1: Chapter 1: Dumped at the Start

Parallel world, Huaxia Dragon Kingdom, outside the gates of Modu University.

The July breeze, carrying a hint of laziness, brushed past gently, announcing the arrival of the graduation season.

Qin Yi, dressed in a black bachelor's gown with a gray collar, held a bouquet of bright roses in his hands, seemingly unafraid of the scorching sun and indifferent to the countless curious or mocking gazes around him.

His eyes were filled with a complex mix of apprehension and expectation, as if he were waiting for an unknown judgment.

His gaze was locked on the school gate, silently counting the time in his heart, waiting for that familiar yet strange figure to appear.

"Qin Yi, you have to promise me. When we graduate, we'll wear our bachelor's gowns together and take a commemorative photo at the school gate. You also have to prepare a big bouquet of roses for me, and then..."

Memories flooded back like a tide, as those beautiful times spent with Su Mo replayed in Qin Yi's mind like a movie.

A smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of his mouth; those were the sweet memories that belonged to them.

However, beautiful memories are always fleeting.

A month ago, Su Mo suddenly initiated a breakup, without any warning or explanation.

Her words were like a sharp knife, stabbing deeply into Qin Yi's heart.

"Qin Yi, thank you for taking care of me these past three years and giving me a carefree time in university."

"I used to hear people say that love in university has no results. Breaking up upon graduation is a curse that no one can escape."

"Back then, I didn't believe it. I thought you were my Prince Charming. I once dreamed that we would be together forever, from the campus to marriage..."

"But only now do I understand that I was wrong, completely wrong!"

"Love without material substance is like a handful of sand; it doesn't even need the wind to blow, it just scatters after a few steps."

"So, Qin Yi, you understand what I mean. Let go! If you still love me, don't come looking for me again."

"For the rest of my life, it will no longer be you!"

"Don't miss me! Don't reply!"

These were the last few words Su Mo had left for Qin Yi on WeChat.

Since then, the WeChat chat box between Qin Yi and Su Mo was filled with nothing but one red exclamation mark after another.

Today is July 1st, the day the graduates of Modu University leave the campus.

Qin Yi had taken an overnight green-skinned train from his hometown of Jingnan to Modu, just to fulfill that original promise.

However, the moment he stood at the school gate, he realized how foolish and ridiculous he was.

...

At ten o'clock in the morning, it was exceptionally lively outside the gates of Modu University.

Students dragged their suitcases out of the campus in an endless stream, their faces filled with expectation for the future and reluctance to leave the past.

Among the crowd, a young man in a bachelor's gown was particularly eye-catching; he was Qin Yi.

Although the air was thick with the humidity and sweltering heat of the Plum Rain Season, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the onlookers.

They gathered in small groups, their gazes focused on Qin Yi, as whispers rose and fell.

"Hey, look at that guy. Isn't that Qin Yi, the influential figure from our School of Economics?" a girl wearing glasses pointed at Qin Yi curiously and asked the classmate next to her.

"Yes, yes, I remember now, it's him!" a boy nearby added.

"So it's him. Why is he back now? Didn't he have his graduation delayed?" a short-haired girl said curiously.

"Delayed graduation? Why?"

"Cough, you guys don't know yet? It's all over the school forum! They say Qin Yi's family business ran into trouble and they owe a lot of money. Creditors go to his house every few days to demand payment. I heard that a while ago, his dad was even kidnapped by loan sharks and tortured quite badly..." a well-informed student said in a low voice.

"Then he still dares to put on such a big show here? Isn't he afraid the creditors will come knocking?" a tall boy joked.

"Who knows, maybe he's here for one last meeting. I heard that he and Su Mo, the department beauty of the Music Academy, have been dating since their sophomore year. Now Su Mo is really in the spotlight; I wonder if she'll despise him." a girl whispered.

"Despise him? That's for sure! If it were me, I would have said goodbye to him long ago. What's the point of dating without money? It's just a waste of youth," a fashionably dressed girl said disdainfully.

"Not necessarily. Maybe Su Mo is someone who values feelings. After all, they've been together for so long; there's an emotional foundation," a seemingly innocent girl defended Qin Yi.

"Feelings? In this realistic society, can feelings put food on the table? Just wait and see, Su Mo will definitely break up with him," a boy wearing headphones asserted coldly.

The onlookers discussed fervently, each expressing their own opinions.

Some sympathized with Qin Yi's plight, while others sneered at his behavior.

...

Listening to the discussions around him, Qin Yi's heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. He silently lowered his eyes, and the bouquet of roses in his hand swayed gently in the breeze, as if also recounting his loneliness and helplessness...

Yeah, what am I doing back here?

Ever since the family business met its Waterloo, those relatives who used to be so warm and welcoming have stayed away as if avoiding a plague, fearing they would be dragged into the turmoil.

Come to think of it, Su Mo probably broke up with me for the same reason.

Just as Qin Yi was torn in his heart about whether he should quietly leave, another commotion arose in the crowd...

"Hey, hey, the main character is out! Want to bet? I bet the great department beauty Su will definitely break up with this kid! How about the loser treats everyone?"

"A bet's a bet. I bet Su Mo will stay loyal. After all, it's a three-year relationship; it can't just end like that..."

...

Qin Yi took a deep breath, summoned his courage, and looked up toward the school gate.

Su Mo's figure came into view. She was still radiant, with exquisite makeup and a charming smile. Her white lace dress fluttered gently in the wind, like a blooming white lotus.

"Mo..."

The words reached his lips, but Qin Yi forced them back down.

Only because of the look Su Mo had just given him.

When Su Mo saw Qin Yi, the smile on her face instantly froze, replaced by undisguised disdain and disgust.

However, her gaze only lingered on Qin Yi's face for a brief moment before immediately moving past him to look at the street behind him, her eyes filled with a bit of panic, as if she were worried about being seen by someone.

A moment later, as if a weight had been lifted, Su Mo shifted her gaze back to Qin Yi and walked quickly toward him, her high heels making a crisp 'da-da' sound against the ground.

"What are you doing here! Didn't I tell you everything on WeChat?! Can't you understand? Do I really have to break up with you in person? Fine! Then I'll tell you one more time! We've broken up! Acting like this now only makes me look down on you even more!"

Su Mo's tone was full of disdain and mockery, as if having Qin Yi as an ex was a very shameful thing.

The surrounding crowd began to whisper, and the sound of discussion rose and fell.

"See, I told you. How could Su Mo still be interested in this fallen Rich Second Generation?"

"Sigh, Qin Yi is just asking for trouble. Knowing what kind of person Su Mo is, he still had to pull this stunt."

"I get it, Qin Yi just can't let go... I heard that when this department beauty Su was dating Qin Yi, she made him spend quite a bit of money on her... Now that Qin Yi's family is bankrupt, she wants to break up... That's really heartless!"

"I don't like hearing that. How can you say it's heartless? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest, but they fly their separate ways when disaster strikes'? If it's like that for married couples, let alone just a pair of lovers."

"Sigh, yeah. Who would want to be saddled with a mountain of debt right after graduation..."

...

Qin Yi's throat moved as he gripped the bouquet of roses tightly. He knew he was in a wretched state right now, but he still summoned the courage to hand the bouquet to Su Mo.

"Momo, do you still remember the promise you made to me when we first started dating?"

Hearing this, Su Mo's expression froze slightly, and a ripple of emotion stirred deep in her heart.

"You said that when we graduate, you wanted me to prepare a bouquet of roses for you, and we would wear our bachelor's gowns together..."

However, before Qin Yi could finish, he was interrupted by Su Mo's impatient wave of her hand.

"Qin Yi, stop deceiving yourself! You think doing this will make me change my mind? I'm telling you, it's impossible! We've already broken up. To me, you are nothing now!"

"Momo, I didn't come here today to pester you. I just wanted to fulfill our promise and put a full stop to this relationship." Qin Yi's voice was a bit choked.

But Su Mo interrupted him impatiently: "Qin Yi, you are truly laughably naive! Do you think doing this can win me back? I'm telling you, it's over between us! You have nothing now; what do you have to love me with? Just your words?"

Qin Yi's heart felt as if it had been pierced by a sharp blade. He was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Momo, I know I have nothing right now, but I believe I will stand up again. Give me a little time, and I will prove to you that I, Qin Yi, am not someone who only speaks empty words."

Su Mo shook her head coldly: "Qin Yi, stop dreaming! Besides, I've already found a new partner; his family background is better than yours, and he's richer than you. My life now is something you can't even imagine. So, please don't show up in front of me again. From now on, we are strangers!"

Although Qin Yi had already had a premonition, when these cold and heartless words came out of Su Mo's mouth, he still felt as if he had been struck by a ruthless heavy hammer. The last faint glimmer of hope in his heart shattered, and it felt as if something had split open in his chest, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The bouquet of roses that he had been holding tightly now seemed to have lost all its vitality, the petals drooping as if also mourning for this lost relationship.

The onlookers also began to chime in with their discussions.

"Those words are a bit too much. After all, they were together for three years; there's no need to be so harsh." Someone said indignantly.

"Yeah, I really didn't expect that Su Mo, who usually looks so gentle and harmless, would say such hurtful words." Someone shook their head and sighed.

"This is a typical 'Green Tea'; she acts pure and harmless on the surface, but in reality, she's very calculating." Someone commented disdainfully.

"Sigh, Qin Yi is really pitiful. Being hurt by someone like that, I'm afraid it'll be hard for him to believe in love again." Someone sighed sympathetically.

"Sigh, sweet words when there's money, but turning cold and heartless when there's none." Someone lamented indignantly.

...