“Mm.”
Shen Qiannan was dumbfounded, suspecting he was still dreaming.
“…For real?”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t even bother responding to such a dumb question.
On the other end, Shen Qiannan smacked his lips. “Alright, sounds like it’s true… So, did the girl say yes?”
Xie Dingyuan gave a vague grunt.
Although Jiang Fuyue hadn’t said yes, she hadn’t rejected him either.
“So why’d you call me? To rub it in? Old Xie, I gotta say—public displays of affection are a fast track to bad luck. I suggest you be kind.”
“It’s not that.”
“?”
“I wanted to ask… how do you maintain yourself?”
“Hah?” Shen Qiannan didn’t follow.
“I remember you used to frequent those… health spas? The ones with ads like ‘reinvigorate your kidneys, restore your youthful vigor’?”
“Cough cough cough! Who told you that?! I didn’t go!”
“I saw it.”
“…F*ck! It’s not what you think, I swear I—”
Wait!
“Why are you asking?”
“…”
“Also, when you say ‘maintenance’… Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is?”
“…”
“D*mn, Old Xie, you’ve grown! Just say you want to try it too. Why beat around the bush? Scared me for a sec.”
“…So, how’s it done?”
“Uh… not something I can explain over the phone. Once we’re back in the capital, I’ll take you for the full experience.”
Xie Dingyuan frowned, clearly unsatisfied with a method he couldn’t implement immediately.
“We’ll talk later.” With that, he hung up.
On the other end, Shen Qiannan swore under his breath.
When he needs you, you’re his sweet baby; when he doesn’t—ptui! Dog!
Back home, after ending the call, Xie Dingyuan returned to Yutianhua Residence.
As soon as he entered, he called out to Liu Ma.
“Sir?”
“Call the nutritionists. Have them come over.”
“All of them?”
“Mm.”
Though confused, Liu Ma did as told.
Soon, six nutritionists arrived one after another, lining up in the living room like soldiers awaiting inspection.
Liu Ma went upstairs to fetch him. “Sir, they’ve arrived.”
“Good.”
Xie Dingyuan came down himself to meet them. Liu Ma went back to the kitchen but still caught snippets of words like “youth” and “maintenance.”
Her: “?”
Twenty minutes later, the nutritionists left.
Liu Ma received the new meal plan—an overhaul from before.
Heavier flavors, noticeably increased meat, and new ingredients never seen before, like leeks and sea cucumber.
She couldn’t say what most of them did, but… leeks?
Where she came from, leeks were a go-to for… male vitality.
So, what was Sir planning?
No no no, she shook her head violently. How could she think like that?
Sir was like a god—aloof, untouchable.
Not even worthy of speculation.
“So… follow the new menu tonight?”
“Mm.” Xie Dingyuan nodded.
“Right, I’ll need to do some shopping. Don’t have those ingredients yet.”
…
After the last class in the morning, everyone streamed toward the cafeteria.
Jiang Fuyue walked with Huo Fanjin, Lin Shumo, and others—Liu Bowen, Wan Xiutong, Lin Qiao. Downstairs they met Jiang Han, Ge Meng, and Liu Sisi.
A big group—quite the spectacle.
At some point, Edmond had gotten chummy with Tosaki Naohara. They were always together in class and at meals.
“Huh? Why aren’t you eating the dumplings?” Edmond pointed at his tray.
Tosaki frowned. “…They smell weird.”
“Do they?” Edmond sniffed. “I don’t notice anything.”
Tosaki glanced at Edmond’s half-empty tray. “Don’t you think the filling has a strange, pungent aftertaste?”
Edmond immediately demonstrated by swallowing one whole. “See? Nothing.”
“What filling do you have?”
“Cabbage and pork.”
“Mine’s different.”
“Seriously? Let me try—” He forked one from Tosaki’s tray before he could stop him.
Five seconds later, Edmond gagged and spat it all out. “Cough cough! What the h*ll is that?! Soup! I need soup!”
Tosaki slid his bowl over.
Edmond chugged it.
After a while, he recovered. “It tastes weird—like fishy or something.”
“Mm.”
“You know what it is?”
Tosaki: “…No.”
“Then why ‘mm’?! You’re younger than me but always act so mature—don’t you get tired?”
“…Not really.”
“Tch.”
Then Edmond’s eyes lit up, glancing toward the next table. “Jiang Fuyue probably knows. Want to ask her?”
The moment he said her name, Tosaki’s pupils shrank.
Clearly still not over yesterday’s triple defeat.
“No.” He curled his lips into a sharp smile. “If you want to go, go yourself.”
“Think about it—chances to talk to her are rare. Miss this, and who knows when the next comes.”
“…”
“You’re not seriously treating her like an enemy just because you lost, right?” Edmond wore a “you’re being ridiculous” expression. “Back at the IPhO, your brother was there. Jiang Fuyue was fast, accurate, wiped the floor solo. Did I freak out?”
“Hey, I’m a certified genius in Country F, okay? Grew up thinking everyone else was dumb. I was proud as h*ll. Never thought I’d lose.”
Tosaki’s eyes shifted.
Edmond grinned, his blue eyes reflecting the figure across from him—clear and bright.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“…”
“Get used to it. That’s reality. This world isn’t short on geniuses. Everyone thinks they’re the center of the universe, but there’s always someone smarter. Maybe they’re better at one thing, maybe at everything.”
“I used to think no one could beat me. And honestly, no one around me could. But after meeting Jiang Fuyue, I had to start accepting I’m not the smartest, and the world doesn’t revolve around me.”
Tosaki asked, “And you’re okay with that?”
“Of course not. That’s why I have to admit my weaknesses and work on them. Who knows—maybe someday we’ll be the ones to make her lose.” Edmond leaned back, arms folded. “Life’s long. Time’s plenty. Anything’s possible.”
Tosaki looked thoughtful.
Suddenly, Edmond stood. “You’re not going? I am.”
He strode over to Jiang Fuyue’s table and spoke in a deliberately annoying tone: “Hey, Jiang Fuyue, got a question. Bet you don’t know the answer.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Like staring at a proud idiot.
Edmond didn’t mind at all. He loved being the center of attention. He cleared his throat. “Cough… Today’s dumplings have a weird, pungent, fishy filling. You know what it is?”
Jiang Fuyue raised a brow, looked him up and down. “I know. But why should I tell you?”
“Oh, baby, you’re still that dangerous rose—your words sting too.”
Everyone else: “…” Are all Country F people this cringy?
Wait, no. They call it—romantic.
Finally, Huo Fanjin couldn’t take it and directly told him, “It’s fish mint. Herba Houttuyniae. Got it?”
Edmond nodded. “Got it.” But those gentle blue eyes stayed locked on Jiang Fuyue, unmoving.
As long as he wasn’t embarrassed, it was someone else’s problem.
Huo Fanjin had full-body goosebumps.
Fan Ye looked disgusted.
Gao Zhaoming and Huang Hui exchanged looks.
Zhong Ziang and Yici’s faces were already dark.
“Are you done yet? Who the h*ll even are you?”
“What? What are you saying?” Edmond feigned ignorance.
Sadly, Zhong Ziang and Yici didn’t speak French, and their English was terrible. They babbled angrily, and Edmond just said—
“Sorry, I don’t understand.” (in French)
Instantly enraging them again.
Zhong Ziang: He’s mocking me!
Yici: D*mn it! Why didn’t I study English better?
Once Edmond had his fun, he returned to his seat and finished the last few dumplings.
Feeling sorry for Tosaki, he even gave him two.
…
After lunch, Jiang Fuyue’s group headed back to class.
Rounding a corner, they ran into Tosaki Naohara.
The others gave each other subtle looks but didn’t say much.
Just as they were about to pass, Tosaki suddenly spoke—
“Can we talk?”
He said it in Chinese, crisp and fluent, calm in tone.
