Chapter 33: I Am Her Girlfriend

"Hello, Jiang Yanrong."

Jiang Yanrong replied with a touch of aloofness. She had thought Bai Wei was finally going to introduce her to someone wealthy, but it turned out to be yet another penniless boy. Now, with a closer look at Li Fu, she was certain that everything he wore together wasn’t worth more than a thousand yuan—the only remotely valuable item was his winter coat. The rest was all cheap market goods.

"Bai Wei really is something else, wasting my time and my expressions," Jiang Yanrong complained silently about her close friend in her mind. She had come here in high spirits, only to be introduced to a poor boy. She wondered if her friend had been bribed by this pauper somehow. He had neither money nor looks—just utterly ordinary.

Deep down, she already wanted to leave. Jiang Yanrong had always been proud and ambitious, a student at a prestigious university in the capital, gifted with both beauty and talent, and a figure to match. Naturally, she was haughty; ordinary people simply couldn’t catch her eye.

"Li Fu, what have you been busy with lately? I hardly see you at the company," Bai Wei said, unaware of her friend’s inner complaints and attempting to make conversation, hoping to bring the two closer together.

"The company’s affairs are more or less settled. Lately, I’ve been busy studying. Besides, with you all there, nothing will go wrong," Li Fu replied with a smile. He hadn’t been to the company much recently, but he was well aware of everything happening. The player base for "King of Glory" was growing rapidly. Although the Penguin Group’s new game had the advantage of a powerful platform, "King of Glory" kept pouring money into advertising and, as the pioneer in the field, maintained a strong position. Since its launch, the competition hadn’t posed any real threat.

Of course, Li Fu had also secretly had Xiao Ying sabotage the Penguin Group’s new game. He needed the profits from "King of Glory" to support his future plans and couldn’t allow any copycat games to threaten it.

"Excuse me, what would you like to drink?" At that moment, the door to the private room opened quietly. The server from "Ju Wei" Milk Tea House entered with a polite smile.

"Just a glass of hot water," Li Fu answered, smiling. He’d never been fond of milk tea, coffee, or any soft drinks—a habit formed from childhood poverty.

"Very well, please wait a moment." The server was briefly stunned—not expecting Li Fu to order nothing but hot water—but quickly regained composure, closed the door gently, and left.

"What a pauper, ordering just water," Jiang Yanrong thought disdainfully, convinced once again that Li Fu was nothing but poor.

"Let’s not talk about work. Today, let’s focus on you two. Li Fu, Yanrong is just like you, from Jiangnan Province. You’re practically from the same hometown—shouldn’t you have lots to talk about?" Bai Wei smiled, steering the conversation back to its main purpose.

"Really? Where exactly are you from? What do your parents do?" For the first time, Jiang Yanrong seemed interested, taking the initiative to ask Li Fu.

"I’m from Meijiang County. Both my parents are farmers," Li Fu replied with a smile—completely unembarrassed.

Hearing his answer, disappointment flickered across Jiang Yanrong’s face. She was now certain that Li Fu was neither wealthy nor the rich heir she’d always been searching for.

"Oh," she replied coldly, then started playing with her phone, making it clear she had no further interest.

Bai Wei, noticing her friend’s attitude, frowned slightly and gave Li Fu an apologetic smile.

"Yanrong is from Yingxiong County—it’s actually quite close to Meijiang. Her parents are both teachers."

"Bai Wei!" Jiang Yanrong interrupted, tugging at her friend’s sleeve, signaling her to stop.

"I’m just trying to help you. Honestly, I think you two are a great match—same hometown, so close, both studying in the capital. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble," Bai Wei said cheerfully, convinced that the two were a good fit and playing matchmaker with enthusiasm.

"A great match? I don’t see it at all—this is just a waste of my time," Jiang Yanrong retorted, now openly annoyed. Her dissatisfaction with Bai Wei for bringing her here boiled over, and she wouldn’t even glance at Li Fu.

Both Li Fu and Bai Wei frowned. Though Li Fu had no interest in Jiang Yanrong, her words were still unpleasant.

"Bai Wei is just joking. Don’t take it seriously," Li Fu said with a smile, trying to ease the tension.

"Take it seriously? How can you even say that? You should take a good look at yourself. Dressed like a pauper, hoping for a girlfriend? Like a toad lusting after a swan," Jiang Yanrong sneered. She unleashed the same scorn she reserved for the men who pursued her relentlessly, her words sharp and hurtful.

"Yanrong!" Bai Wei finally couldn’t take it. She hadn’t expected her friend to speak so harshly, especially when she’d only meant well by playing matchmaker. While she’d known Jiang Yanrong was a bit materialistic, she hadn’t imagined it would go this far.

Hearing her friend’s rebuke, Jiang Yanrong calmed slightly and immersed herself in her phone, refusing to look at anyone.

"Li Fu, I’m really sorry," Bai Wei said awkwardly, disappointed in her friend.

"It’s fine—I really am poor. But I’m not a toad, and as for you, you’re far from being a swan," Li Fu replied coolly, smiling at Bai Wei before turning his sharp words on Jiang Yanrong. He had tried to be polite for Bai Wei’s sake, but her unprovoked malice provoked him, and he couldn’t help but strike back.

"If you’re not a toad, what are you? Not a single thing you own is worth more than what I’m wearing right now. Look at yourself—so shabby. Have you ever even dated? Ever held a woman’s hand?" Jiang Yanrong shot back, furious. She’d spent over an hour getting ready, only to meet a pauper. Her disappointment now turned to anger.

"You—" Li Fu was struck silent, his sore spots hit directly.

"What, did I hit a nerve? A toad should know its place. You should go back to the countryside for blind dates during the New Year. As a university student, you might still be marketable," Jiang Yanrong continued mercilessly.

At that moment, the door opened again. A stunning beauty appeared, face clouded with anger. It was Wang Yun.

"Who says Li Fu doesn’t have a girlfriend? I am his girlfriend," Wang Yun declared, walking over and linking her arm with Li Fu’s as if they were lovers, addressing Jiang Yanrong directly.

Wang Yun’s sudden entrance left everyone in the room stunned. Bai Wei and Jiang Yanrong couldn’t help but scrutinize her. Though Wang Yun was dressed simply, her beauty far surpassed both of them—her face was the stuff of dreams.

Especially Jiang Yanrong, who, upon comparison, realized that even without any makeup, Wang Yun was still more beautiful than she was after all her careful preparation. She was momentarily speechless.

Yet after a quick glance at her own outfit, Jiang Yanrong forced a cold laugh and said, "A match made in heaven indeed—a pauper and a beggar, perfectly suited."

"Wang Yun, what are you doing here?" Li Fu asked, surprised by her sudden appearance, but quickly collected himself.

"You said you were meeting a friend here. I happened to be free and decided to drop by—never expected to encounter such people," Wang Yun replied sweetly, playing the part of the doting girlfriend.

"Don’t let it get to you. Let’s go—there’s no need to stoop to their level," Li Fu said, smiling as he comforted Wang Yun.

"I wouldn’t bother getting upset over people like that. Let’s go," Wang Yun replied cheerfully, holding Li Fu’s arm even tighter. Their feelings for each other had deepened rapidly over the past days, constantly keeping in touch, and Li Fu was only a step away from confessing.

"Bai Wei, sorry. I’ll get going. Let’s meet again sometime," Li Fu said with a warm smile, leading Wang Yun out. His heart was filled with unexpected warmth at Wang Yun’s gesture.

As Li Fu and Wang Yun’s figures disappeared, Bai Wei sighed, shaking her head as she sat down.

"Bai Wei, just look at the kind of people you introduce me to," Jiang Yanrong complained.

"Yanrong, I’m so disappointed in you. Did you know that Li Fu is actually the largest shareholder in my company? His net worth easily exceeds a hundred million. And you—" Bai Wei shook her head, utterly exasperated.

"What? He’s your company’s largest shareholder?" Jiang Yanrong was dumbfounded. She knew Bai Wei’s company well—the parent company of "King of Glory," currently the hottest game in the country, raking in money every day. Bai Wei’s last bonus had been several hundred thousand yuan alone. The company was a money-making machine.

She had heard Bai Wei mention that the Penguin Group had valued the company at five hundred million. As the major shareholder, Li Fu must be worth at least a hundred million.

"It’s true. You really can’t see a treasure even when it’s right in front of you," Bai Wei said, nodding. Jiang Yanrong was completely stunned. The pauper she had just scorned had turned out to be exactly the kind of rich man she’d been dreaming of. The contrast was simply too much.

"But he came here on a bicycle—and look at his clothes…"

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