I was the scholarship kid sponsored by the wealthy Sterling family. After seven days of the silent treatment from Holden Sterling, the family’s heir, over a trivial argument, I finally cracked. I planned to use discussing college applications as an excuse to apologize and make up. But when I walked into his classroom, I saw him sitting at the new transfer student’s desk, helping her pick colleges. After a long while, he finally looked up, his gaze bored and dismissive. "What do you want?" "I don't care where you apply. I don't want to go to the same school as you anyway!" I looked up, stunned. Suddenly, a barrage of floating text—like a livestream chat—scrolled across my vision: 【Ugh, the second male lead is being stubborn again. So annoying.】 【He says he doesn't want to go to the same college, but he secretly bought two sets of dorm supplies.】 【Please, girl, don't chase him anymore! North State is great, you'll meet the real male lead sooner!】 【Exactly! The male lead is handsome, smart, and totally devoted. Way better than this arrogant jerk who can't express his feelings!】 Chapter 1 It was "College Decision Day" at our high school. The moment I walked into Holden’s classroom, laughter erupted. "Oh look, Holden, your little shadow is here again!" "Does the Sterling family still adopt her even after graduation? They're too kind." "I heard they were betrothed as kids, didn't you know?" "To be fair, Luna is pretty. Having her as a girlfriend wouldn't be a loss." The jokes flew around the room. Holden didn't move. He didn't even turn his head. He wasn't at his own desk. He was sitting next to Chloe, the new transfer student, holding a fountain pen, meticulously analyzing her SAT scores and potential colleges. Only when Chloe nudged his shoulder and pointed at me did he lazily look up. His eyes were full of boredom and annoyance. "Luna." "You need something?" I took a deep breath, remembering why I came. "Holden." "Applications are due tomorrow... Your mom asked me to check with you." "Which university are you aiming for? We could apply to the same one, look out for each other." Silence hung in the air for a second. Holden turned his face away. "Did my mom send you?" He scoffed. "You're so obedient." "But forget it." "You don't need to ask me. I don't want to go to the same place as you, so apply wherever you want." Chapter 2 My heart sank. In the beginning, Holden wasn't this cold. My father and his father were best friends. They grew up together, were college roommates. Our parents even joked about us getting married one day since we were the same age. But the jokes ended when tragedy struck. My parents' company was framed, plunging into a massive crisis. On their way to fix the mess, they died in a car crash. They never came back. The little assets left were devoured by greedy relatives. Nothing remained. And I became a burden. No one wanted me. In the end, it was Holden’s parents who took me from the empty, foreclosed house. Little Holden followed behind, tugging at my shirt, stumbling as he tried to comfort me. "Don't be scared, Luna." "Follow me from now on. I'll protect you. No one will bully you!" He kept that promise. For years, he always took me with him. He acted like a big brother, the first to fight anyone who mocked me for being an orphan living on charity. Until high school. Sophomore year. Rumors started spreading about us. They said I was his "child bride," that the Sterlings only adopted me to fulfill an old engagement. At first, Holden didn't care. But the gossip grew. And Chloe, the new girl who quickly became part of Holden’s group, kept teasing him. "For real, Holden? Is that little follower really your child bride?" "So you're taken? Aww, I better stay away so people don't call me a homewrecker, haha!" Holden’s face changed. A few days later, on the way to school, he pulled me aside and drew a line between us for the first time. "Luna, stop following me all the time." "Don't you think it's annoying?" "Let's keep some distance." Chapter 3 From that day on, Holden stopped walking to school with me. Even on campus, he avoided me. I could feel he hated the rumors. But today, I only came to tell him something important. According to the adoption agreement, the guardianship ended when I turned eighteen. After graduation, I would leave the Sterling family. Mrs. Sterling felt that since we grew up together, we shouldn't lose touch. She wanted us to go to the same college, to support each other. But... If Holden didn't want that, then fine. I heard Chloe giggle. "Come on, show some respect to the class beauty!" "So, Holden, I want to go to North State University. Want to come with me?" Holden twirled his pen. He looked up nonchalantly and smiled. "Sure." "You like it there? Then I'll apply there too." A hand squeezed my heart. Acidic pain spread through my chest. I looked up, blinking hard to hold back tears. That's when the text appeared floating in the air. [Comments] User1: Ugh, typical second male lead behavior. Talking trash again. So annoying. User2: Exactly. He's been secretly in love with the heroine since childhood but acts like a jerk to distance himself. User3: Saying he's going with the transfer student? He's just saying that for Luna to hear! User4: Why does the heroine have to follow them? Can this guy just exit the story already? User5: It sucks that the real male lead is at South U. Luna won't meet him until after graduation... User6: Ahhh Luna, stop coaxing him! Go to South U! User7: The male lead is handsome, smart, and a total simp for her! Six-pack abs under that white shirt... a total dreamboat! ... "South U?" I froze when I saw the comment. I didn't care about "male leads" or whatever. But South U had the best program for the major I wanted! It fit my career plans perfectly. In fact, the summer of freshman year, I mentioned South U to Holden. Back then, we weren't distant. Walking home, we dreamed about the future together. "South U?" I remembered Holden frowning, looking at me. He hesitated, then ruffled my hair. "Nah, Luna." "South U is in the south. It's humid and hot. I hate that weather." "Plus, Archer got into South U this year. I don't want to be his junior." "Let's..." "Let's go north. How about North State? It's just as prestigious." Chapter 4 Archer Sterling was Holden’s cousin. Holden’s grandfather had two sons. Archer’s father and Holden’s father. Rumor had it the brothers were only harmonious on the surface, fighting a secret war for the family business. Archer and Holden were constantly compared. I had never met Archer. But I heard the stories. Elders described him as brilliant, mature, decisive, and cold. A natural-born CEO, even at eighteen. Holden’s grandfather clearly favored Archer. At family dinners, he’d bluntly compare them. "Archer is already analyzing financial reports, and you're still playing basketball and video games!" Over time, Holden grew to resent his cousin. That summer, he tugged at my backpack, pleading. "If I follow Archer, they'll just compare us again. Besides, Archer is awful. He's strict, cold, and heartless. Let's stay away from him, okay?" "He's in the south, so we go north." What did I say back then? I laughed. "Is he really that scary?" "Fine, fine. We won't go." "But north or south, you have to study hard." But now... The boy who promised to go to college with me had let go of my hand. Since he made his choice, whatever I put on my application wouldn't break our promise. South U? Sounds good. Based on my grades, I had a good shot. I nodded. "Don't worry, Holden." "I'll fill out my application alone tomorrow. I won't bother you again." "And I'll make sure to avoid the place you want to go." Everyone was surprised by my decisiveness. The room went quiet. Holden looked up sharply. He stared at me, unblinking. His gaze was stunned, mixed with a trace of resentment. "Is that so?" "Fine. Remember what you said, Luna." "Don't regret it."
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