Shen Ci downstairs saw my eyes light up, and the annoyance on his face disappeared.

Everyone around was making a scene, but when I walked over, I didn't enter the circle surrounded by roses.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nian Nian, I'm here to apologize to you." He pleaded with me, "I love you, Nian Nian, will you marry me?"

Caught off guard, he took out a ring from his pocket and knelt down on one knee, "We grew up together from a young age, in my heart you are not only my family but also the most important person to me. Nian Nian, I can't wait to marry you before graduation, please say yes."

"Say yes to him, say yes to him, say yes to him."

The people around were all cheering, taking out their phones to take pictures. Su Ran's face showed a hint of jealousy as she came forward, intimately taking my hand, "Xiao Gu, you don't know how long Shen Ci has prepared for this. Just say yes to him, he really loves you."

I pulled my hand back and took a step back, "I'm sorry, I refuse."

"Nian Nian." Shen Ci's face was streaked with tears, choked up, "Why? After so many years of feelings, do you really give up just like that?"

I silently took out my phone and opened the video. The video depicted the events that happened in the Murder Mystery shop that day. The video was clear, showing vividly the moment when the light exploded, my fear on my face, and Shen Ci hugging Su Ran without hesitation and turning away.

"Your so-called love, is it promising to compete with me but then ditching me for Su Ran's bet? Or is it when danger loomed, abandoning me without hesitation to escape with Su Ran?"

"Or is it that you say you love me, but at night you go into a hotel with Su Ran?"

I opened another video, filmed last night, showing Shen Ci leaning on Su Ran and walking into the hotel together.

There was even a video shot outside their hotel room, with faint sounds seeping out from under the door, nauseating.

Shen Ci's face lost all color, trembling, unable to utter a word, this shocking twist made everyone silent, looking at them with astonishment and disdain.

"So what?"

In the silence, Su Ran, as if determined, said loudly, "Shen Ci hasn't liked you for a long time. He said holding your hand is like holding both hands at once. On the days he ditched you, he was with me. He said my eyes are like stars, only I am the one who accompanies him to look at the sea."

"He also said, if it wasn't for his parents forcing him, he would never be with you."

"He said he had long hated you, hated that you pretend to be pitiful at home to gain your parents' sympathy, hated that you were the center of attention, hated that he had to take care of you."

"Even if he's with you, it's because Shen Mama said if he didn't marry you, he wouldn't have a share of the family fortune in the future."

"Shut up!" Shen Ci suddenly roared, then looked at me with despair in his eyes that seemed to cry but couldn't, "Nian Nian, you will never forgive me, will you?"

"What do you think?"

He slowly lowered his head, as if crying or lamenting, "I'm sorry."

I turned and left, feeling a slight pang in my heart. I didn't expect that Shen Ci would speak of me in that manner in front of Su Ran.

Perhaps this is his true inner thoughts.

I remembered when I was a child and worked hard to study, whenever I got first place I would call my parents. They would say, "Nian Nian is so good." And then promptly hang up. This sentence felt more like an excuse.

Only Shen Mama would praise me gently, scold Shen Ci for not being as good as me, and say that I am the best.

I also heard Shen Mama calling my mom at night, blaming them for not caring enough about me, even though I was excellent.

My mom's voice echoed through the empty living room.

"She's still a child, why are you exaggerating like that. I guess the school leaders are just giving praise because of you and me. After all, I donated a building."

Since then, I felt like I was holding my breath, determined to prove myself with my own strength.

In the dance competition that Shen Ci stood me up for, the prize was a study trip abroad, and my parents just happened to be in that city.

I knew about it early on and started preparing. Shen Ci always thought I was doing it to see that beautiful dance troupe, but I wasn't. I was carrying an indescribable longing.

On countless nights, Shen Ci would wait outside the dance studio to walk me back to the dorm. He said, with my hard work, I would surely get what I wanted.

It turns out, in a place unknown to me, he actually despised me.