Qin Shuang lowered her gaze, of course she knew.
She knew that Li Mingxi was fond of Gu Nanzhong.
She also knew that there were many who liked Gu Nanzhong.
Throughout this year, aside from initially causing a stir due to her rebellion, which led to He Zhiyao restricting her contact with the outside world, she later got her phone back, along with a new number.
However, the people she wanted to contact were out of reach, and some, she simply didn't dare to contact.
For instance, Gu Nanzhong.
But Chen Meng was right just now, she couldn't delay Gu Nanzhong, regardless of whether he had forgotten her by now. After all, it was she who had disappeared without a word, and now that she had returned, she at least owed Gu Nanzhong a farewell.
To make a clean break.
And to persuade herself not to harbor any more foolish hopes.
...
It was after 7 p.m., and Qin Shuang, having changed her clothes, left the dormitory with Xu Lin.
Xu Lin affectionately latched onto Qin Shuang's arm, touched the fabric of her coat, and chuckled, "Shuangshuang, the material of your clothes feels really nice, doesn't seem like a knockoff at all. Where did you buy it? And this bag, the hardware looks so real!"
Qin Shuang was startled for a moment and a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes as she responded perfunctorily, "Just picked it up on Taobao."
The things she was using now were all sent to her home by Butler Chen. She hadn't been out much lately and hadn't paid much attention to them, only now realizing she had been careless, having not inquired about these items. But whatever Butler Chen had sent her were definitely not cheap.
Fortunately, Xu Lin didn't inquire further, and the two of them took a taxi to the Mingyue Clubhouse.
The private room Li Mingxi had booked was on the third floor. By the time Qin Shuang and Xu Lin entered, the room was already filled with many familiar classmates.
Upon seeing Qin Shuang come in, people immediately crowded around her, bombarding her with questions about where she had been that year.
Qin Shuang quickly scanned the room. Gu Nanzhong hadn't arrived yet. For some reason, she felt relieved, yet also nervous.
If she were to see him later, how should she start the conversation...
Chen Meng, who was chatting happily with a senior just now, saw Qin Shuang become the center of attention as soon as she walked in. She felt a flare of annoyance. Qin Shuang, just like her, came from an ordinary family, yet always stood out because of her fox-like beauty. Not long after school started, she had captured the heart of school hunk Gu Nanzhong and was celebrated as the most beautiful "school flower" since the university's establishment. Now, after disappearing without a trace for a year, she still managed to make waves with just her appearance.
Staring at Qin Shuang, Chen Meng couldn't help making a sarcastic comment, "Qin Shuang, your outfit must not be cheap, right? It's C brand's new collection for fall and winter. And that bag looks like an H brand limited edition, worth hundreds of thousands. Didn't you take a year off from school? Don't tell me you've been out making a fortune?"
"Chen Meng, don't spout nonsense. Shuangshuang said it's from Taobao..." Xu Lin tugged at Chen Meng, but as soon as she spoke, everyone looked at Qin Shuang differently.
With scrutiny, disdain, and even schadenfreude.
Qin Shuang remained calm, seemingly oblivious to everyone's change in attitude, and chuckled lightly, "I'll go make a phone call."
And then she turned and left the room.
"She couldn't possibly be kept by a sugar daddy, could she?"
"Shh, she's not gone far yet!"
Qin Shuang walked unhurriedly, her lips curling into a scornful smile.
Kept by a sugar daddy?
It wasn't even to that degree.
...
In a super luxurious private room at the top floor, the currently popular starlet Lin Shan was singing a song, while several second-generation rich kids were either playing cards with beautiful girls or engrossed in their games.
Only He Zhiyao was sitting on the sofa alone, a cigar pinched in one hand and the other hand aimlessly scrolling through his mobile phone.
After Lin Shan finished singing, she took a glass of champagne from the table and walked toward He Zhiyao, sitting down next to him affectionately.
"President He, care for a drink?" Lin Shan leaned forward, almost pressing against He Zhiyao.
He Zhiyao turned his head slightly, looking at her.
Feeling the intensity of He Zhiyao's deep gaze, Lin Shan's face blushed despite being accustomed to handsome men in the entertainment industry. No wonder it was said that the He family's Crown Prince was born into a good family and also possessed an exceptionally handsome visage, outshining the allure of those leading male stars.
Under his straightforward gaze, He Zhiyao asked indifferently, "What do you want to do?"
Lin Shan, watched by him so closely, suddenly felt nervous yet didn't want to miss such a good opportunity. She bravely flung a coquettish glance at He Zhiyao, her voice dripping with sweetness, "I just want to have a drink with President He~"
She opportunistically placed her hand on He Zhiyao's thigh; her soft hand began creeping upward, moving softly over his suit pants.
He Zhiyao remained expressionless, glanced at Lin Shan's hand, then gestured to a waiter, ordering something. The waiter quickly brought over a bucket of iced foreign liquor.
He Zhiyao tapped cigar ash atop the large, two-liter bucket of liquor, then looked at Lin Shan and said,
"Drink then."
Lin Shan froze, her face paling slightly in disbelief, "Are you joking with me, President He?"
He Zhiyao stood up, tossing his cigar into the ice wine and, in one swift move, poured the entire bucket onto Lin Shan's lap amid her screams, then tossed the bucket aside.
"I don't like drinking with women, especially those who wear perfume."
He then ignored everyone in the room and walked toward the door.
Su Jiucheng, who had just come back from outside, found it odd that He Zhiyao was about to leave so soon and asked, "Brother Yao, you're leaving already?"
He Zhiyao glanced down at his suit pants stained with liquor and replied casually,
"Yes, my pants are wet."