After Chen Shuang left, Zhao Che felt his back being poked suddenly. Coming back to his senses, he heard Zhou Wei say in a low voice, “What are you daydreaming about? Old Chen gave you quite a few looks just now.”
Zhao Che also softened his tone, the scene from earlier still floating in his mind: “Nothing much, just remembered the time our formation fell out of step last year.”
“Oh, that? It’s all that idiot Wei Junjie’s fault, getting the tempo wrong even when calling out the beat,” Zhou Wei said with a curl of his lip.
Hardly had the words left his mouth when they heard Wei Junjie let out a loud sneeze.
Zhou Wei: “…”
Pausing for a second, he smoothed things over: “Sigh, can’t entirely blame him either. Yu-ge listened to the beat and didn’t march out of sync.”
The moment Gu Yu was mentioned, the corners of Zhao Che’s mouth instantly curled up high, beaming with a pride as if the glory were his own: “Mhm, our family’s Gu Yu has always been sharp and clever, able to adapt to any big occasion.”
Zhou Wei: “…”
Sitting beside them, Gu Yu suddenly slammed his textbook onto the desk with a thwack, his tone icy cold: “Shut up. Class is starting.”
Zhao Che immediately sat up straight, adopting a serious yet hilarious tone: “Roger that! Student Gu Yu.”
The morning classes passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for lunch. Zhao Che had just stuffed his test paper into his desk drawer when Zhou Wei behind him poked his head over: “Che-ge, Yu-ge, shall we hit the cafeteria today? Even if there aren’t many dishes left, it’s still better than gnawing on bread every day.”
Zhao Che initially wanted to decline, but as his eyes swept over Gu Yu’s slender shoulders, he suddenly changed his tune: “Gu Yu, how about we eat at the cafeteria today?”
“Sure.” Gu Yu’s voice was very soft, coinciding right as Zhao Che spoke. Both of them paused for a moment, after which Zhao Che burst into a smile: “Alright, let’s go then.”
The cafeteria line wasn’t very long, but the food windows were almost completely picked clean.
Zhao Che said toward the serving window: “I’ll take some broccoli and stewed tofu with Chinese cabbage.”
“Alright, want some gravy drizzled over your rice?”
“Sure, thanks, Auntie.”
After getting their food, the group gathered around a table, everyone’s meal trays filled with healthy vegetables.
Zhou Wei couldn’t help complaining, “Sigh, getting drained by studying every day, and in the end, I can’t even get a full meal.”
Wei Junjie on the side, however, was eating with great relish, making loud smack-smack noises with his lips. The more Zhou Wei heard it, the more annoyed he grew: “You pig, roll over to the side and smack your lips somewhere else.”
Innocently caught in the crossfire, Wei Junjie looked utterly aggrieved. Carrying his tray, he plopped himself right next to Zhao Che and continued eating with loud smacking noises.
Zhao Che: “…”
He sure knows how to pick a spot.
After complaining silently, he looked over at Gu Yu’s tray. The broccoli inside was practically untouched, and he was just eating plain rice.
Why isn’t he eating a single bite of broccoli? Already so thin and still a picky eater.
He asked curiously, “Gu Yu, why aren’t you eating your vegetables?”
The moment he finished asking, Gu Yu picked up a piece of broccoli with his chopsticks, chewed twice, and slightly knit his brows: “I am.”
Zhao Che: “…”
If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Why deliberately pick up a piece to put on a brave face?
“You guys go ahead and eat first, I’m stepping out for a bit.” Zhao Che set down his chopsticks and stood up.
Seeing that he was stepping out, Zhou Wei asked, “What are you going to do, Che-ge?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll be right back.”
Barely a few steps out of the cafeteria, he ran into Uncle Zhang, the cafeteria manager, who was walking toward the office holding an account book.
He strode up to him: “Uncle Zhang, when we were getting food just now, the windows were all empty. A lot of students didn’t get any food.”
Uncle Zhang sighed: “I know, many students have reported this recently. The school plans to open a few more windows next week.” He pointed toward the back door of the cafeteria. “There are a few extra reserved meals for the teachers left in the storeroom. Now that the meeting is over and no one wants them, go take one.”
“Awesome, thanks, Uncle Zhang.”
After getting the boxed meal, Zhao Che walked back. From a distance, his eyes met Gu Yu’s, who was looking over with raised head.
“Holy crap, Che-ge, where did you get braised lion’s head meatballs and a savory braised chicken leg?” Wei Junjie’s eyes lit up the moment he saw these things, and Zhou Wei looked equally incredulous: “Yeah, Che-ge, what did you just go off to do?”
Setting the meal tray down next to Gu Yu, he used his eyes to warn the eagerly squirming Wei Junjie, then said with a smile: “I just reported to Uncle Zhang that I didn’t get enough to eat, and he said there were a few boxed meals left. Why don’t you guys go ask too?”
“Let’s go, let’s go, Zhou Wei, let me go beg for food.” Wei Junjie sprang up with a pop, pulling Zhou Wei from across the table without another word.
“Who are you calling to go beg for food with you? Can’t you tell ‘Wei’ and ‘Mo’ apart?” Zhou Wei snapped in rebuke, “Not going!”
“Come on, Wei-ge.” Wei Junjie’s voice softened, but the grip on Zhou Wei’s arm didn’t loosen in the slightest, remaining at a standstill.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Che couldn’t help twitching the corner of his mouth: “Hurry up and go, there should still be two portions left.”
The two left bickering.
Seeing them walk away, Zhao Che turned back to Gu Yu and said, “Why are you eating so little? You’re almost half a head shorter than me.” Saying so, he used the disposable chopsticks from the meal box to pick up a braised lion’s head meatball and placed it onto Gu Yu’s tray.
Gu Yu glared at him: “Who’s shorter?”
Zhao Che gave a dry laugh. Although nothing was obvious right now—he might only be two or three centimeters taller than Gu Yu—six years later, Gu Yu was clearly half a head taller than him. But knowing Gu Yu cared about saving face, he didn’t argue with him further to avoid making him angry again.
So he hastily backed down: “Aiya, I’m shorter, I’m shorter. Hurry up and eat, Student Gu Yu.”
Gu Yu let out an “mhm,” his voice very soft, sounding a bit like a “hmph.”
Zhao Che lowered his head to wolf down a couple of bites of rice, then stared at the virtually untouched broccoli in the adjacent tray. Thinking it would be a waste to throw it out, he raised his chin and asked, “It’s a waste if you don’t eat this broccoli. Mind giving it to me?”
Gu Yu nodded, offering no objection.
Having received permission, Zhao Che couldn’t wait to transfer all the broccoli over to his own tray. Just the thought that it came from Gu Yu’s tray made this ordinary broccoli instantly rival delicacy delicacies.
…Wait, why do I feel like I’m being a bit of a pervert?
Just as he was thinking, a cool voice came over. Raising his head, he bumped right into Gu Yu transferring a chicken leg into his tray with chopsticks.
“You eat it.”
Holy crap! How is Gu Yu today… actually taking the initiative to give him food? He never had this kind of treatment in his past life—to think he got to experience it after being reborn.
Totally worth it! Even if I went to be reincarnated right now, it’d still be worth it!
Forcibly suppressing the joy fluttering in his heart, he pushed the chicken leg back into Gu Yu’s bowl and feigned composure: “You just eat it. Even though you’re not short, you’re really way too thin.”
Gu Yu: “…”
With this completely speechlessly exasperated expression, did I say something wrong again? Didn’t I already say Gu Yu isn’t short…
Just then, Zhou Wei and the other guy returned carrying boxed meals as well.
“Che-ge, Yu-ge, you guys full?” The moment Wei Junjie sat down, he couldn’t wait to take a bite of the chicken leg, his speech slurred as he chewed.
Zhao Che pointed at his mostly emptied tray: “Mhm, you guys eat quickly.”
Then he pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket, handed one to Gu Yu, and pulled out another for himself to wipe the corner of his mouth. Suddenly, his gaze landed on the ginkgo tree outside the cafeteria window. A gentle breeze blew past, rustling the leaves gently.
This scene looked overwhelmingly like the countless afternoons spent eating together in his past life.
After returning to the classroom, Zhao Che pulled the gourd-shaped bottle out of his backpack, the purplish-red liquid swirling gently inside.
“Holy crap, Auntie squeezed fruit juice for you guys again?” Zhou Wei’s expression was a bit complex, clearly having not forgotten yesterday’s taste.
Zhao Che held the bottle and shook it: “Wanna try my mom’s ‘new creation’? Maybe it actually tastes good this time.”
Wei Junjie silently unscrewed his own water bottle and backed far away.
Gu Yu helped himself to a sip.
Seeing this, Zhao Che beside him took a sip as well, his eyes lighting up. A sweet, clear grape flavor spread across his tongue with a hint of subtle tartness—it was indeed far better than yesterday’s “radish juice,” and could even be called delicious. He couldn’t help taking another sip, then handed the bottle out with a smile: “It’s pretty good. Do you guys want a taste?”
The two shook their heads like rattle-drums. Zhou Wei said dramatically: “This humble servant lacks the good fortune to enjoy it. You two take your time.”
Zhao Che let out a helpless laugh, leaning close to Gu Yu: “Looks like it didn’t crash and burn this time, just a bit on the sweeter side.”
“Mhm.”
“Seems like my mom performed beyond her usual standards today.”
It had to be said that when his own mom wasn’t blindly experimenting, the things she made were actually quite tasty.
“Che-ge, sign up for an event for the sports meet,” Zhou Wei asked, holding the sign-up sheet.
Before Zhao Che could reply, he heard Wei Junjie say, “I’ll sign up for long jump. I almost placed last year.”
“Give me a break, your posture last year looked like a toad that turned into a spirit,” Zhou Wei mocked without mercy. “I’ll just sign up for the 100 meters, quick and painless.”
Zhao Che said with utter seriousness: “If you run the 100 meters, I feel like first place is guaranteed.”
Before Zhou Wei could feel proud, he heard Zhao Che add: “First place from the bottom.”
Zhou Wei: “Heh heh.”
After laughing, Zhao Che was just about to ask Gu Yu what event he wanted to sign up for, but turned around only to find that Gu Yu had fallen asleep resting on his desk at some point.
Looking down from above Gu Yu’s head, that thick, dark short hair gleamed under the sunlight, with snowy white ears hiding among the strands of hair.
At this moment, he felt Gu Yu was exceptionally well-behaved when quiet.
Zhou Wei wanted to talk back, but saw Zhao Che make a shushing gesture. Seeing Gu Yu resting on the desk, everyone consciously lowered their voices.
The classroom was quiet, leaving only the sound of turning pages and sporadic, quiet chatter as time slipped by silently.
“It’s about time to go!” A classmate glanced at their watch. “The P.E. teacher is going to do a roll call.”
Zhao Che conveniently tossed the two empty gourd bottles on the desk into the trash can. Looking at Gu Yu’s sleeping face, he suddenly had an illusion of peaceful, tranquil years. After a moment, he still gently patted Gu Yu’s arm: “Let me know when you’re ready, let’s head to the sports field.”
Gu Yu slowly raised his head, the laziness of having just woken up still lingering in his eyes. He took off his school uniform jacket and draped it over the back of his chair, revealing the skin hidden beneath his clothes—it was several shades fairer than most boys in the class, carrying a clean, refreshing vibe.
“Damn, Yu-ge, how are you even fairer than Che-ge?” Li Changlin leaned over to take a look, his dark face written all over with “existential dread.”
Zhao Che habitually draped an arm over Gu Yu’s shoulder, looking smug: “Our family’s Gu Yu was born this way. Jealous?”
Just as Li Changlin was about to say a few more words, a classmate rushed in through the door gasping for air: “Black Lin, hurry and go assemble! The P.E. teacher is looking for you!”
“Coming!” Li Changlin responded, already dashing out of the classroom, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Zhou Wei sighed with emotion: “Worthy of being the sports representative, running like a gust of wind.”
Zhao Che made a “tsk” sound: “Not as good as me.” Turning around, he asked Gu Yu: “Right, Gu Yu?”
Gu Yu paid him no mind at all and went straight downstairs.
“Sigh, wait for me!”