Chapter 28 Instant Noodles
"Had dinner?" Teng Yi glanced at Teng Hao.
"Yeah, takeout."
Teng Yi nodded and turned to leave again. It seemed he had come in just to ask that question—as if he hadn’t heard their earlier conversation.
Ruan Yu quietly exhaled in relief.
After a few steps, Teng Yi turned back, his gaze settling on Ruan Yu.
"You?"
"Huh?"
"Dinner."
"I’ve eaten too." She actually hadn’t. After leaving the publicity department, she had come straight here without time for a meal.
"Where?"
"Cafeteria."
"The cafeteria opens at 5:30." Teng Yi glanced at his watch. "It was barely 5:30 when I saw you on the bus."
Ruan Yu hadn’t expected him—someone who never went to the cafeteria—to remember its opening time so precisely.
As she struggled to cover her lie, he spoke again.
"Want instant noodles?"
"Huh?"
"What’s with the ‘huh’? You had plenty of tricks when mocking me, so why do you turn into an idiot the moment my brother’s around?" Teng Hao sneered from the side. "My brother’s asking if you want instant noodles. You do know what instant noodles are, right?"
Ruan Yu quickly nodded and looked at Teng Yi. "Yes."
"Come down in ten minutes."
With that, Teng Yi turned and left the room.
Soon, the aroma of instant noodles wafted upstairs. Ruan Yu handed Teng Hao a set of practice questions to work on and went downstairs.
In the kitchen, Teng Yi stood by the stove with wireless earbuds in, his tall profile facing her. Whatever he was listening to, his chopsticks tapped rhythmically against the pot’s edge, composing a little tune.
A sensitivity to music—another natural gift for dancing.
After a while, he evenly divided the noodles between two bowls. Just as Ruan Yu moved to help, he slid effortlessly to the dining table, a bowl in each hand.
Ruan Yu knew little about street dance, but she had seen Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. Teng Yi’s gliding steps were just as smooth.
And he was wearing slippers.
Impressive.
Teng Yi turned and saw Ruan Yu had already come down. He removed the earbud from his left ear and tilted his chin at her.
"Come here."
Ruan Yu nodded and approached the table.
He handed her a pair of chopsticks.
"Thanks."
Teng Yi put his earbud back in and sat across from her. Though they shared a table, Ruan Yu knew he was in his own world—one no one else could enter.
As she stirred her noodles, Teng Yi suddenly slid a plate toward her. On it were two fried eggs.
"Forgot to add them to your bowl. Help yourself."
"Thanks." She took one and noticed he hadn’t touched the other. "Aren’t you having any?"
"I’m allergic to eggs. They’re both for you." He picked up the second egg and dropped it into her bowl. "Eat up."
"Okay."
The noodles were perfectly cooked—neither too soft nor too firm—and topped with two eggs, making the meal surprisingly hearty.
Ruan Yu was genuinely hungry. She picked up a bite, blew on it, and slurped it down.
Soon, the bowl was empty.
Suppressing a satisfied sigh, she looked up to find Teng Yi already done, leaning back in his chair with an amused smirk.
Thinking she had food on her face, Ruan Yu hastily grabbed a napkin—but found nothing.Teng Yi was still looking at her.
"What?" Ruan Yu felt a little embarrassed. "First time seeing a girl with such a big appetite?"
"First time seeing a girl who makes instant noodles taste like a gourmet feast."
"You cooked them well."
"After all, it's my only 'specialty dish.'"
"You can't cook?"
He shook his head. "Can you?"
"A little."
"Next time, I'll try it."
Next time...
Ruan Yu wasn’t sure if there would be a next time.
"Hmm?" He tilted his chin slightly.
"Okay."
"Full?" he asked.
"Full."
"Then let's go upstairs."
"I’ll wash the dishes."
Ruan Yu stood up, ready to clear the table, but he stopped her.
"No need. The housekeeper will come later," he said.
"Then I’ve just freeloaded a meal."
He smiled gently. "Didn’t we just agree you’ll pay me back next time?"
OpenNovel