After the Jump

My childhood sweetheart, who’d promised to marry me right after graduation, proposed to Jiang Niannian, the fake wealthy daughter, at my commencement ceremony. Meanwhile, Gu Qiran, known to everyone as the calm, detached elite from the capital’s upper circle, openly confessed his love for me right after the proposal went through. For five years of marriage, he treated me with endless tenderness and doted on me completely. That was until I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and his best friend. “Qiran, Niannian’s become famous now. Are you still going to keep up this act with Jiang Jin?” “I can’t marry Niannian anyway, so it doesn’t matter. Besides, as long as I’m with her, she won’t get in the way of Niannian’s happiness.” The scriptures he kept treasured all bore Jiang Niannian’s name, each inscribed with prayers: “May Niannian be freed from obsession, may her body and soul know peace.” “May all Niannian’s wishes be fulfilled, may those she loves live without worry.” ... “Niannian, fate has kept us apart in this life. I only wish we may walk hand in hand in the next.” Five years of foolish delusions shattered in an instant. I forged a false identity and plotted a drowning accident. From then on, we would never cross paths again, for all lifetimes to come.