We sat inside the car. The engine purred softly as the city lights began to glow outside.
I looked over at Ruxue and said in a calm voice,
"Inform the manager at the boutique and the car showroom to deliver everything to the new villa. You'll be staying there from now on—so make sure to pack your things from the university dorm."
She blinked for a second, then nodded quickly.
"Okay, Chen Yu," she replied softly.
But I noticed the faint blush rising on her cheeks. She lowered her head, trying to hide it, but her lips curled into a small smile.
"I'll be living… with Chen Yu? Under the same roof?"
Her heart raced, and her face turned even redder.
"Ahhh… this feels like a dream!"
I glanced at her and smirked slightly.
She's probably imagining all sorts of things right now.
Well, not that I mind. A little fun isn't bad.
But I'm not doing this out of love.
I leaned back in my seat, my expression calm.
I'm keeping her close for a reason.
Back in high school, she never laughed at me.
She even confessed to me—knowing I was just a poor orphan.
Back then… she was genuine. A good girl.
But once we entered university, things changed.
She realized she was average in studies.
And in a place like Tianxu University, that wasn't enough.
She started looking for someone to rely on—and slowly, she pulled away from me.
I rejected her back then. Not because I hated her.
But because I didn't like that version of her.
Still… she's smart, quick-witted.
Keeping her by my side might not be a bad move.
She could be useful—very useful in the future.
I looked out the window, hiding the faint smile on my face.
Let's see how far this little game goes, Bai Ruxue.
Inside the Girls' Dormitory
As soon as Ruxue opened the door to her shared room, a sharp voice called out.
"Ruxue! Where the hell did you disappear to?"
It was Li Yuxin, lounging on her bed with her phone in hand. Her tone was half-annoyed, half-curious.
"I called you like, three times!"
"I was… out," Ruxue replied calmly, walking past her and grabbing her suitcase.
Yuxin's eyes narrowed.
"You've been acting weird lately. What's going on? Don't tell me you're still hanging out with Chen Yu?"
Ruxue paused for a moment, then turned with a soft smile.
"Actually… I'm moving out."
Yuxin sat up.
"Huh? Moving out? To where?"
"To a villa," Ruxue said, opening her wardrobe.
There was a beat of silence.
"A villa? Don't tell me Chen Yu's putting you up in some shady apartment and calling it a 'villa'."
Ruxue chuckled to herself, pulling out her clothes one by one.
"Nope. It's a real one. From SilverGate Estates."
The air in the room froze.
Yuxin stared, her expression blank.
"...You're joking."
"I'm not." Ruxue looked her dead in the eye.
"He bought me a 500 million won villa today. Right after gifting me a car."
Yuxin stood up, her fists clenched.
"Are you serious?! That loser Chen Yu?!"
Ruxue smiled again. This time, it wasn't shy. It was proud.
"He's not a loser, Yuxin. Not anymore. He's… something else now."
Yuxin's Thoughts (Inside the Dorm Room)
"What is she babbling about…?" Yuxin narrowed her eyes as Ruxue packed her things.
"Chen Yu was broke when he was with me! He couldn't even afford his own clothes. And now suddenly, he's gifting cars and villas? That's impossible! He's an orphan—where could he have gotten that kind of money?"
Then a spark lit in her mind.
"Wait… what if… he's secretly from a wealthy family? A hidden heir?"
Her eyes widened with greed.
"He must still love me. I was his girlfriend for two years. He'll forgive me if I ask sincerely… and once he does—"
A sly smile crept onto her face.
"—that villa, that car, all of it will be mine. Hahaha, just wait, Ruxue."
She put on her sweetest fake voice and turned to Ruxue.
"Hey… Ruxue, can I meet Chen Yu? Do you know where he is?"
Ruxue zipped up her suitcase and looked at her, amused.
"Hahaha… what are you even planning to do by meeting him now? He doesn't care about you anymore, Yuxin. Stop dreaming."
Yuxin's smile twisted into a glare.
"You don't understand how deep our love was. He will come back to me. And when he does, he'll kick you out of that fancy villa. Just wait and see!"
But Ruxue just stared at her calmly.
She remembered the coldness in Chen Yu's eyes when he talked about Yuxin. That wasn't someone who still had love left—it was pure hatred.
Still, she shrugged and smiled.
"Fine. If you really want to embarrass yourself, go ahead. I've packed my things—he's waiting outside in the car."
Outside – In Front of the Girls' Dorm
Chen Yu leaned back in the driver's seat, one hand on the steering wheel, the other scrolling through his phone.
He glanced up casually—
Two figures were walking toward the car.
"Hmm… Ruxue… and—wait, that girl…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Yuxin?"
He let out a cold laugh and stepped out of the car slowly, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.
"Tch. Ruxue… are you dumb or what? I thought you were smarter than this."
He stood there, hands in his pockets, waiting as the two girls approached.