Chapter 3

From that day on, Gabriel and I started studying together.

I'd be in my own classroom during class, then go find him after.

We'd work on our respective problems in a corner of the library, occasionally swapping notebooks with our incorrect answers.

He spoke little when explaining problems, but every word hit the mark.

Once, I got stuck on a function problem. He looked at it for two seconds, then tapped a number on the paper with his pen tip.

"You missed this condition."

I reread the problem. Sure enough.

"How do you see that so fast?" I asked, a little unconvinced.

"Because I've seen all the problems you've gotten wrong," he said. "Your main issues are careless calculations and missing conditions, not a lack of understanding of the concepts."

I froze. He'd even looked at my incorrect answers?

I buried my head deeper, pretending to be diligently working on the problem.

But my heartbeat was too loud; I was afraid he'd hear it.

Meanwhile, Isabella started skipping classes frequently, and her allowance grew.

In the dorm, she'd look at me with disdain, always flaunting things subtly.

"Federico bought me another bag. Do you know, that brand costs thousands?"

I advised her, "You should really study. Exams are coming up."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "You've been spending too much time with Gabriel, your brain's become a stick in the mud just like his."

She glanced at the practice test I was working on and scoffed. "What's the point of studying all day, every day? Women, you've got to enjoy yourself while you're young."

I didn't say anything more. Some paths, you only know they're pitfalls after you've walked them yourself.

I had already walked that one once.

The day exam results came out, I had moved up thirty-two places.

I snapped a picture of my report card and sent it to Gabriel: 【Thank you.】

He replied with a picture of his own report card. He'd also improved, ranking fifth in his grade.

I smiled at the screen.

Isabella, seeing me smile, leaned over to look and her face immediately soured.

"What's so great about getting lucky?" she suddenly blurted out. "Everyone knows what your real abilities are. Don't think just because you got lucky on a test once, you're hot stuff."

I put my phone away and ignored her.

The class bell rang, and Federico came to the classroom door to find Isabella.

She went out for a moment, and when she returned, a new bracelet adorned her wrist.

Isabella deliberately extended her hand and waved it in front of me. "Pretty, right? Federico bought it for me. It cost thousands."

I glanced at the bracelet.

I'd had one just like it in my last life.

At the time, I thought it was a designer brand and carefully treasured it. Later, I found out it was fake, costing less than fifty dollars to make.

Isabella saw I wasn't speaking, assumed I was envious, and smugly withdrew her hand. "What good are good grades? Marrying into wealth isn't about scores; it's about having good judgment and knowing how to pick a man."

I remembered Federico's cold, detached expression as I lay dying in my previous life.

"Yes," I said. "You definitely need good judgment."