3: Being a scumbag is an art.

Shen Qian didn't have many friends, but Lu Jiawang was one of them. Many people knew they were close, so some suspected it was a prank and came to ask Lu Jiawang about it.

"It's nothing, just a confession."

"Holy crap, you really did it? I thought your enemy had snatched your phone."

"Yes, I did it."

[You frankly told others about your scumbag behavior. This action fits the scumbag criteria. Reward being issued...]

"Even this works?"

"Old Shen, are you free this afternoon? Let's meet up and chat."

"Sure."

In the afternoon, Shen Qian sat down in a milk tea shop near the school. Soon, Lu Jiawang arrived.

"Old Shen, you've really made things hard for me!"

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean, what's wrong? Everyone knows you confessed to every girl in class now, and I'm being scolded to death along with you.

What kind of shock did you take? You used to be like a dry iron tree, but now you're not just blooming—you're exploding!"

While they were talking, a waitress brought a cup of milk tea to their table.

"Miss, you're so beautiful. Can I add you on WeChat?"

"Huh?"

The girl was slightly stunned, then nodded.

They took out their phones and added each other's contact information.

Shen Qian's appearance was decent, and the waitress wasn't exceptionally beautiful, so he naturally got her contact.

[You successfully struck up a conversation and obtained contact information. This action fits the scumbag criteria. Reward being issued...]

Shen Qian glanced at his phone—it was still ten thousand yuan. So far, it seemed no action had broken the ten-thousand-yuan mark. Perhaps his scumbag behavior was still a bit shallow; things like confessions were too superficial, so they were only worth ten thousand.

"Being a scumbag is also a science!"

He thought to himself, completely ignoring the dumbfounded Lu Jiawang across from him. It took a long while for the other guy to snap out of it.

"No, big brother, are you a beast? Confessing to the whole class wasn't enough, now you're adding contacts while drinking milk tea."

"Which law stipulates that I can't confess to all the girls in class?"

"None."

"Then which law stipulates that I can't add the milk tea girl when I'm drinking milk tea?"

"You call her a girl? She's clearly quite a bit older than you."

"Nonsense. As long as there's love, she's eighteen."

"So what do you plan to do next?"

"What do you mean, what to do?"

"Restore your reputation! If this continues, your name will be completely dragged through the mud."

"A woman who loves me won't abandon me just because my reputation is ruined. A woman who loves me will help me curse back even if the whole world spurns me."

"You... are you planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam in college? You're so smooth with your words."

"In the three years of high school, someone must have liked me, right?"

"That... is not certain."

"Let's just assume someone liked me. For three years, she liked me but I didn't notice—how deep must she have hidden it? By confessing widely, isn't that equivalent to giving her an opportunity?"

"Those who reject me aren't important, because after high school, they're written out of my life. What's important is that you have to find that one person who likes you. That way, if you don't find someone to marry in college, believe me, she will be the one you'll be happy with for life."

[You successfully packaged scumbag ideology and spread it. This action fits the scumbag criteria. Reward being issued...]

Suddenly, Shen Qian thought of something. He looked at Lu Jiawang.

"Lu Jiawang, I like you. Let's be together."

The boy only felt a wave of revulsion. His whole body shuddered, and he unconsciously tightened his buttocks.

"Old Shen, don't mess around, don't mess around. I fucking treat you like a brother."

No reward was issued, which made Shen Qian feel it was a pity. If confessing to boys worked, there were still a dozen or so boys in the class. But with this kind of thing, he was afraid a boy might actually agree.

"It's fine, I was just joking. Don't worry, I only like girls."

"Really?"

"We've showered together before, just think back."

When Shen Qian said this, Lu Jiawang relaxed a bit. His best brother coveting him was scary, but perhaps the only thing scarier would be his best brother coveting his mom.

"So based on what you're saying, you're planning to start dating now?"

Shen Qian thought about it.

Dating now? What a joke. How could he be a carefree scumbag if he was in a relationship? Even if he did date, he'd definitely find a bad woman. Being a scumbag to a bad woman is doing justice; being a scumbag to a good woman is committing many evils.

He wanted to make money by being a scumbag, but he didn't want to be a piece of trash.

If there was a gold-digger or some 'little fairy' who was impossible to woo, that would be even better. That way, he could be a scumbag with a clear conscience.

The two chatted for a while longer. Lu Jiawang wanted to pay, but Shen Qian stopped him.

"You've been treating me for so long, it's my turn to treat you for once. Are you free tonight?"

Lu Jiawang's buttocks suddenly tightened again.

"Wh-what for?"

"To prove I have no interest in you, let's go for a foot massage."

Hearing this, Lu Jiawang rubbed his hands excitedly, but then let them down again.

"I've spent a lot on the internet lately. I only have three or four hundred left."

Going for a foot massage wasn't just a whim for Shen Qian. He had thought a lot last night. If he wanted to be a scumbag, the first thing he needed was to be immune to girls. The habit of getting heart-fluttery at the drop of a hat had to be cured. To do that, he either had to date a lot or go for foot massages.

Dating a lot—he didn't have the mind for that right now, and it was a waste of time. So he could only take the shortcut through foot massages.

"If I remember correctly, your parents rewarded you with 8,000 for getting into college. Even if you ate and drank at the internet cafe every day, you couldn't have used that much?"

Shen Qian didn't plan on letting Lu Jiawang treat him, but the frequency of the other's spending was off. He hoped Lu Jiawang hadn't picked up some bad habit.

"I've been chasing a girl lately, so I've spent a bit more."

"What kind of girl? You spent 8,000 in less than half a month? No way, is she diamond-encrusted?! So, how far have you two gotten?"

"I'm still chasing her~ You know, chasing girls is inherently quite expensive."

"So you mean she accepts all the gifts you buy, you've spent over eight thousand, and so far you're still chasing her and haven't even held her hand once?"

"We've held hands."

"Brother, say no more. Tonight, first a foot massage, then KTV. I guarantee I'll cure your simp disease."

"You have the nerve to say I have simp disease? You chased that Su Man—wait, no, you didn't even chase her."

"Fine, fine, let's not talk about the past. Okay, let's start anew."

In the evening, Shen Qian and Lu Jiawang stood at the entrance of the best foot massage parlor in the county.

"Old Shen, is this okay? I only have a few hundred left."

"Don't worry, I brought 5,000. It's definitely enough!"

"Is 5,000 enough?"

"How should I know? But it should be around that much. If it's any more expensive, it would be too extravagant."

"Welcome, gentlemen. Do you have any preferred technicians?"