Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

The line at the clay pot soup window in the second canteen was so long it was almost unbearable.

The heatwave, carrying the rich aroma of lotus root and pork ribs, swept through the noisy hall.

Li Chen followed half a step behind Yan Xi.

He watched as she skillfully pulled two stainless steel plates from the sterilizer, her movements crisp and efficient, completely unlike her usual aloof and unassuming demeanor.

"What would you like to drink?"

Yan Xi didn't turn around; her voice cut through the noisy crowd and precisely reached his ears.

"Mushroom and chicken pieces or spare ribs are both fine."

Li Chen was taken aback for a moment, then said.

His gaze, however, drifted uncontrollably in all directions.

The second canteen is right next to the architecture department building; this is Yan Xi's home turf.

From the moment the two stepped through the door, an eerie atmosphere of low pressure descended upon the once bustling cafeteria.

Countless gazes fell upon him like searchlights.

Li Chen felt that he didn't look like a student who had come to eat, but rather like a "male concubine" who had been taken out of the palace by the queen for inspection and to be shown to the subjects.

This feeling is like having a thorn in your back.

Finally, it was their turn.

"Two servings of lotus root and pork rib soup, one serving of braised pork, one serving of stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant, and two bowls of rice."

Yan Xi speaks very quickly.

The cafeteria lady paused for half a second in mid-air with her spoon. After recognizing Yan Xi, her habitual "Parkinson's tremor" instantly disappeared.

The spoonful of braised pork was piled high, trembling precariously, and the rich broth looked incredibly tempting.

"Fifty-two in total."

The aunt pushed the plate onto the table.

Li Chen subconsciously reached into his pocket.

empty.

Damn it, my meal card is still with her.

"Um, card..."

He had just opened his mouth.

A campus card with a black matte film on it had already passed his line of sight, and with a "beep," it was pressed heavily onto the card reader.

The hand was fair and slender, creating a striking visual contrast with the black card.

Li Chen was stunned: "Wasn't it supposed to be for me?"

Yan Xi picked up the obviously heavier plate with one hand, turned around and shoved it into his hand.

"What, trying to renege on your debt?"

She raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"no……"

Li Chen took the tray and followed closely behind her to find a seat. "You have all the cards. It's not right for you to pay for it."

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Yan Xi chose a seat by the window.

sit down.

She casually pushed the mountain of braised pork in front of Li Chen, and then pulled the meager portion of vegetables from her own plate back.

"Your card is under my control; I'll use my money to treat you to dinner."

She unpacked the disposable chopsticks, her tone so matter-of-fact that no one could argue with her.

"Is there a problem with the logical closed loop?"

Li Chen opened his mouth, but was rendered speechless by this domineering logic.

He looked at the delicious-looking "luxury lunch" in front of him, then glanced at the few green vegetables on Yan Xi's plate.

"You eat so little?"

"I have a structure class in the afternoon, and I tend to feel sleepy if I eat a full meal."

Yan Xi picked up a piece of pork rib and ate it politely, chewing slowly and carefully.

Li Chen gripped his chopsticks, and that awkward feeling welled up inside him again.

They were clearly forced to work, and they were clearly being manipulated.

But how come this gigolo tastes so good to him?

It even smells a little good.

He picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth; the alternating layers of fat and lean meat melted in his mouth.

Really fragrant.

"Is it tasty?"

Yan Xi suddenly stopped eating and stared at his puffed-out cheeks.

"Yes, that's good."

Li Chen responded vaguely, not daring to lift his head.

next second.

A pair of chopsticks reached out.

Yan Xi precisely placed the only two pieces of pork ribs from her soup bowl into Li Chen's bowl.

Eat more.

She put down her chopsticks, her gaze sweeping over his thin wrists, her tone carrying a hint of disdain, yet also a subtle hint of indulgence.

"Too skinny, it's not presentable to take her out."

The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.

A few boys carrying food from the next table slipped and almost spilled their soup on themselves.

That's Yan Xi!

That aloof beauty who usually doesn't even bother to lift her eyelids and ignores all the boys in the school!

He's actually serving food to someone?

You think she's too thin?

This isn't a meal; it's practically feeding poison to all the single people in the school!

Li Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

Under the watchful eyes of those around him who seemed to want to devour him alive, he could only bury his head in his food, trying to stifle his shame with the rice.

Since we can't resist.

Then we'll just have to grit our teeth and swallow this burden.

……

Stepping out of the cafeteria, the midday sun was so bright it was hard to open your eyes.

"Take me to the west building."

Yan Xi glanced at her phone; it was 1:30.

The West Building is the "home base" of the architecture department.

The two walked side by side on the sycamore-lined avenue, their shadows stretching out, sometimes long, sometimes short.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Chen's tension subsided considerably, replaced by a strange sense of ease.

Yan Xi walked on the inside.

The dappled shadows of the trees fell on her off-white knitted sweater, flickering in and out of focus.

"that……"

Li Chen broke the silence, his voice sounding somewhat ethereal amidst the cicadas' chirping.

What time do you finish class this afternoon?

Five o'clock.

Yan Xi didn't look at him directly. "What, you want to come pick me up?"

"...It's not impossible."

Li Chen touched the tip of his nose, his eyes darting around. "Anyway, I'm fine..."

"OK."

Yan Xi uttered two words and didn't stop walking.

The architecture building is very well-designed, with its exposed concrete exterior walls covered in deep red ivy.

People come and go at the bottom of the steps.

Many students carrying drawing tubes slowed down upon seeing Yan Xi, their eyes darting back and forth between the two.

Yan Xi stopped.

Turn around.

"Alright, that's enough."

Li Chen nodded, just about to turn around and slip away.

Yan Xi suddenly took a step forward.

This step was taken very quickly and very soon.

Li Chen instinctively tensed his back, his shoes scraping the ground, and he almost lost his balance.

"Don't move."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of command.

She raised her hand.

The fingertips went straight for his neck.

Li Chen's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his eardrums were filled with the sound of blood pumping.

In public.

What is she going to do?

The students passing by seemed to have been put on pause, each pretending to look at their phones, but actually their ears were perked up like antennas.

Yan Xi's fingers did nothing out of line.

It just landed on his collar.

I was eating in a hurry just now, and the neckline of my T-shirt was a little crooked, revealing a bit of my collarbone.

She slowly and deliberately helped him straighten his collar.

Her fingertips lightly brushed against the skin on the side of his neck.

Slightly cool.

But it was like a spark that instantly ignited the nerve endings under his skin.

"Your collar is messed up."

She tidied him up meticulously, even casually patting off non-existent dust from his shoulder.

The movements were natural and affectionate.

She looks just like a young wife seeing her husband off to work.

Li Chen stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet, looking like a boiled shrimp.

He could feel the gazes coming from all around him, and the heat was enough to burn him through.

"alright."

Yan Xi withdrew her hand, took a half step back, and examined her masterpiece with satisfaction.

She looked up.

Those cat-like eyes were filled with subtle smiles, shining brightly in the sunlight, carrying a slyness of triumph.

Let's have dinner together tonight.

This isn't a discussion; it's a notification.

Done.

Before Li Chen could respond, she turned and walked up the steps, her hair swinging in the air in a beautiful arc.

She took two steps, then turned back.

He waved the book in his hand at Li Chen, who was still in a daze.

"Wait for my news."

Only after that slender figure disappeared behind the glass door did Li Chen regain his breath.

He raised his hand to cover the collar that she had just touched.

The warmth of her fingertips seemed to linger there, burning hot.

The heart inside the chest was still pounding wildly, oblivious to its own mortality.

The surrounding chatter surged in like a tide.

"Holy crap... Senior Yan Xi is fixing his clothes?"

"Who's that guy? Did he save the galaxy in his past life?"

"I'm so jealous, you and me under the lemon tree..."

Li Chen ignored the voices.

He turned and walked back, his steps unsteady.

But the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up in an arc.

This woman.

She's really good at it.

……