The group left the dormitory building. Under Wang Sheng's lead, they headed toward the cafeteria located at the rear of the campus.
Nuoding Academy's cafeteria was massive. When it was built, it was planned to accommodate all faculty and students simultaneously, meaning it was designed for a capacity of a thousand people. To distinguish between teachers and students, the cafeteria was built with two floors.
The first floor was for the majority of ordinary students, while the second floor was reserved for teachers and the children of wealthy nobles and merchants. Don't ask why a place built for teachers ended up catering to the children of the elite—at the end of the day, everyone has to make a living!
They arrived at the front of the cafeteria. Standing at the entrance, Lin Ye peered inside to see a bright and spacious hall. The floors and walls were covered in grey-white marble tiles, making the space look clean and orderly. Decorative items and paintings hung on the walls, making it quite pleasing to the eye.
At this moment, the hall was packed with people, with long lines stretching across the room. At the end of each line was a service window where figures in white robes were busy using spatulas to dish out food for the students at the front.
"Boss Lin Ye, do you see those? Those windows are where we get our food. But remember, you have to line up," Wang Sheng explained as he pointed out the various stations.
"I see," Lin Ye nodded calmly.
In truth, he didn't need Wang Sheng to tell him. A quick observation upon entering was enough for him to grasp the situation. However, while he knew the windows were for food, the dishes at each window likely varied. He decided to check them out before deciding what to eat.
Just as Lin Ye was about to browse the selections, a mocking voice drifted down from above.
"Yo! Isn't that Wang Sheng? What, a bunch of paupers like you actually dare to come to the cafeteria to eat? Hurry up and buy some steamed buns and pickles, then scurry back to your dorm!"
Hearing the voice, Lin Ye looked up toward the source. Above the main hall was the second-floor balcony. Several teenagers dressed in silk and brocade were standing by the wooden railing, looking down with sneers.
"Hmph! You regular students, you think having money makes you so great?!" one of the younger boys from Dormitory Seven shouted back angrily.
"Why can't we eat here? It's not like we can't afford the first floor!" another boy added, visibly upset.
"Having money? Well, of course that makes us great!" The noble youths on the second floor looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"Paupers like you probably won't get to eat on the second floor in your entire lives!" one of the day students mocked again.
Lin Ye remained expressionless in the face of their taunts. Tang San didn't take it to heart, and Wang Sheng's group was already used to it. Only Xiao Wu clenched her small fists, her face puffed out with rage as she shouted back.
"You guys! Who says we can't eat on the second floor? It's just the second floor, what's so special about it!"
"Sister Xiao Wu, stop talking. We really can't afford the second floor. They have an à la carte menu there—it's too expensive!" A boy next to Xiao Wu quickly pulled her back and whispered.
"Expensive? Does it cost a lot of money?" Xiao Wu froze. Though her thought process was simple, she understood she was broke. Even though Lin Ye was treating them, she was pure-hearted and wouldn't go out of her way to eat something incredibly costly. Hearing that the second floor was expensive made her hesitate.
"Haha! Truly a bunch of paupers!" Seeing Xiao Wu's fire instantly douse at the mention of money, the Regular students on the second floor doubled over in laughter.
"Sigh! Such a cute little girl, but what a shame she's a working student," one of the day students said, shaking his head with a mock sigh.
"You!" Even though Xiao Wu didn't fully grasp the nuance of his words, her instincts told her it wasn't a compliment. Her temper flared again.
Seeing her anger, the boy beside her tugged her sleeve again. "Sister Xiao Wu, let's just go. We really can't afford it, just ignore them!"
Wang Sheng also sighed. "Let's go eat. The second floor just has separate ordering, there's nothing special about it. No need to get tangled up with them."
Lin Ye frowned as he looked at the arrogant Regular students. He actually wanted to use them to establish his authority. However, since he had just started school, he didn't fully understand the academy's rules yet. Furthermore, they were only engaging in verbal provocation. After some thought, he decided to let it go.
But just as Lin Ye turned to continue looking at the food windows, one of the Regular students who was eating a chicken leg noticed him.
Unlike most commoner working students, Lin Ye's appearance was exceptional due to his genetics and the nourishment of his Nine Yang True Qi. His skin was fair, and his features were refined—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe his beauty as "painted." Even the tattered hemp clothes couldn't hide his natural grace.
Seeing Lin Ye, the Regular student eating the chicken leg froze, and a surge of jealousy instantly flared in his heart.
Damn it! Even a noble like me isn't as handsome as you! For a working student (he assumed) to be this handsome is simply outrageous!
Driven by malice, the student fiercely threw the half-eaten chicken leg, aiming it straight at Lin Ye.
However, hearing the whistle of the object through the air, Lin Ye instantly sensed the attack. With a slight shift of his body, he dodged it.
Splat!
The greasy chicken leg missed its mark and hit the floor with a wet thud. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to catch the attention of Tang San, Wang Sheng, and the others who hadn't walked far.
Whoosh!
Everyone turned around simultaneously. They saw the chicken leg lying next to Lin Ye and the Regular student above, still frozen in his throwing posture.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Anyone who wasn't a fool knew exactly what had happened.
I have to take action now, Lin Ye decided instantly.
He had planned to wait for a better opportunity to establish his dominance, but these Regular students seemed hell-bent on seeking trouble. Now that he had been attacked, if he didn't strike back, his authority as the "Boss" would vanish.
He had to move!