Chapter 497: The Second Campus Beauty Ranking

Once you meet someone, it seems like chances to bump into them grow. It might sound mystical but there could be some science to it. Jiang Qin couldn’t figure it out.

On Thursday afternoon, after leaving the group-buy headquarters, Jiang Qin went to the gym to see Chao play basketball and ran into Xu Jia-rou and her roommates.

The popular campus beauty was wearing a short floral dress, revealing smooth, white thighs and a full chest, attracting many glances. Her shouts of “Good shot!” did not seem out of place in the basketball court.

“Senior, we meet again.”

“Indeed, what a coincidence.”

Jiang Qin, seated in the stands, nodded slightly, looking like a celibate god who knew nothing of romance.

Anyone else might have received an eye roll from Xu Jia-rou given her status as a campus beauty. But Jiang Qin’s demeanor seemed utterly charming.

Especially the phrase “worth over a billion,” just thinking about it made her heart race.

A few of Xu Jia-rou’s roommates kept chattering, commenting how fashionable Jiang-senior’s outfit was and guessing its high-end brand, though it was just a cheap buy from Wanzhong Mall.

“Isn’t she second on the campus beauty list? She has such a sweet smile. Lucky you, Jiang.”

At this moment, Cao Guangyu was also in the stands, cheering for Chao and muttered under his breath.

Jiang Qin turned to him: “Just a greeting and I’m blessed? What about those who call me ‘God’? Shouldn’t they be pregnant by now?”

“Then why didn’t she greet me?”

“You’re too handsome, a rich second generation exuding non-ordinary vibes. She’s scared, even though she’s pretty.”

Cao Guangyu smirked, suddenly finding Jiang Qin particularly agreeable today.

After finishing his sentence, Jiang Qin saw Chao leap up fiercely, fast and strong, aiming for a dunk under the hoop which everyone assumed was a shot, but it turned out to be a pass.

The tall receiver stepped back, leaped again, and successfully scored the basket.

The score settled at 26-25, causing a cheer across the court as the basketball team crowded around Chao, celebrating their mighty guard.

Watching Chao embraced by muscular teammates, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but swallow dryly, feeling goosebumps on his arm.

“So envious.”

Ren Ziqiang patted his thigh: “Didn’t expect Chao’s basketball skills to be so phenomenal. Jiang, our heights have gone to waste.”

Cao Guangyu glared at him: “Damn Ren Ziqiang! Why are you excluding me? Could we three actually die?”

“Sorry Cao-bro, I meant our three towering halves are wasted.”

“??????”

The basketball game was an informal event by the basketball club, but there were still prizes for the winners.

Later, someone stirred up that boss Jiang of the group-buy was watching the game. The basketball club’s president warmly invited him to present the awards to Chao’s team.

“This basketball club president is quite capable. Managed to get a free presenter. If a photo of this gets out, next year’s recruitment will be easy.”

“Hey, since it’s a heartfelt invitation, let this Yanzi add some sparkle to the game.”

Jiang Qin patted his thigh, smiled helplessly, left the stands, and went up to the stage.

After hearing this, Cao Guangyu’s skin crawled, wondering when he could pull off such a smooth act.

“Senior Jiang really does have a certain demeanor.”

“Rich people do have an aura, but he isn’t pretentious. He speaks very approachable.”

Xu Jia-rou, sitting on the other side of the stands with her roommates, was chattering away.

Hearing Xu Jia-rou’s candid thoughts about Jiang Qin, her roommates were surprised: “You know him already?”

“Yes, didn’t I mention? Zhihu invited me for a photoshoot, and senior Jiang was there too.”

“You even know the owner of Zhihu? Isn’t the top campus beauty ranking secured then?”

“It should be, I’ve already reported the first-place for rigging the votes. Once she is disqualified, I’ll definitely be first.”

Her roommate pursed her lips: “You sure it was rigged?”

Xu Jia-rou chuckled: “It says she’s a third-year, odd right? The third-years have already had their turn. If she were really a goddess, why didn’t she place back then?”

“Makes sense…”

While talking, Xu Jia-rou pulled out her phone and posted in her campaign group that the first-place must have cheated and urged everyone to vote for her.

Students are a justice-loving group, no need for proof to issue a verdict. In the last few days, Xu Jia-rou’s votes surged.

However, with three days left, she still trailed Feng Nanshu by several hundred votes, and her hope for a disqualification due to rigging hadn’t materialized.

Getting impatient, Xu Jia-rou publicly posted in forums, stating she didn’t care about being first or second but hoped the contest would be fair.

“Each of my votes was hard-earned by my fans. If I lose to trickery, I’d rather not accept the prize.”

“I can be second, or even third, but I won’t let everyone’s efforts lose to disgraceful tactics!”

Xu Jia-rou, from the literature faculty, indeed had a way with words. A few sentences stirred up everyone’s emotions, and her votes began to rise sharply.

On the final Friday of May, the voting for the campus beauty and beau contests closed, fixing all rankings.

The results of this beauty contest were a hot topic on campus daily.

It was like a thorough check of attractiveness across faculties, with a lot of good-looking individuals, bound to be a current hot discussion.

After all, not every student, unlike Jiang Qin, used their time worrying about business. They had plenty of time to indulge in gossip besides studying.

At 5 PM, the campus beauty and beau lists were released on Zhihu’s banner.

“Jia-rou, you’re the top campus beauty now!”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s just been announced, you’re first, Feng Nanshu is second.”

“She didn’t get disqualified…”

Even as Xu Jia-rou clinched the top spot, she still harbored reservations about the runner-up.

All over the campus, fan groups were discussing this, especially since Xu Jia-rou had openly criticized the fairness of the list, and her eventually winning made it seem like Feng Nanshu’s second place was indeed a rigging.

So, people criticized Zhihu for ignoring the obvious rigging yet letting “Feng Nanshu” take second.

“It’s normal, Zhihu can’t admit their list is unfair, else the competition’s credibility would be shot. What would they do in the future?”

“Still, they shouldn’t openly award a cheater.”

“Everyone could go protest at the award ceremony. Make noise when the second prize is awarded.”

“Hahaha, public protests might be too harsh.”

“Let them know, we can’t stand dishonesty!”

The Education Media Center also paid attention to this Zhihu beauty pageant, hoping to blend in with the students despite broadcasting official narratives.

So, the next day after the results, Xu Jia-rou was invited for an interview.

During the interview, she met the first-ever top campus beauty, Chu Siqi, now the station head at the Broadcasting Station.

The two were comparably attractive, but Xu Jia-rou boasted a fuller figure, slightly edging out.

“Senior, will you be presenting my award?”

“Me?”

After the interview, Xu Jia-rou looked at Chu Siqi: “You were the first-ever top campus beauty. Your presenting would be like passing the torch, might even make a splash on the forums.”

Chu Siqi, after a long silence, advised: “Junior, don’t take this campus beauty title too seriously.”

“Why not?”

“You’ll understand soon, this title is actually a joke.”

“?”

Chu Siqi knew Xu Jia-rou’s mindset well; she had been the same, flaunting her title everywhere.

She too had reveled in the adoration, basking in the glow, until she heard about Feng Nanshu being in the same school, hearing Jiang Qin forbid her from competing.

So whenever she heard someone call her the top campus beauty, she felt compelled.

Xu Jia-rou didn’t grasp her emotions, assuming she was just sour over not being the sole top campus beauty, so she ignored it and left the Media Center.

“Senior, I got first place.”

“Will you come to the award ceremony? Could you present it to me?”

Jiang Qin sat in the cafeteria, glanced at a QQ message, then hand-fed Feng Nanshu a piece of meat: “Your cold’s better, food’s tastier, right?”

Feng Nanshu looked at him: “Jiang Qin, I think my cold recovered too quickly.”

“Means you have a good constitution.”

“How can I have a worse constitution?”

Jiang Qin was taken aback: “You’re not planning how to catch a cold again, are you?”

Feng Nanshu, serious-faced: “I’m not.”

“If you dare catch a cold on purpose, I’ll spank you.”

“Brother, sometimes you’re unexpectedly clever…”

Jiang Qin finally checked his phone: “Little rich girl, did you know the contest is over? You’re now the second campus beauty.”

Feng Nanshu shook her head, stared at his chopsticks and opened her mouth: “Jiang Qin, another bite.”