91 The Uncanny Valley (2/2)
The door opened, Yao Tingting led Jiang Chen to her rented apartment.
It was a simple one living room, one bedroom structure as it was easy to rent this type of apartment around the school. It was also not expensive. It looked like Yao Tingting was just like him—both of them were from Wanghai City.
The middle of the room smelled of faint Jasmine. The clean and organized light, flaxen colored wallpaper covered every walls in the living room. There were a simple coffee table, tablecloth and a light beige sofa.
”Feel free to sit. Do you want a glass of water?” Yao Tingting turned around as she beamed at Jiang Chen.
”Ah? Um…OK.” Jiang Chen nodded nervously and sat on the sofa.
Looking at the figure of Yao Tingting standing beside the cupboard, he couldn't help but chuckle as he smelled the scent belonging to the goddess.
Although he still felt something was unusual, he was feeling so happy that it had ceased to matter. As though being forcibly stuffed full, the sense of being loss to reality disappeared unconsciously.
It was not long before Yao Tingting returned to the living room with two glasses of water. She smiled at Jiang Chen and placed a glass of water in front of him.
”Here you go.”
”Oh, thank you.” As though trying to hide his embarrassment, Jiang Chen quickly took a sip of the cold water.
Yao Tingting sat beside him and looked at the side of his profile while smiling.
”Um, is there something on my face?”
”No!” Yao Tingting shook her head, still wearing a bright smile. Her luscious hair that was smooth as fine willow branches swayed gently .
”Um...” Jiang Chen was out of words again. He averted his gaze at the glass as he stared blankly at his reflection of the water.
”I want to get to know you. Can you talk to me?”
As though center of his heart was being hammered, Jiang Chen’s heart trembled at that very moment.
”Eh? Why, why do you want to learn about me?” Jiang Chen’s throat moved as he scrambled to find words.
The answer came out frank.
”Because I like you.” Yao Tingting gazed into Jiang Chen’s eyes with the same bright smile.
An uncomfortable feeling bloomed, a feeling that something was not right.
The confusion, however, was suddenly replaced by extreme euphoria. Dopamine could really make people lose their mind.
”I—I like you too.” Jiang Chen finally had the courage to express his months’ worth of affection to her.
”I know.” Yao Tingting grinned at his bold effort. ”I’ve been watching you for a long time.”
”I know. I’ve been watching you for a long time.” Like a spell, these two confessions happily circled around his mind.
”Would you tell me your story?” Like a curious girlfriend, Yao Tingting gazed at Jiang Chen’s eyes as her long eyelashes flickered.
”I, I really don’t have a lot of stories to tell.” Jiang Chen, somewhat embarrassed, looked away. However, Yao Tingting relentlessly moved closer.
”You can tell me anything.”
”Um, OK.” Jiang Chen opened his mouth reluctantly.
Contrary to his expectation, he thought Yao Tingting wasn't the type to enjoy conversation as she usually immersed herself in her books, but she's now giving off the impression that she was verbose.
They chatted about the past of their younger selves—glimpses of memory that seemed to be covered in a white fog. Although they didn’t usually have too many interactions, and it has always been Jiang Chen who secretly watched her, the two of them enjoyed their time immensely. Yao Tingting made him feel as though they had been acquainted for a long time.
The night was getting late and outside was completely dark.
”Why don't I treat you to dinner?” Yao Tingting smiled.
Jiang Chen nodded unexpectedly .
The dinner passed by in a relaxed atmosphere. Fried Eggs with Tomatoes, Pork Stir Fry with Green Peppers, Seaweed and Egg Soup. These were all homemade dishes. Yao Tingting was the type who was great at housekeeping, which came as a surprise to him. The very idea made his heart throb a little faster.
At his age, falling in love meant eternity.
The food was exquisite. He secretly observed Yao Tingting sitting across the table. Her tiny mouth chewed delicately.
[She seemed to love tomatoes? Does she like to eat sour food…and green pepper? Um…but why is she only eating these two things?]
Jiang Chen observed carefully, and he secretly memorized the flavors she liked.
[She said that she likes me so...she's now my girlfriend? But it was not official yet. Is she waiting for me to bring it up?]
When he thought about this, he gulped and looked away awkwardly.
The holographic screen was playing the popular intro of ”Dust Kingdom”.
The clock struck eight.
”Does it taste good?” Yao Tingting smiled at Jiang Chen.
”Oh, Oh! Yes!” Jiang Chen laughed nervously as he focused on his rice to hide his embarrassed expression.
”I heard there are ghosts in the school library. Have you seen them?”
”Gh—ghost? That’s not true, that’s not real science.” Jiang Chen had peculiar expression.
”Are you pleased?” However, the unbecoming subsequent sentence diverged from the topic of conversation.
”Pleased?” Jiang Chen seemed lost, but then suddenly as if he had just realized something, he looked away and shyly scratched his slightly red ear. He stiffly nodded, ”Of—of course.”
For a teenager in puberty, there was nothing more joyful than being invited to the house of the girl of his dreams.
”Don’t eat so fast. Here, drink some water.” Yao Tingting smilingly handed over the glass. It was the same glass that Jiang Chen had used.
”Mhm…” With a blushing face, he took the glass as he tried to mask the awkward silence by drinking the water.
[Didn't you say there's soup? Why is it water…]
The screen showed Dust Kingdom’s plot. Klein fell down in the pool of blood and stopped breathing. It was rather an unexpected ending? It felt rushed as if there was a lot of buildup, but nothing was explained before the show had ended.
After the outro, there was ”The End” written in blood.
A smile formed on Yao Tingting’s angelic and serene face while watching Jiang Chen who was drowsily lying on the dinner table.
The smile was odd, hollow.
[So tired, I just want to sleep…]
Through his droopy eyes and hazy vision, he faintly caught a glimpse of white dress dropping on the ground.
The white figure took quiet steps towards him.
The back of his head was surrounded by something soft. His consciousness plummeted in a bottomless abyss.