Everyone got off the bus, dragged their luggage, and went to the front desk to check in.
The rooms were arranged in advance. Naturally, couples stayed together, but Jian Ran barely qualified as Chu Lulin's 'relative,' so she was assigned to share a suite with the single Zheng Hui.
Inside the room, Jian Ran was organizing her things while Zheng Hui took a look around and then went to check out the courtyard.
Some room types in the resort had a 'front room, back hot spring' layout, with private pools. The suite they were staying in happened to have one.
'This place is really nice. Our advisor must have splurged again this time,' Zheng Hui said casually, arriving at the door of Jian Ran's room.
Jian Ran smiled, thinking to herself that indeed, it was quite generous.
Apparently, all expenses for this trip were not from the lab project funds but paid out of their advisor's own pocket.
A resort of this level, five days and four nights, including meals, accommodation, and activities, and guests allowed—it was truly a lavish gesture.
However, professors at A University were indeed well-off, especially top advisors in popular STEM fields at key institutions. A single patent could grant them financial freedom.
Zheng Hui had a good impression of Jian Ran from the birthday dinner. After adding each other on WeChat, they hit it off even more when Zheng Hui saw photos of Hulu on Jian Ran's Moments.
'What a coincidence! I never expected you to be the one who adopted that little white cat,' Zheng Hui said.
Jian Ran hadn't expected to be the senior sister Chu Lulin had mentioned either. With Hulu as a common topic, they opened up quickly.
Zheng Hui was a dedicated cat lover, and Jian Ran was simply biased toward her own pet. Their conversation flowed smoothly, and eventually shifted to embroidery.
'If you hadn't told me, I would never have guessed you did this for a living,' Zheng Hui said.
Jian Ran smiled. 'What, I don't look the part?'
Zheng Hui adjusted her glasses and nodded honestly. 'You don't have the temperament.'
In her mind, people working with intangible cultural heritage like embroidery fit a classical dancer's vibe—gentle, serene, and poised.
Jian Ran wasn't surprised. 'Oh? Then what category do I fall into?'
Zheng Hui thought for a moment and replied seriously, 'The kind that topples kingdoms and ruins states.'
Jian Ran paused, then laughed awkwardly.
So she was still the vicious supporting female character.
'…I'll take that as a compliment.'
'Of course, it's a compliment,' Zheng Hui said matter-of-factly. 'Don't misunderstand—it's not derogatory. It's the highest praise for beauty.'
A beauty that topples kingdoms and ruins states—wasn't that the peak?
Among all the people she had known since childhood, only a handful could qualify.
'By the way, Junior Chu belongs to that category too.'
Jian Ran was amused.
Her beauty was striking, and when she laughed, her features lit up as if all the light gathered on her face.
Zheng Hui was captivated. For a moment, she almost understood King You of Zhou, who went to great lengths to make his concubine smile.
But one thing piqued her curiosity. 'What was your first impression of Junior Chu?'
Jian Ran blinked, a little surprised by the question.
Zheng Hui scratched her head, embarrassed. 'Actually, it's nothing. I saw online that people who are good-looking don't care much about others' appearances. I'm not sure if it's true.'
Jian Ran had heard that idea before. She couldn't speak for others, but she was probably an exception.
'Tail, handsome, and… well-behaved.'
Zheng Hui paused, looking at Jian Ran in surprise.
Tail and handsome were indisputable—everyone could see that.
But 'well-behaved'? She had never associated that word with Junior Chu.
Not even once.
Not just her, Zheng Hui was certain that everyone she knew who knew Chu Lulin—including their advisor and his wife—would never describe him as well-behaved.
After all, he was the famous aloof campus heartthrob at their school.
'What's wrong? Something off?' Jian Ran noticed her expression.
Zheng Hui shook her head.
She couldn't name it, but it felt terribly mismatched.
Soon it was lunchtime. When Chu Lulin texted Jian Ran, she and Zheng Hui had just finished getting ready and were about to head out.
They met in the lobby.
From a distance, Zheng Hui adjusted her glasses and scrutinized Chu Lulin from head to toe, several times.
Yet she couldn't find a single trace of 'well-behaved.'
Chu Lulin looked confused under her gaze.
'Senior sister, why are you staring at Lulin? Does he have a flower on his face?' Jiang Ming teased.
Zheng Hui rolled her eyes. 'His face doesn't have a flower, but he's as pretty as one—can't I say that?'