Chapter 7: Scandal

"Enough, enough, we don't need that many dishes."

Inside the restaurant next to Canteen No. 4.

Only after Luo Peng intervened did Jiang Chen put down the menu and say to the waiter, "We'll start with these. If it's not enough, we'll order more."

Bai Zheli remained silent.

When had he ever imagined that one day, Brother Chen would adopt such a nouveau riche mannerism?

As expected, money obtained without effort doesn't hurt to spend.

"Jiang Chen, was this six thousand yuan really a gift from Li Shurui?"

After the waiter left, Li Shao asked in a low voice.

"What else would it be?"

Jiang Chen smiled.

Although they found such an absurd explanation hard to believe, Li Shao and the others couldn't think of a more reasonable explanation for the time being.

"So, what do you plan to do next?"

Luo Peng shifted his chair, leaning closer to Jiang Chen.

"What do you mean, what do I do?"

"Are you going to continue... chasing Li Shurui?"

"Why not?"

Jiang Chen replied with an air of integrity and openness, "Giving up halfway is not my style. Besides, I haven't even truly started yet; there's no reason to retreat before the battle has even begun."

"But Brother Chen," Bai Zheli said with difficulty, "you took her money. If you keep harassing her, I'm afraid... it might not be good, right?"

Jiang Chen looked at him.

"Does six thousand yuan give her the right to strip away my right to pursue happiness? That's far too cheap. I'm not giving up."

Luo Peng's face twitched.

If they weren't good buddies who had lived under the same roof for several years, he really wouldn't be able to stop himself from jumping up and cursing.

He had seen shameless people before, but never someone this shameless.

"Since you don't plan on giving up, you should return the money to her. Don't let her look down on you," Li Shao advised.

"She already looks down on me. Even if I return the money, it won't change that fact. Anyway, she'll be with me sooner or later. Her money will be my money; there's no need to be so meticulous about it."

Watching the unrestrained Jiang Chen, the three of them looked at each other as if they had developed Parkinson's; their expressions were incredibly strange. They sat there in silence for a long while.

How could one word even describe such shameless behavior?

"I'm done with the alcohol. I'll go get some soda."

Jiang Chen stood up as if nothing had happened and grabbed a bottle of "Fat宅 Happy Water" (cola) from the freezer.

"Peng, you have a wide network. Do me a favor."

Jiang Chen poured the soda into four cups.

Luo Peng let out a long sigh, composing himself. "What favor?"

"Help me get Li Shurui's contact information."

Jiang Chen placed a cup of cola in front of him.

This wasn't actually a difficult task. Although he wasn't close to Li Shurui, he surely knew someone who was. However, Luo Peng felt that chasing Li Shurui was a dead end with absolutely no hope.

"You should think about it again..."

"I've already thought it through very clearly."

Jiang Chen's tone was firm. "You're right, there are countless girls better than Ai Qian, and Li Shurui is one of them. Are you going to help me or not?"

Luo Peng felt a headache coming on.

With his good buddy staring him down like this, how could he refuse?

Frustrated, he picked up the cup of cola and drained it in one gulp. He said helplessly, "I'll try."

"That's my man."

Jiang Chen smiled with satisfaction and patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Chen, you've gone viral!"

Bai Zheli, holding his phone, suddenly spoke up.

"What went viral?" Li Shao asked, puzzled.

"The matter of Li Shurui coming to find Brother Chen—the whole school knows now. So many people are posting about it on their Moments. They're saying Li Shurui gave him money to tell him to stop bothering her."

"Let me see."

Li Shao took Bai Zheli's phone and scrolled through the social media feed. The content was eyesore; it was nothing but mockery and sarcasm directed at Jiang Chen.

"Jiang Chen? That massive simp?"

"Hasn't he been chasing his ex-girlfriend this whole time? Why the sudden change of target?"

"As expected of a top-tier simp. Look at how much he scared the school beauty; she actually solved the problem by giving him money. That's actually a great method; his ex should take notes."

"I just saw Jiang Chen and Li Shurui downstairs at the West 5 Male Dormitory. It gave me a shock. So that's how it is. That kid Jiang Chen is truly a disgrace to us men."

...

Li Shao's expression was grim.

"Jiang Chen, don't mind them. Don't care what they say."

Even without looking, Luo Peng knew it wouldn't be anything good.

But having been a simp for so long, Jiang Chen's mental fortitude was incredibly strong; he didn't need anyone's comfort.

"It's fine. They're just envious and jealous of me."

"..." "..." "..."

Luo Peng's connections were indeed extensive. During the meal, he managed to find out Li Shurui's phone number and learned that she would be practicing dance in the Arts College dance studio this afternoon.

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Chen decided to act immediately.

"It's one thing that you didn't stop him, but why did you tell him where Li Shurui was?"

After the meal, watching Jiang Chen's retreating figure, Li Shao was very worried.

The news had already spread throughout the school.

If Jiang Chen went to find Li Shurui now, it would undoubtedly result in another round of humiliation.

"Boss, could I have stopped him? When he was simping for Ai Qian, you advised him so many times. Did he listen?"

Li Shao was speechless.

Luo Peng smiled bitterly. "Jiang Chen is the type who won't turn back until he hits a wall. Let him go. Once he feels the pain, he'll know when to give up."

Clearly, Luo Peng was playing a risky game of "retreating to advance," but he had once again underestimated Jiang Chen's determination.

Forget a wall—if a bulletproof door stood in his way for the sake of ten trillion, he would tear it down.

***

The Arts College.

The entire building was uniquely constructed on a slope, featuring an oval porch with a strong European artistic flair.

Since it was the weekend, there weren't many people in the school, but whenever anyone saw Jiang Chen, they pointed and whispered, accompanied by sneers. It was even worse at the entrance of the Arts College.

Jiang Chen played deaf and mute, possessing incredible mental strength. He asked the security guard for the location of the dance studio and made his way there.

He pushed the door open.

Inside the spacious room, several girls with graceful figures were performing a folk dance. Their black, tight-fitting practice gear outlined their beautiful physiques perfectly; every movement was a sight to behold.

Because they were so immersed, they didn't notice the uninvited guest entering.

*Clap, clap, clap...*

As the music ended, the girls were drenched in sweat and were about to take a break when they suddenly heard a burst of applause from the doorway.

Turning around abruptly, they saw a young man walking in quite confidently.

"You dance beautifully," Jiang Chen remarked, seemingly from the bottom of his heart.

"It's you, Jiang Chen!"

At Donghai University, Jiang Chen already had a certain level of notoriety, and after the incident with Li Shurui's money, his reputation had fermented rapidly.

"What are you doing here?"

"What else could he be doing? He's obviously here to find Shurui!"

One girl gave a strange smile; she had been present at KIMI yesterday.

"Shurui, we'll wait for you outside."

The money from last night hadn't been spent in vain. The girl winked at Jiang Chen and then pulled the other girls out.

As they left, the girls whispered among themselves, constantly glancing back at Jiang Chen.

Soon, the large dance studio was left with only a "scandalous couple."

(End of Chapter)