Even though the Cafeteria at Baiying Academy was already enormous, at mealtime, students still managed to fill every nook and cranny.
Almost every seat was taken, leaving only one lonely, conspicuously empty table.
That was the Legendary Table, haunt of Baiying Academy’s infamous bully, the one even the Principal dared not provoke lightly, the eldest miss of the Sujia, Su Wanli.
In the past, let alone trying to share the table, even the entire row of seats nearest to Su Wanli, considered the “danger zone,” would often remain deserted. Yet now, there stood a girl with a high ponytail and bright clothes, holding two cafeteria trays and beaming at Su Wanli’s side.
“Hey, have you been waiting long? You should know better than to keep me waiting.”
Su Wanli gave a cold cough, then tapped the table twice, signaling Meng Huange to put down the trays in her hands.
“All day long you’re clumsy and slow. Asking you to buy food is practically risking starvation…”
“Sorry, the Cafeteria was a bit crowded, so queuing took a while.”
Meng Huange nodded to Su Wanli with a hint of apology in her eyes, as she began unloading the carefully selected dishes from the trays, placing them in front of Su Wanli.
One plate of Black Pepper Beef, one plate of grilled pork ribs, one plate of Braised Ji Calf, a serving of flower-stem chicken wings, a dish of Silicon Dai Sheng Wei, and a portion of Rainbow Kidney Egg…
After setting down all the food from the trays, Meng Huange stacked the empty trays to one side, then brought over two bowls of Rice and a serving of Vegetable Soup.
Lining them up neatly on the table, she finally sat down lightly across from Su Wanli, her eyes sparkling as she said,
“Miss Wanli, for now I’ve only gotten this much. I’m not sure if any of these suit your taste.”
“Hmph, who told you to worry about what I like? Didn’t I already say to just get whatever you want?”
Fine, she did say to let her get whatever she wanted. But she hadn’t said Meng Huange couldn’t pick her own favorites either.
…Sigh, next time I need to figure out Meng Huange’s taste, even if my Virtuous Girl Value drops below 80, I’ll just have to say it out loud and be direct.
Su Wanli quietly stretched out her neck and glanced at the food Meng Huange had brought.
Although it looked like a lot when she listed them all out, every dish was just a small portion—enough for two girls to finish comfortably.
…But why are they all meat dishes? Could it be Meng Huange is just as much of a pure meat-lover as I am?
Whatever, there’s no point overthinking it for now. Her stomach had been growling since a moment ago. If she embarrassed herself by making weird noises in front of Meng Huange, her Female Villain Value would surely take a nosedive.
Rather than keeping up appearances, Su Wanli decided to focus on appeasing her hungry stomach first.
She quietly picked up a few strips of beef, mixed them into her Rice, then scooped up some of Meng Huange’s grilled pork ribs and ate them all together.
Mmm, while it wasn’t quite up to the Sujia’s usual standards, the flavor was all there, the ingredients generous—it counted as one of the better meals in the Cafeteria.
…Now, let’s see about Meng Huange. Maybe she picked all this not to suit me, but because she likes them herself? But with so much food, surely there’s something here she prefers.
Right?
Su Wanli dabbed her lips with a napkin, stretched her limbs in a show of nonchalance, and then, as naturally as possible, looked up, using her peripheral vision to observe Meng Huange.
However, in her field of view, Meng Huange had her hands crossed lightly under her chin, smiling sweetly as she gazed at the corner of Su Wanli’s mouth.
“Why are you staring so blankly…”
The rice she had just eaten nearly jumped out of Su Wanli’s mouth under Meng Huange’s intense gaze.
Flustered, she quickly patted her own throat to swallow it, then glared at Meng Huange.
“What are you looking at? Eat your own food! Do I need to teach you how to use chopsticks?”
“Sorry, Miss Wanli, it’s just that watching you eat is rather mesmerizing. Just a few seconds and I feel like my entire meal tastes better.”
“…Wh—who told you to look!”
After being verbally assaulted so directly, Su Wanli forcefully controlled her heartbeat, then took a deep breath and shot back at Meng Huange,
“Since you’re so free, hurry up and eat your food while it’s hot!”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Meng Huange smiled at Su Wanli, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with one hand, then picked up a white soup spoon with the other, gracefully scooping some soup from her bowl, and then gently blew on it.
In that instant, her chestnut hair cascaded smoothly along her shoulders, the steam from the Vegetable Soup entwining with her locks, highlighting her beauty with a subtle, mesmerizing glow.
It was just an ordinary bowl of soup, but with the elegant girl’s stunning face as a backdrop, it transformed into some rare and exquisite delicacy. The few green leaves floating on the clear surface looked so appetizing that Su Wanli couldn’t help but swallow.
Spring morning.
“Ah!”
Noticing Su Wanli’s unwavering gaze, Meng Huange paused to ponder for a moment, then the corners of her lips lifted slightly, her smile curving with a mysterious grace.
“Sorry, Miss Wanli, I spent quite a bit of time queuing when I was on duty earlier. By the time I reached the front, the Cafeteria’s complimentary soup had just run out, so I only managed to get this one serving.”
She gently pushed the soup toward Su Wanli’s side of the table.
“But, if you like it, I can go get another bowl from the next batch. Would you like to try some?”
“…Eh?”
Su Wanli was stunned for a moment, glancing from the spoon in Meng Huange’s hand to her hopeful expression.
No way, could it be…
It’s happening again! Again and again and again—!
I already missed my chance on the very first day, when the beautiful girl Meng Huange offered me a bite herself!
If… if the opportunity presents itself again this time, are you really going to let it pass, Su Wanli?
No, of course not. As long as you make every preparation in advance…
Su Wanli swallowed nervously and surveyed everything around her.
The students nearby were all busy with their own meals, the Cafeteria staff simply minding their business, the overhead lights shining bright and impersonal as ever. Her Female Villain Value was full, and even her Extra Villainess Value was topped off!
Now, with everything proceeding according to plan, if she thought rationally, this time the “feeding” was Meng Huange’s initiative. According to the System, if the female lead makes the first move, it doesn’t count as Su Wanli failing in her villainess role—at worst, she simply didn’t refuse decisively enough.
[Agreed…]
Switch to cold mode. Do not enter passive mode. Confirm switching to cold mode.
Good! There are no more obstacles now! Does this mean, finally, I get to taste the soup that Meng Huange offers with her own hand?
There’s no need to worry about what the System might say afterward. Rivals do sometimes perform acts that seem overly close but are really veiled provocations—like sitting together at the Cafeteria, or having eating contests in the dorm, or even—yes—even exchanging a spoonful of soup at the table.
Exactly, this is just one of those established rituals among rivals. I’ll just tell the System this is not a mistake; as long as I make a show of upholding my villainess persona before taking the soup, and give a reason for my action, it won’t look like I’m falling for the heroine’s charm…
However, it seemed Su Wanli had hesitated too long, for Meng Huange gave a soft chuckle again.
“Sorry, I forgot—you’re not comfortable with this sort of contact. I’ll prepare a portion for you later—”
Just as Meng Huange started to move the soup away, Su Wanli quickly leaned forward and grabbed her slender wrist.
Then, Su Wanli gently opened her mouth and took the spoonful of soup from Meng Huange’s hand.
Just as she had imagined, the taste was nothing out of the ordinary—simple Vegetable Soup, light and clear, the faint flavor of the broth and crispness of the leaves, no different from any other soup in the world.
Yet in this moment, Su Wanli felt blissfully happy.
This wasn’t just a spoonful of soup being offered; it was the warmest comfort in the world, a flame enough to melt all chill, the most unique kindness in the whole universe.
“So sweet…”
Even after the soup was long gone from the spoon, Su Wanli was reluctant to move her tongue away. She kept gently licking at the lingering flavor.
Darn it, I’ve worked so hard these past days. Can’t I savor this once-in-a-lifetime moment for just a few more seconds?
Even if my Virtuous Girl Value tanks, even if I fail my Female Villain missions and lose everything—I still think it’s worth it.
—No. Not even that would be worth it.
Suddenly sobered, Su Wanli quietly opened her eyes, and met Meng Huange’s gaze across the table, both of them sharing a certain silent, inexplicable feeling.
A peck.
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