However, at the thought of Lin Chuluo she had seen last night, Ning Anmiao still felt a momentary daze.
In the blink of an eye, they had all grown up.
They were clearly familiar with each other, yet also seemed so strange.
Reminiscing about the time the three of them had spent together, Ning Anmiao couldn't help but fall into memories.
Actually, in college, Ning Anmiao got to know Lin Chuluo first.
At that time, Ning Anmiao was the elegant goddess of the Chinese Language Department. Coupled with her family background, few people dared to initiate conversations with her.
She didn't like socializing either. Her daily life consisted of nothing but studying and doing design work.
Her acquaintance with Lin Chuluo was purely an accident.
The final-term project for the design major was about the starry sky. She didn't know much about this area and was quite distressed.
The senior students at that time suggested that she could go and talk to the students from the astronomy department. Maybe she could get some inspiration.
So she took the initiative and went to the school's astronomy research laboratory to randomly find astronomy students.
With one grab, she caught Lin Chuluo.
Lin Chuluo was a genius in the astronomy department, having a comprehensive grasp of astronomical knowledge.
When she learned that the person she had "caught" was a top student in the astronomy department who had consistently ranked first in the major for years, she was overjoyed.
Even in his student days, Lin Chuluo already showed a gentlemanly demeanor. After listening to Ning Anmiao's request, he politely agreed.
Later, whenever Ning Anmiao came humbly to ask questions, he would spare his free time to answer them and tell her about astronomical academic knowledge.
As time went by, the two became good friends.
In her memory, this was how Ning Anmiao defined their relationship.
Soon, many rumors about the two of them began to spread among the students.
"I'm just good friends with Lin Chuluo. There's nothing else between us."
Regarding others' misunderstandings, Ning Anmiao didn't like to argue loudly. She just brushed it off lightly.
She firmly believed that the innocent would remain innocent.
Seeing that she didn't strongly deny their relationship, Lin Chuluo also cooperated with her habit and never gave a proper clarification to the outside world.
In student days, not clarifying was equivalent to having something fishy.
Many students secretly observed the two of them, looking forward to the day when they could hear the good news that the two goddesses and gods had gotten together.
Soon, it was the end of the term.
With Lin Chuluo's help, Ning Anmiao was like a tiger with wings added in her final design. Her inspiration burst forth, and she completed all the design assignments in one go.
"Now, I should be able to successfully get through the final term, right?"
In the self-study room, Ning Anmiao looked at the design manuscripts scattered in front of her, let out a deep sigh, and murmured to herself.
Lin Chuluo, sitting opposite her, still had a gentle expression. But when he saw the relieved smile on Ning Anmiao's face, his heart started beating uncontrollably.
It beat stronger and stronger.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for your help during this period. You deserve half the credit for my final design," Ning Anmiao said with a beaming smile as she sorted out the manuscripts on the table.
"If you don't mind, after I finish presenting my final design, I'll treat you to a meal," she winked at him. "The southern cuisine at the restaurant at the entrance is delicious. I've been there many times."
Lin Chuluo didn't refuse. The corners of his lips curved up. "Sure, but I have a basketball game that day."
"Would you like to come and watch?"
"Of course I'd like to!" Ning Anmiao replied excitedly.
But later, if Lin Chuluo could have known in advance that this basketball game would be the opportunity for Ning Anmiao to meet Lu Yan, he would never have invited her. Instead, he would have let her go directly to the restaurant and wait for him.
Then, she and Lu Yan wouldn't have met.
She also wouldn't have had her leg injured by a basketball while he was in the restroom. By the time he rushed back in a hurry, the basketball game had already been forced to stop.
He stood there and received the news that Lu Yan had carried Ning Anmiao to the hospital on his back.
If that were the case, she also wouldn't have stood in front of him and shyly told him the secret that "I think I like Lu Yan."
However, there were no ifs in this world.
Pulled back from her memories, Ning Anmiao unconsciously lowered her eyes, as if still reminiscing about something.
Lu Yan noticed her expression, pursed his lips, and said in a nonchalant tone, "What are you thinking about, Lin Chuluo?"
Ning Anmiao looked up in response. "Well, I'm thinking that in college, he helped me complete all my final designs."
And he agreed. Good for him.
Lu Yan was extremely speechless. He slightly frowned and stared at her for a while. It took him a long time to utter a word.
"Ungrateful brat."
Who was the ungrateful brat referring to? Her?
Ning Anmiao uncomfortably pursed her lips and stopped arguing with him about what she had been thinking just now. Instead, she changed the topic. "Why did Lin Chuluo choose to inherit his family's business?"
"I remember his astronomy major grades were very good."
Ning Anmiao still didn't understand. She could clearly feel that Lin Chuluo was passionate about astronomy.
Otherwise, his eyes wouldn't have sparkled so brightly when he talked to her about the starry sky.
At that time, they were all just kids, kids willing to pursue their dreams and passions.
But now, everything had changed.
Lin Chuluo was no longer the boy with stars in his eyes. Instead, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, filled with things that many people couldn't understand.
It was as if he had given up his dreams and bowed to reality.
Lu Yan didn't like seeing Ning Anmiao showing such concern for others. He casually pushed the cake that his secretary had just brought in towards her desk.
"Eat the cake. You don't need to worry about his business."
Ning Anmiao: "..."
She looked down. It was still the Napoleon cake from before.
"Lu Yan."
She suddenly called out his name.
"Hmm?"
Ning Anmiao casually untied the ribbon on top of the cake box and slowly held up the fork. "Next time I want to eat red velvet cake."
"Don't you only like this one?" Lu Yan said in a soft voice, while silently making a mental note.
Miaomiao also liked red velvet cake. He could buy it for her next time.
"I can try something else once in a while," Ning Anmiao whispered. "If I always eat the same thing, I'll get tired of it sooner or later."
Hearing the last whispered words, Lu Yan's previously calm face suddenly darkened. He looked expressionless, and his tone was icy cold. "You're tired of it?"
"You've only eaten it a few times, and you're already tired of it."
He paused for a moment and said in a soft voice, "It's better to eat the things you're used to. With the mentality of trying something new, you might not be amazed but end up with diarrhea instead."
Ning Anmiao: "..."
She just wanted to eat a cake. Why did Lu Yan keep beating around the bush? It seemed like he was insinuating something.
"I got it," Ning Anmiao lowered her head, pouted, and felt a little depressed. She poked the cake with the fork.
Seeing her slightly dejected expression, Lu Yan was stunned for a few seconds. Finally, he let out a deep sigh. Knowing that he couldn't win against her, he took out his phone and tapped on the screen a few times.
[Go to the tea restaurant downstairs and buy another piece of red velvet cake.]