From Simp to National Heartthrob - Chapter 7:

Chapter 7: Ex-Girlfriend

Chen Yi looked at Zhou Meng’s face full of disgust and contempt. He couldn’t help but sigh.

In his heart, Zhou Meng had always been his goddess. She was beautiful and came from a wealthy background. During the three years they dated, he had done everything he could to gain her approval, playing the simp for three full years.

But all he received in return was her aversion. She thought that without her, he was just a worthless man no one would want.

Only now did Chen Yi fully wake up. Blind devotion couldn’t move someone who never loved him. His sincerity was met with nothing but disdain and humiliation.

He laughed at himself and said again, “Please give me the keys to my house.”

He didn’t want to waste any more words. His time was money now. Spending it arguing with her would only slow down his weight loss progress.

Zhou Meng said, “Forget it. Chen Yi, I know you’re angry with me over Zhao Mingda, but I came to your place in person already.”

Seeing Chen Yi’s serious face, Zhou Meng suddenly felt uneasy. After all, he had always been eager to please her. He had never been this indifferent before. Could he really want to break up with her?

If they broke up, who would pay her credit card debt?

Even though Chen Yi was a loser, he still made 50,000 yuan a month. It wasn’t much, but at least it was enough to support her. She didn’t need to work and struggle like a pitiful wage slave.

Suppressing her panic, she reached out and grabbed Chen Yi’s arm, saying sweetly, “I won’t ask you to apologize anymore. Just buy me a handbag, okay? You got your year-end bonus during the New Year, didn’t you?”

Chen Yi shook her hand off hard. He had finally seen Zhou Meng for who she really was. She had always treated him like an ATM. His salary and most of his bonuses were given to her. He only kept enough for rent and holidays.

Yet Zhou Meng was still thinking about that leftover money.

He sighed helplessly and checked the time. It was the weekend, and though he didn’t have work, he had a French class scheduled.

He picked up Zhou Meng’s bag from the sofa, took out his house key, and directly kicked her out.

Then he locked the door and changed the password.

“Chen Yi, open the door!” Zhou Meng shouted and banged on the door from outside.

She never imagined Chen Yi would dare throw her out. Did this useless man really want to break up with her?

No, she hadn’t found someone new yet. She couldn’t let the breakup happen.

The more she thought about it, the harder she knocked. The anger in her chest also flared up.

“Chen Yi, I didn’t agree to break up. Open the door!”

In the quiet hallway, the banging echoed loudly.

Her hand started to ache from pounding the door, but she didn’t stop. Instead, she knocked even harder.

But Chen Yi completely ignored her.

Instead, the neighbor’s door opened. A middle-aged woman peeked out, frowning impatiently.

With her arms crossed, she said coldly, “Young lady, what are you knocking for this early in the morning? It’s our day off. Can’t we get some rest?”

Zhou Meng, burning with anger and having nowhere to vent it, snapped at her, “I’m looking for Chen Yi. What’s it to you? Mind your own business!”

The woman flared up instantly. She had never liked Zhou Meng to begin with. Every time she came over, she bossed Chen Yi around and nitpicked everything. Sure, she was pretty, but her character was awful.

“If you keep making noise, I’m calling the police!”

Hearing the word “police,” Zhou Meng hesitated. Though angry, she didn’t dare cause more trouble. She glared at the woman, then turned around and left unwillingly.

Chen Yi, hearing Zhou Meng’s footsteps fading away, finally breathed a long sigh of relief. He opened the door and thanked the neighbor.

“If you were my son, I would’ve told you to break up with her long ago,” the woman said sincerely. “Little Chen, that girl’s not right for you.”

She didn’t say anything more. After all, if they got back together later, she didn’t want to be the bad guy.

Chen Yi nodded. When the neighbor closed her door, he cleaned up briefly and left home.

He arrived at the training center. He had hired a one-on-one French tutor. Now that he had money, he wasn’t as stingy as before.

After three hours of intense study, even the experienced teacher was tired, her voice hoarse.

“Let’s stop here for today, Chen Yi. You’re studying so seriously, I can barely keep up,” she said with a smile while wiping the sweat off her forehead. “And your progress is faster than I expected.”

Chen Yi smiled humbly, “Thank you, teacher. If it weren’t for your good teaching, I wouldn’t be able to learn this quickly.”

As the teacher left, just as Chen Yi stood up to leave, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing Side Mission 1. You’ve received a cash reward.]

[French Proficiency: (50/200)]

[You’ve received a surprise reward.]

[Next, please claim your beginner reward. Lucky draw activated!]

As the system voice fell, a prize wheel appeared before Chen Yi.

He fixed his eyes on the glowing orange grid and raised his hand to spin the wheel.

[Reward: Language Simulation Training Room]

He had drawn a purple card. Although it wasn’t orange, it was still a lucky draw.

With the Language Simulation Training Room, his French would surely improve rapidly.

More importantly, learning other languages in the future would be much easier than for ordinary people.

Chen Yi was about to go home and figure out how to use this new training room when he received a call from his supervisor, asking him to come in for overtime.

Although he didn’t want to, he had no choice but to obey.

A workhorse has no say.

…

After finally finishing his shift, Chen Yi hadn’t even left the office building when he saw a familiar figure rushing toward him.

“Chen Yi, I’ve been waiting downstairs for two whole hours,” Zhou Meng said, clutching his arm with a pitiful look.

If it weren’t for the fact that she owed three months’ rent and the landlord kept hounding her for payment, she wouldn’t have shamelessly come to his workplace.

Chen Yi was surprised to see her. Zhou Meng had always hated coming to his office because, in her mind, he wasn’t worthy of being her boyfriend.

If it had been before, he would’ve been touched seeing her there.

But now, Chen Yi coldly shook off her hand and said firmly, “Zhou Meng, we’ve already broken up. I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about between us… unless you’re here to pay me back for all the money I spent on you?”