CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72 THE TOAST OF CROSSED CUPS (DEAR FANS, PLEASE FOLLOW)

Five minutes later, a group of us arrived at the restaurant Chu Xue and her friends had booked.

This restaurant is called Xiangyue Restaurant. Although it’s a bit smaller than Zhang Jingdong’s Taste of Hunan, it’s very popular, obviously falling into the category of tasty and affordable.

Upon reaching private room number 6 and waiting for about five minutes, Xu Jia and Lin Huahua brought over the birthday cake.

After lighting the candles and turning off the lights, a bunch of us circled around and sang the birthday song for Lin Xiran.

As it ended, Xu Jia excitedly said, "Ranran, make a wish quick!"

Lin Xiran brought her hands together, closed her eyes, and silently said her piece.

After blowing out the candles, she turned her head with a shy glance at Zhang Jingdong.

Lin Huahua noticed this and couldn’t resist teasing her, "Ranran, it seems your wish is related to someone, huh?"

Xu Jia immediately chimed in, "Isn’t that obvious? They’ve just confirmed their relationship, and Zhang Jingdong has been so nice to her, her wish must naturally be..."

At this moment, Chu Xue interrupted, "Stop talking, or it won’t come true!"

The two quickly shut their mouths.

Zhang Jingdong continued to pretend to be the perfect boyfriend, "No worries, I’ve already set my heart on Lin Xiran. As long as she stays by my side, I must stand by her through life and death!"

Hearing this, Lin Huahua and the others were instantly filled with envy.

They never expected that a catch like Zhang Jingdong would say such things willingly.

Although Lin Xiran is the campus belle, with his wealth, it probably wouldn’t be difficult for him to chase any campus belle.

So even though his words were a bit exaggerated, they deeply felt his doting on Lin Xiran.

And Lin Xiran herself enjoyed this, even though she knew she was just acting with Zhang Jingdong, his expression and the look he gave her were just too convincing!

As for Chen Tao, who was sitting directly opposite Zhang Jingdong, he was starting to regret attending this birthday party—this dog food was being served too directly and too unexpectedly!

This could potentially be lethal!

After that, Chu Xue and the others ordered the dishes without delay.

Soon, the food was served, and everyone ate while chatting.

And of course, the conversation’s focus was naturally on Zhang Jingdong and Lin Xiran.

Mainly because Lin Huahua and the others were too curious about how Zhang Jingdong could be so wealthy and handsome, with a great personality, and also provide exceptional emotional value—they were very interested in how Lin Xiran can fish out such a heavenly boyfriend!

At this moment, Lin Huahua turned to Zhang Jingdong and asked, "Ranran never mentioned your story to us before, so how did you two actually meet?"

Zhang Jingdong turned to look at Lin Xiran and replied generously, "It’s like this, I own an advertising company, and we happened to be filming an ad near the pedestrian street that day."

"During the lunch break, I went to New Century Mall to get coffee, and from a distance, I saw Ranran. Then, in that instant, I fell for her at first sight!"

As he said this, Zhang Jingdong took the opportunity to grab Lin Xiran’s slender hand.

"Host successfully made physical contact with the target, reward 20,000 yuan!"

As for Lin Xiran, since the scene of their meeting described by Zhang Jingdong was true, and she indeed felt the intensity in his gaze at the time, she couldn’t help but feel that his words might hold some truth, instantly blushing.

Lin Huahua and the others, upon hearing Zhang Jingdong’s words, once again all wore faces of envy.

"You two actually experienced the legendary love at first sight! Tsk tsk, too romantic!"

"It’s just like out of a movie, so envious!"

Zhang Jingdong continued, "That moment, I silently swore to myself that I must win her over!"

"Then I went over to her and initiated a conversation, telling her that her image and temperament were both excellent, suitable for commercials."

"I think she must have felt something for me at that time, too, so even though she might have sensed my ulterior motive, she still left me her contact information."

At this point, Zhang Jingdong turned and asked Lin Xiran, "Classmate Lin Xiran, I’ve been too shy to ask you this before, but now can you admit it: did you have feelings for me at that time?"

Lin Xiran obviously caught off guard.

And judging from Zhang Jingdong’s half-joking expression at the moment, it seemed he’d stepped out of his role and was genuinely inquiring whether she had any feelings for him.

Meanwhile, Lin Huahua and the rest of the onlookers immediately became interested, stirring up the atmosphere.

Lin Huahua said, "From what I know about our Ranran, she must have fallen for you at first sight too; otherwise, there’s no way you two would have gotten together so quickly!"

Xu Jia chimed in, "I feel the same way. Previously, so many guys chased after our Ranran, but not a single one succeeded, and Ranran never gives her contact info to those guys who actively hit on her."

"Although you used some tactics, the fact that she gave you her contact info already proves her preference for you!"

At this time, Zhang Jingdong gazed at Lin Xiran meaningfully: "So that’s how it was, huh? Looks like you really did fall for me at first sight!"

Upon hearing these words, especially seeing the expression on Zhang Jingdong’s face at this moment, Lin Xiran could almost be certain that this guy was not acting but genuinely expressing his feelings!

She couldn’t help but secretly curse this guy for being too cunning because no matter what, she couldn’t deny it.

Otherwise, she would be refusing to give him face in the play, given that she was in front of all her dorm mates.

But if she admitted it, then in the future, this guy might bring it up over and over again.

After pondering it over, Lin Xiran had no choice but to compromise.

After all, he was here to help her out; she ultimately had to give him face.

She then glanced at Zhang Jingdong with feigned shyness: "I... wouldn’t say it was love at first sight for me, but I did find you... quite interesting at that time!"

This statement drew laughter from everyone present except for Chen Tao.

Lin Huahua couldn’t help but exclaim, "Honestly, when Ranran said today that she already had a boyfriend, I couldn’t believe it. Even after meeting you just now, I was still a bit skeptical, mainly because you two moved so quickly!"

"But now I fully believe it. Sometimes whether two people can be together doesn’t have much to do with how long the relationship has been; as long as you’re sure the other person is the right one, nothing else matters!"

Xu Jia agreed, "Indeed, like in some movies such as ’Before Sunrise,’ as long as two people hit it off, they might become a couple in just a day or even over the course of a night!"

At this moment, Qian Yinan raised his glass and said, "Let’s all toast to Ranran and wish her a happy birthday once again, and may their romance last forever and ever!"

At those words, Lin Huahua and the others immediately raised their glasses as well.

Chen Tao had no choice but to lift his glass reluctantly.

Lin Xiran exchanged a glance with Zhang Jingdong, then she too raised her glass.

Xu Jia suddenly teased, "Ranran, this meal is kind of like the two of you solidifying your relationship, so how about you two drink cross-cupped wine?"

They had done this during the meals when they were officially confirming their relationships with their own boyfriends, so Lin Huahua and the rest immediately started to egg them on.

"That’s right, how can a meal confirming the relationship be without cross-cupped wine!"

"Ranran, we all drank it before, you can’t chicken out now!"

Flushed with embarrassment, Lin Xiran saw that everyone was already riled up, clearly making it difficult for her to refuse.

So she turned shyly to Zhang Jingdong.

Zhang Jingdong smiled casually: "We must not lose!"

Saying so, he stretched out his arm.

Seeing that Zhang Jingdong was not only unhelpful in dodging the drink but actually actively wanting to drink, Lin Xiran could only give him a sidelong glance before stretching out her arm holding the wine glass to clink with his.

Then, amidst cheers and applause, Zhang Jingdong and Lin Xiran looked into each other’s eyes "with deep affection" and drank the first cross-cupped wine of their lives.

"Host has completed an intimate exchange with the target person, reward 200,000 yuan!"

The affection in Zhang Jingdong’s eyes grew even deeper.

As for Lin Xiran, whether her acting had improved, she was getting more involved, or she had indeed developed feelings for Zhang Jingdong, the way she looked at him at that moment was incredibly tender.