Chapter 8: You’re So Slick, Even Slicker Than Hotpot

As Lin Ran stepped into the private room, he glanced around. The girls from Sichuan Conservatory were all quite attractive—eye-catching and beautiful.

“Hi~ Susu, Kexin, mua~”

Jian Weian blew kisses to her two female classmates.

The other two men were Zeng Wei’s friends; Lu Man had seen them once at a previous birthday gathering, but she wasn’t familiar with them. Jian Weian merely nodded in greeting.

Lu Man, ever the lively one, rushed over and hugged Jian Weian.

“My dear, I’ve missed you so much! Come, give me a kiss.”

“Your face is covered in your man’s drool—get away from me!”

Jian Weian, “merciless” as ever, pushed Lu Man into Zeng Wei’s arms.

“You’re avoiding me now? I invited you to dinner and you said you had to eat with a man. Found a new love and forgot your old one, haven’t you?”

Lu Man teased her with a wicked grin.

Jian Weian bit her lip. This little minx was at it again, talking nonsense without restraint.

A new love?
Having dinner with this man?

Everyone present turned their gaze toward the man.

They hadn’t seen him before; he didn’t look like someone from their school. Who was he?

Faces lit up with curiosity.

Lin Ran noticed the odd looks directed at him—especially from Zeng Wei’s two friends, whose expressions seemed to say: Any man appearing beside Jian Weian should be me, not someone else.

He lowered his voice. “Shuyao, why are they all looking at me like that?”

Jiang Shuyao rolled her eyes. “You’re playing innocent? Why? Don’t you know?”

Lin Ran smirked smugly.

Of course he knew. Any man by Jian Weian’s side would always attract a certain hostility.

That hostility was really just envy.

Bring it on. He liked it.

“Oh~ It’s because I’m next to you—they’re jealous and envious of me.”

Jiang Shuyao chuckled inwardly. This guy’s mouth was as sweet as ever.

“Manman, who is this new friend who can be close to both beauties from your class?” Zeng Wei wondered.

As Lu Man’s boyfriend, he had never seen a man so brazenly appear between Jian Weian and Jiang Shuyao, as if he could have it both ways.

In the past, those who pursued them always did so one-on-one, not daring to show interest in both at once.

But this one—bold enough to flirt with Jiang Shuyao right next to Jian Weian?

Didn’t he fear losing both?

“I’ll go conduct an interview,” Lu Man declared, handing over an imaginary microphone.

“Jian the Great Beauty, please introduce the man beside you—who is worth abandoning me for dinner?”

“I’d really love to seal your mouth with cement.”

Jian Weian pinched Lu Man’s cheek before introducing, “Everyone, this is my friend, Lin Ran.”

“Hello, everyone. I’m Lin Ran. Pleased to meet you all.”

Lin Ran greeted them with poise.

All eyes fell on him.

Meeting new people, it was inevitable that they would size him up.

Standing confidently beside the universally acknowledged beauty Jian Weian, Lin Ran was subject to everyone’s first impression.

Today, his hairstyle and outfit had been meticulously chosen by two beauties; he looked every bit the fashionable, trendy man—utterly presentable next to Jian Weian, flawless by any standard.

However, Lu Man recognized the brand Lin Ran wore—both his clothes and trousers together cost just over two thousand.

So, judging by his attire, he was just an ordinary guy.

Jian Weian was never short of suitors, many of whom were rich second-generation heirs, yet she had rejected them all.

Now, was she with Lin Ran?

Otherwise, why would she turn down a gathering for him?

Lu Man was determined to get to the bottom of it.

“Are you two really just friends?”

“My dear, why would I lie to you? If you don’t believe me, ask Lin Ran.”

Whether the goddess was single or not had always been the hottest topic among onlookers.

Everyone wanted to know what exactly was going on between Lin Ran and Jian Weian.

After all, Jian Weian was a top beauty at Sichuan Conservatory; any man who could have dinner with her was bound to be scrutinized.

If he were just an ordinary friend, it would be impossible to ask her to dinner; she was always busy.

As everyone stared at him, eager for gossip, Lin Ran smiled and said, “Whatever Weian says, goes. I’ll listen to her.”

Jiang Shuyao couldn’t help but laugh. This guy was too much.

“Oh~” The group nodded, half-understanding.

So, were they or weren’t they?

It was impossible to tell.

Jian Weian turned to Lin Ran in surprise.

She thought he’d clarify their relationship.

Instead, he just said, “Whatever she says, goes.” What kind of answer was that? Anyone might assume he was the obedient boyfriend.

“Why didn’t you explain?”

“The truth explains itself.”

“……”

What truth explains itself? That just makes things more suspicious.

Explain? Why bother?

Why should Lin Ran care if people think he’s the boyfriend of the campus beauty?

Not explaining—letting them guess—is even better.

In any case, whatever Weian says, that’s how it is.

Jian Weian pinched Lin Ran’s back.

Lin Ran rubbed the spot; this woman was quick to retaliate.

Zeng Wei noticed their little interaction and couldn’t help but admire Lin Ran. Even being pinched by the goddess was enviable.

Zeng Wei was a minor rich kid. In their circle, there were no real second-generation heirs; all the true scions were on Jian Weian’s blacklist.

A beauty of her caliber was the target of every wealthy heir.

Alas, this woman was naturally reserved and hard to approach.

Zeng Wei stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Zeng Wei. Nice to meet you.”

Lin Ran replied politely, “Hello, Brother Zeng. I’m glad to meet everyone through Weian today.”

Zeng Wei clapped his shoulder. “Come, I’ll introduce you to some friends.”

In the background, Lu Man commented, “Weian, your friend is quite impressive—confident, at ease, and stylish. Not bad at all.”

“Of course,” Jian Weian said proudly. She and Jiang Shuyao had spent ages picking out his outfit; how could it not be tasteful?

Watching Lin Ran’s composure before her classmates, Jian Weian felt a wave of admiration.

“Come on, let’s eat and chat,” Lu Man said, pulling Jian Weian and Jiang Shuyao to the hotpot table.

The girls sat on one side, the boys on the other, forming a circle.

Lin Ran’s seat happened to be right at the boundary, next to Weian.

On the other side were Zeng Wei’s two friends—Gao Peng and Chen Tao.

Jian Weian handed Lin Ran an apron.

“No need,” Lin Ran said.

“It’s hard to wash oil stains out of clothes,” she replied.

“If it’s hard to wash, I’ll just get rid of them—and have you pick out new ones for me next time.”

“I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Doesn’t have to be a girlfriend—a maid will do.”

“You—hmph!”

Zeng Wei brought over some beer. “Do you drink, Lin Ran?”

“I can,” Lin Ran replied.

Zeng Wei opened a cold beer and handed it to him.

The girls drank juice.

Zeng Wei raised his glass. “Let’s celebrate our reunion, and welcome our new friend, Lin Ran. Cheers, everyone!”

Lin Ran clinked glasses with each person and downed his drink, then refilled.

Jian Weian reminded him, “Are you sure you can drink? Brother Zeng can hold his liquor.”

“My tolerance is average.”

“Then drink less.”

“Alright, whatever you say, Weian.”

“You’re asking for a beating.”

“Weian, you’re actually pretty gentle, as long as you’re not threatening to raise hell.”

“Raise hell, huh! Ha-ha-ha~”

The two of them chattered away in a corner.

Across the table, Lu Man watched as their heads leaned closer together. These two were not being honest—there was definitely something between them.

“Lin Ran, do you know how lucky you are?”

“What do you mean?” Lin Ran asked, feigning curiosity.

Lu Man gave him a look, as if he were oblivious to his good fortune.

“Boys are constantly confessing to and inviting our Weian for meals. She rejects them all, only ever goes out with me. Today, she turned me down just to have dinner with you.”

“Actually, today I was supposed to have lunch with Weian too…” piped up the curious one beside them, unwilling to be left out.

Why only mention Weian? I was supposed to join them for lunch too—how could she ignore me?

“Quiet, you little tagalong.”

“I…fine.”

The curious one felt aggrieved—just a sidekick to Weian now.

Lin Ran turned to Weian. “So you have that many boys chasing after you?”

“Are you scared?” she blurted out, then instantly regretted it. Why did I say that? Was my brain stuck?

“Not at all. I want to spend even more time with you.”

“Why?”

“I love seeing others envy and resent me, yet be powerless to do anything about it.”

“Not even a meal can shut you up.”

Jian Weian couldn’t stand it any longer. She dipped a piece of tripe in the hotpot and put it in Lin Ran’s bowl. He’d been drinking but not eating, and, as the friend she’d brought along, it was only right to look after him.

Lin Ran slurped it up. “Hoo—hoo—hoo—”

“Serves you right for picking something spicy.”

“It’s not spicy—it’s sweet.”

“Ugh, you’re even greasier than the hotpot itself.”