After AFK for five years, I returned to be number one in the entire server.

The National Day holiday has ended, and Ningchuan University has resumed normal teaching.

The campus is bustling again, with students dragging suitcases pouring into the dormitories from all directions, and long queues forming outside the cafeteria.

Around 8 a.m., Lin was sitting in the lecture hall of the School of Public Administration.

The teacher on the podium was flipping through slides on the projector, explaining the basic framework of public policy analysis. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to drown out the occasional whispers from the back row.

Lin Ye's eyes were on the blackboard, but his attention was not on the class.

He sensed that Shen Yi wasn't at school, but was still working at that barbecue restaurant.

The bell rang, and the students began to leave.

Lin didn't go to the classroom for the next class; instead, she walked out of the school gate.

At this time, there were very few people on the commercial street where the barbecue restaurant was located. Most of the shops had just opened, and only a few breakfast stalls were still steaming.

The barbecue restaurant's door was half-open, and the lighting inside was dim; it wasn't open yet.

Lin also went in. The tables and chairs in the hall were neatly arranged, the tabletops were wiped clean, the exhaust pipes for the barbecue were all turned off, and the sound of water taps could be heard from the kitchen.

He walked over and saw Shen Yi squatting on the ground, with a row of washed baking trays in front of her, wiping the water stains off each one with a rag.

"Why didn't you go to class?" Lin asked from behind her.

Shen Yi paused for a moment, then replied without turning her head, "It's meaningless."

After saying those two words, she continued wiping the baking pan, as if stating a fact that didn't need to be discussed.

Lin went out and came back in wearing an apron and a hat. He went to the sink, turned on the tap, and started washing the last batch of dishes left over.

Hearing the sound of water, Shen Yi looked up and saw Lin Ye standing in front of the sink next to her, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, rinsing a stainless steel basin.

Only the sounds of two faucets being turned on and off alternately and the soft clatter of tableware remained in the kitchen.

Shen Yi knew what Lin was doing. If he left in anger or disappointment, she would actually feel relieved, because that was in line with her expectations of everyone; no one would stay forever.

Lin also carried a broom from one end of the hall to the other, his profile showing no extra expression.

After sweeping the lobby, he went to wipe the glass doors.

Occasionally, a pedestrian walks by outside the door, and through the glass, you can see a young man wearing a hat and an apron working diligently.

Time passed by, second by second.

After tidying up the spice rack, Shen Yi realized there was nothing else to do.

She stood in the aisle between the kitchen and the living room, watching Lin Ye rearrange the condiment dishes on the table.

He has done every job that can be done in the entire store.

Just as he finished wiping the last table and was about to go somewhere else, he heard a sound behind him.

"I'm gone."

He turned around, and Shen Yi had already taken off her hat, her hair falling out from under the brim. She was untying the straps of her apron.

Lin didn't move, just looked at her.

Shen Yi folded the apron and put it back in the wardrobe, then also put away Lin Ye's apron.

She went to the front desk, said something to the female manager in charge of accounts, and finally all that could be heard was, "I'm sorry to have taken up your time."

The female manager first looked at Shen Yi, and then at Lin Ye behind Shen Yi.

She works in the food and beverage industry and has seen all kinds of people. She didn't know the story of these two young people, but she could tell that the girl wasn't in a good state, and the boy probably came along because he didn't feel comfortable with her.

The female manager waved her hand: "It's okay, the store isn't as busy as before. You guys go back to class. Don't let work interfere with your studies. Studying is the most important thing for young people."

The two left the barbecue restaurant and walked along the commercial street toward the school.

There were more pedestrians on the street than in the morning, including young mothers pushing strollers and commuters carrying briefcases.

The sunlight fell on the two of them, but neither of them spoke as they walked away.

noon.

After returning to school, Shen Yi and Lin Ye attended two classes at Guiyuan Building No. 9.

Now I'm walking back to the dorm with my roommates Zhou Ran and Zhao Jiaxin. They need to go back to put their things away, and then we'll go to the cafeteria together.

Zhao Jiaxin was carrying a bag of snacks she had brought back from class, chewing as she walked. Zhou Ran was next to her, discussing with her whether or not to skip the elective class that afternoon.

Shen Yi walked quietly to the side without interrupting.

She didn't plan to go to the canteen together. She didn't feel hungry. Ever since returning from Changshui Town, she had no appetite and didn't want to eat anything.

Moreover, a meal costs only a dozen yuan, so we should save money wherever possible and pay off our debts as soon as possible.

The three of them had just reached the entrance of the dormitory building when a voice came from the side. They turned around and saw that it was Lin Ye.

Lin also came over to invite Shen Yi to have dinner together.

Zhou Ran was the first to realize that this person seemed to be the boy that Shen Yi had mentioned pursuing before.

Lin Ye is one of the few players at the monthly level in the school.

Have you already caught up with him?

They didn't tell us?

Now that they've come to you on their own initiative, Zhou Ran nudged Zhao Jiaxin with her elbow.

Zhao Jiaxin clearly realized what was going on, tucking the bag of potato chips into her clothes and giving a knowing smile. "Here to pick someone up?"

Lin nodded.

Zhou Ran immediately put her arm around Zhao Jiaxin's shoulder and pulled her back half a step, her movements so exaggerated it was as if she were making way for a red carpet.

"Hurry up, don't keep your boyfriend waiting." Zhou Ran waved to Shen Yi, "We two lonely old folks will go to the cafeteria by ourselves later."

Zhao Jiaxin chimed in, winking and saying, "Go ahead, we won't be third wheels. Have a nice time together, you two."

Shen Yi didn't readily take over the conversation as she usually did, nor did she smile and cooperate; she simply stood quietly.

Zhou Ran noticed that Shen Yi's reaction was a bit off, but she didn't think too much about it, assuming that she was just embarrassed in front of the boys.

Their figures disappeared at the entrance of the building.

The nearest cafeteria is the second cafeteria, and there were quite a few people queuing at the food serving window.

Lin also took two plates and handed one to Shen Yi.

Shen Yi took it, stood in front of the window, and looked at the rows of dishes inside through the glass partition.

Braised pork ribs, sweet and sour pork, dry-fried green beans, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, etc., steam rises from above the dish bowl.

Lin also ordered food for the two of them. They carried their trays and found an empty seat in the corner, next to a beverage machine.

The two sat down facing each other, and Lin also took apart the chopsticks and began to eat, at a moderate pace.

Shen Yi held the chopsticks in her hand, and the sauce from the scrambled eggs with tomatoes in front of her seeped into the rice, turning the edges a light orange color.

She picked up a small handful of rice and put it in her mouth, chewing it for a long time before swallowing.

It was noisy all around. Some people were discussing the afternoon's class schedule, others were playing short videos on their phones, and the sound of spoons scraping against the metal plate could be heard everywhere.

"I can't eat anymore."

"Have two more bites."

"I really have no appetite."

"Wasting food is shameful. If you can't finish it, I'll help you."

"casual."