On the first day of College Orientation Boot Camp, my roommate suggested treating the whole class to a luxury shopping spree at the Mall of America.
High-end sunscreens worth thousands, designer handbags, and bags of imported gourmet snacks—he offered to cover it all.
Everyone cheered, while I quietly placed my American Express Centurion Card (AmEx Black Card) into a military-grade safe.
Because in my previous life, Ryan Carter’s phone had brushed against my card, instantly siphoning off five million dollars.
That amount matched exactly what our classmates spent.
When I confronted him with my bank card, he recorded a video and uploaded it to TikTok and Instagram:
“I don’t have your face or fingerprints. How could I possibly use your card?”
“I was kind enough to give everyone a welcome gift, and this is how I’m slandered!”
The post went viral, and I was cyberbullied into despair.
Just as I was about to call the police, poison slipped into my drink ended my life on the spot.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day he promised those so-called gifts.
“Fellow students, Boot Camp is tough, so I’ve decided to give everyone a big surprise.”
Ryan Carter stood grinning with a megaphone.
“Today, we’re going to the mall to pick up gifts. Whoever wants in, follow me!”
Looking again at Ryan’s smug face, I realized—I had been reborn.
Hearing those familiar words, hatred boiled up inside me.
At first, the classmates didn’t pay him much attention, but the moment Ryan raised his voice and pulled out a black card, everyone stirred.
“Let’s go pick Prada bags, Dior sunscreen, and when we’re tired, I’ll take you all to a day at the most luxurious Spa & Resort in Las Vegas. How about it?”
That resort was the most exclusive in the country, with single-day passes costing 0-028,888.
The room erupted with excitement.
Some looked at Ryan with fawning admiration:
“Damn! Carter is loaded. I’ll be his sidekick anytime.”
“If a rich heir is treating us, I’d follow even if the president showed up!”
I sneered at the scene before me.
In my past life, I had followed them to the mall Ryan designated.
They went on a frenzy, each spending over a hundred thousand dollars.
At checkout, Ryan claimed his card was missing and accused me of stealing it.
Since every card had its own unique code, to prove my innocence, I showed him my Black Card for just a glance.
He instantly put on an apologetic smile:
“Sorry, my mistake.”
Then he pulled his supposedly “lost” card from his pocket and paid the bill.
But right as he did, I discovered five million dollars had mysteriously drained from my own account—exactly the total of their spending.
There was no receipt, only transaction logs, leaving me speechless and defenseless.
When I confronted Ryan again, he secretly recorded the whole argument and spread it online.
“I only glanced at your card. How could you accuse me of theft?”
“Look, everyone, I gifted him a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of stuff, and he turns around blaming me! Unbelievable!”
Since all the classmates had accepted his money, they testified in his favor.
A welcome gift of one hundred thousand dollars per head made netizens jealous, and Ryan quickly became a popular rich-kid influencer, showered with gifts during his livestreams.
When I was about to file a police report, I was poisoned instead.
Ryan even fabricated records showing I’d purchased the poison, twisting it into a suicide out of shame.
“Tsk, I only spoke the truth. How could he take it so hard?”
“It’s all my fault. If I’d known, I never would’ve posted online.”
My soul hovered above, watching Ryan Carter’s disgusting hypocrisy, and nausea hit me hard.
The campus beauty I had secretly loved for three years in high school, Sophia Green, threw herself into Ryan’s arms:
“This isn’t your fault. Ethan Miller was just petty. He got what he deserved!”
Seeing the two of them entangled, my teeth nearly cracked from the pressure.
Lost in thought, I ignored Ryan calling me several times, until he smacked my back in irritation:
“Ethan Miller, you’re coming too, right?”
“Everyone’s going. If you don’t, you’re looking down on me!”
Sophia Green tugged on my hand:
“Ethan, you were cold back in high school, but now we’re finally in college. Ryan really wants to give us gifts. Just come along, okay?”
I pulled my hand away and let a faint smile curve my lips.
“Of course I’ll go.”
Otherwise, how could I witness Ryan humiliated?
In this life, he’d pay in blood for what he owed me.
That afternoon, I stopped by home.
I locked my parents’ Black Card inside a biometric vault.
It was military-grade tough—bullet fire wouldn’t scratch it.
My iris was the only key; for anyone else, opening it was impossible.
Once I confirmed the card’s safety, I had a duplicate made that looked identical on the outside but was nothing more than an ordinary plastic card.
It couldn’t withdraw, deposit, or do anything.
With everything ready, Ryan called me three times already:
“Ethan, what’s taking you so long? Everyone’s waiting!”
“Sophia said if you don’t come, she’ll cut ties with you.”
Hearing him switch to calling her by first name didn’t move me at all.
In high school, I had crushed on Sophia for three years, even chosen my college major to match hers.
But she neither accepted nor rejected me.
So when I’d once seen her throw herself at Ryan, I finally understood: she wasn’t unwilling to date, she was just stringing me along.
I hadn’t planned to go to the mall, but Sophia pressured me, and I went with her—only to be set up by Ryan.
Even the poison that killed me had been mixed by her own hands, just to please him.
Such a fake woman never deserved me.
While Ryan’s voice nagged on the phone, I finally agreed and had my driver take me to the mall.
When Ryan saw the car, his eyes widened, greed flashing before he masked it with a friendly grin and slung his arm around my shoulder.
“Everyone’s been waiting for you forever. Come on in.”
The classmates, already impatient, grumbled:
“Ethan, why so late? You think we’ve got time to waste on you?”
“Acting so precious—you’re not worth our time.”
I only glanced at them, until my eyes met Sophia’s.
Her pretty face showed irritation:
“You showed up wearing flea-market clothes? That’s too casual.”
I looked down at my sports outfit.
Just the T-shirt alone cost half a million—custom-made by a top designer.
The fabric was so luxurious that even in the hottest summer, it kept me cool and comfortable.
I chuckled with disdain.
“Of course you don’t recognize the brand. One shirt could buy your life.”
Maybe I sounded too harsh—Sophia’s eyes reddened immediately.
Ryan quickly smoothed things over:
“Alright, alright, we’re all classmates. No need to fight.”
“Everyone, go pick your gifts. Anything under a hundred thousand, I’ll pay!”
The crowd erupted:
“Long live Carter!”
“Unlike some people, pretending to be rich when they’re broke. Disgusting!”
I knew they were aiming at me, but as I watched them rush into the luxury stores, I laughed.
The show had begun.
Let’s see how Ryan handled it without my money.
Sophia followed him closely, blushing:
“Ryan, is there anything you want?”
He froze, then grinned sleazily:
“Having you by my side is the best gift.”
Then he grabbed her hand, basking in the flattery with pride glowing on his face.
When I didn’t follow, Ryan turned back:
“Ethan, you too! Go pick something. Don’t hold back.”
His fake warmth contrasted sharply with my coldness, prompting others to scold:
“Ethan! If you don’t want gifts, then leave!”
“Ryan treats you so well, and you dare act ungrateful?”
“Don’t think renting a Rolls-Royce makes you an heir. If you weren’t born rich, quit acting like it!”
As their curses grew louder, I paused, pretending to walk away.
Ryan panicked and clutched my arm.
“Don’t say that! Ethan’s my brother.”
His voice trembled, guilt written all over his face.
He knew that if I left, he’d lose his scapegoat at the cashier.
But of course, I never planned to leave.
How else would I enjoy the show?
“Alright, Ryan, I’ll pick something first.”
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and quickly said:
“Go ahead! Whatever you want, don’t hold back.”
I chose a men’s backpack—something I’d never even consider before.
Meanwhile, classmates picked out luxury goods one after another.
Under Ryan’s urging, Sophia selected an entire set of diamond jewelry.
Sparkling under the lights, the collection was easily worth a million.
Ryan didn’t even blink.
“If Sophia likes it, I’ll buy ten sets if she wants!”
Her lips brushed his cheek in gratitude, drawing whistles from around us.
Even the sales associate praised:
“You’re truly generous, sir. A million-dollar gift, just like that.”
Others chimed in:
“Yeah, I heard someone chased Sophia for three years and never spent even ten grand. Pathetic.”
“A broke guy shouldn’t dream of a goddess. He’s not even worthy to polish Ryan’s shoes.”
Sophia shot me a taunting glance. I shrugged indifferently.
When the spree wrapped up, the sales associate brought the card machine.
That was when Ryan’s face suddenly changed.
“My Black Card is gone!”
The entire class froze, then dropped to the floor to search for Ryan’s “lost” card.
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