In my junior year, I got together with Fang Haoyan.

The rumors at school didn't die down; instead, they escalated. More and more people affirmed that I was a scheming girl climbing up the social ladder.

Some people dug up the fact that Fang Haoyan sent me back to my hometown and spent money to settle everything for me.

Otherwise, why would I have kept Fang Haoyan hanging for two years, but ultimately agreed to be his girlfriend?

During that period, I was at my most depressed.

I secretly went to the hospital for a check-up.

The doctor diagnosed me with mid-stage depression.

The sudden passing of my parents, the source of tuition and living expenses, the rumors at school.

They all felt like huge mountains, weighing heavily on my shoulders.

I couldn't defend myself because half of what they said was true.

I did accept the large sum of money Fang Haoyan gave me.

I did sell my pride, which I had always been proud of…

Later, I had to use my spare time when I wasn't in class to find several part-time jobs to make money.

I thought that one day, when I could pay Fang Haoyan back, I would tell him: I like him.

Even if this affection came a bit late, even if it appeared at this point in time...

I still wanted to place it on equal footing.

Seeing how I was getting more and more exhausted each day, Fang Haoyan couldn't understand why I refused to accept his help.

But I couldn't explain to him why.

But later, I realized I was wrong...

My heart might aim for equality, but the world's eyes are far from equal.

Fang Haoyan's mother came to see me, proudly suggesting we break up with a smile.

She said:

Fang Haoyan was preparing for his study abroad exam in country M.

His future was bright and promising…

And he shouldn't be with a hopeless, average person like me.

Funny enough… Fang Haoyan never mentioned this to me.

I guess he figured that if I knew he was going abroad, we would inevitably break up.

Even funnier…

On that rainy night, when he drove me back to my hometown.

I surprisingly felt a moment of affection for Fang Haoyan.

In the days that followed, I became increasingly silent.

Fang Haoyan also went from seeing me every day when he had time to seeing me once every three days, once a week.

Worse yet, sometimes he only remembered once a month that he hadn't seen me in a while.

Until one day.

I saw him at a café, exchanging smiles with the school's famous beauty.

I finally understood that this relationship had reached its end.

*

Gu Shian looked at me curled up on the sofa motionlessly.

He gently placed a glass of water in front of me.

"Thank you."

I lowered my head to look at the floor, then asked him a question:

"Gu Shian, do you have any troubles?"

The soft leather of the sofa sank slightly, and Gu Shian sat down beside me.

"Yes, I do..."

"What to eat today."

I looked at him in surprise, but the handsome face opposite me was filled with innocence and a smile.

"My trouble is… what do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

I gave a strange smile and said sarcastically, "That's a great trouble."

As if sensing my dissatisfaction with this trouble, he thought for a long time, stammered for a while, and then finally said:

"Then I'll change my trouble..."

"Last time when I picked you up from the library, I seemed to be seen by someone from the company."

I stayed silent.

But I gained a deeper understanding of Gu Shian's naivety and simplicity.

Yet, for some reason, I liked this relaxing and soothing atmosphere.

I looked at the man's gentle and handsome profile, as if he would always have this clean and serene demeanor…

After a long while, the gloom in my heart suddenly began to dissipate.

*

Recently, there have been rumors in the company that Gu Shian and I are a couple.

Besides the fact that we went to and left work together almost every day for the past six months, some people saw us entering the same community.

Gu Shian is a typical science guy; apart from clinging to his computer, he never participated in any colleagues' social gatherings.

His presence was barely felt; people's impression of him was merely:

"Oh, that's the quiet young man, diligent in his work, and very skilled in computer technology."

Gradually, everyone easily overlooked his exceptionally outstanding appearance.

Thus, when the rumors about us suddenly broke out.

Gu Shian seemed to come alive in everyone's minds.

The company does not oppose office romances, but the supervisor still called us in for a talk.

After I repeatedly assured that we were just friends living in the same community.

The supervisor smiled kindly and said he understood.

"Xiao Jiang, this new software is in its final stages of testing over the next two days. As the New Year is approaching, I'll give you one more task. There's a business banquet next Wednesday; represent our company and engage with them, okay?"

I quickly responded, "Sure."

After all, this was part of the publicity department's job.

I was just curious why the supervisor was so polite to me, a newcomer...

As we turned to leave, the supervisor thought of something.

"Xiao Gu, you go too. It will be more reassuring with an extra person."

Gu Shian obediently nodded.