The Eight Pill

Fan

“He’s ignoring me.”

Before going to bed, Gui Tingyue once again reported her progress to her psychologist and asked for advice on how to proceed.

Dr. Teng has always been dedicated to his work and responsive to his patients, asked: Is he completely ignoring you?

Gui Tingyue replied: Not entirely, but he is a bit aloof. But he did come to my place for dinner tonight.

Dr. Teng was surprised: So soon?

Gui Tingyue, holding her phone, reviewed all the events of the evening: Hmm, I feel he might be tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

Dr. Teng: What makes you say that?

Gui Tingyue thought for a moment: He’s not exactly a paper tiger, more like someone with protective coloration.

Dr. Teng sent back a smiling emoji: Your observational skills and empathy are returning.

Gui Tingyue also smiled slightly and stated her follow-up plan: I plan to invite him over for dinner again tomorrow. As you said, he lives alone and lacks proper meals.

Dr. Teng agreed: I think that’s a good idea.

Thanks to Chen Shi, she rekindled her hope for “tomorrow,” her muscles and nerves felt invigorated, her limbs relaxed, no longer suffering the daily torment and rusting.

Gui Tingyue pursed her lips, switched apps, and sent Chen Shi the last message for the day, introducing herself – something she had almost forgotten to do.

She didn’t care whether he wanted to know or not, she decided to give it to him anyway to make a deeper impression: My name is Gui Tingyue, taken from the phrase “The courtyard is as clear and bright as accumulated water” (庭下如积水空明). Remember to save my contact.

tl: if someone has a better translation of the phrase, please comment~ thank you!

She added: No need to reply, good night.

The next morning, Gui Tingyue woke up early, unsurprised to find an empty chat box.

Perhaps she had already developed immunity, or maybe she saw the essence through the appearance, but she wasn’t bothered at all. As long as there was no red exclamation mark, it meant he left her some room.

Holding a book in one hand and dragging a chair with the other, Tingyue sat by the window, passing the time by reading, waiting for noon.

At 11:30, Gui Tingyue returned to the kitchen, took photos of the dishes Auntie Li had prepared today, and sent them all to Chen Shi: Do you want to come over for lunch?

Although the man on the other side was adept at “disappearing from the face of the earth,” he was ruthless when it came to refusing: No.

Gui Tingyue calmly replied: I’ll have Auntie Li bring you some food.

Chen Shi asked: Don’t you find that strange?

Gui Tingyue replied: You didn’t find it strange when you came over last night.

Chen Shi was choked by her response, then saw her additional comment that made his “anger level max out”: And you ate quite heartily.

Chen Shi: “……”

He was sure he had encountered an iron-clad straightforward girl.

Gui Tingyue, really something. He took a deep breath and went to the kitchen.

The troublesome part was, as soon as he reached the sink, he saw Gui Tingyue waving at him from across the way, with such large gestures that it was hard not to notice.

Chen Shi immediately lowered his head, pretending not to see.

The phone on the counter vibrated again. Chen Shi promptly turned on the faucet, using the sound of water to cover the annoying notifications.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t ignore the messages popping up on the screen.

MoonPie: What are you eating?

MoonPie: Instant noodles?

MoonPie: With two eggs?

MoonPie: Don’t tell me you’re eating that again today.

MoonPie: Don’t think I don’t know.

She seemed to have a natural talent for provoking people.

Chen Shi angrily turned off the water, grabbed his phone with wet hands, and stormed downstairs with the determination of someone carrying a brick.

As he walked out of the building, the cool wind calmed his heated mind.

He stood still, thinking maybe he should go back, but quickly dismissed the idea, deciding to confront that woman face-to-face and end all contact.

Chen Shi composed himself, put on an icy face, and walked towards her building.

The next moment, in the gentle sunlight, he saw her walking towards him.

Chen Shi stopped.

She changed from a slow walk to a jog, her tone surprised: “Were you coming to my place?”

Chen Shi instinctively asked: “Why did you come down?”

Gui Tingyue, slightly out of breath, replied: “To meet you.”

Her over-the-top gesture left him speechless. Chen Shi sarcastically remarked: “More like to intercept me.”

Gui Tingyue looked around, puzzled: “Then why are you walking on the path to my building?”

Chen Shi paused for a second: “Does this path have your name on it?”

Gui Tingyue fell silent, then spoke with meaning: “Since you happened to wander here, why not come up for lunch?”

Chen Shi: “……”

Chen Shi didn’t know why he found himself sitting at Gui Tingyue’s table again. He only knew that her aunt’s eyes were looking at him with joy, as if looking at a lamb that urgently needed fattening for slaughter.

But when the food entered his mouth, he reluctantly admitted that perhaps he was the one taking advantage.

An unexpected mishap, and his plan was thwarted. Chen Shi sighed.

Just as he was about to take a second bite, Gui Tingyue suddenly asked: “Is the food cold?”

Chen Shi didn’t mind: “It’s fine.”

The next second, his left hand was empty. The girl across the table had forcibly taken his chopsticks. She stood up and instructed Auntie Li: “Auntie Li, please heat these up.”

Chen Shi’s face froze for a few seconds, then returned to normal. He waited silently, convinced that his patience had improved dramatically in the past twenty-four hours.

Gui Tingyue, who had sat back down, was humming a song very softly, as if no one else was there.

Out of professional habit, Chen Shi carefully identified the song. It was “Girlfriend”.

This well-known punk song had a strong rhythm, and he had once memorized and practiced its drum score. Chen Shi clenched his fingers, strongly suppressing his urge to tap along.

Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore: “Stop singing.”

Gui Tingyue looked up: “What’s wrong?”

Chen Shi said: “You’re offbeat and out of tune.”

Gui Tingyue was stuck: “…I’m not Avril Lavigne herself, please don’t have such high expectations of me.”

Chen Shi said: “You’re in a good mood?”

Gui Tingyue nodded, her eyes curved: “Mm, because you came to my place for a meal.”

Chen Shi’s face remained cold: “Do you always speak so directly?”

Gui Tingyue pondered and then gave a definite answer: “That’s right.”

Chen Shi’s lips curled slightly, teasing: “Never been in a relationship?”

“So what?” Gui Tingyue straightened up: “Is having many relationships something to brag about? Does it determine one’s worth?”

Chen Shi replied: “I didn’t say that.”

Gui Tingyue crossed her arms and leaned forward: “You’ve been criticizing me since yesterday. Why don’t you tell me the key points of getting along with guys?”

Chen Shi immediately said: “First, shut up. Second, maintain boundaries.”

Gui Tingyue countered: “If you can’t speak your mind, what’s the point of interacting?”

Chen Shi fell silent, unable to refute her logic for a moment.

In the midst of their wordless stare, Auntie Li brought the reheated dishes to the table.

Gui Tingyue returned the chopsticks: “Enjoy your meal.”

After eating quietly for a while, then Chen Shi suddenly looked up, continuing their earlier conversation, no longer so absolute: “At least don’t keep sending me messages. Don’t you think you’re disturbing others?”

Gui Tingyue leaned on her hands, giving a reasonable excuse: “You can think of me as a fan, caring about her idol.”

Chen Shi gestured towards his phone: “I don’t add fans.”

Then why did you add me? Gui Tingyue’s froze, feeling inexplicably hot. She straightened her neck: “But you’ve already added me—”

Chen Shi picked up his phone with one hand and frowned: “Should I delete you now?”

“……Okay,” Gui Tingyue deflated: “I’m not a fan anymore.”

Her look of being bright to changing from being dim was quite amusing. Chen Shi secretly curled his lips, curious about what new identity or trick she would come up with: “Then what are you?”

Gui Tingyue answered without hesitation, enunciating clearly: “Your loyal listener.”

“That’s not worse than being a fan, right?” She looked at him with sparkling eyes, as if facing the light, yet also as if she might scorch him.

Chen Shi was slightly stunned. He looked away, placed his phone back with a thud, and uttered three words indifferently: “Whatever you say.”

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Hehe