Sometimes he seemed like the obedient, well-behaved boy next door, and other times he invited all kinds of fantasies.
Like now—even though he wasn't doing anything, just standing there, he oddly felt charged with sensuality.
Jian Ran sighed inwardly. It probably had a lot to do with her current state of mind.
Indeed, once the floodgates were opened, certain thoughts would spiral out of control.
"Don't forget to ask how much this suit costs when you get back. I'll pay for it," she said, pointing at his clothes.
It was surprising she could still think of that at such a moment.
Chu Lulin paused, looked down at his clothes, and seemed to suddenly understand something.
He looked at Jian Ran in surprise, confirming the answer on her face.
So that was it.
"Big Sister doesn't need to pay." Chu Lulin's expression was subtle. He weighed the jacket in his hand, implying, "This suit isn't new anyway. I'll have it dry-cleaned and return it."
Not new?
Jian Ran was dumbfounded. So even the rich woman was so stingy?
She made him wear someone else's clothes!!
No wonder he said he wouldn't be the other man—that sister already had someone at home.
Jian Ran was very protective of her own. Since Chu Lulin had agreed to be with her, he was now her person. She was always generous with her people.
"Then give it back to her. Next time, I'll buy you a new one." She waved her hand grandly, extremely generous.
She even emphasized the word 'new,' showing an 'Don't worry, sister has money' attitude.
Chu Lulin's eyes curved slightly, a smile darkening as the gloom in his dark eyes gradually dissolved. "Okay."
Jian Ran hadn't parked at A University's main gate but on a side street beside it. At this hour, a few pedestrians passed by.
Seeing Chu Lulin standing by the car door, looking like he wanted to say something, she asked, "Something else?"
Chu Lulin nodded and looked at her for a few seconds before hesitantly speaking. "Can I ask why?"
Jian Ran was taken aback.
She knew what he meant—why had she refused him in the afternoon but called him out tonight, pulling him away from that other sister?
Compassion? Pity?
Not at all.
As for her initial high-minded reason of 'not wanting him to go astray,' she couldn't say that with a straight face now.
So going with others was going astray, but going with her wasn't?!
Jian Ran sighed. "What else could it be? I... was seduced by your looks and coveted your beauty."
Although she didn't want to admit it, it was the most reasonable explanation for her unusual behavior tonight.
Chu Lulin froze, a flash of obvious surprise crossing his face.
What kind of expression was that?
Jian Ran raised an eyebrow, a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone. "What, you think I'm shallow?"
"No," Chu Lulin said, the corners of his eyes curving slightly, his voice low and suggestive, "I'm just glad that this appearance can catch Big Sister's eye."
*
On the early autumn night, the day's heat had faded, and a chill crept into the air.
Chu Lulin stood on the roadside, watching Jian Ran's taillights merge into traffic, gradually shrinking into a blurry red dot.
Until it disappeared from sight.
He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he walked into a nearby 24-hour convenience store, bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, and returned to the roadside.
He pulled out a cigarette, put it between his lips, bent his head, and cupped his hands to shield the flame. Smoke curled from between his lips.
After lowering his head for a while, Chu Lulin let out a helpless, low laugh.
The ember at the tip of the cigarette trembled faintly in the night, flickering on and off.
Like his own fluctuating emotions.
Soon, the cigarette was finished. Chu Lulin didn't light another. He stubbed out the butt with his fingers and tossed it into a nearby trash can.
The wind had picked up at some point, and the sky looked like it might rain. The greenery and trees in the median swayed.
Near A University was a sizable commercial street. Quite a few students were heading back, in groups, chatting and laughing.
Chu Lulin stood there in that outfit, head slightly lowered, absentmindedly toying with the lighter. He looked like a painting come to life.
Passersby kept stealing glances.
Too eye-catching.
Many girls clutched their phones, looking eager to approach, but his overwhelmingly superior looks and aura created a sense of unapproachable distance, so no one dared for a long time.
Finally, a cute girl with short hair, urged on by her friends, gathered her courage and walked up.
But just as she was about ten meters away, Chu Lulin suddenly looked up.
If Jiang Ming had been there, he would have lamented the missed opportunity.
Usually, when faced with such approaches, Chu Lulin would avoid it the moment he noticed someone approaching, never giving them a chance to speak.
But this time, contrary to his usual behavior, Chu Lulin didn't walk away to avoid trouble. Instead, after noticing the girl's actions, he simply stood there.
His eyes even held a flicker of encouragement and... anticipation.
The girl seemed to draw strength from that and became even more determined. She walked straight up.
"Excuse me, could I add you on WeChat?"
Chu Lulin heard this and a faint smile tugged at his lips, rare and gentle. "Sorry, someone's very strict and won't allow it."
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Author's note: The girl: ...Excuse me?!