Jenny sat in the corner of her room, the low hum of her fan barely audible against the weight of her thoughts. She had made the decision to end things with Li Wei, but it wasn’t going to be easy. The harder part was simply disappearing. She couldn't afford to stay connected with him, not after everything that had happened. It wasn't just about her; it was about their futures.

  Victor was waiting for her at the café, as they had agreed. He knew she had been struggling with this decision for a while, and she knew he wouldn’t let her down. She had kept herself isoted for so long, afraid to confront what she had to do next. But now, it was time to face it.

  She grabbed her bag and headed out, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm in her chest. She tried to keep her mind focused on her goal: to get through the next few months. She couldn't afford any distractions, especially not from someone like Li Wei.

  Victor was already at the café when she arrived, his usual smile gone. He greeted her with a soft nod, the silence between them thick with anticipation. She sat down across from him, her fingers tightly clutching her bag.

  "How’s the training going?" Victor asked gently, trying to break the tension.

  Jenny gave a tight smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m pushing through. I need to focus on my shooting. I’ve missed too many competitions already."

  Victor nodded in understanding. "I know. You’re strong, Jenny. But you look like you’ve made up your mind about something else."

  She took a deep breath, gncing down at her hands before meeting his gaze. "I’m cutting ties with Li Wei. I’m disappearing from his life, Victor. No contact. No excuses."

  Victor leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed her words. "Jenny, you’ve been through a lot, but is this really what you want? You’re going to completely shut him out? Just like that?"

  She nodded firmly, though her heart ached at the finality of it. "I don’t have a choice. I can’t let myself get distracted, and I can’t be the reason his life falls apart. His family, his future… I can’t be the one to mess it up."

  Victor frowned, reaching across the table to gently pce his hand on hers. "But you’re not messing it up. You’ve got to stop thinking you’re the problem. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are. You’re talented, and you’ve got a future in front of you, Jenny. Why are you giving all that up for something you think is inevitable?"

  Jenny shook her head, her voice trembling slightly. "It’s not about giving up, Victor. It’s about doing what’s right for both of us. I can’t keep dragging him into this mess. I need to focus on myself, on my training. And I need to forget about him." She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. "I can’t let him be a distraction."

  Victor didn’t say anything for a long moment, just watching her with quiet concern. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. "I’m not going to say I agree with you, Jenny. But I understand where you’re coming from. You’ve made your decision, and you think it’s for the best. Just… don’t lose yourself in this. Don’t let the hurt take over."

  Jenny blinked, her throat tight as she tried to hold back the emotions that had been bubbling up inside her for so long. "I don’t want to lose myself, Victor. But this… this is the only way I can keep moving forward. I can’t let Li Wei be a part of my life anymore."

  Victor nodded slowly, looking at her with a mix of understanding and sadness. "I get it. I just hope one day you realize that you don’t have to make these kinds of decisions alone. You have people who care about you."

  Jenny nodded quietly, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I know. And I’m grateful for you, Victor. But right now, I need to focus. On myself. On my future."

  The next few days passed in a blur as Jenny threw herself into her studies and training. She cut off all communication with Li Wei. No texts. No calls. No social media interactions. She removed herself completely from his world, shutting the door behind her and locking it tight. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart would skip a beat, and she would almost reach for it—only to stop herself.

  It was harder than she had expected. There were moments when she would see a familiar sight—a glimpse of his jeep, or the sound of his voice drifting through the halls—and it would make her stop in her tracks. She could feel the weight of her decision pressing on her, but she refused to turn back. She couldn’t afford to. Not anymore.

  She spent every waking moment studying and training, pushing herself harder than ever. The sting of cutting ties with Li Wei didn’t fade, but it became a part of her, a quiet ache she learned to carry. She focused on her shooting, determined to make up for the time she had lost. The competition was just around the corner, and this time, she was ready.

  A few weeks passed, and Jenny had settled into a new routine. Her focus had sharpened. She no longer found herself wondering what Li Wei was doing or how he was feeling. It hurt, but it was necessary. She had no room for distractions.

  One evening, as she was walking to her car after an exhausting training session, she ran into one of her old cssmates. The conversation quickly turned to Li Wei, and it was clear that the campus was still buzzing about their sudden separation.

  "Have you heard?" her cssmate asked, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin. "Li Wei’s been a mess ever since you two stopped talking. People are saying he’s been avoiding everyone."

  Jenny’s heart twinged at the mention of his name, but she kept her face neutral. "I’m sure he’ll be fine," she replied, her voice steady. "He’s got a lot on his pte."

  Her cssmate gave her a doubtful look. "I don’t know. They say he’s not the same without you."

  Jenny forced a smile, feeling the ache of her decision again. "I’m just focused on my future. He’s got his own to worry about."

  With that, she walked away, her heart heavy but resolute. She had made her choice, and she wouldn’t look back.

  As the competition approached, Jenny knew that the only thing that mattered now was her training. And as much as she missed Li Wei, as much as a part of her wanted to turn back and make things right, she knew this was the path she had to take. The future was uncertain, but she was ready to face it—alone if necessary.

  For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was finally in control of her own destiny.