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“How odd…”
Ratio has no doubt that he didn't misread the appointment date. He checked his device another time, making sure he came at the right place and timing. But the person he was supposed to meet hasn’t arrived yet. Usually she’ll be the one that greets him first, sometimes with a warm cup of tea and another customized dessert she would offer to him — often with a bold remark by hers truly that it's safe to eat — before himself could even decline.
Before he could check his phone again, he was greeted by a certain familiar figure.
“Oh! Professor Ratio! Good to see you!”
A dusty pink haired woman walked closer towards his direction, followed by a cream-colored fluffy dog beside her.
“Ah, Lady Asta. Good evening.”
She replied with her casual business smile. “I believe there’s no delegative schedule with Madam Herta or Sir Screwllum this evening. What brings you here?”
The violet-lock man shakes his head. “I'm afraid you’re mistaken. Instead of Madam Herta or Mr. Screwllum, I have an appointment with...Madam Ruan Mei.”
“Madam Ruan Mei? Are you sure?” Asta asked.
Ratio firmed his eyebrows towards the center of his face, and resting his sleeveless hand on his waist. “Certainly. It has been planned since two weeks ago.”
Asta nodded slowly in realization. “Oh yeah…, usually Madam Ruan Mei would let me know if she’ll be back from her research trip. Which! She actually, indeed, let the Station database know two weeks ago about her upcoming return. But the last time she didn't arrive according to schedule is that…”
“Arff! Arff!” The puppy besides the pink-haired woman barked.
“Correct, Peppy! She might fall into a post-trip illne—…huh?”
Asta looking around in confusion, found nobody talking with her anymore. “Where did Doctor Ratio go???”
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A nonstop coughing can be heard echoing the small chamber of the unknown.
Ruan Mei lay weakly on her blanket, typing calculations and inserting table contents within her small tab.
The result shall be done before the sunrise, as the woman insists. Besides the digital database, other physical works are scattered on the desk and the main table of the space chamber. She will arrange them later on, and focus on her current priority.
Not long after she typed a few new paragraphs, she heard a banging sound. Which is odd.
Nobody, not even the Simulated Universe team, was supposed to know her current whereabouts, at least just yet. Did her spaceship bump into a certain minuscule asteroid? The last time she decided on an area to park her spaceship, she’s certain that she's far away from any star system.
Another metallic sound of knock appears. Now followed with a familiar voice.
“Ruan Mei, I know you're there. Open the door.”
She widened her eyes.
Veritas?
She walked slowly towards the control button, to open the access for the man, and leave her bedroom. As the man walked into the main body of the spaceship, their eyes met. A pair of not-usually-teary aquamarine glass reflecting towards the ecliptic sunset orbs. Ratio stunned, something within him sparks as he saw Ruan Mei’s hair being loose unlike her casual elegant side-bunned hair. The mix of raven thick locks and minor teal streaks flowing until her lower waist, mimicking the image of aurora. Paired with a short-sleeved upper part of a pajama, long skirt, and a knitted cardigan. Despite her mundane attire and with medical mask attached due to her condition, the #81 Genius' beauty didn't fade a single bit to the Doctor’s eyes. Divine as always, as he described her all the time, of course unknown by the woman.
“Aeons, you truly don’t look well…” he commented.
“How did you even-”
“Lady Asta informed me. By how you didn't manage to arrive at the station the way you planned, she assumed that you might have caught an ailment after another expedition."
Ruan Mei could only stay silent, before replying.
“I’m usually doing fine on my ow—COUGH! COUGH!”
Ratio wears his medical mask, side-eyeing her.
“Usually, but not ‘always’.” he corrected.
“I bring a few remedies in hand. Now, before your sneaky hands are wandering around on any research data, I better check your body condition, so you'll get proper prescriptions.”
———————— ❀ —————————
“It really looks terrible. No fever, but your skin is a tad dry with a bit of burnt around the philtrum, your lips are almost cracking, sore throat, phlegm having deep chartreuse color with slightly bleeding. I assume you feel hurt around your chest area every time you cough?” Ratio asked, while examining her on the couch area of the sanctuary.
Ruan Mei nodded. “It's been three system days ever since it started.”
His pen movement on his notebook keeps going, and the ecliptic orbs of the Doctor squinting. “What was the last planet you visited?”
“It’s no special, they're part of the Equanoll star system and majorly being the tropical biosphere.”
Ratio eyes widened. “Tropical planet...I assume this has things to do with our upcoming discussion today…?”
Ruan Mei lay her head low, remaining silent for a while. “...correct…”
He sighs. “And? Is there any particular food you've consumed during the expedition there?”
“Hmmm...I don't remember much...but I consumed more oil-fried food after my pre-made food rations ran out. And since it's hot, I also tend to drink cold water more than necessary.”
Ratio sighed. “Oil-fried food. That’s the main culprit.”
The doctor put his note down. “Adding the fact that you drank cold water worsened your throat's condition, and last but not least, your body is trying to adapt with different environments rapidly. Have you not taken any vaccines beforehand?”
Ruan Mei shakes her head. “I admit this particular trip was not carefully prepared, because I happened to run out of vaccines in my lab. And…I’m not taking risks, because it’s my first time going to that planet. Worry not, before you’ve arrived, I’ve taken my own blood sample to observe it myself later.”
Ratio nodded, then moved his hand to write more notes. Not long after, he grabbed the trinket that he brought along. Revealing a few natural ingredients that Ruan Mei’s familiar with.
“In the meantime, I'll give you a temporary remedy to eliminate those phlegm. I will go with raw recipes and more natural ingredients, and I heard the Xianzhou medication recipes work efficiently with less side effects than the advanced chemical medication. It contains honey within the recipe, so you may be comfortable consuming it.”
Ruan Mei gives no response. Yet it warms her chest a bit knowing how he’s pretty considerate with her preference to consume medicine. Then she saw him taking two different containers from his belongings. One small and the other is large, this time the material is made of glass with an air-tight seal cover. Although she can see the content within, it doesn't kill her anticipation when Ratio reveals what's inside. A fresh, warm rice porridge with a savory scent — Ruan Mei can tell it’s the mixture of chicken broth, scallion, garlic, and ginger — with a drizzle of soy sauce and a few sprinkles of mushroom, chives and parsley on top. The smaller container revealed to be a separated unpeeled boiled egg to eat with the congee.
“The best way to overcome illness is by fixing your metabolism. So eat, and fill your stomach.”
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“It was okay…” Ruan Mei said. She ate as elegant as always even under the weather, but Ratio did his best to hide his amusement after seeing how she just emptied both his food containers, only leaving the peeled shells of the boiled egg. He soon clears his throat, and puts everything back in his bag. Later, he gave her the remedy, the mixture of hot water and the Xianzhou herbal medicine that he brewed while she enjoyed her meal. Ruan Mei swallowed the mixture. The taste was oddly delicious, perhaps because of the honey. It triggers her cough quickly, and Ratio has a few ply of tissue ready on his hand to grab the phlegm. After throwing it away, she continued to drink another glass of water that Ratio provided, and applied lip butter to hydrate her lips after. A sympathetic look can be seen in Ratio's eyes, but he knows the act of pity would make her uncomfortable.
“I know it might be too repetitive, but you may have to hold onto these meds until the phlegm is gone,” he said. She waves her hand, signaling she’s fine.
“It didn't bother me a bit.” she commented.
Ratio’s eyes scanning the surroundings, notices how there’s document stacking on the table, and even near the entry way to her bedroom. He wonders a little.
“Are you truly obsessed with the research, Madam?”
Ruan Mei can only sigh between her coughs. “Not only our research, the other ongoing ones as well. It’s just...busying your brain with tasks is better than thinking about other things.”
Ratio lifts one of his eyebrows. “For example?”
Ruan Mei brings her gaze to the window that faces the void of the universe. “Could be any other things that are bugging my head for too long.”
Ratio remained silent, but then opened his mouth. “Still, I can't grasp the fact that you pushed yourself until you break like this. For someone who equally cares about nutrition and health besides sweets, you...did the opposite of what you're believing.”
Ruan Mei giggled. “You may call me reckless, but,,, I prefer finishing this research as soon as possible before meeting our deadline.”
Ratio sighs. “The deadline is still three weeks from now, Ruan Mei. Pay attention to your conditions, you shouldn’t push yourself.”
“Doctor, I—...”
She’s facing down towards her lap and nervous hands that she holds together, but then, lifting it so her eyes could meet with Ratio's.
She coughed. “I just…I can't disappoint anyone anymore. And I don't want to disappoint you…”
Ratio eyes widened. He can see through her. Judging by her words, it sounds like disappointment is something traumatic to her. Yet he decided to not question it. Instead, he softened his eyes.
“I appreciate that you did this research at astronomical speed, sticking with great commitment and principle. But, Madam, if those things cost you your health, then it isn't worth it. You could risk yourself.”
Ruan Mei only smiled. “I’m already getting used to it.”
Ratio remains silent. He forgot how this woman in front of him can be stubborn most of the time. What can he do to convince her to rest?
“...And I'm not happy with it.” Ratio stated.
“Why?” she asked. “I'm merely a patient here, why do you care so much?”
“I didn’t come here as a Doctor, Ruan Mei.” Ratio cut her off.
“I come here as Veritas Ratio. Neither Herta nor Screwllum send me here. I come on my own will.”
“I'm very much aware, Doctor.” Ruan Mei said. “But I still don't understand. Why go this far, …only for me? Do you not have any other schedule to adjust? Any more important events to attend? You came immediately after noticing something wrong. And this happened not only now, but also plenty of times before. I…I don't get it. What is your intention…?”
Ratio swallows the saliva in his throat. His gut is spinning. Ruan Mei can read his action, yet unable to decipher his intention. Either that, or she knows, but has been waiting to hear the clear reason directly from his mouth after he chose to let out such a bold argument. So he took a deep breath.
“I…”
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.
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“...I have feelings for you, Ruan Mei.” he stated.
The woman remained silent. But even with the sanctuary having a dimmed light source, her widened eyes are still visible to him.
“It’s because I love you, therefore I care for you. Perhaps even too much, it's crossing my professionalism as either a Doctor or research partner. Ironically, it's the most foolish thing that I've ever done."
The grip of his hands slowly went softer, perhaps even too afraid to let out his casual boldness and strictness, as Ratio slowly peeling off the layer of honesty within him toward Ruan Mei.
“You don’t need to respond to that, I believe you deserve to at least know the truth.”
He stood up from his seat while slapping both his thighs with his hands and sigh of relief. Ruan Mei's eyes following his every move.
“I apologize if this is getting awkward, I’ll be leaving and giving you some space. I'll give you a follow-up prescription for your recovery through email later today, but feel free to contact me if you need anything.”
Before he moves an inch, he can feel the tuck on his right sleeve. Once he brings his head to the direction, he can see Ruan Mei pinching his sleeve while still sitting down. Her small grip is quite strong and tighter than it looks.
“I...I didn’t say all those things are bothering me. I just...wanted to know why…” she explains, weakly.
The expression that was painted on her face is her usual calm demeanor, but confusion and curiosity existed in between. As if the woman is trying to process everything. The confession, her own spontaneous reaction, and this outcome of the previous two. Her grip and the silence remains for some seconds, before Ruan Mei finally dares to look directly into his eyes.
“...Please stay,......Veritas.” she pleaded.
It’s unusual to hear her calling his first name, but it manages to make him go on his feet in front of her, and hold back her hands. This situation reminded Ruan Mei of the princess and knight painting she once saw on a museum visit, in a certain planet that she even forgot the name of.
“I'll stay as long as you need me to.”
Ruan Mei smiled weakly behind her mask. She goes back coughing loudly. And Ratio's automatically holds her back, rubbing it.
“I advise you to rest. If it makes you feel better, I can help with reviewing that research data, even if it's still halfway done.” He said. Ruan Mei's eyes beamed at it, but before she could respond with anything, he quickly stood up again.
“Would you like to be carried towards the bed…?” he asked. Ruan Mei was surprised, but nodded at the end. She’s too weak to argue even when the doctor carried her in bridal style. Although, she has nothing to complain about at the same time.
After he lay her down on the bed and covered her in a blanket, he patted her head gently. She proceeds to grab his hand and wrap it with hers, signaling him to stay beside her. He chuckles. His genuine eye smile is the only thing that’s visible to Ruan Mei’s sleepy eyes now, which is something rare.
“I'm not going anywhere, Ruan Mei.”
As Ruan Mei finally fully drifts into slumber, he slowly removes his hands to do his promised tasks.
———————— ❀ —————————
Ruan Mei woke up feeling refreshed, despite her throat still feeling a little sore. The medicine that Ratio gave her indeed works wonders, as she expected from Xianzhou's expertise in herbal medication. Speaking of the devil, she didn’t find the doctor sitting near her bed head like before she's asleep. All the documents and devices that scattered around her beds are also nowhere to be seen.
As she walked outside of her bedroom, he spotted his familiar figure sleeping soundly on the couch of the main room, with the device screen still turned on. She took a peak of the content, and saw her progressing research data has been copied and reviewed digitally. He really kept his words. Beside the device, she saw another detailed prescription, along with a list that looks like a meal plan.
- Prevent deep-fried food for a meantime
- You can have a few pastries, but the less sugar and wet ones are highly recommended
- High-fiber and protein Chocolate Pao recipe attached on next page, customizable with a few options of fruits
- Single portion hot pot and steamed food recipes on page 5, with 10 different broth options
Ruan Mei's eyes later averted towards the peaceful face of the Doctor.
It's the first time she ever saw his face being this peaceful. All the strictness had faded away, leaving the innocent, charming face that paired beautifully with wavy violet locks and eight-leaves golden laurel hairpin. Ruan Mei finds it adorable. Something warmed in her heart, after processing all this thing she had witnessed, that involved the Doctor. Perhaps she can even smell it, the forbidden scent that long had left her after what happened to her family.
And she finds the scent from the self-proclaimed Mundanite. Just by imagining it makes her cheek blushed, it feels so wrong.
Before she could even conclude her overall thoughts, she heard a raspy, groaning voice of the Doctor awakened from his sleep.
Oh.
Oh.
Ruan Mei jumped and quickly left for her bedroom.
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Meanwhile Ratio wakes up lazily, stretching his hand upward. He grabbed his cellphone to see the time. The day had changed, and it's already 10 a.m local system time. He looked towards his surroundings, then realized in shock.
He's still in Ruan Mei's sanctuary.
And he noticed her bedroom door just being closed a seconds before, assigning Ruan Mei had gone outside — either quite long or briefly — and went back to her room immediately. He walked towards the bedroom, and knocked.
“Ruan Mei? Are you awake?” he asked.
He received no answer for a while. Ratio cursed himself, thinking he shouldn't knock at all, as it would bother her. But he heard a reply.
“...Y-yes.” Ruan Mei answered.
He thought the woman might still be unwell and need more rest. But he's glad he can hear her voice.
“Look I...I apologize for oversleeping and bothering you, while helping with your research data. I want to excuse myself, if you may?” He asked.
“Y-yes. It's okay, don’t worry about me, Doctor.” Ruan Mei answered. “I do think I need more rest…”
He sighs in relief, a small grin appears on his face.
“I've left further prescriptions and meal plans on the table. But give me a call if you need anything.” he said, not waiting for another reply, and packed his belongings.
Unknown to him, Ruan Mei has been standing directly behind the bedroom door, listening to him close. But it would be best if the doctor didn’t know her current state.
How surreal.
Just within the night, she may slowly healed, but the presence of Veritas Ratio had caused several following symptoms on her. Fast-rate heartbeat, stomach spinning, and face painted in apple colors. And as forbidden as it is to be worded out loud, Ruan Mei is not too dense to realize what all these signs mean.
Am I really…?
She went back to her bed before the thought consume her further.
———————— ❀ —————————
It has been two weeks since that day, and Ruan Mei's finally back to the Space Station in a full shape. Her arrival causes talks between the researcher as usual, but it feels less grand than her previous visits. Asta welcomed her warmly as always, Herta was back with the usual Simulated Universe business talk, and surprisingly Screwllum was here as well. Stephen said to excuse himself per-usual, now it left Ruan Mei one person in her mind.
“Ah! Madam Ruan Mei! Two weeks ago Dr. Ratio came to visit and sought your attendance. He said he has an appointment with you, but as soon as I said you haven't come back, he left briefly.” Asta reported.
Ruan Mei smiled. “Is that so?”
Asta nodded. “I've informed him that you'll be here today. So I assume he'll come to this station anytime so— Ah? I received a call from Madam Herta. If I may excuse myself, Madam Ruan Mei?”
Ruan Mei smiled. “Sure, don't worry about me.”
As Asta picks up her call, Ruan Mei receives a notification on her phone. A familiar number that makes her tiny smile visible, belongs to a certain scholar in wavy-violet locks. She put her phone back, and walked quietly to the direction of the Seclusion Zone.
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“Trespassing again, Professor?” Ruan Mei asked, entering her lab. The wavy violet-haired tall man chuckled cynically.
“You are aware you lend the official copy of your lab pass, no?”
Ruan Mei giggled. “I'm aware. Let's just say I found new entertainment by pulling your leg.”
Ratio shakes his head in amusement while crossing his hands. “Back with your casual antics once you're healthy. Now, about the research, what should we do first today?”
Ruan Mei lifting a set of holographic screens from her fingertips, checking her schedule. “There will be discussion from the last expedition’s result. Since it may take up an entire day and close observation with the botanical subject, I suggest we're moving into another lab of mine. It's located a bit far away, though. Unless you have other business with the Intelligentsia Guild or IPC executives after this, do you mind,...Doctor?"
Ratio shook his head. “No. I've emptied my schedule and taken leave solely today and tomorrow.”
“Oh?” Ruan Mei asked.
“Don't get ahead of yourself, Genius. I did this just in case the Guild charged me with a penalty for extended non-formal matters.” he explained.
“Suit yourself.” she said, smiling while closing her holographic schedule screen.
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.
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Ratio were taken into a certain lab, on a planet that was faraway from the star system where the space station and The Blue were located. He didn't know how many secret labs or dwelling places that Ruan Mei owned, but he can tell she has a lot and is mostly illegal. Yet he didn't seem to be surprised, knowing these Geniuses — like her — would have possessed anything he could imagine. He also had personal agreement with Ruan Mei in the beginning to not ask wasteful questions, and he's clever enough to consider this kind of situation as one of them.
The lab that they land their feet on, are better to be described as a massive greenhouse. It was filled with plenty of flowers and plants from several galaxies. Ratio was pretty amazed that each of them looked perfectly nurtured, he even yet to recognize some of it. And since it's night time on the planet, some of those plants radiate lights in different colors. And fireflies fly around the greenhouse, illuminating the dark sky like a summer party. The whole area is worth exploring for any scholars and storytellers.
At the center of the ‘lab’, there’s a table with two chairs. Beside it, there's a robot who recently appeared, bringing tea sets and assorted snacks decorated in a stacked lazy susan once the two of them are nearby. Ruan Mei must’ve prepared everything.
The woman had noticed the man being in awe for a long time, so she opened her mouth.
“I see the spark of interest in your eyes for this lab, Doctor.”
Ratio wakes from his senses, then clears his throat.
“The Technology Department’s collections are nothing compared to this. It's...divine…”
Ruan Mei smiles. “Aren't they? Nurturing each of them is pretty tricky. But it's not a difficult task, personally.” As the atmosphere feels too quiet, Ruan Mei opened her mouth once again.
“I believe, Doctor, this is a proper place to talk about your words from two weeks ago.”
Ratio nodded. “Of course. I don't mind elaborating my provided formula in your reviews. I might have any errors and you have the proper approach-”
She giggles. “I'm not talking about the research, Doctor.”
Ratio blinked, then suddenly got her meaning. He remembered that he confessed to her that day, and he hasn't received any form of ‘feedback’ after. Ruan Mei remained silent even after the realization, and that calm-yet-intense emotion of her is there as always. He didn't expect too much, but he decided to nod weakly and brace himself for rejection as Ruan Mei's heels sound clacking loudly on the ground.
What he didn’t expect is that he's being pushed to sit on the table, then his collar being grabbed tightly, and his lips being brushed with another pair of lips. Plum blossom scent lingering in his senses when it happened, leaving a sweet taste in his mouth, and before he can even reply to it, his widened eyes meeting in the middle with the oceanic orbs belonging to Ruan Mei.
“I…I barely understand what love is, Doctor. But…”
“I feel like I can trust you. So please teach me, I wish to learn about it. And…”
“I believe that I must learn it only from you, Veritas.”
Ruan Mei facing elsewhere, avoiding eye contact. Even if Ratio's the only one who listens to her vague confession. Amid the silence of the greenhouse, Ruan Mei suddenly feels a gentle touch on her chin, leading her face to meet with the Doctor. She noticed his casual tablet book laying freely on the table, which made his sleeved hand rest on her waist. She's very close to him, and she can feel her slender body pressing towards his firm build. It might be the first time Ruan Mei feels the blood rushing to her head, boiling uncontrollably, despite her casual relaxed expression.
“You kissed me, called me by my first name, and you declare that you don't understand?” Ratio asked, his voice remained strict, but his expression looked slightly softer. Ruan Mei gulped.
“...I just feel like that’s the right way to respond to you.” she confessed. Ratio can feel that there's zero apologetic remarks in her words and action, as if she's also testing him, curious about his reaction. Then he pressed his forehead towards hers.
“If I'm being honest, I barely understand anything about love either, Madam.” He stated. “I have flaws in my knowledge. Any practical attempt to learn more about it would not be 100% perfect. And yet, I'm sure about my feelings for you. Despite all of these, do you still wish to do it with me?”
Ruan Mei smiled. “Isn't that the beauty of it, Doctor? Even the most predictable theory and facts are bound to have their own twists. What's the fun if everything comes out too perfectly? Besides…”
“...trial and error is more valuable than zero attempts, isn’t it? Missed opportunities hunt you more than failures.”
Ratio grinned at her words. “An experimental approach? I thought we only stuck with one project. This one you propose, will have unpredictable timing, might even be a lifetime thing. Are you sure?” he asked once more.
The man can feel Ruan Mei’s arm circling around his neck. The plum blossom scent is back exuding the air he breathes.
“Only if you agree to it as well.” Ruan Mei said, teasingly.
Ratio chuckles. “As well, huh? Aeons, you're more persistent than I thought.” He said, before shutting his eyes and closing the gap between them, with Ruan Mei followed. He brings her to kiss more properly than before.
It started with lips brushing like before, except it was longer, slower, yet still intoxicating the two newfound lovers. It feels awkward on a few moves, but Ruan Mei still finds it adorable. She can feel him nibble her lips and knock his tongue to move forward inside her mouth, which she allows him to. While Ratio's busy catching Ruan Mei's tongue to dance with his, Ruan Mei took the opportunities to nibble his lower lips. Even when kissing, she still finds her way to tease the Doctor.
He made a surprising move that shocked her midway. He switched their position, lifting both her thighs and made her sit on the table before he dived into another kiss. It remained slow and rhythmic, not too desperate but still passionate. Ruan Mei's hand made a move to brush Ratio's fluffy locks. And the latter replies to the gesture something she didn't expect, removing the neurotic hair pins that secure her bun, revealing the loose, nebula colored hair of hers, and feeling the soft strands with his fingertips. Companied by the silence of her divine greenhouse, they're diving into the sweet moment where the concept of time falls down, only the present exists.
They pulled apart slowly just to catch some air to breathe, foreheads and noses still touching.
“I truly love you, Ruan Mei.” he confessed again, bringing Ruan Mei's left hand and placing it on his chest.
She can feel his heart rhythm with her palm. It's very intense, and loud. It matches with hers. So he brings the Doctor into an embrace.
“Can you hear mine as well, Veritas?” she asked. She could feel his nod, and he replied with a tighter embrace.
“It's very loud and clear.” he said, rubbing her head, which made her heart warm. They pull apart from the embrace to gaze at each other, Ratio still brushing her hair.
“Apologize for ruining your hair.” he said. Ruan Mei giggled at it.
“I'm not surprised. I noticed that you couldn't stop staring at it last time.” she said. “Would you prefer seeing this look more often?
He shook his head. “I prefer being the only one who knows how you look when your hair is down.”
How adorable, Ruan Mei thought, leaving a light peck on his lips for his possessiveness. Ratio’s flustered, then he quickly clears his throat.
“I think it’s better if we’re doing our duties first. We can continue this later on…” he suggested. Ruan Mei hummed and nodded.
“Perhaps you're right.” She lifted herself from the table and stood back on the ground again. She soon fixes her bun, and once it's back to proper shape, Ratio attached the neurotic hairpins back into its places. What a gentleman.
“Thank you.” she said. Then she places the tea sets, and inserts a bag of tea into the teapot, followed with hot water.
“I believe the discussion is better with tea on the table, don't you think? Before the hot water gets cold.”
Ratio then holds the chair for Ruan Mei to sit.
“Of course, that would be perfect.” he said, before he sat himself in front of her.
Starting that night, maybe research isn’t the only thing they would discuss with each other.