Chapter 530: Free, or Free

On Xijie at Qianjiang University, just two steps north from the corner of Ningshan Avenue, you can see Chuan Yu Lao Huoguo hot pot restaurant.

Zhao Letian glanced at the intersection here, pointed to the area enclosed due to construction, and said with a smile:

"I heard a new subway entrance will be built here, but I don't know when it'll be finished."

Jiang Feiya also nodded and said cheerfully: "This subway line goes straight to the city center; once it's done, it'll be much easier for us to go into town."

Xie Xiuying glanced at the construction site, then quickly looked away.

She had heard of subways but had never ridden one; she was curious, but didn't dare ask.

"It'll probably be next year or the year after that," Xu Youyu said. "It's already been under construction for over half a year—still a long way to go."

Saying this, she led her three roommates to the entrance of Chuan Yu Huoguo, pushed open the door, and walked in.

The server quickly came over, politely greeted them, asked how many people were in their party, and then led Xu Youyu and the others to a window-side table.

Xu Youyu took the menu from the server, glanced at it, confirmed everyone's dietary restrictions, ordered a split pot first, then passed the menu to Zhao Letian: "Take a look and order whatever you want."

Zhao Letian wasn't shy at all; he scanned the menu and ordered three of his favorite dishes.

Jiang Feiya also ordered two.

When it came to Xie Xiuying, she held the menu, her eyes fixed on the prices next to each dish, feeling dizzy.

H-How are all of these so expensive?

Xie Xiuying's face turned pale; the price of just one plate of beef was enough for her to eat for several days.

After looking back and forth, she couldn't bring herself to order nothing, so she finally picked the cheapest vegetable dish, costing only a few yuan.

Xu Youyu took back the menu and added a few more dishes, then handed it to the server.

At that moment, an older server passed by, caught sight of Xu Youyu's face, stared for two more seconds, then immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed to the kitchen to find the manager.

At that time, Manager Cheng Lihui was reviewing accounts, when he saw a server running up to him.

"Manager Cheng," the server whispered, "someone from the boss's family seems to be here—table 10 by the window, a really beautiful girl. I've seen her several times before."

"Hmm?" The manager immediately put down his ledger and followed the server out of the kitchen to look at table 10.

Honestly, remembering the boss's family members wasn't particularly easy.

But the boss's family was different.

Especially those young girls—just one glance made them unforgettable.

Cheng Lihui only glanced at table 10 and immediately noticed the most beautiful girl inside.

"It really is her," Cheng Lihui muttered, then whispered, "When they're nearly done eating and ready to pay, remind me."

"Got it."

……

The split pot arrived quickly.

Along with the split pot, there were ten dishes total on the menu, half meat, half vegetables.

Xu Youyu led them to pick condiments; by the time they returned to their seats, all ten dishes had been served.

"This place is good," Zhao Letian exclaimed. "This plate of meat has plenty—way more value than other hot pot places in Yuhang City."

"Really?" Jiang Feiya didn't notice.

Zhao Letian said: "I came to Yuhang City in mid-August and spent half a month here, eating hot pot many times. Compared to the Northeast, they give way less meat and charge more."

"Of course this place can't beat the Northeast on that," Xu Youyu smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and said, "Eat, eat—we still have a class meeting later. Let's eat and chat."

Zhao Letian and Jiang Feiya didn't hesitate; their chopsticks went straight for the meat.

Xie Xiuying didn't touch any meat at all, only picking the cheap vegetables, then timidly asked: "Do you have rice?"

Hearing this, Zhao Letian immediately called over the server and asked for a bowl of rice.

Xie Xiuying received it, whispered a thank-you, then ate the rice with the vegetables and condiments, looking utterly satisfied.

During the meal, Xu Youyu deliberately added extra beef at once and gave two pieces to each of her three roommates.

Xie Xiuying saw the meat on her plate and quickly said: "No, no, no—I can serve myself."

"It's fine. Beef gets tough if boiled too long—just eat it," Xu Youyu smiled slightly, then stopped urging her and bent down to eat.

Xie Xiuying hesitated, stared at the beef on her plate, couldn't resist the temptation, picked it up, dipped it in sauce, and put it in her mouth.

Then she stuffed a big bite of rice in.

"Your boyfriend is a second-year student from the Computer Science Department, right?"

While eating, Jiang Feiya glanced at Xu Youyu and asked casually, then added: "Song Yu just told me."

"Oh, yeah," Xu Youyu found Li Luo's attempt to build a persona a bit ridiculous, but since it was already done, she didn't care.

She didn't mind others knowing she had a boyfriend still in Gao San, but Li Luo didn't feel the same.

After telling Li Luo last night about the punishment for his original bet, he made this one request.

Xu Youyu couldn't refuse him, but since it still achieved the original goal, she agreed.

When Li Luo comes to Qianjiang University next year, she'll treat her roommates to a meal to apologize.

As for the punishment's content, it was obvious: Li Luo would pretend to be her boyfriend, acting as a shield to deter male students from harassing her once she started university.

Of course, that was just the excuse.

The real reason—those who understand, understand.

"So he's a senior," Zhao Letian said, looking enlightened, then added: "You two are really close—did you start dating in high school?"

"Don't say that," Xu Youyu quickly shook her head. "We only got together after the college entrance exam."

"Then why does it feel like you've known each other forever?" Jiang Feiya didn't believe it. "The way you two talked in the dorm—he even knows your mom."

"Oh, come on," Xu Youyu blushed slightly, waved her hand, and whispered: "Our parents are just good friends."

"You're not childhood sweethearts, are you?" Zhao Letian raised an eyebrow.

"Not exactly," Xu Youyu wished she could say yes, but her real childhood sweetheart was someone else—still, she added: "We went to the same middle school and high school."

"That's about the same thing." Zhao Letian nodded with a smile. "I wonder how heartbroken the guys in the dorm will be when they find out."

Jiang Feiya paused her movements, glanced at Xu Youyu once more, then said nothing at all.

Even though she had always thought herself very beautiful, she still couldn't help feeling somewhat inferior when faced with Xu Youyu.

How could someone be this good-looking?

Jiang Feiya grumbled inwardly, but remembering the guy already had a boyfriend, she felt no real threat and stopped thinking about it.

Xu Youyu deliberately shifted the topic, turning the focus onto Jiang Feiya: "What about you? Isn't that Song Yu still your boyfriend?"

"Just a high school classmate," Jiang Feiya said coolly.

"A high school classmate sends you milk tea? And even brings it to your roommates?" Zhao Letian chuckled.

"He's… sort of one of my suitors," Jiang Feiya said primly, brushing her hair aside. "He likes me, but I'm still evaluating. After all, he's not the only guy around."

A lickspittle.

Xu Youyu silently mourned for the guy named Song Yu.

Judging by Jiang Feiya's private attitude, she clearly didn't take him seriously at all.

There wasn't even a hint of affection—she just saw him as an ATM.

Xu Youyu found this fishing tactic distasteful, but didn't want to say much.

Song Yu was happy to play along; if anyone tried to warn him, he might even get angry.

A lickspittle's awakening usually only comes when his hopes are completely crushed by the person he's chasing.

Xu Youyu had nothing to say about it, and glanced at Xie Xiuying.

Throughout the meal, Xie Xiuying didn't speak a word.

Whenever Xu Youyu or Zhao Letian occasionally handed her a piece of meat, she just kept eating, murmuring thanks quietly.

While the other three chatted, Xie Xiuying had already devoured two large bowls of rice—her belly full, her heart content.

"I'm done eating. I'll go pay."

Seeing they'd eaten enough, Xu Youyu stood up and walked toward the front counter.

The three roommates also rose, following behind Xu Youyu. Zhao Letian said, "If it's too expensive, let's split it. Uh… Xie Xiuying ate less meat, so she can pay less."

"I already told you—I've got a discount coupon," Xu Youyu grinned, pulling a coupon from her bag, ready to hand it to the cashier.

But the store manager, Cheng Lihui, who had been waiting there, smiled faintly, raised his hand to block Xu Youyu's, and said, "You're Miss Xu, right? I'm the manager here."

Xu Youyu blinked, momentarily confused. "Hello, Manager. Is there something?"

"Our boss said if you come to eat here, you don't pay—everything's free," Manager Cheng Lihui said with a smile.

"No, no, it's just one meal. I should still pay," Xu Youyu said instinctively, shaking her head.

She disliked relying on connections to eat for free—having a discount coupon was already plenty.

But the manager's tone was firm: "It's the boss's order. If you pay and he finds out, I'll be in trouble. Miss Xu, you just started school, right? This meal is our gift to celebrate."

"We still have to go to our class meeting," Zhao Letian whispered beside her.

Xu Youyu checked the time and nodded reluctantly. "Then thank you. Please tell Uncle Li thanks for me."

"Of course," Manager Cheng Lihui smiled. "Take care as you leave."

Outside the hotpot restaurant, Zhao Letian couldn't wait to ask: "Is the owner of this place your relative?"

Xu Youyu shook her head, then paused, blushing slightly as she nodded softly. "This hotpot place is owned by Li Luo's father. But I've never brought friends here before—I didn't expect the manager to recognize me."

"How enviable," Zhao Letian sighed.

It was unclear whether he envied her having such a great boyfriend—or the fact that she could eat unlimited hotpot here.

During the meal, she'd eaten the most meat.

On the other side, Jiang Feiya, upon hearing Xu Youyu's words, immediately scowled, thinking this girl was clearly doing it on purpose.

So good at pretending.

It's only because they're in Yuhang City.

If they were in Bailu City, she could do the same thing—doesn't everyone have someone who owns a shop?

Hmph!

Jiang Feiya, seeing Xu Youyu had just shown off so blatantly, couldn't hold back her irritation.

So as they passed the milk tea shop beside the West Gate, she raised her hand, signaling the three roommates to stop, and pointed at the shop's entrance: "I'll treat you all to milk tea."

"Didn't we just drink some in the dorm?" Zhao Letian said.

"That was Song Yu's treat," Jiang Feiya said, walking toward the milk tea shop and waving for them to follow. "This one's on me. The class meeting's going to be boring—drinking milk tea while listening is better than sitting there doing nothing."

Zhao Letian thought that made sense and stepped forward.

Xie Xiuying had no opinion, so she followed.

As for Xu Youyu…

Her expression was strange; she wanted to stop them, but Jiang Feiya had already reached the shop entrance.

"I'll have an Oreo milk tea," Jiang Feiya said, glancing at the menu, then turned to the three behind her. "What do you want?"

Zhao Letian, tall, stood in front of Xie Xiuying and Xu Youyu, casually ordered, then glanced around the shop and noticed a side entrance leading to a study room.

"Huh? This place is nice," Zhao Letian said, peering. "There are private booths—perfect for studying."

"Right, each seat has those curtain-like things you can pull around," Xu Youyu said from behind.

At the counter, Lin Xiufeng, hearing the familiar voice, turned his gaze toward them. After seeing past Zhao Letian's bulk, he spotted Xu Youyu.

"Huh? You Youyu?" Lin Xiufeng blinked in surprise, then looked around. "Where's Li Luo? Didn't he come with you?"

"Uncle Lin, hi," Xu Youyu, no longer hiding, smiled politely and greeted him. "He dropped me off at school and went back. I came out with my roommates for hotpot—we're heading to a class meeting now."

"Oh, I see," Lin Xiufeng nodded. "These are your roommates? Then don't pay—I'll treat you."

"Thank you, Uncle," Xu Youyu nodded obediently, then whispered to her roommates, "He's Li Luo's uncle. This milk tea shop is his."

Jiang Feiya: "…?"

"Youyu, be honest," Zhao Letian slung an arm around Xu Youyu's shoulder with easy familiarity and whispered, "Didn't Li Luo's family buy out every shop on this street?"

(End of Chapter)