Volume One, Chapter Two: The Adopted Son of the Dormitory

School.

Jiang Yu walked into the dormitory.

“Fourth, are you alright?”

The one asking was Wang Mingxu, the eldest in the dorm.

Second eldest Xiong Tao and third eldest Wang Hong came up, both wearing concerned expressions.

“What’s wrong with you guys? What could possibly be wrong with me?” Jiang Yu was momentarily stunned.

“Nothing, nothing, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

Xiong Tao and Wang Hong exchanged glances and laughed it off awkwardly.

But from their expressions, it was obvious they didn’t believe he was fine.

Soon after, Jiang Yu understood, looking at the three of them with a helpless smile. “You all know about the breakup, don’t you?”

“Good riddance!” Xiong Tao, true to his name, was as blunt as a bear.

“Fourth, I hate to say it, but Zhao Yiyi was nothing but trouble. It was obvious she just saw you as a meal ticket. You were head over heels for a woman like that.”

“Exactly!” Wang Hong jumped in.

Wang Hong was a local in the capital, from a wealthy family already worth over a hundred million. After graduation, he was set to inherit the family business, though none of them had ever asked what the business was. Despite being a second-generation rich kid, he had none of the arrogance that the stereotype suggested. On the contrary, he was loyal and straightforward, if a bit mischievous at times.

“I told you ages ago, Zhao Yiyi was always playing mind games, a master manipulator. You wouldn’t listen. Now that you’ve broken up, it’s for the best. Someday, I’ll introduce you to someone a thousand times better!”

Jiang Yu’s lips curled in a faint smile, quietly appreciating his roommates’ concern. He had no intention of defending his ex-girlfriend. It wasn’t as if he had spread rumors—everyone saw what happened and only wanted to look out for him. It didn’t count as poor character, did it? A bit of cursing was just emotional release; it had nothing to do with upbringing. Wasn’t everyone allowed a little emotion?

“By the way, how did you guys find out?” Jiang Yu asked curiously.

After all, from the moment the original received that message on WeChat until his passing, not even a day had passed, and he hadn’t contacted anyone.

Wang Hong sighed, took out his phone, and showed him Zhao Yiyi’s Weibo post—an announcement of their breakup, written with the air of a victim, as if she were disappointed in him. She accused Jiang Yu of lacking ambition and drive.

Beneath the post were all sorts of insults.

“Typical loser. Yiyi keeps improving while you stay stagnant. You deserved to lose her!”

“Right? I can’t believe you dated him for three years, Yiyi. You have my respect!”

“We support you, Yiyi! He doesn’t deserve you!”

“Fourth, don’t be too upset. You’re the campus heartthrob of Jiangxia Film Academy. She was never good enough for you!” Wang Mingxu quickly consoled him. “By the way, I haven’t seen you in a few days, and somehow you look even better?”

“I didn’t notice it until you mentioned it. Fourth, did you hit a second growth spurt? With that face, you could just stand on stage and the girls would be begging to have your babies!”

Their words were exaggerated, but Jiang Yu had to admit, after the system upgrade, he really was exceptionally handsome.

The two continued their chatter.

Jiang Yu just smiled. “Alright, I know you’re trying to cheer me up. Don’t worry, I’m fine. There are plenty of fish in the sea. If I lose one rich lady, I’ll find another. Third, introduce me to a rich one, will you?”

“Now that’s the spirit!” Wang Hong clapped Jiang Yu hard on the back. “Congratulations, you’ve finally seen the light!”

He raised his arms in celebration. “Tonight, to celebrate Fourth’s rebirth, drinks are on me at Little Moonlight! We don’t go home until we’re drunk!”

Xiong Tao’s eyes lit up, but then he shot Wang Hong a sly look. “Look at you, pretending to celebrate Fourth’s rebirth when you really just want to use his looks to pick up girls.”

“That’s just a side benefit,” Wang Hong chuckled.

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but laugh as well. After some thought, he realized that singing at a bar was also a way to get to know people. It was a good opportunity to see what kind of entertainment people appreciated these days.

“Alright, let’s go!”

That afternoon, as they walked across campus, the covert glances from passersby never ceased.

Being voted the most handsome guy at Jiangxia Film Academy had already made Jiang Yu something of a campus celebrity. And with Zhao Yiyi’s public announcement of their breakup on Weibo, those who knew the real story looked at him with sympathy.

In this circle, even first-tier celebrities didn’t dare challenge the powers that be, let alone a group of unknown students.

The three roommates could only sigh and pat his shoulder in comfort.

Jiang Yu simply smiled, unbothered.

Little Moonlight was a bar just outside the school.

It wasn’t a nightclub, but the kind of place with booths, resident singers, and a relaxed atmosphere where people could chat.

Located near the university district, it was also a place where talent scouts often appeared, and students from nearby colleges would drop by hoping to get lucky. The bar was always packed.

The resident singer was in the middle of a popular song.

As soon as the roommates entered, they started scanning the room for pretty girls to share a drink with.

Jiang Yu, however, focused on the music. The singer was decent, but the song itself left something to be desired.

He wondered how songs from his world would fare in this one.

With that in mind, he didn’t bother talking to his roommates. He stood up and walked to the stage, smiling at the singer. “Miss, may I sing a song?”

The woman paused and looked at Jiang Yu. She was used to this sort of thing—at music bars, there was always someone who wanted to sing after the atmosphere warmed up. She hadn’t expected anyone to come up so early, especially someone who didn’t look the least bit drunk.

And with Jiang Yu’s striking looks, the audience quickly burst into applause.

Talent scouts in the bar perked up, eyes gleaming with interest.

“Wow, what a handsome guy!”

“He’s too good-looking. Sing us a song, handsome!”

“Go for it! You’re amazing!”

“Hey buddy, do you dream of being a kept man?”

“Handsome, I’m from Jadeite Entertainment. Interested in becoming one of our artists?”

Jiang Yu turned and smiled at all the encouraging faces, then confidently stepped up to the keyboard set up on stage.

The system had already maxed out his skills; the keyboard was no challenge.

He gently strummed a chord, turned to the microphone, and with a slight smile said, “I had a rough day today, so I’d like to sing a song for myself—and for everyone here. If you don’t like it, please forgive me.”