Addicted: Book One - The Inquietude of Youth (1-44)

Chapter 32: Here, a pleasant scent permeates

Translator: Sienna | Editor: Pusaha | Proofreader: Sae, Blue Blossoms

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The water in the basin he had soaked Gu Hai's uniform shirt before leaving for school had turned yellow by the time he came back in the afternoon. Bai Luo Yin picked up the shirt and gave it a closer look, noticing a large yellowish blemish stubbornly still in the middle. It's not going to be easy removing this stain, he thought.

Bai Luo Yin rarely did the laundry. Most of the time, it was his father who did the laundry. Only once in a while, when Bai Han Qi wasn't at home, would Bai Luo Yin wash some of his clothes and perhaps throw in a few pieces of his grandparents'. But it was quite likely that he couldn't wash them clean enough.

To remove the stubborn stain, Bai Luo Yin fetched a small, short wooden stool, sat down, and began to wash. Considering that his height was over 180 centimeters, the stool was simply small, making it all too strenuous to stretch his legs properly. Nevertheless, he expected the task to take a while, and thus, decided to bear with the uncomfortable position he was in.

In the end, Bai Luo Yin was wrong.

Removing the tenacious stain was not a matter which could be settled in a short amount of time. Regardless of the detergent he used, whether it was the powdered detergent or Aunt Zou's sulfur soap, the stain merely faded a little but never washed off completely. Bai Luo Yin was already tired even though he had only just started washing. This type of exhaustion was completely different from the weariness felt from exercising. Despite the fact that hard physical exercise may leave the body aching and worn out, one's the mental state remained calm and relaxed. However, this boring and tedious task wore you down. Not only did it drain the body, but also sapped away your mental peace. As young and determined Bai Lou Yin had been, he was at the brink of throwing the uniform away.

To tell the truth, there was a brief moment where he had actually considered replacing the uniform with a new one. But the thought of spending 40 yuan quickly steered him away from the idea.

"Lao Bai, Lao Bai." [1]

Aunt Zou's kind and gentle voice drifted to his ears.

Bai Luo Yin stood up and used his arm to wipe away the glistening sweat pooling on his forehead as he turned and smiled at Aunt Zou's direction.

"Auntie, you're here."

"Yes, I am!" Aunt Zou was wearing a big apron. Her long hair was rolled in a bun, forming a loose knot at the back of her head, and on her smooth, childlike-round face, settled in a warm smile.

"I've just made a whole lot of dumplings, so I thought I'd bring some over to you guys. The stuffing is minced pork with star anise seasoning."

Bai Luo Yin wiped his hand with a piece of cloth that was hanging on the clothesline. He couldn't help but drop a praise as he appreciatively took the plate from her hand. "Smells really good!!"

"Nah, don't be ridiculous!", Aunt Zou said with a humorous tone. "You're already used to your father's cooking, of course, everyone else's food would seem delicious."

Bai Han Qi just came out of the kitchen then. When he saw Aunt Zou and the plate in Bai Luo Yin's hand, his face immediately blushed red. Strenuously, suppressing his awkward overjoyed, yet embarrassed expression, he forced a wooden smile and addressed her in an unnaturally courteous manner.

"Ahh... What a coincidence!! I was just thinking of inviting you over for dinner with us. And here you are, so kind, going so far as to bring this delightful dish over to us."

Bai Luo Yin narrowed his eyes at Bai Han Qi, he wouldn't give him any chance to escape.

"Dad, don't tell me you're going to serve Aunt Zou that hideous dish?"