When Hearts Collide: From Ashes to Love

Later, Yao Ning still occasionally invited her to their group activities. Marian attended almost every time, but she was like a guest, only observing from a distance, unable to blend in.

Not just her—Wan Ming also shared the same sentiment.

Watching the four of them bicker and talk about their past fun moments, Wan Ming sighed softly and said to Marian, "Do you think Cupid made a mistake? It feels like we don't even belong in the same world as them."

Marian hadn't thought that far. She never considered marrying Aaron anyway, treating it more as fulfilling a youthful dream for herself. She encouraged Wan Ming, saying, "Why think so much? We're still young. Dating is just for fun. Who knows what the future holds?"

Turning around after saying that, she saw Aaron standing behind her, and it startled her.

Fortunately, Aaron's expression remained calm and indifferent, and he didn't say anything.

Time flowed quietly, and her relationship with Aaron remained lukewarm and ambiguous.

Occasionally, Zoe stood up for her, saying, "The campus crush Aaron hasn't even publicly acknowledged you! What's the deal between you two? It's so unclear."

Marian herself was very composed, saying, "We're just classmates. I'm shallow and greedy for his looks, and he needs a tool to help him out. It's a win-win situation."

"What the hell! Has the world gone mad? I can't understand it!" Zoe exclaimed.

Marian chuckled, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she went to her part-time job off-campus.

By May, Marian had gotten noticeably busier. She even turned down Yao Ning's invitations a few times, which was very rare for her.

When Aaron finally found her, she was in the library, working on a financial analysis problem.

"Been busy lately?" he asked.

Marian was caught off guard by his question. She pointed at the book on the table and replied, "I couldn't understand Western Economics."

Aaron glanced at it dismissively and said, "It's fine. Understanding it is useless anyway."

Marian: ???

He gently took the thick Western Economics textbook—thick enough to be a brick—and, for the first time, launched into a long discussion with Marian.

"This book is poorly written. Even Keynes wouldn't understand it. Don't waste your time. If you have time, check some financial forums. That'll be more useful than reading this."

"Huh?"

Marian, the good student, was shocked by his words.

She blinked her innocent eyes. "But the exams are coming, and I want to win the scholarship."

"How much is the scholarship?"

Marian calculated, "If I'm lucky, I can get over 5,000."

"Then I'll give you 5,000 right now," Aaron said.

Marian stared at the transfer on her phone, silent for a long time.

Finally, she said in a sour voice, "You're giving me money just so I won't turn down Yao Ning's invitations?"

The person across from her held his phone, his dark eyes revealing a fleeting trace of loneliness. But somehow, his demeanor remained poised and composed, like a refined gentleman—solid as a rock and pure as jade.

Marian suddenly felt a pang in her heart. She was heartbroken for him but also for herself.

She nodded and said, "I understand. I'll try to make time and not turn her down."

As for the transfer, Marian, of course, didn't accept it.

At the end of the semester, she successfully won the first-class scholarship and offered to treat everyone to dinner.

After much hesitation, she still asked Aaron, "I got the scholarship and want to treat everyone to dinner. Will you come?"

Aaron quickly replied, "Congratulations, but I won't go."

However, in the next second, Yao Ning sent her a private message: "Where? I'm coming!"

At the Sichuan hot pot restaurant on the second floor near the northern gate of the university,

Marian sat with her roommates on one side, while Yao Ning and Aaron sat on the other side in the steamy atmosphere.

Zoe poked her through the group chat, "What's going on? Didn't you say Aaron wasn't coming?"

Marian's first instinct was to mute the group notifications. Then she slowly typed: "I don't know. He's already here, so what can I do? I can't kick him out."

Li Lin chimed in: "What's going on between him and that girl? It feels, um, ambiguous."

Marian replied, "She's the campus belle from the neighboring media school—Aaron's first crush and childhood sweetheart."

Surprisingly, as Marian typed those words, she felt no emotion at all. The bitterness she once felt was completely gone.

It turned out being busy had its perks. People truly are strange creatures.

Her words instantly caused an uproar in the group chat. Various shocked emoji flooded in, and the atmosphere at the table became lively, with everyone eating up the drama.

"What's so shocking?" Marian said with a calm smile. "I've known for a long time. She's the main character here, and I'm just a side character. But as a side character, I'm satisfied with the chance to admire such a handsome face up close."

Zoe slapped her on the shoulder and said, "Girl, you're awesome!"

Yao Ning, who had been chatting, stopped and looked over curiously. "What's happening?" Even Aaron looked over with a rare hint of confusion in his eyes.

"Oh, it's nothing! I'm just amazed my girl here won such a big scholarship. She's awesome!" Zoe said quickly, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she defused the awkward moment.

Yao Ning looked at Marian with admiration, her big, watery eyes brimming with delight. "Wow, Marian, you're amazing!" Then she nudged Aaron's arm with a teasing grin. "See? She's even better than you, Mr. Genius!"

Aaron, however, seemed unfazed. He acknowledged it calmly. "True. I'm not as impressive as her, but I'm still better than you."

"Hmph! You just love bullying me. I'm an art student! It's normal for my grades to be worse than yours. But do you have the guts to compete with Marian?"

Aaron chuckled softly, his expression indulgent and doting as usual.

The server came in to deliver plate after plate of food, but Marian found no appetite. She quietly ordered a few bottles of beer.

In casual conversation, Yao Ning revealed, "I'm going to the U.S. for further studies next semester. After that, I probably won't get to meet up with you all like this anymore. I'll miss everyone so much~"

Marian asked curiously, "Going to the U.S.? That early?" She thought Yao Ning would go during graduate school.

Aaron explained for her, "That's how her program works. The last year requires overseas studies."

"Oh, I see," Marian nodded. She wanted to ask, "What about you? Are you going to the U.S. too?"

But she thought, What does it matter? It's not like it has anything to do with me. So she left the question unasked.

Soon, the dinner ended. Zoe and Li Lin, feeling awkward, quickly found excuses to leave. Back in their dorms, they swore never to bring their boyfriends to hangouts with their friends again.

Yao Ning also left with her boyfriend.

The only ones left were Marian and Aaron.

Marian went to pay the bill, telling Aaron to leave first.

When she got downstairs, however, she saw Aaron leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Seeing Marian approach, he lifted his eyes slightly and said in a calm voice, "How much was it? I'll transfer it to you."

Marian walked past him. "Don't bother. I said I'd treat everyone."

Aaron casually transferred a sum of money. "I wasn't invited; I showed up unannounced. I should pay."

The notification sound of the transfer rang on her phone. Marian glanced at the number and was shocked—it was the same as last time.

Once again, she didn't accept it.