The third time my childhood friend brought up that poor girl, I laughed and teased him. "You really did have a thing for her back then, didn't you?" I said. His expression turned serious. He wanted to correct me. "Cleo, don't make jokes like that," he said earnestly. "She was different from us. She was self-respecting and never looked down on anyone who worked hard." I pouted, feeling slighted. Eventually, they both ended up at Julliard, the top music school in the country. I smashed my violin, moved across the ocean, and changed my major to finance. The bitter rivalry between the popular girl and the charity case was a thing of the distant past. The day I returned, he took me out for dinner. He placed a piece of fish on my plate. Without thinking, I pushed it to the side. He froze, and a long silence fell between us. 1 I kept my return simple, only telling my parents. But the Sterling and Vance families have always been close. So, when I saw Elias Sterling waiting at the airport curb, I wasn't surprised. Years hadn't touched his looks. He was still striking. Aristocratic, wearing a dark trench coat, approaching me with that unhurried stride. Perhaps it was the artistic aura of a classical musician, but I noticed several girls nearby stealing glances at him. He smiled as he came over, naturally taking my suitcase from me. "Cleo, was the flight exhausting?" "The heat is on in the car, go get in." He saw I wasn't moving. His eyes crinkled. "Your dad asked me to pick you up." I hesitated for a moment, then got into the back seat. I asked casually, "Aren't you busy? It's Monday." "The princess is back. No matter how busy I am, I have time for this, right?" There was something deep in his eyes, something hard to read. I looked away, offering a casual smile. "Stop teasing me. That's such a childish nickname. It sounds weird now." He paused. But he quickly recovered. "We haven't seen each other in so long. Let's grab dinner." It was getting late. I hesitated again. "Okay." In the rearview mirror, Elias’s gaze drifted toward me, on and off. I pretended not to notice, keeping my head down to reply to a text. [Yeah, just landed.] The reply came instantly. [Spend some time in the city first. I’m wrapping things up here; I’ll be there next week.] I was about to type back. He added, [It’s been exhausting lately. I really miss you.] The market in London had taken a tumble recently; he was probably drowning in meetings. My heart softened. Elias saw me staring at my phone and said softly. "Don't stare at your phone in the car, Cleo. You'll get motion sickness." I froze. That familiar, protective tone. Caring, yet bordering on indulgent. I couldn't help but look up at him. Years had passed since our last blow-up. We hadn't spoken in ages. Yet Elias acted as if nothing had happened. His smile still showed those shallow dimples. I put my phone down. "How are my parents doing?" My main reason for coming back was to see family. Seven years had passed; I was rarely as stubborn or vindictive as I used to be. "Your mom was discharged a few days ago. The surgery went perfectly." His tone was light. "Don't worry. I'm here, aren't I?" I was silent. His uncle is a renowned specialist, and the Sterling family had clearly taken good care of things. I offered a polite smile. "Thank you." The two words had barely left my mouth when Elias flinched. In the past, I was shameless. I’d make him buy me coffee, make him massage my hand when it got tired from practice. I’d even pull a face and make him kneel down to tie my shoelaces. And I’d laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck, never saying thank you. He used to just flick my forehead helplessly. "You really don't know the meaning of polite, do you? You need to grow up." The light turned red. Elias rested his arm on the open window. He asked, almost too casually. "What about you? All these years... have you been okay?" 2 After dropping my stuff off, he took me to a nearby restaurant. It was my favorite French place. The waiter brought out the steaks. I answered offhandedly, "I'm good. London is actually great." Elias offered a gentle smile. "I’ll have to visit sometime." Mid-sentence, I watched as Elias switched my glass of wine for a soft drink. I said, helpless. "Honestly, Elias, I’m a grown woman now. You don't have to do this." He was stubborn about it. "Girls shouldn't drink too much." There was a live music stage in the main dining area. A few college girls, eyes sparkling, ran over to ask Elias for an autograph. After signing, he whispered something to them. The girls covered their mouths, peeked at me, and then ran back, giggling and excited. Moments later, a familiar melody began to play. My hand faltered. It was the violin—Greig's Norwegian Dance. A complex piece, carrying the crisp scent of summer. I still remember the summer I was seventeen. Elias sat beside me, patiently accompanying me, over and over. In the candlelight, his smile was so tender. "By the way, Cleo, when are you coming over to visit? My parents are always asking about you." "And your favorite pastries, the ones from that bakery down the street... oh, and the calico cat had a litter of kittens last year..." As he spoke, he naturally placed a piece of salmon on my plate. I looked down and pushed it to the side. Elias stopped talking. He was silent for a long time, rubbing his temple. Suddenly, he looked at me, appearing terribly weary. "Cleo, it’s been so long. Do you still hate me?" I stopped eating. Elias looked like he genuinely didn't understand. "We grew up together. Was it really just because I held her hand during the bow?" In the dining room, the violin music continued, flowing beautifully. It reached a specific turning point. The melody changed, bringing forth older memories. Memories that made me angry, made me sick. Elias's voice was getting louder. His fingertip lightly tapped against his water glass. "Just like that, you gave up your dream? Never touched a violin again? Threw everything away and ran across the ocean alone?" He frowned. "And all I did was not pull my hand away when she reached out..." "We were on stage. Why did you have to be so throwing a tantrum at that moment?" Quite a few people were staring at us. I froze. Years later, he was bringing up old history again. The complex tangle of emotions in my chest made me uncomfortable. I set my knife and fork down, letting them clatter against the plate. I tilted my head, eyes crinkling in a smile. "Mr. Sterling, I’m sorry. I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." "Young and foolish, a bit of puppy love... that's just a classic high school story." I looked confused. "Why would I be angry about that?" Elias stared at me intently. I grabbed my purse, speaking calmly. "You guys had your dreams, and I have the right to choose the path I want to walk." "There's no need to bring up the past." I glanced at the musicians, speaking honestly. "Besides, I actually think that piece sounds pretty awful." The violin music stopped abruptly. As I turned to leave, Elias stubbornly grabbed my hand. I couldn't read the emotion in his eyes. "So, you went into finance, something you aren't even good at, just to accept an arranged marriage?" "To marry some guy you don't even know, just to get back at me?" He shook his head slightly. "Cleo Vance, you must have lost your mind." I calmly pulled my hand away, speaking softly. "What business is it of yours?" "Elias, what exactly is your standing to be talking to me like this right now?" His eyes were dark as ink. He opened his mouth. But no words came out. I smiled. As I reached the door, I remembered something. "Oh, right. I heard Maya is the concertmaster this year. Congratulations." 3 My head was pounding. I went to a nearby coffee shop and ordered a black Americano. While waiting, a short-haired woman in business attire sat across from me. Our eyes met accidentally. Excitement flashed across her face. "Cleo! What a coincidence." She put her phone down, happily reaching out a hand. "I haven't seen you in forever! I was in your class junior year!" I was a bit stunned. I had deliberately erased those memories, and they had become blurry. "Back then, you and Elias actually helped me with my tuition. I always wanted to find a chance to thank you guys..." Seeing I still didn't have much of a reaction. She waved it off with a laugh. "It’s normal that you don't remember." "After all, you guys were so dazzling. You helped so many classmates." "You guys really are a perfect match. Years later, and you're still stunningly beautiful!" I remained silent, casting my eyes down. She was like an opened faucet, excited to gossip. "Speaking of which, you guys are too low-key. It’s been so long and there’s still no news about a wedding." "There was that crazy betting pool on the school forum back in the day." "The 'popular girl vs. charity case' rivalry. Both sides were going back and forth like crazy." She took a sip of her coffee, sounding righteous. "It was so annoying. How could Maya even compete with you? She couldn't beat a childhood sweetheart dynamic..." "Miss, your Americano is ready." I stood up, suddenly finding it a bit funny. I remembered that betting pool. Seven years ago, high-spirited and arrogant, I had actually cast a vote for myself on that forum. I never imagined that in the end, I would be the one fleeing in humiliation. I turned and apologized. "I actually have an emergency I need to take care of. Please excuse me." She wasn't upset at all. She crinkled her eyes and waved at me. "Cleo, when are you going to invite me to one of your concerts? I’ll buy out the front row!" My steps faltered. I pushed open the coffee shop door in a rush. Looking at her expectant, certain gaze, I honestly didn't have the courage to tell her. I had abandoned that dream long ago. I hadn't touched a violin in seven years... The nights here were always dry and cold, unlike the endless drizzle of London. Some memories just couldn't be forgotten. They could effortlessly disrupt my entire life. My thoughts drifted back. Back then, everyone knew I had two great loves. One was the violin, and the other was Elias Sterling. It was simple: I had known Elias since we were toddlers. We both started playing the violin at the same time. We lived in the same neighborhood; our parents were best friends. We shared a natural, innate talent for music. We practiced in the same music room, learned music theory together, entered competitions together. We knew everything about each other. Our interests aligned, our personalities complemented each other. I was the arrogant, demanding one; he was gentle and attentive. Growing up, we did everything together. Skiing in Aspen, ordering too much food at restaurants, walking home together after school. He carried my backpack, handed me my drinks, tied my shoelaces. Family background, looks, talent—everything matched perfectly. Back then, everyone believed I would become a world-renowned soloist. And then, I would marry Elias Sterling. But the summer of our sophomore year, someone completely different appeared. Her name was Maya, and she was just a very ordinary girl. 4 Elias first noticed her when he casually handed her a coffee. The barista had gotten the order wrong, and I was always picky. He shrugged, about to toss the coffee into the trash can behind us. "Um, could... could I have that?" A weak voice sounded. Maya looked up at him, speaking very softly. Walking home later, Elias brought it up. "She looked like she was about to pass out from low blood sugar. And I guess her family is struggling financially." That was the first time he had ever shown interest in someone else. Arrogant as I was back then, I just thought he was being soft-hearted. In our AP music class, Maya was considered nothing more than a hard worker. Her performance grades were always at the bottom of the class. She always wore the same worn-out school hoodie. She was timid, prone to panicking and missing beats when she played the piano, and then bursting into tears. She was just an unremarkable, ordinary girl. But later, Elias started bringing her up more and more often. He’d talk about how she was actually doing so well, how much he admired her tenacity. Every time, I’d be defensive. "But I clearly do everything a hundred times better than her." He would stop what he was doing and say seriously. "Cleo, she’s different from us. She was self-respecting and never looked down on anyone who was ordinary yet worked hard." During an AP class, laughter erupted from the back of the classroom. The students all turned around to see Elias, flushing, trying to cover Maya's mouth. She was blinking innocently, locking eyes with me at that exact moment. When Elias used to bring me things, he started bringing a second copy for her. He’d let her into our private music room to practice. He never said no to her. People started joking around. They called Maya the pure "White Moonlight" and me the arrogant "Popular Girl." One was sweet and simple, the other proud and brilliant. The rivalry lasted for three years. That comparison followed me everywhere, haunting me like a ghost. Wherever Elias and I were. No matter the time, we would be compared. "But with that princess attitude of hers, Maya is just so much better." "Boys favor the gentle type. It’s completely understandable. Maya is actually really pitiable." "Cleo is just too competitive. But I guess she is prettier than Maya." Maya, Maya... I started becoming frantic. I would scream, I would cry. I found it hard to believe. "Do you really like her?" Every time, he used to helplessness flick my forehead. "Don't talk nonsense. It’s bad for her reputation." At the school gala, Elias had promised to accompany her on piano. Their performance was seamless, earning round after round of applause. At the bow, Maya was nervous and tightly gripped the hand of the boy beside her. In the celebratory flush of performance, even ordinary Maya looked a bit beautiful. And Elias hesitated for a second, but he didn't pull his hand away. Someone posted the photo online. The boy in white and the girl in white—it got millions of hits. With red eyes, I threw away all of his white shirts. We were in a cold war for a long time after that. From then on, the moment I saw white clothing, I felt sick. 5 From somewhere, the beautiful sound of a violin drifted over again. Yes, the tempo needed to slow down, the melody rising and falling. I was sitting in the audition room. Left hand pressing the strings, right hand lightly lifting the bow. It was a pre-screened audition; I knew the judges. But the piece drawn was the Norwegian Dance. Outside the window, Elias secretly let out a sigh of relief. This piece was considered our "song." It had echoed through that summer when we were seventeen. It was a melody I knew by heart. My face was pale, my lips white. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began to play. The sound was brilliant, but that disgusting scene gradually became clear before my eyes. The spot where I was pressing the strings... their hands had been tangled together there. This specific measure... he had patiently helped her with the rhythm. My strings... Maya's hair had brushed against them... How could he? How could he? Why did it have to be this piece! Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I played faster and faster, faster and faster. A string snapped, cutting my finger. I opened my eyes and calmly stood up. Facing the stunned judges, I bowed, and then walked out of the audition room. ...... "Miss! Could you spare some change?" Memories were pulled back. A little boy on the street was holding a battered old violin. He asked me weakly. I crouched down. "Did you just play that song?" "Yeah! It’s the only song I know..." He looked a bit depressed. "My mom smashed my violin, and I want to save up to fix it." "I saw you standing there listening for a long time, so you must like the violin too. Miss, could you spare just a little change?" Having just returned from abroad, I didn't have any cash on me. A well-manicured hand reached past me, handing over a few hundred dollars. "Here, kid. Get the violin fixed and practice hard." A cool, crisp voice. It was Elias again. He patted the boy’s head, his gaze sweeping over to me. He teased. "At least he has ambition. Better than some people." I casually stood up and walked away. Elias followed silently at my side. The moonlight was shifting. After a long time, he said calmly, "Giving up because of one failure... that’s not the Cleo Vance I know." "How is that any better than the Maya you always looked down on?" My eyes were icy. I stopped walking. "So? What exactly are you trying to say?" "You guys got what you wanted. Why are you still here bothering me?" Elias gave me a deep look and handed over a ticket. "There's a very famous investor coming to the city next week. The city arranged a performance for me." "The tickets are sold out, but I want you to be there..." I squinted at him. A spark of something flickered in his eyes, but it quickly faded into calmness. The ticket had a platinum border, showing how high-profile this performance was. I calmly looked away. "I'm sorry. I won't be attending." "It’s not far. I’ll send someone to pick you up." I tightened my collar and didn't answer. Elias caught up, naturally taking off his coat. "Is there a scheduling conflict? I can see if it’s possible to adjust the time..." I coldly knocked his hand away. "What exactly do you want?" He looked down. "Seven years ago, I always regretted..." I frowned, interrupting him. "I told you, I’m married." "I'm happy right now, and I hope you guys stop bothering me." He froze for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. A hint of iciness appeared. "Happy? Are you sure?" "A loveless business marriage... how long do you think that’s going to last?" Seeing I was about to speak, he made a shushing motion. "Before you argue with me, let me ask: where is this husband of yours? Why isn't he with you?" "Hmm. Is he balding, or is he gay? Oh, or maybe he’s just really rich?" The words had barely left his mouth when I slapped him across the face. "Shut up!" I said coldly, "Keep your disgusting thoughts to yourself." His face was turned to the side, but he was chuckling softly. "Angry?" He said softly. "Cleo, all these years without you, I’ve been very lonely too." 5 I was completely unmoved. His eyes were as dark as ink. He stared at me intently. A gentle breeze blew in from the ocean. I only then seemed to remember that I had said that same thing to him once. The person who couldn't bear to be apart from him the most was me. The person most afraid of being lonely was me. But in the end, the person who was abandoned... was also me. "No matter what, I'm glad you're back." "I won't let the regrets from seven years ago happen again." Having said that, he turned and left, not looking back. I was only a few steps away from the hospital, on a dark, deserted little path with no streetlights. He had followed me for a long time. I paused, then walked on expressionlessly. While waiting for the elevator on the first floor. I run into Maya. She was still dressed in that pure, elegant style, though with an added touch of gentleness and sophistication. Now, she was a famous pianist. Quite a few people recognized her and gathered around, whispering. She was helping an elderly woman out. The elderly woman was beaming with pride, introducing her to everyone around. "This is my granddaughter! She just got back from performing with Elias Sterling in Los Angeles..." Someone in the crowd said excitedly, "Are the rumors about Maya and Elias true? That they've loved each other since high school? That they've supported and accompanied each other for years?" Maya pursed her lips in a smile, about to speak. Then she saw me. When our eyes met, she visibly became panicked. She became incredibly uncomfortable, her eyes darting around. Someone followed her gaze and noticed me. "Wow! Who is that? She's gorgeous. Is she some celebrity?" "Probably not. Look at that simple beanie she’s wearing; it’s the latest Chanel one from this year!" I ignored them completely. Maya was biting her lower lip hard. It was as if we had been thrown back seven years, with her bowing her head submissively as I walked past Elias and her. "I’m sorry, we have to go." The crowd dispersed, uninterested. A flash of resentment and unwillingness appeared in Maya's eyes as she glanced back at me. Unwillingness? I shook my head. Honestly, she had no reason to be envious. After all, seven years ago, the one who was defeated, humiliated, and lost everyone... was me. When I reached the hospital room, my mom happily grabbed my hand, and we talked for a long time. "By the way, did you see Elias? Where is he?" I nodded, being vague. "He had something to do and left." She sighed, hesitating. "The Sterling and Vance families have always been close. Elias visits often. Every time, he goes into your old room and just stays there for the whole afternoon." "That violin you smashed... he went to America to find someone to fix it." Mom began to ramble. "I still remember when you had that high fever and said you wanted plum-flavored ice cream. He ran around several cities to find it..." I looked up and smiled, interrupting her. "Mom, that was so many years ago. I’m married now!" "Oh, right. You guys didn't end up together..." She tapped her head, talking herself to sleep. My dad, sitting on the other side of the room, made a shushing motion. We went out into the hallway. "She just wants to comfort you. She's afraid you still haven't moved on." I suddenly felt a surge of self-mockery. Right, everyone said that. Everyone thought: how could I possibly be willing to give up the violin? How could I possibly cut off all contact with him for seven years? Dreams shattered, loves lost. The summer after high school graduation, everyone was worried about me. They were afraid I would do something drastic. They were afraid I would slit my wrists. In the end, even Maya came to my door to apologize. She was stammering, looking like she was about to cry. I coldly slammed the door. "Get out."
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