CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 393: CAN EATING MAKE YOU CRY?

At the moment of making the "pucker" motion.

Xu Pengcheng’s brows slightly furrowed, but soon relaxed.

Of course, this relaxation did not reach a complete state of ease, but still maintained a certain vigilance.

[Throat swallowing.]

[The Adam’s apple moved up and down quickly in small amplitude.]

[There was no noticeable change in the nostrils and the corners of the mouth.]

[It was swallowing caused by tension, not by rejection.]

The situation was clearly getting better.

Nan Zhubin continued, "When our lips touch this little thing, what is its texture, hardness, and moisture like?"

"Does this sensation match what you initially imagined?"

Again, these sentences were meant to guide thought.

Xu Pengcheng’s brows remained still, but beneath his closed eyes, his eyeballs were rapidly moving, causing his eyelashes to tremble.

Nan Zhubin took a deep breath.

The most crucial part was about to begin.

"If you feel safe, we can try gently moving our lips to suck this small object inside."

"But, let’s not rush to chew it."

Nan Zhubin’s voice became increasingly gentle, already having the quality of a lullaby.

If it weren’t for his constant verbal guidance on Xu Pengcheng’s subsequent actions and his deliberate control of his volume, Xu Pengcheng would likely have fallen asleep the next second.

In this state, Xu Pengcheng instinctively followed Nan Zhubin’s guidance, holding the raisin in his mouth.

"Let’s pay attention to how this little thing makes contact with our teeth, how it touches our tongue?"

"Like holding a melting snowflake, we try to feel its temperature change from cold to warm."

"We also need to observe how saliva is being secreted in the mouth right now?"

"Do the tongue, teeth, and throat each have any special reactions?"

Nan Zhubin observed the changes in Xu Pengcheng’s expressions.

"If the urge to swallow arises, we can pause for three breaths for now. Afterwards, you can choose—"

"One, spit it out and wrap it in a tissue as a souvenir of the practice; of course, it’s alright to just throw it away."

"Or we can choose—Two, gently bite it with your teeth."

As Nan Zhubin’s words concluded.

The ongoing movements of Xu Pengcheng suddenly halted.

You could see his breathing starting to become heavy, as he followed Nan Zhubin’s guidance of the "three breath cycles," contemplating.

The rest of his body seemed like a paused robot, suddenly coming to a standstill.

As if waiting, or gathering strength.

Under Nan Zhubin’s expectant gaze.

Xu Pengcheng’s jaw slightly contracted, and the muscles around his cheeks subtly protruded.

The chewing began.

"If we chose to bite down."

Nan Zhubin felt a burst of joy inside, yet his tone remained improbably steady.

"We can observe how the teeth cut through it. Feel the process of it breaking down between the teeth, experiencing the movement of the oral muscles with each chew."

"How does the flavor inside seep out?"

"Is the seeping flavor sour, sweet, or a weaving blend of both?"

"Is there any change in the secretion of saliva in the mouth now?"

"Try to make the motions three times slower than usual, as if you’re unraveling its life’s story through each chew..."

Gulp—

Xu Pengcheng’s throat swallowed forcefully.

This time, it was neither due to [tension] nor [repulsion].

Yet this swallow did not send the raisin down.

He continued chewing.

Very slowly, as if cherishing a hard-won treasure, determined to absorb every inch of its goodness into his body.

"If we’ve now developed an intention to swallow, let’s not hurry—"

"Let us mindfully experience, is there any subtle change in the taste with each chew?"

"In this process, think about how this intention to swallow arose?"

Nan Zhubin observed the changes in Xu Pengcheng’s body language.

[Front neck muscles contracted slightly.]

[Cheek muscles tightened.]

[Breathing rate increased.]

[Inhibitory restraint.]

The student in front seemed unable to resist swallowing the contents in his mouth any longer.

He was even more anxious than Nan Zhubin.

Nan Zhubin chuckled softly in his heart, "If you think the time is now, you can continue with whatever actions you want to do."

Gulp—

Following Xu Pengcheng’s actions, Nan Zhubin began wrapping up this stage, "Now, let us feel the sensation of it slowly sliding down from the root of the tongue."

"Sliding down the throat, eventually entering the stomach."

Nan Zhubin’s description was detailed beyond measure, "Pay attention to what kind of experience it brings you during this process? Has the body undergone any new changes?"

...

Changes.

There certainly were changes.

At the very instant it was swallowed.

Xu Pengcheng shuddered as if electrified.

His entire body became agitated in an instant, as if mere sparks were suddenly fueled, his whole being began to burn anew.

Then.

Around his eyes, like a parched land meeting a sweet rain.

Little by little.

Moistened.

Even though Xu Pengcheng was in agitation all over.

He still maintained his closed-eye posture, sunk into the sofa.

His whole demeanor exhibited a paradoxical yet serene agitation.

...

This [Mindfulness-Based Raisin Exercise], formally concluded.

The final stage, also the closing stage—[Resource Strengthening and Acceptance]

"Now, please shift your attention from the object of practice to the entire body—"

"Feel the contact between the feet and the ground, listen to the faintest sounds in the room, perceive the friction of clothes against the skin."

Nan Zhubin looked at the ambivalence of Xu Pengcheng’s entire temperament at the moment.

Softly said:

"Whatever feelings the experience just brought, say to yourself: ’I thank my body for accompanying me to complete this practice, whether it’s tense or calm at this moment, it deserves gentle acceptance.’"

"When you’re ready, you can gently open your eyes."

Stopping at this point, Nan Zhubin paused briefly.

"The emphasis of this practice has never been on the food itself, but on the discovery that you possess an ability at this moment—"

"—an ability to see and protect oneself even in the eye of the storm."

As Nan Zhubin’s words fell silent, Xu Pengcheng didn’t immediately open his eyes.

Instead, he waited for several breaths.

Then, he met Nan Zhubin’s eyes.

While Xu Pengcheng’s body language was ambivalent,

His gaze, at this moment, was singularly pure.

It was a kind of [yearning].

Gulp—