Chapter 167: I’m Really Timid
Fortunately, when Emily brought over the juice, nothing awkward happened. The peach juice was as sweet and refreshing as ever, with just a hint of tartness—no different from usual.
Maru clearly enjoyed fresh fruit juice too. She took small sips while chatting with Leon, most of their conversation revolving around his life on the farm. She seemed genuinely interested in that subject.
Once Gus brought the food, the conversation came to a halt. Maru apparently had a habit of staying quiet while eating, and Leon had been raised with the old saying, “Do not speak while eating, or sleep while talking.”
Although he sometimes broke that rule in social settings, if his dining companion stayed silent, it naturally reminded him of the lesson from the Analects.
When they finished eating, Maru finally spoke.
“Having dinner with me must have been boring, right? Sorry… When I was little, I choked on food while talking and almost suffocated, so I’ve had a bit of a psychological shadow about speaking while eating.”
“Not boring at all. The food was delicious, and with your company—good food and a beautiful lady? That’s a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. Whether we talked or not didn’t matter.” Leon smiled reassuringly.
“Huh?” Maru froze for a moment, then instinctively covered her face, stammering, “Leon… you… you’re exaggerating.”
“You’ve got to have confidence in yourself,” Leon encouraged her. “You’re already quite pretty. No one’s told you that before?”