Meng Wanyu was feeling bored.

A message from Lin Chen suddenly popped up—and she froze for a second.

*What does he want?*

She brushed her bangs aside, pondered briefly, then casually fired back a single “?”.

Lin Chen: “Straight talk. What would it take for you to come to my birthday party?”

Meng Wanyu: “Even if you kowtowed on your knees, I still wouldn’t go.”

Lin Chen: “You—!”

Rage instantly flooded him.

Forget a bank card or a motorcycle—even adding the entire Lin family fortune wouldn’t make him kowtow. This was about a man’s dignity, damn it.

He nearly cursed her out, but remembering her influence, he swallowed it hard.

She could disrespect him freely; he still had to stay polite.

So damn frustrating.

Lin Chen: “Heh… Miss Meng, so humorous.”

Meng Wanyu: “Anything else? Or I’ll block you.”

Lin Chen: “Wait!”

Meng Wanyu: “Speak.”

Lin Chen: “What if Lu Chengzhou comes? Will you come then?”

He was just testing—unsure she’d even care.

To his shock, she replied instantly: “I’ll come.”

Well, I’ll be…

Lu Chengzhou’s pull was *that* strong?

The entire Lin family of Yi City couldn’t match one Lu Chengzhou.

Lin Chen clenched one fist; his other hand trembled as he typed:

Lin Chen: “Then I guarantee Lu Chengzhou will attend. Please prepare to join us, Miss Meng.”

Meng Wanyu: “Heh. Fine.”

After ending the chat, Lin Chen stormed downstairs to the training room and unleashed a furious barrage on the sandbag—finally venting his bottled-up anger.

…

The next morning.

Lu Chengzhou slipped into class right as the bell rang, same as always.

Lin Chen was back. Su Qiaoman was there too.

But Meng Wanyu was absent—and her empty seat felt strangely off.

Worse: Lin Chen’s gloomy face sent a chill down Lu Chengzhou’s spine.

No wonder. Recalling what Lin Chen did to love rivals in the original plot… it felt like a sword hung over his head.

He’d tried distancing himself from Su Qiaoman, even pushing them together—but would Lin Chen suddenly snap and target him again?

“Lu Chengzhou. Come with me.”

Just seated, Lu Chengzhou was summoned out.

Su Qiaoman glanced back, her eyes holding a rare flicker of worry.

At the classroom door, Lu Chengzhou stopped dead, eyeing Lin Chen warily.

*Please don’t pull a folding baton from your pocket and swing like in the canon…*

Lin Chen sighed. “You really don’t have to fear me that much.”

Lu Chengzhou deadpanned: “It’s not that. I’m worried the homeroom teacher’ll catch us skipping. My grades suck—I don’t care. But I can’t drag down top-ten student Lin Chen.”

Lin Chen choked on his words.

*Damn, he sounds convincing.*

If he didn’t know Lu Chengzhou’s actual English level, he might’ve believed it.

Lu Chengzhou: “So… what is it?”

Lin Chen exhaled. “I’m inviting you to my birthday banquet. Will you come?”

Lu Chengzhou: “…?”

Lin Chen repeated himself.

Lu Chengzhou stared, expression tangled.

In the original plot, he’d snuck in disguised as security—to shield Su Qiaoman from trouble.

This time? Same plan: sneak in, clear obstacles for the main couple, lock them in… maybe even push things to the point of no return.

“You’re *sure* you want to invite me?”

He never expected this. That banquet? Elite guests only. No side character like him would ever get a spot.

“I don’t *want* to,” Lin Chen admitted bluntly. “But if you don’t go, Miss Meng won’t come. I’m out of options.”

Silence.

Lin Chen added: “Come, and I’ll personally give you a 5,000-yuan red envelope. You need cash, right? No loss—just act as Miss Meng’s bodyguard.”

“Fine.”

Why hesitate?

Walking in openly with an invite—was that *more* embarrassing than sneaking in as security?

Getting in was the goal.

Plus… cold hard cash.

Five grand? Enough to last the semester if he saved carefully.

Lin Chen patted his shoulder, shot him an appreciative look, and left.

Minutes later, 5,000 yuan landed in Lu Chengzhou’s account.

“Easy money,” he murmured, a warm glow spreading in his chest.

*Found a side hustle.*

He breezed through the rest of the school day.

Before last period, Meng Wanyu arrived.

The classroom boys’ eyes locked on her—gasps rippling through the room.

Curious, Lu Chengzhou glanced up.

Big mistake.

He froze.

No school uniform today. Instead: a casual maid outfit, white thigh-highs, black Mary Janes. Light makeup. Hair tied in perfect twin tails.

On anyone else? Cringey.

On *her*? Flawless.

Beauty *is* justice.

Her face, her figure—the outfit highlighted every curve.

A girl like this? 100% head-turn rate, anywhere.

She slid into the seat beside him, smiling sweetly.

“Don’t forget our after-school date,” she whispered, voice meant only for him.

“I trust Teacher Lu won’t run away last minute… right?”

*Run away…*

Still sore about last night’s escape.

Lu Chengzhou sighed. “I won’t. A promise is a promise.”

Last night was last night. Today’s promise? He’d keep it.

Even if every guy in school shot him jealous glares or voted him #1 on the “Most Hated Boy” list—he wouldn’t flinch.

Her smile stayed radiant. Her tone, gentle.

Yet her words sent a chill down his spine:

“Good. Teacher Lu stays obedient… or he might get punished.”