Chapter 4

Zhou Lang took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with his shirt hem, lifting his chin toward a group of people standing a few meters away: "See that? Those guys came just two minutes after me and already have to wait in line."
The restaurant was busy every day, and the servers were all experienced, cleaning up very efficiently, though a bit rough.
Fu Xiling moved the plastic chair and sat down, casually pulled out two or three napkins, and wiped away the oil stains left on the table.
Zhou Lang asked: "Why do you suddenly have time to come find me for dinner?"
"You're so busy with grad school, when I invite you to my place, you don't have time, so I have to come to you, right?"
A server brought over the menu. Fu Xiling took it, roughly scanned it twice, and continued: "Coincidentally came to the area this afternoon to handle some business, so I'm finding you for dinner to see how you're doing. Have you lost weight?"
Fu Xiling's gaze passed over Zhou Lang and suddenly paused.
Grad school was quite hard. There was no need to put on a brave face in front of friends, so Zhou Lang simply poured out his troubles to Fu Xiling.
The server came over with the order pad. Fu Xiling ordered quickly, then handed the menu back to the server.
Zhou Lang, who had been complaining about being busy as a dog, suddenly stopped talking.
Zhou Lang looked at Fu Xiling, who was even looking behind him while ordering, and didn't need to guess what Fu Xiling was looking at: "See Shen Jia? I also noticed him when I was looking for an empty seat earlier."
Zhou Lang and Fu Xiling were university classmates and also roommates who lived together for four years.
After graduating with their bachelor's last year, Zhou Lang tested into B University for grad school, while Fu Xiling began taking over part of his family's business.
Zhou Lang wasn't a local. During his undergraduate years, he often stayed at Fu Xiling's house during holidays. They got along well, so naturally he had a general understanding of Fu Xiling's interpersonal relationships.
"No need to stare like that, right? You and Shen Jia aren't that close. What, are you planning to go over and say hello?"
"Not looking at him."
"Then who are you looking at?"
Fu Xiling's fingertips lightly tapped the table twice, suddenly smiled: "Looking at Shen Jia's girlfriend."
Zhou Lang was confused by Fu Xiling's words and also turned to look.
Both were grad students in science and engineering at B University. Zhou Lang knew Shen Jia had a girlfriend. There were only a few fixed routes from the grad student building to the cafeteria, from the dormitory to the lab. He had occasionally run into them a few times.
The girl was good-looking, but she already had a boyfriend. Staring at her like this, wasn't that too...
Zhou Lang was about to say something when Fu Xiling had already withdrawn his gaze and started talking about serious matters: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Always thinking about doing everything perfectly will wear you out."
Zhou Lang sighed: "Can't help but push myself. You know my family's situation—no connections. If I want to stay in a first-tier city and make something of myself, I have to work myself to death."
Fu Xiling pointed at himself, smiling: "Aren't I your connection?"
"You... good thing I don't resent the rich."
Zhou Lang was actually a bit moved and finally showed his first relaxed smile since meeting: "I'm still thinking about working harder. If I can get guaranteed admission to a PhD program during grad school, that would be great."
"Working hard is fine, just take care of your health. As your only connection, let me treat you to a meal first to cheer you on."
Zhou Lang wasn't polite at all, immediately snapped his fingers: "Hello, server, we'd like to add a serving of crayfish. Large portion, thank you!"
The crayfish really did taste good, but the restaurant was too generous with the spices. Fu Xiling wasn't particularly good with spicy food. After eating several in a row, he felt his throat burning.
He unscrewed the mineral water and took two sips, leaned back in the uncomfortable plastic chair, and looked again toward Shen Jia's table.
That was a table for four.
Of course, Shen Jia sat on the same side as his girlfriend.
Shen Jia was also a considerate boyfriend. While chatting with friends, his hands didn't stop, peeling several crayfish in a row, all for his girlfriend, and even taking off his gloves to pour her ginger cola.
His girlfriend took the glass, turned to smile at Shen Jia, eyes curved.
When they met at the bar earlier, that group had called out Shen Jia's girlfriend's name while teasing.
They were so loud, Fu Xiling wasn't deaf, so of course he heard it and knew Shen Jia's girlfriend was called Shi Zhi.
In Fu Xiling's view, Shi Zhi was indeed good-looking, with quite good temperament. The way she chewed slowly while eating was like a well-bred young lady.
It's just that her sitting posture was too proper, not relaxed enough.
Rather than coming to have dinner with her boyfriend, it was more like attending some forum, and one that was about to go on stage to speak.
"Hey, Xiling, if you find it too spicy, try these skewers. They're also good." Zhou Lang slurped crayfish, speaking unclearly with concern.
"Hmm."
Fu Xiling and Zhou Lang hadn't seen each other for quite a while, chatted more, and the meal was slow. But when they got up to leave, Shen Jia's group was still there.
Fu Xiling instinctively looked over and was caught by Zhou Lang, who slapped his back heavily.
Hindered by the server's presence, Zhou Lang lowered his voice and squeezed out through gritted teeth: "...Why do you keep looking at someone else's girlfriend?"
Fu Xiling didn't restrain himself, leisurely finished looking before turning his head back, took out his phone, scanned the code to pay: "I've seen her before."
"Seen who, Shen Jia's girlfriend?"
"Hmm."
Fu Xiling seemed to find it quite interesting, laughed once, then continued: "But she didn't seem to have this kind of personality before, and didn't go by this name either."