How could the teacher be wrong? It takes the effort of a hundred people to maintain fairness, but only one to destroy it. Zoe Young is not the first, nor will she be the last. Many people do things they once claimed to despise, and accept the benefits with a clear conscience. But they are not Zoe Young. They wouldn’t lower their heads in guilt when Zachary Lewis sincerely says, “Zoe Young, you’re amazing.”

On the way home from school, Andrew Lane kept asking Zoe Young what she did today. Andrew Lane liked the way she smiled confidently and radiantly under the stage lights. That kind of Zoe Young was really... beautiful.

He was even happier than she was about her award. When everyone looked at this little girl during the flag-raising ceremony, Andrew Lane felt proud, because back when no one noticed her, he was the one by her side.

That feeling was just so wonderful. So he kept asking Zoe Young if she was happy today. Even though he knew she wouldn’t show off in front of him like Charlotte Lee or Tina Young, when she talked about good things that happened, there would still be a sparkle in Zoe Young’s eyes, just like on stage, full of confidence.

He wanted to see that light. But unexpectedly, there was none at all.

Andrew Lane finally stopped his barrage of questions and looked at her. “Zoe, what’s wrong?” Zoe Young just stared at her feet as she walked, clutching her bag straps, the wisps of hair on her forehead swaying over her delicate brows with each step.

“Say something!” “Andrew Lane...” Zoe lifted her head, her lips moved, but then she lowered her head again.

“Did someone bully you? Someone must be jealous, right?!” Andrew Lane’s voice rose. Zoe Young hurriedly tugged his sleeve, signaling him not to say such things.

“No, everyone’s really happy for me.” “Then what’s wrong?”

Up to now, Zoe Young had never told Andrew Lane about her inner confusion and sadness. She didn’t know why, but she just felt that Andrew Lane wouldn’t understand, and maybe he’d even pretend to understand just to comfort her—which would be terrible.

“It’s nothing.” Andrew Lane almost imitated the heroes on TV and howled at the sky—though what he wanted to shout was quite different from those heroes.

Women, oh women!

For the first time, seven-year-old Andrew Lane had this kind of teeth-gritting thought. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll keep asking until I drive you crazy!” Andrew Lane bared his teeth at Zoe Young. Zoe Young was stunned, but Andrew Lane seemed determined, stubbornly staring at her. No matter how disdainful a look she gave him, he just kept asking, “Why aren’t you happy?” Zoe Young finally gave in, pulling a long face. “Andrew Lane, I beg you, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you everything.” If Andrew Lane had been born fifty years earlier, the war of resistance wouldn’t have been so hard. “Someone told me that the reason I got the chance to compete was because I had an inside connection.” What Zoe Young meant was, if her mom hadn’t given gifts, she wouldn’t have gotten the job of reading aloud in class, the praise and encouragement, and the teacher wouldn’t have thought of her and recommended her for the competition, and she wouldn’t have her current glory—all of this complicated reasoning she skipped, and just gave a simple result. But Zoe Young was too busy feeling embarrassed to realize what this meant to Andrew Lane, or to see his face change instantly. “...Nonsense!” Andrew Lane shouted, lacking confidence, then glanced at Zoe Young with a guilty, uneasy look—so it was his own compromise that made people gossip about her, it really was his fault.

Zoe Young sighed. “I don’t know, what if it’s true?” “Zoe,” Andrew Lane said anxiously, “you got first place because you’re good at telling stories. Even if I got this chance, I definitely wouldn’t have won, so they’re just jealous, you really shouldn’t...” Sure enough, he didn’t understand. Zoe Young shook her head. “I mean, if it’s true, what should I do?” Andrew Lane was stunned. He didn’t understand why Zoe Young cared so much about this, why she couldn’t let it go. Andrew Lane was used to opportunities and benefits falling from the sky, and never questioned why. His parents’ status made him see connections and gift-giving as normal. Concert tickets, the latest Transformers models... even why Teacher Xiao Zhang paid special attention to him, Charlotte Lee, and Charles Johnson, Andrew Lane could guess it was because of his parents. Was there anything wrong with that?

But now, she said, it was wrong.

For the first time, Andrew Lane seriously thought about a question, but couldn’t figure it out. After a long time, he finally mustered the courage and slowly said, “Zoe, even if that’s the case, it’s not your fault.” “Oh?” “If you wasted this opportunity, didn’t give it your all, that would be your fault.” He tried out an unfamiliar idiom, “didn’t give it your all. How you got this opportunity doesn’t matter. I mean, if you didn’t know, then don’t blame yourself afterwards.”

Andrew Lane looked at her with determination. Zoe Young’s expression was no longer so sad, though still a bit confused, but clearly his words had some effect. “But, when I got this opportunity, maybe the person who should have gotten it lost it.” If her mom hadn’t given gifts, who would have gotten this chance? Zoe Young hadn’t thought it through, but subconsciously, she felt she had unknowingly taken something from someone else, and that person didn’t even know.

Andrew Lane relaxed and smiled. “Ah, you don’t need to worry about that, I don’t care.” “What do you mean you don’t care?” Andrew Lane was flustered and quickly stammered, “I mean, even if someone else got this chance, they definitely wouldn’t do as well as you.”

“How do you know? You’re not that other person.” “You’re not me, how do you know I’m not that other person?” Without realizing it, they repeated a conversation from thousands of years ago between Zhuangzi and Huizi. Zoe Young didn’t expect Andrew Lane to suddenly become so sharp-tongued, and was left speechless, not knowing how to argue back.

In the end, she could only say slowly, “Back when I was the worst student in the class, they didn’t know I’d win an award one day. So, Andrew Lane, you can’t know if there’s another Zoe Young among those struggling students.”

Andrew Lane frowned and interrupted her. “If someone else takes your chance, you just take it back. As for a second Zoe Young, why worry about something so uncertain?”

Zoe Young looked at Andrew Lane in frustration—today this guy was especially sharp, leaving her speechless several times. Andrew Lane still wasn’t done: “Besides, one Zoe Young is enough.” Having successfully resolved the crisis, Andrew Lane was overjoyed. “So are you feeling happier now?” Zoe Young looked at his smile, like a little stray dog begging for a treat, and could only smile wryly and nod. “Much happier.” Andrew Lane burst out laughing. As he leaned a little closer to Zoe Young, she suddenly dodged to the side. “Why are you dodging?” “I—I thought...” Zoe Young stammered a bit, “I thought you were going to, going to kiss me again.” Andrew Lane instantly blushed bright red.

“Who wants to kiss you?!” Andrew Lane’s shout echoed down the street.

Zoe Young finally laughed, for the first time today, a completely carefree laugh. Andrew Lane looked at the radiant Zoe Young, his heart swelling with pride. “Zoe, we’ll be friends forever, right?” “Of course,” Zoe Young considered for a moment, then promised as seriously as she did to Benny, “We’ll never be apart.” Andrew Lane’s smile was like the morning sun rising at dusk. But neither of them expected that the next time the two “never apart” friends would walk home together would be five years later.

“Forever” is like a spell: “together forever,” “love you forever,” “always be best friends,” “always trust you”...

Such spells are made to summon “separation,” “change of heart,” “betrayal,” “doubt.” So, never say forever.

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17. The Demon-Reflecting Mirror

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That evening at dinner, Andrew Lane was especially excited, chattering nonstop about things that happened at school. Of course, the key word was always: Zoe Young.

“Dad, are the photos developed yet?” “How could it be so fast?” Andrew Lane’s dad put a piece of saury on his plate. “Probably by Friday, your Uncle Xiao Liu has been busy lately. I just thought, it would’ve been nice if we’d had Zoe hold the trophy and take a photo with you as a keepsake.”