Zhou Yi declined Feifei's request to add him on WeChat.
He also turned down Wang Yuyan's offer to return the money she owed him after her salary arrived.
To Zhou Yi, spending money for happiness was no different than purchasing a luxury watch—neither the amount nor the method mattered.
The next day, as Zhou Yi returned to school, he noticed a large banner prominently displayed at the entrance:
[Congratulations to Zhou Yi from Class 3 of Visual Communication for Winning First Place in the Mathematical Modeling Competition!]
It was impossible to miss, hung along the main path leading from the gate to the teaching buildings, ensuring nearly every student passing by would see it.
Initially, the banner hadn't included "Class 3 of Visual Communication," but Liu Wei insisted they add it.
Zhou Yi quickly became the talk of the campus. Regardless of what competition came up, the department always submitted his name. Liu Wei couldn't stop grinning whenever he thought about how much bonus he'd earn by year-end thanks to Zhou Yi's national award win.
When Zhou Yi entered the classroom, his classmates swarmed around him with congratulations. He responded politely to each one.
Zhang Wu proudly showed Zhou Yi screenshots of his recent efforts combating online trolls, proving he'd been diligently completing his assigned tasks.
Winning first place in the modeling competition not only boosted Zhou Yi's fan base but also left those who had doubted him thoroughly embarrassed.
Still, a few jealous detractors lingered in his fan forums, spewing negativity—only to be fiercely shut down by Zhang Wu.
At that moment, Su Ning sent him a message asking if he'd like to take a walk together in the school's small grove after class.
This was the first time Su Ning had ever initiated something with Zhou Yi.
He recalled her mentioning before the competition that she had something important to tell him upon his return.
Could it be... that Su Ning planned to confess her feelings?
But this was just speculation. Glancing at Su Ning's sense of regret—which had quietly climbed to 85—he figured a little more effort might push it to its maximum value.
For the sake of reaching that goal, Zhou Yi agreed to meet her.
Seeing his affirmative reply, Su Ning let out a deep sigh of relief.
"He said yes..."
She murmured absentmindedly while Zhang Lili excitedly cheered, "So, do you know what you're going to say? What about your letter? Let me take a look!"
Su Ning blushed as she pulled out the carefully prepared note.
Zhang Lili hesitated before shaking her head. "No, no. This is your confession to Zhou Yi. I shouldn't read it. Your own words carry the most sincerity; even the best writing can't replace genuine emotion."
"Alright," Su Ning sighed nervously. "But how should I start? I'm so nervous."
She had never done anything like this before. In the past, when others confessed to her, she dismissed them without a second thought. Now, she understood just how much courage it took to bare your heart.
"Ningning," Zhang Lili encouraged, "just tell him exactly how you feel. Don't assume the outcome beforehand. Whether it's good or bad, it's inevitable."
Su Ning nodded softly. "I think I already know what will happen. But no matter what, I don't want to regret not trying. At least... I'll have been brave."
Her gaze fell to the envelope in her hands, tinged with sadness. Letter-writing wasn't fashionable these days, but she felt it was the sincerest way to express herself.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. With only one lesson that morning, students dispersed quickly.
Zhou Yi sat waiting near the classroom door. Su Ning approached him, her face slightly averted, too nervous to meet his eyes.
Behind her, Zhang Lili frantically signaled encouragement, mouthing, "Don't be afraid!" Su Ning managed a faint smile.
"Shall we go now?" she asked timidly, "Or maybe take a walk around the field instead?"
She bit her lip, her beautiful eyes filled with apprehension.
Zhou Yi, noticing her expression, guessed she wanted to say something significant.
Without hesitation, he replied, "Let's go. I'll buy you some milk tea."
After all, he intended to break her heart soon enough. Being kind now would only heighten the eventual pain.
The greater the disparity between warmth and rejection, the deeper the wound.
Especially for someone like Su Ning—a privileged girl unaccustomed to failure.
If Zhou Yi wanted to hurt someone, he could be merciless.
Had he resorted to physical violence from the beginning, he wouldn't have triggered their sense of regret. There would only be hatred, no remorse, and their level of affection would remain untouched.
Besides, resorting to violence was the lowest form of revenge.
What he truly sought was to shatter their hearts. Is there any pain greater than unrequited love? Especially when the person they desired once seemed within reach but now treated them with cold indifference?
Hearing Zhou Yi mention milk tea, Su Ning's eyes lit up. The usually reserved girl offered him a radiant smile.
"Alright, let's go."
She was overjoyed.
For months, she'd tried to win back Zhou Yi's forgiveness and become his friend, yet her efforts yielded nothing.
He remained distant, while her feelings for him only grew stronger.
She knew that if she didn't act soon, she might lose the chance forever. The gap between them widened with each passing day.
As they walked, Su Ning gazed at him admiringly. "Zhou Yi, you're incredible."
"What do you mean?" he asked casually. "The competition?"
"It's not just that," she replied earnestly. "Even when you started your company, I was already impressed. And your singing—I saw the video on social media. You looked... amazing."
"I was just singing casually," he shrugged, his tone indifferent.
"But even casual singing sounds better than most professionals," Su Ning insisted. "Honestly, very few people your age achieve so much."
With every new quality she admired, Su Ning's regret deepened.
Exiting the school gates, Zhou Yi spotted a bicycle nearby.
"Get on. I'll give you a ride, Su Ning."
Her eyelashes fluttered. It felt like the first time Zhou Yi had spoken her name so gently.
Smiling shyly, she asked, "Is this your new bike?"
"No, it's Zhang Wu's. Hop on."
Despite feeling nervous about riding a bike for the first time, Su Ning couldn't help smiling at the thought of Zhou Yi carrying her.
Pedaling ahead, Zhou Yi seemed enveloped in sunlight, his hair glowing with a soft halo. For a moment, Su Ning felt as though she were dreaming.
"Hold on tight," he reminded her.
A gentle breeze lifted strands of Su Ning's hair as she gazed at him lovingly. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Together on the bicycle, they looked like a perfectly matched couple. The road lined with plane trees created a scene straight out of a romantic film.
"Zhou Yi," she called softly.
"Hmm?"
"I originally planned to tell you this somewhere quiet, but suddenly, I feel like saying it now."
"Go ahead."
"I... I like you."