SFS Chapter 175 Penniless
Chapter 175 Penniless
How could the waiter give up so easily? He looked exactly like a mischievous child bursting with curiosity, eager to find out why this once-favored hairpin had suddenly fallen out of favor. His mouth rattled off a string of words, "The young lady just tried it on herself! You looked absolutely stunning in it, like a fairy descended from heaven! This hairpin is a match made in heaven for you! Besides, this hairpin is a masterpiece! Look at the exquisite craftsmanship; every detail is handled perfectly, as if it has been given life. And look at its unique and distinctive design; you probably won't find another piece in the entire capital that can compare." "Well! What's especially worth mentioning is that such an exquisite hairpin is unique in our entire capital city. It's truly one of a kind, unparalleled in the world! If you were to take it out, you would undoubtedly become the center of attention, leading the fashion trend and standing out from the crowd!" The waiter spoke eloquently as he carefully handed the hairpin to Fan Junyu, his movements gentle and cautious, as if he were showing the world a priceless and rare treasure.
At this moment, Fan Junyu's deep and focused gaze was fixed on the hairpin that radiated a captivating light, as if drawn by a magnet. He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to examine the hairpin carefully, inside and out.
It must be said, this hairpin is truly stunning. From its exquisite craftsmanship to its superior materials, it is impeccable. Every detail is handled perfectly, as if meticulously crafted by a master artisan, making it a first-rate piece. From afar, this hairpin resembles a masterpiece of art, exuding a unique charm that captivates all who behold it.
Fan Junyu was perfectly aware of the situation; he knew that He Mingning actually adored the hairpin. Her unintentional glances and subtle expressions had already revealed her true feelings. However, what was truly perplexing was that she had inexplicably said something so contrary to her true feelings about disliking it.
After a moment's thought, Fan Junyu turned to the eager waiter and said, "Alright, I'll take this one! Please pack it properly for me." Hearing this, the waiter was overjoyed and hurriedly replied, "Sure thing! Please wait a moment, sir, and I'll get it done for you right away."
Just then, He Mingning, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly reached out in a panic and grabbed Fan Junyu's sleeve, blurting out urgently, "Brother Ayu, I really don't want it anymore!" At that moment, just as Fan Junyu was about to take out silver from his purse to pay, a soft and familiar voice suddenly called out in his ear, "Brother Ayu..."
His movements abruptly stopped, as if time had frozen. His right hand, which had been reaching for the money pouch, now stood motionless in mid-air, as if under a spell. Fan Junyu turned his head in astonishment, his gaze fixed on He Mingning, and asked in a slightly trembling voice, "Ningning, what did you just call me?"
He Mingning was stunned, completely frozen in place. She never imagined she would blurt out such an intimate term of endearment. A surge of warmth washed over her, her cheeks flushing crimson, as luscious as ripe apples. She lowered her head hastily, avoiding Fan Junyu's gaze, and stammered, "I...I didn't say anything! Oh, right, I really don't like this hairpin anymore, really, you don't need to buy it." As she spoke, she casually turned her head to the side, seemingly trying to hide her embarrassment and shyness.
Fan Junyu gazed quietly at He Mingning's flushed face, her shy and adorable appearance stirring a ripple in his heart. He knew that He Mingning had realized what she had just shouted, but was too shy to admit it. However, he didn't intend to expose her. Instead, he smiled slightly, then reached into his robes again and slowly pulled out a silver note.
His fingers were long and nimble; with a gentle flick of his wrist, the silver note flew out as lightly as a butterfly in flight. In the blink of an eye, a three-thousand-tael note lay securely in his palm. Without hesitation, Fan Junyu handed the note to the waiter standing nearby, saying calmly, "Take this to settle the bill." The waiter happily accepted the note, his smile as radiant as a spring flower. He held the exquisitely wrapped hairpin with both hands, as if he were holding not an ordinary piece of jewelry, but a priceless treasure.
Not far away, He Mingning witnessed the entire scene. Her slender hands, which had been tightly holding Fan Junyu's arm, suddenly released their grip as if they had touched a raging fire. Her eyes widened, staring at Fan Junyu in astonishment. Her beautiful face was slightly flushed with shock, as if the person standing before her was no longer the one she knew, but a complete stranger.
Fan Junyu, however, seemed oblivious to He Mingning's unusual behavior. He carefully held the exquisitely wrapped jade hairpin, his movements as gentle as if he were leading a frightened fawn. He gently took He Mingning's hand and led her slowly in another direction.
Fan Junyu turned his head and whispered to He Mingning in a gentle voice, "Ningning, shall we go over there and take a look? Maybe we can find a treasure that you'll love!" However, before he could finish speaking, he couldn't contain his eagerness and pulled He Mingning quickly to the display stand filled with a dazzling array of earrings.
At this moment, the waiter, like a blazing flame, greeted him with a beaming smile, enthusiastically introducing the earrings: "Young master, please feel free to choose! These earrings are all meticulously crafted from the finest jade. They are like twinkling stars in the night sky, dazzling and breathtakingly beautiful. I guarantee you'll be dazzled and overwhelmed by their beauty!"
He Mingning parted her lips slightly and softly declined, saying, "Really, there's no need. I've already bought a hairpin I like. Let's just walk around and look at some more!" With that, she turned her head slightly, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to a pair of earrings on the display stand. The pattern on the earrings resembled plum blossoms blooming proudly in the snow, and the gemstones set in them were dazzling. Together with the hairpin she had just chosen, they were a perfect match, complementing each other beautifully.
Meanwhile, Fan Junyu was staring intently at the earrings, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. Despite hearing He Mingning's words, he clearly had no intention of giving up. With a smile, he turned to the waiter and politely instructed, "Could you please carefully wrap up these earrings for me, sir?"
Seeing this, He Mingning was about to speak to stop her, but before she could utter a word, the waiter, all smiles, quickly handed the beautifully packaged earrings to Fan Junyu. Immediately afterward, Fan Junyu unhesitatingly took out some money from her pocket and paid the bill readily.
Seeing Fan Junyu complete the transaction so decisively, He Mingning couldn't help but wonder to herself, "Could it be that Brother Yu spent all his savings of many years on these things for me?" Thinking this, she felt increasingly guilty, worried that he might continue buying expensive items and leave her penniless. So, she quickly reached out and tugged at Fan Junyu's sleeve, saying coquettishly, "Oh dear, I really don't want to buy anything else. Let's go look around somewhere else!"
Fan Junyu stood motionless, his gaze sharp, silently watching the woman before him. She seemed hurried, as if urged on by an invisible force, her steps quickening as she walked towards the door. Fan Junyu was slightly taken aback, countless thoughts flashing through his mind, but ultimately he remained silent, silently pondering, "Judging from this young girl's hurried pace, could it be that she has encountered something important that requires her attention?"
Just then, He Mingning, seeing that Fan Junyu was still lost in his thoughts and hadn't come back to his senses, had a sudden idea. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she gently grabbed Fan Junyu's arm, pulled him away from Jinyuxuan.
The moment He Mingning stepped out of Jinyuxuan, she involuntarily stopped. She slowly turned around, as if drawn by an invisible force, and once again turned her gaze to Fan Junyu standing beside her.
At this moment, Fan Junyu was like a beautiful painting in He Mingning's eyes, every detail so clear and moving. Her beautiful eyes were like a deep lake, seemingly containing endless emotions and a thousand words. Those words surged into his heart like a surging tide, wave after wave, almost bursting out of his throat.
However, just as the words were about to spill from her lips, He Mingning suddenly hesitated. She was afraid that her overly direct expression would embarrass or make Fan Junyu uncomfortable. This worry was like a heavy shackle, tightly binding her tongue. So, she had to grit her teeth and use all her strength to swallow back the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.
Fan Junyu had been observing He Mingning's every move, and naturally wouldn't miss these subtle changes in her. Seeing He Mingning's hesitant and complex expression, a sense of doubt arose in his heart. What could possibly make her so indecisive?
Finally, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Fan Junyu spoke softly, "Ningning, you seem to have something important to tell me. If it is, you can speak freely without any worries." His voice was gentle and deep, as if it possessed a soothing magic.
Upon hearing Fan Junyu's question, He Mingning's delicate body trembled violently, like a flower swaying in the wind, appearing somewhat frail. She slowly raised her head, her beautiful and captivating eyes, like twinkling stars in the night sky, timidly meeting Fan Junyu's concerned gaze.
He Mingning's heart was churning like a vast, turbulent sea. After a long period of hesitation and struggle, she finally mustered her courage, parted her lips slightly, and asked in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, "Really... really, can I ask you anything?" Although her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, the slight tension and unease it contained could not be concealed.
Seeing this, Fan Junyu smiled slightly, a smile as warm and gentle as a spring breeze. The corners of his mouth turned up gently, forming an incredibly tender arc, like the enchanting crescent moon in the sky. He nodded slightly and replied in a soft, gentle tone, as if it could drip water, "Of course, Ningning, what can't we say to each other?"
Receiving Fan Junyu's affirmative answer, He Mingning's heart, which had been taut to the extreme, finally relaxed slightly. She took a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the fear and worry in her heart with that breath. Then, as if she had made some kind of do-or-die decision, a resolute look flashed in her beautiful eyes.
Then, like a timid little deer, He Mingning cautiously opened her cherry-like mouth and stammered, "Um... I just wanted to ask, did you use all the salary you've worked so hard for these past few years to buy me those pretty hairpins and delicate earrings?" As soon as she spoke, her pretty face instantly turned bright red, as luscious as a ripe apple. After saying this, He Mingning's cheeks flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. Then, as if by magic, with lightning speed, she quickly pulled a thick stack of silver notes from her bosom. She clutched the stack of silver notes tightly in her hand, as if it were an incomparably precious treasure. Then, she carefully handed the stack of silver notes to Fan Junyu.
Fan Junyu listened quietly to He Mingning's words, then turned his gaze to her actions. In that instant, a flash of insight struck him, and he understood everything. It turned out that He Mingning's repeated attempts to stop him from buying her things weren't for any other reason, but because she worried he would squander all his wealth. Thinking of this, Fan Junyu couldn't help but feel admiration for this kind-hearted woman.