Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Something’s Happened!

「The next morning.」

Jiang Silu got dressed and made the bed.

She had slept very soundly last night.

She had to admit, the mattress and comforter were perfectly comfortable.

’Is this what life is like for rich people?’

’Hmm, it really is pretty great.’

But Jiang Silu didn’t get carried away.

She treated it like a short vacation, and now it was time to return to her real life.

As soon as she walked out of the presidential suite, the butler, Uncle Zhang, immediately had a car waiting outside. He then helped Jiang Silu with her bag and escorted her to the lobby entrance.

But Jiang Silu felt a little awkward, as if she were some big celebrity.

She could only scurry nervously toward the entrance.

A brand-new Mercedes-Benz was already waiting for her.

Jiang Silu got in the car, took the laptop bag from Uncle Zhang, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

"My pleasure." Uncle Zhang maintained his standard professional smile until the car drove away.

’It’s like their professional smiles are specially trained.’

The driver asked softly, "Ma’am, shall we depart now? Are we going to Jinling University?"

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"Of course. You’re welcome."

Soon, the car set off.

The driver drove very smoothly the entire way.

’He drives much better than those Didi drivers,’ she thought.

But on second thought, this was a five-star hotel, after all.

A driver specifically for chauffeuring guests would definitely have to be better trained.

She suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

’Once you have money,’ she thought, ’every aspect of your life—your daily routine, career, studies—undergoes a fundamental change.’

After this one-night experience, Jiang Silu found herself curious about what Lu Fan’s home was really like.

’Since Dad even has shares in this five-star hotel...’

’...he must be really, really rich.’

’Forget it. I shouldn’t think about it too much. After all, Mom and my brother still haven’t forgiven Dad.’

She was naturally on her mom and brother’s side.

Although Lu Fan was indeed very good to her.

But...

Jiang Silu was lost in her troubled thoughts.

「Before long.」

The car slowly came to a stop.

The driver reminded her, "Ma’am, we’ve arrived."

"Thank you." Jiang Silu picked up her laptop bag, smiling.

She got out of the car and gently closed the door.

As she did, some students passing by saw her getting out of the Mercedes and couldn’t help but do a double-take.

Some of the girls, in particular—avid novel readers that they were—let their imaginations run wild.

Noticing their curious glances, Jiang Silu lowered her head and hurried nervously toward her classroom.

’I still can’t be as composed as my roommate, Liu Shiting, when she gets out of a BMW,’ she thought.

’Maybe it’s because I’ve never really experienced this kind of thing before...’

...

「Meanwhile.」

Jiang Sifan finally finished his 8 AM class.

As soon as class was over, he pulled Wen Wan toward the school gate.

They planned to close four more deals today.

"Wen Wan, listen to this! I did the math, and we can make eight thousand this month!" Jiang Sifan said excitedly as they walked.

Wen Wan rarely spoke much when she was with Jiang Sifan.

Most of the time, she was just a listener.

When she learned they could earn eight thousand that month, a smile appeared on her face as she said, "That’s great..."

Just then, Jiang Sifan took out his phone, fiddled with it for a moment, and said to her with a mysterious air, "Check your WeChat."

Wen Wan was a little confused, but she did as he said.

When she opened WeChat, she was shocked to find that Jiang Sifan had transferred four thousand yuan to her!

Wen Wan’s eyes widened, and she was so flustered she stammered, "Why... why did you give me so much money?"

"You’ve been running all over the place with me these past few days. Back when we started, I wasn’t sure if this business would even succeed, and I almost gave up. But you kept encouraging me. You deserve more than half the credit for this venture," Jiang Sifan explained.

"But... but..." Wen Wan became anxious. "I can’t take this much money. I told you I was here to help you."

"That’s not happening. I’m a stickler for fairness. People should be rewarded according to their efforts, otherwise I won’t feel right about it," Jiang Sifan replied.

But Wen Wan still didn’t agree.

The total amount they had received in the past two days was only four thousand yuan.

This meant he had given all the money to her.

Wen Wan still shook her head, blushing. "I can’t take it..."

Jiang Sifan saw that she refused to accept the money no matter what he said.

’I didn’t expect this girl, who seems so gentle, to be this principled.’

Having no other choice, he could only say, "Then how much will you take?"

"A hundred?..." Wen Wan cautiously suggested a number. "You still have to pay back the online loan for the startup capital..."

Jiang Sifan sighed helplessly and then proposed, "How about this: I’ll give you a thousand, I’ll take a thousand myself, and I’ll use the rest to start paying back the online loan I owe."

"Why don’t we use all the money to pay back the online loan? I just feel uneasy having that debt..." Wen Wan suggested in a small voice.

Seeing her point, Jiang Sifan had no choice but to agree.

’Wen Wan really has her head on straight. She knows that taking out online loans is a bad idea. They can easily snowball. That’s why she’s so determined to refuse the money and make me pay back the debt first.’

’Speaking of which, Wen Wan and my ex-girlfriend are like night and day.’

’Damn it, how was I so blind back then? What did I even see in a girl like that?’

Every time he thought of this, Jiang Sifan felt a pang of regret.

And so, Wen Wan ended up returning the entire four-thousand-yuan transfer to Jiang Sifan.

Jiang Sifan then promised, "Don’t worry. If we sign a few more deals today, we’ll have covered all the initial startup costs. Everything after that will be pure profit! But, I’m making this clear right now: you have to take a salary. We split the profits fifty-fifty. Otherwise, I won’t feel right about it, and I’ll be too embarrassed to ask you to keep working with me."

"Okay." Wen Wan nodded with a smile.

Watching Wen Wan smile was like feeling a warm spring breeze, enough to make his heart flutter.

"Let’s go then!"

"Okay!"

Just as the two of them were about to go to the next shop, they saw someone ahead waving at them.

It was Pan Lindong, who walked over with a smile. "I was just about to message you that I was at the School of Science and Technology, and then I saw you."

Jiang Sifan’s expression soured as he looked at Pan Lindong. "What do you want, Senior?" he asked coldly.

"Nothing much. I heard you’ve signed quite a few deals? Landed several shops." As Pan Lindong said this, his gaze drifted to Wen Wan, who was standing beside Jiang Sifan.

His eyes lit up a bit.

’This Jiang Sifan... he’s actually running around with such a pure, pretty girl.’

’Damn, if I were still a student, I’d have made a move on a girl like this the moment school started!’

But Pan Lindong had specifically come to find Jiang Sifan today, and it certainly wasn’t because he was interested in the girl next to him.

Jiang Sifan understood as much and said deliberately, "Not that many. Just signed a few by being thick-skinned."

"Not bad, Junior. You’ve got a promising future!" Pan Lindong said. "But as we agreed before, the income is a seventy-thirty split. You get seventy percent, we get thirty. We’ll settle the accounts monthly."

"No way," Jiang Sifan refused flatly. "That’s a predatory contract. I had decided to just let it go, but now you’re coming to me!"

"How can you call it a predatory contract?" Pan Lindong chuckled. "You signed it yourself. You read the terms yourself. There’s nothing ’predatory’ about it."

"To lure me in, you promised to provide support. And what happened? When I asked for help, all of you just disappeared," Jiang Sifan said angrily.

Pan Lindong’s expression changed at once, and he immediately grew serious. "Did I not provide you with the paid software? Did I not provide you with the phone numbers and information for off-campus shops? Does none of that count as support? Don’t tell me I have to spoon-feed you for it to be called help!"

As if he had expected Jiang Sifan to try and back out, he pulled out the contract. "Cut the crap. We do everything by the book—by the contract. Otherwise, I’ll take this to your academic advisor. We can either call the police or have the university issue a formal reprimand. It’s your choice."

With that, Pan Lindong turned to leave.

But Jiang Sifan moved to block his path. "You’re not going anywhere!"

Worried the conflict would escalate, Wen Wan pulled on Jiang Sifan’s arm and whispered, "Don’t..."

Seeing her hold him back, he could only swallow his anger.

After Pan Lindong left, Wen Wan said, "Arguing with him now is useless. We... we can figure something out."

"What other way is there?" Jiang Sifan said, filled with regret.

’How could I have been so stupid as to sign that predatory contract?’

Wen Wan suddenly thought of the lawyer, Jiali. "Why don’t we tell Sister Jiali about this? Maybe she can help."

"Okay!" Jiang Sifan’s fighting spirit was instantly reignited. Right now, only a lawyer could help him.

He immediately dialed Jiali’s number.

After he briefly explained the situation, Jiali said, "You don’t need to worry. I’ve already found students from four other schools who are in the same boat. They were tricked into paying a startup fee, and then the schemes began. It’s safe to say that besides you two, no one has been able to make this project work."

"I’ll contact those students and gather evidence. Wait to hear from me. For now, don’t pay them any mind, and don’t give them any money."

Jiali’s words instantly gave Jiang Sifan a glimmer of hope.

He immediately thanked her. "Thank you so much, Sister Jiali! After this is over, I’ll definitely treat you all to a good meal! I’ll even send a silk banner to your law firm!"

"Haha, sounds good."

After hanging up, Jiang Sifan said to Wen Wan, "Come on, let’s go talk to the next shop."

"Okay." Wen Wan nodded.

「Meanwhile.」

Jiali told Lu Fan about the situation.

Lu Fan nodded after listening. "I’ll leave it in your hands," he instructed. "And one more thing. Don’t reveal that I’m helping from behind the scenes. My son might not be able to handle it and could have a breakdown."

"Understood, Boss!"

Chen He walked over just then. "Boss," he reminded him, "we need to head back to Yangcheng. Otherwise, we won’t make it, and our cover will be blown when Madam goes to the hospital."

"Alright." Lu Fan stood up and headed for Yangcheng.

「At the same time.」

Jiang Yixia had woken up early to go to the market, buy groceries, and cook.

Although that man was truly irritating, she had promised to cook for him for three days, and she wouldn’t go back on her word.

Just as she finished preparing the food and was about to leave for the hospital, her younger brother, Jiang Ming, called.

"Sis, I’m in trouble."