“What happened? You must have been treated unfairly by Charlie. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Bennett family and ask them how dare they bully my daughter…” My mom was startled and quickly sat on the bed, hugging me.

“Mom, Charlie didn’t bully me. It’s my own fault for being too moved by everything, and you’ve been so good to me…” I clung to my mom’s waist, choked with emotions.

Indeed, Charlie didn’t bully me. It was all because of my own delusions and wishful thinking.

He was an honest scoundrel, while I was a foolish admirer.

My mom gently patted my back, took a deep breath, and sighed. As her only daughter, she understood me the best. How could she not know the grievances I experienced with Charlie?

I’m not someone who easily bursts into tears. My heart doesn’t usually hold any resentment.

“Would you still like to eat the pudding?” she asked me.

“Yes, I’ve been craving it…” I wiped away my tears, got up from the bed, and held my mom’s hand as we went downstairs to have the pudding.

My dad was probably asleep by then, so it was just my mom and me sitting in the dining room.

The pudding was so delicious. I had eaten a lot. I’ve been eating very little these past few years, so this sudden indulgence made my stomach feel bloated, almost making me vomit.

My mother patted my back, saying, “Why did you eat so much? You won’t be able to sleep with a bloated stomach.”

“I was too hungry,” I chuckled foolishly. The last time I enjoyed such a hearty meal was during my graduation, when Jane and I had a celebratory dinner. After graduation, I married Charlie and started a life of resentment.

“Even when you’re hungry, eat slowly. Stop at 80% full,” my mother spoke softly.

I held her arm and acted spoiled, saying, “Mom, will you sleep with me tonight and tell me about the principles of healthy living?”

Without hesitation, my mom agreed.

The next morning, I felt an unprecedented sense of ease. I ate well and slept soundly. After having breakfast at home, I headed to the hospital.

Jason was playing with his phone. His leg didn’t suffer a bone injury, but the flesh wound was quite serious. It had been stitched up and was wrapped in thick gauze, making it difficult for him to move.

“Why did you come?” Jason was surprised and slightly embarrassed to see me. “You don’t have to worry about me so much or visit me frequently, really.”

I smiled warmly and gently instructed Tim, “Tim, bring it in.”

Tim carried in a bunch of nutritional supplements and placed them beside Jason’s bed.

Seeing such a grand gesture from me, Jason was obviously touched, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. “Ma’am, I only have a minor skin injury. It’s not that serious.”

“A minor skin injury is still an injury.” I sat down by the bed, smiling.

“By the way, ma’am, I don’t know your name,” Jason suddenly asked.

“My last name is Harrison. You can call me Mrs. Harrison if you want.” I answered him candidly, not feeling old at all. I am indeed six years older than Jason.

Jason nodded, “Okay, Mrs. Harrison.”

I stayed in the ward with Jason, chatting about various things. The thinking of college students is always simple and naive. Jason is currently in his third year, studying civil engineering. During summer break, he is a hardworking and thrifty student.

As he spoke about the future, he also mentioned his lovely and beautiful girlfriend. His dream is to graduate, secure a stable job, and marry his beloved girl.

I chuckled dismissively, but I quickly stopped myself when I realized that was impolite.

Jason hesitated and asked, “Mrs. Harrison, why are you laughing?”

I lightly rubbed the tip of my nose, still trying to be as gentle as possible. “Oh, nothing, it’s just… seeing you reminds me of my college days, a time when I also had such wonderful aspirations.”

“Which university did Mrs. Harrison graduate from?” Jason curiously asked.

I looked at him deeply and said, “New York University.”

Speaking of which, Charlie and I can be considered Lauren and Jason’s seniors at university.

Jason’s face lit up with delight. “Mrs. Harrison, we attended the same university. You’re my senior!”

I pretended to be happy and replied, “Yeah, what a coincidence, right?”

New York has several universities, with New York University being one of the top-ranked universities in the country. People who can get into this university, regardless of their family background, are at least very intelligent. After graduation, they have a bright future ahead of them. Even without great wealth, they can live a good life.

If Lauren hadn’t met Charlie, Jason’s dream would most likely have come true.

So Jason and I continued chatting about New York University. He was talkative, and I held my own in the conversation. As we were enjoying ourselves, someone walked in with a crisp and pleasing voice, “Jason, I’ve come to see you!”

Upon hearing those words, I was reminded of Charlie’s personalized ringtone from the previous life.

The voice was identical, as was the tone.

I turned my head and saw Lauren in a pure white chiffon dress, her black hair cascading down with natural curls at the ends, adding a touch of femininity to her purity. She was charming and beautiful.

I didn’t envy her physical beauty, but being in the prime of her twenties and radiating youthful vitality made me feel somewhat sour inside.

When I was twenty, I had already been secretly in love with Charlie for three years. The best years of my life were consumed by that unrequited love that nearly killed me.

Why did Lauren, at the same age, receive Charlie’s passionate love while I hid in the pages of my diary, persevering with every page?

“Lauren!” Seeing her, Jason’s face lit up with joy, followed by a slight hint of guilt. “If I knew you were coming, I wouldn’t have kept it a secret and made you worry.”

Carrying the fruits she had bought, Lauren gracefully walked over like a little swan. “You’re silly. How could you not tell me that you were hurt?”

I stood up and offered the only chair to Lauren.

I remained calm because I knew that I would have to give Charlie to her next. What does it matter to give up a mere chair?

“Miss, it’s you!” Lauren suddenly recognized me and looked at me in astonishment. “What are you doing here?”

Because I bumped into your boyfriend.

I awkwardly smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, I accidentally bumped into Jason. I came here today to see how he’s doing.”

Lauren looked at me, then at Jason, and surprisingly, she didn’t blame anybody. Instead, she smiled and said, “What a coincidence, Jason! This lady has been coming to our coffee shop a lot recently. She’s really nice. It must have been an unintentional collision.”

Her understanding left me speechless. While it might have truly been unintentional for others, it wasn’t the case for me. I had deliberately chosen the moment to collide.

“I know, Mrs. Harrison definitely didn’t mean it. She even compensated me with extra money. I feel bad about it.” Jason scratched his head with a hint of embarrassment.

“That’s not necessary. You’ve compensated what needed to be compensated.” Lauren immediately took out her phone. “Mrs. Harrison, could you give me your payment code so that I can refund the extra money to you?”

This kind of character, not being humble but not arrogant, attracted Charlie, right? A girl without a trace of avarice, with only clarity in her eyes.

I couldn’t believe it. She made me feel like my branded clothes were not worth anything.