Chapter 131: Radiant Sun

This was Li Xin's second time visiting HZ City at night, and he no longer felt as unfamiliar with the city as he had the previous time. Leaning casually against the car window with one arm, his chin resting on his hand, he braved the biting wind to admire the city's neon-lit, magnificent sprawl.

It truly lived up to its reputation as a metropolis; it was far superior to Wujiang, Li Xin mused.

It was hard to imagine that Jiang Chuxue, who stood at 165cm, enjoyed driving large SUVs. Last time it had been a black Jeep Cherokee, but this time she had switched to a Land Cruiser. Commonly known as the "Land Cruiser," it was the most coveted heavy-duty SUV among the wealthy who had a passion for off-roading.

The 4.6L VX automatic version, while not boasting a massive engine displacement, cost over a million. To the average person, it was a luxury vehicle, but to Jiang Chuxue, it was merely standard. The car was equipped with many features exclusive to mountain off-roading, such as differential locks, independent rear torque beam locking, and mountain winches. It was an absolute king on mountain roads, though not quite as comfortable in the city.

The chassis was too stiff, the gear shifting was lacking, and the intense "push-back" sensation during acceleration was absent.

Li Xin muttered to himself, mentally tallying the vehicle's various pros and cons.

While waiting for a green light, Jiang Chuxue turned to look at Li Xin. Seeing his lips moving slowly, she instantly became intrigued.

"You don't seem very impressed with my car."

The sudden remark caught Li Xin off guard, leaving him feeling somewhat awkwardly exposed.

"Uh, this..." He rubbed his nose and gave a sheepish smile. "How did you know?"

"I saw your lips moving," Jiang Chuxue smiled, a look that possessed a touch more delicate charm than Zhao Xue’s.

"Wow, you can read lips?" Li Xin was greatly surprised. This young, accomplished beauty gave him a mysterious and unfathomable feeling; every small action of hers felt strangely magical.

"Heh."

Jiang Chuxue simply laughed and turned her head back to continue driving. Li Xin had originally intended to say more, but he had to hold back. His assessment of Jiang Chuxue shifted once again.

Wise, diligent and rigorous in her work, bold yet meticulous, at times icy and at times warm.

The summary was a bit messy and the words weren't perfect, but Li Xin felt it was the most fitting description.

Soon, the car pulled up at the Wanda Commercial Complex, a massive hub integrating dining, entertainment, cinema, leisure, and fitness. A full tour of this place would leave one absolutely exhausted.

According to the itinerary Jiang Chuxue had planned for Li Xin: dinner, shopping, watching a short documentary, and then the two would head to West Lake to enjoy the moonlight before returning to the Baishi Villa.

Perfect!

Li Xin secretly gave a thumbs up, his admiration deepening.

At the dinner table, the two chatted with a tacit understanding, mutually avoiding all topics regarding their personal lives. They talked about everything in the city, the development of the Baishi team, and a variety of other subjects.

"You say the game 'Journey' is quite good? I haven't discovered that yet." Jiang Chuxue offered an apologetic smile, disagreeing with Li Xin’s recent claim. She was a long-time, veteran CF player with a passion for the esports industry, which was why she had participated in founding the Baishi team.

She knew of "Journey" and, acting on intel from her cousin, had even bought a diamond-tier helmet to try it out for a few days. However, she found many chaotic structural elements in its design, and the game developers were far too secretive with their protection of the game, lacking the passion and fascination of other titles.

For Li Xin to suggest she try organizing a team for such a "shoddy game" led Jiang Chuxue to reject the idea outright.

Her attitude was well within Li Xin's expectations.

"General Manager Jiang, I won't say much more; I've already stated all my reasons. I still suggest you consider it. If a team is truly formed, I am willing to join."

"What? Join?" Jiang Chuxue was surprised. As a nine-time champion who didn't even want to return to CF, was he really that passionate about a new game?

She nodded slightly, biting her lip in thought for a moment before looking up at Li Xin.

"Are you sure you want to join?"

"Yes." Li Xin smiled faintly, his eyes exceptionally calm and pure.

"I'll consider it," Jiang Chuxue replied. This matter would still need to be discussed with the entire club leadership upon her return.

Li Xin was in no rush and continued his meal.

The sumptuous dinner neared its end in a pleasant atmosphere. The next step was to stroll through the mall. Since it was the first time for both of them to shop with a new, not-so-familiar friend, there was a hint of awkwardness before they even began. However, this was precisely the best way to bridge the gap between them, and the best way to relax before the upcoming finals.

"Chuxue?"

A soft call came from not far away. The two turned simultaneously to see a spirited young, handsome man wearing a thick, light-green jacket. He was looking at Jiang Chuxue, his handsome eyes filled with deep joy and excitement.

"Chuxue, it really is you!"

He smiled indifferently, as refreshing as a spring breeze, looking devastatingly handsome.

He then walked over quickly. Behind him followed several young men and women in designer clothes, all of them smiling constantly.

Li Xin took a few extra looks, thinking that if this leading handsome man were a woman, she would surely be a breathtaking beauty. Even as it was, his radiant smile as he approached was dazzling and captivating! His turn-rate was easily pushing 90%, perhaps even reaching 100%!

"Chuxue, why are you here? I thought you were at the club preparing for the finals, so I didn't dare to disturb you." His voice was also very pleasant, filled with magnetism. His conduct, like the man himself, was dashing and refined.

There was only one thing: he never looked at Li Xin, not even once. His gaze remained fixed on Jiang Chuxue, as if she were the center of his world, and everything else was unworthy of mention by comparison.

Li Xin naturally didn't volunteer to speak. He set down his knife and fork, gently turned his head away, and gazed through the clear glass at the bustling, lively entertainment complex below.

Jiang Chuxue’s willow-leaf brows twitched upward noticeably. She wanted to speak, but glanced at Li Xin first. Seeing him that way, she simply ignored the intrusion and turned to look at the handsome man and the others behind him.

"You guys are here too, what a coincidence."

"Coincidence," they all replied with smiles, the atmosphere suggesting they were quite familiar with one another.

Only the handsome man didn't speak, staring burningly at Jiang Chuxue, waiting for a smile or a word meant only for him.

Jiang Chuxue sighed inwardly, feeling helpless.

"Shengyang, why are you all here? I just finished a meeting and am having dinner with an important guest."

Only then did Shengyang smile, vibrant as a sprout after the rain. Jiang Chuxue’s smile was his gentle spring breeze, even in the dead of winter.

"Kaikai is going abroad next week to pursue his doctorate, so everyone came for a small gathering."

Wang Kai immediately stood forward with a smile: "That's right, Chuxue, all the guys miss you. But you're just too busy, what with preparing for the upcoming finals, so Shengyang insisted we don't disturb you."

"Well, since we've bumped into each other, let's join up."

Jiang Chuxue’s brows suddenly arched. She didn't answer, but instead looked at Li Xin again.

Why does she keep looking at him? Who the hell is this guy? Wang Kai and the others muttered to themselves, taking a step forward.