Chapter 1142
Misato: Something's not right!
Ritsuko rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the busy figure at the kitchen doorway. Her eyes were filled with emotion as she murmured softly, "What a good man." He can manage the household perfectly and cook for his family. Such a person is truly rare.
She thought to herself: What kind of luck did Miri have to eat such good food? What is Choi Myung's background? How did the two of them meet? A series of questions surged in her mind, and she secretly made up her mind that she must interrogate Miri properly later and find out the whole story.
Meanwhile, Misato, sitting on the sofa, took in Ritsuko's expression. Seeing the envious and curious look in her eyes, she became increasingly annoyed. Her brows furrowed, and she clicked her tongue inwardly: What's wrong with this girl? She's practically bewitched by Cui Ming!
As if sensing Misato's hostility, Ritsuko turned to meet her gaze, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation and nonchalance—So what? I just think he's good, what are you going to do about it?
The two locked eyes, the air thick with a competitive spirit. Neither was willing to look away first, and their mutual dislike created a tense atmosphere.
Just then, Cui Ming came out of the kitchen carrying several dishes, followed by Qi Bolin carrying a small dish of pickled cabbage, breaking the awkward silence. Cui Ming placed the dishes on the table, pointed to the pickled cabbage in Qi Bolin's hand, and said gently, "You two, eat first. This is pickled cabbage made by Qi Bolin, would you like some?"
Misato and Ritsuko fell silent at the same time, then glared at each other in unison before turning their faces away, letting out a soft snort, and getting up to walk to the dining table as a temporary truce.
The food was served, and the group picked up their bowls and chopsticks and began to eat. After a moment of silence, Ritsuko, unable to contain her curiosity, looked at Misato and Choi Myung and asked bluntly, "So, what exactly happened between you two? How did you get together?"
Misato paused in her chopsticks, then said calmly, "He saved me and my dad." That simple sentence encapsulated the circumstances of their meeting, without elaborating on any details.
Zeppelin, who was standing to the side, also put down her chopsticks and added softly, "He saved me too." She deliberately avoided talking about Asuka and only picked out the most important part to talk about, with a complex emotion that was hard to detect flashing in her eyes.
Ritsuko nodded knowingly, a knowing smile playing on her lips: "So it was a hero saving a damsel in distress, no wonder." Such an encounter could indeed easily spark feelings, and it's no wonder that Misato was so dependent on Choi Myung.
"No, not at all." Cui Ming put down his spoon, his tone calm and without any boasting. "It's just that fate brought us together." For him, saving people was just something he did on a whim, and the subsequent companionship was more of a natural outcome.
Looking at his calm and collected demeanor, Ritsuko felt even more favorably disposed towards him and said softly, "Is that so? That's good."
Afterwards, the group chatted casually, gradually shifting the topic from everyday matters to Ritsuko's major. Once Ritsuko started talking about her major, she became very talkative, rattling off a string of obscure and difficult technical terms at a rapid and dense pace. Misato, sitting next to her, was completely bewildered, her eyes glazed over, and she even forgot to move her chopsticks, feeling as if those terms were some kind of heavenly scripture, utterly incomprehensible.
Misato was about to interrupt and ask Ritsuko to say something understandable, but then she saw Choi Myung put down his chopsticks and seamlessly continue Ritsuko's conversation. He not only demonstrated a thorough understanding of the technical concepts but also offered unique insights, even adding some extended knowledge that Ritsuko had never encountered before. Ritsuko's eyes lit up instantly, filled with surprise and astonishment—Choi Myung could actually understand?!
Indeed, for Cui Ming, what Ritsuko mentioned was nothing difficult at all. He hadn't wasted his time in the EDF world for so long; during those long years, he had painstakingly mastered knowledge and skills in various disciplines to cope with various crises, from mechanical engineering to biotechnology. The breadth and depth of his knowledge far exceeded that of ordinary people. These professional contents were merely the basics for him.
Misato watched the two chatting happily, her face filled with confusion and helplessness. She rolled her eyes to herself: So I'm the only outsider here? What on earth are these two talking about?!
As Ritsuko talked, her eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if sparkling with tiny lights, and she unconsciously quickened her pace. Originally, she was just casually sharing her professional insights, but she didn't expect that Choi Myung could not only follow her train of thought, but also frequently offer precise extended viewpoints, and even give her new inspiration on several cutting-edge theories.
Wow! What incredible luck did Misato have to find such a great man! Ritsuko clicked her tongue in amazement, waves of astonishment washing over her. Such solid knowledge and profound understanding across multiple fields are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Wow! No way! This man definitely has many hidden talents and skills; she has to dig deeper, maybe she can achieve even greater breakthroughs in her field!
With this in mind, Ritsuko talked more and more, from basic theory to practical difficulties, and then to speculations about the forefront of the industry, the topic delving deeper and deeper. Zeppelin, who was just listening quietly, was also intrigued. He couldn't help but join the conversation, adding his own insights based on his own experience. The three of them quickly became immersed in a professional discussion, chatting enthusiastically.
At the table, Misato was the only one looking sullen. She rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the food in front of her. The three people chattering away in technical jargon sounded like alien language to her—she couldn't understand a thing! She couldn't even join in the conversation. She could only watch helplessly as the other three chatted happily, completely excluded from the topic. The frustration in her heart gradually rose, and even the food lost its flavor.
Just as Misato was getting more and more frustrated and was about to frown and pout, Choi Myung suddenly stopped talking to Ritsuko, freed his arm and gently put it around her shoulder. His palm was warm, and his touch was gentle yet reassuring. He didn't say anything more, but just patted her arm lightly with his fingertips, as if soothing a sulking little one.
Instantly, Misato's irritation vanished as if doused with cold water, and even the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up in a smile. She snuggled closer to Choi Myung, her earlier frustration completely gone, leaving only a heart full of sweetness. Hehe~ So what if he doesn't understand? Anyway, Choi Myung is hers, and this exclusive tenderness isn't something anyone can take away! She secretly glanced at Ritsuko and Zeppelin, who were still chatting, a hint of barely perceptible smugness hidden in her eyes.
Cui Ming felt the small movement of the person in his arms, a faint smile flashed in his eyes, and he turned to gesture to Ritsuko and Zeppelin, his tone gentle but measured: "Let's eat first, we can talk about professional topics after dinner."
Ritsuko snapped out of her reverie, realizing she'd gotten so engrossed in the conversation that she'd neglected Misato. She smiled sheepishly and nodded, "Sorry, sorry, I got too absorbed in the conversation." Zeppelin nodded in agreement. They picked up their chopsticks again, the atmosphere at the table remaining harmonious, only now with a touch more personal warmth. (End of Chapter)