Three of them entered the canteen. He Zhilan and Kang Xing strode ahead, while He Teng trailed behind them like a random passerby. Throughout the journey, the two in front never exchanged a word with He Teng. Kang Xing, however, didn’t stop talking all the way, persistently asking about Zhilan’s food preferences and promising to personally serve her favorite dishes.
Once in the canteen, the trio naturally headed towards Niu Rang’s table.
As soon as they sat down, Kang Xing scurried off to serve Zhilan her meal. Zhilan greeted Niu Rang, who was sitting across from her, before turning her head upon hearing Chen Ya’nan’s voice and seeing her approach from the canteen’s entrance.
"Sister Zhilan, I finally found you!" Chen Ya’nan circled the canteen before addressing He Teng, "Uncle He! Get me a serving too! I want meat! No greens!"
Before He Teng could respond, Chen Ya’nan plopped down next to Zhilan, gripping her arm tightly, "Sister Zhilan, I’ll stay with you at the guesthouse tonight, I’ve already told my parents that I won’t go home after dinner. I’ll accompany you!"
"Sure, as long as you don’t mind sleeping somewhere new." Zhilan chuckled, then cast a look at Kang Xing and He Teng who were returning with the food, her gaze falling momentarily on the two plates in He Teng’s hands.
Chen Ya’nan complained loudly, "Uncle He, why did you do that! I already told you that I wanted meat, not vegetables, so why did you serve me greens!"
"Not eating greens at your age isn’t good for you!" He Teng retorted seriously, placing Ya’nan’s plate in front of her. He then took a seat next to Niu Rang, before Kang Xing could return to it.
Zhilan wasn’t surprised at all. It was just like He Teng to forcefully insist on good habits regardless of others’ preferences. The fact that he always attempted to make her eat more was a testament to that stubbornness.
Kang Xing grumbled, "Captain, you stole my spot!"
Zhilan accepted the food Kang Xing handed over. As expected, he had gotten all her favorite dishes. Listening to Kang Xing’s complaints, Zhilan stole a glance at He Teng across the table.
He Teng said indifferently, "Your name is not written on the seat!"
Left speechless, Kang Xing was left with no choice but to take the only available seat at a wider side of the rectangular table.
"Sister-in-law, you’re not much older than me, eat more greens!" Chen Ya’nan separated her greens and piled them onto Zhilan’s plate. She then purse-lipped at He Teng, "Uncle He, so annoying! You knew I hate veggies but still served them to me! And kept Sister Zhilan from me last weekend!"
She then turned to Zhilan and said sympathetically, "Sister Zhilan, Uncle He is not treating you well. You shouldn’t reconcile with him! Isn’t he too unreliable? Sister Zhilan, tomorrow is Sunday. My homeroom teacher will be paying a visit to our family. Come to my house tomorrow and I’ll introduce you to him!"
"Ya’nan, why do you want Sister Zhilan to meet your homeroom teacher?" asked a confused Kang Xing.
"Because I want Sister Zhilan to be my teacher’s wife! Our homeroom teacher is young, humorous, and has a stable personality, he’s perfect for Sister Zhilan!" Chen Ya’nan laughed, "Don’t judge him because he’s just a middle school teacher. It turns out, after my careful investigation last week, he’s a graduate student who chose to teach at our school because he needed a stable job while continuing his studies. He plans to get a doctoral degree, how brilliant is that! Sister Zhilan and he would make a great couple!"