I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping Chapter 5 - 5 005 the Jiang from rivers the Chen from the stars

5: 005, the Jiang from rivers, the Chen from the stars.

5: 005, the Jiang from rivers, the Chen from the stars.

“Brother Chen, where on earth did you disappear to?

Why did it drag on for so long?”

Bai Zheli gazed curiously at the pair who had just come back.

“Bumped into some acquaintances, shared a few drinks.”

Jiang Chen kept his face steady as he took a seat and kept stealing looks toward Li Shuru’s spot.

Unfortunately, the lights were too faint, and the gap was somewhat distant, making it hard to make out details.

“Acquaintances?

Which ones?”

Dorm head Li Shao appeared shocked.

Everyone knew Jiang Chen as the campus’s notorious “ultimate sycophant.”

Besides their handful of dorm mates, who else would associate with him?

“It was Li Shuru.”

Luo Peng whispered, grabbing his drink and gulping it down alone.

“Li Shuru?

The beauty queen from the Art Academy?”

Li Shao showed real surprise.

“Yep.”

Jiang Chen confirmed casually with a nod.

“Brother Chen, rumors say Li Shuru is super arrogant.

She ignores average dudes completely…”

Bai Zheli pushed up his specs and paused, “How… did you end up buddies with her?”

“Do you figure your Brother Chen is just some regular guy?”

At those words, Li Shao and Luo Peng shared a knowing glance, their faces twisting in awkward amusement.

Sure.

Gaining fame as a top-tier flatterer definitely set him apart from the norm.

Bai Zheli pressed his lips together; though Jiang Chen looked relaxed, Bai felt the awkwardness more, unsure how to reply right away.

“Luo Peng, spill the details—what went down?”

Li Shao questioned Luo Peng.

Luo Peng let out a heavy breath, “Beats me too.

By the time I arrived, he was already boozing with Li Shuru and those flashy gals from the Art Academy.

He was straight-up requesting her number.”

“Requesting Li Shuru’s contact?”

Luo Peng affirmed with a nod.

Li Shao got the picture in a flash.

What a “buddy.”

Clearly, he was angling to get close to her.

“Jiang Chen, have you had one too many?

Aren’t you aware of Li Shuru’s type?”

Li Shao eyed their dorm’s third wheel with a mix of sympathy and frustration.

He’d believed Jiang Chen was finally changing his ways today, but that hope faded quick.

That old proverb nails it.

A leopard’s spots don’t fade.

“Naturally, I’m aware of her sort.”

Jiang Chen answered plainly, “The Art Academy’s campus beauty, our school’s top goddess.”

Luo Peng slapped a hand over his face, releasing a profound sigh.

“That’s not the point I’m making!”

Li Shao amped up his tone.

“The whole school knows Li Shuru and her crew are total gold-diggers, hanging only with the loaded.

Fancy rides show up often to whisk them off campus.

You really think a babe like that suits you?”

“All that’s just hearsay.”

Jiang Chen stayed cool, firing back, “Women tend to be envious by nature.

With Li Shuru’s stunning looks, plenty of gals must resent her in secret, so they cook up lies to smear her image.

Shao, you claim she’s materialistic, cruising in luxury rides.

Did you witness it personally?”

Li Shao stumbled over his words.

He wasn’t some stalker; no way was he lurking around the Art Academy or ladies’ dorms, so he hadn’t caught it firsthand.

“Earlier, she bought me several rounds, imported booze.

Not sure the label, but it sure wasn’t bargain-basement.

Based on that, she comes off as pretty open-handed.

You guys have her all wrong.”

Luo Peng: “…”

Li Shao: “…”

Bai Zheli’s peepers bulged like he was staring at some extraterrestrial.

Back in the day, he’d blow up if anyone labeled Brother Chen a sycophant, figuring Chen was merely too loyal.

Yet here he was, shielding a casual connection this way?

The sycophant title fits him like a glove.

“So, what you’re getting at is…”

Luo Peng drawled, “You’ve got the hots for Li Shuru these days?”

Jiang Chen lifted his mug and swigged some brew, staying mum.

“Li Shuru’s even more haughty and unreachable than Ai Qian; they’re worlds apart.

If you’re eyeing pursuit, your odds are next to zilch.”

Luo Peng’s face scrunched like he was holding in a bowel movement, mulling over how to phrase it without bruising his pal’s pride.

His message boiled down to something basic.

In plain terms: you can’t even snag Ai Qian, and now you aim higher?

Snap out of the fantasy!

Li Shao was gearing up to add his two cents, but Jiang Chen’s follow-up left them all tongue-tied.

“You guys realize, I thrive on tough pursuits.”

The vibe hushed right away.

Following a drawn-out quiet, Luo Peng’s eyelid flickered as he uttered rigidly, “Jiang Chen, if only I could borrow your… self-assurance, that’d be awesome.”

Jiang Chen chuckled, “It’s innate, no way to pick it up.”

“…”

Moments later, Luo Peng clapped his back and hoisted his drink.

“Enough talk, here’s to your quick win.”

“Appreciate it.”

“To victory!”

Li Shao and Bai Zheli swapped glances, both flashing wry, resigned grins.

Alright then.

Seems the third dormmate’s locked in for real this round.

No point preaching to him anymore.

Gotta see the upside.

When it comes to looks and status, Li Shuru tops Ai Qian by a solid notch.

If you’re set on flattering, might as well pick a “prime” target?

At least it won’t sound as lame when word spreads.

Viewed that way, Jiang Chen appeared to be leveling up.

Li Shao and Bai Zheli eased their minds with that angle and quietly toasted.

————

“That smooth-talker Jia Li claimed she was just grabbing a quick drink with somebody, so where’d she vanish to?”

“I rang her up.

She said forget about her, no stress.”

“Tsk tsk, who’s the stud she’s latched onto now?”

The ladies gossiped and giggled freely, faces rosy from the booze; they were obviously buzzed.

Li Shuru summoned the server to pay up, but he informed her, “Miss, someone’s already covered your bill.”

For East Sea University’s divas, this wasn’t new; it had happened before.

Certain dudes love flexing like that, hoping to win over the ladies.

“Who covered it?”

One lady queried, her breath heavy with liquor, figuring it must be some rich heir from East Sea.

Hitting KIMI, weren’t they scouting for exactly these chances?

“He gave his name as Jiang Chen.”

“Jiang Chen.”

The lady didn’t connect at first, pondering if it was one of the earlier flirts.

But after a beat of thinking, her eyes popped wide as alertness returned, “Who did you say?!”

“Jiang Chen.”

The server, thorough and polite, elaborated, “Jiang like ‘river’ and Chen like ‘stars,’ he claimed he’s a pal of yours and added that you shouldn’t overdo the drinking and head home soon.”

These were the exact directives from the customer at checkout, not the server adding flair.

Acts of kindness in the shadows?

That’s no true admirer; that’s a fool.

If you drop the cash, the receiver ought to know.

“That dude Jiang Chen, isn’t he broke as can be?”

The girls swapped confused stares.

“What was our total tonight?”

Li Shuru, cool and poised as ever, inquired of the server.

“5888.”

“Shu Rui, that Jiang Chen fella’s going all out, huh?

Did he just burn through half a year’s allowance?”

The girls eyed Li Shuru with a blend of shock and skepticism.

Li Shuru stayed quiet, yet a subtle wave finally disturbed her calm mind.

As a steadfast fan for ages, Jiang Chen finally seemed to grasp the proper path.

No amount of honeyed words rivals a bold show of riches.