Shen Qingling, Number One on the Jiang University Must-Eat List

Shen Qingling scrolled through the chat history bit by bit. There had never been anything ambiguous in it—only his family-like concern, along with their various chats and money transfers.

On the other hand, Chu Jiaojiao often found all sorts of ways to ask Shen Qingling for money, or had him come to school to see her and bring her things. Naturally, it was all to satisfy her vanity and earn the envy of other women.

Chu Jiaojiao's roommates had never expected that they had been used by her. Furious, the two of them slapped Chu Jiaojiao.

There wasn't a single truthful word out of this woman's mouth.

She acted one way in front of Shen Qingling and another way around them.

Previously, when they jokingly said they wanted to add Shen Qingling on WeChat, Chu Jiaojiao had claimed that Shen Qingling was aloof and unwilling.

But the chat records clearly showed that Chu Jiaojiao had told Shen Qingling they were too clingy and bullied her in the dorm. That was why Shen Qingling had treated them so coldly.

"You said we bullied you in the dorm? We treated you so well, and this is how you slander us?"

"I was wondering why you always hemmed and hawed whenever we asked whether you and Shen Qingling were together. So he never liked you at all. What are you being so full of yourself for?"

"I finally see you for who you are. Wang Ke told me before that you denied having any relationship with Shen Qingling in front of guys, but acted all ambiguous in front of us. So you were afraid it would affect your chances of latching onto a rich second-generation heir, while also not wanting other women to get close to Shen Qingling. What a deeply calculating woman!"

"Every time Shen Qingling met a new woman, you got angry and used all sorts of excuses to make him keep his distance from them. You were terrified someone would steal him away. You really know how to PUA people!"

After hearing all that, the bystanders who had gathered to watch the drama more or less understood what had happened.

Chu Jiaojiao had used Shen Qingling from start to finish. She treated him as something to show off, as an ATM to withdraw money from, and she was afraid other women would take him away, so she had constantly tried to isolate him from women.

Chu Jiaojiao's face turned deathly pale. She had never expected Shen Qingling to ruthlessly expose the persona she had maintained for years.

Shen Qingling put away his phone and said coldly, "Jiaojiao, this is the last time I'll call you that. From now on, we are no longer friends. This is the price of betraying me. Take care of yourself."

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

From beginning to end, Shen Qingling had remained exceptionally clear-headed, leaving Chu Jiaojiao with no power to fight back.

Shen Qingling turned to leave. She grabbed his hand. "Qingling, listen to my explanation. I didn't mean to treat you like this."

Shen Qingling slowly pried her fingers away.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, and I don't want to know why you did it. You have to bear the consequences of what you've done."

Shen Qingling shook off her hand and walked away without looking back.

Ruan Mingyi clicked her tongue in admiration. "Cool, so cool! He was insanely cool, okay!!!"

Song Zhining nodded foolishly. "More than cool. It felt like I'd just watched a male lead scene. Those cold eyes, that faintly smiling expression... I'm completely obsessed."

Ye Qiao said, "Why are you standing around? He's already gone. Go after him."

Ruan Mingyi stood up, ready to chase after him, but stopped when she passed Chu Jiaojiao.

"I was wondering why this floor was so clean. Turns out someone's dignity got swept right off it."

Chu Jiaojiao raised her pale face to look at Ruan Mingyi. "What are you so smug about? Even without me, he still won't like you. No one in this world understands him better than I do. His heart is a block of ice sealed away in dust. Other than me, no one has ever entered it."

Ruan Mingyi said, "A block of ice? Interesting. Then I'll melt that ice and walk into his heart. Not only will I get in, I'll make a big mess in there. I'll even livestream it for you when the time comes. No need to thank me. Bye-bye."

Ye Qiao raised a brow. "Why waste your breath on someone like her? Let's go, let's go."

Song Zhining glared fiercely at Chu Jiaojiao. "Bad woman! You took advantage of Shen Qingling's innocence and bullied him. You'll get what's coming to you, hmph."

The three of them took turns throwing remarks at Chu Jiaojiao until her face flushed bright red with rage. She turned and left with a dark expression.

The entire spectacle was livestreamed, and it shot to the top of the hottest posts on Chance Encounter.

Every move Shen Qingling made, even the slightest expression, was screenshot and saved.

How could someone's face be flawless from all three hundred and sixty-five degrees?

This angle feels like I'm watching a romance aimed at women, but sadly, the actress across from him is too pretty for me to get immersed.

I hereby declare Shen Qingling number one on the Jiang University Must-Eat List.

Shen Qingling is ridiculously handsome. Better than an idol drama.

"This is the price of betraying me"—what kind of line from a romance novel is that? If it were anyone else, I'd say he was putting on an act, but he's Shen Qingling, so it doesn't count (OK).

I want to live with Shen Qingling so badly, even if it's as a cockroach.

After Chu Jiaojiao came out, she saw the extra 100,000 in her phone but did not feel particularly happy.

Was betraying Shen Qingling for 100,000 worth it?

At that moment, she suddenly felt lost.

Her phone rang, and Chu Jiaojiao answered it.

"Hello."

"The money has been transferred to you. Keep your mouth shut. If even the slightest word gets out, watch out for your life."

"I want to know why you're targeting Shen Qingling."

"That's none of your business."

With that, the person hung up.

Chu Jiaojiao left in a daze.

At that moment, Wen Sulan emerged from behind a tree, frowning as she fell into thought.

Why had someone suddenly begun targeting Shen Qingling at a time like this?

Who hated him so much?

Although she did not want to think that way, she could not help but suspect Gu Yijin.

.

Could it be him?

For now, it was only suspicion. She had no evidence.

The woman sighed. Hopefully, it was not what she feared.

When she thought about how Shen Qingling had once been used and betrayed by Chu Jiaojiao, she felt even more guilty and heartbroken for him.

A child who had grown up in an orphanage, whose only childhood sweetheart had accepted a bribe and hurt him—how devastated must he have been?

The young man had seemed calm throughout it all, but even she had felt her heart twist at the sorrow in his eyes.

Just like his grandfather, he was a child cold on the outside but warm within.

Wen Sulan's gaze softened. She was now certain that Shen Qingling was her child.

No matter what, she had to protect Shen Qingling. She could not let anyone hurt him again.

Wen Sulan made a phone call. She wanted to find two people to protect Shen Qingling, afraid someone might suddenly make a move against him.

She hoped her child could return to the Gu Family soon. She would make up for all the love he had lacked in the past, doublefold.

.

Gu Yijin drank with his friends at a private club.

After watching the livestream on Chance Encounter, he could not help smashing his phone again.

"Trash! One sentence from Shen Qingling threw her completely into a panic. She doesn't even have the mental fortitude to do something bad properly. How did she manage to fool Shen Qingling into being her simp for so many years!? I seriously can't understand it."

Zhang Jing patted his shoulder. "It's fine. She's just a woman. Failure is failure. Once he returns to the Gu Family, there will be plenty of ways to deal with him."

Gu Yijin took a huge gulp of alcohol. "It'll be troublesome once he returns to the Gu Family. Wen Sulan feels guilty toward Shen Qingling, so she'll definitely cast me aside. How could I possibly compare to her biological son?"

"Doesn't Wen Sulan have no real standing in the Gu Family? That woman is weak and timid. Isn't it still your father and your sister who call the shots? What she says doesn't count."

"That's true. At least Gu Yutang is on my side, but I'm worried Shen Qingling might win her over too."

"Your sister is the type who responds to softness, not force. You've earned her approval over all these years. Shen Qingling is too proud. Your sister won't like him."

Even with Zhang Jing comforting him like that, Gu Yijin still felt uneasy.

He had tried to deal with Shen Qingling twice, and both attempts had failed. That proved Shen Qingling was no pushover, much less the bookworm everyone claimed he was.

"No, I need to think of a way to completely ruin Shen Qingling. It would be best if he could never hold his head up again."

A vicious glint flashed through Gu Yijin's eyes. If it came down to it, he would send someone to kill Shen Qingling.

Zhang Jing rolled his eyes, then clapped his hands. "Young Master Gu, I have an idea."

"What idea? Tell me."

"Hasn't that variety show approached your sister recently? Why not get her to agree to join it? Then you can find a way to get Shen Qingling in front of the cameras..."

"That way, you can also build up fans. As long as Shen Qingling makes even the slightest mistake, he'll be attacked. The Gu Family won't want an heir with a ruined reputation either."

Gu Yijin narrowed his eyes and smiled. "That is a good idea. Gu Yutang was originally planning to turn down the show. Looks like I'll have to persuade her to join it."

The variety show Zhang Jing mentioned was called "Traveling with X Family." The production team would select several families from the entertainment industry and other fields for full livestream coverage.

Gu Yutang was a hugely popular actress in the entertainment industry. She rarely appeared on variety shows, and her private life was mysterious to the public. That was why the director wanted to invite her onto the program—to put it bluntly, to dig out the side of her that no one knew.

This show loved stirring up conflict. Once it began airing, it practically lived on the trending charts. Quite a few celebrities had become wildly popular through it, though most became famous through controversy. But as long as there was traffic, the production team did not care. In an era where traffic was king, making money was all that mattered.

However, this variety show was notorious for its outrageous antics, so Gu Yutang had originally intended to refuse.

Gu Yijin wanted to use this show to ruin Shen Qingling, then play the victim on the show himself and win sympathy.

Gu Yijin had planned it all beautifully, but he did not know that the person he would be facing was Shen Qingling—a master who had been struggling through the entertainment industry since childhood and had woven acting into every part of his daily life.