Chapter 31

Translator: Abo Dammen

Chen Lu felt a heart attack coming for a few seconds before reviving. He forced a smile, pretending not to recognize who had sent the super-donation, and showed that embarrassed smile to the screen again.

“Okay, I’ll buy the best one. I hope he’ll like it when he sees it.” Chen Lu frantically hinted at the screen, hoping this theoretical vicious male supporting character would quickly remember that Chen Lu was a career-abandoning love brain, and that his task as the vicious male supporting character was to break them up!!! 

“Who is that person?” Chen Lu started reading out chat comments, answering questions. “He’s someone from real life. Better not say. Anyway, he’s very important to me.”

Who could say their academic advisor isn’t important?!!!

“Does he think you’re important?” A bitter expression appeared on Chen Lu’s face. “How should I put it? There might be many like me for him. But since he invited me, I should be quite important, right? I don’t want to embarrass him.”

An advisor has many students! Anyone hearing this would say it’s perfectly reasonable!!! 

“Be careful pursuing someone until you end up with a loss.” After reading this, Chen Lu immediately laughed. “I’m not being a licking dog. It’s not what you think. In the beginning, he chose me. I was very happy. He’s always been very good to me. I don’t want to disappoint him.

“I will keep working hard to become the ideal version he has in mind.” Chen Lu spared no effort in sending obvious hints to Fang Qizhi.

After all this, if you still don’t get it and tell me to buy the best one… Hurry up! I’m going to buy pretty clothes tomorrow! You, the recipient of this message, need to find a way to mess this up for me!!!

This time, Fang Qizhi indeed received the message. 

He had just entered the stream when he heard Chen Lu wanted to buy new clothes. He hadn’t caught up on the context yet. His favorite streamer wanted to buy pretty clothes? Of course, buy the best! If he didn’t provide the money, would he let the streamer go ask Qin Guchuan for it?!

Impossible!

Fang Qizhi angrily threw a large sum for the shopping spree. Only after sending it did he hear the rest of Chen Lu’s words clearly and understand what was actually going on.

Fang Qizhi: “…..” 

Fuck! Which banquet in North City recently could he not know about? He had received an invitation too!

If he had received one, Qin Guchuan must have too.

Was Qin Guchuan taking Chen Lu?

It made sense. After all, Chen Lu was the little lover Qin Guchuan had publicly acknowledged, and Qin Guchuan had indeed put on a very convincing act of being sincere. 

He’d even let Chen Lu use his important study freely for streaming.

Fang Qizhi had known Chen Lu was streaming from Qin Guchuan’s study not long after he started following the streams. During one broadcast, Chen Lu adjusted the camera and revealed some ornaments on Qin Guchuan’s desk. One of them was a gift Fang Qizhi had sent—a globally unique piece with a hidden custom mark he’d secretly added.

It was very discreet.

The fact that something he had marked was placed near Qin Guchuan, where he could see it anytime, gave Fang Qizhi a strange sense of satisfaction. 

Even if the other party was unaware of it.

Theoretically, that was the case. However, when he saw the ornament he’d given Qin Guchuan in the live stream, he didn’t feel anger but confusion. His first reaction was that he must be mistaken.

Then he inquired and found out—Qin Guchuan had a lover! A specifically sought out lookalike replacement for Ling Weiyu kept by his side.

How could Fang Qizhi not understand what was happening then? He immediately bought a ticket back to North City. 

Now, looking at Chen Lu’s lovestruck appearance on screen, Fang Qizhi was instantly reminded of a few artists from his failed investments who had thrown everything away for love and were universally condemned.

You’re still in your career’s ascent phase!!!

Can’t you see the comments full of people shouting they won’t accept their waifu having a partner?!

If Qin Guchuan and Chen Lu were truly in love, that would be one thing. But Chen Lu knew he was just a replacement for Ling Weiyu. Why could he still say things like ‘keep working hard to become the ideal version he has in mind’? 

Is loving someone to the point of beng so humbling worth it?!

Fang Qizhi really wanted to turn Chen Lu upside down and shake him to get the seawater out of his brain.

Hearing Chen Lu in the stream laugh and say “yes yes yes this is Tea” in response to viewers’ doubt, whether the streamer was deliberately acting like a green tea again, Fang Qizhi felt even more certain of this.

All of Chen Lu’s statements were translated by Fang Qizhi’s brain into four words: ‘He’s super in love.’ 

Fang Qizhi gradually made up his mind.

He knew what kind of shops the old butler would recommend. It had to be one of a few specific ones. Tomorrow, he will go there and ambush Chen Lu! He would absolutely not let Chen Lu buy clothes successfully!

He must make Chen Lu give up!

Chen Lu, unaware of Fang Qizhi’s thoughts, finished his series of mixing true and false statements. and didn’t receive any more gifts from Fang Qizhi. He thought uncertaintly that the other had probably received his message.

Tomorrow, he’d stick to the plan and go buy clothes. If Fang Qizhi showed up, great. If not, he’d just hint heavily during the stream that he hadn’t found anything suitable today and would try another shop tomorrow.

As long as he worked hard enough, he could definitely pull this plot character, who had veered way off course, back onto the right path.

With this in mind, Chen Lu went to the formalwear shop recommended by the old butler the next day. 

To Chen Lu, who had no idea what ‘style’ meant, weren’t men’s formal clothes just dark suits? It was more or less the same. As long as the fabric was decent and it fit well, it was fine.

But upon arriving at the shop, he learned about things like material, stitching, subtle differences in color, and how the cut could be enhanced.

After listening to the sales assistant’s spiel, Chen Lu roughly understood.

The summary was—our stuff is super expensive. 

Chen Lu thought about his wallet, and then about the fate awaiting this suit.

“Give me the cheapest one,” Chen Lu said completely without shame to the sales assistant.

The first sentence Fang Qizhi heard upon entering the shop was this.

His heart grew even angrier. 

Just because he lets you stream in his study, you think he’s good to you?

Don’t you know ‘money shows where the love is’?! Qin Guchuan is so rich, but he doesn’t spend it on you. You’re going to a banquet to be his arm candy, yet you’re emptying your own wallet to buy the cheapest option from XX brand.

“The cheapest? So Guchuan-gege doesn’t even give you money?” Fang Qizhi said loudly and bluntly, mercilessly piercing the false facade of the love Chen Lu was immersed in.

Then, Fang Qizhi saw Chen Lu, upon hearing his malicious tone, turn around sharply. Spotting him, Chen Lu’s eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth quickly turned upwards in a bright smile. 

Fang Qizhi: “….” Facing that joyfully beaming face, it’s hard to keep being vicious.

But no.

He had to make Chen Lu see sense. Fang Qizhi hardened his heart, slightly raised his chin, and showed off the exquisite watch on his wrist to Chen Lu. “See this? It’s an Angiya limited edition custom piece. Guchuan-gege gave it to me. Even the cheapest Angiya limited edition costs over ten million!”

“Do you have one?” Fang Qizhi sneered, watching Chen Lu fail to respond. He turned to the sales assistant and asked, “How much is the cheapest item here?” 

The sales assistant glanced at Chen Lu, who had hastily reassumed his little white flower persona. He had been a bit too happy hearing Fang Qizhi’s voice and had broken character for a few seconds, but it wasn’t important.

Feeling sorry for Chen Lu, the sales assistant naturally couldn’t stand by and watch Fang Qizhi bully him. She said very professionally and politely, “Sir, are you inquiring about a purchase? For your appearance and physique, the basic design wouldn’t be very suitable. We have exclusive custom services, with internationally renowned master designers providing one-on-one tailoring…”

Before long, the sales assistant had launched into a long pitch, flattering Fang Qizhi while selling the shop’s high-end products. The slapping-the-face atmosphere Fang Qizhi was trying to create instantly dissipated.

Fang Qizhi: “….” 

No wonder he’s ‘Just Green Tea.’ With skills like this, what couldn’t he do? Why focus on men!!!

Fang Qizhi shot Chen Lu with a ’hating iron for not turning steel’ look.

Chen Lu, however, was momentarily stunned.

In the original plot, the sales assistant was supposed to directly state the price, and then Fang Qizhi would continue mocking him. 

Forget it. He’s used to the deviation by now.

He’d do it himself.

Chen Lu pursed his lips. After waiting for the sales assistant to finish her long sales pitch, he pinched his fingers nervously and proactively asked the sales assistant, “I… I’d also like to know the price…”

As soon as these words were uttered, both people immediately threw a ’hating iron for not turning steel’ look at Chen Lu. 

The sales assistant/I was defending you just now, and you foolishly jump right into the trap yourself!!

Chen Lu, glared at by both of them: “..…”

“Can you tell me…?” Chen Lu weakly asked again.

Faced with Chen Lu’s repeated inquiries, the sales assistant couldn’t say much more. She could only force herself to maintain a professional smile. and address Chen Lu, who seemed like a little fool unaware he was being bullied, “The most basic style in our store is only 9,800. It’s a very classic cut, suitable for any occasion.” 

“9,800?!” Fang Qizhi, knowing what kind of venue Chen Lu was attending, immediately let out a cry of disbelief. “How can you wear that out? I’ll buy you the…”

He forcibly swallowed the next four words, ‘the most beautiful one’ halfway through.

Fang Qizhi’s expression shifted momentarily. He forced himself to ignore the potential disaster of Chen Lu wearing this to the banquet, endured the feeling of pain and regret, and told himself it was for the greater good. He let out a scornful laugh. “Fine, buy it then.”

There was nothing he could do about Chen Lu’s stubbornness. But changing his approach, targeting Qin Guchuan instead, might work. Once Qin Guchuan saw Chen Lu dress so ‘sloppily’ and feel embarrassed… After all, there were plenty of potential Ling Weiyu replacements in this world. Qin Guchuan would quickly abandon the tasteless Chen Lu. 

“Can I try it on?” Chen Lu asked, as if unaware of Fang Qizhi’s malicious intent. He seemed relieved by Fang Qizhi’s words and carefully addressed the sales assistant.

The sales assistant naturally couldn’t refuse. “Of course, sir. Please follow me.”

Although he had no intention of stopping Chen Lu from buying the cheapest outfit, Fang Qizhi didn’t plan to leave either. He sat with his legs crossed, waiting for Chen Lu to change and come out, ready to mock him for only being able to afford clothes of this caliber with Qin Guchuan, pointing out it wasn’t even enough to cover the super-donations he’d sent. However, three minutes later, Chen Lu, his hair also slightly styled by the assistant, emerged slowly from the fitting room and walked somewhat bashfully to the mirror.

“Mr. Chen, this suit really suits you. The waist fits perfectly, almost as if it were custom-made for you,” the sales assistant lavishly complimented the completely transformed Chen Lu. “You look like a noble prince. 

“Are you attending a banquet? If you add a brooch here, it will look even better than a standard custom-made suit.

“You’ll be the center of attention at the entire banquet.”

Chen Lu, being praised by the beautiful assistant, couldn’t help but let a smile on his face. However, he remembered they were still ‘in the plot scene.’

Chen Lu turned to look at Fang Qizhi, only to see the man holding up his phone. A click sound came quickly from the device. 

Chen Lu: “…..”

In the normal plot, Fang Qizhi should see how eye-catching Chen Lu looks even in cheap clothes, feel even more jealous, and unleash a stream of sarcastic remarks.

But now…

Watching Fang Qizhi silently put away his phone, Chen Lu felt he couldn’t hope much for a whole stream of sarcastic remarks anymore. Even one sentence would do, he wasn’t picky. 

Meeting Chen Lu’s expectant gaze, Fang Qizhi used all his strength not to let the countless words on the tip of his tongue spill out. He snorted coldly and said in a tone of utter disdain and contempt, “Good-looking.”

Chen Lu: “……?”

He must have heard wrong.

Fang Qizhi said not good-looking, right? 

Right. Not good-looking.

Chen Lu convinced himself.

Chen Lu threw a look at the bodyguards who had come with him, ignoring their suddenly stiffened expressions. He joyfully told the sales assistant he’d take this one, to pack it up after he changed back.

The sales assistant naturally agreed with a smiling face. Following Chen Lu, for a moment, only the two bodyguards and Fang Qizhi were left in the shop. 

Then, Fang Qizhi heard the two bodyguards start chatting to each other.

“Young Master Lu looks really good in that suit. The Eldest Young Master will definitely like it, right?”

“Of course he will. He looks so good.”

“We have to protect this suit. We can’t let anyone damage it.” 

“Yeah, Young Master Lu is so poor. This is all his money, right? He can’t afford a second one.”

“If it gets ruined, it’s over.”

“Yeah, Young Master Lu wouldn’t be able to attend the banquet then.”

“If it’s ruined and he can’t go, the Eldest Young Master will be really angry, right?” 

“We can’t let the suit get ruined. Otherwise, the Eldest Young Master might kick Young Master Lu out of the Qin estate.”

“Young Master Lu would be so miserable. How would he live after being kicked out?”

Forced to listen to this series of seemingly not-very-hushed conversations, Fang Qizhi: “……”

His mind seemed filled only with the words ‘ruined,’ ‘suit,’ ‘banquet,’ and ‘it’s over’. 

Brainwashed, Fang Qizhi heard a noise and saw Chen Lu had come out, holding the bag containing the packaged suit. Chen Lu casually placed it not far from where Fang Qizhi was sitting.

And, for some unknown time, a pair of scissors had appeared near that bag. Meanwhile, Chen Lu had joyfully run over to talk to the sales assistant about something. The bodyguards were conscientiously guarding Chen Lu.

For a moment, it seemed no one was paying attention to Fang Qizhi, and no one was paying attention to that bag of clothes.

Fang Qizhi: “……?” 

What happened to ‘We have to protect the suit’?