The Coveted Identity

With boundless hope for the future, I stepped onto the university campus I had long dreamed of. I had thought this would be a sky where I could freely soar, a starting point to pursue my dreams. But reality struck me hard. University dormitory life was nothing short of a nightmare for me. The cramped spaces, crowded beds, and utter lack of privacy made me feel overwhelmingly suffocated. My roommates' lifestyles were completely at odds with mine. Some stayed up late, shouting loudly into the night; others were utterly unhygienic, carelessly tossing trash everywhere. All of this became unbearable for me. Just a few days later, I resolutely decided to move out. With the Young Family's wealth, buying a villa was no hardship for me. Before long, I found a villa with beautiful surroundings and full amenities, ready to begin my new life alone. That day, I went with great joy to collect the villa keys. Just as I received the keys and hadn't yet fully savored my happiness, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared. She was the daughter of our family's housekeeper, Anne Shane. Anne Shane rushed straight over, snatched the keys from my hand, and glared at me with wide, angry eyes as she sternly accused me: "Do you realize how hard our elders work to earn money? Uncle Young supports your education so you can study, not for you to spend money living in luxury!" Her sudden action and harsh reproach left me confused, my heart filled with resentment. I frowned, struggling to keep my emotions in check, and gently pleaded: "Anne Shane, this is my own matter. You shouldn't be so possessive over my money." But Anne simply wouldn't listen to me; her eyes were red-rimmed, and she clenched her teeth, as if she had made a resolute decision. Suddenly, she pulled a yellowed photograph from her belongings, held it up before me, and shouted with intense emotion: "Fourteen years ago, you stole my jade pendant at the orphanage. That's why Uncle Young sent the search team after me and forced you to take my place as the Young Group's heiress!" "I have endured humiliation and hardship for fourteen years, hoping to give you a chance and expose the truth only after you started working. But to my shock, you have only grown more ruthless, determined to destroy my family's fortune before you stop!" Her words hit like a bombshell, instantly sparking a huge uproar among the crowd around us. Classmates quickly closed in, casting strange glances and starting to whisper and point at me. "I never expected that someone who looks so glamorous had been a thief since childhood, rotten to the core." "This woman occupied another one's place for fourteen years, and even when exposed, she shows no shame or remorse—her nerve is remarkable." Angry and anxious, my face burning red, I hurriedly scrambled to defend myself: "Don't listen to her nonsense. I've never seen any jade pendant; it's all a complete lie she made up!" But at that moment, everyone looked at me with suspicion and disdain; no one was willing to believe me. I thought clearing up the facts would end this farce, but I never imagined that Anne Shane would be so determined to frame me. A few days later, Anne Shane caused another scene at school. This time, she came with a stranger and walked straight up to me. Before I could react, the man suddenly reached out and slapped me hard across the face.