"Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!"
What a coincidence! The person who had approached Chen was none other than Lan!
"Good day, Ms. Lin." Lan greeted Lin politely.
Then, she turned around and asked Chen coldly, "Chen Xiaobei, why are you here?"
Damn! Damn! Damn! Chen almost cried. Lan used to call him Chen, but she had just addressed him by his full name. That's is the "you-and-me-are-not-friends-anymore" kind of tone.
"Erm… I wanted to participate in the upcoming sports day. This is why I approached Ms. Lin." Chen said meekly.
"Right. He's here to register for sports day. Oh! I just remembered that I have some unfinished matters to deal with. Better get going!" Lin fled from the scene, her face turning red.
"Not bad at all, Master Chen!"
Lan leered at Chen like a detective. Then, her expression darkened, "Finally, you are showing your true colors! You announced Wenyuan as your girlfriend in front of everyone. Now, you are hitting on a teacher! If I'm not mistaken, Murong Xiaoyao is related to you as well right?"
"No, no you got it all wrong…" Chen lamented. There was no way for him to denounce Wenyuan and Lin. But, he had truly not spoken to Xiaoyao at all.
"You don't have to explain anything to me. We are just normal friends." Lan cut off Chen coldly.
"Okay…"
Chen sighed and started chuckling at himself, "Just normal friends seems like a good idea to me. I'm just an average Joe. I shouldn't have other wild dreams."
"Average Joe, seriously?"
Lan heard and frowned, "Tell me, which sort of average Joe proclaimed that he would be at the same level with my dad? Maybe he is average after all… He cowed out so easily after all…"
Chen was shocked and snapped back to his focus, "I'm no coward! I may be a small fry still, but an elite once told me that I would become something big one day and I will shine bright, like a diamond!"
"Hmph! Don't get over your head."
Lan cracked a smiled, paused, and went back to her sternness, "Words won't be enough for that. You need a solid plan. Do you have one?"
"Plan? Erm… About this…" Chen was speechless. He had been busy as hell recently. He did not even have the time to do his daily training, let alone sit down and make up a plan.
"Idiot! I knew it!"
Lan stared at Chen and sighed, "You must establish your own base of operations, if you want to stand firm in this society! If you want to achieve a higher status, you must be constantly expanding your base! You'll have to make a company that is as powerful as my dad's, if you want to stand on even ground!"
Chen nodded and quickly said, "Yes! I do know that much! That's why I bought over the Dafeng jewelry shop! It should be completely furnished within two days. That will be my groundwork!"
"So, jewelry business. That's your direction. Do you have a plan? Do you know where to bring in the stock? Have you started reaching out for customers?" Lan asked.
"This…" Chen was stunned. He couldn't answer a single question from Lan. There was hundreds of millions worth of jewelry inside his treasure chest, but he could not sell those jewelries, because they were stolen goods. Also, Chen knew nothing about stock intakes or public relations.
"What an idiot! I came prepared, however. So, listen closely! I've thought it all out for you!"
Lan lifted up her chin slightly and said with a hint of pride, "You can start with jade. Jade is doing well in the market right now. You can earn a lot from selling jade. I can bring in some potential customers for you. You can bring in other types of jewelry when your jewelry shop gains enough reputation. With this plan, you can definitely build a solid foundation!"
Chen lighted up with different ideas when he heard Lan's plan for him. He could fully utilize the jewelry shop, build his own business while giving him enough time to sell all his stolen goods as well. He would be killing multiple birds with a single stone.
Also, Chen noticed something glaringly obvious as well. Lan had put a lot of effort into making up this meticulous plan. She was even willing to rope in more customers for him and in the long-run. Normal friends don't do this! There was still hope for him!
"Lan, you are so smart!"
Chen smiled and said shamelessly, "Can you keep me company at the jewelry shop tomorrow? The shop is almost ready. I believe that you have even more ideas. I will treat you to a good meal tomorrow after everything is done."
"Okay. Since you are so sincere, I'll be there tomorrow. Let's depart at nine in the morning. I still have something to deal with right now. See you."
Lan left the place in a huff. She did not realize that she had just fallen into Chen's trap.
"Date and dinner! Nicely done!" Chen smiled.
"The jewelry shop is not the priority. Getting closer to Lan is. She is such a nice and sweet girl. It would be a waste if I don't go after her." Chen thought.
What?
He had just kissed Lin and now, he's planning to go after Lan. What an animal!
No… No… No! A great man once said; pursue all the girls that you desire. Let them go, and you will be damned to hell.
Chen smiled evilly and thought, "The whole world thinks that I already have the four great beauties with me. I will be wronged if I don't make that a reality."
Chen walked back to the dorm, pleased with himself.
Xiangyu was still hard at work, training her body. She had skipped lunch and dinner because she had a nigh-infinite supply of Potion of Hundred Herbs. They would immediately restore her body whenever she gets exhausted.
When the sky turned dark, Chen laid down on his bed to check on the group chat.
Monkey King and God Erlang were having an argument again.
Bull Demon King had cheated on Princess Iron Fan. Again. He was being punished for it. Again.
Zhu Bajie was trying to hit on Change'r. But, he was completely being ignored by her.
...
The Red Envelope group was so cheerful that it made Chen forget about all the other unhappy matters. They had something on today.
The ghosts in hell were having a couplet competition.
Li Bai: I will come up with the first half of the couplet;
Towering mountains of green and gold to the left of me,
Flowing rivers of blue and pink to the right of me,
A beautiful scene, dazzling the eyes of me.
Du Fu: I have a matching half;
A sky of clouds,
A ground of grass,
A heaven on Earth.
Bai Juyi: Good one! Lord of poetry! Fantastic!
Tao Yuanming: Lord of poetry! I will give you 32 likes!
Du Fu: You guys flatter me! (Three acting cool emojis). I should come up with the next first half of couplets;
The yesterday of yesterday,
The tomorrow of the yesterday of yesterday,
The tomorrow of yesterday,
The yesterday of the tomorrow of tomorrow,
The tomorrow of tomorrow,
Reeling in fish for three days in a row,
Hanging your nets for a day and a second day.
Tang Bohu: I will continue with this couplet! Erm….
Du Fu: What a good timing! Just in time!
Tang Bohu: Let me think… I had it with me just now. It must have flown off.." (Three embarrassed emojis)
Du Fu: Brother Tang, were you hired by the monkey to come here to put on a show to embarrass yourself? Don't answer it, if you have no answer.
Monkey King: Just disqualify him if he can't finish the couplet! Don't drag me into this!
Du Fu: Okay… Brother Tang is disqualified! I'm going to announce the answer right now;
East, south, west, north,
The point they meet where one needs help,
Eight directions will come to his aid."
Tang Bohu: Right! Right! Right! That's what I wanted to say!
Li Bai: Brother Tang, you have been disqualified. Lord of poetry, please come out with the next couplet.
Du Fu: Everyone, please listen carefully.
Ten thoughts to be missed,
Missing your king,
Missing your hometown,
Missing your country.
Tang Bohu: I know the answer to this couplet!
Everyone: You have already been disqualified!
Chen laughed and replied: Haha… I know this one.