Chapter 7: The Woman Who Beat Jiang Menghan

"Sister Shao, I was actually doing it for your own good! I was terrified that a thief would steal something that rightfully belongs to you, which is why I had my cousin investigate."

"It seems now that I was meddling. Based on what I've seen and heard today, can I infer that you discovered that private residence and hired a thief to break in? Perhaps to find a notebook, or maybe to find stolen goods to frame that person, which is why you were able to wait outside the door in advance..."

Shao Yiying fell silent. She had been very angry—this kid Li Shuo was far too dishonest for actually sending his cousin to investigate her—but now, she could only marvel at his keen intuition. This boy had merely witnessed today's events, yet he had deduced so much?

After half a minute, she said hollowly, "Are you born in the Year of the Dog?"

"No, I was born in the Year of the Goat. I'm 19, and I just graduated high school..." Li Shuo replied with total seriousness.

On the other end of the line, Shao Yiying laughed out of sheer exasperation. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Then, high schooler, since you're being so good to me, can I take back my promise? Regarding the reward..."

"Are you going to give me a bonus, Sister Shao? There's no need for that. It's not easy for anyone to make money these days. You just need to transfer the 100,000 yuan you promised me. Please, don't give me any more! I'll send my bank account details to your phone later..."

Shao Yiying was speechless. After a moment, she sighed, "You... you are meticulous and thick-skinned. Who knows what kind of trouble you'll stir up in the future."

"Forget it, the money will be sent to you. Just keep everything that happened today to yourself."

"I swear upon the purity of my virginity: if I reveal today's events, may I lose my virginity and encounter ghosts every single day!"

"Bah! Stop your nonsense. That's it, hanging up now..."

Shao Yiying hung up the phone, feeling her face grow strangely hot. She was somewhat stunned; she hadn't expected to be flirted with by a high schooler.

While she was lost in thought, a soft voice drifted toward her

"Um, Miss Shao, I am truly sorry..."

Looking up, she saw Li Shuo's cousin. Shao Yiying thought to herself: *Compared to his younger cousin, this man who is already in the workforce is far behind.*

However...

A thought struck her, and she asked, "What was your name again?"

"Li Haoran! Haoran, as in righteous spirit..."

"Mhm. Li Shuo's actions helped the police successfully recover the stolen funds today, so the bureau will issue a reward. Check back later to see when Li Shuo goes to school, then bring your men and deliver the reward to him..."

At this point, Shao Yiying paused slightly before continuing, "Li Shuo was also a great help to me this time. I will put in a good word for him so the bureau gives him a larger reward. Just pass that message along to him."

Li Haoran looked completely bewildered. *What does that mean? How come I didn't know the bureau was giving Li Shuo a reward? And how can you be so sure they'll give more?*

Seeing his expression, Shao Yiying said bluntly, "Your cousin is very clever. I intend to take him on as a subordinate; this is an investment in the future, a way of doing him a favor. Just convey that meaning to him."

"Oh, oh, okay. Actually, you don't need to go to such lengths. How old is Li Shuo? If you give him a few hundred yuan, he'll probably be so happy he'll lose his mind..." Li Haoran nodded repeatedly, easily selling out his cousin for a few hundred yuan in front of the goddess.

Shao Yiying was speechless, once again feeling the massive gap between the two brothers. She thought to herself: *I promised him 100,000 yuan, and he still turned around and investigated me?*

She waved her hand impatiently. "Go on then. And remember, try to get closer to your cousin..."

...

"Pfft, 'virginity'..."

Just as Li Shuo hung up, he heard a bell-like laugh beside him. Turning his head, he felt a moment of daze.

In the seat next to him sat a girl wearing a plaid dress. A large pair of headphones was tucked into her twin tails, accentuating her petite and pretty oval face.

She looked like the type of girl similar to Jiang Menghan, but she possessed an aura of extreme "pure desire."

Li Shuo knew his intuition was correct. After his initial daze, he recognized her instantly as Chen Yu. In his memory, she was a school beauty from the county, equally famous as Jiang Menghan, the school beauty from No. 2 High.

The reason he knew her was because, at some point in the future, Chen Yu would steal Jiang Menghan's fiancé. That incident would hit Jiang Menghan so hard that she would flee to the Cold Sea in a fit of rage, disappearing from everyone's sight entirely.

Seeing Li Shuo staring at her, the girl pouted unhappily

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a beautiful girl before?"

An ordinary high schooler would have immediately backed down after such a remark, but Li Shuo replied nonchalantly, "Of course I have. Jiang Menghan from our school is similar to you, but perhaps because it's my first time seeing you, I feel you're a bit prettier than her."

*Jiang Menghan?*

Chen Yu had seen that school beauty from No. 2 High and knew she was very popular among students.

"So you're a student from No. 2 High. You're quite interesting—instead of praising your own school's beauty, you praise me. Though, you aren't wrong. Let's get acquainted; I'm Chen Yu from No. 1 High..."

As she said her name, Chen Yu tilted her head up with a hint of pride, waiting for him to react with wide-eyed realization.

Instead, Li Shuo looked completely blank. "Chen Yu? Never heard of her..."

For a moment, Chen Yu almost lost her composure, but Li Shuo quickly reached out his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Li Shuo. You really are prettier than Jiang Menghan, just stating the facts."

Chen Yu was a little happy, but she didn't shake his hand. She merely joked, "You certainly know how to talk, but I get the feeling you're not an honest person..."

Li Shuo withdrew his hand and shrugged. "Fine, if I'm not honest, then we won't be friends. Women are really something—if you don't know how to talk, they don't like you, but if you do, you're labeled as dishonest..."

"Pfft, you have quite a deep understanding, don't you?"

Chen Yu found him quite humorous. This time, she took the initiative to reach out her hand and said, "But you've misunderstood. Whether you're honest or not doesn't matter; as long as you have money and capability, I'm willing to be your friend."

Li Shuo froze, thinking to himself: *No wonder you were able to actively steal Jiang Menghan's fiancé in my past life; you already had such a "deep" realization at such a young age.*

He shook his head. "Unfortunately, I have neither money nor capability. I'm just an ordinary high schooler..."

Chen Yu didn't withdraw her hand. "But you're very good at talking. It's quite pleasant chatting with you..."

As Li Shuo was considering whether or not to befriend this "little green tea," a figure suddenly blocked the space between him and Chen Yu. The person said to Chen Yu, "Xiao Yu'er, what are you chatting about? You know this guy?"

Chen Yu shook her head, flashing a bright smile. "I don't. Just chatting with the person at the next table..."

It was a boy of the same age, seemingly one of Chen Yu's companions. He advised, "You're so beautiful, don't just talk to random boys..."

Chen Yu's smile instantly vanished. She said unhappily, "Tian Bin, I never agreed to be your girlfriend. Since when did you start managing who I talk to?"

Seeing her anger, Tian Bin leaned down, attempting to get close to explain, "It's nothing, we're friends, right? I was just being kind..."

"I don't need your kindness! I hate people like you the most—using the guise of 'doing what's best for others' to force your own ideas on them!"

With that, Chen Yu stood up with a bang. Just as she was about to walk out, she looked back at Li Shuo and asked, "Are you leaving? Want to come along?"

Li Shuo had already finished his research, and since Tian Bin was currently eyeing him like a predator, he naturally had no desire to stay. Hearing her, he immediately stood up. To his surprise, Chen Yu took his hand and led him quickly out of the internet cafe, whispering as they walked, "Thank me later. This place is owned by Tian Bin's family. Today, he's not just treating me to internet time, he's treating several other classmates too..."

(End of Chapter)