The sweat-soaked basketball jersey clung to the boy’s taut muscles, outlining his physique perfectly. At nearly six foot three, he towered above the rest, standing out like a crane among chickens.
The water bottle was gripped in a long-fingered, bony hand. When he tilted his head back to drink, the lines of his jaw and neck were irresistibly sensual.
Still as a statue, swift as a hare when he moved—just that youthful, untamed vitality alone was enough to leave people dazed.
Bai Lang didn’t deny that he was deliberately striking poses.
Unfortunately, it was all flirting wasted on a blind audience. Qiao Chu’s interest in his phone far exceeded her interest in the very much alive, very handsome him.
Up in the stands, Qiao Chu shamelessly opened the young master’s WeChat QR code and put it up for sale—clear pricing, honest business.
“Anyone want to scan? Instant approval, 50,000 per person. Special remarks cost extra—pay more and I can pin you to the top.”
Ah yes, she really was a business genius. Zero-cost startup!
System stared in disbelief: 【Host, you really have zero sense of boundaries】
Qiao Chu calmly collected payments. “I didn’t read his chat history. If he doesn’t like chatting, he can just delete them. And if a couple actually hits it off…”
“By the rules, newlyweds are supposed to give the matchmaker a red envelope.”
Honestly, there were so many single men these days. A thoughtful deskmate like her was hard to find. Bai Lang should be secretly celebrating.
In just one day, by selling Wu Zhe’s and Bai Lang’s contact info, Qiao Chu netted over thirty million. Her wallet was practically dripping with oil.
On the court, Bai Lang kept getting distracted, glancing toward the stands—but Qiao Chu was completely surrounded by girls. Not even a shadow of her was visible.
Was the phone really that fun?
Maybe he should switch to a senior-friendly phone—no videos, no games. That way, she wouldn’t be able to ignore him anymore, right?
Stuffed full of resentment, Bai Lang’s offense grew increasingly fierce. The first half was evenly matched; the second half, he completely shut the other team out.
The cheers from the stands rose wave after wave.
In the shadows of the back row, Shang Shi’an clenched his fists, his palms red from how tightly he’d been gripping them.
Heh… no wonder. No wonder Qiao Chu’s attitude toward him had taken such a nosedive. Turns out she’d already found a new lover and no longer had any use for him, the spare tire.
Then what did all his past efforts amount to?
All his restraint, all his endurance, all his swallowed grievances—now nothing but a joke.
The burn scar on his face throbbed faintly. Furious, Shang Shi’an punched the wall, drawing startled cries from nearby.
“Stop! Shang Shi’an, I won’t allow you to hurt yourself like this!”
Jiang Yixuan rushed over, grabbing his hand to inspect it. The knuckles were scraped raw by the rough wall, bloodied and shocking to look at.
Shang Shi’an was dazed as he looked down. The girl gazed at him with eyes full of concern, puckering her lips as she gently blew on his wound.
His voice came out hoarse. “Why… do you care about me?”
Jiang Yixuan tugged him toward the infirmary. “Why does there need to be a reason? We’re classmates. I can’t just stand by and watch you hurt yourself!”
Shang Shi’an’s eyes darkened as his gaze fell on her hand holding his.
Classmates?
When her other classmates only bullied and ostracized her—why was she still so kind?
Compared to Yixuan’s pure innocence, Qiao Chu suddenly seemed unbearably ugly and detestable.
And yet, at this moment, Shang Shi’an didn’t really want to leave—because from the corner of his eye, he saw Bai Lang wiping his sweat and walking toward Qiao Chu.
He warned himself: now was not the time for childish romance.
He couldn’t afford to lose Qiao Chu. Once he rose to the top, he would make it up to Yixuan tenfold.
He shook the girl off and said coldly, “You go ahead. I’m waiting for someone.”
Jiang Yixuan stared at him, hurt and angry. “But you’re injured!”
“Qiao Chu has already gotten together with Bai Lang behind your back—she said it herself at noon! A fickle woman like that, what’s there to miss?”
“Shang Shi’an, do you really have to degrade yourself like this?!”
The commotion drew attention. Shang Shi’an felt both heartache and irritation. To maintain his devoted persona, he had no choice but to harden his heart.
“It’s none of your business. You say I’m degrading myself—then what do you call you clinging to me like this? Move. Don’t block my way.”
Jiang Yixuan was so shocked and hurt she could barely process it.
This man—the only one who never treated her like a freak, who quietly helped her straighten fallen desks, secretly paid her school fees, pretended to pass by to interrupt cruel insults—
She thought she was different to him.
But she still couldn’t compare to even one of Qiao Chu’s fingers.
Shang Shi’an didn’t dare look into her eyes. He turned and walked away, his resolute back showing not a trace of warmth.
He knew that with Qiao Chu’s domineering personality, even the slightest rumor involving him and Yixuan would destroy everything he’d painstakingly planned.
Worse still, it would drag Yixuan into suffering. He had to cut it off cleanly.
On the other side, Bai Lang brusquely chased away the girls around Qiao Chu and plopped down beside her.
Qiao Chu handed his phone back with a bright smile. “Helped you make a few friends—Qiao Corporation’s carefully selected picks. Premium quality guaranteed. No need to thank me!”
Bai Lang: “?”
He took the phone in confusion and saw a flood of new WeChat notifications. His heart leapt—had Qiao Chu secretly added him?
What a unique way to ask for contact info. If she’d just asked, he would’ve given it to her—why all this borrowing-the-phone nonsense—
“Huh? ‘158 Stunning Little Potato’? ‘Fine Arts Academy Pure Lotus’? Qiao Chu, which one is you?”
Qiao “Money-Obsessed” Chu: “Ah? Oops, I forgot—I haven’t added you yet. Quick, quick, let’s scan each other!”
“What the hell is ‘800K Male Model Training Director’?!”
Forgetting to switch accounts, Qiao Chu laughed awkwardly. “Cough cough… appearances can be deceiving. It’s camouflage. Makes me seem more down-to-earth.”
【WeChat message: Sister, coming again tomorrow? We’ve got two new boys at the shop—pretty faces, can brew tea, write poetry, paint…】
Qiao Chu expressionlessly swiped it away, pretending nothing happened.
【WeChat message: Sister Chu, want to place a sweet bedtime voice order? Click below to preview~ (×N)】
AAAAAHHHH! Her dignified young-miss image!!!
Qiao Chu’s lips twitched. She gave up entirely. “So what? Adults can’t have hobbies? Don’t tell me you’ve never watched adult films!”
Bai Lang silently deleted the rapidly increasing contacts. “I haven’t.”
Qiao Chu didn’t believe him. “Really? Not even once?”
Her gaze was far too loaded—suspicion mixed with amazement, amazement tinged with excitement. Overall impression: impressive. And perverted.
Bai Lang suspected that if he kept denying it, she’d burst out laughing and broadcast it to the entire school.
“Well… not exactly. I’ve seen a little. It was just… meh.”
He told a small lie.
Sure enough, Qiao Chu waved it off lazily. “I knew it. Acting pure in front of me—you’ve still got a long way to go…”
Then she changed tack. “Western or domestic? Got any resources? Let me see.”
Bai Lang’s ears instantly turned red. He grabbed his backpack and stormed off, tossing two indignant words over his shoulder—
“Dream on!”
Qiao Chu happily placed five sweet bedtime voice orders, planning to set up a group call that night—effortless multitasking. This was the true life of a young miss!
“Hey, wait, wait! Why are you running? I’m not trying to strip you naked or anything!”
Bai Lang’s face burned, but his pace unconsciously slowed.
One minute. Two minutes.
Qiao Chu didn’t catch up.
When he sensed something was wrong and turned around—she was gone.
He called her. It rang twice, then shut off.
Bai Lang panicked. He spun around and sprinted back against the crowd, his figure moving so fast it left afterimages.