Chapter 33
The large steak Lou Mi had treated her to, a normal portion for most people, had been too rich for Chi Lin, accustomed to a lighter diet.
Driven by curiosity in her early days in this era, she had indulged in various high-calorie and processed foods, but after learning about modern food production methods, she had returned to her more health-conscious habits.
She had tried to be polite and not refuse Lou Mi’s offer, but the steak had left her feeling bloated and uncomfortable.
She couldn’t overeat today.
Hearing Wei Zhuoning mention the school cafeteria, she asked if she could join her for lunch.
She had heard of a legendary figure in the school cafeteria: the lunch lady in Section A.
This lunch lady controlled the most important section, where the best dishes were served.
She was a master of portion control, each scoop containing precisely one slice of meat, or if two, then two small, broken pieces. Never more.
When the rise of artificial intelligence threatened to replace many human jobs, someone had suggested replacing the lunch ladies with robots, but the proposal had been rejected.
The school administration believed the lunch ladies were more effective at cost control than any AI.
Though the students often complained about the cafeteria food, Wei Zhuoning liked it.
She wasn’t picky about food, as long as it was filling, and the school cafeteria was incredibly affordable.
Where else could you get a full meal for 10 yuan?
With her allowance running low, the cafeteria was her refuge.
Chi Lin had never been to the cafeteria, but she had heard it offered a variety of vegetarian dishes, which suited her current dietary needs.
Wei Zhuoning, surprised by her request, said, “You seriously want to eat there?”
“Yes,” Chi Lin replied.
“Don’t blame me if you get food poisoning.”
Chi Lin smiled. “Of course not. It’s my choice.”
They made plans to meet for lunch.
“Where are you two lovebirds going?”
Lin Xiaozhi, appearing out of nowhere, startled them.
Wei Zhuoning had been avoiding her all morning, but she was like a shadow, always lurking nearby.
Wei Zhuoning was about to say “It’s none of your business” when Chi Lin said, “To the cafeteria. Want to join us?”
Lin Xiaozhi, of course, couldn’t resist. “Sure! I haven’t had lunch with my former and current deskmates together before.”
Wei Zhuoning tried to escape, but Lin Xiaozhi grabbed her arm, practically dragging her to the cafeteria.
Despite the constant complaints, the school cafeteria was a haven for students with limited funds.
South Lake Third High was a public school, with a diverse student body, from wealthy families to struggling students from nearby towns.
The wealthy students formed their own cliques, avoiding the poorer students.
The middle-class students, or those pretending to be middle-class, used the cafeteria as a marker of social status, as if eating there was a sign of poverty.
Chi Lin, unaware of this social dynamic, went along.
Wei Zhuoning, however, didn’t care about their judgment. She was poor, and there was no shame in it.
Her mother, a victim of a broken heart and a runaway boyfriend, had raised her alone, enduring the scorn of their relatives.
Her grandparents had only visited her twice, offering a small amount of money, then disappearing.
They had two sons to worry about.
Their disdain was ingrained, a prejudice that ran deep.
Even in this technologically advanced era, some prejudices persisted, a constant source of pain.
Some families found reconciliation and healing, but not Wei Zhuoning’s.
Wei Zhuoning had always struggled academically. Her mother had never scolded or punished her, simply saying, “A child’s intelligence comes from their mother. If I were smarter, we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s my fault. Your struggles are my responsibility.”
Her mother had encouraged her to try her best, not to leave any regrets.
“Grades don’t define your life. I just want you to be happy.”
Wei Zhuoning had taken her words to heart. She had tried to excel in school, but her grades, especially in math and science, remained poor.
Then, she discovered her talent for writing. She posted a story online, and to her surprise, people read it.
Two months later, she received her first royalty check, over 3,500 yuan. She had been so excited she couldn’t sleep.
The next day, she took her mother to the mall and bought her the shoes she had always wanted.
She continued writing, driven by passion and the desire to provide a better life for her mother.
Her mother, only twenty when she had Wei Zhuoning, had worked tirelessly to support her, even giving up her dreams of graduate school.
Wei Zhuoning wanted to repay her sacrifices.
She knew people mocked those who ate at the school cafeteria, but she was poor, and she wouldn’t hide it.
But the two people she was with today didn’t belong here.
Chi Lin, despite the patched-up uniform and rumors of poverty, arrived at school in a luxury car.
And Wei Zhuoning had once seen a glimpse of an expensive designer ring dangling from her collar, a matching couple ring.
The ring alone cost more than a year’s worth of cafeteria meals.
Chi Lin was a walking contradiction, her family’s financial situation a mystery.
Lin Xiaozhi, however, was undeniably wealthy.
Her parents owned a successful logistics company, their two skyscrapers in the city center iconic landmarks.
In junior high, she had invited over twenty friends to her birthday party at her sprawling mansion.
She was the daughter of privilege, spending her days playing games and somehow maintaining excellent grades.
Wei Zhuoning felt a sense of unease, dining with these two.
They entered the noisy, crowded cafeteria, the air thick with the smell of food.
Chi Lin, however, was unfazed. She had endured far worse conditions during her military campaigns.
Even as an Empress, she had known hardship and wasn’t one to complain. She found the bustling atmosphere… comforting.
They found a table, and Lin Xiaozhi told Chi Lin to get the food while she and Wei Zhuoning saved their seats.
“I can save the seats myself,” Wei Zhuoning said.
“How can one person save a table for four?”
“Just lie down and spread out,” Wei Zhuoning retorted.
Lin Xiaozhi: “…”
Wei Zhuoning, pleased with her rare verbal victory, went with Chi Lin to get their food, observing their interactions.
Their easy banter and comfortable silence spoke volumes.
Lou Mi was right. They’re definitely dating.
Chi Lin chose a plate of vegetarian dishes. Wei Zhuoning, noticing the lack of meat, wondered if she was having financial difficulties. And her pants were patched up.
She added a chicken leg to Chi Lin’s plate. “Eat more. You’re too skinny.”
Chi Lin, wanting to explain her dietary preferences, decided to accept the kind gesture and thanked her.
As they returned to their table, Lin Xiaozhi, eyeing the chicken leg, whispered to Wei Zhuoning, “When will you be this nice to me?”
Wei Zhuoning ignored her and went to get her own food.
Chi Lin observed their exchange, reminded of her early interactions with the Empress.
During their teenage years, the Empress had often found excuses to bicker with her, criticizing her writing and finding fault with everything she did. It had seemed like constant annoyance, but in hindsight, it had been the Empress’s way of seeking her attention, of creating opportunities for closeness.
Chi Lin hadn’t understood then, simply enduring the princess’s demanding nature.
Now, with the Empress lost and reincarnated somewhere in this vast world, she saw those interactions in a new light.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan approaching their table, their chopsticks poking and prodding at the food on her plate.
Xu Yifang, after a thorough and noisy inspection, tossed her chopsticks onto Chi Lin’s plate and sneered.
“Wow, so healthy. Not a speck of meat. How… pathetic.”
Jiao Minxuan sighed dramatically. “Without Liu Huixin’s charity, she can’t even afford meat.”
Chi Lin calmly removed the chopsticks and ignored them.
Xu Yifang pulled a plastic bag from her backpack, containing a fried pork cutlet. “This is my leftover breakfast,” she said, unwrapping the bag. “It’s a bit soggy, but still delicious. Smell it.”
She dangled the pork cutlet in front of Chi Lin’s face, crumbs falling onto the table.
“It’s not just delicious, it’s expensive. At least twenty yuan. You probably can’t afford this kind of gourmet food. But I’m too full to finish it. So I’m giving it to you. No need to thank me. Wasting food is a sin.”
“Are you two insane?” Wei Zhuoning asked.
Xu Yifang, startled, dropped the pork cutlet onto the dirty cafeteria floor.
“How clumsy,” Jiao Minxuan said, picking it up and smiling at Chi Lin. “It seems destined for you. It’s still meat, even if it’s been on the floor. Just wipe off the dirt. You won’t mind, right? With your patched-up uniform, you’re probably used to… leftovers.”
She dropped the pork cutlet onto Chi Lin’s plate, splattering sauce everywhere.
The surrounding students stared and whispered.
Wei Zhuoning, furious, yelled, “Are you deliberately trying to provoke her? Do you have nothing better to do? You’re both idiots!”
Xu Yifang grabbed Wei Zhuoning’s plate and threw it across the room, the food splattering on the floor and almost hitting a passing student.
Screams erupted. The other students sensed a fight brewing.
“It’s those girls from Class 6.”
“Isn’t that Chi Lin?”
“Chi Lin? The one from the sword dance?”
“This is going to be good! Is there going to be a fight?”
“She should have brought her sword!”
Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan exchanged a look.
Mission accomplished. Time to retreat.
As they turned to leave, Chi Lin grabbed Xu Yifang’s wrist.
“I warned you. Don’t provoke me.”
Her eyes were cold and menacing. Xu Yifang struggled to break free, but Chi Lin’s grip was like iron.
“Let go! You’re hurting me!” she cried, her face red with anger and embarrassment.
Jiao Minxuan tried to push Chi Lin away. “Let go of her! Help! Someone’s attacking us!”
The other students watched, no one intervening.
Chi Lin tightened her grip, twisting Xu Yifang’s arm behind her back and pinning her against the table.
Xu Yifang’s face landed in her plate, pressed against the pork cutlet.
“You said you didn’t want to waste food,” Chi Lin said. “Eat it.”
Xu Yifang, unable to move, yelled, “Let go of me, you bitch!”
Wei Zhuoning, initially ready to defend Chi Lin, stared, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
It was like a scene from a movie.
“Damn! That was badass!”
“She doesn’t even need a sword!”
The crowd grew larger. Jiao Minxuan, grabbing her backpack, started hitting Chi Lin over the head.
“Let go! I’ll call the teacher! I’ll call the police!”
Chi Lin, without turning around, grabbed Jiao Minxuan’s collar and pulled her forward, pinning her against the table next to Xu Yifang.
They looked like turtles flipped on their backs, struggling to right themselves.
“Stop! Which class are you in? No fighting in the cafeteria!”
A teacher intervened, but Chi Lin didn’t let go.
“Apologize,” she said to Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan.
Trembling, they mumbled, “Sorry.”
“Apologize to Wei Zhuoning,” Chi Lin said.
They turned to Wei Zhuoning and apologized.
Wei Zhuoning almost said “It’s okay,” then stopped herself.
Chi Lin released them, and they slid off the table, gasping for breath, humiliated and defeated.
They had been publicly shamed, their pride in tatters. They burst into tears and ran away.
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