While waiting, Qin Tian, Chen Zhuang, and Zhuang Zhe went to the supermarket opposite to buy drinks and ice cream to beat the heat for everyone.
This heartwarming gesture earned them a lot of praise from Shen Siqi and Lu Lei to Xia Nuannuan.
Xia Nuannuan felt shy but also an unspeakable joy and pride.
Qin Tian had always been like this, often inadvertently satisfying her vanity as a girlfriend.
The group sat on stools at the barbecue restaurant, eating ice cream, chatting, and laughing. The waiting time seemed to pass in an instant.
The proprietress came out with a smile and beckoned them into the store.
Everyone got up and entered the barbecue restaurant.
The store was neither too big nor too small, with more than ten dining tables.
At this moment, except for one cleared table, all other tables were full, mostly with students from Jiangda University.
The moment Qin Tian and his group walked in, many eyes turned towards them.
A combination of handsome men and beautiful women was bound to attract attention wherever they went.
Moreover, while Chen Zhuang and Cao Mingliang might not have been considered strikingly handsome, they possessed strong presences in other aspects.
Zhuang Zhe was the least noticeable.
The eight people from the two dormitories perfectly filled one large round table.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan sat on one side, with Lu Lei and Shen Siqi to their left, Chen Zhuang and Zhuang Zhe to their right, and Cao Mingliang and Lü Yanran naturally sat opposite them.
"Here, have the menus. See what you want to eat."
The proprietress handed over two menus with a smile.
"Siqi, you want barbecue, you order first!"
Xia Nuannuan took one menu and handed it to Shen Siqi. Chen Zhuang took the other menu from the proprietress.
Seemingly wanting to show off, Chen Zhuang skillfully ordered from the menu.
"Boss, do you have cold beer?"
"Yes!"
"Then bring us two cases first. Cucumber salad, edamame, and peanuts for the cold dishes. Then, fifty skewers each of beef and lamb. A dozen oysters. The grilled fish looks good, so one. Eating meat without garlic is half the flavor, so bring some grilled garlic, five skewers to start. I won't order any vegetables, you can supplement!"
After finishing, Chen Zhuang pushed the menu towards Qin Tian with a smile.
"Amazing, as expected of someone from the Northeast!"
Shen Siqi praised with surprise.
Chen Zhuang immediately perked up, consciously straightened his back, and waved his hand humbly with a bashful smile, "Not at all, not at all. I'm just used to ordering these. Whatever you like to eat, just order more."
"Brother Zhuang, isn't Brother Tian treating us tonight? Why is it like you're treating?"
Cao Mingliang teased with a grin.
Hearing this, the girls couldn't help but be amused.
Chen Zhuang's face immediately flushed red, and he glared fiercely at Cao Mingliang, angrily saying, "Get lost. Who's treating doesn't matter, right, Brother Tian?"
"That makes sense!"
Qin Tian nodded with a smile, casually added a few more vegetarian dishes that Xia Nuannuan liked, and then handed the menu to Cao Mingliang opposite him.
"Is Qin Tian the oldest in your dorm?"
Shen Siqi asked curiously.
When this topic came up, Cao Mingliang immediately dropped his smile and began ordering dishes with Lü Yanran beside him.
However, Chen Zhuang naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to retaliate. He answered with a smile, "No, Qin Tian is the youngest by age. I'm the oldest, Cao Mingliang is second, and Zhuang Zhe is third!"
Cao Mingliang's mouth twitched a few times.
Fortunately, none of the girls understood the joke. Only Lü Yanran beside him cast a knowing glance at him.
"I knew it!"
Shen Siqi nodded in realization and then asked, "Then why do you all call him Brother Tian?"
"Because he's the best. Look, he got a perfect score on the college entrance exam, has such a beautiful girlfriend, and has money. He's a real winner in life!"
Chen Zhuang explained with a hint of envy.
"Hehe... so that's how it is!"
Shen Siqi smiled and playfully looked at Xia Nuannuan, teasing, "Then should we call you Sister Nuannuan from now on?"
Xia Nuannuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled sweetly, "If you want to, I don't mind!"
"Dream on. You're not even eighteen yet, you're almost a year younger than me!"
Shen Siqi rolled her eyes at her.
"Nuannuan isn't eighteen yet?"
Lu Lei looked surprised.
Xia Nuannuan nodded with a smile, "I started school quite early. I was born in October 1994, so I'll be eighteen soon!"
While they chatted and laughed, the dishes were quickly ordered.
The proprietress took the two menus and went to work.
Besides the couple who owned the restaurant, they had also hired two young part-time employees.
One of the young men, similar in age to them, first brought over two cases of ice-cold beer, and then quickly delivered the cold dishes they had ordered.
"Thanks!"
Shen Siqi smiled and thanked the young man.
The young man shook his head shyly and said, "You guys eat first. The dishes will be here soon. Just call me if you need anything."
After saying that, the young man turned and left.
"This guy is quite handsome. Could he be a senior from our school working here part-time?"
Shen Siqi said with a smile.
Chen Zhuang's eyelids twitched, and he shot a death glare at the departing young man.
The young man felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart, as if he were being stared at by a fierce beast. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look back with a hint of fear.
Chen Zhuang had already retracted his gaze in time.
The young man scratched his head in confusion, thinking that perhaps he had been receiving too many rewards lately, making him feel physically and mentally weak.
"You call this handsome? He's far from Brother Tian. And his stamina isn't great. He's already struggling to walk after carrying two cases of beer," Chen Zhuang said dismissively.
"Really?"
Shen Siqi tilted her head to look again, confused.
Xia Nuannuan seemed to sense something suddenly. Her large eyes darted between the two of them, and then she cast a questioning look at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian smiled and gave her a reassuring nod.
Xia Nuannuan's eyes brightened, and she looked at the two of them with even more curiosity.
Lu Lei, sitting next to Shen Siqi, and Lü Yanran, beside Cao Mingliang, also seemed to realize something.
The bystanders could see more clearly, especially when it came to such matters, women's intuition was always sharp.
"Are there any girls here who can drink?"
Qin Tian asked, finding a bottle opener from the beer crates behind him.
"I can drink a little!"
Shen Siqi answered first.
"I'm fine too."
Lü Yanran nodded with a smile.
"My alcohol tolerance isn't good, so I'll pass."
Lu Lei politely declined.
"Then Nuannuan, why don't you and Lu Lei order something to drink from the waiter!"
Qin Tian said to Xia Nuannuan.
"Mhm!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded obediently.
Qin Tian opened a bottle of beer for everyone else. After Xia Nuannuan and Lu Lei discussed it, they called a waiter and asked for two cans of coconut milk.
Everyone filled their glasses.
"Come, come, let's toast first to celebrate the start of the school year."
Qin Tian raised his glass with a hearty smile.
"Let's do it!"
"Cheers!!!"
Everyone else raised their glasses, their faces beaming with smiles.