Chapter 56: Having a Meal Together
Jiang Qiao’s heart fluttered unexpectedly, realizing he was trying to comfort her. “Thank you,” she said.
Yang Shikun watched from the side, his smile growing wider. He thought to himself: Holy crap, I suspect this isn’t the real Si-ge I know.
He exchanged glances with Hao Ming, both seeing surprise and disbelief in each other’s eyes.
Xu Si looked down at her. “Let’s go, little bookworm.”
Jiang Qiao followed the three of them back to class. The slightly cool breeze felt pleasant against her skin. She glanced sideways at the young man beside her again.
When they passed the entrance, the security guard gave Jiang Qiao an extra look, perhaps thinking the three people beside her seemed out of place with her, or maybe because Xu Si had caused so much trouble that the guard recognized him.
On the afternoon of September 30th, everyone in class was restless, seemingly ready to burst out of the classroom. After Fang Zixin finished giving holiday instructions, he reminded them, “Don’t forget your homework, and happy National Day everyone!”
The class erupted with a ceiling-shaking “Happy holidays!”
Xu Si looked at Jiang Qiao, who was packing up her things. “Happy holidays, classmate.”
Jiang Qiao softly replied, “Happy holidays.”
On October 1st.
“Qiao Qiao, your father and I are going to stay at your grandmother’s house for a few days. Want to come?” Tian Ling asked Jiang Qiao as she came out.
“No thanks,” Jiang Qiao declined. Her relationship with her grandmother wasn’t close. Her most memorable impression was when her grandmother first saw her and said, “Why wasn’t it a boy? A boy would have been better.”
Even as she grew up, her grandmother never really liked her. In her second year of middle school, during a family gathering where parents discussed typical topics like children’s grades and gossip, her mother Tian Ling proudly announced, “My Qiao Qiao ranked in the top ten of her grade.”
Her grandmother immediately dampened the mood: “What’s the use of a girl studying so well? She’ll still end up getting married and having children anyway.”
Nobody at the table contradicted her grandmother.
Jiang Qiao only said one thing: “Studying is for self-improvement. Life isn’t just about marriage and children.”
Her grandmother scolded her: “So young yet speaking like an old person, and talking back too. Tian Ling, look at how you’ve raised this child – completely lawless, trying to lord it over her elders.”
After that, Jiang Qiao never visited her grandmother’s house again.
Before leaving, Tian Ling instructed Jiang Qiao: “If you feel unwell, tell Aunt Liu right away. Let her take you to the hospital. Call me if anything happens.”
Jiang Qiao responded, “Okay.”
After they left, only she and Aunt Liu remained at home. Jiang Qiao did some homework, then pulled out a book to read.
Her phone chimed. She checked – it was a message from Luo Xing.
[Luo Xing]: Qiao Qiao, there are new movies showing. Want to go watch?
[Luo Xing]: I really want hotpot, want to go?
[Jiang Qiao]: Sure, what time?
[Luo Xing]: I want to go right now!!!!
Jiang Qiao checked the time – eleven o’clock.
[Jiang Qiao]: Okay, wait for me a bit.
She opened her wardrobe, casually picked out light-colored jeans and a white hoodie.
They agreed to meet directly at the restaurant entrance. Jiang Qiao arrived early and waited at the door.
“Classmate Jiang.”
Jiang Qiao had been looking down at her shoes. Hearing someone call her, she looked up and met Xu Si’s gaze.
Xu Si wore a black hoodie with light jeans today. Jiang Qiao greeted all three of them.
Yang Shikun grinned, “What a coincidence, running into Classmate Jiang while out for food.”
Jiang Qiao responded, “Yes, quite a coincidence.”
Xu Si noticed the milk tea in her hand: “Waiting for a friend?”
“Yes, they haven’t arrived yet.”
“Qiao Qiao!” Luo Xing had just run up to Jiang Qiao when she saw the three people standing beside her.
Yang Shikun was naturally friendly, greeting Luo Xing who smiled back and also greeted Xu Si and Hao Ming.
“Since we’ve met by chance, why don’t we eat together? Top student Jiang, classmate Luo Xing?”
Just when Hao Ming and Luo Xing thought Xu Si would decline, he looked up at Jiang Qiao and smiled lightly, “Shall we eat together, classmate?”
Jiang Qiao paused briefly, then nodded: “Sure.”
And so what was meant to be a meal for two became a meal for five.
Luo Xing wasn’t familiar with the three of them and was somewhat afraid of Xu Si, sitting in the corner appearing uncomfortable.
Xu Si passed over the menu: “Order whatever you want to eat.”
Jiang Qiao marked a few dishes, then asked Luo Xing: “What do you want?”
Luo Xing pointed out several dishes. After Jiang Qiao circled them, she passed the menu to Xu Si.
Xu Si looked at the menu with just a few items marked, then glanced at Jiang Qiao: “I’ll add some more.”
Yang Shikun leaned over: “Si-ge, add some pig brain. Pig brain is delicious.”
Xu Si looked at Jiang Qiao: “Want some?”
Jiang Qiao hesitantly shook her head.
Xu Si: “Then no.”
Yang Shikun felt like crying – his beloved pig brain dish, gone just like that.
Xu Si added some more dishes, ordered several drinks and a bottle of milk, then handed the menu to the server.
“Excuse me, which soup base would you like?”
Xu Si wasn’t sure if Jiang Qiao could handle spicy food, so he said: “Half spicy, half plain.”
Jiang Qiao hadn’t expected the spicy side of the hotpot to be so intense. As soon as the meat entered her mouth, her face visibly reddened from the spiciness. Just as she was about to pour some water, a hand reached over.
The young man’s hand was attractive, with long fingers and distinct knuckles.
Jiang Qiao stared blankly at the milk Xu Si offered: “Thank you.”
She drank several sips of milk before the burning sensation and spiciness in her mouth finally subsided somewhat. Meeting Xu Si’s slightly amused gaze, her ears reddened.
Luo Xing also sensed that Xu Si seemed different toward Jiang Qiao. But she thought she might be overthinking it – they were desk mates after all, so being more familiar and caring was normal.
Throughout the meal, Yang Shikun did most of the talking, with others occasionally responding.
“Where are you two planning to go after eating?”
Luo Xing smiled: “We were planning to watch a movie.”
“What movie? Is it good?”
At the mention of movies, Luo Xing became excited and loosened up, no longer seeming as reserved as before. The two quickly started chatting about movies.
Yang Shikun listened and began wanting to watch too. He looked uncertainly at Xu Si: “Si-ge, shall we watch together? It sounds pretty good.”
Xu Si casually replied: “Whatever.”
“Then let’s all go watch the movie later, Si-ge, let’s go together.”
Xu Si glanced at Jiang Qiao, who was quietly eating: “Okay.”
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