Chapter 6

How could he possibly like me? He probably hates my guts.

Even if he gave me that hickey, it was just to sabotage my relationship with Zachary.

He must have set his sights on Zachary.

Good thing I already warned Zachary not to leave campus.

I remember Ethan has a childhood sweetheart—petite, adorable, the kind that makes guys weak in the knees.

Maybe their families will arrange a marriage.

She’s just abroad right now. Once she’s back, everyone else will be pushed aside.

Thinking about it makes me feel... weird?

That night, Ethan’s face kept flashing in my mind, tossing and turning until sleep was impossible.

I got up for a glass of water before realizing what was wrong.

My damn teddy bear was missing.

I can’t sleep without that thing.

I shook my roommate awake.

Grumpily, he muttered, "Ethan took it. Said it was your birthday gift to him."

I was speechless.

That thing hadn’t been washed in two weeks, soaked in sweat. Couldn’t he smell it?

I grabbed my jacket and stormed to Ethan’s place.

"Why do you have to take everything from me?"

Ethan lounged on his bed, giving me a lazy look. "Stealing your girlfriend or your teddy—pick one."

Obviously, the girlfriend mattered more.

But the sleeplessness was torture. How do you break a habit like that?

Ethan saw my struggle and patted the space beside him.

"Beg me, and I’ll let you sleep here."

"What’s the hesitation? Afraid I’ll eat you? It’s a win-win for you."

Like I hadn’t begged before. No big deal. "Fine, I’m begging. Let me sleep here?"

Ethan nodded, satisfied, then placed the teddy bear between us.

I flopped down. "You promise? No more stealing my girlfriend?"

"Done."

I didn’t catch what he mumbled after.

The bed was too comfortable—I was out the second my head hit the pillow.

"Julian, you got mad today because I got hurt, didn’t you?"

"And you? Why did you block that soda bottle for me?"

"I promised to protect you."

"Childhood promises don’t count. We’re not the same people now."

"To me, you’re still you."

But to me, I’m not me anymore.

After my family went bankrupt, the落差 was too much.

I couldn’t spend freely anymore. Every time I wanted to see Ethan, I had to cross half the city.

I couldn’t afford high-end restaurants; he couldn’t stand street food.

He could treat me every meal, but I couldn’t even afford to return the favor with a street stall.

If I so much as glanced at something while shopping, he’d buy it and save it as a gift for some holiday—even Women’s Day wasn’t spared.

Probably thought I was too poor.

Every time he visited, it was like he wanted to move the entire mall into my tiny apartment.

But seeing those luxury furniture and appliances crammed into my rented shoebox made it clear—

We weren’t on the same path anymore.

His family must’ve felt the same.

The last time I went to see him, their housekeeper blocked the door.

"Ethan’s studying. He can’t see you."

"Aunt Liu, I’m not here to borrow money."

She didn’t answer, just shut the door.

Through the crack, I saw Ethan holding the latest gaming console, a petite, cute girl beside him.

His childhood sweetheart.

Me? Just some bankrupt loser.