Chapter 29 They kissed.
Lu Jinlan waved the mop in her hand, as if to say: Are you blind? I'm going to rinse the mop.
Jin Yihuai sighed helplessly and had no choice but to accept the punishment.
Two popular figures on campus were mopping the floor early in the morning. With them as role models, anyone who was late afterwards behaved very well; they didn't need to be reminded and just went to find a mop themselves.
Actually, Lu Jinlan had always had trouble waking up early and was often late, but the student council members knew she was difficult to deal with, so they never dared to catch her. When they saw her coming, they simply turned around and pretended not to see her.
But her selfless friend Xiang Ruzhen wouldn't pretend not to see it and caught her red-handed.
To support Ruzhen's work, Lu Jinlan obediently accepted the punishment. However, while she was working, she kept thinking to herself that since coming to the Royal Academy, she had almost become a model of hygiene, cleaning every day.
But she was still very happy. Although Ruzhen was a bit rigid in her work, she was extremely upright.
The student council used to be like an unregulated gang, setting rules haphazardly, and many of its actions were simply to satisfy the leader's personal desires. Its inconsistent behavior left students constantly in a state of fear and uncertainty.
However, the student council led by Xiang Ruzhen has very clear rules. As long as students do not violate the student code of conduct, she will never make things difficult for anyone.
Within the student body, the oppressive and uneasy atmosphere was completely dispelled by the fresh air, and the atmosphere was refreshed.
Lu Jinlan could finally go on a date without worry, and went to the back mountain after class.
A stream flows gently by, and the evening breeze from the forest brings a refreshing coolness.
Lu Jinlan rested her head on her arm, closed her eyes, and lay on the clean, warm bluestone, feeling completely at ease.
Before long, familiar footsteps approached rapidly, then gradually slowed down as they drew nearer.
A whiff of food aroma wafted over, and a scalding hot object was shoved into my hand.
Lu Jinlan opened her eyes, and there was a roasted potato in her hand.
Lin Cheng smiled and looked at her, "You didn't go to the cafeteria for dinner tonight, so I got you a potato."
As he spoke, he picked up the potato again and carefully peeled off its skin for her.
Lu Jinlan snorted, "I really can't say anything good about the food in your cafeteria. Since the start of the semester, apart from the rice which is barely edible, I haven't eaten a single dish that I can eat. But don't worry, I discussed it with Manager Ping before I came back to school. Starting tomorrow, she will send someone to deliver food to the west wall every day. I'll get you a portion then."
According to the plan, she brought enough food to last her three days back to school, so the meals were scheduled to start arriving three days later. But then, her dorm was vandalized, resulting in significant losses and an unexpected food shortage.
Lin Cheng said, "You don't need to worry about me. Although the food we cooks eat is bland, it tastes normal. I'll tell you a secret: the dishes you eat are deliberately made unpalatable by the head chef."
Lu Jinlan was shocked: "Why?"
Lin Cheng said, "It was the boss's husband who instructed us. He was probably worried that if it tasted too good, it would waste too much of the ingredients. So, he told the chef to make it less tasty so that you wouldn't eat too much. When we kitchen staff were washing the vegetables, he even said that they didn't need to be washed too clean, and it wouldn't matter if there was a little sand or dirt in them."
"Damn it!" Lu Jinlan sat up abruptly. "What kind of manners do you have? It's not just my stereotype, but you men can't do anything. You're the most vicious men, trying to control us?"
Lin Cheng protested, "I didn't harm you. I always wash vegetables very clean. Besides, I noticed you only eat rice and the cooked food you bring yourself in the cafeteria, so I didn't tell you. Don't lump me together with them."
“Of course I wasn’t talking about you.” Lu Jinlan held his hand. “I know you’re different from them.”
Rin Cheng smiled and nodded, handing her the peeled potato.
Lu Jinlan changed position and rested her head on his lap while eating potatoes.
Rin looked around in a panic, "Get up quickly, or someone will see us."
Lu Jinlan ignored her, saying, "Don't move, I'm thinking. So what if you see it? What can you do about it?"
“You’re a woman, so of course you won’t do anything. But if others see us behaving intimately, they’ll say I’m seducing you.”
Lu Jinlan frowned. Was he going to say something again? It seemed that Lin Cheng had heard similar things many times before.
She said seriously, "That's called slut-humiliation, there's no need to care about it. We live between heaven and earth, not in the mouths of others, why should we pay attention to what others say?"
A hint of confusion flashed in Lin Cheng's eyes. "Shame on a slut? I've never heard of that before."
Lu Jinlan tried to tell him, "This is a form of stigmatization. It involves attacking a person's desires, degrading their character, criticizing their clothing, and fabricating lewd rumors to accuse someone of being promiscuous. This despicable tactic is called slut-shaming when used on you, and slut-shaming when used on a woman."
Lin Cheng exclaimed in shock, "How could this be applied to women? Which woman isn't promiscuous? Isn't it natural for women to be lustful? Aren't lust and promiscuity privileges that women are born with?"
Lu Jinlan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, but as she laughed, she gradually felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
"If lust and promiscuity are an innate privilege, then let me tell you, this privilege does not belong to women or men from the beginning, but depends on which gender holds power in this world."
In the real world, this privilege belongs to men, which is why slut-shaming has persisted for so long.
With that in mind, Lu Jinlan decided to get up.
In a society where women are superior to men, Rin-sung carries a heavy burden of chastity, so she'd better not cause him any trouble.
Rinjiro stared blankly, as if his brain was stuck and couldn't function.
Lu Jinlan smiled. "In short, just remember, there's no need to prove your innocence. Instead of defending yourself, go all out with an attack. Tell me whoever is talking about you, and I'll teach those busybodies a lesson for you."
Lin Cheng curled the corners of his lips and shook his head helplessly, "No need, you've been in enough fights already. Today I even heard the dean say at dinner that Xiang Shao Niang reported the incident to her with a straight face. She was so angry that she had a headache and wanted to punish her, but when she looked at the whole school from freshmen to juniors, she reprimanded her a few times and that was the end of it."
Lu Jinlan's mind raced. "That's right, the dean and the chefs also eat in the cafeteria. Do they eat differently from us?"
"It's different. The food they eat is made by the owner's husband himself. The ingredients are carefully processed, and the dishes are meticulously prepared. So the owner's husband often complains to the dean that the students eat too much and pay too little for their meals, and that he loses money every month. In fact, he earns a lot, and I don't know how he got the job."
Lu Jinlan chuckled, "I know."
"You know? How could you know?"
Based on her past life experience, Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "There is only one explanation for the fact that someone who is clearly not qualified to run a business can get the right to operate the cafeteria: the owner is a relative of the school leaders and there is some kind of transfer of benefits behind the scenes."
When Lu Jinlan returned, she told Xiang Ruzhen and Yan Wuxin about the situation, "So? Is the student council going to take care of the cafeteria issue?"
Xiang Ruzhen: "Of course we have to manage it, and we have to manage it thoroughly. Doesn't the 'People's Livelihood Class' require us to submit a practical governance plan? Let's take the management of the canteen as an example, and I will write the plan."
Lu Jinlan: "Then I'll conduct the investigation."
Yan Wuxin shrugged. "You two handle the writing and thinking. As for the physical tasks, leave them to me."
The two men laughed and each punched her lightly. "You should rest now."
*
The following evening, Lu Jinlan met Lin Cheng again in the forest.
"What's this?"
"Qing'er brought us this newly developed mosquito repellent from Jiu'antang. She came over to deliver our food through the wall today. She heard there are a lot of mosquitoes around here, so she brought this over especially. Our dorm is okay, but your dorm has the most mosquitoes. Look, your hand is covered in bites."
As Lu Jinlan spoke, she unscrewed the small jade-colored porcelain bottle, poured a little medicine onto her fingertip, and gently applied it to the affected areas where he had bitten. On his hands, arms, and neck, Lin Cheng froze, his ears turning slightly red.
While diligently applying the ointment, Lu Jinlan asked, "By the way, do you know where the owner of your cafeteria lives?"
"I know, it's in Willow Leaf Alley on the next street, the little courtyard with the red gate next to the dessert shop. Why are you asking about this?"
“I plan to investigate and see who he associates with. I want to see who he gives the money to each month after he collects it.”
As Lu Jinlan spoke, she tugged at his collar, and Lin Cheng quickly grabbed her hand, asking, "What are you doing?"
Lu Jinlan: "Apply the medicine."
Lin Cheng blushed and said, "I think you just want to take advantage of me."
Lu Jinlan's eyes changed, a playful smile appearing on them, as she leaned closer and said, "What kind of taking advantage is this? Do you even know what it means to take advantage?"
The two were extremely close, their breaths mingling. Rin Cheng nervously controlled his breathing: "What?"
As Lu Jinlan gazed at his handsome features so close to hers, and saw the fluttering look in his deep eyes, her heart, like the grass and trees in the forest, swayed in the wind.
Although reason reminded her that a conservative man like Rin would find it difficult to accept intimate gestures, she still couldn't control herself and kissed him.
Her soft lips pressed against his, gently rubbing against him.
In that instant, the wind seemed to freeze along with his breath, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
Lu Jinlan stepped back slightly, anticipating that a slap would likely land on her face.
However, he just stared at her, then suddenly stood up and fled. He didn't speak to her for several days afterward.
*
That day, Lu Jinlan, Xiang Ruzhen, and Yan Wuxin met for dinner at the agreed-upon location on the west wall, as usual.
Qing'er stepped onto the ladder and handed over the food box, but the two packets of medicine in her hand slipped to the ground.
"Young Master, please pick this up for me. This is for Young Master Lou's medicine."
Lu Jinlan frowned. "What's wrong with Yu Mian?"
Qing'er said, "Ever since you scolded him last time, he's been sullen. He caught a cold these past two days and is quite ill. Young Master, do you... do you have any words for me to pass on to him? Even just a word of comfort would be helpful; if he hears it, he'll surely recover quickly."
Lu Jinlan said unhappily, "If he's sick, he should take medicine. I'm not a doctor. Besides, is he really sick or faking it? He lives right next to Jiu'an Hall. Why did you have to bring his medicine all the way here? Qing'er, do you think your young master is an idiot?"
Qing'er quickly explained, "Qing'er wouldn't dare. Young Master Lou is really sick. He's all alone and misses the young master all day long. I only dared to mention it to you because I felt so sorry for him. I won't say anything more in the future."
Qing'er was so anxious that her eyes were filled with tears. Yan Wuxin quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, alright, Qing'er is just a timid girl. Do you have to be so fierce? I can't stand seeing men cry. Good Qing'er, your young master has been feeling down these past few days because he's been neglected. It's not because of you, so don't take it to heart."
After Qing'er left, Yan Wuxin couldn't help but say to Lu Jinlan, "I'm not trying to criticize you, but you're too heartless to Young Master Lou. He was willing to die for you, can't you show him a little more care?"
Lu Jinlan was suddenly stunned: "What do you mean by 'trying to die for me'?"
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Author's Note: I finally found where the automatic thank-you notes and nutrient solution are! They're right above the author's notes. Just update to the latest version and you'll see them! [Heart emoji]
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