327: Chapter 327 The Gift - 1

The three of them walked into the cafeteria, and the atmosphere here was also different from what Jiang Ye had expected.

There were no teachers or staff members loudly maintaining order. The children and the staff of the orphanage were walking in in groups of twos and threes, chatting and laughing, getting their own food, and then finding familiar partners to sit with.

Although it was slightly noisy, it had the warm feeling of a family dinner.

Jiang Ye was just about to remark, "It's really orderly, just like a university cafeteria," when he heard two thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys next to him peeking toward the serving window while whispering:

"Eh? I thought the Director sent the message to the wrong group. Didn't it say it was cabbage and tofu today? They really changed it back? I was almost about to order takeout just now."

"..."

Jiang Ye's face immediately filled with black lines. While he was wondering whether to pretend he hadn't heard or to jokingly tease them, Skippy, who was being carried by Ye Cheng, was the first to lose her cool.

Even though the little girl was being held, her aura didn't diminish. She raised her little eyebrows and snapped at the two boys:

"Hey! What are you two saying! The sucker himself is standing right here! Do you have any manners at all!"

Jiang Ye: "..."

He turned his head to look at Ye Cheng with a smile, his tone exceptionally "loving": "Cheng Cheng, this little girl is quite cute. Come, let Brother-in-law hold her to foster our relationship."

"No, no, no!"

Skippy caught sight of the ill-intentioned smile on his face and suddenly pulled back her neck. Her two little arms tightly hugged Ye Cheng's thigh as she buried her face in it, shouting in a muffled voice:

"Men and women shouldn't touch! Don't touch me! I'm still a child!"

Ye Cheng glanced at Jiang Ye's dark face and nodded with a smile: "Right, right, right. Skippy is right, it's not appropriate. Better let Big Sister hold you."

As she spoke, she exerted force with her arm and lifted Skippy off the ground, supporting the little girl's legs with one hand and letting her lean against her shoulder.

"Hee hee, Brother-in-law, you..."

Skippy was just about to gloat for a bit when she felt her exposed little bottom get hit "smack smack" twice quite firmly:

"Ah! Who hit me! Who!"

"No one hit you, no one hit you~"

Ye Cheng's expression remained unchanged as she smilingly rubbed the back of her head: "Big Sister is protecting you~ It's the wind, the wind is strong, it blew against you."

Skippy: "..."

Her little mouth twitched, and her eyes instantly turned red. She deeply felt the blatant, combined malice from the adult world!

The three of them noisily entered the cafeteria, and only then did Ye Cheng put the weary-looking Skippy onto the ground.

The moment her feet touched the ground, the little girl immediately let out a "Hmph," gave Jiang Ye a fierce glare, and ran toward her little friends without looking back, likely going to complain about the misdeeds of this "dog couple."

Jiang Ye and Ye Cheng looked at each other and smiled, not minding it, and went to the window together to get their meal trays.

As the Director had promised, today's meal was very good: braised carp, poached sliced pork in hot chili oil, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and steaming hot seaweed and egg drop soup. It was a well-balanced meal with meat and vegetables, full of color, aroma, and taste.

The two of them carried their served meals and found a relatively quiet small square table to sit down.

Ye Cheng took out her phone and checked it: "The old man sent a message saying he won't be coming over. It seems some other kind-hearted people are coming to visit the orphanage in a bit, and he has to go receive them. We can leave after we finish eating."

Jiang Ye shrugged indifferently and picked up a slice of meat to taste. The flavor was actually quite good; it seemed that "Master Wang's" skills were indeed not just for show.

He chewed a few times, glanced at Ye Cheng who was eating in small bites opposite him, and let his gaze linger for a moment on her slender neck and fair collarbone before lightly coughing:

"Um... anyway, this poached sliced pork is well-made, it's very flavorful..."

Ye Cheng didn't even lift her eyelids as she picked up a green vegetable and hmphed: "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't be so hesitant like you have a sock in your mouth."

"Aiyay! Truly, those who gave birth to me are my parents, and the one who knows me is Cheng Cheng!"

Jiang Ye clicked his tongue and gave a thumbs up: "I have to say, that description of yours really gave me a mental image."

"Hmph, as if I don't know you!"

Ye Cheng rolled her eyes in annoyance and poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks: "The dorms here definitely won't work, the soundproofing is bad, and the kids are noisy. In the evening... I'll go with you to the county town to find a hotel."

Jiang Ye's eyes instantly lit up, and he quickly leaned in closer, lowering his voice: "Does it have to be... in the evening?"

Ye Cheng looked at him speechlessly: "Weren't you the one who vowed to be celibate for a month? How many days has it been? You can't even wait this half a day?"

"That's not it! I have the determination to be celibate! I just wanted to discuss this 'timing' issue from a scientific and rigorous perspective."

Jiang Ye quickly shook his head and explained solemnly: "You insisting on the evening, is it because... you're embarrassed during the day? Does it have to be dark, using the cover of night, to... let loose?"

Ye Cheng's face instantly turned red. She quickly glanced left and right to make sure no one was paying attention to their 'academic discussion' before biting her lip and letting out an "Mm."

Having received an "affirmative" response, Jiang Ye nodded thoughtfully and continued his "scientific research":

"But actually, Cheng Cheng, let's analyze this rationally. The biggest difference between day and night is just that when it's dark, you can't see anything, right?"

Ye Cheng was a bit dazed by his convoluted words and frowned slightly: "What exactly are you trying to say?!"

Jiang Ye coughed again, his expression becoming extremely "serious":

"So, do you think there's a possibility—that is, I find an eye mask and cover your eyes tightly so you can't see anything, putting you in a completely 'dark' state visually. That way, would it be possible to psychologically simulate the 'nighttime' effect, thereby effectively solving your core pain point of being 'embarrassed during the day'?"

"..."

Ye Cheng's face turned beet red instantly. She gave him a light kick under the table in shame and annoyance, whispering crossly:

"Hey! You... what are you talking about! You pervert! There are so many kids around! Watch your influence!"

Jiang Ye had an innocent expression of "I'm doing this all for you" as he spread his hands:

"Aiyay! I'm just trying to help you overcome your psychological barrier! Everything is so that you can more 'calmly' enjoy... uh, the beauty of life!"

"No way! Don't even think about it!"

Ye Cheng shook her head decisively, her attitude firm: "If you really want to do those... those strange things, go find your Little Su who only knows how to feel bad for her 'Big Brother,' or Wanxing who has a good temper! They'll definitely cooperate with you!"

Jiang Ye clicked his tongue, appearing somewhat regretful.

He subconsciously reached into his hat and felt his bald head, which had already grown quite a bit of prickly stubble. He roughly felt the progress of the hair "growing again like spring grass," and that bit of melancholy brought by the "Radiant Rebirth Oral Liquid" surfaced again.

In his current state, it really wasn't suitable for a "candid meeting."

Even if it grew just a little more, he could style it into a heart shape and disguise it as a Valentines Day gift or something...

Jiang Ye sighed regretfully, then quickly adjusted his expression, straightened his back, and let out a righteous "Mm":

"Comrade Ye Cheng, good performance. You stood your ground and successfully passed the organization's test."

Ye Cheng was burying her head in her food to hide her embarrassment. Hearing this, she was stunned and looked up at him blankly: "What test?"

"Testing your willpower!"

Jiang Ye put on an air as if a leader was giving a speech: "You think I really wanted to discuss those things with you? My celibacy period isn't over yet, my will is as firm as a rock! That act just now was purely to test you, to see if you could stick to your original heart and hold the line under the sweet temptation of a 'flower boy'!"

"Oh—? Really? I don't believe you."

"Of course it's true! During the celibacy period, no demons, monsters, or sugar-coated bullets can shake my firm will! To me, beauty is but a pink skeleton; I shall naturally remain unmoved!"

"..."

Ye Cheng's lips twitched. She didn't believe a single word in her heart, assuming he was just trying to save face after being rejected by her.

Mm...

This topic was getting more and more awkward. She'd wait until they got to the hotel tonight, when this guy couldn't help but reveal his true colors, to properly mock him!

She lowered her head and took another bite of food, reached into the inner pocket of her down jacket, pulled out a palm-sized box, and "thwack," slapped it onto the table between them.

"Ahem!"

Ye Cheng cleared her throat, a hint of a blush appearing on her face: "Classmate Xiao Ye! Attention! It is now time for the sacred and solemn Valentines Day gift exchange!"

Jiang Ye was stunned and glanced at the few older children nearby who were curiously peeking over: "Now? Here?"

"Right now, right here."

Ye Cheng nodded vigorously, her eyes bright: "I have to let these little ones in the orphanage see that I'm doing exceptionally well! Leaving the welfare home, one can still have a shining life and a love worth looking forward to."

Jiang Ye looked at the light flickering in her eyes and smiled. He also reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out a small, deep blue velvet box, placed it on the table, and pushed it over:

"Cheng Cheng, Happy Valentines Day."