"Let’s go, get something to eat."
"Okay." Li Qingrong said very little.
Jiang Nian had long gotten used to this. He just took it as her nature, not liking to talk much, to save her energy.
Before leaving, he took a picture of Sanhua.
The two walked silently, heading towards the main street along the concrete road.
In the alley next to the cafeteria, two cool electric motorbikes zipped by, each carrying a young man on the back seat.
Their faces were slightly flushed, probably from eating and drinking. As they rode in, all four were laughing and cursing loudly.
Jiang Nian pulled Li Qingrong a bit to the side, bringing them closer together.
They exited the alley.
Li Qingrong followed behind Jiang Nian, walking about two hundred meters or so. They stopped in front of a noodle shop with a new sign.
xx Three Delicacies Noodles.
"Do you eat green onions and cilantro?" Jiang Nian asked.
Li Qingrong hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
It was close to lunch break, and there weren’t many people in the shop.
Li Qingrong washed her hands at the shop entrance.
Jiang Nian said a word to the owner, took two bottles of soy milk, paid easily, and grabbed two small bowls.
Although he had already eaten, he couldn’t just sit idly while bringing someone to eat noodles.
He added a little more to the three delicacies noodles to casually accompany the class leader in eating.
Li Qingrong sat quietly at the table, not playing on her phone or looking around. Her gaze met his for a moment, then dropped down.
Seeing Jiang Nian take two sets of chopsticks, she spoke up.
"I don’t eat much, you can... eat more."
"Is it because of that question I asked you, whether you’re dieting?" Jiang Nian sterilized the bowl and poured the rinse water into the trash bin.
"Class leader, you really hold grudges."
Hearing this, Li Qingrong was visibly upset.
"I don’t believe it, unless you eat normally." Jiang Nian looked up at her and couldn’t help but smile, "I’ve already eaten."
Li Qingrong hesitated a bit; she indeed planned to eat only half full just now.
The table once again fell into silence. Jiang Nian also switched to energy-saving mode. Since neither of them felt awkward not talking, there was no need to speak.
"The three delicacies noodles are here!" The owner placed a plate on the table, "Help yourself to the condiments, and let me know if you want to adjust the taste any time."
"Alright, the owner has great service." Jiang Nian praised, "My friend recommended this place, no wonder business is so good."
"Not bad, just average." The owner said, a bit embarrassed, then added, "Hey, do you guys eat marinated eggs?"
"It’s complimentary, no charge."
So, a small plate with a marinated egg was added to the table.
Li Qingrong lowered her head and ate the three delicacies noodles without making a sound. She drank the soup with a spoon, taking small sips.
Her moist lips took on a faint sheen of oil.
She didn’t know what topic to start with, so she passively waited for Jiang Nian to start one. What if he didn’t?
That would make her unhappy, but she wouldn’t show it.
Although Li Qingrong ate slowly, she felt that her appetite was much better than usual today. And because she was mindful of his earlier comment, she chose to eat normally.
"Class leader, what do your friends call you?"
"By my name." She replied, eating a strand of noodles.
"Oh, I see." Jiang Nian lowered his head to eat noodles; calling someone by their name felt a bit awkward, "Then...what about family?"
Li Qingrong was stunned, and after a long pause, she quietly said.
"Why not call you Rongrong then?" Jiang Nian followed up, "Or Rongbao, Qingbao, wouldn’t that sound nicer?"
Li Qingrong’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, and she turned her face to the other side. Pressing her lips together, she tried hard to suppress her overwhelming shyness.
"Okay, I’m just thinking about what would sound appropriate." Jiang Nian began to probe.
After a long interval, Li Qingrong casually threw out a sentence.
"You... whatever you want."