My name is Chen Ling—Ling, as in "overbearing."

When Chen Ling came downstairs, Liu Xinyue was sitting at the counter, carefully decorating her phone with all sorts of flashy, sparkling rhinestones. She was so absorbed in her task that she had even borrowed tweezers and a small brush from the repairman, as if she had poured all her patience into this one phone.

Seeing this, Chen Ling didn’t disturb her. He simply stood behind her, quietly watching. After more than twenty minutes, Liu Xinyue finally finished, shook out her sore hands, and, turning her head, was startled to find Chen Ling standing just behind her.

“What are you doing? You scared me! You walk without making a sound,” she pouted, complaining, “I was bored to death waiting for you.”

“I saw how focused you were, and didn’t want to interrupt,” Chen Ling smiled. “If you’d been this dedicated during the college entrance exams, you’d have gotten into Tsinghua or Peking University for sure.”

Liu Xinyue beamed sweetly. “How could I do that? If I went to Tsinghua or Peking University, I wouldn’t have met you. Anyway, you helped me pick out this phone, so of course I want to take good care of it. These rhinestones aren’t just pretty, they protect the phone too.”

“If I’m not mistaken, isn’t this only the second time we’ve met?” Chen Ling teased. “Are you always this forward with other guys?”

“Pfft!” Liu Xinyue gave him a sidelong glance, then sighed helplessly. “You think I want to? I just can’t help it—what am I supposed to do? Unless you have any ideas for me?”

“That’s simple,” Chen Ling shrugged. “I could find another girl and cheat on you, really hurt you, and maybe then you’d be able to resist.”

He hadn’t finished before he saw tears welling up in Liu Xinyue’s eyes, and a few people nearby were casting odd glances their way.

“Don’t cry! I was just joking! Really…” Chen Ling hurried to comfort her, “You’re so adorable—how could I bear to hurt you?”

Liu Xinyue dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, lowered her head, and sighed softly, “My sixth sense tells me you’re definitely going to cheat.”

Chen Ling was momentarily stunned. Could she really be that accurate? He didn’t want it either, but the system had arranged everything that way!

But then Liu Xinyue said something that left him completely speechless.

“What makes me sad isn’t that you’ll cheat on me, but that—even if you do—I’ll still forgive you.”

A radiant girl, brimming with youthful energy, had just bared her heart to him so sincerely—who could possibly withstand that?

Chen Ling was moved, but at the same time, a thought popped into his mind that made him want to scold himself for being a scoundrel—

“I wonder what Sister Dou would look like saying something like that?”

Ah, since I can’t escape the fate of being a playboy, I might as well enjoy the happiness that comes with it!

With that in mind, Chen Ling hooked his finger under Liu Xinyue’s chin and smiled, “If your premonition is really that bad, how about you just stay with me for now? Enjoy it while you can, and worry about the future later.”

Seeing Chen Ling’s smile, Liu Xinyue felt it was all worth it—the gloom in her heart instantly vanished. She nodded vigorously, her face blossoming with joy.

“Where would you like to go?” Chen Ling asked.

Liu Xinyue thought for a moment. “I have class this afternoon, so there’s no time to go anywhere else. Why not visit my campus?”

“Alright.” Chen Ling nodded and offered his arm. Liu Xinyue obediently took it, clinging close to him as they walked out of the shop.

But their affectionate display was all caught on the surveillance camera, and Li Mingjiang saw everything.

“So that’s the approach he’s taking,” he concluded smugly to himself.

...

The science and engineering campus wasn’t far from the business school—just two blocks away. But to get there, they had to pass by the business school, so when they reached the Jinyoude Supermarket, Chen Ling grinned, “I’m going to buy a few things. Wait for me here.”

With that, he turned and walked into the supermarket.

Inside, Jinyoude was frowning. It had already been more than an hour, yet there was still no news from Zeng Fucai. Even if it was broad daylight and not the best time to act, he should have at least sent word.

Just as he was about to call, the bell chimed and Chen Ling walked in.

Noticing Jinyoude holding his phone, Chen Ling smirked playfully. “What’s wrong? Your little errand boy isn’t answering you, and now you’re anxious?”

Jinyoude’s brows knitted at the question—he already had a sense of what had happened. But he didn’t panic. So what if Chen Ling knew he’d muscled in on his business? Chen Ling was just a regular college student.

With that thought, his expression relaxed. Since the cards were on the table, there was no need to pretend anymore.

“Heh, not bad—you figured it out this fast?” Jinyoude taunted. “I won’t hide it: I did steal your business. Don’t take it personally. Around Linjiang, you can’t win against me. Just focus on your studies—it’s for your own good.”

“So I should thank you, is that it?” Chen Ling retorted. “Actually, I do owe you one. If it weren’t for you, my business wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

Jinyoude frowned, thrown off by Chen Ling’s lack of anger or outrage. “What do you mean by that?”

“You really are clueless,” Chen Ling said bluntly. “Why don’t you ask the Gu Tan Road office if they’ve topped up your phone credit?”

His words startled Jinyoude. He quickly bent over to check his computer, and saw the group chat had exploded—many people were complaining that they’d paid but their phone credit hadn’t been credited, some even threatening to call the police.

Seeing the chaos, Jinyoude hurried to make a call, but it was useless; no one answered.

Just then, a new message appeared in the group chat—

“Ling: The group owner is the boss of the Lianhua Supermarket at the Business University gate—name’s Jin Youde. He also runs Juyou Chess Hall and Deshang Foot Spa on Jiaoyu Road. Everyone, hurry and catch him before he escapes!”

Jinyoude’s heart skipped a beat as he turned abruptly to Chen Ling, fixing him with a deadly glare.

With this uproar, news would spread like wildfire—how could he ever do business again? Chen Ling had struck at the root, determined to destroy everything Jinyoude had built over the years.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Chen Ling pocketed his phone and sneered. “We could have worked together, both making money, but you insisted on playing dirty. So now, you made your move, and I made mine. Seems fair, doesn’t it?”

“Damn—” Jinyoude lost all composure. He swung at Chen Ling across the counter, but Chen Ling dodged easily. In a flash, Chen Ling grabbed his arm, and with a sharp pull, dragged him out from behind the counter, slamming him to the floor in a mess of limbs and goods. Then Chen Ling straddled him, pinning him down.

“I’ve been meaning to introduce myself,” Chen Ling leaned in and spoke slowly, “Remember this: my name is Chen Ling—Ling, as in ‘overbearing.’”

Jinyoude struggled desperately beneath him, but despite Chen Ling’s slender appearance, his strength was overwhelming.

Frustrated, Jinyoude shouted, “Just you wait—I won’t let this go!”

Chen Ling merely chuckled, not taking the threat seriously. Meanwhile, the noise outside was growing louder, approaching quickly.

“You’d better worry about the other people who won’t let this go,” Chen Ling remarked.

No sooner had he spoken than a group of angry students burst in—they were all victims of Jinyoude’s scam.

“Guys, he’s the one who stole your money! Help me take him to the police!” Chen Ling shouted, nimbly stepping aside.

Before Jinyoude could get to his feet, the students had piled onto him, raining blows without hesitation. Watching from the side, Chen Ling felt his heart race—what a beating!

By the time the police car pulled up outside, Jinyoude was so battered his own mother wouldn’t have recognized him. As for Chen Ling, he was already gone, hand in hand with Liu Xinyue, vanishing into the distance…