Chapter 34: An Extreme Reversal, the Truth Revealed

Inside the women's dormitory, a quiet and sweet-looking girl was watching a video about "First Affection" Su Chen, her face filled with an indescribable, deep concern. As the video concluded, she let out a long, involuntary sigh, the burden of worry finally lifting from her heart. This girl was Sun Tiantian, a freshman majoring in finance at Renmin University of China, known on Douyin by the handle "Autumn Breeze Seeks Old Acquaintances."

From the moment the controversy began, Sun Tiantian had never wavered in her belief that Su Chen was not the type of person to bully the weak or disregard the lives of others. Even when Su Chen was cursed and reviled by millions, and even after his Douyin account was officially banned, she remained steadfast and unwavering in her support. Ever since his first livestream, she had been by his side, witnessing everything he went through. In return, Su Chen had accompanied her, providing her with countless moments of spiritual solace.

The first page of Sun Tiantian’s notebook contained a passage Su Chen had said to her during their very first livestream connection. At that time, her grades were plummeting, she was filled with daily anxiety, and she was on the verge of giving up on herself.

"If you want to live an ordinary life, you will only encounter ordinary setbacks. If you want to live the best life, you must suffer the greatest pain. This world is fair; everything is polarized. If you want the best, you will surely be given the most pain. If you can push through, you are a winner; if you can't, then go back and be an ordinary person! Success is not about how much power or money you have, nor is it about selling your soul; it is about whether you can smile through every single day."

One can imagine a starless, moonless midnight, a sunny, bright young man speaking these words with such gentleness to a lost and sorrowful girl. Sun Tiantian didn't care what others thought of Su Chen; to her, he was a lighthouse and a compass guiding her journey. It was precisely these words that gave her the infinite courage and strength to eventually be admitted to the finance department at Renmin University. To Sun Tiantian, Su Chen was far more than just an internet influencer to follow; he was a trusted friend and a life mentor who had guided her out of the dark.

"Hey, what are you thinking about, Tiantian? You’re smiling so happily—did you find money?" The dormitory door pushed open, and a slightly plump, cute-looking girl walked in.

Seeing her, Sun Tiantian waved and said, "Xiaolin, come here, look at this video about 'First Affection' Su Chen."

"Oh, Tiantian, you really are hopeless!" the girl named Xiaolin said with a sigh of exasperation. "That Su Chen is just a piece of trash. What's so good about him that you can't let him go?"

Xiaolin held deep disdain and even hatred for Su Chen. In her eyes, such influencers had no bottom line, were hypocritical monsters, and didn't deserve to exist. Before his account was banned, Xiaolin had frequently visited his comment sections to mock and insult him. When she found out Sun Tiantian was a loyal fan, she found it hard to believe and had subjected her to endless criticism and warnings.

However, Sun Tiantian always responded with a gentle shake of her head, her expression one of firm, unquestionable trust and persistence.

"Oh, Linlin, just watch it and you'll understand!" Sun Tiantian said with a smile.

"Fine, I want to see what kind of tricks he's pulling now!" Xiaolin took the phone and began to watch. After just the opening, she couldn't help but feel shocked and bewildered. How could Su Chen be linked to the "Greatest Strategist"? The gap between them was like heaven and earth!

As the video continued, her jaw dropped, and it wouldn't close.

"This... you're not joking, right? Is everything in this video true?" Even though her judgment told her this was likely the truth, she still found it hard to believe.

"Yes, I talked to him before. Su Chen told me he had his reasons. I assume it was to raise money for that mother and daughter," Sun Tiantian nodded in response.

"It really is like that..." Xiaolin said, her face full of shock. "I honestly didn't expect him to be such a kind person... I was the one who misunderstood him all along!" Thinking back to the times she had shouted abuse in his comment sections, Xiaolin felt a pang of shame.

"See, I told you, but you didn't believe me!" Sun Tiantian chuckled, feeling genuinely happy for Su Chen’s redemption.

"Alright, alright, I know I was wrong!" Xiaolin pleaded with a fawning expression. "When you meet him, please say sorry for me, okay? Apologize on my behalf!"

"I won't! If you get the chance, say it yourself—that's the only way it'll be sincere."

"Fine, and when I do, I'll tell him there's a very cute and pure-looking girl who has been silently supporting him behind his back!"

"Pfft, I don't need you to tell him; he already knows!"

...

At the same time, Su Yueying also saw the video. Having already guessed most of what happened, she wasn't particularly surprised. But when she heard Su Chen utter those words about the weaknesses of human nature, he appeared so tall and dazzling. He was worthy of being the boy who grew up under her care—so brilliant, so handsome, and so powerful.

Later, after Lin Yaoyao finished her day of filming, Su Yueying couldn't wait to show her the video.

"Wow... this person is amazing. To think of such a method—he's a genius!"

"But he sacrificed so much for that mother and daughter; he truly is a good person!" Lin Yaoyao remarked with emotion after finishing the video.

Su Yueying smiled, unable to resist teasing her: "Yaoyao, guess who this person is?"

"Uh... I can't guess. Who is it?" Lin Yaoyao was puzzled. Suddenly, as if realizing something, she looked at Su Yueying in disbelief. "It can't be what I'm thinking, right? Don't tell me this 'First Affection' Su Chen is *that* Su Chen?"

"Congratulations, you got it right!" Su Yueying laughed. "Why else do you think I insisted on hiring him for your PR? Su Chen’s grasp of the human heart, his methods when facing trouble, and his decisiveness—no matter what problems you encounter in the future, I believe he will always have a solution. What’s even rarer is that Su Chen is pure-hearted; he would never do anything to harm you."

Lin Yaoyao felt a bit moved. She hadn't expected that the cheeky, irreverent Su Chen she chatted with was actually such a formidable person. It really was true that you can't judge a book by its cover. Wait—now that she looked closer, was Su Chen actually this handsome? She had previously thought he was just an ordinary, unkempt boy!

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yaoyao sent a WeChat message to Su Chen.

"Su Chen, I saw your video on Douyin. I didn't expect you to be so impressive!"

Soon, Su Chen replied: "Oh, that's rare. Can you tell how impressive I am just by looking at my face? Is it through my nose?"

Lin Yaoyao: "............???"

Lin Yaoyao was confused. What did his nose have to do with anything? She went online to search for it...

Lin Yaoyao: "Su Chen, you bastard, you pervert!"

*(Received indignation points from Lin Yaoyao, +396)*

Su Chen: "Oh... so that's not what you meant. I thought you were talking about physiognomy!"

Lin Yaoyao: "Go to hell!"

"Well," Su Chen replied teasingly, "actually, that's not impossible either... Haha, alright, alright, I'm just joking with you. That matter was just a small trick; no need to be so impressed."

Lin Yaoyao: "Pfft, give you an inch and you take a mile!"

Su Chen: "Fine, then I'll answer it this way: I admit I am a genius who is resourceful, far-sighted, and insightful into the human heart—a once-in-a-century talent. Is that better?"

Lin Yaoyao was silent for a long time before replying: "Su Chen, have you always been this shameless?"

Su Chen: "How could that be? I’m so handsome, it would be a pity not to show it off. I have to rely on my face to make a living, after all!"