Lin Jiayou, ever the gentleman, let them order first, adding a few items on top before leisurely starting the conversation.
Luo Qianqian sat next to Lin Jiayou, opposite Qin Nuan and Cong Rong, while Zhang Yun sat across from Lin Jiayou.
There were two grills, one shared by Luo Qianqian, Qin Nuan, and Cong Rong, and the other used by Lin Jiayou and Zhang Yun.
"Qianqian, thanks for looking after her," Lin Jiayou said as he looked at Luo Qianqian, his eyes filled with concern. "She’s still a child; please be patient with her if she does anything wrong."
"Brother Jiayou, do I look like a troublemaker?" Luo Qianqian immediately objected, frowning. "I am a good kid who is polite, proactive, friendly, cooperative, and energetic."
"Being proactive is enough; don’t be too energetic," Lin Jiayou immediately disagreed.
He had heard quite a bit about the Flying Little Policewoman affairs of Luo Qianqian and even went online to check it out, which was nothing short of terrifying.
"Pfft." Qin Nuan couldn’t help laughing. "I feel the same, you should just be a lady."
"No way, I have ADHD." Luo Qianqian said half-jokingly. "When I see food, I can’t stop moving. Otherwise, wouldn’t it all be eaten by you guys?"
Lin Jiayou was rather helpless, his eyes landing on Zhang Yun’s face, just to see this slightly darker-skinned girl also looking at him.
He was no naive boy who hadn’t experienced anything. He smiled, "What do you study, Zhang Yun?" He already knew their dorm wasn’t from the same department, including the peculiar Luo Qianqian from a different grade, so no matter what she studied, it wouldn’t surprise him.
"Uh... Chinese Literature." She had often heard people say that she didn’t fit the literary image, and she was used to it.
Lin Jiayou, on the other hand, quite agreed. "Exactly, why wouldn’t a lady learn something like literature or foreign languages? Why study computer science?" His eyes occasionally glanced at Luo Qianqian.
Luo Qianqian was utterly speechless. He just had to speak and always seemed to be hinting at her, no, it was clearly openly pointing it out.
Fortunately, at this moment, the waiter came in with a cart full of ingredients, which distracted Luo Qianqian from the things Lin Jiayou was saying.
"Can I come to see you tomorrow?" A sweet voice suddenly filtrated into the room, reaching everyone’s ears.
Qin Nuan looked a bit strange, waiting for the server to leave the private room before she slowly spoke, "Was that Cao Yingying?"
"I knew I heard it right," Zhang Yun frowned, her face full of disdain.
Luo Qianqian looked uninterested. "Why bother with her? Let’s focus on the barbecue."
Lin Jiayou touched the goosebumps on his arm, "Is she also your friend?"
"She’s a roommate," Luo Qianqian said calmly. "Brother Jiayou, don’t just focus on your own food, look after Zhang Yun as well."
Zhang Yun simply raised her eyebrows, remaining silent, but her smile towards Luo Qianqian grew even gentler.
"Qin Nuan, that’s my meat!!!" Soon enough, Luo Qianqian pointed at the beef Qin Nuan was picking up, exclaiming, "I looked away for a second, and it’s already in your mouth."
"Would it respond if you called it?" Qin Nuan was the epitome of calm, her words leaving Luo Qianqian speechless.
Luo Qianqian fell silent for a moment then obediently went back to grilling meat, her ears perked up, listening to everyone else.
Lin Jiayou casually plated a piece of freshly grilled meat for Zhang Yun, chuckling as he watched Luo Qianqian sulk.
"Look at him!" Qin Nuan complained. "Your brother knows how to take care of Zhang Yun, why don’t you look after me?"
Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes, "Why should I? Have our plastic sisterhood come to this? #Shocking, Best Friends Fall Out Over A Piece of Meat# Where’s Fourth Brother? My meat..." Before she could continue whining, she saw Cong Rong put a piece of meat on her plate.
"Eat it quick, it’ll be burnt soon."
Qin Nuan and Luo Qianqian immediately got down to business with the meat on the grill plate, waiting to start their tirades once more meat was added.
Lin Jiayou watched Luo Qianqian’s behavior and relaxed a bit, smiling, "Seeing you have close friends makes me relieved."
Who knew Luo Qianqian would roll her eyes at his comment, "Who said that? I’m only relieved seeing you still bother to check on me."
After all, they hadn’t contacted each other at all last year.
"Luo Qianqian?" Suddenly, hearing a voice from outside the room, someone called out with slight doubt and then knocked and pushed open the door.
Then, Cao Yingying entered, spotting Luo Qianqian and the others, frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed, "You guys are eating here too? I’m here with... my uncle, I’ll help you with the check later. Who is this?"
Cao Yingying looked at Lin Jiayou, slightly furrowing her brows at his outfit, but still kept a smile. After all, Luo Qianqian’s usual dress was not particularly attention-grabbing either, but she could still enter Shangqi Club.
"My brother, no need to bother, he’s just paying for our meal," Luo Qianqian said coldly, showing no emotion. It was just a meal, what was there to be grateful for?
Lin Jiayou, cunning as he was, noticed his sister’s attitude and understood.
He didn’t bother to respond, just kept eating his meat and even served some to Zhang Yun.
"Yingying?" Hearing a drake-like voice, Cao Yingying’s face changed as she greeted everyone with a smile.
"My uncle is calling me, see you back at school." Just as she was about to leave, the man had already entered the room, his hair disheveled, his greasy chubby face, and a mismatched pair of gold-rimmed glasses. His belly stuck out, and his shirt, which should have fit nicely, looked as if it had shrunk in the wash, now tight across his body. He put a hand on Cao Yingying’s shoulder and nodded to the people in the room, "Are these all your friends?"
As he took a leering look around the room, his gaze fell on Qin Nuan and Cong Rong, and he slapped Cao Yingying’s shoulder with a laugh, "Aren’t you going to introduce me?"
Seeing his eyes, Lin Jiayou furrowed his brows. Although this wasn’t directed at Luo Qianqian, these were his sister’s friends, and it was unreasonable to ignore the situation.
"Sorry, we are having a meal here, can you please leave?" Lin Jiayou’s voice was cold, yet carried a hint of harshness.
The man’s eyes flashed with displeasure, he raised his voice, "I’m the host of this meal, we are all classmates here, let’s eat together."
Saying that, he presumed to join the table.
Luo Qianqian looked coldly at Cao Yingying, who, in a moment of panic, blurted out, "Just go! They won’t eat with you!"
The middle-aged man didn’t care about losing face in front of Lin Jiayou, but Cao Yingying’s words did unsettle him. He turned around and slapped her face hard, "Shut your mouth, bitch!"
Luo Qianqian slowly ate her meat and glanced at Lin Jiayou, "Brother, why so polite? Worried about ruining your image? What if it affects our mood for dining? Kick him out, and later, I’ll trade you Zhang Yun’s number."
Only Luo Qianqian would say something in front of Zhang Yun.
Lin Jiayou looked at Luo Qianqian, "I’ll get it myself. But isn’t this your classmate?"
Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes and looked at Cao Yingying kneeling on the floor, "Throw the assailant out, I’ll cover the compensation."
"Nah," Zhang Yun shook her head, "Don’t waste money at a time ... Manager!!!" Zhang Yun shouted, prompting a waiter to rush in, startled to see an additional two people, one standing, one kneeling, confused, "What’s the matter? Can I help you with anything?"