That night at the graduation farewell dinner, he had his new girlfriend, the campus beauty, in his arms while everyone around was teasing him to introduce me, his childhood sweetheart, to someone. He glanced over at me sitting in the corner and said to his group of friends, "This silly big girl has a face that looks like someone owes her money. Who would want her?" I shrank back into the shadows, afraid that others would see the tears I was suppressing. An ugly girl doesn't have the right to cry; that was the first lesson I learned when I became his childhood sweetheart.
Chapter 1
[1]
On the farewell dinner of the graduation, he had his arm around his new girlfriend, who was named Everleigh Ford. And she was a campus beauty. Everyone around us was egging him on to set me up with someone since I was his childhood sweetheart.
[2]
He glanced at me sitting in the corner and told his friends, "She's a lummox with a frowning face. Does anyone like her?"
[3]
I hid myself in the shadows, afraid that anyone might see the tears I was struggling to hold back.
[4]
Crying isn't for girls like me. This was the first lesson I learned when we became childhood sweethearts.
[5]
1
[6]
I met Gavin Marsh when I was just nine years old.
[7]
My parents had moved to this city for work, and our families became neighbors.
[8]
When my mom introduced me to him, I timidly stood behind my mother, looking at the handsome boy in front of me who was a bit too arrogant.
[9]
I wanted to get closer to him, yet instinctively felt a sense of danger.
[10]
In the end, I nervously extended my hand, offering him a peach-flavored lollipop I had been saving.
[11]
He swatted it away and shouted to his mom,
[12]
"I don't want to play with this lummox!"
[13]
That was the first nickname he gave me, and for the next ten years, I rarely heard him call me by my real name.
[14]
He never addressed me properly, always giving me teasing nicknames. And then only after I am about to lose my temper completely, he called my name. He also ordered me to do various things for him.
[15]
And every time, I fell for it.
[16]
I inherited my dad's height, so when other girls were still petite little sparrows, I was already the awkwardly conspicuous owl among them.
[17]
And because I had to transfer schools with my parents, I ended up staying in the same grade for another year.
[18]
Girls mature earlier than boys, so among the kids, I would always be the one who stands out the most.
[19]
But my height didn't serve as a shield.
[20]
A quiet, timid girl who stood out so much was naturally an easy target.
[21]
Yet when I was cornered by a group of boys and girls in the school bathroom and they drenched me with a can of cola, Gavin burst in.
[22]
I had never seen him like that before; he was like a fierce protector, hitting everyone, even the girls.
[23]
On the way home, I followed him silently, tears streaming down my face, my wet hair sticking to my scalp, sticky and disgusting.
[24]
Gavin stopped, turned around, and looked up at me.
[25]
"Stop crying. Crying isn't for girls like you, don't you know?" He said.
[26]
I covered my mouth.
[27]
Perhaps it was because of his life-saving act, I developed a deep attachment to Gavin, similar to a baby bird's attachment to its mother.
[28]
Before I even understood what liking someone was, I had already become blinded by his presence.
[29]
Over the years, he dated girls, and I made restaurant reservations for him; he took girls skiing, and I booked the venues; even he went to a hotel with Everleigh, and I paid the deposit.
[30]
When introducing me to others, he would always throw an arm around my shoulder and say,
[31]
"This is my buddy of over ten years, Eliza."
[32]
He had long since grown taller than me, by a head.
[33]
Even with my height, I had to look up to see his jawline and those sharp, handsome features.
[34]
But at those times, all I could do was straighten my back and smile in agreement , then said,
[35]
"Yes, I've known him for over ten years."
[36]
And I've liked him for those ten years. Those following words I could only say to myself.
[37]
2
[38]
Gavin and I both stayed in the local area for college.
[39]
On the day of registration, I helped him settle into his dormitory and only then returned to my dormitory to start tidying up my own things.
[40]
Someone pushed the door open, and when I looked up, it was Everleigh, his girlfriend.
[41]
Gavin had never mentioned that his girlfriend was attending the same university as us; he rarely talked about her at all.
[42]
I thought she would be like his previous girlfriends, who would eventually be replaced by the next one.
[43]
I hadn't expected them to attend the same university. Did this mean he was serious about her?
[44]
Before I could think further, Everleigh's phone rang. She answered with a sweet expression, and her was voice playful and soft.
[45]
I realized it was Gavin on the other end.
[46]
Feeling like I had stumbled upon a secret, I hurriedly gathered my clothes and pretended to go do laundry, pushing the door open to leave.
[47]
As I closed the door, I heard Gavin's voice through the phone, deep and captivating.
[48]
He said,
[49]
"How about I take you out for dinner?"
[50]
He chuckled softly after saying that.
[51]
I stood stunned outside the door.
[52]
I had never heard him speak to his girlfriend in that tone before.
[53]
His past girlfriends either took care of his moods like I did or liked getting angry too much, eventually leading to a breakup.
[54]
At that moment, I realized with painful clarity that he was serious with campus beauty.
[55]
"He's serious, Eliza,"
[56]
I told myself.
[57]
Suddenly, there was a spasm in my chest, like being struck by electricity, and a cramping pain filled my chest.
[58]
I crouched down, burying my head in my knees.
[59]
Over the years, I had considered giving up on him.
[60]
Before he became the heartbreaker he is now, there was a summer when he first liked a girl, secretly.
[61]
He would quietly place her favorite drink in her drawer and bring her breakfast, wrapping it in clothes to keep it warm.
[62]
These were all things I used to do for him.
[63]
For the first time, I told myself to let him go.
[64]
But I couldn't.
[65]
Ever since he pulled me out of the bathroom when I was nine, watching over him and caring for him seemed to become instinctual to me.
[66]
He was like the medicine that I had relied on for over a decade, and the withdrawal were too painful, and I couldn't quit.
[67]
Yet, the girl he first liked, named Samantha Wheeler, ultimately rejected him.
[68]
I still remembered that day. Samantha walked in briskly, placed the things Gavin had given her back on her desk, and said, "Being overly kind without a reason can make you lose your sense of self.
[69]
Take care
[70]
of yourself."
[71]
As she said this, she looked at me.
[72]
3
[73]
When I returned to the dormitory, Everleigh was putting on makeup.
[74]
She saw me in the mirror and smiled to me.
[75]
I felt a bit nervous and nodded back.
[76]
In the past, Gavin's girlfriends had only two attitudes towards me, either ignoring or being hostile.
[77]
It was the first time I encountered such friendliness, and I wasn't quite used to it.
[78]
But at least I didn't have to hide away like a snail to minimize my presence anymore.
[79]
I hoped we could get along normally in the future, I thought.
[80]
Everleigh had already begun to tidy up her hair. I caught a glimpse of her gathering her hair and tying it into a bun.
[81]
The more I looked, the more something seemed off.
[82]
She reminded me of someone.
[83]
Who was it?
[84]
Then it hit me. She looked just like Samantha back in the day with her hair up.
[85]
I suddenly wanted to laugh.
[86]
So, it wasn't just me who had been yearning in vain for over a decade.
[87]
4
[88]
Gavin, campus beauty, and I were assigned to the same class, Fashion Design Class 01.
[89]
A senior from the student council saw my previous work and hoped I could design an outfit for the host of the welcome party.
[90]
In class, while I was drafting, campus beauty came over.
[91]
She glanced at my design and sweetly said,
[92]
"What a beautiful dress, did you design it yourself?"
[93]
I didn't say anything, just nodded in response.
[94]
Everleigh touched the fabric and suddenly smiled at me, saying, "Eliza, could you make a dress for me too?
[95]
I am worried about not being able to find a suitable outfit for the welcome party.
[96]
It doesn't have to be too complicated. You're so talented,
[97]
I'm sure you can whip it up quickly!"
[98]
Gavin heard her voice and looked over here.
[99]
Seeing this, campus beauty went over to him and took hold of his arm and playfully said,
[100]
"Gavin, you want to see me in a dress, too, right?"
[101]
Though she was speaking to him, her eyes darted towards me.
[102]
Gavin shifted his gaze back to his drawing and casually said to me,
[103]
"Help her out when you have time."
[104]
I clenched the fabric, forcing myself to straighten my back, and said, "Sorry, I'm busy making this dress for the senior.
[105]
I really don't have time."
[106]
Gavin looked at me in surprise.
[107]
This must have been a new feeling for him.
[108]
Based on past experiences, this was such a small matter he wouldn't even think twice about.
[109]
Just like when he casually asked me to book hotels and venues for him and his girlfriends.
[110]
He would mention it offhandedly, and I would go through the trouble, but he never asked about the process.
[111]
But for the first time, on such a small matter, I didn't comply.
[112]
5
[113]
The welcome party still hit a snag.
[114]
Just before it started, the dress I designed for the senior went missing.
[115]
I had clearly brought it to the backstage and stored it in the wardrobe.
[116]
The wardrobe was communal and had no lock.
[117]
But who would take a party dress?
[118]
I got my answer when campus beauty sang the opening song.
[119]
The dress I had spent three sleepless nights making was on her.
[120]
The pearl mermaid gown accentuated her figure, and the spotlight on stage made her look like a fairytale princess singing on stage.
[121]
I could already hear boys whistling from the audience.
[122]
The senior approached me in a fury. And just as I was about to explain, campus beauty came off stage and rushed over, grabbing my hand, saying, "Eliza, thank you for making the dress.
[123]
It's so beautiful, and the success of my performance is all thanks to you."
[124]
The senior looked at her, then at me, expecting an explanation.
[125]
I lowered my head and said, "It wasn't me.
[126]
I didn't design a dress for her.
[127]
This dress was made for you."
[128]
Everleigh immediately let go of my hand, and said, "Eliza, what are you talking about?
[129]
You promised to make this dress
[130]
for me."
[131]
Her friend chimed in,
[132]
"Yeah, we all heard it in class."
[133]
Gavin happened to walk into the backstage, probably to pick up campus beauty and take her to the audience stand.
[134]
She took his arm and asked,
[135]
"You heard Eliza agree to design a dress for me in class, right?"
[136]
Gavin saw the senior's displeased face and immediately understood what was happening.
[137]
I bit my lip, hoping he would say something for me, just one sentence, just the truth.
[138]
He lowered his head and said,
[139]
"I don't know."
[140]
I released my teeth from biting my lip.
[141]
Of course.
[142]
He knew very well that campus beauty was deliberately undermining me.
[143]
Being a female buddy by his boyfriend's side for over ten years was something no girlfriend could tolerate.
[144]
Even if anyone could see he had no feelings for me.
[145]
But he liked her, so he tolerated her deliberately undermining me.
[146]
Tolerating her meant sacrificing me.
My boyfriend went bankrupt and wants to break up with me. I don’t agree. He said, "Well, are you brave enough to get married to me?"
Do you believe in love at first sight? The moment I first met Mingyuan, I had that feeling. I cautiously accommodated him, maintaining his pride with my humility—warm yet hypocritical, like the fake flowers welcoming guests at a restaurant’s entrance. Until one day, I was utterly exhausted and chose to give up. I encountered another person during a time of chaos in my life. "So I showed up." To be honest, he awakened my desires. He saw through my games with words, understanding that I was greedy, selfish, and prone to avoidance, yet he still held my hand tightly, as he always did. I received a constant stream of messages from Mingyuan, but they no longer mattered to me. I should be someone with a strong capacity to endure and process my emotions. During the time I was Mingyuan's girlfriend, I tried my best to dissolve negative feelings within myself—without confiding or disturbing anyone. I once tried to act cute, hoping he would comfort me, thinking that just a few kind words would suffice. But he looked at me with great difficulty, saying, "I really don’t know how to comfort you. The ways of comforting girls are just tricks of scumbags; I don’t want to be like them." At that moment, I thought to myself that it was normal for a straight guy not to know how to comfort someone, and I could slowly teach him. The boy I liked would love me in his own way. The blindness of love made me completely overlook the obvious logical error in that statement. Until this moment. Last night, late at night around midnight, sharp pain in my lower abdomen jolted me awake from a rather unsettled sleep, shocking my nerves. Menstrual cramps. I was breaking into a cold sweat, curling up in bed in the hot summer, tightly closing my eyes, hoping that if I just held on, it would pass. The endless pain dulled my reason; this time, the intensity of the cramps seemed more severe than ever before. I struggled to get out of bed and, to avoid waking my roommate, stumbled around in the dark searching for ibuprofen. It should be fine now. I comforted myself with that thought. But the pain didn’t subside with the medication; in fact, I felt a churn in my stomach. In a hazy moment, I remembered the doctor's advice: it’s best not to take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and to take it half an hour before cramps start... The sound of me vomiting in the bathroom woke my roommate. She turned on the light, just as I was stepping out. She was startled by my state and nearly called for an ambulance, "Oh my God, your lips are so pale." She poured me a cup of hot water and waited with me until the pain slowly faded. When I woke up the next day, I momentarily felt as if I had been reborn. I hesitated for a long time, holding my phone, but I still wanted to tell Mingyuan about it. He was very busy with work and didn’t like being disturbed, so I didn’t dare call him and chose to send a message instead. I was really feeling a bit unwell, wanting some comfort, even just from Chatime. As dusk approached, he finally replied. "What should we do?" "Go to the hospital." When I saw the message, my emotions were somewhat flat. At that time, there were a thousand kilometers between us, and I knew that distance made care seem pale and powerless. As a modern, independent woman, I also shouldn’t be that fragile. But he, it seemed, had never cared. He had never comforted me or offered much consolation. All of this, I had never taught him. By sheer chance, I scrolled back through our chat history. The time had always...
I woke up in the middle of the night and felt someone next to me. In the moonlight, the man dressed lightly appeared in my bed again.
Here's the translation of your text into English: "My stepson's son and I secretly had a romantic relationship for a while. It ended in a particularly ugly way. Later, when he was drunk, he cornered me in the bathroom and said, 'I’m just someone who loves being tortured; we’re meant to torment each other until we grow old. What are you going to do about it?'"
Here's the translation into English: "Participating in a variety show, my partner is a popular male star. During the escape room segment, I pretended to be scared and dove into his arms seeking protection. He snorted coldly and pushed me away: 'What are you pretending to be a weak woman for? You usually watch horror movies while eating, right?' I continued to lean into his arms: 'We're this familiar already, you don’t have to act like you're not interested in women. Just hold me tight; this is my new character setting.' 'Ex-girlfriend,' he suddenly stopped resisting, tightening his grip around my waist, 'are you trying to flirt with me?'"
Here's the translated text in English: --- My best friend’s younger brother is such a cocky guy. The first time we met, I accidentally walked in on him getting out of the bath, and he just tossed a shirt over my head. My friend tried to ease the situation: “This is my sister's beautiful friend, isn’t she pretty?” He shot me a cold glance and said sharply, “Really ugly.” Hmph, just a cocky guy, right? I’ll show you, big sister can handle this! After a period of caring for him with all my heart and little details… I gave up. He remained as arrogant as ever, even refusing to call me “sister.” Just two days after I gave up, he sent me a message for the first time— Cocky guy: Is this a case of pursuing by pretending to let go? Cocky guy: Sister. 1 I went to my friend’s house to drop off something and unexpectedly bumped into a handsome guy just getting out of the bath. He was tall and had long legs, with visible muscles, and the little fabric he had was barely covering essential parts. Before I could take a good look, I was covered by a shirt. My view was blocked, and only then did I realize what happened, unable to help but scream. My friend came out upon hearing the commotion. I pointed at the handsome guy, now wrapped in a towel: “Who is that?” My friend: “My brother.” Me: ?? Wait a minute, I remembered her brother as a short, dark kid! My friend turned to the handsome guy, trying to ease the awkwardness: “This is my sister’s beautiful friend, isn’t she pretty?” He coldly looked at me: “Really ugly.” After saying that, he turned and went inside. Me: … Wow, turns out he’s a cocky guy! Me: “How old is he?” My friend looked apologetic: “My brother… is twenty, and he went through his rebellious phase pretty late.” I stared at my friend and squinted: “As long as he’s of age.” My friend had a knowing smile and immediately sent me her brother's WhatsApp: “Help me put him in his place.” 2 The cocky guy's name is Mu Wang, he’s in his junior year at T University, and apparently, he’s quite a prominent figure at school. Indeed, he has the qualifications to be a cocky guy. I became even more interested and started “friendly” exchanges with Mu Wang on WhatsApp. Me: “Brother, wanna grab a meal together sometime?” Mu Wang: “Who are you?” Me: “Your sister’s friend, the one who bumped into you while you were getting out of the bath.” He didn’t respond for a long time. Me: “?!” !!?? That little brat deleted me? I quickly found my friend: “Your brother deleted me, hurry up and make him add me back!” My friend: “He doesn’t listen to me; you’ll have to talk to him yourself.” Me: “How can I talk to him when he’s deleted me?” My friend: “Do you play League of Legends? He’s playing ranked with his classmates tonight; I’ll give you my account.” Waaah, my good friend, I’m so grateful for you. That night, when I was on the mic in the game team and heard a voice that wasn’t my friend’s, Mu Wang’s classmate was surprised. “It’s not Mu Wang's sister, huh?” a soft-voiced boy asked, “Who are you, sister?” I softened my tone: “I’m Mu Wang’s sister’s friend…” “Oh, oh, can you support, sister?” “I can.” “Then just lay back; we’ll carry you.” I cried; what a treasure of a brother! Mu Wang is like nothing compared to this! I need to change my target! Then Mu Wang played as marksman, and I, as support, had to stick with him. Mu Wang: “Support, go check the bush.” I happily went over. Then I got gang-beaten by a bunch of big guys hiding in the bush and died. Mu Wang: “Support, don’t throw.” Me: ? Weren’t you the one who told me to check the bush? After that, similar incidents happened many times, and I seriously suspected that Mu Wang was trying to mess with me. --- Feel free to ask if you need anything else!
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
She went to a club with her friends to drink for the first time after finishing her third-year examinations. Gabriella was a 21-year-old virgin who had never kissed anybody before. She met a stranger at a club, accompanied him to a hotel, had her first kiss, and lost her virginity. She enjoyed herself. When she awoke the next morning, the man was gone, He left. She found out she was pregnant a few months later. She continued to go to the hotel in the hopes of running into the man, but after four months, she gave up. He abandoned her, leaving her to face the situation alone. She dropped out of university to raise her son. She returned to school a year later to complete her studies and get her degree. She then saw the person she had slept with on TV and realized he was now engaged, as well as the fact that he was the well-known multi-billionaire Javier Hills. What would his grandma do when she finds a boy who looks just like her grandson?
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
It was a big day for Camilla. She looked forward to marrying her handsome groom. Unfortunately, he abandoned her at the altar. He never showed up throughout the wedding. She was made a laughingstock in front of all the guests. In a fit of rage, she went and slept with a strange man on her wedding night. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. To her dismay, the man refused to let her be. He pestered her like she had stolen his heart on that night. Camilla didn't know what to do. Should she give him a chance? Or just stay away from men?
"The entire wealthy circle in Seattle knew how much Stella Carlson loved Aaron Malone. People watched the childhood sweethearts grow from inexperience to maturity, finally getting married in a grand wedding ceremony. On the day of the wedding, despite the alliance between the Carlson and Malone families, the groom ran away. Stella knew that Aaron had rushed to L.A. to take care of his ex-girlfriend, who had attempted suicide. Unwilling to become the laughingstock of all Seattle, she gritted her teeth and dialed the number of her adversary, her tone almost commanding, "Ethan, come and marry me now. This is your only chance for revenge." On the other end, Ethan Powers raised an eyebrow as he gripped his phone, staring at the floor littered with cigarette butts. "Did the groom run away?" he asked. "My darling."