TIMO - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Fu Zhao and Shi Nan didn’t follow the ceremonial procession for the entire island tour. They only walked a short distance before Fu Zhao spotted a clothing store by the roadside and pulled Shi Nan inside to buy two new outfits, changing out of their wet clothes.
Moreover, at Fu Zhao’s strong insistence, they did not buy so-called matching T-shirts this time.
But…
Holding the two cups of red bean milk tea she had just bought from a drink shop, Fu Zhao found the T-shirt on the person sitting on the bus stop bench in the distance waiting for her to be rather jarring.
Although they weren’t matching… they were bought from the same store, had the same logo, and nearly identical designs.
When the two of them stood together, they still looked like they were wearing a couple’s set.
But they would have to make do.
Fu Zhao thought this to herself, then felt that it was her own skewed perspective that was making everything seem off. So, on the surface, she walked over with a calm expression, handed the milk tea to Shi Nan, and then walked to the other end of the bench to sit down. The distance between them was a good ten steps, making them look like complete strangers.
If not for the similarly designed T-shirts they were wearing.
If not for the identical cups of milk tea they were holding.
But looking at them like this… they instead resembled some sort of… people who had just had a fight and were giving each other the silent treatment.
To prevent passersby from getting the wrong idea, Fu Zhao thought for a moment and decided to speak first. However, after the recent incident with the word “hug,” her tone was still a bit unnatural. “It’s probably better to drink something hot right now. To warm you up. It wouldn’t be good to catch a cold.”
“Mmm-hmm~”
Shi Nan responded nonchalantly. She took a sip of the milk tea, which already had a straw in it. The warm, faintly sweet liquid filled her mouth, slid down her throat, and into her stomach, piping hot. The red beans were fragrant, soft, and chewy.
However… it seemed a little too bland.
Shi Nan glanced at the sticker on the cup’s packaging—30% sugar. She understood now and cleared her throat. “Did you get them mixed up? The 30% sugar one should be yours.”
“Mixed up?”
Fu Zhao took a look. Sure enough, her cup said full sugar. No wonder it was so sweet. She glanced sideways at Shi Nan. Dressed in fresh, clean clothes, she looked quite at ease, propping her chin up as she watched the buses whiz by, seemingly unconcerned about the mix-up.
“Yes, they’re mixed up, but we’ll have to make do.”
She paused, a thought flashing through her mind. “How did you know I usually drink my milk tea with 30% sugar?”
She had bought the two cups randomly without asking Shi Nan what she wanted, presumptuously getting the standard full sugar for her. But how did Shi Nan know she preferred 30% sugar?
Moreover, this wasn’t the original host’s habit, but her own.
“I just guessed. Because… I like full sugar.”
Shi Nan answered distractedly. Feeling Fu Zhao’s gaze still lingering on her, sizing her up, a slight curve appeared on her lips. “If you keep staying so far away from me, I’ll be sad.”
After saying this, she simply shifted her gaze from the distance to Fu Zhao. “No matter what, we are… fiancées in name. It doesn’t seem right to be so far apart.”
Fu Zhao didn’t look over, only managing to squeeze out a sentence.
“You said it yourself, only in name.”
“Alright, I know, in name.” Shi Nan smiled, looking at Fu Zhao’s reddening ears. In a tone that was both a demand and a request, she said, “Even if it’s just in name, I hope you don’t have to be so formal. Just calling me by my name is fine.”
“There’s no need for such a polite address as Miss Shi. You know I’m not that ‘Miss Shi’ you had in mind anymore, don’t you?”
Fu Zhao fell silent again, not making a sound, seemingly contemplating the possibility of calling her by her name.
It was the expected reaction.
Cute, innocent, frank.
Shi Nan stared at Fu Zhao for a while before retracting her gaze in satisfaction, but the curve of her lips quietly widened.
She was in a good mood today.
Perhaps it was because the weather was nice, or because the Flower Throwing Ceremony went smoothly.
With that thought, she leaned back lazily against the bus stop sign behind her. Facing the gentle breeze and basking in the warm sunlight, she closed her eyelids slightly.
Perhaps it was because it had been a long time since she had felt so at ease.
Or perhaps it was because the thing she regretted most had been given a chance for a do-over, and the living, breathing Fu Zhao sitting beside her at this very moment had become her greatest source of security.
In any case, she felt so comfortable and carefree that she wanted to take a nap right there at the bus stop. After all, it had been a long time since she’d had any desire to sleep peacefully.
She dozed comfortably for a while. The person an unusually large distance away from her remained quiet, even thoughtfully softening her breathing for her.
Until…
A strong gust of wind and a whooshing sound came from ahead, as if something was rushing toward them at an incredible speed.
Shi Nan had always been sharp when it came to premonitions of danger, but this time she was a step too slow. Although she sensed it, by the time she snapped her eyes open, she had already heard a dull thud.
A slender, delicate hand blocked her view, red from the recent impact. The fingernails were neatly trimmed, and the topmost knuckle of her fingers had a natural pinkish hue.
The hand was very close to her, so close she could see the soft, tender skin. The gaps between the fingers were wide enough for her to see a volleyball rolling away in the distance, and to see the halo of light that slipped through the cracks and into her eyes.
This hand was exceptionally beautiful.
As was its owner, of course. The person was backlit by the sun, her shoulders, collar, and the hair that cascaded down her side all draped in warm sunlight, bright and dazzling.
Shi Nan opened her mouth, wanting to say “thank you,” but she couldn’t get the words out before Fu Zhao spoke.
Fu Zhao stared straight at her for a long time, as if afraid she had been scared. Only when Shi Nan blinked and seemed to recover did the worry in Fu Zhao’s eyes subside. Then, a clear and pleasant voice rang in her ears, seeping into her very core.
“One for one, to be fair.”
Fu Zhao was referring to the time Shi Nan had shielded her from the water.
The Little Island Master, who was adept at reciprocating courtesies, insisted on maintaining “fairness” even in matters of mutual aid.
Shi Nan couldn’t help but smile, even though she had just been “startled,” even though what she had just experienced could be considered a kind of “dangerous situation.”
But in the next second, a trace of astonishment and surprise flashed in her eyes.
Because Fu Zhao slowly retracted her hand and slid it into her pocket with perfect nonchalance. The light in her amber eyes rippled, and her voice softened considerably.
“You were right before. Miss Shi really isn’t the ‘Miss Shi’ I thought she was, so I also want to switch to a form of address that won’t confuse me.”
She paused for a second, her tone natural and relaxed.
“Hello, Shi Nan.”
Author's Notes
Alright, “Miss Shi” has officially exited the stage. From now on, it will be her Shi Nan.
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