"Brother, what era do you think this is? You still believe in purity and ambiguity? True feelings never last, only tricks win hearts. Those love stories like The Hawthorn Tree Forever are just movies, meant to deceive kids."
Yao Le laughed heartily. Deep down, he believed that in this restless, profit-driven society, love was a myth. True love was nonsense. Goddesses got into BMWs, first loves and tycoons fell deeply in love, and without money, nothing worked.
"Do you think Xun'er is that kind of girl?" Ning Xingchen asked coldly.
Yao Le was stunned. Indeed, a beautiful, pure, and kind-hearted girl like Lin Xun'er was almost extinct, akin to a fairy from the heavens.
"No." Yao Le shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum.
"Then that's it. To pursue Lin Xun'er, you need genuine feelings in return," Ning Xingchen said seriously.
"Xingchen, Xun'er is so outstanding. She's the secret crush of all the boys in our school. The line of people wanting to chase her could stretch from here to the Yongding Gate in the capital. Look, Qin Chuan is one of them." Yao Le whispered to Ning Xingchen.
Many classmates knew that this so-called reunion was just an excuse for Qin Chuan. In reality, he just wanted to invite Lin Xun'er alone, but since she would never agree to that, he organized this gathering.
Recently, Qin Chuan had been relentlessly pursuing Lin Xun'er after finding out where she worked, but Lin Xun'er had no feelings for him and even found him a bit repulsive.
...
"Attention, everyone. Class Monitor Qin has something to say!" Suddenly, Li Lin clapped his hands and said loudly.
Qin Chuan, holding an exquisite brocade box, slowly approached Lin Xun'er, causing her to feel a sense of foreboding.
"Xun'er, I brought everyone here today to witness something." Qin Chuan smiled in a way he thought was charming, but it actually appeared greasy and disgusting.
"Qin Chuan, what are you up to?" Lin Xun'er frowned, sensing something was off.
"Xun'er, I liked you since high school. I still can't forget you. Please accept my love and be my girlfriend!"
With that, Qin Chuan opened the box, revealing a dazzling, luxurious diamond ring.
Under the light, the ring sparkled with opulence, drawing exclamations from some girls.
A cold smile flashed across Qin Chuan's lips as he internally cursed these female classmates for being ignorant and vulgar.
Qin Chuan was now the most successful among the classmates, owning three or four properties in Donghai and running profitable businesses as a boss.
They probably didn't know about Ning Xingchen's remarkable transformation in the past couple of months.
Many girls looked at Lin Xun'er with a hint of jealousy. Indeed, beautiful girls were always popular and favored by wealthy men.
Now, all eyes in the private room were on Qin Chuan and Lin Xun'er.
Many spectators who enjoyed the drama started to cheer, "Be together, be together, be together!"
"Xun'er, be with me. I'll make you happy and ensure you never worry about anything!" Qin Chuan smiled confidently, believing his display of wealth would sway Lin Xun'er.
Hearing this, Lin Xun'er's dislike for Qin Chuan deepened, making her want to slap him.
...
"Xun'er, Qin here owns several properties in the city, each worth millions. Being his woman means a life of luxury. My only regret in life is being a man. If I were a woman, I'd gladly be his mistress!" Li Lin shamelessly said, his disgusting manner making everyone want to beat him up.
"Brother Lin, it's not too late. How about considering the Thai ladyboy option?" someone quipped.
"Haha..."
Laughter erupted in the private room.
Qin Chuan glared at Li Lin. This idiot was more of a hindrance than a help, ruining the romantic atmosphere with his jokes.
After a cough, Qin Chuan continued, "Xun'er, please say yes."
He reached out to hold Lin Xun'er's hand.
"Qin Chuan, are you crazy? I told you I have no feelings for you. I will never like you. Please respect yourself!" Lin Xun'er, holding back her anger, refrained from lashing out due to her ladylike manners.
"If you don't like me, who do you like?" Qin Chuan lost his composure, feeling humiliated by the rejection.
"Who I like is none of your business! Sorry, everyone, I have to go." Lin Xun'er picked up her bag, ready to leave.
Qin Chuan couldn't let her go. He had planned this reunion for a long time and couldn't let it go to waste.
"Xun'er, being my girlfriend benefits both of us. You probably don't know that your bank manager is my uncle, right?" Qin Chuan boasted, finally revealing his secret.
"What do you mean?" Lin Xun'er asked coldly. She worked at a state-owned bank, with good salary and benefits, something she had worked hard to achieve.
"I want you to be my girlfriend. Whether you agree or not, you have to. Otherwise, you'll be fired from the bank." Qin Chuan arrogantly threatened, revealing his true nature.
"Whatever." Lin Xun'er coldly spat out. She didn't expect Qin Chuan to be so shameless.
Seeing Lin Xun'er indifferent to his threat, Qin Chuan felt like he had punched a pillow. After all, with Lin Xun'er's talent and ability, she could find a high-paying, respectable job anywhere.
"Damn it, Lin Xun'er, if you don't accept my love, is it because you like that trash Ning Xingchen?" Qin Chuan suddenly thought of a handsome, confident face.
Seeing Qin Chuan shift his anger toward Ning Xingchen, the crowd sensed the situation was getting out of hand.
Ning Xingchen, expressionless, raised an eyebrow and looked at Qin Chuan with disdain. After witnessing the buffoon's performance, he took a sip of red wine, ready to step in.
Then, Qin Chuan saw Ning Xingchen walking toward him. The strong aura around Ning Xingchen made him inexplicably fearful and anxious.
4o