Chapter 6: Humiliation

But Tina felt much better hearing it and said with a hint of mockery, "That’s what I figured. How else would you have the courage to hit on Anna?"

"Classmate Tina, I’m so glad you believe me. Trust me, the one I like most is you."

"Tomorrow’s your birthday. I’ve prepared a gift for you."

Tina said impatiently, "Alright, that’s enough. We don’t have any kind of relationship. You don’t need to explain anything to me."

With that, she hung up directly.

Linda asked beside her, "Tina, aren’t you curious what gift he’s getting you?"

Tina tossed her hair back casually and said, "He’s just a broke loser. What kind of good gift could he possibly give? Linda, take a look, which outfit should I wear tomorrow?"

"All mysterious and secretive. How exactly are you spending your birthday tomorrow?"

Linda asked curiously.

A flash of smugness crossed Tina’s face, though she said calmly, "Tomorrow? Just having dinner with Kai."

"Kai, the senior???"

Linda said in surprise, "The heir of Tiger Real Estate???"

"That’s him!"

Tina put on a troubled look and said, "He’s been chasing me for a while, always asking me out to dinner."

"I don’t know where he found out about my birthday, but he said he booked a private room at Brilliant Hotel for me. Ugh, I can’t refuse, it’s such a hassle."

Brilliant was the best five-star hotel in town, all glitz and glamour, with a single cola costing dozens of dollars. It was a holy grail for the poor, and also a forbidden land.

Linda could not help but feel a twinge of jealous bitterness inside, while silently mocking her as a green tea bitch.

Keeping so many simps and backups on the hook, only to go and chase Kai herself.

Kai was a notorious playboy. He would get tired of her sooner or later and kick her to the curb.

In the boys’ dorm, after hanging up, Ryan let out a big sigh of relief and grinned foolishly, "Tina believed me."

Jason did not hold back with the cold water: "Ryan, are you stupid? Even an idiot would see through that."

Wester chimed in, "Exactly. The way you look, hitting on Anna, might as well say my wife is Angelina Jolie. You’re dreaming."

Stung by their comments, Ryan felt dejected but said, "Perseverance prevails. If Tina knew how hard I worked delivering food just to buy her the phone she wanted, she would be moved."

Both of them rolled their eyes, thinking this guy was beyond saving.

A poor man’s effort never moves anyone, it is a rich man’s pocket change that counts as true feeling. This simp really ought to be put out of his misery.

"Jason, Wester, you’ve got to help me."

The next afternoon after class, at the girls’ dorm entrance, roses were arranged in the shape of a heart.

Passing students whispered among themselves, another fool was about to confess. This kind of cheesy scene played out endlessly on campus.

"Tina..."

"Call me classmate Tina!!!"

"Okay, classmate Tina, come down. I have your gift ready."

After keeping Ryan standing in the heart of roses for nearly half an hour, Tina finally appeared in all her glamorous glory, though her expression was far from pleased.

"See? This simp is here to simp for Tina again."

"Wait, wasn’t he just making a fool of himself hitting on Anna yesterday? Now he’s back to licking Tina’s boots."

"Now that’s mental resilience. Textbook shamelessness."

"Seriously, I have to admire his thick skin. Three years of relentless simping, that takes willpower."

Under the mocking laughter from the crowd, Tina felt utterly humiliated. She strode up and kicked the roses on the ground away.

Her pretty face cold, she gritted her teeth and said, "Ryan, don’t you think this is embarrassing?"

Ryan looked wronged and said, "Classmate Tina, I’ve seen other people do this. Don’t you think it’s romantic?"

"Romantic my ass! It’s so tacky!!!"

Tina’s pretty face flushed with anger.

"Isn’t it enough that you embarrass yourself? You had to drag me down with you too?"

"Don’t go, classmate Tina!"

Seeing her turn to leave, Ryan quickly grabbed her hand. Tina could not shake him off and turned back, fuming: "Let go of me, or I’ll report you for harassment."

Even that touch disgusted her, and all her repulsion was written plainly across her face.

Ryan quickly let go, looking wronged.

"Okay, okay, I’m going. But I worked so hard for this gift, please just take it, alright?"

With that, he pulled out the phone. The moment Tina saw the box, her eyes lit up.

"What the hell? I thought this broke loser would give some stuffed toy or something. That’s the latest iPhone 17!"

"No way, am I blind? This guy who eats 1-dollar steamed buns with free pickled veggies every meal can afford an iPhone 17?"

"Exactly. This simp lives off financial aid and scholarships. Where did he get the money?"

"You don’t know? This guy does every grunt job out there. He’s the one hauling the food waste barrels from the cafeteria every day."

"And he delivers food too. Last time I saw him coming back in uniform!!!"

Voices buzzed around them. Ryan looked at her pitifully, hoping his beloved goddess would see his sincerity.

As a goddess, she had been stuck using an old Android phone in her dorm, a constant sore spot for Tina.

Looking at the phone she had dreamed of, Tina was clearly tempted. As a campus beauty, this was the first time she had received such an expensive birthday gift.

Just as she hesitated, a haughty voice suddenly sounded beside her: "What a fool. Who’s pulling this cheesy stunt again?"

A BMW 5 Series pulled up. The door opened, and Kai stepped out, decked head to toe in designer brands.

Glancing at the scattered roses on the ground, Kai snorted disdainfully: "Just this few flowers? Not even enough to brew tea. And you have the nerve to show off with this?"

He strode over confidently, and the crowd instinctively parted to make way for him.

Any hesitation Tina had moments ago vanished the instant this man appeared.

Kai stopped in front of Tina, gave Ryan a contemptuous glance, and let out a cold laugh, not even bothering to mock him verbally.

"Kai!"

Tina lived up to her name, her voice was especially sweet.

Like a lark’s beautiful melody, her voice rang out crisp and clear as a silver bell. That single call sent a tingle down everyone’s spine.

You could not help but fantasize, what it would be like to hear that voice moaning in bed.

Kai flashed a lecherous grin and said, "Tina, let’s go. I’ll give you a birthday you won’t forget."

"Okay, Kai!"

Only then did Kai glance at Ryan and snort, "Tina, do you need to say anything to your friend?"

Tina quickly explained, "Kai, no need. We’re just ordinary classmates."

"Figured as much. Some stray cats and dogs have no self-awareness. If he ever harasses you, just let me know."

Tina completely ignored Ryan’s presence, took Kai’s hand, and got into the car without looking back.

"Whoa, Kai? But doesn’t he already have a girlfriend???"

"That playboy changes girlfriends like he changes clothes."

"Tina, really? Of all people, she picks him..."

"Otherwise what? Should she pick this poor, pathetic simp?"

Seeing the show was over, the crowd dispersed with more mockery, leaving a stunned Ryan wearing a bitter smile.

Holding the iPhone 17 in his hand, he wished he could crawl into a hole. This was the first time he had ever felt such humiliation.

Ryan fled back to the dorm and lay on his bed, feeling like tears were about to fall. His fists clenched tightly, but he had no idea what to do.

"Ryan, take it easy!"

"Come on, let’s go eat out. We’ll drink with you tonight."

His roommates did not know how to comfort him. They could only sigh, a simp ending up like this hardly seemed worthy of sympathy.

Ryan forced a pained smile: "I’m fine. No need to eat out."

Wester and Jason exchanged looks. Kai was a notorious playboy, rich, influential, and vice president of the student council. He always got what he wanted.

So what if they were dating? Even if they were not, the guy had slept with more women than Ryan had ever jerked off to.

Tina willingly went with him, she definitely was not heading for a good ending.

----

Ryan returned to his dorm and slammed the door shut, his face pale as he sat heavily on his bed. His hands were trembling, and the iPhone 17 box in his grip felt like it was burning his skin.

He stared at the gift he had worked so hard for, the gift that Tina had barely glanced at before walking away with Kai. The humiliation washed over him in waves, each memory sharper than the last.

Her dismissive eyes. Her cold words. The way she had grabbed Kai’s hand without a second thought.

And Kai’s contemptuous sneer, as if Ryan was less than nothing.

Ryan’s jaw tightened, his knuckles turning white as he crushed the phone box in his grip. For three years, he had worshipped her from afar.