005, the Jiang from rivers, the Chen from the stars.

"Brother Chen, where did you go? Why did it take so long?"

Bai Zheli looked curiously at the two who had just returned.

"Ran into a few friends, had a couple of drinks."

Jiang Chen's expression remained unchanged as he sat down and continued to sneak glances at Li Shuru's table.

Only the lighting was too dim and with the distance being a bit far, he couldn't really see clearly.

"Friends? Who?"

Dorm leader Li Shao looked surprised.

It was common knowledge that Jiang Chen was the school's widely acclaimed "total bootlicker". Apart from their few roommates, where could he have friends from?

"It was Li Shuru."

Luo Peng muttered, picking up his glass and taking a sip to himself.

"Li Shuru? The campus belle from the Art Institute?"

Li Shao was quite astonished.

"Yeah."

Jiang Chen nodded nonchalantly.

"Brother Chen, I heard that Li Shuru is very stuck-up. She never pays attention to ordinary guys..."

Bai Zheli adjusted his glasses and hesitated, "When... did you become friends with her?"

"Do you think your Brother Chen is an ordinary man?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shao and Luo Peng exchanged a telepathic look, their expressions rather odd.

Right.

Being well-known as a major bootlicker certainly didn't make one ordinary.

Bai Zheli pursed his lips; while Jiang Chen appeared at ease, it was Bai who seemed more embarrassed, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"Luo Peng, what exactly happened?"

Li Shao asked Luo Peng.

Luo Peng sighed, "I don't know either. When I got there, I saw him drinking with Li Shuru and a bunch of those materialistic girls from the Art Institute. He was even asking for contact information."

"Asking for Li Shuru's?"

Luo Peng nodded.

Li Shao suddenly understood.

Some friend.

Turns out he was trying to cozy up to her.

"Jiang Chen, did you drink too much? Don't you know what kind of person Li Shuru is?"

Li Shao looked at the third member of their dormitory with a look that was both pitying and filled with indignation.

He had thought that Jiang Chen had finally turned over a new leaf today, but it seems he was happy too soon.

The old saying really is true.

Leopards can't change their spots.

"Of course, I know what kind of person she is."

Jiang Chen replied matter-of-factly, "The campus belle of the Art Institute, the goddess of our school."

Luo Peng covered his face, sighing deeply.

"That's not what I'm talking about!"

Li Shao raised his voice.

"Everyone in the school knows that Li Shuru and the sisters around her are very vain and only befriend rich people. There are often luxury cars coming to pick them up from school. Do you think a girl like that is right for you?"

"Those are all rumors."

Jiang Chen was unperturbed, countering, "Girls are naturally jealous. Li Shuru is so pretty; surely many girls are secretly envious of her, so they deliberately fabricate facts to tarnish her reputation. Shao, you say she's vain, that she rides in luxury cars. Have you seen it with your own eyes?"

Li Shao faltered in his response.

He wasn't a paparazzo; it wasn't like he was staking out the Art Institute or the girls' dorms, so naturally, he hadn't seen it for himself.

"Just now, she even treated me to a few drinks, foreign liquor. I don't know the brand, but I guess it wasn't cheap. From this point alone, she's actually quite generous. You all misunderstood her."

Luo Peng: "..."

Li Shao: "..."

Bai Zheli's eyes widened as if he was looking at an alien.

In the past, he would get outraged whenever someone called Brother Chen a bootlicker, thinking that Chen was just too devoted.

But now, he's defending an acquaintance like this?

The name of bootlicker is indeed well-deserved.

"So you mean to say..."

Luo Peng spoke slowly, "You're interested in Li Shuru now?"

Jiang Chen raised his glass and took a sip of beer without saying a word.

"Li Shuru is even prouder and loftier than Ai Qian; they're not in the same league. If you think about chasing her, the success rate could be slim to none."

With a constipated expression, Luo Peng pondered how to speak without hurting his good buddy's ego.

The implication of his words was actually quite simple.

Put simply: you can't even handle Ai Qian and you want to challenge a higher level? Stop daydreaming!

Li Shao was about to chime in, but what Jiang Chen said next rendered them speechless.

"You all know, I like a challenge."

The atmosphere quieted down instantly.

After a long silence, Luo Peng's eye twitched as he said stiffly, "Jiang Chen, if I could have your… confidence, that'd be great."

Jiang Chen laughed, "It's a gift, you can't learn it."

"..."

After a while, Luo Peng patted his shoulder and raised his glass.

"No more words, I wish you swift success."

"Thanks."

"Cheers!"

Li Shao and Bai Zheli exchanged a look, both giving a helpless and bitter smile.

Fine.

Looks like the third one has really set his heart on it this time.

There's no use in advising him now.

One must always look on the bright side.

In terms of beauty and fame, Li Shuru outclasses Ai Qian by at least one level.

If you're going to fawn over someone, why not someone "excellent"? At least it sounds better when it gets out.

From this perspective, Jiang Chen seemed to be making progress.

Li Shao and Bai Zheli comforted themselves with this thought and silently clinked their glasses.

————

"That flirt Jia Li said she was just going to have a drink with someone, how come she's disappeared?"

"I called her. She told us not to worry about her."

"Tsk tsk, who's the hunk she's hooked up with this time?"

The girls chatted and laughed without inhibition, their cheeks flushed with alcohol; they were clearly tipsy.

Li Shuru called the waiter over to settle the bill, only to be told, "Miss, your tab has already been cleared."

For the goddesses of East Sea University, such events were not surprising; it was not the first time they'd encountered this.

Some men just like to show off, attracting female favor in this manner.

"Who paid?"

One girl asked with a breath reeking of alcohol, suspecting it was surely some wealthy scion from East Sea.

Coming to KIMI, weren't they just looking for such opportunities?

"He said his name is Jiang Chen."

"Jiang Chen."

The girl didn't initially catch on, wondering if it was one of the guys who had come to hit on them earlier. But after a moment's recollection, her eyes widened as sobriety clawed back, "You said who?!"

"Jiang Chen."

The waiter, diligently and considerately, added, "Jiang as in 'river' and Chen as in 'celestial bodies,' he said he's your friend and also mentioned that you shouldn't drink too much and should go back early."

These were the specific instructions the guest gave when paying, not just the waiter taking liberties to embellish the message.

Doing good without seeking recognition? That's not a loyal suitor; that's an idiot.

If you've spent the money, the recipient needs to know.

"That guy Jiang Chen, wasn't he a pauper?"

The girls looked at each other, perplexed.

"How much did we spend tonight?"

Li Shuru, with her cold and elegant demeanor, asked the waiter.

"5888."

"Shu Rui, that guy Jiang Chen is really splurging big time, isn't he? He didn't go and blow half a year's living expenses, did he?"

The girls looked at Li Shuru with a mix of astonishment and doubt.

Li Shuru kept silent, but a faint ripple finally stirred in her thoughts.

As a devoted follower for so long, Jiang Chen seemed to have finally discerned the right direction.

All the sweet nothings in the world are no match for a grand display of wealth.