The cafeteria at Jing University was larger and livelier than Ruan Chaoxi had imagined. As evening fell, the peak dining hour, long lines had formed in front of every food stall.
The air was filled with the mingled aromas of various dishes, while the sounds of conversation, clattering utensils, and broadcast announcements intertwined—noisy, vibrant, and brimming with the warmth of everyday life.
She chose a window that seemed relatively less crowded, offering home-style dishes, and obediently took her place at the end of the line, holding her tray. Curiously, she observed the students ahead of her as they ordered and swiped their cards.
At home, three meals a day were always meticulously prepared and served by dedicated staff, with impeccable temperature, presentation, and nutritional balance. She never had to consider “what to eat” or “how long to wait.”
This experience of deciding what to eat and then waiting in line felt both unfamiliar and novel, and she found it quite intriguing.
“Tsk, how long is this going to take? It’s so noisy and chaotic.”
A slightly impatient male voice came from beside her, carrying an innate sense of superiority and undisguised disdain for the environment.
Ruan Chaoxi glanced sideways. It was the “peacock” she had seen that afternoon—Jiang Yaoci.
He had changed his clothes, still wearing expensive luxury brands that accentuated his tall, straight posture, making him stand out awkwardly in the slightly crowded cafeteria.
Jiang Yaoci’s gaze quickly locked onto Ruan Chaoxi, and the impatience on his face was swiftly replaced by what he thought was a charming smile. With his two followers in tow, he swaggered over to her side.
“Ruan Chaoxi, right?” He had clearly inquired about her name. “Don’t bother lining up. What’s there to eat in a cafeteria? I know a nice private kitchen—quiet environment, exquisite dishes. How about I treat you? Consider it a welcome for a new classmate.”
Jiang Yaoci’s tone was confident, carrying a condescending “kindness,” as if he believed no one would refuse an invitation from the “crown prince,” especially not a student from a “backward” region who might not have seen much of the world.
Ruan Chaoxi looked at him calmly, her tone as placid as her gaze, without a hint of fluctuation. “No need, thank you. The cafeteria is fine.”
Her refusal was straightforward and decisive.
There was no coy shyness, no pretentious hesitation—just a simple, direct rejection.
The smile on Jiang Yaoci’s face stiffened slightly. His two followers also looked surprised, exchanging furtive glances.
In all his life, this was the first time he had been so bluntly rejected after inviting a girl to a meal! A restless feeling stirred within him, making him suddenly think that perhaps he had found a new and interesting diversion in this otherwise dull campus life.
Jiang Yaoci tugged at the corner of his mouth, took half a step closer, and lowered his voice, adding a hint of coaxing and self-righteous consideration to his words. “You’ve just arrived in Jing City. You might not be used to the local flavors. That private kitchen serves Southeast Asian-inspired fusion dishes. You’ll definitely like them.”
“I adapt very well,” Ruan Chaoxi replied. She had already reached the window and, following the example of others, pointed to a few dishes behind the glass for the cafeteria lady. “Also, I plan to try the cafeteria food. Could you please not disturb me?”
With that, she took the filled tray, swiped her card to pay, thanked the lady, and walked straight toward the dining area with her tray, not sparing Jiang Yaoci another glance.
Jiang Yaoci stood rooted to the spot, his face alternating between shades of pale and flushed.The attendant beside him cautiously asked, “Young Master Ci, are we still eating?”
“Eat my ass!” Jiang Yaoci cursed under his breath, glaring fiercely at Ruan Chaoxi’s slender back before turning and storming out of the cafeteria.
He refused to believe there was a woman he, Jiang Yaoci, couldn’t handle!
This Ruan Chaoxi had successfully stirred up an unprecedented mix of anger and desire for conquest within him!
Ruan Chaoxi carried her tray and found a quiet corner to sit down. She took a bite of the food—unlike the rich, aromatic flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, it wasn’t particularly impressive, but it wasn’t bad either, just average.
“Classmate, mind if I share your table?” a gentle female voice asked.
Ruan Chaoxi looked up and saw a girl with a neat bun, delicate features, and a tray in her hands standing by the table.
“Not at all, please have a seat.” Ruan Chaoxi nodded slightly.
“Thank you.” The girl sat down and quietly ate a few bites, but her eyes couldn’t help stealing glances at Ruan Chaoxi.
After hesitating for a moment, she mustered the courage to lean in and whisper, “Um… classmate, you’re a freshman, right? Earlier… I think I saw you talking to Jiang Yaoci over there?”
Ruan Chaoxi glanced at her in surprise, nodded, and said nothing more.
The girl leaned in a little closer, her tone a mix of enthusiasm for sharing campus gossip and genuine concern. “That Jiang Yaoci is a ‘notorious’ figure at our school. He’s a junior, but he hardly ever attends classes… I heard his dad is in real estate, and he’s involved in investments outside of school too. His family is extremely wealthy.”
Her voice dropped even lower, tinged with disdain. “He’s quite the player, changing girlfriends like clothes. When he’s pursuing someone, he goes all out, but once the novelty wears off…” She didn’t finish, just shrugged, leaving the implication clear.
Seeing that Ruan Chaoxi’s expression remained unchanged, simply listening quietly, the girl added, “Anyway, people in his circle play around a lot, and they’re very pragmatic. People like us can’t afford to get involved.”
Clearly speaking out of goodwill, she assumed Ruan Chaoxi was an ordinary, inexperienced freshman who had just arrived.
“I see, thanks for the heads-up.” Ruan Chaoxi gave the girl a sincere smile. “But I’m not interested in him. What he does has nothing to do with me.”
She had no interest in Jiang Yaoci himself, but she found this well-intentioned warning from an “ordinary person’s” perspective somewhat novel and was willing to accept the kindness.
Seeing the clarity and calmness in Ruan Chaoxi’s eyes, the girl felt that, in this beautiful junior’s mind, the name “Jiang Yaoci” seemed no more significant than whether the cafeteria was serving potatoes or cabbage that day—not worth dwelling on. She relaxed visibly.
“That’s good! By the way, I’m Lu Yao, from the Law School, a sophomore. Are you an international student? Your accent and demeanor don’t seem quite like someone from China.”
“Yes, I’m Ruan Chaoxi, from Thailand. School of International Relations.” Ruan Chaoxi introduced herself briefly.
“Thailand!” Lu Yao’s eyes immediately lit up, her earlier caution completely forgotten. “Really? I love Thailand! The night markets, massages, tom yum soup, mango sticky rice… and Thai dramas! I have so many saved on my phone! I wanted to go right after the college entrance exams, but my mom absolutely refused.”
“Why?” Ruan Chaoxi asked.Lu Yao sighed, a bit dejected. “My mom always says Southeast Asia isn’t safe, especially Myanmar. The news keeps talking about telecom scams, people going missing—many even get tricked over from Thailand… So she thinks Thailand isn’t safe either, afraid I’ll get kidnapped.” As she spoke, she found it a little funny herself, but also helpless.
Hearing the word “Myanmar,” Ruan Chaoxi’s hand paused slightly as she picked up food with her chopsticks. Samia’s face almost instantly surfaced in her mind.
I wonder what Miya is doing now… Is he in a meeting, or patrolling the border?
She suddenly missed him a little.
She missed his always silent yet reliable presence, the warmth of his palm when he helped her put on shoes, the indulgence he showed only to her—and even… a little of his obsessive control, because behind it lay the sense of security she had long grown accustomed to.
It was strange. Back in Bangkok, when Miya went to Shan State or Chin State for weeks at a time, she never missed him particularly.
But now, after just over ten hours apart, in this completely unfamiliar environment, just hearing a familiar place name had made the longing strike unexpectedly.
“Chaoxi? What’s wrong?” Lu Yao asked softly, noticing her distraction.
“Nothing.” Ruan Chaoxi snapped back to reality and smiled. “Most parts of Thailand are very safe and beautiful. Do your research, choose legitimate channels, and if you have the chance, you can go with family or friends. Myanmar… is another country, with a more complex situation. It does require more caution.”
She weighed her words carefully, avoiding any deep explanation of the light and darkness of that land, offering only an objective and gentle response.
“I know they’re two different countries—they’re just close by.” Lu Yao nodded, cheering up again. “But it’s so nice to have met you! Can I learn Thai from you in the future? Or hear you talk about Thailand?”
“Of course.” Ruan Chaoxi agreed with a smile.
The two girls chatted as they ate, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Lu Yao enthusiastically shared funny stories from school and the “pitfalls” to avoid. Ruan Chaoxi mostly listened quietly, occasionally asking a question or two.
The meal ended with lighthearted conversation, and the two exchanged WeChat contacts. Lu Yao could probably be considered the first person she had met here who could be called a “friend.”
After parting ways, Ruan Chaoxi walked alone back to her dorm.
The night sky over Beijing was vast and tranquil, with a few scattered stars twinkling faintly against the dark canvas, yet none of them seemed to reach her eyes.
Her heart and mind were filled with the starlight of Myanmar’s nights and the man who, under that starlight, would only show her a gentle gaze.
She checked the time. It would still be a while until nine o’clock.