The Unforeseen Interruption

Following the rather dull speeches, a dance performance captivated the audience. Lin Ling found it quite enjoyable, particularly the dancers’ legs… so strikingly fair. No, wait, so remarkably long. Neither quite right, but undeniably beautiful.

Once the ceremony concluded, teachers began marshaling students from their respective classes, directing them back to their rooms to gather their belongings. As it was Lin Ling’s turn for duty, he was tasked with remaining behind to tidy up.

Grabbing the trash bag, Lin Ling swiftly descended the stairs, depositing the dark, overflowing sack onto the refuse heap. Upon his return, he discerned an additional figure within the classroom.

The silver-haired girl appeared to be embroiled in a dispute with Qin Ruoxue, who was already inside. Lin Ling instinctively retreated to a corner, cautiously craning his head to peer surreptitiously into the classroom.

“Chen Sishi, I don’t believe it’s your turn for duty today, is it? Why are you lingering here instead of heading home?”

“I’ve already informed the teacher, you see. From this day forward, I’ve been assigned to duty on this particular day.”

Qin Ruoxue’s brow furrowed deeply, her resplendent golden eyes threatening to ignite with fury. Meanwhile, Chen Sishi maintained an air of composure, occasionally nudging the broom she held.

Caught between intervening and seizing the opportunity to abscond, Lin Ling hesitated. It was at this precise moment that footsteps echoed from behind him. Turning with a bewildered glance, Lin Ling saw a young woman with a cascade of flowing hair.

The girl stood approximately 165 centimeters tall, her striking emerald green eyes immediately drawing attention. Her beauty was remarkable, and her figure was elegantly accentuated by her attire.

Simply observing her attire, Lin Ling felt a flicker of recognition.

“Lin Ling? What are you doing standing here?”

When the young woman uttered his name, Lin Ling’s brow furrowed in confusion. ‘I don’t seem to know this person well,’ he mused. ‘Yet, her demeanor clearly indicates she recognizes me.’

“Ahem, I’ve just finished disposing of the trash and was on my way back to class.”

The girl, without a second thought, merely offered a polite nod and a smile before departing. It was only after her absence that Lin Ling’s memory stirred, recalling where he had encountered her. She was the very girl who had graced the auditorium stage earlier, a performer named Xu Wei. Given the original novel’s sparse descriptions of her, Lin Ling’s momentary lapse in memory was understandable.

Observing her departure, and wary of encountering any further acquaintances, Lin Ling swiftly made his way back to the classroom. By this time, the two girls within had ceased their squabble, and an illusion of profound tranquility settled over the room.

Lin Ling exhaled slowly, a wave of relief washing over him. He had fully expected their quarrel to escalate into a full-blown brawl upon his entrance. Yet, for now, they seemed quite harmonious… or so he hoped…

Having completed the cleanup without further incident, Lin Ling thoroughly rinsed the mop and set it aside in the corner. As soon as Qin Ruoxue secured the classroom door, the trio descended the stairs together.

Lin Ling found himself walking precisely in the center, flanked by Qin Ruoxue and Chen Sishi on his left and right, a formation that instilled a subtle unease within him.

Thankfully, the school grounds were deserted at this hour, sparing Lin Ling any further embarrassment.

“Hey, Lin Ling, would you fancy grabbing a bite to eat later? It’s still quite early, after all.”

“Go out to eat? What sort of cuisine are you thinking of?”

Lin Ling’s steps faltered, his gaze meeting Chen Sishi’s with a subtle hint of inquiry. Chen Sishi, however, responded with unbridled cheerfulness.

“Lin Ling, how would you feel about trying some Western cuisine?”

Qin Ruoxue, who had been observing from the side, visibly bristled. She positioned herself squarely between them, casting a condescending gaze upon Chen Sishi.

“Western cuisine? Why bother? I’ve heard that Western dishes are riddled with carcinogens. And as for rare steaks, they’re teeming with parasites! Are you truly not afraid of contracting an infection?”

At Qin Ruoxue’s pronouncement, a sudden chill swept over Lin Ling, raising a fresh crop of goosebumps on his arms. Given that Qin Ruoxue’s family held significant interests in the pharmaceutical industry, her words undoubtedly carried a degree of authoritative basis.

“What’s the harm in trying it just once? And furthermore, what business is it of yours if Lin Ling and I choose to dine out?”

“Hmph, what if Lin Ling actually falls ill? Would you then assume responsibility for his well-being?”

“Hmph!”

Witnessing the pair once again poised on the brink of a skirmish, Lin Ling shrewdly seized the moment, subtly retreating two steps. Yet, his minor maneuver was instantly detected by both, as two piercing, icy gazes simultaneously fixated upon him.

“Lin Ling, where do you propose we dine?”

“Ah, um… perhaps we could venture to the snack street? It’s not particularly far from here, after all.”

Lin Ling’s suggestion prompted a moment of thoughtful consideration from both girls. After a brief pause, Qin Ruoxue inclined her head in agreement. Chen Sishi, too, offered a nod, though her watery blue eyes remained fixed in an intense glare upon Qin Ruoxue.

From the way they carried themselves, it was evident they were destined for another round of squabbling. Lin Ling, observing this, finally grasped why Qin Ruoxue would later prove to be Chen Sishi’s equal, fiercely contending with her.

With their immediate objective momentarily aligned, Lin Ling stood by the curb and hailed a taxi. Qin Ruoxue promptly settled into the back seat. Lin Ling, initially planning to occupy the front passenger seat, reconsidered. Upon noticing Chen Sishi’s suddenly darkened countenance, he reluctantly steeled himself and slid into the back seat as well.

Only after ascertaining that Lin Ling was firmly seated in the middle, with no apparent intention of escape, did Chen Sishi finally enter the vehicle. The taxi driver, glancing into his rearview mirror, observed Lin Ling ensconced between the two girls in the back, and a faint frown creased his brow.

“Kids these days, are they all so… flamboyant?”

The driver, not one for excessive chatter, refrained from further inquiry.

“Where are the three of you headed?”

“The snack street.”

“Understood.”

The taxi began to move, and approximately fifteen minutes later, the trio arrived before the bustling snack street. This area held a certain familiarity for Lin Ling; Lin Yiting had brought him here on weekends. It was also within these very streets that he had encountered those peculiar individuals and subsequently found himself pursued.

It was, in a different sense, a deeply etched memory.

As they strolled down the bustling thoroughfare, Qin Ruoxue and Chen Sishi once again assumed their bodyguard-like positions, effectively sandwiching Lin Ling between them. The discomfort Lin Ling felt was considerable; while Qin Ruoxue’s proximity was tolerable, Chen Sishi’s was an entirely different matter.

Every so often, she would subtly lean in closer, prompting Lin Ling to instinctively recoil towards Qin Ruoxue. Consequently, what began as a straightforward path soon devolved into a meandering deviation.

Qin Ruoxue, too, cast a disapproving glance at Chen Sishi, her eyes holding a complex tapestry of emotions. Lin Ling couldn’t discern if it was anger or disdain, but the expression unequivocally conveyed a profound irritation towards Chen Sishi.

Daring not to utter a word, Lin Ling continued his silent trek. It was then that a tantalizing aroma wafted into his senses. A deeper inhale confirmed it: the unmistakable fragrance of hotpot.

“Would either of you care for hotpot?”

He ventured, his voice a touch tentative. The two young women, however, evinced little hesitation, readily assenting with quick nods.

“Er, well… don’t you have anything to interject?”

Directing his gaze towards Qin Ruoxue, Lin Ling reiterated his query. Qin Ruoxue, tilting her head in confusion, responded with a bewildered question of her own.

“What’s amiss? Was there something specific I was expected to say?”

“Shouldn’t you be cautioning me about the various pitfalls of hotpot, and subsequently forbidding me from partaking?”

A metaphorical question mark seemed to materialize above Qin Ruoxue’s head, while Lin Ling found himself equally perplexed.

“Since Lin Ling has made the selection, I naturally have no objections whatsoever. Moreover, if one were to follow your logic, then a person might as well abstain from all food entirely, lest illness enter through the mouth.”

Lin Ling’s lips twitched. Qin Ruoxue, it seemed, was more than a little guilty of double standards.