For the next three days, Lin Yixuan's "offensive" only escalated.
He reached out to everyone who could contact Song Jinhua—classmates, club friends, even upperclasswomen Jinhua barely knew, all sent her messages:
"Huahua, Yixuan said he was wrong, he's willing to support your London plans…"
"Huahua, Yixuan hasn't eaten much for days, can't you just soften up for once…"
"Huahua, breakups should be talked through, isn't blocking him a bit harsh?"
Jinhua replied to each, her stance unwavering:
"We've broken up. His problems aren't my responsibility."
Then deleted and blocked them all.
In her previous life, she'd gotten exhausted by this kind of "collective pressure," eventually relenting out of guilt. Now she understood—when faced with moral blackmail, the only solution was firm boundaries, leaving no loophole.
On the fourth morning, Jinhua was about to head to the factory when her phone rang.
This time it was her college advisor.
"Jinhua, I heard about you and Lin Yixuan." The teacher's voice was concerned. "You're both good kids—can't you just talk it out? Lin Yixuan called me from Beijing, says he's hurrying back. I don't want things to get ugly…"
Jinhua took a steady breath and—politely but firmly—said, "Teacher, Lin Yixuan and I broke up peacefully. There's no drama, we're simply not right for each other. I'm going to London for school, he's staying in Beijing; long-term, it's not realistic. I just want him to respect my decision and stop bothering me."
"But he says—"
"Teacher, relationships are between two people." Jinhua interrupted. "He has the right to feel sad, but not the right to demand I change my mind. My decision is final—please understand."
The advisor was silent for a few seconds, then sighed. "Alright, I respect your choice. But if he does come to Shanghai, meet with him, clear things up face-to-face. No need for a scene."
Hanging up, Jinhua felt tired.
Why did breaking up have to be so complicated? It was perfectly normal, so why was everyone judging her as "too cold" or "unfair"?
But she was no longer the girl who'd be swayed by others' opinions.
At noon, Jinhua was at the factory discussing production line changes with her father when her mother called, sounding flustered:
"Huahua, that Xiao Lin boy came to our house! He says he has to see you, he's waiting downstairs!"
Jinhua felt a dark weight settle in her chest.
Here he was.
"Mum, don't let him in. I'll be right back."
After telling her father, she hurried home.
At her door, Lin Yixuan was indeed waiting.
He wore a wrinkled white shirt, greasy hair, stubbly jaw, holding a roughly wrapped bouquet of roses. Seeing Jinhua, he lit up, tried to grab her hand:
"Huahua! I knew you cared! I took the overnight train from Beijing just to see you…"
Jinhua stepped back, avoiding his hand, speaking evenly: "Lin Yixuan, why are you here?"
"To get you back!" Lin Yixuan's tone was full of entitlement. "Huahua, I've come around—I'll support your studies in London, we can try long-distance…"
"No need." Jinhua interrupted. "I've already made it clear—we've broken up. Not because of distance, but because we're fundamentally incompatible."
"Incompatible how?!" Lin Yixuan's voice rose, drawing stares from neighbors. "We've been together a year—I've treated you well! I texted you every day, went to class with you, edited photos for you…"
Jinhua couldn't help but laugh: "You treated me well? We've dated a year, I paid every single time, did you ever treat? You say you helped with photos, but have you ever cared about my design work? You just wanted a free ATM and emotional dump."
Lin Yixuan flushed: "How could you say that?! I'm a man, I have dreams—it's normal to struggle financially at first! You're my girlfriend, supporting me is your job!"
"I have to sacrifice my dream because you're chasing yours?" Jinhua retorted. "And what about my dream? My London offer? Did you ever support me? You never saw me as an independent person, only as your appendage."
"I didn't!" Lin Yixuan panicked. "I truly love you!"
"Love?" Jinhua sneered. "You don't love me—you love the 'perfect girlfriend' who endlessly supports, satisfies, and gives up everything for you. That's not me."
Speechless, Lin Yixuan threw his flowers to the ground and snapped,
"Song Jinhua, you'll regret this! You think you're hot stuff just because you can go to London? Your family's factory is bankrupt, how will you even afford to go? Even if you make it, what kind of future do you have as a girl? Someday you'll see—leaving me was your life's biggest mistake!"
Then he turned and left.
Jinhua quietly watched his retreating back—a scene that stirred nothing.
She'd heard variations before and, last life, been shaken by them. Now she saw—this was just a bruised ego's last flailing gasp.
"Huahua…" Her mother appeared behind, worried. "You rejected him so coldly—will he…"
"Mum, I'm fine." Jinhua smiled, taking her mother's hand. "He just can't accept it yet. He'll settle down. No need to worry about him."
Seeing her daughter's composure, her mother hesitated but finally nodded.
Back in her room, Jinhua opened her laptop and set about London's admissions paperwork.
Visa application, booking accommodation, buying flights, organizing luggage—each step carefully planned.
Last life, she hesitated, missed the best time, and was scattered and anxious when she finally got to London. This time, she'd do everything well.
When it was done, she opened a new document to write her three-year plan:
"2024-2027 Personal Development Plan"
First Year (Sep 2024-Aug 2025): London College of Fashion, focus on learning
Core Subjects: Apparel structure, textiles, color theory, 3D tailoring
Electives: Brand management, supply chain management, fashion marketing
Internship: Try for a position at a UK designer studio, build experience
Connections: Network, attend fashion exhibitions and lectures
Track Chinese market trends, prepare for return
Second Year (Sep 2025-Aug 2026): Deeper study, laying groundwork
Complete graduation collection, aim for London Fashion Week showcase
Research fabrics and suppliers, build resources
Start designing brand positioning and business model
Keep in touch with parents' factory, offer remote guidance for transformation
Save money for future startup
Third Year (Sep 2026-Aug 2027): Graduation, launch business
Graduate, get degree
Return home, formally launch personal brand "Splendid"
Partner with Zhou Zhiruo, split responsibilities
Produce through parents' factory, start small-scale operation
First-year goals: Refine product, build reputation, don't chase profit
When she finished, Jinhua leaned back and exhaled deeply.
What had taken her ten years of stumbling last life—she'd finish in three this time.
Not because she was cutting corners, but because she now knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it.
Outside, the summer sunset painted her room gold.
Looking at her screen, Jinhua smiled with new resolve.
Lin Yixuan was truly a closed chapter.
What came next belonged wholly to her.
She would go to London, learn the most advanced concepts, gain solid experience.
And she would come back to build her own fashion empire.
This time—nothing and no one could stop her.