10. Confidence is the foundation of great beauty

"The bus is heading to Light Valley Square."

After answering Lu Jincheng's question, the two were forced into a period of silence.

The space on the bus was cramped, and Lu Jincheng could only grip the handrail with one hand while wrapping the other around Zhong Ruixi's shoulder.

In such close quarters, she only needed to look up to find herself eye to eye with Lu Jincheng.

Too close.

Way too close.

Why did they have to take the bus!

At this time on Nanhu Avenue, it was very hard to hail an empty taxi heading to Light Valley.

Zhong Ruixi didn't know how many times she had silently cursed the broken traffic in Jiang City in her mind.

Being physically beyond the bounds of social distance, Zhong Ruixi no longer had time to think about how Lu Jincheng had quietly held her hand just before...

Strictly speaking, it wasn't exactly holding hands... it was just the wrist.

Zhong Ruixi, speechless, clasped onto the handrail, keeping her body tense to avoid accidentally falling into the man's arms, slightly retracting her chin the whole time and leaving Lu Jincheng with a view of her high ponytail and pale neck.

Between the in-breaths and out-breaths through her nostrils, came the fragrance of the girl's shampoo.

The fresh scent of wild roses and clover.

"There's a seat now, go."

As they neared the terminal stop at Light Valley Square, passengers got off one after another, finally freeing up a seat.

Lu Jincheng stepped forward to claim it for Zhong Ruixi.

The setting sun was sliced into geometric shapes by the glass of the bus, and the surrounding space filled with the dim light of neon and car headlights. Zhong Ruixi sat by the window of the bus, and from her angle, it looked like the beautifully backlit scene from a movie.

The boy stood tall, with a prominent nose and a distinct Adam's apple, and the profile of his face was particularly good-looking.

She turned her head to look outside the window, trying to hide the blooming flush on her face with the night.

"Over here, here!"

At a certain Cantonese hotpot restaurant in Jiang City, two seats emptied at the six-person table in the middle of the hall.

Pan Xuan, facing south from her seat in the north, had sharp eyes. Even from a distance, she spotted Lu Jincheng and Zhong Ruixi who had just entered and immediately stood up to call them over.

The two of them arrived last and naturally sat side by side in the two remaining seats.

"What's going on, Lao Lu, I heard you're not doing well?"

Just as he sat down, Lu Jincheng was wrapped in an arm around his shoulder by Liu Zhe.

This guy was a genuine dark-skinned sports student; about 1.78 meters tall, he might look lean but was packed with explosive power. He had got along well with Lu Jincheng during high school and went on to specialize in sports in the second year, attending Jiangcheng Sports College.

"Your mama's not doing well."

Lu Jincheng laughed and slapped him back. Everyone present was an old classmate, and their banter did not hold back.

"And you still pretend! Someone even sent a message in advance, saying Lu Jincheng couldn't acclimate, not even participating in military training."

"Even told the restaurant staff to be careful, no spicy, raw, or cold foods. Anyone else would have thought you were having your period if they didn't know better."

The speaker, a chubby guy named Wu Zizhi, looked back and forth at Lu Jincheng and Zhong Ruixi who were sitting together, his words carrying a hint of sarcasm.

During high school, the most enthusiastic pursuers of Zhong Ruixi were boys from other classes.

Classmates who spent all day together generally understood what kind of person Zhong Ruixi was and knew about her firm stance against dating.

Studying was the main theme in high school, and any boy who was somewhat smart got it.

But what about in university?

Zhong Ruixi's scores were there for all to see; apart from Nanhu University, there were plenty of other schools in Jiang City.

Wu Zizhi felt that even the unattainable beauty on high should be ready to date by now.

It was just that the guy beside her was a bit of an eyesore.

"Did you send the message especially for Pan Xuan?"

Lu Jincheng ignored Wu Zizhi as if he was air and turned to ask softly.

"Yes."

Zhong Ruixi took the disposable chopsticks, carefully scraped them back and forth after breaking them apart, and nodded slightly.

Cantonese hot pot, also known as "Da Bin Lo."

Depending on the ingredients, it primarily focuses on light flavors, with a supplemental fragrance of sauces, and values the natural taste of the food.

The base of the pot is clear water with herbal medicine and congee water, and those who are confident enough in their ingredients even use just clear water as the base.

Had someone not suggested considering the patient's health, the kids from the north, who usually prefer heavier flavors, would rarely have compromised.

"Actually, I'm fine. There's no need to eat lightly on my account next time."

Lu Jincheng whispered close to the girl's ear.

"It's our first time meeting up in Jiang City, it's quite fateful, isn't it?"

"How about we have a drink?"

Everyone arrived, and the pot was bubbling with heat; Pan Xuan, using the communal chopsticks to add ingredients, suggested with a smile.

"There's no feast without wine, come on, let's have a drink!"

Among the six, the one who loved drinking most, Tan Huilin, immediately agreed.

"Sure thing."

When the female classmate initiates drinking to enhance the mood, naturally, the boys have no objections.

After graduating from high school, many people began to let loose like adults, starting to spread their wings.

Not only would they drink at dinner gatherings, but they would occasionally make a comment or two to boast about their maturity.

A case of the local specialty beer—Golden Dragon Spring was brought by the server to the table, and Wu Zizhi distributed two bottles to each person.

"Come, from high school to university, I'm truly happy to see you all, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

With the billowing steam as company, everyone laughed and downed a full glass.

What followed was a time for the classmates to reminisce and chat.

It was either asking how someone's school was or discussing which roommate was difficult to get along with.

Besides Lu Jincheng and Zhong Ruixi, the others all came from different universities.

"Let me tell you, our school has a super abundance of beauties!"

Pan Xuan, who studied at the Jiangcheng Music College, had specially done her makeup for the dinner with classmates today.

"From the school gate to the dorm, I'd be amazed all the way, my eyes wouldn't stop."

"Are the girls at the Music College that pretty?"

After two bottles of beer, Wu Zizhi, who had just left his high school days behind, was clearly a bit drunk.

"How do they compare to our school beauty?"

He pointed at Zhong Ruixi sitting across from him.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Zhong Ruixi waved her hand, even though no one disagreed, she never admitted to being the school beauty of Liao City First Middle School.

Pan Xuan smiled and said, "They're not the same type as Rui Rui."

"The school seniors and teachers I see on the way, they all look nice, but it's probably more about elaborate grooming and makeup."

"It's too forced, you know?"

Wu Zizhi responded with a perplexed look.

"Don't understand? Let me put it simply."

"Rui Rui here looks beautiful even bare-faced, but if she were to spend a couple of hours meticulously applying makeup, she would be a sensation at our school..."

"There's no hurt without contrast."

Pan Xuan shrugged her shoulders, filled with emotion.

No one wants to seem overly done in front of a true beauty.

Especially when that carefully drawn heavy nude makeup face that took over half an hour to apply pales in comparison to Zhong Ruixi, who has merely applied some sunscreen.

All the efforts made due to a lack of natural beauty really can be crushing.

That's why Pan Xuan, skilled in makeup artistry, only started to pick up 'Magic' again after graduation.

Nonchalance is a confidence only the truly beautiful can afford.