Perhaps it was the appearance of this bracelet that kept Jiang Yuxin in a state of shock.
She didn't delve further into the relationship between Li Chonglou and the Lu Corporation.
"It's getting late, and you have negotiations with the Lu Corporation tomorrow. You should go back and rest early," Li Chonglou seized the opportunity to show concern.
"Oh, okay, I understand." Jiang Yuxin's dazed eyes cleared a bit.
Since all of this was arranged by that executive, it was no surprise that Li Chonglou knew about tomorrow's negotiations.
The atmosphere became sweet yet awkward due to the bracelet.
Jiang Yuxin found no reason to stay any longer and, blushing, got into her car.
She then watched Li Chonglou walk into the inpatient building, but he didn't drive off immediately. Instead, he reluctantly caressed the bracelet.
"I never imagined you could help my career in any way."
"Did I underestimate you too much?"
"Or perhaps, your weakness in the Jiang family all along was just an act?"
"Regardless, thank you for this."
At this moment, Jiang Yuxin was overwhelmed with emotions, feeling both touched and self-reproaching.
She had never paid attention to everything Li Chonglou had done for her before, as it held no value to her.
With no basic affection between them, how could they possibly understand each other?
Now, Li Chonglou had repeatedly impressed her.
Unknowingly, he had quietly changed her perception.
In the past, no matter how valuable the gift, she would have been dismissive.
But now, her heart felt strangely sweet.
Could this be love?
"No, impossible."
"No love in three years, how could it change in a few days? It must be an illusion."
Jiang Yuxin shook her head, her beautiful eyes rippling with emotion, trying to dispel the romantic thoughts in her mind.
But the more she suppressed them, the more they arose.
She could only stomp on the accelerator, driving out of the hospital, forcing herself to clear her head through the act of driving.
On the eighth floor of the inpatient building, Li Chonglou watched Jiang Yuxin's car disappear at the end of the road, smiled faintly, and entered the ward.
In the evening, just after tucking his mother into bed.
His WeChat notification chimed.
It was a voice call from Tian Lingli.
Li Chonglou dismissed it, but it rang again a few seconds later.
Helplessly, he left the ward to answer.
"Li Chonglou, can you do me a favor?" Tian Lingli's voice sounded pathetic on the phone.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Li Chonglou replied noncommittally.
"It's like this, my live-streaming company is having a streamer exchange event tonight. Can you be my male companion?" Tian Lingli, afraid Li Chonglou would refuse, unconsciously spoke with a seductive tone.
She originally had a male companion for today's reception.
And he was an executive from the live-streaming company.
But just half an hour ago, the executive called to tell her that he was going to accompany another streamer tonight.
The reception required participants to have their own male companions, otherwise, their qualifications would be revoked.
This immediately sent her into a panic.
If she had had enough time, she could have picked a suitable fan, but the reception was about to start, and there was no time.
Moreover, this reception was particularly important to her, even affecting future company resource allocation.
Therefore, she couldn't afford to be careless.
After thinking it over, she could only turn to Li Chonglou.
After all, the top fan Jiang Tao had been dealt with, and nine out of ten men she knew coveted her beauty.
Only Li Chonglou was the most innocent, having no intentions towards her.
"I don't have time, I'm at the hospital with my mother. Find someone else." After listening, Li Chonglou refused without a second thought.
He had no interest in Tian Lingli, and he disdained such so-called high-end receptions.
It was merely a place for people who pretended to be cultured to gather and build relationships. Besides, what reception in Qinzhou could surpass the Lu Corporation's charity auction?
He'd rather spend this free time thinking about the future development direction of the live-streaming platform.
Saying this, he was about to hang up the phone.
"Don't hang up, don't hang up, I beg you." Tian Lingli immediately panicked. "To be honest, I was stood up today."
"For the sake of helping me deal with Jiang Tao last time, help me out this once, okay?"
Hearing this, Li Chonglou frowned.
He was a straightforward person, one was one, and two was two.
He really didn't want to go, but Tian Lingli had indeed helped him; it was a debt of favor.
Not returning it would leave a lingering unease, making him feel worse than going to the reception.
After thinking, he changed his tune, "Just this once, and I won't say a word."
"No problem, you don't need to say anything, I will," Tian Lingli was overjoyed. "I'll come to the hospital to pick you up now, and I'll bring you a suit by the way."
"No need for a suit, I don't like to be constrained," Li Chonglou hung up the phone directly.
Lu Yunxu had asked him to change into a suit, and he hadn't agreed, let alone Tian Lingli.
Except for marriage, there were no occasions worth such formality for him.
Seeing that he had hung up, Tian Lingli looked helpless.
She had experienced Li Chonglou's temperament, and she didn't dare to force him.
After getting dressed up, she arrived at the hospital around 9:30 PM.
She picked up Li Chonglou and they headed straight for the Platinum Palace Han Palace Hotel.
Outside the hotel, a banner for the advertising and event company was erected high: "Congratulations on the successful holding of the Yueyu Streamer Meetup."
Outside the entrance, quite a few media reporters were waiting.
It was bustling with activity.
After all, those attending today were all famous streamers from the Yueyu Company, at least with millions of fans.
Tian Lingli was considered to be in the lower-middle tier among them.
The top male and female streamers each had tens of millions of fans.
Every appearance caused a stir.
Finally, Tian Lingli walked onto the red carpet at the hotel entrance, arm in arm with Li Chonglou, and countless cameras immediately focused on them.
"Isn't this Lili? Why is her male companion not even wearing formal attire, dressed in sportswear?"
"Tsk tsk, as expected of a low-class streamer, her companion is so tacky. Isn't she afraid of embarrassing herself? Among the streamers at the same level, she's the most lacking in presence."
"I heard she's competing for a top ten spot with Meiting recently. It doesn't look like she'll make it."
Many people started discussing, their voices not concealed, even deliberately amplified.
When the whispers reached Tian Lingli, her face turned green with anger.
Her hand, which was holding Li Chonglou's arm, was clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.
She was already a person who cared about appearances and always had a good impression of herself, intending to elevate her status further through today's meetup.
Unexpectedly, she was looked down upon as soon as she entered.
It was all Li Chonglou's fault!
She had told him to change into a suit earlier, but he insisted on acting individualistic and wearing sportswear.
In that moment, she regretted it immensely. Although she had a good relationship with Li Chonglou, how could she forget that he was a timid country bumpkin when he was studying?
Taste was something that was difficult to change.
However, it was too late to regret it now. The only way was to play dumb and pretend not to hear.
But at this very moment, a harsh, sharp voice called out, "Oh, isn't this Lili? My male companion was snatched away, so you found this country bumpkin as your male companion?"
"Truly, a dragon with a dragon, a phoenix with a phoenix, and trash with a trash can."
The words were filled with mockery and disdain.