Volume One, Chapter 26: A Day of Shopping

From the moment Lin Feifei appeared, I clearly felt several gazes fall upon her. But when she came over and sat beside me, those looks shifted toward me—and suddenly, they weren’t quite as friendly. A hint of jealousy crept in, which made me feel pressured, yet secretly proud.

I slid a cup of oat latte toward Lin Feifei. She gave a small apologetic smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting so long.”

I smiled slightly. “I already guessed you’d be late.”

She blinked in surprise. “Really? How did you know?”

Looking at her delicate makeup, I chuckled, “First date, you’d want to dress up carefully! I understand, but it’s really not necessary.”

“Pfft! Makeup isn’t for you! It’s out of respect for shopping. How is that unnecessary?”

“With your looks, makeup makes you charming and alluring; without it, you’re like a fresh lotus blossom. Please, give the other women a chance!”

Lin Feifei’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I do appreciate your straightforward honesty.”

Then she grabbed her coffee and stood. “Come on! I’ll help you pick out some clothes.”

We stepped into a lightly upscale men’s clothing store. Lin Feifei browsed left and right, holding up several pieces to try on, but shook her head each time.

I casually glanced at the price tags and felt my head spin—just one piece here cost half a month’s salary.

At that moment, Lin Feifei pulled another item off me. I couldn’t help but say, “These clothes don’t really suit me. How about we check somewhere else? I saw my usual brand nearby is having an off-season sale—fleece jackets for 149.”

Lin Feifei rolled her eyes. “Who buys fleece?”

“You don’t get it! Fleece is like mink for us poor folks!”

Lin Feifei chuckled and instinctively flicked me lightly on the arm. Her casual touch made me feel as if scratched by a cat.

She turned to pick up a casual suit and shirt, telling the salesperson, “I’ll take this set. Please bring new ones.”

Once the salesperson walked away, maybe sensing I might feel uneasy, she smiled warmly and said, “This outfit is a gift from me, for coming with me to the wedding. Don’t read too much into it.”

I shook my head, adopting a serious tone. “Did you say that just to spare my pride?”

Lin Feifei froze, her cherry-like lips opening wide. “I... I didn’t mean it that way! Please don’t misunderstand!”

I took a deep breath, meeting her astonished expression, speaking slowly and clearly:

“I solemnly tell you, if you said that to protect my pride, you’re overthinking it. You could give me even more—I honestly wouldn’t mind.”

“…”

Lin Feifei laughed, slightly exasperated. “Why are you so sarcastic?”

“Trust me, I’m really poor! I just got a job recently. I was so worried before, I felt like even beggars at the bridge were showing off in front of me.”

Lin Feifei smirked, suppressing a grin. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Of course, I’m not the most miserable.”

“You know that’s true. Sometimes you have to look beyond yourself. Think about the delivery guys braving the rain, or the couriers who start early and finish late—they work much harder than we do.”

“Yeah! Whenever I feel down, I just look at my wallet. It’s so pitiful—it’s barely seen any money in my whole life.”

“…”

After buying the clothes, we stepped out. Lin Feifei said she was hungry, finally giving me a chance to treat her. She didn’t hesitate and accepted straightforwardly.

Being in a bustling commercial area, there were many upscale restaurants with high average prices. I asked her what she wanted to eat, and she led me through winding streets to a modest noodle shop.

Standing outside, I stared at the unassuming storefront in disbelief. “You want to eat here?”

Lin Feifei’s face fell, and she rubbed her flat stomach, sighing.

“Can’t help it. I’m starving and almost couldn’t walk anymore.”

I fell silent, emotions swirling inside me. As soon as I offered to pay, she brought me here—saving me money while preserving my pride. I hadn’t realized this quirky flight attendant was so sensitive underneath.

“What are you thinking? Let’s go!”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.

We ordered two bowls of beef noodles. Lin Feifei seemed to read my mind. While snapping open disposable chopsticks, she smiled warmly and said, “Don’t get too touched! I just really like this place’s beef noodles. If you feel awkward, maybe you should add something extra?”

She raised an eyebrow at me, implying, “You know what I mean, right?”

I nodded vigorously, then called out to the busy owner, “Boss, one bowl with extra cilantro, please.”

“…”

Despite the teasing, I ended up ordering two small side dishes. When the cold dishes and noodles arrived, Lin Feifei’s eyes lit up.

I pulled out some napkins and offered them with a gentlemanly air.

Lin Feifei smiled brightly. “Thanks. Didn’t expect you to be so gentlemanly.”

I smiled back softly. “I didn’t expect you to drool while eating.”

“Annoying!”

Lin Feifei rolled her eyes and ignored me, focusing on her meal.

Midway through, she glanced up at me, noticing how fast I was eating. She looked surprised and asked, “How can you eat so fast?”

I grinned, wiping my mouth. “I’ve got to hurry! I’m afraid once you finish, you’ll go after my bowl!”

“…”

Lin Feifei rolled her eyes again—so many eye-rolls today, she could almost roll them into the sky.

Suddenly, her phone rang. After replying to a message, she smiled and said, “My best friend just asked where I am! She might come find me later. You better not get too excited when you see a beautiful woman!”

I slowly put down my chopsticks and looked at her boldly. “If she’s not as pretty as you, I probably won’t be too shocked. Honestly, I don’t expect much from your friend—there aren’t many who can outshine you.”

Lin Feifei’s face lit up with joy. “You’re really cheeky! How do you say such shameless things?”

“I’m just telling the truth! Don’t you agree?”

Lin Feifei laughed like a blooming flower. Though she knew I was joking, she could only nod in assent.

After the meal, Lin Feifei was reenergized. She grabbed my hand, eager to keep shopping. She said she’d arranged to meet her best friend at a luxury store. Hearing she’d have company, I finally felt saved.

I was quietly relieved, but as soon as we stepped into the luxury store, Lin Feifei’s expression suddenly darkened. She grabbed me and hurried us back outside.