Chapter 12

As it turned out, that previous meeting was indeed a fleeting moment of false hope.

I had imagined countless times how things between us might end awkwardly, or perhaps with me being the one to walk away. The only scenario I hadn’t considered was that it would be Duan Chen who suggested ending it.

Xia Jialiang’s expression was a bit sheepish as he apologized to me. “Sorry about that. Did I mess things up?”

I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”

Xia Jialiang had once patted his chest confidently and assured me that Duan Chen definitely had feelings for me too-he just needed a little push.

I didn’t believe him. But the only reason I agreed to play along with this absurd charade was because I wanted to put Duan Chen at ease.

Now, though, it seemed like all of it had been for nothing.

After everything that happened, Xia Jialiang felt deeply guilty toward me.

He would often try to make up for it with harmless little gestures of kindness. To ease his guilt, I accepted them all without complaint.

Until one night, in the middle of the night, Xia Jialiang suddenly called me. His voice was low, his tone urgent and exasperated. “Get over here, quick! Your secret crush has gone completely nuts!”