However, Alicia had no intention of probing Ruan Mei's thoughts. Instead, she focused all her attention on the exquisitely crafted pastry before her. Holding her knife and fork, she did not know where to begin because of its beautiful shape. In the end, she looked at Ruan Mei again.
"Ruan Mei, you made this pastry so exquisite. What if I can't bear to cut it?"
"..."
Although she had known Alicia for a long time, Ruan Mei was still somewhat speechless at her words.
After a moment of silence, meeting those eyes that held not a trace of falsehood, Ruan Mei lowered her head and continued tasting the half-piece of pastry on her plate.
Yet the cool lips on her face curled into an almost imperceptible arc.
"If you truly can't bear to cut it, then eat it all in one bite."
"Mm...
But then I won't be able to savor how delicious it is..."
Alicia shook her head, her pink lips pouting slightly as she righteously rejected Ruan Mei's suggestion. She stared at the exquisite, artwork-like pastry for a long while before finally bringing herself to ruin its beauty—
"Mm...
It's so good..."
Alicia used a small spoon to send a piece of pastry into her mouth. She blissfully narrowed her eyes, savoring the delicacy on her tongue.
"It feels so cool and refreshing, yet it's as though a warm current is flowing through it..."
"Hehe..."
Seeing Alicia's expression, Ruan Mei chuckled softly. The coolness on her face lessened by a little more, though she said nothing and merely continued tasting the pastry before her.
However, before Alicia could steel herself to completely finish the pastry in front of her—even though she had personally ruined it, it unexpectedly possessed a sort of incomplete beauty—her hand suddenly paused. As if