Chapter 4

I paid no attention to all of this and dedicated all my time to my studies. Whenever I encountered something I didn't understand, I would seek guidance from my teachers. My parents even hired a private tutor for me. After school each day, I focused on strengthening my weaker subjects.

Following the second mock exam, my grades improved significantly, and I secured a place in the top ten students in the entire grade.

My homeroom teacher called me into her office, his face filled with pride but tinged with a hint of regret as he patted my shoulder.

"Your friendship with Nash has always been excellent. It's a shame."

Another teacher chimed in, "He's such a talented student! Yet, that Yvonne doesn't seem to study at all, and she's influencing good students."

I quietly left the office, passing by the hallway where I spotted Nash and Yvonne sharing a cigarette. Yvonne exhaled a puff of orange-scented smoke in Nash's direction, kissed him, and then handed him the half-smoked cigarette.

Nash, seemingly accustomed to Yvonne's playful nature, skillfully exhaled a cloud of smoke. He wasn't wearing his usual white shirt but had donned a T-shirt with bold patterns, much like Yvonne's.

When Yvonne noticed me, she nudged Nash and playfully raised her chin toward me. "Hey, it's your little crush. No greeting? She's in the top ten now, you know."

Nash glanced at me, his gaze strangely distant, as if we had never met before. His thin lips formed two words. "Not interested."

Yvonne burst into laughter. Ever since Mr. and Mrs. Xander stopped caring about Nash, he had become unrestrained.

Just a few days ago, he even got into a fight with a troublemaker from our school. Coincidentally, the troublemaker happened to be Yvonne's ex-boyfriend, and he couldn't resist provoking them when he saw them together.

Yvonne couldn't stand it and egged Nash on to fight the guy. Nash didn't hesitate, delivering a single punch that broke the guy's nose.

Mrs. Xander came to our school for the second time. The wealthy lady, accustomed to a life of luxury, was now humbly apologizing to the teachers and parents.

Nash stood silently by her side, tightly holding Yvonne's hand without uttering a word. Mrs. Xander was seething with anger, rendering her speechless. Our homeroom teacher, unable to bear it any longer, stood up and scolded Nash.

"Nash, look at yourself now. You used to be such an outstanding student, how did you become so unreasonable? While your family is well-off, your parents can't protect you forever. Even if you want to date, can't you find a sensible girl? You've known Wendy since childhood, why don't you choose her instead of someone like..."

The rest of her words were unkind, and as she glanced at Yvonne, who was nonchalantly chewing gum next to Nash, she frowned and swallowed the remaining words.

She couldn't help but add, "Nash, this shows a lack of responsibility towards yourself!"

Nash lifted his head, sarcastically remarking, "How could Wendy ever compare to Yvonne?"

Our homeroom teacher slammed her hand onto the desk, exclaiming, "Wendy is currently ranked third in the class and is among the top ten students in the grade. How can you claim that she can't be compared to Yvonne?"

Nash, with a blank expression, retorted, "She's just a bookworm who only knows how to study. Boring."

"Yeah, teacher!" Yvonne chimed in with a laugh, hooking her arm around Nash's. "If we don't go a little crazy in our youth, what's the point?"

Nash frowned irritably. "And please, can you all stop comparing me to Wendy? We don't have anything to do with each other..."

He stopped mid-sentence, noticing me entering with my homework. In fact, I had been there for a while and overheard their conversation.

I entered just because it was time for the next class. Silently, I placed my homework on the teacher's desk and said, "Teacher, I'm going back to class."

I acknowledged Mrs. Xander as I passed her, not sparing a single glance or word for Nash and Yvonne.

He was right.

We didn't have anything to do with each other.

We were simply childhood neighbors who had spent the first dozen years of our lives side by side. Nash and I were born in the same hospital, just moments apart. Our mothers even shared a room, separated only by adjacent beds. So, we were practically glued together from the moment we opened our eyes.

From childhood to adolescence, our lives followed nearly identical paths. We went home together after school, did our homework side by side, and frequently visited each other's homes. Whenever Mrs. Xander made a new dress, she would have my mom try it on, and whenever Mr. Xander received new wines, he would invite my dad over to sample them.

Mrs. Xander would often take my hand, teasingly suggesting I become her daughter-in-law. I would blush and hide behind my mom, softly retorting, but secretly enjoying it. After all, who wouldn't like Nash?

In the scorching summer, he would let me sit on the back of his bicycle, his white shirt billowing in the wind, carrying a delightful fragrance. And when others bullied me, he was the first to shield me from harm. In the dead of night, he would sneak through the window to my room, leaving behind surprise gifts.

I still remembered one night, under the gentle moonlight, he lay on my bed and asked me, "Wendy, which university do you want to attend?"

Feeling a bit shy and not willing to answer directly, I replied, "I haven't decided yet. How about you?"

He turned over and looked at me seriously, his eyes sparkling with laughter. "I want to get into the Central Academy of Fine Arts. If the opportunity arises, I'd like to study at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy. My dream is to become the world's number one artist."

I gazed into the eyes of this starry-eyed young man, and my heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. "You're so talented, you'll definitely make it. But I might not."

Nash held my hand, his smile radiant. "Then I'll wait for you, Wendy. We must go to the same university together."

I didn't have a particular university in mind at that time, but from that day forward, getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts or studying at the Florence Academy of Art became my goal too.

I always thought that in the summer of my eighteenth year, I would step into the university campus with Nash. Until Yvonne appeared and shattered it all.

I returned to the classroom and buried myself in a sea of practice problems. When I got back home, Mrs. Xander was sitting in my living room. Her eyes were swollen, with traces of tears in the corners, and my mom was comforting her while sighing. When Mrs. Xander saw me returning, her eyes lit up a bit. She grabbed my hand.

"Wendy, can you please help me talk to Nash? He used to listen to you the most."

I smiled wryly and shook my head. "Mrs. Xander, I'm afraid he won't listen to me now. We haven't been able to have a conversation for a long time."

Mrs. Xander choked up. "But, but I have no other way. We've scolded him and fought with him. If we lock him at home, he'll resort to suicide. I'm really at a loss. I've checked that girl; she's just a spoiled brat. If this continues, that girl will really ruin Nash. Now, no matter what I say, he won't listen. Please, Wendy, help me, okay?"

Looking at her earnest and desperate gaze, I couldn't bring myself to refuse, so I reluctantly agreed. "Alright, Mrs. Xander, I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee he'll listen."

For the sake of Mrs. Xander, who had treated me so well in this life and the previous one, I found Nash the next day after school.

"Nash, can we talk?"

I didn't want to get too close to him, so I stood three steps away. Nash looked somewhat impatient.

"What's up?"

I went straight to the point. "Mrs. Xander asked me to talk to you. Nash, considering Mrs. Xander's feelings, I advise you to endure it a little longer. SAT is just around the corner. If you hold on, nobody will interfere with your relationship after the exams."

Nash chuckled disdainfully. "Wendy, when did you start using these clichés? My life is none of your business."

I felt a twinge of regret for the eighteenth time and wondered if I had been blind before. How could I have fallen for someone like him?

"I've said my piece. You can think it over." With that, I turned to leave.

Yvonne emerged from behind Nash, firmly grabbing his arm and keeping an eye on me.

"Wendy, are you trying to break us up by pretending to speak on his mom's behalf?"

She let a bright glint of malice flash in her eyes. "Do you like Nash?"

Her voice was not quiet, and many classmates looked over. If I were still the timid girl from my previous life, I would have been flustered and unable to speak. But unfortunately for her, that was not the case anymore.

I turned and quickly walked away, distancing myself as if from some trash. I raised my voice and said, "Trash deserves trash. You two are a match made in heaven, don't pollute the dating pool."

Yvonne rushed to attack me, but Nash held her back.

Since then, Yvonne kept harassing me, and I was getting fed up with it. I even regretted the day I provoked her, as now I had gotten involved with such a lunatic, and there was no way to shake her off.

Coincidentally, there was a math competition, and our homeroom teacher decided to send me.

I valued this competition very much. If I could achieve a good result, I might have a chance to compete for a scholarship.

Just one day before the math competition, Nash suddenly sent me a message.

"Wendy, Yvonne has indeed gone too far during this period. I apologize on her behalf. Let's talk; I also have something to say to you."

Suddenly, I remembered the words he said when he was taken to the hospital that day. A dreadful suspicion crossed my mind, and I felt the need to see him face-to-face and confirm it.

He asked me to meet him in the equipment room. It was in the evening, and the room was small with only a small window letting in the evening sun, leaving the rest of the room dimly lit and hard to see.

I suddenly felt that something was off and quickly tried to back out.

"Nash, where are you?"

Just a second before I was about to leave the equipment room, the door was abruptly closed from the outside.

Cold sweat broke out on my back, and I rushed to the door, pounding on it.

"Don't lock it! Open the door...

"There's someone inside, open the door!"

But outside was dead silence.

I realized all too suddenly that this was a trap set by Nash. He must have found me too meddlesome and hurt him with my words, and he wanted to teach me a lesson.

I punched the iron door and couldn't help but mock myself. What was there to confirm? How could I forget the saying that some things are better left unknown?

I slid down to sit against the iron door and hugged myself tightly. I had a math competition tomorrow, and if I missed it, I would completely lose my chance for the scholarship.

However, it was already too late for someone to come and open the door.

I wiped my eyes and decided to pull myself together.