YXJ - 3

As they entered the school gate, students coming and going gradually increased. Xu Jingyang still walked beside her, matching her leisurely pace.

Lin Wangshu paused slightly: “Excuse me, I don’t want to be talked about.”

Xu Jingyang understood her meaning and didn’t make things difficult for her: “I just remembered I have something to do at the student council. How about we have a meal together next time if there’s a chance?”

Lin Wangshu nodded: “If there’s a chance.”

Those words sounded like there wouldn’t be a chance.

Xu Jingyang smiled helplessly. He actually wished Lin Wangshu wasn’t so polite to him.

After they parted ways, Lin Wangshu went to the lecture hall. The professor seemed to be in a good mood today; he only randomly called out a few students for attendance, and Xun Ya wasn’t among them.

Xun Ya arrived in the afternoon, carrying a cake from LADY M and a large bouquet of roses. Lin Wangshu was writing a paper in the library. Seeing her, she curiously took off her headphones.

Xun Ya placed the cake on her table and whispered: “I specially bought this for you.” She knew Lin Wangshu liked sweet things.

After Lin Wangshu thanked her, she saw the roses in her hand, and a smile appeared on her usually cool face: “You’ve reconciled?”

A few days ago, Xun Ya had an argument with her American boyfriend and broke up, remaining gloomy for several days. After all this time, Lin Wangshu finally saw a smile on her face.

Xun Ya shyly twisted her body, not denying it: “He came back from America yesterday to find me and apologize. We had some drinks, and then something indescribable happened, which is why I woke up late today.”

Her face was full of sweetness, but she complained: “Are all men so thirsty? Once they start, they can’t stop. I was afraid I was going to die in bed yesterday.”

Xun Ya grew up abroad, and her views on sex were more open than others. Moreover, from her observations over the past few days, Lin Wangshu’s sex life seemed much more active than hers. Although she never mentioned having a boyfriend, Xun Ya often saw scattered hickey marks on her neck or shoulder. Old ones hadn’t faded before new ones appeared. A few times during P.E. class, when changing in the locker room, they were even on her chest, ambiguous and alluring.

Lin Wangshu lowered her eyelashes and quietly packed up her laptop: “Going back to the dorm?” It wasn’t good to talk loudly in the library, as even whispers could disturb others.

Xun Ya nodded: “I also need to put the flowers away.”

They shared a dorm, but rarely stayed there. Most well-off girls at school rented apartments outside, and some even rented their beds to girls from outside the school. Their dorm was a five-person room. Besides Lin Wangshu and Xun Ya, the other three were from the dance department. One of them, who lived outside with her boyfriend, rented out her bed. The renter didn’t seem to be a student; she looked around their age, so the dorm supervisor never noticed anything during room checks. She was quite good-looking but always returned late at night smelling of alcohol.

Xun Ya seemed particularly excited about tonight’s party. As soon as they entered the dorm, she started chattering: “Bai Lan is going too today. You don’t know how much of a ‘green tea’ she is. Any slightly handsome guy who joins the student council, she’ll flirt with him. It’s disgusting. She suggested this party too, probably just to hook a rich guy.”

Lin Wangshu often heard Xun Ya mention this name. She seemed to be the vice president of the student council and had previously snatched away several of Xun Ya’s potential romantic interests. The two were like fire and water when it came to men. Even though Xun Ya now had a boyfriend, she still hated Bai Lan bitterly.

She took out her expensive Mei’er face cream, which she had bought with a heavy heart: “I must outshine that green tea!”

She urged Lin Wangshu to put on some makeup too. Lin Wangshu usually didn’t like makeup, but she had natural advantages: a slender waist that could be embraced with one hand, and long, straight, slender legs. Even without makeup, she was still beautiful and elegant. When she first enrolled as a freshman, she caused quite a stir; even students from other schools came to see her, crowding the freshman classrooms until they were impassable.

Thinking about it, Xun Ya realized she seemed to have never seen her with makeup on. She hugged Lin Wangshu and begged softly: “I absolutely can’t let Bai Lan hog the spotlight this time. Lin Bodhisattva, you save all beings. Have pity on your humble devotee and help me turn this around, okay?”

Her words were pitiful. Lin Wangshu was amused by her and nodded helplessly: “Okay, I promise you.”

The reason she rarely wore makeup was that she felt it was unnecessary. Aside from needing to perform on stage, she usually went out barefaced. After being with Jiang Congxian, she wore even less. He liked to see her with makeup, so she deliberately didn’t wear it. She even wished she could be uglier, ugly enough that he would completely lose interest in her. She wanted to escape from him at all times. Outsiders had only seen his disguised gentle and refined side; only Lin Wangshu knew what a disgusting person he truly was.

At nine in the evening, the nightclub’s lights were dim and ambiguous. Xun Ya complained about Bai Lan choosing such a place. It was indeed high-end, with only million-dollar cars parked outside. She whispered to Lin Wangshu beside her: “Do you think this place offers those kinds of services?”

Lin Wangshu had never been to a place like this before and shook her head blankly.

She wore light makeup and a tasteful dress. Passersby often cast lewd glances at her, and occasionally some reckless men would whistle at her. A pure and beautiful young girl seemed to particularly ignite men’s desire for conquest. Lin Wangshu disliked such an atmosphere and quickly followed Xun Ya inside.

In the private room, almost everyone had arrived and were cheering and toasting. Dozens of opened beer bottles sat on the coffee table, white foam bubbling from their mouths. Seeing them, Xu Jingyang put down what he was holding and came over, asking Lin Wangshu if she was cold. The room had the air conditioning on because there were so many people.

Lin Wangshu said calmly: “It’s fine.”

Those people were already drunk and playing truth or dare. Xun Ya quickly joined the atmosphere, pulling Lin Wangshu to sit with her, eager to participate. Lin Wangshu instinctively wanted to refuse, but the group cheered: “It’s no fun if the campus belle doesn’t join!” Then, without explanation, they filled her glass with wine.

The game involved spinning an empty bottle on the table. Whoever the bottle’s mouth pointed to lost and had to choose between truth or dare. If they chose neither, they had to drink the entire glass of wine in front of them.

The first spin landed on Lin Wangshu. The cheering grew louder. Xu Jingyang considerately came over, offering to drink for Lin Wangshu: “Don’t bully our junior.”

Bai Lan disagreed: “Juniors also have to follow the game rules!”

Before Lin Wangshu could speak, she patted her on the shoulder: “How about this? Senior Sister will help you. Let’s pick an easy one: go to the private room next door and ask for someone’s contact information.”

Her goal for choosing this party location was clear: to reel in a rich sugar daddy. The consumption here was notoriously high; most people who came here were either wealthy or powerful. The VIP room next door, whose occupants’ wealth could only be imagined, was a rare encounter.

Lin Wangshu heard her words: “I’d rather drink the wine.”

Bai Lan didn’t even give her a chance to touch the glass, pulling her arm and leading her out of the private room: “What are you afraid of? Senior Sister will go with you.” She half-pushed, half-pulled Lin Wangshu’s arm out.

After pushing open the door to the adjacent private room, the lighting inside was noticeably brighter than theirs. Successful, mature men were different from naive students; they didn’t play ambiguous games. Their desires were openly displayed.

On the leather sofas sat several balding, pot-bellied men, most with scantily clad women in their laps. A giant screen played the music video of an old song, the scene debauched and decadent. In contrast, Jiang Congxian, sitting alone, seemed like a breath of fresh air. His posture was relaxed, an elbow resting on his leg. Between his fair, well-defined fingers, a half-smoked cigar burned. His cool, clear eyes were hazy in the smoke, somewhat blurred. His entire demeanor was leisurely and unrestrained; his tie was loosened slightly. Although the women were nestled in other men’s laps, their eyes constantly darted towards him.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the two women who suddenly entered. Lin Wangshu saw Jiang Congxian at once, her heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to flee. At least, she had to escape before he saw her.

But Bai Lan stopped her: “Since we’re here, what’s the point of leaving now?”

Hearing the sound, the man calmly shifted his gaze, and after seeing the young girl’s face clearly, he briefly looked puzzled. Then, a slight curve appeared on his thin lips. He extinguished his cigar, flicked it into the ashtray, and watched Lin Wangshu, who had been forcibly pushed in, with composure. She was wearing makeup today, and her lips were rosy.

Most of the wealthy men here were old perverts. Bai Lan had already decided that she would just make enough money to buy a car and then leave. Anyway, it was all the same with the lights off. Who knew she’d be so lucky to encounter such a high-quality man? Not only was he handsome, but he was also rich. The watch on his wrist alone was enough to buy any of the luxury cars outside, which were all in the millions.

Lin Wangshu could feel Jiang Congxian’s gaze on her. She lowered her head, lips pressed together, remaining silent. Bai Lan, seeing her silence, didn’t force her. She walked forward and introduced herself: “We’re from Beinan University’s student council. We’re having a party next door today. My junior lost a game, and the punishment is to come over and ask for contact information. Big brother, could you please help us out? Otherwise, she’ll have to drink an entire bottle of wine.” She spoke pitifully, feigning coyness.

From the moment they entered, Jiang Congxian’s gaze had not left Lin Wangshu. He smiled gently, not directly answering her question, but instead invited them: “Why don’t you two sit down and have a drink first?”

Bai Lan felt like she would drown in his gentle charm if she stayed for one more second. The sunny junior boys at school seemed utterly insignificant compared to this mature and refined man. She naturally nodded: “Okay.”

As she spoke, she took Lin Wangshu’s hand and led her over. The latter accidentally stumbled and fell directly into Jiang Congxian’s arms. Her face flushed crimson. Just as she was about to get up, her hand, in her panic, supported itself in the wrong place.

He clicked his tongue, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and said in a slightly husky, amused tone: “If you break it, you won’t have anything to use.”