97: Chapter 98 Lin Ruoxi

Lin Ruoxi stared at her phone screen, her fingertips tapping a rapid rhythm on the tabletop.

She had already sent three messages to Jiang Jing, but they were like stones sinking into the sea, with no response at all.

"Could he be doing this on purpose?" Chu Yuqing asked in a low voice, curled up in the corner of the sofa with her arms wrapped around her knees.

Her eyes were still somewhat red and swollen; she had clearly cried more than once.

"He wouldn't." Although Lin Ruoxi said this, her brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

She tapped on the chat box with Jiang Jing again; the last message was still from two hours ago—"We need to talk about that video."

Outside the window, the sound of rain grew louder, with raindrops pattering against the glass, making a faint, fragmented sound.

Chu Yuqing's phone vibrated again, and without even looking, she pressed mute. "It's those boring people again... Ruoxi, why don't we change our numbers?"

"Changing numbers won't solve the problem." Lin Ruoxi stood up and paced back and forth in the narrow living room. "Now everyone at school and the whole company knows; unless we move to another city to start over."

Chu Yuqing bit her lower lip, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. "It's all that Jiang Jing's fault... If it weren't for him..."

"Ding—"

The phone notification suddenly rang out, and Lin Ruoxi practically lunged at the coffee table to grab it.

Jiang Jing finally replied: "Just saw it. What video?"

Lin Ruoxi almost crushed her phone. This jerk actually didn't even know what had happened? She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and typed: "Go to Douyin and search for '380,000 to buy a bag to hit on someone,' and you'll know. Now, my and Yuqing's lives have been completely disrupted!"

The message remained unreplied to for a long time, and Lin Ruoxi's patience finally ran out, so she directly dialed a voice call.

Inside the hotel suite, Jiang Jing had just finished showering and walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

Su Xiaoxiao was still fast asleep in bed, her smooth shoulders and half of her breast exposed amidst the messy sheets.

Jiang Jing picked up the vibrating phone from the nightstand and raised an eyebrow when he saw the name "Lin Ruoxi."

"Hello?" He pressed the answer button, his voice kept very low.

"Jiang Jing! You finally decided to answer the phone!" Lin Ruoxi's voice came through the receiver, carrying obvious anger. "Do you know how much trouble you've caused us?"

Jiang Jing walked to the suite's small living room and casually poured a glass of water. "Take your time. What trouble?"

"That video! Someone filmed you buying us bags at the Hermès store, and now it's spreading all over the internet!" Lin Ruoxi spoke very quickly.

"Yuqing and my phones are being blown up. Everyone at school and in the company is gossiping about us, saying we only did it for the money..."

Jiang Jing finally remembered the video Su Xiaoxiao had shown him in the morning. He took a sip of water and interrupted, "So? What do you want me to do?"

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Lin Ruoxi seemed to be provoked by his calmness. "What do you mean 'so'? Isn't this your responsibility? If it weren't for you insisting on buying that bag..."

"I recall that you were the ones who proposed that I buy the bags before giving me your contact information." Jiang Jing leaned back against the sofa, his tone flat. "Besides, you accepted the bags yourselves."

"You!" Lin Ruoxi was so angry her voice was trembling. "That's because you said you'd throw it away if we didn't take it! Such an expensive thing..."

Jiang Jing chuckled lightly. "So now it's my fault?"

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line; it seemed the phone had been handed over to someone else.

A moment later, a female voice, softer than Lin Ruoxi's but equally full of anger, spoke up: "Mr. Jiang, this is Chu Yuqing. We aren't here to blame you, it's just... the situation is really terrible right now."

Chu Yuqing's voice carried clear fatigue and grievance: "My classmates are all gossiping behind my back, saying that I'm... that I'm being kept. Ruoxi is facing a similar situation at her company. We just want to ask for your help to solve this problem."

Jiang Jing put down the water glass, his fingers tapping gently against the side of the glass.

To be honest, this kind of internet storm had absolutely no impact on him.

"How do you want me to help?" he asked.

"At least... at least issue a statement or something?" Chu Yuqing's voice became uncertain. "Tell everyone that we are just ordinary friends with you..."

Jiang Jing almost laughed out loud.

That kind of statement would only make things worse. "Listen," he shifted into a more comfortable position, "the best way to handle this kind of thing is to let it cool down. In a few days, the hype will naturally die down."

"But we can't wait a few days!" Lin Ruoxi's voice cut back in; she had clearly been listening the whole time. "Yuqing has to go to class tomorrow, and I have to go to work! Do you know how disgusting the looks those people give us are?"

Jiang Jing rubbed his temples. He had indeed underestimated the impact this matter had on the two girls.

After thinking for a moment, he made a decision: "How about this: tomorrow at 3:00 PM, at the coffee shop on the first floor of the Peninsula Hotel, we'll talk in person."

"Are you sure that won't attract even more attention?" Lin Ruoxi questioned.

"The most dangerous place is the safest place." Jiang Jing glanced at the time. "The people there are used to celebrities and the wealthy; they won't make a fuss. Besides, I can arrange for a private area."

Low-voiced discussion came from the other end of the line, and finally, Lin Ruoxi reluctantly agreed: "Fine, see you at three. I hope you really have a way to solve this problem."

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Jing walked back to the bedroom.

Su Xiaoxiao was already awake and was leaning against the headboard playing on her phone. The quilt had slipped down to her waist, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and her proud curves.

"Whose call was that?" she asked lazily, her eyes never leaving her phone screen.

"Those two girls from before." Jiang Jing took out clean clothes from the closet. "The two who were with me in the video."

Su Xiaoxiao immediately raised her head, her eyes lighting up. "Oh! That pair of beauties? What do they want with you?"

"The video has caused them quite a bit of trouble." Jiang Jing put on his shirt. "I've arranged to meet them tomorrow afternoon to talk."

Su Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and said sourly, "Yo, is Mr. Jiang going to personally step out to comfort his little girlfriends?"

Jiang Jing's hand, which was buttoning his shirt, paused, and he turned to look at her. "Are you jealous?"

"I am not!" Su Xiaoxiao threw her phone aside, jumped off the bed, and ran barefoot in front of Jiang Jing. "But... can I go with you?" She blinked her large eyes, looking pitiful.

Jiang Jing pinched her cheek. "What are you going there for?"

"To watch the fun!" Su Xiaoxiao said righteously. "Besides, what if they have ulterior motives toward you? I have to protect you!"

Jiang Jing was amused by her. "You?" He looked Su Xiaoxiao up and down, noting her seductive appearance wearing only his shirt. "You'd better protect yourself first."

Su Xiaoxiao thumped him angrily. "Hate you! I'm serious!"

"Alright," Jiang Jing patted her bottom. "Go change your clothes. Didn't you say you were going to see your mother?"

Mentioning her mother, Su Xiaoxiao's expression immediately softened. "That's right... I have to go to the hospital today to pay for the surgery."

She suddenly hugged Jiang Jing's waist and buried her face in his chest. "Thank you, Jiang Jing. Really... thank you."

Jiang Jing gently stroked her long hair. "Go on, your mother's health is the most important thing."