Chapter Eight: Charging for Bringing Lin Jiachi’s Meals

Sang Wan kept showering praise without pause.

Jiang Wuyang’s mouth twitched, and he quickly stopped her. “You’re beautiful too. I’ve finished eating, so I’m leaving now. You take your time.”

With that, he didn’t wait for Sang Wan’s reaction and simply walked out.

Sang Wan watched Jiang Wuyang’s retreating figure, propping her chin on the table.

A lovestruck expression spread across her face. “As expected, a beauty has character. If only she were in our class—I’d see her every day.”

Jiang Wuyang had no idea what she was thinking.

After returning to the hotel, he tidied up and went straight to sleep.

The next day, back at school.

The hotel wasn’t far from the school; just a few steps and he was there.

The first thing Jiang Wuyang did upon returning was to go to the office and hand his application form to the head teacher.

Once all the necessary signatures and stamps from the authorities were secured,

he then took a science test paper and would be placed into a class based on his results.

After submitting the form to the head teacher, Jiang Wuyang returned to class.

But the usually noisy classroom was unusually quiet today.

By the window in the last row sat a boy not wearing the school uniform—a seat long left empty.

The boy lay on the desk, his fluffy, tousled hair hanging down, looking soft and fragile.

But it seemed everyone feared disturbing his rest. Although it was morning self-study, not a single soul dared make a sound.

Jiang Wuyang didn’t linger either—just glanced briefly before averting his eyes.

He, too, rested his head on the desk, absorbed in his own world.

After all, the lessons now were as easy as eating and drinking to him.

Perhaps due to lack of rest yesterday,

Jiang Wuyang soon drifted into a deep sleep.

How long he slept, he didn’t know.

Someone suddenly kicked the desk hard, making it shake and waking Jiang Wuyang.

Still groggy and a bit irritable, he struggled to lift his head and looked at the person before him.

His gaze was somewhat dazed, lacking any sharpness.

“Hey, Jiang Wuyang, where’s my breakfast?”

Irritated, Jiang Wuyang raised his hand and pushed back the fringe over his forehead.

“Why ask me about breakfast? Go bother the cafeteria ladies. Don’t annoy me—I want to sleep.”

His voice was filled with annoyance.

Lin Jiachi was stunned. After all these years, this was the first time Jiang Wuyang had spoken to him in such a tone.

“Are you crazy? How dare you talk to me like that?!” Shock mixed with a faint, barely noticeable hurt.

Jiang Wuyang lay back down and continued sleeping, ignoring him.

“Jiang Wuyang!! I told you to buy me breakfast, did you hear me?”

Lin Jiachi grabbed Jiang Wuyang and pulled her up to stand.

Jiang Wuyang’s temper flared, and she kicked Lin Jiachi without hesitation.

Caught off guard, Lin Jiachi fell into a squat.

Unlike last time when he scolded Jiang Wuyang, the classmates around were chuckling quietly.

“Lin Jiachi’s really over the top as always. Always asking Jiang Wuyang to bring food—does he have no shame?”

“Exactly, Jiang Wuyang’s not his mother. Why should she manage his meals and everything?”

“Now he’s getting beaten? Serves him right, honestly!”

Ruan An’an had just returned from the restroom.

Seeing Lin Jiachi fall, her hands still wet, she instinctively rushed over to help—after all, he was their future asset.

But as soon as she touched him, he brushed her hand away.

“Your hands are wet. Don’t touch me—so dirty.”

Startled, Ruan An’an stepped back sharply, hitting the desk with her waist and gasping in pain.

Damn this idiot, she really didn’t want to serve him.

Yet at that moment, the system’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Lin Jiachi’s affection level detected: fifty-four. Host must still put in effort.”

Ruan An’an gritted her teeth. Lin Jiachi was the youngest among them but also the hardest to win over.

After all this time, only fifty-four points.

She should have gone back to help him up, but now, aching herself, her patience wore thin.

Let Lin Jiachi embarrass himself then.

Jiang Wuyang was very different now from before.

She walked up to Lin Jiachi and crouched down.

Silently repeating to herself: He’s just a kid, he’s just a kid, don’t take it personally.

She restrained her temper, took a deep breath.

“Am I your sister?”

Lin Jiachi shook his head; they were unrelated.

“Is the food I buy better?”

He still shook his head—cafeteria food, equally awful.

“Do I look lazy?”

Again, a shake of the head. She looked tired.

“Then why do you want me to buy your food? Don’t you have hands?”

Jiang Wuyang stood, looking down at him from above.

Lin Jiachi was momentarily speechless.

His lips parted to say, “Because you always bought it for me before…”

But he never said it aloud, sensing the coldness in Jiang Wuyang’s eyes.

However, soon Jiang Wuyang’s expression shifted.

“If you want me to bring your food, fine, but pay me first.”

Hearing this, Lin Jiachi’s face lit up as if he’d caught her off guard. He stood, smirking.

“So it’s about money after all. The Jiang family is rich—can’t be short on your meals?”

Jiang Wuyang gave off an aura of cheapness and pettiness.

“Say how much you want. How about fifty? Transfer it, and I’ll bring you a meat bun, shumai, and soy milk. The rest is on me.”

Lin Jiachi pulled out his phone to transfer the money.

The classmates nearby cast envious glances.

That girl is really lucky—earning a few bucks just for breakfast.

But Jiang Wuyang replied calmly, “Don’t rush. If we’re counting, how can it just be for one meal? Don’t you eat more than once?”

Lin Jiachi put away his phone, his smile growing wider.

He knew Jiang Wuyang was still Jiang Wuyang—just a bit more materialistic now. Luckily, he had plenty of money.

“I’ll transfer two thousand. Bring me breakfast for a month, and you keep the rest.”

He spoke confidently, certain Jiang Wuyang wouldn’t refuse.

Jiang Wuyang laughed. “Lin, you’re dreaming. We’re talking about the past, not the future.”

“In the past, since high school, I bought you breakfast every day—thirty days a month, four months a semester, plus one extra month this semester. At fifty a day, you owe me about seven thousand five hundred yuan. As for the thirty-first day or delivery fees? I’ve erased all that.”

Her tone said, “You owe me, but don’t thank me.”

It was maddening.

“Transfer it, Lin.”

She smoothly switched the calculator on her phone to show the payment QR code.

Lin Jiachi was dumbfounded by her words.

Under the watchful eyes of the class, he gritted his teeth and transferred eight thousand yuan to Jiang Wuyang.

“Alright now?”

His voice came out between clenched teeth.

“Of course. I’ll go buy your food now.”

With that, Jiang Wuyang made to leave.

“No need! Never again!” Lin Jiachi shouted, his eyes reddening with growing hurt.

She used to bring him food willingly—why had things changed?

Jiang Wuyang was pleased to hear him say no, but said nothing and turned to sit back down.