Chapter 342 : Tentacle-Wielding Salted Fish (BraisedSteamed)
"This place..."
Ling Ning stared at the restaurant in surprise. It was the same place Zhou Xiaoxiao had brought her to for lunch yesterday. Do they serve breakfast here too?
Noticing her surprise, Xia Li smiled. "Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks—this place has it all. Oh, by the way, I’m the owner’s daughter~"
As the restaurant’s young heir, Xia Li had no qualms about bringing in new customers. A win-win situation!
"Wait, really?"
Ling Ning was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Xia Li to be the daughter of the restaurant’s owner. What could she even say to that?
"Oh, and I highly recommend our 'Totally Delicious Meat Buns.' They’re cheap and amazing!" Xia Li said proudly.
Hearing the odd name, Ling Ning didn’t even know where to start. But considering the restaurant’s eccentric menu—featuring items like "Spicy Chicken," "Stargazing Fish," and "Tentacle-Wielding Salted Fish (Braised/Steamed)"—she decided it wasn’t worth questioning.
"I’ll take that and a cup of soy milk, please."
"One order of 'Totally Delicious Meat Buns' and a 'Thick, White, Mysterious Liquid,' coming right up!" Xia Li said cheerfully before vanishing into the kitchen.
"I..." After hearing the name of that soy milk dish, Ling Ling suddenly felt like she didn't want to drink it anymore.
While Ling Ling was still troubled by the dish's name, she suddenly noticed someone had appeared beside her. She was about to say that Xia Li had returned quickly, but then she realized that the person sitting next to her wasn't Xia Li, but someone she was very familiar with.
Ling Ling looked at Xia You sitting beside her with shock: "Xia... Xia You!? Why are you here? Didn't you say you had something to do and couldn't come?"
"I did have something to do, because I needed to return to my hometown."
"Hometown!? Could it be that your hometown is here?"
At that moment, Xia Li returned with the buns and soy milk. Upon spotting Xia You, her face lit up. She quickly set the food down in front of Ling Ning and hugged Xia You’s arm.
"Sister Xia You! You’re back! Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve come to pick you up!"
"Long time no see, Xia Li," Xia You said warmly.
"So... this really is your hometown. But why didn’t you just come with us?" Ling Ning asked, still puzzled.
Xia You explained, "I had some things to take care of. Besides, I’d already booked an afternoon train ticket."
She had arrived late last night. Her family’s house had been unoccupied for years, and it took her quite a while to clean it up. That morning, she’d gone out for a casual breakfast, never expecting to run into Ling Ning—a serendipitous coincidence.
Xia Li glanced between the two of them curiously. "Do you two know each other?"
"Yeah, Xia You and I are good friends," Ling Ning replied.
Relieved, Xia Li let out a quiet sigh. If they were just friends, that meant she still had a chance.
"Wow, Xia Li, you’ve grown so much over the years. You used to be so tiny," Xia You remarked nostalgically.
"Haha! I didn’t think I’d grow like this either!"
Xia Li puffed out her chest proudly. She had maintained a petite frame throughout high school, and had nearly given up on developing. But in the past two years, she’d experienced a sudden growth spurt, both in height and, well, other areas. Now, she could stand confidently in front of Xia You.
"Didn’t you have college entrance exams this year? How’d you do?" Xia You asked.
"Top of my class! Soon, I’ll be attending the same university as you!" Xia Li’s pride was evident as she stood a little taller.
When Xia Li had learned Xia You planned to enroll at S University, she had pushed herself to the limit in her studies. Her efforts paid off, and she secured admission to the same school. The thought of soon being classmates filled her with excitement.
"That’s amazing, Xia Li.”
Ling Ning watched Xia You intently. It was the first time she’d seen Xia You so expressive around someone other than herself. That gentle smile, those lively reactions—this side of Xia You was stunningly beautiful.
Noticing Ling Ning’s gaze, Xia You turned to her and asked, "Why are you alone? Where are Zhou Xiaoxiao and Ye Ye?"
"They’re probably still asleep~"
"Oh~"
"Sister Xia You, I’m going to tell my mom you’re back! She’ll be so happy!" Xia Li announced before dashing off.
After seeing Xia Li leave, Ling Ling asked curiously: "Xia You, do you come back here often?"
Xia You shook her head: "I haven't been back for a long time, though I still keep in touch by phone. But now it seems I can come back to visit more often."
After all, she had once spent some happy times here, even though it was brief.
Sensing the faint fragrance coming from Ling Ling, it had been a day since she'd seen her - such a long time, so long that she could barely resist the urge to push Ling Ling down onto the chair and get closer to her.
Seeing Xia You suddenly go quiet, Ling Ling asked puzzledly: "What's wrong?"
"No... nothing, I was just thinking that even though it's only been a day since I saw you, it feels like it's been so long."
"Eh!?"
Just as Ling Ling didn't know how to respond, Xia Li came running over excitedly, "Sister Xia You, my mom wants you to come upstairs for a visit. Sister Ning, you should come up too~"
"I'll pass, after breakfast I need to take food back home for those two. Xia You, you go ahead, I won't interrupt your reunion."
Xia You gave Ling Ling a deep look, nodded slightly, then went upstairs with Xia Li.
Watching Xia You's departing figure, Ling Ling inexplicably let out a sigh of relief. She didn't know why, but she felt that Xia You seemed a bit strange today. Oh well, she thought, let me finish breakfast first.
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Author’s Note:
Next up: wholesome interactions! By the way, a quick shoutout to the author 鹿角角's new book, I Can’t Help But Woo You After Seeing Your Cause of Death. Check it out!