Ends on Friday

Life Skills Classroom

"Ding dong—"

The oven timer suddenly chimed.

Little chef Gu Ruoxue, wearing an apron and insulated gloves, opened the oven and carefully pulled out the freshly baked cake, placing it on the counter.

"Once it cools, we can remove it from the mold," she said, taking off her apron and gloves, revealing her slender, fair wrists and the elegant curve of her black-stockinged feet.

"As expected of our all-rounder department head!" Su Cheng quickly handed her a glass of warm water, grinning as he praised her.

Gu Ruoxue shot him a sidelong glance before accepting the glass and taking a sip, choosing not to respond.

Seizing the opportunity while the cake cooled, Su Cheng struck up a conversation. "How’s Orange Cat doing? Any progress with the weight loss?"

At his words, Gu Ruoxue’s hand holding the glass paused slightly before she shook her head. "It’s still a long way from returning to its former shape. But I believe it’ll eventually overcome this and become a healthy cat again."

"So, basically, it hasn’t lost any weight?"

Su Cheng bluntly pointed out the truth.

Gu Ruoxue pursed her lips and let out a soft hum, ignoring him.

"What’s its daily diet like now?"

Su Cheng pressed further with his relentless questioning.

"I’ve switched to smaller, more frequent meals. For snacks, it gets three dried fish strips and a cat stick. For main meals, I cook a pot of fish soup and give it a can of cat food. This way, it’s losing weight while still getting proper nutrition."

"Its food budget is higher than mine," Su Cheng remarked, clicking his tongue. "No wonder it’s not losing weight."

"Compared to before, when it would practically faint if it didn’t eat every ten minutes, there’s already a huge improvement. At least it’s not starving to the point of collapsing now."

Gu Ruoxue nodded in satisfaction. "So, I’m confident that with a little more time, I can help it fully recover into a healthy, adorable, and beautiful cat."

"Why don’t you let me take care of it for a few days?"

Su Cheng couldn’t help but suggest.

He thought her method was completely ineffective!

Gu Ruoxue glanced at him, clearly distrusting his ability to raise a cat properly, and flatly refused. "Not a chance."

"Come on, your approach is just a waste of time and money, and it won’t even work in the end."

Su Cheng wasn’t ready to back down and continued persuading her. "If you really want it to lose weight, you need to focus on the core issue. As a cat—"

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, prompting Gu Ruoxue to frown. "As a cat, what privileges does it have besides eating and playing?"

"You don’t get it."

Su Cheng adopted a profoundly serious expression, as if explaining a grand worldview. "It’s a tabby cat—a super fighter from the countryside. The way you’re raising it is stripping away its natural instincts and environment. That’s why it’s turned into a pig!"

"So, according to you, I should let it hunt mice?"

Gu Ruoxue’s expression instantly darkened.

Though Su Cheng’s argument sounded somewhat logical, the idea of her precious cat eating mice?

Absolutely not!

If anyone should go hunt mice, it should be Su Cheng himself!

"Exactly! My suggestion is to unleash its instincts and keep it in a constant state of battle!"

Su Cheng declared righteously.

"I disagree."

Gu Ruoxue rejected the idea without hesitation.

Su Cheng compromised and added, "Then at least let it go hungry for a while and buy a remote-controlled mouse toy for it to chase."

"You’re misunderstanding the situation. Its condition isn’t good right now. Starving it would cause permanent harm. The best we can do is control its portions—not let it overeat, but not starve it either."

Gu Ruoxue replied coldly, "Besides, I’ve already incorporated exercise into its feeding routine."

"What kind of exercise?"

Su Cheng blinked, then leaned in curiously.

"I place its snacks on the table so it has to jump multiple times to reach them!"

Gu Ruoxue explained calmly. "This is just the first phase of my plan. If executed successfully, I estimate it’ll lose the excess weight within a year."

Su Cheng’s lips twitched at her words.

He couldn’t even imagine a cat as plump as a pig managing to jump.

But he didn’t dare question her plan further—after all, she was the one raising the cat. His role was limited to giving advice.

"Sigh… You’re really putting in a lot of effort."

Su Cheng sighed helplessly before walking over to the fridge.

"I noticed there’s a lot of leftover rice in here."

He pulled open the freezer, revealing a pile of leftover rice—likely ingredients prepared by students for fried rice that had gone unused and were now stored in the fridge.

Since the next two days were holidays, the rice would go to waste if not used by Monday.

So, Su Cheng decided to make dinner for Gu Ruoxue.

Fried rice!

He wanted to prepare the best possible fried rice for her—a small gesture of his sincerity.

"There’s plenty of rice here, and it’ll go to waste over the holidays. How about we have dinner here tonight?"

He placed a bowl of overnight rice on the table, then looked up at Gu Ruoxue with earnest focus. "I’ll make fried rice for us. What do you think?"

"Judging by your tone, you seem very confident in your cooking skills." Gu Ruoxue glanced at the bowl of rice before looking back at him. "Mind sharing your standards and techniques? I’d hate to end up with something overly greasy, bland, or just plain disgusting."

"Simple—mix the rice with oil beforehand."

Su Cheng looked down at the overnight rice and continued, "This is long-grain rice, perfect for fried rice. All I need is vegetable oil, a teaspoon of salt, soy sauce, and eggs to make perfectly separated, fluffy fried rice."

"That’s all the seasoning you’re using?"

Gu Ruoxue rested her curled index finger on her chin, as if visualizing the final product, before shaking her head. "Your method will just make the rice greasy, hard to eat, and downright awful in flavor."

Su Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you’ve got some expertise in fried rice?"

Gu Ruoxue lifted her chin proudly. "Not just expertise—I’ve made it countless times."

"Oh?"

Su Cheng wasn’t about to back down. "Then enlighten me. How do you make fried rice?"

"I start with a generous amount of oil, then pour in the beaten eggs and whisk them rapidly with chopsticks to create fine, fluffy strands. Only then will the eggs be light and airy, blending seamlessly with the rice for a tender, fragrant texture."

Gu Ruoxue spoke with effortless confidence. "Next, set the eggs aside, add soy sauce on low heat, and let it reduce before mixing it with the eggs. Finally, crank up the heat and toss in the rice."

She tilted her head slightly, giving Su Cheng a look as if he were an idiot. "Of course, this method requires advanced technique. There’s no way you could pull it off."

"Anyone can talk big."

Su Cheng scoffed.

He couldn’t stand having his methods dismissed.

"Are you suggesting you want to challenge me to a fried rice showdown?" Gu Ruoxue asked, amused.

"Why not?"

Su Cheng frowned slightly.

A sense of irritation rose within him.

That damn competitive spirit was already stirring restlessly.

"Fine, let's each showcase our skills, taste each other's fried rice, and give our evaluations," Gu Ruoxue said calmly before picking up an apron from the chair and tying it around herself.

Next—

The two stood side by side at their respective stoves, beginning to cook.

Both wore expressions of intense focus.

Every step was executed with meticulous care.

Gu Ruoxue’s eyes gleamed with concentration as she watched the egg fried rice toss and turn in the wok, ready to adjust the heat at any moment to prevent the flavors from being thrown off by temperature fluctuations.

Su Cheng, too, was fully absorbed, his attention locked onto the dish before him.

Egg fried rice was something he had made countless times.

Its taste had already reached perfection!

And so,

Time passed slowly.

Both of them worked with exceptional professionalism.

Soon, the fried rice was ready, its aroma filling the air.

They sat at the dining table, each with a plate of the other’s carefully prepared dish before them.

"You taste first," Gu Ruoxue said softly, her tone steady and serious.

"Alright."

Su Cheng nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, and slowly lifted the lid covering the fried rice.

But as he raised it, his pupils abruptly contracted, his face overtaken by shock.

For a fleeting moment, he had an illusion—as the lid lifted, a soft beam of light seeped through the gap, gently illuminating everything around it.

When the lid was fully removed, what greeted his eyes was a breathtaking spectacle.

Under the golden shimmer of the fried rice, the dish seemed touched by magic, instantly transforming into a dazzling vision of gold.

"Holy—!"

Is this…

A dish that glows?!

How is this even possible?!

Did you stuff a sun in there or something?!

He quickly rubbed his eyes and looked again.

This time, he let out a sigh of relief—the fried rice no longer glowed. It had just been his imagination.

Still,

The presentation alone left him speechless.

Judging purely by appearance, he had lost!

The grains of rice were perfectly separated, the colors distinct, flawless beyond reproach. The scattering of green scallions added a vibrant touch, making the dish burst with life.

It was simply impeccable.

Su Cheng swallowed hard, carefully scooping a spoonful into his mouth.

Instantly!

His eyes widened in astonishment!

Time seemed to freeze as the flavors exploded on his tongue.

He was utterly captivated by the fried rice, unable to break free, unable to speak—completely immersed in the wondrous sensation.

As time resumed its flow, he found himself unable to stop, shoveling spoonful after spoonful into his mouth. He had been conquered by this dish, experiencing the sheer bliss and satisfaction that came with culinary perfection.

But that wasn’t the most important part.

There was a deeper meaning.

This fried rice had also made him feel—Gu Ruoxue’s desire for him to savor its deliciousness.

That was the true essence of this dish!

After finishing the entire plate in one go, a warm current surged through his body, leaving him comfortably aglow.

He closed his eyes, savoring the tranquility and contentment of the moment.

Meanwhile, Gu Ruoxue waited quietly for his verdict, though inwardly, she was tense with anticipation.

Yet she maintained her composed demeanor.

"Your fried rice… was amazing," Su Cheng finally said, opening his eyes and offering unreserved praise.

Hearing this, Gu Ruoxue relaxed slightly, though she kept a stern expression. "Is that all you can say? Your vocabulary is disappointingly limited."

Su Cheng fell silent for a few seconds before speaking earnestly. "Your fried rice didn’t just tantalize my taste buds—it gave me pure joy and satisfaction! It was like being in a dream. If I had to describe it, I’d call it 'the ultimate indulgence for the senses'!"

"I appreciate the compliment, but your word choice is still lacking," Gu Ruoxue replied with a faint smile.

"Alright, now it’s your turn to taste mine."

Su Cheng gestured for her to dig in.

Without hesitation, Gu Ruoxue lifted the lid—only for her pupils to immediately constrict, a flash of shock replacing her usual calm and restraint.

Because what lay before her was a plate of pitch-black fried rice, completely drenched in soy sauce, with barely any egg strands visible.

A normal serving would use two eggs, but this one looked like it had only half!

At first glance, this wasn’t even a passable dish—it resembled something a child might haphazardly throw together, with no semblance of flavor whatsoever.

Yet despite that,

She scooped a small portion onto her spoon and placed it in her mouth.

Instantly,

Her heart trembled!

The intense saltiness of the soy sauce and egg whites melded with an overpowering egg fragrance, surging like a raging river, spreading across her tongue and leaving an indelible mark.

More importantly,

Her mind conjured an image—a young Su Cheng standing on a small stool, tirelessly stirring fried rice with a spoon, over and over again.

Now she understood.

Why there was only half an egg.

And why this dish was so simple—because it carried a quiet bitterness and resignation.

Though seemingly plain to the extreme, the fried rice exuded a poignant sorrow, each grain carrying the hardships of the past, evoking a lump in her throat and the urge to cry.

It lacked flamboyance, yet it stirred deep reflection, using food as a vessel for profound emotion.

She took another bite, this time with a bit of egg, and suddenly felt a surge of happiness.

Her mind flashed to little Su Cheng hesitating in front of an egg carton, torn over whether to use the precious ingredient…

Before she knew it,

She had finished the entire plate.

"This fried rice…"

Gu Ruoxue trailed off, overwhelmed by a powerful sense of fulfillment, as if she had just eaten the sweetest cake in the world. It was as though she had connected with Su Cheng’s childhood self!

Simple to the extreme, ordinary in taste, yet every bite resonated deep within her soul.

"This isn’t something you can make in a day," Gu Ruoxue murmured, shaking off her thoughts.

"All in all, this dish gave me a unique dining experience."

She offered genuine praise.

"And the taste? Is that all you have to say?"

Su Cheng pressed when she didn’t continue.

"The taste was average," Gu Ruoxue stated bluntly. "If I had to rate it, I’d say it’s just filling."

Su Cheng’s face twitched.

What food isn’t filling?!

He stared at her empty plate, feeling as though ten thousand alpacas had stampeded through his mind. "You clearly enjoyed it!"

He pointed accusingly at the spotless dish as evidence.

"I was just stating the facts," Gu Ruoxue replied matter-of-factly.

Gu Ruoxue blinked her large eyes, tilting her head with an extremely serious expression.

"I can't accept this evaluation of yours."

Su Cheng shook his head firmly. "At least mention a few good points?"

"Good points…" Gu Ruoxue pretended to think for a moment before saying, "Simple ingredients. Even if you're starving in the middle of the night, it can fill your stomach."

"How is that a good point?"

Su Cheng couldn’t help but retort.

"Well, that’s the only one."

Gu Ruoxue stated it as if it were obvious.

Su Cheng sighed, feeling somewhat defeated. He lowered his head and muttered, "So, who won this round?"

"Of course, me."

Suddenly, as if accompanied by special effects, Gu Ruoxue closed her eyes, striking a proud pose of victory. She brushed the hair by her ear aside, revealing her delicate profile. "I won."

"No, you didn’t."

Su Cheng raised his head, staring intently at Gu Ruoxue’s stunning face, and explained seriously, "Tasting each other’s dishes isn’t fair."

"How boring." Gu Ruoxue seemed unimpressed and continued, "But since you insist, I won’t argue. Let’s call it a draw."

"That’s more like it." Su Cheng huffed.

After cleaning up the dishes, the two returned to the cooled cake layers. Su Cheng asked curiously, "What’s next?"

"Spread a layer of chocolate sauce, then a layer of cream."

Gu Ruoxue instructed from the side, "After the cream, stack another cake layer and repeat with chocolate sauce and cream until all layers are used."

"Got it."

Su Cheng followed her directions.

Soon, he had evenly coated all the cake layers.

"Now, smooth the surface with chocolate sauce."

"Okay."

"And then?"

"Decorate the cake."

"Decorate?"

Su Cheng asked, "Can I draw something with the cream?"

"Do whatever you want."

"Alright."

Su Cheng picked up the cream and began sketching a design on top of the cake as a final touch.

Under his rough strokes, the outline of a long-haired figure gradually took shape.

Though it wasn’t immediately recognizable, Gu Ruoxue frowned beside him—the hairstyle bore some resemblance to hers.

Then, Su Cheng filled in the legs with chocolate up to two-thirds, shaping them into thigh-high socks.

After scrutinizing it, she finally confirmed the figure was meant to be her and no one else.

Su Cheng then clumsily wrote the character "Xue" (Snow) beside it before stopping and asking Gu Ruoxue, "Does it look like you?"

"Ridiculous."

Gu Ruoxue rolled her eyes at him, tossed the home economics classroom key aside, and turned to leave. "After decorating, it needs to chill for 2–3 hours before it’s ready to eat."

With that, she walked out of the classroom, clearly heading home.

Su Cheng watched her leave without a word, then picked up the cream again to continue drawing.

Soon, two more figures—Li Guanqi and Ji Qingyi—appeared beside the first. Once finished, he placed the cake in the fridge to chill.

It was meant to be shared among three girls.

After everything was done, he sat down to rest and checked his phone.

Instantly, a flood of messages greeted him—from Cornelia, classmates, Xuan Ying, and Zhao Yan.

All were asking about his health and whereabouts, a consequence of him pretending to be sick that afternoon.

He felt a pang of guilt.

He opened them one by one.

Li Guanqi: "Where are you?"

Su Cheng: "Out with the club president to finish a task!"

He couldn’t tell the truth—this was supposed to be a surprise.

Xuan Ying: "Why aren’t you in the infirmary?"

Xuan Ying: "Why aren’t you in the hospital?"

Xuan Ying: "Why aren’t you at the club?"

Xuan Ying: "Are you feeling better?"

……

Su Cheng: "Thanks for your concern. I’m much better now—just got caught up with something."

Zhao Yan: "As a friend, I suggest you not overwork yourself. Take care of your health. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll do our best to help."

Su Cheng replied with a smile: "I will. And thank you all for worrying. I’m fine now."

After briefly responding to his classmates, he opened Cornelia’s messages. She had sent many, even going to his house, only to find him absent.

He typed a reply: "I’m okay now. Still out handling something, but I’ll be home soon. No need to worry."

With that sent, he began researching for tomorrow’s trip to "Sniddy" (a theme park).

He browsed through official accounts on his phone, reading up on the attractions and making detailed plans.

No outside food allowed?

"Pfft."

With his system’s storage space, he had nothing to fear.

Plus, he’d splurged on premium tickets this time!

No queues for any ride!

"This 'Soaring Over the Horizon' is a must!"

His eyes lit up as he imagined taking the two girls on the ride—how they’d cling to him in fear!

Left arm around one, right arm around the other—it was within reach!

After a while, with his preparations complete, Su Cheng prepared to contact the girls.

But a dilemma arose:

Should he message them privately or in the group chat?

He opened the group and saw it was still stuck on his morning message tagging Gu Ruoxue—no one had replied.

He wondered if tagging her again would work, especially after scolding her that afternoon.

But then, Ji Qingyi was also in the group. If he invited the other two and not her, wouldn’t that be awkward?

After hesitating, he decided to message them privately.

Just then, a new message popped up in the group.

It was Ji Qingyi tagging him!

Ji Qingyi: "@NoOrangeForMe. I’ll send someone to pick you up at 9 PM tomorrow."

Seeing this…

Su Cheng’s hand froze on his phone.

The overnight stay was something Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi didn’t know about.

Now, with Ji Qingyi dropping this in the group, the other two would surely notice—and interrogate him tomorrow.

This turn of events…

What’s it like to be snatched away by your domineering fiancée right in front of your two ex-girlfriends?

What kind of soap opera nonsense is this?!