Jiang Zhirou didn't know why, but seeing his nervous look, there was a strange feeling welling up in her heart, as if... she didn't want anything bad to happen to him.
When she came to her senses, she suddenly shook her head vigorously, trying to shake this inexplicable emotion out of her mind.
She wasn't familiar with Chi Yu. In fact, this was the first time she'd ever met the man. It must be because Si Moshen had been feeding her all kinds of strange things lately that her emotions were all out of whack.
Just as Jiang Zhirou was about to look away, there was a knock on the door.
She instinctively thought it was Si Moshen. She was just about to tell him not to keep giving her all those strange supplements, but when she opened the door, the words died in her throat.
Jiang Zhirou looked at Chen Yixia outside the door in surprise.
"Xiaxia... What's up?"
She'd thought that after the trip, Chen Yixia probably wouldn't come to see her again. Now seeing the girl standing outside the door, Jiang Zhirou couldn't quite put her finger on what she was feeling.
Maybe deep down, she still believed that things that belonged to Chen Qingmian would never extend to her.
"I just got out of class. I heard from Manda that there's a really good jewelry store around here. It'll soon be my mom's birthday. Can you come with me and take a look?"
"Sure."
Jiang Zhirou didn't even think twice before she readily agreed.
Thinking of Chi Yu downstairs, Jiang Zhirou wanted to avoid him. Before she could suggest they take the back door, Chi Yu appeared at the stairway landing.
"Xia—"
"Professor Chi."
Jiang Zhirou had just opened her mouth when Chen Yixia cut her off.
Obviously, Chen Yixia's voice was louder, completely drowning hers out, so she naturally didn't hear what Jiang Zhirou had to say.
Jiang Zhirou was about to grab Chen Yixia and leave when Chen Yixia's voice rang out first.
"Professor Chi, Zhirou and I are just about to go shopping. If you're free, would you like to join us?"
"He's busy!"
The moment Chen Yixia finished speaking, Jiang Zhirou quickly took over.
Their gazes immediately landed on her.
Suddenly, an awkward silence filled the air.
Jiang Zhirou stammered, "I mean... he's a partner of that workaholic Si Laosan, so he must be busy with work too. He probably doesn't have time to go shopping with us."
"I'm free."
As soon as he said that, Jiang Zhirou was taken aback.
"I'm free." Chi Yu repeated.
He looked into Jiang Zhirou's eyes intently, his gaze filled with something she couldn't understand.
That strange feeling was back again...
Jiang Zhirou frowned slightly and shifted her gaze uncomfortably.
Chi Yu also averted his eyes and looked at Chen Yixia beside him.
"I'll go with you. It's not very safe for you two girls to go alone."
"Sure."
Jiang Zhirou still wanted to refuse, but seeing Chen Yixia's happy face, the words of refusal died on her lips.
Oh well, it's just a shopping trip. I'll just ignore him.
Jiang Zhirou had a perfect plan in mind, but today seemed to be her unlucky day. First, she tripped over a stone as soon as she left Yue Lan. If it weren't for Chi Yu's quick reflexes to catch her, she would've landed flat on her face.
Then, just as they finally reached the store, she tripped over an unassuming step, and once again, it was Chi Yu who caught her.
"Thank you."
Although Jiang Zhirou didn't have a very good impression of Chi Yu, it was only right to thank him in this situation.
However, the look she gave Chi Yu was tinged with more resentment than before.
This guy must be jinxing her. There's no doubt about it!
"Zhirou, it's a good thing Professor Chi was here. Otherwise, you'd be in the hospital today," Chen Yixia joked with a laugh.
Jiang Zhirou forced a smile and secretly glared at Chi Yu's back.
She'd intended to ignore him, but now all her attention was on him.
Jiang Zhirou didn't want the conversation to keep revolving around him, so she pulled Chen Yixia towards the display cabinet beside them.
"What kind of style does your mom like?"
Chen Yixia looked at the dazzling array of jewelry in the glass cabinet but didn't see anything she particularly liked.
She looked up at Jiang Zhirou. "Zhirou, I can't decide. Could you help me choose?"
Hearing this, Jiang Zhirou waved her hands repeatedly. "I can't. I can't. Why don't you ask the shop owner for help? She must know more than I do."
Chen Yixia was buying a gift for her mom.
But this kind of affection was something Jiang Zhirou hadn't felt in a long time. It had been so long that she'd almost forgotten what Jiang Yan looked like, let alone knowing her preferences or giving her gifts.
Jiang Zhirou watched as Chen Yixia seriously discussed with the shop owner and silently walked over to another display cabinet.
She remembered coming to this store before.
She'd been very young then, still at an age when she needed Jiang Yan to carry her out.
If she remembered correctly, Jiang Yan had come here to buy a safety lock for her, but there hadn't been a suitable one at the time. The shopkeeper had said it needed to be custom-made, and the production would take a year.
After that, she never got to see the safety lock finished, and neither did Jiang Yan.
Chi Yu's eyes had been following Jiang Zhirou all along.
Seeing her standing in front of the display cabinet, staring intently at the small safety lock inside, his eyes flickered.
"Do you like this?"
Chi Yu's sudden voice interrupted Jiang Zhirou's train of thought. She was startled and instinctively frowned.
Chi Yu didn't mind her aloofness. He smiled gently and said,
"I'll buy it for you as an apology for scaring you in the backyard that day."
Jiang Zhirou raised an eyebrow and met Chi Yu's gaze. "This thing isn't cheap. Don't you think it's too expensive for an apology, Mr. Chi? Are you really willing?"
"Besides, Mr. Chi and I are nothing more than strangers living under the same roof. It doesn't seem worth it for you to buy me something this expensive."
She knew Chi Yu wasn't some poor guy. Anyone who could get into Yue Lan couldn't be short on money, especially someone who'd been personally invited by Si Moshen to stay there.
She said this just to provoke him on purpose.
After all, men were all about their pride. No one would stay calm after being publicly challenged like that.
As long as Chi Yu got angry, she'd have a reason to get him kicked out by Si Moshen.
However, the next second, Chi Yu's smile grew even wider. "It's worth it if you like it."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Zhirou was stunned for a moment. She stared at Chi Yu for a while, her eyes flustered. She waved her hand at him. "Buy it if you want." Then she hurriedly rushed over to Chen Yixia.
Chi Yu watched her fleeing back, feeling both heartache and joy.
He ached for the way she'd put up thorns around herself. Only those who'd been hurt would be so defensive against the world. Qingmian hadn't been like this before, but now Jiang Zhirou was fully armed.
Chi Yu didn't dare to think too much about how much of the pain she remembered.
At the same time, he was happy.
Happy that she was still his baby, not changed at all.
Even if she hated him now and was desperately trying to keep her distance, it didn't matter.
He'd make her trust him again one day.