C9 I Had to Eat Back the Money

"Is it my turn to speak?" Ye Qingling's lips curved into a triumphant smile.

Feng Manlou: "..."

What does that mean? Was she deliberately trying to embarrass me with that look just now?

"Fine, since you've asked me to speak up, I will."

Ye Qingling's face suddenly turned stern, and she demanded, "Why did you sneak off this morning without so much as a goodbye?!"

"Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I saw someone lying in the flowerbed?!"

"You could have at least let me know you were okay before you left!"

Ye Qingling couldn't hide her irritation when she recalled his unannounced departure.

This morning, she had rushed back with several male teachers in such a panic that she nearly lost her shoes. When she arrived, all she found was a person lying still in the shrubbery.

She had initially feared that Lu Feng had been killed by Feng Manlou, and she was so distressed she nearly burst into tears!

It wasn't until Jiang Gongyin informed her that Feng Manlou had already left and that it was Lu Feng who had passed out in the flowers, that she felt relieved and avoided a major embarrassment.

Feng Manlou looked at the fuming Ye Qingling and had an epiphany; she was upset with him for leaving without notice.

Realizing she had mistaken Lu Feng for him in her panic, he felt a warmth in his heart.

She might be a bit naive, but her heart was in the right place.

"Hey, I'm confronting you here. What's with that goofy smile?" Ye Qingling said, her annoyance palpable.

"Hehe, it's nothing. I just wanted to say thanks for your concern. I'm all right," Feng Manlou replied with a smile.

Unexpectedly, his words made the usually fiery Ye Qingling flush with warmth.

"It's not concern, don't flatter yourself!"

Ye Qingling's face turned red as she quickly retorted, "I was just worried something might have happened to you."

After all, you stayed behind to save me. If you had been hurt, I would've felt guilty, and the academy would have faced complications."

Feng Manlou simply smiled and nodded in understanding.

He was more than willing to clarify the whole story for such a genuinely kind-hearted girl.

"Actually, I had a reason for leaving in such a rush this morning. Yesterday..."

Feng Manlou didn't hold back, briefly sharing the story of how he encountered a thief on Snack Street and ended up in a fight on his way back.

Ye Qingling listened quietly and after a pause, she finally spoke, "So, you disappeared without a word because you didn't want to be photographed and have those thieves track you down?"

Feng Manlou nodded, "I know it might seem cowardly, but I..."

He was cut off mid-sentence by the empathetic Ye Qingling.

"How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"

"Treat me to dinner?"

"Yeah, consider it a thank you for saving my life."

"But I've already eaten."

Seeing the surprise on Ye Qingling's face, Feng Manlou mentally berated himself.

'Damn, why did I say I've already eaten? Was I not thinking straight?'

"Well, in that case, maybe later..." Ye Qingling began, her expression one of disappointment, but Feng Manlou quickly interjected.

"Actually, I didn't eat much. I think I could go for another meal."

Ye Qingling's eyes widened slightly, then she smiled and said, "Well, what are we waiting for? Dinner is on me."

...

Feng Manlou wasn't sure if Ye Qingling was the belle of the East Sea Institute, but judging by the continuous greetings and the girls who eagerly hugged her, it was clear she was a prominent figure at the academy.

"Senior Sister Ye, what's your relationship with this guy?" a round-faced girl whispered.

Feng Manlou rolled his eyes at the comment. Whispering right in front of me, do they think I can't hear?

And how many times has this question been asked along the way? Eight, ten?

Come on, open your eyes, there's a whole meter of 'safety distance' between Senior Sister Ye and me. Could we possibly be involved?

"Don't overthink it, he's just an old classmate," Ye Qingling said with a smile.

The round-faced girl nodded as if deep in thought, then added before leaving, "Be careful, Senior Sister. Old classmates and upperclassmen are often the ones who can most easily let a girl's guard down."

Feng Manlou nearly choked, almost spewing a mouthful of blood onto her face. Were all the girls on this planet so brazen?

"What are you even talking about? We're just old classmates. Go on, you've got your hands full with Student Union responsibilities," Ye Qingling said with a pinch to Zhang Xiaoguo's arm, clearly annoyed.

She, too, was taken aback by the term 'virgin killer.'

Finally reaching the No. 1 cafeteria, Qingling made a beeline for the spiral staircase outside.

"Planning to spring for a buffet?" Manlou inquired, noting that she didn't pause at the second floor but instead continued upward. Recalling the third-floor buffet's price of 52 per person, he winced at the thought.

"Why not just eat on the second floor? Buffets are all show and no substance. A simple rice dish would be a fine way to repay your debt of gratitude," he suggested.

Qingling gave him a sideways look, her eyebrows arching. "What, you think my life isn't even worth a buffet? Just a bowl of rice?"

Manlou was stunned.

How could he be so misunderstood?

When had he ever said such a thing? He was just concerned about her parents' finances!

"Don't get me wrong. That's not what I meant. We're still students; there's no need to be extravagant."

Qingling smiled and gestured towards the cafeteria entrance below. "Unless you want to risk being labeled a virgin... well, we can either go out or just have a rice dish on the second floor."

Manlou glanced back to see a group of young men and women watching them, murmuring among themselves. He was at a loss for words.

The youth of Blue Star sure were nosy. Was it such a spectacle to have a meal with a pretty Student Union girl?

"Fine, we'll do the buffet," he conceded.

"Not worried about my finances now?"

"No longer. My honor is certainly worth more than a meal," Manlou retorted.

Upon entering the restaurant, the cashier pointed to the card reader. "That'll be 104 for two, and we close at 9:15."

Watching Ye Qingling reach for her school card, Feng Manlou's ego-driven male chauvinism kicked in once again. He quickly pulled out his own card and placed it on the reader.

"What are you doing?!" Ye Qingling exclaimed, "Didn't we agree that this was my treat?"

The cashier, uninterested in the couple's squabble, hit a few buttons, and the number on the display plummeted from 212 to 108.

Seeing his meal card balance slashed in half due to his foolish impulse, Feng Manlou grimaced with regret. He silently vowed to eat enough to make up for the cost, even if it meant bursting at the seams!

The ticket machine churned out a receipt, which the cashier handed over, saying, "We're out of old duck soup. How about a clear soup with spicy oil for you instead? Table 36."

"Thank you."

Still reeling from his financial pain, Feng Manlou numbly accepted the receipt and headed inside.

Many students who had once complained about the subpar cuisine at the university would later reflect at social gatherings, after stepping into the real world, with a hint of nostalgia, "Ever since I left school, I've realized I'll never find such affordable and satisfying meals again."

Cheap and filling with a touch of the bizarre, university cafeterias have always had their charm. Even the Western-style buffet restaurants maintain this ethos. For a mere fifty-two per person, you can gorge on lamb, steak, and even score some oysters and lobster—a prime spot for cash-strapped couples and students looking for a hearty meal.

Students in the restaurant, busy with their hot pots and barbecues, looked up in surprise to see an average-looking guy with a plain physique bring a stunning girl to the buffet. They were so astonished they were at a loss for words.

"Damn, the kid's even wearing flip-flops!"

"He's got some nerve, really strutting his stuff!"

"He's got to be rich, no doubt about it!"

Some students active in the Student Union recognized Ye Qingling and gasped in amazement.

"Oh my god, Ye Qingling, the one the president couldn't win over, has actually been asked out by a guy. The Student Union is going to have a meltdown!"

Ye Qingling hadn't anticipated the buffet would be swarming with Student Union members today. She realized she had misjudged the situation and glanced cautiously at Feng Manlou, noting his composed demeanor and air of indifference. She admired his poise and detachment.

Indeed, it seemed that only those with true courage possessed such resilience, unfazed by the scrutiny and rumors of others.

Did this mean his previous discomfort was all for my sake?

As they made their way down the narrow corridor to table 36, tucked away in the corner of the restaurant, the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a golden halo around Feng Manlou. The light was soft yet warm, and Ye Qingling couldn't help but notice a certain charm about him that transcended his looks.

Feng Manlou moved ahead, seemingly numb to the hushed whispers and inquisitive stares that now seemed inconsequential.

Shaking off the overwhelming sadness, his thoughts were now consumed with how to make the most of the meal and ensure the unscrupulous cafeteria owner didn't make a dime off of him.

What was that ultimate strategy for breaking even at a buffet again?

It escaped him.

No matter, he thought, I'll just go for the priciest items!

They had barely settled into their seats when the highly efficient server brought over a strikingly divided hot pot. With the electronic stove on and the barbecue grill heating up, Feng Manlou was already heading for the refrigerated display.

Ye Qingling had just expressed her gratitude to the server when she saw him fling open the display, bending down to retrieve two towering stacks of trays laden with beef and mutton. He carried them back, the stack reaching from his waist to his chin, and she watched, eyes wide with astonishment.

Why was he bringing so much food all at once?

Ye Qingling felt her mind go blank.

Since her early teens, whether at banquets or social gatherings, she had never encountered a boy who would unabashedly indulge in food and drink before her. They always ate with more refinement than a gentleman, seemingly terrified of making a poor impression.

With such life experiences as her backdrop, the astute Ye Qingling couldn't fathom that the beef and mutton were part of Feng Manlou's strategic plan to maximize his buffet investment. Instead, she found herself puzzling over his intentions.

Suddenly, her expression betrayed a hint of panic.

Could it be... had he realized that I have quite the appetite?

The demure couples were once again astounded by Feng Manlou's actions.

"Wow, eating with a beauty and he grabs that much food in one go? This guy doesn't hold back at all!"

Feng Manlou pulled up a chair and carefully set down two stacks of beef and lamb on it, then turned to Ye Qingling and said, "You start eating; I'll go get more."

Watching Feng Manlou head back to the buffet, Ye Qingling felt so mortified she wanted to leap from the building and flee.

It's confirmed, it's all out in the open. He must have caught me eating in secret, and that's why he deliberately brought over so much food at once.

But when did he see me?

Was it that time I secretly devoured a family bucket at KFC?

Oh no, my nineteen years of maintaining a flawless image have just collapsed.