Swift as lightning,
seeing you once before you leave is never too late,
lost in the vast sea of people.
So tsundere.
Watching Shen Wanyu's retreating figure, Jiang Linyuan mused that this Department Head had quite a strong sense of possessiveness.
Well, he'd decided. Next time, he'd confess to her and bring some good luck. Maybe he'd get a Reward Card out of it.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at how coldly she looks at people. How did you ever fall for her?"
Su Muzhi gazed in the direction Shen Wanyu had left, pursed her lips, then tugged at Jiang Linyuan's sleeve with a cheeky grin.
"Tell me where you posted that thread about her. I'll go support you."
Post about Shen Wanyu?
If you posted about her online, she'd hang you from the ceiling.
"You go post it. I'll support you on Little Red Book."
Jiang Linyuan gave Su Muzhi a nudge.
If you died, don't splash your period blood all over me.
"My relationship with Shen Wanyu is great. There's no way I'd post about her!"
Su Muzhi wore a serious expression. Anyone who didn't know better would've thought she and Shen Wanyu were best friends.
"Heh."
Jiang Linyuan let out a cold laugh just like Shen Wanyu's.
Great relationship? What stray dog? Just some mutt from the street.
Su Muzhi noticed Jiang Linyuan's disdainful look and narrowed her eyes. She pointed at the new External Relations Department recruits who had just arrived.
"Honestly, your relationship with Shen Wanyu isn't all that great either, is it? She just treats you like a workhorse."
Babe, your A-rank rating as a bad woman seems a little inflated.
And you're trying to use this kind of divide-and-conquer tactic? How amateur.
Jiang Linyuan glanced sideways at her and replied with a cheerful grin.
"You don't understand? By day, you're a horse; by night, you're a cow."
After saying that, he patted Su Muzhi on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Su, after all that, don't forget you're my wingwoman. I'm counting on you. Put some pressure on Liu Tingting."
Then he turned and walked toward Lin Yilin and the others.
Su Muzhi blinked, then smiled for no apparent reason.
"Senior, we meet again!"
Seeing Jiang Linyuan walking over, Lin Yilin greeted him with a smile.
Jiang Linyuan nodded to her in return, but didn't say much.
After all, there was still work to be done for the External Relations Department.
Looking at the new recruits, who were still a little lost, Jiang Linyuan briefly explained what their work involved.
In a nutshell, whenever they met a sponsor, they were to shower them with praise.
He'd brought them along today mainly to observe and learn, and to get to know the school's various clubs.
After all, they'd have plenty of chances to work with them in the future.
But the freshmen hadn't gotten used to their new surroundings yet, and they didn't know one another, so everyone seemed a little stiff. Before long, they were just sitting around in silence.
"Senior, thanks for helping me last time."
At that moment, Lin Yilin naturally stepped up beside Jiang Linyuan and thanked him openly for what had happened last time.
Aw, she'd called him "senior." What else could he say? They were practically buddies.
"It was nothing."
Jiang Linyuan waved it off, looking unconcerned.
"It really wasn't nothing to me."
Lin Yilin smiled.
"I still owe you a meal at KFC, Senior."
This Binary Sister was such a good sport.
Looking at Lin Yilin's bold, spirited expression, Jiang Linyuan grew serious.
"Junior, just for saying that, from now on, we'll share our blessings."
Lin Yilin hesitated, then supplied the rest.
"And face our troubles together?"
"Junior, we're not close enough for that yet. You're moving too fast."
Jiang Linyuan looked bashful.
Lin Yilin struggled to keep a straight face.
"Hey, Wang Bo, you've actually got the nerve to show your face here? Then again, you must've come looking for Liu Tingting. A dog and a slut—what a match made in heaven."
"Zhuang Yan! How can you talk about Tingting like that? Apologize to her!"
At that very moment, an argument suddenly erupted in the middle of the badminton court.
Jiang Linyuan looked over toward the commotion.
Liu Tingting's eyes were brimming with tears. She looked as pitiful as a pear blossom in the rain.
Zhuang Yan's phoenix eyes blazed with fury, and she radiated an intimidating, murderous air.
One of them bit her lower lip and pleaded softly.
"It's all my fault. I... should've said less..."
The other planted her hands on her hips and shouted angrily.
"Quit acting so damn wronged. You're just a scheming bitch!"
The guy caught between them didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately took Liu Tingting's side, trembling with rage as he pointed at Zhuang Yan.
"How can you talk like that? How did I never realize you were this kind of person?"
This wasn't enough! There wasn't enough fire! Don't just trade insults! Throw some punches!
Jiang Linyuan watched with great interest from the sidelines. You couldn't ask for a better chance to watch a live catfight straight out of a romance novel!
"Hm? You're just going to watch? Aren't you going to play the hero and save the damsel in distress?"
Su Muzhi had noticed the argument too. She looked thoroughly entertained as she asked with a teasing smile.
"Wingwoman Su, this is a good opportunity. Be ready to back me up."
Jiang Linyuan gave her an instruction.
Wingwoman Su?
Su Muzhi heard the nickname and clenched her fist slightly.
Thinking it to yourself was one thing, but you're calling me that to my face?
"You're really forcing me to get physical! I'll beat both of you!"
The argument on the badminton court grew more heated. As she spoke, Zhuang Yan raised her hand high, ready to settle things with a good old-fashioned brawl.
"If you win, you'll have to pay compensation. If you lose, you'll lose face. Think it over, okay?"
Zhuang Yan was already furious. She turned to see who'd had the nerve to step in, ready to chew them out.
Then she saw Jiang Linyuan's utterly authoritative face, and her voice weakened without her meaning it to.
"What's it to you?"
"I'm mainly thinking of you, classmate. If things get physical, you'll end up with a lot of trouble on your hands."
Jiang Linyuan spoke gently.
"It's not worth putting yourself through all that hassle."
Hearing that, Zhuang Yan's anger gradually subsided.
She hadn't actually planned to hit anyone. She was reckless, but not stupid.
If they really started fighting, no one would come out looking good.
It was just that the atmosphere had gotten so heated. If she backed down all of a sudden, wouldn't it make her look weak?
At that moment, Jiang Linyuan's words gave her an easy way out.
"He's right. Getting mad over this pair of dogs isn't worth it."
Zhuang Yan glanced at Liu Tingting and the guy named Wang Bo, then let out a cold laugh.
"Hope you two last forever."
Then she picked up her badminton racket and prepared to move to another court.
But just then, Wang Bo stepped forward again.
"You're not even going to apologize to Tingting?"
"Apologize to her? Have you lost your mind?"
At that, Zhuang Yan's anger flared up all over again.
Wang Bo's confidence immediately faltered.
At that moment, Liu Tingting pleaded in a tearful voice.
"It's okay. I was the one in the wrong... I don't need an apology..."
Hearing that, Wang Bo's heart ached for her, and he shouted at Zhuang Yan.
"Apologize! You have to apologize!"
Jiang Linyuan couldn't even bear to watch.
Just what had Liu Tingting done to that guy?
Had his little head taken control of his big head? Couldn't he even make the most basic judgment anymore?
He glanced at Su Muzhi.
You're the one! Go, Su Muzhi!
Meeting Jiang Linyuan's gaze, Su Muzhi rolled her eyes, but still stepped forward.
"Couldn't you settle your personal matters in private? Why keep ganging up on a girl in public?"
As she spoke, her gaze shifted playfully between Liu Tingting and Wang Bo.
"Or is it that you know you're in the wrong, and you're just trying to use the crowd to pressure her?"
Zhuang Yan felt a warm rush of gratitude when someone else spoke up for her.
A girl who gets me!
Before you continue