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Zhuang Zi’ang and the newly acquainted Su Yudie walked side by side through the bustling street.
This street was lined with many snack shops, and the air was filled with the enticing aromas of various foods.
Although Zhuang Zi’ang had just enjoyed half a roast chicken, he was already feeling hungry again.
He asked Su Yudie, “Why did you skip class?”
With an innocent look, Su Yudie replied, “I didn’t plan to skip class. I was going to pick ginkgo leaves; it was you who wanted to skip class, so I came out with you.”
“Nonsense, it’s clearly class time. Why aren’t you in the classroom?” Zhuang Zi’ang asked.
“Our class has PE,” Su Yudie explained with a smile.
Zhuang Zi’ang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Not only did he skip class, but he also brought along a student from another class, making his offense even worse.
“What about you? Why did you skip class?” Su Yudie asked.
“I encountered some upsetting things, and I wanted to let loose a bit,” Zhuang Zi’ang tried to keep his tone light.
“Upsetting things?” Su Yudie was a little puzzled but didn’t press further.
Then, on a whim, she said, “Then I’ll take you to eat something delicious; it will make you feel better.”
The delicious food Su Yudie had in mind was fried potatoes.
The stall was run by a middle-aged woman who greeted her with a warm smile: “Xiao Yudie, it seems like it’s been a long time since you’ve been here.”
Su Yudie also smiled sweetly: “Auntie, I want two portions of potatoes, extra spicy. This is my friend; his name is…”
“Zhuang Zi’ang,” Zhuang Zi’ang said with a sullen face.
How could someone be so forgetful? He didn’t even remember her name and yet called her a friend.
“Right, Zhuang Zi’ang. Wait here for me; I’m going to buy soda. Coke or Pepsi?”
“Coke.”
It’s common knowledge that Coke has more of a bite, while Pepsi is sweeter.
Zhuang Zi’ang wanted something with a bit more kick right now.
A few minutes later, the two newly acquainted individuals sat on a marble step, eating fried potatoes.
The potato vendor was generous with the chili peppers.
Zhuang Zi’ang’s tongue was almost numb.
Su Yudie wasn’t doing much better either; the spice had her cheeks flushed, and she was gulping down the ice-cold Coke.
“Tell me your troubles and cheer me up!” the girl suddenly said, blinking her bright eyes.
“Are you trying to rub salt in my wounds?” Zhuang Zi’ang retorted.
“No, I’m not. When you talk about your sadness, it might not feel so sad anymore,” Su Yudie said, chewing on her straw.
Zhuang Zi’ang turned his head, looking at her beautiful profile.
Her innocent and harmless appearance easily gained people’s trust.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly began to speak, “When I was twelve years old, at the end of elementary school, one summer night, my father said we were going on a family trip to the beach. I had never seen the ocean before, and I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night. I packed my bags…”
“Wow, your dad is so nice. I’ve never seen the ocean either,” Su Yudie said longingly.
“But when I woke up the next day, I found that the three of them were already gone. It turned out that my dad’s ‘family’ didn’t include me.” Zhuang Zi’ang’s eyes dimmed instantly.
Su Yudie: “…”
The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.
Su Yudie wanted to comfort him but didn’t know how.
She picked up a piece of potato with a bamboo skewer and offered it to Zhuang Zi’ang’s mouth, “Want to try mine?”
“Isn’t it the same?” Zhuang Zi’ang was taken aback.
“It’s different; this is me feeding you.” Su Yudie’s eyes were as clear as a lake after a spring rain.
Zhuang Zi’ang took a bite of her potato. The taste was indeed the same fiery spiciness.
Yet, a hint of sweetness welled up in his heart.
“When I was fourteen, I had a terrible stomach ache in the middle of the night. I was writhing in pain in bed, and my father got up and beat me with a belt to make me quiet because my younger brother had a piano exam the next day and couldn’t be disturbed.”
As Zhuang Zi’ang recalled the past, his eyes unknowingly welled up.
It was the darkest night of his life.
Under the dual torment of physical and mental suffering, he truly understood what despair meant.
This incident was a thorn in Zhuang Zi’ang’s heart, something he had never told anyone.
But this girl before him inspired an inexplicable sense of trust.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, you’re bleeding from your nose. I’m sorry; it must be because the potatoes are too spicy.”
Su Yudie hurriedly pulled out a tissue to stop the bleeding.
Her hand gently supported the back of Zhuang Zi’ang’s head, tilting his head slightly upward.
Zhuang Zi’ang felt a warm current flow from her fingertips into his skin.
The anguish in his heart gradually dissipated.
After stopping the bleeding, Zhuang Zi’ang said gratefully, “Thank you. I’ve been having nosebleeds frequently these past six months; it’s not because of the potatoes.”
Su Yudie took a wad of cash from her pocket, counted it, and found she had fifty-three yuan.
She said softly, “I’ll keep four yuan for the bus, and the remaining forty-nine yuan can all be used to treat you to something. Whenever I’m sad, I eat a lot of delicious food, and it makes me feel better.”
Zhuang Zi’ang smiled, “In this world, only love and delicious food are not to be missed. But I’m a guy; let me treat you!”
“No, I’ll treat you today, and next time I’m sad, you can treat me,” Su Yudie stubbornly pouted.
“Alright then, I’m not shy about accepting treats,” Zhuang Zi’ang readily agreed.
After finishing the potatoes and Coke, the two embarked on a new culinary adventure.
Su Yudie skipped along, her skirt swaying.
She really did look like a little butterfly dancing.
But whenever she saw something delicious, she couldn’t resist, her mouth watering; a true foodie.
The two ate their way down the street, from mutton skewers to hand-held pancakes, from oden to mala tang.
After Su Yudie’s forty-nine yuan ran out, Zhuang Zi’ang bought her a strawberry milk tea.
He himself was too full to order any more drinks.
“Wow, Zhuang Zi’ang, this is so delicious!” Su Yudie exclaimed in exaggerated praise.
“Keep your voice down; don’t act like you’ve never seen anything like this before,” Zhuang Zi’ang pretended to be disdainful.
“It really is delicious. Want to try some?” Su Yudie held up the cup.
“How am I supposed to try it?” Zhuang Zi’ang saw the straw, which was full of teeth marks.
Even if it weren’t bitten like that, two people shouldn’t share a straw, especially since they’d only known each other for an hour. It’s not proper for a boy and a girl to share things like that.
Su Yudie, as if by magic, produced another straw from behind her back: “I got an extra one when I bought the Coke.”
With a pfft, she inserted the straw into the cup.
“Here, take a sip.”
Zhuang Zi’ang stared into the girl’s clear eyes, hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn’t resist and lowered his head to take a sip.
The rich aroma of the milk tea blossomed on his tongue, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
It was just ordinary strawberry milk tea, yet it seemed much more delicious than usual.
Sharing a milk tea with two straws is something usually only couples do.
Was she doing this on purpose, or was she just being naive?
Zhuang Zi’ang thought to himself that while he wasn’t bad-looking, he didn’t think he was handsome enough for such a pretty girl to fall for him at first sight.
She must just be naturally innocent and unworldly.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, we’re friends now, right?”
“Of course. You told the potato vendor we were friends.”