Chapter 415: Chapter 273: Who Could Think Straight with a Girlfriend Like This?

"It’s 5.80 for the small box, or 10 yuan for the large one. Take a look, miss."

The fruit shop, bathed in soft light, was bustling with a constant stream of customers. Business was booming. Jiangg Ning usually bought her fruit exclusively from here, making her a regular.

The clerk probably mistook Yaoyao for Ningning and gave her an especially bright smile, since the two of them had never come in together.

"I’ll take a small portion to start. And I’d like some other things too. Please pack the sweet and sour fruits separately. I’ll also have one portion each of the pineapple, mango, dragon fruit, and dried fruits." Jiangg Yao finished ordering, feeling quite pleased with herself.

’Who wouldn’t be smitten by such a thoughtful girlfriend?’

’Chen Yuan is definitely going to be so moved he’ll pass out.’

Thinking this, a smile bloomed on Jiangg Yao’s face, as sweet as a flower.

Soon, the clerk finished cutting the fruit and packed it into a carrier bag. After paying, Jiangg Yao skipped happily and ran all the way back to the residential district.

The wind whipped her hair into a messy tangle, a picture of youth and vitality. As she ran, she recalled that she hadn’t run like this much since her school days. Ever since becoming a homebody, exercise had been a nightmare.

But her anticipation and joy were real. She had to hurry and arrange the fruit before Chen Yuan arrived. It would be best to intercept him at the elevator and lead him inside herself.

Just imagining the scene made Jiangg Yao smile until her eyes crinkled, even as she ran breathless.

「On the road.」

Chen Yuan had just driven past the intersection and was turning toward Fengting District. He wasn’t in a hurry, just a little puzzled.

Whenever Jiangg Yao prepared a "surprise," it usually ended up being a "scare." He couldn’t guess what earth-shattering thing she was planning this time and could only focus on recalling all the previous unexpected incidents.

The next second, a pained expression washed over his face.

But this time, Chen Yuan was completely wrong.

He parked his car in the underground garage. The way was clear, and he was all too familiar with this place where he had lived for a long time. As he entered the garage, Chen Yuan found himself marveling at how convenient the parking was here—so much better than the narrow spaces at Shangwan Apartments.

Thinking back, if he hadn’t been so unbearably angry at the time, he wouldn’t have decided to move out. Back then, he just felt that getting away and hiding by himself would be a relief. But in the end, both Ningning and Yaoyao had pursued him so resolutely.

’You never know how things will turn out.’

If the two sisters hadn’t caused that scene at school, he’d probably still be adjusting to life after their breakup.

A host of complex feelings welled up in Chen Yuan’s heart. He stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the 13th floor, and felt the car slowly ascending.

...

Upstairs, Jiangg Yao rushed back, laid out all the chilled fruit on the table, and then hurried to the vanity.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, then quickly grabbed a comb to smooth her messy hair. She clipped in a pink, nurse-themed hairpin she had bought for cosplay, leaned closer to the mirror, and, with a few quick taps, touched up her foundation.

Drawing her eyebrows, curling her lashes, applying lip gloss, and adding blush—in just three minutes, her face was completely refreshed.

The "pure and alluring" light makeup style suited her perfectly. Even though they had the same face, Jiangg Ning’s makeup gave off an impression of dignified elegance, like a lady from a prominent family. Yaoyao’s makeup, while similar, made her look like the freshest, most vibrant girl in school.

Jiangg Yao dabbed the lip gloss evenly with her finger, making her lips look rosy and lustrous. Looking at her reflection, she felt like she could just kiss herself.

"Perfect!"

She clapped her hands and scurried over to the walk-in closet, rummaging through the dazzling array of clothes.

Jiangg Yao felt that since this was a surprise, she couldn’t just let Chen Yuan walk straight into the room. She needed to add a little ceremony. Back at the fruit shop, she had come up with the idea of finding a ribbon to blindfold him and lead him inside.

Once they were in the room, she would push open the door and untie it.

Then, ta-da! The moment the ribbon came off, Chen Yuan would be staring, dumbfounded, at the room she had spent two days painstakingly preparing.

’The effect would be amazing.’

Jiangg Yao rummaged left and right, tossing several packaging bags onto the floor. The more anxious she got, the harder it was to find anything. Finally, her eyes lit up as she grabbed the lace ribbon from a nightgown she had bought before.

She held the light, thin strip in her palm. Just as she was about to leave, a thought struck her, and she stopped and turned back.

"Oh, sis, your little sister really knows how to look out for you," Jiangg Yao muttered to herself, a cunning glint in her eyes. She put down the ribbon in her hand and swapped it for the one from her sister’s lotus-pink nightgown. "I have to give you a little sense of participation, don’t I?"

The two of them had bought identical nightgowns in different colors.

...

Jiangg Yao rushed to the elevators as if on rocket-powered wheels. She watched nervously as the floor number climbed, looking left and right to make sure she hadn’t missed Chen Yuan.

Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

If Chen Yuan had arrived without a word and gone straight home, all her efforts would have been for nothing.

With a crisp DING, the elevator arrived. Jiangg Yao took two steps back. In case it wasn’t Chen Yuan, she wanted to avoid the awkwardness of standing there like a bizarre door god.

But normally, no one else came to the thirteenth floor, except for building management who had elevator access.

The elevator doors slowly opened. Chen Yuan, who had been looking down at his phone, lifted his head and immediately saw Jiangg Yao in a white pleated skirt and a short-sleeved shirt. She was wearing a pair of loose-fitting flats and was peering intentionally yet nonchalantly through the gap in the doors, trying to get a peek at who was inside.

"Why are you waiting for me here?" Chen Yuan asked as he stepped out.

"Stop!" Jiangg Yao snapped.

"Wh-What’s wrong?" he stammered, freezing on the spot in confusion.

"Don’t move," Jiangg Yao said, sidling up to him. She was so close that if she blinked, her eyelashes would brush against his cheek. "Put your hands behind your back."

"What for? Are you kidnapping me?"

"Of course not, but it’s not that different from a kidnapping. I’m going to blindfold you." As she spoke, Jiangg Yao took out the ribbon and dangled it in front of him.

"Is that really necessary?"

"It is. It’s very necessary. I told you it’s a surprise." Jiangg Yao stood on her tiptoes, about to cover his eyes, but Chen Yuan took a wary step back.

"Tell me what you’re planning first."

"If I told you, would it still be a surprise? I can only reveal a tiny, little bit. Basically, I prepared something for you at your place. Don’t worry, I’m not going to trick you." Jiangg Yao beckoned for Chen Yuan to come closer.

"Fine..."

Seeing how overjoyed she was, Chen Yuan didn’t have the heart to spoil her fun. He obediently lowered his head and let Yaoyao wrap the ribbon around his eyes, layer by layer.

"Don’t tie it so tight."

"You think this is tight...?"

Once the ribbon was tied, Jiangg Yao took his hand and led him step by step down the hallway. After opening the door, she reminded Chen Yuan to watch his step.

Chen Yuan’s heart pounded with every step he took. He had been bewildered when she called him over, and he still had no idea what this "surprise" was.

Jiangg Yao was being jumpy, constantly reminding him not to peek, which made Chen Yuan flinch several times.

"Am I in the bedroom?" he asked, carefully feeling the nearby walls.

"Nope, this is your study."

"How can this be the study? The layout feels all wrong. Anyway, can I take the blindfold off now?"

"You can. Go ahead and take it off, but do it slowly."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Yuan yanked the ribbon off. The scene that greeted him left him utterly speechless, rooted to the spot.

The original study had been completely transformed. The once-empty room was now neatly organized. Against one wall, a gaming desk shimmered with a beautiful, soft glow. Two expensive-looking computer towers sat on a shelf, their fans spinning gently.

Behind them was a large, round sofa. A small, retractable screen was installed on the ceiling, and the floor was covered with a mat featuring an anime character.

It was all so dreamlike, filled with Jiangg Yao’s exquisite thoughtfulness. The room was so clean and tidy that one would hesitate to even step inside.

"Ta-da!" Jiangg Yao’s eyes sparkled. "So? Isn’t this surprise absolutely perfect? Are you blown away or what?"

Chen Yuan was, in fact, blown away. He looked around and around, not saying a word, just touching one thing and then another.