Xia Xue is indeed a girl who is charming at first sight. She’s beautiful, enthusiastic, open-hearted, and kind, like a red rose that you can't help but want to hold. But when you muster up the courage to get close, you find hidden thorns on the stem. You hesitate, but you can’t let go.

Taozi, on the other hand, is a girl who impresses you the moment you meet her. She’s graceful, introverted, tender, and pure, like a lily blooming in the wild. She’s so ordinary yet so remarkable that you can’t help but be drawn to her. When you get closer, her fragrance fills your senses. You want to leave, but you can’t bear to.

My mom now had a great fondness for Xia Xue, the red rose, and Xia Xue's sweet demeanor only fueled it. She charmed my mom with her constant “Auntie” this and “Auntie” that, quickly making them close confidantes, chatting and laughing at me secretly. I suspected my mom was telling Xia Xue all my embarrassing childhood stories, like wetting the bed at six.

After several rounds of drinks and food, everyone was quite tipsy. My dad wobbled up to pay the bill and then got us a cab back to school, reminding us, "Don't let the teachers catch you drunk. Stay sharp!" Mom pulled me aside and whispered, "Xia Xue is a good girl. Treat her well, but don't let it affect your studies. Her grades are better than yours. Learn from her! And her parents are both civil servants—grab this chance to succeed in life..."

"Enough, Mom." I quickly stopped her. "Go help Dad; he’s had a lot to drink." She hurried to support my dad, scolding him, "Why did you drink so much?" while carefully holding him up. My mom might be uneducated and narrow-minded, with a quick temper but a soft heart. All in all, she was still my beloved mom.

My parents took a cab back to Dongguan Town while we headed to Chengnan High School. The taxi stopped at the school gate, and we got out and walked toward the teaching building. My friends tactfully lagged behind, leaving Xia Xue and me walking together.

Looking at Xia Xue's flushed cheeks, I softly said, "Don't mind my mom; she can be pretty shallow sometimes."

Xia Xue giggled, "Not at all. I think she's great. I wish my mom were as open-minded."

I knew she was referring to my mom's acceptance of our relationship and even the idea of us getting engaged. I thought about how she had run after the police car yesterday, crying and declaring, "Wang Hao, I'll wait for you. I'm not with Su Xiaobai," and my heart filled with tenderness. Thorns or not, even if I got hurt, I was willing to embrace her!

I couldn’t help reaching for her hand, but as soon as I touched her fingertips, she gently pulled away.

"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled.

"Wang Hao," Xia Xue said, "don't jump to conclusions. I’m not with Su Xiaobai. He tried to reconcile with me, but I refused. I knew I didn't love him. Yes, he broke up with me in the garden, but even if he hadn't, I was going to break up with him because I realized I liked you."

Her confession filled me with even more tenderness and emotion, and I reached for her hand again.

But she pulled away once more, continuing, "Wang Hao, I know I have a bad temper and get angry often, but that’s just because I want you to comfort me. I like feeling cherished and loved. Isn’t that what every girl wants? Why can't you give me that?"

When we had a fight and nearly broke up, I tried to comfort her a few times but then got busy planning to deal with Maizi and ended up neglecting her. Apologetically, I said, "I’m sorry. I was busy with Ye Zhan and the others, planning to deal with Maizi. I thought once that was resolved, we could be together peacefully."

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Xia Xue nodded, "I understand. When I heard you stabbed Maizi and got taken by the police, I realized what you were busy with and what sacrifices you made for us. That’s why I’m more determined to be with you. That’s why I ran after the police car in front of the whole school, to tell you that no matter what, I’ll wait for you, I’ll be with you!"

What a rose, full of thorns, yet intoxicating! My blood surged, and I couldn’t resist the urge to embrace her. But Xia Xue stepped back, evading my passionate hug.

"Wang Hao," she said slowly, "tell me, do you like Taozi?"

I was stunned. I never expected her to ask that.

"I saw you hugging her," Xia Xue said sadly. "Wang Hao, do you know? The way you looked at her was filled with helplessness, reluctance, guilt, and affection. Do you know? That’s how someone looks at a person they love but can’t be with. Wang Hao, so I want to ask, who do you really like? Me or Taozi?"

I opened my mouth but said nothing. This was the question I had pondered all night at the police station, and I still had no answer.

"Can’t answer, can you?" Xia Xue said. "I hate that I realized this. Before, I thought you were just trying to make me jealous. Even when you spent a whole day writing Shakespeare notes for Taozi, I only felt a bit annoyed and jealous. But now I see that your feelings for Taozi are different."

My heart grew colder as Xia Xue saw right through me, leaving me feeling naked and exposed, unable to hide anything from her.

"Why?" Xia Xue’s voice was even sadder. "Why did I have to discover this when I decided to be with you no matter what?"

I had no words, only lowered my head and sighed.

"You're right," Xia Xue continued. "I didn't care how many girlfriends Su Xiaobai had because I didn't love him. When you love someone, you want them entirely for yourself. You won’t share them with anyone. Wang Hao, I love you, so I can't accept you loving someone else."

"So what now?" I felt my heart tearing apart.

"So," Xia Xue said, "we shouldn’t be together for now. Wang Hao, think it through. Decide who you really love, me or Taozi. Then go to one of us."

Her words extinguished all my earlier passion. Xia Xue was right. Without knowing who I truly loved, being with anyone would only hurt them.

Xia Xue took a deep breath and added, "Wang Hao, I hope you choose me. I hope you can confidently and honestly tell me that you love only me. I’ll wait for that day!"

With that, she hurried towards the teaching building, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.

As I watched Xia Xue's receding figure, it was like looking at Taozi's back again—filled with a sense of loss so profound it almost choked me.

When I was taken to the police station, I thought I had regained everything: Taozi was still there, and Xia Xue was still there. Maybe Slap King wasn't lying to me. But as I left the police station, I realized that Slap King had indeed deceived me. Then Taozi left, and Xia Xue followed.

I was alone again.

Life is so damn funny because it keeps screwing with me.

From having everything to losing it all in just one day. Fate is fair; it never lets the greedy have everything.

I was that greedy person, unwilling to let go of Xia Xue or Taozi, and still hoping that Slap King would really come to save me. A person like me deserved to lose everything, deserved to be deceived by Slap King, deserved to be abandoned by Taozi and Xia Xue.

I walked through the campus with a bitter smile. Even though the class bell had already rung, I had no intention of going back to class just yet.

As someone who had just come out of the police station, what would the teachers say if I skipped a class? Besides, the homeroom teacher might not even know I was out yet. He might still think my expulsion was a done deal. After all, the police station's report hadn't been handed to the school, and the school hadn't issued any official announcement.

My mind was a chaotic mess as I walked around the school in circles. Occasionally, students having PE class would brush past me, their faces instantly turning to shock, clearly recognizing me as the student who took down Maizi.

I remained expressionless, cold as ice, with Xia Xue's question constantly swirling in my mind, over and over. Who do I truly love, and why don't I know the answer myself? Has anyone ever encountered such an absurd question?!

Halfway through the class, I silently returned to the classroom. To my surprise, there was no teacher. When I got to my seat, I found my desk missing. My classmates stared at me, and I looked at the empty space where my desk should have been.

"Where's my desk?" I asked Liu Zihong, who was sitting nearby.

"The homeroom teacher took it away," Liu Zihong said timidly. "He said you were going to be expelled anyway..."

My anger surged. I was already in a bad mood, and now this!

"Gong Ning, Li Mu, Liu Zihong, Ou Jiahao!" I shouted. "Bring down the teacher's desk for me!"