Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 179: Jiang Xinyi: Let's Break Up

Jiang Xinyi originally planned to break things off with You Changjin the day she withdrew the money, but the situation with Chang Hao beating Xu Bowen delayed the matter.That day, Jiang Xinyi was visibly preoccupied. However, You Changjin, as always, remained carefree. As an ordinary man with a stable, low-stress job and a beautiful, classy girlfriend, he was perfectly content with life. Strolling through the campus, he felt as though nothing more could be asked of life.

Just as Jiang Xinyi was about to address their relationship, You Changjin received a call. He frowned and explained that one of his students had been in a serious fight and he needed to handle it immediately.

Jiang Xinyi, being a considerate person, naturally refrained from adding to his stress. "Alright, go ahead then," she said.

And so, because of Chang Hao’s incident, her decision was postponed for three days. During this time, the two didn’t meet, though they continued to chat daily.

You Changjin talked about the altercation, explaining that a sophomore named Xu Bowen had deceived one of their female classmates, prompting Chang Hao to take matters into his own hands. Every night, he had endless stories to share with Jiang Xinyi, narrating all the day's events as if they were the most fascinating tales.

In the past, Jiang Xinyi would respond enthusiastically, even sharing her own stories from working at the courier station. But in these three days, her responses grew noticeably cold, almost as if she didn’t want to engage.

This made You Changjin wonder if she was upset about them not meeting in person.

Initially, Jiang Xinyi had dated You Changjin because he seemed honest and wouldn’t create trouble for her. Having never been in a relationship, she thought giving him a chance wouldn’t hurt.

But as time went on, Jiang Xinyi realized they lacked chemistry. Moreover, the matter of him secretly covering her 500-yuan expense had started weighing on her mind.

As a counselor, You Changjin was competent and protective of his students. He told Jiang Xinyi that even if it had been him in Chang Hao's shoes, he’d have thrown punches too.

“That’s childish,” Jiang Xinyi commented coolly.

“She’s 18, right? I think she should take responsibility for her own actions. Getting involved only causes unnecessary trouble,” she analyzed rationally.

“But it was that guy who deceived her first!” You Changjin argued, standing firmly by his student.

Jiang Xinyi, ever the logical thinker, said, “The boy’s tactics weren’t even clever. As you mentioned, she willingly went to his rented apartment. His approach was full of lies from the start. If it were me, I would’ve stopped the moment I caught the first lie instead of pretending everything was fine and deceiving myself.”

“Cutting losses early is better for everyone,” she concluded.

Her words left You Changjin silent for a moment before he responded with an emoji. Googlᴇ search NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"Sometimes lies can be well-intentioned. Maybe he meant well? (Grinning face)"

“I hate meaningless gestures like that,” Jiang Xinyi replied bluntly.

Having been raised in privilege, Jiang Xinyi always spoke her mind.

At this point, she decided to test the waters. “Is there anything you’re hiding from me?” she asked.

“Why would I have anything to hide from you? (Grinning face)” came his reply.

Seeing this, Jiang Xinyi felt a pang of disappointment.

She tossed her phone aside and sprawled on her spacious two-meter bed. It was already 9 p.m. Jiang Xinyi had just taken a shower and was wearing a white spaghetti-strap nightgown.

Although her feelings for You Changjin were lukewarm, she had grown accustomed to their relationship, and the thought of ending it left her restless. If he had taken the initiative to address the matter, perhaps there might have been a chance to salvage things.

“Sweetie, drink your milk before bed,” her mother said, entering the room with a glass of milk. It was rare for Jiang Xinyi to spend a few days at home, so her family pampered her whenever they could. Being their only child, Jiang Xinyi had grown up a little spoiled.

Seeing her daughter rolling around on the bed, Jiang’s mother chuckled. “Still upset about that boyfriend of yours?”

Jiang Xinyi didn’t want to give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her struggle, so she sat up, smoothing her skirt, and hugged her knees as she leaned against the bedframe.

With a sigh, she said, “Honestly, I don’t have strong feelings for him. But breaking up with someone who’s been good to you… it’s hard to bring up. He’s really been nice to me.”

This was true. You Changjin was undeniably a good person. His constant care and even the gesture of secretly covering her expense were proof of his kindness—something not everyone would do.

Sensing her daughter’s distress, Jiang’s mother smiled and sat beside her. “So, does that mean Dad and I haven’t been good to you?”

“When you were little, you insisted on learning the violin, so we hired the best teacher. But after two days, you said you were tired and didn’t want to continue. When we scolded you, you cried so much your dad couldn’t bear it and said, ‘Fine, she doesn’t have to learn.’”

“Then there was the time you scribbled on your dad’s documents or used my lipstick to draw on the mirrors. From childhood until now, you’ve done so many nerve-wracking things. Have we ever scolded you for it?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xinyi couldn’t help but giggle. “Well, what can I say? I’m your daughter.”

Her mother sighed. “Exactly. That’s why we want the best for you.”

She continued, “We don’t object to your relationship with him because of his background or who he is. We just know you two aren’t compatible. Love isn’t about not wanting to hurt someone just because they’re good to you. We brought you into this world hoping you’d be happy. We want you to find someone who makes you truly happy.”

“Someone you can talk to endlessly. Someone whose mere presence brings you joy, even in silence.”

“But I’ve never met someone like that,” Jiang Xinyi pouted.

“That’s because you haven’t met enough people yet. That’s why I keep arranging blind dates. It’s not about rushing you to marry but broadening your horizons. Who knows, you might meet the right one.”

“That sounds hard,” Jiang Xinyi muttered thoughtfully.

Her mother patted her head. “Hard doesn’t mean impossible. Now, drink your milk and stop overthinking. The sooner you clear things up, the better it’ll be for both of you.”

With that, her mother left the room, leaving Jiang Xinyi deep in thought.

From a young age, Jiang Xinyi had lived a smooth, carefree life, doing whatever she pleased. She had never seriously considered relationships until now, at 24.

Dating You Changjin had been a whim, but it became clear she didn’t truly like him.

But who did she like?

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: someone who brings you happiness without even trying.

A face suddenly surfaced in her thoughts—a boy’s face.

The image startled her. “What am I thinking?” she muttered.

He was just a kid, six years younger than her.

“Ugh, Mom’s teasing must be getting to me!”

Jiang Xinyi shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.

But the more she tried, the clearer the image became.

She clenched her fists. “No way. I’m not thinking about some brat! Let alone my boyfriend’s student. What am I even doing?”

Shaking her head furiously, she tried to banish the idea.

But the thought lingered, unsettling her in a way she had never experienced before.

On a crisp autumn day, Jiang Xinyi invited You Changjin to a high-end western restaurant.

Dressed in a simple navy-blue dress, Jiang Xinyi waited. When You Changjin arrived, clad in a hoodie, worn jeans, and a backpack, he looked out of place amidst the elegant decor.

He spotted her and smiled. “Why’d you pick such a fancy place today?”

“I figured after all this time, we should have a proper meal together,” she replied.

“You’re right! We always settle for casual food like hotpot and noodles. It’s about time we splurged. But let me treat you this time!”

Despite his confidence, the prices on the menu—799, 899, even 1299 yuan—made his smile falter.

Jiang Xinyi, noticing his discomfort, reassured him, “I’ve already ordered. Let’s just enjoy the meal.”

As the food arrived, You Changjin tried to engage in conversation.

“You’ll never guess what I found out,” he said enthusiastically. “The owner behind Xianlin Express is actually Zhou Yuwen!”

Jiang Xinyi calmly replied, “I know. I’m the accountant for Xianlin Express. How could I not know?”

“Oh, right!” he laughed, embarrassed.

But as he rambled on, Jiang Xinyi grew increasingly certain.

When he finally paused, she handed him an envelope.

“What’s this?” he asked curiously, opening it to find 4,000 yuan inside.

“These are all the expenses you’ve covered for me during our relationship.”

Confused, he looked up.

“I think we should break up,” she said firmly.

A buzzing silence filled his mind.