“W-What?” Jiang Li had been happily picking through items one by one when Shang Huaizhou suddenly said that out of nowhere.
She turned her head toward him. She had heard the first half of what he said clearly, but his voice had been too low for the second half, and the surroundings were too noisy for her to catch it.
After handing the small items she had chosen to the shop owner, Jiang Li looked at Shang Huaizhou uncertainly and asked again.
“Nothing.” Shang Huaizhou took the bag the shop owner handed him and replied calmly. His long fingers slid across his phone screen as he scanned the payment code. His movements were relaxed and effortless.
Jiang Li was still bent over, turned halfway back to look at him. Her gaze was slightly upward. Warm yellow light spilled over his tall and straight back. Even though he looked a little unhappy at the moment, his refined and elegant face was still flawless—so bright and striking that it was hard to look away.
Suddenly, she thought of his high school days.
Back then, there were countless girls who liked him or secretly had crushes on him, from all grades.
Even though Shang Huaizhou had a cold personality that matched his equally distant and handsome face, girls still tried all kinds of ways to secretly give him gifts.
Jiang Li had even gotten some snacks from them. She especially liked White Rabbit milk candies.
Later, for some unknown reason, it somehow spread that Shang Huaizhou liked White Rabbit candies and snacks. So when girls gave him love letters, they would also include beautifully packed gift boxes filled with food.
The most exaggerated time was when some unknown rich student sent a giant White Rabbit candy box filled with hundreds of candies.
During that period, Jiang Li ate too much candy and ended up with a terrible toothache.
At its worst, she had to go to the dentist in the middle of the night and cried when she saw the metal tools and drills.
She had grabbed onto the edge of Shang Huaizhou’s coat, twisting it in her hands while crying uncontrollably.
Strangely enough, that night Shang Huaizhou did not even mind her messing up his clothes.
After that, there were no more snacks in his desk.
Even more strangely, the girls who used to send him gifts also stopped.
Jiang Li snapped back to reality and let out a quiet sigh.
The gap between people had never been small.
Back then, she was also considered a beauty, yet not a single boy ever gave her a love letter.
Three years of middle school—half of her youth—and not even one letter.
She pulled her gaze away from Shang Huaizhou’s dangerously attractive face, stood up straight, and lightly rubbed her lips with her small fist before speaking softly,
“It was a last-minute notice from my organization.”
Half of what she said was true. She really had not received a detailed notice.
After getting the message, she booked a flight and flew to Beijing on short notice.
Originally, she planned to visit the Shang family after her performance ended. But unexpectedly, she ran into Grandpa Shang’s former secretary at the airport. She thought a simple greeting would be the end of it.
However, in the afternoon, Grandpa Shang personally called her, and she could not hide it anymore, so she had to come over first.
After she said this, Shang Huaizhou did not respond.
Jiang Li turned back and continued bending down to pick her favorite items.
After a moment, Shang Huaizhou’s deep voice slowly came from above her head.
“Why didn’t you come today instead of yesterday?”
Jiang Li paused while playing with a small bag of colorful stones and turned to look at him in surprise.
“You sent me a message?”
Shang Huaizhou pressed his thin lips together and replied coldly, “No.”
Jiang Li understood him a little. If he was asking this, it meant someone must have said something to him.
When she arrived at the Shang family earlier, Grandpa Shang had even scolded Shang Huaizhou in front of her. The general meaning was that he was originally supposed to pick her up from the airport.
Could it be that Grandpa Shang had scolded him because of that?
Was that the real reason he had been giving her a cold face all day?
Jiang Li could not think of any other reason.
During the three years she lived with the Shang family, her relationship with Shang Huaizhou was not exactly close, but they were not strangers either. At one point, they had even been quite familiar.
Jiang Li turned around and explained, “Oh, my phone was left at my shop.”
It was her work phone, usually used for receiving private antique orders or custom ceramics. Her shop manager and staff usually handled it.
Shang Huaizhou’s attention was on the phrase “that phone.”
His gaze shifted from the bag of stones in her hand to her beautiful face, and he frowned slightly.
“That number isn’t your personal phone?”
“Yeah.” Jiang Li nodded. “Is that strange? It’s normal. Who doesn’t have a work phone?”
Most of the time she was away performing across different places, so the shop was managed by her staff. Having a work phone was completely normal.
Shang Huaizhou did not respond. Instead, he picked up a blue-and-white porcelain vase and examined it in his hand.
Jiang Li did not ask further and continued picking through the items.
The two of them fell into a silent understanding, neither speaking.
At that moment, there was sudden excitement not far away—an activity called “calligraphy challenge” had started.
“Still remember how to write?” Shang Huaizhou asked, putting the vase down and slightly nodding toward the crowd.
“Should still be fine,” Jiang Li smiled lightly, a confident but modest answer.
Shang Huaizhou looked at her calm and confident expression but did not comment.
Seeing his indifferent reaction, Jiang Li guessed he did not believe her. She directly stuffed the bag of colorful stones into his arms and smiled.
“Don’t believe me? Come on, I’ll let you check my skills.”
What used to be her biggest headache—calligraphy—was now something she was proud of.
Shang Huaizhou looked down at the bag of colorful stones in his arms, then weighed it slightly in his hand. He still could not see anything special about those strange little stones, yet she had been holding them all this time like treasures.
He casually placed the bag into the shopping sack and followed behind her at an unhurried pace.
The calligraphy game rules were simple: draw lots and write characters. If successful, you could receive a gift.
Jiang Li scanned the code on her phone to draw lots.
The shop owner smiled and reminded her, “Miss, one person writing is not enough. It has to be done by two people together.”
Jiang Li’s hand paused slightly as she was about to pay.
She suddenly remembered it was Qixi Festival, so all the activities were themed around couples.
It seemed she would not be able to show her progress in calligraphy tonight after all.
Seeing that Jiang Li was about to leave, the owner added, “Miss, you can have your boyfriend join you. It doesn’t need to be too formal—just for fun, since it’s a festival.”
Jiang Li turned her head and followed the owner’s gaze.
Shang Huaizhou was not squeezing into the crowd. Instead, he stood at the very back, in the most open and spacious area.
He stood tall and straight. The fitted dark shirt made him look even more noble and distant, completely out of place among the crowd, yet impossible not to notice at a glance.
Another “boyfriend” misunderstanding.
Tonight had already been full of misunderstandings.
And she was still awkwardly walking around with Shang Huaizhou.
Too embarrassing.
Worst of all, Shang Luo was nowhere to be seen.
From behind the crowd, Shang Huaizhou noticed Jiang Li’s troubled expression. He walked over and stood beside her, asking calmly, “What is it?”
Jiang Li paused for a moment, then blinked her bright eyes at him. “Mr. Shang, can I borrow your hand?”
Now it was “Mr. Shang” again?
He really changed how she addressed him all the time.
Jiang Li’s eyes were very pretty—soft and harmless, like they could melt someone’s heart. Shang Huaizhou’s thin lips curved slightly as he asked, “How do you want to borrow it?”
Before Jiang Li could answer, the shop owner repeated the rules again, “It’s simple. You and your girlfriend just need to complete one piece of calligraphy together, and you can choose any prize over there.”
Shang Huaizhou’s calm gaze shifted toward the items the owner pointed at.
They were small decorative pieces—exactly the kind Jiang Li liked.
Hearing “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” again all night, Jiang Li felt even more awkward.
But Shang Huaizhou didn’t seem to care about the labels. However, he seemed to be subtly putting her in difficult situations tonight. It was better not to make things more complicated.
She said, “Forget it. Let’s go look at something else. The other activities are fun too.”
Shang Huaizhou didn’t move. He raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “The calligraphy activity is pretty good. Didn’t someone just say she wanted to show her skills?”
She never said that!
Well… okay, maybe she did.
But still—this wasn’t the right time!
Seeing her hesitate and the owner still waiting for their decision, Shang Huaizhou made the call for her.
“Jiang Jiang, go draw the lot first. I’ll go store the things.”
He lifted the shopping bags slightly.
Jiang Jiang?
That way of calling her suddenly felt unfamiliar.
The shop owner enthusiastically handed her the lottery box. Jiang Li drew a slip.
Four words: “Perfect Match”
Jiang Li couldn’t help but think—it really was Qixi Festival. Even the calligraphy game was themed so appropriately.
Shang Huaizhou placed all the bags in the storage area, then came back. He held his wrist with his other hand and slowly unbuttoned his shirt cuff, rolling it up neatly to his forearm.
When he returned, he saw Jiang Li looking troubled again.
“What is it?” he asked.
Jiang Li shook her head. “Ah, it’s nothing.”
He glanced at the paper and immediately saw the four words: “Perfect Match.” It actually looked quite pleasing.
Jiang Li turned to him and asked, “You go first or me first?”
“Either,” he replied lightly.
Jiang Li started writing first, carefully forming the first two characters: “Perfect.”
Shang Huaizhou followed, writing the last two characters.
Their coordination was surprisingly smooth.
In no time, the four characters were completed beautifully, drawing praise from the surrounding crowd.
Shang Luo suddenly popped out from somewhere, leaning between them with sparkling eyes. “Wow! Jiang Jiang, your handwriting and Third Brother’s look so similar! You can’t even tell it was written by two people!”
Only then did Jiang Li realize—it really did look very similar.
But how could it not?
Her calligraphy was originally taught by Shang Huaizhou.
Back in her first year of middle school, she had a calligraphy exam and knew nothing about it. No matter how she studied, nothing stuck.
It was a nightmare for her.
She was usually excellent in every subject, a top student. If she failed in calligraphy, it would be humiliating.
So she struggled with it for three days and nights—but still failed.
When she was desperate, Grandpa Shang suggested she ask Shang Huaizhou for help.
She had begged him for days, bringing him snacks and drinks, but he refused and even avoided her.
With no other choice, she secretly learned from the class monitor.
But after just a few days, Shang Huaizhou suddenly agreed to teach her—still cold-faced, but at least serious.
After so many years, she still used the method he taught her. She never changed it.
Shang Luo happily shook Shang Huaizhou’s arm. “Third Brother, Third Brother, isn’t Jiang Jiang’s writing really good? It’s almost on your level!”
Jiang Li hadn’t expected that question. In truth, she was still far behind him.
His brushwork was stronger, more powerful, while hers was softer and less forceful.
The gap between them was still obvious.
She stood quietly, already prepared to receive criticism, also genuinely wanting his opinion.
Shang Huaizhou placed the brush on the inkstone and looked at the paper for a moment. Then he raised his eyes to Jiang Li and said, “Mm. It’s very good.”
He wasn’t just being polite. For someone starting from scratch, she had clearly put in a lot of effort over the years.
Jiang Li smiled slightly. “Thank you, Teacher Shang. I might get too proud.”
Even though she wasn’t fully satisfied with her writing, being praised by her “teacher” still made her happy.
Shang Luo insisted on taking their finished piece home, saying it was their first collaboration and must be preserved. She even asked the owner to frame it.
Jiang Li felt it wasn’t necessary.
She wasn’t fully satisfied with her writing, even if she was praised.
Before she could refuse, Shang Huaizhou already took out his phone and paid with a few taps. “Luo Luo is right.”
Jiang Li sighed inwardly.
Fine then.
The shop owner gave Jiang Li ten balloons in exchange for a small souvenir. But every item was something she liked, and she fell into indecision again.
Jiang Li had no resistance at all toward those little figurine ornaments. The first glance made her like them, and the second glance made her even more tempted.
“Still want them?” Shang Huaizhou had just finished paying and came over. Seeing her hesitating in front of a few ceramic figurines, he asked her.
“Mm, I want them.” She really did. Even though they were just modern craft items and not anything valuable, Jiang Li simply liked beautiful and creative things. She could not resist them at all.
But these items could only be exchanged using balloons earned from participating in various Qixi Festival activities.
Seeing how much she wanted them, Shang Huaizhou looked into the distance for a moment and said calmly, “Wait here.”
Before Jiang Li could understand what he meant, he had already turned and walked toward a balloon-catching game stall.
He stood tall and straight. Because of his height advantage, he stood out among the crowd. Within just a few minutes, he easily caught a handful of balloons.
Then he walked straight back to Jiang Li and handed them to her.
Nearby girls were instantly envious. One of them whispered to her boyfriend, “Look at other people’s boyfriends, then look at you. So annoying.”
The boy scratched his head helplessly. He had to admit defeat—someone that tall was impossible to compete with.
Shang Huaizhou opened his palm slightly. Jiang Li looked at the colorful balloons in his hand, her eyes lighting up with joy. She smiled and praised him, “So many—you’re amazing! Thank you.”
Being praised, Shang Huaizhou seemed to be in a better mood. The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he said seriously, “Hurry and go exchange for what you want. They might run out soon.”
Jiang Li nodded with a smile. As she took the balloons from his hand, her soft fingertips brushed across his palm lines. It felt like a small cat scratching—light, soft, and slightly ticklish, making one’s thoughts drift for a moment.
After she took all the balloons, Shang Huaizhou pulled his hand back, clenched it slightly, and placed it behind his back as he watched her.
Jiang Li counted—there were more than forty balloons, enough to exchange for five small ornaments.
She carefully chose each one.
Behind her, Shang Huaizhou watched her while she rested her chin in thought.
She was still the same as when she was young. Whenever she faced a difficult choice, she would either rest her chin in her hand or tap her finger against it.
Shang Huaizhou glanced at the items. In his eyes, they all looked almost the same. Was there really a need to struggle this much over them?
Author’s note:
Small extra scene:
One day after marriage, Jiang Li was looking for something in the study at home and found a small box.
When she opened it, it was completely full of love letters written to her in middle school!
She: !!!!!??????? 😳