Chapter 54 - She was more like a domineering CEO taking her girlfriend shopping

Lin Xian's major was among the last in the entire university to go on break. After finally surviving the most dreadful finals week of her college years, the holiday arrived—with only a little over ten days left until the Spring Festival. The moment the break began, Zhou Qin considerately urged Lin Xian to head home. As with all companies and workplaces, the closer it got to year-end, the busier everything became. Zhou Qin thought it best for Lin Xian to go back quickly and avoid adding extra trouble for Xiao Wanqing. With the campus closed, the dining hall wasn't available anymore, and Xiao Wanqing, being so meticulous, would probably worry about Lin Xian’s meals if the magazine office required overtime work.

But Lin Xian argued righteously and confidently, saying she wanted to stay a couple more days and head back over the weekend instead. If Aunt Xiao really needed to work overtime, not only could she be self-sufficient, but she could even prepare a warm late-night snack for her when she got home.

Zhou Qin scoffed, "Yeah right. Lin Xian, do you even know whether to put vegetables or oil in the pan first?"

Lin Xian pouted. Wasn’t that just looking down on her?! She huffed, too lazy to argue, and then presented a more persuasive reason. “Mom, I want to wait until the weekend so I can help Aunt Xiao prepare for the New Year. I’d like to buy Spring Festival couplets with her before I come home.” She paused, her voice dropping a little. “You know… Aunt Xiao definitely won’t come to our house for the New Year. She’ll be alone again this year. I can’t stay for the New Year with her, but at least I can help her shop for the holidays. I’m afraid she’ll just make do by herself again during such a big celebration.”

As much as she longed to spend New Year’s Eve with Xiao Wanqing, deep down she knew it was impossible. Not only because her grandparents from both sides would all be coming over to celebrate—a day of family reunion that she couldn’t miss—but also because Aunt Xiao would never allow her to stay.

If—just if—Aunt Xiao were willing to let her stay, she’d move heaven and earth to make it happen.

But unfortunately, someone as courteous and proper as Xiao Wanqing would never agree to it.

Zhou Qin thought of her own little sister and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She sighed deeply and said, “Alright then, you can come home after shopping for the New Year with Wanqing this weekend. I’ll come pick you up in the evening, and I’ll bring along some supplies we’ve already prepared.”

After a moment of thought, she added, “Keep an eye out when you’re shopping—make sure Aunt Xiao doesn’t buy any nuts, shrimp, crab, or lamb. I’ll bring those with me.”

Right before hanging up, Zhou Qin reminded Lin Xian once again, not entirely reassured. “Don’t give your Aunt Xiao any trouble these few days. If she’s busy with work, settle your meals on your own—don’t make a mess.”

Lin Xian replied crossly, “Got it, got it! What kind of image do you even have of your daughter? Do I really seem that immature to you?”

Zhou Qin shot back without hesitation, “Self-awareness is a virtue.” Then, she mercilessly hung up the phone.

Fuming, Lin Xian went off to where Xiao Wanqing was hanging laundry and immediately began whining for comfort. She managed to coax a whole string of gentle and soothing words out of Xiao Wanqing.

When Xiao Wanqing heard that Lin Xian wanted to stay until the weekend to help her prepare for the New Year, she instantly understood the girl's thoughtfulness. Watching her casually tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear and bend down without hesitation to pick up wet clothes from the laundry basket and hang them to dry, a warm current surged quietly through her chest, spreading to every limb and bone.

With a soft voice, she said, “Alright, let’s go shopping together on Sunday. I’ve been wanting to pick out a new outfit for you as a New Year’s gift. You’ve been busy studying for exams, so I didn’t want to bother you before. I was worried you’d rush home and we wouldn’t get the chance, and I didn’t know if what I picked would suit you. It’s perfect if you can come with me.”

Lin Xian paused mid-motion, her hands still on one of Xiao Wanqing’s shirts, halfway through hanging it up. Turning back, she said shyly, “Aunt Xiao, you really don’t have to. I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t need to insist on new clothes for the New Year.”

Seeing her hesitate with that shirt in hand, looking sweet and obedient, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but reach out and affectionately tap her nose. Smiling brightly, she said, “It’s not just a New Year’s gift. It’s also a thank-you gift.”

“A thank-you?” Lin Xian asked, puzzled.

With a rare bit of playfulness, Xiao Wanqing winked and nodded. “Mm-hmm. A thank-you gift for my little heater who always keeps me warm. I want to make my little heater feel even warmer.” She bit her rosy lower lip lightly, gazing into Lin Xian’s eyes with a glimmer she herself didn’t notice, her voice taking on a slightly coquettish tone: “Xian Xian, don’t say no, okay?”

Her soft, tender words carried a kind of warmth that seemed to melt right into Lin Xian’s heart. Staring at Xiao Wanqing, who was utterly unaware of how captivating she was in that moment, Lin Xian’s heartbeat suddenly pounded so fiercely it felt like it would leap from her chest.

There’s no way Xiao Wanqing realized just how impossible it was to say no to her like this.

Lin Xian didn’t dare look at her again, afraid that her expression might give something away. She lowered her eyes, swallowed with difficulty, and gave a small nod, heart racing as she accepted Xiao Wanqing’s gift.

How could she ever resist...

On Sunday morning, after breakfast, they lounged in the living room watching TV to digest before heading out. Xiao Wanqing had already planned the whole itinerary: first, they would go to the mall to buy Lin Xian some clothes. After shopping, they’d have lunch upstairs at the mall, then continue browsing. If they finished early, they could go straight to shop for New Year supplies and ingredients for that evening’s dinner. After dinner, they’d wait for Zhou Qin to pick Lin Xian up—perfect timing.

Lin Xian naturally had no objections. Though she’d felt a little embarrassed at first, just the thought of Xiao Wanqing carefully picking out clothes for her filled her with a giddy sweetness. It was like… like a wife choosing outfits for her husband, just like the gentle scenes she’d seen growing up—her mom selecting clothes for her dad. The thought made her so happy she wanted to roll around in it.

What she didn’t expect was that once they got to the mall, everything was turned upside down.

Xiao Wanqing didn’t act like a sweet little wife picking out clothes for her beloved. Instead, she was more like a domineering CEO taking her girlfriend shopping.

And she—Lin Xian—was the pampered wife being taken care of.

If her gaze lingered on a piece of clothing for more than a few seconds, Xiao Wanqing would immediately take it off the rack and say gently by her ear, “This one suits you too, Xian Xian. Try it on. If it fits, we’ll take it.” And while she spoke, she’d continue scanning for other options.

She glanced at a shirt, and before she could reach for it, Xiao Wanqing had already taken it down and immediately started searching for a matching cardigan or jacket. When her eyes landed on a sweater, Xiao Wanqing would swiftly remove it and begin picking out a skirt to go with it...

If Zhou Qin had been this generous and decisive whenever she took her shopping, Lin Xian would’ve been over the moon. But this wasn’t Zhou Qin—this was Xiao Wanqing, the person her heart quietly longed for. Lin Xian felt her chest fill with a honey-like sweetness, warm and thick, but underneath it all was a strange ache—a tenderness tinged with heartache.

She knew her family wasn’t outrageously wealthy, but they were comfortable. Zhou Qin and Lin Zhan were strict at times, yes, but they had never truly denied her anything. She had always had more than enough. So naturally, she'd never felt the sting of money. Whenever her parents bought her new clothes or fun things, she was grateful and happy—but never pained. She always believed that if they gave it to her, it must’ve been within their means.

She had, of course, occasionally been thoughtful about how hard her parents worked to earn money, and she was thankful for their generosity. But from a young age, she had internalized a philosophy of spending: that money was meant to improve a family’s quality of life, and that spending wisely and joyfully was part of what made all the hard work worthwhile.

This was the first time in her life she’d ever felt money sting her heart.

Even if Aunt Xiao could afford all of it, she couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t right. Not out of embarrassment—just an inexplicable kind of ache.

She began to hang back every piece of clothing Xiao Wanqing had picked out for her, one by one, feigning indignation as she teased her, “Aunt Xiao, are you trying to be lazy? No matter what I pick, you just say it looks great. That way you don’t have to spend the energy actually helping me put together the best outfit!”

Xiao Wanqing let out a helpless laugh, reaching out to gently poke Lin Xian’s cheek, her voice full of warmth and mock grievance. “I’m not! I really do think they all look great on you.” Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she sincerely praised her, “Our Xianxian is a natural-born clothes hanger—everything you put on looks like it was custom-made for you.”

The nearby shop assistant saw the interaction and quickly chimed in. She hesitated for a second, unsure if Lin Xian had called her companion “Auntie” or if it was just a fast blur of a name that sounded like it. After all, the beautiful older woman standing beside her didn’t look a day over twenty-six or twenty-seven. Playing it safe, the assistant chose a universally flattering title and said enthusiastically to Lin Xian, “Your sister’s absolutely right—it’s been a while since I’ve seen someone with such a great figure. Everything looks amazing on you. And you know, everything is discounted right now—some items even have extra markdowns—so it’s actually a great time to buy more.”

But Lin Xian wasn’t listening to a single word she said. She was gazing at Xiao Wanqing’s soft, graceful face, grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, she leaned in playfully and teased her, “I don’t care. Sister Xiao…” She deliberately stretched out the word “sister,” her voice sticky-sweet. “I want you to really help me pick out the best outfit.”

Xiao Wanqing hadn’t been paying much attention to what the sales assistant called her, but now, hearing Lin Xian call her “Sister” in such a coy, ambiguous tone—it caught her off guard. Her ears flushed ever so slightly with heat. When they’d first met, Lin Xian had joked she could only call her “sister,” and she hadn’t taken it seriously. Other people had teased her about it too, but she’d always brushed it off. Now, for the first time, she actually found herself thinking about that title—Sister—and how it felt coming from Lin Xian’s lips. The word brushed past her ear like a spell, and somehow… it lingered deep in her heart.

Lin Xian was still clinging to her arm, sweetly whining, “Sister Xiao, pleeaase? Pretty please, Sister Xiao…”

For a split second, as Xiao Wanqing looked down at Lin Xian, it felt like something had shifted. The girl calling her “sister” now somehow seemed different—she couldn’t quite explain how.

If Lin Xian really were calling her “sister”… If Lin Xian were actually of the same generation as her…

But something in her subconscious must’ve instinctively rejected the danger of that thought, because before it could go any further, she quickly gathered her composure. There’s no such thing as “what if” in life. What am I even thinking?With a helpless sigh, she lightly flicked Lin Xian’s smooth forehead and mock-scolded, “You little rascal—no manners at all, taking advantage of me. You’re supposed to call me Auntie.”

And with that one word—Auntie—all the muddled feelings in Xiao Wanqing’s heart seemed to instantly calm down. Her mind cleared, and peace returned.

Zhou Qin is so lucky to have such a sweet and clever daughter.

Xiao Wanqing reached out to ruffle Lin Xian’s head as she continued to pout and act spoiled, her heart full of gentle affection.