It was a college reunion party, and my roommate challenged me to a game of “Of Course.” She looked me dead in the eye and said that in three months, my family would be bankrupt, everyone I loved would be dead, and I would contract an incurable disease and get kicked out of college. My face went pale, but fueled by the peer pressure, I gritted my teeth and replied with the required two words: “Of course.” I never thought that three months later, every single one of Blair's prophecies would come true. My dad’s company lost millions overnight, filed for bankruptcy, and was buried under mountains of debt. My mom couldn’t handle it and jumped from our penthouse window. My younger sister, who witnessed my mom’s death, slit her wrists in the bathroom that very night. To pay off my dad’s debts, I started working as a hostess at a high-end club and was drugged one night. A check-up revealed I had contracted multiple STDs. Just as I took the cash from a client to help my dad, I found out my dad had also hanged himself. I realized this was all connected to my roommate. I tried to confront her for the truth. Instead, she shoved me into oncoming traffic, telling bystanders I was just “too ashamed of being filthy” and committed suicide. I opened my eyes again and found myself back on the day of the college reunion. Blair looked at me and asked again: “Zoey, want to play a game with me?” I nodded: “Yes. Of course I want to play.” 1 Blair clapped her hands. “Then let’s play the game of ‘Of Course’!” I pretended I’d never played, and Blair explained the rules: “Whatever I say, no matter how crazy, you have to reply with those two words: ‘Of course.’” “Got it,” I nodded. Just as Blair was about to speak, I cut her off: “Wait! How about you play a round with me too? Three sentences each.” A flicker of hesitation crossed Blair’s face. I knew exactly what she was afraid of. In the previous life, playing this game with her was what led to my utter ruin, the death of my entire family. Seeing her nervously hedging, I mocked her just like the other students did last time. “No way, Blair. It’s just a game. Are you scared to play? Or do you know something special about this game?” As soon as the words left my mouth, a chorus of classmates, eager for drama, instantly chimed in. “Come on, Blair! We’re here to have fun! How can you be too chicken for a little game?” “Seriously, it’s just a few verbal jabs. Is your skin really that thin?” After a few snarky comments from the crowd, Blair instantly lifted her chin. “Why would I be scared? Let’s play!” The game started. Blair stared at me, her eyes like a viper’s, and her words were identical to the past life. “In less than three months, your dad’s company will go bust.” “Your whole family will die—your mom will jump, your sister will slit her wrists.” “And you’ll get infected with disgusting diseases, get expelled from school, and rot away until you die!” Blair spoke in one venomous rush, like she was possessed. Hearing these prophetic curses again, I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The students around us were appalled. “Blair, that’s seriously messed up!” “Yeah, anyone would think you have some deep-seated hatred for Zoey.” Blair ignored the side chatter and just focused on me: “Zoey, say it!” I was shaking with rage, but to keep Blair from sensing anything different, I forced the words out: “Of course.” Hearing my response, Blair smirked, her confidence returning. She even gave me a fake compliment. “Wow, Zoey, you’re brave. You actually agreed to such awful stuff. Aren’t you scared I have some kind of jinx, and everything I just said will come true?” Facing Blair’s provocation, I suppressed the turmoil inside. I sneered: “Are you done? It’s my turn to talk.” Blair looked surprised. Most people would have gone ballistic after hearing those curses, but I was holding it together. Just as I was about to speak, Blair interrupted me. “I haven’t used my three sentences yet! I can keep going.” My eyes narrowed. That hadn't happened last time. At that moment, my boyfriend, Ethan Reed, walked over and joined us. He naturally sat next to me, put his arm around my shoulder, and chuckled: “What’s going on? Why the serious faces?” Blair glanced at Ethan and instantly shot her final line: “Zoey, your boyfriend is going to cheat on you in seven days and hook up with your best friend.” Ethan’s eyes widened in shock. He instinctively started to protest, but I immediately cut him off: “Of course!” Ethan immediately got angry: “Zoey, what the hell? Don’t you trust me? All these years together, and you actually—!” I grabbed Ethan’s hand and patted it reassuringly. “Calm down, we’re playing a game. Whatever Blair says, I have to reply with ‘Of course.’” My boyfriend sighed in relief. “Oh, right. I thought she was just being malicious because she can’t stand us together.” The three of us exchanged fake smiles, and the atmosphere looked perfectly friendly. But deep down, I knew Blair absolutely couldn’t stand to see me happy. 2 The day I started college, I went viral on the school forums after someone posted a candid photo of me. Everyone called me the "Pure Goddess of Campus" and even anointed me the school's unofficial face. Media outlets came calling, and they quickly discovered I wasn't just pretty—I was rich. My dad was the most famous entrepreneur in the state. His company was huge, he was incredibly charitable, and he had a huge reputation in the community. The girls at school were all jealous of me. All except Blair. She was all smiles on the surface, but her heart always harbored a bitter resentment. She had desperately wanted to be crowned "Campus Queen." As soon as she joined the freshman group chat, she’d flooded it with dozens of heavily filtered photos of herself. She’d compliment others while waiting for boys to compliment her. If someone didn’t praise her, Blair would "accidentally" slip a revealing leg photo into the chat. She was supposed to be the brightest new star freshman, but I stole her spotlight. Blair hated me for it. This game was her setup—a trap designed just for me. “Okay, you’re done. It’s my turn now.” I was ready, rubbing my hands together. Blair's face was noticeably darker. Before she could object, I spoke: “Blair, if all the curses you just put on me come true, everything will rebound onto you!” Blair’s face instantly went white. She clamped her mouth shut, refusing to speak. That confirmed my suspicion. Everything I endured in the past life was definitely tied to her words! I deliberately raised my voice: “You just cursed my family to die and my business to go bankrupt. Now, I simply say one word—rebound—and you’re too afraid to play? Blair, are you really that weak?” “Come on, everyone! Is this fair? Blair’s playing dirty!” The surrounding students backed me up. “It’s just a game, Blair! What’s the big deal?” “You started the attack on Zoey. The game has to be two-sided.” Under the public pressure, Blair managed a tight, strained smile: “Of course.” I immediately followed up: “Blair, do you dare to repeat what I just said?” “Of course.” “Great. Repeat it now.” Blair hadn’t expected me to dig a trap for her. Her face changed dramatically, but she eventually repeated: “If all the curses I put on you come true, everything will rebound onto me.” Hearing her fully repeat it, I felt a slight relief. In the past life, I was completely baffled until I died and realized the existence of something like a jinx or a Word of Power might be real. So, I had to force Blair’s mouth to utter words that would work against her. I didn't know if this was the solution, but it was a shot. 3 As soon as I got home, I rushed into my dad’s study, holding a picture of a man. “Dad, you have to cancel all your deals with this ‘Mr. Thompson’ immediately, no matter the cost!” My dad looked at the photo, completely shocked. “Hey, honey, how did you even know I was working with Mr. Thompson? I don't think I told anyone about this.” “Dad, don’t worry about that! The most important thing is that you listen to me!” This Mr. Thompson was the source of my family’s tragedy in the past life. He had a shell company and tricked my dad into signing a massive contract. When the scam was discovered, he vanished, leaving my dad liable for hundreds of millions in penalties. Seeing my dad still hesitant, I immediately showed him the evidence I had collected. “Dad, I went through the State Registry and the Tax Office to get all this information. If you don’t trust me, you have to trust the government records!” My dad’s brows furrowed as he read it, his face turning serious. “It really is a scammer! Honey, I’m going to trust you on this one!” He immediately called his secretary. “Go and thoroughly investigate Mr. Thompson’s company. I think we’ve been played. Don’t sign any contracts for now.” Seeing my dad arrange everything lifted a massive weight off my chest. I hugged my dad tightly and said with deep sincerity: “Dad, you have to trust me. This concerns the fate of our whole family!” The next evening, my dad called to tell me that his investigation confirmed it—Mr. Thompson was indeed a fraud! He had already canceled all cooperation with him. I was ecstatic. I had finally reversed that critical event in this life! My mom saw my joy and smiled: “Why are you so happy? Is it because you’re expecting flowers?” I was confused: “What flowers, Mom?” She laughed: “I went to order flowers today, and I saw your little boyfriend, Ethan Reed, ordering a bouquet too. Valentine’s Day is only a week away. He’s probably planning a big surprise for you!” My mom was smiling, but my heart plunged into an icy pit. In the past life, I never received flowers from Ethan on Valentine’s Day. Blair’s curse echoed in my mind. “Your boyfriend is going to cheat on you in seven days and hook up with your best friend.” Still shaken, I immediately contacted my best friend, Sophia. Learning that Sophia was still abroad and wouldn’t be back for another month calmed my nerves slightly. The flowers couldn’t be for Sophia; she couldn’t even receive them yet. I spent the next six days on edge. Early on the seventh day, Ethan sent me a “Happy Valentine’s Day” text. He said the gift would arrive soon and told me to grab it. But when I took the package from the delivery guy, I broke out in a cold sweat. I called Ethan: “Why is it chocolate?” Ethan just chuckled: “It’s Valentine’s Day! You send chocolate! What, you don’t like it?” I stayed silent for a long time, then gathered my courage: “Ethan, did you order me flowers?” The line went dead silent. Ethan’s voice returned, falsely cheerful: “Zoey, you wanted flowers? I can order you a bouquet right now…” My ears started ringing. I couldn’t hear anything else. When I finally managed to open my social media, I saw Sophia had just posted a photo of the flowers she received for Valentine’s Day. Her caption read: “Saying the darkest feelings out loud in a crowded room.” My heart completely shattered. My phone slipped and crashed to the floor, but I couldn't even move to pick it up. Just then, Blair called me. Her voice was light and airy: “Happy Valentine’s Day, Zoey. Do you like this little gift I sent you?” I couldn’t help but ask, raging: “What dark magic did you use on me?!” The only answer I got was a dial tone. 4 I promptly broke up with Ethan. When he asked why, I shoved Sophia’s social media post in his face. After a long silence, he started apologizing, claiming he and Sophia had just started dating. And that Sophia had seduced him first. “Zoey, Zoey, please give me another chance!” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to his garbage and blocked him on everything. Losing a boyfriend wasn't the scary part. What truly terrified me was my family possibly repeating the fate of the previous life. I couldn’t help but call my dad again, triple-checking that he had definitively avoided that Mr. Thompson. Only then could I get a proper night’s sleep. Soon, winter break was over, and it was time to go back to school. The moment I stepped into the dorm, a couple of my roommates rushed over to console me. “Zoey, I heard you broke up. And your boyfriend cheated on you!” “He’s such a jerk! How could he hook up with your best friend?” I was stunned. I hadn't told anyone about the cheating. I quickly asked: “Who told you?” “Me.” Blair stepped forward, a smug look on her face. A roommate nearby was marveling: “Blair, you’re amazing! I remember you saying during the game that Zoey’s boyfriend would cheat in less than seven days! Do you have some kind of superpower? Can you see the future?” “Haha, don’t be silly, I don’t have superpowers. I just pay attention! I could tell Zoey’s boyfriend, Ethan, was unhappy with her a long time ago. She just couldn’t see it, so I used the game to warn her!” After Blair finished, the roommates actually clapped for her, praising her loudly. “Blair, you’re such a good friend!” “Yeah, smart and loyal! She can hint that her friend’s boyfriend is cheating without hurting her friend's feelings.” “Zoey, you really should thank Blair.” Amidst the chattering roommates, Blair stared at me with that snake-like, chilling gaze. She said lightly: “No need to thank me, Zoey. It’s the least I could do.” In that moment, I was consumed by fury! She refused to admit she had any special power, but I knew she was hiding a terrifying secret! I immediately called my dad's former secretary. “Please help me investigate my classmate, Blair. I want to know everything she’s been up to these past few years!” When I received the investigation report, I broke out in a cold sweat. Soon, it was the day my father was scheduled to go bankrupt in the previous life. Everything played out exactly the same. I was sitting in class when my phone rang—it was my dad. “Hello, Dad, what’s wrong?” My heart was pounding as I asked the question. My dad’s voice was choked with sobs: “Honey, it’s bad! I was scammed! I lost hundreds of millions! The company’s funding is gone. I… I’m going to end it all to protect you all!” “Dad, don’t!” I shot up, screaming: “How could you be scammed? You canceled the contract with that Mr. Thompson!” I immediately looked at Blair next to me, and she mouthed something to me. “The game has started.”
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