Premium Bistro (Part 1)

Jiang Yichun, holding a letter of recommendation, met Zhang Xingxing downstairs at the Yuren Building.

The two exchanged a glance, then, understanding each other perfectly, went upstairs.

The two walked into Professor Lin Feng's office one after the other. Jiang Yichun looked up and saw He Yinxin packing her things on the side.

He Yinxin met her gaze, his hand holding the documents paused for a moment, and then he buried his head to continue tidying up.

Jiang Yichun looked away and turned to Lin Feng with a forced smile: "Professor Lin, Xingxing and I have come to you to sign our recommendation letters."

"We informed you in advance via email."

Lin Feng looked up, a layer of wrinkles forming on his forehead: "Oh, I see. Here, let me see the letter of recommendation first."

The two men placed the letters of recommendation on his desk.

Lin Feng pushed up his reading glasses and squinted as he scanned the two recommendation letters.

Jiang Yichun immediately asked, "Professor Lin, is our letter acceptable? Is there anything that needs to be revised?"

Lin Feng ran his fingers over the two sheets of paper, then shook his head: "No need to revise them. You and your classmate wrote them very well, following the format and template. I'll sign them for you now."

He took out a pen from the side, but stopped signing his name.

"Which school's summer camp are you going to?" He looked up, and Jiang Yichun saw his bald head of hair again.

Zhang Xingxing spoke first: "As for me, I want to go back to my hometown in the north to study. I currently want to go to Beidu University of Finance and Economics in Beidu City."

Lin Feng raised the corners of his mouth: "Sure, you can protect Zhang. What about Jiang?"

She took a deep breath: "University A in our city."

"Oh, University A, that's quite difficult." Lin Feng's smile didn't fade. "But you can do it. Your grades are even better than my graduate student's. He..."

He stopped writing and coughed a few times.

"It's just a pity that my graduate student couldn't go because of his English score, so he followed me to do research."

Jiang Yichun's mind was no longer on Lin Feng's words or the bald patch. She bit her lower lip and said, "That's a real shame, but following Professor Lin is quite nice, isn't it?"

She glanced at the boy packing his things out of the corner of her eye.

He Yinxin had already collected the stack of documents and neatly arranged them on the table.

He forced a stiff smile at the two of them: "Yes, Professor Lin has been very kind to me."

"Good morning, junior girls. Just pretend I don't exist. I'm here to help Teacher Lin organize the materials."

Zhang Xingxing frowned: "Senior He, why are you saying that? You and..."

"Hello, Senior He." Jiang Yichun met He Yinxin's gaze and smiled at him, but her hand was tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.

Lin Feng couldn't understand the atmosphere inside the room. He coughed a few more times and said, "Xiao He, are you almost done packing? You can go with those two students. I still need to read some documents."

He Yinxin nodded and looked at the girl standing to the side.

Zhang Xingxing nudged Jiang Yichun a few times with her elbow and winked at her.

Jiang Yichun crumpled the recommendation letter in his hand, muttering to himself, "Then let's go. I can also ask the senior a few questions about graduate school application."

He Yinxin's furrowed brows finally relaxed: "Okay. Let's go, feel free to ask any questions you have."

The three then left the office one after another.

Although He Yinxin said she had questions for him, no one actually said a word to him.

Zhang Xingxing walked between the two people, feeling as if she were trapped in a low-pressure vortex.

On the right is a warm front, Jiang Yichun, and on the left is a cold front, He Yinxin.

She could only pull out her phone and pray that the senior student who had actually been accepted into University A for graduate studies would appear soon.

"drop."

The phone notification sounded like a divine intervention.

Senior Liu from University A: [Xiao Zhang, where are you and your classmates now?]

Zhang Xingxing, as if grasping at a straw, hurriedly replied: 【I'm over at the Yuren Building, senior, come quick!】

Senior Liu from University A: [What a coincidence, I just finished reading the professor's post.]

Turn around, I'll be right behind you.

Zhang Xingxing turned around and sure enough, there was a tall man standing behind her.

She grabbed Jiang Yichun's arm: "Xiaochun, this is my surprise for you!"

Jiang Yichun froze on the spot, and He Yinxin also stopped in her tracks. The two of them turned around at the same time.

In the morning light, a face absorbing the energy of the sun suddenly appeared before them.

The young man had short hair, regular features, and a prominent canine tooth when he smiled.

He strode up and extended his hand to the group: "Hi, everyone, my name is Liu Jianyang, Jianshe Yangguang, and I'm currently a first-year graduate student at University A—hey, He Yinxin, isn't this my old classmate from the next class?"

He Yinxin pushed up her glasses and tugged at her collar: "Yeah. Old Liu, long time no see."

He watched helplessly as Liu Jianyang shifted his gaze to Jiang Yichun.

Liu Jianyang's previously wandering gaze suddenly fixed, and he strode forward, bending down: "Hey, you're the Jiang junior that Zhang told me about, right?"

"You're very pretty! I heard from Zhang that you're the top student in your major? That's amazing!"

Jiang Yichun stiffened, forcing a smile: "Haha, I'm number one, but I'm not pretty, and I don't need to be pretty."

"I'm just an average-looking girl."

"Oh, I see. But I think you really do look..."

"Old Liu, how are things going with your girlfriend lately?" He Yinxin interrupted him, staring at him expressionlessly.

Liu Jianyang rubbed his hands together, his smile gradually freezing: "Her? We're quite close. She really likes girls like Xiaochun, and I was even thinking of introducing them..."

"Really? You and your girlfriend have been dating for quite a while, haven't you? You used to always show off your affection in front of us guys." He Yinxin said calmly.

Liu Jianyang glanced at him, then turned to Jiang Yichun with a smile: "By the way, Jiang, are you here to ask me about getting a place at A University for graduate studies?"

Jiang Yichun frowned and pursed his lips.

Seeing that she didn't reply immediately, Liu Jianyang continued, "Oh, don't be too nervous. This is just me sharing my experience. Your classmate Zhang listened to my one-on-one advice last night, and she found it very useful, so she recommended it to you."

"I won't take any money, I just want to be friends. And..."

His gaze fell on He Yinxin, who was standing to the side, and a smile appeared on his lips: "What feelings could someone like me, who has a girlfriend, possibly have for you?"

"My partner is very strict with me, so we were just sharing our experiences. And Zhang told me you also wanted to get into A University, which is perfect, since I also successfully got into A University for graduate school. Oh, Lao He, you also tried to get into A University, right?"

He Yinxin nearly ripped his pants, snorting, "I tried to rush through, but failed. You should already know my fate since you've run into me here."

"Oh, it's nothing, buddy. Huaxing is pretty good too." Liu Jianyang patted He Yinxin on the shoulder.

He Yinxin frowned and took a few steps back: "So, Lao Liu, you came here to share your experience with Jiang Xuemei?"

Liu Jianyang snapped his fingers: "That's right!"

He Yinxin shifted her gaze from him and looked at Jiang Yichun to the side, without saying anything.

Those almond-shaped eyes gazed at her calmly and silently.

Jiang Yichun met his gaze, and smoothed her hair with her slightly sweaty palms: "Yes. I... I helped Xingxing. Xingxing helped me find a senior student who was recommended for graduate school at University A. I think he can provide some reliable information."

"And the contract doesn't seem to say I can't temporarily find someone else... right?"

"I will do the tasks stipulated in the contract, so I should not have breached the contract."

He Yinxin frowned, gritted his teeth, and avoided her gaze: "Yes. It wasn't mentioned in the contract."

"The primary goal is for you to be recommended for postgraduate studies at A University."

"Old Liu is indeed more experienced than me, after all, he really got into A University."

A slight smile played on his lips as he turned back to look at her: "You don't need to ask me. After all, getting into graduate school is your business, not mine."

His voice trailed off with a tremor.

Jiang Yichun looked at him in silence, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.

Why does he seem to care about me so much, yet he pushes me away in this kind of situation?

Why do I feel a tightness in my chest when I actually let go, even though I clearly want him to push me away?

Why do I always feel like there's a piece missing from my heart when I'm away from him and back in my safe zone?

Why did things become so awkward between me and him, and between us, after that blunder of calling myself "two-timing"?

Jiang Yichun subconsciously stared at his face, trying to catch a trace of emotion in his eyes.

But no, his eyes were covered by his glasses, and she couldn't see his heart.

He Yinxin noticed her intense gaze, lowered her head, pushed up her glasses, and said nothing.

"Oh, right, Jiang, junior."

Liu Jianyang broke the silence with his words.

Jiang Yichun turned his head and looked at him.

His two canine teeth gleamed, shimmering with a soft light.

"What's wrong, Senior Liu?"

Liu Jianyang kept glancing at the two of them, scratching the back of his head: "Well, I've been quite busy with my studies lately, so I probably don't have much free time..."

Jiang Yichun tilted his head: "So this consultation will be very short, or we won't do it at all?"

He Yinxin suddenly looked up, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"Haha, of course! I'll definitely keep my promise." Liu Jianyang took out his phone and opened a food review app. "How about we eat and chat tonight?"

"I booked an Italian bistro near the school, oh, you know, a small pub that serves Western food."

"It was so hard to book! I had to get up early to snag one."

Jiang Yichun's lips twitched: "Is it...is it the four of us going together?"

"Haha, I don't have that much money, just the two of us." Liu Jianyang stroked his stubble, his eyes darting around. "Don't worry, Jiang, I have a girlfriend who checks up on me, she definitely won't do anything to you."

"We were simply exchanging learning experiences."

Jiang Yichun pursed her lips and shifted her gaze back to the boy beside her.

He Yinxin kept his head down, his face was pale, but he still didn't say anything.

Jiang Yichun bit her lip hard.

Why has He Yinxin become mute? Why doesn't he say anything?

Anyway, the contract didn't say I couldn't eat with other people! I didn't breach the contract!

Anyway, this senior has a girlfriend, so he won't develop a romantic relationship with me!

With his blood surging, Jiang Yichun forced a smile at Liu Jianyang: "Okay, senior, then we'll see you tonight."

Let's exchange contact information first!

"Beep." The moment the QR code scanning sound rang out, He Yinxin pushed up her glasses.

His heart sank into a cold abyss.