Lu Lin was eating when he passed the chopsticks to his grandfather, saying, "I don't like pork."
Grandpa said, "Don't be a picky eater."
Chu Ziyu immediately chimed in, though her words were somewhat indistinct, "Absolutely! A-Lin really needs to change her picky eating habits, or she'll grow taller!"
Lu Lin didn't even look up. "Don't worry about 186, worry about your 179 first."
Chu Ziyu chewed the meat vigorously, "I'm just replenishing my nutrition!"
Grandma and Grandpa were amused by Chu Ziyu, and the meal was filled with laughter.
The winter rain was pouring down outside, pounding against the windowpane. Chu Ziyu had come prepared, having deliberately turned on the speakerphone. "Mom, final exams are coming up soon, I'm studying at A-Lin's house, I won't be home tonight."
Mama Chu asked, "Is A-Lin here?"
Lu Lin politely replied, "Auntie."
Mama Chu smiled, "Okay, thank you for your help, A-Lin. Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve? Why don't you come with me to the New Year's Eve concert?"
Two-thirds of the singers at the annual New Year's Eve concerts on television are artists under the Chu Group.
Before Lu Lin could speak, Chu Ziyu, knowing he disliked these things, quickly refused, "I'm not interested! Hanging up!"
"Sigh--" Mama Chu's voice trailed off.
Although he claimed to be studying, Chu Ziyu's mind was not on his textbooks at all; he kept stealing glances at Lu Lin, who was reading a novel across from him.
He had been secretly glancing at her for almost an hour. Lu Lin knew, but Lu Lin let him be and didn't ask him anything. Finally Chu Ziyu couldn't take it anymore and coughed lightly, "What are you looking at?"
"Novel."
"... I know it's a novel, I can understand the picture on the cover," Chu Ziyu muttered. "I can't understand the English." He added, a little frustrated, "It's strange, we all study the same things, how come you all get such good grades?"
Lu Lin turned the page. "Me and who?"
"You and Shen..." Chu Ziyu almost bit her tongue. Lu Lin was too smart. Xie Yunjie's grades were okay, but far inferior to Lu Lin's. "You guys" definitely couldn't be Xie Yunjie. Chu Ziyu grabbed a big strawberry and took a big bite guiltily. "Nobody else, just someone with good grades like you... You know, our class's study committee member, she only scored 3 points less than you in this monthly exam, right?"
Lu Lin was too lazy to expose him, closed the book and put down the novel, "I'm going to sleep, you can sleep in the guest room from last time."
Chu Ziyu grew anxious and chased after him with the cake in her hand, " A-Lin, aren't you going to eat cake? I went to the most popular Red House bakery and lined up to buy it! It's especially delicious!"
Lu Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, "I don't eat cake."
"Those strawberries..." Chu Ziyu reached for the strawberries again, "They're big and sweet, so delicious!"
Seeing his awkward, uncoordinated movements, Lu Lin finally gave him one last chance. "If you don't say anything now, I'm leaving."
Chu Ziyu paused, swallowed hard, took several deep breaths, and finally mustered the courage to turn around and ask, " A-Lin, what kind of person would you like?"
Lu Lin's expression changed instantly, Chu Ziyu quickly waved her hands, "No, no, no, don't misunderstand! I'm asking on behalf of my cousin!"
Chu Ziyu's idea was very simple.
Shen Huaiyu and Lu Lin are both academically gifted and popular male idols, so their tastes are probably similar.
"My cousin has been pursuing you since junior high." Chu Ziyu gave a guilty laugh. "I'm just asking for her, just in case..."
Lu Lin gave him a deep look, unsure whether he believed her or not, "Good grades."
Chu Ziyu's pupils slowly widened. "Huh?" He blurted out uncontrollably, "So, good grades... even for boys?"
Lu Lin was almost certain that Chu Ziyu's strange behavior this semester was related to a boy with good grades. He didn't reveal Chu Ziyu's secret, only saying lightly, "Gender isn't a problem for whoever I like."
After saying that, Lu Lin went back to his room.
Chu Ziyu took a bite of the cake, her mouth covered in cream, and her eyes lit up.
It's just studying. As long as he's willing to study hard, he'll definitely succeed!
The next day, Chu Ziyu asked his father to find him a tutor for all subjects. He stopped skipping classes and playing games, and studied diligently for a month.
Then the final exam results came out.
He scored 2 points higher than his previous monthly exam score, which he had guessed wildly.
Chu Ziyu gently stroked the photo with his fingers. After a few seconds, as if burned, he slammed the album shut, threw it into the drawer, and slammed it shut. He pressed his chest, which was heaving violently, and got up to take a shower.
--
Two hours ago, after Chu Ziyu left, Yan Heqing went upstairs to his home, and the house was filled with a fragrant aroma.
Lu Lin's wontons had thin wrappers and plenty of filling. Each small, plump wonton was just the right size for one bite, like a tiny gold ingot. The clear broth was freshly made chicken soup by Lu Lin, with a few dried shrimp and some chopped cilantro, filling the room with a wonderful aroma.
Lu Lin made the wontons five minutes before Yan Heqing arrived home, the timing was perfect.
Yan Heqing put down the small box he was carrying, changed his shoes, and went to the bathroom to wash his hands. Lu Lin put down the wontons and followed him. As soon as Yan Heqing finished washing his hands, Lu Lin hugged him from behind and kissed the back of Yan Heqing's ear. "What did you play at the arcade?"
"Read a book." Yan Heqing turned around, "I bought you something."
Lu Lin laughed. "What is it?"
"Go wait in the dining room." Yan Heqing left the bathroom, picked up the small box from the entryway, and went to the kitchen.
Lu Lin went to the dining room first.
A short while later, Yan Heqing came out carrying a piece of cream cake. After leaving the arcade, there was a cake shop next door that smelled especially good, so Yan Heqing went over and picked out a small cream square.
"Try it," Yan Heqing said, placing it in front of Lu Lin. "It should be better than the coffee shop where I work."
Lu Lin picked up a spoon and scooped out a piece. The cream had a subtle sweetness, and he finished it in a few bites. "You only bought one piece?"
Yan Heqing chewed on a wonton, swallowed it, and then replied, "Yeah, I was afraid you wouldn't like it. If you do, I'll buy more tomorrow."
Lu Lin certainly wouldn't refuse, "Let's go tomorrow afternoon and have dinner out."
Yan Heqing nodded. The meat wontons were too delicious. He scooped one up and fed it to Lu Lin. After finishing the wontons, Lu Lin wanted another bowl, so he went to the kitchen to make more wontons.
There was a plate of fruit on the table, with big, red chocolate strawberries and cherries that looked like purple gems. Yan Heqing picked up a strawberry, and just as he took a bite, his phone rang.