NOVEL NEXT 04
Chapter 4 : Love at First Sight
Ellis returned to the aircraft, feeling frustrated and repeatedly slapping the steering wheel.
When he got back to the military base, it was just dinner time. Today’s menu featured the roast meat that Ellis had been craving for days.
The roast meat on his plate was red and glossy, emitting a tempting aroma, but Ellis had no appetite at all. He mechanically chewed on a slice of whole wheat bread without tasting anything.
Lev came over with his tray.
“I heard from Owen that you went on another blind date with a male?”
“Yeah.” Ellis snapped back to reality and quickly used his fork to push the roast meat on his plate closer to himself, guarding it like a mother hen, staring at Lev with hostility.
Lev reluctantly tore his gaze from the pieces of roast meat, feeling dejected. “I came over to check on you, and this is how you treat me? You’re hurting my feelings! Aren’t we good teammates anymore?”
Believe him, and hell would freeze over!
Everyone knew Lev was a glutton, especially fond of good food. The food at the canteen was average, but the roast meat from the fourth canteen was famous far and wide. Lev always liked to sidle up to others, snatching roast meat from their plates with lightning speed under the pretense of chatting.
When Ellis first arrived, he didn’t know Lev’s true nature and got tricked by him several times. Ever since then, as soon as he saw Lev sit close, his hand would move faster than his brain, becoming a reflex.
“How did it go today? Do you think there’s any hope?” Lev, seeing the roast meat was out of reach, switched to seriously gossiping about Ellis.
In the military, females were always sought-after marriage partners by males. It was rare to see someone like Ellis who had been on eight blind dates without starting a single relationship.
“No hope.” Ellis speared a piece of roast meat with his fork, while quickly pressing down the remaining pieces with his knife. Lev’s eyes were glued to the roast meat, and Ellis felt a surge of satisfaction as he swallowed it in one bite, seeing Lev’s heartbroken expression.
“You’re such a…” Lev said angrily, but seeing Ellis’s indifferent glance, he calmed down. After all, he couldn’t beat Ellis in a fight. His tone softened immediately, smiling brightly. “I mean, it’s those males who are at fault, not seeing through to your beautiful heart.”
“Stop your nonsense,” Ellis laughed and scolded. However, thinking about the male he met today, his mood dampened a bit. “The male I met today, he was really good-looking and had a lot of charisma. I’ve never felt this way before, like my heart was about to jump out of my chest when I saw him.”
“Really?!” Lev was shocked. Ellis was known for being indifferent to males. He had once accompanied Ellis to meet a male and saw him act so crazy that he drove the handsome young male to leave in a huff, smashing his cup as he went.
“Ellis, I have something to say. I’m not sure if I should.”
“Think carefully before you speak,” Ellis said with a smile.
“…Well, here’s the thing, Ellis, I swear on my family’s broom that’s been passed down for over three hundred years, I am certain that you fell in love at first sight with that male today.”
“Didn’t your broom get dragged into the doghouse by your father’s golden retriever?”
“Focus! Ellis, you’re missing the point!”
Ellis moved the knife away from the roast meat and pushed it toward Lev, looking slightly dejected. “Do you think I don’t know it’s love at first sight? However, I’m not planning to get married at this age. Besides, even if I fell for him at first sight, it doesn’t mean he’d be interested in me.”
Lev, now chewing the delicious meat with great interest, said, “Don’t tell me you’re just giving up like that?”
“Yes, I’m giving up.”
“Ellis, honestly, a family without a male is incomplete, and a life without a male’s participation is lacking. If that male is interested in you, it would be a blessing.” Lev, finally satisfied after finishing the meat, started to take the topic seriously.
“I’m really confused now. He seems completely different from those I’ve met before. I genuinely felt my heart skip a beat, and I could hear my inner voice saying, ‘It’s him, it’s him.’ But I’m also scared he could be another abyss.”
“Completely different? How different can a male be?”
“Right from the start, he handed me a questionnaire. I almost thought I was back in a final exam.
But some of the questions were very pointed about the issues in male-female marriages.
I almost suspected he was a sociologist doing an experiment under the guise of a blind date.”
“That is quite novel.”
“The most surprising part came later. You know what my blind dates were like before. He was very gentle, and when I spouted Angie’s patriotic speech, he stayed calm without any rebuttal.”
Lev was dumbfounded. “My god, you’re joking, right? Angie’s patriotic rant didn’t make him walk out immediately? That’s a miracle.”
“That’s why he’s special.”
“Then why not give it a try?”
“He already saw five people before me. He might not choose me.
But that’s okay; I can continue doing what I want.”
Lev sighed, patted his shoulder, and walked away with his tray.
Ellis recalled the thoughtful look on the male’s face on the bridge, and his heart suddenly ached.