Lighter and Princess

Chapter 23

While they didn't end up finding any inspiration, they did have fun. After they'd had enough of walking through the museum, Boss Li generously treated Zhu Yun to a meal. Full service. Under Li Xun's contemptuous gaze, Zhu Yun chose a Korean restaurant. And again, under his contemptuous gaze, she ordered bibimbap.

"You have a pretty big appetite," Li Xun said, sitting across from her.

Zhu Yun looked up and asked,"You're not eating?"

Li Xun shook his head.

"You use your brain so much. How do you not get hungry?"

He didn't say anything.

With a mouth full of rice, she clicked her tongue. "High efficiency and low consumption. Your system truly defies the natural order."

"Have some taste, won't you? Swallow your food and then talk." He glanced at her before looking out the window.

A hot headed guy like him was trying to fake being a civilized and cultured person?

The two sat next to a window. After starting outside a bit, Li Xun asked, "Mind if I smoke?"

"Go ahead." She looked around. The school was on break, so the entire college town was deserted. They were the only two inside the small restaurant.

Li Xun lit a cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke. When Zhu Yun heard the sound, she suddenly recalled something she'd read while researching traditional Chinese medicine: Mental stress affects the spleen and stomach, affects sleep patterns, and causes lack of appetite.

Looking out the window, Li Xun's face was blank and uninviting, as if he were deep in thought. The city was empty. What was there to look at? Everyone had already left.

Zhu Yun thought back to the scene when Gao Jianhong was leaving. He'd playfully punched Li Xun's shoulder, and Li Xun smiled on lightly, as always. All the members who were working on their project went home for New Year's, and she was planning to do the same.

Nobody had considered the possibility that their project would fail, as if the idea of failing was completely unfathomable. With him there, how could they fail. But, what did he think?

This was the first time that she'd thought of this. Had he considered that they might fail? Had he been very stressed about it? She quickly reasoned out that, of course he had. As if being a genius would have affect that.

"Um..." Zhu Yun swallowed the rice in her mouth, and then she started again, "Li Xun—"

At the sound of her voice, the person across from her laughed, his face loosening up. Her words had been cut off by his laugh. Li Xun pointed out the window with his chin. "Look."

Zhu Yun turned. It was snowing.

The first snow that season had come rather late. It arrived slowly, unhurried, after everyone had already gone. Those who remained were immediately attracted by it. The snowflakes were small and delicate, carried by the wind, unwilling to land. The sky was bleak and overcast, but the dancing snowflakes brought a gentle calmness.

"What were you going to say?

"Oh. I'll go with you."

"Where?"

"To Languan."

Li Xun paused. Then, quietly, he replied, "Forget it. Hurry and get home."

"My family lives very close," Zhu Yun said. "It's only a few hours by train, so there's no need to rush. Moreover, a second person brings a bit more strength."

Li Xun laughed. "Strength? The strength to carry a bag?"

"Sure, carrying a bag is still something."

Li Xun looked at her.