Chapter 5

Chen Luchuan smiled and said, "In fact, there are many outstanding women in top teams abroad"

The single peak also seemed to notice, "Lin Yue, why are you so silent today? Are you unhappy to see an old classmate?"

She applied a light makeup and took a glance in the mirror, noticing that her complexion had indeed improved significantly. However, just as she was about to go out, she hesitated, feeling that the lipstick color might be too bright and the eyeliner perhaps a bit too heavy. The more she looked, the less satisfied she became, and just as she was about to pull out a wet wipe to remove it, she heard the sound of the door opening

After finishing his drink, Chen Luchuan did not leave; instead, he simply sat down in the spot where Chai Wei had just been.

Chai Wei smiled and replied: "Eat as you please, after all, Brother Dan is paying the bill"

Chai Wei was taken aback, as it was rare to see Lin Yue so serious. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, and after a brief smile, she said: "I was just joking with you"

Lin Yue's heart instantly softened completely, she stared into Chen Luchuan's eyes, shook her head, and softly said: "No, I haven't changed"

Lost in thought, with a shoulder inviting a hug, Chai Wei leaned forward and said, "There is something fishy."

She is not particularly concerned about her appearance. Although she uses expensive skincare products out of a natural fear of aging, she has always shown little interest in makeup. Occasionally, she feels inspired to apply a bit, but upon looking in the mirror, she finds it quite awkward and quickly washes it off

It was probably the effect of the wine just consumed that gave Lin Yue a bit more courage, allowing him to raise his eyes and truly gaze at Chen Luchuan, whom he had not seen for many years. Chen Luchuan was the main character of today's gathering and had naturally been poured quite a bit of wine; at this moment, there was already a hint of drunkenness in his eyes.

Lin Yue had not yet had the chance to speak when Chai Wei immediately blocked her retreat: "Brother Dan is treating us, and he specifically instructed that you must go too"

She glanced nervously at the door; it was a colleague from the art department. The colleague smiled at her and greeted her, and Lin Yue returned the smile, quickly stuffed her belongings into her bag, and hurried out.

This female colleague is named Zhao Qingya, who joined the company through the campus recruitment last autumn. She entered university at the age of sixteen and completed her master's degree by the age of twenty-three. Her name is elegant, and she is even more graceful in appearance, yet her programming skills are by no means inferior to those of the men who have been working in the company for several years

The single peak said: "That's not a problem, our studio's art team has many talented young women, I'm just afraid you might be overwhelmed by the choices"

Shan Yi Feng opened several bottles of Snowflake beer, poured a round, sat down, and chatted while eating with a few people nearby, "Lin Yue, were you in the same class as Lu Chuan in university?"

Lin Yue sighed silently, took hold of Chai Wei's arm, and lowered his voice to request: "Come with me."

Then continue to dress ... ... Hmm, let me guess, have you and your old classmate talked about something in the past?

Lin Yue remained silent

Lin Yue silently followed behind, thinking to himself that this person possesses such a talent, no matter where they go, they can quickly become the center of attention in the crowd

The single peak holds her in high regard, often stating that she is a true genius

A single peak chuckled heartily, laughing so much that his eyes seemed to disappear, "Drink, drink!"

I bought a new foundation, just to give it a try

Lin Yue gently exhaled a long breath from his chest, feeling a hint of secret joy in his heart, but in an instant, he suppressed this quietly growing emotion

Instantly, the room erupted in laughter. Wang Peiyuan, a straightforward and genuinely masculine man, had skin even fairer than that of a woman, and spoke in a soft and delicate voice, which led to frequent suspicions about his sexual orientation. Over time, Wang Peiyuan simply took pride in calling himself the "spokesperson for the niche group image" of the studio. Chai Wei once remarked: "Niche? The male-to-female ratio is three to one, with one couple and one gay couple."

Chen Luchuan smiled and asked, "Where is your cup? I would like to offer you a toast."

Lin Yue hurriedly said, "You go first."

Upon arriving at the restaurant's private room, Lin Yue walked straight to the innermost part, when a voice from behind, belonging to Dan Yifeng, called out: "Lin Yue, come sit at this table and introduce us."

Moreover, there is He Shan at home, who constantly inquires about her whereabouts and activities, and whenever she sees her putting on makeup, she cannot help but exclaim loudly.

The dishes had been ordered in advance, and soon four or five courses were served. Shan Yifeng raised his hand and said, "Come on, everyone, let's start eating."

There is no such thing.

The single peak chuckled and said: "Exactly! There is also a female programmer who can match three men, not yielding to the male gender!"

After she returned the cart and came down from the Human Resources Department, everyone had already started packing their things to go home. Lin Yue saw Chen Luchuan was on the phone and took the opportunity to quickly slip back to her workstation

Compared to his university days, his features have become more rugged, with less of the youthful vigor in his brows and more of the calm and restraint of a man

Lin Yue sat next to Chai Wei on the right side of Dan Yi Feng, directly across from Chen Lu Chuan, and a glance upwards would meet his gaze. Despite all efforts to avoid it, she still ended up in such an awkward position.

The next day was Friday, and the overcast sky that had persisted for several days was somewhat brighter than in the previous two weeks. At noon, the sun even shone for a short while. Lin Yue, fearing that there would be drinking at the dinner party in the evening, chose not to drive to the office.

Zhao Qingya noticed that Chen Luchuan's cup was empty, so she picked up the wine bottle and filled it for him, smiling as she asked, "Brother Chuan, does your girlfriend mind you drinking? If she does, we should drink a little less."

"Sure, it's on me," said Dan Yifeng as he pulled out a black leather wallet from his pocket and slapped it on the table. "This is the team-building fund I specifically applied for from the financial officer at home. You don't need to worry about saving money for me; any unspent amount will have to be returned to the national treasury."

Chen Luchuan smiled and said, "The atmosphere is quite pleasant"

After work, a group of more than ten people entered the elevator in a grand manner. After an entire day, Chen Luchuan had already recognized most of the people in the studio, and by this time, they were quite familiar with each other, engaging in continuous laughter and conversation along the way

After much contemplation, one must still draw upon over a decade of combat experience—if evasion is not possible, then one must brace oneself and confront it head-on

Lin Yue paused his steps, his voice somewhat muffled: "Chai Wei, I truly did not wait for him"

It is perfectly fine; it is normal for you to wait for such an outstanding man

Lin Yue fell silent for a moment and said, "The colleagues are quite open-minded, so please do not take it to heart"

I did not wait for him

Not long after sitting down, Chai Wei walked over and said, "Tomorrow evening we will have a gathering for dinner, and you are welcome, our new old classmate."

Lin Yue watched him tilt his head back and drink it all in one go, and she quickly finished her drink in one breath as well. She drank a bit too hastily, causing her stomach to churn slightly, but she managed to suppress it.

Everyone laughed heartily

As the end of the workday approached, Lin Yue found it increasingly difficult to sit still. She finished her tasks, glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention, and quickly grabbed her small bag before heading to the restroom.

Chen Luchuan's voice was deep and tinged with a smile, "I do not have a girlfriend"

Lin Yueli held her breath at that moment, yet lacked the courage to glance at Chen Luchuan's expression. She slightly raised her eyes and only saw his long fingers gripping the glass, the golden liquid gently swaying.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was in high spirits, having long left their original seats to engage in round after round of drinking games. At this moment, Chai Wei was holding a bottle of wine, playing rock-paper-scissors with Wang Peiyuan, while Shan Yifeng was being repeatedly forced to drink by several planners. Lin Yue remained steadfast, picking at a plate of marinated peanuts in front of him with chopsticks, one by one. After sitting idly for a while, he suddenly noticed a figure moving beside him; it was Chen Luchuan who had come over.

Lin Yuexiao said, "Isn't it allowed for people to enjoy watching TVB?"

Chen Luchuan replied, "Jiangcheng is just this big, and within the industry, it is very easy to make connections."

Lin Yue smiled and said, "What tricks are there?"

Chai Wei leaned close to Lin Yue's ear and said, "She must be from the 1990s, does she still know Chen Songling?"

Zhao Qingya looked at Shan Yifeng with a smile in her eyes and said, "Brother Shan, how can you be so biased?"

"We have known each other for five or six years, and the times you have worn makeup are few and far between. What is the reason this time?"

Chen Luchuan looked at her and smiled, saying, "You have changed a lot"

Opposite Lin Yue is Chen Luchuan. As soon as she raises her head, their eyes meet, which is somewhat awkward. She slightly lowers her head to avoid making eye contact with him, saying, "Hmm, we are in the same class."

Lin Yue silently listened, raised his wine glass, and took a gulp

After a bout of laughter, the conversation unexpectedly turned to the topic of marriage and family. Zhao Qingya smiled and said, "Dan Ge is truly a winner in life; his son is about to graduate from elementary school. I have met his wife, and she looks just like a young Chen Songling"

Most of the attendees were planners or artists from the studio, whose personalities are generally more extroverted compared to programmers. Normally, Lin Yue would also find opportunities to liven up the atmosphere, but today he was not in the mood, preoccupied with something on his mind, and simply focused on eating his vegetables

Lin Yue was caught off guard when she was suddenly called out by Dan Yi Feng, nearly dropping the chopsticks in her hand. She smiled and said, "Today, I am not the main character, so how can I steal someone else's thunder? Isn't it what you taught me, Brother Dan, to speak less and do more?"

Chai Wei chuckled, "No wonder, you are not in a hurry at all; it turns out you are waiting for him"

Lin Yue quickly stood up and picked up her empty glass. Chen Luchuan filled it for her and clinked his glass, saying, "I will finish mine, you can drink as you please"

As soon as the words were spoken, the original artist Wang Peiyuan, sitting at another table, exclaimed loudly, "There are also many young men with excellent qualities; I just fear that you will become even more picky." In the end, he even threw a flirtatious glance at Chen Luchuan

Chai Wei glanced at her and said, "Then it's simple, do you like him?"

At this moment, the others were drinking heartily, and the two who were left alone felt awkward just sitting there. Lin Yue decided to casually say something, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he happened to collide with Chen Luchuan.

"Listen, this mouth..." Shan Yifeng said with a smile, "Nowadays in the gaming industry, the lead planner and lead artist are mostly men, but in our Yingshi Studio, we have a female lead planner and a female lead artist, both of whom are meticulous and reliable, no less than their male counterparts."

Chen Luchuan smiled and said, "I will not compete with you for the resources of 'young men' anymore"

Lin Yue heard these words, and paused with the chopsticks in his hand, feeling somewhat disheartened.

Lin Yue expressed skepticism about this; however, as a classmate of Chen Luchuan, it would be unreasonable both emotionally and logically for her not to attend the welcome dinner.

A young female colleague sitting to the left of Chen Luchuan smiled and said, "It seems that Sister Lin and Brother Chuan really have a fate with each other"

Lin Yue felt that the situation was somewhat difficult to handle. She was well aware that she had always been timid since childhood, and any bursts of courage were never timely. However, the situation was already set; unless she immediately packed her things and left. Yet, if she had the courage to resign, it would naturally not be a problem for her to coexist peacefully with Chen Luchuan.