As Chen Pingjiang expected, using Yan Yan's name as a banner, the old military training uniform recycling at the sports institute indeed met no resistance.
Even when encountering competitors, the two boys and two girls Yan Yan called upon settled things as soon as they appeared.
This is the role of a beauty; they might not give face to others, no matter if you're a student union cadre or whatever, but Yan Yan's face must be given.
At the same time, a post titled "Suspected Boyfriend of the Sports Institute's Campus Belle" suddenly exploded on the sports institute's forum, garnering hundreds of replies in just two hours.
"Damn, my faith in love is shattered!"
"Who's so lacking in morals to post photos of me and the goddess?"
"Bro, stop trying to claim her, the goddess is sleeping next to me."
"Why are there no front-facing photos? But judging by the back, she should be good-looking."
...
In front of the computer, Fan Xufei browsed through the post layer by layer, his face turning grim with anger, almost dripping blood.
How is this possible?
Why is this happening!
He had fawned over her for a whole year, and Yan Yan always rejected him by saying she didn't want to date for now.
Why is she suddenly dating now?
Fan Xufei was not a devoted or long-lasting person.
He hooked up with a senior sister right after he enrolled, but later felt it wasn't as exciting after they got together.
It wasn't until he met Yan Yan that he was captivated by her beauty and began a fierce pursuit.
Unconsciously, it had already been a whole year.
Sometimes he surprised himself just thinking about it.
If at first it was mad love, then with repeated rejections, what sustained him was nothing but inertia and the high sunk cost if he were to give up now.
This pursuit gradually evolved into possessiveness!
He had to ask Yan Yan why?
Why choose him and not me?
I chased you for a whole year, how much of my time and youth did you waste?
When he arrived at the cafe, Fan Xufei indeed saw the figure that haunted his dreams and the back of another boy.
Fan Xufei felt his heart was about to break.
A narration popped into his mind:
"You are not a silent sea, you just don't surge for me."
Coincidentally, Zhang Xueyou's "Stealing My Heart" was playing in the cafe:
"Who secretly, secretly stole my heart?
Cannot distinguish night from day.
Who secretly, secretly stole my heart?
My eyes cannot see myself."
The pure love god immediately fell to the ground.
Yan Yan, facing the cafe entrance, happened to see Fan Xufei, but only glanced at him, then turned her head back to continue looking at Chen Pingjiang.
Chen Pingjiang, on the other hand, was completely unaware of the heartbroken man standing behind him.
Walking to the cafe entrance, Fan Xufei found his legs felt like they were filled with lead.
He desperately wanted to rush over and beat up that boy, and question Yan Yan why this was happening.
But after exchanging glances with Yan Yan, all the courage in his body seemed to have been drained.
Yes, she had rejected me many times.
It was me who wouldn't give up.
What right or reason do I have to question her?
That would only make me look more like a clown, becoming the laughingstock of the entire sports institute.
That would only make her dislike me even more, and I would never have another chance.
Hmm, it's just dating, not marriage.
Besides, even marriage can end in divorce.
I need to work hard to let Yan Yan see my shining points, to make her regret this decision!
Fan Xufei arrived fuming and left dejected, against the backdrop of "Stealing My Heart," appearing like he belonged to a different world from the two people in the cafe.
Chen Pingjiang breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Fan Xufei finally leave reflected in the counter glass, he secretly thought,
"That was close. Senior, I felt my life was greatly threatened just now."
Yan Yan's beautiful eyes fluttered, not expecting Chen Pingjiang to have noticed Fan Xufei.
She then smiled gently,
"Are you that timid?"
Chen Pingjiang retorted,
"Nonsense, if I were killed like that, what a loss that would be. If it were real, it wouldn't be unfair, but this is fake after all."
Yan Yan pretended not to understand Chen Pingjiang's implication,
"I'm sorry for getting you involved today."
"No need for thanks, let's get something practical."
Chen Pingjiang smiled.
"Just promise me a favor later."
"What favor?"
"Haven't thought of it yet, I'll tell you when I do."
"Nothing excessive."
...
Zhou Guanghan and the others' work was finally completed.
A total of 980 items were recycled from the sports institute.
Chen Pingjiang was quite satisfied, as the number of new students at the two schools was different after all.
Ultimately, Chen Pingjiang earned 9800 yuan.
He didn't stay long, bidding farewell to everyone and returning to the University of Finance and Economics.
The few people in Dorm 302 wouldn't let him leave, as Chen Pingjiang had helped them earn money today, with an average income of 400-500 yuan per person, almost a month's living expenses.
Chen Pingjiang said he had other plans for the evening.
Watching Chen Pingjiang's retreating figure, the second-year girl excitedly nudged Yan Yan's arm and asked,
"I heard in the QQ group this afternoon that a post on the forum went viral. Are you really with Chen Pingjiang?"
She didn't say this without reason.
Having known Yan Yan for over a year, Yan Yan had always maintained a cool, distant attitude, coldly rejecting the countless admirers at the sports institute.
Today, she actually spent three or four hours with Chen Pingjiang, even laughing and chatting at the cafe, which was simply jaw-dropping.
Yan Yan helplessly shook her head,
"Cao Jie, are you always so fond of gossip?"
Cao Jie nodded her head like a rattle-drum,
"Yes, yes. You didn't have to come today at all, but you came downstairs and stayed with Chen Pingjiang for so long. How do you explain that?"
"I just..."
"Just what, Yan Yan? Oh, I forgot to tell you, when you came downstairs this morning and stood next to Chen Pingjiang, I immediately shipped you two. A talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match!"
Cao Jie clenched her fist and held it to her chin, looking full of longing,
"This Chen Pingjiang is quite handsome."
Yan Yan gave her best friend a helpless look,
"You earned some money, and you're bought off already?"
Cao Jie shook her head,
"No way, how can you question a 'shipper scientist's' integrity?"
Yan Yan didn't explain much,
"There's nothing going on between us, stop guessing."
"Whether I guess or not doesn't matter, but there's a lot of wailing in that post, a bunch of teenage boys with hearts shattered into smithereens."
Cao Jie's small monolid eyes weren't big to begin with, and with that smile, they almost disappeared.
Yan Yan didn't believe she liked Chen Pingjiang.
With her cool personality, it was difficult for her to like someone, or it could be that she hadn't met someone excellent enough to make her heart flutter.
She just felt that Chen Pingjiang was a bit special.
He didn't have the common arrogance and clumsiness typically found in boys his age.
Unlike other immature boys, he possessed the competence and calmness of an adult, which sparked her curiosity.
There was also a more important point.
From childhood to adulthood, Yan Yan's interaction with boys was basically zero.
She didn't have a single male friend.
All boys who approached her did so with blatant confessions, which made her feel their intentions were too strong, and even direct confessions brought her confusion and pressure.
Over time, she became immune to this kind of pursuit from boys.
Only Chen Pingjiang was somewhat special.
He could joke calmly, chat peacefully, interject humorously, and provide emotional value just right.
When interacting with him, she didn't feel the usual pressure, which was a very unique feeling and experience.
(End of Chapter)
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