Chapter 36: Barbecue

In the library, where every seat was taken, everyone was consciously keeping quiet; only the occasional "swish" of turning pages proved that the students were not squandering their youth.

Chen Shanni glanced at the book *High Emotional Intelligence Quotes*, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "I heard you used to be quite introverted. Is the big change in you now because you read these books?"

Shen Yan looked at her in surprise.

This was the first exchange between the two; at such close range, Shen Yan discovered that Chen Shanni's voice was particularly gentle, pleasing to the ear, and as melodious as a yellow oriole.

He wondered what she would sound like if she sang.

Chen Shanni felt completely uncomfortable under his gaze, her head bowing lower and lower until her chin touched her chest; after coming to his senses, Shen Yan rubbed his nose, leaned in, covered his mouth, and whispered: "Reading is one aspect; the books record many conversational techniques that can improve eloquence and adaptability. You should communicate more often in daily life; even if you speak slowly, it doesn't matter—think clearly before you speak."

"Over time, your eloquence will get better and better, and you will become more and more outgoing."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shanni's cheeks turned bright red instantly, the flush spreading to the roots of her ears; in that moment, she felt as if she were naked, with no secrets left before Shen Yan.

After flusteredly saying thank you, she hurriedly stood up to go find books on emotional intelligence.

Yu Youwei looked at Shen Yan, then at the departing Chen Shanni, looking completely bewildered—were the two of them that close, to be whispering to each other?

Peaceful times always pass by in a flash.

At nine o'clock in the evening, the two-hour military theory course ended; Shen Yan stood up and stretched, a series of crisp "crackle-pop" sounds of bones rubbing together echoing out.

After declining Lin Yang's invitation to play games, Shen Yan rode his little e-scooter like a bolt of lightning, stepping on the breeze, and arrived at the gate of the Communication University of China in less than five minutes.

Hao Anqi was already there, craning her neck in anticipation.

Her exquisite, graceful figure was wrapped in loose camouflage gear, her full chest straining against the fabric; the book said that if a woman cannot see her own toes when looking down, she is already a peerless beauty of the human world.

That was likely the case.

The surrounding boys were all attracted to her, most of them sneaking glances, while a few bolder ones shamelessly crowded around to ask for her QQ, or to invite her for a late-night snack or to go singing.

Hao Anqi rejected them all with a cold face, only blooming with a flower-like, bright smile when she discovered Shen Yan's arrival, then running toward him like a little elf.

"Damn! Another fresh flower stuck in cow dung."

Watching the two figures walking further and further away, the surrounding boys couldn't help but spit.

At the end of Gourmet Street, near the direction of the Communication University of China, at a barbecue stall, a couple dressed in clean and tidy clothes stood before the grill; the wife was busy preparing seasonings and tableware on the side, while the husband skillfully threaded various meats, vegetables, and soy products onto skewers, then placed them on the grill, constantly flipping, brushing with oil, and sprinkling spices.

As the red charcoal in the grill burned fiercely, the aroma of the roasted meat gradually permeated the air, making one's mouth water; many passersby stopped and sniffed.

Grilled chicken wings, lamb skewers, squid, chive and egg rolls...

Before long, the steaming grilled items were served one after another, the fragrance overflowing and making one's mouth salivate.

Add a can of draft beer, and it's as happy as an immortal.

Looking at Hao Anqi's expectant eyes, Shen Yan couldn't help but find it funny, saying: "Forget it, you can't even walk straight after one bottle of beer; I wouldn't dare let you drink."

Hao Anqi held up her index finger, placing it horizontally in front of her pink lips, acting adorably: "Just one glass, okay? I just want to taste it."

No wonder they say women who know how to act spoiled have the best lives.

With that soft, sweet voice and those cute little expressions, which man could bear to refuse?

Looking at the half-glass of draft beer in front of her, a flash of triumphant joy crossed Hao Anqi's fox-like eyes.

*Hee hee! * So Shen Yan is just like Dad; neither of them can handle this side of women.

"Mmm! Little Uncle, this chicken wing is really good, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, you should try it." Hao Anqi tasted a piece of chicken wing, her eyes instantly lighting up.

Shen Yan's mouth twitched, and he said in a deep voice: "Change that form of address immediately; it makes me feel completely awkward hearing it."

Hao Anqi tilted her little head to think for a while, saying that since everyone is friends, calling him by his name directly was inappropriate—how about Yan Yan? Big Yan? Ah Yan? Shuai Yan?

And then, the nickname Shuai Yan was decided upon by her own authority.

When asked for the reason, it was because Shen Yan was so handsome he was bubbling over.

Good grief! If you can talk, say more—this sounds much better than that "taciturn" label.

Shen Yan felt it was truly happy to spend time with this girl.

The two ate and chatted; most of the time it was Hao Anqi talking about who made a fool of themselves during military training today, marching with the same hand and foot, or someone who went to the bathroom and couldn't find their squad afterward, having to find the chief instructor for help, and finally being announced over the loudspeaker for their instructor to come and claim them—a social death on the spot.

That damn vivid imagery made Shen Yan laugh until he was rolling back and forth, and then he poured out his own sights and sounds from the day.

For example, Wu Yueer couldn't tell left from right, leaving the instructor speechless and looking to the heavens; two "standouts" in a certain squad squatting with their heads in their hands like criminals caught by the police, causing the whole field to roar with laughter; the thick local accent of the guy from Guangxi, his "unique" Mandarin...

"Cackle cackle cackle!"

Hao Anqi, with a lamb skewer in her mouth, was laughing until she was shaking like a flower; she might have choked on the pepper powder and started coughing violently, tears and snot streaming down.

"Calm down! Calm down! Don't laugh yourself into some illness." Shen Yan handed her a tissue.

Hao Anqi took it and wiped her face, taking a long while to recover; her threshold for laughter was already low, and hearing so many funny incidents at once, she was laughing until her stomach was cramping.

Some compare life to a song, where the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy are like the rhythm and tempo of the melody, and military training, as a small interlude, reflects the various states of life—having laughed, and having cried.

The moonlight under the night was clear and bright, full of fresh emotion; the entire Gourmet Street was overflowing with fragrance, stirring the deep-seated longing for food in the hearts of the passing pedestrians.

Next to the barbecue stall, a pastry stall was operating, and business was quite good; four or five students were lingering and waiting in front of the stall, and every time the boss sent off a batch of customers and tucked the money into their pocket was their happiest moment.

At this time, a disheveled old man came to the stall, caught a glimpse of the leftover fried rice in the pot, swallowed involuntarily, then opened his mouth to reveal only a few remaining yellow teeth, and pleaded: "Boss, can you give me the bit of fried rice left in the pot?"

"Go, go, go! Don't get in the way of my business."

The boss glared fiercely at the old man and fanned the air in front of his nose with his hand, as if some foul, unbearable stench were lingering around him.

"Boss, I haven't eaten all day, please have some mercy."

"Get lost! Don't get in the way of my business." The boss began to curse.

If he let this old man stay any longer, how could he continue his business?

This scene was taken in by the two who were busy stuffing their faces with skewers; Hao Anqi's face showed displeasure, and she said indignantly that the boss was truly not a decent person—the old man must have encountered some hardship, so what would it hurt to give him some fried rice.

Shen Yan shook his head and comforted her: "Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself; do not impose on others what you desire yourself—we cannot force everyone to have compassion."