Chapter 26: Better to Hold the Steering Wheel Than Sit in the Passenger Seat

"Wipe yourself off."

Jiang Chen eventually got into the car. Perhaps it was because of the people inside, or perhaps because of the car itself, but sitting in the passenger seat, he appeared somewhat constrained.

Zheng Jingjing handed a pack of tissues from the back.

"Thanks."

Water was everywhere—on his hair, his face, and his clothes. A single pack of tissues wasn't nearly enough, and the leather seats were already soaked.

Jiang Chen managed to wipe his face dry.

"I'm sorry for getting your car dirty," he apologized to Li Shurui.

"It's just water. It'll dry on its own," Li Shurui said flatly. She didn't seem overly precious about her brand-new car.

Jiang Chen had known for a while that Li Shurui had bought a car, but he truly hadn't expected her to take the initiative to give him a ride.

This "Flower of the Arts Academy" wasn't as cold as she appeared on the surface.

"Jiang Chen, are you really just going to leave Ai Qian like that? She's still sitting in front of V-派 crying," Zheng Jingjing asked.

"I gave her my umbrella. What else can I do? It doesn't look like there's a fifth seat here, does it?" Jiang Chen gave a bitter smile.

The words seemed humorous, but they were actually quite profound.

This Panamera was actually a five-seater coupe; accommodating five people wouldn't actually be a problem. The key question was: would Li Shurui be willing?

Besides, if Li Shurui hadn't had a sudden burst of kindness, he would still be standing on the roadside, miserably drenched in the rain.

Regarding Ai Qian, he had done everything he could. As for anything more, he was powerless.

"If you had been this decisive earlier, you wouldn't have such a bad reputation," Xu Siyi teased, dropping her cold act.

Jiang Chen smiled bitterly but said nothing.

"Jiang Chen, we worked pretty well together today. Liang Zhenlun's face turned pitch black. Teehee..." Recalling the moment, Zheng Jingjing still found it hilarious.

"Thanks to the great beauty Zheng for coming to my rescue. If it weren't for you, I really would have lost face so badly I'd never recover," Jiang Chen sighed.

"Aren't you embarrassed enough already?" Xu Siyi interjected. "Of all the days not to work a part-time job, it had to be today, and you just had to stumble into that private booth."

Jiang Chen didn't explain that it had been a trap set specifically for him. He simply smiled and said, "I've always had rather bad luck."

"Tsk, you've got that Stephen Chow vibe going on," Zheng Jingjing joked.

Even though they weren't particularly close, at this moment, they felt like old friends who had known each other for a long time, and no one had yet noticed this subtle shift in dynamic.

"Shurui, is this car yours?" Jiang Chen asked matter-of-factly.

"Of course! What, did you think it was yours?" Zheng Jingjing said proudly. "Get those filthy thoughts out of your head. Shurui bought this car with her own hard work; she didn't rely on anyone."

To an outsider, one might think she was the owner herself.

"This is a Panamera, right?" Jiang Chen's eyes showed a mix of envy and wonder as he inspected the luxurious interior. "Luxury cars really are different. This must cost over a million, right?"

"To be precise, 1.3 million."

After hearing Zheng Jingjing's words, Jiang Chen took a soft breath.

"The down payment alone is 400,000?"

"What down payment? Shurui paid in full!" Zheng Jingjing rolled her eyes at him, as if mocking him for being a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

"In full?" Jiang Chen couldn't help but look toward Li Shurui, seemingly shocked by her financial strength.

"What? Scared already?" Zheng Jingjing teased. "My dear Senior Jiang, don't forget, you were the one clamoring about pursuing Shurui. As a man, how can you be so timid?"

"Heh."

Jiang Chen gave a nonchalant chuckle, though it inevitably looked like he was trying to mask his embarrassment.

"Am I really that cowardly? I just didn't expect Shurui to be so good at making money. Now I can rest easy."

Even Xu Siyi found it bizarre and asked in confusion, "Rest easy about what?"

"I was worried before that with my abilities, I might not be able to support Shurui. But now there's no need to worry; Shurui can completely support herself."

Jiang Chen spoke with absolute conviction, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I've already decided. In the future, once we're together, I can handle the domestic affairs while Shurui handles the outside world."

Zheng Jingjing and Xu Siyi were speechless.

Was this something a man was supposed to say?

Did he dare to be even more shameless?

"Shurui, pull over right now and dump this guy! He is absolutely shameless!" Zheng Jingjing regretted her earlier moment of soft-heartedness.

"Let me educate you all on some legal common sense," Jiang Chen reminded them, appearing helpful. "Failing to help someone in danger might not constitute a crime, but if something happens to me after you kick me out, you'll be held responsible."

Zheng Jingjing was dumbfounded. She pointed at him, stuttering, "You... you... you..." for a long time before gritting her teeth and cursing, "You ungrateful wolf!"

"I'm just stating facts. I heard this in a public lecture," Jiang Chen replied with an unshakeable expression, his skin incredibly thick.

Zheng Jingjing was fuming.

To think she had actually started to think this guy was quite decent. She had truly been blind!

"Jiang Chen, I curse you to never find a girlfriend for the rest of your life! And even if you do, you'll definitely be dumped in the end!"

The words were undeniably malicious.

Jiang Chen remained unmoved, casting a soulful glance at Li Shurui beside him.

"I believe Shurui wouldn't do that."

Zheng Jingjing froze, then quickly reacted.

"Pah! Shurui could never fall for you, never!"

"What if she does?"

"There are no 'what ifs'!"

"What if, what if?" Jiang Chen was exceptionally persistent.

"Then I'll do a handstand disco!"

Fuming with rage, Zheng Jingjing blurted it out without thinking.

Xu Siyi gave her a strange look.

"A handstand disco?"

Jiang Chen was also startled and muttered, "Isn't the difficulty level a bit too high?"

"Do you dare to bet?!" Zheng Jingjing's watery eyes widened.

"I'll bet. Shurui, Siyi, you are both witnesses. You'll have to make sure she keeps her promise when the time comes."

"I, Zheng Jingjing, keep my word!" Zheng Jingjing declared with the heroic spirit of a woman who could rival any man.

Xu Siyi shook her head and sighed.

What a silly girl.

How can there be a bet where only one side places a wager?

If you lose, you do a handstand disco.

But what if the other person loses?

There's no punishment at all.

"Alright, it's a deal then?" Jiang Chen's eyes twinkled with hidden laughter.

"It's a deal!"

Unknowingly, the Panamera had entered the gates of Dongda University. It continued driving for a while before stopping at a fork in the road.

"We haven't arrived yet," Jiang Chen reminded them.

"In your dreams! You think we're going to drive you all the way back to your dorm? Get out of the car, now!"

A girl's mind really could change in an instant.

The one who wanted to pull Jiang Chen into the car earlier was Zheng Jingjing, and the one kicking him out now was also Zheng Jingjing.

The rain outside had lessened, falling in a light drizzle rather than a downpour.

Jiang Chen sighed helplessly and remarked to himself, "As expected, holding the steering wheel myself is better than sitting in the passenger seat."

Li Shurui, who had barely spoken the entire time, had a slight flicker in her eyes. She couldn't help but turn to glance at the young man beside her, suddenly and inexplicably remembering a scene from last week at KIMI.

Back then, she was just a minor streamer.

Her friend had been clamoring that if someone was going to be her boyfriend, they at least had to drive a million-dollar luxury car.

"Thanks."

Before she could think deeply, Jiang Chen had already pushed the door open and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Li Shurui cut off her thoughts.

The Panamera made a right turn, and at the same time, an umbrella was tossed out from the car.

"Remember to return it to me!"

The window rolled back up, gradually obscuring Zheng Jingjing's fierce face.