《I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping》 Chapter 1 - 1 001 Bootlicker deserves to die a thousand times ?1: 001 Bootlicker deserves to die a thousand times 1: 001 Bootlicker deserves to die a thousand times ¡°Jiang Chen, I¡¯ve already told you, we¡¯ve broken up, stop pestering me!¡± East Sea University. The maple forest. A delicate-looking young man with wide eyes appeared somewhat bewildered. The girl not far from him possessed all the beauty one should have at her age. Her pretty face and elegant figure, along with her bright eyes and delicate features, made her the class belle. At the same time, she was also his first love. However, the fate of the two had already come to an end two months ago. Although they had broken up, Jiang Chen, as the ex-boyfriend, remained awfully dutiful. Even after being dumped, he never forgot his old feelings and never refused to help her when she needed it, which is why he gradually became known throughout East Sea University as¡ªthe lickspittle. Of course, Jiang Chen denied it himself. He thought it was simply the basic responsibility of a man. If they couldn¡¯t be lovers, they could at least stay friends. So when he received a text from Ai Qian today asking to meet and talk, he agreed without a second thought. After breaking up with him, Ai Qian seemed not to be happy. She talked about her current boyfriend¡¯s neglect of her, and she almost shed tears a moment ago. Jiang Chen was thinking about how to comfort her when suddenly her tone changed abruptly. His eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Ai Qian strangely, but the sound of footsteps behind him explained the reason. ¡°Zhen Lun, why are you here?¡± The recently tearful Ai Qian now looked thrilled, seamlessly switching expressions. She quickly advanced, passing by Jiang Chen without a sideways glance, and in the blink of an eye, the man she had just poured her heart out to was treated like air. Jiang Chen turned around, saw the newcomer, and suddenly understood, involuntarily letting out a wry smile. ¡°Just passing by, what are you doing here?¡± The young man clad in branded clothing with the air of a rich kid looked at Jiang Chen. His gaze seemed friendly, but it harbored a hidden sharpness. ¡°Nothing, Jiang Chen asked me out for a walk.¡± Ai Qian nonchalantly took her boyfriend¡¯s hand, calmly and confidently lying. Seeing her current state of sweet happiness, it was hard to imagine she had just been venting her grievances to Jiang Chen. Indeed, the saying held true that women were born actresses. Jiang Chen, the infamous lickspittle of East Sea University, faced his ex-girlfriend¡¯s outrageous false accusation without uttering a word. ¡°Senior Jiang, it¡¯s been so long since you and Ai Qian broke up, haven¡¯t you started a new relationship? I happen to know quite a few girls; how about I introduce some to you?¡± Liang Zhenlun smiled amiably. Although the rich kid may not be magnanimous, he was somewhat articulate. His words seemed well-intentioned but were an utter demolition of Jiang Chen. To come across one¡¯s girlfriend ¡°dating¡± in a small forest with another man, and an ex-boyfriend at that, would of course displease any man. Had it been any significant rival, he surely would have flown into a rage on the spot. But Jiang Chen... A poor kid who had lost both parents, what did he have to compare with Liang Zhenlun? As a well-known rich second-generation heir at East Sea University, Liang Zhenlun was full of confidence in himself. Moreover, he knew that Ai Qian was a clever girl. She abandoned her boyfriend for money in less than a week, throwing herself at him. How could she possibly want to go back to her ex now? Unless Jiang Chen, the poor kid, suddenly became wealthy, or his family went bankrupt. Neither seemed likely to happen. Of course, even though he was certain that Jiang Chen posed no threat, these stealthy private meetings still needed to be nipped in the bud. ¡°You and Senior Jiang have already broken up, so you should keep your distance to avoid misunderstandings. Of course, I would never doubt you, but others may not be so sure, and Senior Jiang still has to date, so don¡¯t hold him back.¡± Liang Zhenlun insinuated with veiled criticism. Ai Qian was a smart person, how could she not hear the dissatisfaction in her boyfriend¡¯s tone, though she appeared anxious on the surface, she was secretly delighted. Making her boyfriend anxious was precisely why she met Jiang Chen today. She quickly snuggled into his embrace, cooing, ¡°I know, I know.¡± Jiang Chen stood by in silence. To stab at the heart, there was no greater way than this. When Ai Qian was with him, she was never this clingy; even holding hands required cajoling and trickery, a tremendous effort. But now... ¡°Senior Jiang, then we¡¯ll be leaving first,¡± she said. Liang Zhenlun smiled at Jiang Chen before leaving confidently with Ai Qian on his arm, clearly the triumphant victor. Jiang Chen stood alone, watching the pair walk out of the woods, laughing and talking before getting into a bright red Maserati. Even though the label of a devoted fool had long tempered him to have a heart far stronger than ordinary people, at that moment, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel a tightness in his chest. He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, then mechanically cracked a smile, as if nothing had happened, casually walking out of the maple woods. ¡°Jiang Chen, Ai Qian is using you completely as a tool!¡± A tall, sunny young man suddenly popped out, startling Jiang Chen. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Jiang Chen snapped, in no good mood. ¡°Where am I talking nonsense? I saw everything.¡± This sunny young man was Jiang Chen¡¯s roommate, a very close friend. He deeply disdained Ai Qian¡¯s vain and materialistic behavior and was indignant that she would use her ex as a tool after the breakup. To break up is everyone¡¯s right. He couldn¡¯t say much about it, but to use her friend as a tool after the breakup was more than he could bear. ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Ai Qian¡¯s purpose in seeking you out today was to perform for Liang Zhenlun! She¡¯s just using you as a stepping stone to create a sense of crisis in him and make him value her more. Can you wake up already!¡± Luo Peng said with heartfelt distress. In the past two months, he had tried to reason with Jiang Chen countless times, but Jiang Chen never listened, stubbornly doing his own thing, refusing to repent, leaving Luo Peng helpless. ¡°I understand, I won¡¯t see her again.¡± The two were in the same class, so not seeing each other was clearly unrealistic. Jiang Chen meant, perhaps, that he had decided to draw a clear line with Ai Qian. Luo Peng was startled, caught off guard. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you serious?¡± Jiang Chen nodded, his smile easy after seeming to wake up from being used over and over by Ai Qian. ¡°Let¡¯s go, call up Xiao Bai and the others, we¡¯re going drinking, my treat.¡± The surprise was so sudden that Luo Peng found it hard to believe, ¡°Jiang Chen... are you okay?¡± He looked doubtful, wondering if his good friend had been psychologically affected by that couple. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m fine. Keep me company and drink a few more later,¡± Jiang Chen retorted. Relieved by this, Luo Peng relaxed. Fate finally took a turn. The seasoned fool had finally come to his senses. ¡°No problem, we should indeed celebrate!¡± Luo Peng was truly happy. Jiang Chen looked up. The setting sun shone on his handsome, clean face, which seemed to be filled with the vitality of rebirth. ¡°A fool in love deserves a thousand deaths.¡± He murmured. Luo Peng paused, then nodded vehemently, raising his voice and repeating the phrase, ¡°A fool in love deserves a thousand deaths!¡± Chapter 2 - 2 002 received one hundred trillion ?2: 002 received one hundred trillion 2: 002 received one hundred trillion ¡°Brother Luo, how about we pick another place?¡± As they walked into the nightclub where the lights were hazy and the noise of the crowd was deafening, Bai Zheli gently nudged Luo Peng¡¯s arm, visibly uneasy. At KIMI. Gazing over the East Sea, it could be considered a widely famed nightspot. Rumor had it that a big celebrity was the investor behind the scenes. Basking in this glory, the club had been bustling with business since its opening, especially popular among the sons and daughters of the East Sea¡¯s elite. Because of its market positioning, the entrance threshold was high, with the average spending starting in the four digits and no ceiling, which understandably made the place feel out of reach for ordinary university students. Although he had never been there before, having studied in the East Sea for a few years, of course, Bai Zheli had heard of KIMI¡¯s renown. Some of the rich second-generation kids from his school would hang out there from time to time, but he was just a kid from an ordinary family, with a monthly allowance of barely over one thousand. How could he even think of stepping into such a place? In fact, he had started feeling intimidated when he saw the parking lot full of luxury cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and big G-wagons. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Jiang Chen said he¡¯s picking up the tab tonight!¡± Luo Peng laughed nonchalantly and then put his arm around Bai Zheli¡¯s slender shoulders. ¡°Little Bai, it¡¯s your first time at KIMI, right? Look around, there are beauties everywhere. Don¡¯t waste such a rare opportunity, man.¡± Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and a bitter smile couldn¡¯t help but surface on his fair and refined face. Since he was the youngest, his roommates called him Little Bai. As for tonight¡¯s ¡°big spender,¡± he was the third eldest. Speaking of Jiang Chen, Bai Zheli was actually even less of an entity. Jiang Chen might be well-known in the school as a tail-wagger, but at the very least he had experienced a romantic relationship. Whereas he, the youngest, had a blank slate when it came to romance, a complete and utter novice. ¡°Got your eye on someone tonight? Just tell me, bro, and I guarantee I¡¯ll help you get her!¡± Luo Peng tightened his hold on Bai Zheli¡¯s shoulders, speaking with a decisive and insistent tone. ¡°Enough, don¡¯t lead Little Bai astray. Are there any good girls in a place like this?¡± Dorm leader Li Shao stepped in to divert the conversation away from Bai Zheli. ¡°Big bro, that¡¯s too absolute. Who says all girls who go to clubs are bad?¡± Luo Peng countered. Seizing the chance, Bai Zheli discreetly slipped out of his grasp and stood further away. Among the four guys in the dorm, perhaps only Luo Peng, the second eldest, was considered the most ¡°promising;¡± he was good-looking and sunny, plus his family owned a factory. To date, he had changed girlfriends four or five times and was quite carefree in matters of the heart. Of course. He never kept his ¡°wisdom¡± to himself. He often shared his advanced experiences with his dorm mates, claiming that as men, they should be free-spirited and not take girlfriends too seriously. If things worked out, they continued; if not, they parted ways, stating that compromise won¡¯t bring true love, at best it was a limited pity. It was hard to say whether Bai Zheli and Li Shao took his words to heart, but at least Jiang Chen definitely didn¡¯t heed them. ¡°Not all girls here are bad, but finding a good girl in this place is like looking for treasure in a garbage dump.¡± Dorm leader Li Shao looked around at the wildly reveling crowd in the bar with sober clarity. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t argue with you.¡± Luo Peng didn¡¯t bother talking further; he was naturally most familiar with this kind of setting. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find a place to sit.¡± Normally, at a club like KIMI, just turning up wouldn¡¯t guarantee a seat, but Luo Peng had been here before and had the marketing number, so he had reserved a booth in advance. ¡°Jiang Chen, take a look, what do you want to drink?¡± Luo Peng, knowing the ropes, swayed with the beat of the music and handed the drinks menu to Jiang Chen. Taking the menu, Jiang Chen subconsciously glanced at the prices and his pupils involuntarily contracted. A plain beer was priced at dozens, and they were sold individually no less. As roommates, how could he not understand his difficulties? A person who relies on scholarships to pay tuition can¡¯t afford the consumption here. ¡°Jiang Chen, let¡¯s go Dutch.¡± The dorm leader, Li Shao, kindly suggested. Bai Zheli couldn¡¯t help but glance at his second brother, Luo Peng. They could have just found a random place to have a drink, but he had to choose such a high-end venue. To the unaware, it would seem like they were fleecing fat sheep. ¡°Jiang Chen, order whatever you like; you¡¯re hosting tonight, but I¡¯ll pick up the tab!¡± Luo Peng said with a cheerful smile. As a friend, he obviously didn¡¯t mean to make things difficult for Jiang Chen. In fact, before they came, he had already decided to pay the bill himself. Li Shao and Bai Zheli were not too surprised, as good friends, they naturally understood each other¡¯s personalities. But unexpectedly, Jiang Chen refused Luo Peng¡¯s generosity and stubbornly said, ¡°I said I¡¯d host the dinner, so it¡¯s on me. Tonight, we won¡¯t go home until we¡¯re drunk.¡± Luo Peng hesitated to speak and exchanged a glance with Li Shao. How stubborn Jiang Chen was could be seen in the way he treated Ai Qian. It was very hard for others to change his mind once he had decided on something. ¡°Fine, if you insist on hosting, then you host!¡± Luo Peng didn¡¯t argue, temporarily agreeing, thinking to himself that later, after they had drunk a bit, he would secretly go and settle the bill. Unable to afford very expensive drinks, Jiang Chen ordered two beverage packages and a fruit plate. He had mentally prepared himself to spend two or three thousand. Over the years, he had worked part-time while studying, and although he had spent some with Ai Qian, he had also saved a little. ¡°Drink up!¡± The four young men clinked their cups, their faces flushed with warmth, casting aside all worries and thoroughly enjoying themselves. This is what youth should look like. ¡°Chen, breaking up with Ai Qian was the right choice, you can definitely find someone better!¡± They say a drunk man¡¯s words are a sober man¡¯s thoughts. Clearly, the atmosphere at the moment allowed Bai Zheli to speak what had been hidden in his heart. ¡°Xiao Bai is right! What¡¯s so great about Ai Qian? Look around, which of these girls isn¡¯t prettier than her?¡± Sitting next to him, Luo Peng slapped Bai Zheli¡¯s shoulder hard, his strength unchecked due to the alcohol, nearly knocking him off the couch. The drinks sloshed and spilled as Luo Peng, teetering slightly, raised his glass and said with bold enthusiasm, ¡°Jiang Chen, you¡¯re so handsome and talented; your future is boundless. I believe that one day, Ai Qian will regret her decision!¡± This flattery was so elaborate that even Jiang Chen felt a little embarrassed. Handsome... if he tidied himself up, he really was somewhat notable ¨C even if not as handsome as Pan An, he still had a clear and handsome appearance, with a height of 176 centimeters that was just right, and a clean and neat temperament. He was the type that definitely wouldn¡¯t provoke dislike at first glance. If it weren¡¯t for his good looks, Ai Qian wouldn¡¯t have agreed to be with a poor guy like him in the first place. As for talent, receiving scholarships year after year was also not an overstatement. But you should know, in this day and age, it¡¯s not about how well you study, it¡¯s about background and family wealth. There¡¯s a saying that goes, why should decades of struggle from someone¡¯s ancestors lose out to your ten years of hard studying? ¡°Enough talk, let¡¯s drink!¡± ¡°Clink!¡± The sound of glass cups clinking crisply together. Just as Jiang Chen was about to throw his head back and down his drink, suddenly, he heard a ¡°ding¡± noise. [Detecting a suitable host, binding the Ultimate Licking Dog System...] [Binding complete] [Ten trillion Licking Dog Coins have been deposited to your account] Chapter 3 - 3 003 The first target ?3: 003 The first target 3: 003 The first target What the hell? The Ultimate Bootlicker System? Jiang Chen wondered if it was the noisy bar environment that caused him to hallucinate. After all, ¡°bootlicker¡± had been his label for the past year, constantly shadowing him wherever he went, and he could hear it everywhere. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t take the previous voice to heart and was about to continue lifting his glass when the emotionless mechanical voice spoke up again. [The Ultimate Bootlicker System has been activated, please select your first target for pursuit as soon as possible] Jiang Chen was stunned. This voice... It seemed to be coming directly inside his head! He glanced subconsciously at his three roommates but noticed nothing unusual about them; apparently, they hadn¡¯t heard anything. [Host: Jiang Chen] [Bootlicking Credit Limit: One hundred trillion RMB] [Personal Discretionary Budget: 0] [Number of Pursued Individuals: 0] [Pursuit Target: None] Then, a panel seemed to be etched directly onto his retina, and as he made out the string of information, Jiang Chen was completely flabbergasted. It seems... It wasn¡¯t an illusion. He might not have eaten pork before, but at least he had seen pigs run. Once upon a time, he too was obsessed with wildly imaginative web novels. Could this be the so-called system?! Jiang Chen¡¯s breathing quickened. One hundred trillion? How much money was that? Even the wealthiest tycoon in the country couldn¡¯t match one percent of this amount, right? But what did it mean that his personal discretionary budget was zero? Did it mean he couldn¡¯t use this money? [The Bootlicking Credit Limit is a fund specifically set up for the host¡¯s bootlicking activities. In short, all the expenses the host incurs for pursuing a target are covered by the Bootlicking Fund, but any personal expenses of the host are not covered by the fund.] Jiang Chen understood some of it. So, in other words, he could only spend this one hundred trillion on women, and not a dime on himself? [The host may understand it that way] The initial surprise somewhat faded, and Jiang Chen¡¯s face twitched. No wonder the personal discretionary budget was zero. What¡¯s the damn use if he couldn¡¯t spend it on himself, no matter how high the limit? [Friendly reminder, as long as the host successfully pursues a target and achieves the required level of affection, ten percent of all the Bootlicking Funds spent on that target will be converted into the host¡¯s personal assets and added to the host¡¯s personal discretionary budget] It¡¯s a twist in the tale, a turn for the better. Jiang Chen got excited again. He understood, understood completely. This Ultimate Bootlicker System required him to be a bootlicker, to butter up girl after girl with crazed spending, and once a girl fell for him and completed the mission, ten percent of all the money he had spent would turn into his personal wealth! It truly lived up to being the Ultimate Bootlicker System. Having fully grasped the system¡¯s function, Jiang Chen had mixed feelings. Bootlicking? He was well-practiced in that. But the key was... After Ai Qian¡¯s blow, he had already lost heart and was planning on making a fresh start, to become a new man. Luo Peng and the other two had accompanied him for drinks tonight to celebrate his return to the right path. His gaze swept over Luo Peng and his friends, and Jiang Chen found himself facing a difficult choice. To resume his old ways... Or to stand tall and live a dignified life? ¡°Jiang Chen, what are you dazing off for? Drink up!¡± The clueless Luo Peng urged. ¡°Gulp...¡± Clutching the glass, Jiang Chen finally downed the drink in one gulp. To hell with it, bring on the bootlicking. What¡¯s there to be afraid of! After all, that¡¯s one hundred trillion we¡¯re talking about! Even if only ten percent would become him, that¡¯s still ten trillion! If he were to rely on work after graduation to earn this money, he probably would have to work from the dawn of humanity to its extinction. There¡¯s a saying that goes like this. Licking one person, that¡¯s a lapdog. Licking a crowd, that¡¯s freaking a wolf of war! ¡°I¡¯m going to use the restroom.¡± Determined, Jiang Chen set down his glass, stood up, and headed to the bathroom, where he stretched his hands under the automatic faucet and washed his face. He felt a bit more sober. He wasn¡¯t dreaming. Staring at the wet face in the mirror, Jiang Chen cracked a smile. Starting today, his fate was about to undergo earth-shattering changes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- ¡°Well, well, look who it is? Isn¡¯t that our school¡¯s Jiang Chen, the major lapdog?¡± On his way back. Suddenly, a burst of giggles came from nearby. Jiang Chen turned his head and saw several glamorously made-up beauties, each in a mini skirt and black stockings, dressed quite sexily. Under the flickering light of the bar, it took him a moment to recognize that these were a few girls from the school¡¯s Art Institute. One of them seemed to be the Art Institute¡¯s belle. ¡°Jiang Chen, where¡¯s Ai Qian?¡± The girl batted her eyelashes, her ears adorned with large silver earrings that added a mature charm as they swayed and wore a small tight-fitting top that just revealed the slightly raised mounds, very tempting. Truly, those who come from the Art Institute do know about dressing up. ¡°How would I know?¡± Jiang Chen said indifferently. Seeing his ¡°tough¡± attitude, the Art Institute beauties were all taken aback, somewhat surprised. Is this still the well-known major lapdog? ¡°We¡¯ve broken up, please don¡¯t associate her with me anymore.¡± Jiang Chen spoke provocatively. The beauties looked at each other in dismay. What¡¯s going on? Could it be that this major lapdog had finally reformed himself? Before they could figure out what was happening, Jiang Chen turned his attention to the girl with black eyeliner, and thick long lashes, sitting cross-legged, drinking and ignoring him, and an idea struck him. The ultimate lapdog status had just been credited; he had to test if it was of any use. ¡°Shu Rui, may I sit down and join you for a drink?¡± As soon as he spoke. The other girls were utterly shocked. Shu Rui? Really, could he be any more chummy? ¡°Jiang Chen, are we that close?¡± The most beautiful girl finally looked up, her heavy eyeliner making her eyes dazzling and soul-captivating. Despite her young age, she had a sizzling figure, and her scanty dress looked at from a high angle, seemed a shaky handful, at least two or three grades above Ai Qian. That¡¯s right. One is the belle of an institute full of beauties, and the other is merely a class belle. There¡¯s simply no comparison. ¡°We¡¯re not close now, but we will be in a bit.¡± Most young guys probably couldn¡¯t withstand Li Shuru¡¯s imposing presence, but who was Jiang Chen? As a veteran lapdog, his most basic quality was thick skin. ¡°Shu Rui, did you hear that? He wants to get to know you.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, are you taking a fancy to our Shu Rui now?¡± ¡°Hehe, good taste, huh!¡± The girls, unafraid of a high stage for the drama, egged him on messily from the sidelines. Was Jiang the big lapdog switching targets after failing with Ai Qian? They had actually thought he had suddenly come to his senses. Yet having failed to conquer the smaller hill, he now fancied conquering a taller mountain... Is that really okay? ¡°You want to drink? Sure, blow this bottle first.¡± The belle Li Shuru hooked the corner of her mouth into a slight curve and pushed a bottle of Western liquor forward. At the same time. There was a ¡°ding¡± inside Jiang Chen¡¯s head. [Name: Li Shuru] [Affection toward the host: -100] [Lapdog relationship binding] [Conquest objective: Reach a goodwill rating of 90 for success] [Please begin lapdog actions promptly] Chapter 4 - 4 The name is well-deserved ?4: The name is well-deserved 4: The name is well-deserved With a series of prompts heard, Jiang Chen felt reassured. However, when his gaze fell onto the bottle of foreign liquor, he began to get cold feet again. He naturally didn¡¯t recognize the brand of the foreign liquor. But if he were to chug it down in one go, he would most likely end up passed out here. He was here to be a fawning devotee. Not to risk his life. ¡°Would one drink do?¡± Leaving was definitely not an option; after all, his status as a fawning devotee had already been established. If he didn¡¯t win over Li Shuru, then the ten trillion fawning devotee funds would be nothing but an unreachable dream to him, as elusive as flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon seen in a body of water. ¡°Just one drink?¡± ¡°No way, no way. You¡¯ve got to drink at least three!¡± ¡°Yeah, three drinks!¡± A few girls started egging him on, afraid the chaos wouldn¡¯t be entertaining enough. They just wanted to see a joke, not willing for the fun to end so quickly. Unintentionally, they were actually giving Jiang Chen a helping hand. ¡°Fine.¡± Three drinks it was. With his capacity for alcohol, three drinks shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Chen promptly sat down, showing quite the spirit as he grabbed the bottle and glass to pour himself a drink. ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± He¡¯d underestimated the potency of the foreign liquor. When he gulped down the last drink, his chest felt like it was on fire, and he almost vomited, but he managed to force it down in the end. ¡°I¡¯ve finished drinking.¡± Seeing the tears he choked up, the girls were beside themselves with amusement. One girl, laughing flirtatiously, gave him a thumbs-up, ¡°Stylish!¡± Jiang Chen wiped his mouth and looked at the affection points. Still -100. Unchanged. Winning over a girl obviously wasn¡¯t that simple. But this affection point system was really too heartbreaking, wasn¡¯t it? To actually be negative. If it were 0, he might have been somewhat content, He knew Li Shuru, but he hadn¡¯t really interacted with her much. Such an exaggerated level of affection points must be the ¡°achievement¡± of his reputation as a fawning devotee. ¡°Jiang Chen, have you really gotten over Ai Qian?¡± A girl asked out of curiosity. ¡°I¡¯ve turned the page with her.¡± His reply was full of confidence, a far cry from the notorious fawning devotee of legend. ¡°So now...¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t speak, just silently gazed at Li Shuru, his silence conveying volumes. The girls looked at each other. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not thinking of going after our Shu Rui, are you?¡± Jiang Chen smiled, not showing any awkwardness. His throat burned, making his voice slightly hoarse as he said with an intriguing tone, ¡°I just want to make friends with Shu Rui.¡± ¡°Oh... so you just want to be friends...¡± A girl teased, deliberately dragging out the last word. ¡°Drinking is fine, but I¡¯m not interested in you,¡± replied Li Shuru straightforwardly. She seemed completely unfazed by her friends¡¯ banter and was quite forthright. In the end, she poured herself a drink. With her exquisitely manicured fingers clutching the rim of the glass, she gently swirled it, then added another line, ¡°You¡¯re not my type.¡± Indeed, the beauty from the Art Academy was straightforward. Jiang Chen, as if he had been sentenced to death even before he took action, kept his composure¡ªperhaps he was accustomed to it¡ªcalmly asking, ¡°Then what type do you like?¡± Li Shuru tilted her slender, jade-like neck and took a sip of her drink, silent, exuding both sensuality and haughtiness. One of her friends, counting on her fingers, suggested with an undertone, ¡°At the very least, he can¡¯t be inferior to that guy Liang Zhenlun, right? He drives a second-hand Maserati President, and that¡¯s worth several hundred thousand even used. Shu Rui¡¯s partner would at least have to drive a car more expensive than his.¡± A more expensive car. That would have to be over a million, wouldn¡¯t it? The girls from the Art Academy are so damn materialistic! Jiang Chen felt a bit like he was dealing with a headache. If it had been in the past, upon hearing such exaggerated mate selection criteria, he would have assuredly gotten up and left, because even selling him wouldn¡¯t fetch enough to afford it. But now, things were different. He was sitting on a fortune of ten trillion ¡°bootlicker gold¡±! What¡¯s the concept of ten trillion? A car worth one million, he could buy one million of them! That¡¯s right. A whole one million cars! But damn it. There were restrictions on how to use the bootlicker gold; it couldn¡¯t be spent on himself. ¡°Driving a luxury car doesn¡¯t mean someone will treat you well. As far as I know, Ai Qian isn¡¯t happy with Liang Zhenlun.¡± Jiang Chen was dead serious, but his words immediately elicited hearty laughter from several girls. ¡°Giggle... Jiang Chen, who told you this? Did Ai Qian tell you? If she¡¯s not happy, why doesn¡¯t she leave Liang Zhenlun? Giggle, you¡¯re killing me...¡± The girl was practically in tears from laughter. Obviously. In the eyes of these goddesses of the art academy. Jiang Chen was just a silly, pitiful joke, an object of ridicule. ¡°You may leave now.¡± Li Shuru even issued a direct eviction order. A guy whom Ai Qian didn¡¯t want, how could she possibly take interest in him? ¡°Jiang Chen, what are you doing here?¡± Luo Peng appeared nearby, clearly having come to look for Jiang Chen since he hadn¡¯t returned for so long. ¡°I ran into Shu Rui, so I sat down for a few drinks.¡± As expected of a seasoned bootlicker, even now, Jiang Chen¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change a bit. Luo Peng glanced at Li Shuru and the others, and it was clear that he could see the mockery in their eyes. He had dated a girlfriend in the art academy, so he had quite a bad impression of the place. The atmosphere in this academy was poor, and its students generally loved to compare and were quite materialistic. Although he was unclear about why Jiang Chen ended up mingling with them, Luo Peng still quickly tried to take his good buddy away. Didn¡¯t he see how those girls looked at his buddy as if he were a joke? ¡°Xiaobai and the others are waiting for you, let¡¯s go.¡± He tugged at Jiang Chen, but Jiang Chen didn¡¯t move. ¡°Shu Rui, could you give me your contact information?¡± Luo Peng was stunned, looking incredulously at his good buddy, and was instantly shocked. What¡¯s going on? Could it be that old habits die hard? Hadn¡¯t he just said that bootlickers deserve to die? ¡°Jiang Chen, I think you might as well not waste your effort, go chase your goddess Ai Qian. Good luck, we¡¯re rooting for you.¡± Jiang Chen ignored the girls¡¯ teasing and stared at Li Shuru intently. Knowing that it was impossible but still forging ahead, that was the bootlicker¡¯s creed. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, you¡¯re not my type.¡± Li Shuru was cold, not leaving Jiang Chen any dignity. Even Luo Peng felt somewhat humiliated, but whether to give contact information was her prerogative, so he didn¡¯t have much to say about it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He forcibly dragged Jiang Chen away. ¡°Giggle, true to his reputation as the famous bootlicker of our school, he certainly lives up to the name. But why has he suddenly stopped fawning over Ai Qian and started doting on Shu Rui?¡± A girl resting her chin on her hands looked puzzled as she watched the two young men walk away. ¡°Who knows, he can¡¯t even hold onto his own girlfriend, yet he dreams of pursuing Shu Rui, daydreaming.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯d better be careful. Jiang Chen is quite persistent. Even after Ai Qian dumped him, he¡¯s still shamelessly pestering her. Now that he¡¯s set his sights on you, he probably won¡¯t give up easily.¡± Li Shuru quietly drank her wine, completely indifferent to Jiang Chen¡¯s departure. As a white swan, she would never stoop to a toad in a deep well. Chapter 5 - 5 005 the Jiang from rivers the Chen from the stars ?5: 005, the Jiang from rivers, the Chen from the stars. 5: 005, the Jiang from rivers, the Chen from the stars. ¡°Brother Chen, where did you go? Why did it take so long?¡± Bai Zheli looked curiously at the two who had just returned. ¡°Ran into a few friends, had a couple of drinks.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he sat down and continued to sneak glances at Li Shuru¡¯s table. Only the lighting was too dim and with the distance being a bit far, he couldn¡¯t really see clearly. ¡°Friends? Who?¡± Dorm leader Li Shao looked surprised. It was common knowledge that Jiang Chen was the school¡¯s widely acclaimed ¡°total bootlicker¡±. Apart from their few roommates, where could he have friends from? ¡°It was Li Shuru.¡± Luo Peng muttered, picking up his glass and taking a sip to himself. ¡°Li Shuru? The campus belle from the Art Institute?¡± Li Shao was quite astonished. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Chen nodded nonchalantly. ¡°Brother Chen, I heard that Li Shuru is very stuck-up. She never pays attention to ordinary guys...¡± Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses and hesitated, ¡°When... did you become friends with her?¡± ¡°Do you think your Brother Chen is an ordinary man?¡± Upon hearing this, Li Shao and Luo Peng exchanged a telepathic look, their expressions rather odd. Right. Being well-known as a major bootlicker certainly didn¡¯t make one ordinary. Bai Zheli pursed his lips; while Jiang Chen appeared at ease, it was Bai who seemed more embarrassed, not knowing what to say for a moment. ¡°Luo Peng, what exactly happened?¡± Li Shao asked Luo Peng. Luo Peng sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know either. When I got there, I saw him drinking with Li Shuru and a bunch of those materialistic girls from the Art Institute. He was even asking for contact information.¡± ¡°Asking for Li Shuru¡¯s?¡± Luo Peng nodded. Li Shao suddenly understood. Some friend. Turns out he was trying to cozy up to her. ¡°Jiang Chen, did you drink too much? Don¡¯t you know what kind of person Li Shuru is?¡± Li Shao looked at the third member of their dormitory with a look that was both pitying and filled with indignation. He had thought that Jiang Chen had finally turned over a new leaf today, but it seems he was happy too soon. The old saying really is true. Leopards can¡¯t change their spots. ¡°Of course, I know what kind of person she is.¡± Jiang Chen replied matter-of-factly, ¡°The campus belle of the Art Institute, the goddess of our school.¡± Luo Peng covered his face, sighing deeply. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about!¡± Li Shao raised his voice. ¡°Everyone in the school knows that Li Shuru and the sisters around her are very vain and only befriend rich people. There are often luxury cars coming to pick them up from school. Do you think a girl like that is right for you?¡± ¡°Those are all rumors.¡± Jiang Chen was unperturbed, countering, ¡°Girls are naturally jealous. Li Shuru is so pretty; surely many girls are secretly envious of her, so they deliberately fabricate facts to tarnish her reputation. Shao, you say she¡¯s vain, that she rides in luxury cars. Have you seen it with your own eyes?¡± Li Shao faltered in his response. He wasn¡¯t a paparazzo; it wasn¡¯t like he was staking out the Art Institute or the girls¡¯ dorms, so naturally, he hadn¡¯t seen it for himself. ¡°Just now, she even treated me to a few drinks, foreign liquor. I don¡¯t know the brand, but I guess it wasn¡¯t cheap. From this point alone, she¡¯s actually quite generous. You all misunderstood her.¡± Luo Peng: ¡°...¡± Li Shao: ¡°...¡± Bai Zheli¡¯s eyes widened as if he was looking at an alien. In the past, he would get outraged whenever someone called Brother Chen a bootlicker, thinking that Chen was just too devoted. But now, he¡¯s defending an acquaintance like this? The name of bootlicker is indeed well-deserved. ¡°So you mean to say...¡± Luo Peng spoke slowly, ¡°You¡¯re interested in Li Shuru now?¡± Jiang Chen raised his glass and took a sip of beer without saying a word. ¡°Li Shuru is even prouder and loftier than Ai Qian; they¡¯re not in the same league. If you think about chasing her, the success rate could be slim to none.¡± With a constipated expression, Luo Peng pondered how to speak without hurting his good buddy¡¯s ego. The implication of his words was actually quite simple. Put simply: you can¡¯t even handle Ai Qian and you want to challenge a higher level? Stop daydreaming! Li Shao was about to chime in, but what Jiang Chen said next rendered them speechless. ¡°You all know, I like a challenge.¡± The atmosphere quieted down instantly. After a long silence, Luo Peng¡¯s eye twitched as he said stiffly, ¡°Jiang Chen, if I could have your... confidence, that¡¯d be great.¡± Jiang Chen laughed, ¡°It¡¯s a gift, you can¡¯t learn it.¡± ¡°...¡± After a while, Luo Peng patted his shoulder and raised his glass. ¡°No more words, I wish you swift success.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± Li Shao and Bai Zheli exchanged a look, both giving a helpless and bitter smile. Fine. Looks like the third one has really set his heart on it this time. There¡¯s no use in advising him now. One must always look on the bright side. In terms of beauty and fame, Li Shuru outclasses Ai Qian by at least one level. If you¡¯re going to fawn over someone, why not someone ¡°excellent¡±? At least it sounds better when it gets out. From this perspective, Jiang Chen seemed to be making progress. Li Shao and Bai Zheli comforted themselves with this thought and silently clinked their glasses. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°That flirt Jia Li said she was just going to have a drink with someone, how come she¡¯s disappeared?¡± ¡°I called her. She told us not to worry about her.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, who¡¯s the hunk she¡¯s hooked up with this time?¡± The girls chatted and laughed without inhibition, their cheeks flushed with alcohol; they were clearly tipsy. Li Shuru called the waiter over to settle the bill, only to be told, ¡°Miss, your tab has already been cleared.¡± For the goddesses of East Sea University, such events were not surprising; it was not the first time they¡¯d encountered this. Some men just like to show off, attracting female favor in this manner. ¡°Who paid?¡± One girl asked with a breath reeking of alcohol, suspecting it was surely some wealthy scion from East Sea. Coming to KIMI, weren¡¯t they just looking for such opportunities? ¡°He said his name is Jiang Chen.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen.¡± The girl didn¡¯t initially catch on, wondering if it was one of the guys who had come to hit on them earlier. But after a moment¡¯s recollection, her eyes widened as sobriety clawed back, ¡°You said who?!¡± ¡°Jiang Chen.¡± The waiter, diligently and considerately, added, ¡°Jiang as in ¡®river¡¯ and Chen as in ¡®celestial bodies,¡¯ he said he¡¯s your friend and also mentioned that you shouldn¡¯t drink too much and should go back early.¡± These were the specific instructions the guest gave when paying, not just the waiter taking liberties to embellish the message. Doing good without seeking recognition? That¡¯s not a loyal suitor; that¡¯s an idiot. If you¡¯ve spent the money, the recipient needs to know. ¡°That guy Jiang Chen, wasn¡¯t he a pauper?¡± The girls looked at each other, perplexed. ¡°How much did we spend tonight?¡± Li Shuru, with her cold and elegant demeanor, asked the waiter. ¡°5888.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, that guy Jiang Chen is really splurging big time, isn¡¯t he? He didn¡¯t go and blow half a year¡¯s living expenses, did he?¡± The girls looked at Li Shuru with a mix of astonishment and doubt. Li Shuru kept silent, but a faint ripple finally stirred in her thoughts. As a devoted follower for so long, Jiang Chen seemed to have finally discerned the right direction. All the sweet nothings in the world are no match for a grand display of wealth. Chapter 6 - 6 006 A heavy load and a long road ?6: 006 A heavy load and a long road 6: 006 A heavy load and a long road Because they had quite a bit to drink last night, Jiang Chen and his roommates fell asleep as soon as they got back to the dormitory, only to be woken up by a barrage of pounding on the door. ¡°Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen, open the door quickly!¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± Luo Peng rubbed his head, got up irritably, and pulled the door open, only to find a guy from the next dorm over. ¡°What time do you think it is, and you¡¯re still sleeping.¡± ¡°Drank too much last night.¡± Luo Peng yawned. ¡°Where¡¯s Jiang Chen?¡± ¡°Still asleep, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Still asleep my ass!¡± The guy barged right into the dorm and yanked off Jiang Chen¡¯s blanket. ¡°Jiang Chen, get up, something good¡¯s happening!¡± Only then did Jiang Chen groggily open his eyes. The beer he had ordered was no big deal, but the key was the three glasses of foreign liquor he¡¯d had at Li Shuru¡¯s table, which packed quite the punch. Li Shao and Bai Zheli were woken up in turn, both rubbing their heads and sitting up in bed. ¡°What¡¯s the good thing?¡± ¡°Li Shuru is downstairs!¡± ¡°Who?¡± Luo Peng was taken aback, wondering if he had heard wrong. ¡°Li Shuru! The beauty of the Arts College, she¡¯s been waiting for you downstairs for over ten minutes, hurry up and get down there!¡± The guy was pulling and dragging with excitement, and also quite incredulous. Who is Jiang Chen? He¡¯s the known lickspittle of the school. A disgrace among men. Yet today, the Arts College beauty had taken it upon herself to seek him out. This news had already caused a stir throughout the entire male dormitory. Luo Peng couldn¡¯t believe it and hurried to the balcony to poke his head out and take a look. Under the tree, causing passing guys to turn their heads one after another, was the sexy figure if not Li Shuru then who? Just then, Li Shuru looked up, and Luo Peng quickly pulled back his body, utterly shocked. Damn! What¡¯s going on? ¡°Is it really Li Shuru?¡± Li Shao got down from the bed. Luo Peng turned around, and nodded woodenly. Li Shao was stunned too. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t seem surprised at all, rubbed his face, faced the dragging, jumped off the bed, and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ll brush my teeth first.¡± The rest could only watch as he dawdled for another fifteen minutes before finally sauntering out of the dorm at a leisurely pace. ¡°When did Jiang Chen get to know Li Shuru?¡± The guy asked Luo Peng and the others. But by this time, Luo Peng and the rest were also clueless, completely bewildered. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± The group quickly moved towards the balcony. Downstairs. Jiang Chen walked out of the dormitory building, flashing a smile akin to gentle sunshine. ¡°Shu Rui.¡± Li Shuru watched him quietly, oblivious to the surrounding peeks and gossip. ¡°You should know why I¡¯ve come to find you, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jiang Chen stopped two steps away, maintaining a perfect distance. ¡°No need for thanks, it was just a meal, nothing worth mentioning.¡± Listen to that tone. Last night, Jiang Chen tried out the ¡°Lickspittle Gold¡± method he had on his strategy target, and sure enough, it worked flawlessly with every payment method, directly deducting from his lickspittle account. 5888. For the former Jiang Chen, this was undoubtedly an astronomical figure, but now that he wielded a net worth of a hundred trillion, spending 5888 was nothing more than scooping a ladle of water from the sea. ¡°Do you think you look cool doing this, Jiang Chen?¡± Watching Jiang Chen act like money was dirt, Li Shuru laughed. Can¡¯t help but admit it. She truly was a lovely and enchanting girl, young but with an indescribable charm. A guy walking by was so captivated that he nearly crashed into a tree. ¡°I hate three types of people the most: those who overestimate themselves, those who pretend to be something they¡¯re not, and do you think that by paying for my meal, I will start to like you?¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± Jiang Chen had an incredibly strong composure, facing such humiliation without even changing expression. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. I really hadn¡¯t thought of getting anything out of it, and you don¡¯t need to take it to heart, I¡¯m willing to do this.¡± Looking into his clean and sincere eyes, Li Shuru slightly furrowed her brow. This guy, it seemed like he was not pretending. ¡°Do you know the third kind of person I hate the most?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Stupid people.¡± Li Shuru said coldly, ¡°That money isn¡¯t much to me, but for you, it must be quite a large sum, right? What about your life afterward? Torturing yourself to please others is the stupidest thing one can do.¡± Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. He had, of course, heard of Li Shuru. Vain. Lavish lifestyle. Despising the poor while loving the rich. Aside from being pretty, she hardly had any merits. But at this moment, he found that although what the girl said wasn¡¯t nice to hear, she was quite honest, definitely better than those faking innocence. Unintentionally, Jiang Chen thought of his ex-girlfriend Ai Qian and sighed inwardly. He had really licked the wrong person before. ¡°I seem to have all three of those qualities.¡± Jiang Chen gave a bitter smile. Without another word, Li Shuru picked up the Chanel bag and pulled out a stack of cash from it. ¡°This is six thousand.¡± Jiang Chen was stunned. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to...¡± ¡°Do you want everyone to see this?¡± Staring at that decisive and coldly beautiful face, Jiang Chen could only accept the money in the end. After all was said and done, he even made a little more than a hundred in profit. In some way, wasn¡¯t this considered exploiting a loophole? ¡°We are not from the same world. I hope you won¡¯t come to bother me again in the future.¡± Clearly, Li Shuru didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with Jiang Chen, and after returning the money, she turned to leave. ¡°Then what does it take to be considered from your world?¡± Jiang Chen asked softly. ¡°Would driving a luxury car worth a million count?¡± Li Shuru halted in her steps. ¡°Shu Rui, I won¡¯t give up. I know you look down on me now, but I will work hard to catch your eye.¡± How touching. ¡°There¡¯s no need to waste your time on me. At least in one regard¡ªyou simply can¡¯t afford my material needs. Maybe with your talents, you could get rich in the future, but I can¡¯t wait that long.¡± With that, Li Shuru didn¡¯t linger any longer, put on her sunglasses, and walked away quickly amid admiring glances. Such a straightforward girl. And very realistic. Jiang Chen weighed the stack of cash in his hand without any sense of defeat until Li Shuru¡¯s figure disappeared, then casually turned and walked back into the dormitory building. ¡°Chen Brother, what¡¯s up? What did Li Shuru want with you?¡± Seeing Jiang Chen return, Bai Zheli hurriedly asked. The heart of gossip is in everyone. How proud is Li Shuru? To seek out someone notorious in the school for being a bootlicker was indeed intriguing. ¡°Jiang Chen, what does it mean that she gave you money?¡± Luo Peng was full of confusion. Although they couldn¡¯t hear the conversation clearly from the balcony, they could clearly see the stack of cash. ¡°It¡¯s simple, she gave me money to keep me from bothering her any longer.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s response was nonchalant. Luo Peng and the others were momentarily taken aback. Jiang Chen fiddled with the stack of bills. Coming in person to return the money¡ªand in cash at that¡ªmeant she wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. The path of a bootlicker seemed long and arduous. ¡°Struck it rich¡ªI knew it was so easy to make money, why would I bother working?¡± He chuckled without a hint of shame. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go eat. It¡¯s on me!¡± Chapter 7 - 7 007 Gossip ?7: 007 Gossip 7: 007 Gossip ¡°Enough, enough, no need for so many dishes.¡± In the restaurant next to the fourth cafeteria. Jiang Chen only put down the menu after Luo Peng intervened and told the waiter, ¡°Let¡¯s start with these, we can order more if it¡¯s not enough.¡± Bai Zheli said nothing. When had he ever thought that one day, Brother Chen would turn into such a nouveau riche? It really is true that money gained without effort is spent without pain. ¡°Jiang Chen, is this six thousand really just given to you by Li Shuru for nothing?¡± After the waiter left, Li Shao asked quietly. ¡°What else?¡± Jiang Chen smiled. Although they somewhat disbelieved such an absurd story, Li Shao and the others couldn¡¯t think of a reasonable explanation for the moment. ¡°What are you planning to do next?¡± Luo Peng shifted his chair closer to Jiang Chen. ¡°What do you mean ¡®what to do¡¯?¡± ¡°Are you going to continue to... chase after Li Shuru?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s face was open and honest, and he said righteously, ¡°Giving up halfway is not in my nature, and besides, I haven¡¯t even started yet. Why would I be afraid before I¡¯ve even begun to fight?¡± ¡°But, Brother Chen.¡± Bai Zheli said awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯ve taken her money. If you keep harassing her, I¡¯m afraid... it might not be good, right?¡± Jiang Chen looked at him. ¡°Six thousand yuan is going to deprive me of my right to pursue happiness? That¡¯s too cheap. I can¡¯t possibly give up.¡± Luo Peng¡¯s face twitched. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this was a good buddy he had lived under the same roof with for years, he really would have jumped up and cursed. He had seen shameless, but he had never seen this level of shamelessness. ¡°If you really don¡¯t intend to give up, then return the money to her. Don¡¯t let her look down on you.¡± Li Shao advised. ¡°She looked down on me anyway. Even if I return the money to her, it won¡¯t change that fact. Besides, sooner or later she¡¯s going to be with me, so her money is my money. There¡¯s no need to make such a clear distinction.¡± Looking at the extravagant Jiang Chen, Luo Peng and the others glanced at each other with Parkinsoanian expressions, sitting there without speaking for a while. How could simple shamelessness describe such words and actions? ¡°Forget the alcohol, I¡¯ll grab some drinks.¡± Jiang Chen stood up as if nothing had happened and took a bottle of ¡®Happy Fat Otaku Water¡¯ from the fridge. ¡°Pengzi, you have a wide network. Do me a favor.¡± Jiang Chen poured drinks into four cups. Luo Peng let out a long sigh, collected his thoughts, and asked, ¡°What favor?¡± ¡°Help me get Li Shuru¡¯s contact information.¡± Jiang Chen placed a cup of ¡®Happy Fat Otaku Water¡¯ in front of him. It wasn¡¯t a difficult task. Although he wasn¡¯t familiar with Li Shuru, he had friends who knew her. However, Luo Peng felt that chasing Li Shuru was a dead end with no hope. ¡°You might want to think about it again...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over very clearly,¡± Jiang Chen said firmly. ¡°You¡¯re right, there are countless girls better than Ai Qian. Li Shuru is one of them. Are you going to help me or not?¡± Luo Peng felt pained. With a good brother staring at him like that, how could he refuse? He picked up the cup of ¡®Happy Fat Otaku Water¡¯ with a gloomy mood and downed it in one gulp, saying helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Jiang Chen smiled with satisfaction and patted his shoulder. ¡°Brother Chen, you¡¯re famous!¡± Bai Zheli suddenly said, holding his phone. ¡°Famous for what?¡± Li Shao was puzzled. ¡°The whole school knows about Li Shuru looking for Brother Chen now. A lot of people are posting it on social media, saying Li Shuru gave money to Brother Chen to stop bothering her.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± Li Shao took Bai Zheli¡¯s phone, scrolled through the Moments, and the content was unbearable to look at, all mocking and sneering at Jiang Chen. ¡°Jiang Chen? That ultimate bootlicker?¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t he been chasing his ex-girlfriend all this time? How did he suddenly switch targets?¡± ¡°True to his title of top-level bootlicker, just look at how scared Li Shuru looks, directly solving problems with money, indeed a good method. His ex-girlfriend could learn a thing or two.¡± ¡°I just saw Jiang Chen and Li Shuru under the men¡¯s dormitory in West Five, it startled me. So that¡¯s how it is, this Jiang Chen really shames all us men.¡± ... Li Shao looked gloomy. ¡°Jiang Chen, don¡¯t mind them, don¡¯t bother with what they say.¡± Even without looking, Luo Peng knew it would certainly be nothing good. But having been a bootlicker for so long, Jiang Chen¡¯s mindset was incredibly strong, hardly in need of anyone¡¯s comfort. ¡°It¡¯s fine, they¡¯re just envious and jealous of me.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± Luo Peng had quite the extensive network of connections, and over dinner, he¡¯d gotten a hold of Li Shuru¡¯s mobile number and even found out she would be practicing dance in the art college¡¯s studio that afternoon. Hearing this news, Jiang Chen decided to act immediately. ¡°You don¡¯t stop him, and now you even tell him where Li Shuru is?¡± Having finished eating, Li Shao watched Jiang Chen¡¯s receding figure with worry. The whole school was now buzzing with the news. At this time, if Jiang Chen went to find Li Shuru, it was bound to be another humiliation. ¡°Boss, could I even stop him? When he was bootlicking Ai Qian, how many times did you advise him? Did he listen?¡± Li Shao was at a loss for words. Luo Peng said with a wry smile, ¡°Jiang Chen is the type who doesn¡¯t turn back until he hits the south wall. Let him go. Once he feels the pain, he¡¯ll know to give up.¡± Obviously. Luo Peng was taking a risky move by stepping back to advance, but he had still underestimated Jiang Chen¡¯s determination this time. To say nothing of a wall, even if what stood before him was a bulletproof door, he¡¯d have to tear it down, all for a trillion yuan. The Art College. The whole building was ingeniously constructed on an upward slope, with an oval entrance porch full of artistic flair, and a strong European style. As today was the weekend, there weren¡¯t many people in school, but as soon as they saw Jiang Chen, they would point and sneer; this was even more the case at the entrance to the Art College. Jiang Chen turned a deaf ear, his resolve astonishing as he asked the gatekeeper for the dance studio¡¯s location, then made his way there. The door opened. In the vast room, several girls with graceful figures were dancing folk dances, their black bodysuits outlining their beautiful bodies perfectly, every twist and turn a sight to behold. Being so engrossed, they hadn¡¯t even noticed an uninvited guest had entered. ¡°Clap, clap, clap...¡± The music stopped, the girls were perspiring and about to take a break when they suddenly heard applause coming from the doorway. Turning around abruptly, they saw a young man walking in confidently. ¡°The dancing was really good.¡± Jiang Chen exclaimed, seemingly heartfelt. ¡°It¡¯s you, Jiang Chen!¡± At East Sea University, Jiang Chen already had a notable reputation, and after the incident with Li Shuru offering money, his fame had spread even faster. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°What else could he be doing, obviously he¡¯s here for Shu Rui!¡± A girl said with a peculiar smile, she was also present at KIMI yesterday. ¡°Shu Rui, we¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± The money spent last night wasn¡¯t wasted, the girl winked at Jiang Chen, then pulled the other girls out with her. As they left, the girls whispered among themselves, continuously glancing back at Jiang Chen. Soon. The spacious dance studio was left with just the ¡°scandalous couple.¡± Chapter 8 - 8 008 Xu Siyi ?8: 008 Xu Siyi 8: 008 Xu Siyi The dyed and slightly curled long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, with a few strands damp with sweat, sticking to her cheeks. Squeezed by the close-fitting workout attire, her curvaceous body with its devilish curves was fully revealed. After intense exercise, the allure and sexy charm emanating from this celebrated beauty of the art academy was enough to make anyone¡¯s mouth go dry. But the naturally seductive face bore no expression at the moment, as she bent over nonchalantly to pick up a bottle of mineral water off the ground. Jiang Chen, however, didn¡¯t mind being ignored and openly appreciated the goddess-like figure of this art academy beauty. Tsk tsk. She¡¯s only twenty. What would happen when she gets older? ¡°Have you seen enough?¡± Li Shuru, who was facing him sideways, put down the bottle of mineral water. Jiang Chen was not at all embarrassed. ¡°I could never get enough.¡± The words were shameless, yet he said them as if they were the most natural thing in the world. Li Shuru turned away. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, stop harassing me, Jiang Chen. I¡¯m not Ai Qian. If you insist on this, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± This was no idle threat. With the influence of the art academy¡¯s belle, a simple call to arms would have the Flower Guardians scrambling to teach Jiang Chen a harsh lesson. ¡°Shu Rui, we aren¡¯t strangers. You don¡¯t need to be polite with me,¡± Jiang Chen showed no signs of repentance. ¡°Get out.¡± Li Shuru became completely indifferent. Jiang Chen was unfazed, fully embodying the resilience of a devoted admirer, always smiling no matter how nasty the other person¡¯s attitude became. ¡°Shu Rui, I actually came to you because I have something to discuss.¡± Li Shuru remained silent, giving Jiang Chen a cold look, seemingly too lazy to waste a word on him. ¡°You must have heard about the rumors between us,¡± Jiang Chen said earnestly. Li Shuru¡¯s gaze flickered. This guy. Could it be that he really has a problem in his head? Are those even rumors? That¡¯s clearly his own scandal! ¡°Now the whole school is saying that the money is your way of getting rid of me, calling me a toad wanting to eat swan meat, labeling me a lickspittle. I hope you can help me clear things up.¡± At this point, Li Shuru understood she shouldn¡¯t laugh, but she just couldn¡¯t hold it in. You are a lickspittle, does that even need to be said by others? Isn¡¯t that an ironclad fact? Her lips, briefly curved into a smile, quickly became straight again, as Li Shuru said emotionlessly, ¡°Why should I help you explain?¡± ¡°Because my reputation has been greatly damaged...¡± ¡°No one can damage your reputation,¡± Li Shuru said coldly, ¡°Your reputation doesn¡¯t depend on what others say, but on what you do yourself.¡± With that, she was unwilling to waste more time and headed straight out of the dance studio. ¡°If you follow me again, I¡¯ll call security.¡± With that, Jiang Chen could only stop in his tracks, watching helplessly as the sexy silhouette disappeared from his sight. Even a devoted admirer like him has his limits. He had been used as a tool by Ai Qian before because they had some emotional foundation, but with this belle of the art academy, he had no relationship whatsoever. Seeing that she treated him as anathema, Jiang Chen really wanted to just give up, but then he thought of the ten trillion in ¡®devoted admirer¡¯ funds in his account. ¡°Phew...¡± Jiang Chen took a deep breath and rubbed his face. ¡°Where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way.¡± Muttering to himself, he walked out of the dance studio. Just as he was at the doorway, someone called out. ¡°Hey!¡± Jiang Chen turned his head and recognized the girl who had created the opportunity for him earlier; she had already changed out of her workout clothes and into casual wear. ¡°Jiang senior, how did it go talking with Shu Rui?¡± She approached, grinning and holding her hands behind her back. That¡¯s right. Not just her, Li Shuru was also a third-year student, one grade lower than Jiang Chen. ¡°Not bad,¡± Jiang Chen smiled in response, yet his expression seemed to convey a forced cheerfulness. ¡°Senior Jiang, when it comes to courting girls, brute force won¡¯t do, you need a strategy. I understand Shu Rui, and she¡¯s not the type to fancy a guy who is overly persistent.¡± This chick seemed rather polite toward Jiang Chen. With a poker face, Jiang Chen asked, ¡°Junior... what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Xu Siyi. Senior Jiang can just call me Si Yi.¡± No good deed comes for free: it¡¯s either a plot or a swindle. Jiang Chen understood that with his reputation, it was unlikely that those vanity-loving girls from the Arts Faculty would show him a kind face, let alone be so enthusiastic. Regardless of what the other party had in mind, he did indeed need assistance at the moment. As the saying goes, A fortress is often breached from within. This girl had been present at the drinks last night and was there again during the dance practice just now. It was clear that she had a close relationship with Li Shuru; perhaps she was even her best friend. If she was willing to work with him ¡°from the inside out,¡± it would surely be much more effective. ¡°Si Yi, with your knowledge then, what type of guy does Shu Rui like?¡± Seizing the chance, Jiang Chen promptly asked for guidance with an open mind. Perhaps pleased with his attitude, Xu Siyi¡¯s smile grew even brighter. Li Shuru had a melon-seed face with narrow, delicate cheeks, fitting the popular description of a ¡®snake type¡¯ woman, whereas Xu Siyi¡¯s face was rounder and fuller. But being able to be sisters with the belle of the Arts Faculty was proof enough of her undeniable beauty. ¡°Well...¡± She began to affect a coy tone. Not one to miss a cue, Jiang Chen immediately said, ¡°Si Yi, if you¡¯re willing to help me, I¡¯ll certainly repay you.¡± ¡°Senior Jiang, I recently took a fancy to a bracelet, it¡¯s just that it¡¯s a bit pricey, and I haven¡¯t been willing to buy it...¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eyelids twitched. He had anticipated that she had come prepared, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be so forthright. The transaction hadn¡¯t even started yet, and she was already stating her terms. She probably wasn¡¯t here to help him from the get-go but saw him as a cash cow instead. But wasn¡¯t this a bit too straightforward? At the very least, she should put on an act, as a show of respect. Jiang Chen felt somewhat despondent but, for the sake of a brighter future, he played the fool and cooperated, ¡°That bracelet, how much does it cost?¡± Xu Siyi held up one palm. ¡°Five hundred?¡± Jiang Chen asked tentatively. ¡°What are you talking about, Senior Jiang? I surely have five hundred.¡± Xu Siyi¡¯s voice, with a hint of playful reproach, was like nails on a chalkboard. ¡°Five thousand?¡± ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s five thousand five hundred.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent for a moment. Five thousand five hundred. Not long ago, Li Shuru had just given him six thousand. The amount was quoted so precisely. She really was taking him for an easy mark! ¡°Senior Jiang, what¡¯s wrong? If you¡¯re serious about pursuing Shuru, you should be prepared for this, right?¡± Xu Siyi. Her name sure had a nice ring to it. But deep down, this chick was really scheming. Plucking feathers from a passing goose. She was blatantly eyeing his wallet to set her price. Considering other men as ATMs was one thing, but to not even spare him, a hard-up pauper, was another. But it made sense. For Xu Siyi, what did it matter about his financial situation? All she knew was that he currently had six thousand in his pocket; she would squeeze him dry first and worry about whether he would have steamed buns or the northwest wind to subsist on later¡ªwhat did it have to do with her? ¡°Senior Jiang?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll buy that bracelet for you, but regarding Shu Rui...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely help you!¡± They looked each other in the eye, both displaying radiant smiles. Chapter 9 - 9 009 My way is not alone ?9: 009 My way is not alone 9: 009 My way is not alone The money had just warmed up in his pocket when it was swindled away, but Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t heartbroken over it. You can¡¯t catch the wolf if you¡¯re not willing to sacrifice the lamb. As long as he could get Li Shuru, what was this bit of money worth? ¡°Chen Bro, how did it go?¡± In the dorm room. All three, including Bai Zheli, were present, obviously waiting for his return. Jiang Chen, walking through the door, was the picture of composure, gave an ok sign, and had the air of someone with a plan up his sleeve. ¡°Everything is going according to my plan.¡± Luo Peng couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Plan? Come on, tell us, what¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Do you know Xu Siyi? Li Shuru¡¯s best friend, she said she would help me.¡± ¡°Why would she help you?¡± Luo Peng was puzzled. Being honest with his good brothers, Jiang Chen explained, ¡°She fancied a bracelet, I bought it for her, so now we are allies.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Luo Peng wasn¡¯t as naive as Jiang Chen; well aware of some girls¡¯ mercenary and manipulative ways, he immediately asked, ¡°How much did that bracelet cost?¡± ¡°Five thousand five hundred.¡± Li Shao was taken aback, ¡°You gave her all the money Li Shuru gave you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a hundred and change left.¡± Jiang Chen was just stating the facts; he¡¯d also spent some money treating her to lunch at noon. Luo Peng was stunned, and then said with heartfelt distress, ¡°She¡¯s treating you like a fool to take advantage of, not really trying to help you!¡± Even Bai Zheli, with his non-existent romantic experiences, understood that Chen Bro was most likely being scammed. The girls in the arts college were just too cruel. Chen Bro is so pitiful, and yet they still don¡¯t let him off the hook. ¡°Jiang Chen, let¡¯s go, we must get that money back!¡± Dorm leader Li Shao, filled with righteous indignation, came over to pull Jiang Chen. ¡°No way.¡± Who would have known that at this point, Jiang Chen still hadn¡¯t seen the error of his ways and pushed away Li Shao¡¯s hand. ¡°You all misunderstand, Xu Siyi didn¡¯t trick me, I gave her the money willingly. If we go and ask for it back, how can I face anyone after that?¡± Li Shao and the others were speechless. Now you¡¯re worried about saving face? ¡°Then tell me, what did she promise to help you with?¡± Luo Peng asked with a stern face, like a police officer dealing with a scammed elderly person. ¡°She said that the type of girl Li Shuru is, she doesn¡¯t respond well to persistent pestering, and if I keep badgering her, it will only backfire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all nonsense, everyone knows that! Did she actually tell you any reliable methods?¡± Luo Peng said, ¡°If not, then let¡¯s hurry and get the refund!¡± Five thousand and more. For a college student, that¡¯s definitely not a small amount. Especially since Jiang Chen doesn¡¯t have a family to rely on. These girls, using their looks to deceive others, is one thing, but to even scam Jiang Chen. Don¡¯t their consciences hurt? ¡°Of course, there is.¡± Jiang Chen, unruffled, confidently said, ¡°She gave me Li Shuru¡¯s Xingspace account.¡± ¡°Xingspace account?¡± Xingspace. It was one of the hottest short video APPs at the moment, where users could share their beautiful lives with the entire world. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Jiang Chen continued, ¡°Shu Rui doesn¡¯t like me looking for her, so I won¡¯t go, I can interact with her on Xingspace, and Xu Siyi also told me that Shu Rui often livestreams there, I can talk to her during her livestream.¡± Luo Peng, Li Shao, and Bai Zheli were left speechless, with veins throbbing on their foreheads. ¡°What the hell kind of method is that?¡± Luo Peng said, ¡°Do you know how many followers Li Shuru has on Xingspace?¡± ¡°Do you know?¡± Jiang Chen asked. ¡°Of course, I know, I¡¯ve even followed her.¡± Luo Peng said, ¡°She has a hundred thousand fans, which already makes her a mid-level internet celebrity. She¡¯s just from an ordinary family. Where do you think her lavish spending comes from? It¡¯s all earned through her broadcasting on Xingkong.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s quite independent and strong-willed.¡± Jiang Chen sighed. Luo Peng, lost for words, said emphatically, ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± ¡°Then what is the point?¡± ¡°Chen, the point is Li Shuru has a hundred thousand fans, a hundred thousand! That¡¯s ten times more than the total number of people at our school. Do you think she¡¯ll notice you or even bother to respond to you when you talk to her on Xingkong?¡± Luo Peng felt helpless. Take a look. Even Xiaobai understood. ¡°This does seem to be a problem.¡± Jiang Chen frowned, seemingly finally realizing he had been fooled. Xu Siyi appeared to have given him a good suggestion, but in reality, she was just brushing him off. Just when Luo Peng thought Jiang Chen had wised up and was about to drag him to demand his money back, he heard Jiang Chen continue, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll make her take notice of me.¡± ¡°Fine, go do whatever you need to do,¡± Jiang Chen, incurable as ever, sat in his own chair, took out his phone, opened the Xingkong APP, and searched for Li Shuru¡¯s Xingkong account. Shu Rui Sonya Luo Peng wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Even to be precise, Li Shuru¡¯s followers had reached 140k, and she truly was a little internet celebrity by now. There were dozens of videos under her account, mostly dancing, some singing, and her daily fashion stylings¡ªvery cool and very tempting. Scrolling through the comments, the screen was filled with ¡®goddess¡¯ and fawning messages. Here, Jiang Chen inexplicably felt the warmth of home. I am not alone in my quest. It was enough that she was the school¡¯s belle, but in the online world, Li Shuru had so many admirers. Some of the comments were so cringeworthy that even Jiang Chen, an experienced ass-kisser, found them nauseating. No wonder she was so proud. Forget about 140k; anybody constantly surrounded by tens of thousands of sycophants would get full of themselves and hardly notice ordinary people. Despite the grim reality, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t feel the pressure, silently hit ¡®follow,¡¯ and became an insignificant member among Li Shuru¡¯s 140,000 fans. ¡°Live streaming whenever, encounters are a matter of fate.¡± Looking at the description under her account, Jiang Chen smiled. Beautiful women are just different. So confident. ¡°If Shu Rui goes live, please let me know right away.¡± He sent a message to Xu Siyi. Xu Si Yi didn¡¯t reply. Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t bothered and casually browsed through his own Xingkong account. In his free time, he too liked to scroll through short videos and look at some news and fun stories, yet he had never posted a single update. But surprisingly, he had over a dozen fans¡ªno clue where they came from. He looked through his following list, and aside from Li Shuru whom he had just followed, he had previously only followed one person. His ex-girlfriend, Ai Qian. Even his profile picture was still a photo of them together. It was time to move on. Jiang Chen unfollowed Ai Qian and also changed his own nickname. Cold River Lone Shadow. The corresponding profile picture was changed to a solitary figure standing on a boat wearing a straw raincoat and hat, gazing toward the riverscape. This aura. It suddenly soared. Next, Jiang Chen browsed some live streaming rooms, where almost no broadcaster paid any attention to him. But some broadcasters were extremely enthusiastic, just like seeing their parents, whenever certain people joined. ¡°What is Chen laughing about?¡± Bai Zheli whispered, baffled. Jiang Chen was seen holding his phone, grinning to himself. ¡°How would I know?¡± Luo Peng sighed, his eyes filled with pity and despair. ¡°The kid has probably gone mad.¡± Chapter 10 - 10 010 Lonely Shadow on the Cold River ?10: 010 Lonely Shadow on the Cold River 10: 010 Lonely Shadow on the Cold River ¡°Si Yi, you actually bought this bracelet?¡± The girls¡¯ dormitory. A few girls gathered around Xu Siyi, admiring the gold bracelet she had just purchased. ¡°What do you think, pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Siyi wore the bracelet on her wrist and gave it a shake. ¡°It¡¯s lovely. How much was it?¡± ¡°Not expensive, just over seven thousand.¡± Xu Siyi said nonchalantly. That¡¯s right. The market price for that gold bracelet was indeed over seven thousand, but she had only asked Jiang Chen for five thousand five hundred because she felt that¡¯s all the money that bootlicker had in his pocket. ¡°You¡¯re really generous.¡± The girls expressed their envy. Those studying art usually don¡¯t come from poor families, but seven thousand was still a significant amount for them, who were third-year university students. ¡°I asked for it from my parents too.¡± Xu Siyi said with a smile, not mentioning a word about Jiang Chen¡¯s ¡°contribution.¡± ¡°Your parents are so good to you. If I asked mine for something this expensive, I¡¯d be in for a serious scolding.¡± ¡°Guo Ran, stop bragging. You just spent a good amount of money on makeup last week, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t makeup a necessity? Don¡¯t you buy it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily have to buy brand names.¡± ¡°Alright, the one we should really be learning from is Shu Rui. She¡¯s been independent and self-sufficient for a while now.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Siyi looked towards Li Shuru¡¯s spot and noticed she wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Where¡¯s Shu Rui?¡± ¡°She probably went back to her rented place. Today, the whole place has been buzzing with her and Jiang Chen¡¯s affair; she¡¯s probably annoyed and didn¡¯t want to stay on campus.¡± By the third year, the school¡¯s oversight wasn¡¯t as strict, and many of the students who could afford it rented houses outside the campus, convenient for dating or simply for more peace and quiet. Li Shuru was renting a single room nearby, and the monthly rent was over three thousand. ¡°Shu Rui really is impressive. It hasn¡¯t even been two months since she started live streaming, and she¡¯s already got over a hundred thousand followers. Who knows, she might become a major internet celebrity before she even graduates.¡± ¡°Jin Jin, aren¡¯t you also making videos every day? How many followers do you have now?¡± Obviously. Li Shuru¡¯s success had shown these girls a shortcut to success, and they all wanted to emulate her, but sometimes fate has different plans for different people. ¡°I¡¯m just doing that for fun.¡± The girl was a bit embarrassed. After chatting for a while, the girls dispersed to attend to their own business. After admiring the newly acquired bracelet for a while, Xu Siyi cheerfully lifted her foot to start applying nail polish. At the same time, she casually opened the Starry Sky APP to watch live streams. After painting one foot, she looked up, swiped the screen, and ended up entering Li Shuru¡¯s live stream. Everyone knew that Li Shuru was live streaming on Starry Sky, and they were also aware that Li Shuru was earning a handsome income from the Starry Sky APP. They were too shy to ask how much, but judging from Li Shuru¡¯s spending habits, it was clear that she was making at least ten to twenty thousand a month. Envy is a natural human emotion. Good friends are no exception. Seeing over two thousand live viewers in the streaming room, Xu Siyi felt inexplicably irritable. Then, she thought of the infamous bootlicker at the school. Although she was well aware that the bootlicker had no chance of success, if he kept pestering Li Shuru, it would at least cause her some embarrassment, right? It seemed that the bootlicker had sent her a message that afternoon too. With that thought, Xu Siyi put down her foot and picked up her cellphone. Before long. A fan named ¡°Lone Shadow of Han River¡± entered the live stream. At this time, the number of online viewers in Li Shuru¡¯s live streaming room was approaching three thousand, and the entrance of ¡°Lone Shadow of Han River¡± was like throwing a pebble into the ocean¡ªunable to stir up even the slightest ripple. Li Shuru was wearing a red dress, her long hair black and shining. Naturally beautiful, with the addition of the camera¡¯s beautifying effects, she did not look inferior to any celebrity. And she knew how to use her advantages well: the live broadcast camera captured the proud curves of her chest and the glimpses of her snow-white thighs under the hem of her skirt that were intermittently visible. ¡°So this is what it feels like to have a crush, like your heart has been touched by static electricity.¡± ¡°I strongly suggest that the streamer doesn¡¯t go out without a reason; it¡¯s way too easy to be followed by some creep. I lost track of one just yesterday.¡± ¡°If I could have a girlfriend like this, I¡¯d gladly live twenty years less.¡± ¡°Dream on, without a fan card, how could Shu Rui ever take notice of a poor loser like you?¡± While commenting, this ¡°Inner Ring Road¡¯s Takeshi Kaneshiro¡± sent off a Firework Tube. The Firework Tube is a type of gift used in live streaming rooms to express affection for the streamer, valued at 200 Star Coins. According to the exchange rate of ten to one between Star Coins and RMB, a Firework Tube is equal to 20 RMB. ¡°Damn, twenty bucks, are you kidding me?¡± The guy who was made fun of as a poor loser immediately got angry and quickly sent a ¡°Bicycle of Love¡± worth 100 bucks. Li Shuru continued singing, oblivious to the jealousy between her fans. For streamers, such rivalry was obviously beneficial, as gifts constituted a significant part of their income. The more gifts they received, the higher the streamer¡¯s earnings would be. ¡°But unfortunately, the wind gradually blows the distance so far...¡± Although Li Shuru majored in dance, her singing was also quite impressive; she sang ¡°Sunny Day¡± effortlessly and with charm. ¡°Rich Young Master¡± sent over a ¡°Private Jet.¡± As the song ended, the screens of everyone in the live room displayed a roaring jet. A Private Jet, valued at 5000 Star Coins, which is 500 RMB. ¡°Rich V5!¡± ¡°Rich Young Master is here!¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s Rich Young Master who slays!¡± Suddenly, a long series of sycophantic comments appeared endlessly in the barrage. Clearly, this Rich Young Master was a celebrity in Li Shuru¡¯s live room. If one paid close attention, one would find this ¡°Rich Young Master¡± on Li Shuru¡¯s fan contribution leaderboard, ranked among the top. ¡°Thank you for the jet, Rich Young Master.¡± This time, Li Shuru didn¡¯t ignore it but sincerely expressed her gratitude with an enchanting smile. After all, isn¡¯t the attention of the streamer what gift givers seek? The onlookers were all excited, and their comments became even more enthusiastic. ¡°Rich Young Master¡± sent over a ¡°Yacht.¡± A Yacht, costing 8888 Star Coins, which is nearly 900 bucks. ¡°Thanks for your support, Rich Young Master. What song would you like to hear?¡± Li Shuru remained professional; although she was cold and prideful at school, she showed no attitude towards such a powerful and loyal fan, her smile as radiant as a blooming rose. ¡°Anything is fine, you sound good singing anything.¡± Rich Young Master commented. The fans below kept throwing out song titles, hoping to ¡°snag a bargain.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll sing...¡± Li Shuru was just about to speak when suddenly, a tip floated across the live room. ¡°Lone Shadow on the Cold River¡± has activated the Guardian role for ¡°Shu Rui Sonya.¡± A Guardian, unlike a gift, is another form of support for the streamer and is rather expensive¡ªa thousand bucks for a month, and you have to renew when it expires. Therefore, only if someone really adores the streamer will they become a Guardian. However, the number of Guardians often serves as a measure of a streamer¡¯s ¡°power.¡± Li Shuru had 140,000 fans but only about twenty-something Guardians in her live room. Giving gifts occasionally is no big deal. But to spend so much for a Guardian badge with no practical meaning, one must either be daft or truly wealthy. Chapter 11 - 11 011 Its not necessary to have met before to feel like old friends upon meeting ?11: 011 It¡¯s not necessary to have met before to feel like old friends upon meeting. 11: 011 It¡¯s not necessary to have met before to feel like old friends upon meeting. Looking at the new name ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± added to her guardian list, Li Shuru realized she had acquired another financier in her live broadcast room. ¡°Thank you, Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, for your guardianship.¡± Her smile was ravishing, making her seem like a completely different person from the simple student at school. That¡¯s right. On one hand was a student in two different worlds, on the other, the patrons who ensured the high quality of her life¡ªit¡¯s natural they wouldn¡¯t be receive the same attitude. If her live broadcast room were a listed company, these guardians would be the board of directors, while ordinary fans would be the shareholders. Fans might come and go, but unless something special happens, the guardians generally won¡¯t leave. Therefore, hosts do their utmost to maintain relationships with their guardians. To put it bluntly, Guardians are the host¡¯s long-term meal ticket. ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, this guy seems like he¡¯s got a story.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been following Shu Rui for a long time, and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen this big brother before.¡± ¡°Big brother, come out and say something.¡± In this materialistic era, the wealthy are respected and worshiped everywhere. However, ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± was quite aloof, only discreetly activating the guardian status without uttering a word. Li Shuru then sang a few more songs. Solitary Shadow of the Cold River: Can I request a song? Being a guardian wasn¡¯t entirely meaningless either. At the very least, their messages came with a special indicator and wouldn¡¯t get drowned in the barrage of comments. ¡°Of course you can.¡± Li Shuru immediately nodded, ¡°What song would you like to hear?¡± Solitary Shadow of the Cold River didn¡¯t speak, this guy seemed to have a bit of a loner persona. Just as Li Shuru wondered whether he was still in the room, suddenly fireworks began to fill the screen. That¡¯s right. Fireworks. ¡°My god! A Royal Salute?!¡± The live broadcast room erupted into chaos. A Royal Salute, valued at 66,666 Star Coins! Which meant, in just four or five short seconds, more than six thousand, nearly seven thousand dollars, were gone just like that! On the fan contribution leaderboard, the name ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± shot up like a rocket. Even Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help a flush spread across her cheeks, making her look even more charming and tantalizing. As a host, who wouldn¡¯t be delighted to encounter such a wealthy patron? ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± sent a ¡°Royal Salute¡±. After a brief interval, Brilliant fireworks once again erupted in the live broadcast room, and this time they didn¡¯t cease. ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± sent a ¡°Royal Salute¡±. ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± sent a ¡°Royal Salute¡±. ¡°Solitary Shadow of the Cold River¡± sent a ¡°Royal Salute¡±. ... The more than four thousand viewers in the live broadcast room were stunned, enjoying a firework feast that lasted nearly ten minutes. ¡°How much did this big brother send?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost count.¡± ¡°I specifically counted, it seems like almost two hundred...¡± ¡°Two hundred times 6666 equals... how much?¡± ¡°Over a million...¡± Everyone was dumbfounded. More than a million bucks just thrown in like that? Even if you¡¯re rich, isn¡¯t this a bit much to splurge on?! Just who was this Solitary Shadow of the Cold River?!! Thanks to the frenzied acts of Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, the popularity of Li Shuru¡¯s live broadcast room soared, with countless people rushing into the room upon hearing the news; the number of online viewers quickly breached ten thousand. ¡°I¡¯m here for the fireworks.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that godly person?¡± ¡°Bro, need any leg accessories?¡± ... East Sea University. Inside a dormitory in the west area. Jiang Chen lay on his bed, looking at his phone, wondering if he had gone a bit too far with his antics. Throwing away a million in just over ten minutes, the news had now shocked the entire Starry Sky. It spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and the popularity of Li Shuru¡¯s live stream had surprisingly squeezed into the top one hundred and was still climbing. This won¡¯t do. Time to withdraw. Act done, I vanish, concealing both my identity and name. Jiang Chen, who directly soared to the top of the contributor¡¯s list, exited the live stream room and checked his spendthrift balance. A string of nines. Almost no change. Just as expected. Though he couldn¡¯t consume for himself, as long as the money was spent on his target of pursuit, there were no issues whatsoever. Recalling Li Shuru¡¯s bright smile towards him, along with the adulation and worship from the audience in the live stream room, Jiang Chen was filled with mixed feelings. No wonder everyone is desperate to strike it rich. This feeling of splurging money hand over fist was indeed fascinating. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Brother Lone Jiang, are you still there?¡± At this moment, inside the live stream room. Everyone was greeting Lone Jiang, and Li Shuru, the host, ended up being just a foil. However, Li Shuru didn¡¯t feel any resentment for being overshadowed; her mind was dazed, and in front of her, she seemed to still see the magnificent fireworks. Following the rules of the Starry Sky APP¡¯s fifty-fifty revenue split. She had conservatively estimated that she made five hundred thousand tonight, which was almost equivalent to her father¡¯s salary of nearly three years from the ordinary working class. Most crucially, what she gained tonight wasn¡¯t just financial profit. Looking at the live stream room with now over fifty thousand online viewers, Li Shuru felt her body heat up and her breathing became a bit short. Before, she was just a small host with over a hundred thousand followers. Although she was quite impressive at East Sea University, in the grand scheme of Starry Sky, small internet celebrities like her were a dime a dozen, everywhere. But after tonight, the situation could likely undergo a huge change. Her follow count was rapidly rising. The viewers were all trying to contact Lone Jiang, but Li Shuru understood that he had already left. On the fans¡¯ contribution list, this person who had abruptly appeared took the crown with an overwhelming force and left everyone else in the dust. Looking at the solitary and forlorn silhouette in the profile picture, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but be curious. Who exactly could this person be? ¡°Shu RuiSonya has followed you.¡± Jiang Chen received a notification while scrolling through short videos. He wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Although he had coolly left after his grandstanding, as long as Li Shuru wasn¡¯t foolish, she would definitely not let him slip by. ¡°Hi, I really appreciate your support today, may I ask how to address you?¡± Li Shuru initiated a private message. Jiang Chen¡¯s mouth curved upward as he replied confidently, ¡°Why need we know each other when we meet?¡± That fit the persona. Li Shuru had probably never met someone like that. Willing to bestow so many gifts on her, he must really like her, and yet, why was his attitude so aloof? It was strange, but such a rare big spender was her lucky break; if she missed out, it would be a sin. Seeing there was no immediate reply and the other side had gone silent, Jiang Chen¡¯s smile grew wider. How the tables have turned. In school, Li Shuru was a lofty goddess who didn¡¯t pay much attention to the boys, but now, she was the one initiating contact with him, and she might even be carefully speculating about his background and personality. Would the campus belle react if she knew that the ¡°number one big brother¡± who had given her the chance at great wealth and opportunity was the very sycophant she scrupulously avoided? ¡°Is it possible to add you on WeChat?¡± After a dozen seconds, Shu RuiSonya sent another message. Staring at the chat box, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but think of the scene from the previous night at KIMI¡¯s and was filled with emotion. How proud was she when he asked for her contact information? ¡°There¡¯s no need for now.¡± Upon reading the reply, Li Shuru¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Casting aside all pretense of pride, she immediately typed, ¡°Why not?¡± After the message was sent, it sunk like a stone into the sea, with no further response. Chapter 12 - 12 012 A Dream in a Yellow Beam ?12: 012 A Dream in a Yellow Beam 12: 012 A Dream in a Yellow Beam Not revealing his identity, Jiang Chen certainly had his own considerations. Last night, after throwing a million in Li Shu Rui¡¯s live streaming room and certainly achieving some effect, even leading to Li Shu Rui taking the initiative to strike up a conversation, he knew that winning her over simply through this act was not realistic. This beauty of the art college did indeed have a bit of disdain for the poor and a predilection for the wealthy, but that didn¡¯t mean she would do anything for money. Not to mention others, her close friend Xu Siyi was quite different from her. Li Shu Rui, at the very least, wouldn¡¯t easily accept others¡¯ favors, but what about Xu Siyi? That girl? She was simply inhuman, driven solely by profit. Li Shu Rui was his first target for conquest, and if he failed, the trillions lying in his account might forever remain just virtual numbers, so he could not afford to be rash or careless. Haste doesn¡¯t bring success. Jiang Chen reminded himself of this. This was not a simple love game; it was about his life and future, so he couldn¡¯t rush things. He had to act steadily and carefully plan his next steps. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Change your seat.¡± Monday morning. Jiang Chen had a class, and while he was talking with Bai Zheli, Ai Qian came over with her book and stopped nearby. ¡°Why?¡± Bai Zheli looked up. Although he had treated her as a sister-in-law for a while, ever since Brother Chen got dumped and the series of shameless acts where she used Chen as a tool, his impression of the class beauty had plummeted, even to the point of detestation. ¡°I have something to discuss with Jiang Chen.¡± Ai Qian said assertively, commanding authority. Bai Zheli really wanted to curse at her for her shamelessness, but due to his personality, plus consideration for the consequences and not wanting Jiang Chen to be subjected to rumors, he had to suppress his anger and reluctantly get up and leave. Ai Qian sat down with her book, looking pleased. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you being spiteful towards me?¡± Classes hadn¡¯t started yet. Ai Qian turned her head, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, and looked at her ex-boyfriend. She didn¡¯t care what the rest of the class thought or said; after all, she had plenty of ways to shift the blame onto Jiang Chen. And every time, Jiang Chen would just take it, never retorting. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Chen was not angry; he spoke to her like he would a regular classmate. However, his indifference made Ai Qian frown and feel uneasy, reinforcing her belief that he was indeed being spiteful towards her. ¡°I know you were upset about the incident the day before yesterday, but Zhen Lun saw us, and in that situation, I couldn¡¯t think of any other excuse. Can you please not be mad at me?¡± She started acting coquettishly just like she had done countless times before. Individual lives are indeed starkly different. Even though they were both girls, Ai Qian and Li Shu Rui had drastically different personalities. When dealing with someone poor like Jiang Chen, Li Shu Rui was cold and unwilling to have the slightest interaction, while Ai Qian was different. Even with a boyfriend, she kept teasing Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen¡¯s poverty was real. But his previous kindness towards Ai Qian was also real. It was precisely because of his wholehearted devotion to Ai Qian that he earned the notorious title of a fawning admirer. Perhaps Ai Qian¡¯s current behavior was also because she couldn¡¯t let go of the good times Jiang Chen had given her. Human hearts are always greedy. Even though one can¡¯t have both the fish and the bear¡¯s paw, some people always try. Taking advantage while no one could see, Ai Qian¡¯s hand reached under the table, resting on Jiang Chen¡¯s thigh. ¡°There, don¡¯t be mad anymore. I apologize, and to make it up to you, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner tonight, okay?¡± Such behavior, even just as classmates, was inappropriate, not to mention that Ai Qian was now a ¡°married woman.¡± Jiang Chen smiled slightly, ¡°Is he not at school today?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s face stiffened, and she withdrew her hand awkwardly, her expression gradually changing. ¡°Jiang Chen, what do you mean?¡± ¡°If he were at school, you probably wouldn¡¯t be thinking about having dinner with me, would you?¡± Ai Qian was stunned for a moment, and then realized that this young man, who had always been very obedient to her, had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar. ¡°... It¡¯s true that he¡¯s not at school, but what does that have to do with me asking you to dinner? I really do want to apologize.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Jiang Chen said calmly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen him, just have a good life with him and don¡¯t do things that lead to misunderstandings anymore.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, are you still mad at me?¡± At that moment, Ai Qian felt very uncomfortable in her heart, extremely so. The other person had never spoken to her like this before. ¡°I know I was the one who wronged you, I¡¯m the one at fault, so you wanted to get back at me by pursuing Li Shuru.¡± She reached for Jiang Chen¡¯s thigh again. ¡°You¡¯re doing this just to provoke me, to make me angry. I know I was wrong, and I definitely won¡¯t let Zhen Lun find out again.¡± Not going to let other people find out. But not saying that she won¡¯t wrong herself again. Jiang Chen laughed. ¡°I¡¯m pursuing Li Shuru not because of you, but because I genuinely want to pursue her, so please don¡¯t overthink it.¡± He pulled Ai Qian¡¯s hand away. ¡°Impossible!¡± Ai Qian suddenly grew agitated, her gaze condensed and her voice still sharp though suppressed, ¡°It must be because of me! You¡¯ve always liked me! You¡¯re lying!¡± Jiang Chen remained silent. He understood that her intense reaction wasn¡¯t because of deep feelings for him. It was like a dog that had always wagged its tail only for you, suddenly leaving you to please someone else ¨C anyone would find it hard to accept. ¡°We¡¯ve turned the page. You¡¯ve got a new beginning, and I also need to start a new life.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s tone was even, without any anger, but it was filled with a suffocating sense of finality. Ai Qian¡¯s gaze fluctuated intensely, staring fixedly at him. Disdaining the poor and loving the rich are common human feelings, and pursuing a better material life isn¡¯t wrong. But obviously. Having traded up for a wealthy new boyfriend, Ai Qian wasn¡¯t as happy as she appeared, hence her ¡°lingering thoughts¡± about Jiang Chen. The whole school knew that this young man was her lapdog, and she thought that Jiang Chen would always be good to her, never betraying her, but reality had slapped her hard across the face. ¡°Ha, Jiang Chen, you think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking? You hate me, hate that I abandoned you, but what did I do wrong? Liang Zhenlun is wealthier than you, he¡¯s generous to me, so why can¡¯t I choose him? Why should I stick with you and suffer?¡± Ai Qian clenched her fists, the veins on the back of her hand bulging. ¡°I never said you were wrong, and I never blamed you, did I?¡± Faced with Jiang Chen¡¯s indifferent eyes, Ai Qian¡¯s voice faltered, her lips pressed tightly together. That¡¯s right. From beginning to end, whether it was being dumped or being used continuously, Jiang Chen never complained. It was precisely because of this that she found Jiang Chen¡¯s sudden ¡°change of heart¡± so hard to accept. ¡°Then why are you pursuing Li Shuru? Do you think she would take a liking to you? Just give up already! What are you worth? Even if she was willing to be with you, could you afford to provide for her?! I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re not even worthy to carry her shoes!¡± Jealousy, embarrassment, and the rage of betrayal had already made the girl somewhat hysterical, her beautiful face contorting slightly. Jiang Chen turned a deaf ear, his expression as tranquil as still water, as if the insults weren¡¯t directed at him. In his mind were all the past scenes of being with this girl. All just a pipe dream. At that moment, the bell for class rang. The teacher walked into the classroom. Jiang Chen turned his head, looking towards the podium. ¡°Ai Qian, we should both look forward now.¡± Chapter 13 - 13 013 Femme Fatale ?13: 013 Femme Fatale 13: 013 Femme Fatale ¡°Clang!¡± The moment class ended, Ai Qian picked up her books and quickly walked out of the classroom, her face ashen, and even gave her desk a fierce kick. Everyone could tell that the class beauty seemed to be in a bad mood. All eyes involuntarily turned to Jiang Chen. How strange. Could it be that Jiang the big bootlicker had annoyed her? ¡°Chen bro, everything okay?¡± Bai Zheli also noticed Ai Qian¡¯s abnormal behavior, watched her leave the classroom, and approached with a worried heart. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jiang Chen smiled nonchalantly, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go eat, and then play basketball after.¡± Senior year was usually very relaxed. Besides one morning class, the rest of the day was free. Below the girls¡¯ dormitory. Jiang Chen effortlessly jumped from beyond the three-point line, released the ball, which followed a graceful arc through the air, and then ¡°swoosh,¡± it went straight through the net. The whole process was fluid and exhilarating. ¡°Nice shot!¡± The spectators cheered loudly. Luo Chen, who was on defense, panted heavily, wiped a bead of sweat, took his gaze away from the basket, and couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up. He had to admit that aside from his stinking reputation as a bootlicker, Jiang Chen was actually commendable in other areas. He looked good, did well academically, and wasn¡¯t lacking in athletic talent. If he hadn¡¯t been so boneheaded about being hung up on Ai Qian, he likely wouldn¡¯t have been short of girls liking him. After all, among East Sea University¡¯s ten thousand students, there were more than four thousand girls, and it was impossible for all of them to be materialistic and realistic. ¡°I¡¯ll take a break.¡± Sweating profusely, Jiang Chen wiped his sweat and walked to the side of the court to sit down, picked up a bottle of mineral water, and before he could take a few sips, a disturbance suddenly erupted from outside the basketball court. He instinctively turned his head to look, and saw five or six modified cars stopping in succession, among them a bright red Maserati was particularly eye-catching. Liang Zhenlun got out of the car, putting on a pair of exaggerated black sunglasses, and walked over with a group of fair-weather friends, exuding an intimidating presence, looking pompous and majestic. Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. Children from regular families had to study hard and diligently to change their fate, but for rich kids like Liang Zhenlun, it was different. Attending university was just a formality for them. The four years of university were seen by these rich kids as a time to indulge in eating, drinking, and pleasure. As a ¡°love rival,¡± Jiang Chen naturally had some knowledge about Liang Zhenlun. That guy hardly ever attended class. Also, Ai Qian had let slip that morning that he wasn¡¯t at the school, but had suddenly returned and even came to this place, bringing so many people with him... Tsk. Nothing good was coming. Luo Peng and the others also noticed the aggressive entrance of Liang Zhenlun and his entourage, and immediately realized something was wrong. They quickly gathered around Jiang Chen to protect him. ¡°Liang Zhenlun, what are you trying to do?¡± Others might fear this so-called Young Master Liang, but Luo Peng was not afraid. After all, his family¡¯s background wasn¡¯t lacking, and he had extensive connections at the school. ¡°What do I want to do? I¡¯d like to ask, what are YOU trying to do, Jiang Chen!¡± Liang Zhenlun dispensed with the pleasantries, calling Jiang Chen by name and arrogantly said, ¡°If you¡¯re a real man, dare to own up to your actions; what kind of man hides behind others?¡± ¡°You looking for trouble or what?¡± Luo Peng, unwilling to show weakness, glowered fiercely. Jiang Chen patted his arm, pushed through the crowd, and faced Liang Zhenlun head-on. ¡°What have I done?¡± Instantly, the entire basketball court was attracted by the commotion here. People began to gather around, and even students passing by curiously started watching the excitement. ¡°Quick, look! Liang Zhenlun and Jiang Chen are squaring off!¡± From the girls¡¯ dormitory above, several heads peered out from the balcony, eagerly watching the scene below. Even Xu Siyi¡¯s dorm room received the news. ¡°Haha, those two finally can¡¯t stand it anymore. It¡¯s best if they just start fighting!¡± Nothing beats watching a drama unfold. As it doesn¡¯t affect them personally, these girls naturally couldn¡¯t wait for chaos to emerge. Even though she had accepted favors from Jiang Chen, Xu Siyi wasn¡¯t worried at all about the tense scene below. She snorted disdainfully and muttered, ¡°All idiots.¡± ¡°You did something?¡± Liang Zhenlun had not yet taken off his sunglasses, pointed his finger at Jiang Chen¡¯s nose with an insulting gesture. ¡°I warned you, Ai Qian is now my girlfriend. I told you to stop pestering her. Did you take my words as wind passing by your ears?¡± His group of fair-weather friends crossed their arms, looking maliciously at Jiang Chen. ¡°Liang Zhenlun, what do you mean by that?¡± Li Shao frowned. ¡°What I mean, why don¡¯t you ask your good buddy over there?¡± Jiang Chen remained silent. ¡°Still playing dumb, huh?¡± Liang Zhenlun said darkly, ¡°During class this morning, did you or did you not make another move on Ai Qian?¡± The entire place was in an uproar. Spectators whispered among themselves, casting peculiar glances at Jiang Chen. Being a lovesick puppy isn¡¯t a serious fault. But if someone is this sleazy and despicable, it¡¯s a question of character. At that moment, a sexy figure that seemed to be heading back to the dorm hesitated for a moment at the big scene on the court, then changed direction, walking to the edge of the crowd. ¡°You¡¯re talking crap!¡± Luo Peng burst out swearing, ¡°Jiang Chen is not that kind of person!¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking crap?¡± Liang Zhenlun said menacingly, ¡°This is straight from Ai Qian¡¯s own mouth. Do you think I¡¯m wrongly accusing him?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one slandering!¡± Bai Zheli couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, stepped forward, and said loudly, ¡°All along, it¡¯s been her using Brother Chen, not Brother Chen pestering her! Since you¡¯re her boyfriend, your job isn¡¯t to slap baseless charges on others but to keep your own girlfriend in check!¡± His words were thunderous, impactful! Piercing and powerful! Luo Peng and Li Shao looked at the youngest roommate in surprise, never expecting such a soft-spoken guy to harbor such formidable strength. It seemed he had been holding back for Jiang Chen for too long and was eager to let it out. ¡°You¡¯re talking bullshit!¡± Liang Zhenlun tore off his sunglasses, looking ferocious. ¡°I¡¯m not talking bullshit! If you don¡¯t believe it, call your girlfriend over and have her confront Brother Chen!¡± Bai Zheli was all in, not backing down an inch. Today, he was determined to clear Brother Chen¡¯s name and rid him of the lovesick fool reputation! Feeling like he had just downed a bottle of ice-cold beer in the sweltering heat of the summer, Luo Peng felt so good he almost wanted to clap and cheer. ¡°Yeah, if you¡¯re so confident, call Ai Qian over and see who¡¯s really at fault!¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s expression kept changing, clearly lacking confidence in his own girlfriend. He turned his gaze back to Jiang Chen. ¡°Jiang, are you planning on staying a shrinking turtle forever?¡± ¡°I apologize for what happened before, but I can promise that from now on, I¡¯ll have no further dealings with Ai Qian.¡± Jiang Chen replied calmly, neither sad nor happy. No matter who had initiated things before, the ongoing ¡°lingering connection¡± with Ai Qian was indeed an unethical harm to Liang Zhenlun. ¡°You think I¡¯d believe that?¡± Liang Zhenlun scoffed disdainfully. ¡°You should believe him because right now he¡¯s pursuing the beauty of the arts faculty, Li Shuru!¡± Someone in the crowd shouted. Liang Zhenlun was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. ¡°Did I hear that right? Li Shuru? Jiang Chen, you think you can?¡± ¡°What about it? Isn¡¯t Jiang Chen pursuing Li Shuru? How isn¡¯t Li Shuru better than Ai Qian?!¡± Luo Peng couldn¡¯t care about the consequences anymore. Better the lesser of two evils. After all, if one has to be a lovesick puppy, fawning over Li Shuru did sound a bit better. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s expression slowly solidified, realizing that the other party didn¡¯t seem to be joking. The entire scene was shocked. After all, hearing rumors is one thing, but seeing is believing is another. Luo Peng and Jiang Chen were roommates; they certainly wouldn¡¯t lie. So, was the notorious Jiang the lovesick puppy of the school really changing his ways, shifting his target? On the edge of the crowd. The sexy figure showed no expression and silently turned to leave. Chapter 14 - 14 Mysterious Top One ?14: Mysterious Top One 14: Mysterious Top One ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re back! Come quickly, Jiang Chen¡¯s roommate is saying that Jiang Chen is going to pursue you! Now everyone in school will know about it!¡± Upon seeing Li Shuru pushing the door open, the girls sprawled on the balcony watching the drama immediately waved at her excitedly. ¡°Shu Rui, I think you really should talk to Jiang Chen and clear things up,¡± Seeing there wouldn¡¯t be a fight below, Xu Siyi lost interest in watching further and walked back from the balcony, ¡°If you let them spread such baseless rumors, it might not be good for your reputation.¡± Xu Siyi¡¯s words seemed kind-hearted but had an ulterior motive, which was to create an opportunity for Jiang Chen. The reason why Jiang Chen was so famous was that he was very stubborn. If he had easily conceded in the face of difficulties, he wouldn¡¯t have become the well-known lovestruck fool of today. If Li Shuru really went to persuade Jiang Chen to give up pursuing her, she would certainly be wasting her time. On the contrary, this coming and going would only make their relationship more ambiguous. Xu Siyi¡¯s objective was to get the two of them to become embroiled in an unending entanglement. ¡°Shu Rui, I actually think Jiang Chen is not bad. Though he¡¯s not wealthy, he¡¯s reliable. His ex-girlfriend obviously used him all along, yet he hasn¡¯t said a bad word about her and even apologized to Liang Zhenlun a moment ago. I must say, I quite admire him,¡± The girl speaking was Zheng Jingjing, who sounded genuinely wistful and sincere. ¡°If you think he¡¯s good, why don¡¯t you take Shu Rui¡¯s place?¡± Another girl with a bun hairstyle, Guo Ran, teased with a smile that was not quite a smile. ¡°Forget about it,¡± Zheng Jingjing immediately shook her head, her face revealing a bitter smile. Although she truly thought Jiang Chen had a good character, the fact that he didn¡¯t have money was a fatal flaw. Li Shuru made no comment and quietly placed her shopping bag on the table, taking out the items inside. ¡°Wow, SK2!¡± Li Shuru proceeded to take out three luxurious skincare sets from the shopping bag, each set priced around three to four thousand on the market. The girls¡¯ eyes lit up as they swiftly gathered around. ¡°Shu Rui, why did you buy so much? Can you use it all?¡± Li Shuru spoke softly, ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you guys.¡± The girls were stunned. Even though they had seen there were three sets and had somewhat expected it, they couldn¡¯t help but be overjoyed when they heard they were actually gifts for them. ¡°Shu Rui, I love you to death!¡± Zheng Jingjing promptly grabbed a set and hugged it tightly in her arms without any hesitation. Xu Siyi and Guo Ran didn¡¯t want to be outdone either, each taking a set for themselves. Although their skincare products were not cheap, SK2 sets worth a few thousand were not something they could often afford. ¡°Shu Rui, why are you suddenly giving us gifts?¡± Delighted as she was, Xu Siyi still felt it a bit strange. Had she persisted in watching the live broadcast yesterday, she wouldn¡¯t have needed to ask this superfluous question. Although Li Shuru tended to be quite cold toward guys, she was not ignorant of social etiquette. Being a woman herself, she naturally understood how complex a woman¡¯s thoughts could be. She didn¡¯t want to live in an environment filled with scheming, so she often treated her roommates or gave them small gifts to maintain a harmonious relationship in the dorm. Of course, ¡°Generous gestures¡± like today¡¯s had never happened before. After all, the three sets of SK2 skincare added up to a value of ten thousand yuan. If it had been before, even if she were generous, she wouldn¡¯t have been so extravagant. All this was due to her earnings from the night before being immensely substantial. The income from Starry Sky could be cashed out immediately, and her bank account had gained an additional six hundred thousand. Compared to her earnings from last night, the so-called branded skincare sets were hardly worth mentioning. ¡°I want to give you guys gifts, is there a problem? If you don¡¯t want them, return them to me.¡± Li Shuru pretended to reclaim the items, but Xu Siyi skillfully dodged. ¡°Who asks for gifts to be returned after giving them? Thanks!¡± Xu Siyi seemed ecstatic and treasured the SK2 skincare set as she carefully placed it at her own desk, but deep down, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of disparity. People all have their pride. Truth be told, her family¡¯s financial situation was actually a bit better than Li Shuru¡¯s, yet she was always on the receiving end of Li Shuru¡¯s favors. Why should that be? ¡°Shu Rui, being able to be sisters with you is truly a blessing!¡± Zheng Jingjing spoke sweetly. Those words fell into Xu Siyi¡¯s ears and sounded even more grating. After distributing the gifts, Li Shuru sat down. Her roommates began to try out the new skincare products they just received, and she took out her phone and opened the Starry Sky APP. A tall tree catches the wind. She of course understood such a simple truth. That was also the reason why she did not reveal the reality of the situation. If she told her roommates that she made over six hundred thousand in one night, they might not be happy for her. Instead, they might feel that her giving them gifts was expected, and they could even think that a set of SK2 was too cheap. The private messages still showed 99+. Li Shuru didn¡¯t look at them or clear them out, and instead she checked the current number of followers she had. 260k. Her followers increased by more than one hundred thousand overnight. Li Shuru took a deep breath and then opened the chat window, clicking on the conversation with ¡°Lone Shadow of the Cold River¡±. But up to now, the other party had not replied at all. After throwing around more than a million, it seemed like the other person had disappeared. Since entering the self-media industry, Li Shuru had encountered all kinds of people¡ªevery imaginable shape and form¡ªand those on her fan contribution list, wasn¡¯t each one of them harboring ulterior motives? She was not oblivious to this fact, but that¡¯s just how the industry worked. Pies don¡¯t fall from the sky; why would anyone give you money for nothing? The purpose of those fans giving gifts and cheering for you was nothing more than to have further dealings with you. Li Shuru had also met some very straightforward people, who plainly discussed with her how much they would pay for a night. At first, she would reject them coldly, but as time went on, she gradually learned the rules of the industry and began to adapt, playing along without commitment. However, this ¡°Lone Shadow of the Cold River¡± was undoubtedly an unprecedented oddity. Originally, Li Shuru had been prepared for the possibility that the other party would make excessive demands, but the outcome was completely unexpected. It seemed the other party really just had too much money to spend and, after throwing a million in her live broadcast room, vanished without a trace, even ignoring her initiative to add WeChat. What kind of person was this really? Curiosity killed the cat. And it could also kill a woman. Li Shuru clicked on ¡°Lone Shadow of the Cold River¡±¡®s personal page and found it exceptionally clean. The moments page was completely empty, without a single post. Not to mention finding any clues about the person¡¯s background, she couldn¡¯t even guess their age. When she clicked on the following list, it showed that he was only following her. Could he be one of her die-hard fans? Li Shuru was utterly puzzled and couldn¡¯t help but suspect whether ¡°Lone Shadow of the Cold River¡± could be one of her admirers? Not to mention the boys at school, there were also no shortage of people interested in her from outside the school. Yet when Li Shuru searched her mind for a ¡°suspect list,¡± she found no matching candidate. Among her admirers, indeed there were some wealthy young masters, but none of them ¡°splurged¡± like this. After all, this was over a million, not just ten or twenty thousand. These young masters indeed liked to show off, but they definitely were not fools. Even if we take a step back, Even if it were about wooing those third or fourth-tier stars, it likely wouldn¡¯t cost this much, right? ¡°What¡¯s up with Shu Rui? Why is she spacing out?¡± Zheng Jingjing looked at Li Shuru curiously as she held her phone and stared into space. ¡°She¡¯s definitely thinking about a man.¡± Guo Ran joked. ¡°Wonder who she¡¯s thinking about, it can¡¯t be Jiang Chen, can it?¡± Zheng Jingjing muttered. Xu Siyi also joined in the fun, smiling faintly, ¡°You never know.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 015 Renew for a hundred years! ?15: 015 Renew for a hundred years! 15: 015 Renew for a hundred years! Liang Zhenlun, though always high-profile, was not reckless enough to instigate violence within the school in full view of everyone. Skipping class was one thing; the school might turn a blind eye to that, but if he teamed up with outsiders to beat up a schoolmate, he was almost certain to be expelled afterward. His family might be rich, but not rich enough to support his wanton behavior. ¡°Jiang Chen...¡± He sneered, raising his hand and pointing at Jiang Chen with a meaning-laden pause. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Then, he put his sunglasses back on and left with his entourage, swaggering and flaunting as he walked away. ¡°Buzz...¡± With the intense roar of engines, several sports cars turned and sped away. As the farce ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, yet the recent conflict would inevitably become a hot topic at Dong University. ¡°Why did you say Jiang Chen is pursuing Li Shuru?¡± Li Shao frowned and looked at Luo Peng, ¡°Aren¡¯t you pushing Jiang Chen into the fire pit by saying that?¡± Without even thinking about it, news of Jiang Chen pursuing the belle of the Arts department would soon be known throughout the school. ¡°I got carried away in the heat of the moment.¡± Luo Peng also realized his comment might have been inappropriate and that it could turn his good friend into the laughing stock of the conversation again, but in that situation, he really couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°Ai Qian is just too disgusting; to slander you, she didn¡¯t even care about her own reputation. Li Shuru is ten thousand times better than her!¡± Luo Peng, who had earlier been advising Jiang Chen to stay calm, changed his stance. It was too late to undo what¡¯s been done. Since he was the one who blurted it out, he had no choice but to brazenly start supporting Jiang Chen¡¯s pursuit of Li Shuru. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find out about Li Shuru¡¯s interests and preferences! I refuse to believe that the two of us brothers can¡¯t win over a girl!¡± A buddha fights for a stick of incense. A man fights for a breath of dignity. He was adamant about helping Jiang Chen win Li Shuru over, just to show that bastard Liang Zhenlun! ¡°Luo Bro, is this something you can team up for?¡± Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses awkwardly. ¡°Why not?¡± This time Luo Peng seemed genuinely serious, even more so than when he was going after girls himself, and he declared forcefully, ¡°Jiang Chen, just go for it, and if there¡¯s any difficulty with funds, you¡¯ve got me!¡± Li Shao shook his head. Great. Two lunatics. ¡°I appreciate the thought.¡± Jiang Chen smiled gently and patted Luo Peng on the shoulder. ¡°But when it comes to pursuing a girl, sincerity is key. How can I rely on someone else? I have my own way.¡± Luo Peng and the others were taken aback and a little stunned, watching Jiang Chen walk toward the basketball court exit. What a confidently suave guy. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª At night. Li Shuru started her live stream again in her dorm room. However, this time, she felt an indescribable sense of anticipation. But half an hour into the live stream, a certain name had yet to appear, causing Li Shuru to be somewhat distracted while singing. Even the viewers began to notice that she seemed off. ¡°Streamer, why don¡¯t you dance?¡± ¡°Seconded!¡± ¡°Agreed! Shu Rui dancing is absolute! The number one dancing queen under the stars is none other than Shu Rui!¡± ... When Jiang Chen entered the live stream, he saw viewers egging Li Shuru on to dance, and they were even suggesting she change into a short skirt and stockings with not-so-pure intentions. A bunch of LSPs. He cursed internally, but outwardly Jiang Chen played along, casually dropping a comment: ¡°I want to see too.¡± Lonely Shadow on the Cold River: I want to see too. The special badge of a guardian made this comment stand out to many. ¡°Lonely Shadow on the Cold River bro is here!¡± ¡°Hahaha, bro is also one of us!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect Lonely Shadow on the Cold River bro to also have such taste!¡± The live stream room immediately became noisy. Obviously. Last night, Jiang Chen¡¯s lavish spending indeed left a profound impression on many people. A moment ago, Li Shuru, who was absent-minded, immediately had a sparkle in her eyes. However, she didn¡¯t go out of her way to greet ¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± and said with some difficulty, ¡°I¡¯m in my dorm right now, so it¡¯s not convenient for me to dance.¡± Many of her long-time fans knew she was a university student, but which university remained a mystery. ¡°No worries, just sway a little, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re not that picky.¡± ¡°Host, ¡®Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡¯ big brother said he wants to see.¡± These viewers were not only lecherous but also clever, knowing how to use the situation to their advantage. They were aware that ¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± carried weight. Li Shuru hesitated. At the critical moment, ¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± jumped in again. ¡°If the host doesn¡¯t want to, then let¡¯s forget it. We shouldn¡¯t make things difficult for her.¡± While his words seemed to be helping Li Shuru out of a tight spot, in reality, they placed significant psychological pressure on her. After all, who knew if he was being sarcastic? Ordinary fans could be ignored. But the ¡°Number One Brother¡± on the leaderboard, he was not someone you could afford to offend. ¡°Well... okay then.¡± After weighing her options for a moment, Li Shuru finally stood up. Lively music started playing. Squinting eyes. Caressing her chest. Twisting her waist. Shaking her hips. Even without changing her clothes, the LSP in the livestream was still boiling with excitement, completely captivated. On the other end of the livestream, holding his phone, Jiang Chen was also watching with great interest. ¡°Chen bro, what are you watching?¡± Bai Zheli, who had just finished washing clothes, curiously leaned in, only to see the Academy¡¯s belle dancing hotly on the screen. Bai Zheli¡¯s face immediately turned red. ¡°Go watch your TV. This isn¡¯t for kids.¡± Jiang Chen sent him away. At this moment, gifts flooded the livestream. Jiang Chen was not stingy either. ¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± sent over a ¡°Carnival.¡± A Carnival, valued at 300,000 Star Coins, which is 3 million yuan, was the most expensive gift in Starry Sky. ¡°Big brother V5!¡± ¡°Big bro is so generous!¡± ¡°Does the big bro¡¯s home lack a pet dog? I mean, the single since birth, can talk human talk kind.¡± Throughout the dance, Li Shuru never stopped. Her fingers tangled in her hair, her chin slightly lifted as she threw a seductive glance at the camera, full of allure and mystique. So tantalizing it would take one¡¯s breath away. ¡°You¡¯re distracting me from assessing the situation between Russia and Ukraine.¡± ¡°Broke up after dating, couldn¡¯t give birth to an Ultraman.¡± ¡°Liu Zhiyuan, from class three of Electrical Engineering at Jiangbei University of Science and Technology, you¡¯re about to drool all over your screen.¡± They were all so talented. Jiang Chen found the whole spectacle very enjoyable. He had to admit, the Academy¡¯s belle really understood men. She must be the kind with a cold exterior but seductive inside; to men, she was nothing short of a siren. Li Shuru was very professional. She danced for several minutes and only stopped when a sheen of sweat formed on her forehead, ¡°Thank you for the Carnival from ¡®Lonely Shadow of the Cold River.''¡± She leaned close to the camera, bent down, and covered her chest with her hands. Her complexion was flushed from the intense activity, her breathing slightly labored, and her luscious black hair dangling down. The extreme contrast in colors made her even more enchanting. ¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± did not speak, nor did he flaunt his wealth as he did last night, but he still demonstrated what it means to be rich and capricious with his actions. [¡°Lonely Shadow of the Cold River¡± has renewed a guardian role in this livestream for a hundred years] Seeing the system¡¯s alert, the tens of thousands of viewers in the livestream were dumbfounded. A, a hundred years?!!! Chapter 16 - 16 016 Big shots way of confessing love ?16: 016 Big shot¡¯s way of confessing love 16: 016 Big shot¡¯s way of confessing love The monthly fee for becoming a guardian is a thousand. So how much is it to renew for a hundred years? A class representative in math quickly calculated the answer. ¡°One million two hundred thousand!****, tycoon, please accept my kneel!¡± ¡°Bro, I have a sister who¡¯s prettier than the host. Are you interested? I can introduce you.¡± ¡°My twin sister and I have never been in love, bro, can we get to know each other?¡± ¡°Get lost! Damn, I really shouldn¡¯t have looked; give me back my eyes!¡± ¡°A man becomes an immortal after ten thousand years, a mortal life is but a hundred years, is this the way tycoons declare their love? I¡¯m impressed.¡± ... The barrage of comments was overwhelming, but Jiang Chen could no longer see them. After renewing his guardianship for a hundred years, he left the live broadcast room. In just two evenings, two million had vanished into thin air; he did this not because he was stupidly rich. He had thoroughly researched the usage instructions for the gold meant for fawning. If he could successfully woo Li Shuru, then the money he spent on Li Shuru would be refunded by one-tenth the moment the mission was completed. In other words, The more he spent on Li Shuru now, the higher his returns would be later on. If Li Shuru¡¯s affection for him reached 90 tomorrow, then he could get a refund of over two hundred thousand. For him, Li Shuru was akin to a financial product; the greater the investment, the higher the returns, and of course, he had to find ways to lavish money on her. Of course. ¡°Investment¡± is investment, but you still have to be mindful of the extent. These days, although those willing to drop millions to support a female host are rare, they do exist, but from now on, he would probably need to reel it in a bit. Throwing a fortune to win a beauty¡¯s smile occasionally is romantic, but if it¡¯s done every day, it arouses suspicion. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t want to attract the attention of the authorities before he even got his hands on the money. ¡°13726******, this is my phone number.¡± As expected. Li Shuru quickly sent another private message. But this time, the admired beauty of the arts college was a bit smarter, not uttering any nonsense and just providing her contact information. Although she took the initiative, she also showed the right amount of restraint. Jiang Chen¡¯s lips curved slightly upward as he closed his phone and slipped it into his pocket. ¡°Xiao Bai, what are you watching on TV?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Elsewhere. With Li Shuru ending the live broadcast, Xu Siyi and the other two girls, who had been unable to contain themselves, quickly gathered around. ¡°Shu Rui, don¡¯t you never dance in the dorm?¡± Indeed. Although Li Shuru often live-streamed from the dorm, due to the environment, she rarely danced during these streams. ¡°And why did you dance so...¡± Hesitant, Guo Ran still stammered out, ¡°...so provocatively?¡± They noticed Li Shuru¡¯s dance moves and were all astonished. Forget men; even they, the girls, felt their hearts racing and faces blushing upon seeing those moves. Li Shuru¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, though her roommates all knew she was a host, it was one thing for them to know and another to see it themselves. And the dance she had just performed was indeed too... ¡°Really?¡± Li Shuru feigned composure. ¡°Of course!¡± Zheng Jingjing nodded vigorously, ¡°I felt hot all over just by watching!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Li Shuru felt even more embarrassed and pretended to be natural, ¡°If they want to watch, what can I do about it?¡± Zheng Jingjing and the girls naturally knew that ¡°they¡± referred to the fans in the live broadcast room. ¡°They¡¯re always clamoring to see it, why didn¡¯t you dance in the dorm before?¡± Xu Siyi¡¯s eyes moved, not so easily fooled; she suspiciously watched her roommate who was obviously acting out of character. ¡°Those people also want your personal clothes and stockings; why don¡¯t you give them those?¡± If this had been before, Li Shuru might not have cared, after all, they were all girls and sisters who had lived together for years, and they had made even more extreme jokes. But today, perhaps because she felt guilty, she felt inexplicably embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s just a dance, do you really need to make such a fuss?¡± She tried to dodge the question with a light answer, hoping to brush it off, but Xu Siyi and the other two girls were not so easily dismissed. ¡°Shu Rui, there¡¯s something off about you...¡± Zheng Jingjing spoke as though she held great insight, her eyes like torches that could penetrate the human heart. ¡°Plus, you suddenly gave us SK2 today. Shu Rui, you better come clean. Did you run into some good fortune?¡± Guo Ran chimed in with support. Girls like them were rarely foolish. ¡°Confess and you¡¯ll be treated leniently, resist and face strict measures!¡± Xu Siyi deliberately put on a stern face, speaking with earnest severity. ¡°I give you gifts, and now that¡¯s a mistake?¡± Li Shuru was unwilling to yield, counterattacking by suggesting a retreat: ¡°Then give me back the stuff.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already used it.¡± Zheng Jingjing chuckled, ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re so nervous, could it be that we¡¯ve guessed right? Has some wealthy guy from Starry Sky taken a fancy to you and wants to pursue you?¡± Nowadays, lots of rich people liked to court female live streamers. Li Shuru had encountered this before, and the man was even a local from East Sea; he was quite generous with gifts for Shu Rui, but he was just too old, not a good match. ¡°Really, there¡¯s nothing.¡± Li Shuru vehemently denied. The three girls crossed their arms, staring at her wordlessly with unwavering skepticism. Without a choice, Li Shuru could only smile bitterly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll confess.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Zheng Jingjing narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. ¡°There¡¯s no wealthy guy, it¡¯s just that I met someone...¡± Li Shuru hesitated again. ¡°Met someone? What do you mean?¡± Xu Siyi quickly pressed for an answer. ¡°I met someone... quite interesting.¡± After some thought, Li Shuru didn¡¯t know how else to describe him and could only resort to this term. ¡°Interesting?¡± The three girls Xu Siyi looked at each other, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± Guo Ran even reverted to her hometown dialect. Li Shuru pursed her lips like rose petals. Everyone has a sense of vanity. Girls of this age even more so. Encountering such a big spender, if she said she wasn¡¯t proud or didn¡¯t want to show off to others, that would certainly be a lie. ¡°He activated a Guardian role in my live stream room.¡± Li Shuru said softly. ¡°Guardian? What¡¯s the big deal about that? Isn¡¯t it just a thousand bucks?¡± Zheng Jingjing was dismissive. Li Shuru, who was usually proud and aloof, was all too familiar with such attitudes; seeing her ¡°bashful¡± like this, Zheng Jingjing had thought it might be someone truly special. Just as Zheng Jingjing was being scornful, Li Shuru looked at her and added another sentence. ¡°Not for one month.¡± ¡°In my live stream room, he renewed the Guardian role for a hundred years.¡± As these words landed, the dormitory fell suddenly silent. ¡°How... How long?¡± Zheng Jingjing¡¯s expression froze, and she began to stutter. ¡°Shu Rui said... a hundred years...¡± Guo Ran looked dazed. Xu Siyi¡¯s eyes widened as she subconsciously did the math and then inhaled sharply. ¡°Isn¡¯t that more than a million?!¡± Li Shuru nodded silently. Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran involuntarily gasped, as if their souls had been sucked out, their minds going blank. Chapter 17 - 17 017 Deep Sisterly Love ?17: 017 Deep Sisterly Love 17: 017 Deep Sisterly Love ¡°Luo Ge, today is Professor Jiang¡¯s class, and he doesn¡¯t take attendance.¡± On the campus path, Bai Zheli looked at Luo Peng walking beside him, somewhat baffled. This second brother of his was anything but a model student, always skipping class when he could, so why did he suddenly become earnest about attending class with them today? Had the sun risen from the west? Bai Zheli instinctively looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and endlessly blue, a sight that refreshed the heart and soul. However, since it was already afternoon, it was impossible to tell from which side the sun had risen. ¡°No way, I must attend today¡¯s class.¡± Luo Peng declared with a sense of righteous indignation, as if he had undergone a transformation. ¡°Why?¡± Bai Zheli¡¯s eyes were filled with curiosity. ¡°Because I heard some good news, and I have to see it with my own eyes.¡± Luo Peng¡¯s smile widened, unkind in its amusement. ¡°What good news?¡± Even the dorm head, Li Shao, was getting curious. Luo Peng cleared his throat, adjusting his tone with an evident laugh in his eyes. ¡°I heard that after Liang Zhenlun ran off yesterday, he went straight to Ai Qian. In front of all his fair-weather friends, he slapped her across the face¡ªit seems he even injured her¡ªand called her shameless.¡± Bai Zheli was shocked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true, don¡¯t you trust the sources of your brother?¡± Luo Peng displayed that typical schadenfreude, chortling, ¡°A lot of people saw it; that Liang Zhenlun really showed no class at all, downright made Ai Qian cry. But honestly, it was quite satisfying to see!¡± ¡°You should say less.¡± Li Shao instinctively glanced at Jiang Chen. Even though Jiang Chen had made it clear that he had cut ties with Ai Qian, matters of the heart aren¡¯t so easily cast aside. Having been infatuated with Ai Qian for so long, hearing such news now, he probably wouldn¡¯t take it well. ¡°Jiang Chen, I think this is what Ai Qian deserves. She went too far. She wasn¡¯t just insulting you, but also Liang Zhenlun, and even herself.¡± Luo Peng¡¯s tone was serious for once. He truly disliked Liang Zhenlun¡¯s behavior, but he believed in distinguishing right from wrong. This time, he didn¡¯t think Liang Zhenlun was in the wrong. As a woman, to spout nonsense about such matters, she was either shameless or simply despicable. Any man of character would probably find it intolerable in such a situation. ¡°How badly is she hurt?¡± Jiang Chen asked, his expression rather calm, without much fluctuation. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be anything serious.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chen quieted down, not asking further. Seeing this, the three exchanged looks and let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that this time, he had truly decided to let go. Comprehensive Education Building. Second floor lecture hall. Jiang Chen and his three companions walked in and soon spotted Ai Qian, who had deliberately chosen a seat in the back corner. And she was conspicuously wearing a mask on her face. Luo Peng couldn¡¯t help but glance over a few more times; he hadn¡¯t meant to kick someone when they were down, but thinking about the other¡¯s previous vile behavior against his buddy, he couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Ai, the class belle, what¡¯s the matter? Caught a cold or something? Wearing a mask to class?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re sick, you should go see the nurse, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll ask the professor for a leave on your behalf.¡± ¡°Luo Peng, you¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?!¡± The girl sitting next to Ai Qian glared angrily. Her name was Wei Chuyin, with fairly ordinary looks. However, as the best friend of the class beauty Ai Qian, she was that kind of woman all the boys detested. Back when Jiang Chen was still with Ai Qian, this girl never stopped sowing discord between them, acting as if she bore a grudge against Jiang Chen. Ai Qian and Jiang Chen¡¯s breakup was her own choice, but Wei Chuyin also deserved some ¡°credit¡± for it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with caring about our class beauty? Is there a problem?¡± Under normal circumstances, Luo Peng was quite the gentleman. But faced with Wei Chuyin, he didn¡¯t show any good humor, his arrogance pronounced, very much the image of a rebellious profligate. Ai Qian was the woman he hated most¡ªincontestably so. And Wei Chuyin was next in line, firmly in second place. He was very clear on how this woman had stirred up trouble and fanned the flames before Ai Qian and Jiang Chen broke up. Many times, he couldn¡¯t help but want to ask Jiang Chen if he had murdered her entire family¡ªwhy else would she be so hostile toward him? But the very reason they¡¯re called women is that their thoughts can sometimes be completely unfathomable. There was no enmity between them, yet Wei Chuyin was dead set on breaking up Ai Qian and Jiang Chen, not resting until her goal was achieved. With such a ¡°good¡± best friend, it hardly seemed strange that Ai Qian chose to break up with Jiang Chen. ¡°Luo Peng, it¡¯s Ai Qian¡¯s right to choose who to be with. What gives you the right to be hostile toward her because of that?¡± Wei Chuyin stood up agitatedly, full of righteous indignation, defending her best friend. Such deep sisterly love. Luo Peng laughed. ¡°You need to understand, I¡¯m not hostile toward her; I despise her. Despising her is my right too, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Furthermore, my hatred for her isn¡¯t because she broke up with Jiang Chen. You both are very clear about the real reason.¡± Wei Chuyin was breathing fast, her expression one of anger, as if she were the victim. ¡°Wei Chuyin, weren¡¯t you always looking down on Jiang Chen for being poor? Talking about how Liang Zhenlun is rich, knows how to charm people, understands romance¡ªso what¡¯s the outcome?¡± Luo Peng¡¯s smile was sharp as a blade as he looked at the girl sitting with a mask on, her expression inscrutable. ¡°Ai Qian, I really want to interview you. You got your wish and followed a Prince Charming. But are you happy?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s hands clenched tight, veins on her hand standing out, as she hung her head and stayed silent. ¡°Easy to find a priceless treasure, hard to find a lover with heart; some women are just stupid, incurably stupid.¡± Luo Peng¡¯s smile slowly faded. Wei Chuyin still knew better than to confront Luo Peng directly, directing all her anger at the soft target, Jiang Chen. ¡°Jiang Chen, Ai Qian is hurt, and it¡¯s all because of you! Aren¡¯t you going to say something?!¡± Even Bai Zheli had a hard time staying calm upon hearing that. Could she be any more shameless?! ¡°Don¡¯t bother with her.¡± Li Shao gestured for Jiang Chen to move ahead. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t budge, his gaze shifting from the furiously spitting Wei Chuyin to Ai Qian sitting there. ¡°If you are unhappy, then leave him. Don¡¯t be like I was, blindly persisting in the wrong direction.¡± Wei Chuyin was stunned. Ai Qian¡¯s delicate frame shivered. Having said that, Jiang Chen walked forward. Luo Peng and the other two hurried to follow. Only after the four had left did Ai Qian slowly lift her head, looking at the once deeply familiar but now distant figure, her eyes trembling, a pain the likes of which she had never felt before suddenly seizing her. More distinct, more profound than the pain when Liang Zhenlun hit or screamed at her. She held her chest. ¡°Chu Yin, it really hurts here...¡± Wei Chuyin hurriedly sat down next to her. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the infirmary!¡± Ai Qian shook her head, still staring at the receding figure that hadn¡¯t looked back once, her eyes showing bewilderment, her voice hoarse. ¡°Chu Yin, did I make a mistake?¡± Wei Chuyin was taken aback, her expression changing constantly. She attempted to speak several times but stopped herself, ultimately choosing silence. Chapter 18 - 18 Eliminate completely ?18: Eliminate completely 18: Eliminate completely Below the girls¡¯ dormitory. A dazzling red Maserati lay across the scene. Liang Zhenlun stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the car door, a pair of black sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose. The cuffs of his well-tailored casual outfit were slightly pushed up due to his pose, perfectly revealing the Seagull twin tourbillon watch from the Heritage series, ignoring the adoring glances of the girls around him. He had been holding this pose for a good ten minutes or more. Just as Liang Zhenlun began to feel his body stiffening and thought about moving to switch poses, his target came into view. He immediately stopped moving, becoming like a statue, leaning against the luxury car, keeping a 45-degree upward gaze to the sky, with half his face radiating brightness and the other half suffused with a poignant depth. One had to admit that, with the aid of wealth, he did have a certain charm, as many of the girls passing by cast ripples through their eyes. After walking past, they would look back not once, but thrice. If Liang Zhenlun had proactively waved to them, they probably wouldn¡¯t have refused. Unfortunately, though. The purpose of Liang Zhenlun¡¯s ¡°lying in wait¡± was not for these ordinary girls. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that Liang Zhenlun?¡± Zheng Jingjing pointed and asked with curiosity as she came back from class, ¡°What is he doing? Contemplating life?¡± Damn. You really think I¡¯m contemplating life with this dashing posture? If Liang Zhenlun knew what the girl was thinking, he would have been utterly speechless. ¡°Pfft.¡± Guo Ran couldn¡¯t help but laugh, turning her head spontaneously, ¡°Shu Rui, could he be waiting for you?¡± ¡°Why not go over and find out?¡± Xu Siyi took the lead, walking forward with a mocking smile. ¡°Liang Zhenlun, what are you doing? Is there an airplane in the sky?¡± As she spoke, she deliberately raised her head to gaze up at the sky. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s eyelid twitched with embarrassment, and he could only pretend it was natural, as though he had just noticed Li Shuru and the other girls approaching. He stood up straight and politely took off his sunglasses. ¡°Si Yi, I¡¯ve been specifically waiting for you guys.¡± ¡°Waiting for us?¡± Xu Siyi shifted her gaze from the sky, blinking her eyes in confusion. ¡°This weekend is my birthday, and I want to invite you all to my birthday party. Would you four honor me with your presence?¡± He spoke of four, but Liang Zhenlun¡¯s gaze was fixed directly on Li Shuru who was approaching. As a notable figure in the school, Liang Zhenlun was familiar with the beauties from each faculty, and Li Shuru¡¯s room was no exception. They had run into each other a few times in nightclubs before and shared a few drinks, but to say they were close¡ªit really wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°This... might be a bit inappropriate, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Zheng Jingjing hesitated a bit. ¡°What¡¯s the inappropriateness? I¡¯ve invited many friends from school, and I mean no other implication. Just want to have more people and liven things up,¡± Liang Zhenlun smiled sincerely, seemingly harmless to humans and animals alike. As the saying goes, one does not slap a smiling face. Since he had come specially to invite them, directly refusing would definitely be inappropriate. Especially since Liang Zhenlun and Jiang Chen were different, they had to consider saving face for this rich heir. ¡°I might have to go out for a photo shoot this weekend, so I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have the time.¡± Unwarranted kindness. Either sinister or thievish. Even though they knew each other, she was not really close with this well-known playboy from her school¡ªat least not close enough to attend his birthday party. So, Li Shuru declined tactfully, and the reason she gave was not entirely a lie. Besides live streaming and posting videos under the stars, she was indeed also working part-time as a model. ¡°No worries, then how about the evening? You should be free from work by then, right?¡± Liang Zhenlun spoke as if it were no big deal, his tone friendly and amiable, but in fact, he was subtly boxing Li Shuru into a corner with no escape. At this point, further refusal would seem like a direct affront. Li Shuru found herself in a dilemma. She didn¡¯t want to go, but she did not wish to offend Liang Zhenlun either. ¡°Liang Shao, are you here to invite us or kidnap us?¡± At the critical moment, Xu Siyi spoke up to break the tension. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s an invitation, haha.¡± Liang Zhenlun laughed, his laughter hearty, ¡°If I were to kidnap four great beauties, wouldn¡¯t all the boys in school want to flay me alive?¡± ¡°Enough with the hypocrisy, we all know there¡¯s only one beauty here, Shu Rui, the rest of us are just the greens by the side.¡± ¡°Si Yi, I must disagree with you on that.¡± After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Siyi said with a smile, ¡°Alright, this weekend, right? If we have time, we¡¯ll definitely come.¡± Li Shuru frowned slightly but held back her words. However, Liang Zhenlun wasn¡¯t about to give her a chance to speak. ¡°Great, then it¡¯s settled, I look forward to welcoming the four beauties this weekend.¡± With that, he nodded and smiled at the four women, put on his sunglasses, and got into his car. ¡°Vroom!¡± The Maserati, with its absolute killing power on campus, roared off into the distance. ¡°What¡¯s Liang Zhenlun up to? Are we that close to him?¡± Zheng Jingjing was utterly baffled. ¡°What else could it be? He obviously fancies one of us.¡± Guo Ran mumbled. ¡°Fancies one of us?¡± Zheng Jingjing asked eagerly, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Guo Ran gestured with her mouth towards Li Shuru, ¡°Obviously Shu Rui. Didn¡¯t you see how his gaze was fixed on Shu Rui just now?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he have a girlfriend?¡± Zheng Jingjing showed surprise. ¡°And it¡¯s apparently Jiang Chen¡¯s ex-girlfriend, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It is her, but I just heard that Liang Zhenlun had a fight with her and even hit her.¡± Zheng Jingjing¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Guo Ran, ¡°Are you serious? He hit a woman?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so surprising about that?¡± Xu Siyi seemed to have heard about the incident as well, and commented nonchalantly, ¡°For a young master like Liang Zhenlun, women are just spoils of war, nothing but props.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just outrageous!¡± Zheng Jingjing said angrily, ¡°I¡¯m not going to his so-called birthday party.¡± ¡°But Si Yi already agreed to it.¡± Guo Ran was helpless. ¡°Si Yi, why did you agree to it?¡± Zheng Jingjing asked. Although they liked to make friends with children from wealthy families, they still kept their distance from men like Liang Zhenlun with despicable characters. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see his attitude just now? If we didn¡¯t agree, would he let it go? He¡¯s not the magnanimous type. If we don¡¯t give him face, he will definitely hold a grudge. Why make an enemy out of him for no reason?¡± Zheng Jingjing fell silent, finding Xu Siyi¡¯s words reasonable. ¡°Was that deliberate?¡± Guo Ran wondered. ¡°What ¡®deliberate¡¯?¡± Zheng Jingjing questioned. ¡°Think about it, he previously snatched away Jiang Chen¡¯s ex-girlfriend, and now Jiang Chen has taken a liking to Shu Rui. He comes running over to invite us to his birthday, isn¡¯t he obviously trying to drive Jiang Chen to a dead end?¡± Zheng Jingjing had an awakening and said hatefully, ¡°That Liang Zhenlun is just too despicable, using Shu Rui as a tool for his vindictive schemes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, just go through the motions.¡± Xu Siyi, who had just been all smiles towards Liang Zhenlun, changed her tone, her indifferent voice revealing undisguised disdain and contempt. ¡°A profligate scion who¡¯s nothing without his family¡¯s fortune, nowhere close to Jiang Chen¡¯s caliber. Shu Rui can make hundreds of thousands in a single night, how could they ever be worthy of her?¡± Chapter 19 - 19 019 Stealing Crystal ?19: 019 Stealing Crystal 19: 019 Stealing Crystal Milk Tea Shop, second floor. Sitting by the window, a twist of the head offered a view of the newly built, grandiose library. Xu Siyi, with her head lowered, was pinching the straw and mindlessly stirring the half-cup of cappuccino that remained. ¡°Jiang Chen, I think you should give up, Shu Rui is too difficult for you.¡± The youth sitting opposite her was indifferent, as persistent and straightforward as ever. ¡°You promised me you would help me.¡± ¡°I will help you, but...¡± Xu Siyi hesitated, stopped stirring her coffee, lifted her head, and revealed a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯ve done everything I could. You don¡¯t know how many good words I¡¯ve said about you in front of Shu Rui, but they were all ineffective. So... you should give up.¡± He who receives a benefactor¡¯s kindness is expected to return it. That bracelet was still on her wrist. She naturally couldn¡¯t just turn her back on him. It wasn¡¯t a matter of conscience. But if this ¡°lickspittle¡± exposed the matter, she wouldn¡¯t be able to face anyone. At first, she indeed wanted to use this guy to sling some mud onto Li Shuru¡¯s reputation. But seeing the colossal wealth Li Shuru made from live streaming, Xu Siyi had lost interest in such petty schemes and had no desire to play along anymore. ¡°Jiang Chen, how about I show you a clear path?¡± She just wanted to get rid of this ¡°lickspittle¡± as soon as possible. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Jiang Chen nodded, appearing very open to learning. Xu Siyi lowered her voice, ¡°Shu Rui sets her sights too high. If you insist on chasing after her, it¡¯s just a waste of time and energy, or in terms of physics, ¡®work done against no resistance.¡¯ But now you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before you; it¡¯s up to you whether to seize it.¡± Jiang Chen raised his eyebrow, seemingly piqued with interest. ¡°What opportunity?¡± ¡°Undermining someone¡¯s foundations.¡± ¡°Undermining the foundations?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Xu Siyi nodded vigorously, released the straw, and gazed intently at the young man across from her, making a serious case, ¡°This information is still unknown to many, but Liang Zhenlun has also started to pursue Shu Rui.¡± Jiang Chen was taken aback, clearly surprised by this revelation. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Of course, I am!¡± Xu Siyi spoke with certainty, ¡°On Monday, he even specially invited Shu Rui to go to his birthday party, something unheard of before. You¡¯re a man, you should understand what that means.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent, deep in thought. ¡°So, this is your chance to undermine his foundations. You¡¯ve played video games, right? Didn¡¯t Liang Zhenlun steal your girlfriend before? Now is the perfect time for you to strike while he¡¯s vulnerable. He wants to pursue Shu Rui, doesn¡¯t he? You turn around and steal his ¡®crystal¡¯!¡± Xu Siyi modulated her tone temptingly. If it had been the Jiang Chen of the past, he might have been swayed, but he had already decided to ¡°mend his ways,¡± so how could he possibly choose to go back? Besides. Pursuing Li Shuru is a matter of great importance, one that concerns his entire life and future. Even he has no room for choice. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it public that I won¡¯t have anything to do with Ai Qian anymore.¡± Jiang Chen shook his head, looking stiff and simple-minded. ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Xu Siyi pressed urgently, ¡°Don¡¯t you really like her? Compared to your own happiness, what does face matter?¡± Jiang Chen still shook his head, unmoved by her words. ¡°What¡¯s missed is missed. We¡¯re like two pieces of a broken mirror. Even if we were put back together, it could never be as intact as before.¡± Xu Siyi was startled. This ¡°lickspittle.¡± His words held unexpected depth. ¡°If you¡¯re set on thinking that way, then there¡¯s nothing I can do...¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s gaze plainly shifted to the gold bracelet on her right wrist. ¡°Si Yi, have you stopped caring about me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t care, it¡¯s that I can¡¯t!¡± Xu Siyi was well aware that the other person was blatantly threatening her; she said angrily, ¡°I¡¯ve done everything I should have. I¡¯ve given you advice but you won¡¯t listen. What more do you want me to do?¡± At that moment, an English song ringtone began to play. ¡°I need to take a call.¡± Jiang Chen took out his mobile phone and, without avoiding Xu Siyi, answered the call while sitting in his original spot. ¡°Manager Chen.¡± ¡°This weekend?¡± ¡°...All right.¡± After about a minute or two, Jiang Chen hung up the phone and, out of politeness, explained, ¡°It was the boss from my part-time job, asking me to help him out this weekend.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me this.¡± Xu Siyi said sullenly, the disdain in her heart almost showing on her face. Sometimes, self-reliance depends on the situation. Li Shuru¡¯s case was what you could call self-reliance. But this bootlicker... Working part-time for a day, could he make two hundred yuan? Xu Siyi didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. ¡°I have to go meet Shu Rui to look at cars, I¡¯m leaving first.¡± With that, she was ready to get up and leave. ¡°Looking at cars?¡± Jiang Chen looked up in surprise. ¡°Yes, looking at cars.¡± Xu Siyi appeared to kindly explain, ¡°Shu Rui is thinking about buying a car and wants us to go take a look with her.¡± ¡°Can I come along?¡± Jiang Chen seemed to lack any self-awareness, looking at Xu Siyi expectantly. ¡°You want to come?¡± She laughed. ¡°What for? Do you understand cars?¡± ¡°Actually, I have always been quite interested in cars, so I did some research for a while. I do know a bit about them. What kind of car is she thinking of buying? I could give her some recommendations...¡± Give recommendations? Did this bootlicker really see himself as someone important? Xu Siyi¡¯s smile was scornful. ¡°Panamera, what do you think of this car?¡± Jiang Chen was taken aback as expected, as if doubting whether he had heard wrong. ¡°Panamera?¡± ¡°Yes, you wanted to give a recommendation, right? Give your opinion.¡± ¡°That car, isn¡¯t it over a million? Isn¡¯t that... too expensive?¡± ¡°For you, it might be expensive, but for Shu Rui, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± Standing up, Xu Siyi towered over him, exuding a baffling sense of superiority from head to toe. ¡°Do you know how much Shu Rui makes in a month now? Jiang, people shouldn¡¯t just look up at the sky; they also need to look down at the ground. You should know the story of Kuafu chasing the sun. You and Shu Rui, you really are from two different worlds.¡± Having said that, Xu Siyi didn¡¯t linger, turned around, walked down the steps, and disappeared on the second floor. Jiang Chen, who had been verbally beaten from head to toe, had no sense of defeat; he looked absent-mindedly in the direction of the stairs and, like someone losing his mind, inexplicably started to smile. Although he didn¡¯t know how much Li Shuru used to make from her live streams, with the money he was currently investing, supporting Li Shuru to buy a Maserati wasn¡¯t really a problem. But to rush out and buy such an expensive luxury car just after earning money, wasn¡¯t that too vain? There was no sense of risk awareness either. But well, young people are like that, normal. They buy what they like, and do what they want to do. Too much consideration, that¡¯s not youth anymore. Jiang Chen, standing there by himself, sighed softly, unhurriedly finished his Yang Zhi Dan Lu drink, and then stood up and left. Chapter 20 - 20 020 V party ?20: 020 V party 20: 020 V party ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t going to work part-time anymore?¡± Saturday afternoon. Watching Jiang Chen about to leave again, Li Shao was puzzled. ¡°You guys know that Manager Chen always took good care of me in the past. He called me a few days ago, asking for my help, and I can¡¯t just refuse, can I?¡± ¡°One good turn deserves another, Chen, you¡¯re doing the right thing.¡± While watching an American TV series, Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses and swiveled his computer chair, ¡°But it looks like it¡¯s going to rain tonight, Chen, you¡¯d better bring an umbrella.¡± Jiang Chen glanced outside at the balcony sky, which was indeed dim, with dark clouds hanging and a not-so-gentle breeze. ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± He found an umbrella, greeted Li Shao and Bai Zheli, and left the dormitory. Luo Peng wasn¡¯t there, God knows where he¡¯d gone to have fun. Since it was the weekend, there weren¡¯t many people in school. Braving the cold wind, Jiang Chen walked out of the campus gates, instinctively heading towards the bus stop, only to realize where he was going when he got there and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. Some habits aren¡¯t so easy to kick. They say he¡¯s a billionaire, yet now he¡¯s a trillionaire! Isn¡¯t it a bit shabby for a trillionaire to take the bus? However, since he was already at the bus station, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t think about taking a taxi instead. After all, with East Sea¡¯s traffic conditions, taking the bus wasn¡¯t much slower than a taxi. While waiting for the bus, it began to drizzle. Watching the raindrops fall along the shelter board, Jiang Chen was somewhat lost in thought. In the past, to earn his own keep and provide Ai Qian with a better life as much as possible, he would wait here for the bus to go to various part-time jobs whenever he had no classes. The V Club Music Club where Manager Chen worked was one of those places. Before the ten trillion ¡®servile dog¡¯ money hit his account, he had already worked at V Club for nearly half a year. Even if he asked for occasional leaves, Manager Chen would grant them readily, rarely saying much more. Times have changed, and he no longer needs to exert himself quite so much, but still, one must show gratitude. As the waiting passengers began to crowd towards the edge of the platform, Jiang Chen knew the bus was coming. He picked up his umbrella, and, just like countless times before, moved towards where the bus would stop. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª V Club Music Club. Located in the bustling central district of the city. Unlike ordinary wholesale-style KTVs. It follows a high-end route, and spending tens or hundreds of thousands in a single night here wouldn¡¯t be surprising at all. Not to mention the de?cor, but just from the security setup, one could see hints of it. The bouncers were all dressed in black with earpieces, broad and sturdy with stern faces, resembling cool and tough men. When Jiang Chen arrived, it was already past seven, and due to the weather, it had already grown dark outside. ¡°Xiao Jiang, hurry, change your clothes.¡± The manager of V Club was surnamed Chen, full name Chen Kai, in his thirties. Although he was just a manager, V Club brought him a monthly income well into the six figures. For the grand scheme of East Sea, that might not be much, but to an average college student, he was certainly a success. At least, that¡¯s how he seemed to the former Jiang Chen. However, Chen Kai was a good man, amiable to his staff and lacking in official pretense, which is why Jiang Chen could work there for so long. Of course. The pay was also high. Even for part-time work, it was two hundred and fifty a day. You wouldn¡¯t find such high earnings as a waiter anywhere else. Jiang Chen went straight to the changing room as if on autopilot, stowed his umbrella properly, and then changed into the small suit that represented the waitstaff. With practiced ease, he began the familiar work of serving tea and drinks. Room 208. Its size was among the best in V Club. It could easily accommodate over thirty people. Of course. The price was steep. To book this private room, a minimum spend of ten thousand is required to start. ¡°Mr. Liang, I¡¯m a step late, I¡¯ll fine myself three drinks, wishing you a happy birthday!¡± At this moment inside private room 208, the atmosphere was in full swing, with over twenty handsome men and beautiful women clinking glasses and swapping drinks amidst an extravagant and vibrant scene. As the absolute protagonist of the night, Liang Zhenlun was glowing with joy and full of vigor. ¡°Thank you all for your support, I¡¯ll drink to you.¡± ¡°Mr. Liang, don¡¯t mention it!¡± Some present were students from East University, but most were Liang Zhenlun¡¯s friends from outside the school. The women were uniformly beautiful, each looking like an internet celebrity. And the men, without exception, were all wealthy. ¡°Bro Liang, where is your sister-in-law? Why didn¡¯t she come?¡± A pot stirrer who brings up the very thing that should not be mentioned. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s smile slightly froze, naturally unwilling to bring up that distressing matter, so he laughed it off, ¡°She¡¯s feeling a bit unwell, so I let her rest well at school. Don¡¯t worry about her, let¡¯s enjoy ourselves.¡± There were princesses within the V party, all models by standard, but these young masters like Liang Zhenlun naturally wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to spend money on women in such a place. But the girls they invited over, which one wasn¡¯t a goddess in the eyes of those poor saps? Ever since the argument that day, Liang Zhenlun hadn¡¯t contacted Ai Qian again. He wouldn¡¯t pick up her calls or reply to her messages, what women often refer to as the cold treatment. He hadn¡¯t considered whether or not to break up yet, but he certainly hadn¡¯t notified Ai Qian about his birthday. The so-called feeling unwell was just an excuse he made up. ¡°Bro Liang, I haven¡¯t seen you in so long, may I toast to you?¡± A girl with wine-red hair approached Liang Zhenlun, holding a glass of amber liquid in her hand. Despite the lousy weather, she was only wearing a black camisole, exposing large areas of tender skin. Her coat had been deliberately left on the couch the moment she stood up. ¡°Lanco?me¡¯s Miracle, nice taste.¡± As a playboy skilled in dealing with women, Liang Zhenlun took a deep breath of the subtle fragrance coming off the woman and said with a bad smile, ¡°Drinking is fine, but there¡¯s a certain way to it...¡± ¡°How would you like to drink then, Bro Liang?¡± The girl timidly spoke, her eyes fixed on Liang Zhenlun, an epitome of coquettish resistance. ¡°Haha, do I even need to say? Ning¡¯er, today is Mr. Liang¡¯s birthday, you should at least drink a cross-cupped drink with him!¡± The others started egging them on. ¡°Right, cross-cupped drink!¡± The girl called Ning¡¯er¡¯s face turned crimson, and she shyly looked down, ¡°That depends on whether Bro Liang is willing.¡± Liang Zhenlun was not a man to ignore the romantic cues, especially since Zhao Ning¡¯er had already played ambiguous games with him in the past. If it weren¡¯t for his pursuit of Ai Qian later, he would have had her long ago. ¡°Let¡¯s do it then.¡± Liang Zhenlun took the initiative to step forward, extending the hand holding the glass, while his other hand unapologetically wrapped around her soft waist, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. A fragrant breeze wafted. A wonderful touch. ¡°Bro Liang, you¡¯re bad!¡± Zhao Ning¡¯er bit her lip in mock anger, her thousand charms and hundred coquetries shooting Liang Zhenlun a glance. Ignoring everyone else, Liang Zhenlun pulled her even closer into his arms and looking down, he asked, ¡°But do you like my bad side?¡± Zhao Ning¡¯er dodged the question and moved her drink. ¡°Time to drink.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drink!¡± The two of them pressed against each other, their arms intertwined, and under the watchful eyes of all, they took their cross-cupped drink. ¡°Great!¡± To such a morally corrupt scene, the people in the private room not only felt no disapproval but loudly cheered them on instead. Alcohol is a matchmaker. Putting away the drink, Liang Zhenlun gazed at the coy and alluring face so close to him, the batting eyelashes, those moist red lips, and the barely hidden darting tongue, feeling an overwhelming heat surge through him. His primal instincts erupted like a volcano, he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He lowered his head, about to kiss her fiercely. ¡°Bang.¡± But just at that moment, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open. Chapter 21 - 21 021 Sorry ?21: 021 Sorry 21: 021 Sorry ¡°Who are you?¡± Someone was ready to enjoy an exciting intimate scene; however, its interruption immediately sparked displeasure. Had the intruder not been a girl who was also fairly attractive, restraint may have given way to a bout of cursing. ¡°It¡¯s the sister-in-law!¡± Indeed. The person who had pushed open the door was Ai Qian. Not everyone in the private room recognized her, but there were those who had seen her before. ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯re here; please, take a seat.¡± Ai Qian ignored the flattering voice, staring straight at Liang Zhenlun and Zhao Ning¡¯er, still in each other¡¯s embrace. She clenched her fists tightly, fury within her escalating beyond measure. Being boyfriend and girlfriend, it was one thing not to tell her about his birthday. But to be cuddling with another girl, whispering sweet nothings¡ªthat wasn¡¯t the worst of it. Had she not walked in when she did, they might have already begun a lurid spectacle! After a moment¡¯s stupor, Liang Zhenlun finally, without any panic, released his hold on Zhao Ning¡¯er. Zhao Ning¡¯er hastily stepped back, awkwardly fixing her hair. Caught red-handed by his official girlfriend, Liang Zhenlun showed not a hint of shame. Composed, he dusted off his clothes and even had the gall to ask with a slight frown, ¡°Why did you come?¡± Ai Qian noted the peculiar gazes of the others in the room. Humiliation and rage gnawed at her like ants, consuming her from within. While she longed to explode in anger, to curse at the scumbag, she was aware that doing so would lead to her being mercilessly discarded. She wasn¡¯t ready for a breakup. ¡°I came to celebrate your birthday with you.¡± Ai Qian forced a smile, summoning immense willpower to contain all her negative emotions as if she had seen nothing. Admirable, yet also pitiable. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s brow remained furrowed. Clearly, he was not welcoming of his girlfriend¡¯s presence. But with so many onlookers, as a man, he couldn¡¯t simply kick her out. He suppressed his irritation and gestured with his hand. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Ai Qian couldn¡¯t figure out how she managed to sit down. Her heart numbed as she mechanically responded with smiles and nods to the insincere greetings around her. It was her boyfriend¡¯s birthday, yet she felt out of place, and her arrival seemed to have dampened the mood, making her the disruptor. Seeing Liang Zhenlun not even attempting to speak to her, Ai Qian started to regret having listened to Wei Chuyin¡¯s advice to brave the rain and come here tonight. Was it really the right decision? ¡°Zhen Lun, why don¡¯t we sing a song together?¡± Since she was here, she had to achieve a result. She had humiliated herself by showing up uninvited, all to mend the relationship with her boyfriend. So even though Liang Zhenlun was indifferent, she didn¡¯t take offense. Instead, she tried to please him, taking feminine gentleness to the extreme. ¡°Bro Liang, you sure know how to keep your house in order.¡± One of Liang Zhenlun¡¯s drinking buddies silently gave him a thumbs up. Liang Zhenlun appeared indifferent, but deep down, he felt quite smug. Yet he was not willing to forgive Ai Qian that easily and casually said, ¡°My throat¡¯s sore; you sing on your own.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s smile stiffened as she felt her dignity being trampled upon. ¡°Sis Ai, let¡¯s sing.¡± Feeling sympathy, a girl picked up the microphone, offering Ai Qian a way out. After singing a song, Ai Qian, barely able to breathe, used visiting the restroom as an excuse to step out. Liang Zhenlun, engrossed in his dice game with his rowdy friends, didn¡¯t even glance at her. In the corridor, Ai Qian walked like a zombie, her heart chilled to the core. As she passed by another room, a server happened to come out just as she approached, lost in thought. She didn¡¯t notice and bumped into him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, are you okay?¡± The waiter, dressed in a small jacket, was quick to react, catching Ai Qian before she could fall. As their eyes met, the stupefied Ai Qian¡¯s gaze flickered, and like ripples on a stagnant pond, she slowly regained her composure. ¡°Jiang...Chen?¡± Jiang Chen was just as surprised to see Ai Qian there, but he was duty-bound. After making sure she had regained her balance, he quickly let go. ¡°Please be careful.¡± With that, he was ready to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Ai Qian instinctively grabbed his wrist without a second thought. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I work here.¡± It was then that Ai Qian noticed the small suit he was wearing, and her heart skipped a beat. Of course, she knew that Jiang Chen often took part-time jobs off-campus, but she had never cared to find out where or what he did. Those memories considered worthless, like old photos scattered by the wind, started to resurface in her mind. At this very moment. She suddenly realized how sincere and precious Jiang Chen¡¯s feelings for her had been. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s voice trembled as she looked at the youth who had once shared everything with her, tears sparkling in her eyes. This time, there were no pretenses. Just moments ago in that private room, she was like a clown, utterly devoid of dignity. How similar was it to the Jiang Chen who once stood before her? Finally empathizing, tears rolled down Ai Qian¡¯s cheeks, and as they streamed down gently, she whispered, repeating once more, ¡°Really, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Everything I did before was voluntary, and I¡¯ve said it, between us, there¡¯s no need for apologies,¡± Jiang Chen replied, slowly pulling away her hand as he stood to one side. ¡°I still have work to do, please excuse me.¡± His footsteps gradually faded. Ai Qian raised her hand, wanting to grasp, but it fell powerlessly midway. She turned around to watch his not-so-sturdy but resolute figure disappear at the end of the corridor, crying and laughing as if in a frenzy. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Young Master Liang, the sister-in-law has been gone for a while; do you want to go check on her?¡± Hearing his friends¡¯ reminder, Liang Zhenlun looked around and realized that his girlfriend indeed hadn¡¯t returned. Though the security at V Club was strong, in such a place, the unexpected could happen. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Liang Zhenlun, reluctantly, was about to search for her when Ai Qian walked in, safe and sound. It seemed she had washed her face; the exquisite makeup was gone, revealing a different kind of innocent charm with her bare face, which stood out brilliantly against the smoky atmosphere of the private room. Even Liang Zhenlun was taken aback for a moment. Ai Qian smiled at him. Liang Zhenlun composed himself, his voice more even, and with some concern, he asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Ai Qian shook her head. Aside from a slightly hoarse voice, she seemed very normal, sensibly telling him, ¡°You keep having fun.¡± Liang Zhenlun sensed something was off with her, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint what exactly. Not wanting to think too hard, he nodded indifferently. ¡°Order whatever you want to eat or drink.¡± This didn¡¯t sound like the care from a boyfriend to his girlfriend, but rather like a condescending act of¡ª Charity. ¡°Ding-dong...¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s phone rang. He pulled it out and answered. A charming voice came through. ¡°Young Master Liang, which private room? We¡¯re here already.¡± Chapter 22 - 22 022 Birthday Celebration ?22: 022 Birthday Celebration 22: 022 Birthday Celebration The latecomers were none other than Li Shuru, Xu Siyi, and Zheng Jingjing. Guo Ran, having some personal matters, did not attend. Of course. Liang Zhenlun cared only about Li Shuru; whether the others came or not was of no consequence to him. Unlike his girlfriend Ai Qian, who found her own way there, for the arrival of Li Shuru and her two friends, the young master Liang not only personally went out to greet them but also made a grand introduction as they walked in the door. ¡°This is our beauty queen from East University¡¯s Art Faculty, Li Shuru, and these two are her roommates, Xu Siyi and Zheng Jingjing, both mainstream beauties from our school!¡± ¡°Hello, everyone.¡± Xu Siyi, not at all intimidated, greeted everyone with ease and grace. The men and women in the private room warmly responded as well. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± After the pleasantries, Liang Zhenlun invited the three ladies to sit down and then muttered something about adding a few more bottles of Ace of Spades. ¡°Shu Rui drove here, she can¡¯t drink.¡± Having been forced to come, Zheng Jingjing immediately said. ¡°No problem, we can just call a driver...¡± He was halfway through his sentence when Liang Zhenlun sensed something off, looked at Li Shuru in surprise, and asked, ¡°Drove here?¡± ¡°Yeah, Shu Rui recently bought a car.¡± Xu Siyi explained. ¡°That¡¯s great; then we should definitely drink a few more to celebrate.¡± Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t think too much about it, assuming Li Shuru¡¯s income as a host would at best allow for an ordinary car costing around two to three hundred thousand. ¡°I really can¡¯t drink. Let Si Yi drink for me; I¡¯ll have some juice instead.¡± Li Shuru said aloud. Since she was willing to come, it was a matter of giving face, and Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t want to be too insistent. He just nodded his head and said with a smile, ¡°Okay, then, Si Yi, Shu Rui¡¯s share is yours.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Siyi was very forthright. Liang Zhenlun went out to order the drinks. ¡°Shu Rui, Si Yi, look, isn¡¯t that... Ai Qian?¡± Out of nowhere, Zheng Jingjing whispered, her gaze fixed in a certain direction. ¡°What¡¯s there to fuss about? She¡¯s Liang Zhenlun¡¯s girlfriend, and it¡¯s normal for her to be here on Liang Zhenlun¡¯s birthday,¡± Xu Siyi said nonchalantly. Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but glance in that direction. She didn¡¯t know Ai Qian and had never had any interactions with her before. But due to Jiang Chen¡¯s indiscriminate affection, it seemed like there was an indescribable connection between the two of them. Seemingly aware of Li Shuru¡¯s gaze, Ai Qian turned her face to the side and smiled politely. Li Shuru also responded with a slight smile and a nod of her head. ¡°She¡¯s pretty good-looking, ah. Jiang Chen has good taste; no wonder Liang Zhenlun wanted to snatch someone else¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Zheng Jingjing muttered. The girls here were mostly heavily made-up, but Ai Qian, with a washed face, was not tainted by lead dust, resembling a white lotus flowering amidst the bright colors, which subjectively made her more likable. Of course. Zheng Jingjing knew that this senior was no white lotus, but a genuine green tea girl. ¡°They say East University produces beauties, and it¡¯s indeed true. Ladies, a toast to meeting you for the first time.¡± People came over to offer toasts one after another. Xu Siyi did not refuse anyone, showing great generosity. In no time, she had blended in with everyone in the private room. After Li Shuru arrived, Liang Zhenlun focused all his attention on her, nearly ignoring his official girlfriend. Eventually, it was Ai Qian who took the initiative, picking up a glass of wine and walking over. ¡°Junior Li, I¡¯ve heard lots about you. Here¡¯s a toast to you.¡± ¡°I drove here, so I can¡¯t drink alcohol. I¡¯ll toast with juice instead, hope that¡¯s okay with you, Senior Ai.¡± Li Shuru greeted her with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The two glasses clinked together, producing a crisp sound. Li Shuru took a sip of her juice, while to everyone¡¯s surprise, Ai Qian downed her whole glass of wine in one go and then walked back to her seat. Xu Siyi and Zheng Jingjing both seemed a bit off. ¡°She¡¯s feeling a little under the weather, just leave her be,¡± Liang Zhenlun laughed. Upon hearing this, though she maintained a composed face, Zheng Jingjing¡¯s inner contempt grew. Is this even a man? Who talks about his girlfriend like that? At that moment, the door to the private room was pushed open. A group of waiters carefully brought in several bottles of Ace of Spades. With brilliant marketing tactics, this champagne should now be known by everyone. The price varies by location, selling at a minimum of three thousand, and ten thousand per bottle at V club. A few girls had already started to take photos with their phones, sharing them on social media, dressing up their exquisite daily lives, adding bricks to the walls of their goddess personas. ¡°Just set them down,¡± Liang Zhenlun said with nonchalant grace, exuding an aristocrat¡¯s haughtiness and composure to the fullest. What a poser! Zheng Jingjing thought disdainfully. She had seen many wealthy young masters who truly regarded money as dirt, but Liang Zhenlun clearly hadn¡¯t reached that level. His performance was deliberate, superficial, obvious, and thus contemptible. But when her gaze inadvertently swept over a waiter bending down to place wine, Zheng Jingjing was abruptly taken aback. Isn¡¯t that... ¡°Hope the bosses are having fun,¡± Just as the group of waiters was about to leave the private room, Liang Zhenlun unexpectedly called out. ¡°Wait, you, stay.¡± The waiters looked at each other, bewildered. Only the youngest of them remained calm, as if he had been expecting this. ¡°The rest of you can leave,¡± Having sent the other waiters away, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s mouth curved into a smile. ¡°Tsk, isn¡¯t this Senior Jiang? To run into you here, what a coincidence,¡± Everyone in the private room examined the young man standing alone, dressed as a waiter. ¡°Tsk, those clothes really look handsome on Senior Jiang, don¡¯t you all agree?¡± The East University students present, if they hadn¡¯t seen him before, could guess who this waiter was and snickered with ill-intent. ¡°Handsome! Absolutely stunning!¡± The others caught on to the trick and, playing along with Liang Zhenlun, burst into laughter. For a moment, The room was filled with joyful laughter. After a brief shock, Xu Siyi didn¡¯t laugh, but she also didn¡¯t offer a helping hand, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines, which seemed only reasonable. Zheng Jingjing¡¯s eyes showed sympathy. Li Shuru¡¯s expression was neutral as she quietly drank her juice, as if it were none of her business. ¡°Senior Jiang, it¡¯s my birthday today, won¡¯t you toast me?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s smile was abundant, as if the previous conflict on the basketball court had never happened. ¡°We have a rule here, no drinking during work hours, I¡¯m sorry.¡± If it were anyone else in this situation, they might have longed to crawl into a hole, but this young man remained composed. ¡°Senior Jiang, don¡¯t be like this, I¡¯m a patron of your establishment, and if not a god, at least a guest, right? It¡¯s just one drink, won¡¯t you even give me that much face?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s eyes gradually became more defiant. Everyone watched the drama unfold with great interest. At that moment, the music suddenly started playing. ¡°Turn off the music!¡± Liang Zhenlun said sternly, not offering even a bit of courtesy to his girlfriend who inexplicably wanted to sing at this time. ¡°Oh right, Ai Qian, aren¡¯t you and Senior Jiang old friends? Aren¡¯t you going to say hello?¡± Chapter 23 - 23 If young and promising thanks for the tip ?23: If young and promising (thanks for the tip) 23: If young and promising (thanks for the tip) Ai Qian¡¯s face was stiff, as she clenched the microphone tightly, refusing to look at Jiang Chen. Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t press her. ¡°Senior Jiang, Shu Rui is here as well, aren¡¯t you going to say hello to Shu Rui?¡± Excessive. It was truly excessive! Zheng Jingjing could hardly stand to watch. There should be a limit to mercy. Having a disagreement, and giving someone a hard time, should have been enough. After all, no matter what, everyone was an alumnus¡ªwas there really a need to humiliate someone to death? ¡°Is there anything else? I still need to deliver drinks to the next private room.¡± Remarkably, no matter how Liang Zhenlun mocked and ridiculed, Jiang Chen remained calm and unruffled, as if he had become numb, losing any sense of shame and not even bothering to conceal his lowly status as a waiter. ¡°No rush, worst case, I¡¯ll just have a word with your manager.¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s smile was sharp, ¡°Senior Jiang might not give me face, but your manager will.¡± In fact, from the moment he saw Liang Zhenlun walking through the door, Jiang Chen understood that the reason Manager Chen had asked him to come and help today was probably all set up. Although Manager Chen treated him well, how could an ordinary employee compare with a power client? Even a fool knew what decision to make, let alone a shrewd and competent businessman. No wonder Manager Chen had intentionally arranged for him to deliver drinks to this private room. To attack him, this young master Liang was really going to great lengths. ¡°How about this, since there are rules here, I won¡¯t force the issue. We don¡¯t have to drink, but how about you, Senior Jiang, sing us a song to celebrate my birthday instead?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s smile curled up, chillingly sinister. If Jiang Chen agreed, and truly sang as a waiter, in front of Ai Qian, in front of Li Shuru, he¡¯d probably never be able to hold his head up high again. Once word got back to school, it¡¯d be another huge joke. But in this situation, he seemed to have no room to refuse. ¡°Jiang Chen, I¡¯ll sing with you.¡± Ultimately, someone¡¯s conscience had not eroded. Stepping forward was Zheng Jingjing. Snatching someone else¡¯s girlfriend was bad enough. But to humiliate someone¡¯s character in every way possible was too much. She simply could no longer stand it. Liang Zhenlun frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Zheng Jingjing¡¯s meddling. But Zheng Jingjing did not give him the chance to express his opinion, quickly walking to the song-selection station, picking a song on her own, and forcefully snatching the microphone from Ai Qian¡¯s hand. The reason why Liang Zhenlun targeted Jiang Chen like this was all because of you. And the reason why Jiang Chen was working here had a lot to do with you as well. Not to mention expecting you to remember old affections, but even just as ordinary friends, isn¡¯t it common practice to mediate in such situations? But there she sat, unmoving, feigning deafness and remaining utterly silent. As an outsider, as a woman, Zheng Jingjing felt a strong sense of indignation. ¡°Here!¡± She handed a microphone to Jiang Chen. The intro music started. ¡°You must know this song, right?¡± Jiang Chen nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll start.¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t hesitate, and began to sing. ¡°The television keeps flickering, The contact info I haven¡¯t deleted yet, The kindness you treated me with, I¡¯ve clumsily destroyed...¡± As a student of the conservatory, even if she wasn¡¯t quite professional, Zheng Jingjing¡¯s singing was still much stronger than the average person¡¯s. And this song wasn¡¯t all that difficult either. Liang Zhenlun narrowed his eyes, watching the big screen, his expression slightly dark. ¡°We once dreamed together, Of a place to sleep and eat, but how to endure the days and nights upside down, When we couldn¡¯t even scrape together a down payment...¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t pay attention to him, and sang with great involvement, emotionally and expressively, obviously putting a lot of feeling into it. ¡°Why would Jingjing stand up for Jiang Chen?¡± Xu Siyi was surprised and did not understand why Zheng Jingjing had specifically chosen this song, which was obviously not a coincidence, and was highly targeted¡ªcould¡¯t you see Ai Qian¡¯s face had changed? ¡°Have you forgotten when Jingjing deliberately spent over an hour driving to send a stray dog by the roadside to the rescue station?¡± Li Shuru spoke softly, ¡°Besides, this is a person we¡¯re talking about.¡± Xu Siyi was taken aback, and then fell silent. ¡°The wall has been smashed by me, And to this day, it hasn¡¯t been fixed, A bowl of hot porridge, ¡°You fear I won¡¯t get enough, So you leave half to take away.¡± Vanity aside, but Zheng Jingjing, this girl, clearly has her merits. At the very least, She still harbours some sympathy. ¡°To describe to you The beauty that often makes your eyes red, You cared for me back then, Which I never understood...¡± Because she was either too angry or too engrossed, Zheng Jingjing only realized after singing for a while that she was not the only singer. She hastily stopped, signalling Jiang Chen to start. ¡°If in my youth I had been confident, Understanding what truly is precious, Those beautiful dreams, Not given to you, I am forever in guilt.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s voice lacked any technique, soft and plain, and yet, for some reason, even those who didn¡¯t know him could hear an indescribable feeling in his singing. The smiles gradually vanished, the mocking and sneering gazes began to change. Looking at the slender youth in a small suit, some of the girls couldn¡¯t help but become curious. ¡°If in my youth I had been confident, Felt the taste of regret, Money, status, Earned but now I wish I could give back, If in my youth I had known when to advance or retreat, I wouldn¡¯t have let you suffer for me, At the wedding drink a few more cups, And to your present one, At the wedding drink a few more cups, Wish me a promising youth.¡± The music slowly faded away. Jiang Chen put down the microphone. ¡°This guy sings quite well.¡± Xu Siyi was surprised. Li Shuru silently watched the youth who had always moved forward amidst disdain and mockery, feeling her impression of him subtly changing. To like someone. It seems indeed not something to be ashamed of. [Li Shuru¡¯s favorability towards you +20] The sudden notification caught the unprepared Jiang Chen off guard, and then he laughed dumbly to himself. So singing really can charm girls! No wonder so many boys practice their singing so diligently. The pitiful favorability finally changed, now at -80. Though success was still far off, after all, he had taken the first step. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiang Chen handed the microphone back to Zheng Jingjing. Zheng Jingjing took the microphone, hesitated to speak, but in the end, she only said, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Jiang Chen turned around, looking at Liang Zhenlun with a face as still as water. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± The whole room fell silent. Especially the students from East Sea University. Some people may be dirt-poor, but they possess a rich and charismatic personality. The name Jiang the Bootlicker was notorious in East Sea University. But tonight, they witnessed a side of him different from the rumors. ¡°I wish everyone a fun time at V Party tonight.¡± In the end, Jiang Chen did not forget his duty, bowed slightly, then turned and left the private room. The door was slowly closed. Xu Siyi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, feeling an inexplicable tightness in her chest. She didn¡¯t know why. This Bootlicker, from whom she had tricked thousands of dollars, seemed not as simple as she had imagined. This kind of forbearance and tenacity, is that something a young man of this age could have? ¡°Shu Rui, this guy Jiang Chen seems different from the one we used to know...¡± Xu Siyi murmured unintentionally, this time completely involuntary, not deliberately speaking in favor of Jiang Chen. Li Shuru was noncommittal, glanced at Liang Zhenlun whose face was as still as water, then at Ai Qian who looked pale and distracted. ¡°Did we ever really know him?¡± Chapter 24 - 24 Dont bully the young just because theyre poor ?24: Don¡¯t bully the young just because they¡¯re poor 24: Don¡¯t bully the young just because they¡¯re poor ¡°Let¡¯s keep drinking!¡± After Jiang Chen left, the atmosphere in the private room quickly recovered, yet there seemed to be a subtle difference from just a moment ago. It was Liang Zhenlun¡¯s birthday, and he wore a full smile on his face, but he looked like he was forcing it. Choosing to hold the party at V Party was deliberate because he had found out that Jiang Chen used to work part-time here, so he communicated with the manager in advance. The whole point was to take this opportunity to humiliate Jiang Chen in front of everyone! Everything had gone according to Liang Zhenlun¡¯s plan, and not a single expected spectator was missing, but somehow the final effect didn¡¯t achieve the state he had envisioned. Surely, it was Jiang Chen who had been embarrassed, but at this moment, Liang Zhenlun inexplicably felt a bit awkward and thought that everyone¡¯s gaze toward him became somewhat strange. ¡°Gulp!¡± He guzzled down a glass of champagne, feeling an internal irritation with no outlet, but on the surface, he still had to maintain a fake smile, and couldn¡¯t help but give his girlfriend a dark glance. But at this moment, Ai Qian was distracted, absent-minded, and seemed to be lost in thought. ¡°Jiang, you¡¯ve worked hard today, you can go back early.¡± Manager Chen found Jiang Chen just after he finished delivering a fruit plate to another private room, said this, and handed over a stack of banknotes. By the thickness, it was probably about one or two thousand. This was definitely more than what a part-time worker should earn. ¡°Manager Chen, what is this...¡± ¡°Just take it if I give it to you.¡± Chen Kai forcefully stuffed the money into Jiang Chen¡¯s hand and looked at him with sincere eyes. ¡°When I first came to East Sea, I was just like you, with nothing to my name, and it¡¯s been step by step to get where I am today. I might seem to be in a good place now, but back then, I was also looked down upon and ordered around all day, every kind of hardship you can think of, and those you can¡¯t, I¡¯ve been through them all. So, don¡¯t take it as a big deal if you face some humiliation. Others may make life difficult for you, but never make it difficult for yourself. Even Li Jiacheng has said, ¡®earning money with your face isn¡¯t shameful.¡¯ Jiang Chen didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°You don¡¯t hate me, do you?¡± Chen Kai asked. ¡°How could I.¡± Jiang Chen smiled and intentionally weighed the stack of banknotes in his hand, ¡°I should be thanking Manager Chen for the red envelope.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the right way to think.¡± Chen Kai laughed heartily, ¡°I knew you were different from other young people nowadays; you¡¯re destined to achieve great things.¡± ¡°Manager Chen, stop making fun of me.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t making fun of you, this is speaking from the heart.¡± Chen Kai said with a smile, ¡°I have always been good at judging people. I may not be as educated as you, but I do understand one thing: ¡®Better to deceive the old than to deceive the young and poor.¡¯ Right?¡± Jiang Chen gave a bitter smile and remained silent. ¡°Alright, go back to school then. In the future, if you want to come back, V Party will always welcome you.¡± Chen Kai was heartfelt. ¡°Thank you, Manager Chen.¡± ¡°Keep it up, don¡¯t let me down.¡± Before leaving, Chen Kai gave Jiang Chen a firm pat on the shoulder. As he watched him walk away, Jiang Chen¡¯s expression was calm, with truly no resentment, both on the surface and in his heart. The world is just like this. Even though Chen Kai had colluded with Liang Zhenlun to set him up, from Chen Kai¡¯s perspective, there was no fault. He was the manager of V Party and naturally had to prioritize the interests of V Party. What was an ordinary part-timer, a so-called college student, worth? Anyone else wouldn¡¯t have bothered to give him a raise, let alone take such an issue to heart. This society is a strictly hierarchical and cruel food chain. If you¡¯re living at the bottom, don¡¯t complain that no one cares about your dignity. Do humans consider the thoughts and fate of an ant? ¡°Earning one or two thousand for a single song, this gig isn¡¯t bad.¡± Jiang Chen, feeling fully justified, pocketed the stack of banknotes and went to the changing room to get dressed. ¡°We should get back, or else the dormitory will be locked.¡± Knowing she wasn¡¯t welcome here after helping Jiang Chen, Zheng Jingjing wanted to leave early. ¡°Let¡¯s end it here for tonight then,¡± said Liang Zhenlun, who was feeling gloomy and had lost interest in continuing the festivities, deciding to call it a night. A bunch of people began to walk out. ¡°Zhen Lun, thanks for tonight, it must¡¯ve been expensive.¡± Someone teased on purpose. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just 140,000.¡± Liang Zhenlun had a look of insouciance. Zheng Jingjing almost threw up. Was it necessary to specify the numbers so clearly? Afraid that others wouldn¡¯t know how much money you spent? ¡°Shu Rui, it looks like it¡¯s raining outside, shall I take you all back?¡± Liang Zhenlun made no attempt to hide his overt enthusiasm for Li Shuru, even completely disregarding the presence of his official girlfriend. Many people cast strange glances at Ai Qian. Ai Qian pretended nothing was amiss, but her attempt to appear natural resulted in a smile that was inevitably a bit stiff. ¡°No need, Shu Rui drove here.¡± Zheng Jingjing reminded again. It was only then that Liang Zhenlun remembered that when they arrived, Xu Siyi seemed to have mentioned it. ¡°Look at my memory.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, when did you buy a car?¡± ¡°Just a couple of days ago.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? I know a lot of friends in the car business who could¡¯ve gotten you a discount.¡± ¡°Shu Rui never cares about the price of things she likes.¡± Zheng Jingjing declared dismissively and proudly. Liang Zhenlun could hear the targeting in her words, but it wasn¡¯t appropriate to make a scene, so he cursed silently: What a bunch of posers! A group relying on men for a living! And they think they¡¯re on par with wealthy socialites! ¡°The rain is pouring down.¡± As they reached the door, they discovered that it had started to rain cats and dogs outside, the whole world in chaos. Fortunately, the parking lot was right at the entrance. ¡°Ha, Senior Jiang, leaving work this early today?¡± Not far away. There stood Jiang Chen, already in his own clothes, trapped under the eaves by the downpour. Puddles formed on the ground. Although he had an umbrella in hand, it was almost useless against the heavy rain. Jiang Chen nodded in their direction. At this time, Young Master Liang was too preoccupied to bother with him. ¡°I¡¯m not going back to the school today; you take a cab back by yourself.¡± Not just Ai Qian, even the others were taken aback for a moment. Hadn¡¯t they just heard Young Master Liang offering to take the devilishly curvy beauty back to East University? Ai Qian¡¯s face turned pale, her lips trembled, and after a long silence, she finally forced a faint, indescribable smile. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°What a jerk! Shu Rui, Si Yi, let¡¯s go!¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t want to stay another second, grabbed an umbrella from security, and the three girls squeezed into the rain curtain. ¡°Holy shit! A Panamera?!¡± As they reached the parking lot, the headlights of a white Panamera lit up, dazzling many eyes through the thick curtain of rain. Then, Li Shuru and the two other girls opened the car door and got in. ¡°Brother Liang, these chicks... They¡¯re so rich?¡± Everyone was dumbfounded. Even Liang Zhenlun himself was utterly baffled. He thought that Li Shuru had just bought some ordinary commuter car, not knowing that it was actually a Panamera! That was even more expensive than his second-hand Maserati! No wonder she seemed so aloof around him. Staring at that brand-new white Panamera, Liang Zhenlun clenched his teeth, his gaze sinister. Damn bitch! She must have hooked up with some rich guy! ¡°What are you all dazing for, get in the car and let¡¯s go!¡± He barked. For Liang Zhenlun, this must have been the most ¡°sad¡± birthday ever. Chapter 25 - 25 025 Some people are trapped in the rain while others enjoy it ?25: 025 Some people are trapped in the rain, while others enjoy it. 25: 025 Some people are trapped in the rain, while others enjoy it. ¡°Whoosh...¡± Water splashed everywhere. One after another, cars sped out of the parking lot, disappearing into the curtain of rain. Liang Zhenlun indeed was a man of his word, saying he wouldn¡¯t give a ride, he truly didn¡¯t, leaving his girlfriend alone at the entrance of the V Club, driving away with Zhao Ning¡¯er with whom he had just shared a drink. It seemed the lesson hadn¡¯t been harsh enough. Previously, during his coercion of Jiang Chen to sing, he had intentionally played music, all for the purpose of extricating his ex-lover, right? At the box, he didn¡¯t lose his temper, out of consideration for her face, but that didn¡¯t mean he had let it go. Ungrateful thing. It looked like he had been too good to her in the past! Can¡¯t forget the old affection, eh? Then reflect well, and cool down! The striking red Maserati drove away heartlessly at high speed and quickly disappeared from sight. Ai Qian stood alone at the entrance of the V Club, her face still wearing a pale smile, her eyes vacant, not knowing what she was thinking. ¡°Miss, do you need help calling a car?¡± The security guard noticed her abnormal mental state and approached her. ¡°No need.¡± Ai Qian declined the offer, walking straight into the torrential rain as if she had lost her mind. The security guard was at a loss and didn¡¯t know whether to stop her. ¡°Splash...¡± In an instant. Ai Qian¡¯s hair was soaked, followed by her clothes, the rain was cold, but not as cold as people¡¯s hearts. The girl who had become the biggest clown of the night was oblivious, laughing as she walked, looking both insane and pitiful. ¡°Plop...¡± Suddenly. A stumble, Ai Qian collapsed to the ground as if she had lost all strength, dirty mud splashed up, soiling her clothes and cheeks. ¡°If only one could foresee today, why did it happen in the first place.¡± White Pameri. Watching Ai Qian, drenched like a chicken in the rain, Zheng Jingjing felt a complexity of emotions. ¡°It was her own choice, no one else is to blame. The whole school knows that Liang Zhenlun is a playboy, yet she still believed she had the ability to make that playboy turn over a new leaf, such laughable confidence.¡± Xu Siyi had not a hint of pity, her eyes even carrying a bit of mockery. ¡°Since it was unrequited love, she has to accept the loss. From the day she got together with Liang Zhenlun, today¡¯s outcome was doomed. There¡¯s nothing more to see, Shu Rui, let¡¯s go.¡± Being neither relatives nor close friends, the three girls naturally wouldn¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s affairs. Just as Li Shuru was about to hit the gas to leave, Zheng Jingjing suddenly shouted, ¡°Wait!¡± The mercilessly beating rain came to a halt. Sitting paralyzed in the mud, Ai Qian looked up in a daze and saw an extra black umbrella overhead, as well as a young man holding the umbrella. ¡°Do you feel relieved? I got my comeuppance.¡± Ai Qian said with a smile, looking up. The young man¡¯s face was like still water, he didn¡¯t utter a word, just squatted down and handed the umbrella over. Soaked to the bone, Ai Qian¡¯s eyes shook violently and she cried out hoarsely, ¡°What do you mean? You pity me? I don¡¯t need your pity!¡± The young man, as if deaf to her words, said softly, ¡°Take it, and get back early.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, I know you must feel very smug right now. Yes, I got my comeuppance! Laugh at me, it¡¯s okay. Why do you have to pretend to be the good guy? Do you know that acting like this really makes one sick!¡± The young man remained silent, offering no rebuttal. After thrusting the umbrella handle into the girl¡¯s hand, he stood up again and walked forward. Passing the only umbrella to someone else, the rain quickly swallowed his figure as well. Ai Qian held the umbrella, staring blankly, then began to scream hysterically, ¡°Jiang Chen! Come back here!¡± The figure walking in the rain seemed to hear nothing, continuing onward. ¡°Come back here, do you hear me! Come back...¡± The umbrella tilted to the side, and the girl, now exposed to the rain once more, sobbed, her face indistinguishable with rain or tears, her hands on the ground, kneeling helplessly like an abandoned child. The young man never looked back, gradually vanishing into the curtain of rain. ¡°Jiang Chen he actually has the heart to be so cruel?¡± Sitting in the car and witnessing everything, Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t believe it. After all, this wasn¡¯t just anyone. It was Ai Qian. If he had shown some tender concern at this moment, he might have been able to turn the situation around entirely and reconcile. And he just walked away like that? ¡°When a person is utterly disappointed, their heart naturally dies as well, and even a desperate pleader reaches a day when they¡¯re completely worn out. She brought this on herself.¡± Xu Siyi said carelessly, actually feeling that the young man¡¯s actions this time were rather manly. Even though she had previously egged him on to steal the crystal. ¡°Ah...¡± Ai Qian suddenly let out a piercing scream, crying her heart out. As a woman herself, Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat sympathetic, but then she immediately thought of a saying. The pitiable ones often have detestable sides. Si Yi was right. Ai Qian should have had a happy relationship with a completely devoted lover, but she coveted what she didn¡¯t have, never cherishing what was in front of her. Jiang Chen, though without money, was willing to give away his only umbrella, but what about Liang Zhenlun? For the first time, Zheng Jingjing realized that wealth might not be the best measure of a man. ¡°Later, finally understanding through tears, that some people, once missed, will never be there again...¡± Xu Siyi casually hummed a song. Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions. The white Palamera started up, leaving the parking lot at a leisurely pace. ¡°Look, there¡¯s Jiang Chen.¡± Zheng Jingjing looked out the window. Where her gaze landed, a drenched young man was standing by the roadside, presumably waiting for a bus. But with such heavy rain, there were already few taxis, and those few empty ones that passed by, seeing him completely soaked, were reluctant to stop. Jiang Chen did not become impatient; whenever a car came by, he¡¯d wave his hand, and if it didn¡¯t stop, he¡¯d wait for the next one. This indifference was no different from the composure he had shown in the private room when faced with a huge financial disparity and humiliation. Watching that figure, uncomplaining against heaven or others, Li Shuru suddenly thought of a phrase she had seen before. Some are trapped in the rain. Others, they enjoy the rain. ¡°Shu Rui...¡± Zheng Jingjing looked at her roommate in the driver¡¯s seat, hesitant to speak. Li Shuru said nothing, driving the Palamera, a car most people only dream of owning, towards that direction. Then. The sports car worth a million stopped in front of the wretched young man no taxi would stop for. The window rolled down. ¡°Jiang Chen, get in!¡± Zheng Jingjing, sitting in the back, called out excitedly. Shu Rui didn¡¯t speak, but by stopping the car, she had already shown her attitude. Also in the back seat, Xu Siyi looked straight ahead as if the matter didn¡¯t concern her. The drenched young man was clearly surprised but didn¡¯t show the overwhelming joy he was supposed to, and after hesitating for a moment, said something that made Zheng Jingjing¡¯s heart tremble. ¡°This car is so expensive, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll dirty it; you all go on, I¡¯ll take a taxi.¡± Zheng Jingjing felt a tightness in her chest, looking at the blurry smiling face outside the window, momentarily at a loss for words. ¡°Like this, no taxi is going to take you. Are you planning to walk back from here?¡± The front passenger window slowly rolled down. Chapter 26 - 26 026 Its better to hold the steering wheel than to sit in the passenger seat ?26: 026 It¡¯s better to hold the steering wheel than to sit in the passenger seat 26: 026 It¡¯s better to hold the steering wheel than to sit in the passenger seat ¡°Wipe it off.¡± Jiang Chen finally got in the car, perhaps because of the people inside, or perhaps because of the car itself. Sitting in the passenger seat, he seemed somewhat restrained. Zheng Jingjing passed a pack of tissues from the back. ¡°Thank you.¡± His hair, face, and clothes were all wet, and a single pack of tissues was hardly enough. The leather seat had already been soaked through. Jiang Chen managed to dry his face. ¡°I got your car dirty, I¡¯m sorry.¡± He apologized to Li Shuru. ¡°It¡¯s just water, it will dry by itself.¡± Li Shuru responded indifferently, seemingly not overly concerned about her brand-new car. Jiang Chen had known that Li Shuru bought a car, but he certainly didn¡¯t expect her to take the initiative to give him a ride. This beauty of the Arts Institute wasn¡¯t as cold as she seemed. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you really not going to take care of Ai Qian? She¡¯s still sitting at the entrance of V-Club crying.¡± Zheng Jingjing asked. ¡°I gave her my umbrella, what else can I do? Besides, it doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s a fifth seat here, right?¡± Jiang Chen gave a bitter smile. It sounded humorous, but the meaning behind it was profound. Actually, this Panamera is a five-seater sports car that can fit five people without a problem. The real question was, would Li Shuru be willing? And if it hadn¡¯t been for Li Shuru¡¯s sudden act of kindness, he¡¯d still be standing miserably in the rain on the side of the street. As for Ai Qian, he had done all he could, and he was powerless to do any more. ¡°If you had been this decisive earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have such a reputation now, would you?¡± Xu Siyi was amused and dropped her cold facade. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t respond with a smile. ¡°Jiang Chen, we worked well together today. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s face went completely dark when he saw us, giggle...¡± Thinking back, Zheng Jingjing found it extremely funny. ¡°Thanks to the beautiful Zheng for coming to my rescue. Without you, I really would have lost face all the way to my grandma¡¯s house tonight.¡± Jiang Chen sighed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed enough?¡± Xu Siyi teased, ¡°On what day do you not work part-time? Had to be today, and you just had to go into that private room.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t explain that it was a trap set for him, but casually said, ¡°I¡¯ve always been a bit unlucky.¡± ¡°Tsk, you¡¯ve got that Stephen Chow vibe.¡± Zheng Jingjing joked. Though they weren¡¯t particularly close, at that moment they were like old friends who had known each other for years, and none of them had yet realized this subtle shift. ¡°Shu Rui, is this car yours?¡± Jiang Chen asked as if it were the most natural question. ¡°What else? Or could it be yours?¡± Zheng Jingjing said proudly, ¡°Drop the filthy thoughts from your mind. This car was bought by Shu Rui through her own efforts, without relying on anyone.¡± Anyone who didn¡¯t know better might think she was the owner of the car. ¡°This is a Panamera, right?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes shone with envy and admiration as he looked over the luxurious interior, ¡°Luxury cars really are different. This one must be over a million, right?¡± ¡°To be precise, one million three hundred thousand.¡± Upon hearing Zheng Jingjing¡¯s words, Jiang Chen took a light breath. ¡°The down payment alone must be four hundred thousand?¡± ¡°What down payment? Shu Rui bought it in full!¡± Zheng Jingjing gave Jiang Chen a look, seemingly mocking him for being like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. ¡°Full payment?¡± Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Li Shuru, apparently shocked by her financial power. ¡°What, are you scared now?¡± Zheng Jingjing teased: ¡°My dear Senior Jiang, don¡¯t forget, you were the one murmuring about pursuing Shu Rui. How can you act as a man if you¡¯re so faint-hearted?¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Jiang Chen laughed carelessly, though it seemed a bit like he was covering up his embarrassment. ¡°Am I that kind of coward? I just didn¡¯t expect Shu Rui to be such a good earner. Now I can rest assured.¡± Even Xu Siyi found it baffling and asked, ¡°Rest assured about what?¡± ¡°I was worried that with my abilities, I might genuinely not be able to afford Shu Rui. But now there¡¯s no need to worry; Shu Rui can completely support herself.¡± Jiang Chen said assuredly, with a look of it being the most natural thing. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided, once we¡¯re together, I can handle domestic affairs while Shu Rui takes charge of external matters.¡± Zheng Jingjing and Xu Siyi were left speechless. Is this something a man should say? Could you be any more shameless??? ¡°Shu Rui, stop the car right now and throw this guy out! He¡¯s just too shameless!¡± Zheng Jingjing regretted her previous soft-heartedness. ¡°Let me enlighten you all with some legal knowledge,¡± Jiang Chen seemed to kindly remind, ¡°Failing to assist a person in danger may not constitute a crime, but if you throw me out and something happens to me, then you¡¯ll be responsible.¡± Zheng Jingjing was dumbfounded, pointing at Jiang Chen stammering ¡°you, you, you...¡± for a while, then, through gritted teeth, cursed, ¡°You ingrate!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts, which I learned in a public lecture.¡± Jiang Chen remained unfazed, his thick-skinned demeanor astonishing. Zheng Jingjing was livid. And to think she had started to believe this guy was actually not bad, what a blindness! ¡°Jiang Chen, I curse you to never find a girlfriend in your life! And even if you do, you¡¯ll definitely be dumped in the end!¡± Her words were nothing short of venomous. Jiang Chen appeared unmoved, casting a tender, affectionate glance at Li Shuru beside him. ¡°I trust Shu Rui wouldn¡¯t do that to me.¡± Zheng Jingjing paused, then quickly realized what he meant. ¡°Pah! Shu Rui will never take a liking to you, never ever!¡± ¡°What if?¡± ¡°There are no ifs!¡± ¡°What if, what if?¡± Jiang Chen was insistent. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do a handstand and dance at a disco!¡± Zheng Jingjing blurted out, her head clouded with anger, without thinking it through. Xu Siyi looked on with a peculiar gaze. ¡°Handstand and dance at a disco?¡± Jiang Chen was also taken aback, muttering, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too difficult?¡± ¡°You dare bet?!¡± Zheng Jingjing widened her sparkling eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a bet, Shu Rui, Si Yi, you both are witnesses, she has to keep her promise when the time comes.¡± ¡°Zheng Jingjing always keeps her word!¡± Zheng Jingjing exuded a heroic spirit that would not concede to men. Xu Siyi shook her head and sighed. What a foolish girl. In a bet, isn¡¯t there a stake on both sides? You dance on your hands if you lose. But what if he loses? No punishment whatsoever. ¡°Alright, is it settled then?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth. ¡°It¡¯s settled!¡± Unbeknownst to them, they had already entered the gates of East University, and after driving a bit further, they stopped at a fork in the road. ¡°We¡¯re not there yet.¡± Jiang Chen reminded. ¡°Dream on! Do you actually expect us to drop you off at your dorm? Get out of the car!¡± The minds of girls really do change in an instant. Zheng Jingjing was the one who had insisted on Jiang Chen getting in the car, and now she was the one insisting he get out. The rain outside had lessened a bit, lightly sprinkling, no longer pouring. Jiang Chen sighed helplessly, lamenting to himself. ¡°Indeed, holding the steering wheel is always better than being a passenger.¡± Li Shuru, who had been quiet for most of the trip, glanced at the young man beside her with a flicker in her eyes. She inexplicably thought back to the scene at KIMI last week. Back then, she was just a minor livestreamer. Her friend was mumbling that a proper boyfriend for her had to at least drive a million-dollar luxury car. ¡°Thanks.¡± Before she could ponder deeper, Jiang Chen had already pushed open the door, and then closed it behind him. Li Shuru cut off her thoughts. The Palamera made a right turn, and at the same time, an umbrella was thrown out from inside the car. ¡°Remember to return it to me!¡± The car window rose again, gradually hiding Zheng Jingjing¡¯s fiercely angry face. Chapter 27 - 27 027 Lovers always break up and get back together ?27: 027 Lovers always break up and get back together 27: 027 Lovers always break up and get back together The art school¡¯s beauty and a million-yuan sports car are both topics that never fail to spark discussion; when combined, they create an explosive effect in public opinion. The news that Li Shuru bought a Panamera quickly spread through East Sea University. Suddenly, rumors were everywhere. A tree that stands out in the forest is often blown down by the wind. As a famous beauty of the school, Li Shuru had many admirers, but equally, there was no shortage of people who were jealous and disliked her. How could a college junior, without the support of her family, possibly afford such an expensive car? Seizing the opportunity, many people with ulterior motives eagerly splashed mud on her, accusing her of gold-digging, hooking up with rich second-generation kids, and even more outrageously, alleging that she used her youth and looks to engage secretly in unspeakable dirty deeds. Although college students are no longer seen as society¡¯s favored children and are a dime a dozen, in certain markets, they are still in high demand. Li Shuru, as always, did her own thing, turning a deaf ear to the gossip and speculation circulating in the school, and did not respond to any of it. Zheng Jingjing and a few others were tireless in defending her. As Jiang Chen, a notorious bootlicker, was naturally no different. ¡°You¡¯re saying she bought that Panamera with money from livestreaming?¡± Luo Peng was incredulous. ¡°Zhen Lun, you¡¯re not joking, right? Can livestreaming really make that much money?¡± Bai Zheli also expressed his doubts. ¡°You must be out of the loop,¡± Jiang Chen leaned against the closet and said nonchalantly, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a saying, ¡®Even pigs fly when they stand at the windfall.¡¯ We are in the era of social media; it¡¯s not just about millions anymore, you see billionaires popping up from this business all over the place.¡± ¡°I believe that, but those are the top streamers. Li Shuru has only a hundred thousand fans or so; how could she possibly make that much?¡± Luo Peng still couldn¡¯t understand. Social media is undoubtedly a gold mine of the present day, and everyone understands that. However, no matter how hot the industry is, the 80/20 rule never fails. If even a small-time streamer could make big money, then why bother with any other job? Everyone would just start livestreaming. ¡°Take another look.¡± Reminded by Jiang Chen, Luo Peng curiously took out his phone, opened the Starry Sky APP, and clicked into Li Shuru¡¯s account from the follow list. He was startled upon seeing the numbers. ¡°Holy crap, she¡¯s almost at three hundred thousand fans?!¡± The last time he checked was just a week or two ago. Luo Peng was bewildered. ¡°Look at you, never seen the world. Don¡¯t you know the saying, ¡®You should regard a man with a new eye after a mere three days¡¯? It¡¯s common for some up and coming content creators to gain a million followers with just one video, nothing surprising there,¡± Jiang Chen said with light indifference. ¡°With the way things are going, it¡¯s only a matter of time before Li Shuru becomes a big internet celebrity.¡± Hearing them go on and on, Li Shao couldn¡¯t help but speak up, tactfully saying, ¡°Jiang Chen, don¡¯t you feel a lot of pressure?¡± Though it¡¯s good to have someone you like who is outstanding, there¡¯s a flip side to everything. When someone becomes too exceptional, it becomes a bad thing. After all, the more excellent a person is, the more people there will be around her, and the competition will become more intense. Carving out a path for yourself will just get that much harder. Luo Peng put his phone down, taking pleasure in Jiang Chen¡¯s potential misfortune. ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s there to be proud of? The more successful Li Shuru is, the higher her standards will be. If I were you, Jiang Chen, I would feel unfortunate for myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a petty mindset,¡± Jiang Chen was unfazed, completely unconcerned, and continued confidently, ¡°The more outstanding she is, when I do pursue her, the more face I¡¯ll save, the more glorious I¡¯ll be.¡± Luo Peng¡¯s mouth twitched. Li Shao was speechless. Jiang Chen¡¯s thought processes were truly unique. What he said wasn¡¯t wrong; the logic was sound indeed. But the key point is. Can you even win her over? I want to date a supermodel, for crying out loud. That¡¯d give me even more bragging rights! Luo Peng muttered to himself. ¡°Zhen Lun, there¡¯s another piece of news, have you heard?¡± Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses. ¡°How would I know if I¡¯ve heard it if you don¡¯t tell me?¡± ¡°I heard...¡± Bai Zheli said softly and almost cautiously, ¡°Ai Qian and Liang Zhenlun are having a breakup.¡± Luo Peng and Li Shao quickly glanced at Jiang Chen, but the latter¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Campus romances are like that, breakups and makeups are the norm. Since when did you become such a gossipmonger, Little Bai?¡± Jiang Chen, once madly in love, now seemed like a detached relationship guru, unbothered beyond belief. ¡°I heard it from Deng Lu and them. Ai Qian hasn¡¯t been to class for two days, claiming a cold, but the real reason might be her excessive grief from the breakup with Liang Zhenlun.¡± If it had been earlier, Jiang Chen would have immediately shown concern and asked further, perhaps even run out to see how she was doing, but now Jiang Chen was indifferent and even laughingly said, ¡°Why are you all looking at me? I¡¯m not a doctor.¡± ¡°All right, I need to go out for a bit.¡± With that, he picked up something from the table and walked out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To return an umbrella.¡± With his back to them, Jiang Chen lifted the umbrella in his hand and walked out of the dorm room. After leaving the dorm building, Jiang Chen took out his phone and called Xu Siyi. Upon learning they were at the arts college rehearsing, he headed over there. Lots of cars were parked at the entrance of the arts college. Some belonged to teachers, some to students; the arts college had many wealthy students, and that brand-new Panamera was not the most expensive car there but definitely drew a lot of attention, with students pointing and talking about it. Li Shuru sure had personality. Her car purchase was the talk of the school, but she ignored it completely, seemingly oblivious to avoiding suspicion, and moreover, she parked her car ostentatiously at the entrance to the college, a silent form of protest. Glancing at the car he had ridden in once, Jiang Chen walked into the arts college with the umbrella. ¡°Alright, you can go back now.¡± Outside the rehearsal room. Xu Siyi took the umbrella and quickly issued a dismissal order. ¡°Okay, you go in then.¡± Jiang Chen nodded. Xu Siyi didn¡¯t fall for it, standing at the door without moving, looking at Jiang Chen who also stood motionless, ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you leaving? Or are you thinking of spying again?¡± Being seen through didn¡¯t embarrass Jiang Chen; he smiled naturally and said, ¡°What are you talking about? Am I that kind of person?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not, you just watch openly, right?¡± Jiang Chen gave a dry laugh. ¡°Enough, I don¡¯t have time to dawdle with you. Stop wasting your time, Shu Rui isn¡¯t inside.¡± ¡°I saw her car outside.¡± Jiang Chen was not easily fooled. Xu Siyi couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡°Why would I lie to you? She was here earlier, but now she¡¯s gone. She got a call and left.¡± ¡°Where did she go?¡± ¡°How should I know?¡± Xu Siyi said impatiently, ¡°You really think I¡¯m a spy. Since her car is still at the entrance, she must be somewhere in the school. If you¡¯re capable, go find her yourself.¡± ¡°Okay then.¡± Seeing that Xu Siyi didn¡¯t seem to be lying, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t press her further. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Xu Siyi couldn¡¯t be bothered to speak and just waved her hand. ¡°Oh, right...¡± Not far away, Jiang Chen suddenly stopped as if he remembered something and turned around, but Xu Siyi was already gone, back to the rehearsal room. Jiang Chen could only swallow his words and turn back to continue walking out. Chapter 28 - 28 Garen goes for Infinity Edge at 28 ?28: Garen goes for Infinity Edge at 28 28: Garen goes for Infinity Edge at 28 Xu Siyi indeed hadn¡¯t lied. Li Shuru wasn¡¯t rehearsing, but drinking coffee with someone. ¡°Calling you Shu Rui doesn¡¯t bother you, does it?¡± The person sitting across from Li Shuru wasn¡¯t someone else, it was Ai Qian. Though she had taken a few days off, it seemed she still hadn¡¯t recovered from the heavy rain that weekend, looking somewhat haggard. ¡°Ai Senior, do you need something from me?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s expression remained neutral, as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything that night. Ai Qian didn¡¯t beat around the bush. After a moment of silence and a deep breath, she gazed directly at the junior who outshone the entire arts faculty. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just speak frankly, I¡¯m here for Jiang Chen.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s gaze flickered with a hint of surprise. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with Senior Jiang, if it¡¯s about him, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve got the wrong person, Senior.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t got the wrong person. Jiang Chen is pursuing you now, isn¡¯t he?¡± Li Shuru neither confirmed nor denied, letting the coffee in front of her cool down, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, Senior.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, there¡¯s no one else here. You¡¯re smart, you should know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°Sorry, I really don¡¯t understand.¡± Upon hearing this, Ai Qian frowned slightly. Was the other party playing dumb, deliberately trying to crush her dignity completely? But since she had decided to make this call, she was also prepared. ¡°I hope you can give Jiang Chen back to me.¡± Li Shuru was startled, a distinct expression of surprise appeared on her cool and enchanting face. Give Jiang Chen back to me. These words sounded... ...like a rightful wife coming to claim her man. However, the purpose of the other party truly was unexpected. After a moment of shock, Li Shuru replied with a cold tone, no longer addressing him as Senior Jiang, ¡°Senior, I have no relationship with Jiang Chen. Talking about this with me seems somewhat inappropriate.¡± ¡°No relationship at all.¡± Ai Qian laughed lightly. ¡°He likes you now, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°It¡¯s irrelevant to me.¡± Li Shuru was straightforward and decisive, also revealing her own attitude. Seeing this, Ai Qian felt somewhat relieved. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t be interested in him. You¡¯re outstanding, and you have many better options. But I understand Jiang Chen, he¡¯s a person who sticks to his principles. Once he likes someone, he will treat her well, regardless of everything else, and he won¡¯t change easily.¡± Li Shuru detected some implications, and even though it was none of her business, she still couldn¡¯t help but ask softly, ¡°Did you and Liang Zhenlun break up?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see everything that day?¡± Ai Qian didn¡¯t answer directly, sadness welling up in her eyes as she said with self-mockery, ¡°He never considered me as his girlfriend. Even after getting together with me, he kept fooling around with others.¡± Li Shuru took a sip of her coffee. It seemed that the incident with V faction that night had indeed dealt a heavy blow to the girl, so much so that she had an epiphany and decided to give up on the bread to retake the love she had lost. But is there such a thing as a pill for regret in this world? ¡°Senior, I think these words should be spoken to Jiang Chen, not me. I can¡¯t help you with this.¡± ¡°You can!¡± Ai Qian¡¯s tone suddenly rose, staring intently at Li Shuru. ¡°Only if you can make Jiang Chen give up, will he truly back down. For you, Jiang Chen is completely dispensable, and his pursuit can only bother you. Getting rid of him is a good thing for you too, isn¡¯t it?¡± Li Shuru remained silent. Just now, she praised herself for being smart, but in fact, this senior was even more astoundingly clever. She clearly knew that Jiang Chen was no longer as naive as before, that she could no longer manipulate him at will, and that¡¯s why she had come to her. ¡°Senior, I¡¯ve already rejected him, more than once.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough.¡± Ai Qian spoke urgently, ¡°You must find a way to make him completely give up hope.¡± Li Shuru furrowed her brows. There was little acquaintance between the two of them, and the fact that she agreed to the meeting was already giving enough face, but the other party was aggressively pressing, as if giving her an order. ¡°What happens between you and Jiang Chen is your own business, and it has nothing to do with me. I don¡¯t want to get involved. I have things to do, so I¡¯m leaving.¡± Li Shuru was not one to be pushed around. She picked up her GUCCI bag and stood up, ready to leave. ¡°Li Shuru, you¡¯ve gotten enough already. So many boys like you, and you¡¯re so successful at work. Why can¡¯t you let go of Jiang Chen? Do you really like snatching things from others that much?!¡± Ai Qian lost control of her emotions, staring daggers at her. Li Shuru paused in her tracks, then laughed. She didn¡¯t argue with Ai Qian like a shrew. ¡°Senior, before you question others, you should first ask yourself. I snatched your things? Even if that were the case, weren¡¯t they given to me by you yourself?¡± It was truly a silent and critical hit. Ai Qian¡¯s face turned instantly ugly. Li Shuru remained calm and composed. ¡°Senior, I want to ask you one more question, does Jiang Chen actually represent a reliable harbor in your eyes, or is he merely a temporary lodge for healing wounds?¡± Without waiting for Ai Qian to respond, Li Shuru took out a hundred-yuan bill from her bag and placed it on the table. ¡°This meal is on me.¡± Then she turned and left. ¡°Whew.¡± Stepping out of the cafe invested in by a few students from the school, Li Shuru let out a sigh, shook her head, and chuckled. It was really absurd. She actually had a fight with a woman over a man who was irrelevant to her. If this got out, she really couldn¡¯t clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. Jiang Chen. It was truly bizarre. How had this man started lingering in her life like a persistent spirit? Li Shuru adjusted her mood and walked toward the academy. Along the way, her phone rang with an unfamiliar number. Hang up. It rang again. Hang up again. It continued ringing. ¡°Hello!¡± Finally, Li Shuru answered, her tone inevitably carrying a trace of icy annoyance. Jiang Chen stood at the entrance of the art department, looking perplexedly at his phone. Did this girl eat gunpowder or something? ¡°Who is it, speak.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s emotions were somewhat in check, but it was apparent from her tone that she was not in a good mood. ¡°It¡¯s me, Jiang Chen.¡± Jiang Chen forced a smile: ¡°Shu Rui, where are you? I just returned the umbrella to Si Yi, and she mentioned you weren¡¯t at the academy...¡± Upon hearing that name, Li Shuru immediately felt her scalp tingle and quickly interrupted: ¡°How do you know my number?¡± ¡°You gave it to me.¡± Jiang Chen was indeed an honest person, although he was a bit of a clingy admirer, he never used flowery words to deceive girls. Lacking in charm, honest, not understanding romance¡ªthese were the main reasons Ai Qian broke up with him. ¡°Go find your Ai Qian, she needs you right now.¡± Li Shuru naturally didn¡¯t believe this explanation and assumed it must have been Si Yi who gave him her number. After saying this, she immediately hung up the phone. ¡°Hello, hello...¡± Jiang Chen was flabbergasted and tried calling again, only to find out that he had been blocked. He was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Whom had he offended now? Chapter 29 - 29 029 Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish! ?29: 029 Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish! 29: 029 Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish! ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± When Ai Qian returned to the dormitory, Wei Chuyin immediately asked with concern. Ai Qian shook her head. Wei Chuyin¡¯s eyes widened, and she hesitated, ¡°Li Shuru didn¡¯t agree? She couldn¡¯t... actually fall for Jiang Chen, could she?¡± ¡°How could that be!¡± Ai Qian said through clenched teeth, ¡°She¡¯s just using Jiang Chen as a tool to satisfy her vanity!¡± Wei Chuyin fell silent. It sounded as though you were once no different. ¡°Qian, have you really decided to get back together with Jiang Chen?¡± ¡°What else then?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s face twitched uncontrollably as she recalled the humiliation she had suffered over the weekend. ¡°Should I just let Liang Zhenlun keep humiliating me?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just angry with you, it¡¯ll pass after some time.¡± Previously, when Jiang Chen and Ai Qian were together, Wei Chuyin had never stopped fanning the flames between them; but now, she was playing the peacemaker. ¡°I think you should calm down and think this through seriously.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not just angry at me; he¡¯s never treated me as a person!¡± At this moment, Ai Qian looked as if she were talking about an enemy, not her boyfriend. It was obvious. The birthday party last weekend was just a fuse; the problems between them had been brewing for a long time. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time he¡¯s ignored my feelings completely. Do you know how embarrassed I was? It was pouring rain, and in front of so many people, he left me all alone and walked off with another girl. And you saw it, he hasn¡¯t shown his face until now, and he hasn¡¯t called me or sent a message. Tell me, what am I supposed to do?¡± Wei Chuyin was at a loss for words. Continuing to make excuses for Liang Zhenlun might lead Ai Qian to turn against her. ¡°If you¡¯ve made up your mind, then I¡¯ll surely support you. Jiang Chen liked you so much before; with a little effort, he¡¯ll certainly come back to you.¡± Hearing her sister¡¯s comforting words, Ai Qian felt a little better. The downpour over the weekend, coupled with the psychological blow, had made her catch a cold and run a fever. She felt a bit better after spending a day getting an IV in the infirmary, but she was still easily fatigued and weak. After taking some medicine, Ai Qian went to bed to rest. Seeing that she was asleep, Wei Chuyin walked out onto the balcony and made a phone call. ¡°Young Master Liang, you¡¯ve gone too far this time. Ai Qian is sick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, is it?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s tone on the other end was indifferent and dismissive. Wei Chuyin, who had grown up in a single-parent family and been abandoned by her mother since she was a child, always believed that bread was more important than so-called love. However, hearing Liang Zhenlun¡¯s careless attitude still left her feeling a chill. ¡°It¡¯s a big deal! Ai Qian is thinking about breaking up with you!¡± She deliberately spoke in a serious tone. ¡°Really?¡± Liang Zhenlun seemed utterly unconcerned, even chuckling dismissively. ¡°Young Master Liang, I¡¯m not joking with you. This time Ai Qian is serious; she wants to get back together with Jiang Chen!¡± Wei Chuyin emphasized her words. Upon hearing this, Liang Zhenlun finally fell silent on the other end, his emotions apparently wavering. ¡°No wonder she hasn¡¯t contacted me these past few days. She¡¯s already found herself a new man, huh? Fine, very good.¡± Hearing the cold laughter from the other end, Wei Chuyin couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of anger. It was clearly him who acted so inexcusably; shouldn¡¯t he be the one to apologize? Just because someone is wealthy doesn¡¯t mean they can be so arrogant, right?! ¡°Young Master Liang, I¡¯ve delivered the message. What you do next is up to you. If you truly don¡¯t care about Ai Qian at all, then you can continue doing nothing.¡± With that said. Wei Chuyin hung up the phone. Inside a billiard room. Liang Zhenlun slowly put down his phone, his face suddenly twisted into a snarl, and he violently smashed the phone to the ground. Under the force of the impact, the latest model Apple phone instantly shattered into pieces. ¡°Slut!¡± It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t accept Ai Qian breaking up with him, after all, he hadn¡¯t really been in love, but he couldn¡¯t tolerate Ai Qian running back into the arms of Jiang Chen. What would people at school think? Would they say Liang Zhenlun was worse than a simp? ¡°Brother Liang, what happened?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s sudden outburst startled his fair-weather friends who were there, and they all put down their cue sticks. ¡°Some kid wants to steal my girl.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Which son of a bitch has the gall to compete with Brother Liang for a woman? Does he have a death wish?!¡± ¡°Brother Liang, who is it? I¡¯ll take care of him for you!¡± Murmurs of agreement rose from all around. Everyone was bristling with self-righteous indignation. This was the so-called sense of shared enmity. ¡°Jiang Chen, a senior at our school.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen? Isn¡¯t that the waiter from Brother Liang¡¯s birthday party?¡± In the billiard room, several people who had attended Liang Zhenlun¡¯s birthday party and remembered Jiang Chen, who had sung a song, recalled him clearly. ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡± ¡°And here I thought he was somebody significant, but he¡¯s just a waiter?¡± A young man with sleeved tattoos, looking both brutish and sinister, sauntered over, leisurely lit a cigarette, and took a drag. ¡°Young Master Liang, if you trust me, leave this to me.¡± Liang Zhenlun looked at him, slightly hesitant. It wasn¡¯t that he doubted the man¡¯s abilities, but that he was worried about the man¡¯s recklessness. This guy was Bai Haoran, the owner of this billiard room, young yet only in his late twenties with a history already brimming with violence. His name sounded upstanding, but in reality, he was the definition of a thug. He wasn¡¯t known for pure evil, but fighting and brawling were as normal to him as eating and drinking. He dropped out of school after just nine years to join the underworld, went to a juvenile detention center for chopping off a person¡¯s hand, and it was rumored that he once stabbed someone to death. With his fierce determination, he enjoyed a formidable reputation in this area. Even though they addressed each other as brothers, Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t really want to get too close to such people. ¡°Brother Bai, this is just a minor issue. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to trouble you.¡± Resentment was one thing. But Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t want to make a big fuss; involving Bai Haoran could lead to a messy situation, and with his temper, it could escalate to bloodshed. By then, Liang Zhenlun would not be able to avoid involvement. ¡°Nothing related to you is a small matter, Young Master Liang.¡± Although he made his living through shady means, Bai Haoran knew how to talk the talk, and as if seeing through Liang Zhenlun¡¯s thoughts, said with a smoke-tinged smile, ¡°Relax, I can handle it. I¡¯ll make sure the kid spends a few months in bed. It¡¯ll be a minor punishment with a major message. How about that?¡± Upon hearing this, Liang Zhenlun was quite moved. This was closely aligned with his wishes. He could vent his anger without causing too much trouble. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave it in Brother Bai¡¯s hands then.¡± Liang Zhenlun was not one to hesitate; his mood instantly shifted from gloomy to sunny as he grinned and nodded at Bai Haoran. ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Bai Haoran dismissed it with a casual smile, as if he had already envisioned Jiang Chen¡¯s pitiful fate. Liang Zhenlun felt immensely satisfied, as if he had a little person inside him fist-pumping in cool exhilaration. Those who are with me prosper, those who are against me perish! Chapter 30 - 30 030 Hurry to the Western Heaven to ask for help from the Buddha ?30: 030 Hurry to the Western Heaven to ask for help from the Buddha. 30: 030 Hurry to the Western Heaven to ask for help from the Buddha. If anyone mentions Jiang Chen again, we¡¯re done. In the dorm. Watching Li Shuru live stream, Zheng Jingjing was cracking sunflower seeds, her gaze suspicious. ¡°Hey, what did Jiang Chen do to piss off Shu Rui?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, I don¡¯t know.¡± Guo Ran quickly shook her head. ¡°I have no clue either.¡± Before Zheng Jingjing¡¯s gaze could turn to her, Xu Siyi took the initiative to speak. ¡°It¡¯s really strange, wasn¡¯t everything fine this weekend?¡± Zheng Jingjing was puzzled, as Shu Rui had returned to the dorm that afternoon looking rather upset, and very seriously issued a ¡°prohibition¡± to them, forbidding the mention of Jiang Chen¡¯s name in her presence. This had never happened before. ¡°Jiang Chen really must have some skills to be able to make Shu Rui angry.¡± Zheng Jingjing muttered. Anger implies emotional fluctuations, and emotional fluctuations mean the other person is no longer insignificant. So sometimes, making a girl angry can also be a sign of progress. Li Shuru was focused on her live stream, chatting with the audience as usual, occasionally singing, not faulting the increasing number of people entering the industry as there were few jobs more relaxing than this. ¡°Doo doo doo...¡± At this moment, someone sent a connection request, also a female broadcaster, but much more famous than Li Shuru, with nearly a million fans. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s Ling Shiqi!¡± People in the live stream quickly recognized her. Linking up is a common way of live streaming which can drive up popularity for both parties and liven up the atmosphere. Hence, smaller broadcasters often look for opportunities to co-broadcast with bigger names, just like smaller celebrities try hard to get roles with top stars, it¡¯s an industry method for self-promotion. But big broadcasters seeking out smaller ones was rare, unless they were friends or it was a random match. Seeing the connection request from Ling Shiqi, Li Shuru was also surprised but accepted the request. Soon, the screen was split in two, showing another female broadcaster, wearing a strapless dress with an air bang, her makeup resembling a Barbie doll. ¡°Hi, Shu Rui, long time no see.¡± The other party greeted Li Shuru warmly. Ling Shiqi became famous through her costume and COSPLAY videos, which often hit the male G-spot effortlessly with her mix of innocence and seductiveness ¨C a fusion of an angel and a demon. They had linked up once before, but it had been a random match. In school, Li Shuru was a lofty goddess, who could look down on everything, but in front of Ling Shiqi, all her advantages seemed to vanish in an instant, even making her inexplicably nervous. In any industry, hierarchy and strength are revered, and the self-media is no exception. She had over twenty thousand people watching her live stream, while Ling Shiqi nearly had a hundred thousand ¨C there was no comparison. Of course. Compared to their first link-up, the gap between them had undoubtedly narrowed. After all, Ling Shiqi had cut off the connection in less than a minute that time, but this time she took the initiative to reach out and seemed very familiar. ¡°Shu Rui, congratulations, a hundred years of guardianship is truly enviable.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with this Ling Shiqi talking in such a weird tone?¡± Zheng Jingjing and the girls were also watching Li Shuru¡¯s live stream on their phones. ¡°I know her, seems like she had quite a bit of a scandalous past before she became famous. Seducing rich heirs, cheating, you name it, not exactly a paragon of virtue.¡± Guo Ran said. But in this world, success tends to define a hero, and nobody cares about your past as long as you succeed. Moreover, with money, even the darkest history can be washed clean. ¡°Is that Family Head around by any chance?¡± Ling Shiqi asked, obviously she came prepared. ¡°No.¡± Li Shuru instinctively glanced at the top contributor spot on her fan contribution leaderboard. Not just today, Han Jiang¡¯s Lonely Shadow had been absent for several days. ¡°That¡¯s really unfortunate.¡± Ling Shiqi seemed a bit regretful, then got back to business. ¡°So, Shu Rui, let¡¯s play a game, shall we? Whoever loses has to draw a turtle on their face, how¡¯s that?¡± To play a game. That is actually code for a challenge. It¡¯s a way for hosts to earn income. During a PK, a host entices fans to send gifts by playing a variety of games, and at the end of the allotted time, the host who has received the most gifts wins. Stimulated by a sense of honor, fans generally dole out generously to help their favorite host win. So the outcome of a PK largely depends on the size of the fan base. ¡°This Ling Shiqi is really scheming, isn¡¯t this just to demoralize people?!¡± Zheng Jingjing expressed strong indignation. An anchor with nearly a million followers going up against one with less than three hundred thousand, anyone could guess the outcome. ¡°She must be jealous that someone became a guardian for a hundred years in Shu Rui¡¯s live broadcast room.¡± Guo Ran had not expected the live-streaming industry to be so cutthroat. ¡°It¡¯s normal, such wealthy fans are rare even in the entire Starry Sky, who wouldn¡¯t be jealous?¡± Xu Siyi was looking at her phone. Li Shuru, with no other choice, had agreed to the challenge, and a numerical value bar appeared on both sides of the screen, transforming the gifts and likes from fans into ¡°starglow points¡± for everyone to see. The actual gap was indeed vast. Whether it was fan support or online viewers, Ling Shiqi was crushing Li Shuru. Not even a minute into the PK, a variety of gifts started flooding the screen, and Ling Shiqi was far ahead in starglow points. On Li Shuru¡¯s side, even with heavy-hitters like the ¡°Rich Young Patron¡± leading the charge, they were still outnumbered and could only watch helplessly as the gap widened, becoming increasingly discouraged. Ling Shiqi, a million-fan internet celebrity, had immense influence, drawing numerous people to her live stream, which had now broken through the one hundred thousand mark in online viewers. Meanwhile, Li Shuru had just twenty-nine thousand. ¡°Thank you, Jiang Chen, for the yacht.¡± ¡°Thank you, Brother Zhao, for the airplane.¡± ¡°Wow, a carnival, Boss Sun is so generous!¡± Ling Shiqi¡¯s smile was blooming like a flower as she blew kisses to the camera. The stark contrast between the two starglow bars was becoming more glaring by the minute, and the fans in Li Shuru¡¯s live broadcast room were anxious and troubled. Even though losing the PK did not have much practical significance, it symbolized honor. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t send any more gifts, thank you for your support.¡± Perhaps sensing an inevitable defeat, Li Shuru actually urged her fans to stop sending gifts. ¡°Host, you can¡¯t give up!¡± ¡°Right, if you lose, you¡¯ll have to draw a turtle on your face!¡± ¡°Damn, they¡¯re bullying us because they have more people, it¡¯s unfair!¡± Rich Young Patron: To surrender now would be far too premature! ¡°Rich Young Patron is right!¡± ¡°Supporting Rich Young Patron!¡± ¡°Never give up!¡± Inspired by the atmosphere, many who usually freeload also began to recharge their accounts. [Bored Rice Fan]sent over a [Love Bicycle] [Limping Cheetah]sent a [Dream Castle] [Wablaze]sent a bouquet of[Rainbow Roses] ... The fans did what they could, but when compared to Ling Shiqi¡¯s multitude of supporters, their efforts were but a drop in the bucket. ¡°Shu Rui is going to lose.¡± Zheng Jingjing looked dejected. ¡°Host, no more hesitation, hurry and plead to Buddha for help!¡± At that moment. The message from a fan named ¡°Preserved Egg Superman¡± struck like a bolt of lightning, jolting the entire live broadcast room to attention. ¡°Right, hurry and plead to Buddha for help!¡± ¡°Hurry and plead to Buddha for help!¡± The same message started flooding Li Shuru¡¯s live broadcast room. ¡°Have you gone mad? Pleading to Buddha, a bunch of idiots!¡± Ling Shiqi¡¯s audience, laced with mockery and scorn, flaunted their triumph. Chapter 31 - 31 031 No one who can fight ?31: 031 No one who can fight. 31: 031 No one who can fight. Li Shuru naturally knew who the fans were referring to as the ¡°Buddha.¡± The top contributor on the leaderboard. That man dressed in a straw raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat. But how was seeking him out any different from begging at this point? Besides, there was no guarantee he would even pay attention to her. The messages she had sent before had vanished without a trace, with no response whatsoever. Li Shuru remained indifferent, but the fans in the live streaming room were on the move. In his dormitory room, Jiang Chen, who had just washed his hair, heard his mobile phone ringing off the hook. While drying his hair with a towel, he picked up the phone from the desk and saw that he had more than 99+ messages on Starry Sky. Upon opening them, he found messages from different people. ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s an emergency, come to the rescue quickly.¡± ¡°The little brothers can¡¯t hold on anymore, we need firepower support from the big boss.¡± ¡°Brother Gu Ying, please hurry and help, Shu Rui is losing the PK.¡± ¡ª from ¡°Wealthy Young Master Who Doesn¡¯t Lack Money.¡± PK? Curious, Jiang Chen conveniently entered Li Shuru¡¯s live streaming room and was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm! ¡°Damn! The Buddha has arrived!¡± ¡°Haha, I knew that Brother Han Jiang Gu Ying would definitely come!¡± ¡°Boss, quickly wipe out those monkeys on the other side!¡± Seeing the notification that ¡°Han Jiang Gu Ying¡± had entered her live streaming room, excitement flashed in Li Shuru¡¯s eyes. It wasn¡¯t humiliating to lose to Ling Shiqi. But no one likes to lose. Watching the barrage of comments scroll rapidly and the split screen of the live streaming, Jiang Chen quickly figured out what was going on. Anchors¡¯ PK, similar to celebrities competing for rankings, was all about the strength of their respective fan groups. He glanced at the current ¡°score¡± of both sides. 3,596,250 to 13,526,300. Tsk. It was a pretty miserable loss. Jiang Chen looked at Li Shuru on the left side of the screen and, without a second thought, opened the gift interface. [Han Jiang Gu Ying]sent [Carnival]¡Á10. Suddenly, the starlight bar in the upper-left corner shot up, making a tremendous comeback. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s awesome plus!¡± ¡°Han Jiang Gu Ying¡¯s move is exceptional!¡± ¡°Fools, tremble in fear!¡± Li Shuru¡¯s fans felt like they had found solid backing and were flushed with excitement, as though injected with adrenaline! Viewers on Ling Shiqi¡¯s side were dumbfounded. Just when victory seemed secure, out of nowhere came Cheng Yaojin? Ling Shiqi¡¯s seductive smile also froze for a moment. ¡°Now this is getting interesting. My side¡¯s big shots, ramp up the firepower, keep the output going!¡± Apart from the fans on both sides, there were also casual viewers stirring up the situation. ¡°Wipe him out!¡± ¡°Damn it! Pretending to be the Buddha in front of our Seventeen Alliance? Even the relics will be knocked out of you!¡± As a broadcaster with a million fans, Ling Shiqi¡¯s fan group naturally had some wealthy patrons. Given the vast gap in capabilities just a moment ago, they were merely sending gifts for fun. But now, seeing someone come up to challenge, their competitive spirits were instantly ignited. They were about to get serious. [Forever Guarding Seventeen]sent [Romantic Carriage]. [Don¡¯t Ask, Just Loved]sent [Spacecraft]. [Grew Up Eating Husky-Teddy]sent [Love¡¯s Merry-go-round]¡Á10. ... Your turn to sing, my turn to take the stage. All sorts of tycoons showed off their magic tricks, crossing the sea in their own unique ways. The ordinary viewers of both live streaming rooms were profoundly moved, watching in awe. Each toss was a wad of cold hard cash. Seeing her fans rally, Ling Shiqi¡¯s smile bloomed brightly again. She realized that this Han Jiang Gu Ying must be the actual person who had started the hundred-year guardianship, but he was just one man. Two fists are no match for four hands. Galloping in solo, do you really think you can turn the tide? ¡°I love you guys oh!¡± Under Ling Shiqi¡¯s urging, her fans became even more spirited, and the gap between the two sides was once again widening. Is it bullying by the majority? The corners of Jiang Chen¡¯s mouth lifted. If this had been a fistfight, sheer numbers would indeed be decisive, but it was not. You should know, most of the world¡¯s wealth is held by a small number of people. [Lone Shadow on the Cold River]sent [Romantic Carriage]¡Á100. [Lone Shadow on the Cold River]sent [Spaceship]¡Á100. [Lone Shadow on the Cold River]sent [Love¡¯s Merry-go-round]¡Á100. For a moment, all you could see on the screen were carriages racing, spaceships flying, and hearts spinning! Not only were Li Shuru¡¯s viewers shocked, but so were Ling Shiqi¡¯s fans! Seizing the moment before everyone could recover, Jiang Chen acted without honor. [Lone Shadow on the Cold River]sent [Carnival]¡Á100. The two live-stream rooms, with almost 150,000 viewers combined, fell deathly silent. Countless people were dumbstruck! This guy, who the hell is he? Not Buddha come to Earth, but the God of Wealth himself! Not to mention anything else, a hundred Carnivals meant three million thrown in! If you add the other gifts, this big brother had almost spent five million in less than three minutes! His presence was as imposing as a tiger swallowing the land! Everyone¡¯s hearts were pounding. Who exactly is this Lone Shadow on the Cold River? ¡°Hahaha, we¡¯ve taken the lead! Brother Lone Shadow is mighty!!!¡± Jiang Chen single-handedly turned the situation around, and Ling Shiqi¡¯s rich fans, intimidated by his unreasonable display of wealth, fell silent. There may be many people who can whip out a few million in real life, but those who spend millions on gifts seem to be a rare breed. And the most crucial point is, This guy seemed to do it with as much concern as if he were tossing out mere pieces of paper rather than real silver and gold. Who the hell wants to fight with such a maniac? ¡°Pfft! What a crap ¡®Shiqi Alliance,¡¯ not a single one can fight!¡± Some fans couldn¡¯t contain their emotions. ¡°Ling Shiqi, time¡¯s up, you lost! Time to draw a turtle!¡± With excitement and rapid breaths, Zheng Jingjing started typing. Ling Shiqi probably never thought she¡¯d lose, and even though she tried to disguise it, her complexion was quite unsightly. ¡°Draw the turtle!¡± ¡°Draw the turtle!¡± The viewers were merciless, looking forward to the degrading spectacle of a million-follower internet celebrity. You can¡¯t go back on your own words; otherwise, even as a million-follower internet celebrity, your reputation will suffer. Ling Shiqi understood the stakes, so with a forced smile, she drew a turtle on her face with an eyebrow pencil. ¡°Lone Shadow on the Cold River, what do you think of her drawing?¡± She actually started to reach out to Jiang Chen. But Jiang Chen didn¡¯t respond to her. Although the girl was not bad, a loli face with the temperament of a mature woman, his target was Li Shuru. ¡°Shu Rui, I¡¯ll see you next time then.¡± Ling Shiqi cut off the connection. ¡°Who the hell is this Lone Shadow on the Cold River? Could it be he¡¯s the son of Hang City¡¯s Mr. Ma?¡± Zheng Jingjing speculated. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say he¡¯s King Si Cong?¡± Guo Ran said. ¡°There are a lot of wealthy people nowadays; don¡¯t think it¡¯s just those few. The real magnates are very low-profile.¡± Xu Siyi, looking at Li Shuru who was sitting and staring blankly at the camera, felt envy churning inside her like a tide. ¡°Yeah, no matter who he is, Shu Rui really struck it rich this time!¡± Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran envied her endlessly. Chapter 32 - 32 032 Emperor Chat Group ?32: 032 Emperor Chat Group 32: 032 Emperor Chat Group ¡°Handsome guy, can I get to know you?¡± While Jiang Chen was calculating how much he had ¡°invested¡± this time, someone sent him a private message. It was actually Ling Shiqi. This million-follower internet celebrity had lost face because of him, yet it seemed she didn¡¯t hold any grudges in her heart. Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t foolish; after a bit of thought, he understood the reason behind it. No other than. The charm of wealth. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m a handsome guy?¡± ¡°Just a feeling.¡± Ling Shiqi replied rapidly, and even included a shy emoji at the end. She hardly seemed like a million-follower influencer, but rather like the girl next door. Of course, Jiang Chen understood that she couldn¡¯t possibly be this friendly with every single fan. It¡¯s really nice to be wealthy. ¡°Handsome guy, where are you from?¡± Being a million-follower internet celebrity indeed wasn¡¯t simple; Ling Shiqi¡¯s move was clearly snatching the chestnuts out of the fire. It¡¯s not terrible to lose, what¡¯s terrible is not summarizing the reasons why. If she could lure this gold mine over to become her fan, what did it matter if she lost once? Forget about drawing one turtle, she would be willing to draw ten, a hundred of them. Jiang Chen received a follow notification. Ling Shiqi had followed him. ¡°Shenzhou.¡± ¡°Giggle, handsome guy, you¡¯re really funny. Can we add each other¡¯s contact information? If you ever come to Hainan for a trip, I can be your tour guide,¡± Ling Shiqi said with hidden depth. As an experienced bootlicker, Jiang Chen chuckled and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t like it when women take the initiative.¡± Ling Shiqi was taken aback and when she sent another message, he didn¡¯t reply. Jiang Chen¡¯s display of wealth tonight had shocked countless people. His private messages were bombarded incessantly. For some peace and quiet, Jiang Chen set his account to private and no longer accepted messages from strangers. ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Shuru sent him a message. Those two simple words seemed to contain a thousand words and sentiments. Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but ponder, if he revealed his identity now, would this most exquisite flower of the art academy be moved to tears, or even offer herself to him? But after careful consideration, he still felt it was somewhat unrealistic. Moreover. The ¡°investment¡± wasn¡¯t sufficient yet. So far, he had spent less than ten million RMB on Li Shuru; if he completed the conquest now, then according to the ten percent cashback ratio, it meant he could only take home less than one million RMB. Damn. He wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford a Palamela. Jiang Chen felt a twinge of regret and managed to suppress the urge to reveal his identity, deciding to keep up his unfathomable facade until the very end. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Looking at the casually written three words that came back in the chat box, Xu Siyi, Zheng Jingjing, and Guo Ran, the three girls hovering around, looked at each other with bewilderment. ¡°Just who is this guy? Millions of RMB in his eyes, are they really that negligible to him?¡± Conservatively estimating, this person¡¯s net worth is probably over a billion. Shu Rui, this is your chance, you must seize it!¡± Zheng Jingjing urged emphatically. ¡°But what if he¡¯s an old man?¡± Xu Siyi seemed to joke. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him being old? Love doesn¡¯t discriminate against age!¡± ¡°Jin Jin, can you be any more disgusting?¡± Guo Ran was speechless. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m just kidding. Would the old man play Starry Sky or watch live streams? Besides, judging from the way he speaks, he doesn¡¯t seem old. I estimate he¡¯s at most around thirty, probably a successful and single tycoon.¡± Zheng Jingjing¡¯s mind had already begun to fantasize about the image of a chaebol from Korean movies, her eyes sparkling with stars. ¡°Shu Rui, it¡¯s possible that in just a few days, you¡¯ll become a young madam of a wealthy family. I¡¯m so envious of you!¡± Li Shuru was at a loss for words. The other party had showered her with a fortune that she couldn¡¯t have even imagined before; logically, he should have had ¡°ulterior motives,¡± but until now, besides throwing money around in the live stream room, he hadn¡¯t shown any other desires in private. Even whenever she initiated a message, he seemed indifferent. Could it be true that pies could fall from the sky? Jiang Chen¡¯s big move tonight even shocked the officials at Starry Sky. ¡°Dear Mr. Han Jiang Gu Ying, we are honored to have you become an Emperor Member of our Starry Sky, and we invite you to join the Emperor chat group.¡± His account was set to private, and strangers couldn¡¯t send messages, but this was a prompt from the system. Emperor? Jiang Chen was quite surprised, then noticed a crown-like symbol had appeared next to his account ID at some point. After doing some research, he realized that Starry Sky, like some pure live streaming platforms, also had a nobility system. However, unlike the others, Starry Sky¡¯s nobility was not something you could apply for¡ªit was awarded automatically by the system after certain amounts of spending. Emperor was the highest title at Starry Sky. One could obtain it after spending five million RMB. Looking at the group number above, Jiang Chen only pondered for a moment before deciding to join. Although he had been just a regular university student, he understood the importance of connections. This was the Emperor chat group. It meant that the members inside were all Emperors! In other words, they had all spent at least five million on Starry Sky! Without a doubt, those who could enter this group were all true big shots! After joining the Emperor group, Jiang Chen first changed his group nickname, then instinctively looked at the group members. There weren¡¯t many, just over a dozen people. Who Rules the World: ¡°Han Emperor, I¡¯ve long admired your name.¡± Chi Xin: ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had a newcomer. Han Emperor, with a hundred years of guardianship, you truly are unprecedented, and I fear unmatched by any successors.¡± Dragon Soars the Four Seas: ¡°Haha, I knew Han Emperor would definitely join. I didn¡¯t expect it to be so soon.¡± Shooting Sirius: ¡°Han Emperor, now that you¡¯re in the group, we¡¯re all family. Let¡¯s look after each other¡¯s business in the future.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s addition was like dropping a stone into a calm lake. The inscrutable Emperor chat group suddenly came to life. Han Emperor? Jiang Chen realized that this must be a way of addressing himself. Keep in mind, this group might consist of top magnates from various industries, while he was just an ordinary senior at East University. These tycoons were really too polite. Of course. Jiang Chen understood that these tycoons had no idea of his real identity and treated him as an equal. ¡°Hello everyone, I am Han Jiang Gu Ying. Please take good care of me from now on.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t show any weakness, after all, he still had over ninety billion lying in his account. Yet, he didn¡¯t act arrogant, appearing modest and humble, and instantly won everyone¡¯s favor. ¡°Haha, of course.¡± No one inquired about Jiang Chen¡¯s specific identity, which was a proof of their wealth being calculated in billions, and none would act rashly. Even if they were curious about what Jiang Chen did for a living, they wouldn¡¯t pry the moment he entered. After chatting for a while, Jiang Chen roughly understood the dynamics of the Emperor group. Without familiarity, people generally addressed each other with some form of Emperor title. If he didn¡¯t know the terrifying threshold to join this group, he might have thought they were a bunch of people with adolescent fantasies. Suddenly, as if recalling something, Jiang Chen quickly checked his Moments and breathed a sigh of relief when he found it was set to be visible for only three days. Although these tycoons hadn¡¯t asked for his specifics, that didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t sneak a peek at his information. If they found out he was a university student, that would cause quite a stir. It seems he would have to be more cautious posting Moments in the future. Chapter 33 - 33 033 Dont move Please recommend! ?33: 033 Don¡¯t move (Please recommend!) 33: 033 Don¡¯t move (Please recommend!) ¡°Hello, your package has now arrived at East Sea University¡¯s Station #18. Due to excessive inventory pressure, please come to sign for it as soon as possible.¡± During his Principles of Marxism class, Jiang Chen received a text message. A courier? He hadn¡¯t made any online purchases recently, had he? Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t give it much thought and handed his books to Bai Zheli to carry back to the dormitory after class. ¡°Chen bro, where are you headed?¡± ¡°To pick up a package.¡± Jiang Chen left the school gates alone and reached the courier station about two hundred meters away. After reporting the last digits of his phone number, the staff informed him that there was no package for him. Could it be that the number was sent to by mistake? With many people there to pick up packages, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t want to delay their work and quickly left the courier station. He also didn¡¯t call to complain; after all, couriers have it tough, delivering so many parcels daily¡ªmistakes are inevitable. He stopped by a convenience store nearby, bought a drink, and was planning on heading back to the school when his phone rang again. It was the same number that notified him about the package. ¡°Hello?¡± Jiang Chen answered, puzzled. There was no response on the other end, just faint breathing and the noisy sound of traffic. Suddenly, Jiang Chen sensed something and looked towards the road. He saw a striking man step out of a parked black Audi, his wolf-like eyes seemingly locked onto him, holding a phone in his hand. ¡°Are you Jiang Chen?¡± Jiang Chen slowly put down his phone, watching the young man approaching, and nodded. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°I need to have a talk with you. Let¡¯s find somewhere quiet.¡± The other man pocketed his phone. Apparently. The previous text message had been sent by him. ¡°Do we know each other?¡± Jiang Chen had a bad feeling but didn¡¯t panic. ¡°We do not.¡± The man gave a wry smile. ¡°Then why should I go with you?¡± Jiang Chen asked calmly, ¡°Because you have no choice.¡± The young man suddenly stepped forward, and, unbeknownst to Jiang, a dagger had slipped out of the sleeve of his casual wear. The sharp tip was pressed against Jiang Chen¡¯s waist; simultaneously, he casually draped an arm over Jiang Chen¡¯s shoulder, making them appear like friends to any onlooker. ¡°Don¡¯t move; I¡¯ve killed before.¡± Listening to the grim laughter near his ear, Jiang Chen¡¯s body involuntarily tensed. No matter how strong his will had been honed by the sneers and ridicule he had always faced, he was still just a student, unaccustomed to such threats. And Jiang Chen knew this man wasn¡¯t just making threats. Whether he had killed before was uncertain, but if Jiang acted rashly or screamed, the man would most likely not hesitate to stab him. Glancing at the cold dagger, Jiang Chen realized he had been too careless. Forget the fact that he hadn¡¯t made any online purchases recently, how could a courier use a private number to contact him? But by then, regret was pointless. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± The young man, one hand holding the dagger against Jiang¡¯s waist and the other around his shoulder, coerced Jiang to walk toward the parked black Audi at the side of the road. ¡°Shu Rui, look, isn¡¯t that...¡± Zheng Jingjing, who happened to come out to fetch a package, was surprised and raised her hand to point but then remembered the prohibition her roommate had imposed and promptly swallowed back the taboo name. Beside her, the belle of the Arts Faculty glanced in the direction to their left, her gaze sweeping past Jiang Chen and falling on the young man who seemed too close to Jiang Chen. From his age and attire, he didn¡¯t look like a student at all. And moreover, why did she feel a vague sense of familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before? ¡°Who is that guy? He shouldn¡¯t be from our school, right? Why does he look familiar?¡± Not coincidentally, Zheng Jingjing also had the same feeling. With a slight frown of her meticulously drawn eyebrows, Li Shuru thought for a moment and finally remembered. That man, he seemed to be a friend of Liang Zhenlun. Once, while clubbing at a nightclub, they had run into him, and after Liang Zhenlun¡¯s introduction, had even shared a drink. He seemed to have the last name Bai. She couldn¡¯t recall his exact first name, but she was certain he wasn¡¯t a good person. Although he was dressed smartly today, Li Shuru vividly remembered his fierce tattooed arm. What was a friend of Liang Zhenlun doing with Jiang Chen? As she watched the two head towards the Audi, Li Shuru keenly felt that something was off, immediately associating this with the rumors of Ai Qian and Liang Zhenlun¡¯s breakup, along with the words Ai Qian had previously shared with her... Obviously, it was highly likely that this Mr. Bai was sent by Liang Zhenlun to seek revenge on Jiang Chen. Considering Liang Zhenlun¡¯s narrow-mindedness as a playboy, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising whatever he did. Although she guessed as much, Li Shuru wasn¡¯t planning to interfere. After all, she and Jiang Chen were neither relatives nor friends. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She nudged Zheng Jingjing, who was still pondering where she had seen that man before, and headed towards the courier station. On the way, Li Shuru cast one last glance in that direction. Mr. Bai had already opened the car door and pushed Jiang Chen inside. ¡°Shu Rui, help me hold this.¡± Like shopping in a supermarket, girls tend to buy lots online at once, which means lots of packages. Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t carry them all and wanted Li Shuru¡¯s help, but when she turned around, she realized Li Shuru was gone. ¡°Where¡¯d she go?¡± She was puzzled. ¡°Following that Audi up ahead.¡± Li Shuru was already seated in a taxi. Although not close with Jiang Chen, he was a fellow university student after all. If she stood by doing nothing and something really happened to him, she would never be able to forgive herself on conscience. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to attend to, will be back soon.¡± She sent a text message to avoid worrying Zheng Jingjing. The Audi weaved through traffic, and after about twenty minutes, it stopped in front of an unfinished construction site on East Sea Avenue. Huge posters hung on the exterior walls, proclaiming them to be the work of Sifang Real Estate Group. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with the change.¡± Seeing the two enter the construction site, Li Shuru threw down a hundred yuan note and quickly got out of the taxi. ¡°My friend, what may I call you?¡± Of course, to say she wasn¡¯t at all nervous at this point would be a lie. The construction site with buildings underway, steel frames and iron plates everywhere, towering cranes¡ªthis was a staple scene right out of a crime movie. In the movies, after abducting someone, the criminal would generally bring them to a place like this, a hotbed for criminal incidents. Despite her nerves, Jiang Chen also understood that fear would do no good. In such situations, it was crucial to stay calm. ¡°Bai Haoran.¡± The other party candidly revealed his name, seemingly confident and unafraid. In crime movies, criminals typically hide their true identity, never revealing their real names, as they need to stay hidden. To be so forthright, could it mean he was preparing to... Jiang Chen¡¯s face stiffened slightly, ¡°Mr. Bai, it seems we don¡¯t know each other, do we? I¡¯m not sure what I could have done to offend...¡± ¡°East Sea University, isn¡¯t it a top institution? Such a simple issue, and you can¡¯t figure it out?¡± Saying this, Bai Haoran shoved Jiang Chen into a half-constructed building. Neither of them noticed a sleek shadow stealthily following behind. Chapter 34 - 34 034 Fairy tales are all deceptive ?34: 034 Fairy tales are all deceptive 34: 034 Fairy tales are all deceptive Although it was noon, there were still people busily at work on the construction site. The workers, not minding the dirt, took advantage of the brief rest period to sleep right on the ground. Those who weren¡¯t asleep, even if they accidentally bumped into Jiang Chen and Bai Haoran, would turn a blind eye and walk around them. It was obvious. Everyone here seemed to recognize Bai Haoran. ¡°Was it Liang Zhenlun who sent you?¡± On the way here, Jiang Chen had already suspected as much. As an ordinary college student, who would go out of their way to trouble him? After all the thinking, the only person he had a conflict with was that Young Master Liang. ¡°It¡¯s just your bad luck, picking the wrong person¡¯s woman to snatch, specifically Liang¡¯s woman.¡± Bai Haoran pushed Jiang Chen up to the fourth floor. This commercial apartment building was still under construction, with no external walls yet, empty and open to the winds from all sides, giving a very insecure feeling. I snatched his woman? It¡¯s really a case of the thief shouting to catch the thief. But Jiang Chen understood that in this situation, reason was not going to work. ¡°Mr. Bai, could you please show some mercy? As long as you¡¯re willing to let me go, there will be a generous reward,¡± Jiang Chen asked, hoping for leniency. Money talks. At times like these, the only thing that might help him escape this predicament would be money. Bai Haoran¡¯s smile turned up at the corners. A generous reward. Just listen to that tone. If he didn¡¯t know this was just an ordinary college student, who even had to work part-time waiting tables to support himself, he might have mistaken him for a scion of a wealthy family. ¡°A generous reward? How generous?¡± Bai Haoran asked with a meaningful smile, not in a rush since the young man was now trapped like meat on a chopping block. ¡°How much did Liang Zhenlun offer you?¡± Jiang Chen asked, his expression serious, not sounding like he was joking. ¡°How much can you offer?¡± Bai Haoran¡¯s eyes twinkled with the playfulness of a cat toying with a mouse. ¡°No matter how much Liang Zhenlun offers, I¡¯ll double it,¡± Jiang Chen declared boldly, as if he were a prodigal ready to squander his wealth. Bai Haoran stared at him for a while, his smile growing brighter and more intense, then he asked, word by word, ¡°Kid, do you have money?¡± Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all. Even though he knew there was no one around, he still looked around deliberately and lowered his voice. ¡°Mr. Bai, truth be told, my family is actually very wealthy. The reason why I live frugally at school is because my family wants to cultivate my character, to teach me to be independent. That¡¯s the reason I work part-time,¡± Jiang Chen explained earnestly. Watching Jiang Chen make his serious claims, Bai Haoran frowned slightly, at a loss whether the young man was speaking truth or lies. Could it really be? Would a poor young man with nothing to his name really have the nerve to compete with someone like Liang Zhenlun for a woman? ¡°Mr. Bai, I¡¯m telling the truth. If you let me go, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied,¡± Jiang Chen said sincerely. Although Bai Haoran was ruthless, he wasn¡¯t foolish. The reason he took the initiative to help Liang Zhenlun was to do him a favor, and also because the target was just an ordinary student. To deal with a poor boy was no difficult task, but if the target turned out to be a wealthy and powerful heir, the repercussions would be entirely different. To verify the truth of Jiang Chen¡¯s statements, Bai Haoran squinted his eyes and said deliberately, ¡°Alright, give me two hundred thousand now, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Seeing his attitude soften, but with something seemingly difficult to express, Jiang Chen remained silent for a long while. ¡°What? Is there a problem?¡± Bai Haoran asked. After hesitating, Jiang Chen said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Bai, is it possible to write an IOU?¡± An IOU? Bai Haoran was taken aback, and then his expression darkened instantly. ¡°Are you fucking playing with me?!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that, I just don¡¯t have the money right now. Give me some time, and I will definitely pay you, three hundred thousand! I¡¯ll give you three hundred thousand!¡± Jiang Chen quickly replied. But by this time, Bai Haoran wouldn¡¯t believe him anymore. This wasn¡¯t just a poor ghost, but it seemed like his brain was also damned problematic. No wonder he dared to vie with Liang Zhenlun for a woman. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re going to pay for your actions, walk forward!¡± Feeling mocked, Bai Haoran forced Jiang Chen to step by step towards the edge of the floor with a dagger at his back. ¡°Mr. Bai, I¡¯m telling the truth, believe me, I really do have money...¡± Bai Haoran turned a deaf ear and pushed Jiang Chen to the edge. If he took one more step forward, he would fall. The fourth floor. Approximately over ten meters high. This kind of height surely wouldn¡¯t kill a person, but with bad luck, one might end up lying in a hospital bed for a year and a half. ¡°Mr. Bai, I have acrophobia, we can discuss this reasonably,¡± Jiang Chen implored. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t give up; immobile, he could only try to turn his head. The Bai Haoran clinging to his back paid him no heed, pushing the dagger slightly forward, ¡°Do you jump yourself, or do I need to send you down?¡± He was forcing Jiang Chen to jump himself. If he jumped on his own initiative, with some preparation, the injuries would undoubtedly be lighter; if pushed, the outcome would be uncertain. However, this way, Bai Haoran could shirk responsibility, manipulate the situation, and it might all be construed as an accident. Sinister indeed. Undoubtedly, Jiang Chen now faced a dilemma: either to resist forcibly, and in his unarmed state, the likeliest result would be taking a knife or two. Or, listen to the other party, jump willingly, and as for how long he would lie in a hospital bed, that would be up to fate. ¡°Five hundred thousand! Is five hundred thousand enough?¡± Seeing this guy still blabbering nonsense, Bai Haoran completely lost patience. ¡°You won¡¯t jump, huh? Fine, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Just as he was about to kick Jiang Chen off, at the critical moment, suddenly someone shouted. ¡°Stop!¡± Li Shuru, who had been hiding all this time, finally stood out. ¡°Shu Rui?¡± Jiang Chen was stunned, his face a picture of astonishment; he never expected Li Shuru to be here. Li Shuru paid no mind to him, staring intently at Bai Haoran. ¡°Let him go, or I¡¯m calling the police.¡± In her hand was a white cell phone. Bai Haoran looked at her and then at the phone in her hand, his expression wavering. The atmosphere suddenly became suffocating and oppressive. Li Shuru¡¯s breathing was heavy; unbeknownst to her, her palms were sweating. ¡°Fine, he¡¯s yours,¡± Bai Haoran said suddenly with a bright smile, stepping back and withdrawing the dagger. The tension in the air immediately eased. Jiang Chen, now freed, quickly walked towards Li Shuru. On his face, there was little of the relief one would expect after a narrow escape; rather, he displayed a greater degree of embarrassment. Isn¡¯t it always the hero saving the beauty in movies, novels, and fairy tales? Why had the script completely changed when it came to him? ¡°Why did you come here?¡± Jiang Chen approached the girl who appeared like a deus ex machina, forcing a natural smile. ¡°If you want to stay here and continue bungee jumping, be my guest.¡± Li Shuru turned and walked away. ¡°Shu Rui, wait for me!¡± Watching the two disappear one after the other at the stairway, Bai Haoran¡¯s smile slowly faded away. Chapter 35 - 35 035 Humanitarianism ?35: 035 Humanitarianism 35: 035 Humanitarianism At the entrance of the construction site. It was only as Jiang Chen walked out that he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as if he had survived a calamity. ¡°Shu Rui, I really owe you one this time, or else the consequences would have been unimaginable.¡± Then, curious, he asked, ¡°By the way, how did you find this place?¡± ¡°I saw you get into a car with that man surnamed Bai when I was picking up a package.¡± Li Shuru spoke in a neutral tone and continued walking forward. Jiang Chen followed by her side. ¡°The one surnamed Bai... do you know him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a friend of Liang Zhenlun. I¡¯ve met him once before.¡± Jiang Chen nodded thoughtfully and sighed softly, ¡°I never expected Liang Zhenlun to hate me so much.¡± Li Shuru frowned slightly. Although she subjectively didn¡¯t want to get involved, after all, they were schoolmates. So she stopped, reminding him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are unaware of what kind of person Liang Zhenlun is, especially since Ai Qian wants to break up with him. It would be strange if he didn¡¯t come after you.¡± ¡°Even you know about it?¡± Jiang Chen was quite surprised, then bitterly smiled, ¡°What does Ai Qian breaking up with him have to do with me? I¡¯ve already told him, I won¡¯t have anything to do with Ai Qian anymore.¡± ¡°What if the reason Ai Qian is breaking up with him is because of you?¡± Having said that, Li Shuru kept walking. ¡°Because of me?¡± Jiang Chen was startled, then hurried to follow her, ¡°Shu Rui, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°My meaning is very simple. Your longtime wish is about to come true. Ai Qian wants to get back together with you.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s tone was devoid of any emotion, as if she were an outsider. But in fact, she was indeed an outsider, only inadvertently getting dragged into the situation. ¡°She wants to get back together with me? How is that possible.¡± Jiang Chen expressed disbelief. ¡°She told me so herself.¡± Jiang Chen was even more surprised, asking incredulously, ¡°She came to you?¡± Li Shuru nodded. ¡°Yeah, she also said to give you back to her.¡± Jiang Chen was dumbfounded, finally realizing why she had suddenly blocked him. ¡°Shu Rui, I¡¯m really sorry for the trouble,¡± he apologized. Li Shuru neither agreed nor disagreed, walked to the roadside, and hailed a cab. Soon, a taxi stopped. ¡°East Sea University.¡± Before Li Shuru could settle in, Jiang Chen had already squeezed into the other side of the car. Despite her cool attitude, Li Shuru, after all, didn¡¯t kick him out of the taxi. The taxi started moving. ¡°Shu Rui, I honestly didn¡¯t know about this. You should have told me when she came to you,¡± said Jiang Chen, sounding sincerely apologetic. Li Shuru looked out the window, not even glancing directly at him. ¡°Tell you? Are we that close?¡± Jiang Chen, with his warm face against her cold ass, felt quite awkward and subconsciously glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing the driver stealthily watching him. ¡°Ahem...¡± Jiang Chen cleared his throat, ¡°Regardless, I¡¯m responsible for this mess. Shu Rui, please unblock me. If Ai Qian contacts you again, let me know so I can deal with it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Li Shuru was not a nai?ve girl and could easily see through his intentions. Finally, she withdrew her gaze from the window and still without looking at Jiang Chen, focused straight ahead, ¡°I saved you this time out of humanitarianism, don¡¯t read too much into it.¡± What a humanitarism. If any other animal heard such indifferent words, they¡¯d definitely be greatly affected, but Jiang Chen didn¡¯t mind at all. Women always say one thing and mean another. And you can¡¯t fake fondness. Although it¡¯s still at -80, with no improvement, equally, there hasn¡¯t been any deterioration either. ¡°Shu Rui, you don¡¯t have to deliberately say that. I know, you don¡¯t want me to be grateful to you, but I, Jiang Chen, have always been a person who knows to repay kindness. How can I possibly turn a blind eye to such a heavy debt of gratitude? If it gets out, what will others think of me?¡± Jiang Chen was very serious and spoke earnestly, ¡°Shu Rui, I don¡¯t have anything decent to offer, I¡¯m afraid I can only repay you with my body.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± The driver seemed to suddenly have a throat discomfort, coughing violently. Li Shuru¡¯s breathing became somewhat labored, and she was already regretting her momentary compassionate heart. ¡°If you¡¯re really grateful, then please stay away from me in the future.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, I really can¡¯t do that. You asking me to stay away from you is worse than just letting me die in the fall.¡± Jiang Chen, thick-skinned, was going all out for the sake of his pursuit mission. Such cheesy words he had never said even in front of Ai Qian before. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough...¡± The driver, as if suffering from pharyngitis, kept coughing, amazed in his heart. The young people nowadays are truly remarkable. If he had had such thick skin back in the day, he might have won over the class monitor he¡¯d long pined for. The driver¡¯s gaze was full of melancholy as he drove, involuntarily reminiscing about his youthful days. ¡°If you want to die, you can jump right now, I definitely won¡¯t stop you.¡± Li Shuru wasn¡¯t swayed by that trick and not only was she unimpressed, but she also let out a cold laugh. But a beauty is still a beauty, even when making fun of someone, it¡¯s still pleasant to watch. ¡°If I jump now, wouldn¡¯t that cause trouble for the driver? That¡¯s not okay.¡± Jiang Chen displayed his shamelessness to the fullest. She had seen many men, but Li Shuru had never felt such complicated feelings for any man before. Sometimes she found him pitiful, sometimes she respected him a bit, and sometimes she hated him so much it made her teeth itch... Li Shuru exhaled slowly. ¡°Jiang Chen, I need to remind you, although you escaped this time, Liang Zhenlun won¡¯t easily give up since he didn¡¯t achieve his goal.¡± After speaking, she deliberately stared at the young man¡¯s face, hoping to see nervousness, panic, and fear, but to Li Shuru¡¯s disappointment, Jiang Chen showed none of those. Not only was he not afraid, but the handsome and clean face that actually looked quite comfortable in her gaze slowly curved into a smile. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Li Shuru asked subconsciously. ¡°Do I look handsome?¡± Jiang Chen asked with meaningful amusement, his smile growing even wider. Li Shuru was taken aback, then quickly looked away, but her cheeks, as white as milk, uncontrollably flushed red. ¡°Shameless!¡± She finally couldn¡¯t help but curse. Jiang Chen¡¯s amusement continued, far from subdued. On the contrary, he boastfully said, ¡°Shu Rui, actually, I think I¡¯m quite good-looking, right? Being with you, we may not be a match made in heaven, but at least we¡¯re a handsome man and a beautiful woman...¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Li Shuru completely lost her composure and could no longer maintain her cool goddess facade, clenching her teeth as she glared at him fiercely. ¡°If you keep spouting nonsense, believe it or not, I¡¯ll kick you out?!¡± Jiang Chen subconsciously glanced at the studded Valentino heels she was wearing. Wearing such shoes on a construction site-like road must not be very comfortable. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll shut up.¡± Jiang Chen made a surrendering gesture. For the sake of humanity, Li Shuru forcefully turned her head away, looking out the window, unwilling to see him any longer. Chapter 36 - 36 036 There will eventually be weak water to replace the vast sea ?36: 036 There will eventually be weak water to replace the vast sea 36: 036 There will eventually be weak water to replace the vast sea ¡°Get out.¡± A couple of hundred meters from the eastern gate of the university, Jiang Chen was kicked out of the car. The reason was simple. Li Shuru didn¡¯t want people at the school to discover the two of them ¡°going and coming in pairs.¡± But obviously, that was just burying her head in the sand. Although she spoke coldly and claimed she was only lending a hand out of alumni spirit, Jiang Chen knew that if it had been a few weeks earlier, when the two did not know each other, Li Shuru definitely wouldn¡¯t have poked her nose into his business. A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step, after all. Looking at the -80 favorability rating, Jiang Chen felt not the slightest bit discouraged; on the contrary, he was full of motivation. As he passed by the parcel pickup station, he couldn¡¯t help recalling a recent harrowing encounter. Jiang Chen had never considered calling the police. He understood that calling the police would be utterly useless. Not to mention whether they could convict the person, even if they did take that guy surnamed Bai into custody, it wouldn¡¯t solve the real issue. The guy surnamed Bai was just a knife; the person wielding it was Liang Zhenlun. They could easily replace the blade with another. So to escape the crisis once and for all, the root of the problem lay with that Liang heir. Experiencing a relationship that nearly cost him his life probably made his love life more thrilling than anyone else¡¯s. Jiang Chen mocked himself silently. As he entered the school gates, his phone rang. Without looking, Jiang Chen answered. ¡°Chen bro, where are you?¡± It was Bai Zheli. ¡°I¡¯m at the school entrance, on my way back. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You might want to hold off on returning for a bit.¡± Jiang Chen was puzzled and asked, ¡°Why?¡± Bai Zheli seemed to have something difficult to say; he hummed and hawed for a while before explaining, ¡°Ai Qian... she¡¯s waiting for you at the dorm building.¡± Jiang Chen was silent for a moment, then said softly, ¡°How long has she been waiting?¡± ¡°Half an hour already. I tried to persuade her that you weren¡¯t around, but she wouldn¡¯t listen and insisted on waiting for you to come back. Chen bro, you better avoid her for now.¡± ¡°I can dodge for now, but I can¡¯t hide forever.¡± Jiang Chen chuckled, ¡°Tell her to go to the usual place; I¡¯ll wait for her there.¡± ¡°The usual place?¡± ¡°Just tell her that, she knows where it is.¡± After hanging up the phone, Jiang Chen¡¯s expression was calm as he walked forward. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The old library. The rooftop. Ai Qian was panting, as if she had run all the way here. ¡°Jiang Chen.¡± Seeing the familiar figure standing at the edge of the rooftop, she slowed down, a look of joy in her eyes. The rooftop of the library offered a nice view, with an open perspective that allowed one to overlook half the campus, and the environment was pleasant as well; with its creatively revamped decor featuring rockeries, flowing water, and floral swings, it was a popular spot for couples seeking a quiet place to meet. Jiang Chen used to study in the library quite often, so he and Ai Qian also came up here frequently. Of course, the main reason was that no money was needed for dating here. At that moment, there were four or five young couples on the rooftop, along with several students who had come up to enjoy the view. Everyone tactfully maintained a certain distance from each other, not wanting to interfere. Ai Qian bit her lip and walked slowly along the cobblestone path. ¡°I only knew the library as a place to read books. I had no idea there was such a garden on the upper floor. The first time I came here was with you.¡± Jiang Chen leaned on the wall, looking outward. ¡°You were a bookworm back then,¡± said Ai Qian as she approached. ¡°But later you didn¡¯t like coming here anymore.¡± Jiang Chen chuckled softly. Ai Qian remained silent. At first, she indeed found this garden-like fairytale world fascinating, but gradually, as she visited more often, it began to feel tedious and dull. Like many girls her age, she was no longer content with mere spiritual pleasure and yearned for material wealth. Perhaps, this was what they called growth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why apologize? It¡¯s only natural for people to aspire to greater things.¡± Jiang Chen turned his head, free from bitterness and the infatuation of the past, his gaze clear and tranquil. ¡°I heard you were ill? Are you feeling better?¡± ¡°A bit better.¡± Ai Qian looked up, biting her lip tightly. ¡°Jiang Chen, can you not talk to me like this, please? I know I was wrong, you can hit me, scold me, anything but this indifference...¡± Her eyes were filled with sorrow, on the verge of tears. If it were half a month ago, she might have been satisfied, but now... Jiang Chen shifted his gaze from Ai Qian¡¯s face back to the view beyond the rooftop. ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Ai Qian took a deep breath, staring intently at the young man she had once discarded like an old shoe. ¡°I want to get back together with you.¡± Before Jiang Chen could reply, she continued, ¡°Li Shuru and you, you¡¯re really not suited for each other. Why demean yourself like this?¡± ¡°So this is the reason you went to find Li Shuru?¡± Ai Qian was stunned. ¡°She told you?¡± Then she laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the esteemed beauty of the Arts Institute to tattle.¡± ¡°Pursuing her was my personal choice. You shouldn¡¯t have disturbed her.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s tone was even-tempered, lacking any strong emotional display, but hearing him criticize her for Li Shuru sparked a surge of jealousy within Ai Qian. ¡°I did it all for you!¡± Unable to control her emotions, Ai Qian reached out and grabbed Jiang Chen¡¯s arm. ¡°Jiang Chen, she¡¯s from a different world than you. Stop deluding yourself. Let¡¯s start over and live our lives well, shall we?¡± Jiang Chen was quiet for a long while, looking over the campus grounds, the grass, and the flowing crowd, then finally said, ¡°I know what I want, but do you know what you want?¡± ¡°I know!¡± Ai Qian replied excitedly, ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else, I just want you!¡± ¡°What you want isn¡¯t me, it¡¯s the vanity of being liked and having someone like you.¡± Jiang Chen never looked at her, and all Ai Qian could see was the profile of his face, with a faintly indifferent smile. ¡°Ai Qian, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve always wanted to ask you. Did you ever really like me?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s gaze shook violently. For some reason, she didn¡¯t answer the question but instead asked loudly, ¡°What about you? Did you ever like me?! Jiang Chen, don¡¯t pretend to be so noble. Didn¡¯t you pursue me just because I was pretty and I made you look good?¡± ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± Jiang Chen said impassively. ¡°Ha, you finally admit it?¡± Ai Qian sneered. Jiang Chen, calm and unruffled, suddenly said in a soft voice, ¡°Do you remember the time I came back from a job outside, and the boss gave me two movie tickets? I took you to the movies, and you fell asleep in the cinema, remember?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s mocking smile slowly froze. Memories long covered in dust slowly floated to the surface of her mind. That day Jiang Chen, excited with the two movie tickets he got from his part-time job, dragged her to the cinema. She found the movie incredibly boring, but in truth, she was also embarrassed by the free tickets, which made her very reluctant to go, leading her to fall asleep soon after entering the theater. ¡°That day in the cinema, I watched your face for a long time and realized then that we probably weren¡¯t right for each other, that one day we would part ways. But when the movie ended and I woke you up, you smiled at me.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s lips curved up ever so slightly as he looked up at the clear sunny sky. ¡°At that moment, how much I wished we could have a future together.¡± Chapter 37 - 37 037 No More Longing to Send to Wushan ?37: 037 No More Longing to Send to Wushan 37: 037 No More Longing to Send to Wushan A gentle breeze came. It lifted Ai Qian¡¯s strands of hair. Her lips moved slightly, yet she didn¡¯t know what to say, an inexplicable emotion gnawing at her heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. So all she could do was to tightly grasp Jiang Chen¡¯s arm, her voice trembling, ¡°Jiang Chen, you have to believe me, I will make it up to you in the future.¡± Jiang Chen did not respond with commitment or rejection. ¡°You were asleep, you didn¡¯t watch that movie, but I still remember a question from the movie.¡± ¡°...What question?¡± ¡°How to say goodbye to someone you don¡¯t want to lose.¡± Ai Qian was stunned. Jiang Chen spoke softly, ¡°This was a question I didn¡¯t want to contemplate for a long time, but time still pushed the answer in front of me.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s eyes violently shook, holding onto Jiang Chen¡¯s arm for dear life as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Not every encounter leads to a result, but each one holds significance, so there¡¯s no need to be so fixated on the final outcome. Even in the movies, the ending isn¡¯t always a happily ever after, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Unable to restrain herself any longer, the crystalline tears spilled over as Ai Qian, heedless of everything else, threw herself into Jiang Chen¡¯s embrace in panic. ¡°Jiang Chen, I will listen to you from now on, I¡¯ll do whatever you say. Didn¡¯t you say, after graduation, you would make a lot of money and buy me a beautiful big house? Weren¡¯t those your promises? Have you forgotten them all?!¡± Ai Qian¡¯s voice was hoarse with screaming, crying like rain. The gazes of other people on the rooftop were drawn over. ¡°Making a girl cry like that, why are there so many jerks nowadays!¡± A round-faced girl sketching reacted with indignation. ¡°Without investigation, you have no right to speak, that guy is not some jerk, but a lovesick puppy,¡± said a girl who sat unmoved by her side, continuing to focus intently on her drawing, undisturbed by the surrounding commotion. ¡°A lovesick puppy, how is that possible?!¡± The round-faced girl switched from indignation to astonishment, her curiosity piqued as she sized up the situation between Jiang Chen and Ai Qian. In her mind, a lovesick puppy was a group of undignified, tail-wagging, pitiful creatures. Where was there a girl throwing herself into someone¡¯s arms, crying and reluctant to let go? ¡°Bi Fu, surely you recognize him?¡± The girl, mature beyond her years, continued to focus on her drawing, with obsidian-dark eyes, a delicate and pretty nose, and skin as smooth as milk, flawless without any blemishes or spots, fairer than frost and as delicate as can be, with her thick hair tied in pigtails, gently swaying in the wind on the rooftop. She sketched the landscape as if she were a girl straight out of a comic, not realizing that she herself was the most beautiful scenery at this moment. ¡°Luo Li¡¯er, are you saying you know her?¡± Hearing her close friend¡¯s words, Luo Li¡¯er, who¡¯d made a strong impression in the beauty ranking among freshmen, couldn¡¯t help but roll her adorable eyes. ¡°Jiang Chen, he is a ¡®well-known figure¡¯ in the school, you can¡¯t say you¡¯ve never even heard of him, can you?¡± Upon hearing this, the girl named Bi Fu widened her eyes in shock, ¡°He is Jiang Chen?!¡± Luo Li¡¯er, whom countless senior students adored and daydreamed about, glanced over there. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°And that girl, is she his ex-girlfriend Ai Qian?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°But hasn¡¯t everyone been saying that Jiang Chen has always been pining for Ai Qian? How come now...¡± Yao Bifu found it baffling and hard to comprehend. What she saw before her eyes and what the rumors suggested were in complete contradiction. ¡°That¡¯s simple. Surely this senior must feel unhappy with her current life, so she¡¯s remembering his kindness,¡± Luo Li¡¯er was young, yet she seemed to have a profound understanding of relationships. Without paying much attention, she continued to immerse herself in her homework. On the other hand, Yao Bifu couldn¡¯t help but sneak peeks. Jiang Chen stood motionless like a post, waiting for Ai Qian¡¯s crying to gradually subside before he reached out his hand to gently push her away from his embrace. Ai Qian struggled violently, clinging tightly to his waist, unwilling to let go, her face tear-streaked and choking, ¡°I won¡¯t let go!¡± Looking at her makeup-smeared face, Jiang Chen laughed, ¡°How old are you to still be crying like this? Did you bring a mirror? Look at yourself right now, aren¡¯t you afraid of being laughed at?¡± Ai Qian didn¡¯t care about this, and seeing that Jiang Chen¡¯s tone had softened, she thought she had moved him, a glimmer of surprise appearing in her heart. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I want to cry! It¡¯s your fault for abandoning me.¡± Acting coquettishly had always worked before, but now it was ineffective. ¡°Ai Qian, even if we can¡¯t be lovers, we can still be friends. You don¡¯t have to do this; with your qualities, you will definitely meet someone who you like and who likes you back in the future,¡± Upon hearing this, the joy that had just sprung up in Ai Qian¡¯s heart instantly vanished, and her face turned pale as she shook her head in terror. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want anyone else, I only want you!¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s face remained calm as he slowly, yet firmly, peeled her hands from his waist. ¡°Jiang Chen, do you really have to treat me this way?¡± Ai Qian said tremulously, as if she had been greatly shocked, lifting her hand to point outside the rooftop. ¡°You disagree with getting back together, right? Then do you believe I would jump off from here?!¡± One cries, two makes trouble, three hangs oneself. This is the innate skill of women, practically mastered without need for instruction. Jiang Chen frowned slightly, genuinely worried that Ai Qian might act impulsively and irrationally, but he also didn¡¯t want to submit just because of her threat. If he gave in this time, there would be no end to it in the future. He had deliberately called Ai Qian here today because he wanted to end things where they had begun. ¡°I have said all I wanted to say.¡± Ai Qian couldn¡¯t believe it, then clenched her teeth. ¡°If you dare to leave, then get ready to collect my corpse!¡± Although the distance made it hard to hear the specifics of their conversation, Yao Bifu could tell from their actions that the conflict between them had reached a critical point. The school¡¯s infamous dogged admirer didn¡¯t compromise and left quite assertively. Ai Qian watched his indifferent silhouette, her hands clenched tightly, her lips bitten until they bled, but in the end, she lacked the courage to ¡°die for love.¡± As she watched Jiang Chen disappear into the rooftop entrance, she seemed to lose all her strength, slumped to the ground, dispirited and desolate. It was then that she, still harboring fantasies, finally realized that she might have truly lost something precious and would never be able to find it again. ¡°For a grown man to treat a girl this way is really despicable,¡± Yao Bifu instinctively sided with the female camp, condemning Jiang Chen¡¯s coldness. ¡°You can¡¯t blame him entirely; they had already broken up. Once it¡¯s over, they owe nothing to each other,¡± ¡°Li¡¯er, how can you say that?¡± Yao Bifu disagreed. ¡°I speak the truth,¡± Luo Li¡¯er replied impartially, continuing to draw on her sketch pad. ¡°Miyazaki Hayao once said, when the person accompanying you must leave, even if it¡¯s hard to let go, you should be grateful and then wave goodbye with a smile. After all, they¡¯ve accompanied you as far as they were able,¡± Chapter 38 - 38 Sifang Group 038 ?38: Sifang Group 038 38: Sifang Group 038 Stepping out of the old library building, Jiang Chen finally took a deep breath. He admitted that there had been an element of gamble in his actions, but fortunately he had won. Ai Qian was indeed not that foolish. In this era where cooked rice could not turn back into raw rice, there was no such love that was undying and irreplaceable. And had he given in just now, Ai Qian would definitely have taken it as a lesson and wielded threats of suicide as her trump card, leaving him in a world of pain thereafter. Jiang Chen lifted his head and glanced at the rooftop. This time. Ai Qian must have truly given up on him. ¡°Bro Chen, what did Ai Qian want from you?¡± As soon as he returned to the dorm, Bai Zheli hurriedly asked. ¡°When did you become so gossipy?¡± Jiang Chen changed the subject, ¡°Where are Luo Peng and the others?¡± ¡°They went to play basketball.¡± Jiang Chen nodded, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a bit.¡± After the ordeal of being held hostage and then being tormented by Ai Qian, he felt exhausted. He lay down on the bed, took out his phone, and noticed that a few heavyweights in the Emperor chat group were talking. Master of Fate: ¡°Heard that Sifang Group has just clinched the project for Jinling Cultural and Tourism City, Director Lin, congratulations!¡± Dragon Soars Across Seas: ¡°Haha, it¡¯s just a successful bid. Creating a cultural and tourism city that satisfies the public is a daunting challenge. I¡¯m under a lot of pressure right now.¡± Chi Xin: ¡°Director Lin is too modest. Who doesn¡¯t know that Sifang Group is a leading real estate company in China? The Everlasting City project in Chang¡¯an, the eco-tourism area in Chizhou that integrates humans and nature¡ªeach one is a benchmark in the industry. I believe this time will be no exception.¡± Sifang Group? Reading the chat messages in the Emperor group, Jiang Chen quickly thought of the poster he had seen earlier at the construction site. Wasn¡¯t the contractor for that construction site Sifang Group? With this in mind, Jiang Chen followed suit and offered a few words of praise in the group, then casually asked, ¡°Director Lin, the construction site on Dongyue Avenue in East Sea Hengfeng District, is that also a Sifang Group project?¡± In a majestic office spanning over two hundred square meters, a middle-aged man looked at the message on his phone, slightly surprised. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about this. Is there something you need, Emperor Han?¡± Sifang Group, with its main business in real estate, had projects all over the country and a market value of over ten billion. As the executive director of Sifang Group, the person was only responsible for the general direction of the company¡¯s development and key projects, not every project under the company¡¯s name. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just that a friend of mine has a child studying at East Sea University, and he¡¯s run into a bit of a conflict with someone named Bai Haoran. It seems that Bai Haoran is associated with Sifang Group, so I thought I¡¯d ask Director Lin.¡± Although the wording was indirect, Lin Rilang, who had maneuvered through the business world, could read between the lines. Even without knowing the specific background of this Emperor Han, anyone who could nonchalantly tip millions to a female streamer without batting an eye was a testament to their deep resources. As a businessman, and a successful one at that, Lin Rilang naturally understood the stakes. He had no intention of inadvertently offending a powerful adversary. ¡°I see. Rest assured, Emperor Han, I will immediately send someone to check.¡± ¡°Thank you, Director Lin.¡± After replying, Lin Rilang didn¡¯t delay and promptly called his secretary in. ¡°Director Lin.¡± ¡°Check if we have a project on Dongyue Avenue in East Sea Hengfeng District, and if there is one, find out about someone named Bai Haoran.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The efficiency of a large corporation was apparent. Orders issued from this office were swiftly passed down through the ranks. Eventually, they reached the material contractor at the Dongyue Avenue construction site. Upon hearing that Lin Rilang was personally inquiring, the fat-eared contractor, who was worth over ten million and drove a Land Rover, instantly broke out in a cold sweat and quickly pulled out his phone to call Bai Haoran. ¡°Mr. Xiao.¡± ¡°Bai Haoran, what on earth have you done recently!¡± Mr. Xiao couldn¡¯t be bothered with pleasantries and bluntly demanded answers. In this line of work, it¡¯s inevitable to deal with the underworld. He had a good relationship with Bai Haoran, so he made up a supervisory title for Bai Haoran at the construction site. Bai Haoran didn¡¯t have to work and received a salary for nothing, a way to deepen their relationship. But how could he have known that the other party would bring him such a huge trouble? He couldn¡¯t imagine what it would take to alarm someone like Director Lin. All he knew was that for a big shot like Director Lin, squashing him would be as simple as squashing an ant! ¡°Mr. Xiao, what happened?¡± Bai Haoran was a bit baffled. ¡°What happened? You¡¯re asking me what happened? Lin Rilang, the executive director of Sifang Group, just ordered an investigation into your background. Haoran, you must have some serious clout. Even I don¡¯t have that kind of fortune!¡± Bai Haoran¡¯s face changed slightly upon hearing this. Nowadays, it¡¯s not the old society where one could conquer the world with their fists. In this era, it¡¯s money that reigns supreme, capital is king! People like the directors of Sifang Group, playing around with a small character like him was just like a game. As for the hoodlums in gangster films acting tough and challenging business moguls, that¡¯s all bullshit! It¡¯s performed for the audience! If the two really went to battle, the former wouldn¡¯t even know how they died! ¡°Mr. Xiao, I really didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Shocked, Bai Haoran was also completely confused. ¡°You did nothing and Director Lin is investigating you?!¡± Mr. Xiao was fuming, spitting as he spoke. Bai Haoran was his friend, and if it came down to it, he would surely not be able to escape involvement. ¡°I¡¯ll go and dig some more, but you¡¯d better think carefully. You understand that if those things you did before get revealed, you probably won¡¯t get out of prison for the rest of your life!¡± Mr. Xiao hung up the phone to investigate the situation. Bai Haoran racked his brain, and after much thought, he could only think of one person. That student from East Sea University. Jiang Chen. Could it be because of that kid?! ¡°Have you been bullying a university student lately?¡± A few hours later, Mr. Xiao called again. Upon hearing this, Bai Haoran felt a sudden jolt in his heart, instinctively remembering the rambling words of that kid from before. My family is actually rich. I¡¯ll write you an IOU. Is fifty thousand enough... Could it be. Possibly. This kid wasn¡¯t fooling him but was actually pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger?! ¡°Yes, but I didn¡¯t really do anything to him...¡± Bai Haoran steadied himself. ¡°Go apologize to that student immediately!!!¡± Mr. Xiao on the other end of the phone seemed to have jumped up. ¡°Bai Haoran, you can damn well want to die, but don¡¯t drag me down with you!¡± Bai Haoran¡¯s expression turned wooden, as he took a deep breath. He might be ruthless, but he knew how to assess the situation. If an ordinary university student was an ant in his eyes, then in the eyes of a Sifang Group director, he was also an ant. ¡°I understand.¡± Chapter 39 - 39 039 Mountaineering Club ?39: 039 Mountaineering Club 39: 039 Mountaineering Club Thursday. Another crisp autumn day. After class, Luo Peng immediately grabbed Jiang Chen¡¯s hand, panicked, ¡°Hurry up and follow me!¡± ¡°What for?¡± Jiang Chen was perplexed. ¡°Good news!¡± Luo Peng, full of mystery, ¡°You¡¯ll find out if you come with me!¡± The two walked out of the teaching building, crossed Camphor Tree Avenue, passed a cafeteria, and then saw an exceptionally lively crowd ahead. What¡¯s going on? Jiang Chen wondered. ¡°Everyone, no need to rush, please keep order and line up to sign up!¡± Someone was shouting. ¡°What¡¯s this all about?¡± Jiang Chen asked Luo Peng. ¡°Look, can¡¯t you see that huge sign?¡± Following Luo Peng¡¯s gesture, Jiang Chen turned his head and saw a notice board through the gaps in the crowd. It seemed to say something like ¡°Mountaineering Club Recruitment.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°We¡¯re about to graduate, and you still plan to join a club?¡± There are many clubs in university for students to enrich their extracurricular lives, and the mountaineering club is one of them. However, it was usually freshmen and sophomores who were interested, and they were already seniors. Jiang Chen turned to leave but Luo Peng held on to him firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? Since I brought you here, there must be something good, so hurry up and line up to register.¡± ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Jiang Chen looked at the bustling crowd, ¡°Don¡¯t you see these are all freshmen and sophomores, why are you joining the frenzy? And you¡¯re a senior, even if you sign up, would they even take you?¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m a senior? Aren¡¯t seniors still students of the East University?¡± Luo Peng was unperturbed. ¡°Then you stand in line by yourself, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t interested in joining him in his antics. ¡°If you walk away now, you will definitely regret it.¡± Luo Peng said with profound meaning. Jiang Chen paused in his tracks. ¡°All right, I won¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± Luo Peng grinned, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange that although the mountaineering club is quite unpopular, there are so many people signing up this time?¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Jiang Chen cooperatively asked. ¡°Because Li Shuru is from the mountaineering club, and there¡¯s a club outing this weekend which Li Shuru will definitely attend.¡± Jiang Chen was taken aback, then quickly asked, ¡°Are you sure about this news?¡± Luo Peng smiled wryly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Without another word, Jiang Chen walked forward. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Luo Peng looked puzzled. ¡°Hurry and line up!¡± They say women are fickle, but aren¡¯t men the same? ¡°Damn it!¡± Luo Peng showed his disdain by flipping Jiang Chen¡¯s retreating back the middle finger. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The allure of the goddess was indeed unmatched; the popularity of the Mountaineering Club¡¯s recruitment event was almost as hot as those leading clubs like dance and skating. ¡°I heard that it was only after the Mountaineering Club¡¯s president paid three visits to her cottage that he finally managed to convince Li Shuru to participate in this autumn outing, using it as a ¡®selling point¡¯ to promote their recruitment.¡± Luo Peng muttered. He was indeed well-informed. Such insider information was not something the average person could know. ¡°How come I¡¯ve never heard that Li Shuru was part of the Mountaineering Club before?¡± Jiang Chen asked. Luo Peng laughed and said, ¡°Even though Li Shuru is now the belle of the Arts College and a goddess, when she first came to school, she was just an ordinary student, so wasn¡¯t it normal for her to join a club out of curiosity? You should have forgotten that you¡¯re still a member of the Guitar Club.¡± Jiang Chen smiled wryly. Indeed. When you first enter university, not knowing anything and finding everything novel, it¡¯s no surprise to join a variety of messy clubs under the influence of senior students. Every college student goes through this. ¡°You say that these students, having barely crossed that single-plank bridge, should be fighting for a bright future, yet here they are, focusing all their energy on beautiful girls.¡± Jiang Chen sighed, sounding like a professor in a lecture hall, as if he were truly worried for the country and the people. There were still a dozen people in front, and because registration required filling out information, the process was slow, with a constant queue forming behind. ¡°Fuck, Jiang Chen, aren¡¯t you being a bit hypocritical? ¡®Officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people can¡¯t even light a lamp.¡¯ You¡¯re doing the same thing.¡± Luo Peng did not hide his disdain. Jiang Chen, not the least ashamed, asked puzzledly, ¡°If you have connections inside the Mountaineering Club, why are you dragging me to queue up? Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just let them know and have us added in directly?¡± Nowadays, it¡¯s a typical networking society, where everything can be done through connections. The university, known as a microcosm of society, is no exception. ¡°I have my reasons for doing this.¡± Luo Peng explained, ¡°I heard that Li Shuru is personally in charge of the recruitment this time. I deliberately brought you here to create an opportunity for you to meet her, since you said she has been deliberately avoiding you these past few days.¡± Jiang Chen suddenly understood. ¡°You are always thinking ahead.¡± Then he asked confusedly, ¡°But where¡¯s Shu Rui?¡± ¡°Probably got held up by something, it¡¯s mealtime now, so she might have gone to eat.¡± As the two were talking, a dazzlingly red Maserati pulled up and then stopped. Seeing this, Luo Peng frowned involuntarily. ¡°Why does this dude pop up everywhere like a fly?¡± Liang Zhenlun, the young master, alighted from the car under the watchful eyes of many, wearing sunglasses and looking dashing, paying no heed to the long queue and heading straight to the registration desk. ¡°Sign me up.¡± The one at the very front of the queue was a freshman who, despite being jostled out of place, did not dare to speak out against the imposing aura of Liang Zhenlun. Perhaps Liang Zhenlun¡¯s face wasn¡¯t widely recognized yet, but the Maserati, symbolizing wealth and power, was enough to awe these common students, still living in their ivory towers. The Mountaineering Club member at the reception, also a student, recognized Liang Zhenlun and naturally did not wish to offend this ostentatious and narrow-minded rich boy, turning a blind eye to his domineering line-cutting and respectfully handed over a form for Liang Zhenlun to fill out. ¡°Shit.¡± The others might endure it, but Luo Peng couldn¡¯t, about to make a scene, when suddenly someone shouted, ¡°Please go back and line up.¡± All eyes turned to the source of the voice, and the atmosphere instantly heated up. Luo Peng really wasn¡¯t bluffing as the one who came over was none other than Li Shuru, with Zheng Jingjing by her side, glaring at Liang Zhenlun. ¡°I did line up.¡± Liang Zhenlun shot back immediately, turning his head, ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Ask this junior here.¡± Confronted with Liang Zhenlun¡¯s gentle gaze and friendly smile, the freshman who was originally first in line hastily bowed his head nervously, not daring to say a word. Liang Zhenlun smiled confidently, with a hint of arrogance, as he looked toward Zheng Jingjing. ¡°You...¡± Zheng Jingjing was at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯re full of shit.¡± In the face of injustice, there are always those unwilling to remain silent. Luo Peng stepped forward from the queue and unapologetically pointed at Liang Zhenlun, cursing loudly. ¡°Liang, you really have no shame!¡± Chapter 40 - 40 040 Jiang Shao Thanks for the tip from San Geng Xie! ?40: 040 Jiang Shao (Thanks for the tip from San Geng Xie!) 40: 040 Jiang Shao (Thanks for the tip from San Geng Xie!) Liang Zhenlun turned his head, his brows instantly furrowing tightly. Luo Peng didn¡¯t want to see him, and he felt the same. Especially when he saw Jiang Chen beside him, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s eyes beneath his sunglasses took on a sinister darkness almost verging on ferocity. Bai Haoran had promised him he¡¯d take care of this kid; how many days had it been without any action? ¡°Luo Peng, who are you cursing at?¡± The smile on Liang Zhenlun¡¯s face gradually disappeared. ¡°Whoever jumps the queue, I curse at,¡± Luo Peng said coldly, ¡°Everyone is in line, what gives you the right to be special?¡± Although they didn¡¯t dare to be the first to resist authority, seeing someone taking the lead, the students at the scene couldn¡¯t help but cast angry glances at Liang Zhenlun. Even if Liang Zhenlun was usually arrogant, this time he was clearly in the wrong and didn¡¯t wish to incur public indignation. ¡°Please go back and line up.¡± Zheng Jingjing repeated. Caught between embarrassment and discomfort, Liang Zhenlun had no choice but to suppress his rage and step aside. ¡°Carry on,¡± Zheng Jingjing gestured to the club member in charge of reception. Order was restored. With Li Shuru personally overseeing, the queue grew ever longer, transforming from a snake into a dragon. ¡°Shu Rui, your appeal is really something,¡± Even Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Today, Li Shuru was dressed in a red V-neck long dress, revealing her delicate collarbone, her soft and beautiful long hair seemed to be curled, giving off a lazy and charming quality. Under the lighting, she looked stunningly beautiful. ¡°Tsk, she hardly looks like a student, more like a model or a star,¡± Luo Peng exclaimed. Although a legitimate junior, Li Shuru¡¯s temperament was vastly different from that of ordinary female students. ¡°Jiang Chen, if you really manage to win her over, tsk tsk, even I would be envious of you.¡± The people in front of him signed up in an orderly manner. Jiang Chen and his companion gradually moved forward in the line. In fact, Li Shuru had noticed him when Luo Peng was scolding Liang Zhenlun. ¡°Don¡¯t let him sign up,¡± Li Shuru whispered to Zheng Jingjing. ¡°That won¡¯t do,¡± Zheng Jingjing looked troubled, ¡°With so many people watching, if we do something underhanded, people will talk, and Jiang Chen definitely won¡¯t stand for it.¡± Her eyes flitted around, then upon seeing Jiang Chen close to the registration desk, Zheng Jingjing suggested, ¡°How about this? We let him fill out the form, and later we can just find an excuse to kick him out.¡± Li Shuru subconsciously glanced at Jiang Chen. At that moment, he happened to look over, their eyes meeting as Jiang Chen revealed a sunny smile. Li Shuru quickly looked away, nodding. ¡°Fine,¡± In such a situation, that was the only option. ¡°Senior Jiang is truly spry for his age, still so passionate about outdoor activities as a senior,¡± Finally at the front of the line, Zheng Jingjing personally handed Jiang Chen the form. Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all. ¡°Life is exercise, the older you get, the more you need to exercise your body.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Zheng Jingjing gave a tight-lipped smile, but didn¡¯t expose his true motives. ¡°Fill in the form.¡± Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t rejoin the line, instead, after being driven away, he sat in his car and watched Jiang Chen through the car window as he filled in the registration form, his expression incredibly malevolent. He slammed the steering wheel fiercely, then took off his sunglasses with force and started to make a call. ¡°Bai Bro, what about that thing we talked about?¡± ¡°Liang Zhenlun, there¡¯s been a complication; this Jiang Chen is a bit problematic,¡± ¡°Problematic? What kind of problem?¡± Liang Zhenlun frowned, suspecting that the other party might want to back out. ¡°Bai Bro, I¡¯m with Jiang Chen right now, if it¡¯s convenient for you, you can come over now,¡± He didn¡¯t think it further; his only desire was to quickly deal with Jiang Chen, to never see that face again. ¡°Where are you?¡± the voice on the other end of the phone asked. ¡°Beside the first cafeteria.¡± Liang Zhenlun said, ¡°You should start moving now; I¡¯ll come to meet you at the school entrance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost at your school gate.¡± Upon hearing the response on the other end of the phone, Liang Zhenlun was startled. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Alright, you can go back and wait for the news now.¡± Zheng Jingjing said indifferently as she flicked off the dust from the two forms she had just filled out. ¡°Wait for news?¡± Jiang Chen had a bad feeling and immediately said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough to fill out the form?¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± Zheng Jingjing glanced at the long line with an official tone. ¡°Look at the line behind you; there are so many people. How could our mountaineering club possibly accept everyone? We naturally have to select, and only the appropriate people can join in.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s face grew increasingly rigid. ¡°Then what kind of person is appropriate?¡± Zheng Jingjing sized him up for a moment and suddenly smiled radiantly, ¡°Well, I can¡¯t reveal that, but anyway, you definitely aren¡¯t suitable.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Zheng beauty, don¡¯t play tricks on people like that, I¡¯ve been queuing for so long...¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to line up. Whoever told you to line up is who you should go find.¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t show the slightest bit of sympathy and scoffed, ¡°You can leave now, don¡¯t delay others from registering. Next!¡± Jiang Chen still wanted to argue, but Luo Peng pulled him away, comforting him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll just speak to their president.¡± ¡°Do you think their president will listen to you, or to them?¡± Luo Peng was suddenly at a loss for words, stuttering for a long while without saying anything, and when he saw Jiang Chen staring at him, he couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°You can¡¯t entirely blame me for this, can you? I also want to ask what on earth you did to provoke such disdain from others?¡± Jiang Chen sighed. ¡°I am more wronged than Dou E.¡± Jiang Chen looked at Li Shuru sitting there like a mascot, pondering whether it was time to make his presence felt, when his phone suddenly rang. ¡°Hello?¡± He answered the phone without even looking. ¡°Young Master Jiang.¡± The voice on the other end sounded vaguely familiar, and the address was even more surprising to Jiang Chen. He subconsciously pulled the phone away to check the caller ID. It was an unfamiliar number. ¡°Have you dialed the wrong person?¡± ¡°Young Master Jiang, it¡¯s me, Bai Haoran.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen was taken aback for a moment. Bai Haoran? Wasn¡¯t this the thug who had kidnapped him yesterday? And he dared to call him? Did he truly believe Jiang Chen wouldn¡¯t dare to call the police? Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes flickered but he didn¡¯t panic. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Young Master Jiang, could we have a talk?¡± ¡°Mr. Bai, I was just deceived yesterday. Do you think I¡¯m stupid¡ª¡± Before he could finish speaking, he heard the other party say, ¡°I¡¯m at Dongda right now, Young Master Jiang. Look to your right.¡± Jiang Chen subconsciously turned his head, only to see a black Audi parked not far away, and Bai Haoran was standing by the car with a phone in hand, nodding at him as he looked over. Jiang Chen fell silent. ¡°Young Master Jiang, I only need a few minutes of your time; you choose the place,¡± Bai Haoran seemed to know his concerns. Jiang Chen pondered. The other party didn¡¯t seem to be here to cause trouble, and he kept calling him Young Master Jiang, a stark contrast to his attitude from yesterday. A person wouldn¡¯t change their attitude so drastically without reason. Could it be that the messages he had tentatively sent in the Emperor group chat had actually had an effect? ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± Jiang Chen hung up the phone. Chapter 41 - 41 041 Apologize with a Jay on the Back ?41: 041 Apologize with a Jay on the Back 41: 041 Apologize with a Jay on the Back ¡°You go back first; I have something to deal with.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Luo Peng asked subconsciously. But Jiang Chen didn¡¯t explain and walked alone toward Bai Haoran. ¡°Hey, Shu Rui, why did that guy just walk away like that?¡± Zheng Jingjing was surprised. In her mind, Jiang Chen would definitely come over to Shu Rui and try to cozy up with her; he seemed to be planning to do just that before, but who knew that after answering a phone call, he seemed to change his mind. ¡°Put his registration form away and throw it directly into the trash later.¡± Li Shuru calmly said, while subconsciously glancing in the direction Jiang Chen had walked, then her gaze suddenly froze. Isn¡¯t that... The Bai surname guy?! Why is he here again? And Jiang Chen, why isn¡¯t he hiding but instead actively approaching? This time, it seems that no one is forcing him with a knife, right? While Li Shuru was still in a daze, Jiang Chen and Bai Haoran had already left the bustling area, on foot and without driving the Audi. Only to see Liang Haoran once again get out of the Maserati, sneaking up behind them. Li Shuru¡¯s eyes flickered; after hesitating for a moment, she still said, ¡°I¡¯m going to buy something.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t think much of it. Jiang Chen was naturally not foolish; even if he felt the other party didn¡¯t have much malice this time, he still wouldn¡¯t go off campus with the person without knowing what to expect. He led Bai Haoran on a purposeless stroll within East University. ¡°Mr. Bai is quite daring; aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll call the police?¡± Jiang Chen spoke softly, his tone not like that of enemies, quite polite. Not to mention calling the police¡ªjust by raising his arm and calling out, Bai Haoran would definitely have no way to escape. ¡°Young Master Jiang is indeed different from ordinary students. To be honest, my visit today is to apologize to Young Master Jiang,¡± Bai Haoran was not surprised, nor was he angry; on the contrary, he smiled, looking very different from the day before. Even his face, which normally seemed sinister, now had a hint of what could be described as humility. ¡°I was blind and offended Young Master Jiang. Whether you want to kill me or flay me, that¡¯s up to you.¡± This was like bearing a rod to beg for punishment... Jiang Chen was slightly moved inside. Bai Haoran wouldn¡¯t come over to show weakness to him for no reason. After thinking it over, the only possible explanation was the message that had been sent in the ¡°Emperor¡¯s Chat Group.¡± For more than twenty years, Jiang Chen had always been an ordinary person, living an utterly mundane life. He had never set foot in high society, not even catching a glimpse of what it really was. But now, through Bai Haoran¡¯s radical change of attitude, he seemed to have seen just the tip of the iceberg of the upper class. A simple WeChat message had frightened a desperado into coming over to apologize to a university student, groveling and without dignity... ¡°To kill or to flay... Mr. Bai, you¡¯re being too serious.¡± Jiang Chen remained composed. The other party had nearly driven him to jump off a building; to say he didn¡¯t mind at all would be a lie. But for the moment, he really hadn¡¯t thought of a way to retaliate, as he had no experience in such matters. Bai Haoran wasted no words, truly living up to his reputation as a ruthless character, and immediately pulled a dagger from his chest. Remembering yesterday¡¯s experience vividly, Jiang Chen instinctively stepped back two steps, his eyes showing alertness. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Bai Haoran stood still, motionless. ¡°Young Master Jiang, one should be responsible for one¡¯s actions. I have caused Young Master Jiang to be frightened and deserve to be punished.¡± Before Jiang Chen could react, he saw Bai Haoran raise the knife swiftly and stab it into his own abdomen. ¡°Pfft!¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s pupils dilated, indeed shocked by the other¡¯s ruthlessness. His world was already changing uncontrollably. When had he ever come across such people before?! Being ruthless to others was one thing, but the key was that they were just as merciless to themselves. ¡°Have you gone mad?!¡± Fortunately, they had reached a more remote area by this time, with few students passing by, so this thrilling scene went undetected. Bai Haoran seemed to have been prepared for this, drawing out a dagger and using a handkerchief to cover the wound. The intense pain had already caused him to break out in a cold sweat, but he didn¡¯t make a sound, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jiang. I know how to measure my strokes. It won¡¯t hit any vital points.¡± ¡°...¡± Jiang Chen was at a loss for words, unsure whether to call the other person honest or fierce. ¡°You need to go to the hospital, give me your keys, and I¡¯ll bring the car around.¡± Although Bai Haoran had stabbed himself, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. After all, he was still an educated young man with his humanity intact. Besides, he did not want the incident to become public knowledge. With one hand covering the wound and the other pulling out the keys, Bai Haoran complied. ¡°Wait here for me.¡± Jiang Chen took the keys and ran back. Practice makes perfect, and this saying applies in any industry. Basically, those who are regularly involved in the underworld and who are tough tend to study human anatomy enough to at least know where to strike without being lethal. Bai Haoran was no exception, His moves were decisive, emitting a heart-stopping cruelty, but in fact, the knife didn¡¯t go in that deep. Seeing Jiang Chen¡¯s reaction, Bai Haoran knew this crisis had been weathered, and he couldn¡¯t help but breathe a little easier. Before coming here, he had prepared for all sorts of outcomes, being stabbed was the least of his worries. ¡°Bai, what are you doing?¡± Not long after Jiang Chen had left, Liang Zhenlun emerged from somewhere. He must have witnessed Bai Haoran stabbing himself, his face full of disbelief. Yesterday, Bai Haoran¡¯s operation had failed, and he had not informed him, leading him to believe that Bai Haoran had come to Dong University today to take action. So he had stealthily followed, intending to watch Jiang Chen get taken down, but instead, he saw his supposed supporter acting as if he had taken the wrong medication, stabbing himself. Looking at the bloodstain seeping through Bai Haoran¡¯s shirt on his abdomen, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s mind went blank, bereft of the ability to think. ¡°Liang, Jiang is no ordinary man, you¡¯d better not provoke him again.¡± It¡¯s true that the more one tries to act heroically, the more the clash with scoundrels. Bai Haoran did not shift the blame onto Liang Zhenlun; instead, he chose to bear it all himself. There are no purely bad people in the world, nor are there purely good ones. Even the worst people have their redeeming qualities. Jiang? Liang Zhenlun was dumbfounded, completely at a loss as he stared blankly at the pale-lipped Bai Haoran, feeling as though everything was a dream. An utter pauper, by what virtue or capability, deserved to be called Jiang? Equally shocked was Li Shuru, who remained hidden in the distance until now. Although she couldn¡¯t hear the conversation clearly, she had a clear view of their expressions, actions, and behavior. Sure enough, Liang Zhenlun was the instigator behind the scenes, which was unsurprising. But what was inconceivable was what exactly Jiang Chen had done that caused the man who forced him to jump off a building yesterday to stab himself? Li Shuru¡¯s thoughts were turbulent, her proud chest contours undulating with her heavy breathing. But this beautiful scene went unappreciated by anyone. She no longer lingered and swiftly left the place. Chapter 42 - 42 042 Art originates from life ?42: 042 Art originates from life 42: 042 Art originates from life ¡°Where¡¯s Jin Jin?¡± Seeing Li Shuru come back alone, Guo Ran, who was immersed in a TV series, asked absent-mindedly. ¡°She¡¯s still recruiting new members.¡± Li Shuru sat in her chair with a restless mind. ¡°This must be the climbing club¡¯s busiest recruitment ever, right? How many people signed up?¡± Guo Ran teased while chasing after the Mary Sue Korean drama playing on her computer. But Li Shuru acted as if she hadn¡¯t heard and gave no response. Guo Ran turned around curiously, noticing that the other looked preoccupied. ¡°Shu Rui, what are you thinking about?¡± Coming back to reality, Li Shuru¡¯s gaze fell upon her computer screen. The familiar trope of a rich CEO and a naive sweet heroine in Korean dramas was something Guo Ran had seen countless times, and she never tired of them. Li Shuru¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She looked at Guo Ran¡¯s face and asked nonchalantly, ¡°Ran Ran, I have a question for you.¡± Guo Ran nodded, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°A college student competes with a rich second-generation guy for a girlfriend. Bearing a grudge, the rich guy seeks someone to teach the college student a lesson. But the man the rich second-gen guy hires not only fails to deal with the student, but he also ends up stabbing himself in front of him. Why do you think that is?¡± Guo Ran, baffled, took a moment before asking in confusion, ¡°Shu Rui, is that college student a friend of yours?¡± ¡°No.¡± Li Shuru quickly denied. ¡°Then is it... one of those brain teasers?¡± Li Shuru was silent, then explained, ¡°It¡¯s just a story I saw online.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Guo Ran didn¡¯t think much of it and started to ponder. Although the story was rather nonsensical and incomplete, all the ludicrous plot lines she had seen over the years weren¡¯t for nothing. ¡°Shu Rui, is that college student very poor?¡± Guo Ran suddenly said. Li Shuru felt a jolt in her heart and blurted out subconsciously, ¡°How did you know?¡± If Xu Siyi were here, she¡¯d certainly detect something off about Li Shuru¡¯s reaction, but Xu Siyi wasn¡¯t in the dorm room. Guo Ran obviously wasn¡¯t as shrewd. She smiled proudly, ¡°Who do you think I am? I guessed it right off the bat.¡± Seeing this. Li Shuru, who had been momentarily frightened, quietly sighed in relief. It was clear that Guo Ran hadn¡¯t figured out who the protagonist of the story she mentioned was. ¡°Actually, this question isn¡¯t hard. There¡¯s only one possibility.¡± ¡°What possibility?¡± ¡°That is the poor student is actually pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger; he¡¯s actually an extremely formidable scion, certainly much more powerful than that rich second-gen!¡± Guo Ran spoke as if it were an undeniable fact, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this cliche? in TV shows so many times.¡± Li Shuru was stunned. ¡°Think about it, the thug¡¯s mind isn¡¯t faulty, so how could he stab himself? There¡¯s only one possibility: he discovered the true background of who he thought was a poor student, got frightened, and had to stab himself as an apology. Yeah, that¡¯s it!¡± Guo Ran declared definitively. Li Shuru wanted to object but eventually couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°What if that poor student is genuinely very poor?¡± ¡°Really very poor?¡± Guo Ran frowned, then decisively shook her head, stating with certainty, ¡°From my experience, that¡¯s absolutely impossible! Shu Rui, you have to trust the judgment of a professional.¡± ¡°...¡± Li Shuru fell silent. Jiang Chen, a scion of a wealthy family? Wasn¡¯t that complete nonsense! Everyone in East Sea University knew his family was poor as church mice, and his parents were deceased. That wouldn¡¯t be something you could fake, right? Who would joke about such a thing? ¡°Shu Rui, don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s silence made Guo Ran feel as if she were being doubted. ¡°No.¡± Li Shuru shook her head, further explaining, ¡°This college student, is he really just an ordinary person? His parents aren¡¯t even around anymore.¡± ¡°His parents are gone?¡± This additional piece of information puzzled Guo Ran for a moment, but she quickly dismissed it as inconsequential. ¡°Parents being gone doesn¡¯t change anything, you know. You must have seen the movie ¡®Tomato Tycoon¡¯, right? Who says that if their parents are dead, they must be poor? In TV dramas, there are some rich heirs who can¡¯t wait for their elders to kick the bucket so they can take control. Maybe his parents left him a huge inheritance, or maybe he has some powerful relatives¡ªit¡¯s all uncertain.¡± The speaker was unintentional. The listener was intentional. Right! Who says absence of parents signifies poverty? That¡¯s just a knee-jerk thinking common among ordinary people; in reality, the two are not equivalent at all. ¡°...But what if he keeps applying for scholarships and also works part-time jobs off campus?¡± Li Shuru still found it hard to accept. ¡°That would only mean that he¡¯s quite skilled at deceiving others.¡± Guo Ran spoke without thinking, but suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her gaze grew suspicious and she stared intently at Li Shuru. Li Shuru felt somewhat guilty under her gaze, her eyes flitting about uncertainly. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Shu Rui, the person you¡¯re talking about, doesn¡¯t he sound a lot like Jiang Chen?¡± The girl¡¯s reaction was not too slow. Thump. Li Shuru¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly put on a natural look, reclaiming her usual cool beauty. ¡°You think that¡¯s possible? Jiang Chen, a wealthy heir, do you believe that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Guo Ran nodded, muttering, ¡°If he¡¯s a wealthy heir, then I must be a royal princess!¡± ¡°Just keep watching your show.¡± Li Shuru distracted her. Guo Ran¡¯s gaze returned to the computer screen, thoroughly enjoying her drama. Li Shuru became even more distracted. Guo Ran¡¯s words echoed in her mind, and before her eyes, it seemed she could see two faces, both Jiang Chen¡ªone dressed as a waiter, familiar to her, and the other clad in fine clothes with a noble air, like a stranger. These two images interlaced, looping over and over, causing Li Shuru to forcefully close her eyes, feeling agitated and confused. ¡°Bang!¡± The dormitory door was pushed open. ¡°I¡¯m so tired!¡± Zheng Jingjing walked in wearily and seeing Li Shuru, couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°Shu Rui, you really know how to slack off, sneaking back by yourself and leaving me to slog away there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over?¡± Guo Ran turned her head and asked. ¡°Not yet, there were too many people, I couldn¡¯t bother with it, so I let them handle it.¡± ¡°What about Jiang Chen¡¯s registration form?¡± Li Shuru suddenly asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to throw it away?¡± ¡°Where did you throw it?¡± ¡°The trash can in the hallway...¡± Zheng Jingjing answered casually, but before she could finish, Li Shuru had swiftly walked out. What¡¯s going on? Zheng Jingjing paused in her sentence, exchanged a glance with Guo Ran, and they looked at each other with confusion. Curiously following out of the dormitory, they both simultaneously widened their eyes in shock! There, the Li Shuru who had extreme germophobia and who never wore the same pair of stockings twice was actually rummaging through a trash can! Chapter 43 - 43 Do not say that I did not warn you in advance ?43: Do not say that I did not warn you in advance 43: Do not say that I did not warn you in advance Cold River Lone Shadow: @DragonSoar, Director Lin, thanks. The other party didn¡¯t reply immediately. That makes sense. Big shots like a Sifang Group director don¡¯t just manage thousands of tasks daily, they definitely wouldn¡¯t be glued to their phones all day either. Jiang Chen put his phone back into his pocket and continued towards the bedroom. Lin Rilang. Forty-two years old this year. Graduated from Huaqing University¡¯s School of Architecture, worked at several companies before being hired by Sifang Group, then climbed the ranks quickly. With outstanding achievements and solid capabilities, he gradually became a prominent figure in the real estate industry that couldn¡¯t be ignored. If he went to inspect some third- or fourth-tier cities, he was basically received personally by the local leaders. Facing such a big Buddha, it wasn¡¯t at all surprising that Bai Haoran voluntarily mutilated himself as a way to apologize. He who understands the times is a wise man. If you¡¯re in the jianghu and don¡¯t understand the principle of knowing when to bow and when to stand tall, it¡¯s certainly hard to meet a good end. It really was an unintended success. Jiang Chen reflected to himself. If it weren¡¯t for a series of coincidences that led him to spend millions on gifts for Li Shuru, enabling him to enter this ¡¯emperor¡¯ group chat, he really wouldn¡¯t have known how to deal with this crisis. Lin Rilang might not even know who Bai Haoran is; perhaps he just asked around a bit, and that was enough to back Bai Haoran into a corner, forcing him to take drastic measures. Is this the power of authority? According to online information, not counting connections, social status, industry influence... and other external factors, Lin Rilang¡¯s net worth should be around ten to twenty billion. But what about himself? A good ten trillion, equal to ten thousand Lin Rilangs! Of course. Jiang Chen knew that wasn¡¯t the correct way to compare, and perhaps one day he could surpass Lin Rilang by a great margin. But for now, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that he wasn¡¯t even worthy of carrying Lin Rilang¡¯s shoes. The road ahead is long. ¡°Chen, why is there blood on you?¡± Upon returning to the dorm, Bai Zheli, who had a keen eye for detail, quickly noticed the not-so-obvious bloodstain on Jiang Chen¡¯s cuff. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you injured?¡± Li Shao asked with concern. ¡°No, a friend of mine had an accident, got hit by a car, so I went to the hospital to check on him.¡± Jiang Chen glanced at his sleeve, which indeed bore some bloodstains¡ªclearly, they were not his own but must have come from Bai Haoran. Although it seemed shocking at the time, Bai Haoran wasn¡¯t seriously hurt. True to someone who¡¯s been in life-threatening situations often, his self-injury was deliberate and precise, and after simple bandaging, he almost didn¡¯t need to be hospitalized. ¡°Chen, you have friends outside too?¡± ¡°A colleague from a place I worked at before.¡± Jiang Chen casually lied. ¡°It¡¯s not serious, is it?¡± Li Shao inquired. ¡°No big deal, just a minor injury.¡± Jiang Chen shook his head, took off his clothes, and changed. ¡°Where¡¯s Luo Peng?¡± ¡°He went to buy food.¡± Before you knew it, the whole afternoon had passed. ¡°I asked him to get me a portion too.¡± Jiang Chen took out his phone to make a call. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the dorm room. The four young men pushed their chairs together, and Luo Peng even brought beer. As they were eating, Luo Peng¡¯s phone rang. He took it out and glanced at it, his face immediately turning into a frown. ¡°Fuck, that was pretty quick.¡± ¡°Bro Luo, what¡¯s up?¡± Bai Zheli asked curiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t Jiang Chen and I sign up for the mountaineering club at noon? The notification¡¯s come through, and I¡¯ve been kicked out; didn¡¯t make the cut.¡± Li Shao smiled wryly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re tight with the president of the mountaineering club? They couldn¡¯t even give you that bit of face?¡± Bai Zheli also wore a look of schadenfreude. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m going to curse him out!¡± Luo Peng grabbed a can, guzzled a bottle of beer, then didn¡¯t bother with his meal and started making a call with his phone. ¡°Hu Heng, you son of a bitch, I stood in line for ages. Do you think I¡¯m desperate to join your shitty club? If it wasn¡¯t for my buddy, I wouldn¡¯t go even if you begged me!¡± Obviously, being rejected by the mountaineering club made Luo Peng feel like he lost face. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± The president of the mountaineering club sounded utterly confused on the other end. ¡°Quit playing dumb, the message has already been sent!¡± ¡°Pengzi, did you actually go to register? I seriously had no clue.¡± The president of the mountaineering club, Hu Heng, replied with a bitter smile, ¡°I never saw your application form, and I¡¯m not the one responsible for the review process.¡± ¡°Passing the buck, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m honestly not passing the buck, Pengzi. Do you think if I had seen your application form, I wouldn¡¯t give you that bit of face? I¡¯m not managing the recruitment this time.¡± ¡°Then who is in charge? Li Shuru? Are you the president, or is she the president?¡± ¡°If she¡¯s willing, I¡¯ll hand it over to her immediately.¡± Hu Heng replied frankly, then laughed and said, ¡°Pengzi, calm down. How about I have someone send you a form so you can fill it out again?¡± ¡°Go to hell!¡± After venting his anger, Luo Peng hung up the phone. ¡°Luo Bro, I believe you now. You¡¯re definitely tight with the president of the mountaineering club.¡± Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses with all seriousness. Luo Peng took another gulp of beer. ¡°This has nothing to do with him; it¡¯s definitely Li Shuru stirring up trouble. She abuses her slight attractiveness to behave outrageously. If I were Hu Heng, I would have cleaned house long ago and driven such a scourge out of the club!¡± ¡°I heard exactly because of Li Shuru, the mountaineering club¡¯s recruitment this time was unprecedentedly successful. If you were the president and tried to kick her out, I¡¯m afraid you would trigger a revolt. Then it wouldn¡¯t be you driving them out; it¡¯d be them driving you out.¡± Li Shao hit the nail on the head, describing the situation vividly and incisively. Luo Peng was immediately rendered speechless. Jiang Chen sat to the side, snickering. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh. Any moment now, the message will definitely pop up on your phone too.¡± Luo Peng ¡°reminded¡± without any good humor. As expected, no sooner had Luo Peng¡¯s voice faded did Jiang Chen¡¯s phone ping. ¡°Tsk, see? Told you.¡± Luo Peng smiled bitterly, as expected. Both of them had applied together, filled out the forms together, so if one was rejected, both would surely be alike. Jiang Chen pulled out his phone and didn¡¯t really harbor any hope for the outcome. After all, if Li Shuru wouldn¡¯t let Luo Peng slide, how could she possibly let him? He even took out his phone as a mere formality, glancing at it with the intention of putting it right back in his pocket, but then he froze suddenly. That didn¡¯t seem right. Jiang Chen looked closely once more. ¡°What are you looking at? Stop. Even if you stare a hole through it, you can¡¯t change a thing. Come on, here¡¯s to one more.¡± Luo Peng lifted his can. ¡°I got in.¡± ¡°What?¡± Luo Peng hadn¡¯t heard him clearly. Jiang Chen lifted his head. ¡°I passed the mountaineering club¡¯s review.¡± Luo Peng and the others were all taken aback. ¡°Jiang Chen, I know you must be feeling terrible, but you have to accept the reality...¡± After a moment of silence, Luo Peng began to offer long-winded comfort, but before he could finish, Bai Zheli, who had grabbed Jiang Chen¡¯s phone to check the message, exclaimed, ¡°Chen Bro really got through!¡± Luo Peng¡¯s expression froze, disbelieving, and he promptly snatched the phone away. Jiang Chen, we are honoured to inform you that you have officially become a member of the mountaineering club. We hope to journey together and experience the beauty of the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. Luo Peng was dumbfounded. How could this be possible?!!! Chapter 44 - 44 044 Outing ?44: 044 Outing 44: 044 Outing The message wasn¡¯t sent to the wrong person. Jiang Chen had indeed passed the mountaineering club¡¯s vetting, and on Saturday morning, he boarded the bus for the outdoor activity organized by the club. ¡°Hello, I am the president of this mountaineering club, Hu Heng.¡± At the entrance of a cafeteria where the coach was parked, Jiang Chen met a young man of similar age, dressed like an outdoor adventurer ¨C hiking boots, mountaineering gear, and sporting a cap ¨C who was welcoming the club members by the bus with a professional yet sunny disposition. ¡°President Hu, hello. I¡¯m Jiang Chen.¡± Jiang Chen was very polite and set his status straight. ¡°Haha, just call me Hu Heng. Luo Peng has already told me about you, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± Hu Heng gave a meaningful wink and then handed Jiang Chen a bus ticket. ¡°Get on the bus first.¡± Jiang Chen nodded, understanding the situation, and glanced at the ticket in his hand. Tsk. It¡¯s great to have connections. It was a 35-seater coach, indicating that the number of people participating in this activity was around thirty. When Jiang Chen boarded, approximately eight or nine people were already seated, all seeming very excited and with faces filled with anticipation for the coming two days. This weekend, they would set off in this coach, away from the urban hustle and bustle, to intimately engage with nature and enjoy a splendid two days and one night. Jiang Chen, holding his ticket, found his seat. It was on the left side of the third-to-last row by the aisle, with no one next to him yet, though a boy was already seated on the other side of the aisle. ¡°Hello, my name is Fan Feiyu. I¡¯m a civil engineering student, a junior this year.¡± After Jiang Chen sat down, the person next to him initiated a greeting. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jiang Chen.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s self-introduction was simple but also meaningful. After all, there is a fundamental difference between ¡°Who I am¡± and ¡°What my name is.¡± Generally, only those with certain renown introduce themselves in such a way. When Jiang Chen introduced himself this way, it wasn¡¯t out of arrogance. And sure enough, as soon as the name ¡°Jiang Chen¡± was heard, the guy¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly, then he involuntarily sized Jiang Chen up again and blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re Jiang Chen?!¡± Unperturbed, Jiang Chen smiled and said, ¡°Genuine article.¡± Fan Feiyu quickly realized his gaffe, laughed awkwardly, and without pretense said, ¡°Senior Jiang, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t mind and responded generously, ¡°So, does my name live up to the hype?¡± Fan Feiyu was momentarily stunned, then looking at that teasing smile, he suddenly felt a sense of fondness for the campus¡¯s notorious flatterer. He played along and nodded seriously, ¡°Hearing about someone is not as good as meeting them in person.¡± They looked at each other and both started to laugh. Time slipped by quietly. More and more people were getting on the bus. The mountaineering club had evidently carefully selected the participants for this activity, and judging from the ratio of men to women boarding, it was pretty much even. As the appointed departure time of nine o¡¯clock drew near, the girls discussed excitedly while the boys occasionally looked towards the door as if expecting something. Finally. A graceful figure boarded the bus and instantly caught everyone¡¯s attention, quieting the previously rowdy atmosphere. Some people are destined to become the center of attention as soon as they appear. The famed beauty of the arts college was exactly one of them. Even dressed down for the activity ¨C a printed T-shirt as a base, covered with a loose brown jacket, tight high-waisted jeans accentuating the perfect leg shape, white sneakers on her feet, slightly curly long hair woven into an intricate braid, and her face touched up with light makeup ¨C her simple outfit still effortlessly exuded a sense of sophistication. Having shed her usual sensual maturity, she radiated a fresh and ethereal charm. Come sit here, come sit here! Staring unblinkingly at the goddess holding her ticket and moving forward, a portion of the animals with empty seats beside them swallowed their saliva and prayed frantically in their hearts. When Li Shuru passed by their seats, their faces twitched and their eyes were pained, as if they were suffering from heartbreak. In the silence, Li Shuru walked to the third to last row and then stopped. Fan Feiyu had long stopped chatting with Jiang Chen and didn¡¯t dare to look directly at the goddess who was close at hand; he was restless and didn¡¯t know what to do with his hands and feet. After all, the seat next to him just happened to be empty. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Jiang Chen stood up from across the aisle with an expression of both surprise and delight. Perhaps possessing exceptional control over her expressions, Li Shuru didn¡¯t seem ¡°too excited¡± upon seeing Jiang Chen on the bus and, ignoring his greeting, checked the seat number. ¡°14A, this is it.¡± Jiang Chen glanced at the ticket in her hand. That¡¯s right. Her seat was right next to Jiang Chen¡¯s. ¡°Please sit down; we¡¯re about to leave.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, you really are like a lingering spirit!¡± Zheng Jingjing hurriedly ran onto the bus and pursed her lips upon seeing Jiang Chen. She, too, didn¡¯t seem particularly surprised by Jiang Chen¡¯s presence. Jiang Chen remained unperturbed and nodded with a nonchalant smile. Zheng Jingjing looked at her ticket and realized she was sitting on the right, although in the same third to last row, she wasn¡¯t seated with Li Shuru. ¡°Jiang Chen, you go sit there!¡± Without thinking, she demanded that Jiang Chen swap seats. But why would Jiang Chen agree? Even if he didn¡¯t consider his own interests, he couldn¡¯t let down Hu Heng¡¯s well-intentioned efforts. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°And why not?¡± ¡°The seating is random, and everyone has the same, sit wherever you¡¯re assigned. Moreover, since this is an outdoor activity, we may encounter some unforeseen risks. For safety, everyone must follow the rules. If everyone acts on their own preferences and doesn¡¯t listen to the arrangements, how can President Hu manage?¡± Jiang Chen argued logically, leaving Zheng Jingjing speechless, stuttering ¡°I, I, I, I...¡± without being able to finish a complete sentence. Fan Feiyu nodded involuntarily, feeling that Jiang Chen¡¯s words made sense, which Zheng Jingjing happened to see, and thus, he was caught in the crossfire. ¡°What are you nodding for?! Move inside!¡± Arrogance is the privilege of beauties, especially when Zheng Jingjing was holding back her anger, leaving innocent Fan Feiyu as the person to bear the brunt of it. Not having the thick skin of Jiang Chen, Fan Feiyu obediently moved over under Zheng Jingjing¡¯s fiery gaze. ¡°Jiang Chen, don¡¯t be smug; I¡¯ll be watching you closely!¡± Having no other choice, Zheng Jingjing sat down with a vengeance, turning her head sideways, her eyes scrutinizing him as if he were a convict. But what sort of person was Jiang Chen? Such a menacing look barely scratched him. ¡°Alright, now that everyone is here, please take your seats. We¡¯re about to depart.¡± Hu Heng boarded the bus. Jiang Chen turned his gaze towards Li Shuru. A refreshing scent wafted through the air. Without a word, Li Shuru passed by him and sat down in the seat inside. Chapter 45 - 45 045 Im laying my cards on the table; Im a trillionaire ?45: 045 I¡¯m laying my cards on the table; I¡¯m a trillionaire. 45: 045 I¡¯m laying my cards on the table; I¡¯m a trillionaire. The front of the bus. Hu Heng, the president of the mountaineering club, was diligently and responsibly explaining the rules that needed to be followed for the activity: mainly, that one should obey commands and not run around aimlessly, and so on... Jiang Chen didn¡¯t listen, his eyes were constantly fixed on Li Shuru¡¯s face beside him. When others admired a beauty, they did so with covert peeks, afraid of being discovered, but he was different. It was like appreciating an art exhibition, wanton and bold. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t look aside. Jiang Chen appreciated her unflustered composure in the face of change. ¡°No, you are much lovelier than any flower.¡± This wasn¡¯t a compliment. But an impulsive sentiment. Li Shu Rui¡¯s attire today, although it lacked the kind of stunning beauty that could bewitch one¡¯s soul, suited his taste very well. He even went so far as to give her some unasked advice. ¡°I think you look better with lighter makeup, you used to look... a bit too mature.¡± Li Shuru neither agreed nor disagreed, and surprisingly, she wasn¡¯t angered by his unsolicited assessment. This even surprised Jiang Chen. This girl. She seemed a bit out of the ordinary. Why had she suddenly become so tolerant towards him? ¡°You still have the mood to participate in this kind of activity, have your troubles been resolved?¡± ¡°People have to live in the moment, don¡¯t they.¡± Jiang Chen pressed down his doubts and sidestepped the issue. Li Shuru didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. The bus drove out of the East University¡¯s gate. ¡°Here, have some water.¡± The mountaineering club¡¯s service was indeed good; after all, the activity fee of five hundred RMB per person wasn¡¯t paid for nothing. Hu Heng and another boy distributed bottles of mineral water to everyone. ¡°Jiang Chen, did you bribe the president to get your seat arranged?¡± Zheng Jingjing shouted across an aisle. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know President Hu before, so it¡¯s all fate.¡± ¡°Psh! Shameless!¡± Zheng Jingjing looked at him with contempt. Jiang Chen turned a deaf ear and glanced at the mineral water in Li Shuru¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you want me to open it for you?¡± There wasn¡¯t a more obvious way to curry favor. Li Shuru clearly wasn¡¯t the kind of girl who couldn¡¯t unscrew a bottle cap on her own, but oddly enough, she didn¡¯t refuse¡ªhe went ahead without a word, seemingly by her tacit consent. Jiang Chen, unfazed, took the bottle from her hand, unscrewed it, and handed it back to her. Li Shuru took a sip of water. ¡°I saw what happened that day.¡± ¡°Saw what?¡± Jiang Chen looked puzzled. ¡°That Bai guy came to see you, then he stabbed himself.¡± Li Shuru said softly. Jiang Chen slightly frowned, a bit surprised. ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Li Shuru turned her head towards him, cutting straight to the point, her intoxicating eyes locked on Jiang Chen. With rapid thoughts flashing in his mind, Jiang Chen replied calmly, ¡°Because he was afraid.¡± ¡°Afraid?¡± Li Shuru eyed him, continuing to inquire, ¡°Afraid of what?¡± ¡°Afraid that I would call the police.¡± Jiang Chen explained matter-of-factly, ¡°He stabbed himself to get me not to call the cops and to write off our grudges. I agreed.¡± ¡°Do you think your explanation is reasonable?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± Jiang Chen replied earnestly, ¡°I find it perfectly reasonable.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, you don¡¯t have to, no need to lie.¡± Li Shuru turned her head back, ceasing to look at him. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell the truth.¡± Jiang Chen seemed to concede, sighed, fell silent for a moment, and then spoke up, ¡°Actually, I never wanted to reveal my identity, but I didn¡¯t expect you to discover it.¡± Li Shuru kept her gaze straight ahead, yet her delicate and tender ears subtly twitched. ¡°Shu Rui, since you¡¯ve found out, then I won¡¯t pretend anymore.¡± Jiang Chen let out a deep breath as if he had been through a fierce mental struggle. ¡°I¡¯m laying my cards on the table, I¡¯m actually a trillionaire.¡± ¡°...¡± Li Shuru remained silent. ¡°I always wanted to experience my university life as an ordinary person, so Shu Rui, now that you know, please don¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± ¡°...¡± Stillness prevailed. ¡°The reason why Bai Haoran stabbed himself is that I used my background to warn him. He knew he couldn¡¯t afford to mess with me, so he chose to harm himself as a way to apologize to me. Shu Rui, I¡¯ve told you everything you want to know, without any concealment...¡± Li Shuru couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°Jiang Chen, do you take me for a fool?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a multi-millionaire...¡± Li Shuru turned her head, not finishing her sentence, when Jiang Chen interrupted her. ¡°Correction, that¡¯s trillionaire.¡± Li Shuru pursed her lips. ¡°Idiot.¡± Jiang Chen was caught off guard, and before he could react, he saw the art department¡¯s beauty, who rarely swore, turning her head to look out the window. He didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Shu Rui, why are you cursing? Everything I said is true.¡± Li Shuru no longer paid him any attention. Jiang Chen felt helpless. They say a man¡¯s mouth lies like a ghost. But sometimes you really can¡¯t blame men for lying. Oftentimes, women only accept lies, and when told the truth, they simply won¡¯t believe it. Seeing Li Shuru¡¯s keep-out stance, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t bother to embarrass himself further. He took out his phone and started scrolling through Xingkong. While scrolling, he suddenly came across Ling Shiqi¡¯s live stream. Streaming live early in the morning, that¡¯s dedication. It¡¯s no fluke that she has achieved what she has today. ¡°Do, what, dare not do Fear what, believe in me, don¡¯t care Even if you leave Fall, even if my heart from the sixteenth floor, falls down to Building B, basement floor one...¡± The song, altered by the sound card, came out through the phone¡¯s speaker. Recalling the messages she had once sent him, Jiang Chen entered the live stream and, with a touch of mischief, sent a 1RMB lollipop. For someone of Ling Shiqi¡¯s status, such a small gift wouldn¡¯t matter, but as there weren¡¯t many viewers early in the morning and by sheer coincidence, Jiang Chen¡¯s gift message was spotted by her. Normally, the million-follower internet celebrity wouldn¡¯t have cared, letting it float past while continuing to sing, but suddenly, she recalled the nickname. Why did it seem so familiar? Han Jiang Gu Ying?! Halfway through the song ¡°I¡¯m Very Stubborn,¡± Ling Shiqi stopped. ¡°Han Brother, are you really so partial? You send Carnivals and Royal Salutes on other¡¯s streams, but you only send me a lollipop?¡± Ling Shiqi cooed at the camera, her soft and syrupy tone enough to melt bones. Note that Jiang Chen didn¡¯t have earphones on, and his phone was on speaker mode, so Ling Shiqi¡¯s voice inevitably reached Li Shuru¡¯s ears as well. Li Shuru hesitated, then turned and glanced at Jiang Chen¡¯s phone screen. It was indeed Ling Shiqi. ¡°Han Brother, did you come here just to knock me down a peg?¡± Ling Shiqi had no idea Li Shuru was also watching her live stream, and even if she had known, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have cared. At this moment, the only thought in the million-follower internet celebrity¡¯s head was how to keep him there forever now that he had shown up. Jiang Chen was certainly not a stingy person. Two weeks earlier, even when he had no money, he had still insisted on taking his roommates to places like KIMI to drink. With the girl acting so coy, sending a little gift wasn¡¯t much, but the key was that he couldn¡¯t spend his bootlicking gold carelessly. He was contemplating whether to send another ten lollipops, which would at least not disgrace his image, when he noticed that Li Shuru had turned her head his way at some point. Seeing him looking, Li Shuru was not the least bit embarrassed. ¡°You¡¯re watching Ling Shiqi?¡± Jiang Chen nodded. Li Shuru showed no disdain for him watching a female anchor and her gaze shifted to his phone screen. ¡°Guys, who knows who this Han Brother is?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know Han Jiang Gu Ying? One of Xingkong¡¯s top big spenders! He can drop millions in a single night!¡± ¡°Remember the Centennial Guardianship that went viral? That was done by this big brother.¡± Reading the audience¡¯s comments in the live chat, Li Shuru¡¯s pupils contracted. Chapter 46 - 46 046 Because I am in the midst of this mountain ?46: 046 Because I am in the midst of this mountain 46: 046 Because I am in the midst of this mountain ¡°Shu Rui, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Li Shuru withdrew her gaze, clearly disingenuous, and suddenly became somewhat restless. Who Brother Han of Ling Shiqi referred to was uncertain, but the comments from the audience in the live stream were enough to clarify things. At this moment, Han Jiang Lonely Shadow was likely watching Ling Shiqi¡¯s live stream. After all, having been in this industry for several months, if you include making videos, for over a year, Li Shuru of course understood to what lengths some content creators would go for views and followers. Moreover, for someone like Han Jiang Lonely Shadow, a once-in-a-lifetime big spender. Although apart from sending her sky-high priced gifts, there hadn¡¯t been much interaction, but Li Shuru could not help but feel a strong sense of crisis growing within her. It was as if something that belonged to her was being taken by someone else. She took out her phone, opened the Starry Sky app, typed, deleted, hesitated, and still sent out a message. ¡°Are you watching Ling Shiqi¡¯s live stream?¡± Meanwhile. The ¡°ding-dong¡± notification from the Starry Sky app rang on Jiang Chen¡¯s phone next to her. Li Shuru glanced at him subconsciously but quickly looked away, her attention fully focused on Han Jiang Lonely Shadow. She¡¯d never been so ¡°twisted around someone¡¯s finger¡± over a man before, someone she¡¯d never even met. Jiang Chen opened the messaging page, saw the nickname Shuru Sonya, and then looked towards the beauty queen of the art college next to him. She was holding her phone and staring at the screen with a distracted look, as if her soul was not present. ¡°Mhm.¡± He replied with one word, honestly, then silently observed Li Shuru¡¯s reaction. Looking at the one-word reply in the chat box, Li Shuru bit her lip, and for a moment, didn¡¯t know how to continue the ¡°interaction.¡± After all, she was not Ling Shiqi, and even if she wanted to ¡°trap¡± this big spender, deep down she cared about maintaining a girl¡¯s modesty and had trouble shedding her pride. Watching her acting like she was chatting with the man of her dreams, nervous and hesitant, revising every message, Jiang Chen found it secretly amusing. What would her reaction be if she knew the person on the other end of the chat was him? The idea alone seemed highly entertaining. Despite his anticipation, Jiang Chen was not impulsive and didn¡¯t reveal his identity rashly. ¡°I just happened to stumble upon it.¡± He replied again. This was probably the warmest he had ever been since getting to know Li Shuru as Han Jiang Lonely Shadow. Li Shuru, who was fretting over how to reply, saw the other party send a message that seemed explanatory and felt somewhat caught off guard. After all, he had always been quite indifferent to her, often ignoring her messages. After snapping out of her daze, a spontaneous burst of joy spread across her cheeks, and without hesitation, her slender fingers quickly tapped the keyboard. ¡°Oh, I thought you specifically went to watch her.¡± That tone. It was just like coquetry. Jiang Chen looking at the phone, was filled with emotions but didn¡¯t forget to type, ¡°How could I? She¡¯s not as pretty as you.¡± Seeing the other party being unusually ¡°talkative¡± today, how could Li Shuru let go of this chance to deepen their connection, especially since she was very curious about this elusive tycoon. ¡°You haven¡¯t even met me, how do you know what I look like in real life?¡± ¡°What do you mean I haven¡¯t seen you, I¡¯ve seen you many times already.¡± Of course, Li Shuru wouldn¡¯t grasp the deep meaning of his words and replied, ¡°The live streams all have beauty filters, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯m really ugly in person?¡± ¡°Are you talking about Qiao Biluo?¡± Li Shuru sent back a smiley face emoji. ¡°So, what do you think I am like?¡± Jiang Chen asked meaningfully, meanwhile, he glanced at the side. At this moment, the beauty queen of the art college was completely immersed in the conversation, completely ignoring the outside world. ¡°You must be quite young, right?¡± ¡°How old do you think I am?¡± ¡°Thirty?¡± ¡°Guess again.¡± ¡°Twenty-eight?¡± Although they had never met, Li Shuru instinctively felt that the other person was young¡ªperhaps this was a woman¡¯s sixth sense. ¡°Not exactly.¡± As she looked at the chat interface, Li Shuru was genuinely surprised. Could he be younger than twenty-eight? ¡°Actually, I¡¯m still a student.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t keep her in suspense any longer. ¡°You¡¯re still a minor?!¡± Li Shuru¡¯s complexion changed. She knew that legally, gifts sent by minors had to be fully refunded! And she had already spent part of that money on a car. Catching sight of her anxious gaze upon the phone, Jiang Chen almost couldn¡¯t help laughing out loud. ¡°What are you thinking? I¡¯m in university, I¡¯ll graduate next year.¡± Seeing this, Li Shuru let out a sigh of relief, then again felt a bit incredulous. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯re a senior?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Li Shuru found it bewildering. Previously, just like Xu Siyi and the others had guessed, she thought the other person might be a successful, diamond-bachelor tycoon, but it turned out he, like her, was also a university student. This meant the ostentatious patron wasn¡¯t much older than her. ¡°Are you joking with me?¡± Li Shuru suspected he was just teasing her. A student with such vast wealth? Even for those with ¡®Scallion-Peeling¡¯ levels of wealth, parents wouldn¡¯t give so much money to be squandered while studying, right? ¡°Do you think I need to joke with you?¡± Li Shuru thought she might have angered him and quickly explained, ¡°No, I mean... don¡¯t your parents control your spending?¡± ¡°My parents are no longer around.¡± Upon reading this message, Li Shuru involuntarily paused. She subconsciously thought of the ¡®Tomato Tycoon.¡¯ Could it be that like in the movies, this ¡®Lone Shadow by the Cold River¡¯ also inherited a large fortune? Hence the reckless and profligate spending? ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Li Shuru bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, but couldn¡¯t help asking one more question. ¡°May I ask which university you attend?¡± ¡°Why? Are you that interested in me?¡± Li Shuru was not shy, and said frankly, ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity, I would like to thank you in person.¡± ¡°Just to say thanks?¡± Li Shuru wasn¡¯t a naive young girl, such a degree of flirtation was nothing to her, and she even playfully countered with a question, ¡°What else?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s lips slightly curled up. ¡°There will be an opportunity.¡± Li Shuru felt a bit disappointed. ¡°Who are you chatting with?¡± At that moment, a voice came from beside her. Li Shuru swiftly put down the phone, composed herself, and without turning her head said, ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re not falling in love, are you?¡± Jiang Chen seemed anxious. Li Shuru couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond and simply put on her eye mask, leaned back in the seat to rest, clearly signaling ¡®do not disturb.¡¯ Outside the bus window, skyscrapers slowly became sparse, the air gradually clearer, as the bus steadily headed out of East Sea City. Chapter 47 - 47 047 I want everyone to know that this fish pond ?47: 047 I want everyone to know that this fish pond... 47: 047 I want everyone to know that this fish pond... Paradise Village. Located within the territory of Lantian City. Not very famous, but with precipitous peaks and the highest summit reaching more than 3000 meters, it also attracts quite a few mountain climbing enthusiasts each year. An hour and a half¡¯s drive from East Sea, it was also the destination for the East Sea University Mountaineering Club¡¯s outing. ¡°A senior? Shu Rui, you aren¡¯t joking, are you?!¡± The coach bus stopped at a farmhouse at the foot of Paradise Village. After having lunch, the more than twenty members who participated in the event began their free activities. Climbing the mountain was only one of the items on the agenda; enjoying the pastoral life that was so starkly different from that of the big city was also the main purpose of the event. By the glittering fish pond, some boys had rented fishing gear from the owner, hoping to show off their skills. The girls formed small groups to enjoy the scenery and take photos. As Zheng Jingjing was walking by the pond with Li Shuru, she heard the news and was so shocked that she almost fell into the water. ¡°It was during a chat on the bus, he said it himself. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or false, it might be a joke, but I feel like it¡¯s probably true.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really true, then isn¡¯t he about the same age as us?¡± After the shock came joy. Zheng Jingjing stopped walking, eagerly said, ¡°With the age difference gone, Shu Rui, this is your chance! That guy is so rich, and his parents are no longer around, if you marry into his family, you won¡¯t even have to worry about in-law issues. The two of you are simply a match made in heaven!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about!¡± Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what he looks like.¡± ¡°The looks of a guy aren¡¯t important! Isn¡¯t it enough that he has money? If you were with this guy, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest of your life, no, not even in your next life!¡± Li Shuru shook her head, looking at the clear fish pond, softly said, ¡°I asked him which school he was from, but he wouldn¡¯t say.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite normal.¡± Zheng Jingjing analyzed, ¡°For boys like him, girls must swarm to him like eager bees. He must be fed up with the ones who throw themselves at him. If he were so easy to win over, would it still be your turn?¡± The words sounded a bit unpleasant, but Li Shuru understood that the logic was indeed sound. For ordinary people, beauties are a scarce resource, out of reach. But for the wealthy, so-called goddesses are nothing unusual. The world might lack beauties, but what it lacks the least are also beauties. Li Shuru was confident, but not blindly conceited. To someone of Jiang Chen¡¯s caliber, the skin she took pride in didn¡¯t offer much competitive edge. ¡°Shu Rui, to deal with guys like that, you need to keep your cool, just like, you have to be like Jiang Chen, you need to have unwavering resolve, you need patience.¡± ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Jiang Chen had somehow appeared behind the two girls, giving Zheng Jingjing a start. ¡°Are you a cat? You don¡¯t make a sound when you walk!¡± ¡°What are you chatting about?¡± Jiang Chen asked with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Weren¡¯t you fishing with Fan Feiyu?¡± Zheng Jingjing replied irritably. ¡°I didn¡¯t catch a single one in half an hour, so I gave up. It¡¯s boring.¡± Zheng Jingjing, who had just praised him for his persistence, looked down on him, ¡°Gave up after just half an hour? How come you¡¯re so patient when chasing girls?¡± ¡°How can you compare the two, one is a fish, the other is a person, there¡¯s no comparison.¡± ¡°I¡¯m discussing something with Shu Rui, don¡¯t disturb us. Go wherever it¡¯s cool and stay there.¡± Zheng Jingjing wanted to send him away. ¡°That won¡¯t do, this isn¡¯t East Sea, who knows if we might encounter some bad people, I need to protect you two.¡± Jiang Chen argued earnestly. ¡°We¡¯re just here; we¡¯re not going far; we don¡¯t need your protection!¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s no good.¡± Zheng Jingjing felt helpless. A good woman fears a persistent man; that¡¯s exactly what this is. When a man throws his pride to the wind, there usually isn¡¯t much a woman can do about it. ¡°Shu Rui, what were you guys talking about just now? I saw you seemed preoccupied in the car.¡± Jiang Chen looked at Li Shuru with concern. ¡°Jiang Chen, I¡¯m officially notifying you that you can give up now, Shu Rui already has someone she likes.¡± Zheng Jingjing said loudly. ¡°Impossible.¡± Without changing his expression, Jiang Chen smiled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe it, huh? Then I¡¯ll make you give up! The guy Shu Rui likes is a super playboy, do you understand what that means? It means he¡¯s unfathomably rich.¡± Jiang Chen looked at Li Shuru. Li Shuru kept silent, seemingly unsure whether to refute or not, possibly to get rid of Jiang Chen. ¡°The guy gave Shu Rui gifts worth millions, millions, do you comprehend that? You might not earn that much money in your entire life!¡± Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, appearing somewhat surprised and was about to speak when Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t give him a chance to speak. ¡°Don¡¯t spout that nonsense about love being priceless, it doesn¡¯t work! To like a girl is to give her the best life, that¡¯s what love is! You claim to love a girl, but make her suffer with you, is that love? That¡¯s selfishness.¡± It had to be admitted, This girl¡¯s verbal skills were indeed formidable. ¡°So, be noble for once, let Shu Rui go, she¡¯ll be happy, and shouldn¡¯t you be happy for her as well?¡± With just a few words, Zheng Jingjing had blocked all of Jiang Chen¡¯s paths. Jiang Chen moved his lips and looked at Li Shuru. ¡°Shu Rui, haven¡¯t you told her?¡± Zheng Jingjing was startled, ¡°Told what?¡± Li Shuru was also puzzled, looking strangely at Jiang Chen. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m a trillionaire.¡± Jiang Chen repeated the words he had said in the car. Li Shuru: ¡°...¡± Quiet descended by the fishpond. ¡°Hahaha...¡± After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, drawing complaints from a fellow fishing not far away. ¡°Keep it down, you¡¯re scaring all my fish away.¡± Besides the mountain club members, there were other people here to have fun. ¡°You¡¯re a billionaire?¡± ¡°Trillionaire.¡± Jiang Chen corrected once again. Watching him maintain a serious demeanor, Zheng Jingjing was close to crying with laughter. ¡°Hahaha... I can¡¯t take it anymore, Jiang Chen, you¡¯re really funny, hahaha...¡± ¡°Beauty, could you keep it down, we¡¯re trying to fish here!¡± The man said loudly. ¡°Is it that funny?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny?¡± Wiping away tears, hand on her stomach, Zheng Jingjing said with a shaky voice, ¡°Jiang Chen, I never realized you were this hilarious, you¡¯ve made my stomach hurt from laughing.¡± The angler, having been ignored by the youngsters and not having caught a single fish for a long time, was fuming with rage. He stood up, ready to explode, but luckily, the fishpond manager who was patrolling nearby noticed something was wrong and approached swiftly. ¡°Folks, could you please move somewhere else to talk? You¡¯re disturbing other people¡¯s fishing.¡± After calming the man down, he approached Jiang Chen and the others. Zheng Jingjing felt a bit embarrassed and was about to apologize when, unexpectedly, Jiang Chen spoke up: ¡°Call your boss over.¡± ¡°What for?¡± The fishpond manager was confused. Jiang Chen pointed at Li Shuru. ¡°I want everyone to know that this fishpond has been leased by her.¡± Chapter 48 - 48 048 Liang Chens Beautiful Scenes Asking for recommendations in the third watch! ?48: 048 Liang Chen¡¯s Beautiful Scenes (Asking for recommendations in the third watch!) 48: 048 Liang Chen¡¯s Beautiful Scenes (Asking for recommendations in the third watch!) ¡°I want everyone to know that this fishpond has been contracted by her.¡± The words fell. The place finally quieted down. Watching the serious-looking Jiang Chen, Li Shuru, Zheng Jingjing, and even the fishpond manager, without exception, were all in disarray in the wind. ¡°Kid, are you joking with me?¡± The fishpond manager wasn¡¯t unaware of the identities of these young people; they were all East Sea University students on a trip. ¡°Do you know how much money it takes to contract this fishpond?¡± ¡°Money is not a problem.¡± Jiang Chen was unmoved. Li Shuru remained silent, silently staring at the earnest Jiang Chen, inevitably recalling the bloody scene of Bai Haoran¡¯s self-harm and the conversation in the car that morning. That¡¯s right. It was all thanks to her that Jiang Chen had the luck to be selected for this autumn outing. Li Shuru¡¯s aim was simply to figure out what exactly was going on with Bai Haoran, but at the time she had been interrupted by Jiang Chen. As for the so-called billionaire, she of course didn¡¯t believe it. Yet Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but begin to doubt, perhaps Jiang Chen¡¯s background wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed on the surface; otherwise, Bai Haoran¡¯s odd behavior was inexplicable. A billionaire was unlikely, but to contract this fishpond, maybe he really had the capacity? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, he¡¯s a bit off.¡± Zheng Jingjing, of course, knew nothing, simply feeling that Jiang Chen was bragging. She apologetically pointed to her head and, before the fishpond manager could get angry, quickly dragged Jiang Chen away. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting!¡± After walking a distance away, Zheng Jingjing scolded angrily, ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that you embarrass yourself, but you had to drag Shu Rui down with you. This is a tourist area, do you know how much it costs to contract such a big fishpond? At least hundreds of thousands, can you afford that?! Do you really think you¡¯re a billionaire?!¡± ¡°You must be watching too many TV dramas!¡± Zheng Jingjing looked at him with an incurable gaze. She was being polite. If it were someone else, they might¡¯ve called Jiang Chen an idiot or a moron. Li Shuru was still silent up to now, her expression somewhat off. ¡°Shu Rui, let¡¯s go.¡± Zheng Jingjing, not wanting to stay with this guy any longer, pulled Li Shuru away and muttered, ¡°Shu Rui, why didn¡¯t you say a word just now? This guy almost made you lose face along with him...¡± The two women gradually walked away. ¡°What¡¯s up? Did you have a fight?¡± Club President Hu Heng came over. Jiang Chen shook his head and let out a long sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart.¡± Hu Heng said with a smile to comfort him, ¡°I¡¯m quite familiar with Shu Rui and Jingjing, and I understand them. They may seem hard to approach, but they¡¯re really not bad people. ¡®Sincerity can make stones crack,¡¯ you know. Besides, you should know, it was because of Shu Rui that you got to participate in this outing.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chen was quite surprised. ¡°Shu Rui?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it has nothing to do with me. Otherwise, how could Luo Peng have been dropped? So, in her heart, you matter quite a bit.¡± Hu Heng patted Jiang Chen on the shoulder, encouraged him, and then walked away with a smile. Jiang Chen stood on the spot, giving a wry smile. If you don¡¯t want anyone to know, don¡¯t do it at all. It seemed that through Bai Haoran¡¯s incident, Li Shuru must have started to doubt him. His ¡°secret¡± probably wouldn¡¯t stay hidden much longer. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In school classrooms, time could be difficult to endure, but under the natural scenery, time flowed like water. The afternoon passed quietly. The sun set behind the mountains, stars twinkled, clear and splendid, as if like a painting. In the courtyard. The members of the mountaineering club set up the barbecue grill and various ingredients, ready to enjoy a merry field cookout. The boys who had a successful fishing trip in the afternoon generously contributed their catch. Fan Feiyu turned out to have the best results, catching more than a dozen. ¡°Cheers!¡± The aroma of meat was pervasive, sizzling and oozing with oil. More than twenty members of the mountaineering club gathered around the grill table, toasting together. ¡°The president picked a good spot this time, I don¡¯t even want to go back.¡± ¡°Everyone yearns for the big city, but I think the countryside is the place to be, just look at this night scene, how beautiful.¡± ¡°If I make money in the future, I might also open a farm resort, do some fishing, grow some vegetables, raise some chickens¡ªenvy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals!¡± A group of young people chatted animatedly, speaking their minds freely. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you really going after Li Shuru?¡± Fan Feiyu and Jiang Chen were sitting together, clinking their canned beers. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Chen took a swig of his beer, head tilted back. Fan Feiyu subconsciously glanced to the left. That was where Li Shuru and Zheng Jingjing were sitting. Although not far away, they seemed to maintain a certain distance from the rest. ¡°Jiang Chen, going after a girl like that, it¡¯s hard work.¡± Although he had only interacted with him for one day, the real Jiang Chen completely overturned the rumors. It¡¯s not that he wasn¡¯t a ¡®lick dog¡¯, but he was different from the typical ones. Fan Feiyu didn¡¯t know how to describe it. The feeling was indescribable, beyond words, and after shedding his prejudices, he thought this ¡°famous¡± senior was actually a pretty decent guy. ¡°She¡¯s the belle of the arts college. There aren¡¯t many girls at school who can compare to her in looks, don¡¯t you like her?¡± Jiang Chen asked. Fan Feiyu shook his head. ¡°I know my place. Why would someone like her fancy me? I¡¯m just an ordinary person from a small city. I¡¯m satisfied just being able to survive in East Sea. I dare not think too much about other things.¡± Jiang Chen was silent as he ate his kebabs. Fan Feiyu realized what his words implied and hurriedly tried to clarify, ¡°Jiang Chen, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. Actually, I really admire your courage. A toad who doesn¡¯t want to eat swan meat isn¡¯t a... ¡± As Fan Feiyu was explaining, he became more and more entangled, his embarrassment unbearable. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I get what you mean.¡± Jiang Chen smiled unaffectedly and raised his drink, clinking with Fan Feiyu, ¡°Many people call me a toad, I¡¯m used to it.¡± Fan Feiyu was stunned for a moment, but then he smiled. ¡°Jiang Chen, you really are a character.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± Fan Feiyu drank his beer, smiling without saying a word. As the alcohol kicked in, one of the boys took out a guitar from somewhere and began to play and sing in the evening breeze and moonlight. Many girls clapped and cheered. Activities like this naturally had a socializing aspect. ¡°Luo Peng just called me, asked how things are going here. I said everything¡¯s smooth. He mentioned that you used to be in the guitar club too? Why don¡¯t you show us a little something?¡± Hu Heng walked over with a drink, clinking with Jiang Chen, then whispered with a chuckle, nodding towards Li Shuru¡¯s side. ¡°This is a good opportunity, don¡¯t waste it.¡± ¡°Yeah, Jiang Chen, go for it!¡± Fan Feiyu also heartily egged him on, not minding the high expectations. ¡°I haven¡¯t played in so long, better not.¡± Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest. That¡¯s not like you. With such a wonderful atmosphere, you can¡¯t let it go to waste.¡± Without waiting for his consent, Hu Heng called out loudly, ¡°Next, we invite Jiang Chen, the talented student, to play a song for us. Let¡¯s give him a warm welcome!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards Jiang Chen in unison, their expressions varied. Regardless of their thoughts, they all clapped enthusiastically. Chapter 49 - 49 049 Every dog has its day ?49: 049 Every dog has its day 49: 049 Every dog has its day It¡¯s hard to refuse earnest hospitality. ¡°Go, Jiang senior!¡± Fan Feiyu smirked. Jiang Chen was never one to act coy or shy; he tilted his head back and drained the can of beer in one gulp before standing up. ¡°Here, senior,¡± said the boy as he handed Jiang Chen the guitar and made room for him. ¡°That¡¯s Jiang Chen?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect him to be quite handsome.¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s attending this event for Li Shuru.¡± The girls whispered among themselves and their glances towards Jiang Chen were tinged with varying degrees of curiosity. Many had heard of Jiang Chen¡¯s reputation, but very few truly understood him. A thick skin can be advantageous; Jiang Chen remained composed, unconcerned by the gazes from all directions as he sat on the stool and tentatively strummed the guitar¡¯s strings. ¡°I¡¯m about to make a fool of myself.¡± Someone whistled to heighten the mood. ¡°This guy really knows how to play it cool,¡± muttered Zheng Jingjing. Li Shuru watched silently as the figure started to play the guitar. ¡°Enchanting eyes trace the Milky Way Through cracks in time resolutely they stay, Guiding the orbit where I stray¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s ¡®Mercury Record¡¯!¡± ¡°He actually sings so well?¡± ¡°A guy like this is really a ¡®lick-dog¡¯?¡± Good news rarely leaves the house, while bad news spreads far and wide. That¡¯s just how societal rules work. Jiang Chen¡¯s bad reputation was widespread, yet his virtues were scarcely known. ¡°In this moment¡¯s glance, so tight, Closest distance in the night, Tracing the texture of your skin, Along the crooked arm begins, A dream made just for you,¡± Not just the girls, even the boys found themselves immersed. ¡°Emotional, for sure. You can¡¯t sing with this feeling unless you¡¯ve been dumped seven or eight times,¡± someone said. ¡°Respect. He actually conveys the despair of parents¡¯ divorce, personal sickness, a son gone astray, a daughter turned technician, and a wife who ran off with someone else.¡± ¡°Listening to this song reminds me of past girlfriends: Wen Wen, Jing Jing, Hui Hui, Lei Lei, Yi Yi, Wei Wei, Qing Qing, Lan Lan, Min Min, Jiao Jiao, Ting Ting, Si Si, Chun Chun, Jia Jia, Qi Qi, Qi Qi, Meng Meng, Xia Xia, Wan Wan, Xin Xin... are you all doing well?¡± ¡°How much further to enter your heart? How much longer before we can be near? The one who seems close yet out of reach, Is also waiting for a chance to meet, A wandering planet, How can it Possess you?¡± Several people couldn¡¯t help but hum along. ¡°Let others piece together our story, I can¡¯t be bothered to explain, Interpret it as you will, When someone wants to see me shattered, I¡¯m already resilient, Reborn anew,¡± Jiang Chen gently plucked the guitar strings; with a clean face and a comfortable demeanor, he looked nothing like a ¡®lick-dog¡¯ but rather a true guitar prince. In the spotlight, under the beautiful serene moonlight, he seemed to be haloed. Many girls watched him infatuated, their gaze growing increasingly hazy and absent-minded. ¡°How much further to enter your heart? How much longer before we can be near? The one who seems close yet out of reach, Is also waiting for a chance to meet, Planets on a Journey How could I Possess you¡± The setting sun was immersed in the orange woodland, the evening breeze surrendered to sincere love, and I was lost in your graceful charm. When Jiang Chen¡¯s fingers halted, everyone lingered in the aftertaste, unable to extricate themselves. ¡°Go, hurry.¡± As Jiang Chen stood up, a sophomore girl, coaxed repeatedly by her friends, somehow procured a bunch of foxtail grass as a substitute for flowers and finally mustered the courage to run up to him. ¡°Senior Jiang, your singing is really nice!¡± Stuffing the foxtail grass into Jiang Chen¡¯s hands, the girl didn¡¯t dare to look at Jiang Chen squarely, her eyes downcast and her face flushed with shyness. Even a sycophant can have their day, huh. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiang Chen hadn¡¯t expected to have ¡°fans,¡± but he didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. After a brief moment of surprise, he graciously thanked his first fan. ¡°Give a hug!¡± ¡°Give a hug!¡± ¡°Give a hug! Give a hug! Give a hug!¡± No one knew who shouted first, but as a result, everyone began to egg them on. The girl¡¯s cheeks turned the color of blooming peach blossoms, but she stood her ground in front of Jiang Chen, without running away. The meaning was clear, even to a pig. The shouting grew louder. Jiang Chen was a gentleman who cherished the fairer sex and couldn¡¯t let a girl lose face, especially since she was his fan. He took the initiative to hug the girl gently, considerate and gentlemanly. ¡°Wow!!!¡± Cheers roared like a tidal wave. Jiang Chen acted as if nothing had happened, but the girl couldn¡¯t bear it; with a whimper, she blushed and ran away. ¡°Shu Rui, look at him, he¡¯s really such a bastard!¡± Zheng Jingjing watched with clenched teeth; one would think Jiang Chen was her boyfriend. ¡°I actually thought he was deeply devoted, but it turns out he¡¯s just another lecher!¡± Li Shuru, however, was indifferent, her expression unchanged as she shifted her gaze to admire the beautiful night scene she couldn¡¯t see in the city. ¡°Awesome!¡± Watching Jiang Chen approach, Fan Feiyu gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Senior Jiang, I think your singing is better than those of professional singers, no techniques, all emotion.¡± Jiang Chen sat down, ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re insulting me?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m being totally sincere.¡± Fan Feiyu glanced at the bunch of foxtail grass he¡¯d placed on the table and teased, ¡°Senior Jiang, that girl is not bad, a pure and lovely type, definitely obedient. Don¡¯t you want to consider her?¡± ¡°With my reputation, why would I want to bring disaster upon her?¡± Jiang Chen shook his head and cracked open another can of beer. ¡°Then why are you not afraid of bringing disaster upon Li Shuru?¡± Fan Feiyu quickly asked. Jiang Chen was suddenly at a loss for words. Fan Feiyu couldn¡¯t help but glance in Li Shuru¡¯s direction. ¡°Senior Jiang, to hug other girls right in front of her, aren¡¯t you afraid she...¡± Truth be told, he admired the other¡¯s guts. If it had been him pursuing Li Shuru, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to talk to another girl, much less engage in such intimate behavior as hugging other girls. This is not sycophancy. Could a sycophant be this bold?! ¡°Shu Rui is not such a petty person,¡± Jiang Chen said succinctly, unbothered. Not to mention that Li Shuru¡¯s personality was not like most girls; if she really got jealous over this, he would actually be happy. Li Shuru getting jealous would mean she had taken him to heart. But now, what Li Shuru probably hoped for was that he would develop something further with that girl so that she could get rid of him. ¡°Jiang Chen, may I have a drink with you?¡± There¡¯s indeed a benefit to a man learning some talents. And now someone else had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation. If the previous sophomore girl was the pure and lovely type, then the girl now standing in front of Jiang Chen seemed more mature, with an oval face, soft flowing hair, gentle, and intellectual. ¡°Senior Jiang, you guys chat,¡± Fan Feiyu had good judgment and tactfully stood up to leave, offering his seat to her. Seeing another girl sit down by Jiang Chen, Zheng Jingjing, who had been secretly paying attention, slightly widened her eyes, somewhat incredulous. When had this guy become so popular?! Chapter 50 - 50 050 In this world it is simply snowing for everyone on their paths ?50: 050 In this world, it is simply snowing for everyone on their paths. 50: 050 In this world, it is simply snowing for everyone on their paths. ¡°Xie Qian, currently a second-year graduate student.¡± After sitting down, the girl took the initiative to introduce herself. ¡°Jiang Chen, senior.¡± Jiang Chen introduced himself as well. Xie Qian gave a wry smile. ¡°In our school, you¡¯re quite famous. I know who you are, but you¡¯re not quite what I imagined,¡± she said. Jiang Chen smiled and said nothing, then asked, ¡°Did you come here alone, senior?¡± It was only natural for Xie Qian to be addressed as ¡°senior,¡± since she was a second-year graduate student at East University. ¡°Yeah, just needed to clear my head a bit.¡± Jiang Chen nodded and took a sip of his beer. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re pursuing Li Shuru. I¡¯m not... getting in your way, am I?¡± Xie Qian glanced over at where Li Shuru was. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, things haven¡¯t even started yet,¡± Jiang Chen said with self-deprecating laughter. Xie Qian began to smile as well. ¡°Have you been in a relationship, senior?¡± ¡°Just broke up not long ago.¡± ¡°Seems like the world has gained another heartbroken soul,¡± Jiang Chen remarked. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I was the one who got dumped,¡± Xie Qian said, laughing. Jiang Chen was quite surprised and looked at Xie Qian, who was outstanding both inside and out. ¡°Then he will surely regret it in the future.¡± The two were not familiar with each other at all; this was indeed their first meeting, but they spoke as if they were friends, without any sense of strangeness. Perhaps this was what people mean by a soul-to-soul connection¡ªlike a friendship between noble characters. ¡°Maybe,¡± Xie Qian said with a faint smile, then added, ¡°Would you be interested in hearing my story?¡± ¡°If senior doesn¡¯t mind, I am all ears,¡± he replied. Xie Qian looked at the lively scene and took a sip of her beer. ¡°You see, he¡¯s a bit like you¡ªgood at studying, sings well, though perhaps, not as handsome as you,¡± she remarked. Jiang Chen smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s the truth.¡± Xie Qian laughed, fell silent for a moment, and then continued, ¡°On my birthday, he fell asleep at night with his phone by the bed. In the middle of the night, it lit up, buzzing with several WeChat messages. Curious, I picked it up to take a look. It was a female classmate from his master¡¯s program, speaking to him in an excited and cute tone, telling him that her advisor had given her the lead author spot. Looking further up the chat, I found they had been talking every day for the whole past year. She would send emoticons, he would recommend songs to her, she would tell him the songs moved her, he would snap photos of his lunch and send them to her, saying that the takeout was lousy and she shouldn¡¯t order from there, and he even mentioned me.¡± The girl said, ¡°Your girlfriend is both pretty and gentle, I¡¯m envious of you.¡± He said with a beaming smile, ¡°You¡¯ll find someone too. After each weekly mentor meeting, they would go to a restaurant near the school, just the two of them, without anyone else, once a week, no exceptions.¡± Jiang Chen listened quietly, not offering any opinion, acting as a competent listener. ¡°That trip abroad, he brought back everything I wanted to buy, and also everything she wanted, but he turned down everyone else¡¯s requests to purchase for them. He helped her fix her computer, saved her a seat, and even assembled the chair she bought from Taobao for her. She bought him meals, collected parcels for him, organized data in his course papers, and even during those extremely busy days when we didn¡¯t contact each other for four or five days, they still greeted each other every day.¡± Xie Qian¡¯s voice was soft and gentle, occasionally taking a sip from the canned beer in her hand. ¡°We started dating in our second year of high school, and it has been eight years now. If not love firmer than gold, at least we have been through thick and thin, right? I thought such issues would never come between us. Holding his phone, I zoned out for a while, then replied ¡®Congratulations,¡¯ and immediately received a cute sticker pack in response, saying we should arrange to eat, just tomorrow, treat you to a meal, the usual place, order whatever you like, I¡¯m happy. I put his phone back on the bedside table, then got out of bed.¡± He opened his eyes groggily and asked what I was doing; I said I was going downstairs to buy some fruit, he mumbled unclearly, telling me to just go to the shop downstairs, don¡¯t go far. After I left, the sense of peace suddenly vanished. I squatted at the door, wanting to cry but unable to, and just found it laughable, wanting to confront him, unable to understand why my boyfriend started sharing life with another girl, began to accept another girl¡¯s feelings, and became soulmates with another girl.¡± At this point, Xie Qian let out a light chuckle, wanted to drink, but found the can was empty. Jiang Chen silently opened a can and handed it over. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xie Qian took a sip, perhaps because she drank too hastily, she choked, coughing for a while, and when she recovered, her eyes started to redden for some reason. ¡°Probably in the early hours of the morning he finally realized, called me, found out all the social media were blocked by me, looking perplexed, he probably clicked the girl¡¯s unread message, saw ¡®Congratulations,¡¯ and understood what happened. So he drove to my house overnight, blocked my door early in the morning, and tearfully confessed to my parents.¡± My mom called me to come home, by the time I arrived, he had earnestly handed his phone to my parents, swearing to the heavens it was all innocent, begging for my forgiveness. Although my parents were angry, they didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. They felt he was at fault, but the chat content was normal, and he hadn¡¯t physically cheated, so after being angry it was time to reconcile, hence the three of them started to persuade me. ¡°After eight years together, now we¡¯ve been broken up for over half a year, and sometimes when I think about it, it feels a bit surreal, sometimes it doesn¡¯t seem quite real. He¡¯s still trying to win me back, but I always remember when I made a wish that day, in those 30 seconds when I closed my eyes, that girl sent him a message, saying the library suddenly lost power, I was afraid. So.¡± Xie Qian paused, tilted her head back for a drink, her eyes already red, but her mouth still held a gentle smile. ¡°Tell me, in those 30 seconds, was he truly wishing me a happy birthday? Or was he worried... she would be afraid of the dark?¡± Jiang Chen said nothing, just quietly took a sip of his drink. He knew she didn¡¯t need an answer. He couldn¡¯t give one either. This story, obviously, was not a good one. The reason she was willing to tell it to him perhaps was because of the song he just sang, moved by the moment, or maybe because they shared similar experiences, finding solace in each other¡¯s company. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a senior like you to have such a rough time with romance,¡± Jiang Chen said softly. Xie Qian¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°In this world, everyone has their own snowfall, each with their own subtlety, and their own brightness.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent, then turned his head. ¡°For that saying alone, senior, I¡¯ve got to take one.¡± Xie Qian clinked her glass with his. The two seemed to hit it off and drank for a long time until Xie Qian showed signs of drunkenness before they stopped. Jiang Chen called over a girl to help her back to her room. When he turned back to look where Li Shuru and Zheng Jingjing were, they were gone. Chapter 51 - 51 051 The Secret That Cannot Be Told Please recommend! ?51: 051 The Secret That Cannot Be Told (Please recommend! Please give a thumbs-up!) 51: 051 The Secret That Cannot Be Told (Please recommend! Please give a thumbs-up!) Early on a weekend morning, everyone was woken up, boarded the coach, and left the rural retreat, heading towards Paradise Mountain. The hike today was their main event. ¡°Shu Rui, how did you sleep last night?¡± On the bus. Jiang Chen still sat with Li Shuru. No matter how he tried to strike up a conversation, Li Shuru remained silent, treating him as if he were thin air. ¡°Jiang Chen, weren¡¯t you enjoying yourself last night, chatting so merrily with someone else? Why must you stick next to Shu Rui? Go find those upperclassmen and underclassmen of yours!¡± Zheng Jingjing taunted from just across the aisle. Jiang Chen ignored her as if she hadn¡¯t spoken and whispered to Li Shuru, ¡°Xie, the upperclassman, just shared her dating stories with me last night. Almost plunged me into depression. Do you want to hear about it?¡± Li Shuru finally spoke. ¡°You can get depressed?¡± Jiang Chen was taken aback. What kind of question was that? Why couldn¡¯t he get depressed? Of course. He wasn¡¯t going to argue about it, saw an opportunity, and immediately replied, ¡°Xie, the upperclassman, had an eight-year relationship...¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me, I¡¯m not interested.¡± Li Shuru coldly cut him off. ¡°Serves you right.¡± Zheng Jingjing smirked, taking delight in his misfortune. Last night, in the room, she¡¯d lambasted Jiang Chen all night, telling Li Shuru to stop paying any attention to this seemingly devoted but actually fickle jerk. It seemed her efforts hadn¡¯t been in vain. ¡°The weather forecast said that there might be strong winds today, so during our hike later, everyone needs to be careful of your safety. Don¡¯t stray away from the group, and most importantly, don¡¯t go off on your own.¡± Hu Heng, ever dutiful, reminded everyone. The coach twisted and turned on the rugged and steep mountain road. This wasn¡¯t like the city with good conditions; there were no guardrails at the roadside. A slight misstep could send the vehicle tumbling down the cliff. Most drivers would not dare to take such a road, and even so, there were a few times when the coach seemed to teeter on the brink of falling. They hadn¡¯t even started climbing the mountain, and they were already experiencing heart-stopping moments. Another sharp turn and bump. As the coach leaned to the side, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but collide into someone. ¡°Be careful.¡± Jiang Chen instinctively steadied her, but damn it, his hand awkwardly passed through her arm and landed on... That instant. Both froze as if struck by lightning. The vehicle moved past the bend, and its body steadied itself. Many heaved a sigh of relief. Jiang Chen quickly withdrew his hand and was about to explain when Li Shuru acted faster. The art school¡¯s beauty, whose figure was way beyond her peers, turned icily to one side and, without a second thought, raised her hand to slap Jiang Chen. Fortunately, Jiang Chen was prepared and quickly caught her snow-white wrist. ¡°Shu Rui, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡± Not just Li Shuru, probably any girl in such a situation, wouldn¡¯t want to hear excuses, One hand caught, Li Shuru quickly raised her other hand, only to be caught by Jiang Chen again. ¡°I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It was just an accident...¡± ¡°Shameless!¡± Li Shuru struggled, but Jiang Chen dared not let go and could only firmly control her, his voice low, ¡°Do you want everyone to find out?¡± Those words worked like magic, and Li Shuru froze as if her acupoint had been hit, ceasing her struggle suddenly. Indeed. There were so many people on the bus. Jiang Chen, already infamous, didn¡¯t care about a bit more of a bad reputation, but she was different. She didn¡¯t care if people at school accused her of being vain or gold-digging, but such a matter concerning her reputation was something no girl¡ªor rather, any girl still possessing a sense of shame¡ªcould ignore. ¡°Let go.¡± Li Shuru, having slightly recovered her reason, took a deep breath. ¡°Do you promise you won¡¯t hit me again?¡± Doubt flashed through Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let go.¡± Li Shuru repeated, clenching her teeth tightly. Although she knew it was an accident, being taken advantage of so significantly for no reason, any girl would probably struggle to remain calm. Once he was confident that the other party had regained her senses, Jiang Chen slowly loosened his grip. At the same time, he didn¡¯t dare let his guard down, staying vigilant of Li Shuru¡¯s every move, ready to defend himself at a moment¡¯s notice. Fortunately, Li Shuru was someone who kept her word, and she really didn¡¯t make things difficult again. ¡°If you dare to spread this incident around, I¡¯ll never let you off the hook.¡± Her voice came cold and sharp, as if squeezing through the gaps in her teeth. ¡°Shu Rui, rest assured, I absolutely won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Jiang Chen quickly nodded, his tone filled with sincerity, lowering his voice, ¡°This is a secret between the two of us.¡± At his words, Li Shuru felt an obstruction in her chest, almost suffocating. What does he mean by ¡®a secret between the two of them¡¯?! ¡°I warn you, you¡¯d better forget about this! Nothing happened between us just now, understand?!¡± Jiang Chen frowned. ¡°Forget? Shu Rui, that might be a bit difficult. The human brain isn¡¯t a computer; it can¡¯t be formatted. How can memories be erased?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s face turned pale. It was purely out of anger. Picking his application form out of the trash bin had been a huge mistake! ¡°Then keep your mouth shut tight. If I hear even a whisper about this incident from others, I swear, if that Bai didn¡¯t kill you, I will!¡± Her resolute and chilling gaze left no room for doubting her sincerity. Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t scared but rather felt a bit surprised. Logically speaking, a girl like Li Shuru, if not worldly, would at least be experienced in affairs of the heart, right? She shouldn¡¯t be so conservative. It was just a touch. In the nightlife scene, isn¡¯t such physical contact common? ¡°Shu Rui, rest assured, as long as you keep quiet, I definitely won¡¯t mention it.¡± Jiang Chen quickly made a promise. I keep quiet? How could I possibly speak of it?! The sudden accident completely shattered Li Shuru¡¯s composure. She forcefully turned her head away, looking out the window. Out of sight, out of mind. But who could have known that the bus would ascend a slope again, causing the vehicle to tilt once more. Jiang Chen truly wasn¡¯t the type to take advantage of others in their time of need. Seeing Li Shuru once again hurtling towards him, this time he preemptively raised his hands, using only his body to block her. This clearly showed. The previous incident had indeed been a coincidence; he didn¡¯t mean it. The scent of perfume filled the air. The young man and woman came into zero distance contact once again. Li Shuru, now leaning into the other¡¯s embrace, was fuming with anger, but the man had only good intentions, leaving her no way to vent her frustration. After sitting upright again and seeing Jiang Chen¡¯s ¡°surrendering¡± innocent appearance, her face turned a shade of green, her red lips trembling for a while before she managed to say nothing and resentfully returned to her own seat. ¡°Shu Rui...¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°No, I mean to tell you, you can fasten your seatbelt.¡± Li Shuru was taken aback, then looked down and indeed discovered there was a seatbelt beside her seat. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier?!¡± Her emotions were completely out of control. Jiang Chen looked aggrieved. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me not to talk?¡± ¡°You...!¡± Li Shuru was on the verge of tears. Chapter 52 - 52 More haste less speed ?52: More haste, less speed. 52: More haste, less speed. [Li Shuru¡¯s favorability towards you -20] Standing outside the bus, Jiang Chen was speechless and choked up, on the brink of tears. Don¡¯t they always say good people get good returns? How has it turned out to be the complete opposite for him? Staring at the shocking -100 favorability, Jiang Chen wanted to confront Li Shuru, but in the end, he just let out a deep sigh. Forget it. There¡¯s no reasoning with women. She won¡¯t consider whether you meant well or not, she will only focus on the fact that you took advantage of her. No wonder the world is becoming colder and more indifferent. ¡°Jiang senior, what are you dazing for? Let¡¯s set off,¡± Fan Feiyu urged. They had already entered the Paradise Village scenic area, with Paradise Mountain right in front of them. Although suddenly back to square one, it wasn¡¯t without its gains. Jiang Chen caught up with the group while consoling himself silently in his heart. At least he had ¡°probed¡± the lower limit of the favorability. If nothing unexpected happens, -100 should be the limit; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have deducted just 20 this time. In other words, even if you murdered the target of your pursuit¡¯s entire family, their favorability probably couldn¡¯t get any lower. With this thought, Jiang Chen raised his head to look at the mountains soaring into the clouds and once again couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep breath. Paradise Mountain wasn¡¯t really famous, but with its highest peak exceeding 3000 meters in altitude, looking up from the foot of the mountain gave one the sense of an overwhelming presence, seemingly insurmountable, with rugged rocks and lush forests. In terms of sublime beauty, it wasn¡¯t necessarily less than those more renowned ranges. The weather today wasn¡¯t great. Although the wind hadn¡¯t picked up yet, visibility was low, and the air was quite humid, making people feel suffocated. At higher elevations, clouds and fog shrouded the area, adding a mysterious and solemn atmosphere to the mountains. ¡°See there? That¡¯s the highest peak of Paradise Mountain, Qibing Peak. That¡¯s our goal for today. Does everyone feel confident?¡± Hu Heng pointed in the direction where a sword-like rock was faintly visible through the mist. Bathed in the morning light, it looked like a divine weapon that had fallen from the skies. ¡°Yes!¡± Despite the poor weather, it didn¡¯t dampen everyone¡¯s enthusiastic responses. ¡°Good! Let¡¯s go!¡± To climb Paradise Mountain, there were two routes. According to the pre-arranged plan, the mountaineering club chose to start the climb from the northern trail. ¡°Shu Rui, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zheng Jingjing noticed something was off with Li Shuru, who had been wearing a grim expression since getting off the bus, as if someone owed her money. ¡°Did Jiang Chen piss you off?¡± She glanced back. Jiang Chen and Fan Feiyu were not far behind. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Even with a close girlfriend, there were things she couldn¡¯t discuss¡ªthe incident of being groped was definitely one of them. ¡°Let¡¯s walk faster.¡± Li Shuru quickened her pace, undoubtedly wanting to leave Jiang Chen behind. ¡°Jiang senior, they¡¯re heading to the front. Aren¡¯t you going to follow?¡± Fan Feiyu reminded him. ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t in a rush. At this time, Li Shuru probably still harbored resentment for the accident on the bus; getting too close would only backfire. ¡°Chasing a girl isn¡¯t about being blindly aggressive; you need to have a strategy, play it cool...¡± As a ¡®lickspittle¡¯, Jiang Chen found himself giving others ¡°lessons on picking up girls.¡± The key was that Fan Feiyu was really giving him face, not scoffing at him for leading others astray, but nodding continuously, listening with great interest. ¡°Pfft...¡± A girlish giggle came from behind. Jiang Chen turned around, saw who it was, and chided, ¡°Senior, eavesdropping isn¡¯t a good habit, you know.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t eavesdropping, I¡¯m listening openly and honestly,¡± she retorted. Xie Qian, who had been walking behind the two of them, wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all and teased, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have guessed you¡¯re quite the expert on romance.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jiang Chen replied, unashamed. ¡°These are lessons learned from countless failures. Chasing girls is just like mountain climbing. The mountain is there, it¡¯s all about how you conquer it. If you go all out from the start, only thinking about climbing up desperately, you¡¯ll be exhausted halfway, so you have to keep your own pace. Haste makes waste...¡± Jiang Chen lectured extensively, not the least bit modest. ¡°Alright, you make some sense. You two take your time to discuss, please make way, excuse me.¡± Xie Qian moved between them and climbed ahead. ¡°You¡¯re single right now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jiang Chen asked Fan Feiyu, while watching Xie Qian¡¯s back. ¡°Yes, what about it?¡± ¡°What do you think of this senior?¡± Fan Feiyu was taken aback, then offered a bitter smile, ¡°Jiang, don¡¯t joke around. She¡¯s a graduate student, how could she look at someone like me? And she¡¯s older as well.¡± Some people always lack confidence. While others are too confident. ¡°So what if she¡¯s older? ¡®An older wife is like a treasure¡¯, haven¡¯t you heard that? I talked a lot with her last night. She¡¯s a great senior, with proper principles. She just went through a breakup and joined this activity for healing. This is a rare opportunity.¡± Jiang Chen patted Fan Feiyu on the shoulder and sped up his pace. Fan Feiyu was caught between laughter and tears. Indeed, students¡¯ physical fitness these days leaves much to be desired. Plus, with the steep mountain path and the damp air, after more than an hour, most were sweating profusely and gasping for breath. Hu Heng could only let everyone rest in place. Under Jiang Chen¡¯s matchmaking, Fan Feiyu really did start to hit it off with Xie Qian, sitting together, talking and laughing. This young one has potential. Jiang Chen replenished his fluids, eyes roving, finally landing on Li Shuru. As if sensing his gaze, Li Shuru looked back at him, her eyes cold, filled with a warning. Jiang Chen, just about to move forward, secretly sighed and suppressed the urge. It couldn¡¯t be this bad, could it? Having invested his prime in this, not even making any progress would have been one thing, but to have things rewind back to the start? Jiang Chen was beginning to regret his impulsive decision to make Li Shuru his experimental subject; had he known how difficult she was to win over, he probably could have picked any other girl in KIMI and done better. But regretting now was too late. Before completing the current phase of his conquest mission, he couldn¡¯t switch targets mid-way. ¡°In about forty minutes or so, we¡¯ll reach Magpie Bridge. Let¡¯s all make an effort and clean up the trash.¡± Magpie Bridge was one of the key landmarks in Heaven, a suspension bridge stretching across the sky, adorned with carvings of magpies, given romantic significance. Anyone who came to Heaven Mountain would go to the Magpie Bridge to check in. Hu Heng led by example, demonstrating the excellent qualities of a university student, with everyone picking up their own trash and taking it with them. ¡°I heard if a couple walks over the Magpie Bridge together, they¡¯ll stay together till their hair turns white.¡± ¡°But what if I¡¯m still single?¡± ¡°Then if you walk over Magpie Bridge, you¡¯ll encounter a wonderful love very soon.¡± ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Why not try and see for yourself?¡± The beautiful legend of the Magpie Bridge gave the girls a strong boost of motivation, even making them forget their physical fatigue. Thanks to the girls¡¯ uplifted spirits, the whole team¡¯s pace quickened significantly, and in just half an hour, they could see the approximately two-hundred-meter-long suspension bridge appearing before everyone¡¯s eyes. Chapter 53 - 53 God rewards the diligent ?53: God rewards the diligent 53: God rewards the diligent ¡°It¡¯s so high...¡± Once they were really there, the previously excited girls couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. After all, the bridge looked quite unsettling, suspended in mid-air, at least seven or eight hundred meters above the ground, and swaying slightly due to the wind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone, this bridge is very sturdy. As long as we¡¯re careful, there won¡¯t be any danger. Let¡¯s cross the bridge!¡± Hu Heng shouted. A couple from the group took the lead, joining hands and embarking on the bridge, while simultaneously taking out their phones to capture this memorable moment. Although they didn¡¯t know if the legend of the Magpie Bridge would come true, if couples that crossed here would indeed stay together for life, at least today¡¯s experience would become a treasured memory of their youth. With someone leading the way, the rest were no longer afraid and followed suit across the Magpie Bridge. High above, the girls were busily taking photos to remember the moment. ¡°Classmate, could you take a photo for us?¡± Without a selfie stick, Zheng Jingjing could only randomly ask a guy for help. The boy was flattered and certainly didn¡¯t refuse. Zheng Jingjing linked arms with Li Shuru, both beaming beautifully. Facing the camera, Li Shuru also matched with a light, shallow smile. ¡°Click!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zheng Jingjing walked over, took back her phone, and eagerly looked at the result, only for her brows to furrow immediately. In the photo, not only were Shu Rui and she present, but there was also an extra figure. ¡°Jiang Chen!¡± She turned her head angrily, absolutely fuming! There was Jiang Chen, who apparently snuck up behind them silently, photobombing their picture. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Jiang Chen, who had walked ahead, stopped helplessly when he heard the camera click, realizing all too late. It really wasn¡¯t intentional; he just wanted to cross the bridge. He could only blame the guy for not being professional enough ¡ª he had thought the other would wait for him to pass before taking the photo. That same excuse, ¡®it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡¯ Li Shuru¡¯s previously easing expression tightened up again. ¡°How about I retake the photo for you?¡± Jiang Chen offered a remedy. Even if the bottom limit of fondness was -100, it didn¡¯t mean he could just give up. Zheng Jingjing hesitated; clearly, the photo was unusable, they¡¯d have to retake it. Just as she was about to agree, Li Shuru had already walked on. ¡°You guys go ahead and take it.¡± Zheng Jingjing glared at Jiang Chen. ¡°Look! It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Jiang Chen responded with a wry shrug of his shoulders. Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t be bothered to take another photo and caught up with Li Shuru. ¡°Shu Rui, don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll just Photoshop him out.¡± After staying on the Magpie Bridge for more than ten minutes, everyone left, feeling completely satisfied. The girls were busy admiring their beautiful photos. Zheng Jingjing, meanwhile, was occupied with editing the photos on her phone. Without a proper lunch, at a rest area halfway up the mountain, everyone ate their own prepared dry food. A few girls rubbed their sore legs, complaining bitterly. It was obvious. They had overestimated their capabilities, or rather, underestimated the difficulty of mountain climbing. Even some of the boys, who seemed to lack exercise, were so exhausted they just slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. By contrast, Li Shuru, who appeared to be the most delicate, performed commendably. Although she too was obviously tired, her forehead glistening with sweat, she didn¡¯t complain or whimper, just quietly ate the snacks she had brought along. ¡°President Hu, how much farther is it to Qibing Peak?¡± Jiang Chen and Hu Heng sat together, gnawing on bread. ¡°At our current pace, probably another hour and a half. But as we climb higher, we¡¯ll slow down even more.¡± Jiang Chen also glanced at the other hiking club members, ¡°Some of them might not be able to make it that far.¡± Hu Heng nodded, aware of this as well. ¡°It looks like we can only split into two teams now.¡± After pondering for a moment, Hu Heng said, ¡°Those who can still keep going, continue to climb up; those who can¡¯t, stay here and wait for us to come back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Jiang Chen nodded in agreement. Forcing someone beyond their limits would only invite trouble, and some of the girls were clearly at the end of their physical endurance. Hu Heng then informed everyone of the plan, allowing them to choose freely. Zheng Jingjing and Li Shuru exchanged a few words before approaching Hu Heng. ¡°President, I¡¯d like to know, will Jiang Chen continue to climb?¡± Hu Heng was somewhat puzzled, ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t explain. ¡°Just tell me.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t said yet, shall I go and ask?¡± Zheng Jingjing nodded quickly, ¡°Please do.¡± Hu Heng approached Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen glanced over here and then said something to Hu Heng. Hu Heng walked back. ¡°He plans to stay here.¡± Hearing this, Zheng Jingjing said decisively, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, Shu Rui and I will continue climbing.¡± ¡°The higher up we go, the more difficult the path will become. Are you sure you can keep up?¡± Doubt shone in Hu Heng¡¯s eyes. ¡°President, are you looking down on us girls?¡± Accused of gender discrimination was something Hu Heng could not afford, so he hurriedly shook his head with a smile, ¡°I certainly am not. If you feel there¡¯s no issue, then I have no objections.¡± ¡°That settles it, then.¡± After communicating with Hu Heng, Zheng Jingjing turned and sat back down beside Li Shuru. ¡°Sheesh, and he calls himself a man. He can¡¯t even endure this little hardship.¡± ¡°He¡¯s staying here?¡± Zheng Jingjing nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already told the president that we¡¯re going to keep climbing. Now we can finally ditch that Jiang Chen guy.¡± It was obvious. Zheng Jingjing was not really concerned about Jiang Chen; her deliberate inquiries were meant to avoid him. If Jiang Chen had chosen to continue climbing, then she and Li Shuru would definitely have opted to stay and rest, and vice versa. But the girl had forgotten that in the art of war, the key is to mix the false with the true and the true with the false. After the free selection, in the end, twelve people decided to continue with their courageous ascent, less than half. The remaining twenty people chose to stay and rest. Among the twelve people who continued to climb, there were only four women, including Li Shuru and Zheng Jingjing. ¡°Alright, everyone should have had enough rest by now? We¡¯re going to move out.¡± After resting for half an hour, Hu Heng blew the whistle to depart once again. ¡°Good luck!¡± The ones staying behind cheered them on. ¡°Senior Jiang, you¡¯re not continuing with the climb?¡± Now that President Hu had led the team away and seeing Jiang Chen was still sitting still, Fan Feiyu, who had chosen to stay, couldn¡¯t help being surprised. Li Shuru has already left; since he¡¯s trying to win her over, shouldn¡¯t he persevere even if he¡¯s exhausted? ¡°Yeah, junior, didn¡¯t you say that pursuing a girl is all about timing? Is this your rhythm? Are you planning to give up halfway?¡± Xie Qian also didn¡¯t continue to climb; she joined this activity just to clear her mind. Reaching the summit wasn¡¯t important to her. ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll rest here for a bit and catch up with them later.¡± Jiang Chen sat leisurely on a tree stump, taking a sip of water as he spoke. To tell the truth, he would have liked to stay and rest here, chatting with Fan Feiyu and Xie Qian, but for the sake of future vast skies and oceans, he had to give up the comfort at hand. Although he was unsure if shamelessly catching up would be meaningful, there was a saying: Effort might not necessarily lead to success, but success always requires effort. Heaven helps those who help themselves. Jiang Chen exhaled softly, comforting himself with this thought. Chapter 54 - 54 054 Monkeys and gibbons long to climb but are troubled at the vastness of the climb! ?54: 054 Monkeys and gibbons long to climb but are troubled at the vastness of the climb! (Seeking recommendations!) 54: 054 Monkeys and gibbons long to climb but are troubled at the vastness of the climb! (Seeking recommendations!) ¡°Shu Rui, how¡¯s my Photoshop job?¡± In the Moments feed, the photo that was displayed was the same one taken earlier on the Magpie Bridge, except someone who had photobombed the picture had been edited out completely. Below it, a whole bunch of people had already liked it. That¡¯s the charm of a beauty. Some people post in their Moments and might not get any attention for a day or two. Although she had definitely beautified the photo, Zheng Jingjing hadn¡¯t gone over the top like some girls who only touch up their own appearance. At least, Li Shuru in the photo looked normal, without a warped face or mismatched eyes. That was quite an achievement. Li Shuru glanced at it indifferently and nodded noncommittally, her gaze occasionally drifting over her shoulder. ¡°Shu Rui, what are you looking at?¡± Zheng Jingjing asked, curious. ¡°Nothing.¡± Zheng Jingjing put away her phone, also glanced back, and seemingly realized something, she muttered, ¡°Actually, not having Jiang Chen around feels a bit unfamiliar.¡± Time ticked by. With the increase in altitude, the oxygen grew thinner, and although it wasn¡¯t quite high altitude sickness, the rapid depletion of everyone¡¯s physical strength made breathing difficult, and a very few sounded like they were having an asthma attack, their breathing as loud and labored as a bellows. Hu Heng was right; the further up they climbed, the slower they went, and to accommodate those who were running out of energy, the group of twelve had to stop frequently. ¡°Hang in there a bit longer, everyone. See that over there? That¡¯s the Dragon Gate Walkway. Once we cross it, we¡¯ll reach the Qibing Peak.¡± Hu Heng pointed to the mountain path outside the mists, trying to boost morale. At the altitude they were now, they had surpassed two thousand meters above sea level. The vaguely visible Dragon Gate Walkway looked like a winding golden python, encircling the entirety of Qibing Peak. The treacherous path appeared almost as daunting as the widely known Huashan Plank Walk. Zheng Jingjing drew in a sharp breath; her legs were already getting wobbly before even reaching it. ¡°Shu Rui, what do we do... I¡¯m a bit scared...¡± She clutched at Li Shuru¡¯s arm nervously. Truth be told, Li Shuru wasn¡¯t much better than her. Although she was prettier, at the end of the day, the belle of the art academy was still a girl. Faced with such a harrowing sight and the thought of having to cross over it, her heart couldn¡¯t help but race. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, it just looks scarier than it is. Just pretend you¡¯re shopping in a mall.¡± Just then, a familiar voice came from behind, startling Zheng Jingjing. ¡°Jiang Chen?!¡± ¡°You guys are pretty fast.¡± Jiang Chen arrived, smiling as if nothing was amiss. Surprisingly, Li Shuru didn¡¯t show any signs of annoyance at Jiang Chen¡¯s persistent presence. Perhaps her focus was diverted. Seeing Jiang Chen appear, her racing heart gradually calmed down. ¡°It would be a regret not to climb to the highest peak when we¡¯ve come this far,¡± Jiang Chen told her. Li Shuru didn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°He must have conspired with the club president, deliberately deceiving us,¡± Hu Heng said, unsurprised by Jiang Chen¡¯s arrival, urging everyone to keep moving. Seeing this, Zheng Jingjing couldn¡¯t help but realize she¡¯d been duped. But by the time she realized it, it was too late. They were already here; they couldn¡¯t just turn around and go back down the mountain, could they? Fortunately, Jiang Chen seemed to realize he wasn¡¯t exactly welcome and didn¡¯t cling to the two women. He walked alone at the tail of the group, keeping his distance. Glancing over at him occasionally, Zheng Jingjing inexplicably felt a bit sorry for the guy. He was just bravely pursuing the happiness he wanted, what was wrong with that? ¡°Jiang Chen, come here!¡± Zheng Jingjing gestured for him to come over. Jiang Chen pointed to himself, and after she nodded, he walked over. ¡°Could you carry our bags, please?¡± Zheng Jingjing asked. Jiang Chen looked a bit surprised, but he quickly nodded in agreement. ¡°Here.¡± Zheng Jingjing took off her own shoulder bag and, at the same time, removed Li Shuru¡¯s as well, handing both over to Jiang Chen. Perhaps truly exhausted by now, Li Shuru didn¡¯t refuse either. Thanks to the free labor, Jiang Chen managed to close the gap between him and the two women, following right behind them. About half an hour later, the group finally arrived at the harrowing Dragon¡¯s Gate Plank Walk. Standing there, a poem involuntarily came to mind. Even the flight of the yellow crane could scarcely cross; the monkeys and gibbons despair at the climb! The walkway was made of wooden planks, with a three-centimeter gap between each, allowing one to fully experience the sensation of walking in mid-air. One side was a sheer cliff, the other a railing hardly waist-high. Even before stepping onto it, it was enough to make one¡¯s flesh crawl, difficult to imagine just how this walkway had been constructed. ¡°Once we cross here, we¡¯ll reach Qi Bing Peak. Let¡¯s keep it up, everyone!¡± Hu Heng led the way, the first to step onto the plank walk. Even he was extremely cautious; after all, besides the waist-high railing to his left, there were no safety measures, and below one¡¯s feet was an abyss thousands of feet deep. A fall would mean certain death, with one¡¯s body shattered to pieces. ¡°Be careful.¡± They all supported each other, crossing the walkway as tentatively as blind men fording a river. Luckily, no one suffered from acrophobia; otherwise, the fear alone would have killed them. Because Zheng Jingjing dallied, she ended up in the last place. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t look down, just keep looking ahead,¡± Jiang Chen consoled her. ¡°Easy for you to say!¡± Zheng Jingjing¡¯s fear was not feigned¡ªher face had gone pale. But since everyone was already up, she had no choice but to follow suit. Gritting her teeth, she ventured onto the plank, but after only a few steps, she made the mistake of looking down and immediately shut her eyes tight in fright. ¡°Ahh! Mama!!!¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Li Shuru, already quite nervous herself, couldn¡¯t help but be amused by Zheng Jingjing¡¯s antics, ¡°Alright, stop dawdling and move on!¡± Zheng Jingjing didn¡¯t dare look down again, gripping the handrail and moving like a snail, inching forward step by step. Li Shuru followed right behind her. Cold winds were piercingly chill. Bone-chillingly sharp. Everyone, who had been sweating profusely before, now felt an all-encompassing chill. On the serpentine mountain path, the group of more than a dozen moved slowly, with Jiang Chen bringing up the rear, still carrying the two ladies¡¯ bags over his shoulder. ¡°Whew...¡± The mountain weather was fickle. Not even halfway across, the wind suddenly picked up, strong enough to make standing difficult. Caught off guard, Li Shuru stumbled, and Jiang Chen quickly steadied her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m fine.¡± Li Shuru, likely not even weighing a hundred pounds, paled but regained her footing, clutching the handrail tightly. ¡°Be careful.¡± Jiang Chen let go of her. ¡°Everyone, stop! Let¡¯s wait for the wind to die down before moving again!¡± Hu Heng shouted from the very front of the line. Everyone halted, tensely gripping anything they could use for support, and nobody dared look down. ¡°Shu Rui, wu wu, I¡¯m scared...¡± Zheng Jingjing was on the verge of tears and couldn¡¯t bring herself to open her eyes. Li Shuru¡¯s heart was also pounding; now she felt grateful to have someone behind her. Chapter 55 - 55 055 High-altitude danger! ?55: 055 High-altitude danger! 55: 055 High-altitude danger! Mists and clouds twirled around, and at this moment, the sun too seemed to hide away, leaving no trace. High winds swept mercilessly over the precipice, causing several girls to tremble in terror, their legs beginning to go weak. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Jiang Chen, at the back, asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± At this time, Li Shuru set aside her personal grievances to follow Hu Heng¡¯s instructions, gripping the handrail with all her might to maintain balance, quietly waiting for the wind to cease. ¡°Whoosh...¡± As the wind howled, the sea of clouds surged like tidal waves, a truly rare and magnificent sight to behold. But at this very moment, no one dared to take photos, not even the men. Because they did not dare to let go of the handrails. Along with the sea of clouds, the footpath under them swayed too, though not extensively, it was still enough to make their hearts pound with trepidation. At this moment, human beings could deeply realize their insignificance. ¡°I want to go back, I can¡¯t do this anymore...¡± Zheng Jingjing¡¯s legs bent, almost leading her to sit down on the trail, clearly, nature¡¯s grandeur had shattered her already scant courage. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise President Hu you would come?¡± Li Shuru was both annoyed and amused, but at that time, all she could do was to reassure, ¡°We¡¯re almost there, look back and see, it¡¯s a longer path if you go back now. Just hold on a little longer.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu...¡± Zheng Jingjing, caught in a dilemma, wanted to cry without tears. About five or six minutes later, the force of the wind gradually abated. The sea of clouds slowly returned to calm. The sun also began to shine down again. Hu Heng let out a quiet sigh of relief and shouted loudly, ¡°It¡¯s okay now, everyone keep moving!¡± Under his leadership, the team set off again. On the walkway, the twelve had to overcome not just their fear of heights but also the tenacious tree branches sprouting from the crevices on the cliff. They grew horizontally like tigers blocking the way, right in the middle of the path. With no choice, everyone had to bend down and crouch to get under them as they passed. ¡°Ah, my phone!¡± But as Zheng Jingjing crouched down, perhaps because her buttocks were too pert, it squeezed her phone out of her back pocket, causing it to fall through the gap between two planks. She hurriedly tried to grab it, but her reaction was too slow, and she could only watch helplessly as her phone tumbled into the abyss. A phone wasn¡¯t cheap, at least a few thousand. Zheng Jingjing was very upset. ¡°Don¡¯t look at it anymore; it¡¯s gone. I¡¯ll get you a new one,¡± Li Shuru quickly said. ¡°Really?¡± Zheng Jingjing turned around, even forgetting her fear for a moment, ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± With Li Shuru¡¯s current income, a phone really was nothing to mention. ¡°But my phone had so many precious photos...¡± Zheng Jingjing was reluctant to part with it, but she also understood that her phone was definitely not coming back. ¡°Why don¡¯t they clear these branches away!¡± She grumbled indignantly, standing up and continuing forward. Li Shuru bent down and followed closely behind, crawling under the branches. ¡°Only about a hundred meters left, we¡¯re almost there, everyone push a little harder!¡± Hu Heng¡¯s encouraging voice came from ahead. Li Shuru breathed a sigh of relief, her nervousness slightly easing, but accidents often strike when one lets their guard down. ¡°Crack...¡± When the white sneaker stepped on a wooden plank, perhaps due to long-term decay, the plank suddenly broke in two without warning. Li Shuru was completely unprepared, and in an instant, she plunged downward! Hearing the sound, Zheng Jingjing turned her head instinctively, the scene that met her eyes froze her expression, and for a moment her mind went completely blank. ¡°Shu Rui!!¡± A scream tore through the sky. The people in front were strangely in unison as they turned their heads, their heartbeats invariably skipping a beat! All they saw was Li Shuru falling straight down. In the nick of time, someone stepped forward. No, that¡¯s not right. He lunged! While others were stunned by the sudden turn of events, only Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t paralyzed; as Li Shuru¡¯s foot slipped into emptiness, he lunged without a second thought, grabbing Li Shuru¡¯s arm with a desperate vigor just as half her body had already fallen off the path. ¡°Hold on to me!¡± Li Shuru herself was initially dumbstruck. It took her a second or two to snap back to reality. Suffocating fear enveloped her entire being as she instinctively looked down. The mist below was hazy, revealing an unfathomable abyss. If she fell, there would be no trace of her left. ¡°Don¡¯t look down, hold on to me!¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s face turned red, and veins bulged on his neck. Though Li Shuru wasn¡¯t heavy, at that moment, with no footing on the trail and nowhere to leverage, he could only grab the rope on one side of the handrail with one hand, and hold onto Li Shuru¡¯s arm with the other. Despite exerting all his strength, the slender arm wrapped in her clothing was still sliding slowly. Li Shuru finally realized the urgency, hastily grabbed Jiang Chen¡¯s wrist with her other hand, and looked up to see a face straining with all its might. ¡°Jiang Chen...¡± Adversity reveals the true nature of a person¡¯s character. You see, this was in the high skies, and not everyone possesses such selfless courage. One misstep, and both could plummet into the depths, becoming desperate lovers in a tragic fall. ¡°You can¡¯t die!¡± Jiang Chen gritted his teeth and pulled Li Shuru up with all his might. This girl was his target for conquest; if she were gone, his bright future would shatter along with her. So, she mustn¡¯t get hurt! Li Shuru, of course, was unaware of all this. No girl can resist a man who risks his life for her, no matter how materialistic and vain she might be. Li Shuru did not know her significance to Jiang Chen; all she knew was that a flood of unprecedented feelings was overwhelming her heart and soul, a moment she might never forget for the rest of her life. ¡°What are you waiting for! Help, quick!¡± Jiang Chen shouted loudly. Zheng Jingjing trembled, snapping out of her shock, and hurriedly crouched down to grab Li Shuru¡¯s arm. Together, the two of them finally pulled Li Shuru back from the brink of death. ¡°Phew...¡± Jiang Chen collapsed onto the wooden planks, gasping for air. ¡°Shu Rui, are you alright?!¡± Hu Heng shouted from up ahead. The harrowing scene had also left him in a cold sweat. If Jiang Chen had not reacted in time and risked his life for the rescue, the consequences would have been unimaginable. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t lack the desire to reply loudly, but she simply had no strength to do so; anyone would be dazed after such an incident. ¡°Shu Rui, you scared me to death!¡± Zheng Jingjing clung to Li Shuru in panic, tears already welling up in the corners of her eyes. ¡°Thank goodness, that was close to making the news,¡± Jiang Chen said with a wry smile as he exhaled heavily from his seat on the side. Li Shuru¡¯s eyes trembled, and she slowly turned her head. There he was, wiping his sweat, looking thoroughly exhausted. His face at that moment couldn¡¯t be described as handsome and was indeed quite a mess, but it was enough to etch itself deeply into her memory. Chapter 56 - 56 056 The Surge in Popularity! ?56: 056 The Surge in Popularity! 56: 056 The Surge in Popularity! Logically, after such an accident, one could demand a high compensation from the scenic area, but Li Shuru did not do so. She was not in need of money at the moment and did not want to waste energy arguing with the scenic area. Of course. After learning about the incident, Tianzhu Fortress Scenic Area still sincerely apologized, waived all fees for this mountaineering club¡¯s trip, and promised to strictly inspect all facilities to prevent any future occurrences. Whether there would be a next time was unknown, but this place was certainly off the list for the mountaineering club from now on. ¡°Senior Jiang Chen, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± On the bus back to school, Fan Feiyu expressed his admiration for Jiang Chen across the aisle. Although he was not present at the time, just from the descriptions of the witnesses, he could imagine how perilous the situation had been. If it were up to him, Fan Feiyu believed that the most delicate flower of the Art College would probably have withered away by now. Initially. He thought that this well-known senior was pursuing the beauty of the Art College on a whim, coveting her physical attractiveness. But now, he thought completely otherwise. He was a man too. The situation back then required not only extraordinary reflexes but, more importantly, a resolute decision to risk one¡¯s own life. If it were only for beauty, no man would take such a huge risk. That was also why Fan Feiyu felt admiration. At this moment, the bus was abuzz with discussion, unanimously focused on Li Shuru¡¯s near-death experience and Jiang Chen¡¯s heroic rescue. The men were conquered, while the women were even more deeply moved. Being inherently imaginative, the women couldn¡¯t help but put themselves in Li Shuru¡¯s shoes. At this time. Their envy of Li Shuru underwent an intangible transformation. Before. They just envied Li Shuru for her beauty. But now, they were envious that Li Shuru had met a man willing to risk his life for her. In an era overrun by materialism, when love had become a luxury, how many women had such luck? At this moment. Jiang Chen was no longer the notorious bootlicker but a shining prince on a white horse, an undisputed hero in everyone¡¯s eyes! ¡°Jiang Chen, thank you.¡± Li Shuru turned her head. Her thanks came a bit late, but it was sincere enough. Those beautiful eyes no longer held their previous coldness and distance. ¡°You saved me once, I saved you once, now we¡¯re even.¡± Listening to such a response, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. She had assumed that he would use the favor to seek something in return, or at least offer some flowery words, but surprisingly, he retorted with such a nonchalant comment. Quietly observing that not-so-handsome but comfortably appealing profile for a while, Li Shuru¡¯s lips curved slightly upwards. ¡°Are we really even now?¡± Jiang Chen turned his head. ¡°If you really want to repay me, I don¡¯t mind. I don¡¯t have high demands.¡± As he spoke, he paused, seemingly considering the conditions. ¡°How about a kiss? One kiss in exchange for one life¡ªyou¡¯d be getting a great deal.¡± ¡°In your dreams.¡± Li Shuru glared at him, her look no longer filled with contemptuous mockery but seemingly with a hint of allure. Then, the flower of the Art College who had just walked back from the brink peered out the window and added another line. ¡°However, treating you to a meal is doable.¡± Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows but before he could reply, a notification sound went off. [Li Shuru¡¯s goodwill towards you +130] Jiang Chen was inwardly shocked, and then he immediately checked the goodwill score. [Name: Li Shuru] [Goodwill towards the host: 30] Just as expected. Finally, it was no longer the startling negative number! Jiang Chen¡¯s heart surged with emotion. No wonder the recurring motif of a hero saving the beauty in movies and TV dramas remains timeless, there¡¯s indeed a reason for its enduring appeal! The previous dangers had not been risked in vain. If it could be done all over again, wouldn¡¯t that mean the conquest mission could be completed?! ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± Seeing his strange expression, Li Shuru frowned in curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jiang Chen took a few deep breaths. Stay calm. You must stay calm. Although he had made significant progress, success was not yet assured, so it was still too early to celebrate. ¡°Since you are inviting me to dinner, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to choose the place carefully.¡± ¡°Pick whatever you like.¡± Li Shuru said generously. Well, that made sense, she was now a wealthy woman driving a Palamera, where a meal was but a drop in the ocean. ¡°You¡¯re the one saying this, so don¡¯t accuse me of overcharging you later.¡± Li Shuru simply smiled. Tsk. It seems one does have to sacrifice something to catch the wolf. In the past, this girl would react to seeing him as if he were a fly, never showing a smiling face. At this moment, Jiang Chen wished he could take another walk with her down Longmen Plank Path. The only one to blame was himself for his bad reputation in the past and such a low starting point. If the initial goodwill had been zero, by now it probably would have skyrocketed, rather than adding just 130 to be a pitiful 30. Of course. Jiang Chen understood the concept that human desires are never satisfied. One must be content. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now, from Li Shuru¡¯s words and behavior, it was clear that their relationship had normalized, and she was at least no longer repelled by him. The following conquest tasks were obviously going to be much easier. ¡°Jiang Chen!¡± Someone called out from next door. Jiang Chen turned his head to see Zheng Jingjing stick her head out, looking at him with a complex expression in her eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can I interview you?¡± Zheng Jingjing asked. ¡°No.¡± Zheng Jingjing, as if not hearing him, persisted: ¡°What were you thinking when you lunged out at that moment?¡± Jiang Chen had not reflected too much on it. ¡°With so little time, how could I have time to think? I only had one thought¡ªif anything happened to Shu Rui, I wouldn¡¯t want to live either.¡± These words were somewhat embellished, but they were not entirely false. Nobody else understood the significance of Li Shuru to him. If it had been before, Zheng Jingjing would have sneered at such words, seeing them as men¡¯s sweet talk, but the recent actions of Jiang Chen were the best proof of his words. Not to mention Li Shuru, even Zheng Jingjing felt that the scene atop the Longmen Plank Path might become a memory that would never fade in her mind. ¡°Jiang Chen, I was wrong before, and I treated you poorly. I apologize to you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Jiang Chen smiled indifferently. With his character, of course, he wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against a girl, besides, his impression of Zheng Jingjing was actually quite good. Although a bit willful at times, this was a common trait among beauties. Her character wasn¡¯t a real problem; she was straightforward and honest, with clear love and hate, saying what was on her mind rather than harboring hidden schemes, unlike some girls who practice deception while smiling, with deep intrigues. If anything happened to Shu Rui, I wouldn¡¯t want to live either. Li Shuru looked out the window, her lips curved softly. For the first time, she who had had countless admirers felt that being liked by someone¡ª Was quite nice. Chapter 57 - 57 057 Counterattack ?57: 057 Counterattack 57: 057 Counterattack ¡°Welcome home, hero!¡± By the time the bus returned to Dongda University, it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Jiang Chen pushed open the dormitory door, only to hear a ¡°bang,¡± followed by colorful streamers fluttering down from above. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Chen was baffled. Luo Peng and Bai Zheli each held a party popper in their hands. ¡°Jiang Chen, it¡¯s incredible, you¡¯ve turned a salted fish over, a carp leaping through the dragon gate, a bootlicker becoming a hero overnight!¡± Luo Peng sighed with admiration and melancholy. Jiang Chen removed the streamers that had fallen on his hair and shoulders, and it dawned on him. ¡°Who told you guys?¡± ¡°Do we need to hear it from someone? The whole school is abuzz now, saying Jiang Chen, at a sky-high altitude, disregarding personal safety, leaped out to save the beauty hanging by a thread...¡± Bai Zheli nodded, adding after Luo Peng, ¡°That¡¯s right, Brother Chen, everyone knows about your self-sacrificing deed.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, you¡¯ve really made our dorm proud this time.¡± Li Shao also expressed his amazement. Jiang Chen closed the door of the dormitory, cleared his throat softly, and deliberately posed with an air of nonchalance. ¡°A mere trifle, not even worth mentioning.¡± ¡°You get out of breath just calling yourself fat!¡± Luo Peng looked at him with contempt and flipped him the bird. ¡°You must be feeling pretty smug right now, huh? Tsk tsk, a life-saving favor... Now, even if Li Shuru is as cold as ice, she must be moved by you, right? How about it, did you get... ¡± Luo Peng winked and made a kissing gesture. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Jiang Chen shook his head and picked up a broom to sweep the streamers off the floor. ¡°No way. A life-saving favor, and you risked your life for it, and she didn¡¯t show any gratitude?¡± Luo Peng was incredulous. ¡°She said she would treat me to a meal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°What else then?¡± Jiang Chen continued to clean, laughing, ¡°You haven¡¯t been watching too much TV, have you? Really think she¡¯d promise herself to me in return?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve lost out, taking such a big risk for just a meal, a huge loss indeed.¡± Luo Peng sighed. ¡°Luo Bro, you can¡¯t say that.¡± Bai Zheli disagreed, ¡°Brother Chen couldn¡¯t just watch Li Shuru fall and do nothing, right? No matter what, Brother Chen has done a great thing.¡± Joking aside, Luo Peng collected his mocking demeanor and, with a touch of admiration, exclaimed, ¡°Jiang Chen, you¡¯re truly a man. If it were me, I probably wouldn¡¯t have had the courage. Respect, and from now on, let¡¯s see who dares to look down on you.¡± Besides the boost in approval, the reversal of his reputation was clearly a major gain from Jiang Chen¡¯s heroic rescue. Meanwhile, at the girls¡¯ dormitory, it was even livelier. Guo Ran and Xu Siyi were surrounding Li Shuru, showing genuine concern and care. Zheng Jingjing, on the other hand, was describing the terrifying moments of the event in an animated and vivid manner. When she got to the exciting parts, she couldn¡¯t help but gesticulate wildly, almost reenacting the scene. ¡°Jing Jing, is it really that exaggerated?¡± Guo Ran expressed her skepticism. Although the incident was the talk of the school, after all, rumors tend to exaggerate. The fact that Jiang Chen saved Li Shuru might be true, but they doubted the situation was as dire as rumored. ¡°Not one bit exaggerated!¡± Zheng Jingjing said earnestly, ¡°If Jiang Chen hadn¡¯t grabbed the rope in time at that moment, he might have fallen down with Shu Rui, and if he had hesitated even for a second, Shu Rui might have...¡± ¡°Do you know how high that was? Over two thousand meters! Surrounded by clouds and mist, you couldn¡¯t see the ground at all! I guarantee if you were there, you¡¯d be too scared to move a step!¡± ¡°Was Jiang Chen really that brave?¡± Guo Ran was still somewhat skeptical. Zheng Jingjing nodded emphatically. ¡°We all misunderstood Jiang Chen. At that moment, everyone was petrified, except for him. If it wasn¡¯t for him, Shu Rui might not have made it back.¡± ¡°I used to think that he pursued Shu Rui maybe to upset his ex-girlfriend, but now I realize I was wrong. He might truly have fallen in love with Shu Rui.¡± Hearing this, Xu Siyi couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Love?¡± ¡°Jin Jin, do you even know what love is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Without hesitation, Zheng Jingjing quickly said, ¡°But if a man is willing to risk his life for a woman, isn¡¯t that love? What else could it be? Sure, there are many boys around us, but in that situation, would they really be so reckless? Si Yi, could any of your ex-boyfriends do that?¡± Xu Siyi was immediately embarrassed and speechless. ¡°If I ever met someone who would do that for me...¡± Zheng Jingjing murmured. ¡°Then what?¡± Guo Ran looked curious. Zheng Jingjing, unabashed, said bluntly, ¡°Then I¡¯d be sure about him.¡± ¡°No matter if he¡¯s rich or not?¡± Xu Siyi asked. ¡°Yeah, no matter if he¡¯s rich or not,¡± Zheng Jingjing replied without hesitation, nodding. ¡°So what if he¡¯s rich? Does Liang Zhenlun lack money? But what resulted? How did he treat Ai Qian? If he¡¯s not rich, we can work hard together. A man who truly cares for you is what matters most.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, I didn¡¯t expect that after just one mountain climbing trip, our Jin Jin¡¯s outlook on life could elevate so dramatically,¡± Xu Siyi shook her head in wonder. ¡°If you had seen what happened, you would definitely feel the same as I do.¡± People are constantly growing. Their worldviews also continuously change and reshape during this time. In the past, Zheng Jingjing thought wealth epitomized happiness, represented an endless supply of cosmetics, every day a new designer bag, and everything else, it was the most important measure of a person. But today, on the plank walkway, the sight of Jiang Chen with one hand gripping the rope and the other firmly holding Li Shuru, screaming at her to help save lives, struck her soul like never before. All she had firmly believed in before paled under the sight of that reddened face with bulging veins. ¡°Shu Rui, I think you should let Jiang Chen go for Jin Jin; this girl has spring fever.¡± Xu Siyi teased. ¡°He likes Shu Rui, not me; what good is ¡®letting him go¡¯ to me?¡± Zheng Jingjing sighed. Guo Ran was at a loss for words. When on earth had the renowned Jiang Chen become such a sought-after prize? After chatting for a while, the girls dispersed. Li Shuru sat in the chair, wanting to do nothing and letting her thoughts drift away. If even a bystander like Zheng Jingjing was so deeply shaken, how much more so for her? It started with the face she looked up to see after slipping on the Longmen Plank Walkway that day. Her memories slowly retraced. She began to try and reexamine that young man with an unbiased perspective. ¡°What is Shu Rui thinking about?¡± Guo Ran gave Zheng Jingjing a meaningful look. Zheng Jingjing glanced at the daydreaming Li Shuru. ¡°Let her be alone for a while. After such an incident, she¡¯s definitely not a little scared.¡± After what seemed like a long time, Li Shuru suddenly smiled inexplicably, her eyes regaining their sparkle as she took out her phone from her bag. She went to the contact list, to the blacklist, and released a certain number. ¡°Decide on the spot soon, no waiting when it¡¯s too late.¡± Decided. Send. Chapter 58 - 58 Plum blossom fragrance comes through the bitter cold ?58: Plum blossom fragrance comes through the bitter cold. 58: Plum blossom fragrance comes through the bitter cold. Integrated Education Building. Jiang Chen and Luo Peng had just finished class and were chatting as they walked out when suddenly they heard two car horn beeps. ¡°Beep, beep...¡± He turned his head and saw a snow-white Panamera parked at the bottom of the stairs, drawing pointing fingers and whispering from passing students. As a top-tier developed city, students at East University weren¡¯t just from any ordinary domestic university. Aside from a few special cases like Jiang Chen, the general family background of the students was definitely way above the national average. It wasn¡¯t unusual for East University students to have cars, but luxury sports sedans worth millions like the Panamera were really not that common. Many people knew that this was Li Shuru¡¯s car. ¡°Why is Li Shuru here?¡± ¡°Is she waiting for someone?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, she¡¯s definitely waiting for Jiang Chen.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, that bootlicker?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with bootlicking? He had the guts to risk his life to save someone, do you dare to do that? Which girl wouldn¡¯t be smitten by such a man?¡± ¡°Are you saying Li Shuru has fallen for Jiang Chen? Impossible...¡± ¡°Impossible or not, ever since that incident, their relationship has indeed become extraordinary. Li Shuru never has classes here; why else would she come if not for him? Don¡¯t tell me you think she¡¯s here for you?¡± ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± Luo Peng nodded towards him. Jiang Chen handed his books to Bai Zheli, ignoring the prying eyes from all directions, and confidently walked towards the highly-attention-grabbing Panamera. ¡°Tsk, tsk, a sword is sharpened on the whetstone, and plum blossom fragrance comes from the bitter cold. Jiang Chen has... finally made it.¡± Watching Jiang Chen get into the passenger seat, Luo Peng was filled with emotion. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Li Shao shook his head with a smile, sent a blessing glance towards the Panamera, and then walked away with Luo Peng and Bai Zheli. ¡°I can just take a taxi; this is... too high-profile.¡± As the car door closed, it shut out the public¡¯s rumors and gossip, but it couldn¡¯t block the various gazes. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, are you afraid?¡± Li Shuru, true to her nature, turned her head. She never seemed to care about the gaze of others. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I could only wish for this.¡± Jiang Chen chuckled, not bothering to hide his thoughts either. Li Shuru remained silent, started the car, and turned it around. Bathed in envious stares, they drove off campus. ¡°Just the two of us?¡± Jiang Chen looked back. The back seat was empty. He thought Li Shuru might have invited Zheng Jingjing, Xu Siyi, and the others. ¡°Otherwise?¡± Li Shuru drove, undistracted. She was dressed simply today: pencil pants, flat shoes, and her long hair lazily spread out. Her face, always a delight to behold, seemed suitable for both light and heavy makeup. In fact, Xu Siyi and the others did know about tonight¡¯s dinner where she meant to treat Jiang Chen, but since it was a ¡°gratitude dinner,¡± Zheng Jingjing said it wasn¡¯t appropriate to attend, so Guo Ran and Xu Siyi didn¡¯t come either. ¡°Two people is good; those who don¡¯t know might even think we¡¯re on a date.¡± Jiang Chen blurted out flirtatiously without thinking. If this were the past, hearing such words would have earned him a cold stare from Li Shuru. But today, she didn¡¯t react at all ¡ª she didn¡¯t get angry and even followed up with, ¡°A date is fine, but the gentleman should pay.¡± Li Shuru wasn¡¯t clueless about romance or worldly wisdom. It¡¯s just that the Jiang Chen of the past wasn¡¯t in her world, hence not worthy. She must have been joking, but Jiang Chen seemed to take it seriously and continued, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s what you said. The gentleman will pay.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Just at that moment, the light at the intersection turned red, and Li Shuru brought the car to a halt, glancing at him. ¡°The Banqiu Pavilion you picked is a high-end restaurant that¡¯s well-known all over East Sea; even for two people, a meal there isn¡¯t cheap.¡± This might be a well-intentioned reminder. But at the same time, it was also a serious blow to a man¡¯s pride. ¡°Look down on me, will you?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, ¡°It¡¯s just a meal; as long as you¡¯re happy, no matter how expensive, it¡¯s worth it. I think many men would envy me for this opportunity.¡± Women are creatures of hearing. Girls are the same. Li Shuru¡¯s lips curved into a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t put on a strong front; actually, it doesn¡¯t make much difference where we eat. If you insist on treating, let¡¯s change the location.¡± She really seemed not to mind if Jiang Chen labeled this ¡°thank-you dinner¡± as a ¡°date.¡± ¡°No way, it has to be Banqiu Pavilion.¡± Jiang Chen insisted. That¡¯s just how stubborn men can be. ¡°Beep beep...¡± There was a sound of an urging horn from behind. The red light had already turned green. Li Shuru stopped talking and continued driving towards Banqiu Pavilion¡¯s direction without changing the navigation. Banqiu Pavilion, a premium chain dining brand, has branches in all first-tier and most second-tier cities. It targets the social elite class; having a casual meal there and spending ten or eight thousand yuan is commonplace. The parking lot even had dedicated staff to guide guests, making them feel welcome. ¡°Welcome to Banqiu Pavilion.¡± The welcoming hostess at the door was wearing a graceful cheongsam, tall and lithe; to put it without exaggeration, each one could be pulled out to be a car model. Tsk tsk, Is this the world of the rich? Looking around, all the customers were dressed in grandeur, the men in suits and leather shoes, and the women bright and beautiful. Although Jiang Chen was also dressed quite decently, clean and neat, in this setting, he seemed a bit out of place. Fortunately, the staff at Banqiu Pavilion were very professional, and perhaps because of the Porsche, there was no contempt, and they respectfully led Jiang Chen and Li Shuru to an empty table. In such a place, Li Shuru had been here before, but for Jiang Chen, it was genuinely his first time. Opening the menu with the texture and appearance of an artwork, saying he was scared was an exaggeration, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling some emotion. A common plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat actually costs 158 yuan, a blatant daylight robbery. Of course. Jiang Chen also understood, at places like this, what¡¯s eaten is the ambiance. If it were cheap, these social elites wouldn¡¯t be dining here. It¡¯s the same reason a bottle of mineral water sold in a convenience store for two yuan is sold in a five-star hotel for twenty. ¡°Order whatever you want to eat, feel free.¡± Li Shuru, without lifting her head from the menu, said. With that demeanor and paired with her looks, she truly resembled a socialite. Jiang Chen understood that she was subtly reminding him that she would be paying the bill, to ease his mental pressure. Li Shuru said to order freely, and Jiang Chen really did not hold back. Li Shuru was still looking, but he had already started calling the shots, just like ordering skewers at a street stall, he even ordered a bottle of Bertus from ¡¯07. ¡°Let¡¯s start with these for now.¡± Jiang Chen closed the menu, feeling satisfied. Li Shuru raised her head. ¡°Miss, is there anything else you would like to order?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡± Li Shuru, who hadn¡¯t had a chance to order a single dish, handed the menu back to the waiter while glancing around at Jiang Chen. Chapter 59 - 59 059 Date ?59: 059 Date 59: 059 Date ¡°How much was that bottle of champagne you just ordered?¡± Li Shuru asked. ¡°Seems like it was over thirty thousand, what¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Chen replied nonchalantly, as if talking about three yuan instead of thirty thousand. Indeed, it¡¯s really not painful when it¡¯s not your own money being spent. Li Shuru fell silent. With her current wealth, she could afford champagne that cost over thirty thousand, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit wasteful to drink such expensive champagne?¡± Without trying to pretend to be generous, Li Shuru still raised the point, ¡°I just think that, for our first date, we should drink something nice.¡± Jiang Chen seemed to belatedly realize the impropriety of his action. He naturally wasn¡¯t a connoisseur of wine, and Li Shuru might be a bit more knowledgeable than him, but probably not by much. In reality, for most people, drinking a champagne worth tens of thousands and one costing a few hundred makes almost no difference. ¡°...Should I call the waiter over and return the bottle?¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± Li Shuru shook her head. Although she felt it was a waste, she was the one who invited him, and had said he could order whatever he wanted, so it wouldn¡¯t be good to go back on her word now. Moreover, compared to the favor Jiang Chen had done for her, a few tens of thousands for a bottle of champagne was nothing. Even if Jiang Chen intentionally ripped her off, she was willing to accept it. And besides, being in such a high-end place as Bertus, ordering and then returning would be embarrassing. ¡°I drove here, so I can¡¯t drink. You¡¯ll have to finish it by yourself later.¡± Li Shuru said calmly. Jiang Chen was astonished, ¡°How can I finish it on my own?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t finish it, take it with you. Since you ordered it, you should handle it. Such an expensive bottle of champagne can¡¯t go to waste,¡± Li Shuru said, looking at him with a threatening glimmer in her eyes. This kind of ¡°threat¡± was obviously quite different from before. Jiang Chen was unfazed, meeting her gaze squarely with a meaningful tone, ¡°Shu Rui, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so thrifty.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not spending your money, so of course, you don¡¯t feel the pinch,¡± Li Shuru said bluntly. Jiang Chen smiled. This was the proper way to communicate. The old Li Shuru was like a perennial slab of glacial ice, cold and impenetrable, allowing no point of attack. Now, she was more like a flesh-and-blood human being. They say that the first step in pursuing a girl is the most crucial. Once you take that first step, you¡¯ve succeeded by more than half. Even the most exalted goddesses are no different from ordinary girls once you bring them down from their pedestal. ¡°I said I would treat you, did you think I was joking?¡± Jiang Chen said earnestly. Li Shuru didn¡¯t respond, clearly not taking his words to heart. Even the affluent would consider a thirty thousand yuan bottle of champagne extravagant, let alone a young man working odd jobs and studying frugally. ¡°Shu Rui, what a coincidence.¡± A few young men passed by, one of them glanced at Li Shuru inadvertently, then stopped in surprise. He had a demeanor somewhat similar to Liang Zhenlun, but he was more pleasing to the eye, ¡°And who is this?¡± He turned his gaze to Jiang Chen. ¡°Hello, Jiang Chen, Shu Rui¡¯s senior,¡± Jiang Chen politely stood up, showing neither humility nor arrogance. The man sized him up and then nodded with a smile. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Xiang Xingren, a friend of Shu Rui¡¯s,¡± After exchanging greetings, Xiang Xingren did not linger. He moved away with his friends and sat down at a nearby table. They kept glancing over, laughing and discussing something. ¡°One of your admirers?¡± Settling back into his seat, Jiang Chen asked with poised composure. ¡°No, just someone I met at the bar,¡± From Li Shuru¡¯s expression, one could tell that she didn¡¯t have a particularly close relationship with that Xiang Xingren. ¡°They¡¯re definitely discussing the nature of our relationship right now, believe me?¡± Jiang Chen seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, not needing to look back to know they were being watched. ¡°What relationship is that?¡± Li Shuru said indifferently. This girl was truly different. Some girls, especially the playful ones, would go out of their way to pretend they were single even if they had boyfriends, but she was different; she seemed to not care at all about being misunderstood or about the opinions of others. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about affecting your reputation outside,¡± Upon hearing this, the corners of Li Shuru¡¯s mouth ticked up in a semi-smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly what you wanted to see?¡± Jiang Chen was all righteousness as he immediately said, ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re thinking too narrowly of me. I do want to pursue you, but I would never resort to such despicable tactics.¡± Li Shuru was noncommittal. ¡°Bertus, it appears to still be from ¡¯07. This guy, doesn¡¯t show his true face.¡± Seeing the wine at Li Shuru¡¯s table, one of Xiang Xingren¡¯s friends was quite surprised. It seemed only then that Xiang Xingren thought it natural. For a girl like Li Shuru to actually date an ordinary student would be the real surprise. Quite obviously. He would never guess who was treating this meal. ¡°Bertus, a toast to you both for your fine taste,¡± Not all rich young masters are arrogant and conceited; at least Xiang Xingren was quite humble and easygoing, taking the initiative to come over and offer a toast. ¡°This guy¡¯s not bad, he¡¯s got class; that¡¯s a man from a prominent family for you,¡± Jiang Chen remarked. ¡°Are you feeling utterly inferior?¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t even lift her head. Jiang Chen chuckled and said nothing. ¡°That¡¯s hardly the case. Although he¡¯s certainly charming, I¡¯m not bad myself,¡± The cutlery in Li Shuru¡¯s hands paused for a moment. ¡°Have you ever dined alone with him?¡± Jiang Chen asked casually. Li Shuru remained silent, the cutlery once again moving. ¡°There you have it, you¡¯ve never dined alone with him. On that point alone, don¡¯t I have the upper hand?¡± Jiang Chen rambled on, full of confidence. Li Shuru didn¡¯t contradict him, simply focusing on her meal. ¡°Such good wine, aren¡¯t you going to have some?¡± ¡°Enjoy it yourself,¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t press, sipping his drink while muttering, ¡°Such expensive wine, yet not as tasty as a simple beverage.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Women tend not to eat much, and Li Shuru was the first to put down her utensils, elegantly wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Then, she picked up her bag, took out her wallet, and pulled out a credit card. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Chen asked, puzzled by the credit card pushed in front of him. ¡°When you settle the bill later, use this card,¡± Jiang Chen smiled wryly, instantly understanding her thoughtful intention. Without a doubt, this was Li Shuru considering his dignity, going out of her way to give him the card and let him pay the bill. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that; I¡¯ll take care of it myself,¡± Jiang Chen was somewhat touched, but he had no intention of accepting Li Shuru¡¯s kindness. Although this meal wouldn¡¯t cost ¡°much,¡± even a mosquito¡¯s leg is still flesh¡ªhe had to find a way to increase his ¡°investment,¡± or else where would the substantial returns come from later? Just then, Li Shuru¡¯s phone rang. She took it out and glanced at it. ¡°I need to take this call,¡± Jiang Chen nodded. Li Shuru stood up and left. Jiang Chen looked at the credit card still lying on the table, picking it up. Chapter 60 - 60 060 Accident ?60: 060 Accident 60: 060 Accident About ten minutes later, Li Shuru returned, her face pale and tinged with a hint of panic. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Chen quickly noticed her unusual demeanor. ¡°My father had an accident.¡± Li Shuru was very anxious and, without bothering to explain further, began searching for the nearest available flight on her phone, finding one that was departing in over two hours. ¡°Sorry, but I need to go back.¡± After booking the flight, an anxious Li Shuru grabbed her bag, ready to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you,¡± Jiang Chen said as he stood up too. Li Shuru looked at him. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll go home with you; I mean I¡¯ll accompany you to the airport. You can¡¯t just leave your car there, right?¡± There was no time to think too much, and Li Shuru nodded her head. The two of them quickly walked outside. ¡°Please come again soon,¡± said the restaurant staff as they departed. Since he had been drinking, it was Li Shuru who drove, with Jiang Chen in the passenger seat. Li Shuru was so flustered that when pulling out of the parking space, she almost scraped the Toyota Land Cruiser next to her. ¡°Stay calm, being anxious won¡¯t help anything.¡± Jiang Chen handed her the credit card, ¡°Your card.¡± ¡°Put it in the bag.¡± They hadn¡¯t finished the bottle of Bertus that cost over thirty thousand, but Li Shuru could no longer care about that now. She brought up the navigation and quickly drove towards the airport. ¡°What happened to your uncle?¡± Jiang Chen asked. ¡°Heart disease.¡± Li Shuru spoke hurriedly, and Jiang Chen had never seen her so frantic, ¡°My father¡¯s heart condition has been weak for a long time, and he was hospitalized for it a few years ago. Today, he suddenly passed out again.¡± ¡°Good people are watched over by heaven; your uncle will be okay,¡± Jiang Chen said, unsure of how else to comfort her. Li Shuru didn¡¯t say anything more and focused on driving, weaving through the traffic, and narrowly avoiding several collisions. Fortunately, they reached the airport without incident. Li Shuru parked the car and handed the keys to Jiang Chen. ¡°Thanks for your help.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Jiang Chen spoke softly, ¡°Go on, hurry.¡± Li Shuru nodded, grabbed her bag, and turned to push open the car door and get out. Jiang Chen watched her until she went into the airport. ¡°Jin Jin, yes, I need to go home. Can you please ask for a few days off for me...¡± Inside the terminal, Li Shuru finished her call, clutching her phone and slowly exhaling. Calm down. Panic wouldn¡¯t solve any problems at this moment. Li Shuru looked up at the flight information board and then down at her phone, only to find that there were several unread WeChat messages. She opened them to find, to her surprise, there were messages from Xiang Xingren. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to have made you buy me dinner.¡± Looking at the message, Li Shuru could not help frowning. Buy him dinner? What did he mean? She sent a ¡°?¡± in response. ¡°It was supposed to be my friend¡¯s treat today, but when we went to pay, the waiter told us that you had already taken care of the bill. Shu Rui, your classmate is truly too courteous,¡± Xiang Xingren sent another message. Xiang Xingren was a smart man. Although the waiter told him that the lady at the other table had paid the bill, he could easily guess who it really was. The relationship between him and Li Shuru wasn¡¯t that close yet, and since Li Shuru was a girl, there was no need for her to do such a thing. He also knew that Li Shuru wasn¡¯t a rich heiress. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll treat the two of you to a meal,¡± Xiang Xingren sent another message. Li Shuru did not respond again. She definitely did not offer to pay the bill, so could it have been Jiang Chen? She went to answer the phone and left her credit card on the table, could it be that Jiang Chen took her card to show off? Thinking it over and over again. It seemed like the only possibility. Men, after all, who doesn¡¯t care about face? Li Shuru rummaged through her bag and found the credit card again, then checked her phone for text messages. Generally, there would be a notification after a credit card is charged, but strangely enough, she had not received any alerts so far. Perhaps a meal¡¯s worth of money isn¡¯t a big deal, but if someone secretly charges another person¡¯s card to maintain their own reputation without the cardholder¡¯s knowledge, then there is a problem with their character. Subconsciously, she wanted to call Jiang Chen and confront him, but after hesitating, Li Shuru felt that he didn¡¯t seem to be the kind of lowly person. Could there be some misunderstanding? To err on the side of caution, Li Shuru decided not to call Jiang Chen¡¯s number, but instead called the bank. ¡°Hello, I would like to inquire about...¡± After inquiring about the card¡¯s transaction history, Li Shuru was surprised to discover that it wasn¡¯t a lack of charge notifications, but that the card had indeed not been used at all that day. ¡°Thank you.¡± She slowly put down the phone, somewhat dazed. I am a billionaire. I want everyone to know that you have taken this fish pond under your control. It¡¯s on me. ... Each phrase echoed in her ears like a haunting spell. If Jiang Chen didn¡¯t use her card, how did he settle the bill? And how did he pay for Xiang Xingren¡¯s table? Obviously. The only possibility was that he paid the bill himself. But the problem was, he was famously known for being broke; where did he get so much money?! Li Shuru took a deep breath, immediately wanting to call and get to the bottom of things, but just then an announcement came on. ¡°Flight CZ3101 is about to take off. Passengers of this flight, please prepare to board.¡± Li Shuru raised her head, listened to the repeating broadcast, and had to temporarily put aside her plan to question Jiang Chen, packed up her phone, picked up her bag, and walked towards the boarding gate. At this moment, Jiang Chen had called for a ride-sharing driver and was on his way back to Dong University. Don¡¯t drink and drive; don¡¯t drive and drink. As a law-abiding good citizen, he naturally wouldn¡¯t do anything against the law and regulations. ¡°Handsome guy, are you a student at Dong University?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Seemingly detecting a hint of envy in the ride-sharing driver¡¯s voice, Jiang Chen said with a smile, ¡°This car isn¡¯t mine; it belongs to a junior girl at school.¡± To his surprise, upon hearing this, the ride-sharing driver became even more envious, glanced sideways at Jiang Chen, and said sourly, ¡°Handsome guy, you¡¯re quite lucky.¡± Jiang Chen simply smiled without a word. In the following two days, Jiang Chen once again topped the hot news at Dong University. The news that Li Shuru¡¯s Palamera was used by him spread to every corner of the campus. If their relationship wasn¡¯t close to a certain degree, how could one possibly lend out their car? For a while, rumors about the two dating were rampant, numerous guys beat their chests in frustration and grief, muttering about the hatred of a stolen wife and even claiming they wanted to smash the car. But they only muttered, not daring to take any action. Such an expensive car, they couldn¡¯t afford to compensate for it. So even though the white Palamera was parked brazenly beneath the men¡¯s dormitory, it remained completely undamaged. Of course. Apart from the curses, there were also some people who unreservedly supported Jiang Chen, saying this was a great victory for men. A penniless guy winning over a rich and beautiful woman, how inspiring and heartening? From a lovesick pup to a hero, Jiang Chen was now on the verge of becoming an idol. ¡°Jiang Chen, I fucking salute you, you¡¯re the man.¡± Even Luo Peng, who prided himself as a ladies¡¯ man, admitted defeat and was thoroughly impressed. ¡°Lend me the car for tonight. I¡¯ve got an event, you know what I mean.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t assist in tyranny or help you harm innocent girls.¡± ¡°Screw you, think you¡¯re better than everyone else, so holier-than-thou!¡± While they joked in the dormitory, Jiang Chen¡¯s phone began to ring. It was Li Shuru. Chapter 61 - 61 Meet the Parents ?61: Meet the Parents 61: Meet the Parents East Sea People¡¯s Hospital. Inpatient Department. Li Shuru walked out of the building, her expression haggard. ¡°When did you come back?¡± Jiang Chen, who had driven here, asked with concern. ¡°Today.¡± Jiang Chen looked towards the gloomy and oppressive inpatient building. ¡°How is uncle doing now?¡± Li Shuru slowly exhaled. ¡°Dilated cardiomyopathy.¡± Jiang Chen, of course, could not understand such a professional medical term and tentatively asked, ¡°Is it serious?¡± ¡°Without a heart transplant, he won¡¯t make it through the year.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent. No wonder there was such a rush to transfer to East Sea, it had already become so serious. ¡°We¡¯ve already registered, and we¡¯re undergoing heart matching. If there¡¯s a suitable heart, we can proceed with a heart transplant.¡± Jiang Chen did not know how to comfort her at that moment. ¡°It¡¯s not your dad who¡¯s sick, why the long face?¡± Li Shuru even managed a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I hurried over to East Sea today and haven¡¯t really eaten anything. Come on, keep me company for a bit to eat.¡± Jiang Chen nodded silently. The two left the hospital and casually found a restaurant by the roadside. ¡°Have you found a place to stay?¡± On the way, Jiang Chen had learned that Li Shuru¡¯s mother had also come. That was to be expected. With her husband suffering such a serious illness, naturally, she needed to be by his side. ¡°There¡¯s a place to stay in the hospital.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a short-term matter, uncle will need to stay in East Sea for a while, you can¡¯t always have aunt squeeze in the hospital, right?¡± Li Shuru realized this problem only after Jiang Chen¡¯s reminder. A few days didn¡¯t matter. But her father¡¯s illness couldn¡¯t be cured overnight. Even if they found a suitable heart in time and performed the surgery, there would be a period of postoperative care; all these things took time. ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy these days, I didn¡¯t think about this. I¡¯ll help my mom look for a place to stay next.¡± ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re already tired enough. If you don¡¯t mind, let me take care of finding a place to stay.¡± Li Shuru was taken aback by his words. Her relationship with Jiang Chen was, at most, that of friends, and even then, of a very ordinary kind. Such a personal matter was not something she should trouble him with. Yet the pressure brought by her father¡¯s critical illness was not just physical exhaustion, it was also mentally draining her, and she had never felt such an urgent need for someone she could rely on. ¡°Then, thank you for your trouble.¡± Instinct reminded Li Shuru she should refuse, but when the words came to her lips, she agreed anyway. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for? It¡¯s just a simple effort. Let¡¯s eat, what does aunt like? I¡¯ll bring some for her later.¡± Li Shuru picked up her chopsticks. She hadn¡¯t cried on her way home, she hadn¡¯t cried during the frantic transfer, but at that moment, a strong surge of sourness suddenly welled up from her heart, making her throat and nose tingle, to the point where even her vision started to blur. To avoid him noticing anything unusual, she lowered her head, her voice slightly hoarse as she said, ¡°You decide.¡± Jiang Chen, understanding, didn¡¯t expose the strength the girl was pretending to have. No matter how cold and aloof, in the end, she was only twenty years old. The meal passed in silence. After settling the bill, Jiang Chen carried the packed food, accompanying Li Shuru back to the hospital. ¡°I won¡¯t go up, here, this is your key.¡± At the base of the inpatient department building, Jiang Chen stopped, took out the car keys, and handed them to Li Shuru. Li Shuru, of course, did not have the energy to care about the rumors at school these past few days, and looking at her car keys, she didn¡¯t immediately take them. ¡°Then how will you go back?¡± ¡°Take the subway, it¡¯s very convenient.¡± Li Shuru shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t need the car for now, you can keep it.¡± Jiang Chen did not insist. ¡°Okay, then, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Li Shuru remained silent. Jiang Chen handed her the packed food, then turned around. Li Shuru¡¯s eyes flickered, as if she was struggling with something. It wasn¡¯t until Jiang Chen had walked seven or eight meters away that she suddenly called out. ¡°Wait.¡± Jiang Chen looked back. ¡°Come up with me,¡± she said. Under the remaining glow of the setting sun, Li Shuru¡¯s unadorned face was elegant and gentle. In the elevator. Jiang Chen was still muttering about whether to buy a gift or not, as if he was going to meet her parents. But, to be honest, this meeting did have an extraordinary significance. ¡°That¡¯s enough, my mom isn¡¯t that fussy,¡± she said. Eighth floor. The elevator doors opened. The two walked out side by side. As a result, Li Shuru herself became somewhat nervous and actually walked past the ward, then awkwardly turned back. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t tease her. He glanced at the room number and felt somewhat apprehensive himself. After all, he had never experienced such a situation before. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back,¡± she said. This was a double room. In front of the bed on the left, a middle-aged man lay unconscious, surrounded by various machines, with IVs in his arm and an oxygen tube in his nose. The woman sitting at the bedside, holding his hand, looked somewhat like Li Shuru. She must have been a beauty in her youth, but now her well-maintained face was filled with worry and pain. ¡°Mom, I brought you some food. Come and eat,¡± she urged. ¡°Just set it aside for now,¡± the woman said hoarsely. Xue Mingqin, clearly lacking appetite, turned her head inadvertently and saw that another young man had entered the room with her daughter. She was taken aback. ¡°Rui Rui, who is this...?¡± she asked. Li Shuru smoothed her hair and said, ¡°Mom, he¡¯s my senior, Jiang Chen.¡± ¡°Hello, Auntie,¡± Jiang Chen said quickly, giving a greeting with all the propriety of a junior, warm and modest. Xue Mingqin sized him up and then forced a smile. ¡°Hello, have a seat. Rui Rui, get a chair for him.¡± ¡°No need, I can stand,¡± he replied. Li Shuru didn¡¯t insist and urged her mother again, ¡°Mom, you really should eat something. You can¡¯t afford to fall ill at a time like this.¡± ¡°Auntie, East Sea¡¯s medical facilities are very advanced. Uncle will certainly be fine. You need to take care of yourself,¡± Jiang Chen added. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll eat,¡± Xue Mingqin agreed and stood up, taking the bowl and chopsticks from her daughter. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two going to eat a bit?¡± she asked. ¡°Jiang Chen and I have already eaten,¡± Li Shuru replied. Xue Mingqin nodded and then deliberately glanced at Jiang Chen, her expression natural but her gaze holding a slightly unusual quality. ¡°Little Jiang, how long have you and Shu Rui known each other?¡± Xue Mingqin asked casually during the meal. ¡°I¡¯ve known Shu Rui for quite some time now. After all, she¡¯s quite famous in our school. But she hasn¡¯t known me for very long,¡± Jiang Chen replied. ¡°That¡¯s not true, you¡¯re quite famous at school too,¡± Li Shuru interjected. Jiang Chen paused in his conversation. ¡°You two kids, what¡¯s with this riddle game? Can¡¯t you just tell auntie how long you¡¯ve known each other?¡± she pressed. ¡°About a month,¡± Jiang Chen finally replied truthfully under Xue Mingqin¡¯s gaze. A month? Xue Mingqin looked at her daughter with a hint of reproach, ¡°Rui Rui, it¡¯s been a month, why didn¡¯t you tell your mother?¡± It was obvious. The kind of ¡®knowing each other¡¯ that she understood was undoubtedly different from what Jiang Chen had meant. Chapter 62 - 62 062 Xue Mingqin ?62: 062 Xue Mingqin 62: 062 Xue Mingqin ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not a child anymore, do I really need to report to you who I befriend?¡± ¡°How can that be the same?¡± Xue Mingqin reproached, ¡°You¡¯re my only daughter, such an important matter, how could you keep it from mom?¡± Hearing this tone, Jiang Chen instantly understood that the auntie had definitely misunderstood something, and he subconsciously glanced at Li Shuru, only to see her face full of embarrassment and at a complete loss as to what to do. ¡°Mom...¡± Li Shuru probably wanted to explain something, but Xue Mingqin did not give her the chance to explain. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you a senior this year?¡± She looked towards Jiang Chen. ¡°Yes, Auntie.¡± Jiang Chen was not someone to take advantage of others in their time of vulnerability, although the misunderstanding of Li Shuru¡¯s mother about their relationship was harmless to him, he still did not want to take advantage under these circumstances. He might not consider himself a perfect gentleman, but there were still things a man ought to do and ought not to do. It¡¯s just that at this moment, given his position, it really wasn¡¯t easy for him to speak up, he could only wait for mother and daughter to communicate in private later. ¡°What do your parents do?¡± Xue Mingqin immediately asked. It seems that as a parent, this question is of particular concern. ¡°Mom!¡± Li Shuru couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and hastily interrupted, ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with asking this question?¡± Xue Mingqin frowned. As the parent of a daughter, isn¡¯t it completely normal and justified to understand the family background of the man? ¡°Auntie, my parents are no longer alive.¡± Upon hearing this, Xue Mingqin was taken aback and then a hint of apology appeared on her face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Chen...¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Jiang Chen smiled slightly. Under these circumstances, Xue Mingqin did not pursue the topic further and quietly ate her meal. After staying in the hospital room for a while, Jiang Chen found an appropriate time to take his leave. ¡°Rui Rui, after sending Jiang Chen off, remember to bring back a few towels.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Li Shuru accompanied Jiang Chen as they left the hospital room together. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°No need, I actually prefer it this way.¡± Jiang Chen said with a laugh. Indeed, the hospital is not a pleasant place. In the corridors, one could see emaciated patients and their somber and despairing family members everywhere; the air is not only filled with the smell of disinfectant but also seems to have a coagulant added, making it hard to breathe. ¡°I will explain to my mom.¡± Li Shuru said softly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain. It doesn¡¯t bother me anyway.¡± Jiang Chen teased. The two entered the elevator. ¡°About my dad being sick, I hope you can keep it a secret for now.¡± Jiang Chen could entirely understand Li Shuru¡¯s feelings; not everyone likes to ¡°show off¡± the hardships in their life. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I may not have many virtues, but my lips are definitely sealed.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we friends? No need to be so formal.¡± Li Shuru turned her head to glance at him. She had to admit that her mood had eased a lot since this young man arrived. ¡°Ding...¡± The two stepped out of the elevator. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need help with, just let me know.¡± Descending the stairs of the inpatient department, Jiang Chen whispered softly. ¡°I know, you go back first.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Li Shuru nodded. Jiang Chen headed towards the Palmera, got into the car, and left. This sports sedan, originally purchased with his money, seemed to have come back into his hands in another way. After watching the Palmera drive out of the hospital, Li Shuru went to the convenience store to buy two towels and some daily necessities. ¡°Rui Rui, are Jiang¡¯s parents really gone?¡± Back in the ward, Xue Mingqin immediately grabbed her and asked. ¡°Mom, who would joke about something like that.¡± ¡°Then what do you think? With his parents gone, who will take care of your children when you have them in the future?¡± Xue Mingqin asked urgently, her expression extremely serious. Indeed, to the older generation, this was a very serious issue. ¡°Mom, what are you talking about!¡± The astonished Li Shuru was just relieved that Jiang Chen had already left; otherwise, she feared she would be too embarrassed to face anyone. He had merely come out of politeness to visit, and yet the conversation had already turned to the topic of children. ¡°Jiang and I are just friends, Mom, please don¡¯t get carried away!¡± ¡°Go on, keep making things up.¡± Xue Mingqin¡¯s gaze was sharp, as if she could see into people¡¯s hearts. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, do you think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in your heart? ¡®Just friends,¡¯ yet you let him come up here? Isn¡¯t he the first boy you¡¯ve ever brought home?¡± Li Shuru was at a loss for words. ¡°But we really...¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Xue Mingqin interrupted her, glancing at her husband on the hospital bed. ¡°Actually, your dad has been mentioning that it¡¯s time for you to find someone too. He was just worried that you¡¯re too selective and wouldn¡¯t settle for an average guy. If he knew you had a boyfriend, he¡¯d probably be very happy.¡± Li Shuru, wanting to explain, felt choked up, ¡°Mom...¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Xue Mingqin said with a smile. ¡°Since he¡¯s your choice, of course I support you. Your dad always said a man doesn¡¯t need to be too rich, he just needs to be dependable, praising himself in the process. Although their parents are no more, I can tell, that boy Jiang, he¡¯s decent. My judgment of people is always accurate. Given he¡¯s from East Sea University, his capabilities must not be too far off, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much about the future. And you, don¡¯t be too proud. A relationship is about mutual accommodation and compromise. If it¡¯s always one-sided, the relationship is bound to have troubles eventually. These words, in fact, have always been your father¡¯s nagging at home. He always thought you were too fussy, but was too embarrassed to say it to you. Now, there¡¯s no way for him to say it, so it¡¯s left to me.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s throat turned sour and her eyes reddened. Xue Mingqin stroked her daughter¡¯s hair, now as tall as herself. ¡°My Rui Rui has really grown up.¡± Li Shuru, who had been pretending to be strong over the past few days, finally couldn¡¯t hold back her tears anymore. ¡°Why cry?¡± Xue Mingqin wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said with a laugh, ¡°Why don¡¯t you learn from Jiang, to be more positive and optimistic? That is the most valuable quality of a man.¡± Li Shuru leaped into her mother¡¯s embrace. Xue Mingqin stroked her glossy black hair. ¡°All right, stop crying. You¡¯ll go back to school tomorrow. In any case, we can¡¯t let your studies be delayed. I¡¯ll take care of your dad.¡± ¡°Mom, dad will be okay, right?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s voice was choked, hardly resembling the aloof and proud belle of the arts college, but rather a frightened and helpless young girl. Perhaps it¡¯s only in front of one¡¯s parents that a person can truly reveal their most genuine self. ¡°Your dad said that he still wants to see you get married and have a family, to hold his grandchildren. With so many wishes unfulfilled, how could your dad bear to leave?¡± Li Shuru, buried in her mother¡¯s embrace, was overcome with emotion, tears pouring down like rain. At this moment, she truly empathized with Jiang Chen, realizing just how strong he had been to have come this far, carrying the burden of disdain and condemnation. Chapter 63 - 63 063 cheers ?63: 063 cheers 63: 063 cheers 1917. Although not as high-end as KIMI, it¡¯s more popular with students because it¡¯s closer to East Sea University and the prices are more down-to-earth. ¡°Si Yi, what¡¯s actually going on with Shu Rui and Jiang Chen now?¡± In the flickering lights, Liang Zhenlun, young master Liang, clinked glasses with the girl beside him. He had organized tonight¡¯s gathering, inviting seven or eight people, all from East Sea University. ¡°Young master Liang, I knew it, nothing comes without a reason; if not treachery, then theft.¡± Xu Siyi laughed playfully. Liang Zhenlun took a sip of his drink, smirked, and said, ¡°What are you talking about? These are two different matters.¡± ¡°Come on, as if I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to?¡± Xu Siyi took a sip of champagne, her skirt-clad legs crossed, the dim light of flashy neon making her glance at Liang Zhenlun seductively. ¡°I want to ask first, what¡¯s your situation with Ai Qian now?¡± ¡°Why bring her up?¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s expression darkened immediately. ¡°It¡¯s crucial.¡± Xu Siyi said with a smile, ¡°Shu Rui and I are close friends. If you are still a ¡®married man,¡¯ sorry, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you with anything.¡± Liang Zhenlun was no fool and could easily read between the lines. His expression instantly brightened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, how could I possibly be that kind of fickle person? Ai Qian and I have already broken up.¡± Xu Siyi¡¯s smile grew richer, but inwardly she scoffed. Fickle and inconstant. Don¡¯t insult that term. You are simply despicable. Of course. Xu Siyi wouldn¡¯t be so rash as to verbalize these thoughts. What kind of person Liang Zhenlun was had nothing to do with her. After all, his target wasn¡¯t her. ¡°Young master Liang, you can¡¯t lie to me. If I remember correctly, Ai Qian was someone you fought hard to snatch from someone else¡¯s grip, and you¡¯ve given her up so easily?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you.¡± Liang Zhenlun was also a master at playacting, immediately putting on a heartbroken fac?ade. ¡°I was deceived by her. At first, I thought she was a good girl, but who knew she was so different inside. After she got together with me, she still maintained a secret connection with another man, utterly shameless!¡± Those who didn¡¯t know might even think he was the victim. Pah! Shameless! Xu Siyi spat inwardly, but her face betrayed nothing as she swirled her champagne glass. ¡°Excuse me for asking, young master Liang, but do you really like Shu Rui, or are you just specifically trying to pick a fight with... Jiang Chen?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Liang Zhenlun put on an air of innocence and quickly added, ¡°I know, there have been quite a few rumors at school saying that I don¡¯t get along with him, but those are false. There are some minor conflicts between me and senior Jiang, but it¡¯s nothing serious, and to say I¡¯m deliberately picking a fight with him is complete nonsense.¡± Xu Siyi frowned slightly, surprised. Senior Jiang? Why was Liang Zhenlun suddenly being so polite about Jiang Chen? And it seemed like he was actively clarifying that there was no feud between them. Xu Siyi silently took a sip of her champagne, a bit puzzled. ¡°Si Yi, I heard that Shu Rui has been letting senior Jiang drive her car; is that true?¡± ¡°Hmm, Shu Rui has gone home.¡± ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± Xu Siyi said, ¡°But ever since the mountain climbing trip last week, her relationship with Jiang Chen seems to have gotten closer.¡± Xu Siyi herself had never anticipated such a development. ¡°Heh, Senior Jiang is quite the strategist, isn¡¯t he?¡± Liang Zhenlun clutched his wine glass, his smile more sneer than sincere. ¡°No choice, who can compete with someone willing to risk their life? Not just Shu Rui, even I probably wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Xu Siyi sighed, Liang Zhenlun glanced at her, shook his head with a profound meaning, and said, ¡°No, you could.¡± Xu Siyi was taken aback, then her complexion involuntarily changed. The other party was clearly mocking her for being opportunistic and vain. Although anger welled up inside her, she dared not confront him ¨C after all, Liang Zhenlun was not Jiang Chen. ¡°Young Master Liang, with Shu Rui¡¯s current rise, becoming a top broadcaster is just a matter of time. If she really chooses to be with Jiang Chen, haha, that would be the classic case of a salted fish leaping through the dragon¡¯s gate.¡± Even if she didn¡¯t dare offend him overtly, that didn¡¯t mean Xu Siyi would swallow her pride. She immediately found a different way to retaliate. Li Shu Rui is now driving a Panamera, while you have a second-hand Maserati. Li Shu Rui¡¯s income will only get higher and higher in the future. One man¡¯s success can lift all his kin to heaven. If Jiang Chen gets together with her, his status will skyrocket instantly, and you, with your so-called wealthy second-generation title, won¡¯t even be worthy of comparison. In the past, this would have infuriated Liang Zhenlun, who would have inevitably lashed out, calling the guy a freeloader. But now, he was unusually calm. After all, setting aside whether Jiang Chen could cling to Li Shu Rui¡¯s success, what he was most concerned about was what kind of background this Jiang Chen kid really had! The image of Bai Haoran stabbing himself had haunted him like a nightmare, jolting him awake on several nights. If what Bai Haoran said was true, and Jiang Chen really knew the director of Sifang Group, then he would definitely keep a low profile, change strategies, and quickly seek to turn the rival into a friend. But if not. Heh. Even if the relationship between the two wasn¡¯t clear at the moment, even if Li Shu Rui really started dating Jiang Chen, he had plenty of ways to snatch her away. Stealing love with the sword¡ªif it can succeed once, it can succeed a second time. Therefore, the most pressing matter was to figure out exactly who Jiang Chen was. Everything else could wait. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Shu Rui to be so successful with her self-media. It¡¯s really quite impressive.¡± Liang Zhenlun tactfully shifted the conversation away from delicate topics. Seeing him not taking the bait, Xu Siyi felt even more puzzled. Today¡¯s Liang Zhenlun was undeniably a bit off. In the past, he would have lost his temper by now, not shown such magnanimity. ¡°By the way, someone gave my mom a pair of earrings, but after wearing them a few times, she didn¡¯t like them very much, so I took them.¡± Liang Zhenlun said as he pulled out a jewelry box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a set of jadeite earrings, gleaming and lustrous. ¡°Si Yi, if you like them, they¡¯re yours.¡± Clearly, he had come prepared. It was undeniable that he knew how to play to a woman¡¯s heart. Like a magnet, Xu Siyi¡¯s gaze locked onto the jadeite earrings, her previous displeasure instantly dissipated. ¡°Young Master Liang, this is too valuable...¡± She only mentioned their value, not whether she liked them or not. Liang Zhenlun was very understanding, smiling, he said, ¡°Anyway, it was a gift to someone else. My mother won¡¯t wear it, and it would just sit around otherwise. Better to give it to someone who would appreciate it.¡± Xu Siyi¡¯s cheeks flushed, not from shyness but excitement. ¡°Take it,¡± Liang Zhenlun closed the box and handed it to her. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll accept it then.¡± Xu Siyi did not hesitate any longer and took the jewelry box. ¡°Cheers.¡± Liang Zhenlun raised his glass. Xu Siyi¡¯s smile was radiant as she drank with him, with an unspoken understanding passing between them. Chapter 64 - 64 064 So what ?64: 064 So what? 64: 064 So what? ¡°Shu Rui, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Saturday. Li Shuru, who had been missing for four days, finally returned to school. As soon as she entered the dormitory, Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran came up to her with concern. ¡°What happened? Why did you suddenly decide to go home?¡± ¡°My dad fell ill.¡± Even with her best effort to disguise it, the immense stress on her mind and body was still evident in Li Shuru¡¯s haggard expression. ¡°Your uncle fell ill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not serious, is it?¡± ¡°Just a small issue.¡± Li Shuru forced a smile, reluctant to say more. Her inherent pride made her unwilling to accept the sympathetic gazes of others. ¡°Why is Si Yi still sleeping?¡± She looked towards the bed on the left, changing the subject. ¡°She went out drinking last night and had too much.¡± Li Shuru nodded her head. Even though they sensed that something was off with her, Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran, seeing that she did not want to talk, exchanged a glance and did not press further. Noon. Li Shuru received a phone call. Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran had gone out to buy food, and she took the phone out to the balcony. ¡°Uncle.¡± ¡°Rui Rui, how is your dad doing now?¡± ¡°The doctor said he must have a heart transplant.¡± ¡°Ah, so there was no solution even in East Sea?¡± A sigh came from the other end. ¡°No wonder your mom wants to sell the house.¡± ¡°What?¡± Li Shuru was taken aback and confirmed, ¡°My mom wants to sell the house?¡± ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°My mom didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°Your mom probably didn¡¯t want to stress you out. She¡¯s always been strong, and now with your dad¡¯s serious illness, she doesn¡¯t want to trouble us either. A heart transplant, even if a donor heart is found, will cost at least one or two million for the surgery. Your mom is out of options. But if she sells the house, where will she live afterward?¡± ¡°Uncle, you must persuade my mom not to sell the house. I¡¯ll find a way to deal with the surgery expenses.¡± This issue was something Li Shuru truly hadn¡¯t considered. After all, she was still too young, unable to realize many things. Moreover, her mother Xue Mingqin had remained tight-lipped, never mentioning how much the surgery would cost. If it weren¡¯t for this phone call, the house might have changed hands without her even knowing. Although their home couldn¡¯t be considered a mansion, it was where she had grown up, and it held the most precious memories for their family. ¡°You have a way? What can you do?¡± The voice on the other end spoke gravely, ¡°I also don¡¯t support your mother selling the house, but under the current circumstances, to save your dad¡¯s life, the only option is to have the money ready in advance. After all, hospitals don¡¯t care about personal feelings. The only solution now is to mortgage your house, take out a loan to deal with the immediate crisis, and figure out how to pay it back later.¡± One or two million could be an astronomical figure for the average person, enough to be suffocating, but not for Li Shuru. At the very least, her account currently held more than two million, not to mention the fixed asset that was her Porsche Panamera. But these things, she could not reveal to her uncle right now. How could a girl still in school have so much money? With her father still in the hospital, she did not want to stir up gossip within the family at this time. ¡°Shu Rui, your family is selling the house?¡± Possibly awakened by the phone conversation, Xu Siyi climbed out of bed, walked to the balcony, and looked at Li Shuru with suspicion as she put down the phone. Li Shuru was restless, her mind preoccupied with how to solve this dilemma; she didn¡¯t hear what Si Yi said, nor did she respond. Talk to her mother about making hundreds of thousands from live streaming? Let alone her mother, even she herself, without any prior preparation, would find it difficult to accept such news if it were suddenly sprung on her. Li Shuru had intended to gradually and methodically reveal her situation to her family, but her father¡¯s illness had completely disrupted her plans. But no matter what, their family had only that one house, and it definitely could not be sold. ¡°Jiang Chen, where are you?¡± She picked up her phone again. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°What¡¯s so urgent?¡± Downstairs at the girls¡¯ dormitory. Li Shuru pulled open the door and got into the eye-catching Panamera. ¡°I need to ask a favor of you.¡± Facing Jiang Chen¡¯s puzzled gaze, she got straight to the point. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°First you tell me whether you¡¯re willing to do it.¡± Jiang Chen was puzzled and said with a wry smile, ¡°Shu Rui, if you don¡¯t tell me exactly what it is, how will I know if I can help?¡± ¡°You can.¡± Li Shuru looked straight at him, and whether it was the expression on her face or not, at that moment, this proud and aloof belle of the art college appeared to have a touch of pitiable stubbornness. After a moment of eye contact, Jiang Chen pressed his lips together and nodded, ¡°Okay, since you¡¯ve brought it up, I naturally wouldn¡¯t hesitate to go through water and fire.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that serious.¡± Li Shuru took a deep breath. ¡°I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend.¡± Jiang Chen started, his eyes unconsciously widening, doubting whether he was hallucinating. ¡°What did you say?¡± He was in disbelief. ¡°I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend.¡± As shameless as those words sounded, at this point, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°A heart transplant surgery costs at least one to two million, conservatively estimated.¡± Jiang Chen nodded. He knew this. ¡°My mom is going to sell the house,¡± Li Shuru continued. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± At this, Jiang Chen sensed something was off and interrupted, ¡°Sell the house? Why is she selling the house?¡± ¡°Because we can¡¯t come up with that much money.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have it?¡± Jiang Chen frowned. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking for your help.¡± Li Shuru stared intently at him. ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t know I¡¯ve earned so much money, and I can¡¯t tell her now, or she¡¯ll definitely get the wrong idea. So, I need your help.¡± As their eyes met, Jiang Chen seemed to gradually understand. ¡°You mean... you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend, and then I come up with the money?¡± As expected of a scholarship winner year after year, his thinking was indeed quick. ¡°Exactly.¡± Li Shuru said calmly, ¡°I give you the money, and you give it to my mom. Only this way she will be able to accept it.¡± ¡°But will your mom believe it?¡± Jiang Chen questioned, ¡°Will she believe that I¡¯m a person who can come up with hundreds of thousands?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Li Shuru shot back the question without hesitation, which was quite thought-provoking. Jiang Chen was momentarily taken aback. ¡°On the day I went home, at Banqiu Court, you paid the bill, and you even settled Xiang Xingren¡¯s account without using my card,¡± Li Shuru said, looking into his eyes. Jiang Chen fell silent. ¡°So, the problem you mentioned is not a problem at all.¡± These days, because she was too busy, she had no time to investigate this matter, but Li Shuru at least understood one thing: everyone in school had underestimated this young man. ¡°But aren¡¯t you afraid... that the pretense might turn into reality?¡± Facing his meaningful gaze, Li Shuru turned her head to lean on the leather seatback, looking out the windshield at the envious students outside, and slowly exhaled. ¡°If my dad can get through this safely, then what does it matter if the pretense turns into reality?¡± Chapter 65 - 65 065 Fate ?65: 065 Fate 65: 065 Fate Even though Li Shuru kept her lips sealed, as roommates who were with her day and night, Xu Siyi and the others still noticed something was off from her behavior. After their persistent concern, Li Shuru eventually revealed the truth about her father being seriously ill and hospitalized. Hearing this news, Zheng Jingjing and the others were deeply shocked and immediately expressed their desire to visit, but Li Shuru did not allow them to. On Tuesday afternoon, Jiang Chen waited at the entrance of the Arts Institute in a Panamera, and in the presence of countless onlookers, he picked up Li Shuru. ¡°Could Shu Rui really be together with Jiang Chen?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this progressing a bit too fast?¡± ¡°Shu Rui won¡¯t let us go to the hospital, yet she allows Jiang Chen to accompany her, what does this imply? Jiang Chen might have already met Shu Rui¡¯s parents.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal. Now that Shu Rui¡¯s dad is this sick, she definitely needs someone she can rely on.¡± Taking advantage of Zheng Jingjing and the others sending off the Panamera as it drove away, Xu Siyi quietly sent out a text message. The Panamera smoothly exited through the school gate. This time, Jiang Chen was driving. ¡°I have looked at a few houses online that are quite close to the hospital, and the environment isn¡¯t bad either. If it¡¯s convenient later, we can take your aunt to have a look, and if she likes it, we can finalize the house.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Li Shuru looked ahead, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Ready for what?¡± Jiang Chen did not understand at first. Li Shuru turned her head, ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten what I told you, have you?¡± Glancing sideways at her for a moment, Jiang Chen caught on and gave a wry smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, of course I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± He countered with a question, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Ready for what?¡± ¡°They are your parents, after all; they surely know you very well. So if you want to deceive them, you are the key,¡± Jiang Chen said while driving. ¡°By the way, how is your uncle doing now? Any better?¡± ¡°He was awake for a while, but he¡¯s mostly been in a comatose state. The doctor said that if he doesn¡¯t undergo surgery, the periods he¡¯s awake will get shorter and shorter. Now it¡¯s once every few days, then it will be every few weeks, a month or two, and finally, he might never wake up again.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent for a moment. ¡°Is there any news from the organ donation center?¡± ¡°Not so fast,¡± Li Shuru said softly, ¡°There are many people waiting for surgery, you have to register and queue up.¡± As she spoke, she took out a bank card from her bag and handed it to Jiang Chen at a red light. ¡°There are two million in this card. Later, please give it to my mom.¡± Jiang Chen did not refuse and took it. ¡°Thank you,¡± Li Shuru thanked him again. Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank, it¡¯s not my money.¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t respond, just watched the countdown timer of the traffic light, hesitated for a moment, and still began softly, ¡°Your parents... when they passed away, what were you feeling?¡± For a moment, Jiang Chen¡¯s expression froze, and he stayed silent for a while, until the red light turned green and he released the brake, and then he spoke, ¡°When my mother passed away, I was only in junior high school. She was a very nagging person, always had something to say about everything. During the funeral period, I didn¡¯t shed a single tear, and it seemed like there was no sense of sadness in my heart.¡± Li Shuru turned her head, giving him a look. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a very cold-blooded person?¡± Jiang Chen laughed. ¡°It was only after some time that I realized, when a loved one departs, people usually don¡¯t feel sad in that moment. What truly brings you grief is the half carton of milk left in the fridge, the devil¡¯s ivy swaying gently in the breeze on the windowsill, the fluffy blanket neatly folded on the bed, and the din of the washing machine late at night.¡± Gazing at that lightly smiling profile, Li Shuru fell into a slight trance. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Jiang Chen begin to say, ¡°There¡¯s no need for comforting words; it¡¯s all in the past. I¡¯ve made it through the hardest days. Look at me now, aren¡¯t I doing quite well?¡± Li Shuru fell silent, leaning back in her seat, finally understanding why some women choose men who, at first glance, seem unremarkable. Some men appear to have nothing, yet they possess a strong spiritual force. Those who have had an easy life, dressing in fine clothes and riding high horses like exquisitely maintained luxury yachts, have not weathered many storms, so a single jolt might leave them utterly dejected. But Li Shuru believed that this young man beside her would not be like that. Even if life trampled him into the mud, he would still sculpt a dandelion out of it. Just like his demeanor over the past few years at school, no matter how much scorn and ridicule he suffered, he always appeared unaffected, calm and openhearted. ¡°Choosing to leave you might become Ai Qian¡¯s biggest regret in life.¡± Li Shuru said softly. ¡°Although you asked for my help, you don¡¯t need to flatter me like that, I will be embarrassed.¡± Jiang Chen laughed, not showing a trace of embarrassment. Li Shuru didn¡¯t call him thick-skinned. ¡°I can understand why you chose to hide your financial situation, but why, when Ai Qian was about to leave you, were you still unwilling to reveal the truth to her? If you had told her, she might not have left you, and your ending could have been different.¡± ¡°Would it have mattered?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s smile slowly faded. In truth, it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t reveal it; it was that he had been genuinely penniless at the time. Of course. Now he could easily reclaim his old love, but he was no longer inclined to do so. ¡°Have you ever thought that by doing this, you were also being unfair to Ai Qian?¡± At these words, Jiang Chen frowned slightly. ¡°Testing love with no money, and testing love with money, there¡¯s really no fundamental difference. Because the moment you decide to test the durability of a piece of glass, that glass is doomed to shatter.¡± Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look at the girl next to him. ¡°If I remember correctly, Ai Qian even cursed at you once.¡± Li Shuru remained unfazed, ¡°What I said is the truth.¡± Jiang Chen fell silent, pensive. Although Li Shuru wasn¡¯t aware of the whole truth, everyone indeed has the right to seek the happiness they desire. So all along, he truly didn¡¯t hate Ai Qian that much; if they had met later in life, the outcome might have been different. But the order in which people enter our lives is not something we can control. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, but if feelings have to be calculated in terms of black and white, right and wrong, then there¡¯s no point.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s lips curled slightly as he said softly, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just fate.¡± Li Shuru looked out the window, quieting down. They arrived at the Central Hospital. Jiang Chen opened the door and stepped out, heading towards the inpatient department, but Li Shuru called out to him. ¡°Let¡¯s go buy something first.¡± Jiang Chen looked puzzled. During his last visit, he had offered to buy some visiting gifts, only to be refused by Li Shuru, ¡°Your status is different this time.¡± Seeming to realize what he was thinking, she dropped that remark and turned away. Jiang Chen suddenly understood and promptly followed. Chapter 66 - 66 Cooperation ?66: Cooperation 66: Cooperation ¡°Jiang Chen, it¡¯s enough that you¡¯re here, no need to buy so much stuff.¡± Seeing Jiang Chen enter with his arms full, Xue Mingqin quickly came forward to greet him and took the bags from his hands, not forgetting to scold her daughter. ¡°Rui Rui, you too, he¡¯s not an outsider, there¡¯s no need to waste like this.¡± Before entering, the two had a thorough conversation, so they both appeared nonchalant about such comments. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s just some nutritional supplements, they didn¡¯t cost much.¡± ¡°Yeah, they didn¡¯t cost much.¡± Jiang Chen agreed. ¡°But with your dad like this, he can¡¯t eat them anyway.¡± ¡°You can eat them, though.¡± Li Shuru said. ¡°You child.¡± Xue Mingqin shook her head and looked at Jiang Chen, ¡°Don¡¯t do this next time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Chen nodded with a smile. ¡°Mom, Jiang Chen and I came over today to take you to look at some houses.¡± ¡°Look at houses?¡± Xue Mingqin was startled. Li Shuru looked at her father on the hospital bed, ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t know how long it will take for him to recover, you can¡¯t keep sleeping in the hallway, can you?¡± Xue Mingqin felt a bit embarrassed; such conversations between mother and daughter were fine in private, but Jiang Chen was also present. ¡°Auntie, Shu Rui and I want to rent a place for you nearby, we came today to take you to see it.¡± Jiang Chen interjected timely. ¡°Rent in East Sea is so expensive, it¡¯s not worth wasting the money, I¡¯m quite alright here.¡± Xue Mingqin forced a smile. Li Shuru glanced at Jiang Chen. Her mother wasn¡¯t always so frugal, but now that her father was seriously ill and the astronomical medical bills were still unclear, her mother naturally became extra careful with every penny in such a critical time. ¡°Auntie, no matter how expensive the rent is, it¡¯s not as important as your health. If you wear yourself out, what will Uncle do? Please listen to me on this matter, I¡¯ve already picked out a few places, you just need to come with us and take a look.¡± Jiang Chen displayed the right amount of assertiveness. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t stand on ceremony, Jiang Chen has been looking at houses these days, you can¡¯t let his efforts go to waste, right?¡± Caught between the two, Xue Mingqin had no choice but to nod. ¡°Okay, but you guys can pick the house, just make sure it¡¯s small. It¡¯s only me living there, I don¡¯t need a large place.¡± Li Shuru neither agreed nor disagreed and asked, ¡°Mom, Uncle has called me, he said you¡¯re selling the house.¡± Xue Mingqin¡¯s face changed, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell him not to tell you?¡± ¡°Mom, Uncle meant well. If you sell the house, where will you live afterward? Will you rent again?¡± ¡°You child, there will always be a way.¡± Xue Mingqin said urgently, while sneakily glancing at Jiang Chen, clearly because she didn¡¯t want to reveal their family¡¯s predicament in front of an outsider. ¡°Auntie, are you selling the house because of Uncle¡¯s surgery fees?¡± Who knew Jiang Chen, like a young fool, would just blurt out the sensitive matter. Even though she was distraught, Xue Mingqin still had her pride, especially as an elder. ¡°Jiang Chen, this is our family¡¯s personal affair, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Auntie, I didn¡¯t mean to offend. What I¡¯m saying is, if the issue is really the surgery costs, there¡¯s no need to sell the house at all.¡± Xue Mingqin frowned, puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Chen pulled out a bank card. ¡°Auntie, Uncle is ill, and there¡¯s not much I can do to help. There are two million in this card, please consider it a small token of my concern,¡± Jiang Chen said. With that manner and presence, it was hard to believe he wasn¡¯t a wealthy heir. An ordinary person would hardly doubt it. Xue Mingqin was inevitably stunned, staring at the card for a long while, with her eyes trembling intensely. Her daughter had told her that this young man¡¯s parents were no longer alive. Consequently, she subconsciously thought his family must be in financial difficulty. She had never imagined he could casually offer a whopping two million! Xue Mingqin¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She didn¡¯t know what to say and looked involuntarily toward Li Shuru. Li Shuru nodded at her. It would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t tempted. After all, accepting this money would mean there was no need to sell the house, hence no risk of homelessness, yet Xue Mingqin eventually resisted the temptation. ¡°Jiang Chen, no, I can¡¯t take this money. You and Rui Rui are just dating. If I accept it, what will others think of our family, of Rui Rui?¡± Xue Mingqin kept shaking her head. ¡°No, I absolutely cannot accept it.¡± Facing such a vast sum, not everyone has the willpower to refuse, especially in a nearly desperate situation. Jiang Chen now somewhat understood why Li Shuru had asked him to help with the money. ¡°Auntie, please don¡¯t feel any pressure. This money is just a loan. Once Uncle gets better, you can return it to me. This sum is just a number in my account. Why not use it where it¡¯s needed?¡± he said. ¡°Mom, Jiang Chen has already said it. Just accept it,¡± Li Shuru added. ¡°Auntie, if you really don¡¯t want to accept the money and feel you must sell the house, then maybe consider this,¡± Jiang Chen proposed. ¡°Why not sell your house to me? Since it¡¯s going to be sold anyway. What do you think?¡± Jiang Chen suggested. Xue Mingqin was taken aback. ¡°Jiang Chen, this...¡± ¡°You also find it problematic, right?¡± Eye to eye, Xue Mingqin gave a wry smile. Under their perfectly coordinated persuasions, she was clearly being swayed. ¡°Doing this... How could I feel right about it?¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be polite with me,¡± Jiang Chen replied. He gave Li Shuru a meaningful look. ¡°We¡¯re family,¡± he said with depth. Watching the two young people, Xue Mingqin fell silent. Li Shuru was also silent. In the end, Xue Mingqin eventually accepted the card. Seeing how Xue Mingqin looked, it was obvious she had something to discuss with Li Shuru. Jiang Chen, understanding as always, offered to find a doctor and took the initiative to leave the ward. ¡°Exactly what kind of family does Jiang Chen come from? How can he have so much money?¡± Xue Mingqin couldn¡¯t help but ask as soon as the door was nearly shut. ¡°Weren¡¯t both his parents gone?¡± ¡°His parents are gone, but they left him a substantial inheritance,¡± Li Shuru improvised, not entirely clear on Jiang Chen¡¯s circumstances herself, but had to come up with a story before her mother. ¡°Inheritance?¡± Though surprised, the explanation was plausible, and Xue Mingqin quickly accepted it. Picking up the card, she then asked, ¡°Did you ask him for this money?¡± ¡°No,¡± Li Shuru said decisively. ¡°He offered it on his own initiative.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xue Mingqin scrutinized her daughter. Li Shuru met her gaze calmly and openly, ¡°Mom, if he weren¡¯t willing, do you think I could force him to give up so much money? We¡¯re talking about two million here. To put it bluntly, I, your daughter, am probably not worth that much.¡± ¡°Nonsense, my daughter is priceless!¡± Distracted by the remark, Xue Mingqin¡¯s focus shifted, and she mused, ¡°But to think that he would be willing to spend so much for you in such a short time of being together. It¡¯s your good fortune to meet someone like Jiang Chen, you mustn¡¯t let him down.¡± Li Shuru, who could only maintain silence, suddenly felt like she was selling herself for money, and yet her parents were still grateful to the buyer. Chapter 67 - 67 067 Current Price ?67: 067 Current Price 67: 067 Current Price Assuming the identity of a future son-in-law, Jiang Chen went to speak with the attending physician. The condition of Li Shuru¡¯s father turned out to be even less optimistic than he had anticipated. If a transplant surgery wasn¡¯t performed, he might not last another month, and that was a conservative estimate. Now, all medical measures were merely artificially prolonging his life, vying for time to find a heart match. Yet, the waiting time for a donor heart was unpredictable. Could Li Shuru¡¯s father wait that long? Jiang Chen figured that the mother and daughter had probably had enough time to talk by now, so he headed back to the ward, only to find an uninvited guest upon opening the door. ¡°Senior Jiang.¡± Exactly. Liang Zhenlun had actually come. Jiang Chen remained unruffled as he shut the door. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I was at the hospital to visit a friend, and I saw Shu Rui¡¯s car parked downstairs, so I gave her a call. I didn¡¯t expect Uncle to have had such a serious incident.¡± Turning to Li Shuru, Jiang Chen saw her face calm, showing nothing out of the ordinary. In front of Xue Mingqin, Jiang Chen naturally didn¡¯t let on, cordially exchanging pleasantries with Liang Zhenlun as if they were friends. Even Li Shuru started to admire his acting skills. Had she not known the full story, it would have been hard for her to imagine there was such animosity between the two men. ¡°Auntie, Senior Jiang, Shu Rui, I¡¯ve learned about Uncle¡¯s illness. Honestly, I have a friend whose relative works at the organ donation center, holding a not insignificant position. Maybe, he might be able to offer some help.¡± Upon hearing this, Xue Mingqin¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with excitement, and even Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true,¡± Liang Zhenlun said with a nod, ¡°How about I go make a phone call to him right now?¡± ¡°Xiao Liang, that would really trouble you.¡± Xue Mingqin quickly nodded her head in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s just a small effort, I¡¯ll step out for a bit.¡± Liang Zhenlun took out his phone and exited the ward. ¡°Dongda truly lives up to its reputation as a top university; every student there is so outstanding.¡± Xue Mingqin couldn¡¯t contain her joy. Jiang Chen merely smiled, without exposing Liang Zhenlun¡¯s true colors, and gave a meaningful glance to Li Shuru, wondering if Liang Zhenlun¡¯s visit was really a coincidence? Li Shuru shook her head, indicating she had no idea. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t dwell on that issue. Whether Liang Zhenlun had come to the hospital intentionally or not, if he truly could help, that was naturally a good thing. As for the grievances between himself and Liang Zhenlun, they could be temporarily set aside. ¡°Xiao Jiang, why don¡¯t you go and see what¡¯s taking so long? It¡¯s been quite a while,¡± Xue Mingqin was very anxious. Now that the surgery fee was ready, the only thing missing was the heart. Jiang Chen nodded, just about to head out when Liang Zhenlun, who had been on the phone for over ten minutes, came back in. ¡°How did it go?¡± Jiang Chen asked. ¡°He said he can make it happen,¡± Liang Zhenlun nodded. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Xue Mingqin was visibly elated, ¡°Xiao Liang, I really can¡¯t thank you enough!¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t rush to be pleased; he noticed something off about Liang Zhenlun¡¯s demeanor. ¡°Is there some kind of problem?¡± Liang Zhenlun hesitated, seemingly harboring an unspeakable difficulty. ¡°Just say whatever it is,¡± Li Shuru was also very anxious. Facing the gaze of the three of them, Liang Zhenlun frowned and said, ¡°It can be done, but to cut in line requires going through many connections, and there are many people to be taken care of.¡± ¡°Are you saying we need money?¡± Jiang Chen went straight to the point. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t beat around the bush, nodding in acknowledgment. ¡°Why?¡± Xue Mingqin was inexplicably puzzled, challenging, ¡°Aren¡¯t organs at the donation center donated by others for free? Why would we still need to pay?¡± ¡°Auntie, the organs are indeed donated by others for free, but if you use them, you have to pay, and that¡¯s even for jumping the queue. The blood in the blood bank is also donated, but if you go to the hospital for a transfusion, can you do it for free? It¡¯s the same principle.¡± This was the moment when Liang Zhenlun demonstrated great patience: ¡°There are so many patients waiting for a heart transplant across the country, a day earlier or later might mean life or death. The fact that money can make a difference is sometimes a blessing already, I¡¯m afraid that what you really should fear is that there might not be a suitable heart available; then no matter how much money you have, it wouldn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°How much money will it need?¡± Xue Mingqin asked. Liang Zhenlun looked at her and uttered an amount that was impossible to accept. ¡°Three million.¡± Xue Mingqin¡¯s face suddenly turned ashen. Even Li Shuru found herself gasping for breath. Withdrawing two million seemed easy enough, but it had already brought her close to her limit. In her current account, there was just over six hundred thousand, a relatively large sum for an ordinary college student, or even an ordinary person, but it paled in comparison to three million. ¡°Are they robbing us? We¡¯re just ordinary people, where would we get that much money?!¡± The rollercoaster of emotions caused Xue Mingqin to lose control. Indeed, this woman had been under tremendous pressure recently, and she was reaching her breaking point. ¡°Auntie, I tried my best, but my friend said he couldn¡¯t do anything either. This is the going rate.¡± Liang Zhenlun apologized. The going rate. What a chilling term. It even sounded colder than the air in the hospital room. ¡°Going rate? What is the going rate? Is this some kind of business deal?¡± ¡°Mom, calm down.¡± Li Shuru quickly took her mother¡¯s hand and then said to Liang Zhenlun, ¡°Thank you, you can go back now. If we need anything, we will contact you.¡± Liang Zhenlun nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± After giving polite nods to Jiang Chen and Xue Mingqin, the young master Liang turned and pulled open the door to leave, ¡°Three million, where can we get that much money?¡± Xue Mingqin was distraught. Their hometown was only a third or fourth-tier city, and house prices weren¡¯t high. Even if they sold their house, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. ¡°Mom, we don¡¯t necessarily have to jump the queue, we just need to wait for our turn,¡± Li Shuru tried to comfort her. At those words, Xue Mingqin showed a complex and bitter smile. ¡°Rui Rui, you¡¯re still young, there are things that you don¡¯t quite understand. Yes, we can wait patiently for our turn, but how do you know others won¡¯t ¡®jump the queue¡¯? If we can¡¯t afford this price, there will always be people who can.¡± Li Shuru was startled. She was indeed more mature than her peers, but she had yet to truly step into society and, even though she had some understanding of its rules, it was just the tip of the iceberg. Jiang Chen looked toward the man on the bed. The world never knew equality. He could comprehend Xue Mingqin¡¯s feelings at that moment. The most desperate thing is not the absence of hope, but the inability to grasp it despite its presence. In this hospital, every day countless people, due to poverty, could only watch their loved ones depart, some even opting to abandon treatment to avoid burdening their families further. A line in a particular movie described it poignantly. There¡¯s only one kind of illness in the world. It¡¯s the sickness of being poor. Chapter 68 - 68 068 A large debt is not a heavy burden ?68: 068 A large debt is not a heavy burden 68: 068 A large debt is not a heavy burden ¡°You all go ahead, I won¡¯t be joining you, no need for it to be too big, don¡¯t waste money.¡± Xue Mingqin sat down by the bedside again, her emotions clearly still unstable, not in the mood to look at houses. Jiang Chen and Li Shuru could only leave the hospital room. ¡°No wonder people say that safety is a blessing, two million in surgery fees, three million for jumping the queue, adding up to a whopping five million.¡± Li Shuru murmured. ¡°I¡¯ve asked the doctor already.¡± Walking down the hallway, Jiang Chen said softly, ¡°The doctor¡¯s advice is to operate as soon as possible, the sooner, the better. Uncle might not hold on for much longer.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying, the best solution is to pay to jump the queue, otherwise, my dad is just waiting to die.¡± Jiang Chen remained silent. ¡°I¡¯ve still got several hundred thousand in my card, and if I sell the car, I should be able to gather around one and a half million.¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t blame fate or others, instead immediately began thinking of solutions. For someone her age, to remain calm in such a situation was truly commendable. ¡°If we really can¡¯t make it, we¡¯ll just have to do as my mom said and sell the house.¡± One and a half million would only cover half; the reason she had previously disagreed with her mother selling the house was that Li Shuru believed she could help her family through this crisis. But now, she was willing but powerless. ¡°That¡¯s the only house your family has, if you sell it, where will your aunt and uncle live afterward?¡± ¡°What else can be done? We can¡¯t just let my dad lie in the hospital bed and wait to die, can we?¡± The always cool and proud Li Shuru finally showed signs of helplessness and bitterness. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I can help you.¡± Jiang Chen stated calmly. Li Shuru was taken aback. ¡°You help me? How can you... help me?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? I¡¯m not as poor as you think I am.¡± Jiang Chen smiled slightly. Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but stop in her tracks and turn to look at him. ¡°You mean... you can come up with three million?¡± Jiang Chen also stopped, nodding. ¡°Jiang Chen, are you not joking with me?¡± ¡°Do you think I would joke at a time like this.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s gaze was steady, meeting Li Shuru¡¯s. There was no trace of jest or lightness on his face. Li Shuru pursed her lips, as a gust of wind arose, stirring ripples in her heart¡¯s lake. She had guessed that Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t as simple as he appeared, but she never allowed herself to think too extravagantly, believing that a few million in inheritance from his parents was already impressive. But now, Jiang Chen¡¯s demeanor was subtly telling Li Shuru a fact: this young man¡¯s background and strength might exceed her previous expectations. Although she hadn¡¯t studied economics, she understood a simple truth: a person who can casually produce three million must have a net worth of at least ten million or more. ¡°Are you really willing to help me?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s gaze fixed intently on Jiang Chen, not letting her inner emotions show on her face. ¡°We are boyfriend and girlfriend now, if I don¡¯t help you, who will?¡± Jiang Chen said as a matter of fact, his peaceful smile, against the cold and pale backdrop of the hospital, seemed especially warm and sincere. ¡°If I don¡¯t help you, who will?¡± Li Shuru¡¯s heart trembled, she clenched her hands, wanting to say that their relationship was only pretend, but as she looked at that smiling face, into those eyes, all her words got stuck in her throat, and she didn¡¯t speak for a long time. ¡°Liang Zhenlun said something that¡¯s not wrong, sometimes being able to use money to keep the ones you love around is already a kind of luck.¡± At this point, Jiang Chen paused, and couldn¡¯t help but think, would his parents still be alive today if he had the ability back then? He smiled faintly. Thinking about these things now seems to have no meaning anymore. ¡°Give me your card number.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I won¡¯t be able to repay this money?¡± Li Shuru didn¡¯t hurry to pull out her bank card, nor did she express gratitude, still staring intently at Jiang Chen. No boy had ever managed to capture her attention this seriously before. ¡°What do I have to be afraid of?¡± Jiang Chen smiled, ¡°You¡¯re capable of earning so much money now. It¡¯s a sure bet that you¡¯ll become a big internet sensation in the future. Three million, it¡¯s only that much. Do you think I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll default on your debt?¡± ¡°Besides, if you can¡¯t repay the debt, even better, you¡¯ll have to pay with your body.¡± Li Shuru took a shallow breath, showing neither shame nor slight anger, ¡°Then I will write you an IOU.¡± This girl really was proud. Watching her now, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but think back to when she came to his dormitory building to repay the six thousand yuan she owed him. He shook his head, smiling. ¡°There¡¯s no need for an IOU; I trust you.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s eyes trembled. After leaving the inpatient department and getting into the car, Li Shuru finally sent her bank card number over. Jiang Chen transferred the money using his mobile phone right away. ¡°Your savings account ending in 2450 has received a transfer of 3,000,000 yuan. [Industrial and Commercial Bank]¡± Even though she knew that he wouldn¡¯t scam her, upon seeing the message confirming the transaction, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but feel a little shocked. ¡°Let¡¯s find a time to go see Liang Zhenlun together; the sooner we handle this matter, the better it¡¯ll be for your uncle.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Li Shuru nodded subconsciously, her voice softened for some reason, even tender. ¡°But how should I explain it to my mom? She believes that you¡¯ve already given two million; will she even accept the three million?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that simple?¡± Jiang Chen drove the car out of the hospital and said with a laugh, ¡°Just tell her that it¡¯s only natural and justified for a future son-in-law to help his father-in-law. And since she already took two million, what¡¯s the difference if she takes another three million? A big debt is not oppressive, after all.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®a big debt is not oppressive¡¯? Can¡¯t you speak more pleasantly?¡± Li Shuru glanced at him. Her tone didn¡¯t seem angry and even had a hint of coquettishness. Moreover, she didn¡¯t seem to object to the idea of a son-in-law and a father-in-law, which was unusual for the prideful belle of the fine arts college. On the way to view the house, Li Shuru looked at Jiang Chen from time to time, as if she had something to say but hesitated. ¡°Just say what you want to say. Being hesitant isn¡¯t like you,¡± said Jiang Chen, seemingly focused on driving. Upon hearing this, Li Shuru no longer suppressed her curiosity and asked directly, ¡°Just how much money do you actually have?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, a billionaire,¡± Jiang Chen replied, steering the wheel matter-of-factly. Li Shuru stared at him wordlessly. ¡°That¡¯s my personal privacy; I can¡¯t reveal it,¡± Jiang Chen added, then turned his head and lightly curled his lips in a teasing manner. ¡°However, if you agree to be with me¡ªand I mean for real¡ªthen I can tell you.¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Li Shuru reacted without hesitation, turning her head to look out the window, but there was no annoyance from being teased on her face. Instead, she bit her lip and blushed slightly¡ªa rare occurrence. In an age when honesty is scarce, a woman¡¯s blush speaks louder than a great deal of dialogue. Chapter 69 - 69 069 The Girl Who Walked Out of the Comics ?69: 069 The Girl Who Walked Out of the Comics 69: 069 The Girl Who Walked Out of the Comics ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a haggler.¡± The two of them quickly settled on an apartment, eschewing opulent but impractical sizes for a one-bedroom, one-living room, plus a small kitchen, located in a neighborhood just over ten minutes¡¯ walk from the hospital. According to convention, they paid a three-month deposit, and though the landlord initially asked for six thousand a month, Li Shuru bargained a full thousand off the price. It wasn¡¯t a lot of money, but enough to make Jiang Chen take another look at her. Before meeting Li Shuru, he instinctively felt that she was the type to spend freely, but since getting to know her, his impression of Li Shuru kept changing. Gossip truly can¡¯t be fully trusted. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m foolish? Even though it¡¯s near the hospital, her apartment isn¡¯t that well-decorated, and it¡¯s an old building, too. Five thousand is enough.¡± Li Shuru was serious about insisting on paying the rent herself. One had to admit, her reasoning was sound, no issues there, but something always felt a bit off about it coming from her mouth. Jiang Chen gave a wry laugh. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the goddess to be so down-to-earth.¡± ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± Li Shuru glanced at him. ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m sincere.¡± ¡°In front of you, I can¡¯t exactly call myself a goddess, can I, Mr. Trillionaire.¡± Li Shuru emphasized the words ¡°Mr. Trillionaire¡± very heavily. ¡°I was talking about being down-to-earth.¡± Li Shuru¡¯s voice faltered. Jiang Chen erupted into hearty laughter. The Paramela drove back into the hospital. ¡°Alright, you can go back, I¡¯ll go up on my own.¡± Jiang Chen, who had been about to open the door to get out, paused. ¡°Two hundred plus three hundred, that¡¯s five million in total. With so much money, my mom will probably find it really hard to accept. Let me go talk with her slowly.¡± Li Shuru explained. Jiang Chen also thought it made sense. In front of him, Xue Mingqin would probably be too embarrassed, so letting Li Shuru take her time to work on persuading her seemed the best option. ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°Be careful on your way.¡± In a gentle voice, Li Shuru said this as she opened the door and got out of the car. [Li Shuru¡¯s affection for you +20] This time, Jiang Chen did not feel surprised at all. On the contrary, he felt that an increase of only twenty was a bit stingy. After all, at this exact moment, Li Shuru might be at the lowest, most vulnerable point in her life, and his help was genuinely like sending charcoal in snowy weather. After all his hustle and the three million he even coughed up, her affection had just barely reached 50. Regarding this, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t feel any dissatisfaction. The sudden mishap in Li Shuru¡¯s family had inadvertently given him an excellent opportunity. 90. The goal that once seemed so out of reach now seemed within days of attainment. As he watched Li Shuru vanish from sight, Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze and turned the car around. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As the Paramela entered the gate of East Sea University, Jiang Chen had already reviewed his current expenses for the ¡°fawning over dogs¡± fund. From the time of receipt to now, he had spent just over ten million. In other words, if he were to complete the task of winning over Li Shuru right now, he would instantly transform into a millionaire. Millionaire. It sounded good, but in reality, with the rapid development of the times, a millionaire was no longer considered wealthy, just an ordinary citizen, not to mention in the expensive East Sea. Take for example the house Jiang Chen had just rented for Li Shuru¡¯s mother, which probably totaled sixty square meters. If sold at the current market rate, it would likely fetch five to six million! In other words, so-called millionaires in East Sea might not even be able to afford a bathroom. Thinking this, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly, why was there only a ten percent cashback? Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to have the full amount? Because his mind was preoccupied, his attention inevitably wandered. A figure suddenly darted out from the roadside, and by the time Jiang Chen reacted and slammed on the brakes, it was still too late. ¡°Hiss... Bam.¡± The Palamera came to a halt, and realizing he had hit someone, Jiang Chen quickly got out of the car. ¡°Classmate, are you okay?¡± In front of the car, a girl with a delicate face like that of a comic book character was lying on the ground, her pants torn and her palms scraped raw, her brow furrowed in pain, and a sketchpad lay beside her. Jiang Chen hurried over, not taking the time to admire the girl¡¯s beauty. ¡°Do you even know how to drive?¡± The girl¡¯s voice was pleasing to the ear, like a clear spring bubbling over stones, just that when she looked up and saw clearly the person who had hit her, her large, bright black eyes couldn¡¯t help but freeze for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, let me take you to the hospital.¡± Jiang Chen wanted to help her up but was also wary of the proprieties between men and women, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know whether to advance or retreat. Driving while distracted. It truly was his fault, but he couldn¡¯t have anticipated someone darting out from the woods. But having hit someone was having hit someone; he wouldn¡¯t shirk responsibility. ¡°Can you stand up?¡± The girl pursed her tender lips, surprisingly not showing any further anger, and got up from the ground with a limp. Since the car wasn¡¯t going fast, she probably wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, but the sight of blood on her pale hand was indeed pitiful. Such a person should be cherished and carefully protected in the palm of one¡¯s hand. Jiang Chen helped her pick up the sketchpad and realized why she had run out of the woods when he saw the landscape painting on it. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Seeing that she could stand up, Jiang Chen let out a sigh of relief but didn¡¯t dare to take her condition lightly, who knows if there might be internal injuries. It was then that he noticed the girl¡¯s striking beauty: her delicate nose, soft skin, obsidian-like manga eyes, and especially her thick and fluffy pigtails which were enough to break down any man¡¯s resistance. If some creep with a particular fetish saw her, they¡¯d probably lose control on the spot and turn into a wolf. ¡°No need.¡± The girl reached for the sketchpad in Jiang Chen¡¯s hand, seemingly intent on not making a fuss. ¡°Your hand is still bleeding, it needs to be dressed. I¡¯m sorry, but I really didn¡¯t mean it, I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± Jiang Chen initially thought she was scared or guarded, but her response made him pause in surprise. ¡°I know you¡¯re not a bad person.¡± After a brief moment of astonishment, Jiang Chen responded with uncertainty, ¡°... You know me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you.¡± Although the girl¡¯s voice didn¡¯t carry much anger, her beautiful eyebrows were still furrowed, evidently in pain. ¡°Since you¡¯ve heard of me, then you would know I¡¯m also a student at East University. Your hand really needs dressing, and other areas need to be checked too. If you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, then let¡¯s go to the infirmary.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression was sincere as he tried to appear as harmless as possible. The girl with the flawless features glanced at him, then down at her bleeding hand, and perhaps feeling that going back like that would be a bit scary, she fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. Jiang Chen opened the car door for her and placed the sketchpad inside. ¡°Get in.¡± Chapter 70 - 70 070 Future School Beauty ?70: 070 Future School Beauty 70: 070 Future School Beauty ¡°You, young man, how do you call that protecting a girl? It¡¯s just a superficial wound, fortunately, but if it left a scar, that would be for life. Such a beautiful girl, don¡¯t you feel sorry for her?¡± In the corridor, faced with the doctor¡¯s reprimand, Jiang Chen kept offering a sheepish smile, not daring to say a word in his defense. ¡°Alright, be more careful next time. You may go in now.¡± The female doctor shook her head and then turned to leave. After the doctor had walked away, Jiang Chen pushed the door open and entered. As a top university, East Sea University naturally had its medical facilities. Although they couldn¡¯t compare with top-tier hospitals, they were more than sufficient for handling minor injuries and illnesses. The girl sat at the edge of the bed, with her injured hand already bandaged. The pain had clearly lessened a great deal. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell the doctor that it was me who bumped into you?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t intentional, it was just an accident.¡± Not only was this girl exceptionally pretty, but her heart seemed to be very kind as well, at least worthy of the description understanding. If she had scolded him a few times, he might have felt better. But hearing her response only made Jiang Chen feel more ashamed. Outside the window, night had fallen. ¡°Do you need something to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t know how else to express his apology. The girl shook her head, ¡°I need to go back now.¡± Saying that, she got off the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Jiang Chen quickly offered. The two left the medical room and got back in the car. Sitting quietly in the back seat, the girl held onto her sketchpad, creating a rather somber atmosphere. Jiang Chen did want to say something to break the awkward silence but couldn¡¯t think of anything appropriate, so after much thought, he just offered his mobile number, ¡°If you feel unwell later, you can call me anytime.¡± This was what a man should be responsible for. The girl remained silent, and it was unclear whether she had remembered his phone number or not. With her responding this way, Jiang Chen found it inappropriate to keep chatting, so the car fell silent again. ¡°Stop the car.¡± There was still a good few minutes¡¯ walk from the girls¡¯ dormitory when the girl spoke up. Jiang Chen hit the brakes. Holding her sketchpad, the girl pushed the car door open. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± With one foot already out of the car, Jiang Chen seemed to suddenly remember to turn his head and call out. As the door slammed shut, at the same moment, three syllables were heard. ¡°Luo Li¡¯er.¡± Jiang Chen silently repeated the name and watched her walk away before he started the car again. ¡°Jiang Chen, you¡¯re playing the elusive dragon nowadays, huh? What, got yourself a wife and forgot your bros?¡± Seeing Jiang Chen return, Luo Peng, who was playing a game, simply went AFK and, spinning around in his chair, legs crossed, he teased. Jiang Chen glanced at his game stats, 1¡ª13. ¡°Sure enough, the first feeder of East Uni, as consistent as ever over four years.¡± Luo Peng wasn¡¯t embarrassed. ¡°That jungler was a fool. If you don¡¯t agree, how about a solo match?¡± ¡°Luo bro, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Chen is platinum!¡± Bai Zheli, who stood beside him watching his game play, reminded him. ¡°So what if he¡¯s platinum? I would have climbed too if the teammates I matched with weren¡¯t so terrible. Bronze is not my true level.¡± ¡°Luo bro, maybe you should stop trolling in the game. Your teammates are cursing you out.¡± You had to admit, the skills of these bronze players might not be great, but each was a veritable keyboard warrior. Seeing Luo Peng go AFK, they immediately began a flaming spree. The chat box was filled with a continuous stream of asterisks flashing across the screen. ¡°Dream of Thousands of Girls quits the game.¡± Luo Peng wasn¡¯t about to waste time arguing with these fools and shut down his Alienware laptop. ¡°Luo bro, you¡¯re gonna get banned doing this; didn¡¯t you spend a few thousand on your nickname?¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Luo Peng felt indifferent, ¡°I¡¯m a Heartjoy Club member.¡± Bai Zheli fell silent. ¡°Alright, no more nonsense, I¡¯ve got something to do, I¡¯m heading out.¡± Seeing Luo Peng stand up, Jiang Chen curiously asked, ¡°You¡¯re going out at this hour? To the bar again?¡± ¡°Superficial.¡± Luo Peng looked disdainful. ¡°You¡¯re practically about to achieve success, how can I fall behind.¡± ¡°What? Got a new target?¡± Jiang Chen asked with a smile. ¡°Ha, let me tell you, she¡¯s even prettier than Li Shuru, I¡¯ve never met a girl who has moved my heart like this.¡± ¡°You say that every time.¡± Jiang Chen was indifferent. Although not quite a playboy, his buddy was a bona fide womanizer, the only difference from Liang Zhenlun might be that he didn¡¯t go after someone else¡¯s girl. ¡°This time I¡¯m serious, if she really gets together with me, I swear I¡¯ll treat her wholeheartedly and won¡¯t ever look at another girl again.¡± Luo Peng spoke with conviction. Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen became a bit interested, ¡°What girl has that much charm?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a freshman.¡± Li Shao, emerging from the restroom, said with a laugh. ¡°A freshman?¡± Jiang Chen was a bit surprised, ¡°Luo Peng, you¡¯re mowing the young grass at your age?¡± ¡°Get lost, how is this old cow eating tender grass? I¡¯m not wasting time with you guys anymore, I¡¯m off.¡± As they watched Luo Peng leave, Jiang Chen sighed, ¡°It looks like another naive girl is about to be harmed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡± Bai Zheli said, ¡°I have a feeling Brother Luo might come back with his tail between his legs this time.¡± At this, Jiang Chen was somewhat taken aback. After all, Luo Peng in their dorm was undoubtedly a master of love affairs and a connoisseur at picking up girls. With his decent looks and a solid family background, he was almost always successful in achieving his goals and had never known defeat. ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Does that girl have very high standards?¡± ¡°She should be no worse than Li Shuru, at least.¡± Li Shao joined the conversation. Li Shao never spoke nonsense and Li Shuru¡¯s haughty and proud heart was widely acknowledged. Jiang Chen¡¯s curiosity grew. ¡°Who is she, so impressive?¡± ¡°Just a freshman and already recognized as a candidate for the school beauty, you tell me if that¡¯s impressive.¡± Jiang Chen looked at Li Shao in surprise. ¡°Our school has a school beauty?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t one before, but it won¡¯t be long before there probably will be.¡± It¡¯s well known that having a class beauty or department beauty is normal, but a school beauty is much harder to define due to different standards, as tastes vary greatly among people. Moreover, the title of school beauty is more about the honor of a school, so it¡¯s even less likely to be decided upon hastily. Thus, East Sea University had never had a definitive school beauty. ¡°If that junior becomes the school beauty, I¡¯ll cast a supporting vote.¡± Even Bai Zheli, who was only interested in his studies, said as much. ¡°The girl Luo Peng is after, is it her?¡± ¡°Yeah, I reckon he¡¯s going to face a Waterloo this time.¡± Li Shao shook his head and smiled. ¡°Brother Luo and Luo Li¡¯er, really... are not suitable.¡± Living under the same roof for several years, they knew each other¡¯s lifestyles well, and Bai Zheli¡¯s words weren¡¯t much different from what Jiang Chen had said about being harmful, only more tactful. ¡°Luo Li¡¯er?¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes flickered, as if he suddenly thought of something. ¡°Yeah. Her name is Luo Li¡¯er. In our school, probably seven out of ten guys consider her their ideal type. For Brother Luo to succeed in pursuing her, it¡¯s probably as difficult as crossing a single-log bridge among thousands of soldiers in the university entrance exams...¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression froze, and he couldn¡¯t hear any more words. Luo, Luo Li¡¯er? Wasn¡¯t that the girl he¡¯d just bumped into? Chapter 71 - 71 071 Duty-bound ?71: 071 Duty-bound 71: 071 Duty-bound ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± At the restaurant next to the cafeteria, Li Shuru looked at the absent-minded young man beside her with curiosity. ¡°Nothing, has he arrived yet?¡± Jiang Chen asked as if it was nothing. ¡°He¡¯s on his way.¡± Jiang Chen nodded, his mind still uncontrollably recalling last night¡¯s experience. He had an accident and actually hit the future school beauty. ¡°Bro Luo, how come you came back so quickly?¡± ¡°Sigh, it seems like junior sister Luo got injured.¡± ¡°Injured?¡± ¡°Yes, it seems she was hit by a car?¡± ¡°Hit by a car? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Not serious. According to her roommate, it¡¯s just a superficial wound. Damn it, if I find out who it was, I won¡¯t let them off easy!¡± Throughout, Jiang Chen simply listened in silence, without uttering a word. If this got out, he would surely be thrust into the spotlight again. He might even become public enemy number one at school. Fortunately, the junior understood the situation and didn¡¯t expose him. As expected of the hot favorite for school beauty¡ªtruly well-rounded in virtue, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. If there were an election, he would certainly cast a vote in favor of her. Li Shuru, of course, was unaware of last night¡¯s incident, and Jiang Chen didn¡¯t plan to tell anyone. For the sake of confidentiality, the two deliberately chose a private room. And the person they invited was none other than Liang Zhenlun. ¡°With so much money, do you think Liang Zhenlun might make a profit from it... or maybe...¡± Although she had decided to pay to get ahead of the queue and had even convinced her mother, Li Shuru still had her reservations. After all, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s character was well known and not to be trusted. ¡°Or maybe he will simply swallow the three million?¡± Jiang Chen continued her thought, seeming to know what was on Li Shuru¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Seeing how certain Jiang Chen was, Li Shuru couldn¡¯t help but question, ¡°This sort of transaction can¡¯t stand the light of day, there will definitely be no contracts or evidence, it¡¯s just his word, who can guarantee he isn¡¯t just talking nonsense?¡± ¡°You make sense, but have you ever thought about why he would be so eager to offer his help?¡± ¡°Because...¡± Li Shuru hesitated for a moment, but still expressed her most genuine inner thought, ¡°Because he wants to win my favor.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s expression showed no displeasure, instead he smiled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s just one reason.¡± ¡°One reason?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Jiang Chen nodded. ¡°He wants your favor, that¡¯s true, but the key reason is that he wants to test my background.¡± Li Shuru frowned slightly. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Bai Haoran must have already told him about it. But knowing Liang Zhenlun¡¯s character, he definitely wouldn¡¯t just take it at face value, so the best way is to verify it himself,¡± Jiang Chen continued. ¡°Verify what?¡± ¡°Verify whether I actually have that kind of strength.¡± Jiang Chen said calmly, ¡°Although he¡¯s not the best of people, he¡¯s definitely not foolish. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so polite to me in front of your mother yesterday. He¡¯s well aware that your family can¡¯t come up with so much money in the short term, so what he wants is simply an answer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just uncertain if, when we give him the money later, Mr. Liang will be satisfied with this answer.¡± Jiang Chen laughed softly. ¡°We were able to raise this sum of money so quickly, he¡¯ll definitely understand it¡¯s from you. So, he will realize you¡¯re not just the poor student you seem to be, and he won¡¯t dare to embezzle our money.¡± Li Shuru thoughtfully said, ¡°Having Bai Haoran as a precedent, he might even go out of his way to handle this matter and try to mend the relationship with you.¡± Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes showed admiration. ¡°That¡¯s very smart.¡± Li Shuru, far from prideful, met Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Can you now tell me why Bai Haoran would stab himself in the back? It can¡¯t just be because you have money; there must be something more.¡± ¡°Do you really need to know everything that clearly?¡± Jiang Chen smiled bitterly. ¡°I want to know.¡± Li Shuru gazed at him. ¡°Alright then.¡± Jiang Chen sighed, ¡°Actually, my family has a bit of a connection with the directors of Sifang Group, and as it happens, Bai Haoran also had some business dealings with Sifang Group. So, I used my connection with Sifang Group to put a little pressure on him, never expecting to scare him that much.¡± Li Shuru wasn¡¯t surprised and was silent for a while before she softly said, ¡°So it turns out you really are a young master.¡± ¡°Not really, if my parents were still here, maybe, but now... You know, favors get used up.¡± As Jiang Chen spoke with ease, he didn¡¯t forget to patch things up, so as not to boast too much and be unable to back it up later. ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± The private room door was pushed open. Liang Zhenlun came in, full of apologies. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ve only just sat down.¡± Jiang Chen returned the courtesy with poise, greeting him with a smile as if no deep conflict had ever existed between them. ¡°Let¡¯s order.¡± Li Shuru said. After the order was taken and the waiter left, Li Shuru took out a bank card from her purse, placed it on the table, and slowly slid it towards Liang Zhenlun. ¡°There are three million in here. I¡¯m counting on you for my dad¡¯s issue.¡± Glancing at the bank card, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s pupils contracted, and his face involuntarily stiffened for a moment. ¡°If my uncle really can get out of this safely, we¡¯ll definitely show our gratitude.¡± Jiang Chen spoke confidently. If it had been before, Liang Zhenlun would have already started taunting by now, but instead, he squeezed out a smile and quickly responded, ¡°Where did that come from, Jiang? As friends, I naturally cannot shirk from this matter. I¡¯ll contact my friend immediately, you both can rest assured.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Liang Zhenlun smiled nonchalantly, though inside he was in turmoil. He truly hadn¡¯t expected the other party to endure humiliation to such an extent, to be disparaged for so long as a lapdog, yet not utter a word, always hiding his true background. Damn it. He had nearly been duped himself. ¡°Jiang, I was rash and offensive in my younger days, I hope you¡¯ll be more forgiving.¡± Even before the dishes arrived, Liang Zhenlun had already opened a bottle of beer, humbly filled two cups, and with extreme humility, stood up to hand one to Jiang Chen. Keep in mind, Li Shuru was still sitting there. Sometimes you have to admit that wealthy people know how to adapt to society better than ordinary people, at least they understand the importance of being able to bend and stretch. When dealing with those inferior to them, they are arrogant and unruly, but in the presence of their superiors, they immediately change their demeanor. Ordinary people often don¡¯t understand such adaptability. Jiang Chen, who had been called a lapdog by the whole school for nearly a year, rightfully took his seat and accepted the cup of beer. ¡°I¡¯ll drink first, Jiang, feel free.¡± Standing, Liang Zhenlun raised his cup, tipped his head back, and downed it in one go. Li Shuru sat beside him, and even though she had gradually come to accept that Jiang Chen was no ordinary person, this scene still left her somewhat dazed. Chapter 72 - 72 Episode 072 Ex-Boyfriend Fourth Update! ?72: Episode 072 Ex-Boyfriend (Fourth Update! Please Vote!) 72: Episode 072 Ex-Boyfriend (Fourth Update! Please Vote!) One party wanted to mend the relationship, while the other had a favor to ask. The two indeed hit it off right away, and the meal went exceptionally well, with both host and guest thoroughly enjoying themselves. Although it was Li Shuru and Jiang Chen who invited them, in the end, it was Liang Zhenlun who paid the bill. The guy was not usually this flexible, but once he was certain that Bai Haoran had not exaggerated, his attitude underwent a complete 180-degree turn, and he did not mention any of the previous conflicts and disputes. Currying favor with those in power. It might sound like a derogatory term, but if one wants to better adapt to society, it is actually an important skill to master. Six bottles of beer, three each for two men. Not much, but Liang Zhenlun¡¯s face inevitably turned a bit red. ¡°Senior Jiang, Shu Rui, I¡¯ll let you know as soon as there¡¯s any news,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you for the trouble,¡± they replied. At the restaurant entrance, the two sides parted amicably. Watching the retreating figures of Jiang Chen and Li Shuru, Liang Zhenlun exhaled the alcohol fumes and squinted his eyes slightly. After standing in place for a while, as soon as Jiang Chen and his companion disappeared from view, he took out his cell phone and made a call. ¡°Where are you? Let¡¯s meet up.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The central sports field. Ai Qian walked in, glanced around the soccer field and track, then turned her gaze to the grandstand. Liang Zhenlun was sitting there alone, seemingly watching others play soccer. Ai Qian, expressionless, walked up to him. Since her last birthday, this was the first time she met Liang Zhenlun. ¡°I thought we had already broken up,¡± she said. Without anger or annoyance, Liang Zhenlun turned his head and said, ¡°Take a seat.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asked. Ai Qian remained unmoved, standing nearby. Her face showed none of the tender affection typical between lovers. Her tone was neutral, even cold, with a clear sense of estrangement. With his face still flushed from the alcohol, Liang Zhenlun looked at her and smiled, ¡°Even if we can¡¯t be lovers, there¡¯s no need to be enemies, right? Have a seat, let¡¯s talk calmly.¡± Ai Qian was silent, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Although I went a bit too far in some areas, at least during the time we were together, materially, I treated you well, didn¡¯t I?¡± Liang Zhenlun spoke gently, ¡°Consider it doing me a favor.¡± Upon hearing this, Ai Qian finally sat down on the steps next to him. Liang Zhenlun smiled satisfactorily and returned his attention to the young men sweating it out on the grass field. ¡°It seems you have really made up your mind,¡± he said. Ai Qian also looked out onto the field. ¡°We¡¯re not suitable for each other,¡± she said. ¡°Not suitable?¡± Liang Zhenlun was not angry; today, young master Liang seemed to have an exceptionally good temper. ¡°When we first got together, you didn¡¯t say that,¡± he murmured. Ai Qian remained silent. ¡°Having regrets? Want to start over with Jiang Chen?¡± Liang Zhenlun asked with a smile, looking at the sports field. ¡°Is that question important to you? To you, I¡¯m just a trophy that has lost its value,¡± Ai Qian said with a trace of self-mockery on her face. ¡°Why would you say that?¡± ¡°Is it not true? Dare you say you liked me?¡± Neither of them looked at each other, even though they were close by, it felt as though there was an invisible gulf between them. Liang Zhenlun, who was not bad at sweet-talking, seemed unwilling or did not want to feign affection anymore and therefore, did not directly answer the question. ¡°Ai Qian, you are a smart woman. Why ask such meaningless questions? To like? Is that important? Surely you weren¡¯t with me because of love, were you? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ai Qian stayed silent, her expression showing a hint of discomfort. ¡°You said we¡¯re not suitable, but I don¡¯t agree with that viewpoint. I think we were quite compatible, it¡¯s just that... ah, you couldn¡¯t control your ambition. Remember how we started out, with an unspoken agreement to each get what we needed? Wasn¡¯t that great?¡± Liang Zhenlun sighed, ¡°It didn¡¯t have to come to this.¡± Ai Qian sneered. ¡°Blaming me now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying.¡± Liang Zhenlun said with a wry smile, ¡°Right or wrong has never been of any significance. Since you have made up your mind, I naturally won¡¯t force you to stay.¡± Although she had made up her mind, Ai Qian couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in her heart when she heard such a crisp response from him. ¡°I¡¯ll return the things you gave me after I sort them out.¡± Ai Qian took a light breath, clinging to the last bit of her dignity. ¡°No need for that. What kind of person do you think I, Liang Zhenlun, am? I never ask for the things I give away. Besides, if you return them to me, I wouldn¡¯t need them anyway, and would only have to throw them away.¡± Liang Zhenlun smiled and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask to meet with you today to settle any accounts.¡± ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°Do you know who I was eating with just now?¡± Liang Zhenlun turned his head, the curve of his lips carrying a significant meaning. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± Ai Qian looked towards the field, her eyes not straying. ¡°No, it is related to you, and quite significantly at that.¡± Liang Zhenlun didn¡¯t play coy and promptly admitted, ¡°It was Jiang Chen, as well as Li Shuru.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s pupils contracted, her hands involuntarily tightening their grip on her knees. ¡°Li Shuru¡¯s father is seriously ill, hospitalized in East Sea, and they reached out to me for help. It¡¯s Li Shuru¡¯s family matter, yet Jiang Chen accompanied her, which makes me wonder, how close must their relationship be now?¡± Liang Zhenlun spoke in an unhurried manner, as if making idle chat. ¡°You¡¯re lying, Li Shuru is so picky, how could she possibly fall for Jiang Chen?¡± Ai Qian finally couldn¡¯t help but turn her head, her expression cold and even tinged with anger. ¡°Ha.¡± Liang Zhenlun let out a chuckle, ¡°Ai Qian, seeing you so worked up really makes me feel uncomfortable.¡± Ai Qian remained indifferent. Liang Zhenlun let out a soft sigh. ¡°You should know very well whether I¡¯m lying or not. The rumors around the school about the two of them¡ªyou couldn¡¯t possibly have not heard them. Why continue to deceive yourself?¡± Ai Qian¡¯s face looked terrible. ¡°That¡¯s all lies.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or false, you can verify it yourself, whether by approaching Jiang Chen or Li Shuru. As your ex-boyfriend, I just wanted to kindly remind you not to pin your hopes on Jiang Chen anymore. The road back to him has become impassable.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Ai Qian stood up abruptly, ¡°Li Shuru has told me, she could never like Jiang Chen!¡± ¡°When did she tell you that?¡± Liang Zhenlun continued to sit there calmly, ¡°You should know very well that people change.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± Ai Qian demanded angrily, ¡°The people she associates with are all rich playboys, heirs to fortunes. What could Jiang Chen possibly have to attract her?¡± Liang Zhenlun did not respond immediately, instead turning his head to look up at the emotionally charged girl, his eyes seemingly filled with a hint of¡ª sympathy. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Ai Qian frowned tightly. ¡°After being with Jiang Chen for so long, do you really have no clue about his background?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Liang Zhenlun shook his head and sighed. ¡°It seems he has always kept you in the dark.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m saying is, Jiang Chen is not poor at all, not even a little bit. Just now, to save Li Shuru¡¯s father, he immediately put forth three million. You asked why Li Shuru would fall for him, I suppose that¡¯s the reason.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s pupils dilated, as if her soul had been extracted, instantly frozen in stunned silence. Chapter 73 - 73 073 The Truth Fifth Update! ?73: 073 The Truth (Fifth Update! Thanks for the Rewards! Vote for Monthly Tickets!) 73: 073 The Truth (Fifth Update! Thanks for the Rewards! Vote for Monthly Tickets!) Back in the dorm room, Ai Qian sat at her spot like a soulless zombie, her eyes vacant and spiritless. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did that asshole Liang Zhenlun bully you?!¡± Wei Chuyin, who knew Ai Qian had gone out to meet Liang Zhenlun, hurried over. Ai Qian shook her head, at a loss as to what Liang Zhenlun had said to her, looking utterly distraught. ¡°What on earth happened? Speak up!¡± Wei Chuyin was exceedingly anxious. ¡°Did that asshole Liang Zhenlun say something nasty? Just pretend he¡¯s farting and don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Although Wei Chuyin had initially tried to play matchmaker and reconcile the two, believing in the old saying that breaking a temple is better than destroying a marriage, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s recent indifference had completely disheartened her and she had changed her stance, supporting Ai Qian to confront him. Being dumped by a girl, one could imagine what kind of attitude someone with the rich second-generation personality like Liang Zhenlun would have. ¡°It¡¯s not his fault.¡± Ai Qian murmured. Wei Chuyin, caught off guard, asked in confusion, ¡°Then what is this about...¡± Ai Qian¡¯s eyes gradually regained focus as she looked at her, ¡°Liang Zhenlun told me...¡± ¡°Told you what?¡± ¡°He said.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen...¡± Ai Qian stammered. Jiang Chen? What did this have to do with Jiang Chen? Impatient and agitated, Wei Chuyin pressed, ¡°What about Jiang Chen?¡± But Ai Qian fell silent again, lost in her own thoughts, uncertain of what she was contemplating. Wei Chuyin was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing anxiously beside her. ¡°Did Liang Zhenlun agree to break up with you or not? If he doesn¡¯t agree, and you want to get back with Jiang Chen, he definitely won¡¯t let it go quietly. Both you and Jiang Chen will be in trouble.¡± Ai Qian smiled faintly, the smile exceptionally bleak. ¡°There¡¯s no chance now.¡± ¡°What do you mean, no chance?¡± ¡°Jiang Chen and I, it¡¯s impossible now.¡± Wei Chuyin was completely at a loss, failing to understand. ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, can you make yourself clear? Who the hell called you just now ¡ª was it Liang Zhenlun or Jiang Chen? Who did you really go out to meet?¡± ¡°Liang Zhenlun agreed to break up with me.¡± Wei Chuyin was stunned, then immediately said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? Now, there¡¯s no obstacle between you and Jiang Chen.¡± Ai Qian¡¯s gaze trembled slightly as she looked at Wei Chuyin. ¡°Do you really think Jiang Chen is a pet I keep? At my beck and call?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Wei Chuyin replied hastily. ¡°But you and Jiang Chen have a foundation of feelings for each other, and even after breaking up, he has been so good to you. If you¡¯re willing to reconsider, how could he possibly refuse?¡± ¡°That was before, now he has someone else.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Wei Chuyin seemed to think of something, her face in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯re not talking about Li Shuru, are you?¡± Ai Qian remained silent. ¡°Haha, you believe those rumors? Don¡¯t you know how proud Li Shuru is? Even though Jiang Chen saved her, that¡¯s just out of gratitude. To be friends would be extraordinary; do you really think Li Shuru would commit herself to him?¡± Wei Chuyin snorted disdainfully, ¡°The sun rising from the west is more likely than Li Shuru falling for Jiang Chen.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Why even ask? The worlds they live in are completely different. Don¡¯t be fooled just because Li Shuru lets Jiang Chen drive her car; the gas money is probably all paid by her.¡± Wei Chuyin said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to look down on Jiang Chen. I believe he will make a name for himself after graduation, but right now, the gap between him and Li Shuru is real and unbridgeable. You shouldn¡¯t let the school gossip disturb your thoughts; those rumor-mongers always tend to exaggerate.¡± ¡°What if Liang Zhenlun said it?¡± Ai Qian spoke up. Wei Chuyin was taken aback. ¡°Liang Zhenlun?¡± ¡°Liang Zhenlun just told me that it seems like Jiang Chen and Li Shuru are dating.¡± After a moment of stunned silence, Wei Chuyin let out a sarcastic laugh. ¡°You believe that? After you broke up with him, Liang Zhenlun must have felt he lost face, so he said that on purpose, aiming to get back at you. Jiang Chen and Li Shuru dating? Ha, Qian, can¡¯t you stop being so naive?¡± In fact, Ai Qian had also considered the possibility that Liang Zhenlun was saying nonsense on purpose to anger her, but after thinking it through logically and considering Liang Zhenlun¡¯s words and actions, he did not seem to be speaking carelessly. ¡°Liang Zhenlun wasn¡¯t lying; what he said is true.¡± Ai Qian shook her head absently. ¡°You mean she chose someone known as a sycophant in school over so many other suitors with better conditions?¡± In her agitation, Wei Chuyin spoke without filtering her words. ¡°Is that possible?¡± Ai Qian didn¡¯t explain but said softly, ¡°Li Shuru¡¯s father fell sick, and Jiang Chen gave her family three million.¡± Wei Chuyin¡¯s tone halted, her expression frozen, ¡°How much?!¡± Ai Qian looked at her and repeated. ¡°Three million.¡± Time seemed to stand still. ¡°How can that be!¡± After a while, Wei Chuyin laughed as if she had heard a great joke. ¡°Three million? Making up stories without even trying to be credible? If Jiang Chen was so rich, would you have broken up with him? It¡¯s definitely nonsense!¡± In the surge of emotion, Wei Chuyin did not realize that her words also mocked her best friend. Ai Qian¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°This is what Liang Zhenlun told me himself; even you think it¡¯s unrealistic, would he really make up such an absurd joke?¡± Wei Chuyin pursed her lips, suddenly feeling there might be some truth to it. Those who are admitted to East Sea University generally have decent analytical skills. When all the impossibilities are ruled out, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. ¡°Could it be that Jiang Chen... isn¡¯t a pauper? But why, during the entire time he was with you, you never noticed it?¡± Ai Qian was silent for a long while. ¡°Maybe, it was to test the feelings between us.¡± Wei Chuyin hesitated. If that was the case. It was clear. Ai Qian had not passed the test. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! When he was with you, he played the pauper, but with Li Shuru, he pulls out so much money, what does that mean?¡± Ai Qian bit her lip uncontrollably. If Jiang Chen truly did it to test their relationship, she was resigned to her own answer, but why did Li Shuru get a different test? Wei Chuyin¡¯s words were painfully accurate, piercing right into the most vulnerable part of Ai Qian¡¯s heart. Could it be. In Jiang Chen¡¯s eyes, was she really inferior to Li Shuru? With her, he feigned poverty, but with Li Shuru, he was generous to a fault. Why? ¡°I still find it hard to believe that Jiang Chen is really that wealthy, Qian, I think for emotional and rational reasons, publicly and privately, you need to confront Jiang Chen for a clear explanation, to demand an account from him.¡± Wei Chuyin¡¯s expression was grave. Chapter 74 - 74 074 Open Class ?74: 074 Open Class 74: 074 Open Class ¡°We have an open class in our department later, and I must attend.¡± After leaving the restaurant, Jiang Chen and Li Shuru walked through the campus, ignoring the various gazes from those around them. Logically, at this point, Li Shuru should have naturally suggested leaving, but after a moment of silence, she surprisingly said. ¡°Can I come with you?¡± In universities, sitting in on classes is a common occurrence, with many keen and studious students doing so. It¡¯s especially common among couples who are inseparable and don¡¯t want to part, but... Jiang Chen glanced around and said with a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯m afraid your attendance might cause a commotion.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a celebrity.¡± Li Shuru said lightly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to go, just say so. There¡¯s no need for excuses.¡± Jiang Chen frowned slightly. Her tone was really quite unusual. She surely couldn¡¯t be unaware that the two of them were currently in the eye of the storm. If they attended class together, wouldn¡¯t they be bombarded by public opinion once again? Although Jiang Chen initially didn¡¯t care about his relationship with Li Shuru becoming common knowledge, that was then. Back then, Li Shuru treated him like a plague, so he needed to use public opinion to forcibly ¡°kidnap¡± her, but times had changed. As his fondness increased, Jiang Chen gradually realized a critical issue. Li Shuru was his first target, but not the only one. If he wanted to gain more benefits later on, he¡¯d definitely have to switch to someone else. He naturally understood the principle of preparing for a rainy day. So now, after his relationship with Li Shuru had become official, public opinion started becoming more harmful than beneficial to him. It¡¯s just like a celebrity needing to stir up CP rumors to gain exposure before getting famous, but after becoming famous, they¡¯d start to hide their relationships. Although he knew he should start keeping a low profile from now on, the revolution hadn¡¯t succeeded yet, and with Li Shuru taking the initiative, he couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Sure, this is a blessing that many seek but can¡¯t find.¡± Jiang Chen beamed with a hearty smile. Li Shuru was noncommittal, her thoughts unreadable. 3:30 in the afternoon. The two stepped into the lecture hall. As expected, they received attention from everyone present. It started with a very few, then a small portion, spreading gradually to the entire classroom, and finally, everyone was looking at Jiang Chen and Li Shuru, who walked in side by side, with expressions of surprise, shock, jealousy... varied and plentiful. ¡°Jiang Chen, this!¡± Luo Peng waved vigorously, his face also showing an uncontrollable awe. Li Shao and Bai Zheli were also there. Jiang Chen looked over and, bringing Li Shuru with him, walked towards them. Li Shuru, the esteemed belle of the Art Department and campus goddess, now gave off the impression of a little bird relying on a person, following behind Jiang Chen obediently and docilely. ¡°Could it be that what Liang Zhenlun said was actually true?¡± Wei Chuyin had also arrived and seeing the ¡°coupled¡± Jiang Chen and Li Shuru, was incredibly shocked. A girl openly coming to class with a guy, what does that signify? Probably even a fool would know. After snapping out of her daze, she couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at her best friend beside her, eyes filled with worry. Ai Qian was biting her lip tightly, staring at the lively greeting between Jiang Chen and Luo Peng, her eyes flickering uncertainly. Like a stone tossed into a creek, the entire tiered classroom instantly bubbled with commotion. Over two hundred people stole glances at Jiang Chen and Li Shuru, whispering and buzzing with discussion. ¡°Did he score?¡± Luo Peng shot Jiang Chen a covert look. Jiang Chen shook his head. ¡°I rarely admire anyone, you¡¯re the first, awesome,¡± Luo Peng said, genuinely impressed as he glanced at the Art School¡¯s beauty sitting nonchalantly beside his good friend. Even Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses, looking at Jiang Chen with a gaze full of admiration. When Jiang Chen had declared his intention to pursue Li Shuru, they all thought he was a foolhardy dreamer, a toad lusting after swan meat. Who could have predicted today¡¯s scene? Considering the circumstances, even if he hadn¡¯t completely won her over, he was probably just one step away from ultimate success. Though there was much to say, since Li Shuru was sitting right beside them, Li Shao and the others refrained from speaking too much. Still, the looks coming from all directions were hardly restrained, sharp as knives and swords. If looks could kill, Jiang Chen would have been reduced to nothing by now. ¡°Has Li Shuru gone mad? Or is she blind?¡± ¡°Damn it, Jiang Chen actually succeeded. Had I known, I would have made a move too!¡± ¡°He paid a price, almost lost his life. Looks like Li Shuru is someone moved by emotions; she must have been touched.¡± ¡°Look at Ai Qian, her face is dark.¡± ¡°I heard she¡¯s breaking up with Liang Zhenlun, and now Jiang Chen and Li Shuru are getting close. She must be feeling awful.¡± ...... It was not until the class bell rang that the noisy scene gradually calmed down, as a middle-aged professor with a high reputation at Dongda took to the podium. Since it was an open class with no need for roll call, the well-versed professor in social and economic studies naturally didn¡¯t know about the extra student below the stage, and even if he did, he certainly wouldn¡¯t care. Looking over the packed tiered classroom, he smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that at the recent job fair, many of you did well, with quite a few having received offers from companies like Tencent, and Alibaba...¡± ¡°Li Bai, you went to the job fair last time, didn¡¯t you? How did it go?¡± Luo Peng asked in a low voice, turning his head. ¡°I was just looking around,¡± Bai Zheli replied somewhat shyly. It was Li Shao who explained, ¡°Several big companies have extended offers to Li Bai, with quite attractive salary packages. It¡¯s just a matter of which one he wants to choose.¡± ¡°Nice one! You¡¯ve done our dorm 421 proud,¡± Luo Peng said with a laugh. ¡°In fifteen years, the domestic internet has gone from non-existent to burgeoning and now to its current peak. It indeed seems to be the most fitting career choice for now. But here¡¯s what I want to ask everyone¡ªsince you all favor internet companies so much, how much do you really understand about the industry you¡¯re about to enter, or, in other words, about the landscape of the domestic internet industry?¡± The professor scanned the room and gently said, ¡°Who would like to share their thoughts?¡± A girl seated in the fifth row was the first to raise her hand, sporting short hair, unremarkable in looks but exuding calm confidence¡ªclearly a top student. After the professor nodded in acknowledgment, she quickly stood up and eloquently detailed the development histories of several internet giants. ¡°Now, the domestic internet companies are dominated by ¡®one superpower with multiple strong contenders.¡¯ After Alibaba¡¯s setback, Tencent stands as the sole martial arts master, supremely alone.¡± ¡°I disagree,¡± Soon, a male student stood up and calmly stated, ¡°In the past, Tencent surely led the way, but in the future, possibly even in the near future, ByteDance might surpass Tencent. And Tencent will certainly not sit back and relinquish the throne, so what¡¯s coming is a battle between the two giants for control of the domestic internet arena.¡± Chapter 75 - 75 Speaker 075 ?75: Speaker 075 75: Speaker 075 ¡°Not bad,¡± the professor said with a nod and a smile. ¡°So, what do you think, who will win the throne of the martial arts alliance leader in the future?¡± Although the professor¡¯s humor was entertaining, faced with this question, no one dared to answer hastily. Even though Dongda is a top-tier domestic university, everyone in attendance is still just a student. It is one thing to discuss theories on paper, but quite another to predict the rise and fall of two internet giants. Even economists might not dare to spout nonsense, let alone these students. ¡°Take a seat first,¡± Not wanting to embarrass the students, the professor gestured for them to sit down before asking, ¡°Who knows what the essence of the internet is?¡± At that question, all students started conjuring up their own thoughts. The question was simple, yet vague; even a middle school student could probably stand up and say a few words about it. One after another, students stood up to spout seemingly logical but cliche?d explanations. ¡°Does anyone else have any different ideas?¡± Li Shuru subconsciously looked towards the young man beside her. As far as she knew, he was not only a well-known bootlicker but also an exceptional student. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to share your thoughts?¡± She suddenly became curious about this young man¡¯s other aspects. This was also why she chose to come for a ¡°study session¡± today. ¡°Yeah, say something,¡± Luo Peng chimed in. ¡°Forget it, I don¡¯t have much to say,¡± Jiang Chen shook his head. Seeing Li Shuru appear slightly disappointed, Luo Peng, without a care or enough preparation from Jiang Chen, grabbed his arm and raised it. Jiang Chen¡¯s face changed, and he quickly tried to pull his hand back, but it was already too late. ¡°That young man.¡± The professor had already noticed him. ¡°Go for it!¡± Luo Peng winked at him. Everyone instinctively turned their heads to see it was Jiang Chen, and all were suddenly energized, starting to whisper among themselves. The professor noticed something and looked at Jiang Chen with added curiosity. With no way out, Jiang Chen could only stand up stiffly. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Jiang Chen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Jiang Chen?¡± The professor seemed to have heard the name before. Jiang Chen forced a smile and nodded his head. The professor¡¯s expression became a few degrees kinder. He had indeed heard the name; not for the reputation of being a lickspittle but, like any school leader, he had paid some attention to the handful of outstanding students within the school. ¡°Share your thoughts.¡± Eyes from all directions focused on him. What was crucial was this. Li Shuru was still sitting beside him. With no other choice and feeling like he was pushed onto Liangshan, Jiang Chen opened his mouth and said, ¡°The essence of the internet has already been discussed by my classmates, so I won¡¯t go into that again. As for the logic of domestic internet companies, I do have some personal views.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°To sum it up, it¡¯s two words: burning money.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room burst into an uproar! This was Professor Xiao¡¯s classroom, sacred and solemn¡ªhow could one speak so shallowly, even vulgarly? The middle-aged professor with a certain reputation within the country gestured with his hand for silence, then looked at Jiang Chen with meaningful eyes. ¡°Continue.¡± Jiang Chen was never the introverted type. With no other option, he spoke frankly, ¡°Over the past decade, there have been eight major spending wars domestically. The first was the thousand-group war, where the Yellowshirt Army led 5,000 group-buy websites in a frenzy of subsidies. Roast duck for one yuan, grand meals for ten, it was common, and consumers could hardly believe this pie falling from the sky. But with the arrival of the capital winter the next year, ninety-nine percent of group-buy platforms exhausted themselves to death. The Yellowshirt Army, on the brink of death, received last-minute investment from Ali and survived. Since then, they have dominated the market.¡± ¡°The second was the e-commerce war. JD announced a zero-profit policy on large appliances for three years, targeting offline outlets. Other appliance giants quickly joined the fray. This war changed the online consumption concept for the Chinese people, leading to explosive growth in the e-commerce market, and unexpectedly ended with a happy outcome for all parties involved.¡± Then the online travel OTA war began, with Ctrip, Elong, and Qunar fighting incessantly, spending billions in subsidies. In the end, both Elong and Qunar, struggling to survive, surrendered to Ctrip. The victor, Ctrip, battered and bruised, had to sell itself to Baidu to keep going. This battle had no winners.¡± ¡°The fourth was the ride-hailing war, with Didi backed by Tencent, throwing money at taxi red packets; fast rides and Uber quickly joined the battle. The three giants burned through thirty billion in two years, at one point making taxis cheaper than buses. The nation enjoyed this feast of cheap rides, even the elderly going to the market by taxi. Two years later, the bloodied giants shook hands and agreed to merge under the matchmaker of capital, and since then, Didi has been a super monopoly, dominating the world, cornering ninety percent of the travel market share.¡± The entire auditorium of more than two hundred people was almost as quiet as the grave, with only Jiang Chen¡¯s voice echoing steadily. Ai Qian looked down, barely catching her breath, unwilling to glance at that exuberant face. Once upon a time, it was this very charisma that had attracted her to Jiang Chen, but she didn¡¯t know when she had started to forget appreciating his merits. Professor Xiao listened with relish. ¡°The fifth was the food delivery war. After receiving a billion-level investment, Baazuo led the food delivery market, but soon after, Ali, the Yellowshirts, and Baidu joined the battle; the four giants waged a fierce subsidy tug-of-war...¡± From food delivery to new retail, to shared bikes, Jiang Chen peeled off the layers, recounting the stories as if they were treasures from his own home. Li Shuru knew these things, as did everyone else¡ªthey were all witnesses. But being able to articulate them smoothly and in one breath was a different matter. Li Shuru raised her head slightly, looking up at the young man next to her who seemed to exude an air of confidence and vigor. If it weren¡¯t for his reputation as a lickspittle, such a guy should be quite popular, right? ¡°The eighth,¡± he said coldly, ¡°was the billion-dollar subsidy war targeting the rising e-commerce star, Pinduoduo. They rose rapidly with their ¡®slash one knife¡¯ strategy, tapping into the lower market and reshuffling the long-stable e-commerce players. The other two industry giants couldn¡¯t sit still and launched special versions targeting Pinduoduo. The three giants¡¯ real gold and silver billion-dollar subsidies blasted away during ¡®618¡¯ and ¡®Double 11¡¯, and the fight is still unresolved.¡± Jiang Chen became cooler as he talked. ¡°These eight wars, each burned a prodigious wealth, yet this evaporation of wealth became the driving force for social progress. So, we don¡¯t need to care about who will win or lose in the future. Looking back at history, even if there are temporary victors, this war will never stop because social progress will never halt.¡± ¡°Clap clap clap...¡± In the silence, Professor Xiao was the first to applaud. From a single point to the whole. The clapping started sparsely and gradually swelled to a roar like thunder. Chapter 76 - 76 076 The Other Woman Third Update! ?76: 076 The Other Woman (Third Update! Thanks for the Rewards! Vote for Monthly Tickets!) 76: 076 The Other Woman (Third Update! Thanks for the Rewards! Vote for Monthly Tickets!) After class, Professor Xiao Jiang Chen called her over for a private talk. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Wei Wei dragged Ai Qian by the hand. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Of course, to demand an explanation from Jiang Chen! Why should he treat you like that?¡± Wei Wei was filled with righteous indignation. ¡°And he even brought Li Shuru over; what does that mean? Is he trying to show off to you?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Ai Qian quickly freed her hand from Wei Wei¡¯s grasp. Apart from the high-profile Jiang Chen and Li Shuru, she was probably the one most talked about. The more outstanding Jiang Chen was, the more it proved her lack of judgment. Feeling agony deep inside, Ai Qian didn¡¯t want to stay there for another moment; like an ostrich, she hurriedly got up and rushed out. ¡°Ai Qian!¡± Wei Wei stood up. But Ai Qian didn¡¯t look back and quickly walked out of the classroom. Wei Wei, unable to do anything about it but still unable to suppress her anger, saw Jiang Chen leave the lectern and immediately stormed up to confront him. ¡°Jiang Chen!¡± ¡°Wei Wei, what are you trying to do now?¡± Luo Peng was annoyed. ¡°None of your business!¡± Wei Wei glared at Jiang Chen and shouted angrily, ¡°On what grounds do you treat Ai Qian like that? Is this fair to her?¡± ¡°What have I done?¡± Jiang Chen frowned slightly. ¡°Still pretending, huh?¡± Wei Wei pointed to Li Shuru as if nobody else was around, furiously saying, ¡°You¡¯re so generous with her, so why were you so stingy when you were with Ai Qian?!¡± ¡°What generosity and stinginess? What are you talking about?¡± Luo Peng was confused. Wei Wei completely ignored him, her eyes fixed on Jiang Chen, the furious look in her eyes as if he were an unforgivable heartbreaker. ¡°You guys go ahead.¡± Jiang Chen told Luo Peng and the others. ¡°No way, Wei Wei, you need to make things clear.¡± Luo Peng wanted to set things straight with her. ¡°Enough, this is Jiang Chen¡¯s own business; why are you meddling.¡± Li Shao pulled him away. Bai Zheli also left with them. ¡°Li Shuru, you¡¯re not even from our department, so why are you butting in?¡± After Luo Peng and the others left, Wei Wei directly targeted Li Shuru. ¡°Who says that if you¡¯re not from this department, you can¡¯t attend the class?¡± Li Shuru said calmly. She might not know Wei Wei, but from the other¡¯s recent remarks, she could roughly guess her identity and understand where her hostility came from. ¡°Stealing someone else¡¯s boyfriend, do you have no shame?!¡± Seeing her arrogantly unapproachable demeanor, Wei Wei grew even more furious, unable to hold back and burst into curses. Such a spectacle hardly resembled a female student from a first-rate university; she was no different from a shrewish market woman. Li Shuru was not a person to take things lying down, and upon hearing this, she frowned and said coldly, ¡°Make it clear, whose boyfriend have I stolen?¡± ¡°Feigning ignorance!¡± The two women faced off, and between their locking gazes, one could almost see sparks flying. One should know, there were still some students who hadn¡¯t left. ¡°Shu Rui, you go back first.¡± To prevent the situation from getting out of control, Jiang Chen quickly spoke up. If I let them keep arguing, who knows if someone might lose their cool and start pulling hair¡ªthat would be quite the spectacle. Li Shuru glanced at him, and surprisingly, chose not to argue with Wei Chuyin any further, obediently nodded, and then brushed past her. ¡°Ha, money can indeed make the devil turn the millstone!¡± Wei Chuyin scoffed. ¡°Who told you that?¡± Jiang Chen looked at her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who told me. What matters is that Ai Qian gave you the best years of her life. Is it fair how you treat her?!¡± Jiang Chen glanced back but didn¡¯t see Ai Qian¡¯s figure. ¡°Did Ai Qian send you here?¡± ¡°No, I came on my own! Any person with a conscience couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch!¡± Words spoken with such conviction. ¡°Originally, when Ai Qian left you, she always felt sorry for you and was filled with guilt. Ha, who would have thought she was the fool. Jiang Chen, I never realized before how deep your schemes run, pretending to be poor for so long without a single slip-up, you must be exhausted.¡± Wei Chuyin made no effort to hide the mockery on her face. Although the other party¡¯s words were harsh, as a man, Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t about to quibble with a woman, and calmly said, ¡°This matter doesn¡¯t seem to concern you. If Ai Qian has any thoughts, you can tell her to come find me directly. Also, I hope you will refrain from slandering people in the future.¡± ¡°Am I not stating the facts? Li Shuru is a homewrecker! You and Ai Qian were clearly a couple; what right does she have to butt in?¡± Wei Chuyin was relentless. Indeed, reasoning with a woman seemed futile. Jiang Chen, not wishing to waste more words, decided to leave, but just as he took a step, Wei Chuyin blocked his path. ¡°I won¡¯t let you leave until we¡¯ve made things clear.¡± ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± ¡°Are you willing to reconcile with Ai Qian?¡± Wei Chuyin stared intently at him. Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but laugh. If he remembered correctly, it was this girl who had tried her best to drive a wedge between him and Ai Qian and break them up. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s realistic? Ai Qian now has Liang Zhenlun...¡± ¡°She¡¯s already broken up with Liang Zhenlun.¡± Wei Chuyin interrupted quickly. Jiang Chen paused, then fell silent. ¡°Say something. Ai Qian is single now; there¡¯s nothing standing in your way anymore.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go back to how things were with her.¡± ¡°Excuses!¡± Wei Chuyin shouted angrily, ¡°They¡¯re all excuses! Why can¡¯t you go back? You¡¯ve only been apart for a few months, and the reason Ai Qian broke up with Liang Zhenlun is that she still has feelings for you!¡± She was so eager because Wei Chuyin knew that if she didn¡¯t seize the moment, it might be too late. She hadn¡¯t believed it before, thinking the rumors were unfounded, but seeing Li Shuru attending classes with him in person had completely shattered her ¡°confidence.¡± ¡°Jiang Chen, you don¡¯t actually believe that Li Shuru really likes you, do you? Don¡¯t forget how she treated you before. All she¡¯s interested in is your money, just that three million!¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t argue and simply smiled faintly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If I were still the Jiang Chen of the past, would you be wasting your time talking to me like this?¡± Wei Chuyin, who had been so self-righteous before, now found herself at a loss for words. ¡°Thanks for your concern, but when it comes to matters of the heart, it¡¯s best for bystanders not to intervene, lest they make things worse.¡± With that, Jiang Chen moved forward, brushing past her. ¡°Jiang Chen, can¡¯t you really give Ai Qian another chance?¡± Wei Chuyin suddenly turned around, her tone no longer aggressive, almost pleading. ¡°Even if we were to get back together, she wouldn¡¯t be happy. You should understand this.¡± After a brief pause, Jiang Chen walked away, quickly leaving the lecture hall. Wei Chuyin stood there dazed, her expression bewildered and her eyes filled with complexity. Chapter 77 - 77 077 Dawn ?77: 077 Dawn 77: 077 Dawn ¡°What did Wei Chuyin say?¡± As soon as Jiang Chen entered the dormitory, the chatting Luo Peng and the others stopped mid-sentence and all turned to look at him, seemingly waiting for his return. ¡°What else could she say? She gave me a good scolding.¡± Jiang Chen shrugged his shoulders. ¡°She really thinks too highly of herself.¡± Luo Peng immediately expressed his indignation. ¡°Jiang Chen, you¡¯re just too polite. Being gentle and considerate is fine, but it depends on the person. As for Wei Chuyin, there¡¯s just one word for her: ¡®cheap.¡¯ Wasn¡¯t she the one who desperately instigated Ai Qian to break up with you before? Now she¡¯s putting on this resentful woman act for all to see. What, is she playing for the cameras?¡± Luo Peng said pridefully, ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d definitely slap her twice across the face.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something you should say.¡± Li Shao said, ¡°No matter what, we are all classmates.¡± ¡°We might treat her as a classmate, but has she ever considered us as hers? How she treated Jiang Chen before, and now seeing Jiang Chen with Li Shuru, she¡¯s got a sour taste in her mouth, feeling unsatisfied, so she comes to make trouble. What does she take Jiang Chen for?¡± Luo Peng seems to be talking about Wei Chuyin, but his words hint at criticizing someone else through her. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone so shameless before. She managed to get into Dongda, doesn¡¯t she know how to write the words for propriety, justice, integrity, and honor? I¡¯m astonished at how meddlesome she is about others¡¯ affairs. Is it because nobody wants her? If that¡¯s really the case, I can introduce a few to her: a pig butcher from the market, a steel bar mover from the construction site, or a screw tightener from an equipment factory. She can pick whoever she wants.¡± One has to admit that Luo Peng¡¯s mouth can indeed be venomous. It¡¯s fortunate that Li Shao dragged him away; otherwise, Wei Chuyin would likely have been infuriated to death. Bai Zheli listened and felt a bit awkward. ¡°But Jiang Chen, your counterattack was indeed brilliant. To actually bring Li Shuru to class with you, that¡¯s the best way to get your revenge.¡± Luo Peng looked admiringly at Jiang Chen. What he didn¡¯t know was that this was not Jiang Chen¡¯s own initiative but something Li Shuru had proposed on her own. Of course, Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t about to explain. After chatting for a while, everyone got busy with their own things. Back at his seat, Jiang Chen took out his phone, thinking about apologizing to Li Shuru. After all, being called ¡°the other woman¡± is a huge insult to any woman. Li Shuru had taken the blow for him. After sending out a message, Jiang Chen found out that Li Shuru was actually live streaming, apparently not taking the earlier incident to heart. This time, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t bombard her with gifts. Instead, he quietly watched the live broadcast. Jiang Chen, you don¡¯t really think that Li Shuru genuinely likes you, do you? Don¡¯t forget how she treated you before! What she¡¯s after is just your money, just that three million! Wei Chuyin¡¯s words echoed in his ears. Li Shuru¡¯s change was clearly visible. Actually, as for what she liked about him, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t care less, as his goal was just to complete the conquest mission. However, as human beings are complex creatures, it¡¯s difficult to control one¡¯s own thoughts. Even if he wasn¡¯t concerned about the true source of Li Shuru¡¯s fondness, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but start pondering a question at this time: Was Li Shuru¡¯s drastic change in attitude really just about the money? Watching the live stream, an idea flashed through Jiang Chen¡¯s mind. If he were to probe her using his online persona ¡°Lone Shadow of the Chilly River¡± at this moment, he might quickly get a clear result. But then he recalled a phrase the girl on the live stream once said. The moment you decide to test the hardness of a piece of glass, that glass is destined to break. Those who wish to test human nature are not all that noble themselves. After watching the live stream quietly for a while, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t tease Li Shuru using the identity of ¡°Lone Shadow of the Chilly River¡± and exited the live stream. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Shu Rui is really strong, her dad is so seriously ill, yet she can still live stream.¡± In the canteen, having just gotten her meal, Xu Siyi set down her plate, seemingly in admiration. ¡°What else can she do? Being sad all the time only hurts herself and doesn¡¯t solve anything. Better to keep a calm mindset.¡± Zheng Jingjing sat down and continued the conversation, ¡°Also, I¡¯ve checked, and for this illness, a heart transplant is needed. Heart transplant surgeries cost a lot of money. Shu Rui needs to earn money now.¡± Li Shuru, who had to live stream, didn¡¯t join them for the meal. ¡°That¡¯s why having a family that¡¯s healthy is the greatest blessing,¡± Guo Ran remarked with a sigh. ¡°Ah, I used to be quite envious of her, but now...¡± Xu Siyi shook her head and sighed. ¡°Good people will have their own luck, Shu Rui¡¯s dad will definitely be okay,¡± Zheng Jingjing said firmly. ¡°Hope so.¡± Xu Siyi nodded her head, but at the same time, the corner of her mouth slightly curled upwards unnoticed as she lowered her head to eat. ¡°Sorry, something urgent has come up, and today¡¯s live stream is ending here, goodbye everyone.¡± In the dorm, an incoming call forced Li Shuru to end her live stream prematurely. ¡°Shu Rui, I¡¯ve already spoken to my friend, and he needs some relevant documentation about your father. Can you bring it to him when you can?¡± It was Liang Zhenlun. The guy indeed was reliable, acting swiftly. He had only received the money at noon, and there was already progress in half a day. ¡°It¡¯s probably too late for today, I didn¡¯t go to the hospital, I¡¯m at school,¡± she replied. ¡°No problem, no need to rush. Just let me know when it¡¯s convenient for you in advance,¡± Liang Zhenlun said, smiling. It wasn¡¯t his dad lying on the hospital bed, so of course, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, but Li Shuru couldn¡¯t afford to be so composed. Her father was struggling against the reaper, in grave danger. To have the surgery one day earlier meant escaping from risk one day sooner. ¡°Tomorrow then, I¡¯ll go to the hospital and get the documents tomorrow,¡± she said immediately. ¡°How about tomorrow night? Is that okay for you?¡± ¡°That works.¡± ¡°Good, then it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll contact tomorrow.¡± After hanging up, Li Shuru took a deep breath, her heart could not help but be a little excited. If they got the heart, her father would undoubtedly be saved. Subconsciously, she wanted to call Jiang Chen and share the good news, but she immediately thought of the afternoon episode in the amphitheater classroom. Her impromptu invitation to sit in on the class was spontaneous, but partly, it was also influenced by her own desires. Thinking about it now, it seemed a bit too impulsive. Right now, people at school didn¡¯t know Jiang Chen¡¯s real background, so they wouldn¡¯t think much of it, but what about Jiang Chen himself? Would he think her change in attitude was because of his money? With that thought, Li Shuru¡¯s excitement slowly settled, and she restrained herself from making the call. This was her family¡¯s matter. She shouldn¡¯t always be thinking about bothering others. She slowly put down her phone, only just realizing that she probably shouldn¡¯t be too eager. Yet this self-willed beauty of the arts college seemed to have forgotten that the person she used to be never cared about anyone else¡¯s opinion. Chapter 78 - 78 078 He Ge ?78: 078 He Ge 78: 078 He Ge ¡°No need to look for change.¡± Li Shuru tossed down a hundred-yuan bill, picked up her bag, and quickly got out of the car. Under the night sky, the neon sign of KIMI flickered with the intoxicating splendor of its gorgeous light. Cars came and went, with handsome men and beautiful women entering and exiting continuously. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived.¡± Li Shuru made a phone call. Before long, Liang Zhenlun came out from inside and was somewhat surprised to see Li Shuru alone. ¡°Shu Rui, isn¡¯t Senior Jiang with you? Didn¡¯t he come with you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother him with such a small matter.¡± Li Shuru quickly asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your friend?¡± ¡°Inside, come with me.¡± Li Shuru nodded her head. Under the guidance of Liang Zhenlun, Li Shuru came to a table booth bustling with people, around ten in total, with bottles of liquor piled high on the table. ¡°Brother He, she¡¯s here.¡± Liang Zhenlun moved closer to a man who looked to be in his late twenties and whispered in his ear. The man turned his head, and his gaze, laden with the effects of alcohol, landed on Li Shuru. His face immediately burst with an expression of amazement, then he brazenly and blatantly sized her up from head to toe. ¡°Zhen Lun, your school actually has such a beautiful girl, why didn¡¯t you introduce me before?¡± ¡°Brother He, about the matter I mentioned to you...¡± Liang Zhenlun forced a laugh. Clearly, Liang Zhenlun¡¯s status, which was impressive within the school, seemed to be less than that of this Brother He. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Brother He patted his shoulder, adjusted his collar, raised his hand, and said with a smile, ¡°Beauty, take a seat first.¡± Without his instruction, a man sitting next to him quickly stood up with a wicked smile, making room for her. Although familiar with such places, Li Shuru was not in a mood for amusement at this moment and looked towards Liang Zhenlun. Liang Zhenlun silently nodded to her. Being in need of a favor, Li Shuru had no choice but to suppress her irritability and sit down on the sofa with her bag. ¡°Mr. He, regarding my father¡¯s situation...¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that.¡± Dressed in brand-name casual wear, Brother He, looking spick and span, poured her a glass of genuine whisky. ¡°Have a drink first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t drink alcohol.¡± Clearly, this was an excuse. Li Shuru simply wasn¡¯t in the mood. ¡°You don¡¯t drink?¡± Brother He¡¯s expression changed slightly, with an amused yet skeptical look on his face as he observed Li Shuru, ¡°Beauty, I don¡¯t believe that. You look just like Zhen Lun, someone who often goes out to party. Are you not willing to give me this face?¡± Liang Zhenlun quickly shot Li Shuru a meaningful glance. Under normal circumstances, Li Shuru would definitely have walked away, but at this particular moment, with her father still lying in the hospital waiting to be saved, she couldn¡¯t just do as she pleased. ¡°Gulp.¡± Without a word, Li Shuru picked up the whisky, tilted her fair and tender neck back, and downed it in one gulp. ¡°Mr. He, here¡¯s the information you asked for.¡± After setting down the glass, she took out a document folder from her bag, which contained her father¡¯s medical reports and personal information. Li Shuru¡¯s decisiveness caught even Brother He off guard, and he burst into laughter. ¡°Refreshing!¡± His gaze towards Li Shuru grew even hotter. Beautiful girls were not uncommon, but one with such a personality was rare to find. ¡°Zhen Lun already talked to me about your dad¡¯s issue, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this covered. Come on, let me toast to you.¡± He continued to pour Li Shuru a drink. Li Shuru wasn¡¯t a naive student who only read the scriptures; she clearly understood what his gestures meant. ¡°Brother He, Shu Rui has to go back later, why don¡¯t I drink with you instead?¡± Liang Zhenlun forced a smile as he piped up. Brother He didn¡¯t say a word, just glanced at him. Liang Zhenlun¡¯s sentence came to an abrupt halt. The sons of the rich are also ranked among themselves. Liang Zhenlun was only wealthy, and to be honest, not that wealthy. How could he have much weight in front of these powerful scions? ¡°Shu Rui, right? Come on, take a drink.¡± Brother He had already picked up his glass. Without offending him, Li Shuru had no choice but to drink another glass. Even though she could hold her liquor, after two glasses of whisky, her body started to feel warm. ¡°Mr. He, the doctor said my dad¡¯s situation isn¡¯t good, he needs surgery as soon as possible, could you please hurry up...¡± ¡°Stop with the ¡®Mr. He¡¯, it¡¯s too impersonal, I¡¯m not that much older than you.¡± Brother He cut her off, it was unclear if it was the alcohol or his mood, but he seemed increasingly restless, pulling his collar even farther open. ¡°My name is He Guangwen, and just like Zhen Lun, you can call me Brother He. Girls as filial as you are really rare these days.¡± As he spoke, he nonchalantly tried to grab Li Shuru¡¯s hand. Fortunately, Li Shuru was still quite lucid and dodged in time, but she didn¡¯t speak up to scold him. He Guangwen¡¯s eyes flashed with annoyance, but it quickly disappeared, and he laughed again, ¡°I understand how you feel; I will take care of it first thing tomorrow. So, you really don¡¯t need to worry anymore, let¡¯s just enjoy our drinks tonight.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Shuru secretly breathed a sigh of relief but frowned involuntarily at the sight of her refilled cup. She wanted to leave, but she also understood that leaving would offend him, and her father¡¯s heart issue would become unpredictable. For her father¡¯s sake, she could only endure it, and He Guangwen, along with his friends, kept pouring her drink after drink. With such drinking, even a person good at handling their liquor would struggle, and under the tacit agreement of these men, Li Shuru¡¯s cheeks reddened, and her eyes gradually grew hazy. ¡°Brother He, she really can¡¯t drink anymore.¡± Liang Zhenlun became anxious. He knew that Li Shuru was intoxicated, and he also clearly understood He Guangwen¡¯s intentions. He had used these tactics many times himself. With someone else, he wouldn¡¯t mind playing Cupid to deepen his friendship with He Guangwen, but Li Shuru was not just any ordinary female college student. Jiang Chen stood behind her. If anything happened to Li Shuru here, Jiang Chen would definitely not just let it go. The image of Bai Haoran maiming himself surfaced in Liang Zhenlun¡¯s mind, sending a chill through his heart. He stood up, attempting to help Li Shuru to her feet. ¡°What the fuck are you doing!¡± He Guangwen shoved him away roughly. ¡°Brother He, it¡¯s not ok, she has a boyfriend, and his background is no joke!¡± ¡°The one with a bit of money you talked about? Where are we? East Sea! Money means jack shit here!¡± He Guangwen remained unimpressed, his face stern as he said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to continue drinking, then just get lost and don¡¯t meddle.¡± Liang Zhenlun¡¯s face turned red with awkwardness, but he dared not show defiance. Seeing that He Guangwen seemed determined not to let Li Shuru go, he struggled and finally made up his mind. If he did nothing, Li Shuru would surely not escape misfortune tonight. At that time, Even if Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t do anything to He Guangwen, he would definitely not let him off the hook. Why should he carry this burden? Using the excuse of going to the restroom, Liang Zhenlun left the private booth and quickly made a phone call. ¡°Jiang, could you come to KIMI? Shu Rui is drunk!¡± Chapter 79 - 79 079 Boiled Duck Third update ?79: 079 Boiled Duck (Third update. Ask for monthly pass!) 79: 079 Boiled Duck (Third update. Ask for monthly pass!) ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m going to head out first; you guys continue to have fun,¡± He Guangwen, who had booked a room at the Hilton Hotel through his mobile phone, supported Li Shu Rui. Not only the men present, but even the few girls turned a blind eye to this; some even had a smirk on their faces. In front of everyone, He Guangwen still cared about keeping up appearances. He didn¡¯t get handsy and behaved quite properly. However, inside, he was bursting with impatience, wishing he could teleport straight to the room. Li Shu Rui was already so drunk that her consciousness was blurred, and even though she was instinctively pushing away, she was utterly weak. He Guangwen did not forget to pick up her bag. To earn money and sleep with such a fine girl¡ªLiang Zhenlun, that kid, had actually done him a good deed this time. Filled with pride and satisfaction, He Guangwen no longer cared about where Liang Zhenlun, who had disappeared for quite a while, had gone. His blood boiled as he fantasized about the wonderful night ahead, and the faint fragrance wafting to his nose made him even more uncontrollable, involuntarily adjusting his walk slightly. It had been a long time since he felt such a strong desire. However, before he could leave the bar, a figure that was far from burly stood firm like a wall, blocking his path. ¡°Excuse me,¡± He Guangwen thought nothing of it, assuming it was just another patron of the bar. But the other party did not budge. His forehead creased slightly with displeasure, he intensified his tone, ¡°Would you mind stepping aside?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll step aside, but you need to hand her over to me,¡± He Guangwen was taken aback and gazed at the unfamiliar yet young face in front of him, momentarily stunned. What does he mean? Blatantly snatching away a woman? He Guangwen laughed, his expression gradually darkening, about to say something, when Liang Zhenlun unexpectedly appeared from nowhere. ¡°Jiang Chen?¡± Indeed. The young man blocking He Guangwen¡¯s path was none other than Jiang Chen, who had driven non-stop to get here. If he had arrived even a few minutes later, the consequences could have been unimaginable. ¡°Do you know him?¡± He Guangwen turned to Liang Zhenlun with a frown. ¡°Yes, He Guangwen, he is Shu Rui¡¯s boyfriend, the one I¡¯ve told you about,¡± Regardless of whether Li Shu Rui and Jiang Chen were actually dating, at this moment, Liang Zhenlun could only say that. He then looked at Jiang Chen and asking with consummate believability, ¡°Did Shu Rui send you a message, Jiang Chen?¡± Obviously. He wanted to avoid offending both parties. Jiang Chen didn¡¯t expose him; after all, if it hadn¡¯t been for Liang Zhenlun¡¯s timely notification, there was no way he could have known about this situation. Seeing Li Shu Rui¡¯s drunken state, it was easy to imagine what might have happened if she had been taken away. ¡°He Guangwen, right? Thanks for being willing to help, but there¡¯s no need to trouble you with Shu Rui. I¡¯ll take her,¡± Although everyone clearly knew what was happening, Jiang Chen didn¡¯t expose He Guangwen¡¯s ulterior motives. Standing in front of He Guangwen, appearing polite, his attitude emanated an unmistakable firmness. Under the unpredictable lights of the bar, He Guangwen¡¯s face was a shifting canvas of emotions. A duck that was ready to be served had flown away; anyone faced with this situation would feel terrible, and naturally, he didn¡¯t want to hand over the girl. But now that her boyfriend had arrived, what reason did he have to keep holding onto her? In this world, even those with great power and influence wouldn¡¯t brazenly bully men and force themselves on women, let alone the fact that his family wasn¡¯t that powerful. Having no other choice, He Guangwen ground his teeth and managed to squeeze out a graceful smile. ¡°No problem, she¡¯s drunk too much, and I was just wondering what to do. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here,¡± Suppressing his anger and unwillingness, He Guangwen¡¯s face twitched slightly as he forced a smile and handed Li Shu Rui over to Jiang Chen. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Fearing he would lose control of his emotions if he stayed any longer, He Guangwen quickly left after handing Li Shu Rui over to Jiang Chen. ¡°Thanks,¡± Jiang Chen said softly. Li Shuru was like a boneless mermaid, soft and clinging to his embrace, almost so intoxicated that she was unconscious. Liang Zhenlun gave a wry smile. ¡°I thought Shu Rui would bring you along. I didn¡¯t expect her to come alone. That was my oversight. Fortunately, nothing serious happened.¡± Although he was well aware that the other party had called to inform him so as to avoid unnecessary trouble, no matter what, if it weren¡¯t for him tonight, the consequences would be hard to imagine. ¡°Let bygones be bygones.¡± Liang Zhenlun was startled by his words. Jiang Chen supported Li Shuru, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Liang Zhenlun watched them head towards the door, zoning out slightly. The meaning behind the other person¡¯s words undoubtedly represented the erasure of past grudges from now on. Jiang Chen had already left the bar. Liang Zhenlun gently exhaled, composed his expression, and turned nonchalantly towards the booth. He opened the rear car door and placed the limp mermaid inside. Jiang Chen glanced at the time¡ªit was almost 10:30. At this hour, returning to the dorm was definitely out of the question, and with the girl this drunk, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to send her back to school either. It seemed they would have to stay at a hotel for the night. Jiang Chen closed the door, got into the car, and found a chain hotel at random. ¡°Do you have any rooms available?¡± The young lady at the front desk instinctively glanced at Li Shuru, who was clearly drunk and being supported by him. ¡°How many rooms?¡± Jiang Chen didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°One.¡± The receptionist nodded, ¡°We have one available.¡± ¡°Do you have a double room?¡± Jiang Chen immediately asked. The receptionist was caught off guard, hesitated for a few seconds, and then nodded. ¡°There¡¯s one left.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± Jiang Chen handed over his identification. After completing the check-in, he watched Jiang Chen escort Li Shuru upstairs. The receptionist pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, ¡°Hypocrite!¡± Naturally, Jiang Chen wasn¡¯t concerned about what the receptionist thought. After swiping his card to enter the room, he placed Li Shuru on the bed. Until now, the girl had not resisted at all. She lay sprawled across the bed, her curvaceous figure on full display, her black hair a mess, her face flushed red as a peach or plum, making a stark contrast against the white of the bed, giving off an alluring charm. At this moment, she was like a piece of exposed tender flesh, without any ability to protect herself, laying there for the taking. To think that for her father¡¯s sake, would she not even care about herself? Jiang Chen looked at the seductively drunk girl, with no lust in his eyes, which were surprisingly clear. Not to mention doing something beastly, at a time like this, at least taking advantage of the situation would surely go unnoticed by anyone, and even Li Shuru herself would probably be oblivious. But Jiang Chen forwent this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He covered Li Shuru with a blanket, then poured a cup of water and placed it on the bedside table, before lying down on the other bed, hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. ¡°Ugh...¡± As expected. His decision to get a single room was the right one. Hearing the noise beside him, Jiang Chen quickly got up and helped Li Shuru into the bathroom. Li Shuru knelt in front of the toilet, vomiting messily. Even the most beautiful woman couldn¡¯t look good in a situation like this. ¡°Water...¡± This night, all Jiang Chen did was hand over paper and water, clean up, without a hint of sensuality. Chapter 80 - 80 Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it ?80: Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. 80: Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. The gentle sunlight filtered through the window, casting a glow on the pristine white bed. Under the covers, something seemed to move, then an arm stretched out. In waves of dizzy grogginess, Li Shuru rubbed her dark hair, then slowly opened her eyes, a post-drunk bewilderment shining through. Staring blankly at the ceiling for a while, she seemed to realize where she was, suddenly sat up, and flung off the cover, looking down at her body in alarm. Aside from some wrinkles, her clothes were intact. She let out a long sigh of relief. Assured that she hadn¡¯t been taken advantage of, Li Shuru¡¯s heart settled a bit, and then, she looked around. It was indeed a hotel room, but she quickly noticed that it seemed to be a... double room. Her gaze landed on the bed beside her. The bedding was tossed aside, and judging by the wrinkles in the sheets, someone had slept there, but they were now gone. Li Shuru sat on the bed and began recalling the events of the last night, the scenes playing back in her mind. Because of her father¡¯s illness, she rushed to KIMI with the documents, then was coerced by that Brother He to drink, resulting in her getting utterly drunk... But as for what happened after, how she left the bar, how she came to the hotel, and who spent the night with her, her memory was a blur, no matter how hard she tried to remember. It had been a long time since she had been this drunk. Last night, He Guangwen was obviously doing it on purpose, and for her father, she had no say in the matter. Although her memory was fragmented, it was crucial to figure out what exactly had happened last night, and just as Li Shuru intended to call Liang Zhenlun, she happened to notice a note on the nightstand. She quickly crawled over and picked it up. ¡°I have a class in the morning, so I left first. I put the car keys in your bag. Drive safely.¡± Li Shuru froze, then quickly got out of bed to search her bag, and promptly found the keys to the Paramela. She stood there, stunned. Was it Jiang Chen who had brought her here last night? Subconsciously, she looked back at the bed that had been slept in, then took out her cellphone from her bag. ¡°Did Jiang Chen come last night?¡± After getting through on the phone, Li Shuru got straight to the point. ¡°Yeah, you were so drunk, I had no choice but to call Senior Jiang to pick you up. Liang Zhenlun skirted the main issue, not mentioning a word about He Guangwen nearly taking Li Shuru away. Stirring up trouble would do him no favors; on the contrary, he would be blamed by both sides. But his omission didn¡¯t mean that Li Shuru was unaware of last night¡¯s situation; after all, she wasn¡¯t a naive young girl. ¡°He didn¡¯t get into a conflict with He Guangwen and his crowd, did he?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t worry about that. How are you feeling now? You really drank a lot last night. When Senior Jiang took you away, you were completely out of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Li Shuru frowned slightly, feeling vaguely uneasy inside. She fell silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, ¡°Did Jiang Chen say anything when he came?¡± ¡°No.¡± Li Shuru hesitated, then eventually decided not to ask anything more. ¡°Got it.¡± After hanging up, she exhaled softly. One thing was certain. The person who had stayed with her last night was indeed Jiang Chen, no doubt about it. If it had been that He Guangwen, her clothes would not have been so undisturbed. Sitting back on the bed, Li Shuru held the note tightly in her hand, her brow still furrowed, showing no sign of relaxing. Jiang Chen had left without a word and even returned her car keys; could it be that he was angry? Angry that she went by herself last night without telling him and ended up drinking until she lost consciousness? If she had been taken away by He Guangwen last night, Li Shuru knew all too well what would have happened. Could Jiang Chen think that she had always been like this, a girl who could get drunk so easily, one who didn¡¯t know how to respect herself? Already feeling mentally foggy, her head began to ache even more. Li Shuru quickly washed up, then left the room with her bag in a rush. Getting in the car and settling into the driver¡¯s seat, Li Shuru hesitated repeatedly but still didn¡¯t call Jiang Chen, and instead drove toward the school. Along the way, fragmented memories floated in her mind like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Even though her mind was fuzzy, she could remember that someone had been by her side, taking care of her, while she vomited until she was dizzy and disoriented last night. He passed her water, wiped her face, swept the floor, and covered her with a blanket... Li Shuru¡¯s eyes trembled with an indescribable complex emotion that had never been felt before, as if she were nervous, or perhaps even... panicked. She pressed down on the accelerator. ¡°Buzz!¡± The Porsche Panamera surged forward suddenly. Noon. After having lunch, Jiang Chen and Luo Peng returned to their dormitory, only to see a white sports car blatantly parked there. ¡°We¡¯ll be going now.¡± Luo Peng was used to such sights and, along with Li Shao and Bai Zheli, tacitly went into the dormitory building. Li Shuru stepped out of the car and stared straight at Jiang Chen. ¡°When did you come back?¡± Jiang Chen walked over with a smile. ¡°An hour ago.¡± ¡°Have you been waiting here for me all this time?¡± Jiang Chen only asked tentatively, but to his surprise, the other party actually nodded. ¡°Why did you leave by yourself?¡± Upon hearing such a question, Jiang Chen couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback for a moment, vaguely feeling as if he was the kind of scoundrel who would deny responsibility after the fact, and now someone had come specifically to confront him. But that wasn¡¯t right. Last night, he had played the role of a modern-day Mr. Liu Xiahui, a downright gentleman and moral exemplar. ¡°I left you a note; didn¡¯t you see it? I had class in the morning.¡± Li Shuru stared at him unblinkingly. ¡°Are you... mad at me?¡± Jiang Chen was taken aback again, his eyes slightly widening, looking at Li Shuru standing there, he felt an unreal sensation. This was the school¡¯s most sought-after goddess, the one for whom countless men turned and twisted in emotional turmoil, and now she was actually worried about his feelings? ¡°It wasn¡¯t intentional that I kept it from you. I just didn¡¯t want to trouble you with everything. I thought that person was just coming to get some materials; I didn¡¯t realize...¡± Although not particularly experienced in matters of the heart, Jiang Chen was not stupid; he understood what it meant for Li Shuru to give him such an explanation. It truly demonstrated that old saying. Nothing is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. ¡°It¡¯s alright; I understand.¡± Jiang Chen shook his head, a mix of emotions in his heart. ¡°You really aren¡¯t upset?¡± The aloof and proud belle of the art academy now behaved like a woman plagued with insecurities. ¡°Really, I¡¯m not.¡± Jiang Chen grinned, ¡°I know, you did it just for your uncle.¡± Li Shuru looked at him for a while, as if confirming whether he was speaking from the heart; then she said, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡± The tone sounded calm, but somehow it seemed to carry a tinge of grievance? Jiang Chen, not lacking in sensitivity, immediately responded even though he had just returned from the cafeteria with Luo Peng and the others: ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you to eat. Let¡¯s go off-campus. Luo Peng mentioned a good restaurant. You drank a lot last night, so you should only have some light, liquid food for now.¡± The proud Li Shuru surprisingly followed his suggestion obediently, nodding gently like a little bird leaning on a person with a soft hum of agreement. [Li Shuru¡¯s fondness for you +20] As Jiang Chen reached to open the car door, he realized from the notification sound that he might need to hurry up with his time.