Chapter 12: The Kind of Love That Makes You a Fool

After the final Visual Identity Design class ended, it was already nearing seven in the evening.

Shang Li casually grabbed a sandwich from the school convenience store and rushed to the Western Restaurant for her part-time shift.

As soon as she stepped through the door, the manager approached her, looking somewhat uneasy.

“Shang Li, you’re here.”

Shang Li, in a hurry to get to the changing room, quickly apologized, “Sorry, Manager, there was a bit of traffic today. I’ll go change right away.”

The manager didn’t seem particularly pressed and hesitated slightly in her tone. “Shang Li, I’m sorry… The boss said business hasn’t been great lately, so we have to reduce staff. That means… you don’t need to come in anymore. Your previous wages will be transferred to your bank card on time.”

Shang Li stood stunned for a few seconds before realizing she’d just been fired.

She glanced back at the long line already forming outside. “Business isn’t good? But we always have so many people waiting for a table…”

She had been working here for over a year. Even before the restaurant became popular, it had done quite well. Recently, it had been trending on social media, with a constant stream of customers—how could they suddenly need to lay people off?

The manager had always been on good terms with Shang Li. She genuinely liked this diligent, well-behaved girl. Biting her lip, she lowered her voice and said, “Shang Li, to be honest, did you offend someone recently?”

Shang Li blinked. “I… I don’t think so.”

“It’s like this,” the manager leaned in closer. “The boss said someone specifically requested that you not work here anymore. Sounds like someone powerful, so… there’s really nothing we can do.”

It hit Shang Li like a thunderclap on a clear day. She stood frozen for quite a while before she could react.

After a moment, she composed herself, slung her canvas bag over her shoulder, and said, “I understand, Manager. Then I’ll head out first. If you ever need help again, please think of me.”

The manager felt bad, too. It wasn’t easy to find a job these days. She knew Shang Li must be struggling—otherwise, at the age of twenty, when most girls were busy dressing up and going on dates, she wouldn’t be spending her time working part-time.

But with pressure from the boss, there was nothing the manager could do. She could only nod and respond, “Sigh… Alright.”

After leaving the Western Restaurant, Shang Li didn’t know where to go.

Without the generous monthly salary from the restaurant, Shang Li wasn’t sure if she could still afford her tuition and rent.

She walked to the bus stop and sat down on the bench.

Night had quietly fallen, and the bustling city of Jingbei was now cloaked in dazzling lights. The streets and alleys were brightly lit, neon flashing like scattered stars, decorating the night sky above the city.

The wide roads bustled with endless traffic and throngs of people.

Shang Li sat there in a daze, staring blankly at the stream of passersby. It felt as if someone had stabbed her heart hard, the pain so intense she couldn’t even find the words to describe it.

The manager said she must’ve offended someone. But she had no idea who she could’ve possibly offended.

She had worked at the restaurant for over a year without a single complaint. On review platforms, customers often mentioned her by name, praising her attentiveness and service.

She didn’t know how long she sat there before she suddenly felt a bit hungry. Reaching into her bag, she took out the sandwich and began eating it slowly, bite by bite.

…

At that moment, inside the Biomedical Science Department professor’s office at Jingdu University—

Lu Tinghe had just signed a cooperation agreement on behalf of Heshuo Technologies with Ning Zhi Huan’s research team. He slid the signed contract across the desk toward Ning Zhi Huan, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the paper. “Professor Ning, here’s to a successful partnership.”

Ning Zhi Huan smiled at Lu Tinghe. “Back when we were in the UK, I already knew you were someone with real potential. Who else would be in their first year of high school and spend all their time in the lab researching how CRISPR technology could be used to repair defective genes?”

Ning Zhi Huan had been a visiting professor at University College London for several years. At that time, Lu Tinghe was attending high school in London and frequently sat in on his lectures, so the two had known each other for quite some time.

“That’s just me,” Lu Tinghe leaned lazily against the back of his chair, “Too bad I wasn’t careful enough—used the wrong reagent and blew up the lab. Almost got hauled off by Scotland Yard. In the end, it was my old man who had to pull strings to get me out.”

Ning Zhi Huan signed his name on the contract, closed the folder, and handed it back to Lu Tinghe. “With your abilities, you really think you need to do graduate studies under me? Come on, what’s your real reason for coming to Jingdu University?”

Lu Tinghe casually ran his fingers through the messy hair at his forehead, and his attractive peach blossom eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “Is it okay if I tell you I like you?”

Ning Zhi Huan knew Lu Tinghe’s playful nature, so he scoffed but didn’t take it seriously. He quickly changed the subject.

“Our Ning Mo, that silly girl, keeps thinking about you.”

Lu Tinghe didn’t shy away. “Let her think about me, but tell her not to overthink it.”

Ning Zhi Huan chuckled and teased him like a friend. “Come on, tell me—what kind of girl do you actually like?”

Lu Tinghe’s response was straightforward: “The kind who’s a bit of a fool.”

Ning Zhi Huan blinked, at a loss for words. “…”

…

A while later, at the main gate of Jingdu University, a black Rolls-Royce was parked at the side of the road.

When Lu Tinghe emerged, a young man dressed in a suit got out from the driver’s seat.

“Master.”

Lu Tinghe glanced at him, his tone playful. “Wearing a suit on a day like this? Are you trying to play the role of a bodyguard?”

Tang Yu, momentarily taken aback by the comment, quickly regained composure and replied seriously, “It’s the master’s rules, you know how it is.”

Lu Tinghe leaned casually against the car door, his tone questioning. “What’s my father asking me to do now? Another blind date?”

Tang Yu answered, “Your father doesn’t dare arrange another blind date for you. He’s afraid you’d make him so angry he’d have a heart attack. He just said he misses you.”

Lu Tinghe’s father, Lu Youlin, was over sixty years old. Eager to have grandchildren, he had been arranging meetings with daughters from well-matched families ever since Lu Tinghe turned twenty.

In the few blind dates that had occurred, once Lu Tinghe claimed to be gay, twice the women had been left in tears, and another time, he pretended to be possessed by a ghost, scaring his date into fleeing in panic.

From then on, blind dates never appeared again in Lu Tinghe’s world.

He casually smiled and got into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce.

“Who else is at home today?”

“The eldest young lady and the eldest young master have gone on a business trip to the United States. The second young lady should be coming back soon. The master and madam are both at home.”

Lu Tinghe lived alone in the penthouse duplex of the Jing Wang Plaza, a super high-rise building in the heart of Jingbei City, rarely visiting the Lu family mansion. On most days, only his father, Lu Youlin, and his wife, Jiang Ning, lived there, along with Lu Siqi and her husband Zhou Rui and their family.

Lu Tinghe furrowed his brow, casually muttering, “Is Lu Siyu coming back too?”

Tang Yu, driving, kindly reminded him, “Master, calling the second young lady by her name like that might get you slapped.”

“When we were kids, she almost drowned me in the swimming pool. I’m just hoping she won’t hit me so I can get some revenge.”

The two chatted casually, and when they hit a red light, the Rolls-Royce came to a stop on the road.

Without thinking much, Lu Tinghe glanced out of the window, and his eyes immediately locked on a familiar figure.

By the bus stop, Shang Li had her head down, carefully eating a sandwich. Her eyes were moist, filled with unspoken grievances.

At this time, wasn’t she supposed to be working at the restaurant? Why was she sitting there instead?

Lu Tinghe’s lips pressed into a straight line. The next moment, he swung the car door open and jumped out.

Tang Yu, in the driver’s seat, was left dumbfounded. “???”