The lunch was pre - ordered by Chi Xu from a restaurant and delivered by takeout.
There was a long table with eight stools neatly arranged on each side.
Yu Huan and Su Kexin walked in front and sat down one after another. The boys were quick. Each of them took a seat.
Lin Suye's eyes rolled around. She put her hands on Jiang Yuan's shoulders and pulled her to sit opposite Chi Xu.
Before Jiang Yuan could react, Lin Suye pulled out a stool and plopped down opposite Jia Fang.
She raised her eyebrows at him, signaling that everything was in her hands.
Jiang Yuan tried to change seats with Lin Suye. But when she saw that Lin Suye was sitting opposite Jia Fang, she hesitated and silently retracted her action. She lowered her head and stared at the tableware.
Being close to Chi Xu filled her with uncontrollable joy. But at the same time, she felt extremely sad.
She felt as if she was submerged in the ocean. The sour, bitter and sweet emotions surrounded her from all directions.
Chi Xu's gaze was direct as he quietly looked at Jiang Yuan.
He didn't understand why she had suddenly become cold and was avoiding him.
He could feel that Jiang Yuan liked him. They were just one formal confession away from breaking the ice and getting together officially.
Over there, Yu Huan and Su Kexin were smiling and chatting happily with Jiang Kuo and He Suyan opposite them. Here, Lin Suye and Jia Fang were staring at each other.
Lin Suye winked and silently mouthed, "What should we do next? They're so quiet."
Jia Fang blinked his eyes. "I don't know."
Lin Suye glared angrily. "You're the one who invited them. You have to take responsibility."
Jia Fang blinked his big, watery eyes pitifully.
This made Lin Suye even angrier. If things went on like this, how could Chi Xu confess his love? So she suddenly slapped the table.
The tableware clattered. Everyone looked at her in unison.
Lin Suye gave an embarrassed smile, flexed her wrists and said awkwardly, "My hands were itchy. I just had an itch in my hands."
When no one was looking at her anymore, Lin Suye continued to glare at Jia Fang and silently gritted her teeth, "If you don't act soon, I'll keep an eye on you forever... forever..."
Jia Fang was silent for half a second. He coughed lightly, picked up the wine - filled goblet in his hand and stood up. "Well... I'm really grateful to everyone for taking the time to come to my birthday today. Enjoy your meal. I'll drink up first. Make yourselves at home."
After saying that, Jia Fang downed his drink.
Lin Suye clapped her hands below and cheered loudly, "Good, good, good."
Everyone raised their glasses of red wine or juice and wished Jia Fang a happy birthday.
Jia Fang accepted the wishes guiltily.
After all, Chi Xu had paid for everything. Jia Fang just got to enjoy a birthday party for free. Why not?
"I remember you like this. Have more."
Suddenly, a pair of serving chopsticks appeared in her sight. Chi Xu's hoarse voice drifted over with the wind. He picked up some口水 chicken, her favorite, and put it in her bowl.
"Hey, Chi Xu, did you order all these dishes? Most of them are Yuan Yuan's favorites," Lin Suye jumped out, her eyes curved into a smile. She nudged Jiang Yuan with her elbow.
"Yuan Yuan, Chi Xu is so partial. It's Jia Fang's birthday, but he doesn't even care about Jia Fang."
"Looking at it this way, it's really true. Yuan Yuan, you're so lucky. Someone dotes on you," Yu Huan and Su Kexin didn't know the whole story. After hearing what Lin Suye said, they recalled the time when they climbed Yangming Mountain.
It was an open secret that Chi Xu liked Jiang Yuan.
Everything around her became blurred. Jiang Yuan lowered her head and stared at the well - presented piece of chicken. For some reason, her eyes turned a little red.
Uncontrollable joy welled up in her heart.
At that moment, time seemed to accelerate.
It rushed back at an incalculable speed.
Frame by frame, scene by scene.
The bits and pieces of her past with Chi Xu played out like a movie.
Jiang Yuan looked up and saw those familiar eyebrows and eyes that she had been longing for day and night. She felt a momentary daze. How had they suddenly grown up and drifted apart?
A restless impulse welled up in her heart. She wanted to make up with him and be with him forever.
But the torrential rain three years ago had extinguished all her passion and love.
Jiang Yuan secretly pinched the palm of her hand. The pain brought her back to her senses.
Meeting those deep, almost impenetrable black eyes, Jiang Yuan took a deep breath. Her voice was calm, with no hint of emotion.
"Thank you. I can pick up my own food."
"What's going on..." Except for Lin Suye and Jia Fang, everyone else was confused. Jiang Kuo subconsciously asked the question.
Chi Xu had moved out of the dormitory a long time ago. They only played around with Chi Xu during class time. The rest they heard from Jia Fang.
They remembered that Jia Fang's birthday wasn't today.
But Jiang Kuo and He Suyan both chose to keep silent.
The lively atmosphere suddenly turned quiet. Jia Fang sighed and tried his best to save the situation. "Eat. Why are you all looking at me? The food will get cold if you don't eat soon."
"Hey, this braised pork is so delicious. The stir - fried lettuce is also great. Especially the shrimp from this restaurant. It's absolutely amazing. If you miss it, you don't know when you'll get to eat it again..."
The atmosphere became lively again. After the meal, the group went to the billiards room. Jia Fang secretly pulled Chi Xu to a quieter corner and whispered, "Brother Chi, judging from Jiang Yuan's state, she may not accept your confession. What if you get rejected?"
Chi Xu looked dejected. His shoulders drooped. "We'll just take it one step at a time. At least I've shown my attitude. I like Jiang Yuan. There's no doubt about that."
"You're right. Then we'll still follow the plan," Jia Fang paused for a moment and then punched him playfully. "Brother Chi, you should also show your feelings more. Be more proactive. Otherwise, how will the schoolgirl know your intentions? It has to be a gradual process."
"Look, Yuan Yuan is still wearing the pearl bracelet I bought for her," not far away, Jiang Yuan was pulled by her friends to play billiards. She was holding a billiards cue, her sleeves rolled up, revealing her fair and slender arms. The pearl bracelet he had given her was on her wrist.
Jia Fang stroked his chin and thought about the probability of a successful confession. "Hard to say. Maybe Jiang Yuan just forgot to take it off."
"We've been in a cold war for almost a week. Yuan Yuan washes up every day, but I've never seen her take off the bracelet I gave her," Chi Xu murmured softly. He didn't know if he was trying to comfort himself. "So I don't know what happened. Yuan Yuan suddenly became cold towards me."
"When your birthday cake arrives tonight and the power switch is turned off, Yuan Yuan will see the elaborate confession I've prepared when she goes to turn on the switch. After everything falls into place, the misunderstandings will naturally disappear."
Jia Fang sighed and patted Chi Xu on the shoulder to encourage him. "I wish you success."