C2 The Rented Helicopter

It must be said, she was stunning.

Clad in a white dress, her long black hair was woven into a braid at the side, with her bangs curled just so, evoking the essence of an ethereal forest nymph.

Her doe-like eyes, pure and innocent, sparked an overwhelming desire to protect her.

She was undeniably a campus goddess.

"Hmm? Oh! Yes, this is the place."

Soong Qingwan was momentarily disoriented.

Realizing she had been a bit flustered, Soong Qingwan felt a touch of embarrassment.

"May I ask what your major is?"

"Chinese Language and Literature."

Really? What are the odds—he was her direct junior?

Soong Qingwan offered a warm smile.

"I'm in Chinese Language and Literature too. How about I show you where to get registered?"

This junior, unlike the previous one, was a breath of fresh air.

His simple attire bore no hint of arrogance. Without the helicopter, no one would have guessed he was from a wealthy family.

"Thank you, senior," Lin Chen replied, his tone respectful yet confident.

Chen Yao was left speechless. Could it be true that someone had actually arrived by helicopter?

He had been upstaged and had made a fool of himself in front of the divine Soong Qingwan.

Under the weight of everyone's meaningful stares, he wished he could just disappear.

"Hey, buddy, I was here first. Ever heard of first-come, first-served?" Chen Yao managed to say, barely containing his fury.

Before Lin Chen could respond, Soong Qingwan stepped in front of him, shielding him.

"Sports Department junior, as I mentioned earlier, your orientation is over there."

Pointing across the way, Soong Qingwan made it clear.

Watching his idol advocate for another guy, Chen Yao's irritation surged.

He felt as if a lush meadow had sprouted atop his head, a clear sign of his jealousy.

Though Soong Qingwan wasn't his girlfriend yet, Chen Yao had already claimed her as his in his mind.

His face darkened to a stormy scowl as he sized up Lin Chen. Noting his modest dress, a sneer curled at the edge of Chen Yao's mouth.

"Did you rent this helicopter with everything you own?"

"Even for a rental, it's tens of thousands of yuan per hour. This trip must have cost you a pretty penny, huh?"

In his mind, the offspring of the wealthy either sought quality and the limelight, donning nothing but designer labels.

Or they were the understated types, favoring bespoke brands that the average person couldn't easily identify.

But Lin Chen...

His slightly faded shirt was a clear sign that he didn't fit either mold.

So, Chen Yao was convinced that Lin Chen's helicopter had to be rented!

His comment left everyone exchanging puzzled glances.

Rented?

Now, they took a closer look at Lin Chen.

The helicopter had initially led them to peg him as a typical rich second generation.

They had thought the helicopter owner was just being modest, but Chen Yao's remark seemed off.

Lin Chen just smiled:

"If that's what you think, then let's leave it at that."

What?

The crowd was thrown into disarray. Was the helicopter really just a rental?

"Seriously? It's rented!"

"Here I was, wondering how a guy with a helicopter at home could dress even more simply than me!"

"I have a strong suspicion he rented the helicopter just to impress Soong Qingwan! I hope the school beauty doesn't fall for it!"

...

Hearing the whispers of his classmates, Chen Yao knew he had hit his mark and smiled contentedly.

He tilted his chin up and looked at Soong Qingwan with a smug expression:

"So, how about it? Shouldn't you be thanking me for steering you clear of trouble?"

Soong Qingwan's brows knitted together as she responded icily:

"What's it to you? Mind your own business, I suggest you look after yourself!"

The more she saw of this rich second-generation brat, the more she disliked him!

Contrast that with her junior...

He was unassuming in dress and demeanor, a far cry from this ostentatious show-off!

Just then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit pushed through the crowd, his face lighting up at the sight of Lin Chen.

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Lin! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

He dabbed at the sweat on his forehead, his smile betraying a youthful excitement.

The group exchanged bewildered glances.

What was happening? Who was this man?

Was he calling this con artist "Mr. Lin"?

Even Lin Chen was confused:

"Excuse me, but who might you be?"

The middle-aged man replied cheerfully:

"Oh, my apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I'm the management commissioner for your private airstrip in South Bay, East Sea City. You can simply call me Zhou Hai!"

"I've come to assist you in returning your private plane to the airstrip. Unfortunately, I got caught in a bit of traffic due to the back-to-school rush, so I'm a little late. My apologies for the wait, Mr. Lin."

He bowed slightly, the picture of deference.

"What? A private airstrip?"

"What's going on here? He just mentioned renting it. Is this guy another actor he's hired?"

"Talk about commitment! He's gone all out for this performance!"

Lin Chen was bewildered.

What in the world was happening?

Then, the mechanical voice echoed in Lin Chen's mind once more.

Friendly Reminder: The private helipad and its administrator are complimentary services included with your helicopter reward.

Suddenly, it all clicked for Lin Chen.

This was actually a relief; he had been worrying about how to manage the helicopter, and the system had thoughtfully taken care of it by providing personnel.

"Thank you, I appreciate it, but please, stand up when you speak."

The man looked to be in his sixties, and Lin Chen felt it was improper to have someone of that age bowing to him.

"Mr. Lin, you've reviewed my credentials, haven't you?" Zhou Hai inquired.

"Credentials? What credentials?"

Lin Chen was completely at a loss. What was he missing?

"I'm a retired pilot with nearly two decades of flight experience. Rest assured, your helicopter is in safe hands with me!"