Chapter 4 — Unique Scent

"That shirt... I'll pay for it. But I can't find the price, can you give me a number—"

“No need to pay.”

“… Huh?”

“The shirt does not need to be compensated.” Co Dien spoke in a bland voice as if he was talking about the beautiful weather today. “But you have to do me a favor.”

“What?”

“Go to the lab every week.”

“Go to the lab? What to do?”

“Stay with me.”

Tham Niem was stunned. Co Dien looked at her. His eyes were not the arrogance of a young master giving orders to others. But it's something else. Deeper. More quiet.

“I'm allergic to girls,” he said, “But not to you.”

He stopped for a moment.

“You are the first. I need to confirm a few things. Not once or twice, but long-term observation.”

His voice is low and even. But Tham Niem heard something hidden in his words. Not a need for scientific research. But — I'm not sure. He wasn't sure if this time was an unexpected incident or not. Not sure if she will still be effective on him next time. Not sure if the island has been lonely for 20 years, will anyone really step on it? Tham Niem moved her lips.

“In other words, you want me to be… your object of observation?”

“Not an object of observation.”

Co Dien moved his eyes away. “…Let's just say so.” His ears turned slightly red. Tham Niem saw it. She suddenly felt that this person did not seem as cold as he appeared.

“Okay.” she said.

Co Dien turned to look at her. “Agree?”

“Agreed. But I have one condition.”

“Say it.”

"You cannot treat me as a test subject. What to test, how to test, must have my approval."

“Okay.”

Co Dien stood up. He walked in front of her and stretched out his hand.

“So start now.”

“That fast?”

“Shake hands.”

He looked straight into her eyes. “The first step is always shaking hands.” Tham Niem placed her hand on his hand. His palm was very warm. The fingers retracted, grasping gently. Like holding a fragile item. She noticed that the moment she touched him, his breathing stopped for a beat. Then slowly return to normal. He bowed his head and looked at their hands. Looked for a long time. It took so long that Tham Niem began to feel his face burning.

“Okay.” He let go.

He turned around and walked to the table, picked up the notebook and took notes. The back looks extremely calm. But Tham Niem saw his hand holding the pen, the joints were slightly white. He is using force. He himself is stressed. This discovery made Tham Niem's heart skip a beat. 3 In the days that followed, going to the lab every week became Tham Niem's habit. Co Dien's "observation" is very restrained. At most it's just a handshake. Occasionally touch the arm. Each time is not long. But every time, Tham Niem felt his carefulness. When he touched her, his fingers always paused for a moment. It's like confirming — confirming this time whether there's an allergy or not. Then gently lower it. One time she asked: "Why are you so gentle every time?" Co Dien did not answer. It took a long time, so long that she thought he wouldn't answer anymore, before he spoke.

“I'm used to it.”

“Familiar with what?”

“Used to not touch others.”

His voice is very light. But Tham Niem listened out twenty years later. Twenty years of not daring to approach anyone. Twenty years of automatically keeping a distance of three meters. Twenty years of watching other people's excitement, and I'm forever an outsider. Tham Niem suddenly felt his chest being compressed by something. She looked at Co Dien's profile. He was looking at the machine screen, his expression focused. It was as if the last sentence was just said out of the blue. But Tham Niem knows that's not the case.

“Co Dien.”

“Um?”

“You could be a little stronger.”