This wasn't the first time Song Xian had asked Lu Jingyan this question, but she had never been able to get an answer.
Song Xian and Lu Jingyan were university classmates. From the moment they started, the name Lu Jingyan spread like wildfire throughout the various departments.
Back then, nearly everyone knew that the Journalism Department had admitted a new student who was a top scorer in the college entrance examination, a champion in terms of looks, and from a first-rate family background.
About a month later, the rumors about Lu Jingyan started to change.
It was no longer about how good-looking Lu Jingyan was, how excellent her studies were, or how wealthy her family was, but rather that Lu Jingyan lacked respect for others, was dismissive when spoken to, and favored boys over girls.
Song Xian always felt she and Lu Jingyan were people from two different worlds, unlikely to ever cross paths.
Yet, Chen Kai somehow managed to bring the two of them together as friends.
The first time Song Xian saw Lu Jingyan was at a gathering organized by Chen Kai.
Song Xian's first impression of Lu Jingyan was very straightforward, just four words: true to her name.
She really was stunning.
It was a mixer, and everyone greeted each other warmly upon meeting. Lu Jingyan, with her good looks, naturally attracted a lot of guys who tried to curry favor with her. She, from start to finish, didn't even bother to respond or lift her eyelids. She ignored the men completely, and hardly paid attention to the other girls either. When it was her turn in games, she didn't cooperate, acting as if she didn't exist, indifferent, and even ended up putting in earphones to play on her own, annoyed by the noise.
Aside from being striking, Song Xian's impression of Lu Jingyan also included the fact that she was unsocial.
Extremely unsocial.
She never participated in group activities, preferred to be alone at school, and seldom showed up on campus outside of class time. On the rare occasions she was seen eating in the cafeteria, she was always alone.
After a simple count, Song Xian realized she had known Lu Jingyan for about six years. During these six years, apart from Chen Kai and her, Lu Jingyan really had no other friends.
Though she had her share of "boyfriends" and "ex-boyfriends."
But to her, those people were just prey.
"You see, others date for money or for pleasure. But what about you? Money you don't need, pleasure you've never enjoyed, so what are you after? Cherishing the undying memories of those jerks, or savoring the few tears they shed when they're hurt?" Song Xian grew more indignant on Lu Jingyan's behalf, "Seeing you waste your youth like this, I just want to slap you."
Lu Jingyan ordered a drink, took a slim cigarette from her bag, lit it, and took a slow drag, glancing through the smoke at the chattering Song Xian: "What about you?"
Song Xian was taken aback by the question: "Huh?"
"Haven't you also not dated anyone all these years?" Lu Jingyan tapped her cigarette into the ashtray, the ashes fluttering down: "Why don't you start by slapping yourself."
Song Xian: "…"
Song Xian, choked and at a loss for words, gulped down a couple of drinks before turning to ask, "How many guys have you played with their feelings this month, the one just now being what, the third?"
Lu Jingyan snuffed out her cigarette: "One."
"No way!" Song Xian was incredulous: "That doesn't sound like you. Only one this month?"
Lu Jingyan simply hummed in response.
She had always lived this way, never feeling weary before, but for some reason, she couldn't muster up any interest lately.
Song Xian spun her drink: "Got a new target?"
Lu Jingyan shook her head, about to say there wasn't anyone, but then she remembered the jerk from last night.
As she pondered, a pleasant voice reached her from nearby.
Somewhat familiar.
Lu Jingyan turned around: "Huh?"
Song Xian: "What's up?"
Without responding, Lu Jingyan gazed at Sheng Xian, dressed in a black suit with his sleeves slightly rolled up to reveal a bit of his fair wrist, and almost whistled on the spot.
That man sure knew how to grow—first the face, then legs in the middle of the night, and now the wrists. He kept hitting all her aesthetic sweet spots.
Lu Jingyan rested her chin in her hand, admiring Sheng Xian bathed in the light off in the distance, her eyes curled into crescent moons.
Song Xian nudged Lu Jingyan's shoulder: "What are you looking at, grinning so creepily?"
Lu Jingyan's gaze remained fixed on Sheng Xian: "New target."
…
Lu Jingyan had intended to sit with Song Xian in the bar for a bit before they both went their separate ways, but as the saying goes, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."
Now Lu Jingyan was in no rush to go home.
Sheng Xian had arranged to meet someone, apparently to discuss some serious matters, so Lu Jingyan thoughtfully chose not to disturb him at this time.
After Sheng Xian finished his business and his company had left, Lu Jingyan waved over a waiter she knew, slipped him a two-hundred-yuan tip, and whispered a few words into his ear.
Once the waiter had left, Lu Jingyan couldn't help but sigh.
This was the first time she'd ever spent money to strike up a conversation with a man.
And it was two hundred yuan, no less.
If two hundred yuan could buy her that scumbag's phone number as well...it might just about be worth it.
About two minutes later, the waiter who had taken her two hundred yuan gave Lu Jingyan a meaningful glance.
Lu Jingyan stood up, feigning the need to visit the bathroom.
The waiter seemed to be in perfect sync with her, and as she approached Sheng Xian, he pretended to clear the table and accidentally knocked Sheng Xian's pen to the floor.
Amidst the waiter's apologies, Lu Jingyan bent down to pick up the pen.
At that moment, the normally silent Sheng Xian also bent down.
Lu Jingyan held the pen, paused for two seconds, then looked up at Sheng Xian.
Sheng Xian happened to look at her, their eyes met for a moment, and Lu Jingyan straightened up.
Sheng Xian straightened up as well.
Lu Jingyan handed the pen back to him, "What a coincidence, brother, meeting again."
Sheng Xian took the pen with a particularly indifferent tone, "Thanks."
Faced with his coldness, Lu Jingyan wasn't upset or embarrassed, she just boldly sat down in front of him, "The thing I like the least is verbal thanks."
Sheng Xian continued annotating the papers on the table, holding his pen aloft.
When it comes to flirting with men, having a thick skin is most important.
In this regard, the highly experienced Lu Jingyan leaned forward and said, "If you really want to show your gratitude, you should treat me to a meal."
Sheng Xian remained silent.
Lu Jingyan propped her chin and admired his face from close range, taking his silence as agreement to treat her to a meal, "It's a pity I don't eat late-night snacks, so I can't tonight. Let's exchange contact information and set up a date for another time?"
Without even lifting his head, Sheng Xian asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Lu Jingyan pondered for two seconds and named a restaurant.
"How much is the average cost per person?" Sheng Xian inquired.
Lu Jingyan, based on her own experience, gave an estimation, "Three to four hundred, I guess."
Sheng Xian took out his wallet, pulled out five crisp bills, and handed them to Lu Jingyan, "Consider it my treat for your meal."
Lu Jingyan blinked, a bit stunned.
Sheng Xian resumed his scribbling on the paper, "The extra hundred is for your cab fare."
Lu Jingyan: "…"
Lu Jingyan: "..."
Lu Jingyan: "......"
Damn, who is he looking down on!
Does she look like someone who lacks money for a meal?
PS: Lu Jingyan declares: Do I just lack a meal? What I really lack is brother's phone number.