Chu Jiaojiao's Acting Explodes

"I, I..."

Song Zhining was about to speak when another woman suddenly appeared and joined the fray.

"Qingling, are you ignoring me because of them?"

Shen Qingling looked up at the newcomer.

It was Chu Jiaojiao.

And not just Chu Jiaojiao—her two roommates were with her too. It looked like they had come to give Shen Qingling trouble.

Ruan Mingyi and Song Zhining looked at the three women in confusion, while Ye Qiao wore the expression of someone eagerly watching the drama unfold.

Another stunning beauty. Shen Qingling's romantic luck really was incredible.

Chu Jiaojiao had the classic campus belle look—pure and beautiful, with long flowing hair and fair, slender legs exposed beneath her white dress.

She was looking at Shen Qingling with disappointment and sorrow written all over her face, tears already brimming in her eyes as though they would fall at any second.

Anyone who did not know the truth would feel sorry for her at the sight. They might even think Shen Qingling had abandoned her after toying with her feelings.

Shen Qingling, however, remained calm. He merely said, "What is it?"

Chu Jiaojiao said in disbelief, "Qingling, after all these years of friendship, all you can do when you see me is coldly ask what I want?"

"Could it be... could it be that, just like they said, you've been kept by some rich young lady, so you no longer care about your childhood sweetheart who grew up with you?"

"So everything you told me no longer counts, does it? You said you would always treat me well, that everyone else would come after me, but now... you've truly disappointed me."

Chu Jiaojiao's acting erupted in full force. Tears instantly streamed down her face, and she looked as though heartbreak had utterly overwhelmed her.

Chu Jiaojiao's roommates were heartbroken for her. Supporting the seemingly unsteady girl, they accused Shen Qingling, "Shen Qingling, how can you do this to Jiaojiao? She likes you so much. Why would you hurt her like this?"

"I was wondering why you hadn't come to see Jiaojiao in so long. So you found someone new. Three gorgeous women too—you really are blessed in love, campus heartthrob."

"We thought you sincerely cared about Jiaojiao and kept encouraging her to be more proactive. Now it seems that was a good thing. A person like you isn't worth her sincere feelings."

"Don't say that. Jiaojiao has already given him her heart. It's just that someone doesn't cherish it. More than ten years of friendship can't compare to a rich young lady's money."

Seeing the pitiful girl, the surrounding onlookers began whispering among themselves.

"Damn, what's going on? Is his childhood sweetheart here to confront him?"

"Even his childhood sweetheart suspects he's being kept. Could it really be true?"

"She's so pretty, and she looks so pitiful. Shen Qingling actually toyed with her feelings like that."

"What abandonment-after-seduction drama is this? Shen Qingling doesn't look like that kind of person at all."

"You never truly know what's in someone's heart, understand? Shen Qingling looks so aloof and abstinent, but who knew he was like this in private? This is really eye-opening."

"Even the most handsome men cheat, huh? I think that girl must be his girlfriend."

"My male idol can't possibly be that kind of person! I don't believe it!"

"Even his childhood sweetheart has come looking for him. Let's see how Shen Qingling explains himself."

Unexpectedly, Shen Qingling smiled.

Rather than panicking, he smiled and walked over to Chu Jiaojiao.

The smile in the young man's eyes did not reach their depths, carrying a trace of mockery. "Jiaojiao, it's only been a few days, but your acting has improved."

Chu Jiaojiao looked up in disbelief. "Qingling, what do you mean?"

Shouldn't Shen Qingling have panicked and rushed to comfort her?

He had always been most afraid of seeing her cry. Every time she cried, even if she wanted the moon from the sky, he would find a way to get it for her.

For the past two days, Shen Qingling had not only ignored her but had also been caught up in rumors with other women. Shouldn't he be properly explaining himself to her?

Of course, she did not believe a single word of what those posts said. No one knew better than her what kind of person Shen Qingling was.

Unfortunately... to get that money, she had no choice but to slander Shen Qingling.

I'm sorry, Shen Qingling...

Anyway, as long as she apologized to him afterward, he would still forgive her.

That was what it meant to take favor for granted.

After hearing Chu Jiaojiao's embellished account and seeing Shen Qingling really was with several women, Chu Jiaojiao's roommates naturally believed her. They thought Shen Qingling had coldly neglected Chu Jiaojiao and abandoned her after toying with her feelings.

"Shen Qingling, how can you speak to Jiaojiao like that?"

"The three of you came here and slandered my reputation without hearing me out. How would you like me to speak?"

"Slander you? Which word did we say that slandered you? Aren't you the man who betrayed Jiaojiao and got tangled up with other women?"

Shen Qingling laughed. Yet that smile was terrifying in Chu Jiaojiao's eyes.

Shen Qingling had never been like this. Had he changed, or had she simply never seriously understood the real him?

Every reaction Shen Qingling had shown from beginning to end had fallen outside her expectations.

If this had happened to the Original Host, he really would have explained himself to Chu Jiaojiao immediately. But the Original Host was not good with words, and Chu Jiaojiao might very well have succeeded in framing him.

It seemed Chu Jiaojiao had accepted benefits from Gu Yijin. Otherwise, she would not have come to put on this performance.

Chu Jiaojiao asked nervously, "What are you laughing about?"

"Nothing. I'm just asking—what exactly is the relationship between you and me?"

"We're childhood sweethearts."

"Read fewer novels. Uninstall Tomato Novel and speak like a normal person, understand?"

"We're good friends who grew up together."

"Do good friends need words like betrayal and abandonment-after-seduction?"

Chu Jiaojiao's breath caught, and a trace of panic appeared in her eyes.

She bit her lip. "But isn't it obvious that we like each other?"

"Exactly! Didn't you often come to our school to see Jiaojiao? You gave her so many things and spent so much money on her."

"Are you this attentive to any other woman? If that isn't love, what is?"

Shen Qingling nodded. "I did treat her very well. Whatever she wanted, I gave her. Every month, I even transferred her living expenses."

"You admitted it!"

"So what? Were we ever boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"From childhood until now, I have only ever treated her as a younger sister. Everything I did for her was because I considered her family. I never had even the slightest romantic feeling for her. Otherwise, she would not have always told you that I was merely her brother."

"She has never admitted in front of you that we had any other kind of relationship, has she? I know very well whether she likes me." "In her heart, I was only an ornament she could use to show off, an ATM she could withdraw money from whenever she pleased. Chu Jiaojiao, did you ever have even a fraction of genuine feeling for me?"

Shen Qingling lowered his gaze at Chu Jiaojiao. The sorrow and disappointment in his eyes left her completely stunned.

077: "Chu Jiaojiao's Heart-Throb Score increased by 10. Regret Score increased by 10."

Shen Qingling's eyes were far too moving. Chu Jiaojiao could act, but so could he. He was a professional actor, and his acting was only more brilliant and immersive than hers.

No one who saw those eyes could remain unmoved. Even the bystanders could see his pain, let alone Chu Jiaojiao, who faced those eyes directly.

If she had even the slightest feeling for the Original Host, she could not have remained indifferent.

Chu Jiaojiao was foolish and cruel, but her heart was not made of stone.

Chu Jiaojiao's lashes trembled.

Why did seeing Shen Qingling's eyes make her heart ache?

It should not have.

She did not like him. She found him rigid and boring. She hated his concern. She had only ever used him and had never given him the slightest sincerity.

All the words she had prepared got stuck in her throat.

Chu Jiaojiao felt guilty.

He knew... he knew everything.

He knew about her vanity. He knew she had only been using him, yet he had still foolishly treated her well.

Why are you so foolish, Shen Qingling...

Chu Jiaojiao's tears suddenly fell.

She refused to answer that question.

She should have said she had genuine feelings for him, that she liked him, that they loved each other, that they were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.

But at that moment, she could not say anything at all.

Shen Qingling took out his phone and opened his chat history with Chu Jiaojiao for her two roommates to see.

"Do you see it now? This is the truth you wanted."