My looks have always been more of a curse than a blessing. Drop-dead gorgeous, with a figure to match, I was the target of every vicious, slut-shaming rumor from middle school all the way through high school. So, when I got to college, I decided to build a fortress around myself. I drained my savings to buy designer clothes and luxury accessories, crafting the perfect illusion of an untouchable heiress. But then, I started seeing the Comments. 【Ugh, this side character is so fake! Can the main character please show up and expose her already?】 【Lmao, just wait. She’s only here to get her ass handed to her.】 【Am I the only one who feels bad for her? Here, have a lollipop. /donates one lollipop/】 I blinked, and a solid gold lollipop materialized in my pocket. Wait a second. I could get rich from these donations, couldn't I? If they wanted a main character, I’d just have to become the one they adored. 1 One week into Freshman Orientation, everyone was starting to find their footing. That's when I overheard two guys talking trash about me. "Seraphina Vance has an insane body. What would it take to get in her pants?" "Dream on. She looks all innocent, but I bet her price is steep." "You're missing the point. I heard she’s from some backwater town in the middle of nowhere. Place is full of broke people. God knows how she scraped her way into Aethelgard University." "Yeah, and that long hair of hers? It's a leash for some rich old man to hold onto." "She acts like she's loaded, but who knows where that money really comes from." I stepped out from around the corner, a sweet smile plastered on my face. "I recorded that whole conversation," I said, my voice dripping with honey. "Venmo me two hundred bucks each, right now. Or I can just take this to the Dean and sue you both for slander." I played back the recording. Their faces went pale. They couldn't even look me in the eye as they scanned my QR code and scurried away like rats. I glanced at my bank balance. Enough to keep the 'rich girl' act going for a few more days. That’s right. It was all an act. In my last life, it was just me and my grandma against the world. My looks made me a constant target. With no parents or relatives to defend me, I had to swallow every bit of harassment. One creep shoved a dollar bill down my shirt, asking if that "fortune" was enough to buy a night with me. Another offered me a piece of bread in exchange for a grope. Those are the memories that haunt my darkest nights. Getting into a top university in Sterling City didn't end the nightmare. In this city where every inch of ground costs a fortune, I was a fish out of water. I came from the rural heartland, a place so poor and forgotten that no one here could possibly understand the mountains I had to climb just to stand at the gates of Aethelgard. The locals were clique-y, and the class hierarchy on campus was brutal. The moderately wealthy guys saw me as a game, a trophy to be won. They took pictures of me, and when one ended up in the "Campus Queen" poll, they laughed themselves sick. A "hick from the sticks" like me, competing for the crown? They placed bets on how much it would cost to get me into bed. The harassment was relentless. It ended with me being kidnapped, dragged into the city's dark underbelly, and broken until I died. All I ever wanted was to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before my first day of college. And I knew the truth. My world was a novel, and I was the disposable side character, a mere stepping stone to highlight the heroine's grace and nobility. This second chance was a miracle. This time, I was flipping the script. After Grandma passed, I sold our little house and moved to Sterling City. Now, just one week in, my wallet was nearly empty. As I was staring at the last twenty dollars in my account, wondering how I'd survive the rest of the month, I heard those guys spreading their poison. In my last life, I would have confronted them, but without proof, I would have just been smeared with more lies. This time, armed with my carefully constructed heiress persona, I had the confidence to fight back. Maybe if you pretend long enough, you start to believe it yourself. I scanned the Comments as I walked back to my dorm. 【Damn, she’s gorgeous. It’ll make it so much more satisfying when she gets taken down a peg!】 【This poser, with her Chanel knock-offs from Poshmark, actually has people fooled.】 【Doesn't anyone else think she’s kind of tragic?】 【Tragic? Please! Later on, she bullies our girl, steals her Campus Queen title, and tries to seduce the male lead. She's a total villain!】 … Ever since I was reborn, I could see them. These floating lines of text were like spoilers for my own life, helping me dodge one disaster after another. Back in the dorm, my roommates were gushing over the new collections from Fashion Week. "Seraphina, see anything you like?" Courteney asked, scrolling through her tablet. I shook my head, affecting an air of casual critique. "The fall collections are a bit too loud for my taste. Especially that Autumn Hue set by Alin. The traditional elements are too much. Not really my style." I continued, "I did like the Parisian chic suit from ChoLI, but I can't stand wearing boots in this weather, so that's a pass. By the way, have you guys seen the new Hermès bag? It would look amazing on you, Jessica. That subtle pattern is totally your vibe. You should get one." I was washing my face, my voice nonchalant. Jessica's eyes lit up. "Wow! Seraphina, how did you know I was eyeing that one? I already had the boutique send it over. It's the first one in Sterling City!" "It was made for you," I smiled. That bag cost twenty-five thousand dollars. For me and Grandma, that kind of money could have lasted from elementary school through high school, with plenty to spare. For them, it was just a purse. The old me would have been crippled by insecurity. The new me just thought, twenty-five grand, no big deal. You have to project that kind of indifference to pull off the role. I'd practically memorized every luxury catalog in existence. 【Is she really pulling this off? Shouldn't she be totally out of her depth with these roommates?】 【The higher she builds herself up, the harder she'll fall when our girl exposes her. It’s gonna be epic.】 【Wait, shouldn't they hate her? These three are notorious for looking down on anyone not from the city. Why aren't they freezing her out?】 … I looked at my reflection. Last time, that's exactly what happened. They couldn't stand sharing a room with me, so they posted my picture online, turning me into a target for every pervert on campus. They were princesses who thought an iced Americano with the wrong milk was a hardship. I couldn't beat them head-on, so I chose to blend in. My diploma from Aethelgard was my ticket to a real life, and I wouldn't let anything get in my way. But first, I needed to make some money. Scrolling through TikTok, I saw a lot of "thirst trap" creators. They made a killing without even showing their faces. It was tempting, but not exactly something I could film in the dorm— "OMG, you guys! There's a new post on the campus forum! They're running a poll for 'Freshman Campus Queen'! Are you guys gonna enter?" Jessica shook her head. "Nah, this face has had too much work done. I'd just get roasted. I'm happy looking pretty for myself." Maddie sighed, patting her stomach. "Same here. I gained weight on my trip to the Maldives, and I got so tan." "Hey! I think Seraphina should do it!" Courteney threw an arm around my shoulder. "Go win it for our dorm, Seraphina! Bring home the crown!" "I'll pass. Not really interested," I said with a practiced smile. Last time, they entered a candid photo of me without my permission. Even with just a picture of my side profile, I placed second, completely overshadowing the story's real heroine. That's what put a target on my back. It made my already difficult life impossible. Jessica scoffed at the screen. "The first prize is only fifteen hundred dollars? That's pathetic. Who are they trying to impress?" Courteney squinted at the prize list. "But, the winner gets to host the Freshman Gala, which means extra academic credits! And an automatic spot in the Student Council." A spark ignited in my mind. The Student Council… got paid. "Extra credits make it easier to skip class, right?" I asked, looking at the three of them. "Totally." "Then count me in." I swept my long hair behind my shoulder. "I just launched a new company, and things are pretty hectic. I might need to take a lot of days off." When you're out in the world, you create your own identity. "Oh, then it's perfect for you!" Courteney said, her eyes wide with envy. "My dad won't even let me near our company's affairs. I wish I could start my own." I struck a pose by the window. "Alright, ladies, get your phones out. Your girl is about to bring a crown home to this dorm." Courteney eagerly snapped photos. A simple white dress, a cascade of dark hair, a flawless face, and a figure that was the perfect combination of delicate and curvaceous. My roommates looked on with pure admiration, not a trace of jealousy or contempt in sight. 【She actually did it? The facade is working?】 【Damn, can I do this too?! I just started college, is it too late to reinvent myself?】 【You'd need her guts, her resilience, and let's be real, her face.】 【Okay, but she really is stunning…】 【I think I’m in love. [Donates one Heart to Seraphina Vance]】 … I was surprised to see that the Comments could send gifts. As I stood there, stunned, I felt something solid appear in my hand. It was a perfect, heart-shaped piece of solid gold. By the time they finished taking pictures and showed them to me, they noticed the golden heart in my palm. "Whoa! That little heart is so pretty! Is that real gold?" Jessica stared. "Where did you get that custom-made? It's gorgeous." I had snapped back to reality. The commenters had no idea their virtual gifts were becoming real. A slow smile spread across my face. I'd thought of them as a noisy, disembodied Greek chorus, but now I saw them for what they were: my personal treasure chests. I knew how to play this game now. Play the rich girl for my roommates, and the poor, pitiful victim for the Comments. With that strategy, I could actually change my fate. "Let me see!" Maddie's eyes were glued to the heart. "Seraphina, can I please buy this from you? It's the most exquisite thing I've ever seen!" Pretending to be absorbed in the photos, I replied, "Oh, this? My mom sent it to me. I almost forgot I had it. If you like it that much, you can have it." All three of them stared at me, their jaws on the floor. It was solid gold! With the current price of gold, that little thing was worth at least fifteen grand, and I was just offering to give it away like it was nothing. "No way! I couldn't just take it," she said, shaking her head. "I'll pay you. Just ask your mom where she got it made, and I'll order one. I'm obsessed with this." This was exactly what I wanted. I knew they wouldn't accept a gift this expensive from someone they'd only known for a week. She instantly sent me $15,000. "Let's just call it that. I know you're not sweating the small stuff. Mwah!" She gave me a playful hug. I smiled indulgently. "Alright, alright." If I'd taken it to a pawn shop, I would've had to haggle and would have gotten less for it. This was instant cash! Fifteen. Thousand. Dollars. I hereby declare the commenters my true family! I'll never get annoyed at their insults again. My casual generosity completely won them over. After I officially entered the Campus Queen poll, we all decided to head out for the afternoon. Jessica had her license, so she drove us to the Sterling Galleria in her massive G-Wagon. With money in my account, my confidence soared. I shopped with them, buying a few new outfits and some high-end skincare. And I noticed something—as soon as I left campus, the Comments vanished. They had no idea I was out here blowing cash. "I have to head home," Jessica said apologetically. "My grandma's not feeling well." "And I need to make a withdrawal," Courteney added with a shrug. "A friend's birthday is coming up, and I have no idea what to get her. A fat stack of cash is always a good gift." Maddie looked at me. "I gotta go too. My brother just got back from Europe." "I guess you'll have to go back to campus by yourself, then." The looks of genuine regret in their eyes were something I had never seen in my previous life. "It's fine, I have to stop by my office anyway," I lied smoothly. "See you guys back at the dorm." "Okay!" After saying our goodbyes, I called a black car service to take me back to school. As we drove through the gates, I remembered my own arrival. I had rented a Rolls-Royce, complete with a driver and a "butler" to handle my registration. That's how I had cemented my persona from day one. 2 Vehicles weren't allowed past the main quad, so I got out near the athletic fields. Juggling shopping bags, I started the walk back to my dorm. The early autumn air was buzzing with energy. A soccer game was in full swing on one field, while the basketball courts were packed with guys showing off. As I passed by the courts, I heard a shout: "Watch out—!" I turned just in time to see a basketball hurtling toward my face. I had no time to react. Just as it was about to hit me, a figure leaped in front of me, slapping the ball away. The force sent us both tumbling to the ground. Before I could even process what happened, the Comments went absolutely ballistic. 【WTF?! No, no, no! This is the main couple's fated basketball meet-cute! What is the side character doing here?!】 【She’s supposed to be crying in her dorm room right now! Why is she on the basketball court!】 【Get away from him! Don't you dare steal our girl's man! The villain arc is starting! NOOOO!】 … I looked up into a pair of stunningly handsome eyes. The guy was blushing to the tips of his ears. I tried to scramble up, but I was tangled with him. My body was pressed against his chest. "Sorry—" He seemed… off. I knew exactly what was happening under the surface and quickly pushed myself off him, smoothing down my dress. My white dress was now smudged with dirt, a glaring stain on the fabric. He got to his feet. "Are you—are you okay?" His eyes were fixed on me. "I should be the one saying sorry. They were aiming for me." I glanced at my scraped knee. Then at him. His elbow and ankle were both bleeding. "I'm fine. But what about you? Can you walk?" "It… hurts a little," he said, his gaze flickering away. "Ethan! You okay, man?!" A group of guys from the court rushed over. "I'm fine… Actually, not fine." He limped dramatically, his face contorted in pain as he looked at me. "I think I need to go to the infirmary. You should come too. Your knee is bleeding." His friends exchanged knowing glances. One of them piped up, "Hey, uh, freshman? Could you help him get to the clinic?" Oh, for crying out loud. This guy was putting on a show. I'd seen him take harder falls on the court a dozen times without a scratch. "I have somewhere to be," I said flatly. The Comments were already accusing me of seducing their precious male lead. I wanted nothing to do with him. These people, my new benefactors, clearly had the wrong idea about me. I wasn't interested in this guy, no matter how handsome or rich he obviously was—judging by the watch on his wrist. All I wanted was to graduate in peace. Getting close to the main characters was a recipe for disaster. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face before he quickly masked it with a smile. "But you got hurt because of me. The least I can do is make sure you're taken care of…" "Yeah, freshman," another one of his friends chimed in, already grabbing my shopping bags. "We'll take these to your dorm. You just take Ethan to the clinic. You don't want that to scar." Seeing my bags being carried off, I sighed in defeat. "I'm in Block A, room 208. Thanks, I guess." "No problem! We got you!" They practically sprinted away. The guy beside me was hobbling so badly he nearly fell over several times. I wanted to help him, but the stream of hate in the Comments kept me frozen. I pretended not to notice. 【What is the male lead doing?! Isn't he supposed to be disgusted by physical contact with women?! Why is he totally fine with the side character?】 【OMG SERAPHINA YOU SLUT! LEAVE ETHAN REED ALONE!】 【ETHAN, NO! Your soulmate isn't her! She's a fake and doesn't deserve you!】 【Are there any sane people in this chat? Is she throwing herself at him? It looks like she's being forced into this. If you ask me, the male lead is the one with the problem. In real life, if you threw a ball that almost hit me, you’d be getting a fist to the face!】 … I knew this was my chance. In the infirmary, as the nurse cleaned my wound, I let my eyes well up with tears. My body trembled slightly, but I didn't make a sound. Ethan watched me, his face a mask of guilt. "I'm really sorry." I looked up at him and forced a smile. "It's okay, senior. It doesn't even hurt anymore." 【Aww, my poor baby. This was totally not her fault!】 【Is the male lead just falling for her looks? Seraphina is prettier than the heroine, but she's a total fraud! She's so dishonest!】 【Does she want to be a fraud? If she didn't pretend, everyone would bully and ignore her. The male lead wouldn't have even noticed she existed.】 【A fake is a fake. Why pretend to be rich? With a face like that, she should just sell herself! Trying to steal the heroine's man is just pathetic!】 【I can't take this. I'm starting to feel for her. Anyone who insults her again, I'm just going to keep donating! /donates one Bunny Kiss/】 … Bless the kind souls of the world. I felt a small, heavy object appear in my hand. A solid gold bunny. I discreetly slipped it into my purse. Gold. It felt like it was worth a fortune. As we left the infirmary, Ethan started, "Hey, so, I…" "It's fine. I'm going to head back now." I gave him a polite smile. "Bye, senior." I walked away quickly. He stood there, staring at his own hand, his expression darkening. "I actually didn't mind it… What the hell is wrong with me?" 3 I got back to the dorm before my roommates. My knee throbbed, so yoga was out. I lay in bed, scrolling through videos, and stumbled deeper into the world of "thirst trap" content. The women were bold, confident, and unapologetically sexy. It was like discovering a new continent. A daring idea began to form in my mind. Maybe this was a new path for me. I already had a TikTok account with about seven hundred followers. I'd posted a dozen videos trying to teach people math and English shortcuts, but they had barely any views. I started studying what the popular creators were doing, and by the time my roommates returned, I was lost in my research. "If it weren't for Orientation, I would never live on campus. It's so boring!" "College is way better than high school. At least we can get food delivered." "My high school was like a prison. I was so skinny back then." … They barged in, laden with bags of food, and immediately started sharing with me. "Seraphina, you have to try these mochi. My family's housekeeper stood in line for over an hour to get them." "These lotus paste buns are amazing too." "And I got you a bubble tea from Li's Handcrafted. Their tea doesn't give you insomnia!" I sat up, smiling. "Thanks, you guys." I never got this treatment in my past life. Back then, they were afraid I'd secretly lick their leftovers. The concept of class was etched into their bones; if you didn't have money, you were nothing more than a servant. "Whoa! Did your mom send you this bunny?!" Maddie spotted my new golden treasure. She had a thing for gold, and her eyes were practically sparkling. "God, I love gold so much!" "Oh my god, that is the cutest thing! The craftsmanship is incredible!" "That must have cost a fortune. Seraphina, your mom is the best." They looked at me with envy. I just smiled. "Yeah. I told her I gave the heart to a good friend, so she sent this over." Jessica added, "Wow, your mom is so cool. You should keep that somewhere safe. This campus is full of broke losers who steal things." My hands clenched, but my smile didn't waver. "I will." In my past life, whenever something of theirs went missing, I was the first person they accused. Even now, we could never be true friends. But I couldn't afford to make enemies of them. I just had to focus on my own life, on surviving… That was Grandma's greatest wish for me. My life has been a series of misfortunes. Abandoned by my parents, harassed by disgusting men, so poor I had to dig through trash cans for food. The moment I had a chance to escape that filth, I never looked back. I brought Grandma's ashes with me to Sterling City. Right now, she's in a storage unit at a funeral home because I can't afford to bury her. Grandma, this city is wonderful and terrible all at once. But the good news is, I'm still alive. "Seraphina, what happened to your leg?" Maddie asked, her attention shifting from the golden bunny to the bandage on my knee. "I was walking past the athletic fields earlier, and some guys playing basketball hit me with the ball." I conveniently left out the part about the hero who saved me. "What? Was it Ethan Reed and his friends?" "..." Was he that famous? "You don't know who Ethan Reed is?" Maddie was ready for the gossip. "He's the president of the Student Council! His family is loaded. Last semester, some guy pissed him off, and Ethan kicked him. He paid the guy a hundred thousand dollars in compensation." "I heard about that! After that, a bunch of people started trying to pick fights with him, hoping to get a payout." "Haha, too bad he rarely loses his temper. I heard he's amazing at basketball!" "Totally!" They launched into a discussion about cute guys on campus, but my mind was elsewhere. I was plotting my first thirst-trap video. If I had the body, I might as well use it to make a living. It's not like I had a choice. Besides, I wasn't selling myself to anyone. It was just videos. And it was a way to make money. A way to stay alive. 4 The next day of Orientation started with a morning run. My three roommates were still asleep. Their motto: "I bet the instructor won't take attendance!" And usually, they'd be right. The field was massive, filled with students from every department. The instructors just did a quick headcount. But today, of all days, was different. They were taking attendance. Members of the Student Council were going down the lines, checking off names. I messaged the group chat, but no one replied. Just as my turn was coming up, my phone buzzed. It was Maddie. [OMG GORGEOUS PLS SIGN ME IN! I WILL BE YOUR LOYAL SERVANT FOR LIFE!] [SAME HERE! PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU. I HEARD IF YOU'RE ABSENT YOU LOSE ACADEMIC CREDITS! IF I LOSE CREDITS MY DAD WILL CUT ME OFF!] [Add my name too, please please please!] … I thought to myself, instead of getting revenge on them, why not use them? Climbing the social ladder on the shoulders of these princesses was a much better strategy than burning bridges. But then I heard the student council member up ahead yell, "No signing in for others!" I typed back: Sorry guys, I tried. When I got to the front of the line, I realized the person taking names was Ethan Reed. He saw me, and the senior next to him gave me a sly grin. "Well, well, look who it is." Ethan shot his friend, Leo, a glare. He looked at me, his voice soft. "Is your knee feeling better?" A wave of "Ooohs" rippled through the students around us. The implication was huge. My expression hardened. I grabbed the pen to sign my name. Seeing my anger, Ethan panicked. "What are you all whispering about? She got hit by my basketball yesterday and fell!" "Anyone who thinks otherwise, I'll personally shove your head in a toilet!" he threatened, his voice laced with ice. I used the commotion to quickly scribble down four names. He stared at the paper. "..." I dropped the pen and walked away. He rubbed his nose, shot another death glare at the gawking crowd, and tossed the clipboard to Leo before jogging after me. "Seraphina! I didn't mean for that to happen…" he said, falling into step beside me as we ran. "Don't be mad. Let me buy you dinner, okay?" I ignored him, but the Comments were already in a frenzy. 【WTF! MALE LEAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! You wouldn't even let the main character sign in for her friends, but you let this fake get away with it?!】 【Why does she get special treatment! When is someone going to expose her?! I CAN'T STAND IT!】 【Wasn't he the one who chased after her? Why is everyone blaming her again? This simp-filled world is exhausting.】 【The real heroine is right behind him! She worked so hard to get into this school for him! Are you really going to betray her like this, Ethan?!】 【Ugh, that manipulative bitch! Someone needs to slap her! Get away from my man!】 【I said it before and I'll say it again. Anyone who insults my girl Seraphina gets a donation from me! /donates one Rose Bouquet/】 … I felt my pocket grow heavier. Inside was a delicate, solid gold rose bouquet. I loved this commenter so much. So, readers really could fall in love with fictional characters. "Seraphina…" Ethan was still trying to talk to me. I shot him a look. "It's fine. But let's just keep our distance from now on, senior. Thank you." With that, I picked up my pace, running into the morning sun. Ethan started to follow, but I broke into a full sprint. It wasn't until a group of girls intercepted him that I finally had a chance to catch my breath. My roommates had managed to sneak into the formation. "I signed you in," I told them, a mischievous grin on my face. "OMG, you're our savior! I can't believe the Student Council was taking attendance today. They're usually such hard-asses!" "How did you do it?" "It wasn't easy," I said, not wanting them to think it was a simple favor. "But I managed." "Oh, thank you, thank you, Seraphina!" After that, we were closer than ever. 5 At lunch in the dining hall, Courteney showed me the poll results on her phone. I was in second place. No surprise there. The heroine, of course, was number one. I glanced over at a table not far from ours, where four girls were sitting. The one in the middle was the heroine herself—Brianna Weston. She was the daughter of one of Sterling City's wealthiest families, a true blue-blood. She'd met Ethan at a gala, decided he was the one, and moved heaven and earth to get into his university. Originally, she was the one who was supposed to be hit by the basketball. That encounter would have deepened their connection, and from there, their romance would have blossomed. But that day, I had taken a private car and gotten back early, putting me in the right place at the wrong time. Brianna had been walking just a few steps behind me. All of this I learned from the Comments. Not that it mattered to me. What I didn't know was that as I was watching them, they were watching me. "That girl's dress… it looks a lot like the one I sold on Poshmark," Scarlett muttered, her eyes narrowed on me. "What? You're imagining things," Brianna said, snapping out of a daze. "I know who she is. Her family has some money, just not from around here. She made a big show of her arrival, buying the whole class bubble tea from Li's on the first day. Someone like that isn't buying second-hand clothes." "I'm serious. The one I sold had a tiny faded spot on the shoulder because my maid used the wrong detergent. I loved that dress, so I bought a new one and sold the old one." "The buyer also bought a matching bag…" Scarlett frowned. "I remember the username, what was it again?" She opened the app on her phone and her eyes went wide. She looked at Brianna in shock. "The recipient was just 'Ms. Vance'! It has to be her, Seraphina Vance! How many people have that last name?"
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