Lan Die stared at the message, momentarily stunned, hesitating over whether to delete his WeChat right away.
After some thought, she realized she still hadn’t returned the card and earrings to him. She needed to make a clean break first before deleting his contact and letting them fade from each other’s lives.
Just then, Cong Yue and Tian Beibei called her out for lunch, so she put her phone away without replying, forgetting to take off the earrings.
Only when they stepped outside did she realize it wasn’t just the three of them.
Two tall, handsome young men stood at the dormitory entrance, drawing the attention of passing girls with their sunny, striking looks.
Du Shaokang, a finance major and a Beijing local, had been Cong Yue’s high school classmate. Now in university, they were both still at Beijing University.
As Cong Yue put it, “We’re both hopeless—after living in this city for so many years, just when we finally had the chance to get away for college, we clung to it like stubborn leeches!”
Du Shaokang greeted the three girls warmly as they approached, and the other boy walked over too.
He stood around 185 cm tall, with a well-proportioned build and the dignified, steady appearance of a model civil servant.
After exchanging greetings, he casually moved to Lan Die’s side. “Hey, Lan Die!”
Lan Die smiled and nodded in response.
It was Song Yi, the senior-year student council president, also a finance major from Shanghai. Rumor had it his family had considerable influence, and he was often seen driving luxury cars around campus even during his college years.
Thanks to his outstanding character and academic achievements, he had already been accepted as a selected candidate for Beijing’s civil service system, with a bright future ahead.
A party of five!
Song Yi stood beside Lan Die, Du Shaokang beside Cong Yue, leaving Tian Beibei frozen in place.
“Ugh, help! This is so awkward—you guys are doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Tian Beibei pouted indignantly, then boldly squeezed herself between Lan Die and Cong Yue.
“Call your Mercedes G-Class over!” Du Shaokang teased her deliberately.
Tian Beibei curled her lip. “Forget that! Today, you’re all treating me to a good meal, and after we eat, you’re coming with me to catch a cheater! That nouveau riche jerk with a bit of stinking money is really something else!”
Cong Yue rolled her eyes beside them. “Who was it that said men aren’t afraid of getting old as long as they’re fit? Seems like he’s a bit too fit and needs to let off some steam!”
As the others bantered back and forth, Lan Die remained quiet, simply listening with a faint smile on her lips.
Song Yi clearly had an eye for quality. His gaze lingered on Lan Die’s earrings, and he seemed on the verge of saying something but ultimately held back.
Instead, he changed the subject. “How are you adjusting to your internship at the TV station?”
Lan Die smiled politely. “It’s going well.”
“Do you get to meet celebrities? Get me an autographed photo!”
Lan Die chuckled softly. Was this really something Song Yi would say?
He always held himself to the strict standards of a mature, steady veteran cadre.
During his time at university, he had excelled in student council work, becoming a trusted assistant to the faculty and a prominent figure on campus. No one had ever heard of him being involved in anything like celebrity fandom.
“Sometimes I do. Whose autographed photo do you want?” Lan Die replied earnestly.
“How about next time you have an event like that, you let me know beforehand, and I’ll go myself?” Song Yi’s attractive eyes fixed on her.
Lan Die averted her gaze and responded lightly, “Sure!”
Tian Beibei watched from the side, her lips curling in disbelief.
This so-called celebrity autograph hunt was clearly just a flimsy excuse!
“Take my car!” Song Yi called everyone over to his vehicle, a black Bentley Azure. “I was the first to start working, so lunch is on me today!”
“Nice one, bro!”
Du Shaokang opened the rear door for the three women, gestured a “please,” then walked straight to the front passenger door and plopped himself into the seat.
Song Yi’s brow furrowed slightly, and he pressed his lips together without saying a word.
That seat was reserved for someone else!
He looked at Lan Die. “Sorry to have you squeeze in the back. I went to an authentic official-style restaurant with colleagues last time—the flavors are very genuine. Let’s all go try it!”
“Out of the five of us, only you and Beibei aren’t locals of Jing City. Asking us old Beijingers to judge authentic official cuisine—perfect!”
Cong Yue teased as everyone got into the car.
Amid the cheerful laughter and banter along the way, Lan Die’s mood quickly lifted in the lively atmosphere.
The restaurant was quite distinctive, tucked away in a relatively quiet spot yet boasting exceptional scenery and refined taste.
The parking lot was filled with cars starting at a million yuan each, and the patrons coming and going all appeared either wealthy or influential.
Lan Die had been here before—two of her birthday banquets had been held here.
The receptionist still recognized her. After all, the former young heiress had a dazzling, unforgettable presence.
But times had changed. The once-enthusiastic receptionist merely greeted her with a faint nod.
As the five turned to walk toward the private room, faint whispers drifted from behind:
[How pitiful! Once so glorious, and now she’s no different from us—even worse off!]
[They say this heiress has a harsh fate, causing her family’s bankruptcy, bringing death to her parents, and even her younger brother contracting a terminal illness…]
…
Lan Die’s fists clenched tighter and tighter.
She fought back the tears threatening to spill, her body trembling slightly with anger.
“Damn, I’ve seen some nasty pieces of work, but never such vile, crow-mouthed trash!”
Cong Yue was the first to charge toward the reception desk. “Come on, you two ‘refined, soft-fated’ beauties, don’t hold back—say it out loud for me!”
Tian Beibei also rushed over without hesitation. “Spreading rumors really just takes flapping those two lips—open and shut, and it’s broadcast. Let me see if these are golden, unbreakable lips or shit-stenched, manure-filled mouths!”
As she spoke, she made as if to grab the two receptionists.
The situation was sudden, leaving the two women momentarily stunned. The lobby manager quickly hurried over.
Song Yi patted Lan Die’s shoulder. “You’ve been wronged. I’ll handle it—don’t worry.”
He walked directly to the lobby manager and communicated something in a low voice.
The two receptionists did not apologize on the spot. Instead, they enthusiastically attended to the group, serving tea and water with attentive care throughout the meal.
The apologies came afterward—both verbal and written, repeated until Lan Die was satisfied.
Later, the restaurant also issued a public statement on service rectification.
All of this was Song Yi’s doing.
He spared Lan Die the embarrassment of a public apology on the spot and prevented other diners from getting a free show.
But the apologies were not delayed, punishment was ensured, and it even extended to broader standards of service in the hospitality industry.
This was Song Yi’s way of doing things, and his approach indeed allowed him to navigate official circles with ease (more on that later).
With the matter resolved, the meal proceeded smoothly.
Feeling a slight stomachache, Lan Die got up to go to the bathroom.
Song Yi noticed her furrowed brows and followed her out of the private room, trailing behind.
“Lan Die, what are you doing here?”
Just then, the door to another private room opened, revealing a vibrant and striking short-haired woman with a look of surprise—it was He Nanzhi!
“Nannan, aren’t you in class?” Lan Die frowned, her expression pained.
“Your memory is really slipping, sis! It’s Sunday today—how else would we have run into each other?” He Nanzhi playfully walked over to her. “What’s wrong? Do I really make you look so miserable?”
Lan Die grimaced. “My stomach hurts. Nannan, I think my period is starting…”