So far, the chat had been mostly normal, nothing too weird, except Cheng Long's comment made Jing Shu uncomfortable. Honestly, she just felt annoyed by the petty entitlement bleeding through the screen. These days, she was a lot more sensitive. She had not really been wronged much in this life, so she couldn't help the irritation that flared up in her chest.
She quietly made a note of Cheng Long in her little notebook, the pen scratching harshly against the paper. People can't just say whatever they want without consequences.
At this point, things should have ended. There was nothing left to dwell on, but of course, Jiang Changke had to jump back in with a fresh notification that lit up her screen.
[Jiang Changke]:"Hehe, look at this. I compared a few years old graduation photos and previous group pictures with the person in the video using professional software, and it's definitely the same person. @Jing Shu, boss, my stomach isn't great, I like easy meals, can you support me?"
[Liu Xia]:"Jiang Changke, stop joking. You don't have to act like a simp. Do you really think a few photos prove anything?"
[Tang Yuan]:"Hey, you know Jiang Changke is always lying. Back in college, he claimed his family was sick, borrowed money from everyone to invest in some shares, lost it all, and ended up owing people money. He still owes me fifty bucks."
[Cheng Long]:"But Jiang Changke's data analysis actually looks right. Huh, it really does look like Jing Shu. If someone like this came out of our class, that would be insane. @Jing Shu, since I treated you to a meal back then, can you hook me up with some good jobs? I hear the Herb Association, hospitals, and canteens are the best paid among formal jobs."
[Tang Yuan]:"You shameless bastard, you treated her to a meal and now regret being with me, huh? Cheng Long, you are trash. She is successful now, go chase her past!"
[Jiang Changke]:"@Cheng Long, go for it, brother. How do you want to do it? You mean the way I'm thinking? In broad daylight might not be the best, huh?"
[Tang Yuan]:"Get lost!"
[Cheng Long]:"Get lost!"
[Liu Xia]:"Okay, I get it. Stop fighting. Jiang Changke saying the woman in the news is Jing Shu has an agenda. He must have gotten some benefit from her, that's why he is claiming it. @Jing Shu, you better clarify quickly. Don't fake anything over this; it won't help you."
"Why the hell would I fake anything?" Jing Shu thought, her brow furrowing in the dim light of the villa. This group chat was toxic.
Liu Xia kept analyzing.
[Liu Xia]:"You guys forgot about the recent auction by the so-called Elite Club? People who owed government virtual currency, or debts from before the apocalypse, or committed crimes, all sorts of reasons. The court is auctioning these things, so everyone wants a bargain."
Jing Shu didn't know about that at all. She had just returned from the capital and had not interacted with anyone in the city yet, so she had not heard the local rumors.
[Liu Xia]:"But not everyone can get in. There's a high threshold; only invites work. You know, only Lan Shao has an invite quota in this chat. So Jing Shu gave Jiang Changke some benefit to confirm this. If we all believe it, she can get the invite and grab bargains at the auction."
[Jiang Changke]:"You think too much, damn it. I didn't even think that far. But I will tell you, the person in the news is really Jing Shu. Watch what happens to you for offending her."
[Liu Xia]:"So scary."
[Tang Yuan]:"I'm scared too. Does this mean we won't get a good job?"
[Wang Miao]:"Speaking of the Elite Club, just being in sounds like grabbing money. I'm jealous, I want to go too. Too bad, none of us can. @Lan Shao, can you lower the conditions?"
[Liu Wen]:"I want to go too, just to see. I heard most stuff is sold at base prices, internal stuff."
[Gu Qiran]:"I heard everything is there. Big things like houses, estates, villas, small things like second-hand stuff, daily necessities, new or old, ready to move in. Tons of it."
Jing Shu raised an eyebrow as she read the descriptions. She already had plenty of stuff in her inventory. This Elite Club did not interest her at all. She had already splurged twice in the capital on everything except a few minor necessities.
She chuckled sarcastically, the sound low in the quiet room. She never expected a question about whether she was in the news would stir so much chaos. Whether she was or was not, so what? These people really were overthinking everything. Jing Shu did not have the patience of a saint. After being insulted like this, she actually wanted to hit someone. She did not like cursing through a screen; she preferred direct action.
"Don't just yap in your blanket," Jing Shu thought. She clenched her fists until her knuckles crackled with a sharp sound. Right then, someone else spoke in the chat.
[Lan Shao]:"Don't say stuff so extreme. Fake or not, it won't matter. If Jing Shu is really vice president of the Herb Association, she doesn't need my invite to enter the Elite Club. If it's fake and she is asking for an invite, that's clearly false. Right, @Jing Shu?"
[Liu Xia]:"So on that day, just see if Jing Shu is there. That will prove it?"
Jing Shu felt her primal power surge. She admitted sometimes cursing online was actually pretty satisfying. No wonder there were so many keyboard warriors in the world. Her fingers moved rapidly across the screen, the white light illuminating her determined face.
[Jing Shu]:"@Liu Xia, whether I'm real or fake is none of your business. Is it important to you? If you are so bored, focus on how to get in instead. And you, @Jiang Changke, delete those messages now. You have already violated my privacy, so think twice if you don't want trouble."
[Jing Shu]: "@Tang Yuan @Cheng Long, I won't comment on your mess, but you need to apologize and delete all your messages."
[Jing Shu]:"No worries. I know you won't actually apologize, this is just a formality."
Jing Shu's rapid-fire messages hit the chat like an explosion, tagging everyone who had spoken about her. She sat back, waiting for the inevitable fallout.
[Tang Yuan]:"No apology? Oh yeah, you still want to hit me? Come on, let's see how you used to charm people back then."