Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 43

Lu Yibei pondered for a moment:

“Fatty, Zhao Sun, after class let’s hit the milk tea shop—I’ll treat.”

Hao Zhangwen: “Sounds good.”

Zhao Sun: “Solid.”

Liu Jie: “Yo, Luo Bei’s feeling generous today, then I’ll—”

Lu Yibei cut him off with a calm smile:

“Did I say I was treating you? Why are you making demands now?”

Liu Jie: ?

…

“Ji Qingqian.”

Chu Chu spoke softly, and Ji Qingqian turned off her phone screen, glancing at her.

Chu Chu, sensitive to the heat, was still flushed beneath the shade despite resting for some time. Her pale face had a light red tint.

She seemed to struggle with her words, pausing before finally saying:

“Senior Lu Yibei is… pretty special.”

What she really wanted to say was: You treat Senior Lu Yibei in a special way…

Unlike with other boys, whom she rejected at the first sign of attention, she had accepted Lu Yibei’s kindness.

Could it be… she had feelings for him?

But when she met Ji Qingqian’s cool, icy gaze, she didn’t have the courage to ask.

Other people’s private matters were none of her business.

Losing the campus belle contest to Ji Qingqian was one thing, but now, even when it came to the senior she liked, Ji Qingqian had easily surpassed her.

Chu Chu felt a quiet frustration, but looking at Ji Qingqian, she reminded herself: Shouldn’t this be expected?

Still, the pang of envy lingered.

“Mm.”

Ji Qingqian did not deny Chu Chu’s observation.

Indeed, Lu Yibei was special.

Everyone called her “Goddess,” which was flattering, but hearing it repeatedly felt a bit cliché.

Lu Yibei called her “Heroine,” and it sounded effortless, carefree, like a wanderer roaming the martial world.

Chu Chu stared at Ji Qingqian’s flawless profile, as if forcing the words out:

“You need to keep it up.”

Ji Qingqian didn’t fully understand what Chu Chu meant, but she responded lightly after a pause:

“…Oh.”

Chu Chu looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with longing.

Alas, a romance that hadn’t even begun with the senior seemed doomed to end before it started.

…

A few days passed.

The campus belle contest had stabilized.

Many people were only in it for novelty, and only a few had the courage to approach her directly.

Lu Yibei heard from Ji Qingqian that things had quieted down a lot.

Voting wasn’t over yet, but the results were predictable.

Third-year: Jiang Zile, three-time reigning campus belle.

First-year: Ji Qingqian, likely to reign for three years.

Second-year: The top three were neck and neck, barely ahead of fourth place.

The highest vote-getter: Zhou Zhou.

Second place: Xu Wenxiu.

She had no connection to the 404 squad. Judging by her photos, she looked as her name suggested—a bookish girl with black-rimmed glasses.

Third place: Xia Li.

“Brother Liu must have bought votes! I admit she’s decent-looking, but third place?!” Liu Jie protested.

Lu Yibei pulled a textbook from Hao Fatty’s bag.

Class was about to resume—they’d be in detention if late.

“Brother Liu has good social skills,” he said.

Xia Li had that personality: you might not fall for her, but you wouldn’t dislike her either. Plus, as a student council member who often organized events, she knew a lot of people.

When she joined the contest, her friends would support her just for fun, saying things like, “Oh, isn’t this Campus Belle Xia?”

Liu Jie scoffed: “Playing the sympathy card!”

“Not sad about the campus belle contest ending, rushing straight to the next battle is—”

Zhao Sun was excited: “The campus heartthrob contest!!”

After choosing the campus belle, selecting the campus heartthrob was a Jiangnan University tradition.

Zhao Sun’s interest wasn’t because he wanted to compete or put Liu Jie on stage.

It was because the campus heartthrob contest was… abstract.

Unlike the belle contest, which had separate votes for each grade, the heartthrob was school-wide.

Years ago, winners had been dark-skinned athletes or suspenders-wearing idol trainees—handsome enough.

Then one year, someone accidentally submitted a photo of Ultraseven, which got approved.

Thus, the Seven of the Land of Light, with 93% of the vote, became that year’s campus heartthrob.

Since then, the contest review became lax.

Whether the candidate was a Jiangnan student didn’t matter. Even being human wasn’t a requirement—as long as male, masculine, or biologically male, anyone could compete.

The most infamous year, the campus heartthrob nearly became a certain Japanese senior in the industry… only banned due to legal regulations.

But the core rule remained: as long as it complied with the rules, anyone could enter for their favorite.

Lu Yibei remembered clearly: last year’s final was Wu Yanzu versus Ultraman Tiga.

One was a living embodiment of perfect male beauty, the other a childhood hero made of light.

Votes were neck and neck.

In the end, Jiang Zile, then the second-year campus belle, personally rallied votes on the playground by singing the battle anthem Miracle Reborn, stabilizing the results.

The Jiang Zile × Tiga pairing even became popular for a while.

Even now, Lu Yibei couldn’t help but mutter:

“Truly abstract…”

“Whoa.”

Zhao Sun exclaimed, checking the school’s WeChat account for votes: “This year, first place is still Tiga!”

“Typical,” Lu Yibei said. “With senior Jiang’s buff, he’s probably safe. Even if trailing now, she can perform another battle anthem later—who can resist?”

“But the second-place votes are close, even gaining ground,” Zhao Sun said.

“Another contender?” Lu Yibei perked up. “Who’s second?”

Zhao Sun looked at him and said solemnly: “Da Gu.”

Lu Yibei: …

Tiga fighting Da Gu? Why am I dreaming of this?

“…Fighting himself?”

Lu Yibei wondered who came up with these genius ideas.

Only Tiga could beat Tiga.

Zhao Sun, a steadfast Tiga fan, didn’t know whom to vote for…

Hao Zhangwen interrupted:

“My royalties just came in. Let’s go eat tonight—I’m treating.”

Liu Jie, sycophantic and excited: “Dad—”

Zhao Sun and Lu Yibei clasped fists toward Hao Zhangwen: “Big brother!”

Then to Liu Jie: “Good nephew!”

Liu Jie: “…Shut up!”

Hao Zhangwen’s royalties were from songwriting.

He had talent for music, selling small songs. Not expensive, earning three to four thousand per song.

It was more demanding than Lu Yibei’s web novels, so Hao Zhangwen treated it as a hobby with occasional extra cash.

“Let’s do Haidilao,” Lu Yibei suggested. “I’ve been meaning to treat Brother Jie anyway, so we’ll split it.”

“No problem,” Hao Zhangwen said.