Chapter 33: The Man You Found Isn't Very Reliable

"Jiang Yan, the man you found seems a bit unreliable!" Zhou Hong suddenly remembered something and said offhandedly.

"What do you mean, the man I found? I have nothing to do with him!" Jiang Yan replied irritably. At this point, she didn't even need to guess who Zhou Hong was talking about.

Zhou Hong gave an awkward smile and corrected herself, "My mistake, my mistake! What I meant was, that Su Chen seems a bit unreliable. This whole thing has been trending for a day, and he hasn't made a peep. Since it's related to him, he should at least make a statement."

Jiang Yan rolled her eyes. "Please, I've already been bombarded with enough questions. I'm already stressed out."

Then she offered a small explanation on Su Chen's behalf. "He's just an office worker, maybe he's busy and hasn't seen the news. Not everyone keeps up with this stuff every minute, after all."

Zhou Hong pursed her lips and said nothing more.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yan took out her phone and found Su Chen in her contacts. Staring at the silent chat box, she hesitated, then finally sent a message.

Jiang Yan: Little brother, are you trembling in fear right now?

At that moment, Su Chen happened to be holding his phone. It vibrated, and seeing it was Jiang Yan, he opened it at once.

Huh? Trembling in fear? Why? This woman is so baffling, he thought, and replied simply and bluntly.

Su Chen: ??

Jiang Yan saw his reply and her brows immediately relaxed.

Jiang Yan: Don't tell me you still haven't seen the news?

Su Chen: What news?

Jiang Yan: You're being hunted by the whole world and the person involved doesn't even know?

Su Chen: What the heck?

Jiang Yan: *snickering* I suggest you open the WeiWave platform and check out the number one trending topic right now.

Though confused, Su Chen followed her instructions and opened the WeiWave platform.

"Pop Princess Jiang Yan Spends the Night at a Stranger's House"—these bold words leapt out at him.

Damn! Are they talking about me?

He clicked in, and found two video clips spreading like wildfire online.

It's really me and Jiang Yan? They got us on camera—these paparazzi are everywhere.

He scrutinized the footage and, confirming his face wasn't shown, let out a small sigh of relief. But seeing the comment section filled with people trying to identify him, he was on the verge of tears.

What on earth is this? I've suddenly become public enemy number one!

Jiang Yan’s influence today was no less than that of the legendary goddess from his previous life. Though not the same type, her fan base was even stronger. She was always known as a star with zero scandals and enjoyed a stellar reputation!

Now, had he just broken her spotless record?

No wonder her fans were furious!

Su Chen: Good thing my face isn't on camera. Are you okay over there?

Jiang Yan: Oh, little brother knows how to be considerate now?

Jiang Yan: So, isn't your sister still pretty great?

Jiang Yan: See, so many of my fans are heartbroken. You've really lucked out!

Su Chen suddenly lost any desire to keep talking to her, and even felt the urge to screenshot their chat and post it online. He’d love for her fans to see just what sort of person their idol really was.

Su Chen: How would I know if you’re pretty great? Can’t see, can’t touch.

Jiang Yan: Oh, you want to touch?

Before Su Chen could reply, another message popped up.

Jiang Yan: If you really want to, you can tell me!

Jiang Yan: Maybe I’ll agree! *acting coy*

So fake! But it worked—Su Chen felt his heart flare with heat.

After a bit more playful banter, the conversation returned to normal.

Su Chen: This whole thing feels fishy. Is someone pulling strings behind the scenes?

Jiang Yan: Oh? You noticed?

She was genuinely surprised; it was normal for someone in the entertainment industry to be this sensitive, but she hadn't expected someone like Su Chen, a complete outsider, to pick up on it.

Su Chen: Obviously, who couldn't see through such a cheap trick?

Su Chen: Do you have any suspects in mind?

Su Chen: And what’s your plan now?

Jiang Yan: You’d better just pray there aren’t any new videos of you showing your face!

Jiang Yan: My company’s PR department is handling it. There’s nothing to worry about.

As for her list of suspects, there was no way she’d share that with Su Chen. After all, it was just a suspicion, and he couldn’t help anyway.

Su Chen shrugged.

Fine! Since she had a team to handle it, he’d leave it alone.

He glanced at the idle chatter in the celebrity group chat and, finding it boring, closed the app. He had more important things to do!

At that moment, in front of River City No. 2 High School.

Su Chen slowly slipped his phone into his pocket.

"Young man, waiting for your girlfriend?" the security guard, a cigarette dangling from his lips, asked as he swept the ground with one hand and held a dustpan in the other, eyeing Su Chen with a teasing look.

Su Chen smiled and shook his head. "No, I’m waiting for my sister."

The old guard snorted dismissively. "Sister, girlfriend, brother, boyfriend—it's all the same thing, isn’t it? Nothing new! I've seen it all before. Know why I’ve lived to this age? Because I mind my own business! Don’t worry, I won’t rat you out."

He chuckled as he finished.

Su Chen rolled his eyes helplessly.

It was the after-school rush. Students poured out in pairs and groups through the school gate.

The boys glanced at Su Chen, then looked away. In their minds, this guy was a bit handsome, but not more than me—nothing special.

But the girls were different.

When they spotted Su Chen, some quietly nudged their friends—handsome guy alert!—and the group would steal glances and whisper. Others tried to play it cool, sneaking peeks while their cheeks flushed pink.

Su Chen was used to this. He knew all too well how much he stood out in a crowd.

Soon, a group of three girls emerged from the school, chatting and laughing.

Su Chen waved and called out, "Tang Jiayi!"

He kept it formal—no nicknames like "brat"—since they were still at school. In this, Su Chen was always careful.

Hearing her name, Tang Jiayi's eyes lit up. She whispered goodbye to her friends and hurried over to Su Chen.

As she ran toward him, many of the students in the throng looked on in surprise.

"My god, does Tang Jiayi have a boyfriend now?"

"Who is that guy?" the boys wondered.

"Does Tang Jiayi know him? What's their relationship?" the girls whispered to each other.

But these questions stayed soft or inside their hearts.

Reaching Su Chen, Tang Jiayi naturally took his arm.

"Brother Su Chen!"

Her voice was sweet as honey.

"What brings you to school to pick me up?"

She was clearly delighted by his arrival!

Su Chen ruffled her hair and smiled. "Uncle Tang and Aunt Wu went back to their hometown, and since today is a certain someone's birthday, I was worried you might not get a proper meal!"

Tang Jiayi's face lit up with surprise. "Brother Su Chen, how did you know it was my birthday?"

Then, wrinkling her nose cutely, she added, "Who said I wouldn't get fed?"

At this point, the two girls who’d been walking with her reached the school gate. They dawdled, each step slow enough to crush an ant, peeking repeatedly in Su Chen's direction.

Tang Jiayi, exasperated, took Su Chen’s arm and went over to introduce them.

"Brother Su Chen, these are my classmates, Kong Shan and Ke Jiajia."

"And this is my brother, Su Chen."

Kong Shan, round-faced and cheerful, greeted him at once, "Hello, brother! I'm Tang Jiayi's classmate—we’re in the same dorm."

Ke Jiajia, with a delicate face and a shy manner, cheeks flushed, greeted him softly, "Hello, brother. I’m Ke Jiajia."