章 18: Goals And Priorities
From the distance, two other pairs of eyes watched the happenstances at the dorm's entrance.
The two people sat at the painted stone table under a tall, lush tree.
Nearby, there were several stalls where people could buy food and souvenir items.
One of the men looked so handsome and with a presence radiating both power and charm despite being only in a simple white dress shirt and pants.
Many girls passing by never failed to gawk at him for at least five seconds, and not a few made his lips twitch due to the dreamy shrieks they let out as they pointed their cameras at him and took a selfie with him as the background.
No matter how indifferent he outwardly seemed, he felt quite uncomfortable. Who knows what angle they took to play with his image there?
What if tomorrow, he became trending in social media for being somebody else's husband without him knowing?
What a scary possibility.
The other guy was in his early thirties, with a high face value, too. He was single, filthy rich, courtesy of his real job, and with a huge house and a whole garage of cars. Sadly, he worked at this university hence the students knew him and his perverted quirks.
This one had just arrived with two cups in hands.
"Boring."
The other man held out a cup of coffee that Jiang Li reluctantly accepted.
Right. It was Jiang Li. Naturally, the open pervert working in this university whom he met up with was Hao Gang.
It was already the next day after the farce with his uncle.
Jiang Wen's first attempt failed, which had taken so much time and planning just to topple Jiang Li's father off his pedestal. The culprit was naturally Jiang Li, who, despite being so disinterested in the actual scene, had tossed out a record of tax evasions and faked documents from the finance department, all legally stamped and signed by his Second Uncle beforehand.
He didn't plan to know how the war between the two middle-aged Jiangs would end. Anyway, he had faith in his father. And more faith in Jiang Wen's foolishness.
This was why, after the meeting, he took his mind off the clan and company matters. The first thing he checked himself was how Bai Qing was doing. And whether this younger woman already interacted with the male lead, Cheng Yijun.
It might be two years earlier but double-checking wouldn't hurt.
Jiang Li didn't go to the office today on the pretext of looking for Hao Gang. Or actually, it was not just a pretext. He did want to see the professor for a request.
The pervert hacker ran off almost everywhere, and thus, he chose to wait at this spot where he had chanced upon the uninteresting scene of the female lead staging mischief against someone he also knew. He witnessed everything from the beginning!
"Hey. I didn't make you wait so long this time. And I even made it up to you with this expensive cup of coffee. Don't show me that expression anymore!"
Jiang Li's attention subconsciously went to the to-go cup in his hands when he heard the other's excuse for being late.
Hao Gang never failed to amaze him. This person assumed waiting for this guy to arrive bored him? Nice. He finally knew.
But where was the expensive coffee? Didn't he shoot some coins into the vending machine there in front? It didn't seem impressive for a machine-brewed coffee for a high earner like him.
"You're such a puzzle, Sir. Why is it that your IQ is only with you if you're in front of a computer..." He shook his head and helplessly looked back to what he was watching.
"Jiang Li, your visits here become increasingly infrequent as time passes. So what brings you here this time?" Hao Gang asked.
The young man gulped a mouthful of the bitter coffee. Afterward, he said, "To visit you, why else?"
Hao Gang sat down across from him.
Before the professor replied, his eyes went toward the girl's dorm for a while. He teasingly laughed.
"Hehe, I caught you watching that spectacle, so I thought you were here for your fiancee!"
"Ex-fiancee."
Jiang Li nonchalantly clarified.
"I had that whatever engagement canceled six months ago. That girl also didn't know that the engagement existed."
Hao Gang laughed. "Even though this Miss Xia doesn't look as goddess-like as my sister or that girl she's confronting now, she's still a beauty and from a respected family of scholars. Why did you call it off?"
Jiang Li took another gulp.
"This is the problem with society. Why would I be tied to someone I'm unfamiliar with?"
"Business interest."
Jiang Li laughed.
It was rare for him to talk about foolish things like this.
But he felt quite close to this mentor and friend of his; thus, he answered,
"I'm a bastard. But not to the point that I'll compromise the happiness of someone innocent like that little lady. From the very start, I know my goals and priorities."
'... It's completing missions and returning to repay the betrayers from his past life.'
With an amused, almost self-mocking grin, he added,
"Marriage didn't come to mind yet. Or maybe, will never do."
Hao Gang laughed at him and slapped him on the back.
This professor was the only one with the guts to do this to the young COO of a big company.
"Stop the pessimism, my student! The end of that corporation that preyed on your precious cousin is near. Once that giant conglomerate is ruined, you'll have all the time to plan for your happiness. We only live once, you know? Don't tell me you plan to spend your next 50-plus years wrestling with papers. Damn. That's so uncool!"
Jiang Li's lips twitched. He almost said,
'Wrong, respected Sir. I don't care about Jiang Xinyi, and I will exit this world as soon as possible to go to the next one.'
"By the way, even though the two of you will no longer be in a relationship in the future, that girl seemed to be in trouble. Would you like me to call that student over and say it's for something academic?"
Jiang Li's eyes were directed at a figure that appeared on the opposite side who seemed to be heading towards the dormitory too.
This was the reason why his answer came late. Still, his reply was said in an insulting manner.
"Respected Sir, by any chance, have you ever considered what would happen if you, a pervert, do that?"
Hao Gang suggested that earlier, out of goodwill; hence, he almost choked on his coffee when he heard his former student's reply. He glared at Jiang Li.
"... For someone who seeks me out for a favor, your remarks are pretty scathing... I feel hurt!"
"You're not. And we don't need to act since somebody else is already on it. If I'm not mistaken, my batch's magna cum laude is heading towards that woman."
Jiang Li's eyes went to the glamorous socialite in a red long-sleeve button-up shirt and white gauze skirt who was currently making her way to the girl named Xia Xinyue.
A question popped up in his mind.
'When did my former fiancee have any intersection or relation with Zhu Li, the only princess of the Zhu Corporation?'
クリエイターの想い 
FallenBlue
FallenBlue Thanks for reading!
章 19: A Real Socialite, Against The Fake And Distasteful
Jiang Li was not aware. But the glamorous woman had become acquainted with his ex-fiancee due to her curiosity about the woman he had married in the past life.
It was sparked by the news that Jiang Li had suddenly canceled their engagement.
It was news that only circulated within the upper ranks since the two families involved didn't want it to spread to the common populace. Xia Xinyue also didn't know.
When Zhu Li talked one time with a woman born from a family of scholars at a high politician's birthday party, they clicked with each other and immediately became friends.
Months had gone by since then.
"Xia Xinyue, you've taken quite a while so I just came to pick you up. What happened though? I thought you would just be getting your phone's power bank?"
The pearl-white skin and beautiful smile captivated the people around.
Zhu Li exuded the grace and poise of a real socialite; hence, eyes couldn't help but get drawn to her. It was just hard not to turn their heads in her direction due to her radiant beauty.
Jiang Li, who was watching from the distance, laughed because he saw Bai Qing also stopping to stare at the woman in red, yet when she recovered and realized that people's adoration shifted away from her, her face crumpled from hostility.
He could hear them too, thanks to the hacker who kind-heartedly taught him how to fiddle with people's devices and his earphones.
'Look at this girl.' He narrowed his eyes, amused. 'Too much of an attention seeker.'
"Good day. I'm Bai Qing. We just have a bit of talk. My apologies for holding back Miss Xia."
The man next to the white lotus girl protectively interjected,
"Wait. Why are you saying sorry? You're not at fault. It's Miss Xia who kept denying her wrongdoings."
The latter's current distressed expression was purposely made to take back everyone's gaze to her.
And the foolish admirer just did a great job following up. As expected of the female lead's halo.
Zhu Li maintained her polite smile before Bai Qing's apologetic gaze.
Zhu Li saw a bit of what happened earlier so she had a hunch of what kind of person the harmless and pure-looking girl before her.
As someone already mingling with the real world, how could Bai Qing's little mischievousness escape her notice?
"Xia Xinyue?" She chose to face her friend, reminding the younger girl of her question.
Quietness reigned upon the place. Zhu Li looked like a queen having an audience with her subjects. People didn't dare to chime in since they were not the ones asked.
Xia Xinyue gave the Zhu Corporation's Princess a grateful glance.
This was what she badly needed, an opportunity to explain herself. And this was given to her by the woman.
"I'm sorry, Miss Zhu. There might be some misunderstanding here between me and Miss Bai. Last time, I simply asked if she's now together with a senior of mine. And she mistook it as if I will be asking her to break relations with him. Which I never did. She had just now apologized, saying since I liked someone I actually don't...."
Xia Xinyue threw the man an indifferent glance.
She didn't lie because she no longer does.
Who would continue to idolize a douchebag that doesn't listen to reason?
So she continued,
"She said since I liked someone I actually really don't, she'll stay away from him. I became a bit incensed at her for saying this in public where so many people could see us. I was simply afraid of misunderstanding, for my own reputation."
The girl showed a bitter smile, which returned rationales to some people bewitched by the female lead's aura.
But that Senior Feng gave Xia Xinyue a disbelieving glance. Must be the ego of a man who she emphasized she didn't like.
"I think what I fear has somehow come true. People seem to be thinking I bullied her."
Everyone was waiting for the woman's response with endless charisma and powerful presence. Therefore, no one commented, even though many started sporting awkward faces and wanted to speak up.
Zhu Li nodded and said.
"Miss Bai has seemingly implied earlier that the talk is now over. Does it mean you're already done telling her about this?"
Bai Qing's face burned in shame.
Actually, those around them who jumped to conclusions against Xia Xinyue also felt embarrassed since, like the beautiful campus belle, they also didn't hear out the other girl before judging her.
Now, they knew the part of the one they thought was villainous. The stares they directed at Bai Qing turned quite weird.
The world's female lead noticed that hence she tried to justify,
"I repeatedly told everyone that she didn't bully me... I, I didn't know things will escalate this way..."
Her face appeared pitiful and innocent.
Her facade irritated Zhu Li's eyes so much.
This was why when she noticed people subconsciously nodding and falling for Bai Qing's performance, she frankly and smilingly said,
"I think it's because Miss Bai didn't clarify from the start. Or maybe you just didn't let my friend here explain her side. You also seemed to have put her in an uncomfortable situation under the public's scrutiny. But thankfully, everything is clear now. If it's alright, let bygones be bygones. Let this just be a lesson to each of us."
Zhu Li walked forward in bright pink killer high heels and pulled Xia Xinyue's hand to lead her away.
When she passed by Bai Qing, she whispered in a voice so emotionless and completely opposite of what she let the others hear just a minute ago, accompanied by a momentarily but freezing glare,
"So fake and distasteful..."
"Simply an eyesore."
Bai Qing froze and stayed where she was for some time, even when her Senior Feng called out her name thrice.
At the fourth call, the campus belle finally regained her senses.
Then when she recalled what just happened, utter humiliation and hate washed over her.
She was the rich, beautiful, and well-loved Bai Qing.
The other was just in a more elegant dress.
How dare that woman look down on her?
'That woman! I can't let this slide! I must show her I'm the real queen of this university!'
Apparently, the girl thought Zhu Li was just another student on the campus.
As someone from the second generation and a sophomore girl, the female lead had little knowledge of the business world.
If she knew who Zhu Li was, she would have chased after the woman to apologize and fawn over her instead of chasing her for the sake of arguing about her innocence.
Unfortunately, right now, Bai Qing didn't know. And thus no wonder she did the latter.
The great bystander slash eavesdropper Jiang Li had a good laugh as he watched this female lead's series of actions.
Hao Gang, who sat across from him, gave him a suspicious glance.
The other man was not aware that Jiang Li was laughing at Bai Qing's foolishness and naivety while wondering if right from the start, he had been really given the wrong script for this scenario.
A few seconds later, the man put away his earphones, eyes twinkling in excitement and craziness.
'It's been a good trip. I saw so many boring things. But there's also some that are funny. Damn. This female lead seems easy to finish off. I hope she annoys me so I can justifiably begin to remove her from this world!'
And then the muted system hidden inside his brain just suddenly shuddered at the hair-raising laughter he let out.
...
クリエイターの想い
FallenBlue
FallenBlue
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May you have a nice day.
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