3
The day after the exam, I was summoned by the dean’s office.
1270
Chapter 1
12.19
They said my test paper had an unusually high similarity rate with Stella’s and required further investigation.
In that moment, all I could feel was the biting irony.
I was top of my class in every single one of my major courses. Why on earth would I need to copy from a girl who spent all her time
filming dance videos and had never once shown up to an 8 a.m. lecture?
When the day of the meeting came, I went alone.
As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Leo sitting inside, right next to Stella.
The professor looked at me, his tone sharp. “Mia, have a seat. We’ve called you here today because Ms. Vance has reported you for
cheating on the exam.”
My world shrank. I looked at Stella.
She had an expression of pure, innocent distress, but her voice was firm.
I’m not trying to target her, but I noticed her paper was just like mine. It could be a coincidence, or… she could have looked.”
Ji’m
I scoffed. “Are you sure you weren’t the one looking at my paper?”
Stella flinched as if I’d struck her. “That’s not what I meant… How can you be so vicious?”
I turned to Leo.
He said nothing. His eyes were downcast, as if he were deep in thought, or maybe just trying to escape.
The comments materialized on cue:
[Don’t blame him! Leo’s holding back so he doesn’t make Stella resent you more!]
[He’s waiting for everyone to leave so he can comfort our girl in private!]
[Mia, don’t misunderstand! If he spoke up now, it would only make your situation more awkward!]
I stared at his face for a long time, until the professor asked, “Do you have anything to add?”
Leo spoke slowly, his voice measured. “…I didn’t see Mia cheat. But I can’t rule out the possibility that the high similarity score is her own responsibility.”
The room fell silent.
My ears rang as if I’d been struck by lightning.
Stella lowered her head, hiding a triumphant little smile.
The professor nodded. “For now, we’ll record this as ‘suspected academic dishonesty. You’ll submit a written self–criticism, and your next exam will be proctored under full surveillance. If a similar issue arises, it will be permanently noted on your academic record.”
My fingertips were ice–cold as I walked out of that office.
The comments scrolled past my ears, one after another:
[Leo didn’t mean it! They forced him to say it!]
[He would never hurt you! This is all part of his strategy!]
[He’s sacrificing you this one time so you won’t be truly suspected later! It’s for your own good!]
What I didn’t know was that after I left, Stella tugged on Leo’s sleeve, feigning distress.
12:19
Chapter 1
“The way you spoke just now… she’s definitely going to misunderstand you.”
Leo didn’t say a word.
Stella leaned in closer, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “If she dares to pick a fight with you over this, I’ll be the first to say you deserve better.”
“You deserve so much better.”
He didn’t push her away.
And I, through the glass wall of the dean’s office, saw her hand rest on his shoulder.
That night, I posted again.
No words. Just a picture of a sheet of paper, filled with my handwritten apology.
Someone asked in the comments if I’d been set up.
Someone else shared it, saying, “Even the top students stumble sometimes.”
Only Leo…
He liked the post, then quickly unliked it.
As always, the comments rushed to his defense:
[Leo was just afraid that liking it would be seen as taking sides! He totally screenshotted it and looks at it every day!]
[He liked and then unliked it so you wouldn’t get cyberbullied! He’s just pretending to be cold to protect you!]
I put my phone on silent and turned off all notifications..
I knew then that some things weren’t worth waiting for an explanation.
The next morning, Leo found me and said he wanted to have breakfast with me.
I told him no, I was going to the library to study.
“I’ll walk you.”
“No, thanks. I want to be alone.”
He frowned, watching me for a long time, but in the end, he didn’t press. He just turned and walked away.
But as I watched him go, I saw that his shoulders were relaxed.
As if he’d finally been freed from the burden of performing an emotional role he never wanted.
That night, Stella posted a photo from a trendy Japanese restaurant near campus.
She was wearing new earrings, and the caption read: “Thanks for celebrating with me, Leo.”
The comments were a flood of “Get together!” and “You two are so cute!”
I stared at the picture for a long time, my phone growing hot in my hand, my fingertips cold.
The comments were still there:
(Don’t believe her post! Leo didn’t even eat anything, he was just passing by!]
[He was only with her as a favor! He only has eyes for you!]
Chapter 1
[Mia, don’t be rash! Don’t misunderstand Leo again…]
This time, I didn’t even look at the comments.
I just quietly deleted the post he had never truly liked.
And cleared the chat history he had never truly answered.
It was time he got a taste of what it felt like to be completely erased.
