Instant Noodles

Monday, noon.

In the living room of the high-end double dormitory at Siliya Academy.

"Yo~" Nangong Ye stepped out of his room and spotted Liu Muye preparing instant noodles at the dining table. Curious, he asked, "How come someone as high-class as you, Young Master Wild, is eating this kind of stuff?"

Liu Muye had just lifted the lid off the noodles to take in the aroma. Seeing Nangong Ye emerge, he gave a bitter smile.

"No choice," he explained. "I had a falling out with my dad over the weekend. He froze all my bank cards. Now I can’t spend a single cent from my phone, and even my campus card’s blocked. All I’ve got left is some cash, but the cafeteria doesn’t take cash. So, I had to grab instant noodles from the campus store to make do."

Nangong Ye was stunned by Liu Muye’s explanation. After a moment’s thought, he said, "If your cards are frozen, why not use Huabei? Or borrow from some other loan app? Just get through this week and pay it back later—no big deal."

Liu Muye shook his head vigorously. "No way. My dad’s already furious. If he finds out I took out loans online, he’ll cut me off for good. Plus, my payment apps are locked too—money can only go in, not out. Loans wouldn’t help anyway."

"But if you’ve got cash, you don’t have to skip the cafeteria, right?" Nangong Ye scratched his head. "Other people’s meal cards still work. Just ask someone to buy food for you and pay them back in cash."

"Damn, I totally forgot about that!"

Liu Muye smacked his forehead as Nangong Ye’s words hit him. Suddenly, the instant noodles on the table lost all their appeal.

Watching Liu Muye abruptly stand up, Nangong Ye asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the cafeteria. I’m starving." Liu Muye started slipping on his shoes.

Nangong Ye pointed at the untouched noodles. "You just made these. Not gonna eat them?"

"Nah, I’m getting real food. If you want them, go ahead."

With a wave, Liu Muye dashed out of the dorm.

Nangong Ye called after him, "Hey, hey, this young master doesn’t eat cheap junk like—"

But Liu Muye was already gone, leaving Nangong Ye’s words unheard.

Nangong Ye stared at the cup noodles for a few seconds before quickly settling onto the couch, pretending to be indifferent.

Truthfully, he’d always been curious—curious about the taste of instant noodles, spicy strips, potato chips, fried chicken, even stinky tofu noodles…

He’d seen them all but never tasted a single one.

His upbringing had drilled into him that these were "junk food," cheap meals for the lower class. He was Nangong Ye, the noble young master, future heir to Shangjing City’s trillion-dollar empire. How could someone of his status indulge in such things?

Bound by endless rules, Nangong Ye had suppressed his childish instincts, growing up more "mature" than his peers. He was the center of attention, the prodigy among prodigies.

Everyone admired his excellence, but no one noticed the ordinary desires and hobbies he’d buried—maybe even he’d forgotten them.

The aroma of the noodles soon filled the living room, teasing Nangong Ye’s appetite.

It smelled so good—what did it actually taste like?

The question popped into his head unbidden.

Startled by his own thoughts, Nangong Ye stood up. His personal chef wouldn’t deliver his meal for another twenty minutes. He decided to retreat to his room.

As he walked, he muttered to himself, "This young master absolutely does not crave such lowly food. And I’m definitely not going to my room because the noodles smell too tempting…"

But as his hand gripped the doorknob, he hesitated.

After a pause, he didn’t enter. Instead, he turned back toward the dining table.

Click.

After locking the dorm door, Nangong Ye tiptoed to the table and picked up Liu Muye’s untouched cup noodles.

Gulp.

Staring at the steaming, fragrant noodles, Nangong Ye swallowed hard and muttered, "This young master is merely exploring new experiences. It’s not that I really want to eat this!"

Slurp.

One bite was all it took.

The bold, salty flavor hooked him instantly.

For the first time in forever, Nangong Ye’s eyes sparkled with genuine excitement.

"This taste… this taste… it’s incredible!"

All table manners forgotten, he devoured the noodles—broth and all—in record time.

It just goes to show: no matter how refined you are, everyone falls for "junk food" eventually—especially a young master raised on two decades of haute cuisine.

---

While Nangong Ye was busy demolishing noodles in the dorm, Liu Muye had already reached the cafeteria.

The moment he stepped inside, he spotted Han Juyou ordering at the fast-food counter.

"Dear sister," she cooed sweetly to the cafeteria lady, "I’d like some shredded potatoes and mapo tofu—extra tofu, please. Thank you, sister!"

To score extra portions, Han Juyou didn’t hesitate to call the middle-aged lady "sister." This girl’s schemes run deep, Liu Muye, the epitome of a blunt straight guy, thought to himself.

Walking up behind her, he eyed the meager portions on her tray and asked, "On a diet? That’s all you’re eating?"

"Ah!" Han Juyou jumped at his sudden appearance. "When did you get here?"

"Just now." Liu Muye turned to the server. "Auntie, add two chicken drumsticks for her."

"I don’t like drumsticks!" Han Juyou protested immediately.

Liu Muye locked eyes with her. "Really?"

"Really!" she insisted.

"Fine, more for me." Liu Muye said to the server, "Two drumsticks for me, plus some stir-fried pork with peppers and cauliflower."

The server nodded. "Alright, let me ring up the young lady’s order first."

Liu Muye cut in, "Just put it all on one bill."

Han Juyou waved her hands. "No, no! I’ll pay for myself!"

"Who said I’m treating you?" Liu Muye smirked. "My campus card’s frozen. You pay, and I’ll give you cash."

"Eh? What?"

Han Juyou blinked in disbelief. As the son of the school’s board chairman, who could possibly freeze his meal card?

Liu Muye leaned in and whispered, "Believe it. Just cover me this once."

As they spoke, the server finished packing Liu Muye’s order. "That’ll be 28 yuan. Who’s paying?"

"I’ve got it."

Han Juyou swiped her card. The balance displayed after deduction: 2.33 yuan.

...