He took the photograph, glanced at it, and casually put it into his wallet.
"Hey, that’s mine." Lin Xinlan hurried to snatch it back, but the man swatted her hand away without even looking up, "I paid for it."
"...Miser." Anyway, she had seen his teeth and dimples, so it didn’t matter to whom the photograph belonged.
"Would you like some more to eat?" Rong Shaoze’s mood suddenly improved, his lips curved up in a smile, much of the coldness gone, making him look more amiable.
Lin Xinlan quickly shook her head, "No need, I can’t eat much. You should finish yours, don’t waste food."
She spoke without thinking, used to saying such things to Xiaocong at home.
Xiaocong could never eat much, always leaving half a bowl, and she would tell him not to waste food and to finish it all.
Her tone, with a hint of a mother’s advice, was very warm and comfy, giving a comfortable feeling inside.
Rong Shaoze was caught off guard for a moment, then lowered his gaze to pick up his chopsticks and swiftly finished off the food in front of him. After the meal, he suggested taking her for a drive, and Lin Xinlan said she didn’t mind.
If someone was willing to be her free chauffeur and tour guide, she wasn’t one to refuse.
The dazzling Lamborghini wove through the night, and as Lin Xinlan looked out at the neon lights, she wondered what in this city was worth her remembrance?
It seemed like nothing. Here, she was just like many others struggling for a living—only here to make money, and aside from money, there was nothing in the city they loved.
This was a cold and heartless city; even the beautiful nights couldn’t penetrate her eyes.
Suddenly she lost the interest to keep driving around, she said indifferently, "Let’s go back."
Rong Shaoze glanced at her, didn’t ask anything, and turned the car around.
Back at the villa, after getting out of the car, the man uncharacteristically took her hand and led her into the living room and then upstairs.
Lin Xinlan felt uncomfortable. She tried to wriggle free, but he glared fiercely at her, and she had no choice but to give up the struggle.
Upon entering his room, he let go of her hand, a smile on his lips. He fished out a small red velvet box from his pocket and handed it to her, "This is your Qixi Festival gift."
He had said Qixi Festival, not Valentine’s Day.
As soon as Lin Xinlan saw the box, her first instinct was to think it contained a ring. She took a step back and shook her head firmly, "No need, thank you."
"I bought it for you, take it when I say take it!" The man became slightly displeased, forcefully pulling her hand and stuffing the box into her palm.
"I said I don’t want it, keep it and give it to someone else," she clenched her fist, firmly refusing to take it.
Rong Shaoze’s face darkened instantly, his tone icy, "Lin Xinlan, don’t push me to lose my temper!"
Even if it angered him, she couldn’t take it.
This was a ring, not just a casual gift. If she accepted it, wouldn’t it completely change the nature of their relationship?
They hadn’t argued for several days, and Lin Xinlan’s temper flared up too.
"You’re so unreasonable. I said I don’t want it, why do you insist on forcing it on me!" She yelled back at him, completely oblivious to the seriousness of the consequences.
Rong Shaoze’s face turned a steely blue, his eyes flashing a violent menace.
For him, Rong Shaoze, to give a woman a gift was an extremely rare occurrence, which woman wouldn’t be overjoyed and grateful upon receiving a gift?
But her? She actually didn’t care!