Chapter 4

I had no choice.

I took a leave of absence, took the first train home that night, sobbing as I begged my parents to get the university to transfer those three international students to a different campus.

My parents were terrified.

At first, they thought I was being bullied, but after I stammered out the whole story, they just thought I was losing my mind.

But seeing how scared I was, my dad eventually went to talk to the principal.

The principal acted quickly; those three international students were moved to another campus that very day.

I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking I’d at least get a moment to catch my breath.

But I was too naive.

Chloe suddenly announced she was going to be an influencer, livestreaming makeup sales from our dorm every day.

“Babes, look at my skin, isn’t it like a peeled egg?”

“This is my new favorite product! The results are insane!”

As she spoke, she smeared some shady, unregulated face mask all over her face.

My scalp crawled.

Sure enough, the next day, my face started peeling in patches.

She, meanwhile, was bouncing around, livestreaming, and endorsing a bunch of questionable products.

Not long after, she said an investor had noticed her and wanted to help her debut.

“He said I have a ‘first love face’ and wants to sign me. Ugh, I’m so conflicted, should I do it?”

The moment I heard that agent’s name, a chill went through me.

That guy was notorious, a total sleazeball known for exploiting young, struggling influencers. He’d get them into escorting – drinking with clients, sleeping with powerful directors. Many would get dropped halfway through, and I remember one poor girl who jumped from a building. Her family never got justice.

At first, I thought I’d only get sick if she got involved with those few international students.

But now I understood, it wasn't about the people, it was the system.

As long as this system was active, she’d be reckless, because the one suffering the consequences would always be me.

I started having insomnia, staring blankly at the ceiling all night. This couldn't go on.

Sometimes, I even thought about slipping her some poison.

Or just stabbing her in the neck, and we could go down together.

But I didn't dare.

This system was too twisted.

What if I tried to kill her, and only *I* ended up dead?

I got out of bed in the middle of the night to get water, holding the cup and contemplating for a few seconds.

Suddenly, I froze. I think I knew how to fix this.

The next day, I approached her, supporting her decision to pursue a career.

“I really think you should go for it. Your skin is so good, and you have such presence. You’re definitely going to be famous.”

She eyed me suspiciously but said nothing.

A few days later, that shady investor showed up at our dorm.

He leered at Chloe with an oily smile, patting his chest.

“Our Chloe is a true gem. Come with me, I guarantee you’ll hit it big.”

That evening, the investor took her to meet three men.

They were three bloated, leering men, their mouths full of crude jokes.

One of them grinned, handing her a large glass of red wine.

“Chloe, I hear you can really hold your liquor? Come on, chug this first!”

Another chimed in.

“We brothers are here just for you today. Heard you can drink anything, huh?”

Chloe smiled flirtatiously and confidently raised her glass.

“I can drink anyone under the table.”

“That’s the spirit!” The men clapped and ordered another round from the waiter.

“Now this is someone who really wants to make it big.”

At that moment, I was in the dorm, overcome by a wave of nausea.

I bent over, dry-heaving, my stomach churning violently.

Then came the second round, and the third.

They were pouring it into her, but I was the one throwing up.

My face was pale, my vision blurry, and my knees began to buckle.

Chloe, on the other hand, was still smiling radiantly.

The three fat men exchanged sinister glances.

One of them picked up a yellowish, foul-smelling liquid and brought it to her lips.

“Chloe, this drink, I prepared it just for you. Drink this, and your debut is a done deal.”

Chloe nonchalantly took the glass.

“Well, you big shot, you can’t lie to me, okay?”

She smiled and drank it down, but the next second, she clamped her hand over her mouth, her face instantly turning green.

She staggered, gripped the table, and bent over, dry-heaving again and again.

The investor roared with laughter.

“Whoa, Chloe, your drinking skills aren’t so great after all!”

One of the fat men laughed so hard he nearly fell over, and another started egging her on.

“Another glass! This is nothing, you have to be fearless to get famous!”

Chloe’s red-rimmed eyes were wide with disbelief.

Meanwhile, I sat in the dorm, expressionless.

That gut-wrenching nausea was gone.

Now it was my turn to fight back.