37: Chapter 37 The talks broke down; we're not a good match.

The two got into the car, and Tang Luochuan transferred 1,000 yuan to both Zhang Ming and Zhou Qi, covering their travel expenses for the day.

"I got a gift for you!" Tang Luochuan said, pulling a phone out of his bag.

Jiang Jinyue's expression tensed up. Was he trying to make a move?

It turned out to be a new model of phone.

"What's this?" Jiang Jinyue took a look and pulled out her own phone; she already had one.

"Uh... Senior Shen has one too. You two each get one."

"You already think of me as your girl? Isn't that a bit too soon?" Jiang Jinyue was direct by nature. Giving two girls the same gift meant Tang Luochuan already felt 100% sure he had them in the bag.

"Take it or leave it!"

Tang Luochuan didn't coddle her; he tossed the phone casually onto the dashboard and started the car.

When it came to Jiang Jinyue, cars and money hardly piqued her interest.

The girl was also unusually calm today. Along the way, Tang Luochuan initiated several topics, but she just responded with cold, perfunctory remarks.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Jiang Jinyue was treating them to lunch at a restaurant near Construction Square.

Su Yuanyuan and Zhang Ming were chatting heatedly, and Zhou Qi had brought his girlfriend along as well.

Only Liu Xin, who had established a relationship with Zhang Wenqiang yesterday, was there, but Zhang Wenqiang wasn't willing to join today's meal.

It was mainly because of Tang Luochuan; he didn't want to be shown up, and out of sight meant out of mind.

"Jinyue, you two sit at that table! I'll sit here with Zhang Ming and the others..." Su Yuanyuan intentionally created an opportunity for the two to spend time together, and the restaurant was specifically split into two tables.

Tang Luochuan and Jiang Jinyue didn't mind; there were only the two of them at the table.

"Tang Luochuan, what did my parents say to you yesterday?"

As soon as they sat down, Jiang Jinyue spoke up first.

Tang Luochuan seemed to have anticipated she would ask that. He said, "Nothing much. They were just very hospitable. We had a meal and talked about some trivial family matters."

"Oh~ So what do you think?"

"I think it's fine." After the coldness along the way, Tang Luochuan had actually lost his patience.

She wasn't like Shen Muyan, who could provide him with high emotional value after just a few casual flirtatious remarks.

"I just want to get to know you first. I don't want to get intimate... and I certainly don't want to be in a relationship with you this quickly."

"Hm~ That makes sense."

"That makes sense?" Jiang Jinyue put down the menu, her brows slightly furrowed.

She had expected him to argue, press for more, or at least show a bit more emotional fluctuation, not this... perfunctory agreement.

Jiang Jinyue was anxious to get a stance from him: "What about you? What are your thoughts?"

Tang Luochuan was actually seriously thinking about it. It wasn't impossible to take things slow as she wanted, but the problem was how slow.

A week? A month? Or a year?

"I'm basically just going with the flow; I don't have any specific plans. But I respect your opinion. Shall we just get to know each other first?"

Jiang Jinyue looked at his expression; it didn't seem like he was joking, and she felt slightly better. "Mm~ Let's eat first~"

"Alright~"

Lunch began, and for half an hour, neither of them knew what to say.

Zhou Qi observed the two of them, lowered his head, and whispered at his table, "What's going on? They've stopped talking over there?"

Zhang Ming was whispering sweet nothings to Su Yuanyuan with a grin.

Hearing what Zhou Qi said, he looked over as well. The atmosphere was indeed a bit stifling.

At this moment, Tang Luochuan was truly feeling a bit regretful.

At first, he thought Jiang Jinyue was cold, and assumed her family members were also unsociable types.

But after actually getting to know them, the Jiang Family parents were gentle and warm, leaving a great impression, so he naively thought Jiang Jinyue would slowly warm up too.

She did have some changes, but it was far from enough.

That self-centeredness and clarity in her bones couldn't be changed by a few words from others; she had to suffer a loss and feel the pain before she would understand.

He was willing to provide emotional value, speaking with a bit of flirting and coaxing, fully hoping she could catch it and respond.

But every time he threw out a line, it was only met with her indifferent, emotionless replies; she wouldn't even offer a sliver of warmth.

He had taken the initiative several times and probed a few times, only to find she remained as calm as a pool of deep water, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

He gave out emotional value, but couldn't even get an echo back.

No matter how passionate a heart or how skilled a flirt, in the face of such coldness, they would slowly lose their motivation.

Tang Luochuan felt a gaze and turned to look at Zhang Ming.

Zhang Ming blinked and pursed his lips, signaling him to find a topic.

Tang Luochuan spread his hands, signaling back: "I've been trying all the way here; this girl is a conversation killer."

"Tang Luochuan, what do you usually like?" Perhaps because it was too stifling, Jiang Jinyue tossed out this question.

Tang Luochuan repeated everything he had previously said to Shen Muyan.

Regardless of anything else, he listed a bunch of hobbies and interests.

Zhang Ming and Zhou Qi gave him a thumbs up, signaling that this move was high-level.

Jiang Jinyue remained unmoved, chewing and swallowing slowly, then said, "Quite extensive..."

"And you?" Tang Luochuan asked.

"Equestrianism, visiting exhibitions, world travel..."

Tang Luochuan nodded, waiting for her to continue.

That was it. Just those three terms, like the hobbies section on a resume.

The conversation died again.

Tang Luochuan took a sip of water and let his gaze drift to the next table. Zhang Ming was teasing Su Yuanyuan, making her laugh until she slumped onto the table, and Zhou Qi and his girlfriend were looking at the menu with their heads together, very intimate.

He felt something was wrong; he was being led by the nose by this woman, and he needed to regain his footing.

"Hey~ Can you not be so cold? If you want to get to know each other, let's talk properly!"

"But I am who I am. If you can accept me, you should adapt to me!"

"Then you have to adapt to me too!"

"Adapt to your ambiguous flirting?"

"Uh... that's not flirting; that's just a subtle way of expressing that I like you! Since when does dating involve only talking about these trivial matters??"

"How is this trivial? Things about future life, career, and planning, don't those need to be talked through clearly??"

"But these things are meant to be ironed out! There's no such thing as certainty in the future; isn't it something you explore slowly after being together? Besides, your family is so rich, and I have money too... these... these things don't need to be considered too much, right."

"Is that all the ambition you have?"

"I'm damn..."

Tang Luochuan was annoyed. He did only have that much ambition; he had absolutely no desire to start a business or be a boss.

To put it bluntly, it was all for money. Talk about ideals? His ideal was to reap without sowing, even if he wanted to change the world.

That would be achieved step by step. At least for now, he wanted to enjoy life properly.

However, Jiang Jinyue's standards were too high. Having lived 18 years of an affluent life, simple material satisfaction could no longer bring her joy.

She was competitive; her man had to be even stronger.

At this moment, Tang Luochuan realized that the two of them were not a good match.

Hearing the word 'damn,' the people at the other table immediately stiffened and looked over.

"Did it collapse?"

"We're done for!!"

Jiang Jinyue's brows were furrowed even tighter: "Can you speak properly?"

Tang Luochuan was speechless. He looked at the rice in his plate and continued, "We aren't a good match. After finishing the meal, you go do your thing, and I'll go back to the hotel."

"Not a good match?"

Jiang Jinyue put down her chopsticks gently, but her heart was shaken.

She had already tried very hard, but she completely didn't understand why it had turned out like this.

"Yeah, not a good match." Tang Luochuan shoveled another mouthful of rice, "You go find your domineering CEO, and I'll find my sweet Senior Shen. We'll stay out of each other's business."

"You—" Jiang Jinyue took a deep breath, her chest heaving a few times, but ultimately she suppressed it, "Tang Luochuan, are you really that impatient?"

"I am patient." Tang Luochuan said with a sincere face, "I treat you to sweets and you say I'm acting like a hooligan. I give you a phone and you say I'm trying to manipulate you. I talk to you about the future and you say I have no ambition—what the hell is there to talk about with you! Being classmates is fine enough."

"We've technically gotten to know each other, and you're right! We tried, only to find that you're FM 520; forcing us together just results in static."

Yesterday, Tang Luochuan had already realized that all his flirting had been in vain.

A few minutes later, they finished their meal.

Tang Luochuan stood up: "I'm heading back first. You guys have fun."

"Luochuan, why don't you stay and walk around a bit more?" Zhou Qi stood up, wanting to persuade him to stay.

Tang Luochuan shook his head: "I'm tired; I didn't sleep well last night. I'm treating this meal; I don't owe anyone any favors!"

After saying that, he walked to the front desk to pay the bill without looking back, leaving behind Jiang Jinyue, who sat at the table with a look of disappointment.

Watching the boy's retreating back, the girl had only one thought: "He shouldn't be like this! How could he be like this? Why is he like this!!"