"Jiang Chen, I've already told you, we've broken up, stop pestering me!"
East Sea University.
The maple forest.
A delicate-looking young man with wide eyes appeared somewhat bewildered.
The girl not far from him possessed all the beauty one should have at her age. Her pretty face and elegant figure, along with her bright eyes and delicate features, made her the class belle.
At the same time, she was also his first love.
However, the fate of the two had already come to an end two months ago.
Although they had broken up, Jiang Chen, as the ex-boyfriend, remained awfully dutiful. Even after being dumped, he never forgot his old feelings and never refused to help her when she needed it, which is why he gradually became known throughout East Sea University as—the lickspittle.
Of course, Jiang Chen denied it himself.
He thought it was simply the basic responsibility of a man.
If they couldn't be lovers, they could at least stay friends.
So when he received a text from Ai Qian today asking to meet and talk, he agreed without a second thought.
After breaking up with him, Ai Qian seemed not to be happy. She talked about her current boyfriend's neglect of her, and she almost shed tears a moment ago.
Jiang Chen was thinking about how to comfort her when suddenly her tone changed abruptly.
His eyes filled with confusion as he looked at Ai Qian strangely, but the sound of footsteps behind him explained the reason.
"Zhen Lun, why are you here?"
The recently tearful Ai Qian now looked thrilled, seamlessly switching expressions.
She quickly advanced, passing by Jiang Chen without a sideways glance, and in the blink of an eye, the man she had just poured her heart out to was treated like air.
Jiang Chen turned around, saw the newcomer, and suddenly understood, involuntarily letting out a wry smile.
"Just passing by, what are you doing here?"
The young man clad in branded clothing with the air of a rich kid looked at Jiang Chen. His gaze seemed friendly, but it harbored a hidden sharpness.
"Nothing, Jiang Chen asked me out for a walk."
Ai Qian nonchalantly took her boyfriend's hand, calmly and confidently lying.
Seeing her current state of sweet happiness, it was hard to imagine she had just been venting her grievances to Jiang Chen.
Indeed, the saying held true that women were born actresses.
Jiang Chen, the infamous lickspittle of East Sea University, faced his ex-girlfriend's outrageous false accusation without uttering a word.
"Senior Jiang, it's been so long since you and Ai Qian broke up, haven't you started a new relationship? I happen to know quite a few girls; how about I introduce some to you?"
Liang Zhenlun smiled amiably. Although the rich kid may not be magnanimous, he was somewhat articulate. His words seemed well-intentioned but were an utter demolition of Jiang Chen.
To come across one's girlfriend "dating" in a small forest with another man, and an ex-boyfriend at that, would of course displease any man.
Had it been any significant rival, he surely would have flown into a rage on the spot.
But Jiang Chen...
A poor kid who had lost both parents, what did he have to compare with Liang Zhenlun?
As a well-known rich second-generation heir at East Sea University, Liang Zhenlun was full of confidence in himself.
Moreover, he knew that Ai Qian was a clever girl.
She abandoned her boyfriend for money in less than a week, throwing herself at him. How could she possibly want to go back to her ex now?
Unless Jiang Chen, the poor kid, suddenly became wealthy, or his family went bankrupt.
Neither seemed likely to happen.
Of course, even though he was certain that Jiang Chen posed no threat, these stealthy private meetings still needed to be nipped in the bud.
"You and Senior Jiang have already broken up, so you should keep your distance to avoid misunderstandings. Of course, I would never doubt you, but others may not be so sure, and Senior Jiang still has to date, so don't hold him back."
Liang Zhenlun insinuated with veiled criticism.
Ai Qian was a smart person, how could she not hear the dissatisfaction in her boyfriend's tone, though she appeared anxious on the surface, she was secretly delighted.
Making her boyfriend anxious was precisely why she met Jiang Chen today.
She quickly snuggled into his embrace, cooing, "I know, I know."
Jiang Chen stood by in silence.
To stab at the heart, there was no greater way than this.
When Ai Qian was with him, she was never this clingy; even holding hands required cajoling and trickery, a tremendous effort.
But now...
"Senior Jiang, then we'll be leaving first," she said.
Liang Zhenlun smiled at Jiang Chen before leaving confidently with Ai Qian on his arm, clearly the triumphant victor.
Jiang Chen stood alone, watching the pair walk out of the woods, laughing and talking before getting into a bright red Maserati. Even though the label of a devoted fool had long tempered him to have a heart far stronger than ordinary people, at that moment, Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest.
He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, then mechanically cracked a smile, as if nothing had happened, casually walking out of the maple woods.
"Jiang Chen, Ai Qian is using you completely as a tool!"
A tall, sunny young man suddenly popped out, startling Jiang Chen.
"Don't talk nonsense," Jiang Chen snapped, in no good mood.
"Where am I talking nonsense? I saw everything."
This sunny young man was Jiang Chen's roommate, a very close friend. He deeply disdained Ai Qian's vain and materialistic behavior and was indignant that she would use her ex as a tool after the breakup.
To break up is everyone's right. He couldn't say much about it, but to use her friend as a tool after the breakup was more than he could bear.
"Can't you see? Ai Qian's purpose in seeking you out today was to perform for Liang Zhenlun! She's just using you as a stepping stone to create a sense of crisis in him and make him value her more. Can you wake up already!" Luo Peng said with heartfelt distress.
In the past two months, he had tried to reason with Jiang Chen countless times, but Jiang Chen never listened, stubbornly doing his own thing, refusing to repent, leaving Luo Peng helpless.
"I understand, I won't see her again."
The two were in the same class, so not seeing each other was clearly unrealistic.
Jiang Chen meant, perhaps, that he had decided to draw a clear line with Ai Qian.
Luo Peng was startled, caught off guard.
"Jiang Chen, are you serious?"
Jiang Chen nodded, his smile easy after seeming to wake up from being used over and over by Ai Qian.
"Let's go, call up Xiao Bai and the others, we're going drinking, my treat."
The surprise was so sudden that Luo Peng found it hard to believe,
"Jiang Chen... are you okay?"
He looked doubtful, wondering if his good friend had been psychologically affected by that couple.
"Damn it, I'm fine. Keep me company and drink a few more later," Jiang Chen retorted.
Relieved by this, Luo Peng relaxed.
Fate finally took a turn.
The seasoned fool had finally come to his senses.
"No problem, we should indeed celebrate!" Luo Peng was truly happy.
Jiang Chen looked up. The setting sun shone on his handsome, clean face, which seemed to be filled with the vitality of rebirth.
"A fool in love deserves a thousand deaths."
He murmured.
Luo Peng paused, then nodded vehemently, raising his voice and repeating the phrase,
"A fool in love deserves a thousand deaths!"