“Knock, knock, knock…” A sudden burst of knocking broke the indoor peace. Mimi walked quickly to the door and gently opened it.
Standing in the doorway was Xiao Xiu, smiling with a mix of anticipation and tension in his eyes.
By now, Xiao Xiu had clearly finished washing up. He looked exceptionally fresh and neat, as if he had instantly transformed back into the sharp, suit-clad young man from the previous night. The only difference was that today he wore white pants and a comfortable hoodie, radiating a youthful, sunny vibe like a vibrant, energetic young man.
The moment he saw Mimi open the door, Xiao Xiu couldn’t wait to ask, “Sis, help me take a look—how does this outfit look? Do you think I should go buy a gift for Senior Xingyu later?” As he spoke, he spun around in a circle to show off his attire.
Mimi rolled her eyes at him. “Why are you asking me? Decide for yourself. But you better think carefully about what to get, don’t just randomly buy something like you used to.”
Xiao Xiu scratched his head and said, “I know. But what should I get? Sisters, give me some ideas.”
“You can search online for suitable gifts,” I suggested. “Though the most important thing is to express your feelings sincerely.”
Xiao Xiu nodded, took out his phone to start searching, and muttered as he browsed, “This time, I’m definitely getting a gift that satisfies Senior Xingyu.”
“Xiao Xiu, how do you plan to explain what happened last night to Senior Xingyu?” Mimi asked.
“I’ll just tell the truth that I got drunk, accidentally fell asleep, and my phone died,” Xiao Xiu answered nonchalantly.
“And?” Mimi continued pressing.
“Huh? And? And what?” Xiao Xiu scratched his head, looking uneasy.
“Didn’t you notice? He was jealous because you were hiding a beauty in your house!” Mimi reminded him, wearing a look that showed her exasperation at his lack of insight.
“Hiding a beauty? Jealous??” Xi Yuxiu’s eyes widened in shock, disbelief painting his features.
“Sis, are you saying Senior Xingyu was jealous because of me?! Jealous?!” Before Mimi could even reply, Xiao Xiu excitedly shook both of Mimi’s arms, as if he had just realized some monumental truth.
“Well, duh. Look at how he acted this morning wasn’t it obvious?” Mimi sighed.
“So Senior likes me too! Senior… he likes me too,” Xiao Xiu mumbled to himself with a silly grin.
“I’m going out right now to pick out a gift for Senior Xingyu!” Xiao Xiu bolted out the door in high spirits, leaving behind a helpless Mimi and a thoughtful me.
“Looks like Xiao Xiu really cares about Senior Xingyu,” I said, looking toward the doorway.
Remembering how intoxicated and rambling Mimi had been last night, I couldn’t help asking, “Mimi, do you have someone you like?”
“Ah, Sister, no way. I…” Mimi’s eyes darted around as she gave a flustered reply.
“What are you panicking for? You’re almost thirty; having someone you like is completely normal.” Seeing her flustered expression, which was utterly adorable, I couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Sister, I’m twenty-eight! Not almost thirty! Besides, during a shoot last trip, the director even said I looked eighteen,” Mimi pouted with mild dissatisfaction.
“Hahaha, our Mimi will always be eighteen,” I said with a smile. “But you still haven’t answered my question, do you have someone you like?”
Mimi’s face instantly turned bright red. “I… I…” She lowered her head and began fidgeting with her fingers.
“Liking someone is totally normal, you don’t have to be shy,” I encouraged her. “Maybe you should try being a bit braver.”
Mimi raised her head and looked at me. “Sister, you’re right. But… I don’t dare. I’m afraid they won’t accept me.”
“Then go ask them,” I said. “Or give them some hints so they know how you feel.”
Mimi nodded, gazing at me with deep affection.
“Yes, right like that, that’s the cutest look. Any guy who sees that will have his heart flutter.” I patted her head with a comforting smile.
At my words, Mimi’s face flushed even deeper. She muttered softly, “It’s not as exaggerated as you make it sound…”
Skillfully changing the subject, Mimi began talking about funny anecdotes from Xiao Xiu’s childhood. She recounted with great enthusiasm, “Remember back then, Xiao Xiu was such a little troublemaker! Once, he sneaked into your high heels, tripped and fell flat on his face, making a complete mess of himself. And to top it off, you hauled him up and gave him a good beating.”
At that, Mimi burst out laughing, as if relived of those funny memories. I joined in, picturing the image of a mischievous, adorable little boy in my mind.
Just as we were chatting happily, a crisp doorbell chime echoed through the apartment. Wearing a helpless look, Mimi stood up and walked toward the door.
Opening it, she saw Xiao Xiu had returned, his face beaming with a bright smile as he clutched a delicate gift box.
“Didn’t I already give you the code to the house? Why are you still ringing the doorbell?” Mimi complained, clearly a bit annoyed that Xiao Xiu had interrupted their conversation.
Xiao Xiu scratched his head, looking apologetically sheepish. “I figured since you guys were home, it’d be rude to just barge right in.”
Easter Egg
(Hermes Counter in the Mall)
“Hello, how can I help you today? Are you looking for something for yourself or a gift for someone else?” the sales assistant asked warmly.
“I want to buy a gift for a guy. He… he’s a very important person to me,” Xi Yuxiu replied flusteredly.
“Sir, what do you think of these cufflinks over here? Cufflinks symbolize wanting to keep the other person locked safely by your side, never letting them leave,” the sales assistant explained with an understanding, knowing smile.
Xi Yuxiu’s eyes lit up as he followed the assistant over to the counter.
“Please wrap this up for me,” Xi Yuxiu said, pointing to a pair of blue cufflinks that sparkled like stars.