I saw my own photo on a social media app. The OP's caption read: [Dated my girlfriend online for a year, but she refuses to meet me. What should I do?] The next second, my roommate suddenly leaned in: "Hey guys, how can I lose 30 pounds in a month?" Confused, she added: "Cynthia, if I get skinny, do you think we'd look alike?" Chapter 1 I stared at the post. The comments below had already built a skyscraper. [Bro, wake up. That's totally a fake pic. You're being catfished!] [She won't meet you because her photos are Facetuned so hard even her mom wouldn't recognize her.] The OP was still desperately explaining: [Impossible. We've video chatted (voice only), and she sends me selfies from all angles every day. It can't be fake!] My mind went blank. In that photo, I was wearing pajamas. It was impossible for it to be leaked. Just then, Scarlett's voice drifted down from the top bunk: "Hey guys, how can I lose 30 pounds in a month?" The roommate opposite rolled over laughing. "What for? In love?" "Lose 30 pounds in a month? You might as well starve to death!" Scarlett ignored her. She climbed down, ran to my side. Her gaze fell straight on my face, eyes scanning my features inch by inch. I was creeped out by her staring and took a step back. She suddenly spoke: "Cynthia, tell me the truth." "If I slim down, would we look alike?" The air froze. I looked up at her round cheeks, voice stuck in my throat. Chapter 2 My heart skipped a beat. I suppressed the surging emotions. Trying to keep my voice calm: "Who's your boyfriend? Do we know him?" Scarlett lifted her chin, "You know the Sterling Real Estate Empire? He's the heir!" She pulled a show-off smile, "Last month he sent me a bracelet worth over a grand. Said he'd take me to meet his parents after graduation." My roommate burst out laughing. "A trust fund baby? He has heavy tastes." The triumph on Scarlett's face froze instantly, turning crimson. "What do you mean? He loves my soul!" Her voice was sharp, like a cat whose tail was stepped on. "He says I'm interesting, I get him! I understand him! What do you guys know!" The dorm quieted down, awkward atmosphere. That post was still updating. The OP asked: [I want to surprise her. What kind of guys do girls like her like?] I looked up. Watching Scarlett's red nose. "Have you met in person? Is it online dating?" The other two roommates looked at her together, waiting for her answer. "Scarlett, he hasn't even seen you, has he?" "Yeah, don't be a catfish." It was meant as a joke, but the blood drained from Scarlett's face rapidly. Lips pressed tight together. A moment later, she hurriedly left a "My advisor is looking for me" and grabbed her coat, rushing out. Chapter 3 The three of us left in the dorm looked at each other. At night, Scarlett couldn't help showing off again. "Sebastian knew I was in a bad mood today, so he specially ordered Omakase for me. Four figures per person!" She brought back a takeout box that looked expensive. But I clearly glimpsed my name on the receipt. Roommates exploded. "Holy cow! Sebastian! That campus hunk from the Ivy League next door?" "He's the prince of Sterling Real Estate? Scarlett caught a golden turtle!" She chuckled lightly, "Of course, my boyfriend loves me very much!" No need for others to probe. Scarlett confessed everything about Sebastian on her own. "My boyfriend likes gentle and considerate girls like me the most." "Especially girls who love small animals." She talked non-stop. "He said he likes me best with long hair, wearing dresses, looking clean and fresh." "But your hair isn't long..." A roommate questioned. Scarlett choked and stopped talking. Likes long hair and dresses, right? Then I'll gladly accept this boyfriend. Chapter 4 Weekend. I specially picked a white dress. Long hair loose, only pinned up a few strands with a simple wooden hairpin. In the mirror, I looked my most well-behaved. I waited by the basketball court next door for nearly half an hour. Finally, Sebastian walked towards the court. Simple white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, tall figure. My heartbeat began to speed up, but more of a weird excitement. Took a deep breath, suppressing the nervousness. I quickened my pace, pretending to be inadvertent. Just as he was about to enter the court, I turned sideways sharply. "Oops!" I feigned panic. Bumped into him. Fell precisely into his arms. A faint woody scent hit my nose. Reflexively, he reached out to support my waist. "Ah! I'm sorry!" I exclaimed, still in his arms, long hair cascading down. Sebastian was stunned by this sudden "attack". Looked down at me, eyes full of surprise. "You..." He just started speaking, but I interrupted. "Sorry, sorry, I was in too much of a hurry, rushing back to class, didn't watch the road." I quickly stood firm, head lowered, not looking at his eyes. Hurriedly left a sentence, then turned and walked away quickly. I could feel his gaze from behind, but my steps got faster and faster. Behind me, he seemed to be calling me, but I turned a deaf ear. Chapter 5 I walked fast, heading straight for the school gate. Rapid footsteps and shouts came from behind. "Excuse me!" I didn't stop, kept walking. "Miss, please wait!" He finally caught up with me, grabbing my wrist. Like a frightened rabbit, I turned back sharply, face showing just the right amount of panic. "What... what are you doing?" I looked at him, eyes full of defensiveness and confusion. Sebastian was panting, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He looked at me, eyes holding complex emotions I couldn't read. "I..." He seemed to be organizing his words. I spoke first, tone carrying a bit of grievance: "I apologized just now, I didn't mean to." I lowered my head, voice smaller, "Is there anything else?" A pitiful look of being scared by him. He froze. Brows furrowed tightly, staring at my face, as if confirming something. "You don't know me?" He finally asked this question. I looked up, blinked blankly, and burst out laughing. The laugh was light, with a trace of helpless amusement. "Should we know each other?" I tilted my head looking at him, eyes clear and open, pure strangeness. "Classmate," I deliberately dragged the tone, smile adding a bit of teasing, "Is this how you guys pick up girls nowadays?" Finished, I gave him no time to react. Pulled my wrist back, waved at him. "I'm leaving now, bye." I turned. Walked towards the bus stop without looking back. I could feel his burning gaze, but I dared not look back. Chapter 6 My heart raced all the way, but my face remained calm. Pushing open the dorm door, Scarlett was showing off a brand new Chanel box. "Look, New Year's gift from Sebastian." She raised her chin, tone unable to hide her pride, "New bag, Chanel dress, and he transferred me 52,000." I didn't speak, silently changed shoes. She glanced at me, making a "tsk" sound. "Look at you, wasting such a face, only knowing how to work part-time jobs, deserve to be tired." She looked me up and down contemptuously, "Don't even know how to use your advantages." I put down my water cup, smiled, didn't reply. Just then, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, a trace of panic flashed across Scarlett's face. She took the phone to the balcony, lowering her voice. But I could still hear scattered words, tone urgent and fawning. Minutes later, she walked in, face ugly. "Hey," she spoke somewhat unnaturally, "Send me a selfie of yours, right now." I understood in my heart. "Sure." Mouth agreed readily, didn't ask why. I opened the album, deliberately scrolling past a few ordinary photos. Finally picked one taken before going out today, wearing a white dress, long hair loose, smiling most cleanly and harmlessly at the sun. Scarlett immediately lowered her head and operated her phone furiously. I pretended to organize things, but kept an eye on her. Saw her brows furrowing tighter and tighter, staring at the screen, as if typing fiercely with someone. Finally, she threw the phone on the table in annoyance. Muttering unconsciously: "What's going on... he's acting weird today." I lowered my head, corners of my mouth uncontrollably curling up. Chapter 7 The next day, I went to my part-time job at the cafe as usual. An hour later, Sebastian indeed came. For a young master like him, checking someone's info is too easy. Footsteps stopped at the bar. I kept a straight face, showing a standard eight-tooth smile. "Hello, what would you like to drink?" He didn't look at the menu, gaze falling on my name tag, then fixed on my face. "We meet again." I paused for a moment, then made a realization expression, smiling a bit embarrassedly. "Ah! It's you, the classmate from yesterday." He ordered an Americano and sat at the bar watching me work. "You work here?" While I was wiping the table, he asked casually. "Yes." I pushed the coffee to him, smile frank but with a hint of life's fatigue, "Family conditions aren't great, earning some living expenses." His hand holding the coffee paused. A genuine confusion flashed across his face, brows knitting together. He definitely couldn't figure it out. After all, just yesterday, he transferred 52,000 pocket money to his "girlfriend" he had never met. Back in the dorm at night, I saw Scarlett pacing around as soon as I opened the door. Clutching her phone, face pale. "What to do, what to do, he wants to see me tomorrow!" I put down my bag, feigning concern, "What's wrong? Isn't that a good thing?" She was about to cry, fingers trembling on the screen. I leaned in, clearly seeing the message she sent to Sebastian: [If... if I don't look as good as in the photos, and not as skinny, would you mind?] The reply was almost instant. [It's okay, I don't mind.] Scarlett didn't relax at all, instead turning her head, leaning close to my face. "Cynthia, you haven't answered me last time, do we look alike?" I raised an eyebrow, giving her the answer she wanted most. "Hmm... now that you mention it, eyes and features, we really do look a bit alike." She cheered up almost immediately. Started rummaging through boxes for clothes. "Where are you meeting your boyfriend? Is he giving you a surprise?" I asked seemingly inadvertently. "The 'Narrative' Cafe on the street next to school." Scarlett answered without turning back. This Sebastian, can't hold back so soon? Chapter 8 The next day, when I woke up, Scarlett was already sitting in front of the mirror. A pile of contouring palettes I'd never seen before was spread on her desk. She was holding a brush, comparing with my photo, sweeping shadows onto her face stroke by stroke. That posture, wishing she could brush off the meat on both cheeks. Seeing me awake, she stopped her movements, asking nervously: "Cynthia, look, do I look thinner like this?" That face in the mirror looked a bit comical due to heavy contouring. I held back my laughter, nodding. "Yeah, face looks smaller." She breathed a sigh of relief, digging out a brand new white dress from the closet. Style 70-80% similar to the one in my photo, just better fabric. I changed clothes ready to go out, she stopped me. Face with heavy makeup full of unconcealable pride and superiority. "Cynthia, going to work again?" She looked me up and down, tone carrying charitable pity. "Well, we are different. After I meet Sebastian today and officially become his girlfriend, we won't be in the same world anymore." She finished, laughing contemptuously. "You carry your trays well, I, am going to live a good life." "When I marry into a rich family later, I'll ask if Sebastian's family needs a girlfriend for any security guards or drivers." I didn't speak, just looked at her, smiled. Turned and closed the dorm door, shutting out her voice. I walked slowly to the cafe, changed into my uniform, and wiped the bar carefully. Then, picked the spot with the best view, started adjusting the coffee machine. Chapter 9 An hour later, the door chime rang. Scarlett pushed the door in. Under the soft light of the cafe, her heavy contouring actually looked much more natural. That face carefully modified by shadows did have some resemblance to the contours in my photo. She looked around with a confident smile. Finally, her gaze landed on me behind the bar. Smile froze instantly. She almost rushed to me. "Cynthia? Why are you here?" She lowered her voice, but the shock and anger couldn't be hidden. Hearing this, I looked up, face full of innocent confusion. "I work here, been a long time." "You did it on purpose!" Her eyes reddened, voice trembling, "Why didn't you tell me yesterday!" I put down the cup, tilted my head, expression even more blank. "You didn't ask me either." She was so angry her lips trembled, reaching out to pull my arm. "You leave right now! Hear me!" I dodged her hand, smile fading from my face. "Scarlett, I'm working." I pointed to the name tag on my chest, switching to a wronged voice. "It's not easy for me to find a job, don't affect me." Scarlett's face turned red then white, she probably feared Sebastian would appear anytime. Threat turned into pleading. She clasped her hands, posture extremely low. "Cynthia, I beg you, leave first okay? I'll pay your wages for today, double! No, I'll give you five hundred! Just go!" I looked at her anxious face, puzzled. "Why do you insist on me leaving?"
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