The young nobles of Wuling ride eastward through the Golden Market, silver saddles gleaming atop white steeds as they pass in the spring breeze. Chapter 49: The Gift (Final)

Qin Lu made no attempt to stop him; on the contrary, there was a hint of yearning in her eyes. "You're really daring. But your family must dote on you a lot, right? Opening a shop takes quite a lot of upfront investment, doesn’t it? Ugh, I wish I could be independent too, but my family won't allow it."

Though Qin Lu looked slim and delicate, she was stubborn to the core, with an innate unwillingness to concede defeat.

"Haha, you just focus on your studies. In the future, just wait for me to marry you and make you the lady boss, right?" Fang Yu didn't forget to take the upper hand with his words.

"You're spouting nonsense again. I'm not talking to you." Though she lowered her head, there was an irrepressible smile in her eyes.

"It's the weekend. Why don't we go sing karaoke?" Fang Yu didn't want to waste this rare opportunity.

But Qin Lu shook her head apologetically. "Can't do. There’ll be room inspections tonight. We’re just freshmen, and the student union is a real pain."

"Damn, good students are always trouble. When I was a freshman, I never saw anyone stupid enough to do room inspections." Swearing under his breath, he had to drop the idea.

With others present, Fang Yu could only bottle up his frustration and send the girls back to their dormitories before ten o'clock.

"I'm exhausted. Let's get a cab. There are no more buses at this hour," Cheng Chen said, glancing at the bus stop.

He nodded. Xianjiang was indeed inconvenient, the transportation far less developed than his hometown.

The next morning, as "Qinglu" just opened, Xia Churan stormed up to the shop with Li Jing in tow.

"Fang Yu, you jerk, why didn’t you answer when I called yesterday?"

He turned around slowly while adjusting the milk tea. "Didn’t you see the note on my shop door? I’ve been so busy these days, I needed a day off."

"Yeah, right. I don’t believe you slept all day and missed both my messages and calls." Xia Churan had called him several times the previous day, but the clever Fang Yu had simply turned off his phone before dinner.

"I don’t like being disturbed when I sleep. Alright, alright—what would you like to drink?" Faced with a pretty girl, he couldn't really put on a stern face.

"I don’t want anything. I’ll die of thirst, whatever." The girl huffed and tossed her long hair.

Lu Zhen, his colleague, grinned as he handed over a cup of milk tea. "Hey, don’t be mad, senior. Boss Fang was trying to surprise you! I saw the birthday gift he got for you in his room."

"Really? Fang Yu got me a gift? What is it?" Xia Churan's beautiful eyes widened at once, her earlier anger forgotten.

"Lu Zhen, you talk too much, don’t you?" Fang Yu glanced back at him darkly.

Lu Zhen shrank his neck, but his face was still cheerful. "I saw it when I was grabbing a smoke from your room. Looks like an expensive box."

Xia Churan’s anger melted into joy. She looked at him with starry eyes, full of affection. "Fang Yu, why didn’t you tell me? I worried all day for nothing."

A sudden warmth flooded his heart. This girl was so bright and affectionate; was he being too ungrateful?

"It’s not your birthday yet. I just got it early. I’ve been busy—can’t always go out whenever I want." He forced an explanation.

"Whatever. I want it now. I need to see if it’s to my liking," she said, reaching out her hand mischievously.

Fang Yu considered for a moment. Sooner or later, he’d have to give it, so he nodded. "Alright, follow me. It’s not far—I’ll go get it for you."

Li Jing, distracted, glanced around the shop. "I’m coming too, I’m coming too. Is Cheng Chen still asleep?"

"Yeah, yeah, your Cheng Chen is still sleeping. Let’s go together."

The two girls trailed behind him, crossing a stretch of rice fields. Xia Churan looked around the little courtyard with curiosity. "So you live here. No wonder you’re hardly ever seen at school."

"I don’t like dorms. Too many people, too noisy." He took out his keys and opened the gate.

Zhao Bin was probably still asleep. The three of them went up to the second floor. Li Jing, cheeks flushed, slipped into Cheng Chen’s room, leaving only him and Xia Churan. Fang Yu took the box from his bedside table and handed it to her. "Here. See if you like it."

Xia Churan took it carefully and opened it, then couldn’t help exclaiming, "It’s a watch! Fang Yu, how did you think of giving me this? And is it a pair with the one you wear?"

His heart skipped a beat. Damn, he’d been so focused on convenience that he’d forgotten this detail. He quickly drew his hand back and gave an awkward laugh. "Just a similar style. If you don’t like it, I’ll return it and get something else."

"No way, the watch is beautiful." Xia Churan shot him a look, though her eyes shimmered with sweetness.

But soon, the girl noticed the receipt in the box. Her face paled, and she timidly pushed the box back into his hands. "Fang Yu, I can’t accept it. This is too expensive."

His heart softened. For all her usual pride, the wounds from Xia Churan’s childhood were beyond reckoning.

Fang Yu forced a gentle smile and pushed the box back. "It’s a pair. The shop gave this one as a freebie when I bought mine. It didn’t cost much. It’s your birthday—there should be a bit of ceremony."

Xia Churan bit her lip, lowering her head in silence. Then she looked up again, her deer-like eyes bright. "Do you really take me for a fool? The price is right there. Fang Yu, I know you have money, but I can’t accept it—unless, unless…" At this, a blush crept across her cheeks. She lowered her head, but snuck a glance at his reaction, a hint of secret delight flickering in her eyes.

Fang Yu’s heart jolted. Now he’d really done it—Xia Churan must think he was going to make things official between them!

But faced with such a beautiful girl, he couldn’t be so heartless. He certainly couldn’t just say, “I’m a jerk, just stringing you along.”

"It’s just a watch to tell the time. What’s there to fuss about? Besides, I’m not that happy with it anyway. If I have money in the future, I’ll get a better one." Fang Yu deflected.

"No way, it’s really nice. Besides, you’re just a freshman. Isn’t it your family’s money anyway?"

"As long as you like it. Next year I’ll get you something even prettier." The moment he said it, he wanted to slap himself.

The girl’s face flushed deeper, but her eyes were brimming with affection. "Such smooth talk. Do you say this to all the girls?"

The atmosphere in the room was growing more and more intimate. If things kept going, in a few minutes they’d be drawn even closer, and something was bound to happen.

Fang Yu quickly pinched his own waist to snap out of it. "Alright, just keep it. Listen—what do you think Li Jing and Cheng Chen are up to next door?"

With his words, Xia Churan’s gossipy instincts flared. "Hehe, they’re probably getting cozy. Li Jing said Cheng Chen is single too—they’re almost a couple."

"Nonsense. Surely they’re not rolling around in bed at this hour." He feigned annoyance and opened the door. He couldn’t risk staying in that room a moment longer.