Chapter 25: Running to See You

“Sheng Yize!!” Zou Jin shouted in fury.

Sheng Yize propped his head lazily on his hand, casting a sidelong glance. “What’s up?”

“You fucking lied to me again!”

“Who lied to you?”

“You said those walnuts were for the customers!”

“Customers are gods. Who said that?”

“I did.”

Sheng Yize tilted his chin slightly, indicating Sang Sui sitting across from him. “Isn’t she a god?”

Sang Sui, just about to pop a piece of walnut into her mouth: “??”

She blinked, looking at Sheng Yize, then at Zou Jin.

She quickly threw the walnut piece back into the bag, sealed it, and pushed it back toward Zou Jin.

“Brother Zou Jin, I’m sorry, I haven’t eaten any yet. How about… you take it back?”

Zou Jin scowled at Sheng Yize, then turned to Sang Sui with a big, forced smile.

“Sang Sui, it’s just a joke, don’t take it seriously.” He pushed the bag back to her with a dazzling grin. “You’re still recovering from a concussion—walnuts are good for your brain, eat more to heal faster.”

“…”

Why did it feel like he was insulting her?

Sang Sui, embarrassed, kept pushing the bag back and forth with Zou Jin. Across the table, someone finally lost their patience and let out a “tsk.”

Sheng Yize raised an eyebrow and commanded, “Take it.”

Sang Sui paused and looked at him. But whether she took it or not, it felt awkward.

She didn’t have the kind of overbearing confidence he did.

“I traded it for the team leader position,” Sheng Yize arched his brow ever so slightly. “If you don’t take it, doesn’t that mean I lost out?”

Left with no choice, Sang Sui accepted it and looked at Zou Jin. “Thank you, Brother Zou Jin.”

??

Not thanking him?!

Zou Jin grinned widely. “Of course, of course! Eat more so you’ll recover quickly.”

Sang Sui nodded and was about to tie up the bag when she noticed out of the corner of her eye—Sheng Yize was watching her.

Suspicious, she looked up.

Their eyes met. He didn’t say a word.

What does that mean?

Sang Sui looked at him, then the bag of walnuts.

Could it be… he wanted some too?

She immediately reached out to grab a handful for him—but then remembered his cleanliness obsession. He might find her hands dirty.

So she quietly pulled her hand back. “Wait for me a sec.”

She got up and ran to the food counter.

Sheng Yize: “?”

She came trotting back, now holding a pair of disposable gloves.

Sitting down, she put them on, scooped out a handful of walnuts, and held them out to him with a big smile.

“For you.”

“…What for?”

“Didn’t you want some?”

“When did I say that?”

“You kept staring at them just now.”

“……”

Sheng Yize let out a deep breath, gritting his teeth as he stabbed his chopsticks into a lion’s head meatball.

Juice spurted out.

Sang Sui: “…”

Terrifying!

Why is he mad again?!

She froze, still holding out the walnuts.

Chen Yi glanced at the sulking Sheng Yize and chuckled. “Sang Sui, what Sheng-ge wants isn’t walnuts.”

“Huh?” Sang Sui looked at him and quietly pulled her hand back.

Then why was he angry?

“Try telling him…” Chen Yi hinted with a teasing smile, “…thank you?”

Just a thank you?

Sang Sui looked at Sheng Yize in surprise.

The man furrowed his brow, lifting his eyelids to glance at her with that cool and cocky look.

Though skeptical, she still tried, “Th-thank you?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, his furrowed brow began to relax.

He pulled his chopsticks out of the meatball and shot a glare at Chen Yi.

“Big mouth.”

“…”

—

Ever since that day, every mealtime, Sang Sui would receive a call from Sheng Yize.

At first, he said, “Come eat in the cafeteria.”
Then it shortened to “Cafeteria.”
Then just “Eat.”
And finally, just “Come.”

Sang Sui had grown so used to his pattern that she could tell just from the timing of the call that he was summoning her for a meal.

At first, she would walk over.

Later, she started running.

She liked eating with him and always looked forward to his calls at mealtime.

Every time he called, she would run to him.

Because when she ran, the wind brushing her cheeks felt sweet. The desire to see him made her heart race with anticipation and joy.

But she didn’t want him to find out.

So whenever she reached the cafeteria, she would stop outside, fix her windblown hair and clothes using the glass wall as a mirror, steady her breathing, and then walk in calmly—pretending she had just strolled over—and sit down across from him.

Then, just like usual, she’d smile at the table full of food and say, “Wow, so many yummy dishes today!”

And every time, he never seemed to notice her little act.

Until today after class, when Sheng Yize called her as usual and told her to come to the cafeteria.

She was so excited that she didn’t even register the last thing he said: “No rush, the food’s just started cooking.”

After hanging up, she hugged her books to her chest and dashed straight toward the cafeteria.

She ran so fast that when someone suddenly stepped into her path at the entrance, she didn’t stop in time—and slammed her head into his chest.

Even after the collision, she didn’t realize who it was.

Until that person caught her as she started to fall backward, an arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her into his embrace.

Her cheek had crashed hard into the man’s chest, and just as she was about to thank him, a low, deep voice sounded above her—

“Are you always… this hungry?”

Sheng Yize?!

Sang Sui looked up, eyes wide, and saw his familiar face.

Her round eyes opened wide in shock. She quickly pushed him away, her ears and cheeks turning bright red.

Sheng Yize glanced at the students staring as they passed, then reached out and pulled her into the cafeteria by the arm.

—

They sat across from each other.

Sheng Yize rested his temple against his hand, lazily watching her.

Sang Sui’s face burned red. She wished she could crawl under the table.

So humiliating.

Whether it was because she ran just to eat with him, or because he now thought she was some starving ghost always sprinting for food—she was mortified enough to dig herself a hole and disappear.

Sheng Yize’s gaze landed on her face.

Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, her delicate features flushed pink, with visible heat rising from her cheeks.

Maybe she ran too fast, and it was a hot day too. Beads of sweat were gathering along her hairline, a few trickling down her face.

Sheng Yize pulled a tissue from the box and handed it to her.

Sang Sui froze, looked up, and found him looking at her.

She quickly lowered her head and took the tissue, dabbing away the sweat.

He kept watching, his gaze settling on the top of her head.

For a long moment.

Then he finally asked, “Tell me—why did you run?”

Sang Sui stiffened, sneaking a glance at him. But his gaze pinned her down, giving her no way to escape.

How was she supposed to explain?

Tell him that she liked him, that she looked forward to seeing him every day, and that she ran so she could see him sooner?

He’d probably look at her like she was crazy.

“Hmm?”

Sang Sui fidgeted in her seat, clutching the used tissue. She peeked at him, then started to spout nonsense seriously—

“I heard… running helps concussions heal faster.”