Jiang Yuan tidied up his dorm room, looking at the empty desk and bathroom.
He needed to buy some daily necessities.
After all, he came empty-handed when he enrolled, without any luggage, so there were quite a few things he needed to purchase.
The pedestrian street near the school was bustling.
People came and went on Mingzhu Pedestrian Street, a lively crowd.
Shops lined both sides of the street, offering everything from stationery and accessories to daily necessities, with a wide variety of items and very affordable prices.
Every enrollment season, this street became a must-visit spot for new students, who not only shopped but also got an early taste of the vibrant life at the academy.
Jiang Yuan stood amidst the crowd; his tall figure, handsome face, and outstanding demeanor attracted the attention of many female students along the way, some even whispering to their companions, their eyes full of curiosity.
Soon, Jiang Yuan stopped in front of a daily goods store and walked inside.
"Hello, welcome!" the clerk greeted him warmly.
Jiang Yuan nodded politely and began to pick out items from the shelves.
Before long, he emerged carrying a full bag of items.
Thankfully, the academy was thoughtful enough to provide bedding like sheets and quilts, otherwise, he would have had to struggle with these large items.
Jiang Yuan carried the heavy shopping bag and walked briskly towards the school.
As he passed a restaurant, a rich and enticing aroma, like an invisible hand, instantly stopped him.
The fragrance, a mix of the richness of meat, the freshness of vegetables, and the savory taste of soup, wafted directly into his nostrils, making his mouth water.
This place smells so good!
How could he resist? Besides, he hadn't had lunch yet.
Jiang Yuan rubbed his stomach; he had been busy with the interview and tidying up the dorm all morning, so he hadn't even had breakfast or lunch.
Thinking of this, he unhesitatingly changed direction and, in the blink of an eye, had already stepped through the restaurant's door.
It was dinnertime, and the restaurant was bustling and noisy.
Every table was filled with diners enjoying their meals, mostly students.
Laughter and the clinking of tableware intertwined, filling the air with a strong sense of everyday life.
Fortunately, Jiang Yuan was lucky; a table of customers had just gotten up to leave, freeing up an empty table.
He quickly walked over, sat down steadily, and picked up the menu on the table.
"One portion of braised pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, stir-fried pork with green peppers, Mapo Tofu, salt and pepper duck, tea tree mushroom chicken soup, and finally, a large bowl of rice! Remember to add extra peppercorns and chili to the Mapo Tofu, thank you!"
Jiang Yuan ordered a whole table full of dishes in one breath.
No choice, he had a big appetite.
Besides, now that he was a magician, his body consumed a lot of energy, so eating more to replenish it was reasonable.
And with his physique, he couldn't get fat no matter how much he ate, so not eating to his heart's content would be a disservice to himself.
Just as Jiang Yuan was eagerly anticipating the arrival of his meal, the restaurant door gently opened, and two girls walked in.
The girl walking in front was tall, wearing a long white dress that accentuated her graceful figure.
Her face was exquisite, and her eyes held a cool, aloof demeanor, like a fairy detached from the world, inspiring awe.
The girl following her was slightly shorter but had a shapely figure, dressed in a tight casual outfit that perfectly outlined her curves, brimming with youthful vitality.
They looked around, and the taller girl slightly furrowed her brows, saying calmly, "It seems this place has no seats either. I'll take you somewhere else to eat. All the places near the school are probably full."
"But Mu Nujiao, I'm almost starving!"
The shorter girl, Ai Tutu, pitifully clutched her stomach, her face full of grievance: "Let's just find a place nearby and make do. The food here is cheap and delicious, don't go far and spend too much."
At this moment, the busy clerk finally had a moment to spare.
She hurried over to them, enthusiastically pointing to Jiang Yuan's table and saying, "Students, there's an empty seat over there. I can ask if you can share a table. How about it? If not, you can wait a moment, another table will be free soon."
Mu Nujiao didn't respond immediately but turned her gaze to Ai Tutu beside her, her eyes asking a question.
Ai Tutu's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly: "Then please go ask, we're almost starving."
"Alright!"
The clerk smiled in response, turned, and walked over to Jiang Yuan, her face full of smiles: "Handsome, these two students would like to share a table with you, would that be convenient?"
As she spoke, she stepped aside to let Jiang Yuan see the two girls not far away.
Jiang Yuan glanced up, then shook his head without hesitation: "Sorry, I don't share tables."
This plot is too cliché, isn't it?
Meeting beautiful girls at a restaurant with no seats and needing to share a table.
Next, it's guaranteed to be various ambiguous situations and the development of a romantic storyline.
Even Mo Fan, whose brain is only full of dirty thoughts, wouldn't write something so cliché.
Besides, he ordered so many dishes, and the table was only so big; there was no way to share it.
"Ah... okay then." A hint of awkwardness flashed across the clerk's face. She had originally thought Jiang Yuan would gladly agree, given that they were two such outstanding beauties.
She couldn't help but wonder to herself, "Could this handsome guy not like girls?"
Thinking this, a strange look appeared in her eyes as she turned back to Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu, explaining the situation truthfully.
"Ah? We're both so pretty, and he actually refused to share a table? Are you kidding me?!" Ai Tutu's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
"Forget it, let's go somewhere else." Mu Nujiao glanced at Jiang Yuan and said softly.
Upon hearing this, Ai Tutu's face immediately changed. She clutched her stomach with both hands and said weakly, "Mu Nujiao, I... I really can't walk anymore, I feel like I'm going to starve to death any second..."
"...Ai Tutu, don't be so exaggerated." Mu Nujiao shook her head helplessly.
"Really, Mu Nujiao, I have no strength left, I can't walk." Ai Tutu looked at Mu Nujiao pitifully, her eyes full of pleading.
Just then, the clerk rushed over again: "Students, a table of customers just finished eating, do you still want to order?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Ai Tutu's eyes lit up, and she suddenly became energetic, pulling Mu Nujiao's arm and running towards the empty table.
Her strength was so great that Mu Nujiao stumbled, completely unlike her previous weak state.
After they sat down, they quickly ordered their food.
While waiting for their dishes, Ai Tutu looked at the abundant dishes on Jiang Yuan's table and couldn't help but pout, muttering softly, "Mu Nujiao, you're so beautiful, and that guy actually wasn't willing to share a table with us. I really don't know what's going on in his head. And he ordered so many dishes, he's just a big glutton!"
"Alright, don't talk about people like that. Others have the right to refuse, we can't force them. And it's not good to speak ill of people behind their backs, understood?" Mu Nujiao gently patted Ai Tutu's shoulder and said gently.
"Understood, Mu Nujiao." Ai Tutu pouted and replied.
On the other side, Jiang Yuan had already finished his meal.
"Waiter, check, please." Jiang Yuan called out while wiping his mouth.
He inadvertently glanced at Mu Nujiao's table, paused, and then said to the approaching waiter, "Did those two girls just order? I'll pay for their meal too."
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the waiter's eyes.
So the handsome guy still liked pretty girls.
Darn it!
Why didn't he like boys?
She quickly regained her composure, calculated the bill, and told Jiang Yuan the total.
Jiang Yuan took out his card, quickly paid the bill, and walked out of the restaurant without looking back.
Actually, he had heard Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu's conversation just now and knew they were Mu Nujiao and Ai Tutu.
Although he refused to share a table, he thought leaving a good impression wouldn't hurt, as their paths would surely cross often in the future.
Anyway, eating out didn't cost much.
A moment later, Ai Tutu and Mu Nujiao also finished their meal. They called the waiter to pay the bill.
"What? Someone already paid for our meal? Who was it?" Ai Tutu's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"It was the young man you wanted to share a table with earlier." The waiter explained with a smile.
"Ah?" Ai Tutu subconsciously looked at Mu Nujiao, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "Mu Nujiao, could that person be one of your admirers?"
"Hmm... I'm not entirely sure." Mu Nujiao slightly frowned. She indeed had many admirers, many of whom she hadn't met, so it was quite possible he was one of them.