A handsome young man and a beautiful young woman walked side by side along the campus path to the cafeteria. Even in their school uniforms, their looks were hard to conceal.
The glances they drew from passersby now and then made it clear that, even on their way to the cafeteria, the two of them could easily become the center of attention.
Xia Yunuo naturally paid those looks no mind. After yesterday's ordeal, Song Yunshen had also developed a resistance to the gazes that seemed to come and go, and barely noticed them.
Or rather, both of them were paying more attention to the thoughts of the person beside them.
What should I say? The way she's acting, she probably won't start a conversation.
Song Yunshen glanced at Xia Yunuo beside him, and his gaze drifted involuntarily to her pretty, faint tear mole. He couldn't help taking a couple more looks.
He keeps sneaking glances at me. Does he think I can't tell?
Hearing Xia Yunuo's thoughts, Song Yunshen silently looked away, feeling a little awkward.
She could even catch him sneaking a couple of glances?
Then again, wasn't she sneaking glances at him the whole time too?
Song Yunshen grumbled to himself briefly, then took the initiative to speak. "We just finished the English exam, and there's a little favor I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?" Song Yunshen hadn't asked Xia Yunuo for help again since borrowing her English homework last time, so she was a little curious. Then she remembered the thoughts she had heard that morning, and understanding dawned on her face.
"When you have time next week, could you go through the English exam paper with me in detail?" Song Yunshen asked.
Sure enough, it was just like the thoughts she had heard that morning.
But strangely, Song Yunshen hadn't mentioned treating her to a meal in return.
That puzzled Xia Yunuo a little.
Even if Song Yunshen had mentioned it, though, Xia Yunuo would definitely have refused.
She was only helping him go over an exam paper. It was a way for her to review the material too, so there was no need for Song Yunshen to give her anything extra.
Seeing that Song Yunshen was only asking about this, Xia Yunuo thought for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."
"Then thanks in advance." Song Yunshen smiled faintly, as if he had just carried out some kind of scheme.
Xia Yunuo looked suspicious, but she couldn't figure out what Song Yunshen meant. Unfortunately, his inner voice wasn't working again at the moment, so she couldn't hear what he was thinking.
By the time they had settled their arrangement to go over the English paper, they had reached the cafeteria entrance.
They went inside and joined a line. As usual, Xia Yunuo took out her little notebook and began reviewing biology and geography for the afternoon's exams.
Song Yunshen was standing in front of Xia Yunuo this time. With nothing to do, he tapped the boy ahead of him on the shoulder. "Hey, bro, the sticker on your meal card looks kind of familiar."
"That's Sister Lumine." The boy grinned sheepishly and handed Song Yunshen his meal card for a look.
Then he watched as Song Yunshen took out his own meal card and showed it to him with a grin.
"Is that... Columbina?" The boy looked confused at first, but instantly caught on, a hint of excitement in his voice. "So you play too... I really like her. She's coming out in the next major version, right?"
"Yeah, I've been waiting almost three years," Song Yunshen couldn't help exclaiming. "The wait's finally almost over."
The two launched into a spirited discussion in line, full of terms Xia Yunuo couldn't understand.
It was amazing... How could he strike up a conversation with someone so quickly wherever he went, and even look as if they were old acquaintances?
How did he do it?
When their turn was almost up, Song Yunshen finally wrapped up the pleasant conversation and turned to Xia Yunuo. "We're almost up."
"Mm." Xia Yunuo put away her little notebook ahead of time, then looked curiously at the meal card in Song Yunshen's hand. "What were you two talking about?"
"Oh, this." Song Yunshen held up the card and openly showed it to her. "Nothing much, just a character from a game."
Hearing that it had to do with a game, Xia Yunuo nodded lightly and lost interest in discussing it.
Games had been absent from her childhood, so even if she wanted to talk about them, she wouldn't have much to say.
Song Yunshen naturally knew that. He looked up at the electronic menu for the day and said to Xia Yunuo behind him, "There are six dishes today. Are there any you don't like?"
It was the first time anyone had asked Xia Yunuo that. She looked up at the menu and, without thinking much of it, assumed Song Yunshen was just making conversation. "There's nothing I avoid eating. Today's dishes all look delicious."
"I see." Song Yunshen nodded in understanding. When it was his turn to get food, he said to the cafeteria server, "Stir-fried eggs with onions, pork ribs stewed with radish, and stir-fried spinach."
Then he put on a cheeky grin and buttered her up. "Miss, did you just start working at the school? I don't think I've seen you before."
"Miss? You should be calling me auntie." The cafeteria server couldn't help the corners of her mouth turning up when she heard that.
"No way. You look so young, calling you auntie wouldn't be right." Song Yunshen grinned.
Pleased, the server gave him two extra pieces of pork rib and even spooned a little sauce over the rice.
By then, Song Yunshen had already put his meal card on the reader and swiftly paid.
He then stepped aside, but instead of taking the tray the server handed him, he turned and motioned for Xia Yunuo to carry it.
Xia Yunuo was taken aback. Thinking it was inconvenient for Song Yunshen to take it himself, she instinctively stepped forward and held the tray for him.
The next second, however, Song Yunshen continued speaking to the server. "Miss, one more serving. This time, braised fried tofu, honey-glazed chicken wings, and stir-fried pork with edamame."
"Coming right up." The server gave him an extra chicken wing, poured sauce over the rice again, and handed him the tray with a smile.
"Wait." Only then did Xia Yunuo realize what was happening. Her expression changed, and she hurried forward to stop him. "What are you doing?"
"Paying." Song Yunshen edged past Xia Yunuo, giving her no chance to stop him. He had already put his meal card on the reader again and paid.
"I didn't say you could treat me." Xia Yunuo's cheeks flushed. A little annoyed and embarrassed, she complained to Song Yunshen in a low voice.
"Huh? I thought you'd agreed to it." Song Yunshen looked surprised.
"...When did I agree to it?"
"When you agreed to help me go over the English paper just now."
"You didn't say you were going to treat me."
"I treated you when I borrowed your English homework last time, so doesn't that mean it was understood I'd treat you this time too?"
Xia Yunuo: "..."
Since when did it work like that?!
"Come on, let's go. I've already bought it." Holding his tray in one hand, Song Yunshen placed the other on Xia Yunuo's shoulder and gently pushed her out of the line.
As they walked, Song Yunshen added, "I don't eat spinach, radish, or onions, so you'll have to finish that one yourself."
Xia Yunuo walked out with her head down. Feeling the warmth of the large hand on her shoulder, she could only reply softly, "Stop pushing. I can walk on my own."
Song Yunshen withdrew his hand at just the right moment, a victorious smile on his lips.
Hmph~ You little rascal~ Did you think I couldn't handle you? If I don't say I'm treating you this time, you don't get a chance to refuse, do you?
Sigh... I have to match wits and courage just to treat someone to a meal. What kind of sense does that make?!
How can your body take it if you eat vegetables every day? Don't let your legs get too skinny, or they won't look good anymore.
Besides, your chest is so flat. You probably got that way from eating vegetables every day. You're not getting nearly enough nutrition.
Listening to the thoughts that kept popping up in her head, Xia Yunuo first felt helpless, then a little touched.
But then her face went rigid, dark lines covered her forehead, and she almost couldn't resist dumping the tray over his head!