Chapter 42: Chapter 42: This Flex Is Too Forced

Li Zhiyi turned around and saw Wang Lu.

Wang Lu was her college roommate. After graduation, they both stayed in Zhonghai to work and became roommates.

"Your timing is perfect. Let’s hurry. Yingying has called to rush me several times already."

"There’s no rush."

Wang Lu gave Li Zhiyi a sly grin. "Don’t think I didn’t see you. I saw everything. You got out of that Maybach."

"It was just a coincidence. I ran into a friend, and he gave me a ride."

"Tsk, tsk. A friend or a *boy*friend? You need to be clear about that."

"Of course, he’s..."

Wang Lu ignored Li Zhiyi and walked right up to the passenger’s side of the car.

The moment she saw Lin Jiang, Wang Lu was stunned for a good while.

’I thought he’d just be some run-of-the-mill rich kid. I didn’t expect him to be this handsome. He’s perfect boyfriend material.’

"Hi, I’m Zhiyi’s college roommate. My name is Wang Lu."

"Hello. Lin Jiang," Lin Jiang replied. ’I didn’t expect this to happen.’

"Not bad at all. Our Zhiyi has been single for six or seven years, saving herself all this time. I can’t believe you’re the one who finally snagged her."

"Could you please put a filter on that mouth of yours? Don’t just say whatever you want."

Li Zhiyi’s face turned as red as a ripe peach, so embarrassed she didn’t know how to explain the situation.

"You’re almost thirty. How can you still be so thin-skinned? It’s not like you’re having some secret affair. You’re dating openly, so what’s there to be embarrassed about?"

After chiding Li Zhiyi, Wang Lu turned to Lin Jiang.

"Since you’re already here, you might as well stay. It’s our college reunion today. As her plus-one, you should join us."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea."

’Lin Jiang had zero interest in this kind of get-together. They were either for hooking up, showing off, or both. What kind of decent person actually goes to a class reunion, anyway?’

"There won’t be any strangers, it’s just a simple college get-together. What’s the big deal?" Wang Lu said nonchalantly.

"Zhiyi, hurry up and convince your boyfriend."

"Well..."

Li Zhiyi looked at Lin Jiang. "Brother Jiang, if you’re not busy tonight, why don’t you come with us?"

"Oh my god, you two with the ’brother’ this and that... it’s so cheesy I could die."

Wang Lu gave Lin Jiang a sly look. "If you really care about our Zhiyi, you’ll come with us."

Lin Jiang glanced at Li Zhiyi and saw a hint of anticipation in her eyes. It looked like she really wanted him to go.

’Might as well bite the bullet and go. I can use the chance to flirt a little and raise the Affinity score as quickly as possible.’

"Since you put it that way, I guess I have no choice," Lin Jiang said with a laugh.

"That’s more like it. A relationship should be out in the open. Why be all secretive about it?"

After he parked the car, Li Zhiyi quietly sidled up to Lin Jiang.

"Brother Jiang, I’m sorry for taking up your time. My roommate’s just like that—a bit blunt, but she means no harm. Please don’t be mad at her."

Lin Jiang chuckled. "What’s there to be mad about? I just picked up a girlfriend out of the blue. If anything, I should be happy."

"Then I guess I’ve picked up a boyfriend, too," Li Zhiyi said boldly.

"Can I hold your arm? I’m afraid they’ll figure it out."

"Of course."

"Mhm."

Li Zhiyi tentatively linked her arm through Lin Jiang’s.

’Suddenly, she felt so content, but also a little sad. If only he were really her boyfriend.’

’I need to try harder.’

The three of them went to the supermarket in the basement of Century Triumph. After all, you can’t show up to someone’s house empty-handed.

Wang Lu bought a bottle of red wine worth over 800 yuan, and Li Zhiyi bought two boxes of fruit that cost about the same.

’It had to be said, things sold in a wealthy neighborhood really weren’t cheap.’

But just as Li Zhiyi was about to pay, Lin Jiang stopped her and presented his own QR code.

"Let me get it," Li Zhiyi insisted, holding out her QR code as well.

"Can you two stop with the PDA already? Have some consideration for my feelings, will you?" Wang Lu grumbled.

The cashier, who knew how to read the room, scanned Lin Jiang’s QR code. Then, the three of them walked out of the supermarket.

"I’ll pay you back when I get home," Li Zhiyi whispered.

"Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t much."

Li Zhiyi rose slightly onto her toes and leaned close to Lin Jiang’s ear.

"In that case, I’ll just buy you a few extra pairs of stockings to pay you back."

"I want the ones with the logos on them."

"Ah! I know, I know! Brother Jiang, keep your voice down."

The three of them walked to the Century Triumph apartment building, took the elevator to the 21st floor, and rang the doorbell.

"Coming!"

A voice came from inside, and soon, a woman in a black slip dress opened the door.

The woman had a great figure, delicate features, and chestnut-colored hair. Her only shortcoming was that she was a bit short, perhaps around five-foot-three.

On the way over, Lin Jiang had learned that the woman’s name was Zhang Xueying. She was also a college classmate of the other two, and her boyfriend had gotten her a job at a bank.

This was the very reason she had invited them over to her place.

The smile on Zhang Xueying’s face froze the instant she saw Lin Jiang.

"And this is...?"

"Zhiyi’s new boyfriend. I caught him dropping her off and dragged him up here with us."

"Oh, that’s wonderful! Quick, come in."

The three of them entered the apartment. Zhang Xueying found some slippers, and they all changed into them.

"You two, honestly. I just invited you over for a casual get-together. Why did you buy all this?"

"We’re celebrating our beautiful Zhang Xueying on her new job! We have to celebrate properly today."

"Of course! We haven’t seen each other in ages. No one’s going home sober tonight."

The three of them entered the living room. In the past, Lin Jiang would have thought an apartment of over 100 square meters was huge.

’But looking at it now, it didn’t even seem as big as his own living room at home.’

"Honey, my classmates are here."

A man was in the kitchen preparing ingredients for a hot pot. When he saw the three of them enter, he greeted them warmly.

"Please, have a seat. We can eat as soon as the fruit is cut."

"Yingying, I’ve asked you about him before, but you were always so secretive. Now that we’ve finally met him, you have to give us a proper introduction."

"There’s not much to tell, really. He’s a streamer and recently opened a studio with a friend, so he’s been super busy. Otherwise, I would’ve invited you two out to eat ages ago."

"He opened his own studio? He must be making a lot of money, right?" Wang Lu said in surprise.

"I was watching a stream the other day from someone with just over a hundred thousand fans, and their annual income was more than 300,000 yuan. It made me want to start doing some risqué streams myself."

Wang Lu nudged Zhang Xueying with a wink. "You guys can afford to rent a place here, so his income must be pretty high, right?"

"He’s not like us; his income is measured as an annual salary. But it’s not as much as you’d think. It’s only a little over two million a year. Just barely enough to make ends meet, you know."

’Yep. Just as I thought. Class reunions are either for hooking up or for showing off.’

’But this brag was so forced. Not smooth at all.’