Chapter 015: Young Master Jiang, Narcissism Is an Illness

At that moment, Luo Shuyao was also holding her phone, reading the news. She asked Jiang Junwen,
“Ah Wen, is this girl the same one from earlier? Did she really stalk and secretly take photos of you?”

Yu Zhenghao and Li Wenyao exchanged glances and both pulled out their phones.

A few seconds later, Li Wenyao frowned, his tone slightly cold:
“These gossip accounts write whatever they want. Did they even verify anything with the people involved? Slandering someone without basis like this?”

Yu Zhenghao snorted:
“These marketing accounts only care about traffic. How many entertainment news pieces online are actually true? How many of them actually verify with the people involved?”

Li Wenyao looked at Jiang Junwen, frowning:
“Ah Wen, how are you planning to handle this?”

Luo Shuyao had originally wanted to scold Shen Qingli, but seeing how Yu Zhenghao and Li Wenyao were both defending her, she felt a little unhappy.

However, she didn’t have the privilege to act spoiled anymore. She might still need to rely on these three in the future.

So she said with a concerned look:
“Ah Wen, so this is fake news? That’s really unfair to that girl. Shouldn’t you try to help and get the post taken down?”

Jiang Junwen had remained silent with a dark expression. At this point, he was already furious.

He sneered:
“Who even is she to me? Why should I handle this for her? Besides, she did secretly take pictures of me. That’s a fact.”

Then he muttered under his breath:
“Since she’s working for Gao Xuanzhen, let Gao Xuanzhen clean up the mess. What does it have to do with me?”

Yu Zhenghao and Li Wenyao exchanged another glance—they both felt Jiang Junwen was acting strange and prickly.

Still, they guessed it might be because Madam Jiang was trying to break him and Luo Shuyao up, and Luo Shuyao might be going abroad soon.

So, they didn’t say anything more.

Luo Shuyao, seeing that Jiang Junwen didn’t defend Shen Qingli, felt secretly pleased. She clung to his arm and said,
“Alright, let’s not talk about irrelevant people. Ah Wen, eat up. I’ve got class at 2:30 this afternoon—you’ve got to come with me!”

Jiang Junwen paused mid-bite. After a few seconds of hesitation, he turned to her:
“You have class this afternoon?”

Luo Shuyao nodded.
“Yeah, it’s a required major course. If I skip, I’ll get points deducted. What if I fail?”

Jiang Junwen thought to himself:
You’re leaving the country in less than two weeks and won’t be back for five years. Why do you even care about passing or failing?

At the same time, he remembered that he also had class that afternoon.

If Shen Qingli didn’t have photos to show for it…

After several minutes of silence, Jiang Junwen finally said:
“Zhenghao, take her to class this afternoon. You’re free, right?”

The moment those words left his mouth, the other three were stunned. They all looked up, shocked.

Jiang Junwen, annoyed, avoided Luo Shuyao’s gaze and told Yu Zhenghao:
“My mom’s watching me like a hawk—especially these past few days. I can’t skip class anymore.”

Yu Zhenghao quickly nodded, recovering from the surprise:
“Right, right. No problem, Shuyao. I’ll take you. I’ve got no classes and my mom doesn’t care what I do.”

Luo Shuyao: “……”

She nodded on the surface, but her heart was uneasy.

Since when was Jiang Junwen afraid of his mom?

She always kept an eye on him, but he never cared before.

Her heart sank slowly.

---

Back at school, Shen Qingli also saw the news post accusing her of secretly filming Jiang Junwen.

But soon, the post was suddenly deleted.

Not only that, but all the other similar gossip posts were completely wiped clean from the internet.

On top of that, someone had filmed a clip of Shen Qingli using her phone to openly record Jiang Junwen—with his knowledge. Although the footage was a bit blurry, it was enough to prove she wasn’t secretly filming him.

That clarification video was shared widely.

When she returned to class, no one whispered behind her back anymore.

Qian Xiqiao searched the internet thoroughly in class. Aside from some chat group gossip, there was nothing left online—only the clarification remained.

Qian Xiqiao was shocked:
“Whoa. That fast? Just deleted everything from the internet? Who’s got that kind of power—must be the Jiang family, right?”

That was the only explanation she could think of—because the Jiang family certainly had the power to do that.

But Shen Qingli hesitated as she stared at her phone.

She didn’t think Jiang Junwen was the one who did it.

Similar gossip had spread in their past life too, but even when their relationship was decent, Jiang Junwen never lifted a finger to take them down.

There’s no reason that, in this life—when their relationship was clearly worse—he’d suddenly grow a conscience and help her.

So if it wasn’t Jiang Junwen… then who?

Madam Jiang?

Definitely not. She was even more cold-hearted than Jiang Junwen.

Unable to figure it out, Shen Qingli decided not to think about it anymore.

Luckily, that afternoon, Jiang Junwen unexpectedly returned to class. Shen Qingli took his photo like usual and left.

Though classmates still whispered, their gazes were more curious than hostile.

Just like that, Shen Qingli enjoyed two peaceful days.

But on the third day, perhaps because Jiang Junwen’s attention was no longer focused on her, Luo Shuyao started to feel insecure—worried that he didn’t like her anymore.

So she stirred up trouble again.

As a result, Jiang Junwen ditched class early that morning.

Just as Shen Qingli arrived at the school gate, she saw him walking out briskly, carrying a black crossbody bag.

Shen Qingli: “……”

She stared at his back and felt a little ridiculous.

She actually thought he had changed—that he’d stopped skipping class.

But really, none of this had anything to do with her.

At least she didn’t have to take photos today.

She was already feeling annoyed to begin with.

Shen Qingli ignored him, pretending not to see anything, and turned to walk into the school.

She didn’t get a photo today, so Madam Jiang would definitely be furious. She might even send bodyguards to capture Jiang Junwen.

When that happens, the mother and son would surely blow up at each other.

Just thinking about it felt like another good show was about to unfold.

After all, that kind of thing happened plenty of times in her previous life—Jiang Junwen getting dragged home in the middle of a date with Luo Shuyao.

Shen Qingli walked straight ahead without looking sideways. As Jiang Junwen strode toward his sports car, something caught his eye and he instinctively turned his head.

He saw Shen Qingli, backpack on, already walking toward the school gate.

Jiang Junwen suddenly remembered the photo-taking thing.

He also remembered he was going to celebrate Luo Shuyao’s birthday today. If Madam Gao Xuanzhen found out halfway through, there would definitely be drama.

His face darkened.

He paused, then turned around and quickly caught up to Shen Qingli.

At that moment, Shen Qingli was messaging Qian Xiqiao, who had asked her to bring breakfast. Shen Qingli had just asked her to save her a seat.

Before she could hit send, someone suddenly bumped into her shoulder and snatched her phone right out of her hand.

Shen Qingli: “???”

The unexpected move left her stunned—someone had snatched her phone!

She quickly reacted and chased after the thief. “Stop right there!”

As she shouted, she caught sight of the culprit.

It was Jiang Junwen!

He had already run a few meters away with his long legs.

Jiang Junwen, walking backward as he held her phone, called out to her:
“It’s Shuyao’s birthday today. Zhenghao and I are going to buy her a gift and host a party. Just cover for me with my mom today. I’ll be good and go to class tomorrow.”

He spoke as if it were perfectly reasonable.

As if Shen Qingli should be covering for him.

In her past life, she did exactly that—always covering for him, not even telling him about his mother’s arrangements so as not to damage their relationship.

Jiang Junwen waved her phone at her. “I’ll talk to Gao Xuanzhen myself today.”

Shen Qingli: “!!!”

Enraged, she ran after him and shouted,
“Give me back my phone! Someone just stole my phone! Can someone help me?!”

There were a lot of students at the school gate. Some turned when they heard her shouting.

A few nearby saw what happened and recognized that the phone thief was Jiang Junwen.

And so… no one dared to help.

Jiang Junwen ran quickly.

Before Shen Qingli could catch up, he had already opened the door of his sports car and climbed in.

He stuffed her phone into his pocket and complained,
“Shen Qingli, what is wrong with you? I told you—it’s Shuyao’s birthday today! Birthday, understand? I’ve celebrated her birthday every year—I can’t miss this one. I’ll be back by 8 tonight. Just pretend you don’t know anything. Is that so hard?”

Shen Qingli sneered.

Celebrate Luo Shuyao’s birthday every year?

In the past life, during their five years together, what did he say whenever it was her birthday?

He said he would only ever celebrate her birthday in this lifetime.

Furious, Shen Qingli kicked his sports car.

A grey footprint immediately appeared on the sleek blue Bugatti.

Jiang Junwen’s temple vein twitched.

Shen Qingli kicked it again—BANG—and shouted,
“Give me back my phone!”

Jiang Junwen glared at her with dark eyes and growled,
“Shen Qingli, and you say you don’t like me? When I mentioned Shuyao’s birthday just now, I saw the jealousy in your eyes. You’re jealous that I’m celebrating her birthday, aren’t you?”

Shen Qingli slapped her palm against the car window and cursed:
“Jiang Junwen, are you insane? Narcissism is a disease—go get it treated!”

His expression turned stormy. He started the engine.
“I’ll be back at 8 tonight. Get your phone from me then. I’ll explain things to Gao Xuanzhen myself.”

With that, he slammed the gas pedal—VROOM!—and sped off.

Shen Qingli: “……”

She stomped her foot in rage and yelled,
“Jiang Junwen, go to hell!”

Seething, she made up her mind. Her father had to resign. And she would find more part-time jobs to earn money.

Neither Madam Jiang nor Jiang Junwen was easy to deal with. Being stuck between them was suffocating.

Now, without her phone, she couldn’t contact Madam Jiang.

Of course, if Madam Jiang tried to call her, Jiang Junwen might just decline the call.

Later, she’d have to explain the situation in person anyway.

Fine. She’d just tell the truth.

But without a phone, she couldn’t ride the bus or pay for anything.

Forget it. She’d ask Qian Xiqiao to scan a code for a shared bike later. It’d only take about an hour to ride home—completely manageable.

No one would be contacting her anyway.

She thought of someone—Senior Pei…

It had already been three days since she last saw him.

He probably wouldn’t be reaching out either.