Inequality rather than want is the cause of trouble.

The Harem King still returned with the piping hot sweet potatoes.

After putting one aside, Lin Mo placed the sweet potato on Jiang Yunlu's desk.

Jiang Yunlu noticed the other sweet potato in Lin Mo's hand but said nothing.

She wanted to know whether this one was for him to eat or for someone else—for Chu Miaomiao or Xie Yuling.

Lin Mo then walked straight to Chu Miaomiao's seat.

Chu Miaomiao was engrossed in a novel when she sensed someone approaching. She immediately looked up warily, only to realize it was Lin Mo.

Upon seeing him, her small face beneath her glasses bloomed like a flower, though she quickly suppressed it and asked cautiously, "What's up?"

"I bought you a sweet potato."

Hearing this, Chu Miaomiao's eyes lit up faintly before she cautiously glanced toward Jiang Yunlu.

"She has one too, right?"

"Yeah, everyone does," Lin Mo nodded. Though he didn’t know what agreement these three girls had reached, it was clear they weren’t at war.

Chu Miaomiao happily took the sweet potato from Lin Mo and whispered, "Thank you."

"You know how to eat it, right? Peel the skin first," Lin Mo teased.

Her face flushed as she muttered, "Of course I know. I’m not completely clueless."

"I won’t say who tried to bite into a mangosteen directly."

Chu Miaomiao was soft-hearted, the type who could be easily teased. Faced with this, she could only blush and lower her head in silence.

At the doorway, Geng Xiao and Gao Yuanqiang returned, each heading to their seats.

The moment she entered, Geng Xiao saw Jiang Yunlu nibbling delicately on her sweet potato. Then, back at her seat, she spotted the roasted sweet potato on Chu Miaomiao’s desk—and Lin Mo standing beside her.

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she sat down with a smile.

"Miaomiao, that sweet potato looks really good. Can I have a bite?"

Chu Miaomiao was gentle and rarely refused anyone. In the past, Geng Xiao had managed to mooch plenty of snacks off her.

So she was certain Chu Miaomiao wouldn’t refuse—that she’d hand over the sweet potato Lin Mo had bought.

Truthfully, she wasn’t even that hungry, but since Lin Mo had bought it, she wanted a taste no matter what.

Yet Chu Miaomiao shook her head and hugged the still-warm sweet potato protectively.

"No, Lin Mo bought this for me."

She planned to savor every bite—this was her sweet potato.

Geng Xiao’s smile froze, though she quickly recovered with a light chuckle. "Never mind, I wasn’t that hungry anyway. Sweet potatoes aren’t even that great these days."

Lin Mo finally spoke up.

"Sour grapes."

"Lin Mo! You—"

Geng Xiao wanted to slam the table and stand up, but it was pointless—Lin Mo had too much influence in the class.

Ignoring her, Chu Miaomiao opened the bag and took a bite.

These sweet potatoes were the honeyed variety Lin Mo had handpicked.

After all, vendors sometimes mixed regular sweet potatoes with the honeyed ones to cut costs.

But Lin Mo had chosen only the best—soft, sweet, and delicious.

Chu Miaomiao’s eyes crinkled happily as she chewed and looked at Lin Mo.

"It’s so good—sweet and soft."

"Glad you like it. Rest after you finish."

With that, Lin Mo returned to his seat, only to see the young lady Jiang Yunlu eating her sweet potato like a hamster, her cheeks puffed out. On anyone else, such a messy eating style might look unrefined.

But on Jiang Yunlu, it was oddly endearing.

"Is it that good?"

"Yeah! So sweet and fragrant."

After finishing half, she suddenly covered her mouth, letting out a tiny burp.

Embarrassed, she hunched her shoulders and naturally handed the remaining half to Lin Mo.

"I’m full. Don’t waste it."

Then she flopped onto the desk, turning her head away.

Looking at the leftover half, Lin Mo couldn’t help but laugh.

"Alright, no wasting food. I’ll give it to Director Wang."

Director Wang was the school’s resident mutt, a native Chinese dog that had been around for years. Its daily routine involved patrolling the campus, earning it the honorary title among students.

Hearing this, Jiang Yunlu immediately sat up and whipped her head toward Lin Mo.

But he had already unwrapped the sweet potato and was taking bites of the remaining half.

Watching him eat it, she covered her eyes in embarrassment.

Deep down, she had wanted him to have it—but seeing it happen made her shy all over again.

She buried her face back into the desk.

Lin Mo polished it off quickly, then pretended to nap—though in truth, he was cultivating.

Blushing, Jiang Yunlu peeked around to make sure no one was watching before copying him and lying down.

Little did she know, while Director Wang might not see, the "Chief Strategist" (Geng Xiao) had witnessed everything.

......

After school, since finals meant no evening self-study, everyone left as usual.

With the cold weather, many girls crowded around the sweet potato vendor outside.

Xie Yuling stood on tiptoe, glanced at the stall, then turned toward home.

"What? Craving some?"

"Not really. With roasted sweet potatoes, it’s luck-based. Get a bland one, and it’s no fun."

The next second, a steaming sweet potato appeared before her.

Xie Yuling’s eyes widened.

"When did you buy this?!" She cupped the warm sweet potato in her hands, looking up at Lin Mo in disbelief.

"At noon."

"Noon?!" She could still feel the heat radiating from it.

"I have my ways of keeping it warm."

Lin Mo didn’t hide it—he’d already shown some of his abilities around Xie Yuling, so there was no need for secrecy.

"That’s amazing. Even better than a thermos."

"Better eat it before we get home."

"I will! I just hope it’s sweet."

Peeling back the skin, the texture and warmth felt like it had just come off the grill.

A bite revealed honeyed juices oozing inside.

"It’s delicious. I’ll eat half and save the rest for my mom."

She glanced at Lin Mo. "Have you eaten yet?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

Half counted as "eaten"—no need to mention Jiang Yunlu’s leftovers.

Xie Yuling walked on tiptoe along the road.

"Good thing you saved one for me. Otherwise, I’d definitely be mad at you."

Definitely.

Lin Mo immediately knew Chu Miaomiao must have told her.

That’s why Xie Yuling had glanced at the sweet potato stall on her way out.

Everything had its clues.

Lin Mo didn’t respond, just ruffled her hair.

He understood—this world feared inequality more than scarcity.

The girl skipped the rest of the way home.