My boyfriend and I got into yet another fight over putting my name on the deed of our future home before the wedding. Not long after, he posted a photo of his new car on social media with the caption: "Some people are just too calculating, trying to split my assets before we even walk down the aisle. Sorry not sorry, I used the down payment for the house to buy this baby in full!" The comments section was filled with his bros hyping him up, calling him a "real man" for not spoiling a gold digger. Just as I was about to call him to ask what he meant, a barrage of comments suddenly floated before my eyes: [Sigh, the male lead is just led astray by his bad friends. Deep down, he really wants a home with the female lead.] [The female lead is annoying too. Her parents clearly have the means to buy them a house, so why insist on the male lead saving up for the down payment and putting her name on it?] [If the female lead just clarified that any future house her parents buy will also have his name on it, he wouldn't be angry.] I thought these floating comments were full of shit. I asked for my name on the deed because my parents didn't ask for a bride price and even gave a dowry of $30,000. The next second, I received a text from the bro who had been cheering him on the loudest. "Downtown penthouse, paid in full. I'll put it in your name before the marriage. Will you marry me?" 1 The text was from Lucas, my boyfriend Ryan's best friend. I stared at the words, almost burning a hole through my phone screen. The barrage of comments flashed frantically before my eyes. [Don't reply! This is a test from the male lead's best friend!] [If you reply, the male lead will truly give up. He's just stubborn right now!] I didn't reply because Ryan came back. He threw his car keys onto the entryway console. "I'm tired. I don't want to fight." He walked straight to the sofa, sinking into it without even glancing at me. I suppressed my anger and walked over. "Ryan, what do you mean by that post?" He snorted. "Can't read? It means I'm not buying the house. I bought a car instead." I held back my rage. "That money included the dowry my parents gave, plus the savings we scraped together. What right did you have to spend it all by yourself?" He finally looked up, his eyes full of mockery. "That $30,000 dowry was just to exchange for half the property rights to my house, right? Vicky, you really know how to calculate." "Let me tell you, this house would have been pre-marital property. It has nothing to do with you. I don't care about your family's little money." I was trembling with anger. My parents understood his family wasn't wealthy, so they didn't ask for a cent in bride price and even gave a $30,000 dowry. Their only request was to add my name to the deed for peace of mind and security. In his mouth, it became a calculated scheme by my entire family! The barrage popped up again. [The male lead has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He loves you so much, he wouldn't really care about this.] [He's just scared. He's afraid that after giving everything, you'll still leave him.] Looking at his cold face, I only found it laughable. "Fine, you bought the car. When do you plan to return my share of the money?" He looked at me as if I'd told the world's biggest joke. "You want money? We've lived together for years. Food, clothes, daily necessities—didn't I pay for them? If I kept a ledger, you'd owe me quite a bit." "I'll give you three days to move out of this apartment." "I need to calm down and re-evaluate our relationship." After speaking, he put on his headphones and closed his eyes, refusing to communicate. Looking at the man I had loved for five years, my heart grew colder inch by inch. Re-evaluate our relationship? It was just a tactic to force me into submission. He was certain I couldn't leave him, certain I would compromise everything for him. But this time, he was wrong. 2 I started packing my bags in silence. Ryan thought I was just throwing a tantrum and ignored me, driving his new car out to party with his friends every day. On the third day, his mother called. As soon as I picked up, she bombarded me with accusations. "Vicky, how can you be so immature? What's wrong with buying a car? A man needs a good car to have face outside. It's good for his career!" "You young people need to look at the big picture! Making a scene over a name on a deed... You've embarrassed our family!" I held the phone, silent. "Ryan told me. As long as you apologize and promise never to mention the house again, he'll let you move back." "A girl living alone outside is unsafe. Listen to me, go back and soften up." "Women ultimately have to rely on men." I spoke calmly, "Auntie, we've broken up." Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then a sharper scream erupted. "Break up? You dare! You've been with Ryan for five years. Your youth was spent on him. Who else would want you but him?" "I'm telling you, don't be ungrateful. Get back there and serve my son!" With that, she hung up. I looked at the disconnected phone and exhaled a long breath. So in their eyes, my five years of youth were just leverage to control me. That evening, Ryan brought a group of his bros back, including Lucas. Carrying alcohol, they swarmed into the living room noisily, like victorious generals. Ryan kicked my suitcase in the living room. It hit the wall with a dull thud. "Vicky, you really dare to pack?" He pointed at me drunkenly, his face full of undisguised mockery. His bros laughed along, whistles and dirty jokes mixing together. "Ryan, sister-in-law is trying to show you who's boss." "Women just need coaxing. Leave her alone for two days and she'll be obedient." I ignored them and bent down to pick up my suitcase. A hand pressed down on the suitcase. It was Lucas. He didn't look at me but said to Ryan, "Ryan, that's enough. Don't make a scene." Ryan shoved him away. "Get lost! You have no say here!" "Vicky, I'll give you one last chance. Put your things back, pour drinks for my bros and apologize, and this is over." The barrage scrolled like crazy. [Apologize quickly, female lead! The male lead is giving you an out!] [He's drunk, but he still loves you. Why else would he bring his bros to back you up!] I straightened up and looked at Ryan coldly. "First, we've broken up. Please call me by my full name." "Second, this is my property. You damaged it, you pay." "Third, I won't apologize. You are the one who needs to apologize." "Fourth, please get out of this apartment immediately. Before I move out, I still have half the right to use this place." My voice silenced the living room instantly. Everyone looked at me in disbelief. Ryan's face turned liver-red, alcohol-fueled anger burning in his eyes. He suddenly grabbed a wine bottle from the coffee table and smashed it on the floor by my feet. Glass shards and liquor splashed everywhere. "Vicky, you ungrateful bitch!" He roared. Lucas stepped forward, gripping Ryan's other wrist tightly. "Ryan, you're crazy!" "I'm crazy? I think she's crazy!" Ryan pointed at my nose and cursed. "For money, she'll do anything! Now she wants to kick me out? Who do you think you are!" I took out my phone, started recording, and dialed my dad. The call connected instantly. "Dad, is the moving company here? Let them come up. The code is xxxxxx." "It's a bit loud here. Yeah, saying goodbye to friends." I put it on speaker. My dad's steady voice came through clearly. "Okay, I'll tell them to hurry. Vicky, don't be afraid. Dad is waiting in the car downstairs." Lucas glanced at me, his eyes full of undisguised approval and heartache. Ryan's expression froze. His bros looked at each other, smiles vanishing completely. [How can the female lead do this! She's slapping the male lead's face!] [It's over, it's over. The male lead will never forgive her!] 3 The movers arrived quickly, well-trained and efficient. Ryan and his bros stood in the middle of the living room, watching my things being moved out one by one. The atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme. Ryan's face turned from red to white. He probably never thought I would really leave, and so decisively. One bro nudged his arm and whispered, "Ryan, maybe... we should go?" Ryan shoved him away violently, pointing at me and shouting, "Vicky, you think you're tough, huh? You dare to leave! If you walk out this door today, don't think about coming back to beg me!" Ignoring him, I directed the movers: "Please be careful with that vanity, it was a gift from my mom." [Oh my god, the female lead really doesn't want the male lead anymore. Her heart is so cruel.] [The male lead is so pitiful. He just wanted to scare the female lead, but it backfired.] [The female lead's dad is actually downstairs. She has nothing to fear!] The barrage chattered on, but I felt a peace I hadn't felt before. After everything was loaded onto the truck, I took out my phone and opened the chat with Ryan. I took screenshots of every transfer record of the money we saved together over the years. Then, I calculated a total sum, adding the $30,000 dowry money transfer record, and sent it all to him. "Ryan, the total is $37,860. I don't know how much you spent on the car. Transfer the remaining money to me within three days." "Otherwise, I'll see you in court." After sending, I blocked all his contact methods. Having done all this, I took one last look at the apartment I lived in for years. There was laughter here once, and my infinite longing for the future. But now, only messy and nauseating memories remained. I turned and walked towards the door. Lucas called me, "Vicky." I stopped but didn't turn back. He took a few steps forward and draped a jacket over me, covering my shoulders that were splashed with liquor earlier. The jacket smelled of clean soap. "It's cold outside." His voice was low. "You did the right thing." I didn't speak, opened the door, and walked out without a trace of reluctance. Downstairs, my dad was leaning against the car smoking. Seeing me come down, he immediately put out the cigarette. He didn't ask what happened, just opened the back door for me. "Let's go home." As the car started, I saw in the rearview mirror that Ryan had rushed downstairs, standing by the roadside, watching our car drive away blankly. [The male lead chased after her! He regrets it! Female lead, look back at him!] [As long as the female lead gets out of the car now, they can definitely reconcile!] I withdrew my gaze, leaned back in the seat, and closed my eyes. Back home, my mom had already prepared a table of my favorite dishes. My parents asked nothing, just kept putting food in my bowl, as if I had just returned from a long trip. After dinner, my dad called me to the study. He handed me a document bag. " This is the purchase contract for a flat in that new downtown complex. Paid in full, in your name." "The code is your birthday. You move in tomorrow." I was stunned. My dad patted my shoulder. "A daughter of the Wei family doesn't need to live by anyone's mood, let alone exchange self-respect for a name on a deed." "Mom and Dad will always be your foundation." Tears burst like a dam at that moment. The next day, I moved into my new home. A 2,000-square-foot flat, decorated in my favorite minimalist style, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bustling city night view. I dug out Lucas's text message. "Downtown penthouse, paid in full, only your name. Consider marrying me?" Looking at the thousands of lights outside the window, I replied with two words. "ID card, brought it?" My phone vibrated. Lucas replied instantly. "In the car. I've been downstairs at your place." I walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain. Beside the familiar black SUV downstairs, Lucas was leaning against the door, looking up in my direction. The streetlamp elongated his shadow. The barrage exploded instantly. [NO!!! Female lead, how can you do this! Are you worthy of the male lead?!] [It's a trap! Lucas must be in cahoots with Ryan! They're teaming up to scam your money!] [The female lead is blinded by greed. She'll regret it!] The barrage was noisy, but I ignored it. Put down the phone, changed clothes, and went downstairs. Seeing me, Lucas stood straight, nervousness in his eyes. "I thought you wouldn't reply." "Why did you think I wouldn't?" I asked. He was silent for a moment, took out a pack of cigarettes, pulled one out, then put it back. "Ryan said you loved him to death, willing to do anything for him, impossible to leave him." "So, that text was a test?" He nodded, then immediately shook his head. "Half and half." He looked at me with burning eyes. "I wanted to see if you really couldn't leave him as he said. And also wanted to see... if I had a chance." "What chance?" "A chance to pursue you." I laughed. "Lucas, we've known each other for five years. In these five years, you were Ryan's best friend. You saw everything he did, but you never said a word." "Now that everyone has turned against him, you think you have a chance?" "Why do you think I would jump from one fire pit to another?" My words were like knives, stabbing the heart. Lucas's face turned pale instantly. "I..." His Adam's apple rolled, unable to speak a complete sentence for a long time. [Well said! The female lead is finally awake! Roast him!] [Eh? Why did the barrage change direction?] [Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. We're using reverse psychology to let the female lead see the second male lead's true colors!] Looking at these flipping comments, I only found it absurd. "Lucas, put away those thoughts you shouldn't have." "I came down to see you today, not to hear your confession, but to discuss a deal." He was stunned. "Deal?" "Yes." I crossed my arms, looking at him. "Ryan owes me $37,860. I want you to help me get it back." "If successful, I'll give you 30%." The light in Lucas's eyes dimmed bit by bit. He smiled bitterly. "Vicky, is that the kind of person I am in your eyes?" "What else?" I countered. "You called him brother for five years, and now you stab him in the back for a woman. If not for money, is it for love?" "I..." "Don't say you love me." I interrupted him coldly. "Your love is too cheap." With that, I turned to leave. "Wait!" Lucas called out. He walked quickly to me, took a kraft paper bag from the car, and handed it to me. "What is this?" "Look first." Suspiciously, I opened the file bag and pulled out the contents. Page one: a vehicle lease agreement. Page two: a thick stack of betting slips. Page three: a loan agreement from an online lending platform. Borrower: Ryan. Emergency contact: My name and ID number. My hands started to shake. "He... didn't buy a car?" "No." Lucas's voice was heavy. "The car is rented, $80 a day. The house down payment, plus your $30,000, he used it all for sports betting and lost everything." "Not satisfied, he used your info to borrow money from several platforms, totaling over $50,000." "Vicky, he lied to you from beginning to end." I felt the world spin, almost unable to stand. The barrage before my eyes appeared chaotic as never before, like interference signals, the text distorting. [How can this be... How can the male lead gamble? The script wasn't written like this!] [It's over, it's all over. The male lead's character setting has collapsed!] [Quick! Female lead, think of a way to help the male lead pay back the money! He was just confused for a moment!] I held the car door, forcing myself to calm down. "How did you get these things?" "I have my ways." Lucas said. "I know Ryan better than you. He loves saving face, bragging, acting without thinking. A little flattery and he forgets his own name." "Those so-called brothers of his are just fair-weather friends. When he had money, everyone revolved around him. Now he has no money, they run faster than anyone." "These evidences were sold to me by one of those brothers." I clenched the file bag in my hand. "What do you want?" "I said, I want a chance to pursue you." Lucas looked into my eyes, enunciating every word. "Money, I don't want. I'll help you get the money back, just begging you to give me a chance." I looked at his sincere eyes and was silent for a long time. "Okay." 4 The next day, I asked Ryan to meet. At the coffee shop downstairs of my new home. He came, wearing branded clothes, a brand new watch on his wrist, hair sleek with oil, looking smug. Seeing me, his mouth curved into a determined smile. "What? Regret it? Came back to beg me after thinking it through?" He pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down, crossing his legs. "Let me tell you Vicky, it's too late. Now you beg me, and I set the conditions." The barrage became active again. [The male lead is playing hard to get! He still loves the female lead deep down!] [Female lead soften up quickly, give him an out, and everything will pass.] I ignored him and the barrage, simply pushing the kraft paper bag in front of him. "Take a look." The smile on Ryan's face froze. He looked at me suspiciously and opened the file bag. When he saw the vehicle lease agreement and betting slips inside, his face turned pale instantly. He looked up sharply, eyes full of shock and panic. "You... how do you have these things?" "Don't worry about how I have them." I looked at him calmly. "Ryan, let's talk." "Talk about what? What do you want?" His voice started to tremble. "Simple. Return my $37,860. Also," I took out the copy of the online loan agreement and put it on the table, "You solve this $50,000 loan yourself. It has nothing to do with me." "Impossible!" He stood up excitedly. "I have no money! Not a cent!" "That's your problem." I picked up my coffee and took a sip. "I'll give you three days. If the money isn't in my account in three days, these things will appear on your parents' and your company leader's desks." "You dare!" His eyes were about to crack. "See if I dare." I put down the coffee cup and stood up. "Oh, by the way, forgot to tell you. Using my info for online loans constitutes fraud. Guess how many years you'll spend inside if I call the police?" Ryan collapsed into the chair, face ashen. [The female lead has such a cruel heart! She's pushing the male lead to death!] [The male lead is already this miserable, why won't she let him go? Were the five years of feelings fake?] I stood up looking at him. "Ryan, you forced me." I turned and left, leaving him trembling in despair alone. In the next two days, I received countless calls from strange numbers. Threats from collection agencies, and wailing from Ryan's mom. "Vicky! You heartless woman! Are you trying to drive our family to death?" "What did Ryan do wrong for you to treat him like this! He's just a child!" "You have to pay back that $50,000 too! You dated him! You have to be responsible!" I ignored them all, blocking directly. On the afternoon of the third day, my phone received a bank transfer notification. $37,860, not a cent less. Immediately after, Lucas sent a message. "Done." I replied: "Thanks." "Free tonight? Want to treat you to a meal." He asked. I looked out the window, thought about it, and replied: "Okay." That evening, Lucas picked me up. He took me to a very quiet private restaurant. During the meal, he told me the aftermath of Ryan. Ryan sold his parents' house in their hometown to scrape together the money to pay me back. He was still trying to plug the hole of the online loans. Because of this, he lost his job, chased by collectors all day, looking haggard. Those brothers of his had scattered long ago. "His parents go to his rented apartment to make a scene every day now, calling him unfilial and a prodigal son." Lucas put some food in my bowl. "Did his mom call you?" I nodded. "Ignore her. That whole family is delusional." [See, the second male lead is better, gentle and considerate, not immature like the male lead.] [I'm starting to ship the female lead and the second male lead a bit.] [Don't talk nonsense up there, the male lead was just confused for a moment, he will change! The female lead should give him a chance!] The barrage's stance started to split, arguing in a mess. I asked Lucas: "Why help me?" Lucas put down his chopsticks and looked at me seriously. "Vicky, actually I knew you earlier than Ryan." 5 I was stunned. "Sophomore year, the school held a welcome gala. You spoke on stage as the student council representative." Lucas's voice was soft, like recalling a long-cherished memory. "That day you wore a white dress, standing under the spotlight, the whole person glowing." "I was in the audience then, a volunteer responsible for sound. From that day on, I remembered you." "Later, Ryan said he wanted to pursue you. Everyone in our dorm gave him ideas. I didn't speak because I knew I wasn't as eloquent as him, nor was my family as rich." He laughed self-deprecatingly. "I could only watch him catch you, watch you be together, watch him treat you well, and watch him treat you badly." "I thought countless times about telling you the truth, telling you he flirted with other girls behind your back, telling you he used your money to treat guests for face." "But I dared not. I was afraid if I said it, you wouldn't believe me, and would think I was sowing discord." "More afraid that if I said it, you would leave him, and we couldn't even be friends." I listened quietly, mixed feelings in my heart. Turns out, in a corner I didn't know, there was such a pair of eyes watching me for so many years. [Wow! So the secret crush came true! So romantic!] [I said the second male lead is the official match! Male lead whatever, get lost quickly!] [No! I still stand by the original couple! The male lead was just possessed for a moment!] "That day you moved out of his place, seeing your dad pick you up, I finally confirmed that you and he are not the same kind of people. You deserve better." Lucas looked at me. "Vicky, in the past five years, I missed out. In the future, I don't want to miss out again." "So, that text message, you really want to marry me?" He nodded solemnly. "Yes." "Even though I just ended a failed relationship and am full of distrust towards men and marriage?" "I am willing to wait." He said. "Wait until you believe in love again, wait until you are willing to accept me." That meal, we talked a lot. About funny things in college, about careers after graduation, about respective hobbies. I found that Lucas and I have many common points. We both like watching old movies, both like the same director, both like drinking hot cocoa on rainy days. Chatting with him was comfortable and relaxing. This was a feeling I never had with Ryan. After eating, he sent me home. Downstairs, I saw a familiar figure. Ryan. He was much thinner, unshaven, eyes full of bloodshot veins. Seeing me get out of Lucas's car, his eyes instantly turned red. He rushed over, grabbing my wrist. "Vicky! You're with him?!" "You bitch! I should have known you two had something going on!" Lucas got out immediately, shielded me behind him, and punched Ryan in the face. "Watch your mouth!" Ryan stumbled from the hit, blood at the corner of his mouth. Instead of being afraid, he laughed even more crazily. "What? Did I hit a nerve? Angry from shame?" He pointed at me, then at Lucas. "You adulterous couple! I was blind to like you!" [The male lead is crazy! How can he say that about the female lead!] [He hates because of love! He still can't let go of the female lead in his heart!] I stepped out from behind Lucas, looking at Ryan coldly. "We have broken up. Who I am with has nothing to do with you." "Nothing to do with me?" He laughed until tears came out. "Vicky, you ruined me so badly. Home gone, career gone, carrying a huge debt. Now you want to fly away with someone else? Let me tell you, no way!" He suddenly pulled a fruit knife from his pocket and held it to his neck. "If you dare go with him, I'll die in front of you right now!" Passersby screamed. Lucas's face changed, immediately blocking in front of me. "Ryan, don't be impulsive! Put the knife down!" [Omg! The male lead wants to commit suicide! Female lead persuade him quickly!] [This is all forced by the female lead! She has to take responsibility!] Looking at Ryan's face twisted by jealousy and unwillingness, I only felt nausea. Threatening with suicide? This is his last and most despicable mean. I took out my phone and dialed 911. "Hello, police? This is xx Community. Someone is provoking trouble with a knife and attempting suicide. Please come over." My voice was calm. Ryan froze. He probably didn't expect I would call the police directly. His hand started to shake, the knife tip scratching a shallow blood mark on his neck. "Vicky... you..." "Ryan, put away this act." I looked at him, saying word by word. "Your life is yours. If you want to die, don't dirty my place." "Also, don't harass me again. Otherwise, I'll call the police every time I see you."
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