Chapter 41
Bonnie checked the time and casually said, “We still have some time on our hands and it’s been a long time since I last brewed any tea from Mariage Frères. I guess I’ll just think of this as practice.” With that, she started brewing.
She took the tea leaves and started washing them. This was to remove any dust on its surface, but it was extremely difficult to do. One misstep could compromise its taste.
She proceeded to pour the water in and pour it out again. Every movement was effortless and swift, so as not to compromise the tea leaves in the slightest.
Next,
she brewed the tea. She did it so gracefully that the whole scene looked like a painting. She was beautiful to begin with, and she looked like an elegant deity with the aromatic scent floating through the room.
Ivor sat across from her, completely drawn in. His gaze never left Bonnie for even a fraction of a second.
“There. Enjoy.” She gave him a cup of tea. He snapped out of his trance. He cleared his throat, took the cup, and tasted the tea. His eyes widened in shock as the tea flowed down his throat.
“How does it taste?” She asked.
“Wonderful…” He looked at her in complete awe. He had never known that tea could taste this way! The tea Master Quenton had brewed paled in comparison. It was tasteless, even.
“It’s mellow, full–bodied, and there’s a hint of sweetness. As you said, you brew better tea than Master Quenton,” Ivor complimented. “How did you learn to be so impressive at brewing tea?”
“Is it
really so impressive? I just need to boil some hot water and read the color of the tea. It’s way easier than learning kickboxing with my master up on the hills.” Bonnie rested her chin on her hands.
He couldn’t believe she was an expert tea master. And to think he was trying to bring her down a little. It had ended up being her who had taken him by surprise instead!
Ivor fell silent and he felt a little embarrassed. Bonnie was an expert tea master and exceptionally good at chess. To top it off, she had learned kickboxing from Cary and was his favorite apprentice.
Any one of these accomplishments would have commanded immense respect from the entire world.
It was abrupt, but he started to cast his mind back to the things she had said to him back then.
He didn’t deserve her.
It was beginning to look like she was right. Ivor was suddenly annoyed with himself. He had been condescending to her when he hadn’t known any better.
“Let’s begin.” Bonnie sat by the chessboard.
Ivor collected his thoughts and sat down. He directed all his focus on the game of chess. They played
Chapter 41
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several matches. He won and lost some of them. They even ended a few matches in stalemates.
At one o’clock in the morning, Bonnie didn’t make a move after Ivor had ended his turn. When he raised his head, he found that she was asleep. She looked peaceful and her fair skin was tender beneath the light.
He froze and stared at her for some time, oblivious to the fact that he was looking at her with a tenderness he didn’t know he had.
The night was chilly. She could catch a cold if she slept like that.
Ivor rose slowly and walked to her, wanting to wake her up. He could smell a pleasant scent as he leaned in close. It didn’t smell like perfume. Instead, it smelled like herbs.
Confused, he lowered his head and leaned in closer. Then, her beautiful eyelashes caught his attention. They were long and curled at a charming angle.
He lowered his gaze and stared at her lips.
