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After leaving school, Zhuang Zi’ang headed to the snack street to grab a bite, and from a distance, he spotted the stall selling fried potatoes.
This was the very place where he and Su Yudie first met and shared a meal together.
The nickname “Xiao Yudie” had also originated from the vendor’s lips that day.
“Excuse me, Auntie, I’d like a serving of potatoes with extra chili,” Zhuang Zi’ang said as he walked closer.
The aunt was busy but smiled and nodded, seemingly remembering him.
Zhuang Zi’ang casually asked, “Auntie, how do you know Xiao Yudie?”
The aunt thought for a moment and replied, “She used to come often for fried potatoes, always chattering away and being so cute. I have a memorable impression of her.”
“When did you first meet her?”
“About three months ago!”
Zhuang Zi’ang chose not to ask further.
He didn’t want to give the aunt the wrong idea and appear as if he were some sort of stalker.
As he enjoyed the incredibly spicy fried potatoes and sipped on a cold soda, Zhuang Zi’ang bumped into two familiar faces: Lin Mu Shi and Xie Wen Yong.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, the exam is tomorrow, and I’m a bit nervous, so I asked Xie Wen Yong to join me for barbecue. It’s nothing between us, so don’t misunderstand,” Lin Mushu was the first to speak.
Zhuang Zi’ang was a bit confused. “You guys eat what you want; no need to explain anything to me.”
Lin Mu Shi frowned. “Are you really not worried at all seeing me with Xie Wen Yong?”
“I’m not worried at all! It’s normal for classmates to eat together,” Zhuang Zi’ang replied with a smile.
Lin Mu Shi’s face turned red with anger, her teeth clenched.
How could you, Zhuang Zi’ang? Didn’t you say you liked me before?
Now that I’m with another guy, you don’t seem jealous at all.
“Boys are all pigs; none of them are good!” she thought to herself.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, would you like to join us for a bite?” Xie Wen Yong asked cautiously.
After all, Zhuang Zi’ang had spoken up for him during the class meeting yesterday, so he didn’t want to be too aggressive.
“Sure, I don’t have anything else to do anyway,” Zhuang Zi’ang readily agreed.
Xie Wen Yong was taken aback. “…”
I was just being polite, and you really don’t see yourself as an outsider.
He felt like slapping himself for asking.
After all the effort to get Lin Mu Shi to agree to dinner, now he had to deal with a third wheel and spend extra money. What a headache!
The barbecue restaurant they went to was the same one Zhuang Zi’ang had visited with Su Yudie last time.
As he noticed the beer in the display case, a faint smile crossed his lips.
The barbecue was self-service, and as soon as Xie Wen Yong sat down, he started busily preparing—brushing oil, grilling meat, and preparing dipping sauces.
Lin Mu Shi, as always, acted like a high-and-mighty princess, simply waiting to enjoy the food.
Zhuang Zi’ang, on the other hand, was too lazy to help, sitting back like a lord and skewering potatoes with a bamboo stick.
“Can you stop eating potatoes? Isn’t that wasting my money?” Xie Wen Yong shot him an annoyed glance.
The self-service barbecue was charged by headcount, and Zhuang Zi’ang filling up on potatoes wasn’t a good deal.
Zhuang Zi’ang didn’t care, still enjoying his food with gusto.
Lin Mu Shi felt a twinge of discomfort; clearly, the last time they had come together, Zhuang Zi’ang had taken great care of her.
Now, just a short time later, he seemed indifferent toward her.
It had to be because he was now with that prettier girl.
When the first plate of food was ready, Xie Wen Yong began to peel shrimp for Lin Mu Shi without hesitation.
Zhuang Zi’ang chuckled, “You’re good at peeling shrimp; why not peel a couple for me too?”
“Can’t you do it yourself?” Xie Wen Yong grumbled.
“I’m too lazy to wash my hands. Just be a good person and finish peeling them while you’re at it!” Zhuang Zi’ang replied nonchalantly.
Xie Wen Yong was fuming, thinking to himself, “You’re the good person; your whole family is good people.”
Lin Mu Shi stifled a laugh.
Watching Xie Wen Yong get taken down a notch in front of Zhuang Zi’ang was quite amusing.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, that girl who was looking for you outside the classroom the other day—is she your girlfriend?”
After hesitating for a long time, Lin Mu Shi finally asked the question.
Zhuang Zi’ang shook his head. “No, I just met her last week.”
Hearing this answer, Lin Mu Shi felt a slight sense of relief.
In recent days, she had been increasingly nostalgic about Zhuang Zi’ang’s kindness, worried that he might be taken away by someone else.
She asked again, “Which class is she in?”
Zhuang Zi’ang answered honestly, “To be frank, I don’t know. She said she’s in Class 23.”
It was well-known that there were only 22 classes in the entire grade.
So, that was definitely a lie.
“That doesn’t make sense; if there was such a beautiful girl in our grade, how could no one know her?” Xie Wen Yong chimed in.
Lin Mu Shi’s jealousy flared up as she asked, “How beautiful is she?”
Xie Wen Yong quickly retreated, “Of course, compared to you, Mu Shi, she’s still a bit lacking.”
Zhuang Zi’ang had anticipated their confusion.
There was always an air of mystery surrounding Xiao Yudie.
During the meal, Lin Mu Shi spent most of her time chatting with Zhuang Zi’ang.
He was very generous, sharing some exam tips with them.
On the other hand, Xie Wen Yong acted like a waiter the entire time, focused solely on grilling meat and hardly eating any himself.
Zhuang Zi’ang cast a sympathetic glance his way.
Seeing him reminded Zhuang Zi’ang of his own past.
Being a (literally “licking dog,” a term used to describe someone overly eager to please) truly meant having no rights.
“I’m full; I can’t eat too much at night, or I’ll gain weight,” Lin Mu Shi said as she set down her chopsticks.
“I’m about to be done too, especially after having that serving of potatoes,” Zhuang Zi’ang replied.
“What? You guys are done? I just started!” Xie Wen Yong exclaimed, feeling anxious.
Lin Mu Shi kindly said, “Then you stay and eat a little longer; Zhuang Zi’ang and I will head out.”
Zhuang Zi’ang tried to suppress a smile. “Thank you for the meal, Xie Wen Yong. I’ll take my leave now.”
The two stood up together and walked out of the barbecue restaurant side by side.
Xie Wen Yong remained seated, the chicken wings in his mouth suddenly losing their flavor.
Snowflakes fell, and the northern wind howled; the world seemed bleak and desolate…
“Take a taxi home, Mu Shi!” Zhuang Zi’ang said, standing by the roadside, trying to hail a cab for Lin Mu Shi.
“Wait, Zhuang Zi’ang, I have something I want to tell you,” Lin Mu Shi said, biting her red lips.
Zhuang Zi’ang turned back to look at her, quietly observing the school belle before him.
But in his mind, he couldn’t help but picture Xiao Yudie’s face.
In that moment, he suddenly understood the meaning behind a line of poetry:
“Once you’ve seen the ocean, no other water can compare; without the witch mountains, no other clouds exist.”
After contemplating for a while, Lin Mu Shi finally summoned the courage to say, “Zhuang Zi’ang, I’ve been reflecting these days. I didn’t treat you well before, but I’ve realized that I can give you another chance.”
“What kind of chance?” Zhuang Zi’ang asked with a faint smile.
“As long as you show me your sincerity, there’s hope for you to pursue me within three months,” Lin Mu Shi boldly declared.
In her eyes, a girl saying such things was a significant concession.
Zhuang Zi’ang should be grateful and overjoyed to accept this opportunity.
However, Zhuang Zi’ang’s expression remained calm, leaving Lin Mu Shi, the school belle, feeling quite disappointed.
“Mu Shi, I might not be able to wait three months.”
Lin Mu Shi didn’t grasp the deeper meaning behind his words and frowned, “You can’t wait even three months? How can I know if you’re sincere or just playing around?”
Zhuang Zi’ang sighed, “You misunderstand. The girl I like doesn’t seem to be you anymore.”