19.2 - The Nineteenth Flavor Part 2

Translator: tarararawr

Early the next morning, Chen Zhuo went outside to buy breakfast. He didn’t cook every day, and occasionally he would get lazy, such as when he didn’t sleep the night before.

As soon as he put the black coffee and bread on the table, the corners of his eyes caught a glimpse of a small, shy, and neatly-dressed baby child coming out of the room.

The little snail, who hadn’t shown herself in three hundred years, actually got up early today.

Chen Zhuo looked over and was a little surprised, “Morning.”

Xian Bei repeatedly nodded her head to show that she heard him and to greet him.

She was restless and stayed up all night in her room. At almost seven o’clock, Xian Bei put her ear to the door. She knew that Chen Zhuo would regularly get up at seven o’clock. There would be the sound of him going to the bathroom to wash up and him going to the kitchen…… Oh, no, there’s no sound. It seems like he went out today.

For the next half an hour, Xian Bei was like a puppy waiting for its owner to return. SHe sat cross-legged while drowsily leaning against the door. When she heard the sound of the door, she was suddenly like the final radiance of a setting sun 1 .

She reached her hand out to the solid door knob, then withdrew it. She pushed and pulled like tai chi at least a dozen times. Finally, Xian Bei bit the bullet and opened the door.

She wanted to see him.

She thought about him for the whole night. He was an unfathomable man who also liked her. But she was scared. She was extremely embarrassed to make this joy too obvious for the fear of provoking his annoyance.

When he appeared, she clearly caught the surprise in the man’s tone that she could not ignore. Xian Bei regretted it. It’s over. He must be embarrassed by why the girl who slept until noon every day suddenly got up so early today. It’s so strange and so baffling; and it absolutely disturbed his life’s normal rhythm. Did I do something wrong on the first day that someone likes me? I’m so tired……

_(:з」∠)_ 2

While she was muttering in her mind, Chen Zhuo suddenly said, “What are you doing standing there? Come and eat breakfast.”

Xian Bei was frozen for a moment and those feelings of self-remorse were completely obliterated. Her steps were slightly quicker than usual and she sat across from him.

She was still……too afraid to look up at him.

In her field of vision, a distinct hand pushed over a steaming cup of milk tea and a plate of sliced ham and cheese sandwiches.

“I just went downstairs, “ he added calmly. “Original flavor and 30% sweet.”

This term had secretly become Xian Bei’s sensitive point. Her small face was hot and her ears were faintly burning.

Xian Bei lowered her eyes and reached out to grab the cup in front of her.

The man sitting across the table stopped her and said, “Wait a minute.”

Xian Bei’s small arm paused, and only heard him say, “Give me your hand.”

The tone was serious.

Even though Xian Bei did not understand, she still did what she was told and put her right hand out. Yet, her head remained as low as it did in the past, as if she was sitting opposite from a pathologist that was about to prick her with a needle and draw blood from her.

She only had the courage to take a peek with fear and dread.

However, the man across the table didn’t do anything that went too far. He didn’t pull or drag her hand. His expression did not change as he concentrated on folding her endless long sweater sleeve two times.

The cuff reached her wrist and it was the most suitable length. While he was folding her sleeves, he quietly said, “The sleeves are so long. In a moment, let’s see you hold the bread.”

Xian Bei blushed at these words that seemed to be both assertive and caring.

“The other one,” he said.

Xian Bei obediently put her left hand out.

He continued to roll up her sleeves like a meticulous big brother.

As soon as it was all done, Xian Bei was ready to pull her hand back. But, Chen Zhuo did not let it go and abruptly held it in place.

A small, soft, white hand was easily wrapped by the palm of his hand. The bit of strength it exerted made it difficult to escape.

Xian Bei was so scared that her soul dispersed and she was afraid of moving.

The man was probably aware of the girl’s stiffness and his fingers suddenly changed positions. They went from casually circling her hand, to strongly advancing to be between her fingers.

Ten fingers locked together.

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This kind of touch did not leave any room to move or any space between them. It stimulated Xian Bei’s spine to shudder, like an electrical shock’s subtle numbing effect.

“Have you ever held a man’s hand?” The man across the table suddenly asked with a smile.

This direct question…… Xian Bei’s face was burning so much that it wanted to explode. She clenched her teeth and shook her head with all of her strength.

“Then let’s hold hands a lot.” That smile deepened. Perhaps this was the real purpose of him rolling her sleeves, but who would know?

Footnotes

回光返照 (huíguāngfǎnzhào) – used to refer to a person’s temporary excitement before death or demise Emoticon used to express discomfort. Example