#officially my favourite Lucien date because Pouty Boys™ are delectable | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cheri-translates · 4 years

Text

[CN] Lucien’s Ordinary Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date (平淡之约) which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

This wholesome date graced the CN Server in late April 2020 🌸

The date begins with MC outside the Lucien Bioscience Research Centre™, where she overhears some of his students gossiping talking about him

Student B: Do you ever feel like although Professor Lucien looks amiable and approachable, he’s pretty cold sometimes? He never talks about himself, and doesn’t have close relations with the other teachers.

Student A: You’re referring to how he’s polite but keeps people at a distance, right?

Student C: Kind of. I’ve seen him standing by the window by himself a few times, and although I wanted to greet him, I felt that I’d definitely be disturbing him.

Student B: Sometimes, I really can’t figure out what kind of a person Professor Lucien is...

My footsteps pause slightly. After hesitating, I continue walking towards them.

MC: Pete!

Pete: MC, are you looking for Professor? He’s just finished his work, and should be taking a break now.

MC: Mm, I brought all of you some things to eat!

I hand a paper bag of food to Pete, and he takes it with a smile while scratching his head a little awkwardly.

Pete: About what we said earlier, it was just mindless chatter...

MC: Don’t worry, I won’t tell on you guys to Professor Lucien.

I laugh, though my heart is very clear -- even I myself once found Lucien’s coldness and distance elusive, so I can’t blame them for thinking this way.

For example, I don’t know what secret experiment he’s conducting this time. Since last month, I haven’t seen him much, and we have had less contact than usual.

Whenever I asked him about it in a roundabout manner, he would always change the subject. As such, I’ve been feeling uneasy.

Student B: Are you Professor Lucien’s girlfriend? We didn’t mean to have a discussion about the Professor - we just don’t really understand him, so we couldn’t help but talk about him a little.

He pauses, revealing an embarrassed smile.

Student B: It’s rare to see such an amazing and young professor, so he really piques our curiosity.

Student A: He’s not just amazing - he can even be written into a textbook!

As they continue talking, the topic shifts to Lucien’s recent academic research.

Apart from anticipation, the sense of fulfilment of working together with Lucien is written on their faces.

MC: He gets overly engrossed in his own world sometimes, so he might come across as unsociable. But there’s no need to worry about him being difficult to get along with.

I look at them, my lips subconsciously lifting into a smile.

MC: He’s a very tender person. The most tender person I’ve ever met.

MC enters the Lucien Bioscience Research Centre™ and finds Lucien looking deep in thought, and she thinks he looks exceptionally lonely:

MC: Lucien.

I can’t help but take a step forward, calling his name softly. He seems to be jolted awake from a deep contemplation, and the gaze he sends my way carries with it a hint of astonishment.

The moment our eyes meet, I can clearly see a smile brimming and surfacing in his dim eyes.

Lucien: Why didn’t you tell me before coming here?

I walk over to him briskly, lifting up the paper bag in my hand with a grin.

MC: I brought you breakfast. There’s bread, egg tarts, butterfly pastries and a sandwich...

I open the paper bag and present the food to Lucien, and he can’t help but laugh.

Lucien: It’s just breakfast - how could I eat so much?

I place the bag on the table, then walk towards the window.

MC: Breakfast is meant to be sumptuous. If you can’t finish them, you can have them as snacks during teatime or supper. How can you get inspiration at work if you don’t have something to eat?

She opens the shutters and light pours in. He notes that the weather is good, and that he would have brought her out for a stroll if it weren’t for his ongoing experiment

Lucien: Didn’t you say that you’ve been busy with a new program recently? Did you suddenly visit because you’re facing some difficulties?

I shoot him a knowing smile, taking out a notebook from my bag.

MC: It’s what I mentioned before, about inviting a logician to do an episode...

Before I finish speaking, Lucien shakes his head and releases a soft sigh.

Lucien: ...so you really didn’t come specially to bring me breakfast.

Stunned, I frantically deny it.

MC: Of course I specially came to bring you breakfast. It’s just that I happen to have questions to consult you about.

Even after hearing this, Lucien’s brows furrow, and his voice becomes heavier, as though he has suffered a great wrong.

Lucien: ...you had a question to consult me about, which was why you brought breakfast, right? It’s been such a long time since we last saw each other, but you don’t seem to miss me at all.

MC: ...hold on a minute! That’s not what I meant. It’s not that I didn’t miss you...

At this moment, Lucien looks up, a slyness flashing across them. Only now do I realise that I got duped, and bite my lip angrily and look at him.

But this person is suddenly in a good mood, and he smiles as he takes my hand into his.

Lucien: Let’s have breakfast first.

Under my “calm” supervision, Lucien finishes three egg tarts, two slices of bread, and half of a butterfly pastry before putting an end to this somewhat sumptuous breakfast.

When he can no longer stomach any more food, a happy smile hangs on his lips.

Lucien: Please let me off this time, great producer. I know that I was wrong. Now, I really know it wasn’t that you didn’t miss me.

He leisurely prolongs the last few words. After finishing the final drop of coffee in his cup, he rests his chin on his palm and looks at the notebook in my hand.

Without giving me time to think of how to retort, he shifts the conversation topic.

Lucien: And now, I should have a look at your difficult question.

Not knowing how to react, I simply go along with him, opening the notebook and placing it on the table.

Lucien: So you were stumped by this question.

Lucien retrieves a pen from his pocket. Just before the pen touches the paper, he turns to me.

Lucien: It isn’t convenient for me to write when we’re sitting opposite each other. Would you like to sit closer?

I nod, dragging my chair over and sitting beside Lucien.

Satisfied, Lucien smiles slightly and writes down the four characters, “AEIO”, before enclosing them in a rectangle.

Lucien: You can understand simply like this: “A” represents a universal affirmative. “E” represents a universal negative. “I” represents a particular affirmative. “O” represents a particular negative.

Lucien: In this, “A” and “O” are mutually exclusive, and “I” and “E” are mutually exclusive. Between the two, one is real and the other is false. For example, when you said it wasn’t that you didn't miss me earlier...

Lucien: You were rejecting a universal negative, which means that “E” is false. In contrast, this confirms that “I” is real, which then means -- you miss me a little.

Lucien: Correct?

His low and deep voice as he explains slowly is akin to a gush of sunlight. I grow flustered as I listen, and involuntarily smile along with the slight curve of his lips.

MC: Correct.

A familiar and refreshing scent lingers in the space between our breaths. I look into his eyes, his pupils rimmed with halos, and only afterwards do I react.

Lucien is holding onto my hand, and a vague smile appears on his lips. His eyes crinkle upwards slightly, and he leans closer.

Lucien: I attended a seminar two days ago, and coincidentally bumped into Old Professor Xu whom you invited for the previous program.

Lucien: He was full of praise for you, and said you already handed over the script two weeks ago. And that you had already completed the questions on logic he posed to you.

Lucien: Such foundational theoretical knowledge - they haven’t stumped you since a long time ago.

Lucien: Yet you used this as an excuse to ask for guidance...

MC: I...

Feeling guilty, I avoid his gaze. After hesitating, I release a soft sound of acknowledgement.

With a resigned smile, he lets out a faint sigh.

Bending his forefinger, he taps my forehead gently.

Lucien: Little Liar, only knowing how to bully me.

I hurriedly lean forward to tug on the cuff of his white sleeve, softening my voice.

MC: Which is exactly why I said that I specifically came over to bring you breakfast.

Lucien: I’m not just referring to this.

Pretending to be mysterious, Lucien stares into my eyes, as though he would catch my reaction, no matter what it may be.

Lucien: Over the past two weeks, Pete has been bringing me supper. Sometimes, it’d be hot congee, and sometimes it’d be dishes with rice. He said they were take-outs, but it didn’t taste that way.

Lucien: Before, the spider plant on the windowsill was wilting. I haven’t had the time to tend to them, but when I happened to look at them a few days ago, I realised they had been changed.

Lucien: When I enter the office of the centre early in the morning, I’d find a cup of green tea on the table, appearing out of thin air.

As he speaks, he wears a contemplative expression, his eyes having a hint of bewilderment in them.

Lucien: When did I bring up a Snail Girl like you?

[Trivia] The Snail Girl is a Chinese folktale of how a kind, young farmer saved a snail. The next night, he discovered that his house had been cleaned, and that a warm meal was waiting on his table. The same thing happened over subsequent days, and the farmer decided to find out who his benefactor was. One afternoon, he spotted a pretty girl cooking at the stove. The girl revealed that she was the snail he saved, and had wanted to thank him for his kindness. They got married, loved each other deeply, and lived happily ever after

He seems to have something more to say, but stops. He simply strokes my hand with his fingers slowly, incredibly softly, and incredibly tenderly.

I feel the warmth emanating from his fingers. I feel the slight ticklishness from his touch. I understand his silence.

MC: I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.

I respond calmly, and suddenly remember the small present I gave him before, and break into an uninhibited smile.

MC: But there’s one thing you missed. I left a humidifier at the corner near the coffee table. Did you notice it?

Lucien pauses, then lets out a soft sigh.

Lucien: How could I not notice it -- also, someone filled my originally empty tea box with new tea.

Lucien: I thought that since I couldn’t make time, you probably went to buy tea on your own.

Lucien’s eyes darken. He leans forward, his forehead on mine.

Lucien: Did something happen recently?

I shake my head subconsciously -- actually, there really wasn’t anything.

He’s busy with his own matters, and we had agreed early on that he’d take me out after he’s done with his current work.

It’s just that when I didn’t hear footsteps from across the neighbouring wall even after waiting the entire night, and when I gripped my phone, knowing that he was probably working and knowing I shouldn’t bother him...

I really missed him.

I feel Lucien’s breaths on my face - both warm and moist, akin to light rainfall in spring, brushing against my heartstrings.

MC: Actually... I didn’t just miss you a little.

Lucien: ...mm, me too.

A week passes since then, and MC’s program receives exceptionally good results. Wanting to share the good news with Lucien, she immediately goes to the Lucien Bioscience Research Centre™ after work

The moment I’m near his office, I hear the sound of Pete’s laughter wafting from inside the room.

Pete: Professor, I’ve been keeping a secret for a very long time, but I’ll tell you about it today! It has to do with MC...

Hearing my name, I put down the hand which was just about to knock at the door, and furtively look into the room through the gap of the door which has been left ajar.

Lucien and Pete are sitting opposite each other, and both of them seem to be engaging in idle conversation. Pete deliberately stops at this key moment to keep his listener in suspense, and I have no idea what topic he intends to bring up.

Pete: Actually, she was the one who secretly sent the supper I’ve been bringing to you. There was once when it rained, and we thought she wouldn’t come. But in the end, she still brought all of us freshly baked cakes and biscuits. There was also a time when she realised you had finished up your tea, and helped fill it up with new tea the next day!

As he speaks, he heaves an extremely big sigh.

Pete: It’s nice to have a girlfriend...

Lucien listens quietly. When Pete starts sighing and groaning, he can’t help but laugh.

Lucien: What, are you envious?

I reach out to knock on the door softly. Lucien smiles, standing up slowly.

Pete: Professor, someone is looking for you, so I’ll take my leave.

Pete pulls open the door just as I’m about to push it. Our eyes meet, and he scratches his head a little awkwardly.

Pete: MC, you’re here... I-I definitely didn’t reveal your secret to Professor. I have a thesis to write, so I’m off!

Before I can tell him that the secret had long since been discovered by Professor Lucien, he has already fled.

Resigned, I look at his receding form along the corridor. Before I can react, Lucien pulls me into his office.

Lucien: Since you’re here at this time, is the recording over? Were the results very good?

MC: Mm~ It just ended. Although I don’t know the results of the broadcast yet, it should be a success based on past experience... but how did you know I came here for this?

Lucien: Isn’t this the tacit understanding between us? Whenever you rush over to look for me, it’s mostly because you have good news to share.

MC: How’s your experiment then?

The light in Lucien’s pupils changes for an instant, but a smile continues hanging on his lips.

Lucien: It failed.

He releases my hand and walks to the file cabinets, retrieving a huge stack of papers with the words “Experiment Report” written in bold on the cover.

I’m slightly befuddled at that moment, not knowing if he’s kidding or telling the truth.

But Lucien inserts the report, one page at a time, into the paper shredder. A whirring sound quickly fills and persists in the quiet room.

When Lucien sees the astonishment and hesitance in my eyes, the faint smile on his face remains.

Lucien: In a hundred experiments, it’s true that the success of the hundredth experiment makes one happy. But this doesn’t mean the previous ninety-nine failures were of no value.

Lucien: Just as how you’d face difficult questions when making programs, receive poor ratings, have a decline in viewership, my work often has such discouraging moments too.

Lucien: But that’s all right. Failing isn’t the important thing. Knowing that you’ve walked down the wrong path is more important.

Lucien flips through the few thin sheets of paper in his hand, the smile in his eyes deepening.

Lucien: I hope I’ll also have good news to share with you next time.

MC: But you didn’t get results even after working so hard and for so long... If it were me, I’d definitely be unhappy for a long time.

As the shredder swallows up the final page of the report, Lucien walks over to me, releasing a faint sigh.

Lucien: Actually, I am a little unhappy.

After a brief moment of thought, I extend an invitation to Lucien.

MC: Why don’t we take a walk outside? The weather is good today, and we can go for a stroll. Sometimes, my mood gets better after feeling the sun on my skin.

Lucien lets out a laugh, and agrees softly. He entwines our fingers together, and leads me out of the research centre.

Now that the weather has become warmer, there are more people walking along the street. Even though it’s a working day, passers-by stroll past in groups of three or four.

Lucien grips my hand tightly, as though worried that I might get separated from him in the crowd.

He suddenly stops in his tracks while we’re walking, and cautions me solemnly.

Lucien: Next time, don’t come out late at night on your own.

Lucien: And you’re not allowed to use alleys as shortcuts.

I was planning to make a wry face as a joke after hearing his first sentence and simply agree. But once he mentioned “alleys”, my entire heart dipped.

MC: How did you know...

The main road from the research centre to home has always been safe, and there would be several people walking around even after 10pm.

But when it rained one day, I took a shortcut through an alley as I wanted to rush back quickly.

It only happened once.

Lucien stands in front of me, laying a hand atop my head.

Lucien: How could I let you walk home alone at night without worrying?

Lucien: It’s just that if I were to accompany you home, or speak to you, I probably wouldn’t have the mood to continue with my research.

Lucien: Which is why every time, I’d only send you to the floor of the building, wait till the lights in your window turn on, and return to the research centre.

Lucien: This way, I’d have the chance to take a short break, take a slow walk, and slowly tidy up my train of thought regarding the day’s work.

MC: ...

I think of him setting down the work on hand, secretly following and protecting me as I go home, then waiting downstairs for my lights to turn on, before returning to the research centre in the dimness of night.

My heart suddenly feels upset.

My original intention was to take care of him, but I didn’t expect to make things even more inconvenient for him.

MC: I'm sorry.

Lucien shakes his head and smiles leisurely.

Lucien: Silly girl, don’t apologise. You didn’t make things more inconvenient for me.

Lucien: I liked all the surprises you brought me. I didn’t just like them - I couldn’t help looking forward to them.

Lucien: Looking forward to what gift you’d bring next, and looking forward to seeing you after a long and exhausting day of work.

Lucien: It was the most interesting experience in all my years of dry and dull, yet ordinary research life.

Lucien holds onto my hand, casting a glance in the direction we came from.

Lucien: Would you like to have ice-cream?

Only now do I notice the dessert shop selling ice-cream in front of me. After hesitating without a word, Lucien speaks.

Lucien: I do want to eat it though. Will you accompany me?

Rarely seeing such a childish side of Lucien, I immediately agree, brisk walking to the dessert shop and purchasing two ice-cream cones.

MC: Here - I’m treating you to ice-cream. Next time, I’ll give you surprises in more thoughtful ways, so you wouldn’t have to worry. The account this time shall be written off!

I hand one of the cones to Lucien before giving mine a try. The cold, sweet ice-cream melts on my tongue, and the rich strawberry flavour makes one feel incredibly happy.

At this moment, Lucien leans over--

He draws near, his lips pressed together. Under my mildly confused gaze, he gently licks the tip of my ice-cream.

The soft ice-cream suddenly becomes a short mountain peak. His thin lips part, but his eyes never leave mine.

In a second, the clamour of our surroundings seems to draw to a temporary halt. My entire vision and heart are filled with a pair of clear, deep eyes.

Lucien: Mm, delicious.

He straightens up. In a considerably good mood, his eyes crinkle, and only now does he try the matcha flavoured ice-cream in his hand.

Even though his eyes clearly have a sly smile in them, the light breeze seems to be influenced by his breath, adding on a touch of gentleness.

It renders one never knowing what to do with him...

MC: Lucien, do you still have to return to the research centre?

Lucien: The experiment is over, so I should head back to rest.

MC: What a coincidence, we’re on the way!

The corners of my lips curl upwards, and I reach out towards him--

With a faint smile and without a trace of hesitation, he takes my hand in his.

Lucien: Mm, let’s go home.

🦋 MOMENTS: ONE 🦋

Lucien’s Post: There’s a new dessert shop at the entrance of the street. When I passed by over the past two days, I saw many people in the queue.

MC: I’ll treat you to it the next time I go to the research centre.

Lucien: All right, it’s a promise.

Lucien’s Post: There’s a new dessert shop at the entrance of the street. When I passed by over the past two days, I saw many people in the queue.

MC: I’ll add it to our checklist!

Lucien: Mm, after this busy period, we’ll take a look together.

Lucien’s Post: There’s a new dessert shop at the entrance of the street. When I passed by over the past two days, I saw many people in the queue.

MC: Many people in the queue? It must be very delicious!

Lucien: Even through the words, I can already see your expectant gaze.

🦋 MOMENTS: TWO 🦋

Lucien’s Post: I wonder what tonight’s nightscape will look like.

MC: The fountain under our residential estate is open, and the elderly grandfathers and grandmothers are dancing around it.

Lucien: Hearing what you said, I really want to see it for myself.

Lucien’s Post: I wonder what tonight’s nightscape will look like.

MC: There seems to be an exceptionally large number of stars tonight.

Lucien: Will you take a picture for me?

Lucien’s Post: I wonder what tonight’s nightscape will look like.

MC: It’s a full moon today~

Lucien: No wonder I can see bright moonlight from outside the window.

🦋 TEXTS 🦋

[ Scenario One ]

Lucien: Tea personality types? Is this a new interesting quiz?

MC: I saw it in a magazine and found it interesting, so I wanted to let you see it.

Lucien: So in your eyes, what kind of tea am I?

MC: You’re plain tea - modest and delightful.

Lucien: You think too highly of me.

Lucien: But I do like plain tea. It has a mild taste.

MC: In your eyes, what kind of tea and I then?

Lucien: If it’s you...

Lucien: You should be milk tea - a new world I had never tasted before.

Lucien: However, if we were to go outside the scope of tea, you could also be fruit juice, or a carbonate drink.

Lucien: Your personality shouldn’t be limited to a specific type.

[ Scenario Two ]

Lucien: Tea personality types? Is this a new interesting quiz?

MC: I saw it in a magazine and found it interesting, so I wanted let you see it.

Lucien: So in your eyes, what kind of tea am I?

MC: ...maybe green tea? It’s just has... a certain invasive feeling.

Lucien: Green tea preserves quite a lot of the natural substances found in the tea leave. For example, polyphenols, caffeine...

Lucien: The fragrance, the rich scent.

Lucien: So in your eyes, I’m like that...

MC: It seems like no matter which tea it is, it fits your personality.

Lucien: No matter which tea it is, the most important thing is that you like it.

Lucien: Actually... I can also be coffee, or milk tea.

Lucien: In short, it fits only if it suit your tastes.

[ Scenario Three ]

Lucien: Tea personality types? Is this a new interesting quiz?

MC: I saw it in a magazine and found it interesting, so I wanted let you see it.

Lucien: So in your eyes, what kind of tea am I?

MC: Black tea of course - it makes people feel warm, and smells fragrant.

Lucien: When I was in England, I learnt ways to prepare black tea.

Lucien: When there’s time, we can try it together.

MC: I should be a green bean cake then, or a macaron... In short, the best companion for tea!

Lucien: Mm, you are the best companion.

Lucien: I suddenly feel like having afternoon tea.

Lucien: There’s no need to wait for another day. Want to look for me?

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc lucien #officially my favourite Lucien date because Pouty Boys™ are delectable

151 notes · View notes