The next day at noon, Su Ruanruan took a car to the hotel where Zhou Zizhuo was staying.
As soon as she entered, she saw some old acquaintances.
Madam Bao and Xia Minglan were sitting in the hotel lobby’s reception area, looking like they were waiting for someone.
Su Ruanruan nodded towards them with great grace.
Madam Bao managed a forced smile.
After she left, Madam Bao said to Xia Minglan, "In such a situation, it’s truly not easy for Su Ruanruan to still show up at such places."
Xia Minglan smiled faintly, "Naturally, it requires some sacrifices."
Madam Bao couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Thank goodness such a girl didn’t end up with Ziqi.
She cherished Xia Minglan even more.
"By the way, has Zhou Zizhuo’s assistant replied?"
Xia Minglan smiled lightly, "Doctor Zhou has invited his junior sister for a meal today, and they might go play golf afterward, so he may not have time to see us today."
Madam Bao was slightly displeased, "Doctor Zhou really puts on quite a show."
Xia Minglan consoled, "Having pride in one’s talent is not uncommon."
After thinking for a moment, she added, "If we can get acquainted with that junior sister, I think our odds should be better."
Madam Bao looked at her and felt somewhat dissatisfied.
Didn’t Minglan say it was almost a sure thing at the beginning?
Why do they still need someone else to introduce them now?
Coincidentally, Xia Minglan’s phone rang.
She glanced at it and said, "It’s a call from Doctor Zhou’s assistant."
Madam Bao also couldn’t help but hold her breath.
Xia Minglan answered, "Hello, this is Xia Minglan."
After a few words from the other end, Xia Minglan hung up the phone.
She told Madam Bao, "Doctor Zhou indeed has no time today! However, he will attend the Gu Family’s 40th anniversary celebration tomorrow night."
Madam Bao immediately said, "Then tomorrow night, dress up beautifully."
Her eyes were full of longing, "We must let Doctor Zhou know that our Bao Family is worth his acquaintance."
Xia Minglan also smiled faintly.
On the 36th floor of the hotel, in the VIP room.
Zhou Zizhuo had ordered a lavish meal.
Those present were not only him but also the 12 Ph.D. students Su Peiming had mentored.
Each one was a top-notch in their field.
This time, it was Zhou Zizhuo’s face that brought people together from all over.
When Su Ruanruan pushed the door open and entered, she was stunned.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She was slightly overwhelmed.
Everyone was fond of her and softly called out, "Little junior sister."
Zhou Zizhuo patted her shoulder and said gently, "Don’t cry, your senior brothers are all here! We won’t let anyone bully you from now on."
He put his arm around Su Ruanruan’s shoulder, saying to the others, "When our teacher passed away, Ruanruan was young, and it was my negligence that left her vulnerable to others! But now that I’m back, Ruanruan’s matters are my matters."
He scanned the room, "What do you guys say?"
"Let’s listen to the eldest brother."
"What else can we say? I watched Ruanruan grow up from when she was still wearing diapers."
"With so many grown men here, if we can’t protect one little girl, wouldn’t we just be freeloading?"
Zhou Zizhuo was very pleased.
He raised a glass of wine, "A toast to everyone! And to our teacher, may he rest in peace."
Su Ruanruan also lifted her glass, smiling gently, "I will inevitably need everyone’s help in the future, so Ruanruan wants to thank all her senior brothers in advance."
Then, she shared her plans.
Her senior brothers were stunned.
When did this little kid become a monarch?
He thought to himself: There’s so much you don’t know!
In the afternoon, the long-lost senior brothers went to play golf.
Su Ruanruan, having had some wine, left early.
Zhou Zizhuo accompanied her to the parking lot.
He had just closed the car door when he turned around to see Xia Minglan standing behind him.
Xia Minglan had been waiting in the lobby and unwittingly had let Zhou Zizhuo walk right past her.
Vaguely, she saw him helping a woman into a car.
Xia Minglan felt like she was hallucinating.
She thought the girl looked somewhat like Su Ruanruan...