Chapter 36: Dad, Start the Class!

"You tell me, what's Old Jiang's deal? How does he get two school-beauty-level girls fighting over him like it's life or death? I just can't wrap my head around it."

"I can't figure it out either. He's just a bit handsome, has fair skin, spends money like it's nothing, and talks a big game. Besides that, what's he got? How's he supposed to compete with good boys like us?"

Finance School, Boys' Dorm 302.

Ever since Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao got back from the restaurant, they'd been dissecting this mystery like it was some martial arts manual.

They couldn't imagine how girls of that caliber—school beauties who should be as aloof and untouchable as moonlight—could look so pitiful in front of Jiang Qin. And yet, Jiang Qin acted indifferent, even annoyed, exuding a coolness that left their tongues tingling with envy.

Shouldn't girls like that be treasures you'd hold gently, afraid to drop them, or keep in your mouth, afraid they'd melt?

But Old Jiang could just stand up and walk away without a second thought, leaving those girls crying and chasing after him, begging him not to go.

If they could master that move, wouldn't they be strutting through campus like kings?

Cao Guangyu thought the two of them were complete idiots. You haven't even learned the basics of their inner game, and you're just gawking at a couple of flashy moves. You could study for eight lifetimes and still not get it. Ever heard of someone becoming a martial arts master just by getting beat up a lot?

"Old Cao."

"What?"

Zhou Chao's eyes burned with curiosity as he looked over. "You're a rich kid—you've seen the world. Tell us why."

Cao Guangyu had been moping all afternoon, still looking half-dead and speaking with zero energy. "You two already figured out the reasons. Why're you asking me?"

"When did I figure anything out?" Zhou Chao turned to Ren Ziqiang, puzzled.

Ren Ziqiang was equally clueless. "What reasons? How don't I know?"

"He's handsome, fair-skinned, spends big, and talks slick. Isn't that enough? Four traits—do you even have one?"

Zhou Chao paused. "But I feel like I've got all four."

Cao Guangyu's mouth twisted. "Get lost."

"No, Old Cao, something's off with you."

"What's off?"

Ren Ziqiang studied him closely, growing more certain. "We lost, fair enough. But you've always refused to bow to Old Jiang. How come today you're acting like someone let the air out of you? Not even bragging anymore—just boosting him up and dragging yourself down?"

Cao Guangyu's face turned irritable at that. Muttering "get lost" over and over, he climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over his head.

Truth be told, today's lunch didn't hit Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao that hard. At most, it gave them an early taste of life's unfairness—something they'd feel sooner or later anyway. It wasn't a big deal, and it wouldn't kill them.

But Cao Guangyu was different. What he felt wasn't just unfairness—it was a crushing blow.

If Jiang Qin had won over Song Qingqing or Jiang Tian—or even both—he wouldn't have cared. He was a rich second-gen kid; how could he not outshine Jiang Qin?

But Hong Yan was different. Hong Yan had been the dream girl of every guy at Hangzhou No. 1 High School.

And Cao Guangyu was no exception.

Hong Yan was his sweetest, most innocent crush—the pure white jasmine in his heart, the beautiful fantasy of a teenage boy whose mind wasn't fully mature but whose emotions had already awakened.

In three years of high school, Cao Guangyu hadn't dated anyone. He was just a shy little chick who only dared to say hi to Hong Yan on QQ. So when he found out she liked Jiang Qin, it felt like a pure-love warrior had been shot down, his heart shattering on impact.

Since the semester started, Jiang Qin had outdone him at every turn, but Cao Guangyu never admitted defeat. This time, though, he was genuinely dazed from the hit.

"Old Cao, what's wrong? Did that dog Jiang Qin shake your confidence?"

"Old Cao, don't be sad. When Jiang Qin gets back, we'll give him a piece of our minds!"

No sooner had the words left their mouths than the door to 302 swung open. Jiang Qin stepped inside, looked up, and saw Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao approaching with grim faces.

Then they started fussing—pulling out a chair, handing him slippers, stopping just short of taking off his socks for him.

"Dad, when's the lecture starting?"

Cao Guangyu threw off his blanket, glaring at his two roommates in fury. "Old Ren, Old Zhou, have you no shame?!"

Zhou Chao looked up at Cao Guangyu on the bed. "Shame's nice, but a girlfriend's better."

"Old Ren, are you worthy of your name?" Cao Guangyu switched targets.

Ren Ziqiang puffed out his chest. "I told my dad I didn't like the name when he picked it, but I didn't get a say."

Jiang Qin didn't even need to ask to know what was up. They'd been splashed awake, couldn't handle the letdown, and had spent the whole time questioning others before turning on themselves.

"Fine, then. Grab some chairs. Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll give you the rundown."

Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang scrambled to get chairs, while Cao Guangyu, after holding out for a bit, couldn't resist either. He hopped off the bed and leaned against the wardrobe—but he didn't grab a chair. Not grabbing one was the last shred of dignity he clung to.

Jiang Qin sat down and launched into the story of how he'd liked Chu Siqi for three years in high school, only to get rejected flat-out when he confessed.

Honestly, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

What's the greatest strength of a man pushing forty? Reconciling with himself.

Making peace with his younger self—It's not your fault you loved the wrong person. With his middle-aged self—It's not your fault you didn't make more money. Even with his elderly self—It's not your fault you're left with so many regrets.

Life's unsatisfactory eight or nine times out of ten, and you can't share even two or three of those with others. If you can't reconcile with yourself, accept your mediocrity and failures, you won't survive in this messed-up world.

In an instant, Cao Guangyu's eyes lit up.

"Old Jiang, you've had an unrequited crush too?"

Jiang Qin smirked. "Why the hell do you look like you're enjoying this?"

Cao Guangyu suddenly felt his spine straighten, letting out a smug, almost sleazy laugh. "You should've said so earlier! So you liked someone for three years too? We're all brothers in suffering!"

Jiang Qin raised an eyebrow. What's this? There's a story lurking in the corner?

"Old Cao, that 'too' slipped out pretty smoothly. You've got a tale to tell?"

"Fine, I'll share mine."

With Jiang Qin's story as a lead-in, Cao Guangyu didn't hold back this time. He spilled everything about liking Hong Yan, even admitting he'd never had a girlfriend. By the end, he was almost proud, feeling like he finally had something to stand toe-to-toe with Jiang Qin on.

He wasn't sure why matching Jiang Qin felt like an achievement, but it did.

When he finished, Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang shot him a glance, their expressions turning odd.

"What's up?" Cao Guangyu asked, confused.

"You call that a story worth comparing to Old Jiang? I'm embarrassed for you!"

"How am I embarrassing?" Cao Guangyu bristled.

Ren Ziqiang smirked. "Sure, you both had a three-year crush. But look at Jiang—two sentences, and he's got Chu Siqi losing her mind. You? Sat in that restaurant for two hours, and Hong Yan didn't even know who you were."

Zhou Chao patted his shoulder. "Jiang might not have dated Chu Siqi, but he's got Hong Yan into him. What've you got? A feather duster?"

Jiang Qin delivered the killing blow. "Old Cao, I kinda look down on you."

"?????"