In his past life, after graduating from college, Jiang Xia and Wang Ming would occasionally get together for a few drinks.

Thinking back on their high school days, the two down-on-their-luck losers had only a few things that truly stood out. Besides sneaking out to internet cafes to play games, it was probably the cafeteria, where the menu was a total crapshoot—sometimes disgusting, other times mind-blowingly delicious.

Amidst the daily grind of their heavy coursework, guessing whether the cafeteria food would be good or bad became a small source of excitement for many students.

Whenever they brought it up, the two would promise to go back to their old school cafeteria someday to taste the food from their youth. However, that promise became one of Jiang Xia’s deepest regrets after Wang Ming had a fatal accident while driving drunk.

He never imagined that after being reborn, he could fulfill this wish so easily. What a strange twist of fate.

"Old Wang, what do you think they’re serving today?"

"Anything’s fine, as long as it’s not apples stir-fried with pears. I can stomach anything, no matter how bad, but not that."

Wang Ming said with a dark expression, "I seriously don’t know what these chefs are thinking. In our great Huaxia, with its Eight Great Cuisines, to be able to produce such cursed dishes... they’re in a league of their own. Wouldn’t it be better as a dessert? Why waste good food?"

"Haha..."

Jiang Xia laughed and followed the crowd into the cafeteria. Even though long lines had already formed at every service window, he felt an immense sense of peace at being able to return here.

"Same as always. You go save us a spot, I’ll get the food," Wang Ming said, glancing at the packed cafeteria.

Jiang Xia smiled. Thinking of their promise from his past life, he said, "Let me be the one to wait in line this time."

"Alright."

Holding two meal bowls, he waited in line for about five minutes before it was finally his turn.

He glanced at the dishes in the window. The first was millet peppers stir-fried with oranges, the second was mint-fried eggs, and the third was sugarcane-braised pork ribs. The other dishes were just as "unique." Jiang Xia felt his spirit sink.

Although he had already seen what today’s menu was like from other students, as long as it wasn’t his turn yet, he had held onto a sliver of hope. Well, so much for that. His hopes were completely dashed.

He swiped his meal card and randomly got a few dishes that looked somewhat edible, then started searching the hall for Wang Ming.

A moment later, he saw that kid Wang Ming stand up and wave at him from a spot near the middle of the back section. Jiang Xia smiled and started walking over, but in the next second, he froze.

Lin Yanwan was waving at another girl, but when she suddenly saw Jiang Xia, her breath caught in her throat.

In the packed cafeteria, it was as if only the two of them remained.

If their previous encounter had just been an accident that left them in disbelief about the other’s rebirth, this single glance was the final confirmation that sealed it.

They both stared blankly at each other, hesitating, wondering if they should be the first to speak. Just as Jiang Xia was wrestling with his thoughts, his bro’s voice pulled him back to reality.

"Hey, hey, Old Jiang, over here! Over here!"

His eye twitched. He averted his gaze and, steeling himself, walked toward where Lin Yanwan was. Their tables were adjacent, separated only by an aisle wide enough for two people.

’That kid Wang Ming really knows how to pick a spot, doesn’t he? Is he sure this wasn’t on purpose? Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence?’

Shen Ying sat down just before Jiang Xia did. Seeing Lin Yanwan’s somewhat distracted expression, she asked with concern, "Yanwan, what was wrong just now?"

"It’s nothing. Let’s eat." She shook her head, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She withdrew her peripheral gaze from Jiang Xia, her mind a complete mess.

’Even though I’ve been reborn, we were still husband and wife for a lifetime. Even if I want to have no connection with Jiang Xia anymore, can I really sever those ties?’

Matters of the heart were the most unpredictable. At the very least, as long as Jiang Xia was in her line of sight, she couldn’t calm her racing heart.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xia feigned composure as he sat down next to Wang Ming, all the while viciously roasting his best friend in his head.

He irritably passed the meal bowl over. "Hurry up and eat. You said it yourself, as long as it’s not apples stir-fried with pears, you can stomach anything no matter how bad."

Wang Ming reflexively glanced at the food, and his face contorted with anger.

"Millet peppers and oranges stir-fried with braised pork? Is this edible? It’s sour, sweet, *and* spicy, is it? Can’t this stupid cafeteria just fire these chefs and hire some who can cook consistently?"

"Hey, there’s still shredded pork with green peppers and apples. Why can’t you eat it?" Jiang Xia picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The taste was indeed a bit strange, but it was tolerable. It was the taste of the old days.

"..."

Wang Ming shot him a speechless look, then glanced at an orange slice dotted with millet pepper. He had no idea if one bite would be spicy-sweet or spicy-sour, or perhaps all three flavors at once.

His lips twitched. He just couldn’t bring himself to take a bite. Cursing, he threw down his chopsticks. "I’m not eating this! I’m gonna go get instant noodles. With two sausages! I can’t take this abuse. Old Jiang, you coming?"

Jiang Xia silently shook his head. Regardless of whether the food was good, he would treat this meal as a way to appreciate the present by remembering the past.

So, Wang Ming picked up his meal bowl, walked off, and dumped its entire contents cleanly into the slop bucket.

A girl’s light chuckle came from the next table.

"Yanwan, I can’t eat this either. The food today is just too gross. Why don’t we go get instant noodles too? Or bread is fine."

If Jiang Xia wasn’t mistaken, the girl who was speaking must be Shen Ying. He had seen her in Lin Yanwan’s social media posts before. When he and Lin Yanwan got married, Shen Ying hadn’t attended the wedding, but she had sent her blessings to his wife via WeChat.

Back then, however, Shen Ying had looked like an adult, with makeup on and a fashionable style—nothing like the youthful and energetic girl she was now.

’But Lin Yanwan should know Wang Ming, so why would she sit here... whatever, it’s not important.’

He thought distractedly. Just when he assumed Lin Yanwan would agree to avoid the awkwardness of being left alone with him, he heard her refuse.

"Yingying, you can go. I... I’ll stay here." She kept her head down, eating small spoonfuls of rice. Her slanted bangs covered her cheeks, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Eh, alright then. In that case... don’t you dare try to steal any of my instant noodles later!"

The young woman turned and left, likewise dumping her food unreservedly into the slop bucket. Watching this nearly identical scene play out, Jiang Xia almost carelessly concluded that these two were wingmen sent by God specifically to get him and his wife back together.

It was just too absurd.

In an instant, at the two tables separated by an aisle, four people had become just two.

The deafening roar of the cafeteria seemed to vanish, and the air fell silent.

Both of them kept their heads down, silently eating the food in their bowls. Neither had any intention of speaking. It seemed as if they could maintain the current status quo as long as they didn’t acknowledge their connection, treating each other like strangers who had yet to meet.

Like two parallel lines, never destined to cross.

...

(Have to get a COVID test tomorrow morning, so the update will be moved to the afternoon.)