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Chapter 13: Not Really That Hungry
"No, it's fine. I'll just wait here. You hurry up," Gan Yanyu said.
For some reason, even though her tone carried no particular inflection, Lin Tian detected an unmistakable sense of urgency in her words. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. And then, as if struck by something, he noticed for the first time: Gan Yanyu wasn’t carrying her cello today. The instrument had become almost a part of her, always slung over her shoulder wherever she went. But now, it was gone.
"Where’s your cello?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"Your cello. Where is it?"
"It’s put away."
"Where?"
"At my grandpa’s house."
Gan Yanyu tilted her head slightly. "Don’t worry about it. I also took down the clothes from drying. There’s nothing left at your place now."
Her answer was simple, almost too matter-of-fact. But those words sent a sharp pang through Lin Tian’s chest. It felt like… she was tying up loose ends.
Sure, Lin Tian had joked bitterly to himself before—how Gan Yanyu had left so many traces of herself in his home. If anything happened to her, the police would be knocking on his door first. But now, seeing her scrub away every last remnant of her presence? It left him with a heavy, suffocating feeling.
He looked at her, this girl standing there lost in thought, her eyes holding a faint smile but devoid of any real light. He realized suddenly that he’d let his guard down. The earlier distraction—the sugary sweetness of mung bean cake—had momentarily made him forget why they were here. This girl, who had only postponed her plans to take her own life because she wanted to go get a foot massage with him… everything she’d done since then, including coming to find him at the restaurant and bringing along desserts, wasn’t just casual. No, it was all part of “finishing what needed to be done.”
“No,” Lin Tian said firmly, surprising even himself. “My bag is still inside. Changing clothes will take a while.”
“You should come in,” he added, his voice leaving no room for argument.
So, she liked rushing things, did she? Well, he’d make sure to take his sweet time.
“But I’m not eating,” Gan Yanyu protested hesitantly. Sitting idly in a restaurant while waiting seemed awkward.
“It’s fine. We have an employee lounge. Besides, it’s slow right now. No one will care.”
After much insistence from Lin Tian, Gan Yanyu finally relented. “Alright.”
They walked into the restaurant together, drawing immediate attention from Lin Tian’s coworkers. Curious glances, shocked stares, and even a few envious sneers followed them as they passed. What was this? Was Lin Tian openly flaunting his girlfriend? Some couldn’t help but begrudgingly admit that he was pulling it off. Even customers turned their heads to look at the elegant young woman walking beside him.
And Gan Yanyu? She greeted every single server they encountered along the way, nodding politely to each one.
“Hello.”
“Excuse me.”
“Sorry for the trouble.”
She moved like a polite automaton, extending courteous greetings to everyone—even employees Lin Tian barely interacted with during his shifts. Who could resist such charm? A poised, beautiful girl offering sincere apologies and gentle nods transformed even the most mundane workday into something meaningful. In corners of the restaurant, male colleagues visibly crumbled under the weight of admiration.
“Ugh… where do you even find someone so kind and considerate?”
“Damn, showing her off like this—it’s no wonder. Such a polite girlfriend makes us men look good!”
“Man, I’m jealous. She’s the perfect girlfriend.”
Ignoring the whispers around them, Lin Tian glanced at the clock. Their earlier delay outside had brought them right up to his agreed-upon shift-ending time with the manager. With that settled, he led Gan Yanyu toward the staff lounge area, intending to change out of his uniform. Just then, Xu Yong approached.
“Leaving already?” Xu Yong asked.
“Yeah, we’re going to grab food.”
As soon as Xu Yong finished speaking, his gaze drifted instinctively to Gan Yanyu. There she stood quietly beside Lin Tian, silent and averting her eyes elsewhere. Xu Yong clenched his teeth. Up close, she was far more stunning than when seen from afar. Three years of high school spent assuming they’d both remain perpetually single—and now, in their final year, Lin Tian somehow managed to hook up with someone like her. Still, given Lin Tian’s looks, maybe it wasn’t entirely shocking—but damn, it was infuriating.
Lin Tian wrapped up his conversation with Xu Yong and glanced at Gan Yanyu. Introducing a complete stranger to a mutual acquaintance could feel painfully awkward, especially when neither party knew each other. Acting as mediator, Lin Tian decided introductions were necessary.
“This is my friend, Xu Yong,” Lin Tian said to Gan Yanyu.
“H-hi,” Xu Yong stammered, visibly electrified just by being addressed in front of her.
Clearly, talking to a pretty girl made him nervous.
“Hi,” Gan Yanyu replied smoothly, unfazed.
“She’s Gan Yanyu. Same grade as us, from Class B next to our classroom,” Lin Tian elaborated, sensing the strained exchange between the two.
“Gan Yanyu… Gan Yanyu?” Xu Yong snapped his fingers, recognition dawning. “Oh! From freshman year! The girl with two eyes and one nose, right?”
Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. Seriously? Did Xu Yong really know every attractive girl in school? And what kind of description was that?
“I mean,” Xu Yong quickly corrected himself, trying to regain composure, “her eyes are very distinctive. Brown, and very beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Gan Yanyu responded flatly, her tone unreadable.
Xu Yong froze, utterly petrified.
Even Lin Tian felt a twinge of discomfort. Awkward. He and Gan Yanyu shared a peculiar conversational rhythm; to outsiders unfamiliar with their dynamic, it might seem downright dismissive or cold. To ease the tension, Lin Tian picked up the box of mung bean cakes and opened it.
“Want some? I won’t finish these before dinner,” he offered to Xu Yong.
“Sure,” Xu Yong replied, reaching for the box.
But before he could take it, another hand shot out and clamped down firmly on the container. Lin Tian stared in shock at Gan Yanyu. Her expression remained calm, her gaze steady, yet her grip on the box was ironclad. She didn’t budge, no matter how gently Lin Tian tried to tug it free.
The air grew thick with silence.
“Ahaha, never mind! Actually, I’m not that hungry anyway,” Xu Yong laughed nervously, scratching his head. “Besides, I don’t really like overly sweet things.”
“Well, see you later. I’ve got work to do,” he muttered, turning away quickly. As he walked off, his pace accelerated until he broke into a sprint, covering his face with his sleeve.
“Waaaaahhh…” His muffled sobs echoed down the hallway.
Lin Tian sighed and turned back to Gan Yanyu. “What was that about?”
If she didn’t want him to eat it, she could’ve just politely declined. Why humiliate him like that?
“I—I was going to explain, but he ran off too fast!” Gan Yanyu murmured, looking down guiltily.
Lin Tian couldn’t bring himself to scold her, considering the cakes were homemade. Still, her reaction puzzled him. Why had she acted so strongly?
Could it be…?
Did she like him?
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