As the last class of the day ended, students began filing out of the lecture hall, the air buzzing with chatter and plans for the evening.
"Hey, Shen Ren! Want to join us for a drink at the bar?" a cheerful voice called out. A female classmate stood at the center of a group of beautiful girls, all eyes now on him.
"Yeah, we'll be back well before curfew. Come on, what do you say?" The girls looked at him with hopeful smiles, their excitement obvious.
Shen Ren, calm and composed as always, gave a polite shake of his head. "Sorry, ladies. Maybe another time. I've got a meeting with my girlfriend, and after that, I need to head home." His tone was apologetic but firm.
The disappointment on their faces was immediate, but they quickly masked it with forced smiles. Just as an awkward silence began to settle, Shui Fang stepped forward with a wide grin.
"No worries, girls! Your big brother Fang is here to keep you company," he said, puffing out his chest as if he were their savior.
The girls' expressions immediately soured. "Tsk, loser," one of them muttered under her breath. Another rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Let's go, girls. We don't need any 'big brother' to tag along," the lead girl said with disdain, flipping her hair as they turned away.
Their mood had already soured at the mention of Shen Ren's girlfriend, a girl they had no love for. To them, she was nothing but an arrogant, self-centered woman, always flaunting her relationship with Shen Ren.
Shui Fang's grin faltered as the girls walked off without a second glance. He rubbed the back of his head, muttering, "So peaky girls. I hope they remain single forever."
Shen Ren gave his friend a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Thanks for trying, but they're not really your type," he said with a smirk before heading out.
"Not my type? I don't even have a type anymore!" Shui Fang sighed dramatically, watching Shen Ren disappear into the crowd.
Shen Ren stood at the entrance of the university, his eyes scanning the busy street as students passed by in waves. His hands were tucked into his pockets as he waited patiently for his girlfriend. Despite his calm appearance, a sense of unease gnawed at him. She'd sounded unusually agitated over the phone, her tone sharp and hurried.
"What's it going to be this time?" he wondered, already bracing himself for whatever demand or complaint he might have to face today. It was becoming a pattern—her mood swings and high expectations—but for now, he was willing to endure it.
Soon, the unmistakable sound of heels clicking against the pavement caught his attention. His gaze shifted, and there she was. A young woman with striking beauty, her figure drawing the eyes of several male students. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her makeup was immaculate. But it was her eyes that stood out the most—cold, sharp, and calculating, like she was always weighing her options.
Shen Ren's smile softened as she approached, despite the tension he could already feel radiating from her. It had been a few weeks since they'd started dating, and while she wasn't the warmest person, he believed they could make it work. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
"She has her issues, but don't we all?" he thought. "If she really wants to be together, I can handle it."
Still, there were times when her expectations felt crushing, as if nothing he did was ever quite enough. Her constant need for control, her disdain for anything less than perfect—it was exhausting. But Shen Ren, ever the optimist, believed he could meet those expectations, even if they seemed impossible at times.
As she came closer, her expression didn't soften, and Shen Ren instinctively prepared for whatever it was she had in store for him today.
"Shen Ren," she said, her tone clipped. No greeting, no warmth, just his name as though it was a command.
"Hey Ying Yue," he greeted her, his smile unwavering. "Everything alright?"
She didn't respond immediately, her eyes scanning him as if sizing him up. Finally, she sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "I'm in a hurry, Shen Ren. Let's make this quick. We need to talk."
Shen Ren's heart sank. "Here we go again," he thought, but he nodded. Whatever it was, he'd listen, as always.
But, what he said next had never crossed in his mind.
Here's an improved version of your text:
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"We need to break up," she said, her tone almost indifferent.
Shen Ren stared at her in disbelief. He had always known the possibility of a breakup existed, but this felt too sudden, too abrupt. Everything had been going well—or so he thought. He had tried his best to meet her expectations.
"Can you at least tell me why?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration. It felt as though she had placed no value on the relationship they shared.
Had he been the only one foolish enough to believe it was love all along?
Ying Yue sighed before speaking, "Shen Ren, I was only interested in you because of your family's wealth and your excellent academic scores. You were the best among your peers. But everything is about to change. The world is changing, and I need to change with it."
She continued, her words cutting deep. "I can't settle for someone mediocre or crippled. I only want the best of the best as my life partner, and it's clear to me now that you can't be that. Soon, we'll be living in two completely different worlds, so I'm ending this relationship and the memories we once shared."
Her words were cold, ruthless, leaving Shen Ren to grapple with the sudden reality.
Shen Ren was more confused than hurt.
"Yue, what are you talking about? The world is changing, sure, but what does that have to do with us? You're not making any sense. You sound... a little absurd."
Ying Yue's brows furrowed in annoyance.
"You'll understand soon enough, Shen Ren. All I can say is—prepare for the worst. You have your own family to worry about."
With that, she turned on her heels, entered a luxurious car, and sped away from the campus without looking back.
Shen Ren stood there, unease settling in his gut. Her cryptic words left him with a growing sense of unease. Was there something more happening that he couldn't see?
Without another word, he got into his car and drove home, worry gnawing at him. His mind kept replaying her warning, the ominous feeling creeping deeper with each passing second.