Chapter 48

Based on her understanding of him over the past year, Ding Xian wouldn't believe that Su Bocong would suddenly, for no apparent reason, decide to specifically travel from Shanghai to Beijing to visit Tsinghua University.

Su Bocong was ten years older than her. In the past year, or rather, in the past nearly twenty years, Su Bocong was the most insightful person she had ever met, and he made learning enjoyable. During her retake year, she also had conflicts with people. Her personality was forbearing and she wasn't good at arguing. After enduring too much, she eventually felt wronged with nowhere to express it. So, Su Bocong became her 'trash can'. Each time, he was very patient, carefully guiding her on how to precisely extract pertinent information from unpleasant words, convert it into useful information, correcting if present, and encouraging if not.

When people are angry, they adopt an aggressive attitude towards everyone, but it was rare that she could actually listen to what he said. However, there were times when he was in a bad mood and a negotiation failed. That time Ding Xian called him, Su Bocong had just returned from New York, travel-worn. The contract hadn't been secured, he was in a bad mood, reeking of alcohol, and his words were harsh: "Speak seven parts, listen three parts. Don't you understand this principle yet?"

His rarely serious and slightly impatient tone made Ding Xian freeze for a moment. She quickly adjusted her emotions, said 'oh', and hung up the phone.

The next day, when Su Bocong sobered up, he sat on the bed, dazed, looking at his phone's call history, slowly recalling his tone from the previous night. He rubbed his temples, somewhat annoyed. That same day, he flew from Shanghai to Beijing again, specifically taking the young girl out for a meal to apologize.

Ding Xian actually understood that everyone has moments of bad mood. She nodded and said, "It's okay, I understand you." She completely regarded him as a trustworthy elder.

The day before Tsinghua University's opening, Su Bocong specifically called from Shanghai, telling her to enjoy her university life and not waste these connections.

Ding Xian teased him, "Everywhere is about money and connections, huh."

Su Bocong chuckled faintly on the other end of the phone, "Alright, I can understand the rebellious phase. You'll know how important my words are when you graduate."

Ding Xian smiled, noncommittal. Undeniably, he was indeed very good at business. In just the past year, Ye Changqing said he had replaced two cars and bought a house, yet he just didn't have a girlfriend. Before hanging up, she earnestly advised him, "You don't need to worry about my affairs. You should find yourself a girlfriend first."

Su Bocong laughed and chided: "I particularly can't stand the way you Beijingers talk. Stop using 'nín', you're calling me your grandfather! I'm only twenty-nine, ten years older than you."

Ding Xian insisted, "No, this is a respectful address."

The other end of the phone suddenly fell silent for a moment. Su Bocong suddenly said, "Xianxian, I allow you not to respect me."

What kind of thoughts lead a man to start indulging a woman? Like Zhou Siyue, who unconditionally indulged her willfulness and unreasonable behavior in high school, or is this just what men are good at?

Of course, Zhou Siyue wasn't quite a 'man' at that time.

But he was much more mature than many of his peers.

Ding Xian quickly hung up the phone, and for a long time after that, she didn't contact him again.

...

A target like Su Bocong was too conspicuous. Tall and slender, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, walking around school, he was the standard image of a successful elite. Attracting too many stares, Ding Xian was afraid of running into acquaintances, so she walked behind him the whole time, head down, wanting to finish the tour quickly and take him out.

But Mr. Su not only walked unhurriedly but also talked to her about Zhu Ziqing's essay "Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond," which he wrote in Tsinghua Garden back then.

Ding Xian whispered, "Are you really only a primary school graduate?"

She remembered him telling her once that he was born in a southern village, and as a child, because he had no money for school, he was forced to drop out of primary school to help with family chores. At sixteen, he started working outside, and only through that effort had he earned his current status. But regarding his speech and conduct, Ding Xian remained skeptical.

Su Bocong looked at her: "Don't I seem like it?"

Ding Xian lowered her head: "No."

The evening glow, like a fiery phoenix hanging in the sky, spread red light everywhere, with scattered golden flecks dazzling the eyes within the bushes.

They had walked about half a circle.

Su Bocong was called out on the road. Ding Xian turned around, and it was Xing Lufei.

Xing Lufei also looked at Ding Xian with surprise, her gaze quickly returning to Su Bocong: "Mr. Su, I can't believe it's really you!"

Su Bocong glanced at Ding Xian, then politely and faintly smiled at Xing Lufei, saying, "Hello."

When Xing Lufei participated in Super Girl last year, she had seen Su Bocong backstage. At that time, Su Bocong had just finished a meeting with several sponsors. The especially young, handsome, and well-mannered man immediately attracted the attention of all the girls.

Later, the sponsors invited all the qualified contestants to eat together. During the meal, Xing Lufei toasted Su Bocong a few times. The young girl was bold and dared to drink, and at just over twenty, she wasn't shy at all. She even helped Su Bocong deflect a few drinks, and thus left an impression.

Ding Xian greeted first: "Hello, Senior Sister Xing."

Xing Lufei nodded and turned to Su Bocong: "I didn't dare to recognize you on the road just now. How come you're here?"

In fact, Xing Lufei had tried to contact Su Bocong when she was seeking sponsorship for the Computer Animation Club but had never received a response.

"To visit a junior student."

Su Bocong said impassively.

Xing Lufei understood, and looked at Ding Xian in surprise: "So you and Mr. Su are friends? What a coincidence, she's also a junior student in our club."

Su Bocong raised an eyebrow, interested: "What club?"

"Computer Animation Club," Ding Xian said."

"Ding Xian, I just made plans to eat with Ji Hang. Why don't you and Mr. Su come along?"

This was a command from Xing Lufei, Ding Xian heard it, and fully understood what scheme Xing Lufei was plotting. But Ding Xian really didn't want to drag Su Bocong's network into the school. Moreover, Xing Lufei and Ji Hang were both Zhou Siyue's classmates, and she even less wished to have any connection with Zhou Siyue.

But Xing Lufei was typical: obey, and I'll protect you; disobey, and don't blame me for making things difficult.

If looks could kill, Ding Xian would have died almost a hundred times by now.

"How about we skip it today?"

Ding Xian whispered. As soon as her voice fell, sure enough, Xing Lufei's eyes widened, "What?"

It was unimaginable that Ding Xian, usually so agreeable, would actually refuse her in front of Su Bocong.

In the end, Su Bocong interjected to smooth things over: "How about this? I'll treat. You pick the place, and we'll all have a meal together."

"Great! I'll call Ji Hang and tell him to add two seats."

...

The dining location was Yanmingxuan Restaurant, a small private room.

Ding Xian followed Xing Lufei into the room. Ji Hang was standing by the window talking on the phone. Seeing people enter, "Mhm, in 302. Okay, call me when you arrive. I'll hang up now." He then put his phone in his pocket and turned to greet Su Bocong enthusiastically, "Hello, hello."

He was, after all, a man weathered by time. Calm and polite, he leaned forward slightly, "Are there other friends?"

Ji Hang nodded, scratching his head: "Yes, there's one more. The three of us made plans to eat, but I didn't expect you to come, so we're all together. You don't mind, do you?"

Ordinarily, Ding Xian felt he was more steady and mature than the average boy, but in comparison, he was still a bit green.

Su Bocong smiled: "Of course."

Ten minutes later, the last person arrived.

The private room door was pushed open. Someone came in, rubbing his hair, looking tired and drowsy, as if he had just woken up.

Ding Xian subconsciously looked down at the time—six in the afternoon.

Dark circles under his eyes were heavy; he had stayed up late again last night.

Xing Lufei waved at him and patted the seat next to her: "Zhou Siyue, sit here."

Zhou Siyue closed the door, slowly collected himself, and looked up, startled for a moment. His fair, slender fingers paused briefly in his dark hair. His gaze quickly swept over Ding Xian's face, then rested on Su Bocong's face beside her, then returned to Ding Xian's face, receding faintly, quickly resuming indifference.

He pulled out a chair and sat with his legs apart, without a word. Ding Xian inexplicably saw a hint of the arrogance he used to have deep down.

Xing Lufei first introduced to Su Bocong: "This is a good friend of Ji Hang and mine, Zhou Siyue."

Su Bocong smiled slightly, nodding briefly, "Hello."

Xing Lufei then said to Zhou Siyue: "The CEO of Red Horse Technology, Mr. Su Bocong."

Zhou Siyue curved his lips: "Pleasure to meet you."

"This is Ding Xian, our freshman junior sister."

Ding Xian had been silent since entering the room, guessing he also didn't want to acknowledge her. She had planned to pretend not to know him, but then she heard Zhou Siyue, leaning back in his chair, say faintly, "We know each other." and quickly look away.

Xing Lufei 'ah'-ed and looked at Ding Xian: "You really know a lot of people."

Ding Xian stared at Zhou Siyue and said, "Mhm, we used to be classmates."

As soon as her words fell, Zhou Siyue's lips twisted into a mocking, faint smile.

"Are you all from Computer Science?" Su Bocong interjected."

Xing Lufei understood very well that Red Horse was the leader in the current internet and computer industry, and Su Bocong was a businessman willing to get involved in anything. Furthermore, she heard that Red Horse's senior engineers earned at least 500,000 yuan a year.

She heard that Su Bocong had a project in development, and many people were hoping to get a slice of the pie from his table. If they could join his team, forget an annual salary of 500,000 yuan, they'd be willing to work for 100,000 yuan.

Xing Lufei quickly replied: "I'm from Computer Science Class 85, Ji Hang is from Class 54, and Siyue is from Class 51."

Su Bocong looked puzzled by the class numbers and glanced at Ding Xian.

Ding Xian, like a little secretary, immediately explained: "The Computer Science Department is abbreviated as Jike. There are a total of six classes, numbered 0-5. The '5' represents the year of enrollment. I enrolled this year, so it's Class 73."

Su Bocong: "There's also Class 0?"

Ding Xian nodded: "That's the experimental class. There's a placement test upon enrollment, and the top forty students go into Class 0. It's abbreviated as Yao Class. Yao Class belongs to the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences and is no longer part of the Computer Science Department."

"You are all pillars of the country's future."

Xing Lufei laughed: "Certainly not as capable as Mr. Su."

Xing Lufei went out and asked the waiter for two cases of alcohol. Su Bocong also got two bottles of coconut water for the two girls, full of gentlemanly conduct, but Xing Lufei refused, insisting on drinking with him.

During the meal, there was chatter and laughter. Xing Lufei inadvertently mentioned the sponsorship matter, but Su Bocong lightly brushed it aside. Everyone was a sharp operator, subtly probing each other through conversation, but for a businessman like Su Bocong, who had been in business for over ten years and rarely suffered losses, these two were merely lambs to the slaughter.

Throughout the meal, Ding Xian kept her head down and ate.

Zhou Siyue leaned back in his chair, silent, only occasionally interjecting a couple of sentences when the topic turned to their major, no longer like before, rambling aimlessly with people.

Suddenly, a piece of fish appeared in her bowl, and a voice by her ear said: "Why do you always eat vegetables?"

Ding Xian suddenly looked up. All four pairs of eyes at the table were fixed on her, and she subconsciously glanced at Zhou Siyue opposite her, locking into a pair of deep, dark eyes, full of mockery and indifference. His hand rested on the table, holding a clear glass.

His long, distinctly jointed fingers were gently, unconsciously stroking the glass.

Ding Xian lowered her head: "Thank you."

Xing Lufei glanced at Ji Hang and found the relationship intriguing.

After three rounds of drinks, Su Bocong took off his suit, hung it on the chair, rested his hands on the table, and continued chatting with Xing Lufei, bringing up the sponsorship issue again.

Ding Xian got up to go to the restroom.

Once she disappeared at the door, Xing Lufei looked at Su Bocong, her eyes full of knowing smiles, confident: "I have a question, just curious."

"Go ahead."

"What's Mr. Su's relationship with our junior student?"

Su Bocong answered honestly: "Her uncle is a good friend of mine."

"It seems Mr. Su really likes the junior student."

Su Bocong laughed indifferently: "Indeed, I do like her. I also plan to invite her to my company after she graduates. Of course, if you want to come, I warmly welcome you too. It's just that you'll have one more step than her."

His words were clear enough. Ding Xian could directly join Red Horse after graduation. This girl must have accumulated blessings for many lifetimes.

Xing Lufei covered her mouth and laughed: "Just one more step?"

"You are Xianxian's friends, so of course, you can skip the preliminary interview."

There you go.

He was still the shrewdest. Who here couldn't pass a preliminary interview? He didn't lose his own interests, and coincidentally gave Ding Xian face, fully supporting the young girl both publicly and privately, establishing her prestige among her classmates, and also appropriately hinted at the ambiguous relationship between the two of them, making the gentlemen present retreat wisely.

When it came to handling social interactions, no one could compare to Su Bocong.

Outside, at some unknown time, a drizzling rain had begun. In the dark night, there was no moonlight. The wind blew unscrupulously, a cold front piercing her face, scraping her skin. Pedestrians on the road were sparse. Raindrops grew larger and larger, seemingly strung into a pearl curtain amidst the vast cloud canopy.

Zhou Siyue had drunk a bit too much, but he didn't show it on his face, belonging to the type who got paler the more he drank; only the roots of his ears were slightly flushed.

As he walked out of the restaurant entrance, his body swayed slightly. Ding Xian quickly reached out to support him. Zhou Siyue subconsciously tried to lean on the door. Ding Xian rushed forward just in time, and someone firmly gripped her hand.

Under the faint yellow light.

He suddenly turned his head and met a pair of misty, lingering eyes, slightly tilted up, looking at him with watery eyes, shimmering with a watery gleam in the lingering night.

A strong male body with broad, powerful arms.

A woman's charm, with skin like congealed fat, exuding allure.

Although outside, traffic flowed like a river and neon lights flickered, and inside the private room, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged, in her entire world, she could only hear the frantic and ardent pounding of her own heart.

She didn't understand, it was just holding hands.

She actually blushed fiercely, and even her breathing became difficult.

Zhou Siyue also didn't understand, it had only been a year.

How had she ended up being claimed by someone?