Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I stared at Benjamin Lin in a daze, finding it hard to believe my ears. He said it again, "Be my girlfriend."

Tears streamed down my face unconsciously. In that moment, I felt like all my hardships had finally paid off. I nodded repeatedly, so excited that I couldn't even speak properly. At that time, I even started imagining the sweet life I would have with Benjamin Lin in the future.

After that, Benjamin Lin took me with him wherever he went. I followed him quietly, accompanying him as he studied and solved problems. With his encouragement, I even developed a little interest in studying. But my foundation was so weak that studying felt like trying to fill the sea with a 精卫 bird's beak. In the end, I only got into a junior college.

Benjamin Lin got into A University—the best university in the country. Even though we were in different cities, I would take a plane to see him every weekend without fail. I would eagerly tell Benjamin Lin about my college life and the new friends I had made, but he would just lower his head and scroll through his phone, occasionally responding with a "hmm" or "oh".

I failed quite a few courses in college, so my dad directly sent me to study abroad. He said that no matter what, I had to get a decent diploma—otherwise, how would I be able to help my sister manage the company in the future?

I told Benjamin Lin about this decision, reassuring him that I would come back to see him as soon as I had time. I promised to call him, send him messages, and video chat with him when I wasn't busy.

But he broke up with me. At that moment, my mind went completely blank, and my heart felt like it had been stabbed with a knife—I couldn't even breathe. Tears streaming down my face, I clung tightly to his hand, crying and begging him to stay.

"I won't go abroad anymore! I don't care about a diploma—I just want you! Let's not break up, okay? Please! Don't break up, Beichen! Let's not break up—I'll listen to everything you say!"

He 甩开 my hand, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain. "Serena Shaw, I never liked you. The reason I confessed to you back then was just because too many people were chasing me—it was annoying, and it distracted me from my studies. So I asked you to be my girlfriend to keep all those girls away from me."

I don't know how I got home that day. I cried in my sister's arms for a long time, feeling like all those years of my life had been a joke. He could have rejected me, he could have not liked me—but how could he use me like that? What was I to him? A dog that he could call whenever he wanted and send away whenever he pleased?

It took me years to finally get over him and move on. Now he's pulling this stunt—I really can't make sense of it.

After resting at home for two days, I changed my clothes and planned to go out for a walk. But as soon as I stepped out the door, I saw Benjamin Lin waiting at the corner. He walked up to me and took my hand right away.

"Serena, are you still mad at me?"

I tried to pull my hand away, but he was too strong. "What are you doing? Let go! Otherwise, I'll call for help!"

"Serena, I'm sorry. I was wrong before—I was an idiot. Can you forgive me?" As Benjamin Lin spoke, tears even welled up in his eyes. "Ever since you left, I haven't gone a single day without thinking about you. I've been waiting here for a long time."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "If you missed me so much, why didn't you call me? Does Mr. Lin not have a phone? Or can't you afford a plane ticket?"

Benjamin Lin was stunned by my question. I took the chance to yank my hand out of his grip. He looked aggrieved and whispered, "I... I was waiting for you. I thought you would take the initiative to send me a message."

"Heh," I scoffed, so angry that I almost laughed. "Why would I? You used me, you trampled on my feelings for you, and now you expect me to take the initiative to contact you, to come begging for reconciliation? I may not be good at studying, but I'm not stupid—and I don't have a masochistic streak. Do you really think that putting on this 'deeply in love' act will make me go back to how I was before—obeying you in everything, caring for you nonstop? Benjamin Lin, are you out of your mind?"

He looked shocked that I would say such things to him. "Serena, you... you would never talk to me like this before."

"I know you must still be mad at me. What do I have to do to make you forgive me?"

I pursed my lips and thought for a moment. "Give me all your property, and I'll forgive you."

"Huh?" Benjamin Lin took two steps back. "If we get back together, everything I have will be yours anyway, won't it?"