Andrew bought breakfast and hurriedly followed the map back.
He had already been delayed for quite a while; if he didn't return soon, Professor Scarlett would likely worry if he had gotten lost.
Just as Andrew suspected, when he returned to the courtyard house, Scarlett was already about to call him.
"Why did it take you so long to get back? Did you get lost?" Scarlett asked Andrew as she put away the shears she was using to trim the pine and cypress trees.
"I wandered around a bit and wasted some time, mainly because I ran into a guy named Daniel Carter."
As soon as Andrew finished speaking, he heard Scarlett's sharp and cold inquiry.
"Who?!"
Scarlett's beautiful eyebrows furrowed together, and her gaze became sharp, as if she had heard the name of an enemy.
It was Andrew's first time seeing Professor Scarlett so angry; if it were before, he would definitely be preparing to run away by now.
"Daniel... Daniel Carter, what's wrong?"
Andrew repeated nervously. He hadn't even said anything yet, just the person's name, and he didn't expect it to make Scarlett so angry.
"What did that bastard want with you? Did he do anything to you?"
Scarlett, holding the large pruning shears, walked up to Andrew and carefully checked if he was injured.
"No... nothing happened, I'm... I'm fine."
"Then why are you so scared? If he threatened you with anything, tell me, I won't let that bastard off."
Scarlett didn't want to see that beast in human clothing, Daniel Carter, at all, but if he dared to do anything to Andrew, she would never go easy on him.
"I... I'm scared because of the sc... scissors in your hand."
Andrew leaned back slightly and stammered, his right hand cautiously pointing at the large shears in Scarlett's hand.
With such a bright, sharp pair of scissors almost pressed against his neck, how could he not be afraid?
Hearing Andrew's words, Scarlett's expression faltered. She looked to the side and realized she had been too agitated and had forgotten she was still holding the shears for the pine and cypress trees.
"Um... sorry, I forgot I was still holding the scissors."
Scarlett awkwardly put away the scissors and took a step back to let Andrew stand up straight, her tone becoming a bit calmer.
"So, he didn't do anything when he ran into you?"
"That bastard seemed to be looking for you, but I said you weren't here. Then, seeing how sneaky and suspicious he looked, I intimidated him a bit, and he slunk away."
After hearing this, Scarlett snorted disdainfully, "Still the same bully who fears the strong."
Then she smiled at Andrew and said, "Well done. In the future, if you see that guy, just treat him like thin air; there's no need to pay him any mind."
"Will do."
"Let's go inside and have breakfast first."
The two sat down at the dining table. When Scarlett saw Andrew take out the fermented mung bean drink, her beautiful eyes widened significantly.
"Why did you buy bittergourd juice?"
"To try it. Isn't it a specialty of the Capital?"
"This... it's not exactly a specialty; basically no one drinks this stuff nowadays."
Scarlett didn't even know how to describe it.
"It's fine, I'll just try one cup."
"..."
Looking at Andrew's nonchalant attitude, Scarlett recalled a joke her grandmother used to make: 'bitter gourd juice is now just for outsiders who don't believe in the warnings.'
Suddenly, Scarlett became a bit curious about Andrew's reaction to drinking bitter gourd juice. So, she decided not to mention the taste, picked up a Muffins, took a small bite, and watched Andrew.
Andrew opened the lid of the bitter gourd juice; the pale green liquid looked a bit like bean soup.
However, it had a strange smell, like something spoiled and sour, though it wasn't very strong.
Smelling it, Andrew felt that it definitely wouldn't taste good, but it only made him more curious about what bitter gourd juice actually tasted like.
Andrew picked up the cup, took a small sip, and then…
"Ugh!!!"
Andrew instinctively spat out all the bitter gourd juice he had just taken into his mouth. It was a primal reaction; even his attempt to cover his mouth with his hand was a beat too slow.
"Pfft!"
Seeing Andrew's reaction, Scarlett couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"What is this stuff?"
Andrew looked at the bitter gourd juice with utter disgust. He felt like what he had just drunk wasn't a beverage at all, but rather water from a dishcloth that had been soaking in a sink for days without being washed.
"Bitter gourd juice was invented a long time ago when there was nothing else to eat. No one drinks it now; only people like you who don't believe the warnings and insist on trying it would drink it."
While explaining, Scarlett brought over some napkins. Seeing Andrew's pained expression and the few drops of bitter gourd juice remaining at the corner of his mouth, she couldn't help but laugh again.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Even if I had, you would've stubbornly insisted on trying it anyway. This way, I got to see your reaction to drinking bitter gourd juice without any psychological preparation."
After speaking with a smile, Scarlett reached out and gently wiped Andrew's mouth.
"I'll do it myself. You go back to your breakfast."
Andrew reached out to take the napkin to wipe his own mouth, but Scarlett pushed his hand away.
"No need. Just sit still, I'll do it."
After being refused, Andrew had no choice but to sit still and let Scarlett's hand gently wipe the corner of his mouth with the napkin. His gaze couldn't help but linger on her fair, delicate hand.
Even being slapped by such a beautiful hand would probably be quite…
No, no, no, what am I thinking?
Andrew suddenly realized he might have some strange fetishes and quickly suppressed that somewhat dangerous thought.
Coming back to his senses, Andrew noticed that Scarlett seemed unable to stop, so he spoke up to remind her, "There's no need to wipe anymore."
"Oh."
Scarlett also seemed to snap out of a daze, hesitantly withdrawing her hand, feeling a bit reluctant to let go.
This Little Fellow's face is so soft; he won't even let me rub it for a while longer.
So stingy.
Scarlett grumbled softly in her heart.
Andrew paid no mind to Scarlett's thoughts, assuming she had just been lost in thought.
Now, he didn't want to touch that bitter gourd juice at all. He had no choice but to eat the muffin; at worst, he'd just drink some water later.
After taking two bites of the muffins, Andrew felt a bit choked up and prepared to go pour some water.
Seeing him stand up, Scarlett asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to pour a cup of water and throw this bitter gourd juice away while I'm at it."
"No need. I'm almost finished; you can have the rest of my Iced Tea. Muffins don't taste good with water."
"Ok," Andrew nodded.