008 Xu Siyi

The dyed and slightly curled long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, with a few strands damp with sweat, sticking to her cheeks.

Squeezed by the close-fitting workout attire, her curvaceous body with its devilish curves was fully revealed.

After intense exercise, the allure and sexy charm emanating from this celebrated beauty of the art academy was enough to make anyone's mouth go dry.

But the naturally seductive face bore no expression at the moment, as she bent over nonchalantly to pick up a bottle of mineral water off the ground.

Jiang Chen, however, didn't mind being ignored and openly appreciated the goddess-like figure of this art academy beauty.

Tsk tsk.

She's only twenty.

What would happen when she gets older?

"Have you seen enough?"

Li Shuru, who was facing him sideways, put down the bottle of mineral water.

Jiang Chen was not at all embarrassed.

"I could never get enough."

The words were shameless, yet he said them as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

Li Shuru turned away.

"I've told you, stop harassing me, Jiang Chen. I'm not Ai Qian. If you insist on this, don't blame me for being rude."

This was no idle threat.

With the influence of the art academy's belle, a simple call to arms would have the Flower Guardians scrambling to teach Jiang Chen a harsh lesson.

"Shu Rui, we aren't strangers. You don't need to be polite with me,"

Jiang Chen showed no signs of repentance.

"Get out."

Li Shuru became completely indifferent.

Jiang Chen was unfazed, fully embodying the resilience of a devoted admirer, always smiling no matter how nasty the other person's attitude became.

"Shu Rui, I actually came to you because I have something to discuss."

Li Shuru remained silent, giving Jiang Chen a cold look, seemingly too lazy to waste a word on him.

"You must have heard about the rumors between us," Jiang Chen said earnestly.

Li Shuru's gaze flickered.

This guy.

Could it be that he really has a problem in his head?

Are those even rumors?

That's clearly his own scandal!

"Now the whole school is saying that the money is your way of getting rid of me, calling me a toad wanting to eat swan meat, labeling me a lickspittle. I hope you can help me clear things up."

At this point, Li Shuru understood she shouldn't laugh, but she just couldn't hold it in.

You are a lickspittle, does that even need to be said by others?

Isn't that an ironclad fact?

Her lips, briefly curved into a smile, quickly became straight again, as Li Shuru said emotionlessly, "Why should I help you explain?"

"Because my reputation has been greatly damaged…"

"No one can damage your reputation,"

Li Shuru said coldly, "Your reputation doesn't depend on what others say, but on what you do yourself."

With that, she was unwilling to waste more time and headed straight out of the dance studio.

"If you follow me again, I'll call security."

With that, Jiang Chen could only stop in his tracks, watching helplessly as the sexy silhouette disappeared from his sight.

Even a devoted admirer like him has his limits.

He had been used as a tool by Ai Qian before because they had some emotional foundation, but with this belle of the art academy, he had no relationship whatsoever.

Seeing that she treated him as anathema, Jiang Chen really wanted to just give up, but then he thought of the ten trillion in 'devoted admirer' funds in his account.

"Phew…"

Jiang Chen took a deep breath 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 was at the doorway, someone called out.

"Hey!"

Jiang Chen turned his head and recognized the girl who had created the opportunity for him earlier; she had already changed out of her workout clothes and into casual wear.

"Jiang senior, how did it go talking with Shu Rui?"

She approached, grinning and holding her hands behind her back.

That's right.

Not just her, Li Shuru was also a third-year student, one grade lower than Jiang Chen.

"Not bad,"

Jiang Chen smiled in response, yet his expression seemed to convey a forced cheerfulness.

"Senior Jiang, when it comes to courting girls, brute force won't do, you need a strategy. I understand Shu Rui, and she's not the type to fancy a guy who is overly persistent."

This chick seemed rather polite toward Jiang Chen.

With a poker face, Jiang Chen asked, "Junior… what's your name?"

"Xu Siyi. Senior Jiang can just call me Si Yi."

No good deed comes for free: it's either a plot or a swindle.

Jiang Chen understood that with his reputation, it was unlikely that those vanity-loving girls from the Arts Faculty would show him a kind face, let alone be so enthusiastic.

Regardless of what the other party had in mind, he did indeed need assistance at the moment.

As the saying goes,

A fortress is often breached from within.

This girl had been present at the drinks last night and was there again during the dance practice just now. It was clear that she had a close relationship with Li Shuru; perhaps she was even her best friend.

If she was willing to work with him "from the inside out," it would surely be much more effective.

"Si Yi, with your knowledge then, what type of guy does Shu Rui like?"

Seizing the chance, Jiang Chen promptly asked for guidance with an open mind.

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

Li Shuru had a melon-seed face with narrow, delicate cheeks, fitting the popular description of a 'snake type' woman, whereas Xu Siyi's face was rounder and fuller.

But being able to be sisters with the belle of the Arts Faculty was proof enough of her undeniable beauty.

"Well..."

She began to affect a coy tone.

Not one to miss a cue, Jiang Chen immediately said, "Si Yi, if you're willing to help me, I'll certainly repay you."

"Senior Jiang, I recently took a fancy to a bracelet, it's just that it's a bit pricey, and I haven't been willing to buy it…"

Jiang Chen's eyelids twitched.

He had anticipated that she had come prepared, but he hadn't expected her to be so forthright.

The transaction hadn't even started yet, and she was already stating her terms.

She probably wasn't here to help him from the get-go but saw him as a cash cow instead.

But wasn't this a bit too straightforward?

At the very least, she should put on an act, as a show of respect.

Jiang Chen felt somewhat despondent but, for the sake of a brighter future, he played the fool and cooperated, "That bracelet, how much does it cost?"

Xu Siyi held up one palm.

"Five hundred?"

Jiang Chen asked tentatively.

"What are you talking about, Senior Jiang? I surely have five hundred."

Xu Siyi's voice, with a hint of playful reproach, was like nails on a chalkboard.

"Five thousand?"

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

Jiang Chen fell silent for a moment.

Five thousand five hundred.

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

The amount was quoted so precisely.

She really was taking him for an easy mark!

"Senior Jiang, what's wrong? If you're serious about pursuing Shuru, you should be prepared for this, right?"

Xu Siyi.

Her name sure had a nice ring to it.

But deep down, this chick was really scheming.

Plucking feathers from a passing goose.

She was blatantly eyeing his wallet to set her price.

Considering other men as ATMs was one thing, but to not even spare him, a hard-up pauper, was another.

But it made sense.

For Xu Siyi, what did it matter about his financial situation? All she knew was that he currently had six thousand in his pocket; she would squeeze him dry first and worry about whether he would have steamed buns or the northwest wind to subsist on later—what did it have to do with her?

"Senior Jiang?"

"Alright, I'll buy that bracelet for you, but regarding Shu Rui…"

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

They looked each other in the eye, both displaying radiant smiles.