Hand-Pulled Noodle

Qi Shuo's heart clenched, followed by an indescribable sense of unease. He quickly turned his head away, avoiding that gaze, as if even a single glance would stir up more unwanted memories and unresolved emotions.

He tugged at Qin Zhou, who was still fuming and muttering curses under his breath, and whispered, "Let's go."

Qin Zhou followed Qi Shuo's gaze and saw Tan Huaiyu. A look of confusion appeared on his face as he muttered, "Huh? Tan Huaiyu? What's he doing standing there?"

He was unaware of the complicated relationship between Tan Huaiyu and Qi Shuo, and assumed it was just a chance encounter. Out of politeness, he nodded in that direction as a greeting, and then Qi Shuo pulled him away from this troublesome place.

As Tan Huaiyu watched Qi Shuo turn away resolutely without any hesitation, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched quietly, his nails digging deep into his palms, bringing a distinct pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

He was indeed... disliked after all.

Even getting close has become a disturbance.

When he got home, Qi Shuo felt an unprecedented exhaustion, not only physically but also mentally.

He simply told Sister Jin that he was fine, then went straight back to his room and closed the door. He threw himself heavily onto the bed, burying his face in the soft pillow, trying to shut out all the sounds and thoughts from the outside world.

The room was quiet, with only his own slightly disordered breathing.

Scenes from the day replayed uncontrollably in his mind—the pointing eyes, the humiliating whispers, the provocative faces of those people, Sister Jin's anger and heartache when she defended him, and the suffocating humiliation and numbness he felt when he publicly confessed his past…

Finally, the image lingers on Tan Huaiyu's eyes, which are filled with heartache and guilt.

Why... did things turn out this way? He just wanted to attend his younger brother's parent-teacher conference like an ordinary person and share a little bit of insignificant joy.

Just as he was enveloped by negative emotions and almost drowning in them, the screen of his phone, which was next to his pillow, suddenly lit up and emitted a few crisp message notification sounds.

Qi Shuo struggled to lift his head, picking up his phone somewhat blankly. Unlocking the screen revealed unread messages on WeChat from a contact named "Ning Wan."

This discovery startled him, and a sliver of clarity emerged from his muddled thoughts. He opened the chat box.

Ning Wan: [Brother Qi Shuo, are you busy?]

Ning Wan: [Tomorrow's the weekend! Any plans?]

Ning Wan: [I discovered the library has gotten several incredibly interesting books on translation theory! And so many wonderful collections of essays!]

Ning Wan: [Want to go take a look together?]

Ning Wan: [After we finish reading, we can go sit at that newly opened milk tea shop downstairs. I heard their cheese grape drink is super delicious!]

A series of lively yet slightly cautious words, accompanied by cute emoticons, shone like a faint but warm light into his gloomy heart.

The words overflow with the girl's pure joy and anticipation for the weekend, which contrasts sharply with Qi Shuo's gloomy mood at this moment.

Qi Shuo stared at the screen, his fingertips hovering over the keyboard, unsure how to reply.

He could almost picture the sparkle in Ning Wan's bright eyes as she sent those messages. He didn't want to let his own bad mood affect this pure kindness.

He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and typed a reply.

Qi Shuo: [I have to go to work tomorrow.]

After sending the message, he hesitated for a moment, then added: [I had taken a day off previously, so I'll make up for it tomorrow.]

He replied almost instantly.

Ning Wan: [Oh, I see.]

Ning Wan: [Disappointment.JPG]

Ning Wan: [It's okay, it's okay, work is important.]

Ning Wan: [So, where do you work? Is it convenient for you to tell me?]

Qi Shuo looked at that slightly disappointed expression and his heart softened for some reason. He sent over the address of the "Encounter" Western restaurant almost without hesitation.

Ning Wan: [Received!]

Ning Wan: [What about after you get off work? Do you have time?]

Ning Wan: [If you're not tired...we could go shopping or get something to drink after you get off work, okay?]

Seeing her persistent and kind invitation, Qi Shuo's calm heart was stirred as if a small pebble had been thrown into it, creating tiny ripples.

His heart, which had become cold and hardened by the events of the day, seemed to regain a touch of warmth.

Qi Shuo: [Okay. I'll probably get off work around 6 PM, which is a bit late.]

Ning Wan: [It's alright, then it's settled.]

Ning Wan: [You get some rest, I won't bother you anymore, see you tomorrow!]

Qi Shuo put down his phone and lay back down on the bed, but his mood was completely different from before.

The room remained quiet, with the afterglow of the setting sun filtering through the curtains and casting warm dappled light on the floor.

He stared at the patch of light for a long time, then sighed softly, almost imperceptibly, a faint but genuine smile curving his lips.

The next day, Qi Shuo woke up earlier than usual. As dawn broke outside, he unusually asked Sister Jin if he could drive her car to work that day. Sister Jin was a little surprised, but didn't ask any questions. She readily handed him the car keys, only reminding him, "Be careful on the road."

Qi Shuo took the keys and grunted in agreement. He didn't want to be late. He had an appointment with someone after work today.

After a long absence, he gripped the steering wheel again, driving on the streets where there were few cars in the early morning. He rolled down the window, letting the cool morning breeze flow into the car and ruffle his neat short hair.

It's a wonderful feeling, with a sense of security that comes from having control over direction and time.

He arrived at the restaurant almost twenty minutes early.

After changing into his neat uniform, he began his day's work. Preparing ingredients, wiping tableware, checking equipment... the familiar routine gradually immersed him, allowing him to temporarily leave behind yesterday's troubles. There weren't many customers in the morning, and soothing music filled the restaurant, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Around ten o'clock, the wind chimes at the door jingled crisply. Qi Shuo, who was tidying the bar, habitually looked up and said, "Welcome." But when he saw the customer who walked in, he froze.

It was Ning Wan.

Today she wore a refreshing light blue crewneck sweatshirt, paired with a neat white culotte skirt and canvas shoes. Her chestnut-brown, slightly wavy long hair was tied into a playful side ponytail, swaying gently as she walked. She carried a rather large canvas backpack, and a bright yet slightly shy smile graced her face as she looked at him.

"Brother Qi Shuo!" she greeted softly, with a hint of excitement in her voice, her eyes curving into crescents.

Qi Shuo was completely unprepared for her appearance at this time, and was caught off guard for a moment. But then, an indescribable warm feeling welled up in his heart, dispelling the last trace of gloom.

He couldn't help but laugh, not his usual faint, almost imperceptible smile, but a clear, surprised, and warm smile that appeared on his lips and in his eyes.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice softer than he himself realized.

"I'll wait for you to get off work!" Ning Wan walked to the bar with a smile, and naturally sat down on the bar stool closest to him, putting her backpack next to her. "Anyway, I don't have anything to do on the weekend, so I might as well read somewhere. We can have lunch together, and the environment here is quite nice."

As she spoke, she even gave the restaurant's elegant ambiance a rather dignified look. By appearing at his workplace in the most natural way possible, she was showing him through her actions: I care about you, I want to be with you, but this is normal, there's no need to feel pressured.

This subtle thoughtfulness and tacit understanding warmed Qi Shuo's heart once again. He didn't say anything more, just nodded, his smile deepening. He turned and poured her a glass of warm water, gently placing it in front of her.

"Thank you!" Ning Wan picked up her water glass, took a small sip, and then took out the "super interesting" translation theory book she had mentioned from her bag, and actually started reading it quietly.

Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded in the restaurant: a handsome, silent waiter was busy behind the bar, wiping glasses and preparing ingredients; while a well-behaved girl who looked like a college student sat in the seat closest to him, quietly reading a book.

There wasn't much communication between them, but an indescribable, harmonious, and warm atmosphere quietly flowed between them. In between his busy moments, Qi Shuo would occasionally glance up at her, and seeing her furrowed brows in deep thought, or her eyes brightening slightly with sudden realization, a smile would never fade from his lips.

All of this, of course, did not escape the eyes of his colleagues. Manager Chen was the first to come over, nudging Qi Shuo with his elbow, lowering his voice, and saying with a mischievous smile, "Hey, Qi, you're something else! When did you get a girlfriend? She's so pretty and charming! And she even came to accompany you to work?"

Qi Shuo was startled, his ears burning slightly. He quickly denied it in a low voice: "Manager, don't talk nonsense. We're just ordinary friends. He's still in college."

"Just ordinary friends?" Manager Chen gave him a "I don't believe you" look. "Would ordinary friends come here first thing in the morning and sit for hours? Look at the way they're looking at you, they're practically glued to you!"

He chuckled, and before Qi Shuo could explain further, he waved his hand and shouted to the kitchen, "Qiangzi! Make that young lady a portion of our new mango mousse, on my tab! Consider it... a gift for Qi Shuo's future girlfriend!"

Upon hearing this, the kitchen staff and other waiters burst into laughter and gathered around to tease him.

"Wow, Brother Shuo! You've got some big stuff going on quietly!"

"This girl is so sweet! She's a perfect match for our Brother Shuo!"

"When are you going to invite us to your wedding?"

Their banter made Qi Shuo blush deeply, feeling both helpless and amused. He could only wave his hands repeatedly, saying, "It's really not... Don't make a fuss, you'll scare him."

Ning Wan seemed to have heard the commotion as well. She looked up from her book and saw Qi Shuo's embarrassed state as he was surrounded and teased by his colleagues. She was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but smile.

Lunch break was approaching, so Ning Wan closed her book, walked to the bar, and looked at Qi Shuo with bright eyes: "Brother Qi Shuo, it's lunchtime, let's go have lunch together?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen perked up again: "Hey! Don't go out to eat! Just eat here. Order whatever you want, it's on me! Consider it creating an opportunity for you!" he said, winking.

Qi Shuo insisted this time, shaking his head: "Manager, there's no need to spend money. We can just eat out."

He didn't want to owe this person a favor, and he didn't want this lunch to become a "date" that would be watched by everyone.

Manager Chen couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he had to give up, but he still added, "Alright then, remember to find a nice place, don't mistreat the girl!"

Qi Shuo nodded, handed things over to his colleagues, and walked out of the restaurant with Ning Wan.

The April sun was warm and felt wonderful on her skin. Ning Wan walked beside Qi Shuo, tilted her head slightly, and asked, "Brother Qi Shuo, what do you want to eat? I know a ramen shop nearby that's affordable, has huge portions, and tastes amazing! My classmate highly recommended it!"

"Okay." Qi Shuo had no objections and nodded in agreement. He wasn't picky about food, and Ning Wan's recommendation sounded good.

The ramen shop wasn't far from the restaurant, just across the street on a small street. The shop wasn't big, and the decor was simple, but it was very clean. It was lunchtime, and there were quite a few people sitting inside; the air was steamy and full of lively atmosphere.

The proprietress warmly invited them to sit down. Qi Shuo handed the menu to Ning Wan, who skillfully ordered a bowl of tomato and beef brisket ramen, then looked at Qi Shuo: "Brother Qi Shuo, what would you like to eat?"

Qi Shuo was here for the first time. Looking at the wide variety of dishes on the menu, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to order the same thing as you, so he said, "The same as you."

"Alright! Two bowls of tomato and beef brisket ramen!" the proprietress called out to the kitchen.

While waiting, Ning Wan started chatting excitedly with Qi Shuo.

She angrily complained about their college advisor, saying that the advisor was heartless and arranged all sorts of "formalistic" activities that took up a lot of everyone's rest time.

She speaks very quickly, with expressive gestures, gesturing wildly like a lively little sparrow.

Qi Shuo listened quietly, a faint smile on his face. Looking at her lively and vibrant appearance, and listening to her complain about those "troubles" that belong to the campus and are full of youthful energy, he couldn't help but feel a little envious.

University is wonderful. It offers clear goals, teachers you can complain to, and a future full of endless possibilities.

For him, all of these were already unattainable dreams.

He had long since lost the right to even step onto a university campus.

Two steaming bowls of ramen were quickly served. The rich tomato broth, the tender and flavorful braised beef brisket, and the sprinkled bright green scallions made it incredibly appetizing.