3 [i] Oranges For Breakfast

"Mother, Father," I began, "I'd like to go to the Eastern Winds Beach with Mei Zhen."

Mother gasps happily as she quickly puts down the clay mug of tea she held. "Are you already planning your honeymoon, Li Jun?! Oh my, I'm so excited for you two!"

I wave my hands. "No, no! Not yet. I just want to get to know her. I need to have a break from work so I could get to know my wife. I can't just leave her in the house. It's like leaving a stranger in your house while you spend most of your day outside."

Father nods understandingly, "That's nice to hear. Did you tell Mei Zhen about this?"

I shook my head, fingers wrapped around my mug, "No, not yet."

"So how was your first night with Mei Zhen?" Mother asked.

The question sounded so wrong, I looked down to avoid looking at my Mother smirking. Father smiled along with her. The two of them were still quite playful despite their age. I finally had the courage to look back at them and replied, "It was alright. I just learned that she's afraid of thunderstorms."

Father raised his eyebrow. "Oh? How did you learn that?"

"There was a thunderstorm last night. Mei Zhen asked if I could sleep with her."

Both of their eyes grew wide and I immediately felt my face growing hot. "NOT LIKE THAT!"

The two of them laughed. Chao-Xing, our head servant, entered the dining hall with a tray full of pastries. Indeed, I was having breakfast with my parents. I leaned over to Chao-Xing and asked her, "Is Mei Zhen awake?"

She seemed surprised as she replied, "Ms. Mei Zhen woke up a few hours ago. She went to the market with the other maids."

"Oh?" Mother asked. "That's quite early. You didn't notice that your wife was missing, Li Jun?"

"N-No," I replied, surprised as well. "I thought she was having her bath. I didn't know she left early."

"You could've greeted her good morning like how I always do with your mother," Father adds, glancing at Mother with a smile. Mother giggled like a young girl and gently slapped Father's shoulder. "Oh, Ju-Long~"

"When will she return?" I asked Chao-Xing.

"Very soon. The market isn't too far." Chao-Xing replied.

Father and Mother stood up, pushing back their chairs. I stood up, "Are you both leaving already?"

Mother nodded, taking two biscuits from the tray, "I need to run a few errands. Don't worry, Li Jun. Your father and I will inform your workers that you'll be away for the month. Maybe your cousin Xiao-Fen will take over. Take care!"

And just like that, they left. A few seconds later, I hear a group of people entering the kitchen. I looked towards the room and see a group of maids entering with heavy bags full of vegetables and meat. Among them was Mei Zhen, her hair braided and a smile on her face as she laughed with the other servants.

"Mei Zhen?" I muttered a little too loudly.

She turns towards me once she heard her name. She slightly blushes (or was I imagining it?) and replies, "Good morning, Li Jun."

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"I'm sorry I didn't tell you ahead," Mei Zhen began as she peels oranges she brought home. There was a lot in a bowl and we each decided to eat some for breakfast. Her fingers carefully peel the skin and pull it off perfectly, not a single piece sticking on to the fruit. I didn't know how to peel oranges since my Mother always did it for me back then. Mei Zhen noticed and she gently takes the orange from my hands. The fruit looked like it was peeled off by a savage animal. Or maybe, animals knew how to peel oranges better than I did.

"Here," Mei Zhen began, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. That one action alone made me hold my breath. She takes a table knife beside her and pokes the knife in the fruit, slicing down. She puts down the knife and opens up the orange, revealing a row of perfect pieces. I gaped at it, my reaction making her giggle.

"Here," she hands me another orange. "Give it a try."

I take the orange and the knife and follow what she just did. I felt the knife leaning against a piece and use it as a guide. Finally, I pull the knife out and open the orange, revealing a row of pieces. I happily showed it to her and she clapped her hands.

I pull a piece and toss it in my mouth, "Sorry. Mother always did it for me when I was young."

"That's alright," she reassures. "I used to teach my Father how to do it with my hands only. But then I learned that you could also use the knife and it was easier."

She pulls a piece from her orange and eats it, "Speaking of Father, I bumped into him in the market this morning."

"Oh?" I said.

She then started to blush, "He was asking when our h-honeymoon would be."

My face felt hot again. I wouldn't exactly use the word 'honeymoon' just yet. I need to know more about Mei Zhen. She stands up and gathers all the orange skins. "I'll throw these and help the maids with the food. You don't have to answer the question."

"We're having it in the Eastern Winds Beach," I replied almost too instantly. "But we can change the location if you--"

"WE"RE GOING THERE?!" Mei Zhen screamed excitedly. She squealed, "I always wanted to go there!"

She blushed and lowers her head. "Sorry. I got carried away."

I laughed, happy that she was excited for the trip. "That's alright. I'm excited too."

She smiles and heads to the kitchen. But then she stops and turns around.

"T-Thank you, by the way, for k-keeping me company last night."

I smiled warmly. "You're welcome."

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