“Why don’t we all sit together and eat?” Mu Sheng asked Rao Can.
“No need. You guys talk about things that we girls can’t really join in on.” Rao Can glanced at Lu Ran, knowing full well that if they ate together, Jiang Nuan would feel uncomfortable.
Rao Can returned to Jiang Nuan and Cheng DouDou, saying, “Problem solved! I did the math; there are nine wings left—three for each of us. That should be enough, right?”
“But we won’t get our money’s worth from the buffet!” Cheng DouDou lamented.
“Just drink more yogurt. That stuff costs quite a few yuan per box!” Rao Can chuckled.
Cheng DouDou, the typical “eyes bigger than her stomach” type, had already grabbed a whole pile of pizza and cake.
“That’s going to take up a lot of room…” Jiang Nuan stared at the food, her scalp tingling.
To avoid a fine for wasting food, she forced herself to stuff it all down. But the culprit, Cheng DouDou, had already surrendered. She lay slumped over the table, an entire plate of cake still in front of her.
“Couldn’t you have taken some sponge cake instead? This chocolate cake is so dense…” Jiang Nuan said as she struggled to swallow, feeling the food rise up her throat.
Meanwhile, Rao Can began tidying up the plates.
“What are you doing, you little demon?” Jiang Nuan asked.
“Distancing myself from this fool, Cheng DouDou! Let’s leave her to deal with the aftermath when they come to collect the bill.”
Cheng DouDou pitifully grabbed Rao Can’s arm. “Don’t… don’t abandon me…”
After saying that, she covered her mouth and dashed to the bathroom.
From the nearby table, Xu Zitian and Mu Sheng were already laughing to themselves.
Jiang Nuan looked at the food left on her plate, her stomach churning as if it were flipping over.
Rao Can sighed. “Don’t force yourself. Go join DouDou in the bathroom.”
“No way. If I throw up, all this eating will have been for nothing…”
“If you don’t throw up, you really will be a fool.”
Less than ten seconds later, Jiang Nuan couldn’t hold it in any longer. She dashed to the bathroom.
There were only two stalls, and one was occupied by Cheng DouDou. Hearing Cheng DouDou throwing up was pure torture for Jiang Nuan. The sensation of food rising and falling in her throat was unbearable.
She couldn’t take it anymore!
Without thinking twice, Jiang Nuan rushed into the men’s bathroom across the hall. Unfortunately, someone was already inside. She quickly covered her eyes with her hand, signaling that she wasn’t trying to see anything—it was an emergency! She pushed open a stall door, and the moment she crouched down, she vomited everything out. Her stomach instantly felt better.
She let out a sigh of relief, only to hear Lu Ran’s calm voice from outside the stall.
“Sorry, there’s a girl in here. You can use it after she’s done.”
Jiang Nuan’s face instantly flushed red.
The person she’d just seen standing there was Lu Ran!
How could this happen! Even though she didn’t see anything, she still couldn’t bring herself to leave now!
Jiang Nuan remained crouched in the stall, motionless, waiting for Lu Ran to leave.
Wait, why didn’t she hear any footsteps?
It felt like that moment when you’re falling asleep, and you hear someone upstairs drop a shoe. You wait for the other shoe to fall, but it never does.
Jiang Nuan was nearly counting sheep in the stall when footsteps finally approached from behind her—it was Lu Ran.
He took a step forward and stood right behind her.
Jiang Nuan felt a bit ashamed, worried that he might throw up after seeing what she had done. But to her surprise, Lu Ran calmly narrated the scene for her.
“You’ve thrown up a mixture of yellowish-brown and black substances. I’d estimate it’s a combination of muffins and chocolate cake. The red spots floating on the surface are likely from the New Orleans wings you ate earlier, mixed in a swirling pattern with some greenish substance, probably from the Garden Delight pizza…”
Jiang Nuan hadn’t wanted to look, but just hearing Lu Ran’s description painted such a vivid picture in her mind that she ended up retching again, even bringing up stomach acid.
Lu Ran remained composed as ever. While Jiang Nuan caught her breath, he pulled a tissue from the dispenser with one hand and pressed the flush button with the other.
Jiang Nuan shot to her feet, completely avoiding eye contact with Lu Ran. She squeezed past him through the gap between the stall and the wall, her shoulder lightly brushing against his. It felt like her clothes were about to catch fire.
When she returned to the table, Mu Sheng and Xu Zitian were laughing so hard they were doubled over.
“Junior sister! Truly, women are no less than men!”
Apparently, the wings Rao Can had brought them weren’t enough to keep their mouths shut!
“Now that you’ve made some room, you can finish off these cakes.” Rao Can said with a grin.
Jiang Nuan immediately felt another wave of nausea.
Cheng DouDou returned as well, seriously saying, “I think, using this method, we could survive several rounds of buffets.”
“This might work for you and Jiang Nuan. One round is enough for me.” Rao Can replied.
After the self-inflicted torture session ended, Jiang Nuan had no desire to take the bus home. She had heard on the radio that the plaza was jammed with traffic, and if she had to endure a bumpy bus ride, she’d definitely throw up again.
The three girls linked arms and walked down the street in sync.
“I heard there’s a new hot pot buffet on Zhoushan Road! Let’s go try it!” Cheng DouDou said excitedly.
The mere mention of the word “buffet” gave Jiang Nuan a headache.
Behind them, they heard the sound of boys laughing and joking.
“Hey, after all that food, I bet you don’t feel like taking the bus home, right? How about we give you a ride?” Mu Sheng smiled, stopping his bike next to Rao Can.
Jiang Nuan snorted lightly. “I knew it. You’ve been eyeing our Can Can this whole time with bad intentions.”
“Haha, good eye, junior sister! Give me a chance, won’t you?”
“Nope. And by the way, who’s your junior sister? Did my dad officially take you as a disciple?”
If her dad casually accepted anyone, then the streets would be full of “senior brothers” and she’d be the one losing out.
But then, Lu Ran also stopped beside them, slightly raising his chin. The streetlight’s cool glow gave him an air of aloofness.
“What?” Jiang Nuan remained standing where she was.
“I’ll take you home. Finish that physics test paper.”
The first half of “I’ll take you home” made Jiang Nuan’s heart skip a beat. After all, even if she didn’t have a girlish heart, she did have some vanity. Getting a ride from Lu Ran would certainly earn her some bragging rights.
But the second half… study, study, study—it was always about studying! To Jiang Nuan, Lu Ran pushing her to study was just so she wouldn’t cause trouble for her dad. That way, Lu Ran could have a coach who could fully focus on him, helping him achieve good results in the club competitions, and maybe even get into the national youth team.
“I’m too heavy. I’m afraid I’ll pop your bike tires.”
With that, Jiang Nuan turned around and kept walking.
What she didn’t expect was that Rao Can had already hopped onto Mu Sheng’s bike! And to make matters worse, Xu Zitian was shyly offering Cheng DouDou a ride as well.
Jiang Nuan thought DouDou might at least ask her opinion first, but to her surprise, she hopped right on and sweetly said, “Thanks, just go slowly.”
Watching them ride past her, Jiang Nuan was fuming.
Cheng DouDou, what are you blushing for, you traitor!
These two disloyal friends!
Just because of some boys’ bikes, they let their friendship’s little puppy die!
Jiang Nuan angrily stuffed her hands in her pockets and kept walking. Lu Ran rode his bike behind her, as if giving her one last chance to hop on.
Fine, fine! A wise person knows when to retreat from a losing battle!
Jiang Nuan jogged over to Lu Ran’s bike, but just as she was about to jump on, he suddenly sped up and rode ahead.
Jiang Nuan widened her eyes, glaring at him. If you weren’t waiting for me, why were you riding so slowly?
Mu Sheng glanced back sympathetically and said, “That’s just how Master Lu is—if you don’t care, then neither does he! You had your chance, but you didn’t take it.”
“Chance… Chance for what? Stop making things up and ruining my reputation! I ate too much, so I’ll walk back!” Jiang Nuan’s ears were practically on fire.
What nonsense is he spouting about “chances”?
Jiang Nuan walked all the way down the street, passing by a Konka store. In the window display, a TV was playing a replay of the National College Fencing League’s team competition, and Jiang Nuan was instantly drawn in, standing there, watching intently.
The screen showed Haichuan University facing off against B University.
Jiang Nuan’s eyes lit up—Jian Ming was from B University!
The announcer’s voice came through the speakers: “Now, it’s Haichuan University’s Chen Zhe against B University’s Jian Ming!”
On the screen, both fencers launched simultaneous attacks, but Jian Ming deftly parried and counterattacked, scoring a point!
Swift and decisive!
Jiang Nuan couldn’t tear her eyes away.
“Your face is practically pressed against the glass.”
That familiar cello-like voice echoed in her mind, making Jiang Nuan’s heart skip a beat. She turned around to see Lu Ran, one foot resting on the ground, holding his bike under the streetlamp. He looked like a lone figure in the night, while the others had long since ridden off.
Did he come back for her?
Maybe he was worried her dad would find out and it would ruin his image as a responsible, well-mannered guy.
Jiang Nuan huffed and continued watching the match. It was the moment when Jian Ming pursued his opponent with a series of smooth, continuous steps, forcing his opponent to retreat until he landed a perfect strike on the shoulder.
“Nice!” Jiang Nuan cheered, clenching her fists… but what followed was a wave of envy.
“Do you like Jian Ming?” Lu Ran’s calm voice cut through the air again.
“Yeah, I do.”
Because he can beat you.
The match reached its climax as Jian Ming executed a long lunge, landing a powerful side hit on his opponent’s shoulder.
Suddenly, Jiang Nuan’s wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into someone’s arms. Looking up, she saw Lu Ran’s deep, ink-black eyes.
“Let’s go home.”
“But I haven’t seen the result yet!” Going home now would leave her feeling unsettled!
“Haichuan University won against B University by four touches.”
“That’s impossible! B University has Jian Ming. How could they lose to Haichuan?”
“This is a team competition. Jian Ming alone couldn’t turn the tide. Are you sure you want to stay here and watch B University lose?” Lu Ran’s tone was merely stating facts.
Jiang Nuan opened her mouth, but reluctantly climbed onto Lu Ran’s bike. The ride was hard and bumpy, and she wasn’t happy.
When she got home, Jiang Nuan took a long, hot shower. The warm steam eased her entire body, making her feel relaxed.
But as soon as she stepped out, she heard her mom call out, “Oh, Nuan! You’ve been in there so long I thought you’d never come out! Lu Ran’s been waiting for you.”
“What? He’s still here?”
Jiang Nuan’s face fell as she pushed open her bedroom door, only to see Lu Ran sitting at her desk, one hand propping up his chin, flipping through ‘One Piece’. A small plate of fruit was laid out in front of him.
Winter fruits were already scarce, but her mom had even cut them into decorative shapes for him.
That feeling of not being her parents’ biological child washed over Jiang Nuan once again.
“Go write your physics test paper. This chapter is important. I’ll time you.” Lu Ran glanced at his sports watch.
“I need to dry my hair.”
Jiang Nuan sat on her bed, legs crossed, deliberately taking her time. As she dried her hair, she couldn’t help but sneak glances at Lu Ran.
Honestly, in her mind, if Lu Ran were reading, it would be something profound, like philosophy or something to ponder the meaning of life. But here he was, studying ‘One Piece’ as if it were an advanced math problem.
Looking at his calm and composed profile, Jiang Nuan felt mischievous. She suddenly sat up straight, stretched out her leg, and planted her foot right on top of the manga, intending to mess with him and see how he’d react.
But before she even saw him move, Lu Ran had already grabbed her ankle.
“Is this your secret technique? Flipping through books with your feet?”
That hand was the one he used for fencing—it had quite a bit of strength. Jiang Nuan tried to pull her foot back, but Lu Ran easily held her in place, making her posture look ridiculous.
Lu Ran didn’t just put her foot down—he pulled her leg onto his lap, making her wobble like she was in some martial arts scene, with one leg on the bed and the other trapped by Lu Ran, completely off balance.
“Ow! Ow! Let go… You’re stretching my tendon!”
“Your tendon’s just fine. So, are you going to keep causing trouble?” Lu Ran asked, tilting his head slightly.
Jiang Nuan quickly shook her head. “No, no! I’ll do my homework! I’ll study hard!”
Only then did Lu Ran release her, leaving Jiang Nuan lying on her desk, close to tears.
“If you can pass the test when school starts, you’ll be able to show Coach Jiang that even if you split your focus with the things you like, your studies won’t suffer. At the very least, you’ll have a reason for him to sign off on your registration form.” Lu Ran said.
Jiang Nuan pouted, knowing her dad too well. He was so stubborn that it bordered on obsession.
“Even if I manage to stay in the second year, he still won’t sign off for me.”
“I’ll help you talk to him.”
Jiang Nuan turned her head to look at Lu Ran, feeling like she must have misheard.
“Did you just say… you’ll talk to him for me?”
“Not that it matters. You probably won’t make it through the selection anyway.”
The good feelings that had just sparked were quickly extinguished.
“I’ll have you know, I’m really strong!”
“Do you even know what real strength is?” Lu Ran’s eyes held a calmness that Jiang Nuan found infuriating—it was like the condescending gaze of a king looking down on everything.
Be my Patron~
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨
