Chapter 47: I want everyone to know that this fish pond

Tiantanzhai.

Located within the jurisdiction of Lantian City.

It is not famous, but the terrain is steep and rugged. With its highest peak reaching an altitude of over 3,000 meters, it attracts many mountaineering enthusiasts every year.

It is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Donghai, making it the destination for this activity organized by the Donghai University Mountaineering Club.

"A senior? Shurui, you're not joking, are you?!"

The bus stopped at a farmhouse at the foot of Tiantanzhai. After having lunch, the more than twenty members participating in the activity began to wander freely.

Mountaineering was only one part of the trip; enjoying a pastoral life that was the complete opposite of the metropolis was the main theme of this outing.

By the shimmering fish pond, some boys had rented fishing gear from the owner, hoping to show off their skills.

The girls, in small groups, were admiring the scenery and taking photos nearby.

Zheng Jingjing, who was walking by the pond with Li Shurui, was so shocked by the news that she nearly fell into the water.

"He said it himself while we were chatting on the bus. I don't know if it's true—it might have been a joke—but I feel like it's most likely true."

"If it really is true, then isn't he about the same age as us?"

After the initial shock came great joy.

Zheng Jingjing stopped in her tracks and said urgently, "In that case, the age gap is gone! Shurui, this is your opportunity! That guy is so rich, and since his parents are gone, if you marry into his family, you won't even have to worry about mother-in-law issues. You two are a match made in heaven!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Li Shurui didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I don't even know what he looks like."

"A guy's looks aren't important! As long as he's rich, isn't that enough? If you stay with this guy, you won't have to worry about anything for the rest of your life—no, even for your next life!"

Li Shurui shook her head and looked at the clear fish pond, saying softly, "I asked him which school he goes to, but he refused to say."

"Isn't that normal?"

Zheng Jingjing analyzed, "With a boy like that, girls must be swarming him like bees to butterflies. He's definitely seen enough proactive girls to be bored of them. If he were really that easy to handle, would it be your turn?"

The words felt a bit bitter, but Li Shurui understood the logic.

To ordinary people, beautiful women are a scarce and unreachable resource.

But to the wealthy, so-called "goddesses" are not at all extraordinary.

The world lacks beautiful women, but what it lacks least is also beautiful women.

Li Shurui was confident, but not blindly conceited.

Against a figure of the caliber of "Hanjiang Guying," the physical beauty she took pride in did not possess much competitive edge.

"Shurui, to deal with a guy like that, you have to keep your cool. You have to be like... like Jiang Chen, you need an indomitable will and patience."

"Are you talking about me?"

Speak of the devil.

Jiang Chen appeared behind the two women at some unknown moment, giving Zheng Jingjing a fright.

"Are you a cat? You walk without making a sound!"

"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 said crossly.

"I haven't caught a single fish in half an hour. I'm done, it's no fun."

Zheng Jingjing, who had just praised his perseverance, said disdainfully, "You're giving up after only half an hour? How are you so patient when chasing girls?"

"How can those be the same? One is a fish, the other is a person. There's no comparison."

"Shurui and I are talking. Don't disturb us; go find somewhere else to hang out." Zheng Jingjing tried to dismiss him.

"That won't do. This isn't Donghai; who knows if we'll run into bad people? I have to protect you both," Jiang Chen said righteously.

"We're right here, we won't go far. We don't need your protection!"

"Still, it won't do."

Zheng Jingjing was helpless.

There was a saying that a good woman is afraid of a persistent man; that was exactly the situation. When a man is willing to throw away his dignity, a woman can generally do nothing about him.

"Shurui, what were you two talking about just now? You seemed to have something on your mind on the bus." Jiang Chen looked at Li Shurui with concern.

"Jiang Chen, I'm officially notifying you: you can give up. Shurui already has someone she likes," Zheng Jingjing said loudly.

"Impossible."

Jiang Chen's expression didn't change as he smiled. "I don't believe you."

"You don't believe me? Then I'll make you give up! The person Shurui likes is a super playboy. Do you understand what that means? I mean the kind of person who is incomparably wealthy."

Jiang Chen looked at Li Shurui.

Li Shurui remained silent. Whether it was to get rid of Jiang Chen or otherwise, she offered no rebuttal.

"He gave Shurui millions in gifts! Millions! Do you know what that concept means? You might not earn that much money in your entire life!"

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, appearing somewhat surprised. He was about to say something, but Zheng Jingjing gave him no chance to speak.

"Don't use that 'love is worth more than money' rhetoric; it doesn't work! If you like a girl, you should give her the best life. That is love! You claim to love a girl, yet you let her suffer alongside you—is that love? That is selfishness."

One had to admit, this girl's verbal skills were indeed formidable.

"So, just be magnanimous and let Shurui be happy. If she is happy, shouldn't you be happy too?"

With just a few words, Zheng Jingjing had blocked all of Jiang Chen's paths.

Jiang Chen's lips moved, and he glanced at Li Shurui.

"Shurui, didn't you tell her?"

Zheng Jingjing froze. "Tell her what?"

Li Shurui was also bewildered and looked at Jiang Chen strangely.

"Actually, I am a trillionaire."

Jiang Chen repeated what he had said on the bus.

Li Shurui: "..."

The area by the fish pond fell silent.

"Hahaha..."

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Zheng Jingjing couldn't help but burst into laughter, drawing an annoyed complaint from a man fishing nearby.

"Keep it down! You're scaring my fish away."

Besides the members of the mountaineering club, there were other tourists there as well.

"You're a billionaire?"

"A trillionaire," Jiang Chen corrected him again.

Seeing his deadpan expression, Zheng Jingjing almost cried from laughing so hard.

"Hahaha... I can't... Jiang Chen, you're really funny, hahaha..."

"Beautiful lady, can you be a bit quieter? I'm fishing!" the man shouted.

"Is it really that funny?"

"Isn't it?"

Wiping her tears, Zheng Jingjing held her stomach and said tremulously, "Jiang Chen, I never realized before that you were this hilarious. My stomach actually hurts from laughing."

Seeing these young people ignoring him, the man—who hadn't caught a single fish in a long time—felt a surge of anger. He stood up, about to lash out, but fortunately, a pond manager patrolling nearby saw the situation and walked over quickly.

"Everyone, could you please go somewhere else to chat? You are disturbing others who are fishing."

After soothing the man, the manager approached the three of them.

Zheng Jingjing felt a bit embarrassed and was about to apologize, but unexpectedly, Jiang Chen spoke up: "Call your boss over."

"What for?" The pond manager was puzzled.

Jiang Chen pointed at Li Shurui.

"I want everyone to know that this fish pond has been contracted by her."