Chapter 299: He was once a top‑tier academic ace

Lin Yuan still shook his head and said, "Sorry, Vice Dean Ge, I really don't want to come; I'm just a useless dropout; there's no need, and I'm not qualified to be invited… I don't deserve it."

After Lin Yuan finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

He sighed and looked out the window.

Scenes from the past surfaced in his mind.

If… his grandfather hadn't been framed back then.

If the Lin family's traditional Chinese medicine clinic hadn't collapsed back then.

Then that venerable old professor mentor wouldn't have jumped off the building.

And Lin Yuan wouldn't have dropped out…

If none of this had happened, he might have had a vast and bright future…

But alas, all of this remains only an "if."

……

At the same time, next door in the Chairman's Office.

Su Monong also received an invitation call from Zhijiang University.

As Hangcheng's outstanding female entrepreneur representative, Su Monong, Zhijiang University also invited Director Su to attend the centenary celebration.

Su Monong's group had collaborated with Zhijiang University in some pharmaceutical fields.

Su Monong readily agreed.

……

Hangcheng's Xi Hu District, Construction Bank branch.

Zhou Xinyi sat at the counter, chatting on WeChat with a newly met rich second‑generation.

Du Haotian had already been dumped by Zhou Xinyi.

Du Haotian recently hadn't given Zhou Xinyi money, and he was out drinking, whoring, and gambling, so Zhou Xinyi dumped him and arranged a date with a young rich second‑generation on Soul.

This rich second‑generation was also infatuated with Zhou Xinyi; upon learning she worked at a bank and was a local, he lavished money on her, pursuing her fervently.

Zhou Xinyi greatly enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by admirers.

She was quite satisfied with this rich second‑generation, and he was a graduate of a first‑tier university in Hangcheng, though not as prestigious as Zhijiang University.

Zhijiang University is the sole 985/211 double‑first‑class university in Zhijiang Province; getting in means you're among the elite.

But her rich‑second‑generation boyfriend is also a first‑tier graduate, which still carries face; after all, it's hard for ordinary people to get into a first‑tier school.

And today, her rich‑second‑generation boyfriend told her another piece of good news: "Xinyi, I have a distant cousin who graduated from Zhijiang University; a week from now is the university's centenary celebration, I've pulled strings through her to let her bring us along to attend."

Upon seeing this message, Zhou Xinyi became instantly overjoyed!

"Really?! That's great! You're awesome! I love you muah muah muah!" Zhou Xinyi replied excitedly.

This is the centenary celebration of Zhijiang University!

Zhijiang University is Zhijiang Province's top‑tier name‑brand school, a 985/211 double‑first‑class university!

Zhou Xinyi is merely a third‑tier college graduate, a worthless student.

She'd never have a chance to set foot in Zhijiang University in her lifetime; now being able to attend its centenary celebration—how high‑class is that?

Zhou Xinyi had already planned how to post photos and location on her Moments… She'd definitely show off big‑time on Moments and Xiaohongshu.

……

After work that evening, Mu Lingxue again messaged Lin Yuan, inviting him to drink at the Goddess Bar's second branch.

Lin Yuan felt helpless, but could only go along with that beautiful policewoman for drinks.

Mu Lingxue and Lin Yuan staked out the bar all night, yet still didn't see the manager appear.

Mu Lingxue and Lin Yuan could only return empty‑handed.

But Mu Lingxue didn't realize… damn, the manager you're looking for is right there drinking with you.

No wonder you couldn't find him.

……

In the following days, Lin Yuan continued to be busy with work each day.

But Mu Lingxue and art teacher Bai Lu often chatted with him on WeChat.

Moreover, another blind‑date prospect, the beautiful civil servant Li Sisi who works at the municipal government, occasionally also messaged Lin Yuan to chat.

Lin Yuan, in order to cope with Su Monong, could only keep chatting intermittently with these three blind‑date prospects.

……

A week passed quickly.

Today is Zhijiang University's centenary celebration day.

In the morning, Lin Yuan got up early, drove his Mercedes‑Benz to Director Su's doorstep.

Su Monong and her daughter Su Zhiyuan actually went out together today.

Moreover, mother and daughter were dressed in very noble and splendid attire.

Both wore white gowns, yet they exuded utterly different charms.

Su Monong's gown was made of exquisite silk chiffon with superb drape, the skirt lightly clinging to her skin, tracing her perfect S‑curve ever more delicately.

Her waist was slender as a willow in the breeze, while her upper body bore a proudly prominent bust; beneath the dress lay a striking, alluring cleavage that made one's nose bleed at a glance—truly deep.

Below her skirt, her captivating hip curve was equally impossible to look away from. This woman is truly a top‑tier temptress, hooking souls.

Beneath her feet… a pair of crystal‑heeled shoes tapped out a fine rhythm, the shoe's refracted glow wrapping her fair ankle, faint blue‑green veins visible beneath porcelain skin, even more like a meticulously crafted artwork than the haute‑jewelry in a display case.

Her jet‑black hair hung loosely over her shoulders, the ends swaying with a soft sheen as she walked; her pretty face bore only a sheer light makeup, brows slightly lifted with a hint of laziness, eyes tinged with a faint smoky pink, beautiful enough to make one hold their breath.

By her side, her daughter Su Zhiyuan presented quite another appearance.

Su Zhiyuan's white gauze dress was embroidered with tiny pearls, the full skirt swaying lightly with her steps, like moonlight fallen halfway down a skirt.

Su Zhiyuan's black long hair was tied into a half bun, the remaining strands flowing down to her waist like a waterfall, a small pearl hair clip clipped to the ends, swaying gently when the wind blew. The girl's sweet face was exquisitely carved like jade, her oval visage bearing a natural rosy hue, her lashes long and curled, fluttering like butterfly wings when she blinked, when she smiled two shallow pear-shaped dimples appeared at the corners of her eyes, even the small gesture of her fingertips lightly pinching the gauze as she lowered her gaze to adjust her skirt hem exuded a touch of loveliness and liveliness.

If one were to say Mother Su Monong is a rose in full bloom, naturally alluring; then her daughter Su Zhiyuan is a white jasmine just beginning to blossom, sweet enough to seep into the heart.

Gazing at this stunning mother‑daughter pair, Lin Yuan was a little dazed.

He had seen many beautiful women in his life, but he had truly never seen such a stunning pair.

"What are you looking at? Stop being lovesick." Su Zhiyuan gave Lin Yuan a white‑eye glance.

Although she was sharp‑tongued, the smile that couldn't help but lift the corners of her red lips showed she was actually quite happy.

Su Zhiyuan muttered to herself: "Hmph, stinky Lin Yuan, stinky man, look at you unable to move your gaze—this miss has completely captivated you, huh?"

Heh, it seems this miss still has plenty of charm.

"Alright, get in the car." Su Monong said to her daughter.

So the mother‑daughter pair opened the car door and sat together in the back seat of the Mercedes‑benz.

As soon as the mother and daughter got into the car, two pleasant fragrances wafted in.

This is the scent from their bodies.

But the two scents are different.

The fragrance on Su Monong leans toward a warm woody white‑flower note; at first sniff it is the softness of Bulgarian rose, mixed with a faint hint of pine‑scent, not ostentatious yet highly recognizable—like when her long hair draped over her shoulders brushed against her pure‑silk evening dress, unintentionally bringing forth a gentle lingering trace; a close sniff even reveals a touch of mellow amber, enhancing the languid elegance at the corners of her eyes, even the slight gesture of her fingertips resting on her knees seems to be wrapped in this thread of fragrance, calm and composed.

Su Zhiyuan's scent, however, is another sort of fresh sweetness—the aroma of just‑peeled lychee and white peach, blended with a light lily‑of‑the‑valley fragrance, vibrant as a flower kissed by morning dew. The scent is not heavy, yet exceptionally lively; as she adjusts her skirt hem, the slight motion of her fingertips pinching the gauze releases it softly, and occasionally a wisp of milk‑like fragrance drifts when her hair sweeps her cheek, as sweet and soft as the dimples in her eyes, even the airflow stirred by her breathing seems to be wrapped in this thread of fragrance, exuding the pure charm of a young maiden.

The two fragrances lightly intertwine in the cabin, neither overpowering the other, just like the mother and daughter's white dresses of the same hue but different texture—one warm and smooth like beautiful jade, the other fresh as a newly blossomed flower—so that a single sniff tells you whose aura it is.

"Director Su, are you and your daughter going to the company together today?" Lin Yuan asked from the driver's seat, a little surprised.

Such a sight is not common.

Usually, Su Monong and her daughter go to the company separately.

Su Zhiyuan always loves to drive her Ferrari sports car, speeding all the way to the company.

Su Monong, meanwhile, is more steady; she will take Lin Yuan's Mercedes‑benz to the company.

But why did the mother‑daughter pair get in the car together today? And why are they dressed so solemnly and nobly?

"We're not going to the company today; let's drive to Zhijiang University." Su Monong said.

"Ah?? Go… go to Zhijiang University?? What are we going there for?" Lin Yuan froze, asking in astonishment.

"To participate in Zhijiang University's centennial campus celebration; our company has business dealings with Zhijiang University, and they invited me to attend." Su Monong replied lightly.

"Uh…" Lin Yuan's face instantly turned embarrassed.

His heart surged with turbulence.

Zhijiang University's centennial campus celebration?

He had clearly already refused the Vice Dean earlier.

But the result? Su Monong actually wants to go?

This…

Lin Yuan said embarrassedly, "Director Su, uh, I'm not feeling well today, I have a slight fever and cold; maybe I shouldn't go? I'll take a day off."

He really didn't want to go to Zhijiang University.

Now he just wants to live a low‑key life.

Su Monong replied indifferently, "A fever? I see you're perfectly fine; if you take leave, who will drive?"

"Exactly! Lin Yuan, don't think you can slack off! Hurry up and drive! This miss still wants to go see the ace‑student hunks at Zhijiang University!" Su Zhiyuan said, pouting her red lips.

She said that on purpose for Lin Yuan to hear, just to make him jealous.

Lin Yuan refused repeatedly, but Su Monong insisted he not take leave.

"I'll give you triple pay for today." Su Monong said lightly.

Upon hearing about triple pay, Lin Yuan's eyes lit up instantly.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Alright then, Director Su, I'll take you there. But I have to wear a mask, otherwise I'm afraid I'll pass my cold to you……"

Lin Yuan said while pulling a mask out of the car and putting it on.

There was no way; to avoid being recognized by people at Zhijiang University, he could only wear a mask.

After putting on the mask, Lin Yuan could only drive, taking Director Su and her daughter to Zhijiang University……

Along the way, although Lin Yuan wore a mask, his inner feelings were extremely uneasy.

He hoped not to be recognized by those deans at Zhijiang University……