During the audition of the animal show that will be held on the National Day Gala, Yvonne Quinlan, the self-proclaimed genius animal trainer, instructs the pigeons to go into formation and soar around the skies.

But the next thing everyone knows, bird poop begins raining down on everyone's heads. Awkward can't even begin to describe the situation.

Having lost her composure, Yvonne blames me for copying her as a fake animal trainer. She claims that I was the one who pulled a prank on her.

In my previous life, the python, which I've painstakingly nurtured with my family heirloom and my blood essence, suddenly went berserk.

Just when it was about to strangle me to death and devour me whole, Yvonne, who was a low-income student I'd been sponsoring, let out a shrill whistle. The ferocious python immediately coiled around her waist, looking very docile and sweet.

My boyfriend, Brandon Jenner, accused me of stealing Yvonne's python just because I had money and power on my side. He also jeered at me for shooting myself in the foot after everything I had done.

Almost immediately, I became the thief everyone hated. My python went berserk once again and attempted to devour me. This time, no one tried to save me.

Just like that, Yvonne gained popularity after putting on a performance with my python. Brandon even proposed to her on the spot. They became a famous couple on the Internet after that.

When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the timeframe of three days before my school announces the audition of the upcoming animal show.

It was then that my boyfriend, Brandon Jenner, exclaimed, "You're the top student in our animal training program, Tamara! You've got such a talent for this—every animal you work with follows your orders perfectly. You're the only one fit for the National Day Gala performance!"

I heard the familiar speech just as I regained consciousness from the pain of having my bones crushed by a python.

In the meantime, my classmates gathered around me, looking at me with anticipation and respect. "What kind of animal are you training this time, Tamara? We're all looking forward to your performance! We're counting on you to bring glory to the college!"

I replied indifferently, "I haven't decided yet."

Brandon added urgently, "You have to make sure you're fully prepared since they're picking the performance for the National Day Gala this time around, Tamara."

It was then that Yvonne Quinlan grabbed my arm and said, "You're known as the college's youngest prodigy in animal training, Tamara! Your act will certainly be selected for the National Day Gala. The rest of us are just along for the ride!

"I've been challenging myself lately to train a python, though. I hope you can give me some pointers when you have the chance, Tamara!"

In that instant, the crowd gasped in astonishment.

"You're actually going after a cold-blooded animal like the python? Tamara has handled ferocious animals like lions and tigers, but at least they have some emotion—pythons have none. You're actually planning on training one when the rest of us steer clear of them?"

Yvonne's eyes gleamed with pride. "I may not be as talented as Tamara, but I still want to push myself and give it a try."

In my past life, I was amazed that the normally timid Yvonne was bold enough to handle a python, especially since I was doing the same. I even ended up teaching her the essential techniques for taming them.

In the end, during the National Day Gala auditions, my python suddenly went wild mid-performance and coiled around me, crushing my bones to splinters.

I heard the sound of a whistle piercing the air just as the python was about to swallow me. It then let go of me and slithered over to Yvonne, coiling itself tamely around her waist.

In that moment, my mind reeled in disbelief. I couldn't believe that the python I had used my family's secret treasure and my own heart's blood to nourish and tame took my life to serve Yvonne instead.

Yvonne looked at me with an aggrieved expression and said, "I could let you have the other animals, but pythons are cold-blooded and dangerous if you fail to tame them. You should have heeded my advice, Tamara."

Brandon stepped forward and pointed a finger at me in a rage, snarling, "It was bad enough when you took credit for the animals Yvonne trained, but now you've gone and stolen her python as well, Tamara! You've brought this all on yourself, and you have no one else to blame for it!"

In that instant, I was branded a bully and a thief that everyone hated. They actually cheered together as they watched the python swallow me whole.

Yvonne used my python to skyrocket to fame at the National Day Gala, earning the title of a prodigy in animal training. Brandon even proposed to her in front of the crowd, making them the envied couple who went viral online.

I could still feel the phantom pain of being crushed as I recalled my death in my past life. I hurriedly pushed Yvonne aside and said with a faint smile, "I'm looking forward to your performance. It's getting late, so I'm going to go pick the animal I want to train. I'll leave you all to it, then."

I immediately turned and walked away after saying that.

I looked at the python in its cage after arriving at the training facility, feeling a heavy weight in my chest. I had rescued this python from a tiger three years prior.

I knew how hard it was to control cold-blooded animals, so I had used my family's secret treasure and my own blood to raise it, nurturing it for three years just to get it to submit to me. I never imagined that it would suddenly turn on me and kill me during the audition for the National Day Gala.

I called my lecturer with those thoughts in mind and requested to release the python back into the wild. I wasn't going to train it anymore. I wouldn't budge even when my lecturer, who was confused about my decision, tried to talk me out of it, so they eventually gave in and agreed to my request.

It was on that very evening that someone from the Animal Control Bureau came and hauled the python.

I had to train another animal for the National Day Gala audition since I no longer had the python. I chose to train three timber wolves after much consideration, knowing that aside from dogs, wolves were the most loyal animals, and timber wolves were especially ferocious—strong enough to take down a bear.

I wasn't taking any chances in this life. I had no idea how Yvonne had managed to turn my python against me in my past life, but by choosing not to train it at all, I was sure I could avoid that fate.

I spent the following weeks focusing entirely on the timber wolves, and soon, the day of the auditions drew near.

I had just gone over to the office to hand in my audition registration form when my lecturer asked me to stay over to help organize some paperwork.

I happened to find out that the animals Yvonne intended to train for the audition were timber wolves as well. I immediately felt a chill run down my spine. I didn't believe for a second it was a coincidence.

I hurriedly took my form back, came up with an excuse, and walked out of the office.

I happened to come across Brandon and Yvonne tugging at each other on my way back.

Upon spotting me, Brandon hurriedly pushed Yvonne away. "It's not what it looks like, Tamara. I only think of Yvonne as a sister.

"You see, Yvonne has been training wolves lately and was saying how she was frightened of them. She's completely hopeless compared to you, Tamara. You're truly the best since you can tame all kinds of animals."

I would have been overjoyed if I had heard something like that in my past life, but now they just made me sick. "You and Yvonne are perfect for each other, Brandon. You can just make it official with her. You two should stay bound together forever—till death do you part."

Yvonne burst into tears, saying, "You've got it all wrong, Tamara. Brandon and I are strictly platonic. I'll stop seeing him altogether if it upsets you. Please don't withdraw your financial support just because you're mad at me, Tamara."

Brandon's expression immediately hardened. "You're being jealous over nothing, Tamara. Yvonne and I are only friends, so stop being so narrow-minded and petty. You'd better apologize to Yvonne this instant."

I scoffed and said, "You want me to apologize to her? You must be delusional! You and I are no longer together, Brandon! Who the hell do you think you are to order me around?"

I then fixed my gaze on Yvonne and asked, "I thought you said you were going to train a python for the audition, so why did you switch to a timber wolf all of a sudden?"

In that instant, a crowd gathered as they overheard the conversation.

"You're usually so timid, Yvonne. How could you be training timber wolves now? You ought to know that timber wolves are predators that can take down bears!"

Yvonne lifted her chin with a proud expression. "It's not that bad. I found that timber wolves are just like huskies—they're very obedient. I mean, they do exactly what I say, whether it's standing or dancing."

I ran back to the training facility in a daze and stood there in silence, watching the three timber wolves I had trained dancing in grass skirts. I started to think that no matter what animal I chose, Yvonne would somehow claim it as her own. I even considered quitting since I couldn't change the outcome.

I applied for a leave of absence to head back to my hometown, using the excuse that my grandma's hens had stopped laying eggs and I needed to train them to fix their behavior.

Elliott Greene, the student coordinator, initially refused my request, but I suddenly took out my plane ticket and Grandma's heart disease diagnosis, saying, "I'm sorry, but my grandma's heart condition is fragile, so she can easily fall ill if she's upset, Mr. Greene."

In the end, Elliott had no choice but to approve the request.

I had no idea how they found out that I was heading back to my hometown, but Brandon and Yvonne showed up right outside my dorm building the very next day.

Brandon approached me, looking displeased. "What the hell are you doing, Tamara? How could you suddenly take time off to return to your hometown, especially with the National Day Gala auditions just right around the corner? You're being ridiculous here!"

Yvonne appeared equally anxious, saying, "You ought to know that this competition affects our college's reputation, Tamara. How could you just quit and return to your hometown? You're well aware that all of us are counting on you to bring honor to our college."

I glanced at them with a frigid gaze and stated flatly, "It's my own affair, and it has nothing to do with either of you."

Brandon snapped, "How can you be so selfish, Tamara? You ought to know that this competition isn't just about you. It involves the entire college!

"You'd better talk to Mr. Greene right now and tell him that you're staying. You can leave to deal with whatever matters you have after the competition is over!"

I rolled my eyes and retorted, "Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do? Get out of my face and move out of my way."

Yvonne, looking aggrieved, said, "If you're upset over Brandon and me, I'll stay away from him from now on, Tamara."

Brandon placed his hand on my shoulder, saying, "I know you're just jealous, Tamara. If it bothers you, I won't have anything to do with other women anymore. Is that enough for you? I don't want you to throw away your future over a petty grudge. I'm only looking out for you, Tamara."

I checked my phone—I was going to miss my flight if I didn't leave, and I had no time for their drama. I pushed Brandon aside and said, "It won't be necessary. I'd actually prefer it if you and Yvonne stayed together for good.

"I just want you to remember that we've already broken up, Brandon, so if you touch me again, I'll report you for harassment."

I pulled my suitcase along and hopped into a cab after saying that. I left Brandon fuming, giving him nothing but a face full of car exhaust as the cab drove off.

…

I arrived back at my hometown that evening. Grandma was so happy to see me that she slaughtered two chickens—that couldn't lay eggs—to cook a nourishing meal for me.

In the following days, Brandon and Yvonne had been calling me incessantly, so I simply added all their numbers to my block list.

I began looking for a new animal to train back home, refusing to believe that from such a vast distance, Yvonne could still take credit for my work. I settled on pigeons after much consideration. I thought that since they were a symbol of peace, I wanted them to perform a flying routine for the National Day Gala.

I wanted to be on the safe side, so I caught wild pigeons in the mountains back at my hometown. After all, wild animals were the most difficult to train. I finally got them to follow my orders after training them for a month.

It wasn't long before the day before the National Day Gala audition arrived. I traveled back that evening and made it just in time as the audition was starting.

Yvonne's expression brightened when she saw me. "I knew you wouldn't give up so easily, Tamara. What kind of animal did you train for your performance? I can't wait to see your act, Tamara!"

Having said that, Yvonne kept glancing over my shoulder. She looked visibly panicked when she realized that I had nothing with me. She was about to speak again when her name was called, indicating she had to go up for her performance.

I smiled faintly while the others were filled with anticipation for Yvonne's performance.

"I heard you trained both a python and timber wolves before this. Which one are you bringing out for the performance, Yvonne?"

Yvonne appeared panicked, stumbling over her words and failing to explain herself.

It was then that a flock of pigeons drifted down from above, landing gently on my shoulders and around me.

When Yvonne saw that, her expression immediately brightened. She then replied with a smile, "I'm training pigeons, as they symbolize peace. I wanted to use them to honor the peace our nation fought so hard for."

She then blew a whistle, sending a flock of pigeons into the sky and forming a grand spectacle. She flashed me a mocking smile before waving her hand, prompting the pigeons to instantly shift into an organized formation.

In the very next second, a rain of foul-smelling droppings fell from the sky, and one of the pigeons actually aimed its rear at Yvonne's smiling face and shot a spray of fresh droppings right into her mouth.