Must Use

Because she couldn't catch a plush toy from the claw machine, Xia Yanchun was a little frustrated. She crossed her arms and gave everyone the cold shoulder indiscriminately, and even Li Shiyan wasn't spared.

"I feel like you're the type of person who gets bullied outside and then comes home to take it out on your family," Shen Nian couldn't help but laugh.

"Keep blabbering and I'll hit you," Xia Yanchun threatened, fiercely clenching her small fists.

"Xiaochun, I'll share one with you."

"Hmph, Shiyan is still the best, unlike some people. Ugh, never mind."

Shen Nian's mouth twitched. If he had known, he would have scolded her a bit just now.

After playing at the claw machines, Li Shiyan had no intention of staying at the mall any longer. She linked arms with Xia Yanchun and they went downstairs together.

The first floor mostly sold clothes, and there were even cars for sale near the exit.

Passing by a jewelry store, Shen Nian stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Xia Yanchun furrowed her small brows.

"I'm picking out a gift for you."

"Ah, I don't like this kind of stuff. Even if you buy it, I won't wear it."

"It's fine, it's just right for humoring you."

"You jerk!" Xia Yanchun glared at him repeatedly.

Li Shiyan was dumbfounded as she listened.

Actually saying out loud that a gift is just to humor someone... wouldn't normal couples get mad over something like that?

But gold and jewelry could hardly be associated with just "humoring" someone!

Are all childhood sweethearts like this? I'm so jealous...

Pouting her lips, Li Shiyan didn't want to get involved in their gift-picking. She waved at Xia Yanchun and Shen Nian, "If you guys are going to keep shopping, I'll head out first. It'll be hard to get a cab later during rush hour!"

"Mhm, be careful."

"Bye-bye," Shen Nian grinned. After saying goodbye, he looked at Xia Yanchun and lifted his chin. "Let's go in and take a look."

"...I really can't deal with you."

The jewelry store was brightly lit, and the jewelry on the counters sparkled.

It wasn't the first time either of them had been in a jewelry store.

A saleswoman immediately approached them. "What kind of jewelry are you two looking for?"

Shen Nian replied, "I'll just browse on my own."

"Okay!"

Xia Yanchun leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear, "Are you really going to buy this? The price of gold is so high right now, buying it is a pure loss. Only idiots buy it, whoever buys it is a fool."

"Since you're insulting me like that, I have to buy it even more now."

That was how arch-nemeses behaved.

"..."

Xia Yanchun just felt that Shen Nian was a bit foolish.

She didn't even like these things, yet he still wanted to buy them. He really was just humoring her. So annoying, Shen Nian is a big idiot.

Shen Nian looked at a few options and quickly settled on a nice bracelet.

It was a solid gold bracelet with very delicate, fine patterns on it. It looked quite nice at first glance, and its price tag of eighteen thousand yuan was also quite beautiful.

After communicating with the clerk, the clerk took the bracelet out.

"Chunbao, try it on."

"Mhm..." Xia Yanchun pouted. In front of the clerk, she couldn't really say anything, so she obediently extended her hand.

The clerk helped her put the bracelet on. Since the young girl's hand was rather small, it didn't take much effort to slip it on.

The bracelet was a brilliant gold. Xia Yanchun felt it was too flashy. If Shen Nian really gave her this, she definitely wouldn't wear it out of the house. At most, she would just take it out at night to admire it.

"Looks good," Shen Nian grinned.

"Hmph."

"I'll buy it. Please bring out a new one."

"Right away!"

The clerk quickly fetched a brand new gold bracelet of the same model from the storeroom, along with the agency's certificate of authenticity and a gift box, preparing everything together.

The necklaces Shen Nian had bought for his parents were also from this brand. It was a major national chain, so Shen Nian felt quite reassured and paid the bill swiftly.

The last time they came, he still had to borrow money from her, but now he was buying an eighteen-thousand-yuan bracelet without batting an eye... Xia Yanchun muttered in her heart, marveling at how much Shen Nian had changed.

It had only been a year, and Shen Nian had already earned a million yuan on his own!

The gap between them had grown so wide...

Since the gap in their capabilities had widened, Xia Yanchun felt she couldn't be too casual about her gift either.

"I'm going to buy one for you too!" Xia Yanchun declared righteously.

"?" Shen Nian looked at her with one eye wide and the other squinted.

Who was it just now that said anyone who bought gold was an idiot and a fool? Shen Nian seemed to have amnesia, and he wondered if Chunbao still remembered.

Xia Yanchun didn't care about him and walked around to the other side to start picking.

She didn't know much about materials like gold and silver. She only knew to buy something that looked decent and had a reasonable price. She quickly picked out a bracelet.

The styles of the bracelets were basically all the same, except the pattern on the one Xia Yanchun chose wasn't as nice as the one Shen Nian picked. It only had a few faint auspicious clouds linked together, and the price came to fourteen thousand.

The clerk quickly began putting it on Shen Nian. At first glance, it suited him quite well, and Shen Nian felt it was pretty comfortable too.

However, he similarly didn't like wearing these kinds of things. If Xia Yanchun gave this to him, he would most likely just hide it at home as well.

"I'll buy it!"

"Do you have enough money? If not, I can lend you some."

"I don't need it."

"That's a shame." Shen Nian feigned a disappointed look.

He couldn't play the debt threat game; he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

A short while later.

The two of them walked out, each carrying a small bag containing an exquisite gift box, inside of which lay an expensive gold bracelet.

"Why bother? Why did you have to buy this thing for me?" Shen Nian grumbled.

"Look who's talking. You insisted on buying a gold bracelet too. Next time, I'll just buy you a couple pairs of Nanji Ren socks to humor you."

"Hehe, we'll talk about next time when it happens." Shen Nian took Xia Yanchun's hand. "Let's head back."

"I hate you."

"That means you like me."

"Hmph."

"I'm giving you a gift and you're still not happy. Can you be a little more materialistic?" Shen Nian poked Xia Yanchun's cheek.

"..."

Xia Yanchun was completely speechless and rolled her pretty eyes.

The gold bracelet was a one-year anniversary gift. Even though they bought them right in front of each other, they still had to save them to formally give to each other around the New Year.

When it came to buying gold and jewelry, Shen Nian didn't care if Xia Yanchun was surprised or not.

After all, his original intention in buying the gold bracelet wasn't just to give Xia Yanchun a one-year dating anniversary gift.

It was just that some things absolutely required the use of gold and jewelry.

Driving, heading home.

During rush hour, there were many cars on the road. Shen Nian was relaxed and leisurely, not feeling annoyed in the slightest.

"Would you dare to drive in these road conditions if I let you?"

"No, I need to practice more."

"Hehe, we took our driving tests together, so why is there such a huge difference? Chunbao, have you always been this weak, or have I just become too strong?"

"Why are you talking so much? Focus on driving."

"Alright, alright, I have to listen to what Chunbao says."

Shen Nian placed one hand on Xia Yanchun's leg.

She was wearing thick clothes for the winter, so it was a bit difficult to actually feel her leg. Shen Nian simply rested his hand on it and chuckled, "Buying such an expensive bracelet makes my heart ache a little. Doesn't yours?"

"A little." Xia Yanchun felt depressed just thinking about it. "The price of gold is so high right now. What on earth were you thinking? So stupid, and you wouldn't even listen to advice."

"Otherwise I'd have to rack my brains trying to figure out what gift to get you. You don't even know what you want yourself, how am I supposed to guess?"

"That just goes to show you don't care about me enough. It's all your fault. Those who care don't need to be told, and those who don't will just say they don't know how," Xia Yanchun hummed smugly.

"Very smooth."

He was scared to tears by Chunbao's little combo attack.

They had packed two boxes of unfinished meat slices and vegetables from Haidilao, which would serve as Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun's late-night snack.

After taking a hot shower, Shen Nian returned to his room. Lying on his bed, he toyed with the gift box containing the gold bracelet.

He had spent quite a lot today.

To think that such a tiny trinket actually cost more than an entire computer. Then again, with gold prices skyrocketing lately, it made perfect sense.

Buying a computer right when RAM prices were soaring, and buying a gold bracelet just as gold prices were going through the roof... Shen Nian buried his face in his hands. He really couldn't blame Xia Yanchun for scolding him.