Chapter 308 - 201: Silu is Doubted, Lu Fan and Elder Meng Back Her Up with a Satisfying Face-Slap

Chapter 308: Chapter 201: Silu is Doubted, Lu Fan and Elder Meng Back Her Up with a Satisfying Face-Slap

Jiang Yixia stood where she was, phone in hand, her brow furrowed tightly.

’What the hell is this guy up to?’

...

「Meanwhile, in a milk tea shop near the Jinling Institute of Technology.」

Mrs. Xu sat across from Xu Junjie. Seeing the confident look on her son’s face, she couldn’t help but feel incredibly anxious.

"Jun Jie, did you even hear what I told you?" Mrs. Xu asked, her voice laced with worry.

Xu Junjie took a sip of his milk tea and said nonchalantly, "Mom, relax. I know what I’m doing."

"What could you possibly have under control? Jiang Sifan’s father sent a rich kid like Lin Qiang to prison and took down that entire fraudulent company in one fell swoop. Just think about what kind of man he is! Can you afford to mess with him?" Mrs. Xu exclaimed, growing frantic.

Xu Junjie put down his milk tea, a defiant edge to his voice. "Mom, I didn’t provoke him. Jiang Sifan and I are in fair competition. This is what starting a business is like—it’s a dog-eat-dog world. Look at companies like Meituan and Ele.me, don’t they compete the same way? Whoever can burn cash the longest wins."

Hearing this, Mrs. Xu’s heart leaped into her throat. "Burning cash? Where are you getting the money to burn?"

Xu Junjie chuckled. "I’m already working with more shops than Jiang Sifan. His little studio only has a few, right? I’ve got over a dozen. As long as I keep this up, he won’t be able to hold out for long. He might even end up begging to work with me."

Seeing his brimming confidence, Mrs. Xu grew even more frantic.

She thought about what Mr. Xu had said, about the Lin Qiang case, about the ringleaders of that fraudulent company who were sentenced to several years in prison...

"Jun Jie, listen to me. It’s fine for you to start a business, but you have to do everything by the book. If you make a mistake, we’ll own up to it. Don’t just try to tough it out. Even if you fail, I’ll explain it to your father. He won’t blame you." She took a deep breath, her tone growing stern.

Xu Junjie waved his hand dismissively and smiled. "Mom, you can be a hundred percent sure that everything I’m doing is legal and aboveboard. No matter how powerful his dad is, he can’t interfere with a legitimate business, can he?"

Mrs. Xu looked at him and opened her mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing what.

’This boy... Why is he so stubborn?’

She sighed, stood up, and said with a tone of utter resignation, "Fine. As long as you know what you’re doing. I’m heading back now. You be careful."

"Mom, stop worrying about nothing. Just wait and see me succeed," Xu Junjie said, standing up to see her off.

As Mrs. Xu walked out of the milk tea shop, she glanced back at her son, her heart in turmoil.

She had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

...

「Meanwhile, in a women’s dormitory at Jinling University.」

Jiang Silu sat on her bed, staring at her phone screen, her thoughts in a total mess.

The group chat was in an uproar.

It all started with a message from Shen Hong.

Shen Hong was a fourth-year senior in the landscape architecture department and the former leader of their Jiangnan Garden Cup design team.

Back then, she had looked down on Jiang Silu, who was only a first-year student. In the end, Lu Fan had the faculty remove Shen Hong from her position as group leader and kick her out of the design team.

She had been full of confidence about the upcoming National Youth Landscape Architect Competition.

Just when she thought the professors would recommend her for it, the department head unexpectedly chose Jiang Silu, a first-year, to compete instead.

Indignant, Shen Hong wrote a long-winded post questioning by what right Jiang Silu was allowed to participate in the National Youth Landscape Architect Competition.

What qualifications could a first-year student possibly have?

Was there some kind of backroom deal involved?

Did she pull some strings?

The moment the message was sent, the group chat exploded.

Song Miaomiao was the first to jump in, firing back a long message: [Shen Hong, what’s that supposed to mean? Silu’s gold medal from the Jiangnan Garden Cup was the real deal. All the judges acknowledged her work. What right do you have to question it?]

Lu Yao, always the most hot-tempered, shot back directly: [Exactly! Some people are just being salty because they’re not on the team anymore. It’s pathetic.]

Shen Hong quickly replied: [That Jiangnan Garden Cup project was a team effort. What significant contribution could a first-year have possibly made? She was just riding our coattails for credit. Does she really think she won on her own merit?]

Liu Shiting couldn’t stand it anymore and chimed in: [Shen Hong, that’s not fair. We all saw Silu’s design concepts. It was stated clearly in the judges’ comments, so how can you say she was just riding our coattails?]

Just then, Peng Chengshuai suddenly appeared in the chat.

He posted a message in the group: [Shen Hong, that’s uncalled for. Everyone on the team saw Silu’s contributions. The core design concept for that project was her idea. If you don’t believe it, go read the judges’ comments yourself instead of spouting nonsense here.]

Kong Le followed up with another message: [Right. We all know what Silu is capable of. I think she completely deserves to be in the national competition.]

Having been called out by a couple of third-year junior students, Shen Hong was losing face and fired back another message: [Kong Le, Peng Chengshuai, you two have been working on designs with me since you were first-years. Now that there’s a prettier, more manipulative ’green tea’ junior, you’re just going to shamelessly suck up to her and cover for her, is that it? What ability could a first-year possibly have? Isn’t it just because she has some family background?]

Lu Yao was so angry she nearly threw her phone, her fingers flying across the screen: [Shen Hong! Don’t you dare slander her! What background does Silu have? Her mom owns a flower shop. What kind of background is that?]

Shen Hong sneered: [A flower shop owner? Then how did she get to know Elder Meng? How did she become his final disciple? Do you take me for a fool?]

The group chat went silent for a few seconds.

Jiang Silu stared at the messages, a bitter and pained feeling welling up inside her.

She knew Shen Hong was targeting her.

Ever since being kicked off the team, Shen Hong had held a grudge against her.