Chapter 7: Shuyao is beautiful, Shuyao is radiant, and when Shuyao smiles, she resembles the moon.

"Miss, I'll go have lunch with my friends first, and come back later to pick up the clothes."

"Alright, no problem."

As they stepped out of the shop, Lin Ran said, "Commissars, I promised to treat you to lunch if you came along to advise me, so don't be shy. What would you like for lunch?"

"Hotpot! It's our first day knowing each other, we must celebrate with hotpot," Jiang Shuyao replied, lively and cheerful, clearly delighted to have made a new friend today.

Lin Ran nodded, "That makes perfect sense. There's a place called Jincheng Impressions Hotpot just ahead that’s pretty good. Let's go and feast!"

The little yellow flower in the story has been drifting since the year it was born ♪

Jian Wei'an's phone rang. She answered, "Lu Man, what's up?"

"Wei'an, I passed my interview! Where are you and Shuyao? Come on, I'll treat you both to dinner and karaoke, hahaha~"

"Maybe next time, I’m busy today. Promised a friend we’d go eat together."

"Is it a guy or a girl?"

"A guy."

"Are you dating?"

"Just a friend, you don't know him."

"My boyfriend already booked a private room. Bring your friend along, so everyone can get to know each other. I'll send you the address, hurry up. Hanging up now."

Before Jian Wei'an could refuse, Lu Man had already ended the call.

Lin Ran overheard and said, "You should go, then. I’ll keep this meal in mind and treat you next time."

"No need, we promised you hotpot together. I'll call Lu Man back and tell her we can't make it."

Jian Wei'an was about to dial back and refuse.

Jiang Shuyao, knowing Jian Wei'an's character—always true to her word, never breaking a promise—intervened. "Oh, don’t call her," she said, snatching the phone and hanging up.

"Lu Man just passed her internship; it’s something worth celebrating. We’re all just eating anyway, and she said to bring friends along. Lin Ran, you should come meet some new people. We’re all young; it’ll be easy to get acquainted."

Lin Ran realized that if he didn't go, the two girls would skip their friend's celebration and stay with him instead, which didn't feel right. Besides, meeting more people was a good thing—he was back in Shu, after all, and needed to rebuild his circle.

Only one transformation opportunity remained; he could save it for later, after lunch.

"Alright, let’s meet them. What kind of friends are they?"

Jiang Shuyao replied, "University classmates—just graduated and found jobs."

"Oh... What? You just graduated?"

Lin Ran was surprised and turned to Jian Wei'an. "Yesterday you said you came out of the Civil Affairs Bureau—I thought you got married already?"

Jian Wei'an: ...

Jiang Shuyao burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Wei'an works at the Civil Affairs Bureau, her uncle found her the job."

Lin Ran: "I see. Why not keep working there?"

Jian Wei'an: "I didn't dare to stay. I was assigned to the divorce section, seeing people come to split up every day for all sorts of reasons. If I kept at it, I'd probably develop a fear of marriage and never dare to wed."

So that's how it was.

She wasn’t an ex-wife but a freshly graduated university student.

Suspicion lifted.

But then—who was the ex-wife? Good heavens, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Still, Lin Ran was relieved Jian Wei'an wasn’t the ex-wife—a reason to celebrate!

Soon, Lu Man sent the dinner address: a music hotpot restaurant near Taikoo Li.

The three took the subway to the banquet.

As the subway doors opened, crowds surged in. Jiang Shuyao spotted a seat and plopped down, "Wei'an, come sit on my lap."

Jian Wei'an said, "No need, I’ll just stand."

Lin Ran asked, "Can I?"

Jiang Shuyao retorted, "Get lost!"

Lin Ran chuckled and stood beside Jian Wei'an in the corner.

As the train started and reached the next station, more people squeezed in, pushing Jian Wei'an.

Seeing this, Lin Ran pulled her in front of him, pressing her against the subway wall, his arms braced on either side of her head, shielding her.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Just then, someone pushed from behind, causing Lin Ran to lean forward and bump into her softly.

Jian Wei'an blushed with embarrassment.

Lin Ran quickly steadied himself, bracing his hands to avoid any more awkward incidents.

"Uh... Your ringtone sounded like your own singing. You sing pretty well."

"I graduated from Sichuan Conservatory of Music."

"Impressive—a true Miss from Sichuan Conservatory. Beauty and talent combined."

"???"

Jian Wei'an tilted her head and stared at Lin Ran. He... was acting strange!

He had been polite when he thought she was married, but now, after learning she worked at the Civil Affairs Bureau, he’d suddenly become sweet-talking?

This shift was too abrupt—she found it hard to adjust.

Of course, Lin Ran was still young—couldn’t handle married women.

But a newly graduated girl? His favorite.

Now, since she wasn’t the ex-wife, Lin Ran found Jian Wei'an increasingly charming. But such a beautiful woman—did she have a boyfriend?

"You posted about starting over—did you break up with your boyfriend?"

"I didn’t like the job my family arranged. I want to rely on myself and start anew. I don’t have a boyfriend, I... hmm???"

Jian Wei'an realized—this rascal was fishing for information.

"Ha~ You’re probing me."

"You’ve already said you don’t have a boyfriend."

Lin Ran smiled in mild relief.

Jian Wei'an teased, "What if I do have a boyfriend?"

Lin Ran replied, "Then it means I only have one competitor."

Jian Wei'an gave a thumbs up, laughing, "Bravo! How about you? How many girlfriends have you had?"

"Single as a dog—never met a girl who truly moved me."

Whether he had any in college didn’t matter. For men, the heart-throbbing girl is always the next one!

"I don’t believe you. You’re so glib; you expect me to think you never dated in college?"

"Honestly, never met the right one. Do you know anyone suitable? Introduce me."

"Her!" Jian Wei'an pointed to Jiang Shuyao nearby.

"Her best friend is not bad."

Her best friend was Jian Wei'an herself.

Jian Wei'an laughed and teased, "You really aren’t decent, eyeing your future mother-in-law."

"Ah!"

Lin Ran hadn’t expected that move.

Then he thought, if the pup got Bai Bai first, should he follow suit? Can't lose to a dog.

Pure fantasy, nothing more.

Imagining flowers is a crime, but imagining beautiful women is not.

The next moment, Lin Ran hissed—his foot hurt. Jian Wei'an, seeing his mischievous smile, had stomped on him.

"Sorry, lost my balance."

Lin Ran smiled, "Your ringtones are all your own songs. Could you share a couple? I’d like to use them as my ringtone."

"Which songs?"

"'Only Have Feelings for You.'"

Jian Wei'an looked up, seeing Lin Ran gazing at her intently.

"I don’t have it."

"Just record a short bit, a little snippet, for my ringtone."

Jian Wei'an teased, word by word, "Dream! On! Dream!"

[Chunxi Road station has arrived. Passengers disembarking, please mind the gap between platform and carriage...]

As the subway doors opened, the three stepped out.

Jiang Shuyao ran over, clinging to Jian Wei'an’s arm. "What were you two whispering about? Your faces are all red."

Jian Wei'an replied, "Little kids shouldn’t pry."

Curious Jiang Shuyao went to ask Lin Ran, "Lin Ran, what were you talking about?"

Lin Ran stretched his arms, "We were discussing why Shuyao is so pretty, so gorgeous, and has such a great figure. The creator was truly biased."

"Hahaha~ I like friends like you. Keep talking!"

"Shuyao is beautiful, Shuyao is dazzling, and when she smiles, she’s like the moon."

"Alright, you’re my sworn brother now, Lin Ran!"

Up ahead, Jian Wei'an smiled, increasingly convinced Lin Ran was a smooth talker who knew how to charm women.

...

Once out of the subway, they followed the location to the music restaurant.

Upstairs, they reached room 404.

Jiang Shuyao pushed open the door.

"Babies, we’re here~"

Inside, the lights flickered. Three men and three women sat in the karaoke area of the music hotpot room, singing and waiting.

"Shuyao, mua~mua~mua~" Lu Man, singing, rushed over in excitement to hug her.

"Ew~ Got saliva all over me, get off." Jiang Shuyao pushed Lu Man away in disgust.

Lu Man complained, "Hmph, I missed you so much and you push me away—heartless!"

Just then, a young man walked over, his left wrist adorned with a Cartier blue balloon watch, resting his hand on Lu Man's shoulder.

This was Yu Man’s boyfriend, Zeng Wei.

Zeng Wei grinned, "It’s been a while, Shuyao, you seem skinnier."

Jiang Shuyao sighed, "How could I not? My internship fell through again after half a month. I’m so worried—if I can’t find a job, I’ll have to go back home to Xi’an. Forget it, you rich kids never understand the struggles of ordinary people."

Zeng Wei said, "It’s okay, take your time."

"Move, you’re blocking the door."

Jian Wei'an twisted her waist, bumping Jiang Shuyao with her hip so she toppled onto Lu Man. "Now you’re in my arms, little darling~"

Lu Man and Jiang Shuyao, old classmates, were shamelessly hugging.

Zeng Wei called out, "The great beauty Jian is here—everyone stand up!"

At his words, the old classmates and Zeng Wei’s two friends in the room all turned to the doorway.

It had been a while since they’d seen the great beauty Jian—but now, how come there was a man at her side?