A cheap internet cafe reeking of smoke, instant noodles, and body odor.
In the furthest corner, a figure was slumped over a computer.
Lin Fan's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked utterly dejected.
His mind was still filled with the dazzling scenes from the restaurant yesterday.
The images replayed in his head like a movie, making him angrier the more he thought about it.
He was unwilling!
After fleeing the restaurant yesterday, he, still harboring ulterior motives, ran back to stake out near the Gu Corporation, hoping to find an opportunity to speak to Gu Qingcheng alone.
And what was the result?
Every time he approached the building, he felt several dangerous auras, making his hair stand on end, locking onto him!
There was no chance of getting in at all!
Besides receiving a barrage of disdainful looks from passersby, as if he were a lunatic, he didn't even catch a glimpse of Gu Qingcheng.
His hope was slowly fading.
He needed conclusive evidence!
On the screen in front of him, a search engine page was open.
His fingers trembled as he repeatedly typed keywords:
"Lu Cheng dirt"
"Lu Cheng lover mistress"
"Lu Cheng sugar baby female college student"
"Lu Cheng private life chaotic"...
However, the search results almost made him vomit blood on the spot.
It was either Lu Cheng's glorious image attending various high-end summits and charity galas, or major financial media praising his business acumen and his youthful achievements with effusive reports.
Dirt? Mistress?
Not a single hair!
Actually, it wasn't that there hadn't been any exposure, it was just that Lu Cheng had taken care of them all.
After all, he was going to conquer many female leads.
How could negative reports appear online?
Looking at the photo of Lu Cheng on the screen, so handsome it provoked both human and divine indignation, and with a hint of an evil, charming smile, Lin Fan felt his already fragile and sensitive heart being stabbed hundreds of times again.
[Your balance is less than 0.1 yuan. Please recharge. The system will automatically log off soon.]
A cold prompt popped up, then the screen went black, forcibly logging him off.
"Damn it!"
Lin Fan roared, a belly full of pent-up anger with nowhere to go, and slammed his fist hard on the table.
"Bang!"
Damn it!
Why did a top-tier scion have no dirt on him at all?
This was unscientific!
He didn't believe it! He wouldn't believe it even if he died!
But... he felt his empty pockets.
The few coins he had on him were what was left in his pocket when he went in three years ago.
They had long been spent on food and internet access these past two days.
Now, he didn't even have enough money to stay in the internet cafe for one more minute.
"Hey! You, kid! Why are you smashing the table! If you don't have money, get out! Don't affect my business!"
The impatient roar of the internet cafe manager came from behind him.
Lin Fan gritted his teeth, stood up dejectedly, and walked out of the internet cafe like a wild dog.
Walking on the bustling streets of Magic City, Lin Fan felt a wave of confusion.
When he was released from prison, he thought that with the Medical Immortal Inheritance in hand, he would be able to punch the Nanshan Nursing Home, kick the Beihai Kindergarten, marry the rich and beautiful Gu Qingcheng, and reach the pinnacle of life.
And what was the result?
Reality slapped him hard several times!
His fiancée was stolen by a pretty boy, and she seemed to be willing!
His proud martial prowess was like that of a three-year-old child in front of the bodyguards, defeated in one move!
As for that peerless medical skill... it wasn't that he hadn't thought of turning things around with his medical skills, like setting up a stall to treat people or something.
But now his mind was in a mess, full of evil fire and frustration, and that meager true qi simply wouldn't obey, darting around like a runaway wild dog!
Let alone treating people, he tried to use his mind to diagnose an old lady with a sprained ankle on the roadside, but his mind felt like a muddle, unable to see anything!
Could it be... that I'm just a joke in this life?
As if by a ghost, he wandered aimlessly and surprisingly arrived near the bustling university town.
Looking at the stylishly dressed college students, chattering about celebrity gossip and game skins... all of it felt out of place with him.
He walked numbly with the crowd, but the unwillingness and resentment in his heart grew relentlessly.
Why could they enjoy their youth carefree?!
He, Lin Fan, had to struggle for survival like a dog in this prosperous city!
I am the chosen one! I should be the protagonist of this world!
Suddenly!
His gaze, as if pulled by a magnet, suddenly fixed on a spot not far away.
By the roadside, a girl stood quietly, as if waiting for someone.
The girl was wearing a clean and refreshing mint green JK uniform, which made her figure appear particularly slender.
Beneath her dark, smooth, blunt bangs was a delicate face, as if she had stepped out of a manga.
Her long, straight hair was loose, and a pair of rimless glasses rested on her nose, making her look both pure and with a hint of a calm, mature woman's aura.
Especially her eyes, like clear springs in a mountain stream, were crystal clear and untainted by dust.
Her entire being exuded a kind of pure and beautiful innocence, untouched by the world.
Lin Fan's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something.
Holy cow... this girl... she's so... pure!
Ever since he was released from prison, all he had seen was coldness, betrayal, humiliation, and despair.
This sudden cleanliness and beauty ignited a nearly instinctive urge in his long-suppressed heart.
Anyway... things with Qingcheng look pretty uncertain... if I flirt with a girl now, it shouldn't... count as cheating, right?
Right! It doesn't!
He haphazardly wiped his face, trying to make himself look less like a homeless person.
Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the girl.
"Beautiful lady..."
Lin Fan's voice was a bit hoarse, and carried a hint of frivolousness he didn't even notice himself.
"Alone? Waiting for your boyfriend?"
Xia Qinghe, who was looking down at her phone, was startled by this sudden, odorous voice.
She suddenly looked up and saw the man's appearance—
His hair was so greasy it could fry a dish, his beard was scruffy, and his eyes shamelessly scrutinized her from head to toe, with a sticky gaze that made her feel disgusted.
His whole body was dirty and emitted an unpleasant smell, like a beggar who had run away from somewhere.
Xia Qinghe instinctively felt wary and repulsed.
She almost reflexively took a big step back, instantly creating a safe distance, and her delicate brows furrowed tightly.
"What do you want? Stay away from me!"
Her reaction was decisive, without the slightest hesitation, and her tone was cold and distant.
Lin Fan's forward steps, and the "handsome" smile he had just forced onto his face, instantly froze.
Stepped back... one step?
Holy cow! This small action, not very harmful, but extremely insulting!
Passersby around had already noticed the commotion and cast curious glances, some even whispering.
"Damn, isn't that Xia Qinghe, the campus belle of the finance department?"
"Who's this guy? So bold? Daring to harass her?"
"He looks like a beggar, probably has a screw loose, right?"
A strong sense of embarrassment instantly overwhelmed his previous thoughts, transforming into resentment.
Damn it! Giving face but not taking it!
Although he cursed inwardly, he still had some bottom line, not hitting women... "Damn it..."
He cursed under his breath, glaring fiercely at Xia Qinghe.
Then, amidst the mocking whispers and pointing of the surrounding people, he quickly blended into the crowd.
In his heart, he had come to hate this unappreciative girl too.
Stupid girl! You don't know a good thing when you see it! Can't you see I'm a potential stock?
Now you ignore me, but later I'll make you unable to reach me!
...Meanwhile.
In the study of Lu Family Manor.
Lu Cheng listened to his bodyguard report Lin Fan's itinerary, from searching for dirt in an internet cafe to wandering dejectedly on the streets.
Finally... he, still lustful, went to hit on one of Lu Cheng's pre-destined women, Xia Qinghe.
Hearing Xia Qinghe's disgust and rejection of Lin Fan, Lu Cheng's lips curved into a faint smile.
Well done.
Almost at the same time Lin Fan was rejected, he also received a system notification.
[Ding! Detected that the Son of Fortune Lin Fan failed to hit on someone in public, his mentality exploded, Villain Value +888!]
He didn't expect that Xia Qinghe, who wasn't even a female lead in Lin Fan's "divine doctor out of prison", could also provide Villain Value?
It seemed that anything that could make the Son of Fortune suffer, be unhappy, or have his mentality explode, could be exploited.
"Wasn't he deeply devoted to Gu Qingcheng?"
"Seeing a pure campus belle, how did he also go over?"
"He's like this and still has the nerve to hit on her, who gave him the courage? Jingru?"
Lu Cheng's slender fingers tapped lightly on the smooth rosewood desk, intermittently.
The rhythm was steady, carrying a sense of calm control over everything.
"Dirt? Want to find it to show Gu Qingcheng?"
"Naive."
"But..."
"Lest the leeks don't grow."
"Xia Qinghe? Perfect."
Lu Cheng waved his hand, signaling his subordinate to withdraw.
Then, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" A timid, soft voice of a girl came through the receiver.
"Qing He, it's me."
Lu Cheng's voice instantly became gentle, with just the right amount of concern, as if he were a friendly older brother next door.
"I'm not busy with work this afternoon, and I wanted to see you."
"I'll be at your school gate in twenty minutes, do you have time to meet?"
"Ah?! Lu... Brother Lu Cheng?!" Xia Qinghe on the other end of the phone was clearly surprised and delighted, her voice rising several octaves, "I have time! I'll be right there! Wait for me!"
"Mm, don't rush, be careful on the way."
After hanging up the phone, the gentle smile on Lu Cheng's face gradually turned playful.
"Lin Fan, Lin Fan, I hope your wild dog eyes... are still useful."