Chapter 7
Zhen Bao did not have access to a cellphone during high school. The old Nokia she was using now was inherited from her dad and could only make calls and send texts. Fu Ming Shi's phone was too high-tech for her, and she struggled to understand the games he downloaded for her.
Fu Ming Shi parked the car again and played some English listening comprehension samples for her. As a last-minute high school graduate preparing for the college entrance exam, Zhen Bao showed keen interest in the listening exercises, wearing headphones and tilting her head to listen attentively. Now that she was occupied, Fu Ming Shi could focus on driving again.
It was past 1 pm when they arrived in C City.
Fu's grandfather had flown in on a private jet but was taking a commercial flight home, leaving the private jet for his grandson. Fu Ming Shi only found out about these arrangements when he called his driver and bodyguards after getting off the highway. He glanced at the napping Zhen Bao in the passenger seat and inexplicably felt like smiling.
Was grandfather trying to show Zhen Bao the Fu family’s wealth and extravagance?
But Zhen Bao was not the kind of woman who coveted money.
With no flight time constraints, Fu Ming Shi navigated to a large shopping mall. On the way, they passed a mobile phone store and Fu Ming Shi changed course on a whim.
The car stopped and Zhen Bao suddenly woke up, covering her mouth as she yawned.
Fu Ming Shi unbuckled her seatbelt first. “Let’s go,” he said, pushing open the passenger door.
He was so close that his chiseled side profile filled her vision, long eyelashes framing intense eyes. Afraid of brushing his shoulder, Zhen Bao pressed back against the seat as Fu Ming Shi straightened up. She hurried out of the car once he moved aside. The fresh outdoor air greeted her along with the busy road ahead, lined by towering high-rises in the distance. Zhen Bao tried to spot an airport-like building but instead noticed the mobile phone store beside them.
Fu Ming Shi locked the car and waited for her.
“Where’s the airport?” Zhen Bao still hadn’t realized Fu Ming Shi’s intentions.
“Let’s get you a new phone first. Your classmates and friends will be sending pictures and voice messages often. Your current phone can’t handle that and it’ll affect communication.” Fu Ming Shi headed towards the phone store, listing reasons why she needed an upgrade.
Without comparison there would be no damage. After playing with Fu Ming Shi’s phone, Zhen Bao knew hers was woefully outdated. If she had to get a new one, so be it. She had 2000 yuan in her account, hopefully enough. Mrs. Guo’s grandson’s touchscreen phone seemed similar to Fu Ming Shi’s and cost just over 1000 yuan.
Inside the store, four or five female sales associates were already enthralled when Fu Ming Shi stepped out of the car, sneakily snapping photos on their phones. Good-looking guys were common but such top-tier eye candy didn’t come around often. But the moment Fu Ming Shi entered, they had stowed their phones, the model professionals.
Fu Ming Shi went straight to the latest model display, “The style’s all the same, which color do you like?”
Zhen Bao held onto the counter and peeked at the price tags first. All four digits, enough to buy several of Mrs. Guo’s grandson’s phone!
The astronomical prices made Zhen Bao hesitate to even touch the display models.
“I’ll pay.” Fu Ming Shi leaned towards her slightly, looking over the options.
Zhen Bao didn’t want him spending so much on her.
“Gold or silver?” Fu Ming Shi looked up at her, deep-set eyes like serene pools.
The sales associates were watching them. Zhen Bao braced herself on the counter again and whispered, “Can we get a cheaper one instead? I have 2000 yuan, I want to buy it myself.”
“University students nowadays all use this kind.” Fu Ming Shi’s tone was matter-of-fact. “You’ll need it eventually, so pick one.”
His low voice held a beguiling note. Unsure how to respond, Zhen Bao touched her flushed right cheek and chose the white version to end the uncomfortable exchange. Fu Ming Shi straightened slowly, calling the salesgirl over to swipe his card, effortlessly paying the small fortune that made Zhen Bao balk. Fu Ming Shi also got her a new SIM card.
On the way to the mall, Zhen Bao kept fiddling with her phone, enchanted by the novelty of the apps Fu Ming Shi installed, like a kid with a new toy. Fu Ming Shi’s lips quirked up. “Saved my number?”
Eyes glued to the screen, Zhen Bao murmured in affirmation.
Fu Ming Shi left her to it and informed her they would shop for clothes once they neared the mall.
Zhen Bao froze, gaze drifting down to her 20 yuan jeans and 10 yuan flip-flops.
She said nothing, merely turned to look out the window, no longer in the mood to play with her phone.
Fu Ming Shi understood her pride but avoiding extravagance would be irresponsible on his part. “Nothing too expensive. Hundreds for an outfit won’t stand out nowadays.” Except formal occasions, cheaper everyday clothes were fine. She might not feel comfortable in expensive outfits yet.
Zhen Bao bit her lip and seemed to deflate a little, before asking while staring at a passing black sedan, “If our engagement news spreads, will you feel ashamed?” Thanks to grandfather’s stubbornness, she had to sneak around the city pretending to be his fiancee, a country bumpkin. Fu Ming Shi would probably lose face among his peers.
“Why would I feel ashamed?” Fu Ming Shi parked the car and turned to her.
Zhen Bao kept her head tilted, pouting cherry lips. “I’m poor and uneducated.”
“Study hard and you’ll have a degree when you get into college.” Fu Ming Shi unclipped her seatbelt, tone breezy.
Zhen Bao surreptitiously tugged her t-shirt hem. “What about money? Don’t rich people care about equal status?”
“I’m not lacking money. No need to marry someone rich.” Fu Ming Shi opened her door but didn’t retreat immediately. One hand on the seat, the other grasping the door handle, he leaned down to look closely at the girl trapped by him.
Flustered by his intense gaze, Zhen Bao lowered her head. “Fine, just don’t get embarrassed by me in the future.”
Fu Ming Shi studied her bare face more alluring than skincare models’ made-up complexions, her fluttering lashes, pursed lips. Straightening up and settling into his own seat, he murmured, “Seeing you, they’ll only envy me.”
Zhen Bao didn’t catch it clearly and looked at him in puzzlement. But Fu Ming Shi had already exited the car.
Zhen Bao vaguely made out the words “self-deprecation” and blushed slightly at the implied meaning. Judging by Fu Ming Shi’s treatment of her today, he didn’t seem to look down on her. So why should she care what others thought?
Reassured, Zhen Bao followed him curiously but awkwardly into the massive mall.
Wary of high-end brand price tags shocking her, Fu Ming Shi only browsed popular affordable fashion sections with Zhen Bao. To her, even hundreds was costly attire, but more acceptable than thousands upfront. Based on personal preference, she picked out an outfit. Fu Ming Shi didn’t object, only said to buy a few more sets to take directly to Beijing for exam prep.
After clothes came shoes.
Zhen Bao slowly scanned the displays until a pair of delicate white heels arrested her steps. She couldn’t tear her eyes away, as if love at first sight, except the four-digit price below made her inhale softly and shuffle away. Everything was so expensive in the big city...
Bypassing the heels, she opted for white flats instead.
Just as the salesgirl brought out her size, another walked over and set the coveted white heels before Zhen Bao, smiling. “These are a size 35, please try them.”
Zhen Bao whirled around in surprise.
Fu Ming Shi stood behind the sofa, smiling eyes meeting hers.
Blushing, Zhen Bao tried on the heels, also the four-digit dress Fu Ming Shi recommended to match them. Leaving the mall, Fu Ming Shi’s hands were full of purchases, as were Zhen Bao’s.
“What time’s the flight?” After stowing everything with some effort, Zhen Bao checked her phone, worried about being late since she recalled a flight after 5 pm. It was 4:50 already.
“We decide when to go, when the plane leaves.” Fu Ming Shi’s faint smile hinted this was his first time finding shopping agreeable. Zhen Bao looked at him, confused. Did the Fu family already have so much money that airlines listened to them?
“What do you want for dinner?” After checking sunset timing, Fu Ming Shi searched for well-known local delicacies.
“Shouldn’t we go to the airport first?” Zhen Bao didn’t want to hold up a plane full of people.
Fu Ming Shi just laughed and showed her his phone screen. “This hotpot place has great reviews, want to go?”
He was incorrigible, only showing food photos. At the tantalizing red chili broth, Zhen Bao’s mouth watered uncontrollably. Fu Ming Shi read her expression and drove to the hotpot restaurant without another word.
Zhen Bao handled spice well, lips tinted as if lipsticked, eyes watering with youthful allure.
Fu Ming Shi discreetly tugged his tie.
After the hearty dinner, Fu Ming Shi suddenly asked, “How does it feel being engaged to a rich guy so far?”
Zhen Bao was dabbing her mouth and goggled at the question.
Fu Ming Shi just smiled and called for the check.
Zhen Bao eyed the leftover broth resentfully, chiding herself for happily letting Fu Ming Shi buy her things and treat her. This wouldn’t do. To ensure her future, she had to study diligently and get a job after college, making at least enough to eat hotpot whenever she wanted.
“Pondering?” Fu Ming Shi stood up, casually draping his suit jacket over one arm.
“How much do college grads make on average?” After a day together, Zhen Bao felt comfortable speaking her mind.
Fu Ming Shi pondered before hazarding, “Around 2-3k on the low end, over 10k at the high end?” Right after graduation.
Zhen Bao relaxed. Even 2-3k monthly could afford the occasional hotpot, not extravagant places like this.
“If you want to buy a home, the lowest price in Beijing is also 10-20k now.” Fu Ming Shi conversationally added, taking care to emphasize, “Per square meter.”
“10-20 thousand per square meter?” Zhen Bao could hardly believe her ears.
Fu Ming Shi nodded, smiling. “Rent isn’t cheap either.”
Zhen Bao promptly abandoned thoughts of working in Beijing after graduation.
“If you insist on breaking up in the end, I’ll gift you a few houses.” Pushing open the glass door, Fu Ming Shi looked meaningfully at her.
“No need...” Zhen Bao hurried out first, cheeks burning.
Fu Ming Shi followed, glancing at her flushed profile. No need to give her houses, because...
His houses would surely be hers as well.
~
They arrived at the airport after 7 pm.
“Boss Fu, you’ve eaten?” Driver and bodyguards had waited here a while and eyed Zhen Bao’s changed relaxed outfit curiously, finding the village girl prettier upon closer inspection.
“Luggage is in the car, don’t leave anything.” Fu Ming Shi gently pushed Zhen Bao’s shoulder. “Let’s go first.”
Zhen Bao nodded. Fu Ming Shi had removed his hand quickly so she didn’t think much of it.
But the driver noticed how the boss touched her and called her "we" now. Just this morning Fu Ming Shi had angrily called his assistant to book a ticket, insisting on returning alone. Yet after a day apart, they were "we" already?
Taking in the backseat and trunk crammed with female clothes and bags, the driver now grasped the situation.