Chapter 1 — The 'Poor' Girl Who Got Expelled

I was reborn on the very day my daughter started her first year of university. The academic advisor was trying to force a poor student into my daughter’s private dormitory room.

"Mrs. Lam, Hua Nguyen’s family is in a difficult situation, and she is the representative for underprivileged freshmen," he said, his voice dripping with forced concern. "Your daughter doesn’t like to talk much; having Hua Nguyen stay with her is the perfect opportunity to help her integrate into the social collective."

In my previous life, I had believed him. Hua Nguyen used the image of the "selfless caregiver for her autistic roommate" to win scholarships and land media interviews. Later, she would cry before the cameras, "I wasn't her friend. I was just an unpaid nanny hired by her mother." The entire internet branded me as a cold-hearted woman who used a poor student as a tool, and my daughter was bullied so relentlessly by that girl that she was forced to drop out.

In this life, I was prepared to refuse. Hua Nguyen looked at me, her eyes reddening. "Ma'am, I just want a place where I can study in peace."

The next second, I heard her inner thoughts clearly. *Perfect. A roommate who can’t talk back is the easiest to bully. If I film a few videos of myself 'caring' for her, this year’s hardship scholarship is definitely mine.*

I looked down and saw my daughter, Nien Nien, clutching my sleeve tightly. The academic advisor kept pressuring me: "Mrs. Lam, you are all classmates. It is a good thing to help one another."

I smiled. "A good thing? In that case, why don't you have her stay at your house?"

The smile on the advisor’s face stiffened. He slammed his desk drawer shut, his expression darkening instantly. "Mrs. Lam, what is that attitude? If a parent like you refuses to show any basic awareness, then fine. This special-exception room is still undergoing approval, and the system hasn't finalized it yet, so I cannot give you the key. You two can go find a hotel and wait until it's sorted out."

Hua Nguyen tugged gently at the advisor’s sleeve. "Sir, don’t be angry at her. I’m fine. I can just lay down some blankets in the hallway and sleep there for a few nights until the seniors move out."

*Hmph, go ahead and stay in a hotel,* her voice echoed in my head. *Once it gets late and there are fewer people, I’ll have the advisor use the spare key to open the door. I’ll just throw my luggage inside first to make it a done deal, then film some footage. By the time the school gets involved, we’ll see whose side they take!*

Hearing those thoughts, I couldn't be bothered to say another word. "Fine." I took Nien Nien by the hand and turned to leave.

I brought Nien Nien straight to the university's housing management center. Ten minutes later, I placed two documents on the director’s desk. One was a watermarked receipt for a double-fee payment for a four-year private room, and the other was an official application for special disability housing, stamped with red seals.

"Director, this is the private room I applied for three months ago, for which I paid double the standard rate for all four years. Yet, my daughter’s advisor is not only withholding the keys but attempting to force a stranger into the room. Is this school policy, or is it his personal way of profiting from his position?"

The director saw the documents and immediately picked up his desk phone. "You’ve overstepped, Advisor! The special room was approved by this department—who gave you the authority to hold the keys? Authorize the access in the system immediately!"

After hanging up, the director personally took a spare key and led us upstairs. We found Hua Nguyen squatting in the hallway next to a suitcase. As soon as the director opened the door, she rushed forward, "Ma'am, please, just have some pity on me."

Her movement was so aggressive that Nien Nien flinched, her right wrist slamming hard against the metal door frame. "Nien Nien!" I pushed Hua Nguyen away. Nien Nien was trembling, biting her lip, her right arm hanging limp. Her wrist was visibly swelling, turning a angry shade of red. I glared at Hua Nguyen. "Get away from us!"

I had the director lock the door firmly behind us and rushed Nien Nien to the school clinic. After X-rays and cold compresses, the doctor informed us: "The soft tissue in the right wrist is severely damaged, and the ligaments are affected. This hand must be rested. No heavy lifting, no holding pens, no spoons for at least a week. You must take good care of her."

"Yes, of course, I understand," I said, tucking the medical diagnosis carefully into my bag.

That night, after Nien Nien fell asleep, I sat at her desk to prepare her exemption from military training. Outside, I heard footsteps. *That hateful old woman won't let me stay? Then don't blame me for using public opinion to pressure her,* Hua Nguyen’s voice drifted in. *Once this post goes up, combined with the advisor's help, let's see how these students tear them apart. The school will be forced to beg me to move in.*

I picked up my phone and opened the freshmen group chat, where Hua Nguyen had already posted a selfie of herself sitting in the corner of the hallway with a sad caption. The advisor had already chimed in, supporting her and attacking "wealthy parents" for "seeking special treatment."

I logged into Nien Nien’s account and uploaded the receipt from earlier, redacting only the private details. "Hello everyone, I am Lam Nien Nien’s mother. This is the legal receipt for this room, paid for in full three months ago as a private residence. It was never part of the school's general allocation." I tagged the advisor. "Advisor Wang, who gave you the right to gift someone else's paid-for property to a third party? And who told you that failing to occupy someone else's room is 'being mistreated'?"

The group fell silent. Then, I shared a screenshot of a private message from the advisor threatening my daughter’s academic record. The group erupted in outrage. The advisor panicked, enabling restricted mode, but the damage was done.

A few days later, during military training, I brought lunch to Nien Nien. I saw Hua Nguyen approaching, holding a bottle of water, her phone hidden in her hand, recording. *Just a little shock and she'll lose it. Once I get footage of her having a meltdown, my 'Scary Autistic Roommate' video will go viral!*

As she lunged forward to startle Nien Nien, I sprinted over, slapping the phone out of her hand. It clattered across the track. She clutched her wrist and screamed, "Assault! The parent is assaulting me!"

The advisor pushed through the crowd, pointing a finger at my face. "What are you doing! What exactly does this parent think she is doing?"