The forum was abuzz with the heated reelection of the School Grass, yet the very individuals at the center of the discussion found themselves meeting in the same shop.
Bai Wei preferred quiet, so Feng Sinian led her to a corner seat by the window.
Hearing the female voice placing an order at the counter, Feng Sinian’s chopsticks paused mid-air, and a beef ball slipped from his grip, rolling across the table before stopping beside Bai Wei’s bowl.
He abruptly looked up, following the sound. Nan Zhi’s gentle eyes were lowered, her voice soft and clear, with the boy she had been seen with during the day standing beside her.
“What’s wrong, Sinian?” Bai Wei picked up the ball and placed it back in her bowl, glancing up in the direction he was staring. “It’s that boy again. Is he Nan Zhi’s boyfriend?”
“That can’t be,” Feng Sinian replied instinctively. “She never mentioned it to me.”
The shop wasn’t crowded at the moment, and his voice, though not loud, was audible even at the counter.
Nan Zhi was all too familiar with Feng Sinian’s voice—from his childhood tone to the changes during puberty, and later the deep, resonant voice often described as a “low-pitched speaker.” Even a single laugh from him would instantly catch her attention, and she would softly call out, “Feng Sinian.”
But now, she seemed not to hear him at all.
When Jiang Zhe chose a seat, his gaze swept past the corner as if unintentionally, and he sat down at a table near the door.
Nan Zhi’s right hand was injured, so Jiang Zhe carefully arranged her bowl and chopsticks, meticulously rinsing them with hot water.
She thanked him with slight embarrassment, “Thank you.”
Nan Zhi sat with her back to Feng Sinian and Bai Wei, unable to see his expression, but Jiang Zhe easily caught Feng Sinian’s gaze.
He calmly looked away and placed a skewer of tofu in Nan Zhi’s bowl.
Feng Sinian’s brow furrowed slightly. It had always been him sitting across from Nan Zhi, serving her food.
Bai Wei quietly observed his reaction and nudged his arm. “Sinian, let’s go join Nan Zhi’s table.”
Feng Sinian’s expression softened slightly. “Alright.”
Just as Nan Zhi took a bite of a beef ball, a shadow fell over her.
She looked up to see Bai Wei smiling gently at her. “Nan Zhi, would it be alright if Sinian and I joined your table?”
Nan Zhi glanced over briefly. “Sorry, no.”
He was already accustomed to Nan Zhi’s attitude. Ever since she had suggested cutting ties last time, no matter how he tried to make amends, she remained unmoved. After half a year of persistence, her demeanor was still cold.
Hearing her sharp words, Bai Wei’s polite smile faded. “Nan Zhi, we asked you politely. There’s no need to be so hostile.”
“If I don’t want to share a table, can’t I refuse?” Nan Zhi lowered her gaze again, struggling slightly to pick up a piece of fish cake with her left hand.
Jiang Zhe spoke slowly, “Classmate, you heard her. Nan Zhi doesn’t agree.”
Bai Wei tugged at Feng Sinian’s sleeve. “Sinian, since Nan Zhi doesn’t agree, let’s go.”
As Feng Sinian was being led away, he overheard Jiang Zhe’s question: “Is he your friend?”
Nan Zhi replied quickly, “No.”
Her answer was crystal clear to Feng Sinian, and his footsteps faltered.
Bai Wei glanced sideways, and upon seeing the embarrassment on his face, her hand clenched tightly at her side.
With the two people she didn’t want to see around, Nan Zhi felt uncomfortable and lost her appetite after just a few hasty bites.
Jiang Zhe said, “I’m full too. Let me walk you back.”
There was still quite a bit of food left on her plate, and adhering to her principle of not wasting food, she suggested packing it up.
Jiang Zhe set down his chopsticks and went to the counter to fetch a takeout box.
Just as Nan Zhi was about to stand up, his gentle gaze held her in place, his voice calm and soothing: “Your hand is injured. Let me help.”
Afraid of causing trouble, she obediently sat still, resting her chin on her intact left hand as she watched him work.
Jiang Zhe’s hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and distinct knuckles. He leisurely used chopsticks to slide the ingredients off the skewers into the box, his fingers moving slightly. Nan Zhi found herself staring, somewhat entranced.
These hands truly seemed born to play the piano.
Noticing her gaze, Jiang Zhe lowered his eyes and met hers.
For some reason, Nan Zhi felt a pang of guilt and averted her gaze. “Shall we go then?”
“Alright.”
Only after Nan Zhi and Jiang Zhe left did the heaviness weighing on Feng Sinian’s heart begin to dissipate.
Bai Wei took in his reaction without showing any emotion on her face. She took his hand and said, “Sinian, since Nan Zhi doesn’t consider you a friend, why demean yourself?”
Seeing his expression relax, she continued, “Besides, it was she who suggested cutting ties back then. You’ve already been more than dignified.”
Feng Sinian let out a sigh of relief and squeezed her hand in return. “Weiwei, you’re always so understanding. I’m glad it’s you by my side.”
Bai Wei hesitated before asking, “Do your parents know about us?”
“I don’t dare tell my mom,” he withdrew his hand, unable to meet her eyes. “You know she’s always been against us being together.”
Sensing Bai Wei’s low spirits, Feng Sinian comforted her, “Weiwei, we have plenty of time ahead of us. There’s enough time to convince her.”
Bai Wei forced a smile, but Zhou Ya’s words, “Zhi Zhi is the only daughter-in-law I recognize,” lingered in her mind. After a long pause, she finally replied, “Alright.”
Jiang Zhe didn’t leave until he had escorted Nan Zhi to the entrance of her dormitory.
All three roommates in Dorm 606 witnessed this scene. As soon as Nan Zhi pushed the door open, they swarmed around her.
Wan Xiaoshan was the first to speak. “So, Zhi Zhi, any progress?”
Geng Tiantian gave a mischievous smile, eyeing the takeout box in her hand. “Senior Jiang is so thoughtful, even bringing us food.”
Nan Zhi shot her a look. “Can’t you think of something good about me? I was the one who asked to pack it.”
Li Zimeng, unlike the other two, wasn’t as interested in gossip. Instead, she excitedly waved the results of the voting post in front of the three of them. “With this overwhelming lead, Jiang Zhe is definitely going to win the School Grass title!”
Nan Zhi was puzzled. “Wasn’t Feng Sinian voted School Grass last year?”
“Well, there’s a better-looking candidate now!” Li Zimeng proudly straightened her back. “I even rallied everyone in our club to vote for Jiang Zhe!”
Wan Xiaoshan scoffed. “Does Jiang Zhe even need vote-pulling? Just standing there, he outshines all the guys at Jingda.”
Geng Tiantian covered her mouth, giggling. “I think Mengmeng is trying so hard to make up for shipping Zhi Zhi and Feng Sinian as a couple back then.”
Nan Zhi clearly remembered how, at the start of the semester, when Li Zimeng found out she and Feng Sinian were Childhood Friends, her eyes lit up instantly, and she vowed to protect their love at all costs.
At the time, Nan Zhi calmly explained, “Don’t use such an ambiguous term as ‘Childhood Friends.’ At most, we’re just Childhood Friends.”
Li Zimeng quickly changed the subject, embarrassed. “Zhi Zhi, who did you vote for as School Grass?”