Chapter 8 - It Tastes Sweet (2/2)

She Yuan had been busy all morning. After class, he had been pushed down the stairs by Ruan Bai’s pig. Now he was really hungry. After arranging the dishes on the table, he began to eat.

Ruan Bai and She Yuan sat opposite each other and ate quietly.

She Yuan kept an eye on Ruan Bai and put his favorite food in his bowl from time to time.

Ruan Bai was a little embarrassed at being taken care of by a patient.

He decided to do something to make things right. So he picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork with chopsticks and put it in She Yuan’s bowl.

Unexpectedly, She Yuan put down his chopsticks and said to Ruan Bai, “The juices are mixed up.”

Ruan Bai didn’t take this into account. He turned scarlet from embarrassment. He meant to make overtures of friendship to She Yuan, but seemed to have brought him trouble.

All of a sudden, Ruan Bai reached over to pick up that piece of the sweet-and-sour pork with his chopsticks again and wanted to take it away from She Yuan’s bowl.

But when he lifted his chopsticks and was about to withdraw his hand, She Yuan suddenly clutched Ruan Bai’s hand and put the sweet-and-sour pork into his own mouth.

She Yuan chewed it slowly and savour its flavour, while looking at Ruan Bai with a meaningful look. Then he clucked his tongue and said, “It tastes sweet.”

Ruan Bai stared at the chopsticks and dared not put them in his mouth again. ‘Mr. She licked the chopsticks just now. Does it mean an indirect kiss between us?’ The thought kept wheeling in his mind.

He put down his chopsticks and said quickly, “Mr. She, I’m full. I have to go back to the the laboratory and feed the pigs. If you need help, just call me. Bye!”

With that he opened the door and left quickly.

Before She Yuan could say something to stop Ruan Bai, he ran out of the house. She Yuan was not angry. He didn’t need to be hurried because he had ample time to win Ruan Bai’s heart.

He continued to eat the take-out food. When his stomach was full, he stood up and tidied up the table. Then he got down to business at hand.

In the afternoon, he called the dean and asked for a sick leave.

The dean was reluctant to grant She Yuan three months’ leave but had to approve his application because the whole school knew that Professor She had been pushed down the stairs and got hurt in the leg. The dean had a good relationship with She Yuan. So he complained in a teasing tone, “Do you really need a three-month leave? I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill.”

She Yuan replied solemnly, “It’s a matter of great importance. I’m going to pursue my future wife in the following three months.”