Chapter 133: Observing Liu Jiaoyue

Although this was the first department dinner for the External Liaison Department, the atmosphere was not cold at all, all because of that beautiful and sorrowful campus love story from Zheng Xuan.

The freshmen were all excitedly chattering and discussing, occasionally offering Zheng Xuan some terrible ideas on "stealing a man," which made Yang Tianxing, the person involved, feel very awkward.

So, he, the department head, simply made himself invisible; a proper department gathering had turned into a gossip and relationship chat room, and even Hua Xiaoyu couldn't do anything about it.

However, after the meal, the waiter brought the menu over and said, "The total is 320 yuan, who is paying?"

These silly freshmen finally stopped their discussion and, looking left and right, cast their gazes toward Yang Tianxing.

Yang Tianxing coughed and said, "Bring the bill over."

Thus, this gathering, which should have had Yang Tianxing as the protagonist, only highlighted him when it came time to pay the bill.

After eating, some freshmen wanted to go shopping in Hejiaying, so Yang Tianxing prepared to head back to school.

At this moment, Zheng Xuan chased after him from behind.

"It's been a long time since we went for a walk like this."

On the road from Hejiaying back to school, the dim yellow streetlights flickered slightly, attracting summer insects that kept crashing into the glass covers; the moonlight was hazy, the sky was full of swirling stars, and from time to time, groups of three or five students heading to internet cafes for an all-nighter brushed past them—in short, it was full of the atmosphere of life.

However, one sentence from Yang Tianxing ruined this atmosphere: "What are you thinking? We have never gone for a walk together, stop bragging."

Zheng Xuan wasn't angry; she smiled and changed the subject: "Just now while eating, I deliberately didn't say that person was you, so you wouldn't have trouble giving orders in the department later."

"Hahahaha."

Yang Tianxing was smoking a cigarette, laughing as he exhaled a puff of smoke: "When I first took over this department a few days ago, there were two deputy heads and over a dozen staff members who wouldn't listen to orders. Guess what I did?"

Zheng Xuan shook her head.

"I fired them all."

Yang Tianxing glanced at Zheng Xuan: "So, those who don't listen to orders, I will replace; those who threaten me, I will also replace. Working under me, if you don't obey, you can only get lost."

Zheng Xuan nodded after hearing this: "You seem even more overbearing than before."

Yang Tianxing didn't want to discuss this topic. As they were about to reach the school gate, Zheng Xuan suddenly asked: "If that girl in 101 didn't exist, would you date me?"

"No, I don't like your type."

Yang Tianxing waved his hand, his figure slowly disappearing into the night.

Zheng Xuan stood in place for a while and whispered to herself: "No matter what, there is nothing wrong with liking someone."

……………

The next day was Saturday, and Yang Tianxing went to Yanta University Town to find Shao Ziyang.

The freshmen didn't have military training today, and there were no express packages to pick up at 101; only Liu Jiaoyue was sitting quietly at the office desk reviewing her studies.

Her jet-black hair was tied up with a plain rubber band, her clear and bright peach-blossom eyes revealed tranquility, the natural expression on her gentle face made people feel at ease, and her fingers occasionally flipped the pages of her book, looking just like a mural.

When she felt sleepy from reading, Liu Jiaoyue would pick up a small watering can and go to the green plants, tilting the spout to sprinkle a little water on them, tilting her head to watch the water droplets slowly gather at the tips of the leaves.

"Drip."

Whenever a water droplet fell, Liu Jiaoyue would purse her lips and smile; her happiness was just that simple.

In this quiet environment, this girl, who was the prettiest and also the most low-key in the Finance Institute, was also quietly blooming with her own beauty.

However, as time passed, the entrepreneurship base gradually became lively again. After Fu Yiming and the others arrived, Liu Jiaoyue lowered her head and returned to the desk.

Around 11:30, the glass door of 101 was pushed open with a "creak." Fu Yiming walked over and asked, "Hello, do you need to send a package?"

Receiving a negative answer, Fu Yiming went back to his own business.

This person walked toward Liu Jiaoyue: "Hello, Senior Sister, do you remember me?"

Liu Jiaoyue was generally only responsible for recording work and basically didn't interact with others, and very few people came to look for her. She raised her head to look and saw that it was actually that freshman junior sister who would rather brave the rain than take her umbrella.

"H-hello."

Liu Jiaoyue stood up to greet her, then went to pour a cup of water and placed it on the table.

"Senior Sister, my name is Zheng Xuan. I was in the same school as Senior Brother Yang in high school," Zheng Xuan said.

Liu Jiaoyue was a little surprised; she hadn't expected this pretty girl to be a fellow townsman of Yang Tianxing, so they must know each other.

However, Liu Jiaoyue wasn't good at communicating. After pouring the water, she placed both hands flat on her knees, not knowing what to say.

Zheng Xuan took the initiative to ask: "Senior Sister, don't be nervous. I was just going to the Second Canteen to eat and happened to pass by here to take a look. Do you want to go eat together?"

Liu Jiaoyue wasn't used to eating with strangers; she would either eat by herself or with Yang Tianxing or He Yulin. But she felt it wasn't good to refuse others, especially since this person was Yang Tianxing's fellow townsman, so she eventually agreed.

The two walked to the canteen to line up for food. Zheng Xuan had been observing Liu Jiaoyue, so she paid close attention to every move she made.

She discovered a problem: Liu Jiaoyue was actually reciting the menu in her mouth while waiting in line.

"Mapo tofu, small green vegetables, Mapo tofu, small green vegetables, Mapo green vegetables, small tofu..."

"Senior Sister, what are you doing?" Zheng Xuan asked.

Liu Jiaoyue's face turned red, and she whispered: "I'm afraid I'll stutter when ordering, so, so I recite it in advance."

Zheng Xuan thought to herself, no way, having to recite the menu in advance just to order food.

"Does he know?"

Zheng Xuan asked.

Liu Jiaoyue didn't understand the meaning of this sentence for a moment.

Zheng Xuan explained more clearly: "Does Yang Tianxing know?"

Liu Jiaoyue nodded embarrassedly.

Zheng Xuan thought for a moment: "Then with his personality, wouldn't he be very irritable?"

"Hmm..."

Liu Jiaoyue quietly pouted; because of this matter, Yang Tianxing had scolded her more times than she could count.

Zheng Xuan shook her head and muttered: "Then what does he see in you? Is it just your figure and beauty?"

However, Liu Jiaoyue didn't hear it because it was already her turn. Zheng Xuan turned her head to see if Liu Jiaoyue would stutter this time, not expecting that her watching would make Liu Jiaoyue even more nervous.

Although she didn't stutter this time, she said the wrong thing: "Excuse me, Auntie, I want Mapo green vegetables, small tofu."

The auntie serving the food was stunned; what was "Mapo greens," and what on earth was "little tofu"?

Liu Jiaoyue knew in her heart she had misspoken, but she didn't know how to correct it; with someone queuing behind her, she felt a surge of anxiety, couldn't help but clench her fists, and lightly stamped her right foot.

Fortunately, the cafeteria auntie quickly reacted: "Are you asking for Mapo tofu and small greens?"

Liu Jiaoyue nodded hurriedly.

The auntie laughed: "You can just point next time, it's no problem."

Zheng Xuan watched, dumbfounded, as Liu Jiaoyue carried her tray away, her face as red as an apple.

"Excuse me, I'd like the shrimp with scrambled eggs and the greens."

Zheng Xuan was much more articulate; she carried her tray to the seat opposite Liu Jiaoyue: "Senior Sister, do you always have to sit in such a secluded spot when you eat?"

Liu Jiaoyue nodded.

Zheng Xuan thought to herself that this really didn't fit Yang Tianxing's personality; Senior Brother Yang was a high-profile person.

The two did not communicate while eating; after Zheng Xuan finished, she watched quietly as Liu Jiaoyue ate every single grain of rice on her tray.

After leaving the school cafeteria, Liu Jiaoyue said to Zheng Xuan: "I'm going to buy some fruit."

"Let's go together, I've got nothing else to do."

Zheng Xuan had intended to "know the enemy and know yourself" from the start, so she was definitely going to follow through to the end today.

Although Liu Jiaoyue found it a bit strange, she didn't ask any further questions and arrived at the fruit stall downstairs at the dormitory building.

"Hello, how much are the apples?"

"The big, sweeter ones are 3 yuan; the small, sourer ones are 2 yuan."

Liu Jiaoyue crouched down and carefully picked out a few apples, and Zheng Xuan asked curiously: "Senior Sister, why are you picking two kinds of apples, buying a few big ones and also choosing two small ones?"

Liu Jiaoyue glanced at Zheng Xuan without answering, took out paper money from her small wallet, and paid.

Zheng Xuan persisted in her questioning: "Senior Sister, is this a secret you can't tell anyone else?"

Liu Jiaoyue shook her head shyly: "No, the big ones are for him to eat, and I eat the small ones myself."