Chapter 1: Parting in a Dream

  "Mimi, this is a birthday gift for you." Chen Fan happily handed over a packaged box to his girlfriend Liu Mimi.

  "Chen Fan, let's break up, I think we're not suitable for each other." Liu Min said expressionlessly without accepting the gift.

  "Minmin, what's going on? Why are we breaking up?" Chen Fan was completely unprepared.

  "No need for a reason, let's just break up!" Liu Min's gaze turned towards the distance, perhaps there was something he liked over there.

  "Oh, what was I thinking? Was it because I'm in graduate school? Didn't we agree to get married after I graduated?" Chen Fan said anxiously.

  "Min Min, haven't you made it clear yet?" At this time, a young man with slicked hair and a handsome face came down from the car next to them, holding a bouquet of roses.

  "Zhou Dong, just wait for me a bit, it'll be fine soon." Liu Mintian said sweetly to Zhou Dong, without any hint of annoyance.

  "Alright, just leave it to me! Chen Fan, Liu Min is already my girlfriend now, so let go of her!" Zhou Du said condescendingly to Chen Fan, as if he was doing him a favor.

  Chen Fan gazed at the scene in front of him, his eyes unwavering. Ever since a month ago, he had noticed something was off. When he called Liu Min, she often didn't answer, and when she did, she would hastily say a few words before hanging up. Now, he finally understood everything.

  "Really, Mianmian? Is it true?" Chen Fan still hoped to get a truthful answer from his girlfriend.

  "It's true, we've been together for a month. I wanted to tell you earlier, but Zhou Zhu didn't want to, he didn't want to hurt the friendship between you two." Liu Min said impatiently to Chen Fan, sounding very stiff. Chen Fan looked at her, where was the gentle and lovely person she used to be?

  "Alright, I'll let you have your way, let's break up!" Chen Fan said this sentence as if all his energy had been used up. He didn't even notice the gift box falling to the ground, the lid of the gift box came off, revealing a stunning ring. This ring was made from Chen Fan's monthly living expenses, every month his mentor and school allowance were used to exchange for this ring, it was meant to be used to propose to Liu Min, but he didn't expect it would end up like this.

  Liu Min watched Chen Fan leave with his head hung low, feeling a pang of sympathy. Although the two had always been on good terms, reality was cruel and she couldn't afford to waste her beautiful youth on penniless Chen Fan.

  "Chen Fan, you dropped something." Liu Min looked at the scattered gift box on the ground, the ring shining brightly under the moonlight. Chinese Valentine's Day was supposed to be their day of separation.

  Chen Fan heard Liu Min's voice and thought she had changed her mind again, but when he heard what she said, he was speechless and choked with emotion. He forced back the tears that welled up in his eyes and waved his hand behind him before striding forward.

  "Come on, let's go! My parents are waiting for us!" Zhou Gang looked at Chen Fan with disdain, pulled the girl's hand, opened the passenger door and got into the car, leaving behind only a trail of exhaust. Only a sparkling diamond ring was left on the ground.

  "Wuuu," Chen Fan could no longer hold back, leaning against a large tree, sobbing and crying, the tears in his eyes couldn't be suppressed, slowly flowing down from the corners of his eyes.

  …………

  "Ah! Minmin don't leave me, don't!" A loud shout came from Chen Fan in the dormitory early in the morning.

  "Chen Fan, wake up, you're dreaming again." Roommate Jin Xiliang said, patting Chen Fan awake, wondering what this kid was dreaming about, as he often shouted and screamed.

  Roommates are also used to Chen Fan's loud muttering every morning, as long as it is 8 o'clock in the morning, more punctual than an alarm clock. There will definitely be a denouncing voice in the dormitory because Yang Hui and Dai Meng Xiong have gone to the teaching and research office, and there are only two of them left in the dormitory.

  "Old Liang, I'm sorry, I had another nightmare." Chen Fan sat up and said with a bad tone.

  "There's nothing wrong with my intentions, I'm already used to it, but you little brat doesn't know what's wrong, why do you often have nightmares." Jin Xiliangyuan was used to it, but being disturbed from his morning sleep was still annoying.

  Chen Fan himself didn't know what was wrong, recently he had been having nightmares every night, but that wasn't what scared him the most. What he couldn't accept was that everything that happened during the day had already occurred in his dreams the night before. Chen Fan thought he might have schizophrenia and even went to a hospital's psychological counseling room for consultation. The doctor said it might be due to high mental stress, telling him to relax, but his condition didn't improve, instead it got worse and worse.

  Chen Fan shook his head to clear himself, put on his clothes, got out of bed, and after a series of grooming, Chen Fan also fondly touched his pale face that would make women jealous. Chen Fan was also worried, he had more and more potential to become a pretty boy.

  This summer vacation, Chen Fan didn't go home and instead stayed at school to prepare for his graduation thesis proposal. He also didn't want to go home, as he was fed up with his mother's nagging. Often listening to her would make him feel dizzy, as she would only talk about when he should bring his girlfriend home, when he should get married, etc. Elderly people generally like to hold their grandsons, so they eagerly await their son's marriage, which has become the elderly person's greatest wish.

  Chen Fan finished washing up, today's task is to select a birthday gift for his girlfriend, which is also the engagement gift he prepared for himself. Once Liu Wei agrees, he can bring it back home with justification.

  Chen Fan walked through the campus, looking at couples hand in hand, and he kept encouraging himself that he would be as happy as them. He walked out of the north gate of the school, crossed the street, entered the subway station, bought a ticket, and inserted coins.

  Walk out of the subway station and head straight to the jewelry store. Of course, I had already looked up detailed information online before coming.

  "Hello, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?" The salesperson saw Chen Fan enter the door and asked politely without any discrimination.

  "Well, I want to buy a ring for my girlfriend. Can you introduce one to me?" Chen Fan said directly, with little time left, he still wanted to surprise his girlfriend on Valentine's Day tonight.

  "Oh, what price range are you looking for? We have diamond rings ranging from one thousand to one million yuan here. Of course, the better ones need to be customized." The salesperson said, pointing to a row of diamond rings on the counter, truly dazzling.

  "Oh, that's enough. Is there a diamond ring worth over 2,000 yuan?" Chen Fan said reluctantly, his right hand involuntarily clenched the bank card in his hand, which contained all his savings of less than 3,000 yuan, hoping to choose a good one.

  "Two thousand yuan? Ah, yes, there is, no matter whether it's the cutting work, weight or color, none of these can be compared to this one, sir. Would you like to consider another option?" The salesperson introduced the parameters of the diamond ring in detail and finally recommended some more expensive ones.

  "Ah, okay, miss, would you mind getting me this diamond ring?" Chen Fan glanced around randomly and suddenly his eyes lit up. This diamond ring was very suitable for Minmin's temperament, it was the one.

  "Oh, sir, you have a great eye for this! The diamond ring is very beautiful, especially its shape. Let me introduce you to the parameters of this diamond ring... This brick-shaped heart-shaped diamond weighs..." The salesperson handed the diamond ring to Chen Fan and introduced it non-stop.

  Chen Fan was more and more satisfied, it's too beautiful, it's not an exaggeration to describe it as cleverly stealing the work of heaven. The only thing is that I don't know if the money is enough. "Miss, how much does this diamond ring cost?"

  "Alright, 2900, I'll give you another discount, so it's 2800. Sir, don't think about it anymore, it will definitely match your girlfriend perfectly." The salesperson looked at Chen Fan's entangled face and continued to tempt him.

  "Alright, just wrap it up for me then." Chen Fan sank in a bit, gritted his teeth and said, "At worst, I'll eat plain congee for the next month for Minmin's sake."

  "Alright, sir, here's your bill. Please go to the counter to settle the payment." The waiter took out his pen and scribbled a few strokes on the bill before handing it over to Chen Fan, who could now go pay. This month's commission was in the bag.

  "Alright." Li Zhaoxian took it with his left hand, walked to the counter, handed it over to the cashier, and handed over his bank card. After entering the password, he heard a few beeps, and the transaction was complete. Li Zhaoxian looked at the remaining balance of less than 100, wondering how he would get through the next month. He shook his head, dispelling this thought, it was all worth it for Minmin.

  "Sir, your diamond ring. Welcome next time." The salesperson handed over the packaged gift box with both hands and said politely.

  Chen Fan took the gift box and walked out the door. "Hoo..." He let out a breath, baby, it's your turn next.

  ………