Confrontation

As Ren Haoyu's group and Azalea's group stood at the food counter, a tense silence began to settle between them. It was as if two opposing forces were about to clash, and the other students in the queue could feel the charged atmosphere.

The soft breeze blew across the campus, carrying with it a faint smell of the blooming cherry blossoms. The scene was almost picturesque, with the sun shining bright and the sky painted in a beautiful shade of blue. However, the atmosphere at the food counter was far from tranquil. It was as if a storm was about to break loose.

As the students waited in line, they noticed two people locked in a glaring contest. One was Su Xiu, known for his fiery temperament, while the other was a girl named Lin Jing, who seemed equally determined not to back down. Their eyes met, and it was clear that neither of them was willing to relinquish their position.

Ren Haoyu and Azalea's group had no idea what had sparked the conflict between the two people. They were merely caught in the middle of it. As the tension continued to build, it felt like the wild west, with the imaginary tumbleweed rolling across the floor and the sound of western music playing in the background.

While all this was happening, both group leaders, Ren Haoyu and Azalea, were completely unaware of the tension building between Su Xiu and Lin Jing. Their attention was solely focused on each other, eyes locked in an intense stare-down.

As Ren Haoyu and Azalea's groups stood silently at the cafeteria's food counter, the auntie overseeing the area couldn't help but notice the tension brewing between them. With a disapproving look, she scolded Ren Haoyu, who seemed to be the leader of his group. "Hey, what are you all doing here? If you're not going to get your food, then move along and make way for those who are hungry!"

Ren Haoyu was basically preoccupied with his own thoughts after seeing Azalea. Hence, when he got scolded, there was no reaction from him. He wasn't even aware he was being chastised in front of everyone! When he saw Azalea didn't say anything after seeing him, he secretly sighed in relief and returned to pick up his plate, still distracted by his thoughts. 'Does she not recognize me?'

He tried to recall that night's incident and discovered that both of them had parted ways without seeing each other's faces! It's highly possible that she doesn't recognize him! However, he still converses with her a few times! That's what he was most worried about.

After a deep reflection, he reached a conclusion.

'Since she doesn't recognize my face, I should avoid her as much as possible, lest my voice triggers her memory.'

The cafeteria's auntie thought Ren Haoyu was silent because she embarrassed him in front of everyone. Though it may be a little bit wicked for her to humiliate a random person in public, she was inwardly satisfied and didn't regret her action.

She was in a bad mood these past few days. And the strenuous and monotonous work in the catering industry didn't help her and even increased her frustration. So, when Ren Haoyu blatantly ignored her and went blank in the middle of the queue, she discreetly rejoiced. She finally could release her irritation that had been piled up for a while! There was no favoritism or deliberate picking. Ren Haoyu just happened to be that student that is suitable for the sacrificial lamb! To make up for it, she decided to add an extra Chicken Katsu to Ren Haoyu's plate, hoping it would lift his spirits.

And with that, Ren Haoyu had unknowingly earned himself an additional Chicken Katsu.

Meanwhile, Su Xiu and Lin Jing were engaged in a silent staring contest, each trying to assert dominance over the other. Su Xiu eventually broke free from the contest and snorted, casting a provoking look at Lin Jing before turning to follow Ren Haoyu. Zheng Tian, as always, followed him from behind, looking confused and bewildered by the strange behavior of his two friends.

Can't anyone tell me what's exactly going on??

As Ren Haoyu walked away, Azalea's eyes followed him until he disappeared from view. She then turned to Lin Jing and asked, "You know him?"

Lin Jing's gaze fell on Su Xiu, who was following Ren Haoyu closely, and thought that Azalea was referring to him. She snorted and replied with a hint of resentment, "Just a friend from childhood."

Azalea raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden change in Lin Jing's tone. She had a feeling that Lin Jing loathed the person a lot, but didn't want to push further, sensing that they were not close enough to discuss their personal histories. Instead, she diverted the topic by proposing a meal feast treat.

As they sat at the table, Zheng Tian couldn't resist asking the question that was on everyone's mind. "So, Su Xiu, spill the tea. What's your history with that girl over there? She must be your ex, right?" he said, nodding his head in the direction of Azalea's group.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Su Xiu reached out and grabbed a few potato wedges from the plate in front of him, quickly stuffing them into Zheng Tian's open mouth to shut him up.

"What? Chihuahua's ex? Where's she?" Ren Haoyu finally snapped out of his daze as his interest was piqued by the mention of seeing Su Xiu's ex. His eyes widened with intrigue. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of woman could have possibly tamed the fiery and independent Su Xiu. He imagined her as someone strong and bold, capable of matching Su Xiu's stubbornness and fierce spirit. His mind raced with curiosity, and he couldn't resist the urge to find out more.

"T-that group!" Zheng Tian gagged when Su Xiu pushed the potato further. However, the former showed his extraordinary tenacity by finishing the sentence despite the fact that his face had turned blue.

Ren Haoyu's eyes followed Zheng Tian's trembling finger, and his heart started pounding as he saw the group of girls sitting in the centre. His gaze swept through the crowd until it landed on Azalea, who was the tallest among the girls. He gulped nervously, not realizing that his tone had turned solemn. "Which one?"

"T-the tall one! The one with glas-" Zheng Tian trailed off, his vision going black as he fainted from lack of oxygen. Although he didn't finish the sentence, Ren Haoyu had already connected the dots in his mind.

"Will you shut up now?!" Su Xiu fumed and didn't bother to check Zheng Tian's condition and resumed licking his vanilla ice cream.

Ren Haoyu also merely saluted at Zheng Tian's sacrifice before returning to his profound reflection.

If the ignored Zheng Tian could haunt someone, he'd definitely gone to Ren Haoyu first and roared directly at his ears, "You f*cker! You've betrayed me twice now!"

Unfortunately, he was in an unconscious state. The state in which neither live awake nor death awake as a spirit.

'The tall one with a glass? Isn't it exactly her?' Ren Haoyu inhaled a deep breath as he stared at Azalea in a different light. No wonder she could tame Chihuahua; she's extremely powerful! Even a guy who could cast an abomination illusion wasn't a match for her.

Ren Haoyu couldn't help but notice how captivating Azalea looked. Her tall frame exuded an air of confidence that drew people towards her, like moths to a flame. Even in her simple white t-shirt and jeans, she seemed to possess an understated elegance that was hard to ignore. Her raven black hair cascaded down her back in waves, adding to her allure.

As he continued to gaze at her, he noticed the striking contrast between her dark hair and bright blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. They were like pools of sapphire, deep and alluring.

He couldn't quite pinpoint her ethnicity, but her features seemed to be a blend of European and Asian influences, creating a unique and mesmerizing appearance. Her high cheekbones and full lips were reminiscent of European beauty standards, while her almond-shaped eyes and delicate nose gave her a distinctly Asian look. It was a rare combination that only added to her magnetism.

A mixed breed is indeed the most ideal breed...

Wait, why does it sound like I'm talking about a dog?

It just happened that when Ren Haoyu observed the group, Azalea was holding a glass full of orange juice. And Lin Jing was standing behind her, thereby concealed from Ren Haoyu's line of vision.

"Sister Azalea, you look like you're the maturest among us. Yet, your taste is childlike!" Ruyi smiled teasingly. When she found Azalea had a warm and outgoing personality, she held back no more in her jesting and teasing.

As the group settled into their seats at the center of the cafe, their striking beauty drew the attention of various onlookers. While Azalea was certainly the focal point of the stares, it was impossible to ignore the stunning appearance of the other girls in the squad. Some admirers looked on with envy, while others were simply curious or drawn to their charm. A few bold men even walked past their table, hoping to catch Azalea's eye. However, despite the attention, Azalea remained composed, her gaze fixed on her glass of juice.

Lin Jing gazed around the cafeteria and noticed the swarm of attention directed towards them. The squad's beauty was too overwhelming for most people to ignore. Every table seemed to be stealing glances at them, and Lin Jing could sense their discomfort rising.

"Should we move to the corner?" Lin Jing couldn't help but suggest. The amount of peeping and stares they received was enormous, to the extent they felt like a panda in the zoo.

"I don't see the need," Meng Yi played with a strand of her hair unconcernedly. "We have every right to sit here, and if they have a problem with it, that's their issue, not ours."

Meng Yi stood right away after saying that.

"Eh, Meng Yi, what are you trying to do?" Ruyi hurriedly grabbed the hem of Meng Yi's sleeve. Although her nickname is 'Little Devil', no one knows better than her that Meng Yi is the real devil!

"What else? Of course, punishing them. What's the point of being the daughter of the university president if I can't even use my power once in a while? I'm going to teach them a lesson they won't forget." Meng Yi's eyes flashed in a rare excitement and wickedness.

"Jingjing, help me! Meng Yi wanted to stir up another trouble!" Ruyi asked with pleading eyes.

Lin Jing shook her head resignedly and stood up. Under everyone's watch, she abruptly chopped at Meng Yi's head.

Pa!

"Aw! What's that for?!" Meng Yi cried out in pain. She then shot a wronged look at Lin Jing.

"It's your punishment for being a troublemaker." Lin Jing returns her glare with a disapproving look. After assessing the situation, she told the group, "Let's just move to the corner. We could also converse comfortably there without minding if other people would eavesdrop."

As they gathered their things and headed to a quieter corner of the restaurant, Meng Yi couldn't help but feel frustrated. Why did they always have to be the ones to accommodate others? When would people finally learn to mind their own business?

Ren Haoyu's group was also located at the corner, but they were on the upper left side, while Azalea's group was on the bottom right side.

"I just remembered that you haven't answered my question, Sister Azalea!" Ruyi started.

"Huh? Which question?" Azalea looks confused.

"The thing I said about your taste is similar to a children!"

"How is that even a question?" Azalea rolled her eyes.

"Of course it is when it is stated by me!" Ruyi argued unreasonably.

Azalea's expression turned somewhat bittersweet, but there was a playful glint in her eye as she spoke. "To be honest, I'm not too fond of orange juice. My fondness was for the pleasant memories it brought me from the distant past. It's not just a drink to me, it's a cherished reminder of a time that I hold dear in my heart,"

The atmosphere in the café suddenly changed as Azalea revealed the deeper meaning behind her fondness for orange juice. Her words were laced with nostalgia, evoking a sense of longing for a time long gone. The three women were caught off guard, their lighthearted banter replaced by a heavy silence.

At that moment, the three women felt like eating shit. They didn't expect a simple orange juice to have a profound story like that. A story that is enough to trigger someone's emotions must have either a pleasant or tragic ending. However, based on Azalea's low tone, it was clear the end was tragic!

The three of them weren't idiots. They quickly realized they had made a mistake by stepping on a landmine.

Meng Yi, who had previously been dismissive of Azalea, now felt a pang of empathy for her. She could sense that Azalea had been through something difficult, and her willingness to share her story touched Meng Yi in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Lin Jing, who was always perceptive of others' emotions, immediately regretted her friend's insensitive remark. She shot a stern look at Ruyi, and discreetly kicked her under the table as a reprimand.

"Aiya!" Ruyi exclaimed in pain. She immediately felt wronged. How am I supposed to know a simple orange juice had a tragic past?!

Azalea quickly noticed the heavy atmosphere that had descended upon the group and realized it was because of her. She flashed a smile and tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, what's with the long faces? I was just telling you about my cat's strange habits. She loved to drink orange juice instead of milk,"

"T-then, is your cat dead?" It was Ruyi who asked. Her voice was stuttering in nervousness.

Azalea's eyes softened, and she gazed wistfully into the distance before answering, "No, It's because it's been a year since I last saw her, and I miss her presence in my life. She was my constant companion, and we shared many happy moments together. Sometimes, I can still hear her purring in my ear and feel her soft fur against my skin." she then continued, a bittersweet smile on her lips, "I ordered orange juice because it was her favorite drink, and it reminds me of the times we spent together. It's the only thing that gives me a fleeting sense of comfort and closeness with her."

Ruyi shot Lin Jing a resentful glare, hoping to convey her message: 'See, I didn't mean any harm in the end. There's no tragic past to her story!'

Lin Jing pay no heed to her glare and responded to Azalea's story. "She must be a cute cat, then. Do you have a picture of her?"

"Sure," Azalea happily agreed and showed dozens of pictures of her cat.

...

As the women chatted, their conversation jumped from one topic to the next until Meng Yi abruptly brought up a new subject. "Hey Jing Jing, I heard from a little bird that the guy you clashed with earlier was your ex. Is that true?"

Lin Jing's anger flared up at Meng Yi's assumption, causing her to snap at her. "What ex? We're just childhood friends!" she retorted, her voice rising in frustration.

Meng Yi, always quick to catch on, responded with a smirk. "A childhood friend between affluent families? I could smell some betrothal here."

Lin Jing's face instantly flushed. It was unknown whether she was furious or embarrassed. Or perhaps, it could be both!

"You b*tch, my surname won't be Lin if I don't strangle you today!"

'So that guy came from an affluent family and possibly a fiancee of my roommates?' Azalea wondered.

Just then, she saw the supposed Lin Jing's fiance entering the restroom. Her eyes twinkled in mischievous and interest.

She glanced at the brawl between Meng Yi and Lin Jing before whispering to Ruyi, who was watching their battle in interest, "I'm going to the toilet, first."

"En, Sister Azalea, it's okay if I don't accompany you, right?" Ruyi said apologetically. She was reluctant to part with her seat as the battle had reached its deciding phase.

"It's fine, the toilet is nearby anyway."

Ruyi, too invested in the argument, hesitated but eventually agreed to let Azalea go alone. "Okay then!" she said.

...

When Ren Haoyu exited the restroom, his heart skipped a beat at the beautiful face in front of him.

Like a robot running out of battery, he greeted her with a stiff-like smile.

"H-hi?"