Chapter 1

“Summer, I plan to return to my hometown by the end of the month and stay there permanently. Save me a spot at your nail salon.” As soon as she finished speaking, her best friend Summer's surprised voice came through the phone: "What? You're coming back? That poor little guy you brought home back then is now the youngest professor at Northwest M. University! You supported him for so many years, finally made it big—why wouldn’t you stay in Maple City to enjoy the good life? Why do you suddenly want to come back to our small town instead of staying in Maple City and enjoying life? Is it because he's not treating you well?” “No, he’s been very kind to me.” Gabrielle Oliver interrupted her, unconsciously rubbing her phone’s edge with her fingertips. “I just don’t want to stay in Maple City anymore.” " “What about Frederick Grant? Is he coming back with you?” Gabrielle's breath caught for a moment. The setting sun outside stretched her shadow long and lonely on the wall. “No, just me,” she heard herself say. “He'll stay here, get married, have children, and start a new life.” After hanging up, the phone vibrated. A message from Jacqueline Perkins: “Miss Oliver, have you made up your mind?” Gabrielle’s fingertips lingered on the screen for a long time before she finally replied, “I’ve made up my mind. I’ll leave Frederick.” Frederick. Just the sound of his name rolling off her lips caused a faint, stinging pain in her heart. She remembered the first time she saw Frederick, at the freshman orientation ceremony. He took the stage as a student representative, dressed in a neat school uniform, standing in the sunlight, his voice was clear and pleasant. At that time, he was the secret crush of every girl in school, academically outstanding, and exceptionally handsome—the envy of everyone. But Gabrielle, however, was a girl who grew up in an orphanage with mediocre grades, didn't even have the courage to speak to him. Everything changed in her sophomore year. Frederick's illegitimate status was exposed, and his mother's explicit photos were maliciously plastered all over the school. Overnight, he fell from grace and became the object of everyone's scorn. He was isolated, humiliated, and even driven to attempt suicide by jumping into a river. It was she who pulled him out of the river. That night, he was soaking wet, his eyes vacant as he asked her, “Why did you save me?” She couldn't find a reason, so she just held his hand tightly, afraid that if she let go, he would disappear again. Later, they lived in a ten-square-meter rental apartment, relying on each other for survival. When the college entrance exam results came out, it was clear that the tuition fees would only cover one person, so she voluntarily gave up her chance to go to university. He asked her, “Why?” She forced a smile and said, " My grades are average, and I only got into an ordinary university. I’ll definitely let you go. You don’t have to worry about living expenses at school. I’m working three jobs a day now, so I can afford it.” He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “Gabrielle, I’ll make sure you live a good life.” Later, he truly made it happen. He skipped grades, completed his master’s and PhD consecutively, and became the youngest professor at Northwest M. University at the age of 24, earning the title of “genius scholar.” . Their life finally improved, and he moved her into a luxurious riverside apartment. She thought everything had turned out for the best. Until one day, she accidentally saw his phone. Jacqueline, the daughter of the university president of Northwest M. University, was beautiful, talented, and radiant. Such a girl had sent him countless messages. 【Today’s experiment failed again, I’m so upset.】 【I brought you coffee, it’s in your office.】 【Why aren't you replying to my messages? Do you hate me?】 Frederick had always replied coldly, until Jacqueline angrily confronted him, and he explained: 【I don't hate you, I just don't know how to interact with girls.】 The next day, Frederick unexpectedly asked Gabrielle, “What kind of gift would make a girl happy?” At that moment, Gabrielle's heart ached as if it had been pierced by a needle. Over the years, she had thought about confessing her feelings to Frederick. But he was always busy studying and doing experiments, so she kept her feelings hidden. Now, she finally understood that Frederick only felt gratitude toward her, not love. Soon after, the girl named Jacqueline approached her. That day, she brought a folder containing copies of all the bed photos that had driven Frederick’s mother to suicide. “Frederick’s half-brother wanted to use the same tactic again to destroy him, but he was stopped.” “Miss Oliver, Frederick and I are in love, but he can’t accept my feelings because he owes you a debt of gratitude. He can only stay by your side.” “But you can’t protect him. If you insist on staying by his side, these photos will be leaked, and all his efforts over the years will be in vain again.” “But if you let go,” she said softly, “I will protect him and help him rise to the top.” That night, Gabrielle sat on the balcony and watched the moon all night long. By dawn, she had finally made her decision. She knew that Jacqueline was telling the truth—she couldn’t protect Frederick. She also knew that Frederick didn’t like her. So leaving him was the best choice. Letting go was for the best. From now on, she wouldn't have to stay up late at night by the lone lamp, counting the minutes until he came home; she wouldn't have to watch him, a genius scholar, ask others how to interact with girls, then swallow the bitterness by herself; she wouldn't have to hope day after day that the man who would never love her would glance back at her. A sharp pain in her stomach interrupted her memories. Gabrielle curled up on the floor, cold sweat soaking her back. The medicine cabinet was on the coffee table, but she didn't even have the strength to reach for it. The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed. As soon as Frederick entered the room, he saw her lying on the floor, and his expression changed instantly. He rushed in, picked her up in his arms, and gently placed her on the bed. “Where’s the medicine?” he asked urgently, rummaging through the drawers. “Where did you put the stomach medicine we bought last time?” Gabrielle pointed to the drawer, and he immediately fetched water and the medicine, his movements as practiced as if he’d done it countless times. He held the warm water to her lips, and Gabrielle sipped it slowly, whispering, “Thank you ,sorry for the trouble.” “It’s not a trouble,” Frederick frowned. “You know you have a stomach illness. Why didn’t you take your medicine on time?” Back then, in order to support his education, she worked three jobs and often ate only one meal a day, this eventually damaging her stomach. Every time her stomach hurt, he would hold her close, gently rubbing her stomach until she fell asleep. But this time, when he reached out to embrace her, she gently pushed him away. Frederick visibly startled, his brows furrowing slightly. “Frederick, I…” Gabrielle was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. It was Jacqueline. “Hello?” He answered the call, his gaze still fixed on Gabrielle. “Watching shooting stars? Now? … Alright.” After hanging up, he stood up and took his coat. “I have something to attend to. You’d better have a good rest then.” He turned and left, his tall, straight figure overlapping with the memory of the young boy she had once taken in. Gabrielle opened her mouth, but the words “I’m going back to my hometown” never made it out. The door closed softly, but it felt like a heavy hammer striking her heart. Gabrielle sat alone in the darkness until the midnight bell rang. There was a birthday cake in the fridge. Frederick never remembered her birthday, but every year on this day, Gabrielle would secretly make a wish. This year, she made only one wish: May Frederick find happiness after I’m gone. In the flickering candlelight, Gabrielle seemed to see that boy again on that rainy day, his eyelashes damp, his eyes shining brightly. It was the most beautiful shooting star she had ever seen in her life.