The Flowing Huai River

Chapter 1

My twenty-first birthday was the day my childhood best friend, Chase, took my virginity.

Even though I cried my eyes out from the pain, my heart swelled with joy. I thought I’d finally won him over.

But when I opened my eyes, he was gone.

I walked back to campus alone, only to overhear him and Mandy talking on the quad.

“Chase, you’re doing this on purpose, right? Just because I went to a movie with my senior!”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “So what? You can go to movies with other guys, why can’t I sleep with other girls?”

“Chase, we’re over.”

But the next second, he pulled Mandy into a hug, his tone frantic.

“I don’t like her! I just… I was scared you’d hurt, so I practiced on her. I’m sorry, I’ll never do it again. Please forgive me?”

Then, they kissed, right there in public. I became the laughingstock of the entire school.

I didn’t cry or make a scene. I quietly submitted an application to the university for a semester abroad exchange program.

Chase, consider this our goodbye.

1

For years, Chase knew I liked him. He never accepted me, but he never rejected me either.

Maybe that ambiguity gave me false hope.

Hearing those words today shattered every expectation and every ounce of love I had for him.

After their kiss, Mandy leaned against his chest, her cheeks flushed. “Was her kiss sweeter than mine?”

Chase scoffed. “How would I know? I barely kissed her.”

“Oh my god, so how did you… you know…”

“She was like a dead fish in the hotel room. Honestly, with her body, I couldn’t even tell front from back.”

“If I wasn’t thinking about you the whole time, I couldn’t have done it.”

“Chase, how are you going to cover this up? You two grew up together, what if she’s angry?”

Chase kissed her forehead carelessly. “It’s fine. I always thought of her as a brother. It’s just sex, no big deal.”

“I’m with my true love now. She’ll be happy for me, she won’t blame me.”

Mandy giggled. “Wow, she’s really open-minded. I couldn’t do that.”

Chase ruffled her hair affectionately. “You’re so pure and innocent. She could never compare to you.”

It was ninety degrees outside, but I was freezing, shivering uncontrollably.

Then, Chase’s roommates ran by with a basketball.

I quickly crouched in the bushes.

“Hey, I heard you two are finally an item!”

Then they saw Chase wasn’t holding me.

“What’s…?”

Before he could finish, someone interrupted.

“Can’t you see? That’s Mandy, our school beauty. I always said Taylor was beneath Chase. Look at her, she’s so obsessed with Chase. Seriously disgusting.”

That was Evan, Chase’s sidekick, and one of Mandy’s sycophants.

He’d once pissed Chase off and got beat up, and I’d begged Chase to go easy on him.

I realized how stupid I’d been. I should’ve let him rot.

I didn’t want to hear anything else. I went back to my dorm.

I don’t remember how I got back. I avoided eye contact with everyone; their stares felt like daggers.

I just wanted to curl up in bed and disappear.

Soon, my roommates returned, oblivious to my presence huddled under the covers.

They started gossiping. “Did you hear? Chase slept with Taylor and then bailed.”

Lynn shrieked with laughter. “Serves her right! That airhead, she deserved it! I hate how she acts all goody-two-shoes. She’s a good student, so what? She still got played.”

“Speaking of school, I heard the department has exchange program spots for next semester. Only scholarship recipients qualify.”

A tiny spark of hope flickered in my despair.

I needed to escape.

Suddenly, my throat tickled, and I coughed.

My roommates stared at me in shock.

2

I ignored them, turning my face to the wall.

Lynn yelled, “What’s your problem? We’re just telling the truth, you got used, right?”

The others tried to quiet her.

My heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles.

I couldn’t bear her insults anymore. I ran out of the dorm, to the Moon Lake, and sobbed.

I heard footsteps.

A hand slapped my back hard.

“Oh, it’s you, Chase’s little dog. What are you crying about?”

It was Mandy.

She sneered, arms crossed.

“You’re a top student, so what? Nobody likes you. You know what they’re saying? That you’re a cheap hooker.”

Her laughter was piercing, and my face burned with shame.

Then, she slapped me.

She glared. “Chase’s first time should’ve been mine! You stole it, you bitch!”

“I’m going to teach you a lesson, you’ll never steal from me again!”

She started slapping me again.

I fought back, blocking her attacks.

She was pushing me toward the lake.

Suddenly, she screamed and fell into the water.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

A figure flashed before me, jumping in to save her.

It was Chase.

Rage filled his eyes. “Taylor, are you insane?!”

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. Mandy started to speak.

She cried, sobbing. “Chase, I know she’s your best friend. I didn’t want to cause trouble between you, I just wanted to comfort her…”

“I was so scared. I thought I was going to die, I was so afraid of never seeing you again, Chase, hold me tight.”

I almost laughed. Moon Lake is just a shallow ditch; you can’t drown even if you squat in it.

But Chase believed her.

“Taylor, I didn’t expect you to be so petty. I should’ve just picked a different girl that day.”

“I’m warning you, Mandy is my one and only. If you ever touch her again, I’ll cut you off!”

He stormed away, carrying Mandy.

I silently wept, clutching my burning cheeks.

Yes, I used to fear those words, “I’ll cut you off.”

In high school, I scored first in the grade, could’ve gone to an Ivy League school, but he threatened to cut me off if I didn’t go to the same college as him.

So I threw away my future to be with him.

I was terrified of losing him.

Now I see it was all a joke.

3

The next day, I submitted my application.

Then I waited for the acceptance letter.

Afterward, I went to the library, forcing myself to focus on my studies.

By evening, my stomach rumbled, and I reluctantly left.

On my way to the cafeteria, several guys emerged from the bushes, surrounding me with cigarettes hanging from their mouths.

“Taylor, I heard you’re easy. I’ve never been with a smart girl before. Come to a motel with me, I won’t disappoint you, I’m good in bed.”

I stumbled backward, only to bump into another guy.

They laughed, closing in. One reached for my face.

I threw my books at them.

They weren’t angry; they laughed harder.

They ripped my shirt, unbuttoning it, exposing me.

I covered myself, screaming for help.

Then, one groaned and fell. Then another, and another…

Chase was punching them, each blow packed with force.

After he was done, he tossed his jacket to me. I quickly put it on.

He pulled me close, his hand on my shoulder.

“Taylor is mine. Anyone who touches her again, I’ll bankrupt them.”

Everyone knew how rich Chase’s family was; no one dared to mess with him. They begged for mercy and ran.

I looked at him gratefully, my heart stirring again.

It always happened this way; just when I was about to give up, he gave me a little bit of hope.

He kept me dangling.

He walked up to me, mocking me. “You little wimp, didn’t even mention my name? What’s the point of being my friend for all these years?”

I blurted out, “All this trouble is because of you!”

He laughed. “You’re actually mad? It’s just sex. And I haven’t settled the score with you about Mandy yet. Let’s call it even, we’re still friends, right?”

I cried. “I don’t want to be your friend! I’m a girl!”

Then I ran.

4

Summer break came quickly. After that incident, I never saw Chase again.

I spent my days studying and working part-time.

One day, I got a call.

It was the police. Chase had gotten into a fight, and they wanted me to come to the station.

I rushed over.

He was sitting there, bruised and battered, but he smiled when he saw me.

“You fight and don’t call your parents, what am I supposed to do?”

“It’s late. I didn’t want to bother them. You can just take me home.”

At the station, I learned Chase had fought because of Mandy.

Some thugs had been harassing her, and he’d defended her.

I took a cab to his house and went home.

Our houses weren’t far apart; he lived in an upscale neighborhood, and I lived in a normal residential area nearby.

Soon after I got home, my mom got a call and rushed me to Chase’s mansion.

Chase was standing in the corner, being scolded.

Chase’s mom looked displeased. “Taylor, I know you two grew up together and are close, but you shouldn’t have encouraged my son to fight. Stay away from troublemakers.”

“Susan, you should teach your daughter better.”

I stared at Chase in disbelief.

He’d blamed me for everything, using me as a shield for Mandy.

I tried to explain, but my mom forcefully pressed my head down. “Apologize to your aunt!”

I wanted to protest, but my mom subtly shook her head.

I bowed my head.

Outside, tears streamed down my face.

“Mom, I didn’t do anything. Why apologize?”

“Honey, your mother knows you. But they’re rich and powerful, they won’t believe us. It’s better to apologize and save face.”

Chase and I grew up in the same courtyard. Back then, his family was poor. His parents were always out working, and my mom cooked for both of us every day.

Then they got rich and moved to the mansion, but we stayed close.

Now, because of this, my mom was also suffering.

My last hope for Chase shattered.

Days later, Chase came to my house after recovering.

I didn’t go out; my mom, understanding, blocked him at the door.

“Chase, Taylor’s leaving for her exchange program soon, she’s busy studying. We’ll talk later.”

Chase’s face froze.

He yelled at my door, “Taylor! Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?! I won’t let you go!”