Loyalty Is Right

Amidst the chatter and clamor, the dishes arrived at the table.

Shen Nian had indeed ordered an extra portion of crispy fried pork, along with half-servings of tripe, duck tongues, and crispy rolls... His order alone came to over two hundred yuan.

Ever since getting the system, his spending threshold had started to rise significantly. Back when he only had eight hundred yuan a month, how would he dare spend two hundred on a single meal? He had to save money to top up his game monthly pass back then, often running short and having to 'extract gold coins' from his older sister.

Unlike adults with car loans and mortgages, he couldn't say he was wealthy now, but the ten thousand or so yuan in his card was definitely enough for a high school student like him to live quite comfortably.

While ordering, he couldn't help but chuckle at Xia Yanchun's pained expression.

Weren't you quite cocky when you were stepping on me? Why aren't you laughing now? Is it because you don't want to?

Well then, it's my turn to laugh.

The golden apple has turned into an enchanted golden apple. Tasty, huh.

Xia Yanchun's gaze held a hint of resentment. She said she was treating, but she didn't mean for Shen Nian to be so extravagant.

Her wallet was about to take a major hit.

"Eat, eat, just remember to use the serving chopsticks." Since they didn't eat out like this often anyway, Xia Yanchun didn't say much else. She reminded him while picking up food with her own chopsticks.

"Got it."

"If you order so much and can't finish it, I'll kill you."

"It's fine. If I can't finish, I'll pack it up for my sister."

Li Shiyan, wearing an apron like a little chef, was putting ingredients into the pot. Some meat slices only needed seven or eight seconds in the broth. Once she thought they were done, she hurriedly fished them out.

She placed some meat slices in Xia Yanchun's dish. As for Shen Nian's side, he would have to help himself.

Even with serving chopsticks and spoons, serving food for a boy like that seemed somewhat ambiguous. She and Shen Nian weren't that kind of relationship. If anything, there was some unclear ambiguity between Xia Yanchun and Shen Nian.

Unfortunately, Xia Yanchun showed no intention of serving food to Shen Nian. Instead, she fished out two meatballs for Li Shiyan.

"I feel like I'm suffering from a cold, violent bullying."

"Just eat yours."

"Eat yours, and give me your tripe."

"If you want to eat, put some in yourself. No one said you can only eat what you ordered."

"There's such a good thing?"

Storm-like inhalation.

A burst of talking and laughter reached his ears. Shen Nian found it somewhat familiar. Looking up, he met the gaze of Yan Yuzhu, who was walking towards him.

"Shen Nian?"

"Uh, Teacher Yan, are you also here for Haidilao?"

"Yes, I came with Teacher Su and a few others from the office."

Yan Yuzhu covered her mouth with a light laugh, then noticed Xia Yanchun and Li Shiyan sitting opposite Shen Nian. She tucked her hair behind her ear and greeted them.

Some people try to avoid their teachers when they meet them outside. Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun were fine, but Li Shiyan was a bit shy, speaking softly. Her naturally reserved personality made her act this way when meeting teachers outside of school.

Su Kexi and two other teachers also followed in. Seeing Shen Nian with two girls, they were a bit surprised.

Previously, seeing Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun coming to and from school together, and registering together at the start of term, they knew these two were close. They didn't expect his relationship with Li Shiyan to be good too.

Has this kid Shen Nian really started living the 'Final Fantasy'?

Or is it that classic combo of a young couple with a third wheel?

Never mind, never mind. Off campus, she couldn't be bothered to get involved. As long as they behaved reasonably within school, it was fine. Just like the young couples in her class, as long as they weren't too over the top, she pretended not to see.

"Hello, teacher." Xia Yanchun and Li Shiyan greeted Su Kexi one after the other.

"No need to be so formal off campus," Su Kexi said with a smile, then looked at Shen Nian.

Shen Nian glanced at her and took another bite of crispy roll. "Teacher, won't you sit down and have a couple of bites?"

"Hehe, you guys eat. We teachers are at that table over there."

"Oh, okay."

It was just polite small talk. Chinese people always ask if you'll stay for a meal before you leave, and the same applies when meeting at a restaurant outside.

What, you'd actually eat?

You're almost thirty, teacher. How can you have the nerve to mooch off our student hotpot?

After chatting for a couple more sentences, Su Kexi and the other teachers sat at another table and started their own meal.

There were only so many places to hang out nearby, so running into each other off campus was pretty normal. They had a nail appointment booked later anyway.

Shen Nian was devouring food heartily. Later, Yan Yuzhu even sent over a plate of fish slices worth forty-eight yuan.

Doesn't this qualify her for the 'Top Ten Touching Figures of the Nation' award?

Being loyal to Teacher Yan Yuzhu is the right choice.

Shen Nian ate with great relish. While going to get some watermelon slices, he pondered the system task.

Chun Bao had mentioned that Li Shiyan had a bit of low blood sugar...

The word for low blood sugar contains the character for 'blood'. Was it possible that replenishing blood sugar could also count as replenishing blood?

Given the system's abstract and quirky nature, it didn't seem impossible. After all, yogurt had evolved into holy water...

He'd buy a piece of chocolate later and try feeding it to the little loli.

Li Shiyan held her chopsticks somewhat cluelessly, eyeing the duck blood Shen Nian had ordered. Seizing the moment when Shen Nian went to get watermelon, she quickly used her chopsticks to pick up two slices.

She still couldn't take Shen Nian's things as naturally as Xia Yanchun could. She didn't really dare to take from the duck blood Shen Nian ordered. She could only wait for Shen Nian or Xia Yanchun to put some in the pot to cook, then secretly fish a little up to eat.

She had eaten quite a bit of beef and tripe, and her stomach was already feeling somewhat full.

Shen Nian came back with the watermelon and plopped down in his seat. "You guys are probably about full, right? Have some watermelon to cleanse the palate."

Xia Yanchun let out a small burp and wiped the grease from her lips with a tissue. "Just about. See what can be packed up. Cook it and pack it for your sister."

"What about you? Are you full?"

"Almost. Just one more bite." Li Shiyan blinked twice, feeling it was about time, and fished the hot duck blood onto her plate.

Duck blood cooked in hotpot, paired with the dipping sauce, was basically not much different from 'Mao Xue Wang' (a spicy duck blood stew). It was spicy, salty, and fragrant, with a good texture.

Li Shiyan ate rather elegantly, with small movements, only occasionally making a slight smacking sound—a picture of refined maidenly charm.

Shen Nian glanced casually, then his thoughts turned to Xia Yanchun. Chun Bao, satisfied from eating, had a bit of Shen Yue's shadow about her, leaning lazily against the sofa. If this were at home, she might sprawl out as unabashedly as Shen Yue did.

Lie down right after eating, like a pig.

That was just regarding the behavior.

In reality, Xia Yanchun's figure was very well-proportioned. When dressed, it was almost impossible to find fault. What it was like undressed was unknown, as Shen Nian hadn't seen—childhood didn't count.

The only thing certain was that Xia Yanchun's stomach wasn't extremely slender. It didn't have the long, thin lines seen in videos. It felt somewhat soft and fleshy to the touch, warm like a little summer cloud.

She was also someone who rarely exercised, the type who'd be panting heavily after an 800-meter run.

Still, she was a bit better off than Li Shiyan. After Li Shiyan finished an 800-meter run, the probability of sudden death would skyrocket.

Lost in thought, the system panel suddenly popped up.

[Side Quest: The Blood Demon's Lament (Completed)

Reward: 5000 Gold Coins]

Shen Nian: ?

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