Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My family tried to find the hit-and-run driver, but were blocked at every turn.

No surveillance footage, the description didn’t match, excuses piled up endlessly.

In short, the driver had powerful connections and vanished without a trace.

My mother ran around countless times, aging so much in the process.

Bullied and isolated by my classmates, I, too, grew numb little by little.

Yu Sili appeared during that very time.

He transferred into our class in the second year of high school.

Carrying his desk over behind me, he asked, “Is this seat taken?”

He would gently poke my back: “Can I borrow an eraser?”

He would drape his school uniform jacket over me during my lunch break naps.

Yu Sili got along well with everyone.

But the first time he lost his temper was also because of me.

That day, while I was away, the class was gossiping about me.

“Li Li, so vain. She used to brag about being a piano prodigy, and yet she didn’t even pass the preliminary round.”

“Did she buy all those media outlets that used to praise her? She’s just rotten with vanity to the bone. Disgusting.”

“She doesn’t play the piano anymore. What does she even do all day?”

“I saw her get into some old man’s car once. Tsk tsk, at her age, already selling herself…”

Filthy words, vile and unbearable.

I stood at the door, unable to bring myself to enter the classroom.

Just then, Yu Sili burst in.

He kicked over that person’s desk with one kick.

“Sell your own father!”

That was the first time I heard Yu Sili curse.

Though it was dirty language, my heart still skipped a beat.

From then on, I gained an extra girlish secret, and that secret was called “Yu Sili.”

I pulled myself out of the memories.

I walked toward that discarded desk.

On the corner of the desk was the character “Li.”

Everyone assumed it stood for Li Li.

But in truth, it was for Yu Sili.

Clearly it had been a two-way love.

So why did it end in such a brutal mess later?

Ah, right-because in late August, Yu Sili took me to his home.

I met his mother.

The gentle, attentive, all-capable mother he always described.

It was her.

Hit-and-run, bribed connections, refused to take responsibility.

The culprit who destroyed my future.

Was Yu Sili’s most beloved family member.

And this culprit didn’t remember a thing.

Probably because she fled in such a hurry that day, she never noticed my face.

Feigning gentleness, she greeted me: “This is the first time Sili has brought a girl classmate home.”

Yu Sili scratched his head sheepishly and whispered in my ear:

“See, I told you my mom would definitely like you.”

But he didn’t know.

I felt as if I’d fallen into an icy cave.

“How are you here?”

The memories ended. Someone called out to me.

Bai Xirou, a hugely popular young actress.

Her biggest claim to fame was her rumored relationship with Yu Sili.

They were childhood friends who grew up together. When Bai Xirou debuted, Yu Sili looked out for her a great deal.

Netizens loved shipping this childhood-sweetheart CP from their pre-fame days.

Bai Xirou’s assistant was carrying dozens of cups of milk tea, apparently to hand out to everyone.

“I asked you a question. How are you here?”

She looked at me haughtily.

In fact, I’d come to see the music director.

I just happened to run into this gathering.

But there was no need to explain to her.

I said, “This is my old school. Can I not come? Instead, Miss Bai, you went to the affiliated high school, didn’t you? Why are you at our school?”

“Sili asked me to come along.”

Bai Xirou flipped her hair, deliberately showing off the ring on her finger.

Seeing me stare, Bai Xirou said, “This? It’s Sili’s and my engagement ring.”

My voice caught. “Congratulations.”

“Oh, by the way, I asked Sili whether we should invite you to the wedding.” She smiled. “But Sili said he still hates you. That back when you broke up, you cheated on him and slept with his younger brother.”

I pressed my lips together, silent.

“Sili hates his half-brother the most. And you, on top of cheating, even claimed you only ever saw Sili as his younger brother’s stand-in.

“You drove Sili so crazy he nearly lost his life.

“Thank goodness he’s moved on now. We’re very happy.”

I nodded woodenly. “Oh.”

“As for you, I hear things haven’t been going so well? You deserve it. Karma.”

Humiliating me seemed to bring Bai Xirou great joy.

She clicked away in her sky-high heels.

Because of Bai Xirou’s arrival, the classroom was filled with laughter and chatter.

Separated by a wall.

In the corridor, it was just me again, and my desk.

I pretended the desk had piano keys and silently played.

I was so absorbed in my playing.

That I didn’t notice Yu Sili come out.

He was wearing his school uniform, standing at the classroom door.

The wind blew, lifting the hem of his uniform.

He looked at me, but the light from those years was no longer in his eyes.

Just one glance.

He turned and walked away.