Eating a Free Meal

Chapter 48: Planning a Dine-and-Dash

Su Ke didn't really care about the "Top Ten Campus Crushes" selection at No. 17 High School. Having grown accustomed to keeping a low profile, he disliked being the center of attention; if he could avoid the spotlight, he would.

However, the thought of taking Liu Qingqing out to eat made him feel uneasy. Although he had treated Li Feifei before, today he was facing the young girl who had confessed her feelings to him, which was an entirely different matter.

The logistics of lunch had already exhausted Su Ke's mental energy. Wang Xiaogang, that troublemaking scoundrel, had hovered around Su Ke's desk the moment class ended, bombarding him with his theories on hype and operational tactics. It felt like a thousand flies were buzzing around his head, and by the time the bell for the morning break rang, Su Ke still hadn't mentally prepared himself.

"Frustrating! If I don't get there soon, she'll probably be home!" Su Ke muttered to himself while following the surging crowd downstairs. The freshman classrooms were on the first floor, but by the time he reached the door of Liu Qingqing's classroom, he found it already empty, not a soul in sight.

"Damn it! I really am late!" Su Ke stood at the doorway, talking to himself with a wry smile.

"Brother Su Ke!" A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him, filled with surprise and delight.

He turned to see Wang Huan, the queen of the buzzcut, and Li Yan, the girl with the tattoos, flanking Liu Qingqing like imperial guards protecting a magistrate.

"Brother Su Ke!" Liu Qingqing's fluffy, golden short hair framed a pure and delicate face. A blush bloomed on her cheeks as she looked at Su Ke, her lips pursed, a charming smile dancing at the corners of her mouth.

"Uh! You guys didn't go home?" Su Ke was stunned for a moment before he immediately snapped out of it and smiled at the three girls.

"Nope, we just went to the restroom. We were waiting for you to take us to lunch, weren't we?" Wang Huan said, nudging Liu Qingqing with her elbow. "Qingqing, look, our wait wasn't in vain!"

From the very beginning, Liu Qingqing had stood there, her watery eyes fixed on Su Ke. The soft light in her gaze, the smile on her lips, and the blush on her cheeks spoke volumes, even though she didn't say a word.

In that moment, as Su Ke and Liu Qingqing locked eyes, his heart hammered against his ribs, and he didn't know how to start the conversation.

"Brother Su Ke, are we still going to eat?" Li Yan asked as she pulled Liu Qingqing's arm and walked forward.

"Uh! Right, lunch! Let's go! Let's go eat!" Su Ke nodded instinctively.

"Brother Su Ke, are you going to mind us two lightbulbs tagging along?" Wang Huan, wearing her signature large, flashy hoop earrings, swayed as she spoke.

"How could I!" Su Ke waved his hand, pretending to be indifferent, though he was panicking inside. The mission was to invite Liu Qingqing to lunch—would adding two more people count as a failure?

"Brother Su Ke, you look really handsome today. You didn't change just to take us out, did you?" Li Yan looked him up and down, clicking her tongue in admiration.

"Uh!" Su Ke's face turned red instantly. Li Yan had hit the nail on the head. He had specifically picked out this outfit this morning—a white Vancl t-shirt and light gray jeans. They weren't new, but he looked clean and sharp.

"Alright, stop teasing him!" Liu Qingqing finally spoke, her voice soft. Su Ke had always imagined a girl like her with long, flowing hair in a white pleated skirt, like an ethereal fairy, but even with her fluffy, golden short hair, he didn't find it the least bit awkward.

"Right! Let's go eat!" Su Ke decided not to worry about the extra people; as long as they were eating, it should count. With that, he led the three girls outside.

They arrived at the California Beef Noodles shop by the school gate. As Su Ke walked in with the three freshmen, they immediately drew countless stares. In a normal restaurant, it wouldn't have mattered, but since this place was mostly frequented by students, they naturally took an interest, casting several surreptitious glances their way.

Wang Huan and Li Yan sat on one side, while Liu Qingqing sat on the other, right next to Su Ke, her head bowed. This was the closest they had been since her confession.

His heart raced, and his hand trembled slightly as he held the menu. He took a deep breath—damn it, it was still shaking!

"Ladies first!" Su Ke knew he had to act fast. He placed the menu in front of Liu Qingqing and said with a hearty laugh, "Order whatever you want!" But inside, he was incredibly nervous, especially when Liu Qingqing's arm accidentally brushed against his.

Liu Qingqing was dressed quite uniquely today. She wore a form-fitting white shirt paired with a black-and-white striped necktie-scarf, giving her a student-chic look. She also wore a matching black-and-white striped skirt, revealing her long legs. Every time Su Ke lowered his head, he could see her smooth, fair thighs just inches away.

The worst part was that the tables at California Beef Noodles had long benches on either side, so if Su Ke shifted even slightly, he risked physical contact with her.

"Brother Su Ke! How about this?" After browsing the menu, Liu Qingqing asked for his opinion quite obediently, pointing to the seasoned kimchi.

"Uh!" Su Ke tilted his head to look, but to his surprise, his view was blocked by Liu Qingqing's rising chest, with the black-and-white striped scarf resting right across it.

Gulp. Su Ke swallowed hard. He hadn't even seen what she was pointing at, but he nodded instinctively, his eyes still fixed on her chest. He realized he could catch a glimpse of the scenery between the buttons of her shirt.

Despite the obstruction of that annoying scarf, the peek-a-boo effect only made his heart race faster with excitement.

Pure white! It definitely is! Su Ke muttered to himself, his breathing shallow. He felt a sudden, impulsive urge to undo those buttons and see for himself, but he quickly shifted his gaze away when he heard Wang Huan and Li Yan placing their orders.

Whew! Impulse is the devil! Impulse is the devil! Su Ke tried hard to steady his breathing. He couldn't see his own face, but the burning sensation on his cheeks told him he was blushing shamefully again.

"Three bowls of California Beef Noodles, one order of spiced peanuts, one order of California kimchi, and one order of sour long beans. That will be seventy-one yuan!" The waiter, who had been standing by the table, tapped his handheld terminal and announced the total.

Su Ke was prepared for this. Once the mission was complete, he would get his five-hundred-yuan reward, so this was definitely a good deal. He nodded at the waiter and reached into his pocket to pay.

His right pocket was empty!

His left pocket was the same!

He checked again, but it was still empty. Su Ke froze, his face turning bright red, sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead, his breathing becoming ragged.

Damn it! He had changed his pants this morning, and he hadn't brought any money!