After a furious argument with Asher Voss, he slammed the door shut. Just then, bullet comments flickered before my eyes: 【The protagonist doesn't know, but the male lead was trembling all over when he slammed the door.】 【Oh no, protagonist, go after him! He's hiding in his car crying.】 【Waaah, the male lead's eyes are red, he's really about to break.】 Normally, I'd be swayed by the comments, humbling myself to appease Asher. But at this moment, I was simply exhausted, body and soul. Asher seemed to never learn how to actively love someone else. 1 I dragged my weary body home, my shoulders so sore I could barely lift them. In my hand, the late-night meal I’d picked up for Asher dug into my palm, turning it red through the plastic bag. But the moment I stepped inside, before I could utter a single word, a torrent of abuse rained down on me. "Olivia, how dare you show your face this late? Do you know I've been starving this whole time?" "Do you even care about me at all?" "All you ever do is busy yourself with those pathetic jobs!" Usually, I'd defend myself, but now I was too tired even to speak. I placed the food on the table, my voice soft. "Please eat something, okay, Asher?" Asher's face was cold as he opened the takeout box. The next second, he abruptly stood up, flipping the table with a loud BANG. Food and drinks splattered across the floor, turning the room into an instant mess. Our favorite matching ceramic mugs lay in shards. A few sharp pieces grazed my calf, leaving thin red marks. His anger spent, Asher's eyes were bloodshot. He spoke each word distinctly: "What kind of woman comes home almost midnight? Who knows if you've been fooling around with some guy? I just asked if you cared about me, and you didn't even deny it. You clearly don't love me!" I stared at Asher, dumbfounded, finding it utterly absurd. In the past, whenever he questioned me, I'd hold him, repeating my declarations of love over and over. But now, the bullet comments lit up again: 【Waaah, Asher's just a man who lacks security.】 【Protagonist, what are you standing there for? Tell him you love him!】 【The male lead doesn't have an omniscient view, how would he know you love him if you don't say it?】 2 A booming CRASH, the door slamming shut, echoed jarringly in the silent dead of night. I instinctively glanced at the time. It was past midnight. It should have been time for sleep, but instead, I had to crouch down and clean up the wreckage. Asher was always like this: erupting in anger, then simply walking away, leaving the mess for me. The ache in my lower back grew more pronounced. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. My heart fluttered: Could it be Asher, coming back? Would he apologize? Clutching this hope, I opened the door, only to be met by our neighbor, a burly man who exercised regularly. His imposing figure intimidated me slightly. He launched straight into a furious reprimand: "What's all that noise about, late at night? Are you brainless? You young people don't sleep, but others need to! Make one more sound, and I'll knock your teeth out!" I instinctively gripped the doorframe, my body trembling uncontrollably, forcing myself to bow my head and apologize repeatedly. I was alone in the house, and a feeling of utter helplessness instantly overwhelmed me. The neighbor grumpily pushed past me. "What are you crying about? Tell your man to come out and face me!" He peered into the house, and when he saw the mess, a strange flicker crossed his eyes. He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Do you want me to call the police? You shouldn't stay with a man with a violent temper." I offered a bitter, shaky smile, shaking my head. At that moment, the bullet comments buzzed again: 【This old man doesn't know anything, pfft.】 【He just flipped a table to let off some steam, what's that, domestic violence?】 【Asher's been starving, so what if he lost his temper a bit?】 3 The neighbor gave me a deep, lingering look before he left, finally shaking his head. I closed the door, and silence descended upon the house once more. A long time ago, I learned from the bullet comments that I was the protagonist of a sweet romance novel, and Asher was my destined male lead. We were meant to be together for eight years before marrying. Asher was described as proud, possessive, and arrogant, while I was gentle and obedient, destined to accompany him through his struggles and slowly melt his heart with my love. With my encouragement, he would rise, becoming a billionaire through sheer effort and luck, and I would become the envied wife of a magnate. In the novel's ending, I was supposedly the happiest woman. But my reality with Asher was far from smooth. We constantly argued over trivial things, and each time, I had to be the one to humble myself and seek reconciliation. If I didn't speak up, he would never make the first move. The chat always said Asher was a twisted, unloved person who needed me to take the initiative and apologize. But after countless times, I was utterly exhausted, and he only grew worse. Just like now, the bullet comments relentlessly urged me: 【The protagonist doesn't even know, the male lead was trembling all over when he slammed the door.】 【Oh no, protagonist, go after him! He's hiding in his car crying.】 【Waaah, the male lead's eyes are red, he's really about to break.】 I finished cleaning up and sat on the sofa, too drained to move. Seeing my inaction, the chat grew frantic: 【Still not going? This woman is so dramatic.】 【The male lead's crying, and she's still sulking.】 【Waaah, poor Asher, my heart aches for him.】 I looked at the bullet comments, and suddenly, a laugh escaped me. Was it really my fault? 4 These past few days. Mornings spent rushing for interviews. Lunch breaks delivering meals to my hospitalized mother. Afternoons busy writing news reports. For ten consecutive days, I'd been working overtime. Yet, despite all this, I rarely complained. Today, I worked until ten at night. The only light in the entire building seemed to emanate from my computer screen. I drove for half an hour to get home, utterly drained. Pushing open the door, I was met with Asher's sullen face. I forced myself to suppress my exhaustion, offering a small smile, and instinctively linked my arm through his. "What's wrong, Asher?" He abruptly pulled his arm away, his tone accusatory. "Why aren't you replying to my messages?" He scoffed. "No matter how busy you are, you can't go two hours without replying, can you?" That's when it hit me. I had left my phone charging since around eight, and hadn't unplugged it. Of course, I hadn't brought it with me. Luckily, I had turned off the main power before I left. My phone being plugged in wasn't a problem. I lowered my voice, attempting to explain. "I'm sorry, I left my phone charging and didn't see anything." My voice soft, I added, "Asher, what did you send? Was it urgent?" Asher's eyes suddenly sharpened, his voice cold. "Two hours without looking at your phone? Who are you trying to fool?" He narrowed his eyes. "You probably weren't even working overtime." I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "I have facial recognition clock-out at work. I can go to the office tomorrow and get you a screenshot." My voice was a hopeful plea. "How about that?" I tried to move closer to Asher, but he kept his face cold, deliberately shifting away. No matter what I said, he remained silent. He was always like this. Sulking by himself. At that moment, I saw the bullet comments. 【Ahhh, Asher's so tsundere, I just love a proud, difficult man.】 【He cares so much about his wife, he just wants her to prove how much she cares about him.】 【Oh my god, I love this kind of male lead so much!】 The standoff lasted for fifteen minutes. I was the one who finally gave in. I grabbed my car keys and left. The night seemed to deepen around me. 5 At past eleven, the office was so quiet I could only hear my own breathing. I unlocked my phone and opened the chat with Asher. "Been gaming 'til now, starving. Olivia, pick up a KFC family bucket for me tonight." The bullet comments exploded. 【Wow, he's so grown and still eating family buckets, the male lead really hasn't lost his childlike heart.】 【Help, this contrast is amazing.】 【Why is he inexplicably adorable?!】 In the darkness, the screen's light stung my eyes. So that was why Asher was angry. A family bucket. I returned to my car, slumping weakly into the seat. Exhaustion washed over me. He could have just told me directly. That way, he would have eaten sooner, and I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. But Asher was always like this. Making me guess. Making me coax him. Draining me. I often thought that in a relationship, even if I put in more effort, it didn't matter. But why was it always like this? Why would he never take the initiative? Would it kill him to say a few more words? My silence made the bullet comments impatient; they began to urge me. 【Go home already, Asher's waiting for you at the door.】 【He's been starving all this time, so heartbreaking.】 Starving? I instinctively touched my aching stomach. Who wasn't starving right now? Why did the chat only care about Asher? Was it just because he was the male lead? In the end, I still went to KFC. And on the way, I bought some BBQ too. But all of it was overturned by Asher before I could eat. His reason for exploding? "Why isn't there any Original Recipe chicken?" He glared. "Olivia, you did this on purpose, didn't you?" I struggled to keep my voice steady. "The staff said they were out today, so they substituted it with an equivalent amount of chicken wings." I pleaded. "Asher, please make do for now, okay? We can get it tomorrow." Asher didn't listen at all, just kept sulking. "If you'd gone at ten, would they have been out?" He snarled. "Couldn't you have gone to a few more KFCs? I don't believe every KFC in the city was out." He added, his voice laced with contempt, "You just don't care about me." He unleashed a barrage of accusations, shoving all the blame onto me. Then he slammed the door and left. The bullet comments tirelessly defended him. In that moment, my heart turned to ash. Thinking of all this, I shook my head in weary resignation. This time, I was truly tired. But I had no time for sadness. There was an interview waiting for me tomorrow morning. I had to finish the draft tonight. My original plan was to eat something quick after getting home, work for an hour, then rest. Now, after all the drama, it was nearly one AM, and my work wasn't done. I opened my laptop, my eyes almost closing from exhaustion. The screen's light stung them. I forced myself to fight off sleep and began to work. My phone suddenly lit up. 6 For a brief moment, I actually hoped it was an apology from Asher. Even then, if Asher just lowered his head, I would soften and comfort him. My hand trembling, I unlocked the screen. It was a message from Scarlett. She was Asher's childhood friend. "Sis-in-law, Asher and I are eating BBQ~ Please don't overthink it, sis-in-law." It came with a photo. Asher was smiling naturally, making a peace sign for the camera. I glanced at the BBQ in the trash can, feeling only a bitter irony. I replied: "Okay." The bullet comments exploded. 【Is the protagonist an idiot? Can't she tell the male lead is deliberately trying to make her jealous?】 【If you don't comfort him, plenty of others will!】 【What's the protagonist waiting for? Go apologize quickly!】 I flipped my phone face down on the table, throwing myself fully into my work. At two in the morning, I finally finished. After a quick shower, I lay down. Just as I did, the bullet comments appeared again. 【The tsundere male lead posted on social media!】 【Hahahaha, he's deliberately trying to provoke the protagonist.】 【Oh no, protagonist, hurry and comfort the male lead.】 I opened my social media to see Asher's post. Three photos. One was a selfie of him and Scarlett. One was a photo of the BBQ. One was a picture of them clinking glasses. In that moment, my throat felt terribly dry. My heart clenched, and I could barely breathe. I murmured to myself, "Asher, you've never posted anything about me on social media before." The bullet comments seemed to hear me, scrambling to explain Asher's actions. 【He doesn't post photos with her because he's afraid others will covet his wife.】 【Oh, the protagonist is so clueless. The male lead is dropping such obvious hints.】 【Dumb protagonist, just send a video call, and the male lead will come running back.】 I opened the chat with Asher. Three years of dating. My greetings always came first, and the last goodnight was always mine. Aside from asking me to run errands or do tasks, Asher almost never initiated contact with me. Years of love suddenly crumbled under the weight of it all. Why did the chat keep insisting Asher loved me, even tirelessly making excuses for him? My eyelids couldn't stay open. The second before I closed my eyes, the comments were still urging me to go find Asher. 7 That sleep was anything but peaceful. In my dream, I walked down the aisle in a wedding gown, arm in arm with Asher, stepping into marriage amidst a shower of flowers. In this dream, Asher had become a business tycoon, surrounded by an endless stream of other women. Yet, he only had eyes for me. Even so, I was constantly worried Asher might stray. Noticing my anxiety, he'd lovingly ruffle my hair. "My Willow, so worried about me? Why don't you just stay by my side always?" And so it went. To be with Asher every day, I quit my job and became his personal assistant at his company. The bullet comments scrolled by in unison. 【Wow, it's a happy ending!】 【So sweet!】 【Oh, they'll have office play every day now, so excited!】 The dream felt too real. I had become the type of woman who was constantly jealous, who would even give up her career just to cling to Asher. I woke up in a cold sweat. Was this truly the ending of a "sweet romance novel"? Was this a "happy ending"? I stared blankly at the ceiling until my eight AM alarm rang. I sat up, about to get out of bed, and saw a flurry of condemning bullet comments. 【Heartless woman! The male lead didn't sleep all night!】 【The male lead waited all night after messaging the protagonist.】 【He's really going to die of anger because of the protagonist.】 My eyes widened. Asher messaged me? What could it be? I opened the chat. My blood seemed to freeze. Two videos. In the first, Asher and Scarlett were arm in arm, singing a love song in a karaoke bar. Under the dim lights, they exchanged suggestive glances. In the second video, they were intimately close on a hotel bed, the background clearly a nearby hotel. My stomach churned. I thought Asher had finally developed a conscience. Turns out he had none at all. The bullet comments, seeing my reaction, started explaining. 【Protagonist, don't misunderstand! The male lead just filmed a video and then told his childhood friend to leave.】 【Don't worry, our male lead belongs only to the protagonist.】 【The male lead is a good man, he would definitely remain faithful.】 I clutched my phone, feeling only bitter irony. They could spin this as deep love. How much did the chat love the male lead? I couldn't take it anymore. I sent Asher a breakup text. After countless arguments, Asher always threw out "if it's not working, let's break up." This was the first time I had sent it. He was the chosen one in this novel, destined for success. But I wouldn't compromise myself again. At the same time, the bullet comments scrolled frantically: 【Drama queen! She's so ungrateful for such a good male lead.】 【It's just an argument, why bring up breaking up?】 【She'll regret it. How many people wish they had such a good man?】 Asher didn't reply. Of course. He was always too proud. Never bowing his head. But breaking up with Asher was far from as easy as I'd imagined. I had underestimated the "setting." 8 Mid-morning meeting, my phone kept ringing. I thought it was an emergency, so I stepped out of the conference room. A furious male voice roared from the other end. "Olivia Reed, you dared to break up with Asher? Do you know how heartbroken he is? You're a heartless bitch!" He scoffed. "I don't know what Asher ever saw in you. I order you to make up with him immediately!" It was Asher's brother's voice. I sneered. "Wasn't I good to Asher? He ate my food, lived in my house, I always encouraged him to get his act together, and I always appeased him after every argument. What about him?" The man's voice rose. "So what? He's just not good at expressing himself. As his girlfriend, it's your job to be more understanding!" "…" I hung up, irritated. Asher's brother was just like Asher. Quickly, I threw myself back into my work. But another call interrupted me. It was my mother. The moment I answered, she launched into a furious tirade. "You ungrateful girl, you dared to break up with Asher? You must have a death wish!" She screeched. "He's a top university graduate, and you, a mere community college student, dare to be picky?" She threatened. "Don't bother bringing me food today, I'd rather starve to death than eat anything you bring!" I hung up, fuming. But all day long, I was bombarded with messages from various people. My friend: "You should be thankful you found someone as handsome and capable as Asher." My father: "What right do you have to break up with Asher? If you insist on breaking up, I'll disown you." … My emotions completely shattered. Leaving my desk at eight, my phone rang again. I couldn't control myself anymore. I screamed into the phone, "Are you all done?! Asher's so great, why don't you go be with him?!" "Excuse me, miss." A deep, magnetic male voice interrupted me. "You seem to be in great need of assistance." He continued, his voice calm and professional. "This is the Voss Emotional Wellness Center. You're always welcome." Then, kindly, "Have a pleasant day." 9 In the past, I'd scoffed at such advertisements. But today, as if guided by an unseen force, I found myself at the door of the wellness center. Pushing the door open, I was greeted by a faint scent of jasmine. Instantly, the day's fatigue seemed to melt away. A man in a white coat sat there, looking refined and handsome. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and offered a gentle smile. "Hello, miss. Welcome to the Voss Wellness Center. How can I help you?" I hesitated for a moment, then spoke honestly. "Hello. I just… I want to talk about my ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him, but everyone around me is telling me to get back with him, and I'm really confused." The man raised an eyebrow. "What about your boyfriend made you unable to tolerate him?" I paused, then lowered my head and said, "I don't think he truly loves me. He never comforts me, and he never takes the initiative to apologize." The man suddenly chuckled. "That's not a flaw. Many twisted, unloved people are like that. The more they fear loss, the more they fear expressing themselves." Is that true? I froze. I'd seen these words in the bullet comments countless times. Just then, the man in the white coat handed me an iPad. "Madam, take a look at these case studies." He gestured to the screen. "Mrs. Evans, her husband smoked and drank heavily, and she was forced to inhale secondhand smoke. She died of lung cancer at a young age." Another example. "Ms. Davis, left disabled by domestic violence, now relies on a wheelchair." Another. "Mrs. Lee, her husband took her money and squandered it on other women." He paused, looking at me. "Your boyfriend…" he said slowly, "doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, has no bad habits. Are you going to break up with him just because he's not good with words?" 10 Leaving the counseling office, a stronger sense of unease welled within me. This session. It was just like everyone else around me. Urging me to reconcile with Asher. The bullet comments lit up. 【The protagonist doesn't know how good she has it. Where can you find such a good man?】 【What a great guy, if you don't want him, give him to me!】 【Protagonist, you're just being dramatic. You'll regret this later.】 But was Asher really a good man? Weren't his so-called virtues just what any normal person should possess? Back home, I slumped to the floor, powerless. The bullet comments were vicious. 【The protagonist is so ungrateful.】 【So annoying. The second female lead is much better suited for the male lead.】 【Such a small matter, and the protagonist refuses to humble herself.】 A buzzing filled my ears. It was all the blame from those around me. "Asher is such a good man, Willow, why don't you appreciate him?" "Good men are hard to find. You need to hold onto him." "Stop acting. Asher choosing you is a blessing from eight lifetimes." I hugged my knees, a bitter ache spreading in my chest. Why? Why was everyone on Asher's side? Why did everyone praise Asher? Why did everyone think I was punching above my weight? A heavy stone pressed on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I always felt like I was being pushed, little by little, into an abyss. Until the jarring ring of my phone broke through. It was Asher. "Olivia, come for hotpot." Not a question. An order. No apology, no explanation. My brain started warring with itself. Reason told me that a last-minute dinner invitation like this should be ignored. Emotion told me it was the first time he had ever actively invited me to dinner. The bullet comments: 【The male lead, I could cry.】 【The male lead bowed his head! He's so utterly in love with the protagonist.】 【Protagonist, go quickly!】 After much deliberation, I went. Even if we truly broke up, it should be done face to face. A dignified farewell, I told myself. 11 The moment I entered the hotpot restaurant, the rich aroma of beef tallow hit me. This was a trendy hotpot place that had just opened. For someone who loved spicy food, it was a treasure. Asher knew I loved spicy food. He must have done his research. The bullet comments: 【The male and female leads are making up, time for some sweet romance again!】 【Look, the protagonist's lips are curling up.】 【Sisters, it's on!】 I pushed open the door to the private room, and the first person I saw was Asher – and his childhood friend, Scarlett. She wore a white dress, a radiant smile on her face. Asher sat beside her, silent. It was Scarlett who stood up, enthusiastically pulling me to the seat on the right. She sat between me and Asher, completely unfazed. Scarlett took my hand. "Sis-in-law, Asher asked me to mediate." She beamed. "I can vouch for us—nothing happened last night, okay?" She leaned in close. "Asher, he only has eyes for you, sis-in-law." My face grew increasingly grim. I asked, without mercy, "If he only has eyes for me, why did he send you to explain?" Scarlett's face stiffened, but she quickly recovered her sweet smile. She picked up a glass of juice from the table and poured it into my cup. "Oh, you know how men are, not good with words…" I hated orange juice. Asher knew perfectly well I only drank cola. Scarlett's words were cut short by Asher's cold interruption. "Why are you explaining so much? People who understand me will understand." The bullet comments echoed Asher's sentiment. 【Oh, the male lead is afraid the protagonist won't believe him, so he deliberately brought a side character as a witness. Why is she still making a fuss?】 【She won't listen to explanations. The protagonist is so dramatic.】 【My words might be harsh, but this protagonist is impossible to deal with.】 12 The server came in with the hotpot base. I looked at the vibrant red tomato broth, and my mood grew even colder. Scarlett covered her mouth, giggling. "Oh, surely no girl can resist a tomato hotpot, right?" I completely ignored her, looking at Asher, my patience wearing thin. "Asher, you know I only like spicy broth. Why couldn't you order a split pot?" Scarlett tried to interject. "Oh, sis-in-law, I…" I cut her off directly. "I'm asking Asher." Asher frowned, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. "Scarlett can't handle spicy food. Besides, what's wrong with eating tomato hotpot? You don't consider anyone else. You're so selfish." "I'm selfish?" I abruptly stood up. "Asher, I'm allergic to tomatoes. Don't tell me you 'didn't know' again." My voice rose. "You considered Scarlett's inability to smell spice, but you 'forgot' about my tomato allergy? I truly overestimated you." The last sentence I screamed. Asher's face stiffened. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Olivia, don't speak so loudly. What if you disturb the people next door?" I actually laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. In that moment, I saw the man before me clearly. Selfish. Hypocritical. Twisted. "We're done, Asher." As I turned to leave, I heard Scarlett's feigned persuasion, and Asher's casual "Suit yourself." Walking out of the hotpot restaurant, the night wind blew, and I shivered involuntarily. The bullet comments popped up again, criticizing me. 【It's just a hotpot base, is it really worth it?】 【The male lead definitely knows about your tomato allergy, he's just trying to get your attention.】 【The protagonist really doesn't know what's good for her.】 But I didn't want to read a single word of it. It was absurd. The chat always made excuses for Asher. Asher gave me the silent treatment, and the chat said he wasn't good with words. Asher couldn't remember my preferences, and the chat said he was trying to make me jealous. Asher used Scarlett to anger me, and the chat said he brought her as a witness. These bullet comments were truly obsessed with the male lead. I pulled out my phone and blocked all of Asher's contacts. The bullet comments were still going. 【Protagonist, you're just being dramatic. You'll regret this later.】 【Just wait and see, the male lead will be a billionaire later, he could give you endless wealth.】 【He's practically giving you this good fortune, and you don't want it, you stupid woman.】 How ridiculous. Why did they think my happiness revolved around having a rich husband? I wanted to sever all ties with Asher. But things were far from as simple as I'd imagined. 13 The next day at work, rumors ran rampant. Everyone looked at me with disdain. It wasn't until I overheard a conversation in the break room that I realized the news of my breakup with Asher had spread throughout the company. In their eyes, I was the one who had brutally dumped Asher. "Olivia Reed really has a way with people. She pursued a high-flyer and then just dropped him." "Oh, Olivia finally broke up with Asher, does that mean I have a chance?" "That top student, so handsome. Why would Olivia break up with him?" I spun around, confronting the speakers. That's when I learned what had happened. Asher had posted on social media yesterday: "Never mind. I'll let her go. I really don't deserve her." A sad caption paired with a selfie, and countless fangirls flooded his comments with sympathy. One of my colleagues, who was Asher's former classmate, had championed him, spreading gossip about me everywhere. In her version of events, I became the heartless woman. At the same time, various contacts on my phone began sending me messages. My homeroom teacher: "Olivia, I'm very disappointed in you." A classmate: "Olivia, you have no taste. Asher is a stock with huge potential." My best friend: "Olivia, honestly, did you fall for someone else? No way, there can't be anyone better than Asher in the world." The bullet comments, seeing this, gloated. 【Those involved are blind, those standing by see clearly.】 【Everyone gets it except the protagonist.】 【The protagonist is truly deluded.】 14 None of this was anything. Until my boss called me into his office. He looked at me with displeasure. "Olivia Reed, you're fired." His voice was cold. "The company's morale cannot be affected by someone like you." I slammed my hand on the desk, demanding loudly, "What did I do wrong? I pull all-nighters writing news, I'm always the first to drive to accident scenes, I consistently secure exclusive stories for the station! Why are you firing me?!" My boss's face remained cold. He irritably slapped a file onto my face. "Someone like you, who can't even handle a basic relationship, what else can you handle?" I stood frozen, a cold sweat breaking out across my body. Why was everyone in the company also biased towards Asher? They didn't even know Asher. At that moment, the bullet comments were ecstatic. 【Oh no, the protagonist lost her job. Now she'll have to obediently return to the male lead.】
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