Chapter 1

Chapter 1

【The male lead means it this time, and the supporting girl still thinks he’s teasing and flirting with her.】

【Right? All he wants is to hurry up and dump her so he can go see our precious heroine. If the supporting girl keeps clinging to him, she’ll only make him hate her more.】

I had begun seeing the floating comments three minutes ago, when Song Jingyuan told me he wanted to break up.

In the past, whenever he said that, he was usually sulking. What he really wanted was for me to sob myself breathless in front of him and swear I couldn’t live without him.

I had just worked myself into the proper state and was about to start crying when the comments stopped the sound in my throat.

When I looked up again, the man before me was as impeccably put together as ever. His black shirt sleeves were folded neatly above his wrists, even the creases exquisite. But the watch on his wrist was no longer the one I had given him for his birthday last year. He had replaced it with an inexpensive brand.

A brand Song Jingyuan would never have worn before.

The comments kept coming.

【Does the supporting girl seriously have no self-awareness? Can’t she see the male lead’s face has gone black? She’s still clinging to him. If she had any sense, she’d take the money and get lost.】

I raised my head and studied the familiar face I had traced countless times over the past three years.

This time, the disgust in Song Jingyuan’s eyes was impossible to miss.

The eyes that had once brimmed with affection held no trace of me now.

That was when I knew the comments were telling the truth.

So I swallowed the scene I had been preparing and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “How much are you planning to give me as a breakup fee?”

Song Jingyuan froze, clearly not expecting the question.

Then he pulled out a stack of cash and tossed it into the air.

Bright red bills scattered across the floor.

He watched me coldly, as though waiting to see what I would do.

I stood there with my lips pressed together while the comments streamed past at dizzying speed.

【Pick it up, supporting girl. This is your last chance to squeeze any money out of him.】

【The male lead finally saw her true colors. He’s humiliating her with money on purpose. Now he knows that everyone except our precious heroine is after his wealth. She’s the only lotus pure enough to rise unstained from the mud.】

【Wasn’t the supporting girl dating him before this? A man who makes a breakup this ugly can’t be any good either.】

【What do you know? She’s a gold-digging kept woman at best. Once she takes his money, she has no right to talk about dignity.】

【Anyone who’s alive has a right to dignity.】

…

While the comments argued, I had already gathered the scattered bills, straightened them, and placed them neatly in my bag.

Their words were harsh, but they were right about one thing: this was my last chance to get money from Song Jingyuan. I had to make it count.

Perhaps I was a little too efficient about collecting the cash and leaving. As I reached the door, I glanced back and found Song Jingyuan’s face so dark it might drip ink.

Pure instinct took over. Three years of intensive training made my eyes redden on cue as I gazed at him with practiced adoration.

Only when the mocking comments floated past again did I remember myself. I bit my lower lip and asked gloomily, “Maybe… you should leave first?”

Song Jingyuan said nothing. He stalked out with a cold expression.

I watched him go and thought of all the handbags and jewelry he had given me over the last three years. My heart twisted with pain.

Only then did I dare let the tears blur my vision.

This might really have been the last time we would ever see each other.

Goodbye, Song Jingyuan.