“How is this humiliation?”
Meng Wanyu’s innocent expression barely concealed her slyness.
“A lackey for fifteen thousand yuan a week? That’s actually way above market rate.”
Lin Chen closed his eyes briefly, hiding the flicker of anger in them.
If not for crashing his motorcycle earlier—hurting someone and getting his bank card frozen by his dad—how could he possibly struggle to scrape together fifteen thousand?
For now, he had no choice but to take this way out and defuse the awkward scene.
Any longer delay, and the butler would notice he hadn’t returned home on time.
Things would only get messier.
As for Lu Chengzhou? He’d been zoning out the whole time.
Couldn’t blame him—the grilled skewers smelled *that* good.
When he caught the word “lackey,” he hadn’t quite processed it. Was Meng Wanyu forcing Lin Chen to be *his* lackey… or *hers*?
Had he known the gossip was about *himself*, Lu Chengzhou would’ve refused on the spot.
Making the male lead serve the male supporting character?
Wasn’t that the classic start of a revenge plot?
Just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine.
…
Ten minutes later.
Meng Wanyu withdrew fifteen thousand yuan from a nearby ATM and handed it to Lin Chen.
She turned toward Lu Chengzhou.
He was scrolling through job postings on his phone.
“High school math tutor, home service, 100 yuan/hour?”
“Math tutoring, home visits, 150 yuan/hour?”
“Olympiad math coaching, home service, 200 yuan/hour?”
Lu Chengzhou stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Subjects like Chinese or English had fewer private tutoring requests. Math dominated the market.
The skill granted by the System clearly had strong potential—a legit way to earn cash.
The highest offer: 200 yuan/hour, in Century Garden, Yi City’s upscale neighborhood. Reliable.
He’d check it out right after school tomorrow.
“Azhou.”
Su Qiaoman—the story’s female lead—had stood before him for nearly ten minutes.
Lu Chengzhou didn’t invite her to sit. Just let her stand.
Only after finishing on his phone did he glance up, barely.
“What is it?”
His tone was ice-cold.
Su Qiaoman bit her lip, eyes swirling with emotion.
“Azhou… are we still best friends?”
Lu Chengzhou gave a faint smile and shook his head.
She stiffened. “Why?”
“Because of Lin Chen,” he said calmly.
She was the female lead—Lin Chen’s destined love, star of this tragic CEO romance.
He was just a male supporting character. To survive? Keep his distance.
(Though truthfully, he just hated the “pure white lotus” archetype.)
A woman who says one thing, does another—who dumps trouble on the male side character and runs to the male lead when calm? Anyone tied to her was doomed.
Su Qiaoman sniffled, eyes reddening.
She’d never imagined Azhou might leave. Now, real fear gripped her.
They’d grown up together. He’d always protected her, unconditionally. But now…
She clenched her fists.
“It’s Miss Meng Wanyu, isn’t it?”
“Hm?”
“I can tell she treats you differently.”
“Hmph. Not really.”
Lu Chengzhou stood and walked toward Meng Wanyu.
Su Qiaoman reached out instinctively, tugging his sleeve.
He glanced back and calmly brushed her hand away.
“Azhou!”
Her heart felt torn open. Undeterred, she grabbed his shirt hem again.
“Azhou! You promised—you’d guard me forever! Be my angel! Be my wings!”
Tears streamed down her face like a heroine in a melodramatic drama—endless, theatrical.
So fake. So manipulative.
Lu Chengzhou nearly gagged.
“You actually believed a kid’s words?” He shook her hand off sharply. “Besides—you like Lin Chen. We should keep distance. That’s respect *for him*.”
The first sentence, quiet.
The second, deliberately loud—aimed straight at Lin Chen.
Lin Chen froze, utterly blindsided.
*This* was Lu Chengzhou’s clarity? Had he misjudged him?
Su Qiaoman wiped her eyes.
This time, the hurt was real.
Azhou spoke truth… yet she felt only hollow loss.
Lin Chen watched her cry, jealousy twisting inside him.
Wait—was it not “Lu Chengzhou pining for Su Qiaoman,” but *her* desperately clinging to *him*?
Was his own head… tinged green?
He glared at her.
Right before his eyes, tugging her childhood friend’s clothes. What had she done behind his back?
Disgust rose in him too.
Yet… giving her up? Unthinkable.
An unattained woman was always a thorn in the heart—even if she’d lost her luster.
After silent turmoil, Lin Chen still covered the fifteen thousand for her.
Su Qiaoman murmured, “Thank you, Brother Lin Chen.”
Lin Chen suppressed his irritation, shot Lu Chengzhou a glare, then instantly softened for her.
“It’s nothing. Just pocket change.”
He wiped her tears and led her away.
Xu Xi, who’d watched everything silently from the sidelines, now studied Lu Chengzhou with quiet appraisal.
*He’s the real mastermind.*
Lin Chen’s entanglement? All his doing.
She said nothing. Turned. Rode off.
…
The barbecue ended.
Lu Chengzhou, paid fairly by Meng Wanyu, was in good spirits.
He didn’t refuse walking her home.
“Classmate Lu,” she said, “I did you a huge favor. How will you thank me?” (Referring to making Lin Chen his lackey.)
“Well… dinner tomorrow?”
Lu Chengzhou was thinking of the six hundred yuan she’d just paid *him*.
Beyond dinner, he had no other idea.
A wide gap sat between their expectations.
Meng Wanyu shook her head, unimpressed.
“Just dinner? That lacks sincerity.”
She stepped closer.
Suddenly—she pinned him against her front door.
Her index finger pressed gently against his thin lips.
A soft tap.
In that moment, she was a vampire queen who’d cornered her prey—smile seductive, dangerously sweet.
“Classmate Lu… think carefully. I want your answer tomorrow.”
