Being stared at by her like that made me uncomfortable; I subconsciously touched my nose and coughed dryly to hide my embarrassment.
"Gwen, do you still remember the first day of school?" I spoke, my voice a bit dry, "Aini publicly cursed at me, and I was completely stunned. It was you who stepped forward to help me out and stopped her. It was also you who brought me to this rooftop and told me Aini's background."
"You told me her surname and origin, making me realize she would refuse and humiliate all men who confessed to her. And I encountered the worst-case scenario. It made me sober up… and recognize her true self."
Gwen nodded; she naturally remembered the scene from that day.
She initially just couldn't stand Aini's actions and casually spoke up, but she never expected this boy, two years younger than her and whom she thought she'd never interact with, to be so interesting.
His eyes, clear like lake water, always carried a special light that unconsciously drew her in. The more she interacted with him, the more she cared about this boy.
"Your words enlightened me," I pulled at the corner of my mouth, revealing a bitter smile—the helplessness after waking from a dream, and the frankness of accepting reality, "Before confessing, I really should have figured out what kind of person the other party was. Aini is indeed the prettiest girl in the whole school, and people confessing to her could form a long line; I was just one of them. The only thing special was probably being the most brutally humiliated by her in public."
Over these past few days, I've also completely understood that Aini is not someone I can provoke. She is the daughter of the Black Hand Family's boss; we simply live in two different worlds.
I looked at Gwen; her blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight. "Later, you joined Aini's 'bullying trio.' But I know you're different from them. You just found it fun, didn't care about those messy rules, and just wanted to do as you pleased and live freely."
The corners of my mouth unconsciously curved slightly upwards, with understanding in my eyes. I had long since figured out Gwen's personality—like the wind, ungraspable and uncontainable.
"To be honest," I weighed my words, "your joining made Aini and their so-called 'bullying' less… unbearable. In fact, sometimes it even had a… an indescribable charm."
As I said this, I couldn't help but laugh myself. Gwen's presence was like adding a bit of sugar to bitter medicine—complex in taste, but not entirely unpalatable.
Gwen also laughed. This guy used to be a dullard, but now his words were much more pleasant to listen to, and more convoluted, than before.
I took a breath, my voice deepening: "When we make choices, we don't always have to pursue so-called absolute freedom. Sometimes, those choices we 'have to' make might have deeper considerations behind them, or even be the best arrangement at the moment…" These words sounded like self-talk, yet also like an explanation to Gwen.
The smile on Gwen's face faded. She looked at me in confusion, a hint of bewilderment flashing in her blue eyes.
"I'm very grateful to you," I met her gaze, "grateful that you spoke up for me on the first day of school, and pulled me up when I was at my most vulnerable."
I paused, fragments flashing through my mind, and my voice dropped even lower.
"You once said you regretted that 'accident.' Yet, I can't forget everything that happened that day. In fact… I'm grateful for your forgiveness afterward. Every time I think of it, I always wonder… that time, I was lucky, not an accident." I looked at Gwen, her gentle gaze making my heart ache.
I took another deep breath, forcing myself to look up and meet Gwen's eyes directly. In those blue eyes, emotions surged, complex and hard to decipher.
"You made me realize that perhaps… I am just a passerby in your life." As I spoke these words, I felt my heart being squeezed by something, "Your future is bright, Gwen. You don't need a… partner like me. You can directly inherit your father's company; there's no need to linger in school. You're like an angel with wings, with countless possibilities for choices. Perhaps… in a few days, you'll meet the person who truly belongs to you."
I could clearly feel Gwen's heart skip a beat. She hadn't expected me to say such words. The light in her eyes dimmed a bit—was it disappointment? Or something else? Perhaps… I was just overthinking it.
The scene from that night in my previous life flashed into my mind: Gwen and a dashing man chatting happily in a high-end restaurant.
I knew that there was nothing between us, but that scene was like a needle, stuck in my heart, unable to be pulled out, aching faintly. The joy of finding her and the impulse to ask for help instantly vanished.
An angel deserves a prince, or at least someone equally outstanding and brilliant. And me?
Someone who can't even guarantee three meals a day… Thinking of this, a self-mocking bitterness surged in my heart.
I forcibly suppressed the churning emotions, trying to make my tone sound lighter: "As for that exchange student program… on one hand, it's to completely get rid of my uncle's vampire-like family, and on the other hand, it's also a way to put an end to the mess with Aini. To put it bluntly, it's just an excuse for me to leave."
"The program indeed allows two companions. But Gwen, you're different; you have your own bright future. My companions are different; Annie, Chen Chang, they need this opportunity, this opportunity might change their future. And you… your future, your family, and even your future significant other… are all here in Sunset Country."
I paused, then added: "Chen Chang's family isn't well-off, so this opportunity is crucial for him. Moreover, he's always quietly helped me when I was at my most difficult. Giving this spot to him is the most suitable."
I once again showed that usual slight smile, only this time, beneath the smile, too many indescribable things were hidden.
I laid out the thoughts I had suppressed in my heart before Gwen, in as calm a manner as possible. I didn't know what she would think, but I had tried my best to explain.
Gwen's expression flickered, clearly indicating that my words contained too much information for her to process.
For a moment, she didn't know how to respond, but she could feel that the scoundrel in front of her was definitely not a passerby in her life.
She remained silent for a while before saying in a low voice, "I understand… Let's eat first. I'll think carefully about what you just said."
She picked up a thin pancake I had carefully selected and took a large bite, as if trying to fill the emptiness in her heart with food.
"Wow! Smoked salmon, sweet corn, roasted bacon, turkey leg meat, and spicy sausage! All my favorite fillings! And triple cheese… And you remembered to remove the olives and green peppers I don't eat. You, you…"
Gwen mumbled indistinctly, as if complaining, yet also marveling.
She chewed quickly, her gaze somewhat distant, and finally added in a very soft, almost inaudible whisper.
"I told you Aini would regret it… Now… I regret it too…"
I didn't quite catch her last whispered remark, thinking she was just enjoying the delicious thin pancake, so I also picked up a piece and ate it silently. The wind on the rooftop seemed to carry a hint of coolness.