Chapter 114 - 80: Flow State
Chen Lin suddenly felt a little strange.
’Something’s not right, is it?’
He carefully retraced his steps in his mind. From morning until now, he couldn’t think of anything he’d done to offend her.
’I was very restrained when I gave her the hints for the proof, I didn’t give her the steps directly. I fully respected her learning process.’
’After I sat down, I was quiet as a mouse the entire time. I didn’t even breathe too loudly, so I shouldn’t have disturbed her.’
’So where is all this grievance and resentment coming from?’
Chen Lin frowned, pondering for a few seconds. He suddenly snapped his head up and glanced at the wall clock. The hour hand was pointed steadily at four in the afternoon.
Chen Lin suddenly remembered something.
He looked at Shen Yan and asked tentatively, in an uncertain tone:
"You haven’t been waiting for me to have lunch since noon, have you?"
Shen Yan: "I was going to wait for you to have lunch together, but as I waited, lunchtime came and went."
She paused, then added very seriously, "I’m a little hungry now. Let’s have an early dinner."
Chen Lin: "..."
Seeing her say "I’m a little hungry" with such a deadpan expression, he found her unexpectedly adorable.
"My bad, my bad!" Feeling both guilty and exasperated, Chen Lin quickly apologized. "I lose all track of time when I get absorbed in something. You must be starving, right?"
The old Chen Lin would probably have asked something like, "Why didn’t you just go eat by yourself?"
But Chen Lin had matured a bit recently.
He stood up and, while quickly packing his things, said, "Let’s go, let’s go! What do you want to eat? My treat!"
Seeing his apologetic expression, Shen Yan wanted to laugh but held it in. She thought for a moment and said, "I know a really good homestyle restaurant just outside the east gate of campus. It’s a fifteen-minute walk."
Chen Lin nodded quickly. "Alright, you lead the way."
「Fifteen minutes later.」
The two arrived at a small, unassuming restaurant that was doing surprisingly brisk business.
The three large words "Sichuan-Chongqing Flavor" were written in flamboyant calligraphy on the red sign. Before they even stepped inside, a rich aroma—a mixture of chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and various spices—wafted out, instantly whetting their appetites.
The restaurant’s popularity was a clear sign that the food must be good.
Even though it wasn’t peak dinner time yet, several of the square wooden tables were already occupied. The air was filled with a lively, bustling atmosphere—the sound of chatter and laughter mixed with the clatter of bowls and chopsticks.
"I’ve been here a few times with Hanhan and the others. The flavors are very authentic," Shen Yan said to Chen Lin as she expertly found an empty table in the corner.
Chen Lin sat down and looked at the sea of dish names on the menu. He remembered Yunqing had mentioned that Shen Yan was from Sichuan Province.
As a native of Jiangsu Province, Chen Lin could handle a bit of spice, but compared to someone from Sichuan who could truly eat spicy food, his tolerance was practically nonexistent.
However, in front of a girl he was interested in, a man’s competitive streak could be inexplicably strong.
He pushed the menu toward Shen Yan, a confident smile on his face. "You order. We have to cater to your tastes today. Let’s get something authentic."
Shen Yan didn’t hold back, ordering three of their signature dishes: Maoxuewang, Fish with Fresh Chilies, and Rabbit in a Pot.
"Ma’am, for these three dishes, we want the authentic spice level," Chen Lin called out, leaning forward to address the busy owner a short distance away.
Hearing this, the owner turned to look at him in surprise. She glanced at the quiet and delicate Shen Yan sitting opposite him and offered a well-meaning warning, "Young man, our authentic spice level is no joke. Are you sure?"
"Positive!" Chen Lin said heroically, puffing out his chest.
Watching him act this way, Shen Yan couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curve up into a beautiful arc, but she didn’t say anything to stop him.
Soon, the three dishes were brought to their table.
All kinds of chili peppers covered the plates, and the bright red chili oil glistened temptingly under the light. The aroma filling the air grew even more overpowering.
"Here, try some," Chen Lin said enthusiastically, taking the lead by picking up a piece of tripe coated in red oil and putting it in his mouth.
The moment it entered his mouth, the tripe was smooth and springy. A savory, numbing, and spicy flavor instantly exploded on his palate.
’This is delicious!’
Chen Lin’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to offer some praise, a brutish, overpowering spiciness swept through him like a wildfire, burning all the way from the tip of his tongue down to his throat.
"HISSS—HAAA—"
Caught completely off guard, he sucked in a sharp breath of cool air. His tongue went instantly numb, and tiny beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
He fought the urge to stick his tongue out, grabbing the tea next to him and gulping it down, trying to quell the fiery sensation. It had little to no effect.
Sitting across from him, Shen Yan watched his comical attempt to act casual while the spice made his eyes turn red and nearly brought tears to them. She finally couldn’t hold it in and let out a "Pfft," breaking into a laugh.
"So for the next little while, are you going to be coming to the library to study every day too?" Chen Lin asked, forcing a change of subject while wiping away his sweat with a tissue. He was trying to use conversation to distract himself from the spiciness.
Shen Yan picked up a piece of fish with bell peppers, eating it without a change in her expression. Hearing his question, she shook her head.
"No," she said, putting down her chopsticks to look at Chen Lin. "I’m leaving Jinmen the day after tomorrow. I’m going on a trip to the Northwest with my parents."
She paused, then added, "I have to pack at home tomorrow, so I made a special trip here today to tell you in person. I probably won’t be back for two or three weeks."