Chapter 288: Chapter 287: Unacceptable Gift
Leng Ye shook the two paper bags in his hands: "Yeah, just picking out some clothes."
Wen Nuan nodded.
"Nuannuan, why are you alone?" Leng Ye smiled and looked around, frowning in confusion: "Yan didn’t come with you?"
Wen Nuan forced a smile: "I was just wandering around, so I didn’t call him."
"I just saw a dress that should suit you. It’s similar to the style you looked at earlier, but a bit more lively. Go try it, it’s over there." Leng Ye pointed two stores over: "Come on, see if I have good taste?"
"Alright." Wen Nuan watched him stride ahead and had no choice but to follow.
She would have little time tomorrow, and she really didn’t want to go out these days, hoping to buy everything at once.
As Leng Ye described, the main difference of the dress she took into the fitting room from the previous one was the asymmetrical shoulder strap design, with a budding flower embellishment, making it look sweeter without being cumbersome.
Coming out of the fitting room, Leng Ye gazed at Wen Nuan with a hint of mesmerization.
"Truly beautiful!" He sincerely praised.
"Miss, your boyfriend has excellent taste. This dress looks tailor-made for you. Every detail is perfectly highlighted." The store manager praised, looking from Leng Ye to Wen Nuan: "A match made in heaven."
"We..."
Wen Nuan’s face flushed, and she hurried to explain, but Leng Ye interrupted: "Nuannuan, take this one, it suits you so well."
"I really like it too." Looking in the mirror, Wen Nuan nodded with a smile, went back to change, and came out: "Wrap it up."
She said to the clerk, casually grabbed the purse from the side, and pulled out a card to hand over.
The dress, as Qu Min said, was very expensive. It costs more than her monthly salary. However, with her mood lately, finding something she liked was rare, she decided to be extravagant. Besides, this little dress could be worn for occasions other than parties, so it seemed worth it.
"Miss, your boyfriend has already settled the bill."
The clerk handed back the card to her with a smile.
Boyfriend?
It was the second time today that Wen Nuan heard a clerk say this. She really didn’t know which eye of theirs saw her and Leng Ye as a couple.
Her mouth twitched, and Wen Nuan awkwardly explained: "He’s my big brother."
"Oh, I’m sorry, I got it wrong. You two just look... hehe... similar." The clerk laughed awkwardly, her face a little red.
Wen Nuan was speechless, the clerk must have thought she meant becoming siblings, but clearly, they looked nothing alike, right?
Forget it, there’s no need to explain further.
But buying with Leng Ye’s money was unacceptable to her: "Big brother, how can I let you spend money? I’ll get some cash for you later."
"Why so formal with me?"
Leng Ye raised an eyebrow gently: "I told you I see you as a sister, is it not okay for a brother to buy his sister a gift?"
"But..."
Wen Nuan bit her lip, looking at the price tag: "This gift is too expensive, I can’t accept it."
"Let’s go." Seeing the clerk’s curious look, Leng Ye smiled, stepped out of the store, waiting outside for her: "I said you can accept it, it’s just a gesture from your brother."
"But, it’s so expensive..." Wen Nuan insisted.
"Consider it a birthday gift from your brother, okay?" Leng Ye was getting anxious: "Your birthday was recently, and I didn’t give you anything, so consider this as making it up to you."
"But that’s still..." Wen Nuan hesitated, then was taken aback by his words: "How did you know my birthday?"
She hadn’t seen Leng Ye for some time and carefully recalled that she never told him her birthday.
Leng Ye panicked for the first time in front of Wen Nuan, usually composed; he actually slipped up to make her accept the dress.
He paused slightly, then quickly returned to his calm demeanor, smiling at her: "I heard it mentioned casually by Tan Qing."
"Oh, that’s it."
Wen Nuan finally felt relieved, knowing Leng Ye and Tan Qing were good friends, so it wasn’t surprising.
However, the dress was really too expensive, so she couldn’t bring herself to accept it. Remembering there was an ATM downstairs, she had an idea.
"Nuannuan, I’ll take you home. Yan must be at home, right? I have something to discuss with him." Leng Ye said as they left the mall.
Home?
No, she didn’t want to go back. She still wasn’t ready to reconcile with Leng Yan. Today’s concern was because you can’t forget over a thousand days and nights of love just like that, but it didn’t mean she had forgiven Leng Yan.
"No need, big brother. I’m going to meet Tong Xi, we’ve arranged to have dinner together." Wen Nuan quickly shook her head and refused.
Leng Ye touched his chin, smiling to himself.
Wen Nuan indeed didn’t want to forgive Leng Yan, which was good. He wasn’t in a rush then, so he smiled: "Alright, just be careful on your way."
"Big brother, wait for me a moment." Wen Nuan didn’t want him to leave immediately, informed him, and turned towards the ATM.
"What is this for?" Leng Ye frowned as she handed over a stack of money: "For the dress? Nuannuan, are you treating your brother as an outsider?"
Leng Ye’s heart sank almost to its lowest point. Didn’t she have any feelings for him, or was she just too forthright?
No matter the reason, he didn’t like it. He was trying everything to get closer to her. Today at the mall wasn’t a coincidence; he had been following her, then quickly bought a few clothes when she entered that store, not even checking the sizes. He just wanted to have paper bags in hand so she would think it was a chance encounter.
"No, big brother." Forcing the money into Leng Ye’s hand, Wen Nuan looked at him gratefully: "I’m really thankful to you, but it’s too expensive, and I really can’t accept it."
She smiled, not wanting to make Leng Ye feel too embarrassed: "Let’s skip this year’s birthday. Next year, you can choose a slightly less expensive gift for me, and I will certainly accept it."
Next year...
The mention of this word brims with bitterness inside. Where would she be next year, and who would spend her birthday with her?
Her emotions entangled, still unable to decide to forgive Leng Yan. Returning from Italy, it might be a new beginning for the two, or it might be the end of their relationship...
Leng Ye frowned bitterly, finally giving a helpless smile: "I really can’t deal with you, alright, I’ll certainly send you a birthday gift next year."
There was some disappointment in his heart, also some delight, along with complicated emotions.
If it were other women, receiving such a gift, they would undoubtedly be overjoyed. But she wanted to repay him for the money for the dress; perhaps it was this very reason that made Wen Nuan increasingly attractive to him.
She was so different, and that difference captivated his heart.
He didn’t want to give the birthday gift next year as a brother. He wanted her to become his wife, to throw her a grand birthday party!
**
She didn’t go find Tong Xi because of Ji Wei’s presence on the set, she couldn’t act like Ji Wei was nothing, seeing Ji Wei always brought a flood of endless shame.
Returning to Tong Xi’s apartment, she was greeted by a burst of floral scent as she opened the door, and was surprised to find a huge bouquet of gardenias placed in a vase on the living room coffee table, filling the room with fragrance.
Who sent this? And how did they get in?
Her heart skipped a beat, she glanced around instinctively, finding nothing.
This eeriness heightened her fear, only she and Tong Xi had the keys to the apartment, so it was impossible for outsiders to enter.