Chapter 1
My mom's research team created an app that, once installed on a child, could monitor and even control their every move, anytime, anywhere.
As my mom's only daughter, I was forced to beta test this app.
From that moment on, my life was no longer my own.
Sometimes just spacing out while studying would get me remotely shocked until I wet myself.
Watching me in such a pathetic state, my mom would only remark coldly:
"The methods I've designed are all scientific. You just don't understand."
Today is my birthday, and also the day of this app's official launch.
She demanded I appear before the world in perfect condition to showcase her achievement.
"I'm doing this for your own good. One day, you'll thank me!"
But Mom, yesterday I already starved myself to death.
What you're controlling now is nothing but a corpse.
Before dawn even broke, I was jolted awake by an electric current.
The next second, I got out of bed and walked mechanically to the balcony.
I squeezed out exactly one-third of toothpaste, filled a cup with ice water, brushed each tooth for precisely 30 seconds, then wiped my face with a damp towel—three circles left, three circles right.
Then I picked up the French textbook beside me and began reading aloud.
At that moment, my mom's satisfied voice came through my earpiece:
"Well done. You really are an obedient child. As a reward, I bought you new clothes!"
I looked at my closet filled with identical styles and lengths in different colors, and smiled bitterly without a sound.
But the next second, my bitter smile was interrupted by my roommate.
"Are you ever going to stop? Every single day you wake up at four and disturb everyone! You might not need sleep, but we do!"
My roommate had been woken up countless times. She hadn't had a single good night's sleep all semester.
I felt deeply guilty and wanted to apologize, but my vocal cords seemed hijacked by someone else, unconsciously cursing at my roommate.
"It's already four o'clock and you're still sleeping—lazy as a pig!
If you want to be a worthless person with no ambition, fine, but don't try to drag me down with you!"
My roommate's face instantly flushed red with anger, and she furiously plugged her ears.
No, those weren't my words.
My heart was bleeding, but my mouth kept reading aloud, word after word.
For some reason, my voice sounded like a rusty iron gate creaking back and forth, particularly grating in the silent night.
I went on like this for two solid hours before stopping.
I wasn't allowed even a sip of water, and my lips looked bloody and cracked.
Then my mom's voice came through the earpiece.
"Aria Sterling, what's going on?
Why am I seeing all your vital signs at zero here?
What did you tamper with?"
My body didn't respond.
"Say something! Are you mute?
When did I teach you to treat your elders this way?
Why won't you listen to me again!"
My mom's voice grew impatient.
That's not it!
Seeing my mom angry, I instinctively wanted to explain, but I couldn't open my mouth.
"Ugh!" She sighed, her tone softening.
"Aria, today is the most important day of my life.
Please don't throw a tantrum, okay?
This isn't just for me—it's for your future too!"
I tried to speak, but still couldn't make a sound.
The next second, a sharp screaming sound pierced my ears, like nails scraping a blackboard.
"Are you just like your black-hearted father, waiting to watch me fail?
How did I give birth to such a bastard! All this hard work—who am I doing it for?"
"Since you're determined to go against me today, fine! I'm activating the highest level right now. You asked for this!"
When I heard "highest level," my heart trembled.
Because this meant I would become completely puppeteered by the app, forced to follow every planned route.
If I had any thought of breaking the rules, even just turning my head during class, I'd receive severe electric shocks.
There were even several times I was shocked into losing bladder and bowel control in front of everyone.
But I suddenly realized—I didn't need to fear this anymore.
Because Mom, I'm already dead.