Every day after the second morning class ended, there was a full thirty minutes for the inter-class exercises. But it rained that day, so the exercises were canceled, and the students unexpectedly gained an extra-long break.
“Want to go down and buy some bread?”
“Sure! I’ll grab a Coke while I’m at it!”
“Wait! Bring me a bag of chips!”
The boys and girls, all sixteen or seventeen years old and in the middle of their growth spurts, had already digested their breakfasts after just two hours. The classmates gathered in groups of three or five, chattering noisily as they headed downstairs to the small shop to buy snacks.
Chen Miaomiao dashed from the front of the classroom to the back row. She first glanced at Shen Yuze, then quickly averted her shy gaze. She knocked on Lu Ping’s desk and planted her hands on her hips aggressively. “Why’d you stop passing notes halfway through earlier? You’re really trying to kill me with suspense here.”
Before Lu Ping could respond, Shen Yuze spoke up. “I told him to stop passing notes.”
Chen Miaomiao: “？！”
Shen Yuze said flatly, “Don’t do that kind of stuff during class. It’s distracting me from listening.”
Lu Ping: “…” Hey, young master, you’ve never listened to a lecture in class!
But Shen Yuze’s aura was intimidating enough. Chen Miaomiao, sitting in the front row, had no idea he was a fake top student and was genuinely bluffed by him.
She nodded awkwardly. She really wanted to ask the person involved about the hidden details of Saturday’s fight, but facing Shen Yuze’s icy expression, she didn’t have the guts to gossip.
Just then, her little friends came to find her, asking if she wanted to go downstairs to the small shop for bread. Chen Miaomiao, relieved to have an out, hurriedly linked arms with her friends and left.
After they left, peace finally returned to Lu Ping’s side.
Lu Ping couldn’t sit still anymore. He felt the glutinous cake in his bag, which still held some warmth, and quietly asked his desk mate, “Everyone’s gone to buy bread… Shen Yuze, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”
Shen Yuze glanced at Chen Miaomiao, who hadn’t gone far, his mood far from sunny. “Not hungry. Not eating.”
“…”
“What’s wrong, are you hungry?”
“A-a little.” Lu Ping shrank back. It wasn’t mealtime, and such a big glutinous cake would definitely be too much for him alone. He’d planned to use the excuse that he was hungry, take out the one he’d made by hand, and smoothly share half with Shen Yuze so he could taste his skills.
He hadn’t expected Shen Yuze to not play by the rules at all.
Shen Yuze’s tone was ice-cold. “If you’re hungry, endure it.”
Lu Ping: “？？？”
Shen Yuze: “Eating too many carbohydrates outside of regular mealtimes makes your brain stupid and affects your work and study performance.”
Lu Ping listened in a daze. “Carbohydrates?”
“All starchy staple foods, like—” Shen Yuze paused, biting off the two words, “—bread.”
His intention was to make Lu Ping drop the idea of going downstairs for bread, but the two of them ended up talking past each other, completely misunderstanding one another.
Lu Ping let out a soft “ah”: starchy staples… then the glutinous cake made from rice cakes definitely counted too.
Shen Yuze’s tone was so serious that Lu Ping couldn’t help but believe him. He thought, Shen Yuze’s family was so rich; they probably had nutritionists and everything, with chefs planning exactly what and how much to eat every day. They definitely wouldn’t eat randomly.
So Lu Ping could only pitifully swallow his remaining words, not mentioning offering Shen Yuze food again.
…
Even until the morning classes ended, Lu Ping still hadn’t found a chance to give Shen Yuze the glutinous cake he’d made by hand.
As soon as lunchtime arrived, Shen Yuze left the classroom on time. Lu Ping knew his driver was waiting outside the school gate. Thinking of the gourmet meals cooked by chefs that Shen Yuze would have at home made the now-cold glutinous cake in his schoolbag seem like Cinderella from the fairy tale by comparison.
The plump, white rice dumpling lay listlessly in the plastic bag. As a glutinous cake, its very purpose was to be eaten. But sadly, it hadn’t fulfilled its mission and had gone cold just like that.
Lu Ping had put so much care into making it that morning; now he felt just as dejected.
Jiaojiang No. 1 Middle School’s lunch break was an hour and a half. The students rushed toward the cafeteria like hungry wolves let out of their cages, shoving and pushing. The school cafeteria’s food was cheap and plentiful, with big pots of rice, stir-fries, and even a window specializing in local Jiaojiang specialties like ginger soup noodles and mai shrimp. In winter, a hot bowl could warm you from stomach to toes.
While everyone else headed to the cafeteria, Lu Ping went against the flow. He carried the thoroughly cooled glutinous cake, walking alone toward the school back gate.
A cooled glutinous cake naturally didn’t taste as good as one fresh from the steamer, but Lu Ping, who cherished food, couldn’t bear to throw it away.
Lu Ping decided to eat it himself.
There was a small garden at the school back gate. Mosquitoes were plentiful in summer, so few people liked to hang out there. But Lu Ping enjoyed the tranquility and freedom here—and most importantly, his “friend” was here.
“Zhaocai, Zhaocai!”
The boy crouched under a big tree and shook the plastic bag in his hand. The rustling sound was nothing special to ordinary people, but to Lu Ping’s “friend,” it was their secret signal for reuniting.
A few leaves drifted down lazily. A coquettish “meow” sounded from above. The boy looked up at the swaying branches overhead.
Amid the dense foliage, a pitch-black cat with snow-white paws poked out its little head. Its golden pupils narrowed into slits as it tilted its head at the human boy it hadn’t seen in days.
“Zhaocai! Come down quick!” Seeing the cat, Lu Ping’s face broke into a big smile. “There’s meat today!”
That’s right—this black cat named Zhaocai was Lu Ping’s only friend at school.
The black cat moved nimbly. From such a high tree, it leaped lightly and landed steadily. Unlike a pampered house cat, it wasn’t fat and bloated; its frame was lean but muscled, with glossy, sleek fur. It flipped in midair and landed gracefully in front of Lu Ping, like an elegant ballerina.
Then, this ballerina meowed in a pinched, coquettish tone—”meow meow meow”—while flicking its tail and rubbing against Lu Ping.
A cat’s tail-wagging was completely different from a dog’s. Dogs swept their tails side to side from the base, like windshield wipers on a car. Cats pointed their tails straight to the sky, with just the tip twisting and hooking around a human’s leg.
Every time Zhaocai hooked his leg like that, Lu Ping felt his heart was about to be hooked away by this sassy cat.
Lu Ping squatted down, rubbing the cat’s fluffy little head with one hand while pulling out the glutinous cake from the plastic bag with the other, coaxing it softly. “Zhaocai, lots of meat today.”
The cat shook its tail even harder, as if it understood.
Lu Ping had met Zhaocai a year ago. Back then, as a freshman, he’d been subtly ostracized by his classmates; even at lunch, no one wanted to sit with him. One noon, he’d deliberately skipped the cafeteria and brought the glutinous cake his mom made to the small garden. He told himself it wasn’t that they were excluding him—he’d chosen not to eat with them!
He’d sat under this very tree, enjoying the breeze and eating his glutinous cake contentedly.
But for some reason, even though it was so delicious, tears had streamed down his face as he ate.
In his panic to wipe them away, rustling came from the branches above—and the next second, a black cat with snow-white paws dropped from the sky, landing heavily in his lap.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since he and this mischievous little black cat became friends.
Lu Ping stroked the black cat’s back with one hand while muttering, “Lucky kitty gets a treat… Hmph, whatever carbohydrates, whatever starch. A certain young master will never know what he missed!”
“—What did I miss?”
“You missed my handmade… ah!” Lu Ping finally reacted, startling so badly that he plopped right onto the ground.
He dumbly looked up at the backlit figure—
The midday sun especially favored that handsome boy, plating a golden halo around him. The boy lowered his head, his refined features carrying a hint of mischief. “Lu Ping, talking bad about me behind my back?”
“Why are you here?” Lu Ping stammered. “Didn’t… didn’t you go home for lunch?”
Shen Yuze didn’t answer. He extended a hand and pulled Lu Ping up from the ground. Their hands clasped, Shen Yuze’s grip was strong; Lu Ping barely exerted any effort before he was lightly hoisted up.
As soon as Shen Yuze appeared, the little black cat meowed in fright and bolted. Cats were always alert; it didn’t go far, just hid behind the tree, peeking out with its head and hissing at Shen Yuze.
“You like cats?” Shen Yuze gazed at the cat that was clearly hostile toward him.
“Yeah.” Lu Ping nodded. “Too bad I can’t keep one at home. I can only feed it occasionally.”
He’d posted tons of cat photos on his social account, most of them of Zhaocai. Back when he was a nobody, no one cared about his cat pics. But ever since he’d become @fake-diaond, his cat photos
Shen Yuze looked at the white dumpling in Lu Ping’s hand, wrapped in layers of plastic bags. “You’re feeding it this? Can cats eat that?”
“This is… um, this…” Lu Ping stammered. “I’ll pick out the meat inside for it. I’ll eat the rest.”
“You’re pretty kindhearted.” Shen Yuze chuckled lightly. “It’s clearly my food, and you didn’t even ask the owner before feeding it to a cat?”
“Eh????” Lu Ping stared at him in surprise.
Shen Yuze raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been acting weird since this morning. Wasn’t this made for me to eat?”
“…” Lu Ping’s face flushed red, but he still had to be stubborn. “But it’s got tons of carbohydrates, young master. Won’t your brain get stupid if you eat it?”
Shen Yuze said self-deprecatingly, “Transferring here was already the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
Lu Ping didn’t catch the meaning, and Shen Yuze didn’t explain.
The two sat side by side on the bench under the tree shade. Lu Ping handed the glutinous cake, wrapped in layers of plastic, to Shen Yuze and told him this was his family’s mainstay business.
The heavy, soft dumpling was novel to Shen Yuze. Though the outer rice cake had cooled, its pale, plump surface still looked appetizing.
Shen Yuze asked, “What’s inside?”
Lu Ping ticked them off on his fingers. “Braised pork, veggies, and pickled veg bits. Not sure if you’ll like it.”
Since he was bringing it to school, Lu Ping had worried about leaks on the way, so unlike usual, he hadn’t left a small opening this time. He’d pinched all the edges tight, making a complete, plump-bellied dumpling.
It was Shen Yuze’s first time trying this. He was cautious with unfamiliar food, inspecting it carefully before opening his mouth and taking a small, tentative bite from one corner.
The rice cake skin was chewy and springy, unlike regular rice cakes that stuck to the teeth—it kept the softness and bounce without overpowering. The filling was abundant: crisp veggies, smoky braised pork, tangy-spicy pickled veg… each flavor distinct yet harmoniously blended.
In that instant, it was like a palette of vibrant colors spilling across his tongue, or a full orchestra striking up in his mouth.
Lu Ping stared nervously at Shen Yuze. This was the first time he had brought glutinous cake for a friend to taste. Would Shen Yuze like it? Could Shen Yuze like it?
Even though it was Shen Yuze who was eating, Lu Ping was so tense that his stomach cramped.
His gaze burned like something tangible. It was hard for Shen Yuze under such scrutiny, but he still slowly chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Only then did Lu Ping, who had been holding his breath, finally relax and let out a long exhale.
“How… how was it?” Lu Ping’s eyes sparkled like a child seeking praise. “Was it good? Could you get used to it?”
“It’s delicious.” Shen Yuze pondered for a moment, then gradually frowned. “But did you put carrot shreds in it?”
Lu Ping’s heart sank. “You don’t eat carrots?”
“I do.” Shen Yuze denied it. “But I only eat carrots that don’t taste like carrots. The chefs at home blanch them first to remove the flavor.”
Lu Ping: …So you still don’t eat carrots!!
Shen Yuze lowered his head and peered inside the glutinous cake where he had bitten through. “What’s this sour diced vegetable?”
“It’s homemade pickled long beans. You don’t happen to hate long beans too, do you?”
“I eat long beans.” Shen Yuze denied it again. “But I don’t like sour flavors.”
The smile on Lu Ping’s face was about to crumble. He simply threw caution to the wind, slumping his little face as he said, “Young Master Shen, just tell me all at once what else you don’t eat.”
Shen Yuze didn’t notice at all that Lu Ping was starting to despise him. He actually listed out all the foods he avoided. He was usually particular about his meals—never tired of refined dishes or meticulous cooking—and had a long list of forbidden ingredients. The chefs always had to rack their brains every time they prepared his food.
It was only then that Lu Ping finally understood why Shen Yuze went home for lunch every day. With his picky eating habits, the school cafeteria really couldn’t serve a big shot like him.
Lu Ping fumed, “Forget it, forget it. If you don’t like it, give it back to me. I’ll feed it to the cat.”
“No.” Shen Yuze dodged his hand reaching to snatch the glutinous cake and said earnestly, “The taste is different from what I imagined, but I can’t waste your effort.”
Lu Ping let out a cold laugh. “Feeding it to the cat won’t waste my effort either!”
Such a handsome guy, but why did he have to have such a picky mouth? If his finicky side got exposed online, half his fans would probably unfollow.
Though Shen Yuze complained on the surface, he still seriously ate more than half of the glutinous cake Lu Ping had brought. First-timers with glutinous cake often ended up with filling smeared everywhere, looking messy. But Shen Yuze ate elegantly—even a common street-side glutinous cake gained value in his hands.
He couldn’t finish the remaining third, so he squeezed out the filling and placed it on the ground, calling the black cat over to eat.
The black cat was still wary of him. After a long while, it cautiously trotted over.
The two sat on the bench, watching the cat devour the food heartily while chatting idly about this and that. The afternoon sun warmed their bodies. Lu Ping felt utterly lazy all over. The leaves swayed in the late summer breeze, and occasionally, wilted petals drifted down onto them.
This was a leisurely afternoon Lu Ping had never enjoyed before. Beside him was his new friend (if he ignored the photo-stealing incident), and in front of him was the adorable cat. All the troubles, anxieties, confusion, and insecurities of puberty seemed insignificant in that moment.
Lu Ping stretched lazily, drowsy and using every bit of his willpower to keep from collapsing onto Shen Yuze’s shoulder.
“Lu Ping, thanks for the glutinous cake.” Shen Yuze’s voice came from beside his ear. “You haven’t eaten lunch yet, right? Let me treat you at noon?”
“The cafeteria probably doesn’t have much left now. Let’s check the school store later and grab something.” Lu Ping yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he looked at his desk mate. “I ate a lot this morning…”
Suddenly, Lu Ping’s eyes flew wide open—he noticed red patches appearing on Shen Yuze’s hands.
Shen Yuze had fair skin, so the red spots stood out starkly. They extended from under his sleeves to the backs of his hands, swelling and spreading rapidly. Similar spots appeared on his neck below the collar!
Lu Ping: “!!!” He hurriedly pointed it out. “What’s going on with you?”
Shen Yuze froze and looked down at his hands.
Once he saw the red spots clearly, he immediately realized what was happening and asked urgently, “Lu Ping, was there seafood in the glutinous cake?”
“Seafood? N-no… Wait!” Lu Ping finally remembered. “The broth for the stewed meat at home had shrimp oil added for flavor!”
Shen Yuze’s face changed drastically. “I’m allergic to shrimp.”
Lu Ping: “…”
Lu Ping: “…………”
Lu Ping: “………………”
Lu Ping wanted to cry.
So the perfect male god wasn’t just picky—he had a fragile stomach allergic to seafood too!
