Chapter 49: A little dizzy from milk, and we've already made an appointment?
A hint of imperceptible helplessness flashed across his eyes; he didn't tell the truth about the reason.
"I can't exactly tell her that I've spent the whole day dealing with two D-cup and E-cup girls,"
"Whose figures were only one size smaller than her F-cup, so I'm long past being surprised by that,"
"Today, I'd even call myself 'a bit desensitized to it',"
So, facing her curves right now, naturally, there was no overreaction.
He just looked away calmly, his tone remaining flat as he gave a non-committal response:
"It's just dancing, just focus."
These words, falling into Chen Qian's ears, added a few more layers of confusion and competitiveness.
She looked at Lin Chen's cold, handsome profile, her curiosity growing stronger:
"Just who is this Lin Chen?"
"To think he could actually be indifferent to my charm."
She subconsciously slowed her dance steps, her gaze locked tightly on Lin Chen, trying to find a crack in his composure,
but in the end, she only saw a clear, cold detachment, without a shred of covetousness or greed.
The ambiguity swirled in the ballroom, mixed with the soft dance music and a faint scent of perfume.
Lin Chen stood tall and straight, his fingertips resting loosely on Chen Qian's wrist, his expression bearing that habitual cold aloofness.
He didn't say much, his jawline taut and sharp, the surrounding noise seemingly separated from him by a layer.
Yet, this 'keep people at a distance' demeanor acted like a magnet, making it increasingly hard for Chen Qian opposite him to look away.
The less she could figure him out, the more she wanted to get closer; this sense of contrast made his charm even more alluring.
Just then, a pale blue system panel suddenly popped up before Lin Chen's eyes, the text so clear it was dazzling:
[Detected that the Host used the 'Cold Aloofness' trait technique, successfully triggering a strong desire for exploration in a high-quality rated female. Reward: 100,000 Yuan in cash, already deposited into the Host's linked bank card.]
Almost simultaneously, the phone in his pocket vibrated. The moment the screen lit up, the bank deposit notification was particularly eye-catching:
[Your account ending in XXXX has received 100,000.00 Yuan. Balance: 2,539,122.80 Yuan.]
Lin Chen's pupils constricted imperceptibly, a small ripple rising in his heart.
It wasn't wild joy, but more of an unexpected shock. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath:
"This... I already got another reward?"
He subconsciously glanced at Chen Qian opposite him. Seeing that she hadn't noticed his little movement, he added in his mind:
I didn't even actively use any techniques to hit on her.
In an instant, the shock was replaced by a hint of glee, his heart leaping with joy:
"So, using techniques to attract girls gets me rewards?"
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier, System!"
With a shift in thought, Lin Chen's eyes brightened as he secretly calculated: It seems I need to put more effort into this and learn a few more moves.
After pondering for a few seconds, he suddenly had an idea, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint, almost invisible smile:
"Got it! I'll go browse urban novels on Tomato Novel!"
"They're full of refreshing stories about picking up girls and building careers,"
"Maybe I can pick up a few useful tricks; that's better than just fumbling around on my own."
He even found a high-sounding excuse for himself, silently reciting in his heart:
"Didn't the teachers always say, 'Read a book a hundred times and its meaning will naturally appear,' and 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles'!"
"And as the old saying goes, 'Within books, there are houses of gold; within books, there are beauties like jade.'"
"For me, that just means reading more—within books, there are plans for picking up girls!"
"Nothing wrong with that logic."
He was so lost in thought that his eyes went a bit blank, and even his dance steps slowed down, making him appear a bit dazed.
Chen Qian was the first to notice something was off. She gently shook his wrist, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness and a touch of teasing:
"What are you thinking about?"
"You're actually zoning out while dancing with me, your eyes have drifted far away."
"You really are the first person to do that."
She leaned in closer, her warm breath brushing against Lin Chen's ear, her voice lowered slightly, carrying a hint of probing:
"Could it be that you're thinking about ways to pick up girls?"
Lin Chen snapped back to reality, his earlobes slightly heating up the moment his little secret was poked at.
Fortunately, the lighting was dim, so Chen Qian didn't see it. He quickly cleared his throat to cover it up, shook his head, and made an excuse:
"Oh, no, no,"
"I was just thinking that I haven't really had dinner yet,"
"I just gnawed on two pieces of bread this afternoon to pad my stomach,"
"I was planning to go buy a pack of instant noodles to make do after the dance."
As soon as he said this, Chen Qian immediately slapped her forehead, looking annoyed:
"I forgot completely because you didn't mention it!"
"To prepare for tonight's welcome dance, I was so busy this afternoon that I didn't even get to eat, and now I'm actually a bit hungry."
Her eyes darted around, looking at Lin Chen, her tone carrying a bit of anticipation as she took the initiative to invite him:
"How about we go eat barbecue together after the dance ends?"
"There's a barbecue night market street nearby, it's super lively,"
"And the food is really good. I guess you haven't been there yet, since you've been busy getting familiar with the campus after military training, right?"
Lin Chen nodded slightly upon hearing this, his tone still calm, but with less aloofness and a bit more sincerity:
"Yeah, I've either been in military training or busy getting familiar with the classrooms and dormitory lately, so I really haven't been there."
"Then it's settled!"
Chen Qian immediately got excited, her eyes curving into crescents, her tone crisp:
"Wait for me at the school gate after the dance, don't run off!"
"By the way, add my phone number so I can contact you then."
Saying this, she quickly recited her phone number, her speech light and fast, with irrepressible joy in her eyes.
Being able to go out for a meal alone with Lin Chen was much more interesting than dancing.
Lin Chen listened carefully, repeated the last four digits to confirm, and then nodded:
"Mm, I've got it, see you at the school gate after the dance."
"Also, if the two of us go out for a late-night snack alone, it might cause quite a stir!"
"After all, you are our school's big campus belle!"
"So... hehe,"
"Should I call my roommates,"
"And you call your roommates or close friends to come along too?"
"Wouldn't it be better if we all gathered together for a lively time?"
"Of course, I'll be the one paying tonight!"
At this point, Chen Qian couldn't help but feel a bit more favorably toward Lin Chen.
Although this boy didn't seem to like talking much, his thoughts were very delicate and thoughtful; he considered things very thoroughly.
So she readily agreed:
"Sure, I'll listen to you then!"
"Anyway, I heard long ago that you made a fortune in the stock market recently, so it's just the right time to let you splurge a bit~"
Lin Chen responded with a smile:
"Haha, no problem!"
"To be able to treat such a beautiful girl to a meal, it's worth it no matter how much it costs!"
"Tonight, it's all thanks to you giving me face that I suddenly became the focus of the whole school!"
His witty remark made Chen Qian giggle, and her previously tense face finally broke into a brilliant smile.
"Oh, so you actually have a sense of humor!"
Chen Qian said coquettishly, a hint of imperceptible joy flashing in her eyes.
Looking at the smile in Chen Qian's eyes, Lin Chen's heart became active again:
"And just like that, we have a date?"
It seems the plan to browse urban novels must be put on the agenda. Maybe next time I can get even more rewards; being able to pick up girls and make money at the same time is simply a win-win!