It turned out to be Chu Lulin’s birthday.
Jian Ran was shocked, and couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
For a sugar mommy like her, this was way too careless. No wonder Chu Lulin had been so hesitant on the phone at noon.
Jiang Ming looked at Jian Ran expectantly. He knew that if she didn’t agree, he wouldn’t be able to take Chu Lulin away.
But how could they celebrate a birthday without the birthday boy?
Jian Ran hesitated.
However, she knew that since Chu Lulin had clearly expressed his desire to be with her, even if she forced him to go, he wouldn’t be happy.
The birthday boy’s wish came first. She should let him have his way.
“Then I’ll be intruding on your party.”
Jiang Ming quickly waved his hand. “Not at all, not at all.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll just call you jie… like Lulin does—”
Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly felt a tightness around his neck. Turning his head, he met Chu Lulin’s cold gaze.
“…May I ask how I should address you?”
Jian Ran was taken aback, as if she hadn’t expected him to change tack so suddenly.
“Jian Ran.”
“Then can I call you Ran Jie?” Jiang Ming asked, instinctively glancing at Chu Lulin.
Jian Ran nodded. Seeing that Chu Lulin had no reaction, Jiang Ming silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Mission accomplished, Jiang Ming led Jian Ran and Chu Lulin to meet the rest of the group.
After brief greetings, the group headed to a barbecue restaurant near the school.
“The drunk crab there is excellent, Ran Jie! You have to try it,” Jiang Ming recommended enthusiastically.
Jian Ran smiled and nodded.
She knew of that place. It had been at the gate of A University for years, famous for its drunk crab, but she’d never had the chance to try it.
“Sounds good. I’ll eat plenty.”
Hearing that, Chu Lulin gave her a meaningful look but didn’t say anything.
Jian Ran somehow understood everything from his eyes. Flustered and annoyed, she glared at him. “Drunk crab can’t get you drunk!”
But then, recalling something she’d read somewhere about the high alcohol content of drunk crab, she felt a twinge of guilt.
The barbecue place had private rooms. They had booked a large room online beforehand. Including Jian Ran, there were about ten people, so it was quite spacious.
These were all from Chu Lulin’s lab, including fellow graduate students and senior lab mates.
Except for Chu Lulin, they were only a year or two older or younger than Jian Ran, so there was little generation gap. One senior PhD student was even a few months older than her.
Perhaps because they were science students, they were straightforward and didn’t beat around the bush. When they heard that Jian Ran was his sister’s bestie, they tactfully didn’t pry further.
Jian Ran silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Since she had lied about her identity, her biggest fear was having to use a thousand lies to cover one. This was the best outcome.
Everyone chatted, ate, and drank, the atmosphere lively.
Some guys nearby suddenly got into an argument over lab data, with others gradually joining in.
When the discussion got heated, they spontaneously moved to the doorway, crouching down and gesturing at the floor.
Chu Lulin sat next to Jian Ran, and they were talking, but suddenly a guy waved at them.
“Lulin, come take a look at this.”
Chu Lulin didn’t want to leave Jian Ran alone. Just as he was about to decline, Jian Ran nudged him.
“Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
“Junior Chu, just go. Otherwise, they’ll argue forever. Don’t worry, I’ll keep her company,” said a female student sitting on Jian Ran’s other side. Her name was Zheng Hui, and Jiang Ming called her Senior Zheng.
Zheng Hui was the only other girl there besides Jian Ran.
After Chu Lulin left, Zheng Hui pulled her chair closer to Jian Ran and started chatting with her.
Jian Ran could tell that Zheng Hui wasn’t very talkative, but she probably worried that Jian Ran would feel awkward alone, so she forced herself to find topics.
Jian Ran found her endearing and cooperated, picking up the conversation.
Strangely, the more they talked, the more they hit it off. In the end, they even exchanged WeChat.
Towards the end of the meal, Jian Ran seized an opportunity to slip out under the pretense of going to the restroom and secretly paid the bill.
Hehe—a sugar mommy should act like one.
Paying the bill was basic.
Besides, setting aside her relationship with Chu Lulin, as a working adult dining with a bunch of students, she should have the awareness to treat them.
Jian Ran happily paid, recalling a video she’d seen online about a college guy celebrating his birthday, and his sugar mommy secretly showing up to pick up the tab, leaving him in tears. She couldn’t help but laugh.