Chapter 83: Cafeteria
Su Yu glanced at the messages in the dorm group chat, shrugged, and put away his phone.
He had just finished gym class and had come to the cafeteria on his way back to the dorm. He had kindly sent a message in the group chat asking if anyone wanted him to bring back food, but it seemed no one needed his favor.
After National Day, life at the university had started to fall into a routine of three points: class, dorm, and cafeteria. These past few days, there had been a strange, busy atmosphere in the dorm. Gu Chuan had been staying out of the dorm and even skipping class. Lu Siyuan was busy with student union recruitment, and Chu Feng was busy with his weekend part-time job.
He was probably the most idle one in the dorm. The only club he had joined, the Youth Association, hadn’t had any specific activities yet. He had almost no other important things to do.
Qingchuan University was a top university, and a group of former top students were now competing together. Even in the relaxed atmosphere of a university, the academic pressure was not light. Even the ever-absent Gu Chuan would occasionally flip through his books, reviewing the lessons he had slept through.
But Su Yu didn’t have to worry too much about these things. Without the academic pressure that most students had, he only needed to put in a little effort in class. He had gradually picked up the basics of the freshman year courses, which were all quite similar, and he felt that he was learning even better than in his previous life.
The cafeteria was crowded and noisy. The popular food stalls had long lines. Su Yu, holding his food, saw an empty seat in the corner and was about to go over, but he met the girl’s gaze as she looked up. Su Yu was stunned, holding his tray, suddenly not knowing whether to advance or retreat.
“What a coincidence, to meet you in the cafeteria.”
Xia Qian Ge pursed her lips and continued to eat her noodles, answering softly, “Yes, quite a coincidence.”
Su Yu forced a smile. He looked at the bowl of clear, thin soup noodles in front of Xia Qian Ge and felt a pang of pity. He hesitated for a long time but couldn’t bring himself to offer her his food. He knew she probably wouldn’t like such charity. But if she continued like this, what would happen to her stomach problems in the future? When he was young, he had been reckless and hadn’t known how to care for a girl’s body. Now he knew, but he could only watch helplessly.
He really regretted it. He regretted that when he was looking around, he had happened to meet her eyes in such a crowded cafeteria. Even if he had pretended not to see her and had just left, it would have been much better than this.
Su Yu shoveled food into his mouth, and his bowl was quickly empty.
“Really, why are you eating so fast?”
Xia Qian Ge seemed to be amused by Su Yu’s gusto. She smiled, her eyes filled with a beautiful warmth, like a mountain full of blooming peach blossoms in spring.
Su Yu looked up at her. She had always loved to smile. When he had liked her, she had always smiled at whatever he said. But why did she smile less after they got together?
“I just finished gym class. I guess I’m a bit hungry.” Su Yu grinned, a rice grain stuck to the corner of his mouth, which he didn’t realize.
Xia Qian Ge stared at the glistening rice grain on the corner of Su Yu’s mouth, her gaze a little dazed. She looked down and took a sip of the noodle soup, but she felt even thirstier, her throat dry and raw.
She really wanted… to taste him. She wanted to run her red tongue over his thin lips, to lick off that rice grain, to swallow it, her slender throat rolling, her greed fueled by her craving.
She really regretted it. She regretted meeting his eyes and luring him here. She hadn’t been very hungry before, but now, after finishing a bowl of clear noodle soup, she felt even hungrier. She had something important to do this afternoon, and now that her craving was awakened, it would be a problem.
“You have something on the corner of your mouth.”
Xia Qian Ge handed him a napkin and pointed to the corner of his mouth, smiling and reminding him.
“Oh, thanks.” Su Yu took the napkin and wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. He then pointed to his empty bowl. “I’m done.”
“Okay, let’s go then.”
Xia Qian Ge picked up her bowl and chopsticks and was about to get up, but Su Yu stopped her. “Wait for me. I’m going to buy a couple more steamed buns. I’m not full.”
“Okay, I’ll put your bowl away for you.” She nodded, took his utensils, and walked towards the collection area.
…
Su Yu bought a few more steamed buns. He couldn’t actually eat that many. He held one in his mouth, and the other two, custard buns, were sealed in a plastic bag to keep them from getting cold. He remembered… Xia Qian Ge quite liked custard buns.
“I bought too much. Do you want some?”
“Haha.” Xia Qian Ge laughed at the buns in Su Yu’s hand. She glanced up at him, her eyes full of charm, making his heart skip a beat. “So that’s why you ate so fast. To leave with me, and then find an excuse to give me some buns.”
Su Yu wasn’t embarrassed at being caught. He knew his clumsy acting couldn’t deceive Xia Qian Ge’s eyes, but he still held out the buns, looking at her quietly.
Xia Qian Ge couldn’t stand that look. His eyebrows were as soft as a pitiful little animal’s, making her want to crush him in her arms and watch him act spoiled.
“Thanks.” Xia Qian Ge took the buns and said thank you softly.
They left the cafeteria together and parted ways at the entrance.
Xia Qian Ge looked at the boy’s thick, smooth black hair. It was a bit messy, probably from being in the crowd. His hair was as soft as his good temper. He was so nice to everyone.
Even the like in his eyes now, Xia Qian Ge didn’t know how long it would last. The thought of him pouring that gentleness onto other girls drove her mad with jealousy, as petty as a three-year-old child.
Xia Qian Ge reached out, wanting to smooth his messy hair. But when her slender hand reached his forehead, he pulled away. His well-defined hand brushed aside his messy hair.
“Is my hair messy?” He laughed cheerfully, a sound that she found captivating. “Haha, I didn’t wash my hair yesterday. It’s so oily. You would definitely be disgusted if you touched it.”
Xia Qian Ge slowly withdrew her hand, which was frozen in mid-air, a smile still on her face.
“Haha, then goodbye. I have something to do at the student union.”
“Okay, goodbye.”
Xia Qian Ge smiled and said goodbye to Su Yu, watching him walk away. The gentle warmth in her dark pupils was gradually replaced by greed. She was getting harder and harder to satisfy.
But she had to remember, to fiercely suppress the throbbing in her chest. In every conversation, she had to approach him with a face that showed no ulterior motives, to separate herself from those flashy, cheap girls who wanted to get close to him.
Xia Qian Ge looked down at her phone. Someone had sent her a message. She roughly scanned the content. It was about a student union meeting this afternoon. The unbearable irritation in her heart grew stronger. She let out a long, heavy breath, trying to calm her restless heart.
