Chapter 2Reborn: I Tore Apart the Poisoned Comb

I had wandered all the way to the campus gate. I called my dad. Hearing the calm, confident tone of his voice, I finally let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

All my misfortune in my past life had started with that comb. This time, I had to be careful.

I was lost in thought when someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Mia, looking anxious. I felt a surge of irritation.

"What is it?"

Her eyes darted around, a calculating look on her face. "Belle, I think you're still mad at me." She linked her arm through mine, her voice turning wheedling. "We're best friends, aren't we? Please don't be mad. I really didn't mean to break it."

In my past life, her words would have touched me. I would have taken her out for a lavish meal to show there were no hard feelings. But now, knowing her true nature, I felt nothing but disgust.

I pulled my arm away and stared at her, a playful smile on my face. "Are we really best friends?"

A flicker of guilt crossed her face, and she stammered, "Yes, of course we are."

"If you're still angry, I'll… I'll just go back to the dorm. I'll wait until you've calmed down."

With that, she turned and hurried away. As she disappeared from sight, I felt a wave of relief.

But a second later, a cold dread washed over me. There was something in my pocket.

I pulled it out. A small, wooden comb.

Rage and a profound sense of violation overwhelmed me. It was the same floral pattern as the one from my last life. Without thinking, I took a picture of it, then threw it on the ground.

She was really determined to destroy me.

I crossed the street. A car sped past, and the comb was crushed under its wheels.

She was clever, I'll give her that. A small comb, slipped into my pocket, so I wouldn't notice. I hadn't been particularly aware of my belongings before. I wore a new outfit every day, tossing the old one into a laundry basket for Mia to wash. It sounded like I was taking advantage of her, but I paid her a hundred yuan every time. She was proud and poor, so I couldn't just give her money. I had to find ways to help her without hurting her pride.

And in return, she had repaid my kindness with a viper's bite.

I took a taxi to my usual café and opened the picture of the comb on my phone. The pattern was interesting: a few intertwined lines forming a flower. I didn't know much about flowers, so I did a quick search online.

I scrolled through images, comparing them to the one on my phone. Finally, I found it.

"Fetal chrysanthemum." An unopened flower bud. The longer I looked at it, the more unsettled I felt.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Zara. We weren't friends. She was always convinced I was a rich bully who took advantage of Mia. She had no idea I was paying Mia nearly four thousand yuan a month. I never explained, and Mia never corrected her.

But it didn't matter anymore. I was going to distance myself from all of them.

I answered the call. "What's up?"

Her voice was sharp and breathless. "Where are you? Mia's been in an accident! She was hit by a car!"