A Shopping Trip and a Playful Misunderstanding

By the time Bai Muxue emerged from the performance venue, the sky had already surrendered its brightness, the lingering rays of the setting sun gradually painting the heavens with a wash of orange-red.

After the two had enjoyed dinner at a cozy restaurant Qin Xiyao had meticulously planned, she seized the opportune moment to suggest a visit to a nearby department store for some shopping.

“I was hoping to pick up a few things, and the mall happens to be quite close by.”

Still holding Bai Muxue’s small hand, Qin Xiyao cast aside her usual gentle composure, revealing instead a rather sly and endearingly naive girlish expression.

The intimate contact they had shared during the performance had evidently emboldened Qin Xiyao, her heart no longer caught in its usual tangle of hesitation; she was beginning to shed her innate shyness and reserve.

Bai Muxue paused, surprised by the sudden suggestion, and asked instinctively, “What is it you’re planning to buy, Xiyao?”

‘Could she possibly be looking for books? Yet, as far as I recall, there isn’t a bookstore in that particular mall.’

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Qin Xiyao spoke in a soft tone, “Our fridge at home is practically bare, so I thought we could see if there’s anything worth buying… Oh, and perhaps some daily necessities while we’re there?”

“Huh? Xiyao, you’re going grocery shopping?” Bai Muxue responded with a touch of surprise. “I always imagined you as the type who never had to soil their hands with such mundane tasks.”

“That’s not true at all! I’m hardly a pampered young lady like Xiaoxue, with people constantly waiting on me!”

Qin Xiyao playfully chided, “One has to buy groceries and cook when living alone, you know. Honestly…”

She had a point. Xiyao did live by herself, with her mother constantly away on business. It wasn’t really surprising that she knew how to cook.

‘Alas, the thought brought Tang Xingwan to mind once more! It was one thing for her not to learn cooking back then, but even now that she lived alone, she still relied on takeout every single day. Honestly!’

Bai Muxue let out a long, exasperated sigh inwardly, then turned to Qin Xiyao beside her, unable to resist a teasing remark.

“If it comes to it, Xiyao, you could always come work as my chef! I’d happily pay you a salary!”

Yet, instead of being swayed by Bai Muxue’s playful jab, Qin Xiyao merely tilted her head, a smile of ambiguous meaning playing on her lips.

“Is that truly an option? But haven’t you already hired a tutor, Xiaoxue?”

Bai Muxue froze, utterly bewildered. “What does my hiring a tutor have to do with anything?”

“Oh? I was under the impression that at your home, Xiaoxue, your tutor would prepare all your meals and then personally feed them to you.”

“How could that possibly be true! Xiyao, do you have some utterly bizarre misconception about the word ‘tutor’?”

Bai Muxue’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she rolled her eyes at Qin Xiyao with an exasperated huff.

‘I beg you, please stop letting your imagination run wild… And stop subtly probing the nature of my relationship with Shen Jingyi under the pretext of a joke; it’s truly exhausting.’

Truth be told, her relationship with Shen Jingyi had always existed in a peculiar, subtle state. They weren’t quite friends, and the idea of them being teacher and student was even more far-fetched. Both understood perfectly well that the “tutor” facade was a complete sham, as Bai Muxue had no need for Shen Jingyi’s academic assistance.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Bai Muxue’s mind suddenly conjured an image of Shen Jingyi, her face utterly devoid of emotion, bringing food to her lips. She shivered involuntarily.

‘Oh, please no! That was certainly not a heartwarming scene; it felt more akin to a chilling horror film!’

“Pfft, alright, alright, it was merely a joke, Xiaoxue, don’t take it to heart~”

“Ah, haha, you certainly had better be joking…”

Noticing Bai Muxue’s look of utter disgust, Qin Xiyao quickly and gently scratched her palm, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

****

With light banter, the two girls entered the mall. Initially, their stroll was casual, but it wasn’t long before Qin Xiyao’s innate girlish instincts seemed to awaken.

Bai Muxue had intended only a cursory glance, yet before she had taken but a few steps, she found herself being pulled along by the sprightly Qin Xiyao, whisked from one shop to the next.

One moment they were in a snack specialty store, the next an accessories boutique, and naturally, clothing shops were not overlooked either.

In the strictest sense, accompanying a girl on a shopping spree was a specialized skill, a truth Bai Muxue had come to appreciate profoundly years ago.

It demanded, for instance, ample physical stamina, the stoic endurance to combat boredom, and, depending on the occasion, a discerning eye for judgment and aesthetics.

At least for Bai Muxue, these three requirements were, for all intents and purposes, insurmountable.

After all, Tang Xingwan’s mother had passed away early, and Xingwan herself was the type to remain holed up at home more often than not. Her last shopping excursion felt like a distant memory.

Fortunately, Qin Xiyao seemed entirely unconcerned with such matters; all she desired was Bai Muxue’s companionship during her wanderings, rendering everything else secondary. This was evident in her constant movement, yet her failure to purchase a single item.

Bai Muxue, however, had considered buying Qin Xiyao some small accessories or a little gift, only to be politely but firmly refused by the girl.

“Oh, Xiaoxue, I’m already so delighted that you’re here to spend time with me; there’s truly no need to buy anything else… Besides, there’s nothing particularly compelling to purchase here anyway. Just looking is enough.”

Well, with Qin Xiyao having made her stance clear, Bai Muxue found herself with little to say, resigning herself to being pulled hither and thither by the energetic girl.

After much meandering, the two eventually found themselves at the supermarket.

Notably, Bai Muxue observed that Qin Xiyao meticulously inspected the freshness and compared prices when selecting vegetables and meats.

This quite surprised Bai Muxue. After all, Qin Xiyao came from a rather affluent background, making such a conscientious awareness truly rare.

Setting aside the wealthy young ladies in Bai Muxue’s current social circle, who seemed to exist solely for leisure, even Tang Xingwan had lacked this sensibility in the past. Ask her to buy groceries, and she’d grab whatever without a thought for price or quality, then simply leave.

‘Tsk, both living alone, yet the contrast was glaring! No comparison, no pain, indeed! She truly wished that girl Tang Xingwan would take a leaf out of someone else’s book. After all, she couldn’t possibly keep an eye on her for the rest of her life, could she?’

With a mind buzzing with unspoken grievances, Bai Muxue followed Qin Xiyao, meticulously selecting items throughout the supermarket. By the time they emerged, both of them were laden with numerous bags.

Qin Xiyao, at this point, was clearly radiating happiness; her charming face was alight with smiles, and she even hummed an unknown melody under her breath.

Observing her cheerful demeanor, Bai Muxue couldn’t help but suppress a smile. “Tell me, Xiyao, do you particularly enjoy shopping?”

‘Most girls tended to enjoy shopping, didn’t they?’

“Not really,” Qin Xiyao replied, gently shaking her head. “Aside from grocery shopping, I don’t typically frequent stores.”

‘If Xiaoxue hadn’t taken the initiative to invite me, I’d probably be at home reading a book… Xiaoxue, why can’t you ever grasp what I’m truly thinking?’

The young girl sighed softly to herself, then subtly, almost unconsciously, glanced at Bai Muxue. “Besides, shopping alone isn’t much fun, is it…”

Alas, the young girl’s subtle hint was destined to fall flat. Hearing this, Bai Muxue merely nodded in profound agreement. “Indeed, it’s definitely more enjoyable with company.”

Qin Xiyao: “…”

Upon hearing her words, the gentle smile on Qin Xiyao’s face instantly froze, becoming unnervingly rigid.

‘Oh, Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue…’

‘Shouldn’t she have responded with something along the lines of, “Of course! I’ll make sure to accompany you from now on, Xiyao!”?’

‘She was usually so perceptive and considerate, so why was she failing her now?’

A surge of dissatisfaction suddenly welled within the girl’s heart. Gaze fixed on Bai Muxue, who still smiled so innocently before her, Qin Xiyao secretly steeled her resolve.

‘There was no other recourse; time had run out for today! If she truly wished to advance their relationship, she would have to resort to the ultimate measure, just as that dating strategy guide online had advised!’