Watching her like this, Chu Chen couldn't help laughing out loud. "Drink slowly, no one's going to steal it from you."
After finally managing to stop coughing, Xiao Han raised her head, gave Chu Chen a somewhat embarrassed look, and said in a soft voice, "Brother Chen, I, I'm fine..."
Saying nothing more, Chu Chen simply picked up the bottle, poured himself a glass, and began to drink slowly.
Yet he no longer urged Xiao Han to drink, instead taking out his phone to jot down any money-making ideas he could think of.
Although he had been a hoodlum in his past life, he knew very well that running with the underworld was no long-term solution—sooner or later, he would take a fall.
Therefore, he had to find a way out for himself.
And right now, only one path lay before him: leading his subordinates to go straight and run a legitimate business.
Still, what kind of business should he do?
After racking his brain for a long time, Chu Chen still couldn't come up with anything concrete.
"Ah, what a headache!" Chu Chen couldn't help massaging his temples, feeling a surge of irritation.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was almost ten o'clock.
Checking the time, Chu Chen said to his crew, "It's getting late, let's head out."
Though the guys weren't quite ready to leave, they all knew that Brother Chen was a university student and their dorms had strict curfew rules, locking up at ten-thirty. If they were late, they'd have no choice but to find somewhere else to stay for the night.
With that, everyone stood up and got ready to leave.
Chu Chen had the manager come in to settle the bill.
The manager quickly walked in holding the bill, smiling broadly. "Brother Chen, with the hostess fees included, it comes to 5,700 in total. Just give me 5,500."
Chu Chen nodded, pulled a stack of cash from his wallet, and handed it to the manager.
Taking the money and counting it, the manager smiled again. "Take your time leaving, Brother Chen, and you're always welcome back!"
Without speaking, Chu Chen gave a slight nod and led his subordinates out of the KTV.
Before leaving, he specifically walked over to Xiao Han, took two hundred-dollar bills from his wallet, and handed them to her.
"Brother Chen, this..." Xiao Han looked at Chu Chen in surprise, not knowing what he meant.
"Take it. It's a tip," Chu Chen said indifferently.
"But didn't the tip get paid together with the bill?" Xiao Han asked, hard-pressed to believe her ears.
"Just take it since I'm giving it to you," Chu Chen said, firmly stuffing the money into Xiao Han's hand. "Who doesn't like money?"
Looking at the cash in her hand, Xiao Han felt a whirlwind of mixed emotions.
Not knowing what else to say, she lowered her head and murmured, "Thank you, Brother Chen..."
Without another word, Chu Chen turned and left.
Back at school, after washing up, Chu Chen climbed into bed and went to sleep.
It was a deeply unsettled sleep, filled with disjointed, flashing dreams: one moment it was him forcing Bai Muyao, her struggling and furious; the next, the despair and terror right before his execution; then, him ruthlessly hacking off a man's arm with a single blade; and suddenly shifting to him embracing hostesses at a bathhouse before a swarm of police suddenly burst in to arrest him...
When the alarm clock woke him the next morning, Chu Chen snapped his eyes open and realized he was drenched in sweat.
Panting heavily, his chest heaved violently as if he had just been hauled out of the water.
"Hah... hah..."
For a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was still dreaming or already awake. Only when he sat up did he become certain that he was awake, and that he had truly, undeniably been reborn.
"Good thing it was just a dream," Chu Chen muttered to himself, raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
He pushed back the blanket, got out of bed, walked over to the window, and pulled back the curtains. Morning sunlight instantly flooded the entire room.
The warm sunlight washed over him, banishing the gloom left by the nightmare and gradually calming his previously agitated mood.
Wiping away his sweat, Chu Chen washed up, got dressed, and headed off to class.In his past life, Chu Chen had frequently skipped classes and practically never attended morning lectures. In this lifetime, however, he knew he had a long road ahead of him and recognized the true value of knowledge, so attending classes was a must.
When he arrived at the classroom, the students already present looked somewhat surprised. After all, Chu Chen rarely showed up for morning classes, and his reputation for being formidable at school preceded him. He found a seat and sat down, and immediately no one dared to sit in any of the surrounding seats.
"Holy shit, am I seeing things? Brother Chen actually came to a morning class?"
"Did the sun rise from the west today? This is a once-in-a-century spectacle!"
"Do you guys think Brother Chen has turned over a new leaf?"
"Who knows? But I feel like Brother Chen seems a bit different from before."
The surrounding classmates whispered among themselves, but no one dared to speak loudly, fearing they might disturb Chu Chen.
Chu Chen turned a deaf ear to the murmurs. He opened his textbook and began previewing the day's lesson.
This was a large lecture, combining not just Chu Chen's class, but students from several other classes as well. Yet, even as class was about to start, no one dared to sit anywhere near Chu Chen.
Chu Chen didn't mind at all. Instead, he was busy recalling what talents were in his department during this time, deciding to recruit them early on to help him build his own future business empire.
Bai Muyao was also in this department. She rushed into the classroom practically at the last second, only to find that it was almost completely filled, with empty seats remaining only around Chu Chen.
She looked around, intending to find her close friend, but saw her friend giving her an apologetic smile while a boy was already sitting next to her.
Bai Muyao was somewhat speechless. She looked at the vacant seats around Chu Chen, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she hesitated whether to find somewhere else to sit.
After a moment's thought, however, she walked over and sat down right next to Chu Chen.
Chu Chen glanced at her with a hint of surprise.
Bai Muyao glared at him. "What are you looking at? Am I not allowed to sit here?"
Chu Chen raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of teasing in his tone. "I thought you weren't planning to ever speak to me again!"
Bai Muyao ignored his teasing. "Didn't you already apologize?"
In her heart, however, she was thinking that Chu Chen had actually come to a morning class—he really was different from before.
Still, this guy truly had a notorious reputation; nobody even dared to sit near him.
Unwilling to dwell on past matters, Bai Muyao changed the subject. "Look at you, running amok all day long. Now nobody even wants to sit by your side."
Chu Chen looked at her, the smile at the corners of his lips deepening. "It's not that they don't want to; they just don't dare."
Noticing Chu Chen's gaze, Bai Muyao deliberately asked, "What's the difference?"
Chu Chen withdrew his gaze and said sincerely, "A huge difference. Besides, with no one else around me, it's a lot more peaceful."
Bai Muyao curled her lips, thinking to herself that who knew whether what he said was true or false.
"Are you saying I'm disturbing you?"
Chu Chen chuckled again. "You're the exception."
Bai Muyao's heartbeat quickened slightly, and an imperceptible blush crept across her cheeks.
Slowly, Chu Chen dropped another line: "Because you're a top student, and if there's anything I don't understand, I can ask you."
Bai Muyao was instantly left speechless. She gave him a sidelong glance, though a trace of sweetness bloomed in her heart.
"Who's a top student? Just focus on the lecture," Bai Muyao muttered under her breath, turning her attention toward the podium.
The professor arrived shortly after, looking momentarily startled upon spotting Chu Chen, clearly very surprised by the presence of such a "distinguished guest."
Yet the professor quickly composed himself and began the lecture.
Midway through the class, Bai Muyao glanced at Chu Chen's book and notes, discovering that he wasn't just putting on an act—he was genuinely listening attentively. Although his handwriting was somewhat hurried, it was clear he was making a serious effort to take notes.
Her curiosity about his transformation deepened all the more. Could it be that he had truly turned over a new leaf and changed his ways?