Pan Yue's eye twitched, as if in doubt.
Zhu Shiyi felt uncomfortable: "What are you doing? Are you jealous of my interesting soul?"
Just then, the proprietress came over with a bowl of wontons: "Little sister, here's your small portion of wontons."
"Thank you, Auntie." Zhu Shiyi took the wontons and moved them in front of her.
“…Yes,” Pan Yue pulled out a spoon and handed it to her, “an interesting soul.”
Soon after, Pan Yue's wontons and beef were served.
Pan Yue pushed the plate of beef towards the table: "Let's eat together."
Zhu Shiyi declined, saying, "No, thank you, I need to lose weight."
Pan Yue glanced at the wontons in front of her and pursed his lips.
"You...eat so little at every meal?"
"More or less, I don't know either." Zhu Shiyi swallowed.
Brother, if she keeps asking, she's about to lose her temper and show him what a big appetite looks like.
“What you’re doing is dieting,” Pan Yue frowned slightly. “A weight loss diet needs to be integrated into your daily life. Eat more protein, for example.”
He picked up a slice of beef shank.
Zhu Shiyi was instantly smitten.
But she had just refused, feeling a little embarrassed to eat it.
“Don’t waste it,” Pan Yue put it another way, “one person can’t finish it.”
Zhu Shiyi was completely convinced: "Then I won't be polite."
This huge bowl of wontons and plate of beef is probably too much for one person to finish.
That's a good quality of hers; she doesn't waste food.
Place the beef on top of the wontons, one spoonful at a time.
Zhu Shiyi shook his head and exclaimed, "It's so delicious!"
The guilt about eating vanished.
The wonton soup was steaming hot.
Zhu Shiyi couldn't wait to scoop up a spoonful of soup, blew on it casually, and put it in his mouth.
Scallion wonton soup is light, flavorful, and comforting.
Pan Yue ate a few bites, then picked up a chili pepper from the side and put it into the soup.
Soup enthusiast Zhu Shiyi cautions: "Adding chili peppers will affect the flavor."
"I'm used to it," Pan Yue said, stirring the mixture.
"That's true." Jinrong has a fondness for spicy food.
...
Zhu Shiyi chatted casually with Pan Yue, and as they talked, he mentioned the ideas that had inspired him during the lecture.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” Zhu Shiyi said, “Qincheng, you told me to take action, and I think that makes sense, but I don’t have any direction.”
Pan Yue gave a soft "hmm," put down his chopsticks, looked directly at her, and gestured for her to continue.
Zhu Shiyi continued, "Actually, it's not that I have no direction. I've always been determined to honestly look for a job after graduation."
Pan Yue nodded: "What are your current goals?"
To the point.
Zhu Shiyi grinned.
This is the problem that leaves her confused.
Xu Mengyao is incredibly self-disciplined. She started participating in various competitions and projects led by her teachers as soon as she was a freshman. She also worked hard to improve her GPA and strive for awards and honors.
"Let's... participate in a competition first," Zhu Shiyi said uncertainly.
Although she didn't want to participate in competitions she wasn't interested in, improving one's abilities was definitely not just about reading and studying—it also required doing things that could prove her capabilities.
However, Zhu Shiyi had a general understanding of the situation. She was already a junior in college and was only now starting to participate in competitions, so it was difficult to assemble a reliable team.
This is also one of the reasons that prevented her from doing so.
“Okay,” Pan Yue nodded. “I suggest you find an internship during your vacation, as companies value internship experience.”
Zhu Shiyi blurted out: "Does your company hire anyone? Someone with zero experience."
She certainly knew that companies value internships.
But she has no college experience, so there's nothing on her resume. Would any company hire her?
Pan Yue paused, his hand holding the spoon still.
“Recruit,” Pan Yue withdrew his gaze, “as long as they have the ability.”
Zhu Shiyi took it as him saving face for her; his refusal was indeed very tactful.
Zhu Shiyi was self-aware, so she smoothed things over: "Thank you, please hire me. I have the ability to guard the gate and can work as your security guard, saving you forty years of detours."
Pan Yue's eyebrows twitched slightly.
When will you start work?
"Right away," Zhu Shiyi replied earnestly.
Pan Yue chuckled softly.
"Then how much salary should I pay you?" He lowered his gaze, glanced at her bowl, and silently put down his spoon.
Zhu Shiyi didn't let the words fall to the ground: "Since we've known each other for a while, it should cost at least three thousand five, otherwise how am I supposed to live?"
“Sure, I can afford it,” Pan Yue said with a slight smile. “As long as you’re alive?”
"Even a slight death is acceptable." Zhu Shiyi slowly ate the last wonton.
This is what college students are like—living beings, barely alive.
Pan Yue picked up his spoon and ate two pieces in one go, finishing them completely. He chewed as he stood up and scanned the QR code on the wall to pay.
Zhu Shiyi also got up to scan the QR code.
"I gave it to him," Pan Yue said casually, putting down his phone.
Zhu Shiyi was taken aback: "That won't do."
"It's nothing." Pan Yue bent down slightly to pick up his bag, as if he was about to leave.
Zhu Shiyi said hurriedly, "No need, I'll transfer the money to you."
......
Zhu Shiyi suddenly realized that she hadn't added Pan Yue on WeChat.
I forgot about it after I finished.
I don't know where I lost that business card. Could it be in the washing machine?
Although it wasn't much money, last time it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, so that meal was at least a form of compensation.
She did nothing this time and got something for free; even a little bit of meat is still meat!
"Boss Pan," Zhu Shiyi caught up with Pan Yue in a few quick steps, "Can I add you on WeChat?"
Pan Yue tilted his head and nodded.
Zhu Shiyi happily took out her phone.
"..."
Pan Yue remained motionless, as if making a silent refusal.
The action of opening the scan function paused.
Zhu Shiyi suddenly chickened out, like a deflated balloon.
Having finally mustered the courage, she ended up with a lifetime of introversion: "Um... it's okay if you don't add me, you can just give me your payment QR code."
Fine, don't add it then. It's making her seem like she's harassing a respectable man!
*
Pan Yue: ...
He smirked, took out his phone, and tapped on his WeChat friend QR code.
Zhu Shiyi glared at him and looked up.
Pan Yue chuckled lightly: "Who said we shouldn't add it?"
"Oh, okay," Zhu Shiyi scanned the QR code and explained, "I forgot to add you before, sorry."
"...Hmm." After waiting all this time, all I got was a forgotten sentence.
Does she know that because he forgot that last sentence, he still hasn't deleted the photo with her in it?
*
After hearing her explanation, Pan Yue didn't say much, only leaving the words: "No need to transfer money to me."
Zhu Shiyi would definitely refuse.
“It’ll be deducted from your salary,” Pan Yue said with a slight grin. “Your salary this month is 3,490.”
Zhu Shiyi burst out laughing.
I happened to see Ni Yuqi asking me for help to get the milk tea she ordered.
"Then I'll treat you to milk tea," Zhu Shiyi said, suddenly having an idea.
Pan Yue didn't say anything, and after a few seconds, he softly hummed, "Thank you."
Zhu Shiyi suddenly remembered Pan Yue's dietary restrictions: "You're health-conscious, can you drink milk tea?"
Pan Yue: ......
"I work out."
Zhu Shiyi quickly waved his hand: "It's not that I don't want to treat you."
"Yes, I know."
...
Finally, persuaded by nutrition expert Pan Yue, Zhu Shiyi ordered a low-calorie, sugar-free light milk tea without any hesitation.
Pan Yue was really good at persuasion.
Zhu Shiyi was afraid of being persuaded to eat, because she simply couldn't resist.
She can refuse any food offered by others with righteous indignation, and no one can stop her weight loss journey.
But when Pan Yue persuaded people to eat, he always spoke with great conviction, mentioning calorie counts and nutritional structure, making it all believable.
He said that the calories in her milk tea were equivalent to those in an apple!
How can anyone refuse that?
Seriously! It's hard to refuse!
When it came time to pay the bill, Zhu Shiyi hadn't argued with Pan Yue, and it was Pan Yue who paid for him.
She was a little uneasy: "Please don't invite me, Mr. Pan."
“Just call me by my name,” Pan Yue said seriously. “I’m working now, and you’re still in school. You don’t need to feel guilty.”
Zhu Shiyi's mind was buzzing.
"I'm working now." "I'm still in school."
This is just like the Chinese New Year when all the elders gave red envelopes to the younger generation.
She suddenly realized that she and Pan Yue were not from the same generation.
Zhu Shiyi glanced sideways at Pan Yue. The two of them were only about twenty centimeters apart, yet a deep generation gap separated them.
...
Once the milk tea was in hand, Zhu Shiyi couldn't wait to take a sip, his facial features scrunching up and his mouth opening into an "O" shape.
"It's so delicious!" I'm so touched.
This long-awaited deliciousness—well, not really that long, only a week—is wonderful! The rich milk flavor and the refreshing tea aroma!
One bite, and the fragrance lingers on your lips and teeth—it's simply a delicacy!
I want to live so I can drink this nectar every day!
Pan Yue's advice was spot on! She no longer has to put up with drinking milk tea!
"Tea, for weight loss; milk, for weight loss," Zhu Shiyi said, shaking his head.
Pan Yue didn't understand, but he still nodded in agreement.
"Milk tea, for weight loss!" Zhu Shiyi raised the cup as if offering it to a god.
Pan Yue chuckled helplessly.
--
Zhu Shiyi decided that this semester, she would change her ways and start anew.
Change begins with forming a team and participating in competitions.
Being in a good position, she directly asked her two roommates for advice.
“It’s not that we don’t want to include you,” Xu Mengyao said hesitantly, “the competition has a long cycle, and we start forming teams in the summer, so it’s not easy to add people.”
The first step of the operation was met with resistance.
Zhu Shiyi was somewhat desperate: "How come I never knew there were any competitions before?"
“You don’t even read the group messages,” Ni Yuqi shrugged. “We both hung out in freshman year, so I won’t say anything; but in sophomore year, you wouldn’t answer when I called you, you were just crying about your relationship.”
"No," Zhu Shiyi stretched out her hand, "Don't bring up your dark history again."
Zhu Shiyi had no choice but to start from other aspects, such as attending professional courses and preparing for the CET-4 exam.
The days are getting a little boring.
Until a Friday at the end of September.
Ni Yuqi angrily told her that someone on Xiao Yuhan's team had chosen to withdraw from the competition the day before their turn.
"Xiao Yuhan added two teams to the challenge, but the organizers only said at the provincial competition that cross-teaming was not allowed. Xiao Yuhan had no choice but to find someone to take her place."
"That person agreed so readily, but then said they wanted to quit right before going on stage. Can't you believe it?"
Xiao Yuhan is from the same hometown as Ni Yuqi, and the two have a good relationship, which is why Ni Yuqi is so indignant.
"Exactly, doing this kind of thing," Zhu Shiyi chimed in, "Why doesn't she go?"
"It seems that the person felt disrespected and felt like a substitute."
“So you are indeed a substitute. Then why did you agree to it in the first place?” Zhu Shiyi suddenly had a flash of inspiration. “Is Xiao Yuhan’s team still short of players?”
“Who knows,” Ni Yuqi said, sitting down irritably. “She’s so worried about it.”
"How about I go?" Zhu Shiyi tentatively pointed to the tip of her nose.
Ni Yuqi suddenly realized: "Oh right!"
She jumped up, her bottom barely warm before she said, "Let's go to her dorm."
......
It was exactly the same as Ni Yuqi's imagination.
Xiao Yuhan readily agreed, saying, "Shiyi always performs so well in group assignments; I thought she already had a team competing in the competition."
Zhu Shiyi scratched his head sheepishly.
Ni Yuqi's phone suddenly rang.
She glanced down at the incoming call message: "You guys chat, I'm going back to take this call, it's my mom."
Ni Yuqi returned to her dormitory.
Zhu Shiyi and Xiao Yuhan also got straight to the point.
Xiao Yuhan said that there were only three people in their group, and the competition rules required a minimum of three people per group. If she couldn't participate, they would have to find someone else to participate.
Zhu Shiyi said she understood: "If I join, will I be responsible for your original part?"
“Yes, I’m the speaker, so you can go on stage and speak tomorrow. Here’s the script,” Xiao Yuhan handed over a stack of manuscript papers, speaking enthusiastically and cheerfully. “It won’t take much effort. Just familiarize yourself with the script, and you don’t need to recite it from memory.”
"Is it that simple?" Zhu Shiyi felt like she had struck gold. "I don't have to do anything, and you even gave me a name to fill in. I feel so embarrassed."
She laughed and said, "How about giving me some more tasks?"
“Yes, it’s very easy,” Xiao Yuhan turned her head, leaving behind her back, “but it is true, I have the will but not the power.”
Zhu Shiyi had a bad feeling.
"Registration for the competition has closed, and there is no way to add any more participants now."
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