Chapter 17 – His Every Thoughtful Gesture

A joy she couldn’t quite describe—tinged with a bit of fluster—bubbled up inside her chest.

Si Tiantian couldn’t help but lift her wrist and carefully examine the bracelet.

The cool metal against her skin somehow brought with it a strange, lingering warmth.

So beautiful!

It wasn’t just the bracelet’s exquisite design and shimmer. What made it even more special was the person who had given it to her, and the quiet tenderness and domineering gentleness he had shown while doing so.

“Do you like it?”

Li Hanye’s low, magnetic voice sounded beside her ear, carrying a hint of expectation—and a subtle desire for praise that he tried to hide.

Si Tiantian nodded earnestly, her cheeks rosy, and her voice soft but clear:

“Mm, I like it! Thank you, Li Hanye.”

She looked up and met his deep, unreadable gaze. In those eyes, there was nothing but tenderness and warmth, like the calm surface of a spring lake—ready to drown her in its depths.

He seemed quite pleased with her response. Reaching out, he gently ruffled her hair, the motion casual yet full of affection.

Shirley, the manager, was watching from the side, her eyes practically falling out of their sockets. She quickly lowered her gaze, silently rejoicing that she had chosen the right side earlier. It seemed this Miss Si… would soon be the future lady of the Li family.

Just then, Yan Chengyang swaggered over, heading straight for Si Tiantian.

“Well, well! What a coincidence, little Tiantian—fancy seeing you again!”

His flirtatious peach blossom eyes swept over her with undisguised admiration. Internally, he clicked his tongue in amazement. Li Hanye’s taste was as sharp as ever! This Si family girl—her beauty and figure were absolutely top-tier. No wonder Li Hanye, a man as emotionally frozen as a glacier, had finally blossomed. Those other women who threw themselves at him never stood a chance.

Si Tiantian heard his voice and turned politely. “Young Master Yan, hello.”

Gu Yazhi also reacted quickly and greeted them both, “Mr. Li, Young Master Yan.” She subtly sized up Li Hanye. Did it seem like… he was especially gentle today?

Si Tiantian then tugged lightly on Gu Yazhi’s hand and said, “Zhizhi, you still haven’t found a necklace you like. Want me to help you look around more?”

Gu Yazhi waved her hands quickly. “Tiantian, not today. Let’s come back another time.”

She darted a glance at Li Hanye and Yan Chengyang—two towering figures looming over them—and instantly lost any desire to be a third wheel. Especially with the atmosphere between them… so loaded with meaning.

Si Tiantian understood immediately. Given the current situation, it wasn’t exactly the best time for a relaxed shopping stroll. She made a mental note: next month was Zhizhi’s birthday—she could take her time then and pick something special as a gift.

The group stepped out of the “Only” jewelry store. Just as they reached the entrance, Li Hanye reached out naturally and took all the shopping bags Si Tiantian had been carrying.

The colorful collection of bags transferred smoothly to his strong, long arms without a word.

Si Tiantian was stunned for a moment, watching him carry all those bright, floral-patterned bags. Her fingers curled slightly, and something stirred in her chest—something warm, a little overwhelming, and undeniably sweet.

Yan Chengyang raised his brows high at the scene beside him and let out an exaggerated “tsk.”
“Cold-face Li, this really isn’t like you. Such attentive service, I’m impressed.”
His tone was full of teasing, and his eyes shamelessly darted back and forth between Li Hanye and Si Tiantian.

Li Hanye shot him a glance, too lazy to respond, then turned to ask Si Tiantian.
His voice, in stark contrast to the one he’d just used on Yan Chengyang, dropped noticeably lower and gentler:
“Do you want to go anywhere else?”

Si Tiantian shook her head. “No need. I’ve been walking all morning—I’m a little tired.”

Seeing the faint traces of weariness on her face, Li Hanye checked the time on his watch.
“It’s almost noon. I’ll take you to lunch.”

Though it sounded like a suggestion, his tone left no room for negotiation.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he was already taking long strides toward the elevator.

Yan Chengyang shrugged and leaned toward the always-silent Lin Ke, lowering his voice:
“Did you see that? Before, unless it was for work, who could get him to say more than a few words?
Now look at him—so patient, so considerate. Our little Tiantian really works miracles!”

Lin Ke adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose out of habit.
Behind the lenses, his eyes flickered slightly, and the corner of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly—but he still said nothing.

The group eventually settled into a tastefully decorated seafood restaurant on the top floor—Li Hanye had specifically chosen it because he knew Si Tiantian liked seafood.

The waiter led them to a private room that had been reserved in advance.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched a view of the bustling cityscape.

Inside, each of the five had their own thoughts.
Li Hanye walked to the dining table and very naturally pulled out the chair next to him for Si Tiantian, gesturing for her to sit.
Then he sat down directly beside her—so close that the distance between them felt slightly excessive.
He casually rested one arm on the back of her chair, and from a certain angle, it looked almost like he had her gently encircled in his arms.

The dishes were served quickly: steamed coral trout, baked Australian lobster with cheese, garlic vermicelli scallops…
All fresh, plump seafood, rich in aroma.

Strangely enough, Li Hanye barely touched his own food.
Instead, he focused entirely on peeling shrimp and picking out fish bones for Si Tiantian, placing the cleaned pieces into her delicate porcelain plate.
His movements were smooth and practiced, as if he’d done it a hundred times before—focused, patient, and thorough.

Yan Chengyang watched this “once-in-a-lifetime” sight and nearly lost grip of his chopsticks.
He opened his mouth as if to say something but ended up swallowing it back down, left only with an expression of complete disbelief.

Gu Yazhi and Lin Ke had similar looks on their faces. Their eyes were practically glued to Li Hanye’s busy hands.

Gu Yazhi kept shooting Si Tiantian questioning looks, as if telepathically begging for an explanation:
“What is going on?!”
Her face was practically glowing with shock and curiosity.

Even Lin Ke paused his own movements, eyes behind his glasses carrying a rare glint of inquisitiveness.

Si Tiantian, under the meticulous care of Li Hanye, could feel her cheeks burning.
She protested in a small voice, “I can do it myself. You… you should eat too.”
If this continued, she might really get indigestion just from nerves.

But Li Hanye didn’t even glance up.
His long, pale fingers kept working steadily to break open a plump, golden crab, placing the neatly picked-out meat gently into her plate.

“Eat more.”
His tone was calm, yet unmistakably commanding.

Yan Chengyang finally shook himself out of his petrified state and put down his chopsticks dramatically.
“Oh my god! Hanye, I’ve known you for over ten years, and this is the first time I’ve seen you serve someone food—personally—with the full shrimp-peeling, crab-disassembling VIP deluxe package!
If word of this gets out, who in the Beijing circle is going to believe it?”

He turned to Si Tiantian and made a goofy face.
“Tiantian-meimei, your treatment here is unprecedented! No one before, and probably no one after either. You better hold on to this—cherish it!”

Finally, Li Hanye lifted his eyes and shot him a frosty glare.
“So noisy. Eat.”