Chapter 25

Jin Nian was not someone who would swallow her anger. She threw the trash into her roommate’s trash can and stood in front of her, looking at her. “Just say what you want to say. Don’t do this nonsense. I don’t think I did anything wrong. During the four years of university, we should communicate properly if there’s anything you want to discuss with me. If you insist on doing this, there’ll be a lot of quarrels in the future.” The roommate stiffened her neck and refused to admit it. “What right do you have to say that I did it? Do you have any evidence?”

Jin Nian turned to look at the other two. “You were both there. You saw it, right?” The two roommates stammered, saying that they hadn’t noticed. Jin Nian knew that there was no point in saying anything more. The first lesson society taught Jin Nian was to learn to swallow the truth. It was already six o’clock in the afternoon when she finished cleaning up. When she looked up, she saw a cloud of fire. At this moment, Lu An called.

“What are you doing?” Lu An’s voice was low and pleasant to hear. Perhaps it was because Jin Nian heard a familiar voice, but she suddenly couldn’t hold it in anymore. She thought Lu An would never talk to her again. This phone call had made her feel a little upset and had calmed her down a little. Jin Nian sounded aggrieved. “I just finished cleaning up.”

“I’m at your school field,” the person on the other end of the phone said. Jin Nian was surprised and happy. “Why are you here so late?” “I’m here to see someone who only knows how to cry.” “You’re the one who only knows how to cry.” “Did I say it was you? How do you fit in?” “Lu An, do you come here just to anger me?” Lu An chuckled on the other end of the phone, and his tone became much gentler. “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Are you hungry?”

Jin Nian’s eyes were filled with tears. She couldn’t open her mouth, afraid that the other party would hear her crying. They had agreed to meet at the No. 2 North cafeteria, which had been the closest cafeteria to Jin Nian’s dormitory. Lu An drove a pure white jeep through the city, attracting the attention of many people. He parked the car steadily in front of Jin Nian, got out of the car, and walked to her. It had been more than 40 days since they had last met, and his hair was longer than before. He had paired a deep blue denim jacket with beige wide-legged pants, which made him look clean and handsome.

Her former classmates all used to say that Lu An was very handsome, but Jin Nian didn’t feel anything special about him. However, at this moment, the fiery red setting sun spilled over Lu An’s body. His figure was tall and straight, and the corners of his mouth curled up imperceptibly, exuding a deep and clean aura. Jin Nian suddenly felt like it was the first day she had met him. This sloppy guy was indeed very handsome. Looking at Jin Nian, who was in a daze, Lu An reached out and pinched her face. “Are you stunned by how handsome I am?” Jin Nian frowned and slapped his hand away. She had decided to take back her earlier evaluation of him. This person was still as terrible and conceited as ever.

Lu An had come from afar, and Jin Nian had invited him to have a meal in the cafeteria. As Lu An looked at her with a complicated expression. “Jin Nian, you’re really something. I came all this way to meet you, and you’re treating me to a meal in the cafeteria?” Jin Nian knew that she was in the wrong and smiled at him. “Then what do you want to eat? I can’t afford a restaurant that costs more than 200 yuan per person.” Lu An grabbed her wrist and led her into the car. “Who said that wanted you to have a treat? You’re so stingy. I have money, I’ll treat you.” Jin Nian smiled from the front passenger seat and happily accepted his offer.

Lu An brought her to a private kitchen that cost over a thousand yuan per person. The restaurant was situated amidst the beautiful scenery of the Suzhou Gardens, with each step leading to a picturesque view. Jin Nian’s stomach had been growling with hunger, but being with Lu An, she didn’t need to pretend and enjoyed the meal to her heart’s content. Outside the window, the night breeze gently caressed the bamboo forest, and a subtle fragrance filled the air, exuding elegance and luxury. Jin Nian looked at the man sitting opposite her. Although he was usually sloppy, he looked noble in such an occasion.

It was only then that she suddenly remembered that Lu An was a veritable young master, born with a golden spoon in his mouth. His ancestors had been doing business in Hong Kong for many years. Even though they were both 18 years old, Lu An’s18-year-old self seemed more at ease and composed than hers.

He had been to many countries since he was young and had seen the most stunning aurora and the northernmost sunrise. He didn’t lack anything. The gift he received for his eighteenth birthday was a villa in the city center. He never hesitated to do anything he wanted, nor did he have any worries. He dared to think and act, never caring about what others thought of him. He could speak fluent Cantonese, English, and Spanish. When Jin Nian and Lu An were together, she often sighed with emotion. They were both humans, but why was there such a huge gap between them? Their worlds were completely different, but they had become good friends by accident.

From the age of five to eighteen, they had gone to the same primary school, the same junior high school, and the same high school. Everyone knew that Jin Nian had been Lu An’s little follower.