Yan Lu was sitting at the same table as Shen You’an and Gao Yuyue, talking about fun places in Chunzhou, when Gao Yuyue reminded her, "Your phone is ringing."
Yan Lu took her phone out of her small bag, glanced at it, and answered the call, putting it to her ear with an impatient tone: "Make it quick. I’m busy."
"Xiao Lu’er, I heard you’re back in Chunzhou. Tonight at the usual spot, I’ve got something fun for you."
"Keep it to yourself. I’m hanging out with my besties."
Who’s her bestie? Yan Lu is just the type to impose herself on people.
"Hey hey hey, if your besties are your besties, then they’re my besties too. Come on, it’ll be worth it. Let me give you a little teaser—know that popular boy idol group everyone’s crazy about? My uncle’s one of the show sponsors, pulling a few contestants to hang out is nothing. It’s gonna be a feast for the eyes."
Boy idols? Of course Yan Lu knew—they were unbelievably popular.
Yan Lu hung up the phone, gave the two of them a sideways glance, then after some consideration said, "How about I take you both somewhere fun tonight?"
Gao Yuyue looked eager to go, but Shen You’an’s nonchalant tone quickly dampened her enthusiasm.
"Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. We should stay at the hotel and prepare."
Gao Yuyue reluctantly nodded. "True, we need to prepare."
Yan Lu sighed. "Fine. Honestly, at tonight’s gathering, my friend invited some boy idol contestants over, including someone named Rong something..."
Gao Yuyue, mid-drink, nearly choked. "Rong Xianning?"
She instinctively turned to look at Shen You’an.
Shen You’an’s expression remained flat and emotionless.
"Yeah, that’s right. Rong Xianning. You wanna go?"
Gao Yuyue immediately nodded. "Yes, yes, absolutely yes! An’an, a little relaxation before exams helps relieve anxiety and gets you better scores. Let’s just treat it as a little fun outing..."
Shen You’an glanced in Mr. Meng Junzhu’s direction. "How do you plan on getting past Mr. Meng?" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on ⓝovelFire.net
Both Gao Yuyue and Yan Lu looked frustrated.
Mr. Meng was notoriously strict and unyielding—except when it came to Shen You’an.
Both of them turned their gaze toward Shen You’an. "An’an, you ask Mr. Meng for leave. She’ll definitely agree to you."
Yan Lu gritted her teeth. "I’ve got my own way."
After dinner, Shen You’an and Gao Yuyue approached Mr. Meng Junzhu. Shen You’an expressed her wish to go out for a stroll in Chunzhou City to relax.
If it had been anyone else, Mr. Meng would have rejected them outright. But this was Shen You’an, and she didn’t want to disappoint the girl. Plus, Chunzhou’s night views were stunning—it’d feel like a missed opportunity not to explore a little.
"I’ve got a meeting tonight, or else I’d join you myself. How about this—I’ll find a male classmate to accompany you. That way, you’ll have someone to keep an eye on you."
At that moment, Liu Runxi happened to pass by. Mr. Meng called him over. "Liu, come here for a moment."
Liu Runxi walked over and, after hearing Mr. Meng’s request, agreed without hesitation.
"Mr. Meng, don’t worry. I’ll take care of Shen and Gao."
Mr. Meng emphasized firmly, "You must stay safe. Be back by nine thirty—no excuses! Send me a safety check-in every thirty minutes. Got it?"
Shen You’an, Gao Yuyue, and Liu Runxi repeatedly promised, only then did Mr. Meng let them leave.
As they left the hotel, Gao Yuyue took a deep breath of freedom, patting Shen You’an on the shoulder. "Your words work magic. Otherwise, I could talk until my lips fell off and Mr. Meng still wouldn’t budge."
Gao Yuyue glanced at her phone, then took them to a secluded lane on the south side of the hotel.
"Yan Lu said to wait for her here for two minutes."
Soon, a black van pulled up in front of the three. The door opened to reveal Yan Lu’s sweet smile. "Hop in."
Gao Yuyue and Shen You’an ducked inside. The van was spacious—more than enough room for a few people.
Yan Lu grinned mischievously at Liu Runxi. "Desk mate, fancy seeing you again."
Liu Runxi nodded politely but kept his usual aloof demeanor. Instead of sitting in the back, he opened the passenger-side door.
Yan Lu raised an eyebrow.
She instructed the driver, "Uncle Li, let’s go."
Their destination wasn’t far from the hotel—a twenty-minute ride at most.
Under the night sky, an enormous neon-lit castle came into view.
Gao Yuyue stared at the glowing sign and muttered the four characters aloud, "Crown Club?"
The club’s grand doors slowly opened, and as the van pulled up to the entrance, uniformed attendants briskly ran over to respectfully open the car doors.
As they got out, Gao Yuyue couldn’t help but glance at the lavish, extravagant architecture before turning to size up Yan Lu.