Chapter 8: Do You Think You're Funny?

Since Zhai Da entered, Lin Shuyao’s attention had been fixed on him. Although she didn’t stare outright, the cold noodles in her bowl were nearly stirred into a paste, yet none had found their way to her mouth.

Girls were like this, especially beautiful girls in their adolescence. Even if they disliked someone, if that person liked them, a subtle, almost imperceptible connection seemed to form.

It was as if a fragment of the other’s soul belonged to them.

This so-called connection, scientifically known as an illusion and colloquially called sentimentality.

The love letter had, by chance, been circulated, and now the whole class—well, considering the legendary fainting incident in the examination hall—perhaps the entire school knew that Zhai Da was pursuing her. To say she was indifferent was impossible.

When Zhai Da had come uninvited earlier, Lin Shuyao had already decided that under no circumstances would she let him sit beside her, lest people misunderstand. She even thought that if Zhai Da persisted, she could publicly reject him a second time, simultaneously proving her innocence and satisfying her adolescent vanity.

Alas, Zhai Da didn’t utter a single word to her, nor did their eyes meet once.

Her young heart was in turmoil. A girl sitting next to her whispered, “Why did Zhai Da sit at that table? Did he go to flirt?”

Wu Yue glanced secretly. In that corner sat a stunning beauty. Boys at this age, with their “little radars,” certainly hadn’t missed her and had already stolen several glances!

Though she was very slim... boys at this age truly cared only about looks, and preferred slender girls.

As for the curvier ones, they were only given insulting nicknames like “big cow.”

“Zhai Da… won’t he get scolded for this?” the girl asked.

Pretending to reach for a tissue, Lin Shuyao stole a glance toward that corner. She had to admit, that girl was even more beautiful than herself, just slightly so…

She had even been observing which boys were sneaking looks at her.

But in terms of figure, she was no match—too thin.

Just as adolescent boys had their “beauty radar,” pretty girls this age had their “female rivalry radar.” Strangers sharing a room would silently compete.

When Zhai Da sat down, Lin Shuyao eagerly hoped the girl would shoot him a disdainful look, shaming him into leaving.

Unfortunately, Zhai Da settled in calmly, not being driven off, simply perusing the menu.

Feigning indifference, Lin Shuyao said, “Maybe she’s shy. Zhai Da really is rude…”

The girl beside her replied, “He already confessed to you. Aren’t you going to do something?”

Yes, it had started with fainting in the exam room, which led to an undistributed love letter being illicitly read.

Within twenty-four hours, the rumor morphed into “Zhai Da confessed to Lin Shuyao publicly and, after being rejected, fainted from anger.”

Hence, the academic pressure on students could be a little heavier.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be acting this way!

Lin Shuyao felt a certain relief. Several people had asked her about it, including on QQ, but she never answered directly.

Why explain if the gossip worked in her favor?

She said, “There’s nothing between us. Stop spreading rumors or I’ll get angry.”

The girl next to her discreetly rolled her eyes.

Well then, get angry! Who ever smiles when they’re angry?

Just as pretty girls at this age had their “female rivalry radar,” less attractive girls, having played countless supporting roles, developed their own “betrayal detection radar.”

They just never voiced it.

In the small cold noodle shop, like the Dongyang radar station, various signals were transmitted and received.

Unconsciously, Lin Shuyao adjusted her posture, hoping to catch Zhai Da’s attention. She wore a short skirt today, quite bold for this era and age.

Back in her sophomore year, at a gathering, she had once worn black stockings—then taboo among peers—which instantly made her famous, leaving a deep impression on countless boys. After that, love letters poured in, and her drawer was always stocked with snacks and drinks from anonymous admirers.

Most importantly, Lin Shuyao was genuinely beautiful: fair-skinned, tall and slender, with fingers longer than average, lips tender and inviting, and eyebrows gently arched, revealing a playful spirit.

There might be girls in school more beautiful than her, but at this age, knowing how to dress up, apply light makeup, and capture the hearts of boys made her utterly dominant among high school students.

Truly, a massacre.

Unfortunately, Zhai Da didn’t even glance her way. He was seriously contemplating whether to order a large portion or two smaller ones with different flavors…

In the end, considering there’d be plenty of chances over time—after all, he had been reborn, not just back from a business trip—he wasn’t in a hurry. He ordered the most traditional large cold noodles.

While waiting for their food, he asked the girl next to him, “You come all the way from the wool factory to eat lunch here?”

Lu Wei was slow to respond. It seemed every time Zhai Da spoke to her, she hesitated whether to answer or not.

After a moment, she softly said, “It’s okay. Not too far.”

Her voice was light, somewhere between timid and emotionless.

But it wasn’t unpleasant.

On the contrary, it felt very pure to Zhai Da.

“Is the factory cafeteria really that bad?”

“It’s edible… but not worth it…”

Cold noodles were cheap to make, and this was an old, down-to-earth shop. A small portion cost only four yuan.

At the factory cafeteria, lunch cost at least five yuan and tasted terrible. So she was willing to waste precious lunch break time walking over twenty minutes for cold noodles.

Sometimes, she might even skip eating altogether, as if food was only the bare minimum to sustain her body.

Zhai Da looked at her bowl, which contained only a plain broth, likely without chili. Cold noodles without chili oil were like going to a bathhouse just to shower—no nourishment at all. Girl, are you really going to starve yourself at the sewing machine?

“Just curious, how much do you earn?”

“1,300.”

“That’s not too bad.”

Barely above the local minimum wage, but still.

“During probation, they pay 80%, and no food or lodging provided.”

“…”

“I ruined a pattern on my first day and was fined 200…”

No wonder the wool factory was doomed!

Zhai Da sighed. “You’re so thin. Aren’t you starving because you can’t afford food?”

Lu Wei shook her head.

He expected her to say, “I’ve always been skinny.”

Instead, she said, “I’ve always been hungry.”

“But I can endure it…”

Zhai Da was silent for a moment, then gave a thumbs-up.

“You’re impressive.”

Their conversation was sporadic, yet this only increased the curiosity of another table.

“Oh my god? Not only was he not driven away, they seem to be getting along well!”

“Has Zhai Da undergone a final evolution? Has he become a master of flirting after some great awakening?”

“Looks like he’s really been hurt… No one changes that much overnight… unless their heart has died once before…”

Lin Shuyao, feeling annoyed, poked at her cold noodles, uncomfortable inside. They spoke as if she were the villain.

All she wanted was to study well, not to date. Why was she the bad girl in the end?

Zhai Da! How dare you! You’ve turned me into the bad girl!

But Zhai Da wouldn’t talk to her. She couldn’t even find the chance to complain, let alone execute her plan of a second public rejection.

She couldn’t just make trouble for no reason and walk over to him.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. Looking at the cold noodles before her, she thought of a suitable strategy.

As if suddenly realizing, she straightened up and, with a deliberately ambiguous tone, said to Zhai Da behind her, “Zhai Da, I can’t finish this bowl. Could you help me eat it? I don’t want to waste food.”

She felt as if she had mastered the art. Having a boy eat the food she left behind was essentially…

An indirect kiss!

Some people were born for the arts; some were born for the tea ceremony…

When heaven feeds you by force, what can you do?

Let’s not talk about ill intentions—just admit the technique is pure!

Lin Shuyao raised her chin, offering the best smile from the left side of her face.

She waited eagerly for Zhai Da’s reaction.

Zhai Da looked up, puzzled for a moment, then said bluntly:

“Do you think you’re funny?”