Chapter 23: All The World’s A Stage: Come Up If You’re Crazy Enough

Inside the conference room.

Director Xu gathered the students involved together. Taking blame for someone else’s wrongdoing and fraudulently claiming honors in a research competition were major disciplinary stains on Huajing University.

This was serious. The university committee had to investigate and deal with it sternly.

“Qin Jiang, I personally checked the design blueprints and specifications submitted by Bai Chuchu for the Huajing University Student Research Competition — they are identical to the design results. Do you have anything to say?”

“Qin Yun is unwell; the school often shows care and promotes mutual help among students. And you—taking advantage of someone’s illness, tried to ruin them?”

“A student like you doesn’t deserve to stay at Huajing University. The one who should have a black mark on their academic record is clearly you.”

The department head spoke angrily. He had admired the gold-winning entry in the research competition and couldn’t believe it had been fraudulently attributed to someone else.

“Yang, have the gold prize rewards for the research competition already been distributed?” He then asked the colleague in charge of organizing the competition.

Professor Yang looked embarrassed. “The $20,000 prize money has already been paid out, and the medal and certificate were supposed to be handed out today…”

After all, something had gone wrong.

Of course, it was put on hold.

“In that case, Qin Jiang, hand over the $20,000 prize money right now!”

“Have some shame. Don’t brazenly keep what’s not yours.”

The department head slammed the table, immediately concluding that Qin Jiang’s greed for money was the motive.

A decent student with good character, destroyed by money.

“I can’t hand it over.”

“It’s already spent.”

Sorry, already used it to buy a ring for my wife.

Qin Jiang shrugged and raised his hands slightly, as though there was nothing he could do.

The crowd murmured among themselves, shit, Qin Jiang has no shame!

“Qin Jiang, so the money you used yesterday to show off with the supercar to get Chuchu’s attention was the $20,000 you embezzled from Qin Yun’s honor!”

You pulled off a freeloader scam — truly shameless.

No wonder the Qin family won’t acknowledge you. Scum like you would be beaten by everyone on the street.

Li Hao sneered. He’d long disliked Qin Jiang, and the way he showed off to get Bai Chuchu’s attention yesterday struck a nerve.

A poor dog, yet he dares to covet the campus beauty Bai Chuchu’s favor—he doesn’t deserve that!

“Qin Jiang, stop pretending you have nothing to lose. Don’t think just because you say you have no money we can’t do anything. There are so many loan companies online, go borrow from one now. Even if you have no car or house, you can still take a basic loan!”

“Besides, even in your disgrace you’re still a young master of the Qin family—could you really have no money? Have you spent it all on some other things?”

Li Yunxiang and the others who had stopped Qin Jiang earlier were present, and now eagerly piled on.

When these words came out, Qin Qianyun’s previously guilty expression instantly turned grave.

Their mother had said Qin Jiang picked up all sorts of bad habits when he was poor.

He stole money from the family and jewelry from his sisters to feed that bottomless pit of his… gambling addiction!

At home Qin Jiang played the obedient, sensible son, showing meticulous concern for each sister and even his mother, willing to do anything for them.

All to break down their defenses and get them to fill his holes.

As a gambling addict, Qin Jiang wasn’t deserving of anyone’s pity or sympathy in the Qin family.

No matter how miserable Qin Jiang was, it was all self-inflicted!

Qin Qianyun, unable to bear it, berated him harshly, “Qin Jiang, you can’t even come up with $20,000? Even a beggar would be willing to part with a cent.”

“At worst, you must have some money left from what the family gives. You’re healthy and able-bodied yet you’ve squandered everything—I’m so disappointed!”

“Even if I’m your fifth sister, even if you kneel and beg me… I wouldn’t give you a penny!”

As far as Qin Qianyun knew, the Qin family never skimped on raising their children. Each child fairly received $300,000 a month.

Since returning to the Qin family, Qin Jiang naturally enjoyed the entitlements of a Qin child.

But he lived miserly every day, not even buying decent clothes or shoes, dressing ugly and neglecting his hair.

His scruffy appearance made people dislike and tire of him.

Clearly the family provided him with the best educational opportunities and generous living expenses, yet he chose to make himself look poor and shabby.

Who wouldn’t know how to spend money when they have it?

Clearly Qin Jiang was scheming and manipulative, deliberately courting sympathy to compete with Qin Yun for favor.

He wanted to win the attention of their parents and elders to get more money.

Qin Yun was ill yet kind and considerate, always thinking of his older brother, while Qin Jiang was selfish and scheming.

Anyone with eyes in that family would know whom to favor!

“Now I’ll give you one option: go take a loan and repay the school.”

“If you can’t get a normal loan from the bank, go sell yourself or something for money.”

“Anyway, you’ve long lost your shame — this will teach you a lesson!”

Qin Qianyun frowned and scolded Qin Jiang contemptuously.

She wanted to teach him a harsh lesson, to make him understand there was no one to back him up, and to stop him from gambling!

The university committee members were silent. Though they didn’t quite approve of Qin Qianyun’s approach, but Qin Qianyun forcing Qin Jiang to get a loan was a different thing altogether. It now became a family matter.

Moreover, Qin Jiang’s bad nature meant he deserved to be taught a lesson.

“Qin Qianyun, if you have time, get your head checked. You seem great at talking nonsense.”

“I’ve long cut ties with the Qin family. Is there a tumor on your neck that makes it hard for you to understand people? You brag about being my relative—if you like talking about family so much, why not be a zoo curator?”

“Also, how many times have I said, the research competition gold is mine? The prize money belongs to me. The $20,000 is mine to spend as I wish—why should I return it?”

“Don’t keep tying chicken feathers to a bat all day and forget what kind of bird you are.”

“Don’t forget, you already admitted to making me take the blame. Who do you think the expulsion should fall on according to normal procedure?”

“Calling you stupid would be very, very kind of me already!”

Qin Jiang retorted mercilessly.

The Qin family were no longer relatives in his eyes. He saw no need to give her any face.

“You… you… Qin Jiang, you’ve really turned against us! How dare you speak to me like that!”

Qin Qianyun widened her eyes. She never expected the always-obedient Qin Jiang to be so hostile toward her.

Now that he can’t swindle money from me, his true nature shows?

“Not only do I dare say it, I can even engrave it on your tombstone for free!”

Qin Jiang, full of venom, for a moment cowed the entire room.

The university committee members had different expressions on their faces. Qin Jiang says he did the research work?

But where’s the evidence??

Seeing this, Bai Chuchu began to play her role as Qin Jiang’s idealized love.

She wore a white dress like a blooming sacred lotus, and walked toward Qin Jiang against the backlight.

She frowned, looking concerned as she handed over a card.

“Qin Jiang, I’m sorry I didn’t keep the research blueprints safe, and I couldn’t stop Yu Qian… Please don’t blame me, okay?”

Her words were ambiguous. Bai Chuchu looked troubled and guilty, yet neatly absolved herself.

In short, she was implying that the framing of Qin Jiang over the research documents was Yu Qian’s doing. Bai Chuchu simply couldn’t refuse her close friend and could only let Qin Jiang take the blame.

“You spent that $20,000 prize to woo me, so I share some responsibility.”

“This $1,000 counts as my compensation to you. Will you accept my apology?”

Qin Jiang watched her flashy move and almost burst out laughing.

Ever since he treated Bai Chuchu as his white whale, she truly treated him as an idiot and kept his wallet empty every month!

He’d spent hundreds of thousands on Bai Chuchu, and now, she was offering just one thousand as compensation?

That’s not how the world works.

“Fuck off.”

“Have you prepared the $200,000? Stop trying to steal the limelight. Did you really think this place is a stage just for you and you can come up and act as long as you’re crazy enough?”

“Bai Chuchu, yesterday when you knocked on my supercar window acting like a simp, you dirtied it—the depreciation is $200,000. Haven’t you asked your sugar daddy for it yet? Is your service inadequate?”

Qin Jiang mercilessly exposed her, giving Bai Chuchu no face.

Bai Chuchu’s face paled. She swayed as if about to collapse.

She was terrified and trembling. What crazy things was Qin Jiang saying?

Or had he discovered something?

No, that’s impossible.

Li Hao, as Bai Chuchu’s top simp, hurried up to hold her arm, vying to be her protector.

His follower, Li Yunxiang, on Li Hao’s signal, was about to rush in and punch Qin Jiang.

This guy was too arrogant. He needed to be taught a lesson.

But as his fist rose, Qin Jiang, as if he’d anticipated it, grabbed an iron stool with one hand and swung it toward his head…

Li Yunxiang was stunned with fear.

The iron stool grazed his ear and crashed to the ground. He felt his soul fly out of his body.

Qin Jiang… really had gone crazy!

“Li Yunxiang, you’re pathetic — Li Hao slept with your girlfriend and you’re still putting effort in for him?”

“Oh, wasn’t your ex-girlfriend a sophomore named XX? When I was working part-time I saw Li Hao take her to a lingerie store to buy sexy sets.”

“Li Hao, seriously, why do you keep doing this to Yunxiang?”

“Or is your taste special—you like stealing the same person’s partners for thrills…?”

Qin Jiang had no intention of actually hitting anyone.

The committee was still present, so he had to maintain his ‘obedient student council president’ persona.

Now it was Li Hao’s turn to be dumbfounded.

Li Hao, who had just held the campus beauty Bai Chuchu’s arm thinking he’d win her over, was pushed away disdainfully by her.

His heart felt like it was breaking.

But the next moment, he met Li Yunxiang’s accusing gaze.

He cursed inwardly, Fuck! Qin Jiang, if you dare screw me over, I’ll fight you!

“Wow… you’re angry, you’re angry…”

“Oh…he’s so angry and ashamed—being exposed as the cheater really broke his composure~~”

Qin Jiang spoke mockingly, then ran over to the department head from the university committee.

Indeed, with the department head’s authority right there, Li Hao couldn’t hurt him without consequence.

The committee members watched the chaotic meeting room and the instigator who used them as a shield…

This Qin Jiang was hard to judge!

Meanwhile, Li Yunxiang and Li Hao were already wrestling with each other.

Regardless of their grievances, there’s no escaping disciplinary punishment for fighting in front of so many school officials.

And Qin Jiang from start to finish… only moved his lips.

No one noticed that Director Xu now stared at Qin Jiang with a little more admiration.

“Someone, call security! Hurry, call security!”

Qin Jiang piped up, “Director, security will be too slow. By the time they arrive, these two will be in the ICU.”

“Why not break up the fight right here and give extra credits to those who manage to do it? It’s more efficient.”

The department head rubbed his forehead. “Fine, whoever pulls them apart, I’ll give them extra cred…”

Before the department head finished speaking, Qin Jiang had already rushed into the brawl…

Crack!

The sound of a bone fracture was crisp.

Everyone was in disbelief. How did ‘breaking up the fight’ turn into louder screams of agony??