Unable to Feel His Affection

Bai Ran pointed to the pearls on the hair tie. "Look, Tahitian pearls. They're pretty nice, though a bit small for a hair tie."

"Are they expensive?"

"Yeah..." Bai Ran estimated, "These pearls alone should be worth over a thousand yuan."

She looked at Sheng Xiangsi, puzzled. "You didn't buy this yourself?"

"No," Sheng Xiangsi shook her head.

How could she afford it? If she had known Fu Hanjiang had replaced it with something so expensive, she wouldn't have accepted it.

...

Before their evening performance, the dance troupe members usually ate dinner together.

Before putting on makeup, Sheng Xiangsi and Bai Ran went to the commercial street near the troupe for a meal.

On their way back, they saw a familiar figure under the streetlights from a distance.

Zhong Pei, tall and holding a bag, looked longingly at the approaching Xiangsi.

Bai Ran glanced at Sheng Xiangsi and wisely said, "I'll head in first."

"Okay."

Unable to avoid it, Sheng Xiangsi walked up to Zhong Pei and stopped in front of him, frowning slightly. "You..."

"Here."

Zhong Pei immediately lifted the bag he was holding, once again filled with desserts from the Red Snail Restaurant.

Sheng Xiangsi didn't take it and sighed helplessly. "Zhong Pei, do you want to make me someone I hate?"

"Don't be mad."

Zhong Pei cautiously looked at her and spoke softly. "I just wanted to see you."

"Zhong Pei..."

"I'm leaving Jiangcheng tonight."

Afraid she would say something hurtful again, Zhong Pei quickly interrupted her. "I won't be able to see you every day anymore."

What? Sheng Xiangsi was stunned. What did he mean?

"Where are you going?"

The concern in her eyes was noticed by Zhong Pei.

He smiled. "I've found a job. It's at a company started by a classmate. I'm considered a technical partner."

Without his family's support, all he had was his own skills.

"It's a small company, just starting up, with few employees."

Zhong Pei explained, "So there's a lot to do. I need to go to Haicheng to negotiate with two partners."

Sheng Xiangsi was taken aback.

She hadn't expected Zhong Pei to start working so soon.

The privileged young master, it was almost like falling from the clouds to the mud.

Yet, he didn't give himself any time to complain.

Living in a cramped, old apartment, he never blamed her, quietly moving forward at his own pace.

"Xiangsi."

Zhong Pei's eyes were bright and earnest.

"I know exactly what I'm doing. Even without my family's support, I can live well. I won't give up on myself, and I won't give up on you."

"…"

Sheng Xiangsi's lips parted, but no sound came out.

"Here."

Zhong Pei took her hand and handed her the bag. "I have to go catch the train. I'll see you when I get back."

Letting go, he smiled and walked backward.

"Goodbye!"

As he turned, Sheng Xiangsi closed her eyes, feeling a wave of sadness.

He was so outstanding...

Humble in high places, not self-pitying in low ones.

She increasingly understood Mrs. Zhong. How could she bear to let such an excellent son be 'ruined' by someone like her?

The performance ended.

While removing her makeup, Sheng Xiangsi held the pearl hair tie—right, she almost forgot about it.

She took out her phone and sent Fu Hanjiang a message.

[How much for the pearl hair tie? I'll pay you back.]

Fu Hanjiang was on his way back to the Fu residence when he received the message. Seeing it made his heart race.

Xiangsi wanted to pay him back?

Did she realize his feelings and want to refuse?

He immediately instructed Chen Zhong, "Uncle Chen, go to the Lightning Dance Troupe."

"Yes, Second Young Master."

Almost at the troupe, Fu Hanjiang finally replied to the message.

[I'm almost at the troupe. Let's talk in person.]

Seeing the message, Sheng Xiangsi was puzzled. Was he just passing by?

She didn't think much about it and went out with Bai Ran.

"Thanks for letting me stay these past days. I can go home tonight."

"What do you mean thanks? Anytime you need, you can stay with me."

At the entrance, they indeed saw Fu Hanjiang leaning against his car, waiting.

"Ranran, I'm leaving."

"Alright."

Sheng Xiangsi ran up to Fu Hanjiang, slightly out of breath, and got straight to the point.

"How much?"

"Sheng Xiangsi..."

Fu Hanjiang frowned, his tone heavy. "I didn't come to collect money."

"?"

Sheng Xiangsi was surprised and looked at him. Then why did he come?

"Oh..."

She thought for a moment and understood.

"I know you bought it casually. For you, this hair tie might be nothing, but for me, it's too precious..."

"Wait..."

Fu Hanjiang's eyes darkened. "You think I bought it casually?"

"..." Sheng Xiangsi was stunned. Wasn't it?

Ha!

Fu Hanjiang laughed bitterly, pressing his tongue against his teeth. "Yes, I bought it casually!"

His heart felt tight and sore. What was he thinking?

When Xiangsi said she wanted to pay him back, he thought she sensed his feelings and was refusing.

But she thought he bought it casually!

Thinking about how he painstakingly found a similar hair tie to hers, he felt utterly foolish.

What's worse than being rejected?

It's when she can't even feel your affection!

She never considered that he bought it specifically for her!

Seeing Fu Hanjiang's changing expressions, Sheng Xiangsi was full of questions. "Fu Hanjiang?"

"What?"

Fu Hanjiang snapped out of his thoughts, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes.

"Well..." Sheng Xiangsi reminded him, "You haven't told me how much it cost."

"Sheng Xiangsi..."

Fu Hanjiang didn't answer. He wanted to ask, "Didn't you think..."

... Didn't she think he bought it specially for her?

But he couldn't say it out loud.

"Think what?" Sheng Xiangsi blinked in confusion, genuinely asking.

"Nothing."

Fu Hanjiang shook his head, his Adam's apple bobbing, and casually gave a number. "200 yuan!"

"Uh… what?"

Sheng Xiangsi nodded instinctively, then was shocked. "What? What did you say?"

Did he misspeak?

Bai Ran said it should be at least a thousand.

"Didn't hear me?"

"No, is it really that cheap?"

"Why so much talking?"

Fu Hanjiang frowned impatiently. "I bought it, I should know. If you want to pay, then pay. If not, forget it. I don't have time to argue over 200 yuan!"

"Oh, okay."

What else could she do?

Sheng Xiangsi could only take out her phone and transfer 200 yuan to him.

Fu Hanjiang's phone pinged.

"Good..."

Sheng Xiangsi was about to inform him that the transfer was done.

But Fu Hanjiang had already turned around. "Anything else? I'm leaving!"

"Take care..."

Before she could finish, he was gone, his face dark as ink.

Why buy a hair tie?

If he ever did something so pointless again, he'd be a fool!

His chest felt tight, suffocating. His phone rang.

It was Fu Mingzhu, sounding unusually panicked. "Hanjiang, something's wrong! Your brother and Le Yi are fighting!"