What's going on with the girls today?
Maybe they're doing better than the guys?
Only the gods know.
Lunch was pretty uneventful.
Jason Liu, now a businessman, stayed low-key on purpose. He didn't want to show off or stand out too much. Even the guys who used to love flaunting their success—Brandon and Eric , both real estate salesmen—were sitting quietly at the table. A few years ago, they were arrogant and loud, but today, they were surprisingly humble.
Everyone sat around the table, eating, laughing, and sharing stories from their college days. It felt natural—no one begged for favors, asked for job referrals, or tried to borrow money. Just good, relaxed company.
The atmosphere was pleasant.
And for Jason, there was a strange but welcome feeling. For once, he wasn't invisible. He used to be the guy no one noticed back in university. Now, he finally felt seen—respected, even.
After lunch, someone suggested heading to KTV to sing and hang out. Most of the group seemed excited, but Jason wasn't interested. Spending more time with these people, who were once classmates but now felt like strangers, didn't appeal to him. He'd rather be alone with his girlfriend, Lin Xiaohan, who had only recently become his.
Luckily, Lin Xiaohan felt the same.
They made an excuse and quietly left the gathering.
In the underground parking lot, the others watched as Jason drove off in a flashy sports car, Lin Xiaohan sitting beside him. Their faces showed a mix of envy, shock, and maybe even a bit of bitterness.
Some were emotional—because none of them had expected Jason Liu, the guy who used to do poorly in school and came from a poor family, to rise so far after graduation. Sure, China has a fair number of billionaires, but considering the country's huge population, those people are still extremely rare.
Most people spend their whole lives working hard and still never manage to earn millions.
And we're not even counting the lucky ones who win the lottery or get rich because their old house was torn down.
Jason, of course, didn't know what they were thinking. And honestly, even if he did, he wouldn't care.
He knew that chances to meet his old classmates in the future would be few and far between.
To put it bluntly—he was no longer in the same league as them.
Sure, people always talk about equality and fairness in society, but let's be honest—there are real barriers between people, like invisible walls that are almost impossible to cross. That's just how the world works.
It's tough for someone at the bottom to move up without help or a miracle.
Jason Liu considered himself lucky. If he didn't have the ability to travel between two worlds, he'd still be struggling like so many others—just another worker grinding at the bottom of society.
After leaving the restaurant, Jason and Lin Xiaohan drove to the shopping center. She wanted to pick out some new clothes for him because she felt his current outfits looked too serious and mature.
Jason couldn't help but smile. His clothes were all picked out by top stylists who came to his house to help him dress. But since his girlfriend wanted to buy something for him, he didn't stop her. After all, money wasn't a problem.
He also bought a few things for her—perfume, makeup, and some other gifts. He didn't know much about what women liked, so he asked the store clerk for advice. As long as Lin Xiaohan liked it, he was happy to pay.
Eventually, they walked past a jewelry store. Lin Xiaohan pulled Jason toward a counter and, after about thirty minutes of browsing, she chose a pair of platinum couple rings with the help of the sales assistant.
"Give me your hand, I want you to try it on!" she said, holding the ring and looking at him with bright, eager eyes.
Jason glanced at the shiny silver ring, then stretched out his left hand. He used his right hand more often, so wearing the ring on his left was fine.
Lin Xiaohan gently slipped the ring onto his left middle finger.
Then she handed him the matching women's ring with a grin.
Jason took it and slid it onto her middle finger, just like she had done for him.
Lin Xiaohan beamed at the sight of the ring on her hand. She stood beside him, reached for his hand, and held it. Their fingers dangled side by side, the couple rings perfectly visible.
"Now that you've got the ring on, you're mine!" she said, narrowing her pretty eyes in mock seriousness. "Understand?"
Jason nodded awkwardly, a little guilty as he remembered the girl named Qiqi he had recently spent time with in Magic City.
But he quickly pushed the thought away. You can't have everything, and right now, Lin Xiaohan was the one he had chosen.
"I feel excited just thinking about it!" she said, smiling.
"You two look perfect together," the sales assistant chimed in sweetly. "This ring suits both of you so well. I'm actually jealous!"
Jason didn't say much, but Lin Xiaohan's smile made it all worth it.
He paid without hesitation.
He didn't even ask if the price was high. Jason Liu had reached the point where he didn't need to check price tags.
They put the shopping bags in the back seat of the car and, hand in hand, headed to the movie theater.
As they walked in, Jason noticed many other couples buying tickets. Holding Lin Xiaohan's hand tightly, he smiled and thought, Finally—it's my turn to show off a little.
His grin widened.
"What's with that weird smile?" Lin Xiaohan asked, teasing him.
Jason leaned down and whispered, "Just thinking how I used to be the one getting fed dog food by others… now it's our turn to dish it out."
Lin Xiaohan burst out laughing, covering her mouth.
She couldn't help picturing this guy sitting in a lonely corner for four years of college and two years after that, watching other couples be sweet to each other while he sat alone.
That image only made her laugh harder.
Jason shrugged, amused, and together they walked into the theater.
He didn't really care what movie was playing. As soon as they found their seats, he slipped his arm around her and pulled her close. They leaned against each other, enjoying the warmth and quiet.
Jason didn't dare move too much—just this simple closeness was enough to make his face feel hot.
He smiled, holding her quietly, thinking about how far he'd come.
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