. “Carter, I don’t know where Liam went, and suddenly a stranger is in the house! He was trying to kiss and hug me, I’m so scared. Can you come over and help me?!” Carter honked his car horn wildly. “Sis, don’t be scared, I’ll be right there.” When Carter burst in, sweating profusely, and saw the standoff between Liam and me, he carefully took the knife from my hand and pulled me into his arms. “You scared me to death! I thought something happened to you.” I ignored him and kept acting. “Honey, is that you? The guy earlier didn’t have any abs. The moment I touched him, I knew it wasn’t you.” He took my hand and placed it on his chest. Is this really the time for flirting? Afraid I’d blow my cover if I kept acting, I shyly pushed him away, saying I had been holding it in for too long and needed to use the bathroom. As soon as I left, Liam started interrogating him. “Carter, you fucked my wife, and you’re still hovering around?!” Carter crossed his legs and raised an eyebrow. “Well, my sister-in-law can’t live without me now. We have no choice but to live together.” “How about this: during the day, you cook for her and keep her company. At night, I’ll sleep with her. You can go wherever you want, or you can stay here.” Honestly, I thought his suggestion was pretty good. Unfortunately, Liam wasn’t having it. “In your dreams! That’s my wife, why should I let you sleep with her?!” “Liam, why are you looking at it that way? We both get to sleep with her, but she doesn’t want to sleep with you. She wants to sleep with me.” “If you don’t agree to the three of us living together, I’ll go confess everything to Chloe. I’ll tell her that while you were sneaking out every night to see a mistress, the person sleeping with her was me.” Liam refused. “No way. If she finds out I cheated, she’ll definitely divorce me.” Carter laughed. “What are you afraid of? She cheated too! When the time comes, you two can just have a chat and forgive each other.” “How could that work? She was tricked into cheating by you, it’s not her fault.” “Bro, I’ve been sleeping with Chloe for almost three months. Do you really think she doesn’t know anything?” Liam’s voice spiked. “Your sister-in-law is so innocent! If you speak too loudly, you’ll scare her to tears! If she knew the person sleeping with her wasn’t me, she would have refused immediately! There’s no way she’d fool around with you for this long!” Carter sneered. “Innocent? Liam, I think you’re just stupid, which is why she’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”

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At noon, my online boyfriend sent me a photo of his lunch, fishing for compliments. It was a steaming bowl of braised chicken and rice. [Baby, I ate my lunch properly today. I’m such a good boy, come praise me~] Just as I was typing “Good boy,” my eyes caught something. Printed on the cafeteria tray in the photo were four red letters: Aegis Tech. My heart dropped. Because… the company I work for is also called “Aegis Tech.” I froze right there. Are you kidding me, bro? The online boyfriend I’ve been dating for over a year actually works at the same company as me? 1 It was lunchtime, and I was happily enjoying my favorite braised chicken and rice in the company cafeteria. Remembering my online boyfriend saying he was too busy at work and often forgot to eat lunch, I sent him a kind reminder: [No matter how busy work gets, don’t forget to eat your lunch. Be a good, obedient puppy.] Ten minutes later, my phone lit up with his reply: [Baby, I ate my lunch properly today. I’m such a good boy, come praise me~] [Image] I opened the picture. It was a steaming bowl of braised chicken and rice. I was just about to praise him. But then I realized the photo looked oddly familiar. After a closer look, I found the source of that damn familiarity: The four red letters printed on the tray: [Aegis Tech] And that is exactly where I work. I looked at the braised chicken in front of me, then at the photo my online boyfriend sent. Suddenly, the meat in my mouth didn’t taste as good. The company cafeteria is strictly for employees only. My online boyfriend works at the same company as me? I was speechless! 2 [Baby, why aren’t you praising me? (Puppy pouting face)] [I really listened to you and ate properly. (Puppy crying)] [Are you mad? What did your puppy do wrong? (Puppy crying in the corner)] The messages from my online boyfriend came one after another. I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. Although I knew we were in the same city, I never expected we would be in the same company. This damn fate! “Puppy, what company do you work for?” “Puppy, are you at Aegis Tech?” I typed out the words and deleted them, over and over again. I didn’t know what to say. If I asked, he would probably ask me where I worked too. He might even figure out I’m at Aegis Tech. Then he would try to find me. What would I do then? The thought of some random guy at work calling me “baby” all day made me want to die of embarrassment. Before I could even digest this fact, he sent another message: [Baby, you’re not ignoring me because you’re eating with someone else, are you!!!] [Baby, what’s wrong? I’m panicking…] To prevent him from noticing anything unusual, I replied: [I was eating and didn’t see your messages. Good boy.] Only then did he stop bombarding me. [Baby, I finished eating. Going back to work now~] 3 I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the cafeteria. There were hardly any people left. Mostly women, and one older man with gray hair. It couldn’t possibly be him. I forced myself to calm down and organize my thoughts. Right now, there were a few pressing questions I needed to figure out: First, who is my online boyfriend? Second, what kind of person is he really? Third, if I find him, do I confess, continue dating online, or break up? (Because it really is too awkward.) Thinking back on our online relationship from the beginning until now. We were both very careful about our privacy. For example, we never sent selfies, nor did we reveal our real names or addresses. He only sent me a few pictures of his abs when I practically begged him to. Based on that alone, it’s really hard to figure out who he is. I can’t just go around lifting guys’ shirts to compare their ab definition with the pictures, right? 4 Back at the office, I looked at my male colleagues. I shuddered. We battle it out every day like sworn enemies. If my online boyfriend turned out to be one of them, I would literally die on the spot. I scrolled through my chat history with him, looking for clues. And I actually found something. Last month, he couldn’t decide which water bottle to buy. [Baby, I’m shopping at the mall with a friend and I want to buy a water bottle.] [Help me pick one! Which one looks better? I’ll buy one for you too.] He sent a few pictures, and I picked out a titanium thermos with a traditional lacquer finish. To protect my privacy, I politely declined his offer to buy me one. [Whatever my baby chooses is the best.] He bought that exact thermos right then and there. So, I just needed to see who in the company was using it. I wandered around the office several times but couldn’t find anyone using it. I messaged him: [Are you using the water bottle you bought?] He replied almost instantly: [Baby, I’m using it right now!] [Image.] The water bottle was sitting right on his desk. That’s weird. Why didn’t I see it? While I was still pondering this, a message from my boss, Mr. Sterling, popped up on the company messaging app: [Chloe, there are some issues with the proposal. Come to my office for a minute!] When I walked into his office, Mr. Sterling was on the phone: “Baby, I miss you too. Come see me at the office tomorrow.” “Oh, right, Liam is coming tomorrow too, you can catch a ride with him.” “Aw, I’m just worried about you driving by yourself, it’s not safe~” “Okay, I’ll listen to you. Just come whenever you’re ready, drive safely.” “I have to get back to work, hanging up now, mua~” I awkwardly turned my face away. I couldn’t bear to look, I really couldn’t. Our Mr. Sterling actually had such a gentle side. He hung up the phone, coughed, and smiled at me. “Chloe, the investors looked at the proposal this morning. They’re generally very satisfied, but they brought up a few points. I’ve noted the specifics on the document, please revise it according to their suggestions.” “Okay, Mr. Sterling.” Just as I was about to leave, I caught sight of a water bottle sitting on the corner of his desk. It was the exact same titanium thermos with the traditional lacquer finish! Identical to the one I picked out for my online boyfriend! In that moment, I felt like I had been struck by lightning, frozen in place! Seeing that I hadn’t left, Mr. Sterling asked: “Hmm? Is there something else?” His voice pulled me out of my shock. I took a deep breath, pretending nothing was wrong. I pointed at the thermos: “Mr. Sterling, that’s a nice water bottle. Where did you buy it?” He slowly uttered two words: “The mall.” Me: “…” Mr. Sterling smiled slightly, his eyes curving into crescents. “Why, do you like it?” I quickly composed my facial expression and waved my hands. “Ah, it’s nothing, just asking casually.” Then, I fled the office in a panic. An absurd thought popped into my head: Mr. Sterling is my online boyfriend! But if I’m his girlfriend, who was he calling “baby” just now? Is Mr. Sterling cheating? Holy crap! 5 I was completely out of it for the rest of the day. I didn’t even reply to the messages my online boyfriend sent me. Suppressing my emotions, I finally finished revising the proposal. I went home in a daze. My phone was full of messages from him. [Baby, what are you doing?] [Baby? Where are you?] [Baby, why aren’t you replying?] [Baby, why are you acting so weird today? Did I do something wrong? Tell me if you’re unhappy, I’ll definitely fix it!] [Baby, don’t scare me!] … With trembling hands, I typed a few words. [Puppy, are you hiding something from me?] He replied instantly: [No, baby. I always answer whatever you ask truthfully.] [Baby, is there a misunderstanding between us?] [No.] I tried to calm my chaotic mind. Now that I knew he was highly likely Mr. Sterling, my next step was to figure out if Mr. Sterling was really cheating. And who the “baby” he was talking to actually was. What if I was misunderstanding him? My online boyfriend sent another message: [Oh right, baby, the new collection from brand V just dropped. Help me pick one out? I want to wear it tomorrow!] [Image.] I specifically picked out a solid black sweater with a logo on the left chest, making it easy for me to identify. I still held onto a sliver of hope. If Mr. Sterling didn’t wear this sweater tomorrow, it would prove he wasn’t my online boyfriend. Then I wouldn’t have to agonize over whether he was cheating or not. 6 The next day, I walked into Mr. Sterling’s office with the revised proposal. He was sitting on the sofa drinking tea, wearing the exact same black brand V sweater I picked out yesterday. Blindingly black. “Mr. Sterling, the proposal has been revised.” He gave me a gentle smile. “Good work, Chloe.” “The investors are coming this afternoon, please be prepared.” “Okay.” I stared at Mr. Sterling’s sweater, pretending to ask casually: “Mr. Sterling, I’ve never seen you wear this sweater before, it looks nice.” He smiled: “Bought it yesterday.” This made me even more certain that Mr. Sterling was my online boyfriend. Sitting at my desk, I absentmindedly stared at his office. He said yesterday that his “baby” was coming to the office today. I really wanted to know who this “baby” was. If it really was what I thought, then this relationship had to end. 7 An hour later, a woman with exquisite features walked straight into Mr. Sterling’s office. I pretended to go get water. As I passed his office, I heard talking and laughing from inside. “Baby, I missed you so much. This sweater looks really good on you, I just realized black suits you.” Mr. Sterling’s voice was gentle: “Baby, as long as you like it. I picked it out specifically. Aren’t we meeting your parents tonight? I was afraid they wouldn’t be satisfied with me.” “How could they? My parents will naturally like the person I like.” Hearing this, it felt like my heart had taken a heavy blow. So he asked me to pick out clothes for him so he could meet his beloved girlfriend’s parents. Then what am I? A secret mistress? The next second, I took out my phone and with great difficulty, typed a few words to my online boyfriend: “You are rotten to the core, let’s break up!” Then, I swiftly blocked and deleted him. 8 Mr. Sterling walked out holding his girlfriend’s hand, watching her leave. He didn’t look sad at all. I felt more and more like a clown. Thinking back to all the moments we shared, I felt a wave of bitterness in my heart. The only thing worth celebrating was that I used an alt account for online dating. Otherwise, I would have been so embarrassed. I consoled myself: since love is gone, I should just focus on work. After all, I’m a rational woman, I couldn’t possibly quit my job over this. 9 In the afternoon, Mr. Sterling sent me a message. [Chloe, the investor has read your proposal and thinks it’s feasible. Come in and give a presentation.] I gathered my emotions, held my head high, and walked in. “Chloe, this is the investor, and also my good buddy, Liam Hayes. Don’t be nervous, just explain your ideas to Mr. Hayes.” I ignored Mr. Sterling and looked at the person sitting on the sofa. And my eyes met Liam’s. Unlike Mr. Sterling’s gentleness, the man in front of me exuded a noble and unapproachable aura. He was wearing a black V-neck suit, the neckline perfectly revealing a black, slim-fit turtleneck sweater underneath. The sweater outlined his pecs, which were ready to burst out but perfectly concealed by the jacket. It left much to the imagination. His long, fair fingers picked up a water glass, and he took a small sip. I was completely intimidated by this man’s aura and nervously swallowed. Urged by Mr. Sterling, I explained my ideas to Liam. Once in work mode, I was confident and poised. When I finished, Mr. Sterling clapped. “Chloe, very well said. Liam, what do you think?” Mr. Sterling and I looked at Liam simultaneously, but Liam’s gaze was fixed on my neck. He suddenly said: “Miss Chloe, that’s a very nice necklace.” I looked down. The neckline of my outfit today was a bit low, and my crystal necklace was perfectly exposed. I panicked a little, because when I bought this crystal necklace, I had sent a picture to my online boyfriend. [Puppy, look at my new necklace, isn’t it pretty?] [Image] The image was a close-up of my neck wearing the necklace. He replied: [Baby looks good in everything.] Now that the necklace was exposed, Mr. Sterling wouldn’t recognize me, would he? I glanced at Mr. Sterling. Thankfully, he didn’t react much. He was still eagerly waiting for Liam’s reply. Of course, he had a girlfriend, and he was just playing with me. Why would he remember these details? Only I remembered every little thing about our online romance. I hurriedly pulled my hand back and said: “Just bought it casually, for fun.” 10 Mr. Sterling sat next to Liam and took a sip of tea. “Liam, let’s get down to business, what do you think?” Mr. Sterling stared at Liam, but Liam stared at me. After a long while, he slowly uttered one word. “Excellent.” Hearing this, Mr. Sterling happily patted Liam on the shoulder. “Liam, you truly are a good buddy, reliable.” I also breathed a sigh of relief in my heart. All those sleepless nights rushing the work weren’t in vain. I finally got a good result. Liam pushed Mr. Sterling’s hand away in disgust, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile as he looked at me. “It’s because Miss Chloe is outstanding enough.” Even though it was our first meeting, I felt a strange sensation. Liam’s gaze made my ears turn red. Mr. Sterling looked surprised. “Oh? This is rare. Our Mr. Hayes actually knows how to praise people.” “But thinking about it, it makes sense. Our Chloe is so outstanding, who wouldn’t want to praise her?” “But you, praising someone for the first time, and a woman at that. The sun must be rising from the west.” “Ah, no, wait, spit spit spit, there’s still sister-in-law. No, wait, sister-in-law dumped you, spit spit spit, look at my stupid mouth.” My little ears perked up, feeling like I was hearing some incredible gossip. What? The legendary business mogul got dumped? Which woman was so blind? The next second, Liam shot me a resentful look. I quickly lowered my head, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt in my heart. Liam shifted his gaze, took a sip of tea, and said flatly to Mr. Sterling: “If you talk any more nonsense, I don’t mind withdrawing the investment.” Mr. Sterling hurriedly waved his hands. “Hey, don’t, don’t, don’t, look at you, still can’t take a joke.” I suppressed my drumming heartbeat and threw out a sentence in a panic: “Mr. Sterling, Mr. Hayes, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” And fled as if escaping. Back at my desk, Mr. Sterling sent another message. [Chloe, are you free tonight? Mr. Hayes said he still has some questions about the proposal and wants to invite you to dinner to chat about it.] I replied coldly: [No.] [If you go, I’ll double your year-end bonus this year.] Who would say no to money? I agreed immediately. [Okay, send me the address.] Turning off my phone, thinking about how Mr. Sterling was meeting his girlfriend’s parents tonight, I felt a wave of bitterness and mocked myself: Chloe, you’re unlucky in love but lucky in your career.

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My dad used to be a punk. Later, my mom beat some sense into him, and he became a company CEO. But the year he made it big, he was surrounded by women. He always smelled of alcohol and often didn’t come home at night. So my mom didn’t want him anymore. And by extension, she didn’t want me anymore either. So, I hate Arthur Vance. 1. Another night. I got up to cook some spicy ramen. One pack of fire noodles, extra spicy, topped with two fried eggs. “Eat less spicy food, adding two pieces of vegetables would be better.” A cold female voice echoed in my mind. I quickly tossed two slightly wilted vegetables in. Legend has it this is the system my mom bound herself to back in the day. After my mom completed her mission, she left me a system. Besides that, she left nothing. I couldn’t even find a single photo of her in the house. When I missed my mom, I could only run to the cemetery. There was a photo of her there. Her high school graduation photo, which Arthur spent a long time finding. That’s the only good thing he’s done in his life. I scooped out the fire noodles and rinsed them in cold water. The cold female voice reminded me again: “Turn off the stove.” Oh right. I forgot to turn off the stove because I was lost in thought. I rubbed my head, then grabbed a box of pre-cut fruit from the fridge to cool down the spice. I picked up a piece of watermelon and stuffed it into my mouth, asking as I ate, “Auntie System, does this fruit taste fermented to you?” “It tastes a bit sour.” “Spit it out quickly, don’t eat anymore, it’s gone bad.” “The milk in the fridge is fresh.” Even though it was a cold, electronic voice, hearing it warmed my heart. In this world, Auntie System is my only relative. She’s been by my side since I was little. When I cried, she comforted me. When Arthur didn’t come home at night, she kept me company. When I was bullied by other kids, Auntie System would play games with me: “Leo, stand up, let’s have a race.” “Whoever runs home first wins.” I always ran the fastest. When I got home and called for Auntie System, she would always reply after a while: “Leo, good job, you won again.” As I grew older, even if I ran fast, I would still get caught and beaten. Getting beaten hurt too much. So I dyed my hair red, got earrings, and got tattoos on my arms and neck. Sure enough, people avoided me when they saw me. Arthur also avoided me. But he wasn’t afraid of me; he was disgusted by me. He looked at me no differently than he looked at an enemy. It doesn’t matter. It’s not like I like him that much either. Suddenly, a car horn honked outside. I glanced out. Arthur was back. 2. The electronic door lock chimed, indicating a successful unlock. The next second, a tall, straight figure appeared in the doorway. I glanced back. Arthur was wearing an expensive suit, his hair perfectly styled, his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming with a cold light. His gaze fell on my newly dyed hair, and he frowned deeply. My hand gripping the chopsticks paused. I should have been used to this by now. I kept my head down and ate my noodles. The extra spicy fire noodles made my eyes water. So I chugged several mouthfuls of milk. Arthur stood behind me, his cold eyes sweeping over the food on the table: “Where’s the housekeeper? Who let you eat this junk food?” His voice was icy. I didn’t want to talk to him. He just stood there behind me. The air seemed to freeze. “Look at yourself, what do you look like now?” His voice was cold and heavy, and I clenched my fists. The atmosphere was at a stalemate. Auntie System quickly comforted me: “Leo, don’t fight.” “Your dad is a bastard.” “Ignore him.” I endured it, and endured it some more, but finally couldn’t hold back: “You hate how I look right now?” “You’ve never cared about me since I was born. What right do you have to care about me now!” I stood up abruptly. Arthur looked up at me, his eyes devoid of any warmth: “Leo Vance, who taught you to speak like that?” I sneered: “You think I have no manners?” “Well, who was there to teach me?” “My mom died early. Why don’t you find me a stepmom quickly, have a new child, and pretend I’m dead.” Arthur’s knuckles clenched tight. A crisp slap landed on my face. “Do you know what you’re saying?” He was angrier than I was. His gaze fell on my face, very cold, very heavy. I kept my neck stiff and looked at him, refusing to back down. I didn’t say anything wrong. As far back as I can remember, there have always been many women around him. Whenever he wasn’t around, they would secretly ask me: “What kind of women does your dad like?” I wanted to say he likes women like my mom. My mom loved wearing white dresses. Long hair, loved to smile. When she smiled, her eyes lit up, and she had a dimple. But I forgot, my dad hated my mom the most. So I changed my tune: “As long as it’s not my mom, he likes everyone.” Over the years, he’s had all sorts of women around him, just no one like my mom. If there were, I could at least see what my mom looked like when she was alive. My nose stung, but I still kept my neck stiff, refusing to back down. Time ticked by, second by second. Drops of nosebleed hit the floor. Shock flashed in Arthur’s eyes, then he looked at me with a cold face: “If you want to be a punk, go be one outside. Don’t let me see you in the house.” I pursed my lips, my fingers clenching and unclenching, and finally lowered my head: “I’ll leave after I finish this bowl of noodles.” Arthur didn’t say anything else and went straight upstairs. I looked at his back. He didn’t even remember that today is my birthday. I sat down, casually wiped my nosebleed, and kept my head down, taking big bites of noodles. Auntie System said I have to eat longevity noodles on my birthday. I don’t know how to make them. So I substituted fire noodles. The fried eggs were a must; Auntie System said they were the symbol of longevity noodles. I want my mom to know. I’m taking good care of myself. “Auntie System, can my mom see me?” I sniffled, took a deep breath, and fought back my tears. “Yes.” “Happy birthday, Leo.” I wiped my nosebleed with a tissue and smiled: “Thank you, Auntie System.” Arthur watched quietly from upstairs for a while. He stood in the shadows, unmoving. Until I was about to leave, Auntie System suddenly spoke: “Arthur really is a bastard.” I instinctively looked back. The second-floor hallway was empty. Only one bedroom door had just closed. The light seeping through the crack of the door went out in an instant. I gripped the doorknob tightly and slammed the door shut. The room suddenly fell silent. In the darkness, Arthur stood behind the door. The gift under his coat pressed painfully against his chest. He looked down at the exquisitely wrapped box, rubbing his fingers over it for a long time. Finally, he placed it in the deepest part of his drawer. Together with a white dress he had never given away. 3. I had nowhere to go, and not a penny on me. Arthur refused to give me money. He said I was doing bad things, using the money to support a bunch of punk underlings. Tsk. If I had known, I would have burned the tie I bought for him. A tie so expensive. I saved up for three months to buy it. I’d rather give it to a dog than him. “Auntie System, where can I go?” I stood at a crosswalk under a streetlight. Nowhere to go. Auntie System was silent for a moment: “Leo, let’s go home. It’s too late, it’s not safe.” I waved my hand, “Arthur hates me, I’d better not annoy him.” I wandered aimlessly. Only stray dogs accompanied me on the early morning streets. I don’t know how long I walked, but I passed a bar and took a second look. “Leo, minors aren’t allowed to drink.” Auntie System’s alarm bells rang. I quickly said: “I’m not.” “I’m looking at the guy getting beaten up. Why does he look so much like my underling?” “Mark! Is that you?” The person on the ground struggled to squeeze a hand out from under the feet of several people, waving feebly at me. It really was him! I strode forward, shoved them aside, and hauled Mark up from the ground. “What are you doing?!” “What are we doing? He watered down our drinks! If we don’t beat him, who do we beat?” Mark grabbed my sleeve, his eyes swollen to slits, wiping away tears only for more to well up. “I didn’t! Boss Leo, they told me to deliver alcohol, I delivered it, they didn’t pay, and they claimed I watered it down.” “You punk, got a death wish?” The lead guy raised his arm, his slap about to fall. I blocked it firmly: “Give him his money.” “I won’t, what are you gonna do about it?” I clenched my fists. “Leo, don’t fight, don’t get hurt.” “Call the police first.” Auntie System’s voice sounded a bit anxious. I clenched and unclenched my fists, holding myself back over and over. The guy threw off my hand, stepped forward, and patted Mark’s face: “Next time we get you to deliver alcohol, be smart. If you dare ask for money again, I’ll break your legs.” I couldn’t hold back anymore and landed a punch on the guy’s face. Both sides were quickly rolling around fighting. I don’t know who called the police, but the siren grew closer and closer. 4. Inside the police station, I clutched my stomach and wailed. “Officers, neither of us are adults yet. You have to protect the flowers of the nation.” “Look at us, he beat us up like this! My handsome face is swollen like a meat bun!” “I think I’ve gone deaf in one ear.” “My head hurts so much, save me, officers!” The officer sighed: “We know, let’s take your statements first.” After taking our statements, the police detained the group of guys. “We recovered the money, a total of 347 dollars.” “But, beating people is wrong. If you have a problem, call the police.” “I’ve already called your parents. You can leave when they come to sign.” I pouted and kicked the floor. Will Arthur come? Tsk. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. The food at the police station is pretty good anyway. Mark sat next to me, his face bruised and battered, his eyes swollen to mere slits, fighting back tears. Even so, he still tightly held the recovered money. It was heartbreaking to see. “Is your mom doing better?” “Yeah! With dialysis three times a week, she’s much better.” “Last week she was even saying you should come over for炸酱面 (Zhajiangmian).” I clenched my fingers, my nose suddenly stinging. Back when Arthur kicked me out of the house and I was starving to death, it was Mark who took me home. His mom cooked a pot of noodles for me. That was the best meal I had ever eaten. Snapping back to reality, my eyes were already wet. I rubbed them hard before speaking: “Okay, I’ll go see Auntie in a couple of days.” “Great!” Mark nodded vigorously, a huge smile spreading across his face, but it tugged at the wounds on his face, making him grimace in pain. I turned my head and secretly smiled too. “Leo Vance.” A cold voice suddenly rang out. 5. I looked up, meeting a cold gaze. I instinctively sat up straighter, using my jacket to hide my injuries, tightly clenching my fingers. Arthur glanced at the injuries on my face, looking closely from my swollen, red eyes to my split lip. Finally, he said nothing and walked straight inside. I don’t know how long I waited. Before Arthur came out and stood firmly in front of me. I waited for a long time, but he refused to speak to me. He probably thought I was beyond saving. Tsk. If he won’t talk, he won’t talk. I grabbed my jacket from the chair and was about to leave when Arthur suddenly called out: “Stop.” I frowned and looked back, only to see the police officer leading out those punks. “Apologize.” Arthur said flatly. I tightly clenched my fists. Making me… apologize? Is Arthur blind? Can’t he see my face is covered in injuries? “Apologize. Do you want to stay in the police station forever?” Arthur looked up, his eyes already impatient. “We’re sorry, little bro. Please be the bigger person and let us go.” I froze in place, looking up only to see the back of Arthur’s head. So, he was telling them to apologize to me. I clenched my fingers, looking at Arthur’s back again and again. Only then did I notice his shirt was very wrinkled, the collar turned up haphazardly, and the buttons on his cuffs weren’t even buttoned. Arthur was always meticulous. In all these years, I had never seen a single wrinkle on his clothes. So, he was in a hurry because of me? Tsk. I don’t believe it. “Auntie System, do you think Arthur is standing up for me?” I asked quietly in my heart. Auntie System looked at Arthur for a long time before speaking: “I don’t understand him either.” True, even the most precise algorithms have a hard time deciphering human hearts. I’ll stop thinking about it. Arthur isn’t a good egg anyway. 6. Coming out of the police station, Arthur’s black car had its headlights on in the rain. I looked towards the driver’s seat. A woman with chestnut hair smiled with red lips, waving at me through the half-open window. “Little brat, in trouble again?” Mia, a famous actress. The woman who has stayed by my dad’s side the longest. All of my dad’s explosive scandals are related to her. Recently, rumors about an illegitimate child caused an uproar. In the end, Arthur suppressed it, and it didn’t affect Mia’s new drama release at all. You can see how much Arthur likes her. I ignored her, frowning fiercely at Arthur behind me. Arthur stopped walking and explained: “I drank, Auntie Mia drove me.” Seeing I didn’t move, he opened the car door for me: “Let’s go home first.” Disgusting. I glared at him fiercely. Just as I was about to leave, Arthur grabbed my arm, his grip very strong: “Get in the car, let’s go home first.” I gritted my teeth, staring dead at Arthur: “Why are you still pretending to care about me? Don’t you have an illegitimate child with her? In a couple of years, they’ll take over my and my mom’s place, you’ll be a real family, I’m just an eyesore to you.” Arthur’s face was tight, his grip on my arm not loosening in the slightest. “Leo, this is between adults.” “Bullshit!” “This is absolutely not just between adults! You lost my mom, you made me motherless! What right do you have to say it’s only between adults!” “Arthur, I will never forgive you!” I tried to shake off Arthur’s hand, but he held on too tight, his eyes full of emotions I couldn’t understand: “Leo, it’s too late, come back with me first.” “Leo, it’s too dangerous outside, listen to your dad, go back with him.” Auntie System also advised me. I clenched my fingers, fighting back my stinging tears, and got in the car. I wasn’t afraid of Arthur. I just didn’t want Auntie System to worry about me. It was getting late, she should rest too. 7. Arthur sat in the passenger seat. I crossed my arms and glared coldly at their backs. “How about it, little brat? Do your dad and I look good together?” Mia raised an eyebrow at me through the rearview mirror. I snorted coldly: “Yeah, you’re both sick in the head, a perfect match.” “Is that so? Thank you.” Mia laughed heartily. My face turned pale with anger. Arthur leaned back in the passenger seat and closed his eyes: “Mia, stop teasing him.” Mia glanced at Arthur upon hearing this, then rolled up the window and turned on the heat. I sneered inwardly: “They should just lock themselves together, saves Arthur from bothering my mom after he dies.” “They won’t. They’re not in the same world.” “They’ll never have a chance to meet again in this lifetime.” Auntie System’s voice was very, very soft. The intermittent electronic voice made my heart feel heavy. Is that so? I glanced at Arthur, who was frowning even in his sleep. Never seeing my mom again is truly the best punishment. As the car neared the house, Arthur got out. There was a pharmacy outside. What’s he doing? He has more muscles than me, what’s wrong with him? Mia saw my confusion and spoke softly. “Actually, your dad’s health hasn’t been good these past two years.” I sneered, “What does that have to do with me?” I looked away, refusing to look at Arthur in the rain. She wasn’t angry, just smiled and continued. “Haven’t you noticed? There’s always a first-aid kit at home. The medicine you need has never been out of stock.” “Your dad prepared that for you, knowing you always get hurt. The bruise medicine has never been empty.” “Leo, your dad’s health is poor, stop making him angry.” “If he lives a couple more years, you’ll be comfortable for a couple more years.” I didn’t speak, my gaze falling on Arthur. He stood tall, shoulders broad. Aside from a slightly pale complexion, he showed no signs of illness. “How he is has nothing to do with me.” “But you’d better pray Arthur lives a couple more years, otherwise who’s going to raise your illegitimate child?” Mia touched up her lipstick in the mirror, her smile unchanged: “Don’t worry, for the child’s sake, I will.” A lump formed in my throat, I couldn’t swallow it down or spit it out. I really felt it wasn’t worth it for my mom. Why does she get everything, while my mom gets nothing? I gritted my teeth in hatred. I wanted to ask Arthur if he ever regretted losing my mom. But on second thought, he wouldn’t. He’s cold-blooded, only caring about profit. Looking up, Arthur was walking towards the car. I clenched my fists, looked away, and didn’t mention the previous topic. Arthur got in the car and handed me a bag of medicine. Iodine, anti-inflammatories, cotton swabs, band-aids… I sharply noticed him stuffing a box of painkillers into his pocket. I looked away and didn’t ask him. I thought, in his other home, that illegitimate child would care about him. He doesn’t need me. 8. After taking a shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and dried my hair. A light rain fell outside the window. I could only see the taillights of Mia’s car speeding away. I looked at the pile of medicine on the window sill, a bit puzzled. I simply kicked off my slippers and lay on the bed, looking up. “Auntie System, what do you think Arthur means by this? Is he caring about me?” “This is too weird! I’d rather he gave me a few slaps to get it over with.” Auntie System was silent for a moment, her electronic voice intermittent: “I don’t know either.” “Sigh, just apply some medicine and go to sleep early.” “Leo, no matter what, your dad won’t harm you.” I nodded and applied medicine to my facial injuries in front of the mirror. I couldn’t reach the injuries on my back, so I just ignored them. “Leo, your back is a bit swollen, let your dad come over and help you.” I lay on my stomach and shook my head, “Forget it, Arthur isn’t that kind-hearted.” “It’s okay, Auntie System. It’ll be fine tomorrow, don’t worry about me, go to sleep early.” I was so sleepy I could barely open my eyes. I didn’t hear what Auntie System said clearly, just mumbled a response. 9. Outside the door, separated by a wall, Arthur stood holding the doorknob for a long time. He pushed open the door; Leo was already asleep. The medicine on the table hadn’t been put away, left in a mess. The window wasn’t closed either. Arthur walked over and gently closed the half-open window. Through the warm light, his gaze fell on Leo little by little. This child, usually like a little demon, was only quiet when he was asleep. The little demon lost all his energy, sprawling on the bed. His back was covered in wounds, some deep, some shallow, making Arthur frown. Arthur walked over, half-crouching by the bed, using a cotton swab to treat the wounds on his back bit by bit. Some wounds, with red flesh exposed, were already oozing pus after being caught in the rain. It hurt him just to look at it. He didn’t know how this child managed to hold back his cries of pain. Frowning, he finished applying the medicine and put band-aids over the wounds. After a good while, he packed away the medicine bottles. He reached out to cover Leo with the blanket. The blanket had barely touched Leo’s legs when it was kicked away. Leo lay on the bed, his brow, which closely resembled Arthur’s, furrowed tight. He’s so big now, yet still doesn’t like being covered by a blanket. Arthur watched quietly for a while, then suddenly smiled. He remembered a long, long time ago, when Leo was just over a year old. At that time, Leo was just learning to walk, had no hair, and waddled like a little monster. Every night, he would keep his big eyes wide open, refusing to sleep. As soon as his body touched the bed, he would wail. Arthur looked at the red-faced crying child and pondered for a long time. He didn’t know where this child’s “off” switch was. Finally, Arthur strapped him into a car seat and drove slowly along empty roads. Feeling the wind. The little guy would smile in his car seat. Smiling so hard snot bubbles popped out. Evil little monster. That’s what Arthur called him. Later he found out, the child was afraid of the heat and feeling smothered. During that time, Arthur would lay the child by his waist to sleep, without a blanket. When the child got cold, he would snuggle up to him. His little hands clutching Arthur’s pajamas tight, his little feet pressing hard against his waist. At those times, Arthur would scoop the little guy into his arms and gently cover him with the blanket. The little guy would use his arm as a pillow, his little mouth slightly open, revealing one tiny tooth, sleeping incredibly soundly. Arthur looked at Leo on the bed for a long, long time, his eyes soft. Seventeen years passed in a flash, and the little monster has grown this big. Fearless of heaven and earth. Even when hurt, he doesn’t know how to cry. Arthur tugged the blanket, avoiding the wounds, and gently laid it over Leo. The warm light went out. The door closed. The room was plunged into darkness. In the silence, I buried my face in the pillow for a long, long time. My heart was in knots. I should hate him. He’s a bastard. He’s the reason my mom didn’t want me anymore. They said my mom was a shrew who once beat Arthur from a street punk into an honor student with a rolling pin. Later, it was also my mom who managed Arthur, guiding him step by step to become the CEO of a listed company. But he loved to play. He had more business dinners, drank more alcohol, and had more women around him. My mom caught him a few times, but as time went on, she stopped caring. Even when Arthur drank himself into a gastric bleed, she didn’t care. That year, Arthur achieved success and fame; he had everything. Except my mom. I should hate him. He lost my mom. But my heart just aches. I cried for a long time, falling asleep in a damp patch. I don’t know how much time passed, but an electronic voice sounded, a very, very soft female voice. She sounded like she was sighing, her voice choked with emotion. “Arthur, why are you… so harsh on the child…”

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This is the fifth year I’ve been by the side of that infamous playboy. Someone took a picture of me looking like I might be pregnant. Rumors instantly started flying around our circle. Everyone assumed I was trying to use a baby to force his hand and secure a spot in his billionaire family. Upon hearing the news, his first love—the one who had stormed off in a fit of pique years ago—flew back to the country, out for blood. Everyone expected a massive, dramatic war between us. But when Arthur returned from his business trip, all he heard was that I had aborted the baby and slipped back to my hometown. Sigh. We “good girls” can play around however we want on normal days. But if we actually tried to carry a bastard child with no name and no status? Our parents would kill us. 1 It was the middle of the night. Right after I hung up the phone with my doctor, the doorbell rang. I stood up my suitcase and turned to open the door. The man, wearing a sleek, cold leather jacket, casually tossed his heavy sports car keys into my arms. His expression was displeased. “Why did you change the passcode to the front door?” I pursed my lips and whispered, “I was worried stalkers might be waiting outside my door.” He let out a disdainful scoff. “With the security in this building? Without registering, not even a stray cat could get in, let alone a living, breathing person.” …Well, someone got in. I thought silently to myself. Like your first love, who came over and literally kicked my door in. I took his coat and stood on my tiptoes to hang it up. Beneath his usual crisp scent of cedar, there was a lingering trace of a cloying, sweet women’s perfume. It was the exact same scent as my uninvited guest from yesterday. I pretended not to notice. He suddenly reached out and rubbed my eyes with his knuckles. “Have you been crying?” I froze, surprised he even noticed my slightly swollen eyes. I threw out a random lie. “I was just watching a movie.” Seeing me lower my long eyelashes, his gaze trailed downward, landing on my bare feet. The autumn chill was creeping in, but I hadn’t put the rugs down yet. He frowned slightly, scooped me up into his arms, and carried me to the sofa. He probably thought I was getting worked up over the recent rumors. So he spoke: “People in our circle just love to gossip. They think having a baby is a guaranteed ticket into a wealthy family. Those women eagerly waiting for a chance have been trying to shove themselves in my face forever.” “This child has another purpose for me. Just be a good girl. Don’t be like those idiots dreaming of climbing the social ladder. The position of Mrs. Sterling isn’t that simple.” These words were both a reminder and a warning. He had plenty of women around him over the years. But playing around was one thing; when it came to matters involving his family’s interests, he never hesitated or blurred the lines. If I dared to act like the other women in his circle, trying to use a child to fight for a position… He could take everything away in an instant and send me right back to where I started. I felt a little tired. Leaning against his shoulder, I gave a very soft “Mhm.” Suddenly, his gaze paused, noticing my suitcase sitting on the floor. “Going back to your hometown again?” He frowned imperceptibly. “Yeah, my parents said they miss me.” Over the years, whenever I felt wronged, I’d run back home. I’d declare I was never coming back, only to secretly buy the earliest flight back because I missed him too much. Assuming it was because Thanksgiving was coming up, he didn’t mind too much. “Stay a couple of days if you’re going back. Don’t interact with people who have twisted intentions. We’ll talk about the baby later.” He didn’t mention the return of his first love. And I smartly didn’t ask. 2 For me, it was love at first sight with Arthur Sterling. If you asked me whether I liked him more or the benefits he brought more… That would be an insult to my pure, unadulterated crush. As a “good girl” who had been disciplined by rigid rules and expectations since childhood, I walked every stage of my life exactly as my parents planned. I went to a state teaching college, chose a humanities major, and returned to my hometown to work as a teacher after graduation. My delayed rebellion erupted during my first year of working. Looking at my older colleagues, I could see exactly what my entire future looked like— Teaching, blind dates, marriage, having kids. On a hot, mundane summer afternoon, I stared at my lesson plans and a bouquet of roses given to me by a new male teacher, zoning out for a long time. I knew from a young age that I was born with a pretty, innocent face. Countless men had shown interest in me—so many that it made me feel like an easily acquirable commodity. It was annoying and incredibly depressing. Of course, there were sincere guys among them, but their shy blushes and nervous stuttering always killed any interest I had. I wanted to rip off the labels attached to me. I wanted to become someone who commanded everyone’s attention, someone completely out of reach. This unrealistic desire was suppressed, only to pop back up again and again. Until an older friend in the industry asked me if I was interested in participating in their reality idol competition show. That was probably the most rebellious thing I’ve ever done in my life. I quit my job, cut off my heavy bangs, and moved to Los Angeles. Everyone said the entertainment industry was a brutal path. But I was young, and after making a small splash on the show, I thought I was God’s gift to the world, brimming with enthusiasm for the future. Until six months later, when I hit wall after wall. Facing contract termination with my agency and having absolutely no acting gigs lined up, I was also being harassed by a sleazy producer. The balding man promised me with lecherous eyes that as long as I slept with him, he’d make me a star. I looked at his receding hairline and silently looked away. …Honestly, I didn’t have to be famous. At the very least, I couldn’t stomach that. I thought my acting career was going to be buried before it even started, but then I met Arthur. In a private VIP room filled with D-list starlets and directors, the cynical playboy sat at the head of the table— A flirtatious voice, a lazy smirk, a cigarette held between his long, elegant fingers, and a watch worth more than a house glinting in the dim light on his wrist. He was a feast for the eyes. Just one look, and I was hooked. It couldn’t be helped. We “good girls” have absolutely zero resistance to a bad boy with a bit of a rebellious streak. Not to mention, he actually chose me and pursued me with massive fanfare. He publicly acknowledged me as his “little girlfriend” in front of the media. Imagine it. In the hot, late-night summer breeze, a lazy, incredibly handsome billionaire heir leans against his multi-million dollar red convertible, one hand in his pocket. A massive bouquet of delicate, fragrant red roses sits in the passenger seat. He looks through the crowd, catches your eye, and smiles at you. It could literally kill me. He was someone my dull, boring past life had never encountered. It was also the first time I heard my own heart thumping wildly in my chest. My best friend was incredibly supportive of me. Regarding this unequal relationship, she reasoned seriously: “So what? For a good girl like you, you have to play with the wild ones until you get it out of your system before you can settle down and marry a normal guy.” “With a billionaire like Arthur, whatever slips through his fingers is enough to feed you for a lifetime. Honestly, just squeeze a few more payouts out of him before he gets bored.” I deeply agreed. So I willingly drowned myself in the warmth he wove around me. Arthur was very generous. He never skimped on gifts. Knowing I wanted to act, he personally brought scripts to me to choose from. Because of him, all the bullying and hazing on set completely vanished. The road to an Oscar suddenly became incredibly smooth; all I had to do was hone my acting skills. If it hadn’t been for his first love coming back, I probably would have greedily stayed by his side for another two years, trying my hardest to win that ultimate acting honor. 3 I had long heard rumors about this Chinese-American actress who had spent years grinding in Hollywood before finally making a name for herself. The first time Arthur’s best friend met me, he compared me to her: “She’s pretty, sure, but her personality is too soft. She doesn’t hold a candle to Elena’s fiery spirit.” That was the first time I heard the name Elena. —The name that Arthur loved until it tore his heart apart, and later hated down to his very bones. Ultimately, the only reason his snobbish, elite friends tolerated a D-list actress like me was because they felt Elena had hurt him too deeply back then. The whole circle agreed he needed someone to keep him company and help him recover. The dazzlingly beautiful actress brought her bodyguards to my house, smashed my door, shattered my vases, and threw my kitten out the window right in front of me. The kitten’s agonizing shriek made my entire body tremble. My tears fell uncontrollably, but I couldn’t even form a complete, threatening sentence. She clapped her hands slowly, looking me up and down with pitying eyes: “To make Arthur willingly keep you for five years, I thought you were some masterful, cunning character. I didn’t expect you to be such a pushover.” “But it makes sense. A pet with no temper—anyone would be willing to keep it around for a few extra years. After all, it doesn’t take any effort to coax.” My whole body was shaking, and I bit my red lips until they bled. Breaking and entering, destruction of property, plus animal cruelty. If I just called the police and leaked this, it could ruin her in minutes. Her bodyguards blocked the door to my house. She seemed to see right through my thoughts. She stepped aside, clearing a path for me, and said arrogantly: “Go ahead. The police station is just a few blocks down the street. You can go right now. Let’s see who ends up trending on Twitter.” Her absolute fearlessness clearly came from having someone backing her up. And that backing probably came from Arthur. But I didn’t think she was in the right: “As far as I know, you and Arthur aren’t even officially exes. May I ask what right you have to break in here?” “Right?” She scoffed, as if she had heard a joke. “Years ago, he almost died drag-racing on the highway in a rainstorm trying to chase after me. What right do you think I need?” “Do you know why he keeps you around so publicly? It’s just a show for me, to force me to yield.” She let out a light sneer, looking disgusted. “Did you really think he likes ‘good girls’?” I clenched my fists, forcing a cold smile to match her attitude: “But I’m pregnant with his child. Do you think he’s just going to ignore that?” Hearing this, Elena laughed out loud: “You didn’t actually think you could trap him with a baby, did you?” Her tone was incredibly light as her gaze dropped to my slightly rounded stomach: “Before I even came back, he called me. He told me that as long as I was willing to compromise, he could get rid of this baby.” Seeing the color rapidly drain from my face, the smirk on her lips grew wider. She said nonchalantly: “But what if I don’t compromise? Ms. Davis, tell me, if my bodyguards accidentally get a little too rough next time, or if I ‘accidentally’ bump into you, will Arthur blame me for crossing a line, or will he blame the baby in your belly for being an eyesore?” The setting sun shone through the window. The sky was ablaze with sunset colors, reflecting the absolute certainty in her eyes. The blood in my veins turned to ice. As if I had lost my voice, I couldn’t utter a single word. She carried a commanding, absolute confidence. This was something I could never, ever possess. Even though I had been by Arthur’s side for so long, I had never truly figured out my actual worth to him. Just like the very first time we met, he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at a minor actress who looked very similar to Elena. As for why he eventually chose me? Perhaps he just wanted to use my soft obedience to prove that he no longer longed for his fiery, stubborn first love. Since he just wanted a child, then anyone would do. Why should I wade into these muddy waters? 4 But if you ask, over those five years, did Arthur really have absolutely no feelings for me? I can only say, I don’t know. He just looked like a cynical playboy, flirting with everyone. In reality, he didn’t care about most things. For example, every holiday gift he gave me was bought by his assistant, and the restaurants for our dates were always chosen at random. But occasionally, when I ran into trouble on set, he didn’t mind personally stepping in to back me up. During my five years with him, he spent fortunes multiple times to custom-produce starring roles for me. He hired A-list actors to support me and Oscar-winning directors to helm the projects. It looked like the ultimate display of affection, but he never realized that my image just wasn’t suited to be a leading lady. So, every project I starred in bombed. I flopped so hard it left everyone in the industry utterly baffled. Once, I even “won” a Razzie Award. A rival actress mocked my acting skills, and I was so upset I cried in his arms all night. At the time, he was probably trying to mold me into Elena. But that was the one area where I was least like Elena. He probably found it funny back then. His eyes held a teasing amusement: “It really is pretty bad. You didn’t even cry this convincingly in bed.” Over all these years, I was probably his first investment project that guaranteed a loss. He had a bit to drink that night. Maybe because he was in a good mood, or maybe because he just didn’t care. He pinched my cheek with amusement, then called the organizers right in front of me and bought a Razzie Award for that rival actress too. It sounds pretty childish, but people are always moved by these childish, trivial things. Just like how I agreed to give him a child. Even though he was the one who was drunk that evening, I was the one who, as if possessed by a ghost, agreed. 5 At that time, his father was critically ill. His siblings from different mothers were all busy locking down information and fighting over the inheritance. As the youngest and most favored son, he naturally became the target of everyone’s attacks. For several months, he didn’t come to see me. During that time, an industry executive assumed I had been dumped and started getting handsy, asking if I wanted to be with him instead. I repeatedly refused, politely but firmly, but it still pissed him off. After a dinner party, enraged by my rejection, he cornered me in a hallway and tore half my dress. Thankfully, my manager arrived just in time to stop the nightmare. After that incident, people constantly tripped me up on set, and accidents kept happening during my wire stunts. Until the news reached Arthur’s ears. He specifically took time out of his schedule to pick me up from the set. On an evening with a blazing sunset, his black Maybach appeared abruptly and quietly outside the studio. As soon as I got in the car, I smelled strong alcohol. Vodka. He must have drank quite a bit. A flush of red stained his neck. His collar was loosely unbuttoned, and the eye-catching red spread across his pale chest, more vivid than the sunset. “You lost weight,” he pulled me into his arms, his long fingers rubbing the soft flesh of my waist. His lazy voice masked his exhaustion. “You aren’t eating properly without me watching you, are you?” My nose stung, and my voice was soft: “No, the new role requires me to look a bit thinner…” He just held me for a while and said, “Winston will pick you up and drop you off at work for the next few days. Call him if anything happens.” Winston was his private driver. To those with dirty intentions, this was an implicit warning. I sniffled and said, “Okay.” Actually, I wasn’t the only one who had lost weight. He had lost quite a bit, too. This was probably the first time in all these years I had seen him so depressed and exhausted. So, when he spoke up and said he wanted a baby… I froze completely for a long time. This wasn’t the first time he brought up having a child. But the previous two times, he had smiled lazily, saying he was bored and wanted a kid to play with. But this time, he wasn’t smiling. Rich families are full of drama. If he hadn’t encountered some major crisis, he probably wouldn’t be so desperate for a child. “Okay? Baby,” he ruffled my hair, his breath still laced with alcohol. “Give me a child that belongs to us.” It was just a child. A person always has to pay a price for a smooth, easy life. —That was the excuse I made for myself. I rested my forehead lightly against his. My long eyelashes fluttered. Looking into his eyes, I answered softly but seriously: “Okay.” I said, I’ll give you a child. 6 The price this child brought me was enormous. After rumors of my pregnancy leaked, first my commercial endorsements were pulled, then the roles I had secured were recast, and my social media was flooded by paid trolls. I was originally just a mediocre, unknown actress, but suddenly a mountain of scandals appeared out of nowhere. They said my acting was terrible, I only got roles because of sugar daddies, I was unprofessional, and I acted like a diva. Worse still, they claimed I was a mistress intruding on someone else’s relationship. My ultrasound report was inexplicably leaked. Trending tags like “Mistress climbs the ranks by any means necessary,” “Unmarried and pregnant to force the heir’s hand,” “First love forced away, mistress is deeply manipulative” dominated Twitter. —It was impossible to tell whose handiwork this was. For several nights, I had nightmares. I dreamt of a woman pushing me down, and blood pooling all over the floor. When I woke up in the middle of the night, my forehead and palms were covered in cold sweat. But I didn’t think much of it. I just thought everything would be fine once I gave birth to the baby. This continued for four months. Until today, when I met Elena. The thing that truly made me decide to abort the baby was her final parting words— “If Arthur wants to solidify his position, he needs to bring home a legitimate Sterling heir, and a wife from a prestigious family who can bring him powerful connections.” “And what Ms. Davis probably doesn’t know is that when I was fourteen, I had an accident and my uterus was removed. I can never have children.” So it went without saying who this child was being prepared for. She stopped there, provoking me: “But as you know, I am a very proud person. I cannot tolerate another woman’s child.” “Even if it is born, I have a hundred ways to ensure it suffers an ‘accident’.” “Ms. Davis, you should know what choice to make.” She turned and left with her massive entourage of bodyguards. It seemed like she was leaving the choice in my hands, but every single word was a threat. The setting sun was a fierce, bloody orange. I stood alone in the trashed living room for a long time. The sting in my eyes slowly overflowed, my fingers curled slightly, and suddenly the tears fell. The clock on the wall ticked by, the shadows of the sunset slowly shifted, and the lonely time stretched endlessly. During my years by Arthur’s side, I experienced many moments of waiting alone. He always did whatever he wanted. One second he’d say he was staying the night, and the next he’d be heading out to a club with his friends. The rumors said he was a playboy. It was probably because whenever girls threw themselves at him at those parties, he didn’t mind popping a bottle of champagne for them amidst the cheering, or sharing a kiss with them. Occasionally, I would accidentally walk in on these scenes. Bystanders would joke around, asking if I wanted to find a new boyfriend. Arthur would drawl lazily, telling them to stop being a bad influence on me, then release the girl in his arms and pull me into his embrace. The gazes of the onlookers were too mocking, so I would blush and bury my face in his chest. He would rest his chin on top of my head, gently nuzzling my hair, sighing with satisfaction: “So good.” Later, as it happened more often, he would bite my earlobe and ask seemingly casually: “Why do you never cause a fuss? Aren’t you jealous?” I would look at the chaotic lights in the VIP room, unable to answer for a long time. Why not cause a fuss? Because I was confident in my own charm? Or because I was sober enough to know there was no future for us? Or maybe… I just hadn’t played enough? If many girls threw a tantrum, they could get some compensation before turning to the next luxurious party. But I was different. I wanted to enjoy being by his side for another two years. So, I never threw a fuss. Aside from having a lot of ambiguous flings with other girls, he was incredibly good to me. Because I casually said “Why aren’t there any fireworks?” on New Year’s Eve, fireworks lit up the sky over the bay for the entire night. Because I showed a bit of extra fondness for a piece of jewelry, he outbid everyone to millions just to buy it for me, personally putting it on me in front of everyone. Because I wanted to see the snow, he rented out an entire private gondola line in the Swiss Alps. I had kissed him passionately on the streets of Paris, tasted wine with him at a private estate in Italy, and driven his red Ferrari through the city streets at dawn. Behind all these scenes was a level of wealth that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. Having experienced all this, I felt I should be satisfied. 7 When I finally started packing my bags, I surprisingly didn’t feel much reluctance. People change. The mindset of a 23-year-old and a 28-year-old are always different. LA was great, but my hometown was my true home. If Arthur had been a bit more observant, maybe he would have noticed. My favorite vase, which usually sat in the entryway, was gone. My usually clingy kitten was lethargically licking its fur in its bed, wrapped in bandages. And there was a shallow cut on my ankle from the broken porcelain. But he didn’t notice any of it. After dinner, he went into his study to handle business. He was flying to New York tomorrow to audit some shares and deal with a few illegitimate siblings. It would probably be a while before he came back. This perfectly gave me the time to get the abortion and leave. I did a lap around the house. The closet was mostly filled with luxury bags and jewelry. Even if I took them back to my hometown, they’d be useless. Just as I was about to close the closet doors. A diamond-encrusted ring fell out. At an auction last year, Arthur specifically outbid another executive’s wife just to spite her, and gave it to me. It was supposed to be a matching his-and-hers set. But he threw the men’s ring away. The implication was probably telling me not to get ahead of myself. I found the original velvet box to put it in, then found a postcard, wanting to write something about these past five years. But after thinking about it, I didn’t know what there was to write. It was all just a mutually consensual act anyway. On the brink of falling completely for him, I was almost thankful Elena had yanked me out. I rested my chin on my hand, zoning out as I wrote, the fountain pen bleeding ink dots where I paused after every sentence— “Arthur, thank you for taking care of me these past five years.” “I really like LA. It’s always so lively here, but I also often felt lonely.” “I really miss home, and I really want to settle down.” “My parents are getting older, they can’t be without me.” “Don’t blame me, Arthur.” … It was basically a stream of consciousness. At the end, I left one final sentence: “I hope you get what you want. Happy wedding.”

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