At the school sports meet badminton competition, my childhood sweetheart realized my racket had cost several hundred thousand, she burst out in fury.

“Hundreds of thousands? For a broken racket like this? Are you insane? You’re nothing but a wasteful prodigal!”

She pulled the poor student Kylo Maddox to her side. “His monthly expenses don’t even reach five hundred. Wouldn’t it be better if you gave him the money?”

I frowned. “That money was mine. I could spend it however I pleased. What was he to me? Why should I support him, just because he was poor? There were countless poor people out there.”

My lack of remorse only made her angrier. She demanded that I hand over all my bank cards and credit cards.

“I’ll marry you sooner or later. From now on, your family’s money will be under my control. From today, if you want to spend a single cent, you must get my approval.”

I fell silent, gazing at her with eyes that no longer recognized her. Then I turned away, lifted my phone, and called my grandfather to cancel the engagement.

Since she felt so much pity for Kylo, I would grant it to her.

——

“Are you serious?” my grandfather asked.

“Hmm.”

“Why?”

“No reason. I simply didn’t like her anymore.”

Grandpa paused on the other end, then finally said, “Alright. Arrange a meal with both families and make the annulment official.”

I agreed, lifted my racket, and walked onto the court.

By the end of the match, I had taken the men’s singles championship, and with my performance, my class also claimed the team victory.

I became the celebrated hero, with classmates urging me to join them at KTV for a celebration.

“You all go. Kylo isn’t feeling well today, I’ll stay with him.”

Vesper’s words cut through the air, silencing the crowd. All eyes turned to me, even the teacher’s.

They all knew Vesper and me were childhood sweethearts, tied by an engagement.

I gazed at her, my chest tightening, my eyes stinging with unspoken pain.

For twenty years, she had etched herself deep into my heart, yet in hers, I wasn’t even as important as someone she had only met for a few months, like Kylo.

“Vesper, the mood is so good, don’t spoil it,” a few classmates urged. “Besides, tonight is to celebrate Conan. If you don’t come, it won’t look good.”

Kylo added, “Vesper, just go. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Then he broke into a cough, covering his mouth.

Vesper Reign’s worry showed at once. She patted Kylo’s back and scolded softly, “You say you’re fine, but how can I not worry when you’re like this?”

The classmates, noticing my face grow darker, rushed to laugh it off. “Vesper is just too kind, she can’t leave a sick Kylo behind.”

“Yes, yes, having such a kind classmate is truly our blessing.”

Kind? At that moment, my heart throbbed with pain.

If kindness was her excuse, then did it give her the right to give away my clothes, my shoes, my watch, even my money, to Kylo?

Did she even realize that I was her fiancé, tied to her by engagement? Or did she know, and simply not care?

“Why are you still here? Forget it, I won’t argue with you. I’ll take Kylo to the hospital.”

Vesper held Kylo and walked away, but after a few steps, she turned back and delivered her parting words.

“Oh, one more thing. The only reason you won that championship was because of the racket worth hundreds of thousands. Without it, your level is nothing more than ordinary.”

At her words, I could only laugh, nodding. “You’re right.”

Two decades of childhood sweethearts, yet in the end, it all amounted to nothing.

“Outrageous! How could she say that?”

My roommate’s indignation flared.

“Exactly! For this competition, Conan trained endlessly, leaving before dawn at four and not returning until late at night.”

“I want her to apologize to you.”

I stopped my roommate from chasing after her and smiled. “Forget it.”

There was a saying that someone who didn’t love us would never recognize our efforts. If that was the case, why should I waste my heart?

“Let’s go. Tonight’s on me!”

At the KTV, the atmosphere was brighter than usual because Kylo wasn’t there.

Back then, during class activities, no one ever looked down on him for being poor. Wherever we went, we took him with us. Yet he always ruined the mood with untimely remarks.

“A plate of fruit costs a hundred dollars? That’s ridiculous, you people must be really rich.”

“I don’t have money for gifts, so all I can give is my blessing, happy birthday.”

“My family is poor. I really envy you who can just toss away clothes when they’re torn.”

He always made himself sound pitiful, as though our everyday actions were done to show off. And every time, Vesper would stand up for him.

“What are you thinking? You’re the star today. How can you not sing one?”

My roommate shoved the microphone into my hand and rushed off to pick a song, “This Is Love.”

It used to be my favorite, but not anymore. “Change it. ‘Happy Breakup.’”

The roommate froze for a moment, then quietly switched the song.

The intro had barely begun when the private room door suddenly burst open. Vesper walked in with Kylo.

In an instant, the lively atmosphere collapsed into silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Vesper acted as though nothing was wrong. “Kylo persuaded me. I thought it over and realized he was right. I really should come. And I think it’s necessary for you all to see the brand new him.”

She flashed a bright smile. “Ta-da! Well? Isn’t he handsome?”

The room stayed frozen, wordless.

I looked at Kylo, dressed in my clothes, my pants, and my shoes, and I was the first to clap. “Indeed, very handsome.”

“At least you have some vision!” Vesper’s face lit with satisfaction. “Kylo is actually very handsome. He just didn’t have the money to dress up before. Now look, he’s no worse than anyone here.”

I curved my lips into a faint smile.

Handsome?

He stood there in my clothes, my pants, my shoes, awkwardly mismatched.

Someone ordinary and lowly could not suddenly become exceptional.

It was only love that blinded her eyes.

Vesper’s gaze trailed over Kylo, and she tilted her head, tapping her chin. “Something’s still missing.”

She turned toward me. “Conan, take off your watch and give it to Kylo.”

I stiffened, my eyes falling to the watch on my wrist.

It had been Vesper’s first birthday gift to me, a gift I had always treasured. Even after so many years, I had kept it carefully preserved.

To me, it had always been a token of our love.

Now, she wanted me to hand it over myself.

I remained silent for a long time before asking hoarsely, “Are you sure?”

“What’s there to doubt? It’s just a watch. You can always buy another.”

Vesper said lightly, then stepped forward, unfastened the watch from my wrist, and placed it on Kylo’s arm herself.

Kylo looked at me then, a smile curling on his lips, his eyes glinting with provocation.

“Conan, you’ve finally grown up.”

Vesper, delighted that I hadn’t made a scene, clung to Kylo with satisfaction and pulled him to the stage to sing.

Expressionless, I sat on the sofa, staring at the two of them as they sang love songs side by side.

I hadn’t grown up. I was only teaching myself how not to care.

When the gathering ended, Vesper, drunk and unsteady, leaned against Kylo, demanding that he take her back to the dormitory.

He wore a flustered expression, but in his eyes shone a quiet, undisguised triumph.

I brushed it off. “Since she wants you to walk her back, then let her.”

With that, I left the private room, my eyes already burning red.

The next day, Vesper’s roommate approached me. “Conan, Vesper didn’t come back to the dorm last night. Did she call you?”

I went silent.

Noticing her slip, the roommate quickly covered with an excuse and left.

I drifted alone toward the playground, wandering along the track with no direction, thinking of every moment I had shared with Vesper.

Childhood sweethearts, growing up side by side, she had filled my world.

From kindergarten through university, I had always stood in front of her, never allowing even the smallest harm to reach her.

I still remember when she was in primary school, bullied by an older student until tears streamed down her face. My eyes, burning with anger, had dragged her to confront them, demanding an apology. I had fought without hesitation, and in the end, she got her apology.

Though my face was bruised and swollen, I smiled with pride.

On her eighteenth birthday, I bought every firework in the city. I filled the front page of every newspaper just to celebrate her. That night, when our two families confirmed our engagement, I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t sleep a wink.

I truly believed we would go on like that forever, together for life, growing old side by side.

But after she met Kylo, everything began to change.

She no longer clung to me in her spoiled, playful way. Instead, she scolded me, yelled more often, and pushed me further away.

I endured it again and again, for no other reason than love.

But did she love me in return? Until yesterday, I had no doubts.

I was certain she did.

Yet today, I finally realized I was wrong.

She loved me, but not enough.

And what I could not understand was this: could twenty years of feelings really be cast aside for a bond of only a few months?

That question gnawed at me, one I could not answer.

I didn’t know how long I had been walking aimlessly when I suddenly heard someone call my name.

It was Vesper. And as I expected, Kylo stood right beside her.

I stepped closer, my gaze falling on Vesper’s flawless face, while a sharp ache spread through my chest.

The truth lay clear before me; there was nothing left to wonder about.

Her eyes flickered with guilt as she hurried to explain, “Last night Kylo fell and hurt his waist while walking me home. I stayed in the hospital with him overnight.”

“Yeah, it really hurt,” Kylo chimed in, rubbing his back. “Even now it’s still sore.”

I simply watched his act in silence.

A fall, really? Could such a coincidence exist?

Was it truly from stumbling, or from being too reckless?

The answer no longer mattered.

I gave a slight nod. “Hmm.”

As I turned away, Vesper caught hold of me. “Do you not believe me?”

“No. I’m just tired.”

I gently pulled her hand away, but she pressed herself against me, arms wrapped tight. “Alright, don’t be mad. I only forgot last night, that’s why I didn’t tell you I was safe. I promise you, there won’t ever be a next time.”

There would be no next time.

I shoved Vesper aside and asked coldly, “Anything else?”

Kylo gave a faint smile. “Yes. Thank you for the watch last night, I really liked it. But my family is poor, I can’t repay you with anything valuable. I saw some nice mangoes at the supermarket, so I picked some for you. Please don’t dislike it.”

The sight of the mangoes struck me like a flood of beasts. I lashed out, kicking the bag away.

“Conan, what are you doing? Kylo bought these especially for you, you…”

Vesper raised her voice, but the chill in my eyes made her falter. She retreated two steps and bit back the rest of her words.

“Did you forget that I’m allergic to mangoes?”

Her expression froze. But when her gaze fell on Kylo, standing there lost and guilt-ridden, her eyes softened in pity, and she frowned at me.

“Allergic or not, you could’ve just refused to eat them. Why kick them away and crush Kylo’s kind intentions?”“Besides, it’s just an allergy. It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve been allergic to mangoes. Take a couple of pills and you’ll be fine, it won’t kill you.”

“What did you say?”

I looked at Vesper in disbelief.

It wouldn’t kill me?

She could actually say something like that!

The next moment, I laughed. “You’re right, it won’t kill me. But I don’t like it, do you understand?”

Then I turned to Kylo. “Since you like my things so much, I still have plenty of old clothes and shoes. I’ll have someone send them over to you.”

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Vesper’s furious voice rang out. “Conan, you’ve gone too far. Apologize to Kylo!”

I sneered. “Why should I apologize? Am I not telling the truth?”

“You…”

Kylo quickly pulled Vesper back. “Don’t say anymore, it’s all my fault.”

With tears brimming in his eyes, he bowed to me. “I didn’t know you were allergic to mangoes. I’m sorry… please forgive me.”

I sneered with scorn. So it wasn’t only scheming bitch girls that existed, there were scheming scumbag boys too.

Disgusting.

“You don’t need to apologize to him. You’re not wrong. He’s the one at fault, and he’s the one who should be apologizing.”

Vesper pulled Kylo up, her gaze sharp as a blade as she glared at me. “I order you to apologize to Kylo.”

I let out a mocking laugh, turned on my heel, and walked away. Behind me, Vesper’s furious roar shook the air.

“Conan, if you dare walk away, don’t expect me to ever speak to you again!”

I smiled faintly. That was precisely what I wanted.