sweet
Pan Yue was somewhat at a loss.
Zhu Shiyi... suddenly became very polite.
He wasn't used to it.
Pan Yue: [No disturbance.]
I'm not resting; I have a dinner party tonight with company clients.
Zhu Shiyi, who had been lying listlessly, suddenly sprang to his feet.
She knew it! How could Pan Yue find her annoying? He must have something on his mind!
Zhu Shiyi asked with concern: "So late? Have you gone home yet?"
Pan Yue: [Just arrived.]
Zhu Shiyi: [Have you guys been drinking?]
Pan Yue: [I drank a little.]
Zhu Shiyi's heart tightened. Pan Yue had been drinking, yet he still wanted to listen to her do her daily report; he was practically a workaholic.
How could she bear to blame him for not replying to her messages!
Zhu Shiyi: [Will you feel uncomfortable?]
The other party is typing.
The status bar flashed briefly, then nothing happened again.
A minute later, Pan Yue replied: 【Hmm, a little.】
Zhu Shiyi searched online and found: "Drink some honey water."
Pan Yue: [No need, I'll be fine in a little while.]
Zhu Shiyi frowned slightly: "The special fructose in honey can promote the breakdown and absorption of alcohol, and it can also help you sleep better at night. If you don't sleep well, are you not going to work tomorrow?"
Pan Yue: [...There is no honey.]
The other party's tone was softer.
Zhu Shiyi knew that the way to deal with Pan Yue was to use his usual methods: explaining the principles and emphasizing the importance of the situation to persuade him. That was the surest way.
Since we don't have honey, let's try another method.
Zhu Shiyi carefully selected Baidu's suggestions:
Yogurt? The calcium in it can relieve irritability—Pan Yue doesn't seem particularly irritable.
Watermelon? It's high in water content, and the potassium helps maintain electrolyte balance and accelerates the excretion of alcohol through urine...
Talking about diuretics with Crush? Isn't that a bit inelegant?
Zhu Shiyi: [How about eating some bananas? They can increase blood sugar levels and lower the proportion of alcohol in the blood. Other fruits are also fine. If you really have nothing else, drink salt water; it's only bad for the taste.]
Pan Yue: [Did you just search for this online?]
Zhu Shiyi put on airs: "Can't I just be knowledgeable?"
......
Pan Yue: [Okay.]
The night was quiet.
Zhu Shiyi imagined Pan Yue's tone and smiled quietly.
The other party sent me a picture of a banana.
Pan Yue: [I ate.]
Zhu Shiyi gave a thumbs up.
He's so well-behaved!
Pan Yue: [That's right.]
[It's just the two of us in private. You report to me, so there's no need for such formalities.]
--
Friday is another gym day.
This is the second time they've eaten alone since they became a fitness buddy.
The two randomly chose a restaurant.
Pan Yue had originally offered to treat her to Jiangzhe cuisine, but Zhu Shiyi declined. After all, they would be having a meal together every day or two, and she felt it would be impolite to take advantage of them. If she kept treating them to nice meals, her meager internship salary would eventually be gone.
They found a bibimbap restaurant, and as soon as they sat down, Pan Yue asked Zhu Shiyi to order on his phone. She immediately felt it was inappropriate: "Let's split the bill."
"AA?"
“Yes,” Zhu Shiyi said righteously, and criticized, “What’s wrong with splitting the bill? When friends go out to eat, splitting the bill is the proper way to do it.”
“That’s your little friends…” Pan Yue paused, “…the students’ habit.”
Zhu Shiyi: "Who are you calling an elementary school student?"
Pan Yue: ......
He suddenly chuckled.
“College student,” Pan Yue’s eyes crinkled slightly, “it’s my treat today.”
Zhu Shiyi thought for a few seconds and agreed: "Then I'll treat you next time."
With this back and forth, feelings develop!
Pan Yue wanted to say something more.
Zhu Shiyi quickly raised his index finger: "Shh."
"Stop, it's settled then," Zhu Shiyi said, taking out her phone. "Is your Alipay account linked to this phone number?"
Having known each other for so long, Zhu Shiyi naturally also had Pan Yue's number.
She thought that if he wanted to transfer money via WeChat later, Pan Yue might not accept it.
But Alipay is different; it forces you to make a payment.
“Okay,” Pan Yue replied, “then we’ll have instant noodles next time.”
Zhu Shiyi: ?
This isn't how you save money for her.
......
Zhu Shiyi ordered a beef bibimbap, Pan Yue ordered a signature beef bibimbap, and spicy squid.
Pan Yue also had a drink with him.
This time, without even asking, Zhu Shiyi knew that this was his post-workout quick charcoal.
While waiting for her food, Zhu Shiyi felt tired even sitting down, so she leaned to one side and propped her face up with her hand.
What should you talk about with someone you like?
Zhu Shiyi decided to do as Yu Fan suggested—to find out his interests and hobbies.
However, you can't be too direct. If you ask directly, "What are your hobbies?" it feels like an interrogation.
When you're not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?
No, that's too wordy, and "in my spare time" doesn't sound like colloquial speech.
You should ask: What do you usually like to do?
This sentence sounds more natural.
Zhu Shiyi coughed lightly, her voice slightly hoarse: "You usually..."
Pan Yue suddenly looked up and frowned.
Zhu Shiyi quickly lowered her voice: "What do you usually like to do?"
Holy crap.
Why did that dead voice sound so delicate?
That was so embarrassing.
What did that expression of his just now mean?
Do you think she's out of her mind?
Zhu Shiyi's heart started racing.
Damn! How come there are a few words that are different between what you said and what you thought?
Fortunately, it means the same thing.
Pan Yue's expression had returned to normal: "Let me think about it."
He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly: "It seems... there's nothing I particularly like."
Zhu Shiyi was surprised: "What about the ones you usually like?"
“I can’t really explain it,” Pan Yue shook his head. “I should say that I don’t have any hobbies.”
"So what do you do when you're not working or exercising?"
"rest."
Zhu Shiyi puffed out his cheeks.
What a perfunctory response! Does he simply not want to talk about it?
Pan Yue stared at her and pursed his lips.
“When I’m at home, besides looking at my phone,” Pan Yue added, “I cook. If Lin Changren calls me, we’ll play games together.”
Zhu Shiyi blinked twice: "Aren't you bored?"
"No, I don't get much rest."
Zhu Shiyi nodded.
When you're exhausted, you're lucky if you can get a break, so you don't even have time to think about whether you're bored or not.
Unable to find out anything about the other person's preferences, Zhu Shiyi decided to ask about their tastes: "So what do you like to eat?"
Pan Yue rested his chin on his hand, seemingly hesitant: "...Anything is fine. Something nutritious?"
Zhu Shiyi: ......
It seems that the word "like" didn't exist in Pan Yue's world.
She rephrased the question: "So what do you dislike eating?"
This time, the opponent finally stopped being a bot: "Pork intestines and konjac."
Finally, at least one sentence is useful.
Zhu Shiyi: "Aren't you going to eat konjac dessert?"
"I won't eat."
"Okay." It's such a pity that he won't be able to experience something so amazing.
Pan Yue: "And you, do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"Let me think," Zhu Shiyi replied, tapping her cheek unconsciously with her fingertips. "I don't like onions, but I think onion-flavored things taste good; I don't like the white part of scallions either, but the green part tastes good; I don't like yellow chives either, but I think leeks taste good; I don't like lettuce either, but I like dried bamboo shoots."
Pan Yue: ?
This food pickiness is quite peculiar.
Zhu Shiyi clearly found herself funny. She straightened up, perked up, and laughed at herself: "I don't eat carrot chunks, diced carrots, or carrot slices, because they smell like motorcycles. But the funniest thing is, I like shredded carrots!"
Pan Yue chuckled and asked, "What does a motorcycle smell like?"
"Maybe it's similar to kerosene?" Zhu Shiyi scratched his face, then suddenly felt the urge to go to the bathroom. "I'm going to the restroom."
While Zhu Shiyi was away, the waiter served the dishes.
Pan Yue glanced at it casually.
Zhu Shiyi's beef rice bowl is served with side dishes arranged in a neat circle, one small section of which features diced carrots.
Pan Yue asked the waiter for a small bowl, and he used chopsticks to pick out the carrot pieces one by one.
Then he neatly arranged the shredded carrots from his own meal on top of the beef rice.
Zhu Shiyi washed his hands and returned to his seat, where a delicious meal was laid out before him.
She happily took out her phone and looked longingly at Pan Yue's meal.
His bowl contained beef cubes, corn kernels, cucumber strips, carrot cubes, shiitake mushroom cubes, and green leafy vegetables, arranged around the edge of the rice. In the center was an egg, which, judging by its softness, was probably a soft-boiled egg. It was also sprinkled with sesame seeds and seaweed.
Pan Yue remained silent, only pushing the food forward.
Zhu Shiyi was overjoyed: "May I borrow your food?"
She bit her lower lip and smiled as she arranged the two pots of rice and a plate of vegetables, quickly making two tables.
Zhu Shiyi mixed the ingredients in the bowl, and the soft-boiled egg yolk from the onsen egg coated the rice. With one bite, the rich ingredients and sauce flavors were salty, sweet, and fragrant.
With her stomach satisfied, Zhu Shiyi chewed and nodded slightly, glancing across at the person opposite her.
Pan Yue was picking out the onions from the spicy squid and putting them into a small bowl.
"You don't eat onions either?" Zhu Shiyi thought she had found her people.
“Eat,” Pan Yue paused, “but eat very little.”
"Oh, okay." Zhu Shiyi didn't hesitate and picked up a piece of squid to eat.
After the meal.
Pan Yue: "I'll take you back."
Zhu Shiyi reluctantly declined: "I have to go to the supermarket. There's not much food left at home. I'm staying at Sister Fan's place, so I need to stock up for her."
“Let’s go together,” Pan Yue said calmly. “I also have things to buy.”
"Great!" That's perfect, just what she wanted.
There's a shopping mall next to the restaurant, and a supermarket on the basement level.
Zhu Shiyi first prepared some noodles, and then took some breakfast bread.
Pan Yue followed beside her, without taking anything.
Zhu Shiyi felt like she had a bodyguard following her. She turned around: "What do you want to buy?"
Pan Yue paused for two seconds: "Egg."
“Oh right,” Zhu Shiyi replied, “I want to buy one too.”
When they arrived at the egg stall, Zhu Shiyi casually picked up a carton of eggs.
Pan Yue, however, grabbed a bag and started picking through the pile of eggs, occasionally shaking them.
Zhu Shiyi was astonished.
That's so relatable!
She looks like a mom shopping at the supermarket.
Is there any difference between loose eggs and boxed eggs?
“Look at the varieties,” Pan Yue pointed to the product label, “These are organic foods.”
What's the difference?
"Organic-raised, antibiotic-free, and rich in Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, it is a high-quality source of fat."
What the heck?
Mom doesn't study these things.
Zhu Shiyi pointed to the other side: "What about over there?"
Pan Yue glanced at it: "Special Offers Section".
"Special Offers!" Zhu Shiyi leaned forward instantly, her eyes gleaming. "I want the special offer!"
She's just like her mother; she loves buying discounted items.
Anyway, everything she eats tastes the same.
Zhu Shiyi put down the boxed eggs and also grabbed a bag.
She glanced at Pan Yue and decided to follow suit, imitating his actions, sometimes touching the eggshell, sometimes gently holding it to her ear and shaking it.
"You can pick them too?"
Zhu Shiyi was listening intently to an egg. After a long while, she shook her head and gave a dry laugh: "No."
"So what did you hear?" Pan Yue tilted his head.
Zhu Shiyi heard nothing. She said seriously, "I heard chicks chirping."
Pan Yue suddenly chuckled softly.
"What are you laughing at?" Zhu Shiyi's face flushed. "You know how, so teach me!"
Pan Yue gave a soft "hmm" and placed the egg in his hand near Zhu Shiyi's ear.
Zhu Shiyi moved slightly closer.
A hand gently swayed by her ear, stirring up a breeze. Her fingertips brushed against the stray hairs at her temples, barely perceptible.
She heard a sound like liquid sloshing around, but couldn't make out what it was.
"Can you tell?" The man's voice was very soft, like a piano with its soft pedal pressed, soothing and delicate.
Her ears burned: "...I didn't hear you clearly."
A gentle breeze rises again, causing the strands of hair to move slightly.
"And now?" His voice was even softer, as if afraid of disturbing the gentle breeze.
She could only hear the waves within her heart.
“It’s alright,” Pan Yue said, moving his hand away and putting the egg back, not picking out this egg for her. “You should just buy boxed eggs.”
Zhu Shiyi suddenly became excited, his voice taking on a shrewd tone: "I just want to choose."
Pan Yue: ......
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