Chapter 108: A Chance Encounter

“Last time we ate together, why didn’t I see you eat so much?” Jiang Qianyue asked in surprise.

A set meal was a normal portion, and even Jiang Qianyue hadn’t finished hers.

Yet after finishing one set meal, Jiang Zheng had eaten two more steaks.

“I was a bit shy last time,” Jiang Zheng replied.

“So you’re not shy today?” Jiang Qianyue asked.

“We’re close enough now, why be shy?” Jiang Zheng said with a smile.

Jiang Qianyue rolled her eyes at him, but the smile on her lips was unmistakable.

After finishing the meal, Jiang Zheng found an excuse to go to the restroom and slipped away to the front desk to pay the bill.

Yesterday, when he joked about freeloading Jiang Qianyue’s meal, it was just that—a joke. He wasn’t short of money, and it wasn’t right to always mooch off a girl.

Back at the table, Jiang Qianyue said, “Shall we go or stay a bit longer?”

“Let’s go,” Jiang Zheng said.

Jiang Qianyue nodded and stood up, heading toward the front desk.

“Hello, we’d like to settle the bill,” she said.

The waitress checked and smiled, “Ma’am, this table has already been paid for.”

Jiang Qianyue felt a bit puzzled. Already paid?

She glanced subtly at Jiang Zheng and smiled, “Sorry, I forgot it was already settled.”

The two then left the restaurant. Jiang Qianyue said, “We agreed I’d treat you, so why did you pay?”

Jiang Zheng replied, “I can’t have you always footing the bill. Sometimes I have to pay too; I can’t let people think I’m a freeloader.”

Hearing that, Jiang Qianyue smiled, “Then next time, I’ll treat you again.”

“Sounds good. Next time I want a feast,” Jiang Zheng laughed.

“No problem. Whatever you want to eat,” Jiang Qianyue said with a smile.

They chatted and laughed all the way to the school gate. Jiang Qianyue waved, “I’ll head off now. See you next time.”

“Yeah, see you next time,” Jiang Zheng answered.

After Jiang Qianyue left, Jiang Zheng stood there for a moment, then turned towards the library.

He spent the entire afternoon reading in the library and only emerged at dinnertime.

He had lunch at a Western restaurant, and planned to just grab something on campus for dinner.

His luck wasn’t great. When he arrived at the cafeteria, it was right after the freshmen finished their military training and were all lining up for meals.

Inside, a sea of camouflage uniforms flooded his vision, almost dazzling him.

He arrived late, and every food window had a long queue.

Jiang Zheng felt helpless—his stomach was growling, but judging by the situation, he didn’t know how long he’d have to wait.

So he decided not to eat in the cafeteria and turned around, planning to eat outside.

Outside the school, he pondered what to have for dinner.

There were still some freshmen in military training uniforms eating together outside.

But with more dining options outside, there was no need to queue like in the cafeteria.

As Jiang Zheng walked, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder.

He instinctively turned around to see a girl in a military training uniform, smiling warmly at him.

“What a coincidence, senior,” Pei Xin said with a smile.

Jiang Zheng looked at the girl—she seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen her.

She was very beautiful, and even in her uniform, her beauty shone through.

Though she was pretty, Jiang Zheng truly couldn’t place her.

From her tone, they must know each other, but he had no memory of her.

This was rather embarrassing, and he quickly searched his mind for any information about her.

Seeing Jiang Zheng silent, Pei Xin looked a little disappointed. “Senior, you wouldn’t have forgotten me, would you?”

“Uh… sorry, I really can’t remember,” Jiang Zheng admitted.

“Well, I thought you’d always remember me,” Pei Xin said with a pitiful look, her lovely face making one feel sorry for her.

“Sorry, but are you sure you’re not mistaking me for someone else?” Jiang Zheng asked.

Watching her pitiful expression, he still couldn’t recall where they had met.

Pei Xin’s face stiffened for a moment, then recovered. Her expression turned mournful, her tone like a forsaken kitten: “How could I mistake you? Your face often appears in my mind. Our last parting feels like it was just yesterday.”

Jiang Zheng frowned, the crease deepening by the moment.

“I really can’t remember. Could you give me a hint?” he asked.

He felt a bit guilty. She remembered him, but he’d forgotten her.

“Senior, the image of you playing the piano lingers in my mind, and the way you stood up for me is deeply engraved in my memory,” Pei Xin said “affectionately.”

Piano…

The word sparked a sudden light in Jiang Zheng’s mind.

He remembered.

So far, the only time he’d ever played the piano was during his part-time job at a hotel.

At the same time, he recalled who the girl was—she had been the focus when he worked that event.

Later, in the restroom, Jiang Zheng had exposed a peeping pervert, indirectly saving Pei Xin.

His impression of her wasn’t deep. Although Pei Xin was stunning and could light up any crowd, his mind had been solely on the task. No matter how beautiful she was, it didn’t concern him.

Therefore, it was natural that he couldn’t immediately remember her.

“I remember now. You’re the girl from the teacher appreciation banquet,” Jiang Zheng said.

Pei Xin’s expression darkened slightly. She would have preferred he remembered the incident by the restroom door. After all, she had barely made an impression at the banquet.

For her, that event was more a business gathering focused on her father than a real party.

“Have you remembered my name yet?” Pei Xin asked.

“Ah… that?” Jiang Zheng scratched his head in embarrassment.

He hadn’t recalled it. He thought she had told him her name, but his mind had been elsewhere and he hadn’t taken it in properly.

Given the time that had passed and his recent preoccupation with writing his novel, forgetting was understandable.

Time passed awkwardly between them. Jiang Zheng wanted to break the silence but didn’t know how.

The girl before him was not like Jiang Qianyue; some things couldn’t be said.

That was the difference between talking to a friend and a stranger. With Jiang Qianyue, he could be casual, but not with this girl.

“Alright, I’ll tell you again. My name is Pei Xin,” she said.