The Runway

My name is Willow Lynn. In my previous life, I poured every ounce of passion into my dream of becoming a model. Every morning, I would dive straight into the training room to practice my catwalk, perfecting my gaze and the curve of my turns in front of the mirror, yearning to shine under the spotlight. But I never expected that my closest roommate, Linda White, would be the one to drag me into the abyss. During training, my outfits would mysteriously get damaged—skirt hems splitting, buttons missing from sleeves. I kept convincing myself it was just normal wear and tear. Until that crucial competition that would decide my career, when, in front of everyone, Linda suddenly yanked off the hem of my skirt. The stage lights stabbed at me like sharp knives, the murmurs from the crowd pierced my ears like needles, and the judge's gaze shifted from hope to disappointment. I stood on stage in a torn evening dress, stared at like a clown, shame and despair flooding over me in an instant. In the end, I lost the competition, my reputation ruined, and was given a lifetime ban by the industry association. The heartbreak of shattered dreams plunged me into severe depression, countless nights curled up in darkness struggling to breathe, until I finally chose to end my life. When I opened my eyes again, blinding sunlight flooded the Training Room, and the familiar scent washed over me. I looked down and saw a brand-new white training outfit in my hands—the very one I used to wear most often back in college. Turning my head, I caught Linda White sneaking around with my other training outfit, clutching a fine needle, its tip threaded with a few loose strands. I immediately realized this was the exact moment Linda first secretly sabotaged my clothes! In my previous life, it was because this tampered outfit didn't fit right that I kept making mistakes during training, fell embarrassingly, and was publicly scolded by the coach. "Linda White, what are you doing?" Holding back my shock and anger, I quickly stepped forward and snatched the clothes from her. Linda was startled by me, hurriedly hiding the needle and forcing a fake smile: "Willow Lynn, why are you back? I saw your clothes were loose, so I wanted to help fix them." "Help fix?" I sneered, holding up the clothes and shaking them at the surrounding classmates. "You picked apart perfectly good seams with a needle—is this what you call helping? Everyone, take a look: this is my so-called good roommate!" The classmates gathered around, whispering as they looked at the unravelled threads on the clothes. Linda's face flushed red as she reached out to grab the clothes back, protesting, "Don't slander me! It tore on its own!" "None?" I stepped aside, raised my hand, and slapped her; the sharp smack echoed through the training room. Linda White covered her face, staring at me in disbelief. "Willow Lynn, how dare you hit me?" "So what if I did?" My eyes chilled with determination. "In my previous life, you repeatedly ruined my clothes, yanked my dress during the competition, destroyed my reputation, got me banned for life, and drove me into depression and despair. This slap is for the me from that life!" Linda White's face went deathly pale, her lips trembling: "You... you're talking nonsense! You must be crazy!" "I'm not crazy." I lifted my clothes even higher. "Everyone, take a good look! From now on, if anyone's clothes have problems, you better check carefully!" The classmates' whispers grew louder, their eyes full of disdain and suspicion as they looked at Linda White. Linda White, both angry and desperate, ran out of the Training Room in tears. I watched her retreating figure, feeling no sympathy. This time, I would never be weak again.