Chapter 205 - 205 Feeding
205 Feeding
Before Shen Xi could process what was going on, Guan Lei beat her to the punch. “I’ll have to trouble you, Xixi,” he said, looking guilty.
Shen Xi opened and closed her mouth, nodding robotically. It had been an unconscious act, encouraged by Guan Lei’s pitiful appearance. After all, Guan Lei had gotten injured while trying to save her. One should repay kindness not with hostility but with gratitude.
Guan Lei smiled tiredly, his meek countenance a cover for the fleeting light that twinkled in his eyes.
After a whole morning of classes, Shen Xi was famished. As soon as the bell rang, Shen Xi dragged Zhao Yuan by her arm, making a beeline for the cafeteria. However, before she could take more than two steps, a sorrowful voice arrested her attention.
“Xixi~”
Shen Xi turned around and saw the aggrieved look in Guan Lei’s eyes. Only then did she remember that she still had to take care of Guan Lei.
“Guan Lei, let’s go together!” Zhao Yuan said with a bright voice.
Guan Lei only responded when Shen Xi asked him to join them. Delighted, Guan Lei hobbled to his feet and followed Shen Xi out of their classroom and to the cafeteria.
Zhao Yuan rolled her eyes. Guan Lei only listened to Shen Xi; she, more than anyone else, was special.
The three of them soon arrived at the school cafeteria. Shen Xi very considerately asked Guan Lei about his preferences and allergies before ordering his food.
Guan Lei looked at Shen Xi expectantly, then at the food in front of him. He wobbled his injured right hand, indicating he needed Shen Xi’s help to eat.
Zhao Yuan watched the interplay gleefully, stuffing mouthfuls of rice down her throat to hide her laughter. Guan Lei was too obvious. He was waiting for Shen Xi to feed him.
While she was still the young lady of the Jiang family, Shen Xi never needed to serve anyone. Outside of following Xiang Cheng around occasionally, she always remained cold and aloof.
Shen Xi did not mind feeding Guan Lei. To be able to help someone else in their time of need was one of life’s greatest pleasures. It was just that there were so many people around, and Shen Xi could not help but feel a little self-conscious. She knew firsthand how easily the rumor mill turned in their school.
Guan Lei interpreted Shen Xi’s hesitation as her being unwilling to feed him, so he picked up his chopsticks using his left hand, clumsily picking at his food. He spilled most of it, including the soup, which created a mess.
Shen Xi sighed, gently pulling the chopsticks out of Guan Lei’s left hand. If he continued, he would have nothing to eat since most would have gone to waste. She pulled out a wet tissue and wiped his oily fingers, saying, “Alright, alright, don’t move. I’ll help you.”
Guan Lei nodded obediently, feeling Shen Xi’s featherlight touch against his skin.
Close by, Guan Lei’s roommates were stunned by this causal display. Their roommate, Guan Lei, had been crowned the school tyrant. For such an overbearing person like him to bow his head and allow another to tend to him was unheard of! He behaved as if he were a married man listening to his wife chastising him.
They looked at one another, then turned to stare at Shen Xi in unison. Rumor had it that Shen Xi was in a relationship with Guan Lei. Didn’t that mean they would have to greet her as the head honcho’s wife-to-be? The evidence was near conclusive!
Unaware of the thoughts circling in the crowded canteen, Shen Xi carefully picked out the bones in Guan Lei’s fish. Once those were removed, she scooped the tender meat and brought it to Guan Lei’s mouth. Guan Lei’s eyes were fixed on Shen Xi as she did so, barely sparing the food about to enter his mouth a second glance.
For some reason, Guan Lei felt that the school cafeteria’s food had greatly improved. He would even say it was delicious, so delicious that he smiled. Truly, the ancient saying that good food should be paired with good women was true in his mind.
Jiang Xue, who had just arrived, sneered at the two, making fools of themselves.
In a shrill, high-pitched voice, Liu Cheng mocked, “Some women love to make a scene in public. You certainly fit the bill. Isn’t that why everyone thinks you’re so cheap?”
Liu Cheng glanced at Jiang Xue, knowing she had done the right thing from the sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her lips.
Shen Xi’s expression was unsightly, and Guan Lei’s earlier bashfulness transformed into a flinty-eyed glare. He tapped the table with his fingertips and began plotting how he would make the Liu family suffer.
Zhao Yuan’s lovelorn sighs turned into dissatisfaction.
She slammed her chopsticks against the table and hissed, “Liu Cheng, are you crazy? Are you so jealous that you can’t bear to see anyone else in love? We all know no one wants your junk!”
She? Jealous? Liu Cheng sized up Guan Lei and Shen Xi, mockery and disdain reflected in her cruel orbs. What was there to be jealous about the love between a beggar and a garbage collector?
Everyone knew that Shen Xi’s family was poor.
As for Guan Lei, Liu Cheng had accidentally overheard the conversation between the two.
It turned out that Guan Lei’s family collected garbage. No wonder most of Guan Lei’s clothes were not branded. He seldom wore branded clothes, and those he did were probably cast-offs from those his family collected from the bins of the wealthy.