We'll Eat Dinner Out

Without Shu Xian even realizing it, duty had already finished.

What she did this afternoon was doing what Zhong Li had said—the test to see the student assistant's capabilities by doing the heavy load either by washing the cloths that were used to clean their stations, or by mopping the floors once there are no longer people in their library section.

Zhang Ren told Shu Xian that she is going to wash the cloths instead, since mopping is done at the end of the week, the task already for tomorrow since it's Friday.

"Nngh!"

Shu Xian stretched, no more patrons inside their library station as her yawn came out rather loud, making Zhang Ren laugh a bit.

"How are you enjoying your first day of duty so far?" he asked, Shu Xian, smiling at him as she gave an approving smile.

"It's actually pretty good," she said, narrowing her eyes at the same time. "Are we going to have this routine every day?"

"Oh, I wish!"

Zhang Ren answered as he rolled his eyes.

"As you can see, I was desperate to have something to do in the afternoon. Good thing Yan Yan and Zhong Li gave us something to do," he added, Shu Xian, now curious about them as she saw that there are ten more minutes before their time out, the two of them already done cleaning their areas and shutting down all of the computers.

"Yan Yan and Zhong Li… what degrees are they studying?" Shu Xian asked, Zhang Ren, answering her question.

"Well, Yan Yan is under business administration and then Zhong Li is under civil engineering."

"Wow…" Shu Xian blinked her eyes in astonishment, not expecting Zhong Li to be studying civil engineering. "I thought he is studying humanities or psychology," she commented, making Zhang Ren let out a small laugh.

"What makes you think that he is studying that?" he asked, Shu Xian, shrugging her shoulders as she let out a laugh as well.

"I dunno… just my first impression of him."

With Wang Fang suddenly coming out of her office, it got Shu Xian and Zhang Ren's attention, making both of them stand up from their seat to greet her.

"Good evening, Miss Wang Fang," both of the student assistants greeted, making Wang Fang smile at them as she acknowledged their greeting.

"Good evening, you two," she greeted as well, already walking up to their work station to lean on the help desk. "Are you enjoying your first day of duty so far?" she asked Shu Xian as she looked at her, Shu Xian, nodding to answer her question.

"Yes, I am. Zhang Ren is also a good guy to have helped me. He's a very approachable guy—I'm lucky," she added, Wang Fang, giving Shu Xian an appreciative smile.

"Good."

With that, she already got her shoulder bag and wore it, already waving her hand to say goodbye to the two as she fixed her eyeglasses as well with her index finger.

"Now, I must go. I should have had my time out an hour ago, but I don't want papers stocking up my desk for tomorrow. I did overtime and did most of them so I won't have a stressful morning," she said, already walking down the stairs as Zhang Ren and Shu Xian waved at her retreating figure.

The moment she was already gone, Zhang Ren faced Shu Xian, asking her what her plans are for later.

"So, what are you gonna do later? Are you going to eat dinner or go straight home?"

With that asked, Shu Xian remembered that she is going to go grocery shopping with Pan An tonight, making her shake her head to answer Zhang Ren's question.

"No, I'll be doing some grocery shopping."

"Oh!" Zhang Ren widened his eyes, suggesting Shu Xian something. "Want me to come and help? I can if you—"

"No, no!" Shu Xian violently declined as she shook her head profusely. "I want to do grocery shopping alone!"

"Oh?" Zhang Ren arched a brow at her as he cocked his head to the side. "Why are you so defensive? Are you okay?"

"Yes… I—"

"Zhang Ren!"

With Shi Lian suddenly visiting their library section, the girl leaned on the table as well, getting Zhang Ren's attention as Shi Lian noticed that Shu Xian is in a pickle.

"Want to eat with me tonight in Molto Affamato?"

"Molto Affamato?" Zhang Ren blinked his eyes a few times. "Isn't that the new Italian restaurant near the university?"

"Yup!"

Shi Lian grinned, narrowing her eyes at Shu Xian as she understood that she needed the rescue without her friend even telling her.

"Shu Xian seems busy… she doesn't want people to come with her sometimes when it comes to errands. She wanted this 'alone time,' so leave her be! Come with me instead!"

Zhang Ren chuckled, already nodding as Shi Lian seemed adamant on him coming with her.

"Alright. Let me go grab my things and I'll accompany you," he said, Shu Xian, sighing in relief as she looked at Shi Lian.

"Thank you," she mouthed, Shi Lian, playfully rolling her eyes at her as she mouthed back as well.

"You're welcome."

With that, they already had their time out, Shu Xian, feeling her phone buzz against her skin as she fished her phone from her pocket, already seeing a text from Pan An, making her heart beat fast in her chest, not expecting that she will receive a message from him.

More over… when did he get her number?

Pan An:

I'll wait for you in the garage. I'm already home. We will shop in the mall's grocery far from the university—we'll eat dinner out as well since it's late.

'Oh? Eat dinner out?'

Shu Xian cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brows, wondering where they could be eating to make her feel slightly excited.

Being a foodie sure does have its perks! With the thought of them eating after doing some grocery shopping, Shu Xian couldn't help but grin, feeling happy as well that she had read the professor's message ever so suddenly.