Wen Zhu ate until her belly was round, happily washing dishes and wiping the table.
From picking up her chopsticks to devouring the meal with gusto, she had been showering praise in every possible way without repeating a single compliment, delivering emotional value to the max.
By comparison, Gu Xing was indeed rather quiet, only repeating the phrase “delicious” over and over, and spending much of his time staring at her without saying a word.
She couldn’t figure out what was so interesting to stare at.
A sudden thought crossed Ruan Xingmian’s mind: if it weren’t for the child and Gu Xing’s face, would she have dated him?
After all, both of them were a bit passive.
As memories of their interactions flooded her mind, Ruan Xingmian felt a bittersweet ache in her heart—she was already reluctant to let him go. There was no “what if”; it was him, and that was that.
“Hey, Chef Ruan, put that down, let me do it,” Wen Zhu insisted on taking over the chores.
Ruan Xingmian treated her as a friend and didn’t stand on ceremony, standing nearby to assist her.
“Xingmian, this place is really close to your boyfriend’s university. Why didn’t you invite him over for dinner?”
Ruan Xingmian felt a pang of guilt—it was precisely because he wasn’t coming that she thought of you.
If Gu Xing had come, these dishes would have been practically wiped clean.
“His advisor organized a dinner gathering.”
As for where exactly they were eating, what they were eating, and from what time to what time—she didn’t ask, and Gu Xing didn’t volunteer the information.
She felt like a girlfriend trapped under a glass dome, completely in the dark about Gu Xing’s schedule.
Asking him about it made her feel awkward and stubborn.
Someone who truly wants you to know will proactively share; answers dragged out by persistent questioning might just be casual dismissals.
Ruan Xingmian’s mind was in turmoil, and whenever she thought of Gu Xing, it felt like needles pricking her heart.
Originally, she had only wanted to date casually, planning to part ways peacefully if things didn’t work out.
Gu Xing didn’t know how, but she could teach him, without worrying about who took the initiative or who was passive.
Having the experience of dating an academic god would be enough—something she could boast about to their child in the future: “I dated your dad, and he was really smart.”
But now, she was starting to weigh gains and losses, to dwell on Gu Xing’s lack of initiative and his aloofness.
She began to overthink—how much of his affection and care was genuine?
She had fallen into love all by herself, and she hadn’t yet learned how to swim in the river of love.
“Xingmian, it’s not dark yet. Let’s go for a stroll along the university’s Wutong Road. I heard it’s super photogenic!”
Lush plane trees and a slightly sloping asphalt road divided the university in two.
Aside from buses and students, few vehicles passed through, leaving the road clean and tidy.
“Alright.”
Ruan Xingmian brought her camera and two phones.
If she came across any inspiring scenes, she could capture them anytime.
They strolled from Wutong Road all the way to the university’s main gate.
The Gate of University A was hailed as the largest and most expensive university gate among higher education institutions.
Stretching over 140 meters, it was composed of 56 stone pillars and 27 archways, with the central arch being the largest. The overall structure was grand, elongated, and majestic.
Built in a composite spatial entrance style, the gate curved into an arc, resembling the three-point line on a basketball court.
It blended ancient Greek colonnade style with modern geometric structures, creating an architectural form where “gate and wall are one.”
Almost every day, parents brought their children preparing for the college entrance exams to take photos here.
“Tsk tsk tsk, my dream university,” Wen Zhu nudged Ruan Xingmian, holding her fist like a microphone. “May I ask, Miss Ruan, how does it feel to have a boyfriend from a prestigious university?”
Ruan Xingmian pondered seriously. “Envious.”
And a little jealous—she didn’t have such a brilliant mind.
Wen Zhu was puzzled. “Shouldn’t you be proud?”
Ruan Xingmian shook her head and hummed, “I wish I were that capable too.”
The afterglow of the sunset spilled over the gate wall, a breathtaking sight.
Ruan Xingmian raised her camera to capture the last traces of the fading light as it disappeared from the wall.
As the shot shifted, her breath caught slightly.
A familiar figure emerged from beneath the gate wall.
It was her prestigious university boyfriend—Gu Xing.
She parted her lips, a sour ache rising in her heart. Seeing him, whether she took the initiative or not, whether he was warm or distant, none of it seemed to matter anymore. There were so many things she wanted to say to him.
The corners of Ruan Xingmian’s eyes lifted slightly, tinged with a smile. She was just about to hurry over and call out to him.
In the shot, a pretty girl darted out from behind, tapped Gu Xing on the shoulder, and raised her right hand to show him something.
It was Ji Ling.
The two stood close together, heads bowed as they discussed the Tech Watch on her wrist, then strode off to the right with long steps.
They hadn’t noticed at all that a pair of eyes had been following them.
Behind them were Ruan Xingyue and Gu Xing’s mentor.
It seemed they had finished their meal and were heading to a second location.
Ruan Xingmian vaguely recalled that Ji Ling was a member of Gu Xing’s Small Team, known for her strong ability to secure Sponsors.
What would they talk about?
Studies? Or projects? Or perhaps their last unpleasant parting?
It probably wouldn’t be like with her and Gu Xing—sitting in awkward silence with little common topic, just burying themselves in work.
Ruan Xingmian took out her phone and stared blankly at the Family Number for three seconds.
She glanced up at the retreating figures, then put her phone away again.
Forget it, let it be for now. She’d wait until he was less busy.
Returning alone to her rented room, Ruan Xingmian felt listless for a long time.
To distract herself, she began preparing for her side hustle.
When she went to Wutong Road, she noticed many Street Stalls set up there, with fried rice ranging from seven to fifteen yuan.
Grilled Meat Mixed Rice, Jianbing Guozi, and Cold Skin Noodles were all available.
Basically, a single person could eat for no more than fifteen yuan.
Even around six or seven in the evening, students passed by in a steady stream.
An idea immediately came to Ruan Xingmian: to add a side hustle. Selling Boxed Meals was currently out of the question because the original owner’s arms were slender and weak, utterly incapable of wielding a spatula.
After weighing her options, while the weather was still warm, Ruan Xingmian decided to start by selling ten-yuan Sushi.
Ten pieces per serving.
At ten yuan per serving, the profit ranged from three to six yuan. Selling fifty servings a day would still be a decent income.
Better than sitting around waiting for her account to gain popularity.
After two hours, Ruan Xingmian compiled a list of everything she’d need for her stall.
Running through tomorrow’s tasks in her mind, she washed up and got ready for bed.
That night, Gu Xing never called her.
Nor did she chase after him with questions.
She tossed and turned her phone restlessly.
Like a Jianbing Guozi on a griddle, she flipped back and forth until midnight before finally falling asleep.
She began to wonder if she had done something wrong, if Gu Xing had misunderstood something?
But she would rather Gu Xing confront her face-to-face than endure this sudden cold treatment.
It felt as though if she didn’t take the initiative, there would be no story between them, no continuation.
The weight of her emotions pressed down on Ruan Xingmian, making it hard to breathe. She forced herself not to think about Gu Xing and focused on making money.
On the new Monday, she got up early, prepared the ingredients first, then went to apply for a Health Certificate. After that, she bought a Handcart from the Second-hand Market, pushed it to the ground floor of her apartment building, borrowed the first-floor elderly man’s garden hose, and meticulously washed and dried it.
By the time Gu Xing appeared, it was already half past twelve.
Ruan Xingmian was busy arranging the Sushi boxes, unaware of the time and not noticing her hunger.
He didn’t have a key and had been waiting at the door for a while.
Ruan Xingmian opened the door with a stubborn cowlick sticking up from her head, looking somewhat haggard.
The apartment was a bit messy, with almost no clear space to step.
“You didn’t answer my calls.”
Gu Xing stared at the top of her head as he spoke, his expression unreadable.
Hearing his voice, Xingmian’s nose stung—so you finally remembered to come find me.
Her composure was on the verge of breaking. She avoided looking into his eyes, her gaze drifting aimlessly as she threw a small tantrum for the first time: “I was busy and forgot.”
Silence hung between them for nearly a minute.
She didn’t invite Gu Xing inside, and he simply stood there at the doorway.
“Have you eaten lunch?” he asked again.
Xingmian nodded absently, her mind elsewhere. Thankfully, she managed to hold back her tears. “No, I’ll eat later.”
This stalemate couldn’t go on. She looked up and forced a weak smile. “My place is a mess. Maybe you should head back to campus first.”
She knew it was just a spiteful remark—in truth, she didn’t want him to leave at all.
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed. “Put on your shoes. Let’s go eat first.”
He was hurting her.
A rebellious streak flared up in Xingmian. She pulled her hand free, the smile vanishing from her lips. “I don’t like eating out. I have food at home.”
Seeing Gu Xing made her happy.
But whatever Gu Xing wanted her to do, she was unwilling to comply.
It wasn’t like he was the only one who could get angry.
Remembering the image of him walking side by side with someone else, the tears Xingmian had fought so hard to hold back surged forth once more.
Uncontrollably, her tone turned stiff and sharp: “I’m an adult. I know when to eat. I don’t need reminders.”
“Ruan Xingmian,” his voice turned cold and harsh from above her head, “what are you angry about?”
Xingmian looked up, her eyes filled with discontent, her lips slightly downturned.
She shot back, “Gu Xing, what are you angry about?”
Deliberately giving her the cold shoulder.
Not looking for her even after returning from his business trip.
The meal she’d specially prepared for him—he didn’t come, and she didn’t even get a single word of the praise she’d hoped to hear.
If he was upset about something, why not just say it?
Even arguing with her would be better. If it really was about Lu Tian, she could decide how much to confess.
Xingmian glared at Gu Xing, her eyes reddening.
Their gazes met.
She noticed the air around him instantly turn icy. His already distant demeanor grew even more aloof and detached, as if coated in an invisible layer of frost.
He seemed… even angrier now.
“You…”
Xingmian was about to speak.
But Gu Xing suddenly turned and strode down the stairs, his steps hurried and resolute.
Xingmian watched his retreating figure and pressed her lips tightly together.
A wave of scalding, bitter grievance welled up in her eyes.