Chapter 341 - 164: Two Fellow Sufferers

Chapter 341: Chapter 164: Two Fellow Sufferers

"Oh..." Shen Qingning thought. ’So it’s not like you got to look for free?’

The store manager brought a bath towel and draped it over Shen Qingning, who quickly went to the changing room to get dressed.

The manager apologized profusely to Su Ran. Su Ran said, "It’s fine. Since it was an accident, it just means she didn’t zip it up properly herself."

Shen Qingning was hired, and she was thrilled. She even treated Su Ran to a cup of milk tea. However, because Su Ran had seen her... well, she was quite shy now and not acting as naturally as she had before.

At the school gate.

"Bye, Class Monitor! I’ll treat you to lunch again tomorrow to thank you for helping me find such a great job."

"I’m not free tomorrow. I have to go to the Imperial Capital."

"Going out again? What are you going to the Imperial Capital for?"

She had suddenly become inquisitive. In the past, she would never have asked about the class monitor’s whereabouts.

"Some old hag invited me to attend the launch ceremony for a new drama she’s investing in. Then I’m going to watch a flag-raising ceremony with Reba. That’s about it."

Su Ran had always been this straightforward. If you asked, he’d answer; if you didn’t, he wouldn’t bring it up.

"Reba?"

"Yep."

"Oh."

Reality pulled Shen Qingning back down to earth. She sometimes forgot and mistook her class monitor for an ordinary person, but a reminder always came at the most crucial moment. ’He’s a man at the top of the food chain. His life is destined to be filled with beautiful girls, not an average one like me.’

"Do you want to go? If you do, I can take you to see the flag-raising ceremony with me."

"I’ll pass. I’m going to start my internship at the store tomorrow. I want to get the hang of things as soon as possible."

"Alright then. You should head back to your dorm."

"Okay."

Shen Qingning turned around, clutching the strap of her shoulder bag as if making a decision.

"Class Monitor."

Su Ran put on his helmet and was about to ride away when he heard Shen Qingning call out from behind him. He looked back, only to see her brush her long hair aside and lean in to give him a light, fleeting kiss on the cheek.

The spring breeze rustled the treetops. Spring had returned to the earth, and everything was beginning to sprout.

"Thank you, Class Monitor."

She turned and disappeared through the school gate.

Su Ran lifted his hand and looked. Shen Qingning’s Red Dust Line was right there, but it wasn’t tied. This meant Su Ran hadn’t developed any romantic feelings for her. He was just a genuinely helpful person and a slow-burn type of guy, not the kind to fall in love at the drop of a hat.

Of course, if Su Ran were to pull the Red Dust Line that was right by his fingertips and tie it, he would effectively bind Shen Qingning to him. She would then fall completely and irrevocably in love with him.

However, Su Ran didn’t want to do that. At least, deep down, he felt that he didn’t want to mess with the lives of too many girls, especially not good girls.

’The road is long, and the future is long. Let’s leave it to time to prove everything...’

When Shen Qingning got back to her dorm, her face was flushed. She couldn’t stop thinking about the moment Su Ran had held her...

Her face burned, a strange and wonderful feeling she had never experienced before.

Still, she didn’t feel like she had been taken advantage of. Su Ran had been saving the situation. If it weren’t for him, everyone in the store really would have gotten a free show.

...

Chuyuan.

It was time for his daily marathon phone calls.

Five girls, and he had to treat them all equally.

It was actually quite manageable, thanks to the 4+1 model: one dorm room plus Shan Weizi.

He would have a group video call on WeChat with "the four little ones" all at once. It was always noisy as hell, with them chattering away like a flock of birds, their mouths going like machine guns, but it was a lot of fun.

Shan Weizi, on the other hand, was different. She was quiet. Recently, though, when Su Ran asked her about the criteria for reviewing the fantasy novel *Spirit Sword Mountain*, she just smiled and said, "Give me your manuscript, and then I’ll tell you."

Su Ran refused, afraid the "toxic" plot would kill Shan Weizi.

He really was outlining a fantasy novel. He was just bored out of his mind and wanted to prove he had a talent for writing.

...

「The next day.」

Su Ran set off for the Imperial Capital, a city he had always longed to visit but never had.

Another advantage of being a Divine Rich was that he felt at home wherever he went. There was no secret to it; having money was just that good.

His plane landed in the Imperial Capital at 10 a.m. What Su Ran smelled wasn’t the scent of money, but of power and games. In the Imperial Capital, just being rich wasn’t a big deal. How did that saying go again...?

When money stands up to speak, the truth must remain silent.

But when power stands up to speak, even money must give a wide berth.

Imperial Capital, Su Ran has arrived!

Walking out of the airport, Su Ran turned on his phone and saw an email from Aunt Luo. It was a string of numbers—the phone number for the driver who was picking him up.

Sigh...

’What is with these two?’ he thought. ’One old, one young, both as stubborn as mules. Neither is willing to be the first to say, "Let me add you on WeChat." So we’re stuck emailing back and forth, not even qualifying as online friends.’

’Fine! We’ll just drag this out. Let’s see who breaks first and asks for the other’s WeChat.’

It was a childish competition they had both tacitly agreed to.

Su Ran dialed the number. Soon, a Toyota Alphard minivan pulled up in front of him. The driver was the same assistant he had met before, named Ah Wei.

Su Ran wasn’t carrying any luggage, just a backpack, so he got in the car and they left.

Ah Wei looked at Su Ran through the rearview mirror. "Welcome to the Imperial Capital, Mr. Su. Aunt Luo is already waiting for you at home."

"At home? Aren’t we going to the launch banquet?"

Ah Wei explained, "The launch banquet is tonight at the Shangri-La Hotel. This is a private meal. Aunt Luo said she really loved that photo you took, so she invited you to her home for a chat."

Adopting a "go with the flow" mentality, Su Ran agreed. ’As long as they don’t try to sell me into human trafficking, everything should be fine.’

"By the way, Brother Ah Wei—"

"Oh no, please, Mr. Su, you’re too kind. Just call me Ah Wei."

"...Ah Wei, if you see a fruit stand later, could you please pull over? Since Aunt Luo is inviting me to her home for a meal, I can’t very well show up empty-handed. I’d like to buy some fruit."