Chapter 28: Chu Shaojiang's Ambition
What was going on?!
Chu Shaojiang was stunned.
Why were those three able to head straight to the private room on the fourth floor?!
“Hey! Are you serious? Why are they allowed to go directly into the private room?”
Chu Shaojiang grew anxious, grabbing a waiter to demand an explanation.
But in the next instant...
Thud!
His hand felt as if it had struck an iron wall, the impact rebounding with force.
At Jingming Pavilion, a restaurant catering to distinguished guests, even the most ordinary server possessed at least level forty strength.
Someone like Chu Shaojiang, who had only just changed professions, had no chance of causing trouble here.
The waiter’s expression remained unchanged; he simply bowed slightly in apology.
“I’m sorry, sir, but Jingming Pavilion’s rules forbid touching the staff at will.”
“As for why those guests are allowed into a private room, it’s because Miss Gongsun is one of our esteemed VIP clients.”
With that, he straightened up and continued leading Song Qi and his companions upstairs.
As Wang Zihao left, he couldn’t resist flashing a middle finger.
“Sorry, Young Master Chu, but it seems your status still doesn’t measure up to Gongsun Wuyue’s.”
Leaving Chu Shaojiang frowning deeply, muttering that surname under his breath.
“Miss Gongsun?”
“Gongsun, Gongsun, Gongsun...”
“In the Seventh District, who named Gongsun is about my age...”
“Wait!”
Suddenly, realization dawned on Chu Shaojiang, his pupils dilating in shock.
“I remember... Principal Gongsun Zhao from No. 2 High School has a granddaughter, doesn’t he?”
“If I heard right just now, Wang Zihao called her Gongsun Wuyue?”
“That bookworm Gongsun Wuyue is Principal Gongsun Zhao’s granddaughter?!”
He slammed his fist on the table, panic gnawing at his heart.
“Damn it! I should have realized sooner. How could someone with an A-rank talent attract the vice principal’s personal recruitment, without a single objection?”
“Her background could never be that simple!”
Although Chu Shaojiang was the nephew of Principal Chu, he was not part of the family’s inner circle. He only knew of such a person, but not her name or appearance.
Not to mention what she looked like.
Thinking back, there were indeed many suspicious points he’d ignored.
His followers, thinking he was angry again, stepped forward to console him.
“Young Master Chu, don’t take it to heart. Maybe they just used a VIP card from one of their elders.”
“That’s right, don’t let it spoil your mood.”
“If this really bothers you, why not teach them a lesson? Didn’t Principal Chu find over a dozen level-twenty professionals for you?”
“All we have to do is wait for Song Qi and his crew...”
“Shut up!”
Bang!
Chu Shaojiang slapped the table violently, shouting in anger.
His followers were startled, but he quickly regained his composure, forcing a smile.
“Sorry, I lost my temper.”
“Let’s keep eating.”
“But... let’s not talk about Song Qi anymore.”
The group exchanged glances, confused by the sudden shift in his attitude.
But since he insisted...
“Well... if that’s what you want, Young Master Chu.”
“Right, Song Qi probably won’t make it far anyway. Let’s just let him be.”
“You’re generous as always, Young Master Chu.”
Chu Shaojiang listened to their chatter with a polite smile, calling the server to order a few more meat dishes.
For a moment, the group seemed to have forgotten their earlier irritation, enjoying their meal and drinks with gusto.
But in Chu Shaojiang’s eyes, a cold glint flashed as he pondered silently.
Why had he tried so hard to provoke Song Qi earlier?
Because in his eyes, Song Qi was someone he could offend with impunity.
Although Song Qi possessed an extraordinary S-rank talent, his family was poor, with no backing.
His parents were low-level factory workers.
His older sister was merely a mid-level professional.
Plus, Principal Chu seemed to have little regard for him, which emboldened Chu Shaojiang to antagonize Song Qi, playing the role of a sworn enemy.
If Principal Chu noticed, a reward would follow—excellent. If not, it made no difference.
He risked nothing and stood only to gain.
But now, the young lady of the Gongsun family had thrown all his plans into chaos.
He couldn’t discern whether Gongsun Wuyue was simply drawn to Song Qi out of like-mindedness, or if she had sensed something and wanted to invest in him early.
Either way, he had to reconsider his standing with Principal Chu—the family head.
Risking the wrath of the Gongsun family’s princess for a move that might not benefit him—was it worth it?
Chu Shaojiang knew all too well that, though born into the Chu family, his status within was not high.
His S-rank talent was his ticket, his one chance to catch the clan leader’s eye.
He had always known he must seize this opportunity with all he had.
This was the chance of a lifetime.
His success in qualifying for the Genius Tournament had surprised many, propelling him, a dark horse, into the leader’s focus.
But no one knew how hard he’d actually worked.
And so, when the opportunity presented itself, he seized it with all his might.
From an obscure clan member, he had risen to become the pride of the Chu family’s new generation.
Yet, he could not afford a single misstep, or he’d lose the clan leader’s favor.
If he were deemed unworthy of investment, everything he had now would vanish in an instant.
“I should focus on the Genius Tournament,” Chu Shaojiang mused silently.
“Double the training time—starting tonight, not tomorrow.”
“A thousand thrusts and shadow strikes a day just isn’t enough! With the clan’s resources, I can cut down on sleep even more!”
“After reaching level ten, I can begin resistance training.”
“Six hours of sleep a day... no, four hours will suffice. As an Assassin, my mental attributes will improve with each level, dulling fatigue.”
“Raise my strength as much as possible. If I can, I’ll eliminate Song Qi at the Genius Tournament!”
“That way... even Miss Gongsun won’t have grounds to fault me.”
“Then, I’ll win the favor of both the City Lord and the clan leader, claiming the greatest share of resources in the Seventh District!”
Though his words belittled Song Qi, deep down he knew better than anyone: this extraordinary S-rank Summoner would almost certainly enter the Genius Tournament.
Even if the principal of No. 3 High forgot, the City Lord would not.
The first extraordinary S-rank talent in years—how could he possibly not compete?
What would the other districts think?
The City Lord couldn’t afford such a disgrace.
So, in the Seventh District, his one true rival was clear.
Song Qi.
At the table, Chu Shaojiang bantered with his companions, but in his eyes burned an irrepressible, blazing ambition that drove him ever upward.