Chapter 34: This Is the Founding Patriarch

"Stop bragging!" the boy with the crew cut was the first to jump up. "The campus belle doesn't even give the student union president the time of day, and you think you can get a meal with her?"

"Exactly, kid, where are you from?"

Jiang Ye, unperturbed, crossed his legs and lowered his voice. "You guys... you're just too young."

He looked around mysteriously. "Do you know why you can't get girls like her?"

The boys leaned in involuntarily.

"You treat her like a goddess, so of course she acts cold. Who would like a boring, honest 'simp'?"

"You have to be direct, a bit of a 'bad boy,' but keep it in check. You need to make her feel like you're a bit of a nutcase—someone who’s crazy but interesting—rather than some honest guy waiting in the wings to be a backup choice!"

The others looked at him as if he were insane.

Zhang Xiaofeng asked skeptically, "Easier said than done. If you're so good, you do it!"

"Fine, I'll do it. Pay attention and learn!"

On the stage, Chen Duling was organizing her materials. There were no fewer than ten boys standing within a three-meter radius, yet none dared to approach her.

She had her white shirt sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing slender wrists, and was focused on packing up to leave.

Jiang Ye adjusted his collar and walked over in full view of everyone.

"Senior," his voice was clear and bright, "could I take you out to dinner? I'm trying to build an airplane, and I was wondering if you could give me some pointers?"

Zhang Xiaofeng, who had followed him, nearly spat out the water he had just been drinking.

Chen Duling looked up and saw Jiang Ye with his back to the audience, giving her a wink.

She understood immediately, and the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

This familiar feeling...

"Right now?" she replied, sounding reluctant.

"If it's convenient for you, Senior."

Chen Duling closed her folder gently and sighed, "I happen to be hungry anyway."

??????

The entire lecture hall fell silent instantly.

"Senior, I seem to have forgotten my meal card. Could you treat me?"

"O... okay."

Chen Duling picked up her bag and, under countless shocked gazes, walked out of the lecture hall with Jiang Ye.

It wasn't until the two figures disappeared that the crowd snapped out of their daze.

"Holy crap... he actually got a date?" The mineral water bottle in Zhang Xiaofeng's hand clattered to the floor. "Wait, is the reason I’ve been single for twenty years because I’m too polite??"

The boy with the crew cut suddenly grabbed his companion and shook him frantically. "Pinch me! I must be dreaming! That’s Chen Duling, the one who threw the flowers from the student union president directly into the trash! The Chen Duling who made a senior cry during a debate!"

"That ice-queen campus belle, Chen Duling? She just walked off with him like that?"

Just then, Jiang Ye suddenly turned back, and the boys scrambled back half a step as if they had seen a ghost.

He bent down to pick up the thermos Chen Duling had left behind, which had a *Puella Magi Madoka Magica* sticker on it.

"B-Big Brother!" Zhang Xiaofeng lunged forward, nearly dropping to his knees to grab his leg. "Teach me! I'll buy your cafeteria meals for a month!"

Seeing that the group of single "simps" was truly pathetic, Jiang Ye couldn't help but offer some advice.

"Anyway, remember this when chasing girls in the future: don't let down the good ones, and don't waste time on the bad ones!"

"If you meet someone who treats you well, cherish her. Don't always think the next one will be better!"

"Don't be afraid when you meet someone on a higher level—enjoy the fun she brings. Don't worry about whether she's real or fake; just treat it like leveling up in a game, grinding for experience and training your skills!"

"Also, money is for showing women, not for spending on them!"

"I'm not telling you to be a deadbeat, but don't be a miser either! Stop obsessing over buying gifts to move her. Spend that money on yourself—get two high-end outfits, a trendy haircut, go out and see the world, eat good food, and post some aesthetic photos on your social media!"

"Believe me, the girls will be chasing you by then..."

??????

Holy cow, they had found the Grandmaster!

The group bowed down in awe!

...

On the campus of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the sycamore leaves were turning yellow, fluttering down in the cool autumn breeze and covering the main road.

The evening sunset filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting dappled light and shadow, dyeing the entire campus in a warm orange hue.

The glass curtain wall of the library in the distance reflected the afterglow, and occasionally, students clutching books hurried past, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

Chen Duling and Jiang Ye walked side by side, their footsteps crunching softly on the fallen leaves.

She glanced sideways, secretly observing the man beside her.

They hadn't seen each other for two months, and he seemed to have changed quite a bit.

The boyishness in his brows had faded, replaced by a calm self-assurance, as if he were accustomed to being in total control.

"Dudu, why do you keep sneaking glances at me?"

Jiang Ye suddenly turned his head, a familiar, sunny smile spreading across his lips. "What are you going to treat me to later?"

Chen Duling looked away, pursing her lips in frustration.

An illusion. He was still that same little rascal.

With her hands behind her back, she looked up and asked, "What were you doing lingering back there earlier?"

Jiang Ye put his hands behind his head and said lazily, "Giving the boys at your school a little lecture, teaching them how to chase a cold campus belle."

"Pfft!"

Chen Duling couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes curving into crescents, a soft, faint arc appearing at the corners of her mouth.

The sunlight fell on her delicate profile, making her skin look as smooth as jade, and even her hair was coated in a soft halo.

"Bragger," she hummed.

The cafeteria was noisy.

Jiang Ye nonchalantly found a seat by the window, stretching his long legs out casually, drawing side-glances from many girls nearby.

Chen Duling carried the food tray, swiping her card and picking out dishes with practiced, deft movements.

"Is that... Chen Duling? She's actually getting food for a guy?!"

"Holy crap, am I seeing this right? The campus belle is serving food?"

"Who is that guy? I've never seen him before."

The whispers continued around them, but Chen Duling ignored them, calmly placing the tray in front of Jiang Ye.

"Here, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised fish, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. That's enough for you, right?"

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, taking the chopsticks with a grin. "Dudu is so thoughtful."

Chen Duling rolled her eyes at him and sat down opposite him.

"Finished filming?" she asked, picking up some greens.

"Yeah, just wrapped up, working on post-production," Jiang Ye replied, shoveling a mouthful of rice into his mouth, his voice slightly muffled.

"So busy, yet you still ran all the way to Nanjing. What for?"

Jiang Ye looked up, staring straight at her with a smile in his eyes. "To see you."

Chen Duling's chopsticks paused, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

She lowered her head to drink some soup to hide her unease.

"Don't start. You definitely have other business."

Jiang Ye shrugged, dropping the subject. "After you finish filming, do you plan on entering the entertainment industry?"

Chen Duling fell silent for a moment.

"I do have that thought," she said softly, "but I want to finish my studies first."

"That's good, no rush."

Jiang Ye wiped his mouth with a napkin, his expression suddenly becoming more serious. "Seriously, if you really want to get into this industry, finding a reliable talent agency is very important."

"Dudu, maybe you could join my company!"