To prevent me from living poorly after starting college, my mom deposited a hundred grand onto my campus meal card all at once. But when she saw the fruits and snacks I brought back for everyone to share, my "low-income" roommate suddenly got offended. "You're so extravagant and wasteful. You don't look like someone who knows how to manage a household at all. My mom despises girls like you." I found her reaction completely baffling, so I just pulled up my meal card transaction history to show her. "These snacks weren't even that expensive. Besides, it's my money. I have the right to spend it however I want." I never expected the "low-income" girl to explode. She pointed at my seventy-three-dollar dinner receipt and shrieked, "Eating a meal this expensive just for yourself? Aren't you afraid of bad karma?!" "Every extra cent you spend now means my brother will have to work an extra shift after he marries you!" "My family can't afford to worship a golden calf like you!" She gave me full-body goosebumps. I immediately went to our RA and requested a dorm transfer. I never imagined she would hold such a deep grudge. Not long after, she brought her entire family to campus, forcefully kidnapped me, and dragged me back to their remote mountain village to be her brother's forced bride. There, under her brother's relentless, day-and-night domestic abuse, I was beaten to death in a filthy pigpen. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the exact day Chloe was berating me for spending money like water. 01 I stood frozen, holding the bags of fruit and snacks. The stench of the pigpen was gone, and my legs hadn't been shattered by Caleb's iron rod. Looking around the dorm room, filled with the cheerful chatter of my roommates, my eyes instantly welled up with tears. I had actually been reborn! I was back to the day I brought welcome gifts for my roommates. Remembering the nightmare I had lived through in my past life, a sharp sting hit my nose. The very next second, taking advantage of the fact that Chloe hadn't returned yet, I quickly shoved the fruit and snacks into my suitcase. I swore to myself I would never have the slightest connection with that crazy woman again. But just as I was getting up to find the RA to request a room change, I ran face-first into Chloe walking in. She looked at me with a dark expression, frowning impatiently. "What did you buy this time?" I gripped the hem of my shirt and quickly looked away. "N-nothing..." To my shock, she suddenly snatched my phone out of my hand and pressed my thumb against the sensor to unlock it. Staring at my transaction history, she shrieked, "This expensive?!" "What kind of cake costs over a hundred dollars?" "A cup of blended juice, and you spent twenty bucks on it?" She shot me a look of pure disbelief. "I'm telling you." "It's way too easy to take money from you spoiled little brats." "Do you really think the money my brother makes in the future grows on trees?" Her words brought back a flood of memories from my past life. In my previous life, after her family kidnapped me and dragged me to the mountains, I never spent a single cent of their money. Instead, her "hardworking" brother forced me to sell my body to support their family. I had tried telling him that I had money—lots and lots of money. If they would just let me go, I promised to set them up for life. But after extorting a massive ransom from my mother, they locked me in a pigpen covered in filth. Chloe's mother couldn't resist mocking me: "Money always runs out eventually. But as long as we keep the goose that lays the golden eggs, we'll never have to worry about a thing." "We're not stupid enough to kill the goose." They used the ransom money to renovate their old house, living a life of luxury that made the whole village jealous. But the one time I simply said I was hungry, Caleb beat my face until it was swollen beyond recognition. "Hungry, hungry, hungry! That's all you know how to do!" "Didn't you just eat an egg yesterday morning?" "You lazy, gluttonous piece of trash!" That night, he grabbed a heavy farming hoe and beat me to death in the cold, freezing rain. Thinking of this, I couldn't suppress the fury burning in my chest. I snatched my phone back. I glared at Chloe with absolute venom. "It's my money, and I'll spend it however I want! It's none of your damn business!" With that, I turned on my heel and marched straight toward the RA's office. Since I couldn't avoid them anyway, I wanted to see who exactly belonged in the deepest pits of hell this time around! 02 Just like in my past life, the RA didn't give me a hard time about wanting to switch rooms. She quickly approved my request and moved me to the dorm next door. However, when I went back to my old room to pack my things, Chloe was sobbing uncontrollably in front of the other girls. Soon, my former roommates were shooting me complicated looks. "Summer, I know as outsiders we shouldn't get involved," one of them started. "But you shouldn't degrade yourself by being a gold digger, right?" "Chloe told us you're already engaged to her brother." "The money on your meal card—her brother put that there for you, didn't he?" Listening to their baseless accusations, I froze. I couldn't believe Chloe had reached this level of shamelessness. How could she invent such a ridiculous lie? Before I could even defend myself, Chloe wiped her tears. "Please don't let me ruin the vibe in the dorm. Don't make things awkward because of me." "I just feel so bad for my brother." "He works so incredibly hard, all so he can provide a stable home for the future." The girls, overcome with sympathy, immediately shot me cold glares. "Having a gold digger as a roommate is seriously bad luck!" I couldn't help but marvel at how right I was to switch rooms. Otherwise, I had no idea how I would have survived four years with these gullible idiots. Pulling my suitcase out from under the bed, I didn't want to stay a second longer. But just as Chloe asked, "Sister-in-law, where are you going?" I spun around and snapped back, "I am not engaged to your brother." "I don't even know who your brother is." "And for the record! I'm spending the allowance money I've saved up over the years!" That shut them up instantly. They all looked at Chloe in disbelief. Under their scrutinizing stares, Chloe looked uncomfortable. Her eyes turned red, and she started making her bed. The vibe in my new dorm was great. As soon as they heard I was the new transfer, they all eagerly introduced themselves and invited me to join them for lunch. I noticed a huge spread of takeout on the main table. So, I offered up the fruit and snacks I had hidden in my suitcase to share. But just as we were eating and chatting excitedly, a cold voice suddenly sounded in my ear. "Sister-in-law, aren't you worried about getting fat eating all that?" "My brother doesn't like girls who are too heavy." I nearly jumped out of my chair. I spun around to see Chloe standing there like a ghost. 03 This time, I was so angry I laughed. I snapped back without holding back, "None of your damn business." My new roommates also started asking who Chloe was. But Chloe acted like she didn't hear them. She stepped forward, glanced at the takeout on the table, and pointed her fingers at me. "Sister-in-law, I came to apologize." "But I'm only doing this for your own good." "After all, the pig we're raising for the holidays at home is already eating enough..." Hearing her call me "sister-in-law" twice instantly sparked my roommates' curiosity. Before they could ask, I quickly cleared the air. "Chloe, I know your brother is getting older and can't find a girlfriend." "But you can't just grab a random person and call them your sister-in-law, can you?" "Also, I have a personal trainer at the gym to manage my fitness. I don't need you worrying about it." Chloe jerked her head up in shock. "What?" "You spend money to eat and drink, and then spend more money to lose weight?" "That's not how you use money. If it's that bad, just come back to the farm with me and do some manual labor. That'll slim you down." But the dorm president, Sarah, fired back, "It's her money. She can spend it however she wants. It's none of your concern." The other girls chimed in, "Exactly." "If you love worrying so much, go to Mount Rushmore, tell Washington to move over, and you take his place." "Summer already said she has nothing to do with your brother and told you to stop calling her that. How do you have the nerve to still stand here?" "You're not welcome in our room." "You're in the wrong place. The trash can is in the bathroom." She clearly hadn't expected her "good intentions" to be met with this kind of reaction. Chloe's eyes were wide with disbelief. Before anyone could physically kick her out, she shot me a venomous glare. "Sister-in-law, I didn't think you were this kind of person." "You're totally fine spending my brother's money, but you treat him like some kind of sugar daddy to string along?" "Since that's how it is, I have nothing to hold back." "I have proof that she's my sister-in-law." Saying that, she pulled out... 04 A photograph. Even though it was wrinkled from being hidden away and looked aged and yellowed, the woman standing next to her brother undeniably had my exact face. Looking at their bright smiles and the unfamiliar background, I felt completely surreal. I was absolutely certain that today was the first time I had ever met Chloe. Even if the photo was photoshopped and artificially aged, how would she even know who I was? It was so bizarre, I briefly wondered if my dad had an illegitimate daughter running around. I was too stunned to speak for a long time. Then, Chloe's icy voice broke the silence. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Seeing her smug, confident expression, I felt like I was choking. But even then, Sarah didn't just take her word for it. She turned to another roommate. "Mia, you're a graphic design major." "Take a look. Is this photoshopped?" Mia immediately grabbed the photo. She stared at it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Finally, she scratched her head awkwardly. "Hehe, I skip class way too much. I can't really tell." "But it's fine. I know a senior who does this professionally." "I'll snap a pic and send it to him." However, she quickly received a reply that shocked everyone. "The photo is real. No signs of Photoshop." At the same time, a triumphant smile spread across Chloe's face. "See?" "Still going to deny you're my sister-in-law?" "How do you explain the photo then?" I really didn't know how to explain it, because the person in the photo definitely wasn't me! Even in my past life, I had never seen this woman before. Seeing that I wasn't reacting, Chloe scanned my roommates, a sneer on her lips. "Now do you see what kind of person your new roommate is?" But the response she got was a freezing cold order from Sarah. "Get out." "Our room does not welcome you!" Chloe's face stiffened. She immediately turned and stormed out. "You don't know what's good for you!" "You've messed with the wrong person! You'll regret this!" 05 Over the next few days, my roommates tacitly agreed to never bring the incident up again. They continued to invite me to meals and gossip sessions as usual. Chloe didn't bother me again either. I thought the whole farce was over and I could finally start my college life. But one afternoon, when all my roommates were out on dates, I was walking alone to the dining hall. On the main path, I bumped into an old woman peering around shiftily. As soon as I saw her face, I immediately turned around to run. But Chloe's mother locked eyes on me and lunged, grabbing my wrist in a vice grip. She looked me up and down, her eyes finally settling on my hips, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. "Hmph. So skinny." "Who knows if you'll even be able to give me a grandson." I glared at her icily. "Let go of me. I don't know you." The old woman suddenly pinched my butt hard. "You uneducated little brat!" "Is that how you talk to your mother-in-law?" "You might not know me, but I know you! Your name is Summer, right?" "Just hearing that name, I know you're high-maintenance." "I think you should change your name to something more traditional, like Martha." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Earlier, I had thought they just mistook me for the woman in the photo. But the fact that she knew my name meant it wasn't a mistake. What the hell was going on? The tangled mess of thoughts made my brain short-circuit for a second. I immediately yanked my hand away, wishing I had eight legs so I could run away from this nightmare faster. But the old woman got straight to the point. "I heard from Chloe that you're a money-burning waste of space." "But I have no choice. My son is dead set on you." "So I'll give it to you straight." "If you want to marry my son, the dowry has to include a car." "My son has loved cars since he was a boy. It can't be anything under fifty grand." "I already looked at houses. It's a nice little suburban home in our county." "It needs at least six bedrooms so Chloe doesn't have to share a bed with her brother anymore." "I heard there's a discount. We can get it all cash for about seven hundred grand." Listening to her ramble in my ear, I instantly flashed back to the horrors of my past life. I immediately started screaming for the campus security guards. But Chloe stepped out, blocking the guard's path. She pulled out her phone and played a video. In the video, under the old oak tree at the entrance to their village, I was wearing a pure white wedding dress, kneeling on one knee before Caleb. I looked pathetic, begging Caleb to marry me. Finally, after I cried and pleaded relentlessly, Caleb accepted the proposal. And the ecstatic woman in the video looked and sounded exactly like me. Even when Caleb said those gross, cheesy romantic lines, he used my name. Just like when they kidnapped me in my past life, she used a few words to completely dispel the guard's suspicions. She smiled and walked over to the old woman. "Mom, what do you think?" "Is she to your liking?" The old woman shook her head, sucking her teeth. "Average." Just then, Caleb arrived, driving his beat-up van. Seeing that I was about to fall back into the hell of my past life, I quickly pulled out my phone to call 911. But Caleb sprinted over, snatched my phone, and smashed it on the ground under his boot. Chloe laughed, throwing a smug look my way. "Well? Still think your money makes you better than everyone else?" "Why don't you get on your knees and beg me right now?" "Maybe if I feel bad for you, I'll toss you some scraps." Despair swallowed me whole. It felt like I was constantly trapped in a dense fog. But just as they started dragging me toward the van... My eyes widened. Suddenly, it all made sense. I think I finally understood what was going on. The next second, I yelled at the mother and son. Hearing my words, the mother and son froze. Caleb gritted his teeth and slapped Chloe hard across the face. "Chloe! Is that how you talk to your classmates?" "Is this how Mom and I raised you?!" 06 Chloe was stunned by the slap. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. But Caleb wasn't satisfied. He grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face. Blood immediately sprayed from her nose. As she wailed and sobbed under the beating, the old woman turned to look at me. "Are you sure you have a way to make Chloe marry your brother?" Given the desperate situation, I had no choice but to use my brother, who was overseas, as a shield. I just hoped that when he found out, he'd feel sorry enough for his little sister not to accidentally kill me. Thinking of this, I nodded firmly. "You know my family is rich, but as a girl, I can't inherit the business." "My brother is different. Not only is he more capable than me, but he also built a publicly traded company from scratch." "He's definitely going to take over the family business in the future." The old woman's eyes gleamed greedily. She immediately glared at Caleb. "Beat her!" "Beat her hard!" "She almost cost our family a one-way ticket to the top, and she still claims to be some 'main character with a script'?" "I think she's a jinx!" The words "main character" made my expression freeze. Just a moment ago, I had wondered if Chloe had superpowers or was an alien. But reality was even more absurd than I imagined—she was a time-traveler with a "system"! No wonder she could casually pull out "evidence" to deceive everyone. I wanted to see how she planned to thrive in a family that sucked the marrow from their own bones! When I looked back, Caleb had already beaten Chloe half to death. The old woman pressed me again about my earlier promise. I nodded with absolute certainty. "Of course." "My parents spoil me the most." "If he wants to bring someone home, it just takes one word from me." "It's just that..." I looked at Chloe with a feigned expression of difficulty. "You know, wealthy families value capability over looks." "Chloe is just too pretty." "I'm afraid people might think she's just a trophy wife. If rumors start spreading, it could affect my family's stock price." Hearing this, Chloe, who had just regained consciousness, gasped in shock. "Bullshit!" "Mom! Caleb! Don't listen to her! She's lying!" "I'm the only one who knows the plot!" "You have to listen to me! Tie her up, and we'll have more money than we can spend!" "If she hadn't accidentally died in her past life! I wouldn't have..." At that moment, I finally realized that Chloe had been reborn just like me. But facing her impotent rage, I covered my mouth in feigned concern. "Chloe! Kidnapping is a felony!" "Are you trying to help them, or ruin them?" That comment made Caleb frown deeply. He walked toward Chloe again. "Still spewing nonsense at a time like this?" "I think Summer makes a lot of sense." "Instead of focusing on dressing up, you should be figuring out how to be worthy of a billionaire's wife!" With that, he grabbed a handful of mud from the ground and smeared it all over Chloe's face. "No more makeup for you from now on!" "Do you think my money grows on trees?!" Seeing her face covered in foul-smelling mud, Chloe completely broke down. After all, despite her poor background, she was incredibly vain. In my past life, all the money I made from selling my body went straight to buying her makeup. Seeing her hysterical breakdown, I finally let out a sigh of relief. It seemed my gamble had paid off. Everything that happened made me realize that she didn't actually like me. In fact, she despised me. The only reason she wanted to kidnap me was to wring every last drop of value out of me. Now, all of that was going to backfire spectacularly on her. It was time for me to personally send this entire family straight to hell.
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