Since it was getting late, the two decided to grab lunch first.

The midday sun burned harsher than the morning’s. Even under an umbrella, the heat felt unbearable. To save time, Jiang Fan immediately chose the nearest restaurant.

Lin Mengyao had no objections—she hated baking in the sun. Plus, she was still buzzing from beating Jiang Fan earlier. He even looked more tolerable now.

The closest spot was a Lanzhou lamian joint. Honestly, Lin Mengyao had never eaten at a street-side diner before. Unsure if it was authentic, she sat down anyway after watching the chef skillfully pull noodles.

“This table… so dirty.”

She wiped it carefully with a tissue. Lifting it, she spotted stubborn oil stains.

Slightly OCD, she lost her appetite instantly. She stood up, ready to demand Jiang Fan switch places.

But their orders were already in. Jiang Fan refused to waste money.

“It’s just someone sat here moments ago—they haven’t cleaned yet. That waitress is swamped. Street spots are like this. Change places if you want. I’m eating here.”

Jiang Fan glanced at the wall’s hygiene rating—a big smiley face. Right after he spoke, the busy waitress rushed over, scrubbed the table spotless, and apologized sincerely.

“Aren’t you changing?” Jiang Fan asked, seeing her hesitate before sitting back down.

“Hmph. If I left, you’d call me spoiled. I won’t give you that ammo.” Lin Mengyao turned her head away. She’d spotted the A-grade rating too. Her bias against street eateries had been unfair.

“Naive. Did you think this stops me from roasting you?” Jiang Fan snorted. She’d never seen his online flame wars—keyboard warriors need no logic.

Done talking, he pulled out his phone, ignored her glare, slapped on headphones, and started grinding his mobile game.

Lin Mengyao seethed. She’d almost forgotten what a foul-mouthed jerk he was.

“All you do is play otaku mobile games. Don’t tell me you call 2D characters ‘wife’ like those hardcore weeb losers? No wonder your girlfriend deleted them. Next time I see her, I’m reporting you. Enjoy kneeling on a washboard!” She’d peeked—he’d redownloaded the games Mu Yuli erased.

“What’s wrong with otaku? Did it eat your rice? Look at this chest, these legs, this butt—got any? Can you, a flat-chested kid, compare? My waifus have better bodies and attitudes. Why call them ‘wife’ and not you?” Jiang Fan fired back. Lin Mengyao’s face flushed red, then pale.

Heh. Jokes were jokes—but never mock his waifus.

Jiang Fan never held back with people like her. Why despise 2D girls? Was it her own barely-there curves?

“You—you!… Hmph! Those paper wives’ll get deleted soon anyway. Enjoy them while you can!” Lin Mengyao snapped, sitting down to mutter, “How does a guy like him get a girlfriend like that? Heaven’s blind. Such a waste.”

Soon, the waitress brought their noodles. Noticing Lin Mengyao’s sulk, she leaned close to Jiang Fan and whispered, “Handsome, put your phone away. Comfort your girlfriend. She’s upset. Save games for home—dates shouldn’t feel this stiff.”

Jiang Fan glanced at Lin Mengyao. “She’s not my girlfriend. More like a simp lusting after me. I’m giving her the cold shoulder to teach ‘simps don’t get the house.’ But simps are stubborn—you can’t shake ’em.”

“Who’s a simp!” Lin Mengyao slammed the table, standing up.

The waitress rushed to mediate, stunned. This hot guy dissed such a pretty girl to her face? Way out of line. Everyone sided with Lin Mengyao.

Yes! Perfect.

This was Jiang Fan’s goal. She threatened him? Fine—he’d go all out. Let’s see her last.

Ideally, she’d slap him and storm off. Then he’d have reason to ditch her.

If Shu Yue saw his attitude, she’d stop letting Lin Mengyao tutor him.

And Mu Yuli? She loved watching him reject clingy girls. Why let others pet her cat?

Underclassman, hurry up. Don’t dawdle.

Jiang Fan waited impatiently. If not for being obvious, he’d shove his face at her to slap.

Lin Mengyao did want to slap him. But at the last second, she realized: Jiang Fan was awful, but never this directly insulting. She forced calm, piecing together his motive.

Not stupid, she got it. Soft tactics failed—now he went hard? Heh. She wasn’t a pushover.

So she played along, putting on a tearful act, head bowed. “Senior… can’t you give me a chance? I know you like someone… but I just want to watch you like this…”

Jiang Fan facepalmed.

She actually figured it out.