Jiang Yuqing made a grand announcement in the classmate group chat.
[Quest: Find Lu Liangchen's contact information. Reward: 10,000 Yuan!]
The chat immediately exploded with countless [?!] notifications. Even the members who had been lurking for years were forced to appear.
"Why do you not ask Luo Ying? You are taking the long way around!" one classmate asked curiously.
"If Luo Ying was willing to tell me, would I pay you guys 10,000?" Jiang Yuqing replied righteously.
"You were a third wheel for over a year and you do not even have his contact info? You are such a failure! Hahaha!" Someone who could not get the reward started to tease her.
"None of your business! If you do not know, then stay quiet in the corner! No one will think you are a mute!" Jiang Yuqing rolled her eyes.
Finally, someone sent a private message with Lu Liangchen's workplace. Jiang Yuqing was stunned when she saw it. She immediately dialed Luo Ying's number. "Yingzi, Lu Liangchen is at the Liheng Group? Why did you not say so earlier!"
"Mm." (Confirmed.) Luo Ying gave a faint response.
"Did you ask Cheng Ji to help? When did you get in touch with that playboy?" Jiang Yuqing asked in disbelief. Her voice suddenly became louder. "How could someone with his foul temper possibly help Lu Liangchen?"
"No. He applied for the job himself."
Lu Liangchen had always wanted to find a high-paying job. He wanted to help Luo Ying's family. He also wanted Luo Ying to continue her graduate studies. That was the goal she had always aimed for.
However, for a fresh graduate, this standard was far too high. It was almost impossible.
The important positions at famous [Dungeons]—the large corporations—were already filled. They were only hiring for entry-level positions. One had to slowly accumulate [Exp] and achievements to climb up.
It just so happened that Cheng Yi had returned to the country. He needed to build his own team. Lu Liangchen applied for the assistant position. He actually passed the [Interview].
Cheng Ji was very unhappy about this. He could not stand to see Lu Liangchen succeed. He bossily demanded that his brother remove Lu Liangchen's name from the list.
Cheng Yi tactfully refused him. He patted Cheng Ji on the shoulder and spoke earnestly. "Running a company is not a game. We cannot let personal grudges affect the hiring of talent."
"What kind of talent is he? Brother, are you doing this on purpose?" Cheng Ji questioned with a glare.
"What do you mean by on purpose?" Cheng Yi asked, sounding confused. "I hired him because I saw his [Ability]. I did not know him before this."
Cheng Ji wanted to say more, but their father, Cheng Ye, slowly walked in. He raised his hand and slapped Cheng Ji on the head. "You bastard. Do not interfere with your brother's work!"
Cheng Ji clutched his head and shrank back. He did not dare to say anything else. He ran away in embarrassment.
Luo Ying heard the general story from Cheng Ji's complaints. She felt happy for Lu Liangchen, but she was also worried. She feared Cheng Ji would find trouble for him for no reason.
She became even more afraid to provoke Cheng Ji. She feared he would transfer his [Aggro] onto Lu Liangchen.
Luo Ying had been keeping this from Jiang Yuqing. She planned to wait until the three-year [Contract] ended. Then, she and Cheng Ji would become strangers. Even if Jiang Yuqing really married him, it would not affect them.
After all, cohabitation was not something to be proud of. This was especially true for a cohabitation that involved a [Slave Contract]. Speaking about it would only make people look down on her. Luo Ying looked down on herself.
"Hehe. This is great. I will go to the company entrance to block him this afternoon!" Jiang Yuqing's determined tone caused a [Status Effect: Sourness] to rise in Luo Ying's heart.
'I should congratulate Lu Liangchen,' Luo Ying mused.
However, Jiang Yuqing was not suitable.
A woman who was about to be engaged to Cheng Ji was claiming she would pursue Lu Liangchen.
If she actually succeeded, the four of them would be trapped in a strange and complex relationship.
"Yuqing, if you cannot cancel your engagement with Cheng Ji, do not bother Lu Liangchen!" Luo Ying gathered her courage to advise her. "Otherwise, it is too unfair to him."
"You two have already broken up. Why are you still minding his business?" Jiang Yuqing said unhappily. "I have not even started my pursuit yet and you are already upset. Are you still unable to let him go? If you cannot let him go, why did you break up?"
"You have nothing to do with him anymore. It is not your turn to worry! You disliked him for being poor and having no [Skill], but I do not care about that!"
Luo Ying's eyes turned red. When had she ever disliked him for being poor or lacking ability? She was simply forced into this position.
Chapter 7: I Can Fulfill All His Ambitions (2 / 2)
No. There was no need to make excuses for herself. She had betrayed him. That was an indisputable fact. She was no longer worthy of him.
"You know I do not feel that way. I... I just do not want to see you in a difficult position later." Luo Ying wanted to explain, but she could not make it clear. She felt [Anxious].
"You do not feel what way? You do not dislike him? Haha." Jiang Yuqing's crisp laughter was full of mockery. "Stop worrying blindly. I know what to do. Being with me is a much better [Deal] for Lu Liangchen than being with you. I can make his career path smooth. I can fulfill all of his ambitions."
"When the time comes, you will see a completely different Lu Liangchen. But let us agree on this now. You better not regret it! Hehe. If you dare to try and sway him again, believe me, I can make him and I can also destroy him!"
Luo Ying felt a chill in her heart. She hung up the phone helplessly. Then she thought, what right or position did she have to interfere in their business?
Lu Liangchen was an adult man. He knew how to handle emotional issues. It was not a guarantee that Jiang Yuqing would catch him just because she wanted to.
The [Turbulence] in Luo Ying's heart gradually calmed down. Then she suddenly realized something. Did she secretly hope that he would never find a girlfriend?
Or did she believe he could not let her go and would reject other women?
'Luo Ying, oh Luo Ying. How can you be so selfish and self-righteous?'
Sooner or later, he would meet a girl who truly liked him. If it was not Jiang Yuqing, it would be someone else.
Luo Ying had already become a part of his past. They were drifting further apart. Perhaps at some point in the future, when he thought of her, there would only be a faint [Memory] left.
Luo Ying colored her sketches while her mind wandered. She colored outside the lines multiple times. She had to [Undo] and redo the work.
She thought about it over and over. She still did not want Jiang Yuqing to provoke him.
Since she started living with Cheng Ji, Luo Ying deeply realized one thing. Two people with a massive gap in [Wealth] cannot achieve true equality.
The powerful side will unconsciously show their domineering side. The weak side will become unusually sensitive.
The accumulated frustration will breed [Grievance]. This will eventually thin out the original gratitude.
She did not want him to taste that kind of bitterness.
The phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it. Her brows furrowed slightly. She picked it up reluctantly. "Hello."
"Luo Luo, my mom called me to go back for a bit. I cannot eat dinner with you again," Cheng Ji's voice sounded impatient. "I will try to come home early. I ordered takeout from Zuixiang Pavilion for you. Your [Stomach Stat] is not good, so you must eat on time."
Luo Ying felt a sense of relief. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "Okay. I understand."
She felt more relaxed when Cheng Ji was not around.
Since meeting Cheng Ji, he had always given her an illusion. It seemed as if his [Affection] for her was very deep.
For a period of time, Luo Ying almost believed it.
During university, Cheng Ji sent flowers or food to Luo Ying almost every day. They were always delivered by [Courier]. Luo Ying wanted to refuse them, but the delivery boy seemed to have been bribed by Cheng Ji. He would drop the items and run away immediately. Luo Ying had no choice but to give them to others.
Zheng Qin liked fresh flowers, but she usually could not afford them. Seeing that Luo Ying was going to throw them away, she hurriedly grabbed them. "If you do not want them, give them to me. Do not waste them. What did the flowers do wrong?"
After that, all the flowers became her [Loot].
Luo Ying's coldness did not dampen Cheng Ji's enthusiasm at all.
Near graduation, her father's company suffered a [Capital Chain Break]. Her father could not handle the pressure of the debt. He jumped from the twelfth floor of the office building.
That period was the darkest moment of Luo Ying's life. Her mother fainted upon hearing the news. Luo Xu only knew how to cry.
For several days, the doorway of their home was crowded with debt collectors. They pounded on the door until it shook violently. It seemed they would break in at any moment.
Luo Ying forced herself to be brave. She pleaded and knelt before them. The massive loss of [Credits] had wiped out all human pity. They showed their [Vicious Fangs]. They looked like they wanted to tear Luo Ying apart and eat her.
Just when Luo Ying was about to reach her [Limit], Cheng Ji stood in front of her.