Chapter 84: If Line Campus Story 2

The library was overcrowded on the weekend.
Steven was sitting in a seat by the window and typing on his keyboard when he heard slow and lazy footsteps beside him. He looked up and saw a glimpse of pink clothing.
He glanced at his watch; it was 10:30 in the morning.
Yesterday, Monica asked him about his weekend plans, and he honestly replied that he was going to spend time at the library. She pestered him to let her come too, begging and pleading for him to save her a seat.
The seat was saved, but she arrived late.
Monica sat opposite him, yawning lightly, clearly having just woken up not long ago. Her beautiful features were filled with fatigue.
Steven reached out and took back the book she had used to save the seat for her. Monica glanced at him, lowered her head, and sent him a Facebook message:
"Brother, you look so handsome today! I really like it!"
She just liked her own face.
Steven thought expressionlessly.
During lunchtime, people gradually left the library to have lunch, and the calm and serious atmosphere became slightly more relaxed. Monica, who hadn't eaten anything since waking up, also started to feel hungry.
She bombarded Steven with Facebook messages until he finally gave in, closed his computer, and accompanied her to eat.
As they walked out of the library, the sunlight was just right, and a crowd gathered at the entrance, bustling with activity.
Surrounding a few tables. There is a promotional easel next to the parasol. They walked closer to take a look and it turned out that students were organizing a charity sale, selling some simple accessories for cats and dogs. The full amount earned will be used to help stray animals on campus.
Monica stopped curiously and Steven stopped as well.
"Let's each buy one and support them," she said.
Since it was for charity, Steven had no objections. His gaze swept over the tables and unconsciously landed on a pink cat hair clip.
The student selling noticed his gaze and smiled as he picked up the hair clip. "You have a good eye, handsome. The color of this hair clip is exactly the same as your girlfriend's skirt."
Only then did he realize that the person he just thought of was indeed Monica.
She was playful, with a hint of pride and indulgence in her character. She was very clingy and when she got angry, she was like an irate little cat.
Especially today, she was wearing a pink skirt.
"Is that so?" Monica looked at her skirt and said generously, "How many of these do you have in stock? I'll take them all."
Steven originally wanted to clarify, but his attention was completely taken by her spoiled statement.
He said, "Even if we're buying more for charity, we can buy different types instead of just one. It's not like we're buying in bulk."
"No, I want this one, all of them." Monica's voice was cheerful. "Since you picked it, it will be the gift you're giving me."
Steven: ...
The student selling looked at Steven differently, as if saying he was a man who lived off women, being stingy even when it came to giving gifts, and making the woman pay for it herself.
He accepted his fate and took out his phone. "Please pack them up, I'll pay."
After finishing their meal, Steven wanted to go back to the library, but Monica didn't want to. She grabbed his hand and said they should take a walk by the artificial lake next to the library, using the excuse of "aiding digestion".
The afternoon breeze of autumn was very comfortable. Steven looked at her flowing hair and stopped walking.
"Monica, I have something to say to you."
"Hmm?"
"Through this time, we've spent together, you should know what kind of person I am. I have plans for every stage of my life, goals that I work towards one by one. I never stop or easily change for anyone," he paused.
"And being in a romantic relationship, investing time and energy in maintaining a relationship that could end at any moment, it was never part of my plans."
Monica responded with a simple "Oh".
But maybe, just maybe, I can give it a try, if it's with you.
But the words were swallowed back. Promises shouldn't be given lightly or irresponsibly, as it would disrespect her and contradict his own principles.
During the time they spent together, he realized that he was gradually lowering his standards because of her. Being around her all day didn't annoy him, and even when she pretended to be pitiful and said her feet hurt from wearing high heels, he would compromise and ride his bike with her sitting behind him, hugging his waist, without asking her to get off.
In the past, whenever a girl pursued him, he always politely rejected them, maintaining a distance and never allowing anyone to get too close. He never allowed himself to be tied down, until now.
Steven felt that he needed some time to think carefully and give her a definite, solemn, and responsible answer.
"But actually..."
"I understand."
Both of them spoke almost simultaneously, and Steven looked at her with surprise as Monica said,
"Actually, I came here today to admit defeat as well."
Steven: ?
She sighed, "My brother talked to me that day, and I thought he made a lot of sense. Although I fell in love with you at first sight and really liked your face, when I thought about it carefully, our personalities are really completely different, and even if we were together, we wouldn't be happy."
She raised the bag in her hand, "I apologize for bothering you during this time. Consider this as a souvenir, and I will treasure it."
Chasing after someone is really exhausting, and she usually loses interest quickly. Once her enthusiasm and patience are exhausted, she will readily give up.
Anyway, there are so many guys out there, she will surely find another person who captures her heart.
That night, Steven couldn't sleep.
He lay in bed, tossing and turning for a long time, unable to figure things out. He opened his phone, staring at the screen absentmindedly. Unconsciously, his fingers clicked on the search bar.
"Why do people easily give up on relationships?"
The top answer received many likes: It means they weren't that into it in the first place.
Being struck by those few words, Steven coldly turned off the screen, suppressing his emotions. He got out of bed and walked to the other side of the dorm room, lifting Eric's blanket.
Feeling the chill, Eric, who was sleeping, was startled. He groggily opened his eyes and almost got choked when he saw the person standing by his bedside.
The young master exploded in anger, "Steven, are you sleepwalking in the middle of the night?!"
Steven grabbed his collar and pulled him off the bed, "What did you say to Monica?"
Facing that cold face, Eric was bewildered, "Are you insane?"
"Either accompany me for a drink or get ready to be beaten up. You choose."
Eric kicked him, "Get lost."
"Alright, then I will message Sheryl Carlson right now and tell her that you've gone to see her many times, skipping class each time."
Sheryl Carlson was Eric's only weakness. He never expected his best friend to betray him like this, immediately snatching the phone from his hands, "Get the alcohol."
Since then, Monica truly never appeared again.
Not only were their undergraduate and graduate school buildings not in the same area, but even their dorms were far apart, and they didn't even eat at the same cafeteria.
It was as if she had completely vanished from his world.
He hadn't seen her in a long time.
Although this was the outcome he had hoped for at the beginning of the story, now that she really didn't come, he felt that something was off.
During class, no one boredly drew in the corner of his notebook; no one used that spoiled and lazy tone to call out his name; no one went through great lengths to hold his hand, sneak kisses, and when he caught her, she didn't regret it, instead staring at him with a fiercer gaze as if he was the one who had done something wrong.
They had agreed that within a month, she would have him, but it had only been twenty days and she had lost her enthusiasm and gave up.
She came and left freely, loving passionately and detaching straightforwardly, leaving him behind in this relationship, they can't seem to move forward no matter what.
Those sweet words, it turns out they were all lies.
Steven's expressionless face was lost in thoughts until he was brought back by the voice of a classmate, "Speaking of which, haven't seen Monica recently? Hasn't she always been with you? What happened? Did she stop pursuing you?"
In the noisy cafeteria, the crowd surged around.
"She's just cutting her losses. Such a beautiful girl, she's never lacked suitors. Who can stand being faced with that ice-cold look every day? If it were me, I'd give up too."
"Yeah," the classmate sighed, "Ah, another innocent name added to Steven's girl-slaughter list."
Steven remained silent, then heard an exclamation, "Speaking of the devil, isn't that Monica?"
Everyone turned their heads and saw a slender and beautiful figure walking into the cafeteria with a male student by her side.
Monica was undeniably beautiful, catching everyone's attention at first glance. At the moment, she was smiling and talking harmoniously with the guy beside her.
"I know that guy, he's also a freshman, seems to be a mixed-race, good at sports. I've seen him a few times in clubs."
The guy and Monica stopped in front of a window together. He said something, making Monica burst into laughter, her eyebrows and eyes bending, and her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"Hey, I have to admit, they make a pretty good match, a handsome guy and a beautiful girl."
"Smack!" A crisp sound interrupted the discussion.
The conversation stopped, and the classmates from the opposite table glanced over. Steven expressionlessly put down his chopsticks, picked up his tray, and got up.
"Hey hey hey, where are you going?"
"I'm full, leaving."
"Full?" The classmate couldn't believe it as he looked at Steven's nearly untouched plate. "You're telling me you're full without eating a single bite?"
Steven didn't say anything else, turned around with a cold face, clearly in a bad mood.
Leaving behind his classmates, who were all looking at each other in confusion.
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