the impact. Later, switching to his left hand led to the same outcome.The quadriceps in the thigh are the most powerful muscles, yet maintaining this posture for prolonged periods is quite difficult....Chapter 106: Three Lives

"I feel that you are close to me, yet also far away," Lin Luoran said.

Su Can didn't know how to respond. Their first meeting in a small city had begun because of shared interests and later they would play together despite the gap between them. They once bought barbecue for fun at night in the residential area of the municipal committee, or while skipping classes on the school playground waiting for sunset, or when they graduated talking about their future ideals and path choices in a bar. Lin Luoran's desire to study finance and philosophy seemed like it happened only yesterday.

But Su Can didn't tell Lin Luoran that he also felt she was far away back then in Xiahai and Rongcheng.

Su Can quickly changed the subject, "Is Wei Dingding here as well"

He saw Wei Dingding on the other side of the hall chatting merrily with some young men. Earlier when Lin Luoran pulled Su Can over, she deliberately ignored him.

Lin Luoran's gaze shifted from Su Can to Wei Dingding. As Wei Dingding chatted and looked up at them briefly, his continued conversation made it clear that there was tension between him and Lin Luoran.

Wei Dingding had a sense of conquest over Lin Luoran but seemed embarrassed by Su Can's presence. This made him regretful. Lin Luoran hated backstabbing people, yet he had become estranged from her for too long, which led to his rash actions and their consequences.

In Xiahai and Rongcheng, Wei Dingding closely monitored Lin Luoran through friends and later heard about Su Can. At first, he thought Su Can was a son of the local officials in Xiahai, only to learn that wasn’t true. Later someone who knew Su Can’s background from Rongcheng told him; this made Wei Dingding feel both surreal and alarmed.

Su Can, an outsider, entering their circle meant something unusual was happening. Perhaps Lin Luoran had feelings for him Did she like or love him Or did they develop a very close relationship

As a child, Wei Dingding often visited Lin Luoran’s home politely and would watch her practice calligraphy at the small table as sweat trickled down from behind her ear. She wore a little dress that looked stunning against the chestnut trees outside. Those days of watching her grow into an adult were often joked about by their elders.

But Wei Dingding enjoyed it, watching Lin Luoran grow taller and bigger. He liked seeing her back as she walked out of class or how she held a book while sipping tea in her father’s study room, or the impatient look on her face when he was under the flowering trees. At that time, he didn’t understand but later, after meeting many women, he deeply appreciated this elegance.

Then he started thinking of Lin Luoran from afar: while driving, walking, in his luxurious villa.

When she went to university and came to Shanghai, he felt there was a chance for him. But Su Can appeared with lots of rumors saying Wang Weiwei and Lin Zhouwu were close friends with him. Wei Dingding couldn't understand how someone like Su Can could enter their firmly established circle. Preserving three generations of wealth in China is rare, as is maintaining friendship over three generations. How did a person like Su Can manage to wedge himself between them

So he took the action to block Su Can, but ended up with Zhen Mingchuan taking a loss because of his connection with Wang Weiwei and others. Many people advised him not to pursue it further, but they didn't say that everyone was on the same side; they only told him that Su Can was someone who wouldn’t easily be coerced into submission.

Moreover, if things got physical between them, it would harm their friendship. This wasn't just about Wei Dingding and Wang Weiwei’s relationship but also about how such actions might harm Wei Dingding himself.

Wei Dingding was actually a good child, not part of the most extravagant Shanghai youth group, yet he was known among them. He firmly followed academic principles except for normal social interactions. When his elders compared him to excellent young people, he didn't argue back.

Occasionally, he would be cunning and have a bit of a senseless life but accepted the transformation by family and society. Before Lin Luoran came to Shanghai, Wei Dingding thought this was how things would always be.

63 fans

21st floor

But when Lin Luoran arrived, Wei Dingding’s heart was disturbed.

Lin Luoran's slap because of Su Can woke him up completely. Everyone in the circle knew that Wei Dingding occasionally lost focus and waited for someone but Lin Luoran's slap shocked everyone.

Wealth and power could be great things, providing a source of sweet friendships and love, as well as creating distance when they felt wronged or unhappy. Wei Dingding used this to express his feelings to others, but not with Lin Luoran.

Now even though he chatted merrily, his gaze towards Lin Luoran and Su Can was somewhat gloomy.

"Let's not talk about him."

Lin Luoran didn’t want to continue talking about this with Su Can. Su Can didn't ask further either, as such matters were usually deep-rooted and complex. The friendships in Lin Luoran’s circle weren’t simple; they involved intricate relationships which they had to consider while socializing.

"Have you joined the Isaac Club and found your favored frog prince" Su Can changed the topic with a smile.

There were all sorts of people at the Christmas party, but Su Can felt he was perhaps the simplest person there. However, this might also make him one of the most complex individuals present. There were many so-called fine men here too. This made him remember his conversation with Lin Luoran after high school graduation and wonder if she had similar thoughts back then, which made it somewhat melancholic.

"What do you think" Lin Luoran turned to look at Su Can teasingly.

Her sleek black hair flowed down her neck like a waterfall as she tilted her head. Her clear eyes stared at Su Can. Despite having seen many of her embarrassing moments front and back, he still had to admit that right now she looked enchanting in the Christmas scene, so much so that anyone else might fall for her.

"I don't know, I'm conflicted," Su Can shrugged.

"If I had really found that frog, do you think I would be standing alone with you right now"

When Su Can was taken aback for a moment, Lin Luoran smiled and said, "I have to at least stand in the right position to express my feelings, we are a lone man and woman here. What if he misunderstands us Although our relationship is pure, I don’t want him to leave even the slightest shadow of doubt."

Su Can was speechless with laughter, "So you're saying that seeing someone attractive makes you forget your principles" In his heart, though we are a lone man and woman but at least we can be considered as close friends, it's not nice to hurt people like this. This woman can only be described as an angelic appearance but a scorpion’s heart.

"Actually I don’t have too many demands. My criteria for men is 'three lives', which doesn't refer to the romantic 'Three Lives Three Worlds' but in reality, the first life refers to survival skills, the second is the taste of life and you can’t be stingy but must be generous, and thirdly it’s reproductive ability. I still want to hold a chubby white son."

“Why not a daughter” Su Can was surprised by Lin Luoran's preference for sons. Coming from an envoy family background she should be quite open-minded, there shouldn’t be any deep-rooted male chauvinism in her family. Furthermore, according to what Su Can knew, Lin Luoran is the only child and has no complicated family disputes that would require her to get a son to improve her status.

Who would have thought that Lin Luoran had an expression of "you are so ignorant" as she glared at Su Can. “Don’t you think having a son is great He can be chubby and cute like my brother, Lin Zouwu. When he was little I didn't get to bully him enough, now if I have a son I can pinch that cute little boy's face to my heart’s content. Also when shopping with me he can carry bags for me, help me carry things up the stairs, and all sorts of benefits like this. Of course, it might be just like you and then I can relive your growth trajectory and pinch his cheeks too.”

“Are you planning to have a son or are you simply looking for an employee and a punching bag” This woman is truly a fairy, Su Can couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

Lin Luoran’s eyes under her long eyelashes glared at him unhappily. She said somewhat bitterly, "Su Can, can we not focus on the topic of having children You're not into that kind of thing, right"

"You were the one who brought it up first." Su Can was angry.

63 Fans

22nd Floor

Su Can was speechless when he saw Lin Luoran burst out laughing, but there was a hint of warmth in his heart. It felt like going back to the days in Xia Hai and Rong Cheng, where no one except him would worry about their next destination or future steps and whether tomorrow would be more cruel or beautiful.

A few people greeted Lin Luoran from over there and she excused herself.

Su Can didn’t expect Liu Xiaoqing to walk straight towards him. She smiled at the back of Lin Luoran, saying, "You two have a good relationship, right Although Lin Luoran is only in her first year, she’s already quite well-known. No wonder General Manager Su wasn't interested in me back then."

"We used to go to the same school and were friends for many years, so we’re very close," Su Can said.

He didn’t expect Liu Xiaoqing, who had been unwilling to greet him in the elevator earlier, would suddenly change her mind.

However, Su Can never looked down on others. Liu Xiaoqing willingly appeared at places like Fan Zhiliang’s, which was just a choice of hers; life isn't easy for everyone, especially not for someone who relies on others' kindness and still calculates carefully. Su Can didn’t look down on Liu Xiaoqing and had also discarded feelings of lowly sympathy.

"Even if you say that you only just got to know her recently, I believe you," said Liu Xiaoqing in a teasing tone, but she was momentarily stunned by the sincerity in Su Can’s voice.

Liu Xiaoqing had an extremely rich life experience. Her horizons were broadened through travels to famous mountains and rivers since childhood, plus some of her family's business modules which she was gradually taking over, estimating that around age 25 she would take full control of the family business. At nineteen years old, she was admitted into the ESSEC organization and worked in exchanges between Chinese and French institutions, talking about business and life with many people in their thirties or forties at her mere twenty-one years old. She had manipulated and competed against others multiple times. Thus, dealing with people like Su Can of this age group came naturally to her.

But she seemed unable to grasp Su Can's psychology once again; logically speaking, in Su Can’s eyes now, she was still a woman who had been bought by advertisers to scam him together and wasn’t much cleaner than that. However, from his expression and tone of voice, Liu Xiaoqing didn't detect any negative emotions towards her.

This made Su Can, who had already prepared himself for a cold shoulder, feel very surprised when she was unexpectedly polite.

Liu Xiaoqing knew not to judge Su Can by ordinary standards. After all, this nineteen-year-old university student was now one of Zhan Hua’s guests and had keen insight; at this evening party, there were quite a few people in their early twenties who could teach a group of disappointed middle-aged men a thing or two. Therefore, it's possible that Su Can might be even more capable.

"Can you accompany me for a while" Regardless of what Su Can was thinking inside, on the outside he didn’t seem as boastful and pleased with himself as before when he had outsmarted her; this made Liu Xiaoqing, who valued strength highly, feel somewhat balanced. She wasn't born brainless or enjoyed making countless enemies; letting Fan Zhiliang set up an intimidating scene was just to reduce risks in advertising fees and publicity efforts, aiming for maximum returns. Her interest in Su Can lay only in the cake he held, not any malice towards him. Therefore, this sentence was sincere as she wanted to know more about this Su Can—how much influence he had.

Lin Luoran was discussing with people from Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) regarding next week’s activities for that group of Spanish guys; several girls were talking enthusiastically and it would likely take some time. If Su Can left now, as a newcomer, it might seem impolite to leave before getting settled in—Lin Luoran was quite concerned about her reputation.

Su Can nodded his head and walked with Liu Xiaoqing into a small bar seat; the lounge had many such private booths separated by potted plants and wooden frames. Lin Luoran could see them enter, but as Lin Luoran spoke to others, confusion grew in her eyes. Clearly, Su Can and Liu Xiaoqing knew each other, so why did she pretend not to notice him just now

There were three more people inside the booth, talking about something; when they saw Liu Xiaoqing and Su Can come in, the three immediately stopped their conversation.

Liu Xiaoqing laughed helplessly. "Did you guys have to make it so mysterious It’s just a discussion about SNS website models. It isn’t anything groundbreaking—Facebook has already taken the lead. The person who made this FE is called Mark... what was his last name again"

"Mark Zuckerberg." Liu Menghui took off her gold-rimmed glasses, wiped the golden-coated lenses, and added, "Another founder of that company is a Chinese student overseas; he created an SNS website which has become very popular in America as a social service site. Many students use it to communicate with each other, leave messages, find one another—it’s like our Sina Weibo or ICQ. But recent surveys show its usage rate has dropped due to FE's emergence and might drop even more."

63 Fans

23rd Floor

Mou Qinghe, another key member of the feec club, added, "Perhaps it has some differences with n, icq. Both are strong functional communication methods, while Facebook is a social networking form that differs from these. However, in terms of positioning, this is more direct compared to community forms."

Su Cen was taken aback; as far as he knew, interactions between domestic college students and their overseas counterparts were not frequent during 2001, and the craze for studying abroad would only kick off a few years later. Currently, people were still largely active within their own circles with little knowledge about foreign conditions. Even though fe had developed for less than a year in China, it had already become a topic of conversation among these individuals. The sensitivity to information acquisition was quite high.

It's no wonder they are members of super clubs.

Su Cen finally felt the pressure; in his eyes, people like those from the Essec and feec clubs might still be small fry—some had yet to earn their first fortune. Yet, looking at the rapid wealth accumulation stories currently happening, many top performers in the TMT industry were graduates who had parachuted into successful careers early on, making them remarkably young.

These individuals’ backgrounds were no different from those before him. Furthermore, how could Su Cen deny that any of these people present at the party might not end up as CEOs or chairmen of companies he would be familiar with in the future

They had excellent educations and technical advantages, naturally radiating an aura of prestige due to their prestigious alma maters. Moreover, they possessed unique networks (including alumni clubs and social influence). Some came from households with substantial wealth. This was why the success rate of startups among super clubs in higher education institutions remained high.

Therefore, calling this place a den of talent wasn't an overstatement. Facing such a group destined to be pillars of society's future, Su Cen felt compelled to keep progressing or risk being left behind.ormitory, one could catch a whiff of instant noodle odor mixed with tea fragrance. The water heater was continuously supplying hot water. On a table piled high with books, brewing a cup of tea felt ve...