Chapter 2: So, are we going to your place, my place, or the hotel?

Fishing requires skill. It’s all about the art of playing hard to get, a delicate tug-of-war. But back then, Lu Yao was immature and kept giving Sister Wang the cold shoulder. So it wasn’t a big deal that he took the initiative today.

Before Lu Yao could make a move, a message from Sister Wang arrived.

Sister Wang: “Junior~ Sister drank too much today, so I can’t really ask you out to hang. But even if I did, you probably wouldn’t come out anyway. [sad face]”

Seeing the emoji attached to her message, Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. After half a minute, he finally typed, “Send me the address. I’ll come take care of you.”

Sister Wang replied instantly, sending a “confused” emoji in the chat.

Lu Yao continued typing, “If you don’t want me to come, just say so.”

Sister Wang quickly responded again: “Yes yes yes!”

“Are you in the dorm? I’ll come pick you up now!”

Lu Yao typed back, “OK.”

Then he got up to shower and change clothes.

Watching Lu Yao freshen up and get dressed in the dorm, Xu Ziqiao, the notorious ladies’ man, looked puzzled. “You’re going out tonight?”

“Yeah,” Lu Yao replied.

Xu Ziqiao immediately perked up. “No way! You finally got Fang Shushuo? Bro, that’s awesome!”

Fang Shushuo was not only beautiful and well-proportioned but also very refined, making her extremely popular on campus. She was nicknamed “East University’s Milk Tea Girl.” The line of guys interested in her stretched from East University Road all the way to Linjiang Road.

Xu Ziqiao had tried to flirt with Fang Shushuo too, but after becoming WeChat friends, the chat was one-sided—only Xu Ziqiao sent messages like “What are you doing?” And even he hesitated to delete the chat.

Among Xu Ziqiao’s acquaintances, only Lu Yao had a back-and-forth with Fang Shushuo.

There was no denying it—Lu Yao was handsome! With his height and looks, he ranked top-tier not just at East University but across the entire Shangnan City. If Lu Yao were as promiscuous as Xu Ziqiao, he would have easily racked up a hundred conquests by his freshman year.

But Lu Yao replied, “Not with Fang Shushuo.”

“Huh?”

Xu Ziqiao was stunned. “Not her? Then who?”

Lu Yao came out of the shower, drying his hair as he answered, “Better not ask about street matters.”

He opened his wardrobe.

After scanning it, he pulled out a loose T-shirt with a large print on the back, paired with a pair of white chunky sneakers and faded, washed-out jeans. Simple attire, yet on Lu Yao, it looked incredibly stylish and youthful.

Still, Lu Yao felt something was missing.

He turned to Xu Ziqiao and said, “Boss Xu, mind if I borrow your necklace for a bit?”

Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed a shiny, silver-plated necklace from the pile of accessories and put it on.

The cold, metallic gleam instantly overshadowed the plainness of his outfit, making him look several degrees cooler.

Seeing Lu Yao all dressed up, Xu Ziqiao sat up from the bed. “No way, bro! You’re dressed so sharp—are you going out to sell yourself tonight?”

When your roommate starts roasting your style, it’s proof you’re genuinely looking good.

Lu Yao snapped his fingers. “Model brother is nothing. I’m going out to discuss a startup project.”

The “startup” was to snag a wealthy woman—the shortcut to destiny.

Pointing at the necklace around his neck, Lu Yao said, “Remember this favor, Xu. If anything comes up, come find President Lu.”

Xu Ziqiao flopped back onto the bed. “Get lost.”

Lu Yao smiled. Though he joked, Xu Ziqiao didn’t take it seriously. But Lu Yao wasn’t kidding.

Once he was ready, Sister Wang messaged again: “Almost at East Gate.”

“OK!”

Lu Yao grabbed his phone and crossbody bag and headed out. He walked through campus to the East Gate, a side entrance bustling with many night stalls serving snacks and drinks. Groups of sophomores and juniors gathered there, lively and loud.

As Lu Yao passed through the smoky, crowded night market, many junior girls stared at him intently until he was out of sight, then huddled together whispering. Lu Yao was already used to this.

He crossed the narrow path by the East Gate and reached the wide roadside where a gleaming Mercedes CLS was parked.

Sister Wang leaned against the hood, arms crossed, slender pale fingers holding a lady’s cigarette. Neon lights flickered amid the busy traffic.

Before him stood Sister Wang, dressed in a satin deep-V slip dress and red high heels. A breeze swept past, tossing her voluminous, curly long hair and swaying the hem of her dress—countless strands of allure drifting in the wind.

She was truly a seasoned femme fatale, forged by years of worldly experience.

Which man could see such a dazzling beauty without his heart fluttering?

Lu Yao wondered why he had been so unwilling before.

Recalling how indifferent he had once been to such a stunning woman, he almost wished he could slap himself twice right now.

Walking toward her, he teased, “What’s the occasion? You look so enchanting tonight.”

“Hmm?” Sister Wang narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. “Junior, your words are very sweet tonight~”

Wow!

Even Lu Yao, reborn with all his experience, found it hard to resist that tilted head and smirk.

But he was skilled at leveraging his college student image, so he looked at her with clear, sincere eyes and said, “I’m telling the truth.”

Sister Wang’s smile brightened. She appraised him from head to toe, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. “You really put effort into your look.”

She could still smell the fresh scent of shampoo and shower gel on him—a youthful fragrance that brought back memories.

Lu Yao sighed. “I should have worn some cologne, but I don’t have any.”

Sister Wang smiled gently. “No need. This is perfect now!”

She loved that youthful aura.

With that, she flicked away her cigarette and said, “Let’s find a place to sit and sober up.”

But Lu Yao replied, “No need, right?”

Sister Wang turned around, tilting her head in confusion. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take care of me?”

Lu Yao met her gaze and shot straight. “Yeah.”

“So—are we going to your place, mine, or a hotel?”

Huh?

Sister Wang froze for a moment. What was this kid up to tonight? His bold moves kept catching her off guard.

She settled back against the car hood and teased, “Whoa~ you’ve gotten naughty. What do you take me for?”

Lu Yao leaned in, towering over her. “So you don’t want to then?”

He stepped back and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Sister Wang’s cool hand grabbed his arm.

Lu Yao turned to see a smile on her face, tinged with defiance and a hint of coquettishness. She raised an eyebrow challengingly, putting on the air of a battle-hardened woman.

“Junior, you really know how to read people!”

With that, she pulled Lu Yao into the car.

“Bang!”

The door shut.

Sister Wang told the driver up front, “Take us to the Ritz-Carlton.”