Paul Young saw that the other party was firm in their tone and knew that pressing further would get him nowhere, so he could only shrug. “Alright, this is your private matter. I shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business anyway…”

“It’s not like that!” Sophie thought Paul Young was upset and hurried to explain, “Please don’t think that way. You’re Jason Bolton’s best friend, and also my best friend. We have nothing to hide from you. It’s just that, really, there’s nothing this time…”

Paul Young smiled. “What are you thinking? Do I seem like a petty person? By the way, today is your birthday. I’m broke and have nothing good to give you, so I’ll just say ‘happy birthday’! Happy birthday, Sophie! You should be happy on your birthday, don’t look so glum! I’m off. If Jason Bolton bullies you, just let me know and I’ll take care of him for you…” Paul Young turned and walked away, shaking his head. “…That idiot who doesn’t know how lucky he is…”

Sophie watched as Paul Young’s figure disappeared around the corner of the dormitory building. This big brother, older than both her and Jason Bolton, always kept his best friends’ matters close to his heart. He worried so much about Jason Bolton, yet he himself, at his age, still didn’t have a girlfriend. In his heart, soccer and friends were always tied for first place. As long as his friends were happy, he was happy…

“Thank you, big brother…”

Paul Young kicked open the dorm room door, startling everyone inside.

“Where’s Jason Bolton?” He looked around the dorm but didn’t see Jason Bolton.

“He just finished showering and was called out by Vera Smith…” Frank Bolton said.

“Just the two of them?”

“Yeah, all mysterious. No idea what they’re up to.” Frank Bolton stretched and jumped down from his bed. “Let’s go eat, everyone!”

The other two stood up and headed for the door, leaving only Paul Young standing still.

“Aren’t you coming to eat?” Henry Clark had just spoken when Frank Bolton pulled him away.

The door closed, leaving Paul Young alone in the room.

So that’s how it is! How did I not see it before? Vera Smith is always finding all sorts of excuses to get close to Jason Bolton—so that’s her real intention! She really is beautiful, lively, and talented… What guy wouldn’t be moved? If Jason Bolton can’t control himself… that’s entirely possible!

Paul Young slammed his fist hard on the desk and rushed out of the dorm.

Chapter 008 Nothing at All

Sophie returned to her dorm, turned on the light, and flopped onto her bed. Everyone else had gone to eat, but she didn’t want to go, and she wasn’t hungry.

Paul Young’s words at first had made her feel bad. She knew Paul Young was worried about her and Jason Bolton. What made her feel bad wasn’t his tone, but her current relationship with Jason Bolton.

What on earth was he thinking? Deliberately missing the penalty kick, running off after the match, and lately he really hadn’t come to see her much. She thought he was just busy with training… and he kept saying there was nothing wrong, just fooling herself!

That night at the turn of the century, when she said “I love you” to Jason Bolton on the phone, even though there were no grand promises, she truly believed they would live happily ever after, just like in all the fairy tales—forever and ever… Who would have thought that after only two years, things would come to this? Is it really impossible for love to last forever? Then what was the point of her chasing after that hazy figure in the sunset for five years? What was the point of ignoring all those boys who pursued her?

Was that hug in the rain, that steaming bowl of noodles, all just in the past? Was “I’ll cook for you for a lifetime” really just a slip of the tongue? The speaker may not have meant it, but the listener took it to heart? Was she just being foolishly sentimental? Three years—was it all just a dream? And now that the dream is finally over, what should she do?

Countless questions swirled in Sophie’s mind. The more she asked herself, the more her nose stung, and there was always something swirling in her eyes. She had held back for so long in front of others, but now she just wanted to hug something and have a good cry, to let out all the grievances in her heart. Maybe she’d feel better after crying.

Sophie reached out and grabbed something soft and fluffy. She pulled it over and saw that it was the giant rogue rabbit Shawn Thompson had given her as a birthday present today. Looking at the rabbit, a flash of insight came to Sophie, and all her question marks turned into exclamation points—she suddenly found all the answers.

Why had Jason Bolton grown distant from her? Why did he deliberately miss the penalty kick?

She had always been asking Jason Bolton why, but never thought to look for the answer in herself. She knew Jason Bolton; he was the type who wasn’t proactive with girls, so there was no way he’d distance himself just because there were more pretty girls in the history department. After all, could three years of being together be outweighed by just two months?

So the problem must be with herself.

Shawn Thompson, Shawn Thompson, Shawn Thompson… His enthusiastic help at the start of the semester gave her a false impression. He was warm-hearted, witty, and generous—a nice guy. There’s nothing wrong with making more friends in college, so he naturally ended up by her side—a warm-hearted “friend.” But what was his real intention?

She had even gone to Jason Bolton’s match with him. What would Jason Bolton think when he saw that? No wonder he kept glancing over—so he thought she and Shawn Thompson…