Jin Liwei couldn't help but stare at Xie Ming as she picked out a few dresses. Realizing he was acting strangely, he cleared his throat in embarrassment. From the rack, he chose a knee-length soft pastel green dress with a white floral pattern. It was a strap dress, and he added a matching pastel green shrug to keep things modest, as per Xie Ming's preference for less exposed skin.
Handing her the dress, he said, "Change into this one. You've been wearing the same thing since yesterday."
Turning to the saleswoman, he added, "For these dresses, no need to select just one or two. Bundle them all up and send them over to Jin Villa later. You can settle the payment with this card," he said, handing his card to the sales assistant. "And, if you happen to receive more dresses like these in the future, send a few samples to the Villa so she can choose from them."
The saleswoman's face lit up upon seeing the black card, and she eagerly nodded. "Of course, sir. I'll pack them securely and have them delivered to your place."
"The new collection will arrive in two days, and I'll make sure to send those dresses for Madam to choose from as well." the sales assistant declared, her smile reflecting the satisfaction of a successful sale.
Xie Ming's eyes widened in surprise, shaking her head she held onto Jin Liwei's arm and said. "What are you doing? I don't need so many clothes. A few dresses are more than enough."
"How can they be enough? You mentioned that you don't like your previous dresses anymore. Since you cannot wear them, you need something to change into daily," Liwei reasoned.
"But buying all the dresses doesn't make sense. A few will be more than enough for me; I can just wash and wear them again. Why spend so much money on these dresses? Also," Xie Ming pursed her lips and leaned in to whisper, "These dresses are so expensive despite being so simple, and they don't even have any gemstones on them. Why spend so much money on them?"
In the past, the dresses she wore were adorned with numerous gemstones and pearls, making them exorbitantly priced. In contrast, these new dresses were plain and simple, yet their price tags shocked her. She couldn't fathom why Liwei was willing to spend so much on them. The thought lingered: What if, after investing so much, he asks for everything back during their divorce? She couldn't afford such a waste.
Jin Liwei found her reaction amusing. She used to be the one who bought clothes and accessories without a care for expenses. Her wardrobe was brimming with items she had purchased and never bothered to revisit. The notion of her now suggesting to save money on clothes sounded comical.
'Looks like this temporary amnesia has given her some sense,' he mused with a smirk.
"It's funny that you're worrying about money," he commented sarcastically before adding, "Since you don't remember anything, I won't say more. About these dresses, we're getting them all. I don't want anyone saying I didn't take care of you, letting you wear the same dresses for consecutive days."
Observing their interaction, the saleswoman couldn't help but smile. "Madam, you must be lucky to have such a loving husband," she commented, a hint of envy in her eyes. Witnessing numerous men accompanying their wives but often rushing them to leave or arguing over buying clothes and spending money, she found Jin Liwei's approach unusual.
Both Jin Liwei and Xie Ming were taken aback by the woman's comment. They exchanged glances, suddenly feeling awkward, and avoided each other's gaze in embarrassment.
"Loving husband? How can that be? This man only cares about his reputation; there's no way he cares about me," Xie Ming whispered under her breath, dismissing the woman's words.
"What did you say?" Jin Liwei noticed her muttering something and frowned, curious to know what she was saying. It certainly didn't seem like anything good about him.
Xie Ming cleared her throat and said, "Nothing. I was talking to myself. About these dresses, fine. Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, you're the one who is paying for it. Don't demand it from me later on. I didn't ask you to do that," she asserted. She wanted to make things clear so that he wouldn't taunt her or demand money for these clothes later on.
Jin Liwei nodded and said, "Fine," to which Xie Ming also agreed. She took the dress from him and went to change.
___
After leaving the shop, Liwei turned to Xie Ming and said, "Since we're done here, let's go. It's not good for you to stay outside for long. You need to rest," his face filled with concern. Although Xie Ming didn't show it, her complexion had turned pale. She had been massaging her feet while sitting on the couch and seemed stiff while walking.
Discharged from the hospital just yesterday, and it wasn't right for her to roam outside for an extended period. Seeing her tired appearance, he couldn't help but worry. Xie Ming was surprised by his concerned expression and asked upon remembering something, "You're coming home with me? Didn't you say you need to go to work later?"
Jin Liwei looked at her and was reminded of his initial plans. He had intended to go to the office from here, asking the driver to drop her at home. However, for some reason, he didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone.
He looked at her and said, "The meeting has been postponed, and I also forgot a document at home. I will go home first and then go to work from there," not mentioning that he was doing all of this just to accompany her home.
"Oh! Alright," Xie Ming didn't think much about his words and left with him. In the car, while Xie Ming fell asleep from exhaustion, Jin Liwei took out his phone and messaged Gu Shan, his secretary, "Postpone my meeting to the late afternoon. I will come to the office late."
Gu Shan, in the office and preparing for the meeting which is in half an hour, was surprised upon receiving the message. "What has gotten into this workaholic monster?" He spoke aloud in wonder.
Jin Liwei was a workaholic monster known for arriving early and leaving late, sometimes staying back at the office instead of going home. His intense work ethic influenced not only his assistant but also the entire company's staff, who found themselves working late and arriving early as well.
However, no one could have anticipated a day when the workaholic monster would postpone a meeting, and not for professional or emergency reasons but for personal ones.
"That's quite a change."
__
After messaging Gu Shan, Jin Liwei put away his phone in his pocket and immersed himself in reading documents on his tablet. Meanwhile, Xie Ming was lost in deep slumber and had her head nestled against the window.
She woke up early in the morning due to her past strict routine. However, her current weakened body couldn't sustain activity for long. Affected by recent experiences and medications, fatigue and constant sleepiness lingered. The car's air conditioner provided a soothing atmosphere in the hot weather, relaxing her to the point that she dozed off without even realizing it while watching the massive buildings and busy roads pass by.
"Ah." Xie Ming, with her head tilted against the window, winced in pain when the car shook due to a road breaker.
Jin Liwei looked up from his tablet at the sound of her muffled cry and saw her sleeping with her head against the window. She was in such a deep sleep that the jolt from hitting her head didn't stir her awake.
He was certain that once she stirred awake, it wouldn't just be her crimsoned forehead from the accidental bump, but also her neck that would be throbbing with discomfort due to the awkward position she had slept in.
He sighed, extending his hand to delicately cradle her head, gently guiding it to rest on his shoulder. Gently placing Xie Ming's head on his shoulder, she found unmatched comfort. In her sleep, she naturally reached out, wrapping her hand around his arm in a tight embrace, seeking solace in his warmth.
Liwei's body tensed suddenly at her unexpected actions, the unforeseen intimacy catching him off guard. He looked at the girl, deeply immersed in sleep. A moment of regret washed over him, with a fleeting impulse to pull away, but the determination to do so slipped through his grasp.
A heavy sigh escaped him, and he gently set his tablet aside. His hand found its way to her back, providing both support and a sense of balance in the moving car. Xie Ming, seeking comfort, nestled against him, rubbing her head on his shoulder to find a more relaxed position within his embrace.
Liwei's face reflected a mixture of emotions — a complex interplay between the urge to create distance and the undeniable connection slowly blossoming in the silence between them.