Evelyn looked soft and fragile, like a pure white jasmine flower drifting down from the sky.

The first time she walked into our classroom and introduced herself, Matthias could not take his eyes off her.

Her family situation was not great either. She only had a disabled father at home. Maybe it was that unspoken bond between people who struggled, but Matthias and Evelyn quickly grew close.

Evelyn could never keep up with the lessons. She would carry test papers covered in red X's, sit beside Matthias, and ask timidly, "Matthias, may I ask you something?"

Every time, he would take the paper and patiently explain everything step by step. There was none of the impatience he showed when he tutored me.

Once, after Evelyn ranked dead last in a physics exam, she lay her head on her desk and cried. Matthias pushed her deskmate aside and sat next to her, quietly keeping her company, handing her tissues again and again without a hint of annoyance.

By evening, a neatly organized summary of basic concepts appeared on Evelyn's desk, packed with notes.

Everyone said Matthias and Evelyn looked perfect together. My presence only made things awkward.

However, that was not why I refused them.

Three days before Matthias planned to bring Evelyn to my house, I accidentally overheard a conversation in the bathroom.

"Evelyn, Matthias treats you differently. Are you two together?"

Evelyn let out a mocking laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Have you seen how poor he is? Do I look like I'm done enjoying a good life? He's just a free tutor to me."

"Wow, seriously? Wendy has to pay to get him to tutor her."

"Please. With Wendy's brain, what will she learn anyway? Just wait. Sooner or later, I will take Matthias away from her completely."

Back then, I stood inside the bathroom stall, shaking with anger as I listened.

At the time, Matthias treated Evelyn with almost devout care. It was senior year, and I was afraid telling him would affect his mood, so I kept it to myself.

I only hinted there and then that he should stay away from her.

So, when he asked to bring Evelyn to my house for tutoring, I refused without hesitation.

Evelyn ran out of my house crying. At the intersection, she failed to notice the traffic light and got hit by a car. One of her legs was left permanently disabled.

Matthias, his eyes red, pointed at me and blamed me.

Behind the scenes, he wove a net so tight I had no way out.

Everything I did turned into a joke of self-sacrifice, paid for with my entire youth and even my life.

Then, I finally understood something.

I should let go of my urge to save others and respect their fate.

…

When I refused, Matthias immediately got worked up.

"Tutoring you alone is tutoring. Why can't I bring Evelyn along, too?

"This is a critical stage in our studies. Can you stop being so selfish?"

He glared at me, aggressive and pressing, making me question my judgment back then.

In high school, Matthias had excellent grades and a proud personality, but he was so poor he could barely afford food. I did not even like studying, yet I paid him a high tutoring fee and asked him to help me. I did that just to protect his pride.

After graduation, I brought him into my dad's company as an intern and even pulled strings to make him a project manager.

After we got married, I handed the entire company over to him.

Even after all that, he still wanted me dead.

So, how could I possibly make the same mistake again?

Evelyn chimed in too, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She gently tugged at the corner of my sleeve, her lips trembling as large tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Wendy, if I can't get into college, my dad will force me to marry early.

"Please, just think of it as saving my life, okay? I will repay you for the rest of my life."

Matthias shouted, "Do you have to push Evelyn to her death before you'll stop?"

I picked up a cleaning cloth from the coffee table and gently wiped the tears off Evelyn's face. "What are you even saying? Your life is way too valuable. I could never take responsibility for something like that."

I took out my phone and, right in front of both of them, transferred 1,000 dollars to Matthias.

When I opened the Messenger app, I noticed his chat was still pinned at the top. That alone irritated me.

"This is your tutoring fee for the month. I've sent it. You don't need to come anymore.

"For the rest of your time, just focus on tutoring Evelyn. I'm out."

Evelyn could not hide her delight. She lifted her head and looked at Matthias, her eyes sparkling.

However, Matthias did not respond to her at all. He watched everything I did, his brows slowly knitting together.

He stared at me, disbelief filling his eyes.

"What did you just say? You don't want me to come anymore?"

Afraid he had not understood me, I repeated myself.

"Matthias, you don't need to tutor me anymore. Evelyn needs your help more. If she doesn't get into college, she may die."

"But I've been tutoring you for two years. Aren't you afraid that if you stop now, you won't get into college?" His voice trembled slightly.

"That's none of your concern. You can see yourself out."

In my previous life, even after letting Matthias tutor me all the way to the end, I still chose to study abroad.

My grades did not improve, and I was labeled as the one who caused Evelyn to become disabled.

Looking back, I was such a fool.

Matthias's hands trembled. His fingertips turned pale as he clenched them, grinding his teeth.

"Fine. Wendy, don't regret this."

With that, he stormed out, taking Evelyn with him.

…

After that day, Matthias became even more high-profile about studying with Evelyn. They were loud when they went over problems. Even with earplugs in, I could still hear them.

I started studying, too, though I was still figuring out the basics.

Evelyn seemed bothered by my sudden seriousness. She walked over with a textbook Matthias had just marked up and waved it in front of me.

"Wendy, you're studying now, too? Reading all by yourself? Can you even understand it?

"I have notes here that Matthias just highlighted. I can let you take a look."

She waved the book back and forth, then covered her mouth and laughed.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Matthias doesn't want to teach you anymore.

"So, I guess I can't lend this to you for now."

Her voice was sharp and grating. Quite a few classmates turned to look at me. Even Matthias, who usually stayed out of everything, glanced over.

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at her with interest. "If you have time to worry about how other people study, why not check your single-digit physics score first?"

Evelyn flushed red, embarrassed and angry.

Matthias walked over and tapped on my desk.

"Come out. Let's talk."

Before I could refuse, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the classroom. He leaned against the wall in the hallway, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"If you're willing to accept Evelyn, I can keep tutoring you."

Ever since I fired him, I had heard he had gone back to working part-time in the cafeteria. It looked like he was short on money again and had his eyes on me.

He really thought I was an easy target.

"Not interested," I said without hesitation.

Anger flared in Matthias's eyes. He grabbed my shoulders and said harshly, "Everything was fine before. I've been tutoring you for three years. Or is it because you mind that I'm close to Evelyn?

"Wendy, are you jealous? Or are you just playing hard to get?"