Chapter 36 Winning the Prize

"It does look nice," Yu Ling said, trying to sound casual. She turned around in front of the mirror again, her fingertips lingeringly tracing the delicate embroidery on the hem. Finally, she shook her head, her tone filled with self-conviction and carefreeness. "It just feels... not suitable for everyday wear. It's too formal. If I buy it, I'll probably just keep it in the bottom of the closet. What a waste."

After she finished speaking, she didn't dare to look Zhao Chen in the eye again. She turned around and walked quickly back to the fitting room, her movements even having a hint of fleeing.

A trace of regret flashed across the salesperson's face, but her professionalism allowed her to maintain a decent smile.

Zhao Chen stood there, his gaze following Yu Ling's disappearance behind the fitting room door, then slowly shifting back to the large floor-length mirror. The mirror still seemed to capture the fleeting image of her stunning figure in "Whisper of the Galaxy."

He clenched his hands into fists in his trouser pockets, then slowly loosened them. Complex emotions surged in his deep eyes - surprise, pity, and a strong unwillingness and unquestionable determination to see his beloved things blocked by reality.

"That skirt you wore just now actually looks really good on you." Zhao Chen spoke casually in a gentle voice as he walked out of the store and merged into the crowd in the mall.

Yu Ling tightened her grip on his arm and smiled with feigned indifference: "It does look good, but as you heard, it's a limited edition high-end model, ridiculously expensive! And the shopping guide is right, I really can't wear it many times in my daily life, the price-performance ratio is too low. Forget it, let's look at something else." She tried hard to suppress the regret in her heart and pulled Zhao Chen to a fast-fashion brand store next door with a younger and more lively style.

For the next few minutes, Yu Ling enthusiastically tried on several pieces of clothing in the store, as if to prove her uninhibited style. There were brightly colored sweaters, playful A-line skirts, and a simple floral dress. With each piece she tried, she would turn around in front of Zhao Chen and ask him with a smile, "How about this one?"

"nice."

"good."

"It suits you very well."

Zhao Chen's responses were as gentle and patient as ever, punctuated by an encouraging smile. He offered careful evaluations, even offering pertinent suggestions when she struggled with color. His performance was impeccable, like a husband who cared deeply and respected his wife's choices.

Yet, only Zhao Chen himself knew that there was a subtle absent-mindedness hidden deep in his eyes. No matter which dress Yu Ling wore, the image that kept flashing through his mind was still that deep navy blue, that flowing silver glow, and the breathtaking, coronation-like nobility and radiance she exuded when she wore it.

Those colorful, playful and cute clothes looked good on her, but they were like pearls covered with dust and could not be compared with the shock brought by "Whisper of the Galaxy".

His Lingling deserved the best. She deserved the unique starlight. She shouldn't seek comfort in these "substitutes."

Seeing Yu Ling finally buy an affordable off-white knitted cardigan, a satisfied yet melancholic smile on her face, Zhao Chen felt like his heart was being pricked by fine needles. He maintained a gentle smile, took the shopping bag naturally, and put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you tired? Let's go get a drink?"

"Okay." Yu Ling nodded and leaned against him. Her regret about the expensive dress seemed to be somewhat diluted by his thoughtfulness. However, the shadow of the dark blue galaxy was like a brand, deeply engraved in her heart.

The next evening.

Yu Ling returned to her apartment after work. As soon as she opened the door, she heard the familiar clatter of spatulas and the alluring aroma of cooking coming from the kitchen. She changed into slippers, and the warm, homey air seemed to dispel much of her fatigue.

"Are you back?" Zhao Chen, wearing a small whale-shaped apron, poked his head out of the kitchen with a warm smile on his face. "Wash your hands and get ready for dinner. Today we have your favorite braised shrimp."

"It smells so good!" Yu Ling put down her bag and walked towards the kitchen happily, wanting to see what the dishes would be for tonight.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Puzzled, Yu Ling turned to open the door. Standing outside was a smiling young man in a shopping mall uniform, holding a large gift box tied with a golden ribbon bow. Next to him was a middle-aged man in a suit who looked like a manager.

"Hello, are you Ms. Yu Ling?" the young man asked politely.

"I am, who are you?" Yu Ling was a little confused.

"Congratulations, Ms. Yu!" The manager-like man stepped forward, his face filled with an enthusiastic, even exaggerated, smile. "We're from Hongyuan Tiandi Shopping Center! You entered our 'Tenth Anniversary Celebration - Gratitude and Return' raffle yesterday afternoon and were incredibly lucky to win our one and only grand prize! We've come all the way here to deliver your prize to you!"

A lottery? A special prize? Yu Ling was completely stunned. She had gone to Hongyuan Tiandi yesterday, but when had she entered the lottery? How could she have no recollection of it?

Zhao Chen heard the noise and came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands. His face was filled with just the right amount of surprise and curiosity. "Lottery? Lingling, you secretly went to the lottery yesterday?"

"I...I don't have any?" Yu Ling looked at Zhao Chen blankly, then glanced at the two smiling staff members at the door. "I haven't filled out any lottery tickets?"

"Oh! That's right!" The manager immediately explained with a smile, his tone conveying the understanding that "you were so excited about winning that you forgot." "Our lottery this time is automatically entered by the system! As long as you make any purchase in the mall during the event, that is, between 2:00 and 5:00 pm yesterday, regardless of the amount, the receipt information of the successful payment will be automatically entered into our lottery system!

You ordered a tiramisu at the Champs Elysees dessert shop on the first floor of Area A of our mall yesterday afternoon. You paid at 3:17, right? This receipt is your lucky draw voucher!"

Yu Ling remembered! Yesterday, she and Zhao Chen were tired from shopping and had indeed stopped at the famous dessert shop on the first floor of the mall to rest. Zhao Chen had ordered her a tiramisu! She had been surprised at the time why he only ordered one, while he himself only had a cup of coffee. So this was the reason?!

She suddenly looked at Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen's expression of surprise was perfectly controlled, his eyes filled with a sudden realization of "so that's how it is", and even a hint of joy for her:

"Oh! Yes! That's right! Lingling, you were replying to a work message at the time, and I was the one who paid for the bill! So that's how you can enter the lottery? You're so lucky?"

The manager nodded repeatedly, his smile growing even brighter. "That's right! Mr. Zhao has a great memory! Ms. Yu, you're so lucky! Our special prize this time is incredibly generous!" He gestured for the young man next to him to bring the enormous gift box forward, his voice rising a few notches with the excitement of announcing great news.

"Congratulations! You've won the grand prize—a 'Whisper of the Galaxy' high-end limited edition dress valued at RMB 1.28 million, provided by our Hongyuan Tiandi Shopping Center!"

And a blue diamond star brooch, a themed accessory valued at NT$580,000, provided by our partner jewelry brand, Starlight! The total value is NT$1.86 million! Congratulations to Ms. Yu for being the lucky winner of our Hongyuan Tiandi 10th Anniversary Celebration!

The manager's words were like thunder from a clear sky, blasting loudly in Yu Ling's ears!

Whisper of the Galaxy! Blue Diamond Star Brooch!

It was the same dress she'd fallen in love with yesterday, but had been put off by the price! And that… brooch, displayed in a glass case next to the dress, a starburst brooch surrounded by tiny diamonds and a central diamond, that she'd only briefly glanced at.

The young man respectfully presented the enormous gift box with both hands. Through the translucent packaging, Yu Ling could even see the familiar, deep navy blue velvet sheen inside!

She froze in place, her mind blank, as if stunned by this enormous, absurd "surprise." Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, the thump-thump-thump sound numbing her eardrums! One million eight hundred and sixty thousand?! Grand prize?! Automatic entry?! Buy a tiramisu?!

This coincidence… it was so coincidental it seemed like something out of a fairy tale! It was so coincidental that it made all the blood in her body rush to her head, and a name was about to come out of her confused mind!

She turned her head suddenly and stared at Zhao Chen who was standing beside her.

The expression on Zhao Chen's face was textbook "surprise" and "disbelief." His amber eyes widened, his mouth slightly open as he looked at the enormous gift box, then at the stunned Yu Ling, and finally at the manager. His tone was filled with just the right amount of shock and a hint of pride: "My wife is incredibly lucky!"

"Oh...Oh my God! Is this true?! You just bought a small cake?! Lingling! You...you are so lucky! Hurry! Thank them! Take the thing quickly!" He even excitedly pushed Yu Ling gently to remind her to come back to her senses.

Yu Ling, feeling his push, mechanically reached out and took the heavy gift box, valued at nearly two million yuan. Her fingertips touched the cool packaging, and the real touch gave her a sudden shudder.

"Congratulations! This is your prize redemption confirmation form, please sign for it." The manager handed over the receipt and pen with a smile on his face, "Congratulations again, Ms. Yu! You are so lucky! It is an honor for this dress to find an owner like you! I wish you a happy life!" The two completed the task, congratulated each other warmly again, and then politely said goodbye and left.

The door to the apartment closed softly, shutting out the outside world.

At the entrance, Yu Ling was the only one left, holding the huge gift box like a red-hot iron, frozen in place. Slowly, slowly, she turned her head, her gaze like a sharp searchlight, directed at Zhao Chen, who stood beside her.

The exaggerated "surprise" on Zhao Chen's face had faded, returning to his usual gentle demeanor, even with a hint of a smile. He walked over and naturally reached out to take the gift box from her hand. "Is it heavy? Put it down first. Lingling, you're incredibly lucky! I guess I'll have to take you cake shopping more often from now on!"

Yu Ling, holding the gift box, took a sudden step back, avoiding his hand. Her chest heaved violently, her eyes so sharp they almost pierced Zhao Chen, and her voice trembled slightly with extreme shock and absurdity.

"Zhao Chen..."

Her voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of impending oppression, and she asked word by word:

"you tell me……"

"What the hell is going on?!"