By the time Song Yunshen and Xia Yunuo reached the cafeteria, a line as long as a dragon had already formed in front of the serving window.
As far as Song Yunshen could remember, he had barely queued at the cafeteria this semester. This was his first time facing a line so long.
Every time, he and Xu Zhuoyue teamed up for a two-player race. Running before a meal burned fat and worked up an appetite.
It saved time, let them eat more without gaining weight, and left them time for basketball before the midday break.
They killed several birds with one stone. It was a win all around.
But people in line had their own little tricks, too.
Xia Yunuo, for instance, pulled a little notebook from her pocket as soon as she joined the line and began memorizing vocabulary and lines of poetry.
Curious, Song Yunshen leaned over to take a look. The sight of the vocabulary made his head spin. "You're taking the grind way too far."
Xia Yunuo felt his warm breath brush past her ear, and a shiver ran through her whole body.
She instinctively took half a step back, putting a little distance between them before saying softly, "There's nothing else to do while we wait."
"We could chat."
Xia Yunuo shook her head and went back to memorizing words.
How embarrassing. He was so close just now. I could feel his warm breath on my ear when he spoke.
Chat? What would we even talk about? I might as well memorize more words.
Listening to the thoughts of the girl in front of him, Song Yunshen sighed helplessly and greeted the boy behind them in line instead.
Before long, the two of them were chatting and laughing up a storm.
Only when it was almost their turn did Song Yunshen turn back around.
Xia Yunuo looked at him and couldn't help asking, "Do you two know each other?"
"No," Song Yunshen said matter-of-factly. "But we do now."
Xia Yunuo: "..."
How did he manage to act so familiar with everyone?
For some reason, a faint trace of envy stirred in Xia Yunuo's heart.
Oh no, does she think I was ignoring her?
But she was the one who said she wanted to memorize words, so I could only find someone else to chat with.
Damn, a woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea. So hard to fathom.
When Xia Yunuo heard Song Yunshen's thoughts, her face darkened at once. Who thinks they were being ignored?!
How baffling.
"It's our turn," Song Yunshen said, pointing ahead to remind Xia Yunuo. "Order whatever you want. I'll pay."
"Oh, oh..." Xia Yunuo came back to her senses and quickly turned toward the serving window.
The cafeteria auntie was ready. She put a serving of rice on a tray, then looked at Xia Yunuo.
"One steamed egg with minced pork and one serving of greens." Xia Yunuo quickly ordered the dishes she had picked out earlier.
But the braised lion's head meatballs closest to the window gave off a savory aroma of sauce, drawing her gaze despite herself.
The braised lion's head meatballs smell really good too. Should I order some?
No, no. Even if someone else is treating me, I can't order more.
Getting to eat steamed egg with minced pork today is already pretty good. I'd better forget the braised lion's head meatballs.
Hold back, hold back.
"Auntie, add a serving of braised lion's head meatballs for her."
Beside her, Song Yunshen watched Xia Yunuo staring at the braised lion's head meatballs as if she were about to drool. He tried to hold back a smile as he spoke to the cafeteria auntie.
"Huh? There's no need. Two dishes are enough for me." Although she was delighted, Xia Yunuo hurriedly declined.
Her eyes are practically falling into the tray of braised lion's head meatballs, and she still says there's no need.
Why stand on ceremony? If you want it, eat it.
She's looking at it so longingly while turning it down. Kind of cute, little glutton.
"The auntie's already served it for you. Take it. If you can't finish it, give it to me." Song Yunshen reached out, took the tray, and handed it to Xia Yunuo, then swiped his meal card.
Xia Yunuo stood dumbly to one side. Listening to Song Yunshen's thoughts, she felt like she had nowhere to hide. Her face reddened slightly as she lowered her head and stared at her toes.
I'm not a little glutton!
Come to think of it, were my thoughts that obvious just now?
How embarrassing!
But...
Smelling the aroma of meat rising from the tray, Xia Yunuo felt her little stomach rumbling like thunder. All she wanted now was to find a seat and start eating.
Fortunately, Song Yunshen didn't keep her waiting long. He got a plate with two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, then swiped his meal card and led Xia Yunuo out of the line.
They each got a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup, then found two empty seats.
But as soon as Song Yunshen sat down, he felt a death glare from the next table. He turned to look and found it was his good buddy Xu Zhuoyue.
The next second, a foul wind swept in, and Song Yunshen found himself in a chokehold.
"I was wondering what happened! I fucking ran all the way to the cafeteria before I realized I was on my own. You little shit!"
Xu Zhuoyue gripped the bastard's neck, furious. "And here I was worried you'd fallen down the stairs. This is how you repay me?"
"Let go first." Speechless, Song Yunshen pried the guy's death grip loose. "Calm down, will you? It's just one meal."
"Heh, you bastard." Xu Zhuoyue glanced at Xia Yunuo, who was sitting across from Song Yunshen, then snorted. "I'll settle this with you when we get back."
With that, he picked up his empty tray and strode away.
"Are you two okay?" Xia Yunuo asked. "Did you have a fight?"
"No." Song Yunshen shook his head. "When guys insult each other, it's a way of showing they're close."
"Huh?" It was the first time Xia Yunuo had heard that, and she was a little taken aback.
"Anyway, let's eat first," Song Yunshen said with a smile. "I'm starving."
With that, Song Yunshen was the first to pick up his chopsticks.
Xia Yunuo didn't stand on ceremony any longer either. She lowered her head and began savoring the food.
The cafeteria food was actually nothing special. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good, either.
Even so, Xia Yunuo ate carefully, savoring it slowly, afraid that if she ate too fast, it would be gone in no time.
Halfway through the meal, Song Yunshen took a sip of soup and cautiously asked, "Do you have any plans for summer vacation? The school should be offering some tutoring classes and stuff."
"Hmm... I'll probably sign up for math and physics tutoring." Xia Yunuo nodded lightly. Remembering that he was treating her to this meal, she politely returned the question. "What about you?"
"I'm not taking the school's tutoring classes." Song Yunshen shook his head. "My dad plans to find me a private English tutor."
A one-on-one tutor? That must cost a lot.
I think that's the kind of work my older sister found. I wonder if I can find something similar.
"Mm, I see..." Xia Yunuo nodded as she thought to herself, and Song Yunshen heard every bit of it.
"If you ask me, I might as well get you to be my tutor." Song Yunshen sounded her out, half joking. "Your English is pretty good anyway."
Too bad I've already picked someone out. Otherwise, I really could ask her to tutor me.
For a moment, Xia Yunuo had been tempted, but after hearing Song Yunshen's thoughts, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
She immediately shook her head. "We're in the same grade. How could I be qualified to teach you? If I became a tutor, I'd definitely teach middle school or elementary school students."
"Are you really thinking of becoming a tutor?"
"Hmm... I suppose I could," Xia Yunuo said hesitantly. "I could count it as social practice and earn some pocket money too."
"I see..." Song Yunshen said no more. He rubbed his chin, and there was no telling what he was thinking about.