The final class of the morning finally ended, and as the bell rang, students poured out of the classroom like a tide, flocking in groups to the cafeteria. Watching everyone rush to grab lunch was truly a spectacular sight.
You might wonder: Why the hurry? Is lunch really that important? Of course! At Radiance High School, the cafeteria food had always been mediocre at best, and the few tasty dishes were always in short supply. If you were late, don't be surprised if you couldn't even find a single piece of meat on your plate. Competition was everywhere, even for something as simple as lunch.
Fortunately, Su Feiyan didn't have to worry. He had a special privilege at school: access to the teachers' line for meals. Unlike the long student lines, the teachers' line was much shorter—after all, there were far fewer teachers than students. Another well-known feature of the cafeteria was the "scoop skills" of the cafeteria aunties. When they scooped up a large spoonful of meat, what often ended up on your plate would be mostly green peppers. So, at this school, you could offend anyone, but you'd better not upset the cafeteria aunties.
Holding his tray, Su Feiyan queued in the teachers' line. Ahead of him was Mr. Li, the Chinese teacher, and behind him was Mr. Wang, the physics teacher. Most of the teachers at school knew him and would often chat with him.
"The stir-fried green peppers with pork look decent today. I'll have that and some braised chicken," Mr. Li said cheerfully.
The cafeteria auntie skillfully scooped up a spoonful of stir-fried green peppers with pork and placed it on Mr. Li's plate. He glanced down and could only sigh with a shake of his head: "Still more green peppers than meat."
When it was Su Feiyan's turn, the cafeteria auntie's expression noticeably softened. "What would you like today, young man?" she asked kindly.
"Braised chicken, spicy shredded potatoes, and some seaweed soup, please," Su Feiyan replied calmly.
"Coming right up!" The auntie smiled warmly, moving quickly. Her famous "scooping skills" seemed to magically vanish in front of him. In no time, a meal that was fragrant, flavorful, and generously portioned appeared on his tray. "Eat more! Don't go hungry in the afternoon," she said gently.
"Thank you." Su Feiyan gave her a soft smile.
Behind him, Mr. Wang couldn't help but tease, "Wow, Su, the cafeteria auntie really takes care of you! Not only do you get to use the teachers' line, but your meal portions are impressive!"
Su Feiyan smiled shyly. "Maybe she thought I'd been waiting in line for a while."
"Haha, always so modest!" Mr. Wang chuckled. "But it's good to eat well—studying takes energy, after all."
Carrying his tray, Su Feiyan walked to a familiar corner, found an empty spot near the wall, and quietly sat down, placing the tray in front of him. Just as he was about to start eating, the noise of the students filled the air.
"Ugh, the braised chicken is already gone!"
"I told you we should've left class earlier! Now all that's left are shredded potatoes."
The cafeteria was bustling with voices, but Su Feiyan ate calmly, savoring the food while soaking in the lively atmosphere around him.
Suddenly, he heard familiar footsteps stop beside him. A gentle voice followed, tinged with a hint of hesitation: "Su Feiyan, can I sit here?"
"Of course," he said, shifting slightly to make room. "Did you get your lunch?"
Lin Xi sat across from him, her tone carrying a trace of disappointment. "Yeah… I only managed to get spicy shredded potatoes and vegetables. I was a bit late, so the braised chicken was already gone."
Hearing the dejection in her voice, Su Feiyan paused for a moment, then picked up a piece of chicken and held it out to her. "Here, have one. I still have plenty."
Lin Xi blinked in surprise, quickly shaking her head. "Oh, no, no, it's fine. What I have is enough."
"It's okay. Don't you like this dish?" Su Feiyan's voice was warm and firm. "There's an exam this afternoon—eat a bit more so you'll have the energy for it."
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Xi finally accepted the piece of chicken, murmuring softly, "Thank you." Her voice was like melted sugar, soft and sweet, carrying a hint of warmth that lingered in the air.
The two of them ate quietly, exchanging a few words here and there. Su Feiyan noticed that while Lin Xi still seemed a bit reserved, she wasn't as guarded as before. In this school, where competition felt like an endless race, sharing a simple meal or offering a piece of chicken had become the smallest yet most satisfying way to connect with someone.