12.1 - The Twelfth Flavor Part 1

Translator: tarararawr

Once she finished the Mango Milk Cap Tea, Xian Bei felt stuffed and she returned to her bedroom.

It was her first day living here and she was entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Thus, she didn’t immediately lie down on the bed and rub her belly, nor she didn’t go to her computer to continue working on the rough drafts of《Qi Xie 1 》.

Instead, she took out her watercolors and began to paint a personification of the Mango Milk Cap Tea.

She couldn’t use words to express her emotions and opinions, so coloring and drawing could perfectly replace it.

After she painted everything carefully, Xian Bei examined it for a moment. She put the painting on the small table near the window to dry.

The night wind swirled around the curtains like it was dancing under the moonlight.

On the paper was a soft shota 2 . He was wearing a bright yellow puffy sleeve shirt and pumpkin shorts. He was leaning on a white cushion that was like a cloud, while staring with big, round eyes.

Mango itself was soft, smooth, and delicate. It’s sweet, but not overwhelming. It could also neutralize the rich cheese taste.

The tip of the tongue was left with a unique taste when it was drunk. It had a little bit of a piney fragrance and a little bit of an orange flavor.

This was the unique taste of mango.

Xian Bei went on to work on her own manga after she finished painting the personification.

Yuan Yuan messaged her on QQ. She asked her about the moving situation today and how she felt.

Xian Bei replied: It was good. The landlord is very nice.

Yuan Yuan: I heard you two already knew each other?

Xian Bei blushed when she read the reply: ……I guess.

Yuan Yuan was a shrewd person: Isn’t he the milk tea uncle?!

Xian Bei: Yes…….

Yuan Yuan became extremely gossipy: Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. What kind of fate is this? Xian Bei, how big is your position? [Zhong Yi]’s boss personally visited to deliver milk tea to you?

Xian Bei was shocked: B-boss?

Yuan Yuan: You didn’t always think he was the milk tea delivery man, did you?

Xian Bei: …….

Yuan Yuan: He’s [Zhong Yi]’s boss, okay? Can a milk tea delivery man monopolize such a big part of the neighborhood?

Xian Bei: Okay…….I got it…….

Yuan Yuan: I think this boss treats you differently. Take advantage of it.

Xian Bei: ……huh?

Yuan Yuan: I’ve asked Jiang Zihao and he said that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s a golden bachelor 3 . The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first 4 . The two of you live in the same place. Between a single man and a single woman, you have to develop a special relationship in order for fate to bring you two together at the right time.

These words made Xian Bei hot. All of a sudden, the man’s always smiling tone appeared in her mind.

Her heart was pounding and Xian Bei quickly replied with two words:

No way.

Yuan Yuan: ??

Xian Bei: I

Delete.

She couldn’t…….or what Yuan Yuan said couldn’t…….

She was too afraid to think about it anymore……

Her mind was at a loss and she was unable to steadily hold her stylus pen.

Just say no. Xian Bei shook her head forcefully, as if to throw away all of the thoughts that disturbed her.

Yuan Yuan knew she disliked talking about personal matters and changed the topic to work.

She sent a screenshot of the presales website for《Sangshi Zhi Cheng 5 ·3》.

After, she said: It’s ahead of schedule. I’m afraid you’ll have to come to the company tomorrow to sign 5,000 copies of the book.

Xian Bei: ……that’s too much.

The task of signing 3,000 copies of the first two volumes was signed by her until her hands collapsed and left her with a deep memory of it.

Yuan Yuan: The editor-in-chief requested it. I can’t do anything about it. 【¯_(ツ)_/¯】Come early tomorrow, big mangaka.

Xian Bei wanted to cry, but had no tears:……okay……TAT 6

——

The next day, Xian Bei woke up early in the morning.

After washing her face, she threw on a pullover sweater. She put on a small crossbody bag and pushed her cap down.

Oh. She couldn’t forget her mask.

Xian Bei didn’t know the situation outside because the room didn’t have a peephole.

She held the personified painting in her hands and put her ear to the door to listen for a few minutes before she twisted the door handle.

She looked around before she took a step out and saw Chen Zhuo sitting and eating breakfast.

His fork had a piece of croissant and he was intently browsing on the iPad in his hand.

Hearing the door creak, the man’s eyes moved from the screen to Xian Bei.

Their eyes met for two seconds. Xian Bei was startled and she took a small step back on reflex.

Chen Zhuo quickly scanned her. Okay, she’s fully armed . His eyebrows rose. “You’re going out?”

She looked down to avoid his eyes. In a light and hard to hear voice, “Yeah……”

“Don’t you want breakfast?” Chen Zhuo put the tablet down. “There are fried eggs in the pan.”

Xian Bei shook her head. For a long time she had eaten two meals a day and did not have a habit of eating breakfast.

Chen Zhuo did not like to force and modify another person’s lifestyle. He only thoughtfully nodded his head. “I’ll send you off later.”

The small head vigorously shook again.

Xian Bei quickly walked towards the man. Then, she put the painting on top of the table, turned around to run to the entrance, and squatted on the ground to change shoes.

It could be said that the actions were done in one go. From beginning to end, it didn’t give the man an opportunity to speak again.

Footnotes

奇邪 (qí xié) – Strange Evil 正太 (zhèngtài) – a word used to describe a young and cute little boy. It is derived from the Japanese word shotacon. Shotacon is slang for attraction to young boys in a moe way. 钻石王老五 (zuànshíwánglǎowǔ) – refers to an older single man that is very rich. 近水楼台先得月 (jìnshuǐlóutáixiāndéyuè) – idiom meaning to benefit from intimacy with an influential person 丧失之城 (sàngshīzhīchéng) – The Lost City. One of Xian Bei’s manga. TAT is an emoticon for crying.