How to eat it?

As the class monitor, Jiang Ci naturally had to organize the team and lead them to the auditorium.

Fortunately, the classmates were not as indifferent as before. When Jiang Ci stood on the podium and asked if anyone was willing to help carry books to the auditorium, a small group volunteered.

Perhaps everyone was still unfamiliar, Jiang Ci thought.

Huo Chensi tapped someone who was still resting with his head on the desk in front, “My goddess has spoken, Yu Ge, want to join in some ‘community service’?”

Fan Mian sneered, “He’s asleep. Asking now is just asking for a beating.”

“Who knows?” Huo Chensi said. “Look, the guy has been standing on the podium for at least ten minutes, and only three people have responded. Doesn’t that look pitiful?”

Just as he finished speaking, the person who had been lying on the desk suddenly lifted his head. Fatigue colored his face, his dark eyes half-closed, still groggy.

Zhang Heyu moved his shoulders, and behind him, Huo Chensi smirked teasingly, “See, our Yu Ge just woke up!”

Fan Mian: “Showing off.”

Jiang Ci looked at the two in front of her and sighed helplessly, thinking this trip wouldn’t be enough to finish moving the books, so she’d have to make multiple trips.

Suddenly, Zhang Heyu stood up and pulled a chair. The friction of the chair against the floor made a harsh scraping noise.

Instantly, all eyes focused on him.

Zhang Heyu seemed accustomed to the spotlight, casually running a hand through his hair, hands in his pockets, exuding a carefree and unrestrained air.

Everyone knew Zhang Heyu was a reckless and carefree person, but there was an inexplicable charm about him.

He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Jiang Ci on the podium with no hint of emotion.

Jiang Ci’s heart skipped a beat under his gaze.

Just as she thought Zhang Heyu would join the “hard labor team,” he turned without a backward glance and walked out of the classroom.

“Damn, I thought Yu Ge was going to help your goddess!” Fan Mian nudged Huo Chensi with his elbow. “Turns out it was just a bluff.”

Huo Chensi smacked his lips, “Really not helping?”

Jiang Ci, along with the two boys who volunteered to help, came out of the classroom. She apologized slightly, “Sorry, the teacher said there will be quite a few books this semester, so we might have to make several trips.”

One of the boys said, “Class monitor, it’s no big deal. We didn’t want to self-study anyway, so we came out.”

Jiang Ci nodded, “I’ll treat you to drinks after this.”

“Okay!”

Jiang Ci first went to the auditorium to get the list of books from the person in charge. After checking everything one by one, she let the two boys carry some books back first.

While Jiang Ci was still quietly counting the books, she suddenly heard whispers behind her.

“Oh my god, did you see just now? Zhang Heyu was outside the auditorium!”

“Tsk, just standing there, he’s devastatingly handsome!”

“Damn, if I looked a bit longer, I’d probably join his fan club!”

“……”

Jiang Ci paused her counting, her mind filled with the words “Zhang Heyu was outside the auditorium,” even forgetting the number she was counting.

Snapping back to reality, she lightly tapped her cheeks to wake herself up.

After finishing the count, Jiang Ci stood up, and a clear voice came from behind.

“Finished counting?”

Her body stiffened. She turned her head up to look, and Zhang Heyu was looking down at her.

“Why... why are you here?” Jiang Ci recalled how indifferent he had been in the classroom, clearly not wanting to help.

Now appearing at the auditorium, was he here to lend a hand?

“Do you think?” Zhang Heyu’s tone rose. “There are only two people carrying books. How long do you want to keep doing this?”

Jiang Ci pursed her lips and muttered softly, “You looked so unwilling earlier.”

Zhang Heyu didn’t catch what she said and lowered his gaze to the books by her feet. “These need to be moved?”

“Yeah.” Jiang Ci nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”

With Zhang Heyu joining in, half the class soon came to help, and the efficiency of moving the books noticeably increased. What was expected to take four trips was now reduced to just one.

Jiang Ci hadn’t anticipated Zhang Heyu’s influence to be so significant. Watching all the books being moved, she silently thought, impressive.

Before returning to the classroom, Jiang Ci wanted to buy drinks from the school store to treat the classmates but unexpectedly saw each classmate holding a bottle.

She paused and asked, “Where did your drinks come from?”

“Ah?” a classmate replied, “Weren’t those the ones you bought to treat everyone? Or rather, Zhang Heyu and Huo Chensi brought them up.”

Jiang Ci hadn’t expected Zhang Heyu to treat everyone to drinks, and in her name at that.

Back in the classroom, her classmates all held a bottle of drink, with several coming up to thank her.

She sat down and glanced at Zhang Heyu, who looked leisurely seated.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Ci nervously asked, “Why did you buy drinks for the class in my name?”

“Just wanted to help the school store clear out some inventory,” Zhang Heyu replied without a second thought, utterly indifferent.

Jiang Ci wasn’t naive. She immediately knew it was just a casual excuse.

Taking advantage of the situation—at least she wouldn’t have to spend half a month’s living expenses treating everyone—she said, “Thanks.”

During lunch break, Yu Xijin came to Jiang Ci’s class right after class to invite her to the cafeteria.

After ordering, the two looked for seats. With limited space, they shared a table with others.

Two girls sat nearby.

Jiang Ci paid them no mind; she was hungry after a morning without eating and simply focused on her meal.

“Did Zhang Heyu break up with Wan Hanqiu recently?” one girl smirked. “Why don’t you confess your feelings to him? Maybe he likes your type?”

The girl next to Jiang Ci hesitated, “Can someone like me even do that?”

“Why not?” the first girl said. “Isn’t Zhang Heyu known for accepting everyone? Why not try? The worst he can do is not like you.”

The other girl was somewhat swayed and thought for a while, “Okay, I’ll give it a shot.”

Jiang Ci listened but felt a twinge of bitterness.

After lunch, Jiang Ci and Yu Xijin walked back to the classroom.

“Hey, did you just hear? The girl sitting next to you said she’s going to confess to Zhang Heyu.” Yu Xijin clicked her tongue twice. “No wonder someone’s willing to be played by him.”

Jiang Ci pursed her lips and just listened as Yu Xijin continued, “He doesn’t even take relationships seriously. I wonder which girl will be his karma.”

Seeing Jiang Ci didn’t respond, Yu Xijin assumed she wasn’t interested and changed the subject.

Once the topic shifted away from Zhang Heyu, Jiang Ci naturally spoke more.

Back in the classroom, only a few students remained. Scanning the room, Jiang Ci was surprised to find Zhang Heyu still there.

He was resting his head on the desk, arms bent beneath his head, eyes closed. As he slept, he seemed less unapproachable than before.

Afraid of disturbing him, Jiang Ci returned to her seat cautiously, worried that waking him would earn her a scolding.

But before she could even sit down, the person beside her moved slightly, startling her into holding her breath and freezing mid-motion.

She held her breath and glanced at Zhang Heyu.

He didn’t react, so she assumed she hadn’t disturbed him.

Unable to resist, Jiang Ci stole a few more glances.

She noticed his hand hidden under the desk, clutching his stomach. Her gaze faltered as realization dawned. She stood, picked up the cup on his desk, and poured him some warm water.

Then, she ran to the store to buy a bread roll before returning to class.

By the time she got back, sweat dotted her forehead.

Zhang Heyu was now sitting in a way that seemed to ease his stomach pain.

Frowning from the discomfort, pale and listless, he narrowed his eyes as Jiang Ci approached.

Without expression, she placed the bread and cup on his desk, looking down at him. “Have something to eat.”

At the sound, Zhang Heyu’s hand paused pressing his abdomen. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He turned his head slightly, lifting his eyelids to glance at the items on his desk. “Are you sure you didn’t put these in the wrong place?”

Jiang Ci: “...”

Seeing her silent, Zhang Heyu fixed his gaze on her.

She ignored him, returned to her seat, and took out a small white medicine bottle from her bag, placing it with the bread and water on his desk.

Zhang Heyu’s gaze followed her movement to the white bottle.

Stomach medicine.

He gave a faint, ambiguous smile and picked up the cheapest bread from the store, unwrapped it, and began eating slowly.

Jiang Ci kept her head down, doing her own work.

The bread was awful, but he devoured it quickly.

She didn’t look at him but heard movement beside her, indicating he was probably about to take the medicine.

“Jiang Ci,” he called hoarsely, holding the bottle.

She paused, looked up from her books, and turned her head. “What is it?”

Outside, the cicadas sang incessantly, sunlight filtered through branches, casting dappled shadows, and a breeze quietly drifted in, lifting her hair and carrying the scent of osmanthus blossoms.

Zhang Heyu withdrew his gaze, his eyes flashing with an inscrutable emotion.

He lazily asked, “How do you take this medicine?”

Jiang Ci was puzzled why he asked her. The bottle clearly stated the dosage. Then she realized he probably hadn’t even looked.

“Two pills at a time,” she said.

Zhang Heyu twisted off the cap with one hand, poured two pills into his palm, opened the cup, and swallowed the medicine with warm water in one gulp.

His Adam’s apple bobbed twice; his jawline was taut, exuding a maturity and sensuality beyond his years.

Jiang Ci shifted her gaze back to her book, hearing him say quietly, “Thanks.”

*

After school, Zhang Heyu didn’t go to the basketball court. Instead, he followed Huo Chensi and the others to a nearby billiards hall.

“Tsk, rare to see Yu Ge play billiards,” said a boy named Deng Hu, nicknamed Huzi.

Zhang Heyu raised an eyebrow, casually picking up a cue stick. “Wanna play a game?”

“Sure.” Huzi smiled. “Yu Ge, go easy on us.”

Huo Chensi and Fan Mian watched nearby, along with several other boys who were friends from the school.

“Why is Yu Ge suddenly so interested in billiards?” one boy teased Huo Chensi, eyeing the boy crouched at the table.

Huo Chensi shrugged. “Don’t know what’s gotten into him today.”

“Where’s that girl from last time? The one who was always by Yu Ge’s side just a few days ago?”

Huo Chensi knew who they meant and waved his hand. “Already broke up. Why are you so nosy?”

“Just caring about our Yu Ge,” the boy joked.

Zhang Heyu played a few games, but perhaps tired, he was now sitting on the sofa playing on his phone.

Soon, a girl from the next table approached him.

“Handsome, you played great just now,” she said shyly, beaming. “Want to play a game with me?”

Zhang Heyu looked up, his eyes devoid of emotion. “Can you play?”

The girl shook her head. “Not really. Can you teach me?”

Zhang Heyu raised an eyebrow and snorted. “Sure, how do you want to be taught?”

Her eyes brightened, sensing his interest, and she eagerly said, “You’re the coach, you decide.”

Zhang Heyu ran a hand through his hair, lifted his eyelids, and said lazily, with no intention to play, “Not interested. I’m not teaching anyone.”

The girl, embarrassed and unable to save face, cursed, “You’re crazy,” and turned to leave.

Zhang Heyu glanced at Huo Chensi’s table and instantly lost interest. He stood to leave.

Fan Mian called after him, “Leaving so soon?”

“Got something to do,” he said.