Chapter 007 Diverging Opinions

“So, what do you think? Is being a fund manager at a fund company starting to sound more and more interesting?” Zhen Hao asked with a smile. He didn’t really expect Lin Luyu to answer, and continued, “You’re in your senior year now. With the new semester just starting and things not too busy yet, you should seize the opportunity to attend as many campus recruitment interviews as you can, and try to secure a job early. That way, you won’t be scrambling and stressed out when graduation comes.”

“That reminds me, our XM’s compensation is actually quite good. Why don’t you submit a resume and give it a try?” The moment he mentioned academics and employment, Zhen Hao instantly sounded like Lin Luming had possessed him, going on and on like a worried parent. “With your grades and your previous experience, as long as you perform normally during the interview, XM will definitely have a place for you.”

What he didn’t say was: if she chose XM, they’d be at the same company, and he could look after her a bit more—just as he had done over their four years at university.

“I don’t want to be a fund manager.” Lin Luyu sounded rather uninterested.

“Then how about investment banking? You could be an analyst at Zhongyao Securities next door—that would be a good choice, too.” Zhen Hao misunderstood her. He thought she just didn’t want to work on the buy side, so he suggested a sell-side position. “I actually know someone at Zhongyao. If he gives you an internal referral, your chances of success will be even higher. But of course, with your abilities, you’d get in on your own anyway.”

“We’ll talk about it later.” Lin Luyu didn’t want to make the meeting awkward, so she just bit her straw in silence. “Oh, the food’s here, let’s eat!”

Lin Luyu was relieved that the pickled fish arrived just then, dissolving the potential awkwardness between them.

“Oh right, I nearly forgot. My memory these days…” Zhen Hao frowned, then continued, “When I went to Yuhang this time, I also passed through Jiangning. Your brother asked me to bring quite a few things for you.”

“My brother!” Lin Luyu hadn’t seen Lin Luming in a long time. Hearing this, she immediately brightened, ignoring her food and eagerly asking, “What did he send? Where is it?”

“Oh, today at the train station I just happened to run into your roommate. She was heading back to school, so I asked her to bring it back for you.”

**

Zhen Hao lied.

In fact, when he messaged Lin Luyu this afternoon to ask her out, he was already standing at the university gates. Originally, he’d planned to say something corny and sappy, then reveal that he was right outside, giving her a big surprise. But Jiang Xiaohan, who was with him, accidentally let slip, “Luyu isn’t on campus today,” which ruined the timing of the surprise—no excitement, no happiness, just a quiet resignation.

And as for passing through Jiangning, it wasn’t “on the way”—he’d gone out of his way for it. After all, if he was going to try to steal someone’s little sister, he had to give her brother a heads-up. Zhen Hao could still remember Lin Luming’s jealous expression as he looked at him.

“So you and Xiaohan attended the same event?” Lin Luyu looked genuinely surprised. “So she’s back today too? If she stayed away much longer, our dorm would feel so empty—I was getting bored out of my mind.”

“About that thing…” Have you made up your mind?

“What did my brother send me? Did you look inside?” Before Zhen Hao could get the words out, Lin Luyu asked first.

“You should open it yourself when you get back,” Zhen Hao said, adding food to Lin Luyu’s bowl. “It’s only a surprise if you open it yourself.”

Lin Luyu nodded in wholehearted agreement.

“My brother is really something,” she said, popping a piece of fish into her mouth. “He always says that once he’s sent me all the best things from Jiangning, he’ll come back. But look at him! He’s been sending things for years, and only comes back for a day or two during holidays. Does Jiangning really have that many good things?”

“This time it’s really not your brother’s fault,” Zhen Hao laughed, making excuses for his friend. “You know he went straight into the military after graduation. I was lucky to catch him this time—if I’d been a few days later, he would have headed into the mountains for training.”

Lin Luyu understood the path her brother had chosen, so she only grumbled for show. She knew she had to support him.

In that moment, she could only turn her longing into appetite, shoveling food into her mouth faster. Her cheeks were stuffed so full she looked like a little squirrel hoarding pine nuts, making Zhen Hao laugh beside her and urge her to slow down. “Don’t worry, your present won’t grow legs and run off. Take your time—you don’t want to choke.”