Chapter 7 – campus belle Zhou Ying
The next day Jiang Cheng drove his porsche straight to Chengdu's airport; as for the 200-yuan-a-day parking fee, he wasn't worried in the least.
After checking in, he walked to the economy-class gate. On any given day, the seats that remain unsold are usually the priciest first-class ones.
Today, however, was an anomaly—first class was completely sold out, leaving only economy seats.
So Jiang Cheng had no choice but to buy economy; it wasn't that he looked down on it.
Some big shot once said: both cabins reach the same destination, but first class makes it far easier to encounter all kinds of business opportunities.
Right now, Jiang Cheng couldn't care less about those so-called opportunities.
His reason for wanting first class was simple—spacious comfort, unlike the cramped density of economy stretching before him.
At six-foot-one, he simply didn't fit here. Stuck in an aisle seat, he couldn't stretch his legs and felt thoroughly stifled.
While he sighed in resignation, a girl suddenly stopped in front of him.
A melodious voice drifted down: "You're… Jiang Cheng?"
He looked up—then blinked in surprise.
"Zhou Ying?"
Zhou Ying had been his high-school classmate—and that year's campus belle.
He was a little startled she still recognized him.
Though they'd shared a classroom for three years, their paths had barely crossed; they'd never even spoken.
The reason? All through high school Jiang Cheng had devoted himself to Zhao Jia, a paragon of male fidelity.
In those naïve days, dazzling as Zhou Ying was, to him Zhao Jia had been the prettiest girl alive.
But he was no longer that boy. Zhao Jia was attractive, yet beside Zhou Ying she instantly paled.
Today Zhou Ying wore a white cropped top, milk-colored jeans, and simple sneakers.
Her outfit was utterly ordinary.
But the skinny jeans hugged her tall, fair legs, showing them off to perfection.
Add her stunning bust, and the visual impact was extreme.
With such a curvaceous figure, her waist was willow-slender—so small it looked like a hand could encircle it.
The exaggerated contrast made Jiang Cheng's head spin.
He almost wanted to bury himself in her alluring embrace.
Seeing him stare, Zhou Ying parted her pearly teeth to nibble a petal-pink lip. That sweet expression, porcelain skin, delicate features, and softly curled tea-black hair sent a full goddess aura washing over him.
Noticing he was still seated, she pointed to the seat beside him, a little embarrassed. "I'm right there."
"What a coincidence."
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, stood, and gave her the aisle.
"Thanks."
Once seated, she volunteered, "I decided on Shanghai last night. When I booked, only one seat was left. Never thought we'd be together."
Just then a young guy with heavily waxed hair walked up, checked the seat numbers, glanced at Zhou Ying, and his eyes instantly lit up.
After all, campus belle-level beauties are rare.
In any crowd she'd be the brightest presence.
The guy, excited, said to her, "Beautiful miss, could you let me through? I'm right next to you."
Startled, Zhou Ying quickly stood.
"Thank you. Traveling beside such a beauty is my honor."
Zhou Ying frowned at his leering tone, repulsed.
Jiang Cheng, watching, broke into a grin.
He tugged Zhou Ying over and swapped seats with her.
The move left her momentarily dazed.
Meeting her gaze, Jiang Cheng chuckled and patted his own thigh. "Not satisfied with my seat? Want to sit here instead?"
Flushing, Zhou Ying understood, gave him a grateful, shy smile.
Seeing the gorgeous girl replaced by Jiang Cheng, the young man's face darkened.
"Bro, that seat should be the beauty's. You can't just switch seats on a plane."
"Wasn't I clear enough? What's between us doesn't concern you."
Jiang Cheng's retort deepened the man's scowl, but realizing the two obviously knew each other, he swallowed his protest.
He cleared his throat and, still unwilling to give up, tried chatting up Zhou Ying: "Beautiful, what are you heading to Shanghai for?"
Annoyed by the persistence across an aisle, Zhou Ying frowned but answered politely, "Work, I suppose."
"Working so young? We look about the same age. I just graduated—Qian Shen's my name. This trip's for fun."
Zhou Ying gave a dry laugh, then turned to Jiang Cheng. "What about you?"
"Nothing to do at home—out for a stroll."
Zhou Ying sighed enviously. "Nice, a vacation."
Before Jiang Cheng could answer, Qian Shen cut in, "I've been to Shanghai tons. If you want fun spots I can recommend some—or take you myself, beauty."
"No need. I'm here for work, not sightseeing."
Unfazed by the refusal, Qian Shen kept flaunting his travel savvy: "Trust me, Shanghai's full of traps. Newbies get cheated. I learned the hard way. Take hotels—so much to watch for…"
Seeing they still ignored him, he rambled on shamelessly: "A car from the hotel will pick me up right after landing—super convenient. My parents arranged it. Which hotel are you at? Want a ride? Airport taxis are a rip-off."
Hearing him brag about pickup service, Jiang Cheng chuckled—clearly the guy was hinting his suite was pricey, a stealth boast of wealth.
Jiang Cheng shook his head. "No thanks, my room comes with pickup too."
Qian Shen smirked. "Oh? Which hotel did you book?"
"Luxury Hotel," Jiang Cheng answered casually.
The name made Qian Shen frown. "Never heard of it… Aman what?"
He almost sneered, then caught himself and fell silent.