39
I couldn’t blame anyone but myself. After all, I was the one who broke my promise first.
I was the one who walked away from our agreement,
and I was the one who rejected him with my own words.
The next day, no matter how much I protested, Sophie dragged me out of bed and made me get dressed and do my makeup.
As soon as we walked into the main hall, Sophie shrieked, “Aaaah! So handsome!!”
I was calm. “Isn’t it normal for the art department to have lots of cute guys?”
Sophie patted my back excitedly, pointing at a group of boys outside the hall. “No! I’m talking about the law school guys!
“There are so many good-looking guys in the law school, but it’s a totally different vibe from the art school. You get it?”
I nodded along, but then realized something was off.
A mixer with the law school?
Did that mean… I might actually run into Ryan Lee?!
40
The whole time, I tried to hide in a corner and snack.
After finishing a plate of sunflower seeds, my mouth was dry.
When I went to get juice, I accidentally stepped on a guy’s foot. Sophie gave me a crazy wink.
I realized I’d probably stepped on one of the law school guys.
I gave him a quick apologetic gesture and tried to walk away.
“Not going to apologize, classmate?” the guy said, clearly not planning to let it go so easily.
Sophie and her new dance partner came over to smooth things over.
“Come on, we’re all friends. Let me introduce you—this is my bestie, Lily Wang from the med school.”
She turned to me, “And this is Ji—”
Before she could finish, a buzz of excitement rippled through the crowd.
Everyone’s attention shifted.
A girl stomped her feet in excitement, “I heard Ryan Lee is coming!”
Another girl asked, “Is he the one who was secretly photographed on the school forum?”
“That’s him, that’s him! Too bad… he has a girlfriend, and she’s super pretty too.”
Another girl gossiped, “Seriously, they’re such a high-profile couple. Sometimes you just get ambushed by their cuteness walking down the street.”
The law school guy waved his hand in front of my face. “Lily Wang?”
My attention snapped back.
“Would you like to dance?” He offered his hand just as two people entered the hall.
They looked like they were born to be the center of attention—everyone’s eyes went straight to them.
It was Ryan Lee and Ivy Qin.
41
I only glanced at them,
but it was enough to make me want to cry.
I missed him so much, and it hurt so badly.
I tried so hard to hide my feelings, but with just one look,
it all fell apart.
Ryan wore a light gray suit jacket, Ivy was in a European-style princess dress.
Handsome and beautiful, a perfect match.
They were the most dazzling pair in the room.
My chest ached.
“Sorry, I don’t know how to dance.” I wasn’t lying—I really can’t dance,
and right now, I didn’t even have the courage to stand up.
From the moment Ryan walked in, my eyes had been following him.
But he never once looked my way.
“It’s okay, I can teach you,” the law school guy said patiently, still trying.
I was about to refuse, but then, in the crowd,
I saw someone.
Just a glimpse of her profile sent a chill down my spine.
Ryan’s psycho stepsister.
Kana.
42
I remembered the time I’d faced her directly.
Actually, it was the day before our graduation party.
Sophie and I were at the library.
I went to the second floor to find a book, but a girl grabbed the one I wanted first.
She spoke in Japanese.
Immediately, I was on guard.
It was Kana.
She smiled brightly and switched to Chinese, “Hi, I’m Ryan’s sister. You know who I am, right?”
A cold sweat broke out on my back. I quietly slipped my left hand into my pocket to grab my phone.
I pretended to be confused, “I know Ryan, but I don’t know you.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Really…? Then how come I heard about you from my brother?”
I panicked for a second.
But then I realized—she was bluffing.
There’s no way Ryan would tell her about me.
When she said she “heard,” could it be from her mind reading?
I put on a puzzled face, “Really?
“That can’t be. Ryan hates me.
“I did like him once and even confessed, but his temper is way too bad.
“I prefer gentle guys.”