Chapter 249
“Okay.” Lin Mengyao nodded, her eyes full of trust for Xu Ke.
“Then let’s go, we’ll visit the shop you wanted to go to.” Xu Ke kissed Lin Mengyao’s fingertips, guiding her away from where they had just been standing.
After they left, a bulky figure emerged from the corner, its beady little eyes reflecting a vicious look. “Xu Ke, Lin Mengyao, remember today well. I’m going to kick you both into Hell.” Jin Ling sneered beneath her mask, pulling her mouth into a crazed grin that seemed almost unhinged.
Jin Ling followed leisurely behind Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao, watching them enter a newly opened jewelry shop. The transparent glass left nothing of the shop’s interior to the imagination, and Jin Ling hid around the corner, staring at the two without blinking.
“Xu Ke, do you feel like someone is watching us? Could it be Jin Ling spying on us?” Lin Mengyao whispered while casually surveying the store for suspicious figures. Thankfully, her movements were subtle, and the shop, filled with intricately arranged items, made her actions appear natural.
Xu Ke picked up a box adorned with shells from a small shelf on the wall and took out a necklace with an oceanic design. “Lean your head over.” Xu Ke gestured with the necklace towards Lin Mengyao.
“Aren’t you nervous?” Lin Mengyao obediently leaned her head towards Xu Ke, gathering her hair to one side.
“Nervous about what? There are so many people around; she wouldn’t dare make a move here. At most, she’d hide in a corner, watching us like a rat afraid of the light. Being watched doesn’t hurt us, so why be nervous?” Xu Ke said as he placed the necklace around Lin Mengyao’s neck.
Her slender neck looked stunning with anything on it, only accentuating its graceful length. Xu Ke lingered on her neck with his gaze before nodding in satisfaction. “This shop is nice, we should come here more often.”
Lin Mengyao’s initial tension eased with Xu Ke’s words, allowing her to freely admire the exquisite jewelry and decorations around her. Before exploring, she made her way to the mirror, eager to see the effect of the necklace Xu Ke had chosen for her.
One look in the mirror and all the anticipation on Lin Mengyao’s face vanished, replaced by a rolling of her eyes.
“Xu Ke, look at what you picked for me!” Lin Mengyao gritted her teeth, casting a fierce glare at Xu Ke, her voice both low and menacing.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it look good? I think it looks quite nice, making your neck look especially long.” Xu Ke approached Lin Mengyao with a strawberry hair clip he had just found, pride gleaming in his eyes as he placed the clip in Lin Mengyao’s hair.
“Look, this strawberry hair clip suits you too. It makes you even cuter. My taste is really great.” Xu Ke admired his handiwork, the curve of his smile deepening.
Lin Mengyao turned to see the red strawberry hair clip against her dark hair, and couldn’t help but roll her eyes again.
“Xu Ke! Are you doing this on purpose? I’m dressed so elegantly today, all dark and sophisticated, where does this shell necklace and strawberry hair clip match? Your aesthetic is so straight.” Lin Mengyao bit her lip, speaking fiercely.
Lin Mengyao and Xu Ke were already an attractive duo, drawing attention as they entered the store. Her slightly raised voice garnered even more gazes.
People’s eyes lingered on Lin Mengyao, smiling as they observed the shell necklace around her neck and the strawberry hair clip on her head.
The two items Xu Ke chose didn’t actually match Lin Mengyao’s outfit, yet paired with her fierce expression and blushing cheeks, they oddly harmonized, making Lin Mengyao appear like an innocent student.
Xu Ke laughed as he removed the items from Lin Mengyao, pleading, “How could I do it on purpose? I just think my wife looks good in anything. Do you disagree?” Xu Ke feigned a hurt look, but the teasing in his eyes dispelled Lin Mengyao’s brief moment of guilt.
“Oh, so you did this on purpose.” Lin Mengyao pinched Xu Ke’s arm, watching the exaggerated expressions he made. Despite herself, she found the little accessories more agreeable.
The two spent over two hours in the little store. As they left, Lin Mengyao still looked like she wanted more. Not everything in the shop was within arm’s reach; some items were tucked away in corners, bringing an unparalleled excitement when discovered, akin to unwrapping gifts, never knowing which treasure you’d find next.
By the end, Lin Mengyao no longer paid attention to displayed items, solely focused on uncovering hidden trinkets, buying them all.
“If you like it so much, we can come back next time.” Xu Ke said, carrying large bags, looking at Lin Mengyao.
Lin Mengyao glanced back at the shop, her face still showing longing, nodding. “I’ve never had so much fun before. When my grandpa was around, I spent every afternoon after school learning all kinds of things from him. All my memories are filled with books.” A trace of nostalgia overtook her expression towards the end.
Xu Ke knew the special place Grandpa Lin held in Lin Mengyao’s heart, a bond he couldn’t replace. So he simply wrapped an arm around Lin Mengyao’s shoulder, smiling, “I’ll help you catch up on all the things you couldn’t do back then.”
In the corner, Jin Ling pounded the wall, her beady eyes seeming to hold venom, “Those two, let’s see how long you can keep smiling.” Jin Ling touched the syringe in her pocket, speaking with malevolence.
Jin Ling followed Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao, watching them move from one store to another, her impatience growing. Just when she was about to lose control and pounce on them, the opportunity finally presented itself.