Translator: 549690339
The first time going to her boyfriendâs house, what should she wear? This was a problem.
If Yu Minglangâs family was affluent, dressing up a bit would show respect; if they were poor, dressing casually would do, to avoid putting pressure on them. Yu Minglangâs family was more complex than thatâthey belonged to a high-class aristocratic family with deep roots. Dressing ostentatiously or shabbily wouldnât work.
Although Yu Minglang kept stressing that she looked just fine as she was, Xiao Qian didnât buy it. A bad first impression would be hard to fix later on.
He took her to a shopping mall in the city, where they began to look for suitable clothes from a mid-range brand.
While Xiao Qian tried on clothes, Yu Minglang sat in the store wearing a standard bored expression that men have when they go shopping. Xiao Qian asked him which outfit looked best, and he just nodded to everything; in his eyes, she looked about the same in anything. Most men acted like this.
Seeing his pained expression, Xiao Qian didnât push him and chose her own outfit instead.
She eventually selected a green cardigan, which she paired with a white blouse and black pants. The look was both intellectual and ladylike; it made her look mature but not too old and had a touch of scholarly elegance. The buttons were made of pearl, which added a touch of sophistication, emphasizing Xiao Qianâs intellectual charisma without making her look too mature or frumpy.
In fact, if sheâd paired the blouse with a tight skirt and black stockings, she would project a completely different image.
Xiao Qian determined that Yu Minglangâs father, who was said to be a very upright man, would likely not approve of her wearing a skirt during this season, so she opted for this outfit as a safer choice.
When Xiao Qian had finished changing, she asked him.
âDoes this work?â
Yu Minglangâs eyes lit up, and he turned to ask the salesperson.
âDo you have any menâs clothes in a similar color?â
âYes, sir. This way, please.â
Xiao Qian rolled her eyes. Was he trying to match clothes with her?
Dating a guy in his twenties and one in his thirties was a completely different experience, even if they were the same person.
In his previous life, Yu Minglang wasnât so keen on flaunting his relationship with such loving expressions. He was still young back then.
Yu Minglang tried on the green shirt and black pants, and his long legs made the outfit look stylish.
âStay still.â Xiao Qian crouched down to help him tuck his pants into his ankle boots. Yu Minglang watched her fix his pants and felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.
His little girl was quite considerate after all.
Xiao Qian stood up, took a few steps back, and scrutinized him from both sides before nodding approvingly.
âPlease wrap them up.â
Yu Minglang particularly loved wearing combat boots. Whenever he wasnât at a formal occasion, heâd sport black or desert-colored bootsâhigh-cut in winter and low-cut in spring, summer, and autumn. Paired with his long legs and tight pants, he cut a dashing figure.
She strongly suspected that he was one of those weird guys who bought multiple pairs of the same shoes in the same color and style, then switched them out constantly; otherwise, his shoes wouldnât have always been that clean.
As the couple strolled together wearing their new matching outfits, they looked compatibleâhim, tall and handsome, and her, small and delicate. Even the salesperson praised them, saying that they looked better than models.
When they left the store, Yu Minglang muttered under his breath.
âIâll only wear these damn pants once. Never again.â
Xiao Qian gave him a puzzled look. âWhy?â
They seemed to suit him wellâquite the handsome fellow.
ââ¦I wonât tell you.â These tight pants, with no elasticity and made of thick, hard fabric, didnât offer much comfortâ¦
Asian cuts just didnât fit right around certain areas. Though such tight pants mightâve worked for others, Yu Minglang found them extremely uncomfortable.
Still, he was willing to wear them to match his girlfriendâs outfitâeven at the risk of cracking an eggâproving that he was quite a dedicated man.
Xiao Qian couldnât help but give him a curious look. Holding hands with her and wearing matching clothes cheered him up so much that he could temporarily ignore his discomfort.
âSing a song for meâthe one you used to chant at school.â
âI have a little donkey, and I never ride it-â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âBe serious!â
âOne day, on a whim, I rode it to the market-â
ââ¦â Yu Minglang looked at her sullenly while Xiao Qian made a fist and pretended to hold a whip, even gesturing toward the âlittle donkeyâ that was driving.
Yu Minglang clenched his teeth. Little girl, once youâve grown up, Iâll ârideâ you as much as you want!
His parents lived in the best neighborhood in the cityâa five-story villa. The entrance was guarded, and ID was required to enter. The neighbors were all influential figures in the city, greeting each other as they passed by.
Yu Minglangâs parentsâ house was very close to his ownâjust a few minutesâ walk. After the pair bought their clothes and returned home, Yu Minglang parked the car in the parking lot and then, hand in hand, they walked around the neighborhood with a swagger that broadcasted their pride.
Yu Minglang carried a fruit basket in one hand, holding Xiao Qianâs hand with the other. They deliberately took a detour around the parking lot before heading home. Xiao Qian could feel the many gazes around them, shooting like lasers from every direction. Yu Minglang would stop to greet anyone familiar. âUncle Wang, are you out walking your bird?â
âYoungest, whoâs this girl?â
âMy girlfriend, Xiao Qian. Say hello to Uncle Wang!â
âHello, Uncle Wang!â
This conversation repeated itself at least ten times in a matter of minutes, the only difference being the names being used.
While flashing polite smiles, Xiao Qian whispered to Yu Minglang.
âIs it true that cars arenât allowed in your buildingâs courtyard?â
Why did she feel like sheâd been duped by this bad guy?
âOf course! Look, the uncles and aunts are old, and the cars pollute the air.â
As if to prove him wrong, a jeep zoomed by.
Xiao Qian looked at him, but he continued to argue.
âIt mustâve been an emergency. Doesnât count.â
No sooner had he finished speaking than a horn blared from behind them. As Yu Minglang turned around, a private Cadillac was honking at them.
The driver stuck his head out. âYoungest, whereâs your car?â
Xiao Qian looked at the driver, a man in his forties who bore some resemblance to Yu Minglang. He was chubbier and shorter than Yu Minglang, his fat, smiling face reminiscent of the Maitreya Buddha.
âElder brother, why did you have to expose me? I just wanted to take a walk with my girlfriend.â
Since he was already exposed, Yu Minglang went ahead and admitted it while holding Xiao Qianâs hand. âThis is our eldest brother, and the lady in the co-pilotâs seat is the eldest sister-in-law. Youâve met them before.â
âHello, elder brother and sister-in-law!â Xiao Qian greeted them and gave Yu Minglang a light pinch on his waist.
The eldest sister-in-law was the female doctor who had previously treated Xiao Qianâs mother. Today, dressed in civilian clothes, her bright eyes fixed on Yu Minglang and Xiao Qianâs clasped hands, she smiled even more warmly.
âGet in the car, well take you both back.â
âNo need, Iâll take Xiao Qian on a walk to familiarize her with the area.â
Elder brother hit the gas and drove off.
As he left, a voice floated out from the car window.
âIsnât our house just behind the parking lot? Youngest, so much effort to walk all the way around, arenât you tiredâ¦.â