009 My way is not alone

The money had just warmed up in his pocket when it was swindled away, but Jiang Chen wasn't heartbroken over it.

You can't catch the wolf if you're not willing to sacrifice the lamb.

As long as he could get Li Shuru, what was this bit of money worth?

"Chen Bro, how did it go?"

In the dorm room.

All three, including Bai Zheli, were present, obviously waiting for his return.

Jiang Chen, walking through the door, was the picture of composure, gave an ok sign, and had the air of someone with a plan up his sleeve.

"Everything is going according to my plan."

Luo Peng couldn't help but laugh.

"Plan? Come on, tell us, what's your plan?"

"Do you know Xu Siyi? Li Shuru's best friend, she said she would help me."

"Why would she help you?"

Luo Peng was puzzled.

Being honest with his good brothers, Jiang Chen explained, "She fancied a bracelet, I bought it for her, so now we are allies."

"What?!"

Luo Peng wasn't as naive as Jiang Chen; well aware of some girls' mercenary and manipulative ways, he immediately asked, "How much did that bracelet cost?"

"Five thousand five hundred."

Li Shao was taken aback, "You gave her all the money Li Shuru gave you?"

"There's a hundred and change left."

Jiang Chen was just stating the facts; he'd also spent some money treating her to lunch at noon.

Luo Peng was stunned, and then said with heartfelt distress, "She's treating you like a fool to take advantage of, not really trying to help you!"

Even Bai Zheli, with his non-existent romantic experiences, understood that Chen Bro was most likely being scammed.

The girls in the arts college were just too cruel.

Chen Bro is so pitiful, and yet they still don't let him off the hook.

"Jiang Chen, let's go, we must get that money back!"

Dorm leader Li Shao, filled with righteous indignation, came over to pull Jiang Chen.

"No way."

Who would have known that at this point, Jiang Chen still hadn't seen the error of his ways and pushed away Li Shao's hand.

"You all misunderstand, Xu Siyi didn't trick me, I gave her the money willingly. If we go and ask for it back, how can I face anyone after that?"

Li Shao and the others were speechless.

Now you're worried about saving face?

"Then tell me, what did she promise to help you with?"

Luo Peng asked with a stern face, like a police officer dealing with a scammed elderly person.

"She said that the type of girl Li Shuru is, she doesn't respond well to persistent pestering, and if I keep badgering her, it will only backfire."

"That's all nonsense, everyone knows that! Did she actually tell you any reliable methods?"

Luo Peng said, "If not, then let's hurry and get the refund!"

Five thousand and more.

For a college student, that's definitely not a small amount.

Especially since Jiang Chen doesn't have a family to rely on.

These girls, using their looks to deceive others, is one thing, but to even scam Jiang Chen.

Don't their consciences hurt?

"Of course, there is."

Jiang Chen, unruffled, confidently said, "She gave me Li Shuru's Xingspace account."

"Xingspace account?"

Xingspace.

It was one of the hottest short video APPs at the moment, where users could share their beautiful lives with the entire world.

"That's right."

Jiang Chen continued, "Shu Rui doesn't like me looking for her, so I won't go, I can interact with her on Xingspace, and Xu Siyi also told me that Shu Rui often livestreams there, I can talk to her during her livestream."

Luo Peng, Li Shao, and Bai Zheli were left speechless, with veins throbbing on their foreheads.

"What the hell kind of method is that?"

Luo Peng said, "Do you know how many followers Li Shuru has on Xingspace?"

"Do you know?"

Jiang Chen asked.

"Of course, I know, I've even followed her."

Luo Peng said, "She has a hundred thousand fans, which already makes her a mid-level internet celebrity. She's just from an ordinary family. Where do you think her lavish spending comes from? It's all earned through her broadcasting on Xingkong."

"So she's quite independent and strong-willed."

Jiang Chen sighed.

Luo Peng, lost for words, said emphatically, "That's not the point!"

"Then what is the point?"

"Chen, the point is Li Shuru has a hundred thousand fans, a hundred thousand! That's ten times more than the total number of people at our school. Do you think she'll notice you or even bother to respond to you when you talk to her on Xingkong?"

Luo Peng felt helpless.

Take a look.

Even Xiaobai understood.

"This does seem to be a problem."

Jiang Chen frowned, seemingly finally realizing he had been fooled.

Xu Siyi appeared to have given him a good suggestion, but in reality, she was just brushing him off.

Just when Luo Peng thought Jiang Chen had wised up and was about to drag him to demand his money back, he heard Jiang Chen continue, "It doesn't matter, I'll make her take notice of me."

"Fine, go do whatever you need to do,"

Jiang Chen, incurable as ever, sat in his own chair, took out his phone, opened the Xingkong APP, and searched for Li Shuru's Xingkong account.

Shu Rui Sonya

Luo Peng wasn't exaggerating.

Even to be precise,

Li Shuru's followers had reached 140k, and she truly was a little internet celebrity by now.

There were dozens of videos under her account, mostly dancing, some singing, and her daily fashion stylings—very cool and very tempting. Scrolling through the comments, the screen was filled with 'goddess' and fawning messages.

Here, Jiang Chen inexplicably felt the warmth of home.

I am not alone in my quest.

It was enough that she was the school's belle, but in the online world, Li Shuru had so many admirers. Some of the comments were so cringeworthy that even Jiang Chen, an experienced ass-kisser, found them nauseating.

No wonder she was so proud.

Forget about 140k; anybody constantly surrounded by tens of thousands of sycophants would get full of themselves and hardly notice ordinary people.

Despite the grim reality, Jiang Chen didn't feel the pressure, silently hit 'follow,' and became an insignificant member among Li Shuru's 140,000 fans.

"Live streaming whenever, encounters are a matter of fate."

Looking at the description under her account, Jiang Chen smiled.

Beautiful women are just different.

So confident.

"If Shu Rui goes live, please let me know right away."

He sent a message to Xu Siyi.

Xu Si Yi didn't reply.

Jiang Chen wasn't bothered and casually browsed through his own Xingkong account.

In his free time, he too liked to scroll through short videos and look at some news and fun stories, yet he had never posted a single update.

But surprisingly, he had over a dozen fans—no clue where they came from.

He looked through his following list, and aside from Li Shuru whom he had just followed, he had previously only followed one person.

His ex-girlfriend, Ai Qian.

Even his profile picture was still a photo of them together.

It was time to move on.

Jiang Chen unfollowed Ai Qian and also changed his own nickname.

Cold River Lone Shadow.

The corresponding profile picture was changed to a solitary figure standing on a boat wearing a straw raincoat and hat, gazing toward the riverscape.

This aura.

It suddenly soared.

Next, Jiang Chen browsed some live streaming rooms, where almost no broadcaster paid any attention to him. But some broadcasters were extremely enthusiastic, just like seeing their parents, whenever certain people joined.

"What is Chen laughing about?"

Bai Zheli whispered, baffled.

Jiang Chen was seen holding his phone, grinning to himself.

"How would I know?"

Luo Peng sighed, his eyes filled with pity and despair.

"The kid has probably gone mad."