By the end of the day, the whole school was buzzing about the interaction between Shen Yelan and Yang Guowei. Her photos were already circulating all over the school forum, and for two very specific reasons.
First, Yang Guowei was part of the infamous T3, aka the Top Three Troublemakers of No. 17 High School. Any news related to him would always appear on the form. But the second reason, and the more important one, was because of the school's newest beauty. Everyone had heard yesterday that a new girl had transferred in. Now that she'd had a run-in with Yang Guowei, the gossip mill was working overtime. Some students were already shipping them together. Someone had even edited a picture of the two together and posted a poll asking "How long before they end up together?"
"Who is this goddess??"
"Haven't you heard? It's the new girl who joined yesterday."
"I have seen her in real life. These pictures aren't doing her justice."
"No way...Brother Yang actually backed down???"
"Even if you want to exaggerate things, at least don't lie."
"That's right, who do you think Brother Yang is?"
Shen Yelan, who was unaware of all of this, was currently sitting at the dining table with one little guy and one big guy across from her.
She stared at Huo Ziyan, and the corner of her eye twitched. She could understand why Huo Mingzhe was here, but why was this man tagging along as well? But why was this man tagging along? Was he worried she'd poison the food? Or maybe kidnap the little guy and demand ransom?
Huo Ziyan, who could feel her eyes on him, pretended he did not notice anything and smiled instead. "Thank you for inviting us to lunch. It's been a while since we've had homemade food."
"Is there no one in your family who can cook?" Aunt Li asked, looking at Huo Ziyan with concern.
"It's not that we don't have anyone. Our family lives in the capital city, so it's just Mingzhe and me here in South City. I'm usually busy with work and rarely have time to cook anything beyond simple dishes."
Shen Yelan mentally scoffed. Right...the Huo family couldn't even afford to hire a chef now.
"Then what do you two usually eat for meals?"
"We mostly order takeout or just make instant noodles,"
Aunt Li's frown deepened. "That's not right at all. Mingzhe is a growing child. He needs proper food, not that processed garbage."
"The instant noodles are actually pretty good-" Huo Ziyan started to say.
Aunt Li's cut him off. "That won't do. You two should just come here to eat from now on. Right, Young Miss?"
Shen Yelan, "..."
She slowly turned to look at Aunt Li, then at Huo Ziyan, who was staring right back at her with that same smile on his face. She raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, Aunt Li. You can invite anyone you want. After all, I rarely stop by and can't keep you company most days. You must get bored living here alone." Anyway, it was not her problem. She won't be seeing him often.
"Is Miss Shen not living here?" Huo Ziyan asked.
"Young Miss is living at her parents' house." It was Aunt Li who told him.
"Is that so?"
Shen Yelan looked at him directly, her expression flat. "Mr. Huo seems very interested in my living arrangements."
"Just making conversation," he replied innocently. "It's a beautiful villa. It seems a shame for it to be empty."
Shen Yelan looked at him for a few seconds. He was a smart man, she would give him that. He had already figured out that she owned this villa. But so what? As long as she didn't confirm it out loud, it was just his theory. He could think whatever he wanted.
She broke eye contact and turned her attention to Huo Mingzhe instead, ignoring Huo Ziyan.
"How's the food?" she asked him.
Huo Mingzhe's face lit up. He nodded, then pointed at the steamed fish and gave her a big thumbs up.
"You like fish?" Shen Yelan asked. "Here, have some more." She picked up a piece of the fish with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, making sure there were no bones.
Huo Mingzhe beamed at her and immediately started eating it.
"He really likes you," Huo Ziyan commented, watching them with an unreadable expression.
"I like him too. He's cute."
Huo Mingzhe giggled and threw a provoking look towards his uncle.
See that! She likes me...unlike you.
Aunt Li watched them with a fond smile, completely oblivious to the Young Miss's obvious dislike of the man sitting at their table. "So, Mr. Huo… Mingzhe is your…?"
"My older sister's son," Huo Ziyan answered.
Shen Yelan's ears perked up. But he carried the Huo surname. In families like theirs, for a child to take the mother's family name…
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Huo Ziyan before returning to the boy.