206: Chapter 206, Part Two

Liu Xinyi picked up some bok choy with her chopsticks and teased with a smile.

"A freshman student came to sign up this afternoon. He stood in front of our booth and asked me with a serious face, 'Senior, what do you guys usually research at the Lying Flat Research Club?' I was just about to explain when he froze for a second and said, 'Oh, I thought this was the Chess Club. My mistake.' Then he waved his hand and ran off. It was such a hilarious misunderstanding."

"You're telling me."

Zhou Kai put down his chopsticks and started gesturing animatedly.

"There was another freshman who spent ages buried in filling out the registration form, but in the contact info section, they left a phone number that I later counted to be only ten digits. I don't know if they missed a digit or just didn't remember the whole thing. By the time I realized it and ran out to find them, they were long gone."

Chen Siyue chimed in, unable to hold back a laugh: "You guys didn't see the little incident right before we packed up. The printer suddenly jammed and went on strike. Wang Hao fiddled with the machine for ages, sweating with anxiety, and in the end, it was only fixed after a student from the club next door helped out."

Wang Hao spread his hands, looking aggrieved: "This printer is clearly cursed when it comes to me. It works perfectly every time Jiang Chen uses it, but the moment it's my turn, it acts up."

The whole table burst into laughter.

As they chatted, someone remarked that the recruitment results far exceeded expectations. No one had anticipated that the Lying Flat Research Club would attract so many freshmen, so their future daily activities would surely be exceptionally lively.

Song Zhiyi was already dreaming of outdoor activities, suggesting that when late autumn arrived, they should all go to the ginkgo forest behind the school to take in the scenery and relax.

Zhao Fan immediately jumped in, asking if they could have a picnic in the forest while they were at it. No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Siyue teased him with a smile: "Your mind is only ever on food and drink; you haven't got a shred of interest in research."

The whole table was amused, laughter rippling through the group.

While eating, Jiang Chen noticed that Lin Wan picked up vegetable dishes significantly more often than meat dishes; her taste leaned towards the light.

He didn't say anything. In between picking up his own food, he selected a few pieces of tender, low-oil stewed chicken, paired them with some crisp bok choy, and gently placed them onto her plate.

"This chicken is stewed pretty well, not greasy. Give it a try."

His tone was very natural, as if he were talking about the most mundane thing. While speaking, his gaze remained on the dishes on the table; he didn't deliberately look at her.

Lin Wan lowered her eyes to look at the food on her plate, then raised them to look at the young man beside her.

The warm light fell on his face, stripping away the cold, steady demeanor he had while handling tasks during the day, making his features look much softer.

The corners of her lips curved slightly, and she softly replied, "Mm," before lowering her head to eat slowly.

A moment later, she quietly pushed the plate of stir-fried meat in front of her toward Jiang Chen's side. The movement was very light, almost imperceptible to others.

Jiang Chen caught a glimpse of the plate being moved over. A hint of a smile rippled in his eyes, but he didn't say anything, just silently picked up a chopstick-full.

Nothing was said between the two of them, but that tacit understanding flowed silently.

This scene was caught by Liu Xinyi, who was sitting opposite them.

Holding back her laughter, she quietly nudged Chen Siyue beside her with her elbow and exchanged a knowing look.

Chen Siyue followed her gaze and understood instantly. The two exchanged a smile, then lowered their heads to continue their meal without making a sound to disturb them.

On the other hand, Wang Hao, who was fully focused on keeping the atmosphere lively, didn't notice these details. After eating a few bites, he started praising Jiang Chen again, saying that today's recruitment scene was chaotic, and it was all thanks to Jiang Chen's steady presence that they managed to keep the pace under control.

Everyone around chimed in, saying that he was very organized with the documents and never panicked when facing issues.

Chen Siyue also chimed in, saying that Lin Wan had a gentle and patient personality, always able to gently comfort nervous and reserved freshmen, and was exceptionally proper in how she treated others.

Liu Xinyi nodded repeatedly from the side, sighing with genuine feeling: "The two of them have temperaments that really match when they stand together, and their coordination in getting things done is impeccable. Today's recruitment going so smoothly couldn't have happened without both of them putting in their full effort to help out."

The words were sincere, not meant as teasing, and everyone present nodded in agreement.

Zhao Fan even directly raised his drink cup and gave them both a thumbs up.

Lin Wan's cheeks flushed slightly from everyone's direct praise. She picked up her tea cup, took a small sip, and smiled with her eyes lowered.

Subconsciously, she turned her head to look at Jiang Chen and happened to meet his gaze as he looked over.

Jiang Chen's eyes carried a hint of a soft inquiry, as if he were asking her what was wrong.

Lin Wan gently shook her head, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Jiang Chen looked around at everyone who was still discussing enthusiastically, then put down his tea cup. His tone was a mix of helplessness and gentleness: "Alright everyone, just eat your food. Don't keep obsessing over us two."

Everyone laughed and changed the subject, turning to discuss the club's subsequent activity plans.

Everyone felt that the Lying Flat Research Club didn't need to be too rigid. In the future, they could organize relaxed and carefree activities like camping and chatting, tea tasting and reading, or going for walks to clear their minds—that would better fit the club's name.

The sweet and sour pork tenderloin was soon finished, and only a few scattered pieces of dried tofu remained from the braised platter. On the other hand, the pot of stewed chicken was substantial, and even after serving it around, there was still nearly half a pot left.

They had ordered two more rounds of rice. The owner pushed the door open halfway through to refill the hot tea, and seeing the table full of chatting and laughing young people, a kind smile also appeared on his face.

Eating until they were about eighty percent full, the pace of their meal gradually slowed down.

Some leaned back against their chairs to stretch, while others held their warm tea and sipped slowly, the tone of their chatter becoming lazy and relaxed.

Outside the window, the night had completely darkened. The warm yellow light from the courtyard shone through the window screen, casting a hazy glow on the ground.

The Orange Cat that had been wandering in the courtyard earlier was now curled up by the threshold of the private room, eyes closed in rest, its tail slowly sweeping the floor, looking lazy and relaxed.

Lin Wan put down her bowl and chopsticks, her whole body finally relaxing completely from the tension of the day.

She turned her head and quietly observed Jiang Chen beside her.

He was listening intently to Zhao Fan talking, his long, clean fingers resting casually on the edge of the table. When he heard something interesting, his brows relaxed and his eyes curved into a smile, stripping away the rigor he had while handling tasks and adding a touch of casual gentleness.

Perhaps sensing the gaze beside him, Jiang Chen turned his head, and their eyes collided unexpectedly.

Lin Wan didn't dodge; her gaze was gentle and warm, carrying the contentment of relaxing after a meal.

Jiang Chen paused slightly, a glimmer of laughter rippling in his eyes. He leaned over slightly and asked in a low voice: "Why have you been staring at me?"

Lin Wan blinked gently, her fingertips touching the cool wall of the cup, and replied in a soft whisper: "Nothing, just looking."

Jiang Chen didn't press further. Watching her serene appearance, he smiled, picked up the teapot on the table, and steadily refilled her almost empty tea cup.

Steam curled up from the rim of the cup, blurring her profile under the light, and a quiet warmth gently lingered between the two of them.

"Finally, I've recovered."

Zhao Fan stretched his body backward and let out a long sigh: "After a whole day of working, this meal is what brought me back to life. The first group dinner for our Lying Flat Research Club has been an absolutely top-tier experience."

Wang Hao picked up the last piece of braised dried tofu, scanned the scattered empty plates on the table, and his face was full of satisfaction.

Then he leaned forward and suggested with great interest: "This meal was satisfying, and it's still early. Since everyone has rested enough, how about we arrange a second round and continue hanging out?"