Chapter 51: The Son of the Richest Man Cannot Be Bullied

A simp?
Jiang Changyuan's mood soured instantly. If there was one thing he detested above all else, it was a simp.
And that was only because he used to be one!
"Well, look who it is, the great simp Jiang. Sister Lili's family just landed a massive contract, and you come scurrying in like a hound sniffing blood. Truly living up to your legendary title as the ultimate simp."
"Where's your gift, though? No way, tell me you didn't come empty-handed?"
The shrill female voice pierced the air, dripping with a sarcasm so toxic it sounded like it had just crawled straight out of the netherworld.
Jiang Changyuan turned his head in displeasure. A man and a woman stood on either side of a central figure, their faces twisted in identical, heavy-handed sneers—resembling a cheap, bootleg version of a golden boy and jade maiden.
Standing right in the middle was Liu Lili, the very first seasoned player the original owner of this body had ever chased after.
"You keep throwing the word 'simp' around. Is it because you're out there searching for your own kind?"
"Jiang Changyuan, what is that supposed to mean?"
The woman shrieked, her voice growing even more grating.
"Exactly what it sounds like. You're a dog!"
"Following Liu Lili around every single day just to kiss up to her—if that doesn't make you a dog, what does?"
Jiang Changyuan picked at his ear, casting a mocking gaze toward the man who had just opened his mouth to speak.
"And you! You're jumping up and down louder than anyone else. Liu Lili hasn't even dropped a pin yet, and you're already rushing in to sniff and appraise the scent. You're a fine hound yourself."
"You!"
The man and woman trembled with rage, shaking as if they had springs hidden inside their bodies.
"If we're dogs, you've been chasing after Sister Lili's coattails day in and day out, and she couldn't care less about you. That makes you even lower than a dog!"
"Thanks for the invitation, but as a human being, I don't stoop to competing with dogs, because..."
Jiang Changyuan flashed a wicked smile.
"I can't possibly sink that low!"
"Jiang Changyuan, do you get some kind of thrill out of bullying people?"
Liu Lili had remained silent up to this point, but seeing her loyal followers being cornerhed, she finally stepped up to salvage the situation.
"A huge thrill. I just love bullying dogs. If people don't keep their hounds properly leashed, I don't mind stepping in to help discipline them."
"Sigh, what can I say? I'm just naturally kind-hearted."
"Can you stop being so utterly shameless? Jiang Changyuan, I don't care why you came here today, you are not welcome. Please leave."
Pointing toward the door, Liu Lili unceremoniously tried to throw him out, undisguised disgust written all over her face.
Jiang Changyuan crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, finding the three united fronts facing him utterly laughable.
The original owner truly deserved his reputation as a simp. He had no idea what charms Liu Lili possessed—sending her flowers, showering her with expensive gifts, only to receive cold shoulders in return.
Even when he caught wind of her shady, promiscuous behavior, he kept making excuses for her, deluding himself into thinking she was merely trying to make him jealous.
Yet, this pure-blooded simp never knew that when the Jiang family fell on hard times, Liu Lili not only refused to lend a hand, but actively colluded with others to target them, playing the role of kicking a man while he was down to absolute perfection.
In the original book, the downfall of the Jiang family certainly owed a heavy debt to the Liu family and Liu Lili's vicious contributions.

"Mind your tongue. Just who do you think you are, and what status do you think I hold?"
"My Jiang family is the wealthiest in Beining. You're just a second-tier family—how dare you speak to me in that tone?"
"Do you honestly believe I can't turn Liu Hai's celebration banquet into an apology banquet tonight?"
The triple-barreled question left Liu Lili stunned, staring at him with unfamiliar eyes as if she were meeting Jiang Changyuan for the very first time.
Why wasn't the biggest simp in her cage trying to suck up to her anymore?
The man and woman standing beside her were similarly frozen in place. Why wasn't the script following its expected trajectory?
Observing their expressions, Jiang Changyuan sneered inwardly.
In this world, aside from the male and female protagonists, who on earth did he have to fear?
"Jiang Changyuan, you, you..."
"You, you, you—what's wrong? Got a stutter?"
"Bastard, how dare you insult me?"
"Ha, you're allowed to insult me, but I'm not allowed to return the favor? Landing one big contract has really puffed you up, hasn't it?"
Jiang Changyuan hit back without an ounce of mercy, completely frying Liu Lili's already meager cognitive capacity.
Her original intention had been to bring people over to humiliate Jiang Changyuan and boost her own prestige, never expecting to make a complete fool of herself instead.
Realizing this, the man decided his moment to shine had finally arrived.
"Hmph, if you're jealous of us, Jiang Changyuan, just admit it."
"Who doesn't know the Jiang family wanted to sign with Shuguang Technology? It's just that your family simply isn't good enough."
"That's right. Shuguang Technology looked down on the Jiang family, which is why they chose Sister Lili's family instead. The title of Beining's wealthiest family is about to change hands."
The woman chimed in, neither of them taking Jiang Changyuan's status seriously in the slightest.
This arrogance had been granted to them by the original owner himself. After all, that pure-blooded simp had always loved everyone and everything connected to his beloved.
"Oh."
"Jiang Changyuan, what kind of attitude is that?"
Liu Lili was furious. She refused to let her personal simp unlock his own cage and run away—unless she was the one who cast him aside.
"Your attitude matches your character."
"Your stupidity only deserves my perfunctory dismissal."
Jiang Changyuan smiled with utter disdain. A woman like this wouldn't even be fit to wash his feet, let alone receive an ounce of his affection.
"How dare you call Sister Lili stupid! Jiang Changyuan, you've lost your mind!"
The man pointed a finger right at Jiang Changyuan's nose. His display of loyal protection inspired Jiang Changyuan to raise his hand and reward him with a double-tap across the face.
Slap! Slap!
"Where did this stinking trash crawl out from? How dare you threaten the son of the wealthiest man in the city?"
"One phone call from me, and you won't even be able to survive in Beining. Let's see if Liu Lili can save you then."
Seeing Jiang Changyuan's ferocious expression, the woman swallowed the rest of her words back down her throat, terrified that she would be the next one to get slapped.

Jiang Changyuan's previous tolerance had almost made her forget that he was, by birthright, the untouchable young master of Beining.
Today, however, Jiang Changyuan had taught them a thorough lesson.
The son of the richest man is not to be trifled with!
Yet, this scene still failed to pierce the thick skull of an over-entitled idiot.
"Jiang Changyuan, tonight is my family's celebration banquet. Do you really have to make a scene and humiliate me?"
"If you can't handle staying on the stage, why don't you just jump off?"
"You... ! If you keep acting like this, I'm never going to talk to you again."
Liu Lili stamped her foot in frustration. In the past, this tactic had never failed—Jiang Changyuan's greatest terror was the thought of her ignoring him.
Instead, Jiang Changyuan wore an expression of pure delight, as if he had just struck gold.
"Really?"
"Go on then, stand on that table and jump down. I promise I won't stop you."
"Jiang Changyuan, you, you, you..."
"Hurry up, don't waste time. Aren't you looking for a way out of this awkward spot?"
Jiang Changyuan's continuous urging left Liu Lili in a daze.
No, this wasn't how it was supposed to go. Shouldn't Jiang Changyuan be crawling back, humbling himself to coax her?
"I really am not going to talk to you anymore."
"Fine. If you ever talk to me again, you're a dog, and you have to bark three times whenever we cross paths."
Liu Lili's mouth dropped open, suddenly at a loss for words. Jiang Changyuan had changed.
No!
It must be because she had been growing closer to that senior student recently, and Jiang Changyuan was just pulling the same old trick again.
Hmph, he was merely changing tactics to capture her attention.
"Jiang Changyuan, can you stop being so petty? It's not like I did anything wrong by getting a little closer to Brother Bing."
"Even though Brother Bing treats me so well and is pursuing me, I only ever view him as an older brother. We share a purely platonic friendship."
Such hypocritical virtue made Jiang Changyuan's skin crawl with goosebumps. Sure enough, toxic players came in all genders.
"Liu Lili, you are truly magnificent."
"What?"
"You're not even a mother yet, and at such a young age, you're already trying to spiritually redeem every single male on earth."
Liu Lili froze, and once the meaning finally registered, she flew into a towering rage.
"Jiang Changyuan! I've already lowered myself to let you get close to me, and yet you continue to humiliate me over and over again. Have you got a death wish?"
"I've searched high and low for a death wish, but I certainly have no interest in finding you."