Lin Feng stood at the gate, waiting.
A few minutes later, a familiar figure approached.
He observed her as she drew closer and noticed immediately - she had changed her outfit. Her hair was styled differently too, with more care than usual.
It seemed she was taking this seriously.
Now he felt a little bad for taking advantage of her.
"Hey," he greeted as she stopped before him. "You always look beautiful, but today you're even more beautiful than your usual self."
Su Yue's cheeks flushed pink. She looked away, fidgeting slightly.
"F-Flattery won't get you anywhere," she muttered.
Before she could say more, he reached out and took her hand.
She froze, eyes widening.
"There will be many people doing the same thing we're doing today," he explained calmly. "I don't want us to get separated."
She looked down at their interlocked fingers, then back up at him.
"...Okay," she nodded quietly.
The two of them left together.
...
The next few hours passed in a blur.
They wandered through the crowded streets, weaving between shoppers stocking up before the holiday closures. Store after store. Display after display.
Well, it was mostly Su Yue doing the shopping.
Lin Feng mostly just accompanied her, carrying bags and offering the occasional opinion when asked. She seemed to be enjoying herself, eyes lighting up at various items, debating prices with vendors, and comparing products.
Finally, they arrived at a clothing store.
Lin Feng turned to her, a casual expression on his face.
It seemed like a coincidence.
But it had been his plan all along.
"You said your fashion sense was quite good, right?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, why?"
"Why don't you help me pick out a few clothes?"
"Sure," she agreed without hesitation.
The two walked in together.
...
A saleswoman approached them almost immediately, her professional smile bright and welcoming.
"Good afternoon! Are you two a couple?"
"Couple?" Su Yue stammered, her face turning red. She looked down at her feet, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
Lin Feng smiled.
"Not yet," he said.
Su Yue's head snapped up, eyes wide.
"Can we still enjoy the couple's discount?" he continued smoothly.
The saleswoman observed the two of them - the blushing girl, the calm young man still holding her hand.
"Of course," she said with a knowing smile.
Su Yue exhaled quietly.
So that's what he was trying to do.
Even so...
Lin Feng leaned closer to her ear.
"Do your thing," he whispered.
She felt her face heat up again.
Quickly, she separated from him, composing herself. Her expression shifted into something more confident. More professional.
"Leave it to me," she declared.
She turned to the saleswoman.
"Show me everything you have for men."
...
What followed was a whirlwind.
Su Yue moved through the store like a general commanding troops. She pulled shirts from racks, held pants up against Lin Feng's frame, dismissed options with a shake of her head, and selected others with a decisive nod.
Lin Feng found himself shuffled in and out of the changing room repeatedly.
Each time he emerged, Su Yue and the saleswoman would observe him critically. Sometimes they exchanged glances and nodded in approval. Other times, Su Yue would frown and wave him back in to try something else.
"The color doesn't suit him."
"This cut is better."
"Hmm, try the darker one instead."
Lin Feng felt less like a customer and more like a mannequin being dressed by two very particular designers.
Not that he minded.
...
After what felt like an eternity, they were finally done.
Lin Feng stood at the counter as the saleswoman tallied up the purchases.
He glanced at the total and winced internally.
3,000 yuan.
More than he had expected.
He paid without complaint, gathered the bags, and headed for the exit with Su Yue beside him.
The saleswoman bowed deeply behind them.
"Thank you for your patronage! Please come shop with us again!"
...
The two walked through the streets, chatting casually as the afternoon sun began its descent.
Talk of clothes shifted to talk of classes. Classes shifted to roommates. Roommates shifted to holiday plans. The conversation flowed easily and naturally.
The wall between them had been practically nonexistent but now it was even more so.
Before long, they arrived back at the campus gate.
The couple stopped.
Lin Feng turned to face her.
"Close your eyes," he said.
Su Yue blinked. "What?"
"Just close them."
She hesitated for a moment, then complied.
Her heart began to race.
Is he really going to...
She felt movement in front of her. Something light touched her hair.
"Done," he said.
She opened her eyes, confused.
Lin Feng reached into one of the bags and pulled out a small mirror. He held it up before her face.
Su Yue saw her reflection - and the delicate hair accessory now adorning her hair.
Her mouth fell open.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"It looks so cute!" she exclaimed, snatching the mirror from his hands. She tilted her head left, then right, admiring herself from different angles. "When did you even buy this? We were together the whole time!"
"That's a trade secret," he said with a slight smile.
"Hmph." She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "Do you have experience buying gifts for girls?"
Lin Feng scratched his cheek, looking genuinely embarrassed for once.
"Actually... you're the first girl I've bought a gift for. Apart from my mom."
Su Yue froze.
"First?" she repeated softly, her cheeks flushing deeper than before.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"Umm..." She clutched the mirror to her chest, unable to meet his eyes. "Yes. I like it. Very much." She paused. "I love it."
"That's good to hear," he said with a warm smile.
She nodded, still not looking at him.
A moment of silence passed between them.
"Anyway," Lin Feng said, breaking the spell. "Thanks for hanging out with me today."
He handed her the bags he had been helping carry.
"See you again later."
"Mm. Yeah." She nodded quickly, accepting the bags.
Then she turned and hurried away, practically fleeing through the gate.
Lin Feng watched her go, a gentle smile on his face.
...
When she had completely disappeared from sight, his expression shifted.
The warmth faded, replaced by something more serious.
The damage: 3,500 yuan.
The accessory had cost 500 yuan. Not overly expensive, but not cheap either.
He had bought it mostly because he felt bad.
Su Yue clearly had feelings for him. That much was obvious now. But his feelings for her... they belonged to his past life. Feelings he had given up on long ago.
Part of the reason he had asked her out today was to confirm this.
To make sure he wasn't just kidding himself.
But now he knew for certain.
He was…