Chapter 1 It was getting late, and I had finally decided to give myself to Carter. I had just changed into a short skirt when I saw him standing by his Porsche, same as always. He was smiling lazily at the dorm manager. "Just let me in, ma'am. Otherwise, my girlfriend will worry seeing me stand in the cold wind for so long." My heart pounded like a drum. I solemnly handed the gift to my best friend. "Chloe, thank you for dealing with Carter's pursuit for so long... "You won't need to anymore. I'm ready to..." The words "say yes to him" hadn't even left my mouth. I bumped into a hard, warm chest— Carter glanced at me indifferently, took a step back, his expression cold and distant. "Hey, call Chloe for me. "I'm picking her up for a date." Chapter 1 Carter stood tall, looking down at me. The look in his eyes was like looking at a stranger he'd met by chance. I opened my mouth, about to ask. But I was interrupted by Chloe behind me. "Summer, your ID~" She held the gift I had just given her, her voice sweet and thoughtful. "Didn't you say you weren't coming back tonight? It's more convenient to check into a hotel with an ID. "By the way, Summer, you look beautiful in that short skirt~ But it's cold today, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" The gaze above my head was burning. I didn't dare look up, only feeling the short skirt on my body prickling my skin. My exposed legs were also chilled by the biting wind. "Alright." Carter leaned lazily against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile. "For our first date, you're already an hour late." He didn't give me a single glance. Looking at the gift box in Chloe's hand, he paused. His face, which had just softened, turned cold again. "What is this?" Chloe smiled frankly. "A gift Summer gave me. She said—" She looked at me, blinking her eyes with an innocent look. "Why did you give me a gift again? "I was putting on makeup just now, I didn't listen carefully." My heart felt sour, and I bit my lip to stop the tears from falling. In the few seconds I hesitated on how to answer. Carter reached out, took the gift box, and deftly threw it into the trash can. He withdrew his gaze nonchalantly, wrapped his arm around Chloe's waist, and chuckled low. "Keeping this kind of trash is just a waste of space. "You're my girlfriend, you have to remember—you deserve the best of everything in the world." Finished. Carter leaned down slightly and planted a kiss on Chloe's cheek. Seeing her blush, he took the opportunity to pull her closer into his arms. I subconsciously turned my head away, not wanting to look. I felt like I shouldn't be here, but I didn't know what I should do. This weird awkwardness lasted until Carter softly called my name. "Summer Vance." Two words spilled from his lips, just like before, lingering and ambiguous. At this moment. I remembered what Carter had said before: "As long as I can catch you, I'll use every trick in the book." Could it be... He was playing hard to get? Was all this just an act for me? Thinking of this, I looked up and met his gaze. "Summer?" He repeated. Immediately after, Carter's face was calm, word by word: "We're going camping tonight, so— "No need to leave the door unlocked for Chloe tonight." Chapter 2 Night fell. The dorm was completely empty. The remaining two roommates hadn't returned from their hometowns after the New Year. After picking up my takeout, I locked the door tight. When Carter's number jumped on the screen, I was packing the love letters he had given me— "Are you asleep?" Carter's voice sounded hollow on the other end, with faint wind noise, his voice slightly hoarse. "Sorry, I know you hate me calling at this time." Listening to his gentle voice, my hand gripping the beer bottle paused. "Haven't slept yet" was just out of my mouth. When I heard Carter clear his throat and say in a deliberately relaxed tone: "I have a favor to ask you. "Chloe posted a photo on Instagram two hours ago... You haven't liked it, she feels pretty bad, she's been crying for a while." Finished. He took a deep breath, as if mentally preparing himself, with a flattering tone: "I know you don't like me, but—for the sake of me chasing you for two years, help me out with this. "Chloe says you're her best friend, she hopes to get your blessing." After his voice fell. Time seemed to stand still. I could hear the slightly nervous and rapid breathing of Carter, who had always been cynical. I stared somewhat numbly at Chloe's bed, confused in my heart: I didn't agree to Carter's pursuit because I felt a bit inferior. I felt our family backgrounds didn't match... Even though Carter always said, the person he liked was me. I had told Chloe about those contradictory and bitter teenage girl thoughts countless times. ... "You wouldn't be like what they say, keeping me hanging without agreeing, and not wanting me to be happy, right?" Seeing I remained silent, Carter's voice turned cold. "Summer, you can't be that selfish." Tears blurred my vision. Wet the box of thick stationery in my hand. Falling on Carter's powerful and elegant handwriting, blurring "I really like you" into a black mist. Afraid he would hear my choking, my voice was very light, and my speech was very slow: "I know." Chapter 3 After hanging up the phone, I picked up the beer bottles on the floor and stuffed them into the trash bag. I opened Chloe's Instagram. What came into view was the flashy Porsche full of roses. And Carter's hands full of luxury shopping bags. The caption was: Love nourishes you like a flower. The person who loves you always fears they aren't giving you enough. Carter in the photo was still handsome and unruly. Only, the love in his eyes was no longer for me. I felt a bit stung. Hastily liked it. And replied in the comments below: Wishing you happiness. After putting away the phone. I stuck a french fry, pretending it was a candle... My parents always said: Your birthday is the day your mother suffered. So I never celebrated my birthday. This was the first time I wanted to open my heart to Carter. I even used the money I saved from a month of part-time jobs to buy a gift for Chloe. ... Forget it. I closed my eyes and made a wish. Happy birthday. Summer. Chapter 4 I put away that beautiful short skirt. And a letter. A full page I had written seriously. The letter I didn't have time to give to Carter. Chapter 5 To avoid Carter, I started keeping my distance from Chloe. I became a loner. Becoming the "outcast" in everyone's eyes again. Life seemed to have returned to two years ago. The only difference was, although I lost contact with Carter, his good friend still liked to provoke me. Every time we met by chance, he would shove food into my arms with a dark face. Then without waiting for me to say a word, turn and leave. I gritted my teeth and accepted those expensive snacks. Then worked hard at my part-time job to calculate the value of those snacks into men's gifts and return them to his friend. After Carter and Chloe went official, it got even worse. He directly sent me a brand-name down jacket. Looking at the price, I almost blacked out. When I was ready to return it, I found that this scheming man had customized my name inside the cuff. No choice. I could only give a fake smile and say to him, "Thanks a lot." Then after class, immediately went to my part-time job. That night. Finally preparing to end my second shift. The door was pushed open. "Hello, we're getting ready to close." "But Carter, I really want to eat here~" Chloe's coquettish voice came, "What should we do?" I lowered my head, pressing the brim of my hat down again and again. Praying they would leave quickly. But things went contrary to my wishes. Carter just rubbed her hair dotingly and whispered "Okay". After his slender fingers flipped through a few times, I received a call from the store manager, saying that both the back kitchen and I would get off work late. I exhaled, put on a fake and decent smile, and walked forward: "Hello, would you like to order now?"
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