On the other side, Li Qiao returned to the banquet hall where Duan Yuanhui from the Academic Affairs Office and the department head were standing onstage, delivering a speech before the start of the banquet.
Dressed casually tonight, Duan Yuanhui wore a blue shirt paired with black trousers, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, exuding a steadiness that only age and experience could bring as he had just entered his forties.
Midway through his speech with microphone in hand, he caught sight of Li Qiao and nodded in apparent approval.
With a nonchalant smile, Li Qiao casually pocketed her hands in her punk-style jacket and dragged a chair from the corner of the banquet hall to sit by the wall near the entrance.
The male students seated at the back of the banquet exchanged glances, falling into contemplation.
Should they too drag chairs over to sit beside Li Qiao?
After all, tonight... the opportunity was rare.
At that moment, Duan Yuanhui cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Alright, our farewell banquet officially begins. Students, don’t say the school doesn’t give you the chance to fall in love.
The finance department next door in the Eastern Hall has over three hundred seventy people tonight. Later, feel free to mingle. I believe your chances of getting out of singlehood are just around the corner!"
"Director looks so handsome tonight!"
"I love the medical university, it is the cradle of my love!"
In an instant, the whole banquet hall was buzzing with excitement due to Director Duan’s words.
As they bid farewell to their student days, it seemed the students were thoroughly untethering their true natures.
Before long, Li Qiao brusquely turned down the third male student who approached to offer a toast and a dance. Watching for a while, Duan Yuanhui made his way to her with an unhurried gait.
He too grabbed a chair and sat down, teasing her with a smile, "That Liu Zhe just now is the male ’belle’ of your biology department, right? A pretty dashing young man, and you rejected him so outright?"
Li Qiao turned off her phone screen and glanced at Duan Yuanhui, speaking coolly, "As Uncle also said, he’s just pretty."
Duan Yuanhui chuckled and shook his head, scrutinizing her smart getup, "It seems you really didn’t come to find a partner tonight?"
Other female students were all dressed beautifully and extravagantly, only their family’s Li Qiao came in a punk leather outfit.
Li Qiao turned her face away, expressionless, "Do I need to?"
Duan Yuanhui fell silent: "..."
Of all the younger generation in the Li and Duan families, Li Qiao’s looks were unmatched and the most eye-catching without doubt.
She indeed didn’t need to look for a partner at such an event because no one was worthy of her.
Before long, as the time approached seven o’clock, students from the Eastern and Western Halls had already started to mingle and chat up others.
Li Qiao glanced at the time and lazily stood up, "I’m leaving."
Duan Yuanhui uncrossed his legs, resting one hand on the back of the chair, "You’re going back so soon? There’s a dance party later, not joining?"
Li Qiao paused and turned around, "Not joining, boring."
"Alright then, be careful on your way back. Oh, and next Saturday is your grandfather’s birthday, don’t forget to prepare a gift for him," Duan Yuanhui said as he stood up to remind her, and they both walked out of the banquet hall side by side.
This agitated the male students who had been eager to try their luck.
Director Duan, you knew that this was a social event for us students, yet you spent the whole evening chatting with Li Qiao, what were you thinking?
Can you not leave any room for the young folks to shine?
As night fell and shadows danced,
Li Qiao walked alone past the mermaid fountain in front of the hotel, planning to hail a cab straight to the police station.
Just then, a silver-gray Ou Lu car pulled out from the parking lot on the right and came to a stop right beside Li Qiao.
Liuyun got out, holding the half-open door with one hand, "Miss Li, are you heading to the police station?"