Instead of taking the bag, she looked at him with concern. "Xiao Yi, where did you get the money? Did you spend all the salary I gave you on these gifts?"
"If that's the case, go return them. I know you mean well, but you can't just throw money around like this."
Zhou Yi smiled, his expression relaxed. "Don't worry, Sister Wen. I've saved the salary you gave me. This is money I earned at school a few days ago."
"A friend taught me to build websites on the computer, and we landed a big project together. That's how I got this much. Do you think I'd go around scamming people or something?"
Jing Wen's eyes widened in surprise, and she patted his head with a mix of pride and relief. "I didn't know our Xiao Yi was so capable. Of course, I know you're a good kid. You wouldn't do anything like that, and you wouldn't lie to me."
"I'll accept the gifts, but don't buy anything else in the future. Save your money. College is expensive, and you'll need it."
Jing Wen didn't yet realize how expensive the items Zhou Yi had bought for her were. But to her, what mattered most was Zhou Yi's sincerity. The value of the gifts wasn't that important.
"Sister Wen, aren't you going to see what I bought you?"
Only after Zhou Yi's prompting did Jing Wen open the bag. The dress and shoes were nice, but it was the hand cream lying quietly inside that made her eyes well up.
Jing Wen's affection points increased by 10, wealth points increased by 50000, and attribute points increased by 50.
"My hands are used to rough work. Why bother with hand cream?" Jing Wen smiled through her tears, her voice trembling.
Zhou Yi felt a pang of pity. He comforted her gently. "Sister Wen, don't say that. The thing I just brought into the kitchen is a dishwasher. You won't have to wash dishes by hand anymore. Use this hand cream, and your hands won't hurt."
"You're a woman too, Sister Wen. Of course, you deserve to be cared for. I just don't have the means to do more for you now. But once I make more money, I'll open a bigger shop for you, and you can just relax as the boss lady."
Jing Wen was deeply moved by his words. Her expression softened. "Xiao Yi, I've only done what I could. You don't have to treat me so..."
She didn't know how to describe her feelings at that moment. She felt she had only done small things, not worthy of Zhou Yi's gratitude. And at thirty, what did she have to do with being cared for?
Zhou Yi took out the hand cream, opened the cap, and squeezed a dollop onto his palm. Then he took Jing Wen's hand and began to gently apply the cream, his movements tender and his gaze focused.
Jing Wen looked at the determined young man before her and couldn't help but choke up.
As he applied the cream, Zhou Yi spoke softly. "Sister Wen, everything I do for you comes from the heart, not just out of gratitude."
"In my eyes, you're a wonderful woman. I've never met anyone as good as you. Please don't reject my feelings, okay?"
Zhou Yi was a natural when it came to sweet talk. He first expressed that his kindness wasn't just out of gratitude, then praised her as a remarkable woman.
This created a boundary between them that was more than just a sibling relationship.
Zhou Yi had shown Jing Wen his growth. While she felt proud, there was also a new, subtle emotion in her eyes when she looked at him—though she hadn't yet realized it herself.
But if Zhou Yi had other ways to make money, would he still need to work at her shop?
The thought made her heart inexplicably heavy.
Frowning slightly, Jing Wen asked with a hint of nervousness, "Will you still work here in the future?"