A few buildings!
Everyone couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. The concept of owning several buildings in a first-tier city was far beyond just being a landlady. It was practically the stuff of a billionaire heiress.
"Impossible!" Xie Tong's eyes flashed with contempt. "Jian Ran, even if you're bragging, at least have some common sense. Don't take us all for fools."
She thought she knew Jian Ran's background well enough—a native of Jing City, maternal grandparents who were retired professors at A University, her mother deceased, and her father's situation unclear. At best, it was an educated family, but definitely not wealthy or noble. Otherwise, with the way Jian Ran had flaunted herself while chasing Zhou Yu, if she had such a background, she would have announced it to the world long ago. How could she have kept it hidden for so many years?
The others quickly came to their senses, leaning towards Xie Tong's view.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of Jian Ran's lips, but she didn't rush to refute.
Yet this nonchalant attitude only made Xie Tong more uneasy.
"Words are cheap. How can you prove it?"
Jian Ran shrugged. "Why should I prove anything? You're the one who made the claim; the burden of proof is on you. As a law graduate, do I need to teach you that?"
But Xie Tong wasn't fazed. "Fine, just authorize me to investigate your personal assets, and I'll help you prove it clearly."
Jian Ran laughed. She really didn't understand why Xie Tong was so fixated on her. Even after she broke up with Zhou Yu, Xie Tong still kept after her. Anyone would think Xie Tong was the one who liked her.
"And if I don't?"
"Then it means you're lying!"
The two faced off, the stalemate unbroken.
Suddenly, a male voice interjected from the side. "Miss Jian, it really is you. I thought I spotted you from a distance and decided to come say hello."
Jian Ran turned to see the club's manager, Li Li, and nodded. "Manager Li."
Li Li stepped forward warmly, smiling. "When did you arrive? Why didn't you let me know in advance? I could have saved you a big private room."
Jian Ran gave a faint smile. "No, a friend called me over."
Li Li glanced at the crowd and said, "Oh," clearly misinterpreting the situation. "These are all your friends? This room? I'll give you a discount today—my highest authority, 30% off."
The others exchanged glances, their surprise evident. This upscale club was one of the most renowned in Jing City. It was notoriously expensive, and more importantly, private rooms were often impossible to book. Yet Manager Li was offering a large room and a discount with such eagerness—it was suspicious, making people think.
"No need. We're not that close," Jian Ran said flatly, rejecting the offer.
The group looked disconcerted. The atmosphere stiffened; no one expected her to suddenly burn bridges. Finally, someone tried to smooth things over.
Someone discreetly asked about the relationship between Jian Ran and Manager Li.
Jian Ran cast a cool glance at the speaker and replied nonchalantly, "Nothing special. Just landlord and tenant."
Now that she no longer cared about appearances, she deliberately refused to let them gloss over the previous incident.
Manager Li, a shrewd man, quickly caught the undercurrents. He was happy to back Jian Ran up and add fuel to the fire. "That's right. It's not just us—the entire street of shops depends on Miss Jian's business."
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. A whole entertainment street in the golden district of Jing City—the impact was no less than owning several buildings. Those who had just doubted Jian Ran's boasts were now hit with an unexpected slap in the face.
Manager Li, satisfied with the effect, exchanged a few pleasantries with Jian Ran and then withdrew. To be honest, he genuinely liked Jian Ran as a landlord—she caused little trouble, was easygoing, and never raised prices deliberately. It was worth maintaining a good relationship.
Jian Ran had no reason to stay. But as she turned to leave, someone behind her muttered under their breath, "Showing off wealth." She stopped in her tracks.
Her expression grew colder. Scanning the crowd, she said, "I think you're right about one thing."
"If you can't fit into a circle, there's really no need to force it."
Everyone froze. These were the words they had used to mock her privately, thinking she was pathetic for trying so hard to infiltrate their group to chase Zhou Yu. Now that the hypocritical facade was torn away, many faces showed embarrassment.
Jian Ran gave a soft laugh, her demeanor proud. "See, even when I condescend to fit in with you, you only think I'm showing off."
*
When Jian Ran returned to the private room, she met Chu Lulin at the door. He had been about to go look for her, worried by her long absence. Noticing her obvious change in mood, he asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Jian Ran paused and shook her head. "I'm fine."
Chu Lulin frowned. Her appearance said otherwise—she looked gloomy, as if a dark cloud hung over her head.
"Did something happen?" he probed.
Jian Ran hadn't expected Chu Lulin to be so perceptive. A strange emotion welled up in her. She didn't know why she felt this way; she hadn't lost face or the argument, and she had even regained the upper hand. But she still couldn't be happy. Maybe it was because she suddenly realized something.
When she first started chasing Zhou Yu, trying to fit into his alumni circle had been purposeful. But she was only human; over the years of interaction, she had invested genuine feelings. Yet she eventually found that no matter what she did, those people looked down on her. So she stopped forcing it and settled for maintaining superficial relations. She had always thought it wasn't about right or wrong—just a clash of vibes. Like in high school, there was a natural barrier between the top students and the slackers. The former thought the latter were useless, and the latter thought the former were just nerds who only studied. They didn't click, and it wasn't a matter of ostracism.
But today, Jian Ran suddenly realized it wasn't quite that. Their attitude towards her largely depended on Zhou Yu's attitude towards her. As a common saying online goes, your boyfriend's attitude sets the tone and behavior template for how his friends treat you.
Once she understood this, Jian Ran felt a heavy lump in her chest, suffocating her. People are strange: when you bear great grievances alone, you can handle it, but the moment someone shows a little concern, all your carefully maintained composure can crumble.
"Really, nothing happened. What could happen?" Jian Ran forced a smile, pretending to be fine. But she didn't know her smile was uglier than crying.
Chu Lulin looked at her silently, worry evident in his eyes.
Jian Ran bit her lip and instinctively averted her gaze. Under Chu Lulin's concerned stare, the grievance in her heart threatened to overflow.
"My head's a bit dizzy. Can I have a hug?" Jian Ran surrendered. Not to Chu Lulin's persistence, but to her innermost desire at this moment. His shoulders looked so reliable that she couldn't help wanting to lean on them.
Chu Lulin let out a silent sigh and opened his arms, pulling her into an embrace. He held her tightly.
In that moment, Jian Ran felt as if everything around her had been paused. The world suddenly went quiet.
Her mind began to replay chaotic fragments of the past. She suddenly understood a little why her mother had been so obsessed with whether she had been loved in the years after the divorce. It wasn't that she couldn't let go of her father; what bothered her the most was that her sincere feelings had been belittled. Just like Jian Ran now.
That feeling could truly trap and crush a person. And she wasn't much stronger than her mother. That realization made it even harder for Jian Ran to accept.
As she wallowed in that painful struggle, a gentle pat came on her back.
It was Chu Lulin, softly patting her back, silently soothing her emotions. Jian Ran calmed down; the overwhelming emotions that had threatened to drown her began to subside.
They stood like that for who knows how long. She closed her eyes, the clean, crisp scent of Chu Lulin enveloping her, a faint mix of mint and pine, making her relax. His shoulders were broad; her forehead rested against his chest, and she could clearly hear the steady, strong heartbeat. It gave her an inexplicable sense of security.
It was still different. Jian Ran suddenly felt a sense of release. Unknowingly, she had already moved on. She was keeping a college boy now. Just like at this moment, when she was sad and hurt, she could at least seek comfort in her college boy's arms. That was the biggest difference.
At this moment, Jian Ran suddenly felt an urge to work hard and make big money, so she could keep Chu Lulin forever. But she quickly regained her senses and forcibly suppressed that dangerous thought. No, no, once a decision is made, it shouldn't be changed easily. For a relationship like theirs that can't even admit to AI, it's best to know when to stop. Don't get addicted. It's better for both her and Chu Lulin.
She didn't expect to be healed so quickly, but she still couldn't help feeling that the money was well spent. She felt like giving Chu Lulin a raise. But since she hadn't even paid his salary yet, a raise seemed pointless. How about a bonus? Jian Ran had an idea and made a happy decision. She already had a vague notion of what the bonus should be.
*
After her emotions settled and reason returned, Jian Ran suddenly realized something important: she had forgotten about Qin Siyan. Just as she was regretting that after days of keeping a tight lid, she had slipped at this critical moment, she looked around the room and didn't see that brat. From Chu Lulin, she learned that Qin Siyan had received an urgent call from a friend and left while she was at the restroom.
Jian Ran silently cursed the unreliable kid but also breathed a sigh of relief. Still, seeing the untouched drinks and fruit platter on the table, she couldn't help feeling a pang of regret—it was all her money. Even though she was a wealthy woman, she couldn't stand waste. The alcohol she couldn't drink, and Chu Lulin had to drive, so he couldn't either, but the fruit platter could still be finished. So Jian Ran dragged Chu Lulin to eat the entire large fruit platter before leaving.
Chu Lulin had been quietly watching Jian Ran's mood, and seeing that she seemed truly fine, he relaxed. As for the reason, since Jian Ran didn't want to say, he wouldn't ask. Just being able to offer her a shoulder when she was upset had already been his greatest wish.
But when they reached the lobby of the first floor, Chu Lulin spotted a familiar figure at the entrance from afar, and he understood everything.