13. Ran Dong (3)_2

She actually blushed?

Damn, just holding hands briefly made her blush!?

In the subsequent rounds of the game, Guan Yongyi was clearly distracted.

Fortunately, she managed not to lose or win, and every time someone had to drink, it was Lu Jincheng. Their various comments allowed him to learn quite a bit more about the two sisters.

...

"It's past eleven, we have a class meeting tomorrow, shall we go back?"

Not until the bar's singer put away his guitar and finished his shift did Zhou Sinin, still seemingly enjoying the moment, remember to check the time on her wristwatch.

"Okay, it's time to head back."

Lu Jincheng was the first to stand up.

Today's drinking games had served as the perfect icebreaker, but dragging out the time wouldn't be good.

"Are you going to the exchange tomorrow?"

Mist Bar was very close to both schools, and it wouldn't take long for the three to walk back.

Zhou Sinin, a bit tipsy, seemed very happy. She untied her brown hair, which had been up all evening, and happily bounced along the empty street.

"I have to. I'm going to tackle stock index futures tomorrow."

"What's that?"

"Kids shouldn't get involved. I'll tell you how to buy in once I take off."

"Cut it out! Who cares!"

Zhou Sinin jogged a couple of steps to get ahead of them, then twisted around to walk by herself along the tree-lined path, under the bright moonlight that was enough to illuminate the road ahead.

"Did you know I would be the first to lose?"

Guan Yongyi, unlike her lively friend, wasn't as animated after drinking. She walked alongside Lu Jincheng with similar strides, moving forward shoulder to shoulder.

Her voice was not loud, just enough for Lu Jincheng to hear her clearly.

"I didn't know."

"???"

The girl beside him looked up in confusion, her eyes misty and shining brightly under the moonlight.

"I just think Mojito suits your cool and aloof aura. There are no undefeated generals in games; everyone loses at some point."

"What if I just don't lose?"

Guan Yongyi asked.

"Then I would suggest we switch to a deadlier game."

...

The early morning Nanhu Avenue was slightly cool, and under her skirt, her smooth legs could feel the breeze.

Guan Yongyi, wearing little, curled up slightly and hugged her arms to her chest. Still, she straightened up the moment she heard Lu Jincheng speak.

He...

She had to admit.

Though he was a jerk, he knew a lot and was quite articulate.

I'm definitely not swayed by him; I'm just an honest person.

Their shadows, one tall and one short, seemed to slow their pace unconsciously, falling behind the singing Zhou Sinin ahead.

"Speaking of which, do you know why I lost?"

"...Because I let her win?"

Lu Jincheng hesitated.

"No."

Guan Yongyi's pupils flickered under the streetlight.

"So what is it?"

"It's obvious, I lost on the last question."

The short-haired girl smoothed her temple hair, lowering her already quiet voice even further.

"She proactively asked for the boy's WeChat; I didn't."

The battle-hardened Lu Jincheng vaguely guessed what she was about to say next and cleverly kept silent.

"...Next time we play, I don't want to lose because of that."

Guan Yongyi turned her head, her jawline illuminated by the soft light falling from the tree leaves.

"Then scan mine."

In such a fleeting moment of opportunity, Lu Jincheng was not going to hesitate.

He took out his phone and straightforwardly added Guan Yongyi on WeChat.

Ding.

The short-haired girl, satisfied, quickened her steps and caught up with Zhou Sinin, hooked her friend's arm, and whispered something in her ear.

"Alright, we're heading back to school, bye~"

The girls, stepping over Lu Jincheng's long shadow, slowly made their way back to their own school.

At the entrance of Finance University in Jiang City, they waved goodbye to Lu Jincheng.

...

Back in his dormitory, Lu Jincheng was busy.

For someone who has left a social event, letting others know you're safe is basic courtesy.

The last one to return, he had to not only reply to Zhong Ruixi's private message but also take the initiative to send out information in the group chat they had just set up.

[I'm back at the dorm~ Have you guys arrived?]

Indeed, after Zhou Sinin returned to the dormitory, following her best friend's advice, she clicked the plus sign above and created a small group chat for the three of them.

Brother Lu, who suffered from OCD, couldn't help but rename the group chat.

[Ran Dong (3)]

[We've been back for a while, but why is the group called Ran Dong?]

[It's clearly summer right now.]

Zhou Sinin added a Psyduck question mark sticker.

[Don't you think it sounds nice?]

For a moment, Lu Jincheng didn't know how to explain.

Should he just say blatantly that for the three of us, living well is better than anything else?

[Cut it out, it's so non-mainstream.]

Guan Yongyi's online chatting style closely resembled her real-life demeanor, striking right at the heart with every word.

After a few disconnected exchanges in the group, it wasn't yet the rest time for university students; night owls were commonplace.

"Brother Lu, Brother Lu, are you getting ready to sleep?"

In the dormitory, Qiang Zhihao crept over rustlingly, handing Lu Jincheng a cigarette with a beaming smile.

"Not yet."

"How about that mixer with the girls from Class 2 dormitory, did you ask about it?"

Out of everyone in the dorm, Qiang Zhihao was the most eager.

Although Zhang Gaoqiang and Liu Yisheng were equally excited, at least they cared for their dignity and wouldn't keep asking.

This often was the difference in execution between the honest guys and those with real ability.

Persistent until the goal is reached, who cares about shame?

For the chance to contact top beauties, Qiang Zhihao was willing to shed his pride and dismiss any pretense of dignity.

If you don't initiate, you'll have nothing; but what if you succeed?

Over the years, his social skills and EQ would significantly increase, naturally raising his chances of charming girls.

In university, Lu Jincheng didn't understand this simple logic and could only watch enviously as people like Qiang Zhihao took the world by storm.

Of course, the thick-skinned approach of seeking quantity for a quality change was only slightly useful during university.

It's different in society.

The party scene isn't a palace drama; everything relies on real strength.

"I had a high school reunion today, and I did ask during dinner."

Lu Jincheng said with a smile, lowering his head to catch the light with a flick.

"She said she'll ask her roommates, shouldn't be a big problem."

"That's fantastic! I'll handle the event planning and everything!"

Qiang Zhihao clenched his fist, making a 'fight on' gesture.

"Our spy reports that one of her roommates, someone named Ya, is also quite attractive."

By the balcony, Liu Yisheng, who was sitting at the table clipping his nails, chimed in.

"I saw them going to the third canteen together for a meal, she is super exquisite in person!"

...

Two hours earlier, the girls from Class 2 of the Business Administration department, dormitory 203, were just as busy.

From the bathroom came the sound of running water; Xu Ya first washed her face with cold water to tighten her skin, applied a layer of essence to promote absorption, and then used steam from the hot water to open her pores.

Finally, she solemnly applied an expensive facial mask.

Wrapped in a bath towel, she emerged from the mist-filled bathroom, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

"You finally came out, just now Rui Rui messaged asking if we want to have dinner with the boys from Class 1!"

The girl on the top bunk by the door asked.

"Huh? She hasn't come back yet, did she go on a date?"

"Who are the guys from Class 1? Are there any handsome ones?"

Xu Ya squinted her eyes, trying not to let the essence drip into her eyes, and asked subconsciously.

"There should be, I mean, do you think Rui Rui would suggest this in our dorm if they were not of a certain quality?"

"Then I'm going."

"Me too!"

After the gossip ended, Xu Ya waved the facial mask in her hand and headed back into the bathroom.

Her commitment to beauty and grooming was so strong it was like that of a warrior.

No matter how late the military training went on, or how tired she was, she meticulously removed makeup, washed her face, and took care of her skin.

Even if she had to get up early for training, she would earnestly do her makeup, curl her hair, and put on her freshly ironed uniform, leaving the house looking spirited.

Zhong Ruixi once curiously asked, "Everyone looks more or less the same during military training, do you really have to?"

In her heart, Xu Ya thought, you don't understand, you're so good-looking, you don't get it.

But what she said was, "Well, what can I do, you never know when love will turn the corner, right?"

She clearly knew that true beauties didn't need the help of clothes and makeup, their body and face alone were radiant.

Because of being ordinary, she needed to be all the more exquisite.