Monday came with an overcast sky that matched Jenny’s mood.

  She tried to shake off the weight of Yue’s message, telling herself that Chun Mei was just desperate for attention. But deep down, a familiar fear crept in—the kind that whispered she didn’t belong in Li Wei’s world.

  At lunch, she kept her head low as she walked across campus. Her earbuds were in, volume low, just enough to drown out her thoughts. That was until someone blocked her path.

  A sharp perfume hit her first—floral and too strong.

  Jenny looked up.

  It was her.

  Chun Mei stood confidently, arms folded, designer bag hanging from her elbow like a trophy. Her smile was venom-sweet.

  “So you’re the girl,” she said. “Interesting.”

  Jenny took out one earbud. “Can I help you?”

  “You’re already helping yourself a little too much, don’t you think?” Chun Mei’s tone was ced with mockery. “First the competition, now Li Wei? You’ve been busy.”

  Jenny’s jaw clenched. “Whatever issue you have, take it up with him. Not me.”

  Chun Mei chuckled, leaning in slightly. “You think you’re special? Don’t ftter yourself. His family already knows about you.”

  Jenny’s heart thudded.

  “What?”

  “They know,” Chun Mei repeated. “And believe me, they’re not impressed. A schorship student with an injury and a convenience store job? Hardly the kind of girl they see standing next to Li Wei at banquets or business gas.”

  Jenny stepped back, holding her ground. “I’m not here for anyone’s approval.”

  “No, you’re here because you dream small,” Chun Mei said, her smile vanishing. “But let me tell you something—Li Wei doesn’t belong in your world, and you don’t belong in his.”

  Jenny’s fingers curled into fists at her side. “Then maybe you should stop chasing someone who already let you go.”

  For a second, Chun Mei’s eyes narrowed—just a fsh of rage before she flipped her hair and walked away.

  That night, Jenny tried to focus on her assignments, but her mind kept repying the conversation. The words his family knows about you echoed in her head.

  Then her phone buzzed.

  It was Li Wei.

  Li Wei: “Can we talk?”

  They met at the small coffee shop just outside campus. Li Wei looked tired—more from stress than training. He sat across from her, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “I heard what happened,” he said. “Chun Mei cornered you?”

  Jenny nodded. “She made it personal.”

  Li Wei sighed. “I’m sorry. She’s spiraling. And… she wasn’t lying about one thing.”

  Jenny’s stomach dropped. “Your family.”

  He hesitated. “My mom called me st night. She saw photos of us online—nothing bad, just from the student paper after the competition. She asked if we were serious.”

  Jenny braced herself.

  “I told her the truth,” he said. “That I like you. That I want to be with you.”

  Jenny blinked. “And?”

  Li Wei looked down. “She said I should focus on my future. That being with someone from ‘another world’ would only distract me.”

  The silence between them stretched like a crack in gss.

  “I don’t care what they say,” Li Wei added quickly. “But I need to be honest. This won’t be easy. Not for you. And not for us.”

  Jenny exhaled, staring at the table. “I’ve been fighting battles since I was fourteen, Li Wei. This isn’t new.”

  He reached across the table and gently touched her hand.

  “You’re stronger than anyone I know,” he whispered. “But I’m not going to let you fight this one alone.”