I'm A Gold-digger

1

I looked at the young man I had knocked down beneath me.

His eyebrows were dark as ink; his eyes were gloomy and dangerous.

His nose was straight, his lips thin, giving him a cold and ruthless edge.

The sharp inner corners of his eyes made him look even more aggressive.

What in the world!

Wasn't this Neal, the sinister young man from the novel I had been reading-the one who killed the male lead and tormented the female lead?

I scrambled up like a monkey, using both hands and feet.

Only then did I notice I wore a modified school uniform skirt that barely reached my thighs and a top that slightly showed my waist.

I felt like lightning had struck me. Wasn't this female lead Estelle's classic outfit?

The gold-digging, scheming girl who seduced the sunny school hunk while secretly stringing along Neal?

Clearly, I had transmigrated into the book.

2

The plot had reached the point where Estelle found Neal alone in the sports equipment room and pretended to fall to get close to him.

I looked up and saw Neal pulling down his flipped-up school uniform to cover his slightly exposed abs.

I swallowed hard. When I accidentally touched them while getting up, they felt really good.

His dark eyes swept over my throat. "Didn't you touch enough?"

Then he casually lifted the corner of his shirt. "Then touch again."

His long lashes trembled like thin wings, looking harmless and ready to be taken advantage of.

I quickly pinched my thigh.

Stay awake! Don't fall for his charm.

I carefully lowered his shirt corner. "I just accidentally touched it. Don't catch a cold."

He raised his eyes and tilted his head. "The hard texture isn't good?"

The corner of my mouth twitched. It was good, but admitting it out loud felt strange.

Caught in a tough spot, he suddenly leaned down, so close I could see the fine hairs on his face.

"What about something soft? Want to try?" His red lips moved, his warm breath brushing against mine.

3

If I were the original Estelle, I would have shyly kissed him.

But I wasn't!

I was still a virgin!

But I couldn't refuse too blatantly, or my cover would slip.

My brain overheated, and I slightly turned my head to meet him, standing on tiptoe to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders.

I gave him a pure hug.

Neal's body stiffened instantly, and he took a big step back.

Unprepared, my upper body followed his retreat, and my tiptoes couldn't hold me up, making me fall forward.

A pair of strong arms swiftly caught my waist.

I didn't care about his hand pressed against my skin because I saw his brows furrowed, surrounded by a heavy gloom.

My heart sank. Oh no, I had broken a major rule.

4

Neal was a textbook rich kid.

He was an illegitimate child who lived with his mother in the red-light district for ten years before the Obrien family took him in.

Having seen adult affairs too early and learned the dirty tricks of the underclass, he carried a deep gloom and hated being touched.

But I had hugged him!

Wasn't this like pulling a tiger's whiskers-reckless and bold?

I trembled, but then he smiled, chasing away the darkness between his brows.

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

I comforted myself that a little touching and hugging should be fine.

His eyes crinkled with a hint of mischief. "I didn't do anything, yet your legs went weak."

My face flushed red in an instant.

His broad palm against my waist felt unusually hot and impossible to ignore.

This time, I stepped back sharply. "I-I-I... we should go to class."

Neal chuckled softly. "Then let's go."

His long, straight legs took two steps forward, then paused. "Why don't you call me Nealie anymore?"

5

I felt like lightning had struck me again.

What a mess.

Estelle loved to play around. Whenever she got the chance, she called him Nealie affectionately, her voice soft and lilting, almost musical.

In the author's words, it melted people's bones.

I looked into his calm eyes, my scalp tingling.

To keep my cover!

"Ne...Nealie, hic." My voice didn't lilt. It trembled, and from sheer nerves, I hiccuped.

I covered my face with my hands. How embarrassing in front of a hot guy!

After a moment, his deep voice reached my ears. "Estelle, your call sounds unfamiliar."

6

Back with the team, my mind drifted far from volleyball practice. My head kept replaying the slightly curious look Neal gave me when we parted.

I clenched my fists secretly. I had to be more careful.

Sigh, my police dad and doctor mom must have been worried sick.

The noise from behind drowned out my inner concerns.

"Is that the Obrien family's illegitimate son? He's pretty handsome."

"Just a pretty face. Growing up in a filthy place, how clean can he be?"

A certain girl's voice teased, "Maybe he's served quite a few people..."

Laughter erupted from a group of girls.

I frowned. This private aristocratic school was too wild, gossiping about private matters without shame, almost eager to broadcast it.

"Exactly, he must have learned a lot from his mother... haha..."

Anger flared in my chest. Wasn't this verbal bullying?

I glanced at Neal nearby. He just played ball quietly, looking unbothered.

I suppressed the justice rising in me and took the ball a classmate passed.

New here, I'd better not get involved.

I hit the volleyball back, but someone bumped me from behind, sending the ball off course. It struck the girl at the center of the gossip.

She fell to the ground, her skirt flipping up, and cursed, "Damn! Who hit me!"

I stood there, stunned.

7

All eyes turned to me.

Seeing her face, I remembered who she was.

Nora from the Barrett Group, a family friend of the Obrien family. She confessed to Neal recently and got rejected, so she held a grudge.

She was also the school's top bully, doing whatever she wanted with her family's power.

I already disliked her from the book. "I hit you. So what?"

With her lackeys' help, she stood up, furious, and grabbed a ball to throw at me.

I dodged easily, avoiding it perfectly.

Ten years of Taekwondo weren't for nothing.

Her eyes widened. "You dare dodge?"

Not only did I dodge, but I talked back too.

I walked up to her, eyeing her scornfully from head to toe. "Oh, it's Miss Barrett. How's your father? Still bringing home mistresses?"

Nora's face paled. She hated her lecherous father who embarrassed her.

I pretended to gasp and covered my mouth. "Right, your father's over forty and still chasing women. His stamina's impressive."

Her face turned ashen.

Just as I turned to make a cool exit, a flash of silver caught my eye from across the way.

Before I could react, a Swiss army knife swung at me.

I froze, dumbfounded.

8

As the silver blade aimed for my chest, someone yanked my hand back.

Falling fast, I saw a tall figure dart past.

With a swift side kick, he sent the knife flying.

Neal turned to look down at me, and I clearly saw the emotions swirling in his eyes.

Alarm bells rang in my head.

Oh no, he wouldn't think I stood up for him on purpose, would he?

He once told the female lead he liked her because she gave him an umbrella on a rainy day.

If he thought Estelle helped him out, with his lack of love, he'd be completely devoted.

For me, that would be a disaster. Neal bent toward me, and as I puzzled over it, my body suddenly felt weightless.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.

In front of everyone, he gave me a princess carry!

Just as I started to struggle, someone pulled at Neal from the side, his voice low. "Let go."

9

Neal's brows furrowed.

He shrugged off the hand on his shoulder, but it didn't budge.

I acted fast, prying Kellan's hand off Neal. "I want to go with him."

Kellan looked shocked.

Neal seemed pleased.

He strode out of the gym with long steps.

I watched his expression the whole way. It seemed normal.

He must have been used to those words.

Near the classroom, I patted his neck. "Hey, you can put me down now."

He glanced down at me and tightened his grip instead.

I squirmed uncomfortably.

Fine, let him carry me. It's not me who's tired.

Suddenly, he bent slightly and set me on a desk.

Neal's hands rested on either side of me, his dark eyes level with mine, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Quite heavy."

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

On the surface, I smiled and nodded. "I'm losing weight."

He straightened up, half-sitting on the desk behind him, his brows slightly raised. "Losing weight with this little body?"

Neal paused, his mouth curling playfully. "For the sake of future happiness, maybe I should lift more iron."

Happiness?

Was there a hidden meaning? Or was I overthinking it?

I looked away, ready to hop off the desk.

Suddenly, a hand reached over from the other side and pressed my shoulder. "Sit with me for a while."

I looked up, startled.

The sunset deepened, warm yellow light wrapping around him, the air tinged with sadness.

He lowered his eyes, the corner of his mouth still curved, yet he looked fragile and lonely.

My heart skipped a beat. "Are you okay?"

The next moment, his slight smile faded, his lips straightening, and a gloomy aura spilled out.

I panicked. I shouldn't have asked.

They say the sadder someone is, the worse they feel when you ask.

I had no experience comforting people, so I blurted out whatever came to mind. "You're not wrong. Don't be sad. It's those gossipers who are wrong."

I slapped my thigh hard. "Or I can help you beat them up to vent." I paused. "But we'd have to drag them to an alley. It's not worth a demerit for scum."

A soft laugh cut me off.

At some point, Neal's mouth held a faint smile, his dark eyes half-open, gazing at me quietly. "Estelle shouldn't get hurt."

He lowered his voice, his eyes crinkling. "Just call me Nealie. That'll do."

Oh my gosh! He was so captivating right then.

I found myself saying, "Nealie."

The next moment, my heart clenched.

Big mistake!

My voice was crisp and soft. Not seductive, not teasing.

How could the same throat, with a different soul, sound so different?

He froze for a few seconds, then pinched my chin, shaking it side to side, and suddenly smiled. "Call me like that from now on. I like this kind of call."

10

Even until school ended, even at the gate, that sentence looped in my mind.

His low, magnetic voice, his soul-stirring smile, his suggestive words...

I was done for.

Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my wrist from behind.

My heart fluttered.

I turned and quickly pulled my hand back.

It was Kellan, the school hunk.

He stared at his empty hand, his face stiff. "Estelle, what's wrong with you today?"

I scanned the surroundings quickly. Students milled about.

I stepped back to create distance, mimicking Estelle's clipped tone, sounding haughty. "What's wrong? Don't act familiar."

Kellan's face nearly turned red, and he couldn't speak for a moment.

After all, Estelle had always used suggestive glances and subtle touches, but they never confirmed anything verbally.

As the school hunk, he wouldn't admit to such flirtations publicly. It'd ruin his image.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Kellan's face. He grabbed my wrist and pulled it toward his chest. "Estelle, those tricks you used to flirt with me, my responses-don't tell me you don't know!"

His words dripped with anger, teeth gritted.

I shoved him away hard.

He switched to his sunny, handsome-guy face, looking innocent.

Damn it. I had underestimated Kellan.

Curious classmates started gathering around.

Playing the victim? I could do that too.

I pinched myself hard, tears welling up, and clutched my reddened wrist pitifully. "Kellan, don't bully me too much! Just because you have some dirty money, you think you can force me."

Whispers spread around us. Kellan's face grew worse.

"Don't even think about it!" I laughed triumphantly inside when someone approached from behind, resting a hand on my shoulder.

I glanced sideways warily and stopped laughing.

Neal stood beside me, his face unreadable.

11

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes cool. "Estelle, do you like me or him now?"

I stayed calm on the outside, but inside, I was a mess.

A life-or-death question.

Truly a life-or-death question.

My mind raced. "Don't ask like that. I'm innocent with Kellan. I've never liked him."

I leaned closer and whispered, "Of course I like you, Nealie."

Neal's mouth curved up, and he touched my earlobe as a reward.

My body jolted, my spine tingling.

"My Estelle says she's innocent with that guy. If anyone gossips behind our backs, don't blame me for being rude."

Neal dropped those words, took my hand, and led me away from the crowd.

His unusually cold hand cooled the heat rising in me.

I touched his forehead with my other hand. It was burning hot. "You have a fever?"

He pulled my hand away, looking like he didn't want to bother with me. "I don't have a habit of flirting everywhere."

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I had to smooth things over. "That's unfair. He came to me and wouldn't let go."

I even pouted, pretending to be upset. "It's not like I went looking for him."

He hummed low, saying nothing.

Seizing the chance, I changed the subject. "You must have a 40-degree fever. Let's go to the hospital."

He waved lazily, his long legs speeding up to put distance between us.

His back practically screamed, "Get lost, stop nagging, I don't want to hear it."

I recalled from the novel that his home had nothing but a bed.

In short, bare walls.

Seeing his listless state, I jogged to catch up. "Wait, I'll go home first, then come find you. Remember to open the door."

We lived in the same neighborhood anyway.

I'd bring him some fever medicine.

Neal stopped short. "Come to my house for what?"

I snapped back, annoyed. "To flirt, obviously."

His eyes sparkled with amusement, his laughter growing until he bent toward me, unable to hold it in.

His warm, moist breath hit my ear as he spoke.

After hearing his words, my head exploded with a bang!