At the lingerie store, a saleswoman greeted with a smile, "Sir, your girlfriend has a great figure."
"..."
Yi Fan focused his eyes straight ahead and replied stiffly, "Please pack it in a black bag. Thanks."
"Of course~"
Carrying the black plastic bag back home, Yi Fan handed it to Li Yin without a word. Li Yin didn't say thanks either, taking the bag in silence and heading back to her room.
Yi Fan rubbed his face, feeling a little warm. He went to the kitchen to wash his face and then opened his phone's selfie camera, trying to find a natural angle with a grin on his face.
Creak…
The study door opened. Yi Fan quickly fumbled to put his phone away and forced a casual smile. "You've changed? Let's…"
The rest of his sentence stuck in his throat.
Standing there was Li Yin, wearing a pale green floral dress that highlighted her graceful figure. The outfit exuded the refreshing sweetness of midsummer.
Since Yi Fan didn't know her exact size, he bought only dresses and nightwear. However, he underestimated her long legs and perfect proportions. What he thought were midi dresses barely reached her knees, leaving her smooth, porcelain-like calves fully exposed.
Yi Fan froze.
He couldn't help but glance at her chest from the corner of his eye. The curvy silhouette left him momentarily breathless.
What the heck am I even paying attention to?!
Turning to the doorway, Yi Fan pretended to be calm as he put on his shoes. "Looks like it fits well. Let's go."
"Wait."
Li Yin's soft voice stopped him.
Hearing her tone, Yi Fan froze as his mind raced through every bad thing he'd ever done. Could she read minds? Was he just her plaything all along?
Crap! What am I even thinking?!
Thankfully, Li Yin only asked, "How much was it?"
So that's what she wanted to know. Yi Fan wiped his forehead and said, "The saleswoman recommended these. After discounts, it was just ninety-nine yuan for three pieces."
"Ninety-nine…"
Li Yin frowned slightly, taking out a notebook to record it. "Debt: 14,237.50 yuan…"
Seeing her distressed expression, Yi Fan couldn't help but say, "Leave the notebook upstairs. Tonight's snacks are on me."
"But—"
"You're a guest. It's my duty to treat you. Think of it as good hospitality."
"Well… okay then."
Li Yin put the notebook down, though she quickly remembered something. Yi Fan had taught her how to walk the entire day, helped her integrate into society, and given her plenty of advice—all things she believed should be accounted for.
But how could she quantify these intangibles?
Unable to calculate, she grew increasingly confused.
Human kindness couldn't be measured in numbers, something Li Yin didn't yet understand.
"Here."
Yi Fan pointed to a brand-new pair of clogs by the door. "These are super popular here. I bought a pair just for you—they're convenient for going out."
The shoes came with charms Yi Fan had chosen carefully: a little ghost, a peach blossom, and a small fire dragon.
Li Yin slipped them on, lifted one foot, and smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks. "So cute!"
"Right? I thought you'd like the fire dragon, so I picked that charm for you."
Yi Fan couldn't help but seek a compliment.
Li Yin looked at him and made a heart shape with her hands.
Yi Fan froze, his heart skipping a beat as he struggled to catch his breath. He turned his head quickly, saying, "Not bad—learning fast, huh?"
"Yep!"
Li Yin beamed, happily walking back and forth in the shoes. "How's my walking?"
"Perfect."
Yi Fan avoided looking at her, pulling out an unopened lipstick from his pocket. "This will tone down your lip color a bit, make it look more natural."
Li Yin looked surprised. "The shoes and lipstick… You bought them this morning?"
"Yeah." Yi Fan nodded.
Her eyes lit up with admiration. The way Yi Fan thought everything through was something she couldn't begin to emulate.
"Thanks, boss!"
"You're welcome. Didn't you already put it on the tab? Try it out."
"Okay!"
Li Yin floated to the full-length mirror by the door, carefully applying the lipstick and pressing her lips together. The natural shade Yi Fan had chosen perfectly complemented her skin tone, giving her a fresh, vibrant look.
Most importantly, it masked any lingering inhuman aura.
"How does it look?"
Clearly satisfied, Li Yin turned with a bright smile.
"Beautiful."
Yi Fan meant it. Their eyes met, and he quickly turned away. "Let's go."
Locking the door, they headed to the elevator.
In the enclosed space, they naturally stood in opposite corners. Yi Fan kept his hands in his pockets, pretending to focus on the wall ads, while Li Yin lowered her head in silence.
Ding!
The elevator reached the ground floor.
Yi Fan led the way, but after a few steps, he noticed Li Yin hadn't followed. Looking back, he saw her still standing inside.
"What's wrong?"
She was clutching her skirt tightly, her hands trembling slightly as they emitted a faint chill.
After a moment, she softly said, "Maybe we should just order takeout…"
Yi Fan frowned. "We're already downstairs. Night market food's way better than takeout."
"…"
Li Yin said nothing, clutching her skirt even tighter.
Sensing something was off, Yi Fan stepped back into the elevator and shut the doors. Leaning against the wall, he asked gently, "Too many people?"
Li Yin flinched slightly, then slowly looked up, her light blue eyes meeting his for a moment before she looked away again. "I'm sorry…"
Yi Fan squinted. Judging from her reaction, he'd hit the mark.
The bustling night market wasn't her scene.
Even without her memories, some part of her subconscious still held judgments. Yi Fan boldly guessed that perhaps she'd been overwhelmed by the chaos of the world in the past.
Pressing the button for the sixth floor, Yi Fan said, "Why apologize? We'll just order takeout."
"No."
Li Yin bit her lip and pressed the button for the ground floor again. "If I want to fit in as a working adult, I can't run away."
Yi Fan chuckled at her attempt to mimic internet slang. "Your joke didn't land."
Curious, Li Yin asked, "What do you mean?"
Patiently, Yi Fan explained the joke in detail, then added, "So, do I qualify for some late-night snacks?"
Li Yin smiled sweetly. "You do. I'll treat you to smoked chicken!"
Yi Fan laughed too.
Once the laughter started, neither could stop. They stood in the elevator, laughing until they were out of breath.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened suddenly.
A passerby looked puzzled, hesitating before asking, "Uh… Are you two going up?"
Yi Fan and Li Yin exchanged a glance before blurting out in unison, "Sorry!"
They hurried out of the elevator. Li Yin was so flustered she almost floated.
The passerby stepped in, closed the doors, and pressed his floor number, muttering, "Why do I have to watch couples flirt in elevators even after work? This is just cruel…"