Ten million…

The number made Lily Liu’s eyelid twitch slightly.

Ten million.

An astronomical sum Lily had never even imagined.

She knew Lulu Lu’s family was wealthy—but not *this* wealthy.

Just as she hadn’t known the company behind Yanyan Lu’s inherited shares was Citrus City’s—and the entire White Lily Republic’s—largest tobacco enterprise.

Lulu’s late parents had been high-level executives attending shareholder meetings. Their stake was small, yet amplified by monopolistic capital, its true value soared beyond ordinary comprehension.

In her first year of inheritance, Yanyan sold part of it—diversifying investments, and deliberately lowering her corporate visibility.

Ten million stung Yanyan, yes—but it was far from impossible.

Lily thought of her parents’ combined monthly salary: five thousand. Saving ten million would take two thousand months. One hundred sixty-six years.

Her parents could labor their whole lives and never earn that much.

Yet this elegant woman—so strikingly similar to Lulu—offered her parents ten million lily coins.

*“Just stay with Lulu.”*

The beautiful woman’s voice carried a hint of apologetic gentleness:

“No abuse. No scolding. I know you suffered deeply—it wasn’t your fault. I’ll ensure Lulu treats you well. You only need to stay. But you cannot leave. Remember: the Lily Liu of this world has already vanished.”

As Yanyan spoke, Lily pictured her favorite burger-and-fries meal—twenty lily coins a set. Ten million could buy five hundred thousand servings.

Three meals a day? Four hundred sixty-two years. Enough for five lifetimes.

A fraction of that sum would erase all family debt…

Her parents, her little brother—all her loved ones could finally live happily.

What she had to give was simple.

Just stay.

Just pretend the real Lily Liu was already gone.

Just live as she had these past few days.

Without worrying about family… living with Lulu might even feel hopeful.

Especially since that girl’s love ran deep—Lily had felt it.

If no torment awaited… perhaps this life wouldn’t be so bad.

A sorrowful thought surfaced: if asked, most peers her age would choose lifelong freedom over giving family ten million.

But the real Lily would choose otherwise—even knowing it stripped her of dignity.

Still, she had to be sure this elegant woman wasn’t lying. Or it would all be a cruel joke.

“How… can I trust you?” Lily asked.

“I’ll show you the transfer record within the week,” Yanyan replied, tone earnest.

“As for Lulu—if she mistreats you again, I’ll punish her severely. Right before your eyes. I mean every word.”

Lily nodded. “Where is Lulu now?”

“Upstairs. Undergoing ‘punishment’,” Yanyan answered calmly.

“How… will you punish her?”

“I’ll return exactly what she did to you.” A faint smile. “Right now? She’s in the ‘abandonment’ play. Just begun.”

“I see.”

Painful memories flashed—forced stimuli, searing humiliation.

*If she feels this too… poetic justice.*

Suddenly, Yanyan seemed far more agreeable. Even her terms felt acceptable.

Yet Lily knew the truth: she never had leverage to refuse. This was Yanyan’s “charity.”

From the start, she held no bargaining power.

Everything dictated by Yanyan. Every detail arranged by this woman.

Even if Yanyan meant well. Even if she genuinely cared. Even if unimaginable wealth awaited her family.

Then why this suffocating weight?

As if some force beyond Yanyan steered Lily’s entire life.

What was it?

Could breaking it bring true freedom?

But… what could she change anyway?

Resistance changed nothing.

“Alright. I agree.”

Lily nodded with quiet calm, then added evenly:

“Reading manga daily gets boring. Big Sister… could you install a TV in the basement?”

“…”

Yanyan hesitated seconds, then nodded.

“Alright, little sister Lily Liu. Wait a while. I’ll grant your wish.”

…

…

Lulu Lu had never felt time crawl so slowly.

Tick. Tock.

Every minute. Every second.

Each moment pure agony.

Worse—the torment had no visible end.

When pleasure piled beyond measure, joy twisted into suffering.

Like a never-ending roller coaster: initial thrills soon became torture.

Muscles twitching uncontrollably.

Sweat beading, drying, repeating.

Her mind teetered on collapse. She wept without pause.

But it wouldn’t stop.

On.

And on.

Until—suddenly—the vibrations ceased.

Yanyan, listening to muffled sobs outside the door, finally softened after four hours of isolation. She couldn’t bear it longer.

Seeing her sister, Lulu’s eyes lit up like spotting a savior. She begged forgiveness in the most submissive, trembling words.

*Now I truly understand Lily… through my own skin.*

Holding the sobbing girl, Yanyan’s heart ached—but she steeled herself.

“The punishment isn’t over. What you did to Lily was far worse.”

“Come. Lie across my lap. You know what’s coming, my dear sister.”

Lulu’s sobs swelled.

*She endured all this…*

Truly, what goes around comes around.

If only… I’d been gentler with Lily back then…