What a Coincidence

Qin Huairen was visibly surprised.

Seeing Wen Yuzhi here felt out of place.

She remembered how, during high school lunch breaks, everyone rushed toward the shabby school cafeteria.

Only Wen Yuzhi walked in the opposite direction, toward the school gate.

One day, unable to resist her curiosity, Qin Huairen secretly followed her.

Every time, Wen Yuzhi would leave through the gate and turn left.

Later, Qin Huairen discovered where she went by crawling out through a collapsed section of fencing.

At the end of that road was a small grove.

A brand-new luxury car waited there.

Two men in suits would open the door for Wen Yuzhi.

Only when lunch break was nearly over would she step out of the car and return.

Qin Huairen had told Xu Jianing about it.

The two of them once clung to the school’s heavy iron gate like prisoners, staring longingly outside.

Xu Jianing had complained,

“Isn’t the gate closed during school hours? Why is she allowed out?”

Yes.

Wen Yuzhi was privilege incarnate.

Rules simply did not apply to her.

Qin Huairen had resented it too.

She was sick of the cheapest radish buns from the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, Wen Yuzhi got to leave campus for lavish meals.

She even confronted the homeroom teacher.

“A friend of mine just wants to eat a bowl of cold noodles. It’s so hot. Is it really that unreasonable for a tired student to want that?”

The teacher’s face darkened.

“No means no.”

Xu Jianing had called the teacher a snob more than once.

He smiled warmly at Wen Yuzhi but glared coldly at them.

Qin Huairen had fumed.

“May he never eat more than three dishes in his life.”

Later, word somehow spread about Wen Yuzhi leaving campus.

Parents and students protested.

Her privilege was revoked.

Qin Huairen asked Xu Jianing if she had told anyone.

Xu Jianing shook her head.

To this day, Qin Huairen didn’t know who had leaked it.

But Wen Yuzhi clearly blamed her.

Whenever they crossed paths in the cafeteria, Wen Yuzhi’s cold gaze lingered on them.

Sometimes Qin Huairen slammed the table in frustration.

Around that time, Wen Yuzhi grew noticeably thinner.

Perhaps because she barely ate school food.

Some students felt sorry for her.

Qin Huairen scoffed.

“Throw her into the mountains for three days. Let’s see if she eats then.”

And yet, the same picky, particular Wen Yuzhi now stood inside a cramped alley noodle shop.

Qin Huairen glanced around in disbelief.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to eat.”

Wen Yuzhi looked around at the crowded space.

The thought of brushing against strangers made her uneasy.

Her hands tightened unconsciously.

Her rigid posture radiated resistance.

Qin Huairen tilted her head, amused.

“What? You here to rob the place?”

Wen Yuzhi forced herself to move inside, dodging people left and right.

More than once, she nearly collided with bowls of hot soup.

Just as she exhaled in relief, a man carrying noodles stepped down from the entrance while talking on his phone, lost his footing, and stumbled straight toward her.

A passerby reached out to grab her.

She instinctively recoiled, stepping back.

Her high heel caught on uneven ground.

She thought she was done for.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her aside.

The bowl of noodles crashed to the ground.

Hot soup splashed, prompting shrieks from nearby diners.

Heart still racing, Wen Yuzhi turned to see Qin Huairen behind her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Qin Huairen waved it off and scolded the man,

“Watch where you’re going. That’s hot soup. Someone could’ve been burned.”

The man apologized.

The owner rushed over, checking on everyone.

One diner’s hand was reddened from the splash and was ushered inside for cold water.

Wen Yuzhi tried to step in to order noodles.

Qin Huairen grabbed her.

“Don’t you have better food at your company? Why squeeze in here?”

“I’m hungry. I want noodles.”

Her tone was earnest.

Qin Huairen knew her well.

Once Wen Yuzhi decided on something, no one could stop her.

“What exactly do you want?”

“The same as yours.”

Qin Huairen sighed and went in to order.

The owner’s wife noticed the red patch on Qin Huairen’s hand.

“Girl, did you get burned? Rinse it.”

“It’s fine.”

“Do you have non-spicy noodles?”

The owner shook his head.

His wife nudged him.

“I’ll make her a clear broth.”

Qin Huairen thanked her and stepped back outside.

Wen Yuzhi was staring at her.

“What are you looking at?”

They returned to the table.

Wen Yuzhi sat opposite her, gaze still steady.

“Keep staring and I’ll splash chili oil in your eyes.”

Wen Yuzhi smiled faintly and leaned closer.

“Good thing you were behind me just now.”

Qin Huairen slapped her chopsticks down.

“I forgot. I was grabbing vinegar.”

Her ponytail bounced in the midday sun, strands lit like scattered gold.

Wen Yuzhi watched her, unable to look away.

When the bowls arrived, Wen Yuzhi noticed hers was plain, dotted only with scallions.

Qin Huairen’s floated in red chili oil.

Wen Yuzhi picked up her bowl to switch.

“Stop.”

“It’s wrong.”

“It’s not.”

Qin Huairen pointed at her.

“You’re injured. No spicy food.”

Her tone resembled a strict dean.

“Injured people can’t eat spicy. Basic knowledge.”

Finally, Qin Huairen asked if she would eat.

“No ‘but.’ Eat.”

Even a simple bowl of noodles looked refined in Wen Yuzhi’s hands.

Qin Huairen, meanwhile, ate heartily, sweat forming on her nose.

When she finished, Wen Yuzhi set her bowl down too, barely half eaten.

“You’re wasting food.”

“Do you know there are people in the west who don’t have enough to eat?”

“The west? Which area exactly?”

Qin Huairen kept wiping the table, avoiding her gaze.

Wen Yuzhi understood the silence.

“This year there’s a poverty alleviation project. Huaxin Group is involved. If you tell me where, I’ll visit and plan something concrete.”

Qin Huairen scoffed.

“Like you’d actually go.”

“I will.”

She stood and walked away.

Wen Yuzhi grabbed her hand.

“Tell me clearly. What did you mean?”

Qin Huairen shook her off.

“You haven’t changed. Still so annoying.”

Wen Yuzhi froze.

Qin Huairen’s cheeks were flushed from the heat, eyes blazing.

“I warned you. Don’t mess with my friends.”

“Ah Ren—”

“Wen Yuzhi.”

They spoke at once.

“I decided after graduation to have no contact with you. Live however you want. Just don’t provoke me. But if you dare touch my friends—”

Her tone turned sharp.

“You’ll regret it.”

Wen Yuzhi’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes did not smile.

“You care about her as much as ever.”

“So what?”

“She’s my friend. I’ll protect her.”

“In that case,” Wen Yuzhi said lightly,

“I’ll just have to see what happens if I do.”

“Wen Yuzhi!”

She leaned closer, voice almost lazy.

“I’d like to see how you protect her.”