ring Tang Wu earlier.Xue Yiyang and Liu Rui immediately sat down at a machine to divert their gaze, feeling too intimidated to look directly at the girl.One of them laughed loudly, "So, you've brought...Chapter 169: Strolling Around the School

Tao Cui now understood where the gap lay between his cousin Tao Chu and the young man before him who had grown up amidst countless indulgences, which explained why he suffered at the hands of such a person without any cause for complaint.

He was no stranger to worldly matters but never had a university student ever been able to hit him where it hurts by presenting arguments that were hard to refute. If language contained magic, Tao Zhang realized now how difficult it would be for him not to be affected and recognized the significance of this situation.

This made him recall his own university days; none among his peers back then, even those from Tsinghua University's Experimental Class (Class One), had possessed such a deep understanding of the adult world’s sharp interests. Interacting with them felt like dueling an old and cunning fox.

Tao Chu remained silent; although he could be considered a passionate youth bolstered by family background far superior to most others, coupled with mutual admiration within his circle, this occasionally made him seem frivolous. Despite his brotherly elder cousin’s superiority in conduct and foresight, Tao Chu was no pure dilettante.

His grandfather Tao Qian had sent him to Chengdu for "training," which wasn't due to senility; conflicts with Su Chen and Wang Weiwei were merely one of many unexpected incidents but certainly not beautiful ones.

Beyond the superficiality nurtured in his restless environment, Tao Chu was still a regular young man who could be surprised, feel inferior, sense emptiness beyond the mundane life at night, or even experience inexplicable youthful melancholy from time to time.

Before him, Su Chen appeared composed and knew what he wanted to achieve; clear in his objectives, he marched forward undeterred. The sudden brilliance of Lin Luoran beside him made Tao Chu avert his gaze, realizing how pale in comparison his own lavish lifestyle seemed when compared with the boy and girl before him. No matter how many fair-skinned bodies he had beneath him, it couldn't fill this emptiness.

Tao Chu watched Su Chen and Lin Luoran exchange a knowing smile before Su Chen looked at him again, nodding politely. This wasn’t like the tense atmosphere in Chengdu, but Tao Chu still turned his head away, not wanting to look at them.

Tao Zhang smoked as smoke swirled around him; he finally picked up Su Chen’s file from the table and put it back into his briefcase, saying, "I will read this."

As he put away those documents, Tao Zhang glanced at Li Luo and then seemed to speak to himself. “Unexpected gains indeed.”

In truth, both Tao Feng and Li Luo were well aware that what had shaken Tao Zhang was Su Chen’s unpredictable maneuvers; they originally thought it would be a conciliatory banquet for an apology. Otherwise, Tao Cui wouldn't have brought back Tao Chu from Jiangsu where he was sent after being expelled from Chengdu; Li Luo also held this sentiment since in his eyes, Tao Zhang matched him in background and personal cultivation, making them the dominant forces at the start.

Who would’ve thought that everything changed in an instant, with Su Chen taking charge despite being a primary figure of conflict. Moreover, he did so by forming an alliance and engaging on equal footing with Tao Cui! His arguments were well-reasoned and evidence-backed, leaving no room for rebuttal.

In Tao Zhang and Li Luo's eyes, they could read each other’s messages. This Su Cen is quite interesting and not simple!

Su Cen felt reassured knowing that this move by Tao Zhang marked the first step towards an alliance between the Tao family and Building Construction Engineering Group on Chuan Nan Aviation Group. The power formed from such a partnership would be formidable, enabling them to firmly implement their policy of cutting through red tape.

","

The banquet was over; Tao Cui and his brother got into the car and drove off. However, they were not as aggressive as before when they arrived. Even as they left, Tao Chu Hong still hadn't decided on what expression to wear in front of Su Cen—should he regard him as an enemy or a friend

This would likely occupy his thoughts for quite some time.

The Huangpu Ferry was moving down the river with tourists bustling about. The traffic highlighted a scene of prosperity.

"Su Cen, aren't you afraid to offend me" Li Luo pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and used matches to light it up, then squinted at Su Cen, bluntly asking him. After all, they had already shared an intimate conversation in the bathroom earlier.

Su Cen knew that Li Luo’s attitude towards him was completely transformed by this question. By taking action, he demonstrated that he wasn't a weakling needing protection, but rather someone who surpassed expectations of both sides.

He replied with a smile, "I'm not afraid. You're not petty."

Li Luo was initially stunned and then burst into laughter, saying, “Wang Weiwei’s evaluation of you is very high; it turns out to be true. Indeed, you are an exceptionally unique kid,

He exhaled a mouthful of smoke before continuing, "I've been fighting with Wang Weiwei since childhood, and every time I always come out on top. When I pin him down, I say, 'Call me boss or else,' or 'Say brother, and you're off the hook.' But this kid is stubborn; he never capitulates to a single word even when his hand is twisted painfully behind his back.

He looks delicate but has an exceptionally tough core. He's never truly submitted to anyone before. You might be the only exception. Do you think I don't feel envious"

The night was getting cooler, and Lin Luoran pulled out a thin jacket to put on and said, "Su Cen is a man my dad often praises. This can only mean that Wang Weiwei knows how to adapt to the situation. Brother Li Luo shouldn’t be jealous of Su Cen just because of Wang Weiwei's views, right”

Li Luo smiled and said, "I feel like I've become a lonely existence. Where did Lin Luoran go She used to follow me around all the time. How come she's changed direction now and found another 'big tree' If that’s really how it is, then I'll be truly furious."

Lin Luoran sweetly smiled back at him, acting like a lady in every sense of the word. This even made Li Luo, who was smoking a cigarette, feel restless and somewhat uneasy. He turned to Su Can and said, "Teach me how you managed to convince Wang Weiwei to call me 'brother.' In theory, I shouldn’t be lacking in life experience or principles. I’ve talked with him about this before, but why doesn't he listen Why doesn't he worship me"

Su Can stared blankly at Li Luo and thought that the person Wang Weiwei referred to did indeed have an unusual temperament. What he said to Su Can privately earlier clearly put pressure on Su Can and made him feel the hidden depth of Li Luo’s character. In this banquet, Su Can turned from a passive participant into one who took the initiative to attack. He had originally thought that this would upset Li Luo, but instead, Li Luo didn’t hold anything against him. Instead, he started talking about Wang Weiwei as if they were chatting casually. It was truly hard for others to understand his behavior.

Su Can could only say, "Perhaps it’s simple. Next time when you confront him, don’t hit him; instead, challenge him to a game of competitive gaming. If he gets under your feet, he might give in. As for dealing with Wang Weiwei, that's just my personal opinion."

Li Luo pointed at Su Can as if it was the perfect solution and laughed heartily. He patted Su Can on his shoulder and said, "You are a good kid, and Lin Luoran is also a good kid. Don’t let her down; otherwise, I won't forgive you, nor will many others. Do you understand"

Li Luo’s car dropped them off at the Shanghai International Studies University campus. Su Can naturally wouldn’t ask Li Luo to personally drive him back to Nan Da. After getting out of the car together, he walked back to his school while saying goodbye to Li Luo, who drove away in a hurry, leaving behind the silhouettes of Su Can and Lin Luoran standing at the entrance.

Lin Luoran stretched her body. "That’s it. I’m exhausted."

Su Can thought that she had been tiring him out as well and laughed back, saying, "Your acting was very convincing."

Lin Luo frowned and said, "Su Can, do you even have a conscience Today, I sacrificed a lot for your sake, such as my dignity and beauty."

Su Can couldn’t help but feel amused yet touched at the same time. But to say that Miss Lin had sacrificed her dignity and beauty, he would rather reserve his opinion. However, today’s Lin Luoran was different from her usual style; she had an unprecedented appearance which she usually showed when facing elders or needed to display her exquisite acting skills. Yet, it was all because of him. So he said, "Thank you."

Lin Luo then said, "No need for thanks. Then the words I spoke about you at the banquet today can be considered null and void." Naturally, she referred to her answer that showed a lack of confidence in Su Can.

Immediately after, Lin Luoran’s beautiful eyes stared straight at him with a smile on her face. "In fact, I quite like your performance during the banquet. Didn't you see how conflicted Tao Zhao and his brother's expressions were when you presented your information Even Li Luo哥 looked at you differently. We all respect Li Luo哥 in our generation; don’t be angry about his tone today. That’s just how he is, but he always excels, like a role model."

Su Can nodded and said, "He didn't get so upset, and neither did I."

Lin Luoran wore a satisfied expression, as if she had known all along that Su Can would act this way. She said, "I still remember the first time I heard Li Luo's ideal for becoming a soldier. He said men should be like Dilu horses, leading the charge at the front. Soldiers should be tanks, unstoppable in any direction. The Great Wall is a source of shame for the Chinese nation; soldiers are not the Great Wall but spears. He wishes to be the tip of the spear and fight a decisive battle once in his life. I thought that was very manly back then and admired him greatly."

Su Can scratched his head, never expecting Li Luo to speak so decisively like this. You can't judge a person by their appearance.

However, this made Su Can recall the moment he first met Lin Luoran in Xia Hai. It was no wonder that she didn't even react back then; from a young age, she had seen many outstanding men and thus held herself to high standards. She was passionate but also pursued perfection, so the man who could match her would likely be someone with great aspirations and ambitions, like Li Luo or even better.

As for himself, just being in her life as a friend was already more than he had ever hoped for.

Su Can then said nonchalantly, "He mistook me for Wang Weiwei's cousin."

Lin Luoran smiled at Su Can and asked, "Are you still worried about what Li Luo said Don't worry. He will probably call me soon to introduce his new acquaintances. You'll be long forgotten by then. Since we're already here, why don't we take a walk"

Su Can nodded and replied, "I'll see you back to your dorm room. But is it going to cause trouble I heard that you're quite famous in the university."

"Who said so It's nonsense. You won't be in any danger," Lin Luoran laughed as she turned her head slightly towards him, with half of her beautiful face illuminated by a streetlight. She continued, "Worst case scenario, we'll get surrounded and beaten up."

Old Shanghai International Studies University was where Su Can and Lin Luoran were walking on the main road. In her simple dress, Lin Luoran couldn't avoid attracting attention. If it was usually a boy eyeing a beautiful girl in this situation, then the image of Lin Luoran's flowing skirt and gentle hair being blown by the wind would be enough to draw everyone's attention. However, having Su Can with her made everything seem less harmonious.

Fortunately, they encountered some classmates who knew Lin Luoran along the way. Some people had uncertain expressions when seeing Su Can next to Lin Luoran; others were shocked and covered their mouths in surprise. A few of them even smirked maliciously as they sized up Su Can from head to toe. The majority were girls, with a couple of beautiful ones openly staring at him.

The most concerning thing was that Lin Luoran remained calm and didn't bother introducing Su Can. She greeted several groups of people along the way, making Su Can grumble internally about how she knew so many people. After each group passed them, they would start speculating on their relationship in a hushed voice as they headed to evening study sessions or late-night snacks. Su Can thought this was like an exhibition rather than just taking a walk around campus.

But upon reflection, he realized it made sense because the only things that usually attracted people's attention on campus were pornographic films circulated among male dormitories and universally recognized beauties like Lin Luoran. Given her reputation at Shanghai International Studies University, it was normal for everyone to be curious about a boy accompanying her.

"The south is Lu Xun Park. Every Sunday there’s an English Corner there; we often go there in the evening with our roommates and classmates to practice oral English. Later on when the gates are closed, we climb over the iron gate back to the dormitories," Lin Luoran pointed southward as if she was giving Su Can a tour.

"You climbed an iron gate" Su Can looked at Lin Luoran, reminding himself not to be deceived by her present appearance as a gentle lady. Back then, Lin Luoran was quite capable of scaling walls and rooftops with Wang Weiwei and Lin Zhouwu. Now, with long hair draped over her shoulders and in a flowing dress within the campus grounds, she looked even more international, embodying a simple yet regal style.ening a branch in Dacheng and then進駐星海廣場as a large supermarket department store was entirely different; the scale and gap were not easily calculable.After some hesitance, Wang Ming said what she least...