Age of Legends

What I want to say in Chapter 207
For the people at the door, the situation before them was undoubtedly unexpected, surprising, or even somewhat astonishing.

Zheng Xue and Wang Shuowei exchanged a glance. From their equally clear and innocent eyes, they both understood that the other had also been completely unaware of this matter before.

Good heavens, these two have kept their closest friends in the dark!
"No way, Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi, are those the two of them?"

"They're eating noodles together, alone?"

Some students who were leaving the school gate saw the situation at the noodle shop across the street and turned to ask the group of people next to them.

Amidst the questioning gazes of the crowd, Zheng Xue said, "Didn't Zhang Chen write a cheering speech for Shen Nuoyi's long-distance race yesterday? So, isn't it perfectly normal to treat her to a meal?"

Everyone immediately understood. So that's how it is.

That is indeed a very normal thing.

"Yeah, eating here so conspicuously, there can't possibly be anything between the two of them. You're just overthinking things!"

"Well, it's just that Shen Nuoyi has never been alone with a boy like this before, so she was a little surprised when she first saw it."

Actually, thinking about it, it makes sense. With so many people coming and going, it's hard to imagine two people eating noodles like that on a real date! Zhang Chen's family seems to have gotten better off this semester. Their luck has turned around. It's said that they bought a shop before the new year, and the value multiplied several times, making them a lot of money. This story is circulating.

Wang Shuowei suddenly felt relieved; that was indeed the case. This actually proved the normalcy between the two, so he said, "Let's go, let's go! What are you all still looking at? Where are you going? Where are you going back to?"

"Let's go, let's go..."

"I'm rushing to catch my train, it'll get crowded if I'm late..."

The group of people then dispersed, some rushing to catch a glimpse of the strangeness, others walking away.

However, Wang Shuowei and Zheng Xue, who had suggested that everyone break up, still had a lingering doubt on their way home.

Since they acted uprightly and it was just a normal social obligation dinner between the two of them, why didn't they mention it to them before? And what's wrong with bringing them along? They didn't mind that it was just a bowl of noodles, and besides, the noodles at that restaurant were pretty good.

The only problem is, if we don't let the two of them participate, is there something they have to talk about?
What was that topic?

"Mainly... I also want to eat noodles!" On the bus, Wang Shuowei gripped the handrail slightly, thinking to himself, as his stomach rumbled with hunger.

……

During the sports meet, apart from the initial meeting, Shen Nuoyi never looked at Zhang Chen directly. But now that they had arrived as promised and sat down together, Zhang Chen felt a shadow in his heart.

When Zhang Chen mentioned eating noodles here, Shen Nuoyi could probably guess some of his hidden thoughts. Those seemed more like barriers Zhang Chen had set for her, because Shen Nuoyi wouldn't be shy in front of others. Don't say it's impossible; humans are social creatures, and even the most assertive person can't completely ignore the opinions of others. Those feigned indifference were, in a way, another form of concern.

She would feel embarrassed too.

She would never have put herself in this situation before; in other words, no man could have made her do this.

She was very perceptive in noticing any boys who showed even the slightest hint of romantic interest, nipping the flames in the bud and preventing them from escalating.

She had no reason to compromise herself for anyone, but now it seemed she was.

The only explanation is that she simply wanted to repay Zhang Chen's favor.

She is someone who doesn't like to owe favors, and if she receives a favor, she will definitely repay it.

So, this is how she repaid?
This is the source of the shadow in Zhang Chen's heart.

So there's a very high chance that the two of them... are going to have a showdown today.

"What would you like to eat?" Shen Nuoyi's voice came, without any shyness or embarrassment in front of someone she liked. Instead, it sounded more like she was talking to a friend who no longer had any pressure, letting go of some burdens with relief.

"I want beef noodles," Zhang Chen said.

"Then I'll have...wontons," Shen Nuo said. This shop wasn't limited to its signature noodles; it also incorporated many other staple foods to suit different tastes. Later, it moved and opened a chain store, and former students of Yude School would often go there to try and reminisce about their student days.

The boss called out "Okay!" and went to the kitchen to take charge of cooking.

During this process, the two of them remained silent. Shen Nuo glanced back from the street, where people gradually saw them. Some stopped to watch for a while, while others simply walked away.

When she looked over there, her eyelashes visibly fluttered, clearly indicating that she was not at peace. Her gaze was unfocused, and she couldn't bring herself to meet the curious stares of the people across the street.

She then looked around the store again, as if it were her first time observing it, curious about the decor. But what was there to be curious about? She'd been here more than ten times in the past two years. During this time, she met Zhang Chen's gaze, and only gave him a slightly awkward smile.

The two seemed to have lost their former understanding, and every inch of space was filled with a sense of separation.

It seems that Shen Nuoyi has something on her mind, but she can't tell Zhang Chen right now, or rather, she needs to think it over before she can come to a conclusion.

Zhang Chen was not in a hurry and did not ask any further questions.

The two did not exchange a single word until the owner brought out the noodles and wontons.

"The beef noodles are their signature dish; you'd be missing out if you didn't try them," Zhang Chen broke the silence. "Not really, the wontons are pretty good too," Shen Nuo said. "The owner sits at the door every morning making them by hand, so you can be sure about the quality of the meat."

"Oh, I see. Okay, I'll try it next time."

Shen Nuo paused, scooping up a wonton with her spoon, and shook the spoon. "How about... you try some?"

Seeing Zhang Chen pause, she realized what she meant and added, "I'll put it in your bowl."

"No need," Zhang Chen laughed. "There's already white broth; it wouldn't look good if red broth got mixed in."

"Oh." Shen Nuo lowered her eyes and nodded. "Then you can try the wontons next time."

"it is good."

The conversation was still very stiff, as expected.

So embarrassing, I could dig my toes out of my skin.

Zhang Chen slurped down his noodles and started eating. Several tables of people were already sitting nearby, and they were a little surprised when they saw Zhang Chen. They thought to themselves, "Such a beautiful girl is sitting across from you. Anyone else would be extremely gentlemanly and mindful of their image by now. You're really here to eat, huh? Start eating right away!"

Shen Nuoyi initially seemed a little anxious about her image, after all, she was eating alone with a boy in front of her. But seeing that Zhang Chen was relaxed, she seemed to relax a bit as well. She picked up a wonton and started eating, but she was more reserved and delicate than Zhang Chen when he was drinking water.

The noodles were a little hot, so Zhang Chen picked one up, blew on it to cool it down, and put it in his mouth. While chewing, he casually said, "You said you'd treat me to something today. Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Oh." Shen Nuo smoothed her hair with one hand, swallowed a wonton, and then looked up and said, "Thank you for the encouraging speech that day. I felt like I was about to give up halfway through the run, but when I heard Zhuang Yanyue read it, I don't know where the strength came from."

"It worked, didn't it?" Zhang Chen said with relief. "That's good."

"Mm." Shen Nuo nodded.

"It's well written, don't write it again next time."

……

Zhang Chen stopped eating the noodles he had stuffed in his mouth.

Damn, so that's where the story begins!

That's well written, but please don't write it again next time. Thank you for your encouragement, but please don't do it again next time. Having you isn't important, not having you is very important.

The shock you gave me outweighed the感动 (gǎndòng, a feeling of being moved or touched) I experienced.

Shen Nuoyi wasn't motivated to finish the run; she just wanted to finish it as soon as possible to end this ordeal and, incidentally, find the person who did it and take them down.

So I'm treating you to dinner, that's giving you too much credit!

The scene was somewhat funny, somewhat awkward, and even a little surreal.

Zhang Chen never expected that even after being reborn, he would still seem to have messed up the things he originally wanted to do. Back then, he and Shen Nuoyi had drifted apart and stopped exchanging letters. Years later, the occasional messages they received were from afar, as if they were hearsay from strangers.

He tried his best after being reborn, but that's life. Many things are beyond one's control and are filled with dark humor. The adult world is full of helplessness. Like that friend who was chatting so well just a few days ago, not long after, news came that he had died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage. It's like friends who were fine one day, but before long, their lives took a dramatic turn and they went their separate ways.

Having lived two lives, Zhang Chen originally thought these things would only happen in the distant future, in the adult world, not in this ivory tower of high school, during his student days.

But what we forget is that what truly makes us feel the sting of memories, what exposes the scars of worldly wisdom, is precisely the regret that flows through those dusty, innocent years of youthful days.

Zhang Chen grinned and nodded, "The message has been delivered. I'll definitely do it next time."

Shen Nuoyi, who had been observing him closely, taking in his reactions and appearance, chuckled.

"I won't tease you anymore."

She smiled, her phoenix eyes curving like crescent moons.

After the previous build-up, the words that had been bottled up inside could finally be uttered here: "I used to play with Han Zhouxuan, Pei Yan, and I often."

Han Zhouxuan always admired Pei Yan and talked about him in various ways, after all, his grades were so good back then, and I was just an ugly duckling.

Looking back now, you were right, I did like him…

Zhang Chen was slightly taken aback.

Is this considered "confessing and being treated leniently"—a direct admission?

“But now…” Shen Nuoyi stared at Zhang Chen, “I don’t like him anymore.”

(End of this chapter)