Before the college entrance exam, Emily went clubbing and rented a room with Daniel. But she told her family she was studying at my house.
She partied too hard. She missed the exam and got pregnant. She pinned the blame on me.
Her parents were furious when they found out. They broke into my house and beat me to death.
When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the day Emily asked me to cover for her.
Seeing her parents at my door, I smiled.
"Every injustice has its perpetrator. She fell in love. How is that my fault?"
——
"Liam, I'm going to a bar with friends. If my parents ask, tell them I'm studying with you."
Seeing the text on my phone, I suddenly felt dazed.
Hadn't I already been beaten to death by Emily's dad, Noah Jones?
At that moment, my phone vibrated again. It was Noah calling.
Seeing I didn't answer, he started sending me frantic voice messages.
"Liam, have you gone mad? The college entrance exam is tomorrow. You are keeping Emily and turning off her phone. Can you bear the responsibility if she misses the exam?!
"She's hardworking. Unlike you, an art student who can only get into a vocational college. Let Emily answer the phone now!"
Listening to Noah's angry questions, I couldn't help but frown.
In the previous life, three months before the college entrance exam, Emily hooked up with Daniel.
To meet up with Daniel, she always said she was coming to my house to study.
Noah thought someone like me had no future.
He warned Emily to stay away from me to avoid affecting her grades.
Later, Emily rented a room with Daniel. Noah caught her when she came back.
But she said she was studying with me at the hotel.
Noah's face turned dark.
"Emily, you're about to go to Harott University. What are you doing hanging out with a loser every day? What if something happens between you two alone?"
Emily laughed.
"Dad, Liam and I are best friends. Even if we slept in the same bed naked, nothing would happen."
I was so embarrassed by Emily's words that my face turned red. But I didn't explain.
I didn't expect this to indirectly cost me my life.
Seeing I hadn't replied, Noah grew impatient.
"Liam, did you hear me? Tell Emily to contact me now! The exam is tomorrow. If she misses it, I'll break your legs!"
Hearing this, I rolled my eyes speechlessly and directly blocked Noah.
In the previous life, Emily fell in love. Before the exam, she went clubbing and rented a room with Daniel. She missed the exam and got pregnant. But she blamed it all on me.
Her dad, Noah, insisted that I ruined her. Before the police could investigate, he broke into my house and beat me to death.
He said that if it weren't for me, Emily would get into Harott University.
As for me, I had already received an acceptance letter from Martint University for a photography major. My future was successful.
Yet I died tragically.
My parents, who were abroad, also suffered from online harassment due to Noah's manipulation of public opinion. Their company went bankrupt, and they died of depression.
Living again, I wanted revenge!
I also wanted to see if Emily could get into Harott University, as Noah boasted.
But unexpectedly, this time I didn't cover for Emily, yet her parents still came to my door.
Chapter 2When the doorbell rang, I was cautious and didn't open the door.
But I didn't expect that the person outside had a key.
As soon as the door opened, it was kicked open.
It was Emily's parents, Noah and Lily.
As Noah entered, he roared at me, "Liam, where did you hide my daughter?
"You didn't answer my calls or texts. Tomorrow is the exam. If it affects Emily's grades, can you bear the responsibility?"
Lily added sarcastically, "Liam, I know you and Emily are close. But Emily is a special student. The teacher said she was a candidate for Harott University. It's so late. Are you keeping her so she can only get into a third-rate college like you?"
Hearing this, I couldn't help but clench my fists.
In my previous life, even though I argued with them, I still ended up killed by Noah.
This time, I wouldn't suffer in silence again.
I suppressed my emotions and smiled. "Tomorrow is the exam. Emily should be studying at home. How could she be at my house?"
I thought that if I had explained clearly, the tragedy from my past life wouldn't have happened.
But when I saw Noah, I knew I was wrong.
Noah had long assumed that I had corrupted his daughter.
Because every time Emily went out with Daniel, she said I called her out.
Her parents believed I was Emily's follower.
So, Noah killed me in a fit of rage not only because Emily's life was ruined but also to vent his years of dissatisfaction with me.
Seeing me silent, Lily continued, "Liam, Emily said she was coming here to study. I trusted you and let her come. But it's almost ten, and she hasn't come home. Her phone is unreachable.
"Emily is a good girl. She wouldn't lie. If she said she came to your house, she must be here. I know you and Emily are close, but you can't keep her like this."
Lily's words made me laugh angrily.
"Auntie, Emily is an adult. If she were here, she would have come out by now. Do you think I could tie her up?
"And you broke into my house at night. That's illegal. Aren't you afraid I'll call the police?"
Before I finished speaking, Noah slapped me.
Noah was the head of security at my school. He was six feet tall and weighed 220 pounds, all muscle.
Three months ago, he caught two thugs at the school gate and was commended by the school leaders.
His slap left me stunned.
But he wasn't satisfied and took out his phone to start recording me.
"Whose brat is this? He can't study well himself and keeps my daughter from preparing for her exams. He's just a natural troublemaker! Isn't anyone going to do something?"
After recording, Noah posted the video in the school parents' group chat.
Because of the thug incident, Noah had some prestige in the parents' group.
As soon as he posted, everyone started to reply.
Noah was satisfied and raised his phone to record me again.
He recorded while explaining, "This kid is really wicked. My daughter is a good student. She helps him with his studies because his grades are average. But he pesters her every day, not letting her prepare for her exams.
"I thought he just had a crush on my daughter. With the exam coming up, I thought he'd behave. But he used the excuse of studying to hide her.
"Tomorrow is the college entrance exam. I can't reach Emily. I'm going crazy. But this brat is lying to me. Everyone, judge for yourselves!"
The parents in the group chat started sympathizing with Noah.
"Isn't this Liam? He looks innocent but is bad inside!"
"Exactly. If my daughter hung out with someone like him, I'd break her legs."
"Noah, the exam is tomorrow. Hurry and find out where Emily is. If she misses the exam, it'll be a lifelong regret."
Talking about the exam, Noah got anxious and started a live stream in the group chat.
The curious parents flocked to the live stream.
Seeing the number of viewers, Noah got excited and pointed the camera at my face.
"Kid, you'd better hand over Emily quickly. Or I'll take justice and discipline you for your parents."
Lily chimed in, handing Noah a baseball bat.
"Honey, use this. He'll talk."
I looked coldly at Noah.
"Emily isn't at my house. I've never told her to do anything. Please leave my house immediately, or I'll report you for trespassing!"
I thought Noah would back off hearing this. But he shouted even louder, "This little bastard! Not even fully grown and trying to scare me. It's hilarious!"
Saying this, he picked up the baseball bat and knocked the camera lens off the shelf.
At this moment, a parent who liked photography in the live stream couldn't stay calm.
"Noah, the lens you just broke seems to be a global limited edition Leica. I've heard it's worth over a million."
Noah paused for a moment, then put on a disdainful look.
"So what if it's over a million? Whether it's Leica or something else, how could a kid have such an expensive item? Maybe he's being kept by a rich woman?"
Noah laughed arrogantly in the live stream.
"Today, I'll do justice and smash these shady items."
Saying this, he raised the bat and knocked down other lenses and cameras on the shelf.
Watching this, my heart ached, but I couldn't stop him.
Because I knew if I tried to stop him, the bat would hit me just like in my past life.
Noah, although he usually bowed to the school leaders, actually hated the rich.
He couldn't stand young, wealthy girls the most.
Previously, a new female teacher at the school carried a bag worth tens of thousands on her first day.
Noah glanced at it disdainfully and said she must be kept by someone to afford such an expensive bag.
Later, it turned out that the teacher was the only daughter of the city's richest man, with family assets worth billions. Why would she flaunt a bag worth tens of thousands?
Most of the parents in the group chat were middle-aged men with the same bad habit as Noah.
They praised Noah while urging him to check other rooms.
Seeing this, I quickly tried to stop him.
"Uncle, Emily isn't at my house. If you want to find her, call the police. Why are you smashing my things?
"This is illegal. If you don't stop, I'll call the police!"
Hearing that I would call the police, everyone went silent.
But Noah, enraged, insisted I had hidden Emily.
He waved the bat and shouted at me, "You little bastard, you want to call the police? Go ahead. Do you think I'm afraid of you? I'd love for the police to take you away, so you don't affect Emily's studies."
Suddenly, someone posted a message in the live stream.
"I've seen this boy. A young woman always picks him up in a luxury car, hugging and kissing him. She doesn't look like a parent. He must be kept by a rich woman."
Chapter 3As soon as this message was sent out, everyone in the live broadcast room started to gossip again.
"Look at him acting so righteous, I thought he was being wronged. It turns out he really was kept by a rich woman."
"Young people these days don't want to endure any hardship, they haven't even started college and already want to take shortcuts."
"Whose kid is this? Why doesn't someone come out and discipline him?"
My parents lived abroad all year round and didn't use WhatsApp, so it was my account.
I checked the contact who said I was being kept and saw it was Henry's mom.
Previously, during an exam, Henry wanted me to help him cheat. I refused.
Later, he was caught by the teacher and had his parents called in.
When Henry's mom arrived, she desperately gave me signals, wanting me to clear things up for Henry.
But I chose to tell the truth to the teacher.
From then on, Henry and I had a grudge.
I never thought his mom would come out to attack me at this time.
Noah got excited as soon as he saw this message.
"I knew it. How could a kid afford such expensive stuff? It turns out a rich woman keeps him. Tsk.
"So young and already on the wrong path. And you want to corrupt Emily? Since no one is disciplining you, I'll teach you a lesson."
Saying that, Noah smashed a baseball bat into the glass cabinet next to the bookshelf.
Inside the cabinet were jade and porcelain Dad had bought at high prices at auctions. He treasured them, but now Noah had smashed them all into pieces.
Watching my homeroom teacher, Roy Davis, stay silent stunned me.
In my past life, Mom was afraid I would lose things. So, she left a spare key and my home address with Roy.
Later, Emily missed the exam because she was hanging out with Daniel and had even gotten pregnant.
If Roy hadn't given Noah my key and address, I wouldn't have been brutally killed by Noah before the police arrived.
It wasn't until after my death that I found out Roy was actually Emily's uncle.
He was blood-related to Emily. How could he possibly help me?
And he knew very well that the luxury car that picked me up before belonged to my aunt, not some rich woman. Yet he remained silent, letting these people slander me.
If Noah was the murderer who killed me, then he was the accomplice.
In this life, I would make these people pay.
I mentioned Roy in the parent group. "Mr. Davis, please help explain that things are not as he thinks."
After I sent the message, Roy replied, "Liam, your grades are poor. And Emily has been tutoring you. You can't repay her kindness by hiding her. Her dad is worried about tomorrow's exam, so he came to your house.
"Tell him where Emily is, and he won't trouble you anymore."
Other parents in the group chimed in, "Mr. Davis is right. It's so late. Who wants to be out causing trouble unless they're worried about their child."
"Exactly, a boy who looks decent but has such a bad mind."
"If it doesn't work out, let him transfer to another school. I'm afraid he'll corrupt my kid."
"Sigh, boys these days don't want to work hard. It's ruining society's morals."
The parents were all talking at once. Someone made a short video of the group chat and posted it online.
The caption was "Failing student hides top student before the college entrance exam. The parents search in vain."
As soon as the video was posted, it sparked intense debate.
Everyone in the comments was condemning me.
Seeing the high attention, Noah excitedly opened the live broadcast app.
Chapter 4Noah had just started streaming. Almost ten thousand people flooded into the live broadcast room.
The number of viewers kept increasing.
Noah exaggerated and maliciously twisted the story between Emily and me.
He even fabricated rumors, saying I was being kept by a rich woman.
He also said he would discipline me on behalf of my parents.
The netizens were swayed by his accusations. They all started to attack me.
The popularity of the live broadcast kept rising. It directly trended, and the number of viewers reached nearly one hundred thousand.
I knew the best way to deal with slander and defamation was to call the police and let the law punish these villains.
But with the experience of my tragic death in the previous life, I knew this was not enough.
Only by making the situation unmanageable could I leave the villains with no room to retaliate.
For this, I had to endure a little longer.
The comments in the live broadcast room were increasing.
"This boy is definitely being kept by a rich woman. Otherwise, how could he afford such a nice house and expensive camera?"
"Someone has already exposed that a young woman driving a luxury car picks him up and hugs him."
"Sigh, my daughter goes to the same school. I'm worried she might be influenced."
The live broadcast room was buzzing with discussion. Many parents shared their children's experiences in the comment section.
They said their children had always been obedient and well-behaved but became rebellious because they made the wrong friends.
Some agreed, saying their daughters, who used to be top students, failed the college entrance exam because of bad influences from their friends.
Seeing the constant stream of gifts in the live broadcast room, Noah's eyes turned red with excitement.
He had been overwhelmed by the sudden exposure and forgot about the missing Emily.
To increase the hype, Noah brought a bundle of rope and tied me to a chair.
He spat at me viciously.
"Today, I will teach you a lesson, you little bastard. I will smash your house!"
After saying that, he grabbed a baseball bat and went to the study.
That room stored many masterpieces and the models I used for sketch practice.
Seeing Noah stop at the door, I shouted anxiously, "You can't go into that room!"
Seeing my anxiety, Noah became even more excited. "Can't go in? Is there something shady inside? Guys, like the stream, and I'll reveal the true face of this bastard."
After seeing the contents of the room, Noah looked shocked and disgusted.
"Guys, what did I just say? This bastard is not normal. Look, the room is full of nudes. It's disgusting!"
Saying that, Noah swung the baseball bat and smashed the plaster models into pieces.
Truly, the dirty-minded see everything as dirty.
Every art studio has models for portrait practice. I didn't expect Noah to see them this way.
Seeing the undamaged masterpieces, I hurriedly shouted, "Aren't you looking for Emily? Why do you have to smash my house? The items you broke are worth millions. Aren't you afraid I'll sue you and send you to jail?"
Noah sneered, "Pah! I'm teaching you the lesson! You're young and being kept by a rich woman. Not only are you shameless, but you also want to sue me. You have no shame!
"Guys, join the fan club, and I'll show this bastard some lesson."
Saying this, Noah picked up the ink on the table and poured it on the masterpiece beside him.
The paintings my dad had carefully protected for decades were destroyed at this moment.
Noah also destroyed the only calligraphy work my grandfather left behind before he passed away.
I wanted to tear Noah apart in my breakdown.
At this moment, a few police officers suddenly entered through the door.
The police officer frowned as he looked at me tied to the chair.
"What is going on here?"
I twisted my body and shouted, "Officer, this man broke into my house and smashed my things. Please save me."
Noah panicked as soon as he saw the police.