Chapter Eight: Jiang Changyuan's Shifted Affections

Now, looking back, it’s clear why Gu Qing harbored such deep resentment toward him all day—he not only bore the stigma of a power grab but was also unfairly accused of stealing the heroine’s affection!

Jiang Changyuan glanced at his incompetent teammates, who were enjoying themselves without a care, and completely lost the will to reward himself.

Had he known this, he would never have accepted the challenge today.

Unfortunately, this group of traitorous fools was just too capable at adding to his troubles!

“Looks like we have to study hard,” Youyou said softly, and the little chubby boy immediately chimed in.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Jiang. As long as we work hard, we’ll surpass those nerds in the Student Council in the monthly exams in no time.”

“Exactly! Starting today, I vow to become a model student. Not even the Buddha himself could make me change my mind.”

“This is our chance to prove who’s boss! If we win, we take over the Student Council; if we lose… well, losing isn’t an option!”

Each one’s face flushed with fervor, as if the victory were already theirs, blissfully unaware of their own limitations.

Jiang Changyuan sighed deeply and lowered his gaze. The male lead might at most be full of hot air, but these pig teammates were genuinely clueless.

Originally, he planned to slack off and leave the end-of-month exams to fate—losing to Gu Qing would at least save his skin, which was a fair deal.

But now, that was impossible!

Gu Qing had misunderstood things so badly that if he didn’t lead the team to put in real effort, Gu Qing would have even more reason to complain.

Bang!

Laughter and chatter instantly ceased as everyone turned to Jiang Changyuan, who slammed the table and stood up, his expression stern.

“Brothers, the Student Council has been bullying us, using their good grades to look down on us. We need to show them what we’re made of!”

“So this time, we must put in a hundred and twenty thousand percent effort and leapfrog past the Student Council!”

“When that happens, I’ll be Student Council President, and Experimental High School will be ours!”

In an instant, the traitorous crew’s spirits soared, their howls of determination breaking through the room.

“Long live Young Master Jiang!”

“Who else but Young Master Jiang deserves to be President?”

“Once we become official Student Council members, we’ll be legends of Experimental High School!”

Watching the excited crowd, Jiang Changyuan quietly lit three candles for his brothers.

Legends?

Sorry, brothers. With me around, you’re destined to become a joke.

Of course, after all this, Jiang Changyuan planned to make some amends—after all, he was saving their skins, wasn’t he?

“Alright, calm down first. With your current grades and self-study habits, it’s nearly impossible to surpass the Student Council in just twenty days.”

“We need outside help. Does anyone know a famous tutor or something?”

No matter how skilled, no tutor could transform a bunch of underachievers into top students in twenty days. Jiang Changyuan’s plan was simple.

Put on a show of studying hard, then lose to Gu Qing fairly.

Then, if Gu Qing complained, it’d be his own fault.

“A famous tutor?”

The little chubby boy blinked his clear, foolish eyes.

“Do we even have that in Beining City?”

At those words, everyone exchanged uncertain glances.

Ask them about the best food or fun spots in Beining City, and they could list them all. But a famous tutor? Sorry, that was beyond their knowledge.

Jiang Changyuan’s mouth twitched sharply. With these pig teammates, what a blessing he had!

Yet he couldn’t be angry—they were just as clueless as he was, since he had only recently transmigrated himself.

An awkward silence fell.

After a long moment, Jiang Changyuan sighed. They had to settle for second best.

“No famous tutor? That’s fine. A top student will do. Surely you know someone?”

“I do! Chen Xiang is a top student,” the skinny, monkey-like Ding Shizheng quickly raised his hand.

“In our school, Chen Xiang and Gu Qing are equally famous. Several times, Chen Xiang has knocked Gu Qing off the top spot in the grade, but…”

“But what?”

“She’s very aloof and keeps to herself. She might not agree to tutor us.”

“No matter. I have money,” Jiang Changyuan said confidently.

Ding Shizheng hesitated, then added softly, “Young Master Jiang, the Chen family isn’t old money, but Chen Xiang probably isn’t short of cash.”

This time Jiang Changyuan fell silent.

Besides being rich, she had no other obvious advantage. And now their target was someone well-off—how was he supposed to handle that?

“What if we scare her? If she refuses, we’ll block her after class every day!”

At that, Jiang Changyuan smacked the back of the little chubby boy’s head.

“What do you think we are? Those are model students about to join the Student Council. Have you ever seen Student Council members block people after class?”

“Then what should we do? Go and swear brotherhood with her?”

The little chubby boy rubbed his head, thinking hard before offering another ridiculous idea.

Jiang Changyuan laughed bitterly. Damn, crazy is contagious.

He was really letting a bunch of lunatics come up with ideas for him?

“Just wait for her to tutor you. Women are predictable; there aren’t many tricks to handle them.”

“I, Young Master Jiang, will personally take charge and win over Chen Xiang!”

More flattery followed, making Jiang Changyuan feel a bit dizzy.

No wonder ancient fools fell for flattery—so many people eager to please, all speaking sweet words. How could anyone resist?

But Jiang Changyuan’s boast soon met a crushing defeat.

“I refuse!”

The girl spoke plainly, her icy demeanor undimmed even in her school uniform.

Jiang Changyuan, equally expressionless, delivered a cold figure with the air of a domineering CEO.

“Twenty times the normal rate!”

“I refuse!”

Damn!

A crack appeared in Jiang Changyuan’s composure. To secure Chen Xiang’s help, he had already raised the tutoring fee twentyfold.

And she still wasn’t tempted?

Any more, and he’d blow his entire monthly allowance.

But thinking of his plan, Jiang Changyuan gritted his teeth.

“Are you planning to raise the price again?”

Chen Xiang’s prediction was accurate, and Jiang Changyuan’s anger instantly cooled.

“You’re pretty. You think you’re pretty too?”

With a cold snort, Jiang Changyuan turned and left. This girl was a master negotiator—he almost got trapped by her.

Money couldn’t tempt her; he had to think of another way.

After he left, Chen Xiang’s indifferent expression flickered, then a faint, subtle smile curved her lips.

The notorious school bully was quite interesting.

But that was all. Her goal was to maintain her top spot in the grade and keep Gu Qing firmly beneath her—not to tutor losers.

Unbeknownst to either of them, this scene was witnessed by some onlookers and quickly spread.

“Did you hear? Jiang Changyuan has fallen for Chen Xiang, the school’s top student.”

“No way. Wasn’t he making a bet with President Gu for Su Yingying?”

“Maybe he knew he’d lose and is settling for second best…”

Jiang Changyuan was unaware of any of this. Back at school, he sent his underlings to investigate Chen Xiang’s likes and dislikes.

As the saying goes, to win someone over, you must cater to their preferences. He didn’t believe that his passionate ambition wouldn’t melt this icy girl.

Of course, he had another motive.

If money and favors couldn’t sway Chen Xiang, there was still public opinion.

So, after his teammates worked hard to find out Chen Xiang’s preferences, Jiang Changyuan made a grand entrance into Class 2 of the second year after lunch.

Under all eyes, he strode into the classroom, chin raised, and placed a gift down.

“For you.”

Without giving Chen Xiang a chance to refuse, Jiang Changyuan quickly left, followed closely like a dog.

The onlookers exchanged glances, confirming their suspicions.

Jiang Changyuan… really had moved on!