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After five months of accompanying each other day and night, Bai Miaqing had already regarded Shen Yu’an as a close friend and naturally wanted her to find a good husband.
She wouldn’t interfere with Shen Yu’an’s decision, but she could provide her with more options.
Facing the hopeful gaze from Bai Mingxi, Bai Miaqing spoke up and persuaded, “Since we’re here, let’s go in and have a look together.”
The crowd could only follow behind Bai Mingxi and walk inside.
The shop assistant at the counter recognized Bai Mingxi.
Madam Bai is a regular customer of this shop, and she has asked him to help retrieve items several times before.
The shop assistant looked at the long string of people following Bai Mingxi and respectfully asked by his side, “Young Master Bai, what would you like to buy today?”
Bai Mingxi glanced at Shen Yu’an, Bai Miaqing, and the two other young ladies, Song Xiao Ni and Hua Ling.
He replied, “Help me buy some jewelry for my sister and… a few friends. Show us the new designs you have here.”
The assistant quickly brought out several newly crafted pieces of jewelry, all of them the latest styles of hairpins and hair combs.
Bai Miaqing took the initiative to pull Shen Yu’an along to have a look.
In order to make Shen Yu’an’s purchase less conspicuous, Bai Mingxi called out to Song Xiao Ni and Hua Ling, saying, “Take a look and see if there’s anything you like too.”
Song Xiao Ni glanced at the valuable-looking jewelry and shook her head maturely, saying, “I don’t need to buy anything.”
However, Hua Ling couldn’t contain her excitement as she looked at the sparkling jewelry the assistant had brought out. She pulled Song Xiao Ni, who was about to step back, along with Shen Yu’an and Bai Miaqing, and they gathered together to take a closer look.
Bai Miaqing chose one she liked and then started encouraging Shen Yu’an to pick one as well.
“Yu’an, you should pick one too,” she said.
Shen Yu’an indeed found one that she liked—a simple wooden hairpin with a carved auspicious cloud on top.
When she held it in her hand, she felt its weight and detected a faint fragrance emanating from the wood.
Shen Yu’an said, “I’ll take this one.”
The assistant nearby remarked, “Miss, you have a good eye. This wooden hairpin may appear simple, but it’s made of top-quality agarwood, and even the carving of the design was done by a master.”
Shen Yu’an responded with a faint nod.
Hua Ling had been indecisively picking and choosing, but in the end, she settled for a silver accessory.
Compared to jewelry made of gold or other types of beads, she preferred silver.
Song Xiao Ni was the only one who didn’t have anything in her hands.
Hua Ling looked at her curiously and asked, “Sister Xiao Ni, why didn’t you choose anything?”
Song Xiao Ni felt a bit embarrassed and in a voice as small as a mosquito’s, she said, “I… I don’t like these, so I won’t pick anything.”
Shen Yu’an, who was close to her, naturally heard her voice.
She looked up at Song Xiao Ni, who seemed a bit timid, and ruffled her head, saying, “Choose something you like, and I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
Song Xiao Ni quickly refused, saying, “I don’t need it, Cousin Yu’an. I don’t need these things.”
She was currently separated from her family and was relying on her aunt and uncle for food, clothing, and shelter. She didn’t want to trouble them any further.
Shen Yu’an tried to persuade her for a moment, and then Song Shi, who had heard the commotion, approached as well.
After understanding the reason, they insisted she should pick one.
In the end, Song Xiao Ni chose the most inconspicuous piece among the jewelry.
Seeing that they had all chosen their accessories, Bai Mingxi asked the assistant to wrap them up and proceeded to settle the bill.
However, Shen Yu’an was quicker to pay for the four items they had chosen with silver.
Bai Mingxi took back the silver that the assistant had just received and wanted to return it to Shen Yu’an.
Looking at Shen Yu’an, who had already paid, Bai Mingxi hesitated and said, “Miss Shen, this… goes against both reason and propriety. We agreed that I would give these to you as a gift.”
Shen Yu’an responded directly, “Mr. Bai, one should receive rewards for their efforts, and besides, we are not in a situation where we can’t afford to buy a few pieces of jewelry.”
Bai Mingxi’s expression changed unpredictably as he tried to persuade Shen Yu’an.
However, Shen Yu’an didn’t want to waste any more time on this matter with him.
She explained one last time, “If Mr. Bai really wants to pay, you can just pay for Miaqing’s portion. As for the three of us, we’ve only known each other for a day, so there’s no need to trouble you, Mr. Bai.”
Bai Mingxi had never encountered such a straightforward girl before, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to refute her.
Just as he was about to say something else, an untimely voice came through.