Part 2The End of the Chase: Leaving the Campus Genius Behind

"This might be for the best. For your specific research focus, besides our university, the only other place that really fits is maybe Columbia.

"Since you lost your guaranteed spot here...

"Going out of state or applying to a totally different environment is the better choice."

Hanging up the phone with my advisor, I pushed through my illness to start preparing my application materials.

Just like my professor said.

My research direction was a bit niche.

If I stayed on the East Coast, my only real options were Harvard or Columbia.

But if I opened up to a totally different system—like moving across the country to California—suddenly there were a lot more universities to choose from. I was actually torn on where to go.

A single thought can open up the world.

I suddenly didn't know why I had been killing myself to secure a grad spot at my own insanely competitive university. What was it all for?

My phone lit up.

A notification popped up.

It was from my "Favorites" list: Ethan’s Instagram.

Ethan never posted on social media. Even when he agreed to date me, he never made it public.

When I begged him to post about us, his tone was cold and impatient: "My private life is private. Why does it need to be put on display?"

I told him everyone else did it. Isn't it nice to share your happiness and get blessings from friends when you're in a relationship?

I said so much.

But in the end, Ethan didn't even bother looking at me: "Flora, Professor Davis from the Philosophy department is offering a Logic seminar this fall. I suggest you enroll."

I shut my mouth.

The conversation was dropped.

So, what exactly was worthy of Ethan making a post?

I tapped the notification.

[Project finished. First place.]

Attached was a group photo of his project team at their celebration dinner.

Ethan held the phone carelessly, his face a bit blurry.

It seemed he was looking down at his phone and only looked up at the camera because someone called his name.

But it still couldn't hide how incredibly handsome he was.

Effortlessly handsome.

The kind of handsome where, as long as you looked at the photo, your eyes would instantly lock onto his face.

It was no wonder that a talent agency had offered him a massive contract to become an idol back in high school.

My gaze shifted slightly.

Chloe, the new junior on his project team, was also in the photo. She stood out, too. She was the only one not looking at the camera.

She was sitting right next to Ethan, well past a normal, platonic distance.

Her eyes were focused intently on him.

The love practically poured out of the screen.

There were a few comments below, asking if Ethan finally got a girlfriend and if this was a soft launch.

Ethan didn't reply.

The bright glow of my phone screen grew dimmer and dimmer.

Until it suddenly went black.

I snapped out of my daze, unlocked my phone, removed Ethan from my favorites, and blocked him.

I finally understood the question I had asked myself earlier.

Why did I kill myself trying to secure a spot at my own university?

Because of Ethan.

Of course it was because of Ethan. He could easily get a guaranteed spot, and I wanted to prove that I could stay with him forever. That's why I worked so desperately.

Just like in the beginning.

When I and a bunch of other girls confessed our feelings to him, he looked annoyed, his frown practically screaming, Another one? So annoying.

In the end, he gave me a dismissive look: "I don't like girls with bad grades.

"If you can get into my university, I'll consider dating you."

He was a teenage prodigy, already guaranteed early admission to Harvard.

The bar was so high that his words were enough to make anyone back down and walk away.

But I didn't.

I studied like my life depended on it during my junior and senior years. I pushed myself so hard my parents literally begged me to stop.

I will never forget the day I moved in as a freshman.

I walked right up to Ethan: "I got in. It's time for you to keep your promise."

He looked up at my expression.

For once, he was genuinely stunned.