Chapter One: No Will to Live

“If you don’t pay the rent again this month, pack your things and get out!” The landlord barked, then slammed the door and left.

Jiang Xiaotian stood helplessly at the doorway, unable to utter a word.

All his wages from the past few months had gone into buying a phone for Xiaoran. Now he couldn’t even afford a meal, let alone pay the rent.

But, as the saying goes, things work themselves out eventually; living in the moment mattered most. Thinking of Xiaoran’s delighted face when she received her new phone, he couldn’t help but smile.

He didn’t linger. Today was Xiaoran’s birthday. Although she hadn’t invited him, Jiang Xiaotian still went—after all, it was his girlfriend’s birthday; did he really need an invitation?

Clutching the latest Apple phone, Jiang Xiaotian took the bus all the way to the restaurant. When he arrived at the entrance, he was surprised to see the LED sign scrolling, “Happy Birthday Miss Chu Ran!”

It seemed she had spent quite a bit on the celebration.

Jiang Xiaotian didn’t dwell on it; the landlord had delayed him, and he was already late. He couldn’t let the birthday star wait.

He dashed up to the third floor without even taking the elevator, heading straight for the private room Xiaoran had posted about in her social media.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

“Xiaoran, happy birthday—”

The moment Jiang Xiaotian entered, he froze.

The room was packed. Everyone seemed to be taking photos together, and Xiaoran sat at the main seat, beside a handsome man.

All the noise ceased as everyone turned to look at Jiang Xiaotian.

Chu Ran was clearly the most surprised, but then her expression darkened. “Jiang Xiaotian? What are you doing here?”

“Uh? I… it’s your birthday today, so I…”

For a moment, Jiang Xiaotian was lost for words. Why would Xiaoran say something like that?

The man beside her also looked puzzled. “Xiaoran, who is he?”

Driven by instinct, Jiang Xiaotian immediately replied, “I’m her boyfriend. Who are you?”

His girlfriend’s birthday, and a stranger sat beside her—anyone would be upset.

The man gave a wry smile, not bothering to introduce himself. “So, Xiaoran, you have a boyfriend?”

Chu Ran grew anxious. She had finally managed to connect with Chen Kai; she couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. She denied at once, “No, Chen Kai, you’re mistaken. I already broke up with him.”

She turned to Jiang Xiaotian, fury in her voice. “Are you insane? I didn’t invite you. Why did you come? I’ve broken up with you; why are you still clinging to me?”

Jiang Xiaotian was stunned. “No, Xiaoran, what’s wrong? When did we break up?”

“Please, we haven’t spoken for over half a month. Seriously, are you mentally ill?” Chu Ran showed him no mercy.

Jiang Xiaotian felt utterly wronged. “But I’ve been working two jobs for you. Look, I bought the phone you wanted, just so I could give it to you for your birthday!”

As he spoke, he tried to hand Xiaoran the phone, but she had no intention of accepting it.

Suddenly, Chen Kai, who had been silent, chuckled and pulled out a phone from behind him—clearly larger than Jiang Xiaotian’s. “Looks like I picked the right gift. Xiaoran, happy birthday.”

“Wow, Brother Kai is generous! That’s the Pro version, costs half again as much!” someone chimed in, and the awkwardness on Chu Ran’s face vanished, replaced by delight.

“Thank you, Brother Kai!” Chu Ran flashed a sweet smile.

Jiang Xiaotian felt thunderstruck, rooted to the spot, unable to speak.

He could hardly believe the girl before him was the girlfriend he’d dated for almost four years.

“Oh, and tonight’s dinner is on me. Afterward, let’s keep partying. Xiaoran, you’re not going home tonight, right?” Chen Kai said, giving Jiang Xiaotian a deliberate glance.

Chu Ran blushed. “It’s fine, everyone just have fun.”

Chen Kai nodded in satisfaction, then seemed to remember something. “Your name is Jiang Xiaotian, right? Since you’re the ex-boyfriend, we shouldn’t neglect you. How about adding a chair for you?”

Laughter echoed in the private room; anyone could hear the sarcasm in Chen Kai’s tone.

Jiang Xiaotian’s face turned cold. He turned to leave, but paused at the doorway.

Chen Kai smiled, “Want to stay and eat?”

Jiang Xiaotian said nothing, went back to retrieve the phone he’d bought, prompting another round of laughter.

“Who takes back a gift after giving it? That’s hilarious!”

“Hahaha, I can’t take it…”

Ignoring the others, Jiang Xiaotian stared straight at Chu Ran. “Nearly four years…”

She looked guilty, her gaze flickering.

But Chen Kai was growing impatient. “Ex-boyfriend, it’s her birthday. Don’t put on a melodrama here. Relationships are about freedom. Are you eating or not? I’ll add a chair for you.”

The laughter grew louder, and even Chu Ran couldn’t suppress a smile. Whatever guilt she had vanished completely.

After all, Chen Kai was a local celebrity, from a wealthy real estate family—how could Jiang Xiaotian, a pauper, ever compare?

“No need,” Jiang Xiaotian said, and left.

It was only after stepping out of the restaurant that he realized his hand was trembling uncontrollably.

He wanted to cry, but his pride would not allow it.

He wandered in a daze to the shop where he bought the phone. Thankfully, it hadn’t been unboxed and could be returned.

Watching the refund come through, Jiang Xiaotian mocked himself. “At least I have money for rent now.”

Without hesitation, he transferred a quarter’s rent to the landlord, turned off his phone, and began aimlessly wandering the streets.

As a child, his family had been well-off; his parents were businesspeople, but they died in a car accident. Their assets were completely divided up by relatives, and after being raised to adulthood, no one cared about his fate anymore.

Chu Ran had been his hope—the radiant girl who now wounded him so deeply.

Jiang Xiaotian no longer wanted to live. As if possessed, he found himself on a bridge, sitting on the railing and gazing down at the pitch-black river, an abyss.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, but eventually sighed, lacking the courage to go through with it.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed something drifting along the river below.

Staring intently, Jiang Xiaotian was shocked—a person!

Even more terrifying, the person seemed to blink!

Jiang Xiaotian was petrified. Encountering a ghost in the dead of night, he was about to run, but fate had other plans. His foot slipped, and he fell.

With a splash, he hit the icy water, instantly sobering, and desperately swam for the shore—fortunately, he knew how to swim.

He’d barely swum a few meters when he felt someone grabbing his leg!

His heart nearly burst. He kicked frantically, but the grip was like seaweed—impossible to shake off.

Jiang Xiaotian had only one thought: survive. He swam faster than ever before, finally reaching the bank, but when he grabbed a large stone and looked back, his body froze.

The one clutching his leg was the “ghost”!

“Brother Ghost, spare me! I don’t want to die. Please, I’ve just been dumped, I’m miserable enough. Let me go!” Jiang Xiaotian cried for real, terrified.

But the person said nothing, eyes slowly closing.

Jiang Xiaotian mustered his courage and tugged at her hand, and it loosened.

He immediately ran, but after a short distance, something felt wrong. He returned and carefully poked the person floating in the water; she was still warm, though nearly cold.

Jiang Xiaotian gritted his teeth and hauled her out.

Once out of the water, he was dumbstruck—it was a girl, about twenty, with strikingly exquisite features, as if sculpted by a master, as beautiful as a celebrity. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

How could a ghost look so lovely?

But soon he noticed she was covered in wounds, still bleeding. “Damn! You’re not a ghost… How are you so badly hurt? I’ll take you to the hospital!”

With no other choice, he carried her on his back.

“No… don’t… can’t… go to the hospital… I… won’t die… If I go, I will…” A weak voice came from behind, scaring Jiang Xiaotian again.

But with injuries like these, how could she not need a hospital?

More importantly, how could such a beautiful girl end up battered like this?

Was she being hunted?

Jiang Xiaotian gulped, recalling her warning not to go to the hospital, and headed for his own home.