If you know how to speak, say a little more.

"Alright, Mr. Jiang, please wait five minutes, and I'll call you back." The power of the Centurion Black Card was truly astonishing. For something as simple as a car, Alice could certainly assist. Under normal circumstances, five minutes would never suffice. But Jiang Bei was no ordinary case.

Jiang Bei wasn't just a major shareholder in American Express; he also held significant shares in Mercedes-Benz. In fact, his presence could be found in prominent corporations across the globe. Of course, Fang Yuan was similarly well-connected.

Alice was responsible for Jiang Bei, while Fang Yuan had her own personal lifestyle consultant, a fellow named Jerry. Alice didn't care for Jerry. Though they were both elves, she was a noble forest elf, while Jerry was an insufferable dark elf. It was like the difference between light and shadow.

Alice shook her head, quickly banishing the image of Jerry from her mind, then dialed the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz. The message traveled from Alice to Mercedes headquarters, then to the branch in Xia Country, and finally to the dealership in Wucheng. The entire cascade completed in under five minutes.

As Jiang Bei finished the cigarette between his fingers, Alice's call returned. "Mr. Jiang, everything has been arranged. The Mercedes dealership in Wucheng will contact you shortly. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

Jiang Bei glanced at the sharply dressed man hurrying from the next shop, along with the sales associate who had served him earlier. They had noticed him as well.

"No, thank you."

"You're very welcome, Mr. Jiang. I wish you a pleasant day. Goodbye."

The contract was signed, payment made in full without any surcharge, and a promise that the car would arrive by the end of the month. Ultimately, the man in the suit—the owner of the dealership—personally escorted Jiang Bei to the curb to hail a taxi, beaming all the while.

At the shop entrance, several sales staff, still completely bewildered, whispered among themselves.

"Who is that handsome guy, really? Why is the boss practically groveling?"

"He must be someone huge... Look at the boss, what a sight—finally knocked down a peg!"

"Shh! Quiet down, you know the boss has sharp ears. Careful, or he'll dock your pay."

"Hmph," a female saleswoman said with sudden bravado, "if he dares dock my pay again, I'm done with this place!"

A minute later.

The suited boss turned to the bold saleswoman. "So, Qin, what were you saying just now?"

She grinned, "Oh boss, I was just saying you seem even more handsome today!"

The other sales staff: ???????

That woman! She changes face faster than flipping pages!

-----------------

Driving practice, exams, wandering about to see interesting people and things—days passed quickly and were filled with purpose.

In a blink, the day to fill out college applications arrived.

With the system allowing students to know their scores in advance, everyone was already aware of their results.

As the summer heat intensified, Yang Xue couldn't help but glance once more at the rascal she had known for years. "Sometimes I really want to crack your head open."

"Uh, why?"

"Because I want to see how your head is put together."

"Well, a craniotomy would do the trick, wouldn't it?"

Yang Xue: "…"

No matter how many years she had known him, Jiang Bei could still catch her off guard with his words, leaving her momentarily speechless, as if something had lodged in her throat.

She stamped her foot. "That's not the point! The point is, how do you manage to get such good grades when all you do is sleep or play games every day?"

At this, Jiang Bei's expression suddenly grew serious.

Yang Xue was startled. 'Is this really a difficult question?' she wondered.

"I suppose," Jiang Bei said, "it's because I'm a genius?"

Yang Xue was no longer confused. Same old recipe, same familiar taste.

"Yes, yes, you're a genius destined to die alone!"

Jiang Bei smiled. "How could that be, when I have you?"

Thump.

Her little heart skipped and fluttered wildly, like a horse let loose in a field.

So all along, telling herself she didn't like him had been a lie, a self-deception born of desire denied.

The truth was, she still liked him. She still wanted to be with this handsome rascal.

But how could this rascal say such sweet things?

Could it be...

The galloping horse of her heart suddenly tired, stopped, and refused to move again.

Yang Xue bowed her head, the blush that had just appeared swiftly fading. She chewed over Jiang Bei's words, and this time, she truly understood.

"Jiang Bei! Are you saying I'll end up dying alone, just like you?"

"Yes. Why the big reaction? Why are you glaring at me? Isn't dying alone fine... Wait, why are you running away?"

"Jiang Bei! You're such a jerk!"

A girl's heart, wounded and deeply so; it would take at least two or three days to heal. So, for the next few days, Jiang Bei was sure to be met with a chilly reception.

'Not only will I ignore him, I absolutely won't speak to him.' Yang Xue swore vengefully.

……

The results were out. As promised to homeroom teacher Liu Tao outside the exam hall on the day of the gaokao, Jiang Bei was the top science student in Anhui Province.

"It's a bit of a pity you weren't the national top scorer—just a few points short," said Liu Tao, his face radiant with joy as he expressed this "regret."

Jiang Bei found the situation amusing. "Teacher Liu, you're beaming with happiness, yet you speak of regret. Isn't this what people mean by 'the greedy snake that tries to swallow an elephant'?"

Liu Tao: "…"

"I should have known better than to talk to you!" Like Yang Xue before him, this time it was Liu Tao who was left speechless. "Jiang Bei, with a mouth like yours, when you get to university and talk a bit more, you'll have no trouble finding lots of girlfriends. Good luck."

"Is that so? But Teacher Liu, you've been single for quite a while now. Where’s your girlfriend?"

Liu Tao: "…"

Enough! Not playing anymore! Infuriating!

……

It was the day for college applications. In Jiang Bei's science class of just over fifty students, the overall results were excellent. Several subject teachers came to offer their congratulations, and Jiang Bei, alongside the high-achieving Yang Xue, received their blessings.

Science students chose Qinghua, while liberal arts students picked Beijing University. Of more than fifty students, five had scores high enough to apply to Qinghua. The rest, with slightly lower scores, applied in batches to 211s, 985s, and other universities. The numbers weren't huge, but for Wucheng No.1 High School, it was a respectable showing. No wonder Liu Tao wore such a broad smile.

After submitting his application, Jiang Bei sought out Liu Tao again.

Liu Tao tried to dodge him, but failed—what a shame.

He decided to seize the initiative. "Jiang Bei, now that we're no longer student and teacher, if you provoke me again, I’ll knock you down!"

Jiang Bei: "…"

"Teacher Liu, what are you talking about? I just thought back on what I said to you earlier and realized it wasn’t quite right, so I wanted to say it again."

"Oh? Let's hear it then."

"Well, I recalled how you were back in our first year—always looking troubled and short-tempered. Then, in the second year, after you became single, you smiled more, your temper improved, and you seemed more energetic than before."

"So, I think being in a good mood helps you live longer. Teacher Liu, you really shouldn’t get another girlfriend. Stay like this, and you’ll live to a ripe old age."

Liu Tao: "?????"