Bai’er smiled as her body unconsciously leaned closer, her arm pressing against Yan Yu’s arm, warmth seeping through the thin fabric.
She looked like she was being coy, not saying a word, but her eyes clearly spelled out the words:
“I want to see.”
Yan Yu hesitated for a moment.
According to the agreement between them about their “secret” relationship, since Yan Yu had already allowed the other girl to secretly pursue her, Bai Yan’er’s request didn’t seem unreasonable.
But… why did it feel like something was off?
She took a deep breath and turned her phone screen toward Bai Yan’er.
“It’s nothing serious,” she said.
“Just making lunch plans with Xiao Zhen.”
Bai Yan’er lowered her head, her gaze lingering on the chat log for a few seconds before she looked up again, blinking.
“Oh—going to eat malatang.”
Her tone was light, as if she were commenting on something completely ordinary.
“Perfect timing. I’m actually pretty interested in that new cafeteria too. How about I join you two for lunch today?”
“Huh?”
Yan Yu looked visibly caught off guard.
Seeing Yan Yu’s uneasy expression, Bai’er added another sentence.
“Actually, I’ve already added Ruo Xiaozhen on social media and chatted with her a bit, so we kind of know each other.”
She tilted her head.
“I don’t think Ruo Xiaozhen would mind.”
Yan Yu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but all the words that reached her lips felt unnecessary.
Bai’er had already arranged everything perfectly.
She’d added Xiao Zhen as a friend, they’d chatted, and they were already acquainted.
No awkwardness, no intrusion, no reason to refuse.
She could only nod.
“Alright. Let’s go eat together at noon.”
Bai’er’s eyes curved into a smile.
She sat back down in her seat and picked up her pen.
Class continued.
The teacher’s voice echoed through the classroom as line after line of chalkboard writing accumulated.
Yan Yu’s pen tip hovered over her notebook, unable to move forward.
The morning classes ended exactly at 12:00 PM.
The moment the bell rang, Bai Yan’er, as if she’d been ready all along, closed her textbook crisply and stood up.
She turned around, looked down at Yan Yu still sitting in her chair, and extended a hand.
Her palm opened, fingertips slightly curled upward.
“Sister, let’s go. Let’s find Ruo Xiaozhen and eat together.”
Yan Yu stared at the hand reaching toward her, paused for a second, then reached out and took it.
The moment their fingertips touched, Bai’er’s fingers closed together, holding Yan Yu’s hand tightly in her palm.
As if afraid she might run away.
*
The news of the new Lakeside Cafeteria opening spread through the entire campus like a gust of wind.
In just a few days, that white building that had stood idle had become the hottest topic of discussion among students and faculty alike.
Some said the malatang broth was a secret recipe.
Others said the desserts were richer and more varied than anything at the dessert shops outside.
Still others claimed the cafeteria owner was a retired chef from a five-star hotel, and the braised pork he made melted in your mouth.
At every mealtime, a long line would form in front of the Lakeside Cafeteria, snaking for over a dozen meters—a spectacular sight.
There was no way to verify the truth of the rumors, but one thing was certain—the moment Yan Yu stepped through the door, the first thing that hit her was the wave of hot air thick with the aroma of all kinds of food.
The malatang broth was bubbling away in a large pot near the entrance.
Further inside, the sizzle of teppanyaki rose and fell, the cook’s spatula flipping across the iron plate.
The cafeteria was as crowded as a market.
The hall was packed with students.
Some carried trays searching for seats, others were already wolfing down their food, and still more gathered in small groups.
Compared to this, the other two older cafeterias were desolate today.
Quite a few regulars had “betrayed” their usual haunts and come to try this new place.
After all, people were always curious and excited about new things.
Bai Yan’er pushed Yan Yu’s wheelchair, moving unhurriedly through the crowd.
Wherever the wheelchair went, many people couldn’t help stealing a second glance—though most of them were looking at the person pushing it.
Bai’er was simply too unforgettable to look at.
With a face that could be called the academy’s school belle, paired with her cool, aloof temperament, just a single glance from a distance was enough to remember her.
Now, she pushed the wheelchair unhurriedly, her expression light, her gaze silently scanning her surroundings as if searching for something.
“Yan Yu! Look here! Over here!”
A familiar voice came from the direction of the window.
Yan Yu followed the sound and saw Ruo Xiaozhen standing beside a four-person table, both arms raised high above her head, waving enthusiastically.
She was wearing a bright yellow T-shirt today, standing out vividly among the dark-clothed students, as radiant as a sunflower.
Bai’er had clearly spotted Ruo Xiaozhen at the same time.
Her gaze lingered on that bright yellow figure for a second, then she curled the corner of her mouth slightly, adjusted the wheelchair’s direction, and steadily pushed Yan Yu over.
As they got closer, Ruo Xiaozhen finally noticed that the person pushing the wheelchair wasn’t the usual unfamiliar classmate who helped, but Bai Yan’er.
She froze for a moment, a bit surprised.
She had invited Yan Yu alone. How had Bai’er tagged along?
But Ruo Xiaozhen had never been one to overthink things.
Even though she felt a tiny bit of disappointment—she’d originally hoped to have some alone time with Yan Yu at lunch, but now there was an extra person—that disappointment lasted less than two seconds.
Her personality was just easygoing like that.
She didn’t let anything get to her.
“Bai’er, Yan Yu, sit here!”
She naturally gave up the window seat and sat down across from them.
Bai’er parked the wheelchair at the edge of the table and sat down.
The angle at which she pulled her chair was incredibly clever.
The final position she settled into was neither too close to Ruo Xiaozhen nor too far, but it placed Yan Yu perfectly within arm’s reach.
Yan Yu sat in her wheelchair, squeezed between the table’s edge and Bai Yan’er.
From this angle, Ruo Xiaozhen was across from her, and Bai’er was on her right side, the three of them forming a perfect triangle.
As she sat down, Yan Yu felt something lightly brush against her pinky finger.
She looked down.
It was Bai’er’s finger.
That slender, fair hand, hidden beneath the tablecloth, had reached over stealthily and gently squeezed her pinky.
The movement was light and quick, like a dragonfly skimming the water—a touch that came and went in an instant.
Yan Yu looked up at Bai’er, but the other girl had already turned her head away as if nothing had happened, facing Ruo Xiaozhen with a warm, proper smile on her face.
What did that pinky squeeze mean?
Ruo Xiaozhen couldn’t wait to start her “food recommendation.”
“Malatang! It’s seriously amazing! The broth is made from bone stock—one sip and you can tell it’s not the instant kind. And their condiment station is super generous. There are three kinds of chili sauce alone, and there’s this—you know—sesame paste! Super fragrant!”
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling, her tone brimming with excitement.
“Today, I’m definitely going to officially recommend the malatang I discovered to both of you!”
“Let me tell you,” Ruo Xiaozhen said, bracing her hands on the table, letting out a little “tsk” sound as if savoring a memory.
She gestured wildly as she spoke, drawing circles in the air with her hands. “I have never had malatang this good in a school cafeteria!”
She slapped the table, her tone as certain as if she were delivering a serious academic report.
“So—how about one for each of you? My treat!”
Yan Yu couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re exaggerating…”
“Not even a little bit!”
Ruo Xiaozhen glanced at Yan Yu, and seeing no objection, she smiled and said,
“Then I’ll have one too.”
“Great!”
Ruo Xiaozhen jumped up cheerfully and turned to look at Yan Yu.
“What about you, Yan Yu? What do you want to eat? I’ll load up a bowl for you.”
Yan Yu thought for a moment.
Her stomach had always been weak, so she couldn’t handle anything too spicy.
“Something mild,” she said.
“Just some vegetable dishes. Green vegetables, tofu, wood ear mushrooms—stuff like that.”
“Huh?”
Ruo Xiaozhen’s expression instantly fell with disappointment.
“Just vegetables? Their meat is amazing! Crispy pork, fatty beef slices, luncheon meat—all even better than what I’ve had outside! Don’t you want to try?”
“No, thanks,” Yan Yu shook her head gently.
“I’ll keep it light.”
Ruo Xiaozhen opened her mouth, wanting to try persuading her again, but seeing Yan Yu’s expression, she swallowed her words.
She knew Yan Yu wasn’t in good health.
As much as she regretted it, she had to accept it.
“Alright then.”
She pouted, about to turn and head toward the counter, when she saw Bai’er also stand up.
“I’ll order for Sister,” Bai Yan’er said, her voice soft but clear.
“I’ll have the same as her.”
Ruo Xiaozhen blinked in surprise.
“Huh? You’re not having meat either?”
“Yeah,” Bai Yan’er curled the corner of her mouth slightly.
“I’m trying to lose weight lately.”
“Lose weight?”
Ruo Xiaozhen looked Bai’er up and down, confusion written all over her face.
“But you’re not even a little bit fat.”
Bai’er didn’t take the bait.
She just smiled, then turned and walked toward the serving counter.
Ruo Xiaozhen scratched her head, not quite getting it, before scurrying after her.
Only Yan Yu could tell that Bai Yan’er’s gaze looked like she was silently planning something.