The world of film and television begins with university lecturers

After a satisfying meal, Han Tao and Jiang Lai walked out of the private restaurant together.

The designated driver, who had been booked in advance by the shop, was already waiting by the roadside. Upon seeing the two of them come out, he quickly stepped forward and opened the car door.

Han Tao thanked his driver, bent down and sat in the back seat, then looked at Jiang Lai and said, "Get in the car and give the driver your home address."

"This... you're going home already?" Jiang Lai raised an eyebrow, looking at Han Tao with a surprised expression.

"You promised to drink with me to my heart's content, but you barely touched your glass during the meal. That's too perfunctory."

"Hey, I know a bar with a great atmosphere. How about we go somewhere else and have a few more drinks while we still have time?"

Han Tao didn't hesitate at all and decisively rejected her invitation: "I'm not going!"

"Go if you want. I did agree to treat you to dinner, but I didn't agree to drink with you."

The original owner had been living in the faculty apartment allocated by the school for more than two years while staying at the school, because he couldn't get over his mental hurdle and he really didn't have enough money to buy a house.

But he was completely different. Having received the old villa as a reward from the system, he didn't want to suffer without effort and continue to cramped in the small dormitory.

Jiang Lai took several deep breaths to suppress the anger in her heart, and reluctantly gave the name of her residential community, which was one of the high-end villa areas in Shanghai where only the top elites lived.

However, after sitting down, she couldn't help but mutter under her breath, venting her dissatisfaction: "There isn't a single good man in the world, clearly..."

Upon hearing this, Han Tao glanced at her indifferently, but did not reply. He simply raised his hand and lightly tapped the back of the seat in front of him.

The driver understood immediately, started the car, and smoothly merged into the evening rush hour traffic, slowly heading towards the villa area.

Seeing that he ignored her, Jiang Lai turned to look out the window in anger, watching the familiar buildings and streetlights rushing past her as she was lost in thought.

To be honest, Han Tao and I weren't complete strangers, but we weren't exactly acquaintances either.

As for last night's casual encounter, it was purely an accident that happened after I drank too much. Otherwise, I wouldn't have left in the early hours of the morning, leaving all the cash on my phone.

The two should have never crossed paths again, but they unexpectedly met again in the evening, and he even saved her life.

These two contrasting experiences kept intertwining and churning in Jiang Lai's mind, leaving her with a chaotic and disordered state of mind.

Seeing that Han Tao wasn't paying attention to her, Jiang Lai couldn't help but steal glances at the man beside her from time to time.

Judging by his facial features alone, he wouldn't be considered handsome; he could only be categorized as having a pleasing and composed appearance.

But the mannerisms he exuded were qualities that Jiang Lai had never encountered before.

Compared to those social elites who only flaunt their wealth and act extravagantly, or those who associate with their brothers, Han Tao possesses an inexplicable aura that makes people want to get close to him and feel at ease.

After much hesitation and deliberation, Jiang Lai finally broke the silence: "Hey...really not going to get a drink? We're friends, after all, are you really going to be so heartless?"

At this point, even she herself couldn't explain why, but deep down she strongly resisted separating from this man and cutting off all contact.

"I'm not going!" Han Tao shook his head, looking at her calmly. "Also, my name is Han Tao, not Wei."

Besides, we're not "friends," and we don't want to be "friends" with you, otherwise there would be too much trouble.

After tonight, it's best if we don't have any further contact. Even if we bump into each other on the street later, let's pretend we don't know each other.

His blunt and cold words instantly stung Jiang Lai, and a strong competitive spirit surged within her. She frowned and questioned him:

  

"What exactly do you mean by that? What kind of monster am I that you would avoid at all costs?"

Is it that my status is unworthy of being your friend, or that you don't think I'm good-looking enough?

Han Tao quietly observed her for a few seconds, then gently shook his head: "It has nothing to do with looks. You are very beautiful. Among the women I know, there are few who can surpass you."

"If that's the case, why won't you be my friend? We were having a great chat just now, how come you're acting like a completely different person now?"

Jiang Lai frowned even more. From childhood to adulthood, it was always others who would scramble to get close to her and curry favor with her.

This was the first time in her life that she had ever extended an olive branch to someone, only to be so decisively rejected.

"What's so hard to understand!"

Han Tao turned his gaze back to the flowing night view outside the window, his tone calm, "We were never from the same world to begin with, there's no need for us to get too involved."

To put it bluntly, no matter how good-looking you are, it's useless. I'm just an ordinary person; I can't afford it.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai was instantly speechless, a breath catching in her chest, almost choking her. What kind of outrageous words were these? "Can't afford it?"

To the uninformed, they might think that she, the heiress of the Jiang Group and the apple of the Jiang family's eye, is a gold-digging woman who maintains relationships with money!

"Can't afford it?" After a long while, Jiang Lai finally calmed down, turned around and looked directly into Han Tao's eyes, "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly do you mean by that?"

I, Jiang Lai, never consider whether someone is rich or has a certain background when making friends, because family background and social status are worthless to me!

Han Tao remained calm, unmoved by her excitement.

"I'm not talking about not being able to afford it financially, but about the social obligations and the trouble it causes."

"Favors and troubles?" Jiang Lai looked at him with a puzzled expression, as if to say, "If you don't explain clearly, this isn't over."

"That's right, it's all about personal relationships and troubles. You come from a wealthy family, your social circle, your family affairs, the people and things around you—these are all things I don't want to get involved with."

Han Tao's tone remained calm, yet his reasoning was exceptionally clear: "Last night's accident was merely a coincidence. Your decision to leave without saying goodbye this morning was also to avoid further involvement, wasn't it?"

As for saving you tonight, it was simply because I happened to witness it and acted out of a sense of duty.

So this is the best outcome for both of us.

He paused, then turned to look at the emotional Jiang Lai: "But if we continue to associate as so-called 'friends,' I will inevitably be dragged into your mess sooner or later."

But I'm just an ordinary university teacher; I have no interest in getting involved in the feuds of wealthy families, and I certainly don't want to get caught up in a bunch of unsavory troubles later on.

After listening, Jiang Lai's tense emotions calmed down a bit, and her anger subsided, replaced by an indescribable sense of loss.

She leaned back in her seat, gazing at the lights on the car roof, her voice lower: "Heh, so that's what you think. I thought... you were different from those men."

"I am indeed different from them," Han Tao said calmly. "They are desperately trying to squeeze into your world, while I just want to stay far away."

The driver sat in the front seat, his ears perked up, not daring to interrupt the whole time, but his heart was unusually excited as he found the conversation between the two passengers in the back seat extremely interesting.

Most importantly, I really admire Han Tao. His move of advancing as if retreating, or rather, playing hard to get, was so well executed.

He had seen many rich young ladies like Jiang Lai, and many of them would become more enthusiastic the less you paid attention to them.

But if you fawn over her every day, showering her with concern and smiles, she might look down on you and even find you as annoying as a fly.