Chapter 2

For the first episode, "Love Has Rusted," I took Lily to the orphanage where Lucas and I first met.

I was an orphan, but I was gifted academically and quite attractive.

I always had many suitors.

Knowing the games rich people play, I focused solely on my studies, wanting to carve out my own path through hard work.

Lucas was different from the others. He volunteered at the orphanage every week, buying treats for the children.

The kids affectionately called him "Brother Lucas."

During his free time, he would ask me for help with his studies, always polite and never mentioning his feelings.

When I fell ill, he would bring medicine in the middle of the night.

He spent a fortune hiring Ivy League tutors for himself and invited me along, claiming he felt lonely studying alone.

When I broke my leg, Lucas insisted on carrying me to school on his back to ensure I didn't miss any classes. He climbed 108 steps every day for 120 days.

On the day of our final exams, Lucas knelt down with a bouquet of flowers,

"Aria, will you be my girlfriend? Let's create a beautiful future together."

My heart finally melted, overwhelmed with happiness.

Shallow love is common, but a connection of souls is rare.

I became the top scorer in that year's exams and was admitted to the Electronic Science and Technology program.

Lucas enrolled in Business Administration at Stanford, not far from my university.

After we got together, our love didn't diminish; if anything, it grew stronger.

If I hadn't discovered Lucas's secret family two days ago, I should have been the happiest woman alive.

It's just as they say,

"Those who fall in love quickly are the first to grow cold, while those who fall slowly are still warming up."

Lily filmed me playing with the children,

She captured the ancient tree carved with our names.

Then I took Lily to the secret hideout Lucas and I shared.

I carefully dug up the love lock we had buried, looked calmly at the camera, and said,

"Lucas, the lock is rusty now. Do you think our love has rusted too?"

"If it has, please tell me, okay?"

"I love you, but I don't want to live in a lie."