Chapter 18

Ji Linyu didn’t refuse her. Instead, he drove her to a nearby mall.
Back at the night market in M Province, he had already accompanied Zhu Xinyue on a shopping trip once, so he was prepared for today to be
I had mentally prepared to spend a long time shopping, planning to set aside the entire morning to accompany her.
The wedding invitation had specified the dress code: women were encouraged to wear green, blue, or yellow.
“Linyu, which do you think looks better, this light green off-shoulder maxi dress or this blue V-neck maxi dress?” Zhu Xinyue held the dresses up against herself and turned to ask Ji Linyu.
Her usual style, aside from the red dress she wore during their first meeting, leaned toward comfortable casual wear. Today, she was dressed in a beige cotton-linen set, gentle and completely unassuming.
“They both look good.” Though it sounded perfunctory, Ji Linyu meant it, he couldn’t imagine her looking bad in anything.
With such a radiant smile, she’d look beautiful even in a burlap sack.
Zhu Xinyue flipped over the price tag, converted the currency, and winced slightly at the five-figure price, a pang of sympathy for Zhu Shilang’s wallet.
“They’re a bit expensive. I’ll just pick one,” she said, turning back to the mirror and holding the dresses up again, still unable to decide.
The off-shoulder dress would show off her elegant neckline and collarbones, with ruffles accentuating her arms.
The blue dress complemented her skin tone, and the slit hem would highlight her long legs, both were excellent choices.
“Let’s get both. I’ll pay,” Ji Linyu said, rising from the sofa and heading toward the checkout counter.
Zhu Xinyue hugged both dresses and followed closely behind him, her gaze fixed intently on him.
Feeling the heat of her stare, Ji Linyu paused while pulling out his card and asked, “Did you see any other dresses you liked? We can get them all. I’ll wait for you.”
He thought his quickness to pay might make her doubt his patience, but he simply felt that in such small matters, she shouldn’t have to make difficult choices, she could have it all.
Zhu Xinyue shook her head, a satisfied smile on her face. “These two are enough.”
Ji Linyu paid with his card.
The shop assistant placed the neatly packaged dresses into a shopping bag and handed it over. Zhu Xinyue took the bag before Ji Linyu could, continuing to gaze at him with that same intense look.
His ears warming under her stare, Ji Linyu averted his eyes toward a luxury store across the way. “Do you want to check out the next shop?”
Zhu Xinyue smiled and shook her head. “No need. We’re done, let’s head back.”
Ji Linyu glanced at his watch. From the moment they entered the store to paying, it had taken less than ten minutes.
That was it?
He was a little surprised, but since she didn’t want to continue, he’d follow her wishes and go back.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhu Xinyue hugged the shopping bag, her eyes and brows full of laughter as she turned to Ji Linyu. “Boss Ji, does this count as a gift?”
Her tone was light and cheerful, with an upward lilt at the end, sounding very happy.
Ji Linyu let out a soft "Mm" without looking at her, focusing solely on driving.
Zhu Xinyue couldn't resist opening the shopping bag again, using two fingers to part the packaging and peek inside at the new dress she had just bought.
This was, after all, a gift from Ji Linyu! Not something to appease her out of guilt, nor for any other reason, just a simple, heartfelt gift!
Her head was almost buried in the oversized bag. Like a little squirrel storing food for the winter, inspecting its stash, she hugged her prize as if returning triumphantly, looking utterly content.
So adorable.
Ji Linyu glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, a slight smile tugging at his lips, seemingly infected by her joy.
The car came to a stop at a crosswalk, waiting for the traffic light.
The blinking signal light was like a heartbeat, steady, rhythmic, and grounding.
Zhu Xinyue sat up straight, placed the shopping bag down, and let out a soft sigh to calm her emotions.
She noticed Ji Linyu's smiling expression, probably amused by how easily pleased she was.
But she didn't want him to think her contentment was cheap or that he had done something trivial to make her so happy.
Zhu Xinyue cleared her throat lightly and said, "Brother Linyu, you know what? I could have used my brother's card to buy these two dresses. But whenever I swipe his card and spend his money, I feel guilty. The more I spend, the more uneasy I become."
Ji Linyu raised an eyebrow.
He had heard Zhu Shilang mention his sister before, after their parents divorced, they saw each other less than twice a year and rarely kept in touch. Every meeting felt awkward, as if they were strangers. Both knew that her mother had taken her away for the hefty alimony from Zhu's father, only letting Zhu Xinyue return to the Zhu family once she found someone else to rely on for life.
Her father felt deeply indebted to her, but for people like them, money spoke louder than emotions. Tangible wealth was far more reliable than elusive feelings. The Zhu family had long set aside a fortune large enough for her to squander for a lifetime.
But on one condition, she had to return to Qingyang, follow her father's arrangements, and marry someone of equal status whom both her father and brother trusted under their scrutiny.
"Why do you feel uneasy?" Ji Linyu hadn't expected this side of her, who usually seemed so gentle.
Zhu Xinyue lowered her head, gripping the seatbelt strapped across her chest. The edge of the belt felt sharp against her skin, the pain keeping her alert.
"...I can't quite explain it. I feel like a thief, just by bearing the Zhu surname and the title 'Zhu Shilang's sister,' I've gained wealth, family affection, friendships, and everything that shouldn't rightfully be mine.
All of this is stolen. Once they realize I'm not the person they want me to be, I'll have to give it all back."
It was strange.
Even though she had accepted the system's deal and become the supporting female character Zhu Xinyue in the novel, she still struggled and overthought, torn between guilt and enjoying the privileges this identity brought.
Especially after seeing the original host’s memories, she pitied her for loving the wrong person. She believed there was still room for redemption, as long as the original host stayed alive and avoided foolish actions, she could have had a long and wonderful life.
Zhu Xinyue said these things in front of Ji Linyu, not really expecting him to understand.
Previously, she had always praised him for being a good person, genuinely believing in his kindness. After all, his kindness toward her wasn’t because she was a daughter of the Zhu family, but simply because he happened to encounter her when she needed help.
She thought it was only natural that she would fall for a good person.
After all, who doesn’t like a good person?
Ji Linyu sensed her insecurity and felt a pang in his chest.
That was why she had been so overjoyed upon receiving the gift he gave her, because it was hers, something he had explicitly given to her without expecting anything in return.
He knew she was thoughtful and sensitive, like a dazzling diamond polished again and again through self-reflection, shining brilliantly. She could reflect and recognize the goodness in those around her, and she was always the first to perceive the subtleties in human interactions, effortlessly maintaining the perfect distance in relationships.
She was intelligent, knew when to advance and when to retreat, and being with her was incredibly comfortable.
But he knew very well that diamonds don’t shine so brightly from the start.
The traffic light turned green.
The car started moving again, but instead of heading back to the hotel, it circled around once more.
Zhu Xinyue didn’t know the way and assumed this was the route back to the hotel. However, when the car finally stopped, it wasn’t at the hotel but at a flower shop they had passed earlier.
"Wait here for a moment," Ji Linyu said, parking the car and telling Zhu Xinyue to stay put while he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out.
Zhu Xinyue didn’t know what he was doing, perhaps he had forgotten to buy something.
She didn’t have to wait long in the car before Ji Linyu returned.
In his hand was a bouquet of chamomile flowers.
With their white petals and yellow centers, the small blossoms crowded together, blooming vibrantly, accented by unnamed green foliage. The bouquet wasn’t large, just a small, understated cluster.
Ji Linyu handed the bouquet to Zhu Xinyue.
This was the first time Zhu Xinyue had ever received flowers from someone. She was taken aback, accepting the chamomile bouquet in a daze.
"Why are you giving me flowers?"
"Do you think these flowers are beautiful?" he asked.
"Yes," Zhu Xinyue replied. She had never seen flowers more beautiful than these.
Ji Linyu looked at her seriously, his tone straightforward. "They are beautiful, but from the moment they are cut from the soil, their lives begin to count down.
"Just like humans, from the moment we are born, we are all waiting to die."
Zhu Xinyue had thought he would explain some romantic flower language, but instead, he was being so unromantic, saying such inauspicious things. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her from head to toe, extinguishing the fluttering emotions stirred by his gesture of giving her flowers.
She heard Ji Linyu say again, "Nothing was stolen by you, and you don’t need to return it. What’s given to you is yours. Whatever comes into your hands, if you want it, don’t give it back. Hold onto it tightly. As long as you grasp it firmly and have the ability to keep it, no one can take it away, then it belongs to you.
If you want something, go after it openly and boldly. If others won’t give it to you, then fight for it. Being able to seize it is also your skill. If someone gives it to you, just accept it directly. It’s what you deserve. If they gave it to the wrong person and regret it, that’s their own fault for not understanding you sooner and realizing you’re not the kind of person they wanted."
Zhu Xinyue’s heart began to beat violently again. Hearing his words, she was almost shocked.
"This bouquet of flowers has a short blooming period; it will wither and die soon. I bought it and gave it to you to make you happy. It bloomed for you, its entire life exists just for your one word: 'beautiful.'
You don’t need to become the kind of person they want you to be. Just be yourself. If they don’t like you, that’s their problem. As long as you like yourself, that’s enough.
Sometimes, being a little selfish isn’t a bad thing. Don’t set your standards too high, even saints have their selfish desires."
Ji Linyu wasn’t good at comforting others. In social situations, he always wore the mask of a nice gentleman, and it was the same in front of her. So he hadn’t originally intended to let her know his true nature.
He wasn’t as good as she thought. He was a businessman, and businessmen were essentially no different from robbers. Whatever he wanted, there was nothing he couldn’t obtain, it was just a matter of weighing the cost before taking it.
Zhu Xinyue held the bouquet in her hands until the car started again and was back on the road, then she gradually began to reflect on his words.
He was encouraging her, though it sounded more like he was teaching her to be bad.
"Then... does Brother Linyu also have selfish desires?" Zhu Xinyue stole a glance at him.
Ji Linyu smiled and asked in return, "Do you think I’ve given flowers to anyone else?"
Zhu Xinyue’s ears turned red.
Her world was blooming with mountain flowers.