The sunlight made Jiang Cheng's eyes feel hot, and he suddenly felt an urge to cry.
He hadn't felt this way in many years.
No matter how hard or tiring the work was, no matter how unreasonable the people he encountered, or no matter how hurtful the words Jiang Jin said to him, he could calmly endure it without any ripples.
He once felt that the valve of his tears had been shut off, and over the years, it had become as solid as a rock, impossible to open no matter what kind of stimulation it received.
But it turns out that all it took was a short sentence from Pei Xi.
Jiang Cheng's drooping eyelashes trembled slightly.
His heart felt like it was being soaked in a pool of warm water, gently swelling and feeling like he was dreaming.
Pei Xi smiled and said, "Then, to show my sincerity in forgiving you, I would like to invite you to lunch with me. I wonder if the handsome Jiang would do me the honor?"
Jiang Cheng couldn't help but chuckle at her playful address and wording.
The tears were suddenly washed away by laughter, and my heart became even softer.
He nodded and said, "Okay."
When Pei Xi and Jiang Cheng returned to the cafeteria lobby, there were fewer people than before.
The two walked side by side, attracting the attention of many people.
Pei Xi ignored her and walked to the food window. Suddenly, she looked up and said seriously, "Jiang Cheng, I want to tell you something very serious."
Her expression was serious, and Jiang Cheng felt inexplicably nervous. "What?"
Pei Xi gestured with his eyes towards the food queue, "We have to queue up again now."
Jiang Cheng: "......"
After a two-second pause, he whispered an apology.
Pei Xi chuckled, suddenly finding it quite amusing to "bully" him like this.
Fortunately, there were fewer people now, and the two of them got their food after queuing for a short while.
Pei Xi was carrying a tray when she turned around and saw Shen Miaoyi looking around with a bowl in her hand. She quickly went over and patted her shoulder, "Miaomiao, I'm here."
Shen Miaoyi turned around, her searching gaze finally landing on him, and her eyes lit up with joy. "Pei Xi, where have you been? I've been looking for you for ages."
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Jiang Cheng standing behind Pei Xi. She pursed her lips, took a half step back, and looked somewhat frightened.
Jiang Cheng, who had taken everything in view, said: "..."
Pei Xi freed one hand to hold Shen Miaoyi's arm and explained, "I just happened to run into Jiang Cheng and we exchanged a few words."
Shen Miaoyi nodded, "Oh, okay."
Pei Xi added, "He'll eat with us later."
Shen Miaoyi: "...?"
She took a breath, glanced at Jiang Cheng discreetly, and this time lingered for a few more seconds.
She found that he didn't seem as cold as before, and if she had to describe it, he even seemed a little gentle.
Of course, it's possible that this is because he's looking at Pei Xi right now.
Shen Miaoyi remained silent for a moment. Jiang Cheng noticed her earlier resistance towards him, lowered his eyes slightly, and whispered to Pei Xi, "Perhaps I should just..."
"No," Pei Xi said firmly. "You already promised me."
Jiang Cheng's lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything more.
Shen Miaoyi suddenly spoke up, pointing to an empty table not far away: "Let's eat over there."
After saying that, she glanced at Jiang Cheng again, then quickly looked away, as if she were doing something wrong.
Shen Miao thought to herself, Pei Xi's friend is her friend, and besides, he is the person Pei Xi likes. She shouldn't be afraid, she should put aside her prejudice.
Well, well... he really does look too cold, she needs some time.
The three of them walked to the table that Shen Miaoyi had just pointed to. Jiang Cheng sat on one side, while Pei Xi and Shen Miaoyi sat opposite him.
As soon as I sat down, people around me turned their heads and looked at me, some openly and some covertly.
Pei Xi ignored the stares and picked up his chopsticks to eat when, with a clatter, a plate suddenly fell onto the empty seat next to him.
"How could you eat with him?!"
A familiar voice came from behind him. Pei Xi paused, looked up and saw Pei Zhi's tightly furrowed brows.
He had discovered them at some point, standing by the table, looking down at them with a resentful expression.
Pei Xi pursed his lips, his expression completely matter-of-fact, "Why can't we go together?"
“Because…” Pei Zhi paused, then said seriously, “Because the school doesn’t allow male and female students to eat alone at the same table, didn’t you know?”
Sitting to the side, Shen Miaoyi: "?"
Meow meow meow?
Pei Zhi realized what he meant and coughed awkwardly. "Um, Miao Yi, that's not what I meant."
Shen Miaoyi shook her head, lowered her eyes, and said understandingly, "It's okay, Brother Pei Zhi, I'm fine."
Pei Zhi: "".
Just as he was about to explain his definition of "alone," another plate fell to the ground next to him with a clatter.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?"
The group looked over, and Shi Chen's peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing on his lips. As he spoke, he sat down in the seat at the very edge.
Then he looked up at Pei Zhi and asked, "Why aren't you sitting down?"
Pei Zhi: "".
Did he say he was going to eat here with Jiang Cheng?
Seeing that everyone had picked up their chopsticks and started eating, Pei Zhi sighed and reluctantly sat down.
This table seats six people. On one side sits Pei Xi, Shen Miaoyi, and Shi Chen, and on the other side sits Pei Zhi and Jiang Cheng.
However, the space between Pei Zhi and Jiang Cheng was empty.
The table suddenly became lively.
Many people around looked over, whispering among themselves as they watched. Their voices were low, but occasionally a few words would still get into people's ears.
For example, phrases like "really?", "can't hear", or "deaf".
Even a fool could guess what they were talking about.
The group ate their meal with their heads down, while the constant buzzing of whispers around them and the endless stream of eyes fixed on them.
Jiang Cheng remained calm, and Pei Xi also felt somewhat indifferent. After all, people have mouths and eyes, and she couldn't possibly argue back to each and every one of them.
Just then, a clattering sound came from the table as chopsticks fell.
A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, rang out immediately afterward: "Hey classmate, I know I'm handsome, but you don't need to keep staring at me like that. It makes me shy."
The group looked up in surprise and saw Pei Zhi staring at the three people at the next table, a forced smile playing on his lips.
The three men immediately shrank back, sheepishly averting their gaze and turning their heads away.
Pei Zhi lowered his eyelids slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He turned his head and immediately met the gazes of the people at the table.
Pei Zhi glanced at them one by one, clicked his tongue lightly, and raised an eyebrow in a flippant manner. "Why are you all staring at me instead of eating? Am I that tempting?"
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