EAY Chapter 55

by Volare

Special Milk Tea

Shi Ran handed over the milk tea shop’s menu, “What do you want to drink?”

Qi Ye smiled and said, “Isn’t it the special?”

Shi Ran also smiled, “I was exaggerating, it’s just a little more toppings. I’m afraid if I really let myself go, you’ll get diarrhea after drinking it.”

“I’m not afraid,” Qi Ye said, “I trust you.”

“I don’t trust myself that much,” Shi Ran said, “Besides peanuts, are you allergic to anything else?”

Qi Ye said, “I haven’t found out yet.”

Shi Ran said, “Then I’ll choose for you.”

Qi Ye’s eyes followed him as he walked to the milk tea shop’s preparation area. Shi Ran had just put on his apron when the shop owner came back from stocking up, patted him on the shoulder, and said cheerfully, “Hey kid, long time no see.”

“Long time no see.” Shi Ran bumped him with his elbow. “Okay, move aside, I’m going to start making drinks.”

The shop owner urged, “Hey, since you’re already here, why don’t you help out today? Sundays are really busy.”

“No, my friend is waiting for me. We’re going out to play today,” Shi Ran refused.

“College students are different, huh? Even actively refusing the chance to earn money.” The shop owner looked outside, curious. “The one wearing the black down jacket is your friend? He’s really handsome, he could be a model.”

Qi Ye was originally looking down at the menu on the table. After a while, it seemed his phone rang, and he took it out of his coat pocket.

Shi Ran said proudly, “He’s the most popular guy in our school. He’s also good at his studies and can draw really well.”

Shop owner: “So excellent? Then he must have a girlfriend.”

Shi Ran: “He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Really?” the shop owner asked with interest. “What’s his character like? Can you vouch for him?”

“Of course. But why are you asking this?”

“I have a niece who also studies at a local university, and she’s quiet and gentle. I’m just worried that she’ll be deceived by bad boys at school. Now that there’s such a good prospect, of course I have to keep an eye on him for her. Hey, look at your friend—”

“Thanks, but no,” Shi Ran elbowed him away. “Stay away and don’t disturb my work.”

Shop owner: “Hey, don’t be so stingy. Just help me get his contact information, so they can meet up. Otherwise, she’s just staying at home watching anime all day and is getting silly.”

“No means no. He doesn’t have a girlfriend, but,” Shi Ran thought for a moment, “he has someone he likes, someone he likes very, very much, so sorry, introducing him to someone else is useless!”

“Oh, is that so? Well, never mind then.” The shop owner shook his shoulder. “If it’s a no, then it’s a no, don’t get so excited. Just make your milk tea properly.”

After a while, Shi Ran’s special matcha milk tea was ready. After Qi Ye tasted it, his eyes sparkled and he gave a thumbs up. “Delicious.”

Shi Ran sat down opposite him with his arms crossed, “Don’t come to this shop in the future.”

“Why?”

“It’s too dangerous. You’ve only been here for a short while and someone’s already introducing you to someone. I guess this kind of situation will happen more and more often in the future.” Shi Ran said, sulking.

“It won’t,” Qi Ye smiled helplessly. “People are just saying it.”

“I think he was quite serious, and the person he was connecting you with was his niece, which means he’s very satisfied with you.” Shi Ran’s tone was sour.

Just as Qi Ye was about to say something, someone suddenly called out in surprise, “Shi Ran!”

Shi Ran turned around and saw that it was Shen Wang, a high school classmate who used to sit in front of him. Shi Ran greeted him with a smile. Shen Wang was very excited to see Shi Ran and sat down in the seat between them without being invited. “Shi Ran, you’re really something. I sent you messages and you didn’t reply. We said we’d get together with a few people during the summer vacation after senior year, but you didn’t go. You’re ignoring people again this winter vacation. That’s not cool.”

Shen Wang looked at Qi Ye and said with some surprise, “You two are still hanging out together.” After saying that, he slapped his forehead, “Oh right, you’re at the same university now, that’s great. Unlike me, I’m all alone in Guangzhou, and I don’t know anyone.”

Shi Ran forced a smile, “That’s because you got into such a good school, no one can catch up to you.”

“Don’t talk about me, I’m exhausted every day, even more tired than in senior year.” Shen Wang said excitedly, “I’m not letting you go today. I can get everyone here right away. It’s all because our school beauty said that she’ll only go if you go.”

Shi Ran saw that he was leaving Qi Ye aside in his words and was very dissatisfied, but he still suppressed his temper and said, “Maybe not, Qi Ye and I have already made plans for today.”

“Let’s go together.” Shen Wang frantically sent messages to people while asking Qi Ye without turning his head, “What do you say? Let’s go together, how about it? It’s rare to get together.”

Shi Ran’s face visibly fell. “I’m not going, I’m not feeling well.”

Shen Wang was stunned for a moment, and then his face quickly filled with a smile. “What’s wrong, busy person? Our classmates are all curious about you. Do you know that the form teacher told me last time that you are now the best role model for the younger students? Your story is more inspiring than those from key universities.”

Shi Ran gave a fake smile and said, “Yeah, after all, I used to be a piece of mud, but I was able to be plastered on the wall during the college entrance examination, so isn’t that inspiring?”

“Don’t say that, really.” Shen Wang turned to Qi Ye, unwilling to give up. “Well, do you guys really have something important to do today? If not, can you help me persuade Shi Ran? It’s such a happy thing to meet old classmates, isn’t it?”

Before Qi Ye could speak, Shi Ran snorted coldly, “You’re asking for help and you don’t even call him by name? What, don’t you remember your old classmate’s name?”

“Hehe, he used to be more low-key.” Shen Wang scratched his head awkwardly and got up. “Okay, if you guys have something to do, I won’t disturb you. We’ll talk about it next time, next time, haha.”

After he left, Qi Ye leaned forward slightly and asked Shi Ran, “What’s wrong with you? Why don’t you want to see your old classmates so much?”

Shi Ran said, “He doesn’t even remember your name, why should I go?”

Qi Ye finally understood why Shi Ran was angry, and smiled, “Just because of that?”

“This is very important, okay? It’s not respectful at all!” Shi Ran pouted and asked Qi Ye, “Are you really not angry?”

Qi Ye shook his head slowly, “I don’t care about him, why should I care about his attitude towards me?”

Shi Ran was slightly surprised. It seemed that he knew Qi Ye a little more. He not only liked this point, but also admired it.

“You’re amazing,” Shi Ran said with emotion.

Qi Ye was once again confused. “What do you mean?”

“You can completely not care about other people’s opinions.” Shi Ran said slowly, “Actually, when you think about it carefully, there aren’t many people that each of us really cares about, but people are so strange. Maybe it’s for their own face, their own vanity, or their weakness, even if they’re not happy, they’ll still think about catering to other people’s opinions.”

Shi Ran continued, “I used to be like that, no, I’m still like that now, so that’s why I think you’re amazing.”

Qi Ye looked at him, “Then why did you reject him just now?”

“Who told him to be so disrespectful to you? This is beyond my bottom line.” Shi Ran said righteously, “I will never be polite to people I hate.”

“Amazing, I suddenly feel protected.”

Qi Ye looked at him and smiled. As he smiled, Shi Ran felt his face start to burn, and he waved his hands urgently, “Okay, okay, hurry up and drink.”