Chapter 40: Young Master Jiang (Thanks for the tips! Third update!)

Liang Zhenlun turned around, his brow instantly furrowing deeply.

Luo Peng didn't want to see him, and the feeling was mutual.

Especially when he saw Jiang Chen standing nearby, a trace of almost ferocious gloom surfaced in Liang Zhenlun's eyes beneath his sunglasses.

Bai Haoran had promised to deal with this kid. It had been several days—why hadn't he moved yet?

"Luo Peng, who are you cursing at?"

Liang Zhenlun's smile gradually vanished.

"I curse whoever is cutting the line."

Luo Peng said coldly, "Everyone else is queuing. What makes you so special?"

Though he didn't dare be the first to resist authority, seeing someone take the lead, the students on the scene couldn't help but cast angry glances toward Liang Zhenlun.

No matter how arrogant Liang Zhenlun was, he was clearly in the wrong this time, and he was unwilling to incite "public indignation."

"Please go back and wait in line," Zheng Jingjing repeated.

Embarrassed and humiliated, Liang Zhenlun had no choice but to suppress his rage and step aside.

"Continue," Zheng Jingjing signaled to the staff member in charge of reception.

Order was restored.

With Li Shuirui personally presiding, the line grew longer and longer, transforming from a simple queue into a massive dragon.

"Shuirui, your charm is truly immense."

Even Zheng Jingjing clicked her tongue in secret admiration.

Today, Li Shuirui was wearing a red V-neck long dress that revealed her exquisite collarbones. Her smooth, beautiful hair appeared to have been permed into slight waves. Her temperament was lazy yet enchanting; under the play of light, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Tsk, she doesn't look like a student at all; she looks like a model or a celebrity," Luo Peng remarked.

Even though she was a proper junior, Li Shuirui's aura was worlds apart from that of an ordinary female student.

"Jiang Chen, if you can actually pull her, tsk tsk, I'll be jealous of you."

The people in front were signing up in an orderly fashion.

The positions of Jiang Chen and his companion continued to move forward.

In fact, Li Shuirui had seen him back when Luo Peng was rebuking Liang Zhenlun.

"Don't let him sign up," Li Shuirui whispered to Zheng Jingjing.

"I can't," Zheng Jingjing said with a look of difficulty. "So many people are watching. If we engage in backroom dealings, people will gossip. Besides, Jiang Chen definitely won't just swallow his pride."

Her eyes darted around. Looking at Jiang Chen, who was nearing the registration desk, Zheng Jingjing suggested, "How about this: we let him fill out the form, and at most, we find an excuse to kick him out later."

Li Shuirui instinctively glanced toward Jiang Chen.

The guy happened to look her way at that exact moment. As their eyes met, Jiang Chen flashed a sunny smile.

Li Shuirui quickly averted her gaze and nodded.

"Alright then."

At a time like this, there was no other way.

"Senior Jiang is truly full of vigor; even as a senior, you're still so passionate about outdoor activities."

Having finally reached the front of the line, Zheng Jingjing personally handed the form to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen wasn't embarrassed.

"Life is all about movement. The older you get, the more you need to exercise."

"Heh."

Zheng Jingjing gave a hollow smile but didn't expose his intentions.

"Fill out the form."

Young Master Liang hadn't rejoined the line; after being driven away, he had sat in his car. Looking at Jiang Chen, who was focused on filling out the registration form through the car window, his expression was incredibly malicious.

He slammed the steering wheel hard, then forcefully pulled off his sunglasses and began making a call.

"Brother Bai, what happened with the matter we discussed last time?"

"Young Master Liang, there's been a bit of a situation. This Jiang Chen is a bit problematic."

"Problematic? What kind of problem?"

Liang Zhenlun frowned, suspecting the other party might be trying to back out.

"Brother Bai, I'm with Jiang Chen right now. If it's convenient, you can come over immediately."

He didn't think much of it; he only wanted to deal with Jiang Chen as quickly as possible so that face would never appear before him again.

"Where are you?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Next to the No. 1 Canteen," Liang Zhenlun said. "If you head out now, I'll pick you up once you reach the school gate."

"I'm almost at your school gate."

Hearing the response from the phone, Liang Zhenlun froze.

————

"Alright, you can go back and wait for news."

Picking up the two freshly filled forms and dusting them off, Zheng Jingjing said flatly.

"Wait for news?"

Sensing something was wrong, Jiang Chen immediately asked, "Isn't filling out the form enough?"

"Who says so?"

Zheng Jingjing glanced at the long line, her tone strictly professional.

"Look behind you, there are so many people. How could our Mountaineering Club accommodate everyone? Naturally, we have to conduct a screening. Only suitable people can join."

Jiang Chen's expression gradually stiffened.

"Then what kind of criteria makes someone 'suitable'?"

Zheng Jingjing studied him for a moment, then suddenly gave a brilliant smile. "Well, I can't reveal that. But regardless, you're definitely not suitable."

Jiang Chen's eye twitched.

"Beauty Zheng, you can't tease people like this. I waited in line for so long..."

"I didn't tell you to queue. If you want to complain about who told you to queue, go find them."

Zheng Jingjing showed no mercy, snorting coldly. "You can leave now. Don't delay others from signing up. Next!"

Jiang Chen wanted to argue his case, but Luo Peng pulled him aside, soothing him, "Don't worry, I'll just have a word with their club president."

"Do you think their president listens to you, or to them?"

Luo Peng was instantly speechless. He stammered for a long time without making a sound. Seeing Jiang Chen staring at him, he couldn't help but retort, "You can't entirely blame me. I wanted to ask what kind of outrageous thing you did to make them dislike you so much?"

Jiang Chen sighed.

"I'm more wronged than Dou E."

Jiang Chen looked toward Li Shuirui, who was sitting there like a mascot, wondering if he should go over to make his presence felt, when his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello."

He didn't even look to see who it was.

"Young Master Jiang."

The voice from the other end sounded vaguely familiar, and the title made Jiang Chen feel even more strange.

He instinctively pulled the phone away to check the caller ID.

It was an unknown number.

"Have you dialed the wrong person?"

"Young Master Jiang, it's me, Bai Haoran."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but freeze.

Bai Haoran?

Wasn't this the ruthless man who had held him hostage yesterday?

He actually dared to call him?

Did he really think Jiang Chen wouldn't dare call the police?

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered, but he didn't panic.

"Is there something?"

"Young Master Jiang, is it convenient to talk?"

"Mr. Bai, I was just tricked yesterday. Do you think I'm a fool—"

Before he could finish, the other party said, "I am at East University. Young Master Jiang, look to your right."

Jiang Chen instinctively turned his head and saw a black Audi parked not far away. Bai Haoran was standing by the car holding a phone; seeing Jiang Chen look over, he even nodded.

Jiang Chen fell silent.

"Young Master Jiang, I only need a few minutes. You decide the location."

Bai Haoran seemed to understand his concerns.

Jiang Chen was lost in thought.

The other party didn't seem to be here to cause trouble, and the way he repeatedly called him "Young Master Jiang" was a complete departure from his attitude yesterday.

A person doesn't undergo such a massive change without reason.

Could it be that the experimental message he sent in the Emperor Group actually worked?

"Wait for me a moment."

Jiang Chen hung up the phone.

(End of Chapter)