The Female Leads Regret After the Villain Severed Ties, Leaving the Protagonist Broken - Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: The Arrogant Young Master and the Frugal Campus Belle

Yanjing City, slums.

The sky was dim, and a fine drizzle fell steadily. 

On the narrow and crowded streets, a luxurious motorcade swept past, utterly out of place in this poor neighborhood. The tires rolled over muddy puddles, sending water splashing in all directions, but not once did the cars slow down, even when pedestrians were nearby.

There were six cars in total, three at the front, two at the back, and one flashy sports car in the middle, guarded like royalty. Its presence was arrogant to the extreme.

Pedestrians frowned and whispered in irritation.

“Whose motorcade is this? So arrogant!”

“Hush, keep your voice down, this is the Lu family’s motorcade!”

“The Lu family!? Could it be that young tyrant?”

“Hiss—daughter, quickly, let’s go! If that scoundrel sees you, your life will be ruined!”

Panic spread through the crowd, and people pulled their wives and daughters away in a rush.

The motorcade finally stopped in front of a shabby five-story building. Its walls were peeling, weathered, and worn by time.

From the first car, a middle-aged man stepped out, holding an umbrella as he hurried to the sports car in the center. The engine of the car still roared like a beast, its vibrations sending ripples through the rainwater on the ground.

“Young Master, the person you’re looking for is here,” the man said with a respectful bow.

The sports car window rolled down, revealing a handsome young man. In the passenger seat sat a glamorous woman with delicate makeup and flushed cheeks, secretly wiping the corner of her mouth.

The youth was tall and strong, dressed in black casual wear, with sunglasses perched on his nose and a playful, mocking smile on his lips.

“Get out, this doesn’t concern you anymore,” Lu Chen said lazily as he adjusted his sunglasses, glancing at the seductive woman beside him.

She froze, but dared not show disappointment. She swallowed hard, placed the car keys down carefully, then opened the door. Her long legs wrapped in black stockings and her designer heels touched the wet ground as she left without a word.

Lu Chen picked up a bouquet of pink roses from the backseat, brought them to his nose, and inhaled the fragrance. Beneath his sunglasses, his eyes carried a lazy intoxication. 

“You’re sure she’s here?” he asked casually as he set the flowers down on the passenger seat and removed his sunglasses.

“Yes, Young Master, absolutely,” the middle-aged man replied with certainty.

“Good. Invite her out for me. Remember—be polite.”

The car window closed again. The steward waved his arms.

In the next moment, the other five cars opened their doors simultaneously, and more than twenty hulking men in black rushed out. Their faces were fierce and full of menace, like demons out of hell.

“Move aside! How dare you block our Young Master’s way, are you courting death!?” the leader barked, eyes blazing.

The residents, terrified, quickly scattered. The twenty-odd men stormed into the building.

…

In a small attic kitchen on the fifth floor, the room was old but spotless.

A young girl was busy preparing dinner. She had delicate features and snow-white skin, her almond-shaped eyes clear and bright. Her face was refined and flawless, as if carved by an artisan.

Her figure was petite and fragile, almost worryingly thin, making one wonder if she had long suffered from malnutrition. 

Her hair was tied into a simple braid with a white ribbon, draped neatly over her chest. Faded jeans traced her slender legs, and her small feet rested in oversized plastic slippers—purchased cheaply from a clearance sale.

Though her clothes were plain, her gentle temperament made her look impossibly graceful.

“Big sister, let me help you pick the vegetables!” A sweet childlike voice came from behind.

At the doorway stood a little girl of about six or seven, her round black eyes staring eagerly at the vegetables in her sister’s hands.

“Xiao Ning, be good. Children shouldn’t come into the kitchen. Go play for a while, we’ll eat soon, alright?” the girl said softly as she wiped her hands and patted her sister’s head.

“But I’m already six, I’m not a child anymore. I can help you cook,” Xiao Ning pouted, shaking her head stubbornly.

The older girl’s heart ached. Xiao Ning was six but much shorter and thinner than other children her age, malnutrition leaving her body frail.

“Alright, don’t fuss. Be good. I’ll make chicken soup for you tonight,” the girl coaxed gently, pinching her sister’s cheek.

Though reluctant, Xiao Ning finally left, shuffling her feet.

The girl smiled faintly, then called softly toward the bedroom, “Mom, I’m going downstairs to buy soy sauce, and I’ll bring back some meat too.”

From the bedroom came a weak, worried voice. “Yaoyao, what’s happening outside? Why is it so noisy?”

“Probably someone moving house. I’ll check when I go out. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious,” Chen Mengyao replied gently, taking off her apron. “Focus on resting, Mom. I’ll make chicken soup for you later.”

There was silence for a moment, then a sigh. “Yaoyao, I don’t want to eat meat. Save the money, you’ll need it for your tuition. And Xiao Ning will be starting school soon…”

“If you don’t eat meat, how will you recover? You don’t even go to the hospital for treatment. Without proper food, you won’t get better quickly,” Chen Mengyao said, her smile stiffening for a second before she forced it back. “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll earn money soon. I’ll definitely cure your illness. And I’ll find a school for Xiao Ning too.”

Her mother sighed again. “It’s all because of that useless, gambling father of yours. If not for him—”

“Mom, we agreed not to mention him again,” Chen Mengyao said softly, her expression calm.

Her mother paused, wanting to say more, but held back. After a moment, she only murmured, “Remember to take an umbrella. Don’t get wet in the rain. Be careful on the stairs, they’re slippery. And don’t rush—this place is new, the roads are bad, be cautious…”

“I know, Mom. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

Hearing her mother’s endless reminders, Chen Mengyao’s eyes glistened in the dim light. She smiled, slipped a plastic bag into her jeans pocket—saving it to carry the meat later and save a few coins.

At the door, she removed her oversized slippers, revealing her delicate, lotus-like feet wrapped in thin white socks. They were clean, but worn so thin from washing that the soft pink of her skin showed through.

She changed into shoes, then as usual, slipped a utility knife into her pocket. Back home, her father’s gambling had left them drowning in debt, and loan sharks often came to harass them. Carrying a knife gave her a small sense of security.

She patted the pocket. The blade was cold, but it steadied her heart.

She locked the door carefully, took her umbrella, and prepared to go downstairs.

But as soon as she turned, the sight before her made her body tremble violently in shock.

…