My Iridescent Dream - Chapter 5

Noon.

I was about to take her to the company cafeteria when she said she’d made lunch, too. A quick turn in the microwave, and it would be ready.

“Of course, if you’d prefer the cafeteria, we can go there.”

I watched her.

Those doe eyes lowered slightly, waiting for my decision.

“What if I say I want the cafeteria?”

For an instant, the light in her eyes dimmed.

She forced a smile. “That’s fine. Whatever you prefer.”

My lips curved.

“I’m tired of cafeteria food. Let’s try your lunch.”

Her eyes lit up.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I made my own favorites. I hope you don’t mind?”

Mind? Why would I?

I couldn’t ask for better.

“I’ll eat anything.”

“I’ll be right back. Just a moment!”

She ran out happily.

I watched her go.

So optimistic. So eager.

No wonder she dared run headlong and fall spectacularly.

—

She was a good cook, though she couldn’t compare with Xiaoyu, whose family ran a restaurant.

But she put care into it.

I’d liked that care from the very beginning.

We sat facing each other, each with a portion of the lunch she’d made.

She kept glancing up as though she wanted to say something, then holding back.

I ate with my head lowered. After a while, I asked, “Aren’t dishes this complicated tiring to make?”

She paused.

“You… you know?”

“Every one of them needs blanching. That step alone is exhausting.”

She smiled. “Not really. A little extra trouble doesn’t matter when it’s food I love.”

“Mm…”

I chuckled. “It’s delicious.”

Her face shone. “Really? Delicious? You’re not just being nice? I thought it was only average.”

I looked up, gazing deep into her eyes.

“It really is delicious.”

I enunciated each word.

Her eyes widened a little. Then she looked away.

“As long as you like it, Engineer Jun…”

I smiled faintly.

Everything she thought was written on her face.

I liked that about her.

At one in the afternoon, as Nalan Tumi nodded off at her desk, I called her up.

“I’m going to the construction site. Come with me.”

She jolted awake.

Realizing she’d been dozing, she lowered her head in shame. “I’m sorry, Engineer Jun. I… I was…”

“It’s fine. Get ready. We’re leaving.”

“Oh, okay!”

—

She didn’t know what to bring to a construction site.

She took two bottles of water and some snacks from the break room, in case we stayed too long and I got hungry or thirsty.

She trotted after me.

I drove; she sat in the passenger seat.

On the way, I made conversation.

“Can you drive?”

“Um… I haven’t got my license yet.”

“What do you usually do at home?”

It was only an idle question.

But she didn’t answer for a long time.

Apparently, it was a difficult one.

I didn’t say, “Sorry, forget I asked.”

I waited in silence.