Shen You’an looked at her seriously and suddenly broke into a smile.
"Gao Yuyue, you can see it yourself. We are not from the same social class. I’m just a poor student eating at a grimy little diner, while you... this is probably the first and only time you’ll set foot in such a place. So, in the future, you’d best stay away from me."
"Shen You’an!" Gao Yuyue abruptly slammed her hand on the table, doing her best to suppress her inner obsessive need for cleanliness, and glared angrily.
"Don’t even think about trying to drive me away. If you can eat this, then so can I."
Shen You’an truly didn’t understand this young lady’s thought process. She clearly disliked him, yet for some reason kept clinging to him. It was giving him a headache.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification. Shen You’an took out his phone and glanced at it.
It was a voice message from Qi Baotan.
"An’an, today the crew’s boxed lunch is chicken stewed with mushrooms. It’s so delicious! What are you eating, An’an?"
The voice wasn’t loud, but Gao Yuyue, with her sharp hearing, caught every word.
Her radar immediately kicked in. "Who is she?"
Without even looking up, Shen You’an continued typing a reply.
Gao Yuyue stared at the gentle smile on his lips—an expression she had never seen on him before—and felt a twinge of jealousy deep in her heart.
"You actually have friends?"
For as long as she could remember, she had always been a lone wolf. Where would he find any female friends?
Even the childhood companion she’d grown up with, Lin Chuchu, was nothing more than a green-eyed monster. There was no way Lin Chuchu would ever consider Shen You’an a friend.
Judging by the voice, the sender seemed like a very sweet and gentle lady.
Shen You’an put down his phone, lifted his gaze, and glanced at her: "Why can’t I have friends?"
Gao Yuyue stammered, "If she can be your friend, why can’t I?"
Shen You’an sighed helplessly: "Miss Gao, if you’re done playing around, go home early. I’m busy and don’t have time to entertain you."
Just then, the owner brought their food to the table, smiling warmly. "Enjoy your meal, both of you."
Gao Yuyue stared at the dish on the plate with curiosity: "What’s this?"
Shen You’an had already unpacked his chopsticks and started eating. "Stir-fried rice noodles."
Watching Shen You’an eat seriously, Gao Yuyue gritted her teeth, picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a noodle, and placed it in her mouth.
Her eyes lit up instantly. "This is amazing!"
It was a flavor she had never experienced before.
Shen You’an couldn’t help but chuckle at her exaggerated reaction.
"The joys of food aren’t defined by their price. Sure, abalone and lobster are valuable, but even cheap stir-fried rice noodles can satisfy your taste buds. You need to remember, the original purpose of food is simply to fill your stomach."
One should never overeat.
Gao Yuyue nodded thoughtfully. "Point taken."
"I can’t eat anymore..." Gao Yuyue set down her chopsticks.
Half the plate remained untouched.
Shen You’an frowned. "Don’t waste food."
"But I really can’t eat another bite." Gao Yuyue rubbed her stomach, lowered her gaze, and avoided eye contact with Shen You’an, feeling guilty.
Shen You’an crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and smirked.
"Today, you don’t leave until you finish this plate."
Gao Yuyue jerked her head up. "Why are you ?"
"Let me guess—you want to lose weight, don’t you? Fad diets are the dumbest method."
Gao Yuyue glanced at Shen You’an’s spotless plate, then at his skinny, almost skeletal frame, and seemed to realize something.
"Why is it that you eat so much but don’t gain any weight?"
"Finish your plate, and I’ll tell you."
Gao Yuyue gritted her teeth and reluctantly picked up her chopsticks again.
Shen You’an got up and walked to the counter to pay. The owner handed him two bottles of soda.
Gao Yuyue triumphantly raised her now-empty plate and looked smugly at Shen You’an.
Shen You’an nodded to the owner and walked out of the diner.
Gao Yuyue quickly chased after him: "Tell me now."
Shen You’an smiled. "Because I’m naturally unable to gain weight."
The answer left Gao Yuyue dumbfounded. She quickly caught up to him, complaining: "Shen You’an, you tricked me!"
She sighed in frustration, "It’s over. Tomorrow morning, I’m definitely going to wake up fatter."
Shen You’an glanced at Gao Yuyue and, after pondering for a moment, suddenly said, "Were you overweight as a kid?"
Gao Yuyue froze, then snapped her head up. "How do you know?"
Oh no, how did he know about her dark past?
"On the first day of first grade, I remember there was a chubby little girl in class. Was that you?"
Gao Yuyue was stunned. "You actually remember?"
Shen You’an smiled faintly. "Back then, I thought a round little girl like you was pretty adorable. I even imagined how it would feel to squish her cheeks."
And then he reached out and actually squished Gao Yuyue’s cheeks, clicking his tongue.
"Too skinny. Rounder was definitely cuter." With that, he turned and walked away.
Gao Yuyue was in disbelief, clutching her face.
One day, someone had the audacity to touch her face—and even criticize it.