Chapter 31: Familiar peach blossom eyes

Heading to the Mixer

The venue was Moonlit Restaurant, a ten-minute walk from campus.

“By the way, why would PhD students bother with lowly undergrads like us?”

On the way, Lin Lu posed a soul-searching question.
The more he thought about it, the less it made sense.
PhD graduates earned hefty salaries, with sky-high standards and expectations.
Would they really pick an 18-year-old undergrad as a boyfriend just for being “fresh meat”?
What were they after?
A dopamine rush?

Moreover, according to Fat Bro, the PhD students had initiated the invite.
It was bizarre, even unsettling…

“Could it be a scam?” Slant Key Immortal flinched.

“No way, no way. I verified their student IDs—they’re legit seniors from our school,” Fat Bro reassured.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, though it still felt like a dream.

Standing Out

“We’re dressed too flashy, aren’t we? People keep staring,” Skinny Dog Bro said, uneasy.

“It’s our charisma intimidating them. Be confident, stand tall, and don’t make a bad impression on the girls,” Fat Bro coached, inspecting everyone’s appearance.
Then he noticed Lin Lu, trailing two meters behind, seemingly stifling a laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just thinking of something happy.”

However, at the restaurant’s private room door, Fat Bro, usually so bold, turned hesitant.
The suited trio dawdled, each urging the other to enter first.

Lin Lu rolled his eyes at their timidity.
“You guys fearlessly visit certain websites despite the risks, but you’re scared to enter a room with some girls? The first one in makes the first impression—seize it! If you’re this nervous, how’ll you ever charm a girl?”

“You go first, you go first. Your casual look won’t steal the show—we’ll follow for maximum impact,” they insisted.

Lin Lu sighed, reluctant to outshine them.
“If I go first, you might regret it.”

“No worries, dressed like that, you won’t outshine us.”

Shaking his head, Lin Lu opened the door and stepped in, the three suited guys trailing close behind.

Meeting the Seniors

“Hi there~”

Four girls were already in the room.
A lively short-haired senior greeted them enthusiastically, two others politely waved, and the last one, too shy to look up, buried her face in a magazine.
Her long, dark hair cascaded over her face, obscuring most of it.

“You’re Lin Lu, right? Over here, sit here~”

For some reason, the short-haired senior knew Lin Lu and eagerly directed him to sit next to the shy girl, shooting an ambiguous glance between them.

“Wow, little junior, what’s with this entourage? Bringing three bodyguards?”

Lin Lu covered his face, unable to hold back his amusement.
The girls chuckled too.

Fat Bro and the others finally realized how considerate Lin Lu had been, regretting letting him take the lead.

Breaking the Ice

“Dear beautiful seniors, your charming smiles are our honor. Meeting you here today fills us with luck and excitement. You’re like the brightest stars on campus, drawing us in with your radiance.”

Fat Bro, likely quoting some AI-generated speech, delivered a robotic opening and sat down.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“P-Pleasure to meet you.”

Skinny Dog Bro and Slant Key Immortal mimicked him like programmed bots.

The seniors laughed even harder.

Lin Lu cringed at their overly formal demeanor, his toes curling in secondhand embarrassment.
Still, the ice was broken.
The seniors teased, asking if they’d dressed so formally for a blind date.

The three boys blushed, but the conversation flowed.
The older girls treated them like younger brothers, patiently advising them on dating etiquette and how to appeal to girls.
Their gentle smiles and occasional playful swats at the boys’ arms for their clueless remarks were disarming.

For the trio, who rarely spoke to girls their age, this was overwhelming.
One evening felt heavier than years of interactions.
Their shy, boyish awe in the presence of these mature seniors was palpable.
Years later, even after marriage and kids, they’d likely never forget these white-moonlight seniors.

A Silent Companion

Throughout, Lin Lu stayed quiet, careful not to steal his roommates’ spotlight.
He soon noticed the senior beside him was equally silent, her slim frame trembling slightly with nerves.

Clearly, she wasn’t good at socializing, probably dragged here to make up numbers.
Her outfit was simple—a white button-up tucked into fitted jeans, with long, dark hair draped over her shoulders, the quintessential nerdy girl look.

But she was a PhD student.
How could a理工女 still be so shy at this stage?
Yi Diandian, for example, had overcome her social anxiety perfectly.

Lin Lu didn’t initiate conversation, knowing it might make her more uncomfortable.
Instead, he stayed silent alongside her, keeping her company so she wouldn’t feel like the odd one out in a chatty room.

An Unexpected Voice

“Lin… Lin, junior…”

To his surprise, she spoke first, her soft, delicate voice at odds with her tall, almost Zhuang Yanyue-like frame.
Her face remained turned away.

The voice sounded oddly familiar…

Out of courtesy, Lin Lu responded, “What’s up, senior? Need more water? I can pour some.”

“I-I… um.”

She hesitated, struggling to speak.
Lin Lu picked up the pitcher and filled her cup halfway.
When she reached for it, her hand brushed his and she recoiled, hiding it in her lap.

Lin Lu’s lips twitched.
Had she spent her whole life on research, never touching a guy?
Compared to the other three confident PhD seniors, she was worlds apart.
He recalled a news story about a PhD couple who thought lying in bed together could make a baby…

A Shocking Revelation

Lost in thought, Lin Lu didn’t notice her gently push aside her hair, revealing a stunning profile and a shy, peach-blossom eye that stole a glance at him.

That cautious move caught his attention.
The moment he saw that pitifully charming eye, recognition hit like a bolt.

Holy crap, an ex-girlfriend!

“Run, kids, run!”

“I-I’ve got something urgent. Sorry, gotta go!”

Lin Lu bolted out the door.