I transmigrated. The moment I opened my eyes, an insanely hideous guy was looking down at me from his high horse, saying, "Harper, go kiss the ugliest guy in the room, and I’ll unblock you on Snapchat." Me: ??? Aren't you the ugliest guy in the room? Following the direction he was pointing, my eyes landed in a dimly lit corner. A tall, broad-shouldered guy in a crisp white button-down sat there, his lips pressed into a cold, stunningly handsome line. It was only later that I realized I had transmigrated into a world where beauty standards were completely reversed. 01 "Harper, go on! Kiss him!" As my soul settled into this new body, the jeers and cheering around me grew deafening. Kiss who? I blinked in confusion as the gloating voices continued. "Brad is brutal for this! Making Harper kiss the ugliest guy here." "Hahaha, the ugliest guy... that's definitely..." "This is a killer move. It humiliates that guy and totally messes with Harper." The guy speaking winked and gestured toward a specific direction. I instinctively followed his gaze. Holy crap! My eyes! My poor eyes! Sitting in the center seat, surrounded by a crowd of flatterers, was a guy so breathtakingly ugly I almost became a living reaction meme. Seeing me look over, he pulled the girl next to him closer, raising an eyebrow impatiently. "Harper, we had a deal. I said the unanimously agreed upon ugliest guy. Don't try to cheat. Just give him one kiss, and I'll add you back on Snap right now." [Insert 'Bombastic Side-Eye' Meme Here] Bro, take a look in the mirror. Is there anyone in this zip code uglier than you? And wait, did you get your script flipped? You will unblock me? Is it Opposite Day? The ugly guy—who I now realized was Brad—saw me hesitating and assumed I couldn't lock onto my target. He jutted his chin to point again. I followed his gaze. And guess what? My eyes, which had just been visually assaulted to the point of near blindness, were instantly cured! In the booth opposite us sat another group of people. But unlike our booth, the guy sitting in their center seat was an absolute, cold-faced god of a man. The moment I saw him, it felt like his sheer attractiveness illuminated the entire dingy club. I didn't even bother arguing with Brad. I pressed my lips together, my voice actually trembling. "You want me... to kiss him?" "I told you to kiss the ugliest guy in the room." Brad smiled maliciously, his gaze locked dead onto the opposite booth. I nodded slowly, suddenly feeling a bit of pity for Brad. Not only was he ugly and mean, but he was also legally blind. 02 Hearing the increasingly rowdy cheers from the crowd, I didn't hesitate anymore. This wasn't humiliation; this was charity work for my soul. More importantly, it was love at first sight with the hot guy across the room. The people around the hot guy obviously heard the commotion. They glared at me, telling me to get lost. I turned a deaf ear and plopped right down next to him. I caught a flash of inexplicable humiliation in his eyes. I was a little confused. I wasn't bad-looking myself. Kiss or no kiss, there was no need to feel humiliated. Without overthinking it, I opened my mouth, ready to shoot my shot. Just then, the hot guy glanced over at Brad’s booth and spoke, his voice laced with self-deprecation. "I know I'm hideous, Liam is fully aware. But I still only kiss my girlfriend." Me: Huh? Handsome, do you hear the words coming out of your mouth? You? Hideous? You're ugly?! You belong on a Vogue cover! But that wasn't the focal point. My heart did a backflip. I grabbed his hand and asked, "So, do you have a girlfriend?" Liam paused for a second before saying, "No..." Not giving him the chance to finish, I jumped in. "Well, you do now." Liam: "..." "Since you're not speaking, I'll take that as a yes." "Now that I'm your girlfriend, can we kiss?" Liam looked at me, let out a self-deprecating chuckle, and leaned back casually against the sofa. "You're really going all out just for Brad, aren't you?" That lazy, cynical vibe he gave off practically turned my brain to mush. Knowing he misunderstood, I simply leaned over, pressing my hands against the back of the sofa, trapping him. With our eyes locked, I murmured a compliment about his beautiful eyes, then leaned in and kissed him directly on the lips. Liam stared at me in absolute shock. The soft warmth of his lips made me never want to pull away. The entire club gasped collectively. A second later, Brad’s furious voice cut through the noise. "Harper! What the hell are you doing?!" I wanted to continue "getting to know" Liam. But Brad was being too loud. I turned around, annoyed. "Are you blind? I'm making out with my boyfriend." Taking the cue, Liam's hand naturally slipped around my waist. The scene that followed was pure chaos. Brad stormed over to grab me, Liam shielded me, and the two groups broke out into a massive brawl. It was only later I found out that these two were sworn enemies. Brad was just using me to humiliate Liam. 03 On the drive back to my dorm in Liam’s luxury car, I looked up at the legendary starlight headliner, then looked at him. Yep, he was definitely better-looking than the roof. "Why do you keep staring at me?" "Because you're gorgeous to look at." The moment the words left my mouth, Liam’s expression became extremely complicated. "Harper, for the sake of us being classmates, I helped you out of that situation today. Don't push your luck." What did that mean? Was he backing out? I panicked. "I wasn't joking! I genuinely want you to be my boyfriend. Please, date me. If I have to endure riding in luxury cars and living in mansions to be with you, I'm willing to make that sacrifice!" Liam laughed, purely out of exasperation. After a long pause, he asked, "Do you really think I'm good-looking?" I nodded furiously. Wasn't it obvious to anyone with functioning eyeballs? If I wasn't afraid of scaring him off by moving too fast, I wouldn't even be going back to my dorm tonight. A barely noticeable smile touched his lips. "If you're my girlfriend, you can't have any lingering ties with Brad." I nodded eagerly. I never thought a two-for-one deal this good would ever fall into my lap. When we arrived at my dorm building, we agreed to meet up the next day. I dawdled, refusing to get out of the car. Liam asked, "Is there something else?" I twiddled my thumbs, shot an awkward glance at his driver, and whispered, "Before a couple says goodnight, aren't they supposed to do something?" He raised an eyebrow. The driver, taking the hint, stepped out of the car. A few minutes later, I walked into my dorm building with swollen, flushed lips. In the car, Liam watched my retreating back. "Harper, you'd better not be playing me." 04 The moment I stepped into my dorm, a sarcastic voice greeted me. "Well, well, if it isn't our dorm's famous little simp. Why are you back so early? Didn't have to run errands for Brad tonight?" The speaker was Madison, a roommate who had never gotten along with the original Harper. I couldn't be bothered with her. I washed up and climbed into bed. I had swapped bodies with the original Harper. We had quickly briefed each other on our respective lives before the switch, but dealing with an unfamiliar roommate didn't require much explanation. Happily, I picked up my phone to text Liam to see if he got home safely. When I opened Snapchat, I saw a new friend request. It was Brad. He attached a message in a completely condescending tone, saying that since I listened to him, he was graciously allowing me back on his friends list. I rolled my eyes. The original Harper had only told me her crush was named Brad. She didn't mention that Brad was not only visually offensive but also had the personality of a dumpster fire. I accepted his request, watched the "Typing..." bubble appear, and immediately blocked him. The next morning, my roommates were shocked to see me still in the room. "Aren't you going to deliver Brad's breakfast?" I shifted my gaze from my chat with Liam. "Don't bring up Brad around me anymore. I have a boyfriend." "What? Seriously? Who?" Before I could answer, Madison sneered. "Give me a break. A boyfriend? The whole campus knows you're Brad's ultimate simp. You're just playing hard to get to grab his attention." Me: ... I didn't know why, but the way they talked about Brad was so weird. They made it sound like he was some untouchable deity. Before I could ask, someone knocked on our dorm door. "Harper, someone's downstairs looking for you." It had to be Liam. Silly guy, he could have just texted me. I skipped all the way downstairs. From a distance, I saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure in a white button-down standing with his back to the door. I launched into a flying leap and hugged him tightly from behind. "I missed you so much after just one night!" The next second, Brad's smug voice rang out from above me. "Harper, I knew you were just playing hard to get." I gasped in horror and instantly recoiled. Holy crap, I hugged the wrong guy! Worse yet, I didn't know when Liam had arrived, but he was standing just a few feet away, watching the entire scene unfold with crystal clarity. 05 Brad looked at Liam with sheer provocation and reached out to pull me back into his arms. I stood up, pulled a Matrix dodge, and bolted to Liam's side. "Let me explain!" Honestly, it wasn't my fault. For some inexplicable reason, Brad and Liam had very similar builds and dressing styles. Plus, we had left the club last night and gone straight to Liam's car. I never really got a good look at him from behind. Thankfully, though Liam's face was dark, he didn't immediately turn around and walk away. Before I could continue explaining, Brad's obnoxious voice echoed again. "Explain what? Harper, you only got close to him to make me jealous, right? Well, I'm here in person now. Before I get mad, tell him to get lost." The way Brad looked at Liam reeked of some incomprehensible superiority complex. I grabbed Liam's hand and fired back. "You get lost! Are you mental? What business is it of yours if I'm talking to my boyfriend?" Students walking in and out of the dorm started gathering to watch the drama, whispering words like "Campus Prince" and "That Ugly Guy." I didn't pay them any mind. With Liam's face, he was more than qualified to be Campus Prince. "Boyfriend? Him? Harper, are you insane? Have you even looked at his face?" Brad looked genuinely shocked and disgusted. Liam silently tightened his grip on my hand. He was definitely trying to comfort me. Sob. My boyfriend is so sweet. Damn you, Brad. Liam hasn't even said a word, and you're trying to gaslight me? I puffed out my chest. "I am Harper. An honor roll student, an avid reader of classic literature, a participant in multi-million dollar lottery projects, a top-tier Amazon reviewer, and one of the finest residents of this dorm. With a face like his, why wouldn't I be worthy of him?" A hint of amusement flashed in Liam's eyes. Brad had kicked an iron plate today. I kept firing. "And you have the nerve to insult his looks? Have you looked in a mirror lately? You literal blockhead, with your beady eyes, flat nose, sausage lips, and Dumbo ears! Looking at you for too long makes me want to call 911! I should be suing you for emotional distress!" As soon as the words left my mouth, Brad's angry face slowly flushed with a bizarre, shy redness. He bit his lip and muttered, "Harper, I know you like me, but you don't have to flatter me like that." I immediately clutched my chest, stumbled three steps back, and collapsed into Liam's arms. Terrifying. "Liam, we need to leave. He's actually psychotic!" 06 Sitting in Liam's car, I patted my chest, still reeling. Brad's delusional confidence was genuinely frightening. Liam was looking at his phone, texting someone, before finally looking up at me. "I remember saying just last night that you shouldn't have any lingering ties with Brad." "That wasn't my fault!" I quickly explained the mix-up from start to finish. Before Liam could say anything, I added, "I know no matter what, a mistake is a mistake. I won't make excuses. So, as punishment, can we go somewhere private so you can kiss me?" Liam: "..." The driver was still in the car, so the kiss didn't happen. Liam said he never wanted to hear the things I said to Brad today ever again. I nodded, thinking he was such a good guy. Brad was such a jerk, yet Liam still wanted to protect Brad's dignity. Truly a man worthy of my love. Liam booked us a table at a private country club. The environment was elegant and quiet. It was just that the waiters... their looks left a lot to be desired. I leaned close to him and whispered, "The owner here is actually really kindhearted." Liam looked at me, confused. I covered my mouth and whispered, "I figured private clubs would have strict requirements for how their staff look. I didn't expect them to be so down-to-earth." Liam's eyes flickered. "You think they're ugly?" I scratched my head, realizing these people made a living on service, not their faces, so I put it delicately. "They just don't really fit my aesthetic." I spun the lazy Susan to grab a piece of the truffle steak that had just arrived, completely missing the thoughtful, assessing look on Liam's face. After lunch, Liam planned to take me golfing. I thought that sounded boring, so I suggested we hit the mall instead. He paused for a second before agreeing. He just wore a face mask the entire time. 07 When Liam dropped me back at the dorm, my hands were full of shopping bags. All afternoon, whenever my eyes lingered on something for more than a second, he'd swipe his black card and buy it. It got to the point where I had to walk looking rigidly straight ahead. "Well, well. Found yourself a sugar daddy?" Madison eyed the bags I dumped on my desk and immediately started her trash talk. Liam definitely had sugar daddy money. There was no denying that. Seeing me stay quiet, Madison rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me this sugar daddy is Liam. I heard all about what happened this morning. You're so desperate to get Brad's attention that you'd stoop to hooking up with him?" Me: ??? Was Brad the chosen protagonist of this universe or something? I finally understood where his delusional confidence came from. But it was weird. Brad's family had money, and Liam's family clearly wasn't lacking either, otherwise they wouldn't be rivals. So why did everyone only worship Brad? I voiced my confusion out loud. Madison's eyes went wide, and then she burst out laughing. "Harper, is your brain broken? Brad is the Campus Prince. How can you even compare that ugly freak Liam to him?" Huh?! What?? What was she saying? This was some very niche English. Who was the Campus Prince, and who was the ugly freak? In a flash of lightning, all the bizarre details connected in my head. I pointed at my own face and asked Madison, "Tell me. Am I pretty, or am I ugly?" Madison looked at me with mild disgust. "You're a clown. Super ugly." Wow. Okay. So I really had transmigrated into a world with reversed beauty standards. I really was the clown now. No wonder I always felt a weird cognitive dissonance around Liam. This explained everything. Knowing the truth of this world, I didn't act rashly. Under these circumstances, trying to explain it to Liam would just sound like I was mocking him. But every time I looked at his gorgeous face, I felt like I had secretly unearthed a gold mine while the rest of the world was blind. Hehehe. 08 My relationship with Liam hadn't been broadcasted to the whole school yet. Because of that, most people still thought of me as Brad's ultimate simp. One day, right as I walked into the lecture hall, someone joked out loud. "Hey, isn't that Harper? You in the wrong room? Brad is in the building next door today." Turns out, the original host's reputation as a simp was legendary across campus. Brad was always late to class and couldn't get good seats, so the original Harper would save a seat for him, wait until he showed up, and then sprint all the way back to her own class. Sometimes, because of one word from Brad, she even had to save seats for his roommates. She had simped diligently for two years and hadn't even earned basic human respect. Thinking about this, I waved my hand dismissively. "Who's Brad? The only person in my eyes right now is my boyfriend." With that, I walked over and sat right next to Liam, ignoring their shocked stares. "Holy shit, is she serious?" "She has to be doing this just to piss Brad off." "Honestly, I heard what happened at the club the other night. Is anyone really surprised she finally gave up on him?" As the whispers spread, Liam frowned and glanced backward. The room instantly went dead silent. I hadn't realized he was so intimidating. I rested my chin on my hand, looking at him with a smile in my eyes. Liam suddenly spoke up. "If you mind the whispers, I can go sit in the back row." Mind? Mind what? Mind that people are gossiping because my boyfriend is too hot? I leaned in close. "Liam, have you ever heard the saying, 'A hot boyfriend is a girl's best accessory'?" Even with my thick skin, I felt a little embarrassed saying it. I tried to save face. "I just mean, you are my glory. A few jealous stares from them? I can handle it." Liam looked at me and suddenly smiled. It was so dazzling I completely lost my bearings. I didn't even catch what he muttered under his breath. Then I remembered—this was a world with reversed beauty standards. What I just said probably sounded like passive-aggressive mockery to him. "No, no, no! I mean, my aesthetic is just a little different from the mainstream." Liam: "..." That didn't sound right either. "I mean, in my eyes, you are incredibly handsome." Why did it feel like the more I explained, the worse it sounded? Seeing me panic, the corners of Liam's lips curled up. He gently tapped my forehead and said softly, "You don't need to explain. I know." 09 Before the class was even over, the news of me and Liam dating had spread across the entire campus. Brad tried calling me from several different numbers. I ignored all of them. Madison sneered at me in the dorm. "Some people really have no shame. But then again, every pot has its lid. With your wide eyes, small mouth, and perfectly oval face, you really are only fit for a guy with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high nose bridge." Hearing that, I couldn't hold back a laugh. Madison stamped her foot in anger. "What are you laughing at?!" I tried to force my smile down. "Keep insulting me. It's music to my ears." Madison: "..." *** Summer brought frequent storms. Shortly after I got back to the dorm, a torrential downpour started outside. I was just texting Liam, celebrating that we didn't get caught in the rain, when someone outside started screaming my name. I opened the window and looked out. A chill ran down my spine. Holy crap! A swamp monster! Did the creature from the Black Lagoon come to claim my soul?! Standing in the pouring rain below was a guy in a white button-down. The rain had completely soaked through his shirt, and his awkward mid-length hair was plastered flat against his scalp. Seeing me stick my head out, he wiped the water from his face. "Harper! Harper!" I admit, in that moment, I was terrified. I trembled. I shivered and asked my roommates, "Do you guys see that thing down there?" Madison leaned over to look, then instantly covered her mouth. I thought she was scared too, but she turned to me, her eyes brimming with emotion. "It's Brad!" "He's so devoted! It's like a beautiful romance movie!" Me: "..." Honestly, sometimes I really wanted to call the cops on this universe. The reversed beauty standards in this world were absolutely horrifying! Seeing me pull my head back inside, Brad yelled my name even louder. I grabbed my earplugs and lay down on my bed. Rainy days are meant for napping. Madison berated me for being heartless before grabbing an umbrella and rushing downstairs to him. I don't know how she eventually convinced Brad to leave, but either way, I got several days of peace and quiet. 10 After dating for a while, I realized Liam and I clicked perfectly in every way. Except for the fact that he was a total tease. On the outside, he was this aloof, untouchable god. On the inside? He was sneaky. Whenever we went for walks, if I so much as glanced a second too long at the guys playing basketball on the courts, I'd magically find a subtle, dimly lit mirror selfie of his abs on my Instagram feed that night. And every time I "liked" it, he would delete it seconds later. After a few times, I caught onto his game. The next time he posted a picture, I pretended to casually mention it to my roommates. "Liam's new Instagram post is really artsy." Of course it was artsy. It was a seemingly candid shot of him leaning back on a sofa, his collarbone and Adam's apple peeking out flawlessly from his unbuttoned shirt. "Huh? He posted something?" My roommates looked at their phones in confusion. Madison suddenly chimed in. "Harper... you don't actually think Liam is good-looking, do you?" Here we go again. "What else would I think?" "His jawline is way too sharp, his brow ridge is too high, his lips are too thin. Besides his good grades, pale skin, and decent vibe, how can he possibly compare to Brad? I think you have psychological body dysmorphia." She was actually advocating for Brad. You can't explain ice to a summer bug. I didn't bother arguing. "You're right. Based on your worldview, I am psychologically deformed. Because in my eyes, Liam is the hottest guy on the planet." Madison's eyes darted around, as if she had just thought of something. She immediately pulled out a bunch of photos and asked me to pick the best-looking ones. The gorgeous men and women I selected were, without exception, deemed hideous by them. My roommates looked at me with deep pity. I just shrugged helplessly. Cognition is impossible to correct when the foundation is built on an error. Just like how a dung beetle genuinely believes feces is the best thing in the world. 11 I was wrong. I shouldn't have insulted the dung beetles. At least dung beetles don't commit kidnapping. A few hours ago, Liam finally agreed to take me somewhere private so we could make out. But before my sinful little hands could reach his waist, Madison called, claiming there was an issue with my scholarship application and I needed to go to the counselor's office immediately. Liam wanted to go with me, but he coincidentally got an urgent phone call at the same time. After leaving the office, I took a sip of the bottled water Madison handed me. When I woke up, I was lying on a couch, my entire body weak and paralyzed. Not far away, Brad was talking to a man in a white doctor's coat. "Doctor, she must have been traumatized by me earlier. She suddenly developed a fetish for ugly guys. As long as you cure her, I'll pay whatever it takes." The doctor nodded and said he needed to prepare some things. Brad walked over and looked down at me. "I knew you wouldn't just change your feelings for no reason. Turns out you have Cacophilia—a sickness for ugliness. Don't worry, I'll have you cured. Once you're fixed, I'll forgive you and let you stay by my side." "I give you an 8.5 out of 10 today, mostly because I'm speechless." What kind of monumental narcissism is this? If I don't like him, it means I have a medical condition? Brad flashed a "charming" smirk. "Harper, I admit you've successfully caught my attention. You were very smart this time. You know I've despised Liam since we were kids. He's just an ugly freak with a bit of competence. Why does everyone say I'm worse than him in everything except my looks?! I specifically dressed in his style just to humiliate him." Me: "..." Is it possible that, even based purely on looks, you are lightyears behind him? But this wasn't the time for that. "This is kidnapping. Aren't you afraid I'll call the cops?" Brad reached out and touched my face. "It's just medical treatment. Once you're cured, I'll let you go." Watching the psychiatrist approach, panic set in. I knew I wasn't sick, but I was terrified he would force-feed me some random drugs. I tried to fight back, but the sedative hadn't worn off. I couldn't move a muscle. As the hypnotic rhythmic sounds began, my consciousness grew cloudy. It felt like an eternity, or maybe just a few minutes. Suddenly, a massive crash rang in my ears. Someone had kicked the door down! When I opened my eyes, Liam, his hair slightly disheveled, appeared in front of me. He was sweating, and he pulled me fiercely into his arms. "Harper, are you okay?" His voice was trembling. I wanted to lift my arms and hug him back, but my body moved on its own, forcefully shoving him away. Then, I heard my own voice speak. She said, "Who are you? Don't touch me!" Liam's face instantly went deathly pale. Then, my world went completely black.
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