Cao Rui arrived early at the agreed spot, only to find his girlfriend, Jiang Xin, hadn't shown up yet. He inwardly grumbled about how slow Jiang Xin was; she didn't even realize what a great opportunity this was to arrive ahead of time. Since his girlfriend wasn't there, Cao Rui felt his waiting might seem a bit too deliberate, so he wandered off to a secluded corner to wait.

Wang Qiqi had initially assumed Jiang Xin would meet up with Cao Rui first. She hadn't expected Jiang Xin to join up with her and the others—Shi Man and Zhu Lina—which struck Wang Qiqi as odd. But since that was the plan, Wang Qiqi certainly couldn't voice any objection.

Zhu Lina and Shi Man were momentarily surprised to see Jiang Xin, but they quickly apologized. "Xin Xin, we are truly sorry. There was a lecture in the French department yesterday, so I didn't make it. But Xin Xin, you really should have let us know in advance," Shi Man said, first apologizing and then gently chiding Jiang Xin for not giving them prior notice, which left everyone unprepared.

Zhu Lina apologized directly, explaining that her internship unit was busy, making it impossible to get leave. "Today, the four of us are treating you all as an apology—you are absolutely not allowed to fight us for the bill."

Jiang Xin shook her head. Cao Rui had repeatedly told her on the phone that they absolutely could not let the guests pay. Moreover, having eaten so many good meals courtesy of Qiqi and the others, Jiang Xin felt too awkward letting Na Na and the others foot the bill. "This meal, we insist on treating."

Zhu Lina, seeing someone so determined to pay, exchanged a look with Shi Man, deciding that they would rely on Shi Man's "skills" later. Regardless, even if they didn't cover the entire cost, they needed to handle the lion's share.

Cao Rui waited for what felt like an eternity, even pulling out his pager N times. He worried whether the gathering had been canceled or if something urgent had happened. In any case, Cao Rui silently cursed Jiang Xin for still not showing up. He resolved that next time, he absolutely had to instill a sense of punctuality in her; if she remained so lackadaisical about time, he would eventually dump her—it was simply too much.

Amidst Cao Rui’s anxious apprehension, Jiang Xin’s shadow finally appeared. Just as he was about to step forward, he noticed three other people walking beside her, laughing and chatting animatedly.

Seeing the quartet like that, Cao Rui stroked his chin repeatedly. "I knew they were close, but it’s a shame there’s a pauper among them. It would be so much better if they all came from affluent backgrounds, ideally if their families all owned companies." Nevertheless, even with this reservation, Cao Rui felt quite satisfied, as long as he knew his girlfriend maintained a good relationship with Zhu Lina. "This makes my heavy investment worthwhile. Although Jiang Xin is quite nice and gentle, to Cao Rui, once he achieves fame and success, what kind of girl couldn't he have?"

The more Cao Rui indulged in his pleasant musings, the more he drifted out of the corner. However, the man lost in his daydream failed to conceal the calculating look in his eyes, which immediately fell into the gaze of Zhu Lina and Shi Man. Though he quickly regained his composure, that single moment of lapse allowed Zhu Lina and the others to see it.

Zhu Lina noticed someone staring at her and followed the direction of the gaze. Seeing a man who looked presentable but harbored a look that made her deeply uncomfortable, Zhu Lina wondered who he was and what his problem was; that look was genuinely terrifying.

Shi Man felt much the same way, finding the man utterly distasteful. Was he so desperate for women that he could stare so brazenly?

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Cao Rui could be so foolish, looking like an utter lecher. Did he think standing in a relatively obscure spot meant he could stare without consequence? Still, watching him, she figured he must be indulging in some grand fantasy. Let him dream of getting rich.

Jiang Xin was excitedly recounting how wonderful her boyfriend was, while Zhu Lina and the others exchanged knowing glances, thinking Jiang Xin’s taste was truly lacking.

Jiang Xin paused mid-sentence, ready to take a breath before continuing, when she saw her boyfriend smiling broadly at her.

With a gasp, Jiang Xin sped up her pace toward him. Shi Man and Zhu Lina both let out long sighs of relief—they finally wouldn't have to listen to someone gloating about her happiness anymore. "Did you guys notice that pervert staring at us just now?"

Zhu Lina was about to reply when she saw Jiang Xin running right up to that man. She froze, speechless. Three seconds later, she turned to Wang Qiqi. "Don't tell me that man is Cao Rui, is he?" His character was certainly dubious, brimming with calculation; he truly thought he was something special.

Wang Qiqi pursed her lips and nodded. "Now I'm a hundred percent certain that his target is Zhu Lina."

Shi Man looked at Zhu Lina with immense amusement, gloating slightly. "Nana, congratulations on your newfound romance. Too bad it’s a rotten one."

Zhu Lina scoffed at such a connection. "I'd rather marry a man chosen by my family than pick someone like him." Though she spoke harshly, the smile on her face was dazzling. Having grown up attending social functions with her parents, Zhu Lina never displayed a forced or insincere smile; it was always genuinely bright.

Shi Man was the quintessential ice queen; she didn't need to adjust her expression. Wang Qiqi simply couldn't be bothered with such superficial pleasantries, especially since Cao Rui wasn't aiming for her. However, Wang Qiqi felt sorry for Jiang Xin, who was unknowingly serving as a doormat for such a man while happily leading a white-faced wolf back to her.

Shi Man suddenly muttered under her breath, "I truly can’t see what’s so great about that dummy that she favors him." To her, the other 'dummy' was clearly superior; the sheer calculation in this man’s eyes dragged his overall rating down immediately.

"Love is blind," Wang Qiqi giggled, covering her mouth. That was exactly it; otherwise, why would someone choose such a twisted piece of junk? But then again, perhaps Jiang Xin missing out on the 'dummy' was actually the dummy's good fortune.

"Qiqi, what are you laughing at?" When Cao Rui saw Wang Qiqi covering her mouth to laugh, he felt instantly blinded by the sight. Wang Qiqi didn't stop laughing. "I told Nana and the others yesterday that Jiang Xin has turned into such a proper lady, but they wouldn't believe me. Now they do."

Zhu Lina and Shi Man nodded from the side, shooting meaningful, sly smiles at Jiang Xin, making her feel there was hidden meaning in their words. However, she assumed Wang Qiqi and the others were teasing her about her earlier clumsy moment. "Do you call yourselves friends? I’ve always been a lady; wasn't I a lady before?"

Shi Man nodded, and Wang Qiqi nodded too. Zhu Lina studied Jiang Xin for a moment. "If we disregard your behavior at the dinner table, you are indeed quite ladylike. It's a pity you are terrifying at the dinner table; your combat strength is incredible."

"Exactly! The way she darts for food when it’s served is so fast," Shi Man chimed in with her complaint.

Cao Rui watched the four women playfully bickering about how terrible they were during meals, thinking about how close they must be to roast each other like that. While it felt slightly embarrassing, such banter must stem from deep affection.

After waiting a bit longer, Cao Rui said, "Let’s go inside to eat; if we delay any longer, the people around us will start staring." He was genuinely happy that their relationship was so strong. No rush, he could take his time. As soon as they entered the dining hall, Zhu Lina shot a meaningful glance at Shi Man, who nodded vaguely in response. "I'm going to use the restroom first."

Wang Qiqi immediately linked arms with Jiang Xin, while Zhu Lina turned to Cao Rui, who had edged closer to her. "Um, Cao Rui, right? Once again, I apologize for yesterday. Shi Man and I had an unexpected commitment and couldn't make it." Regardless, an apology was necessary, especially to buy Shi Man more time for her plan.

Cao Rui initially suspected there was something odd about Shi Man’s sudden departure; he remembered the direction she headed didn't seem right for a restroom. But before he could process it, Wang Qiqi had pulled him away. When his target addressed him, how could Cao Rui ignore her? "It's nothing, nothing at all. Truthfully, I share some of the blame. I just felt that after keeping it hidden for so long, I couldn't delay any further, but I forgot to check if you all had the time."

"Cao Rui, when exactly did you meet my Xin Xin? If we hadn't noticed something was off with her a few days ago, were you planning to keep hiding it forever?" Now that the apology was accepted, Zhu Lina transitioned to asking the crucial question, even though Jiang Xin had already provided some background; she still wanted the man's version.

Jiang Xin was about to speak, but Wang Qiqi instantly covered her mouth. "That's what you said. We want to know how Cao Rui met you."

Cao Rui paused briefly to consider the question. "Actually, I saw all of you in the library before. But Jiang Xin left too deep an impression on me. After that, I spent a long time inquiring until I finally learned who Xin Xin was, but I couldn't find an opportunity to..." The rest of his account largely mirrored what Jiang Xin and Wang Qiqi had already said.

Zhu Lina didn't pretend to be interested in the veracity of Cao Rui’s story. "It seems your connection is truly wonderful. Treat Xin Xin well from now on, okay?"

"Yes, or we won't let you off the hook," Wang Qiqi emphasized sternly.

Cao Rui took Zhu Lina's advice to heart. As for Wang Qiqi’s threat, Cao Rui thought, You can’t even manage yourself, and you think you can look out for others? Still, he smiled and agreed, but that flicker of impatience and disdain was spotted and noted by Zhu Lina, who was watching him intently from the side.

Worried that Zhu Lina and the others might not be able to hold Cao Rui back for long, Shi Man rushed to a frequently used food stall and ordered a massive amount of dishes. "Excuse me, could you help me carry this to a table?" Carrying this much food herself was impossible.

"Certainly." The owner, seeing Shi Man ordering so many dishes alone, readily agreed and directed a busboy to carry the food to an empty table.

After waiting quite a while for Shi Man to return, Wang Qiqi complained irritably, "That Man Man is really something; washing her hands takes forever."

Zhu Lina chimed in agreement. "We’ll have to lecture her later; she has zero sense of group spirit."

After they had lamented Shi Man’s absence for a while, Shi Man came running back, panting. "Hurry up and eat; I already ordered and arranged for the food to be brought over." She had asked the delivery boy to watch the food for a moment while she dashed back.

It was then that Cao Rui understood—Wang Qiqi and the others had stayed behind specifically to detain him. But it was too late for regrets; the food was already paid for. He could only look forward to treating them next time, realizing this was yet another opportunity for closer contact.