Chapter 42: Rumors and Gossip, Su Qinghe’s Initiative
"Shacha noodles."
Su Qinghe said softly.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"That’s the one!"
Chen Dongmei said with a smile.
"Oh, I see!"
"Then I’m in for a real treat. I’ll have to savor this!"
Gu Yifan nodded and said with a smile.
He had eaten shacha noodles in his past life. They were a specialty snack with a Minnan flavor!
The taste was certainly unique. People who liked it really liked it, and people who didn’t really, really didn’t!
It was like durian or luosifen—you either love it or you hate it!
And Gu Yifan happened to be the type who wasn’t a picky eater!
"Good food should never be wasted. In that case, I’ll dig in!"
"Hehehe..."
Gu Yifan said with a laugh. Then he picked up his chopsticks and started eating!
The moment he took his first bite, Gu Yifan’s eyes lit up slightly!
The flavor was identical to what he’d eaten on a business trip to the Minnan region in his past life!
As expected!
She really was an authentic Minnan local!
"Delicious!"
Gu Yifan couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up to Su Qinghe, who was beside him!
Hearing her son say that, Chen Dongmei also picked up her chopsticks and tried a bite. The flavor was indeed stunning!
For someone like her, who was used to the small noodles of Mountain City, trying a different style of noodles like this was a wonderful change of pace!
"It really is delicious!"
"Qinghe, you’re such a good cook!"
Chen Dongmei added, not stingy with her praise at all.
Embarrassed by the praise from both Chen Dongmei and Gu Yifan, she blushed slightly and said in a small voice, "Auntie, your cooking is the truly amazing one. Compared to yours, mine is nothing special."
However!
Having her cooking skills affirmed still made Su Qinghe very happy inside.
"Hehe~"
"This child, you’re too modest!"
Chen Dongmei said with a laugh, "Hurry and eat while it’s hot. It’s Monday, and you two have to get to school after you finish!"
"Don’t be late!"
After that, the three of them lowered their heads and began to enjoy the delicious meal.
......
About ten minutes later.
"Hah..."
After downing two large bowls of noodles in one go, Gu Yifan finally put down his chopsticks.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, a look of utter satisfaction on his face!
He had once read in some research paper: scientific studies show that good food can improve one’s mood!
Indeed!
It’s absolutely true!
’A beautiful day starts with shacha noodles!’ he thought to himself.
6:50 AM.
"Mom, we’re heading to school!"
Gu Yifan shouted to his mom, who was cleaning up in the kitchen, and then he and Su Qinghe got ready to leave.
"Okay, the ground is slippery with all the snow, so be careful on your way!"
Wearing an apron, Chen Dongmei poked her head out of the kitchen to remind them.
"Okay, I know!"
Gu Yifan replied with a nod.
"Goodbye, Auntie~"
Su Qinghe also waved to Chen Dongmei.
"Alright, Qinghe, come visit often when you have time!"
Chen Dongmei said with a smile.
"Okay, Auntie, I will."
Su Qinghe replied, nodding lightly.
After saying goodbye to Gu Yifan’s mom, Su Qinghe and Gu Yifan left the house.
The two of them were lucky today; they caught an empty taxi right after leaving their residential complex.
Around 7:10, the two arrived at school.
Gu Yifan’s class, Senior Class 1, was on the first floor, while Su Qinghe’s Senior Class 5 was on the third floor.
So, they had to part ways in front of the senior year building.
Before they separated, Su Qinghe’s mouth hung slightly open, her face a picture of indecision.
Gu Yifan could tell she seemed to want to say something, so he asked, "What’s wrong? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Su Qinghe nodded. After a moment’s hesitation, she said softly, "Let’s have lunch together after school lets out."
"Uh..."
Gu Yifan was taken aback for a second. He thought it was going to be something serious!
"Sure!"
He agreed with a smile and a nod, without hesitation. "I’ll wait for you at my classroom door at lunchtime!"
Hearing Gu Yifan agree, a hint of a smile appeared on Su Qinghe’s face.
"Mhm~"
She nodded emphatically.
"Alright!"
"You should head up. Morning reading session is about to start!"
"You’re already downstairs, don’t get marked late by your class’s discipline monitor!"
Gu Yifan said with a smile and a wave.
"Okay!"
Su Qinghe nodded, then turned and headed upstairs. Her steps were light and cheerful, a clear sign of her good mood.
Watching Su Qinghe’s back, Gu Yifan couldn’t help but smile. Once she reached the second floor, he also turned and walked toward his own classroom.
...
By now, the classroom for Senior Class 1 was almost full, and the room was a bit noisy.
But the moment Gu Yifan walked in, everyone fell silent in unspoken agreement.
"Uh..."
Gu Yifan froze for a second, but he quickly understood why.
’Goddammit! Did this bunch of bastards really think I tried to jump off a building because my confession to Han Ning was rejected?!!!’
He cursed his bad luck internally, then walked back to his seat in the corner of the back row—the "King’s Homeland"—with a blank expression.
As soon as he sat down, the others in the classroom started whispering to each other again.
Gu Yifan shook his head, not bothering to pay them any mind.
After a while, seeing that Gu Yifan wasn’t reacting, they all instantly seemed to enter a state of post-nut clarity, finding the whole thing boring!
They turned back to their books and continued studying.
After all, the college entrance exams were just around the corner. Gossip was gossip, but they couldn’t slack off on their studies!
They were all adults now; they knew how to get their priorities straight!
"RING-RING—RING-RING—"
A moment later, the bell for the morning reading session rang.
"BANG~!!"
At the same time, a figure bundled up tightly like a zongzi burst through the door right as the bell rang, rushing in from outside!
"Hah..."
The newcomer was panting heavily. He patted his chest and said, "Damn! That was close~"
The loud commotion startled everyone who had been focused on their books!
Almost everyone couldn’t help but frown slightly and look up at the door, Gu Yifan included.
He had been organizing his textbooks, and upon hearing the noise, he slowly raised his head to look toward the entrance.
A figure bundled up like a meatball and covered in white snow appeared in his line of sight.
"Zibo?"
Gu Yifan said with a frown.
Seeing so many pairs of eyes in the classroom staring at him, Wang Zibo’s face flushed slightly red.
"Ahem~"
He faked a couple of coughs, scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, and said sheepishly, "Sorry, sorry, everyone carry on with your reading, carry on!"
With that, he grabbed his schoolbag and scurried back to his seat.
The moment he sat down, he felt his chair being kicked!
Wang Zibo turned his head and saw Gu Yifan staring at him with a deadpan expression...