“Have you eaten dinner?” Teng Yi looked at Teng Hao.
“Yes, takeout.”
Teng Yi nodded and turned to leave as if he had come just to ask this question, seemingly not having heard their previous conversation.
Ruan Yu quietly sighed in relief.
After walking a few steps, Teng Yi turned back, his gaze falling on Ruan Yu.
“What about you?”
“Hm?”
“Dinner.”
“I’ve eaten too.” She hadn’t eaten – after leaving the Publicity Department, she had come straight here, with no time to eat.
“Where?”
“The cafeteria.”
“The cafeteria opens at 5:30.” Teng Yi glanced at his watch. “When I met you on the bus, it was also around 5:30.”
Ruan Yu hadn’t expected that someone who never went to the cafeteria would know its opening time so precisely.
As she wondered how to cover up her lie, he spoke again.
“Want some instant noodles?”
“Huh?”
“What’s with the ‘huh’? You had plenty of tricks when teasing me, but you turn stupid when it comes to my brother?” Teng Hao commented sarcastically from the side. “My brother’s asking if you want instant noodles. You do know what instant noodles are, right?”
Ruan Yu quickly nodded, looking at Teng Yi: “Yes.”
“Then come down in ten minutes.”
Teng Yi left these words and walked out of the room.
The aroma of instant noodles soon wafted up from downstairs. Ruan Yu gave Teng Hao some exercises to work on and went downstairs.
In the kitchen, Teng Yi stood at the stove wearing wireless earbuds, presenting her with his tall silhouette. Whatever he was listening to, he was tapping out a rhythm on the pot’s edge with his chopsticks, creating a little tune.
Sensitivity to music was also one of the gifts of a dancer.
After a while, he evenly divided the noodles into two bowls. As Ruan Yu was about to help, she saw him glide to the dining table holding a bowl in each hand.
Though Ruan Yu didn’t know street dance, she had seen Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. Teng Yi’s sliding movement just now was identical to that classic move.
The key point was, he was wearing slippers.
Impressive.
Teng Yi turned around to see Ruan Yu had already come down. He removed his left earbud and jerked his chin at her.
“Come here.”
Ruan Yu nodded and walked to the dining table.
He handed her a pair of chopsticks.
“Thank you.”
Teng Yi put his earbud back in and sat across from her. Though they sat at the same table, Ruan Yu knew he was in his world – a world no one else could enter except himself.
As Ruan Yu stirred her noodles, Teng Yi suddenly pushed over a plate containing two fried eggs.
“Forgot to put them in your noodles, help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Ruan Yu picked up one egg, and seeing him not moving, asked, “Aren’t you having any?”
“I’m allergic to eggs. They’re all for you.” As he spoke, he picked up the other egg and put it in her bowl. “Eat up.”
“Mm.”
The noodles were cooked just right, neither raw nor overcooked, and topped with two fried eggs, making it quite substantial.
Ruan Yu was indeed hungry. She picked up some noodles, blew on them to cool them down, and started slurping them up.
The large bowl was soon empty.
She suppressed a burp that threatened to escape and looked up at Teng Yi, who had set down his chopsticks at some point and was leaning back in his chair, watching her with an amused expression.
Ruan Yu thought she had food on her face and quickly wiped her mouth with a tissue, but there was nothing there.
Teng Yi kept watching her.
“What?” Ruan Yu felt embarrassed. “First time seeing a girl with such a big appetite?”
“First time seeing a girl eat instant noodles like it’s gourmet food.”
“You cooked it well.”
“Well, it’s my only ‘specialty dish.'”
“You can’t cook?”
He shook his head: “Can you?”
“A little bit.”
“Let me try it next time.”
Next time…
Ruan Yu wasn’t sure if there would be a next time.
“Hmm?” He tilted his chin slightly.
“Okay.”
“Full?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then head back up.”
“Let me wash the bowls.”
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 eaten for free.”
He smiled gently: “Didn’t we just agree you’d cook next time?”