122: Cheongsam + Aurora shiny flesh-colored stockings are slightly better and temporarily in the lead!

Upon reaching the underground garage, the elevator doors opened, and warm yellow light spilled onto the garage floor.

Liu Ruyan immediately spotted Lu Chen standing in the most conspicuous spot.

He wore a well-tailored dark grey suit, its slim fit perfectly outlining his tall and upright figure, every line just right.

He stood tall and straight, like an ancient pine, forming a scenic view in the dim garage, his stern face appearing even more profound under the lights.

Liu Ruyan's heart fluttered with joy, and she subconsciously raised a hand to brush a few strands of hair from her forehead, a gentle and elegant movement, like a breeze caressing flower petals.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes brimming with charm, her thick, curled eyelashes fluttering gently like a butterfly's wings, each flutter stirring one's heart.

A perfect smile played on her lips, its subtle curve carrying three parts allure, three parts temptation, and four parts an ineffable confidence.

She walked with graceful steps, her figure swaying like a blooming rose exuding a captivating fragrance, moving elegantly towards Lu Chen, each step seemingly in time with a heartbeat.

Gu Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, stood in a corner, her head bowed, her heart involuntarily quickening.

She secretly glanced at Lu Chen from the corner of her eye, a glimmer of anticipation in her gaze, like a faint star twinkling in the night sky.

Her gaze held a hint of nervousness and shyness, like a student awaiting praise from a teacher.

She bit her lower lip tightly, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart feeling like a small deer frantically bumping around, both nervous and hopeful that Lu Chen's gaze would linger on her for a moment longer.

But to her disappointment, Lu Chen merely gave her a fleeting glance.

His gaze was as calm as still water in an ancient well, without any ripples or the slightest emotional fluctuation.

His deep eyes seemed to hide an endless abyss, making it impossible to fathom his inner thoughts.

His face remained stern, his features chiseled like a knife, his gaze cold and distant, without any change in expression.

It was as if everything before him failed to capture his attention, as if Gu Xiaoxiao was just an insignificant stranger.

Gu Xiaoxiao's heart immediately sank, like a huge rock pressing on her chest, instantly plummeting to the bottom, making it hard for her to breathe.

Her eyes instantly dimmed, the original glimmering light vanishing without a trace, like a candle flame extinguished by the wind.

She felt as if her heart had been fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand, a wave of bitterness welling up inside her.

“Sure enough… it’s still not enough, is it?” she thought with a bitter smile, “How could I be so naive, thinking this would get his attention.”

Then, an even more disheartening scene unfolded for Gu Xiaoxiao.

After Lu Chen's gaze left her, it lingered for a moment longer on Liu Ruyan.

Especially on Liu Ruyan's long, slender legs, clad in shimmering, glossy stockings, his gaze lingered for a few more seconds.

Gu Xiaoxiao roughly calculated it to be at least two and a half seconds longer.

Gu Xiaoxiao felt as if her heart had been thrown into an ice cellar, a chill spreading from her core throughout her body.

She couldn't help but bite her lower lip tightly until it turned pale, a pang of pain, and even a faint trace of blood appeared on her rosy lip, yet it couldn't dispel the bitterness in her heart.

Her hands tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, her body trembling slightly, a mix of nervousness and frustration, but mostly regret, flashing through her mind.

She kept blaming herself in her heart: “Sure enough, Lu Chen still prefers someone like Liu Ruyan. I should have known not to dress like this. What a failure…”

She continued to chastise herself, but Gu Xiaoxiao quickly remembered that she had other preparations.

“Thankfully… I still have other methods. I hope they’ll come in handy later.”

A flicker of hope ignited in her heart, and a hint of confidence returned to her eyes, as she secretly encouraged herself: “It’s okay, I still have a chance…”

Liu Ruyan, too, had evidently noticed the change in Lu Chen's gaze and the length of its stay.

She felt quite pleased, and the smile on her face grew even brighter, like the most vibrant flower blooming in spring.

She lightly tossed her hair, her waterfall-like long hair tracing a graceful arc in the air before slowly falling.

Liu Ruyan shot a slightly provocative glance at Gu Xiaoxiao nearby, her eyes holding a hint of mockery and pity, as if to say, “See? CEO Lu still cares more about me.”

Then, with a more confident stride, she walked towards Lu Chen, her posture like a queen approaching her king.

Liu Ruyan stopped in front of Lu Chen, tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of tenderness and charm, her voice as sweet as honey:

“CEO Lu, we’re here.”

As she spoke, she gently brushed a strand of hair from her ear, her movements elegant and sensual, her eyes blinking, as if hiding a myriad of charms.

She bit her lower lip slightly, a faint blush rising on her face, like the evening glow in the sky, captivatingly beautiful.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said, “This outfit today is quite nice.”

His gaze lingered on Liu Ruyan for a moment, an hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Liu Ruyan secretly gloated.

She knew it; Lu Chen definitely preferred her this way!

Liu Ruyan waved her hand and chuckled softly, covering her mouth: “I just dressed casually. It’s good that CEO Lu likes it.”

Watching the interaction between Liu Ruyan and Lu Chen, Gu Xiaoxiao's heart grew even colder.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

Then she looked up, a slightly stiff smile on her face, and walked in front of Lu Chen, her voice a bit dry as she said, “CEO Lu.”

She looked up, her eyes holding a hint of anticipation, mixed with unease and nervousness, carefully watching Lu Chen, trying to find a different expression on his face.

Lu Chen nodded slightly again, his gaze lingering on Gu Xiaoxiao for an instant, and he said in a flat tone, “Mm, let’s go.”

With that, he turned and walked towards the car.

His gaze was still so cold and distant, devoid of any warmth, making Gu Xiaoxiao feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, chilling her to the bone.

Liu Ruyan gave Gu Xiaoxiao a triumphant look, then followed closely behind Lu Chen with elegant steps, like a proud peacock.

Gu Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip, a flicker of unwillingness in her eyes, but she still silently followed, thinking to herself: “It’s not over yet. I won’t give up so easily…”