Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 247: The Best Candidate

Listening to the conversations of these “passionate youths,” Chu Tianyu and the others were completely speechless.
After a long while, Ouyang Ziyi asked doubtfully, “You, all of you, surrounded us after chasing us—was it just to teach a lesson to this so-called good-looking guy?” She pointed at Chu Tianyu beside her.
“Of course. Otherwise, do you think we’re robbers? Hehe, with our standards, how could that be possible?” the first person said dismissively with a laugh.
“With your ‘physical standards,’ you’d be a poor thief!” Chu Tianyu and the others rolled their eyes and thought in unison with disdain.
“Right, right. You girls are ‘pretty,’ but don’t get tricked by those playboys or good-looking guys. They just use money to manipulate emotions. The worst part is they mainly manipulate…” The previously suppressed Flat Bean couldn’t help but speak up angrily again.
“Please, Flat Bean, could you get the cause and effect right first? Instead of saying you girls are ‘pretty,’ it should be ‘kind!’” Clam Person corrected earnestly.
“How can you be so sure he’s a playboy or good-looking guy, and that he manipulates emotions and whatever else…” Ouyang Ziyi imitated Flat Bean’s tone lightly.
“Do we even need to ask? Just look at his ‘good-looking’ appearance! All gelled hair and makeup, bringing three pretty girls to a bar at once. To be honest, if I hadn’t talked to you a bit earlier, I wouldn’t have thought you were that kind of girl. Even to you girls, I have to say—always know your worth!” the first speaker continued his earnest preaching.
“Good-looking?” Ouyang Ziyi asked in confusion.
“It’s short for ‘good-looking guy!’” Flat Bean quickly explained.
“So, how do you plan to teach this ‘good-looking guy’ a lesson?” Ouyang Ziyi asked calmly, showing no anger at their presumptuous words.
“Of course, first talk, then teach; teach while talking…” Clam Person said, nodding his head.
Just then, Qin Nianran’s message suddenly rang in Chu Tianyu, Ouyang Ziyi, and the others’ ears: “Stop wasting time with them. They’re students from the Law and Politics College. I saw one of their school emblems. They’re probably drunk. Don’t get entangled with them. Let’s just leave!”

As Qin Nianran’s message ended, Chu Tianyu’s voice rang out again, “Wait, let Zi Yi take care of this. Just restraining them for a while will do. Our guests from earlier are still watching from afar! Oh, hehe, there’s one more now. Judging from her aura, it should be her sister, Ao Xue!”
“Wow, in just a short while, even her sister’s name has been figured out. Ou Yang Zi Yi has already blocked her meridians in the void.”
The group didn’t stay long. Following Chu Tianyu’s advice, they decided not to cause any trouble. Let the two sisters watch if they wanted to. After all, they had already clearly sensed the ethereal energy in Ou Yang Zi Yi’s body, so there was no need to hide it.
After watching Chu Tianyu’s group disappear at the end of the street, Ning Shuang finally turned away. Since it was Zi Yi who handled things and nothing unusual seemed to have happened, she had initially wanted to chase after them. But before she could move, she sensed a familiar aura and a delicate fragrance. At the same time, a charming figure stood beside her.
“Sis… have you completed your mission?” Ning Shuang whispered.
Sister Ao Xue frowned and instead of answering, she asked, “Who is that woman? How can she have such a powerful natural aura? Is she one of us?”
“I don’t know. I only know her name is Ou Yang Zi Yi. I met her by chance at the bar just now. Sis, you won’t believe it—her natural aura makes my Ice Soul Qi feel as if it’s found its origin or a counterpart, creating a sense of natural affinity. It’s really beneficial, even just talking to her for a few words…”
Hearing her sister’s words, Ao Xue fell silent for a moment, only murmuring, “But sis, it seems she has a lecherous boyfriend. How annoying! With such a good friend like her, yet still being infidel and having multiple relationships. It makes me furious. If I get the chance, I must teach him a lesson. Otherwise, it’s too unfair to Zi Yi!”
“Oh, what boyfriend? Multiple relationships? Did Zi Yi tell you that?” Ao Xue was clearly thinking about what Ning Shuang had said earlier and casually asked about the boyfriend part.
“Of course. It’s obvious from how close they are. I really don’t understand how Zi Yi could like such a guy. She even tolerates him dating three girls at once, including a famous star like Xue Feifei…” Ning Shuang complained bitterly when her sister asked.

“What? Really? Ning Shuang, please tell me in detail what happened to you.” Hearing this, Ao Xue exclaimed in surprise.
“Okay, sister. It’s like this…”
……
“Hey, Bian Dou, why are we all standing here?”
“I don’t know. Weren’t we supposed to teach that pretty boy a lesson? Right, where are they?”
“Ugh, we finally got a chance to show off our eloquence in front of our sister, and now they’ve run away?”
“Could it be we encountered something supernatural…”
“Shut up, Bian Dou. Stop talking nonsense. It seems we really drank too much. Let’s go back and sleep. Today, we bookworms finally got to have some fun. It was worth it! By the way, Jian Zi, let’s squeeze together tonight. I really feel a chill on my back…”
……
“Nian Ran, Zi Yi, Fei Fei, do you think I really want to be like some playboy or pretty boy? It feels like everyone around you looks at me that way.” Chu Tianyu suddenly asked as they walked.
“Everyone has jealousy!” Nian Ran replied briefly.
“Yes, looking at you with so many admirers, even without me and Nian Ran, just Fei Fei alone would be enough to make you the target of everyone!” Zi Yi said with a smile.
“I agree!” Fei Fei said with a smile.
As if he already knew their answers, Chu Tianyu also smiled slightly and then said meaningfully, “What do you think if I returned to the Chu family as such a playboy, with a bit of arrogance and cockiness? What would happen?”
“Absolutely interesting!” The three girls said in unison, their eyes shining.
“It seems our Third Young Master Chu is going to pretend to be weak to catch the strong this time again!” Ouyang Zi Yi added excitedly.
“Hiding one’s strength and luring the enemy in—this is the best strategy!” Qin Nian Ran agreed calmly.
“And the best person for this role, of course, is ‘Chu Xiaobai’, hehe…” Fei Fei said mischievously.
“Wrong! It’s not pretending. He’s really like that! Otherwise, there wouldn’t be those passionate young men who step in to stop injustice and chase after him in public…” Ouyang Zi Yi immediately denied it, trying hard to hold back her laughter after hearing Fei Fei’s words.
“Hmm, and he also needs to ‘teach after speaking, and speak after teaching’!” Before Ouyang Zi Yi could finish, Qin Nian Ran smoothly took over the conversation and teased her.

Faced with the girls’ teasing, Chu Tianyu wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. On the contrary, he immediately put on a lecherous expression and said, “Oh, you’ve only now discovered my true nature! Hehe, but it’s too late now. Once you’re on this ‘thief’s ship’ of mine, there’s no way out! Come on, ladies…” Before he could finish speaking, Chu Tianyu lunged at the three girls, starting to flirt in public—hugging this one, kissing that one, fully displaying the true nature of a playboy!

His actions caused the girls to scream in shock. Ignoring any sense of propriety, they immediately started fighting and indulging in their desires, releasing all the pent-up stress and frustration they had accumulated…

On the streets late at night, occasional passersby saw this scene and couldn’t help but look down on them with disdain. Some lamented the decline of morals, some spat in disgust, while others envied the man, wishing he were them…

But none of this affected the group who were indulging in their pleasures. They weren’t even aware of it, as they were completely immersed in their own world. How could the comments and judgments of passersby affect them?

Moreover, Chu Tianyu cherished this moment deeply, because it was then that he truly felt an unprecedented sense of happiness, ease, and contentment!

This made him reflect deeply and exclaim, “No wonder people are so keen on talking about playboys and dreaming of becoming one. Being a playboy is truly blissful!”

For Chu Tianyu, this happiness was even sweeter, as he was currently kissing Qin Nianran’s rosy lips, tasting her soft, delicate tongue, while hearing her rapid and beautiful breathing in his ears… The feeling could only be described as “better than being a god!”

After a long while…

On a bench by the roadside, Chu Tianyu and Qin Nianran and the others were lazily leaning there.

“The starry night sky is really beautiful today!” Chu Tianyu looked up at the sky, which was completely starless, and sighed contentedly.

“It’s probably because your mood is great today!” Ouyang Ziyi also gazed at the somewhat gloomy night sky and bluntly pointed it out.

Chu Tianyu smiled sheepishly, as if remembering something. He pursed his lips, feeling the lingering sweetness, and became intoxicated once again. It took him a while before he finally sighed under the girls’ disdainful looks and said, “Sigh, it feels great to be ‘Xiaobai’! How about we try it again?”

“Go to hell…” The women laughed and scolded him when they saw him ruminating for so long before spouting such words.
Chu Tianyu played along further. He spread his arms and pulled them all into his embrace, then his hands moved inappropriately again, sparking more suggestive noises…
“How about it? Was my preview as a playboy successful? Should we practice more?” After a while, still in high spirits from his antics, Chu Tianyu asked.
“Tianyu, since you plan to appear at the Chu family in this role, does Grandpa Chu know about it? And you wanted to take control of the Chu family again and compete with your elder brother. How can you gain respect and establish yourself on the board with such an image?” Ouyang Ziyi ignored Chu Tianyu’s words and spoke seriously instead.
Chu Tianyu smiled slightly upon hearing this and said confidently, “I never intended to get involved in the Chu family’s affairs. There’s already the perfect person to manage it!”
“Who?” Ouyang Ziyi asked instinctively, but quickly realized what he meant and glanced at Qin Nianran. At that moment, Qin Nianran sat upright, staring straight ahead with a calm expression, showing no reaction to Chu Tianyu’s words. It was unknown whether she was as composed on the inside as she appeared.
With the conversation at this point, Chu Tianyu became serious and said, “I initially plan for us all to return to the Chu family. I’ll play the role of a playboy honestly, while Nianran will handle everything, giving the impression that she’s behind the scenes controlling everything. Once everyone’s attention is on her, I can secretly investigate Longhun Zhan Yupeng and other clues…”
“What about me and Feifei?” Ouyang Ziyi asked eagerly before Chu Tianyu could finish.
“Hehe, of course, your support as my wives is essential. First, of course, is to help me play the playboy role well. With Feifei’s charm and status, it should be enough to make people see me as a despised playboy! Second, once the act is almost over, you’ll assist Qin Nianran and help her fight a fierce business battle against her elder brother!” Chu Tianyu said casually.
“There’s no problem. If needed, Ouli Jia Bao Group will definitely give full support!” Ouyang Ziyi said confidently.
“I think if there are any business difficulties, our Tianyu Company won’t stand by idly either!” Xue Feifei said calmly.

Qin Nianran still remained silent, but from the eager and excited look on her face, it was clear that Chu Tianyu had given her an excellent opportunity. Ever since she was young, she had regarded the Chu family as her rival and had done her utmost to break free from their control. Who would have thought that at this very moment, Chu Tianyu would hand over the control of the Chu family to her? How could she not be thrilled and excited?

Moreover, with Qin Nianran’s intelligence and expertise in business, nothing could make her happier than having a stage to fully showcase her business skills. Especially since this process was full of challenges and uncertainties, it only made her even more passionate.

Chu Tianyu smiled upon seeing Qin Nianran’s expression and thought to himself, “She’s truly the perfect candidate!”