The Opportunity to Become Rich Overnight: How He Seized His Destiny

Inside a bustling university campus, in a Dicos restaurant, a stunning young woman with long, flowing hair leisurely scrolled through her phone, nibbling on fries, her fair legs swinging freely. On the table before her sat an array of treats—grilled wings, burgers, and a bright orange juice. At a nearby table, a young man focused intently on his studies, occasionally furrowing his brows as if grappling with profound concepts. It was the typical campus tableau: a carefree girl and a diligent student. After a while, the girl stretched, glanced at the untouched food before her, pouted slightly, and stood to leave. Instantly, the young man's gaze locked onto the half-eaten feast left behind. With a quick look around to ensure no one was watching, he moved swiftly to her table, his movements practiced, almost second nature. "Damn, she's rich enough to waste all this food. Waste is a sin, so I’ll take on the ‘burden’ for her," he muttered, stuffing her leftover fries into his mouth with an experienced ease. Even the orange juice, with her lipstick mark still visible, didn’t deter him as he took a long gulp. Then, out of nowhere, he felt a cold, creeping sense of dread and instinctively looked up. The girl was back, staring at him, wide-eyed in shock. “Oh my God, you... you... I just went to the restroom! And you’re... eating my food?” Her voice quivered with disbelief. Who would imagine someone doing such a thing at a university of all places? Could anyone be that desperate? Around them, other students began to notice, shooting curious glances. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he stammered, embarrassed as he quickly stood, hastily retreating under their scrutiny. “Crap, I thought she'd left for good,” he muttered to himself, scurrying out of Dicos. "Next time, I’d better make sure they’re really gone before chowing down." Out on the street, he sighed deeply. "Look at me, Lu Yuan, reduced to this... Man, if I wasn’t flat broke, would I even think about doing something this shameless?" He rubbed his stomach, at least thankful for the half-meal he’d just managed to scavenge. Now, a quick nap back at the dorm would suffice. As he entered, his close friend Zhang Hui approached him, a buzz-cut guy with a friendly grin. "Hey, Lu Yuan, Li Mengyao dropped by and left this for you." Zhang Hui handed over an Oppo-R17 phone. Seeing the phone made Lu Yuan’s chest tighten. Li Mengyao, his ex-girlfriend, had broken up with him just three days prior, at her own request. That phone? It had cost over three thousand yuan—Lu Yuan had scrimped and saved from odd jobs for a month just to buy it as her birthday present. He could still remember the look of pure joy on her face when she first saw it. That memory, bittersweet, had once been a source of warmth. But now, she’d clearly dismissed it, tossing it back to him as worthless. Unlocking the phone, he saw a message on the lock screen. “Lu Yuan, here’s your junk phone. I don’t need it anymore. My boyfriend got me an iPhone X. He cares for me, and he can actually afford to—something you’ll never be able to do.” Money—it was all about money. And he had none. "Come on, Lu Yuan, let it go," Zhang Hui said, clapping him on the back. "I told you ages ago that Li Mengyao’s not in our league. She’s too stunning, too... flashy. The kind of girl with long legs and a social media influencer’s face, who acts all delicate and coy. Girls like her? They're just meant for rich guys, plain and simple. Average guys like us are bound to get burned." "Besides, didn't you sleep with her too? You’re not exactly losing out.” “I didn’t, though,” Lu Yuan admitted. “What?! You dated her for a whole year, and you didn’t... you mean all those times you two stayed at hotels on holidays...?” “Two beds. Nothing happened,” Lu Yuan said, sighing. "Damn, that’s a massive loss!” Zhang Hui groaned. Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret himself. But he had genuinely loved Li Mengyao, and he’d respected her boundaries, never pushing for more. Still... Lu Yuan weighed the phone in his hand. The only upside to their breakup might be that he’d finally have a chance to replace his old Nokia with it. Just then, the Oppo chimed with a new message. “After due consideration, the family has decided that your three-year restriction has ended. The financial limit on your access has been lifted, effective immediately.” Lu Yuan blinked at the text. Wait... the restriction was gone? He had control over his wealth again? He didn’t have to pretend to be broke anymore? The message didn’t even surprise him too much—he’d actually bought that number when he got the phone for Li Mengyao and had been topping it up regularly. In fact, he’d chosen that number as his contact for the family, envisioning a day when he’d reveal his secret as a wealthy heir and surprise her. How ironic that she’d chosen to leave him just as he regained access to his wealth. And all because he was “poor.” She’d probably never have guessed, not even in her wildest dreams, that she’d just broken up with a millionaire. Now that the restriction was lifted, what was he waiting for? Lu Yuan strode purposefully out of the campus, heading straight for an impressive, European-style building in the city center. Outside, an array of luxury cars was lined up, most of them sleek business models. The men and women entering were all clad in high-end suits, professionals who practically radiated success. Next to them, Lu Yuan’s bargain-bin clothes looked downright shabby. But he didn’t flinch, walking confidently toward the building with a faint smirk. The sign above read, “Huari Bank.” “Sir, how can I help you today?” Inside the lobby, a young woman in a sleek black suit greeted him with a polite smile. But while her mouth smiled, her eyes betrayed a faint disdain. It was clear she pegged him as an out-of-place, broke student from the moment he walked in. Lu Yuan took note of her gaze. He had to admit, this was a stunning woman—rosy complexion, impeccable figure, her smooth, shapely legs accentuated by the short business skirt. International banks really did know how to choose their staff. “I’d like to make a withdrawal,” Lu Yuan said casually. “Do you have a Huari Bank card?” she asked. “Uh, no,” Lu Yuan admitted, scratching his head. At that, her disdain grew sharper. She’d already written him off as a nobody, some bumpkin who’d wandered in for a taste of the high life. Unable to maintain her forced politeness, she spoke with open contempt. “I’m afraid we can’t allow withdrawals without a card, sir. And it’s not easy to get a Huari Bank card—clients must provide proof of assets exceeding one million, and each card must hold a minimum deposit of a hundred thousand. If you don’t have other business here, kindly leave.” Even the barest pretense of courtesy was gone. Just then, a middle-aged couple entered, dressed in impeccable, high-end clothing. “Ah, Mr. Wang, Mrs. Wang, welcome! What can we assist you with today?” The woman’s attitude shifted completely, greeting the couple with eager warmth. "Honestly, Ms. Zheng, I feel like the clientele here has gotten... questionable," Mrs. Wang said with a slight sneer as she glanced in Lu Yuan's direction, as if simply being near him was somehow degrading. Some people, after all, needed to look down on others to feel a sense of superiority. Ms. Zheng felt a sudden pang of annoyance toward Lu Yuan. If his presence jeopardized her relationship with the Wangs, she’d never forgive him. Her brow furrowed with irritation, and she gave Lu Yuan a dismissive look. “Why are you still here? Shall I call security to escort you out?” “You’re not authorized to handle my request,” Lu Yuan shot back, coolly striding toward a door marked VIP Clients Only. “Come back here!” Ms. Zheng snapped, chasing him on her heels. But her high heels slowed her down, and by the time she reached the door, he was already inside. Fuming, she stood outside, uncertain. “What a worthless person!” she muttered, pacing in frustration. “Don’t worry, Ms. Zheng,” Mr. Wang assured her, understanding her concern. “If your superiors have questions, we’ll gladly vouch for you. We saw him ignore your requests entirely.” “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Wang,” Ms. Zheng replied gratefully, a little relieved.