Chapter 12: Dinner

The location for this sketching trip was different from the usual. The professor led the class deeper into the park.

Pigeons flew over from the bell tower, the leaves rustled in the wind, and the sound of insects chirping came from the bushes.

The noise from people around was too much, and Zhu Yu yawned several times, with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

He felt like he might fall asleep while walking.

Fortunately, the group stopped just before Zhu Yu actually fell asleep.

The teacher leading them told them to disperse and sketch individually.

In an instant, Zhu Yu was surrounded by the sounds of cheering and chattering.

Zhu Yu followed his group to a quiet spot. From their vantage point, there was a particularly grand building beneath them, magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Zhu Yu looked at it curiously for a few more moments, then found a spot with a great view and sat down. He took several pictures with his phone, but suddenly, a head popped into the frame. The person made a peace sign and showed a row of neatly arranged white teeth.

It was his group leader, Ben.

“Yu, I knew you’d be interested in this building,” Ben said, sitting down next to Zhu Yu with his sketchpad.

Zhu Yu was curious, “What’s the story behind this building?”

“It’s said to have been designed by a famous Chinese architect, and it’s a really nice tourist spot,” Ben said, handing his phone to Zhu Yu. On the phone was a close-up image of the palace.

This large building was a grand palace similar to Westminster Abbey.

It combined both Eastern and Western architectural styles.

Rose thorns climbed up the thick, ornate columns, with giant dragon murals carved into the columns. The red roses were both a decoration and a feature.

The exterior walls and the palace’s walls were made of red bricks, laid unevenly with bumps and dips. The palace had a Western architectural style, but there were low walls similar to those of the Forbidden City surrounding it. In front of the palace was a suspension bridge, but it was an ancient Chinese-style wooden plank bridge with chains. The overall layout adhered to Eastern symmetry aesthetics, with a classical atmosphere and Chinese mysticism, occupying a vast geographical location. In front of the palace, there was a huge pond, with a stone sculpture in the center.

The name of the tourist spot was written at the bottom of the photo.

“Sigeng Palace,” Zhu Yu murmured softly.

“Yes, it’s really beautiful. Unfortunately, that architect only left this one building here before leaving,” Ben said, his tone growing a little sad. He then looked at Zhu Yu and said, “I thought you’d like it.”

“Because I heard from a friend that during your Chinese festivals, many international students go there to visit.”

“You’re new here, so you probably don’t know, right?” Ben asked.

Zhu Yu nodded, “Yes, the suburbs are a bit far from the school. I’ve only visited the attractions around the school.”

Ben stood up and said, “Then take your time to enjoy it. I wish you can score high today.”

Zhu Yu smiled at him, “You too.”

Ben left with his sketchpad, and Zhu Yu leaned his elbow on the sketchpad, resting his chin in one hand, intently observing the buildings at the foot of the mountain.

He was an art student, and what amazed him about this palace was the color combination. He was drawn to this grand palace as soon as he saw it, and Zhu Yu felt that everyone who saw this building would be stunned by it.

Suddenly, Zhu Yu thought of Bai Chen. He felt that Bai Chen would probably like it too.

So, he picked up his phone and took a panoramic photo from a distance, but didn’t immediately send it to Bai Chen.

He put his phone back in his pocket, adjusted his sketchpad, and rummaged through his bag for his art tools…

When Zhu Yu was in China, his family hired a professional teacher to guide him in painting. Plus, he was personally interested in art, so finishing a quick sketch in two hours wasn’t a big deal for him.

He decided to paint Sigeng Palace and send it to Bai Chen.

—

It was now early to mid-August, and the sky in London darkened quickly. For safety reasons, the teacher wouldn’t let the students stay too long in the suburbs. Just as Zhu Yu finished putting his painting tools away, the group leaders began calling roll and gathering their group members to prepare to leave.

Zhu Yu packed up his painting and tools and joined the group.

Once on the bus, Zhu Yu pulled out his phone and found Bai Chen on WeChat.

Bai Chen’s profile picture was very simple—a black image.

Zhu Yu tapped on his profile picture and studied it for a while, hoping to find some clue, but it was just an ordinary black image. Zhu Yu looked at his reflection in the phone screen, fixed his hair that was blown askew by the wind, and then sent the photo he had just taken to Bai Chen.

【Zhu Yu: Senior, what do you think of this building?】

While waiting for Bai Chen’s reply, Zhu Yu casually clicked into Bai Chen’s Moments.

There weren’t many posts, just a few from the past seven or eight years, and all of them were landscape photos with no captions.

Such a boring person.

Zhu Yu thought.

No, actually, not boring. After all, Zhu Yu felt very comfortable when interacting with Bai Chen.

The phone vibrated slightly, and the message box popped up—Bai Chen had replied.

【Bai Chen: Are you at a high place?】

Zhu Yu was indeed at a high place, not far from the edge was a cliff with no protective measures, but there was a teacher specifically guarding the edge of the cliff to ensure their safety.

The photo Zhu Yu took was somewhat misleading. From the photo, it looked like Zhu Yu was right at the edge of the cliff.

Zhu Yu typed: 【Yeah, we came out for sketching today ( ^ω ^)/】

Bai Chen’s reply came almost instantly: 【Be careful.】

【Zhu Yu: Got it!】

【Zhu Yu: I’m already on my way home, don’t worry!】

【Zhu Yu: You should check out the photo I sent you, what do you think?!】

【Bai Chen: It’s impressive, very well designed.】

This was Bai Chen’s feedback. He definitely wanted to say more than just this, because he had zoomed in and out of the photo many times, studying it closely.

Zhu Yu explained: 【Right? I think so too.】

【Zhu Yu: My classmate told me this was designed by a very famous Chinese architect.】

【Zhu Yu: One day, Senior, you’ll design such impressive buildings too, right?】

Bai Chen instinctively wanted to deny it, but since it was Zhu Yu, if he said anything self-deprecating or insecure in front of him, he’d turn back into an angry Samoyed.

So Bai Chen deleted the words he typed and responded: 【I will.】

Zhu Yu was really happy when he saw those three words. He sent Bai Chen a voice message, saying, “Senior, I have to rant to you, guess how far the place I went sketching to is from the school?”

Bai Chen had just finished class and was queuing for food at the cafeteria.

After chatting with Zhu Yu in the morning, he decided to take the chance to eat at the cafeteria. Coincidentally, the professor for the second class in the afternoon had to leave early, so Bai Chen had time to go to the cafeteria.

The food combinations at the cafeteria were quite strange, and Bai Chen found himself unusually choked by the chocolate mixed noodles in front of him.

He grabbed his tray and went to another window, typing one-handed to reply to Zhu Yu: 【Ten kilometers?】

Ten kilometers? How far is that?

Zhu Yu silently calculated in his mind and then typed: 【It takes an hour by bus! I’m already getting hungry ●﹏●】

That was indeed quite far. Bai Chen changed to another window and asked the lady to add a serving of vegetable salad to his tray.

【Bai Chen: Do you always eat at the school cafeteria?】

【Zhu Yu: Pretty much. As you can see, I can never learn how to cook, and I can’t always eat fast food, so I do go to the cafeteria sometimes.】

【Zhu Yu: But it really tastes awful.】

For some reason, just from the text that Zhu Yu sent, Bai Chen could almost imagine the expression on Zhu Yu’s face.

He sat down at the table with his tray and took a photo of his dinner to send to Zhu Yu.

A steamed potato, a serving of boiled broccoli, a vegetable salad, and some unknown yellow paste.

Zhu Yu opened the photo, and the light from the phone hit his face. His vision blurred for a moment, and he recognized that this was the cafeteria food from the school.

【Zhu Yu: Are you eating at the cafeteria?】

【Bai Chen: Mm-hmm.】

【Zhu Yu: Aren’t you supposed to know how to cook? Why are you eating such awful food?】

【Bai Chen: I suddenly wanted to try the food here.】

【Zhu Yu: It doesn’t taste good, does it?】

Bai Chen took a bite of the vegetable salad. His usually calm and gentle face froze for a moment, and after a pause, he replied: 【It’s not too bad.】

【Zhu Yu: But it’s not good either.】

Bai Chen sent a smiling emoji.

Then he typed: 【So, what are you going to eat tonight?】

Right, what to eat. Zhu Yu hadn’t expected that the thing he would think about the most after coming to study in the UK was this.

The cafeteria was probably the same as usual. He had made a mess cooking a few days ago, and Zhu Yu didn’t want to cook again.

After hesitating for a moment, he replied: 【I’ll just buy some instant food from the supermarket downstairs.】

【Zhu Yu: Senior, I’m so pathetic.】

【Zhu Yu: I’m going to pass out from hunger.】

【Zhu Yu: 【Fainting.jpg】】

Bai Chen looked at these messages, and his smile deepened. He then replied: 【So what do you want to eat now?】

As soon as Zhu Yu saw that sentence, he straightened his back. 【What do you mean by that?】

【Zhu Yu: Are you feeling sorry for me, Senior? Are you planning to help this poor soul?】

【Zhu Yu: (≧w≦)/】

【Zhu Yu: Of course, if Senior is willing to spare me a little bit of food, I’ll do anything for you!!】

【Zhu Yu: 【Puppy winks.jpg】】

Bai Chen put down his chopsticks without hesitation.

“As you said, the cafeteria food isn’t great. I plan to cook at home,” he said.

Zhu Yu’s eyes lit up, and he quickly typed:

【Zhu Yu: Will there be some for me?】

【Zhu Yu: Definitely, right?!】

【Zhu Yu: 【Starry-eyed.jpg】】

Bai Chen stared at the message that came through, smiling as he slowly typed:

【There was always some for you.】

【Zhu Yu: Senior Brother!! You’re the best!!】

The four exclamation marks in one sentence were enough to show how excited and thrilled Zhu Yu was at that moment.

Bai Chen gathered his tray and, walking out of the cafeteria, replied:

【But I don’t have many ingredients at home right now. Will you eat if I cook tomato and egg noodles?】

Zhu Yu quickly responded:

【I’ll eat, I’ll eat! I’m not picky, I’m very easy to feed!】

Bai Chen, who was walking down the stairs, found it inconvenient to type, so he held the phone close to his mouth and sent a voice message to Zhu Yu:

“Okay, send me a message when you get back to school.”

On the bus, after hearing the voice message, Zhu Yu placed his hand over his chest and closed his eyes, feeling overwhelmed with happiness…