"Hey..."

"Santino, why didn't you tell me that you ran into such a big problem? If Queenie hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known. I was wondering why you didn't call me for a few days." 

Rainie was studying at a university outside of the city. Although they were in the same province, they seldom met.

"It's nothing. I'll try my best."

"But there are some things you can't achieve even with hard work," Rainie said impatiently.

Santino frowned slightly. "Rainie, what do you mean?"

"I-" Rainie wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. "Well, I'll go back home tomorrow. My parents said that they want to talk to you."

"Your parents want to meet me? Oh, okay, then I'll go back home too."

"Okay then, see you then..."

"Ok..."

Hanging up the phone, Santino felt suspicious.

He felt that something was wrong with Rainie. She wasn't as cheerful and outspoken as usual. It was as if she was hiding something from him.

He had known her since his family moved to the Education Staff Dormitory for his secondary education.

Usually, when her parents invited him over to their house, they would welcome him in a warm and friendly manner.

"What do they want to talk about?" He wondered.

There were more intrusive thoughts in Santino's mind that he began to have a headache. The sound of insects not only sounded sad but was also ominous.

He sat in the corner for the whole night.

The next day, Santino went back to his dorm. After a brief wash-up, he changed into clean clothes and was ready to go home.

What surprised him was that Rainie had called him again and told him that she and her parents were waiting for him in a café.

When Santino arrived at the café, he found that their seating arrangement was strange.

In the past, Rainie would have run over to him as soon as she saw him. She would hold his arm and even sniffed him jokingly to check if any other female had approached him.

However, Rainie acted like a docile girl that day, sitting between her parents with an odd expression. On the opposite side of them, there was a long empty sofa.

Santino didn't like the ambiance. It reminded him of the insects buzzing from the day before.

"Tino! How have you been?"

Helen Hu, Rainie's mother, was a woman with a plump figure. She was a fruit vendor, so naturally, she was a smooth talker.

However, Santino couldn't feel any warmth from her at this moment. The smile on her face looked fake and rigid, as though she was greeting him distantly like the new customers that frequented her stall. 

"I'm fine," Santino nodded slightly and then sat opposite them.

"Fine? Then why do I hear that someone was upset with you? Also, I heard that you failed your internship and might not even graduate from medical school. None of the hospitals in the city will hire you anymore, won't they?" Helen probed.

Santino immediately understood why she looked unhappy with him. He nodded and said, "Yes, but it's not my fault. I-"

"It doesn't matter whether you are right or wrong, does it?" Helen curled her lip, "Even if you're right, you can't graduate, and you have no chance of working in the medical career anymore. You have no future."

Santino frowned and asked, "Aunt... What do you mean?"

"Tino, I'll be frank with you," Rainie's father, Donald Chang, put out the cigarette in his hand and said, "Helen and I wanted to see you today because we want to ask you to cut ties with Rainie."

"Cut ties?" Santino repeated. Flustered, he looked at Rainie and asked, "Rainie, do you want to break up with me?"

Rainie looked a little awkward as if she was struggling to think of a decent reply.

"Tino, you don't have to ask Rainie. The three of us have agreed on this. In fact, I'm also doing this for your own good. You are still young and have a long way to go in the future. After graduation, you guys will have a brand new life and meet more people. You can't guarantee that you two are right for each other." Donald mollified.

"Uncle, there's no need to say further," Santino interrupted Donald. He wasn't dumb. The Chang family clearly wanted to break ties with him after knowing that he didn't have a bright future.

However, Santino refused to believe that Rainie had agreed to it. He looked at her and urged, "Rainie, I'm only waiting for your word. If you indeed want to break up with me, I'll leave immediately. I won't harass you."

"Santino," Rainie's eyes flickered. "I-I..."

Rainie thought of something, and she mustered up her courage. She finally said, "I don't want to live poorly in the future. I don't want to wear cheap clothes, eat cheap food, or take a bus to work. If you can't even get a job, how would you support us in the future?"

"I see."

Santino let out a long breath. He had finally realized that the truth never mattered to other people. He forced a smile and said, "Then, I wish you happiness."

"Y-You too," she replied.

"Rainie, why are you wasting time on him?" Helen stood up and pulled Rainie along. "Mr. Sun is still waiting for us. You know, the one your aunt introduced to us. He's the young master of the Sun family in Westlake. Let's go!"

Looking at the back of the three of them as they left, it choked Santino up.

He didn't feel wronged or humiliated. He wasn't even sorry for his badly ended relationship with Rainie.

It was just that it felt terrible watching the few people who were supposed to be important in his life leave and knowing that he would lose them forever.

After all, Santino once thought that he would marry Rainie, have a few children and then take good care of both of their parents someday in the future.

"Mister! You haven't paid yet."

When Santino got up and was about to leave, a waiter stopped him at the door.

Staggered, Santino replied awkwardly, "Sorry, I was distracted. How much is it?"

"That would be 168 yuan. It's the minimum spend."

Santino nodded. However, he froze as he reached for his pocket because he suddenly realized that he only had around eighty yuan left.

Santino had quit all his part-time jobs for the full internship. But, since he was fired, he had no salary.

"Uh, I forgot my wallet. I'll go get it now. Can you put the bill on the cuff?" Santino forced a smile.

"No, we aren't allowed to do that. Your friends shouldn't have gone far. Why don't you give them a call?" The waiter was still smiling, but he looked at Santino scornfully.

The corner of Santino's lips twitched. He couldn't call Rainie or her parents because his pride just wouldn't allow him to do so.

"I'll pay for him!"

Just as Santino was embarrassed and didn't know what to do, a gentle voice spoke up.

Santino glanced aside, and his eyes lit up.

Behind him stood two beautiful young girls. They were very eye-catching.

Especially the girl who had just taken out 200 yuan, she had nice eyebrows, large eyes, a delicate nose, and small lips. She didn't have makeup on, but she looked refined. She was an elegant beauty.

Her presence outshone other girls around her.

And she looked familiar to Santino.

The waiter, surprised, took the money from the girl. Earlier, Helen didn't bother to keep her voice down. Hence, the waiters knew that Santino had been dumped by a beautiful girl. He didn't expect that two more girls, who were more attractive, would stand up for Santino.

"Wait a minute," However, Santino stopped the waiter. "I can't ask them to pay for me. Here, take my phone. Although it isn't something valuable, it is very important to me. I'll leave it in your store, and I'll come back with cash later."

For a moment, the waiter was in a dilemma. He looked at the two girls with hesitation.