11:40 AM.
The dismissal bell rang precisely.
A good thing about being in a regular class was that teachers never held you over.
The classroom instantly livened up, and even Song Jian, who had been slumped for four periods, perked up.
“Huo Ge! Let’s go! Call your sister, it’s time for us to grab some food!”
Xu Huo calmly tidied his desk, “It’s normal for their class to run over. Rushing won’t help…”
“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, the cafeteria’s crowded at this time. I wouldn’t get a good spot even if I went.”
“With your weight, you still can’t get a good spot?”
“It’s really hot, okay?”
For a big guy like Song Jian, eating in a stuffy cafeteria was torture.
Thankfully, it was cloudy.
If it were sunny, he wondered if what squeezed out would be sweat or oil.
“Waiting downstairs isn’t just as hot?”
“Better than the cafeteria.”
Xu Huo nodded, “Lu Xun was right, Chinese people truly love compromise.”
The two headed downstairs together.
Song Jian, being heavy, had more inertia and went down the stairs faster.
Then he suddenly turned to look at Xu Huo, looking extremely flustered, as if some ingrained belief had been shattered.
Xu Huo felt a chill down his spine from being stared at. He frowned and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Han Xiao… she’s really here…”
“Now?!”
“Yeah. How does she look even better in person? Is this woman photoshopping herself to look uglier?”
Song Jian looked utterly bewildered, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Where?”
“Right there, look! She’s being surrounded.”
As the two were pulling and talking, Han Xiao, who was idly playing on her phone in the shadow of a stone pillar, finally spotted Xu Huo in the crowd.
A look of delight appeared in her eyes, and without a word, she walked towards him.
Before she even got close, Song Jian, for various reasons like being “shy around strangers,” “social anxiety,” and “only brave at home,” quickly bolted.
As he ran, he left behind a parting shot, “A beautiful woman is a bane.”
“What was that thing that just darted past?”
Han Xiao curiously stared at Song Jian’s fleeing back.
Putting everything else aside, he sure ran fast; he was gone in a blink of an eye.
“He was in a hurry to use the restroom.”
Xu Huo didn’t explain further, instead asking, “What about you? Why are you dressed like that?”
“Like what? Is it unsuitable?”
“…You’re too attention-grabbing.”
She wore an off-the-shoulder T-shirt, revealing her fair and flawless skin.
Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, giving her a playful and cute vibe.
Her entire neck was bare, adding a touch of alluring beauty that didn’t quite fit a student’s demeanor, no wonder she was being stared at.
“But this is my everyday outfit. Is it my fault I’m good-looking and stylish?”
Han Xiao was right.
Girls who look captivating and carry themselves well are always likable.
Of course, only Xu Huo knew this was just an appearance.
When she lost her cool and cursed him as a liar yesterday, her expression was quite fierce.
“Then can’t you be more low-key? Find a slightly more secluded spot!”
“But I don’t have your contact information. I forgot to add it yesterday, and I’m in a hurry today. If I don’t stand here, how can I contact you?”
“Besides, I think doing it this way shows my sincerity.”
Han Xiao had a serious expression.
***
Xu Huo didn’t understand.
“Don’t you enjoy all the attention around us?”
Han Xiao narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Xu Huo. Her eyes looked long and thin, truly like a small fox when smiling.
This appearance was both cute and sly, with a hint of playfulness and beauty.
“To thank you for your help, the only emotional value I can provide is this…”
Is this girl seriously that narcissistic?
Xu Huo frowned, “Then let’s not delay. Before my sister gets out of school, let’s find a place to record the video quickly.”
“Okay, but why does it feel like we’re having a secret affair?”
Han Xiao mumbled, leading Xu Huo to an open space and recording a video with her phone.
As she uploaded it, she chatted casually, “Yesterday I was still wondering why your name is Xu Huo, until I heard your sister say her name is Jiang Ran…”
“Huo Ran then.”
“I guessed so.”
If the character ‘Huo’ were taken alone, it wouldn’t actually be considered a beautiful character.
Whether as a verb or a name, its connotations are generally not good.
For instance, it can refer to wild grass growing mixed with crops.
However, once ‘Huo’ is paired with ‘Ran’, the meaning changes completely.
For example, in the context of studying, ‘Huo Ran Yi Jie’ implies a sudden understanding, as if a chronic illness has been cured.
The most common usage is ‘Huo Ran Kai Lang’, which can describe one’s perspective or a sudden change in one’s state of mind.
Just then, Jiang Ran’s school finished.
Xu Huo waved to her.
A clear, happy smile appeared on Jiang Ran’s face.
She said a few words to the girl she was with, then happily jogged over.
It wasn’t until she saw Han Xiao sitting behind Xu Huo, fiddling with her phone, that her demeanor instantly became reserved, “Brother! Why are you two here?”
“Recording a clarification video…”
“Are you done?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s go quickly! I’m starving!”
Hearing this, Xu Huo turned and asked, “Anything else?”
“Not for now.”
“Then we’re leaving.”
Xu Huo turned to go.
Han Xiao darted forward, quickly spreading her arms to block their path, “Hey! Wait!”
Xu Huo frowned, “Something else?” “…Uh, just one small thing.”
Han Xiao pinched her pinky finger, looking awkward, “Let’s go together, eat and talk in the cafeteria.”
“Together?”
“Is it inconvenient?”
“I’m worried it might be inconvenient for you.”
“I’m perfectly fine with it.”
As Han Xiao spoke, she took a step to leave.
Xu Huo raised his hand, stopping Han Xiao, who was about to turn right, “Aren’t we going to the cafeteria? Where are you going?”
Han Xiao subtly retracted her step.
Xu Huo looked like he understood but also didn’t, “You don’t know the way?”
“How could I? I’ve just been to school a little less often…”
Han Xiao brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, seeming a bit defiant.
In front of unfamiliar people, I absolutely cannot show my foolish side.
“This way.”
Xu Huo sighed, helplessly leading the way.
Rumor had it that the cafeteria was run by the principal’s brother-in-law.
No one knew if it was true, but every school seemed to have such rumors.
Otherwise, why would such terrible food stay in business?
Xu Huo wasn’t picky about food; as long as it was hygienic, it was fine.
If he wanted truly delicious food, it was always better at home.
Having been delayed for a while, there weren’t many people left in the cafeteria at this time.
Besides the students still eating at the tables, the various serving windows were empty.
Only the aunties with large ladles stood bored in the windows, occasionally exchanging a few words, waiting for closing time.
It was only then that Han Xiao realized a crucial problem, “Ah! I don’t have a meal card!”
“…I’ll treat you,” Jiang Ran said without much hesitation.
After all, they were already there, and there were no other options.
But Han Xiao refused, insisting on transferring the money.
Seeing her serious expression, Jiang Ran didn’t refuse either.
However, looking at the small lump of rice and a few vegetables on Han Xiao’s plate, she couldn’t help but ask, “Just this much?”
“To maintain my figure.”
One minute of glory in front of people, ten years of effort behind the scenes.
Without absolute self-discipline, Han Xiao simply couldn’t maintain her current devilish figure.
Her life motto was, Makeup cannot run, eyes cannot be blind.
The prerequisite for makeup not running is that the face cannot be fat; if the face gets fat, even the best makeup is useless.
The prerequisite for eyes not being blind is that the heart cannot be in turmoil; if the heart is in turmoil, even the brightest eyes are useless.
Jiang Ran didn’t say anything more.
Xu Huo held his own meal tray in his left hand and Jiang Ran’s in his right.
He found a spot with a fan in the corner of the cafeteria, then took out tissues from his pocket, gave one to Han Xiao, first wiped down Jiang Ran’s side of the table, and then his own.
“Speak, what is it?”
They were all home-style dishes.
Xu Huo ate happily, drizzling sauce over his rice with a spoon, eating large mouthfuls.
Han Xiao got straight to the point, “…In a few days, I’ll be participating in a singing competition. You both know ‘I Am a Singer,’ right?”
“Mm.” Jiang Ran nodded, “I’m a huge fan of that show.”
Han Xiao looked at Xu Huo with eager eyes and said, “When I came to your house yesterday, I heard you sing, and I thought it was really good. The lyrics were great too. So I wanted to ask, can I sing your song then?”