Her voice dropped a little: "I... I didn't forget... It's just that I don't have a computer. I used to do it in the public computer lab at the university library, but the milk tea shop has been closing late these past few days. By the time I get there, the lab is almost closed, so I can only write a little bit at a time..."
She paused and quickly added, "I'll go to the lab right after dinner. I'll definitely finish and hand it in tonight; I won't delay it anymore."
As she spoke, she buried her head even lower, afraid that others would see her embarrassment.
Jiang Cheng's brow furrowed immediately upon hearing this. He hadn't expected that Ye Wan wouldn't have a computer.
"Studying is important. You can't let a part-time job affect your studies."
Hearing this, Ye Wan, whether out of fear of losing her job or fear of Jiang Cheng being angry, hurriedly explained: "I... I know... I won't..."
"I remember there's a laptop at the milk tea shop. Take it back and use it."
However, Ye Wan shook her head repeatedly and said, "No... there's no need. Actually, I don't have computer assignments every time. I can just find some time to go somewhere and do them..."
After speaking, she lowered her head, seemingly unwilling to continue the topic.
The momentary spark that had flashed in Ye Wan's eyes when she asked Jiang Cheng to swipe his card for dinner had now completely extinguished.
She felt that Jiang Cheng had already helped her so much that she was truly too embarrassed to accept any more help from him.
At her age, knowing her background and financial situation, romance was a luxury.
At her age, love was like an unreachable luxury to her.
Her background and financial status dictated that she couldn't easily pursue such ethereal feelings.
Although she knew the gap between her and Jiang Cheng was wider than the distance between heaven and earth,
human nature being what it is, even if she acted calm on the surface,
she simply couldn't suppress the fluttering in her heart.
The incandescent lights in the cafeteria hung high overhead, reflecting clearly off the grains of rice in Ye Wan's bowl.
She held her chopsticks with her fingertips, and with every mouthful she shoveled in, she felt as if her throat was being tightly gripped by something, making it hard to swallow.
The gentler Jiang Cheng was to her, the more it acted like a mirror, unreservedly reflecting her current embarrassment and leaving her nowhere to hide.
Once again, in front of the person she liked, she was always so pathetic.
Having to run to the computer lab because she didn't have a laptop, and even having to carry the anxiety of rushing assignments while eating.
Even when refusing help, she was filled with cautious awkwardness.
Her chest felt as if it were weighed down by a piece of wet cotton, making it so stifling she could hardly breathe.
She hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, and the bottom of the bowl soon appeared. When she put down her chopsticks, her hands were trembling slightly: "I... I'm going to the computer lab now. There shouldn't be many people at this hour, so I can finish my homework quickly."
After saying that, she didn't dare stay longer, yet she couldn't help but look up at Jiang Cheng.
His brow was still slightly furrowed as he nodded at her.
That look made her heart feel both warm and bitter, and she hurriedly looked away.
She stood up almost as if fleeing: "Then I'll be going now. Thank you, Brother Jiang and Brother Wang, for helping me swipe the card just now."
As she spoke, Ye Wan gripped the straps of her canvas bag tightly.
She walked out of the cafeteria with hurried steps, her back showing a hint of hasty evasion.
After Ye Wan left, seeing that Jiang Cheng was still looking toward the entrance, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup, the worry in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
Wang Jian, who was beside him, saw this clearly.
He suddenly leaned in and nudged him gently with his elbow: "Brother Cheng, this is perfect. Isn't our External Liaison Department doing a recruitment drive for the new semester? In previous years, first place only got some stationery or a thermos. How about we change it up this year? What if we set the first prize as a laptop?"
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng indeed looked up at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Although Jiang Cheng hadn't said it, he had helped Ye Wan get a job at the milk tea shop and even gave her meal card subsidies.
Even though Ye Wan wasn't that good-looking,
she was still a woman Jiang Cheng was helping.
Hearing this, Wu Kun mumbled with a mouthful of rice: "But Ye Wan isn't part of your External Liaison Department."
Wang Jian looked at Wu Kun: "You, man... when I say you're improper, you're actually proper at key moments; when I say you're proper, you do so many shameless things every day."
Just as Wang Jian finished speaking, a pleasant voice was heard from not far away.
"Jiang Cheng~~"
Following the sound, they saw Huang Yiyi rushing toward their table from the cafeteria entrance.
Although it was winter, Huang Yiyi was clearly running very fast.
The stray hairs on her forehead were damp with sweat, her cheeks were as red as ripe peaches, and her chest was still heaving.
Before Jiang Cheng could answer her, Huang Yiyi's eyes swept over the sweet and sour pork ribs, tomato and scrambled eggs, and the spiced duck on the table.
Seeing that the food on the table had been mostly finished by the few of them,
Huang Yiyi pouted anxiously and said with dissatisfaction: "Hmph, you didn't even notify me when you came over. I only found out you were eating in the cafeteria because I heard it from others. Don't eat too fast; I'm going to get my food right now."
After saying that, Huang Yiyi ignored the startled expressions of Wang Jian and the others.
Without waiting for Jiang Cheng's response, she grabbed her Chanel bag and rushed toward the food counter.
Her flaxen long hair whipped around quickly, and even her steps carried a hint of cheerful haste.
Looking at Huang Yiyi, Wu Kun sourly picked up a leaf of a vegetable: "Look at this Huang Yiyi. Usually, when she sees us, she'll greet us, but today, as soon as she sees Jiang Cheng, she treats the rest of us like we're invisible. Tsk tsk tsk."
Wang Jian roasted him mercilessly: "Probably because she's afraid that if she greets you, you'll think she likes you."
Jiang Cheng burst out laughing upon hearing that.
"So that's how it is. Wu Kun, just how narcissistic are you to scare a Girl so much she doesn't even dare to greet you?"
Lu Chuan joined in the roasting: "Brother Cheng, you have no idea. Now all the Girls in class are avoiding him."
Wu Kun looked like he was heavily wounded and complained helplessly: "I understand now. You just can't spoil Girls. If you're attentive, they call you a simp; if you don't reply, they say you've had a change of heart. Being a man is so hard. Sigh, Brother Cheng, tell me, how exactly do you attract Girls..."