I transmigrated into the female lead of a tragic romance novel, and right now, I’m tied up alongside the "other woman," the second female lead. The kidnappers demanded $50 million per person. The male lead, Julian Chase, only had $50 million. He chose me. Just as I grinned, thrilled to survive, a floating text box—like a Twitch comment—appeared in front of my eyes. [This stupid female lead is actually smiling. Just wait until this psycho decides to torture you to death to make up for letting the second female lead die.] I instantly wiped the smile off my face and kicked the second female lead toward Julian. "With my A-list status, why is her ransom the same as mine? I demand $100 million! I’m not leaving for a penny less!" 01 "The $50 million has been wired to your account. Let her go." As he spoke, Julian's eyes looked at me with worry, but then shifted to Chloe, the girl beside me. The kidnapper’s face immediately dropped. "We said $50 million per person. There are two people here. Are you deaf, or do you just not know how to do math?" Julian’s eyes grew red, his voice strained. "That's all I have." The kidnapper let out a scoff. "Do you think this is a flea market? Are you trying to haggle with me?" "Since you only have enough for one, choose one." Hearing this, Chloe, standing next to me, lowered her tear-filled eyes. She knew she didn't stand a chance against me. Because I was Julian’s "first love," his unforgettable ex, while she was just the stand-in who had been by his side for the past three years. Sure enough, without a moment's hesitation, he said, "I choose Aria." I grinned, showing all my teeth, absolutely thrilled. However, two floating comments suddenly appeared in my line of sight. [This stupid female lead is actually smiling. Does she think they’re going to get back together when they go back? Just wait until this psycho decides to torture you to death to make up for letting the second female lead die.] [He only loves dead women. He’ll only start loving you again after you’re dead. You only lost your life, but he lost his love!] 02 Therefore, I immediately wiped the smile off my face and kicked the second female lead toward Julian. "With my A-list status, why is her ransom the same as mine? I demand $100 million! I’m not leaving for a penny less!" After shouting that, I glared indignantly at the kidnapper. "And why is the sack you put her in the same color as mine?" The kidnapper looked at me like I was a crazy person on the subway. "Lady, this isn't the Oscars or the Met Gala. We are kidnapping you!" Hearing that, I got even angrier. "Then why was her name mentioned before mine?" I wiggled like a maggot, struggling to inch my way toward the center of the room. "So what if it's a kidnapping? Even in a kidnapping, I demand to be center stage!" As soon as I said that, everyone in the room was stunned. Including the floating comments. [Hahahaha the female lead's mental state is so beautiful. Our girl Aria demands top billing!] [The ransom better be $50 million plus emotional damages, she can definitely get you ten times that amount.] Chloe, who had been sobbing beautifully in Julian's arms, was so shocked she stopped crying, staring at me with wide eyes. Julian spoke with difficulty: "Aria, this isn't the time to worry about your status. If you don't come with me right now, they're going to kill you!" "Kill me?!" I finally started to panic. 03 "Wait, won't there be a medical examiner taking pictures?" I frantically shook my head, trying to get my bangs to fall perfectly to make my face look smaller, while squeezing out two tears for good measure. "Then my crime scene photo has to be absolutely stunning! It needs to go viral!" In that moment, the air grew so quiet it felt like time had stopped. But only I knew that those two tears weren't forced. Inside, I was crying a river. Sob sob sob, they aren't actually going to kill me, are they? Julian tried bargaining with me again, and even the kidnapper tried to reason with me: "Miss, $50 million really isn't a small amount. That's A-list treatment right there. It's very respectful. You're a D-list actress asking for $100 million? That's extortion on a cosmic level. I've been in this business a long time, trust me." I held my head high like a proud rooster, refusing to budge a single cent. Feeling helpless, Julian finally left with Chloe. 04 I was tied up again and shoved back into the van. The guy in the passenger seat, a cigarette clamped between his teeth, frowned and looked back at me: "Bro, is the pressure in Hollywood really that bad? I feel like she's lost her mind. We've kidnapped a lot of people, but I've never seen anyone actively ask us to raise their own ransom! What do we do with her now?" The guy driving was silent for a long time. After a while, he flicked his cigarette ash out the window. "Sell her. Even though she's a nobody, with her looks, she can fetch a good price." I covered my mouth, trying to cry as quietly as possible. Damn it, my life is a joke. Getting kidnapped is bad enough, but now even the kidnapper is roasting me for being a D-list nobody! 05 The car drove for a long time before I was yanked out. With a loud thud, I was thrown onto the hard concrete floor. It hurt so much I couldn't help but hiss in pain. "Mr. Sterling, take a look. This one is top quality. She's even a celebrity, very famous." Heh. I had never seen anyone so shameless. Weren't you just calling me a D-list nobody? The man they called Mr. Sterling sat in the main chair, his long legs crossed. The light cascaded across his face, accentuating his sharp jawline. He was so incredibly handsome it was hard to look away. His gaze landed on my face, a flicker of dark emotion passing through his eyes. "What's the price?" "$40 million." Damn it, why did I get a discount? A hint of displeasure flashed in Mr. Sterling's eyes. I was just about to speak up when the kidnapper's vice-like hand clamped over my mouth. He leaned in close to my ear: "Don't you dare ruin this for me this time." Then he looked up and smiled apologetically: "A few million less is fine too." 06 The guy named Sterling walked over, crouched down in front of me, pinched my chin, looked me up and down, and let out a soft chuckle. Then he stood up, looking bored. The kidnapper started to panic: "$30 million! That's my final offer, Mr. Sterling!" Sterling finally glanced at him, a fake smile on his face: "Do you think I, Lucas Sterling, am a man who lacks $10 million?" "$40 million it is. Keep your mouth shut about what happened here today." "If a single word of this leaks out, you might just have to say goodbye to this beautiful world." The kidnapper nodded frantically like a bobblehead: "Understood, understood." 07 My heart was pounding like a drum. He voluntarily raised the price and told the kidnapper to keep it a secret that I was bought by him... This felt like he was planning to play me to death... Everyone left, leaving only the two of us in the room. He crouched down beside me playfully, his long, elegant fingers slowly tracing my eyebrows, my cheeks, my chin... I shivered all over: "You... if you really dare to do that kind of thing to me, I..." He leaned in closer, chuckling softly: "What will you do?" The floating comments appeared in front of my eyes again. [Female lead, hurry up and cling to him! Even though he seems like a ruthless main villain on the outside, he's actually a pure virgin underneath. Sleep with him, and he'll give you his life!] Staring at his cold, handsome face, my face flushed bright red: "I... I can't even imagine what a cheerful, bubbly little girl I'd become!" 08 As expected, his face turned bright red. He awkwardly pulled his hand back, moving slightly away from me: "Forget it, I'm not in the mood today." To stay alive, I steeled my resolve. He runs, I chase, he can't escape! I did a perfect kip-up and planted a kiss right on his lips. His lips were surprisingly soft, carrying a crisp, clean scent of cedarwood. His beautiful amber eyes widened slightly in shock. He frantically pushed me away, his ears as red as ripe cherries, covering his moist, bright red lips in disbelief: "Aria, are you out of your fucking mind?" The comments were going crazy too! [Hahahahaha the female lead is awesome! So awesome!] [Holy shit, Mr. Sterling, don't cover your mouth like that, it makes you look even more fragile!] 09 As if the floor was burning his feet, he paced back and forth anxiously. It seemed like he was mourning the loss of his first kiss. It was my first time forcibly kissing someone, and I was a bit embarrassed too: "Was that your first kiss? Don't worry, I'll take responsibility." Hearing that, he stomped over to me: "First kiss? Aria, did you fucking forget about the time you secretly kissed me?" Last time? There was a last time? I was stunned: "Mr. Sterling, isn't today the first time we've met?" He angrily pulled out my phone, unlocked it with Face ID, and started typing in his phone number. "First time we met? You're playing dumb, huh? Who was it at that party who shamelessly begged for my number? Begged me for a role in my new movie investment? And after I rejected you, you got drunk, kissed me, and..." "And... and what else?" Oh my god, did I commit a crime... 10 He gritted his teeth: "And stuffed two hundred dollars into my hand!" However, after he finished typing his phone number, he didn't immediately shove the phone in my face to yell at me. Instead, he stared at it for a long time. His attractive, sculpted lips pressed into a thin line. "Heh." That cold laugh seemed to be squeezed out from the back of his throat. I curiously leaned over to look. I saw the contact name I had saved for this ultimate villain: [Thinks He's So Great Because He Has a Few Bucks, Asshole!] Me: ... "Aria, I am not done with you!" He forcefully pinched my chin, his lips pressed tightly together, the anger in his eyes almost enough to ignite the air. "Not only do I have a few bucks, but I also have plenty of ways to torture people..." 11 I burst into terrified tears. Tears rolled down my cheeks drop by drop, falling onto his distinct knuckles. "You finally remembered my name, Lucas." Lucas frowned: ? "If I hadn't used these tactics, how would you have remembered me?" "So many women like you. I'm neither prettier nor smarter than them. I really didn't know how to get your attention, so I came up with this stupid method. Am I really dumb?" He released my chin. The hand that was just filled with anger was now trembling slightly. So I cried even harder. "I saw you from afar two years ago. Just one glance, and I could never forget you." "That day, you were wearing the exact same..." His eyes narrowed coldly, seemingly about to say something. Wait, I looked closer. Damn it, he was wearing the newest Louis Vuitton collection. 12 Aria's First Rule of Acting: Never give up the floor to your scene partner. You have to steal the scene! So I rushed ahead and kept talking. "The exact same... black suit. Lucas, you look so good in a suit. Your future bride will be so lucky." "Unlike me, I've never been lucky. I grew up poor and had a hard life. When I grew up, I finally got into the entertainment industry, thinking I could live a good life through hard work. But I've been constantly bullied. Now I'm kidnapped, and no one even cares." I looked down at my white dress with red, swollen eyes. The tears soaked into the fabric, leaving damp spots: "It's fitting that I'm wearing white. I'll just pretend today is my wedding day with you." His body stiffened. He awkwardly gripped the hem of his jacket, looking around helplessly. Like he was searching for a hole in the ground to crawl into. So I acted even harder. 13 I let out a long sigh, looking up at him pitifully with tear-filled eyes, forcing a bitter smile. Streams of tears poured from my red, swollen eyes. "Go ahead, kill me. Dying by your hands would make my life complete." Even the comments were going wild praising my acting skills. [What a pitiful and devoted woman! I declare this to be Aria's best performance since her debut!] Lucas, if you can bring yourself to kill a woman with such a tragic past who loves you this much! Then you're simply not human! The next second, he pulled a folding knife from his pocket, flipped it open, and crouched beside me. His voice was colder than the gleaming blade: "Don't move." Holy shit! You really aren't fucking human! Truly fitting for a villain. Killing me is one thing, but not even letting me move! 14 I squeezed my eyes shut, crying tears of genuine emotion. "Lucas, you're a fucking..." Snap—the ropes binding me were cut. After being tied up all day, my limbs ached terribly, and I slumped down unexpectedly. He reached out his long, strong arms and caught me. The tight lines of his muscles were faintly visible beneath his white shirt. The crisp scent of cedarwood lingered around my nose. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice deep. "I'm a fucking what?" "You're a fucking... incredible man, exactly the kind I'd fall for!" Those muscles! That build! That sexy voice! I can't even imagine how happy I'd be! 15 He coughed awkwardly, turning his head away, not daring to look me in the eyes. His ears were tinged a faint pink. "Um... I didn't know you had a crush on me all this time. When I bought you today, I originally planned to get back at you a little... Don't worry, I'll take care of those two kidnappers. And consider that $40 million a gift. Don't worry about it." While he was talking, I took the opportunity to feel his abs. Wow! Hard as a washboard. He caught my hand, his ears blushing furiously. "Focus on listening to what I have to say first." I snuggled closer into his embrace, looking up at him with a goofy smile. "You stay here for the night. I'll have someone take you back tomorrow." My smile froze on my face: "You're kicking me out?" He tried to explain: "No..." I wasn't listening. I raised my voice again, the tears coming on command: "You're kicking me out?" I finally managed to cling to a rich guy, and now he wants to kick me back to that psycho Julian to wait for death? Not a chance! 16 Seeing me cry, he panicked a bit and clumsily tried to wipe my tears. I stubbornly swatted his hand away, letting the tears roll down with my sobs. "I know I'm not good enough for you. Since I'm destined to leave, why wait until tomorrow? I'll leave right now!" I got up resolutely and limped toward the pitch-black night. "So what if it's the middle of the night? So what if I have no idea how to get home? So what if I might get kidnapped again? No one cares about me anyway!" To stall for time, I deliberately walked incredibly slow. A passing snail would probably curse me for being slow. But even as I zig-zagged my way to the door, he still showed no intention of stopping me. 17 Damn it! Cruel man! If you won't stop me, I'll... I'll find a way to stay myself! So the next second, I tripped over a non-existent threshold. I cried, sniffling and sobbing. "Waaaah, Lucas, I think my leg is broken, I can't walk." A small dog dashed out from the darkness, staring at me with big, watery eyes. Aria's Second Rule of Acting: Everything around you can be used as a prop! I immediately scooped up the dog, sobbing: "Are you all alone like me with no one who wants you? But even if you don't have money, you can still eat shit. I'll just starve to death..." The little dog wriggled out of my arms, jumped onto Lucas, and licked his face. My expression was priceless. I awkwardly, yet politely, reminded him: "Mr. Sterling, it might have just eaten... dinner..." 18 I couldn't bring myself to say the word "shit." Lucas's face grew serious: "This is my dog. He does not eat shit!" Oh, so he's a rich kid's dog! I quickly snapped back into character and continued crying: "So he's not an unwanted dog after all. I'm the only one who's all alone..." Lucas walked up to me, seemingly very helpless: "Alright, stop crying." He placed the puppy in my arms: "Now you're not alone." I cried even louder. Who isn't alone? You're not alone, you're the dog! Is the dog what I want? I want you! I want you, with your eight-pack abs! Forget it, I'll just go back and face my doom. Just as I finally accepted my fate and was about to get up and leave, my body suddenly floated into the air. His strong, firm arms wrapped around the back of my knees and my back, gently and steadily picking me up.
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