Returning to university, starting with confessing to his ex-wife, his counselor.

"What! You're a guy and you can't even earn 50,000 a month? Are you disabled? You only make a little over 5,000 yuan a month, how are you going to support me?"

"You...don't you get a salary?"

"If I need enough money to live on, why would I get married? What would I need you for?"

"Fine! From now on, let's not talk to each other, play on our phones for half an hour, and then go home!"

Jin Guan City, Sunset Restaurant, Open-air Terrace.

A young woman scoffed, then suddenly pulled out her sunglasses, put them on, and ignored the young man across from her.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, wearing super short denim shorts and a white tank top, with large swathes of skin exposed to the air, her fair skin dazzling and attracting the attention of many gentlemen.

Strictly speaking, the woman's appearance isn't particularly stunning. But a young woman's body is like a ginseng fruit; even if you can't eat it, just looking at it and smelling it gives you the feeling of longevity.

Liang Chao ordered a cup of light tea with goji berries and sat not far from the two of them, his posture relaxed and his expression leisurely.

He first glanced at the young man whose face was flushed with shame, then habitually examined the woman's figure, facial features, and skin condition, and mentally gave her a score.

With a score of 7.3, she's close to the ceiling of attractiveness that the average person would encounter on a blind date.

He was about to look away when his gaze inadvertently fell on the woman's glasses, and his eyes paused for a moment.

— Chanel butterfly-shaped sunglasses, classic style, retail price 5500 yuan.

A message flashed through Liang Chao's mind. He looked away, unable to help but feel a pang of worry for the young boy.

Since the emergence of terms such as "debt-resolving old man", "million-dollar withdrawal", "confidante big sister", and "sweet potato cadre", many men have developed a fear of marriage and withdrawn from the matchmaking market.

The matchmaking corners of today have passed the stage of scarcity and are now moving towards a healthy state.

Given the young man's looks and circumstances, he shouldn't have suffered this misfortune, but unfortunately... he encountered a new group of people—fallen socialites.

Upon closer reflection, the down-on-their-luck socialites, like the salsa dancers with their round faces and bushy beards, are practically a specialty of Chengdu.

In the first half of this year, they were able to get some living expenses from their older brothers.

However, in the second half of the year, relevant policies in Jinguan City were tightened. As a large number of local elderly people were arrested, indebted, defaulted on their debts, and fled, the lives of the "socialites" also became miserable.

From being able to fly across the country to being able to travel by train across the country, from selling luxury goods to survive to sneaking into murder mystery shops to eat snacks in order to save a meal... it's as if they've triggered some kind of "American-style kill line".

Those who have been in the industry for a shorter time can still try to transition, while those who are older can only return to the real economy.

For example, working at foot massage parlors, KTVs, or bathhouses, and then using that as a front to pay off medical aesthetic loans.

A small number of girls with better looks and higher aspirations set their sights on the matchmaking market, trying to find someone to "take them in," like... the one in front of us.

As for why Liang Chao knew so much...

Yes, he's one of those bosses who ran away.

The difference is that he's younger than those older brothers, has better financial standing, and didn't flee because he "couldn't afford to support them," but rather...

Beep beep—

The phone rang, and Liang Chao got up and walked to a distance to answer it.

"Hey, Mom!"

"Chaochao, have you seen that girl your Aunt Wang mentioned? I heard she's as beautiful as a movie star, and a graduate of a top university!"

"This time you really need to have a serious talk with her daughter. Don't do what you did last time, dragging her to the hospital for a premarital checkup the moment you met her..."

The chattering came through the phone, and Liang Chao was getting a little impatient.

"Okay, Mom, I haven't even met the person yet. They won't give me a photo or a name. Is this how blind dates are conducted?"

Besides, I'm surrounded by girls, why are you in such a hurry?

Upon hearing this, the woman on the phone immediately became furious.

"Not in a hurry? You're already thirty years old and divorced once, how can I not be in a hurry?!"

"Besides, those women around you, all dressed up and flashy, are they any decent women? They're clearly after your money. I'm warning you, if you don't break up with them now, I'll..."

Like all parents, Zhang Yazhi, the mother, always has endless complaints when it comes to her son's marriage.

Liang Chao listened quietly, feeling a little annoyed, yet not too annoyed.

Suddenly, the voice of Liang Zongwu, the father, came from the other end of the phone.

"Son, is it really impossible to contact Teacher Yang anymore? Your situation is better now, if you could remarry her..."

Seeing that his son did not answer for a long time, the father's voice gradually weakened.

"Son...son?" The person who answered the phone was the mother again, her voice low and cautious.

Liang Chao gradually came to his senses, opened his mouth, and uttered three words with difficulty.

"I'm hanging up, Mom!"

He casually put down his phone, but instead of returning to his seat, he stood by the glass railing, lost in thought.

On the table, the phone screen lit up and then turned off, then lit up again.

On the horizon, the setting sun, like molten gold, bathed the city in an orange hue.

Leaning against the railing, Liang Chao watched the couples strolling below and thought of the past.

That day, a mature and beautiful older woman dragged her suitcase and stopped in front of the dilapidated rented house.

"Liang Chao, I should go!"

"What if... what if I married you?"

"...Liang Chao, what kind of marriage do you imagine?"

"A wife, kids, and a warm bed? Or maybe eating and drinking together, traveling on a budget, supporting each other and building a career together—something like that, right?"

The older sister stopped and looked at her only little man.

"I don't imagine it. I think if the other person is sick, would I be willing to help him with his bodily functions? If he is disabled or disfigured, would I not despise him? I think... in the face of these terrible things, do I have the confidence to be firm enough for him?"

Upon hearing this, the recent graduate was stunned and wanted to assure him that nothing like that would happen and that he would definitely make something of himself in the future!

Even if someone needs to take care of you, it should be me taking care of you.

But looking at this room, even though her sister had cleaned it very thoroughly, it still looked dilapidated; looking at the instant noodle box in the kitchen trash can, which the two of them had just finished eating from but hadn't had time to throw away...

He fell silent.

My life is a mess, and the idea of ​​getting ahead is more like a delirious dream...

At the doorway, the older sister gazed quietly at her boy for a long time before continuing.

"I think I could do it, if you're ready too..."

She spoke lightly, covering her mouth as if she were crying, yet also as if she were laughing.

……

Overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, Liang Chao remained silent, growing ever quieter.

Suddenly, I remembered a passage.

One of the most painful things in life is meeting the person you want to take care of for the rest of your life when you are at your poorest and most destitute.

He pursed his lips, took out his wallet, and carefully retrieved a photo from a hidden compartment.

It was a group photo taken in a rented room; the man was handsome and the woman was beautiful.

Inside, the girl looked a little older than the boy. She was wearing the boy's white shirt, her eyes crinkling as she offered a half-eaten piece of mung bean ice to the boy who was playing a game.

Liang Chao stared blankly at his sister in the photo for a long, long time.

He put the photos back and quietly took out... two more group photos.

Then, two pretty faces with equally bright smiles, but with different charms, came into view.

Yes, there are three girls he wants to take care of!

It wasn't that he was promiscuous; it's just that he endured three times the suffering of an ordinary person.

"If only time could turn back..."

Liang Chao murmured wistfully, and when he looked down, he saw the young couple downstairs already kissing, and he immediately felt uncomfortable.

In broad daylight... Damn it, you two bastards!

"Are you crazy? You're pregnant, why are you going on blind dates?"

"So what if I'm pregnant? Does being pregnant mean I can't go on blind dates? You're just a lowly delivery driver making 5,000 a month, it's a blessing that I'm even going on a blind date with you! Go, pay my bill right now!"

"Fuck your mother! You filthy bitch!"

"Who are you calling a jerk? You penniless bastard, why are you even going on blind dates? You deserve to deliver takeout your whole life!"

"..."

Suddenly, the sound of arguing came from behind.

Liang Chao snapped back to his senses and was about to turn around when a tremendous force slammed into his chest.

Bang—Crack—

A loud commotion erupted, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass. Liang Chao staggered, his body leaning back slightly.

Immediately, he took off!

The scenery around him rushed past, and at the end of his vision, a man and a woman stood frozen beside the broken railing, their faces filled with anger, astonishment, and terror...

It was that couple who had just gone on a blind date!

Upon seeing this, the Liang Dynasty people were completely dumbfounded.

Although he often fantasizes about going to the rooftop to see if he has invisible wings; and when passing by the national highway, he always wants to hide, thinking he'll scare the big trucks when they come out...

But... it's just a thought!

He doesn't want to die yet!!!

"Fuck you... Ugh~ Wow~ Guh~"

Liang Chao's pupils snapped open, and he couldn't help but swear. The moment he opened his mouth, a strong gust of wind rushed into his nostrils. At the same time, a strong sense of weightlessness washed over him, making his brain spin so much that it felt like it was about to explode.

Seeing this, he was so angry that he laughed.

He wisely shut his mouth, and with a mixture of despair and longing, took one last look at the world.

Then he flipped his body, elbow forward, and in a diving posture, elbowed the ground from the 28th floor!

boom--

The moment he touched the ground, his mind went blank, and he lost consciousness.

Sometimes, this is how life ends: one moment you're feigning melancholy, the next you're forced to elbow the concrete floor.

Caught off guard, like child's play.

……