Chapter 432, Changes in Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a day when men and women are excited, but it is also a boring and alienated day for non-fashionable people.

"Valentine's Day specials and the like are quite common."

Zhuo lazily leaned on the sofa while watching the TV program introducing the chocolate of famous shops and interviewing girls on the street corner.

Today's school is full of sweetness. Although Zhuo said he didn't hate sweets, he didn't like them that much either. So for him, it was still a bit sad that he didn't have the chance to celebrate this festival.

"Because it sells well. It's a common business strategy."

"You are also a girl, is it okay to say this?"

"Even if you say that, I never thought about giving chocolate to anyone."

As Ling said, Zhuo heard that Her Royal Highness did not give chocolate to any opposite sex, including the same sex, today, so he could understand Ling's indifference. Although he was sorry to the boys who were waiting, it was better to say that she had no interest in men rather than a personality problem or the type to create an invisible wall. It was impossible for anyone to get chocolate from Her Royal Highness.

"However, even among girls, there are a certain percentage who have no interest in Valentine's Day."

"It's not that there is no interest at all. It's good to see new flavours and cakes on the shelves in the mall."

"The purpose is to eat it yourself."

“There is no one to give it to, and I don’t want to give it to anyone.”

"Tsk, I really want to record this conversation and let other boys listen to it."

"If you want, I have no objection."

She replied calmly.

Ling Razumovskaya Romanov was a transfer student who came here shortly after the start of last year's school. Zhuo had a premonition that he would bring countless troubles. Even so, Zhuo could never have imagined that they would spend Valentine's Day in their second year of high school under the same roof a year later. Even though there was no ambiguity between them.

At school, Her Royal Highness had received all kinds of praise for being steady, gentle, modest, tenacious, and having strong opinions. But looking at her true self, Zhuo really wanted to say, "How could that be possible?"

However, Zhuo felt that this kind of direct, indifferent, and carefree Ling did not dislike him. So it didn't matter whether she would cause trouble or not. In any case, being taken care of while calculating others was something Zhuo disdained.

"It's just talk. Why do you want to do something that is strenuous and disgusting..."

"Even if I tell them, if they become disillusioned and leave because of this reason, doesn't that mean their admiration for me is limited to this extent? If they fail to see the real me and accept me as a new side, then their so-called love for me has come to an end."

"...I admire you for being able to see so clearly."

"Thank you."

Hearing the response, which was not sure whether it was a compliment or criticism, Zhuo shrugged. Then Ling wordlessly took out a small silver wrapping paper from his pocket.

There was something round and about one or two centimeters in a small silver wrapper. Zhuo squinted at it, and then Zero's inorganic eyes locked onto Zhuo.

"I commend you for your attitude and give you this."

“…What is this?”

"…It's block cocoa."

It's chocolate anyway.

In other words, Ling accepted Zhuo and gave it to him as a friend or out of courtesy.

This was probably the first time that the princess gave chocolate to a boy, so he accepted it respectfully and put it into his mouth carefully. For some reason, Ling looked at Zhuo with an expectant look... no, observed him.

The moment the chocolate melted on his tongue, he frowned and understood why Zero was looking at him.

"Wait... this tastes so strong, just like love, bitter and astringent."

Zhuo knew that it was against etiquette to say this while eating the food of the person concerned, but he still had to say it. It was not the first time that Zhuo tasted this flavor, but it was still hard to describe. The flavor of that thing was strong, with a heavy bitter taste mixed with a unique astringency. It was not unpalatable, but he did not like it. It felt like a bitter medicine.

He pursed his lips and looked at Zero, noticing that she seemed slightly amused and softened her gaze.

"It should be. Because it is Coco."

“This is probably about 90 percent, right?”

"No, it's ninety-nine."

Ling said an even more outrageous number without hesitation. In contrast, Zhuo realized that she was being tricked and showed a sad expression, and then a trace of satisfaction from successful revenge appeared on her face.

It's probably more of an expression than a meaning conveyed by the eyes. No one has ever seen such a gentle, friendly gaze, so Zhuo was instantly fascinated. Then he felt a little embarrassed and turned his eyes away from Ling.

"By the way, can you tell me where you bought this? I quite like it."

"?"

...

...

Although this is the first Valentine's Day since we started dating, it can't be said to be the first time we celebrate Valentine's Day together.

Zhuo sat on the sofa, reminiscing about the past, waiting for things in the kitchen to be over.

Since they are dating, Ling is making chocolate openly at Zhuo's house... I hope it won't be the same style of chocolate as last year.

Zhuo thought so in his heart.

Speaking of which, inorganic eyes?
"zero."

"?"

Zero, who was busy in the kitchen, turned around. Although he didn't say anything, his eyes expressed his doubts, "What's the matter?"

——You don’t look like the same person as last year at all.

Because it was chocolate to be given to lovers on Valentine's Day, Zhuo originally thought that there would be a sweet atmosphere around her when she was making it, but Zero's expression was very serious. Maybe even more serious than when she was studying.

"Ah, um, it's nothing, um, don't take it so seriously."

"Sa Chiko told me that the most important things in making desserts are temperature and technique. This is especially true for chocolate."

Seeing that Ling was very serious about tempering the chocolate, Zhuo, in order to avoid saying too much, replied "Yes, is that so", as if he was stunned, and decided to watch Ling's struggle.

Because this is for Zhuo, Ling is making it seriously. She can basically make anything as long as she has a recipe. Now she is making chocolate with matcha and ganache because she caught Zhuo taking a second look at the "matcha chocolate commercial" on TV.

Now is the time to pour chocolate into the mold surface. If the surface chocolate is not thin and crisp, the melting taste will be bad when eating. Therefore, even zero needs to be treated very seriously.

Because he was too serious, Zhuo couldn't help but stare at that majestic body in fascination.

----

PS: Let me quibble.

Yesterday I was writing the monthly exam and its follow-up, but you know what those contents are, I got so excited while writing that I went out... and then... today I feel like I have lost everything and am a skeleton in my grave, so let me take it easy before continuing.

Because I said that this third year will go by very quickly, I inserted some small plots like this to spice up the story for those brothers who like to watch the daily routine.

(End of this chapter)