131: 131 Bright Future Ahead 131: 131 Bright Future Ahead When the taxi stopped at the east gate of the university, it was close to ten o’clock at night.
Any later, and he would probably have to stay outside the dorms for the night.
Jiang Chen, repaying unkindness with kindness, showed his gentlemanly demeanor by escorting Xu Siyi to the entrance of the girls’ dormitory.
“Goodbye, senior Jiang.”
Before entering the building, Xu Siyi turned back, smiled sweetly at him, and waved.
Never to be seen again.
Jiang Chen muttered to himself and turned to leave.
“Where have you been?
Why are you coming back so late?”
When Jiang Chen returned to his dorm room, Luo Peng promptly subjected him to an inevitable interrogation.
“Don’t even mention it.”
Jiang Chen sighed, the very picture of misery.
“What on earth happened?”
Luo Peng asked curiously.
Though he had not probed too deeply when lending the money, that didn’t mean he wasn’t puzzled.
He and Jiang Chen had been fine when they went to the security office in the afternoon to deal with the watch incident, but after Jiang Chen received a call and told him to go back first, he vanished for an entire evening, and even suddenly asked to borrow ten thousand yuan from him.
Although Jiang Chen was indeed typically short on cash, he rarely asked friends for money.
That’s why Luo Peng found it strange.
“Can’t you just not ask?”
Jiang Chen’s face was the embodiment of indescribable woes.
Luo Peng’s lips twitched, then he scrutinized Jiang Chen up and down as if he had suddenly discovered something.
“Why did you change clothes?”
“Did I?”
Jiang Chen feigned ignorance.
“You were definitely not wearing these clothes today…”
Luo Peng was certain his memory wasn’t mistaken.
Jiang Chen had been with him when they played sports earlier in the day, clearly dressed in sporty attire, yet now he was wearing a shirt and jeans.
“What did you really go and do?”
Luo Peng felt increasingly that something was off.
Jiang Chen, driven into a corner and considering Luo Peng had just generously and without hesitation lent him a large sum of money, felt it would be somewhat improper to keep evading the matter.
“Actually, I was with Xu Siyi just now.”
“Xu Siyi?”
Luo Peng hesitated before confirming, “Li Shuru’s roommate?”
Jiang Chen honestly nodded.
Adding up all the factors—Jiang Chen’s disappearing for an entire evening, inexplicably borrowing money from him, and the amount being substantial, even changing his clothes—Luo Peng’s imagination took powerful flight.
He was lost in thought for a good while.
“You guys…
didn’t…
you know…”
“Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
Jiang Chen knew exactly what was going through his friend’s mind and, despite the complex situation, he still tried to succinctly explain the sequence of events.
“I’m still too young, fell for that girl’s tricks again.”
“People aren’t wrong, it’s not a total loss for you,” Luo Peng said not with comfort but with a teasing smile.
“Xu Siyi is considered a goddess by many, and you got to see her body.
So, how was it—is she fair-skinned?
Is her butt perky?”
“Get lost.”
Jiang Chen laughed and cursed: “I really didn’t see clearly at the time.”
“Keep pretending, you just keep on pretending.”
Luo Peng curled his lip, obviously not buying it.
“Tsk tsk, they say a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its burrow, but look at you—not even sparing Li Shuru’s roommate.
Jiang Chen, I never realized you were so bold.
I must concede, I am no match for you.”
Jiang Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I told you, it was all an accident.”
Despite his teasing, Luo Peng knew full well that Jiang Chen wasn’t that kind of person and that what he was saying was most likely true.
“Even if it was an accident, the fact that she was seen by you in all her glory is an undeniable fact.
Can you deny it?”
“…”
Jiang Chen had no reply.
“So you see, it’s only right for you to compensate her with a pair of shoes.”
Luo Peng analyzed, “Though Xu Siyi’s asking price is indeed steep, if a pair of shoes can shut her up, then you should be lighting incense and thanking Buddha you’re so lucky.
If Li Shuru gets wind of this…”
Luo Peng stopped mid-sentence, with a look of someone who dared not think further.
“What if she finds out?
Isn’t that how everyone dresses in the swimming pool?”
Jiang Chen, with a clear conscience, also found a perfect excuse.
“That’s true, but could you say that to Li Shuru?
Tell her, ‘I was just looking at your roommate in her underwear; I didn’t notice the important bits.’ Just watch how Li Shuru would tear you to pieces!”
Luo Peng cautioned, “When living your life, you have to prioritize properly, not lose the big picture over something trivial.”
More than twenty thousand was indeed an unbearable expense for Jiang Chen, but when compared with the risk of Li Shuru discovering this salacious mishap, it was obvious which was more significant.
Bear in mind, Li Shuru had not long ago gifted Jiang Chen with a watch worth over four hundred thousand from Vacheron Constantin—a pair of high-end branded heels was trivial in comparison.
“Ruan Guang is about to compensate you, right?
This twenty grand is nothing; you need to look at the bigger picture.
As long as you cling to the wealthy Li Shuru’s coattails—ah.”
Luo Peng patted Jiang Chen’s shoulder, sighing with heartfelt advice.
“Jiang Chen, my friend, you have a promising future ahead.”
Jiang Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“She went to deliver the invoice to Jiang Chen this afternoon, and she hasn’t returned yet…”
Over at the girls’ dormitory.
Zheng Jingjing was on the phone.
Just then, the door of the dorm was pushed open.
Zheng Jingjing glanced over and quickly said to the person on the phone, “Shu Rui, Si Yi is back.”
Xu Siyi walked in as if nothing happened.
“Si Yi, where have you been?
Why are you only back now?”
Guo Ran asked with concern.
“I went out for a meal.”
Xu Siyi answered nonchalantly, glanced at Zheng Jingjing on the phone, then went over to her own chair, sat down, and began to slip off her high heels.
At first, Guo Ran didn’t notice anything unusual, but when she saw those hollowed-out stiletto heels, she paused.
“Si Yi, did you just buy these shoes?”
She seemed to have never seen them before.
“Hmm, pretty, aren’t they?”
Xu Siyi looked up with a smile and asked.
Manolo Blahnik, being among the top ten luxury women’s shoe brands globally, surely had its reasons, instantly captivating Guo Ran with its beautifully designed aesthetics.
She couldn’t help but nod, “Where did you buy them?”
“Manolo Blahnik next to Binhai Park.”
“Manolo Blahnik?”
Guo Ran was startled, not lingering on why the other would go so far, and exclaimed in astonishment, “You mean the Spanish brand?”
Xu Siyi nodded calmly.
Guo Ran’s eyes widened.
At this moment, Zheng Jingjing had also put down her phone, presumably having finished the call with Li Shuru.
“Manolo Blahnik shoes must cost several tens of thousands per pair, right?
Si Yi, how come you’ve suddenly become so extravagant?”
Although none of the roommates was poor, shoes costing tens of thousands were still too luxurious for them.
Of course.
Except for Shu Rui.
Shu Rui could earn her own money, but the rest still relied on their families.
“I would never buy shoes that expensive; someone gave them to me.”
Xu Siyi put away the heels she had taken off and slipped into her own slippers.
“Who?
Someone so generous?
Do you have a new boyfriend?”
Zheng Jingjing hurriedly asked.
“Secret.”
Xu Siyi smiled mysteriously, not satisfying their curiosity, and then picked up various skin care products and went to wash her face.
Staring at the elegant and luxurious pair of high heels, Zheng Jingjing and Guo Ran couldn’t help exchanging glances.