Everyone understood. No wonder.
"He looks young. He must still be in school."
"Yes, he'll be twenty next month. Still a student."
"Which school?"
This was exactly what Lu Lan wanted to be asked. Her nephew had never lost in academics.
"A University," she said proudly. "He's starting his second year of graduate school."
They were visibly surprised. Under twenty and already in the second year of his master's at A University—he was clearly exceptional.
"Wow, a top student from A University! And so young—he has a bright future ahead."
"Yes, high education, high IQ, and such good looks. Manager Lu, your nephew is quite something."
"Indeed—Manager Lu's nephew is outstanding..."
The flattery, half-genuine, satisfied Lu Lan's vanity. The atmosphere in the room warmed.
Chu Lulin seemed used to this. After greeting them, he didn't participate further. When the conversation turned to business, he found a corner and sat alone.
Lu Lan glanced at him several times. She knew she wanted him to socialize, but he wasn't interested and ignored her.
Chu Lulin was in a terrible mood, his mind full of Jian Ran's rejection.
He had carefully thought about that message, choosing every word, deleting and editing, considering every aspect.
He deliberately didn't set a specific time and used the handkerchief as an excuse to make it less obvious. He had even waited nearly a week after returning to Jing City before contacting her.
But she still refused—and even told him to throw away the handkerchief.
Was that her way of saying she didn't want to see him again?
Chu Lulin didn't know, but he didn't dare to ask. He was afraid of the answer he didn't want, which would close off all possibilities.
That was what he couldn't accept.
Unable to figure out what went wrong, frustration rose within him. Was it because of that night's accident?
He had been regretting it all these days. Maybe he shouldn't have gone to her room under the pretext of being injured—then the accident wouldn't have happened.
He had rushed things. He shouldn't have crossed the line.
He already knew how strong her boundaries were with the opposite sex.
Thinking about it, Chu Lulin's eyes darkened, and an icy aura emanated from him, warning people to keep their distance.
A man who was talking to Lu Lan happened to glance at Chu Lulin, his pupils contracting almost imperceptibly.
To a seasoned businessman, a person's aura was not an abstract quality but a tangible manifestation of their overall strength—which, besides family background, was most importantly their capability and strategic control.
"Manager Lu, your nephew is no ordinary kid. Such a strong presence at his age."
Lu Lan followed his gaze but wasn't surprised—she was used to it.
After all, she knew Chu Lulin best.
"You flatter me, Mr. Xu. He's just a kid trying to act tough," she said modestly, but then couldn't help bragging. "But he has been mature since childhood. That's obvious to everyone."
Just as she finished speaking, she saw her 'mature' nephew suddenly stand up after checking his phone, bumping the coffee table so hard it wobbled.
[I'm in the parking lot downstairs. Come down and meet me.]
Chu Lulin stared at the message from Jian Ran, almost unable to believe it.
He didn't even have time to wonder how she knew he was here; the only thought in his mind was that she wasn't avoiding him anymore.
"Where are you going?"
Lu Lan blocked him at the door.
"Out," he said, not wanting to waste time explaining. "To the restroom."
Lu Lan looked skeptical. "Don't you dare sneak away, or I'll never let you hear the end of it."
Chu Lulin nodded hastily and hurried out of the room.
---
In the parking lot across from the club, Jian Ran sat in her car, staring silently at the club entrance.
After hanging up with Jiang Man, she had gone back to the bar but couldn't calm down, so she cut her gathering with He Ailin short.
But after getting into her car, she hesitated to leave.
It was only then that she realized what was bothering her.
If Chu Lulin, a poor student, had a family member who could afford a Maybach, would he still need to travel so far for a summer job while busy with school?
So it was probably just as Jiang Man said. Chu Lulin might be like Xu Zhi, and since she had turned him down earlier, he had found a new target.
And that woman was his new target?!
Jian Ran frowned, thinking for a moment, then picked up her phone from the center console and sent a message.
Soon she saw Chu Lulin hurrying out of the club, heading straight for the parking lot. But once there, faced with a sea of cars, he seemed lost.