Chapter Four: Preparing a Special Gift for My Fiancé
Page 1/3
He regretted having felt sympathy for her, having wanted to check her medical report to understand her condition better, perhaps even find a familiar specialist to turn things around and prevent her from despairing so deeply.
Unexpectedly, she didn’t suffer from any terminal illness; she was simply naturally playful.
He shouldn’t have meddled in her affairs.
After work, Wenhan did not go straight home but instead drove to the Xinghe Bay residential complex.
“Brother, you’re here?” The door was opened by Xin Ye, his tone full of ingratiation, tinged with guilt, as if he had done something wrong and feared Wenhan’s reproach.
His hair was a tousled mop of curls, paired with black-rimmed glasses. His appearance was decent at first glance, but his cheeks were gaunt, giving him a disheveled look as if from excessive indulgence.
Wenhan entered without a word. The low pressure hanging around him made Xin Ye shrink his neck.
He watched Wenhan walk straight to his study, then opened his computer with practiced ease, muttering softly, “I knew it, you’re here to check my homework again…”
“Is the data model for the project your advisor assigned not finished yet?” Wenhan’s voice came from the study, cold and authoritative, brooking no argument.
“Almost done, just the final touches,” Xin Ye hurried after him, smiling in a flattering way.
Wenhan stared at the screen for several minutes, his brow furrowed, but said nothing further.
“Brother, I haven’t gone out to play these past few days! But this project isn’t easy. I still have to collaborate with other team members to synthesize it…”
Hearing Xin Ye’s plea, Wenhan didn’t press him further. He sat down and leaned back in his chair, casually raising his eyes to ask:
“What about that girl on Planet M you messaged last time? Has she logged in recently?”
Xin Ye was momentarily stunned, then a mischievous grin spread across his face. He leaned closer and whispered, “Wow, the sun’s rising in the west! My brother is actually asking about a woman on his own?”
He winked and lowered his voice, “You wouldn’t be… smitten after meeting her in person, would you?”
Seeing Wenhan remain silent, shooting him a cold glance,
Xin Ye grew bolder, as if discovering a new world, covering his mouth in surprise. “No way, bro! You two really did something? You always said you weren’t interested in girls you met online. My abstinent big brother of almost twenty years has been taken down by a netizen?”
Page 2/3
Wenhan’s expression darkened to its lowest point.
“Mind your own business. I told you to check, so check.” His voice was low but carried a chill that made Xin Ye shiver.
“Oh…” The younger brother was cowed by this authority, immediately dropping his playful demeanor, no longer daring to ask questions.
He obediently took out his phone, opened the social app called “Planet M,” and found Xu Miao’s avatar.
He handed the phone to Wenhan, pointing at the gray avatar. “Brother, look. Since the last time she chatted with you—no, with me—she hasn’t logged in again.”
Wenhan’s gaze lingered on the faded avatar in silence for a long time.
His slender fingers tapped lightly on the desk absentmindedly, his face unreadable.
“Enough. Delete the app.”
“Ah?”
Though reluctant, Xin Ye obeyed after meeting Wenhan’s hawk-like stare and deleted the app.
***
At the same time, Xu Miao and her close friend Lin Fei were busy in her newly moved apartment, sweating profusely.
“Xiao Miao, last box!” Lin Fei carried a huge cardboard box, panting as she stepped inside.
“My poor back, I feel like it’s going to break.”
Xu Miao took the box, wiping sweat from her brow with her sleeve, offering a tired smile. “Thanks, Fei Fei. Dinner’s on me tonight.”
The two collapsed onto the cold floor, gazing at the living room piled high with luggage and boxes, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Lin Fei took a big gulp of water, nudged Xu Miao with her elbow, and winked suggestively. “Seriously, you moving out all of a sudden—is it because you have a boyfriend? Don’t keep it from me, bring him out, let me see!”
Xu Miao’s smile stiffened. She lowered her eyes and whispered, “Fei Fei, I’m not going to date anymore.”
Page 3/3
“Huh?” Lin Fei didn’t understand. “Why? You… you’re not a lesbian, are you?”
Xu Miao almost laughed. She shook her head. “I have a fiancé.”
“No way?!” Lin Fei was shocked, then punched Xu Miao’s shoulder excitedly. “Girl, how could you keep something this huge from me? When did this happen? Who is he? Is he good to you? Spill it!”
Faced with her friend’s barrage of questions, Xu Miao couldn’t utter a single word.
How could she explain?
That she was to marry the venerable Master Fan, old enough to be her father, merely to appease an arranged marriage? To ensure her mother’s medical expenses were covered?
These words stuck in her throat, dissolving into a faint, bitter smile.
Seeing her expression, Lin Fei thought she was shy and stopped pressing, smiling brightly as she stood up. “Alright, alright, judging by your little face, there’s a reason you can’t share now.
Anyway, when you get married, I’m definitely your maid of honor. I won’t nag you anymore! I’m off to the bathroom, you rest a bit.”
With that, she hummed a tune and slipped into the bathroom.
After closing the door, Lin Fei sneakily pulled two small boxes from her bag, her face wearing a mischievous smile.
She stashed one box beside the hand towel by the sink, then opened the other to reveal a daring set of lace lingerie, which she hung on a hanger inside the shower curtain.
“You little stinker, keeping secrets even from me.”
She murmured softly, pride shining in her eyes for her friend. “I was going to give this as a birthday gift… Oh well, I’ll just give it to you early and help you and your fiancé prepare something nice.”