27: Having tasted the marrow, one can appreciate its flavor.

At the bus stop outside the school gate, Tan Xinxin wore a short floral dress and carried a brown crossbody bag. Her beautiful collarbones highlighted her slender figure, and her long legs were exposed. Combined with her outstanding looks, she quickly attracted a lot of attention.

During this time, some people mustered the courage to approach her to add her on WeChat, but she politely refused them all.

“Junior Female Student, are you waiting for the bus?”

Beside her, a tall, thin male student actively struck up a conversation. Tan Xinxin glanced at him; he had an ordinary appearance, wore glasses, and exuded the air of a sophisticated scoundrel.

“Mm.”

Her reply was cold, but the other party didn't seem ready to give up.

“If possible, Junior Female Student, why don't we exchange contact information? I'm very familiar with the area around the school and can recommend good food and fun places...”

Just as he was getting enthusiastic, a blue bmw stopped in front of them.

The car window rolled down, and Shen Qian's voice came from the driver's seat.

“Get in.”

The girl, whose expression had been indifferent, immediately broke into a radiant smile. Ignoring the so-called Senior Male Student, she opened the car door and got in.

The car then drove far away, leaving the Senior Male Student standing rooted to the spot, watching the taillights.

“I don't know that person; he just came over to talk because I was standing here.”

As soon as she got into the car, Tan Xinxin explained. She had seen Shen Qian's attitude towards Liu Xinyao yesterday. Honestly, in her opinion, Liu Xinyao was no less attractive than herself, yet Shen Qian had given her the cold shoulder, which proved that this Boyfriend was definitely not lacking in beautiful girls around him.

“A fair maiden is a good match for a gentleman; that's perfectly normal.”

Shen Qian chuckled, then reached out and placed his hand on the white gear shift.

“Have you eaten dinner?”

“Not yet, but I'm used to skipping dinner.”

“It's good you haven't eaten. Let's go grab a bite now; you'll be very tired tonight.”

The girl's face flushed slightly. Thinking of last night, she softly agreed.

“Welcome to Wangjiang Pavilion.”

As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, the service staff warmly greeted them. It was a semi-open-air restaurant with glass railings on the side. The evening breeze was gentle, and the Huangpu River reflected lights of various colors.

After Shen Qian ordered a few dishes, he handed the menu to Tan Xinxin. The girl was startled, seeing that every dish cost hundreds.

A salad was over a hundred, and a main course was over two hundred.

She came from an ordinary family. Her monthly living allowance was only two thousand yuan, and only after much pleading was it raised to twenty-five hundred. If it were up to her, she probably wouldn't dare to eat here for all four years of university.

“What's wrong?”

Shen Qian's tone was gentle.

“Are you not used to Western Food? If you don't like Western Food, we can eat Chinese Food next time.

But you must eat something tonight, or you'll feel uncomfortable.”

Saying that, he picked up the menu.

“The dishes I just ordered, we'll take two servings of each. This lady will have the same as me.”

The meal cost them over two thousand yuan. This was nothing to the current Shen Qian, but it brought a slight shock to Tan Xinxin.

After all, school had only started less than a week ago. Before this, she was just an ordinary student, overjoyed if she had one or two hundred yuan in pocket money. Now, a single meal cost over two thousand yuan—the disparity was too great.

When the dishes arrived, Shen Qian asked the waiter to take a photo of him and Tan Xinxin. At the dining table, Shen Qian made a V-sign with his hand and smiled, giving off the vibe of a sunny, big Boyfriend.

“Are you going to post it on moments?”

Tan Xinxin asked tentatively.

“It depends. Maybe I'll post it immediately, maybe later. It's just that the memory is precious, and I want to save it.”

“I thought you wanted to hide me.”

The girl spoke carefully again.

“You're so beautiful, why would I hide you? It's just that my reputation isn't good right now. Aren't you afraid that if I post on moments, people will point fingers at you?”

“Then can I post? A moments post about eating with you.”

Shen Qian liked this sensible girl more and more. What he had just said was actually indicating that his reputation was poor, and if she appeared on his moments, she would inevitably be scrutinized. Moreover, as his financial power was displayed, the girl would definitely be called a gold-digger.

But the girl gave her answer directly through action: if you agree, I'll post it on moments, and I don't care about the pointing fingers. Furthermore, her emphasis on a moments post about eating together meant she wouldn't publicize their relationship.

“Have you sorted out your relationship with your Boyfriend?”

When he asked this question, the girl was slightly taken aback.

“Not yet. If I do it too quickly, I'm afraid he might come looking for trouble with you.”

Shen Qian understood. How could a hot-blooded young man accept it if his long-distance Girlfriend suddenly broke up with him just a few days after she started university?

“Then don't post on moments yet. Handle that relationship first.”

“Actually, he and I were only Boyfriend and Girlfriend in name. He started pursuing me since the first year of high school, and we got together in the second year, but we never did anything intimate. Last night was my first time...”

The girl wanted to explain, but Shen Qian laughed.

“What a coincidence, it was my first time too. Today should be the second.”

His eyes were full of sincerity. The girl was stunned; she had never expected this, as she had initially thought Shen Qian was a playboy.

“And just like you, I also have Girlfriends, and more than one.”

Shen Qian was referring to the Girlfriends he dated during the holiday. These Girlfriends would still occasionally send him greetings and inquire about his well-being.

Tan Xinxin was a little bewildered. What was this? A playboy who maintained his purity?

“But none of that matters. Do you know what's most important?”

“What?”

“When I am with you, having my heart and eyes completely fixed on you—that is what's most important.”

The two looked at each other. Tan Xinxin was certain she saw the flame of desire in Shen Qian's eyes, and she herself was ignited by this flame. This man was dangerous and charming, yet utterly irresistible.

“The P-Peace Hotel?”

The girl held the Boyfriend's hand, looking at him in disbelief.

“The first time, staying at that kind of ordinary hotel, was a bit unfair to us. Let's make up for it today.”

In the elevator, their hands were tightly clasped together, and sparks seemed to be searing their bodies within their palms.

The moment the hotel room door closed, the hotel environment and the scenery outside the window ceased to matter. In the girl's eyes, there was only the man in front of her, and Shen Qian felt he possessed endless strength.

The next day, Shen Qian uncharacteristically slept late. The girl was still in his arms, and seeing her like this, a surge of impulse rose in his heart.

“Hmm? Darling, you're awake.”

After the girl woke up, her voice was gentle, and she leaned softly against him. Shen Qian didn't know why—he who could resist even Xia Mengling—could no longer restrain his impulse in this moment.

When the two walked out of the hotel, the girl still felt a slight ache in her waist, but her expression wasn't painful. Shen Qian's infatuation with her made her feel very satisfied.