"Let's go home, okay?" Caelan pleaded.As he reached out to touch Jade's hair, he stopped just a centimeter away.He was panicked by the thought of Jade's potential reaction. He feared she might push him away once more, just as she had done a few days earlier. Her gaze, desperate and indifferent, felt like knives piercing into him, drawing blood.Jade remained unresponsive, resembling a statue. Even with Caelan standing before her, she remained as calm as stagnant water.Caelan was frantic. Jade shouldn't be like this. Although she wasn't as lively as other girls, her eyes always sparkled with vitality, never yielding to fate. Now, her eyes were hollow and lifeless, making her seem no different from a corpse."I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Caelan's lips formed a repetitive chant as he frantically pulled Jade into his embrace, confessing his sins as if seeking redemption. "It's all my fault, entirely my fault. I failed to protect you. Please, you can hit me, curse me, just do
Caelan spoke decisively and firmly. He focused his deep gaze on Jade as he said the words buried deep in his heart. "I won’t ever let go of someone I’m determined to be with in this lifetime. Jade, listen to me carefully, I do not agree to breaking up. Your request is invalid."Expecting Jade to retort, Caelan was surprised when she merely glanced at him with a faint smile before turning away and leaving.Watching her lonely figure fade into the distance, Caelan felt like a hole was dug in his chest, and an indescribable feeling spread through his heart.This couldn't be real. Jade wouldn't leave so heartlessly."Jade, Jade!" Caelan shouted with all his might in Jade's direction, "I love you! I won't give up on you!"The surrounding silence was only broken by the sound of the wind and rain, with no response from Jade.…In the following days, Caelan thought Jade would change her mind, but to his surprise, Jade stayed true to her word. She refused to meet him and refused to commu
After all, Jade had even abandoned her beloved Caelan.Jade sat on a bench on the campus, holding a book. Her gaze was vacant as she stared ahead, seemingly oblivious to Tiffany's words."Jade?" Tiffany called out to her again.Jade blinked her beautiful eyes, acknowledging her, and softly replied after a moment, "I'm serious. It's not a rash decision, but one made after careful consideration.""Why?" Tiffany was anxious. "You and Caelan are the perfect match recognized by the whole of Centus. We're all used to seeing you together. But now you're telling me you want to break up with him? I don't think I can accept it, especially since you love him so much."Jade looked at Tiffany, her gaze unwavering. "There's nothing unacceptable. Given enough time, one will get used to it."After speaking, Jade patted Tiffany's shoulder and smiled. "It's time for class. Let's go back."She walked toward the classroom stiffly, but with each step, her heart felt like it was bleeding, and her leg
Students passing by widened their eyes in surprise at the scene before them. Jade was somewhat famous on campus, and Julian's strikingly handsome appearance made it hard for anyone to ignore."Hey, what are you doing?" Jade felt a surge of nervousness at Julian's close proximity and pushed him away, creating some distance between them.Jade's intense reaction left Julian at a loss. He looked at her hesitantly and asked, "What's wrong, Jade? Do you not like me anymore?""I..." Jade was at a loss for words. She wanted to say she had never liked him, but Julian's expression softened her resolve. After all, she owed him a debt of gratitude."It's not what you think." Jade softened her tone, trying to soothe him. "I'm just not used to anyone being this close to me.""But I'm not just anyone," Julian insisted. "I told you I like you. Isn't it natural to be close to someone you like?"Upon seeing the innocent look on Julian's face, Jade's expression grew serious. "Julian, do you underst
Julian stood up and cheerfully greeted his classmates, "Hello, everyone, I am Julian Orton."As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward Jade, giving her a playful wink.Julian's impressive height, combined with his outstanding appearance, drew the attention of all his female classmates. However, his thoughts were solely on Jade, and his open admiration for her made some of the other young women quite unhappy."Being good-looking really does attract attention.""If only we had the same conditions and were as pretty, wouldn't we have handsome guys flocking around us too?"Jealous voices echoed from the back rows of the classroom.Although they kept their voices low, Jade recognized them. They were the ones who didn't excel in studies but came from affluent families.Aware of their academic limitations, they had decided to let themselves go, believing that once they obtained their diplomas, they could go abroad for further education. This, they thought, would add a touch of prestige and
The professor saw that they admitted their mistakes sincerely, so he let them off the hook for now. He gestured for everyone to sit down and started the lecture.Jade glanced at Melanie and mouthed, "Thanks."Every time Jade encountered difficulties, Melanie would always stand up for her immediately. This friendship was something Jade always cherished in her heart.After class, Julian stuck to Jade like a shadow."Jade," he called, sitting in front of her with stars in his eyes, his chin resting on his hand as he gazed at her with a radiant smile.Jade lifted her eyelids to look at him. "What's up?""I just arrived in Centus and am not familiar with anything. I need a favor," Julian said slyly, immediately putting Jade on guard."What is it? As long as it's within my power, I'll help," Jade replied cautiously.Julian found her wary look adorable. "Don't be so nervous. It's just a small favor. I'm sure you can help.""Let's hear it first," Jade insisted, not lowering her guard.
"Happy? I’m very happy." Julian didn’t pay attention to Jade’s teasing, his eyes crinkling into crescents as he smiled. "This place is nothing like the island, and it’s not like abroad either. The people here are so enthusiastic. I really like it."Julian spread his arms wide, ignoring the strange looks from the people around him, and shouted to the sky, "I love Centus! I want to stay here forever."He looked adorably silly, with the appearance of a youthful, energetic boy, drawing quite a bit of attention.A few talent scouts, observing from a distance, approached him. "Hello, I’m a scout from Fowl Media. You have great potential. Would you be interested in becoming a star?""A star?" Julian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "You mean the kind that appears on TV?"The scout, who had a rather sleazy appearance, nodded eagerly. "Yes, exactly. Are you interested?"Unable to watch any longer, Jade grabbed Julian’s wrist and turned them down. "Sorry, we’re in a hurry."She dragged Ju
Jade glanced at the brand Julian was using and realized she didn't recognize it. They were all high-end foreign brands. When she checked the prices, she gasped—they were in the three-figure range. A single set of skincare products cost as much as the rent of an average family's house. It was truly extravagant."Jade, this is for you." Julian appeared with large bags and handed Jade a beautifully packaged set of cosmetics.Jade took a look and found it was a set of high-end women's cosmetics. She didn't expect Julian to be so considerate. "Thank you." Jade appreciated Julian's gesture and didn't want to reject his kindness, so she accepted the gift.Upon seeing her accept the gift, Julian's face lit up with a smile. He patted his chest and said grandly, "To thank you for taking me in, dinner is on me tonight. Order anything you like."Jade wasn't particularly hungry, so she said, "You decide. I'm fine with anything.""Alright, I'll take care of everything." Julian started searchi