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Zhang Jinling left satisfied.

Seeing Zheng Jinxin return with a silly grin after seeing Zhang Jinling off, Liu Zihao couldn't help but remind him.

"Didn't you notice that the girl took the things but didn't seem inclined to pay?"

Zheng Jinxin rolled his eyes at him, all his silliness vanishing in that instant.

"Even an idiot like you could see it, do you think I couldn't?"

Liu Zihao got angry. "Then why are you giving it to her?"

Zheng Jinxin: "I'm willing!"

Liu Zihao: "Then what are you after? That beauty is quirky and clever; she's not someone you can easily seduce. You can't touch the money in your card right now, so you're saving this little bit of money to get through this difficult time."

"Sigh!" Zheng Jinxin sighed.

"Do you know what happened after you two left that night when we were having barbecue?"

"At the time, I was prepared to swallow my pride and let others criticize me. Because we were indeed at fault that day, we could have stated beforehand that we didn't have much money, or even just said we would split the bill."

"But we didn't say anything; the way we sat down to eat already implied that we were treating others to a meal."

"We have to blame our vanity for this. In the end, we ended up getting something for nothing from others, so whatever others say or think about us, we have a reason to believe it."

"That day, I had prepared for the worst. I didn't expect that when I explained the situation to Zhang Jinling, she would only blame me for not telling her in advance, and she didn't mean to share the burden afterward at all. She even told me to hurry up and eat the big kidneys that she had just ordered."

"On the way back, she told me, feeling wronged, that she had lost a large sum of her allowance again. Seeing how distressed she was about the money, I thought to myself at that moment, if I ever have money in the future, I will never let her feel distressed about money again."

"I was really touched by how she looked back then. She was so real and genuine. I loved her authentic self."

"Do you think she's lying to me? Heh, I don't think so at all. Don't you think she's lying without any pretense? That greedy little look in her eyes is just my type."

Liu Zihao was stunned; Zheng Jinxin's theory overturned his understanding.

"What kind of view on love is this? I have a feeling that if you two really get together, you'll be a pair of adulterers!"

Zheng Jinxin dismissed it, saying, "What's wrong with adulterers? As long as they don't cheat on me, that's my ideal sexual life."

"Who says Ximen Qing couldn't be a normal husband and wife with Pan Jinlian? Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian's marriage was never a reasonable one."

"To tell you the truth, if Boss Chen hadn't still not arrived, judging from the look in her eyes after looking at those coins the other day, I wouldn't have sold those ten coins. I would have kept them, waiting for her to find a way to 'scam' them from me."

"I deliberately kept those two unsold bills that day, specifically for her. Now, things are looking up; I've achieved my goal. In any case, she gave me a semester to pursue her. Whether it works out or not, it's up to fate."

Liu Zihao: "So this is love at first sight? That's good, it saves you a lot of trouble, much better than me."

As he spoke, Liu Zihao twitched his lips. "I think there might have been a problem with the decision I made. I'm constantly being chased by all sorts of beautiful women, and now I can hardly even find a chance to choose for myself."

"Starting to show off again? Will you die if you don't show off for a day?"

After remaining silent for a while, Zhao Changling couldn't help but blurt out a remark.

Liu Zihao said seriously, "I'm really not showing off! Didn't I go swimming yesterday?"

Zheng Jinxin burst out laughing. "You still dare to go swimming? Zhang Jinling said your thighs are really white, and she even touched them."

"She said if you were a woman, she would definitely hire you as her personal secretary and keep you as a decorative vase in the office."

Liu Zihao said bitterly, "That female hooligan, I was absolutely right to say that you two are adulterers."

"Alright, stop interrupting. I went swimming yesterday, and although I didn't run into Zhang Jinling and her group of friends, I did run into another beautiful woman. Do you know who it is?"

Zhao Changling: "Stop beating around the bush. Even if you put her in front of us, we wouldn't know her. Just tell us directly."

Liu Zihao nodded: "Jiangda has four beauties, and the one I met is one of them, the Ice Beauty Luo Bingjie."

"Actually, I saw her at the swimming pool a few days ago and we even had a verbal argument. But this time she didn't hold a grudge at all, and even took the initiative to greet me and teach me how to swim."

"I must say, she teaches very professionally. I've almost learned the breaststroke. Moreover, she was very patient and gentle during the teaching process. She didn't do anything else all night but taught me. I could feel that she really likes me."

Zheng Jinxin: "Isn't this great? What did you mean by what you said before?"

Liu Zihao shook his head.

"There are some things you don't understand. There's a feeling that's hard to describe in words, a mysterious and profound feeling."

"I know she's gentle with me, but I can sense the strong personality in her bones, the kind of strong personality that I can forcefully suppress in front of me."

"Although it was suppressed, it still had an aura, a very mysterious feeling."

"Later, before she left, she invited me to a party with her the following week, which was supposedly a private party organized by a group of third-generation red elites."

"She told me that the most important thing about going to university is not studying, but building connections. Attending those kinds of gatherings is also a way to expand your network, which will be of great help to my future business."

Zhao Changling: "Isn't this great! This beauty looks like a future rich woman. Even if you don't make any money in the future, you can still be kept by her."

Liu Zihao chuckled. "Being kept? I've come all this way, I'm definitely not willing to be kept. I still prefer the feeling of having my own destiny in my own hands."

"But while money isn't everything, you can't do without it. How to make money is a real headache."

"There's a lucrative future right here. Even if I don't want to go, I have to think about my future. Besides, the Four Beauties are so different from ordinary beauties. They're really beautiful! It's hard to resist them."

"Tch!" Zhao Changling and Zheng Jinxin both exclaimed in dissatisfaction.

"All beauties are pretty much the same. Zhang Jinling and Zhou Huaying are no exception. How different are they from the Four Beauties? All those things done on university campuses are just gimmicks."

"I'm not talking to you guys anymore," Liu Zihao stood up.

"A bunch of country bumpkins, I'm going for a run."

Zheng Jinxin: "You've switched from swimming to running?"

Liu Zihao: "Hmm! If I can't figure it out right now, I'll just avoid it for a bit. I'm going for a run to work up a sweat before taking a shower."

Liu Zihao went out, and Zheng Jinxin turned on his computer and started playing games.

Why didn't you go to the library today?

"Oh! What's going on here?"

Zhao Changling lay back down on the bed out of boredom, with no intention of getting up and leaving.

"What's wrong? What triggered you?" Zheng Jinxin opened a game on his hard drive and started playing.

The game he's playing is called "The Legend of Sword and Fairy," a classic old game, and he's currently leveling up in the training valley.

Zhao Changling said quietly, "Yesterday I talked to her about a topic, about pornographic films."

Zheng Jinxin: "Holy crap! Things are progressing so fast? You've finally managed to tame this dull girl?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? It's not as disgusting as you think."

Zhao Changling muttered a complaint, then lay motionless on the bed and calmly said, "I unintentionally said that the country bans pornographic films because they are evil, and she said I was wrong."

"Oh! What did she say?" Zheng Jinxin asked after having Xiahou Yi in the game unleash a "Burning Flame Array".

Zhao Changling calmly recounted: "She said: 'Short films are not evil; what is evil is the eyes of humanity that see short films.' She also said that this conclusion was drawn from Nietzsche's perspective."

Zheng Jinxin stopped playing the game: "Another philosophical topic? Are you going to go crazy from all this?"

Zhao Changling said weakly, "I wouldn't say that, I'm just worried! According to this logic, people are not people, flowers are not flowers, and mist is not mist. What's the point of us living like this? Why do men even bother looking for women? Why don't they just all get IVF?"

Zheng Jinxin curled his lip, "They're always talking about these foreign mystical things. We had these things in ancient times too."

"That so-called 'seeing mountains as not mountains, seeing water as not water' is some kind of primary realm. And the next realm is something like 'seeing mountains as mountains, seeing water as water.' Haven't cultivators played with this stuff enough? It's all just a bunch of idle, otherworldly people playing with these philosophical realms."

Zhao Changling: "But I still want to live an ordinary life. This kind of Platonic love is not the life I want."

At this point, Zhao Changling lewdly said, "While I may not be as despicable as you, I should at least be presentable in public and suitable for the bridal chamber."

Zheng Jinxin: "That's easy! If this one doesn't work, just find another one. It's a lifelong commitment for a couple, so their hobbies and interests should be compatible."

Zhao Changling: "Isn't that a bit too harsh? We've only known each other for a few days. It's normal for a girl to be a little reserved. Besides, Zhou Huaying has many good qualities. Let's see how things go for now."

Zheng Jinxin: "Alright! Forget what I just said. Don't betray me in the future."

"You remind me of a song: 'In this world, there are mountains higher than this one... In this world, you are always better.'"

Zhao Changling: "Tch, you're even singing now? Keep playing your game."

......

Liu Zihao arrived at the school playground and saw two groups of boys playing basketball on the basketball court.

Besides these two groups of boys, there was only one small girl running in the distance on the huge playground.

He slowly warmed up, then started running.

He ran very slowly, just a slow jog, thinking he'd run two or three kilometers to work up a sweat so he could take a shower when he got back.

When Liu Zihao started running, several boys playing basketball stopped and gathered together to discuss it.

"Look! Another guy is about to flirt with the female tyrant."

"I bet he'll die a horrible death today."

"Is there even a question? The key is whether the female tyrant will make a move. She's the kind of person who can knock out a taekwondo coach with one kick."

"I don't think she would resort to violence. Li Yue has a bad temper, but I've never seen her lay a hand on her classmates. At most, she'll be worse off than a fly."

Big-headed Fly was a boy named Fan Shiyuan from their year, who was considered one of the most handsome boys in the class.

I once struck up a conversation with Li Yue while running on the playground.

Li Yue retorted, "Stop buzzing around me, you big-headed fly, get lost."

As a result, this boy, who was once considered the most handsome boy in the class, earned the nickname "Big-Headed Fly" and was completely cut off from being the most handsome boy in the class.

Moreover, everyone who saw him afterward thought he had a big head, which made him keep his head down every day.

When Liu Zihao started running, the girl was half a lap ahead of him.

Two or three minutes later, the girl overtook him from behind.

Liu Zihao ran with his head down, not paying attention, but he could feel that when the girl passed him, she glanced at him from the side.

He only looked up after the girl ran ahead. He saw that the girl in front of him had long, flowing hair, a petite figure, and a girl-next-door vibe.

The girl ran a short distance before stopping and turning to look at Liu Zihao.

When Liu Zihao was almost in front of her, she jogged to catch up with him and said softly, "Hello, classmate! My name is Li Yue, may I ask what's wrong?"

Liu Zihao looked up and smiled, "My name is Liu Zihao."

At this moment, he also saw the girl's face clearly. It was another stunningly beautiful face. No wonder everyone said that Jiangda University produces beauties. It was indeed true.

They ran and talked, leaving the group of boys on the basketball court completely dumbfounded.

"Oh my god! Am I seeing things? The female tyrannosaurus took the initiative to strike up a conversation with someone."

"If this guy dares to refuse the female tyrant, will he get beaten to a pulp?"

"Only a fool would refuse a female tyrant. She's the dream girl of so many people. The four beauties of Jiangda University are all genuine; none of them are just there to fill the numbers."

Liu Zihao couldn't hear the boys' chatter on the playground. He had seen too many beautiful girls and had automatically activated his immunity.

The beautiful woman slowed down and ran alongside him, chatting as they ran. Liu Zihao didn't find this strange at all.

What he didn't know was that the girl running with him now hardly ever spoke a word to any other boy on campus, and she was even less aware that a terrifying power was hidden within her petite body.

......

"Are you planning to support me like this for a whole semester?"

Zheng Jinxin stared at the porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables in front of him, and looked at Zhang Jinling with a resentful expression.

Zhang Jinling twitched her lips slightly, looking a little embarrassed.

"Dinner should be light. Barbecue outside is delicious, but girls need to lose weight, so we can't eat it too often."

"Besides, every time I go, your two buddies come along to freeload, including Zhou Huaying. I've never seen them offer to treat me."

"How about... we eat out once a month?"

Zhang Jinling looked at Zheng Jinxin expectantly, her tone pleading.

Zheng Jinxin didn't really care where they ate, as long as Zhang Jinling ate with him every meal, he didn't care if they starved.

He brought up this topic purely to tease Zhang Jinling, staring at the kimchi.

"I don't mind eating light food, but I really dislike kimchi. I'd even be happy with some peanuts."

Zhang Jinling's eyes lit up, and she perked up.

Seeing that Zheng Jinxin hadn't brought up the idea of ​​going out to eat, she was even less likely to mention it.

"You like peanuts? That's easy..."

"The peanuts at school are really bad. It's best to eat less of them. They're fried in sour oil, which is not only very oily but also contains carcinogens."

"Let me tell you! My dad's fried peanuts are absolutely the best in the world. Once I've tasted them, I never eat them outside again."

"I'll bring it to you from home in a couple of days at most, is that alright now?"

Although she had to give up the free kimchi, Zhang Jinling could still get free peanuts.

Zhang Jinling kept her word and brought back a big bag of roasted peanuts when she came home on the weekend.

Not only did they provide peanuts, but they also bought a case of beer and placed it in their dorm room so that they could enjoy it with peanuts and beer in the evenings when they had nothing to do.

That day, Zheng Jinxin and Zhao Changling each held a bottle of beer and drank.

Aside from the two times Zhang Jinling came to the boys' dormitory for business, she rarely came otherwise.

These past few nights, Liu Zihao has been busy socializing, going out every day.

"Ah Xin! I have something bad to tell you in advance, so you should be mentally prepared."

Once Zhao Changling got into a drinking session, he couldn't keep anything to himself.

"Hmm? Speak." Zheng Jinxin frowned, sensing something was wrong.

Zhao Changling took a sip of wine. "I heard this from Zhou Huaying, but I can't guarantee it's true."

"It's said that Zhang Jinling has a boyfriend who's studying at university in the United States..."

"As for the specifics, the man's parents are quite familiar with Zhang Jinling's parents, so they are a good match in terms of social standing."

"The groom's mother took a liking to Zhang Jinling and wanted to arrange a marriage between their children. Zhang Jinling's parents were quite supportive, and the two families met for a meal during the Spring Festival this year."

"The man is a bookish type, fair-skinned and very honest, and he completely obeys his parents' arrangements."

"After meeting, Zhang Jinling did not object to continuing the relationship. At the better point, Zhang Jinling prioritized her studies and stated that she would consider it after graduation."

After saying that, Zhao Changling said meaningfully, "This is a future returnee from overseas, so the competition is very strong."

Zheng Jinxin stroked his chin. "Whether someone is a returnee or not isn't scary. What's troublesome is how to defeat a competitor when they're not around?"

He glanced at Zhao Changling and gestured with his chin. "What ideas do you have? Let's stir things up for them first."

"This?" Zhao Changling feigned hesitation, saying with great reluctance:

"Sigh! We're brothers, so I'll just have to swallow the pain and pay up. Here's the plan..."

Zhao Changling whispered in Zheng Jinxin's ear, chattering away. Zheng Jinxin squinted his small eyes and nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

......

Two days later, Zhang Jinling and Zhou Huaying arrived together after receiving the invitation.

"Hey Zhao Changling, you big rooster, why are you treating us to a meal today?"

Zhang Jinling started yelling as soon as she came in.

Zhao Changling disagreed and laughed, "Haven't Huaying had a big meal in a long time? I'll take this opportunity to treat everyone to a delicious meal in Jiangnan."

"Wow!" Zhang Jinling exclaimed exaggeratedly, "It's only been a few days, and you two have already progressed to the point of being intimate! Your relationship is developing at rocket speed!"

Just as Zhao Changling was about to defend himself, Zheng Jinxin suddenly interjected, "No! This shop isn't very good!"

"Ah!~~~~ Why?" Zhao Changling turned his head in a terrified manner.

Do you know who owns Gangnam Beauty?

"Everyone knows that!" Zhao Changling recited it all as if it were his own treasure.

"Wang Chunlan divorced early in her life and made a living by selling boxed lunches with her son Meng Xiaofei. She worked hard from dawn till dusk, saving every penny and working diligently. In the end, she built Jiangnan Beauty and became a well-known businesswoman."

"Perfect score! No wonder you're the top scholar. Keep going." Zheng Jinxin praised.

"Now, Wang Chunlan's son, Meng Xiaofei, has returned to China and is known as one of the 'Four Young Masters of Yanjing' along with three other young men from Beijing. He's even opened a club specifically for picking up beautiful women."

"This young master Meng is too famous. Relying on his mother's reputation, he recently got together with Li Yanran, the female lead of Yangtze River No. 5."

"However, I am not optimistic about this relationship. Because, Young Master Meng is a well-known gigolo and mama's boy. Let alone dating him, any girl who marries him in the future will definitely not have a good life."

"Can you imagine a woman marrying a 'mama's boy'? With her mother-in-law interfering in everything, how could she possibly live like that?"

"Even if they couldn't make it work and got divorced, given Wang Chunlan's strong personality, she would still talk a lot about her daughter-in-law afterwards."

Zhang Jinling asked in bewilderment, "I don't think it's that bad, is it? Li Yanran even said that Meng Xiaofei was gentle and refined."

"Gentle and refined?" Zheng Jinxin chuckled.

"That guy is just a show-off who tries to pick up female celebrities with a couple of coins in his pocket. Li Yanran will slap him in the face someday."

"What does that have to do with going to Gangnam Beauty for dinner?"

Zhang Jinling still didn't understand.

"Think about it! That mama's boy will eventually inherit his mother's business and become the boss of Gangnam Beauty."

"It's fine for us guys to go to Gangnam Beauty for dinner, but it's bad luck for girls."

"If girls eat at Gangnam Mei too often, they'll easily pick up the local culture and might end up marrying a mama's boy. I'm doing this for your own good!"

Zheng Jinxin said earnestly, "This is the key point I made today. Of course, it's pure nonsense."

Zhou Huaying, who was waiting for her meal, grew impatient. "After all this talk, where are we going to eat?"

Zheng Jinxin: "Let's go to Haidilao. Haidilao is an auspicious name. Haidilao sounds like 'scooping flowers,' meaning our luck is amazing."

A meal at Haidilao costs about the same as at Jiangnan Mei, around 400-500 yuan.

The two beautiful women had no objections; they both felt it was about the same.

But it's different for Zheng Jinxin. Simply saying he'd go to Haidilao wouldn't make sense; the key was his rhetoric.

Liu Zihao watched the whole thing from the sidelines. In his previous life, he had witnessed all the melodramatic events that Meng Xiaofei and her son had caused.

He didn't know why the two brothers were putting on this show. Throughout the whole process, he kept turning his head back and forth, just like watching a play.

Finally, on the way to dinner, he noticed that Zhang Jinling seemed to be deep in thought.

He thought it might have something to do with Zhang Jinling.

He has no interest in getting involved in other people's messy affairs right now; he's got too many things on his plate lately to handle.