Qin Mu had high-set brow bones. His eyebrows were slightly upturned at the peaks, looking neat and not at all harsh. Even when his eyes were lowered at the moment, one could still tell the elegance of his brow shape.
His eyes were the longish peach blossom type. But now his long eyelashes were drooping, covering the emotions in his eyes. Only the natural softness at the corners of his eyes remained, softening the masculinity of his features.
His nose was straight but not obtrusive. His lips were rather thin. At this moment, he pursed them, and the peaks of his lips were slightly downturned, adding a touch of barely noticeable grievance, which made his originally cold-looking lips seem a bit softer.
His skin was a healthy cool white, making his eyes even blacker and brighter. Even when in a low mood, there was an air of nobility around him that few could match.
Perhaps because he had been in the spotlight for a long time, even when wearing the simplest clothes, he couldn't hide his calm and dazzling aura. Once one caught sight of him, it was hard to look away.
Meng Ruozhao stared at him and was momentarily in a daze.
It was only when she heard Yi Mo's excited voice beside her that she snapped back to her senses, remembered her duty, and quickly nodded.
"Sure, please wait a moment. I'll go get it."
With that, she turned around and walked towards the dress she had mentioned earlier.
She didn't notice at all that behind her, Qin Mu was looking at her back with a complex look in his eyes, like broken starlight.
There was relief, bitterness, and a faint ripple of finding something lost that even he himself didn't notice.
Yi Mo stood excitedly to one side, looking at Qin Mu and then at Meng Ruozhao's back.
Suddenly, she sensed something unusual - it seemed that Qin Mu knew Ruozhao?
Before she could figure it out, Meng Ruozhao had already come back with the clothes, and Qin Mu had returned to normal.
While Qin Mu went to change, Yi Mo walked over and whispered to Meng Ruozhao.
"The great star Qin is here at your place. We're going to make a fortune!"
"Don't forget me if you get rich."
Meng Ruozhao was amused by her and tapped her on the nose. "Okay. If I get rich, I'll definitely take my sister to the pinnacle of life."
As they were talking, Pei Jiangmu just walked in.
He was still carrying two boxes of freshly baked chestnut cakes in his hand. As soon as he saw Meng Ruozhao, his previously expressionless face immediately lost its coldness and softened.
"Sister, Sister Yi Mo. Everyone's here. Perfect. I bought..."
The words "chestnut cakes" died on his lips as Qin Mu walked out.
The hand holding the bag stopped the moment his eyes caught sight of that figure, and his knuckles unconsciously tightened, turning white at the joints.
The bag made a soft sound, but even in the quiet surroundings, it didn't attract anyone's attention.
Everyone's eyes were on Qin Mu walking out of the fitting room.
So were Pei Jiangmu's.
However, while others were admiring, only his gaze seemed to be nailed to the other person by an invisible thread.
The slight contraction of his pupils was so fast that no one could catch it, leaving only the sudden darkness in his eyes.
He didn't walk further in, and his expression didn't change much.
It was just that the faint smile at the corner of his lips froze and slowly faded into a straight line of coldness.
"It fits perfectly. All the clothes in my store are made according to the standard model's size, which means Mr. Qin has a really good figure."
Meng Ruozhao was the first to react and promptly complimented.
To be honest, her store had received quite a few customers, including some male ones.
But there was indeed a gap between big stars and ordinary people.
Qin Mu looked much thinner and whiter than on TV.
But this shirt was completely filled out by him, making him look tall and long-legged, with an elegant temperament.
Hearing her compliment, Qin Mu, for some reason, let out a soft laugh. "Really? Then it's worth my five trips to the gym every week."
Then he looked at the clothing rack again, pointed at a coat, and said, "Can I try that one too?"
As the boss, Meng Ruozhao naturally couldn't be happier.
She quickly walked over, took down the coat, and walked to Qin Mu's side.
Qin Mu didn't take it. Instead, he just smiled at her. "Then could I trouble Miss Meng to help me?"
Helping customers put on clothes was a very common thing for those who ran a clothing store.
Meng Ruozhao didn't think much about it. She unfolded the clothes and stood behind him.
She only had the thought of serving the customer in mind.
So she didn't notice at all that when she walked towards Qin Mu.
Pei Jiangmu, who was still standing at the door, even tensed his originally relaxed shoulder line into a straight line.
At that moment, the old wound in his chest was tugged hard.
The dull pain spread layer by layer but was forcefully suppressed in his tense back.
When Meng Ruozhao stood beside Qin Mu and helped him put on the clothes, Pei Jiangmu even slowed his breathing. Each breath seemed to be suppressing something.
Only the other hand hanging by his side unconsciously rubbed the seam of his pants with his fingertips, revealing the trembling he was trying so hard to control.
Meng Ruozhao pinched the collar of the coat with her fingertips, her attention fully on adjusting the details of the shoulder line.
When the fabric slid across Qin Mu's back, she faintly felt his tense back. Thinking that the customer was deliberately straightening up to avoid troubling her, she said softly.
"Mr. Qin, you can relax. The shoulder width of this coat should fit you well. It won't be too tight."
Qin Mu gave a soft "hmm". His voice was a bit lower than before, and the hand hanging by his side quietly curled up.
In the dressing mirror in the store, one could clearly see Meng Ruozhao with her head down.
Her eyelashes were long and thick, and she would unconsciously purse her lips slightly when concentrating.
She gradually overlapped with the little girl in his memory who always called him "Brother A Mu".
"All done."
Meng Ruozhao took a half step back, looked him up and down, and sincerely complimented.
"This windbreaker really suits your skin tone. And you have a nice shoulder and neck line. This drop-shoulder style really shows off your temperament."
Qin Mu turned around. His eyes lingered on her face for two seconds before he said with a smile.
"Miss Meng has good taste. The clothes you choose all suit my taste."
This was half true and half false. The clothes did fit well.
But what made him feel comfortable was more the fact that they met again after so many years.
Even if she didn't remember him anymore.
It didn't matter. At least he could see her, right?
Yi Mo's eyes sparkled as she watched. She came over, pulled on Meng Ruozhao's sleeve, and whispered.
"Ruozhao, look how good Teacher Qin looks in our clothes. Can we ask him to take a few photos later? We can use them as publicity in the store. It will definitely attract a lot of customers!"
Before Meng Ruozhao could say anything, she heard a soft sound from the door - it was the bag of chestnut cakes in Pei Jiangmu's hand that had fallen to the ground.
The cardboard boxes in the bag fell open, and the golden chestnut cake crumbs scattered all over the floor, like tiny pieces of broken gold.
Pei Jiangmu bent down to pick them up. His knuckles turned white from the force, but his movements were a bit stiff and slow.
Seeing this, Meng Ruozhao quickly walked over.
"What's wrong? Does your hand hurt again? Don't pick them up with your hands. I'll go get a broom."
"No need."
Pei Jiangmu looked up. His voice was a bit colder than usual.
"I can do it myself."
It was the first time he didn't look up when talking to her. He seemed not to notice that she had come to him and slowly gathered the chestnut cake crumbs back into the bag.
It was such a simple movement, but there was an indescribable awkwardness about it.
Qin Mu watched this scene and raised his eyebrows imperceptibly - it was him.