Bridal gifts...

Clutching the delicate yet weighty solid gold bracelet, Chen Yuan was now certain he had heard those two words.

But then again, he wasn’t so sure.

Her words seemed to have been caught by the wind, scattering like dandelion seeds.

If she hadn't said that to him behind a closed door, he should have heard it clearly.

No, it was precisely because it was difficult to say face-to-face that she had specifically closed the door.

In any case, those two words were *cai li* (bridal gifts), right?

Wait, what province is Xin Yu from?

Oh, Jingnan.

That’s good, at least he could afford it.

According to Haidong standards, there were basically no bridal gifts, just a token of tens of thousands of yuan. Even if Jingnan was more expensive, it should be just over 100,000 yuan, or a few hundred thousand.

No, why am I seriously considering this?

Is the key to the problem the bridal gifts?

The key is that Xia Xin Yu just proposed to me!

Let me save up for bridal gifts = let me marry her = she wants to marry me = she proposed to me, right?

I think so.

"No, bridal gifts are bridal gifts, but this gift still has to be returned to Xin Yu."

That’s what Chen Yuan thought, so he opened the door, left the room, and prepared to knock on Xin Yu’s door.

At that moment, the door behind him slammed shut with a bang.

Chen Yuan's heart also tightened.

Damn it! My keys!

Chen Yuan hurried back and found that the door was locked. He lifted the rug on the floor, but the key wasn't there. This was inevitable, because he had to go to school tomorrow, and his parents were still at home, so when he went out just now, he had given his dad the spare key under the rug.

And Old Chen and Ms. Yang had gone out to a hotel; they might still be out for a walk. It wouldn’t be good to call them back directly…

After hesitating for a while, Chen Yuan still didn't send the message.

They hadn't taken their luggage, so they would definitely be back later. So, for the time being, it would be better to wait a little while.

But if he waited, just standing stupidly outside like this would be a waste of time.

Finally, after thinking for five minutes, Chen Yuan knocked on Xia Xin Yu's door. No one answered. He knocked twice more, and then a female voice echoed from a distance, "Chen Yuan? I'm taking a shower... Is there anything you need?"

"..." When Chen Yuan heard this, he raised his voice and replied, "No, nothing."

"Really nothing?"

"Nothing."

Since she's taking a shower, I'll wait a little longer.

Sitting at the door, Chen Yuan suddenly felt a chill.

It's late now, and the temperature is dropping. I hope Xin Yu finishes soon so I can go to her room and wait for a while.

Suddenly, a phone call came.

It was from Xin Yu.

When he answered, Chen Yuan heard the sound of rushing water.

But soon, the sound stopped abruptly.

Then, Xia Xin Yu's gentle voice came: "I didn't hear clearly just now. Did you need something?"

"I..."

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, a little embarrassed to speak.

"Go ahead, it's okay," Xia Xin Yu said with a slight smile, probably sensing his difficulty.

"I... I thought I should give the bracelet back to you, so I left the room, but I forgot to take the key, and the door just... closed."

"Then, what about the key under the rug?" Xia Xin Yu's tone was flustered.

"My dad took it with him."

"So you're just standing in the hallway now?"

"Yeah."

"Aren't you cold?"

"Not cold."

Chen Yuan thought that if he finished saying these two words at this time, and then very cunningly sneezed, perhaps it would arouse Xia Xin Yu's sympathy, and she would let him, this lonely wolf from the southeast, into the room.

But old tricks never work. Only sincerity wins people's hearts. He was still unwilling to play this little trick.

After a while, Xia Xin Yu asked in a low voice, "Then... do you want to stay in my room... for a while?"

Yes.

"It's okay, I'll wait until you finish your shower. I'll play on my phone in the hallway for a while," Chen Yuan said casually.

This is the upright man of the southeast, who will never do anything unjust.

Although Xia Xin Yu would definitely agree at this time, and even try to persuade him again…

"Then wait a moment."

No, you should persuade me!

Fine, fine, you heartless woman, just let me freeze to death!

"Okay, sure."

The phone hung up, and then Chen Yuan continued to squat at the door, waiting for Xin Yu to finish her shower.

But obviously, he would have to wait a long time.

Xin Yu had only been in the room for five minutes, and she still had to take off her clothes, find a change of clothes, and run the water. She probably just started lathering up…

Don't think about it. The difference between humans and monkeys is that...

Monkeys don't have to go to work.

Ah, no, it’s that humans can control their desires.

That's why humans are superior.

So right now, she should be washing her hair, right?

Creak—

Suddenly, Xia Xin Yu's door was opened a crack.

Chen Yuan was stunned. He stood up, walked to the door, and then saw Xia Xin Yu in the gap.

At this time, her hair was completely wet, strands of hair gathered into clumps by the water, draped over her body like silk, clinging to her skin. And because she had already started taking a shower, when she came out, she was only wrapped in a large white bath towel, one inch below her collarbone. The hem just reached her knees.

Obviously, there was only a bath towel.

Xia Xin Yu's smooth shoulders were completely exposed for the first time. Her fair, creamy skin had a faint rosy glow, with warm little water droplets perched on it...

"What are you looking at?" Holding the bath towel on her chest with her hand, Xia Xin Yu stared at Chen Yuan, asking knowingly.

"Nothing," Chen Yuan said, averting his eyes.

"Is there anyone outside?" Xia Xin Yu asked again.

Chen Yuan glanced around and carefully confirmed before replying, "There's no one here now. After all, we're on the top floor."

"Then I'll leave a crack in the door and go back to the bathroom first. After ten seconds... ah, no, fifteen seconds, you can come in. Do you understand why?"

"I know, you're guarding against me."

"It's not that. I'm not feeling well right now," Xia Xin Yu complained. "Please be considerate."

"I understand. Thank you for letting me in."

Chen Yuan nodded his thanks.

Then, Xia Xin Yu left, quickening her pace toward the bathroom.

At this moment, if he were to forcefully push open the door, barge into the room, startle her, causing the bath towel to fall, and see her covering herself with her arms, her cheeks flushed red, revealing a look of panic, but Chen Yuan ignored it, closed the door, and pounced on her…

If that happened, how would Xia Xin Yu react?

Block him, what else?

Perhaps she would forgive him later, but there would still be some distance in her heart.

Therefore, young boys, never become midnight perverts for the sake of temporary desires.

Besides, Chen Yuan had never actually thought about such a thing...

Fifteen seconds.

After silently counting to fifteen in his heart, Chen Yuan opened the door.

The bathroom door was closed, and the sound of water gurgled.

Chen Yuan closed the door and sat on Xia Xin Yu's bed. At this time, he found that from this angle, looking diagonally, he could see a hazy figure on the frosted glass...

No no no no.

Chen Yuan, calm down. That's just a blurry shadow. Although it's Xin Yu herself, it doesn't mean anything. Let's avoid suspicion.

So, Chen Yuan changed his position and sat down again. This time, because his field of vision was calm, he was finally able to escape the torment of Xia Xin Yu's illusions…

But in his mind, the image of her opening the door for him still appeared.

That pitiful look, with a face that seemed to say, 'I believe in you, don't let my trust down,' did indeed arouse a desire to corrupt her.

Cute attack, round two.

Let's just wait for Xin Yu to finish her shower.

Just like that, time passed minute by minute in nervous anticipation. About fifteen minutes later, Xia Xin Yu called him: "Can you go out for a while... Forget it, never mind."

"It's okay, you don't have to worry about my feelings."

"If you say that, I certainly can't not care about your feelings..." Xia Xin Yu muttered, "And I always feel like you're deliberately acting aggrieved."

"Then I'll go out."

"No, don't." Xia Xin Yu's voice suddenly rose, and then she lowered her voice a little embarrassedly, saying, "There are my pajamas on the desk. Help me get them and put them on the stool outside the door."

"A set of white pajamas, right?"

"Yes."

"What about underwear?"

"... I've already brought it in. Just put the pajamas on the stool outside."

Sure enough, because she told him last time that boys’ underwear didn't matter and that he didn't need to be too shy, she had no way to denounce Chen Yuan's presumptuousness this time. Otherwise, it would become a double standard again.

This feeling of a boomerang hitting the back of your head is great.

"Okay."

Chen Yuan walked to the bathroom door and put down the pajamas. Then, when he looked up, he found that Xia Xin Yu seemed to be standing in the corner of the bathroom to avoid her outline being visible on the glass door...

With skills like that, why doesn't she play professionally?

"I put them down."

Chen Yuan walked away and sat back on the stool.

Then, Xia Xin Yu opened a crack in the bathroom door. But because the door opened inward, she could only open it halfway, then squatted down and reached for the set of pajamas on the stool.

The shoulders... he saw them again.

And a thin, light blue strap...

His heart was beating a little too fast. Chen Yuan covered his chest, trying his best to calm down, but he couldn't do it.

Damn it, this is Xin Yu. If he could remain calm when seeing such a scene, wouldn't that be underestimating Xin Yu?

He dared not bear the crime of belittling Holy Xin Yu.

Therefore, he allowed his thoughts to run wild.

Xin Yu, my Xin Yu... Don't be crazy like a sandwich candy!

"I think, today is kind of wrong."

Xia Xin Yu came out, dressed, and said softly with some misgivings.

"Ah? Is it because of me?" Chen Yuan turned his head and asked.

"No, you're not the problem." Xia Xin Yu lowered her head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Am I... a little too casual?"

"Of course not," Chen Yuan said very frankly. "I didn't see anything, and you weren't too exposed."

"But you... thought about it, right?"

Xia Xin Yu raised her head slightly, looked at Chen Yuan, and said weakly.

"..." Chen Yuan was silent.

If you put it that way, then I really have no way to deny it.

Just like me, I can only be 100% non-misogynistic verbally.

But if you want me to be non-misogynistic in my heart too...

It's difficult.

"I should have put on my clothes first, then opened the door for you, and then gone to take a shower." After saying this with great care, Xia Xin Yu opened her mouth again with difficulty, "Just now... my behavior was a little suggestive, leading you in a bad direction."

Indeed, it was a little suggestive.

But Chen Yuan: I have no objections.

"Then let's not do it again," Chen Yuan said.

"Am I... especially troublesome?" Xia Xin Yu asked Chen Yuan.

She had tried her best to avoid suspicion even though she hadn't revealed anything, but I still said that, Chen Yuan must think I'm making a fuss over nothing, right?

"It's okay, you're especially cute," Chen Yuan said with a smile.

Then, Xia Xin Yu pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. After holding it in for a long time, she said, "I'm going to blow-dry my hair."

"Okay, sure."

Chen Yuan continued to play on his phone.

Xia Xin Yu, who was sitting at the desk, turned her head slightly while blow-drying her hair, observing Chen Yuan, who was expressionless. She always felt a little unwilling.

Whether intentional or unintentional, she had indeed been suggestive, but Chen Yuan was so calm. She always felt a little frustrated.

Was he really not a little excited because of it?

Could it be that…

Xia Xin Yu lowered her head, looked at her chest, which had limited undulation, and suddenly had an unhealthy conjecture.

I'm normal among my peers, not too weak. Could it be that he likes them fuller…

Thinking of the suggestive videos he usually sneaked a peek at, which of the women in them didn't have a great figure, with a prominent bust and butt?!

In other words, he likes me, but he's not interested in my body…

That's even worse!

Before she finished blow-drying her hair, Xia Xin Yu walked to Chen Yuan and stared straight into his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yuan asked, puzzled.

Could it be that she wants to look into the window of my soul through my eyes to see if my heart is lascivious?

That won't do.

I must be upright, serious, and respectable.

Sure enough, there was not a hint of shy excitement!

Am I really that unappealing?

But I will grow up, and I will reach that age with a good figure. These things can't be achieved overnight…

Chen Yuan, will you cheat on me?

And when it comes to having a good figure, he has a Zhou Fu by his side. If his cheating partner is her…

"Do you think I'm very boring?" Xia Xin Yu asked.

"No."

"Then why aren't you blushing and having your heart beat faster…"

"..."

Huh?

Chen Yuan felt something was wrong and quickly activated Heart Voice.

Then he heard:

[I'm doomed. He likes me but isn't interested in me]

[Isn't that just Platonic love?]

[Although we can't do that kind of thing now, I didn't say we can't do it in the future, when we get married, or when we're about to get married…]

No, we have to wait that long?

Ah, no, that's not the point.

The point is, my god, what is she thinking?

It's not okay to look, and it's not okay not to look. It's not okay to be too excited after looking, and it's not okay not to be excited at all after looking... Xin Yu, you're so awkward.

"Nothing, I'm going to blow-dry my hair."

Just like that, with this kind of anxiety, Xia Xin Yu walked toward the desk.

Then, she vaguely heard a chuckle.

Turning her head, she saw Chen Yuan secretly looking at her, the corners of his mouth were obviously trying to suppress a smile. But when his eyes met hers, he quickly turned his head away, returned to his serious expression, and pretended to type on his phone.

Oh, so that's how it is.

He's just pretending to be aloof, he's not really not feeling anything for me.

That's great.

It scared me. I thought I had no charm at all.

Silly Xin Yu, why are you doubting such things?

Although you're a little smaller than Zhou Fu, your charm spreads from your hair to your little toes. How could I not be excited about you, Xin Yu?

I don't understand why she's always so insecure.

Does she really not know that she's at the campus belle level?

It seems like that's indeed the case.

Chen Yuan vaguely heard her say that Zhou Fu is very beautiful, Tang Siwen is more beautiful than her, Cheng Haiying is also more beautiful than her, and so on.

Probably because she doesn't get enough encouragement, her self-confidence is not very strong.

"Woof woof..."

Just then, Yu Zi barked softly twice.

"Do you want to go out and play?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Woof woof." Yu Zi barked, its voice getting louder.

"No, talk to me. How can I understand if you bark..."

"Woof!"

Yu Zi was really annoyed by this jerk Chen Yuan. It frantically turned around in place, then raised one foot, made a peeing motion, and barked at Chen Yuan. Only then did Xia Xin Yu react and hurriedly say, "Xiao Yu hasn't pooped today."

"Oh, oh, then I'll take it out. Sorry, sorry, I didn't understand your dog language."

Chen Yuan put a collar on Yu Zi, then took a small trash bag and a specially bought shovel from home, and prepared to go out.

"Thank you for your hard work," Xia Xin Yu said.

"You blow-dry your hair, I'll come up when I'm done."

Just like that, Chen Yuan took Yu Zi downstairs. And this little brat, as soon as it got downstairs, found a patch of sand and began to squat down to poop.

After it finished, Chen Yuan put on a mask, shoveled its poop, then put it in a bag and threw it in the trash can.

Because Yu Zi had become a pet dog, Chen Yuan also made sure to wipe its butt with a wet wipe.

After finishing this whole process, Chen Yuan was ready to go upstairs.

However, while leading the dog, he suddenly thought of the gold bracelet and stopped.

Then, he took out the bracelet from his pocket: "I almost forgot to return this to her."

But, she said those things, what should I do?

With confusion, Chen Yuan went upstairs and knocked on the door.

At this time, Xia Xin Yu had already dried her hair. The feeling of a beauty emerging from the bath had faded away slightly, and Chen Yuan's densely exploding hormones were finally able to calm down for a while.

"Xin Yu, I should still give this to you," Chen Yuan handed out the gold bracelet.

"I, I don't want it," Xia Xin Yu shook her head, resolutely refusing to accept it. "Didn't I say…"

"Keep it for me to save up for bridal gifts?" Chen Yuan confirmed face to face.

Then, Xia Xin Yu's face turned red in an instant.

In the past, she would run away after teasing Chen Yuan a little.

Then, the next chapter would become the next scene.

But who would have thought that Chen Yuan would actually lock himself out of the door, and thus took advantage of the situation and pursued her.

Now, she was so shy that she couldn't restrain herself.

"Yeah."

Xia Xin Yu turned her head to one side, using a verbal tic that Chen Yuan often used.

"Then how much are the bridal gifts? How much do I need to save up?" Chen Yuan pressed.

"I don't know... don't ask me." Xia Xin Yu wanted to find a hole to crawl into now, and quickly avoided the topic.

"What's the range? I need to have a general idea."

"Anything is fine, it doesn't matter, anything is fine."

Xia Xin Yu strongly suspected that Chen Yuan was making fun of her and didn't actually want to ask about the bridal gifts at all.

Hey, you guessed right.

Teasing Xia Xin Yu is so much fun.

How can this little girl's personality be so interesting?

"In short."

Xia Xin Yu hid her hands behind her back, refused to accept the gold bracelet, and said, "We have to be independent when we're in college. If you want to do something, you also need money... So, you keep this."

"But, it doesn't matter so much."

"I think you're very capable. If you want to do something and need money…"

Xia Xin Yu stopped halfway through her sentence, walked to the desk, opened a drawer with a key, took out a savings book, and handed it to Chen Yuan: "When I said that my living expenses in high school were only a few hundred yuan a month, it wasn't because I didn't have money. It's because I thought I might need money in the future. So, I never thought of using the 100,000 yuan that my parents left behind and that my relatives gave me all by myself."

She said that her plan to open a husband-and-wife shop if all else fails was never a joke.

"..." Seeing this, Chen Yuan was silent, gently pushing her hand back. "You should put it away."

"Okay, I'll keep it here for now," Xia Xin Yu nodded and said, "When we're in college, if you have any ideas, discuss it with me then. We'll do it together."

The college arc with the business line, right?

Fine, fine, fine.

But when the time comes to get startup capital, I can't use Xin Yu's money.

Anyway, there's Chao Zi. I'll make some money legally as startup capital, or ask Old Chen to drop some gold.

As for Xin Yu's 100,000 yuan, we'll open some kind of husband-and-wife shop when I've lost almost all of it, or if Chao Zi suddenly disappears.

"I thought girls would like gold jewelry…"

Chen Yuan reluctantly held the gold bracelet.

"Actually, I quite like it."

Xia Xin Yu raised her right hand, the back of her hand facing Chen Yuan, her ring finger wiggling slightly, and said with a slight smile, "When we have a lot of money, I want you to buy it for me."

(End of Chapter)