Chapter 13
Lin Qi looked at the bowl of pickled pork with preserved vegetables in front of him, which had a milky white soup and a rich and fresh aroma. The huge psychological impact brought about by Chen Yan's words seemed to have found a warm and peaceful outlet in an instant.
"good."
She responded softly, picked up the spoon, and obediently scooped a spoonful of soup into her mouth.
The salty, fresh broth, blended with the sweetness of spring bamboo shoots and the rich aroma of ham, instantly delighted her taste buds. A warmth spread from her stomach to every part of her body, soothing the turbulent emotions within her.
Seeing her lowering her head and drinking the soup quietly, Chen Yan's slightly tense and focused expression finally relaxed completely.
He said nothing, picked up his own bowl, and took a sip quietly. For a moment, the only sounds on the table were the gentle clinking of dishes and chopsticks and the faint sound of voices coming from outside the window.
This silence wasn't awkward, but rather a tacitly needed break after an intense emotional resonance. It allowed the overly profound conversation just now to slowly settle and be savored.
After several hot dishes were served, Chen Yan used a serving chopstick to pick up a piece of soft, glutinous and shiny braised pork and put it on the small plate in front of Lin Qi.
"Try this," he said in a very casual tone. "It's not spicy, but it's very flavorful. It's the signature dish here."
Lin Qi finished eating quietly, raised his head, and gave him a heartfelt, satisfied smile.
"Delicious," she said. "I like sweet and salty food like this."
Hearing her praise, Chen Yan showed a very relaxed and genuine smile on his face.
"I'm glad you like it," he said. "I was worried you'd get tired of it."
This answer inadvertently revealed that when he picked up the food for her, he actually had a hint of uncertainty and expectation in his heart.
"Then you should be very accustomed to the flavors of local cuisine." He added naturally, "Many dishes in this cuisine are based on salty and sweet flavors."
He didn't continue to serve her food, as that would have seemed overly attentive and deliberate. He simply used his serving chopsticks to subtly move the braised pork toward her.
"Eat more." He said in a very calm tone, as if it was just an ordinary action, and then he began to eat quietly.
The following lunch time was spent in such a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.
They stopped talking about those profound topics and turned to lighthearted things, such as the soundtrack of a recent movie, the deserted mountain he would occasionally climb, and some interesting things she encountered at work.
Those "suspense" about the book and the Cantonese song were like an unspoken hook, left behind by the two of them tacitly, and no one brought it up again.
The future is still long, and they have plenty of time to reveal them one by one.
At the end of the meal, Chen Yan used the excuse of going to the bathroom to pay the bill in advance. When Lin Qi found out, he simply said calmly, "I invited you, so I should come."
The tone was gentle, but did not brook argument.
Walking out of the restaurant, the afternoon sun was just right, not so scorching, and brought a lazy warmth.
"Are there any other arrangements next?" Chen Yan asked.
Lin Qi shook his head, said no more, and prepared to go home.
"The subway station is just up ahead," he pointed to a spot not far away, "I'll take you there."
The distance from the restaurant to the subway station was only a few hundred meters. They walked side by side, their steps in unison. Light and shadow dappled beneath the plane trees that lined the road.
They chatted, but they only talked about harmless gossip, and no one mentioned any profound moments from that dinner.
But they all knew that something was no longer the same.
At the busy subway station entrance, Chen Yan stopped and handed the paper bag containing the books and records back to her.
"It's a nice day today." He looked at her and said seriously.
"Be careful on the road."
He paused, as if thinking, and finally said in a very calm tone the words that would best sustain the relationship.
"I'm home, send a message."
This sentence was not a question, but a gentle instruction with complete concern.
Lin Qi looked at him and nodded.
"Okay." She also waved goodbye to him calmly, then turned and merged into the crowd at the subway station.
Chen Yan did not turn around and leave immediately.
He stood there, watching her figure completely disappear in the shadow of the entrance, then slowly withdrew his gaze.
He stood there for a while, as if savoring this unexpectedly rich half day.
From the diametrically opposed reading tastes in the bookstore, to the tacit musical perceptions in the record store, to the frank and profound inner confessions at the dinner table.
All of this far exceeded his initial simple idea of "maybe we could go to a solo exhibition together."
He glanced down at the paper bag containing the Pink Floyd record in his hand, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his lips.
Then he turned around and walked in a different direction from her, his steps seemed much lighter than when he came.
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