Chapter 574: Hungry Not

After attending a reception with the Linchuan Business Group, Jiang Qin drove back to Linchuan University and parked in the front plaza.

In the winter of their senior year, with only half a year left of their undergraduate studies, some had already secured job offers while others planned to further their education across the country or even abroad.

This was their last New Year’s and last New Year’s Eve together.

Thus, those who didn’t go home for the holidays gathered to make dumplings in an empty classroom.

Students from both Class Three and Class Four, who usually attended classes together and were quite friendly, joined in to celebrate the New Year’s Eve together.

Some juniors and sophomores also came, bringing various snacks to join in the dumpling making.

At that moment, Jiang Qin entered the academic building carrying a burlap sack and then took the elevator.

The people sharing the elevator silently glanced sideways at him, noticing the distinguished Mr. Jiang in his suit, shouldering a burlap sack, his expression cold yet handsome.

Yes, cold yet handsome, not stern — that’s exactly how he felt about himself.

Soon, the elevator reached the third floor and with a ‘ding’, the billionaire stepped out with the sack, a scene so picturesque it resembled a child kidnapper.

It was just 6:30 p.m. and most had just arrived; the tables were filled with cola, beer, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and various puffed foods, and the blackboard bore wishes for the New Year, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Feng Nanshu and her roommates were there, as were Jiang Tian and her roommates, the major beauties, along with Qi Qi, Guan Wen Si, and other juniors and sophomores.

“Brother Jiang, what are you carrying?”

“Treasures.”

“？”

Given Jiang Qin’s wealth, the word “treasures” instantly peaked everyone’s curiosity and they gathered to see what was in the sack.

When Zhou Chao opened the nylon rope tied around the sack’s neck and found a bunch of vegetable leaves, everyone’s faces fell.

“Ugh, just some garlic shoots,” muttered Cao Guangyu, pursing his lips.

Jiang Qin, with a wry smile, retorted, “Nice, young master Cao. Green shoots are all garlic, right?”

“And what are these?”

“Shepherd’s purse, a type of wild vegetable. Makes tasty dumplings.”

Young master Cao responded with a twitch of his lip, “Wild vegetables? And you call these treasures?”

As Gao Wenhui kneaded dough, he remarked, “That’s where you’re all wrong. The ‘treasure’ Jiang Qin mentioned isn’t the vegetable; it’s the person who wants to eat it — they are his treasure.”

“Heh, always the chatterbox.”

“……”

Hearing this, everyone briefly lost in thought, remembered the events of last night.

They had created a group chat the previous evening to discuss what to buy for the dumpling-making session and even debated the best fillings.

The mystical girl, Feng Nanshu, suddenly mentioned that shepherd’s purse dumplings were tasty.

Jiang Qin hadn’t shown up in the chat then, but today he brought a lot of shepherd’s purse.

“So much! How long did Jiang Qin squat in the fields to dig this up?”

“Probably couldn’t have done it in less than half a day.”

They all pictured Jiang Qin with a small shovel, scrambling around the field digging for wild vegetables.

Damn, love really does drive people crazy.

Numb from the effort, Jiang Qin thought to himself, “Does poverty really limit imagination this much? Do I really need to do such things myself?”

Meanwhile, Feng Nanshu was making dumplings with Jian Chun and others. Hearing the crowd’s comments, she raised her eyes, glanced at her brother, and got her cheeks pinched in envy by Jian Chun nearby.

Just then, Jiang Qin picked up a piece of dough and wrapped around the delicate fingers of the little rich girl.

“Look, dumplings with a rich girl filling.”

“Jiang Qin, you are so childish.”

Feng Nanshu’s eyes shone, her tone icy as if she were a mature elder sister.

Jiang Qin slapped her on the bottom and turned towards the boys: “What are you all so excited about?”

“Everyone’s talking about how long it took you to gather so much wild vegetable. Man, Jiang, you really go all out for Feng Nanshu.”

After hearing this, Jiang twisted his mouth, pulled out his phone, and opened the ‘World’s Richest’ group chat to show Cao Guangyu and the others.

The chat showed messages from last night where Jiang Qin had asked for shepherd’s purse because Feng Nanshu wanted it. It was quickly arranged by several rich guys, who then curried favor for a long time.

Everyone fell silent, realizing the true nature of support.

…

With seventy to eighty people from classes three and four, along with juniors and sophomores, dumplings were made quickly and they started boiling them as soon as the water was ready.

Snowflakes gently fell outside in the wintery night, adding a touch of romance to the atmosphere.

As the steam rose under the lights, the windows gradually frosted over, adding to the blurry scenery.

When the dumplings were ready, everyone eagerly grabbed their plates and bowls and joined their close friends.

Someone then dimmed the lights and connected a computer to the projector up front, starting the surprise hit movie ‘Lost on Journey,’ related to holiday travels and New Year’s, making it a perfect choice for New Year’s Eve.

This film, a blockbuster in the genre of road movies, was very fitting for the occasion.

“Old Jiang, want a drink? You’re not driving anyway.”

“I’ll have a beer.”

Cao Guangyu handed him a can of beer: “What would you like, Ms. Feng? There’s orange juice and cola too.”

Feng Nanshu squinted her eyes: “I’ll have what the Jiang family has, beer.”

Gao Wenhui commented, “Nanshu is so attached she doesn’t even use his full name anymore. It’s always ‘the Jiang family’ this and ‘the Jiang family’ that…”

Jiang Qin blocked the can of beer Cao Guangyu was passing over: “They’re all pull-tabs; if we open them and don’t finish, it’s a waste.”

“It’s the holidays, come on, have one if you feel like it.”

“She’s just curious, like a little wildcat. Let’s share one; it’s somewhat like indirect kissing, but as long as my conscience is clear, it’s all good.”

Jiang Qin passed his already-open can to the little rich girl for a sip.

This girl had sneakily drunk his alcohol at company gatherings and class parties before, trying everything from wine and beer to spirits; her tolerance might even be good.

Seeing this, Wang Haini and Gao Wenhui exchanged knowing looks.

Jiang Qin, you dog, making out with Feng Nanshu all the time yet claiming to be innocent, pfft!

After everyone had their fill and the movie was more than halfway through, many were chatting instead, mainly about plans after graduation next year.

Topics included jobs or further studies, and what they wanted to do in the future.

Some reminisced about the past, like when they first met someone special.

“I remember the first time I saw Jiang Qin was at the back door of our classroom.”

Feng Nanshu remembered too: “He was worried I wouldn’t fit in and came to see me secretly.”

Wang Haini joined in: “But when you first appeared, you dazzled the whole class. Many said they’d never seen such a refined face before, yet no one thought you were already taken.”

Fan Shuling recalled something from their freshman year, unable to help herself: “Wasn’t really taken then, but he definitely doted on you.”

“Guess so, Nanshu must have liked Jiang from the start.”

“I remember Shuling calling Jiang a jerk and wanting to set Nanshu up with Zhang Xinyu…”

Choked, Fan Shuling protested: “Not my fault though, I actually saw those two school beauties fighting over Jiang.”

Feng Nanshu puffed up her cheeks: “How come I never knew about this?”

“Because you only had eyes for Jiang, wouldn’t know anything else.”

“That’s true. At the beginning of the school year, Nanshu used to wait in the dorm for Jiang, looking all forlorn, wouldn’t even come with us to the movies…”

Feng Nanshu wore a frosty expression: “I’m not great at making friends.”

As a love expert, Wang Haini whispered, “Nanshu, how did you feel about Jiang back then? Do tell us.”

A hint of nostalgia flashed in Feng Nanshu’s eyes: “Just wanted to stick to him, felt safe.”

“You guys met during the summer break, right?”

“Knew him since high school, but hadn’t spoken. Yet I knew he was a good person.”

Wang Haini looked at Feng Nanshu: “Quite a mystical judgment, considering him good just for lending you a pen?”

Lying on the table, Gao Wenhui added: “Simple people always find each other.”

“Jiang Qin is simple?”

“Why not? He only likes Feng Nanshu. That’s simple to me.”

Wang Haini felt a bit envious: “I wish I could find a simple, possessive puppy of my own.”

Gao Wenhui laughed: “Only a saucy person meets another saucy person.”

“Gao Wenhui, you’re the saucy one!”

The two girls hugged and tickled each other, suddenly catching Jiang Qin’s attention.

He had just been reminiscing with his dorm mates about old times, particularly about young master Cao demanding a size 180 uniform at the start of school, refusing advice, then sneaking it to the tailor to alter.

From that day on, young master Cao was set as the jokester of the poor, and no one believed he was rich throughout their four years at university.

Hearing the girls giggling, Jiang Qin looked towards the little rich girl and offered her another sip of beer: “What are you talking about?”

“About meeting you.”

“What’s there to talk about meeting me?”

The little rich girl looked up at him: “Meeting you was the luckiest thing I’ve encountered.”

Jiang Qin didn’t expect such a blunt confession; he felt an overwhelming rush of affection and couldn’t resist pinching her smooth cheeks.

“Also, Wang Haini called you a domineering puppy.”

“Nonsense, I’m fierce, more like a big wolf.”

Puzzled, Jiang stopped: “Wait, why do I have to be a dog?”

Escaping Gao Wenhui’s playful clutches, Wang Haini said, “You’re a puppy because even though everyone knows Feng Nanshu is clingy, you can’t live without her either. That’s why Gao Wenhui is so hooked.”

Jiang Qin smiled: “That’s what friendship is all about.”