"Emily, have you noticed that Aiden's been getting more and more popular lately?"
Emily best friend, Sophia, whispered behind her as they crossed the courtyard at Columbia University. "First, Zoe added him on Instagram, and now even Ivy Mae from the Art Academy came all the way here to find him. When did that guy become so charming? Did everyone suddenly find out his family struck gold or something?"
Emily didn't respond. She stood there, watching from a distance as Aiden James and Ivy Mae talked and laughed beneath the autumn trees.
Her chest felt tight. She didn't know if it was anger, jealousy, or something else entirely. All she knew was that it hurt to see him smiling so easily with another girl.
She deliberately walked past them, heels clicking on the pavement, hoping he'd notice.
She wanted him to see her expression, to feel that she was upset.
She wanted the old Aiden, the one who used to rush over the moment she frowned, the one who would apologize even when he'd done nothing wrong.
But this time…
Aiden didn't even look her way.
He just kept talking with Ivy, completely at ease, as if Emily didn't exist.
That unfamiliar indifference cut deeper than any argument ever could.
Sometimes, women have the strangest psychological instincts.
When they don't like a man, they'll find endless flaws, too plain, too broke, too boring, too ordinary.
But when that same man suddenly becomes the center of attention, when other women start chasing him, something shifts.
He must have something special, they start to think.
Maybe I didn't see it before.
What's unattainable becomes desirable.
What everyone wants feels worth fighting for.
That's why men who chase too eagerly are forgotten, and the ones who stop caring often win.
And now, after being burned by love, Aiden James was changing, slowly, dangerously.
He used to be the honest guy who gave everything and asked for nothing.
Now, he was learning the art of control.
If being a "player" kept him from getting hurt, then maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
In his mind, kindness and detachment didn't have to conflict.
He was evolving, into what he jokingly called a charming scoundrel.
"Your ex looks a little upset," Ivy said softly, glancing at Emily, who was pretending not to look their way. "You're not gonna go comfort her?"
Aiden smiled faintly. "No need. She's my ex. It's not my job to fix her mood anymore."
Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Good answer."
But inside, she was wary. Emily was clearly the kind of girl who looked innocent but always had a backup plan, the type who wanted to keep her ex close while playing sweet with someone new.
Not this time. Ivy had no intention of letting Emily interfere.
To her, Aiden was a prize and no one was taking him away.
"By the way, Aiden," Ivy said after a pause, adjusting her tote bag as they strolled down the tree-lined campus path, "do you ever watch live streams?"
"Sometimes," Aiden replied casually. "Mostly when I'm bored."
"Oh? What platforms?"
"SharkTV, TikTok, even DragonFeed. I've checked them all, but I use SharkTV the most."
Ivy's lips curved slightly, exactly what she'd hoped to hear.
"You know," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "I've actually been thinking about becoming a streamer. I heard some female streamers make a ton of money these days."
"That's awesome," Aiden replied, his tone light. "It's always good to earn your own way. When you start, let me know. I'll support you."
Her eyes lit up. "Really? You're so sweet, Aiden."
Before he could react, she wrapped her arm around his, natural, intimate, confident.
Her perfume lingered faintly in the air, and heads began turning as they walked past. Students whispered, phones discreetly raised for photos.
For a moment, it felt like the entire campus had stopped to watch them.
And just then...
A handsome, fair-skinned boy, about 1.70 meters tall, walked towards Ivy and Aiden with a face full of anger.
His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been betrayed and deceived.
"Ivy, didn't you say you were going to get your nails done with your bestie today? Why did you lie to me? Who is this guy?"
"Charles Freed, it's none of your business who I'm with, right? You're not my boyfriend."
"But you promised to go to the movies with me two days ago. Why did you go back on your word? Do you girls always keep your word? Ivy, I've been pursuing you for six months. Why are you always like this? Am I just a backup in your eyes?"
Charles face was filled with grief and indignation.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Men don't shed tears easily, but only when they're heartbroken.
"Don't be so naive, Charles. Did I ask you to pursue me? Every time you pick up girls, you just take them to the movies? Do you know I've seen that movie you mentioned over a dozen times? I'm almost sick of it. I really don't want to waste my time with you."
Ivy's words were harsh.
Even Aiden frowned unconsciously.
He seemed to see himself in this guy.
Thinking of this, Aiden suddenly shook Ivy's arm away.
"Aiden, you..."
"Ivy, I really didn't expect you to be that kind of person. Is it fun to toy with boys' feelings? You actually watched the same movie over a dozen times, and with whom? I'm so disappointed!"
"Aiden, let me explain."
"No need to explain. You think you can be proud and complacent just because you have a lot of people chasing you, right? Let me tell you, when a piece of meat rots, more flies will come to it. Humph!"
Aiden snorted coldly. He strode away, not listening to any of Ivy's explanations.
Even the sketch she'd given Aiden was carelessly tossed into the trash.
By now, Aiden didn't care about Ivy's affection for him.
He just felt better, that was all!
Pointing at a beautiful woman and scolding her felt so damn good.
Being a man requires attitude and principles. Aiden's reckless attitude stunned many onlookers. "Oh my god, that guy is so awesome!
He actually had the nerve to point at such a beautiful girl and scold her? I definitely wouldn't have the guts to scold her. I'd hold her in my hands for fear she'd melt!"
"What do you know? That's a real man. Women shouldn't be spoiled!" "Tsk, what kind of man is that? So ungentlemanly. He doesn't know how to care for a woman. He deserves to be single forever," a girl frowned. A moment later, Ivy Mae picked up the sketch from the trash can. Her eyes were red, tears glistening faintly. She looked truly pitiful.
"Ivy, that man doesn't value you at all. You'd better stop wasting time on him. I'm the best for you!" Charles, seeing this, suddenly acted like a sycophant again, offering comfort. "Get lost! If it weren't for you, Aiden James wouldn't have misunderstood.
"I hate you!"
"Ivy, what did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?" Charles's voice trembled with heartbreak. He felt that he wasn't inferior to Aiden James at all, in looks, temperament, and character, he thought he could hold his own. Yet why did Ivy Mae simply not like him?
A pang of guilt washed over Ivy Mae. She was beginning to realize Aiden James's true nature. He was clearly a man with wealth and influence beyond imagination. Her plan had been to play hard to get, to make him fall head over heels but before she could even try, he had already lost his patience. Had she really let such a prize slip away?
A sudden wave of regret and anxiety hit her. She needed to fix this misunderstanding, or she wouldn't be able to eat or sleep. Perhaps Ivy Mae didn't even fully realize it yet, but her thoughts were already consumed by Aiden James.