Chapter 38: Meeting

After listening to Li Luoran’s story, Shan Qingqing was completely speechless.

She blinked and then suddenly said, “He’s so fierce, he’s not suitable for you. How about I take a little loss and uh, very reluctantly deal with him for you?”

Li Luoran rolled her eyes at Shan Qingqing. This girl was always so dramatic. Then she suddenly sighed.

“I’ve never thought I’d meet someone like this. I want to try.”

Shan Qingqing rubbed her forehead in exasperation and said, “You’ve been the good girl for too long. A bad guy like him really isn’t right for you.”

Li Luoran smiled beautifully, showing a row of neat white little teeth, and said, “You are fierce on the outside but weak inside — you’re more fragile than I am, so I’ll do it.”

……

At 7 p.m., everyone in the dorm — including the wildly curious Shan Qingqing — was neatly gathered in the room, staring at the carefully dressed Li Luoran in dazed admiration.

“You fell for him that easily?” said Du Dandan — she couldn’t believe Su Pingnan won over the school belle so effortlessly.

“You’re wearing just that?” asked Shan Qingqing as she stared at Li Luoran’s tracksuit.

The graceful Li Luoran’s fair cheeks shone like high-grade white jade under the lights. Her big wavy hair reached her waist, and the simple, form-fitting tracksuit showcased her proud chest and straight long legs to perfection.

“Why can’t I wear this? I’m just a slightly pretty but actually ordinary schoolgirl,” Li Luoran said.

“Here he comes, Sister Qingqing — that’s that bad guy, Su Pingnan,” Du Dandan was the first one to notice him, since she’d been crouched at the dorm window to keep a lookout.

Shan Qingqing, agile like a cat, quickly squeezed to the window and peered out.

“That one?”

Two figures stood below the dormitory building outside the window.

“The tall one. I know the other guy too, that’s Guo Guangyao, apparently his right-hand man.”

This was Shan Qingqing’s first time seeing Su Pingnan.

Tall, with a straight, upright posture, a rugged, handsome face and a pair of eyes full of ambition.

“This is what a real man looks like,” Shan Qingqing muttered so quietly she could barely hear herself.

Su Pingnan reached out and said, “Give me the phone.”

He had come from the future and really had no fondness for this huge, brick-like cellphone. Guo Guangyao usually carried it, and Guo enjoyed it — he liked the restrained envy and awe in people’s eyes when they watched him pick up the phone.

“I’m here, downstairs. Yeah, okay,” Su Pingnan said before tossing the phone right back to Guo Guangyao.

“Make yourself scarce now. Tomorrow, take the prototype back to Tiandu first.” Guo Guangyao had come along mainly to acquire a Japanese arcade machine prototype in Shanghai to copy back home.

A genuine arcade cabinet now cost thirty thousand, and knowing Su Pingnan’s plan, Guo Guangyao was already excited, his eyes shining.

Guo Guangyao hadn’t seen Li Luoran before either. He’d only heard the boys who delivered the gifts rave about her as if she were a rare sight even among fairies. He wanted to sneak a look, but once Su Pingnan told him to leave, he dared not linger and bolted away.

Su Pingnan found it amusing to see Guo Guangyao keep glancing back, so he shot him a glare. Seeing Su Pingnan’s displeasure, Guo Guangyao suppressed his curiosity and immediately ran off.

“Hello — it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Li Luoran, poised and confident, extended her hand first and smiled sweetly at the man she was meeting for the second time.

“I’ve been a bit busy, things are better now. So I came to see you.” Su Pingnan was once again struck by how stunning this girl before him was.

Fate is a strange thing — Li Luoran watched the man who a second ago had been ambitious and defiant become awkward the moment he saw her, and she couldn’t help but feel a secret happiness.

“What will you treat me to?”

Su Pingnan looked away and answered honestly, “The most expensive.”

Pfft — Li Luoran couldn’t help but cover her mouth and let out a girlish laugh.

“We’re friends, and the best of friends at that. I’m never stingy with my friends.” Realizing he’d embarrassed himself again, Su Pingnan showed no shame and continued talking.

“Where’s your phone? I’ll ask Qingqing where the most expensive place is.”

Li Luoran smiled like a blooming flower and extended her fair, jade-like little hand.

“Alright, your call.” Su Pingnan liked how direct and unpretentious she was. He waved toward the darkness. His phone wasn’t on him, but he was sure Guo Guangyao was lurking nearby spying.

Sure enough, the Guo Guangyao scampered out like an obedient puppy, handed Su Pingnan the phone, and nodded seriously at Li Luoran: “Hello, sister-in-law.”

The poised Li Luoran was instantly taken aback, her face flushing. Not knowing what to say, she pretended not to have heard him and picked up the phone.

……

“Qingqing says Red House is very good, Do you know that place?” Li Luoran deliberately spoke a little longer to Shan Qingqing, and only turned to speak to Su Pingnan again after she felt like her face wasn’t so hot anymore.

“I don’t know it, but I can find it. As long as you like it,” Su Pingnan’s tone remained gentle.

“Your friend is so amusing,” Li Luoran said with a smile as she watched Guo Guangyao flee, avoiding Su Pingnan’s murderous stare.

The Red House was a French restaurant with faux brick-and-wood architecture. Its red exterior was very eye-catching, with a bright red lintel and gate. It was first called “the red house” by Mei Lanfang, a famous Peking opera singer, and the name stuck.