Chapter 12: Tonight’s Feast

“My brother, Wang Zhen, goes to the same school as me,” Li Yan began, introducing himself through Shen Qingyue’s close friend.

At that moment, Wang Zhen took the initiative to say, “Hello, hello~”

Naturally, Liu Yuting also greeted them warmly, “Hello~”

Simple and straightforward—this was perfectly normal. Li Yan never intended to make things complicated.

Everything planned for tonight was merely to culminate in that final thrilling moment.

Of course, despite Shen Qingyue’s unusually proactive and obedient demeanor tonight, if it had been someone else, in a different setting, the aloof goddess wouldn’t have been so easygoing.

“All right, everyone, let’s start eating. The food here is quite good,” Li Yan said as the host.

He stubbed out his cigarette, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating without further ado.

Liu Yuting gently held the strap of her bag, casually picked up a shrimp dumpling, and upon tasting it, couldn’t help but show a look of pleasant surprise, though she restrained herself from saying much.

Shen Qingyue’s mind was occupied with the prices of each dish. Though she wanted to take photos, since she harbored deeper intentions toward Li Yan, she struggled to resist the urge to pull out her phone.

And as for Liu Yuting, it was even more obvious.

Wang Zhen, meanwhile, seemed indifferent; with Li Yan by his side, he appeared to relax completely.

A waiter quietly stepped forward and poured a pale golden white wine for everyone.

The glasses sparkled, and under the soft lighting, tiny bubbles shimmered within the wine.

“Brother Yan, let’s have a drink!” Wang Zhen said. Though unsure if he had a chance tonight, he found himself somewhat interested in this girl named Liu Yuting.

Unexpectedly, seeing Liu Yuting in person was quite different from the ‘wild’ image in her photos, which pleasantly surprised Wang Zhen.

‘Maybe she’s a good girl, and the wild look on social media is just a deliberate act?’

Putting aside Wang Zhen’s wild speculation, Liu Yuting was no fool.

Bars had their own style, just as going out to dinner with friends had its own dress code.

She certainly wouldn’t show up wearing black stockings and a tongue piercing to meet friends for a meal, would she?

Now, Liu Yuting was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and denim shorts—still quite short, but perfectly showcasing her figure’s advantages.

Though not a major advantage, just showing off her legs was enough to captivate boys like Wang Zhen.

Li Yan raised his glass, gesturing to Shen Qingyue and Liu Yuting.

“We’ve all just graduated from senior year. First time meeting—let’s have a great night,” he said casually, trying to lighten the mood.

Shen Qingyue looked at the confident young man before her. His face wasn’t especially handsome, yet he exuded a mature, self-assured aura that was strangely captivating.

The prices of the dishes on the table were deeply engraved in her mind, and as she looked at Li Yan, he only seemed more impressive.

Liu Yuting, adhering to the principle of speaking less and observing more, smiled and clinked her glass with Li Yan’s while carefully studying him.

When Wang Zhen smiled and nodded in greeting, Liu Yuting returned a natural smile in response.

Whether one was gentle or not, in a setting like this—around a meal costing over ten thousand yuan—Shen Qingyue and Liu Yuting naturally demonstrated how environment and wealth influence people’s behavior and demeanor.

“Toasting!”

“Toasting!”

The atmosphere in the private room gradually relaxed with the wine and conversation.

They were all young, freshly graduated from senior year, and all locals from Luzhong City, so there was plenty to talk about.

Naturally, most topics revolved around Li Yan.

Some people simply become the center of attention by nature.

Shen Qingyue put down her glass and looked up at Li Yan.

By now, the dishes on the table had passed their initial vibrant stage; everyone was about three-quarters through eating, and the conversation had shifted from initial awkwardness to a more natural flow.

She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke evenly, “Li Yan, I heard you got accepted to Sichuan University. That caused quite a stir at our high school.”

Li Yan was picking at a piece of roast duck roll with his chopsticks but paused when he heard her. Then, with a nonchalant smile, he replied, “Yeah, it’s okay. I just performed steadily.”

He didn’t want to make it sound too grand, as if he were some great achiever.

He knew very well that without the system’s rewards, he wouldn’t have gotten into Sichuan University, let alone a 211 university.

Liu Yuting listened quietly. She wasn’t very familiar with their high school but understood the prestige of Sichuan University.

At that moment, the labels of wealthy second-generation, refined temperament, and now...

Rich second-generation scholar.

Shen Qingyue casually asked, “When do you report for enrollment?”

Several dishes had been cleared; the waiter quietly removed the empty plates and replaced them with hot tea, refreshing the table.

Li Yan put down his chopsticks, lightly touched the edge of his teacup, and answered calmly, “Registration is in early September. I plan to get my driver’s license first, then go ahead to check out the campus and surroundings.”

Shen Qingyue raised an eyebrow, “So early? School hasn’t even started yet.”

Li Yan nodded gently, “Yeah, since it’s my first time studying so far away, I want to familiarize myself with the environment and get a feel for the pace of life there.”

“Once young, never leave Sichuan”—Li Yan had seen that saying many times.

He was eager to experience firsthand the rugged roads of Sichuan and the unique charm of the region.

Of course, he kept a respectful distance from the stereotypes and rumors.

Wang Zhen had also applied to a university in Chengdu, though it was just an ordinary third-tier school.

But largely, it was to study in the same province as Li Yan, and the school wasn’t too far from Sichuan University.

Though the school’s level was quite different, having an old friend nearby in a new environment gave him a sense of security.

The four young people were chatting happily, at least Shen Qingyue, Liu Yuting, and Wang Zhen seemed so.

As for Li Yan, he was used to this kind of life long ago.

Still, the rare relaxation after the college entrance exam was something he seldom experienced.

Thinking of the feast tonight, Li Yan’s half-year-long fasting monk’s resolve began to waver.

Watching Shen Qingyue inch closer, and noticing her long, fair legs tucked under the table toward him, he didn’t feel rushed.

The bottle of Chablis wine on the table was empty; Li Yan glanced at the time—already past eight, almost nine in the evening.

It was time to head to the bar.

“Waiter, the bill, please.”

The waiter smiled as he handed over the bill, printed on fine paper with neat, clear characters.

Li Yan glanced down at the total—just over twelve thousand yuan.