As the saying goes, poverty-stricken couples face sorrows in all things.
The idealized love of student days often meets the harsh blows of reality after graduation.
Couples once deeply in love begin to clash over countless conflicts, and sometimes one even strays due to dissatisfaction with their circumstances...
Such stories are far too common.
Liu Yuanyuan had realized this truth long ago.
If she couldn’t find an exceptionally good partner during college, settling for Xue Tao wouldn’t be so bad.
At least he owned four apartments and a Magotan—marrying him would mean no worries about mortgages or car loans...
But Su Bai was a different story.
Not only was his family background lacking, but he also wasn’t the hardworking type.
Despite majoring in the hottest field, computer science, he lazed around his dorm, wasting his days.
In stark contrast, Chen Yusheng practically lived in the lab.
The difference was night and day.
A driven person like Chen Yusheng paired with a slacker like Su Bai? Trouble was inevitable.
That was Liu Yuanyuan’s judgment last night.
Yet what she witnessed today completely shattered her assumptions.
Not only was Su Bai holding hands with the Wan Sisters, but she also saw him buying them a mountain of items at LUlUlemOn.
Yes, minutes earlier, Liu Yuanyuan had spotted the trio. Out of curiosity, she’d lingered in the shadows, observing.
The longer she watched, the stranger it seemed.
Wasn’t Su Bai from an average working-class family, with a monthly allowance of just 1,200 yuan?
How could he afford to take girls on a shopping spree at LUlUlemOn?
Something wasn’t right. Very not right...
As the three stepped into the elevator, an inexplicable anxiety crept over Liu Yuanyuan.
She sensed she was brushing against some hidden truth—but its full shape remained frustratingly unclear.
This maddening itch for answers left her restless.
For a girl who thrived on gossip, this was torture!
Without delay, she pulled out her phone and messaged Xue Tao.
[Yuanyuan: Are you sure Su Bai’s just from an ordinary family?]
[Xue Tao: ??? [Panda meme]]
[Xue Tao: Why the sudden question?]
[Xue Tao: Btw, why’d you ghost me last night? What were you up to?]
[Xue Tao: [Side-eye emoji]]
[Yuanyuan: Nothing. Just exhausted from classes—passed out in my dorm.]
Last night, she’d been too busy gossiping with Jiang Qiuran about Chen Yusheng to bother with Xue Tao.
After confirming from him that Su Bai hadn’t returned to the dorm, she’d lost interest.
Mainly because Xue Tao had been extra annoying lately.
Always hinting they should "take things further."
Liu Yuanyuan believed desperate men were the cringiest.
Most girls agreed—eagerness was a major turnoff, likely because it signaled neediness, triggering their instinct to withhold approval.
But now, desperate for intel on Su Bai, she figured a small concession might loosen Xue Tao’s tongue.
Fine. They hadn’t even held hands yet.
Letting him occasionally touch her fingers wouldn’t kill her.
[Yuanyuan: Let’s eat at the second-floor stir-fry spot in Dining Hall 3 for lunch.]
[Yuanyuan: After that, we can take a walk near the West Gate. [Smiley][Smiley]]
[Xue Tao: Say less! My treat!]
[Xue Tao: [Random trending meme]]
In class, Xue Tao suddenly clenched his fist, visibly pumped.
Silent, yet practically fist-pumping in triumph.
“What’s up, local boy? LeBron score again?” Chu Mingzhe teased, side-eyeing him.
“Heh.” Xue Tao smirked. “Yuanyuan asked me to treat her to lunch. This, my friend, is the perk of having a girlfriend.”
“…Bro, how is spending money a ‘perk’?” Chu Mingzhe deadpanned. “Do women come with cashback rewards or something? Why the hype?”
“Money’s meant to be spent. Besides, girls these days never pay on dates. Being able to spoil them is flex.”
Xue Tao said it like it was gospel.
The real kicker was the post-meal walk.
Specifically, the secluded West Gate pathway—lush with greenery, perfectly tranquil.
The implication was obvious, right?
Xue Tao was ready to make his move: holding Liu Yuanyuan’s delicate little hand.
Just imagining the softness of a girl’s skin had him trembling with anticipation.
And who knows? Maybe he could explore further...
Sigh.
Xue Tao’s parents had been strict during high school.
They micromanaged everything—his behavior, his spending—all to keep him laser-focused on studies.
They even hired top-tier private tutors at great expense.
And Xue Tao delivered, grinding relentlessly to get into Jiangcheng University, the best in the city.
After starting university, with money in his pocket and a car to drive, Xue Tao immediately went wild.
Back in high school, his parents had strictly forbidden him from dating too early.
You could say he'd been repressed for a long time.
Now, that repression was finally being released, and Xue Tao felt like the peak of his life was coming!
...
Third Cafeteria, second floor.
The stir-fried dishes here were a bit pricey for students, so the place wasn’t usually crowded.
Xue Tao had specifically picked a large table, but in the end, only Liu Yuanyuan showed up.
With three other guys joining, there were only four of them in total.
The table felt a little too empty.
"Where are your roommates? Why didn’t any of them come?"
Xue Tao’s very first words left Liu Yuanyuan speechless.
Seriously, dude, where’s your emotional intelligence?
So you only invited me to dinner because you were hoping to see my roommates... Sigh. Liu Yuanyuan knew all too well how she paled in comparison to her three goddess-like roommates. It had been a sore spot for her ever since she started at Jiangcheng University a year ago.
And here was Xue Tao, stomping all over that insecurity.
"They all had their own things to do. What, are you heartbroken that you didn’t get to see your girlfriend’s roommates?" Liu Yuanyuan shot back sarcastically.
"Hahaha, not exactly heartbroken. It’s just that more people make it livelier, and we could’ve ordered more dishes... Wait, Wang Haoran, what the hell are you doing?"
Xue Tao suddenly noticed that while he’d been chatting with Liu Yuanyuan, Wang Haoran had quietly brought over a bowl of boiled beef in chili oil and a plate of stir-fried squid.
Both were among the pricier dishes on the second floor.
Wang Haoran replied calmly, "Oh, I saw they had these ready, so I ordered them. They’re both really good."
"They are good, but... ah, whatever."
Xue Tao had been about to mention the cost but swallowed his words—it didn’t fit the "well-off local guy" image he’d been cultivating.
In reality, after treating Liu Yuanyuan to food and fun ever since the military training, his monthly allowance was nearly gone.
He could always ask his parents for more money by using the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival trip as an excuse.
But for the next couple of days, he’d have to tighten his spending.
"Fine, fine, if you like them... It’s rare that I treat everyone to a meal anyway," Xue Tao grumbled under his breath.
To his surprise, Wang Haoran shook his head. "Don’t worry about it. I already paid for these two dishes and four bowls of rice. Order whatever else you want."
With that, he ignored Xue Tao’s conflicted expression and went back to scrolling on his phone.
u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
Explosive Plot Song Gua crossed over into another world, bringing along a whole crew of his doppelgangers—all of them mischief-makers. This was a world where everyone could choose a class. Song Gua became a "Bondweaver," capable of borrowing power, while his doppelgangers took on a wide variety of classes, covering just about everything. The number of doppelgangers grew day by day, each one a talented individual with a charming way of speaking. Under Song Gua's brilliant leadership, they would "greet" each other daily and engage in friendly "sparring," pulling off one major scheme after another on Earth. Sometimes they were bandits—stealing bosses, plundering mines, snatching resources. Sometimes they were saviors—descending like divine warriors to face world bosses threatening to massacre cities. Sometimes they even went undercover, infiltrating various major factions to stir up trouble from within, keeping their enemies constantly on edge. To prevent their doppelganger abilities from being exposed, Song Gua made them wear masks with mahjong tile patterns and don Taoist robes in various colors. "Remember, in front of outsiders, call me 'The Dice.'" "Got it! Boss!" "Not 'Boss'—it's 'The Dice.' Think about the vibe, pay attention to the vibe." "Yes! Boss!" "For crying out loud..." From then on, whenever they appeared, they would have their own theme song playing: ~Hey~ paying respects at the mountain stronghold at night~ whose arm is draped over whose shoulder~ gather your courage and follow along...
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
