From Simp to National Heartthrob - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: Do You Want to Change Yourself?

“My parents and all our relatives are here, they’ve been waiting for you. The New Year’s Eve dinner is ready but no one’s touched their chopsticks. How could you just say you’re not coming?”

On the balcony, Chen Yi held his phone and tried to keep his voice down. The cold winter wind howled against his face. On the other end, the voice was sometimes drowned out by the wind or masked by the sound of firecrackers from downstairs, making it hard to hear.

“Chen Yi, didn’t I already explain? Zhao Mingda needed someone to pretend to be his girlfriend to deal with his family, and he begged me. What was I supposed to do, turn him down? Can’t you be a little understanding?”

The call had already gone on for more than ten minutes, and Zhou Meng’s tone was getting more and more impatient.

“Are you done? I have other things to do.”

She stood at a corner in a villa district, frequently glancing at a luxury car not far away.

Chen Yi took a breath, raising his voice slightly, “Zhou Meng, we’re holding our wedding after the New Year! What you’re doing—is that really appropriate?”

Zhou Meng was stunned for a moment, “So what? It’s not like I slept with him! Just because you can’t afford the things I want, I can’t earn for myself? You’re a man, so what if you’re not capable, can’t you be a little less petty and more generous?”

Chen Yi laughed from frustration, “How generous do you want me to be? Even giving you my entire monthly salary of tens of thousands isn’t enough. I buy gifts for your family too. And what—on our wedding day, if Zhao Mingda came looking for you, would you just run away from the wedding?”

“How is that the same?” Zhou Meng exploded.

“You think you’re some big deal? Being with me is a blessing your entire family earned! Otherwise, you’re just a junior programmer with no hope of promotion your entire life, barely earning enough in a month to buy me a handbag! I must’ve been blind to be with you!”

“Look at you—fat and greasy! I’m embarrassed to take you out! And look at Mingda! Do you have eight-pack abs? Do you know how to take care of your skin? You’ve had the same cheap 10 yuan haircut for years—ugly and tacky, I don’t even want to waste words!”

“So what if your relatives are waiting? Their combined savings aren’t even equal to the pocket money in Mingda’s card! Never heard of the Zhao Corporation? What do you have to compete with him? Mingda and I are childhood sweethearts. The fact that you even get to talk to me is your honor!”

Chen Yi knew Zhou Meng had become increasingly materialistic and looked down on him, but he didn’t expect her to say something so vicious.

“Zhao Mingda went abroad in his teens and only came back at nearly thirty. Why didn’t he ask you to be his rich wife back then? He has money, but is that money yours?”

Zhou Meng was left speechless again.

Chen Yi didn’t want to say any more, “Since talking to me is such an honor for you, I won’t ask for that honor anymore. Let’s end it on good terms and break up.”

“You—Chen Yi, you dare break up with me? Fine! Then break up! Just don’t regret it!”

Without waiting for the shrill voice from the other end, Chen Yi hung up with a snap.

He immediately blocked Zhou Meng, but his thumb was too thick, and it took several tries to hit the right spot.

It was freezing on the balcony. His mother always dashed in and out quickly to grab things, but Chen Yi had been standing out there for so long and still didn’t feel that cold. His body fat was thick enough to resist the chill.

He looked down at himself and suddenly felt that Zhou Meng wasn’t entirely wrong—he really was fat and sloppy.

…

“Xiao Yi’s still so busy during New Year?”

“Your girlfriend isn’t here yet? Is she working overtime too?”

At the Chen family’s New Year’s Eve dinner table, the relatives had waited and waited for Zhou Meng but couldn’t hold back from asking anymore.

“Sorry, I broke up with my girlfriend. She probably won’t be coming. Let’s just eat,” Chen Yi smiled as he explained, feeling very conflicted.

He felt embarrassed and upset, with a swirl of emotions he couldn’t even put into words.

She gave three years of youth, and he gave all his love and money.

Watching someone he had once loved deeply turn into a stranger and finally break up—it was a bitter thing.

Even if he had come to terms with it, he didn’t want to talk about it in front of everyone.

Thankfully, the relatives gave him face—after all, Chen Yi was the most successful and highest-earning person in the family.

So they quickly eased the mood for him.

“That girl must’ve been blind!”

“Exactly! Xiao Yi will definitely find someone better! Better to end things early with someone not meant to be!”

“Come on, let’s toast…”

After the New Year’s dinner, the relatives were playing cards or watching the Spring Festival Gala in the living room.

Chen Yi retreated to his bedroom, still feeling a bit bitter inside.

He had met Zhou Meng at the gate of their company’s campus. She forgot her ID badge and was being hassled by a security guard, so he swiped his card to let her in and said a few words to the guard.

Back then, he wasn’t this fat, just looked solid and well-built. Zhou Meng later said it was love at first sight—she felt he had a strong presence. When she saw his company name and position on the badge, she thought he was impressive and smart.

He worked at one of the top tech companies in the country as an internet engineer, bringing home 50,000–60,000 yuan a month, with a hefty year-end bonus, and generous overtime pay.

Once they got together, he covered all of Zhou Meng’s expenses.

Every cent of his 50,000–60,000 yuan monthly salary went to her. He only kept a few hundred yuan for himself. He ate in the company cafeteria and wore cheap checkered shirts from online discount stores.

At first, Zhou Meng said she was the happiest woman in the world. But slowly, she started to look down on him.

She quit her job and spent her days shopping and doing beauty treatments with her girlfriends. Chen Yi’s salary started to fall short, and he had to take on more projects and work crazy overtime, often getting home past midnight and leaving again by 8:30 a.m.

Sometimes he had to dip into his savings to pay off Zhou Meng’s huge credit card bills.

Years of overwork had worn down his health. Working late left him hungry, and takeout food was always greasy and salty. In just over six months, he had gained 15 kilograms.

His dark circles were terrible from staying up late, and his skin, damaged by computer radiation, had become oily and rough.

Zhou Meng began to dislike him and wouldn’t let him touch her, saying he was greasy—unless he bought her a handbag she had her eye on, which cost 120,000 yuan from a top overseas luxury brand.

He couldn’t make that much in a month no matter how hard he worked, especially with her other expenses too. He simply couldn’t afford it. Zhou Meng mocked him in disgust, calling him useless.

Thinking back on all that foolish devotion, he had only one thought—how ridiculous he had been! What a complete sucker!

Now that they had broken up, he would never again be some turtle crawling forward under the weight of a woman!

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

[Do you want to change yourself?]