Chapter 36 want to lie on his chest😍

She stood still, her expression a severe mask.

The throngs of people swirling around her seemed utterly invisible, her eyes vacant, as if she were blind to the world before her.

It was only when her gaze landed on the person she longed to see that her face finally blossomed with emotion.

Forgetting her earlier composure, she even broke into a small trot to meet him.

“My apologies, I’m a bit late, and I’ve kept you waiting.” Pei Xingyan offered an embarrassed smile, having arrived a full fifteen minutes past their agreed time.

Lin Xiaoyu harbored not a hint of reproach, simply offering a serene smile.

She gently shook her head, playfully mimicking his tone.

“Why utter such words? We are friends, aren’t we?”

She presented an utterly vibrant, mischievous image, making it impossible for anyone to reconcile this vivacious girl with the despondent one who had once contemplated ending her own life.

A faint, subtle sense of pride stirred within Pei Xingyan.

Despite this being merely a business arrangement, he genuinely felt he had done some good.

He nodded, falling into step beside her as they continued onward.

Lin Xiaoyu resumed her usual lighthearted chatter, seemingly eager to share every thought that crossed her mind with Pei Xingyan.

She sighed, “Honestly, I really don’t want to go.

These ‘banquets’ are nothing more than ostentatious displays, aren’t they?

The host flaunts their wealth, the guests parade their possessions.

They gather, accomplishing absolutely nothing worthwhile.

They’d be better off spending that money on something practical.”

Pei Xingyan offered an assenting hum.

She continued, “And my mother, in particular, is simply too much.

She finds material displays uninteresting, so now she’s showing *me* off!

I genuinely wonder if she insisted I learn all these things solely for an occasion like this!”

Before Pei Xingyan could interject, a wistful melancholy settled over her once more.

“But I’m truly terrified of performing in front of people… I’m bound to mess it up…”

“Nonsense! Your skills are truly exceptional~” Pei Xingyan offered a timely compliment.

Lin Xiaoyu smiled sweetly in return, murmuring, “Thank you~”

Yet, her smile quickly vanished, replaced by a renewed anxiety.

“Still, I’m so worried.

If I get nervous or make some mistake and ruin everything, my mother will never forgive me.”

Pei Xingyan sighed in empathy.

He had witnessed the lengths some mothers went to in their “chicken baby” (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘jīwá’, referring to parents who push their children extremely hard academically) methods, which were nothing short of unscrupulous.

Even the notoriously rigorous schools in Hengshui (TL Note: A city in China famous for its highly competitive and intensive education system) would be forced to concede defeat.

Nevertheless, he felt compelled to offer some reassurance.

“It’s alright.

I’ll be standing right beside you.

If you feel yourself faltering, just give me a subtle glance.

Then, I’ll stage an immediate, spectacular meltdown, I guarantee it – no one will even notice if you make a mistake.”

A smile once again bloomed on Lin Xiaoyu’s face.

“You’re truly wonderful~” she said sweetly.

Her voice was light and airy, almost like a whispered secret.

She continued speaking, her head having lowered at some indiscernible moment, her voice becoming faint and intermittent.

“While I’ve never actually tried it this way, I just feel… that as long as you’re by my side, I shouldn’t feel nervous…”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly fine.”

“Mhm~” Lin Xiaoyu murmured, nodding her head.

Whether it was merely a trick of perception or not, Pei Xingyan couldn’t shake the feeling that Lin Xiaoyu had subtly drawn closer to him than when they had first begun walking together.

****

The destination Lin Xiaoyu led him to was situated by the roadside, not particularly secluded, yet notably uncrowded.

The shop’s exterior appeared somewhat aged, but its meticulously arranged interior clearly bespoke a place of no ordinary standing.

Lin Xiaoyu pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Before she could utter a word, someone promptly came forward to greet her, their voice calling “Miss Lin” with an utterly warm familiarity that instantly revealed they were addressing a valued, long-standing client.

“I’ve come to have an outfit made for my friend,” she stated calmly, her demeanor neither obsequious nor arrogant.

The welcoming woman glanced behind Lin Xiaoyu, her eyes falling upon Pei Xingyan, and she promptly extended the same warm, enthusiastic smile to him.

“I usually have my clothes made right here,” Lin Xiaoyu confided, leaning close to his ear as if fearing Pei Xingyan might find the place peculiar.

“Please, don’t mind the somewhat worn appearance; the owner’s craftsmanship is genuinely exceptional.”

Pei Xingyan offered a slight nod.

He certainly wouldn’t find it shabby.

In contemporary society, there were but two kinds of individuals who opted for custom-made attire: those facing genuine financial hardship, who sought out affordable tailors, and those of substantial wealth, who disdained the idea of their garments bearing the same emblems as others, and thus chose entirely handcrafted pieces.

Pei Xingyan knew instinctively that Lin Xiaoyu belonged to the latter category.

The very dress she currently wore was undeniably expensive; its price, if one were to speculate, could easily reach five figures.

“Do you have any specific requirements?” the owner inquired, “Regarding the cut, style, or anything else?”

Lin Xiaoyu glanced at Pei Xingyan, and seeing his helpless shrug, she quickly turned back to the owner, swiftly and softly relaying a series of requirements.

Pei Xingyan found himself faintly amused.

He could discern that Lin Xiaoyu, fearing he might appear out of his depth, had swiftly intervened to steer the conversation past that particular topic.

After Lin Xiaoyu had spoken for a short while, the requirements finally became clear, and she exhaled in a visible sigh of relief.

“Now, if you please, we’ll take this gentleman’s measurements,” the owner announced, setting her notebook aside and retrieving a soft measuring tape from a nearby rack.

She walked directly to Pei Xingyan, her hand deftly circling behind him as she took various measurements with the tape.

The female owner’s movements were both precise and swift; she had been in this profession for many years and performed her task with flawless accuracy.

However, upon catching a glimpse of Miss Lin’s gaze, she realized she might have committed an error beyond mere technicality.

Miss Lin’s eyes held a rather fierce intensity, fixed intently on her every movement.

A sudden realization dawned upon the female owner: perhaps the young woman was feeling a touch of jealousy.

Certain young couples did indeed behave in such a manner…

She quickly released the measuring tape and, turning to Lin Xiaoyu beside her, apologized, “My apologies, Miss Lin, I’ll need your assistance here.”

A look of innocent bewilderment once again crossed Lin Xiaoyu’s face; she pointed to herself, her expression a mask of inquiry.

Nevertheless, she stepped forward, standing beside Pei Xingyan, clearly unsure of what to do.

The female owner handed her the measuring tape, then proceeded to explain the necessary assistance – Lin Xiaoyu would need to wrap her arms around Pei Xingyan as if embracing him, passing her hands from his front to take the measurement.

A faint blush bloomed across Lin Xiaoyu’s cheeks; she had entirely failed to anticipate such intimate contact with him.

Yet, she proceeded without a flicker of hesitation, instantly encircling Pei Xingyan’s waist and meticulously winding the measuring tape around his body.

Her movements were precise, and consequently, her perception of Pei Xingyan was equally keen.

She felt the powerful tautness of his waist, its contours as sharply defined as if sculpted by a blade.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she found herself holding her breath, her head bowed low, afraid to lift it.

Even without looking, she could feel the heat suffusing her neck, certain it was a vivid crimson.

Yet, she persisted, for she cherished this closeness with her friend.

Now, a tantalizing itch stirred within her, an undeniable yearning to be even nearer.

Lin Xiaoyu then shifted slightly upward to measure his chest, her face now directly level with his broad expanse.

His chest was firm and powerful, and for a fleeting moment, she found her awareness momentarily lost.

A profound longing welled within her to lean in, to press herself against that chest.

Merely imagining it, she knew with certainty it would be immensely comforting.

This was, after all, the very person who brought her a sense of profound stability whenever he crossed her mind…

She yearned to simply rest her head there—

Yet, the owner’s voice cut through her reverie with an almost ruthless efficiency: the measurements were complete.

Lin Xiaoyu took a step back, a palpable sense of disappointment settling over her, signaling her departure from that close proximity.

Even as she exited the shop, her gaze remained fixed, lingering on his chest.

What, exactly, would it feel like to rest against him?

She found herself intensely curious about the answer to that question.