On the day we're supposed to fill in our future universities, my childhood friend, Emma Slater, who's smart enough to attend a first-rate university, doesn't hesitate to fill a community university as the university she wants to attend the most.

All of our classmates are stunned, to say the least. They quickly tell me to stop Emma from submitting that form.

But I just smile at them faintly. "It's fine. I completely respect Emma's wishes."

No one knows that I've been reborn.

In my previous life, Ezekiel Smith, the low income student who had transferred into our class, claimed that he was a transmigrator who was here to save Emma. If both of them couldn't get into the same university, he'd get eradicated by the system.

Emma kept obeying Ezekiel's every command, as though she was under his spell. I didn't have the heart to see her give up on her future, so I exposed Ezekiel's lies on the spot. At the same time, I managed to switch Emma's future university back to Kingswell University and Bellsgrave University right before the due date was up.

While Emma did get to study at a prestigious university with me, Ezekiel ended up jumping off a building at the third-rate university. In his suicide note, he kept pointing fingers at me and claiming that I was the reason he failed his conquest, which led to his eradication.

Because of that, Emma hated my guts to the point that she pushed me off the campus' rooftop, resulting in my own death.

Now that I've gotten reborn again, I just want to watch Emma fall into the abyss.

The Internet cafe was freezing from the blasting air conditioning. Ezekiel Smith clenched his teeth, his voice strained with obsession and unwillingness to accept defeat.

"Emma, the system said you're the Child of Fortune. No matter which university you attend, your life trajectory will always keep you on track.

"I'm your destined male lead. If we don't end up together at the same university, the plotline will deviate from its original route. Once that happens, I'll be erased by the world mechanics and disappear from this world."

Heartache filled Emma Slater's eyes. She reached up and gently touched his face, her tone unwavering. "Zeke, who cares about those top universities? For you, I'd even give up my life as long as you can stay in this world."

The moment she finished speaking, she gripped the mouse and pressed the submit button without the slightest hesitation. The surrounding students all sucked in sharp breaths, staring at her like she had gone insane.

Relief washed over Ezekiel's face. He immediately clasped Emma's hand in return and pulled her into his arms, as though she were some hero who had just saved the entire world.

I watched the scene unfold and tightened my grip around my own mouse.

In my previous life, Emma and I had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. Everyone believed we would eventually get married. Ever since Ezekiel transferred into our class, though, everything changed.

Without the slightest shame, he pointed at Emma and declared, "The world you live in is actually a novel, and I'm the male lead of that story. As the female lead, you're destined to fall in love with me."

At first, everyone treated Ezekiel like a joke. Emma, especially, looked utterly disgusted and told him to get lost. However, he was like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe.

No matter what happened, he just wouldn't go away. Somehow, he always did the right things that slowly won her heart.

When Emma injured herself during dance practice, he silently bandaged her wounds without asking for credit. When her father publicly scolded her, he stepped in front of her without hesitation and shielded her behind him.

After a few times, I could vividly feel Emma's attitude toward him changing. What began as rejection slowly turned into silent tolerance, then restrained concern.

At some point, Emma and I, who had once been inseparable, suddenly became a group of three.

The real breaking point happened during PE class. Since Ezekiel was constantly around Emma, the guys in class collectively isolated him. During volleyball practice, nobody wanted to pair up with him, so the teacher assigned me as his partner.

During practice, I accidentally spiked the ball off target. It slammed straight into his head. He let out a muffled groan and stumbled backward onto the ground. His forehead scraped against the floor hard enough to break skin.

Almost instantaneously, Emma rushed over like she had lost her mind. She shoved me away with all her strength and pulled Ezekiel protectively behind her. Her eyes were red as she screamed at me.

"Joseph, are you insane? You're just jealous that there's another guy who treats me sincerely! How can you be this petty?"

When I saw the guarded disgust in her eyes, my heart went cold. From then on, our relationship never recovered.

Emma became increasingly hostile toward me. To prove to Ezekiel that she could complete his so-called mission, she threw herself deeper and deeper into rebellion.

Skipping classes, getting into fights, smoking, drinking… She forcibly turned herself from a favored young woman into a full-blown delinquent.

In my previous life, I thought she had only been temporarily manipulated. I did everything I could to drag her back onto the right path and even helped her secure admission slots at Kingswell University and Bellgrave University.

What I got in return was a shattered body and a miserable death. Even now, the agony still seemed carved into my bones.

This time, I would never allow the tragedy to repeat itself.

I withdrew my gaze and, without the slightest hesitation, clicked confirm on my own application portal. Kingswell University and Bellgrave University—information verified.

I shut down the computer, pulled off my headphones, and prepared to leave.

Hearing the movement, Emma turned to look at me. Surprise flickered across her eyes at first, as though she hadn't expected me to remain indifferent. Soon, mockery displaced that surprise.

She was convinced I was playing hard to get. After all, I had memorized her candidate ID and password by heart.

Whenever Emma caused trouble, I was always the one cleaning up after her. In her eyes, there was no way I would willingly give up any chance to stay by her side.

Hooking her arm around Ezekiel's, she let out a cold laugh. "Joseph, I know what you're planning. You're going to secretly log into my account and change my university application back to Kingswell and Bellgrave tonight."

She paused, her eyes full of disdain. "You're just like my mom. You both love controlling my life. You've clung to me like some obsessive caretaker for years. I'm honestly sick of it! Please, just give me some room to breathe!"

Ezekiel also lifted his chin at the perfect moment, deliberately looking at me with a generous expression. "Joseph, I know you can't bear to let Emma go, but you can't force a relationship. Can't you just let us be? I'm begging you."

I stopped walking and turned back to look at them, my smile congratulatory. "Well, how can I say no now? I wish you both a long and happy relationship together, and a bright future ahead."

Emma thought she had struck a nerve, so she continued warning me, "Oh, quit the damn act. I'm warning you, stop making decisions for me under the excuse of 'doing what's best for me.'

"Even if you changed my application, I'd never thank you for it! The only person I'll ever love is Zeke!"

Looking at them immersed in their self-righteous fantasy, I couldn't care to spare them an extra glance. I walked straight out of the Internet cafe.

The moment I stepped outside, the phone in my pocket rang. It was Emma's mother, Liliana Rosewood.

I took the call, and soon came her anxious voice. "Hey, Joseph. How did the applications go? Did Emma pick her major for Kingswell and Bellgrave? You've got to help me keep an eye on her."

I replied calmly, "Yeah, everything went pretty smoothly, Mrs. Slater. Emma has her own ideas. She already submitted her choices."

After hanging up, I sighed heavily. In this second life, I wanted nothing more than to watch Emma sink into the mire and fall beyond redemption.

When I returned home and pushed the door open, the smell of home-cooked food rushed toward me. I looked at Mom, busy in the kitchen, and my eyes instantly turned warm.

Tears finally came pouring down after I had held back since being reborn.

In my previous life, after Emma pushed me off the rooftop, she not only faced no real consequences but also used her family's influence to drive my family into bankruptcy.

Mom and Dad, left with nowhere to appeal, eventually died in a tragic car accident after being run from pillar to post.

I shuffled over and embraced Mom tightly from behind, my voice cracked. "I'm home, Mom."

She startled, immediately putting down the spatula and turning around to wipe the tears off my face. "What's the matter, son? Did something go wrong with your university applications?"

Dad came out from the study as well, his expression tight with concern. "It's okay, Joseph. I'll back you up if someone's been giving you trouble!"

Looking at their living, breathing faces, I shook my head hard. After wiping away my tears, I squeezed a wide smile. "No, I'm just really happy. Mom, Dad, I applied for Kingswell and Bellgrave."

At dinner, I put down my spoon and announced calmly, "By the way, from now on, I won't have anything to do with Emma anymore. And the relationship between our families… Let's end it here."

They were shocked. They knew Emma and I had grown up together, and had always assumed we would choose each other for life.

"What happened, Joseph?" Dad asked, frowning.

I briefly explained how Emma had changed her university choices for Ezekiel, omitting anything about my rebirth.

After hearing everything, Dad slammed his hand on the table. "That's ridiculous! She's treating her future like a joke! The Slaters' daughter has completely lost her mind!"

Mom, on the other hand, gently patted my shoulder, heartbroken. "You did the right thing, Joseph. She's irresponsible and irrational. The sooner you distance yourself, the better. No matter what, we support your decision."

With my parents behind me, I finally felt the burden in my chest vanish.

Meanwhile, the Slater family still knew nothing about Emma changing her university application.

Liliana was busy bragging to everyone she met that her daughter was guaranteed admission to Kingswell University and Bellgrave University. She even booked the most luxurious hotel in the city in advance for a celebratory enrollment party.

That evening, she came to our house carrying a basket of fruit. She looked radiant with pride as soon as she stepped inside, grabbing my hand with a beaming smile.

"You and Emma did well in the exam this time. She's the top science student, while you're the top humanities student. Once you two get to either Kingswell or Bellgrave, you must take good care of her."

Then, Liliana started laying out a future, as if it were already decided. "After you two graduate from university, you should get married early. I'll help take care of the kids. You just focus on marrying Emma and helping out in the company."

Mom couldn't stand it anymore and cut in coldly. "Liliana, we should let the kids decide their own lives. Joseph is planning to pursue postgraduate studies. He won't be thinking about settling down so soon."

I calmly withdrew my hand as well, my tone polite but distant. "Mrs. Slater, it's all about freedom in choosing your partners these days. Emma already has someone she's into. I'm sure you knew that a long time ago.

"So, going forward, please don't bring up any of the engagement arrangements again. It's not true, and it won't look good on anyone if it spreads."

Liliana waved dismissively. "I know Emma has been spending time with that poor punk named Ezekiel, but don't take it to heart. Women just like to have a bit of fun with someone new before marriage. It's normal.

"She's guaranteed admission to either of those top unis, so I'm sure she knows her limits. The position of the Slater son-in-law can only be yours, Joseph."

Honestly, I felt a wave of nausea rising in my chest.

Back then, Liliana had only been a housemaid for the Slater family. She climbed her way up by taking advantage of the wife's illness, eventually giving birth to Emma.

For years, the family had continued to support both of them.

Only after the wife passed away did her husband, Andrew Slater, publicly state, "Regardless of which child, whoever got into Kingswell or Bellgrave will be eligible to enter the company's core management structure."

In other words, it was an open qualification for succession among the illegitimate children.

That single condition gave Liliana all the motivation to stake everything she had on this exam so she could use it as her one chance to stage a dramatic reversal of fate.

Looking at Liliana's self-satisfied, nonstop chatter, I deliberately played along and praised her. "Emma really does have strong opinions. We all trust her. Just wait for the enrollment party. She's going to make you extremely proud."

She was instantly delighted, her anticipation for the party reaching its peak. "Of course! The Superintendent of Schools and the principal will all be there. I want everyone to know my daughter is the best of the best!"

I smiled and nodded, but inwardly, I sneered. Hopefully, Liliana would still be able to smile on that day.

After the application submissions, Emma and Ezekiel were openly showing off their relationship on social media over the entire summer break.

One day, they were having candlelit dinners at upscale restaurants; the next, they were vacationing at the beach. His posts were filled with luxury watches and expensive sneakers.

It was obvious that the monetary reward Liliana had given Emma was being spent freely on Ezekiel.

The high school alumni group chat was buzzing every day.

"Emma and Ezekiel are way too public about it. She's spending a lot on him!"

"I heard he applied to a community college. Is she really going to follow him there?"

"No way! Joseph would never just watch her ruin her future like that!"

Reading that message, I sat on the couch and calmly took a sip of water.

Back then, in everyone's eyes, I had truly been the bossy, over-protective guy around Emma. To attend the same university as her, I tutored her, planned her academic path, and poured in a great deal of effort to make it all happen.