The final exams at X City University weren’t actually very difficult, and the teachers had already outlined the key points.
Many people always think that high school is the watershed of life—whether you do well or not determines a different life. However, in reality, university is where the gaps between people are the largest.
To put it simply: in high school, if your grades were excellent or mediocre, you might not even see each other. Regular classes, experimental classes, rocket classes, elite classes—layer upon layer stacked together. The score gap between you and your classmates was at most around a hundred points, spread across six subjects, meaning about ten to twenty points per subject. Unless there was someone truly exceptional, the gap between people wasn’t so huge that it felt unattainable—it was a level where if you reached out a little harder, you could almost touch it.
But university was different. The key thing about university was… everyone had freedom.
Most of the time, freedom is a positive word. There’s an old saying: “Life is precious, love is more valuable, but for freedom, both can be abandoned.” People would sacrifice even life and love to chase freedom.
But freedom often means determining a direction.
You’d notice that the classmates who just coasted through college only hoped the teacher would give them a passing grade. Meanwhile, those who were good at networking were always outside, hanging out with people from this department and that, developing a socialite aura at a young age. The studious ones aimed for the highest GPA in every subject, joined research groups organized by professors, or participated in various activities.
The paths in university were far too broad. Most people never really understood college; they drifted through this greatest opportunity to change their destiny in a daze.
When you went to class, the old professor whose lectures made you drowsy and unwilling to listen might actually be a leading authority in his field. If you could get on his good side—even if he just said one word for you—it could smooth your path in the future workplace.
There were too many choices, which led most people during their college years to not know how to spend this time, what counted as success, or how to be worthy of their youth.
Of course, for Liu Yan and Chen Tang, this was never an issue.
Because neither of them had grand ambitions, and neither did their parents.
If Liu Yan had no dream to fulfill, after graduation he would simply take over the family restaurant, and his parents could retire.
And in both families’ eyes, Chen Tang was destined to be the restaurant’s future wife.
The most crucial thing was that Liu Yan, unlike most second-generation heirs, didn’t hate his parents’ profession.
He loved cooking and felt deeply attached to their restaurant.
So he had long been prepared to take over.
For example, right now, when final exams were over and other students were still waiting for their grades—while those from other provinces were packing to go home—Liu Yan had already taken out his white chef uniforms from the closet and started ironing them.
Summer was the peak season for the restaurant. In earlier years, they’d have to hire one or two extra people. But since Liu Yan started high school, that expense had been saved because he would go help cook.
His skill was no worse than his father’s.
And this year, Chen Tang also planned to help. She would mainly assist Liu Yan’s mother with logistics… after all, logically, those tasks would eventually fall to her.
“Hey~ this really feels like they’re treating me like their daughter-in-law already~”
She was wearing a maid outfit. “What do you think? If I wear this to be a waitress, would it make the business explode? What about a promotion like ‘Spend a hundred and get a stamp collection from me’~ With a beautiful girl like me holding down the fort, wouldn’t the restaurant’s revenue skyrocket?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you can only wear it for me to see. Not allowed to show it outside.”
“Oh~ you’re so bossy, Liu Yan-sama~ This humble one shall follow your orders.”
“You’re mixing things up. How did you combine East and West?”
“Isn’t that just ‘blooming in both directions’?”
“That joke is way too old. I’m fining you—make a new one.”
Chen Tang and Liu Yan teased each other for a bit before she said with a grin, “Auntie said she’d pay me eight thousand a month~”
“Nani?!”
“How did you turn into a Japanese person?”
Liu Yan’s eyes widened. “How much did you say?”
“Eight thousand!”
“My dad only gives me two thousand! He said students shouldn’t get too much!”
“I suggest you investigate Uncle. I bet he’s pocketing six thousand in the middle.”
“Totally possible!”
Liu Yan plopped onto the sofa. “Forget it. The old couple already bought us a house. I won’t argue with them.”
Liu Mengmeng looked at them interacting with envy. She wanted to go to the restaurant and make her presence felt too, but she had to practice driving.
Sigh!
She had to get her driver’s license fast! Then she could go show her face at her cousin’s, uncle’s, and aunt’s place!
“Little sample, two months of summer break. Just think—I’ll turn into a rich woman!”
Liu Yan quickly said, “Then I’ll cling to the rich woman’s thigh!”
As he said it, his eyes swept over Chen Tang’s absolute territory before looking away.
“You little brat, you’re taking and taking!”
Chen Tang wasn’t stingy. She sat generously on the sofa without any intention of covering up.
“That’s no fun. Don’t you know a girl’s shyness makes these things even more delicious? At least pretend to be shy and cover up a little.”
Chen Tang rolled her eyes at him and said to Liu Mengmeng, “Mengmeng, did you hear what your cousin said? Go change and show him what a girl’s shyness looks like. I can’t perform it anyway.”
“Tang! Sister Tang! You’re bullying me again!”
“Tsk~ look at that little expression of yours. That’s the vibe.”
In fact, Chen Tang wasn’t a bad actress. At least when she faced off against Xia You and Bai Mengling recently, she held her own. But real skills were for when you faced strong opponents. In front of Liu Yan, she didn’t feel the need to perform, so she couldn’t muster the energy.
Besides, shyness and the like required an ambiguous atmosphere.
Was there any ambiguity between her and Liu Yan?
“Ah~ Old Liu, the cosplays I’ve been posting lately seem to be getting more viewers.”
“What about your earnings?”
“Thirty.”
“That’s fine. Treat your buddy to a bowl of noodles.”
“I’m good with that.”
With that, Liu Yan finished ironing his clothes.
“Alright! We’ll start work tomorrow. We’ll check grades when they come out. No gaming tonight. Gotta conserve energy.”
Chen Tang nodded in agreement.
“Oh, Mengmeng, I almost forgot to tell you.” Liu Yan suddenly turned to look at Liu Mengmeng. “I talked to Uncle and Auntie. After you finish your driving practice, just come straight to our restaurant. Have lunch there. Order whatever you want.”
“Huh? Is that… okay?”
“What’s wrong with that? We own a restaurant—we won’t let you go hungry. Your sister Tang and I won’t be home for lunch or dinner. We’ll only come back after closing at ten at night. Are you going to cook for yourself? You know where the restaurant is, right?”
“I do!”
The two exchanged goodnights.
The next morning, Liu Yan and Chen Tang woke up very early. At six o’clock, Liu Yan was already on his electric scooter, and Chen Tang hopped onto the back seat without hesitation.
“Let’s go!”
“Go!”
Liu Mengmeng was still deep in her dreams.
“What do you want to eat? Right now it’s just buns, soy milk, fried dough sticks, rice noodles, that kind of stuff.”
“Buns, of course. I want one pork bun and one sauce bun.”
Liu Yan nodded. “I’ll have a cup of soy milk and two fried dough sticks. You don’t want soy milk?”
“I’ll just drink yours.”
“Alright.”
The two quickly bought breakfast at a shop. Then Liu Yan drove while Chen Tang fed him from behind.
But in that position, she had to press close to him.
“Take a sip of soy milk.”
“Mm~”
Chen Tang released the straw she had been biting and handed it over.
Liu Yan took a sip. “I told you not to bite the straw! That’s a bad habit.”
“Don’t nag!”
In about twenty minutes, they arrived at the restaurant’s location.
The place was more like a food stall than a proper restaurant.
Liu Yan’s parents had once considered upgrading it to a banquet hall, but they lacked experience and gave up. In reality, though, this kind of stall earned them quite a bit.
As long as you had customers.
Anyway, the couple had saved a lot of money. For instance, when they bought the house for the two young ones, they initially planned to cover the full cost themselves—after all, Chen Tang was their future daughter-in-law. But Chen Tang’s parents, coming from a scholarly family, firmly refused, saying it would be a loss of propriety and make them shameless.
So they insisted on paying half, or else they wouldn’t let Chen Tang move in.
Liu Yan’s parents finally gave in.
When they arrived, they saw the old couple already busy.
“Dad! Mom!”
“Uncle, Auntie~”
The two greeted them.
“Xiao Yan, come help process the ingredients. Xiao Tang~ come, sit here. Don’t rush. I’ll tell you what to do in a bit.”
The difference in treatment was immediately obvious.
Liu Yan could understand.
After all, Chen Tang was really adorable now. As a beautiful girl, she had privileges. Look at how she called them just now.
That dog thing had gone straight into a cute voice.
Who could resist that?
Even Liu Yan, who knew Chen Tang inside and out, was sometimes fooled by her cute appearance and couldn’t bring himself to be strict with her, let alone his parents.
They clearly doted on Chen Tang endlessly.
But although Liu Yan often helped girls in trouble, he was actually an advocate of gender equality…
If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to use a flying kick on a girl.
Liu Yan quickly got busy. Meanwhile, his mother quietly came over to Chen Tang.
A smile spread across her face.
“Xiao Tang, about Mengmeng moving in with you guys… has she caused any trouble?”
Chen Tang immediately grinned, knowing what Auntie meant.
“No trouble in daily life. And having Mengmeng around makes it livelier—”
She paused, her cheeks reddening slightly, and said shyly, “It’s just that… there are some things we can’t do with Liu Yan anymore…”
As soon as she said that, the joy in Mother Liu’s eyes couldn’t be hidden.
“Even though that’s your house, sometimes you don’t have to stay there. If Mengmeng makes it inconvenient, you can go out~ I’ll give Xiao Yan the money—it can be reimbursed!”
Chen Tang fully understood Mother Liu’s thinking.
After all, her son had such a pretty childhood friend who seemed to have high favorability. Anyone would want to seize that opportunity.
And the old couple must have seen Liu Yan’s WeChat Moments—that post about “Whose little kitten is this” or whatever.
Thinking of this, Chen Tang’s blush gained a bit more sincerity.
She was a little embarrassed.
Otherwise, Auntie wouldn’t have come specifically to talk about this. They must have thought she and Liu Yan had already crossed that line.
Actually, they hadn’t.
“It’s fine, Auntie. Just teach me about the restaurant~”
When she said that, Mother Liu’s smile grew even warmer. In her eyes, this was Chen Tang acknowledging herself as their future daughter-in-law.
It’s just that Liu Yan was too unreliable. Today she’d have to find a chance to lecture her son. First he was messing around with that Xia You, and now with Bai Mengling! He was blind! There was such a lovely girl right beside him, and he acted like he couldn’t see! They, the older generation, were anxious just watching. Chen Tang clearly had intentions!
Everyone knew how mischievous this girl used to be! After entering university, she started to calm down. Lately, they hadn’t even heard any news of her causing trouble! And her intimate, ambiguous behavior with their son—this was clearly her first love!
If he lost her, what a pity!
Neither of them was willing to accept that outcome.
So they were planning to deepen the bond between the two. Offering Chen Tang a high salary was a lure.
“Sigh, Xiao Yan can be a bit blunt sometimes. Xiao Tang, you need to be patient with him.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie! Liu Yan and I have known each other for years. I know his personality well. I can handle him easily.”
“Right! That’s the spirit!”
Then she began teaching Chen Tang about running the restaurant.
At noon, Liu Mengmeng rode a shared bike over and parked at the entrance.
“Uncle! Auntie! Bro Yan! Sis Tang! I’m here to eat!”
Chen Tang ran over. “What do you want? Order from me, and I’ll have your brother Yan cook it for you!”
Before she could answer, a long-haired beauty in a white dress with black-rimmed glasses walked in. She had an elegant aura.
“Bai Mengling?”
Chen Tang looked at her, surprise in her eyes. “What are you doing here?!”
“This is a restaurant. I’m here to eat, of course. What, as an employee, you don’t welcome me as a customer?”
Chen Tang couldn’t say, “This place isn’t up to your standards,” because that would make Uncle and Auntie feel bad.
“So the eldest Miss Bai has come from afar. Truly, our humble little shop is honored~”
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