I had a boyfriend in college. He was a scholarship student who worked daily to pay off debts and was naturally quiet, hardly the type I'd usually like.
Indeed, my interest was casual. I'd heard he liked Lindsay. Despite my wealth, looks, and family connections, I felt overshadowed by Lindsay in the eyes of the male lead. Determined to prove the male lead wrong for choosing her, I decided to pursue this boy, confident that any sensible guy would choose me instead.
Every day, I crossed half the campus to his department. I attended his classes, study sessions, and joined him for lunch. Despite my efforts for two weeks, his responses were tepid.
Then, his debtors came calling. His father, a gambler, had died from alcoholism, leaving him burdened with all the debts. The day I went to see him, I found him cornered by creditors wielding threats and clubs.
A debt of over a 100 thousands dollars could crush any student, but to me, it was merely the cost of a handbag. I handed him my bank card, lifting his burdens instantly. He stood frozen, tears welling up before spilling over.
Two days later, he asked for my bank card number, promising to repay me when he could. I wasn't particularly concerned.
Afterward, everything progressed smoothly. He dropped all his defenses with me, initiating intimate acts like hand-holding and embracing without my prompting.
Though he appeared cool and detached, he frequently pulled me into secluded spaces on campus, embracing my waist and kissing me repeatedly.
One time, in an empty classroom, he kissed me so passionately that it felt as if he wanted to merge me into his body. This scene was even captured and posted on the campus forum, sparking a flurry of comments.
However, I soon broke up with him; things that came too easily didn't interest me. Besides, the male lead and Lindsay seemed to be drawing closer, and I needed to act.
On a hot afternoon, he watched me silently, his lips pursed, stubbornly fixing his gaze on me as if trying to verify my words.
The summer wind brought waves of heat, and the loud cicadas seemed merely background noise. The ice cream he had bought for me melted in his hand, dripping continuously from the cone.
Ultimately, I likely said some harsh words. He stood there, dazed, watching me leave. There were no arguments, no questions, and no clinging. After our brief intersection, we returned to our separate lives.
Later, memories of that relationship faded to vague impressions. I couldn’t recall his name or face. It was all in the past, and I felt no urge to revisit it.
Besides, the relationship spanned less than three chapters in the novel; it was hardly necessary to remember. But now, I seem to see that boy of that summer in Xavier's eyes
To verify this, I revisited the campus forum. However, after searching all morning, I couldn't find the video of our kiss.
I lay in bed, staring at the whitewashed ceiling, feeling somewhat lost. Was that boy from back then just a passerby who would disappear once the mission was completed?
Lost in thoughts, I didn't get up until noon.
In my phone lay a message from Xavier, sent in the morning:
【Breakfast is in the rice cooker to keep warm. Remember to eat when you wake up.】
【Some of your clothes are in the small compartment. If you can't find them, give me a call.】
There was no doubt that Xavier cared about me deeply. The closets, shoe cabinets, and vanity in the house were all new, and even the air conditioner and bed were recently replaced.
None of this was mentioned in the original plot. The only reasonable explanation was that the boy from back then was Xavier.
