Chapter 2 — Predetermined Fate

5

But in the end, I still couldn't tell the truth. Because right at the climax, I blinked... Returning to my bed in the familiar dormitory. Breathing was still a bit rapid, the sunlight from the balcony shone brightly. I calmed my breathing and blinked vaguely a few times. Reached under the pillow to grab my phone, unlocked it, and it was still the interface that ended last night's game. There aren't any photos taken with Tan Hang in the photo album. … Just a dream? But if it was a dream, why did I dream of Tan Hang? Not to mention, the feeling of kissing is so realistic it's scary. I was stunned for a long time, then from lying on my side to lying on my back, my finger touched my lips. Smooth, no redness, no bite marks. I stopped, laughed hysterically, shook my head, then got out of bed to wash my face. Halfway through brushing my teeth, something suddenly flashed in my mind and my eyes immediately widened. Almost rushing to the bed, I grabbed my phone and unlocked it. On the screen it shows today as Thursday. But I remember clearly that yesterday was still Tuesday. Reopened the game and discovered that my score had dropped miserably and my ranking had also dropped mercilessly. My mind was in chaos. Before I could figure out what was going on, the dormitory door was suddenly kicked open, making me jump.

"Hey, So Di, you woke up at the right time! Hurry up and watch a good play, our beauty queen is staging a grand battle to confess her love!"

Lam Thanh Thanh pulled my hand and dragged me away. I was still immersed in the chaos of time travel, uninterested, just lazily waving my hands.

"What's so good about confessing love? Isn't it the same old trick?"

“But the person being confessed to is your archenemy – Tan Hang!”

I was just about to walk back to the bed, when my whole body suddenly stopped.

“Who?”

"That's Tan Hang, the person you keep cursing that he'll never get married. But to be honest, with people's conditions, many people line up to want to follow but no one succeeds. I have to say, this beauty queen has real mettle. Go, come out and take a look, I've never seen anyone publicly confess their love like this!"

My brain stopped for a second. Suddenly I felt uncomfortable, a feeling of frustration for no apparent reason kept running through my body.

“I don't want to go.”

"Hey, please, consider coming with me on a trip. I also admire Tan Hang so much huhu!"

Me: …

6

The gymnasium is packed with people. Lam Thanh Thanh pulled me around for a while, finally squeezing into the front row.

"Oh my god, I'm so willing to play, spread out a sea of flowers like this, who can refuse?"

I pursed my lips and didn't respond. In the middle of the yard, Giang Hieu wore a pure white dress, standing in the middle of a sea of red and white roses, holding a large bouquet of flowers in her hand, her bright eyes facing one direction. Tan Hang hasn't arrived yet. I clenched my fist.

"Speaking of which, So Di, what is so deep in your hatred for Tan Hang? You keep seeing him with a sunken face, eyes that are not eyes, nose that is not a nose. Did he steal your things?"

I glared at Lam Thanh Thanh.

“No.”

“So what?”

Actually, if you say it out loud, the story is not complicated at all. He and I grew up in the same neighborhood, and when we were kids, we didn't hate each other that much. Tan Hang is the type of person who takes everything seriously, the type of child that every parent praises praise. As for me, I am the complete opposite, playful, and like to cause trouble. It's unbearable to compare, but the main thing is that he just likes to be in opposition to me. I skipped class, he reported. I haven't done my homework yet, he asked the teacher. I sent a love letter, but he blocked it. I failed the exam, and he seriously re-lected the lesson from beginning to end. It's also unlucky to go to college and end up in the same school. Thanks to his blessing, I have never even experienced love. Over time, the hatred became deeper and deeper.

“… I don't know what to say, anyone who doesn't know would think he's my mother, he's more in charge of my personal life than my own mother. I hate the type of person who gossips the most."

I frowned. In the past, if I heard someone say bad things about Tan Hang, I would definitely be the first person to nod in agreement. But today, I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“It's actually not that bad, now that I think about it, those things are just…”

"But hey, you were very strange yesterday! I saw you blocking Tan Hang into the corner and even pressing him close. Is this some new trick to make him crazy?"

My scalp was tingling, a scary thought appeared in my head.

“You… when did you see…?”

"It's here! Tan Hang is here! Look!"

My words were interrupted by a commotion around me. I followed everyone's gaze and looked forward, seeing Tan Hang being pushed into the middle of the field by his friends laughing. My heart suddenly beat loudly. I clenched my fingers.

7

“What is it, why doesn't he come over?”

Tan Hang stood a few meters away from the sea of flowers, not stepping forward, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, almost unrecognizable. The shouting grew louder and louder, but he still showed no signs of wanting to move forward.

“What do you mean?”

I nonchalantly said: "He is allergic to pollen." Lam Thanh Thanh: ... Tan Hang asked his roommate to run over and say something to Giang Hieu, her face immediately turned visibly red. The girl in the center's eyes wavered slightly, then suddenly threw down the bouquet of flowers in her hand, walked out of the sea of flowers, and walked to a place a certain distance away from Tan Hang. The two talked, but the distance was too far to hear clearly. Giang Hieu's face looked not very good, he looked like he was about to cry. Tan Hang sighed, his lips moved slightly, before he could see what he was saying, Giang Hieu suddenly widened his eyes, his expression seemed to be in deep shock, he even seemed to lose control and exclaimed "Oh my god!". Then in the crowd, her eyes quickly locked on me, her expression extremely complicated. …What are you looking at me for? Does my face have flowers? Giang Hieu took a deep breath, turned to say something to Tan Hang, then decisively turned around and left. Leaving behind a field of roses and a crowd full of regret. Lam Thanh Thanh scratched his head, "It's over? Was it successful or not?"

"Who should I ask? But it seems like you have a chance to offer the role to a beauty."

The crowd saw that there was nothing more to see and then gradually dispersed, leaving only a few people remaining to clean up the fallen flowers on the ground. But Tan Hang hasn't left yet. He stood from afar, looking straight at me, his eyes unclear. I instinctively looked up to face him, suddenly my heart was pounding, there was an unconscious avoidance creeping into my body. Lam Thanh Thanh waved his hand in front of my face, "Don't look at me anymore, So Di, if you keep looking at me, I'm afraid you'll attack me and get jealous. Let's go eat, there's nothing left to worry about." Already!" In Tan Hang's distant gaze, Lam Thanh Thanh just kept talking nonsense and pulled me away.

8

I didn't go out to eat with her, but wandered around alone, then stopped in a small corner of the woods next to the school yard. Because I feel like my reaction to Tan Hang is too strange, completely different from before. Just like those who just learned to love. … I squatted under the tree, plucked a blade of grass, brushed it off, then put it in my mouth, feeling a bit gloomy. Honestly, in terms of appearance, Tan Hang has nothing to criticize. Beautiful face, tall figure, the type that makes everyone turn their heads when walking on the street. In terms of personality... except for not liking me and liking to confront me, he is a calm, trustworthy person. Honestly, he has many advantages, but... should I hate him? He's annoying, likes to meddle in other people's affairs, sticks to people, and often makes me angry. Most importantly... he's been the one I've found most annoying since I was little! It's impossible... it's impossible that we've only kissed a few times, slept together a little, and I'm already in love with him? Do I need to take some herbal medicine to replenish my health?

“What are you doing sitting here alone?”

A familiar voice suddenly rang out above my head. I was startled and jumped up like a spring. Seeing clearly that it was Tan Hang, his heart was beating wildly without any future. … Please, stop beating the drums, slow down a bit! I tried to stay calm, my tone seemed no different from before.

“If I feel like it, I'll just go for a walk, what does it have to do with you? Are you too free?

Tan Hang didn't pay attention to my sarcastic way of talking, just took a step forward, his dark eyes staring.

"What happened yesterday, you haven't finished talking yet, what was it all about?"

Yesterday? In my head, Lam Thanh Thanh's words suddenly rang out. I swallowed my saliva and tried to probe.

“Yesterday… what did I do to you?”

Tan Hang scanned me from top to bottom.

“You tease me.”

“…”

“You pressed me against the wall, touched me all over, and even bit my neck and nibbled my ears.”

Not me! That's not true... I must say it's not the current me!

“Oh, also, you called me 'husband' and asked me if I wanted to try kissing.”

“Stop! Stop! Stop talking!”

I rushed up to cover his mouth, my face was gloomy, my eyes looked up at the sky. So Di six years later, what kind of scoundrel act have you done?!

9

Tan Hang looked at me for a long time, his eyes so hot that it was unbearable. I have never felt this embarrassed, my face was hot, I was both embarrassed and angry. He grabbed my hand and refused to let go.

“So Di, do you like—”

I quickly pulled my hand away, interrupting.

“No!”

“But I—”

“It's not true!”

In a panic, I tried to find a way to justify it, but the words that came out didn't go through my brain at all.

“Don't be so selfish, how can I like you! Being arrogant, who do you think you are, the God of Wealth?”

"You already know, I've hated you since I was little, never wanted to see your face, just wanted to stay 108,000 miles away from you!"

“Please don't look for me anymore, it'll be annoying!”

I finished speaking in one breath, not daring to look at Tan Hang's expression, turned around and ran away. He still stood there, not moving. I didn't dare turn around, just bowed my head and walked away, almost bumping into a few people, hastily asking repeated errors. My mind was a mess, so I went straight to the dorm, pulled out a chair, and sat down in silence for ten minutes. The blood in his body gradually turned cold. A moment later, I clicked my tongue, closed my eyes, and raised my hand to slap myself. Damn mouth, what did you just say? Speaking harshly is almost like insulting people. Tan Hang didn't do anything to me, is it worth me saying such personal attacks? He looked like a mad dog cornered, biting at random. I sat there for a while, then kicked off my shoes, took off my coat, climbed into bed, and buried my head in the blanket. Well... Find an opportunity to apologize.

10

I prepared two hundred words in my head, rehearsed them countless times, and was extremely ready to go find Tan Hang to apologize. But for several days in a row, I still didn't have the chance to take action. Because it seemed like he really believed the nonsense I said that day. Texting? No reply. Go to the computer department to find it? No trace. Accidentally bumped into each other in the dormitory? He took another route to avoid it. It's like avoiding a temper tantrum. I was so angry that I gritted my teeth. The fifth time I met him in the cafeteria, I carried the tray of rice, took a long stride, sat seriously right in front of him, and placed the tray on the table with a pop. Tan Hang looked up at me, without expression, bowed his head and was about to stand up and leave. I quickly grabbed him and forced him to sit down.

“What are you running for? Just sit there obediently for me!”

I choked with anger and gritted my teeth. Tan Hang was held by my wrist, sitting quietly, not looking at me, just staring at the food. I took a deep breath, tormented myself for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.

“Actually that day I—”

"So Di! Don't you have a conscience? You don't even bother to invite me to dinner!"

An entire prepared speech was interrupted. Lam Thanh Thanh jumped out from nowhere, suddenly threw his arms around my neck, and squeezed into the seat next to me. Being suddenly pulled by her, I lost my balance and almost fell. I quickly let go of the hand holding Tan Hang and put my hands on the table to steady myself. Lam Thanh Thanh glanced around, saw Tan Hang, and immediately smiled mysteriously. She leaned close to my ear and whispered mysteriously:

“Don't be afraid, watch your sisters come out to help you.”

I was startled and intended to cover her mouth, but it was too late.