Chapter 1

After my rival's pet snake bit me, my night blindness was miraculously cured.

This was incredible news.

I could finally see what my mysterious hookup actually looked like, the guy who only showed up after dark with those broad shoulders, narrow waist, and abs for days, who knew exactly what he was doing in bed.

So when I woke up to the familiar waves of heat beneath me, I lifted my head with anticipation, eager to finally see his face.

But then I found myself staring at my rival. He licked the moisture from his lips, and his voice came out low and rough. "Baby, you taste so good."

*****

The shock hit me like a bolt of lightning.

I lifted my foot to kick him in the face, but I forgot I'd just climaxed and my whole body was drained of strength.

I could only watch helplessly as my leg dropped weakly onto his shoulder.

His eyes darkened, and his voice grew rougher. "Baby, why are you so eager today?"

"Eager my ass!" I started to snap back, but he crushed the words against my lips and swallowed them down. I was about to pass out from lack of oxygen when he finally pulled away.

He panted in my ear, "What were you saying, baby?"

"You—" I couldn't get a single complete sentence out.

He sucked on my earlobe and murmured, "Hmm? I what, baby?"

Like hell you're letting me talk!

I gave up and shut my mouth.

He chuckled and kissed me again. As we lost ourselves in the heat of desire, only one thought filled my mind.

Damn you, Alex Carter!

Even now, he was still screwing with me, using that mint taste I hated most!

*****

Alex and I have never gotten along.

He might be good-looking, but his personality was terrible.

When I was younger, I fell for his looks too.

His family had just moved in next door, and I'd always had a weakness for cute boys.

When I saw seven-year-old Alex carrying a small box up the stairs, I froze at the bottom and stared at him.

He flashed me a polite smile and said, "Hi, could you move, please?"

Oh my god. Even his voice was perfect.

Something warm trickled from my nose, and I covered it with my hands before running home.

I saw him again in our living room when my parents invited his family over. I dug out a chocolate bar I'd been saving from under my bed. My face turned red as I held it out to him and said, "Here, this is for you."

He took it and smiled at me. "Thanks."

Our fingers brushed, and my face got even redder.

"Hey there, little guy," he said.

I froze on the spot. My smile vanished, and my parents burst out laughing.

My dad wiped his eyes and said, "Alex, Lily's actually a girl. She burned her hair playing with matches last week and gave herself a bad haircut, so she doesn't really look like one right now."

His mom looked embarrassed and said, "Oh no, Alex, apologize to Lily right now."

His face turned bright red as he mumbled, "Sorry, Lily."

I was mortified and snatched the chocolate back. "I don't accept your apology."

Then I ran to my room and slammed the door shut.

That was how my feud with Alex started.

*****

I loved partying and shopping, and my grades were always at the bottom of the class.

Alex was studious and well-behaved, and his grades were always at the top.

My parents constantly compared me to him. Mom would sigh and say, "Look at Alex, he's ranked first in the whole school again. And then there's you, Lily."

After hearing this over and over, I couldn't take it anymore.

It was only studying, right?

If I got serious, how could I not beat that guy?

So I threw myself into studying with everything I had.

During ninth grade, I raised my scores and got into the same top high school as him.

I made up my mind to surpass him.

And I did surpass him.

By one point.

I ran up to him and gloated. "Alex, you're not so great after all."

He smiled but didn't say anything.

In the next test, he scored one point higher than I did.

The test after that, he scored one point lower.

Then one point higher again.

This pattern repeated for two years.

Even our classmates noticed something was off. They joked, "He's got insane score control. Girl, he's messing with you."

Damn you, Alex.

I was done playing his game.

In senior year, I switched to the arts program out of spite.

I ranked first in the province for the arts entrance exam and got into film school.

Alex went to Capital University instead.

We were in different fields, so there wasn't much point in comparing us anymore.

I finally got some peace from all the endless comparisons.

But some idiot at Capital University didn't have the sense to keep quiet.

They posted a video of Alex giving an online presentation.

His impressive credentials, combined with that deceptively handsome face, made the video go viral overnight.

While I was still playing background extras in small productions, he had already signed with a top entertainment company and secured several leading roles.

Two years ago, he even won Best Actor and trended for days.

Were the judges at that film festival blind?

How could he win the Best Actor?

I was so furious I couldn't sleep for three nights, grinding my teeth in rage.