Chapter 1
Chapter 1: When the Money Stops, So Do the Feelings
“Philin Solster, these are all complaint letters about you harassing female students.”
The setting sun’s afterglow streamed through the office window, casting light on the desk piled high with envelopes.
Philin’s hand unconsciously rubbed at his sleeve cuff, where the fabric had worn thin and frayed.
“Can’t you have some restraint? It’s fine that you like Miss Violette Seraphiel, but you’re seriously damaging her reputation now.”
Philin’s gaze drifted past the grade director who was cleaning his glasses, settling on the true beauty sitting beside him.
“Miss Violette was accepted into the Royal Capital Academy, and you know the Seraphiel family’s status. Do you really think you two will ever cross paths in the future?”
Philin looked down at the loose threads on his clothes, saying nothing.
“I won’t allow you to ruin the reputation of our school’s once-in-a-century genius. Next time I’ll have to call the guards, and you really will go to prison.”
Philin nodded, his voice somewhat hoarse.
“I’ll remember that. Thank you for the warning, teacher.”
“Get out.”
Philin turned and left the office, glancing back once at Violette, who sat motionless in her chair, then gently closed the door.
In the sunset’s afterglow, his shadow stretched long and far.
Everything his eyes could see was dyed red by the setting sun.
Philin gradually moved away from the grade director’s window, his hunched back slowly straightening.
He pulled a notebook from his jacket and quickly flipped through it.
“There’s still one more scene. Let me see… the prop is eye drops, and the key point is to perform the expression of someone who’s heartbroken but has no choice but to leave…”
Philin wasn’t an actor—he was a professional simp.
And his employer was none other than Violette’s father, Lord Seraphiel himself.
Three years ago, Violette had been humiliated by some scoundrel at a banquet and hadn’t left her room for half a year.
Philin’s job was to simp for Violette—to simp her back to confidence, to simp her back to her former glory.
And Philin had succeeded. He’d provided enough emotional validation to help Violette emerge from her shadow and even get accepted into the Royal Capital Academy.
The grade director’s door slowly creaked open.
Pink hair framed her fair skin like winter dawn shrouding fresh snow.
A gentle breeze stirred the bangs draped across her forehead.
She used her pinky to delicately hook away a strand of hair clinging to her rosy lips, sweeping it behind her ear to reveal her pale earlobe.
Even though he’d seen her countless times, Philin had to admit that Violette’s beauty was a gift from the gods.
Despite her adorable appearance, her amber eyes always held that cold, distant look.
Philin pinched his thigh and took a deep breath.
“Violette…”
Philin’s eyes glistened with tears, his face flushed red. He slowly reached out his hand as if trying to touch an unreachable star, his figure slightly hunched.
Violette stood in the doorway, expressionless.
“Philin, I’m very grateful for your help. But…”
“I’ll never bother you again!”
Philin bowed deeply, apologizing earnestly.
This was the first time he’d ever said such words to Violette.
Violette squinted slightly in the setting sun, swaying a little.
“Is that so.”
Her voice was so soft it was almost carried away by the wind.
“The graduation party at Silver Moon Valley on Sunday…”
“I absolutely won’t come to bother you! You’ll meet better people there.”
Philin looked up and saw the sunset’s afterglow spilling across her face.
In the interplay of light and shadow, Philin could only make out her delicate facial features, unable to see her expression clearly.
Those amber eyes seemed to merge with the setting sun, as if trying to say something.
“I understand.”
The expressionless beauty nodded and turned to leave.
“Violette, how can I live without you! Violette, please be happy!”
Watching Violette disappear around the corner and down the stairs, Philin turned and pulled out a tissue to wipe away the eye drops he’d just applied.
Acting really was exhausting work.
To achieve that expression of treating someone as true love but having no choice but to let them go, he’d even thrown fifty crowns into the river.
“Buzz, buzz.”
The communication seal vibrated rhythmically.
“Yo, kid. Is it all over?” The speaker was Violette’s father, Lord Seraphiel.
“Mm-hmm. Since we’re terminating the contract, I’ve already made a very clean break with Violette.”
Those complaint letters in the office had even been written by himself.
“Good. Just make sure my daughter doesn’t figure it out. If she found out, she’d hate me to death.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a professional.”
After helping Violette regain her confidence, leave her room, and get into the Royal Capital Academy, he’d served his purpose. So terminating the contract was expected.
“I’m only giving you this much money because of your father.”
“Thank you, Lord Seraphiel.”
He’d once been nobility too.
More precisely, the original owner of this body had been nobility.
The Philin family, once known as the “Light of Seiva,” had been the most powerful family in Seiva City.
But three years ago, the Philin family had been completely destroyed overnight for unknown reasons, and all the nobles refused to speak about it.
The original owner had committed suicide by poison, and that’s when Philin had transmigrated.
When he woke up, he found his parents gone and countless debts left behind.
And aside from being handsome, he was utterly useless.
An alcoholic father, a remarried mother, a sick sister, and a broken him.
From then on, he’d walked the path of no return. He could only hope his sister would take care of herself.
Making money wasn’t shameful!
“One more question—what do you think of my daughter?”
Philin raised an eyebrow and said casually, “Miss Violette will definitely become a big shot in the church. A small fry like me could never reach those heights.”
“Haha.”
The communication ended with Lord Seraphiel’s hearty laughter.
That old man was still worried he might actually fall for Violette. Philin couldn’t wait to be done with this job.
Not only did he have to deliver three meals on time every day, but he also had to come up with new ways to confess.
While enduring his classmates’ criticism, he also had to carefully observe Violette’s mood changes.
Don’t underestimate being a simp—being a professional simp wasn’t easy!
“This job’s finally over. Tonight I’m going to splurge and add two eggs!”
As he turned around, Philin saw Violette’s figure downstairs.
She stood in the sunset, her petite shadow stretching long and far.
Pink hair slipped from her pale shoulders as she slowly turned around, her skirt swaying gently.
Those amber eyes sparkled with tiny fragments of light, gazing bit by bit toward the floor where Philin stood, her expression still calm.
Philin’s heart tightened, and he instinctively stepped back, pressing against the wall to hide in the shadows.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving? Still waiting for Violette?”
The grade director’s voice came from behind him.
“Director, I… I’m not.”
The grade director stuck his head out and looked around.
“Violette’s already gone. Go home, and don’t forget what I told you today.”
“Got it, Director. I’ll leave now.”
Watching Philin’s departing figure, even the director couldn’t help but sigh.
Violette was already the school’s famous beauty with high visibility.
And Philin’s relationship with her was quite special.
Rumor had it that before the Philin family’s downfall, Lord Seraphiel had even proposed a marriage alliance, wanting to marry Violette to Philin.
But Philin had refused at the time.
And now it had become a light novel plot of “The Guy Who Rejected Me Had His Family Destroyed, Now He Regrets It.”
No one would refuse to be the protagonist of a “Three-Year Promise” novel—anyone would find it thrilling, right?
This kind of male lead power fantasy had spread wildly among students, and soon the whole school knew about it.
Even in the office, he couldn’t help but listen to other female teachers vividly telling stories about Philin.
Though listening violated teaching ethics, what kind of person wouldn’t be interested in such drama?
Wherever Philin went, there were always people pointing and whispering behind his back.
Fortunately, the school had good discipline, so there was no physical bullying.
Philin now sat under a tree, admiring his account balance.
Lord Seraphiel had transferred a full 500,000 crowns—enough for a whole year’s living expenses.
Sweet talk couldn’t compare to cold, hard cash.
Absolutely crazy!
Once he had money, he’d definitely buy a manor in some remote suburb and tell all his clients to stay away.
He’d hire a hundred maids and make them wear black stockings on odd days and white stockings on even days.
Buzz~ Buzz~
Another vibration from the communication seal.
[Accompany me to Violette’s graduation party on Sunday. I’ll pay overtime—10,000 crowns.]