Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Before long, James emerged from the kitchen holding an antique teapot, a proud smile on his face. He carefully placed the teapot on the table, his movements cautious and gentle, as if the tea were some extremely precious treasure. "Come on, make yourselves at home, don't be shy. You can pour your own tea; I'll be right back with some macarons," he said cheerfully.
The elderly couple nodded, watching as James disappeared into the kitchen again, exchanging puzzled glances. Although James was unusually enthusiastic, they still felt a bit uneasy. However, the teapot on the table emitted an enticing aroma that seemed to ease the subtle tension.
The old man gently picked up a teacup and poured some tea into it. The amber liquid flowed out, and the warm fragrance of tea filled the air, bringing with it a comforting scent. The old woman curiously took her cup as well, and they both sipped cautiously at the same time. The tea was warm and mellow, smoothly flowing down their throats, its flavor lingering delightfully in their mouths.
The old woman looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes as she whispered, "This tea... is really quite good; it's very fragrant."
The old man nodded. Although he wasn't as particular about tea as the old woman was, he had to admit it was indeed fine tea. "Yes, this is good tea. I didn't expect James to have such a hobby," he said softly, his expression relaxing slightly.
Just then, James reappeared from the kitchen with a plate of exquisite macarons, still wearing that smile. He placed the macarons on the table with satisfaction in his demeanor, like a gracious host. "How is it? Not bad, right?" James asked with a grin, a hint of pride in his tone. "I specially sourced this tea to pair with these French macarons; it's a perfect match."
The elderly couple looked at the colorful macarons on the table and nodded in surprise at James's hospitality. This was quite different from his usual solitary and aloof demeanor. The old woman hesitated for a moment before picking up a macaron and taking a gentle bite; the delicate sweetness spread in her mouth, creating a subtle harmony with the earlier tea.
"These macarons are really good; they go well with the tea," she remarked approvingly, her tone tinged with surprise.
"Then let's have some more tea," James said with a smile, an unusual glint in his eyes. "Eating them together with macarons makes it even better." His tone was gentle as he nudged the plate of macarons slightly, indicating they could help themselves.
The old man and woman exchanged glances again; though they still felt some unease inside, the tea and macarons were hard to resist. They lifted their teacups once more and carefully sipped again before reaching for another macaron to enjoy together. The sweet flavors temporarily made them forget their earlier discomfort.
Meanwhile, James stood by watching them enjoy their treats with a smile, his hands gently clasped together, and an increasingly profound meaning hidden in his gaze.
James raised his teacup and smiled at the elderly couple while nodding appreciatively. "I really must thank you both; if you hadn't come today, I don't know what would have happened. Thankfully, it wasn't anything serious—just a little discomfort."
The old man furrowed his brow slightly upon hearing this, still feeling a twinge of concern. He set down his teacup and leaned forward a bit, his tone filled with care. "James, you can't take this lightly. Suddenly collapsing like that—could there be something seriously wrong with your health? I think you should really get checked out; it's better than facing any unexpected issues."
James smiled faintly, his expression remaining calm and composed as he waved his hand dismissively, seemingly unconcerned by the suggestion. "Oh, it's nothing serious," he replied casually, as if it were all trivial. "I'm just getting old; my body isn't what it used to be. That's my problem. Other than that, everything is fine."
As he spoke, his smile appeared ordinary, yet it hinted at an indescribable unease. There was a subtle chill in that smile, causing the atmosphere in the room to suddenly feel heavier. The old man frowned; despite James's relaxed demeanor, his doubts lingered.
"Well..." the old man nodded, temporarily refraining from pressing further, but the unease remained in his heart. At that moment, the old woman also set down her cup. Hearing James mention "getting old," she couldn't help but chuckle softly, tinged with self-deprecation. "If it's a matter of aging, our problems must be even greater than yours! At our age, every day there's some ache here or there—just little ailments we have to endure by sheer luck."
Her laughter attempted to lighten the somewhat oppressive atmosphere, and the old man smiled faintly in agreement. However, James's expression did not relax; instead, it grew more profound. His gaze swept over the two of them, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, yet his eyes held a secretive glimmer as if something unspeakable was brewing within him.
"Yes, aging..." James's voice was low and slow. Though calm in tone, there was an imperceptible oddity in his words. He set down his teacup and gently rubbed his wrist, his tone carrying a hint of resignation and contemplation. "As people grow older, they realize many things have changed... It might be time to seriously think about how to cope with these changes."
His voice gradually deepened, almost possessing a seductive quality. There was an underlying implication in his words that sent shivers down one's spine. The laughter of the old man and woman faded away as they exchanged glances; though they didn't know exactly what James meant, his tone made the atmosphere once again feel eerie.
"Should we consider how to deal with these changes...?" the old man asked tentatively, his brow slightly furrowed and confusion evident in his eyes.
"Yes," James replied with a faint smile that mixed depth with coldness, as if he were speaking of something beyond mere aging and growing old. His tone was gentle yet carried an unnameable sense of pressure. "Every stage of life presents different challenges and dilemmas... But as long as there are ways to cope, no problem is insurmountable."
With this statement, the air in the room seemed to grow even heavier. Although James's tone was mild, an invisible aura of malevolence began to permeate the space around him. The old man and woman felt an inexplicable unease creeping in as if some unseen force was quietly stirring within the room.
The old woman gently caressed her cup as if wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent. Her sense of unease intensified while James stood before them with hands lightly clasped together; his smile appeared friendly yet exuded an undeniable sinister vibe.
"Aging is merely superficial," James added finally with a hint of cold laughter in his voice. "For some people... growing old is just the beginning."
Comment 0 Comment Count