Chapter 2

That weekend when I went home, my mom saw me struggling with my books and was so happy she could practically do a happy dance.

She didn't even scold me for my 15-point test.

My dad just shook his head, grumbling.

"If you ask me, studying is useless with your brain. You might as well come home early and learn to farm, then find a boy to settle down with, that's more practical."

My dad used to be abusive, an alcoholic, and favored boys. When he saw I was a girl, he wanted to give me away.

But after a particularly violent argument with my mom, something shifted in him. He completely turned his life around.

He started treating me like his precious gem, hoping I'd achieve great things and build a strong family legacy.

"What do you know? You're so short-sighted."

My mom scoffed.

Then she turned to me and said she'd buy a brighter lamp for me tomorrow in town, so I wouldn't strain my eyes studying at night.

She even pulled out some bills from her pocket, telling me to buy study materials.

I nodded enthusiastically.

"So, tonight's snack..."

"No."

I started listening intently in class, taking notes, and submitting homework on time.

I even stayed in class to review during my favorite P.E. lessons.

Sophia was surprised by my transformation.

"You've changed your tune!"

She raised her voice.

"Don't tell me you're using studying as an excuse to ask Ethan for help?"

"No!"

I buried my head in my textbook, my heart pounding.

Ethan's deskmate turned around and scoffed.

"You girls are so cunning, you'll do anything to get Ethan's attention."

Ethan's gaze landed on the top of my head.

"Hmm, I am a little curious about the upper limit of a paramecium."

Ugh, his voice was so nice.

His delicate, pale fingers tapped my test paper.

"Here, that's wrong."

He offered, as if bestowing a favor.

"You can ask if you have questions, just like those other girls."

"Watching you all fight over me is occasionally quite entertaining."

Oh, he's so nice, but I couldn't agree to it.

Being near him, hearing his voice, I couldn't think straight.

Even sitting behind him, I couldn't help but get distracted.

After much deliberation, I painfully asked Mr. Harrison to change my seat.

The front row VIP spot.

As I packed my books, the entire class stared at me in shock.

Even Ethan gave me a complex look, staring for an extra moment.

My secret crush and my studies progressed side by side, and soon a year had passed.

After immersing myself in my studies for so long, on the day the final exam results came out, I actually just barely made the cut to get into the same top-tier high school in the state as Ethan.

The only catch was, he was in the honors class, and I was in the lowest-ranked class.

Mr. Harrison teared up, using me as a legend to future students.

My parents called every relative they had and celebrated like I'd won the lottery.

Only I felt a mix of joy and worry.

Joy because I'd see my idol again.

Worry because: barely making it in, how could I claim to be from the same school as my idol?

I wasn't good enough, I had to keep striving.

Day and night studying began again.

I didn't even let the holidays stop me.

Whenever I got tired, I'd grab my vocabulary book and secretly find a corner to stake out Ethan.

Just to catch a glimpse of him.

He was voted "Campus Heartthrob" and was still the center of attention.

Boys tried to get close, girls crushed on him.

I liked him so much.

Occasionally, I'd stare for too long and get noticed by Ethan and his friends.

His friend would sneer, "Another fangirl, Ethan, do you know her?"

Ethan would look at me and let out a dismissive chuckle.

"Just a simple-minded paramecium."

My face turned red again, but his voice was as pleasant as ever!

Days turned into weeks, then months, years passed by.

My college entrance exam results came out.

I was the top student in the state.

My parents' phones were ringing off the hook with calls from universities across the country.

The school put up banners of honor, and the state and school gave me prize money.

Everything felt like a dazzling fireworks display.

I was a bit dazed.

It wasn't until I stood at the university entrance, face-to-face with Ethan,

that I felt a sense of grounding.

That's right, I wasn't a genius, but I had some intelligence and a lot of effort.

My scores had steadily climbed, and by the third mock exam, I was tied with Ethan.

Problems Ethan solved effortlessly, I also solved with ease.

When Ethan chatted effortlessly, I could just as easily apply those theorems and formulas.

Even for the big problems Ethan hesitated on, I had some ideas.

Getting into Beacon University was a given.

Winning by a hair, a given.

I was thrilled.

Finally, I was worthy of confessing to Ethan!