Chapter 85: The Delicate and Willful Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character (3)

The anger and urge to escape that had risen from Song Jing’s inferiority complex were all extinguished by this lollipop.

But he still didn’t speak. He didn’t want to accept pity from others, especially from Qiao Yiyi.

A single sandwich revealed a lot.

Did she know?

Song Jing knew Qiao Yiyi too well. When she bought snacks, she never gave people staple food like this. It was always chips, spicy sticks, candies, bubble gum, or maybe a bag of biscuits to share with everyone.

A single sandwich was enough to fill someone’s stomach.

And what he lacked most was a way to fill his stomach.

No one knew that Song Jing was actually an orphan.

Before he turned one year old, his father died. His mother remarried and started a new family without ever looking back at him. His elderly grandfather raised him. When Song Jing was in junior high school, his grandfather passed away, leaving him alone.

The funeral expenses were paid by relatives. He still had to earn money to pay them back.

Song Jing had to work during school breaks to support his education.

Every penny had to be carefully calculated, or he wouldn’t make it to graduation.

He ate the cheapest meals and lived with the lowest possible cost to survive.

Song Jing’s silence was also a kind of disguise. He never wanted to see anyone pity or sympathize with him.

He had never eaten breakfast during junior high school, which caused severe stomach problems and made him very thin. His pale complexion was also due to malnutrition.

Even now, when he could not afford living expenses, he would skip breakfast.

Staring at the sandwich, Song Jing became distracted in class for the first time. He fixed his eyes on the test paper, but his thoughts had already drifted away.

His gaze fell on the lollipop placed to the side, and his eyes grew darker and darker. The inferiority and complex emotions stirred inside him grew like vines, climbing upward without end.

The last period was PE class. As soon as class ended, more than half of the students ran outside.

Hao Qin kept urging Qiao Yiyi to hurry downstairs. “We’ve had three classes straight. I’m going crazy.”

It was rare to have a PE class. No one knew when it might be taken over by another teacher next time. It was a rare chance to get some exercise on the field and had to be seized.

Qiao Yiyi was organizing the answers to the physics test. “You go ahead. I’ll be done soon.”

Hao Qin needed to use the bathroom and didn’t wait for her. “I’ll wait for you at the volleyball court.”

“Okay.”

Once Hao Qin was gone, only Qiao Yiyi and Song Jing were left in the classroom.

She quickly copied the answers and occasionally glanced up at the wall clock. After finishing, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Turning around and seeing that Song Jing was still there, she smiled and said, “Why haven’t you gone downstairs either? Here, your test paper.”

Song Jing took the test paper and wanted to return the sandwich she had given him.

He didn’t need it.

Before he could take out the sandwich from the drawer, Qiao Yiyi placed an open box of cookies in front of him. She had already stuffed half of one into her mouth and spoke unclearly, “Try one. It tastes pretty good.”

Her cheeks were puffed out. Realizing that speaking like that was inconvenient, she raised her hand to cover her mouth, slightly opened her eyes to signal, her big clear eyes full of sincerity on her doll-like face.

Song Jing didn’t want to ruin her mood. He loosened the hand that was about to take out the sandwich from the drawer and slowly reached forward to take a cookie.

“You have really long fingers,” she said as she looked at his hand, then looked down at her own.

Being complimented made Song Jing feel a bit awkward. He looked at the cookie in his hand.

It was chocolate-flavored, with many chocolate chunks inside.

He had never really eaten snacks. Many strange snacks had been given to him by her, but none had been opened. He kept them all.

“It’s really tasty. You’ll know once you try it.” Qiao Yiyi stuffed another piece into her mouth and started chewing.

Song Jing didn’t say anything.

Did she notice he had never eaten these before?

“I think you’re too thin.” Qiao Yiyi placed the remaining cookies in front of him, then searched through her drawer and took out two bottles of milk, handing one to him. “Drink some milk to soften it.”

She placed the milk in front of him and, after inserting a straw, drank hers and continued, “You should eat rough food like me. You’ll gain weight in no time.”

Song Jing disliked pity and charity the most. When he was little, those relatives always used small acts of charity to mock his grandfather.

The old man’s embarrassed and helpless expression seemed etched into his mind, never fading.

“These are my favorite cookies. Oh, and that sandwich too. It’s one of my favorites,” Qiao Yiyi said while drinking milk, suddenly leaning closer.

Her fair, tender face appeared right in front of Song Jing. Her doll-like face was full and round, her lips red and teeth white.

His heart started racing, almost crushing the cookie in his hand.

“Hurry up and eat.” Qiao Yiyi urged, her eyes watching him, blinking slowly. Her long lashes fluttered.

Song Jing did not want to reject her. He put the cookie in his mouth.

It was crispy and fragrant. The chocolate chunks were smooth and melted instantly.

“Isn’t it delicious?” she asked, her eyes shining.

Song Jing pressed his lips together and gave a one-word reply, “Mm.”

Very sweet.

“If it’s tasty, then eat more.” Qiao Yiyi lifted the box and held it in front of him.

Under her watchful eyes, Song Jing ate three more pieces.

There was one left, and Qiao Yiyi was still trying to give it to him.

He ate four pieces.

He didn’t get angry and quietly continued eating.

Qiao Yiyi stood beside him, resting one hand on his textbook, tilted her head, and softly said, “Song Jing, your eyes are really beautiful.”

Thick black-rimmed glasses covered his eyes. In fact, he had very beautiful eyes—jet black and clear.

Cough cough cough— Song Jing suddenly choked and immediately lowered his head.

A moment later, a bottle of milk with a straw was handed to him, the girl’s voice crisp and soft, “Drink some to soothe it.”

At first, Song Jing didn’t take it. He was coughing too hard, so Qiao Yiyi just pushed the milk into his hand.

Her voice was distinct, and her hand was soft and warm.

It looked slender but had a bit of flesh.

Soft and tender.

At this moment, Song Jing’s feelings toward her grew wildly, suppressing all his conflicting and complicated emotions, occupying every corner of his heart with force.

*

Qiao Yiyi was a day student. The Qiao family lived in the neighborhood across from the school.

The home was a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment, but she had always lived alone. Father Qiao and Mother Qiao were away on business trips for most of the year and were sometimes not even home during the New Year.

She had been independent since she was young, and it remained the same now.

However, since she was in her final year of high school and time was tight, her parents hired a housekeeper to take care of her meals.

Their love for her was expressed through monthly allowances.

Perhaps out of guilt, the two of them were generous. Qiao Yiyi never lacked anything. She could buy whatever she wanted and had always felt her life was quite comfortable.

Qiao Yiyi seldom saw the housekeeper. They rarely spoke. The housekeeper would prepare her meals and leave them on the table when she returned, then leave, only coming back to clean and cook the next meal.

It was said that the housekeeper had a young child and worked this job to support the family.

After evening self-study, Qiao Yiyi would return home and write down what she wanted for breakfast the next day on a sticky note and stick it on the refrigerator.

The next day.

After the alarm rang, Qiao Yiyi washed up and got dressed. When she came out, she saw two breakfasts on the dining table along with packed soy milk. This was what she had asked the housekeeper to prepare last night.

Qiao Yiyi checked everything, glanced at the time, and went out downstairs.

Everything happened by coincidence. When she arrived at the teaching building, she saw the tall and slender figure ahead and called out with surprise and joy, “Song Jing!”

When Song Jing heard that crisp and smiling soft voice, he immediately stopped walking and turned his head.

Qiao Yiyi had her hair in a ponytail, her face full of smiles. When she saw he had stopped, she quickly ran over to him in small steps.

From Song Jing’s perspective, she was running toward him full of happiness and excitement.

His heart beat like a drum. His hands at his sides unconsciously clenched. The emotions in his eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses flickered.

Qiao Yiyi came up to him, her smile bright and vivid. Her eyes curved with joy as she reached out a small bag to him. “I want to treat you to breakfast!”

Her voice was sweet and soft, her face full of cheerful smiles.

Song Jing could not get angry. More than that, he felt nervous. When he saw the breakfast she handed over, his expression froze for a moment.

“It’s almost time for class. Hurry, hurry!” Qiao Yiyi handed the bag to him and ran off on her own. As she ran, she said, “I can’t be late again or I’ll be scolded.”

She often got scolded by the teachers for being late because she slept in.

But Song Jing was different.

The two of them could not be compared at all.

Song Jing looked at the bag in his hand and then looked in the direction she had left.

Because she was running fast, her ponytail swayed back and forth. Her short legs even tried to step over two stairs at once.

As a result, she couldn’t quite manage it. Her little hands spread out as she wobbled from side to side.

Seeing this, Song Jing immediately rushed over, afraid she might fall backward.

Qiao Yiyi steadied herself and continued trying to take two steps at once, though she slowed down and muttered, “Just a few small steps, how can they be so difficult for me?!”

After saying this, she stepped up steadily and ran toward the classroom.

Song Jing unconsciously pulled the corners of his lips into a faint smile.

After morning self-study, Qiao Yiyi happily took out her breakfast, but Hao Qin suddenly said, “What are you eating for? It’s our turn to clean the office today.”

“Ah?” Qiao Yiyi’s face immediately fell.

“Eat when we get back.”

Qiao Yiyi was stubborn. She quickly opened the lunchbox and stuffed two pieces of sushi into her mouth in a row.

Hao Qin saw this and leaned over. “Give me a piece too. I’m so hungry—”

The two of them devoured the sushi breakfast. The class monitor nearby smelled the aroma and wanted to eat a piece too.

“Don’t take it, don’t take it.” Qiao Yiyi was so anxious that her doll-like face wrinkled. She pulled out a bag of soda crackers from the drawer and threw it to him. “Eat this.”

While she wasn’t paying attention, Hao Qin snatched another piece and stuffed it into her mouth. “Hurry, hurry. Time to clean the office.”

The two of them hopped away with brooms toward the teacher’s office.

Because the homeroom teacher knew Song Jing’s personality, she deliberately arranged for him to sit with a sports student. The sports student was mostly away training and would lie on the desk sleeping even when in class.

Basically, no one noticed what Song Jing was doing.

Recently, Song Jing’s meal expenses were running low again. Inthe senior year of high school, they hardly had any holidays, so he couldn’t work part-time. So he returned to his days of skipping breakfast.

Because of his excellent grades, he received provincial and municipal scholarships every year. But the money was only just enough to cover his living expenses.

He took out the bag Qiao Yiyi had given him and slowly opened it.

Inside was not the same sushi she had, but a portion of fried rice packed in a disposable box with a fried egg on top.

The ingredients were abundant.

There were sausages, crab sticks, corn, green peas, and Chinese sausages…

It looked and smelled delicious.

In addition to the fried rice, there was also a sealed cup of soy milk. The bag thoughtfully included chopsticks, a spoon, a straw, and a wet tissue.

This probably wasn’t bought outside. Qiao Yiyi had said before that she was lazy. Even the breakfast she brought from home was packed in disposable containers.

Convenient and quick.

The fried rice was very fragrant. The soy milk was warm and freshly ground with no sugar.

Song Jing struggled internally. At first, he didn’t want to eat it. But seeing the breakfast slowly getting cold, he eventually ate it.

This was probably the best fried rice he had ever eaten.

Qiao Yiyi didn’t ask if he liked the breakfast. The next day, when she ran into him on the school path, she once again smiled brightly and handed him breakfast. “Today I brought sushi and fresh milk for you!”

Song Jing hesitated to take it. His thin lips pressed into a straight line.

“You don’t want it? I brought it just for you. I can’t finish it anyway.” Qiao Yiyi’s eyes dimmed a little. Her tone turned disappointed and defeated.

In the end, Song Jing still accepted it.

The box was full of sushi, stuffed with fillings and topped with lots of salad dressing.

On Saturday afternoon, after class, everyone was very excited. Their bags were packed. As soon as the bell rang, they rushed out. In no time, the classroom was empty.

This was the only weekend off they had all month. They had to return on Sunday night for evening study.

Seeing Qiao Yiyi packing her books, Song Jing wanted to wait and talk to her.

He wanted to tell her not to bring him food anymore.

There was no need for this.

He saw Qiao Yiyi go to the restroom, so he slowed his steps and waited at the stairwell.

He waited for a long time, but she still didn’t come out.

Song Jing’s eyes showed worry. He walked over to the door and, after thinking for a moment, called out in a clear and calm voice, “Qiao Yiyi?”

There was no response.

He looked around. He hadn’t seen her come out earlier.

“Qiao Yiyi?”

“Song Jing? Is that you?” The voice from inside didn’t sound right. That soft and gentle tone trembled slightly. “Wu wu—”