Back in the present, Yu Xiuyuan was still trying.
"That anklet is mine, at least, right? Give it back."
Yun Chuan just kept smiling, playing deaf and mute.
Yu Xiuyuan frowned as a thought flashed through his mind. An anklet?
Something seemed off.
Bracing himself against Yun Chuan's chest, he sat up a little and glared down at him.
"You knew it was an anklet all along, didn't you?"
Yun Chuan lay a little flatter so he could lean on him more comfortably.
"Mm. I knew when I bought it."
"It's from Kunning's 'Flourishing Flowers' collection. My family owns it, and I happen to be in charge of that brand."
"This anklet was the flagship piece at the time. Its slogan was 'With you every step of your life.'"
Yu Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow at Yun Chuan. "So you already had designs on me back then?"
Yun Chuan looked up into Yu Xiuyuan's eyes, his own holding a little smugness and a little regret.
"Mm. It's just a shame I couldn't put it around your ankle back then. Your wrist had to do."
Yu Xiuyuan smiled.
Then he grabbed the soft flesh at Yun Chuan's waist and twisted.
"Then why did you give me all that nonsense about working together? Making me help fend off your family's pressure to get married!"
"You jerk!"
Yun Chuan kept sucking in sharp breaths as he grabbed Yu Xiuyuan's wrist and pulled his hand away from his waist, caught between laughter and tears.
"For heaven's sake, could you think back properly? When did I ever say we were working together?"
"?"
Yu Xiuyuan was a little lost. What did he mean?
He frowned and began thinking back.
It seemed... probably... maybe he hadn't??
Watching his bewildered expression, Yun Chuan genuinely felt a little wronged.