The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 94

Cen Xiao raised a hand to hold Li Rong’s waist, his gaze tracing Li Rong’s features with unmasked, fervent love.

After a long moment, he swallowed and said in a low voice, “I’ll take responsibility too.”

Li Rong tilted his head, his tongue pressing against his teeth. Then he propped himself up on one hand, patting Cen Xiao’s arm with the other. “Get up. If someone takes a picture, this pose is definitely making it to the top of the forums.”

Cen Xiao’s embrace wasn’t tight to begin with, so Li Rong easily pushed himself off, flipping over to sit on the grass.

Cen Xiao sat up as well, brushing the grass off his clothes.

Li Rong drawled lazily, “So does this mean I’ll have a chance to tour the Xiao family’s private collection in the future?”

It was said to be filled with priceless treasures passed down through generations. Occasionally, a piece or two would be loaned to museums, but the chance to see the entire collection at once was practically unheard of.

Cen Xiao leaned close to Li Rong’s ear, his tone teasing, “If you want to see, just let me know. I can make it happen.”

Li Rong chuckled, sitting cross-legged as his fingers played idly with the grass, twirling blades in loops. “Not now. I’m broke. Watching too much would just make me feel unbalanced.”

Cen Xiao gave a light laugh. “Let’s talk business. Han Jiang assigned five people each to me and Du Mingli. My team is made up of A University graduates—very much the academic type. One of them is even your senior from the same department, though he didn’t pursue further studies after graduation and switched to the education field.”

Li Rong nodded. “The people applying to District Nine sure come from all walks of life.”

“Indeed,” Cen Xiao replied, his tone cool. “But Han Jiang didn’t forget his little schemes. The people with Du Mingli mostly have connections to pharmaceutical companies or knowledge of the biotech industry. On my end, the closest connection is your senior, but he entered A University at sixteen, graduated at twenty, and then spent twelve years teaching. He’s likely forgotten all the relevant knowledge by now.”

“Twelve years…” 

His mind snagging on the number. It struck a chord because Aunt Hui had been running her stall at A University for the same twelve years, about to enter her thirteenth.

Cen Xiao: “Our credentials aren’t issued yet, but once they are, Du Mingli and I will have people keeping tabs on each other’s progress. He’ll be watching me, and I’ll be watching him. So you…”

Li Rong knew what was coming. Life would have to be even more careful going forward. Not only was the shadowy mastermind keeping an eye on him, but also Du Mingli, who saw Cen Xiao as a rival.

“Speaking of being watched,” Li Rong remarked, “one of my dorm mates is hilariously bad at it. I haven’t figured out who’s paying him, but if they’re serious about gathering intel from me, using him is just plain dumb.”

After all, he mostly stayed at Cen Xiao’s apartment these days. If it weren’t for his need to dig information out of He Changfeng, he wouldn’t bother returning to the dorm at all.

Cen Xiao narrowed his eyes. “If he’s bothering you, I can have him transferred.”

Li Rong shook his head. “No need. Let’s see what he’s trying to do first. By the way, don’t you have class right now?”

“I do,” Cen Xiao replied.

“…Then why aren’t you attending?” Li Rong blinked, puzzled.

Cen Xiao raised an eyebrow. “Is it necessary?”

Li Rong: “…”

Fair enough. Like himself, Cen Xiao had already mastered everything the classes offered. But unlike Li Rong, Cen Xiao had to maintain appearances, as District Nine’s scrutiny demanded a semblance of diligence.

However, who in their right mind would dare cross the son of the District Three president? Especially in a department where most professors were involved in projects with Blue Pivot.

“By the way,” Li Rong changed the topic, “Lin Zhen said he’s coming over later. His class has a short film project, and they want to ask Aunt Hui if she’d be willing to appear in it. We’re planning to have lunch together afterward. But the cafeteria won’t do; the tea restaurant outside the south gate is a better option.”

“Alright,” Cen Xiao said, standing up. “I’ll head back to class for show. See you at lunch.”

Li Rong smirked, teasingly asking, “For show? You sure you don’t need to actually learn something?”

Cen Xiao leaned down, planting a quick kiss on Li Rong’s lips before walking away. “If I lacked basic self-study skills, I wouldn’t have gotten into A University.”

***

At lunchtime, Lin Zhen arrived after a twenty-minute cab ride. This was the first time their little group had reunited since the semester started.

“A University is huge!” Lin Zhen marveled. “At our film academy, you can walk across the entire campus. A University needs shuttle buses!”

Jian Fu puffed up with pride. “Of course! A University has seven libraries alone. If you want access, I might lend you my student card—if you beg me nicely.”

Lin Zhen shot him a glare, joking, “Shameless! You freeload every time you come to my campus!”

Li Rong, intrigued, asked, “I thought first- and second-year computer science courses were packed. When did you have time to visit the film academy?”

Jian Fu stiffened for a moment before stammering, “Uh… they’re not that packed. About the same as my brother’s business management schedule.”

Lin Zhen frowned suspiciously, poking Jian Fu’s shoulder. “You told me you had tons of free time and even wanted to audit our acting classes!”

Jian Fu flinched at the touch, his voice betraying a slight tremor. “Uh… well, come on. University classes are easy. I aced my certification exams back in middle school!”

Lin Zhen squinted at him for a few seconds, skeptical. Jian Fu always acted a bit goofy around him, making it hard to gauge his true abilities.

Li Rong checked the time and shifted the conversation. “Lin Zhen, isn’t there a singing talent show starting soon? Did you sign up?”

Lin Zhen paused, looking sheepish. “Yeah, the organizers came to our school to promote it. Lots of classmates applied. How did you know?”

Li Rong shook his head with a faint smile. 

He had a feeling Lin Zhen had forgotten his earlier advice.

“If you want to join, go for it. Worry about the finals when you get there,” Li Rong said.

It didn’t matter if Lin Zhen had forgotten—this time, he could help those around him avoid all the risks.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lin Zhen fidgeted with his chopsticks. “I just signed up and haven’t even made it past the preliminary screening. I’m just going to get some experience. My studies are still the priority.”

Jian Fu muttered under his breath, “With your amazing singing, the show’s judges must be blind if they don’t let you pass the preliminaries.”

Ji Xiaochuan chimed in, “Exactly, exactly. And Lin Zhen is… uh, also good-looking. Talent shows love that.”

Lin Zhen, who had always been modest, couldn’t take compliments well. He quickly changed the subject, turning to Xu Tanghui. “By the way, Aunt Hui, we have a class assignment to shoot a ten-minute short film. There’s a role that’s perfect for you—would you be willing to do a cameo?”

Xu Tanghui smiled shyly and leaned back slightly. “I don’t know how to act. I wouldn’t want to mess up your project.”

Lin Zhen pleaded pitifully, “You just need to be yourself! It’s really simple. Otherwise, we’ll have to camp out at the production studio gates and beg for extras.”

Xu Tanghui couldn’t bring herself to say no to these kids. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded. “As long as I’m not making things harder for you.”

Lin Zhen beamed with satisfaction and raised his hand as if painting a picture. “We’ll upload the final cut online. Your role is super touching—if it blows up, you might get more customers for your business!”

Xu Tanghui immediately waved her hands. “No, no, I don’t need that.”

Jian Fu reached out and turned Lin Zhen’s face toward him with a playful, jealous tone. “Why didn’t you ask me to cameo? I’m pretty camera-friendly, you know.”

Lin Zhen lowered his eyes to the hand Jian Fu had placed on his chin, pausing for a moment. All he could feel was the warmth of Jian Fu’s fingers, and then, inexplicably, his own face started to heat up.

Uncomfortably, he batted away Jian Fu’s hand, his gaze flickering as he swallowed hard. “Thanks, but no thanks. Our school has no shortage of guys your age who look good on camera.”

What he meant was that on campus, you could find anyone from the drama, directing, acting, or music departments who could look good and perform well on camera. They didn’t lack young people eager to play lead roles.

But that didn’t mean Jian Fu was the same as everyone else in his eyes.

Jian Fu understood Lin Zhen’s meaning, but he still felt a little stung, unable to force a smile.

So, the film academy wasn’t just packed with beautiful women—it had plenty of handsome guys too.

What a lousy place!

Sensing Jian Fu’s mood dip, Cen Xiao cleared his throat to change the subject and distract him. “Alright, let’s eat while we exchange some information. Li Rong and I are probably going to be very busy soon.”

Cen Xiao briefly outlined the matters related to the Ninth District, Meijiang Pharmaceuticals, Han Jiang, and Du Mingli.

Lin Zhen, Ji Xiaochuan, and Xu Tanghui didn’t know much about the internal battles of Blue Pivot or Hongsuo, so they just listened quietly.

Jian Fu, however, chimed in with some frustration. “The Ghost Eye Group sounds intimidating, but it’s not much in practice. And Han Jiang? He’s no good either. There were rumors in District One that his useless son got into a top 10 overseas university by bribing three high-profile Hongsuo professors for recommendation letters. If it weren’t for District Nine’s influence, who’d write them?”

Cen Xiao replied calmly, “Such stories may sound bad, but they aren’t inaccurate. If they’ve spread, it’s because Han Jiang approved them. If Liu Tanzhi’s media resources are controlled by Han Jiang, it shows he’s already infiltrated internet platforms and has some control over public discourse. You guys in District One need to stay vigilant.”

Li Rong finished a bite of curry-covered fish ball and wiped his mouth. “Let me share my side of the story.”

He explained the relationship between He Changfeng and Meijiang Pharmaceuticals, the oddities about Song He, and the encounter with Zhang Zhaohe.

Although they suspected Zhang Zhaohe wasn’t as simple as he seemed, his position at A University didn’t suggest he could cause any major disturbances.

Ji Xiaochuan, chewing on a steamed rib, was wide-eyed and engrossed in the conversation. If not for meeting Li Rong, she’d probably never be exposed to such secrets.

“Our…professors really look down on…Zhang Zhaohe. They say…he’s been misleading students…for years.”

Li Rong said indifferently, “Not just misleading students—he’s also entirely indifferent about it.”

During their last meeting, Li Rong could tell that Zhang Zhaohe sincerely hoped he would join a better program. Perhaps in Zhang’s mind, Li Rong was worth saving. But as for the other students in his class, Zhang’s affable exterior hid his utter lack of concern for them.

Xu Tanghui, having listened to all the information, set down her chopsticks with a furrowed brow, lost in thought.

Noticing her unusual expression, Li Rong looked over and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, Aunt Hui?”

It seemed Xu Tanghui hadn’t fully pieced together her thoughts yet. She lightly tapped her forehead in frustration, blaming herself for her unreliable memory. Hesitantly, she said, “You mentioned that golden, tower-shaped emblem…I feel like I’ve seen it before. Definitely seen it. But where?”