My younger sister always claimed I stole her glamorous life. "If I had been the one to drop out of school and enter Hollywood back then, your Oscar would be mine right now." I always just laughed it off, until we were both reborn and sent back to the exact day we had to make that fateful choice. This time, my sister chose to drop out, leaving me to stay in school. I lowered my head and sneered. Did she really think making it in Hollywood was that easy? 1 As an internationally acclaimed, Oscar-winning actress, I was surrounded by a small army of bodyguards and assistants. Every single item I wore cost six figures. The men chasing me ranged from Silicon Valley billionaires to the hottest pop stars. They swarmed around me, eager to please, just hoping I’d cast a glance their way. All of this made my younger sister, Chloe, seethe with jealousy. Every time I went home for the holidays, Chloe would stare at me with eyes full of grievance and resentment: "Maya, tell me the truth. If I had been the one to drop out and brave Hollywood back then, and you had stayed in school, would I be the Oscar-winner today?" When I didn't answer, she continued, lost in her own delusion: "I definitely would have climbed higher than you. I was always much prettier than you back then." Chloe was bitter. She had chosen to stay in school, but her grades were mediocre, and she only managed to get into a low-tier state college. Now, at twenty-nine, she was working as a mid-level admin at some corporate firm, not even clearing six thousand a month. And I? I had been worse than her at everything back then, but because I made the "right" choice and entered the entertainment industry, every movie I starred in became a massive hit. Resources poured in, and the industry practically forced the Oscar into my hands. Now, at thirty, thanks to top-tier dermatologists and trainers, I looked like I was in my early twenties. Meanwhile, at twenty-nine, Chloe’s face was already showing deep signs of exhaustion. The more Chloe spoke, the more agitated she became, completely unable to pull herself out of her fantasy. I, on the other hand, was genuinely exhausted, dozing off on the sofa. Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the peace. The gas line in the house ruptured. A piece of shrapnel slammed into my head, and in an instant of blinding agony, I lost consciousness... 2 "Maya, Chloe, things are really bad. We just can't afford to keep both of you in school anymore." My mother wiped her tears, clutching the urn holding my father's ashes. "Your dad is gone, and he left us with a mountain of debt. My salary barely covers rent. You two... you two need to figure out which one of you is going to drop out and get a job to help the family. I'm so sorry..." Before my mother could even finish, Chloe rushed forward: "Mom, I'll drop out!" "Yesterday, a talent scout approached me and Maya on the street. He said he wanted to sign both of us! With how bad things are at home, I can't just sit back and do nothing. Let Maya stay in school. I'll go try my luck in Hollywood!" My mother let out a long, heavy sigh and didn't say anything else. But my mind was racing. I suddenly realized what was happening. Chloe and I had been reborn! We had been thrown back to the exact day we had to make the choice that would define our lives! I was seventeen, a junior in high school. Chloe was sixteen, a sophomore. Our family had just declared bankruptcy, my father had taken his own life, and he had left us with an unmanageable mess. My mother couldn't shoulder the burden alone. She needed one of us to drop out and work to support the family. In my past life, I was the one who volunteered. I gave up my spot as the valedictorian of my high school, signed with that talent agency, and worked myself to the bone to pay for Chloe's education, eventually clawing my way up to become an Oscar-winning actress. But now, Chloe, having seen the glamorous future I built for myself, was desperate to hijack my life. I... happily agreed! In fact, I couldn't wait. Did she really think Hollywood was an easy place to survive? She had no idea how much blood, sweat, and literal tears I shed on my way to the top. One wrong step, and you fall into an abyss you can never climb out of! She didn't even realize how much I envied her pure, simple, normal high school life! 3 The next day, I went back to school, while Chloe was supposed to report to Apex Media. I opened my textbooks. All the knowledge I had accumulated by seventeen was still perfectly intact in my brain. I knew how to solve every problem; every concept was deeply ingrained in my memory. It was amazing. This feeling was incredible. I sat in a clean, bright classroom, laughing and chatting with my classmates, using my pen to finally fill the regrets I had carried in my past life. I didn't have to wear heavy makeup at the crack of dawn. I didn't have to waste my youth at seedy industry parties, enduring the leering, handsy behavior of producers old enough to be my father, just forcing a smile for a single chance to be on camera. After school, I hummed a tune as I walked home. The first thing I saw was Chloe sitting on the sofa, her makeup perfectly done, her luggage packed beside her. Just like in my past life, my mother signed the contract as her legal guardian. The agent collected the contract, transferred the signing bonus to my mother, and then shot a sidelong glance at Chloe. His eyes were full of calculation. My mother, remembering that I had an academic scholarship, gave the entire signing bonus to Chloe, telling her to take good care of herself out there. Seeing me walk in, Chloe looked incredibly smug: "Sister, this massive wave of wealth is finally coming my way. Even if you try to steal it from me now, it's too late." "I've officially signed with Apex. I'm moving into the apartment they provide. I'll be going to auditions and casting calls. You'll see me on TV soon." I replied flatly, "Congratulations on getting exactly what you wanted." Unsatisfied with my mild reaction, Chloe stood up, leaned close to my ear, and threw out a provocative whisper: "This time, the wealth, the Oscar, the fans, the billionaires chasing me... everything will be mine." "Maya, we finally get to swap lives." With that, Chloe held her head high and walked out the door without looking back, not a single trace of nostalgia in her eyes. My eyes were completely cold. Chloe still had no idea that the contract she just signed was a predatory trap designed to destroy her. 4 Apex Media's signing bonus wasn't easy money. If you didn't generate a specific, massive amount of revenue within the first year, you were required to pay the company back tenfold as a penalty. In my past life, after I signed with Apex, they shelved me for six months, refusing to give me any auditions. Then, just as I was panicking and desperate, they suddenly threw me into a massive reality TV survival show. A hundred beautiful girls competing for five spots in a new pop group. My agent told me that I had to make the final group no matter what it took. I had to prove my value to the company, or I could pay the penalty and get out. You have to understand, the girls who made it past the initial cuts either had massive financial backers or were wealthy socialites themselves. Competing against a group like that, I was so stressed I developed a severe ring of cold sores around my mouth. I had to cake on foundation just to cover it up. That was when my agent "kindly" pointed out an alternative route. He brought me to a private dinner with Mr. Vance, the biggest sponsor of the reality show. My agent leaned in close, his voice sleazy and suggestive: "Maya, Mr. Vance loves pure, innocent girls like you. As long as you make him happy tonight, making the final group is nothing. He could even make you an A-list star..." That night, I endured the sickening dinner. When the moment was right, I secretly recorded a video of Mr. Vance sexually harassing another young actress. Then, I smashed a wine bottle on the table. I held the jagged glass to my own jugular, my other hand hovering over the "Send" button on my phone, glaring at them like a cornered, feral panther. I gambled my life, and I won. Mr. Vance didn't get angry; instead, he laughed. He laughed at my naive audacity, laughed at how out of my depth I was. With a wave of his hand, he gave me the opportunity I wanted, acting like he was placing a bet on a wild animal, eager to see how hard I would crash and burn later. I didn't expect to actually seize that opportunity. I fought my way into the final group and had my first viral, nationwide performance. Now, all of that was falling squarely onto Chloe's shoulders. I was very much looking forward to seeing how she handled it. 5 Six months passed, and I didn't hear a single word from Chloe. It seemed that, just like me in my past life, she had been temporarily shelved. Meanwhile, I took first place in the midterms and qualified for the state academic decathlon. It wasn't until the internet was suddenly flooded with aggressive marketing for the new reality show, Apex Girls, that I unexpectedly saw Chloe in the contestant lineup. The light in her eyes flickered wildly. She wore a pure, sweet smile, but her eyes were burning with raw, unbridled ambition. During the first round of solo evaluations, Chloe's score was dead last. I calculated that this was right around the time her agent would step in and arrange the dinner with Mr. Vance. I called Chloe. The first time, she didn't answer. The second time, the third time... It wasn't until the eighth ring that Chloe finally picked up. "Chloe, listen to me. Do not go to that dinner..." Before I could finish, Chloe interrupted me, her voice dripping with irritation. "Maya, are you ever going to leave me alone?" "It's just a dinner. You went to it in your past life, why can't I go? Are you just jealous? Are you trying to make me miss my shot?" "You are so disgusting. You got to enjoy all the wealth and fame in your past life, and now that it's my turn, you're trying to sabotage me?!" "Mind your own business from now on. Stay out of my career!" Click. The line went dead. Chloe hung up on me. I sighed. Fine. I'll respect her choices. I need to let go of my savior complex. 6 I threw myself entirely into preparing for the state finals, leaving no extra energy to keep up with Apex Girls. My mom even arranged for me to board at the school to save time. Occasionally, overhearing my classmates gossip, I learned that after Chloe's disastrous solo performance, she seemingly experienced a miracle, skyrocketing from the bottom to the top three in the second episode. She eventually secured her debut, taking the highly coveted center position. She looked much more glamorous and successful than I had in my past life. After finishing the state finals, I walked out of the exam hall and immediately checked my phone for news about Chloe. The media's intense focus gave her a massive surge in exposure, but soon after, paparazzi caught Chloe and Mr. Vance entering the same luxury hotel, one after the other. The show's producers immediately issued a statement claiming the entire group had a scheduled appearance and were all staying at that hotel rehearsing that night. The other members of Apex Girls quickly came forward to publicly support Chloe. The scandal was temporarily suppressed. Watching all this unfold, I secretly lamented. I knew my worst fear had come true. By attaching herself to Mr. Vance, Chloe gained a fleeting moment of spectacular fame through a shortcut. But she was entirely unequipped to handle the second major hurdle that was fast approaching. After the Apex Girls national tour, they would have the opportunity to audition for the second female lead in Director Nolan's highly anticipated historical drama. Director Nolan famously despised actors who relied on connections, and it was an open secret in the industry that he and Mr. Vance hated each other. When I debuted with the group back then, Mr. Vance publicly stated to the press that he didn't see any potential in me. Following his lead, the reality show's producers subtly shaded me, and the other group members made passive-aggressive comments about me in interviews. The goodwill I had just built up from my performances plummeted. At that time, the opportunity to audition for Director Nolan's new project felt like my only lifeline. I stayed up for nights analyzing the script, visited film sets to observe seasoned actors, and completely immersed myself in the character. That was the only way I managed to impress Director Nolan during the audition and secure the role. But Chloe... could she seize this opportunity? 7 After the Apex Girls tour concluded, it was publicly announced that they would be auditioning for Director Nolan's new drama, Spring's Return. In front of the cameras, Chloe looked completely self-assured and radiant. She flipped her hair, looking like victory was already hers: "The second female lead? No, I'm auditioning for the lead role, Elara!" "I've read the script. Elara's resilient, unyielding character, blooming even in adversity... it resonates with me so perfectly. It's like the role was tailor-made for me. Director Nolan has great taste; he'll definitely pick me!" The reporter had probably never encountered an actress this "authentically unpretentious." His mouth visibly twitched. "So, you believe you have a natural talent for acting?" Chloe's eyes narrowed playfully, and she gave a coy smile: "Well... why wouldn't I?" Watching that interview, I genuinely couldn't handle the secondhand embarrassment. I had to respect the reporter's professional composure. A few days later, a hashtag exploded to the top of the trending page— #DirectorNolanCallsChloe'sActingDisgusting# My eye twitched. I clicked the hashtag, and a video clip of Chloe's audition popped up. The scene involved the protagonist, Elara, intentionally leaping out of a hidden cellar to draw the assassins' attention, sacrificing herself so her younger sister, hiding inside, could survive. When Chloe's version of Elara jumped out, there wasn't a trace of heroic sacrifice. Instead, she looked incredibly eager and impatient, as if she already knew about the miraculous plot armor waiting for her after being captured. Even the crucial line, "You monsters will burn in hell," was delivered softly and weakly, sounding more like a coquettish pout. Director Nolan was furious. He threw a script at her, yelled "Disgusting!", and told her to get out. After the hashtag blew up, Chloe posted a defensive, aggrieved statement: "If Elara hadn't jumped out, the assassins would have taken the sister. Then the sister would have gotten all the future opportunities and plot armor, and the sister would have ended up on the throne. What would Elara have gotten?" "So the way I see it, Elara was just stealing her sister's future. What's there to be sad about? She was just making a calculated choice that benefited her." "The real Elara is selfish. My interpretation was the accurate one! I have no idea why Director Nolan reacted that way..." Director Nolan, probably on the verge of a heart attack from her sheer audacity, posted a public response: [Chloe might be able to sing and dance, but she is absolutely unfit to be an actor. A good actor requires empathy and a strong moral core. She has neither. I don't understand why just anyone thinks they can act these days.] Director Nolan carried immense weight in the film industry. That single statement effectively blacklisted Chloe from acting. Perhaps triggered by Chloe's atrocious performance, after the first round of auditions, Director Nolan shook his head and sighed: "Actors today are too superficial. We need fresh blood." He then announced a "Nationwide Search for the Female Lead" open casting call. On the day I saw the casting notice, I happened to be heading to the state academic finals. Coincidentally, the exam venue was less than five blocks from the audition location. After thinking about it, I decided to sign up. In my past life, the second female lead I played was gentle on the surface but ruthless and selfish underneath. The role sparked massive internet outrage, which ironically made me incredibly famous. Everyone said my performance was flawless, but no one knew that I was actually desperately in love with the protagonist, Elara. I saw myself in Elara. Playing the villain required me to dissect the script and meticulously craft my performance. But Elara? I wouldn't even need to act. Because she was me. I didn't need to perform her sacrifice. Because I understood exactly what Elara felt when she jumped out to protect her family. Every internal conflict, every hesitation—I had lived it. That kind of sacrifice, that kind of surrender... I had already experienced it once. In the script, when Elara reunites with her sister later, the sister's first reaction isn't relief that Elara is okay. Instead, she marvels at the luxury of the palace and says, her voice laced with jealousy, "Sister, if it were possible, I wish I had been the one who jumped out that day." The chilling heartbreak of that moment, the eventual death of hope, the complete disillusionment with her sister... I resonated with it deeply. So this time, not driven by desperation or poverty, but purely to fulfill a regret from my past life, I submitted my name for the role of Elara. 8 Coming out of the state finals, most of the students around me were sighing and looking defeated. A few kids who wanted to compare answers were immediately shut down: "To compare answers, you have to actually have an answer first! We couldn't even understand the questions! Where are we supposed to get answers from?!" "Exactly! Are these questions even designed for humans? I want to see how many brains the kids who win medals actually have!" "Whatever, forget it. The test is over, what's the point of checking answers now? Let the teachers grade it. Let's just go have some fun. I heard there's an open casting call for a movie nearby, and a lot of celebrities are showing up. Let's go check it out!" I nodded. "I'm actually heading there to audition. It's on my way, let's go together." "You? You're going to audition for the lead role?" My classmates' jaws practically hit the floor. Someone immediately made a snide, jealous comment: "I don't want to burst your bubble, Maya, but even though you're pretty, you're at best 'high school pretty.' You think you can be the lead in a movie? Keep dreaming." I shrugged. "I'm just going to try. I have nothing to lose. I'm just doing it for fun." Seeing the mocking looks on their faces, I figured they probably didn't want to walk with me anyway, so I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked off alone. By the time I arrived, there was still half an hour before the auditions began. A casting assistant looked me up and down, then said dismissively: "Tsk, why aren't you wearing any makeup? Are you just a high schooler?" As soon as he spoke, everyone in the waiting room turned to look at me. Most of their gazes were disdainful or contemptuous. Only one girl offered me her small makeup bag. I gave her a grateful look. Then, under the stunned gazes of everyone in the room, I transformed my face in under a minute. In my past life, constantly rushing between sets, speed-makeup was a basic survival skill. After logging my name, the assistant handed me a piece of paper. It was the scene I was supposed to perform. Unlike celebrity auditions, unknowns like me don't get to see the full script outline; we only get a short excerpt. The scene I drew happened to be the exact same one Chloe had auditioned with. "Number 168, Maya Sterling!" I immediately stood up, smoothed out my clothes, and pushed open the door to the audition room. This was my first time seeing Director Nolan in this life. He looked exactly the same. He looked like an unkempt, grumpy old man, but his eyes were startlingly clear. Because they were so clear, they looked exceptionally bright. He was my mentor in my past life. He brought me into the industry, cast me in hit after hit, pushed me to the pinnacle of television awards, and then introduced me to the heavyweights of the film industry, helping me push for the Oscar. Back then, rumors about us flew everywhere. Some said he was my sugar daddy; others said I was his illegitimate daughter. The concept of "soulmates" was something they didn't understand, and they didn't believe in. That was until Director Nolan smashed a whiskey bottle in front of a camera, pointed at the broken glass on the floor, and smiled at the gossip reporters: "Eat it." All the so-called "scandals" about me vanished overnight. The brightest jewel on that Oscar crown... I won it to give to him. But when I won the award, he was in the ICU. The day I won Best Actress happened to be the day he passed away. I could only place the jewel among his personal effects, letting it be buried with him. The day he took his last breath, his phone screen was playing my acceptance speech. They said that when Director Nolan left, he was smiling.
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