Chapter 9: This Time, He Will Not Run

After putting his things down, Qin Jiang drove to Jing University under the surveillance of Mo Da and Mo Er.

The phone rang. Qin Jiang saw a familiar name and tapped to answer.

“Brother Jiang, if you go missing any longer I’ll swear Bai Chuchu tricked you into going to northern Myanmar to get your kidneys ripped out!”

“Call me Dad and I’ll give you live updates on the latest Huajing University gossip.”

“By the way, the incident where you ruined senior Li Hao’s research specimen has been made public and the school said they’ll expel you. Have you decided how to deal with it? I’m telling you, don’t be dumb and take the rap for your fifth sister again. You finally got elected student council president at Huajing University, your grades are excellent and your future is bright. If you keep helping your fifth sister take the blame and stain your record, your life will be ruined by the Qin family.“

Song Jie’s loud, flustered voice came through, leaving Qin Jiang momentarily startled.

Song Jie was Qin Jiang’s best buddy who grew up with him during that “over a decade of low-level life,” as the Qin family put it.

He was a child adopted by Qin Jiang’s foster parents’ neighbors and they had been inseparable when they were children.

Song Jie was smart, so he managed to get into Huajing University and they met again, like two brothers reunited after a long separation.

Song Jie’s current girlfriend, Jiang Kexin, also grew up with them as childhood friends. Though they lived in poverty, their relationship was strong and hopeful for the future.

But Qin Jiang knew that Jiang Kexin had grown close to Bai Chuchu, and one of Bai Chuchu’s rich admirer sycophants, Wu Yu, had turned his attention to Jiang Kexin. After showering her with designer bags and watches to gain her favor, he dumped her after sleeping with her, which ultimately drove Jiang Kexin to tragically take her own life in front of Song Jie.

After Jiang Kexin’s suicide, Song Jie spent the little savings he had to hire a lawyer and sued Wu Yu.

But his ability was simply too limited.

For the poor, even speaking up can sometimes be a luxury.

In his previous life, he was imprisoned by Yan Liang at Liangyue Manor, so when Song Jie called him for help in desperation, his phone wasn’t even on him.

In the end he could only watch the news as Song Jie’s death bought some public attention, condemning Wu Yu’s shamelessness and Jiang Kexin’s death — yet Wu Yu was only detained for a few days before being released.

The public outrage was soon overshadowed by fresher scandals.

His closest brother had died to win a bit of attention in the search for truth, but in the end it barely made a ripple.

These children of rich families continued living lavishly and continued to fawn over Bai Chuchu.

When Qin Jiang learned of Song Jie’s death, he wanted to escape from Yan Liang and vented his anger on her. He slapped her and told her to get out of his way.

When that slap landed, he clearly felt the entire Yan household hold their breath.

But he had given up caring — at most, he’d die too.

Being imprisoned cost him his brother’s plea for help. He not only blamed Yan Liang but also blamed himself for being useless.

He silently waited for Yan Liang, humiliated and furious, to torture him to death.

But the always-ruthless, domineering, decisive Yan Liang only stepped forward and gently wiped a tear from the corner of Qin Jiang’s eye, looking oddly confused and wronged. “Jiang, I’m sorry.”

Yan Liang, the proud only daughter of the powerful Yan clan, bent her pride for him in that moment.

“What good does sorry do? Can it bring Song Jie back to life?

Yan Liang, you monster! You have no friends, no family, no love, and you want me to lose those things completely too — how vicious you are.“

But Qin Jiang would not accept that.

He knew how to wound Yan Liang and stabbed at her heart mercilessly!

Like a madman, he smashed Liangyue Manor into ruins as far as the eye could see.

After his outburst, Yan Liang quietly had people clean up the mess and restore Liangyue Manor to its original state.

From then on she stayed by his side, guarding him, afraid he would do something foolish. She no longer locked him up, which later gave him the chance to steal the Yan family’s secrets and escape.

Remembering his brother’s fate in the last life, Qin Jiang was grateful that his rebirth could change the outcome this time.

This time, he would never let Song Jie repeat the same fate!

He would not take his anger out on Yan Liang again. She was just a sickly girl who wanted his love. As long as he did what she wanted and remained by her side at all times, Yan Liang didn’t actually need to imprison him.

She imprisoned him only because she didn’t want him to leave.

This time, he would not run.

He would stay with her for life.

“Son, your father understands your intentions.”

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t me who ruined Li Hao’s specimen, so I’m not taking the fall for Qin Xianyun — she should be responsible for her own mistakes!”

Song Jie laughed excitedly and sounded incredulous, “Oh my god, has our Student President Jiang finally come to his senses?”

“Since you became student council president, you’ve clean up Qin Xianyun’s messes more than once, nearly getting yourself in trouble several times. You’re really not going to care about your fifth sister’s fate this time?”

Qin Jiang nodded. “Yeah, I’ve thought it through.”

“Any ways to make money recently? Any college competitions?”

Although Song Jie didn’t come from a good background, he worked hard and excelled academically.

He was a foster son and stopped taking an allowance from his family once he got into college.

Since he was one who lived off part-time jobs and competition prizes, he would be the first to sniff out any high-prize contests on campus.

Short-form videos had just begun trending, and many internet celebrities were already reaping the era’s dividends.

Although entering now seemed timely, Qin Jiang knew that after a few years of flashy short-video prosperity, it would ultimately rely on strong talent and emerging AI technologies to sustain traffic.

They were all university students now. It was the time to solidify their technical and cultural foundations.

With technical backing, they could start AI research and development early.

The dividends from the upcoming era was basically secure.

Huajing University had countless talented people. Helping advisors on projects would eventually make it clear that research patents were the most profitable.

So many big companies would fight over them!

But thinking that far ahead was premature — for now he wouldn’t spend a cent!

He had to head to school first and secure the student council.

He had a long future ahead and couldn’t stop here.

“Of course there are. But didn’t you just win the gold at Huajing’s research competition? That was $20,000! Enough for my living expenses for a year! Don’t tell me you spent it on a designer bag for Bai Chuchu?”

Song Jie was somewhat exasperated at his best friend’s lack of backbone.

“Bro, wake up! Bai Chuchu doesn’t need another bootlicker vying for her favor! I even saw her playing coy with another rich man’s son yesterday…”

At the mention of Bai Chuchu, Qin Jiang’s eyes darkened.

He sneered coldly. Of course he knew Bai Chuchu’s true nature. When he lay near death on the hospital bed, being drawn dry of blood, that bitch smugly admitted that she was the one who egged Wu Yu on to sleep with Jiang Kexin and upload Jiang Kexin’s explicit photos all over the forums, driving her to a dead end and eventually suicide.

All because Jiang Kexin was as beautiful as her but had better grades, threatening her status as campus belle…

That bitch not only ruined herself but destroyed his brother’s life!

“Is that so?”

“Where is Bai Chuchu now?”

Qin Jiang ground his teeth, wanting nothing more than to tear her apart on the spot.

Mo Da and Mo Er, who were wearing listening devices, felt a chill run down their spines.

This boy was doomed!