Chapter 2
That same evening, Jiang Shuhua broke up with me.
He sent me a message on WeChat saying he had thought things over. Students really ought to put academics first, he wrote, and he hoped we could wait until after the college entrance examination to discuss anything else.
I did not resent him.
His grades were excellent, and Tsinghua had always been his goal. I understood why he would not want romance interfering with his studies.
What I never expected was that only a few days later, he and Qiu Ting would announce that they were dating.
On Moments, they posted the same photograph of their hands entwined in the library.
The caption read: “Being with the right person is what makes you better and better.”
The comments were nothing but congratulations.
“First and second in the grade? I’m so jealous!”
“Imagine how smart their children would be. An IQ of 180?”
…
It was a beautiful photograph. A ray of sunlight streamed through the library window and fell across their interlocked fingers.
The girl’s hand was pale and elegant, exactly the kind Jiang Shuhua liked.
He had told me countless times that my manicures were too flashy and unattractive.
Of course. Qiu Ting had always been his type.
She was pretty, with long, straight black hair and an innocent air. Her grades left everyone else far behind. She looked like the heroine of a coming-of-age film.
As for me, I was merely the girl he had reluctantly accepted after I chased him without giving up.
My hand trembled around my phone as the truth of Jiang Shuhua’s words finally sank in.
Wanting to concentrate on his studies had been nothing more than an excuse to dump me.
He could not even be bothered to maintain the lie. Only days after our breakup, he had rushed to post this photograph without sparing a thought for me.
Of course love between top students was beautiful.
They would go to Tsinghua together and share a wonderful future.
And I was the defective piece everyone thought had no place in their perfect romance.
I picked up my phone and called Jiang Shuhua.
It took him a long time to answer.
I wanted to curse him until there was nothing left to say, but the instant I opened my mouth, my throat tightened.
“Jiang Shuhua, what is this supposed to mean?” I choked out. “Weren’t you going to focus on studying?”
He was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“I’m sorry, Qiao Ru. Feelings aren’t something I can control.
“We were never meant for the same road. She’s different from you. Being with Tingting won’t affect my studies.”
“Then what about me?” I screamed, my heart tearing apart. “What am I supposed to do? Wasn’t I good enough to you?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, slowly but firmly. “Maybe what happened to you is unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do.”
A woman’s muffled voice sounded through the phone. It was Qiu Ting.
“Shuhua, I found a book…”
Panic entered his voice. “I have to go. Please don’t contact me again.”
Then he hung up.
My vision blurred. Tears spilled uncontrollably from my burning eyes.
At that moment, it felt as though he had trampled on more than my feelings.
He had trampled on my dignity.
I had been discarded without mercy because I had no value.
And all of it was because my grades were terrible.
Dating me would interfere with his studies, but dating Qiu Ting would not.
They were the golden couple.
What was I? A second-rate delinquent.
I cried through the night. The next morning, my eyes were so swollen I could barely open them.
My temples throbbed. I had never felt so awful in my life.
But a spark had fallen into my heart, and it was growing into a raging fire.
I was going to study.
I would make everyone who looked down on me regret it.
I would prove myself.