Chapter 86: A Silly Girl Can Deceive Herself

The next day.

Chen Lu woke up groggily, feeling a bit dizzy.

Before he could fully recover, his phone started ringing incessantly.

“Hello, who is it?” He mumbled, eyes still closed, not even bothering to check who was calling.

“It’s your dad!”

Jiang Chao’s voice was full of energy, a stark contrast to his near-unconscious state the night before.

“Your dad is sleeping, say what you have to say quickly.” Chen Lu yawned lazily, noticing it was only 8:20.

He couldn’t remember what time he went to bed last night. All he knew was that the sky was already starting to lighten when he finally drifted off.

He really wanted to take Liang Zhirou out to play, but his body just wouldn’t cooperate.

“I contacted the school yesterday, and our quota will be approved soon.” Jiang Chao’s excitement grew with each word. “Chen Lu, you’re amazing! You were right, everything went smoothly! I heard that many others are still stuck in the process.”

“You really work fast… but you woke your dad up just to tell me this?” Chen Lu was speechless. He had already anticipated this outcome.

The school also cared about its reputation. A project with only plans versus one with an award, it was obvious which one they would prioritize.

Besides, the results they achieved were even beyond Chen Lu’s expectations. To be honest, his initial goal was to just get a participation award…

At this point, a cacophony of voices came from the other end of the line. “Let’s go check out the incubation center today! We need to pick a good spot, we’ll be using it for at least a year, right?”

“…”

If Jiang Chao were in front of him, Chen Lu would definitely give him a look of disbelief and say, “How much difference could there be? And…”

Chen Lu didn’t finish his sentence, “And our current scale is still small.” He didn’t want to dampen his good son’s enthusiasm.

As long as he, the leader, remained clear-headed, that was enough.

“I’m such a good father.” He thought to himself.

“Anyway, we have nothing else to do, let’s just go have some fun!” Jiang Chao sounded like a child, full of excitement.

Chen Lu was finally awake enough to agree with a wry smile. “Alright.”

“Damn it! I almost forgot why I called!” Jiang Chao exclaimed anxiously. “Did you confess your feelings?”

“You’ll know soon enough.”

After hanging up, he sent a message to the group, asking if anyone wanted to go together.

He knew that no one would be as enthusiastic as Jiang Chao. After all, they were just paid employees, so they probably wouldn’t go.

But there was no harm in asking, it made them feel like part of the team.

Why not ask?

Then, like a zombie just crawling out of the ground, he stumbled to the bathroom and sleepwalked through brushing his teeth and washing his face.

As expected, everyone said they were busy studying. Peng Le Yun seemed interested, but seeing that no one else was going, he lost his enthusiasm.

Chen Lu privately messaged Lin Miaomiao and Liang Zhirou, inviting them to join.

…

An hour later, in front of the school gate.

Chen Lu arrived to see Jiang Chao already waiting there, he was really serious about this.

Seeing Chen Lu’s haggard appearance, Jiang Chao curiously asked, “Every time you drink, it’s like you never get drunk, but why are you always the worst the next day?”

Chen Lu ignored him. “Including this prize money, we’ll each put in some more, and register the company in a few days, then open an account. Our first project will be the demo we made for the competition.”

“Are we still hiring?” Jiang Chao asked.

“Of course, with the school’s support funds and the prize money from the competition, we’ve got a pretty good start. We definitely need to expand our scale a bit.”

Chen Lu didn’t seem worried at all. “We’ll just put the competition ranking out there, and there will be plenty of people vying for the opportunity, and they’ll be more obedient!”

This was a matter of perspective. Chen Lu, who had experienced it firsthand, knew that while the prize money was substantial, the industry recognition wasn’t top-tier.

But for college students who didn’t know much, it was indeed a remarkable achievement.

Of course, it was also more than enough to be a stepping stone for applying for school support.

Jiang Chao was stunned, he almost choked on his cigarette. He leaned close to Chen Lu’s ear and whispered, “How is it all connected? Tell me the truth, how much did you actually plan in advance?”

“Huh? Isn’t it just a matter of using your brain?”

Chen Lu looked at him incredulously. “I thought everyone had it, don’t you?”

Just as they were bickering, Liang Zhirou and Lin Miaomiao arrived.

Liang Zhirou had specially worn the dress Chen Lu had given her. She timidly followed behind Lin Miaomiao, her gaze constantly looking away.

Lin Miaomiao found it strange and turned to ask Chen Lu, “Did you two have a fight?”

“No.” Chen Lu walked over and pulled the girl who was acting like an ostrich to his side. “We’re just together now.”

Jiang Chao seemed calm. The moment he saw Chen Lu, he could tell the outcome just by looking at his expression.

Lin Miaomiao was completely dumbfounded.

Her mouth remained open, her expression exaggerated as she gently rubbed Liang Zhirou’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me?! Don’t you love me anymore?!”

For a moment, she didn’t know whether she was happier or more shocked.

“I… I was too embarrassed to say it.”

Liang Zhirou nervously replied. Now, she felt inexplicably nervous whenever she saw Chen Lu.

Chen Lu couldn’t help but chuckle. He thought, you weren’t this shy when we first met.

He held Liang Zhirou’s hand, just like Lin Miaomiao had deliberately held her hand to show her before, and said calmly, “Yeah, she loves me more now.”

The girl lowered her head deeply, not resisting at all, letting Chen Lu hold her hand like that.

To the passersby, it looked like Chen Lu was being a pervert.

“Snowflakes are falling, the north wind is howling~~”

Lin Miaomiao turned and glared at Jiang Chao, who was singing the background music. “Shut up!”

After the shock and joy subsided, all that was left in Lin Miaomiao’s eyes was fear.

“How much dog food am I going to have to eat from you two…”

She muttered blankly.

Soon, they arrived at the school’s dedicated incubation center, a stylish building with a simple design.

None of them had been here before, because before this, neither Chen Lu nor Jiang Chao had ever thought about it.

It was even more unimaginable for Liang Zhirou and Lin Miaomiao.

After Jiang Chao contacted the person in charge, a teacher enthusiastically led them on a tour of the facility.

Lin Miaomiao and Jiang Chao were full of curiosity, looking everywhere they could. Chen Lu and Liang Zhirou followed behind slowly.

They unconsciously stood very close to each other.

“I was a bit out of it last night, I almost blacked out.”

Chen Lu suddenly spoke.

“Then, does your promise still stand?” Liang Zhirou became very nervous. She felt like she had won the lottery, afraid that she would wake up from a dream or realize she had misread the numbers.

She still felt like it was all too good to be true, and she was extremely insecure.

Chen Lu found it funny. “Of course it still stands, would I go back on my word?”

He smiled and extended his right hand towards the girl. “Do you want to hold hands?”

Liang Zhirou, like a little deer, looked left and right, making sure no one was looking before she quietly took Chen Lu’s hand.

The warmth of his touch made her heart race instantly. She could only shyly turn away her burning cheeks, not even daring to look at Chen Lu.

Why is it so straightforward…

You, you should at least keep up the act!

I’ll help you deceive myself…