My name is Qiu Yi, a student in Class 3, Grade 10 at Wenlan Academy. A week after school started, that girl transferred into my class. She looked mischievous yet adorable, sometimes mature, sometimes innocent—her name is Ye Wen.

From the first moment I saw her, my heart felt touched by something. Was it love at first sight?

Sometimes I ask myself: if Ye Wen wasn’t so beautiful and cute, would I have fallen for her at first sight? Do I love her looks or her inner self?

I don’t know. But I know everyone appreciates beauty. I’m afraid I only like her for her appearance. That feels too shallow. Confessing just for that would be irresponsible.

Later, I realized: at first, I might have liked her for her looks. Then, for her personality... perhaps. But I don’t know which I like more. If she were disfigured one day, would I still love her? I tell myself yes, but my heart isn’t sure. A man must be responsible to himself and those close to him. I’ll confess only when I’m truly sure. Until then, I’ll study hard, find part-time jobs during holidays, and improve myself. Even if Ye Wen agreed to date me, I’d need her parents’ approval... Rich families like hers won’t look twice at a poor, ordinary guy like me.

I don’t ask to be with her. Just watching her from afar makes me happy. Especially now, sitting beside her every day, smelling the pure milky scent on her, turning my head to see her face up close... Because of her, I’ve fallen in love with school.

“Alright, coming! Xiao Yi, take the order for that table,” the boss’s voice sounded beside me. I shook my head, snapping out of my daydream. I’d been spacing out again.

This is where I work part-time. Every weekend or after school sometimes, I help out. On weekends, from 9 AM to 10 PM, I earn a hundred yuan a day. After school, from 5 to 9 PM, it’s twenty yuan. I want to save this money to buy a computer.

“Coming,” I replied. I grabbed the order pad and walked straight to the only occupied table. So early for dinner? School just ended, right?

I stood before the table, looking at the order pad. “What would you like to order… Huh? Ye Wen?”

Do rich people eat at small restaurants like this?

Ye Wen looked up, her gentle eyes meeting mine. Her delicate face was flawless. I felt nervous… Though she’s looked at me like this many times, my heart always races. Is this love?

“Your classmate?” asked a sharp-looking girl sitting beside Ye Wen. Hmm, she had both playful and mature vibes—a strange girl.

Ye Wen took out a ballpoint pen and wrote two neat characters on a sticky note.

[Deskmate]

“Oh~ I see. Working part-time to support your studies? Not bad,” the girl beside Ye Wen praised.

“Uh… well, it’s nothing. I’m just doing some odd jobs,” I said modestly, feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise from this pretty stranger.

So I took Ye Wen and her friend’s orders, then went to the kitchen to hand the menu to the chef. He put on his tall chef’s hat, clipped the order to a wall-mounted clip, and said, “Got it. I’ll start cooking right away.”

The chef took out garlic sprouts, washed them skillfully, chopped them quickly, and poured oil into the wok…

I stepped out of the kitchen and sat on a chair in the corner. It was quiet now, but it’d get busy soon. I took this chance to rest and clear my head.

I sat sideways on the chair, so I could see Ye Wen with just a slight turn of my eyes. She brushed a strand of hair aside—even that move was adorable. Then she pulled a game console from her bag… Oh, I recognized it! A PSP. My friend Luo Liangjian has one, but he’s so stingy. Borrowing it for a minute takes forever.

I only have a monochrome GBA, second-hand. Come to think of it, it’s been in my drawer unused for ages.

“Topped rice bowl ready—” the chef called from the kitchen.

I quickly stood up, took the cooked topped rice bowl from the kitchen, and placed it before Ye Wen.

Ye Wen unwrapped a pair of disposable chopsticks, picked up a small bite of rice, and put it in her mouth. She ate slowly and gracefully—truly a lady.

But why was she frowning? Was it not tasty? I felt nervous.

[Do you have a spoon?] Ye Wen held up the sticky note to me.

So she found chopsticks troublesome for rice? Or couldn’t pick it up? Either way, I was happy to serve her. I went to the kitchen and brought her a ceramic spoon.

Soft as boneless, smooth and tender… Ye Wen’s hand. When she took the spoon, I quickly pulled my hand back. Otherwise, she’d think I was a creep…

[Thank you]

“No problem, it’s my job,” I hurriedly replied.

As time passed, more customers came to the restaurant.

“Check, please!” a crisp female voice called out.

I quickly wrote down the dishes for this table, then asked, “Anything else?”

“That’s all.”

So I collected the order slip and hurried to the customer who called for the check.

It was Ye Wen and her friend.

“How much in total?” the girl asked.

“Eight yuan.” Four for the pork liver noodles, four for the topped rice bowl.

“Here.”

I took the ten yuan, then went to the boss lady at the counter to get two yuan change.

“Take care,” I said, watching Ye Wen leave. Her petite figure gradually faded from my sight until she disappeared.

“Hey, do you have roast chicken?”

“Huh? What?”

“Roast chicken, whole.”

“We don’t have whole ones. But we can buy one from a nearby deli for you, with a one-yuan delivery fee.”

“Buy one for me, and remember to cut it into pieces.”

“Alright, sir. You need to pay first.”

“How do I know the exact price?”

“That deli has a cash register like a supermarket. You’ll get a receipt later.”

“Oh, oh…” The customer nodded, pulling out a hundred-yuan bill and placing it on the table.

“Boss~ this customer wants to buy a whole roast chicken.”

…

I stayed busy until nine. Since I had school tomorrow, I had to leave. I took today’s wages from the boss, said goodbye, and walked home alone.

Dim streetlights cast long shadows. I zipped up my jacket and yawned widely.