Yin Ting and Qiu Zhengqing decided on a date to go on the

electronics market meet-up to buy his new camera. Because the market was close

to Yin Ting’s family home, she did not let Zhengqing pick her up, opting to

take a taxi and meet at the gates of the market.

T

hat day the temperature was somewhat low, but Yin Ting didn’t

want to spoil her look with a bulky coat. She was wearing makeup which made her

look soft and feminine, a pink jacket over a casual but fetching floral dress

that fell to her knees. She combed her hair into a ponytail, looked at the

mirror and decided she looked too young – so she let her hair down. She put on

nude ballerina flats, and a cute knapsack. She checked herself in the floor to

ceiling mirror near her door for half a day. According to her father who saw

her, she quickly ran out the door.

She had been a bit late leaving the house, and of course did

not find a taxi quickly. She was rapidly becoming late, Yin Ting got a bit

anxious. Qiu Zhengqing was an exacting person, although it was a private date,

she did not want to give him a bad impression by being late.

Fortunately, just then, a free taxi came by and she got it,

relieved.

The taxi got her to the market quickly. Yin Ting saw

Zhengqing waiting at the gates for her. He wasn’t wearing a coat either (Zuben:

Idiots) He was wearing the blue jacket that she recommended. He looked really

nice. Super handsome! Yin Ting was euphoric - sweet honey! She could not help

but ran up to him and say, ‘Please be more serious - point!’ (Zuben: Is he

supposed to know about your point system?)

When Zhengqing saw her he was aglow. She looked good,

the more he looked at her the more lovely she appeared to him.

‘You look so handsome today, the clothes suit you.’ Yin Ting

said, praising him.

 Zhengqing's face grew

hot. Fortunately, she did not ask whether his jacket was new, maybe she’s

forgotten about it. But she commented on his looks, so sweet, he felt a bit

embarra.s.sed. You would think that at this age, he would not, but here he was

blus.h.i.+ng like a school boy with his crush.

Yin Ting pretended not to see Zhengqing blush, it was quite

obvious though. It made her heart melt into a puddle, but she gave him face.

He liked her, she was now quite sure.

Both of them were not dressed warmly. In fact, they were

quite cold. They briskly entered the market and found the camera shop. At the

shop, Zhengqing realised that Yin Ting was very familiar with cameras, as she

selected an entry-level SLR. (Zuben: Entry-level? I thought one just picked

what you could afford and learnt as you went along. But then, thinking about

Chinese tourists and their paparazzi cameras…<><>

‘We can take a few pictures to get you familiarised with the

camera,’ Yin Ting said.

 ‘Good,’ Zhengqing said, he was very happy. It had been

a long time since he held a camera. He had not felt that there was any need for

a camera when there was a phone to point and shoot with.

There was nothing much to see in the market, as the two walked

down the street, Yin Ting showed him how to use the camera. Zhengqing shot a

few street scenes. Then he turned the lens to Yin Ting, and she generously

posed for him. Even with the cold, the two of them were rather happy. Zhengqing

felt that getting a camera was a great event in his life.

When they decided to have lunch, they went to a restaurant

near Zhengqing’s home, because Yin Ting wanted to see Miao Dada. Zhengqing had

hoped she would.

As they entered the restaurant, one of Zhengqing’s shoe

laces came loose. He did not notice it, he was on cloud nine. Yin Ting stopped

him and without ado squatted down to help him tie the loosened shoe lace.  She stood up and their eyes met. Zhengqing

looked at her in surprise.

Oops! Yin Ting exclaimed to herself.

She was acting without restraint.

But Zhengqings expression changed from surprise to something

else…something subtle yet deep that she did not have a name for. She blushed,

and quickly took a table near them, 

‘Hurry up, I am so hungry.’ she said.

‘Miss,’ the waiter called coming up to them, ‘Miss, this

table is reserved.’

Yin Ting looked down and saw placed prominently on the table

a reserved sign.

She wanted to find a hole to bury herself, but quietly

followed the waiter to their table, while Zhengqing followed behind her trying

not to laugh.

They were handed their menus and the waiter left them for a

bit. Yin Ting held her menu up before her but did not look at it instead she

peered at Zhengqing over it. Zhengqinq’s face was half covered by the menu, but

she could see his eyes and he looked happy. He suddenly looked up at her and

met her eyes; Yin Ting quickly looked back at her menu.

‘Have you decided?’ Zhengqing asked her.

‘Well, mutton soup? It will keep warm us up.’ She said

casually, without looking at the menu. She remembered that Qiu Zhengqing also

loved lamb.

 ‘Yes, you look lovely but it seems too light for the

weather.’ He said with a smile, he turned to the waiter and ordered the mutton

soup, and he added two other dishes, ‘Do you want anything else?’ he asked Yin

Ting.

Yin Ting’s face bloomed red, ‘Um I will look again,’ and quickly

scanned the menu. This guy inadvertently caught her.  He was so sly! The day turned out so cold, but

she didn't want to wear a jacket because it would ruin her fas.h.i.+on. He was

wearing a vest under his handsome blue jacket, which was not part of her

suggestion.

Ahem.  Yin Ting hid

behind the menu to try and calm her fluttering heart down.

They hadn't met up for a week, although that was intentional

on her part. She didn't want to be over eager; it was too easy to be impulsive.

It had happened before; she had been impulsive and ended up confessing as soon

as she could. The other party did not accept right away. But there was another

girl interested in him; she played hard to get, whetting his appet.i.te, doing a

catch and release and he went with her and they became a couple. Afterwards, she

heard that the guy was saying that though she was good and pretty, she was like

a little sister. He hadn't been interested in her so he was happy for other

guys to go after her. Yin Ting gave him a negative score, and his girlfriend

had also been making weird comments.

She realised that she usually misread guys, and pursued them

in a sometimes stupid manner. After some self reflection, she decided she was

too impulsive. As long as there was a good impression and rapport with a guy,

she jumped straight to loving. But in the eyes of the other party it was not

the case. Friends.h.i.+p or good will has not matured to love. Eagerness to add

fire will only result in ashes.

 She was usually friendly with

guys, despite hoping for a love connection. But she was not seen as a romantic

candidate, just a friend. This, though, may not be the main cause of her

failure in love, but it could be a factor.

And now with Zhengqing, it seemed her nature was coming out.

Rather than wait and see, and make sure that they were on the same page, that

moment was right and then show her feelings…she’d seen him wear the jacket she

had recommended, and she had gotten happy and carried away. She had not paid

attention and checked herself and rushed to help him tie his shoelaces, making

him very surprised.

So embarra.s.sing! So shameful!

‘Honestly…I don’t like lamb meat.’ Zhengqing said.

‘Eh?’ Yin Ting raided her head from the menu, very

surprised.

‘I don’t,’ Zhengqing said, ‘and I don’t like parsley

either.’ (Zuben: What did parsley do to you? It’s practically tasteless…to me

anyway.) He was really clear, right? If she had any feelings for him, she would

understand what he was trying to say. If she did not, there will still be some

reaction. He wondered what was on her mind.

Yin Ting froze for a long time, then began to blush.

Zhengqing was not sure if the blush was from shyness or from mortification for

making him eat something he did not like.

‘Let’s not have the mutton, something else maybe?’ she said.

(Zuben: That waiter must have long lost his patience by now.

Is he even still there?)

‘No, no need, you like to eat it. I am fine with it.’

Zhengqing replied.

 Yin Ting's continued to blush, after a little bit, she

excused herself to go to the bathroom.

Zhengqing watched her go, disappointed. He’d thought she’d

be touched by his confession and would think it was sweet. He had been too

hasty.

In the bathroom, Yin Ting quickly called Qin Yufei.

‘Yufei, Yufei, its bad!’

‘What happened?’

‘I really want to hug Qiu Zhengqing. I am so happy. I am so

happy to be with him.’

‘… …’ Qin Yufei was silent in her surprise, and then she

asked, ‘What have you eaten? What kind of magic is this? So powerful!’

‘Proper. Righteousness.’ (Zuben: Whatever this means…)

‘Did you kiss?’ Yufei asked snappily.

‘How can?!!’ Yin Ting replied indignantly.

‘There had been no spell, so why are you so excited about

him?’ Yufei asked.

‘He does not like to eat lamb,’

‘…’ Yufei was suddenly lost.

‘But we have had it for dinner twice, and there has been

parsley. He doesn't like it either.’

‘Girl, this is basic. Why are you so moved?’

‘I am moved. He also wore the coat I told him would suit

him, especially.’

‘Isn’t that because he wants to look handsome?’

‘We did not see for a week and he text me every day.’

‘Isn’t that because he arranging time with you to go by the

camera? It doesn’t mean anything.’

Yufei was raining on her parade, but Yin Ting was a little

calmer for it, ‘I think I like him very much.’

‘He does not eat lamb, yet he gets you all excited.’

‘It makes me so happy, the more I think about it the more I

like him.’

‘Did you not say you wanted to watch him a bit? It has only

been a few days, while I am glad you have acquired some cunning, but the result

is only an illusion.'

(Zuben: Yufei, I get that one

should not be too excited but all this bas.h.i.+ng is not how friends do, is it? I

don’t have many friends. I mean, this is a guy that has a high chance of liking

her. Isn’t she happy for Ying Ting? Or am I reading too much and should just shut

up and go along for the ride?)

‘Tell me, shall I confess or wait for him to declare first?’

Yin Ting asked Yufei, ‘As you know, I’m rather jinxed with confessing first.’

‘As long as you remember that,’

‘Good point.’

‘Are you really sure he likes you? You have to wait for him

to say first.’

‘If he does, he seems rather slow, no? Long time he does not

say anything, it will make me anxious.’

‘How are you anxious?!’ Queen Yufei spat.

‘Good, okay. I shouldn’t worry. I should be steady on the

road to success.’ She said cheering herself up.

‘So why did you call me?’ Yufei asked (Zuben: I shoulda

thought that was obvious)

‘I needed someone to shake me and calm me down; you’re the

best at pouring water.’ (Zuben: Different strokes for different folks)

‘Thank you for your praise,’ (Zuben: ¬.¬)

‘So blunt,’

‘Good, I started pouring,’

‘You’ve poured it for a long time on me.’

‘In front of the warm field, it is now formal.’ (Zuben: some

Chinese colloquialism)

‘Hmmm.’

‘You said your feelings will not develop so fast,’ Yufei was

beginning to worry that her friend was going into heat again, ‘It’s only been a

week.’

‘There was a sudden realisation.’

‘Then you need to be more sure about it.’

‘I will try,’ Yin Ting said, she knew she had to rein her

impulsive nature in.  She had had it all

planned, but it went out the window when they met. It was so nice to hang out

with him. She’s noticed that he had a bit of cologne on, it smelt so nice.

‘You really need to take your time. How old is he anyway?’

‘Thirty-three.’

‘Oh?’

‘Nine years older,’ Yin Ting said biting her lip, (Zuben: What

has that got to do with anything? I know from experience on this internet lyf,

that women don’t seem to like men more than five years older and I think that they

are all blind superficial idiots.) It was a large age gap, but he cannot make

himself younger, he was who he was.

‘And he is so serious and such a workaholic.’

‘Hm.’

‘He won’t let you stay up late or sleep in, even after

chuang[1], because he will think you are lazy. He won’t like you playing video

games, because he does not play. If you write something naïve or youthful, he

may not like it because he doesn’t understand. And most importantly, will he

fit in your circle of friends and would you fit in his?’

Yin Ting did not have an answer to any of the comments but

the last one, ‘You and Gu Yingjie are our mutual friends.’

‘Think about it carefully; don’t make excuses.’

‘Oh,’ there might be some problems (Zuben: Arbitrary ones, but okay)

‘Are you cool now?’

‘A little bit.’

‘Would you still like to jump on him?’

(Zuben: You’re keeping the fella waiting…)

‘Temporarily restrained,’

‘Well then, bye’ the queen rang off.

Yin Ting went back to the table and began to eat. As time

went on, she looked up to see Zhengqing smile at her and her heart started to

pound. 

Ah No! Refrain! Restraint!

⭐

Zuben: I wonder how long she's going to last...

[1] Chuang; According to google research,1. to go to bed, 2. (colloquial) to have s.e.x.