Shu Xian excitedly and happily walked down the stairs, Shi Lian, from knowing and living with Shu Xian for a few years, already hearing the familiar footsteps.
The feeling is like living with your family for too long and you stayed inside your room and when you hear their slippers slapping on the floor, you would already know who’s awake judging by their footsteps without having the need to look at them.
Shi Lian stood up from the couch, sighing in relief that finally, her best friend is done with the talk. Shu Xian stopped in front of her with a wide smile on her face, Shi Lian, actually happy for her to have seen such a big smile on her best friend’s face.
“Obviously, you got in, right?”
“Yes!” Shu Xian whispered back, biting her bottom lip to contain her excitement. “If I have free time later, I was told to visit so I could learn more about the policies before I can report tomorrow!”
“Good! I know you will do a great job!”
Shi Lian commented with pride, happy for her best friend. They then walked out of the library, Shi Lian asking a question as she remembered here and then that Shu Xian was still employed in her part-time job—being one of the service crew of a fast-food restaurant.
“Hey, if you applied, did you already send your resignation form?”
Shu Xian nodded, the smile on her face not disappearing.
“Yes! I actually sent it last night when I couldn’t sleep because of… you know.”
Shu Xian rolled her eyes, already pertaining to the kiss and this made Shi Lian laugh.
“Anyway, now that I’m here and I really asked it from Pan An, then it was worth it.”
“Alright, then!” Shi Lian linked her arm with Shu Xian’s, “What do you wanna eat this lunch time? Damn… I’m famished!”
Shu Xian chuckled, furrowing her brows at Shi Lian.
“Instead of asking me, I should ask that instead! You know a lot of places where we could eat.”
“Yes!” Shi Lian nodded, a thought already passing her mind. “Wanna try some Italian pasta? There is a new restaurant in the city called ‘Molto Affamato’ and I think the food will be great!”
“Oh! I actually am craving for pasta now,” Shu Xian replied, cocking her head to the side. “We only have an hour lunch break until our next class. Is it near the university?”
“Yeah, don’t worry,” Shi Lian said, getting her phone from her pocket. “I’ll ask our driver to drive us there then back here. Don’t fret.”
With that, the two of them conversed while they waited for the driver to pick them up in front of the university gate. Remembering the name of the Italian restaurant, Shu Xian couldn’t help but wonder what it meant, asking Shi Lian about it.
“What do you think is the meaning of the name?” she asked, the two of them already in front of the gate. “Is it something fancy? It sounds fancy.”
“No,” Shi Lian replied, laughing as she shook her head to say no. “Since most of the people in our country don’t study foreign languages, they wouldn’t understand. But to those who could understand, the meaning of the name is comedic—actually eye-catching to those who can speak Italian.”
“Really? What does it mean?”
“‘Molto Affamata’ in Italian means ‘Very Hungry’ in English.”
When Shu Xian and Shi Lian laughed out loud, at the same time, the driver already arrived with a BMW, already heading out from the car to open the door for Shi Lian and Shu Xian.
Seeing this, some students watched as they remembered Shi Lian being the daughter of an affluent family who owns W&S Co., the students jealous off Shu Xian that she is good friends with her.
Once the two had already entered the backseat, the driver closed the door, going back inside the driver’s seat so he could drive to the newly opened Italian restaurant.
“Whoever thought about the restaurant name is so witty,” Shi Lian commented, Shu Xian, nodding in agreement.
“Yes! People who would use the translator to know the meaning would find it comedic as well. It actually sounds like a name for an Italian buffet rather than a fancy restaurant,” Shu Xian commented and added, the both of them laughing again.
The driver said that it will take them 10 minutes to reach the place. Shi Lian then contacted the manager of the restaurant to have an advanced order of their food so they can save time and would not be late for their afternoon classes.
“What did you order?” Shu Xian asked, Shi Lian, answering her question.
“I got myself Spaghetti Bolognese and for you, Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca.”
Spaghetti Bolognese is spaghetti with a meat-based sauce which is slowly cooked. For Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, it is a pasta invented in Naples and is typically made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and garlic. Both pastas can be spicy or not, but either way, it sounds delicious for the girls, making them feel their hunger as they are excited to taste their food.
Remembering that Shu Xian will soon be working in the library, another smile crept her face. It was because of Pan An that she got the job, making her think if there is something that she could do to show her gratitude to the professor.
With Shu Xian’s lips in a tight line as she was suddenly pulled by her own thoughts, Shi Lian noticed it, making her look at her with wonder in her eyes.
“Shu Xian, is something bothering you?”
“Oh!”
Shu Xian immediately looked at her best friend, not expecting what she said as it made Shi Lian want to tease her at the same time.
“Do you think it would be too much to give Pan An a gift because he helped me get the scholarship?”
“Oho…” Shi Lian narrowed her eyes at Shu Xian, “So you wanna give him a something-something?”
“Shi Lian…” Shu Xian rolled her eyes at her best friend, Shi Lian, laughing. “I’m being serious here.”
With the car already parking in front of the restaurant, Shi Lian couldn’t help but shove Shu Xian’s question aside for a while, actually hungry.
“Can we talk about it once we’re inside?”
Shu Xian rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh, understanding her best friend when it comes to food.
“Fine. Let’s go, then.”
With that, the two of them got out of the car, already entering Molto Affamato as they also felt the meaning behind the name of the restaurant.
Yes, the girls are indeed very hungry… and they are excited to eat the pasta while they engage in a conversation that Shi Lian finds funny.