Chapter 8: The Ruined Bento and the Bizarre Meal

Watching the wreckage before him, Bai Chen nearly collapsed to his knees.

“My sausages, my meatballs… who could be so heartless as to stomp them all to smithereens?”

Just this morning, he had seen their cheerful faces; they had promised to walk the grand path together, yet they had departed before him.

Bai Chen’s fists clenched tight, for whether viewed through the lens of personal emotion or moral frugality, the culprit behind this act was nothing short of monstrous.

He glanced around, noting it was lunchtime; most students were still in the cafeteria, leaving him as the sole occupant of the classroom.

His gaze settled on the footprints, and Bai Chen could almost picture the arrogant smirk plastered across the perpetrator’s face. Even if someone accidentally stepped on it once, no ordinary person would continue to stomp on it multiple times.

“Rest well in the heavens, my friends. I swear I will find your killer and avenge you.”

Having spoken, Bai Chen sniffed, detecting a surprisingly pleasant aroma.

****

Returning to the office, he was fortunate to find a few teachers still present, among them their homeroom teacher, Zheng Yuxin. She was a beautiful teacher, popular even among the students, despite having only joined the faculty three years prior.

With her striking figure, exquisite features, and impeccably professional attire, her beauty was such that it was difficult for a group of spirited young men not to feel their hearts flutter.

Crucially, she was also young, brimming with professional drive, and exceptionally dedicated to her students.

“What? Your bento was ruined?”

Upon hearing Bai Chen’s account, Zheng Yuxin couldn’t help but frown.

“Such a thing has happened again…”

‘Again?’

Bai Chen paused, surprised. So this kind of incident had occurred many times before. Who could be so utterly bored?

“Were you truly the only one in the classroom?”

“Yes.”

‘At least, I was the only one before I arrived.’

“Tell you what, I’ll check the surveillance footage. You go clean up the classroom, then head to the cafeteria.”

“Alright.”

Having such a responsible homeroom teacher, even if Zheng Yuxin wasn’t Bai Chen’s preferred type, it was impossible not to feel a warmth spreading through his chest.

Bidding farewell to his teacher, Bai Chen turned to leave the office, his gaze meeting that of someone standing not far away.

It was Mo Qiu, the only girl in their class whose eyes seemed devoid of any light.

It was merely a fleeting exchange of glances, and Bai Chen gave it no further thought. Mo Qiu, however, kept her gaze fixed on the back of his head, a barely perceptible curve forming on her lips.

****

Having cleaned the classroom floor, Bai Chen’s stomach was now rumbling with hunger. Unfortunately, the cafeteria was still a considerable distance from the teaching building.

Several classmates had already returned, having eaten their fill, yet his stomach remained utterly empty.

‘Someone needs to catch the culprit quickly,’ he grumbled to himself.

Bai Chen muttered this, bracing himself for the hunger pangs that would accompany his journey.

“Bai Chen.”

A familiar voice called out to him. Bai Chen turned, and Mo Qiu’s expressionless face came into view. She held a pink, heart-shaped bento box in her hands, extending it towards him.

“Here, take this first.”

“No, no, no, I told you I don’t want it.” Bai Chen waved his hand, stepping back. “How did you even know I needed this?”

His myriad doubts coalesced into a suspicious gaze, sweeping across the girl’s face before him. An ordinary person would have long since panicked, but Mo Qiu remained utterly unfazed, his sharp scrutiny sinking into her lightless eyes as if into the depths of the ocean.

“I overheard your conversation with Teacher Zheng in the office.”

Bai Chen recalled his brief glance into the office, and for now, suppressed the suspicion stirring within him.

“Keep it for yourself. I can go find Old Zhu.”

“Are you referring to the person who sits in front of you?” Mo Qiu looked towards Old Zhu’s seat. “You’d best not disturb him.”

“Why?”

“He and a girl walked into the school’s small grove of trees. That girl, it seems, is from the neighboring class.”

“You… how do you know such intricate details?” Bai Chen’s mouth twitched.

“Because I saw it.” Mo Qiu’s expression remained unchanged, her tone cool.

That expression, those words—Bai Chen actually felt a prickle on his scalp. She felt like a nocturnal owl, nothing escaping her unblinking, spiritless gaze.

Bai Chen knew that Old Zhu wouldn’t be able to help him, and simply wanted to fabricate a lie to send Mo Qiu away.

“Take it. You can’t go without eating.”

“I really don’t need it.”

“Take it.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Even if you’re not hungry, you must take it.”

“…Are you a bandit?” Bai Chen pressed a hand to his forehead.

“Does anyone dislike benefits delivered right to their doorstep?” Mo Qiu countered, showing not an ounce of shame.

‘I only helped her once; is that truly worth such an effort? Or… does she harbor some other motive?’

At this thought, Bai Chen suddenly calmed. It wouldn’t hurt to probe her a little. Every time he saw Mo Qiu, these doubts surfaced, and resolving them sooner rather than later seemed like a good idea.

“Since you insist, then I will accept it.”

Bai Chen reached out and grasped the bento, but Mo Qiu did not release her hold.

Mo Qiu’s next words were startling:

“Let’s eat it together.”

“Huh?!”

Bai Chen’s refusal almost spilled out, but after a moment’s thought, he nodded vigorously.

****

Finally settling down, Bai Chen took advantage of Mo Qiu’s absence—as she retrieved her own chair and bento—to slowly open the heart-shaped lunchbox.

Immediately, a rich aroma permeated the air, so potent it was almost pungent.

‘What is this?’

Staring at the contents of the bento box, Bai Chen initially thought he was hallucinating; he rubbed his eyes, then looked again, sucking in a sharp breath.

This brownish-yellow, mushy substance, a mixture of meat, vegetables, and even rehydrated rice, emitted such a pungent aroma that even a slight inhalation felt like it was assaulting his nostrils.

Once Mo Qiu had settled, Bai Chen couldn’t resist speaking:

“Are you sure you didn’t grab the wrong one?”

“No.”

“May I be so bold as to ask, what dish is this?”

“Chicken leg *pao fan* (TL Note: *Pao fan* refers to rice soaked in soup or broth, sometimes quickly, sometimes to rehydrate leftovers. This particular rendition seems to be an unusual and unappetizing concoction).”

‘Chicken leg? *Pao fan*?’

Bai Chen could barely believe his eyes; this strangely colored meat was actually a chicken leg?! He had assumed it was expired canned meat.

As Mo Qiu spoke, she opened her own bento, and Bai Chen’s fate was sealed.

Detecting the familiar aroma, Mo Qiu’s mood brightened considerably; she hadn’t yet eaten lunch herself, having waited for Bai Chen.

Yet, it was not yet time for her to feast; Bai Chen had to eat first.

‘Refused my bento? Once you take the first bite, you’ll surely be utterly captivated by it.’

Mo Qiu was that confident; this was a delicacy capable of attracting even magical beasts.

Noticing Bai Chen clutching his spoon, hesitant to begin, Mo Qiu spoke:

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah… nothing, really. I was just thinking about those scoundrels who ruined my bento.” A bead of sweat trickled down Bai Chen’s cheek.

“Oh, they certainly are scoundrels.”

‘Anyway, I didn’t do it myself, and they’re not cursing me.’

Mo Qiu continued to stare at Bai Chen, her gaze tracking the movement of his spoon, like a cat mesmerized by a laser pointer.

Soon, she noticed a problem: ‘Why are you still not eating?’

“Bai Chen, do you have a poor appetite?”

“Ah, perhaps.” Bai Chen forced a smile. “I’m just lamenting my own bento; I’m absolutely not disliking yours, truly not.”

Mo Qiu nodded, genuinely believing him.

‘Tsk, this is such a hassle. If you won’t eat, don’t blame me for being ruthless.’

“Bai Chen.”

“What now?” Having finally mustered the courage to scoop a small amount of *pao fan* onto his spoon, Bai Chen turned his head.

“I’ll feed you.”

Mo Qiu had already extended a spoon laden with *pao fan* towards him.

“Ah~”

“I can eat by myself.”

“Ah~”

“I really can…”

“Ah~”

—Gazing at the horrifying, bubbling substance on the spoon, Bai Chen finally steeled his resolve: ‘If I don’t enter hell, who will?’

The moment he opened his mouth, the girl poked the spoon inside, withdrawing it only after he had closed his lips.

“How is it?” Mo Qiu tilted her head, asking.

Bai Chen, his face contorted in a grimace, chewed twice. His complexion rapidly turned ashen, and it took immense effort for him to swallow.

In response to her inquiry, he shakily gave a thumbs-up: “Delicious.”

This was a lie. Bai Chen felt as though his tongue had been pinned to the ground and rubbed raw by a group of sparsely-clad, burly men, then tossed onto a bed and ravaged for days and nights.

“Again, ah~”

Mo Qiu was quite pleased with his reaction.

‘I knew my cooking was excellent; this little virgin was no match for me.’

The second bite, the third bite… Mo Qiu even saw tears glistening in the corners of Bai Chen’s eyes.

‘You dared to refuse me? Now you’re conquered by my deliciousness, regretting your actions, aren’t you?’

“Stop!” Bai Chen suddenly cried out. “I, I can do it myself! Mo Qiu, you should hurry and eat too.”

“Alright.” Mo Qiu was clearly not yet satisfied, but seeing Bai Chen eat with such apparent relish, she too could hardly bear it any longer.

Bai Chen narrowed his eyes, watching with his own two eyes as she scooped the *pao fan* and brought it to her mouth.

Her cherry-red lips became slick with oil. One second, two seconds, three seconds… she ate a second bite, her expression utterly blank.

‘Hiss, is she even human?’

Bai Chen’s eyes widened. This *pao fan*, seasoned with an unknown quantity of spices, enough to salt a person to death, she was eating so quickly, utterly unfazed?

“Mo Qiu, don’t you taste anything strange?”

“Yes.”

‘Sure enough, she couldn’t take it either,’ Bai Chen thought, feeling a considerable sense of relief.

“It’s too bland.”

Bai Chen gave up the fight; she was truly enjoying this concoction.

Mo Qiu wasn’t just mindlessly eating; she was secretly observing Bai Chen’s face.

She had a feeling his subsequent reactions were somewhat subdued. In truth, she had hoped Bai Chen would be a little more proactive—praising her cooking, feeding her, even declaring he wanted more tomorrow.

‘Was it still not exciting enough?’ Mo Qiu pondered. ‘I even fed him; is the next step to feed him mouth-to-mouth?’

‘It’s a bit disgusting, but if I just keep thinking it’s all part of the plan, I can get through it. However, such intense stimulation might be too much for Bai Chen, this little virgin.’

‘Is there a compromise?’

“Darling, open wide, I’ll feed you.”

Another pair, a boy and a girl, sat nearby. The boy picked up a meatball with his chopsticks and offered it to the girl.

“Ah, it fell.”

The meatball bounced off the girl’s chest and rolled onto the floor.

The boy immediately dove under the table, moments later eliciting a shriek from the girl.

“Pervert, what are you doing?”

The girl clutched her skirt, kicking him out from under the table.

“Don’t be mad, I didn’t mean to.” The boy wore a foolish grin.

“Hmph, there won’t be a next time.” The girl turned her blushing face away, her tone a mix of shame and anger.

Witnessing this scene, Mo Qiu froze completely, then looked at the half-eaten chicken leg in her bento box, her rosy lips slightly pursed.