Alfred came over and placed a box tied with a pale lavender ribbon in Miaomiao's hands, smiling gently. "This is for you, Miss Miaomiao."
Miaomiao opened it. Inside lay a soft, warm knitted shawl in a delicate sea blue, its texture impossibly fine.
"The living room gets chilly at night. Put this on, and you won't feel cold." Alfred bowed slightly. "I hope you always feel safe and warm at Wayne Manor."
Miaomiao draped the shawl over her shoulders, and warmth immediately spread from her shoulders to her heart.
"Thank you, Alfred. It's really warm and comfortable."
Miaomiao loved that soft, fuzzy feeling.
Finally, only one unsigned box remained, with a tiny bat printed in the corner of its wrapping paper.
It went without saying who that gift was from.
Miaomiao stole a glance at Bruce. He was still sitting there, leisurely sipping a glass of red wine. Noticing her gaze, Bruce looked over and gave her a gentle smile.
The instant she opened the box, Miaomiao caught her breath.
Inside was a gemstone necklace. Its silver chain gleamed, and a seemingly ink-black gemstone sat at the center of the pendant.
Curious, Miaomiao lifted out the necklace. In the box, the gemstone had looked entirely black and rather unremarkable. But when she turned it slightly between her fingertips, the firelight and lamplight swept across its surface at an angle. That dense blackness seemed to part like the night, suddenly revealing an impossibly deep purple-rich, serene, and quietly regal, as though an entire midnight sea had been sealed inside.
"It's so beautiful!"
Miaomiao instinctively looked up toward Bruce, only to find that he had already come to stand before her.
Bruce bent down, gazing gently into her eyes. "This one is the closest to the color of your eyes."
Miaomiao froze