Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

"Hon—"

Hearing that single syllable, Aina stiffened.

’He’s not about to say the ’w’ word, is he?’

’Joking around is one thing, but he’d better not be about to call me his ’wife’.’

’Either we are or we aren’t. There’s no need to lie just to solve this problem.’

Besides, Liu Jinyu was right there. Even if she knew Aina was just using him as a shield, Jinyu would still feel a pang of jealousy. That was an indisputable fact.

Su Ran had only one principle: he had to treat them all equally. He couldn’t let any of the four feel wronged.

Besides...

’Did he really need to explain himself to a guy like this?’

’Absolutely not.’

"Old..." Su Ran chuckled, but then his expression darkened. His tone turned scathing as he cursed, "Your old man! Why the hell should I explain my relationship with Nana to you? Who the hell do you think you are?"

That’s right. Su Ran, a man who always preferred to reason with people, had suddenly flown off the handle.

From an emotional standpoint...

Did Su Ran really have to explain himself or try to reason with someone who couldn’t open his mouth without calling Aina a gold digger who’d been bought by some rich kid for three million?

Su Ran didn’t get angry often, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a temper. The fact that he hadn’t already Flashed over there and beaten the guy to death was a testament to his restraint.

And logically...

Was Su Ran really expected to be calm and reasonable with someone who was slandering his woman’s name? Did this guy really think he was a pushover?

Su Ran’s voice was low and menacing. "Everyone has a line. You slandering Aina’s reputation—that’s crossing my line. It’s not just about Aina, but all four of them!"

At first, the four girls thought Su Ran was going to try and reason with the guy, since that was his usual approach. They never expected him to skip the logic and go straight to fury.

This was the first time they had ever heard Su Ran curse at someone, and it was because someone was slandering their reputation. A girl’s reputation was paramount, and that was something Su Ran would absolutely not tolerate. The more you put up with it, the more brazenly they would spread rumors.

As expected, Su Ran always zeroed in on the core of the issue. Proving what their relationship was didn’t matter. What mattered was stopping the slander that so easily tarnished their reputations.

A warmth spread through the four girls’ hearts. There was always this person, Su Ran, who would step in at every critical moment to solve their problems.

The rumormongers could spin their lies with all their might, and Su Ran would be there to clean up the mess for them?

Aina’s body went weak, a feeling of boneless relief washing over her, as if Su Ran had just pulled the plug and drained all the tension away.

"I just don’t get it. Why is it that when a beautiful woman you like rejects you and chooses a better man, you have to call her a gold digger?"

"So by your logic, if Aina chose to be with me, that makes her a gold digger?"

"Choosing you is ’true love,’ but choosing a rich man isn’t? Heh. So you’re saying all the beautiful women in the world should stay away from wealthy men, is that it?"

This speech, in a way, was a defense of all of them. During their ’one-plus-four’ trip, many tourists had assumed they were ’a super-rich heir traveling with four vain, gold-digging women.’

Sightseeing and playing during the day, and at night... BANG! BANG! BANG!

To be honest, they had never once thought about getting anything material from Su Ran. If they had, after all this time together, they wouldn’t have come away with absolutely nothing—and they certainly wouldn’t have lost a virgin in the process.

The friend group was taking a massive loss.

Su Ran, on the other hand, had made out like a bandit.

The guy tried to retort, but Su Ran gave him no opening. Even through the video call, Su Ran’s sheer presence completely overwhelmed him.

"You should learn to watch your mouth! You run your mouth for fun, spouting nonsense and slandering a girl’s reputation. Ever heard that trouble comes from an unguarded tongue? A single careless sentence can cause incredible harm! Do you think this is a trivial matter?"

"Shut your mouth! I can’t be bothered to waste another breath on you. Apologize to Aina! Right now! Immediately!"

"If you don’t apologize, I’m calling my lawyer and suing you for reputational and emotional damages. Get ready for a lawsuit and to pay up!"

Su Ran was utterly disgusted by people with this "if I can’t have her, I’ll destroy her" mentality. There was nothing more to say. If the guy wouldn’t apologize, they’d go straight to legal action.

The crowd around them approved of what the young man in the video was doing.

The four girls’ affection for Su Ran skyrocketed. He made them feel incredibly safe.

It was simple, really. When they were in trouble, he would always stand up for them without a moment’s hesitation and solve their most difficult problems.

How could you not love a man like that?

Mmm, that’s what a man should be. He should be reasonable when the situation calls for it.

But when his woman’s reputation is on the line, he should be unhesitatingly fierce!

Was there anyone in the crowd who thought Su Ran was wrong for cursing the guy out? If anything, they probably felt Su Ran hadn’t been harsh *enough* with such a vile man who would slander a woman’s reputation!

If it had been anyone else, they would have probably just walked up and punched him.

Just then, the crowd started pointing at the guy. Someone recognized him and what department he was in, and everyone began to scorn and curse the despicable creep.

The guy was genuinely intimidated by Su Ran. He was just an average joe running his mouth, indulging in his "if I can’t have her, I’ll destroy her" fantasy. But if the other side actually got serious and filed a lawsuit, he knew he couldn’t handle it.

After a moment’s thought, he took a step forward.

"Uh... Aina, I’m sor—"

He hadn’t even finished the word before Aina’s hand swung up. SLAP! Her palm connected squarely with his face. A woman will show absolutely no mercy to someone who slanders her in public!

"I don’t accept your apology," Aina snapped. "Don’t you dare use your ignorance as an excuse for slandering my name. You have no idea who I am, and I don’t need to explain myself to a disgusting pig like you! You’d better watch your step!"

With that, she grabbed her friends and headed back to their dorm.

"Disgusting pig!"

"Despicable."

"How can our school have someone like you? You’re a disgrace."

"Pah!"

The crowd shot the man looks of contempt before leaving in disgust.

...

「Room 404.」

On the video call, Su Ran watched as the four girls came back to life, their energy fully restored.

’It was always like this. Before he stepped in, they were all acting pitiful and wronged. The moment the problem was solved, they were back to running their mouths nonstop.’

’How would you girls survive without me?’ he thought. ’Right, Yanzi?’

"Wow, Su Ran was so cool just now! He scared that guy so bad he was trembling. That man totally deserved to be cussed out, and Aina’s slap was so satisfying!"

"Next time someone talks nonsense like that, I’m slapping them too."

"Exactly! We were born this beautiful, what right do they have to call us gold diggers? Every single one of them wants to destroy what they can’t have. It’s so despicable."

"Our Su Ran is the best, isn’t he, Su Ran?"

But Su Ran’s face was stern. "Are you all done shouting?"

"Huh?"

Xie Yiren tugged on Aina’s sleeve, shooting her a look and whispering, "Shh! Be quiet. I think Su Ran’s about to lose it."

"Su Ran, actually we—"

Before she could finish, SLAM!

On the screen, Su Ran slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. The four girls jolted in fright, their legs going weak. One, two, three, four—all four of them instinctively knelt on the bed, lowering their heads.

Xie Yiren, who was nearest the door, quietly reached out a hand and pushed it shut to keep anyone from walking by and seeing their embarrassing predicament.

It was the very picture of a husband about to discipline his pampered wives.

"Su—"

"Quiet!"

"Okay. Go ahead."

Just like that, the four girls became perfectly docile.

Su Ran! Asserting his authority as the man of the house!