Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
His hair was still wet as he approached the group. He asked casually, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Lian took her phone and searched on Baidu, before coming to a realization. “This side dish is actually a type of chinese herb! It is called the Chameleon Plant. But I have never eaten it before.”
“Ah, no wonder it tastes so bad. But what kind of restaurant is this? Why did they even give us this side dish for free? The taste of it is really weird,” commented Auntie Li.
Xia Yehua thought for a moment before replying, “Oh, I recall that people in Sichuan love to eat this dish. This kind of dish has an acquired taste. Those who like it, love it, whereas those who don’t, will hate it. Come, everyone, let’s try it and see if it’s to your taste.”
After Auntie Li heard this, she muttered, “Who could like this kind of weird-tasting dish?!”
Qiao Lian pursed her lips and smiled as she saw that everyone was nagging incessantly, creating a nice atmosphere.
She turned, intending to place a bowl of rice on Shen Liangchuan’s hand. However, she saw that Shen Liangchuan was staring at the side dish as if he had just seen a ghost.
Qiao Lian was stunned. She stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Shen Liangchuan. “Hello! Hello!”
Shen Liangchuan then regained his composure and answered, “Oh.”
He held his bowl of rice, distracted. As he sat down at the dining table, his gaze was still on the plate of Chameleon Plant.
Qiao Lian felt puzzled and asked, “You know of this dish?”
Shen Liangchuan lowered his gaze as he answered plainly, “Yes.”
“Do you like it?”
“I don’t.”
But someone else loved it.
Soul Fighter loved it.
He recalled that, after knowing each other for half a year through playing the game, he planned to meet Soul Fighter in real life.
They had arranged to meet for lunch in a restaurant on a Saturday afternoon.
Out of courtesy, he let Soul Fighter decide the place.
Soul Fighter had chosen a restaurant that served Sichuan cuisine in a deserted area of Beijing.
At that time, they were served this dish.
He had frowned and swallowed the food after taking a bite.
However, Soul Fighter enjoyed eating it. “In Sichuan cuisine, most dishes are spicy, however, this Chameleon Plant is good at repelling body temperature risa, as well as removing toxins. It’s easy feel hot in this dry Beijing weather. After having a few more tries, you will get used to it and will find that it is especially nice to eat.”
As Shen Liangchuan lowered his head to eat his food, the image of that familiar figure flashed across his mind.
–
Shen Liangchuan had a dream once again.
He dreamt that he had arranged to meet Soul Fighter to choose a computer, but he could not find him anywhere on the street.
When he finally spotted his back view, he immediately rushed over to pat Soul Fighter’s shoulder.
When Soul Fighter turned around, again, it was that face full of blood.
Soul Fighter even questioned him in the dream, “Zi Chuan, I heard that you and Xiao Qiao are getting along very well.”
“Don’t you think you let me down?”
Shen Liangchuan opened his eyes all of a sudden.
It was pitch-black. Through that dim night light, he could tell that it was late in the night.
His heart was pumping rapidly and he had broken out in cold sweat.
Shen Liangchuan took in a deep breath and tried his best to suppress that sense of guilt in him, before turning his head gradually.
He saw that Qiao Lian was in deep sleep.
She probably was exhausted due to the day’s events, moving houses and cleaning, and hence she was soundly asleep.
Her breathing was calm as he looked at her tiny face.
Shen Liangchuan drew in another deep breath. He didn’t know why, but Soul Fighter’s face suddenly flashed past in front of him.
Both Soul Fighter and Qiao Lian’s faces appeared before his eyes.
He shook his head as the frustration in him intensified.
That kind of guilt was amplified many times in the dark. In the end, it seemed as if it had become a heavy stone, crushing his chest and making him unable to breathe.