Chapter 18: Taking Advantage Openly and Aboveboard

I stepped out into the corridor and answered the phone.

“Ru Hua.”

“Brother Fan, have you gotten your leave approved yet?” Qin Ru Hua’s voice carried a hint of sweet laughter.

“What time is it now?” I asked, pondering as I spoke.

Given the situation, I’d have to stay with Ling Xuan tonight. As for Qin Ru Hua, I could at least show up briefly to establish my identity. If others found out Qin Ru Hua had a boyfriend, there’d be no room for argument—after all, we were classmates. What else could they say?

But Ling Xuan couldn’t leave during this period.

No matter, I’d agree with Qin Ru Hua first, then inform Ling Xuan.

“It’s five o’clock now. Dinner starts at six. Have you gotten your leave?”

“Yes, I have. Are you at home? I’ll come pick you up.”

Qin Ru Hua chuckled, “No need to come get me, or they’ll say I’m leeching off a rich man. Just drive to the entrance of Tianhe University. Whoever arrives first will call the other.”

Actually, I no longer had the BMW, but I could still take a taxi.

Forget it, if I don’t pick her up, I don’t. I replied, “Alright, I’m leaving now.”

After hanging up, I returned to the office and glanced out the window. It was summer; the air conditioning was on inside, windows closed, curtains drawn.

“President Ling, I’m going out for a bit. Stay here and don’t leave. Wait for me to come back. If you have to go out for business, make sure to inform me, alright? I’m serious.” I walked up to Ling Xuan and spoke earnestly.

Ling Xuan looked up and glared at me coldly, “Are you my bodyguard or my boss?”

I was a little taken aback but chuckled, “Miss, just bear with me this once. Don’t use your boss identity to pressure me—I’m already suffocating under that.”

Ling Xuan sneered, “Come and go as you please. How are you suffocating?”

Though Ling Xuan was quite disdainful of me now, I found her anger somewhat endearing. I reached out and patted her shoulder, smiling, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Safety comes first at times like this, so just listen to me, alright? Be good!”

Ling Xuan shook off my hand forcefully, fuming, “Stop calling me that! Do you think I’m a three-year-old?”

Of course, I knew she meant “be good.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “In front of an assassin organization, you are a three-year-old.”

Ling Xuan had nothing to say and turned her head in anger.

I leaned in close, speaking seriously, “Jokes aside, don’t forget what I said. I haven’t yet uncovered this assassin organization. I’m not joking, understood?”

Ling Xuan snorted coldly.

I smiled, knowing this was her way of acknowledging me.

“Miss, you’re actually quite adorable, it’s just a pity you always wear that stern face. Sigh!”

I sighed with a smile and turned to leave.

Just as I reached the ground floor, Uncle Qi called.

“Xiao Fan, I checked—it’s not someone I know. Looks like I’ll need some time to investigate this for you. Be careful these days.”

“Okay, thank you, Uncle Qi.”

I pocketed my phone and instinctively scanned around, feeling as if someone was watching me.

That feeling was damn unsettling!

If this had anything to do with the Golden Land Group, I wouldn’t let them off easily.

Outside on the street, I hailed a taxi and headed straight to Tianhe University.

Tianhe University was located in the central district of Tianhe City, nearly half an hour away from the southern district. It was rush hour with companies letting out, and the streets were a bit congested.

By the time I arrived at the university gate, it was six o’clock.

Though Qin Ru Hua’s gathering was a graduation dinner, they were seniors who could have left school long ago, but it was mid-June, and other grades hadn’t yet begun their holidays.

Eight years ago, I was a top student in my senior year. If nothing had gone wrong, I should have gotten into a prestigious university. Unfortunately, after my dalliance with the young lady in my family, I never returned to school.

Looking at the vibrant youth—boys and girls full of vitality—at the school gate, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

I took out my phone and called Qin Ru Hua.

“Ru Hua, where are you?”

“Brother Fan, are you here? I’m already at Huiwei Restaurant beside the school. Walk along the street ahead—I’m waiting downstairs. Hurry, all the classmates have gathered.”

Qin Ru Hua had already called me several times on the way, but I was stuck in traffic, so she went ahead with her friends to the restaurant.

I walked along the road by the school gate and soon arrived in front of a five-story restaurant with a sign that read Huiwei Restaurant.

The restaurant looked ordinary, not particularly upscale.

From a distance, I saw Qin Ru Hua standing at the entrance. She wore a simple, elegant white dress, revealing two snow-white, slender arms. An orange shoulder bag hung from her shoulder. Her demeanor was graceful, exuding a goddess-like aura starkly different from the inexperienced students still in school.

At that moment, a handsome young man in a crisp white shirt emerged from the restaurant. His sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing a golden watch on his right wrist. He wore a faint smile, carrying himself with the air of a young aristocrat.

He exchanged a few words with Qin Ru Hua, hands in his pockets, standing tall and smiling as he looked outside.

I walked over calmly. The young man noticed me but didn’t know who I was; his eyes merely glanced over me without a second look.

I smiled and greeted, “Ru Hua.”

“Chu Fan.” Qin Ru Hua smiled brightly and hurried over.

The young man was momentarily stunned, then curled his lips into a proud smirk, still with hands in his pockets, strolling over leisurely.

Qin Ru Hua's light makeup made her skin appear exceptionally smooth and fair. Her eyelashes were curled, and her eyes large and sparkling—truly flawless beauty.

I stared at her face for a moment and sincerely praised, “Just as your name suggests, you’re as beautiful as a painting.”

Qin Ru Hua smiled happily, “Let’s go upstairs.”

“Wait, what did you just call me?”

Qin Ru Hua hesitated slightly, glanced at the approaching young man, then smiled softly, “‘Brother Fan’ sounds too cheesy. In front of my classmates, of course, I call you Chu Fan!”

“That won’t do. If we’re acting the part, we have to act it well.” I grinned, already eager to shamelessly take advantage.

“Don’t be silly.” Qin Ru Hua shot me an anxious glare. “Even as boyfriend and girlfriend, it’s normal to call each other by name in public.”

“Alright, no pet names then, but boyfriend and girlfriend should act like it.” I reached out and took Qin Ru Hua’s hand.

Soft, smooth, warm, and delicate.

Qin Ru Hua was momentarily taken aback, unsure whether to pull away, but for the moment allowed me to hold her hand.

The young man approached, saw us holding hands, his eyes turned cold, lips curling into a sneer. He said lightly, “So you’re Qin Ru Hua’s boyfriend?”

I sneered inwardly and responded nonchalantly, “Mm.”

His expression darkened instantly.

Qin Ru Hua quickly introduced, “This is my boyfriend, Chu Fan; this is my classmate, Sun Wen.”

Sun Wen sneered, “Chu Fan, did you walk here?”

“Took a taxi.” I replied coolly for Qin Ru Hua’s sake, then smiled at her, “Let’s go upstairs. Don’t keep your classmates waiting.”

As I spoke, I gently squeezed Qin Ru Hua’s hand and entwined our fingers, showing affection as we headed inside the restaurant.

Qin Ru Hua’s fingers twitched slightly, as if wanting to struggle, but sensing the tension between me and Sun Wen, she didn’t betray me and let me hold on.

Sun Wen’s face darkened as he suddenly pulled out a set of keys and pressed a button. A white BMW 320LI nearby flashed its yellow lights.

Damn! Another show-off!

I pretended not to notice and gently tugged Qin Ru Hua’s body closer, our arms overlapping.

The warm, silky touch made me feel a curious itch inside. I glanced over to see Qin Ru Hua lowering her head slightly, a blush rising to her cheeks, brows furrowed, gently biting her lower lip, lost in thought. Perhaps she was regretting asking me to pretend to be her boyfriend.

I smiled, “Ru Hua, you look beautiful today.”

Qin Ru Hua gave me a sideways glance and whispered, “Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what on purpose?”

“You know! Taking advantage of me!”

Qin Ru Hua rolled her eyes again.

I laughed, “This is for authenticity! Boyfriends and girlfriends hold hands like this. Come on, grip tighter, be more affectionate.”

By this time, we had entered the restaurant and were climbing the stairs.

People inside glanced at me with some envy.

I smiled, “Ru Hua, I only got three hours off. I’ll just show my face so they know I’m your boyfriend, then I’ll leave.”

Qin Ru Hua gave me a helpless look and whispered, “I didn’t realize you were this bad. But don’t cause trouble later. This is a graduation dinner—don’t ruin it. Please be patient, okay, Brother Fan?”

I chuckled, “Ru Hua, calling me Brother Fan sounds so sweet, it makes me weak all over. I won’t cause trouble.”

Qin Ru Hua squeezed my hand playfully and smiled, “You’re shameless, taking advantage and then acting innocent!”

Though she squeezed my hand first, I could clearly feel her palms were sweaty. In response, I squeezed her hand back.