Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Wen Tangtang’s tone seemed a bit excited. “See that?”

“See what?”

Wen Miao glanced behind her several times. There was a sea of heads-students scribbling away in the library-and behind them were rows of neat bookshelves…

It was no different from any other day. Wen Miao didn’t understand what Wen Tangtang wanted her to see.

“What would you do without me?”

Wen Tangtang gave Wen Miao a look of exasperation at her lack of perception, then gestured for her to turn around. “Look back there. The very last row. Who’s sitting there?”

“The last row?”

Wen Miao turned back, puzzled. She only saw several boys sitting in the last row, all with their heads down. She didn’t see anything special. “Who’s sitting there? Wen Xin?”

Wen Tangtang rolled her eyes. “Look closely! Look carefully!”

Just as Wen Miao was about to say something, a boy in the last row suddenly lifted his head and looked over. Her eyes met his unexpectedly.

Only then did Wen Miao realize that the person sitting in the last row was actually Nan Mu.

The Nan Mu of this timeline.

He clearly hadn’t expected to lock eyes with her either, as a look of panic visibly washed over his face. His expression went stiff as he jerked his gaze away and lowered his head to start writing furiously, a classic case of “the lady doth protest too much.”

Wen Miao was a bit stunned. Before she could recover, she saw the boy sitting next to Nan Mu-who had been talking to him-look toward her as if sensing something. However, when that boy met her gaze, he only paused for a moment before quickly smoothing his expression and giving her a friendly smile.

Wen Miao had no choice but to nod back politely before turning back to face Wen Tangtang.

“Is this what you wanted me to see?” Wen Miao still felt confused, not quite understanding Wen Tangtang’s motive. “Seeing Nan Mu?”

One look at Wen Miao’s face told Wen Tangtang that she still didn’t get it. She said, frustrated by her friend’s denseness, “You still haven’t figured it out?”

Wen Miao was completely at a loss. “Figured what out?”

“Nan Mu. Didn’t you know that Nan Mu always sits in that spot?”

Wen Tangtang gave up on waiting for Wen Miao to catch on and decided to spell it out. “Why do you think he always sits there? Because from that seat, all he has to do is look up to see where you’re sitting…”

“And?”

“And?” Wen Tangtang gasped. “And so he’s sitting there on purpose just so he can see you!”

“Are you trying to prove he has a crush on me again?” Wen Miao chuckled on the surface, but her heart felt heavy.

She remembered yesterday, when she knew she might be in danger today and asked Nan Mu if he could protect her. He had refused almost without a second thought…

If Nan Mu really liked her, how could he have refused so cleanly, so without hesitation?

“It’s not a theory, he absolutely has a crush on you!” Wen Tangtang said confidently, as if she held all the cards.

But Wen Miao countered, “Maybe he just likes sitting in that spot? Look at me-don’t I always sit here?”

“You like sitting here, yes, but Nan Mu sits there specifically to watch you.” Wen Tangtang pressed her palm to her forehead. “Why won’t you believe me?”

*Because I’ve already confirmed it myself,* Wen Miao thought. Aloud, she said, “Stop trying to play matchmaker where there’s nothing to match.”

As they were talking, a boy suddenly walked over, dragging Nan Mu along with him. It was clear Nan Mu was resisting with his whole body, but the boy holding him didn’t care at all. He winked at Wen Tangtang and said, “Wen Tangtang, we’re treating you guys to a meal. You in?”
It was indeed getting close to lunchtime. Wen Tangtang’s gaze swept back and forth between the two boys before she suddenly broke into a smile. “Sure! Where are we going?”

“Chongqing Chicken Pot!”

***

Chongqing Chicken Pot was a highly popular restaurant located in the snack street outside the school. However, because a single pot was so large that one person couldn’t finish it alone, students usually had to gather a group to go.

“Aren’t we calling Wen Xin?”

The three of them usually ate together. Now that the two of them were heading out to eat, what about Wen Xin?

“Oh, don’t call him.”

Wen Tangtang snatched Wen Miao’s phone away and tucked it into her own coat pocket. If Wen Xin knew she was trying to set Wen Miao and Nan Mu up, he would nag her to death.

The four of them arrived at the restaurant and found a seat in a corner.

The boy with Nan Mu was exceptionally enthusiastic, bustling about to get everyone settled, handing out chopsticks and bowls, and then taking the menu to order.

Wen Tangtang introduced him as Wang Zheng, a fellow student from the Biology Department and a classmate of hers and Nan Mu.

Wang Zheng consulted everyone while checking off a soup base. “Come on, ladies first. Take a look at what side dishes you want and add them yourselves.”

Wen Tangtang didn’t stand on ceremony. She took the sheet and started selecting. “Chicken wings, potatoes, shrimp… Oh, let’s get some taro!”

Wen Miao reflexively blurted out, “Don’t order taro.”

Wen Tangtang turned her head in surprise. “Why?”

“Because Nan…” Wen Miao almost let it slip, but luckily her reflexes were fast. “…I’m allergic to taro.”

Wen Tangtang: ?

“Wait… since when were you allergic to taro? How come I didn’t know?” Wen Tangtang looked at her suspiciously. “When you used to eat taro soup with lard with me, why didn’t you say anything?”

Opposite them, Nan Mu and Wang Zheng also looked over. Wen Miao could only bite the bullet. “Just recently… I had some minor symptoms before, but I didn’t know they were caused by taro. It was only because I went to the hospital for a check-up recently… that I found out I’m actually allergic to taro.”

Wen Tangtang still found it strange and was about to ask more when Wang Zheng laughed from across the table, teasing, “Then you and our Nan Mu are quite a mat-I mean, it’s fate. Nan Mu is also allergic to taro.”

Wen Tangtang: ???

“Since when was Nan Mu allergic to taro? He used to…” He used to say his favorite was taro soup with lard, and he even specifically went to the Second Cafeteria with her…

But before Wen Tangtang could finish, Wang Zheng cut her off. “Nan Mu hasn’t been able to eat it since he was a kid. As soon as he eats taro, he breaks out in red spots…”

Wen Tangtang held her head, looking utterly incredulous. “But…”

Fearing she might say something she shouldn’t, Nan Mu stood up and took the order sheet from Wen Tangtang’s hand. “Alright, alright, stop rambling about nonsense. What do you guys want to eat? Bean sprouts? Shrimp paste? Green vegetables…”

Wen Tangtang’s train of thought was quickly diverted. The four of them had a lively meal, teasing each other about various trivial and embarrassing stories.

As Wen Miao listened to Wen Tangtang and Wang Zheng talk, she looked up and her eyes met Nan Mu’s once again. Unlike the talkative person he would become in the future, the current Nan Mu had a peculiar quality about him; he looked aloof and cold, but upon closer inspection, he was actually quite shy.

For instance, right now, he would only smile at her before averting his gaze, pretending to listen intently to Wang Zheng and Wen Tangtang’s conversation.