Chapter 3

The silence lasted for about ten seconds.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

Suddenly, someone snickered.

"We were just kidding, Dylan. Don't take it seriously."

They said it was a joke, but their faces showed a satisfied expression.

"Yeah, our Dylan is so handsome, he can get any girlfriend he wants. Why would he ever be with Summer?"

Someone even pretended to comfort me, patting my shoulder.

"Don't be sad, Summer."

Scarlett concealed the satisfaction in her eyes, feigning annoyance at Dylan for a few words.

Then she picked up a piece of fried chicken and put it in my bowl.

"Summer, don't worry about it so much. Eat more."

But I put down my fork and started wiping my mouth.

"I'm done. You guys carry on. I'm leaving."

Actually, I was only five-parts full.

But due to my mother's threat, I had to painfully give it up.

As I walked towards the door, I passed Dylan's seat.

Brushing past him, I said flatly:

"Dylan, you're pretty spineless."

His face instantly went pale.

He wanted to distance himself from me.

I understood.

After all, in this class,

anyone who was friends with me would be maliciously targeted by Scarlett and her clique.

But what truly angered me was that not long before college entrance exams, he had sworn to me.

He hated Scarlett's crew.

He would firmly stand by me and would never do anything to hurt a classmate like them.

But in that moment, I realized how much he hated being associated with me.

Forget it. Just consider it seeing a friend's true colors.

As soon as I left the private room, my friend Maya Green ran after me.

She hooked her arm through mine and said:

"I don't want to eat with them either. You didn't get enough to eat, did you, Summer? Come on, let's go to the food truck park!"

"I heard some new food trucks opened, and their loaded fries are to die for!"

I wiped away the drool that was about to escape, and reluctantly refused:

"No more eating! I'm starting my diet."

Maya's eyes widened.

This was the first time I'd ever refused her food invitation.

She thought of something and said anxiously:

"Summer, don't listen to them. I really always thought you were beautiful, you..."

I smiled and cut her off, explaining that my mother had issued the threat.

When she learned it was my own decision, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, patting my shoulder and saying:

"Go for it! I'll be supporting you from the sidelines!"

I'm 5'7", and my current weight is 170 pounds.

According to international BMI, if I lose weight down to around 120-130 pounds, I'll be in the healthy range.

I spent a day creating a diet plan.

Mom reviewed it and nodded in satisfaction.

"Don't worry, Summer. Mom will strictly follow the meal plan and make your diet food!"

Dad, however, looked pained.

"Just a few vegetable leaves, will that be enough to eat? Summer, maybe we shouldn't lose weight after all..."

Unfortunately, he didn't finish before Mom pinched his arm.

"Did you forget what the doctor said? Summer is already mildly obese. It'll affect her health if this continues!"

Dad, however, looked worried.

"Did you forget about Summer when she was little? What if she really loses weight and then..."

Mom recalled those days.

She had to leave an hour early every day to pick me up from preschool.

Otherwise, I might very well be taken home by other parents.

Our phone was set to block unknown numbers. Otherwise, from morning till night, it would be ringing off the hook with strangers trying to get close to our family.

But I was still too young back then to remember much.

My parents exchanged glances, and finally, they both agreed to let me lose weight first.

They say girls change a lot as they grow up. What if she grows up... not beautiful?

They just hoped I could live a normal life.

The next morning at five, I went for a run.

An hour later, I reached a park and was about to stop and rest.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice, filled with disbelief.

"Summer?"