Gift

Qiao Xi trailed behind Zhou Yi like a little rabbit, her steps light and hesitant.

"Yi-gege, where are we going?"

Her fingers clutched the edges of her books tightly, and she gently bit her lower lip.

She shyly hid the lower half of her face behind the books, as if trying to mask her bashfulness.

Yet, the happiness and anticipation in her eyes were impossible to conceal.

These small gestures betrayed the nervousness in the girl's heart—and her fondness for Zhou Yi.

A girl in love couldn’t help but feel flustered in front of the one she adored, and Qiao Xi was no exception.

Her eyes were big and bright, truly as pitifully endearing as a rabbit’s.

Zhou Yi slowed his pace and asked first, "Xiao Xi, you don’t have any classes this afternoon, right?"

Qiao Xi nodded obediently. "Mm, none."

Her heart swelled with hope—was Yi-gege about to ask her out?

Unlike Zhou Yi’s other romantic interests, Qiao Xi rarely dared to take the initiative.

Her personality was more like You Man’s—she often worried about being a burden or disturbing him.

But whenever Zhou Yi sought her out, she couldn’t contain her joy.

"How about I treat you to bubble tea?"

"Sure!"

Qiao Xi’s eyes sparkled, and she agreed with a bright smile.

Noticing the stack of books in her arms, Zhou Yi offered, "Let me carry those for you."

Without refusing, Qiao Xi blushed and handed them over, then tilted her head slightly to steal glances at him.

Zhou Yi could feel her gaze but merely smirked, pretending not to notice.

As they walked out of the academic building toward the campus gates, their laughter-filled figures caught the attention of another familiar face.

"Qiuzhi, look at that tall, slender guy up ahead—isn’t that your Zhou Yi?"

Xia Qiuzhi and her roommate had just left the same building after class.

The campus was vast, and she usually never ran into Zhou Yi.

Lately, he was rarely even at school, and when he was, he mostly stayed in classrooms—hardly anywhere Xia Qiuzhi would see him.

Now, when she finally did, the first thing she witnessed was Zhou Yi chatting and laughing with another pretty girl.

Xia Qiuzhi stared at the scene, momentarily lost in thought.

It was as if she was seeing the Zhou Yi from before—the one who used to smile so warmly in her presence.

Back then, he would carry her books and go out of his way to make her laugh, just like this.

Except now, the person beside him wasn’t her.

In a soft voice, she murmured, "He’s not mine."

Zhou Yi used to visit her so often that her roommates had grown accustomed to saying, "Your Zhou Yi is here," whenever he showed up.

Hearing Xia Qiuzhi’s words now, the girls exchanged glances, unsure how to comfort her.

"Qiuzhi, aren’t you going to say hello?"

"Yeah, didn’t you always want to see him? Now that he’s right in front of you, why aren’t you going?"

"If you don’t go now, he’ll walk away. Qiuzhi, don’t let chances slip by like this every time."

That last remark struck a nerve.

Xia Qiuzhi had always assumed Zhou Yi would remain by her side forever, so she never treasured him—until it was too late.

Suddenly, a surge of determination propelled her forward as she chased after Zhou Yi’s retreating figure.

"Yi-gege!"

Her voice made the pair ahead pause.

Zhou Yi and Qiao Xi both turned around.

Recognizing Xia Qiuzhi, Zhou Yi recalled an unfinished task and softened his expression.

"Ah-Zhi, long time no see."

That gentle tone alone made Xia Qiuzhi’s eyes well up.

How long had it been since he last called her that? So long that she thought he’d never speak to her again.

"Yi-gege, where—where are you going? I... I have something to tell you."

Her hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves, fearing yet another rejection.

In the past, she never had to worry about this.

No matter who stood beside Zhou Yi, her presence alone would make him choose her without hesitation.

In his eyes, there had never been an option other than "Xia Qiuzhi."

Beside him, Qiao Xi tensed nervously. This girl was stunning—and she also called Zhou Yi "Yi-gege"...

She glanced at Zhou Yi, who simply smiled faintly. "Ah-Zhi, next time. I have plans with my junior here."

Qiao Xi exhaled in relief, while Xia Qiuzhi forced a smile more sorrowful than tears.

"I understand. Next time, then. I can wait."

Just as Zhou Yi had once waited for her, she could wait too.

He had endured countless days and nights for her—what was a little more waiting on her part? She couldn’t give up just because of one or two rejections.

Otherwise, how heartbroken must Yi-gege have been, waiting all that time for her?

But Xia Qiuzhi didn’t know—the person she longed for had never needed her waiting. And now, no matter how long she waited, the real Zhou Yi would never return.

The Zhou Yi who loved her was already gone.

Watching Zhou Yi and Qiao Xi walk away, Xia Qiuzhi’s eyes brimmed with sorrow and regret.

Only when they were farther along did Qiao Xi hesitantly ask, "Yi-gege, was that girl... also a friend of yours?"

Zhou Yi didn’t evade the question. "Yes. We grew up together, but we’ve grown apart now."

Qiao Xi didn’t press further. A childhood bond like that wasn’t something she had the right to question.

Sensibly, she changed the subject.

Zhou Yi led her to where his car was parked.

He rarely drove to campus, but today he had brought gifts—and wanted to take Qiao Xi out—so he’d made an exception.

"Hop in, Xiao Xi."

"Do you usually drive to school, Yi-gege?"

"No. I brought the car today specifically to take you out."

Hearing this, Qiao Xi’s affection points rose even higher.

Once she settled into the passenger seat, Zhou Yi leaned over from the driver’s side to fasten her seatbelt.

The motion nearly enveloped her in his arms, and Qiao Xi caught the subtle, refined scent of sandalwood on him.

Not overpowering, not cheaply perfumed—just a natural, lingering warmth that felt timeless and serene.

Too flustered to even lift her gaze, Qiao Xi sat frozen like a timid rabbit, her heart racing.

"There we go. Safety first."

Zhou Yi’s gentle smile left her unsuspecting. To her, he was just being considerate.

A girl as innocent as her would never suspect it might be a flirting tactic.

On the road, Zhou Yi kept the conversation centered on her interests—artists, exhibitions—topics he seemed well-versed in.

She felt as if she’d found a kindred spirit.

The more they talked, the more she admired him. A man like this was impossible to resist.

Women naturally gravitated toward knowledgeable men—it was an instinctive admiration for strength and intellect.

As long as they aren’t deliberately flaunting their intellect to the point of coming off as pretentious, humble and refined highly-educated men tend to win the favor of most women. Such men easily earn a halo effect in their eyes.

Before long, Zhou Yi took Qiao Xi to a cozy, well-decorated café.

The place had an artsy vibe, clearly a gathering spot for the literati. Zhou Yi knew Qiao Xi would love it.

After they sat down, Qiao Xi smiled and said, “Weren’t we supposed to get milk tea, Yi-ge?”

“Milk tea shops are too noisy. I know you don’t like chaotic environments. This place serves milk tea too—if you don’t feel like coffee, you can still order it.”

Faced with such thoughtfulness from Zhou Yi, Qiao Xi couldn’t help but smile even wider.

A man who plans things thoroughly scores far more points than one who just says, “Whatever,” “Up to you,” or “It’s all the same.”

Once Qiao Xi was seated, Zhou Yi went back to his car to retrieve a painting he had bought abroad.

He had already had it framed. When Qiao Xi saw him return with a large box, her gaze immediately fixed on it.

Could it be… another gift for her?

Was she really this lucky…?

Zhou Yi placed the box on the table.

“Open it, Xiao Xi.”

“What is it?”

“Take a look—it’s a gift I specially got for you.”

Qiao Xi’s eyes widened slightly, her excitement growing as she lifted the lid. Inside lay a painting by none other than her favorite artist.

“Yi-ge, you really… you actually bought it!” she exclaimed in delight.

Her heart fluttered the moment she saw the painting, her affection meter soaring to 90.

It wasn’t just because it was a masterpiece by an artist she adored—it was the sentiment behind Zhou Yi’s gesture.

He had gone all the way abroad to bring this back for her.

She never imagined that even while competing overseas, he would still remember her.

She had never considered herself important enough in Zhou Yi’s heart to warrant such care.

Growing up without much affection at home, how could Qiao Xi not be moved by someone like him?

Touched, she gently traced her fingers over the painting, biting her lip as she struggled to find the right words.

“Do you like it, Xiao Xi?”

“I love it… I really do. Thank you, Yi-ge. This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”

What could be more precious than a gift from the person you cherish?