Chapter 456 — Beyond Endurance

She, of all people, nervous over a boy? Tang Zhi rubbed her temples. Absurd as it seemed, that was simply the truth.

Half a year ago, she would have turned up her nose at a girl like that—worrying her boyfriend might cheat, wasn't that just an admission that her own charms fell short? Tang Zhi had believed she would never be one of those girls, fretting and fussing day in and day out.

Yet now, retribution had come swiftly. Tang Zhi rather regretted having mocked others. Those who laugh at others are worse than those they laugh at—that saying was true enough; the ancients did not lie.

"Wei Zhao, have you been waiting long?" Tang Zhi tried hard to look normal. Having said this, her gaze shifted to Feng Xiaoxiao. "So this is your new deskmate?"

"Hello, I'm Feng Xiaoxiao." Feng Xiaoxiao extended her hand. "I'm one of Wei Zhao's admirers."

"Ah?" Tang Zhi was taken aback. She shook Feng Xiaoxiao's hand with a strange expression. "Admirer?"

"That's right. He's so handsome when he drives, and I want to learn from him—but he hasn't taught me yet." Feng Xiaoxiao nodded graciously at Tang Zhi.

"I see," Tang Zhi said, frowning so faintly it was barely perceptible. What exactly did "admirer" mean?

"Let's go. Don't bother with her." Wei Zhao truly had no words left for Feng Xiaoxiao. This girl was surely up to no good. Though he could not bring himself to kick her, he had no desire to pay her any mind either.

"Oh." Hearing Wei Zhao's words, Tang Zhi felt much better at once, and her hostility toward Feng Xiaoxiao eased considerably. "We're going to eat now. See you next time!"

"No need to wait for next time—I eat at the cafeteria too. Let's go together!" Feng Xiaoxiao, utterly unconcerned about being the third wheel, said warmly.

Tang Zhi wanted to say something, but in the end said nothing. She stood on Wei Zhao's right, while Feng Xiaoxiao stood on his left—the two of them flanking him, one on each side. It was indescribably awkward.

"Tang Zhi, have you ever seen your husband drive? He's so handsome!" Feng Xiaoxiao turned to Tang Zhi and said.

"Husband?" Tang Zhi was startled, then rather angry—not because Feng Xiaoxiao had called Wei Zhao her husband, but because of how vaguely she had put it! She hadn't said "your" before "husband"; the word had simply popped out. Anyone who didn't know better would think Wei Zhao was her husband, or that she and Tang Zhi shared one! Yet Tang Zhi could hardly correct her—what if it was just a slip of the tongue? If she brought it up, wouldn't she be the one embarrassed? So she said, "I have. But if you want to learn to drive, you'd best go to a driving school."

"I have a license—I just want to learn how to drift!" Feng Xiaoxiao said.

When they reached the cafeteria, Wei Zhao, hoping to shake Feng Xiaoxiao off, chose a two-person table. That way, Feng Xiaoxiao could not possibly sit with them—and indeed she did not come over; she went alone to queue at the serving window.

"Wei Zhao, what's the story with that Feng Xiaoxiao? She seems awfully clingy?" Tang Zhi asked, as if casually.

"What, jealous?" Looking at Tang Zhi's expression, Wei Zhao had already guessed what was on her mind.

"Jeal—jealous of what? Me? Not at all." Naturally Tang Zhi would not admit it. "I just think she's a bit silly."

"Heh..." Wei Zhao smiled. "What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it?"

"Whatever—one meat dish, one vegetable. You decide." Tang Zhi was not a picky eater; lunch with Wei Zhao was simple enough—two people, two dishes, nothing wasted.

Wei Zhao was not picky either, so he generally went to whichever window had the shortest line, and the dishes he brought back each day were random. Today the windows for garlic-scape stir-fried pork and steamed spare ribs had hardly anyone in line, so he bought one portion from each and carried them back.

The two had just been about to eat when they saw Feng Xiaoxiao dragging a chair over, a large tray in her hands. She came to Wei Zhao's table, set the tray straight down on it, and then wedged the chair in at the side of the table.

At peak hours the cafeteria got very crowded, so there were some spare folding chairs along the side, meant for adding seats when the place was full. Wei Zhao had not expected Feng Xiaoxiao to actually drag one over herself!

"Wei Zhao, I bought you braised chicken legs—they're delicious! Here." As she spoke, Feng Xiaoxiao set the small dish of braised chicken legs from her tray in front of Wei Zhao.

"Huh?" Wei Zhao had not expected Feng Xiaoxiao to buy him a whole pile of braised chicken drumsticks. Wasn't she doing this on purpose to make him uncomfortable? Tang Zhi had already been a little jealous before—what on earth was this girl playing at?

"Go on, eat up, they're delicious!" Feng Xiaoxiao looked at Wei Zhao with a beaming smile. "I heard from Zhong Yongliang that the braised chicken drumsticks and roast lamb chops in the cafeteria are both wonderful. The lamb chops have to be made fresh, though, so I ordered a portion—it'll be a while before it's ready. You start on the drumsticks!"

At last Wei Zhao could bear it no longer. Earlier, out of consideration for the fact that Feng Xiaoxiao was a girl, he had never really done anything much to her. But now that she had gone time and again and again doing these strange things, Wei Zhao finally could not hold back!

"Feng Xiaoxiao, is there no end to this?" Wei Zhao glared at Feng Xiaoxiao.

"You—you're being so mean to me—" Feng Xiaoxiao was badly startled by Wei Zhao. Her eyes reddened, and she shed tears of grievance. "Boohoo... why are you being so mean to me? I just admire you, that's all—I wanted to win you over so you'd teach me to drive. What's wrong with that... boohoo..."

"!" Wei Zhao stared in alarm at the pitiful Feng Xiaoxiao, scarcely able to believe his own eyes. Was this really the same Feng Xiaoxiao who had gnashed her teeth and vowed to secretly photograph him and blow him up with firecrackers?

She hadn't cried even when the firecrackers went off. And now, just because he had snapped at her a couple of times, she was crying?

Tang Zhi had been annoyed at Feng Xiaoxiao for lacking any sense of when to make herself scarce—she and Wei Zhao had finally gotten a little time alone, and here she came playing the third wheel. But now, seeing how aggrieved Feng Xiaoxiao looked, Tang Zhi's heart softened again. Did she really just admire Wei Zhao? Or did she have other ideas?

Still, admiration was a tricky thing—it could easily turn into affection, which was why Tang Zhi had felt rather hostile toward Feng Xiaoxiao. But now she felt a little sorry for her. "Wei Zhao, say something to her, get her to stop crying? Or—why don't you just teach her?"

"Don't let her fool you—this girl loves to put on an act." Wei Zhao curled his lip, steeled his heart, and ignored Feng Xiaoxiao.

Seeing Wei Zhao say that, Tang Zhi could hardly press the matter further. Fortunately, Feng Xiaoxiao merely wiped her tears in silence, without crying out too loudly, and no one paid any attention to this corner—otherwise, who knew what misunderstandings people might have drawn.