"Uncle Zhang, *pu*..."
After listening to Qin Tian recount the events, Xia Nuannuan couldn't help but burst into laughter, unable to stop.
It wasn't until the bell rang for class that Xia Nuannuan managed to stifle her laughter. Holding her slightly aching stomach, she shifted her attention to the lesson.
Qin Tian was also in a good mood, propping his face with one hand as he continued to flip through his book.
Having experienced the harsh realities of society in his previous life, he cherished these carefree school days.
After the morning classes, Xia Nuannuan prepared to head back for lunch, offering to bring Qin Tian food later.
"No need, I'm going back to eat today too!"
Qin Tian said with a smile as he got up.
"Ah?"
Xia Nuannuan was taken aback.
"My mom quit her job at the garment factory and is going home to take care of me after my college entrance exams,"
Qin Tian explained with a smile.
"I see!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded in understanding and smiled, "That's great. Then let's head out of school together!"
Despite her words, she felt a pang of disappointment.
Bringing Qin Tian lunch every day at noon had become a habit for her.
Every time she saw him wolf down the food she brought, Xia Nuannuan felt a deep sense of happiness and satisfaction. She thought about learning cooking from her mother when she had time, so she could personally cook for Qin Tian in the future.
"Brother Tian, you're going home for lunch?"
Zhang Peng, who had walked over, happened to overhear their conversation and asked in surprise.
"Yeah!"
Qin Tian nodded, "During this period before the college entrance exams, I'll likely be going back for lunch and in the afternoon."
"*Pu*!"
Upon seeing Zhang Peng, Xia Nuannuan couldn't help but burst into laughter again.
Qin Tian's expression shifted slightly, and he frantically signaled to her.
"Xia Nuannuan, why are you laughing so happily?"
Zhang Peng, not understanding, asked with curiosity.
"N-nothing, really."
Xia Nuannuan waved her hands in a flustered manner.
"What the heck?"
Zhang Peng looked at Qin Tian with a confused gaze.
Qin Tian immediately averted his eyes and decisively changed the subject, "We need to go back to eat. Uncle Zhang, we're leaving!"
Before he could finish speaking, he grabbed Xia Nuannuan's wrist and practically fled towards the back door of the classroom.
"Ah? Okay!"
Zhang Peng nodded blankly, then suddenly realized what had happened. His face turned ashen, and he jumped up, cursing, "Damn it, Qin Tian, I told you not to say it."
Unfortunately, his reaction was too slow. Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan had already left the classroom.
Hearing the roaring curses from behind them, the two exchanged a glance and, in a tacit understanding, bolted.
"Hahaha..."
Inside the classroom, Zhang Peng and the students who hadn't left yet heard the joyful laughter of the departing duo and exchanged bewildered glances.
"Did they just... hold hands?"
A girl with sharp eyes suddenly remarked.
The surroundings fell silent, and everyone's expressions became wonderfully complex.
"See, I knew those two were definitely dating."
"Ahhhh... can't even wait a little over a month? Had to stab us with that."
"I saw it too. The hand-holding was too natural; it couldn't have been the first time."
"I'm used to it by now. How many times have they shown off like this? I'm not envious, nope, not at all!"
"Speaking of which, what were they laughing about? They were so happy."
"It was like that during English class this morning too."
"I really heard Qin Tian call out 'Uncle Zhang.' Zhang Peng, is that your new nickname?"
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Peng's other close friend, Qian Sheng, asked loudly with a knowing tone.
As soon as he said that, all eyes in the room shifted to Zhang Peng.
Zhang Peng's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he strode out of the classroom without a word.
"Uncle Zhang, going to the cafeteria? Wait for me!"
Qian Sheng shouted loudly and jogged to catch up.
"You scoundrel, shut up!"
Zhang Peng glared back at him.
"Hahaha... so it really was because of that. Uncle Zhang, tell me, how did you get that nickname?"
"Shut up!"
"Haha... if it's something interesting, brothers share!"
"Share your sister, I'm breaking off our friendship!"
Hearing this familiar exchange, someone in the classroom couldn't help but snicker, and then the room erupted in laughter.
...
...
At the school entrance, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan waved goodbye with smiles and headed in opposite directions, returning home.
Not far behind them, a boy watched this scene unfold. Envy was evident on his slightly immature face as his small eyes darted around.
This was the same boy who had tried to chat up Xia Nuannuan at the sports field earlier, only to be effortlessly brushed aside by Qin Tian as if he were a child.
"Bastard, you don't even put me in your eyes, do you? You just wait!"
The boy muttered through gritted teeth and walked out of the school gate quickly.
He naturally hadn't forgotten the humiliation he suffered last time.
In the following days, he had spent his free time searching for Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan within the school.
However, due to the first-year and third-year students not being in the same teaching building, and the third-year students rarely leaving their classrooms, he hadn't been able to find them.
To his surprise, he finally ran into them today, and they seemed to be day students as well.
This made finding a way to regain his honor much easier.
When Qin Tian returned home, several dishes were already laid out on the Eight Immortals table in the main hall, emitting a tantalizing aroma.
While his future mother-in-law's cooking might be even better, his mother's cooking was what truly tasted better to him.
Due to her job at the garment factory, Tang Xiuxia could only cook for him during the rare holidays, aside from late-night snacks.
After going to Jiangcheng after graduation in his previous life, opportunities like this became even fewer.
"Mom, I'm back!"
Qin Tian shouted towards the back room.
"Come help me carry the dishes."
His mother's voice came from the kitchen in the back.
"Okay, coming!"
Qin Tian replied with a smile, quickly heading to the back and entering the somewhat stuffy kitchen.
"Take that bowl of soup over, and the electric rice cooker, bowls, and chopsticks too. I'll be done once this fish is fried."
Tang Xiuxia, standing at the stove frying a fish, turned and instructed.
"Got it!"
Qin Tian happily agreed, picking up a large bowl of tomato and egg soup from the counter.
After sniffing the aroma, he exclaimed with exaggerated praise, "It smells so good, Mom! How come your cooking seems to have gotten better!"
"Don't flatter me, be careful, it's hot!"
Tang Xiuxia couldn't help but remind him with a chuckle.
"No, no, I mean it."
Qin Tian grinned and left the kitchen with the soup.
By the time Tang Xiuxia placed the last dish, braised fish, on the table, Qin Tian had already arranged everything and served two bowls of rice.
His mother didn't have a large appetite, so she only had a little more than half a bowl.
His own bowl was full, packed down firmly with the rice spoon.
Once the mother and son sat down, looking at the four dishes and one soup, which looked very appetizing, both wore smiles.
"Mom, you've worked hard. Have a piece first."
Qin Tian first picked up a large piece of fish and placed it in his mother's bowl.
Tang Xiuxia paused for a moment, then a look of gratified smiles bloomed on her face.
"Eat up. Eat until you're full, then take a nap at home before heading to school."
"Okay!"