Chapter 27: Lovers Always Part and Reconnect

The school belle of the Arts Academy and a million-dollar sports car—both are inherently high-profile topics. When the two are combined, they create an explosive public reaction.

The news that Li Shurui had purchased a Panamera spread like wildfire through Donghai University.

In an instant, rumors began to fly.

The taller the tree, the more the wind seeks to break it.

As a famously beautiful student, Li Shurui had many followers, but she also had no shortage of jealous and hateful detractors.

How could a junior in college, without any family support, afford such an expensive car?

Taking advantage of the opportunity, many people with ulterior motives worked tirelessly to smear her, claiming she was keeping a sugar daddy or hooking up with wealthy heirs. Some went even further, alleging that she used her youth and beauty to engage in indescribable, dirty business.

While today's college students are no longer the "chosen ones" of society and are common everywhere, they remain highly sought-after commodities in certain markets.

Li Shurui remained as indifferent as ever. She turned a deaf ear to the rumors circulating around the school and offered no response, though Zheng Jingjing and the others went to great lengths to defend her.

As her "simp," Jiang Chen naturally did the same.

"You're saying she earned that Panamera from livestreaming?" Luo Peng asked, incredulous.

"Brother Chen, you're joking, right? Is livestreaming really that profitable?" Bai Zheli also expressed doubt.

"You guys are so out of the loop," Jiang Chen said nonchalantly, leaning against the wardrobe. "Isn't there a saying that if you stand in the right wind, even a pig can fly? We're in the era of self-media. Forget a million; people are becoming billionaires through this."

"I believe that, but those are the big streamers. Li Shurui only has a hundred thousand followers. How could she earn that much?" Luo Peng still couldn't wrap his head around it.

Everyone understood that self-media was the gold mine of the current era, but no matter how booming the industry was, the Pareto principle—the 80/20 rule—remained unbreakable. If even a small streamer could make that much money, why would anyone do any other job? Everyone would just start livestreaming.

"Take another look."

Prompted by Jiang Chen, Luo Peng curiously pulled out his phone, opened the Xingkong App, and clicked on Li Shurui's account from his following list.

He was shocked by what he saw.

"Holy crap, she's almost at three hundred thousand followers?!"

The last time he checked, it seemed to be only a week or two ago. Luo Peng was bewildered.

"Look at you, so unworldly. You know the saying, 'treat someone differently after they've had time to improve,' right? It's not unusual for some creators to gain a million followers from a single video," Jiang Chen said calmly. "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Li Shurui becomes a major internet celebrity."

After listening to them bicker for a while, Li Shao couldn't help but speak up, saying tactfully, "Jiang Chen, don't you feel a lot of pressure?"

While it is a good thing to have an excellent partner, extremes often lead to the opposite. When someone becomes too exceptional, it can become a disadvantage. After all, the more outstanding a person is, the more people will surround them, the more intense the competition becomes, and the harder it will be to carve out a path.

Luo Peng put down his phone, gloating. "Yeah, what are you so proud of? The more successful Li Shurui becomes, the higher her standards will be. Jiang Chen, if I were you, I'd be feeling sorry for myself."

"You guys are being petty," Jiang Chen said dismissively, showing no sense of crisis. He even argued, "The more outstanding she is, the more face I'll have and the more glorious it will be when I finally win her over."

Luo Peng's mouth twitched. Li Shao was speechless. Jiang Chen's logic was truly unique.

What he said was technically true. The problem was: could you actually catch her?

*I want to date Dilraba, that would be even more glorious!* Luo Peng thought to himself.

"Brother Chen, have you heard the other news?" Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses.

"How would I know if you don't tell me?"

"I heard..." Bai Zheli whispered, almost cautiously, "that Ai Qian and Liang Zhenlun are breaking up."

Luo Peng and Li Shao immediately looked at Jiang Chen, but his expression remained unchanged.

"That's just how campus romances go; breakups and reunions are the norm. Xiao Bai, since when did you become such a gossip?"

Jiang Chen, who had once been driven mad by love, now acted like a seasoned relationship expert, appearing incredibly carefree.

"I heard it from Deng Lu and the others. Ai Qian hasn't come to class for two days. She said it was a cold, but the real reason might be that she's heartbroken over the breakup with Liang Zhenlun."

If this were the old Jiang Chen, he would have immediately asked concerned questions or even rushed out to check on her. But the current Jiang Chen remained unmoved, even smiling. "Why are you all looking at me? I'm not a doctor."

"Alright, I have to head out."

With that, he picked something up from the desk and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Returning an umbrella."

Jiang Chen waved the umbrella behind his back as he walked out of the dorm.

Once outside the building, Jiang Chen took out his phone and called Xu Siyi. After learning they were rehearsing at the Arts Academy, he made his way there.

Many cars were parked in front of the Arts Academy. Some belonged to teachers, others to students. The academy had many children from wealthy families; that brand-new Panamera wasn't the most expensive car there, but it drew a lot of attention, with many students pointing and whispering.

*This girl Li Shurui really has a personality,* Jiang Chen thought.

Currently, the news of her car purchase was causing a stir at school, yet she ignored it entirely. She made no effort to avoid suspicion and instead parked the car high-profilely at the academy entrance, as if in silent defiance.

Glancing at the car he had sat in once before, Jiang Chen walked into the academy with the umbrella.

"Alright, you can go back now."

Outside the rehearsal room, Xu Siyi took the umbrella and quickly issued an eviction notice.

"Okay, go on in," Jiang Chen nodded.

Xu Siyi didn't take the bait. She stood at the door, unmoving, and glared at the equally unmoving Jiang Chen. "Go away already. What, you want to peep again?"

Not embarrassed at being seen through, Jiang Chen smiled naturally. "Look at how you're talking to me. Am I that kind of person?"

"You're not, you just watch openly, right?"

Jiang Chen gave a dry laugh.

"Fine, I don't have time to mess around with you. Stop wasting time here; Shurui isn't inside."

"I saw her car outside."

Jiang Chen was not easily fooled.

Xu Siyi couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Why would I lie to you? She was here before, but she's not here now. She took a call and left."

"Where did she go?"

"How should I know?" Xu Siyi said irritably. "Do you really think I'm a spy? Since her car is still at the entrance, she must still be on campus. If you're so capable, go find her yourself."

"Alright then."

Seeing that Xu Siyi didn't seem to be lying, Jiang Chen stopped pestering her. "I'll head off then."

Xu Siyi didn't even bother to reply, merely waving him away.

"By the way..."

Not far into his walk, Jiang Chen suddenly remembered something. He stopped and turned back, but Xu Siyi had already returned to the rehearsal room.

Jiang Chen could only swallow his words and turned back to continue walking out.