“Jason will be happy to know. If he’s in a good mood, he’ll definitely do well on his next exam.”

I forced down the nausea rising in my throat.

If I clash with them now, I won’t get to watch their bigger performance later.

I deliberately lowered my voice: “…Okay. I got it. You two…have fun.”

Hearing my obedient reply again, Emily’s tone brightened, as if a huge burden had been lifted.

“That’s right! Liam, you’re really thoughtful.”

“Then it’s settled! I’ll leave the reservation to you! Preferably by the window for better ventilation, Jason likes that.”

“I’ll go with you to the restaurant you want when we’re back.”

She even went so far as to explain her seating preferences.

“Hm.” I gave a dull hum through my nose.

“Alright, that’s it for now. Jason’s calling me. I’ll see what he needs.”

She hung up in a rush. The busy tone echoed, and the last trace of pretense slipped from my face.

The next two days passed quietly.

Emily didn’t call again, but she reminded me on chat about reserving a seat, worried my negligence might ruin Jason’s studies.

Jason posted a photo on social media, background a downtown coffee shop—the one I’d always told Emily I wanted to try.

The caption read, “I’ve been working so hard, but nothing works. Feeling a bit down. Thankfully, someone’s been here for me. Let’s get some fresh air during the break.”

Below, Emily’s comment was striking: “It’s okay~ I’ll go eat something yummy with you during the break~”

Several likes and caring notes from mutual friends lined up neatly.

I scrolled past it blankly, not even opening the picture.

The afternoon before leaving school, a knock came at my dorm door.

I opened it and was surprised to see Emily and Jason. Jason saw me and quickly offered an apologetic smile. “Liam, did we bother you?”

Emily peeked into my room, eyes pausing on my clearly visible suitcase, her brows knitting slightly.

“Something?” I blocked the doorway, making no move to let them in.

“Oh, nothing important.”

Emily looked aside and said casually, “Jason wants to head to the station early tomorrow, so I’m here to help him pack. I stopped by to see you while I was at it.”

Her eyes returned to my suitcase, sharp with scrutiny. “Have you…bought your ticket? Standing? Are you on the same train as us?”

Jason also looked at me with apparent concern. “If you’re on our train, that’d be great. We could look out for each other on the way, and it’d be easier to share the luggage…”

I caught his false expression and spoke slowly, “I didn’t buy a ticket.”

Both of them froze. Jason recovered first, his tone carrying a faint gloating edge. “Ah? You didn’t get one? Then, Liam, how will you get home? No standing left either? What now?”

Emily’s face turned sour. “Liam, what have you been doing these past two days? Didn’t I tell you to buy a ticket? Now you say you don’t have one? Planning to walk home from school?”

Watching them act out their routine of good cop and bad cop, I almost laughed.

“I have my own way to get back,” I said evenly.

“What can you do?”

Emily’s tone already brimmed with impatience.

“Still pretending at this point! I knew you were unreliable, never able to do anything right, and now you’re blaming me, saying it’s all my fault…”

“Yu, don’t talk about Liam like that.”

Jason gently slipped his arm around Emily’s shoulders, then turned back to me. “Liam, if you really can’t help it, my roommate has an apartment outside. I can lend you the key…”

He pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and showed me the screen. On it was a rushed photo of a dingy room with mold stains on the walls. Unopened delivery boxes and takeout bags covered the floor, while a crooked desk held a bucket of leftover noodles.

I stared at the photo of the cramped place, hardly a spot left to step.

“No thanks.”

I refused again, glancing between them, the corners of my lips lifting faintly.

“My way is faster than the train.”

Emily clearly didn’t believe me, thinking I was being stubborn just to save face.

She waved dismissively. “Fine, whatever you want! Don’t blame me if you can’t get home!”

“Jason and I are leaving early tomorrow. Don’t forget to save our seats!”

With that, she dragged Jason away.

The weather was especially fine on Leaving Day.

I had barely stepped out of the dorm, suitcase in hand, when the last voices I wanted to hear came from behind. “Liam, you’re leaving without buying a ticket?”

Jason hurried forward, eyes full of curiosity. “Have you…found a place to stay?”

Emily frowned at me, her gaze like one scolding a child making trouble. “Didn’t you say you didn’t get a ticket? Where are you going with that suitcase? Don’t tell me you’re taking some bus…”

The contempt in her tone nearly spilled over.

“That thing is stuffy and crowded, full of all sorts. My roommate tried it once, and when she came back, her clothes reeked of cheap fuel and sweat. It gave me a headache.”

She crossed her arms and stepped back, as if I carried the odor she so despised.

“If you ride that junk, don’t see me again anytime soon. I’d be embarrassed.”

Her face showed me as if I were disgracing her.

“Yu, don’t be harsh. Liam must be desperate.”

Jason turned toward me, looking thoughtful. “That apartment I mentioned, though small and old, is still okay for now… I can give you the key. It’s better than cramming on that bus.”

He spoke as if I were so poor I needed shelter.

Emily grew even more annoyed: “See how kind Jason is? Don’t be so ungrateful.”

“Take his key quickly. It’s better than running around. You’ll also be closer to saving us seats at the library.”

Hearing them echo each other, the last shred of hope in me vanished.

I smirked. “No need. I already have a place.”

“A place?”

Emily’s brows drew tighter, clearly unconvinced. “Where could you go? Do you even have relatives or friends here?”

“Home,” I said calmly.

“Home?” Emily sounded as if she’d heard a joke.

“How will you get home without a ticket? Flying back?!”

She probably meant it as a mocking outburst.

I nodded firmly.

“Yes, flying back on a private jet.”

The air froze.

Jason Miller's smug expression froze, as if paused.

Emily was completely stunned. It took several seconds before she reacted, then a wave of mock anger quickly surged across her face. "Liam!"

"Are you insane?! Do you hear yourself? A private jet? Why not say you came back on a rocket?"

"If you couldn’t get a ticket, then admit it. Making up such a flimsy lie to save face? You’ll only make me despise you more!"

Jason finally came to his senses and nudged Emily gently. His voice was mild but deliberate: "Yu, don’t be angry. Liam… he’s probably just too sad and anxious, that’s why he said that… Let’s try to understand him…"

Emily’s eyes filled with disappointment and disgust: "Understand? How could I?"

"Liam, why didn’t I see before that you’re so vain and unreasonable!"

"A private jet? You can brag like that? Do you even know what that means? You had to fight for three days just to get a lousy business-class ticket!"

I looked at her furious face, then at Jason’s unconcealed gloating, and suddenly felt utterly bored.

Wasting time with them was like talking to the deaf.

I couldn’t be bothered to explain. "Whether I’m bragging or not, you’ll find out soon."