Chapter 81: You Are an Unexpected Delight

November 20th.

Cloudy turning clear.

Temperature: 9 to 18°C.

The weather had already reached the point where thick jackets were necessary.

Especially in the mornings.

The bleak autumn wind carried a trace of winter’s chill.

Sitting in the classroom, waiting for the teacher to distribute the test papers, Jiang Ning instinctively pulled her collar up to cover her chin.

This subconscious action surprisingly brought her an unexpected sense of comfort.

She decided to go all in—letting her hair down completely.

Her thick, jet-black hair enveloped her head like a warm cocoon.

At that moment, her sense of security soared.

Jiang Ning’s movement immediately caught the attention of many in the classroom.

Most people were used to seeing her with a high ponytail.

Seeing her now, with her hair cascading down, exuding a faint melancholic aura—it was a first for many.

The lively, sharp-witted girl had suddenly transformed into a long-haired beauty with an air of mystery.

Unsurprisingly, she became etched in the minds of quite a few teenage boys.

Before long, the teacher arrived.

It was their eleventh-grade math teacher.

The bespectacled male teacher opened his briefcase, pulled out a stack of test papers, and began distributing them.

“This exam is 100 minutes long.”

“No talking, no cheating of any kind.”

“Anyone caught violating the rules will be dealt with seriously.”

And just like that, Jiang Ning’s first Olympiad math exam began.

Meanwhile, at the Station…

Unlike the quiet tension of the exam hall, the station was bustling with activity.

Tian Wenhao was extremely busy—one moment checking the cash register, the next overseeing the operations of several new hires.

To ensure a smooth first day of business, he had even called in Li Yan from the academy store to help.

Yet, even with the extra hands, the new girl, Wang Chan, almost splashed hot oil onto herself.

Furious, Tian Wenhao scolded her so harshly that her eyes turned red.

Seeing this, Xiao Mingxiu chose not to intervene directly. She waited until Tian Wenhao moved on to other tasks before softly comforting Wang Chan, gently explaining the potential dangers of such mistakes.

At worst, it could cause serious burns—at best, it was still a major safety risk.

Tian Wenhao’s harsh words weren’t just reprimands; they were warnings to ensure she’d be more careful in the future.

Thankfully, Wang Chan wasn’t new to working.

After a few reassuring words from Xiao Mingxiu, she nodded in thanks and quickly got back to work.

The incident hadn’t gone unnoticed by the other employees, serving as a silent lesson for them as well.

At 9:30 AM, Li Mingyu arrived.

She carried a bright red purse, her dark red curls framing her face, dressed in a deep crimson bodycon dress.

From a distance, she looked like a flame.

Seeing her, Tian Wenhao immediately went up to greet her.

“Mingyu-jie, you’re here.”

“Mm. Where’s little Jiang Ning?”

Hearing this, Tian Wenhao hesitated before explaining, “She’s taking an exam. She said she’d come right after.”

Only then did Li Mingyu remember that Jiang Ning was still in high school.

She sighed, shaking her head.

“What time does the store open?”

“10:38 AM.”

Li Mingyu glanced at her watch, did a quick calculation, and said indifferently, “Go ahead with your work. I’m heading upstairs.”

Tian Wenhao knew exactly what she meant.

He nodded, watching her step onto the station’s elevator.

Just then, Xiao Mingxiu’s voice sounded beside him.

“Wenhao, why do you think Jiang Ning became friends with a woman like that?”

Tian Wenhao had no answer, shaking his head.

“Maybe there’s something between them that we don’t know about.”

With that, they both refocused on their work.

Curious Onlookers

The news of ‘Shi Ning Ji’ opening had long been circulating among the station’s shop owners.

People were curious—who was behind this store?

What kind of connections did they have to secure one of the station’s prime spots?

More importantly, what kind of restaurant dared to compete with global giants like CFC and McRonald’s?

Were they truly capable, or just recklessly fearless?

Meanwhile, the supposed “big shot” in their eyes had just finished the last question on her test paper.

After a quick review, Jiang Ning stood up to submit her exam.

The bespectacled teacher kindly reminded her, “Do you want to double-check your answers?”

But the fried chicken shop owner declined without hesitation.

Then, under the watchful eyes of her classmates, she gracefully left the exam hall, her long hair flowing behind her like the wind.

A Chance Encounter

As soon as Jiang Ning stepped out, she sprinted down the hallway.

But just as she passed the first-floor corridor, she caught a glimpse of a girl leaning against the stairs.

Dressed casually, with mid-length ash-blonde hair, the girl seemed to be waiting for someone.

She looked familiar.

Jiang Ning furrowed her brows, staring at the girl’s delicate features.

At that moment, the girl noticed her too.

Her once lazy demeanor sharpened in an instant. With a playful smirk, she waved.

“Hey, pretty girl. We meet again.”

Again?

Jiang Ning was surprised.

Then, as her gaze met those coffee-colored, fox-like eyes, she suddenly remembered.

She stopped in her tracks, pondering for a moment.

“Xu…”

“Xu Suihe.”

The beauty straightened up, her impressive curves coming into view, and walked toward Jiang Ning with a bright smile.

For some reason, seeing her made Jiang Ning feel an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

She instinctively took two steps back.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for someone.” Xu Suihe saw through Jiang Ning’s unease and chuckled lazily.

“Relax, I’m not here for you.”

“You’re an unexpected delight.”

Unexpected delight?

What did that mean?

Was she treating me like a little lamb for the slaughter?

Jiang Ning’s rebellious streak—honed over thirty years—was instantly ignited.

She wanted to say something, but before she could, a familiar voice interrupted her from behind.

“Xu Suihe, watch yourself. This is No.1 High School.”

Jiang Ning turned around.

Tao Tao stood at the center of the corridor, looking down at them with a cold expression.

But Jiang Ning could tell—his gaze wasn’t on her.

Something was going on between these two.

Could it be that Xu Suihe was that rabbit?

But… this scene didn’t quite fit the narrative.

Jiang Ning’s gossip senses tingled.

However, before she could indulge in speculation, Tao Tao suddenly turned to her.

“Jiang Ning, you left the exam early—was there something urgent?”

That reminder hit her like a bolt of lightning.

“Crap! I totally forgot!”

“Bye!”

And with that, the fried chicken shop owner bolted, not even looking back.

A Shared Opinion

As they watched Jiang Ning disappear into the distance, Xu Suihe suddenly chuckled.

“I like that girl. What about you?”

Tao Tao didn’t respond.

Instead, he turned to her and asked calmly, “Spit it out. Did my parents send you here with a message again?”

“Mm.” Xu Suihe nodded.

“They want to know when you’re coming home.”