"Really?" Shen Jianian found the young girl amusing and couldn’t help but reply.
The young shop owner asked her to straighten her arm to measure its length, and while recording the measurements, she whispered, "I’m not lying. Back when I was in my third year of high school, I saw this gentleman was so close with his wife. I was so envious that I even wished I could meet a handsome guy like that, and then my dad hit me on the head with a ruler."
Actually, her dad just tapped her on the head with a ruler, which isn’t really hitting her, she exaggerated a bit.
Shen Jianian was amused.
"How do you know that girl was his wife?"
"Uh, I guessed." The young shop owner continued measuring her waist, silently marveling at how slim it was, just like that sister’s. She suspected this gentleman was a waist admirer, "Even if they weren’t married, they were a couple. They were so lovey-dovey at the time. To split up so suddenly means the gentleman isn’t reli..."
She accidentally misspoke and covered her mouth, apologizing to Shen Jianian, "Am I talking too much? I’m not trying to discourage you, sister, I’m just giving you a heads up, no other intentions."
Shen Jianian shook her head and chuckled, not blaming her.
Before entering the store, Fu Jichen asked if she found it familiar. She guessed she had been here before, and after hearing the young girl’s words, she was even more certain that it was indeed her who accompanied Fu Jichen here before.
"All done." The young girl jotted down Shen Jianian’s measurements and the chosen fabric in her order book, calculated the amount, and told her the production time.
Shen Jianian didn’t want Fu Jichen to pay, so she prepared to pay herself, but then realized her phone wasn’t with her and was a bit embarrassed when Fu Jichen walked over.
"How much extra for rush orders?" Fu Jichen took out a wallet from his pocket and pulled out a card.
According to what the young shop owner said earlier, the orders were backed up until the month after next. It would be summer by the time the clothes were ready, how could she wear them then?
The young shop owner, now not in favor of him, replied sternly, "The fastest rush order costs an extra two thousand, and will be ready in half a month. A regular rush order costs an extra thousand, and you can pick it up in a month."
Fu Jichen placed the card on the counter, "I want the fastest rush."
The young girl efficiently completed the order, picked up his bank card to swipe on the POS machine, and said, "The qipao is four thousand eight, plus the two thousand for rush, a total of six thousand eight."
After swiping the card, she handed the card and the order back to Fu Jichen and routinely informed, "In half a month, either come to the store to pick it up or leave an address to have it sent to your home. If there are any problems with the clothes, you can come back at any time for free alterations, without limit."
Fu Jichen put the bank card back in his wallet, and Shen Jianian inadvertently glanced over, seeing a familiar photo in the transparent compartment.
As Fu Jichen was about to put the wallet back in his pocket, Shen Jianian impulsively took it over.
"What’s up?" Fu Jichen didn’t fight her for it, letting her take it, and looked at her sideways.
Shen Jianian opened the wallet and saw the photo clearly—it was her admission photo from university, wearing a blue shirt, with a bow tie at the collar, black hair tucked behind her ears, revealing her facial features.
The young shop owner behind the counter was curious, craned her neck to glance at the photo, and was immediately shocked, feeling as if her worldview had been shattered.
This gentleman was even more of a philanderer than she thought.
Keeping a photo of an ex in his wallet, occasionally taking a look, reminiscing while leaving the current beside him in an awkward position? It’s simply too much!
Shen Jianian didn’t say anything, closed the wallet, and returned it to Fu Jichen.
She didn’t ask Fu Jichen how he got the photo since they used to be that kind of relationship, it wasn’t strange for him to have her admission photo.
The young shop owner looked at Shen Jianian sympathetically, came out from behind the counter, and saw them to the door.
Shen Jianian fell behind Fu Jichen, walked a few steps, and was suddenly pulled by someone. She stopped, turned her head, and heard the young girl whisper, "The beautiful lady I mentioned earlier is the one in the photo. Now you know I wasn’t lying. Sister, be careful when choosing a man, don’t be fooled by appearances. You’re so beautiful, you definitely have plenty of suitors. It’s hard to find a three-legged toad, but two-legged men are everywhere!"
Fu Jichen heard a series of muttering behind him, turned his head, and the young girl immediately fell silent, standing straight and waving to them with a professional smile, "Goodbye, welcome again next time."
Descending the steps in front of the qipao store, Fu Jichen smiled and asked the person beside him, "What were you talking about with that girl just now?"
He had noticed them whispering while the young girl was taking Shen Jianian’s measurements. His intuition told him their conversation was related to him.
Shen Jianian reviewed the events in her mind, and for some reason, suddenly wanted to laugh. In that young girl’s mind, Fu Jichen had already been labeled as a "jerk".
Seeing the smile on her lips, Fu Jichen became even more curious, "Can’t tell me?"
"Aren’t you good at guessing? Guess for yourself." Shen Jianian wasn’t going to tell him. She pursed her lips and said, "I’ve noted down the cost of the qipao. Give me your phone later, and I’ll transfer the money to you."
Fu Jichen: "You’re still drawing such clear lines with me."
Shen Jianian didn’t respond to him.
"Do you want to go home now?" Fu Jichen asked, "Or do you want to wander around a bit more?"
Shen Jianian relished the sense of freedom and didn’t want to return to her cage so soon. She walked straight ahead, using her actions to tell Fu Jichen she wasn’t going back just yet.
Fu Jichen followed her steps, accompanying her leisurely stroll.
An evening stroll along the roads was unfamiliar to Fu Jichen, but incredibly satisfying; as long as she was by his side, anything was fine.
Passing by a bar, the noise inside drilled into their ears as if someone was holding a concert through a water curtain, allowing them to feel the lively atmosphere, though the singing was unclear.
Fu Jichen stopped and softly suggested, "Want to go in for a bit? We’ve walked a lot and should take a rest."
Shen Jianian didn’t like overly noisy places, especially bars, and was about to refuse when Fu Jichen wrapped his arm around her and led her inside. The music amplified instantly, no longer muffled as if behind a water curtain, but blasting around their ears.
Fu Jichen didn’t plan to stay long, so he didn’t reserve a booth. Instead, he guided Shen Jianian to the bar side and found two adjacent high stools to sit on.
His hand rested around her waist, the heat seeping through the fabric.
Shen Jianian twisted slightly, signaling him to let go.
It was too noisy around them, so Fu Jichen worried she wouldn’t hear him speak. He leaned closer to her ear and found an excuse for his behavior: "Through the fabric, it’s not real physical contact, you can’t fault me for breaking the agreement."
He withdrew his hand, resting it on the bar’s edge, and gestured to the bartender wearing a suit vest.
The bartender leaned over and politely asked what the customers needed.
Fu Jichen ordered a whiskey on the rocks, turning to Shen Jianian, knowing her tolerance was low, he ordered her a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, at room temperature.
Shen Jianian didn’t want to talk much, but for her safety, reminded him: "You drove here."
Fu Jichen saw her lips move but didn’t catch what she said. He raised an eyebrow and leaned his head towards her: "What did you just say to me?"
The bar might have intentionally created this rowdy atmosphere. Fierce rock music filled every corner, making it hard to hear each other and necessitating close proximity for conversation. Such intimacy bred unspoken affection.
Shen Jianian endured it, but had to lean close to his ear to say, "You can’t drink if you’re driving."
Fu Jichen grinned, his exceptionally handsome face alluring under the interplay of light and shadow. His smile was particularly mesmerizing. Several ladies passing by the bar shot envious glances, but with someone by his side, they refrained from approaching, though they stole a few more looks. For original chapters go to novel·fire·net
"Isn’t there still you?" Fu Jichen’s lips brushed imperceptibly against her ear when he spoke, "You’ll drive back."
Shen Jianian’s ear felt like it had been dropped with hot coal, and she quickly tilted her head to maintain distance from him.
A bright red pomegranate juice was placed in front of her by the bartender, in an irregularly shaped goblet with a straw. Shen Jianian bit on the straw and gulped down several mouthfuls, but her ears’ temperature didn’t drop.
In front of Fu Jichen was a square glass with a spherical ice cube rotating inside. He lifted it and took a sip, his gaze not leaving Shen Jianian’s face.
He actually didn’t like these kinds of places either. The few times he drank to unwind, he chose relatively quiet bars. Today, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to bring Shen Jianian in to feel the atmosphere.
The bartender observed the handsome couple before him, shaking a glass while speaking to them: "Today’s the bar’s anniversary, normally it’s not this crowded. Later, there’ll be a game segment, don’t leave too early."
Not long after the bartender finished speaking, the music’s volume decreased slightly, and the bar owner took the stage for a speech, offering a few lively opening words before quickly transitioning to the game segment.
The crowd below shouted boisterously, causing Shen Jianian to squint and raise a hand to cover her ears.
Fu Jichen watched her curious and noise-averse demeanor next to him, his eyes brimming with amusement. The alcohol didn’t intoxicate him; it was her every expression that enchanted him.
Bar staff flitted among the crowd, handing out a card to everyone present, each with different numbers.
The owner, holding a microphone on stage, announced the game’s rules: "I’ve downloaded a random draw app on my phone. Each round, two ’lucky audience’ members are drawn, then a challenge task is drawn from the task box for them to complete. Just to be clear, complete it and you get a reward; lose and you face a penalty!"
The crowd erupted in another cheer.
The rules were simple, just an alternative game of dare.