Chapter 1

1

"Happy birthday!"

After work, I opened the door to my rented apartment, and it was pitch black inside.

Except for a small cake placed in front of me, with a single unique little candle on top.

I looked at the man standing in front of me, then glanced down at the XS-sized cake.

I really didn't know whether to be happy or to curse.

"Ryan Grant, are you fobbing me off with this small cake for my birthday?"

"Do you think I'm stupid or what?"

He heard this and slightly pursed his lips.

"Make a wish and blow the candle first."

After finishing the simple birthday ritual, he pulled me to sit on the couch.

And didn't forget to hug me tightly, as if afraid that I'd hit him in a fit of anger.

In my heart, I did feel somewhat unbalanced.

"Ashley, last year for your birthday, I ordered you your favorite SpongeBob, and you ignored me for two days in anger."

The man hung his eyelids low, head slightly lowered, looking extremely aggrieved.

Almost like he had "aggrieved" written on his face.

"So this year I bought a vintage little cake, look, there's cream, cake, and fruit. How nice."

"The key point is, it's economical and affordable, only five yuan each."

The guilt I felt a moment ago was instantly extinguished by a cold splash of water.

2

Me and my boyfriend, Ryan Grant.

We've lived in this rented apartment of less than 50 square meters for almost five years.

We're also known as the stingy couple in this community.

Probably because once, Aunt Moore saw us buying several boxes of instant noodles.

So she started gossiping everywhere that we're young, stingy, and broke.

...

Lying in bed, I rolled up the quilt tightly, not giving the cold air any chance to sneak in.

Soon, I felt a heat source behind me.

Ryan Grant pulled me into his arms, placing my hands on his back to warm up.

"If you're so afraid of the cold, buy a heater. I'm worried you'll catch a cold."

"No, no, no, heaters are not only expensive, but they're also high-energy-consuming products."

I sniffed with a slightly frost-nipped nose.

"Besides, we have to save money anyway."

He lowered his thin eyelids to look at me, and I mischievously pressed my cold hands and feet against his skin.

They say women are contradictions; I'm no exception.

He brought me a small cake for my birthday, and I was somewhat angry.

I stared at him without speaking, wanting him to realize his mistake.

I watched his handsome face slowly approaching and his restless movements under the covers.

And those increasingly profound eyes.

I've been with Ryan Grant for five years; I know him too well.

The feeling was like diving straight under the quilt.

Then I spoke with a muffled voice.

"Ryan Grant, not today! I'm not in a good mood right now! I..."

I was suddenly pulled out of the quilt.

When I opened my eyes again, there was a bracelet on my wrist.

Super pretty!

3

Also, very familiar.

I flipped open a second-hand magazine placed on the side of my nightstand.

Sure enough, I saw the exact same bracelet I'm wearing on my hand.

The sparkling crystal emitted its uniquely beautiful glow in the dark night.

In the center of the bracelet, a red four-leaf clover lay quietly.

But instinctively, I felt that this surely wasn't real.

I looked up at Ryan Grant.

"Where did you buy this bracelet?"

He glanced down at me, then reached out from under the quilt to pull my somewhat cold hand back inside.

Soon, my hands began to warm up.

"Not expensive, one or two hundred. Bought it from a street vendor."

"Oh..."

I nodded, then turned off the bedside lamp.

By the dim streetlight streaming into the bedroom.

I still couldn't resist stretching my arm out from under the quilt.

Admiring my new bracelet.

The four-leaf clover symbolizing luck and the sparkling little diamonds.

It looked more beautiful, the more I looked at it, the more I liked it.

I had thought it looked nice when I saw it in the magazine.

Now that I see the real thing, it's indeed prettier! I like it even more!

My mood instantly lifted, so I gave Ryan Grant a deep kiss on the cheek.

He opened his eyes.

"Oh, now I can't sleep.

Honey, let's do something proper."

So, I barely slept the entire night.

4

When I went to work the next day, I wore the bracelet.

My hands are fair-skinned, making the red four-leaf clover even more striking in the sunlight.

Kevin Blake noticed my exposed wrist when he brought me last month's financial documents.

He chuckled, then picked up my hand and admired it from all angles.

"Wow, Miss Lowder, this four-leaf clover bracelet is so pretty. Did your boyfriend give it to you?"

I nodded modestly, actually having a bit of a vanity streak in my character.

So basically, my colleagues at work all know that I have a boyfriend, even though he's just a salaried worker.

"This four-leaf clover bracelet must be quite valuable."

After Kevin Blake finished speaking, he gossiped a bit.

I smiled slightly, this was exactly the effect I wanted.

You can't tell, right? It's just a street stall item worth a hundred or two.

I was about to speak when a sharp, cutting voice sounded behind me.

"Tch, it's valuable, but the one she's wearing is fake, worth just a few hundred yuan at most."

I always feel that Megan Smith's hostility towards me grows with each passing day.

For instance, she would actively appear in places where I am present.

For instance, now.

Whenever she's near, I feel like the air around becomes stale.

The whole office reeked of chemicals.

But she seemed oblivious and even acted on purpose, raising her wrist to glance at her watch.

"Wow, that watch is really sparkling."

...

"It's okay."

Megan Smith finished speaking and gave a very theatrical smile.

"It's around a hundred thousand or so."

After she spoke, I heard the overly obvious sound of people inhaling around us.

Well, for us low-level office workers, a hundred thousand is equivalent to a year's salary.

"Ashley Lowder, I'd advise against wearing a fake one out, after all, fake stuff is embarrassing."

She said and then smirked.

That smile was as dazzling as it could be.

"Yeah, this bracelet may be fake, but my boyfriend's feelings for me are unique, genuine and sincere."

"Even if he only has two hundred bucks in his pocket, he'd spend it all on me."

"Oh, and your boyfriend's quite wealthy, right?"

I looked at her pretending to be envious, and she seemed a bit confused by my sudden topic shift.

But probably thinking of her affluent life, she nodded rather proudly.

"But didn't we see him at the restaurant last time, hugging and smooching with another girl?"

As soon as I said that, I could see Megan Smith's face turn all shades of blue and white.

It was quite a sight.

Megan Smith's boyfriend is known as a notorious rich second generation.

Rich, unfaithful, a player, apparently Megan went through quite the effort to pursue him back then.

"At least my boyfriend really has money!"

"Not like your boyfriend, who pretends to be rich without a dime, buying fake stuff; such cheap market stall goods just scream cheap!"

She clearly hit a sore spot, and I'm quite the stubborn one.

I absolutely insist on winning an argument when in the right!

"I just like market stall goods, so what, you think it's cheap, huh.

Then why don't you think about when you first entered university,

weren't you head to toe in cheap stuff too?"

The air was thick with the smell of fireworks!

Megan Smith clenched her hands into fists at her sides, trembling slightly.

She looked so furious it was utterly satisfying to me.

And I, under her vicious glare.

Tossed my head, leaving her with a victorious back view.

I figured Megan Smith could only glare at me.

After all, she couldn't beat me.

And this round, I evidently won.

5

However, she quickly leveled the score.

After work, as I walked to the company gate, an extremely flashy red Ferrari was parked there.

I was texting Ryan Grant at that moment.

Unaware, someone bumped my arm hard.

The phone in my hand almost slipped out.

Fortunately, I reacted promptly, saving my phone from disaster.

I looked up and saw Megan Smith standing by the Ferrari with a face full of pride.

"Oh, what a coincidence. Ashley, your boyfriend also came to pick you up after work."

"But I remember you guys live quite far, right? Well, wish you a safe journey."

She said, got into the car, and waved at me as if we were on friendly terms.

I watched them drive away, feeling a wave of frustration that hadn't been vented.

I could only angrily walk over and sit on Ryan Grant's little scooter's back seat.

Ryan Grant had broad shoulders and a slim waist, with a great body ratio.

Just thinking about the person I liked taking me home after work made the frustration in my heart subside a bit.

"Was that person a friend of yours just now?"

Ryan Grant turned to look at me.

"Nemesis!"

I answered him through gritted teeth, then signaled him to drive.

The setting sun was falling behind me, dyeing the whole city burgundy. I wrapped my arms around Ryan Grant's waist, burying my face entirely against his warm back.

It felt so good.

However, something even more satisfying happened next—

Because I saw that flashy Ferrari stuck in rush hour traffic.

And inside, Megan Smith looked visibly annoyed.

I suddenly had a brainstorm and, disregarding the winter cold, stretched my neck.

Waved at them—

"Enjoy the sunset slowly.

Bye-bye!"

After saying that, I watched Megan Smith's dark expression fade away into the distance.

In an instant, I felt the frustration in my heart finally vented.

Sitting on the scooter's back seat, just thinking about Megan Smith's angry face.

I almost laughed myself off my feet.

Ryan Grant unconsciously slowed down, afraid I'd accidentally fall off.

"Sit properly. Otherwise, you might fall."

The whishing wind carried his pleasant voice to my eardrum.

I watched pedestrians hustling by on both sides of the street.

"Ryan Grant, you know what?"

He didn't answer, but I knew he heard me speak.

"If it's possible, in this lifetime I definitely want to become a rich person!

With my hard work, to make those who look down on me crushed beneath my feet."

Saying this, I couldn't help but tighten my fingers.

"But I also hate those rich and hypocritical people because they're too pretentious."

The scooter suddenly braked, and caught off guard, I bumped into his back.

I rubbed my nose and glared at him discontentedly.

"Why did you brake abruptly?"

He turned to glance at me, somewhat silent.

"Nothing, just lost in thought."

...

6

The bathroom's space heater broke down.

I checked the expensive repair fee for a house call on my phone.

Then looked at Ryan Grant, sitting cross-legged on the carpet.

Without hesitation, I chose the latter.

Why not use free labor?

So, I looked up while watching him skillfully work with a screwdriver.

"Ryan Grant, tell me..."

I stood on the ground holding the ladder, aimlessly chatting with him.

"Why are rich people so impressive?"

His fair, slender fingers opened the cover of the bathroom heater, then began checking each part.

I suddenly remembered that when we just got together, he didn't know how to do anything either.

Once, the apartment door lock suddenly broke for no reason, and I just couldn't open it.

Worried sick, I called a locksmith, and it turned out the lock was just a bit rusty from being there too long.

And the repair cost was as high as one hundred yuan.

Made my heart ache for quite a while.

Ryan Grant looked at me without a word, but since then, he started learning to handle these things.

He tapped away my wandering thoughts and then slightly nodded his chin to signal me to turn on the switch.

With a click.

The bathroom heater ran successfully.

The bedroom restored its warmth.

He smiled lightly and then jumped down.

From the fridge, he took out a bottle of mineral water and drank it, tilting his head back.

That sexy Adam's apple kept rolling.

Watching him, I couldn't help but swallow my saliva.

"Don't overthink it, get some rest early."

He ruffled my hair.

"Oh...

Ryan Grant, when do you plan to take me to meet your parents?"

His action of drinking water paused, and his expression seemed a bit troubled.

I know it's a bit inappropriate for a girl to ask this question.

But I always need to know his plans for our future.

Besides, I know he is a regular salaried worker, and so am I, but that doesn't matter.

I just want to, want to introduce him to my parents and then meet his.

If things go well, I hope we can marry this year.

Have a home of our own, instead of living in this tiny rented place.

"Ashley, this matter..."

He habitually tapped the table with his fingers.

I know, this is something he does only when he's thinking.

He glanced at me, then quickly shifted his gaze away.

"I have to arrange something."

Yes, he indeed needs to arrange some things.

Actually, I quite trust Ryan Grant, during college, he was a famously talented scholar, a genius.

No matter what competition, if Ryan Grant's name appeared, the first place was always his.

Even their department's Abbess said when she saw him that he would definitely create his own successful career.

So, even though he's just an ordinary salaried worker now, many wise people in this society achieve success later in life.

I believe Ryan Grant can do it too.

——

So, the visit to meet the parents was temporarily shelved just like that.

I crawled into the warm bed and calculated the expenses and balance over this period in my mind.

Not far from the bedroom, resting on the sofa, was a tie quietly lying there, with its edges frayed.

It was the birthday gift I gave Ryan Grant two years ago, and he's been wearing it for two years.

Earlier this year, I wanted to buy him a new tie.

7

When I woke up in the morning, Ryan Grant was already making breakfast in the kitchen.

After living with me, he also learned to make breakfast.

And, apparently, he does it pretty well.

I walked over, hugged his waist from behind, and snuggled into his back, rubbing around.

"Why are you acting like a little kitten first thing in the morning?"

He turned his head, then bent down and kissed me.

After the kiss, he suddenly became a bit silent staring at me.

After a while, he slowly opened his mouth.

"Ashley, if someone deceives you, would you forgive them?"

Ryan Grant sometimes asks these inexplicable questions.

Just like this one.

For a moment, I didn't quite know how to respond.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

I pulled on his tie, forcing him to look at me.

Our eyes met, and I saw myself reflected in his eyes.

But that gaze, through me, seemed to carry a layer of mist.

Instinct told me he was hiding something from me.

"No, honey."

...

Ryan Grant smiled at me and then bent down to kiss me again.

I felt like he was a big bad wolf.

Still a bit of a mysterious big bad wolf.

8

As usual, I clocked in for work.

But as soon as I walked into the office, I was hit by a strong scent of perfume.

I instinctively frowned.

The closer I got to my spot, the stronger the scent became.

Until I reached my own work desk.

A bottle with a Chanel label was sitting there.

I asked my colleagues around whose it was, but none responded to my question.

Leaving me bewildered.

Then sitting diagonally across from me was Megan Smith.

If looks could kill.

Then I would've died hundreds of times under her gaze by now.

Until my view caught sight of a man—David Wheeler, Megan Smith's wealthy boyfriend.

In an instant, I understood it all in my mind.

And I chose to ignore him. Moved the bottle of perfume aside, then turned on my computer and prepared to work.

"Hi, this perfume is Chanel's latest. It smells really good, doesn't it?"

"Does it? Then it's yours."

I shoved the bottle of perfume, resting in the corner, into his hand.

He clearly didn't expect me to make such a move.

His expression slightly froze, looking as if he hadn't yet reacted.

The surrounding colleagues witnessing the scene couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was only at this moment that he realized he had been pranked by me.

"Hmph, I didn't expect this. You're pretty tough. Not bad, spicy enough, just my type."

...

The thickness of David Wheeler's gumption is probably greater than the company's walls.

"What, you don't like this?"

He asked again impatiently.

So, I seriously answered him again.

"I don't like it. Thank you."

I looked up and returned him a mechanical smile.

Then I saw Megan Smith angrily stand up from her seat.

Her high heels angrily stomped on the floor with a loud noise, and that sound, I felt pain for her ankles.

Especially when she passed by me, she glared fiercely at me.

That look made it seem like I was the one enticing her boyfriend.

Yet David Wheeler clearly didn't put his attention on his "girlfriend."

Because he was still looking at me with an appreciative gaze.

I looked at him, and a classic saying flashed through my mind —

"There are idiots year after year, but there seem to be more this year."

However, it's fine if the idiot doesn't bother me, but this particular idiot just won't leave me alone.

That day, I experienced what it meant to be pursued by someone.

Only, I didn't feel any sense of superiority.

I just wanted to kick this person far, far away.

"Ashley Lowder, the boss of this company is my friend's dad. I think you wouldn't want to change jobs, right?"

He stood by the printer with arms crossed, looking at me.

Holding his phone, mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, the volume was so loud, I doubted he was deaf.

Not only that, but he had a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

I glanced at the glaring no-smoking sign on the wall.

And was choked by the smoke, feeling uncomfortable.

So I snatched the cigarette from his mouth and threw it in the trash can.

"Didn't expect, quite a temper, huh."

"Just my type."

Does this person just go around saying "just my type" to everyone he meets?

I rolled my eyes at him, whether I'm his type or not doesn't matter.

Right now, I only want to chop him up fiercely to vent my frustration.

——

When I sat in his Ferrari after work, I remembered what I told Ryan Grant last night —

Are rich people really so remarkable?

At least from my current perspective, yes.

Because I'm bound, constrained by money.

Sitting in the Ferrari, I picked up my phone and texted Ryan Grant, saying I wouldn't be home for dinner tonight, there's a gathering.

There wasn't any reply from him for a long while.

9

I thought as David Wheeler said, he was only simply treating me to a meal.

But who knew, he brought me to a five-star restaurant.

Looking at the insanely high prices on the menu.

I swallowed hard.

Suddenly felt like, is this eating food or money?

My gaze shifted from the menu to David Wheeler's face, his expression faint.

Well, anyway, it's his treat, and he's the one who invited me over.

Thinking this way, my heart felt much more balanced instantly.

So, I started the random ordering mode.

And, not ordering what I love to eat.

Specially picking the expensive ones!

After all, I'm not the one paying.

"So much, can you finish it?"

David Wheeler glanced at the menu, his eyebrow slightly raised.

"What's wrong, this amount of money is just Young Master Wheeler's pocket change, right?"

"Besides, I'm just a poor person, finally coming to a high-end restaurant, I must satisfy my taste buds."

I looked at the five-digit prices on the menu, and half of David Wheeler's face darkened.

Secretly feeling delighted inside.

Halfway through the meal, I excused myself to go to the restroom.

Have to say, the toilets in five-star hotels are so hard to find.

I was thinking about the directions the waiter just gave me.

Searching around but couldn't see the WC sign.

Instead, I saw someone unexpected —

Ryan Grant.

10

Just from the back view, it somehow looked quite like him.

However, when the person turned sideways, I saw his profile.

Instinctively took a deep breath.

The person standing not far from me, who else could it be but Ryan Grant?

Only, there's a man following behind him.

If I didn't know that man, it wouldn't matter, but it happens that I know him.

It's Mr. Foster, who collaborates with our company.

And the budget for that collaboration, I made it.

I couldn't fathom why such a person of power and status as Mr. Foster would now be standing behind Ryan Grant, slightly bending over, looking a bit respectful.

Moreover, he even pulled out a cigar from the inner pocket of his suit.

Handed it to Ryan Grant.

Then, picked up a lighter to light it for him.

I pinched myself hard.

Wanted to see if I was dreaming.

However, accidentally didn't control my strength.

Pinched too hard.

I couldn't help but let out a "hiss" and took a deep breath.

In the already quiet environment, because of my noise, successfully attracted their attention.

Including Ryan Grant.

He had just taken a puff of the cigar between his fingers, unexpectedly meeting my gaze.

In that instant, I saw embarrassment, surprise, and fear in his eyes.

However, the next moment, his actions shocked me even more.