Chapter 281: Chapter 281
The young man strode over.
The woman dressed as a secretary frowned slightly, clearly abandoning her plan to quietly leave with her group.
In the blink of an eye, the young man was already close.
Without a word, he pulled Shen You’an behind him. His lean but upright figure stood in front of Shen You’an, like a small mountain—not particularly tall but reassuring.
"Young Master, madam harbors no malice. She simply wishes to invite Shen for a meal to express her apologies..."
Liu Runxi’s gaunt face remained as indifferent as ice, his gaze deep like a bottomless abyss, exuding an unfathomable chill.
The young master, as he presented himself to others, always embodied the elegance and refinement of a gentleman—polished to perfection.
But at this moment, he was like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp-edged, radiating cold light.
A strangerhood that instilled fear.
The young man pulled the corner of his mouth in a mocking smile, tilting his head slightly as his tone instinctively softened: "Leave here first."
Shen You’an gave him a deep look, replied with an "Alright," and left without lingering.
Amazingly, she asked nothing and walked away so composedly.
The secretary instinctively glanced at the departing girl’s back. When she turned back, her complex gaze landed on the young man before her.
Madam’s suspicions proved correct; the young master indeed harbored thoughts he should not have entertained.
Liu Runxi waited until Shen You’an’s figure disappeared at the entrance of the hall before speaking coldly: "Let’s go."
Inside the lounge, the atmosphere felt heavy.
Lan Man was the first to break the silence: "I’ve reserved a table at Zirui Pavilion and hope madam will grace us with her presence."
Helian Yu was indeed furious at first. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to being flattered, and this was the first time she’d been humiliated by a mere girl.
Old and new grievances combined, and she even felt a fleeting urge to strangle her.
Nonetheless, she had lived decades longer and quickly regained her composure, her emotional control impeccable, revealing no trace of her true feelings.
"President Lan wouldn’t mind me bringing someone extra, would you?"
Lan Man smiled: "It would be an honor."
In her mind, she thought, surely it wouldn’t be Shen You’an? What was with Mrs. Liu always having issues with a young girl?
Despite the frantic complaints in her heart, her face revealed nothing.
"Madam." The secretary entered, followed by Liu Runxi, whose face was expressionless.
Helian Yu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly but said nothing more. She beckoned the secretary, whispered something into her ear, and the secretary quickly departed again.
Lan Man, seeing Liu Runxi, felt a sense of relief.
"Since you’re here, join us for lunch," Helian Yu said calmly.
The young man lowered his gaze, appearing gentle and reserved.
Elsewhere, Luuo Yunqi and Xiao Ling were the last to leave the hall.
The hall was vast, and Luuo Yunqi and Xiao Ling had been standing in an inconspicuous corner. Both of them had good eyesight, and thus didn’t miss the moment Liu Runxi stood protectively in front of Shen You’an.
Xiao Ling exclaimed in surprise: "Isn’t that Liu Runxi? And that woman dressed as a secretary..."
Luuo Yunqi’s tone was indescribable: "She’s Mrs. Liu’s assistant and secretary."
Xiao Ling widened her eyes: "How do you know?"
Luuo Yunqi didn’t answer and instead kept her gaze fixed on Liu Runxi’s departing figure.
So, he protected her to this extent.
Unconsciously, her sharp nails dug deep into her tender palms. Luuo Yunqi’s expression turned chillingly cold.
When Xiao Ling turned her head, she caught sight of it.
The dim lighting in the corner added to Luuo Yunqi’s shadowy air, making her appear eerily ghost-like.
Xiao Ling felt a startled jolt.
Shaken from her thoughts, she murmured, "Isn’t everyone saying Liu Runxi is aloof and difficult to approach? Why does he seem to have a good relationship with Shen You’an? He even... even stepped in for her."
It wasn’t hard for Xiao Ling to figure out that Mrs. Liu’s secretary approaching Shen You’an at this time was hardly an invitation for a meal—it was more likely a setup for trouble.
With such high-ranking socialites, Xiao Ling didn’t believe for a second that Mrs. Liu was as amiable and kind-hearted as she made herself out to be. Check latest chapters at novel※fire.net
But for Liu Runxi to step out at this moment to shield Shen You’an—it was hard not to speculate further.
After Shen You’an’s departure, Liu Runxi followed the secretary out.
The once-bustling hall returned to silence, with only a few student council staff cleaning up.
Luuo Yunqi walked slowly out of the hall. The early winter wind swept across her face, dispersing the hall’s cozy warmth. Even with sunlight shining down, it felt utterly cold.
Winter in Qingzhou had always been harsh.
Luuo Yunqi remained silent, leaving Xiao Ling at a loss for words. She scrambled for a topic: "I read online that the movie is slated for release on the first day of the New Year. Is that true? If it involves spoilers, you can pretend I didn’t ask."
"I’m not too sure either," Luuo Yunqi replied softly.