Wen Chu kept her head lowered slightly, burying nearly half of her face in the cream-colored scarf.
Only her eyes remained visible.
They nervously darted around the crowd.
Her entire body practically screamed the words:
“I want to run away.”
She looked completely different from the fierce girl who had been interrogating him in the car earlier.
Xi Liye remembered the first time he had seen her in that private room.
Back then, she had looked exactly like this too.
As if she wanted to escape.
The answer immediately became clear.
Xi Liye turned around and walked back toward her.
“Afraid of people?”
His voice cut clearly through the surrounding noise.
Wen Chu had been concentrating so hard on fighting her social anxiety that his sudden approach startled her.
She immediately looked up.
Her eyes widened.
“A… a little.”
What a cute reaction…
Xi Liye thought.
He reached out and naturally took her hand.
His palm was warm and dry as always.
Firm and unquestionable.
Completely enveloping her slightly cold fingers.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m here.”
His voice was gentle.
Xi Liye’s hand felt like a small heater.
Warmth continuously flowed from his palm.
Not only warming her frozen fingers.
But also easing some of her fear toward the surrounding environment.
Wen Chu obediently followed beside him through the crowded streets.
His pace was neither too fast nor too slow.
Perfect for her to keep up with.
At the same time, he subtly used his body to shield her from some of the crowd.
Eventually, Xi Liye led her to their reserved table.
The restaurant was huge.
Fortunately, it was also quiet.
That allowed Wen Chu to relax a little.
As expected of the rooftop garden restaurant that had become wildly popular online.
The scenery really was beautiful.
The glass walls blocked the cold wind, making the space pleasantly warm.
After they sat down, a waiter approached with a smile and handed them menus.
Only then did Xi Liye release her hand.
The sudden disappearance of that warmth made Wen Chu unconsciously curl her fingers.
For a brief moment, a trace of disappointment flashed through her heart.
Though she didn’t even notice it herself.
Wen Chu removed her coat and placed it on the chair.
The entire black velvet dress was finally revealed.
It was indeed a little too eye-catching.
She was extremely sensitive to people’s gazes.
Almost immediately, she felt several looks directed toward her.
Just as she was about to put her coat back on, Xi Liye casually draped an arm across the back of her chair.
He never actually touched her.
Yet the gesture carried a subtle sense of possession.
It placed her within his territory.
At the same time, it blocked part of the attention coming from other directions.
Meanwhile, he calmly picked up the menu and began flipping through it.
As if it were simply a casual movement.
But Wen Chu immediately felt as though some invisible barrier had separated her from those curious stares.
She quietly relaxed.
Yet Xi Liye’s presence behind her made her even more aware of him.
After asking about her preferences and food restrictions, Xi Liye ordered several dishes and drinks.
While waiting for the food, Wen Chu worked hard to return to her spoiled-girlfriend character.
She looked around deliberately.
“This place…”
“It’s not as amazing as people online make it sound.”
She pointed toward a decorative wall lamp in the distance.
“Look at that lamp.”
“It’s so ugly.”
Xi Liye followed her finger and glanced over.
“You don’t like the lighting?”
Ironically, she was the one who had chosen the restaurant.
Yet now she was criticizing it.
“It’s not that I dislike it…”
Being looked at by him made Wen Chu feel guilty.
Her voice weakened.
“It’s just… kind of average.”
“Mm.”
Xi Liye acknowledged it casually.
Then his gaze moved toward her.
“The dress is unique.”
“Did you choose it yourself?”
Opportunity!
Wen Chu instantly became energized.
She raised a sweet smile.
“No!”
“My roommate lent it to me.”
“It looks great, right?”
“Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?”
“I kind of want one too…”
“But it’s a little expensive…”
The latter half of her sentence carried an obvious hint.
And a touch of spoiled pleading.
Xi Liye’s gaze swept across the black velvet skirt.
When he picked her up earlier, she had been wearing a coat.
This was the first time he had truly seen the outfit.
And he had to admit—
It suited her perfectly.
His eyes lifted toward her.
Toward the way she deliberately straightened her back.
Toward her hopeful little face.
For some reason, his fingertips suddenly felt slightly itchy.
“Mm.”
“I understand.”
Wen Chu secretly became happy.
His response sounded so indifferent.
Her vain and materialistic persona had definitely been established.
So she immediately pressed her advantage.
“Then can you buy me a few dresses like this?”
“I really think they suit me.”
She looked at him expectantly.
Xi Liye remembered their walk from the parking lot.
The way she had practically hidden behind him.
The way she buried her face inside her scarf.
The way she desperately tried to avoid attention.
Someone so sensitive to strangers’ gazes…
Would genuinely want this kind of attention-grabbing clothing?
“Afraid of people, yet you still want to wear them?”
Xi Liye asked.
“You don’t understand…”
Wen Chu turned her face slightly away.
The tips of her ears reddened at exactly the right moment.
“If I wasn’t going out with you, I wouldn’t have worn this dress.”
“So now you’re blaming me?”
“Of course I am!”
The more she spoke, the more justified she sounded.
“It’s totally your fault!”
“Then…”
Xi Liye looked at her.
“Can I interpret that as wanting me to buy dresses because you want to wear them for me?”
Wen Chu had no idea how he arrived at that conclusion.
But since the male lead had already misunderstood it that way…
She might as well agree.
“Yes!”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
For some reason, Xi Liye felt unexpectedly pleased.
He quietly experienced the unfamiliar emotion.
“Mm.”
He nodded.
Then said nothing more.
Leaving Wen Chu completely confused.
So…
Was he buying them or not?
The dishes arrived quickly.
Xi Liye cut the steak into bite-sized pieces before placing it in front of her.
Then he poured wine for her at the perfect temperature.
Every movement was elegant and smooth.
As a spoiled girlfriend, Wen Chu naturally accepted all of it without hesitation.
And thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Honestly speaking…
Xi Liye really was an attentive boyfriend.
If not for the plot.
If not for knowing he would eventually destroy her future.
Wen Chu would have been perfectly willing to start a relationship like this.
After dinner, the waiter served an exquisite dessert.
Xi Liye seemed to receive a work call and stepped away to a quiet corner.
Wen Chu stared at the beautiful dessert.
But she wasn’t particularly interested.
The restaurant’s scenery was excellent.
The food itself, however, was less impressive.
Bored, she casually looked around.
Then her gaze landed on another table not far away.
A man and woman were sitting there.
The woman seemed emotional and was saying something intensely.
The man wore an impatient expression.
After a brief argument, he abruptly stood up and left.
Leaving the woman sitting there alone.
Her eyes red.
A breakup scene?
Wen Chu’s heart immediately stirred.
Wasn’t this a perfect learning opportunity?
A ready-made textbook!
She could observe how people argued.
How they broke up.
Maybe she could even use it someday when breaking up with Xi Liye.
She became so absorbed in watching that she failed to notice Xi Liye had already finished his phone call.
He had returned.
And was standing slightly behind her.
Following her line of sight.
Watching the exact same scene.