Jiang Qianling slowly clenched her hands at her sides, her gaze fixed on the two girls before her.
Song Qi brushed back the hair at her temple. "We're customers, you know. Don't tell me you don't want to sell to us?"
Ji Hanxing could tell these two had come with ill intent. His gaze returned to Jiang Qianling; he wanted to see what this girl would do.
Jiang Qianling pointed at the QR code beside her. "Pay first. Ten yuan a serving."
Song Qi eyed the QR code with distaste. "What a pauper. You think I'd shortchange you ten yuan?"
He Xue, who had barely spoken, tugged at Song Qi. "Oh, don't say that. That might be quite a lot of money to Jiang."
Jiang Qianling lifted her eyelids. "Are you buying or not?"
Feigning consideration, He Xue took out her phone and scanned the code. "I'll pay for two servings."
She looked at Jiang Qianling with a somewhat troubled expression. "Do you know how to make egg fried rice?"
"Oh, I don't mean anything by that."
"No matter how it turns out, I'll take it. It's the fruit of your labor, after all."
He Xue wore a look of charitable kindness.
Standing beside them, Ji Hanxing couldn't help rolling his eyes. The fake sweetness was positively overflowing.
The notification announcing a payment of twenty yuan sounded, and only then did Jiang Qianling withdraw her gaze. She put away her phone, first looking over the ingredients she had prepared. After hesitating for a moment, she reached for the oil jug. She had just picked it up when she saw Song Qi filming her with her phone, malice written all over her face, while saying:
"Everyone, come look! Our classmate Jiang Qianling is running a stall at the backstreet night market, selling egg fried rice! Anyone who wants to help her out, come on over!"
As soon as Song Qi finished recording, she released her finger and sent the video she had just recorded to the class group chat.
Jiang Qianling frowned slightly. "Song Qi, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Song Qi waved the phone in her hand, smiling smugly. "Jiang Qianling, I'm helping you. Isn't this publicity for you?"
"If everyone in class comes and buys a serving, you'll have your living expenses for the month covered."
Jiang Qianling lowered her eyes and stopped looking at them. With a flick of her wrist, she poured oil onto the griddle, which immediately hissed.
She began concentrating on making the egg fried rice, cracking the eggs, stir-frying them, adding the cooked rice, breaking it apart, tossing it back and forth, then adding salt, soy sauce, and other seasonings. She worked meticulously, as though conducting some precise experiment.
Watching from beside her, Ji Hanxing's eyes held a faint smile. Someone operating purely on theory.
He then stared at Jiang Qianling's composed face, unable to help marveling inwardly at her steady temperament. Her two classmates were provoking and humiliating her like this, yet she could still fry rice so calmly. But Ji Hanxing could understand, too. Only a fool would turn down money, especially someone short of it. Sometimes, dignity really wasn't worth anything.
Jiang Qianling's attitude also provoked Song Qi. She felt as though she had punched cotton. Being ignored by Jiang Qianling turned her embarrassment into anger. She pointed at Jiang Qianling and shouted harshly:
"Jiang Qianling! Who are you trying to impress with that high-and-mighty act!"
"Don't get any unrealistic ideas just because Young Master Xie stood up for you today! There's no chance of you two being together!"
"Selling egg fried rice here is all you're destined for! You're not even worthy..."
Clang!
A metal spatula slammed hard against the griddle with a loud crash, sending a few drops of oil splattering. Song Qi's curses stopped abruptly. She immediately pulled back her hand, staring at the spatula in terror.
"Ah!"
He Xue, beside Song Qi, also screamed in fright and took a step backward.
Ji Hanxing looked at Jiang Qianling in surprise, too. Had she finally had enough?
But Jiang Qianling's face was composed and her gaze calm. She didn't look as though she was about to lose control.
Jiang Qianling looked at the sticky mess she had fried on the griddle, where the rice and eggs were indistinguishable, and knitted her brows in puzzlement. She picked up the spatula again and transferred this failed lump onto an empty plate.
She raised her eyes and glanced at He Xue and Song Qi. "This plate doesn't count. I'll fry another one."
He Xue and Song Qi both stared wide-eyed in terror at the metal spatula in Jiang Qianling's hand. Only now did they notice the tool she was using to fry rice, afraid she would throw it at their faces the next second.
The two exchanged a look, then glanced at the spatula again, their voices trembling. "We don't want it anymore."
Jiang Qianling raised a brow and asked, "You don't want it anymore?"
Song Qi swallowed. "Right, I-we don't want it anymore."
"No!" Jiang Qianling's tone was adamant. "I've already taken your money. You have to take it!"
She didn't want to refund the money. Besides, she had been running her stall here for so long, and she had finally gotten a sale that would give her a chance to practice. No matter what, she couldn't let them get away.
After Jiang Qianling said this, Song Qi and He Xue were even less willing to take it. They both turned and ran.
"Hahahaha..."
Ji Hanxing finally laughed aloud. He had thought those two who had been provoking her were so capable.
"What are you laughing at?"
Only then did Jiang Qianling turn her attention to this strange man wrapped entirely in black, whose appearance she couldn't see.
Ji Hanxing changed the subject, pointing at the plate of egg fried rice Jiang Qianling had just made. "What are you planning to do with this?"
Jiang Qianling glanced at the plate of egg fried rice and shifted sideways, blocking Ji Hanxing's view.
"This was an accident. I'll definitely succeed next time."
Ji Hanxing looked at Jiang Qianling teasingly and said bluntly, "Your theory is good. Your execution, though..."
"A complete mess."
Jiang Qianling wasn't at all displeased by Ji Hanxing's assessment. What he had said was true.
She even nodded. "Mm, right."
Seeing Jiang Qianling's reaction, a trace of appreciation flashed through Ji Hanxing's eyes.
"Do you know what egg fried rice should ideally be like?"
Jiang Qianling was somewhat at a loss at this question. She shook her head.
"What made you decide to sell egg fried rice?"
Ji Hanxing asked another question.
Jiang Qianling said, "It's the simplest. I'm even worse at making anything else."
Ji Hanxing wasn't surprised by this. He had guessed as much from watching Jiang Qianling work earlier.
"Egg fried rice looks simple, but if you want it to sell well, there's a lot to pay attention to."
Hearing this, Jiang Qianling turned her head to look at Ji Hanxing, her tone certain. "You know how."
Ji Hanxing nodded. "Yes, I do."
"Can you teach me?"
Jiang Qianling was simply that direct.
Ji Hanxing said, "What if I refuse?"
Jiang Qianling met Ji Hanxing's gaze. "Then forget it."
Ji Hanxing had more or less figured out Jiang Qianling's personality by now. "If you want me to teach you, sure. Take me as your master."
"Master."
Jiang Qianling didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Ji Hanxing clapped his hands. "All right, I'll teach you!"