Volume 1, Chapter 131: Huo Yufei

On the first floor of the South Campus cafeteria, Mo De, Mu Qing, and their group had just found a table and sat down when they were caught in the midday rush of students leaving class. A flood of students poured into the cafeteria, and the hall quickly filled to capacity.

After ordering his meal, Mo De glanced back at the long line still stretching behind him and couldn’t help but murmur to himself. He had assumed that only high schoolers needed to rush frantically to the cafeteria at noon, but it seemed university life was no different.

Returning to the table previously claimed by the six of them, the young women were still waiting in line at the entrance. Mo De placed his tray on the table, went to wash his hands, and was about to start eating without waiting for them.

“Excuse me... is there a seat available here?” a voice suddenly came from the aisle. Mo De put down the chopsticks he had just picked up and looked up to see a figure clad in light green.

“So it’s you,” he said with a smile. Upon meeting his gaze, the woman’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise.

She was the same woman who had curiously glanced at Mo De earlier in the library.

Holding a tray, the woman in the green dress had evidently not secured a seat before ordering and had returned to find no empty tables left.

“There’s still room here,” Mo De replied kindly.

The long table had eight seats, with two still vacant to his left. Since someone would likely ask to share the table soon, it was better to invite this familiar face to sit down.

“Thank you, you’re a big help,” the woman smiled gently and took the empty seat diagonally across from Mo De.

“By the way, are you...?” After sitting, she hesitated before asking again, “Are you from the Winter Camp organized by the university’s administrative committee?”

“Yeah,” Mo De answered, swallowing a big mouthful of beef noodles, then wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“I thought so! I was wondering where this unfamiliar young person came from, suddenly appearing in the library,” she said with a slight smile, confirming her suspicion.

“Are you... a teacher at the university?” Mo De inquired cautiously, judging by her age and demeanor, she didn’t seem like an ordinary student.

“Oh, I’m Huo Yufei. I’m currently in charge of managing the university library,” the woman replied, realizing she hadn’t introduced herself despite their long conversation.

“Nice to meet you, Teacher Huo. I’m Mo De, one of the Winter Camp participants,” Mo De introduced himself.

“Oh, hello Teacher Huo, I’m Mu Qing, the accompanying teacher for these Winter Camp kids. Pleasure to meet you...” a voice interrupted from the side. Mu Qing had returned, carrying a large bowl of rice and was heading back to the seat.

After exchanging pleasantries with Huo Yufei, Mu Qing sat down next to her and reached over to take a pair of chopsticks from Mo De’s tray.

She had already guessed Mo De would prepare all the utensils for everyone, saving them the trouble of disinfecting and queuing again.

“You look so young, Teacher Mu,” Huo Yufei remarked, leisurely eating while watching Mu Qing devour her meal.

“Wǒ zhǎng de niàn qíng...” Mu Qing mumbled in response but suddenly choked on her food.

She pounded her chest vigorously, but the thick padding she wore rendered her efforts ineffective.

Startled, Huo Yufei quickly patted Mu Qing’s back to help her catch her breath. Mo De, sitting opposite Mu Qing, rolled his eyes silently and handed her the bowl of soup from his meal.

“Gulp, gulp...” Mu Qing drank it down hastily, looking a bit embarrassed as she returned the empty bowl to Mo De’s tray and wiped her mouth with some tissues.

“No one’s snatching your food; why the rush?” Mo De said apologetically to Huo Yufei, then whispered to Mu Qing.

“Cough, cough...” Losing face in front of the newly acquainted Teacher Huo made Mu Qing uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the young women who had been in line earlier were gradually returning, helping to ease the awkwardness for Mu Qing.

“Let me introduce you all. This is...” Mu Qing took over from Mo De and introduced Huo Yufei to the group.

Chen Yue, sitting beside Mu Qing, greeted Huo Yufei politely and shook her hand, restoring the last shred of dignity to the Winter Camp’s teaching team.

Next to Chen Yue, Yu Jiuchuan nodded in greeting and gave the library manager a few extra glances, anticipating they might see each other often in the coming days.

Beside Mo De, Su Ziwen and Ivanoti also nodded politely and behaved with decorum, a sharp contrast to someone else’s earlier recklessness.

Ivanoti, with his silver hair and eyes, caught Huo Yufei’s attention the moment he sat down. After all, when one first meets Ivanoti von, it’s hard not to take a second look.

Huo Yufei, naturally curious, was no exception.

They chatted and ate together, enjoying a pleasant lunch.

Huo Yufei showed great interest in the Winter Camp activities, while Chen Yue patiently explained everything. As for Mu Qing, she quietly ate her meal, rarely joining the conversation.

After all, Mu Qing was just a part-time assistant, often idle and not attending the daily faculty meetings. She knew less about the Winter Camp’s details than even Mo De.

Suddenly, Mo De’s phone in his pocket rang. Though they had finished eating, Huo Yufei’s lively conversation was interrupted by the call, and she immediately looked apologetic. Chen Yue wisely changed the subject.

“It’s probably the library urging me to return,” Huo Yufei said apologetically as she stood, placing her phone on the tray and planning to answer it once she left the noisy cafeteria.

“Then go ahead and take care of it,” Chen Yue smiled in understanding.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Huo Yufei turned back to Mo De with a smile. “Thank you for the seat, Mo De.” Before he could reply, she hurried off toward the cafeteria exit, the pale green figure soon swallowed by the bustling crowd.

Before he could say “You’re welcome,” she had already disappeared. Mo De scratched his cheek awkwardly, trying to ease the embarrassment of not responding properly.

Outside the cafeteria, Huo Yufei pulled out her phone and stepped aside to a quiet path leading back to the library, avoiding the flow of students and teachers.

“Hello, this is Huo Yufei speaking. May I ask who’s calling?” she said politely as she answered the long-ringing phone.