Chapter 27: It’s Cold Outside Today

Xia Ruanruan grinned sheepishly. “I watched how you did it last time, so I tried it myself. Turns out, I got it right.”

Huo Beiqing: Smart when she shouldn’t be, clueless when she should be.

He said nothing and simply started the car.

Xia Ruanruan stole a glance at him, wondering why he didn’t look pleased.

Did he think she was only pretending to be smart?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice when they arrived at the department store.

Huo Beiqing had initially planned to help her unbuckle the seatbelt, but after a brief hesitation, he stopped himself. Sure enough, as soon as he reached for the door handle, Xia Ruanruan had already unfastened it herself.

Once again, he thought to himself: Smart when she shouldn’t be.

Without saying much, he led her inside the store. Xia Ruanruan followed curiously and asked, “Huo Doctor, what are we buying?”

“Clothes.”

“For what? Innerwear or outerwear?”

Huo Beiqing stopped and gave her a once-over. “Both.”

Xia Ruanruan’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been here a few times! I know where they sell men’s clothing. I’ll take you there.”

“No need,” Huo Beiqing rejected her outright.

She didn’t argue and simply followed behind him. But when he finally stopped, she realized they were at the women’s clothing section.

Pointing at her, he told the shop assistant, “Get two coats that suit her.”

The saleswoman immediately responded with enthusiasm. She could tell at a glance that Huo Beiqing wasn’t an ordinary man, so she was eager to help.

“This one suits you well,” she said to Xia Ruanruan, holding up a pink coat. “Your fair skin will look great in this color.”

Xia Ruanruan shook her head without hesitation.

She wasn’t walking a red carpet; she needed something practical for everyday wear. Cooler tones suited her better.

Pointing at a long black coat, she said, “That one. I’ll try it on.”

The shop assistant smiled and nodded. “It suits you too. You’re tall, so you can pull off this long coat.”

As she spoke, she turned to grab the coat.

Xia Ruanruan turned to Huo Beiqing with a hopeful look. “Doctor Huo, are you buying this for me?”

She chuckled. “I thought you were shopping for yourself!”

Then, pretending to be reserved, she added, “Actually, I already have clothes to wear. There’s no need to buy more.”

She tugged at the gray khaki jacket she was wearing. “This is good enough. My mom just made this for me at home.”

Huo Beiqing glanced at it briefly and said, “It’s going to get colder. What you’re wearing is too thin.”

As they talked, the shop assistant returned with the coat. “Here, miss. Try it on quickly.”

Xia Ruanruan lifted her arms and slipped into the coat.

Fashion always comes full circle—black coats never go out of style.

She looked great in it.

The shop assistant was momentarily stunned before exclaiming, “Oh my! Miss, this looks amazing on you! It’s like it was tailored just for you.”

“It fits perfectly!”

Huo Beiqing looked her over a few times before asking, “Do you have other styles or colors?”

Before the shop assistant could ask if he didn’t like it, he spoke again, “I’ll take two.”

The assistant’s face lit up with excitement, nodding quickly. “Yes, yes! We also have red and camel-colored ones.”

“There are other styles too.”

“Wait here for a moment, and I’ll bring them all over for the young lady to try.”

“Sir, you can sit on the bench and wait—I’ll be quick!”

Huo Beiqing didn’t sit down. He stood nearby, waiting.

Soon, the assistant returned with over ten coats. Xia Ruanruan tried them on quickly but skipped the bright-colored ones.

Since she was already getting a black one, she didn’t need another.

She only tried on the camel and coffee-colored coats.

The coffee color was a bit dark, but the camel one suited her well. With her fair skin and tall frame, the mid-length coat looked elegant on her.

As soon as she put it on, Huo Beiqing, standing beside her, said, “This one.”

“Alright! I’ll pack it up right away!” The shop assistant beamed with joy.

Xia Ruanruan was delighted too—who doesn’t love new clothes?

Just as she was about to take the coat off, Huo Beiqing stepped behind her, removed the tag, and said, “Keep it on. It’s cold outside today.”

Xia Ruanruan was about to protest—It’s not that cold!—but after a second thought, she simply nodded.

She didn’t take the coat off.

Huo Beiqing paid for the coats—over 500 yuan for two.

Xia Ruanruan had no idea if Huo Beiqing felt the pinch, but watching him count out the money, she certainly did.

As Huo Beiqing carried the bags out of the store, Xia Ruanruan walked close to him and asked in a small voice, “Doctor Huo, how much savings do you have left?”

Huo Beiqing shot her a glance.

Xia Ruanruan immediately waved her hands. “I swear I’m not trying to pry into your private matters! I just…” She looked embarrassed. “You’ve already given me so much money before. A few days ago, you even bought me a guitar—that thing’s expensive. And now these coats…”

She sighed guiltily. “When will I ever make enough to pay you back?”

“Besides, if I spend all your savings, what will you live on?”

At first, Huo Beiqing felt annoyed when she mentioned paying him back. But hearing her last sentence—if I spend it all, what will you live on?—his expression softened.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Isn’t there a saying? Marry a man, and he’ll provide clothes and food.“

“If buying two coats left me broke, that would be my problem.”

Xia Ruanruan didn’t agree with his logic. She shook her head like a rattle drum. “That saying is true, but it depends on what kind of clothes and food we’re talking about.”

“The jacket I was wearing earlier? My mom bought the fabric from the market and sewed it herself. Even with the tailor’s fee, it only cost about ten yuan. And even then, the girls in my village were envious! My mom often makes me new clothes, but a lot of them have patches because most people just keep fixing their old clothes. New for three years, old for three years, patched up for another three.“

“If my mom found out we spent over 500 yuan on just two coats, she’d twist my ear off!”

As she spoke, she even covered her ears, looking adorably worried.

Huo Beiqing didn’t realize that the corners of his lips had curved into a smile. He smirked slightly. “Luckily, I can still afford to take care of you.”

That one sentence eased all of Xia Ruanruan’s worries.

By the time they arrived at the Huo family home, it was already past ten.

As soon as they stepped inside, Xia Ruanruan paused when she saw the person sitting on the sofa. Then, her face lit up. “Second Brother!”

Summer Senling, who had been sitting calmly, stood up.

The moment Xia Ruanruan walked through the door, his gaze had been fixed on his little sister.