Chapter 170
Hot pot restaurant.
Zhou Ziyou straightened her hair, looking a little nervous at Zhou Li across from her. Zhou Li wasn't wearing the suit he wore that day, he was wearing a plain white hoodie, simple and casual.
He looked easy-going, doing and saying things in a way that didn't offend, very measured. His gaze at Zhou Ziyou wasn't oily or clingy either.
"Do you like duck intestines, tripe?" he said. "I like them too."
"Order whatever you'd like to eat, let's relax and be at ease."
He said slowly, "Eat well, eat your fill, and after we've eaten we'll go for a stroll in the park behind here, I know there's a nice scenic spot there."
Zhou Ziyou responded with a quiet "Mm," nothing like her usual loud and boisterous self in front of Gray Tail. At this moment, she had the demeanor of a real lady.
Whether it was her posture or the way she ate, it was all extremely graceful.
"I haven't been there yet, I heard there's a lake?"
Zhou Li responded with an "Mm" before continuing, "Yeah, and black swans too."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at his phone, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. He stood up and said to Zhou Ziyou's curious gaze, "I need to take a call from the office."
"Sure, go ahead." Zhou Ziyou said gently.
Zhou Li came back a few minutes later. Zhou Ziyou didn't know if it was just her imagination, but it seemed that after taking that call, Zhou Li's face looked a bit weary.
She pursed her lips, mustered her courage, and used the shared chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for Zhou Li. "This one's cooked, go ahead and eat it."
"Thank you." Zhou Li rubbed his brow, looked up at her, and after a moment, seemed to sigh, "No wonder men all want to find a woman to marry, you're so thoughtful and considerate of others."
Most importantly...
Zhou Li's gaze drifted downwards, landing on Zhou Ziyou's stomach. That area was partially obscured by the table, but through her clothes one could see her shapely waist - not too thin nor too fat, just right for bearing children.
Zhou Ziyou had initially thought there was something odd about what Zhou Li had said, but when she looked up and saw Zhou Li staring at her-
She followed his gaze down to her own stomach too.
That gaze held no warmth, as if he was looking at something to be used, and it gave her a slight pause.
Zhou Li soon regained his composure and smiled at her, "I'm not very good at talking, don't mind me, I just think... you're quite nice."
Zhou Ziyou blinked a couple of times and gave a soft "Oh."
After that, Zhou Li used the shared chopsticks to pick out many dishes for her. When they were done eating, he took out a box and pushed it towards her. "Open it and take a look?"
Zhou Ziyou didn't expect him to prepare a gift, it was only their second day after all. She felt a little awkward since she hadn't prepared anything herself.
She said, "You're so thoughtful, but you really didn't have to..."
"Because I'm serious about this." Zhou Li looked at her intently.
Zhou Ziyou was stunned for a moment.
"I don't casually commit to relationships. Since we're committed, I want to cherish it, to build it well. Anything I give you is something I truly want to give." Zhou Li said earnestly.
Zhou Ziyou's face flushed. She did prefer more mature men, and Zhou Li's serious demeanor, not joking around, made her feel... like she might have truly found someone this time.
Zhou Li seemed to know what to avoid, never touching on subjects she disliked.
"I'll prepare a gift for you next time too," she said softly as she gently opened the box, revealing a necklace inside.
Zhou Li said, "May I put it on you? I think it would really suit you, your skin is so fair."
Zhou Ziyou had taken off the bone necklace Gray Tail had worn down for her when getting dressed today, so her neck was bare at the moment.
She started to say, "I..."
"Or do you not like it?" Zhou Li had clearly interrupted her, but his tone softened as if disappointed.
Zhou Ziyou hurried to say, "No, I do like it, thank you."
Then Zhou Li stood up and went behind her with the necklace.
Zhou Ziyou clenched her hands, her body tense and nervous.
She felt her hair being lightly brushed aside, the man's presence behind her, she pursed her lips, unaccustomed to this unfamiliar masculine scent. The next instant, the cold touch of the necklace rested against her collarbone.
"Got it clasped." Zhou Li quickly retreated back to his seat across from her and smiled, "It really suits you."
Zhou Ziyou's face had reddened.
"Is that so? Th-thank you."
"I'm going to use the restroom for a bit."
In front of the restroom mirror, Zhou Ziyou looked at the necklace on her neck and smiled faintly.
In the end they didn't make it to the park, as Zhou Li was called away by a call from the office. But at some point he had arranged for a bouquet of elegant lilies.
Zhou Ziyou returned home cradling the bouquet of lilies, feeling like she was floating the whole way.
Even though there were times when she felt Zhou Li was a little odd, maybe she was just overthinking it.
All in all, for now, she felt Zhou Li was decent.
When she reached the entrance to her neighborhood, she saw the tall, slender figure of Gray Tail standing there, silently staring at her - and the lilies in her hands.
Zhou Ziyou didn't notice and called out, "Gray Tail!"
As she walked closer to him.
"What are you doing here? Did you forget something?"
The closer she got, the more visible the shining silver necklace on her neck became.
Gray Tail saw that the bone necklace he had worn down was gone and unconsciously pursed his lips.
No need to ask, it was clear where she had been all dressed up like that, her body carrying the scent of a man.
She had gone to meet her blind date.
She had taken off his necklace, even though it was still on her this morning.
And yet he had no right to ask.
Gray Tail clenched his fist, gaze lowered, his expression somewhat resigned.
"Gray Tail? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Gray Tail gripped his phone, which had photos of the few houses he looked at today. He had wanted to show them to her, to let her pick whichever one she liked and he would buy it.
But the words caught in his throat, and despite himself he found himself asking, "The necklace..."
"The one I wore down... you're not wearing it anymore?"
He spoke while looking down at the ground, not meeting her eyes.
That sharp face, that tall figure towering over the petite Zhou Ziyou, yet in this moment, in front of little Ziyou, it was as if he was the victim, the fragile baby.
A towering, fragile baby.
Zhou Ziyou didn't expect him to suddenly ask about this so directly. She paused, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
For some reason, she felt a sense of guilt, like a dieter being caught by her fitness instructor snacking at a food stall...
Gray Tail then noticed the flowers in her hand, seeming to understand something, and gave a cool "Oh."
Ah this...
Zhou Ziyou felt this atmosphere was off somehow, but wait, why did she feel like she was the one who had done something wrong?
Emboldened, she raised her voice, "Do you have something to say? If so, just say it!"
Zhou Ziyou didn't think there was anything wrong with her tone; that's how she usually spoke to Gray Tail.
But at this moment, Gray Tail looked at her with a hurt expression, pursed his lips, and fell silent for a while before suddenly handing her his phone: "I want to buy a house."
His voice was low and muffled: "Take a look and tell me which one is good."
Zhou Ziyou took the phone and cautiously asked, "Um, do you have money?"
Before, Gray Tail didn't think much of it, but now, he enunciated clearly: "Yes."
"Once I buy a house, I'll buy a car."
He could afford to buy a car and a house, and he could accept whatever other men offered.
He could buy flowers and necklaces too!
He wanted to say, don't wear what others give you, only wear what I give you. He was miserable. He liked that fair, tender neck of hers, yet it wore another's necklace!
The scent on that necklace was unbearably foul, carrying the sweat and hotpot smells of the human male onto her.
Zhou Ziyou didn't know what Gray Tail was thinking, but she was surprised by his words. She had always thought he was poor, but he had more money than her?
She was extremely surprised. She opened the phone, scrolled through the gallery, and started looking at houses, saying, "But why do you suddenly want to buy a house and a car?"
Gray Tail paused, his face suddenly flushing red as he looked at her, his voice stuttering.
"The cub... needs to... go to kindergarten."
Huh? Zhou Ziyou thought she must have heard wrong.
What cub?
She raised her eyes to look at him.
Gray Tail grew even more nervous, averting his gaze: "I'm going to have a partner, so I need to buy them."
Zhou Ziyou felt the world was changing too fast.
She widened her eyes: "What? You mean you're going to get married?"
"More or less," Gray Tail said, his face red as he rubbed his nose.
Zhou Ziyou: ??? A puzzled expression.
Gray Tail: ....... Blushing furiously.