Shinji's Self-Doubt

Night fell, and Huang Zhetian finished making all five dishes. Shinji and Misato arrived home just in time.

"Oh! Ever since you two got here, I haven't had to cook. It's even more convenient than instant food, and tastier too. Ah, the plating looks pretty good..." Misato picked up food with one hand and poured beer into her mouth with the other. Her table manners were... downright sloppy.

Huang Zhetian smiled, unbothered. "Eat slowly. I'm right here, after all. Whenever you want a particular dish, just tell me."

"Hey! Why do you look so preoccupied tonight, Shinji? It's written all over your face..." Asuka took a sip of orange juice and said, tilting her head from side to side.

Shinji immediately snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry, I was thinking about something..."

"You didn't do anything wrong, so why do you keep apologizing? It's like a reflex." Asuka had nothing but contempt for Shinji's self-effacing behavior.

"Maybe that's how Shinji has learned to deal with people over the years. Still, Shinji, you ought to work on that personality of yours. Sometimes you aren't in the wrong. You need to have opinions of your own." Huang Zhetian knew how self-effacing Shinji was, how he refused to accept himself and constantly put himself down.

He had always listened to other people's suggestions and feelings, forgetting himself in the process.

Even practicing the instrument he played as a hobby wasn't something he genuinely chose to do. He had taken it up on someone else's advice.

"Um... I'll... give it a try." Shinji gave a perfunctory reply, then lowered his head and resumed eating. He was acting very strangely tonight, his face heavy with worry.

Normally, he would have shared his troubles with someone and asked for advice by now.

Huang Zhetian knew that Shinji had seen Mana meeting Musashi at a restaurant that evening.

He had begun doubting others, and doubting himself as well.

He kept wavering over whether to trust Mana or ask her about it himself. Or whether to say nothing...

"All right, tomorrow's the weekend. Get yourself in a good frame of mind and enjoy a wonderful day with your girlfriend, Mana. I'm really jealous that you found a girlfriend so quickly, Shinji. Tsk... Ow!" Before Huang Zhetian could finish expressing his envy, Asuka punched him on the head.

"Just eat your dinner! Can't all this food keep your mouth shut? No talking while eating, idiot!" The mere mention of Mana's name irritated Asuka. That woman had stolen her spotlight the moment she arrived.

Taking Shinji was one thing, but she even wanted to steal Asuka's personal chef, that idiot Zhetian. Did she really think Asuka was such a pushover?

"Hahaha, Asuka, don't break him. If you do, there'll be no one left to cook for us. Oh, and I heard you're going on a date with Zhetian tomorrow too. Want me to lend you some perfume?" It was rare for Misato to offer to lend Asuka her beauty products, but Asuka still looked as though someone had taken advantage of her. She was thoroughly displeased...

Huang Zhetian told Asuka, "We don't need to go to the mall tonight. I brought an outfit over from China. Calling it an antique wouldn't be an exaggeration, and it's made for a woman."

"What kind of outfit could qualify as an antique? Don't tell me it's a long robe?" Misato's interest was immediately piqued.

Even Shinji looked at him in confusion.

"Then bring it out already! Stop keeping me in suspense, idiot Zhetian!" Asuka couldn't stand that sort of behavior. Just like certain people.

They clearly had chapters stockpiled, yet refused to release them...

An author's life matters too. Have a little sympathy. (The author looked helpless.)

Looking smug, Huang Zhetian returned to his room and brought out the Qipao, along with a long bamboo tube.

Everyone turned toward him with wide-eyed curiosity, making Huang Zhetian even more pleased with himself. "Now comes the most stunning part! Ladies and gentlemen, behold this breathtaking sight!"

Pop-click.

The box slid gently open, revealing the Qipao neatly arranged inside.

For a moment, Asuka and the others all exclaimed in admiration.

The Qipao was simply too beautiful. Even setting everything else aside, the embroidery alone left them awestruck.

The embroidery was so lifelike that it seemed to have a soul.

Asuka gently stroked the Qipao, marveling at its texture. "It feels so comfortable. I wonder what it'll feel like to wear."

Shinji asked, "Zhetian, what's that long bamboo tube?"

"Oh! You mean that bamboo tube? There's an Oil-Paper Umbrella inside. I prepared it to keep the sun off during tomorrow's date. After all, ever since the Second Impact, Japan has had nothing but summer." As he spoke, Huang Zhetian took out the Oil-Paper Umbrella and opened it for everyone to admire.

The design on the Oil-Paper Umbrella was beautiful too: a landscape painting. Its ink-wash style made the umbrella unique, and its shape alone already made it worth a considerable sum.

"Idiot Zhetian! It's so beautiful. Are you really willing to lend me something so pretty and valuable? What if I accidentally damage it?" As much as Asuka liked it, she wasn't so unreasonable as to ignore that concern.

Misato said enviously, "Things from China really are incredible. Japanese kimonos can be beautiful too, but their original designs and styles were borrowed from the Tang dynasty. You could say the roots of Japanese culture came from China."

Full of pride, Huang Zhetian told Asuka, "This Qipao was meant for you to wear in the first place. Keeping it does me no good. I'd rather let you bring out its charm and let it complement your beauty. It's yours, as a gift for our date."

All three of them were even more astonished. He was giving away such a valuable Qipao just like that.

Asuka was a little at a loss. "Idiot Zhetian, you're giving me something so expensive. What am I supposed to give you?"

"Going on a date with you is the best gift I could ask for. Just dress up nice and pretty." Huang Zhetian chuckled.

"Hmph! All right, I'll make sure you see me looking beautiful. So where are we going tomorrow?" Asuka asked happily.

"Anywhere we like. We'll have fun wherever we end up."

Watching Asuka and Huang Zhetian chatting happily, Shinji suddenly felt like an outsider. An inexplicable sense of inferiority crept into his heart again, but then he remembered his date with Mana tomorrow.

His confidence returned, and he felt capable again.

As Misato watched them, she felt as though she were seeing her younger self with Kaji and Akagi. They had been just as happy...

Asuka's room.

"Good night, idiot Zhetian..." Before going to sleep, Asuka gazed at the Qipao hanging in front of her and murmured softly.

She was looking forward to tomorrow's date too.