Er Ya excitedly ordered her meal. With her big, bright eyes and a genuine smile, the cafeteria aunt's hand surprisingly didn't tremble, serving her generous portions.
As Er Ya finished ordering, Li Xiaoxiao found a four-person table. Xia Qingtian bought drinks, and the three of them sat down before starting to eat.
"The food here isn't as good as yours, but it's okay~" Er Ya said, spitting out a bone. "I like it here!"
"As long as you like it," Xia Qingtian said, taking a sip of her drink. "You have shifts, right? If I have classes in the morning, I can wake up a little earlier and we can go together. But if I don't have class, how will you get to work?"
"Hmm..." Er Ya tilted her head, appearing to ponder the issue. Then, her eyes darted around, and she chuckled, "Don't worry, there will be a way."
"You have such a sweet smile," Li Xiaoxiao said, completely charmed by Er Ya's smile. "How old are you? You're so cute. Your eyes are so big and sparkly. Do you have a boyfriend? I have a younger brother..."
"You should eat first!" Xia Qingtian put a piece of pork rib into Li Xiaoxiao's mouth, cutting off her chatter. "We still need to go to the library after we finish eating."
"Mmm..." Li Xiaoxiao puffed out her cheeks.
"What are you guys going to the library for?" Er Ya asked, blinking her eyes.
"There are three questions, and we want to look up some information," Xia Qingtian replied.
"Qingtian, I can't even understand those three questions," Li Xiaoxiao said. "I heard Professor Tang made them. I bet no one in the whole school can answer them! Anyway, as long as you don't hand in a blank paper, you'll get credit. Why don't you just write something random?"
"Then I can't just write 'solution' and then copy song lyrics..." Xia Qingtian said helplessly.
"What kind of questions are they? Let me see," Er Ya also became curious.
Xia Qingtian handed Er Ya the paper with her name on it. "Here, it's this one."
"Hmph... just these?" Er Ya scoffed. "You don't need to make such a fuss. Just give me a pen."
Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao exchanged glances, then handed Er Ya a pen.
Er Ya held a half-eaten chicken leg in her left hand and the pen in her right. She quickly finished answering all three questions. "Here, just hand it in."
Xia Qingtian looked at the paper Er Ya handed back, blinked her eyes, and thought, 'Fine, I still don't understand them.'
"Since it's all filled out, just hand it in," Li Xiaoxiao said, shrugging as she saw Er Ya just scribbling randomly. "As long as we get the credit."
"Alright," Xia Qingtian nodded.
"Then can you guys play with me this afternoon!" Er Ya leaned forward, her bright eyes curving into beautiful crescents, making it impossible to refuse.
Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao could only nod and agree.
After the meal, Xia Qingtian and Er Ya stood outside the cafeteria waiting for Li Xiaoxiao, who had temporarily gone to the restroom.
As they were chatting, a female voice called out, "Xia Qingtian, I thought you wouldn't be coming back to school."
"Isn't this our class monitor? I heard the school is holding a Campus Star Competition. It's practically tailor-made for you," Xia Qingtian said, a smile forming on her lips as she saw Jiang Yingying and her group approaching. "What a pity, I didn't get to witness the class monitor's triumphant moment! I'm so bummed!"
"You!" Jiang Yingying's expression changed instantly.
Xia Qingtian must know that Li Xiaoxiao had won, which was why she was speaking so sarcastically and nastily!
That Li Xiaoxiao too, looking so unfashionable and incapable, how could she suddenly become the daughter of Dr. Li and his wife, and play the role of a good person so well, getting all the teachers and students to vote for her!
Truly shameless!
And she strongly suspected that Li Xiaoxiao was doing it on purpose!
Otherwise, why would she be kidnapped at such a crucial moment, and participate in a variety show before that?
It was all just marketing! Who couldn't do that!
Jiang Yingying was only angry that she couldn't expose them on the spot to maintain her good image!
"Xia Qingtian, don't think you're so great. I admit you're lucky to find a potential stock like Li Xiaoxiao by simply recruiting a 'green grass' to complement you," Jiang Yingying glanced at Er Ya beside Xia Qingtian, then rolled her eyes dismissively. "However, your luck will only stop there. No one can rely on luck for a lifetime!
Also, I heard that your Xia Corporation's collaboration project with Gu Corporation is about to start. I hope your luck is still enough."
"Then you don't need to worry about it," Xia Qingtian knew Jiang Yingying's inner imbalance.
The Jiang family had always been eyeing the new energy project and had tried multiple times to get a share of the pie from Mr. Gu. But it was a pity.
At the previous business conference, Mr. Jiang had sided with Gu Yaoqing.
Based on this alone, Mr. Gu had completely shut down any possibility for the Jiang Corporation.
"Our standards for choosing friends are different. As for luck..." Xia Qingtian chuckled. "Everyone has their own ambitions. I just want to rely on luck to meet strength. What can you do to me?"
Jiang Yingying seemed about to say something else, but seeing Li Xiaoxiao returning, she retracted her words and then snorted, "I truly feel it's not worth it for Li Xiaoxiao. She genuinely considers you a good friend! I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! Hmph!"
After saying this, Jiang Yingying gave Xia Qingtian a provocative smile and turned to leave.
Watching Jiang Yingying's subpar acting, Xia Qingtian merely let out a cold scoff.
"What's going on? Did I miss any good drama?" Li Xiaoxiao asked, walking up to Xia Qingtian.
"It's about the same as before," Xia Qingtian glanced at Jiang Yingying's retreating back and sneered. "Not the slightest bit of improvement."
"Oh, alright." Li Xiaoxiao was no longer curious and started to stroll around the campus with Xia Qingtian and Er Ya, chatting and laughing.
It wasn't until almost class time in the afternoon that Xia Qingtian and Li Xiaoxiao returned to the classroom.
There was only one class in the afternoon.
After the class ended, Xia Qingtian handed her answer sheet to Jiang Yingying. "Excuse me, Class Monitor."
"Hmph." Jiang Yingying looked at Xia Qingtian's filled-out test paper and sneered dismissively. "Quite a lot of fabrication."
"That's right, it's for 2 credits after all," Xia Qingtian said before turning to leave. She met up with Li Xiaoxiao at the door. Li Xiaoxiao curiously asked, "Do you think she won't submit it for you?"
"She wouldn't dare," Xia Qingtian said. "I'm considered somewhat of a celebrity, and my previous minor friction with her is known to many people. She's not stupid enough to openly target me."
"That's true." Li Xiaoxiao thought about Jiang Yingying's usual demeanor and chuckled as she walked out with Xia Qingtian.
Jiang Yingying, left in the classroom, really wanted to tear up Xia Qingtian's answer sheet, but she truly didn't dare.
She didn't need to give anyone leverage over her.
However, looking at Xia Qingtian's completely filled-out test paper, and then at her own blank one, Jiang Yingying's eyes darted around, and she directly took out a pen and copied it from beginning to end.
After all, it was 2 credits, so why not take it.