Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I’d also studied at Cambridge Business School. When I enrolled, he was about to graduate with his master’s degree—already a legendary figure in his cohort.

Autumn in England always carried a tinge of melancholy: wind sweeping through fallen leaves, paired with overcast skies or drizzling rain, leaving an unspoken sense of sorrow. I loved it.

"Hey!"

I turned to see a young man leaning casually against a bicycle. His facial contours were sharp and clean; a mole dotted the side of his straight nose, and his eyes held a galaxy of stars that pulled me in instantly.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, gesturing to the ground. "Classmate, you dropped your wallet."

Flustered, I bent down to pick it up. Before I could say "thank you," he waved, hopped on his bike, and rode away. I stood there, watching his back vanish into the wind, for a long time. Slowly, I raised my hand to my chest, feeling my heart race.

So this was what people called "love at first sight."

Later, after asking around, I learned he was also in the Business School—pursuing his master’s, and an exceptional one at that. From then on, my gaze followed him everywhere: every lecture, every public project presentation, every basketball game. Even though I knew he had a girlfriend, I lingered in the shadows like a wallflower, silently watching him shine.

My wish was simple: to love him quietly, even if I never received a single response.