Mixed Chapter 15
byLet’s eat together!
Saturday afternoon, 3:30 PM.
Chi Nuan was already standing outside the Jiangnan Bay residential area early. She didn’t even dare to look at her phone, knowing there was still half an hour until the agreed time.
She stood by the entrance with her hands clasped behind her back, looking left, then looking right, repeating the motion. Anyone passing by would cast a curious glance her way.
Finally, the person Chi Nuan had been longing for appeared within sight.
She was wearing a fitted black maxi dress today. So beautiful.
As Song Shixue drew closer to Chi Nuan, Chi Nuan’s heart began to beat faster and faster.
“Have you been waiting long? Little… Student Chi?”
“N-no… No.” Her heartbeat was echoing so loudly inside her body that Chi Nuan didn’t even hear what Song Shixue said clearly.
Song Shixue was also relieved that Chi Nuan hadn’t heard.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go to the supermarket.”
Chi Nuan looked down at Song Shixue’s hand and mumbled softly, “I really want to hold her hand.”
Song Shixue naturally heard it. Although she didn’t respond verbally, her steps slowed slightly. Chi Nuan stretched out her hand, which was only a few centimeters from Song Shixue’s wrist.
Song Shixue was quite expectant inwardly. But the next second, she didn’t feel the warmth of Chi Nuan’s palm.
She walked into the supermarket distractedly.
Not far away, two little boys were playing a chasing game with toys. One of them was reciting the classic Ultraman line: “I must fight to protect the Earth!”
With a sudden turn, the toy in his hand brushed against Song Shixue’s dress, and his whole body nearly collided with Song Shixue’s abdomen.
“Watch out!” Chi Nuan reacted quickly, pulling Song Shixue into the crook of her arm.
It was too sudden. Her heart, seized by tension, began to pound rapidly.
So close.
Song Shixue’s nose was pressed against Chi Nuan’s chin. Their chests were close, feeling the rise and fall of each other’s heartbeats.
The blend of lemon and woody scent was just right.
Her throat involuntarily constricted as she tried hard to suppress the sound of her swallowing.
I really want to bite her, Song Shixue thought.
Chi Nuan frowned slightly, staring sternly at the little boy’s face, completely oblivious to Song Shixue’s reaction.
The child’s mother’s frantic, loud voice came from behind them.
“You child! I told you not to run around!” The little boy felt incredibly wronged as soon as he heard his mother’s voice. “Hurry up and apologize to the older sister!”
He rubbed his small hands, pouting his little mouth, “Sorry, Older Sister.”
“I am truly sorry. This child is very naughty. I apologize for causing trouble for both of you.”
Song Shixue snapped back to reality and signaled for Chi Nuan to let go.
With a smile on her face, she said, “It’s okay. But next time, don’t run around in the supermarket, little one.”
The little boy grinned, initially intending to happily leave with his mother, but he saw a hint of terror in Song Shixue’s smile.
It scared him so much that he quickly said to Song Shixue again, “Pretty Older Sister, I’m sorry,” before rushing away.
“Teacher Song, are you hurt?”
“No, he just scratched my dress with his toy.”
Chi Nuan carefully inspected the dress Song Shixue was wearing and only relaxed when she confirmed there was no damage.
The two of them walked toward the vegetable section.
“What kind of dishes do you want to eat?” Song Shixue had concealed her earlier emotions very well. This question sounded more like a mother asking her daughter.
“Teacher Song can cook anything?”
“Yes, as long as it’s not too rare.”
Chi Nuan’s eyes instantly turned into stars, and her voice was filled with delight as she spoke to Song Shixue, “Sweet and sour pork! And… stir-fried sliced pork!”
“Mhm, okay.” Song Shixue picked up a chili pepper from the vegetable rack. “Can you eat spicy food?”
“Yes!”
Song Shixue actually took the initiative to ask me about my food preferences! I’m so happy! Chi Nuan pushed the shopping cart behind Song Shixue and couldn’t hold back her joy, letting out a soft chuckle.
Song Shixue turned back, her tone puzzled, “Is there something on my back, Student Chi?”
“No!”
Chi Nuan pressed her lips into a thin line, using her index finger to make a motion from left to right across them. She swore she would never think happy thoughts in front of Song Shixue again!
The other person turned around, counting the ingredients in the shopping cart: “Ketchup, pork tenderloin, green peppers… check if there’s anything else we need to buy.”
Chi Nuan thought carefully and immediately replied, “That’s everything.”
“Then let’s go check out.” Song Shixue placed her left hand on the shopping cart handle. “I’ll take it.”
Chi Nuan held the handle with both hands and didn’t let go, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness, “Teacher Song, since you’re treating me to dinner, can’t you at least let me help you with the heavy lifting?”
After speaking, Chi Nuan pouted and blinked her eyes twice.
Song Shixue froze.
Why is Chi Nuan acting so cute again!
“Fine, you push it. I won’t fight you for it.” Song Shixue straightened her back, slung her bag over her shoulder, and strode forward.
She walked with an aura of confidence that attracted even more attention.
Especially from the men, whose eyes held ill intent.
Their lewd appearance, twisting their necks to stare intently, greatly displeased Chi Nuan.
Chi Nuan pushed the cart much faster, muttering under her breath through gritted teeth, “How disgusting!”
Song Shixue only felt a sudden gust of cool air beside her. She turned her head, and Chi Nuan was already there. She stood beside her, turning her head to glare fiercely at those men.
“Teacher Song, I almost couldn’t keep up with you.”
Song Shixue said nonchalantly, “But you still caught up.”
Chi Nuan took the vegetables and meat out of the shopping cart one by one and placed them on the self-checkout scanner.
“Yes, because I didn’t want you to keep being stared at by those bad people.”
Song Shixue helped bag the items on the side. “Bad people?”
Chi Nuan paused her actions, looked at Song Shixue, and explained, “It’s because Teacher Song is so beautiful and moving. As soon as you move, all eyes in the room gather on you.”
Song Shixue was suddenly made a little shy by such direct praise. She lowered her head, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly twice.
Chi Nuan didn’t notice this subtle moment of shyness.
She took the shopping bags directly from the machine counter. “Let’s go, Teacher Song, let’s go home.”
The four words “let’s go home” made Song Shixue feel a slight tingling sensation on her scalp.
It felt so unfamiliar.
She opened the door, and before she could react, Chi Nuan walked straight into the kitchen, opened the bags, and separated the green peppers and pork tenderloin onto plates.
“Chi Nuan, you can go out. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Chi Nuan was cutting the stems off the green peppers. Hearing Song Shixue suddenly call her name felt a little unfamiliar, but mostly, joy surged in her heart.
Song Shixue was finally no longer addressing her only as the distant “Student Chi.”
“Then I’ll help you prep. It will be faster this way.”
Seeing her insistence on helping, Song Shixue didn’t refuse again.
“Alright.”
It had been a long time since Song Shixue had eaten with anyone else, let alone cooked together at home. This was perfectly normal for an average family, but for Song Shixue, solitude was the norm in her life.
She felt that ever since Chi Nuan appeared in her life, everything seemed to be “going in reverse.”
Chi Nuan brought the bowls and chopsticks, and Song Shixue carried the sweet and sour pork and the stir-fried sliced pork with chili to the dining table, pulling out a chair to sit down. She picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, and she said with a look of satisfaction, “It’s so delicious! Teacher Song, it’s even better than what they make in restaurants outside!”
Watching Chi Nuan eat, Song Shixue finally couldn’t hold back.
The curve of her lips slowly turned upward, and her eyes held a touch more tenderness and indulgence.
Chi Nuan stopped chewing, staring blankly at Song Shixue as if she had been hit by a paralyzing spell.
Is this still the cold and aloof Song Shixue I know?!