It was a bit awkward for Lin Yanyan, but not taking the gift would only make things harder. She caught sight of the guy still lurking just outside the store, his gaze locked onto her with a mix of suspicion and simmering frustration.
"Alright… I'll take it," she finally said, exhaling softly. "But don't go overboard. I really don't need anything expensive. I'm fine with something simple."
That slight crack in her guard was enough.
Jiang Hai exhaled in relief.
The system had a condition: any gift had to be accepted willingly. If it was rejected, the amount spent would be refunded—wiped from both his system rewards and progress. He needed her to truly accept it.
"Okay," he nodded. "Luckily, they're already prepared. Just pick what you like."
The salesgirls, sharp and attentive, had already laid out several elegant options. Each bag was neatly placed on display—but none of them showed price tags.
Lin Yanyan blinked, surprised. She glanced at Jiang Hai, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
'No price tags? That's definitely his doing…,' she thought.
A subtle warmth flickered in her chest. It was ridiculous—but kind, in a strange way.
Still, she couldn't stop herself.
"How much do they cost?"
Instead of asking the staff, she walked over and clutched lightly at Jiang Hai's shirt, tugging on his sleeve. Her lips formed a soft pout as she leaned closer, brushing his arm with her shoulder.
The sudden closeness made Jiang Hai's heart skip.
His face flushed slightly, but he kept himself composed—barely.
"It's fine," he said, backing just a bit. "I can afford all of them, so just pick whichever one you like."
He smiled wryly.
Why is getting a girl to accept a gift harder than passing college exams? he mused internally.
Yanyan bit her lip slightly, eyes flickering between him and the bags.
Outside, their stalker still waited—watching.
But inside, something in her gaze had changed.
"They're all really nice… I can't decide like this."Lin Yanyan looked down at the array of luxury bags spread before her, her expression a mix of hesitation and subtle embarrassment. Her hands hovered over the bags but never touched one. It wasn't just the pressure of choosing—it was the weight of what it symbolized.
Jiang Hai watched her, reading her discomfort all too clearly. He smiled—genuinely, though there was a bit of wryness behind it. He didn't want to push her too hard, but at the same time, he wasn't planning to back down. Not now.
So, with an almost casual shrug, he stood up."Then I'll buy them all."
"Wait, what?" Yanyan blinked, caught completely off guard.
Before she could fully process his words, he had already walked to the counter. The saleslady, equally surprised, looked up at him with wide eyes. Jiang Hai gave a light nod, completely composed.
"Please pack all of them." His voice was calm, but there was a steel thread of confidence running through it.
And then—"Ding! The payment has been made."
That artificial tone echoed through the boutique like a thunderclap in the silence. The atmosphere shifted slightly, the store staff suddenly more attentive, as if sensing they weren't just dealing with a regular customer.
Lin Yanyan stood in place, stunned.
Jiang Hai returned to her side, the same calm smile still on his lips."I absolutely can't let you worry about something so trivial," he said, his voice slightly louder now. "So, I hope you'll accept them all."
Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again.
"You… Why would you do that?" she asked softly, glancing at him with disbelief in her eyes. "I mean, I really can't pay you back for all this. And… I want you to be this generous to the girl you actually like."
That last sentence lingered in the air for a beat too long.
Jiang Hai's smile didn't fade. He leaned just a little closer—not enough to make her uncomfortable, but enough that she could feel the shift in the air between them.
"And what makes you think… I don't like you?"
Lin Yanyan froze.
The words hit her harder than she expected. The flush on her cheeks deepened, and her eyes instinctively dropped, as if unsure what to do with the weight of what he'd just said.
Jiang Hai reached up gently, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. His fingers were light, almost hesitant—but the gesture was undeniably intimate.
"And if you still feel like paying me back…" His voice lowered, the confidence now tinged with sincerity. "…then let me treat you to dinner. Just us. Call it a thank-you or a proper first date."
Lin Yanyan stared at him. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out.
Then—suddenly—she let out a soft huff and turned around.
"Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you," she muttered under her breath.
She picked up the shopping bags from the counter, her hands visibly trembling, and strode out of the store with her chin lifted high—doing her best to mask the whirlpool of emotion running through her.
Jiang Hai stood still for a second, then let out a quiet laugh.
He chased after her, his steps light.
She took the bags. That's all the answer I need for now.
A soft smile crept across Jiang Hai's face as he caught up with Lin Yanyan. She was walking slightly ahead, but the way she glanced sideways told him she was waiting for him. Her hand gripped the edge of the shopping bag a little too tightly, and her cheeks were faintly flushed under the gentle glow of the streetlights.
"So, about tomorrow…" Her voice was soft, nearly drowned out by the hum of the city. "I'll be free in the evening."
Jiang Hai blinked, pleasantly surprised by her casual tone. It wasn't a formal invitation, nor a promise—but in that quiet, barely audible sentence, there was a strange warmth. He nodded, his grin widening.
"Great. I'll plan something nice then."
They walked together, a new silence blooming between them. Not awkward—just unfamiliar, like they were stepping into something neither of them had expected to happen. Jiang Hai couldn't help but marvel at the situation. Who would've thought that the girl he'd admired from afar would now be beside him, holding bags he'd just bought for her?
So this is what it feels like to be rich... and lucky. He mused silently, watching Yanyan's profile as she walked. She really was the class belle—admired, elegant, the kind of girl most guys only dared to dream about. Yet now, she was by his side, letting her guard down.
Her voice broke the silence again.
"Say… aren't you afraid I might just take your money and vanish? You're being… way too generous." She said it with an awkward little laugh, as if trying to mask her uncertainty.
Jiang Hai chuckled.
"Hmm… that'd still be worth it. Not every guy gets to casually spend the evening with someone like you. Even if you did cheat me, I wouldn't call it a total loss."
His blunt answer made Yanyan glance at him, stunned. For a split second, she didn't know if he was joking or being completely serious. Then she coughed lightly, trying to mask the blush creeping up her neck.
"You really are too smooth for your own good." She muttered, looking away with a small huff.
"So?" Jiang Hai teased. "Is there someone you actually like, then? Maybe I'm just filling in temporarily."
Yanyan gave him a long, unreadable look before replying.
"No. This is actually… my first time dating someone." Her voice was steady, but her expression softened as she added, "So I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Just don't disappoint me, alright?"
Jiang Hai froze for a moment. His heart skipped a beat—not because of her words, but because of the quiet sincerity in them. She wasn't playing along anymore. That was real.
Before he could say anything else, she picked up her pace and walked ahead, her figure lit by the store lights behind her. The bags swayed gently in her hands, and her steps were light, almost joyful.
Only then did Jiang Hai remember the other guy—the smug jerk who had been tailing them earlier. Still standing dumbfounded in the boutique doorway, he looked like someone who had just watched his own pride get steamrolled. Neither Jiang Hai nor Lin Yanyan gave him so much as a second glance.