Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 606 - 268: Dignity or Indignity_2

It was also the inevitable within the accidental.

Ding Xiang was a girl whose self-awareness wasn't very strong. Her possessiveness was weaker than any other girl around Han Lie, yet her compliance was the highest, going beyond what could be described as a "good girl."

Ugh, a top-quality doll?!

So, it was normal for Ding Yu to be nervous about her. If this girl met the wrong person, the consequences would undoubtedly be serious.

Fortunately, our Brother Lie is an exceptionally kind and upright man of the new century...

AHEM!

Moreover, Han Lie could infer from Ding Xiang's reaction that Chen Yanfei hadn't taken any extreme actions.

If the Village Flower had been cursing Han Lie continuously and was highly emotional, Ding Xiang wouldn't have had time to secretly send a text message. Moreover, the message's content wouldn't have been so gentle.

Obviously, Chen Yanfei was most likely seething inwardly, but she remained rational, and her emotions were relatively stable.

Her mental fortitude is just too damn strong...

If any other woman had suddenly received such a blow, she would have either blown the roof off or caved in the scumbag's skull.

Calm and composed?

Calm? My ass!

Honestly, Han Lie really felt very guilty towards Chen Yanfei.

The incident couldn't be blamed on Pan Ge and Xi Luting. The root cause was that Dog Lie was too greedy, wanting everything.

But if you ask him to give up, to change...

Like hell I'll change!

Those who can comprehend the law have a standard for right and wrong.

Those who can master economics and finance have a profound understanding of society.

Those who can thoroughly study psychology can also understand human nature.

Therefore, Han Lie's mindset was quite peculiar—

I know that what I'm doing isn't fair to the girls, but in my understanding and cognition, one-on-one love and marriage are the normal stable state, not the ultimate perfect state. I can give them material security, self-improvement, long-term value, physical and emotional satisfaction, and true happiness. The price is they can't have exclusivity. In reality, they gain more than they lose. Any perfect boyfriend or perfect husband, in the long run, isn't as good as me. So I feel guilty, but I am determined to have it my way.

If I failed, that would mean I wasn't capable enough. Not even daring to think about it—that would be mentally eunuched.

His logic was indeed rather predatory, but it aligned perfectly with the human tendency for "desire to inflate along with power."

Powerful men are all cut from the same cloth.

Jack Ma is already so rich but still took the risk to start Lakeside University. What's he after?

The reason top entrepreneurs don't appear to be womanizers is often because their bodies don't allow it. Don't mock Brother Dong's "two minutes"; there are plenty of tycoons who fare even worse.

So everyone admires Little Wang for being real—except his dad.

Han Lie's self-awareness was crystal clear. So, guilt was one thing, action another.

After leaving Ding Xiang hanging for a while, he replied with one last text, "You're too obedient. I'm overwhelmed with guilt and feeling terrible right now. Let me process this... Have a happy holiday in advance."

In the Shanghai Foreign Studies University dormitory, Ding Xiang was smitten.

Could it be that Bad Boy Lie likes me a bit more after all?

He didn't even ask about Sister Yanfei...

But what does 'process this' mean?

Is it because he's too conflicted and distressed that he wants to sort himself out?

Chen Yanfei looked up and saw the dazed Ding Xiang, that clueless little lamb, holding her phone. Annoyance flared instantly. "Are you texting that scumbag dog?"

"Ah, no, not at all!"

Panicked, Ding Xiang nearly threw her phone and stammered an excuse, "Uh, my little brother asked if I wanted to go out to eat... I warned him not to learn any bad habits from Brother Lie!"

Chen Yanfei rolled her eyes, too lazy to expose her.

The other girls in the dormitory giggled, finally breaking the tense atmosphere.

Taking the opportunity, Huang Li asked, "Sister Fei, are you really not going to bother with God Lie anymore? Wouldn't that just be letting those green teas benefit for nothing?"

Chen Yanfei knew what she was worried about and calmly said, "A good horse doesn't turn back to graze."

Huang Li felt slightly relieved, but Xiao Qing was very worried.

"Sister Fei, are you alright?"

"Don't worry, it won't come to that."

Chen Yanfei shook her head, her eyes resolute. "A solid, happy relationship isn't necessarily about being with the most outstanding person. Recognizing his casual attitude towards relationships and, well, *that*, early on is actually a good thing."

Ding Xiang thought: I don't understand, but I'm deeply shocked.

Without being with the most outstanding guy, where's the sense of security?

And Brother Lie isn't just outstanding in a normal, understandable way. He's like a god, a demon, a perversely alluring monster...

But aside from Ding Xiang, the rest of the girls actually all agreed.

"Sister Fei has such solid principles!"

"Exactly! Being with a guy like Han Lie would be so tiring, right? Anyway, I couldn't stand it. Even if he wasn't a playboy, I couldn't stand it."

"God Lie is indeed impressive, but way too scummy, minus 100 points!"

"And he's the kind of scumbag you can tell is almost impossible to reform. That Pan Ge and whatever-her-name-is Xi, annoying as they are, aren't they gorgeous? Yet Han Lie still isn't satisfied... Based on my years of experience, seriously, don't ever expect him to settle down."

"Give me a break! Are you basing this on your many years of experience as a lovelorn bootlicker?"

"Get lost! I've never been a bootlicker!"

The atmosphere in the dormitory gradually became more cheerful, and Chen Yanfei's face slowly took on a semblance of a smile, but the desolation in her eyes remained.

Making a decision is always easy; executing it is too hard.

Time will give the answer.

…

Han Lie arrived an hour early at Tang Xintian's building.

It seemed Old Huang had intentionally tried to create an opportunity for Chief Tang. He had suggested to Han Lie yesterday that he take Tang Xintian with him to today's celebration banquet.

Han Lie was clear-headed and didn't interpret this as some kind of honey trap.

The same hint could have entirely different meanings depending on who it was directed at.

If Old Huang had pushed forward Wang Mengjun, the private banking customer service representative, it would have meant: "Flirt with her all you want. If you manage to win her over, consider it a small gift from me. Don't worry about any consequences."

But with Tang Xintian, it meant: "If there's a chance for a relationship, don't worry about her family."

The difference in the implications of these "worries" was vast.

The former implied a promise to handle any fallout, while the latter implied conventional approval and expectations within certain boundaries.

A strong family background truly is the greatest support for a beautiful woman.

However, Han Lie harbored no such thoughts. Tang Xintian really wasn't a suitable match for him, not to mention his mood was abysmal today.

"Tangtang, I'm here, at..."

"Come up, don't wait downstairs like a fool, sis still needs a while."

Han Lie subconsciously frowned.

This isn't right... Why is she being so casual, not treating me like an outsider?

But he didn't think much of it—his thoughts were mostly on Chen Yanfei.

Indifferently, he went upstairs. The door was ajar. He knocked, and a voice called from inside, "Come in, no need to change shoes."

Han Lie didn't find any men's slippers in the entryway, so he simply walked into the living room in his socks.

This was a hundred-square-meter apartment with two bedrooms and one living room. The living room was spacious, decorated in the currently popular modern minimalist style.

As Han Lie was looking around, his eyes suddenly went wide—Tang Xintian emerged from the bedroom.

Her walking wasn't the point; her actions were.

While reaching into her dress to adjust something underneath, she casually complained to Han Lie, "I think I've gained weight recently. Why is this dress, which used to fit perfectly, suddenly so tight?"

Han Lie was dumbfounded.

Damn!

Is this something I'm getting to see for free?!

In reality, she hadn't revealed anything explicitly. It was just that her chest appeared very ample and fair, and one could tell it was quite firm and shapely.

But the signal this action represented...

Good heavens!

Tangtang, are you planning on robbing the cradle and making a move on me?

Han Lie was indeed surprised, but only surprised. His mind didn't drift towards anything lewd.

Chen Yanfei wasn't as pretty as Tang Xintian, but she was much more important to him—she was his dream from high school, and a symbolic emblem of the entire first half of his life.

So Han Lie only glanced briefly before turning his head away, ostensibly to continue examining the decor.

He replied casually, "Not at all. Your figure is beautiful."

Tang Xintian pouted. Such a perfunctory answer!

But she pressed on more enthusiastically, "Quick, take a look at the whole outfit. How is it?"

Han Lie frowned, watching her as she spread her arms and did a simple twirl, filled with impatience.

Big sister, I'm not in the mood for flirting with you!

You look so innocent, how can you be so lacking in self-respect?!

Can't you learn a thing or two from our Village Flower?!

So he responded indifferently, "It's fine. But I suggest you put on your glasses and wear something more conservative. Your goal is to showcase professionalism, right?"

"Yep!"

Tang Xintian snapped her fingers, appearing greatly enlightened and thoroughly convinced.

Then, as soon as she turned around to head towards the bedroom, she started gritting her teeth.

Sigh! It's so hard trying to befriend a gay guy. Being beautiful isn't an advantage at all; it's practically a hindrance...

No, I need to change my approach!