Chapter 40 Gift

It's ridiculous. Pu Zhihe would rather believe that he made it up than believe that Xiaomai said it.

"Who said I broke up? We have to get the marriage certificate next week." Pu Zhihe said and looked at him regretfully.

Jonny was a little disappointed. "Congratulations, that brat Xiaomai is talking nonsense. Sigh, it seems I can only find a place to be sad alone."

After the opening ceremony, Hang Liumei was invited to a dinner, and Xiaomai's family decided to go out for dinner. Pu Zhihe insisted on not joining them and said, "Don't bother them. I'm in a hurry to go buy something."

She didn't lie, she wanted to give Xiaomai a return gift.

Pu Zhihe was secretly surprised when Xiaomai took out the hairpin, but she had to pretend that she didn't care, and it would be better if she made a joke to cover up the romantic meaning of the gift.

Pu Zhihe walked alone on the cobblestone sidewalk, the setting sun behind her. She stared at the falling hair in the shadows before her, reaching out to remove the hairpin from her head. It was a simple, bare-bones hairpin, with a crude hollow carving on the tip, resembling the cloud patterns in ancient paintings. Her name was inscribed in a discreet spot.

The 19-year-old boy's feelings were stubborn and resolute, and Pu Zhihe sensed this, but instinctively knew she couldn't reciprocate. Unwittingly accepting someone's love, then foolishly entering into an intimate relationship—a trial-and-error opportunity meant for those who only dabble in love—she had already used it up, and ended it herself.

So she consciously treated him seriously, but Xiaomai continued to act as she pleased. Pu Zhihe wondered if she had given him any inappropriate hints, but it was clear she hadn't. Xiaomai was simply too young, mistaking novelty for affection.

It seemed they had been together for too long, Pu Zhihe thought, and they should find a time to end it.

When Pu Zhihe handed Xiaomai the packaged return gift when they met in the evening, he took off his headphones and refused: "Sister Zhihe, that hairpin is not expensive, you really don't need to return it to me."

"Open it and take a look first." Pu Zhihe sat down opposite Xiaomai and helped him untie the outermost ribbon.

"Helmet?" Xiaomai took it out and tried it on her head. It seemed fine. "But I don't think I'll be able to use it much."

"This is for riding a bicycle," Pu Zhihe added, seeing that Xiaomai still didn't understand. "You should learn how to ride a bicycle. It's a skill after all, and you might find it useful in the future."

Xiaomai looked at her and asked, "Then are you willing to teach me?"

"Me?" she asked back, "Your father studies cars. Didn't he take you to play with him when you were little?"

"It's the psychological scar he left on me. He and my mom were teaching me to ride a bike in the garden downstairs. At first, my dad was holding the back seat from behind. I was pedaling and heard their voices far away. I turned around and saw my dad stealing cherries from the tree while my mom was carrying him on his back. I didn't know how to brake, so I just kept pedaling. The security guard ran over to tell them to get off, but I was so worried that I ended up falling into the fountain. The yard was full of people at the time, and the neighbors were either trying to rescue me or watching my parents' fun. Later, we felt embarrassed to practice in the yard, so we missed the opportunity and have been putting it off until now."

Pu Zhihe suppressed her laughter and asked, "How old were you then?"

"Third grade. Not only did he never learn to ride a bike, but after this incident he's also afraid of water and hasn't learned to swim."

Pu Zhihe couldn't hold it in any longer. This was the first time she had truly laughed out loud since breaking up with Zhu Fu. She moved the gift box aside and asked him in a serious tone, "I heard you told everyone I broke up with you?"

"Who told you that? Sister Zhihe, I swear I haven't told anyone," Xiaomai said anxiously. "Was it Jonny? He wanted to date you and asked me about it at the exhibition today, but I didn't say anything."

"I know——" It was just a joke, and Pu Zhihe was interrupted by Xiaomai before she could finish her words.

"I admit that I feel that Brother Zhufu is not worthy of you, and the same goes for Jonny. I want you to be happy, so I won't disregard your feelings like him."

Xiaomai's expression was too serious. Seeing that he was a little nervous, she adjusted her sitting position and spoke to him in a relaxed tone: "Did Teacher Hang say the same thing? So you all think Zhu Fu is not good. Then let me tell you about the boy I had a crush on in high school before him. He was the top student in our class, good at studying and had a good personality, but I didn't pay much attention to him at first."

"I wasn't good at physics, so the teacher made him my deskmate. I started by asking him questions about homework, and after we got to know each other, we started chatting a lot. Then I discovered he wasn't just a bookworm. He'd secretly read novels during class, climb over the wall to buy snacks during physical education, and tell his parents after school that he was studying, but he was actually playing basketball. You see, rebellious people are very attractive at that age."

"Before the class division in my freshman year of high school, he went on stage at the New Year's Eve party and played guitar and sang an English song. I thought it was so cool, and I thought I had fallen in love with him, but I didn't confess until the end."

"After I went to college, he wasn't so special anymore. I developed my own hobby, which was studying murals. Although I haven't seen as many movies as he has, he hasn't been to as many places as I have. He was just one step ahead of us, with a wider range of knowledge and a deeper understanding. Then I realized that when we are young, we tend to involuntarily put a halo on some people, but mistake it for love. As we grow up, the halo will automatically disappear, and the obsession left behind is the ignorant feeling of being moved at the time, not the specific person."

"That's why I let him go and was with Zhu Fu, who was completely different. Although it took a lot of time to prove that we were not suitable, love is blind. Now we have gone our separate ways. Xiaomai, no matter if the person you meet is more knowledgeable about film, literature, or art philosophy, you must recognize the illusion of a momentary aura and don't confuse it with true love."

Xiaomai remained silent. Pu Zhihe stood up and patted his shoulder: "I'm going to rest now. You should go to bed early too. When you return to school one day, ask your classmates to teach you how to ride a bike."

"Are you absolutely sure that you didn't like that boy at all at that time?" Xiaomai asked behind her.

"A little bit of the excitement is real, and the rest is self-hypnosis." Pu Zhihe said and went back to the room to sleep.

The next day, only Hang Liumei was at home. She said that Xiaomai had returned to school to review intensively for the final exam. After Xiaomai finished her last exam and had a holiday, they would set off for Hong Kong.

It seemed that he understood what he said last night. Pu Zhihe thought that it would be better for everyone if everything became simpler.

Xiaomai was alone on the playground, shooting hoops. After that night, he began to avoid Pu Zhihe. Her stories disturbed him. He fled to school and opened his textbooks, but his mind was full of thoughts about why he liked Pu Zhihe. Was it because she was beautiful, because she was interesting, or because of her analysis - she had matured before him.

If that was the case, his superficial liking was indeed a disturbance, and he was no different from Zhu Fu.

But Xiaomai felt that he was not like that, but could not find a definite answer to this question.

His roommates noticed that he was a completely different person from before. Xiaomai was a bit of a fool, and no one could tell him the reason. Everyone guessed that he had been heartbroken, and no one mentioned the senior who had waited for him on the basketball court in front of him.

As the day of departure approached, Xiaomai also solved the first step of the problem and returned home.

The four of us flew directly to Hong Kong and headed straight to Tsim Sha Tsui. The subtropical monsoon's dampness washed over us, and the restaurant's air conditioning was cranked up to full blast. Wrapped in a thin scarf, Hang Liumei enthusiastically enjoyed baked pork chop with red tomato, fish ball flatbread, and fragrant curry beef brisket, feeling like she was in a TVB drama.

As she ate, she noticed the other three seemed preoccupied. "Why are you all here? I'm an old lady, and I'm not even tired after such a long flight, but you're all wilting now? They say Hong Kong is a shopping paradise. Let's go shopping after we finish eating. Jiang Yunyi, it's your turn. You have to give your wife a gift." Hang Liumei said, cutting another slice of butter pig.

After dinner, we headed to Harbour City. The bustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island was an unmistakable whirlwind of life, drawing us down to earth and allowing us to conceal any remaining hesitation and timidity amidst the throngs of people. Now was the time to immerse ourselves in the dazzling displays, leaving everything else for after closing time. Fortunately, Hong Kong never sleeps.

What should I get Mai Sui? Clothes and shoes—the four of them disagreed, each believing they understood Mai Sui's aesthetic. The makeup wasn't unique enough, and the skincare products were all the same. Mai's father suggested jewelry, so he leaned over the counter to look. Hang Liumei favored a pair of emerald-cut diamond earrings, while Mai's father opted for a wide, brushed diamond ring. Neither mother nor son could convince the other.

Pu Zhihe had to walk to the other side with Xiaomai.

"Wouldn't you like to help me with some advice?" she asked. This was the first time they had spoken alone since that night.

"I don't think my mother would like it. But I can't imagine what she would like."

"Then think about what she needs, what she can use at work without making mistakes." Pu Zhihe tapped the counter with her fingers twice. "Let's go, I got it."

She suggested that Dad give him a watch, and they finally hit it off. If they were to buy a watch, the range of options was vast. Nothing too entry-level or too expensive would do. He personally selected a small, square, diamond-studded watch and beckoned to his son, "Xiaomi, give me my wallet. I'll use the card. Come and see if you like what I've chosen for your mom."

Xiaomai unzipped her schoolbag and handed the card to her father as she walked, not noticing that a folded piece of paper fell out.

Hang Liumei saw it from the side, walked over, picked it up, and unfolded it. It was Xiaomai's handwriting. The content shocked her. This kid actually wrote love letters secretly! Then she glanced at the address at the beginning - "Sister Zhihe"!

Hang Liumei knew she shouldn't continue peeking, but who could resist? Feeling guilty, she pressed the paper to her chest and glanced at the father and son chatting and Pu Zhihe trying on a watch on the other side. After making sure no one was paying attention, she turned her back and read the letter from beginning to end.

After reading it, Hang Liumei carefully folded it back up, following the original creases, and held it in her hands, feeling a mixture of emotions. It seemed Xiaomai was serious, and she, as his grandmother, hadn't noticed. Although he'd hated writing essays as a child, this one was very moving. Hang Liumei felt that her grandson's ability to be honest with his feelings was a sign of her having done a good job raising him.

After paying the bill, Xiaomai turned back to look for the things he dropped. Hang Liumei pretended not to know and handed him the letter: "I just found this. Was it you who dropped it? Is this the invoice? You must keep it safe." Xiaomai nodded and put it back in his bag in a panic.

Hang Liumei walked at the end, watching the two men standing side by side from behind. After learning this secret, she couldn't help but put them in the shoes of the male and female protagonists in a romantic drama. Should a ten-year age difference be a problem?

Forget it, it’s too early to ask. Judging from what was written in the love letter, the situation is not that optimistic.

Hang Liumei sighed inwardly, wondering why both father and son had such a bumpy relationship. The number of people with heavy hearts went from three to four.