Chapter 3: The True Sea King - Lu Jingyan

…

Having stayed up late again, Lu Jingyan didn't wake up until three in the afternoon the next day, lazily stretching and finally opening her eyes.

She was a bit groggy upon waking and stared at the ceiling with a face full of displeasure for a good while before turning over and getting out of bed, barefoot, to enter the bathroom.

After showering, she put on some home clothes and was heading downstairs while checking messages on her phone.

Ex Scum 18: Xiaoyan, although we broke up three months ago, I still can't forget you.

Ex Scum 27: Xiaoyan, I'm still waiting for you. As long as you're willing to be with me, it doesn't matter if you don't love me.

Ex Scum 35: Jingyan, I really love you so much. Can we not break up?

"..."

Lu Jingyan looked through a series of identical messages begging for reconciliation, scoffed without changing her expression, and opened a message from Current Scum 1 that had just been sent: "Baby, I'm particularly missing you today. I just booked the best seat at your favorite restaurant. Shall we have dinner together tonight?"

She had met this Current Scum 1 last month at a bar.

He had just dumped his girlfriend of several years to curry favor with a rich man's daughter.

It happened that Lu Jingyan was witnessing this scene and took advantage of him going to the washroom to deliberately walk straight into him. In the moment she pretended to accidentally bump into him, she quietly dropped one of her lipsticks on the ground.

She continued walking as if she hadn't noticed until Current Scum 1 picked up her lipstick and called out to her; only then did she turn around, feigning confusion.

While Current Scum 1 was returning her lipstick, she engaged in a few reserved, polite words of thanks, then went back to the bar, called over the waiter, ordered a drink, and wrote a note saying "Thank you" on a napkin, asking the waiter to deliver both the drink and the note to Current Scum 1's table.

Sure enough, after Current Scum 1 finished talking with the waiter, he looked over at her and not much later, headed her way.

That's how she successfully got Current Scum 1's WeChat. Dealing with this type of jerk was something she had a knack for. From his ex and the girls he currently pursued, she could tell he liked goddess-like women. After adding him on WeChat, she never initiated a conversation with him. She only occasionally liked his Moments posts, and she would often share a post that only he could see, ensuring the photos always leaned towards the goddess appeal.

It wasn't long before Current Scum 1 found a topic and started a private conversation with her.

She must say, the jerks she was coming across these days were really not great—she hardly had to do anything, and they already took the bait.

For the past few days, Current Scum 1 had been furiously sending her all kinds of romantic messages, clearly smitten.

Just in time, she decided to harvest him today while he was high on the thrill.

Thinking of this, Lu Jingyan moved her fingers and replied with a casually insincere romantic phrase, "Sure, sure, I miss you too."

Current Scum 1 replied instantly, "Then we really are kindred spirits."

Lu Jingyan responded with a shy emoji, smirking mockingly to herself—kindred spirits my ass, I just want to make you cry your eyes out.

…

Having been tied up with some last-minute matters, Lu Jingyan hadn't been able to notify Song Xian and had left in a hurry. The place she was meeting Current Scum 1 tonight was close to where Song Xian lived. On her way out, Lu Jingyan gave Song Xian a call.

Song Xian was also free, so the two decided to meet later that evening.

Lu Jingyan was quite punctual today and didn't keep Current Scum 1 waiting too long.

As soon as he saw her coming in, Current Scum 1 immediately stood up to pull out a chair for her and spread a napkin on the table. During the meal, he was constantly refilling her tea and passing napkins, being extremely attentive and considerate.

Lu Jingyan leisurely swallowed her last bite, looked up, and noticed that Current Scum 1 had put down his chopsticks at some point and was sitting opposite her, looking directly at her with serious eyes.

She didn't have to guess—Lu Jingyan knew the main event was about to start.

She pretended not to notice and pulled out a tissue to wipe the corner of her lips, "Finished eating?"

The current jerk nodded.

Lu Jingyan saw that he didn't speak and tentatively asked, "Shall we go then?"

"Wait a moment." The current jerk responded quickly, afraid she would disappear the next second.

Lu Jingyan held back a smile, looking pure and innocent like a green tea bitch, "What's up?"

The current jerk stared into her eyes, as if searching for the right words, then after a few seconds, said, "Xiaoyan, be my girlfriend."

Lu Jingyan's eyes widened, feigning shock. She thought to herself, are these jerks always so limited in their vocabulary? It's always "be my girlfriend," followed by "I really like you a lot..."

The current jerk said earnestly, "I really like you a lot."

Lu Jingyan: "..."

There was a bit of silence at the table.

About ten seconds later, as the current jerk reached out his hand and was about to touch the back of Lu Jingan's hand, she subtly lifted her hand and brushed her hair.

The current jerk coughed awkwardly a couple of times and sheepishly withdrew his hand: "Xiaoyan, we..."

"I'm sorry," Lu Jingyan interrupted him, and then, within the current jerk's slowly stiffening expression, she said apologetically and sadly, "I can't agree to your request."

"Why? Is it because I had a girlfriend when I met you? I broke up with her the week before last." The current jerk paused for a second and then said, "Or did I do something not well enough? Xiaoyan, just tell me, I'll change..."

"It's not you, it's me," Lu Jingyan lowered her head and appeared sorrowful: "It's my problem, I can't forget the person I like."

The current jerk was stunned for two seconds: "I don't mind, as long as you're with me, I really don't mind, I promise I'll be good to you."

"The more you say that, the less I can be with you because you're too good, which makes me feel like I'm not worthy of you." To deal with jerks, you have to use their tactics. Whenever they dump a girl who had invested feelings, it's always "you're very good, it's me who's unworthy." Now it's their turn to taste this feeling.

The expression on Lu Jingyan's face grew sadder, as if she was on the verge of tears: "Let's not contact each other anymore in the future, I'm afraid of hurting you, and that would be something I could never forgive myself for."

"Goodbye..."

"Xiaoyan!"

With the current jerk's sad expression, Lu Jingyan stood up and left.

Upon leaving the restaurant, Lu Jingyan heard Song Xian's voice: "Over here."

Lu Jingyan turned her head and saw Song Xian.

Song Xian walked up with a smile, hooking arms with Lu Jingyan. As they headed to the bar downstairs, she said, "You performed quite a scene just now."

Lu Jingyan glanced at Song Xian: "You saw it?"

"Caught the second half of it."

Lu Jingyan laughed.

Tilting her head, Song Xian sized up Lu Jingyan: "You have the figure, the looks, and you're at the prime age. Instead of finding someone you genuinely like to date, why on earth would you want to mess with these jerks?"

·