Chapter 41: Seeking Forgiveness with a Thicket of Thorns

"You go back first, I have something to do."

"What is it?" Luo Peng asked instinctively.

But Jiang Chen offered no explanation, walking off alone toward Bai Haoran.

"Huh? Shurui, why did he just leave like that?"

Zheng Jingjing felt bewildered. In her estimation, Jiang Chen would surely have shamelessly approached Shurui to curry favor; indeed, he had looked like he intended to do just that a moment ago, but then he took a phone call and seemed to change his mind.

"Put his application form away. Throw it directly in the trash later," Li Shurui said calmly. At the same time, she instinctively glanced in the direction Jiang Chen had headed, and her gaze suddenly froze.

Wasn't that...

That guy surnamed Bai?!

Why was he here again?

And Jiang Chen—not only was he not avoiding him, but why was he actively approaching him?

This time, it didn't look like anyone was forcing him at knifepoint, did it?

While Li Shurui was lost in thought, Jiang Chen and Bai Haoran had already left the crowded area, walking on foot instead of taking the Audi.

Young Master Liang Haoran emerged from his Maserati once more, following them stealthily.

Li Shurui's eyes flickered. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "I'm going to buy something."

"Oh."

Zheng Jingjing didn't think much of it.

Jiang Chen was no fool. Even if he felt the other party lacked great malice this time, he wasn't ignorant enough to follow him off-campus.

He led Bai Haoran on a aimless stroll through the East University campus.

"Mr. Bai has quite the courage. Aren't you afraid I'll call the police?" Jiang Chen said softly, his tone polite rather than that of an enemy.

Setting aside the police, if he were to raise his voice and call for help right now, Bai Haoran would certainly have nowhere to run.

"Young Master Jiang is indeed different from ordinary students. To be honest, I came here today to apologize to you," Bai Haoran said. He was neither startled nor angry; instead, he smiled. He was a completely different person from yesterday. On that face, which instinctively felt sinister, there was even a hint of what could be described as humility.

"It was my lack of vision that caused me to offend you. I am at your mercy; do with me as you wish."

*This looks like a formal act of atonement...* Jiang Chen thought, his mind stirring.

Bai Haoran wouldn't come here to surrender for no reason. Thinking it over, it could only be that the message sent in the Emperor's Chat Group had taken effect.

For the past twenty years, Jiang Chen had been an ordinary person, living a life that couldn't be more mundane. He had never stepped foot in high society, nor had he even seen what it truly looked like. But at this very moment, through Bai Haoran's sudden transformation, he seemed to have caught a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of the upper class.

A simple WeChat message could scare a desperate man this much, making him abandon his dignity to grovel and apologize to a college student...

"Do with me as I wish... Mr. Bai, you exaggerate," Jiang Chen said, maintaining his composure.

The man had nearly driven him to jump off a building; to say he didn't mind at all would be a lie. However, for the moment, he truly hadn't figured out how to retaliate, as he lacked experience in such matters.

Bai Haoran wasted no words. He was indeed a ruthless character; he immediately drew a dagger from his coat.

The experience from yesterday was still fresh in his mind, and Jiang Chen instinctively took two steps back, his eyes filled with vigilance.

"What are you doing?"

Bai Haoran stopped in his tracks, motionless.

"Young Master Jiang, one must take responsibility for one's actions. I caused you fright, and thus I deserve punishment."

Before Jiang Chen could react, Bai Haoran raised the knife and plunged it into his own abdomen.

*Puchi!*

Jiang Chen's pupils dilated. He was truly shaken by the man's ruthlessness.

His world was undergoing an uncontrollable transformation.

When had he ever encountered such a person before?!

It was one thing to be ruthless to others, but the key was that he was just as unapologetic toward himself.

"Are you crazy?!"

Fortunately, they had walked into a relatively secluded area where few students were passing by, so this heart-stopping scene went unnoticed.

Bai Haoran seemed to have been prepared. He pulled out the dagger and used a handkerchief to press against the wound.

Intense pain had already caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead, yet he didn't utter a single sound.

"Don't worry, Young Master Jiang. I know my limits; I won't hit anything vital."

"..."

Jiang Chen was speechless, unsure whether to call the man honest or savage.

"You need to go to the hospital. Give me the keys, and I'll drive the car over."

Even though Bai Haoran had stabbed himself, Jiang Chen could not simply stand by and watch. Ultimately, he was still an educated, fine young man with his humanity intact. Moreover, he didn't want this incident to become public knowledge.

Covering his wound with one hand, Bai Haoran pulled out his keys with the other.

"Wait for me here."

Jiang Chen took the keys and ran back.

Practice makes perfect, a rule that applies to any industry. Generally, those who spend years in the underworld have a basic understanding of human anatomy; at the very least, they know where to strike to avoid causing death. Bai Haoran was no exception.

Though his strike was decisive and carried a terrifying cruelty, the knife did not actually go very deep.

Seeing Jiang Chen's reaction, he knew the crisis had passed and couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief. Before coming here, he had prepared for various scenarios; taking a knife wound was the lightest option.

"Brother Bai, what are you doing?"

Not long after Jiang Chen left, Liang Zhenlun emerged from some hiding spot.

He must have witnessed Bai Haoran stabbing himself, and his face was filled with disbelief.

Bai Haoran hadn't told him about yesterday's failure, so Liang Zhenlun had assumed Bai Haoran's visit to East University today was to take action. That was why he had followed stealthily, intending to witness the miserable sight of the Jiang boy being dealt with. He never expected that the man he called for help would act like he'd taken the wrong medicine and stab himself.

Watching the blood seep through the red stains on Bai Haoran's shirt, Liang Zhenlun's mind went blank, his ability to think vanishing.

"Young Master Liang, Young Master Jiang is not an ordinary person. You'd better not provoke him again."

*There is no virtue without a history of ruthlessness.*

The saying was true.

Bai Haoran did not shift the blame onto Liang Zhenlun; instead, he chose to shoulder it alone.

There are no purely evil people in this world, nor are there purely good ones. No matter how bad a person is, they will have something commendable about them.

Young Master Jiang?

Liang Zhenlun was stunned, utterly lost. He stared blankly at the pale-lipped Bai Haoran, feeling as though everything were a dream.

A penniless nobody—what merit did he have to be called "Young Master Jiang"?!

Equally shocked was Li Shurui, who was still hiding in the distance.

Although she couldn't hear the dialogue, she saw their expressions, actions, and behavior clearly.

As expected, Liang Zhenlun was the mastermind behind the scenes; that wasn't surprising at all.

What was inconceivable, however, was what Jiang Chen had used to make the man who tried to force him off a building yesterday stab himself today?

Li Shurui's emotions surged, her proud chest heaving with her breath.

But no one was fortunate enough to admire this beautiful sight.

She did not linger and quickly left the area.

(End of Chapter)