C1 He Really Wasn't a Man!

"Jiang Nan, I never saw it coming—you're really this kind of person?" In front of Jiang Nan stood a woman his age, clutching a heart-shaped box that, to his dismay, was filled with nothing but foam.

"Seriously, I know you're not rich, but was this the best you could do?"

"Xiaoxiao, hear me out. I... I didn't mean to get this. I must have grabbed the wrong box in my rush. I'm sorry, I'll go back and get the right one for you right now," Jiang Nan said, preparing to dash off.

The woman, Mu Xiaoxiao, had been Jiang Nan's girlfriend for three years in college. She might not have been a stunning beauty, but she was certainly a solid seven out of ten. Having such a pretty girlfriend made his roommates green with envy, though they had no idea how much Jiang Nan worked part-time every day to afford her luxuries, never taking a break on weekends and spending all his hard-earned cash on her.

Mu Xiaoxiao called out to him, "Don't bother. Do you have this month's money ready?"

"Uh, yes, it's all set. But I didn't make much this month, just over 600 yuan. I've already transferred it to your Alipay."

"Just 600 yuan?" Mu Xiaoxiao's temper flared. "Jiang Nan, are you kidding me? That's not even enough for one meal. How are you going to support me in the future? You know what, let's just end this. You can't provide the future I want."

She looked at him with disdain.

Jiang Nan panicked, grabbing her hand with a frantic expression. "Xiaoxiao, it wasn't intentional. I actually bought you a necklace, but I picked up the wrong box."

"You have to believe me!"

"Enough, Jiang Nan. Face the facts—we're not right for each other."

As she spoke, a sleek new Audi pulled up beside them. The door swung open, and a dashing young man stepped out, cradling a bouquet of roses and a jewelry box as he approached Mu Xiaoxiao.

"Happy birthday, my dear."

"Wow, honey, did you really buy an Audi?"

Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the Audi parked behind the man. She threw her arms around the young man, planting a kiss on his cheek before eagerly accepting the jewelry box from his hands.

Inside the box was a platinum necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, also crafted from platinum, and at its center, a piece of Hetian jade was set—clearly a piece of considerable value.

The young man, Fuh Yong, watched her reaction with a self-satisfied grin. He hailed from a family that ran a substantial construction materials business in Tai Feng, making him a well-known rich second-generation figure at school.

Jiang Nan was taken aback; he had never imagined Mu Xiaoxiao would get involved with Fuh Yong. He felt as if his head had sprouted a lush, thriving meadow of green grass.

"Wow, darling, thank you so much for this birthday gift," Mu Xiaoxiao gushed, barely able to wait for Fuh Yong to clasp the necklace around her neck. "Sweetheart, this must have cost a fortune, right?"

"Not at all, just a few tens of thousands. It's worth it as long as you're happy."

"You're the best, my dear."

She leaned in to kiss him once more, completely indifferent to Jiang Nan's feelings.

"Hey, isn't that Jiang Nan?"

It was only then that Fuh Yong feigned noticing Jiang Nan, looking at him with a hint of mockery. "What brings you here? Did you come to give Xiaoxiao a birthday present?"

"Hmph, dear, I have nothing to do with him anymore. Don't get the wrong idea," Mu Xiaoxiao hurried to clarify, worried that Fuh Yong might misunderstand.

Fuh Yong chuckled lightly. "I trust your taste."

"What are you still hanging around for? Scram!"

"Hold on, sweetheart, let's see what this pauper brought you. It's not some cheap trinket from a street stall, is it?"

With that, he snatched the heart-shaped box from Mu Xiaoxiao, opening it to find nothing but foam inside. He burst into laughter. "Really, Jiang Nan? Is that how you treat Xiaoxiao, with such a half-hearted gesture?"

As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Mu Xiaoxiao, his eyes brimming with lewdness. "My dear, you know I'm the better choice. Tonight, you've got to make sure I have a good time."

"Ugh, stop it."

Jiang Nan's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he bit down on his teeth until his gums bled from the pressure.

He could never have imagined that after three years of dating—without so much as holding hands—things would end up like this.

In those three years, he had given Mu Xiaoxiao no less than fifty thousand, if not eighty thousand. That money was the fruit of his labor, earned from part-time jobs. He'd even skimped on buying clothes for himself, giving everything to her.

"Come on, sweetheart, I've already booked the hotel. Let's head out for dinner."

Fuh Yong feigned a sudden realization, turning to Jiang Nan with a smirk. "Oh, and thanks for the gift. You may be broke, but I'm quite pleased with it."

"However, you won't be joining us for dinner tonight. Your presence might just spoil the appetite of others."

"You get that, don't you?"

At these words, Jiang Nan's eyes reddened with fury, his body quivering with barely contained rage.

What a profound insult.

Reflecting on his years of dedication, he felt utterly devalued.

"Give me back my money!"

"What? When did I ever ask you for money?" Mu Xiaoxiao's gaze dripped with contempt. "I guess I gave you too much credit."

"Jiang Nan, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. But did I ever ask you for money? That was all given willingly."

"And can't you act like a man?"

The more Mu Xiaoxiao spoke, the thicker the scorn in her eyes grew. "Haha, Jiang Nan, I truly didn't expect you'd want to take back what you've given."

"But sorry, the money you gave me is long gone. I don't have anything to repay you with."

"Hahaha, Jiang Nan, are you trying to kill me with laughter?"

Fuh Yong's laughter boomed, but his expression turned sharp and menacing. "Beat it, and don't let me see your face again. You're ruining my appetite."

A roar accompanied by a screeching of brakes heralded the arrival of a red Ferrari, which came to a smooth stop behind Fuh Yong's Audi.

The Ferrari's entrance instantly captured the attention of onlookers.

As the door swung open, out stepped a statuesque beauty with long legs, sporting a pink cap and sunglasses. Her striking figure and unparalleled beauty had Fuh Yong's eyes popping.

All eyes were riveted on the woman, captivated by her presence.

Jiang Nan, however, merely spared her a glance before turning to leave.

But the beauty called out to him, quickly trotted up, and to the astonishment of all, wrapped her arm around his, beaming, "Let's go, come home with me..."