Shallow Love, Lingering Affection

Both my dad and mom were top biologists in the country.

In one night, everything changed; my parents died in a car accident.

I was adopted by an uninsured man.

My sister, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to enter the famous Burns family.

Clever as she is, my sister thought she could win over the wealthy young master and achieve her dream life.

However, the wealthy young master, Jason, was only interested in me.

Burning with jealousy, my sister even held me and jumped into the river.

1

I was reborn and returned to the day of my adoption.

In the principal's office at the university.

My sister immediately knelt before Mr. Martin, the uninsured man who survived by scavenging.

"Dad, my dear dad. From now on, I am willing to serve you!"

Mr. Martin was deeply moved.

Excited, he helped up my beautiful and "kindhearted" sister.

My sister leaned close to my ear and secretly told me, "My dear sister, you're done for.

"This time, the protagonist of our lives will be me!"

But I could only laugh inwardly.

Life has never relied on being born into the right family...

Since my sister chose the Martin family, I became the daughter of the Burns family.

In my previous life, Jason Burns from the Burns family saw through my sister's "tricks."

He believed that my sister was a "hypocritical scheming bitch" who loved money above all else.

My sister used every trick in the book to win over Jason.

But all she got in return was Jason's endless disdain and revenge.

Jason was most attracted to the diligent efforts of a poor, innocent girl.

Therefore, he was especially fond of me until the day he swore to marry me.

My sister was deeply unwilling, leading to the scene of her holding me and jumping into the river.

Having been reborn, Jason directed all the "treatment" he had for my sister onto me.

"Norah, don't think I can't see through your tricks.

"You're trying your best to take on the Burns family surname, hoping to win over me.

"Don't even think about it. I, Jason, am a brand you can't afford."

I smiled lightly.

Jason had begun to see me as the same kind of woman as my sister.

I replied, "Bro, compared to cheap brands,

"I prefer street vendor goods.

"They're comfortable to wear!"

Jason was furious.

His dislike for me deepened.

He became even more relentless in his attacks against me.

Jason brought his subordinates, the hooligans, to our department.

One of the female hooligans grabbed my beautiful long hair.

A male hooligan's malicious fist made me cough up blood.

Yet, Jason showed no intention of stopping.

Instead, he turned his attention to my side.

That was my biological sister, Rose Martin.

In this life, she took Mr. Martin's surname.

So, we sisters had different surnames one Burns, one Martin.

Rose struck the most beautiful pose, sweating profusely.

She swung the mop quickly, continuously wiping the floor in front of the doorway.

With a face full of pity, and even traces of tears in the corners of her eyes.

I couldn't help but laugh coldly.

Rose understood too well.

Was it really necessary to put on such a show for just mopping the floor?

Besides, her turned face was perfectly aimed at Jason.

Clearly, she was putting on a show for Jason.

His sweat seemed to have dripped from running two laps on the playground.

And why was she crying over mopping the floor?

Everything was done to win Jason over.

Rose is imitating my past life.

However, I walked with my heart.

While she is mimicking my "form"!

But the effect is still good.

Jason has developed a sense of pity for her.

Just like in my past life, Jason had feelings for me, until he fell deeply in love.

Yet, the Jason who loved me like a treasure in my past life.

Is now the most intense villain in this battle.

"Rose, there are cleaning ladies. Why do you have to do this kind of rough work?"

Rose lowered her head at an angle.

And her tears fell like beads.

"Jason, you don't understand.

"My father's income is too meager.

"I need to do more work to provide some extra income for her father.

"Only then can I give my father more nutrition, so he can be healthier and live longer."

A wave of nausea surged in my heart.

I know Rose the best.

Rose's greed is unimaginable to normal people.

When there's good food or fun, she always takes it first.

With Mr. Martin, she'd probably drain his blood dry, right?

And still say she's providing nutrition for her father?

What a load of nonsense!

But Jason believes her.

It's simply because Rose is too good at playing her part.

Rose and I are not in the same department.

In the whole school, with so many floors and corridors.

Why does she have to come to our department to wave a mop?

It's simply to put on a show in front of Jason.

Rose's acting skills are indeed very strong.

She has finally achieved the effect she idealized.

"Rose, don't be so wronged."

"I'll help you solve the nutrition problem with Mr. Martin."

As he spoke, Jason lovingly took Rose's hand.

Yet Rose timely pulled her arm away.

I have to admit, this move of retreating to advance was played too well.

In my past life, she was too clear about her goal with Jason.

Which made Jason lose interest in her.

Now, she is deliberately teasing Jason's appetite.

Making Jason curious about her while not allowing him to get close easily.

Rose said, "Jason, I have to go back to take care of my father.

"And there's a lot of homework to review."

Jason hurriedly said, "Then let me drive you home."

"My family's driver just parked outside the school gate."

Rose neither objected nor agreed.

Instead, she took the lead and walked outside.

As she left, Rose turned and flicked her long hair back.

Her hair was so wellmaintained, so shiny and firm.

Coupled with her swanlike neck, it truly is a beautiful sight.

Only I could see the disdain in Rose's eyes directed at me.

While to Jason, it was full of allure.

Jason seemed enchanted, closely following her out.

I looked at the mop discarded by Rose, wet and dirty.

Rose had finished her act, naturally tossing the mop aside.

...

I am also a girl, of course, I know.

To maintain hair and neck like Rose, it surely requires a significant investment.

Probably all the money Mr. Martin had on hand was spent by Rose.

Moreover, Jason provided Mr. Martin with nutrition money.

But it's highly likely that Rose has pocketed it.

Besides, I know Rose well.

Every day, she spends her time taking selfies with her phone and in front of the mirror.

When has she ever put her mind to studying?

Her socalled studying is merely to gain Jason's favor...

At this moment, I felt very embarrassed.

Physically and mentally exhausted.

Just as I was about to walk out, a man's voice called out to me.

"Hey, Norah, right?

"Is your health okay?

"Do you need me to accompany you to the hospital?"

I turned my head.

I saw that the big boy was handing me a clean white handkerchief.

It was Riley Hart.

He is the top student in our department.

In my impression, although Riley comes from a poor family, he studies very hard.

I reached out and took the "kindness" Riley offered me.

I gratefully said, "Thank you!"

I still remember that in my previous life, it was Rose who fought with Jason.

At that time, she was also beaten, with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Similarly, Riley had handed a handkerchief to Rose (back then, she was still called Rose Burns).

However, Rose had scolded Riley harshly.

She said, "Get lost, you poor boy.

"It was just my fiance messing around with me."

At that time, Rose had not yet given up on the idea of becoming Jason's wife.

Riley was very clever.

He knew that Rose was always dreaming unrealistic dreams.

After that, Riley never spoke another word to Rose.

Moreover, I saw Riley throw that handkerchief into the trash can.

I knew that although Riley was stubborn and proud, his family was indeed very poor.

He relied on scholarships to barely pay his tuition fees.

Usually, to save money, he tried to eat as little as possible.

This made his once strong physique become increasingly thin.

I used the handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth.

Looking at the handkerchief stained red with blood, I felt that I owed this good guy Riley a considerable favor.

I said, "Mr. Hart, the handkerchief is dirty."

"I'll wash it and return it to you when I get back."

Riley didn't say much but turned to leave.

He just threw back, "No need.

"A dirty handkerchief can just be thrown away."

Maybe Riley felt there was no need for excessive communication between him and someone like me, a "young lady."

We are people from two different worlds.

Since there's nothing in common, there's no need to say much.

...

In the evening, I dragged my embarrassed body back home.

When I sat at the dining table with my dad, mom, and brother, Dad put a piece of fresh fish in his mouth.

He said, "Jason, after all, Norah is your sister."

"When playing around with your sister, be careful with the scale."

Jason just responded with a "Hey."

He didn't even bother to look at me.

In Jason's eyes, I was still that "materialistic woman" who sought his identity and wealth.

And the Burns family's impression of me was merely that of an orphan who had risen to wealth.

The reason the Burns family "welcomed" me into their home was just for the title of a "philanthropist."

The Burns family has only one biological son, Jason.

I, Norah, am just a facade for the Burns family.

Jason wants to control me, of course, it's just a game to him.

No matter how outrageous Jason is with me, Dad will only give him a few light warnings.

Fortunately, the Burns family is wealthy; they are among the top elite in Vertex.

Mom, wanting to maintain her "virtue," will still take care of me financially.

Although that money is just a small fraction of what the Burns family has.

It's enough to make me stand out on campus!

I get a monthly allowance of two hundred thousand.

Plus, I have various designer clothes, bags, accessories, and cosmetics.

It's simply the dream of most girls.

Mom gave me a credit card.

She said, "Norah, Jason doesn't understand.

"Don't let your brother get to you.

"This card has a limit of one hundred fifty thousand; consider it my apology to your brother."

I happily accepted my mom's kindness.

Meanwhile, Jason shot me a look of hatred.

"Are you satisfied? Happy?

"Isn't this why you came to our family?"

I had nothing to say.

I knew that no matter what I said, it would be pointless.

Even though I was still very hungry, I put down my fork to avoid Jason and headed upstairs to my room.

I wanted to go back to my bedroom and study quietly.

But as soon as I reached the corner of the stairs...

A big hand pressed me hard to the ground.

My whole body throbbed in pain.

Tears brimmed in the corners of my eyes.

The voice behind me kept roaring.

"Norah, it seems like you're handling this money quite easily?

"Is it that cheap and easy to take?"

Jason kept punching and kicking me.

The injuries I got during the day had already left me weak.

And now, I was getting new injuries.

I kept thinking to myself, 'Norah, don't cry.

Norah, you are strong.

Norah, your parents are great scientists of the nation.

Norah, you can't embarrass your deceased parents!'

Perhaps Jason felt that my reaction was not what he had anticipated.

He became bored after a while.

Exhausted from beating me, he finally stopped.

Throughout it all, Mom and Dad of the Burns family just kept their heads down.

One was eating, the other was nibbling on fruit.

They showed no intention of stopping their son.

It seemed like I came to the Burns family just to amuse their son.

I was so hungry and in pain!

I knew that if I didn't save myself, I might die here tonight.

I quickly walked out of the villa.

Behind me, I heard Jason's scolding.

"Norah, if you're brave enough, don't come back to our home.

"Hmph, you must be reluctant to leave this immense wealth behind!"

...

Even though I was badly hurt, most of it was external injuries, which weren't hard to deal with.

I went to the pharmacy to buy some bandaging supplies.

By chance, I ran into Riley.

He was also buying medicine.

"Excuse me, can you give me a discount?

"Can you sell it to me for thirty dollars less?"

The sales clerk turned red in the face.

Angrily, she said, "You're the aunt here; your whole family is a bunch of aunts."

I walked over.

That woman looked to be at most in her midtwenties.

My body was already in excruciating pain.

Laughing only aggravated my injuries.

I felt the urge to laugh, but it hurt so much.

This feeling was really unpleasant.

I looked again at the nerve medication Riley bought.

The total price was only fifty bucks.

He asked the seller to lower it by thirty.

No wonder the salesperson was getting angry.

I knew that Riley genuinely couldn't spare much money.

Otherwise, with his prideful nature, he wouldn't have resorted to such humiliating behavior.

I paid for Riley.

"Do you need anything else?"

Riley blushed and stayed silent.

He just glanced at the other two medications.

I bought two more boxes for Riley.

I knew Riley had a grandmother who often suffered from headaches.

His father was a rich kid, and his mother ran off with another man.

He worked hard to take care of his grandmother.

Riley held the medicine in his trembling hands and said, "Norah, I owe you this money.

"I'll pay you back as soon as I get my scholarship."

It was only a little over a hundred bucks.

But for Riley, that was already a significant amount.

I said, "You can tutor me to make up for the medicine."

In my past life, Riley was destined to be a scientist.

His grades were excellent.

Since he hadn't "made it" yet, I decided to build a good relationship with him in advance.

For me, that was a winwin situation.

Riley hesitated.

He still had an innate resistance towards me, the "rich girl."

"If you don't see me as a brother, that's fine.

"I won't consider you a friend anymore."

Riley finally nodded.

"Okay, Norah, we'll be good friends from now on."

I bought the medical supplies.

With the help of the staff and Riley, I finished the bandaging.

"Norah, did your brother bully you again?"

I replied, "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!"

Riley's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Good friend, I remember now!

"I won't let Jason get away with it."

...

In this life, Rose went to the poor Mr. Martin's house to become a "stepdaughter" to win over Jason.

She thought that since I thrived in the Martin household in my past life, she could do the same.

But she overlooked one thing.

My success was the result of my hard work.

Although the Martin family was poor, poverty didn't equate to goodness.

It certainly didn't mean they were good people.

Mr. Martin was sexist and a gambling addict.

His second wife was lazy and coldhearted by nature.

I can only say that Rose truly went down the wrong path by going to the Martins.

Not a single one of them was a decent person.

In my past life, Mr. Martin had always hoped for a son.

They could only adopt me because they couldn't find a willing "male heir."

In the Martin family, I did all the hard, dirty work.

I studied tirelessly to prove my worth.

Only then did Jason value me like a treasure, to the point where he wouldn't marry anyone but me later on.

Also, it was because Jason developed feelings for me.

Only then did Mr. and Mrs. Martin begin to look at me favorably.

From initially beating and scolding me, they later called me their "good daughter."

Now, Rose insists on jumping into the fire pit; I can only say it's her own doing.

But whether she can crawl out of that fire pit depends on her own abilities.

In my previous life, when this old couple found out I was Jason's "chosen" fiancee, the two old geezers could hardly wait to celebrate.

They announced to the neighbors that I was the daughterinlaw of the Burns family.

However, when they learned that I didn't want to marry Jason,

Mr. Martin's big whip fell on me, as if it were striking a lifeless tree stump.

And that wicked woman made sure I went three days without food.

In the end, it was only out of fear of causing a death that she finally fed me a little rice soup.

Even then, the old woman said it was worse than feeding a dog.

At least a dog knows to bark a couple of times after being fed.

As for me, it was just a loss!

...

Fortunately, in this life, although I endured all kinds of torment from Jason, I also received much care from the Burns family.

I no longer had to suffer beatings from Mr. Martin and the old woman, nor live a life of going to school during the day and cooking and washing feet for my stepmother at night.

On the contrary, I could be driven to and from school, focusing on my studies every day.

In my previous life, wanting to buy some study materials required me to take odd jobs to earn a little money.

And if I wasn't careful, and the old woman or Mr. Martin found my "secret stash," it was sure to result in a beating.

Now, however, I have more designer clothes than I can wear.

Luxury watches, highend items, custommade, all dazzling Rose's eyes.

She always glares at me with hatred.

Clearly, she lived this kind of life in her previous life as well.

Why can't she appreciate the beauty in this life?

Instead, she chooses to give it all up to become the daughter of those two wicked old folks.

But as long as she thinks about becoming Jason's woman in the future, Rose can calm her mind.

All hardships are temporary.

The final outcome is what matters.

Because of the "inhuman torture" she suffered in my previous life, Rose looks like a little chick that has been abused.

Every day in class, besides catching up on sleep, she is "scheming."

Of course, her scheming definitely won't involve studying.

Even though we are all descendants of "scientists," the gap in intelligence is enormous.

I was born with extraordinary intelligence, clearly inheriting my late parents' excellent genes.

While Rose's mind is rather mediocre.

Even if she focused on her studies, she would probably only be an average student.

Moreover, she has no intention of studying.

Instead, all her thoughts are on scheming about Jason.

Rose pours all her energy into Jason.

Assignments? She doesn't do them.

Tutoring? She doesn't attend.

Instead of thinking about how to write love letters to Jason,

she spends all her time recording Jason's every move to study him at any moment.

At the slightest call from Jason, she skips classes for a whole day.

Accompanying Jason to play basketball, hang out, stargaze, and watch the moon.

Even when the school leadership required all students to rehearse for the concert, she didn't show up.

But when the day of the concert finally arrived, she was stunned.