While scalding the utensils with hot water, Shen Ci laughed as she asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve been in university for a whole year and never come to this street?”
Gu Lianxing frowned and shook her head. She hadn’t even known there was a food street behind the school.
Shen Ci wasn’t surprised at all. Teasing, she said, “I’d guess the hardest thing you’ve ever had to swallow in your life was probably an iced Americano.”
“But don’t worry. Even though this little restaurant looks questionable in terms of hygiene, it’s actually… not clean at all.”
“What?” Gu Lianxing’s face twisted in alarm.
Shen Ci burst out laughing. “I’m joking. Because this street is behind the university, most of the customers are students, so health inspectors often make surprise checks. It’s not up to the standard of fancy restaurants, but you don’t have to worry too much.”
“The main thing here is the taste. You’ll understand once you try it.”
Though delicate, Gu Lianxing wasn’t spoiled. She kept wiping the table with napkins, but looked at Shen Ci sincerely and said, “Anyway, I said I’d treat you, so whatever you want to eat is fine with me.”
Shen Ci smiled and nodded, laying out the sanitized dishes so that Gu Lianxing could at least feel reassured.
As dinner hour approached, the little restaurant filled up quickly. The space was cramped, and the tables were close—leaning back even slightly would bump into the next person.
Gu Lianxing felt a little uneasy, but also curious. The kitchen was only separated by a cloth curtain. Noisy voices rang out from behind it, but the aroma drifting out was mouthwatering. She even began to look forward to the meal.
“Shen Ci!”
Dining here, it was inevitable to meet acquaintances. A few girls spotted her and hurried over to greet her warmly.
Shen Ci responded with a smile. They were from the dorm next door, all good-natured.
“I heard from Yu Xinxin that you moved out. Is it true?”
“I changed dorms. You know I couldn’t get along with them,” Shen Ci explained. Their dorm drama was no secret in the East Dorms; the girls next door were well aware.
The girls nodded repeatedly. One of them said, “Good for you. Yu Xinxin is just jealous of you, dragging along those two spineless followers to isolate you.”
Shen Ci only smiled without comment, but Gu Lianxing listened with keen interest. She couldn’t resist asking, “So Shen Ci moved dorms because she was being ostracized?”
“That’s right. You’re her new roommate, aren’t you? Then you’d better treat her well. She’s a really good person.”
Being praised so openly left Shen Ci a little embarrassed.
Gu Lianxing looked at her with sympathy. How could anyone bear to bully such a beautiful roommate?
“By the way, Shen Ci, yesterday Li Xiao showed up at the girls’ dorm again. Yu Xinxin even pretended to go down to meet him on your behalf.”
“She even wore a new dress—her intentions couldn’t have been more obvious.”
“Exactly. You broke up with Li Xiao and gave her the chance she wanted. Now she’s shamelessly making a move.”
“But he ignored her. When he heard you’d moved out, he left. Yu Xinxin just stood there, looking so pathetic—it was hilarious.”
They filled Shen Ci in on last night’s happenings. She barely reacted, but Gu Lianxing was stunned.
And just then, Yu Xinxin walked in with Lin Shuang and Wang Hou in tow.
The girls at Shen Ci’s table all rolled their eyes and said, “Shen Ci, you two eat first—we’ll go sit elsewhere.”
Clearly, though Shen Ci had been ostracized in her old dorm, in the whole East Dorm, Yu Xinxin was the one most disliked.
Yu Xinxin saw Shen Ci and her face immediately darkened. She muttered under her breath, “Bad luck!”
Shen Ci didn’t even spare her a glance. Just then, the boss lady brought out their dishes. Shen Ci quickly urged Gu Lianxing to eat while it was hot.
They had ordered Salt and Pepper Ribs, Lotus Pond Stir-fry, and Golden Broth Fish. The ribs were fried golden and crisp, the stir-fry light and refreshing, and the fish soup’s tangy fragrance made mouths water.
Gu Lianxing took one bite and was instantly amazed. Each dish carried the distinct wok aroma, simple and pure in flavor.
“This is delicious, Shen Ci! You weren’t lying!” she exclaimed between bites, eyes shining.
Shen Ci laughed, telling her to eat as much as she liked. She herself savored the familiar flavors.
Completely unbothered by Yu Xinxin’s presence, Shen Ci’s appetite flourished. Between the two of them, they finished every dish clean.
Gu Lianxing was utterly satisfied, so much so that she even had two bowls of rice—rare for someone who normally kept strict control of her diet. Afterward, she slumped forward with a groan. “I’m doomed. Tonight I’ll have to eat only lettuce.”
Shen Ci was also full. Since it was still early, she suggested they go shopping for dorm essentials.
After paying, she said goodbye to the other girls and was about to leave with Gu Lianxing. But as they passed Yu Xinxin’s table, a foot suddenly stretched out to block her path.
Yu Xinxin’s voice rang out, dripping with mockery: “What’s this? After being dumped by Li Xiao, you can’t afford fine dining anymore, so you’ve downgraded to a greasy hole-in-the-wall? Quite the fall in spending power.”
Shen Ci’s eyes chilled. Turning her head, she sneered, “Funny. You’re insulting yourself too, aren’t you? You’re sitting here as well. If you despise these places so much, why not treat your friends to Michelin? Or do they not like that?”
Her gaze slid across Lin Shuang and Wang Hou. With a sharp laugh, she added, “Then again, you’re right. A couple of followers who’ve never seen much of the world—throw them a few scraps and they’re bought. Why waste money on real meals?”
Yu Xinxin’s face flushed red, her weakness exposed. “Shen Ci, you’re just bitter from being dumped by Li Xiao—don’t take it out on us.”
She raised her chin proudly and deliberately raised her voice: “But it’s normal you dislike me. After all, last night Li Xiao and I were downstairs together for quite a while, talking about all sorts of things.”
She thought mentioning Li Xiao would wound Shen Ci. But at the sound of his name, Shen Ci only felt disgust rise in her chest.
She nodded. “That’s wonderful. If you two can really lock yourselves together forever, the day you die I’ll gladly pay for your burial plot. After all, you two falling in love would be a blessing to the people.”
Then she shook her head. “But that’s unlikely. I told you before—he doesn’t want you. Once someone’s had something good, who’d ever go back to eating shit?”
With that, she pulled Gu Lianxing toward the door. Yu Xinxin hadn’t managed to pull her foot back in time, and Gu Lianxing’s shoe landed squarely on it. Yu Xinxin let out a shriek, yanking her leg away.
She looked down to find her white sneakers marred by a heavy gray footprint.
“Oh dear, sorry, I didn’t see.” Gu Lianxing looked at her innocently.
Humiliated by both Shen Ci’s words and the accidental stomp, Yu Xinxin snapped. She leapt up, reaching out to grab Shen Ci’s wrist, shouting furiously, “Shen Ci, stop! Explain yourself!”
And in that instant, the diamond bracelet on Shen Ci’s wrist—worth nearly a hundred thousand—snapped apart, scattering into pieces.
End of Chapter