10: Chapter 10 Baolan Borrows Salt: Breaking the Ice Between Neighbors

In the private room, the six of them hugged each other and wept.

Qian Xu walked out of the cafe and took a deep breath.

The spring wind in Seoul was still a bit chilly.

He glanced at his phone.

Five-thirty in the afternoon.

Time to go home.

He drove back to Cheongdam-dong and parked the rolls-royce cullinan in the underground garage.

He took the elevator upstairs.

He was the only one in the elevator.

It was quiet.

He watched the floor numbers change.

The 18th floor.

He had arrived.

He opened the door and walked into his new home.

It was a 240-square-meter penthouse.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the skyline of Seoul glowed golden in the sunset.

Qian Xu changed into his slippers and walked to the kitchen.

He opened the fridge.

It was empty.

He had just moved in yesterday and hadn't bought anything yet.

He sighed.

It seemed he would have to make a trip to the supermarket.

Just as he was about to leave, the doorbell rang.

"Ding-dong—"

Qian Xu paused, stunned.

Who would come looking for him?

He walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

It was Jeon Bo-ram.

She was wearing a pink hoodie, and her hair was tied up into a messy bun.

She was bare-faced.

She was holding a small bowl in her hand.

Qian Xu opened the door.

"Boram-xi?"

Jeon Bo-ram looked up at him, her face slightly flushed.

"Mr... Mr. Qian."

"I'm sorry to bother you."

"What's the matter?"

"Well..."

Jeon Bo-ram looked down at the bowl in her hands.

"I've run out of salt."

"I wanted to cook, but I discovered the salt jar was empty."

"The supermarket downstairs is too far..."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter.

"Could I borrow some salt?"

Qian Xu looked at her.

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the doorway, wearing an oversized hoodie.

She was bare-faced, and her skin was glowing.

Her eyes were large, and her eyelashes were long.

She looked just like a high school student.

Who would have guessed that she was already thirty years old?

"Of course."

Qian Xu turned and walked into the kitchen.

He opened the cabinet.

He found a bag of unopened salt.

He poured some into Jeon Bo-ram's bowl.

"Is that enough?"

"That's enough, that's enough."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded quickly.

"Thank you, Mr. Qian."

"You're welcome."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"Do you live alone?"

"Yes."

Jeon Bo-ram nodded.

"Eunjung Unnie went back to her own place today."

"She told me to try living on my own for a bit."

"And the very first meal I tried to make got stuck on the salt..."

She smiled sheepishly.

Qian Xu smiled as well.

"Can you cook?"

"A little."

Jeon Bo-ram scratched her head.

"It's just not very good."

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Wait here a second."

He turned and walked into the kitchen.

He opened the fridge.

It was empty.

Right, there was nothing in the fridge.

He walked to the pantry.

He fished out a bag of frozen dumplings.

They were a gift from the Chinese supermarket when he moved in yesterday.

"Here, take these."

Qian Xu handed the dumplings to Jeon Bo-ram.

"Chinese dumplings."

"You should try them."

Jeon Bo-ram was stunned.

"This... I couldn't possibly."

"I'm borrowing salt, and you're giving me dumplings."

"Just take them."

Qian Xu pressed the dumplings into her hands.

"I can't finish them by myself anyway."

"Besides, these are Chinese dumplings; you might not have tried them before."

Jeon Bo-ram looked down at the dumplings in her hands.

The packaging had Chinese characters on it.

She couldn't read them.

But it felt very heartwarming.

"Thank you, Mr. Qian."

She looked up, her eyes sparkling.

"Next time... next time I'll treat you to a meal."

"I've learned how to make Korean food, so I'll treat you to that."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

"I'll look forward to it."

Jeon Bo-ram's face flushed red again.

"Then I'll head back now."

"How long do I need to boil the dumplings?"

"Once the water boils, cook them for eight minutes."

"Okay."

Jeon Bo-ram turned to leave.

Then she turned back.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Have you... have you had dinner yet?"

Qian Xu paused.

"Not yet."

"Then..."

Jeon Bo-ram bit her lip.

"Would you like to eat together?"

"I'll boil the dumplings and share half with you."

Qian Xu looked at her.

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the doorway, cradling the salt and the dumplings.

Her face was flushed, and her eyes were bright.

She looked like a little rabbit summoning up her courage.

"Okay."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Wait for me to change my clothes."

Two minutes later.

Qian Xu, wearing a casual T-shirt, appeared at Jeon Bo-ram's door.

The door was open.

Jeon Bo-ram was busy in the kitchen.

The water in the pot was boiling.

She carefully dropped the dumplings in.

"Boram-xi."

"Ah!"

Jeon Bo-ram was startled.

"You're here."

"Come on in."

Qian Xu walked in.

Jeon Bo-ram's home had the same layout as his downstairs.

But the interior design was completely different.

It was pink-themed.

The sofa was covered in plush toys.

There were snacks and drinks on the coffee table.

Under the coffee table, there was even a pair of socks that hadn't been put away yet.

Qian Xu pretended not to see them.

"Your place is so cozy."

"Really?"

Jeon Bo-ram smiled sheepishly.

"I live alone, so I just set it up however."

"Eunjung Unnie says it's too messy every time she comes over."

"I think it's pretty nice."

Qian Xu walked to the kitchen doorway.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, no need."

Jeon Bo-ram waved her hands.

"You just sit down."

"It'll be ready in a moment."

She turned to look at the pot.

The dumplings were tumbling in the boiling water.

Jeon Bo-ram held a skimmer, looking a bit nervous.

"This... when is it considered done?"

"Once the water boils, add a splash of cold water."

"Once it boils again, it's ready."

"Oh, oh."

Jeon Bo-ram followed his instructions.

She added cold water.

She waited for the water to boil again.

"It's ready!"

She exclaimed excitedly.

She used the skimmer to scoop out the dumplings.

She plated them.

"Looks good."

Qian Xu complimented her.

Jeon Bo-ram served them at the table.

Two plates of dumplings.

Two pairs of chopsticks.

The two of them sat down facing each other.

"I'll dig in."

Jeon Bo-ram picked up a dumpling.

She blew on it.

And took a bite.

"Mmm!"

Her eyes lit up.

"So delicious!"

"What's the filling?"

"Pork and cabbage."

"It's so fresh!"

Jeon Bo-ram ate another one.

"Chinese dumplings are different from Korean dumplings."

"Korean dumplings have thick skins and little filling."

"Chinese ones have thin skins and lots of filling."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Eat more if you like them."

"Mm-hmm!"

Jeon Bo-ram ate happily.

Her cheeks were bulging.

She looked like a little hamster.

Qian Xu watched her.

He suddenly felt very calm inside.

Yesterday, he was still an unemployed Chinese man.

Today, he had a house, a car, and a company.

And he was sitting there eating dumplings with a girl group member.

Life was truly wonderful.

After finishing the dumplings,

Jeon Bo-ram cleared the bowls and chopsticks.

"I'll wash them,"

Qian Xu said.

"No, no need, I'll do it."

"You're the guest."

Jeon Bo-ram insisted.

Qian Xu didn't argue further.

He watched her tie on an apron and stand at the sink.

A small figure.

Humming a tune.

She seemed to be in a very good mood.

"Mr. Qian."

"Hmm?"

"Why did you come to Korea?"

Qian Xu thought for a moment.

"Because of work."

"And then?"

"Later, I resigned."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want to be bullied."

Jeon Bo-ram turned her head to look at him.

"You were bullied?"

"Yes."

"Koreans bullied you?"

"Yes."

Jeon Bo-ram was silent for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"I know."

Jeon Bo-ram lowered her head to wash the dishes.

"But I'm Korean."

"I feel sorry."

Qian Xu looked at her.

"You don't need to apologize."

"Every country has good people and bad people."

"I happened to meet bad people."

"But I also met you, and Ms. Eun-jung."

"You two are good people."

Jeon Bo-ram lifted her head.

And smiled.

"Mr. Qian, you're really kind."

"Just call me Qian Xu."

"Qian Xu..."

Jeon Bo-ram said the name once.

"That's a nice name."

"Your name is nice too."

"Jeon Bo-ram, Jeon Bo-ram."

"Like a blue gemstone."

Jeon Bo-ram blushed.

"You... don't compliment me."

"I'll get embarrassed."

Qian Xu smiled.

After washing the dishes,

Jeon Bo-ram walked Qian Xu to the door.

"Thank you for today."

"The dumplings were delicious."

"Next time, I'll treat you to Korean food."

"I'll learn how to make it, and I promise it'll be good."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Okay, I'll look forward to it."

"Good night, Boram-xi."

"Good night, Qian Xu."

Jeon Bo-ram stood at the doorway.

She watched Qian Xu walk into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed.

She closed the door.

She leaned against the door.

Her heart was beating a bit fast.

She picked up her phone.

She sent a message to Ham Eun-jung.

"Unnie."

"I borrowed the salt."

"Mr. Qian even gave me some Chinese dumplings."

"They were so delicious."

Ham Eun-jung replied quickly.

"Oh?"

"He gave you dumplings?"

"Yes."

"And then what?"

"Then we ate together."

"He even said my name sounds nice."

Ham Eun-jung sent a giggling emoji.

"Boram-ah."

"Hmm?"

"Do you like him?"

Jeon Bo-ram's face flushed red instantly.

"Unnie!"

"What are you saying!"

"I just... I just think he's a good person."

"Oh~ a good person~"

Ham Eun-jung continued to giggle.

"Then next time you treat him to dinner, call me."

"I'll help you see what kind of person he is."

Jeon Bo-ram was flustered.

"Unnie!"

"I'm not talking to you anymore!"

She put down her phone.

Her face was burning.

She walked to the window.

And pulled back the curtains.

The light next door was still on.

Qian Xu probably hadn't gone to sleep yet.

Jeon Bo-ram looked at that window.

The corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.

"Qian Xu..."

She whispered his name softly.

"Good night."