The Cannon Fodder Became the Empire's Beloved Omega - Chapter 6

Those dark blue eyes shifted slightly toward him.

Yu Ruan: “You could have a little something to settle your stomach first, then order takeout later.”

Gu Yu remained silent.

Upon second thought, Yu Ruan realized it made sense this rich young master probably couldn’t stomach such “commoner” food. After all, even in his past life, ice jelly wasn’t an expensive treat, so it was normal for someone like Gu Yu to look down on it.

If Gu Yu hadn’t seemed genuinely famished, Yu Ruan wouldn’t have offered in the first place.

He found it puzzling. Gu Yu clearly didn’t lack money and likely enjoyed fine meals daily. Yet here he was, so desperate that he’d rather drink water on an empty stomach than order food, it was truly baffling.

But it wasn’t his place to pry into others’ affairs.

Swallowing his questions, Yu Ruan said tactfully, “It’s just a simple snack, nothing compared to what a professional chef would make.”

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the two locked gazes. Gu Yu’s expression remained unreadable, giving no hint of his thoughts.

Yu Ruan assumed he was considering how to politely decline. To his surprise, the other’s lips parted slightly, but instead of speaking, he stepped forward toward Yu Ruan.

Hastily, Yu Ruan grabbed a glass bowl, filled it with the prepared ice jelly, drizzled syrup and toppings over it, and set it before Gu Yu.

Finding a local with such refined tastes to test his dessert before giving it to Ye Yizhou, it felt like he’d hit the jackpot.

He just hoped the young master wouldn’t kick him out after tasting it.

Gu Yu lowered his lashes, their dense shadows casting a lazy aura over his features.

Watching nervously, Yu Ruan saw Gu Yu’s gaze sweep over the bowl’s rim, linger briefly on the little bear-patterned porcelain spoon, then pause for a few seconds before expressionlessly picking up the bowl.

The cool, refreshing texture burst on his tongue, intertwined with a rich, honeyed sweetness. Crushed peanuts added a fragrant nuttiness, complemented by the subtle scent of osmanthus and the tangy hint of fermented rice, an irresistible combination.

Gu Yu paused slightly, his long lashes veiling the thoughts in his eyes.

He ate with elegant restraint, chewing slowly, exuding an innate grace that was pleasing to watch.

Soon, the bowl was empty. Gu Yu set it down in the sink and said, “Thank you for the treat.”

Studying his expression, Yu Ruan couldn’t tell whether he’d enjoyed it or not. After a moment’s consideration, he ventured, “If it wasn’t to your taste, you didn’t have to finish it.”

Even starving, he maintained such composure. It seemed Yu Ruan’s ice jelly wasn’t just unpalatable, it was downright awful.

Absolutely terrible, Yu Ruan thought ruefully.

Unexpectedly, the subject of his speculation turned back and remarked calmly, “Not bad.”

Yu Ruan: “?”

Wow, this guy is so polite!

Staring in astonishment, Yu Ruan was taken aback: based on the micro-expressions he’d observed, Gu Yu had most likely disliked the ice jelly. Yet despite that, he’d still courteously praised it.

Yu Ruan felt a pang of guilt for having assumed Gu Yu was a haughty, difficult young master.

He spoke in a heavy tone, “Thank you, but there’s really no need for this. If what I make is liked, I’ll be very happy. If it’s not, I’ll work hard to improve. You really don’t have to be so polite!”

Gu Yu: “?”

He lowered his eyes, looking at Yu Ruan standing beside him with a serious expression, feeling a subtle mix of emotions.

After a few seconds, he withdrew his hand but didn’t continue to argue.

Meanwhile, Yu Ruan began to ponder with a guilty conscience how he could make it up to the other person.

After all, he had been living here for so long, and the rent was so cheap, he was genuinely grateful. This time, treating the other person to that awful ice jelly, no matter how he thought about it, felt like his fault.

Unexpectedly, before he could come up with a solution, he saw the person beside him pick up another bowl, take the ladle from his hand, scoop some ice jelly into it, and pour the remaining syrup over it.

“Is this how it’s done?” he asked lazily.

Yu Ruan: “?”

Gu Yu glanced sideways, his half-lidded eyes exuding a drowsy nonchalance, and said slowly, “Pour the syrup over it?”

Yu Ruan: “??”

Weren’t you the one who said it tasted bad???

Bewildered, he stared at Gu Yu’s sharply defined profile and instinctively nodded.

“Thanks,” Gu Yu said casually, mimicking the preparation method. Holding the bowl, he turned and headed back to his bedroom.

Just as he was about to leave the kitchen, he glanced back at Yu Ruan, who was still standing dumbfounded by the stove, and said, “Next month, don’t transfer the rent.”

Without waiting for Yu Ruan’s response, he casually waved his hand, his tall, lean figure disappearing into the living room, leaving only a tightly closed door behind.

It took Yu Ruan a long time to finally process what had happened.

Was he being praised by the other person?

Three hundred star coins for a bowl of ice jelly. Even if the rent wasn’t expensive, this was way too extravagant?!

For a moment, Yu Ruan really wanted to tell him that he would probably be moving out next month, so there was no need for this.

But after a glance at that tightly shut door, he decided it would be better to tell Gu Yu the next time they met. Given how things were unfolding, he had a vague premonition that his retirement days were still far off.

His system, which usually slept all day, rarely bothered with such matters. Their interactions had always been a “you ask, I answer” dynamic, so relying on it was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Fortunately, Gu Yu’s reaction had somewhat soothed Yu Ruan’s anxious heart. At least now, he knew his ice jelly wasn’t bad. When he gave some to Ye Yizhou tomorrow, it shouldn’t be so unpalatable as to make the other person struggle to eat it.

Happily, he served himself a bowl and took a bite, it was exactly the familiar taste he remembered.

Finally reassured, Yu Ruan packed up the remaining food and stored it in the preservation unit.

One of the conveniences of the interstellar era was that even pre-made items could be kept fresh, with no worry about them losing their quality by the next day.

After tidying up, he returned to his bedroom contentedly, finished the assignments his teacher had given him, washed up, and lay down in bed.

It had been so long since he’d been able to fall asleep this early. Yu Ruan genuinely felt a sense of happiness.

The next day, he was jolted awake by the alarm clock ringing on time.

Yu Ruan groggily crawled out of bed, eyes still closed, and skillfully brushed his teeth and washed his face. Over the years, he had perfected the art of getting ready while half-asleep, allowing him to snatch a few extra minutes of rest.

Once finished, he threw on his clothes and prepared to head out.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out of his bedroom, the sight before him left him stunned.

The living room, usually empty in the morning, now featured a tall, slender figure lounging casually on the sofa.

Gu Yu leaned back lazily, head slightly tilted as if resting with his eyes closed. He wore a deep blue academy uniform, with the top two buttons of his white shirt undone and his tie loosely draped over his collar, looking utterly relaxed.

Remembering the events of the previous day, Yu Ruan paused and decided to greet him politely.

“Good morning.”

Hearing the noise, the person resting slowly opened his eyes and glanced in Yu Ruan’s direction.

His gaze swept over Yu Ruan’s face, lingering for a moment before Gu Yu sat up from the sofa and drawled, “Awake?”

Yu Ruan stared at him blankly, momentarily unsure of what he meant.

“Since you’re awake, let’s go.” Gu Yu made no effort to explain further, simply standing up and saying curtly, “To school.”

Only then did Yu Ruan notice that the uniform Gu Yu was wearing was, in fact, the Xinle Academy school uniform.

To be fair, it wasn’t entirely his fault for not recognizing it. The uniform Gu Yu wore looked far too refined.

Whether it was the fabric or the stitching, it was leagues beyond the mass-produced uniforms the school handed out. Moreover, Gu Yu carried an innate air of nobility elegant and dignified. Even with his eyelids drooping lazily, he managed to make the ordinary uniform look extraordinary.

All things considered, the same uniform Yu Ruan wore every day suddenly felt unfamiliar.

But, wasn’t he supposed to be exempt from classes?

Yu Ruan looked at Gu Yu in confusion, instinctively wanting to refuse.

He felt that he and Gu Yu weren’t exactly close, and the idea of going to class together seemed a bit much.

As if sensing Yu Ruan’s thoughts, Gu Yu said, “Not close.”

His words were succinct.

Yet, from his indifferent tone, Yu Ruan understood the underlying meaning: the young master was unfamiliar with the place and had decided to grab someone to show him the way.

Once he grasped this, the rest became easier to accept.

Yu Ruan didn’t refuse any further. Instead, he nodded, asked Gu Yu to wait a moment, retrieved the insulated container he had packed the day before, and returned to Gu Yu’s side.

After all, showing someone the way wasn’t a big deal. They could just walk together.

Yu Ruan was quite open-minded about it.

Seeing that Yu Ruan had agreed, Gu Yu’s expression, which had been slightly sour from waking up early, softened a bit. His dark blue eyes fixed on the insulated container in Yu Ruan’s arms, unmoving. After a long pause, he said, “Let’s go.”

Yu Ruan nodded, and the two took the elevator downstairs, getting into a car that had been waiting for them.

As expected of a young master.

The car was a sleek, modern model, clearly expensive. Yu Ruan had never been knowledgeable about luxury items, so he nervously slid into the seat, keeping his eyes down and his mouth shut, playing the part of a quiet, unobtrusive poor person.

Fortunately, Gu Yu didn’t seem to want to say much either. His eyelids drooped as he slumped lazily in his seat, perhaps crushed by the agony of being forced to wake up early in the morning. His irritable pheromones filled the car, making Yu Ruan feel a wave of breathlessness.

He quietly pressed down on the gradually warming gland at the back of his neck and subtly moved a little further away from Gu Yu.

Luckily, the journey wasn’t long. Soon, the car pulled up at the school gate.

The inertia from braking woke the person beside him. Gu Yu slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yu Ruan, who was trying to get out of the car. “We’re here?”

“We’re here,” Yu Ruan answered honestly.

Gu Yu gave a soft “Mm” and stood up, stepping out of the car with Yu Ruan.

The car they had arrived in was a stylish, luxurious, and expensive model. The moment it entered the school grounds, it drew the attention of countless students. Now, seeing that the person stepping out was none other than Yu Ruan someone they had always looked down on countless jaws dropped in disbelief.

Moreover, he was accompanied by a handsome, dignified stranger. The other person had striking looks and a cold demeanor, but standing next to the beautiful youth with sea-blue eyes, there was an oddly harmonious aura that made it impossible not to find the sight pleasing to the eye.

Instantly, a mix of envious, jealous, and resentful gazes surrounded Yu Ruan from all sides.

As a cannon fodder character, Yu Ruan was quite accustomed to these disdainful looks. He effortlessly brushed them off and kindly asked the person beside him, “Would you like me to show you around first? Or should we go meet the teacher?”

Before he could finish speaking, he noticed the other’s gaze fixed intently on the insulated container in his arms, as if lost in thought.

Just then, another familiar figure approached from a distance.

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