Thereâs the hotpot restaurant ahead.
In winter, everyone wants to eat something hot to warm their bodies. Hotpot is the most suitable, and the hotpot restaurant is booming with business, with cars coming and going in front of it.
Many people are moving stools to sit or stand by the door, pacing back and forthâtheyâre waiting in line for a table.
Luckily, Chang Jiawei had reserved a spot early, bringing her into the restaurant to find the owner. They managed to bypass the long line and go straight inside, sitting at the best table in the back.
The two had just sat down when they heard footsteps approaching.
A waiter brought a person to them.
"Hi," Chang Jiawei looked up and greeted his old classmate.
Fu Xinheng squinted dangerously at him: You hung up on me halfway through our call and didnât answer my calls?
"Have a seat," Chang Jiawei said to him.
What seat? Fu Xinheng turned his head and noticed Student Xie, who was previously unnoticed in the inner seat.
"Teacher Fu," seeing the teacherâs gaze, Xie Wanying hurriedly got up to greet him.
"Sit down, why are you being polite with your Teacher Fu? I told you on the way many times, right? Your Teacher Fu isnât as cold as you think, heâs more personable than your Teacher Tan." Chang Jiawei waved at her to signal her to sit.
Fu Xinhengâs gaze, swift and sharp as an infrared scan from a machine, returned to Chang Jiawei: You didnât mention on the phone that there were other people coming to eat.
Afraid his old classmate would realize he was being used as bait, Chang Jiawei cleared his throat: "Youâre the one who said you wanted to invite her out for a meal but didnât know how to speak up. I helped you invite her out, isnât that good?"
Did Teacher Fu want to invite her for a meal? Xie Wanying was filled with surprise hearing this for the first time.
Seeing her expression, Fu Xinhengâs mouth twisted. It was obvious she had forgotten about the incident. He had mentioned it in Cao Yongâs office, and Zhu Huicang had vetoed it, saying as a teacher, he couldnât bribe a student.
"Why do you listen to what those two say?" Chang Jiawei remarked, "Zhu Huicang would clearly stand by Cao Yongâs side even if it meant sacrificing the interests of the department."
Not wanting to argue more about the past, Fu Xinheng found it a bit warm inside. He tugged at his collar, took off his jacket, thought for a moment, and threw it at Chang Jiawei.
Chang Jiawei had no choice but to catch the jacket with both hands, looking up to meet Fu Xinhengâs unimpressed eyes.
Fu Xinhengâs gaze towards him clearly said: Speak, why did you invite her out for a meal? What about pulling me into this?
Trying to fool this robot-like classmate wasnât going to be easy. Chang Jiawei mumbled internally.
Teacher Chang called her to sit, but Xie Wanying didnât dare to, sensing something off about Teacher Fuâs expression. Now, Teacher Fu and Teacher Chang were staring at each other like two fighting roosters.
She didnât know what had happened between the teachers, causing her student heart to beat a bit faster.
She could only try to ease the tension. Without much thought, Xie Wanying said, "Teacher Fu, Iâll find you another chair. I think this chair doesnât look so good."
The chair doesnât look good? Student Xieâs excuse was terrible, was she trying to make a joke? But would a grown man care about the chairâs appearance? It made more sense for a girl to care. This straightforward personâs cold joke was so ridiculous it made everyoneâs hair stand on end. Even Fu Xinheng, as cold as he was, felt as if suddenly hit by hail.
Chang Jiawei almost clutched his stomach in laughter.
"No need," Fu Xinheng stopped Student Xie, who was heading out to find a chair, saying, "Iâll sit."