The golden sunshine filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light upon the pavilion on the mountainside.

The clear chirping of birds mingled with the sound of students reading aloud.

Because it was quiet and had a good environment, quite a few people studied here during the day. This school, aside from slackers like Brother Nan, never lacked people working hard for their future.

But now, alcohol burners and a hot pot were set up in the pavilion, and the stone table was laden with dishes and dipping sauces. Zhou Li and Huai Xu sat waiting, while Tuanzi squatted by the table.

The figures of the four from Room 106 appeared on the stone stairs.

The four had divided the labor: Baozi carried seven or eight cans of beer; Mianmian and Qian Qian each held a large bottle of Sprite and a large bottle of Yibao water; Brother Nan carried two empty trash bags, which seemed to also contain a pack of tissues.

The four attracted the glances of passersby, directing their attention to the pavilion.

Zhou Li faintly heard a few exclamations of "What the hell?!", but he ignored them and silently turned the flame of the burner up to high. Once the four had arrived, he handed out bowls and chopsticks while complimenting Brother Nan.

"You really thought of everything."

Brother Nan grunted, placed the trash bags on either side, and casually tossed the tissues onto the table before looking at the dishes. "This is quite a feast. Thanks for all your hard work."

Baozi also set down the beer and stretched out her hands, first greeting Tuanzi, "Lord Dumpling, do you want me to hold you?"

The frugal girl received no response from Tuanzi.

Undeterred, Baozi quietly withdrew her hands, sat down, and began staring unblinkingly at the pot and the dishes beside it. She noticed a plate of crispy fried pork, which was ready to eat, but since Brother Nan and Zhou Li hadn't started, she felt too shy to take any.

Mianmian and Qian Qian greeted Huai Xu, "Hey, Handsome Huai, do you need a girlfriend?"

"No, thanks."

"Aren't you in the engineering department? How did you get in?"

"Shh! I sneaked in..."

"Got it."

"We won't get reported and criticized for this, will we?" Mianmian was a bit timid. She glanced at the alcohol burner, then turned to look at the wooden pavilion and the surrounding trees. "Could they say we're creating a fire hazard?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I always say, university isn't complete without being reported at least once!" Brother Nan said.

"Brother Nan is right." Qian Qian, on the other hand, was excited.

"True." Mianmian wasn't worried anymore.

"Should we have some crispy pork first?" Baozi suggested softly, but her voice was too quiet and easily drowned out by the others' conversation.

Zhou Li eyed some classmates walking back and forth not far away. He noticed many students were sneaking glances at them. As the hot pot base melted and the aroma began to spread, he hesitated and said, "I'm suddenly thinking, maybe we shouldn't be doing this?"

"Why not?"

"It's distracting others from studying."

"It is a bit..." Although Brother Nan didn't study much herself, she still respected others who did. But she thought for a moment. "Well, this place is public anyway. Don't overthink it. Come on, have some crispy pork!"

With that, she used her fingers to pick up a piece of crispy pork and brought it to Zhou Li's mouth. "Hurry, it's still hot!"

Baozi's eyes instantly sharpened.

Zhou Li quickly glanced at everyone, then opened his mouth. Almost the second after he ate the crispy pork, Baozi also reached out with her chopsticks.

Brother Nan seemed to have burned her fingers, as she shook her hand while asking, "Tasty?"

"Delicious," Zhou Li said.

"Let Lord Dumpling try some too!" Tuanzi started making a fuss beside them. "Lord Dumpling wants some too!"

"Alright, alright~~"

Zhou Li had no choice but to pick up a piece, blow on it to cool it, and bring it to her mouth.

Even so, it was hot enough to make her hiss.

The broth had started to boil, the red oil bubbling vigorously, and he began adding ingredients. He started with the handmade beef balls and shrimp paste that Baozi wanted, adding some green vegetables. Eyeing Baozi as she intently watched his every move, he felt a twinge of pity for her.

Mianmian and Qian Qian began pouring drinks for everyone.

Brother Nan also opened a can of beer.

Their cups quickly clinked together.

"Cheers!"

The atmosphere grew even more lively.

Correspondingly, there were fewer and fewer people studying nearby, and those passing by the stone steps hurriedly quickened their pace.

"I think I saw someone taking pictures of us." Huai Xu squinted into the distance, swallowed the tripe in his mouth, and took a sip of Sprite. "Do you think by tomorrow the internet will be full of our photos and videos? Then we'll first become famous throughout the school, then across the country. And next, these companies will come running to sign us as streamers, livestreaming for a little while each day and making a lot of money."

"It might also be a formal reprimand," Mianmian said.

"You sure are familiar with these things," Brother Nan remarked.

"Handsome Huai, has anyone ever told you that you're really funny when you talk?" Qian Qian asked, her expression one of infatuation.

"Dream on," Zhou Li said.

"Meow meow meow!" Tuanzi interjected.

"..."

Baozi focused on eating, saying nothing.

Amid the chaotic noises around the table, Huai Xu only responded to Qian Qian's praise, "What's funny about it?"

"It's just… your choice of words and stuff," Qian Qian, who was drinking beer, said, her face flushed. "It has a kind of cute, clueless charm."

"They all think I talk too much, that I'm too long-winded, and they don't want to talk to me," Huai Xu said, pointing at Zhou Li. "Especially this guy. Sometimes when I talk to him, he acts as if he hasn't heard me."

"He's not singling you out," Brother Nan clarified. "Sometimes when I talk to him, he pretends not to hear either. A good smack usually does the trick."

"Got it!"

"Lord Dumpling sometimes talks to Zhou Li and he pretends not to hear too!" Tuanzi also looked indignant, then added fiercely, "Lord Dumpling will hit him too!"

"..."

For a moment, Zhou Li felt that among the five humans and two demons at the table, only his Little Cousin was the cutest.

He glanced unconsciously in his Little Cousin's direction.

He saw Baozi eating silently, but for some reason, her brow suddenly furrowed. A barely discernible look of discomfort flashed across her fair face, vanishing in an instant. Zhou Li almost thought he'd imagined it.

He continued to observe her.

Baozi picked up a slice of fatty beef from the pot. Her chopsticks hovered over her bowl, as if she were frozen in place.

Her other hand quietly touched her stomach.

Zhou Li instantly understood.

Sure enough, after she ate that piece of fatty beef, she put down her chopsticks. She sat up straight, quietly watching them eat.

Mianmian and Qian Qian asked in surprise, "You're not eating anymore?"

From Baozi's calm nod, Zhou Li deeply understood what it meant to suffer in silence.

Afterward, they chatted and laughed, continuing to eat for another hour and a half, while Baozi silently watched them for that entire hour and a half.

She didn't interject, just watched.

She especially watched Brother Nan and Huai Xu. It seemed she could derive a vicarious satisfaction—a sense of longing for what was unattainable—from watching the way Brother Nan and Huai Xu ate and from their appetites. Perhaps she was inspired by this, because during that period, she picked up her chopsticks numerous times, trying to rejoin the battle like a competitive eater. Unfortunately, she could only manage a little more each time before silently putting her chopsticks down again, her attempts ending in failure.

Zhou Li guessed her appetite was probably only a tiny bit larger than Tuanzi's.

「An hour and a half later.」

The three girls diligently cleaned the table, wiping it spotless with wet wipes. Huai Xu also tidied up the hot pot and dishes. Only when the pavilion was restored to its original state did they each go their separate ways.

Those heading back to the dorms went to their dorms; those setting up stalls went to set up their stalls; those returning the burner returned the burner; and those going for a walk went for a walk.

The only ones walking were Zhou Li and Brother Nan.

This week, the spectacle at the sports field was even more impressive than last week. In addition to last week's Guitar Club, the Street Dance Club, the Dance Society, and students majoring in music and dance had also joined the performance lineup. Many young women in light, summery outfits were showcasing their talents on the field.

Brother Nan, who had had a bit to drink, didn't let Zhou Li watch the young women dance, a reaction somewhat out of character for her.

However, Zhou Li had no interest in watching anyway.

He felt these young women were neither as attractive as he was, nor as attractive as Brother Nan. There was nothing worth seeing.

Instead, a couple with very ordinary-looking silhouettes up ahead attracted him more. The boy walked on the girl's right, his left hand resting on her shoulder, his right hand holding hers. Slowly, the two veered off the synthetic track, walking towards the dimly lit edges of the sports field. They thought they were completely shrouded in darkness, unaware that some people's vision was practically superhuman.

Emmm...

Zhou Li let go of Brother Nan's hand, mimicked the couple's pose, and put his arm around Brother Nan's shoulders. He quietly observed to see if Brother Nan showed any signs of rejection. If she did, he would quickly retract his hand, but she didn't.

Zhou Li looked away, contentedly feeling the softness of Brother Nan's body and the sensation of having his arm around her. They had been like this before, but usually, it was Brother Nan who put her arm around his shoulders.

As they walked, they also moved closer to the edge of the sports field, gradually stepping into the darkness.

Brother Nan sensed something. Squinting at him, she asked, "What are you up to?"

"Nothing…"

"What are you thinking?"

"Over there… those two people," Zhou Li gestured for her to look.

"Hm?"

Although only a blurry shape was visible, what else could two people pressed together in a dark corner be doing?

"Ohh~~" Brother Nan nodded, drawing out her words. "So that's what you're thinking about?"

"I'm just thinking…"

"Call me Brother Nan!"

"Brother Nan."

"Brother Nan will satisfy you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Brother Nan suddenly pushed Zhou Li against the wall, pinning him there. Facing each other, Brother Nan moistened her lips with a quick lick and, without hesitation, leaned in.

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