Chapter 44

Lin Yu raised her eyes, which glistened with moisture, and looked at him. "You keep turning your phone around. You're making me dizzy."

Chen Lüli laughed in exasperation. "Oh, so it's my fault?"

Lin Yu nodded.

She hugged her pillow and watched him quietly.

Chen Lüli fell quiet too. They gazed at each other, as though they could stay that way forever.

Later, Lin Yu grew sleepy and drifted off. Chen Lüli was typing at his computer when he looked back and saw that she had fallen asleep. He left the video call on a while longer, hanging up only when his phone battery was nearly empty.

By then, it was late, around two thirty in the morning. Chen Lüli typed the last line of code, pushed his computer away, and took his pajamas into the bathroom.

Water poured from the showerhead. He braced one hand against the wall as droplets slid down his shoulder blades. A few seconds later, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, every image of her surfacing in his mind.

He tilted his neck back, and his Adam's apple, sharp as a blade, bobbed.

A long while later, a man's muffled groans could faintly be heard amid the rushing water.

The next day

Jiang Zao had finished tidying up her place, so Lin Yu brought over her whole row of High-Hanging Moon plants. Jiang Zao had cleared an entire row of space by her apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows and installed wooden shelving. She arranged the pots of High-Hanging Moon one by one and added a few other decorations, making it look especially beautiful. This time, Jiang Zao had also redecorated her apartment, making it more refined than before.

Once they were done, Jiang Zao pulled Lin Yu along to go shopping.

Several luxury malls were open. The brands that usually had lines in particular were less crowded today, and they didn't have to wait long before getting inside.

Jiang Zao wanted a new bag.

She looked through the selection.

Lin Yu didn't have much need for bags, but she looked around with her.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller's profile picture, paused, and answered. Chen Lüli's pleasant voice came through. "Are you home? I'll pick you up, and we can go see a movie."

Lin Yu was momentarily surprised. "I'm not home," she said softly.

Chen Lüli raised an eyebrow. "Where are you?"

"I'm shopping at the mall with Zaozao," Lin Yu said in a gentle, quiet voice.

Chen Lüli: "..."

A few seconds later, he asked, "How long are you planning to shop?"

Lin Yu said, "I'm not sure."

Chen Lüli laughed in exasperation. "What about me, then?"

Chapter 44

Lin Yu froze, her heart suddenly softening. After a moment's thought, she decided to coax him. Jiang Zao came over with a bag she was trying on and asked, "Yuyu, what do you think of this one?"

Lin Yu studied it carefully and was about to answer.

Jiang Zao glanced over. "Who are you talking to?"

Lin Yu was immediately at a loss for words.

The man on the other end of the phone was very quiet. He seemed to be waiting to see how Lin Yu would answer Jiang Zao too, while Jiang Zao's eyes were full of curiosity, and she glanced at Lin Yu's phone several times.

"Who is it? Who is it?"

For some reason, Lin Yu felt an intangible absurdity, as though she were being pulled in opposite directions. She met Jiang Zao's eyes and said gently and openly, "Chen Lüli."

"Oh, what did he call for?" Jiang Zao didn't think much of it at first and asked directly.

Lin Yu's expression was soft as she said, "He asked if we wanted to see a movie."

Jiang Zao blinked, stunned. "He asked us to see a movie? ...That can't be right."

Lin Yu: "..."

Only then did she realize that it didn't sound like something he would do at all. There was no salvaging that lie.

"Besides, are there any good movies out lately? They're all rereleases of old films. Though there is a sci-fi movie you like, Yuyu. You said before it was a shame you couldn't see it on the big screen." Jiang Zao took out her phone and looked through it, muttering to herself.

Lin Yu was slightly taken aback.

Chen Lüli clicked his tongue softly, and his voice came through. "Which mall are you at? Let's have dinner together tonight and see it afterward."

Hearing his low, languid voice, Lin Yu badly wanted to ask whether he'd thought of seeing the movie today because of her. But she didn't dare ask him then and there.

She covered the mouthpiece, pulled Jiang Zao aside, and asked her quietly.

After looking through the movies currently showing, Jiang Zao also realized that Chen Lüli was asking Yuyu out! Oh my god, and here I was, looking completely puzzled! She looked at Lin Yu's pretty face. But she rarely got to go shopping with Yuyu, and heaven knew how long she had been looking forward to this day. That was also why, ever since the day she had to tidy up her place and livestream, she had kept Lin Yu from bringing the High-Hanging Moon plants over.

She narrowed her eyes, a sudden urge to compete rising in her.

If you want to pursue our Yuyu, you'll have to bleed a little.

She smiled and said, "Chen Lüli, why don't you come over and pick up the tab while you're at it?"

Lin Yu was so surprised that she forgot to keep the phone covered.

In truth, covering the phone wouldn't have helped anyway; voices carried through clearly these days.

On the other end, Chen Lüli lifted an eyebrow. "Sure. Which store? Tell me."

Lin Yu wanted to say something.

But they were speaking directly to each other. Jiang Zao leaned closer and heard him, her eyes curving with excitement. Getting to fleece Chen Lüli was unprecedented.

She smiled. "The C store at MixC Bay."

"Okay," he said, then told Lin Yu, "There's a restaurant on the top floor. I've booked a table. We'll eat there tonight."

"Okay," Lin Yu said softly.

After hanging up, Lin Yu's heart was pounding. Jiang Zao blinked at her, unable to hide the excitement in her eyes. She smiled, linked arms with Lin Yu, and said, "Wonderful. I've saved a big sum today."

She looked sideways at Lin Yu. "Yuyu, you're so beautiful."

No wonder that Chen had fallen for her. Actually, she should have sensed something back when Chen Lüli gave only Yuyu the code to his home, and there was the villa last time too.

But over the past few days, she hadn't seen any progress. If Chen Lüli had broken the boundaries of their friendship, Yuyu should have been flustered.

But Yuyu wasn't, which meant Chen Lüli was probably still pursuing her.

Whatever.

If he wanted to pursue Yuyu, he had to spend money. Spending some on her best friend was only right too. She'd just say fewer bad things about him in the future.

The man had quite a few faults, so there were plenty of bad things to say about him.

"You're beautiful too," Lin Yu replied with a smile.

Jiang Zao giggled and handed the bag to A Sa. "I'll switch to another one, the one I just tried on. The popular style. I don't mind buying the required additional items."

Seeing the sudden change from her penny-pinching attitude, A Sa had a flash of understanding and immediately smiled. "Certainly."

She accepted the bag with both hands and exchanged it for the other style.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu typed out a message on her phone: Was the movie you mentioned Doomsday Heavenly Palace?

Chen Lüli: What else?

The corners of Lin Yu's lips lifted slightly.

Chen Lüli: It'll be better on the big screen.

Lin Yu smiled with her lips pressed together: Mm.

Chen Lüli: Did you pick out a bag?

Lin Yu paused, then replied: No, I'm here with Zaozao.

Chen Lüli raised an eyebrow: What style do you like?

Lin Yu: I don't use them much. I still have some at home.

Chen Lüli's eyebrows lifted slightly, but he didn't reply.

The new style Jiang Zao had chosen required additional purchases, so she picked out a silk scarf and some lipstick as well. She pulled Lin Yu over and said, "Pick one for yourself too. I think that light pink one would suit you."

It was a handbag, and it would go well with some of Lin Yu's clothes.

Lin Yu looked up at it. She remembered the one her mother had given her, which was very similar in style. "I haven't even used the one at home yet," she said.

Jiang Zao blinked and realized it too. Yuyu didn't lack bags.

She smiled. "Then I'm the only one who gets to fleece Chen Lüli."

Lin Yu smiled at Jiang Zao's expression, thinking that Jiang Zao could be very cute at times.

Jiang Zao leaned against the counter and looked outside. "When's Chen Lüli coming? Didn't he say he'd come pay?"

Lin Yu looked outside too. It was hard to imagine him appearing here. As she remembered it, he was usually at the company or in an office building.

Just then, the store manager took a call.

After hanging up, she went over to A Sa, who was serving Jiang Zao, and said something quietly. Smiling, A Sa picked up Jiang Zao's bag. "I'll wrap this up for you and put it on President Chen's account."

Jiang Zao raised an eyebrow. "You can do that? All right."

A Sa smiled and turned to fetch another bag. It was the one Jiang Zao had just pointed out, though it came with more additional items, including perfume. Once both bags were packaged, A Sa handed one to Jiang Zao and the other to Lin Yu. Lin Yu was surprised, and A Sa smiled. "President Chen said the other one is for you, Miss Lin."

Jiang Zao narrowed her eyes, then blinked.

Well.

Chen Lüli really has set his sights on our Yuyu. He's so thoughtful.

"Take it, Yuyu. You might as well. There's no need to stand on ceremony with him." Jiang Zao took the bag for her. Lin Yu was silent for a second, then accepted it. Though their relationship was underground, they were still a couple.

She smiled at A Sa. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Miss Lin, Miss Jiang. Please come again. I'll message you when new styles arrive," A Sa said with a beaming smile.

"Okay," Jiang Zao said.

She happily linked arms with Lin Yu. Spending Chen Lüli's money herself had made her a little uneasy, since she was nobody to him, but with Yuyu there too, it instantly felt only natural. While he was buying something for Yuyu, it was only right that he should curry favor with her best friend too.

The two of them left the C store.

A message came from the account with the black profile picture: Keep shopping. Come up to the top floor for dinner later.

Lin Yu: Okay.

Chen Lüli: Do you like the bag?

Lin Yu: I do.

Chen Lüli smiled and replied: As long as you like it.

Lin Yu: But I have so many at home.

Chen Lüli: One more won't hurt.

Lin Yu: Mm~

Chen Lüli looked at the tilde she'd sent. Cute. I want to kiss her.

When Jiang Zao learned that Chen Lüli wasn't coming over now and would see them at dinner instead, she was happy again. This man knew how to play his cards. She still had a few sets of underwear to buy and had been about to give up on them, but now she could pull Yuyu along to choose them. Shopping with her best friend was the most comfortable and enjoyable thing, and they could give each other opinions too.

They visited a few more stores and bought some odds and ends. When they checked the time again, it was growing dark outside, and it was nearly six.

Chen Lüli sent the restaurant's address.

Lin Yu pulled Jiang Zao upstairs. The restaurant on the top floor was a Chinese restaurant with a lovely atmosphere, but it also required reservations. The two walked through the entrance and around a screen, and saw a man sitting in the corner. Dim light fell on him as he sat there in a white shirt.