Unable to schedule an appointment with the special assistant, nor catch the main person at Buzhou Studio, it’s even more unlikely to have a chance encounter at such a large auction venue.

So, Hu Lina decided to change her tactic and seek Wang Bocheng’s help.

During her previous interview with Wang Bocheng, it was clear that he had feelings for her.

However, Hu Lina felt that Wang Bocheng was just a playboy rich kid, unlikely to be sincere, so she deliberately kept her distance to avoid wasting her precious youth on him.

Now, if she were to act coyly and ask him for a favor, it likely wouldn’t be a big issue.

But she didn’t know that helping girls get close to Lu Shouyue was one of Wang Bocheng’s most hated tasks!

Back in the day at boarding school, during that tender age of first loves, he mistakenly thought a girl had feelings for him due to her constant searching for him, only to be hit with the reality that she wanted him to help deliver a love letter to Lu Shouyue.

Among their group, it was Lu Shouyue who naturally looked the most appealing, so whenever they invited girls out, they preferred not to include him, as it was too easy for the girls to switch their affections.

It wasn’t until past the age of twenty-five that they saw that old Lu had yet to show romantic interests, which slightly eased their wariness of him.

A maiden is eager yet Xiang Wang dreams not.

Their worries about having girls they liked snatched away dissipated.

Facing a soft rejection from Wang Bocheng, Hu Lina wasn’t upset; she never expected anything from a playboy to begin with. However, when faced with malicious comments from competitors at the office, this did make Hu Lina a bit angry.

She didn’t want Lu Shouyue to become a failure story in her professional career.

Her magazine was ranked among the top in financial categories, and even without considering her personal appeal, just her association with such a reputable magazine should earn her an opportunity.

If clever tactics didn’t work, she decided to use more straightforward methods to win him over.

Hu Lina resolved to wait it out; she heard that there was an offline art auction today where Lu Shouyue would appear.

She managed to secure a ticket through connections and squeezed into the auction gallery. After it ended, she struggled to the front row to speak with Lu Shouyue, but was still ushered away by his assistant.

Hu Lina didn’t get discouraged, utilizing her beauty to ask for assistance in arranging a meeting time—be it half an hour or even an hour.

The assistant claimed he was unable to help but admired the persistence of this journalist and gave a subtle hint that Mr. Lu had another event later today.

Thus, Hu Lina prepared to drive to the event venue, but she changed her mind last minute, opting to take a taxi instead.

Upon arrival, without an invitation, she couldn’t go inside; the venue was closed to outside guests today.

Hu Lina was prepared and waited directly at the venue entrance. Yet the weather was unpleasant as it started sleeting, making her agitated.

To maintain a good image, she wore a suit with a cashmere coat draped over, only with thin stockings on her legs.

This attire was fine indoors with air conditioning, but standing outside the venue, it was fashionably "chilling"—though she couldn’t exactly wait by parking her car.

Never mind, consider it a mix of beauty and hardship; surely Lu Shouyue wouldn’t be so cold-hearted.

it’s Friday, Lin Wanwan has been at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, copying prescriptions all day.

After work, her senior fellow Kang Hongjing told her, "Wanwan, you’re now skilled enough to be independent. How about dedicating some time fully to Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

Lin Wanwan offered an apologetic smile, "Senior Brother, I can’t adapt to a nine-to-five life. Once I’ve completed my required years, I’ll be at my family’s clinic."

"You, you!" Kang Hongjing shook his head with a grin, though without disappointment.

He always believed junior sister Lin Wanwan was a rich heir, that suffering as a doctor was too much for a wealthy heir, it’s quite normal.

Though slightly regretting Lin Wanwan’s talent, he didn’t have any additional emotions.

He, a middle-aged man hustling for a living just to fund his young, beautiful girlfriend’s luxury shopping and support his two children and ex-wife’s overseas educational expenses without stopping, what qualification did he have to comment on someone like Lin Wanwan’s life of fortune?

Better contemplate his relentless life, while junior sister’s fortune could simply lie down worry-free for generations.

Post work Friday, it’s typically dining at Jie Yuting’s restaurant,

but tonight, Kang Hongjing had other plans, scheduled to provide on-site service for a wealthy client, so he wouldn’t be dining with Lin Wanwan and Lu Shouyue.

To ease Kang Hongjing’s work, Lin Wanwan directly handed him her car keys since she could ride in Lu Shouyue’s car anyway.

After waving goodbye to her senior brother Kang Hongjing at the parking lot, Lin Wanwan retrieved her phone intending to make a call, but suddenly hesitated.

She checked the time, five-thirty, today she was virtually on schedule leaving work, earlier by two hours compared to the time she had informed Lu Shouyue; he might still be busy, there’s no need to disturb him.

"Today Mr. Lu is attending a banquet at Taoyuan Mountain Villa, maybe I should just go directly there and wait for him, perhaps practice shooting too." Lin Wanwan launched her ride-hailing app, summoned a car, and proceeded there.

Taoyuan Mountain Villa was the name of the vacation hotel Lu Shouyue had transferred to Lin Wanwan, along with a newly opened shooting range nearby. It was quite popular, with Yongcheng’s wealthy enjoying relaxation there.

From Yongcheng Hospital to the expressway, it’s reachable within half an hour without traffic jams.

On the way, it started to sleet.

Lin Wanwan gazed outside the car window at the nighttime scene, feeling the cold wind whistling through.

The express taxi’s air conditioning wasn’t very effective, her attire was too thin today, and her feet felt cold sitting in the back seat.

Moreover, it was peak hour traffic, with adverse road conditions due to sleet, leading to a car collision, resulting in Lin Wanwan being helplessly stuck on the expressway, inching along.

"Sigh." Lin Wanwan softly sighed, the rare thought of surprising her boyfriend after work was thwarted by the weather!

Should’ve checked the weather app before heading out.

An hour and a half later, Lin Wanwan finally reached the villa’s entrance. The shooting was out of question, heading directly to wait for Lu Shouyue was the plan.

The banquet Lu Shouyue was at today was a private affair, so vehicles without an invitation couldn’t enter the villa’s parking lot, let alone approach the hotel lounge entrance.

Luckily, it wasn’t far now; despite not having an umbrella, the sleet wasn’t substantial.

Upon stepping out, savage winds like knives whipped through, causing Lin Wanwan to sneeze involuntarily.

For people her age, it’s trendy not to wear thermal pants and show bare ankles—indeed it’s freezing!

She sacrificed warmth for style!

Lin Wanwan shielded her head with her phone and dashed into the sleeting weather.

Meanwhile, over at the hotel lounge entrance, Hu Lina, wrapped in a white cashmere scarf with a seemingly delicate face, was ushered inside.

The villa staff took pity and let her wait inside.

Though she lacked an invitation card, she was a gracious damsel that wouldn’t cause adverse effects by entering, couldn’t possibly watch her endure the cold.