Invitation to Dinner

The next day at Yinshan Academy.

Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke walked up to Tao Xiaotao’s desk, drawing the attention of many students in the classroom.

"..." Tao Xiaotao seemed puzzled as she noticed Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke staring at her, as if they had something to say.

"Um..." Tao Xiaotao tentatively spoke up.

"Let’s go outside. We need to talk," Bai Yuyou said.

Tao Xiaotao: "Huh?!"

"Come on, let’s talk outside," Tang Keke added with a smile.

To Tao Xiaotao, the way the two spoke felt almost intimidating, like demons looming over her. She shrank back nervously, her hands fidgeting. "I..."

"Let’s go."

"O-okay..." Tao Xiaotao timidly stood up and obediently followed Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke out of the classroom.

The other students exchanged glances, assuming Tao Xiaotao must have offended Bai Yuyou—after all, Bai Yuyou was currently one of the most popular figures at Yinshan Academy.

Once they reached the hallway, Tao Xiaotao kept her head down, her hands clasped anxiously in front of her, unsure of what the two wanted.

"It’s about the hundred yuan," Tang Keke explained, noticing Tao Xiaotao’s nervousness.

"I-I didn’t steal it!" Tao Xiaotao immediately waved her hands in denial. "No, I mean... I already called the counselor about it."

She hastily dug into her pocket and pulled out a neatly folded hundred-yuan bill.

Her body trembled slightly, bracing herself for the scolding she expected to come.

But instead, Bai Yuyou gently took Tao Xiaotao’s hand in her own warm one.

"This money is for you—as compensation."

"Compensation...?" Tao Xiaotao looked confused, not quite understanding what "compensation" meant in this context.

Tang Keke then explained about the bottle they had lost and how this was meant to make up for it. Once Tao Xiaotao understood, she immediately shook her head and pushed the money back into Bai Yuyou’s hand.

"No, no, that’s too much! The bottle isn’t worth a hundred!"

"Thank you, thank you... I really appreciate it."

Bai Yuyou insisted, "Then... let us treat you to a meal as an apology."

"Yeah, since we messed up, how about joining us for lunch during break?" Tang Keke asked cheerfully.

Tao Xiaotao hesitated again. "N-no, that’s a waste of money..."

"You have to agree... or we’ll feel bad," Bai Yuyou said.

"Huh?" Tao Xiaotao was taken aback. As someone who usually went unnoticed, she had never been treated like this before.

Under Bai Yuyou’s unwavering gaze, she finally relented. "O-okay, then."

"Good."

...

When lunch break arrived, Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke were packing up to leave when they noticed a figure sneaking out of the classroom.

"Xiaotao, where are you going?" Tang Keke called out.

Tao Xiaotao froze, then turned around awkwardly.

"I-I was just going to the restroom..."

"Oh, we’re heading there too. Let’s go together, then we’ll grab food."

"O-okay."

After leaving the restroom, Tao Xiaotao still seemed timid, walking with her head down—until she felt a gentle hand take hers.

She turned to see the stunningly beautiful girl nodding at her. "Be confident."

"Ah..." Tao Xiaotao blinked. "O-okay..."

"Xiaotao, where are you from? Your accent is kinda cute," Tang Keke asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

Instead of being flattered, Tao Xiaotao only grew more flustered.

"H-Henan, Jiyuan..."

"Really?" Tang Keke, who wasn’t great with geography, scratched her head and turned to Bai Yuyou. "Yuyou, is Henan farther than Guangdong?"

"Keke, Guangdong is right next to us. Henan is much farther," Bai Yuyou replied.

"Hehe."

Watching the two girls chatting and laughing, Tao Xiaotao somehow felt more at ease—even a little drawn to them.

But then she noticed how pristine and well-dressed Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke were, their expensive-looking phones in hand. Glancing at her own barely functional device, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious again.

The group soon arrived at the cafeteria.

"Brother—" Tang Keke spotted Ye Shuang.

"Oh." Ye Shuang, standing near the entrance, noticed Bai Yuyou and the others—especially the nervous Tao Xiaotao trailing behind them.

"Instructor..."

"I’m not an instructor anymore," Ye Shuang replied with a smile. Bai Yuyou immediately clung to his arm, their closeness making Tao Xiaotao curious, though she didn’t dare ask.

"You’re Tao Xiaotao, right?" Ye Shuang asked.

"Y-yes!" Tao Xiaotao nodded vigorously, her voice tense.

"No need to be nervous. Can I call you Peach?"

"Peach..." Tao Xiaotao paused, then broke into a silly grin. "My friends call me that too."

"Great, Peach." Ye Shuang smiled warmly, his friendliness putting her at ease.

"From your accent, you’re from Henan?"

"Mm! Jiyuan, Henan."

...

In just a few exchanges, the two were chatting happily, making Bai Yuyou’s eyes dart between them as she tightened her grip on Ye Shuang’s arm.

"Peach, what do you want to eat? Our treat today," Tang Keke reminded her, emphasizing that she shouldn’t hold back.

"Uh... just plain noodles, please." Tao Xiaotao picked the cheapest option—a five-yuan bowl of clear broth noodles.

"Huh?" Tang Keke was taken aback. "That’s all?"

Seeing her reaction, Tao Xiaotao quickly backtracked. "I-Is it too expensive? I can pay for it myself..."

"No, that’s not what I meant..." Tang Keke hesitated, unsure how to say it was too cheap. But Ye Shuang just chuckled. "Plain noodles are fine. Let’s get that."

With Ye Shuang’s approval, Tang Keke nodded.

"Auntie, one bowl of plain noodles," Ye Shuang called to the server. "Could you add some toppings? Tomato and egg, beef brisket, pork cutlet, and a chicken drumstick."

"Sure." The server prepared the noodles and piled on all the extras Ye Shuang had requested.

When the bowl was placed in front of Tao Xiaotao, she gaped at the mountain of toppings nearly burying the noodles.

"Good heavens... the noodles grew legs and ran off."