Lunchtime Invitation

After that, I went about my day as usual: attending class diligently, taking notes, chatting with Xiao Lu and Ling Yan during breaks, and asking them for help whenever I encountered something I didn’t understand.

Thinking back to when I first entered Taolisi High School, I hadn’t been too concerned about my grades. After all, my purpose in getting into this school was to enjoy its relatively free atmosphere.

But I never expected that after starting to date Ling Yan, I would study so hard to avoid bringing shame upon her. Although I’m only ranked in the middle of our grade now, in this school that gathers the best students from the entire province—or even the whole country—that’s still pretty decent. And my grades were only brought up thanks to Xiao Lu and Ling Yan. They’re both top ten in our grade, after all.

So I’m genuinely grateful to Ling Yan and Xiao Lu. Basically, whenever there’s something I can help with, I do my part.

For example, being treated as a professional errand boy, buying them snacks and drinks during breaks.

And so time passed quickly. The morning flew by, and by lunchtime, students gradually left the classroom, leaving only a few of us behind.

Ling Yan, Xiao Lu, and I were among them. Since we all had homemade bento boxes, there was no need to crowd into the packed cafeteria.

“Chenzi, hurry up and move your desk over.”

Xiao Lu placed her bento on Ling Yan’s desk, turned her chair to face Ling Yan, and waved excitedly at me.

According to Xiao Lu, eating together always tastes better.

I remember when I first started dating Ling Yan, I only dared to eat alone at my desk. Later, thanks to Xiao Lu noticing the awkward atmosphere between Ling Yan and me and actively inviting me to join them, I was able to sit next to Ling Yan.

After I moved my desk next to Ling Yan’s and sat down, Xiao Lu eagerly opened her bento box and scooped a mouthful.

Probably the happiest moment of Xiao Lu’s day is eating her bento.

I smiled and opened my own bento. Having sat out all morning, it no longer had the chill of being fresh from the fridge, but it was still cool. After all, it was leftovers from last night’s dinner, so it had to be refrigerated; otherwise, given Hualing City’s climate, it would go bad by the next day.

“Xiao Yanzi’s cooking is the best.”

Xiao Lu ate her own bento while eyeing Ling Yan’s, which made me a bit jealous. That was Ling Yan’s bento, and she made it herself!

But I wouldn’t ask Ling Yan if I could have a taste. I knew she would refuse, so I wouldn’t humiliate myself.

Just being able to watch Ling Yan from this close was enough for me. As I ate my cold bento, I secretly glanced at her.

She was slightly lowering her head, using one hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing half of her fair, delicate face and ear. With the other hand, she held chopsticks, picking up a small piece of tofu and bringing it to her pink lips.

She was so beautiful. Even the cold food seemed twice as delicious. This must be what the ancients meant by “a feast for the eyes.”

“Hey, Chenzi, stop sneaking glances at Xiao Yanzi. If you want to look, just do it openly. Are you afraid she’ll scold you?”

Xiao Lu seemed to have noticed my sneaky behavior and suddenly shouted, startling me.

“I’m not! I’ve been eating.”

I quickly averted my gaze guiltily and pretended to take a bite.

“Hmph, coward.”

Xiao Lu looked at me with disdain.

(Coward? Maybe I am a coward. But what can I do? I like her so much.)

I stole another glance at Ling Yan. She was blushing slightly, her fair cheeks tinged pink, but otherwise seemed normal. I breathed a sigh of relief and didn’t dare look at her again, instead bickering with Xiao Lu.

“Senior? Senior! I didn’t expect to find you here!”

A sweet, soft voice suddenly came from the back door. I paused and looked toward the sound. Ai Xi stood outside the classroom door, waving excitedly at me. In her other hand, she held a pink cherry-blossom-patterned bento bag.

What was she doing? She didn’t want to eat with us, did she? With Ai Xi’s popularity, plenty of people would want to be with her.

The other students in the class stared blankly at Ai Xi, probably wondering why the first-year Ai Xi was here, then turned their gazes to me.

“Hehe, Chenzi, Xiao Xi has come to see you again.”

Xiao Lu’s voice was eerily cold in my ear, making me shiver. She was poking at her bento with her chopsticks, a sneer on her face.

Ling Yan also stopped eating, her dark eyes fixed on Ai Xi.

The scene gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.

“Xiao Xi, what brings you here?”

But Xiao Lu, after her sinister remark, immediately switched to a bright, flower-like smile and walked toward Ai Xi.

Was she upset that Ai Xi only greeted me? This was so unfair—caught in the crossfire without doing anything.

“Senior Xiao Lu, good afternoon. Well, I wanted to invite you all to eat together, but I see you’ve brought your own bento. I have mine too, so… could I join you?”

Ai Xi politely greeted Xiao Lu, then clutched the straps of her bento bag, looking shy. Her big, watery eyes darted between Xiao Lu and us.

“Of course! Xiao Xi is so cute; we warmly welcome you!”

Xiao Lu was obviously delighted. She took Ai Xi’s hand and led her over to us.

“Senior Ling Yan, good afternoon.”

“Mm, good afternoon, Xiao Xi.”

The two most popular girls in school exchanged polite greetings, a very pleasing sight.

“Well, that’s just how Xiao Yanzi is. Don’t be so formal, Xiao Xi. Sit here.”

Xiao Lu looked at the interaction between Ai Xi and Ling Yan with mild exasperation, then grabbed a vacant chair and placed it in front of me for Ai Xi.

“Is this really okay?”

Ai Xi hesitated as she looked at the chair.

“What’s the big deal? We’re just borrowing it for a while. We’ll put it back later.”

Xiao Lu said dismissively. If the owner found out, they’d probably be thrilled.

I nodded too. It wasn’t a big deal. Was Ai Xi being too cautious?

“Okay, then if you don’t mind.”

Ai Xi glanced at me, let out a breath, placed her bento on my desk, and slowly sat down, smoothing her skirt.