Ch. 317 - I, Chen Shu, Vouch With My Character

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[Option 1: Pat your chest and say, "Since it's Xiaoyu's business, it's my Chen Shu's business!" Completion reward: small amount of Beast Taming Power]

[Option 2: Directly refuse, indicating you have no time. Completion reward: Elemental Beast "Wind Blade" +1]

[Option 3: Agree, but tactfully request some compensation. Completion reward: unlock new formula: Heavy Earth Potion]

Chen Shu's eyes darted around, lingering on the second and third options for a moment.

Shortly after, Chen Shu rubbed his hands together and said,

"Uncle Xu, when it comes to helping a classmate, I absolutely won't shirk the responsibility!"

He let out a sigh. "But I'm just so swamped right now. Way too many companies in Nanjiang want me as their spokesperson. My schedule is honestly packed solid."

"?!"

Everyone's gazes swung toward him in perfect unison.

By normal standards, this summer break should have been plastered wall-to-wall with ads featuring the college entrance exam's top scorer.

But this year, Nanjiang was completely different — there wasn't a single photo of Chen Shu anywhere...

You haven't landed a single damn endorsement, and you're claiming your schedule is packed?!

How do you even have the nerve to say that?!

"If I really had to free up a single day, the breach-of-contract penalties..."

Chen Shu sighed, an embarrassed look in his eyes.

Xu Feng remained perfectly composed and stated his price directly. "As long as Student Chen Shu is willing to show up — one million!"

"I, Chen Shu, have no other virtues — except loyalty!"

Chen Shu immediately shot to his feet, grabbed Xu Feng's hand, and declared, "Uncle Xu's business is my business!"

"..."

Watching Chen Shu's seamless face-change, everyone was utterly stupefied.

"I feel like Uncle Xu and I share a fated connection!"

Chen Shu spoke up. "Better today than some other day — why don't we become sworn brothers, right here and now?"

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

Xu Xiaoyu's mouth twitched violently. A panicked look flashed through her eyes as she immediately shut down Chen Shu's antics.

Wouldn't that mean she'd actually have to call him Uncle Chen from now on?

"Let's eat, let's eat..."

Xu Feng, equally finding the whole thing preposterous beyond words, abruptly changed the subject.

Amidst the bizarre atmosphere, everyone finished their meal.

Chen Shu ate and drank his fill. The rest of them simply felt bewildered, genuinely struggling to keep up with his train of thought.

"This Sunday, then. We'll be troubling Student Chen Shu!"

"Uncle Xu, leave it to me!"

Chen Shu waved a hand and departed from Xu Xiaoyu's home.

"He's finally gone..."

Xu Feng and the others couldn't help but collectively exhale in relief.

If they'd let Chen Shu stay any longer, the entire family might have started losing their grip on sanity.

...

Chen Shu returned home and began enjoying the summer break.

Every day, he ate, drank, and messed around with Zhang Dali. Word of his return had already spread throughout Nanjiang.

The citizens of Nanjiang couldn't help but offer up daily prayers: may the bandit's school term begin as soon as possible...

The weekend arrived before long.

Chen Shu put some extra effort into his appearance, donning a suit and a pair of sunglasses before heading outside his apartment complex.

"Xiao Chen!"

Xu Feng had been waiting in the car well in advance and called out the moment he spotted Chen Shu emerge.

Chen Shu got into the car. Besides Xu Feng, Zhou Shi and Xu Xiaoyu were also inside.

"Uncle Xu, let's roll."

The group left the complex and drove east through Nanjiang.

Xu Xiaoyu asked, "What are you wearing sunglasses for?"

Chen Shu cleared his throat. "Don't you think they give off a powerful aura? Instantly broadcasts professionalism!"

"Show-off..."

Xu Xiaoyu muttered under her breath.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the entrance of 666 Potion Company.

"President Liu!"

Xu Feng parked the car just as a fat middle-aged man in a suit happened to be arriving at the company.

The fat man extended his hand and smiled genially. "President Xu!"

"And this is...?"

Liu Ming immediately took notice of Chen Shu's flashy getup.

"Student, Chen Shu!"

Chen Shu extended his hand and calmly shook with the man.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than his body suddenly convulsed as if having a seizure.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Dozens of sheets of paper came flying out from beneath his suit jacket.

For a moment, everyone was baffled. What kind of absurd maneuver was this supposed to be?

Chen Shu said with a perfectly composed expression, "Sorry, sorry — my college entrance exam score report slipped out..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone stared fixedly at Chen Shu, some even instinctively starting to edge away.

The hell? One sheet slipping out is carelessness. Dozens of sheets at once is just taking the piss, isn't it?

"Heh... heh..."

Liu Ming forced a dry laugh, picked up one of the papers from the ground, and immediately saw his scores.

"Another genius from Huaxia Academy, is it?"

He was from another province, so he naturally hadn't heard Chen Shu's illustrious name, but that didn't stop a look of respect from surfacing in his eyes.

The status of a small medicinal materials company president couldn't compare to a Huaxia Academy genius.

"Thank you very much, President Liu!"

Chen Shu calmly collected his exam score reports.

Xu Feng invited everyone into the company's meeting room, and the two sides settled in to wait.

A trace of displeasure appeared in Liu Ming's eyes. He asked, "Has Duobao Potion Company still not arrived?"

Just as he spoke, a group of people entered the meeting room.

"Sorry to keep President Liu waiting. We were held up on the road for a bit..."

The person at the lead wore gold-rimmed glasses and was carrying a gift bag.

"Some local specialties from my hometown — a humble gesture! Hope President Liu will accept them."

Liu Ming nodded, the displeasure in his eyes dissipating.

"Hm?"

Chen Shu's gaze shifted toward a tall, lanky young man on the opposite side.

His features were gentle and refined, carrying a rather scholarly air.

"Huaxia Academy, Wang Jue!"

The tall young man extended his right hand, noticing Chen Shu in sunglasses.

"Ahem!"

Seeing that everyone had now gathered, Chen Shu calmly rose to his feet and announced,

"Nanjiang City's Top Scorer, Huaxia Academy Genius, Pride of Nanjiang Second High, Professor Liu Feng's Final Disciple, Elder Professor Ye Qing's Sole Successor..."

"???"

"???"

Everyone in the meeting room was dumbstruck. What the hell kind of thing was this?!

Had self-introductions really gotten this long nowadays?

Wang Jue was equally stupefied, his hand still hanging in midair looking rather awkward.

"Chen Shu, at your service!"

At long last, after the entire string of titles had concluded, Chen Shu finally stated his actual name.

"Ahem..."

Xu Feng cleared his throat and said, "Since everyone's here, let's begin."

Liu Ming spoke. "Our company is extremely sought-after. Aside from you two, every other potion company has been in contact with us."

"However, given that both your companies have a good relationship with us and possess substantial strength, we've decided to select this year's cooperation partner from between you two."

"President Xu, why don't you start by presenting your company's situation!"

Xu Feng cleared his throat and began calmly, "Our 666 Potion Company was established..."

The two companies took turns presenting their respective strengths, though their quoted prices were completely identical.

"Student Chen, Student Wang — you're both Huaxia Academy geniuses. I wonder if either of you has anything to add?"

Liu Ming had sorted through both companies' characteristics and now turned his gaze toward Chen Shu and Wang Jue.

"I, Chen Shu, vouch with my own character — you can trust Uncle Xu's company!"[1]

Chen Shu immediately rose to his feet and declared with absolute conviction.

The moment those words were spoken, everyone's expressions shifted, their gazes all swiveling toward him in unison.

Even Xu Feng's eyes held a touch of shock. He hadn't expected Chen Shu to be so loyal, actually using his own character as collateral.

Xu Xiaoyu, on the other hand, silently lowered her head. The premise, of course, being that Chen Pi actually had any character to begin with...

For the Nanjiang Bandit, those were nothing but empty words!

[1] Vouch with my character (人品担保, rénpǐn dānbǎo): A triple-layered joke. In standard Chinese, 人品 means moral integrity. In gaming slang, 人品值 means "luck/drop rate" — so guaranteeing with 人品 is like promising based on a dice roll. And since Chen Shu has neither character nor luck worth trusting, as Xu Xiaoyu immediately notes, the guarantee is "entirely empty words."