Daddy, Reporting: Mommy's on the Comeback!”

Betrayed by a Best Friend “Why is this happening...?” Staring at the notice of her degree being revoked, Lia Shimmer could hardly believe her eyes. Just a few months ago, she was an outstanding student who had won awards at international competitions and brought glory to her school. Now, she was being expelled for plagiarism. But her designs were all her own hard work! “Shimmer, I never expected you to be like this. I considered you a good friend, but you plagiarized my work and got me suspected by the school...” Her college roommate and best friend, Sharon Frost, looked innocent yet smug as she gloated, “Fortunately, the school and the dean eventually uncovered the truth and cleared my name. You should probably just leave the design industry.” Lia Shimmer instinctively looked toward the source of the voice, only to be pierced by the sight before her. Sharon Frost was linked arm-in-arm with Xu Yunmo, both dressed in deliberately matching outfits, like a couple deeply in love. Noticing the engagement ring on Sharon's hand, Lia was taken aback: “You two...” Today was the S University Alumni Day. As outstanding graduates of S University, Lia Shimmer, Sharon Frost, and Xu Yunmo had all been invited to the celebration. Lia had planned to use this opportunity to confess to her former senior Xu Yunmo, but instead, she was informed that she was being expelled for plagiarism and her degree was being revoked. She looked to Xu Yunmo for help. After all, he was the first person to see her design. Sharon had even praised Lia's creativity in front of him. If he testified, things might change... Meeting Lia's eyes, Xu Yunmo looked guilty and averted his gaze. After a moment, he reluctantly said, “Shimmer, I know Frost's design is excellent. Your talent and grades aren't as good as hers. You've always wanted to surpass her and win awards, but no matter what, you shouldn't plagiarize her work. You not only ruined yourself but also caused Frost to be suspected by the organizers and the school. She almost got expelled too. You...” Unable to bear it any longer, he cautiously suggested, “You should apologize to the dean. Maybe he'll give you a chance and won't revoke your degree.” “My work was my own design. It was Sharon who plagiarized me. Why should I apologize?” Lia Shimmer felt like she had just heard the biggest joke in the world. But then she noticed Sharon's slightly swollen abdomen and suddenly understood why Xu Yunmo had lied. “Honey, you're so kind-hearted, but...” Sharon Frost, with a cold smile on her face, feigned sweetness and said to Xu Yunmo, “Although Shimmer is my friend, she needs to pay for her mistakes. If we don't punish her severely, she'll become a menace in the design industry. What if she plagiarizes again in the future? How about this...” She looked down at Lia Shimmer arrogantly, her eyes flashing with malicious calculation: “If you kneel down and beg me now, and promise to leave the industry and never be a designer again, I might consider showing mercy and speaking up for you.” “Dream on!” Lia Shimmer clenched her teeth and fought back through her tears: “Sharon Frost, it's because you know your talent and grades aren't as good as mine that you're trying every means to drive me out of the industry. You think by framing me for plagiarism, revoking my degree, and forcing me out, you'll become a better designer than me? You want me gone, but I won't leave. I guarantee that within two years, I'll prove my innocence and become the top designer in the country!” Honey, you see it too. She’s the one who threw away her chance. No need to speak up for her.” Seeing Lia Shimmer’s unwillingness to bow down, Sharon Frost’s face darkened. She raised her voice sarcastically, “I just hope she can still make a living in our industry after having her degree revoked and being labeled a plagiarist. Maybe she won’t starve on the streets.” Watching Sharon and Xander Yung leave like a perfect couple, Lia felt a pang in her heart. But behind her came a mocking, shrill laugh. Her stepsister, Lia Moon, clicked her high heels and walked over, arm linked with Xander Yung, her former fiancé. She gloated, “Lia Shimmer, you’re such a loser, getting dumped by a man again! Thanks for letting me have Brother Xander...” “Actually!” She covered her red lips and triumphantly corrected herself, “I should say I took him from you. A failure like you, just like your dead mother, has no right to give anyone up.” Hearing her mention her deceased mother, Lia felt a surge of anger. “Lia Moon, don’t push it!” “Is what I said wrong?” Lia Moon snorted, full of contempt. “Not just your dead mother, but your dead brother too. I wonder if they’re resting easy in their graves, seeing you like this.” She clicked her heels, swayed her hips, and leaned close to Lia’s ear. “Your dead brother was still calling for his sister before he died. How pitiful!” Lia jolted awake, staring at the bedside clock—it was already 3:45 PM. Ever since she missed her flight to the US because of a stomach bug and blew her interview, she had to look for other jobs in the country. “Miss Lia, your work is good, but we found out you plagiarized in a competition once. Our company can’t tolerate that. You’d better leave.” Thinking of how her company recently uncovered her past ‘plagiarism’ scandal and kicked her out without a second thought—despite the profits her designs brought in—Lia couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Over the years, she’d lost countless job opportunities because of that scandal. She was used to it by now. She turned on her phone, hoping for a reply to her resume, but instead saw a news headline: “Famous Designer Sharon Frost Wins Award Abroad, Attends Ceremony with Husband Xander Yung, Sharing a Sweet Kiss.” Looking at the picture of the perfectly dressed couple, Lia felt a wave of irony. She had entered that competition too, but the organizers, fearing Sharon’s influence, returned her entry without even letting her compete. It was all rigged. Sharon must be gloating right now. She closed the news app and saw a job rejection in her messages: “Miss Lia, your work is impressive, but it doesn’t meet our company’s requirements. Please try elsewhere.” Seeing the name of the HR person who sent the message, Lia panicked. The company’s boss had been very interested in her designs during the interview. She quickly called back, hoping it was a mistake and trying to fight for a chance: “Hello, is this Tianyu Decoration? This is Lia Shimmer who interviewed a few days ago...” “Sorry, Miss Lia, your work didn’t pass.” Before she could finish, the other party coldly interrupted her. Lia Shimmer was taken aback. “Can you tell me the reason? You said my work was great before.” The HR representative fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “Miss Lia, let me be honest with you. Your work is truly outstanding, and our company is very impressed. However, there have been rumors that you plagiarized Miss Sharon Frost’s work in the past. Miss Sharon is one of the top designers in our industry and highly respected. She seems to have an issue with you, and we can’t afford to offend her. We’re really sorry about this...” Sharon Frost again! It had been two years since the incident, yet Sharon still wouldn’t let it go. She kept finding ways to undermine Lia, trying to force her out of the design industry. But the more she did this, the clearer it was that she was afraid of Lia. Lia was determined to stay in this field. She didn’t believe that Sharon could overshadow her forever. A knock came from outside. Thinking it was her food delivery, Lia quickly tied up her loose hair, slipped on her slippers, and went to open the door. But when she saw the man standing at the door—dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, with a calm and aloof expression, looking like a god descended from the heavens—Lia’s breath caught in her throat, and she froze. This man... he was just too handsome! His suit was spotless, not a single wrinkle in sight. The fit accentuated his tall and lean physique. His leather shoes shone with a faint white gleam. On his wrist was a limited-edition Givenchy watch. Standing there, without a word or movement, he looked like a model straight out of a poster. The expensive brands he wore seemed like mere ordinary accessories on him. Behind him stood several well-trained bodyguards in suits and sunglasses, their faces expressionless and stern, reminding Lia of the elite spies from movies and TV shows. The man seemed familiar, but no matter how hard Lia searched her memory, she couldn’t recall ever knowing someone so refined and handsome. She could only tentatively ask, “Who... who are you looking for?” An elderly butler-like figure beside the man pulled out a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to Lia: “Miss Lia, we are from the Deep Group.” The Deep Group? Hearing the name sent a jolt through Lia’s eyebrows. Why would someone from the Deep Group be looking for her? She couldn’t have possibly offended anyone, could she? As she was thinking, a childish voice piped up: “Mommy, I’m home. Did you think of me today?” Feeling someone clinging to her legs, Lia instinctively looked down and met a pair of clear, watery eyes. A four- or five-year-old boy, with features strikingly similar to the man’s, had a fair and delicate face, like a porcelain bun. But hearing him call her “mommy,” Lia was momentarily stunned. After a brief awkward pause, she gently reminded him, “Little buddy, I think you’ve got the wrong person.” Ignoring her denial, the little boy squeezed through the door and looked around the empty room, devoid of any children’s items, and pouted, hurt: “Mommy, you threw away all my stuff just because I was gone for one day...”