After Differentiation, My Arch-nemesis Thinks I’m Fragrant - Chapter 45

The steamed hairy crabs were a color that made one’s mouth water. Zhao Qinglan wiped her hands clean with a towel, broke off a thick crab leg, and with a crisp “crack,” snapped the shell from the middle to pull out the snow-white meat.

Then, she held it to the crimson lips of the person beside her.

Shu Youzhan’s lips still hurt a bit from being bitten by her earlier. Even though the ambiguous tension had dissipated, she couldn’t help rubbing them with her fingertips. However, the more she rubbed, the more uncomfortable it felt. Now, she refused to accept Zhao Qinglan’s gesture of goodwill.

“Ah…”

As it turned out, Zhao Qinglan seemed completely oblivious to her glare. She even made a soft sound as if coaxing a child, moving the crab meat forward until it almost touched Shu Youzhan’s lips.

Shu Youzhan turned her head away and even scooted her chair further to the side, too lazy to deal with her. “Eat it yourself…”

As she spoke, she rubbed her lips harshly again, as if trying to erase that strange sensation from her memory. Zhao Qinglan watched her movements for a while before casually reminding her, “If you use any more force, the swelling will only become more obvious.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she let out a sharp, soft hiss of pain.

Under the table, Shu Youzhan’s heel was planted firmly on Zhao Qinglan’s boot, even grinding back and forth with force. Zhao Qinglan knew she had been a bit too forward just now; having gained the advantage, she immediately reined herself in. She instantly “lost her memory” and seamlessly switched back to a conciliatory mode. “The crabs here are really delicious. Want a taste?”

“Eat something first and stop paying attention to it. It’ll go down soon.”

“I just lost control for a moment. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

After a string of unprincipled coaxing, Shu Youzhan’s frustration evaporated. Seeing how travel-worn the other woman looked—having rushed to North Street out of worry the moment she returned, and now indirectly footing the bill for this meal…

Forget the fact that Shu Youzhan liked her; even if it were just an ordinary person sitting here, hearing such a sincere apology would be enough to let any immense anger subside.

Her eyes flickered. She moved her foot away, and although she didn’t open her mouth to take the crab meat Zhao Qinglan offered, she used a hot towel to carefully wipe her hands and picked up a spoon, intending to eat.

Aside from the hairy crabs, there were various other seafood dishes on the table prepared in spicy and other styles, including a pot of porridge mixed with high-quality rice that gave off an alluring aroma.

Stirring the porridge, which was filled with various nourishing ingredients, Shu Youzhan paused her wrist. She turned to look at Zhao Qinglan with a scrutinizing gaze.

Zhao Qinglan raised an eyebrow, asking with her eyes what was wrong.

Shu Youzhan glanced at the steaming porridge, pushed the bowl aside, and picked up her chopsticks instead. She took a piece of garlic vermicelli scallop, picked up the tenderest part along with the vermicelli, and ate it slowly before saying, “I feel like… you’re playing me.”

Zhao Qinglan mimicked her previous innocent expression, intentionally widening her eyes slightly as she looked over. “Am I?”

Shu Youzhan hadn’t been certain at first, but feeling that “punchable” aura from her now, her remaining doubts vanished, replaced by certainty. “Yes. Where did you learn all these crafty tricks?”

Taking an inch and then a mile when the joy of their reunion was at its peak, seizing every advantage to occupy her territory—and then, as soon as things looked bad, immediately putting on a performance of being apologetic. In reality, it was clearly a case of “retreating to advance.”

Good heavens… had she been practicing the Thirty-Six Stratagems during her years in the military?

Having her tactics seen through, Zhao Qinglan didn’t panic. She simply leaned in with a shallow smile, her skin thick enough to keep going. “I don’t need those things for you. It’s just a primal instinct to want to keep getting closer, but I also can’t bear to see you angry. I’m just struggling to find a balance between the two.”

Shu Youzhan curled her lips and gave her a fake smile.

“I get it…”

“You didn’t ‘learn’ it, it’s just ‘instinct’—”

“I knew you were full of bad ideas. You’ve been like this since we were kids, always acting serious and reliable even when you’re about to do something bad. That’s why my mom always thinks I’m the mischievous one leading you astray, when you’re actually the mastermind…”

She trailed off there as if to leave her hanging. Seeing Zhao Qinglan watching her expectantly, nearly leaning against her shoulder, Shu Youzhan timely nudged the black wooden chopsticks in her right hand backward.

She pressed them against the other’s jawline, the dark wood contrasting against the fair skin.

It made her look like the flirtatious one instead.

Shu Youzhan looked her in the eye with a half-smile. “Right, Sister Zhao?”

Zhao Qinglan’s breath hitched instantly.

Shu Youzhan had intended to tease her, but now she noticed the dark eyes growing deeper, as if no light could penetrate them. She had been smug about being in control of the rhythm, but she suddenly realized she was getting a bit carried away. Her instincts, now much more sensitive to danger, began to ring alarm bells, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

She retracted the chopsticks as if nothing had happened and pushed Zhao Qinglan back toward her seat. “Your porridge is going to get cold.”

Zhao Qinglan narrowed her eyes at her. “Say it one more time…”

Shu Youzhan turned a deaf ear.

The curve of Zhao Qinglan’s lips didn’t falter, and her voice sounded normal, as if the danger Shu Youzhan had sensed was just an illusion. There was only a hint of faint interest, like a joke. “Didn’t you say it quite nicely just now? One more time?”

Shu Youzhan lowered her head and began gulping down her porridge. She stopped eating the spicy crab and even lost interest in the wine the restaurant specifically paired with the hairy crabs. She wouldn’t even meet Zhao Qinglan’s eyes.

“No.”

She answered categorically, “Your eyes are telling me that if I say it one more time, you’ll eat me alive.”

A smile flickered in Zhao Qinglan’s eyes, like an undeterred predator constantly luring its prey. That smile seeped into her voice, making her naturally low, slightly husky tone sound like aged wine, radiating an unintentional temptation.

“How could I?”

“You have to try some things to know for sure. How many times did you tease me in the past? Didn’t I let you off every time?”

Shu Youzhan: “…”

She put down her spoon and looked at Zhao Qinglan with utter helplessness. “The way you’re talking right now sounds exactly like those wicked criminals in the news who corrupt children.”

Pausing, she added in a small voice, “We… we can try in the future. Not now. I promised my mom I wouldn’t date early…”

The latter part of the sentence was so quiet it was almost inaudible, sounding guilty and perhaps a bit apologetic.

Zhao Qinglan had been feeling a bit restless from that “Sister Zhao,” but hearing her say “in the future,” she felt the thoughts in her heart weren’t extinguished at all.

Instead, they were like a single spark starting a prairie fire, burning brighter and brighter. She let out a long breath and proactively turned her gaze away, staring at the corner of the table as she softly replied, “Mm…”

“There are still three hundred and seventy-four days left.”

Shu Youzhan was confused by the number at first.

After a few seconds of processing, her expression became incredibly complex.

“Zhao Qinglan…”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t know why, but clearly I should be touched that you’ve kept my birthday in mind…”

Shu Youzhan squinted at Zhao Qinglan and followed up pointedly, “But the way you’re counting down the days until I turn eighteen… it really has a bit of a ‘pervert’ vibe to it.”

Zhao Qinglan propped her head on one hand, her dark eyes containing only Shu Youzhan’s reflection. She chuckled as she picked up the conversation. “Then… do you want to run?”

Shu Youzhan pretended to ponder for a few seconds.

Then, she laughed as well and shook her head. “No.”

“The thought of you having so many little schemes but ultimately having to be tamed by me… I can’t help but feel a little excited. Maybe this is what they call a match made in heaven?”