In my fifth year of trying to win over the Male Lead, Carter Sterling forgot my birthday. Again. Instead, it was the "Villainess" who texted me right on time. "So what if it's your birthday? I wiggle my finger and he still comes running to me, doesn't he?" This time, I didn't throw a crying fit like the System recommended. Instead, I typed back: "Thank you. You're the only person who remembered my birthday today." A second later, she replied with a single: ? Then, my phone started buzzing non-stop. "Wait, did you text the wrong person?" "Are you serious? You're actually that pathetic?" "What do you even want for your birthday?" "Forget it, whatever, I'm coming over. You're allergic to mangoes, right? I'll order a strawberry cake." "Ugh, you are so annoying!" …… The moment the doorbell rang, I smiled faintly at the empty air. "You only told me to conquer the main character of this world," I whispered to the System. "You never explicitly said it had to be the Male Lead, did you?" …… The usually obnoxious System fell silent for a fleeting second. Then, it started stammering incoherently. "What... what do you mean?! The target is obviously the Male Lead! You and Carter Sterling are destined to have a beautiful happily-ever-after!" I couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. Ever since I was brought into the Sterling estate five years ago, the System had been feeding me empty promises. It told me the cold shoulders and the humiliations were just "tests of true love." It promised that Carter and I would eventually reach our grand finale. It's a shame that now, I didn't really want that ending anymore. I ignored the System's frantic buzzing and got up to open the door. Instead of the Villainess, I was met with Carter's deeply impatient face. He glared at me coldly. "Even if I forgot our plans, you didn't have to resort to cheap tricks. Using Stella to force me to come see you? Riley, I never knew you were this manipulative." I froze. Just so he would spend this one birthday with me, I had worked myself to the bone for three months. I spent countless sleepless nights in the lab to achieve a breakthrough for Sterling Corp's new neural microchip. Carter had been thrilled. He asked me what I wanted as a reward. I carefully, practically begging, asked him to save just one evening for me. He agreed without hesitation. I was ecstatic. I thought our relationship was finally taking a step forward. I never expected to be left waiting in an empty room, only to be met with a dismissive, "I forgot." The sharp clack of high heels echoed from the hallway behind him. Stella Vance, carrying a massive bakery box, walked up, slightly out of breath. She stood awkwardly between Carter and me, looking back and forth. "Wait. So you didn't bail on her to keep me company. You literally just forgot it was Riley's birthday?" Carter frowned, looking entirely unapologetic. "Why would I remember her birthday?" Stella turned to look at me, her expression a complicated mix of pity and disbelief. After a moment of suffocating silence, Carter looked down at me like a king offering scraps to a beggar. "Considering you've been somewhat useful to Sterling Corp lately... tell me what you want. I'll grant you one wish." I looked up and met his eyes. "Anything?" Carter paused, instinctively rubbing the bridge of his nose as he looked away. "Of course." The System shrieked in my head. “Ahhhhh! He’s blushing! Did you see that?! Hurry, tell him you don't want anything but him! Tell him to take you to the amusement park! Fireworks! His affection meter is going to skyrocket! Ahhhh!” I just stared at him quietly for two seconds. I took a deep breath. "Then give me some cash." Carter's arrogant smile completely froze. "What?" I looked at him, my eyes dead. "Give me some cash. My rent is due." His face instantly turned as black as thunder. He gritted his teeth. "So your true colors finally show. And here you were playing the saint who didn't care about money." He cracked his knuckles, letting out a dark, mocking laugh. "It's too late, Riley. Didn't you want to be Mrs. Sterling? Well, you're going to spend the rest of your life slaving away for Sterling Corp." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off. He left Stella standing there, looking incredibly conflicted as she handed me the cake box. "Um... Happy birthday." I forced the best smile I could muster. "I know you originally just came here to watch me make a fool of myself, but... thank you." I closed the door, and the System started wailing again. “Oh my god, what are you doing?! He forgot your birthday, he was actually feeling guilty! Why didn't you leverage that instead of asking for money?!” I looked down at the aggressive eviction warning texts from my landlord. "What else was I supposed to do? I still have to survive, don't I?" Because Carter despised me, my official title at Sterling Corp was Chief Engineer, but the salary he paid me was less than what the janitors made. The System paused. “But that's just the Male Lead testing you! He loves you, he just doesn't realize it yet! Once you get married, won't everything he owns belong to you anyway?” The doorbell rang again. A delivery driver peeked his head in, holding a small cake box. "Ordered by Mr. Sterling." The System sounded smug. “See! I told you he cares! He even ordered you a cake. You pushed him away! Hurry up and call him, apologize and coax him back!” I stared at the cake. It was completely covered in fresh mangoes. I stood in total silence. Suddenly, I looked up at the ceiling. "Do you remember my first day here, five years ago?" I invited Stella to the cafe downstairs from the Sterling building. The System was running in frantic circles inside my head. “Host, have you really thought this through?! You're really going to defect to Vance Enterprises?! Stella is only taking you in to keep you away from the Male Lead! Once your relationship with him improves, she'll destroy you!” I slipped on my coat, replying carelessly in my mind. "But at least she'll pay me a fair wage. I won't starve to death on the streets. Plus, Stella beat out all her siblings to secure the Vance family inheritance. She's not some brainless, spoiled heiress. Besides..." I didn't finish the sentence. Five years ago, I arrived in Silicon Valley all alone, looking for my estranged father's family. The security guards at the Sterling estate had sneered at me and ruthlessly shoved me into the rain. Carter had descended like a god, reprimanded the guards, and brought a terrified, shivering me inside. Because of that, for five years, no matter how coldly he treated me, I clung to that initial ray of light. But I never forgot that on that rainy day five years ago, the person standing next to Carter, the one who actually held the umbrella over my head and draped a warm coat over my shoulders... was Stella. If it weren't for the absurd roles the System forced us into, the three of us wouldn't be in this miserable dynamic. Sitting across from me, Stella slowly stirred her latte. "You're really coming to Vance Enterprises? Why? I thought Sterling Corp was your entire life. You basically nailed yourself to the floor of their R&D lab for years. You came whenever Carter called, more obedient than a stray dog." I looked down and took a sip of my coffee. "Because I don't want to be a dog anymore." Stella froze. After a long moment, her expression complex, she slid a sleek employment contract across the table. "Riley, I genuinely hate you sometimes, but... I also kind of admire you." "I like to keep business and personal matters separate. As a fellow woman, I won't make things difficult for you at work. But emotionally, we are still rivals." She stood up and extended her hand. "Welcome to Vance Enterprises." I looked up, gave her a soft smile, and shook her hand. Before I appeared, Stella and Carter were undeniably the main characters of this world. They were childhood sweethearts, coming from equally powerful tech dynasties. Until five years ago. The old Mr. Sterling was attacked by corporate rivals. His driver took the fatal bullet for him. On his deathbed, the driver begged the Sterling family to look after his only daughter. Me. And so, the old CEO announced in front of high society that Carter would marry me and take care of me for the rest of my life. Carter's face had turned ashen. The man who had gently comforted me the night before now looked at me with nothing but pure, unadulterated disgust. When I returned to the Sterling offices, my assistant Emma started winking at me frantically. I was confused. I pushed open my office door, only to find Carter sitting in my chair, his face like ice. "Abandoning your post during work hours. Is this your professional attitude, Riley? Your salary for this month is forfeit." I pressed my lips together and didn't say a word. He continued his mocking sneer. "Oh, I forgot. Without a salary, you can't pay your rent. What, are you planning to shamelessly crawl back to the Sterling estate and beg for a room?" The System suddenly shrieked. “When has he EVER visited the R&D department?! He's giving you an opening! He brought up your rent because he wants you to move back in with him! It's just a stubborn CEO's excuse to see you!” But all I felt was a crushing wave of exhaustion. It had been five years. I didn't want to live like this anymore. "Forget it." Both the System and Carter froze. "Forget it. Since I violated company policy, I resign." Carter violently shot up from the chair, his jaw clenched tight. "Do you think playing hard to get is going to make my heart soften? Who do you think you are? You want to quit? If you walk out that door, don't you ever dream of coming back." He swept everything off my desk with a violent crash, slammed the door, and stormed out. I silently crouched down to pick up the scattered blueprints. My phone vibrated with a text from Stella. [Monday onboarding, no issues right? I bought you a few outfits and had them sent to your apartment. Dress decently for work. Don't embarrass me!] Looking at that message, I suddenly lowered my head and laughed. On Monday morning, I stood in front of the towering Vance Enterprises headquarters. The System was still blabbering. “Host, are you sure about this?! This is Stella's territory! According to the original plot, she's going to...” As I walked through the revolving doors, I asked casually, "Going to what?" “She's going to... prepare a full set of luxury office supplies for you on your first day, set up a corner office, and have her assistant buy you breakfast... Wait. Looking at it this way, she doesn't seem very evil, does she...?” I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I knew five years ago that Stella was never some tyrannical, cartoonish villain. If the System hadn't arbitrarily forced us into these opposing roles, maybe none of this would have happened. The elevator doors chimed open. Before I could even step out, Stella was already waiting in the lobby. She looked me up and down, her brows furrowing. "Didn't I buy you clothes? Why are you still wearing that cheap white button-down?" I looked down at myself. "The clothes you sent were too expensive, I..." She cut me off. "If I tell you to wear it, you wear it. Cut the nonsense. Follow me, your office is on the 18th floor." I was stunned. "An office? I'm just an engineer, I don't need..." Stella didn't even look back. "If I say you need it, you need it. Vance Enterprises isn't Sterling Corp. We don't stick our Chief Engineer in a cubicle. Also, your payroll card..." She turned and handed me a sleek black debit card. "I advanced you three months' salary. Pay off your rent first. Don't get evicted and embarrass me." I stared down at the card, my fingers trembling slightly. The System whispered nervously. “Host... why do I feel like something is wrong? Isn't this supposed to be the Male Lead's dialogue?” As I sat dazed at my new desk, Stella's assistant popped her head in. "Ms. Thorne, Ms. Vance wanted me to ask if you'd like to join her for lunch. The chef in our executive cafeteria makes incredibly authentic Mexican food." My head snapped up. The Sterling family preferred bland, organic diets, and Carter had severe stomach issues. I grew up eating spicy food, but for the last five years, I hadn't touched a single drop of hot sauce. At lunch, I sat across from Stella. Her assistant happily set down a massive, steaming bowl of spicy carnitas. Stella frowned. "I forgot to mention, no cilantro." I looked at her, surprised. "How did you know I don't eat cilantro?" She looked at me like I was an idiot. "What kind of dumb question is that? I have eyes. I pay attention." I let out a bitter laugh. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a call from Carter. I let it ring until it automatically disconnected. Immediately after, Stella's phone rang. She glanced at the screen, let out a short laugh, and hit decline. "He probably saw our press release announcing our new Chief Engineer. I never thought I'd see the great, arrogant Carter Sterling throw a tantrum like this." I kept my chopsticks in my mouth, silent for a moment. "I thought you were deeply in love with him." She raised an eyebrow. "In our social circle, he was the only one who matched my status. At first, I was just furious that someone like you 'stole' him from me. But honestly? Getting to ruthlessly crush Sterling Corp in the tech sector? You have no idea how much joy that brings me." Carter called again. I still didn't answer. The System asked timidly, “Host, are you really not going to answer? Seeing you actually leave... he's starting to panic.” I stared at the glowing screen, remembering the countless nights I had spent waiting over the last five years. Waiting for his calls, waiting for his texts, waiting for him to just look me in the eye. I waited for five years. He never knew which apartment I rented. He didn't know what time I went to sleep. He didn't know I went to the hospital alone to get my appendix removed. He didn't know I worried about making rent every single month. He didn't know I hated cilantro. He didn't know I was allergic to mangoes. He didn't know I was terrified of the dark and had to sleep with a bedside lamp on. There were so many things he didn't know. But Stella knew all of them. I let out a long, heavy breath, popped the tab on my Diet Coke, and raised my can toward her. "Here's to a great partnership, Boss." Then, I blocked Carter's number. During my first three months at Vance Enterprises, Carter didn't try to find me again. Stella gave me the best R&D team in the industry and absolute executive clearance. I threw myself entirely into the work, pulling all-nighters, completely consumed by the project. Whenever I heard news about Carter, it was usually through a colleague's social media. If someone purposely brought him up in front of me, I just smiled and brushed it off. Gradually, even the System seemed to give up, falling silent. I ran into Carter once by chance at a major Silicon Valley tech summit. I was on stage, confidently pitching our new core neural processor technology. Carter sat in the audience, staring at me, looking somewhat dazed. As we crossed paths in the lobby afterward, he suddenly called my name. "If you choose to come back now, I can pretend none of this ever happened." I looked at his familiar face, but suddenly felt like I was looking at a complete stranger. I took a half-step back, my posture cold and distant. Carter's expression froze, then hardened into ice. "Fine. I hope you don't regret this." From that day forward, Sterling Corp launched a ruthless, aggressive assault on Vance Enterprises. The corporate warfare was brutal, dominating the financial news headlines for three days straight. Stella tried to contact him several times, but her calls were blocked. Her face was grim. "These AI microchips are the absolute priority for Vance Enterprises for the next five years. I am not backing down. I'm flying to New York to secure venture capital funding." She glared at me, grinding her teeth. "Riley, if you dare run back to Carter Sterling right now, I will literally kill you." I looked at her bloodshot, exhausted eyes, and smiled softly. "There's a massive investor roadshow at the end of the month. I'll handle the pitch. Don't worry, I have absolute faith in our R&D." Stella let out a long exhale, all the tension leaving her body as she leaned heavily against my shoulder. "Thank you." I stayed silent for a moment. "I'm the one who should be saying thank you." Both for the umbrella five years ago, and for the lifeline today.
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