As soon as Jiang Linyuan left the office, he kept staring at Su Muzhi.
The rumors Wang Yun had spread were neither a huge deal nor a trivial one.
But for them to have dealt with it so quickly and seriously, there had to be a reason.
Surely it wasn't really because he'd radiated dominance, flashed a crooked smile, and made the whole school bow down to him?
He wasn't some Dragon King.
"What are you looking at?"
Su Muzhi met Jiang Linyuan's gaze without the slightest nervousness. They stared each other down.
"I'm looking at an heiress from the upper crust," Jiang Linyuan said.
"But you're looking at me like a creep," Su Muzhi replied.
This damn Downer Girl had guessed in a second that he had some three-letter app on his phone.
"Don't overthink it. The vice principal is my dad. He married into my mom's family, so I took her surname."
With her hands clasped behind her back, Su Muzhi walked ahead and spoke softly.
Holy crap, the vice principal was the live-in son-in-law Dragon King?
Well, that made sense. No wonder they'd dealt with it so cleanly.
So Su Muzhi really was a rich heiress.
"Looks can be deceiving. Who'd have thought someone like your dad, the vice principal, would marry into the family?"
"Should I call you Young Master Su?"
Jiang Linyuan was quite surprised. Being the vice principal of Xingnan University was no small position.
And yet a man like that was just a live-in son-in-law. Su Muzhi's mother must have had quite the background.
Maybe she was some powerful old lady.
At Jiang Linyuan's question, Su Muzhi fell silent for a moment. Then she suddenly turned her head and glanced toward Liu Tingting, who was discreetly watching from the side.
"Senior Liu, you've worked hard these past few days. The rumors must have affected you quite a bit too, right?"
Liu Tingting, who had been watching from the sidelines, froze. She hadn't expected Su Muzhi to speak to her.
But she reacted quickly, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.
"I'm fine."
Halfway through, she looked at Jiang Linyuan with guilt and remorse.
"Jiang's the one who's really suffered from all those rumors."
Her eyes glimmered, and the concern in them seemed ready to spill over.
What a waste of acting talent. You were born to be a Green Tea Girl.
Jiang Linyuan marveled inwardly, then grinned.
"I'd say the rumors only prove how charming you are, Senior. They say things get better after a rough patch, but I can't say I've felt that way."
Sunlight fell across his profile. The boy's eyelashes fluttered, and his smiling gaze, reflected in the light, landed in Liu Tingting's pupils.
"Ever since I met you, Senior, I've been in a good mood every day. Haven't you?"
Liu Tingting was taken aback for a moment. Shyly, she took two steps forward and lightly patted Jiang Linyuan's shoulder, feigning a coy reproach.
"Junior..."
Holy crap, I really misjudged him. This junior's no simple guy. It's one thing to have a gorgeous face, but he's got a way with words, too.
Does he have a side gig at some male model club?
Liu Tingting couldn't help wondering.
"Oh? Looks like those rumors in the post weren't entirely baseless," Su Muzhi said, watching them trade performances with interest. She chuckled. "Heh, but alas, one's in love while the other's indifferent."
At that, Liu Tingting and Jiang Linyuan frowned at the same time.
That out-of-town Green Tea Girl really had no manners!
Liu Tingting thought Su Muzhi was making a veiled dig at her, implying she wasn't sincere.
Su Muzhi, are you even thinking straight? You're supposed to be my wingwoman!
Jiang Linyuan thought Su Muzhi was sabotaging his plan to win Liu Tingting over.
Liu Tingting's eyes narrowed, but her tone stayed gentle.
"I wish I were as clear-eyed as you, Junior Su. That would be so refreshing."
She put a pointed emphasis on "clear-eyed," drawing out the last syllable.
"Heh. I wouldn't say I'm clear-eyed. I'm just better than some fools," Su Muzhi said with a raised brow and a smile.
Green Tea No. 1 used sarcasm on Su Tianjiao. It barely worked.
Liu Tingting gritted her teeth. If Jiang Linyuan hadn't been there, she might have started a full-on catfight the very next second.
She turned to Jiang Linyuan with a pitiful look.
"I really envy how Junior Su speaks her mind. I wish I could be like that, too. What do you think, Junior?"
This was a classic case of using someone else to do your dirty work. Green Tea Girls rarely confronted other women directly.
They were best at turning someone else's strength against them, using their charm to get men to speak up on their behalf.
Jiang Linyuan saw right through it, so of course he took up the role of the spear in Liu Tingting's hands.
"You don't need to be. Su's bluntness is a little too sharp for my taste. I prefer someone like you, Senior Liu."
He first affirmed her point, then stated his own preference.
Su Muzhi raised an eyebrow at that. She was just about to say something when she caught Jiang Linyuan's warning look.
Snow leopard, shut up!
She laughed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger as she spoke casually.
"Never mind. I've got something to do, so I'll head off first."
"Oh, and I'll see you at the Badminton Club, Jiang."
With that, she turned and left without looking back, leaving Liu Tingting staring after her suspiciously.
"What did she mean by that?"
Great, great. So she was going to hit and run, huh?
Su Muzhi, you Yang Mi Figurine, you tiny little baby!
Jiang Linyuan didn't intend to hide anything from Liu Tingting, so he told her that the External Relations Department had secured a badminton sponsorship.
"With our Badminton Club's current ability, it'll be tough to get results in the Four-School League," Jiang Linyuan said, watching Liu Tingting's expression as he spoke. "You've seen Su's badminton skills yourself. So I was thinking of asking her to help out as a coach or something."
Liu Tingting seemed a little unhappy at that, but she still spoke softly.
"You could do it too, Junior."
Oh, come on, sis.
Jiang Linyuan rolled his eyes. Did she really think the sponsor wouldn't come watch the matches?
They didn't know Su Muzhi, so it was fine for her to say she was a member of the Badminton Club.
But the sponsor's boss was working directly with him. If he went out on the court, even an idiot would see that something was off.
Jiang Linyuan explained the reason to Liu Tingting. After listening, she managed a smile, though she seemed distracted.
"Mm. Then, see you at the Badminton Club, Junior."
She walked with Jiang Linyuan for a while. When they finally parted ways, she patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Junior. If anything's bothering you, you can always come to me."
See? What Green Tea Girl? They were all just considerate little sisters.
Jiang Linyuan shook his head.
A proper Green Tea Girl kept her fishpond organized.
The money behind the scenes, the eye candy to show off in public, and the pretty boy who could keep her entertained.
Jiang Linyuan knew exactly where he stood. With his naturally handsome looks, why be an ATM?
Spend money on Green Tea Girls? Not in this lifetime.
"We've got badminton training tomorrow. Come by after class. You don't need to handle recruitment—I'll take care of it."
Jiang Linyuan had barely walked a few steps when he got a WeChat message from Shen Wanyu.
Aww, the Department Head really does care about me.
But why can't I win her over?
Jiang Linyuan couldn't figure it out. He'd confessed to Shen Wanyu countless times.
But he'd never gotten a reward.
Could it be that the Department Head didn't want him as her public eye candy, but as her behind-the-scenes support? Was that why she hadn't fallen for him?
Jiang Linyuan pondered.
Jiang Linyuan had an idea.
Jiang Linyuan suddenly understood.
"Department Head, thanks for today. Take this and buy yourself some milk tea. Love you."
He sent her a red envelope, but Shen Wanyu didn't just refuse it—she sent one back.
"?"
Jiang Linyuan sent a question mark.
"Department Head, what's this about?"
A moment later, Shen Wanyu replied:
"To ward off bad luck."
Before you continue