Chapter 45: If You Like It, Why Not Give It a Try?

In the most conspicuous spot at the center of the shop, the mannequin was dressed in the newest autumn-winter collection dress. The entire dress was snow white; the bodice, made of cashmere knit, had an adorable fluffy touch, cinching slightly at the waist, and the skirt flared out in perfect arcs. Around the waist, layers of pink tulle faded in gradient, edged with tiny sparkling crystals which, under the direct glow of the lights, scattered a galaxy across the hem.

Lu Qingyue stared, utterly captivated.

Though she was the youngest daughter in her family, she had never worn a princess dress adorned with delicate tulle. It wasn’t that she disliked them—perhaps, being the only girl at home, she simply never thought of wearing one, let alone for whom she might wear it.

Yet, as she stood beside Cheng Xingye, a sudden urge stirred in her heart.

If she wore such a dress, would he spare her a few more glances?

The thought lasted only two seconds. The next instant, her gaze drifted to the price tag above—¥1280.00.

Lu Qingyue: “!!!” Never mind!

She quickly shifted her gaze, pretending nothing had happened, deftly finding herself an escape route, “...Forget it! Suddenly my brother seems right—who wears dresses in the dead of winter? I must have had a brain freeze to even think of it!”

Not just in winter—even in summer, she no longer wanted to wear dresses!

She was just a poor student who still had to ask her parents for money—how could she afford such an expensive dress? No, she was not worthy!

Resolute, Lu Qingyue abandoned the idea of wearing the dress, tugging Cheng Xingye along as she prepared to leave, but her wrist was gently caught once more.

Hmm?

Lu Qingyue paused, glancing down at her wrist.

But before she could magnify the flutter of excitement in her heart, Cheng Xingye released her hand and instead loosely draped an arm over her shoulders, his voice lazy and coaxing, “If you like it, why not try it on?”

Lu Qingyue blinked.

In that moment, it would’ve been a lie to say her heart wasn’t stirred.

What girl wouldn’t want to wear the prettiest dress in front of someone she liked?

Besides, who said trying it on meant she had to buy it? Trying on wasn’t a crime, right? Of course not!

Lu Qingyue quickly convinced herself and nodded, “I’ll try it on, then.”

...

While waiting for Lu Qingyue to change, Cheng Xingye fished his phone from his pocket to deal with messages he hadn’t yet replied to.

His WeChat had been buzzing nonstop since he left.

The group chat was ablaze, everyone tagging him and asking why the birthday star had disappeared halfway through the party.

Chen Shujie and Lou Zhao also sent messages, pretending to ask where he’d gone, then finally dropped all pretense, directly asking if he’d taken the Lu family’s little sister away for some beastly mischief! They indignantly declared that they’d give him a crash course on the Protection of Minors Law so he’d stop lingering on the edge of crime!

Cheng Xingye lazily gripped his phone, about to tell them to shut up, when the dressing room curtain suddenly whipped open.

He instinctively looked up, his breath catching.

The girl stepped out in the snow-white dress.

The cinched waist and gradient skirt accentuated her slender figure. Below, the softly flared hem revealed a pair of long, straight legs that seemed to stretch endlessly, making it nearly impossible to look away.

Cheng Xingye blinked lightly, abruptly realizing his own gaze was inappropriate, and shifted his eyes away, unconsciously softening his breath.

He swallowed, suppressing the itch in his throat, then finally looked back into her clear, pure eyes, feigning nonchalance as he said, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Those words made Lu Qingyue’s eyes shine.

She’d always known she was pretty—her elders, classmates, and friends never failed to praise her. But compliments from the one she liked felt altogether different.

It was as if a slice of ice lemon had been dropped into a summer cola, fizzing with bubbles of joy.

Lu Qingyue knew how to take a win gracefully.

On his birthday, to let him see her at her prettiest—her wish, now fulfilled.

She pinched the skirt, struggling to hide her grinning lips, satisfied as she said, “I’ll go change now?”

“Mm.”

Cheng Xingye didn’t dare look at her any longer, his eyes drifting to the shelves, scanning them as if nothing was worthy of his attention.

No one noticed the thin flush blooming beneath his black hair.

When Lu Qingyue emerged after changing, Cheng Xingye was on the phone.

Seeing her come out, he beckoned her with a tilt of his chin.

Lu Qingyue, not thinking much of it, walked over obediently, only to see the sales assistant greet her with a smile, handing over a beautifully packaged box in a bag, “Thank you for visiting! We hope to see you again!”

Before she could react, a soft pink shopping bag appeared in her hands.

She looked down in surprise—it was the very dress she had just tried on!

Stunned, she realized it was Cheng Xingye who had bought it for her.

But why would he buy her a dress for no reason? It wasn’t even her birthday!

Lu Qingyue hurried after him, wanting to ask why he’d bought her the dress, but Cheng Xingye was on the phone the entire way, giving her no chance to speak.

He didn’t walk fast, but his height and long strides made his pace brisk—Lu Qingyue nearly had to jog to keep up.

Shopping bag in hand, she followed behind like a lively little hamster, drawing curious glances as they passed.

At first, Lu Qingyue didn’t think much of it, but after several girls tried to approach him, she suddenly realized just how attractive this man was.

Such an outstanding man, if she liked him, other girls would surely like him too.

Suddenly, she felt as if someone was eyeing the meat in her bowl, quickening her step, secretly hoping others would notice that they were together.

Cheng Xingye, still on the phone with Chen Shujie and their friends, was being pestered about when he’d return.

They reached the parking lot just as a car approached from the left. Cheng Xingye, seeing the little girl behind him running over, instinctively reached his hand back.

Lu Qingyue, jogging up, almost bumped into his back, stopping abruptly.

Noticing him reaching out while on the phone, she blinked in confusion, hesitated for a second, then handed him her shopping bag.

Was he so gentlemanly, even while busy? Offering to carry her bag?

Lu Qingyue nearly wanted to give him a thumbs-up.

Cheng Xingye, feeling something amiss, turned around and saw the shopping bag hanging from his knuckles. He paused, eyebrows raised, hung up and pocketed his phone, switched the bag to the other hand, and said, amused and exasperated, “I wanted your hand, not the bag.”

With that, he naturally took her wrist, drawing her closer as he watched the oncoming car, making sure the little scatterbrain behind him wouldn’t wander into danger.

Lu Qingyue looked down in a daze. Her wrist, hanging by her side, was effortlessly enveloped by his hand. Her breath caught.

His skin was warmer than hers; where they touched, it felt as if her skin was suddenly burning.

The left side of her body seemed to go numb, stiff and uncontrollable.

The overwhelming joy hit her like a tidal wave, leaving her dizzy and light-headed.

Lu Qingyue tried her best not to walk awkwardly, but the corners of her lips kept curling uncontrollably.

All her earlier gloom melted away, replaced by the small happiness of a girl’s wish being fulfilled without warning.