Rich Guy and Poor Guy!

Just a while ago, Jian Chen had been sitting at a roadside stall, eating a simple bowl of noodles.

The broth had been light but flavourful, the noodles firm yet smooth. It was the kind of meal that warmed the stomach, filling enough to satisfy a regular person.

But now—he was in a completely different world.

Seated inside a luxurious restaurant, with soft candlelight flickering across the finely polished marble table, Jian Chen gazed at the extravagant dishes laid out before him.

The difference between this and the cheap bowl of noodles from earlier was almost comical.

He twirled the delicate silver fork between his fingers before slicing through a perfectly seared duck breast, its crispy skin crackling slightly under the pressure. As he took his first bite, the rich flavours of aged balsamic reduction and fig glaze coated his tongue, blending with the juicy tenderness of the meat.

A low hum of satisfaction rumbled in his throat.

The second dish, a lobster ravioli drizzled with saffron-infused butter, was next. The pasta was impossibly delicate, melting in his mouth as the creamy filling burst with a hint of truffle essence.

Jian Chen exhaled slowly, savouring every moment.

"This is what money tastes like, huh?" He mused to himself.

Across from him, Gu Xinyue remained quiet, subtly watching his expression.

Unlike before—when he was eating that bowl of noodles absentmindedly—there was an undeniable sense of indulgence in the way he was eating now.

He wasn't just eating.

He was enjoying it.

It was as if he had entered a new realm of life, transitioning from an ordinary meal to something that truly represented wealth and status.

Gu Xinyue bit her lip slightly. He doesn't even seem fazed by the price…

Jian Chen caught her gaze and smirked slightly, lifting his wine glass.

"Are you not going to eat?" he asked, voice relaxed.

Gu Xinyue hesitated for a moment before picking up her own utensils.

As she took a small bite, she had to admit—the food was incredible.

And yet, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something about this situation was surreal.

Ding!

[System Prompt: Gu Xinyue's Emotion Meter has increased.][Current Rebate: x3 Multiplier Applied.]

Jian Chen's eyes flickered slightly.

'A rebate already?'

With a faint smirk, he took another sip of his wine.

Jian Chen swirled the deep crimson wine in his glass, watching the way the candlelight reflected off its surface before taking a slow sip. The rich aroma of dark berries and aged oak coated his tongue, leaving behind a lingering warmth.

Across from him, Gu Xinyue was silently observing, her chopsticks hovering just above her plate.

"I have to thank you for accompanying me like this," Jian Chen suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet sincere.

Gu Xinyue blinked, slightly taken aback by his tone.

"To be honest, I've never had dinner with a girl like this before."

His words were light, almost casual, but there was a deeper layer beneath them.

Gu Xinyue's brows lifted slightly as she placed her chopsticks down. "You haven't?"

She wasn't sure why, but the idea of someone like him—someone who just dropped hundreds of thousands on a single meal—never having a proper dinner with a woman seemed... unexpected.

Her initial impression of Jian Chen had been that of an ordinary student. But the more she watched him, the harder it was to define him.

"Why is that?" She finally asked, tilting her head slightly.

Jian Chen leaned back, a relaxed smirk playing at his lips. "Well... it's not like I never had the chance. But things just never lined up, I guess."

His voice was smooth, his expression unreadable. A subtle hint.

Gu Xinyue frowned slightly. Was he implying something?

She wasn't sure if she was overthinking it, but for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was deliberately leading the conversation somewhere.

And yet… there was something intriguing about it.

As she studied him, a realisation struck her.

He's not acting like a typical rich guy.

Most people who had money either flaunted it or tried to be overly generous, but Jian Chen? He was different.

He wasn't just rich—he was composed and confident. As if this kind of wealth was merely the beginning for him.

The silence stretched for a moment before Gu Xinyue softly responded, "Then, I suppose this is a night of firsts for you."

Jian Chen chuckled, raising his glass slightly. "Indeed."

Gu Xinyue hesitated briefly before doing the same, their glasses clinking gently in the dimly lit restaurant.

Just as she was about to speak again—

Ding!

[System Prompt: Gu Xinyue's Emotion Meter has reached a new threshold.][Calculating Rebate...][Congratulations! You have received the following rewards:

Mastery of Multiple Languages (Huaxian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and more.)Deed to the five-star hotel [Imperial Crest Hotel] in Tianhai City

Jian Chen's eyes flickered slightly, though he kept his expression calm.

A five-star hotel in Tianhai City?

And full mastery of multiple languages on top of that?

His fingers tightened slightly around the stem of his glass before he let out a slow exhale.

'Not bad at all…'

Gu Xinyue noticed the shift in his gaze and tilted her head slightly. "Something on your mind?"

Jian Chen smirked, setting his glass down. "Nothing much... Just thinking about how this night keeps getting better."

Would she ever guess that a simple dinner had just earned him a five-star hotel?

Probably not.

Although, at this moment, no one in this world could guess something as hilarious as that. 

As Jian Chen and Gu Xinyue stepped out of the restaurant, the cool night breeze brushed past them. The city lights flickered in the distance, and the quiet hum of traffic filled the streets.

Jian Chen walked at an unhurried pace, his hands tucked into his pockets. Beside him, Gu Xinyue walked with her arms lightly crossed, stealing glances at him from time to time.

For someone who had just spent nearly a million on dinner without a second thought, he looked…oddly casual.

After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke.

"Jian Chen… I've been meaning to ask," she said, her tone carrying a hint of hesitation.

"Hm?" Jian Chen glanced at her.

She gestured toward his outfit. "Why do you dress so…simply?"

Jian Chen blinked before looking down at his clothes—basic sneakers, a plain hoodie, and a pair of jeans that had clearly seen better days.

A slow smirk crept onto his lips. "Ah, you see… that's because I'm poor."

Gu Xinyue: "..."

For a moment, she just stared at him, as if processing his words. Then, a small chuckle slipped past her lips.

"You're joking, right?" she asked, shaking her head.

Jian Chen sighed dramatically. "Nope. Just a guy struggling to survive in this world. I eat instant noodles, I wear budget clothes, and I once thought 50 yuan was a luxury meal."

Gu Xinyue rolled her eyes. "Right. And yet, you just spent nearly a million on dinner without blinking."

"Hey, priorities." He shrugged. "Food is sacred."

Gu Xinyue shook her head in amusement. "You're really something else."

The two of them continued walking until they reached the entrance of the girls' dormitory. Gu Xinyue stopped and turned to him.

"Thank you... for tonight." Her voice was softer now, and for a brief second, the usual sharpness in her eyes dimmed.

Jian Chen smiled slightly. "If you really want to thank me, how about giving me your number?"

Gu Xinyue blinked. "Huh?"

"So that I can treat you next time. You know, as a proper return gift for your gratitude." His tone was casual, as if he was asking for something completely ordinary.

Gu Xinyue narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're asking for my number just like that?"

Jian Chen smirked. "It's just fair, isn't it? I paid for dinner, and I'd hate to never see my investment again."

She stared at him for a few moments before letting out a light scoff. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

Despite her words, she pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen before handing it to him.

"Here. Put your number in."

Jian Chen took the phone and quickly entered his number, then sent himself a text.

"Done. Now you can't pretend you don't know me."

Gu Xinyue chuckled. "I doubt I could forget you even if I tried."

Jian Chen raised an eyebrow. "That good of an impression?"

She smirked. "Something like that."

She turned toward the dorm entrance. "Goodnight, Jian Chen."

"Goodnight, Gu Xinyue."

She lingered for a moment before finally walking inside.

Jian Chen watched until she disappeared, then checked his phone, looking at the new contact saved in his list.

"Not a bad night at all."

With that, he turned and began making his way toward his own dorm.

Jian Chen entered Dormitory 306, pushing open the door to find a scene that perfectly encapsulated the divide between wealth and struggle.

On one side, the room gleamed with luxury. Luo Ming [Rich Guy] had a neatly arranged section with high-end branded suitcases, an expensive ergonomic chair, and a sleek laptop resting on a polished wooden desk. A faint scent of cologne filled the air, and even the bedsheets looked like they had been handpicked from a designer collection.

On the other side? A completely different world. Zhang Lei [Poor Guy] had a cluttered space with mismatched furniture, a cheap plastic desk, and a fan that whirred noisily in the background. A pile of instant noodle cups sat in the corner, and his clothes were crammed into an overstuffed suitcase that doubled as a storage bin.

And right in the middle? A neutral zone. The common space had a few chairs, a small fridge, and a TV that looked like it had been passed down through at least three previous dorm generations.

At the centre of it all stood the two roommates, seemingly in the middle of an intense debate.

Luo Ming [Rich Guy] adjusted his sleeves as he looked up. "New roommate?"

Jian Chen nodded. "Yeah. Just moved in."

Zhang Lei [Poor Guy] grinned. "Nice! Another fellow struggler! Are you one of us, or…?" He gestured vaguely at the rich side of the dorm.

Jian Chen smirked. "Let's just say… I'm versatile."

Luo Ming [Rich Guy] raised an eyebrow. "You don't look rich."

Jian Chen shrugged. "The clothing budget went into food expenses."

Zhang Lei [Poor Guy] burst out laughing. "I like this guy already!"

Luo Ming [Rich Guy] sighed. "I swear, this dorm is turning into a sitcom."

Jian Chen chuckled and set his bag down. "So, what do I call you two?"

Zhang Lei [Poor Guy] grinned. "Name's Zhang Lei. Full-time survivor, part-time dreamer."

Luo Ming [Rich Guy] smirked. "Luo Ming. I prefer 'entrepreneur' over 'rich guy.'"

Jian Chen chuckled. "And I'm Jian Chen. Call me whatever suits the moment."

Zhang Lei [Poor Guy] clapped him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the dorm, brother. Hope you don't mind some late-night discussions about how unfair life is."

Jian Chen smirked. "As long as we can also discuss how to make it better."

Luo Ming [Rich Guy] nodded in approval. "Now that is something I can respect."

And just like that, a new dynamic was formed—Luo Ming, the rich guy; Zhang Lei, the poor guy; and Jian Chen, the wildcard in between.