CHAPTER 663: CHAPTER 360

The night deepens.

The sky is filled with starlight, neon lights flicker, embellishing the bustling city nightlife.

A black SUV smoothly drives into a high-end residential complex named "Cuihu Yipin."

It’s composed of dozens of brightly lit high-rise apartments, with trees lining the spaces in between, resembling a meticulously crafted garden.

Fang Cheng holds the steering wheel with both hands, slowing down the car.

In the passenger seat, a charming blush blooms on Lin Chuqiao’s fair cheeks, as if tinted with rouge.

It’s the slightly tipsy look after having some fruit wine.

Her already enchanting and affectionate eyes are now even more shimmering, seemingly filled with a pool of spring water.

She seems still immersed in the glamorous yet sorrowful musical just now, softly lamenting:

"The phantom hidden beneath the theater is like a lonely and powerful monster; his love is fervent, obsessive, and unaccepted by the world..."

"Sadly, Christine ultimately chose Raoul in the sunlight, abandoning the monster wearing the mask, hiding in the darkness."

Lin Chuqiao sighs lightly, looking at the night outside the window, murmuring softly:

"Is it that all love cannot withstand the companionship of childhood with the stability of the ordinary world?"

Speaking, she suddenly turns her head, looking at the handsome profile of the man beside her.

"Fang Cheng, what do you think about the plot of The Phantom of the Opera? If you were the heroine, who would you choose?"

Her bright eyes and tone carry a hint of probing, seemingly alluding to something obscurely.

"What do I think?"

Fang Cheng glances at her slightly tipsy expression and smiles:

"It’s my first time watching a musical tonight, it felt quite interesting. The theatrical audiovisual effects are great, more entertaining than watching a movie."

"Really?"

The light in Lin Chuqiao’s eyes seems to dim for a moment before recovering her smile:

"Then next time when you’re free, I’ll invite you to another new show, maybe you’ll like it even more."

"Alright."

Fang Cheng nods with a smile.

After the interview ended, Lin Chuqiao treated him and they went to dine at a restaurant with an elegant atmosphere.

After lunch, the two found a quiet café to sit and chat all afternoon.

From law to psychology, campus anecdotes to social insights, time slipped by unnoticed.

When they stood up to leave, it was almost evening.

Lin Chuqiao then said she suddenly wanted to see a musical.

Coincidentally, there was a tour performance by an internationally renowned troupe at the East Capital Grand Theater tonight, and she had already bought two tickets.

Feeling unable to refuse such a warm invitation, Fang Cheng had no choice but to agree.

They had dinner together, then walked into the opulently grand theater.

Only at nine o’clock did they leave the theater.

Though accompanying this beautiful teacher on a date, Fang Cheng did not come away empty-handed.

In the conversation that afternoon, he subtly learned more about the "Professor."

The Professor was originally from Jiangbei Province in Xia Country, exceptionally talented yet proud.

Over a decade ago, he got involved in a widely entangled public case, forcing him to go abroad, almost vanishing from sight.

It wasn’t until last year that he quietly returned from the Southern Ocean.

The Professor was an old acquaintance of Lin Chuqiao’s father.

After they unexpectedly reunited, the Professor had often guided Lin Chuqiao in her spiritual pursuits, benefiting her greatly.

Hence, Lin Chuqiao greatly respected him, regarding him as a mentor.

As for what the Professor’s true intentions were in returning to the country this time, Lin Chuqiao was vague.

She only said he had a grand ideal, and everything he was doing now was to achieve this ideal.

Lin Chuqiao joked half-seriously.

If Fang Cheng wished to understand deeper, he could apply to join the team, and maybe the Professor would tell him personally.

At that time, Fang Cheng smiled but didn’t pursue further questions.

"Squeak—"

A subtle braking sound arose, the black SUV steadily coming to a halt below the apartment building where Lin Chuqiao lived.

"We’re here."

Fang Cheng softly reminded.

"Hmm..."

Lin Chuqiao acknowledged, yet made no moves.

She continued to sit quietly, seemingly wanting to extend these few seconds of quiet alone time inside the car.

Finally, as if making a decision, she picked up her handbag from the passenger seat and unfastened the seatbelt.

The car door opened, and a refreshing night breeze rushed in.

She stretched out an elegantly long leg clad in flesh-colored stockings, gracefully planting it on the ground, her whole body then lightly slipping out of the car.

The beige suit skirt stood out particularly soft against the night, perfectly accentuating her shapely figure.

Standing outside the car door, Lin Chuqiao bent over, waved a hand at Fang Cheng through the car window.

"Bye-bye."

The blush on her cheeks added more charm under the streetlight.

"Bye-bye."

Fang Cheng smiled in response without saying more.

Then started the engine, the car slowly moved away,

In the rearview mirror, her slender figure was still visible.

Lin Chuqiao remained standing, the streetlight casting her shadow long until it completely vanished at the corner.

Fang Cheng looked away, a vague ripple stirring in his heart.

The black SUV drove out of Cuihu Yipin, merging into the bustling main roads of the city.

Outside the car window, the nightscape rapidly retreated, neon lights flickering, mysterious and bizarre.

Fang Cheng casually turned on the car audio, a soothing blues tune flowed out.

The lazy saxophone seemed to be narrating the sentiments of this urban night traveler.

Fang Cheng hummed along with the unknown melody, letting the neon lights outside the window flicker on his face.

The graduate exams were finally over.

He thought it wouldn’t be long until the admission letter arrived at home.

By then, his mother would probably be very happy.

With a matter settled, Fang Cheng felt significantly lighter.

The enrollment time was in September, fall, still quite a long way off from now.