Chapter 44 Tomorrow We Strike— I Want to See Chen Luo Cry in Utter Misery!

The next morning dawned clear and bright.

Liu Feng arrived early at the gate of Hangzhou University, waiting to pick up Tang Xiwei. He hadn’t seen her for two or three days, and his yearning for her had only grown stronger. He was impatient, determined to invite her to a hotel today and finally have her to himself.

A BMW slowly pulled up to the campus entrance. Tang Xiwei stepped out, dressed in a white princess dress, her face lit up with a smile.

“Darling, you’re finally back. I missed you so much,” Liu Feng said, moving forward to embrace her.

“No, don’t,” Tang Xiwei retreated half a step. “There are too many people here. I don’t want to.”

Seeing her look of resistance, Liu Feng assumed she was simply exhausted from travel and didn’t think much of it.

In truth, Tang Xiwei had lost all interest in Liu Feng. With someone like Wen Xiu—an elite heir—at her side, Liu Feng was dispensable. The only reason she still met him was to use him as a tool to exact revenge on Chen Luo, and to fulfill the tasks Wen Xiu had assigned her.

“Here, these are the documents.” Tang Xiwei handed him a folder.

“Wen Xiu confirmed that Chen Luo is indeed the one he wants. His exact words were: ‘Within a week, bind Chen Luo and bring him to Wen Xiu, by any means necessary. Accomplishing this will earn your family a partnership on a project with him.’”

“Excellent!” Liu Feng was elated—not only could he help Tang Xiwei get back at Chen Luo, but this small act would allow him to forge a connection with Wen Xiu, a rare opportunity for the entire Liu family.

“Alright, Wen Xiu wants this done quickly. We’ll act tomorrow.”

As she spoke, a glint of murderous intent flashed in Tang Xiwei’s eyes.

“I want to see Chen Luo break down in the most humiliating tears, to reach the depths of despair before we deliver him to Wen Xiu.”

…

Noon, the commercial district.

“Brother Luo, didn’t we arrange to meet Zhou Zheng at one o’clock? Why are you here half an hour early?”

The weather was unbearably hot; the lingering heat of late summer still clung on. You Liuhua, sitting across from Chen Luo, was grumpily wiping sweat from her neck. A bead of sweat slid down her neck and nestled between her chest, drawing a silent gasp from Hongye, who sat beside her.

What does this girl eat to grow like this? She’s so petite, yet her curves are fuller than mine.

“Business partnerships require sincerity. Since I’m the one proposing the collaboration, it’s only right to arrive early.”

“Besides, Senior Zhou Zheng is a relative of Assistant Hongye. Whether for business or personal reasons, it’s proper to show respect.”

“Master Luo is very considerate,” Hongye said with a smile, gazing at Chen Luo. The more she interacted with him, the more she found him unfathomable. His demeanor and words were nothing like an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old university student; he seemed more like a seasoned fox who’d spent years navigating the business world.

You Liuhua looked at Chen Luo, her admiration tinged with a sense of unfamiliarity and loss. Brother Luo had changed; he was nothing like before. Perhaps it was Wen Wan who taught him, or maybe he pushed himself to change in order to keep up with her. Whatever the reason, Brother Luo was growing, always moving forward. If she stayed where she was, she might never catch up, and eventually they would become strangers.

No! I can’t let him leave me behind!

A hero needs a mage to support him on his quest!

I mustn’t lose! I must grow stronger!

Even if I can’t win his first love, I’ll always stand by his side, protecting him as we conquer the world together!

Smack! Smack!

She slapped her cheeks hard, leaving two red marks on either side.

“Liuhua? Are you alright? Did you get heatstroke again?” Chen Luo looked at her with concern—she had been acting odd lately.

“I’m fine! Seeing you so motivated, I want to step up and help you grow the business!”

“Alright, alright. It’s rare to see you, a homebody, so fired up. I’ll treat you to your favorite coconut jelly milk tea.”

He habitually patted Liuhua’s head, but the gesture no longer brought her the happiness it had in childhood.

In the end, Chen Luo still saw her as a little sister—nothing more.

“Coconut jelly milk tea? I like it too. Can I have a cup?” a crisp, lively voice rang out. Chen Luo looked up to see a girl standing beside their table. She wore black-rimmed glasses, a white short-sleeved T-shirt, a denim skirt, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail.

Her style was cute—different from Liuhua’s more childlike look, she had the fresh charm of the girl next door.

Chen Luo’s gaze first fell on a pair of white sheer stockings. They didn’t cover her legs entirely; above the knees and below the hem of her skirt, there remained a tantalizing stretch of pale skin.

Absolute territory? Such a bold outfit for this time?

As Chen Luo took in the sight, Hongye quickly snapped a photo with her phone, covered her mouth, and sent it off with a giggle.

Startled, Chen Luo quickly recovered and stood to face the girl.

“And you are…?”

The girl didn’t answer immediately. She picked up her phone, glanced at the photo, then looked at Chen Luo.

“You’re Chen Luo, right? I’m Zhou Mei. What games do you like to play?”

“Huh?”

Who asks about games as soon as they meet someone? This isn’t a gaming convention…

“Mei! Don’t be so rude!” came a slightly stern voice. A young man in a casual shirt and jeans approached, warmly extending his hand.

“Hello, I’m Zhou Zheng, a senior in the Economics Department here at Hangzhou University. This is my sister Zhou Mei, a sophomore in the Computer Science Department.”

“Hello, Senior, and Miss Zhou. Please, have a seat.”

Chen Luo reached out and shook their hands, then gestured for them to sit. His expression grew serious, a confident smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were calm, his right hand rested on the table, and his index finger tapped lightly.

This was a habit ingrained in him—a professional instinct. Whenever he faced a partner or opponent, he immediately entered a state of readiness.

Experts see the subtleties; outsiders only see the spectacle.

Although Zhou Zheng hadn’t yet started his own company, he had spent years helping out in the business world and had met many talented individuals. Chen Luo’s presence and composure, though not at the top tier, was impressive for someone his age.

From this aura and bearing, there were two conclusions: either Chen Luo was the scion of some powerful family, trained from youth to possess such ability and presence, or…

But Zhou Zheng had reviewed all of Chen Luo’s background—the records showed he came from an ordinary working-class family, nothing unusual.

That left only one possibility.

Chen Luo was indeed, as Wen Xiu suspected, a rare genius discovered by President Wen—a hidden dragon destined to soar in the future.

No, I can’t judge his depth solely by aura. I must test his mettle.

If he truly is a genius, I can confidently ally myself with him. In the future, my prospects might extend far beyond the modest achievements of the Zhou family in Hangzhou.

“I hardly deserve the title of senior; I’m nowhere near your level,” Chen Luo said. “Let’s get to the point—shall we discuss how our milk tea shop should develop next?”