"Lin Feng... um... you should eat this..."
Shizuka truly hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so direct. Before she could even say anything, he'd already shoved the Roasted Sweet Potato into her hands.
By the time she reacted, she was holding a Roasted Sweet Potato that was radiating a strong aroma and giving off steam.
Smelling the unique fragrance of the Roasted Sweet Potato, Shizuka quietly swallowed, then spent half a second considering it. Finally, she decided to give the Roasted Sweet Potato back to Lin Feng.
After all, eating something like a Roasted Sweet Potato in front of a male classmate was something Shizuka found difficult to accept.
Moreover, today was only the first day she'd known Lin Feng. If she gave him this kind of impression, it was absolutely something Shizuka couldn't accept.
Shizuka's action was anticipated by Lin Feng, who dodged it, preventing her from successfully giving the Roasted Sweet Potato back to him.
Lin Feng knew better than anyone that Shizuka's love for Roasted Sweet Potato wasn't just talk.
Based on Lin Feng's observations, Shizuka really wanted to eat it. She was only hesitating because of face.
Sometimes, all it takes is a chance to let go of the struggle and embrace what you truly like.
"Shizuka, that's not right. You treated me to a delicious Rice Ball at lunch, and I'm very grateful. Why are you refusing when it's my turn to treat you?"
"Or is there something else you're worried about?"
"If there is, you can tell me. We're classmates now, and we'll be studying together. We should be able to talk about anything, don't you think?"
Lin Feng, while not letting Shizuka return the Roasted Sweet Potato, spoke to her earnestly, pretending to be serious.
He could only try to reason with Shizuka. If she could open up and face what she liked, that would be ideal.
But if she still felt a little shy and reserved, Lin Feng wouldn't push her too hard. At most, he'd just have to back down a step.
"Lin Feng-san, although what you say is true... but..."
Shizuka was blushing now, her head lowered, looking somewhat at a loss, unsure of what to say.
Originally, she really shouldn't have refused Lin Feng's kindness, and the food Lin Feng was offering her was indeed something she loved very much.
It was just that she still couldn't quite let go of her pride.
"There's nothing to 'but' about. In my hometown, people who waste food are considered very shameful, you know."
"And look at this Roasted Sweet Potato, it smells so good, it must be sweet inside. I love eating this kind of food the most. Shizuka, you don't not like it, do you?"
Seeing that Shizuka was still hesitating, Lin Feng didn't press her to make a decision immediately.
Instead, he used examples from his hometown to illustrate his point. As he spoke, Lin Feng peeled the Roasted Sweet Potato, using the small spoon the owner provided to scoop a bite into his mouth.
Truth be told, the food in Nihon did have a unique flavor. The Roasted Sweet Potato was indeed fragrant and delicious. Though sweet, it wasn't cloying at all, and the texture was excellent.
Perhaps he was worried that Shizuka still had a heavy psychological burden.
So, Lin Feng took the lead, demonstrating for Shizuka. He started tasting the delicious, fragrant Roasted Sweet Potato in front of her.
"I..."
Seeing Lin Feng eating with such relish, Shizuka found herself in a dilemma.
The main thing was that Lin Feng's reasoning was very sound, leaving Shizuka in an awkward position, unsure whether to proceed or not.
"Come on, Shizuka, eat it. If you don't eat it now, it won't be as good when it cools down. This thing is best eaten hot."
"If you're really worried about something, you can worry about it after we finish eating."
Lin Feng could already see that Shizuka's mental defenses were slowly lowering, so he decided to add a little more fuel to the fire, and it would be no problem to get her to completely relax.
"Actually, I can tell that you really like Roasted Sweet Potato, Shizuka. Since you like it, just go ahead and eat it. You don't need to care about what others think."
"No one really cares about that, really."
If Lin Feng's previous words had already begun to loosen Shizuka's spirits, then the following words truly broke through her defenses.
Of course, this "breakthrough" didn't mean she became negative or her mental defenses collapsed, but rather the feeling of panic that surged up when someone saw through her hidden worries.
"Lin Feng, how...how did you know I like Roasted Sweet Potato...?"
"I don't think I've ever told anyone about this before."
When Lin Feng told Shizuka that he'd already figured out she loved Roasted Sweet Potatoes, her head, which had been lowered in embarrassment, shot back up. Her eyes were filled with surprise and a touch of awkwardness.
"Well, the feeling of liking something is really special. Even if you try to hide it, your body is honest and doesn't lie."
"Of course, it's also possible that I just like observing people in general."
"When I saw your reaction to the smell of the Roasted Sweet Potato just now, I could tell you really liked them."
"I'm just a little confused. You clearly love Roasted Sweet Potatoes, so why have you been turning them down?"
"Because..."
Shizuka hesitated. The reason was a little difficult to explain.
"If you really feel embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about it, then don't worry about it. You don't have to explain. Just pretend I didn't ask."
"Since there's no problem, eat up quickly. If we keep chatting, it'll get cold and won't taste good."
Seeing Shizuka still looking a little shy and hesitant, Lin Feng didn't press her to explain herself, and directly interrupted her hesitant words.
(End of Chapter)