I ran into Sophia Lin unexpectedly when I went out that day.
When she saw me, she suddenly dropped her innocent act. She even showed disgust, sneering disdainfully: “It’s you?”
I blinked: “Ah, it’s me.”
How does this person have two completely different faces?
Seeing I didn’t respond, she frowned in displeasure: “Why are you back here, humiliating yourself like a clown? Hah, so what if you look a bit like me? You’re nothing but a fake. They only give you the slightest attention because of me! You think you can steal the men around me with your tricks? Keep dreaming. They’ll only ever love me!”
Ah yes, yes.
I didn’t care at all about her mockery. I even nodded vigorously.
Who wants eight annoying men anyway!
Only she can handle them.
I sincerely pleaded: “Can you keep them under control and tell them to stop bothering
me?”
But Sophia Lin thought I was challenging her.
She rolled her eyes like she’d heard a joke and sneered: “Are you dreaming? They only have eyes for me. Why would they actively seek you out? Stop being delusional!”
But right after she finished speaking, Ryan Chen came looking for me.
And he did it right in front of her.
He hadn’t slept for two days and had bloodshot eyes.
He’d been beaten pretty badly too – his face was swollen like a pig’s head and his arm
He looked quite ridiculous.
When he saw me, he gritted his teeth.
He rushed over and grabbed my arm, not even noticing Sophia Lin next to me.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me with a fierce yet pained expression.
He said frantically: “Do you have any heart at all?! Aren’t eight of us enough for you? How could you go after my dad too?! Tell me, when did you and him start?”
I stared at him silently, at a loss for words.
I seriously pondered why Sophia Lin’s eight devoted admirers seemed just as unhinged
as her.
How could anyone actually believe what I said as a random retort?
Ryan Chen stared at me painfully for a long while before finally compromising: “Fine, keep my little brother. I’ll raise him. As long as you behave from now on, I can pretend nothing happened.”
I was shocked and greatly alarmed.
Does your dad know about this?!
Meanwhile, Sophia Lin standing next to me had turned pale.
Then she seemed to think of something and put on a kind, understanding smile:
“Ryan, I’m right here. Did you mistake her for someone else?”
Ryan Chen was taken aback: “Sophia, why are you here?”
His words made it clear he hadn’t mistaken me for her.
The smile froze on Sophia Lin’s face.
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The smile froze on Sophia Lin’s face.
Because Sophia Lin was there, Ryan Chen didn’t pester me further that day.
Things quieted down for two days after that.
I thought my conversation with Sophia Lin had worked.
She really had kept them away.
But on the third day, all eight of them angrily showed up at my doorstep again.
Jack Thompson said coldly: “What did you say to Sophia? Why did she cry all night after going home?”
–
Ethan Brooks said expressionlessly: “I’m warning you, don’t use your scheming tricks on Sophia. She’s different from you a poor person who grew up in the slums and only cares about money. She’s been pampered since childhood, pure and kind. When we were young, she even risked her life to save us without a thought for her own safety. We all owe her our lives. No matter what, she’ll always be the person I care about most. I can never allow anyone to hurt her.”
Ryan Chen gritted his teeth: “I thought you might struggle raising a child alone, so I was planning to keep you by my side even after I married and had kids. I never imagined you’d have such vicious thoughts. If you dare do anything to Sophia, I’ll make you regret it for
life!”
Ex–boyfriend number four laughed coldly: “Don’t think we eight have any special regard for you. I’ve found out the truth – you’re not even pregnant. Hah, just a little trick to catch
and release.”
really wanted to applaud him.
Such high intelligence did that really need investigating?
Ex–boyfriend number five ranted: “Not only did you juggle eight guys, you even have such vicious thoughts. You’re not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the pure Sophia! How dare you try to bully her? Did you think people wouldn’t get angry just because
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Ex–boyτriend number five ranted: “Not only did you juggle eight guys, you even have such
the vicious thoughts. You’re not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as pure Sophia! How dare you try to bully her? Did you think people wouldn’t get angry just because they didn’t show it? You’re treating everyone like fools!”
Numbers six, seven and eight also took turns berating and cursing at me.
I sighed, speechless.
I get it, your one true love is Sophia Lin. I don’t even compare to a single strand of her hair.
But I really didn’t want to get involved in your relationships!
I sincerely believe you nine are a perfect match, meant to be together for life.
So I thought for a moment and seriously suggested: “How about this? Don’t come looking for me anymore. That way your precious Sophia won’t be upset.”
But they must have had a screw loose in their heads.
Not only did they ignore my sincere advice, they even misunderstood that I was speaking
out of jealousy.
That I was competing with Sophia Lin for their attention.
Ryan Chen laughed coldly with a “just as I expected” expression. He said disdainfully: “What, are you jealous of Sophia? I didn’t expect that after warning you so many times, you’d still harbor unrealistic hopes for me. Although you don’t even compare to a single hair on Sophia’s head in my heart, I can allow you to stay by my side as a hidden lover,
considering your feelings. But only if you obediently go apologize to Sophia and swear
never to appear in front of her again.””
Jack Thompson’s face darkened: “Ryan Chen are you asking for another beating?”
Then he turned to look at me, still with that self–confident expression. He said in confusion: “You dated me for three months, loving me desperately, willing to stay with me even without money. Why did you then find these other seven men? Did they threaten you? Although my heart belongs to Sophia, I can help you get rid of them if you beg me, considering our three months together. Just stay obediently by my side from now on.”
Although my heart belongs to Sophia, I can help you get rid of them if you beg me, considering our three months together. Just stay obediently by my side from now on.”
Ex–boyfriend number five ranted: “Bullshit, Olivia loves me most! She often cooks and
does laundry for me.”
Ex–boyfriend number four laughed coldly: “Cooking and laundry, that’s nothing. She doesn’t really love you. She stayed up all night taking care of me when my stomach hurt
from drinking, often worrying and reminding me not to drink, even though she knows I have someone else in my heart.”
Ex–boyfriend number seven chimed in: “Hah, that’s nothing. She knows I have someone I like, but she’s still willing to be her substitute. She always dresses up according to her
habits to please me, and clearly remembers the day we met, my birthday, and all my
hobbies. If that’s not love, what is?”
Soon, they started arguing again over who I loved most and what I had done for each of them.
They were all firmly convinced that they were the man I loved most.
I silently plugged my ears and thought:
I really don’t understand men’s damned competitive nature.
Although they kept saying they loved Sophia most, they could still almost come to blows
over the question of who I loved.
After enduring for two minutes, I really couldn’t stand the noise anymore and quietly spoke up:
“I really didn’t have any unrealistic hopes for you guys.”
“I was just strictly following the service principles of the substitute industry, treating you nicely in exchange for money. Don’t take it seriously.”
“You saw me as a substitute, I saw you as employers.”
“We were all willing participants in this arrangement.”
