Chapter 40: I Want to Cook for the Boy I Like

Jiang Muye had been rejected 99 times in his marriage proposals, and now the Aloof Campus Belle was flirting with him aggressively.

Boss Cutie

Little White Dove was practically drooling with greed and insisted Jiang Muye feed him a bite.

Jiang Muye picked up a bite with his chopsticks and gave it to Little White Dove, who smacked his lips, a light gleaming in his eyes. "This is pretty good! Isn't this way better than cafeteria food or takeout? You lucky bastard."

"Hey, think about it, I have a girlfriend and she's practically just for show. Who knows when I'll ever get to eat something she's cooked."

Faced with Little White Dove's envy, Jiang Muye began to reflect.

Had his attitude toward Xia Xiran just now been too harsh? She hadn't really meant any harm—she just wanted to cook for him.

He shouldn't have snapped at her.

Beside him, Kai watched Jiang Muye, his lips moving. "Muzi, I…" He wanted to say something, but swallowed it down.

Little White Dove looked in confusion at Jiang Muye, then at Kai. "What's going on? You two go downstairs and come back all weird. Did you have a fight?"

"No." After Jiang Muye finished speaking to Little White Dove, he looked at Kai. "If there's something you want to say, just say it."

"I didn't betray you," Kai said, full of self-blame. "Xiao Yue asked me to do it, and I had absolutely no way to refuse. I figured it was just delivering a meal, so I brought it to you. I won't do something like that again."

Little White Dove was still completely baffled. He clearly had no idea what had happened.

"Honestly, you could've just told me straight. There was nothing wrong with that, no need to go around in circles. If I hadn't gotten suspicious and come down to check, I might still be in the dark right now." Jiang Muye actually cared about this.

Between brothers, just be honest.

He wasn't some kind of jackal or tiger that would lash out at his bros.

"This one's on me. I shouldn't have hidden the fact that it was Campus Belle Xia's bento she made for you. From now on, if you skip class, I'll cover attendance for you." Kai expressed his guilt.

"What, this was made by Campus Belle Xia for you?!" Little White Dove instantly started bouncing around, thoroughly shocked.

"Yeah." Jiang Muye was extremely depressed. "I never imagined it was her who made it."

Little White Dove nodded. "Who wouldn't say so? This food is seriously good, made with real care. The color combinations are absolutely perfection, first-class aesthetics. No wonder it smells so amazing!"

"You're hyping this to the heavens." Jiang Muye eyed Little White Dove.

"I'm telling the truth. Think about it, Campus Belle Xia is such an aloof person, and her family's well-off too, right? Now she's gone and learned to cook for you, punctually delivering three meals a day like clockwork. Isn't that her putting her heart into it all the same?" Little White Dove patted his palm. "Muzi, if I were you, I'd just go for it."

Kai shared the exact same thought. "Campus Belle Xia wronged you before, but I think she's really turned over a new leaf now. Why don't you give it a try with her? If anything, you might find what you had before again."

Jiang Muye's brows knitted tightly. "The feelings passed, and that's that. It's not something you can just find again on a whim."

"What if the spark comes back? Don't just go making arbitrary definitions, right! Campus Belle Xia is such a great girl. Of course, the Cold Campus Belle is great too. Man, if it were me, it'd be a hard choice." Little White Dove clicked his tongue. "Two big-deal Campus Belles, both head over heels for you. Your Peach Blossom Luck is way too strong!"

Kai said, "Muzi, you can actually keep an eye on her a bit more. Of course, if Campus Belle Xia wants to get closer to you, don't rush to reject her either. Spend some time together, there's nothing wrong with giving the girl a chance. You're not dating anyone right now anyway, everyone has the right to pursue love. You can't just directly sentence her to life in prison, right?"

Jiang Muye looked at his two brothers, both speaking up for Xia Xiran, and said, "I'm not the type to rekindle old flames. Rather than me being moved, it might be sooner that she gives up hope."

"Take it one step at a time, see how it goes." Jiang Muye patted the table. "Worst comes to worst, I don't need any of them. Straight-up single!"

How great is it being a single dog, not worrying about that damn love business.

Living on your own is so comfortable and sweet, and you can save money on all the holidays, and you can openly celebrate Singles' Day too.

Thinking about it, the perks weren't few.

Jiang Muye's declaration made his two roommates shake their heads with regret.

Where did this idiot come from.

Such a deep romantic pool, and yet he still wants to be a single dog.

Whether it was the Cold Campus Belle or Campus Belle Xia, giving him either one of them would have them weeping with gratitude.

Jiang Muye had originally thought that after he made things clear with Xia Xiran, she wouldn't come deliver food anymore, right?

Who could have thought that after Jiang Muye and his roommates finished class that afternoon and had just come back from the teaching building, he'd spot that beautiful figure huddled in the cold wind, waiting.

Naturally, there were students watching, but she paid no mind whatsoever to them.

That pretty little face was clearly flushed red from the cold, somewhat pale like it'd been frosted over. Even her nose tip was bright red, and she was so cold she'd tucked her hands and feet in. But it was obvious she was afraid the food would get cold, so she was holding the bento straight against her chest, hugging it tightly and not letting go.

When she saw Jiang Muye, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes. As she smiled, the corners of her mouth lifted, like a jasmine blossom drifting in the cold wind.

Fresh and elegant, yet captivating to the soul.

"Muye." A soft call escaped from her red lips.

Little White Dove, Kai, and Old He egged him on, giving Jiang Muye a shove. "Go on."

Jiang Muye was pushed forward.

Inwardly he cursed the three beasts, pushing him out to take the bullets at the critical moment.

Jiang Muye looked at Xia Xiran and asked coolly, "What are you doing here again? Didn't I tell you to stop making it?"

"You did tell me not to make it, but without my consent, my heart that wants to cook for the boy I like won't change." Xia Xiran's curled lashes fluttered, and a pair of beautiful eyes gazed at Jiang Muye longingly as she eagerly held out the bento. "The cafeteria uses too much oil, and takeout isn't healthy. Try mine."

"No need." Just as Jiang Muye wanted to brush past Xia Xiran, her voice called him back.

"Then what do you like to eat? I'll make it for you, okay? I'll come deliver food again tomorrow. If one day doesn't move you, two days won't move you, three days won't move you—but what about the ninety-ninth time? The hundredth time!" Xia Xiran smiled softly. "Eventually, the day will come when you agree."

Jiang Muye's heart trembled, and he suddenly turned his head to look at Xia Xiran.

Xia Xiran was especially persistent.

She pursed her lips and said, "Didn't you say you don't waste food? Then you have to eat it all up."

Xia Xiran ran forward and instinctively placed the bento in Jiang Muye's hands, smiling as she said, "Bye bye, see you tomorrow."

She didn't even wait for Jiang Muye to hand it back before she waved at him. Then, with a shy smile, she ran off into the distance.

Jiang Muye was still rather surprised.

He had never imagined Xia Xiran would be this direct.

Little White Dove stepped forward and draped an arm over Jiang Muye's shoulder. "Her feelings for you are as clear as the bright moon. When will my girl learn to be like that?"

"Who wouldn't say so? I'm so jealous of you, bro." Kai said enviously.

Old He chuckled. "If you're not gonna eat it, give it to us. We'll wipe it all out for you!"

"Screw you, I'd rather starve you to death." Jiang Muye glared at Old He.

"Stingy." Old He curled his lip.

"Come on, come on, upstairs." Jiang Muye called out, and he and his roommates headed back to the dorm.

After Jiang Muye set the bento on the table, Kai noticed something and said in surprise, "Campus Belle Xia really is so thoughtful! It got colder today, and she even switched to an insulated lunchbox, just worried the bento she made for you would go cold."

Jiang Muye hadn't noticed at first, but after Kai's reminder, he did.

The lunchbox really had been switched.

Today's dishes were different again.

This time it was tomato meat sauce pasta, topped with plenty of sausage, along with pan-fried beef tenderloin. Loaded with meat, and lots of it.

Just as Jiang Muye was about to dig in, Kai's phone rang. He glanced at it and handed it to Jiang Muye. "It's Campus Belle Xia's roommate, Yuanyuan. She's looking for you."

Jiang Muye answered the WeChat voice message Yuanyuan had sent.

Yuanyuan's voice rang out. "Jiang Muye, are you listening? Have you seen Xiran?"