Chapter 97: Utter Defeat
Lu Jinyuan led Jiang Qingying on a leisurely stroll around the campus, and it was nearly noon when they came out.
"Are you tired?" Lu Jinyuan asked.
Jiang Qingying blinked. "A little, and I'm still very hungry."
Lu Jinyuan glanced at her watch; it was almost 11 o'clock. She had eaten breakfast, but it was normal for pregnant women to get hungry quickly.
“Then let’s walk a few more steps, and I’ll take you to the restaurant I used to frequent.” Lu Jinyuan thought for a moment, “Or should I carry you there? But right now you can only be carried in a princess carry.”
Jiang Qingying pouted. Of course, she wouldn't let Princess Lu Jinyuan carry her in broad daylight. If she weren't pregnant, she could have let him carry her without feeling guilty.
She punched Lu Jinyuan in the chest and retorted, "I'm not that weak."
Although she had been away for quite some time, Jiang Qingying had always been in good physical condition. Even during her pregnancy, she continued to exercise and would hire a private trainer to come to her home for yoga classes in her spare time.
Lu Jinyuan smiled but didn't say anything, and led her away.
On the way, they walked through the food street outside the university. Jiang Qingying bought a glass of freshly squeezed coconut juice, the sweet aroma of coconut milk lingering in the air. "What should we eat?"
“Chicken hot pot.” Lu Jinyuan pointed to a small shop a few meters away. “It’s run by an elderly couple. The food is delicious. It’s always packed during mealtimes. Classes haven’t ended yet, so it’s not crowded right now.”
The two chose a corner seat, and the proprietress brought over the bowls and chopsticks, smiling as she asked, "Did you just come here after class?"
It's no wonder the landlady guessed that way, because the classroom is closest to the school gate, and those who arrive early are usually students who have just finished class or have left early before class is over. In addition, although the two are not young, they don't look their age, and today they are dressed casually, with Jiang Qingying wearing loose clothing, so you can't tell that she is pregnant unless you look closely.
"Yes, I was so hungry that I skipped class to come here." Jiang Qingying smiled charmingly. "So thank you for your help, landlady."
Lu Jinyuan's eyes were full of affection; he couldn't do anything about it.
Jiang Qingying was beautiful and had a pleasant voice, so the proprietress was quick and efficient, and soon the dishes were served.
Lu Jinyuan rinsed the bowl and chopsticks for her and handed them to her, saying, "Try it first."
"Okay." Jiang Qingying picked up a piece of chicken leg, blew on it to cool it down before eating, savoring it carefully, and then gave a thumbs up, "Delicious!"
Lu Jinyuan smiled faintly, "As long as it tastes good."
As Jiang Qingying ate, she exclaimed, "I'm so envious of all the delicious food you guys have at your universities. When I was in college, there was a branch campus. My major was on the new campus, which was in the suburbs. The commercial area outside the school hadn't been developed yet, and it was all wasteland. Back then, I didn't have any other choice but the cafeteria."
"That's a real shame," Lu Jinyuan said. "Miss Jiang is actually worried about having a few bites to eat."
“I also lived on campus when I was in college. I’m usually quite low-key, and not many people know about my family’s financial situation.” Jiang Qingying took a bite of rice and ate slowly. “But when I was interning at the group during my junior year, I managed to get that commercial area of the new campus. I even took it from your family.”
Lu Jinyuan felt that what she said sounded familiar. After thinking for a while, he remembered, "I seem to remember that Grandpa said that a girl tricked him. Is this it?"
"Yeah." Jiang Qingying was very proud, her chin held high. "I didn't really have to take it over, after all, Jiang's mainly does hotels and cultural tourism, but I just wanted the shops outside the school to be places I love to eat and places I love to visit."
"There aren't many people who can outsmart Grandpa, and you were so young back then, which really infuriated him."
"This is what they call the Yangtze River, where the new waves push the old ones forward."
“Yes,” Lu Jinyuan agreed. “You are very capable and intelligent.”
Jiang Qingying was delighted, cupping her face in her hands and resting them on the table, "Praise me more, please."
"She is very beautiful."
"Of course."
"She also has a great figure."
"Hmm, I'm 1.7 meters tall."
"He has great taste and loves me very much."
"...I can barely accept that."
Lu Jinyuan stopped, and Jiang Qingying thought he had run out of things to say.
After waiting a while, I heard him say, "The work is very good."
“Then…” Jiang Qingying suddenly stopped, her eyes filled with astonishment after she realized what she meant, “Can you please stop saying all this nonsense outside?”
Lu Jinyuan's expression held a hint of apology. He gently stroked her face with the back of his hand and said tactfully, "I'm at a loss for words."
"Who would believe that?" Jiang Qingying shook off his hand and continued eating.
Lu Jinyuan served her food, and after she finished eating, he said, "Let's go. I've booked a hotel. Let's take a nap before we go out to play."
His tone was low and deep, almost hypnotic. Jiang Qingying yawned the next second, her eyes glistening with tears.
"I'm full, so I'm definitely sleepy." Jiang Qingying said lazily. "Let's go."
Lu Jinyuan went to pay the bill, and when he came back, he took her to the hotel.
I took a long nap at noon and dawdled around, so it was almost four o'clock when I went out again.
Lu Jinyuan took her to a coffee shop.
A very familiar coffee shop, the place where Jiang Qingying flirted with Lu Jinyuan back then.
Why did you bring me here?
Lu Jinyuan pulled out a chair and gently pressed her shoulder. "Sit down."
Jiang Qingying frowned slightly and clicked her tongue softly, "Tell me quickly."
"Would you like me to make you a drink?" Lu Jinyuan bent down and kissed her when she wasn't looking.
Jiang Qingying: "But I can't drink coffee."
Lu Jinyuan: "I'll make you a cup of chocolate."
Jiang Qingying nodded. "Are you still skilled? And do you think the boss would let you monopolize his workbench?"
Lu Jinyuan chuckled, playing with her hair with his long fingers. "I used to work here. The boss even knows me. I spoke to him beforehand."
"Okay, then go ahead."
"Wait a moment, it will be ready soon."
Lu Jinyuan ran to the preparation station, where another waiter handed him an apron. He bent down to tie it, and when he looked up again, he saw Jiang Qingying staring at him, her smiling fox-like eyes giving off a flirtatious vibe.
Her posture, her expression, the way she looked at me were remarkably similar to how they were back then. The only difference was that back then, she was just playing around, directly wanting to admire the handsome man. But now, the smile in her eyes held joy and love.
Of course, he's different now; he's no longer indifferent and unresponsive. He now smiles at her without any pretense, and can even communicate with her through lip reading.
Am I pretty?
"nice."
"Then you should read more."
It was a brief, silent exchange. I don't know if I misread the other person's lips, but it was quite fun and interesting.
Lu Jinyuan focused on making the drink, and ten minutes later, he returned with a cup of hot chocolate.
Jiang Qingying looked away from him and looked down at the drinks on the tray, as well as a paper heart next to them. She was instantly stunned.
The paper heart looked like it was made from a square sticky note. The sticky note had a pretty design, with a hand-drawn red rose printed on the light pink paper.
When Jiang Qingying was in school, she loved using sticky notes and would collect all sorts of them, especially rose-shaped ones. After growing up and starting work, she wanted to appear more serious and professional, so she switched to solid-colored sticky notes.
She hadn't used these girly stationery items in a long time.
But Lu Jinyuan would never use such stationery.
Jiang Qingying picked up the paper heart, facing the sunlight behind him, her chest brimming with emotion, "Didn't you tell me you'd throw it away after you read it?"
"I was just kidding you back then, trying to tease you." Lu Jinyuan sat down, smoothed her wind-blown hair, tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, and then pinched her earlobe tightly. "Take a look inside."
Jiang Qingying's fingers were nimble; she carefully untied each fold and clasp, and ten seconds later, the text inside was revealed.
Hesitation will lead to defeat.
There's one more line.
- Utter defeat.
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