Chapter 111: The 80

Although the various universities in the Chang'an University Town were strictly guarding against this respiratory illness, the students' lives had not changed much.

Everyone stayed up all night if they wanted to, and went to parties if they wanted to, except for washing their hands a few more times before eating.

A new Korean barbecue restaurant opened in Hejiaying, and Tan Zhizhi, feeling greedy, suggested they go eat there together.

"The atmosphere is too dull for just two people to eat barbecue; let's call a few more people."

Yang Tianxing said over the phone.

Actually, it wasn't about the atmosphere; if he went out to eat alone with Tan Zhizhi and happened to run into a classmate or acquaintance from the Finance Institute, he would have to explain himself again.

Little Zhizhi also felt there was some truth to that, and it was indeed livelier with more people: "But I didn't have time to notify Liwen and Xiaowan; how about we change it to the evening?"

"It doesn't have to be a former high school classmate; don't you have a Senior Sister Gu at Jiaotong University?" Yang Tianxing suggested.

"She is with her boyfriend today."

"That's fine, then just drag her boyfriend along too."

Yang Tianxing didn't mind; in any case, they were just there to provide cover, so in the end, there were four people eating at this Korean barbecue restaurant.

"This is Senior Sister Gu's boyfriend, Senior Du Mingwei, and this is Yang Tianxing from the Finance Institute."

Tan Zhizhi paused and then added: "My high school classmate."

When Tan Zhizhi said this, there was clearly a tiny bit of spite; it had been over a semester, yet Yang Tianxing stubbornly refused to confess, even though the two had kissed, held hands, and even their parents were vaguely aware of it.

Little Zhizhi had no idea that this state was exactly what Yang Tianxing was pursuing; how could he possibly break the peace?

Yang Tianxing greeted Du Mingwei politely, and the other party nodded in response.

In this setting, the two girls were the protagonists; Tan Zhizhi and Gu Xiaojin talked about things at school amidst the "sizzling" sound of the barbecue, while Du Mingwei occasionally put in a word, pushing up his glasses which were fogged by the steam from time to time, and observing Yang Tianxing with some curiosity.

Yang Tianxing basically just helped everyone grill the meat and shrimp, unless Tan Zhizhi specifically asked him something.

Halfway through the meal, his phone suddenly rang; Yang Tianxing took a look, discovered it was an unfamiliar number, and put it back down.

After a while, the phone rang again persistently, and Tan Zhizhi reminded him: "Someone is looking for you."

Only then did Yang Tianxing pick up the phone: "Hello, who is this?"

"Little Yang, it's me."

It was actually Shao Ziyang.

"Why are you calling me from an unfamiliar landline? Is something the matter?" Yang Tianxing asked.

Shao Ziyang said over the phone: "Is there anyone next to you?"

Yang Tianxing glanced at his side: "Little Zhizhi is here, we are eating."

"Then go outside for a moment, I have something to say," Shao Ziyang said over the phone.

When Tan Zhizhi heard it was a man's voice on the phone, she wasn't very interested and continued chatting with Gu Xiaojin.

Yang Tianxing also felt strange; what could there be that couldn't let Little Zhizhi know?

"It's Ziyang's call; it's too noisy inside to hear clearly, I'll go out to take it."

Yang Tianxing said, finding an excuse.

Tan Zhizhi nodded, signaling she understood.

After exiting the barbecue restaurant, Yang Tianxing breathed in the cold air outside, lit a cigarette, and said: "There's no one around me now, what matter is so rare that you have?"

Shao Ziyang lowered his voice: "Are you free to come to a Western restaurant near East Street now? Jiang Mumu is here too."

Yang Tianxing was stunned for a moment: "You met up with Jiang Mumu to eat?"

"Yes and no."

Shao Ziyang said over the phone: "Jiang Mumu has officially started working in Chang'an; she was originally eating with friends today, and then called the dorm phone to summon me."

Yang Tianxing listened calmly; things wouldn't be that simple.

"Just now while eating, Jiang Mumu jokingly asked if I could treat her, and I agreed."

After Shao Ziyang finished speaking, the phone suddenly went quiet; he asked several times in a row: "Little Yang, Little Yang, are you there?"

After a long while, Yang Tianxing said: "No wonder you didn't want Tan Zhizhi to know; you yourself know this is a sucker's move, yet you go to pay the bill when asked."

"It's not like that."

Shao Ziyang explained: "I had mentioned treating her to a meal on QQ, and we just happened to run into each other today."

Yang Tianxing sneered: "Then just treat her, why call me specifically?"

He hung up the phone after speaking, and Shao Ziyang hurriedly shouted: "I don't have enough cash on me, this meal is a bit expensive, and it's not easy to tell others about this."

Yang Tianxing asked: "How much did this meal cost?"

"About 800 for the three of us."

"Did you drink?"

Yang Tianxing judged it immediately.

"Drank a little red wine."

Shao Ziyang said hesitantly.

Yang Tianxing fell into silence again on his end, and Shao Ziyang's tone carried a plea: "I'm pretending to go to the restroom to call you, I can't be too long, hurry over."

If this person weren't Shao Ziyang, Yang Tianxing definitely wouldn't care; there are so many simps in the world, one more or one less wouldn't matter.

However, this was his childhood friend and best buddy; if one really counted, Yang Tianxing also bore some responsibility, as they had met on the train to Sichuan and Chongqing.

Yang Tianxing thought for a moment, then returned to the barbecue restaurant to pull Tan Zhizhi aside, using "Shao Ziyang is feeling slightly unwell" as an excuse, saying he needed to go check on him.

Tan Zhizhi was quite worried when she heard: "I'll go with you too."

"No need."

Yang Tianxing waved his hand: "You just keep eating with them, we'll stay in touch by phone."

While the two were talking outside, Du Mingwei was also speaking with Gu Xiaojin inside.

"Is this Tan Zhizhi's boyfriend? Doesn't look that handsome."

Du Mingwei was a bit puzzled: "He Can is much more handsome than him, yet Tan Zhizhi doesn't even spare him a glance."

Gu Xiaojin then said: "The two of them aren't even boyfriend and girlfriend yet; Yang Tianxing hasn't confessed since starting university, and little Zhizhi is both angry and anxious inside, yet she has no way to deal with it."

"Is that so."

Du Mingwei shook his head, unable to understand.

Before long, Tan Zhizhi returned; she explained the reason for Yang Tianxing, and after finishing the barbecue, Tan Zhizhi took Gu Xiaojin's arm, preparing to head out.

"The bill hasn't been paid yet."

Du Mingwei was a bit puzzled.

At this moment, a waiter walked over and said: "The bill for your table has already been paid."

Gu Xiaojin lightly tapped Tan Zhizhi: "You didn't even tell me you snuck off to pay the bill."

"It wasn't me who paid."

Tan Zhizhi shook her head.

"Then why were you walking out so nonchalantly?"

Gu Xiaojin said: "Aren't you afraid they'll take you for someone dining and dashing?"

"Because Yang Tianxing would definitely take care of these things."

There was a hint of pride on Tan Zhizhi's face.

Gu Xiaojin gave Du Mingwei a meaningful look; this must be the reason Yang Tianxing managed to win over Tan Zhizhi.

At this time, Yang Tianxing had arrived, feeling stifled all the way, at a Western restaurant near East Main Street; he had originally intended to give Shao Ziyang a stern wake-up call, but the moment he saw the look in Shao Ziyang's eyes, Yang Tianxing suddenly changed his mind.

This look contained too many emotions; it held both the self-esteem of someone putting on a brave face to hide their poverty, the heartache of facing such a high price, and a kind of emotional expectation.

"This is my childhood friend, Yang Tianxing."

Shao Ziyang stood up happily to introduce him.

However, Jiang Mumu, sitting opposite, seemed somewhat unnatural facing Yang Tianxing; after a simple greeting, she hurriedly finished eating and left.

There was still quite a bit left of this 800-yuan candlelight red wine Western meal, and Shao Ziyang couldn't bear to waste it, forcing it down while putting on a brave smile: "Little Yang, you should eat some too, it cost 800 yuan."

Yang Tianxing sighed inwardly; 800 yuan, when the four of them just had a barbecue that cost no more than 80.

This is what a "lick-dog" is!