Huang Taoyan had picked a local hot pot restaurant. There were two or three tables in the private room, and the spicy aroma made everyone perk up.
After a year apart, her former classmates chatted and joked, catching up with one another. Zhang Juntang, who didn't know the others very well, sat quietly off to the side, occasionally watching Jiang Linyuan among the crowd. Under the lights, she looked like a sunflower turned toward the sun.
"Juntang's your younger schoolmate and cousin? Huang Taoyan, you never told us."
Jiang Linyuan paid Zhang Juntang a little attention.
Sitting by herself like that had to be awkward.
Huang Taoyan really had no sense. Why bring her along to a class reunion like this?
"What, do I have to tell you everything? Want me to tell you when I'm ovulating, too?"
Huang Taoyan launched another dirty joke, making the others laugh.
Jiang Linyuan ignored her and turned to Zhang Juntang.
"I remember you said last time that you couldn't eat spicy food. This table's having the spicy broth. Why don't you switch tables?"
Hearing that he remembered what she couldn't eat made Zhang Juntang's heart flutter, but she didn't want to be separated from him, either. Blushing, she replied timidly,
"I... I just can't eat spicy food on those days."
Her cousin hadn't mentioned ovulation, but her younger cousin was about to.
Zhang Juntang really had no sense of caution around other people.
"Didn't you say last time that you... couldn't eat spicy food either?"
After she said it, she sneaked another glance at Jiang Linyuan.
"Last time it was all girls, so I went along with them. I can handle it as long as it's not too spicy."
Jiang Linyuan replied, stuffing beef tripe into his mouth. This hot pot place was