Chapter 18: Enough
When Yao Shao notices that the duo was just eating and not caring what he said. It made him frustrated. He was going to continue to slander Lu Chen even more, however,
“Hey, haven’t you said enough, fatty Shao?”
Yao Shao turns around to see who called him that. Calling him fatty Shao was like a forbidden word that should never be said. He was going to shout at whoever it was, but he couldn’t with this lady.
The one who said it was the other female of the group. She had a slightly taller stature than Liu Fei Fei, and her beauty rivals hers. If Liu Fei Fei was the celestial type of beauty, this person was the fairy type. Big round clear black eyes and rosy red cheeks give her a cute and pretty feeling. Her long black hair done in a ponytail, giving her a lively and cheerful aura.
The one drastic difference between Liu Fei Fei and the girl was the curves she has. The curves on her body were unimaginable for her size. If Liu Fei Fei had s line curves, then the girl has a triple s line.
“Tch. Luo Ai, don’t you butt into this.” Yao Shao sucks his teeth and glares at her. She was always the person who would get in his way when he talks about Lu Chen.
“How can I not butt into this when you’re just berating someone that hasn’t done anything to you.” Luo AI glares back at him.
Yao Shao acts smug, “Somebody that hasn’t done anything? Luo Ai, are you that thickhead?" He wanted to say something else as he lowers his eyes towards her chest. He had a perverted look in her eyes. But Yao Shao wasn’t the only one watching. Almost all of the males were looking at them as well. They wondered how someone could have a chest like that.
Luo Ai didn’t care about the looks she was getting as she shook her head, “What Lu Chen has done is something I understand. But you mouthing off about how he is a clown is distasteful. Frankly, you’re the clown.“
“YOU.” How dare you talk to me like that! Yao Shao didn’t care if Luo Ai was beautiful or not and was about to blow.
“Hey, both of you guys need to calm down.”
Before the argument escalates even further, a voice jumps in to stop it. The person that said this was the other male of the group. He was around 1.85 meters tall, having a crew cut giving himself a strict appearance to himself. Even though he was handsome, he didn't have the gently princely vibe that Long Shen gives off. He had a more of a mature and athletic vibe to him.
“Tang Weimin, why don’t you just back off!” Yao Shao snarls at him. Is everybody against me today?!
Tang Weimin ignored Yao Shao’s anger and said indifferently, “You guys are bothering the other customers. Let’s just calm down and eat.“
Luo Ai looks around and notices that everybody besides Lu Chen’s table was looking at them, and she nods at what Tang Weimin said.
Yao Shao didn’t want to back down tho, “What, I just said what was true. These people should know that the person over there is trash!” He said as he looks towards Lu Chen's table.
The crowd of students turns to look at Lu Chen and Zhang Jian’s table to see Lu Chen and Zhang Jian continuing to eat their meal, minding their own business. Zhang Jian even waves at them, looking all innocent and kind.
One of them looks weird, and the other is handsome. That's an uncanny combination, but not bad.
That was the thought going through their mind as they look back at Yao Shao in scorn.
But Yao Shao doesn’t even realize this as the only thought in his mind was thinking that the crowd will support him. Tang Weimin knew what the customers were thinking and was going to break Yao Shao's ideas. But another person cut him off.
“Enough.”
Painful to watch LA and LFF be shallow with foreknowledge of how fast they will flip and hypocritically act later. ... at least based on the first draft of the story.
(Them hanging out with the thugs reinforces others belief that what they say is true.) I don't believe both girls have no idea that LC was being baited taunted and tricked into hurting his own reputation... They just didn't care because the guy doing it was better looking and a better student than Mophead.
Even LA speaking up here is weak, because it indicates her awareness of the ongoing dynamic and she barely tells her crew to settle down; she doesn't call them out on being the instigators or walk away. She is simply acting to preserve her rep while hanging out with the cool crowd.
LC should be day trading (he likely has a trust fund and money of his own) and playing the futures market, not messing around with these foolish kids. There are actual people that already love him in his present life... why care about foolish, easily manipulated, sociopathic girls who never gave him any attention. ... Just break the engagement and walk.
True...but you have to remember that Mophead did this to himself. He is the sole reason as to why his reputation is the way it is. The only reason he is behaving humble and mature now is because of what he already went through in his first life. This guy was a straight up spoiled asshole that looked down on the common folk.
This is not a reincarnation to get revenge. This is a redemption of a character that used to be a villain in a sense.
@Onewithlego ... Sure, I could totally judge and place unilateral blame a clueless kid... who was baited and made ONE wrong comment immediately after a very humiliating experience where LC initially did nothing wrong and was assaulted by his fiancé and verbally abused by the other guy whom he then made the unfortunate comment about... As seen in a single flashback sequence. I do assume he has made other comments, probably like, he doesn't deserve you (emotional), your family will never accept him (factual). And maybe he did say unfair things to a guy who was probably making out with his fiancé; can you blame him?
...
Long Chen put down the bait and set him up to look bad. LC calling the guy poor trash, while very not ok, was after the guy probably coined the nickname Mophead, set him up, and did a thousand little things that no casual observer would notice to antagonize him because he was smarter and more calculating in his approach. (Keep in mind that LC isn't an elitist, his best buddy isn't rich and he doesn't seem to seek popularity or approval from others, including rich or influential. We havent seen him abuse his money or threaten to use his family influence. Long Chen is, in fact, being a trashy, low, guy.) LC has a junk reputation, not because he is obsessed with his fiancé (not a bad thing, since she could break it off) or is at the bottom half of his class, or because his hair is long; someone has been baiting him into speaking foolishly. It would ruin Long Chens reputation if he and LFF started dating, while they were engaged, before LC was drug through the mud. Tearing down LCs reputation is vital to Long Chens interests, so I'm sure that the provocation set up has been systematic and intentional. Keep in mind that it is open knowledge that LFF is his fiancé.
Why does LFF hate LC in the first place? Did LC randomly and suddenly decide to start making fun of Long Chen one day? (If he is a entitled rich guy, why havent we seen him picking on others?) Or, did Long Chen come looking for trouble because he was interested in LCs fiance? Or, LCC wanted Long Chen? What do you expect a humiliated kid to do when his fiancé, whom his hormonal brain tells him he's loved since childhood, and who he knows he can't break an engagement with unilaterally or humiliate his family, is hanging out publicly with some other guy but wont break up with you? Did Long Chen encourage LFF to break the engagement?... If not, it can only be because being a victim is part of his allure to LFF and may work into his long-term plan. He may also enjoy the power trip of cucking the guy (as was clearly demonstrated by both LFF and him in Ch 1).
I agree that there is a major redemption story. He was originally weak, undiscplined, unfocused, possibly not terribly smart or fit (upgraded via reincarnation), and unwise.
But that is only half the story. Long Chen is definitely evil. I hate that the author may play off LFF as a manipulated dupe (I don't buy it... Divorce was an option, she chose to cuck, torture, and murder), but we will see how author plays things out.
@TDM I get where you are coming from. Long Shen is no angel. He stole his fiancée and even murdered the guy in the past. I agree that Long Shen is using his lackeys to further destroy Lu Chen's reputation.
But again, this is mostly Lu Chen's fault. Lu Chen was not angel in his past life. This guy had no respect for anyone. Did you not see how his family responded to his new behavior? How his brother was surprised that Lu Chen actually listened to his advice instead of being disrespectful like he always used to be. Driver Wu was astonished that Lu Chen actually talked to him with respect and even thanked him before going off to school. The teacher was surprised when Lu Chen actually treated him with respect and did not lashed out like he would in the past. He did not respect people that did not come from a wealthy family. He only cared about himself. Heck, when his father gave him money for school, he was ashamed of how little thought he put into spending the money his farther worked so hard for.
This guy pushed everyone that ever cared for him away with his selfish behavior and ended up alone. All for a girl that never loved him. He never cared about her feelings, he never stopped to think if she even loved him back. He only wanted to have her at any cost. How would you feel if you were set into an engagement with someone you never loved? Yet, the person you actually love cannot be with you because of his background. Not fun right? That's the situation this people are in. It's just that we as readers are so used to seeing the MC having his girl taken away by the "Popular kid" that we never get to see it from the other side. The MC taking the girl of the "Popular kid".
I don't agree with how Long Shen and LFF killed him. And yes divorce was an option, but you have to remember that he threatened to kill himself in order to get her to marry him. This guy was completely mental.
Heck, I am even surprised he had a friend in the first place to be honest lol.
16 years old. What 16 year old ever took advice from an older sibling? What 16 year old talks to adults voluntarily, ever?... Dinner discussions are typically monosyballic with boys. Theyre surprised because he was acting differently, not because he was a total jerk before. Maybe he didn't like being called on in class; he wasn't much of a brainiac, but his teacher doesn't hate him. I get the impression that his family generally likes him, but hates that he acts like such a 16 year old... Hes just 16! Add to this, Low self esteem (haircut), probably introverted with few friends, really only 1 (not that uncommon for untalented non-joiners). Not athletic. Not bright like his older siblings. ... None of the above is unusual or disgusting or evil. Certainly not deserving to be cuckolded persecuted by the popular kids, have food dumped on him by his fiancé, etc.
If LC were truly a elitist jerk, people would remember. We have no evidence of a general disdain for the poor by an elitist, rather a disdain for one guy who is a Machiavellian @hole and a single instance of him calling him poor. If this were common for him, the less affluent kids wouldn't quickly forget, simply because ...
the rich kid got a haircut; it wouldn't have been sufficient to transform everyone's opinion
He ended up alone because his whole family was killed; he literally only had LFF left. (wonder why he was suicidal when she wanted to leave too.... Hmmmmmmmm).
Definitely not only selfish, or more selfish than your average 16 year old (kids are selfish monsters)... If anything, too forgiving of a girl he had an unhealthy relationship with because of his grandparents meddling. There is solid evidence that the threat of suicide wasn't only because he liked her. There were family dynamics at play. And,again, if she really didn't love him, she could have broken off the engagement loooooooong ago.
At this point, I don't blame the 16 year old LFF, she seems clueless and bit*hy. (why would she even chase away his best friend if she wants nothing to do with LC.) But Long Chen... It is definitely intentional. He could easily guide LCC to a clean break with LC but chooses not to; LC is too easy as an opponent, why risk someone better competing for LCCs affections should she become free.
Do you want to bet me that in the reincarnation, Long Chen makes a stronger effort to have LCC break the engagement, once he can't spoil LCs reputation
and LC is more physically attractive;
....
That said, I'll agree that the engagement is a screwed up dynamic for both parties. Totally stifling and humiliating for both. LC is guilty of being an awkward kid whose grandparents screwed him over before dying along with the rest of LCs family, leaving him alone with nothing but a shitty arranged marriage.
@TDM Did you even read what I typed? The MC himself admits how he ended up alone because of his selfish behavior in the first few chapters. He regretted being such a d*ck.
Look I am not trying to diminished the fact that Long Shen and LFF did this guy dirty. I understand that part and I whole heartedly agree. He should take revenge for that if he can. What is baffling me is how you cannot see that Lu Chen was also part of the problem. He is as much to blame for how he ended up in life as the other two. Had he not being obsessed with LFF, had he not being cold to his parents, and selfish to the point of ending up along. This situation would not have happened. At most he would have lost LFF and be humiliated by Long Shen, but not end up in the sorry state that he was in his first life.
This is not about him being introverted, or having low self esteem( which is bullsh*t since the only reason he got long hair was because LFF said she liked man with long hair to get rid of him one time). Not being called out in class? Dude the only reason the teacher was surprised is because of how quiet the classroom was because Lu Chen was not making a ruckus. The teacher even mention how spoiled he was and how he would abused his power because he knew he was rich. He was an asshole. Simple as that. It seems to me like you are reading waaaay too deep into this (Hairstyle, age, morality etc). I am just stating what the characters in this story have said about Lu Chen (so far). And the verdict is, he was a spoiled d*ck who abused his power because he came from a rich family. Now as the story progress and more things come to light, sure, let's changed that mindset. Until then, not so much.
Also it seems you have read the previous work up to before it stopped being updated. I didn't. You might want to hide that under spoiler alert since not everyone has read the previous work. Thanks for ruining it for me by the way. There goes a major plot I was not aware about that should have been a surprised...Regardless based on what the MC himself has admitted. I still blame him as much as the other two for how he ended up in life.
@Onewithlego I'll concede that LC was a cruddy student (if the teachers were reluctant to discipline, it's no wonder the child was a bad student and went out of control), but he wasn't necessarily a bad guy or evil to anyone aside from Long Chen (that we've seen). We are probably both underselling how poorly all these 16 year olds are handling things. However only one is proactively malicious at a young age. Only one of the engaged people didn't want to marry, but failed to break things off (the one in love certainly will always do their best to marry). Only LC had his entire family stripped from him by foul means (I think, before he was married and suicidal, but after she asked him to abandon his only friend). Only LC was cuckolded an murdered... So, I'm definitely over defensive of LC.
It's hard to not regret marrying someone who stabs you. He probably did blame himself for marrying her, and putting pressure on her to marry. But, he actually did love her. He regrets dumping his friend for her, but he did. He definitely was a self made loser.
Im Sure the author will reveal more.
@TDM Now your argument makes way more sense. I understand now. What you were trying to tell me is that although Lu Chen may not have been the best individual, he was the only one who was schemed against. He wasn't actively trying to ruin someone's life on purpose, it was his behavior that led to it. Not a schemed from careful planning like Long Shen and LFF had done. He was more of a Chaotic Neutral. Whereas Long Shen and LFF are Chaotic/Lawful Evil. Or I think that's what you meant?
@Onewithlego... Big thumbs up. And I get your position too. If Long Chen was not so evil, he might well typify the standard protagonist. I think it was pretty brave to make his MC a kinda cruddy guy.
@Onewithlego ... this has been a long discussion. I do a summation-theory regarding the LC-LFF-LC2 dynamic where I give you credit, that I put way back in Chapter 2 (since the relevant information, along with a sentence from Chapter 3); the conclusion, if I'm not wrong, is something that a smart MC protagonist could have figured out at the end of that chapter (or the beginning of Ch 3).
@TDM Neat.
@Onewithlego he should get back at his wife in a past life, nothing justifies what she did...
@Onewithlego the villain is his ex-wife...at least he didn't kill anyone
What are you trying to get?
@Grimland Yes I agree. I never said she wasn't. If he can get revenge, he should. All I am saying is that not all the fault lies with her and Long Shen. Lu Chen was also not the best guy around and his actions help push towards his tragic end.
@Grimland ... Agreed, if being unlikeable kid is cause for people to marry with the intent to cuck, betray, steal from, and kill you... I suppose one could fault LC in part for his death. He was a shitty kid. He wasnt even really shitty towards LFF or Long Chen (without cause)... It's not like his teachers or driver came back and murdered him because he was a spoiled kid and disruptive student. I don't know if, as an adult, 8 years later, he deserved the end he got. (He was dumb and blind, yes.) Saying that he is at fault for that, to me, is a stretch.
I have a neighbor who is loud after 10 at night and 3 years ago, would leave his dog outside in the winter in a kennel (too cold). If I were to train his dog to kill him and I were to steal his stuff, would you say he set the course for his tragic end?
The actions were so disproportinate to what came after that I don't see the logical connection between his shortcomings and their decision to marry-murder him. (He didn't ask for the engagement, so I don't fault him for that; it could have been broken unilaterally.)