Part 1The Diary of a Blue Gum

During the years I believed in pure love, I wrote a love diary every day.

Sterling Vance pretended he didn't care about anything.

But when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he blushed and blurted out that he wanted my diary.

My heart was so sweet it could burst.

Until the class president, Aria Sterling, sent me a video—

In the first part of the video, there was my diary, filled with words I had written stroke by stroke. The lines spoke of a girl's sincere, innocent, and secret love.

In the second part, Sterling smiled lazily.

"If it weren't for making Aria jealous and giving her a little sense of crisis, I wouldn't be interested in dealing with a low-achiever like Stella Starling."

"Compared to a trophy girlfriend who follows me around like a puppy, I much prefer a cool, intellectual type like Aria."

Oh.

So I was just a pawn in their love game.

I didn't cry or make a scene.

I asked my brother to transfer me to another school, voluntarily exiting their passionate world of two.

Eight years later.

Sterling, who had searched the entire city for me, suddenly saw a trending topic about a top star's wedding.

The beautiful bride wore a pure white wedding dress, smiling brightly at the camera.

Hundreds of love diary entries written to his wife on the star's secret social media account were also exposed.

"May 6, 2025. Tuesday. Sunny."

"The Blue Gum has met its migration bird; I love nothing in this world but you."

* * *

While I was getting an IV drip at the hospital, a message suddenly popped up on my phone.

It was from our class president, Aria Sterling. She had forwarded a video to me.

The first part of the video showed the diary I had painstakingly written.

Between the lines, it poured out a young girl's sincere, green, and hidden affection.

Then the video cut to Sterling Vance. He was leaning back, his long legs stretched out, looking bored.

"Reading that trashy diary every day makes me sick. No wonder her grades are so bad; you don't need a brain to be a clingy admirer."

He glanced casually at Aria, who was sitting not far away.

"Compared to a pretty vase like Stella Starling, I much prefer a cool, intellectual type."

Aria kept her head down, reading her textbook, acting as if she hadn't heard a thing.

Sterling scoffed and walked over to her desk.

He leaned over, placing both hands on the desk, trapping her between the desk and his arms.

"So, my genius lady, are you going to keep rejecting me?"

Aria looked up, pursing her lips, cool and stubborn.

"Sterling, what do you take me for?"

"You're already with Stella. I won't be the other woman."

Sterling raised an eyebrow.

"Who said you're the other woman?"

Tears instantly welled up in Aria's eyes, looking full of grievance.

Sterling's gaze softened. He ruffled her hair and explained gently.

"I'm just playing around with Stella."

"If I didn't provoke you, how could I force you to show your true feelings?"

"If anyone is the third wheel, it's Stella, not you."

...

The video ended.

I stared blankly at the phone screen.

I was at a loss.

What did Sterling mean?

What did he mean by "just playing around" with me?