Although small stir-fry dishes at the school canteen are more expensive than the large pot dishes, they definitely live up to the canteen's name, with portions that are solid and hearty.
Five large bowls of dishes were placed on the dining table, plus five bowls of rice—
If it weren't for Chu River's stance on not allowing them to steal food, Gao Tiantian and her friends really would have lost their appetite by now.
But fortunately, young people have strong adaptability—
What genius doesn't have a few quirky habits?
There's nothing wrong with really enjoying food.
The mukbangs online are even more intense!
Moreover, they all know the study god had tough times before, and now with exams approaching, he's finally able to eat a little better. Just think about it—
How bittersweet it is!
Chen Xinyue's eyes softened with maternal love as if they were about to melt.
However, watching the way the other devours his food did put a bit of pressure on them.
Gao Tiantian stared for a while, then asked:
"Little He, which school are you planning to apply to?"
Chu River was taken aback for a moment, then considered the little girl's ambitions.
"Anything's fine, He'an, White Bird, aren't they about the same?"
Listen to that!
Listen to that!
How is that even human speech?!
He'an University and White Bird University are top universities in Zheng Country, teeming with geniuses and famous figures!
They are the dream and source of anguish for every child from a young age.
But in the eyes of a study god—
This is just a bit of deference from the academic underachievers.
Chen Xinyue sighed:
"Actually, I wanted to apply to a military academy, but my parents didn't agree."
Military academy?
Chu River also attended a military academy in the Star Sea Federation, but after sorting out the memories in her mind, she looked at Chen Xinyue with sympathy:
"Why are you bent on going down that path?"
Chen Xinyue lowered her head in dejection.
"Yeah, I know I'm not physically fit. An 800-meter run is enough to drain me. My skin gets allergic with too much sun exposure, with many allergens—and applying to a military academy would just be a hassle for everyone…"
Yet she still envied those spirited young ladies and could only share her thoughts with classmates at such moments.
"That's not it!"
Chu River looked at her seriously:
"I heard that you can't bring snacks to the military academy, and meals have to be finished within a set time—how am I supposed to savor all the good dishes if I can't just gobble it all down like a pig devouring food?! What kind of taste would I experience?!"
She waved her chopsticks and stuffed more food into her mouth.
Chen Xinyue's desolate expression vanished.
She even looked a bit expressionless.
The group looked at Chu River speechlessly, thinking—
Your eating style isn't much different from a pig devouring food.
After a while, Chen Xinyue finally chuckled:
"Little He, I haven't asked you yet, was the Duck Family delicious this morning?"
"Of course it was!"
"Just a bit spicy," Chu River recalled:
"But it was satisfying."
Gao Tiantian, however, wore a melancholic expression:
"Ah, I really regret not taking the initiative. I only got to know such a good friend like you, Little He, when it's almost the college entrance exams—after getting into college, please don't forget us!"
!!!
Chu River was stunned:
"You guys aren't planning to go to college?"
"No, we are."
Gao Tiantian said gloomily:
"Of course we're going, but we definitely can't get into the schools you want! By then, we'll be far apart, in different places, and our friendships will surely fade."
She looked at Chu River's expression, thinking of recent teen drama movies filled with inexplicable "great" love. So she speculated in disbelief—
"Could it be you're planning to lower your standards and apply to the same school as us?"
Chu River: ...
She coldly picked up a pork rib, not even bothering to glance at the silly child—
"You're dreaming."
The acceptance letters from White Bird and He'an University come with bonuses.
Old Chen also mentioned that if she could become a top student, there would be city-level bonuses.
She's still penniless now.
Besides, a few notebooks, eating like this until the college entrance exams, satisfied for a month, then for four years in college…
Oh dear.
Wouldn't that be a bit too shameless?
Hehehe.
Thinking about it gets her a little excited.
But when she thought about it again, she looked in disbelief at the few people in front of her—
"I've seen your scores in the last two mock exams, although they don't compare to mine. But the difference from second place city-wide is within 100 points."
The rocket class in the experimental class, isn't that just fancy talk?
"There's still a month left, can't you make up a 100-point difference?"
The whole table fell silent after she said that.
Little Glasses looked at her incredulously, as if she were a heartless devil!
And Little Curls clutched his chest, inexplicably excited:
"So Chu River, you have so much faith in me!"
"Get lost!"
"Get lost!"
Gao Tiantian and Chen Xinyue glared at him in unison.
Then they looked at Chu River and smiled bitterly:
"What are you dreaming about? One month, 100 points… It's the college entrance exam, crossing a sea of thousands of troops on a single-log bridge, one point can shift thousands in rank!"
"By now, it's not easy to raise scores."
They've worked very hard, but their overall scores range only between 570 and 610.
For a guaranteed chance at first-tier schools, they'd have to push harder.
Chu River looked at them with an indescribable gaze, and her eyes showed disdain—
This—
She spoke honestly:
"Your brains aren't working right."
Everyone sat there indifferently, not even wanting to eat.
Thanks, we don't need you to remind us, compared to the study god, we know our brains aren't working right.
But Little Curls, like a sidekick, chimed in:
"But we eat more!"
Chu River glanced at the small amount of food in his plate, then at what was in front of her—
"Just that?"
The look of disdain was especially clear
Little Curls: ...
He lost.
He couldn't eat as much as her.
However, fortunately, Chu River's focus wasn't on that. She quickly shifted her attention and thoughtfully asked:
"What do you think we should do to make a lot of money quickly after the college entrance exams?"
With Chang Geng not around, she also needed to worry about such money-making matters—
Oh dear, her head hurt so much.
Little Glasses thought about it and seriously suggested:
"How about getting a copy of the 'Criminal Law' and taking a look? I heard the most lucrative ways are all written in there."
Chu River's eyes lit up.
Being poor is tough, with not even the freedom to have snacks, where's the dignity of being a general?
It's simply too embarrassing.
She didn't hesitate and borrowed Chen Xinyue's phone to check.
Her way of using phones was different from others—others would open the browser directly to search.
But she instinctively extended her mind, feeling through the whole machine from inside out, then vigorously burning the system processor, frantically opening multiple ends from the background…
And during this time, amidst the vast information flow, she saw a case like this—
[The Hundred Billion Chip Scam]
Oh my.
Chu River thought: indeed, doing research can always make you rich… Earning a big one like this is more satisfying.
She returned the phone to Chen Xinyue, who looked at the content on the screen, then at her, with an indescribable expression.
In the end, Chen Xinyue couldn't hold back:
"You know that kind of scam is illegal, right?"