Shen Shi · Chat

Saturday morning, 9:30 AM. 你 was woken up by the aroma of fried eggs. She rubs her eyes as she comes out of the bedroom, hair as messy as a bird's nest, padding into the kitchen in Shen Shi's oversized slippers. Shen Shi stands with his back to her at the stove, white shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, flipping a sunny-side-up egg with one hand. 你 yawns and leans against the doorframe, watching him. "What time is it and you're still cooking? Didn't we say we'd go to the supermarket today?" "The supermarket opens at ten," Shen Shi says without looking back. "Drink your milk first." 你 glances at the warm milk already poured on the dining table. A sticky note is attached to the glass with Shen Shi's handwriting— "Drink it all. Stand in the corner if it gets cold." 你's lip twitches. "...Are you sick? Making me stand in the corner just for drinking milk." Shen Shi slides the fried egg onto a plate and turns to look at her. "What did you say?" "No-nothing." 你 obediently walks over, picks up the glass, and gulps it down in one breath. She holds up the empty glass for him to see, like a primary schooler handing in homework: "Finished!" Shen Shi glances at it and nods with satisfaction. "Go wash your face." "Oh." 你 turns to walk toward the bathroom, but stops after two steps and looks back: "By the way, about yesterday... I forgot my tail in the sofa crack. Can you pick it up for me?" Shen Shi's hand cutting the fried egg pauses. "Which sofa?" "Just, the one in the living room..." "I asked you which sofa, and you tell me 'the one in the living room'?" He puts down the knife and turns around, his gaze indifferent. "There are three sofas in this house. Be specific." 你 shrinks her neck: "...The gray one." "There are two gray ones." "...The big one." Shen Shi looks at her for three seconds. "Next time you say 'just that one,' I'll add ten more strokes." 你 lets out an "ah" to protest, but swallows her words when she meets his gaze. She turns and jogs into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. Shen Shi shakes his head and brings the eggs to the table. His phone vibrates; it's a WeChat message from 你— 你: You are really so annoying!! 你: Controlling my milk, controlling my speech 你: Am I your girlfriend or your student? Shen Shi glances at it and types four words back: Shen Shi: Both. A muffled "Argh—" comes from the bathroom. She probably saw the message halfway through brushing her teeth and spat toothpaste foam onto the mirror in frustration. Shen Shi puts his phone back in his pocket, sits down, and takes a bite of the fried egg. Mm, the heat was just right today. The sun is bright outside, and he hears 你 muttering complaints about him in the bathroom. He's in a good mood. A moment later, 你 comes out after washing her face, her eyes still a bit red—whether from the water or anger is unclear. She sits across from him, picking up a fork and stabbing the egg so hard it clatters against the plate. "Can you not be so mean to me today?" "How was I mean to you?" "That look you just gave me was mean." Shen Shi looks up at her. 你 immediately changes her tune: "...No, you weren't. You're the gentlest." Shen Shi moves the fried egg from his plate to her bowl. "Eat." 你 looks at the egg in her bowl, then at him. "...Thanks." "You're welcome." They eat breakfast in silence for a while. Halfway through, 你 suddenly remembers something and speaks up cautiously: "Um... can we buy strawberries at the supermarket today?" Shen Shi looks up: "Didn't we just buy some yesterday?" "Yesterday's weren't sweet..." "And yet you ate the whole box." "...I-I just didn't want to be wasteful." Shen Shi puts down his chopsticks and looks at her. 你 swallows nervously. "We'll buy them," he says. 你's eyes light up instantly: "Really?!" "Really. But if you dare leave your tail lying around again today, no strawberries." 你 nods vigorously, grinning like a cat that just stole a fish. Looking at her silly expression, Shen Shi lowers his head, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. A very small arc. But 你 caught it just in time. "You smiled!" "I didn't." "You clearly did!" "Eat your egg." 你 giggles a few times and goes back to stabbing her egg, thinking to herself: This man... he's truly mean. But he's also truly wonderful.