Li Chuan ultimately accompanied Chen Lu to the restaurant.
This was a very high-end restaurant, with a very tranquil environment. It's said that people with status and position usually come here to dine.
Of course, he wasn't doing it for the gratitude Chen Lu mentioned, but simply to help Chen Lu get rid of a problem.
Walking on the road, Chen Lu was very happy and directly linked arms with Li Chuan: "I knew you wouldn't ignore me!"
Li Chuan: "Don't worry, I'm the best at playing the boyfriend, guaranteed to leave you satisfied!"
Chen Lu: "Best at? You don't often play other people's boyfriend, do you? No wonder you…"
Li Chuan: "I was just speaking off the cuff."
Chen Lu clearly didn't believe Li Chuan's words. After all, Li Chuan was young and handsome, and talented too. How could a big boy, a young hunk like him not have girls chasing after him?
Soon, the two of them arrived at the appointed restaurant. Just as they walked through the restaurant door, a man looking about thirty, dressed in a suit, with a refined temperament, and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, stood up and waved to Chen Lu.
No wonder Chen Lu refused, this man was already in his thirties while Chen Lu was only twenty-two, almost a whole generation older, the typical scenario of an old cow eating young grass.
The man's name was Song Kai. His face initially bore a warm smile, but upon seeing Chen Lu's hands tightly clutching Li Chuan's arm, a gleam flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected a date meant for just him and Chen Lu would have her bringing another man along.
Still, the smile didn't disappear from his face because he saw Li Chuan was quite young and good-looking, likely thinking he might be Chen Lu's brother or some kind of relative.
Chen Lu approached with Li Chuan's arm in her grip quite naturally.
Song Kai smiled and moved forward: "You're here, have a seat. I've already ordered the dishes."
Once Li Chuan and Chen Lu were seated, Song Kai asked politely, "Chen Lu, who is this young man?"
Chen Lu introduced, "He is Li Chuan, not my brother, but my boyfriend."
Song Kai felt a surge of anger internally, but outwardly maintained his smile: "You said you didn't have a boyfriend."
Based on his intel, Chen Lu had always been single.
To suddenly bring along a boyfriend now, wasn't this just to humiliate him?
Chen Lu, somewhat apologetic, replied: "Mr. Song, actually my relationship with Chuan was only confirmed as romantic after I returned to the village this time, and not many people know yet."
"Because of Mr. Song's misplaced affection, I decided to bring Chuan along today. I know my actions might have been rather discourteous, but I also hope Mr. Song won't waste time on me and will soon find a companion! So, as a gesture of apology, I'll foot the bill for today's meal."
Song Kai shook his head and chuckled: "Chen Lu, there's no need to be so formal. After all, we've been friends. I'm happy that you've found true love."
"Then let this meal be a celebration of befriending Brother Li."
Simply from looks, behavior, and demeanor, Song Kai absolutely seemed like the ideal partner for many girls: a perfect partner and a long-term financial support.
If it were before, Chen Lu might have been tempted by his series of advances, but after meeting Li Chuan, there was no longer any possibility of that.
When compared to Li Chuan, other men just become ordinary, as common as they can be!
Song Kai pressed a button on the table to call the waitress over with the menu. Just as Chen Lu began choosing the dishes, Song Kai looked at Li Chuan: "Brother Li, you look very young. Are you still in college?"
Li Chuan understood that Song Kai likely suspected he was pretending, but such small scenarios were nothing to him. With a calm expression, he said: "I'm eighteen this year, just started college."
"Ah, the advantage of youth, huh?" Song Kai chuckled and then asked, "Just started college, what a great age. By the way, what's your major?"
Li Chuan: "Traditional Chinese Medicine."
Song Kai nodded: "Chinese Medicine? That's good. Oh, my uncle is the dean at the provincial Chinese medicine hospital. If you can't find a job after graduation, you can find me, I'll help arrange something for you! Nowadays, university graduates are equivalent to unemployed upon graduation; jobs are tough to find."
"Come, let's exchange contacts. If you face difficulties later, feel free to reach out to me. I'm in the provincial capital, I have some influence here."
This remark appeared enthusiastic, but was actually flaunting his connections and subtly mocking Li Chuan.
If Li Chuan truly took out his phone to exchange contact details with him, it would implicitly mean admitting he was weaker, unable to secure even a job.
Li Chuan smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Song, but there's no need to trouble you with my matters."
Song Kai shook his head and adopted a preaching tone: "See, you still don't realize how severe the situation is. Nationwide, there are tens of millions of graduates each year, but there are only so many job positions; there's a surplus of monks and too little porridge! I think you, although just starting college, need to plan ahead. Take civil servants for instance; it's a three-out-one-in rate, you can imagine how fierce the competition will be in the future!"
He said with a subtle smile, sensing that the relationship between Li Chuan and Chen Lu might not be romantic, but that Li Chuan might be someone Chen Lu found to fend him off.
And at this moment, if he just intensified his offensive, and made Chen Lu understand some realities, there might still be a chance to win her affection.
He continued: "Chuan, as a man, if you didn't have a girlfriend, I wouldn't say anything more. After all, if one person is full, the whole family doesn't starve. But now, as Chen Lu's boyfriend, you surely need to plan for your future together, right? You wouldn't want to break up right after graduation, would you?"
"If you secure a great job in the future, that's the only way you both can live a happy life. Money and material possessions are always the basis for spiritual satisfaction!"
"Take me for example, I'm thirty-one today, working in the provincial government. Although my position isn't high, but I've reached the rank of section chief."
"You know, among the billion-plus people in Great Xia, how many are section chiefs? My position allows my family to gain more respect in society; that's the advantage of status and position. Don't you want to go higher and further?"
Li Chuan: "Are you a principal section chief or a deputy section chief?"
Song Kai: "Both are section chiefs, is there a difference?"
Li Chuan chuckled: "A thirty-one-year-old principal chief is indeed rare; such an age reaching principal chief means boundless prospects."
"But a thirty-one-year-old deputy chief, that's regrettable, because promotion is basically out of reach."
"So, Mr. Song, are you?"
Song Kai's smile vanished.
Truthfully, Li Chuan's words hit the mark. A thirty-one-year-old principal chief is indeed rare, such a position at that age surely signals a bright future.
But deputy chief... isn't as bad as he said, right?
Thinking this, anger suddenly surged within Song Kai!
He intended to boast about his job, but now found himself grilled by Li Chuan!