Saturday arrived, and Guo Feiyu woke up exceptionally early. After finishing his morning routine, he bid a cheerful goodbye to his parents, who were having breakfast, and headed out, brimming with excitement. Guo Aotian and his wife exchanged an amused glance, shaking their heads fondly at their son's evident high spirits.
When Guo Feiyu drove to the entrance of the alley where Zhang Ya lived, she was already waiting. Standing there, she reminded him of a pristine snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains—fresh and elegant. The curve of her legs, accentuated by her fitted jeans, looked particularly captivating. Seeing Guo Feiyu's car approach, a charming smile graced her stunning features.
Guo Feiyu parked, got out to open the passenger door for her, and found himself momentarily stunned by her beauty. "Darling, you look incredibly beautiful today," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
"Stop with the sweet talk," she retorted playfully, pouting. "I even put aside reviewing my lessons, which is really important, just to go out with you. So, how are you going to make it up to me?"
"I'll start compensating my Ya'er right away," Guo Feiyu said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her smooth, fair cheek. Just as he was reveling in the sensation of her soft, silky skin, a sharp pain shot through a tender spot on his waist. "Ah! That hurts! Ya'er, are you trying to kill your future husband?" he yelped, straightening up and rubbing the sore spot with a pained expression.
"Who told you to bully me again?" Zhang Ya mumbled, lowering her head and touching her cheek. Seeing his genuine-looking discomfort, her concern surfaced. "Feiyu, does it really hurt that much? Should I... rub it for you?"
"N-No! It doesn't hurt! I'll rub it myself!" Guo Feiyu stammered, recoiling slightly as her hand approached. His head shook like a rattle-drum. Good grief, he thought, if her 'special technique' gets a couple more goes at me, I'll end up in the hospital.
A silver sports car pulled up outside Century Mall. Zhang Ya and Guo Feiyu got out and entered the largest shopping center in H City. Once inside, Guo Feiyu led Zhang Ya straight to the luxury watch section. It was Zhang Ya's first time in such a place, and the dazzling array left her feeling a bit overwhelmed; without Guo Feiyu guiding her, she might have been completely lost.
Stopping before the counters, Guo Feiyu said to her, "Pick any watch you like from here, and it's yours. If none of them appeal to you, I'll have one custom-made for you overseas."
Zhang Ya stared at the glittering timepieces behind the glass, feeling utterly at a loss. She simply stood there, mesmerized. A flamboyantly dressed woman nearby cast a disdainful look at Guo Feiyu and Zhang Ya. "Do you even know what brand these are?" she sneered in a shrill voice. "These are Patek Philippe. Can you two even afford them?"
A sales assistant approached with a professional smile. "This lady is correct. The watches here are quite expensive. Perhaps you might like to take a look over there instead?" she suggested, gesturing towards the Casio and Citizen sections. Zhang Ya gently tugged Guo Feiyu's hand. "Maybe... we should go have a look over there," she whispered.
Guo Feiyu shot a brief glance at the sales assistant and the garish woman before leading Zhang Ya right up to the counter. He pulled his left hand from his pocket and pointed casually at a Patek Philippe ladies' wristwatch. "Take this one out. Let my friend try it on," he instructed calmly. The moment he raised his hand, both the sales assistant and the overdressed woman froze, their eyes locked onto the watch on Guo Feiyu's own wrist.
The woman gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh my heavens! That's a Patek Philippe handmade piece!"
Patek Philippe produced only one handmade watch per year, a tradition upheld since 1838. Whether one was a head of state or a billionaire, acquiring such a timepiece required waiting a year, sometimes several. Its value was virtually immeasurable. The watch on Guo Feiyu's wrist was a gift from his father, Guo Aotian, for his eighteenth birthday, costing 30 million RMB at the time. Anyone who recognized it would be astonished.
The sales assistant swiftly retrieved the watch priced at 880,000 RMB and fastened it onto Zhang Ya's wrist. "Do you like it, Ya'er?" Guo Feiyu asked softly.
Zhang Ya nodded almost reflexively. She had never imagined wearing a watch worth nearly a million yuan. It felt like a dream. She gently touched the timepiece on her wrist, and the solid, real sensation confirmed it wasn't a dream. This was truly happening.
"Feiyu, even if you bought me a watch costing just a few dozen yuan, I would still love it just as much. Isn't this one... too expensive?" she said, deeply moved.
Guo Feiyu's dark eyes filled with tenderness. "It's not expensive. If my Ya'er likes it, I'd even try to pluck the moon from the sky for her."
He pulled a bank card from his pocket and handed it to the sales assistant. "Charge it," he said coolly. The assistant accepted the card respectfully. After signing the receipt and completing the transaction, Guo Feiyu led a dazed Zhang Ya towards the escalators amidst the stunned gazes of onlookers. A young woman who had been lingering near the watch counter sighed enviously, "I wish I were that handsome guy's girlfriend."
The flashily dressed woman snorted dismissively. "You? Don't dream. Someone like me would be more his type."
"Someone like you?" the young woman retorted scornfully. "Dressed like that? And you think you can catch a guy like him?"
"What did you say?!" the garish woman shrieked, lunging forward to grab the other's hair. The young woman retaliated by seizing her collar, and the two descended into a tangled, scratching brawl.
Meanwhile, Guo Feiyu and Zhang Ya were peacefully shopping for clothes on the second floor, completely unaware of the commotion they had indirectly caused downstairs.
By the time Guo Feiyu and Zhang Ya left the mall, it was already past four in the afternoon. Their hands were full of numerous shopping bags. For Zhang Ya, it was her first real taste of the joy of shopping, and the feeling was utterly exhilarating.
Settling into the driver's seat, Guo Feiyu began massaging his aching legs. Shopping with women is truly a savage ordeal, he thought. Even my legs, trained for over a decade, can't handle this. I can't bring Zhang Ya mall-hopping again.
In the passenger seat, Zhang Ya carefully examined each of their purchases. Suddenly, she lightly smacked her forehead. "I forgot to buy a mobile phone for my mom! And I didn't get a belt for my dad either. Feiyu, it looks like you'll have to accompany me again next weekend."
Guo Feiyu, who had just taken a sip of his drink, nearly choked and sprayed it over the dashboard. "Oh... uh... that... me... No problem," he managed to stammer out.
"Feiyu, are you okay?" Zhang Ya asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," he assured her, wearing a pained expression. "Just went down the wrong way."
"Okay, good. I thought you didn't want to go with me," Zhang Ya said, her lips forming a slight pout.
"Going shopping with my Ya'er is worth it, even if my legs break from the walking," Guo Feiyu declared, his face set with a determination more resolute than a martyr facing sacrifice.
"Enough of your smooth talk," Zhang Ya said, rolling her eyes at him. "My parents are waiting for us to have dinner." Guo Feiyu gave a dry chuckle, started the car, and drove out of the mall's parking lot.
Arriving at the now-familiar alleyway, Guo Feiyu parked the car. Laden with bags, he followed Zhang Ya as she slowly led the way inside. She stopped in front of a metal gate, knocked twice, and turned back to whisper, "This is our home."
The gate soon opened, revealing a middle-aged couple in their forties. Gesturing timidly towards Guo Feiyu, Zhang Ya said in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum, "Mom, Dad, this is Guo Feiyu, the one I told you about."
Guo Feiyu quickly stepped forward with a warm smile. "Hello, Uncle, Auntie."
Zhang Ya's parents looked the prospective son-in-law up and down, nodding repeatedly, their smiles growing wider and more approving.
"Feiyu! Come in, come in, make yourself at home," Zhang Ya's mother said warmly, ushering him inside.
Past the metal gate was a small, neatly swept courtyard. The two rooms facing it appeared quite old. Guo Feiyu followed Zhang Ya into the house. Though the building was aged, the interior was arranged with a cozy, welcoming warmth.
Zhang Ya's mother prepared a pot of tea and set it on the square table. "Feiyu, our home is quite modest, please make do. Have some tea first. Xiao Ya's father and I will get dinner ready for you."
Guo Feiyu sat down at the table, watching Zhang Ya's parents bustle about. A warm feeling spread through his chest. Zhang Ya sat down beside him, poured him a cup of tea, and asked quietly, "Feiyu... do you think our house is too old and small?"
"Ya'er, don't think like that," Guo Feiyu said softly, gently booping her nose with his finger. "I just find your home... very warm."
Before long, Zhang Ya's parents brought out the dishes, and the family gathered around the table. Zhang Ya's father brought out a bottle of liquor and said to Guo Feiyu with a kindly grin, "Feiyu, come, have a couple of drinks with your uncle."
Zhang Ya promptly snatched the bottle away, putting on a stern face. "Feiyu is driving later! I won't allow him to drink."
Her parents exchanged an amused glance and laughed. "If our daughter says no drinking, then I won't drink either," her father said cheerfully. "Come on, let's all have soft drinks tonight!"
The meal was filled with joyful harmony. Unconsciously, Guo Feiyu felt himself becoming a part of this warm and loving family.