I slept rather well that night at her home. The only exception was around dawn, where I felt someone at the rooms door a few times. I knew more or less it was her checking on me because she was concerned. For some reason, her presence caused me to sleep even deeper. I did not open my eyes until the sun outside was so bright that the deep-colored curtains could not block the light anymore. Immediately, a pleasing aroma greeted me.
I walked out of the room and saw Tan Jiao in the kitchen with a white top and floral mini skirt shielded by an apron in the front. She was pan-frying some eggs and tending to a pot of steaming hot porridge on the stove.
Her pale, straight legs caught my attention again, but she looked like an honorable lady with the cute outfit she had on.
I leaned against the entrance to the kitchen and looked at her quietly, but she still heard the sound of my movements and turned around with a smile. Youre awake? Food will be ready soon. Go wash up, I bought a one-time use toothbrush and a new towel for you.
After washing my face, I returned to the entrance to the kitchen. For some reason, I did not want to leave the entrance that I was leaning on as I watched her. She took some pickled vegetables from a jar after she finished pan-frying the eggs. Then she glanced at me and asked, Why are you just standing there? Go take a seat, the food is ready.
Have you always been so good at taking care of people? I heard myself asking.
She let out a chuckle. Youre mistaken, Ive never taken care of anyone before.
The two of us fell into a lull in the kitchen as the clinking of the pot of boiling porridge filled the air.
I had no idea what I was hoping for or what I was after when I heard myself asking in a tender tone, So this is your first time?
A faint cherry red glow gradually covered her ears. Yeah, so? She answered softly before turning away with the small plate of pickled vegetables. Come eat.
The two of us sat at the dining table. I held the bowl of porridge in my hand, shoving the porridge down. I would take a few bites of the crisp and sour pickled vegetables here and there, enjoying the tastiest food I have ever had. Meanwhile, she did not seem to be eating well, as she had her head low, never looking up at me.
However, our accomplishments were rather impressive, finishing off the small pot of porridge. She had one serving of porridge and an egg, while I had triple that amount and the rest of the pickled vegetables she had taken out. She looked at me blankly while holding the empty pot and asked, Do all men eat this much?
I am more hungry today.
You do the washing up then, she said with her beaming face.
I was in a good mood as well and did not object to her request.
Noon soon came around with the sun hanging high in the air, shining down on us and lighting up the kitchen exceptionally well. I stood in front of the sink, scrubbing the plates before hearing the TV in the living room come on. I turned to find her hugging a pillow as she sat on the sofa barefooted with a somewhat lazy and blank look on her face. Clear eyes, delicate nose, ruddy lip, and long and graceful legs. Enjoying this picturesque scene from afar for a considerable amount of time, I felt as though something in my heart had been filled up before abruptly feeling a sense of emptiness again.
It was all because of this woman.
The door rang, and Tan Jiao went to open it. Soon, I heard the deep voice of a lady. Da Zhu, I came here to tell you about some interesting clues Ive discovered.
Its her author friend, Zhuang Yu. So this is how her friends refer to her? I felt that the nickname was not good enough. Even though they had strange tempers, these graceful authors liked to use basic nicknames to address each other.
[TL note: The "Da" in Da Zhu means big, which is why this nickname sounds crude to Wu Yu].
Is someone else in? Did you hire a cleaner? Zhuang Yu asked as she heard the noise from the kitchen.
No
I went out after washing the last plate and drying my wet hands. The gazes from the two ladies greeted me.