Chapter 22: Su Cheng, Who Never Eats Spicy Food, Wants Medium Spicy

“Today’s morning drill ends here. Everyone, hurry and eat breakfast. Class monitors from both classes, stay behind. Military training continues at 8:30 AM.”

“Understood!”

The whistle signaling the end of morning drill sounded, but Su Cheng’s face showed no sign of relaxation.

Although Lin Shiyue had been called away by the instructor, there was still Yin Xuelian, who had been lying in wait for Su Cheng for a long time, patiently observing from the sidelines.

Yin Xuelian saw the formation disperse and quickly walked towards Su Cheng. Su Cheng knew she couldn’t escape and had to face Yin Xuelian head-on.

Yin Xuelian’s face was plastered with a smile, showing a hint of triumph as she looked at Lin Shiyue.

Lin Shiyue, standing in front of the instructor, could only watch, seething inwardly, glaring at Yin Xuelian as if she wanted to punch her.

Yin Xuelian ignored Lin Shiyue’s gaze, directly grabbed Su Cheng’s small hand, and gave Su Cheng a sweet smile.

“Little Orange, let’s go, let’s get breakfast.”

Su Cheng stared at Yin Xuelian with a slightly embarrassed look: “Sister Lian, so many people are watching.”

Yin Xuelian gently squeezed Su Cheng’s hand, trying to make her relax a little, and whispered, “I’ll take you outside to eat breakfast. There’s still enough time.”

Su Cheng nodded immediately without much thought, as the gazes from both male and female students around her were already making her anxious.

“Then let’s go quickly, time is of the essence.”

She said “time is of the essence,” but in reality, Su Cheng simply didn’t want to stay in such a conspicuous spot.

As she left, Yin Xuelian didn’t forget to turn back and give Lin Shiyue another triumphant smile.

Lin Shiyue listened to the instructor while keeping an eye on Su Cheng and Yin Xuelian.

As for what the instructor said, she didn’t care at all.

Her eyes were filled with a fierce glint, and her small fists involuntarily clenched. She estimated that this accumulated punch could penetrate a bed board.

‘Damn it, Yin Xuelian got to her first.’

Yin Xuelian led Su Cheng to a noodle shop outside the school.

“Boss, one braised beef noodle, please,” Yin Xuelian called out to the boss behind the counter, pointing to the menu in front of Su Cheng, “Little Orange, order whatever you want.”

“Okay.”

Su Cheng had already decided what to order. From the moment she saw the shop’s sign, she knew what she wanted to eat.

Because in her previous life, she and Yin Xuelian had often come to this noodle shop, eating here once every Friday after physical education class.

“One tomato noodle, medium spicy.”

Yin Xuelian, who had just lowered her head, immediately looked up, her light brown eyes showing a hint of confusion: “When did Little Orange start eating so spicy? Didn’t you use to not eat spicy food?”

Su Cheng shook her head, explaining along with Yin Xuelian’s words: “When eating tomato noodles here, it has to be medium spicy to be truly satisfying. I’ve always eaten it like that.”

‘What did I just say?!’

A hint of surprise flashed in Yin Xuelian’s eyes, and her lips curved in confusion.

“Oh? ‘Always’? But I remember, you just started school, right?” Yin Xuelian stared suspiciously at Su Cheng’s somewhat dazed pretty face, ready to catch any subtle change in her expression.

Su Cheng secretly swallowed, her intestines turning green with regret. ‘How did she fall into Yin Xuelian’s trap?’

‘It must be because my mind wasn’t clear.’

Su Cheng took off her hat and vigorously tapped her head, explaining in a low voice: “I… what I meant by ‘always’ was just a few days ago. That’s when I ate it medium spicy.”

“Sister Lian, please don’t misunderstand.”

Yin Xuelian chuckled twice, nodding in understanding, but the Su Cheng in front of her was clearly protesting too much.

Yin Xuelian’s fair, slender fingers kept lightly tapping the tabletop. The casual tapping sound, like a small hammer, precisely tapped on Su Cheng’s taut nerves.

“I know, Little Orange, don’t overthink it either. Big sister is just worried you can’t handle too much spice.” Yin Xuelian’s voice still held its usual sweet softness.

Su Cheng smiled bitterly, lowering her head. ‘How can I not overthink it?’

Moreover, Yin Xuelian might also be a reborn person. Although she wasn’t 100% sure yet, this suspicion had never left Su Cheng’s mind.

“It’s fine, I… often eat spicy food.”

The Su Cheng of her previous life didn’t eat much spicy food, but in this life, she wanted to use this difference to dispel Yin Xuelian’s suspicion.

The current her was no longer the previous her.

Yin Xuelian did hesitate for a moment after hearing Su Cheng’s reply, but she firmly believed that the Su Cheng in front of her was the reborn person.

Su Cheng’s explanation was merely her clumsy acting.

‘It’s no use.’

“Alright, but big sister still advises you to pay attention to your diet. Eating too much spicy food is not good. A girl’s body is made of water.” Yin Xuelian rested her chin on her hands, gazing at Su Cheng.

Su Cheng nodded, patting her flat chest: “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Yin Xuelian smiled, narrowing her eyes. It seemed one would only know for sure by truly experiencing it.

The steaming noodles were served. The rich, savory aroma of the tomato broth filled the air, with a hint of spiciness.

Su Cheng, already hungry, smelled the aroma, and her mouth watered. She eagerly picked up her chopsticks.

“I’m digging in.”

Su Cheng picked up noodles and brought them to her mouth. First, the rich aroma of tomato filled her mouth, followed by a pungent spiciness. She quickly swallowed the noodles and bent over, coughing.

“Cough, cough, choked.”

Yin Xuelian quickly put down her chopsticks, took water from the cooler, unscrewed it, and immediately handed it to Su Cheng.

“Water, drink water, don’t eat so fast.”

Su Cheng gulped two mouthfuls of icy water, and her burning throat quickly cooled down.

“I’m alive again. It’s been too long since I ate this, I’m not used to it being so spicy all at once.”

Actually, this was the first time this reborn Su Cheng had eaten such spicy noodles.

Yin Xuelian smiled relaxedly: “Can you still eat? Do you want to change to another serving?”

Su Cheng shook her head, picked up her chopsticks, and continued to eat.

“No, that would be a waste. I can finish it.”

Yin Xuelian didn’t stop her. If she insisted on finishing it, then so be it.

Su Cheng had barely eaten a few bites before regretting why she ordered it so spicy.

In her previous life, this level of spiciness wouldn’t have been an issue, but how did her ability to eat spicy food decline after being reborn as a girl?

In the end, Su Cheng barely managed to eat half a bowl, sweating profusely and drinking two bottles of water. She was full from drinking, not from eating.

“Sigh, I won’t eat it so spicy next time.” Su Cheng walked back to school beside Yin Xuelian, still holding half a bottle of water.

Yin Xuelian turned her head to look at Su Cheng’s face, covered in large beads of sweat. She took out a tissue and gently brushed it across Su Cheng’s forehead, wiping away the sweat and leaving a trace of coolness.

“I told you, ordering medium spicy, wasn’t that just making it hard on yourself?”

Sniffing the faint lavender scent on Yin Xuelian, Su Cheng pouted and murmured, “I thought it wouldn’t be that spicy, who knew it would be this spicy.”

Yin Xuelian put away the tissue, her smile gentle, her clear, spring-like eyes reflecting Su Cheng’s slightly awkward face.

“Thank you, Sister Lian.”

Hearing Su Cheng’s thanks, Yin Xuelian raised her hand and gently flicked Su Cheng’s nose.

“Why be so polite with me? Let’s find a place to rest. It’s still early before military training.”

Su Cheng nodded, her soft little hand once again grasped by Yin Xuelian.

The morning sun already carried heat. The two quickened their pace, once again arriving at the pavilion where they had rested yesterday at noon.

Today, only the two of them frequented the pavilion.

“Phew, it’s so hot.” Su Cheng wiped the thin sweat from her forehead, breathing with her mouth slightly open.

Yin Xuelian again pulled out a tissue from her pocket: “Is it because you ate spicy food just now? I feel quite cool.”

“Maybe.”

She took the tissue Yin Xuelian offered and quickly wiped the sweat from her face.

Yin Xuelian smiled, turning her head, looking at Su Cheng who seemed to be feeling unwell, a little distressed.

“Feeling uncomfortable, huh? Told you not to be stubborn and eat so spicy.”

Su Cheng frowned, crumpling the already wet tissue into a ball, her body leaning slightly forward.

“It really seems so. My stomach feels fiery, like a ball of fire burning inside me.”

Yin Xuelian burst out laughing: “Hahahaha, what kind of analogy is that?”

Su Cheng clutched her stomach, genuinely feeling uncomfortable, her reaction a bit strong.

“My stomach right now, this is how it feels, very uncomfortable.”

Yin Xuelian stopped laughing. Seeing a hint of paleness on Su Cheng’s face, her willow brows furrowed, only then confirming that her words were not a joke.

“Is it really bad? Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?”

Su Cheng shook her head, still clutching her stomach, her voice a few shades lower than before: “No need, I just need to rest a bit.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Cheng felt her body suddenly float in the air, then settle steadily onto a soft lap. Yin Xuelian’s sweet scent lightly brushed against her cheeks like a gentle breeze.

A warm hand suddenly landed on her stomach, gently rubbing it through her military training uniform.

It was warm and thoughtful.

“Sister Lian, you’re doing this…”

Su Cheng’s startled expression was fully taken in by Yin Xuelian. Their eyes met, and all Su Cheng saw was Yin Xuelian’s gaze full of tenderness.

“Be good~ Don’t move, let big sister help you.”

“This… this isn’t good, is it…”

Yin Xuelian ignored Su Cheng’s words, her gentle eyes fixed on her cheeks, gently rubbing her stomach. Her other arm wrapped around her, holding her tightly.

Yin Xuelian, secretly triumphant in her heart, couldn’t hide the upward curve of her lips.

‘Little darling, you can’t escape now, can you? Hehehe…’