"Ring ring."
The bell signaling the end of the exam rang out. Today's exam day felt longer than usual.
I'm going to die from exhaustion because of these exams!!! Ahhhh
The noisy scream echoed inside Phuc Dan's mind. But soon enough, her weariness faded away, replaced by the irresistible aroma of street-side fried snacks drifting all over the school gate.
Oh my god, this smell! There's no way I'm not having a few skewers!
Without thinking much, she hurried across the sidewalk in front of the school. Her growling, empty stomach only made her quicken her pace.
The petite college student casually stopped at a food cart that looked quite crowded. Perfect timing—only one customer ahead of her. She glanced around the glass display filled with colorful fried snacks, the variety alone already tempting enough. The rich scent rising from the frying oil seemed capable of assaulting the senses of anyone standing nearby.
Phuc Dan swallowed hard.
"Girl, what would you like to eat?"
The vendor's sweet and friendly tone made it hard not to order a bit more.
"One fish skewer, two seafood skewers, one sausage, two dumpling skewers, and…"
Phuc Dan pointed as she ordered, her eyes still scanning for what else to add.
"One grilled rice paper too, please!"
It's cold like this—missing out on a hot grilled rice paper would be such a waste!
She ordered decisively, a satisfied smile appearing on her face as she got everything she wanted.
"Alright, girl! Go sit at that table over there."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Feeling excited about finally having some comfort food after a stressful exam day, she couldn't help but silently praise the stall owner. Her thoughts wandered freely.
The owner here is so nice! Maybe I'll come back another day…Today's exam went terribly! This is so frustrating! What else can I do to calm down besides eating?
"Ting"—a notification popped up from Phuc Dan's novel-reading app.
"Meowjin has just uploaded a new story you might like!"
Oh! Did my favorite author release something new? I have to check it out!
She quickly tapped the notification, excitement mixed with curiosity.
Let's see, let's see.
Ignoring the title, she immediately scrolled down to the story description—her usual way of deciding whether a novel was worth reading.
"…Lan Nhi not only has to deal with a scheming green tea woman, but her domineering mother-in-law is also secretly supporting that girl's plans…"
She skimmed the description, then found herself rereading it line by line. The more she thought about the trope, the tighter Phuc Dan's brows knit together, her expression turning into a rather comical scowl.
What the hell is this? Isn't this kind of brainless??
"Your food's ready! The grilled rice paper is still cooking—wait a bit, okay?"
Just a few minutes after she sat down, the fried snacks were done and neatly arranged on a plate. The skewers were placed in the center, with chili sauce and black sauce squeezed along the edge—just enough for dipping.
"The pickled sides are over there. Help yourself."
"Yes, thank you!"
Street snack stalls always had tubs of pickled vegetables to cut through the greasiness. Phuc Dan stood up, grabbed a small plate, and loaded it with pickles. This stall even had pickled mustard greens, cucumbers, and white radish.
Naturally, she piled the plate full—she loved pickled food.
"It smells so good!"
After exclaiming, she used a clean skewer to slide the fried snacks off onto her plate. In no time, the plate looked piled high with various fried bites, making it seem even more abundant than before.
She stabbed a hot fish ball, dipped it into chili sauce and black sauce, then quickly followed with other items. The food was hot enough that she had to keep blowing on it while eating, but she never forgot to pair it with pickles.
The plate of fried snacks was soon completely cleared. The vendor brought over the freshly grilled rice paper, surprised by how fast her customer had eaten.
"It's all gone already? You eat well, girl. Here's your grilled rice paper."
"Yes, haha… I was a bit hungry."
The vendor smiled and returned to her cart. Phuc Dan held the rice paper in her hands. Even through the wrapping paper, she could feel its warmth spreading to her fingers.
The rice paper was so hot that steam was visible. Its surface was golden-orange, with scattered brown char marks. Inside, quail eggs and fragrant minced meat blended together, sprinkled with green scallions. Mayonnaise and chili sauce were drizzled in a zigzag pattern over the rich filling.
Though the paper was folded in half, hiding most of the inside, the bold flavor came through with just one bite.
Why is the grilled rice paper here so good?!
Her eyes sparkled as she took her first bite. Though it was just a common snack for Vietnamese students, there was no denying its irresistible charm.
…
"Auntie, could you check the bill for me?"
"That'll be… fifty thousand dong."
"Yes, here you go."
Phuc Dan handed over a fifty-thousand and a ten-thousand note. After receiving her change, she politely said goodbye and headed toward the metro station to go home.
…
On the train, her thoughts drifted back to the novel she had just read. Her brows unconsciously furrowed, a faint headache forming—yet her curiosity about the story lingered.
She had no idea that her life was about to take a completely different turn.