17.1 - The Seventeenth Flavor Part 1

Translator: tarararawr

Xian Bei fell onto the bed after Chen Zhuo left.

She buried her face into the pillow for a long time. She lifted her head up when she couldn’t breathe.

Her mind was full of Chen Zhuo’s words when he came to see her. “I thought it was the personification of this milk tea.”

As for the series of drinks and art licenses discussed with her, she only nodded to agree.

Although she lowered her eyes, she could still imagine the man’s earnest look from the tone of his voice.

So, what did those words mean……

Why did he say that her sketch was a personification of her favorite milk tea flavor……

Was that what she associated the sketch with?

Was he just teasing her? Was it a joke?

It must be……

Xian Bei got up to turn over and face the ceiling.

Her heart did not feel well again. Her heart rate had not been normal since she became aware of her feelings for that person.

She turned on her cell phone and wanted to send Yuan Yuan a message. She wanted to consult Yuan Yuan for her opinions and clear up her mind.

But after clicking the message box, her fingers stopped. Her wrists relaxed and she threw the phone back to the pillow.

Actually, Xian Bei was quite certain that she really, really likes this uninvited guest who entered into her barren life.

She also vaguely felt these kinds of fluctuating emotions, from hope to dread, during her third year of high school.

The person was a boy in the same class as her. He had a crew cut and tanned skin. When he smiled with his teeth, it was dazzling.

At that time, she was already a loner in the class. Every day in the evenings, this boy would bother her and take her home.

They would do special exercises 1 between classes. Xian Bei was in the front row of the girls formation. She saw the boy when she turned around. He did not turn around, but his hand movements followed the exercise. His eyes were looking at her. As soon as his eyes met hers, he quickly smiled at her. Xian Bei was frightened and looked away.

Xian Bei was resistant at first, but her heart couldn’t be controlled and it gave birth to a little delightful secret. Finally, someone was willing to be friends with her.

This idea somewhat broke the night that the male classmate confessed to her. The little deer 2 in her chest tossed around all night.

Her mind was hazy. Xian Bei also seemed to have some feelings for him. Every day, he would painstakingly push his mountain bike and walk next to her. He would talk with her, even if she lowered her head and didn’t speak. At last, the flowers in her heart were blooming and were clearly touched.

Everything ended one evening.

The sun would set in the west 3 and it seemed ordinary. The boy accompanied her to the community gate.

Suddenly, a familiar thin figure rushed out of the reception office. She grabbed the boy’s school uniform, and immediately went crazy and cursed at him.

Yes. Her mother.

On that day, many people passing by had stopped and watched in surprise. Xian Bei stood in place, as if she was splashed by boiling water.

The next day, Xian Bei was forced to change classes. The male classmate never appeared in front of her again.

One week later, a girl from her former class found her. She said that Xian Bei made her friend a joke in their grade. She caused him to have no choice but to transfer to another school.

Xian Bei never dared to like anyone again from that point on.

It was a disaster for her to have feelings for someone of the opposite sex.

But what could she do? The feelings she hadn’t felt for a long time have gradually recovered in the last few days. It was like barren wood beginning to sprout again.

She’s absolutely certain about this feeling. She liked him.

Xian Bei put the comforter over her face. She wanted to cry without tears, and asked herself:

Xian Bei, what’s wrong with you?

Why do you have to have such bad thoughts when others are good to you?

Her landlord must know it too.

That’s why she used that painting and that cup of milk tea today as a means to deliberately ridicule the past.

She couldn’t think about it anymore.

She wanted to avoid her landlord.

She must not bring him any trouble. After all……

She had to live under the same roof as him for a long time.

——

With this decision, Xian Bei returned to hibernating like a small hamster.

During the 24 hours of a day, she spent at least 23.5 hours hidden in the room and rarely talked to Chen Zhuo.

But recently, Chen Zhuo came to see her more frequently because of the custom personification paintings.

Every time he knocked on her door, he must bring her a new drink flavor for her to taste.

Xian Bei could not avoid it since this was work. She would bury her head, say thank you, and take the drink with her small hands.

The next day, he would receive a watercolor painting.

Xian Bei’s paintings had never disappointed Chen Zhuo.

It’s just…….when Chen Zhuo would look at the bedroom door that seemed to be closed all the time, four words would automatically appear on it —— “Please do not disturb.”

The little girl had become more reclusive. She was at least willing to come out to have meals with him when she first came here. But now she only ate delivery food.

She would take small quick steps to the door, grab the delivery bag, and rush back into her room. She treated him like he was invisible the entire time.

Maybe……she almost forgot what he looked like.

Footnotes

It’s a requirement for students to participate in these physical exercises between classes. Usually, it’s after the second class in the morning. Every day for 20 minutes, they do stretches, simple dancing, etc. 小鹿 (xiǎolù) – refers to the feeling uneasy in the heart 夕阳西下 (xīyángxīxià) – idiom for the scene at sunset, but can also refer to the decline of something.