Chapter 155: Girlfriend Pampers Boyfriend

“I’m craving the duck soup from Cafeteria Two.”

After the lunch hour orders were taken care of Jiang Qin smacked his lips feeling like a bird could fly out of his parched mouth. The winter’s cold and dry air left his lips chapped and tight. He really wanted some soup to nourish himself.

He took out his phone and gave his little rich girlfriend a call to meet at Cafeteria Two.

Stepping out of the entrepreneurship base a bone-chilling cold greeted him head-on. The bare branches trembled clinging to their few remaining old leaves looking a bit pitiful in this icy snow.

Jiang Qin arrived at Academy Road finding the morning’s snow already trampled solid by passersby. Walking on it felt hard and slippery lacking the previous soft fluffiness.

“If I slip and fall my tailbone might just snap in two.”

Thump!

Right as he said that a guy across from him fell smack in front of two girls who were feeding stray cats.

The two girls were quite kind immediately abandoning the ham in their hands to help him up. Little did they know the fallen guy only wished to be ignored at that moment.

The corner of Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched. Thinking to himself as the esteemed academic star if he fell like that it’d be utterly humiliating. So he made a point to slow his pace.

The entrepreneurship base was quite far from Cafeteria Two unlike the closeness of the female dorms. Plus he walked slowly so by the time he arrived his little rich girlfriend was already obediently waiting at their usual spot.

Besides her another girl sat bundled up like a bear half her face buried in her collar looking dazed from the cold.

The temperature during snow melt is colder than snowfall so it was even lower than the morning. But someone bundled up like this outdoors was a rare sight.

Jiang Qin walked over for a look. Why if it wasn’t the infamous Sister Gao!

“Gao my friend why are you wearing a quilt out and about?”

“Bah this is the cotton-padded jacket my grandma made me. Stuffed full of cotton warmer than you can imagine.” Gao Wenhui coldly laughed tugging at her jacket to show the abundance of cotton.

Jiang Qin carefully examined the pattern then jokingly said “If this isn’t made from a quilt cover I’ll do a public handstand.”

“It’s normal for the elderly to be thrifty as long as it’s warm who cares. Unlike you lot caring about looks over warmth.”

“Let’s not talk about the jacket I’m suddenly craving duck soup. What about you two? Shall we each have a bowl.”

Gao Wenhui glanced at him the corner of her mouth curling into a mysterious smile “No duck soup. None of us are allowed to order today.”

Jiang Qin found this odd “If we’re not ordering what’s the point of coming to the cafeteria? To watch the aloof server ladies’ hand shaking performance?”

“Ask your wifey.”

“Wifey? Where’s my wifey? Inside a wife cake?”

Hearing Gao Wenhui’s words Jiang Qin made a show of searching high and low on and under the table. As if a wife was something to be stepped on. But no matter how he looked everywhere but directly at Feng Nanshu causing the little rich girl’s delicate nose to wrinkle.

Gao Wenhui spat at him reaching under the table to lift up a large plastic bag.

“Today we’re eating this.”

The plastic bag was half a table size bulging and stuffed full of all sorts of colorfully packaged things.

“?”

Jiang Qin untied the bag for a look discovering it full of puffed snacks. Besides that there were some cakes immediately killing his interest.

“Middle of winter. Trying to dry me to death. I came for soup. You can eat the snacks.”

Gao Wenhui pointed at Feng Nanshu “All these snacks Feng Nanshu bought to support your business on the group buy. We have three more big bags in the dorm. This one’s on you to finish. Otherwise when will we ever get through them?”

Feng Nanshu aloofly gazed over “Jiang Qin eat.”

“Puffed snacks are full of preservatives. Not good for your health. I won’t eat and won’t let you eat either.”

“Then who eats them?” Feng Nanshu seemed at a loss.

Jiang Qin shifted his gaze to Gao Wenhui “Miss Gao please do us the favor of eating some. Preserving your youth. Dig you up thousands of years later still lifelike good as new.”

Gao Wenhui scoffed “In your dreams. Us three must finish this whole bag by lunch today. No one’s escaping!”

“Better to give them away.”

Jiang Qin lightly suggested.

“No way. Bought with cold hard cash. Giving them away is too much of a loss. Even if your family’s rich can’t waste like that!”

Gao Wenhui sincerely considered Feng Nanshu a bestie so she couldn’t bear her friend taking a loss.

Besides the dorm besties who could eat and appreciate Feng Nanshu’s kindness only her man Jiang Qin had the right to eat them. Casually giving them away would be a loss.

Because unfamiliar friends might not appreciate the gesture. They might even gossip behind your back about your wasteful flaunting of wealth.

“This dry winter eating this huge bag of snacks is sure to cause sores. Might even get blisters on the lips. Not worth it.”

“Then what do we do?”

Jiang Qin thought for a bit. Reaching out to flatten the bag some before saying “Leave it for now. I’ll take it back to 208 later. Say it’s a perk from the boss lady.”

A glint flashed in Gao Wenhui’s eyes upon hearing this “That works too. Feng Nanshu can earn some goodwill. Want me to grab another bag from the dorm?”

“Let’s talk after we eat. All that running around won’t that be tiring.”

Jiang Qin got up and ordered three bowls of clear fragrant duck soup and a basket of freshly fried flatbread. The crisp golden exterior glistening with oil under the light continuously enticing the appetite.

Seeing him walk away Gao Wenhui leaned in close to Feng Nanshu “Although Jiang Qin always defines your relationship as friends his heart definitely pampers you like a girlfriend.”

“?”

A cold winter easily dulls the senses. Feng Nanshu was a bit dazed but instantly perked up hearing this.

“Think about it. 208 is his passion but he’s always hoping the employees will appreciate your kindness. Sincerely treating you as the boss lady. Such behavior is too obvious.”

Gao Wenhui’s expression now resembled the gossipy old ladies squatting at the village entrance during New Year’s. Babbling on and on nonstop as if cramming for exams.

“But Jiang Qin said being lovers will most likely end in complete estrangement.”

Gao Wenhui got angry hearing this “Don’t listen to his nonsense all day. Although college romance is fleeting plenty end up going the distance you know.”

Feng Nanshu propped her chin on her small hands gazing at her asking “Wenhui what exactly is liking someone?”

“This I… I can’t clearly explain either.”

Gao Wenhui was an expert battle machine at shipping couples but had never actually been in a relationship herself. Though the little rich girl was dazed her own head was even more of a blank. Asking her to explain the specific meaning of liking someone she’d rack her brain and still have no clue.

She wanted to teach but feared teaching wrong. If taught incorrectly wouldn’t Feng Nanshu just end up more confused?

Seeing her not respond Feng Nanshu turned to watch Jiang Qin waiting for their food by the counter. Her curled lashes lightly trembling.

Her previous world contained only herself. Her little heart encased in a cocoon blocking out many outside things.

But suddenly one day a brutish bear unreasonably tore open a hole in that thick cocoon. Bringing in light invading touching her little feet. From then on she could never forget.

Before eighteen her greatest wish was to gain a good friend.

That summer of her eighteenth year she truly gained a seemingly heaven-sent good friend.

Naturally she became very attached to him.

So her heart always wondered could it be forever could it be forever.

She wasn’t yet clear on the difference between friends and lovers but could clearly sense she’d gained some new desires.

Wanting to hold his hand wanting to snuggle wanting him to rub her feet.

Missing him terribly when apart. Acting silly upon seeing him.

But… did this count as liking someone?

Just as the little rich girl was puzzling over this Jiang Qin had already made three round trips. Bringing three portions of flatbread and duck soup passing over chopsticks.

Cafeteria Two’s duck soup was very generous. Not only filled to the brim but ingredients were ample too. Paired with flatbread very easy to fill up.

Jiang Qin felt satisfied after half a bowl.

Feng Nanshu was casually fed a couple bites by Jiang Qin also very content. Her own bowl barely touched.

Being peak meal time many came to the cafeteria to eat. Quite a few acquaintances made a point to come say hello upon seeing them.

The student council president Zhuang Siyu specially came over to thank him for sponsoring the debate competition.

The finance department head Zhu Feng, external liaison Xu Junli, part-time milk tea shop worker Chen Yong, part-time delivery rider Tian Xiaojia also stopped by.

Besides them a few others Jiang Qin couldn’t recall by name. Thinking it over probably also part-timers under him.

Without realizing 208’s team had already expanded several times since its humble beginnings.

The original rag-tag group was now taking shape.

Even with increased numbers Jiang Qin didn’t need to worry about encountering bizarre situations later on like with Ye Ziqing. Clearly not remembering hiring someone yet that person was still getting paid under him.

Because besides 208’s core staff all the part-timers under him were affiliated with the part-time club. Even if issues of impostors cropped up later the club would be responsible not 208.

“Done eating.”

Jiang Qin pushed his bowl forward picking up the bag of snacks “I still have things to do this afternoon. Heading out first. Work volume has been a bit high recently. Little rich girl if you’re bored walk Gao Wenhui.”

Feng Nanshu obediently nodded upon hearing this. Turning to look at Gao Wenhui.

While Gao Wenhui wanted to bite someone after hearing that. But for the duck soup’s sake she spared his dog life.

After leaving the cafeteria Jiang Qin returned to 208. First watching backend data for a while with Su Nai confirming afternoon orders were steadily climbing. Then he began discussing forum development plans with Dong Wenhao.

The group buy launch was a whole new starting point not the end point.

To continue expanding outward the Zhihu user pool must keep growing.

Bluntly put the two projects were mutually reinforcing. Neither could have any slip-ups.

To be even more precise – the milk tea shop, campus beauty pageant, forum, group buy – before Linchuan was fully covered none of the links could be abandoned.