177: Chapter 177 Continue the Attack

On the way back to her apartment from Yunyue, Lu Manqi sat in her car for a long time.

The engine was still running, and the air conditioning vents were blowing a cool breeze.

Leaning back in the driver's seat, she flipped through the file that had just been sent to her phone once more.

Then she turned off the phone screen and stared at the dusty gray wall of the underground garage through the windshield, her thoughts exceptionally clear.

For a person like him, the usual worldly tactics of deliberate flattery and currying favor were completely useless.

He could see right through beauties who threw themselves at him or connections that approached with utilitarian motives.

He kept his life strictly confined to a routine of school, the gym, and home—a deliberate isolation from irrelevant people.

Any approach carrying aggression or a sense of purpose would be categorized by him as a nuisance and flatly shut out.

Therefore, she must never become that nuisance.

The gym was the first step.

That meeting at Yunyue had already allowed Jiang Chen to see her and know she wasn't the type of woman who deliberately revolved around men.

But that was far from enough.

What she needed to do was become a comfortable presence that appeared incidentally in his life, rather than a stranger who sought him out with calculated intent.

She needed more scenarios, more opportunities for perfectly-timed chance encounters.

Lu Manqi mentally mapped out Jiang Chen's range of activities: the Jiang University campus, his regular gym, and the occasional niche industry summit.

She had already established a presence at the gym; industry summits were too infrequent, with perhaps not even one suitable event a month.

The real breakthrough lay in Jiangcheng University.

That was where he spent the most time, and also the place where it was most difficult for her to appear abruptly in her capacity as a private banking manager.

She spent two days sorting through all her connections related to Jiang University: undergraduate alumni, MBA classmates, campus professors she had collaborated with in the past, and several heads of university-run enterprises she had met through clients.

By the third day of screening, a suitable candidate surfaced in her mind.

Su Wanqing.

An associate professor in the Department of Finance at Jiang University, thirty years old, with a cold temperament and still unmarried.

Three years ago, during a financial case competition, Lu Manqi had met Su Wanqing for the first time while serving as a specially invited judge for the bank.

That day, she had been dressed in a black suit skirt, standing among a group of students deconstructing a case framework. Her speech was steady yet logically rigorous; she was like a velvet-wrapped blade—gentle and reserved, yet hiding a sharp edge.

After the competition, the two had a brief chat and found that their judgments on industry trends and capital logic were highly aligned, so they stayed in touch.

They would exchange greetings during holidays and meet for a meal every now and then. They weren't exactly best friends, but their relationship was stable and they trusted each other.

In the eyes of outsiders, Su Wanqing was the Department of Finance's famous 'Iceberg Associate Professor': strict with students, distant with colleagues, and always maintaining a distance from suitors, remaining alone even at thirty.

But no one knew that she had long ago held someone in her heart—Jiang Chen, a sophomore in the same department.

The two were already secret lovers in private. On campus, they strictly observed the boundaries of teacher and student, acting appropriately distant and restrained in public, but passionate in private, keeping this relationship airtight.

Because of this, Lu Manqi was completely unaware of these internal details.

She only knew that Su Wanqing held a significant position in the Department of Finance and that her teaching level was top-tier, with her classes always being full.

More importantly: Su Wanqing happened to be teaching the core sophomore courses for the Department of Finance this semester.

Jiang Chen was a sophomore in the Department of Finance, so he was bound to be in her classes.

Lu Manqi pulled up WeChat; the last time she had chatted with Su Wanqing was to send New Year's greetings.

She edited her message several times before finally sending: [Sister Wanqing, has school been busy lately? I'd like to take you out for a meal.]

Su Wanqing's fingertips paused slightly when she saw the message, and a hint of alertness instantly rose in her heart.

She knew Lu Manqi's character too well; she didn't visit unless there was a reason. A sudden invitation to dinner was definitely not just for a simple catch-up.

She quickly replied: [It's alright. The sophomore professional courses are packed this semester, and my throat can barely handle the back-to-back classes. Why is Manager Lu so rare to have time to treat me?]

The corners of Lu Manqi's lips curled up as she replied calmly: [I've been wanting to invite you for a while. This week, you pick the time.]

Wednesday evening, at a quiet and elegant Suzhou-style restaurant near the financial center.

Lu Manqi had booked a window booth in advance; the environment was quiet and soundproof, suitable for casual conversation.

When Su Wanqing arrived, she was wearing a long navy blue trench coat over a white silk shirt, with her sleeves casually rolled up to reveal a fair and slender wrist.

Her temperament was cold and intellectual, carrying a scholarly air and the composed aura of a mature older sister.

She took off her trench coat, draped it over the back of the chair, and spoke casually as she sat down, her tone carrying a faint probe: "Your complexion is getting better and better. Does the high-pressure work in the financial circle actually keep you in better shape?"

Lu Manqi smiled as she poured tea for her: "Work doesn't nourish anyone; I'm pushed to run by performance indicators every day. It's you, staying peacefully on campus, who looks even younger and sharper than the last time we met."

Su Wanqing picked up her teacup and took a shallow sip, smiling faintly: "I'm already thirty. If I don't learn to be a bit more refined, I'll really be left behind by time."

The two first chatted about their recent lives, industry trends, daily routines, and new restaurants in the city. They didn't deliberately mention students or talk about classes, chatting easily like old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, the atmosphere relaxed and natural.

After a few pleasantries, Lu Manqi slowly transitioned the topic to business, beginning to probe unobtrusively.

"Speaking of which, I've never really looked deeply into the teaching arrangements for the Department of Finance at Jiang University. Besides theoretical courses, does your department offer any practical electives? Like startup incubation, project roadshows, or industrial operations?"

Su Wanqing's eyes narrowed slightly, and her mind instantly became clear.

Lu Manqi had gone in a circle to invite her to dinner, but her ultimate focus was the Department of Finance at Jiang University. Her purpose was self-evident—nine times out of ten, she was coming for Jiang Chen.

She didn't show a hint of it on her face, her expression remaining indifferent and composed as she naturally followed the lead.

"We do. Our department just started an elective called 'Entrepreneurial Finance' this semester, which focuses on practical implementation. A colleague of mine is the main lecturer. There are student startup project roadshows for both midterms and finals, which follow real market logic throughout. It's not just theoretical talk."

Lu Manqi took the opportunity to respond, finding a high-sounding reason.

"That's a perfect coincidence. Our bank has been promoting special loans for university student startups lately. I was just thinking of learning more about the current direction and project quality of university students' startups to see if we can establish a business connection with the school."

She looked at Su Wanqing and said in a casual tone: "Sister Wanqing, if it's convenient, I'd like to find some time to audit a few elective classes and see the students' roadshow projects. Your professional campus perspective combined with our industry's practical perspective could serve as a mutual reference."

Su Wanqing understood perfectly but feigned a generous and easygoing manner: "How could that be inconvenient? You have a unique eye in the industry; auditing would also allow you to give the students some professional advice. Come whenever you like, no need to be polite with me about finding a seat."

She seemed to agree readily, but in reality, she planned to use the opportunity of the classroom auditing to get a close-up look at Lu Manqi's true purpose.

Lu Manqi smiled knowingly and lightly clinked her teacup against Su Wanqing's: "Then I'll really be coming to crash your classes."

"Come as you please," Su Wanqing waved her hand dismissively. "When you do, I'll treat you to a meal in return."

The meal lasted until past nine o'clock, and the two said their goodbyes at the restaurant entrance.

Su Wanqing drove away, a hint of doubt and wariness hidden in her eyes; Lu Manqi stood on the street corner in the evening breeze, watching the taillights disappear at the intersection, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.

She had obtained the perfect ticket for admission.

It wasn't that she had deliberately inquired about Jiang Chen's schedule or forced her way into his social circle; rather, it was under the guise of business research and auditing courses, with Su Wanqing's active permission and invitation.

This reason was perfectly legitimate. No matter when it was scrutinized, not a single trace of utilitarian calculation could be found.