Chapter 3: Did You Get Burned?

In the room, where the population density had never exceeded one person per 18 square meters, a second human appeared, a rare occurrence.

The girl, sitting upright at the small table with her hands resting on her knees, lowered her head awkwardly, her feet trembling nervously as if she were operating a sewing machine.

Although they had met before, due to their unfamiliarity, there had been few opportunities for direct observation. However, after spending time together in the room, Chen Yuan realized that the girl was indeed a little beauty.

The term "little" was not a pretense of maturity or a way to flirt. She was clearly his age, yet she gave off a gentle and charming vibe, like a younger sister next door. Her jet-black hair fell to her waist, and her small face was fair and flawless. Her deep, dark eyes were as profound as the night sky, and her appearance perfectly reflected her character.

Innocent at first glance.

Didn't they say that the higher the beauty, the fewer the worries?

What could have happened to such a beautiful girl to make her attempt suicide?

"Wait a moment, the lobster is still steaming."

Holding an ice cube in one hand, Chen Yuan turned on the gas stove, placed the prepared lobster on a plate, and then put it in the steamer.

"Let me help."

"No, I can do it myself..."

Before Chen Yuan could finish his sentence, he turned around to find the girl already beside him, wearing his Doraemon apron and tying her ponytail with a rubber band, revealing her snow-white, unblemished neck.

"It's nothing, just making a sauce..."

"I can do it."

Before he could finish, the girl skillfully chopped garlic and chili peppers, mixing them with soy sauce, vinegar, oyster sauce, salt, and a touch of sugar to enhance the flavor.

Oh, she's a pro.

Chen Yuan didn't bother to stop her and returned to the living area, which was not clearly divided from the bedroom, to the small table by the bed. He took out the leftover dishes from the fridge—tomato and egg stir-fry, garlic-scented eggplant, stir-fried carrot and meat, and half a plate of dumplings—and heated them in the microwave one by one.

Five minutes later, the small table was set with several dishes, leaving the center for the Boston lobster.

Let's watch an episode of "Cangyuan Tu."

Taking out his phone, Chen Yuan began the crucial task of finding a show to watch before dinner.

"The lobster is here, be careful, it's hot."

At that moment, a pair of large oven mitts appeared, holding the lobster in front of him. In his line of sight was a pure and beautiful profile.

A strand of hair fell over her ear, and she delicately tucked it behind her ear with her slender fingers.

"Um..." Seeing Chen Yuan looking at her, the girl tilted her head in confusion, "Is there something on my face?"

You look like the ideal wife and mother.

"Nothing, sit down, I'll get some drinks."

Chen Yuan got up and took two cans of cold beer from the fridge, placing them on the table.

"Is... is this pineapple beer?"

"No pineapple, just beer."

"..." The girl was clearly taken aback by Chen Yuan's casual reference to beer as a drink, and his nonchalant attitude made her ask hesitantly, "We have class tomorrow, is it okay to drink?"

"What's the big deal, in our class, some people even have hot pot during evening study sessions."

"Is that true? Doesn't the homeroom teacher do anything about it..."

"The homeroom teacher brings the pot."

"Ah?"

The girl was shocked.

"Just kidding, they definitely do it behind the teacher's back."

So, the hot pot thing is real?

"Eleventh High School is different from what I imagined..." Xia Xin Yu thought that as a provincial key school, the atmosphere shouldn't be so lax.

"Every school has its weak classes. The top classes at Eleventh High are definitely not like this. And our class..." Chen Yuan sighed, "I can only say that there are differences among students at Eleventh High."

When Chen Yuan first entered the school, he wasn't too bad, but the educational level in Xiang County and Xia Hai City was vastly different. He found himself unable to keep up with the pace and the frequent exams, like being thrown into a battle with Meng Tei right after the tutorial (Damn, farm!). He quickly fell behind.

Later, Chen Yuan discovered that many of his classmates had already learned up to the second year of high school in junior high.

Not being particularly talented, he was overwhelmed and gradually found himself in one of the bottom three classes.

The learning environment in the bottom classes was even worse, and the teachers were different. He fell into a vicious cycle, and his grades dropped from 400th to 900th.

Of course, Chen Yuan wasn't completely blaming others. He admitted that his initiative was lacking.

"Is that so..."

Xia Xin Yu sighed, but her mind was wandering.

Eating hot pot in the back row...

Hot pot wax is convenient, and you can cook with a pot, but... what about the dipping sauce?

How can you eat without a dipping sauce?

"The top students at No. 4 High School probably can't imagine it. After all, your school is one of the top two in the city, with everyone being a genius." Chen Yuan was puzzled. Was their school so bad that it warranted such surprise? He frowned.

Do No. 4 High School students have such a strong sense of superiority?

"Not really, every school has its weak students... of course, I'm not saying... you."

You even used "you" formally.

"My name is Chen Yuan, just call me Chen Yuan."

Chen Yuan decided to give a humorous self-introduction, intentionally leaving a gap for the other to fill: "Isn't that the same?"

"My name is Xia Xin Yu... just call me Xia Xin Yu."

Xia Xin Yu used Chen Yuan's self-introduction template, as if accommodating a slow learner, but her expression was awkward.

Fill the gap! Don't act like you're just going along with me, or I'll really seem like an idiot!

"Let's eat, I'm starving... I mean, I'm alive."

Thinking of her near-suicide attempt, Chen Yuan avoided the word "death" to prevent her from thinking of anything negative.

Fortunately, his lifespan was still 1 and hadn't decreased.

But why was she staring at him so intently...

"Chen Yuan, did you get burned when you came into my room just now?"

Xia Xin Yu had noticed it earlier but didn't want to bring up the previous topic.

After a failed suicide attempt, it's embarrassing.

"It's nothing."

"Let me see."

As soon as Chen Yuan spoke, Xia Xin Yu grabbed his hand, spread his palm, and looked at the faint red mark. "Wait a moment."

"Okay."

Xia Xin Yu went to the bathroom and returned shortly. She squeezed some toothpaste onto her fingertips and evenly applied it to the burn, then gently blew on it.

The cool sensation of the toothpaste spread over his wound...

It was truly magical; the pain disappeared.

Then, Chen Yuan put the ice cube aside and picked up his chopsticks. "Let's eat, while it's hot."

The lobster in the center of the plate was steamed to a bright red, cut in half, revealing the plump, tender white meat inside the shell. The large lobster, weighing over a pound, had a generous amount of roe, as rich and fragrant as the crab roe in a hairy crab.

Although Xia Xin Yu was very embarrassed, she was also filled with anticipation.

She had seen Boston lobsters countless times in the supermarket, but their deliciousness could only be imagined. This was her first chance to taste one...

"Let's eat while it's hot, don't daydream."

Chen Yuan used his chopsticks to place half the lobster in her bowl.

"No, I don't need that much..."

Xia Xin Yu quickly declined, but Chen Yuan handed her a beer and pulled the tab, a light white mist rising.

Holding the beer, she clinked it lightly with Chen Yuan's, and he raised his can, ready to toast to their new friendship.

The [1] in front of him remained motionless.