11.1 - The Eleventh Flavor Part 1

Translator: tarararawr

Xian Bei was upstairs looking around in amazement and surprise at this very moment.

She had lived on her own for two years and this was the first time she had rented a place that warmed the heart and delighted the eye.

The entire space was like a model home with a white minimalist style.

For example, her room had a pure white vintage wooden wardrobe. Above the wardrobe were three framed watercolor paintings of different birds.

The large bed had a wooden log frame, soft pillows, and a comforter that seemed like it was stuffed with clouds.

The room had a small window, but it still made the room bright. Facing the window, there was a blue-grey iron side table and two chairs.

A pot of healthy succulent plants was arranged on top. It was a place where a person could take a break for a cup of tea.

Xian Bei pulled the cotton curtains to block the light. She unpacked her luggage one by one until it was already three in the afternoon.

Xian Bei was fanning herself and then, she opened the door. Outside, not a soul was in sight.

Since she was new here, she was careful…….to not run around all over the place, even though Chen Zhuo told her that she could look around.

Xian Bei closed the door. She went to the desk and turned on the tablet to start working.

However, she couldn’t stay calm, so she gave up.

Xian Bei put on headphones and lied down on the bed. Listening to the soft music, she slowly closed her eyes.

…….

——

Chen Zhuo went upstairs when it was approaching dusk.

The shop was very busy, but he was a little absent-minded from time to time. He was wondering what the little girl upstairs was doing.

Arriving upstairs, the living room was dark and the lights were not turned on.

Chen Zhuo expected it. He reached out and turned on the lights. In the next moment, he looked towards a certain direction——

In the bedroom he arranged for Xian Bei, the door was tightly closed and didn’t have a trace of the lights being on.

Chen Zhuo glanced at his watch. It was almost six o’clock.

He walked to the girl’s door. He raised his hand and paused.

He stopped only a few centimeters away from the door. In the end, he knocked.

He knocked twice.

No answer.

Chen Zhuo raised his eyebrow, and with more strength he tried a few more times.

Then, banging and booming sounds came from inside the room and it was followed by the sound of slippers sliding against the floor.

Slow down.

Chen Zhuo said in his mind and his lips already formed a smile.

The shuffling sound from the slippers came closer to the door before stopping.

Then, the door was pulled open to a crack.

The déjà vu feeling from the past reappeared.

Chen Zhuo’s eyes stared at the door crack like he was looking at an illusion. “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight?”

For a moment, there was no movement from inside the room. Then, the girl’s small voice emerged. “I’m not hungry……”

She paused. “I can order delivery……”

“Is food from a restaurant clean?” Chen Zhuo unexpectedly replied. A second later, he realized that it sounded too much like a verbal attack, so he added, “[Zhong Yi] is very clean.”

The girl stayed silent.

“Are you drawing right now?” Chen Zhuo asked another question.

Xian Bei made a “mhm” sound, and there was not another sound.

Chen Zhuo no longer forced her to talk to him. He already understood from a long time ago that this girl had difficulties communicating and was very introverted.

He spent two days finishing her manga. Besides her wild drawing style that exceeded his expectations, the girl’s heavenly steed 1 was a diverse and colorful fantasy world. He was amazed and impressed by the complicated and emotional plot.

Many lonely creators rejected having social interactions and lacked the ability to initiate conversations. However, they created a universe in their work.

This kind of person’s heart might be broader and more magnanimous than a socially eloquent person like him.

Therefore, the man only left a few words. “So you’re busy. I just came to ask.” He turned around and left.

——

Xian Bei closed the door, but her hand was still firmly pulling the door handle down instead of letting go.

The man’s words just now, why did she feel like it had a slight hint of annoyance?

Xian Bei felt like she has seen this kind of line before. She took out her phone and searched on Baidu: ‘what is the meaning of “So you’re busy”?’

Xian Bei looked through each result that appeared one by one. She lightly knocked her head against the door a few times.

Sure enough, she irritated her new and unhappy landlord.

Xian Bei started circling around the room. Once she fell into anxiety, she showed a state that completely confirmed the saying ——

“Like a cat on hot bricks running around in circles.” 2

Xian Bei was wondering if she should send a text message to him to say “I’m not busy……”

Or immediately run out of the room to say she’s not busy. Then, she should put on a smile and what not.

She didn’t want to be a bother on the first day of living under another person’s roof. However, it was so difficult. It was so extremely difficult.

After being at a loss for a long time, two knocks came from the door again.

Xian Bei became startled and looked at the door.

The man’s voice followed. “I made you a bowl of noodles. I’ll put it at the door.”

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He paused for a second. “There’s also milk tea. It’s your first day here and I didn’t prepare anything. The milk tea is an apology.”

Then, there were the sounds of his footsteps becoming more distant……

TAT 3 ……

He’s so nice, but she’s unworthy of it.

The one that should be apologizing was her……

Xian Bei pouted and slowly moved to the door.

She hesitated for a moment. Then, she struck up the courage to open the door.

Footnotes

天马行空 (tiānmǎxíngkōng) – idiom for bold and imaginative style. 热锅上的蚂蚁, 团团转 (règuōshangdemǎyǐ, tuántuánzhuàn) – Someone who is anxious and frantically running around. TAT is an emoticon for crying.