Chapter 59: “Expensive” Watches (I)
The bustling atmosphere of the night market that night, with the aroma of roasted skewers and the furry touch of a cheap teddy bear, lingered in Ling's heart for several days.
The gray sweatshirt on Zhao Chen that was "stained" by the grilled tofu, his stubborn expression with tears in his eyes despite the spiciness, and his warm hands with a light sweat that always held her tightly in the crowd... These rough and vivid images strangely suppressed the chill brought by the photo taken by Stanford Lake.
She even began to actively cooperate with his clingy "encirclement." She no longer passively accepted his morning kisses, but would respond by slightly tiptoeing. After work, as she walked out of the office building and saw his unassuming black car parked punctually in its usual spot, a secret sweetness would swell in her heart. After dinner, he would curl her up on the sofa, his chin resting on the top of her head. She no longer froze, but would even adjust to a more comfortable position, letting him hold her hand while they turned the pages of a book.
The false sense of security brought by the lease contract, which Zhao Chen had "reinforced," seemed to become thick and warm again. Gu Qianqian's bright face and affectionate inscription were carefully locked away in a dusty corner deep in her memory.
It wasn't until Saturday afternoon, when warm sunlight streamed into the living room, that Zhao Chen sat cross-legged on the carpet, a pile of intricate electronic components and circuit boards spread out before him. Slender tweezers flew between his fingers, his expression as focused as if he were carving a work of art.
The leather on the edge of the watch strap on his wrist was quite worn, and the metal case also had many small scratches.
Yu Ling's eyes fell on the old watch, and her heart seemed to be gently hit by something.
He'd been wearing this watch since the day they met. She remembered the watch face reflecting a warm glow under the light when he signed the "non-interference" agreement; she remembered the watch strap getting slightly damp from the steam when he clumsily made her brown sugar ginger tea for the first time; she remembered the scuffed watch strap brushing against his flushed cheeks when he wiped his sweat from the spiciness at the night market...
An ordinary watch that has been with him for a long time. A symbol of Zhao Chen, an "ordinary employee."
A strong urge suddenly surged into Yu Ling's heart—she wanted to give him a new watch. A watch worthy of his gentleness and care at this moment, worthy of the "ordinary" and stable feeling he gave her. She wanted to buy it with her own money.
Once this idea took root, it grew wildly.
"What are you thinking about? You're so absent-minded?" Zhao Chen's voice sounded with a smile. He had put down the tweezers at some point and was looking at her with his head tilted. His amber eyes reflected the sunlight, warm and focused.
Yu Ling came back to her senses, her heart beating slightly faster because of the secret plan, but she tried to keep a calm face: "Nothing, it's quite interesting to see you repairing things."
She paused and asked casually, "I want to go to the downtown mall this afternoon. Would you like to go shopping with me?"
Zhao Chen's eyes lit up immediately. Like a large dog that had found a bone, he threw away the circuit board in his hand without hesitation, straddled his long legs, and sat on the armrest of the sofa next to her, his arm naturally wrapped around her shoulders.
"Of course! I'll accompany Lingling wherever she wants to go!" He leaned in closer, rubbing his chin against the top of her head, and said in a coquettish nasal voice, "It just so happens that I also want to buy you a new dress. The blue one I bought last time looked really good on you."
"No need!" Yu Ling interrupted immediately, her voice a little hurried. Meeting his slightly confused gaze, she slowed down her tone. "I... I'm just looking around. I'm not buying anything. You don't have to spend any money." She lowered her eyelashes, hiding her guilty conscience. Of course, buying him a watch couldn't cost him his money.
Zhao Chen looked at her slightly red ears, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes. He didn't insist any more, but tightened his arms around her, his voice so gentle it could drip water: "Okay, I'll do as you say. Whatever our Lingling says, we'll do."
In Haicheng's top luxury shopping mall, "Xingyao Tiandi", the shiny marble floor reflects the figures of well-dressed people. The well-trained cashiers wear standard smiles and accurately scan the "gold content" of each customer with their eyes.
Yu Ling took Zhao Chen's arm and headed straight for the watch area on the second floor with a clear goal.
Her heart was pounding, her palms sweating slightly. She'd saved a considerable sum from years of work, but here, it wouldn't even be worth a fraction of what some watches cost. She just hoped to find a watch that looked decent, suitable for daily wear, and within her budget.
Zhao Chen seemed completely oblivious to her destination. He enthusiastically pointed at the jewelry and ready-made clothes in the window display and whispered in her ear, "Lingling, look at that brooch. The design is interesting, but the color is too old-fashioned... That silk scarf would go well with the beige coat you bought last time..."
Yu Ling responded absentmindedly, her eyes quickly scanning the dazzling array of watch brand displays. Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet… Each name shone with a golden light, making her breath catch.
She pulled Zhao Chen along, stopping in front of a relatively low-key brand counter: Horizon. She had some familiarity with the brand; it was a cutting-edge brand that had gained a strong reputation among high-end business professionals in recent years. Its designs were simple and elegant, combining a technological and classic aesthetic. And the prices didn't seem out of reach.
"Welcome to Horizon." The salesgirl in a well-tailored black suit came up with a professional smile. Her eyes quickly swept over Zhao Chen's linen shirt of unknown brand and Yu Ling's simple Tiffany bracelet. Her smile was standard, but there was not much eagerness in her eyes.
Yu Ling took a deep breath and tried to sound calm. "Hello, I'd like to see some men's watches, suitable for business or casual wear, for everyday wear."
"Okay, ma'am, this way please." The salesgirl led them to a display stand. "These are all our brand's classic series. They have simple designs and are very suitable for daily commuting." She pointed to several watches with simple dials and steel or leather straps and introduced them.
Yu Ling's eyes swept across the counter intently. Under the spotlight, each watch gleamed with a cold, expensive sheen. She mentally calculated the price tags—mostly six-figures, with the occasional entry-level five-figure model. Finally, her eyes were drawn to a watch displayed alone in a glass case.
The platinum case is polished to a gentle, understated silver-gray matte finish. The deep midnight blue dial features no intricate markings, only fine silver baton hour markers and two hollow diamond-shaped hands, each tipped with tiny sapphires that refract a deep glow in the light. The watch is finished with a deep blue alligator leather strap with a delicate texture. The entire watch exudes a sense of understated luxury and precise mechanical beauty.
"This one..." Yu Ling pointed at it, her voice a little tense.
A hint of subtle surprise flashed across the salesgirl's eyes, and then her smile deepened a bit, and her tone became more enthusiastic:
"Ma'am, you have excellent taste! This is our limited edition, the 'Deep Space Gaze' series. It features a platinum case, sapphire crystal, and the brand's independently developed HZ-001 ultra-thin, high-precision movement with a 72-hour power reserve. Only 50 pieces are available worldwide."
She carefully opened the glass cover, put on white gloves, and took out the watch. "It's number 007, a very auspicious number."
The watch was gently placed on a dark blue velvet tray and pushed in front of Yu Ling. The deep blue dial seemed to truly contain a deep starry sky, breathtakingly beautiful. Yu Ling subconsciously held her breath.
The salesgirl quoted a price, a figure that made Yu Ling's blood freeze. It was nearly all the money in her bank account!
She subconsciously glanced at Zhao Chen. He was standing a few steps away, his gaze drawn to a skeleton watch with an extremely complex structure and numerous gears in a nearby display case. His profile was focused, as if he was oblivious to what was happening here.
"Lingling, look at this tourbillon..." Zhao Chen turned around to call her, as if he had just discovered something new, but his eyes fell on the "Deep Space Gaze" in front of Yu Ling.
He paused, a hint of surprise clearly flashing across his amber eyes, before being overshadowed by a deeper, indescribable emotion. He walked back to Yu Ling, his gaze lingering on the dark blue dial for a few seconds before slowly shifting to Yu Ling's slightly tense profile.
"Like?" he asked in a low voice, no emotion in his voice.
Yu Ling's heart was pounding in her chest, nearly breaking her ribs. She didn't dare meet Zhao Chen's eyes, her gaze fixed on the watch, as if she had made some desperate decision. She took a sharp breath, her voice trembling with nervousness, but she spoke to the salesgirl with remarkable clarity:
"I'll take this piece, please. Wrap it up for me."
On the way back, the air in the car was strangely quiet. Yu Ling clutched the dark blue leather watch box, emblazoned with the silver "Horizon" logo, like a hot potato. She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously scratching at the edge of the box, their tips turning slightly white from the pressure.
The long string of numbers she'd just swiped her card burned into her retina like a brand. It hurt, truly hurt. But even more than that, it felt like a tragic satisfaction. She had finally, with her own strength, done something for this man who had given her such "ordinary" warmth.
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