Reborn in 2006, I met Mr. Zhou from the past.

After school in the afternoon, the afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of people at the school gate. Yan Yun, as expected, was like a piece of chewing gum that couldn't be shaken off, leaning against the osmanthus tree by the school gate early in the morning.

As Su Fengnan and Ning Xiaojun walked out of the school gate, Yan Yun immediately straightened up and greeted them, his face bearing his usual carefree smile, as if nothing had happened.

"Su Fengnan".

Looking at that face, the anger that Su Fengnan had just suppressed instantly flared up again. She and Yan Yun were probably incompatible; this man could always pinpoint her triggers the moment he appeared. But with so many people coming and going at the school gate, she didn't want to lose her composure in public.

"Why are you here?" Su Fengnan asked coldly.

Yan Yun glanced at Ning Xiaojun beside her with a grin, then her gaze returned to Su Fengnan: "Here to pick you up for dinner? Is this your friend? Come along."

Ning Xiaojun had heard Su Fengnan mention this name before, and suddenly it dawned on her – Su Fengnan often answered his calls, and hadn't they said they were breaking up before? She leaned close to Su Fengnan's ear and whispered gossipy, "Su Su, what's going on?"

Before Su Fengnan could speak, Yan Yun preemptively and formally replied, "I'm Su Su's boyfriend, here to pick her up from school. What, doesn't that seem like it?"

The sound was so loud that it attracted the attention of several students passing by.

"No!" Su Fengnan retorted through gritted teeth, her eyes blazing with fury. "He was my classmate in junior high."

Ning Xiaojun looked completely bewildered, glancing at Yan Yun and then at Su Fengnan: "Huh? Su Su, is what he said true?"

Su Fengnan ignored Ning Xiaojun's questioning and glared at Yan Yun: "Weren't you going to treat us to dinner? Let's go."

After saying that, she grabbed Ning Xiaojun and strode forward. Yan Yun quickly followed, squeezing in next to the two of them and walking side by side.

"Su Su, what would you like to eat?" Ning Xiaojun asked softly, linking arms with Su Fengnan.

"And you? What do you want to eat?" Su Fengnan asked in return.

"Someone's treating, so why not take advantage of it!" Ning Xiaojun blurted out. She was unaware of the messy history between Su Fengnan and Yan Yun, so she spoke without restraint. But Su Fengnan knew perfectly well that she would never let Yan Yun pay for this meal.

They hadn't walked far when the three entered a sour soup hot pot restaurant. Su Fengnan immediately pushed the menu towards Ning Xiaojun.

"Handsome guy, you don't have any dietary restrictions, do you?" Ning Xiaojun asked, turning her head.

"No, I'm fine with anything. Order whatever you like." Yan Yun was exceptionally generous.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on it then."

Ning Xiaojun carefully marked a long list of dishes, including both meat and vegetables. Just as she was about to hand the menu to the owner, Su Fengnan took it and glanced at it. It was obvious that the three of them couldn't possibly finish it, but she didn't say anything and simply handed the menu to the owner.

As soon as they sat down, Ning Xiaojun couldn't wait to ask, "Now you can tell me, what exactly happened between you two?"

Yan Yun spoke up again, looking aggrieved: "Su Su wants to break up with me. You're her good friend, so please help me persuade her."

Ning Xiaojun feigned surprise, widening her eyes dramatically: "Breaking up right off the bat? When did you two start dating? I didn't hear a thing! Don't you even consider me a friend?" She squinted at Su Fengnan suspiciously, "Hmph, Su Fengnan, aren't you afraid of getting caught by the teachers and having your parents called in?"

Hearing Ning Xiaojun's words, Yan Yun felt even worse. It seemed she truly didn't want others to know of his existence; she was determined to sever all ties with him.

Su Fengnan squeezed Ning Xiaojun's hand under the table and said helplessly, "Stop messing around, I'll explain it to you when we get back."

Ning Xiaojun glanced at Yan Yun on the left and Su Fengnan on the right, then wisely shut her mouth and got up to prepare the dipping sauce.

As soon as Ning Xiaojun left, Su Fengnan's face immediately turned cold: "What exactly did you come here for today?"

"It's just a dinner invitation!" Yan Yun magically pulled an exquisite gift box from her bag and pushed it in front of Su Fengnan. "Su Su, this is what I bought for you in Rongcheng. I think you'll look great in it."

"Yan Yun, we've broken up." Su Fengnan's tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable resolve.

"Su Su, I didn't agree. Your decision alone doesn't count." After saying that, Yan Yun, seemingly to avoid Su Fengnan's cold gaze, also got up to prepare the dipping sauce.

Su Fengnan sat there, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness. She knew that Yan Yun was not the kind of person who would give up easily.

Seeing Yan Yun trying to get close to Ning Xiaojun at the dipping sauce station, Su Fengnan took a deep breath, got up, walked to the cashier, and quietly paid the bill.

Two hundred and thirty-six pieces.

This was the last of her and her two sisters' living expenses for June.

She'd just hit Yan Yun yesterday, and now he was bothering her again; who knows what kind of dirty tricks he was up to? To avoid owing him anything, she had to pay for this meal. Consider it… a final farewell dinner.

Soon, the sour soup broth was bubbling away, and various dishes were laid out on the table. Yan Yun and Ning Xiaojun returned with dipping sauces.

After the soup base boiled, Ning Xiaojun quickly added fish balls, egg dumplings, luncheon meat, pork belly, and fish slices.

"Su Su, come on, have some soup to warm yourself up." Ning Xiaojun knew that Su Fengnan was feeling unwell due to her period these past two days, so she served her some soup first.

"Su Su, eat more, these are all your favorite foods." Yan Yun was not to be outdone, her chopsticks never stopped, constantly piling food into Su Fengnan's bowl, soon making her plate look like a small mountain.

Su Fengnan sipped the soup slowly. The sour and spicy broth warmed her up and tasted delicious.

Despite Yan Yun's attentive manner at the table, Su Fengnan remained an outsider, eating and drinking as usual without saying a word. Ning Xiaojun noticed this and wisely stayed out of it as well, making the meal essentially a one-man show by Yan Yun.

After finishing his meal, Yan Yun got up and walked towards the cashier.

Seizing the opportunity, Ning Xiaojun quickly asked, "Susu, shall we go straight back to school?"

"Okay, let's go."

"Aren't you going to tell him?"

Su Fengnan glanced at the back of the cashier, then pulled Ning Xiaojun and walked out, saying, "Never mind him, let's go."

I hadn't gone far from the store when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

"Su Fengnan! You said I'd treat you, why did you pay? Here, take the money back!"

Yan Yun caught up, panting, and pulled out three bright red hundred-yuan bills, trying to stuff them into Su Fengnan's schoolbag. Caught off guard, Su Fengnan stumbled and nearly fell.

"Oh! Su Su, are you alright?" Ning Xiaojun quickly caught her.

At this moment, Su Fengnan's patience with Yan Yun reached its limit. If she didn't make things clear today, he would definitely continue to come and harass her every day.

Five minutes later, at the county stadium.

A few students were scattered across the stands taking a break, while some were still playing football on the track. Ning Xiaojun stood by the track watching the game, leaving space for the two of them to talk.

The upper part of the stands was deserted. Su Fengnan found a step and sat down, with Yan Yun sitting close beside her. At that moment, Su Fengnan's expression was incredibly calm, a calmness that made Yan Yun feel uneasy.

On the second floor not far away, there is a billiards club.

Zhou Chenyu had just finished discussing the matter of collecting medicinal herbs in the deep mountains with his friend and was preparing to leave. As he walked to the window, his gaze inadvertently swept over the stadium below, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

As if by some kind of telepathy, he spotted that familiar figure at a glance—Su Fengnan and the man named Yan Yun were walking towards the stands one after the other.

Zhou Chenyu's eyes darkened instantly, and he strode towards the club's entrance.

"Hey, Brother Yu, where are you going?" the brother behind him called out.

"Wait for me here, I'll be right back."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared through the doorway.

As Zhou Chenyu tiptoed to the entrance of the grandstand, he heard Su Fengnan's voice drifting over on the wind. He held his breath, leaned against the rough wall, and listened quietly.

"Yan Yun, what exactly do you want? Just say it directly. I don't like being bothered by this mess." Su Fengnan's tone was indifferent, revealing a sense of detachment.

"Su Su, I don't want to be separated from you..." Yan Yun's voice sounded somewhat humble, even pleading, "I'll do whatever you want in the future, as long as you don't leave me."

Su Fengnan turned around, her gaze calm as she looked at Yan Yun, her words slow and deliberate, yet each one piercing:

"Yan Yun, I don't like you."