Chapter 1The Borrowed Mask

On New Year's Eve, a strange girl kept asking to borrow things from me.

"Hey girl, do you have any tissues?"

"Hey girl, I think I got my period. Do you have a pad I can borrow?"

The third time, a forum post popped up on my phone.

[Fam, my chosen target isn't cooperating at all. What should I do?]

I scrolled up. The OP said she was an ordinary person who could only afford the slow train.

Her mom demanded she cough up 200,000 for her brother's wedding.

If she couldn't, she'd have to marry the cripple at the east end of the village.

The top-voted comment suggested this:

[This is simple. Find a random unlucky passerby to scam!]

[For example, pick a naive-looking college student, preferably a girl. Ask to borrow something—tissues, a pad, or a mask. As soon as she lends it to you, clutch your stomach and fall over. Claim there's something wrong with the item. Then you decide how much she pays.]

* * *

???

My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a thud.

My heart skipped a beat.

Just three minutes ago, I boarded the slow train home, ready for New Year's.

Unexpectedly, the girl in front of me walked up, saying she had a runny nose and wanted to borrow a pack of tissues.

Originally, I wanted to say yes. But reaching for my bag, I remembered the tissues were in my checked luggage, so I could only shake my head apologetically.

Next, she asked for a pad. But my period wasn't due, so I didn't have any on me.

Until the third time. She lowered her head, eyes shifting, asking to borrow a mask.

This time, I actually had one.

Just as I was about to unzip my backpack and get one for her, this post popped up on my phone.

I didn't want to look at it, but the OP said she was on a slow train, going home for New Year's. And so was I.

But as I read on, something felt wrong. The things the OP borrowed were exactly what that girl just asked me for.

Down to the last detail.

For a moment, my mind was in chaos.

But the girl in front of me looked well-behaved, nothing like the person in the post.

Seeing I didn't answer, the girl tugged lightly at the hem of my clothes.

"Hey girl, just lend me a mask. It's winter, and there are so many people on the slow train. I'm worried the air isn't clean and I'll get sick. I... don't have money to see a doctor."

Before I could answer, an older woman next to me urged, "You girl, come on. We're all women here. When you're out and about, you should help each other!"

Another older man nodded. "It's not easy for a young girl. She already asked. How can you have the heart to refuse? Look at you, a student, dressed so well, yet your heart is so black."

"Exactly, exactly. A mask isn't anything expensive. Why fuss over it with a little girl?" A man in a suit grinned.

Originally, I really intended to give it. But right now, my right eyelid was twitching, and I felt panicked.

Thinking of the post's content, I felt uncomfortable.

Seeing I didn't move, the suit guy started cursing.

I got angry too. Besides, giving or not giving is my freedom.

I zipped up my backpack, picked up my phone, and sat back down.

"Little sister, sorry, I used up my masks. You should ask someone else."

The girl bit her lip and left.

I planned to close my eyes and rest for a while.

Just then, my phone dinged. The post updated.

[What to do? The target I chose won't listen at all. She's clearly dressed so well, new Chanel from head to toe, Van Cleef & Arpels on her wrist. Obvious she's not short on money.]

[But she won't take the bait. How can I make her pay me back the 200,000?]