Lu Xuan's faint, unreadable smile deepened, and he said no more, but his gaze made Zhao Qin's scalp tingle.
He slowly withdrew his hand, as if he had just brushed off dust, then turned and walked out of the dormitory, not even sparing a glance at his own bed, as if everything in the dormitory was beneath his notice.
"Brother Xuan, take care!"
"Brother Xuan, please take care!"
Zhao Qin, Liu Ming, and Chen Min almost simultaneously sprang from their chairs, bowing and scraping, sending him off like a plague god, their voices filled with immense reverence.
Lu Xuan pulled open the car door, pressed the accelerator, and the black sedan, like a phantom, sped away from Yanjing University, heading rapidly towards Bāyī Jǐngyuàn Residential Complex.
He had only heard of Bāyī Jǐngyuàn Residential Complex; it was said to be one of Yanjing's premier high-end residential areas, with strict security and excellent privacy, making it a quiet and desirable place.
Living alone in such a large house did feel a bit lonely.
He held the steering wheel with one hand and took out his phone with the other, skillfully dialing Bai Yanxi's number, concisely relaying the address and room number.
Bai Yanxi on the other end of the line seemed to have no hesitation, her voice as cool and compliant as ever, obediently agreeing.
After hanging up with Bai Yanxi, Lu Xuan swiped his finger and dialed Chen Yubing's number, similarly informing her of the address in a simple and clear manner.
Chen Yubing's response carried a hint of imperceptible excitement, seeming quite surprised by the sudden invitation.
With everything arranged, Lu Xuan was in a good mood, and he pressed the accelerator a bit harder.
Just then, an unfamiliar number called. Lu Xuan frowned slightly and answered it casually.
"Lu Brother Xuan...嗚嗚嗚...please...please don't abandon me..."
On the other end of the phone, Zhang Yining's tearful sobs came through, her voice hoarse, filled with despair and subservience, with a heavy nasal tone.
It turned out that Zhang Yining had been startled awake from a nightmare, and the strange looks from her roommates in the dormitory made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
She couldn't bear the torment any longer, so she borrowed a phone from a Student in the adjacent dormitory whom she didn't usually interact with much, gathered all her courage, and dialed the number she had long known by heart.
"Get to the point, I don't want to waste words with you." Lu Xuan's voice still betrayed no emotion, as cold as if he were speaking to an unimportant stranger.
He was about to hang up; he was tired of this crying drama.
"Don't! Lu Brother Xuan! Don't hang up!" Zhang Yining, hearing Lu Xuan's impatient tone, was scared out of her wits, fearing the call would be cut off, and quickly shouted, "I...I have something important to tell you! It's about my mother! She...she went to find my maternal grandfather! My maternal grandfather's family is very influential in Chu Nan Province, she definitely won't let this go! You...you must be careful!"
She paused, her voice dropping even lower, with a hint of urgency and flattery: "I...I heard my mother mention inadvertently before that my maternal grandfather used to be...used to be the top leader of the provincial committee...although he retired many years ago, his influence is still there. Lu Brother Xuan, you must be careful they don't retaliate against you!"
Zhang Yining's heart was already completely controlled by Lu Xuan at this moment.
Fear, dependence, and a hint of pathological expectation intertwined, making her unhesitatingly sell out her mother and maternal grandfather completely.
As long as she could gain a shred of Lu Xuan's pity, a shred of his attention, she was willing to do anything.
After listening, a hint of playfulness flashed in Lu Xuan's eyes. Lin family? Top leader of the provincial committee? A little interesting.
"Okay, I know." Lu Xuan's tone remained flat, as if he had just heard a trivial matter. He paused, then seemed to remember something, adding, "You're still somewhat useful."
It was just this light, airy phrase, "You're still somewhat useful," like a shot of adrenaline, instantly injected into Zhang Yining's anxious heart.
All the sadness, despair, and fear from before seemed to be thrown to the winds at this moment.
She could even imagine the faint, almost imperceptible curve of Lu Brother Xuan's lips when he said those words.
"Lu Brother Xuan..." Zhang Yining's voice took on a hint of unbelievable joy and excitement, as if she had received a great blessing, and tears welled up again, but this time, with a touch of happiness.
Lu Xuan, however, didn't give her another chance to express her loyalty, and he decisively hung up the phone.
To him, Zhang Yining, this chess piece, occasionally providing unexpected information, was serving her purpose.
Night deepened, at the entrance of Bāyī Jǐngyuàn Residential Complex.
An elegant white Maserati slowly pulled to a stop, and Bai Yanxi got out of the driver's seat, wearing a simple yet stylish dress that made her figure appear even more graceful.
She had just locked the car and was about to walk inside when the corner of her eye caught sight of a white Audi RS8 not far away, approaching unhurriedly.
The car model, both understated and exuding an undeniable luxury, especially the familiar license plate number, made Bai Yanxi's brow furrow almost imperceptibly.
Chen Yubing's car? Why was she here too?
The Audi RS8 stopped steadily next to the Maserati, the car door opened, and Chen Yubing stepped out, wearing high heels and a fiery red mini-dress, walking gracefully.
She seemed somewhat surprised to see Bai Yanxi here as well, but she showed no expression on her face, merely glancing at Bai Yanxi indifferently, not even bothering to greet her, and directly locked her car before walking towards the apartment building Lu Xuan had specified.
Her arrogant posture made it seem as if Bai Yanxi was air.
"What are you doing here?" Bai Yanxi's cool voice rang out, carrying a hint of imperceptible vigilance and scrutiny.
She knew very well that at this time, in this place, Chen Yubing's appearance was no coincidence.
Chen Yubing's steps didn't falter, but a meaningful smile played on her lips, and she didn't even turn her head, just let out a soft hum from her nose as a response.
Of course, she knew Bai Yanxi must have been called by Lu Xuan; it was she who had "kindly" recommended Bai Yanxi to Lu Xuan back then.
Now... Hmph, tonight, she must reclaim all the grievances she had suffered under Bai Yanxi, this "white lotus," with interest! Bai Yanxi, you just wait!
"Hey, Chen Yubing! What do you mean! I'm talking to you!" Seeing her arrogant demeanor, Bai Yanxi's cool voice rose a few octaves, and she quickly followed.
The further she walked, the more alarmed she became, because she realized that Chen Yubing's direction was precisely towards Lu Xuan's building!
Could it be... Lu Xuan had called her too?
The moment this possibility crossed her mind, Bai Yanxi felt an inexplicable discomfort.
"Chen Yubing! Stop right there! Wait for me!" Bai Yanxi couldn't help but shout.
Chen Yubing paid her no mind, her high heels clicking "clack-clack," and she walked even faster, her swaying figure exuding an indescribable allure in the night.
Soon, she was the first to arrive at Lu Xuan's doorstep and pressed the doorbell without hesitation.
Bai Yanxi also ran over, panting, and just as she was about to question, the door clicked open from inside.
Lu Xuan, dressed in casual loungewear, leaned against the doorframe, looking at the two stunning beauties confronting each other at the entrance with a faint, unreadable smile.
"What are you doing here!"
Bai Yanxi and Chen Yubing spoke almost simultaneously, then glared at each other, and the air instantly filled with tension.