Rewriting the Protagonist: My Daughter is No Mary Sue

After transmigrating as the mother of a Mary Sue novel's female protagonist, I awakened a System. Beside me lay a babbling infant. The System's voice buzzed with excitement: "You need to abandon her. Leave her with her alcoholic, abusive father. "She will grow up amidst hardship and abuse, blooming like a resilient wildflower in adversity, which will ultimately attract the attention of the heir to the Sterling Group. "Once they are married, you can come back to acknowledge her, and you'll get to live a life of luxury in high society." I looked at the giggling baby and stayed silent for a long time. "What if I don't abandon her?" The System froze, clearly not expecting anyone to ask that. Quickly, its tone turned mocking: "Then she will become the most ordinary, average person. She'll go to a normal school, work a normal job, and she will never catch the CEO's eye." I smiled. "That sounds wonderful, doesn't it?" If all her suffering is merely to attract a man's attention... Then not going through that suffering is a beautiful thing, isn't it? 01 I kept the baby. No, she shouldn't be called Bella Vance anymore. She is now Harper Reed. I ignored the System's protests and changed her name from the original novel. She takes my last name now. I hate how girls in these novels are always given names that sound fragile, delicate, and overly sweet. Meanwhile, the male leads get names carefully handpicked from classic literature, brimming with depth and power. I love the name Harper Reed. Like a strong reed, standing tall and reaching for the sun. I want my daughter to escape the fate of depending on others and to live independently and freely. 02 When Harper turned seven, she started elementary school. She was cheerful and outgoing, loved by her teachers and classmates alike. Until one day, she came home crying. The French braids I had carefully styled for her were a mess. I asked her what happened. She choked out, "Tommy keeps pulling my braids during class." I knew Tommy. He sat right behind my daughter. I met him at parent-teacher night—a skinny kid who looked a bit too sly for his age. I frowned. "Did you tell the teacher?" Harper nodded. "I did, but..." She hesitated. "But the teacher said Tommy only pulls my hair because he likes me." I didn't lose my temper in front of my daughter. Instead, I gently knelt down and said: "Let's go talk to Ms. Higgins together, okay?" In the office, the teacher with the red-rimmed glasses looked up from her lesson plans with a teasing smile. She pointed her chin toward my daughter, whom I had seated further away. "Harper is a very pretty girl, and a lot of the little boys in class like her. You know how it is, boys at this age don't know how to express their feelings, so they tease her a bit, pull a braid here and there." She seemed to want to use that subtle smile to lump us into the same category. A category of women who had endured the same treatment but were supposed to wear it as a badge of pride. But as I remained silent, her smile gradually stiffened. I said flatly, "I don't 'know how it is.' All I know is that my daughter was bullied, and this is harassment." The teacher seemed offended by the severity of the word. She slammed her thermos down and sat up straight. "Ms. Reed, you are being unreasonable. They are just kids. What do they know about harassment? They're just playing around." "Playing around?" I repeated her words. "If it's just playing around, can we move Tommy to sit directly behind your daughter?" It was an open secret that Ms. Higgins's daughter was also in this class. The teacher, who had been arguing so vehemently, suddenly froze. And then I understood. It wasn't that she didn't know it was wrong; she just didn't want to deal with it. Just like many hidden rules in our society. They are clearly wrong, but for hundreds of years, no one has stood up to say no. Because breaking the rules is much harder than following them. Tossing out a flippant "they're just playing" is so much easier than putting in the effort to teach boys to respect women from a young age. But I was going to break that rule. For my daughter. And for the countless girls in the future who would have their braids pulled. To tell them: This is not love. This is bullying. This is harassment. "Ms. Higgins," I called her back to reality. "You have two choices right now. Number one: you move Tommy to sit behind your daughter. Number two: you separate Tommy from my daughter, and you teach the boys in your class that the right way to like someone is never to bully them, but to respect and care for them." The teacher suddenly deflated like a popped balloon. "I'll choose the second one." Satisfied, I took my daughter's hand and left. As we walked out, Ms. Higgins indignantly called out, "Ms. Reed, micromanaging like this will affect your child's normal social development!" Without turning back, I said firmly, "That is none of your concern." When we got home, I shared my worries with Harper. "Sweetheart, if Tommy stops playing with you because of what Mommy did today, will you be sad?" Over the years, my daughter and I had a pact: always be honest and never keep things bottled up. Harper thought for a moment, then asked timidly, "Does that mean Tommy will never pull my braids again?" I nodded. "Yes." She suddenly lunged forward and hugged me, her eyes sparkling. "Then you are the best mommy in the whole wide world!" Wrapped in her warm, soft little arms, all my worries vanished. I thought to myself, this is truly the best compliment in the world. 03 That night, after my daughter fell asleep, the System popped up. Ever since I took matters into my own hands and kept Harper, it rarely showed up. It was a silent protest against my actions. But to ensure our mission was completed, it would still occasionally pop out to remind me. Like today— "Host, our ultimate goal is to get the female lead's Happiness Index to 100%. You need to work harder." I was suddenly curious. "According to the original plot, when does she hit 100%?" System: "When she marries the heir to the Sterling Group, of course." I asked, "And what about after the wedding? What is her happiness index then? Have you guys ever checked?" The System suddenly went quiet. And I knew. They had never checked. Just like fairytales that always end with "and the prince and princess lived happily ever after." But what happens after? Does the princess ever get homesick? While learning strict royal etiquette, does she ever miss the days she ran free in the forest? Is she tormented by conflicts with her in-laws? Will the prince one day fall in love with someone else? All of these things... no one cares about. If happiness is fraught with anxiety and fear of loss, then it cannot be called true happiness. Because something so fleeting cannot support a lifetime. I asked, "What is Harper's Happiness Index right now? Can you check?" Not out of a system-host's ambition, but out of a mother's curiosity. Is my daughter happy right now? The System disappeared for a moment, presumably checking the data. A few seconds later, its voice cracked, completely losing control: "54%... How is this possible?! This is the index she is supposed to reach only after enduring unimaginable suffering, meeting Preston Sterling for the first time, and being rescued by him! What on earth did you do?" I looked down at my sleeping daughter and smiled. "I just did what a mother is supposed to do." It turns out, the one who saves the princess doesn't have to be a prince. It can also be the queen. And I believe that in the near future, the one who saves the princess will be the princess herself. 04 A few years flew by, and Harper started high school. Her grades were excellent, and she showed exceptional talent in STEM, especially math. She ranked first in the entire grade in math almost every single time. But one day, she came home looking incredibly depressed and didn't say a word. I immediately sensed something was wrong and asked: "Are you upset about your latest test scores?" Her voice instantly choked up. "A transfer student joined our grade. On his first exam, he took first place in everything. Including math." I understood her pain. Having someone beat you in the exact field you excel at is definitely a hard pill to swallow. So I gently asked, "How many students are in your grade, sweetie?" Harper thought for a second. "Six hundred and forty-five." I smiled. "See? So you didn't just lose to one person. You beat six hundred and forty-three other people. That's already incredibly amazing." Hearing my comfort, her mood visibly improved. But she still looked a bit down. "Mom, our math teacher said girls just aren't naturally good at STEM. He said even if I'm doing well now, by senior year, the boys will inevitably overtake me." I kept my smile bright. "And which teacher made this brilliant deduction?" Which. Teacher. Harper sighed. "Our math teacher. He's the Vice Principal." The System gloated in my head: "Uh-oh, this one won't be so easy to deal with." I turned my head and pondered for a moment. "Sweetheart, do you want to transfer to a better private prep school?" Private schools were much more expensive, but the educational resources were visibly superior. Most importantly, instead of just treating students like subordinates, they treated them like clients. So if someone dared to say "girls aren't suited for STEM," I would have the leverage to argue back fiercely. But to my surprise, the one who panicked more than Harper was the System. It screamed in my head: "NO YOU CANNOT!!!" I closed my eyes, annoyed. "Why are you freaking out?" The System frantically explained: "That new transfer student is the secondary male lead! He is a natural genius. He barely tries and gets first place. The female lead is supposed to be crushed by him at first, but gradually, she'll look up to him as a role model, and their feelings for each other will blossom!" I was confused. "And?" The System was practically tearing its hair out. "Don't you get it? He's supposed to be the guiding light on her academic journey!" I kept my bewildered tone. "Treating a rival as a role model just means my daughter has a great mindset. What does that have to do with who the guy is?" The System choked. "But... but..." It stammered for ages without making a coherent point. I continued smoothly, "Forcing the female lead to face setbacks and 'grow' isn't loving the female lead. It's just creating an opportunity for the male character to show off. At its core, it only glorifies the men. "True love is paving a smooth path for her, giving her the tools to step over everyone else and climb to the very top." The System fell silent for a long time. Finally, it whimpered, "But in all the missions I've ever run, the plot is always like this. The female lead HAS to be misunderstood, framed by villains, and endure every hardship imaginable before she can rise from the ashes and find true happiness." I shook my head, pointing out sharply, "Then think about the male leads in those stories. Aren't they always heirs to massive conglomerates? The biggest hardship they ever face in their entire lives is a mild stomach ulcer. The female lead's happiness relies entirely on his love. If he retracts his love, she loses everything." I concluded, "These stories are categorized as 'women's romance,' but fundamentally, they're just male power fantasies." The System finally stopped arguing. I had completely dismantled its logic. After a while, it sighed. "But if she leaves the secondary male lead, we lose a major plot device to boost her Happiness Index. How is the story supposed to progress now..." I didn't answer it. Because at that moment, Harper had made up her mind. Her eyes danced with excitement, but she still hesitated. "Can we really? But private school tuition is so expensive." I smiled and stroked her hair. "Of course we can. Mom has made quite a bit of money over the years." Over the years, besides raising my daughter, I had been learning to run my own businesses. I didn't just sit around waiting to die like the original character, hoping to become a rich mother-in-law once my daughter married into wealth. Harper's eyes grew red, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hugged me tightly. "Thank you, Mom. I know you're doing this to give me a better environment. I promise I will study so hard and make you proud!" In that moment, I thought, My daughter really has grown up. I used to see parents who loved to practice "hardship education," constantly complaining to their kids about how exhausted they were and how much they sacrificed. But why do that? It just breeds unnecessary guilt. If you genuinely treat a child well, they will naturally feel it. I wrapped my arms around Harper. "Mom's greatest hope isn't about how high your grades are. It's that you are genuinely happy." 05 The transfer process was incredibly smooth. With the shadow lifted from her heart, she became even more determined in her studies. I also hired a private math tutor for her. She was a female grad student from MIT's math department. Perhaps right now, in the STEM fields, there are relatively fewer women reaching the very apex. But that doesn't mean "girls are inherently unsuited for STEM." On the contrary, it's precisely because there are so many questioning voices on this path that girls become increasingly lost and doubtful. More than just tutoring her coursework, my goal in hiring this specific teacher was to provide a role model. Even if very few people walk this path, as long as someone has done it, it proves the path is passable. If someone else can do it, then I believe my daughter can do it too. Because she is so brilliant and resilient. ... The day Harper finished her SATs and college entrance exams, my company officially went public. Standing outside the testing center waiting for her, I asked the System, "Can you check Harper's Happiness Index right now?" System: "One moment." A few seconds later, it gasped, "76%!" I didn't understand the scale. "Is that high?" The System's voice was trembling. "Very high! Out of all the hosts running missions concurrently right now, your score is the highest!" At that moment, Harper came skipping out of the building. She grabbed my arm, smiling brightly. "Mom! The exams went incredibly smoothly. I'm confident. I guarantee you're going to get a call from MIT admissions!" I smiled and took her backpack. "Oh my god, I guess I'll be riding my little bamboo shoot's coattails." In the original novel, Bella Vance had to work multiple part-time jobs just to scrape together tuition while going to school. Despite working incredibly hard, she was still inevitably dragged down by external drama. She ended up at a perfectly average state college. In this life, I cleared all the obstacles from her path, allowing her to study with peace of mind. She was able to utilize her full potential, getting accepted into the top university in the country. Her life path was visibly widening. Even if she didn't marry into a wealthy family in the future, she possessed the ability to become her own empire. The System sighed in my head. "Host, maybe your choices were right. You truly changed her life, and you've changed my perspective too." I smirked, neither confirming nor denying. 06 Harper was accepted into MIT's math department, just as she wished. She was invited back to her old high school to give a speech. On the auditorium stage, Harper stood radiant and confident. After sharing her study tips, she said: "...And finally, I want to say this to all the girls in the audience today. If a teacher ever tells you, 'Girls aren't suited for STEM,' or 'Boys are late bloomers and will overtake you soon,' please, absolutely do not believe them. "I am standing here today hoping that in the future, when you start to doubt yourself and your abilities, you'll think of me. You'll remember that someone once got into MIT's math department, and she was a girl too." The auditorium erupted in thunderous applause. I saw with my own eyes several girls who had been staring at the floor, bored out of their minds, suddenly snap their heads up, their eyes shining brightly. I also saw the Vice Principal who had once belittled my daughter turn ashen. The Principal standing next to him suddenly looked like he had a revelation. As if he finally understood why, despite his desperate attempts to make us stay, he couldn't change my daughter's mind about transferring. Losing a top-tier student capable of getting into MIT must have caused him unimaginable frustration. But I didn't know, and I didn't care to find out. We had already sailed past those turbulent waters. 07 After Harper went off to college, I poured my focus into my career. We were both fighting hard in our respective fields. A nosy acquaintance once tried to advise me: "Why are you working so hard? You have a daughter, not a son. It's not like you have to buy her a house or pay for a wedding dowry." I gave a polite smile. "Wow, being your daughter must be miserable. Thankfully, my daughter is much luckier. The harder I work now, the less she'll have to suffer in the future. Everything I have is hers, and it's not just limited to a few houses or a wedding fund." Her face paled, and she quickly shut her mouth. After she left, the System asked me, "Host, I don't really understand human emotions. Did she say that because she has a son?" I shook my head. "No. She has a daughter too. An only child." The System was surprised. "Then why did she say that to you? Doesn't she love her daughter?" I was silent for a long time, unsure how to explain the complexities of human nature to a machine. "Maybe she loves her, but obviously, even though she gave birth to a girl, she still harbors a deep-seated preference for boys." Believing that having a son means you have to hustle and fight, but having a daughter means you can kick back and relax. It's the subtle misogyny ingrained in many people's minds. In their hearts, they perhaps favor the phantom son they never had. As a result, they project those feelings onto sons-in-law or nephews. So, is it love? Maybe it is, but it's not a complete love. After all, "where the money goes is where the love flows" is the ultimate, unchanging truth. 08 During Harper's third month of college, my ex-husband showed up. The System told me that after my daughter got into MIT, our old rural county hung up banners celebrating the news. Unfortunately, my alcoholic ex-husband saw them. He did some digging and discovered that I had founded my own company and was making a fortune. So he went through incredible lengths to get my contact info, demanding money. But I ignored his texts and calls. He showed up at my office building, but security threw him out. He tried to ambush me on the street, but before he could even get close, my personal bodyguards pinned him to the ground. I worked this hard to make money precisely so I could keep toxic garbage like him far away from me. I smiled and told him that if he ever dared to show his face near me again, the people greeting him wouldn't be licensed bodyguards, but local thugs with a burlap sack. My ex-husband was a coward who preyed on the weak. He nodded frantically, trembling like a leaf. However, not long after, the System informed me that my ex-husband had gone to MIT to find our daughter. I instantly tensed up. "Did he do anything crazy?" I was genuinely terrified that a scumbag like him wouldn't care about my daughter's future. He might literally hold up a protest banner at the campus gates or harass her professors and the dean. Making a massive public scene just to blackmail her for cash. The System reassured me: "He didn't do anything crazy. Your threats terrified him, so he didn't dare make a scene. He went secretly. This time he's playing the pity card, claiming he's destitute and starving, hoping Harper will get a few thousand bucks from you to give to him." I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good." The System asked, confused: "Aren't you worried Harper will be manipulated by him? After all, you've never really talked about her dad to her over the years. She doesn't know her father is an abusive alcoholic. What if she feels sorry for him?" I tapped my index finger on the desk, my eyes darkening. "I trust she has the ability to distinguish right from wrong... Even if she gets scammed this time, consider it a life lesson. It's just a few thousand bucks. I can afford that tuition." Not long after, Harper texted me. She said she was entering an AI Robotics Competition at school and needed $30,000 in seed funding. The System sighed in my head. "Looks like she caved." I didn't say a word. I just wired the money over. "Host, why don't you just expose Richard's lies? And aren't you angry that Harper lied to you for her father?" I slowly shook my head. I once read a quote: Love is feeling a constant sense of debt. Perhaps that best described my state of mind right now. I didn't blame my daughter for lying to me. I actually started reflecting on myself. Was it because I hadn't given her enough love over the years that she would feel sympathy for a "father" she hadn't seen in over a decade? Thinking of this, I texted my daughter: You're in college now, entering competitions, your expenses are definitely going up. Mom is increasing your monthly allowance by $2,000. If you need anything, just tell me. Don't be too frugal with yourself. Her reply was a sweet: Okay, thank you Mom, mwah! 09 A month later, I received a package from an unfamiliar sender. The recipient listed was Harper. That night, my daughter called me, brimming with excitement. "Mom, did you get the package? Open it quickly!" I hesitated for a moment. "What is it? It's your stuff, I shouldn't open it. How about we wait until you come home for the holidays?" "I specifically put the home address so you could open it yourself!" Hearing that, my reservations vanished. But when I opened the package, the contents left me utterly shocked. It was a certificate holder, and on the front in gold lettering, it read: "AI Robotics Championship - Gold Medal." My daughter sounded incredibly smug on the phone: "Am I amazing or what?! Our team's project even filed for a patent. Big tech companies have already reached out for consultations. We might be able to sell it for a million dollars! That $30,000 investment definitely paid off." I was too shocked to speak. That money... she actually used it for the competition? "Mom? Mom? Are you still there?" Harper's voice pulled me back to reality. I quickly responded, "Sorry, sorry, I just spaced out. You are incredible! Mom is so proud of you." Harper giggled, but then her tone turned hesitant. "Actually, there's something else..." I held my breath. "My dad came to find me a while ago." I took a deep breath. "He asked me for money. I ignored him. I debated for a long time whether to tell you. "I was afraid you might feel bad for him, so I didn't dare say anything. But then I thought about it, and you have the right to know. After all, he was your husband. "Even though you never told me why you two separated, I'm guessing he must have done something terrible to you. "But no matter what, whether you want to help him out or cut him off completely, I support your decision." After Harper finished, she waited in cautious silence for my reply. Her tone sounded exactly like someone talking to a hopelessly romantic best friend. Terrified she would get hurt, terrified she would go back to a toxic ex. Yet, after immense inner turmoil, resolving to respect whatever decision she made. Though I didn't want to admit it, in that moment, my eyes welled with tears. I used to think that being a parent meant nothing but giving. Giving unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. But when I saw that the seeds I planted had blossomed into such beautiful fruit, I couldn't help but feel that every hardship had been worth it. As a mother, I was now the one being cared for, being understood, being supported by her. My little bamboo shoot had truly grown into a tall, resilient bamboo tree. I sniffled quietly, not wanting her to hear my emotions over the phone. "I understand. I won't give him any money, and I definitely won't get back together with him. Don't worry." As soon as I said that, Harper seemed to let out a massive sigh of relief. "I knew it! My mom is the smartest, most rational mom in the world!" After hanging up, the System, which had been silent, suddenly spoke. "Host, Harper's Happiness Index just jumped another 5%. It's at 81% now." The tears I had just stopped fell once again. My daughter was happy because I was free from suffering. My happiness had become a part of her happiness. 10 During Harper's sophomore year, the System suddenly alerted me: "Host, Harper just met Preston Sterling." I was a bit surprised. "I already altered her life trajectory. Why did they still meet?" The System explained: "In the original plot, the female lead bumped into the male lead while working a part-time job at a coffee shop. Now, they're schoolmates at MIT. They met at the back-to-school gala." I couldn't help but sigh. "Fate is like a sudden downpour. Those without an umbrella can't hide, and those trying to get wet never catch a drop." ... Three months later. During our regular video call where my daughter updated me on her life, her voice suddenly turned shy. "Mom, I think I'm falling in love." A name immediately popped into my head. But I feigned ignorance and asked, "Who is it? A classmate?" Harper nodded bashfully. "He's a finance major. We met at the welcome gala. He's been pursuing me for a while now. I think he's a really great guy, very considerate." "What's his name?" "Preston Sterling." Without changing my expression, I smiled brightly. "That's wonderful! College romances are beautiful. You're in university now, so Mom won't interfere with your love life. The only thing you need to remember is to protect yourself." Harper smiled sweetly. "I know, Mom." After the call, the System asked in confusion: "Host, why didn't you break them up before they got together?" I countered, "Why should I break them up?" The System sounded even more puzzled: "You put in so much effort to change Harper's life. If she still ends up marrying Preston and fulfilling the original novel's ending, doesn't that mean all your hard work was for nothing?" I smiled and shook my head. "You're wrong. I poured my heart into raising Harper just so she would have choices. If I interfere with her decisions just to achieve my own agenda, then how am I any different from those toxic parents who rip up their children's acceptance letters just to keep them close to home? "Harper's life is hers to decide. The only thing I need to do is support her completely." I said from the very beginning, I just want my daughter to be happy. That's all.

? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "439056", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel