She started with the fabric, considering every aspect from the cut to the style.

Every so often, she would ask Lin Shen for his opinion.

"President Lin, do you think Anan would look good in this?"

"It’s very nice."

Lin Shen felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he were picking out clothes for his own daughter. He joked,

"Anan is your daughter, so your opinion is what matters most when choosing her clothes. I’m an outsider, so I won’t offer too much advice."

"President Lin, you’re not an outsider."

Lin Ping gripped Lin Shen’s hand, her tone firm as she stressed the point.

"You’re so good to Anan, and she really likes you too. You’re like another one of her good friends... or even like a father."

After she said this, a shy blush spread across Lin Ping’s pretty face. She pursed her thin lips, wrestling with her thoughts for a moment before asking tentatively,

"President Lin... do you not like children?"

"I like well-behaved children."

Lin Shen chuckled.

"I like ones like Anan. If they were unruly little brats, then no, I wouldn’t."

"I see..."

Lin Ping clasped her hands tightly in front of her, her head bowed as she was lost in thought.

After they finished at the children’s clothing store, having bought several beautiful outfits for Anan, she suddenly looked up. A strange light glinted in her beautiful eyes as she gazed at Lin Shen.

"President Lin, have you ever considered having a child of your own?"

’My own?’

Lin Shen froze. When he saw that Lin Ping’s face was already beet red, he instantly understood what she was really thinking. He quipped self-deprecatingly,

"I can’t have one by myself."

"That’s not what I meant."

Lin Ping quickly waved her hands in dismissal. She bit her lip, and after a moment of internal conflict, she suddenly stood on her tiptoes and murmured into Lin Shen’s ear, her voice full of shyness.

"If you want one, President Lin... I can have a child for you."

’So that’s what this is about!’

The corners of Lin Shen’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

He had suspected as much, but he hadn’t expected the always-reserved Lin Ping to be so direct.

"Let’s not, for now."

Lin Shen reached out and pinched Lin Ping’s flushed, burning cheek.

"I’m only twenty-five. I’m too young. It’s not time for me to have kids yet. Let’s talk about it again in a few years."

"But..."

Lin Ping started to say something but stopped, swallowing the words she was about to speak.

’Lin Shen could afford to have fun for a few more years, but she couldn’t wait!’

’She was already thirty-two. If she waited a few more years, she’d be past her prime childbearing years.’

’That’s why Lin Ping wanted to have a child for Lin Shen now.’

’Of course, it wasn’t to use the child as leverage against him. It was simply to repay his kindness.’

’Lin Ping felt she owed Lin Shen far too much, and this was the only way she could think of to truly repay him.’

’But since he had no intention of having a child, she had no choice but to drop it.’

A flicker of disappointment crossed Lin Ping’s face. Seeing this, Lin Shen wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her into his embrace, and said softly,

"Right now, the most important thing you should be thinking about is raising Anan to be healthy and happy, not adding to your burdens with another child."

"But I really want to repay you."

Lin Ping hugged Lin Shen’s waist tightly, her voice full of emotion.

"You’ve been too good to me and Anan. I don’t know what else to do... This is the only way I could think of to repay you..."

"Isn’t helping me run the store the best way to repay me?"

"Compared to how good you’ve been to me, that’s nowhere near enough."

Lin Ping looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with endless gratitude and adoration for Lin Shen.

"I want to find a better way to repay you."

"Let me think..."

Lin Shen thought for a moment, then leaned down and whispered something in Lin Ping’s ear with a wicked grin.

She blinked, and her gorgeous face instantly flushed a deep red, as if she were a steam engine. The blush even spread down her neck and to the tips of her ears.

"That... is that okay?"

"There’s one way to find out."

Lin Shen gave her perky bottom a quiet squeeze. It was a familiar gesture, but this time it made her body tremble and her lips press into a tight line.

She imagined what Lin Shen had suggested, and her heart filled with a fear of the unknown.

In the end, however, after thinking it over, she gave a shy nod.

"Alright, I’ll... prepare for it tonight."

"No need to rush. We can think about it later. I’ll get the things ready for you."

Lin Shen smiled and let go of Lin Ping.

"Besides, it’s just a suggestion. It’s up to you. Safety is the most important thing."

"I can do it!"

Lin Ping said with unshakable resolve, even though Lin Shen’s request frightened her a little.

’But to repay Lin Shen, she would do anything!’

’Even this!’

"I’ll study up on it!"

"You don’t have to be so serious about it."

Seeing Lin Ping’s solemn expression, Lin Shen just smiled, patting her on the head as he changed the subject.

"Looks like your phone screen is cracked. Come on, I’ll get you a new one."

"Ah? There’s no need, President Lin. My phone still works."

"TSK!"

Lin Shen couldn’t help but click his tongue. Noticing this, Lin Ping hurried forward, linked her arm tightly with his, and whispered her thanks.

"Then... thank you, President Lin."

"That’s more like it!"

With Lin Ping on his arm, Lin Shen let her lead him to the Apple Store. After buying her a new iPhone, they headed to the final stop of their shopping trip.

「Zhou Dafu.」

When she saw the jewelry store before them, Lin Ping covered her mouth with one hand, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"President Lin, you’re not going to..."

"I am."

Lin Shen put his arm around Lin Ping and announced grandly,

"I’m going to buy you some more gold jewelry."