Chapter 831 Special Shaved Ice Summer in Beijing was as hot as a steamer, but something new appeared at the entrance of Xinweiju Restaurant.
This thing is really rare! In the past, few people could resist turning their heads to take a second look.
The freezer was placed in the most conspicuous place by the entrance, and it was neatly filled with bottles of "Refreshing" soda. Just looking at it made me feel a little better.
"Comrade, what are those new things you've got at the entrance? And what's that colorful liquid inside?"
A passerby, sweating profusely from the heat, finally couldn't resist his curiosity and peeked inside to ask a question.
A waiter in a neat uniform immediately greeted us with a smile and enthusiastically introduced, "This is our restaurant's new 'Refreshing' brand soda. It's chilled in this freezer, so it's cool and refreshing! Would you like to come in and try some?"
"Okay, bring me a bottle of that... that bright yellow one." Lu was drawn in by the cool air and walked into the refreshing restaurant.
The waitress opened the freezer door, and a stronger cloud of white steam billowed out. She skillfully took out a bottle of orange soda, and with a soft "pop" from the bottle opener, the cap fell off.
Lu took the cup, the icy touch instantly spreading from his fingertips. He couldn't wait to tilt his head back and take a big gulp, then let out an extremely comfortable sigh: "Wow, that's really refreshing. On this hot day, this sip has brought my soul back to life."
When Lu Qingyang saw that Shen Mo had been listless and barely ate anything these past few days, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
He knew that medical school was demanding, and the sweltering heat would only further strain his mind.
That day, he figured Shen Mo would be finishing get out of class soon, so he busied himself in the kitchen of Xinweiju.
He took out pre-frozen pure ice blocks made from cooled boiled water, and with a cleverly hand-operated ice shaver, he shaved out a large bowl of white, fluffy, and snow-like ice crystals with a "crunch crunch" sound.
Next, he scooped up a few spoonfuls of his homemade, bright red, sweet and sour hawthorn jam and poured it evenly over the crystal-clear ice shavings. The red and white colors were so beautiful that it made my mouth water.
He then sprinkled a few crushed candied osmanthus flowers on top, adding a unique fragrance.
Finally, he carefully placed the bowl of mixed shaved ice into a thick, insulated container and sealed it tightly.
After thinking for a moment, he took out more than a dozen bottles of "Refreshing" soda of various flavors from the freezer, wrapped them with a thick towel, and put them in a bamboo basket lined with cotton wool to ensure that they would stay cool for a while.
Lu Qingyang arrived at the medical school by bicycle and waited under the shade of a tree outside the teaching building.
When the bell rang, Shen Mo and several classmates came out carrying their books, their foreheads covered in fine beads of sweat and their cheeks flushed from the heat.
"Qingyang? What brings you here?" Shen Mo was somewhat surprised to see her husband, especially on such a hot day.
Lu Qingyang greeted her with a smile, first handing her the insulated container in the box: "Try it, it'll cool you down."
As he spoke, he picked up the bamboo basket and smiled at the curious classmates next to Shen Mo, saying, "Thank you all for your hard work. I brought some chilled soda. Share it with everyone to cool off."
Shen Mo opened the lid of the thermos with a puzzled look. A cool breeze mixed with the sweet and sour smell of hawthorn and the fragrance of osmanthus wafted out. What came into view was a bowl of shaved ice piled high and decorated with bright red jam and golden osmanthus flowers. In the sweltering air, it looked like a work of art.
"Wow! This is... shaved ice?" Shen Mo was both surprised and delighted. Her classmates gathered around, exclaiming in amazement.
"Eat quickly, or it will melt," Lu Qingyang urged, while handing out the soft drinks from the bamboo basket to Chen Mo's classmates.
Shen Mo scooped up a spoonful of ice shavings with jam and put it in her mouth. The icy, sweet and sour taste exploded on her tongue and cooled her down her throat to her heart, dispelling all the heat and fatigue.
She squinted her eyes contentedly, a smile the most relaxed she had seen in days appearing on her face.
While Shen Mo and Lu Qingyang were having a heartwarming interaction, the other students nearby were somewhat stunned.
This was the first time they had met Shen Mo's rumored boyfriend, and they couldn't help but speculate among themselves. Some even wondered, based on Shen Mo's composure, which was different from that of an ordinary student, and her occasional mention of her family's wealth, whether she had married a rather old retired cadre.
Who would have thought that the tall, handsome man who rode up on a bicycle, with a gentle smile and a youthful, capable air, was actually Shen Mo's boyfriend.
This was completely different from the image they had imagined.
A lively female classmate was the first to react, nudging Chen Mo lightly with her elbow and teasingly saying in a low voice, though she couldn't hide her laughter:
"Well, Chen Mo, no wonder you never tell us about your boyfriend. Turns out you've been keeping such a handsome and considerate guy a secret! Are you afraid we'll find out?"
Another girl laughed and chimed in, "Yes, that's right. You're so thoughtful, bringing you such a rare treat of shaved ice on such a hot day. Even we got to drink soda too. Chen Mo, you're really not being fair. You kept it from us for so long."
Shen Mo blushed slightly as her classmates teased her. With a mouthful of cool shaved ice, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart and could only smile as she explained:
"There's nothing to hide, it's just... it's just that there haven't been many opportunities to specifically say it."
However, amidst the good-natured teasing and envious remarks, one or two female classmates who had previously discussed the matter privately felt rather uneasy.
Looking at Lu Qingyang's young and handsome face, and at his natural and considerate actions, and then recalling their previous speculations based on rumors, they couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
One of them even subconsciously tidied her hair, glancing at Lu Qingyang with a complicated expression, thinking to herself: So the rumors were all nonsense, Shen Mo's life is just too good...
This awkward jealousy kept them silently drinking their soda, without joining in the laughter.
Lu Qingyang seemed oblivious to this subtle undercurrent; he simply smiled gently and said to Shen Mo's classmates:
"Everyone has been studying hard, and the weather is hot. This is just a small token of our appreciation, please don't be shy."
His poise and generosity made some of his ulterior motives even more obvious.
The girl named Sun Wei gave a somewhat unnatural smile, her eyes filled with inquiry, and her tone sounded like a casual question: "By the way, I haven't asked yet, which school do you go to? We're all from Beijing Medical University here, with classes pounding all day long. Seeing how free you are, and how you can come over anytime, I'm really envious."
She guessed that Lu Qingyang was not a college student, but just an idle "social youth" who married a high-achieving student like Shen Mo because of his family or other reasons.
The surrounding laughter immediately subsided, and several classmates exchanged awkward glances, feeling that Sun Wei's question was a bit presumptuous.
Shen Mo frowned slightly, and just as she was about to speak, Lu Qingyang gently patted her back.
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