"…"
"What? You won't? Weren't you giving away the blouse gleefully a few moments ago!"
Why was his behavior so erratic! However, the blouse had been bought with his money. This was the reason why his money could not be used. Otherwise, he might impose conditions on her at every turn…
Still, did she have any other option now?
He was in the driver's seat while she sat right behind him. They were separated by the back of the seat, which was still a safe distance, so she did not have to turn away in panic.
He turned his cheek to her. His profile looked amazing.
Li Shengxia gripped the back of the seat with both hands, steeled herself, and moved closer—
He watched her without moving a single muscle, with his noble features as exquisite as a sculpture. As she stared at him, her heart pounded unsteadily.
She halted there for a long time, unable to bring herself to kiss him. How far did he go with Gina? Had he asked Gina to do something like this too? They…
Then, he reached out suddenly and pulled her face towards him.
Her lips touched his… It was like a current had passed between them.
She moved back instinctively, but he deepened the kiss.
She felt that he was filthy, but she could not avoid this kiss.
She suddenly recalled that kiss at the airport five years ago. He had brutally, wildly robbed her of her first kiss, casting a significant shadow over her. For a long time, she could not get close to any man…
Later on, she met Yin Tangyi and slowly moved out of that shadow. Even so, she had only held hands with him, because each time he wanted to kiss her, she would feel the same old nightmare haunting her and coldly push him away…
However, now…
She did not push Mo Nianchen away!
This time, his kiss was soft, as if he was counting the threads of time and slowly winding them around her. He drew her close and gradually let her melt into his world. It was like ice cream dissolving on the tip of the tongue, slightly cool and slightly sweet.
The kiss ended.
He seemed to be in a cheerful mood as he fiddled with his phone and sent a message.
Her heart was still beating violently as she remembered how she had neglected to push him away, and how Gina had touched him before as well. She felt an unexplained revulsion and turned away from him to look out the window, before coldly spitting out a few words.
"Have you had relations with many others?"
"Of course. Didn't you come to me because of my 'reputation'?"
Her face paled.
She was still disturbed by what Gina had said.
She paused, then asked him, "You've been together with Gina?"
"Yup." He seemed even more elated now. Was that what she was troubled about? "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing." She stifled the misery in her heart and added, "I just think that there really is a problem with your taste."
"You hate her?" He was not angry and even appeared to be in a decent mood.
"Never liked her." Inwardly, she thought, 'Isn't that great? The two people I hate the most had been a couple once!'
"We're alike in that sense."
She was taken aback. Did he mean that he did not like Gina too?
Quickly, she said scornfully, "You say you hate her, but you still hooked up with her so easily!"
"What, I can't hook up with someone I don't like?" he retorted.
Li Shengxia suddenly remembered something and felt embarrassed. Oh, right! He hated her too, but he was still marrying her, right? This meant that there was no need for her to guess what he was thinking!
He suddenly wanted to explain himself, for some reason. "Whatever happened between Gina and me, it's not what you think—"
"Stop. I'm not interested in listening to your 'heroic conquests'!" She immediately cut him short.
Mo Nianchen noticed that her eyes gleamed with faint anger, and he became even more delighted. "Since you're done with your interrogation, how about we shop for clothes at another store? Surely you're not thinking of going back dressed like this."
Li Shengxia looked at her own attire and wrapped her coat tightly around her. "I won't trouble you. I'll buy my own clothes."
"Is that so." He smiled but did not protest.
Li Shengxia recalled that she did not have much money, and quickly added, "I don't have much cash, so take me to a cheaper mall."
Even at this time, she could sit there in such a cool, unperturbed manner. He had clearly noticed a flash of mortification in her face just now.
Mo Nianchen started the engine.
She watched the scenery outside the window pass her by. After some time, the car stopped.
Before them was a posh clothing store.
Li Shengxia was not a fool. By looking at the store's design, she already knew that this was even more luxurious than the previous store, and surely more expensive too.
She turned to shoot him a look. "Is this a prank? How can this place be any cheaper…" Although she had never bought anything from this store, she usually paid attention to fashion magazines because of her love for fashion design. The clothes in this store were definitely not cheap.
"Get off." He only had two words for her.
Li Shengxia held on to her bag and finally asked, "Aren't you going?"
Was he still trying to abuse her by making her go into such a high-end store with so little money? Did he feel like she was not humiliated enough just now, so this was the second round? Perhaps she said something that had upset him, thus incurring his wrath?
Mo Nianchen did not know that Li Shengxia had so much on her mind. He only replied breezily, "Did you forget about insulting my taste just now?"
"…" Was he trying to get back at her now? Li Shengxia struggled mightily with herself, wondering if she should apologize for shooting down his offer to buy her clothes! However, she could not bring herself to speak.
She saw that he had no intention of leaving and finally got out of the car herself. She walked to the store, braced herself, and opened the door. How she regretted giving away the blouse to someone else. Otherwise, she would not have to suffer this misery again. When she thought about how those two store clerks had watched her as if she was a petty thief, she could not help but turn white.
She turned back to glance at him, but he was not looking at her. He was on the phone, wearing a stern expression.
'So be it…'
She helplessly took a step forward. When she turned around, a pack of attendants had rushed up to her, shouting in perfect unison, "Welcome—"
She gasped in surprise. Already several people were pulling her by the hand and she was ushered into the store.
"Miss, you're here to shop for clothes, right?"
"You're so beautiful. You must look good in everything."
"Uh—" Li Shengxia could not process all this for a moment. "Don't you think that my clothes are in a poor state?"
"Not at all, it's a very popular style this year."
"…" Was this not too over-the-top?
"Miss, you have such original taste. Come and try this on."
The service in this store was so friendly that Li Shengxia felt disoriented. She was still wearing the same aqua blue dress, which had undergone a thorough disparagement in the previous store. However, this store praised her for having original taste?
Surely the difference in attitude between these two stores was too drastic!