Chapter 39: The Scumbag’s Downfall

Like those versions of Water Margin or Dream of the Red Chamber priced at 1.98 yuan, or that yellowed hardcover edition of Les Misérables.

“This is your junior high math textbook. So your handwriting was already so neat and precise back then?” Jiang Ruotang turned to look at Lu Guifan.

Lu Guifan merely gave a soft “mm” in reply.

“And here’s your first-year essay… Wow, your handwriting is really nice. If only mine were this good, maybe the teacher would’ve given me some extra points out of pity,” Jiang Ruotang pouted.

“Your handwriting is actually quite good too.”

“Oh, come on. You’re the only person in the world who says that.”

Lu Guifan slightly parted his lips but swallowed back the words he almost said: “It looks so obedient.”

Jiang Ruotang was admiring the trophies Lu Guifan had won over the years, gently running his fingers over them, his expression full of envy and admiration—something Lu Guifan could easily understand.

The mood was nice, and it shouldn’t have been broken.

But for Lu Guifan, things that didn’t belong to him—he’d rather never experience them than long for them in vain for years to come.

“Jiang Ruotang, you’ve seen it. This is my home, my life.”

“Oh.” Jiang Ruotang turned back, puzzled as to why Lu Guifan suddenly said this.

“I didn’t grow up in a spacious, bright home. My parents are no celebrities; they didn’t even finish middle school.”

“I know that…”

“I worry about whether the yogurt I buy at the supermarket is close to expiry and on discount. I don’t understand luxury brands. I’ve barely seen a few movies. I’ve never even ordered delivery. My life has always been calculated—what’s the optimal solution, what consumes the least money. I don’t know much outside of math, physics, and chemistry. I don’t know how to say pleasing things to make people around me happy. When I get fixated, I’m terribly stubborn. I have many sharp edges. And you… you’re soft and round. You get hurt easily.”

His expression was unusually calm, but his heart surged like a storm.

In this world, no one wants to be alone. Everyone wants some connection to it.

But of all people, it had to be Jiang Ruotang—the complete opposite of him—who stood so close now.

As if he only needed to reach out to touch him.

The room was quiet. Outside, you could hear Xiao Gao chatting with Lu’s parents.

And the moment Lu Guifan feared the most had finally arrived.

“I’m actually really happy, Class Rep,” Jiang Ruotang said softly, like a bell in the distance that made Lu Guifan’s heart grow calm and wide.

“Hm?”

Jiang Ruotang scratched the back of his head, looking down. “I’ve always been nervous, you know. My reputation at school isn’t exactly great. People call me a lovestruck rich boy, a prince with an attitude, spoiled and willful—that’s pretty much my label, right? Even though you still talk to me, help me with the basics, I’ve always worried… that it’s only because you’re Class Rep and feel responsible.”

Lu Guifan paused, surprised that Jiang Ruotang shared such a similar thought to his own.

“You say your family’s background is like this, your parents have low education… but you win so many competition trophies, you’re practically The Invincible East—wait, no—Ximen Chuixue! You’ll definitely be a great scholar in the future, with patents all over, VIP access at international academic conferences, your lectures packed in top global universities, wherever you go people desperate for a word of your wisdom.

If I’d never known you, I’d probably hold your bio and tell people, ‘Look—this is proof that even a king or general could come from the common folk.’”

Jiang Ruotang had his back to him, but Lu Guifan suddenly wanted to see his eyes.

A world he’d never dared to imagine. He’d never thought he could break the class barrier—he’d be satisfied just becoming a lecturer someday. But in Jiang Ruotang’s eyes, he was someone who could do anything.

That blind trust—more than childishness—it was strength.

Lu Guifan wanted to become the man Jiang Ruotang imagined, to earn his recognition and admiration forever.

“Hey, if I bought fresh yogurt instead of discounted, would you think I’m wasteful?” Jiang Ruotang suddenly asked.

Lu Guifan shook his head. “Of course not.”

“What if I bought so many luxury goods they couldn’t fit in my room—would you think I was spoiled?”

“If they make you happy, then no.”

“What if I told you about all my favorite movies—would you find me noisy?”

“No.”

Because when you tell stories, you light up, and I believe no movie could be more interesting than what you say.

“What if I ordered delivery—would you think I was wasting money?”

“I’d only think junk food might give you a belly, not that you’re wasting money.”

Because you enjoy what you rightfully have, without taking from others.

If your whole life is rich and happy—what could be wrong with that?

Jiang Ruotang slowly turned, holding the little roly-poly toy, that slight smile making Lu Guifan feel like crossing mountains and rivers toward him.

“Friends are supposed to help each other. If I help you, would you think it’s pity or charity, hurting your pride, and then push me away?”

“…No.”

My pride isn’t that fragile. I know the difference between genuine care and charity.

“Class Rep… if one day I run out of money, get sick, have no connections, can’t help anyone anymore—if I’m all alone in a hospital room… would you…”

“You won’t get sick.” Lu Guifan answered firmly.

“I mean if… people always get sick sometimes.”

“If you’re afraid of getting sick, I can go to medical school.”

Jiang Ruotang blinked, then laughed. “You love math and physics so much—no way am I letting you switch to med school for me! I just mean, if I got sick and felt terrible, and I really wanted to eat your mom’s chive-and-egg pancakes but you were far away…”

“I’d bring them to you. No matter where I was, if you said you wanted them.”

Jiang Ruotang froze.

Lu Guifan wasn’t someone who made promises lightly. He wasn’t like those sweet-talking men. Every promise he made—he would give his all to keep.

“You said you’re stubborn—if it’s this kind of stubborn, I think it’s wonderful.”

Lu Guifan hesitated, finally realizing what he’d just said—and how much it sounded like a confession, like a promise made to someone he liked.

Jiang Ruotang raised his hand. “High five and swear on it—no matter what we become after graduation, no matter rich or poor, we’ll always respect and understand each other. No regrets.”

“Mm. Deal.” Lu Guifan lightly high-fived his palm.

But just as he moved to pull away, Jiang Ruotang grabbed his hand and grinned.

“Guifan! Little Jiang, come eat pancakes!”

“We made sweet soup too—try it!”

Jiang Ruotang let go of Lu Guifan’s hand, brushing close as he slipped past—playfully bumping him. “Come on! Midnight snack time!”

Lu Guifan nearly reached to hug him—but Jiang Ruotang, like a slippery fish, had already darted away.

Aunt Lu’s cooking really was amazing—the chive-and-egg pancakes crispy and stuffed, the sweet soup fragrant. Xiao Gao slurped happily, saying tonight was totally worth it.

They ate until nearly 11:30 before Xiao Gao took Jiang Ruotang home. On leaving, Jiang Ruotang fussed at Lu’s parents to call him if anyone caused trouble—he’d sue them till they had nothing left.

Mr. and Mrs. Lu couldn’t stop laughing. Only after they left did they sigh, facing each other.

“Even if the car gets fixed… there’s no going back to the gate of Fourteenth High… What should we do?” Mrs. Lu wiped her tears.

Mr. Lu hugged her gently. “Don’t worry. When the road ends, another will appear. As long as we breathe, we won’t starve. If Fourteenth High won’t take him—there are other schools.”

Lu Guifan had already decided—he’d tutor middle schoolers if needed.

“But there was something happy tonight. We met Little Jiang. He really is, just like Guifan said, a good kid without airs.”

“Right, right. So polite when eating—such a good boy.”

By the time Jiang Ruotang got home, it was almost midnight. The living room light was still on. Jiang Huaiyuan and Sister Juan had gone to bed.

As he changed slippers, Zhao Yunshu came out of the master bedroom in loungewear.

“Mom? You’re still awake?”

Every time she heard him call her “Mom,” Zhao Yunshu’s heart softened inexplicably, wanting to spoil him—even though this child had grown up with a silver spoon, carefree.

Zhao Yunshu slowly came downstairs. “I was a little worried… Xiao Gao said you not only called the police but also rushed up to help your classmate’s parents?”

“I knew what I was doing. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Ruotang poured half a glass of water and drank it down.

“No matter what—you’re what matters most to us. Whatever happens, I hope you’ll tell us. Come to me or your dad for help,” Zhao Yunshu said gently.

Jiang Ruotang looked at her furrowed brow and gently tugged her sleeve.

She sensed he wanted to talk. Like a boy clinging for affection, and her heart melted as she sat down at the kitchen bar.

“…I only recently found out that my grandfather, He Daochen, left me a considerable inheritance. You know I’m still young, and the art entrance exams are just two months away. But I already have an idea of how I want to invest this money.”

Zhao Yunshu looked surprised. “What kind of idea? Don’t tell me it’s—”

“What?” Jiang Ruotang smiled. “What do you think it is?”

“This is the inheritance your grandfather left you. How you use it should be your decision. But I hope you’ll be cautious.”

Jiang Ruotang gently patted the back of her hand. “My dear Yunshu Mom, don’t worry. I won’t use it to throw money at Bai Yingchuan’s marketing campaigns, nor will I waste it on hyping up some celebrity.

This is my grandfather’s inheritance—earned by him and his ancestors who struggled in Nanyang. Now this wealth has been entrusted to me. So I’d like to ask you to help me find an agent—someone who can act on my behalf whenever I spot a good project. Ideally… someone with deep financial knowledge, sharp instincts for risks and scams, and most importantly… someone upright in character.”

Zhao Yunshu looked into Jiang Ruotang’s eyes and saw the trust he placed in her, as well as a maturity far beyond what anyone would expect from someone his age.

“Alright. I’ll try my best to find the right person,” Zhao Yunshu said, several names already flashing through her mind.

This was the first time Jiang Ruotang had asked her for help—and for something as important as managing his grandfather’s inheritance. The trust he showed made Zhao Yunshu secretly happy. She was determined to find him the perfect candidate.

“Enough about me,” Jiang Ruotang said, reaching out to tap the space between her brows. “What about you? You’ve been frowning a lot lately. Don’t treat me like a child—if something’s bothering you, you can tell me. Maybe because I’ve never worked at Huanyu, I can see things from a fresh angle and give you some advice?” He smiled.

Zhao Yunshu lowered her eyes and let out a soft sigh.

At first, she thought there was no point in talking about the office politics of the adult world—this child wouldn’t understand. But Jiang Ruotang’s earnest gaze, coupled with the insight he had shown with the Aoxiang Technology investment, made her feel the urge to confide.

“My team is already in place. We’re supposed to begin audit work—but the finance department refuses to hand over the financial records. When I brought this up in a meeting, the other departments all sided with finance, telling me not to disrupt their work or ruin their pace.”

Jiang Ruotang smiled knowingly. “So they’re stalling. The more they delay, the more obvious it is that there’s something wrong with the books. They’re probably scrambling right now to patch up the holes. You should strike fast—catch them off guard. Not that I think they can fool your sharp eyes, but uncovering their false accounts will still take effort.”

“Exactly. Your Grandpa Qin said the same thing.”

Zhao Yunshu found talking to Jiang Ruotang surprisingly relaxing. He didn’t feel like a child at all—he saw the ‘games of power’ very clearly.

Having someone at home to listen lightened her heart considerably.

Jiang Ruotang grinned, leaning in close. “You’re a master of open schemes—but sometimes… you gotta use a little trickery, too.”

Then he whispered excitedly, his eyes sparkling, telling Zhao Yunshu some “rumors” he’d heard in his past life.

As she listened, Zhao Yunshu’s expression gradually changed to astonishment. “Is that true?”

Jiang Ruotang nodded smugly, like a little fox who’d just stolen an egg. “Guaranteed fresh gossip!”

Two mornings later, Jiang Ruotang was eating soup dumplings when a breaking headline popped up on his social media feed:
#Top-Tier Phoenix Man Exposed—A Rich Beauty in the Entertainment Industry Loses Both Love and Money#

“Hm?” Jiang Ruotang clicked curiously—and saw that the so-called ‘Phoenix Man’ was none other than Huanyu Entertainment’s CFO and Lin Chengdong’s lackey—Huang Tengyue!

Hot soup splashed out of his dumpling, burning his tongue so badly he nearly jumped out of his chair.

“You startled so easily, kid. No composure at all.”

Jiang Ruotang glanced sideways at Zhao Yunshu, silently mouthing: You bought that tabloid spot? How much?

Zhao Yunshu smiled, corners of her mouth curling. “I heard Mrs. Huang was obsessed with MLS jewelry, so I took her shopping. What a coincidence—we ran into another ‘Mrs. Huang’ in the store, picking out a 3-carat diamond ring and sweet-talking her husband on the phone. And the voice on the other end… sounded a lot like Huang Tengyue. Mrs. Huang’s face turned ugly real fast.”

Jiang Ruotang stared at her for a while before giving a big thumbs-up. “Mom, your acting’s amazing!”

“Acting? I really was shopping for jewelry. Don’t you think these pearl earrings are lovely?” Zhao Yunshu turned her head slightly.

“Absolutely gorgeous.” Jiang Ruotang grinned so wide his gums nearly showed.

Just then, Zhao Changfeng came yawning downstairs. Seeing their smiles, he felt something fishy was going on.

“Alright, spill—what secret schemes are you two plotting?”

“‘Plotting’ is such a dirty word! Our whole family is righteous and upright!”

And so, after they left the jewelry store, Mrs. Huang immediately hired investigators to dig into Huang Tengyue’s every secret. What she discovered made her furious enough to want him torn to pieces.

Years ago, Huang Tengyue was just another ‘Phoenix Man’—a poor boy from the countryside who got a job in the city. Good at cooking the books, but never promoted, always used as a tool by his boss. Frustrated, bitter, resigned to being a beast of burden.

Then he met his life-changing benefactor—Lin Chengdong.

The two hit it off immediately. Lin taught him the real shortcut to climbing the ladder: seduce the boss’s only daughter.

At first, Huang Tengyue thought it ridiculous—sweet talk alone, no money, no house, no car? Win over the rich girl? Impossible.

But he tried—and to his shock, it worked. Empty promises and fake sincerity had the young lady eating out of his hand.

After marriage, with his wife’s connections, Huang Tengyue rose smoothly under Lin’s guidance—stepping over Zhao Yunshu’s head to reach the top.

Once he had power, he lost all sense of reality—set up another family on the side, secretly moved huge assets to his mistress and their child. Far more than his legal salary could explain.

When Mrs. Huang learned this, how could she stay silent? She blew it all up into a headline scandal. His ‘jerk quotes’ even became viral jokes on campus.

Back at school, Jiang Ruotang had barely sat down when Jian Sha poked him dramatically, reciting one of those famous lines like poetry:

“Ruotang, as long as you have me, you don’t need anyone else’s approval~”

“Huh?” Jiang Ruotang looked up blankly, still holding his workbook.

Jian Sha continued, mimicking Lin Lu perfectly in her ironic tone:
“Even if no one believes in you, I always will!”

“Oh? You believe I’ll make top 30 in the grade this month?” Jiang Ruotang asked with a fake smile.

“Uh… that’s impossible.”

“Exactly. So you believe in nothing.”

He ignored her teasing and kept doing practice questions. Behind him, Zhao Changfeng struggled to stifle his laughter.

Meanwhile, Lin Lu—sitting nearby—was scrolling through the scandal too, dreading how furious his father would be tonight.

Huang Tengyue was Lin Chengdong’s right-hand man, the family’s money keeper. Now that he’d sprung a leak, he’d probably spill even more secrets to save himself.

No—he had to keep holding on to Jiang Ruotang. Ruotang mattered to Jiang Huaiyuan. As long as Ruotang spoke for him, Jiang Huaiyuan would support the Lin family too.

“Ruotang, you’re working so hard… no matter what anyone says, I believe you’ll—” Lin Lu stopped mid-sentence.

His heart skipped. He hoped Ruotang hadn’t noticed.

But Jiang Ruotang, propping up his chin, grinned at him.

“Wow. I never realized—you’ve been feeding me those jerk lines since we were little, huh?”

Lin Lu flinched as if punched in the gut. His ‘words of encouragement’ were all copied straight from his father Lin Chengdong—and Lin had taught them to Huang Tengyue too. No wonder they sounded so familiar.

Trying to cover up his guilt, Lin Lu playfully shoved Jiang Ruotang.

“Ruotang, you’re terrible! I’m not like those jerks!”

“Of course you’re not. Jerks need to be handsome first to make those lines work! You’re more the good-boy type. So stop trying to sound like them!”

It was a gentle reminder. He hoped Lin Lu could understand.