NOVPUBThe two of them had to support each other to keep from fainting after hearing Zhong Chen's words.
Realizing there was no reasoning with this idiot, they could only try to protect their sanity from further blows.
So they quickly shoved Zhong Chen aside and said, "Go take out the trash already."
Zhong Chen was convinced these two jerks were just jealous and ignored them. Helping with chores for the first time in his life gave him an unprecedented sense of purpose.
He walked up to the communal trash bins, stared for a long while, then turned back with a troubled expression to ask, "How do you sort the trash again?"
The two replied mockingly, "We’re not sure about the rest, but your brain definitely belongs in the food waste bin."
Zhong Chen immediately wanted to shove them headfirst into the trash.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Mother Shen was extremely displeased that Shen Ying had chased Zhong Chen away.
"Why did you send him off? He came all this way to visit, and you just kicked him out? What will he think?"
"You have to pamper boys a little, or how else will they stay devoted to you?"
Shen Ying had her ways of handling her mother. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Mom, I just got him to spend tens of millions on me with three sentences."
"Between the two of us, who do you think knows better how to handle a fool?"
Mother Shen: "...Fair point. I’ve spent half my life yelling at your dad, and he’s never spent two hundred on me."
"You’re definitely more capable than me."
Faced with undeniable benefits, Mother Shen demonstrated the admirable flexibility of a parent—letting go of her own stubbornness and acknowledging her child’s skills.
Only the quiet Father Shen watched the mother-daughter pair before finally muttering, "You watch me like a hawk—how am I supposed to save up two hundred?"
And so, the family finished dinner in cheerful harmony.
The next day, Shen Ying rode her bicycle to school, only to find a grand red carpet stretching all the way to the entrance before she even stepped inside.
The moment her foot touched the carpet, every student around froze in unison.
As she walked further into the campus, she saw even more extravagance—fresh flowers still glistening with morning dew lined both sides of the path, tied with expensive ribbons and sheer fabric decorations.
The romantic, dreamlike pathway seemed endless, the air thick with fragrance.
Helicopters hovered above the school, showering the sky with petals. The usually solemn campus had been transformed into a wedding venue.
The surrounding students buzzed with excitement, marveling at the sheer extravagance of it all.
Walking through it all, Shen Ying couldn’t help but reflect—while this kind of cliché, over-the-top display might sound laughable in description, actually standing in the middle of it was another matter.
The sheer scale of resources, the overwhelming luxury, the intoxicating vanity of being placed at the center of the world—it was hard not to be moved.
Just the visual impact of the endless flowers alone would be enough to overwhelm most people.
At the end of the path, as expected, Zhong Chen stood waiting.
Beside him were Xing Jiale and Gong Zhaoxi, their expressions complicated—caught between wanting to disown the man next to them and the grim acceptance that they were stuck with him for life.
They even avoided looking directly at Zhong Chen’s face, afraid they might lose control and kick him down the stairs.
As Shen Ying approached, Zhong Chen confidently extended his hand and declared, "I admit, yesterday was my mistake. A true gentleman never skips the confession."
"But let’s be clear—it’s not that I was too scared to say it. Since you’re so desperate to hear it, fine, I’ll say it."
With that, two faint blushes flashed across Zhong Chen’s face. He took a deep breath and blurted out, "I like you. Be with me."
Shen Ying stared at him expressionlessly for a long moment, watching as his confident grin wavered, his bravado crumbling under her silence.
Finally, she drawled, "I don’t see any sincerity in your confession."
Zhong Chen immediately panicked. "What do you mean no sincerity?"
Shen Ying: "You didn’t even kneel."
Before Zhong Chen could react, Xing Jiale and Gong Zhaoxi exploded. "Don’t push it! Even teasing an idiot has its limits!"
"Ha! Kneel? Zhong Chen has never bowed his head to anyone in his life! Don’t think just because he’s obsessed with you that he’ll abandon all dignity! I’m telling you, with his pride—"
Before they could finish, Zhong Chen quietly pulled Shen Ying aside and whispered, "Just to be clear—I’ll only kneel for stuff like confessions, proposals, and weddings, okay?"
"Don’t add it to the household rules as a punishment."
Xing Jiale and Gong Zhaoxi: "..."
They’d forgotten—this guy came from a family where his mother ruled with an iron fist.
For all his usual bluster and arrogance, his understanding of relationships was... unique.
Shen Ying looked at this fool, so eager to negotiate his future rights, and found him utterly endearing in this moment.
So she nodded. "Fine. We’re officially together now."
Instantly, Zhong Chen’s eyes sparkled like stars.
But this spectacle would reach Mrs. Zhong’s ears soon enough, wouldn’t it? Shen Ying thought, already looking forward to it.
Now that she was confirmed as Zhong Chen’s girlfriend, Shen Ying thrived even more at school.
All the privileges reserved for Zhong Chen automatically extended to her—though even she couldn’t push it far enough to open a private club on campus.
At most, she indulged in some gourmet perks.
Aside from Zhong Chen himself becoming even clingier, and the other two growing more sarcastic, not much else changed.
By the weekend, everything regarding Shen Ying’s family’s new home was settled.
Of course, the Zhong family had handled all the arrangements, including cleaning and furnishing the new place.
Come Saturday, the Shen family happily moved in.
Zhong Chen had wanted to come, but Mrs. Zhong had unexpectedly summoned him abroad for some meeting the heir "had to attend."
Without her clingy boyfriend around, Shen Ying’s weekend plans became much more interesting.
Now that she had moved into a 300-square-meter house, her expensive clothes and shoes finally had a proper place.
With Zhong Chen as her convenient excuse, Shen Ying openly returned to her accustomed lifestyle.
No more nagging from her mother—just a casual "the fool bought it for me" whenever questioned.
After settling in, Shen Ying got a call from Xia Meng, inviting her out.
"Last weekend was really cathartic. I want to do it again."
Shen Ying, of course, agreed immediately, freshened up, and headed out.
Xia Meng hadn’t taken the family car this time either, explaining she’d snuck out to escape her mother’s relentless study demands.
Shen Ying didn’t pry. The two found a spot, ordered drinks and snacks, and chatted.
Xia Meng said, "It’s so unexpected. A month ago, you and Zhong Chen were at each other’s throats. Now you’re a couple."
Then, hesitantly, she asked, "Shen Ying... do you really believe he likes you?"
Shen Ying shrugged. "Of course. Didn’t I tell you before? Even before Senior Sister Zhu came back, it was written all over his face."
Xia Meng suddenly remembered—the day after Shen Ying had started fighting back, after beating Zhong Chen up, she’d casually mentioned in class that Zhong Chen liked her.
At the time, Xia Meng had dismissed it. But now—
Xia Meng's expression was peculiar, a mix of bewilderment and complexity.
"I never expected he’d be into this kind of thing."
She had completely reinvented herself, reshaping both her body and personality—so why?
A fierce jealousy gnawed at her heart until the atmosphere around her shifted, the dance floor coming alive. Shen Ying pulled her in to lose herself in the revelry.
The person Xia Meng had arranged approached them with an air of interest.
Shen Ying eyed the handsome stranger walking over—not the one who resembled Xiao Yun from last time, but a different man altogether.
This one was a striking Eurasian, a perfect blend of Eastern elegance and Western charm, tall and lean with an enigmatic aura. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
His features were flawlessly sculpted, impeccable even up close.
When he brushed off every woman vying for his attention and made his way to Shen Ying, she nearly teared up in gratitude.
The Eurasian hunk smiled. "You’re adorable. Can I buy you a drink?"
Shen Ying turned and clutched Xia Meng’s hand, sincerity brimming in her voice. "Sis, you’re the best!"
Xia Meng assumed her friend was just overwhelmed by the handsome sight, thinking to herself that she’d nailed Shen Ying’s taste this time.
What followed was inevitable. Xia Meng once again watched as the Eurasian led Shen Ying into a hotel.
She didn’t leave immediately, lingering outside for a long while, only heading home after confirming Shen Ying hadn’t woken up and slipped away.
But the next day, Xia Meng was left empty-handed again—not a single promised photo arrived.
Frustrated, she called the man. "Where are the pictures?"
His voice came through hoarse and furious. "Don’t even mention photos."
"You blackmailed me, saying it was just a small favor, but you tricked me into this mess."
"You’re just a high schooler, yet you’re already recruiting for the adult industry? This place is terrifying. I’m out."
Xia Meng stared blankly at the dial tone. What nonsense was this idiot spouting?
With school hours looming, she couldn’t wait any longer. Seeing them together every day was torture.
At least she’d snapped one photo of them entering the hotel. It wasn’t what she’d orchestrated, but it was better than nothing.
Xia Meng sent the photo with a command: "Print these out and plaster them all over the school."
Shen Ying left home in high spirits.
Two weeks of top-tier male entertainment had left her emotionally fulfilled.
Last night’s Eurasian stunner, with his long legs and sculpted backside, had been slightly clumsier on the dance floor than last week’s guy—but that awkwardness had its own charm.
Just thinking about it made her hungry enough for an extra bowl of rice.
When Shen Ying sauntered into school, she immediately sensed something was off.
Ever since she and Zhong Chen had officially started dating, the entire school—except for Shen Zuola, who remained stubbornly hostile—had treated her with fawning admiration.
But today was different. The stares she got were scrutinizing, laced with barely concealed schadenfreude.
Shen Ying ignored them, heading straight to her classroom. Just as she was about to step inside, Shen Zuola and her two lackeys blocked her path.
Shen Zuola’s face was alight with vindication. "How dare you show your face here?"
She flung a thick stack of printed photos at Shen Ying. "I always knew you were trouble, but I never imagined you’d sink this low."
"Here’s proof you checked into a hotel with a man. Can’t deny it now, can you? These are plastered all over school. Have you no shame?"
"And Zhong Chen actually made you his girlfriend."
Shen Ying blinked in surprise. "Plastered everywhere? I didn’t see any on my way here."
She looked touched. "Did you tear them all down to spare my feelings?"
Shen Zuola’s face twisted in rage at her feigned ignorance. "You—"
Before she could finish, a hand landed on her shoulder, shoving her aside roughly.
It was Zhong Chen, his face dark with fury, radiating jealousy as he loomed over Shen Ying.
