C30 Meeting Jiang Lili!

Su Tao, upon receiving the message, was so astonished she felt her jaw might literally drop.

"What the heck? I've been recommending this to you forever, and you've been totally indifferent. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Weren't you the one who said you'd never be caught dead wearing something so flashy?"

"Sure enough, nothing escapes the 'too good to resist' rule!"

Meanwhile, Lin Chen had made it back to his villa.

Just as he finished his nightly routine and was ready to turn in, his phone erupted with an urgent ring.

Lin Chen glanced at the caller ID and his brow creased slightly.

His high school buddy, Lee Xinjian?

Mulling it over, Lin Chen hit the answer button.

"Hey, bro," came the greeting.

Lee Xinjian's voice floated through from the other end:

"Chen, I hate to bother you so late, but hear me out."

"We've got a few high school friends from our days in the East China Sea planning a get-together. They asked me to reach out to you. Think you can make it for a little trip down memory lane?"

Lin Chen was about to decline when a robotic system voice echoed in his head.

Beep! Congratulations to the host for initiating the storyline mission: Agree to attend the classmate gathering and acquire 30% of the shares in the East China Sea Food and Beverage Group.

Lin Chen was baffled.

Just by agreeing to go to a class reunion, he'd get a 30% stake in a food and beverage empire?

Lee Xinjian, mistaking Lin Chen's silence for a bad connection, pressed on:

"Chen, you there? Can't hear anything, can you hear me?"

Lin Chen chuckled:

"Loud and clear. Count me in. Send me the details."

Beep! Congratulations to the host for completing the storyline mission. You are awarded 30% of the shares in the East Sea Food Group.

Epic!

Lin Chen couldn't help but marvel silently.

Lee Xinjian paused briefly, then added:

"Just a heads-up, Sun Cheng will be there too."

Lin Chen's frown deepened.

Sun Cheng had never forgiven him since the girl he liked, Xia Hee, had once pursued Lin Chen.

Their upcoming encounter was bound to spark some fireworks.

But Lin Chen wasn't concerned.

He had given his word, after all. Why wouldn't he show up?

Lee Xinjian posed the question once more:

"Chen, are you still planning on going?"

"Maybe you should sit this one out. We can always catch up another time, just us close friends."

Lin Chen was quick to dismiss the idea:

"Why should I skip it? Because of Sun Cheng?"

Seeing Lin Chen's determination, Lee Xinjian conceded:

"Fine, tomorrow night at seven, at the Count's Hotel in East Sea."

"Sounds good."

With that, Lin Chen ended the call.

He then drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Meanwhile, the culinary world's elite were abuzz, convening an emergency videoconference overnight.

"A Mr. Lin Chen has just invested a whopping three hundred million yuan, securing thirty percent of our shares!"

"Rumor has it that Mr. Lin is a mere 20 years old, a freshman at East Sea University!"

...

The following day, the early morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow on Lin Chen's face.

Glancing at his phone, he noted it was only six. He rose, freshened up, and set out for a jog.

Morning workouts and the fresh air always did wonders for one's health.

He hadn't gone far when he heard someone call out from behind.

Turning around, Lin Chen saw Jiang Lili, who was also out for a morning run.

She was clad in form-fitting athletic wear, which accentuated her slender figure.

"Morning exercise for you too? What are the odds!" she exclaimed, slightly out of breath.

The workout had left Jiang Lili's makeup-free face with a healthy flush, and even the wisps of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat.

They say most beauties are made by makeup, and without it, you can't tell if they're the same person.

But Jiang Lili was genuinely stunning, naturally radiant without a trace of cosmetics.

Lin Chen offered a smile:

"Quite the coincidence."

As they jogged together, Jiang Lili quirked an eyebrow:

"Do you usually exercise in the morning?"

"Not really, I just woke up early today and felt like running. Normally, I'm more of a gym guy, lifting weights and such."

Lin Chen replied candidly.

Jiang Lili gave him an appraising look, her eyes lingering on the contours of his abs visible beneath the damp white T-shirt and his well-defined biceps.

"Pumping iron? That explains the great physique—very masculine."

Lin Chen blushed slightly:

"Uh, do I really smell?"

He sniffed himself to check.

Watching Lin Chen's adorably clueless reaction, Jiang Lili couldn't help but laugh:

"I'm not talking about an actual smell on you!"

"I mean, you're in great shape, your masculinity is off the charts!"

Lin Chen sheepishly scratched his head:

"Oh, got it."

Jiang Lili's laughter bubbled up again:

"Little bro, how can you be so innocently charming?"

"You know, I could devour someone like you without any seasoning and not leave a crumb!"