The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

The cafeteria was still bustling with people at lunchtime.

In winter, several stalls that used to sell liangpi (cold skin noodles) and cold noodles changed their menu and started selling hot steamed buns, pastries, dumplings, and other noodle dishes.

"Oh...what a pity, I really want to eat liangpi (cold skin noodles)."

Wen Yao stared longingly at the former liangpi (cold skin noodles) stall, feeling somewhat disappointed.

"It's winter, so eat less cold food."

Xu Xi held a steaming bowl of soup noodles, blowing on it gently.

Zhao Lin, who was sitting next to them, nodded as well.

"Hey? Look, isn't that Sister Lin?"

"Why are you still calling me 'Sister Lin'? She's fallen on hard times and is nothing now."

"I heard she transferred to Class 2? I'm afraid she won't be able to stay in Class 3."

"Of course! Look, isn't the person sitting next to her the class monitor of Class Two?"

Several male classmates with ill intentions approached Zhao Lin.

"Hey, isn't this my sister Lin? You've gotten so shabby in just one week!"

Zhao Lin snorted coldly.

"You guys have been with me for half a year, and I haven't treated you badly, have I?"

"That's right, that's right, after all, Sister Lin used to be so rich."

One of them said with a grin, his eyes full of mockery.

"But now? Why are they all eating steamed buns? Are they here to experience life? Hahahaha..."

"At least it's better than some parasites who only show up but don't actually work, clinging to others."

Zhao Lin spoke coldly, letting out a sneer.

"Damn it, I'm only giving you face by calling you Sister Lin; otherwise, you're nothing."

The man rolled up his sleeves, seemingly about to make a move.

"What? Are you going to bully my classmates in front of me, the class monitor?"

Wen Yao slammed her hand on the table, stood up angrily, and met the gaze of the hoodlum student.

"Who do we have here? Aren't these the two people Sister Lin led us to ambush the other day?"

"You're going to stand up for your enemy? How shameless of you?"

His words elicited a burst of laughter.

Wen Yao gave a cold laugh.

"I had a dog and fed it every day. One day I couldn't afford to feed it anymore, so I released it into the wild. After a while, when I saw it again, it would wag its tail at me."

"Some people are worse than dogs."

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

The thug's veins bulged, and he took a few steps toward Wen Yao, raising his fist to strike her.

Just then, his shoulder was pressed down firmly.

He turned his head and saw Xu Bowen's kind smile.

"You little brat, you're going to lay a hand on my class monitor, aren't you?"

"You...you're Xu Bowen from the sports team?"

The delinquent student recognized Xu Bowen and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

At most, he would only fight a few times with a group of thugs like himself, bullying the weak and scattering when he encountered tough opponents.

Xu Bowen, with his muscular physique, is clearly a tough nut to crack.

"Not bad, you can still recognize me."

Xu Bowen smoothed his hair with one hand and casually showed off his strong arms.

"Misunderstanding...Misunderstanding, I was just...just passing by, yes, just passing by!"

The delinquent student immediately turned and ran away. His friends, seeing this, also quickly took a few steps back, pretending not to know him.

"Hey teacher, how did I do?"

After driving those people away, Xu Bowen grinned and asked Wen Yao for credit.

"Ha... You think I'd be afraid of trash like him, whom you can't even beat?"

Wen Yao rolled her eyes, sat down, and continued to shovel rice into her bowl.

"However, since you were willing to stand up and protect your classmates, I won't tell Lao Yang about you leaving class early last time."

"Hahaha, thank you so much, you incredibly beautiful girl! I'm willing to obey your every word and follow your lead. You're all in cahoots..."

"Go away, go away, who would want to be in cahoots with you, you snake and rat?"

Wen Yao laughed and scolded him, then quickly waved her hand to tell him to get lost.

"Alright, I'm off now."

Xu Bowen chuckled, scratched his head, and quickly left.

"Thank you, Wen Yao."

Zhao Lin gave Wen Yao a grateful look.

"Sigh, I don't know what to say to you, hiring a group of people like this as your henchmen."

Wen Yao glanced disdainfully in the direction the thugs had left.

"You haven't been coming to school lately, was it because you were worried about being bothered by these people?"

Zhao Lin nodded somewhat dejectedly.

Sometimes, it's most reliable to have your own abilities.

Wen Yao stood up, put her hands on her hips, and showed off the muscles in her waist.

However, due to not exercising for too long, those muscles have turned into flabby fat.

Xu Xi recalled the last time she was at Li Na's clothing store, when Wen Yao changed into a shirt and skirt, and how ridiculously her clothes looked because of her fat. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"What are you laughing at, Xi Bao?"

Wen Yao looked at Xu Xi with a puzzled expression.

Immediately, she realized what was happening, and immediately put on an annoyed look, pinching the ticklish spot on Xu Xi's waist.

"Aaaaaah, Xi Bao, how dare you laugh at me for being fat! I'll fight you to see who's hotter!!!"

"Hahahaha... Yao Yao, I really didn't! I just... I was just thinking about something happy..."

"You're talking nonsense! That look you gave me was clearly mocking me for not being able to fit into a shirt and skirt!!!"

Watching the two bickering in front of her, Zhao Lin's eyes flickered, and then she revealed a genuine smile.

It turns out that true friendship really doesn't need money to maintain it.

......

After school, at Wen Yao's suggestion, the three of them went to the skewers stall near the school gate.

"Boss, two skewers of fish tofu, two skewers of beef balls, two skewers of crab sticks, and two skewers of enoki mushrooms, divided into two portions, and I want the really spicy kind. If it's not really spicy, you don't pay!"

"Okay, little girl, please wait a moment."

The stall owner smiled and picked up two plastic bowls, then began to serve Wen Yao the skewers.

After several visits, he was deeply impressed by this girl who could eat so much spicy food.

Wen Yao glanced at Zhao Lin, who was some distance away from them, and said to the boss.

"Give me another bowl of the same, but without any spice. If you put any spice in it, you don't have to pay."

"Haha, okay."

Zhao Lin stood still, constantly rubbing her palms together and breathing on them, waiting for the two people to buy the skewers.

This stall used to be her favorite street food, and she would come here to buy a bowl almost every day after class.

But now she could only watch her classmates around the stall, happily eating skewers from their bowls, and swallow hard.

After donating the inheritance left to her by her father, she was left with only a little money after selling all her jewelry.

This was all the money she had left before she became able to earn it.

Therefore, Zhao Lin excluded any unnecessary expenses.

Including this snack that satisfies her second stomach.

smell good.

I wish I could have a sip of soup.

A short while later, Xu Xi and Wen Yao walked towards her.

Xu Xi was carrying two bowls of boiled skewers. She handed one of the non-spicy bowls to Zhao Lin.

"Is this... for me?"

Zhao Lin asked in surprise.

Xu Xi nodded, the cat ears on her hood swaying with her movements.

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome, Yao Yao bought it."

Xu Xi pointed to Wen Yao beside her, who had just swallowed a scalding hot beef ball and was coughing from the choking sensation.

Zhao Lin quickly took out a bottle of water from her schoolbag and handed it to Wen Yao so she could soothe her throat.

Without realizing it, her eyes became slightly red.