"Zhao Feng, don't you get it? You're just... embarrassing."
The words hit harder than any slap. The spring breeze rustled through the cherry blossoms lining the university courtyard, but for Zhao Feng, it felt like a bitter winter.
Bai Xinyue, the campus goddess — long, silky black hair cascading down her back, her pale skin glowing under the golden sunlight — stood tall, her arms crossed. The soft, pink floral dress she wore swayed gently, but the coldness in her eyes froze Zhao Feng to his core.
"I-I just thought..." Zhao Feng's voice trembled as he extended a small, carefully wrapped box — a delicate silver necklace he'd saved for months to buy.
"Thought what? That if you waste three years of your life chasing me, I'd suddenly fall in love with you?" Bai Xinyue scoffed, her lips curling with disdain. "You're a broke loser, Zhao Feng. You think I didn't notice how you skip meals just to buy me gifts? You're pathetic."
Students passing by whispered and snickered. Zhao Feng's face burned. He clenched the necklace tighter, his knuckles white. Three years. Three years of birthday presents, handwritten letters, and waiting outside her dorm in the rain. All for this.
"But Xinyue, I—"
"Enough!" She stepped closer, her delicate finger pressing against his chest. "You'll never be good enough. Not for me. Not for anyone."
Her words lingered in the air, suffocating him. Bai Xinyue turned away without a second glance, linking arms with her tall, impeccably dressed boyfriend. A wealthy second-generation heir. Laughter erupted from the crowd.
Zhao Feng stood frozen, the necklace slipping from his trembling fingers. It clinked against the pavement, unnoticed.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the once-bustling courtyard emptied, leaving only Zhao Feng behind. His knees buckled. He collapsed onto a bench, staring at the shattered fragments of his pride.
"Why... Why did I think I could be anything more than a fool?"
Just as despair threatened to consume him entirely, a strange chime echoed from his phone.
Ding!
[The Simpverse System has been activated.]
[Current Balance: 99 Trillion Simp Coins]
Zhao Feng blinked. "What... the hell?"
A sleek, futuristic interface appeared on his phone screen, glowing ominously.
[Welcome, Host.]
[Every coin spent earns rewards.]
[Luxury, Power, and Irresistible Charm await.]
Zhao Feng's heartbeat quickened. The words burned into his mind.
"Is this... my second chance?"
A grin, twisted with newfound determination, spread across his face.
"Fine. If money is what it takes to win... then let's see how far I can go."