Chen Jiaxu and Lu Hesheng returned to the private room, one after the other.
Lin Ting lifted her head slightly, using her peripheral vision to quickly scan their expressions.
Lu Hesheng remained his usual casual self, but the oppressive tension around him had dissipated.
Chen Jiaxu followed, his lips carrying a gentle, refined smile.
Not only had they not fought… it almost seemed like their relationship had grown closer?
Lin Ting finally relaxed, and only then could she focus on savoring the dishes on her plate.
After sitting back down, Lu Hesheng first scanned the table—many of the dishes had already been eaten by the others.
He waved over a waiter. “Add more dishes.”
The menu was handed to him, and he quickly ordered several items, even a few bottles of wine costing over a thousand each.
Lin Ting recognized several of the dishes as her favorites.
…Was it a coincidence?
…Or did liking someone make even personal tastes subconsciously align with theirs?
The waiter brought the bill. Chen Jiaxu glanced at the total and raised an eyebrow at Lu Hesheng.
“Mr. Lu, you really aren’t holding back.”
Leaning back in his chair, Lu Hesheng’s lips curved slightly:
“It’s rare to enjoy a meal on President Chen’s tab, naturally I won’t miss it.”
“Besides, I gave my all on the court today, bringing honor to you and Jing University. Don’t I deserve some reward?”
The playful banter between the two relaxed the previously cautious teammates, and the room once again buzzed with liveliness.
As the meal neared its end, someone suggested a celebratory toast.
“To victory!”
Everyone raised their arms, the clinking of over a dozen glasses ringing crisp and clear.
Lin Ting, knowing her alcohol tolerance was low and not wanting a repeat of last time, only took a small sip.
The taste was pleasant—bittersweet with a hint of wine aroma.
Chen Jiaxu grabbed an empty cup, filled it, and placed it in front of Lu Hesheng. “Shall we toast, just the two of us?”
Lu Hesheng lifted his glass and lightly tapped it against Chen Jiaxu’s, then drank it all in one go.
After the meal, some wanted to return to campus, while others felt it was still early and wanted to continue the night elsewhere.
Everyone was polite, but in the end, no one left. They all took the elevator to the upstairs KTV room to sing.
A few of the guys were mic hogs, clinging to the microphone once they got it.
Add in a bit of alcohol, and the room’s atmosphere stayed lively.
Encouraged by others, Lin Ting selected a slow-tempo love song, one unlikely to go off-key.
When it was her turn, the chatter around her naturally quieted.
Being silently observed by so many made her more nervous.
As the intro played, Qin Liangyan recognized the song.
She leaned over, grabbed the other microphone, and sang the entire song with Lin Ting.
Everyone applauded and whistled in support.
Lin Ting blushed and quickly returned to her seat.
Her gaze drifted sideways, spotting Chen Jiaxu and Lu Hesheng sitting side by side on the sofa, seemingly deep in conversation.
Just then, a sudden warmth spread in her lower body.
Her heart sank—calculating the timing, her period had started.
She whispered to Qin Liangyan and borrowed a pad, grabbed her bag, and hurried toward the restroom.
Shortly after Lin Ting left, a guy elbowed his friend teasingly:
“You chickened out earlier, didn’t ask for her WeChat, and now that she’s gone, you regret it!”
His friend pushed up his glasses, mentally psyching himself up: “I’ll go add her when she comes back!”
From a distance, Chen Jiaxu noticed the commotion. He paused his conversation, raised his glass, and smiled at the scene.
Lu Hesheng’s gaze swept over as well.
He looked at the pale, flushed, introverted glasses-wearing boy.
He had seen plenty of such small schemes at parties.
Coldly, Lu Hesheng spoke, rejecting on her behalf: “She doesn’t have WeChat.”
The boy looked up, meeting Lu Hesheng’s impassive yet intimidating eyes, his face flushing in embarrassment and defeat.
He muttered to the friend next to him:
“Forget it… even if I add her, it’s hopeless.”
In the restroom, Lin Ting was washing her hands.
Perhaps it was the first day of her period, combined with a bit of cold drink earlier, her lower abdomen ached faintly.
She adjusted her slightly pained expression in the mirror before pushing the door open.
Her phone vibrated constantly—Qin Liangyan was bombarding her with messages.
Just as she was about to reply, a girl rushed past and accidentally bumped into her.
The girl stomped her foot angrily. “Hey! Watch where you’re going! Don’t you have eyes?”
Lin Ting stopped, glanced at the foundation smeared on her sleeve, and suppressed her discomfort.
Politely, she spoke calmly:
“Sorry, I didn’t pay attention. Can I apologize?”
The girl wasn’t satisfied. “Cheap woman! You think just saying sorry is enough?”
“Do you know how long it took me to do this makeup? My hair is ruined! My makeup’s a mess! Can you even compensate me?!”
Lin Ting initially wanted to let it go, but hearing this, her face turned cold.
She turned and addressed her directly, her tone flat: “Shen Zhiyao.”
She appraised the overly revealing maid outfit the girl wore, and let out a cold laugh:
“So, what? You want me to kneel?”
Shen Zhiyao’s expression changed to shock, her voice faltering. “Cousin, how are you here?”
Instinctively, she tugged at her slipping strapless dress.
Lin Ting retorted, “If you can be here, why can’t I?”
It was her first time seeing this cousin, who always acted obedient and sweet in front of the Lin family, reveal this hidden side.
Shen Zhiyao muttered under her breath, trying to save face: “Who knows if you used some underhanded method to get in here?”
After all, this club was extremely exclusive, full of wealthy members, and Lin Ting wasn’t the type to spend that way.
Lin Ting, growing increasingly uncomfortable from her cramps, decided to leave without arguing further.
Shen Zhiyao, sensing a weakness, blocked her, demanding relentlessly:
“Wait, who did you come with? Tell me!”
Lin Ting’s patience was thinning. “With my university classmates.”
Shen Zhiyao pressed on: “University classmates? Male or female? What do they do to be able to afford bringing you to a place like this?”
Lin Ting rolled her eyes. “Shen Zhiyao, are you crazy? Why should I report to you who I came with?”
Even with their family ties, such detailed questioning was extremely presumptuous.
She reached out and pushed Shen Zhiyao’s arm away from her waist.
Not getting the answer she wanted, Shen Zhiyao angrily jabbed back, stomping and pointing her finger:
“Just wait! I’ll tell Auntie that you hang out with shady people and come to such places!”
“Let’s see how she deals with you!”
Lin Ting felt tonight was unlucky—her cramps and this ridiculous confrontation made her miserable.
She forced herself to stand her ground. “I haven’t done anything wrong. You think I’m afraid of her?”
At that moment, Lu Hesheng strode over, placing himself between Lin Ting and Shen Zhiyao.
One hand in his pocket, his presence radiated a lethal intensity. Looking at Shen Zhiyao, his voice carried unmistakable anger:
“And who exactly do you think you’re going to discipline?”