Yan Yifei saw Gan Lan pick up a piece of pork rib and reveal an intoxicated expression, causing him to pause slightly.
This seemed to be his first time seeing her true face. Last time she wore a mask, and he could only see her expressive eyes. They were bright and clear, curving slightly when she smiled, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze. Her face was a bit pale, and her features were delicate. She looked somewhat frail, though coupled with those beautiful eyes, she was inexplicably attractive.
Prompted by Gan Lan’s expression, Yan Yifei also picked up a piece of pork rib.
The ribs were sweet with a hint of sourness, the sauce and meat instantly shocking his taste buds. It was so delicious. He couldn’t help but grab piece after piece. He felt fortunate that he was sitting here. Even though he had used some petty tricks, it was absolutely worth it!
"Oh my god! This is way too delicious! The ribs are sweet and sour, the fish soup is savory, ahhh, and this braised pork is beyond words! The egg custard melts in your mouth, and the lettuce is crisp and sweet. So these things could actually be cooked to taste this good! I’m so lucky!" Wen Ningyue’s chopsticks flashed quickly, yet she still managed to find the time to speak.
Gan Lan glanced at her, feeling a bit of admiration. There was no way she could speak so clearly with her mouth stuffed full. However, Gan Lan calmly accepted her praise. She hadn’t had a proper meal in days.
Her hands sped up as she reached for the dishes. The main reason was that the two people next to her were swiping food way too fast. If she continued to take her time, she likely wouldn’t even get to eat her own cooking.
[I’m so mad! Why didn’t Lady Luck smile on me?! It’s so, so good! After eating, I feel completely empty, and my stomach is even hungrier. WAAAH!]
[My god! The Culinary Department has finally produced a serious, upright student who actually gets things done! I’m so moved. I hope those in the Culinary Department who never do any proper cooking learn from this junior! The world is still a beautiful place!]
[Oh, if it isn’t my classmate, the Culinary Department’s ugly, penniless midget. I’ve only been away from school for a few days, and you’re already jumping around making a scene everywhere?]
[Who is the person above talking about? State your name!]
Meanwhile, the livestream chat erupted into an argument with Zhao Mengru over her comment.
Zhao Mengru glared resentfully at the livestream. The once poor and insecure ugly duckling had now become confident, neither haughty nor humble. And to think there were so many people singing her praises! So many people protecting her! What exactly had happened during the few days she was away?
She made a call, and the moment it connected, she demanded, "What happened during the days I was gone? How did this penniless freak change so much?"
Whatever the person on the other end replied caused Zhao Mengru’s voice to instantly turn shrill.
"What!? You actually don’t know? Didn’t I tell you to keep a close eye on her and report anything to me?! How can a piece of trash like you fail at such a simple task!?"
After hanging up, Zhao Mengru grew angrier the more she thought about it. She grabbed the cup on the table and forcefully smashed it onto the floor. She wondered why this ugly freak deserved so much support and praise. These things should belong to her, Zhao Mengru!
Zhao Mengru flipped through the posts on Gan Lan’s forum account to figure out the cause and effect of the situation. She had been admitted to the comprehensive university with the second-highest theoretical knowledge score in her grade, just three points shy of Gan Lan! Zhao Mengru was incredibly dissatisfied! She couldn’t believe she had lost to this trash from the poverty star!
What right did someone from a poverty star have to be her classmate? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay on the poverty star to live, grow old, fall ill, and die? Even her pretentious demeanor reeked of poverty! Because of this, Zhao Mengru made life difficult for Gan Lan at every turn. Usually, it was just mocking and sarcasm, but finally, the practical exam for the monthly test arrived.
She recalled that ugly freak’s cooking. A three-year-old child could roast meat better than she did; it couldn’t even be considered garbage. She had really overestimated this ugly freak. Her pretentiousness completely vanished the moment she ranked dead last in the Culinary Department’s practical class. Watching her insecure and despairing appearance made Zhao Mengru feel entirely at ease, deriving intense pleasure from the process of bullying her!
So, she became increasingly extreme, until that day when Gan Lan looked at her with a contemptuous gaze. Everything had changed. Her inferiority and cowardice disappeared, her confidence returned, and even her current roasted meat was exceptionally well-made.
Zhao Mengru’s face twisted, driven mad with jealousy. She knew she had to think of a way to make her remember all that pain and despair and beat her back into her original shape!
At the door of Gan Lan’s dormitory.
Zhao Mengru knocked on Gan Lan’s Room 6066 with unbearable arrogance. When Gan Lan opened the door, what she saw was Zhao Mengru looking at her sideways, her nose stuck up in the air!
"Long time no see, ugly freak. I thought you wouldn’t dare show your face to me anymore. What? You’ve got some backbone now? You even dare to look up at me?" Zhao Mengru crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. She jammed her foot against the door to prevent Gan Lan from closing it, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Gan Lan indifferently looked up at Zhao Mengru. She turned around, went back inside to grab a chair, brought it out, and stood on it. Then, she looked down at Zhao Mengru with the gaze one might reserve for an idiot.
Just as she was about to retort, a sudden PFFT of suppressed laughter came from behind her.
Gan Lan turned her head and saw Wen Ningyue walk out. Beside her ear, Xiaomi was dutifully broadcasting everything that had just happened between Zhao Mengru and Gan Lan to the livestream. Yan Yifei also walked out from behind Wen Ningyue. His eyes were brimming with amusement, and the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up. He looked even more handsome when he smiled!
"I’m sorry, Junior, you’re just too cute. I couldn’t hold it in, sorry to interrupt." Wen Ningyue waved her hand, gesturing for them to continue. She covered her mouth, indicating she wouldn’t make another sound.
Yan Yifei also showed no intention of leaving, watching Gan Lan with interest.
[Hahahahaha, I’m dying of laughter. Junior Gan Lan is way too cute.]
[I thought Junior Gan Lan went into her room to grab a handy weapon and get ready for a fight. Turns out she grabbed a chair. I was wondering, is she going to smash someone with a chair? Is she that fierce? But she just stood on it, she stood on it... Hahahaha!]
Seeing this comment on the bullet screen, Yan Yifei couldn’t help but smile again.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mengru stared blankly at the smiling Yan Yifei. It wasn’t until Yan Yifei’s expression cooled and he cast a faint glance at her that she finally snapped out of her daze.
Instantly, her entire face distorted, driving her mad with jealousy. She wondered what gave this ugly freak the right. She didn’t deserve it. How could she possibly be worthy of such an outstanding man? She was so shameless!
"Don’t be fooled by her facade! This ugly freak is insidious and cunning! She even comes from a poverty star! Not to mention, she ranked dead last in the entire department for the practical class. She only managed to get into this school by cheating!" Zhao Mengru’s voice was shrill, her face twisted as she spoke hatefully to Yan Yifei and Wen Ningyue.
Wen Ningyue looked at Zhao Mengru’s distorted expression and curled her lips in boredom. "Let’s go. Thank you for your hospitality, Junior Gan Lan. See you next time!"
Wen Ningyue waved at Gan Lan and left.
Yan Yifei also nodded at Gan Lan and said in a gentle voice, "Thank you for your hospitality, Junior Gan Lan. See you next time."
Gan Lan watched their retreating backs, then calmly looked at Zhao Rumeng. "Is there anything else? If not, I’m going to sleep." She hopped off the chair and shut the door right in Zhao Rumeng’s face.
Zhao Mengru stared at the closed door, clenching her fists tightly. She stomped her feet in resentment. She suddenly remembered—that man from just now was the genius commander from next door, Yan Yifei! She had once caught a glimpse of him at the First Military Academy and had never been able to forget him. Seeing him up close so suddenly, she had found it hard to process.
She swore that tomorrow, she would definitely make this ugly freak pay!