Volume One

Chapter 001: Ten Years

Shaoxing, Zhejiang.

On a bustling street near Chunbo Lane, it was the most lively and prosperous time of day.

A young man around thirty squatted beside a street stall, looking at the small trinkets on display. He held a fake Rolex watch in his hand, secretly clicking his tongue in admiration—this fake watch really looked authentic.

He actually owned a real Rolex, a gift from a friend in America. But compared to the one in his hand, you could hardly tell the difference. In fact, the fake one was even more likable because it was lighter.

This young man was named Ethan Brooks, thirty-three years old, and had just returned from the army. He dropped out of school at twenty-three, worked in sales, and even served as a barefoot doctor. At twenty-five, he was noticed by his instructor Gavin Clark and brought into the special forces. Eight years had passed in a flash. A year ago, his instructor Gavin Clark died during a mission, and Ethan Brooks lost all passion for staying in the army.

"Boss, how much is this?" Ethan Brooks picked up the fake Rolex and looked at the stall owner.

"Ten yuan, no bargaining." The stall owner was doing good business, answering Ethan Brooks while greeting other customers.

Ten yuan—really cheap. The fake was well made. Without a second thought, Ethan Brooks pulled out ten yuan and tossed it to the stall owner, ready to leave with the fake Rolex.

"Henry Carter, let go of me first..." a slightly anxious and angry female voice sounded.

Ethan Brooks looked up. A young man was dragging a woman around thirty, talking to her as he pulled her along.

"Alice Grant?" Ethan Brooks immediately recognized the woman. She was his classmate from university. He had only studied up to his junior year before leaving school, and the main reason was this very woman.

Alice Grant had a gentle personality. Back then, she was the top campus beauty at Yanda, with more than a company of suitors. Ethan Brooks, young and impetuous, naturally couldn't help but fall for such a beauty.

But liking her was one thing; Ethan Brooks knew his own situation. He didn't have the money to pursue a girlfriend. That sort of thing required spending, and he had to count every penny just to eat.

Once, his roommates pooled money to buy a bouquet of roses and encouraged Ethan Brooks to ask Alice Grant out. Ethan Brooks already had feelings for her, and now with a bouquet in hand, he had no reason to refuse.

What really moved Ethan Brooks was something one of his mischievous friends said: "Love isn't money. You don't have money now, but you will in the future. But love—you definitely won't have it later."

"You actually bought roses? Do you know how many meals you could buy with those? Poor, is this how you want to be poor? And you borrowed money for these flowers, didn't you? Focus your energy on studying. There's still time." When Ethan Brooks brought the roses to her dorm to ask her out, that's what she said to him.

Ethan Brooks couldn't remember how he walked out of the girls' dorm that day, nor did he know where he ended up tossing the bouquet. Back then, he was young and proud, and his self-esteem couldn't take such a blow—especially from a girl he liked.

He thought the girl he liked was just another gold-digger, but then again, most girls were realistic these days; it wasn't just her. Thinking this way, he didn't hold a grudge against Alice Grant. He did, however, lose the courage to stay at Yanda.

He left Yanda without telling anyone, just disappeared on his own, not even returning to the dorm. As an orphan, Ethan Brooks's sudden disappearance didn't cause much of a stir.

He never expected that ten years later, on a small street in Zhejiang, he would run into her again. A flood of emotions surged in Ethan Brooks's heart. Hate her? He never thought about it. She was right—he really was poor. Looking back, he felt his actions were a bit childish, but he had no regrets. You didn't learn much in college anyway, and he didn't care about the diploma.

But things he thought he'd forgotten came rushing back. With Ethan Brooks's impulsive nature, he wouldn't have forgotten how she treated him back then, but even if he remembered, he'd still charge forward. So, without hesitation, Ethan Brooks stepped up and lifted the young man grabbing Alice Grant as if picking up a chick. "Bastard, get lost."

Alice Grant just stared blankly at Ethan Brooks. Ten years ago, because of her, this boy disappeared. She never expected to meet him again, in a place like this, after all these years.