7:The Reason I Leave Him

Since Sixth Grade

I hadn't been to Sen Lei'an's house since sixth grade. That was also when I slowly began to drift out of his life.

[One Day in Sixth Grade]

After school, Sen Lei'an invited me to his house.

Our mothers had been best friends since middle school. Despite the fact that Sen Lei'an's mom came from a wealthy, prominent family while mine was from an ordinary background, their friendship had never wavered.

Sen Lei'an's mom had always been a bit rebellious. Even though she was born into privilege, she had a strong personality and always spoke up for her own rights, even with her family. She wasn't the kind of delicate, soft-spoken heiress one would expect.

If we used today's terms, she was basically a boss lady.

She'd always liked having Sen Lei'an and me play together. She used to say that seeing me around felt like having the daughter she never had.

I knew Sen Lei'an's home well. We didn't live in the same neighborhood—he lived much farther away, in what could only be described as a mansion. No, more like a private estate.

As kids, we loved going there. It had so much space, and they even had three horses. His dad was obsessed with equestrianism, claiming it was a proper upper-class activity and encouraging us to train.

But if Sen Lei'an inherited anything, it was his mother's spirit. His father tried to drill upper-class etiquette into him, but Sen Lei'an always resisted. Strangely enough, I loved listening. I found it all fascinating. Sen Lei'an used to say I was a little money grubber. But I didn't like those things because of the money—I liked them because they were foreign, exotic, part of a world far removed from mine.

That day, while I was visiting, two cars suddenly pulled up outside the estate. I'd grown used to luxury vehicles going in and out of their home. But these two were different. They were custom-made imports, part of a limited production of only five in the world. And here were two, parked right outside.

How did I know they were rare? Because Sen Lei'an's dad often lectured him about upper-class culture—he didn't care, but I always listened intently. That's why Sen Lei'an called me greedy, but again, I wasn't.

Out of the cars stepped a man and a woman, followed by a little girl in a princess dress. She looked about our age.

The butler walked over and said, "Young Master, the Old Master asks you to join them in the guest room."

Then he turned to me. "Miss Chuan Ling, please wait here for the young master."

Sen Lei'an protested, whining that he didn't want to go, but the butler coaxed him until he finally gave in.

Before he left, he turned to me and said, "Wait for me, okay? I'll be back soon!"

I smiled and waved him off.

I sat alone in the gazebo by the estate's private park, staring at the little lake with one black swan and one white swan floating peacefully.

Why one black and one white? Shouldn't swans come in matching pairs?

As I watched fish dart through the water, the butler came over again, carrying a silver tray with a warm glass of milk, my favorite chocolate cookies, and a fried sausage roll.

"Miss Chuan Ling, the young master asked me to bring you this," he said. "He told me to tell you to wait just a little longer."

I took the milk and snacks with a grateful smile and began eating.

Time passed. I'd finished my food, and nearly forty minutes had gone by. I started to feel bored, sitting alone in the huge estate.

Eventually, I wandered into the main hall and toward the guest room. The door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, I saw Sen Lei'an, his parents, and the visiting family seated opposite them.

The little girl looked sweet and well-mannered, with big eyes and sun-kissed skin.

Then I heard the man say, "Lei'an, you really take after your father. So mature and composed—very reliable!"

Sen Lei'an's father laughed. "They're growing up fast. You still remember our old agreement when they are kids ,don't you?"

Curious, I leaned in closer. What agreement? Weren't we still just kids?

The man laughed loudly. "Of course! Their future is already set in stone!"

Sen Lei'an looked deeply unhappy.

His father then said, "When they turn twenty-one, they'll get married!"

It hit me like thunder.

Married?! Did I hear that right?

Sen Lei'an suddenly shouted, "I don't want to!!"

Startled by his voice, I lost my balance, the door swung open, and I fell hard onto the floor.

"Chuan Ling!" he exclaimed, shocked.

Lifting my head, I found everyone—Sen Lei'an's parents, the visiting family, the butler, and Sen Lei'an—staring at me.

Embarrassed, I jumped up, legs trembling, and bolted out the door. I ran and ran, not caring that Sen Lei'an was chasing after me.

I heard his mother stop him, pulling him back.

I kept running, even though our homes were worlds apart. I don't know where I found the strength, but I didn't stop.

Hours passed. My legs were numb, my body drenched in sweat, but I didn't feel tired.

What I felt was a heavy stone in my chest, suffocating me. A kind of sadness that came from losing something I didn't even realize I had. A hole inside me, hollow and aching.

After nearly three hours, I made it to the riverside near home. I sat there, staring at the water, not wanting to go back.

The river current grew stronger. The sky darkened, clouds swirling. I thought it was getting late, but then realized—it was about to rain.

A streak of lightning cut across the sky like a crack in the heavens.

BOOM!

Thunder roared, loud and violent. I jumped!!

then crouched under a tree, hands clamped over my ears.

Then the rain began—light at first, then pouring down like the sky had split open.

I heard someone yelling in the distance, rushing toward me.

"Do you think you're a lightning rod?!"

I looked up—it was Sen Lei'an, running toward me with a massive umbrella, the butler trailing behind.

He grabbed my arm and said, "Come with me!"

I yanked my arm free. "Let go of me!"

I didn't know why I was so angry. Just seeing him made something erupt inside me.

I turned and ran, disappearing into the storm. He tried to follow, but the wind and rain slowed him down. All he could do was watch me vanish into the downpour.

The next day, and the day after that, I didn't go to school.

Sen Lei'an came to my house every day after school, standing outside my bedroom door. But I was too sick to move, let alone let anyone in.

His mom visited too. But I didn't want to see her either.

That night after the storm, I came down with a fever. My whole body ached—forehead, neck, arms, legs.

My dad took me to the doctor, who said I had caught a cold from the rain and needed to rest at home.

Honestly, I was glad. I didn't want to go back to school and see Sen Lei'an again.

After that day, I never went to his house again.

Sen Lei'an never understood why I got angry. Why I stopped talking to him. Why I started pulling away on purpose.

From then on, we barely spoke.

I avoided him.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized…

Losing him now would hurt less than losing him in the future.

So I made the choice to lose him—before he had the chance to leave me.

But I never expected that the boy who once had everything going for him would suddenly plummet in his grades. Mine were always poor, so ending up in the worst class made sense for me.

But Sen Lei'an? Why was he placed with me? Did he deliberately sabotage his grades? Or had he really changed?

I think it was the latter.

He was no longer the same person. He became reckless, defiant, rude. A boy without dreams or direction.

Back to the Present…

Sen Lei'an's mother invited me over again.

To be honest, I was scared.

I'd run away so disgracefully back then.

Even when I saw her with my mom over the years, I hardly spoke. Silence was easier.

On the way to the Sen estate, Sen Lei'an said, "My mom hasn't seen you in so long. She told me to bring you home, no matter what. Ever since you ran away, she's been waiting."

Hearing that… my heart ached.

That house wasn't mine, but Sen Lei'an's mom had treated me like her own daughter.

"She doesn't say it outright," he continued, "but she always asks me about you. She says you've changed. That you don't listen to me anymore. She says it's outrageous."

I laughed. "That's you talking, not your mom! She's nothing like you!"

Soon, we arrived.

The Sen estate hadn't changed—still grand and elegant.

The butler greeted us at the entrance. I knew him well; he often picked up Sen Lei'an from school. Sometimes, while waiting, I'd chat with him.

He was in his fifties now, a well-spoken, courteous man with a sharp eye and a warm heart. He was like family.

"Miss Chuan Ling," he said warmly, "you've come back."

I smiled and nodded.

Sen Lei'an's mom was already waiting in the grand hall.

With a smirk, Sen Lei'an said, "I brought the person you wanted."

I turned to glare at him—he shut up immediately.

His mother laughed. "You two are still the same. One mischievous, the other like someone from a completely different world."

That last part stung. "Someone from a different world"—that had to be me.

Our families were worlds apart. Heaven and earth.

She took my hand and led me into a private family lounge. Only the closest members of the Sen family were allowed in here.

Though it was called a "lounge," it was more like a palace suite—sauna, indoor pool, theater, karaoke room, gym, and a glass-walled terrace overlooking the estate's park and lake.

In the distance, the black swan and white swan still swam together. Seeing them made me smile.

They were still here, like me.

The butler served desserts. I recognized them immediately—my favorite Swiss chocolates, creamy New York cheesecake, Sen Lei'an's beloved vanilla custard strawberry tarts, and our shared favorite, flaky French croissants.

These weren't just treats. I knew they were air-shipped weekly by world-class chefs. Only the Sen family could afford this kind of luxury.

"Ling," his mom said warmly, "it's been so long. Why haven't you come by? How have you been? Lei'an said you won't talk to him anymore… because of what happened when you were kids?"

I replied, "Not really. Lei'an just talks too much. I can't talk over him."

She smiled, then asked, "Do you know why there's one black swan and one white swan in our lake?"

I shook my head.

"Originally, your uncle wanted a pair of white swans. But I love with the black one. They said black swans are usually aggressive and won't mix with whites. But these two? They've been close since the beginning. Swans mate for life, you know. Even though one's black and the other white, they'll never part."

I wasn't sure why she was telling me this, but… somehow, it didn't feel mismatched at all.

Maybe people only think they should match… because they don't know what it means to be different, and still belong.

After enjoying some desserts and chatting for a while, Sen's mom asked the butler to take me home.

Before I left, she gave me a gentle reminder: "Next time, don't just run off on your own."

I smiled and nodded politely to her, then turned to leave with the butler.

**

[Bonus Scene]

A luxurious car pulled up, and a couple stepped out with a little girl. The girl had big expressive eyes, dark brows, and sun-kissed skin. She looked sweet and well-behaved.

Her parents were longtime family friends of the Sens. The girl was the same age as Sen Leian.

When they were younger, she used to visit the Sen household often. But Sen Leian never really warmed up to her—he knew she only came over because of the business ties between their families.

Even when they were still babies, the two families had arranged a marriage between them. Sen's father made the decision to strengthen the business bond.

After all, Sen's parents had also been betrothed before birth. Although Sen's mom had her own opinions, she never got to make the big decisions back then.

That's why now, in everyday life, she insists on having her own voice—because she believes every person is their own independent being.

Neither Sen Leian nor Ying Chuanling, now in their second year of high school, had any idea that the daughter of that couple in the luxury car was currently attending the same school as them.