21: Chapter 21: The puppy-like behavior was an act; the happiness was genuine.

In less than half an hour, the car pulled into the mall's underground parking garage.

The four of them got out of the car.

Li Jiaqi was uninterested; she had tried to strike up conversations the whole way.

But Tang Luochuan always managed to seize the opportunity to flirt with Senior Shen Muyan.

Instead, she had become the one assisting him.

Once they reached the first floor, Tang Luochuan clamored for bubble tea, looking exactly like a cheerful little puppy dog.

"Keep pretending! Go ahead and pretend, I give up... I can't handle this..." Li Jiaqi felt mentally exhausted.

Just a moment ago, she had deliberately asked Tang Luochuan how many girlfriends he had dated, and the brat had the audacity to claim he had never dated anyone!!

She couldn't find a single flaw in his story!!

Afterward, she had hinted to Senior Shen Muyan, both overtly and covertly, not to accept things from others so easily, or she wouldn't be able to pay them back.

Tang Luochuan, however, had 'naively' agreed, and even 'kindly' told Shen Muyan: "Senior Li Jiaqi is experienced, Senior Shen Muyan should learn from her! This... is all knowledge..."

"Knowledge my ass, isn't he just mocking me for having dated so many people?" Li Jiaqi knew she had been seen through by him, but since she was already here, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and keep playing along.

Senior Shen Muyan took Wang Fangfang to buy bubble tea; Li Jiaqi wasn't interested and stood there waiting.

She glanced at Tang Luochuan.

"Junior~~" Her voice curved, sounding very seductive; this was a good opportunity to ask for his WeChat.

She still wanted to give it one last shot.

"Alright, Senior, stop messing around! Just enjoy life, I'm not interested in you!"

Tang Luochuan's eyes suddenly changed, becoming sharp.

"Huh?" Li Jiaqi was a bit dazed, as if she didn't recognize the boy in front of her.

Tang Luochuan's tone was steady, completely devoid of any puppy-dog demeanor: "We've been on the road for a while, and I'm pretty tired too! I have feelings for Senior Shen Muyan! She's a good girl, but you're quite dangerous. Today, I'll treat you to lunch, go-karting, and then a movie!"

As he spoke, he took out his phone and opened WeChat: "Add me! Help me take care of Senior Shen Muyan; if anything happens with her, tell me! Making friends... is always better than making enemies."

Li Jiaqi was stunned; she hadn't expected him to change into a different person in an instant.

Her temper flared up as well: "Do you think it's fun to play with me like this?"

"I haven't played with you, don't talk nonsense."

"You! I mean, do you think it's fun to deceive us like this??"

Tang Luochuan chuckled, sounding very certain: "The puppy dog act is fake, but the happiness is real! If you weren't here today, I wouldn't have to play dumb! Let's be honest; stop playing games."

Li Jiaqi hesitated for a few seconds, then let it go: "Heh... alright then!"

She had nothing more to say; anything further would just lead to exposing secrets and arguing.

But Tang Luochuan was right; making friends is better than making enemies.

For a moment, Li Jiaqi's favorable impression of the boy skyrocketed. Although she knew it was impossible, that didn't conflict with her feelings.

At the very least, it proved that the boy was quite mature.

The two of them added each other on WeChat!

"The bubble tea is here!" Senior Shen Muyan and Wang Fangfang walked over, carrying the drinks.

Tang Luochuan put on a kind smile: "Thank you, Seniors! Let's go, let's go eat!"

In front of the Japanese restaurant, Tang Luochuan didn't want to be stingy.

"Let's try something fresh!" He walked inside first.

Just as they walked in, Senior Shen Muyan grabbed the boy.

Tang Luochuan turned back: "What's wrong?"

Senior Shen Muyan looked at the waiter greeting them, smiled awkwardly, and leaned close to Tang Luochuan's ear to whisper: "Luochuan, this place looks so expensive! I know you have money, but since this is our first time out together, just eating something casual is fine."

"I've been eating casually for many years; today I don't want to be casual! And also..." Tang Luochuan stopped halfway through his sentence.

Senior Shen Muyan was puzzled: "And what else?"

"Senior, you really smell so good~"

Senior Shen Muyan quickly stepped back, looking at him with nervousness and a hint of reproach; the two of them had indeed been standing very close just now.

The girl spoke: "You're not serious at all."

"Let's go, it's my first time here too!" Without waiting for an answer, Tang Luochuan took the initiative to hold the girl's forearm.

Senior Shen Muyan obediently followed him inside.

Inside the Japanese restaurant, warm yellow lights shone onto the light-wood partitions, and the air was filled with the faint scent of sake.

Tang Luochuan waved his hand and directly requested a small private room.

The waiter handed over the menu, and he didn't even look at the prices, his fingers swiping quickly on the iPad: "This, this, and this... two orders of the sashimi platter, I want the A5 Wagyu, do you have sea urchin? If it's fresh, bring four orders."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Senior Shen Muyan quickly interrupted: "We can't eat that much... I'm not very hungry..."

She clearly remembered that Li Jiaqi had told her before that if the other party treated her to a big meal, she must pay attention to the price.

One shouldn't accept rewards without merit; what if she ate it, but the conversation didn't go well, and he asked her to split the bill?

That made sense, and Wang Fangfang remembered it clearly too.

Senior Shen Muyan kept it in mind; although she was looking forward to it, she couldn't help but be vigilant.

"It's fine, go ahead and eat! The Junior is treating you, don't make him lose face." Li Jiaqi suddenly spoke up.

Senior Shen Muyan and Wang Fangfang both looked at her at the same time; this woman hadn't said that before.

"Why are you looking at me? Luochuan is treating us; as poor students, we definitely couldn't afford this, so we might as well take advantage of it!" Li Jiaqi smiled slightly, with a hint of ambiguity and suggestion, and patted Senior Shen Muyan on the shoulder: "Muyan, it's mostly because we're basking in your glory..."

"Good assist!" Tang Luochuan was happy inside; Li Jiaqi coming around to help him was actually very useful.

"What does that have to do with me..." Senior Shen Muyan lowered her head and spoke softly.

She had no dating experience whatsoever, and she had been left dizzy and confused by Li Jiaqi's meddling earlier.

Now that the other party had changed her attitude again, she didn't know what to do.

The dishes were served one by one.

The group was hungry and began to eat; Li Jiaqi and Wang Fangfang had absolutely no psychological burden.

They ate heartily.

Tang Luochuan chatted with the two of them here and there, mainly asking when the courses for freshmen would become lighter.

He thought to himself that having a wonderful university life wouldn't be bad.

Mainly because relationships in university were relatively pure, and it wouldn't be bad to date and find a girlfriend.

Learning that things wouldn't get a bit easier until after the National Day holiday on October 1st, the boy felt a bit disappointed.

Meanwhile, Senior Shen Muyan sat to the side, holding her chopsticks and eating in small bites, like a peripheral character.

But she herself knew that in this relaxed atmosphere, the core was still her and Tang Luochuan.