Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 110: Campus Secret Struggles

After meeting Sister Xin, Chu Tianyu decided to return to school first to get things sorted out before going to pick up his elder brother in the evening. He had a bad feeling—that this sudden visit by his elder brother, who specifically wanted to talk to him alone, likely meant something serious had happened, and he would be busy as soon as he got involved. So, it would be better to take care of matters at school first.
However, Ouyang Ziyi stayed behind. Perhaps she had many secrets and feelings she wanted to share with Sister Xin. Chu Tianyu could certainly understand her mood—after all, the love troubles he had caused also meant Ouyang Ziyi, who had been bearing them silently, needed a chance to talk to someone face to face to ease her possibly suppressed emotions…
“Chu, Chu!” As Chu Tianyu was walking out of Oulijia Bao Company’s building, he suddenly heard a strange yet melodious voice.
Chu Tianyu turned around in surprise. A stylish beauty wearing glasses approached him with a smile. She wore a yellow journalist vest on top and casual dark blue pants below. Her hair was tied up casually with a white-and-blue patterned handkerchief, exuding a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
“Is it me you’re calling?” Although Chu Tianyu found her somewhat familiar, he couldn’t recall who she was.
Seeing his puzzled expression, she gracefully extended her long, fair, and delicate hand, smiling and saying, “Hello, I’m Wu Susu. Do you remember? We had a ‘meeting’ back then! Hehe…”
At those words, Chu Tianyu immediately remembered—it was during Qin Nianran’s first attempt to meet him, after a small incident on his way back to Peking University to return a book.
“Oh, hehe, hello! I’m so sorry about that time! I remember you were from the journalism department. It seems you’re here for an interview today? Is it part of your practical course?” Chu Tianyu greeted her as if recalling the moment.
“Mm, this is an internship opportunity arranged by a friend. It’s not yet time for our internship, so I snuck out to participate. After all, it’s a chance to work at CCTV—such a rare opportunity!” With just a few words and a few interjections, along with Wu Susu’s appropriate expressions, she instantly livened up the atmosphere, seemingly bridging the distance between them.

“Is that so? Hehe, it’s a rare opportunity. Have you finished your interview?” Although Chu Tianyu felt a bit intrusive, given their enthusiasm, he simply asked casually.
“Mm, we just finished recording. Actually, I recognized you in President Xin’s room. I remember the first time I met you, you gave off a special impression. Oh, sorry, hehe, it’s just my profession. What I mean is, usually, those I meet and leave an impression on, I don’t forget.”
Chu Tianyu was then sure that the soft “Eh!” had indeed come from her. But at this point, he didn’t know what else to say. He just smiled slightly and nodded.
“Susu, Susu…” Just then, the voices of his colleagues in the distance calling her name came through.
“Hehe, well, I can’t talk anymore. How about giving me an exclusive interview sometime?”
“Mm, an exclusive interview for me?” Chu Tianyu was momentarily stunned.
Amidst the urging from his colleagues, Wu Susu took out a pen and a note from a large pocket on her chest, bit the pen cap, quickly dialed a number, handed it to Chu Tianyu, and said with a smile, “Call me…” After saying that, she replied repeatedly, turned around, and ran back, even making a gesture to call him along the way…
Chu Tianyu stared at the note in his hand and Wu Susu’s gradually disappearing figure, completely puzzled. It took him a while to react. Looking at the note with the phone number, he shook his head and smiled faintly. He remembered that Wu Susu wasn’t only from the journalism department but also one of those voted as the most beautiful campus beauty by bored people. His love life was already chaotic enough. Whether he was misinterpreting things or not, he better avoid getting involved with the party newspaper in the future!
With these thoughts, he clenched the note tightly as he walked. Suddenly, a faint wisp of smoke emerged from his hand…
When Chu Tianyu returned to the dormitory, he happened to run into Bai Lei, who looked extremely happy. When the two entered the room, Da Ge and Bao Cai thought they had gone out together last night, so they joked and questioned them nonstop.
Chu Tianyu quickly clarified that he had completed his task after meeting his online friend and then parted ways with Bai Lei, refusing to be the third wheel!
Da Ge and Bao Cai became excited at this, ignoring the fact that Chu Tianyu had also stayed out all night. Anyway, they were already numb to his behavior. So they turned their attention to Bai Lei.

“Yeah, you scumbag and Third Brother, hurry up and tell us about yesterday’s encounter with that online friend—was it an animal or a plant? (Animal = dinosaur, Plant = flower)” Bao Cai asked excitedly and “lewdly.”
Chu Tianyu shrugged and made a gesture suggesting it was up to the protagonist to explain.
“Scumbag, just confess quickly and you might get a lighter sentence. If you try to pull some nonsense, don’t blame us for using force!” The big guy also rushed, well aware of Bai Lei’s temperament and having prepared threats in advance.
Bao Cai had already picked up a stinky shoe—unknown whose it belonged to and hadn’t been washed in a month—ready at all times…
Seeing the intense looks from the big guy and Bao Cai, Bai Lei grew even more proud. He playfully put his hands behind his back, deliberately acting sorrowful, and said leisurely, “Sigh, better not mention it. I got accidentally hurt by that idiot Cupid…”
Then, Bai Lei turned their ordinary tea-drinking and night-sightseeing outing into something incredibly romantic and passionate, especially when describing the crucial moments. His coy and evasive remarks greatly satisfied the big guy and Bao Cai’s fantasies.
As soon as Chu Tianyu heard him start talking, he yawned and went back to what he was doing! Not because of anything else—Ouyang Ziyi had already called to ask about Lan Yue earlier that morning.
According to Lan Yue, when they ended their date:
Bai Lei, with a pained expression, confessed to Lan Yue, “Yueyue, be my girlfriend! I’m so handsome yet still don’t have a girlfriend. It’s not only embarrassing, but those jealous guys in my class also keep doubting my… sexual abilities…”
“What abilities?”
“Sexual abilities!”
“Go to hell!” Lan Yue silenced him with a perfect punch.
…
That night, after meeting up with Ouyang Ziyi, Chu Tianyu and she went together to pick up Chu Tianyu’s elder brother, Chu Tiancheng, at Chu Family’s property in Beijing—the Mo Xiang Villa.
Although it was said to be Chu Tianyu who would pick him up, several executives from Chu Family Group in Beijing were already there to welcome him. Still, Chu Tiancheng got into Ouyang Ziyi’s car, warmly chatting with Chu Tianyu and showing great interest in their relationship. He first asked about Ouyang Ziyi, then occasionally made jokes about the relationship between Chu Tianyu and her.
Especially toward the end, after speaking, his elder brother kept looking at him with a suggestive expression and an unspoken understanding between men, leaving Chu Tianyu speechless—after all, he lacked confidence himself.

Chu Tiancheng’s visit this time was indeed as Chu Tianyu had expected—sent to Beijing on his grandfather’s orders, seemingly because the grandfather had picked up on some signs. His elder brother Tiancheng was tasked with closely monitoring the distribution and investment of several companies in Beijing, including Qin Nianran’s Fudu Industrial Group.

His elder brother also said that his grandfather had asked him to take this opportunity to properly manage the Chu family’s affairs—not to learn anything specific, but to get familiar with the situation. After all, as the “third young master” of the Chu family, he had been in Beijing for so long yet still didn’t even know the basics of the Chu family’s presence here!

His elder brother even gave him two thick bags of documents, containing all the information about the Chu family’s operations in Beijing. It was top-secret material, kept only in handwritten form with no electronic versions. That’s why his elder brother personally brought copies and instructed Tianyu to destroy them immediately after reading.

What surprised Chu Tiancheng a bit was Chu Tianyu’s reaction. There was no hesitation, nervousness, or excitement as he had imagined. Aside from a few jokes in the car, Tianyu remained calm and composed throughout, as if nothing could perturb him or change his expression.

Chu Tianyu didn’t seem to attach any importance to his elder brother’s words. Although he learned from his brother that this incident seemingly didn’t yet involve the Chu family, since even his grandfather in Nanjing had noticed it, things must be serious. It was good—he had already been curious about this matter. Last night, he had asked Qianfeng to follow up thoroughly. Now, he could take this opportunity to investigate properly.

After finishing their business matters, when the several executives saw the two brothers coming out of the study, they all rushed to welcome Chu Tiancheng and insisted on making Chu Tianyu drink as punishment. Although they knew he had been in Beijing for some time, they had never met him before. They joked that Tianyu must have been kept hidden by the old Chu patriarch, and now that they finally saw him, they needed to celebrate properly…

During the meal, whether it was the executives’ deliberate flattery or the natural and proper behavior of Chu Tiancheng and Chu Tianyu, the private room was filled with laughter and a warm atmosphere.

Ouyang Ziyi became the focus of attention, and everyone admired Chu Tianyu’s good luck in love. Though the executives drank quite a bit, they remained sensible and didn’t mention anything about Chu Tianyu’s legendary past or that engagement. Ouyang Ziyi’s cheerful demeanor added even more charm to the banquet, especially her attentiveness and deference toward Chu Tianyu, which made Chu Tiancheng, his elder brother, extremely envious.

When the banquet ended, the eldest brother was taken care of by several executives, so Chu Tianyu and Ouyang Ziyi returned to their residence. With a drunken gaze, Chu Tiancheng watched Ouyang Ziyi’s luxury car drive away and murmured to himself, “The third brother has really changed…”
…
In the following days, Chu Tianyu naturally followed his eldest brother deeper into the Chu family while processing information, while Ouyang Ziyi went to keep company with Lan Yue. Regarding Chu Tianyu’s matters, she simply said, “I won’t get involved in your Chu family’s secrets!”
Though her words carried a playful tone, their meaning impressed Chu Tianyu greatly. Ouyang Ziyi wasn’t worried that Chu Tianyu might be troubled; rather, since it was his eldest brother Chu Tiancheng who was in charge this time, it was better to stay out of it!
No wonder she accepted without hesitation some of the tasks related to Qianfeng that Chu Tianyu assigned her—after all, this was something befitting a “man”!
For Chu Tianyu, this was also a great learning opportunity. Especially by following his eldest brother, he gained practical experience that was far more useful than what he had learned from books!
Especially the three brothers of the Chu family—his second brother and he had never been capable, only the eldest brother inherited his grandfather’s qualities. Even as a child, the eldest brother already knew how to handle many matters independently and meet his grandfather’s business partners!
So in terms of business management, Chu Tianyu had always been weak. He admired his eldest brother greatly. Especially after taking over Qianfeng, he realized he lacked both knowledge and experience in this area. Although there were excellent managers like Mr. Chen from the Hong Kong branch to assist him, Chu Tianyu still felt a sense of urgency and wanted to learn as much as possible, so as not to keep leading experts as a layman.
Therefore, Chu Tianyu firmly decided to skip class again, using this opportunity to learn from his eldest brother and prepare for truly taking charge of Qianfeng in the future.
One day, while carefully studying documents in Ouyang Ziyi’s villa, Chu Tianyu suddenly received a call from Da Hu. Saying it had been a long time since they last contacted each other, Da Hu invited him to play basketball at Peking University and asked him many questions, wondering why he wasn’t in Nanjing during the holidays and why he couldn’t be reached after returning. Chu Tianyu smiled and apologized, assuring him that he would treat him to dinner after playing!
After hanging up, Chu Tianyu stretched and sighed deeply, saying, “Hehe, yes. Things keep piling up, and there’s no time to catch my breath. It’s time to meet an old friend and play a few games to our heart’s content.”

On campus, after 3 p.m. is the busiest and most relaxed time. No matter where you go, you can hear cheerful and loud laughter. Students walk in groups, stroll along paths, or jog lightly…

Chu Tianyu had already changed into sports clothes when he came out. Upon entering the campus, he was filled with joy at the sight before him, as if forgetting everything else. He took several deep breaths of the free and youthful air on campus. His pace slowed from running to walking, as he instantly merged into this beautiful and ordinary afternoon at the university!

Suddenly, Chu Tianyu, who was in a good mood, felt a cold aura enveloping him, as if some expert was observing him or targeting him specifically.

Chu Tianyu was surprised. Who could it be? Could he have mistaken someone? Or was the aura coming from the wrong direction? With confusion, he turned in the direction of the aura—and instantly froze in shock!

Contrasting with the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere around him, about ten meters to Chu Tianyu’s side, Qin Nianran stood there, staring at him coldly with a frosty expression.

That day, Qin Nianran wore a white round-neck shirt underneath, revealing her snow-white neck skin, along with a soft goose-yellow sweatshirt on top and light casual pants. Her tall and graceful figure stood out clearly as she held a large folder in her arms, her long hair neatly tied back. The sunlight reflected off her porcelain-like skin, giving it a rosy glow. From afar, she looked like she had just returned from studying—natural, simple, and exuding an irresistible charm that inspired thoughts.

But now, with her icy expression and the cold aura surrounding her, she seemed even more aloof and proud, making the passing boys dare only to glance at her out of the corner of their eyes, too afraid to look directly at her.

However, because Qin Nianran suddenly stopped, the crowd that had been secretly watching her took notice and turned to look at her, as if expecting something related to this beautiful woman to happen.

Qin Nianran also noticed the surrounding situation, so she relaxed slightly, controlled her emotions, and resumed her previous pace, slowly walking toward Chu Tianyu.

Qin Nianran had been extremely frustrated lately—not to mention the matter between Ouyang Ziyi and Chu Tianyu. Unexpectedly, her grandfather had flown to Beijing the previous day and spent almost the whole night talking to her, giving her detailed information and data.

Faced with the already dire situation at Fudu Industrial, which far exceeded her initial expectations, it could now be said that Fudu wasn’t just dealing with a few pests—it was on the verge of collapse! After a sleepless night, Qin Nianran continued to study the materials brought by her grandfather, finally finishing them in the afternoon and gaining a deeper understanding of Fudu’s current situation. Yet, despite this understanding, she still hadn’t come up with any solutions! As she was troubled, she suddenly saw Chu Tianyu with a look of utter satisfaction, seemingly lost in some pleasant thoughts, smiling slyly… Instantly, all of Qin Nianran’s anger and frustration erupted upon seeing Chu Tianyu’s face, directed straight at him. If Chu Tianyu had known the reason for her anger—that it was caused by his seemingly innocent face, which had finally gotten a chance to enjoy itself—he would likely have felt deeply wronged, and even others would have sympathized with him. For Chu Tianyu, his shock came from never expecting to encounter Qin Nianran under such circumstances. In his mind, she should have been living in a villa or something outside, coming to school like she was driving a sports car during their first date. Most importantly, he had never considered how to deal with her since childhood; although Ouyang Ziyi often joked about her, Chu Tianyu, though joking along, didn’t really hold any expectations, considering those childhood memories merely as beautiful recollections. So, regarding his relationship with Qin Nianran, he chose to avoid it, using the recent series of events as an excuse to stop thinking about it and avoid further trouble. As for Ouyang Ziyi going to see Qin Nianran alone, for some reason—perhaps even she didn’t know the outcome—she never mentioned it to Chu Tianyu. This put Chu Tianyu in a difficult position; he thought their relationship was still as before, never expecting Ouyang Ziyi to go and say those provocative and provocative words to her! Although he felt a bit uneasy, he quickly realized that logically and emotionally, he should say hello. So, Chu Tianyu tried to adjust his mood, smiled, and gave Qin Nianran a slight nod.

Chu Tianyu also noticed that many people around were peeking. So he didn’t say anything to greet her. He thought she was the focus of attention here; if he called out, it might spark more rumors, giving people like Zhan Zifeng and Gu Yuzhi an excuse to come and provoke him.

But Chu Tianyu’s good intentions had little effect in Qin Nianran’s eyes. At that moment, Chu Tianyu’s fake smile seemed like mockery toward her, filled with contempt and disgust…

Qin Nianran’s fury finally found an outlet. All her efforts to stay calm and composed collapsed in an instant. Ignoring the many students around her, she quickly pressed her right hand, hidden by a folder, toward two key points on Chu Tianyu’s chest as she got closer to him.

Faced with such a ruthless move that could be considered attempted murder, Chu Tianyu was greatly surprised. Without time to think, he stepped aside and casually moved his hands as if stretching to protect his chest, instantly generating a surge of hidden energy in that area.

Qin Nianran’s finger force felt as if it were hitting cotton—she couldn’t advance even a bit, and it even seemed like her effort went nowhere, causing her great discomfort.

The sudden turn of events took Qin Nianran by surprise. Now it was her turn to be astonished. Although she hadn’t used full force in that strike, she had treated Chu Tianyu as an ordinary person, thinking she was just giving him a lesson—maybe making him numb and embarrassed!

After hitting him, Qin Nianran even felt a bit regretful. To be honest, why should she interfere in Chu Tianyu’s affairs? Whether he wore a fake smile or showed contempt, it was all her own assumptions driven by anger. There was also that engagement agreement she had made—both parties agreed not to interfere with each other. But back then, that agreement had completely bound Chu Tianyu, while now it seemed to be trapping her instead…

Had she lost her sanity just because Ouyang Ziyi came to her and spouted nonsense? If some other woman had said those same words, would she have reacted so strongly?

Yet, all the countless thoughts flashing through her mind were dismissed by one reason: “It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong—I did it anyway. Do women need reasons for what they do?”

If Ouyang Ziyi could know what Qin Nianran was thinking at that moment, she would probably laugh—a smile of victory!

She disrupted Qin Nianran’s calm state like a stone thrown into water. Whatever feelings arose—even intense hatred—were still a form of “emotion.” For someone like Qin Nianran, the fear wasn’t that she would hate or be angry at you, but that she would have no “emotion” at all toward you!
According to Ouyang Ziyi’s plan, if her words could make Qin Nianran feel resentful or hateful toward Chu Tianyu, she would be half-successful. If Qin Nianran reached the point of complete loss of reason, then Chu Tianyu would have to endure another arrow from Cupid!
On the surface, Qin Nianran acted as if nothing had happened as she passed by Chu Tianyu. Their brief exchange—one strike, one dodge, one block—seemed to outsiders like Chu Tianyu doing some silly chest exercises, which, with his sports outfit, wasn’t unusual. More perceptive people might think he was deliberately trying to attract the attention of the icy beauty.
Qin Nianran, having lost her rationality, also lost her judgment. Though she hadn’t expected Chu Tianyu to possess true energy, she still had blind confidence in her own skills and special abilities.
As she passed by him, she hooked her left foot slightly, as if stepping forward to block his path, and secretly kicked him. At the same time, her jade palm struck out at Chu Tianyu again, hidden by the folder. This time it wasn’t a direct strike but a blow in mid-air. In truth, Qin Nianran’s skills weren’t yet advanced enough to allow such a strike, but her special ability—electromagnetic waves—could be emitted.
Now that she knew Chu Tianyu had skills, she used all her strength without hesitation. So, strictly speaking, this move was an electromagnetic wave infused with true energy. Chu Tianyu, still shocked, hadn’t realized what he had done to offend this young lady, why she would attack him so fiercely upon meeting.
Chu Tianyu, looking frustrated, was left to suffer in silence. Qin Nianran’s attacks were like those of a child to him—completely harmless.
But in front of so many people, they couldn’t just start fighting openly! Moreover, given Qin Nianran’s relentless expression, it seemed she harbored deep hatred toward him.
So his suffering stemmed from two things: first, he didn’t understand why this was happening and couldn’t ask right away; second, Qin Nianran was attacking with full force, using the large folder as cover, while he had no protection to defend himself. He had to not only block her attacks but also figure out how to do so without drawing attention from the students passing by…

Dodging and moving away was quite simple; with the subtlety and speed of Chu Tianyu’s Xuanji Step, it was impossible for outsiders to notice. But looking at the power of Qin Nianran’s simultaneous attacks from top to bottom, it seemed as if she was acting out of anger, leaving no room for error. If he had moved away, the other students passing by would surely have been caught in the crossfire!

Therefore, Chu Tianyu had to muster all his strength, letting his vital energy surge outward. It appeared as though his movement paused slightly, as if he were taking a running start, allowing him to withstand Qin Nianran’s attacks. He then used his vital energy to envelop the electromagnetic force emitted by her hand, slowly refining it. All that could be heard from the outside were a few soft “zzz~” sounds, which were impossible to detect in the noisy campus unless one listened closely.

The two consecutive attacks immediately raised Chu Tianyu’s awareness significantly. No matter what the situation or reason, the best strategy was to run away—“use the thirty-six stratagems, and slip away.” Making up his mind, he took advantage of Qin Nianran’s stunned moment and started running at full speed…

But to Qin Nianran, the two attacks felt like hitting cotton—silent, with no ripple whatsoever, as if they had sunk into the sea without a trace.

And that annoying Chu Tianyu acted as if nothing had happened. Under her fierce attacks, he simply raised his arms to protect his chest, paused briefly, then took a running start before vanishing from her sight in an instant…

His movements were so smooth, his expression so natural, it was as if he were just warming up before heading to the sports field or track.

Qin Nianran was confused. Words like surprise or shock couldn’t describe her feelings anymore. Only in her mind did she faintly recall Ou Yang Ziyi’s words: “Chu Tianyu has also practiced martial arts. I admire him so much…” Back then, she had said it ambiguously, and Qin Nianran had interpreted it as ordinary martial fitness or combat training. Now it seemed this was yet another trick from that annoying Ou Yang Ziyi!

“And just from these two brief encounters, his skill level is likely many times higher than mine. Even though it was all defense, being able to achieve such a seamless level of control—probably not even my aunt has such skills. Who on earth is he?” Qin Nianran lost her earlier excitement and anger. Thinking about what Ou Yang Ziyi had said, recalling those documents, and comparing them with Chu Tianyu’s brief appearance, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself in secret.

Meanwhile, far away, Chu Tianyu, still frustrated, kept pondering the matter. Originally, they had no connection, so why would Qin Nianran suddenly behave in such an unexpected way? It was truly baffling!

“Chu Tianyu, Chu Tianyu…” Just then, Da Hu’s voice rang out from the side of the court, interrupting Chu Tianyu’s thoughts.
“You’re here. Where’s Zhou Jie?” Chu Tianyu asked affectionately, looking at Da Hu, who still looked as vibrant as ever.
“Hehe, nice to see you, Tianyu. It’s really hard to meet you these days. That classmate of yours, Bai Lei, said you disappeared without a trace—even he doesn’t know where you are!” Da Hu said, punching Chu Tianyu in the chest while laughing.
“It’s complicated… Let’s wait for Zhou Jie. When he arrives, we can talk about it over dinner,” Chu Tianyu replied with a smile.
As Chu Tianyu kept mentioning Zhou Jie, Da Hu’s usually cheerful expression faded. “Sigh, I called you here because of the game—hope you can persuade Zhou Jie again…”
“What’s wrong with Zhou Jie?” Chu Tianyu asked, interrupting.
“It’s all because of Le Er! You don’t know, since school started, Zhou Jie and Le Er broke up. Zhou Jie mumbled that their problems started last semester.”
“Whose fault?” Chu Tianyu asked.
“If it were Zhou Jie’s fault, would I ask you to persuade him today? I heard Le Er seems to have met another boyfriend—some rich or powerful guy, definitely better than that poor kid Zhou Jie! So… well, it’s not really anyone’s fault. It’s just that silly Zhou Jie can’t see it…”
Hearing this, Chu Tianyu understood completely! And when he saw Zhou Jie in person, he understood even more!
This wasn’t the intelligent, well-mannered, cheerful boy he used to know from high school! Zhou Jie, who was over 1.8 meters tall, stood hunched over, looking listless. His face wasn’t even shaved, and his jersey was wrinkled. The contrast was so stark it seemed like two different people—Chu Tianyu hesitated to even recognize him at first.
It wasn’t until Zhou Jie weakly called out to him that Chu Tianyu slowly accepted the reality, though he didn’t know what to say about such a situation.
On the court, Chu Tianyu deliberately pushed against Zhou Jie, hoping to shake off his depressed mood or reignite his fighting spirit—anything would do.
But both Chu Tianyu and Da Hu were disappointed. Zhou Jie was no longer the same person. On and off the court, he seemed to have lost all his energy and vitality, reduced to an empty shell.

When a person is depressed, their performance gets even worse. Seeing Zhou Jie in such a state, Chu Tianyu and the others ended things quickly. Without even breaking much sweat, they took Zhou Jie back to his dormitory. After a quick wash, they sat down with him. Later, people came and went in the dormitory, but they didn’t say much to Zhou Jie and Chu Tianyu, acting as if they didn’t see them—extremely indifferent.
“Zhou Jie, why are everyone in your dormitory like this? Damn it!” Da Hu was the first to express disapproval.
“Here, everyone only cares about who has money, who has power, who can go abroad, who can start a company. Starting a business while in school…” Zhou Jie said expressionlessly.
Given his cynical tone, it was likely he had offended many of his dorm mates. No wonder they reacted with indifference—Chu Tianyu and Da Hu finally understood.
Chu Tianyu checked the time; it was already past five. He said, “Zhou Jie, Da Hu, it’s getting late. Let’s find a restaurant to sit in first and chat slowly…”
“Great, Tianyu’s idea is good. We’ve been waiting for you to say that. Zhou Jie, let’s go! We’ll treat Chu Tianyu well, haha~!” Da Hu pulled Zhou Jie up and started walking.
Although Da Hu said they wanted to treat Chu Tianyu well, they chose an ordinary small restaurant with a private booth. After sitting down, Da Hu ordered several meat dishes at once, saying he hadn’t had a good meal in ages. He tried to get Zhou Jie to order some too, but Zhou Jie just replied, “Whatever.”
Chu Tianyu added a few more dishes, enough for them to chat for hours.
“Gentlemen, would you like some drinks? We have liquor, beer, and beverages…” The waitress enthusiastically suggested after taking their orders.
“Order two bottles of Erguotou!” Zhou Jie suddenly interjected.
“No, Zhou Jie…” Da Hu was about to say something but was stopped by Chu Tianyu’s gaze.
“Not two bottles. Three bottles, one each! It’s rare we get to gather like this—let’s have a good time!” Chu Tianyu pretended to be generous.
“Oh, okay…” The waitress turned away with a smirk, muttering to herself, “Pretending to be generous? Just a few extra yuan for one more bottle of Erguotou… Tch.”
After a few drinks of Erguotou, Zhou Jie finally seemed to open up. Encouraged by Chu Tianyu and Da Hu, he told them everything that had happened between him and Le Er.

Actually, without much explanation, the two of them roughly understood what was going on. Chu Tianyu didn’t try to persuade him but just let him talk and vent his feelings…
Zhou Jie then talked about competition and comparison among classmates. To get into Peking University, one had to be among the top students in high school. But now, even with Zhou Jie’s abilities, he could only be considered average. In high school, his top-ranked grades had always been his pride and source of motivation. His family was ordinary, so what else could he boast about?
But once he entered university, even that last stronghold disappeared, and all his advantages vanished. So, while feeling pain and resentment, Zhou Jie also felt deep disappointment, confusion, and pessimism toward himself…
When Zhou Jie reached the peak of his anger, Chu Tianyu suddenly swept all the liquor bottles and leftover wine on the table to the floor. The loud noise attracted the waiter in.
Da Hu roared, “Get the hell out! I’ll settle the bill for the damage later—get lost!”
The waiter rolled his eyes. They were probably used to such situations—drunken tantrums. It was better to avoid them. So after Da Hu shouted, the waiter quickly pulled back his head.
“Zhou Jie, listen. I don’t want to spout any big theories. I don’t feel sympathy for what you’re going through, and don’t expect comfort from me or Da Hu, nor do I plan to take your side against Le Er. You have to solve your own problems—no one can do it for you!” Chu Tianyu said, looking straight at Zhou Jie.
“I’m so frustrated! You guys can’t understand that sense of powerlessness, haha. What can I compare myself to? I don’t have as much money as them. My family is just a working-class family. Even my mother’s dignity in studying was taken away. Are those classmates even human? They’re all top students from various provinces—the best of the best. What am I? I’m nothing at all, ugh…”
A man should not shed tears easily—unless he’s truly heartbroken!
Chu Tianyu and Da Hu exchanged a glance, then said nothing more. Chu Tianyu simply called out, “Waiter, bring me a box of Erguotou!”
Da Hu and Zhou Jie were already drunk beyond consciousness before they finished the second bottle. Chu Tianyu didn’t use any special techniques while drinking this time, but thanks to his training with Monkey Wine, his tolerance for alcohol was already so high that a few bottles at most would only make him feel a bit dizzy.
After paying the bill, Chu Tianyu helped the two out of the restaurant and saw Qin Nianran and her sports car parked outside.

“Need help?” Qin Nianran’s icy tone rang out.
“I’d be glad to!” Chu Tianyu replied cheerfully, seemingly unbothered by the alcohol’s effect.
Chu Tianyu shoved both of them into the back seat behind Qin Nianran, one in each arm, before sitting in the passenger seat under her gaze without any pretense. He didn’t look away and said simply, “Thank you. Student dormitory area, Building 5…”
After Chu Tianyu finished giving the long address, Qin Nianran added, “You know the way, right?” Then she slowly continued, “Them sharing one bed? Judging by their appearance, they’ll probably vomit again soon…”
Before she could finish speaking, Da Hu promptly vomited!
Despite the stench, Qin Nianran didn’t even frown and continued calmly, “There’s a hotel near the school. Have them rest there so as not to cause trouble. It’s also easier to clean up in a hotel room. After that, I need to talk to you.”