The first time Zoe laid eyes on Edward, her eyes welled up, and in full view of her classmates, she threw herself into his arms.
Spectators gaped in astonishment.
Awkwardly, Edward tried to push her away but found her unyielding.
Tears trickling down, she sobbed, "I've come for you."
It was baffling.
Zoe, blacklisted by Edward, deemed her an oddball, someone not quite right in the head.
Normal people didn't clasp onto strangers upon their first encounter.
Later, her dorm mates raised eyebrows, smirking mischievously, "Oho, spill it, how long have you two been sneaking around? I won't buy anything less than three to five years."
Sneaking around?
"Like hell we have!" He rarely cursed, but this time, he did.
"Easy now, easy... let me rephrase, how long have you two been dating?"
"I don't know her!"
Edward was utterly perplexed. As he is single since he was born, he hadn't held hands with any girl other than his mother in 18 years. Yet today, he found himself in an intimate embrace with a stranger?
What a loss.
He resolved to despise this girl who had stolen his innocence!
Eventually, Edward learned that the girl's name was Zoe, a freshman in high school.
She was diligent, frequently visiting the senior wing, fussing over Edward, bringing him all sorts of things.
Mostly, chili cheese dogs.
Edward felt a twinge of embarrassment—only his parents knew of his fondness for chili cheese dogs!
How embarrassing!
Had she been stalking him?!!
Classmates couldn't help but marvel at such ardent pursuit.
She went out of her way to get his contact details, pestering him relentlessly.
He thought he'd hate her, but strangely, he couldn't muster any aversion.
In fact... he sort of enjoyed her harassment...
One day, she unusually didn't send her nightly 'goodnight' message. Edward refreshed his phone screen repeatedly, but no message arrived.
Hmph... she wouldn't give up so easily without a response, would she?
Edward grew anxious, wanting to initiate contact but hesitated, typing and deleting his message repeatedly...
Finally, at 2 AM, fatigue overtook him, and he fell asleep.
Morning came, and still, no message.
He couldn't hold back anymore and sent a carefully composed text.
"Don't you like me anymore?"
Immediately regretting it, he slapped his forehead and retracted the message, typing anew.
"Where were you?"
Today, Zoe didn't bring him breakfast.
Classmates gasped.
Was she... giving up?
After all, the young girl had pursued him relentlessly for nearly three months, and he hadn't budged. It was no wonder if she quit.
Kicking pebbles as he walked, he felt a pang of gloom.
At least... pursue a little more...
His phone buzzed in his pocket; he hastily checked the message.
"I had a cold yesterday, was at the hospital for an IV, sorry about that, my phone was at home."
Relief washed over him, and all his concerns condensed into a simple "Oh."
Clearly, they had worried for nothing.
The next day, Zoe returned.
After school, she tailed him as usual, grinning widely as she repeated, "Be my boyfriend, I want to be with you forever."
When he first heard it, he thought her childish.
Now... how sweet...
"Are you 18 yet?" He halted abruptly.
Unprepared, Zoe bumped into his back, rubbing her sore nose.
"Just one more ... year and..."
"Then, in a year." He dropped the words and strode off quickly.
"A year it is."She bounced in place, ecstatic.
Hm, she was quite obedient.
During Edward's senior year, he and Zoe get togather.
Her revolution succeeded at last!
During his college entrance exams, she waited outside for him.
After the exams, she led him into an alley.
"How was it?"
"Mm, alright."
"Please don't ace it too much, I'm afraid I won't get into the same school as you."
Zoe wrinkled her nose.
He made an OK sign. "Don't doubt your abilities."
She clasped his hand, swinging it as they walked down the alley.
"Give me a kiss."
"..." Edward's lips twitched. After nearly a semester of dating, limited to holding hands, this sudden leap forward to kissing?
"Ah... never mind, I'll kiss you." Zoe grinned slyly, tiptoed, looped her arms around his neck, and initiated the kiss.
Edward froze for a second before taking charge, pinning her against the wall for a prolonged kiss.
He went off to university in another city.
Zoe, grudgingly, visited every other weekend.
She claimed it was to prevent other girls from snatching her handsome boyfriend away. Due to her tight schedule, she could only visit him once a month.
Edward, concerned about her travel fatigue, offered to visit her instead.
She refused, stubbornly. He relented.
She got accepted into the same university as him.
She promptly toured his classroom, green-eyed at the pink love letters in his desk.
Edward's lips twitched; those weren't there earlier...
After his hundredth apology, she begrudgingly forgave him.
Many girls were deflated when they learned the medical school heartthrob was taken.
Though they had heard, seeing was believing.
Before graduation, Zoe introduced Edward to her parents, who were delighted.
Edward appeared confident but was secretly nervous.
They dated for ten years, from Zoe's 18th to 28th birthday.
Both sets of parents could only watch anxiously.
Thankfully, their relationship remained strong, and he didn't rush her.
Finally, on her 28th birthday, Zoe hinted at Edward to propose.
He chuckled, retrieving the ring he had prepared for so long.
Nervously, he stumbled, kneeling clumsily, wishing he could vanish into the ground.
Alone, Zoe laughed uncontrollably, tears streaming.
He mumbled, slipping the ring onto her finger, intertwining their hands.
"Laugh, keep laughing!"
Edward pretended to be fierce.
"Pfft... you're terrible at acting... mmph..."
He sealed her lips with his kiss, silencing her.
"Hahaha..." He beamed with a boyish grin, carried her to the bedroom, and gently advanced into intimacy
Zoe, without warning, turned and wept.
He instantly froze in panic, stopping his actions, "Did I hurt you?"
She giggled through tears, looping her arms around his neck, shaking her head.
Edward frowned, "Then why are you crying?"
"I'm just so happy."
He relaxed, clasping her hand tightly.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Her eyes shimmered with tears, a sudden declaration.
He panted lightly, kissing her cheek, "I love you too."
Zoe smiled.
"I love you."
"Mm, I love you too."
That night, she repeated "I love you" countless times.
Unable to love him in the past life, in this one, she vowed to grow old with him.
