Shocking! The Broke Campus Heartthrob Is My Child’s Father - Chapter 19
While Jiang Ruoqiao was repeatedly reflecting on the “It’s A star” life share on social media, Jiang Yan’s video call came through again.
Ever since dreaming of that novel, Jiang Yan’s favorability in Jiang Ruoqiao’s eyes had plummeted.
She said she had misjudged him, and not just in terms of his family background.
Strictly speaking, she was still young and never thought about marriage when it came to dating. Whether Jiang Yan was rich or poor didn’t really matter to her. In other words, if things hadn’t unfolded as they did, even after finding out Jiang Yan wasn’t wealthy, as long as she still had good feelings for him, she wouldn’t have ended things.
What she truly misjudged was Jiang Yan’s character as a man. He wasn’t man enough!
His integrity was lacking.
Lu Yicheng was leagues ahead of Jiang Yan. She didn’t mean to compare the two, but Lu Yicheng was the only other man she’d interacted with recently, so comparing came naturally.
Putting aside her foolish actions in the novel…
When two people date, is it wrong for one to care about background and money?
Fine, a difference in values is grounds for breaking up. But did Jiang Yan really need to act like he’d suffered such a blow to his heart?
Hadn’t he enjoyed their relationship at all?
Wasn’t he the one holding her hand, embracing her, kissing her?
The second female lead in the novel only seemed to love vanity and money. But did she actually take the male lead’s money? Did he lavish her with gifts?
Going out to eat, buying presents – aren’t these normal when dating?
Yet when it came to the male lead, it was as if he’d been utterly taken advantage of, his feelings deceived.
Hadn’t he gained emotional value from her?
Well, forget arguing over right and wrong. If they couldn’t make it work, breaking up was the only way forward. But the male lead…he held onto that grudge. He even wanted revenge on the second female lead. To justify his actions, the author made it so he didn’t truly take revenge, but those around him took it seriously and went after the second female lead. Was the male lead not responsible for that?
Thinking of this infuriated Jiang Ruoqiao!
She wanted to dedicate the song “What Kind of Man” to Jiang Yan.
The second female lead was the real tragic figure. She got nothing out of it, just a failed relationship, yet suffered such a miserable fate in the end.
Jiang Ruoqiao thought, ‘This is too damn unlucky!’
In this state of mind, she answered Jiang Yan’s video call.
Jiang Yan’s face appeared on her phone screen.
Jiang Ruoqiao tried to compose herself and smiled at him.
Jiang Yan said, “It’s been raining on the island, so I didn’t need to go out shopping with them.”
Jiang Ruoqiao really wasn’t in the mood to chat. However, she already had a breakup plan taking shape in her mind. Truthfully, she’d dated three people, and while she didn’t like comparing, Jiang Yan simply couldn’t measure up to her other two exes. If not for the male lead halo, Jiang Ruoqiao would have ditched Jiang Yan already. Forget a peaceful breakup.
Could she stand up to the male lead?
Perhaps, but she had to consider the people backing him.
Who stood behind Jiang Yan? Lin Kexing.
Having read the whole novel, Jiang Ruoqiao wasn’t impressed by Jiang Yan at all. In fact, the more she thought about it, the stranger he seemed. No matter how the author tried to gloss over Jiang Yan’s rise to success, anyone paying attention could see he owed it all to the Lin family, to Lin Kexing.
He was capable and resourceful, but plenty of people were like that these days.
He was just lucky enough to have Lin Kexing’s unwavering love.
Jiang Ruoqiao almost felt jealous of Jiang Yan.
Why couldn’t a rich second generation like Lin Kexing fall so deeply in love with her?
One could say with Lin Kexing’s support, Jiang Yan’s success was inevitable.
Jiang Ruoqiao considered herself adaptable. Knowing the story’s trajectory, she aimed to avoid that ending. Competing with Lin’s Jewelry? She’d rather admit defeat. She wasn’t even an “egg” to their “rock”.
So be it.
“Qixi Festival is coming up. I’m thinking of making a compilation,” Jiang Ruoqiao suddenly said. “My fans know I’m dating. Some younger ones message me for advice sometimes. I figured, why not put together something documenting our relationship? Would you mind?”
“Of course not,” Jiang Yan replied eagerly. He knew how popular his girlfriend was. He’d love for the whole world to know about them. “I’d be thrilled.”
Jiang Ruoqiao blinked, “I’ll record all the digital red envelopes and gifts you’ve given me to share with fans.”
Let everyone see how much he spent on her throughout their relationship.
A breakup was inevitable, but no one could accuse her of being a gold-digger.
Had she accepted any expensive gifts from Jiang Yan, she’d own it. But she hadn’t gotten anything, so why should she shoulder undeserved blame?
The male lead truly acted like he’d been conned. How ironic.
“No problem,” Jiang Yan smiled.
Jiang Ruoqiao went on, “It’s really about spreading positivity. These days, some go to extremes to impress their partner. I want to show we live on allowances too. When dating, we don’t fixate on pricey presents. If you want to give something valuable, better to earn it yourself.”
Jiang Yan nodded, “Seems you’re hinting at something.”
Jiang Ruoqiao laughed, “You caught on? I checked our chat history. Didn’t you want to buy me a bag before? I really don’t like that. If I want something, I’ll work hard to get it myself, or wait until I have a job. I feel using your parents’ hard-earned money on luxury gifts for your partner…it’s not right.”
Jiang Yan argued, “No, it’s money I earned myself.”
“Still not okay!” Jiang Ruoqiao retorted. “I know how hard you work for money. Save it for yourself, or spend it on your parents. That’s meaningful. Jiang Yan, listen, when we have plenty in the future, if you don’t get me anything, I’ll fight you over it.”
Jiang Yan fell silent.
He felt useless.
Truly, having to pinch pennies just to buy his girlfriend a bag.
Jiang Ruoqiao’s words sank in.
“I already got it,” Jiang Yan replied. “Had someone else buy it. It was cheap.”
Jiang Ruoqiao shot him a look, “You think I’m a child? Even second-hand, those bags aren’t cheap. Return it. I really don’t want it. I wouldn’t use it anyway. Isn’t that a waste?” Her voice softened. “Jiang Yan, I feel gifts between lovers should bring joy, not burden. You get that, right?”
After much persuading, Jiang Yan let go of the idea.
Of course, he also felt closer to Jiang Ruoqiao, being able to discuss money openly.
Jiang Yan was deeply touched.
Jiang Ruoqiao had made up her mind. However they broke up, it couldn’t be over money.
Not because she denied her own character, but because she hadn’t done anything to deserve that reputation. No one could pin that on her.
Otherwise, how unjust.
Had she gotten a house, car or check from him, she’d accept the label.
Jiang Ruoqiao didn’t realize her words moved Jiang Yan so intensely. Especially when he went downstairs and saw the brand reps letting Madam Lin pick out their latest collection, even encouraging Lin Kexing to choose some for her college roommates. At that moment, Jiang Yan’s sense of inadequacy peaked.
In the end, it came down to the gap between their worlds.
He had argued so long with Jiang Ruoqiao over a mere bag while Madam Lin and Lin Kexing freely selected new items as gifts for friends.
He wanted to lay the world at Jiang Ruoqiao’s feet, yet she fretted over him buying her one bag, worried it would drain his savings.
Jiang Yan kept his expression neutral. Lin Kexing, previously excited to pick out bags, noticed his demeanor and suddenly felt uneasy.
Saying nothing, with only Lin Kexing noticing, Jiang Yan turned and went back upstairs.
Awash with unwillingness and guilt, he impulsively posted on social media:
「I didn’t get it before, but I do now. For our future, I’ll work hard. We’ll build a cozy home together, and one day, have an adorable child. Just imagining it fills me with motivation. In this world, I’ll only ever love you.」
He attached a photo.
The image showed two hands tightly intertwined.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruoqiao thought: McDonald’s.gif
As the girlfriend in question, she felt utterly unmoved. She even mused, if she hadn’t read that whole novel, she might have fallen for his act.
Truly, men’s words are hollow.
She simply pretended she never saw it.
Of course, the other two who saw his post were left with complex emotions.
After Jiang Yan went upstairs, Lin Kexing lost interest in picking out purses. Feigning a smile, she returned to her room and scrolled through her phone. Noticing Jiang Yan’s post, she immediately tapped on it…and could only smile wryly. She wasn’t sure which of her earlier actions had provoked this, but clearly, he was feeling bad for his girlfriend now.
Unrequited love is a solitary indulgence.
Falling in love alone, getting your heart broken alone. From start to finish, no one else knows.
In this world, the person Lin Kexing envied most, even hated most, was Jiang Ruoqiao.
*
It was past 10pm, after putting his little terror to bed, that Lu Yicheng finally had a moment to check his phone. Browsing social media, his slender fingers suddenly froze, thumb hovering over that photo of two hands clasped together.
He recognized his feelings were out of place.
This shouldn’t be.
He knew he didn’t like Jiang Ruoqiao. The values instilled in him all these years made coveting his best friend’s girlfriend impossible.
It was shameless.
Lu Yicheng glanced over at Lu Siyuan slumbering beside him. He felt this child was still influencing him.
Because of this boy, he knew in that future, he would marry Jiang Ruoqiao. They’d have an adorable child together.
As if to prove something, to guarantee something, Lu Yicheng liked the post.