164: The arrival of Qin Yu and his two companions

"Sister Lei, why don't we head over to the University Town Pedestrian Street in a bit?"

Lin Xiaoya struck while the iron was hot and made the suggestion.

"I've specifically asked a lot of classmates over the past few days and even scouted the place out myself. I know there's a lot of delicious food there!"

To ensure Lei Jun was satisfied, she had put in a lot of effort during the break... First, she asked upperclassmen, then she checked recommendations from local food bloggers, and finally, she made a special trip to the pedestrian street. She recorded every reputable shop in her phone's memos, even figuring out which ones had short queues and which ones to avoid during peak meal times.

She simply wanted Lei Jun to feel that going out with her was hassle-free and that she was a reliable sidekick.

Lei Jun thought about it and nodded. "Alright, let's go then."

Lin Xiaoya's face instantly lit up with a smile, and she quickly grabbed her phone and wallet. "Let's go, let's go! Now is the perfect time, before the traffic gets too bad!"

The two of them had just arrived at the University Town Pedestrian Street.

Both sides of the road were packed with people.

"Sister Lei, stay close to me so you don't get pushed by the crowd."

Lin Xiaoya instinctively shielded Lei Jun as she skillfully navigated through the alleys.

"Let's go eat at that egg burger place first. Their meat filling is freshly minced, and the crust is exceptionally crispy!"

When they arrived at the egg burger stall, there were indeed only five or six people in line.

Once they got the burgers, Lin Xiaoya hurriedly handed one to Lei Jun. "Sister Lei, try this. Be careful when you bite into it; the egg inside has a runny yolk."

Lei Jun took a bite. The crust was indeed crisp, the meat filling had a hint of savory saltiness, and the runny egg was enveloped by the bread, creating a very rich texture.

Next, Lin Xiaoya pulled Lei Jun to eat some takoyaki. The stall owner was a middle-aged man whose movements in making the octopus balls were incredibly agile.

The golden-brown balls were covered in bonito flakes and shredded seaweed. When bitten into, they were full of octopus bits with a faint hint of wasabi.

As she ate, Lin Xiaoya said, "Last time I came, I chatted with the owner. He said these octopuses are delivered fresh every morning, not frozen."

Then came the hot and sour rice noodles. Lin Xiaoya specifically told the owner to make it less spicy. "Sister Lei, I've noticed you don't usually eat much spicy food. Let's start with a little bit; you can add more if it's not enough."

The broth of the hot and sour noodles was very fresh, the sweet potato noodles were chewy, and the peanuts and soybeans inside were crunchy and fragrant.

After a few bites, Lei Jun felt a warmth in her stomach, which was quite comfortable.

Afterward, they also had grilled cold noodles... with double eggs and pork tenderloin, brushed with sweet and spicy sauce, and rolled with lettuce and onions. One bite and the flavor was beyond words.

They had handmade ice jelly, topped with crushed hawthorn, raisins, and taro balls. It was cool and smooth, perfect for cutting through the greasiness.

They also ate skewered grilled rice cakes... the outside was grilled to a crisp while the inside was soft and chewy. Dipped in sweet and spicy sauce, the sweet and salty flavor was very appetizing.

Lin Xiaoya observed Lei Jun's reactions the whole way. Seeing her eyes light up when she ate the ice jelly, she immediately took note of it.

It seemed Sister Lei liked sweet and cold things.

She also took the initiative to get napkins and hand over water for Lei Jun, not letting her lift a finger the entire time.

By the time they reached the end of the pedestrian street, both of them were stuffed.

Lin Xiaoya rubbed her stomach and said with a smile, "If I had known, I would've eaten fewer grilled rice cakes. My stomach is round now."

Lei Jun also felt her stomach was quite full; the food had been great.

On the way back to the dormitory, Lin Xiaoya was still rambling, "Sister Lei, next time we come, I've also found a dessert shop that's really good. Their Mango Pomelo Sago is super authentic. I'll take you to try it next time!"

She felt a bit smug. Nothing should have gone wrong today, and Lei Jun seemed to be in a good mood. Her relationship with Lei Jun would definitely get closer in the future.

Back at the dormitory, both of them collapsed onto their beds, not wanting to move.

Just as Lei Jun was about to play some games, her phone rang.

The name "Qin Yu" flashed on the screen. As soon as she pressed the answer key, Qin Yu's slightly urgent voice came through the receiver, with the faint sound of car horns in the background: "Sister Lei, do you have time right now?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Lei Jun thought for a moment. Qin Yu and the others wouldn't usually call for no reason, especially directly to the school. It must be something serious.

"I'm right at the entrance of Shanghai University," Qin Yu's voice became even more respectful. "Wu Tian and Guo Hao are here too."

"Alright, I'll head over to find you." Lei Jun hung up the phone, stood up, and grabbed her coat from the back of the chair.

Lin Xiaoya: "Sister Lei, are you going out?"

She stood up, her gaze following Lei Jun's movements, her ears perked up, trying to hear who was looking for her.

Lei Jun paused while putting on her coat and said with a smile, "Yeah, meeting a few friends."

Lin Xiaoya became even more curious. Friends?

What kind of friends did Sister Lei have?

"Then... then do you need me to go with you?"

She blurted it out, but regretted it a little as soon as she said it.

Would it be too much of an intrusion if she followed along?

Lei Jun bent down to tie her shoelaces.

"No need, they're all acquaintances."

She straightened up and patted Lin Xiaoya on the shoulder.

Lin Xiaoya watched Lei Jun's back disappear at the end of the hallway before slowly pulling her hand back.

She leaned against the doorframe.

Sister Lei's friends were definitely not ordinary. The voice on the phone just now sounded quite steady; they must be reliable people.

When Lei Jun reached the school gate, she heard a small commotion not far away.

She looked up and saw a black Mercedes-Benz Maybach parked under the streetlamp at the school entrance, the silver trim on the wheels gleaming under the light.

As she drew closer, three men were standing by the streetlamp: Qin Yu, Wu Tian, and Guo Hao.

Qin Yu wore a black jacket, Wu Tian was in a casual suit, and Guo Hao was wearing sportswear. When the three of them saw her, they immediately straightened their backs, the smiles on their faces carrying obvious respect.

"Sister Lei!" Qin Yu was the first to speak. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough that several passing students paused and turned to look.

A few boys passing by were originally chatting about games, but they instinctively turned their heads when they heard Qin Yu's voice.

At first glance, they saw Lei Jun.

She stood under the streetlamp, the hem of her cream-colored trench coat fluttering slightly in the wind, her hair tied up casually, revealing her slender neck.

"Holy crap, isn't that Lei Jun?" A boy wearing glasses stopped in his tracks, nudged the person next to him with his elbow, and whispered, his eyes fixed on Lei Jun.

"It really is her!" The other boy quickly pulled out his phone. "Where is she going?"

"Who are those three guys with her? They look pretty wealthy..."

Qin Yu and the others also noticed the surrounding gazes. Wu Tian frowned and took a step forward, intending to shield Lei Jun, but he was gently stopped by her hand on his arm.

"It's fine."

Lei Jun's voice was very soft, but it made Wu Tian instantly freeze in place.

"Sister Lei, please get in the car. It's a bit chilly outside."

Guo Hao opened the rear door and bowed slightly with an inviting gesture.

As Lei Jun bent down to get into the car, she heard the "click" of a camera shutter from outside.

Once inside the car, she leaned back against the soft seat, which was slightly warm. Qin Yu and the others must have turned on the heater in advance.

The car drove smoothly as Lei Jun leaned against the seat with her eyes closed.