Chapter 8

The elevator descended as Jiang Mian stayed silent amidst the advertisements playing inside.

After stepping out of the elevator, he didn’t answer Chen Gu’s question, as if the elevator ride could erase whatever story they had before entering it.

Jiang Mian only asked, “Did you need something from me?”

Chen Gu looked down at the man with a calm expression and didn’t press the previous issue. “Yes.”

He said, “Isn’t it Chen Yishen’s birthday soon? Want to go pick out a gift together?”

Seemingly afraid Jiang Mian would refuse, Chen Gu added, “You know he and I grew up separately—one with Mom, one with Dad. I don’t really know what he likes.”

Jiang Mian was silent for a moment. “I haven’t decided what to get either.”

Chen Gu’s eyes curved slightly. “Perfect. We can pick something out together.”

He paused. “Have you had dinner yet?”

Jiang Mian wasn’t about to let his stomach suffer just to avoid Chen Gu. “Not yet. Where’s that BBQ place?”

Chen Gu seemed a bit surprised but still said, “Just on the next street over, across a crosswalk.”

So the two of them headed to the neighboring street first.

Jiang Mian removed his necktie and put it in his bag, then undid the top two buttons of his dress shirt. He even rolled up his sleeves after opening the cuff buttons.

The shirt he wore inside was a blue-gray one. After pulling it free from his trousers, the slightly loose fit paired with his somewhat frail frame made it look like a casual linen shirt. That hint of an elite aura instantly dissipated.

By the time they reached the BBQ restaurant, there was only one booth left in the back.

Both Jiang Mian and Chen Gu had striking looks, especially since Chen Gu had taken off his hat and hung it on his wrist. Biting down on a green rabbit-patterned hair tie, he was gathering his hair as he followed behind Jiang Mian.

The two of them, one after the other, drew the attention of nearly everyone there.

Even as they sat down, a talent scout came over and offered them a business card.

Jiang Mian pursed his lips slightly. Chen Gu, who had just finished tying up his hair, smiled at the scout. “Sorry, we’re not interested.”

The scout lamented, “Handsome boys, with faces like yours, it’d really be a waste not to debut.”

While Chen Gu exchanged pleasantries with the scout, Jiang Mian silently scanned the QR code to order.

He had a small appetite, so he ordered small portions of pork belly, squid, pickled pepper beef, and potato slices before pushing his phone over to Chen Gu.

Chen Gu had just sent the scout off and picked up his phone, casually scrolling through it. “Splitting the bill?”

Jiang Mian let out a sigh of relief. He had intentionally scanned first so he wouldn’t have to hear Chen Gu’s manipulative tactics to force a treat and end up owing him a meal. “Mm.”

Chen Gu asked, “Do you want a drink?”

Jiang Mian belatedly remembered he hadn’t ordered one. “No need.”

He paused. “I’ll buy a milk tea after paying.”

Chen Gu raised an eyebrow. “Alright.”

He finished ordering and pushed the phone back to Jiang Mian.

Jiang Mian didn’t look at the order, directly paying. “Roughly 810. You can send me 405.”

Chen Gu nodded and transferred the money first. “Which milk tea shop are you going to?”

Jiang Mian, who had just opened his budgeting app, blinked. “What?”

“I didn’t order a drink either. I’m thinking of getting milk tea.” Chen Gu gestured. “But one of us has to stay here, right? I’ll go buy. Which one do you want?”

Jiang Mian really didn’t feel like going outside. Late July in South Boundary was hot like a volcano about to erupt, and with summer vacation, the streets were packed everywhere, turning the volcano into a steam basket. So he didn’t hesitate. “The one next door.”

“I want a pearl milk tea, 30% sugar, with ice. A large.” He paused. “Thank you.”

Chen Gu’s lips curved up. “No problem.”

So the forum’s claim that Jiang Mian had a soft spot for pearl milk tea was true.

Chen Gu got up to buy the drinks. Jiang Mian recorded the dinner expense, then went to accept Chen Gu’s transfer.

Sitting alone, he stared at the hat Chen Gu had left across from him, his thoughts starting to drift again.

He had deliberately not refused Chen Gu or drawn too hard a line between them like before. Surely this would dispel Chen Gu’s interest in him?

They could become normal friends, right?

Jiang Mian, who was terrible at making friends, sighed inwardly.

Because the restaurant was so busy, by the time Chen Gu came back with the milk tea, the server was just starting to bring out the charcoal and meat.

Looking at the dishes that clearly exceeded the “small portion” range, Jiang Mian picked up the receipt and saw that Chen Gu had upgraded everything to large portions.

Which meant his and Chen Gu’s tastes aligned perfectly.

But Chen Gu didn’t mention it.

Was he deliberately not bringing it up to lower his guard, or did he genuinely not think to mention it?

…Dealing with someone like Chen Gu was going to cost a lot of brain cells.

Probably because of their faces, the server asked, despite how busy it was, “Do you need help grilling?”

Jiang Mian nodded.

Chen Gu’s “No” hadn’t even left his mouth before he swallowed it back.

He then watched as Jiang Mian took a completely natural sip of his milk tea and quietly waited for the server to grill the meat.

Chen Gu lightly tapped his phone screen with his index finger, deep in thought.

Come to think of it, at first glance, Jiang Mian really did look like a well-cared-for young master.

Because this server was grilling their meat, a different server came over with a glass noodle and shrimp dish.

This wasn’t something Jiang Mian had ordered, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to eat it. He just couldn’t finish so much.

Chen Gu, however, naturally picked up the extra set of chopsticks. “Hand me your bowl. Let’s split it.”

Jiang Mian paused, hesitating for a few seconds.

Mainly because splitting a single dish like this…

“Otherwise, it’s wasteful.”

Jiang Mian was silent. In the end, under Chen Gu’s smiling gaze, he pushed his empty bowl forward.

What relieved Jiang Mian was that Chen Gu didn’t give him any extra. The shrimp was split evenly, and so were the noodles.

Chen Gu had also ordered an extra portion of sole fillet and beef cubes. Jiang Mian noticed that Chen Gu’s appetite was probably more than double his own.

Because of this, when Jiang Mian tried to send him the 32 yuan for the milk tea, Chen Gu refused on the grounds that he’d eaten more.

Even before going to buy the birthday gift, Jiang Mian first stopped by the shop two doors down to buy a box of cookies and chocolate brittle crisps, totaling over 160 yuan. Chen Gu, who also took some cookies, suggested combining the payment.

Again citing the same reason: he’d eaten more at the BBQ restaurant.

Unable to argue, Jiang Mian fell into contemplation for a moment.

On the surface, it seemed like fair splitting, but he couldn’t shake the feeling… that every single move Chen Gu made wasn’t superfluous.

The two of them entered the shopping mall. Jiang Mian stored his laptop bag and cookies in a locker first—it was a bit heavy, and he didn’t want to carry it around.

Beside him, Chen Gu asked, “Have you decided what to give him?”

Jiang Mian shook his head. “No.”

He paused, a few traces of curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What about you?”

Chen Gu spread his hands, his puppy-dog eyes both casual and innocent. “Absolutely no clue.”

He asked, “Then let’s just browse around first?”

Jiang Mian had no objections.

Chen Gu was a bit surprised that he agreed.

He had thought Jiang Mian would want to head straight for a destination and end their time together as quickly as possible.

Jiang Mian was actually a little conflicted.

He did, as Chen Gu thought, want to wrap this up fast. But… he’d never gone shopping alone with someone else before.

He had come with Chen Yishen, but that was always for school activities—the entire class or the whole activity group together. Jiang Mian would just trail at the back like a little tail, silent and offering no opinions.

He’d heard of people making plans to go pick out birthday gifts together, but he’d never tried it himself.

Jiang Mian found the idea rather appealing.

He had only just turned nineteen today and hadn’t quite outgrown that restless age.

The first floor had luxury boutiques and watch shops. They stepped inside to look around.

A saleswoman enthusiastically attended to them. Chen Gu casually picked up a watch, examined it, and asked Jiang Mian, “Would giving a watch or clock be a bad omen?”

Jiang Mian slowly tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. “Why?”

Chen Gu looked at him and laughed lightly. “I forgot our Lawyer Jiang is probably a materialist.”

It wasn’t the first time Jiang Mian had been teased with “Lawyer Jiang.” At the firm, clients sometimes called him “Lawyer Jiang,” as did the receptionist. But those three words coming out of Chen Gu’s mouth felt different somehow.

Chen Gu’s voice was very pleasant—low, with a hint of inexplicable huskiness. When he smiled, it carried a touch of nonchalance and flirtation.

Like the droplets of water sliding down the outside of his milk tea cup and seeping between his fingers.

Jiang Mian thought.

When Jiang Mian didn’t immediately respond, Chen Gu didn’t mind. After a brief glance around, he naturally took the lead, guiding Jiang Mian into another store.

They wandered aimlessly through a good half of the mall. Eventually, Jiang Mian was drawn in by a shop selling DIY art pieces.

Chen Gu noticed his pace slowing significantly and, eyes curved, thought that Jiang Mian was really easy to read. “Want to take a look?”

Jiang Mian nodded without much hesitation.

This DIY shop sold a wide variety of things, from small braided bracelets to large decorative ornaments. There were music boxes, model kits, and a fair share of quirky items.

Jiang Mian stopped in front of a display case, his eyes slightly wide with wonder at the exhibit piece.

It was a very special bookend. At first glance, it looked like a book, but what it held inside wasn’t pages—it was miniature pavilions and bridges, horse-drawn carriages, and tiny figures dressed in ancient costumes.

There were also three small lights on top. When turned on, you could see every detail clearly.

It was exceptionally beautiful.

As a painter, Chen Gu also gave the bookend a definite compliment.

And then he noticed another art piece on the other side.

Chen Gu lifted his hand and lightly tapped the glass case with his index finger, gesturing for Jiang Mian to look. “This one’s also very nice. Very creative.”

Law student Jiang Mian was completely clueless about things like this. “What is it?”

“Oh.”

Chen Gu blinked. “You could call it a Victorian lantern music box, or perhaps a music box version of a Victorian lantern?”

For some reason, Jiang Mian found that funny. The corner of his lips lifted in a very shallow smile.

In the end, Jiang Mian bought the bookend and also the Victorian lantern music box. The song he chose with the shop owner was simple and classic: the nursery-rhyme version of “Happy Birthday.”

Chen Gu was a bit surprised.

These items weren’t expensive—adding the dust cover, they came to just over six hundred yuan. But the issue was that you had to assemble them yourself after buying.

What he was giving wasn’t monetary value. It was heartfelt effort.

…So what Chen Yishen said was true. Jiang Mian really did have very few friends—among other guys, Chen Yishen was his only one.

Chen Gu watched Jiang Mian take the bag and thank the cashier, his gaze dropping slightly as his eyelashes veiled the emotion in his eyes.

After paying, Jiang Mian walked over to Chen Gu, who was already waiting outside the shop. “Have you decided what to give?”

“Headphones.” Chen Gu pointed to a store nearby. “His brand just released new Bluetooth earbuds.”

Jiang Mian thought to himself, “That’s so half-hearted.”

Though he was basically the pot calling the kettle black.

Since the law firm was close to Jiang Mian’s home, Chen Gu ended up driving him back.

As he got into the car, Jiang Mian belatedly remembered the wrist guard. “I didn’t bring it out with me.”

Chen Gu curved his eyes. “No worries. Next time.”

Jiang Mian: “…”

Next time after next time. How many next times could there be?