Suddenly, Zhang Ningzhi abruptly got up from the table, her eyes shining brightly as she turned around.
"Then I’ll take it, giving it to the team leader would be such a waste."
"Hahaha, if Li Hua hears this, he’d definitely screech again." Jiang Nian laughed aloud, "Alright then, no giving it to Li Hua, it’d be such a waste to let him eat it."
"Okay." Zhang Ningzhi’s grape-like eyes curved with amusement.
Jiang Nian’s smile hadn’t yet faded from his face, just as he was about to say something.
Suddenly, there was a ’ding’ in his mind.
A semi-transparent task panel popped out, showing that the task was completed.
He just turned and looked at Zhang Ningzhi, her emotions were so cautious. She hadn’t even realized she had just completed a rollercoaster-like oscillation.
"What’s wrong?" Zhang Ningzhi asked curiously.
"Oh, it’s nothing." Jiang Nian laughed mischievously, "I was thinking of asking later if there’s any durian-flavored liquor chocolate, don’t you like durian?"
"Is there really such a thing?" Zhang Ningzhi asked curiously.
"Let’s just look for it, if not, then forget it."
Outside the water room in the dormitory area.
Jiang Nian watched Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe carry thermos bottles to fetch water, leisurely taking out his phone to check a message, confirming a deposit of fifty thousand yuan.
Money is convenient in that, except for things it can’t buy, it can buy everything else.
For instance, giving Mom two thousand yuan for a bag isn’t just about buying a two-thousand-yuan bag. It’s because two thousand yuan is more cost-effective; maybe tomorrow she might directly go for an LV.
What can a two-thousand-yuan bag bring?
Apart from subtracting two thousand yuan, it can bring everything. To put it plainly, it’s somewhat of an affordable luxury, at least it scores some face in her work circle.
The bag isn’t overly pricey, nor is it showing off wealth.
Jiang Nian still remembers when he was sick as a child, Mom would cradle his face and shower him with kisses, then take him to buy some treats, and inexplicably he’d get better.
Back then, he had said that when he grew up he would treat Mom to lots of delicious food on a whole street.
Thinking about it now, still feels a bit childish.
After all, as people grow up, they can’t replicate the affectionate gestures from childhood. There’s no need either to create awkward scenarios that disturb the current estranged situation.
He casually browsed shopping apps, buying a few storage items needed for his room.
As to why he doesn’t buy for his parents, it’s something he’s clear about himself. If he randomly starts buying bags or bracelets, it would only make Mom reasonably suspect if he got a female classmate at school pregnant.
Once things can’t be concealed, in a wave of guilty conscience he might try to gain favor by being considerate.
Before long, Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe walked out. They carefully placed their thermos bottles against the wall, the two thermoses nestled next to each other.
"Alright, VIP seats upstairs..." Jiang Nian cut himself off, then coughed with an awkward smile, "Not a great term, slipped out."
Chen Yunyun was already used to it and didn’t react.
"Maybe there aren’t many people, I wonder what dishes they’re cooking today."
"As long as it’s not a radish meeting, I’m not too fussy." Jiang Nian said nonchalantly, spreading his hands, "Anyway, I’ll have the chicken leg rice, what about you guys?"
"Celery, or tofu maybe, I’m not sure if they have it." Chen Yunyun hesitated for a moment.
"I want braised pork." Wang Yuhe said.
Jiang Nian paused and looked at her.
"You!!" Wang Yuhe immediately flared up, lacking vocabulary, unable to respond effectively, tears started welling up in her eyes, "Am I not allowed to ask myself!"
"Yuhe, just ignore him." Chen Yunyun comforted her and gave Jiang Nian a rather reproachful glance, "You too, stop bullying her."
Jiang Nian burst into laughter and didn’t mind at all.
Bullying a primary schooler with skill, so what? Any problem there? No problem.
The three of them went upstairs to the second floor, only three or four people were in line at the food counter. While waiting in line, Jiang Nian glanced and saw that all the dishes they mentioned were available.
The canteen over at the dorms consistently performed well, known for its good reputation.
Jiang Nian got chicken leg rice, but he craved the braised pork. He turned to look and saw a whole spoonful sitting in the primary schooler’s stainless steel tray... perhaps the auntie liked silly ones.
Or maybe because it was less crowded in the afternoon, in any case, Wang Yuhe got a big scoop of braised pork.
The braised pork brimming with gravy completely held Jiang Nian’s gaze. Eating that over rice would be irresistible, indulge in it, wouldn’t you just want to die right there after?
Darn it, got to find a way to have a taste.
"What’s up with you?" Chen Yunyun noticed him being dazed and curiously asked.
"Nothing... nothing." Despite wanting it, Jiang Nian kept his composure, glancing at Chen Yunyun’s plate, "Why are you eating so light?"
"Running low on money? Use my card."
"No, no, it’s not that." Chen Yunyun felt a bit embarrassed, pursed her lips, and looked elsewhere, "I just feel like I’ve gained some weight lately, trying to diet."
"You don’t look any heavier, where did you gain weight? Let me see." Jiang Nian stopped moving at the chopsticks counter, circling Chen Yunyun to take a closer look from all angles.
Chen Yunyun covered her face, feeling utterly embarrassed.
"Stop looking, anyway I just felt I gained weight, let’s eat."
Jiang Nian felt a slight regret about it.
Indifference, eventually the feelings faded.
If I were selling scales, just feeling would tell where the weight is.
Jiang Nian was sitting facing the two girls, Wang Yuhe drooled over the braised pork, Chen Yunyun watched Jiang Nian, and Jiang Nian sneaked glances at Wang Yuhe’s braised pork.
"Ahem, Wang Yuhe, care to make a bet?"
"Hmm?" She was about to eat but paused to look up, "What bet?"
Jiang Nian picked up a fallen disposable chopstick from the table behind them.
He pointed at the black trash bin across half the canteen and said.
"Do you believe I can throw this chopstick into that trash bin?"
Wang Yuhe looked at the chopstick in Jiang Nian’s hand, then at the trash bin ten meters away. After some mental calculation, she shook her head and said.
"I don’t believe it."
"Alright, if I can throw this chopstick into the trash bin sitting here." Jiang Nian smiled slyly, revealing his true intent, "Then all your braised pork is mine, how about it?"
Wang Yuhe frowned, reluctant to part with her braised pork, yet she didn’t believe Jiang Nian could make the throw.
Jiang Nian smiled slightly, trying to persuade her.
"No big deal, my chicken leg will be yours."
Chen Yunyun instinctively sensed something was off and advised them.
"You two, stop messing around."
Wang Yuhe glanced at the chicken leg in Jiang Nian’s plate and, after a moment of hesitation, nodded.
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Nian swung his arm.
The disposable bamboo chopstick spun through the air, tracing a parabola, and landed smoothly in the black trash bin.
At this moment, the entire room fell silent.
Wang Yuhe’s face first froze, and quickly fell.
Because she realized this shameless Jiang Nian didn’t wait for the chopstick to land before he started grabbing her braised pork with his chopsticks.
"You!!! You cheated!"
"Oh, can’t take it, huh?" Jiang Nian had already snatched a piece of braised pork.
"Wah, wah, please don’t eat it." Wang Yuhe burst into tears.
Jiang Nian ate happily, finally finding the right way to use his small skill.
The smaller the ability, the smaller the responsibility.
Chen Yunyun covered her face, unable to face the onlookers, volunteering.
"Stop bullying her, I’ll give you some of my dish, okay."
Jiang Nian looked up, agape.
In truth, Jiang Nian was just teasing Wang Yuhe. He stopped after eating two or three pieces of braised pork, didn’t take her entire portion, leaving her half.
He even shared some chicken leg with her, finally making the primary schooler smile through tears.
Chen Yunyun was utterly embarrassed throughout the whole meal. She could only comfort herself in her heart, it was her choice, her choice, no one else to blame.
After returning to the classroom, Zhang Ningzhi was not there.
Jiang Nian took out the three liquor chocolates he had bought, lined them up on her desk. Then he sat down, drank some water, and opened the task panel.
Inside lay quietly a diamond-shaped crystal-like... Memory Fragment (virtual item).