Love Lottery

"I'm sorry, Simon, but we don't need to meet anymore. It's better if we break up!"

"What?" The man called Simon was taken aback, his girlfriend's words caught him by surprise.

"Shania, can you please explain why? I can't believe you made such a unilateral decision without a clear reason."

His forehead furrowed as he tried to think of a plausible explanation from the person called Shania.

"We've been fine all this time, right? Please tell me, Shania, what made you give up on our relationship?"

Shania walked slowly towards Simon, then leaned closer and whispered in his ear.

"It's because I've never had any feelings for you." Simon's face instantly turned red, he couldn't believe what Shania had just said.

"That can't be true! You must be lying, Shania..."

"Why? Actually, I've wanted to tell you this important thing for a long time, but unfortunately, we rarely met, so it was difficult to find the right time for it." Shania took a deep breath. "I need money, Simon. Just look at yourself in the mirror - you're just a poor guy. You can't provide anything for me."

Simon squinted his eyes, looking around at his surroundings, his mouth twitching. After a few seconds, his lips moved again.

"So, just because of that?" Simon stared up at the sky. "Is that really the deepest truth in your heart, Shania? Are you that brave to make such a decision?"

Upon hearing that question, Shania momentarily paused, her sighs and breaths were audible before she answered Simon. "Yes..."

Shania was completely serious, Simon tilted his head and laughed ironically. "You must be joking, Shania. Who would believe your act this morning? Your words were so serious and hurtful to me."

Shania fell silent, her mind troubled. She eventually left from there.

Simon was left alone, contemplating in the same spot with a despondent expression. Until finally, he tried to walk away with a heavy heart.

At the edge of the koi pond, Simon stopped, gazing at his reflection in the water. A melancholic look appeared on his face, there was something clinging to his mind.

Simon took a deep breath, clicking his tongue. "Why am I destined like this? Yes, I may be a poor young man, but did Shania have to be so selfish towards me?" Actually, there were many questions swirling in his mind.

Their relationship had only lasted a year, and everyone thought they would have a long-lasting love. But it turned out that their predictions were wrong. Just a few seconds ago, Simon officially became single.

Although Simon's family background was not well-off, he was well-educated and handsome. There was a time when he was offered a scholarship to study abroad due to his exceptional potential, but Simon declined for reasons he couldn't explain.

Many people asked why, but Simon chose to become a fisherman to lighten the burden on his parents.

"Can it be true," Simon muttered to himself, staring at the koi fish swimming in the pond. "Am I really the unlucky one? Or could it be that I'm the luckiest man to have narrowly avoided a relationship built on superficiality?"

Amid the journey home, Simon accidentally caught sight of Shania stepping into a car. Instantly, Simon hid and observed her actions from a distance. "Why is Shania getting into that car?" His eyes remained fixated on his ex-girlfriend from afar.

A man dressed in formal attire emerged from the car. "Wait! He seems familiar..." Simon tried to recall his name. "Gerald, right. It's Gerald, that playboy. It can't be, Shania must have been influenced by him. She surely doesn't know Gerald's true nature. I have to approach them, hopefully, there's still hope for me..." Simon approached them with determination.

"Shania, can you explain this to me?" The owner of that name was taken aback and turned around, meeting Simon's piercing gaze. "Answer me, Shania, is it because of Gerald? Do you love him?"

The girl smiled cynically, "And what if I do? What's it to you?"

"Shania, don't be foolish. He's famous for being a playboy, surely you know that? He's been with numerous girls out there. Are you planning to be one of them too?" Simon's words were harsh, causing Shania to contemplate her response.

"Of course, I know. Gerald has already explained it to me. It's all lies. There are many girls who would exploit him for money. So, you don't need to meddle in other people's affairs."

Simon was taken aback hearing Shania's words. "You say other people?" Simon looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Shania, are you that easily swayed by him? If I were to tell you that he had lied to you, would you believe me?"

Shania covered her ears, screaming. "Enough! Stop bothering me, and please go away!"

Simon stood there, waiting for Shania's next words, hoping for something that would bring him a glimmer of comfort. But...

"Leave me alone, and never expect anything from me again!"

Shania turned around after her harsh words and left without caring about her conversational partner. However, as a man freshly heartbroken, Simon had to act foolishly, chase his love, and reach out to her as he said,

"Shania, listen to me. People like him might deceive you, or maybe he forced you to do this? If that's the case, I have to confront him."

Shania forcefully released her wrist from Simon's grip. "Stop lying to yourself, Simon. Gerald is nothing like what you imagined. Maybe you want to know why I did this? It's because I can no longer bear being with you. Someone will work hard to make a lot of money, just like me."

"But..."

"What? Don't you understand yet? Look at my bag now, I can buy this with money. Do you know how much it costs? Hundreds of dollars! Could I have something like this if I continued to be with you? I'm sorry, but it seems like you would never be able to provide me with all of that."

Simon was taken aback, never had he seen this side of Shania before. Three years knowing her was not enough. "Shania, listen. Gerald would never marry you. He's used many girls in the past."

"Sir, Simon Cowell, aren't you supposed to be a religious man? Yet here you are, talking bad about someone behind their back. Isn't that equivalent to gossiping? Where is all the religious knowledge you've acquired?"

Both of them turned, hearing Gerald's words, which pierced through the air. Simon knew exactly why Gerald said that.

Gerald walked slowly, circling around them, while they stood there, gazing at his well-dressed and classy figure. Compared to Simon, he was far behind.

Gerald, without hesitation, reached out for Shania's hand, even pulling her into an embrace in front of Simon.

"G-Gerald?" Shania stuttered, her hands trembling, especially when he placed her head to rest on his shoulder, making her innocent face look delicate.

Simon's palms grew warm, his face burned with envy, his heart felt like it had been pricked by a thousand needles. "Why does it feel so futile to speak with her? Should I act now?"

Simon shook his head. "No, they will think I'm a weak man. I must prove to them that women aren't everything." he mumbled to himself.

"Shania, is your decision final? Fine, do as you please. But remember, one day you'll regret this." After speaking, Simon turned and left.

"Wait!" Gerald's voice echoed. Simon stopped, but he didn't turn around even for a second.

Gerald glanced briefly at Shania. "Darling, wait in the car. I'll catch up with you after a brief chat with your ex."

"Gerald, what do you want? You don't need to concern yourself with him. Besides, we have no connection anymore. It's better if we leave here right away. You don't need to say anything more to him." Gerald raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"You don't have to worry. We'll just have a little talk-it won't affect our relationship."

Although Gerald said that, Shania hesitated to let them have their conversation. But as she thought about it again, she didn't want to bother with it.

"In that case, I'll wait in the car," Shania turned around and got into the car, occasionally glancing back to make sure they didn't resort to violence.

"You still hope she'll come back to you? But, I've already had her, I'm sorry if I've taken her away from you. If you want, you can beat me to a pulp." Those words slipped out of his mouth, Simon felt small, yet he still had the audacity to say such things. He wouldn't reveal his broken heart to that vile man.

"But it seems like you're mistaken. I only pity her. How can she be fooled by someone like you? Poor girl. But, don't worry about me, there are still so many girls out there who can replace her. Why should I chase after the same girl?"

Those words flowed naturally from his lips, Simon didn't want to lower himself to Gerald's level. Although he felt immense pain, he wouldn't show his broken heart in front of that vile man.

"But Simon, let me tell you one thing you don't know." Gerald approached slowly and whispered in his ear, "You've seen it, right? Shania has a beautiful and sexy body. Look at yourself. Could I have something like this if I kept being with you? I'm sorry, but it seems like you'll never be able to provide me with all of that."

"Alright... I have to go. Shania must have been waiting for me. And, I've already booked the best room for us at the five-star hotel, you must know what place that is. Oh well, it's pointless for me to tell you, considering you can't afford to eat there anyway."

This was an insult, but Simon wouldn't act hastily now. He had to behave like a real man.

"Shania, I don't believe she chose Gerald to replace me. All this time, I never dared to touch Shania, except for holding hands and kissing, nothing more. But that despicable man... he will ruin Shania's future. Should I just stay silent?"

Hufft...

"Hopefully, they won't go that far. What will happen to her if she becomes the next victim?"

Simon glanced at his watch. "It's already 4:00 p.m., it seems like I've been here for too long. It's better for me to go out and find other things to occupy my mind rather than thinking about something insignificant."