Chapter 51.51 Giving a Gift
He Peiru finally managed to get everyone into the elevator and leave.
The hustle and bustle that had filled the room not long ago seemed like a dream, and now it had returned to its original tranquility.
Returning indoors, she saw that Sophia had already come out of her room and started tidying up the dining room, so she simply went out onto the balcony.
You can see the view of Victoria Harbour without leaving home, and because there are several buildings around, the sea breeze blowing in your face is not as strong as you might imagine, bringing you endless comfort.
He Peiru's life is now surrounded by countless wonderful things, but there is one thing that keeps her troubled.
Finally, she found an opportunity to give Gu Zhaoqian the gift.
For her, this was already a big step forward.
However, when she had the chance to face Gu Zhaoqian's reaction directly, she didn't have the courage to look up and observe. In the end, she simply stopped him from opening the gift there.
However, He Peiru dared not say whether this approach was appropriate.
-
The first thing Gu Zhaoqian did after returning to the car was to pick up the gift box he was holding tightly and examine it carefully.
The dim light reflected the subtle pattern of the brand logo on the box, confirming it was indeed the brand he frequently used.
He was surprised to receive a gift from He Peiru so suddenly that he couldn't immediately guess what she would give him.
Instead of getting hung up on this, why not take it apart and see what's inside? The answer is right there in front of you anyway.
So Gu Zhaoqian didn't hesitate to loosen the bow on top.
Upon picking up the lid, a pair of sapphire cufflinks immediately caught his eye.
Compared to his usual style, it's less dull and quite suits his taste.
He could sense that He Peiru had carefully chosen this gift.
Gu Zhaoqian couldn't help but smile.
It was worth it that he kicked Cui Haonian out right before the end.
If Cui Haonian refuses to leave and insists on waiting for him to leave together, even if He Peiru remembers to give him a gift, she may not necessarily take it out in front of other people.
He never imagined that He Peiru would secretly prepare these things for her.
He smiled and took a picture of the cufflinks, then sent it to Cui Haonian.
Gu Zhaoqian: [You know why I kicked you out, right?]
Cui Haonian was well aware that Gu Zhaoqian was a gentleman, and moreover, the relationship between the Gu family and the Jiang family was evident. When he left, he assumed that Gu Zhaoqian and He Peiru were talking about things they didn't want him to hear.
Cui Haonian: [Did Aru give it to you?]
Cui Haonian: [She has a good eye for gifts; no wonder you're so proud of yourself.]
In the end, he couldn't help but tease Gu Zhaoqian, saying that his brother was still too cautious in his treatment of He Peiru.
Cui Haonian had witnessed the effort Gu Zhaoqian had put into He Peiru's affairs. Although he was unclear about Gu Zhaoqian's intentions, he knew that Gu Zhaoqian was sincere towards He Peiru.
It's rare to see him so serious and attentive.
Moreover, the two families are evenly matched, and even from the perspective of the elders on both sides, there is simply no way to find fault with them.
Cui Haonian was naturally very happy to see them together.
Gu Zhaoqian had intended to leave it at that when he sent these messages to Cui Haonian, but after seeing the reply, he didn't say anything more. Instead, he repeatedly opened and exited his chat with He Peiru.
Countless people are always looking for all sorts of reasons and trying to give him different gifts.
She wanted to curry favor with him in this way, or perhaps she was trying to get closer to Gu Zhaoqian through this method.
Secondly, for close friends, even if they have some considerations, they will usually try to choose expensive gifts, and rarely do they consider things as meticulously as He Peiru.
Nowadays, the monetary value of a gift has become secondary; what truly matters is the countless sentiments it carries.
More importantly, it was a gift from He Peiru that he received separately, but unfortunately, he was dressed casually today and couldn't try on the cufflinks immediately.
The advantage is that he can save it for a more formal occasion.
After thinking it over, he finally typed a line of text on the screen.
Gu Zhaoqian: [This time it's my turn to tell you that I really like your gift.]
He Peiru: [That's great, I'm glad you like it!]
Gu Zhaoqian recalled that every time he finished saying something similar, He Peiru would continue with a series of other things.
But before he could continue, a new message popped up on the screen.
Ho Pui-yu: [Have you already returned to Repulse Bay?]
The man seemed to remember something only after she asked him a question, and then started the car while replying.
Gu Zhaoqian: [We've arrived.]
He glanced down at the time on his phone screen.
The drive from the mansion back to Repulse Bay, even at its slowest pace, takes at least half an hour. The time he spent texting and looking at those cufflinks in the car suggests it had indeed taken quite a while.
It had been long enough for Ho Pui-yu to believe that he had returned to Repulse Bay.
Gu Zhaoqian smiled helplessly, finally put down his phone, stepped on the gas, and drove out of the Mountain Mansion.
-
After receiving Gu Zhaoqian's message, He Peiru unconsciously gripped her phone tightly.
When she was choosing a gift, she was thinking of selecting an accessory that would suit him. She planned to judge his attitude from the messages he sent, but the text on the screen still put her at ease.
At that moment, a message popped up from Simon, the butler of the Mountain Mansion.
Simon: [Good evening, Ms. He. All the guests who visited today have departed safely.]
She's only sending her a message now, but more than twenty minutes have passed since Gu Zhaoqian last left.
He Peiru suddenly felt uncertain.
He Peiru: [Did they all just leave?]
Simon: [Yes, it was Mr. Gu Zhaoqian who left last.]
Simon wouldn't normally discuss these matters with the homeowners, but He Peiru specifically instructed him to do so.
He Peiru: [Okay, thank you.]
She then stepped onto the balcony, but the steel forest blocked the street, and being on a high floor made it impossible for her to see the cars on the bustling streets.
Without hesitation, she sent a message directly to the person involved.
He Peiru: [Did you just leave the mansion?]
This time, Gu Zhaoqian did not reply quickly.
About twenty minutes later, the phone beeped again.
Gu Zhaoqian: [I thought I hid it well, but I didn't expect you to find it.]
A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips as she tried to press for more information.
He Peiru: [What's wrong?]
Gu Zhaoqian: [Admiring the gifts in the underground parking garage, I didn't notice the time.]
He didn't hide it from him.
He Peiru: [At first I was worried you wouldn't like this gift, and if it really wasn't suitable, I planned to choose something else next time...]
Gu Zhaoqian: [I like it very much.]
Gu Zhaoqian: [But what I'm more curious about is, what are you planning to send me next time?]
He Peiru touched her nose with some annoyance.
She inadvertently revealed her plans, but quickly regained her composure.
Ho Pui-ju: [I only said if there's a next time, but I didn't say definitely...]
Gu Zhaoqian: [It doesn't matter when, I've remembered.]
She has undoubtedly dug another hole for herself.
Gu Zhaoqian: [Leave the rest to Sophia. Don't worry about what others think at the Mountain Mansion; your own comfort is the most important thing.]
He Peiru: [Okay.]
She had initially worried that she might not feel comfortable on her first night at the mansion. But now, seeing Gu Zhaoqian's measured concern, she didn't feel that he was overstepping any boundaries.
He Peiru: [So...you're really home now, right?]
Gu Zhaoqian: [Really.]
He Peiru: [Okay.]
He did not reply.
He Peiru glanced back at the television still playing.
During a late-night financial news segment, a guest discussed the impact of the horse racing season on economic benefits. She suddenly remembered that Gu Zhaoqian had mentioned taking her to the Happy Valley Racecourse.
But she didn't intend to ask any more questions, as there was only a little over a month left before she left the country.
The future is uncertain, but the only certainty is that there will be enough time for her to decorate the mountain mansion.
He Peiru believes she is quite adaptable, and with Sophia's meticulous care, she feels much more at ease whether she is resting or doing other things.
-
The following night.
While browsing through documents from the UK at the Shan Mansion, He Peiru saw that Fang Xiaoxin had posted a photo in their small group chat of three.
Fang Xiaoxin: [@Aru, you've already sent Gu Zhaoqian the gift!?]
Fang Xiaoxin: [These cufflinks look so familiar, aren't they the ones you picked out that day?]
She immediately zoomed in on the photo for a closer look.
He Peiru clearly remembers that when she was choosing them, the sales associate told her that there was only one pair of these cufflinks in the entire Hong Kong and Macau region.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's unique.
Therefore, the item Gu Zhaoqian was wearing could only have been a gift from her.
He Peiru: [Is this tonight's dinner?]
Fang Xiaoxin: [It seems to be a dinner party hosted by the Secretariat.]
Fang Xiaoxin: [I just saw it on social media and sent it to you right away!!]
She made a point of emphasizing this matter, and He Peiru could easily tell how much she valued their relationship.
He Peiru: [So it turns out he really meant it when he said he liked me. I thought he was just saying it...]
Fang Xiaoxin: [You really are! Who would think the worst?]
He Peiru immediately imagined the look of disappointment on her face.
Fang Xiaoxin: [Someone like him would definitely put a lot of thought into his outfit for this type of event, which is why he chose to wear these cufflinks...]
Fang Xiaoxin was telling the truth, and she was just short of revealing the rest.
He Peiru took her phone and walked out onto the balcony.
The summer heat makes people reluctant to go out, and there are fewer ordinary social dinners. Most of the dinners held are business or regional events, which are naturally not suitable for her to attend.
Gu Zhaoqian had never mentioned his plans, so He Peiru's discovery of them in this way was like receiving a surprise from the unexpected.
At this moment, she had indescribable feelings.
Before He Peiru's heart, which had been racing, could calm down, the phone rang abruptly.
It was Gu Zhaoqian.
After the call connected, He Peiru spoke before the other person could speak, saying, "I saw you wearing the cufflinks I gave you tonight."
A man's soft chuckle came from beside her, and he said, "I told you, I really like these cufflinks."
At the same time, she seemed to truly feel the heat of the island, subconsciously attributing it to the sea breeze blowing from Victoria Harbour.
She pushed open the balcony door and instantly felt the heat on her body mingling with the cool air inside, yet it seemed to linger for a long time.
He Peiru mustered her courage, never expecting that she and the man would speak at the same time.
"Back to Repulse Bay..."
"The weather forecast for the next few days..."
The two stopped again in tacit agreement.
In her memory, something similar had happened not long ago.
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