Chapter 98: “You Are a Rare Gem in This World (V)”

The Secondary CP Extra
Chapter 98: “You Are a Rare Gem in This World (V)”

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Of course, it wasn’t great.

That’s what Wenbin thought to himself. He had long anticipated this scene before him. He should have known that with Luan Qiaoqing’s personality, it was only a matter of time before things would spiral out of control.

But he didn’t expect that, even after mastering the art of calculating his every move, a situation he had foreseen would still expose such a wretched version of himself deep down.

Jealousy, ferocity, distortion, ugliness, even hysteria…

Yet all those negative emotions, he dared only to hide in the depths of his heart, not revealing a trace. The smile the girl before him directed at him was as bright as it had been the first time they met, and he cherished it dearly. He would never ruin it with his own hands.

Then, he heard his own voice speak calmly, “Alright.”

If not for the faint tremor and hoarseness in his tone, this performance might have been flawless.

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“…Lsvbkdt,” Eldckd pyke iwklvzu.

Nwyd Ckysikdt zssjle yv bkx okvb nsdnlad. “Slyzzu dsvbkdt?”

“Zlyb.” Eldckd zkqvle bkp tygl. “Psd’v usw byhl xsal vs pyu?”

Nwyd Ckysikdt’p qynl vwadle pzktbvzu ale. “Tso eke usw jdso?”

Wenbin didn’t answer.

Luan Qiaoqing laughed and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “See, we’re best friends, right?”

“…”

“So, tell me. If I want to pursue someone, shouldn’t you help me out? Especially since you’re in the same class as him. It’s such a great chance—I even feel like it’s fate!”

“If this is fate, then shouldn’t it be about us?”

“…Huh? What did you say?” Luan Qiaoqing, who had been grinning foolishly at the classroom, turned her head back in curiosity. “You were too quiet. I didn’t catch that.”

“Nothing,” Wenbin said. “But if I help you, what do I get in return?”

Luan Qiaoqing froze.

She turned to look at him—something about the way the boy spoke felt oddly unfamiliar. That tone and emotion were so strange… It was as if she didn’t know him at all.

But Luan Qiaoqing thought about it for a few seconds and, unable to figure it out, dismissed it as her imagination. She laughed and patted Wenbin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll owe you one! If you ever like a girl in the future, I’ll help you pursue her too, okay?”

“…” Wenbin stayed silent for a long time before nodding. “Alright.”

“Then it’s a deal!”

“Yeah.”

That night, Wenbin came to understand something: When you’re young, there are things you may want but cannot fight for, leaving behind a lot of regrets.

And the greatest regret is liking someone first, meeting them first, yet having no reason to make them like you back.

If mutual affection could be achieved, it would be the greatest blessing—something he’d be willing to trade everything for.

But that year, Luan Qiaoqing’s little plans didn’t succeed.

Or rather, before they could succeed, she suddenly disappeared.

Without warning or a goodbye note, Luan Qiaoqing left Wenbin’s world as suddenly and unpredictably as she had entered it.

Years later, Chu Xiangbin would learn that her departure was due to a major upheaval in her family—her father’s sudden remarriage. Her new stepmother rejected her and demanded, as a condition of the marriage, that she leave home and live with her aunt.

But back then, Wenbin didn’t know.

After the high school entrance exams, he waited for her for a long, long time, stubbornly visiting her high-end apartment every day to see if she had returned.

Spring came and went, winter followed, and the indents in the security door’s patterns gathered a layer of dust that no one swept away. Yet, he never saw her again.

The year he got into the province’s top high school, Wenbin and his mother were added to his stepfather’s household registry. At his stepfather’s insistence, Wenbin changed his surname to match his stepfather’s.

From that day forward, his name was Chu Xiangbin.

After entering high school, Chu Xiangbin’s academic performance became increasingly outstanding. Following his mother’s marriage to his stepfather and the subsequent improvement in their family’s financial situation, the boy, who had once suffered from malnutrition, began to grow taller at an impressive pace.

It didn’t take long for him to become the academic genius and campus heartthrob of his high school—a figure adored by the girls and envied by the boys. He was no longer the silent and withdrawn teenager he once was. The experience of tutoring Luan Qiaoqing and her friends during their final year of middle school had gradually taught him how to accommodate others and integrate into a group.

He had transformed into someone exceptional, dazzling, and flawless—no longer showing a trace of the reclusive boy he used to be.

But by his side, there was no longer the lively girl who used to pat his shoulder, grin cheekily, and call him “brother.”

The world is vast, with billions of people, and yet two people living in the same residential building might never cross paths in a lifetime, even if they’re just a few dozen meters apart.

So, Chu Xiangbin had long believed that he and Luan Qiaoqing were unlikely to meet again—a hard pill to swallow, but one he had to accept. This, perhaps, was the first lesson the adult world taught him.

But fate granted him a miracle.

After the college entrance exams, Chu Xiangbin was admitted to A University.

In the second semester of his sophomore year, just as the term began, Chu Xiangbin’s roommate set his sights on the goddess of the university’s debate team and resolved to win her heart.

His roommate, who was no novice to the art of courtship, knew one key strategy: winning over the girl’s best friend or close confidant. By coincidence—or perhaps predictably—Chu Xiangbin, the campus heartthrob who had attracted the attention of countless senior and same-year female students since his arrival at A University, just so happened to be the object of the best friend’s affection.

With such an opportunity, the roommate didn’t hesitate to “sell” Chu Xiangbin out.

And so, a few days after the start of the second semester, the roommate dragged Chu Xiangbin from his desk to the balcony.

“Chu God, I’ve got a favor to ask,” the roommate began.

Chu Xiangbin didn’t respond immediately. He looked up from his phone and gave the roommate a glance.

The roommate realized his mistake. “Oh, right, I forgot—you hate it when people use the word ‘ask’ casually. Fine, I’ll rephrase. But seriously, man, that’s such a weird habit…”

Chu Xiangbin cut him off, “Just get to the point. If there’s nothing important, I’m going back to code.”

“Chu God, you’re so busy. You’re in the Economics Department, not the Computer Science Department, so why—wait, wait! Don’t leave!” The roommate quickly stopped him. “Here’s the thing: tonight, the university debate team is hosting a recruitment party. I was thinking—why don’t you come with me?”

Without looking up, Chu Xiangbin replied, “I don’t join student organizations.”

“I know that! Back in the second semester of freshman year, even the vice president of the student council personally tried to recruit you, and you still refused. I’m not asking you to join—I just want you to come with me.”

“…” Chu Xiangbin glanced at him, his calm gaze sharp enough to unsettle anyone. The roommate awkwardly smiled for a few seconds.

Chu Xiangbin rubbed his neck. “Why me? Why not someone else?”

The roommate feigned innocence. “I asked them, but they’re all busy with their girlfriends. Only the two of us are single! Not everyone can be as disciplined as you, living like a monk and keeping their desires in check.”

“…”

Although Chu Xiangbin was reluctant to go, his roommate’s persistent begging—nearly to the point of kneeling and calling him “Dad”—eventually wore him down. In the end, he agreed to accompany him to the debate team’s recruitment party.

Even if Chu Xiangbin only vaguely sensed his roommate’s ulterior motives at first, by the time they arrived outside the classroom where the event was being held, he had already pieced together the full story.

The moment they reached the classroom door, the roommate eagerly pulled him over, locking eyes with a girl standing there. Wasting no time, he struck up a conversation.

“Chu God, let me introduce you. This is Senior Sun Yuran, the vice-captain of the university debate team.” After saying that, the roommate turned to the girl and winked conspicuously. “Senior Sun, I probably don’t need to introduce him, do I?”

“Of course not.” The girl, Sun Yuran, exchanged a quick glance with the roommate. When she turned her attention to Chu Xiangbin again, the admiration and delight in her eyes were barely concealed. Clearing her throat, she smiled and extended her hand. “I don’t think there’s anyone at A University who hasn’t heard of Chu Xiangbin. Nice to meet you. I’m Sun Yuran, from the German Language program in the College of Arts. I’m a year ahead of you and currently the vice-captain of the debate team.”

“…” Chu Xiangbin didn’t shake her hand. Instead, he squinted slightly and cast a calm but piercing glance at his roommate.

The roommate, feeling a cold sweat down his back from Chu Xiangbin’s sharp and perceptive gaze, forced a stiff smile, turned away, and whispered, “Please, just play along this once, Dad Chu. I really need her help with something, and I didn’t have any other choice. I swear it’s just this one time—when we get back, I’ll kneel at the dorm door if that’s what it takes!”

“…”

Chu Xiangbin said nothing. After retracting his gaze, he casually touched the girl’s outstretched hand in a brief acknowledgment, his tone indifferent. “Hello, senior.”

The girl’s smile faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. “The recruitment party hasn’t started yet, but since you’re not freshmen, why don’t you come in and grab a seat first?”

“Thank you, senior! Thank you!” The roommate responded eagerly, practically dragging Chu Xiangbin into the room as if afraid he might change his mind.

The debate team’s recruitment party was held in a fairly large classroom. At the moment, it was nearly empty, with only the debate team members inside. They were gathered around the podium in small groups, some discussing things in threes and fives, while others were on stage adjusting the PPT for the upcoming event.

After entering, Chu Xiangbin found a seat against the wall, sat down alone, and began reviewing the code files he had transferred to his phone.

Meanwhile, his roommate, ever the hopeless romantic, had long since hurried over to the goddess of his dreams to shower her with attention.

It wasn’t long before Chu Xiangbin’s peace was interrupted by a shadow falling over the seat beside him.

“Junior Chu, are you busy?”

“…” Looking up, Chu Xiangbin saw it was the same Sun Yuran. After a two-second pause, he gave a distant smile. “Is there something I can help you with, senior?”

“I just finished up and noticed you sitting here alone, so I thought I’d come over and chat,” Sun Yuran said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she casually sat down in the seat next to him. She then placed a drink in front of him. “You came empty-handed, didn’t you? The recruitment party might go on for a while—here, have some water.”

Chu Xiangbin paused, took the drink from her hand, and said, “Thank you.” Then, he placed the bottle to the side without touching it again.

“…”

Sun Yuran, who was considered quite attractive, wasn’t used to such a cold reception when she approached boys. Her expression stiffened momentarily before she forced a smile.

Sensing the subtle, curious gazes from other debate team members not far away, Sun Yuran gritted her teeth and resolved not to give them the satisfaction of seeing her embarrassed. She pressed on with a smile and tried to make conversation. “I heard from Zhu Xinyang that you’re both in the Economics Department, studying Business Administration?”

Zhu Xinyang was the name of Chu Xiangbin’s roommate.

As Chu Xiangbin raised his eyes from his phone screen, his gaze briefly swept over Zhu Xinyang’s figure near the podium.

Perhaps because the coldness and subtle sharpness in that glance felt almost tangible, Zhu Xinyang froze in place, cautiously turned his head, and mouthed, “I’m begging you, bro.”

Chu Xiangbin lowered his gaze slightly.

Aside from his distaste for the word “please” when used casually, phrases like “I’m begging you” and “bro” also triggered something in him.

People like Zhu Xinyang who knew about this habit often misunderstood—thinking he merely disliked the expressions. In truth, it was because they always reminded him of a buried memory.

“Junior Chu? Junior Chu?”

The voice beside him pulled Chu Xiangbin back from his drifting thoughts. He turned to look. “Sorry, I was distracted.”

“No problem,” Sun Yuran said, gritting her teeth but maintaining her smile.

“What did you ask just now, senior?”

“I was asking, you and Zhu Xinyang are both from the Economics Department?”

“Mm.”

Sun Yuran’s eyes gleamed as she smiled and said, “That’s great! My family gives me a lot of spending money every month, and I never use it all—it feels like such a waste. So this year, I wanted to learn about investing in index funds, but I’ve been struggling to find someone to ask.”

Chu Xiangbin didn’t respond.

Sun Yuran could only steel herself and continue. “If it’s convenient for you, could I add you on WeChat? That way, I can ask you about these things later…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Chu Xiangbin interrupted, “I’m sorry, senior, but I’m not skilled in that area. However, I do have the email addresses of our professors in Western Economics and Asset Management. I’ll ask Zhu Xinyang to send them to you later—they’re far more professional than I am, and I’m sure they’d be able to help you.”

“Huh…?”

Before Sun Yuran could react, Chu Xiangbin stood up. “I just remembered I need to speak with my advisor about something, so I have to leave now. Excuse me, senior.”

Sun Yuran had no choice but to step aside, letting him leave.

Sun Yuran stood stiffly as she got up and asked, “You’re not staying for the recruitment party, junior?”

“Doesn’t seem like I’ll get the chance. It’s a pity, but nothing can be done about it,” Chu Xiangbin replied. Yet his expression and tone betrayed no hint of regret. “Thank you for the drink, senior.” With that, he gave a calm smile, turned around, and walked out.

Around the podium, the members of the university debate team began whispering among themselves.

“Senior Sun is really bold. Does she know who Chu Xiangbin is? I heard he’s completely asexual—hasn’t he been in this school for a year and a half now? The number of girls openly or secretly chasing him could circle the campus three times! When has he ever given anyone the time of day?”

“I think senior is being a bit unrealistic, too.”

“Exactly. Even the campus beauty, who’s the vice president of the student council, personally tried to recruit him back in his freshman year and still came up empty-handed.”

“Honestly, I’m already surprised he even showed up today. Isn’t it common knowledge that he’s not interested in any student organizations? He’s such an outlier in the Business Administration program.”

“I heard the same—he’s refused every invitation from student groups. But to think he actually came to our recruitment event today… Too bad he left early. If he’d stayed, our debate team could’ve been the talk of the school forums.”

“Haha, it is kind of a shame—”

The conversation abruptly stopped.

Why?

Because the very person they were gossiping about, who had been heading toward the door, suddenly froze in place without warning. His gaze was locked on the projection screen, and his expression was one of shock.

The debate team members, caught off guard, instinctively turned to look at the screen hanging in front of the blackboard.

Displayed on the screen was a slide from the recruitment presentation—a photo taken during a debate competition. On the blackboard in the photo were the words University A Debate Team vs. University Q Debate Team.

In the foreground of the photo, the debaters from both teams—four from each side—sat seriously behind their respective tables, seemingly engaged in discussion.

The debate team members stared at the photo for a long time but couldn’t figure out what was so special about it that it had caused such a visible reaction from Chu Xiangbin.

Just as they were feeling confused, Chu Xiangbin finally snapped out of it. His gaze, tense and stiff, shifted away from the girl sitting in the first position of University Q’s debate team. It took him several seconds to step toward the podium.

“This photo…” When Chu Xiangbin spoke, his voice was unexpectedly hoarse. He felt an uncharacteristic nervousness welling up inside him—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. His voice sounded stiff, almost foreign, even to himself. “When was this match?”

The student adjusting the presentation hesitated for a moment before cautiously answering, “At the end of last semester.”

“These people… are all members of both teams?”

“Yes. This was a match for new members—kind of a warm-up for freshman debaters to get used to the format. Debate teams from paired universities often have fixed practice matches like this. Our university is paired with University Q, so we have matches almost every month.”

“…”

Once again, Chu Xiangbin’s eyes landed on the first debater from University Q—a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. After a long pause, he lowered his gaze. “Does your recruitment event have application forms?”

“—Huh?”

The student was stunned.

The rest of the debate team, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, also turned their astonished gazes toward him.

Under the weight of their collective stares, a now-composed Chu Xiangbin took one last deep look at the photo before turning to the student in front of him.

“I’m applying to join.”

The news of Chu Xiangbin joining the university debate team spread across campus in no time.

At first, no one believed it.

“No way. Chu Xiangbin?”

“Didn’t he turn down countless student organization invitations back in his freshman year? I’m sure the debate team was one of them. Why would he suddenly decide to join in the second semester of sophomore year?”

“Yeah, must be a rumor.”

“……”

Perhaps spurred by dissatisfaction with the doubts surrounding the news, the university debate team handled this round of recruitment with remarkable efficiency. Less than a week later, the list of new members was posted on the university’s bulletin board.

At the very top of the list was none other than the name “Chu Xiangbin.”

Following the initial shock among the debate team members, the entire campus was stunned. Everyone started speculating about why Chu Xiangbin had joined the debate team, coming up with all kinds of theories. But no one knew the real truth.

The rumors and “academic discussions” persisted for an entire month.

Even Zhu Xinyang, who thought of himself as the instigator, eventually approached Chu Xiangbin with a guilty conscience to ask for confirmation:
“Chu God, why on earth did you join the debate team? Could it really be to help me out? If you’re that loyal, I wouldn’t even know how to repay you!”

Chu Xiangbin was packing his clothes and didn’t even look up. “Stop dreaming.”

“…Not for me, huh?” Zhu Xinyang said regretfully, then leaned in with curiosity. “Then what’s the reason?”

Chu Xiangbin didn’t respond.

Zhu Xinyang stroked his chin, pretending to ponder. “Could it be… you’ve taken a liking to someone on the debate team? But that day, you didn’t seem interested in Senior Sun Yuran at all.”

“.”

Still, Chu Xiangbin ignored him. Instead, he spoke only when he turned around. “Move, I need to get my suitcase.”

“Oh, sure.” Zhu Xinyang stepped aside but suddenly realized something. “Wait a second, it’s not a holiday, and it’s just a weekend. Why are you packing your luggage, Chu God?”

“……”

Chu Xiangbin paused.

For a long moment, he stood frozen in front of the closet, maintaining the same posture. With his back to the dorm room, Zhu Xinyang couldn’t see his expression or his eyes.

All he heard was Chu Xiangbin’s voice, finally breaking the silence after what felt like forever.

“The debate team… is going to Q University for a match.”

Zhu Xinyang was momentarily stunned.

It was a tone he had never heard from Chu Xiangbin before—one filled with layers of emotion, as though it carried countless buried memories.

That day was nothing more than an ordinary monthly match.

A University and Q University were separated by several cities, but with more than ten high-speed rail trips connecting them daily, travel was never an issue.

The match was hosted at Q University, so the debate team from A University traveled to Q City. Thanks to Chu Xiangbin, a few extra, unnecessary senior members also tagged along.

For an entire month leading up to the match, Chu Xiangbin had been eagerly looking forward to it. The anticipation had him so unnerved that even during the journey, he was visibly out of sorts—a rare sight for someone who hadn’t even been anxious during the college entrance exams. His absent-minded state was obvious to everyone.

Someone joked boldly, “Why does it feel like Chu God is nervous, as if he’s going to meet his crush?”

“……”

Perhaps because he was too anxious, Chu Xiangbin acted as though he hadn’t heard the remark, giving no response or denial.

The members of the debate team, knowing the reason behind his sudden decision to join, exchanged glances. It was clear they all had their suspicions.

Once they arrived, the group headed straight for Q University. After a brief stay in the designated lounge, they were informed it was time to head to the classroom for the match.

It was said that the Q University debate team was already there. When they entered the classroom, Chu Xiangbin was so nervous that he almost stumbled over his own feet.

But as he scanned each unfamiliar face in the room, he couldn’t find the one he most wanted to see.

There wasn’t much time to dwell on it; the match was about to begin. Feeling restless and agitated, he could only take his seat in the fourth debater’s position.

Up until the moment the referee began announcing the rules, his gaze repeatedly swept over the members of the Q University team with an intense, lingering disappointment.

Both teams’ “support sections” noticed this.

The person leading Q University’s team sat next to A University’s leader, their expression somewhat awkward. “So that’s your newly recruited campus heartthrob, huh?”

Despite the awkwardness, A University’s leader, unwilling to lose face to a rival, smirked smugly. “Oh, you’ve heard of him? What do you think? Jealous? With that face, those looks, and that brain—he’s the full package.”

“His looks and presence are indeed impressive. You guys really hit the jackpot…” The Q University leader rolled their eyes. “But why does he look so hostile? What kind of pre-match pep talk did you give him? He’s staring at us like we’ve wronged him in another life.”

A University’s representative was momentarily speechless before letting out a cold laugh. “Probably because you lot aren’t very likable. Back at our school, Chu Xiangbin may not have been warm, but he was never this cold.”

“……”

Surprisingly, the match ended unusually quickly.

The credit for this went to one particular individual—
Although Chu Xiangbin had appeared incredibly nervous on the way to the venue, he seemed like an entirely different person once the match began. Unlike his three teammates or the four opponents—all of whom were newcomers—he exuded the confidence of a seasoned veteran toying with rookies.

During the free debate phase, Chu Xiangbin single-handedly crushed Q University’s four debaters with razor-sharp arguments, impeccable logic, and an overwhelming presence. It felt less like a competition and more like a one-sided massacre. By the final few minutes of the free debate, Q University’s team had completely fallen apart, looking like helpless victims in the face of an unstoppable force.

By the concluding statements phase, Q University’s fourth speaker, faced with Chu Xiangbin’s unrelenting intensity, could barely string coherent sentences together.

The match ended hastily, the result self-evident.

The expressions of the two teams’ leaders varied widely.

After the referee announced the match’s conclusion, there was a brief moment of silence before Q University’s leader spoke first. “Where on earth did you find this monster? Are you sure you haven’t been secretly hiding him for a year and a half before springing him on us today?”

“Why would we need to? If we’d known he was this good, we’d have put him straight into the main team. Why would we waste him on this kind of rookie match?” A University’s leader couldn’t resist adding a jab midway. “Sorry for bullying your newcomers so badly. You’d better offer them some solid post-match counseling when you get back. A beating like this could easily traumatize them. Imagine if they’re too scared to debate again—our conscience would just never let us rest!”

“Oh, so you have a conscience now?” Q University’s leader shot a sideways glance. “And don’t just talk about our rookies. What about yours? How much better can they be? During the free debate, your guy’s teammates were totally out of their depth, unable to keep up with his logic. He carried the whole match single-handedly. That wasn’t a four-on-four; it was more like a one-on-seven!”

“……”

The two team leaders successfully reignited each other’s tempers in seconds, launching into a familiar scene: a heated, unmoderated post-match debate that happened after nearly every competition.

While the crowd eagerly settled in to watch the spectacle, no one paid attention to the so-called “friendly handshake” phase on stage.

Standing before his four thoroughly intimidated opponents, Chu Xiangbin shook the last debater’s hand with a cold, piercing gaze.

“Is there someone named Luan Qiaoqing in your debate team?”
The four Q University debaters froze momentarily. The fourth speaker, whose hand was being shaken, forced a stiff smile. “Chu… Chu, are you referring to Senior Luan Qiaoqing? Yes, there is.”

“She didn’t come today?”

“Senior Luan is in the team’s activity room with the captain, discussing something…”

“The activity room?” Without waiting for further explanation, Chu Xiangbin pulled the boy along. “Take me there.”

“Uh… huh?”

The boy looked like he wanted to cry but dared not resist. The terrifying tone of that “please” sounded more like, Say no, and I’ll end you.

They quickly arrived at the debate team’s activity room.

However, when they knocked on the door, only Q University’s captain was inside. The boy hesitated, sensing the drop in pressure from Chu Xiangbin beside him, and cautiously asked, “Captain, is Senior Luan… not here?”

The captain was busy writing something and didn’t even look up. “She went to the north gate. Doesn’t she head home every afternoon?”

“Oh…”

The boy stepped out and relayed the message hesitantly.

Chu Xiangbin’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. “Can you take me to your school’s north gate? As fast as possible.”

“……”

A few minutes later, two figures could be seen sprinting down Q University’s main road, heading from the south to the north gate.

University students rarely moved at such a frantic pace, so their rush drew plenty of attention along the way.

When people noticed that one of the runners was an exceptionally handsome guy, their curiosity only grew.

Chu Xiangbin paid no mind to the stares and murmurs. When they finally reached the north gate, he stopped, his chest heaving as his gaze scanned the flow of people inside and outside the gate.

A few seconds later, the boy from Q University arrived, gasping for breath and leaning on his knees for support. He pointed weakly toward the street opposite the gate.

“Senior Luan… usually waits over there… for her car to pick her up…”

“——”

Following the boy’s gesture, Chu Xiangbin immediately spotted a girl standing by the roadside.

His body froze, and even his breathing seemed to stop.

After a long moment, he abruptly snapped out of it, his chest rising and falling as though he had just broken free from suffocation. His face flushed red.

His eyes never wavered from her figure, as if afraid she might disappear if he so much as blinked.

He opened his mouth.

But just as he was about to call out her name, a flashy, ostentatiously bright purple sports car pulled up in front of her.

A few seconds later, under Chu Xiangbin’s frozen gaze, a young man with purple-dyed hair stepped out of the driver’s seat. His strikingly handsome face was indifferent, almost devoid of expression. He exchanged a few words with the girl before tossing her small suitcase into the back seat of the sports car.

Across the street, Chu Xiangbin watched as the familiar yet distant girl said something to the young man, her expression filled with grievance and complaint.

He couldn’t hear the words, but it was clear—this was a kind of closeness that only exists between those who are deeply loved and trusted.

Then, the two got into the car together, occupying the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The flashy sports car roared off into the distance.

For a long time, Chu Xiangbin remained frozen in place.

The boy beside him seemed to have pieced things together and spoke hesitantly, unable to hide his pity:
“That guy seems to be Senior Luan’s boyfriend… I heard from the team that she goes home once a month. Apparently… they’ve been living together for a while now.”

It felt like an eternity had passed.

Chu Xiangbin slowly turned around.

He smiled faintly, but his eyes gradually dimmed.

“Thank you. One last favor.”

“Don’t tell her… I was here.”

After returning, Chu Xiangbin stayed with the debate team and even promised to cooperate with all team activities and promotional efforts until he graduated. The only condition he set was that he would no longer participate in any matches against Q University’s debate team.

The team, initially worried he might quit, readily agreed.

After that, Zhu Xinyang noticed that something about Chu Xiangbin seemed to have fundamentally changed. It was subtle, hard to pinpoint, but the way he felt to others began to shift bit by bit.

It wasn’t until Zhu Xinyang happened to watch one of Chu Xiangbin’s debates that the change became clear: some part of him had been unlocked.

The part of himself that had once reconciled with the world for someone else’s sake was now completely abandoned. He was no longer the reclusive and reserved boy he had been in his youth, but the most aggressive side of him had consumed the last traces of softness in his heart.

Chu Xiangbin gradually became synonymous with “fear” within the debate team.

The terror and pressure he exuded with his unparalleled dominance and uncompromising approach lingered for years.

By his senior year, when his stepfather’s small business began to falter due to market shifts and poorly executed adjustments to its business strategy, it faced imminent bankruptcy. That was when the Chang family, father and son, stepped in. They extended a helping hand, allocating funds to save his stepfather’s company from ruin.

Having heard of the prodigious talent of this rising star from A University, Chang Ting deliberately befriended Chu Xiangbin, leveraging the favor to coerce him. Half as a demand, half as blackmail, he forced Chu Xiangbin to join Vio Capital as an “undercover” fresh graduate.

At that time, Chu Xiangbin no longer cared much about what company he worked for or what job he did.

——What he didn’t know was that the second miracle of his life was about to begin at that very moment.

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Sansukini: These novel characters always listen to rumors, never even trying to clarify it. Lol. Oh, 2 more chapters left.

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