Chapter 1: You’re Not as Wealthy as He Is

"I'm sorry, Lin Bai. You’re just not as wealthy as he is."

This was the last message Chen Shuya sent to Lin Bai.

After that, Lin Bai replied, "You weren't like this before."

But all that showed was a red exclamation mark.

…

About a week ago.

October, Jiangcheng University.

The heat in Jiangcheng during October was outrageous. Freshmen had just finished half a month of military training and were now enjoying a seven-day National Day holiday.

Some went traveling, others shopped downtown, and the rest huddled in their dorms, enjoying air conditioning and playing games.

On the second floor of the East District cafeteria, at Sweet Snow City, Lin Bai skillfully packed a cup of pearl milk tea and handed it to a slightly chubby upperclasswoman.

"Thanks!"

She flashed a playful smile and turned away.

Lin Bai finally had a moment to rest. He sat down, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and took out his phone, searching for the contact saved as "Baby" and dialing a video call.

Lin Bai was also a freshman—fair-skinned, wearing black-rimmed glasses. He wasn’t strikingly handsome, but his appearance was pleasant enough.

Unlike other freshmen, Lin Bai’s first action after finishing military training was to look for a part-time job to earn extra money.

Because he was desperately short of money.

Lin Bai came from a poor background. His parents were farmers, and it was difficult for them to support a college student.

His monthly allowance of five hundred yuan was pitifully low compared to other students, but it was all his parents could afford.

Lin Bai had never blamed his parents. He made use of every spare moment to earn money, hoping to ease their burden.

"Lin Bai?"

The video connected. On the screen appeared a girl with rosy lips and radiant teeth, her smile like a blossoming flower.

She seemed to be walking, her expression odd, but Lin Bai didn't notice anything unusual.

"I'm almost done, Shuya. Come over and let's have dinner together."

Chen Shuya—Lin Bai’s high school classmate, now his college classmate, and his girlfriend.

They were in the same class during high school. After the college entrance exam, they officially started dating and eventually enrolled in the same university.

Truth be told, Lin Bai’s grades could have easily gotten him into a top 985 university, but…

To be with Chen Shuya, Lin Bai willingly gave up the prestigious schools and chose Jiangcheng University instead.

He had no regrets, simply because he loved Chen Shuya.

And that was one of the reasons he worked so hard to earn money.

---

"Lin Bai, I…"

"Sure, it’s on the way anyway. I’d like to meet your friend too, let’s go together."

Before Lin Bai could process the hesitation in Chen Shuya’s expression, a male voice sounded beside her.

A sudden unease gripped Lin Bai.

"Alright, Lin Bai. We… we’ll be at the East District cafeteria soon."

With that, the video call ended. Lin Bai held his phone, his gaze flickering.

After two hours of part-time work, he received thirty yuan, changed out of his Sweet Snow City uniform, donned his own denim shorts and white T-shirt, and hurried out.

Sweet Snow City was on the second floor; Chen Shuya and her companions were on the third.

As he went upstairs, Lin Bai spotted Chen Shuya in the crowd at a glance and walked over.

Today, Chen Shuya wore her hair in a ponytail, her face lightly made up, her phoenix eyes sparkling. She was dressed in a white dress, pure and lovely, just as she had been in her high school uniform.

Aside from Chen Shuya, there were two others—a boy and a girl—both of whom Lin Bai knew.

The boy was Li Yu, handsome, dressed in a clean white T-shirt, loose casual three-quarter pants, and Nike sneakers.

From his attire, it was clear Li Yu came from a wealthy background.

Indeed, Li Yu and Lin Bai were in the same year, both from Jiangcheng, though Li Yu was a city native. Rumor had it his parents were businesspeople, earning several million in pure profit annually.

A bona fide second-generation rich kid.

Lin Bai was also from Jiangcheng, but not the city—his hometown was rural.

As for the other girl, not only Lin Bai, but probably every freshman knew her.

She was the acknowledged beauty of the Foreign Languages Department—Qin Ruowei.

For Qin Ruowei to be crowned the department’s beauty by this year’s freshmen, her looks spoke for themselves. Her skin was smooth as jade, her long black hair draped carelessly over her shoulders, lending her a sacred, untouchable air.

Especially those smooth, fair, long legs—any immortal would pause for a second glance.

Qin Ruowei

Sensing someone approaching, Qin Ruowei lifted her beautiful eyes, glanced at Lin Bai, then looked away.

"Lin Bai, you’re here. Take a seat."

Li Yu greeted him with a smile, beckoning.

Lin Bai wanted to sit, but the table was a four-seater; Chen Shuya and Li Yu sat on one side, Qin Ruowei alone on the other.

Lin Bai frowned slightly. "How about we change tables, classmates?"

Li Yu was momentarily stunned, then turned to Chen Shuya.

Chen Shuya bit her lip and looked at Lin Bai. "Just sit down, Lin Bai. Ruowei won’t mind."

With Chen Shuya saying that, Lin Bai had nothing more to say. He sat beside Qin Ruowei, his feelings conflicted.

---

"I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I took the liberty of ordering a casserole."

Li Yu pushed a casserole in front of Lin Bai, smiling.

Lin Bai frowned, gently pushed it back. "Sorry, I’ll order for myself."

He knew his own situation better than anyone. An eighteen-yuan casserole could feed him for two meals.

The reason was simple—poverty! He couldn’t afford it!

"Eat up, Lin Bai. Li Yu’s treating us."

Chen Shuya explained on Li Yu’s behalf.

Lin Bai looked at Chen Shuya, opened his mouth, but said nothing. He took the money he’d just earned, pulled out twenty yuan, slapped it in front of Li Yu, and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

The gesture caught Li Yu off guard. He sneered, "Eighteen yuan, no need…"

"Business is business. Your money is earned by your parents, not blown in by the wind."

Lin Bai didn’t even look up.

His words were, in fact, a subtle reminder to Li Yu—not to flaunt his parents’ money.

Qin Ruowei caught the meaning in Lin Bai’s words and glanced sidelong at him.

Li Yu understood as well, narrowed his eyes, took the twenty yuan, and handed it to Chen Shuya.

"Here, I don’t have pockets. Keep it for me."

Chen Shuya smiled and took it, slipping it into her purse.

Only then did Lin Bai notice Chen Shuya had changed her bag. Though he knew little about handbags, he recognized the LV logo.

Chen Shuya’s family was better off than his, but not enough for luxury goods.

"Lin Bai, Li Yu wants to invite us to go sightseeing tomorrow—not far, just around Jiangcheng, to get familiar with the city."

Hearing Chen Shuya’s words, Lin Bai looked up, his eyes complicated.

"I have to work, you know that."

Chen Shuya bit her lip. "Lin Bai, you won’t have to spend a penny. Li Yu said he’d cover everything."

Chen Shuya kept speaking up for Li Yu. Lin Bai wasn’t a fool; he could see what was happening.

"Shuya, we…"

"If Lin Bai doesn’t want to go, forget it. We’ll go," Li Yu interrupted him.

Qin Ruowei raised her hand. "I won’t go. I have other plans."

Li Yu turned to Chen Shuya. "Then let’s go together, Shuya."