Chapter 56 Anonymous Gift: The deliveryman dropped off the item and ran away...

The next morning, Lin Yuwei, with heavy dark circles under her eyes and still throbbing temples, walked unsteadily to her parking space. Still hungover, and tossed and turned all night by Gu Qingyan's words and his kiss that almost sucked her soul away, all she wanted to do was get into her car as soon as possible and find a moment of security in that small, enclosed space.

However, when her gaze fell on the hood of the car, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her sleepiness and fatigue instantly vanishing by half.

An elegant kraft paper bag, like an uninvited secret, quietly appeared on the hood of her car.

The bag was slightly open, revealing the familiar logo "Tim Ho Wan" inside. It was her favorite Cantonese dim sum restaurant during her university days, a place she was almost obsessed with. Every few days, she would pester Gu Qingyan to get up early and queue up in that long line, just for a bite of hot shrimp dumplings and siu mai.

Almost instinctively, she pulled the bag open. Inside the transparent takeout box, the crystal-clear shrimp dumplings and plump shumai were clearly visible, still emitting wisps of warm white steam. It was obvious that they had just been bought and delivered at the perfect time.

Therefore, without needing any signature or even a second of thought, Lin Yuwei instantly understood who the breakfast came from.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Gu Qingyan's actions to be so swift, direct, and... so precise, hitting her right where it hurt. He had even anticipated that she might refuse, so he used this method that left no room for refusal and made it impossible to refuse on the spot—he wasn't even there.

She looked around nervously, like a thief, scanning every corner of the parking lot and behind the pillars, but she couldn't find Gu Qingyan at all. He was like a ghost who had dropped this disturbing bomb and then disappeared without a trace.

Should I throw it away? The thought flashed through my mind, but there were no trash cans in the garage, and it would be more convenient to take it to the office to dispose of it...

Finally, driven by a complex and indescribable feeling, mixed with a touch of nostalgia, a touch of panic, and a hint of annoyance at having her thoughts exposed, she quickly picked up the still-warm paper bag and shoved it into the passenger seat.

Along the way, the aroma of food and the shadow of Gu Qingyan disturbed Lin Yuwei's mind.

Lin Yuwei drove to the open-air parking lot in front of the Shiguang Studio building. After parking, she took a deep breath, resignedly picked up the brown paper bag, and got out of the car.

Almost simultaneously, Zhou Xubai's car smoothly pulled up to the parking space next to her. He rolled down the window, revealing a warm and gentle smile in the morning sunlight. He reached out to her, holding a very high-end, exquisite insulated bag.

"Good morning, Weiwei." Zhou Xubai's voice was gentle and considerate, carrying a reassuring warmth: "I brought you 'Miyue' oatmeal cheese buns and a hot latte. You said you really liked this flavor last time..."

However, before he could finish speaking, his eyes had already keenly caught sight of the completely different-looking kraft paper bag in her hand, which she hadn't had time to get rid of yet, and the conspicuous "Tim Ho Wan" logo on the bag, which had a down-to-earth, everyday feel to it.

Zhou Xubai's gentle smile paused almost imperceptibly, a faint hint of surprise flashing across his clear eyes.

"Huh?" Zhou Xubai's tone remained relaxed, as if it were just a casual remark, trying to hide the momentary awkwardness: "Why did you buy your own breakfast today? And it's 'Tim Ho Wan'! I remember that store is near Mingchuan University, and there are always long lines early in the morning. It's also far from your house..."

Lin Yuwei's heart skipped a beat, like a child caught red-handed. A look of sudden panic flashed across her face. She subconsciously hid the brown paper bag behind her back, her voice involuntarily becoming a little weak, her eyes darting around and not daring to look him in the eye: "Ah... um, I just... I got up early today and really wanted to eat it, so I went around to buy it."

“So…” His voice remained gentle, but a hint of barely perceptible sadness crept in: “You already have a breakfast you want to eat more.” The breakfast that Zhou Xubai brought, ‘Miyue’, is from the most upscale members-only bakery in Mingchuan City, and requires advance reservations. Because of his abruptness last night, he had specially asked a friend to buy this pastry this morning, intending to make up for it, but it seems he was a step too late.

His tone held no doubt, only a sincere regret, as if he were simply disappointed that his carefully prepared gesture had not been put to use. But to Lin Yuwei, it was like a fine needle, gently pricking the unease and guilt that arose in her heart from lying.

She almost immediately realized that her rejection last night and her current behavior might lead to a misunderstanding; Zhou Xubai might think that she no longer needed his care and affection.

"No!" Lin Yuwei quickly said, her voice rising slightly with urgency. She swiftly reached out and took the exquisite insulated bag he offered. The bag was heavy and exuded just the right amount of warmth, a stark contrast to the kraft paper bag in her hand that was gradually cooling down.

She clutched both bags tightly to her chest, forcing a grateful and cheerful smile as she looked at him. "I was just a little hungry. The portions at 'Tien Ho Wan' weren't very big, and besides, I really love the 'Mi Yue' oat cheese bread. Thank you, Xu Bai, you're always so thoughtful." She deliberately made her tone lively, trying to dispel the brief awkwardness from before.

Looking at her slightly hurried movements and the forced smile on her face, Zhou Xubai's disappointment faded slightly, and the gentle curve of his lips returned. He seemed to accept the explanation, or rather, he chose to accept it.

“I’m glad you like it.” He said softly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. “Then let’s go upstairs. It’s chilly in the morning, so don’t stand for too long.”

His gaze inadvertently swept over the "Tim Ho Wan" logo again—that store was so close to Mingchuan University, Mingchuan University… A blurry figure uncontrollably rushed into his mind. He frowned sharply, shook his head vigorously, and tried to shake off this absurd association.

He and Vivi are already engaged.

Gu Qingyan... can't he only think of snatching it now?

Lin Yuwei walked ahead silently.

Zhou Xubai followed half a step behind her, also without saying a word. She couldn't see his expression at that moment, but could only hear the clear yet muffled footsteps between the two, which sounded particularly abrupt in the empty parking lot.

An invisible, cold sense of distance quietly spread between them, leaving her feeling somewhat helpless. Just yesterday, they had completed that beautiful engagement ceremony with the help of relatives and friends, but overnight, the dazzling lights and tenderness seemed to have suddenly faded.

At this moment, the short distance from the parking lot to the elevator seemed to be separated by an invisible chasm, silently pulling the two apart.

This inexplicable sense of alienation, mixed with her guilt about the source of the "Tim Ho Wan" breakfast, made Lin Yuwei flustered. A strong sense of compensation drove her to turn around, and she almost blurted out, "'Tim Ho Wan' breakfast is delicious...why don't we eat together? You seem to...rarely eat the food from these small street stalls? It's a bit cold, but it should be fine after being microwaved." Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a hint of barely perceptible probing and expectation, as if inviting him to share this "secret" would alleviate some of her guilt.

Zhou Xubai, who was lost in thought, was clearly not expected to receive such an invitation. He was slightly taken aback, but when he saw the cautious expectation in her eyes, the lingering disappointment in his heart and the absurd association that had just flashed through his mind were instantly washed away by this gentle wave.

Zhou Xubai's smile finally became genuine and warm, as if the spring breeze had completely melted the last bit of ice. He took a half step quicker to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lin Yuwei, reached out, and very naturally tucked a strand of hair that had been blown by the wind behind her ear, his fingertips warm.

“Okay,” his voice was deep and gentle, full of acceptance and indulgence: “I’ve never tried it before. I heard it has always been at the top of the list of popular snacks in Mingchuan City? Let’s try it and see what makes it so delicious that our Weiwei is willing to get up so early to queue up.”

However, Lin Yuwei soon realized that the "Tian Hao Yun" breakfast from Gu Qingyan was just the first note of a long prelude. Soon, anonymous gifts began to infiltrate her life in various ways.

It started around two or three in the afternoon when her assistant, Xiao Li, walked in carrying a cup of milk tea labeled "Ms. Lin," her tone light and cheerful: "Sister Weiwei, your milk tea delivery was just signed for at the front desk." Lin Yuwei looked up from the pile of design drafts, frowned, and confirmed that she hadn't ordered milk tea at all.

She reached out and took the milk tea, noticing the note "50% sugar." She immediately knew it was Gu Qingyan who had ordered it, as Gu Qingyan loved sweets but was afraid of gaining weight, and 50% sugar was a compromise. Only Gu Qingyan truly understood her habits. Thinking of this, Lin Yuwei gently placed the milk tea back on the corner of the table and calmly said to Xiao Li, "Tell the front desk that from now on, any takeout orders without my personal confirmation will be refused."

The next afternoon at the same time, Assistant Li came in again with an exquisite macaron gift box, her face showing a hint of helplessness: "Sister Weiwei, the front desk said... that deliveryman put down the package and ran away, and we couldn't catch him at all, so we still couldn't refuse him."

Lin Yuwei didn't even lift her gaze from the blueprints, simply replying, "Take it and share it with the others in the office."

It wasn't until late at night that Lin Yuwei finished working overtime and dragged her tired steps back to her apartment. Just as she was about to open the door, she paused slightly. A beautifully wrapped bouquet of flowers was quietly leaning against her door.

The delicate champagne roses and tulips are arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern, adorned with a few fresh emerald beads. The color scheme is gentle and sophisticated, and every detail reveals an excellent taste. There is no card, no signature, only a faint fragrance that permeates the air.

She bent down to pick up the bouquet, her fingertips touching the delicate wrapping paper. A slight flutter of emotion swept through her heart. The person who sent the flowers seemed to understand her aesthetic very well, even matching her favorite flowers and colors perfectly, with a confident and considerate familiarity.

Lin Yuwei reported the situation to the property management. The surveillance footage showed that the person who delivered the bouquet of flowers was a deliveryman wearing a uniform from a certain platform. However, the brim of his hat was pulled down very low. After ringing the doorbell and receiving no answer, he carefully placed the bouquet in the designated spot by the door according to the order requirements and then left in a hurry. There was nothing unusual about the whole process.

Although there were no words, the perfect coordination in the precise delivery and the exquisite aesthetics of the bouquets made Lin Yuwei linger for a few more glances. In the end, however, she gently placed them in the public trash can, as if putting away a secret that should not continue.