Driven by jealousy, Shen Shi began to observe Qi Xiao both openly and secretly, conducting a comprehensive analysis of her actions.

For example, Qi Xiao bought a pair of limited edition sneakers. When Shen Shi saw them, he assumed Qi Xiao was showing off his wealth. In order to outshine Qi Xiao, Shen Shi gritted his teeth and bought the same pair.

For Qi Xiao, these sneakers were just an ordinary pair of shoes; buying them was no different from buying a bottle of mineral water.

But Chen Shi didn't have a wealthy father, so his attempt to outdo others by pretending to be rich was like throwing an egg against a rock—overestimating his own abilities.

They subtly compared themselves, and in less than a month, Shen Shi was so poor that he could barely afford to eat.

Qi Xiao looked at him as if he were a clown, and didn't take his provocations seriously at all.

If things continued this way, Shen Shi would be nothing more than a clown performing a one-man show. But as he fell in love with Jiang Qing, everything changed completely.

Jiang Qing's mother and Qi's mother are best friends. From their school days to their marriages and having children, they have always been each other's best friends.

Both Mr. Jiang and Mr. Qi were extremely doting husbands. To make it easier for their wives to visit their friends, the two families specially bought adjacent houses to become neighbors.

Jiang Qing and Qi Xiao naturally grew up playing together.

The two families had similar financial situations and their parents had an excellent relationship, so outsiders believed that they had arranged a marriage between their children.

Jiang Qing has been lovable since she was a child. With her big, watery eyes, she can melt people's hearts when she calls them "uncle" or "aunt."

Qi's parents watched Jiang Qing grow up and liked her from the bottom of their hearts. They really intended to marry her off as their daughter-in-law.

If Qi Xiao, whom they know well, were to marry their two daughters, the Jiang couple would be more than happy to see it happen.

But their daughter was still young, so Jiang's parents only thought about it in their hearts and never mentioned it to Jiang Qing.

Unaware of the situation, Jiang Qing continued to be good friends with Qi Xiao.

Jiang Qing was carefree back then; she was practically the happiest person in the world.

But then some things happened that not only caused her and Qi Xiao to part ways on bad terms, but also led to a estrangement between their two families who had been friends for many years.

This matter has always been a hurdle that Qi Xiao can't get over, and even Jiang Qing, whom he didn't care much about before, has become a dark cloud hanging over his head.

So when Qi Xiao learned that Shen Shi and Jiang Qing were dating, she could hardly believe her ears.

How could Jiang Qing possibly be interested in a roommate who doesn't even recognize himself?

From that day on, Shen Shi, who had been competing unilaterally, finally met his opponent.

From exam scores and scholarships to the value of their clothes, the two were constantly vying for dominance, neither willing to give in.

To save face, Shen spent a lot of money, but his monthly living expenses were less than a fraction of Qi Xiao's. Even if he invested all of it, it would still be far from enough.

So he set his sights on Jiang Qing.

On the very first day the two got together, Shen Shi began his "gold digger's journey".

Jiang Qing was like a princess living in a utopia, with an extremely simple mind. He believed almost everything she said.

Shen Shi effortlessly received valuable gifts and large sums of money from her during holidays.

Of course, Shen Shi did not come without making sacrifices. He always adopted a sustainable development strategy for Jiang Qing.

In order to reveal his true intentions, Shen Shi would send Jiang Qing gifts every few days.

However, the gifts he gave were all handmade crafts, rare butterfly specimens, and hand-painted oil paintings.

Although it wasn't valuable, the sentiment behind the gift was heavy, and Jiang Qing was quite fond of that.

She's seen everything since she was a child, and she's long been tired of collecting gold and silver jewelry.

I don't need a lot of money, I need a lot of love, for others it might be Versailles, but for Jiang Qing it's my true feelings.

In this fast-paced era, the gift is the one that you are willing to spend time and effort on.

Shen Shi's gift touched Jiang Qing's heart. She specially commissioned a custom display case for the butterfly specimen and placed it on her bedside table.

The blue morpho butterfly's beautiful wings shimmered under the light strips.

Blue is Jiang Qing's favorite color. Seeing the butterfly's wings is like feeling herself flying. Shen Shi understands her heart.

A chance encounter during a slump led Jiang Qing to believe she had found a kindred spirit.

Meeting someone who understands her is the greatest happiness in life. The two, now deeply in love, are becoming increasingly sweet together, and Jiang Qing is treating Shen Shi better and better.

Jiang Qing is the dream girl of all the male students at A University. Winning the heart of the campus beauty has earned Shen Shi the envy of countless young men.

Jiang Qing has a gentle and sweet personality. Once she sets her mind on someone, she will do everything she can to be good to him and will want to buy him anything she can think of.

Jiang Qing was very caring towards Shen Shi and never made any demands on him. During the six months they dated, the two never quarreled.

Meeting such a considerate girlfriend is like being incredibly lucky in one's past life. As they spent time together, Shen gradually fell in love.

However, Lu Yiyi's presence remained strong in Shen Shi's life.

In Qi Xiao's phone calls, in her daily updated WeChat Moments, and even when she talks to Shen's mother, she will ask about the little girl next door and ask Shen to take care of her.

Whether it was because she liked Lu Yiyi that she was so jealous of Qi Xiao, or whether it was jealousy that fueled her feelings for Lu Yiyi, she couldn't even tell herself.

The only thing that could be foreseen was his resentment.

So when Lu Yiyi called him crying, he rushed over without thinking.

"Brother Shi~ What should I do? Qi Xiao... his mother doesn't like me..." Lu Yiyi sobbed.

The straight man scratched his head in confusion: "You're dating him, not his mother, why do you care so much?"

Lu Yiyi: "..." I'm not dating him, I'm dating his family's money.

The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law problem is an age-old issue, and trying to find the answer in Shen Shi is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Fortunately, what Lu Yiyi wanted wasn't an answer; what she wanted was to drive a wedge between Shen Shi and Jiang Qing, ideally making them break up.

In Lu Yiyi's eyes, Shen Shi is her most loyal backup plan. From middle school to now, whenever she encounters difficulties, he is always the first to appear.

Although he ruthlessly rejected her confession, in Lu Yiyi's heart, Shen Shi would always belong to her.

Shen Shi will dislike Lu Yiyi? No! That day will never come.

Lu Yiyi firmly believed that Shen Shi would always stay by her side, even if she received no response and even if she was covered in wounds.

How could he possibly fall in love if he himself didn't want to be involved in a relationship? For the first time, Lu Yiyi, who was usually cunning and calculating, felt lost.

Like a bewildered child, thrown into a busy crossroads, knowing their destination but wondering which way to get there.