Chapter 5: This Meal Is On Me

Inside the shop, at a small table, Fu Yuan held a wooden skewer, voraciously devouring grilled gluten as if swept up in a whirlwind.

Grilled gluten, extracted from wheat flour, is a plant-based protein that cooks much faster than most meats.

Beside her, Meng Jie noticed her hunger and frowned slightly, a hint of reproach in her tone. “You child, how can you still not take care of yourself at this age? Looking at you, you must have skipped breakfast and lunch.”

“Eat slowly, don’t rush, and drink some water.” She said this as she took a bottle of mineral water from the fridge, gently placed it on the table, then hurried out to continue grilling more meat for her.

Fu Yuan twisted open the bottle cap and took a sip.

Soon after, Meng Jie returned carrying a white plastic container with several skewers of lamb. “The rest are still on the grill. I saw how hungry you were, so I gave these extra heat. They’re cooked a bit faster, so the flavor isn’t as good as the ones coming up next.”

The lamb was a perfect balance of lean and fat, each piece grilled to a light golden brown with enticing caramelized edges. The lean meat was firm, the fat tender.

Fu Yuan reached out and grabbed a skewer, maintaining a girl’s modesty by biting only the middle, then swiftly pulling the skewer outwards so that most of the lamb slid into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed.

After swallowing, she repeated the action, leaving only the empty skewer in her hand.

Having eaten, Fu Yuan regained some strength and her manner became more refined. As she ate, she praised the cooking, “It’s delicious, don’t be modest.”

Meng Jie, who was adding charcoal inside, slowed her movements and turned to look back with a beaming smile. “I’m glad you like it. I was worried I might have offended you by acting on my own.”

She added, “You’re quite tall for a young lady, just a bit thin. Nowadays, we don’t chase that unhealthy thinness as beauty anymore. Don’t think about dieting, you should eat when you need to. Right, sir?”

At the end, she raised her voice toward a man, who quickly nodded in agreement. “Yes, you should eat more. You’re too thin.”

The man’s speech was understandable, each word pronounced correctly, though with a slight peculiar accent.

“Alright.” Fu Yuan nodded, signaling she heard and understood. She usually ate well, but no matter how much, she just couldn’t gain weight.

Moreover, she paid close attention to health. Since graduating from university, she lived almost like a retiree, drinking chrysanthemum and goji berry tea daily.

She opened her phone’s navigation app, searching for a nearby snack shop. The map showed the closest snack kiosk was a seven-minute ride away.

Fu Yuan placed two fingers on the screen, zooming in to get a better look. It wasn’t far.

While waiting, a chubby young man entered, picking skewers from the freezer with a yellow basket.

“Boss lady, why are there only ten lamb skewers left? Do you have more?” he called loudly outside the door, his voice clear and strong, while continuing to select chicken wings and chives.

Hearing this, Meng Jie called for the man again. Just then, the man’s grilled items were finished and taken away by a delivery courier dressed in a kangaroo-yellow uniform.

“Here I come.” The man strode into the shop and smiled apologetically at the chubby young man.

“We only grilled thirty lamb skewers this morning, all displayed in the freezer. We haven’t had time to make more today. You can sit and rest for a bit; I’ll prepare fresh ones for you now.” Saying this, he pulled open a large red curtain used as a partition and slipped into the kitchen.

The chubby young man finished selecting, handing the full basket to the boss lady—fuller than even what Fu Yuan had chosen.

Fu Yuan studied the young man, feeling a flicker of familiarity. He seemed like someone she had seen in a dream that very noon.

But also different—the dream figure looked frailer, with blurred features, far from the lively person in front of her.

Could the world really be that small?

A bit uneasy, Fu Yuan remained silent and walked outside to sit on her electric bike. The shop was cramped, and besides, she preferred not to share close quarters with strangers.

The chubby young man was engrossed in his phone, thumbs scrolling rapidly as if replying to messages.

They passed each other, one going in, one going out.

“How would you like it packed?” Meng Jie asked, pulling out several white plastic containers.

“If possible, just put everything together,” Fu Yuan replied softly. Having just eaten, her complexion looked much better than before.

“Oh?” The boss lady was momentarily surprised, a flicker of astonishment in her eyes.

She deftly pulled out two large white containers, stuffing the skewers inside. “Cold skewers don’t taste as good. I thought you were buying so much to share with colleagues.”

This shop gave generous portions; what Fu Yuan ordered was more than enough for two normal adult men.

Meng Jie packed the two containers into a large plastic bag and handed it to her. Seeing her previously pale face, she couldn’t help but say:

“It’s still better to eat one meal at a time. Even if it’s delicious, don’t eat like this every meal. Don’t mind me being nosy.”

Fu Yuan paused, accepting the bag, which felt heavy.

She placed it in the basket at the front of her electric bike, knowing it was a misunderstanding but choosing not to explain further. Some things become more confusing the more you try to clarify.

“Thank you for your concern, Sister Meng. How much is it?” she asked, fishing out her phone to scan and pay.

At that moment, a figure burst out of the shop like a cannonball—it was the chubby young man. A sudden unease welled up in Fu Yuan’s heart.

He wore thick black-rimmed glasses and looked at her steadily, his vacant eyes reflecting a glimmer called hope. “Are you a doctor?”

At that moment, their two figures seemed to merge infinitely.

The boss lady chuckled beside them, “Oh, what a coincidence! You know each other?”

Fu Yuan shook her head shyly, her toes nervously picking at her shoe soles. “I don’t know him.”

“Then how does he know you’re a doctor?” Meng Jie laughed, pulling out a calculator to add up the total. “That will be two hundred and eighteen yuan. You can just give two hundred and ten.”

“Beep—”

But before she could pay, the chubby young man stepped forward. Politely and formally, he said, “This meal is on me. The doctor did me a great favor; I dare not repay it lightly.”

Fu Yuan stepped back, drawing a clearer boundary. “But I don’t know you.”

He seemed not to hear her. Smiling broadly, he leaned in, “Let me introduce myself. I’m a freshman from the 30th cohort of Computer Science at Z University. My surname is Yu. Senior, can I add you on WeChat?”

Fu Yuan pursed her lips, understanding his feelings somewhat, and did not refuse.

After all, this young man had just paid for her skewers.

Seeing Yu still wanting to talk, and as most students heading to class had already left, the street was less crowded. The socially anxious Fu Yuan swiftly turned her electric bike and sped toward the snack area.