Chapter 321: Campus Whispers

At noon, the university campus buzzed with birdsong and blooming flowers as four people chatted and laughed over lunch in the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, by the university pond in the pavilion.

Little goldfish darted through the stream, occasionally surfacing to blow a few bubbles.

Fang Meng handed the lunch she’d bought to Jiang Qian—it was the same style of chicken wrap that Lin Zheng Ran had gotten from the cafeteria the day before.

“Here, Qian Qian.”

Jiang Qian, her long hair swaying, took it and asked, “How’s the plan going?”

“It failed. Lin Zheng Ran said he has no interest in joining any clubs—he mentioned he has other things to do with those three girls.”

Jiang Qian just said “Oh,” took a bite of the juicy chicken wrap, and chewed slowly, her red lips moving thoughtfully.

To outsiders, Jiang Qian still looked expressionless, but as her childhood best friend, Fang Meng could see the subtle disappointment in her eyes.

Though this disappointment wouldn’t crush Jiang Qian, it was tough for her—before, she at least talked to Lin Zheng Ran every day in class, but now, even in the same class, she barely spoke to him.

The freedom of university life had its downsides, especially for a girl in love—it was a pain no one could fully grasp.

Fang Meng pulled out her own lunch, made from the same ingredients, and the two friends ate while staring at the goldfish in the pond, lost in thought.

Fang Meng spoke up:

“Qian Qian, there’s something I want to remind you about. Lin Zheng Ran is a real person in this world, and I know you see him as perfect,

but everyone has flaws. His might not be in skills or abilities; it could be some habit or behavior, but flaws exist in all of us.”

“What are you getting at, Xiao Meng?” Jiang Qian asked, her cool eyes turning to Fang Meng.

Fang Meng smiled, as if shifting the topic:

“I want to investigate how to make Lin Zheng Ran develop feelings for a girl. Love at first sight doesn’t work for him, but since he does have feelings for girls and can get emotional,

that means there must be some way to make him fall for someone—we just haven’t found it yet.”

Fang Meng paused:

“My next moves might not pan out, but I think we should change tactics. Instead of investigating Lin Zheng Ran, I’ll look into those three girls and the Eldest Miss. If I uncover anything, I hope you’re prepared, Qian Qian.”

Jiang Qian wasn’t naive; she understood what Fang Meng meant.

She even said it outright: “So, you’re saying those three girls and my sister all have some qualities that Lin Zheng Ran likes, right?”

“Yes.” Seeing Jiang Qian’s directness, Fang Meng continued:

“Let me be straight—I’m guessing Lin Zheng Ran might be juggling four relationships. Because if the Eldest Miss and those three girls all like him, and he likes them back,

then it’s possible, though it’s just a guess. I can’t imagine the Eldest Miss accepting something like that.”

Jiang Qian gazed at the pond and took a few more bites of her chicken wrap:

“Well, he’s got quite the lineup. Fine, go ahead and investigate, Xiao Meng. From today, we’ll go our separate ways. You said he won’t join clubs, so I have a rough idea what he’s up to—after all, I sat next to him for three years in high school.”

With that, Jiang Qian finished her lunch and walked away.

Fang Meng was surprised and asked, “Assuming that’s true, do you still want Lin Zheng Ran? Do you still like him, even if he’s that much of a player? Can you accept it?”

Jiang Qian glanced back, her dark hair dancing in the campus breeze, stunningly beautiful.

“Xiao Meng, for some reason, your words don’t shock me. Maybe from the start, though we never said it, we both knew Lin Zheng Ran is greedy when it comes to girls.

Because from the first time we met him, those three girls were always by his side. I don’t get their exact relationships, but I can see he treats them with real affection. Even now, with my sister in the picture, he hasn’t pushed them aside.”

Fang Meng fell silent.

Jiang Qian countered:

“Do you dare say my sister couldn’t see Lin Zheng Ran’s connections with those three from the beginning? She’s met so many people and done business with big bosses;

she spots things like that instantly. Yet, even knowing that, both she and I fell for this guy we shouldn’t have and want to be with him. I don’t know why she fell for him, but for me, what draws me most

is that he never abandons the people who matter. He doesn’t chase new thrills and discard the old; once he’s got you, you’re safe, always cared for and protected.

That strange sense of security is why I’m so hooked. Plus, his playboy nature is right there for all to see, like it’s broadcasting to the world.”

Jiang Qian repeated, “I’m just me—you see what I am, and that’s it. If you don’t like it, stay away; I won’t come to you.” She laughed, “There’s a special charm in that.”

Fang Meng suddenly laughed too:

“I get it. Lin Zheng Ran is the real deal—someone you can see and touch. He’s so strong that he doesn’t need to pretend around others. He does what he wants and doesn’t care about judgments. That kind of freedom is deadly to girls.”

Jiang Qian added:

“But don’t worry, even after all this, I have no plans to share him with my sister like that. She’s different from those three girls; she’s the type no one abandons.

Once I’m with Lin Zheng Ran, he’ll treat her as his sister-in-law, and I’ll stick by her forever.” Her expression darkened suddenly:

“Of course, if he does dump her, then so be it. She deserves it for trying to take him from me!”

Fang Meng grinned awkwardly, “Qian Qian, you’ve got a unique grudge against the Eldest Miss.”

Jiang Qian looked ahead again:

“As for those three girls, I know Lin Zheng Ran will keep them around. So, I’ll just be the most important one in his eyes.

Four girls? I can handle that, because the moment I fell for him, I realized I could accept it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have fallen at all.”

Jiang Qian blushed slightly as she gazed at the sky, “He’s powerful, confident, gives total security, and even changed me in high school. A guy like that can be a bit of a player—who doesn’t have flaws? It’s my choice to like him.”

She turned to Fang Meng, her face turning cold again:

“Alright, that’s enough. Our plan from now on is for you to investigate those three girls and my sister—find out exactly what Lin Zheng Ran likes about them.

I’ll use my own methods to get close to him, create chances to be together, and keep pushing for him to break up with my sister. Let’s move.”

Fang Meng nodded reluctantly, “Got it. I’ll dig up what I can quickly.”

Watching Jiang Qian disappear into the campus, Fang Meng pressed a hand to her heart and murmured, “Women are such fools. We know Lin Zheng Ran is a massive pit of fire, but we keep jumping in, one after another. Even me.”

“”