She Stole My Money, Now She Begs for Mercy

I opened my eyes, shocked to find myself back at the start of the nightmarethe campus sweetheart was pulling out her card.

This time, I didnt let her speak. I took out my own card and announced, Its on me.

No one knew that every generous swipe of herspraised by all for her beauty and kindnessended up charged to me. My part?time earnings vanished under her "charity," and my physics competition scholarship was wiped out when she "treated the class."

When I finally confronted her, the whole class accused me of slandering her out of jealousy. Only my boyfriend claimed to believe me, promising to help stop itbut my balance kept falling.

Before finals, she escalated, using a million dollars Id gathered for my mothers surgery to treat everyone. The money drained instantly; my mother died untreated, and I collapsed, my account in the red.

In my last moments, I saw a video: my boyfriend kissing the campus sweetheart, saying, "Maeve is too jealous. I only pretended to believe herI was afraid shed harm someone innocent like you."

"Crystal, this sweltering summer is full of 'ice cream assassins,' and you're actually willing to treat the whole class to whatever they want. Truly the campus sweetheart, beautiful and kind-hearted."

My boyfriend, Rory,s booming voice was accompanied by a relentless stream of deduction alerts on my phone. The suffocating feeling of being charged to death in my previous life still clung to me. Rory nudged me, snapping me back to reality.

"Maeve, I got you the cheapest ice cream. You're not used to the good stuff, so buying expensive ones would be a waste. Save Crystal some money."

Crystal Quinn smiled, saying not to worry about it, and lightly patted Rorys shoulder. Rory's face glowed with delight. He declared Crystal generous, unlike me, who was "stingy and calculating to the bone."

My phone continued to vibrate. I opened it to see deduction alerts ranging from three to thirty dollars. My fifteen hundred dollars in wages from my part-time job had already dwindled to a thousand in just a short while, and the deductions kept coming. The entire class clustered around Crystal, leaving me squeezed into a corner. The memory of my mother's suffering and death ignited a furious blaze within me.

I pulled out my phone and publicly challenged Crystal. "Why is it that you're treating, but it's draining my account?"

Crystal shook her head in feigned confusion. The students paused for a moment, then burst into snickers. "Maeve, have you lost your mind? Would a rich girl like Crystal really care about your money? Everyone knows you're the stingiest in class, always just eating plain bread and pickles. You'd actually treat everyone to ice cream?"

I was about to pull out my phone to show proof. Rory snatched it from my hand, apologizing to the entire class on my behalf. "Maeve's family isn't well-off, so it's understandable she's a bit petty and jealous. She just lost control for a moment. Please don't hold it against her."

After speaking, Rory forcefully dragged me out of the supermarket, as if terrified Id say another word and embarrass him. His grip was so strong that my wrist turned purple and bruised, the pain rendering me speechless.

It had been the same in my previous life. Before the class gathering, Rory had branded me as jealous, separating me from the group. I became an outcast in the eyes of my classmates; no one believed me anymore. This time, I couldnt repeat that mistake.

I bit down on Rorys wrist. He cried out in pain and loosened his grip. I seized the opportunity to snatch back my phone. He still tried to stop me from going back inside.

"Maeve, your family background isn't great, you don't have spare cash. Your Valentine's Day gift to me was just a regular belt and some clothes, I'm not holding that against you."

"Crystal was raised a pampered young lady. I won't allow you to slander an innocent, kind person out of jealousy."

I tightened my grip on the phone. If I exposed Crystal immediately, everything would simply repeat itself. I smiled. "Aren't we going to dinner soon? The campus sweetheart is so kind, I can't always take advantage of others."

"Rory, why are you so eager to drag me out? Don't you want me to treat my classmates to dinner? I'm telling you, you can't be so petty! Today, my treat!"

The students emerging from the supermarket overheard my last sentence.

In my previous life, after Rory dragged me away, Crystal used my account to treat everyone to dinner. My money was gone, and I was stuck with a reputation for being poor and petty. She used my money to become the school's renowned rich girl. Later, no matter how hard I tried to stop it, the money in my account continued to drain away. My family was of modest means, and my mother's health was poor. To raise money for her medical expenses, I worked four part-time jobs, not even having time to eat. Yet, my phone kept receiving high-value bills.

I went to the police station to report it, but they couldn't find anything. Everyone called me crazy. Only Rory stayed by my side, and I thought he believed me. But on the day I died, I learned that he was just afraid that I, this 'madwoman,' would harm his goddess.

This time, I had to find a way to break the curse.

As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, I rushed in first, immediately putting down all eight hundred dollars. If she swiped my card, I would be charged. But if I swiped my card, would she be charged instead? Anyway, I couldnt hold onto this money, so trying wouldnt hurt. I thought Crystal would fear me stealing her moment to shine and rush over to swipe her card. But she showed no urgency, walking slowly, with utmost grace.

"Maeve, your family isn't well-off, you probably haven't eaten at a proper restaurant, so you might not know the prices."

"The minimum spend here is three thousand. Your eight hundred is nowhere near enough."

Only then did I notice the front desk attendant's embarrassed expression. Laughter of mockery erupted among the classmates. Rory's face darkened, and he was about to drag me away again. Crystal was moments from swiping her card.

Anxiously, I blurted out, "Three thousand, I'll pay. You all go ahead and order."

An impatient flicker crossed Rory's eyes. "Maeve, no one looks down on you for your humble background. Why are you putting on a show, trying to outshine Crystal, the rich girl? I already saw you only have a thousand left in your account."

The students' gazes at me became even more scornful. "Crystal treats because her family is rich. Maeve can barely afford her own meals, yet she's putting on airs, acting like we're desperate to spend her money."

No matter what, I absolutely couldn't let Crystal swipe her card today. Because once my balance was insufficient, she would be swiping my life. My mother's hopes were still on me. My life was precious.

As we stood in confrontation, I received notification of my physics competition scholarship. A full thirty thousand dollars. I curved my lips into a smile.

"Rory, I'm not treating for the attention. I truly see my classmates as family, and I want to share the joy of receiving my physics scholarship."

I shook my phone, letting the attendant swipe four thousand dollars. I intently watched Crystal's expression, wanting to confirm if such a large sum I swiped would also demand her life.

I learned after I died that Crystal Quinn's family was of modest means, not rich at all. If she hadn't been draining my account, she wouldn't have been able to maintain her rich-girl persona.

Crystals face indeed looked a little worse, but her body showed no discomfort. It was only as she brushed past me that I heard her say, "Maeve, you're finished."

Her phone screen was blank; the money I swiped wasn't going to her account at all. My surprise met her triumph.

After the students saw that I really was treating, their attitude towards me improved considerably. "We misunderstood you before; we thought you were just jealous of the campus sweetheart. Never thought you considered us all friends."

"Rory, you've got a girlfriend like Maeve, who knows when to spend and when to save. You should really cherish her."

Rory puffed up with the praise. I had initially been drawn to him because he, like me, knew how to save money, thinking I'd found a kindred spirit. Turns out he was just a vain, gold-digging parasite. I deliberately sat further away from him, but he insisted on sticking close. He even wanted to go on a date with me alone after dinner.

Crystal saw the students fawning over me and ignoring her, and her face fell. "Rory, your girlfriend is really cunning. She looks so ordinary, yet she can spend money like water. You're going to have a tough time with her."

Rory, uncharacteristically, only gave Crystal a perfunctory reply before insisting on walking me back to my dorm. I knew it wasn't because he had changed and suddenly liked me, but because he saw the tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money I had just received.

Back in my dorm, my thoughts were still a jumbled mess. Even if I had passed this hurdle and avoided being ostracized by my classmates, I still hadn't found a way to break Crystal's curse. She could still drain my account, even my life, at any moment. Luckily, I had just received thirty thousand dollars, so Crystal shouldn't be able to drain it all that quickly. Thinking this, I grabbed my basin to go wash up.

As soon as I stood up, a choking sensation gripped my neck. My legs gave out, and I knelt directly to the floor. I instinctively glanced at my phone. The balance was zero!

Before my roommate could help me up, Crystal rushed in. She told my roommates to rest and insisted on taking me to the hospital alone. I wanted to refuse, but the choking in my neck made me unable to utter a word. My roommates all thought Crystal was kind, and even the nurses at the hospital said I was lucky to have such a beautiful and kind friend. Hearing these words, my heart was filled only with resentment.

Rory came over and immediately started cursing at me. "The doctor said there's nothing wrong with you. What kind of act are you putting on? Do you know how much it costs to come to the hospital?" He stared at the bill, his brows furrowed in deep lines. He clearly didn't want to pay for me, so by insisting I was faking it, he could shamelessly demand money from me. Crystal handed him her card.

"We're all in the same class; I can't just stand by. Use my card."

I reached out to stop them, but I couldn't. Rory glared at me. "It's not your money, why are you getting so worked up? Poor people cause so much trouble."

Once again, it was just Crystal and me in the hospital room. She whispered in my ear, "Who told you to try and steal my thunder? This is your punishment. Maeve, your family is just too poor. I just bought washing machines for all the dorms in the class and paid a thousand for electricity for each dorm. Is that enough to drain your life?"

"Don't worry, as long as your lifespan isn't completely drained, this discomfort is only temporary."

After she finished speaking, the choking sensation in my neck indeed subsided. I grabbed her collar. "What the hell is going on?"

Crystal curled her lips. "I thought you'd beg me to let you go first." She pushed my hand away, disdainfully getting up. "Maeve, you're destined to be my stepping stone in this life. Once you die in disgrace, everything you have will be mine."

Crystal left the room, leaving me utterly confused. After I died, I would be useless. What else could she possibly get from me?

My balance was zero, and my body grew weaker and weaker. The speed at which I earned money couldn't keep up with the rate at which Crystal spent it. I wished I could just kill Crystal, but with my current physical condition, I would be counter-killed by her before I could even harm her a bit.

As I was frowning in worry, I saw the registration for the closed English competition. During the confinement period, all students would be together, so as long as she couldn't get out, she couldn't spend money. And if I could win the prize money, I could make up for the previous losses.

I thought everything was foolproof, but I hadn't expected Crystal to swipe her card to buy an Hermes Birkin bag before entering the enclosed building. My life force plummeted rapidly.

The moment I saw her in the classroom, I directly pressed the tip of my pen against her throat. If I was destined to never escape this curse in this life, I would rather die with her. But before I could apply pressure with the pen, someone hit me from behind.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself tied to a chair by Rory.

"Maeve, you're bullying Crystal right in front of everyone. Who knows how you bully other classmates behind their backs? As your boyfriend, I can't just stand by and watch!"

He spoke with righteous indignation. He had clearly sneaked a look at my phone, knew my account was empty, and just wanted to show off in front of the 'rich girl.' I looked at the students' condemning gazes, my heart sinking. I told them the truth about my life being drained, but no one believed me.

Rory sneered. "You're so jealous you've lost your mind, aren't you? Would a rich young lady care about your paltry savings?"

"You said Crystal is draining your life, right? Then let's try it now. If you die, I'll pay you back with my life."

He pulled out a piece of paper and had Crystal write him an IOU for ten thousand. Rory reassured Crystal, with so many people watching, he would never demand the money from her. Crystal, nestled against Rorys shoulder like a delicate bird, said tearfully, "If this money can prove my innocence, I don't mind giving everyone ten thousand each. My family truly doesn't lack this small amount."

She signed IOUs for the classmates present, one by one, and then transferred the bills. The choking sensation in my neck grew stronger and stronger; I could feel my life rapidly draining away. Later, I even started convulsing.

The entire classroom fell silent. I thought they finally believed me. To my surprise, Rory scoffed, "You're acting so well, why don't you go perform on stage?"

The students all shook their heads. "If what Maeve said was true, I'd never find a girlfriend in my life. Lying so outrageously, she's shameless."

Everyone was blaming me. I opened my eyes only to see their fingers almost poking my face. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. So that's it. I finally knew the whole truth.

In this life, Crystal Quinn wouldn't dare to step on me to climb higher again. After the choking subsided, I endured the discomfort and completed the English competition exam. With the scholarship money, I bought a train ticket home.

As I left, I saw a notice in the class group chat. "Crystal is taking everyone to an auction the day after tomorrow to broaden our horizons. She'll be at the Vermilion Perch, treating the entire class to a sky lantern."

In my previous life, I died in that "sky lantern" event. Even the surgery money I'd raised for my mom by selling our house wasn't saved. This event was supposed to be before the end of the semester, but this time it was much earlier. Crystal was really eager to send me to my death. Unfortunately, this time, it could only be her digging her own grave.

As soon as I got on the car, I received a message from Crystal. "If you kneel before me now and kowtow three times, and then lick my feet in public, I might consider letting you off the hook, Academic Maeve."

I smiled faintly, not replying.

I spent two days looking after my mother in the hospital. Just as I was about to get water, I received a call from Rory. He was furious, demanding to know, "Maeve, what strange illness did you infect Crystal with? Why is she convulsing just like you did that day?"

I chuckled coldly, "Because..."