Chapter 8: Xu Siyi

Her long, wavy, dyed hair was tied into a high ponytail with a headband, with a few strands dampened by sweat clinging to her cheeks.

Under the compression of her tight practice gear, the devilish curves of her figure were fully revealed.

After intense exercise, the sexy charm radiating from this academy flower—the one who outshone all others—was enough to leave people parched.

However, her naturally enchanting face remained expressionless. She bent down, ignoring everyone around her, to pick up a bottle of mineral water from the floor.

The ignored Jiang Chen didn't mind; he shamelessly admired the top-tier physique of the academy goddess.

*Tsk tsk.*

She was only twenty.

If she were a little older, it would be game over.

"Have you seen enough?"

Standing sideways to face him, Li Shurui set down the water bottle.

Jiang Chen showed no embarrassment.

"I can never see enough."

Despite the shamelessness of his words, he spoke them as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

Li Shurui turned around.

"I told you not to come and harass me again, Jiang Chen. I am not Ai Qian. If you insist on this, don't blame me for being unkind to you."

This wasn't a threat.

With the influence of the academy flower, a single call from her would have her legion of protectors rushing to teach Jiang Chen a profound lesson.

"Shurui, we aren't strangers, so there's no need to be so formal."

Jiang Chen showed no signs of repentance.

"Get out."

Li Shurui turned completely cold.

Jiang Chen remained unmoved, fully embodying the basic qualities of a "simp"—no matter how harsh her attitude, he met her with a smile.

"Shurui, the reason I came to find you is actually because I have something to discuss."

Li Shurui remained silent, looking at him coldly, seemingly unwilling to waste a single word.

"You must have heard about the rumors between us, right?"

Jiang Chen spoke with great seriousness.

Li Shurui's eyes flickered.

*Is there something wrong with this guy's brain?*

Was that a "rumor"?

That was clearly a scandal involving only him!

"Now the whole school is saying that the money was your attempt to brush me off, calling me a toad wanting to eat swan meat, and labeling me a simp. I hope you can help me explain it."

At this moment, Li Shurui knew she shouldn't laugh, but she truly couldn't help herself.

*You're a simp—does everyone really need to say it? Isn't that an ironclad fact?*

The corners of her mouth twitched upward for a split second before she quickly regained her composure, saying expressionlessly, "Why should I help you explain?"

"Because my reputation has been severely damaged..."

"No one can damage your reputation," Li Shurui said coldly. "Your reputation doesn't depend on what others say, but on what you do."

Having said her piece, she was unwilling to waste any more time and walked straight out of the dance studio.

"If you keep following me, I'll call security."

With that, Jiang Chen had no choice but to stop, watching helplessly as that sexy figure disappeared from his sight.

Even a simp has his limits.

In the past, being used as a tool by Ai Qian was acceptable because there was an emotional foundation between them, but he had zero connection with this academy flower.

Seeing her avoid him as if he were a plague, Jiang Chen truly wanted to throw in the towel, but then he thought about the ten trillion "Simp Gold" in his account.

"Whew..."

Jiang Chen let out a long sigh 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 reached the door, someone called out.

"Hi!"

Jiang Chen turned his head and recognized the girl who had just created the opportunity for him. She had already changed out of her practice clothes into casual wear.

"Senior Jiang, how did the chat with Shurui go?"

She approached him with a grin, hands behind her back.

That's right.

In fact, it wasn't just her; Li Shurui was a junior, one year below Jiang Chen.

"It was alright," Jiang Chen replied with a smile, though it looked somewhat forced.

"Senior Jiang, when it comes to chasing girls, you can't just force it; you need strategy. I know Shurui well—she won't like a guy who clings to her relentlessly."

This girl seemed quite polite to him.

Jiang Chen asked nonchalantly, "Junior... how should I address you?"

"Xu Siyi. You can just call me Siyi, Senior Jiang."

*Kindness from a stranger is rarely free.*

Jiang Chen understood. Given his reputation, the vain girls of the arts academy wouldn't give him any pleasantries, let alone such enthusiasm.

However, regardless of her motives, he truly needed a helper right now.

As the saying goes: a strong fortress is often breached from within.

This girl had been there while he was drinking last night, and she was here practicing just now. It was obvious she was close to Li Shurui, perhaps even a best friend.

If she could work with him from the inside, it would certainly double his efficiency.

"Siyi, based on what you know, what kind of guy does Shurui like?"

Jiang Chen took the opportunity to ask for advice.

Perhaps satisfied with his attitude, Xu Siyi's smile grew even brighter.

Li Shurui had a sharp, oval face with narrow cheeks—the kind of "snake-like" beauty popular in modern terms—whereas Xu Siyi's face was rounder and fuller.

However, being able to be friends with the academy flower was proof enough that she was undoubtedly a beauty herself.

"Well..."

She put on a dramatic tone.

Jiang Chen was no stranger to such games. Seeing this, he immediately said, "Siyi, if you're willing to help me, I will definitely repay you."

"Senior Jiang, I saw a bracelet not long ago that I really liked, but it was a bit expensive, and I couldn't bring myself to buy it..."

Jiang Chen's eyelid twitched.

He had guessed she came prepared, but he hadn't expected her to be so blunt.

Before the job was even done, she was already setting conditions.

This girl hadn't intended to help him from the start; she had viewed him as a fat sheep to be fleeced.

But wasn't this a bit too direct?

At the very least, she could have put on an act to show some respect.

Jiang Chen felt a bit frustrated, but for the sake of his future "sea of stars," he could only play along. "How much is that bracelet?"

Xu Siyi held up one hand.

"Five hundred?" Jiang Chen asked tentatively.

"Senior Jiang, what are you saying? I can afford five hundred."

Xu Siyi gave him a reproachful look, her sweet, nasal tone making one's heart flutter.

"Five thousand?"

"To be precise, it's five thousand five hundred."

Jiang Chen fell silent.

Five thousand five hundred.

Not long ago, Li Shurui had just given him six thousand.

To ask for such a precise amount...

She truly saw him as a sucker!

"Senior Jiang, what's wrong? If you really want to pursue Shurui, you should have been mentally prepared for this, right?"

Xu Siyi.

The name was quite pretty.

But this girl was truly cunning to her core.

She plucked every feather from every passing bird.

She was clearly pricing her services based on his wallet.

It was one thing to treat other men like ATMs, but she wouldn't even let a poor, struggling guy like him off easy.

But then again, for Xu Siyi, it didn't matter what his financial situation was. She only knew she had six thousand in her pocket right now, so she would squeeze him dry. As for whether he'd be eating steamed buns or starving later, what was that to her?

"Senior Jiang?"

"Fine. I'll buy the bracelet for you. But as for Shurui..."

"Don't worry, I will definitely help you!"

As their eyes met, both of them wore brilliant smiles.