CHAPTER 623: OTHERWISE, DO YOU STILL WANT TO HIT ME?

Actually, up to this point, everything had been normal, with no strange comments. The only exception was Cheng Long’s remarks, which made Jing Shu uncomfortable... she just found them annoying. Jing Shu has become more sensitive these days; it can’t be helped, as she rarely faces any grievances anymore.

Jing Shu quietly made a mental note of Cheng Long’s name. Words shouldn’t be spoken so carelessly.

The discussion should have ended there, as there was nothing really to fuss about, but then Jiang Changke had to pop up again.

Jiang Changke: "Hehe, check out this comparison. I dug up a graduation photo from a few years ago and some other old pictures. After comparing them with the person in the video using professional software, I realized it’s the same individual! @Jing Shu, Boss, my stomach is weak, so I’m perfect for living off someone. Are you looking to be a sugar mama?"

Liu Xia: "Jiang Changke, cut it out! Even if you want to be a sycophant, this isn’t the way. You really think a few photos prove anything?"

Sweet Dumpling: "Hey, it’s not like you don’t know him. Jiang Changke is always deceiving people. Back in university, he claimed a family member was seriously ill and borrowed money from everyone. He then invested it in some shares, lost everything, and ended up owing people money. He still owes me five hundred bucks!"

Cheng Long: "But Jiang Changke’s data analysis seems to be correct... Now that you mention it, she *does* look a bit like Jing Shu... Incredible! If our class really produced someone like that, it would be freaking awesome! @Jing Shu, for old times’ sake, considering I treated you to meals before, how about introducing us to a few good jobs? I hear that among all the official positions, the Pharmaceutical Association Hospital and its cafeteria offer the best benefits."

Sweet Dumpling: "You shameless bastard! You even treated *her* to a meal? You regret being with me, don’t you? Cheng Long, you scumbag! Since she’s made it big, why don’t you just go be with her!"

Jiang Changke: "@Sweet Dumpling, you’d better keep an eye on your husband. Look at this photo—Cheng Long secretly took it back in the day. And that first photo of a meal on his social media feed? That was him eating with Jing Shu. Hahaha."

Jing Shu finally frowned. That damned troublemaker! What is he trying to do? Is he deliberately saying these things to provoke people?

As expected, the next second, Sweet Dumpling exploded and began to curse furiously.

Sweet Dumpling: "Fine! You despicable couple! The woman is shameless enough to casually dine with other men, and the man goes around fathering children everywhere! Even with kids now, he still hasn’t deleted those photos from his social media feed! @#¥%..."

Then Cheng Long, unable to bear the loss of face, also started cursing profusely, "I’ve indulged you enough, day in and day out! If you spout one more damn word, I’ll go to your workplace right now and deal with you!"

Jiang Changke: "@Cheng Long, go for it, bro! How are you planning to ’deal’ with her? Is it the way I’m thinking? In broad daylight, though? That might not be such a good idea, right?"

Sweet Dumpling: "Scram!"

Cheng Long: "Scram!"

...

Liu Xia: "Oh, I get it now! Everyone, stop arguing. Jiang Changke has a motive for saying Jing Shu is the person in the news. He must have received some benefits from Jing Shu to say such a thing. @Jing Shu, hurry up and clarify! Don’t make things up for this; it won’t do you any good."

Jing Shu: "???"

This group is freaking toxic! Why would I need to fabricate something like this?

Liu Xia continued her analysis: "Have you all forgotten? Recently, there’s been a bankruptcy liquidation auction called the Celebrities Gathering. It’s for auctioning off assets from those who owe Virtual Coins to the Township Government, those with pre-apocalypse debts, criminals, and others for various reasons. The court auctions off these items, so many people are looking to snap up bargains."

Celebrities Gathering? Jing Shu genuinely didn’t know about that. After all, she had only just returned and hadn’t heard about this event. Oh, right, that’s because she hasn’t really interacted with anyone lately.

Liu Xia: "But not just anyone can get in. The entry barrier is very high; you need an invitation card. As you all know, in our group, only Young Master Lan has access to invitation slots. So, Jing Shu must have given Jiang Changke some benefits to ’confirm’ this whole thing. If we all acknowledge her status, she can then conveniently ask for an invitation to go to the Celebrities Gathering and snap up some bargains at the auction."

Jiang Changke: "You sure can spin a complicated tale! I didn’t even think that far ahead. But let me tell you, the person in the news *is* Jing Shu. Just wait and see how she deals with you all for offending her."

Liu Xia: "Ooh, I’m so scared."

Sweet Dumpling: "Me too, I’m terrified! Does this mean she won’t help us find good jobs anymore?"

Wang Miao: "Speaking of the Celebrities Gathering, the way you guys describe it, just getting in sounds like picking up free money. I’m so envious! I want to go too. Unfortunately, I don’t have the connections to get in. @Young Master Lan, could you perhaps lower the requirements?"

Liu Wen: "I want to go too! It would be great just to witness it. I heard many items are sold at their base price and are mostly snapped up internally."

Guo Qiran: "I heard there’s everything from large properties, estates, and villas, down to small second-hand items and daily necessities. New, old, even move-in ready places... so much stuff..."

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow as she read this. Actually, she already had plenty of things. She wasn’t really interested in events like this Celebrities Gathering anymore. After all, she had already splurged big time twice in the Imperial Capital. There were only a very few specific items she still needed to acquire.

Jing Shu gave a sarcastic smile. She hadn’t expected the question of whether or not it was her in the news to stir up so many other issues. So what if it was her? And so what if it wasn’t? These people really overthink things, don’t they? Jing Shu wasn’t some saint with infinite patience. After being inexplicably berated like this, she really felt like hitting someone. Jing Shu wasn’t fond of cursing people; she preferred to take direct action.

If you have a problem, don’t just run your mouth. Don’t hide under your covers cursing people out. Jing Shu’s fists were CRACKLING. Just at that moment, someone else spoke up in the group chat.

Young Master Lan: "Let’s not be so extreme, everyone. The truth will always come out; fakes can’t become real. If Jing Shu is truly the Deputy Chairwoman of the Medicine Association, then she wouldn’t need my invitation card; she could come and go from the Celebrities Gathering as she pleases. If it’s a lie and she still asks me for a slot, then that would be too blatant, wouldn’t it, @Jing Shu?"

Liu Xia: "So, you’re saying that on the day of the event, we’ll know if she’s the real deal just by seeing if Jing Shu shows up?"

Jing Shu’s ’all energies’ finally erupted. She had to admit, sometimes cursing people out was quite satisfying. No wonder there were so many keyboard warriors.

Jing Shu: "@Liu Xia, whether I’m real or fake is none of your damn business! Is it that important to you? Instead of wasting your time on this, you’d be better off figuring out how to sneak into the event yourself. That’s more practical. And you, @Jiang Changke, retract those chat logs right now! You’ve violated my privacy. If you don’t, you’d better consider the consequences yourself.

"@Sweet Dumpling, @Cheng Long, I don’t want to comment on your personal drama. However, you both need to apologize to me and retract all your statements concerning me.

"Never mind. I know you definitely won’t apologize. I’m just going through the motions here."

Jing Shu’s rapid-fire barrage of messages immediately sent the chat into an uproar; she had tagged every single person who had spoken about her.

Sweet Dumpling: "So what if I don’t apologize? Are you going to hit me? Come on then! This is a perfect chance for everyone to see how you used to seduce men."