After chasing the cold, aloof campus idol for a month with no success, I tried a different approach and threw money at him instead. I didn't expect him to get even colder, to the point where his only responses were "Mm" and "Ah." Me: "Liam, I want to eat an apple. Peel it for me, but the stem can't fall off." Liam gave a simple "Mm" and silently picked up a paring knife. Ten minutes later, I picked up a gleaming, freshly peeled apple from the plate for the third time. With one light bite, the stem snapped off again. Liam violently stabbed the knife into the rolling apple, a rare look of impatience crossing his face. My heart skipped a beat. I was just about to tell him to stop when I suddenly saw strange lines of text appear in the air: [Ahhhhh! I'm witnessing an iconic scene! The devoted second male lead is furiously peeling apples!] [Chloe, do NOT tell him to stop! Let him peel! Let him peel for his life! Let him peel his feelings away! What he hates are the fragile apples and his own clumsy hands!] [Yes, yes, yes! And absolutely do NOT ignore him, or he will literally cry himself to sleep under the covers!] I froze, swallowing the words "Forget it, I don't want it anymore" right back down my throat. Right now, Liam was crouching on the floor, his shoulders trembling slightly. For the first time, I felt a flicker of doubt: Was this 6-foot tall, notoriously cold and silent campus idol not actually angry, but... feeling wronged? I instinctively walked over and patted his shoulder. Liam slowly turned his head, his face wearing its usual "stay a thousand miles away" icy expression. "Do you want me to keep peeling?" I don't know if I was influenced by the floating text, but I actually noticed the corners of his eyes were red, and a faint glimmer of tears shone in his eyes. A trace of guilt welled up inside me uncontrollably. I carefully chose my words for a compromise. "It's too late today. Can we peel more tomorrow?" Liam's expression froze, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the apple. I lowered my eyes and softened my voice. "Actually, I didn't even want to eat an apple that badly. I just wanted..." Before I could finish the words "you to keep me company," Liam stood up abruptly. He slammed the dusty apple onto the table with a loud smack and ground his teeth: "Chloe, do you think I'm incompetent? Are you disgusted by me?" Huh? The floating text also paused for a second. [Are my eyes playing tricks on me? In the original text, didn't Chloe just get mad and go back to her room? Why is she coaxing the second male lead?] [Serves old Liam right for not having a wife. His girl is showing weakness, and he's just pushing her away!] [Emm... Did you guys forget? The first time the second male lead used a coffee machine, Chloe mocked him, threatened to dock his pay, and was incredibly arrogant. It's actually pretty normal for him to react this way.] [I remember that too! When Liam made breakfast and did laundry for Chloe, she complained relentlessly about it.] Uh, I think that actually happened. Feeling incredibly guilty, I looked away. A month ago, an accident resulted in Liam and me forming an unhealthy "sugar baby/sugar mommy" relationship. Wanting some privacy for the two of us, I specifically rented a luxurious, 3,000-square-foot villa not far from campus. But Liam became even colder than when I was pursuing him. My highly experienced friend gave me some advice: "You can't spoil a man, babe. First, you have to let him know who's boss. "Trust me, you have to do the exact opposite of what a wild horse expects. Break him in enough, and he'll behave!" To "break" Liam in, I truly did go out of my way to maliciously make things difficult for him. The text was still scrolling: [Putting myself in his shoes, it really would be hard to feel any good intentions from her. I know I couldn't.] [Sigh, I really don't want my favorite ship to end in tragedy T~T] [Chloe, don't give up! Actually, if you just tell him you like him, he'd go through fire and water for you! He's just stubborn!] [Yes, yes, yes, I think so too.] Perhaps completely brainwashed by the floating text, I bit my lip, silently turned around, and pulled out a wet wipe. Then, mustering all my courage, I took Liam's hand. The moment we touched, a jolt of electricity shot straight to my brain. Liam's fingers trembled violently. But in the end, he didn't pull away, letting me wipe his hand. "I'm not disgusted by you, Liam. "I never was. On the contrary, I... I really like you." My ears were burning hot, but I couldn't resist taking a quick peek at Liam. His expression was frozen, but my reflection filled his pupils. The text went wild: [Chloe is doing great!] [Say more, say more! He absolutely loves hearing it!] Feeling incredibly encouraged, and egged on by the text. With a deafening heartbeat, I pushed forward. "Let's... let's get along from now on. I won't make things difficult for you anymore, okay? "But you have to be nicer to me too. Don't always wear that stone-cold face." After saying that, I quickly lowered my eyes. My heart was pounding like a trapped deer, waiting for Liam's response. One second. Two seconds. Time seemed to stretch infinitely. As I was growing confused, a soft chuckle suddenly hit my ears. Liam forcefully shook off my hand, took a step back, and mocked me coldly: "A slap in the face, followed by a piece of candy. "Chloe, are you trying to play me to death?" [Uh, what?!! Feeling bad for Chloe for a minute!] [All I can say is old Liam is single through his own sheer effort. What a waste of that peerless face.] [I'm just waiting for Mr. Regret to regret this. Some people don't even deserve a redemption arc.] Being repeatedly misunderstood completely evaporated the courage I had so painstakingly gathered. All that was left was grievance, humiliation, and rapidly erupting anger. "Yes! I am trying to play you to death!" I viciously threw the wet wipe at Liam, my expression and tone turning icy. "Other people who keep a campus idol as a sugar baby would have devoured them completely by now! What kind of idiot just occasionally teases you and then has to tiptoe around your bad moods like I do?!" Liam shook his head in self-mockery, wearing an "I knew it" expression. He raised his hand and unbuttoned his white dress shirt. Revealing smooth, defined chest muscles and tight, firm abs. "Isn't this what you want?" I bit my lip. This was a scene I had eagerly anticipated in my dreams. But in this moment, I only felt utterly humiliated. Liam took off his shirt and, leaving no room for refusal, picked me up and set me on the back of the sofa. He grabbed my hand and forcefully pressed it against his heart. Looking me dead in the eye, he was incredibly aggressive: "Take it. Why bother with all those high-sounding words?" I had long since lost the mood to pay attention to the floating text. I struggled wildly, kicking and scratching. "Let go, you bastard!" Soon, several red scratch marks appeared on Liam's chest. But the difference in physical strength between men and women is vast. From beginning to end, I was firmly trapped in his arms. He even managed to free one hand to pinch my chin. "Just because you're different from other rich girls, and only occasionally make things difficult for me, I'm supposed to be eternally grateful to you?" Tears were forced to my eyes, but I stubbornly refused to let them fall. "I am different from other people! I genuinely wanted a future with you! "But not anymore. You... you're just a bastard!" Liam let out a laugh, but it looked worse than crying. "See? When I act like a condescending bastard just once, you feel this terrible. "But when you use 'genuine feelings' as an excuse to trample me underfoot and act like a bastard in every possible way, you still expect me to be grateful. Based on what? "Chloe, I feel pain too." His words were like a sharp knife plunging into my heart, completely destroying the sense of superiority my money had given me. I suddenly felt like a clown—pathetic and ridiculous. The dam broke, and tears poured out uncontrollably. I violently shoved Liam away. In a fit of rage, I used all my strength to slap him across the face, shouting the question that had always lingered in my mind. "Then why did you accept my money in the first place?! Taking my money and giving me the cold shoulder every single day—how high and mighty does that make you?!" After saying that, I didn't dare look at his reaction. I fled, rushing into my room. [The sky is falling, my ship has completely sunk. The plot is back to square one. It seems our girl ultimately can't escape the tragic female lead storyline.] [They both have mouths! Why can't they just communicate clearly?!] [I feel like they did communicate clearly. They're just both too stubborn for their own good. Sigh, the romance is dead, blame shared equally, let's all go home.] [Wait, why is Liam gripping the paring knife with his left hand? He's bleeding so much, and Chloe just wiped that hand for him.] [Holy shit, he made Chloe cry, and now he knows he messed up! If he doesn't actually like her, I will livestream myself eating shit!] The text was scrolling furiously with discussion. But right now, I had buried myself in a soft pillow, sobbing uncontrollably. I completely missed the message about Liam's finger bleeding. I don't know how much time passed, but I felt utterly exhausted. Yet, every time I closed my eyes, Liam's mocking expression became even clearer. Unable to resist, I checked the floating text. [Sigh, it's 2 AM. Why is Mr. Regret still peeling apples?] [Just caught up on the thread. @IfOldLiamDoesn'tLikeChloeIWillEatShit, don't worry, bro, you won't have to eat shit. Old Liam loves Chloe to death. Later, when Chloe is imprisoned and killed by the male lead, it's Liam who remembers her kindness, avenges her, and dies in a fire.] [@BetterLateThanNever, sis, don't worry. I have self-awareness. Old Liam is like me—raised by a grandmother because our parents were awful. For people like us, who lack love, even a little bit of warmth will make us devote our entire lives to someone. Chloe accidentally helped Liam's critically ill grandmother. Liam is definitely eternally grateful to her. He's just too stubborn and can't get past the 'sugar baby' hurdle.] [Sigh, I feel like they're in a dead knot that's hard to untie. Chloe thinks Liam is naturally cold, so she acts tough and makes things difficult for him. Liam thinks the rich girl Chloe just wants to play with him, so even if he likes her, he'll always wear a cold face. It's an endless loop.] Reading the text, I fell silent. I inexplicably remembered the night before I "bought" Liam. My friend, seeing right through me, whispered in my ear: "He's a tough nut to crack. Even an experienced player like me couldn't get anywhere. "I heard his family situation isn't great. His grandmother is seriously ill and they need money badly. But he looks down on our kind of money." I froze, then slapped myself hard. Why had I never thought to learn more about his family situation? He was barely 20 years old, yet life had forced him to fight in underground boxing rings and work as a restaurant server. And in his moments of absolute despair, I had to repeatedly shatter his pride in the most frivolous ways imaginable. Thinking about the tragic ending for both of us mentioned in the text, my emotions were incredibly complicated. Barefoot, I quietly walked to the door of Liam's room. Right now, he was sitting in front of his computer. His left hand was wrapped in gauze, and he held a paring knife in his right. His long fingers moved deftly, quietly and intently peeling an apple. My heart suddenly began to ache. Due to insomnia, I woke up very late the next morning. Liam was sitting at the dining table, seemingly having waited for me for a long time. Breakfast was as extravagant as always. Next to the toast sat three crystal-clear, peeled apples, complete with their stems. There also seemed to be two large jars of freshly made apple jam. I opened my mouth, but the apology ultimately didn't come out. After eating in silence, Liam slid a document across the table. Along with the keys to the villa. "Ms. Vance, as of today, it's exactly been one month." His voice remained flat and emotionless. "After today, I will not be coming over anymore. Please understand." An awkward atmosphere spread through the silent space. My chest felt like something was suddenly blocking it, making it hard to breathe. I didn't have the courage to look at the contract he returned. Nor did I have the courage to ask him to forgive my absurdity and ignorance. I stood up and nodded calmly. "That's for the best." Liam clenched his fists. A moment later, he started clearing the dishes from the table. Watching his long fingers gently and skillfully handle everything. I felt incredibly sad. "Today is my birthday." "I know." [Waaah, what a tragic morning.] [@IfOldLiamDoesn'tLikeChloeIWillEatShit, come out and eat your shit. Absolute nonsense. You're probably the only one who thinks this heartless man likes Chloe.] I sighed softly in my heart. It seemed he was determined to leave. "My family is throwing a birthday party for me tonight. There will be a lot of people there. Come back with me just this once. After today, everything from the past month will be wiped clean." Liam paused, then said softly, "Okay." The birthday party was held at the Vance family estate. Before Liam and I even walked through the door, we heard people gossiping. My rival, Sarah, was sitting in the middle of a crowd, looking arrogant as she spoke passionately: "I really don't know what our Chloe is thinking. So many people like her, but she insists on chasing that campus idol." "Which campus idol?" "Liam from University A, obviously. The one who looks all cold and noble, like he's above mortal desires. But I heard a little rumor." Everyone's curiosity was piqued, but Sarah stopped talking. Once everyone gathered around, she smiled mysteriously and lowered her voice, though just enough so everyone could still hear: "I heard that campus idol Liam is a huge fake. He looks proper, but he actually loves money to death. A month ago, he was bought by a rich older woman in our circle for a huge sum! "And the craziest part is, that rich woman plays hard. On his very first day, Liam was covered in injuries and limping." A collective gasp echoed through the living room. Then, the discussion became even more intense. I sharply noticed that Liam's knuckles were white, and his face was turning a sickly shade of pale green. I was both sad and furious. The Liam I knew was a warrior who could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a boxing ring just to support his family. He was a saint who would rather go hungry himself to save a stray cat. He was a young man who, despite growing up in the mud, remained completely untainted, filial, and kind. Even though I acted foolishly, I had never physically harmed him. And the only way he would get injured was if he was hurt by an opponent in an underground boxing ring. I never thought that a whim while I was drunk would bring him so many vicious rumors. I strode over to Sarah and grabbed her by the hair. "How did you sneak in here? I don't recall inviting you." Sarah looked panicked for a second, then pointed at my sister, Mia, and screamed for help. "Let go of me! Mia invited me!" I looked at my twin sister, dressed in a Lolita dress, sporting twin ponytails, her face a little pale. She shrank back, looking incredibly innocent. "Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't know you didn't like Sarah." The floating text suddenly scrolled wildly. [Chloe, don't believe this wicked witch! She's the psycho male lead's accomplice!] [Same face, but why does it look bright and beautiful on Chloe, but so hypocritical on the evil supporting character?!] I froze for a moment, and Sarah broke free from my grip. "Why are you glaring at Mia?" She smirked triumphantly, looking down her nose at me. "You probably don't know this yet, but that campus god you've been chasing around school has already been bought by someone else." People around us started whispering. The looks they gave me instantly carried a subtle hint of strangeness. I raised my hand and slapped Sarah with all my might. I had gotten my nails done specifically before coming here, and five red marks quickly appeared on Sarah's face. I sneered, "Do you not have a brain? You just believe whatever people tell you?" I looked coldly around the room. "Listen up. Liam is my boyfriend. If I hear any of you gossiping behind our backs again, we don't need to be friends anymore." Sarah held her cheek, laughing out of pure anger: "Boyfriend? "Keep dreaming! Does Liam even know you're a couple? Today is your birthday, so where is this 'boyfriend' of yours?!" "You...!" I instinctively looked behind me, only to realize Liam hadn't followed me inside. In an instant, I felt my momentum deflate. Of course. I had brought him nothing but pain and humiliation. Why would he get involved in this? Seeing me hesitate, my rival became even more arrogant: "Chloe, there has to be a limit to how much you're willing to humiliate yourself! He's probably acting like a lapdog in some rich woman's bed right now!" I bit my lip hard, my chest heaving with anger. I immediately started looking for the butler, wanting him to throw her out. Just then, a large, slightly calloused hand suddenly engulfed mine, pulling me behind him. Liam's undeniable, icy voice rang out through the hall. "Miss, you might be mistaken. I was the one who pursued Chloe. "Today is Chloe's birthday, and I want her to have a wonderful day." His voice was slow and deliberate, but filled with overwhelming authority. "If anyone spreads rumors again, I wouldn't mind getting the police involved." Intimidated, Sarah stood rooted to the spot, not daring to say a word. The butler finally appeared with the security guards, and I instructed him to escort Sarah out. In front of everyone, I took Liam's hand and led him upstairs. As Sarah was forcibly dragged out, she had a hysterical realization, struggling wildly: "Chloe! Were you the one who bought Liam?!" The text mocked her relentlessly: [The young couple literally just announced their relationship publicly, and she's still talking about 'buying'. Respect, okay?!] [How pathetic. She's being dragged out with no escape, and she's still struggling!] [Inexplicably feel like Sarah is kind of cute. If she knew she actually guessed right, I wonder how she'd react. Hahahaha.] [Newbie here asking a weak question: Am I remembering it wrong? I don't think this scene was in the book. Wasn't the original plot that Chloe and Liam had a falling out, and she gets imprisoned after her birthday?] [But I prefer this version of Chloe! I want her to be with someone where the feelings are mutual. Being imprisoned is not a good look for women!] Holding Liam's hand, I had no time to read the text. Only I knew that from the moment he appeared, my heart rate had been skyrocketing. I had never wished for the staircase leading to my bedroom to be longer, just a little longer, as much as I did right now. But reality is reality. Soon, Liam and I arrived at the bedroom. As soon as the door locked. He proactively let go of my hand and took two steps back. After a moment of silence. "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." We spoke in unison. He politely waited for me to speak first. "Just now... that was just a tactical move. Once this blows over, I'll tell everyone we broke up. "You don't need to feel pressured." Liam looked at me quietly. The resistance and rejection from before had completely vanished. He really doesn't like me. I smiled bitterly in self-mockery. "I didn't think things through before. I never thought it would bring you so many nasty rumors." Liam shook his head. "Chloe, you don't need to apologize." He frowned, seemingly struggling internally. Two seconds later, he turned his head away. "You weren't the only one with selfish motives. A month ago, my grandmother, who I depend on for survival, was critically ill. I desperately needed that money to save her life. "And also, I really do... for you..." His tone was more candid and relieved than ever before, carrying a trace of gentleness. Hm? I pricked up my ears, waiting for the rest. But there was no more. Liam suddenly strode toward the TV. "Chloe! Come here, quick!" I approached curiously and leaned in. Liam pointed at an object the size of a thumb. "It's a micro-camera. Why is this in your bedroom?" He looked at me as he spoke. The next second, he pulled my frozen, trembling body into his arms. "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. I'm here." Buried in Liam's chest, my body shook slightly. I closed my eyes, my mind full of the text that appeared the moment Liam pointed at the camera: [Oh boy, the countdown to the thrilling imprisonment plot officially begins!] [Our cute little Chloe probably doesn't even know her adopted brother is the male lead yet. Because of his unrequited love, he's rushing over with his 'tools' right now!] [Poor baby. I really don't want to see a trash man abuse the female lead.] I understood every word written there, but strung together, it was unbelievable. My adopted brother, Arthur, was always gentle and refined, highly valued by our parents. It was hard to imagine him liking me, let alone wanting to imprison me. But remembering the look in his eyes when we were alone... Belatedly, goosebumps covered my entire body. "Liam, will you still protect me?" I grabbed the hem of Liam's shirt, my voice muffled. He would definitely say no, right?
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "391726", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel