Chapter 103 103 Eating
When it came to dressing up tonight, Luo Yan only put on lipstick and drew her eyebrows.
This slight change is almost negligible at night, but upon closer inspection, the facial features seem to shine even brighter.
Unfortunately, she couldn't see it herself, or perhaps she had become so used to the stares of passersby that she didn't realize that there were always boys subtly observing her. She watched the show on tiptoe, and when she got tired of standing, she put her hand on her brother's shoulder for support.
Luo Hong, seeing the force behind it, exclaimed, "You might as well just plant me in the ground!"
Luo Yan retorted, "What good would it do you to grow a bunch of them?"
Oh dear, all you do is talk back all day long.
Luo Hong pinched his sister's cheek, when suddenly a beam of flashlight shone into his eyes. He cursed, "Who is this person? So rude!"
Luo Yan also caught a glimpse of the beam of light, and quickly stood up straight, her neck and spine perfectly aligned, saying, "Teacher from the Academic Affairs Office, shining a flashlight is a warning."
It was also because she had never considered her brother as a gendered being, let alone imagined that he was actually a boy of the same age in other people's eyes. Only now did she realize this, and she moved several steps to the side, keeping a good distance from her brother and Zhou Weifang.
Zhou Weifang had originally intended to take this opportunity to ask her when she would be free to fulfill her promise to "treat her to dinner," but seeing this, he simply remained silent, though he never looked away from her.
Only he had the time and leisure to do this. Luo Hong still had several tasks to complete at the shop, so he gave his sister a few words of advice and left.
Strangely enough, perhaps because the scene of the three of them appearing at the same time was quite common in Luo Yan's memory, she didn't particularly realize that Zhou Weifang was standing next to her when her brother was there.
But when only the two of them were left, even amidst the noise around them, Zhou Weifang's presence was still quite conspicuous, making him impossible not to notice.
Luo Yan stole a glance at him, then looked away, her hands twirling around her braid, staring absently at her toes.
Zhou Weifang thought she was tired from standing and said, "Why don't you find a place to sit down? I'll call you when the results are announced."
Luo Yan couldn't help but laugh: "I'm not waiting for the results; our class definitely won't win an award."
She just wanted to watch for a while.
Zhou Weifang could tell that she didn't seem to care about the rankings, but he still flattered her: "I think your class sang very well."
Luo Yan has a good attitude: "Anyway, I've tried my best."
There are always things that are beyond human control.
Zhou Weifang: "The judges can't represent everyone, and some people will think you sang the best."
It used to have the word "men" in it, but now it's completely gone.
Luo Yan pretended not to understand and said, "You got first place, so I'll treat you to whatever you want to eat."
Zhou Weifang: "I'm just here to freeload, you can order whatever you want."
Luo Yan had actually thought about it. She felt she should choose an expensive one, so she said, "Then let's have roast duck."
If you're going to treat someone to a meal in Beijing, there's no place more sincere than Quanjude.
She really knows how to choose a place, but Zhou Weifang said, "I haven't even paid my tuition yet, and you're already spending money on me."
He intended to use this as an excuse to invite Luo Yan out for a meal again next time, and he was now making preparations.
But Luo Yan didn't think it was expensive at all, and smiled: "It's okay, when are you free?"
Zhou Weifang replied, of course, "I'm free every day."
It's going to have to be said sooner or later, so it's better to say it later. Luo Yan thought for a moment and said, "How about tomorrow night? I'll go over after class at five o'clock."
After saying that, she felt a sudden heaviness in her heart, and suddenly realized that the show wasn't worth watching. She clenched her fist and tapped it against her thigh: "I'm going back now, what about you?"
Zhou Weifang only wanted to see her, so he said, "Let's go then."
He added, "See you tomorrow night."
Luo Yan smiled faintly and slowly walked away from the noisy audience towards the school gate.
Zhou Weifang followed at a distance, not too close, and only darted forward a few steps after seeing her turn into the childhood friend's shop.
Luo Hong was squatting on the ground examining a bicycle tire. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and asked, "Is the show over?"
Luo Yan: "I'm not watching anymore, my feet hurt from standing."
She pulled up a stool, sat down, and took a sip of water to moisten her throat.
Seeing that she had arrived safely, Zhou Weifang pushed his bicycle, which he had parked in front of the car dealership, and said, "I'm going back now."
Luo Yan waved to him, and after the person left, she turned her gaze to her brother: "I'll talk to him tomorrow night."
No wonder his childhood friend was so happy when he left. Luo Hong sighed silently to himself, nodded to show that he understood, and said only, "Try to be as tactful as possible."
Luo Yan had already drafted several versions of her words, and she went through them in her mind and practiced them by moving her mouth around.
It's clear that she values Zhou Weifang.
Luo Hong had seen many boys chasing after his sister, so he naturally knew how she dealt with them, and even had a very skilled routine.
But the results of these different treatments are all the same.
Luo Hong couldn't help but regret it, thinking that he should have gone out for a late-night snack earlier. He pessimistically felt that it would be difficult for everyone to maintain the same relationship as before for some time to come.
These were also within Luo Yan's considerations, so she handled them with increasing care, scrutinizing them word by word and sentence by sentence, even more carefully than when she was doing her homework for the college entrance examination. Fragments of these things even appeared in her dreams, and she felt particularly listless when she woke up the next day.
Liu Yinfeng thought her daughter was tired from the competition yesterday, so she said at breakfast, "You have classes tonight, come home early and go to sleep, don't wait for your brother."
Although Luo Yan had nothing to hide from others, she felt that Zhou Weifang was someone her parents would occasionally meet, so she vaguely said, "I'm going out to dinner with friends tonight."
Friends? Her daughter only had two options, so Liu Yinfeng didn't ask for details, only saying, "Don't stay out too late, or let Dad pick you up."
Luo Yan shook her head and said she would come back soon. She picked up her bowl, took a sip of soy milk, and then guiltily covered her face.
Why are you feeling guilty? Luo Hong glanced at his sister, puzzled, wiped the oil off his hands, and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Luo Yan stood up abruptly, slung her bag over her shoulder, and realized she was in a real bind and about to be late.
Liu Yinfeng glanced at the clock: "Slow down, there's still time."
Luo Yan hurriedly pushed her brother out, and the two siblings rode their bicycles out the door.
Halfway there, Luo Hong asked, "Do you have enough money?"
Luo Yan patted her pocket: "Yes."
Luo Hong: "Order a few more dishes, have something good to eat, I'll reimburse you when we get back."
In the past, when executions were carried out at Caishikou, they would even give you two catties of strong liquor.
Luo Yan was planning to spend a little more today. She counted her money again after school in the afternoon before gritting her teeth and leaving the classroom—not because she was stingy with the money, but because she wanted to kill some more time.
Even on the way to Quanjude, we rode very slowly.
Zhou Weifang arrived early, holding a wooden sign for queuing. He stood in a fairly conspicuous spot, looking around, and waved to Luo Yan when he saw her.
Luo Yan parked her bicycle before walking over and asked, "Have you been waiting long?"
Zhou Weifang: "Just arrived."
Luo Yancai didn't believe it, but she didn't say it out loud. She gripped the bag strap and suddenly felt a little awkward.
Zhou Weifang is very perceptive. He joked, "If someone is treating me to a meal, I'll definitely head out the door without stopping."
Luo Yan actually smiled, but then she couldn't be happy anymore when she thought about what she was going to say later.
Zhou Weifang noticed that she seemed a bit emotional, so he tried his best to keep talking to her.
He would say something, and Luo Yan would reply with something else; the two of them continued this back-and-forth until they sat down in the shop.
Zhou Weifang always felt that she was not in a good mood, suspected that it was his problem, but couldn't figure out what he had done wrong. He hesitated twice but still didn't ask.
Luo Yan pushed the menu towards him: "Order whatever you want."
Zhou Weifang didn't refuse, but she ordered all the dishes that Zhou Weifang liked.
Luo Yan noticed this too and said, "You're not even asking me to treat you to a meal anymore."
Her eyebrows furrowed, and Zhou Weifang quickly explained, "I always order these when I come here; they're the signature dishes."
Luo Yan couldn't find fault with it. She touched her face without saying anything, but couldn't help but sigh.
Zhou Weifang heard this and asked, "You don't seem very happy today. Are you feeling unwell?"
Luo Yan said no, but her eyes kept darting anxiously to the kitchen, as if she hoped the food would be served a little slower.
She couldn't explain her own feelings, and her hands were unconsciously fidgeting.
Zhou Weifang could tell that she must have something on her mind today, but she just wouldn't tell him, so he racked his brains to think of something she would be interested in.
With someone like that around, it's hard for the atmosphere to get dull.
Luo Yan gradually opened up and started talking about what happened at school today: "Our class won third prize. The class monitor said it was our first collective honor, so we have to celebrate properly."
Zhou Weifang: "Winning an award is something to celebrate; it's a good thing."
Luo Yan: "As long as you participate, the worst you'll get is a third prize; everyone gets one."
This made Zhou Weifang a little hesitant to continue praising, and he paused for a moment.
Luo Yan's smile widened, but then slowly faded.
Zhou Weifang noticed this change in her mood, and her hands on her thighs unconsciously tightened. She thought to herself: Is it possible that she's in a bad mood because she came out to eat with me?
His heart sank slowly, but he continued chatting as usual.
The two chatted idly, their minds elsewhere even though there was delicious food right in front of them.
Luo Yan regretted it while eating the roast duck, thinking that she shouldn't have chosen this place.
For some time afterward, she would inevitably think of Zhou Weifang whenever she ate, just as she would think of Zhou Xiuhe every day on her way home from school. Memories are often interconnected.
The thought of losing both her friend and the roast duck filled Luo Yan with even more grief and anger.
Although it was completely unreasonable, she felt that if Zhou Weifang didn't like her, everything would be fine.
Zhou Weifang could only see the changes in her eyes and expressions, but he couldn't guess what she was doing. He could only ponder over and over what he had done wrong.
It was supposed to be a nice meal, but neither of them could really eat.
Zhou Weifang had planned it all out perfectly, even rehearsing dozens of times how to smoothly ask her out again. He never expected it to turn out like this, and he was completely baffled.
After finishing this meal, which was filled with everyone's own ulterior motives, Luo Yan went to pay the bill and then counted the change several times on the roadside.
Zhou Weifang asked, "Was it wrong?"
Luo Yan wanted to stall a little longer, so she put the money in her pocket and said, "I'm a bit full, can we walk back?"
This sentence was originally prepared by Zhou Weifang to be said by himself.
But even though it was what he wanted to say, after hearing it, he felt it wasn't really good news. Something felt off, but he still nodded and said okay.
At this hour, there were still quite a few people on the street. Not wanting to be overheard by passersby, Luo Yan turned into the alley.
With this turn, Zhou Weifang's ominous premonition intensified, but he still didn't ask any questions and followed her.
Reaching a secluded spot, Luo Yan stopped, turned around, and opened and closed her mouth.
Zhou Weifang couldn't bear to see her in a difficult position, so he spoke up: "Is there something you want to tell me? If not, just say it."
Luo Yan bit her lip: "I've always thought of you as my older brother."
When talking to intelligent people, you often don't need to explain things too clearly.
Zhou Weifang clenched and unclenched his fists on the handlebars, staring intently at her: "Yanyan, do you hate me?"
Luo Yan sensed a hint of pitifulness in her voice and shook her head vigorously: "I didn't, I just..."
I just don't like him.
Zhou Weifang finished the sentence himself, and smiled wryly: "You spent the whole night thinking about how to tell me?"
Luo Yan gave a soft "hmm".
"So that's how it is," Zhou Weifang thought, his mind a jumble of thoughts. He forced out a few words and said, "I should have known better than to come to Quanjude. You didn't even get to enjoy your favorite roast duck properly."
This sentence is similar in meaning to what Luo Yan just thought of.
While she was surprised, a hint of delight, which she herself didn't even realize, flashed in her eyes.
But it was this small thing that made Zhou Weifang, like a drowning man grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, ask, "Yanyan, can I continue to be friendly with you?"
Luo Yan had heard similar things many times.
She has rejected many people, and some of them have vowed "I will not give up," but they never persisted in doing anything. After only three to five days, they claimed that they could not move her heart of stone and disappeared without a trace.
Men, unaware of difficulties, also retreat quickly. Luo Yan felt that Zhou Weifang would probably hold out a few more days than them, but she personally thought it wouldn't be for too long.
Thinking of this, she felt inexplicably angry and said, "Whatever, it's all the same anyway." Zhou Weifang thought she meant the result would be the same, but still held onto a sliver of hope and said self-deprecatingly, "If I hit a wall, I'll hit it in the east, west, north, and south before I give up."
He likes to bump into things; his head looks pretty sturdy.
Luo Yan didn't know what she was angry about, so she rolled her eyes slightly.
Before Zhou Weifang could say anything more, an old woman shouted from the darkness, "Who's there! Whose family is that!"
The two instinctively hopped on their bicycles and rode off, only realizing after a short distance that they hadn't done anything wrong. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Luo Yan's good mood lasted only a second before she snapped back, "I'm going home."
Zhou Weifang: "I'll walk you to the alley entrance, it's too late."
Seeing that she was about to refuse, he said, "Even if I'm just your brother's childhood friend, I should still take you back."
That seems to make sense. It's late at night, and Luo Yan wouldn't risk her life, so she tacitly agreed to keep riding forward.
Zhou Weifang followed at a leisurely pace, and when she braked, he braked as well.
Luo Yan had something else she wanted to tell him: "Could you please not tell my brother? He doesn't know."
Zhou Weifang wasn't stupid. He knew from his childhood friend's attitude a few days ago that he must know something, but he still cooperated: "I will absolutely not tell him." He also saw her worry: "No matter what happens in the future, we will always be good buddies."
Luo Yan wasn't that naive; she just hoped it was true, and then she got angry again just by looking at him.
Zhou Weifang was completely bewildered: "What's wrong?"
Since things had already come to this, Luo Yan thought she might as well speed up his process of giving up: "Can't I just glare at you?" But she didn't realize that this kind of unbridled behavior was completely outside her personality.
But Zhou Weifang knew that it would be his honor to happily agree with her.
Luo Yan didn't want to give him too much of an honor, so he huffed and puffed as he rode forward.
With that energetic spirit, Zhou Weifang found her even more adorable.
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Author's note: The Great Zhou Dynasty: The game begins with the cards revealed.
Sorry, I revised it several times, I'm late!
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