Chapter 28: “Otherwise, how could I like you?”

66.

In the past, it was always Dr. Wei who prepared surprises for me. When he received his salary mid-month, I also wanted to get him something, but Dr. Wei never mentioned what he wanted. So, during his shift, I secretly checked his Taobao shopping cart.

His MacBook had my fingerprint authentication, so as long as the passwords were saved, I could log in directly using my fingerprint. He was convenient (or maybe it was because of a bad memory), and he stored passwords for almost every website.

I usually used my own computer for work, so he would never guess that I would log in. There was nothing to hide. His shopping cart mostly had shower gels for 007, and the rest were some adult toys.

Who would have thought that a well-dressed and refined psychiatrist would secretly collect bondage straps and little whips!?

What kind of peculiar interests are these!

Was this the same Dr. Wei who had given me a sleep mask with such innocence? Although that sleep mask is now frequently used for naughty things.

The style of the stores he followed was much more normal – men’s clothing, flower pots, saplings, pet supplies, and medical books. The most recently added item was an iPad Pro.

It was a bit expensive, but it was an electronic product that we could use together, even for watching movies during meals.

That’s the one!

67.

I’m quite interested in electronic products, and I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the tablet. I couldn’t help but track the shipping progress.

The next day at noon, the shipping status was updated again, showing that it was out for delivery.

“Xiao Qi, do you have anything to do this afternoon?”

“No, why?”

“Accompany me to the flower and bird market in the southern district. I want to see if there are any fish tanks for sale.”

I was a bit surprised, “You want to keep fish?”

“Yes, I want to keep some tropical ornamental fish.” Dr. Wei pulled up a small video saved in his phone album. “This is from my colleague’s house. Isn’t it nice?”

My knowledge of fish only extended to whether they could be eaten or not, but I couldn’t deny that ornamental fish were truly beautiful.

Some of them were almost translucent, with round bellies that seemed to be pregnant.

Dr. Wei said, “These pregnant ones are called Peacock Gudgeons.”

“Wow, your belly is so big! I feel like there are little fish inside.”

“Yeah, exactly, little fish. Peacock fish belong to the live-bearing fish category. Fertilized eggs can develop into new individuals inside the mother’s body. Do you like them?”

“Hehe, I do. They’re all so beautiful. I thought you were going to buy those big goldfish with bulging eyes.”

Wei Nanlin: “I think tropical fish are more attractive.”

“You’re a fan of aesthetics too.”

Dr. Wei smiled and put away his phone. “Otherwise, how could I like you?”

(//•ω•//)

68.

The southern area is a bit far from where we live. Dr. Wei drove me there. To thank me for accompanying him, Dr. Wei made an exception and bought me a cup of milk tea and a small bag of fried potatoes.

I teased him, saying he really looks like a rookie dad taking care of a child, buying snacks just to keep the kid’s mouth busy.

He unexpectedly nodded, “Then go ahead and call me daddy.”

“You really hide your true self well, Dr. Wei. It’s all dark humor.”

“This is called having a sense of humor.”

This is the first time in my life I’ve visited a botanical garden. It’s much larger than I had imagined, more like a little scenic spot. To enter, you need to show your ID card and pay a 20 yuan ticket fee. Due to the holiday, there are many people in line, mostly retired elderly folks.

If it weren’t for Dr. Wei, I don’t think I’d ever visit a place like this in my lifetime, or even know such a place exists.

“I thought botanical gardens were just markets specialized in selling flowers and birds.”

Dr. Wei chuckled, “I’m actually here for the first time too. I saw good reviews online. They have a wide variety of flowers and plants inside. If I find something I like, you’ll have to help me carry it.”

“Got it, Daddy.”

Dr. Wei’s eyes lit up, and a beautiful smile curved at the corners of his mouth.

69.

Outside the garden, I initially thought it was just a small scenic spot. It wasn’t until I entered that I realized I was wrong. It was like stepping into a hidden paradise.

The small map handed to us by the staff indicated that the plants here were divided into five different areas.

Our first stop was the Rosaceae and vine plants area. It had a semi-open design, with tall walls on all sides adorned with iron wires at the top, forming irregular shapes that divided the sky.

In this season, there weren’t many blooming flowers; instead, everywhere was adorned with lush greenery. Vines of varying thickness crawled all over the walls, some hanging down from the wire mesh above, forming natural barriers.

Mist swirled at our feet, obscuring the ground. If you didn’t look up, it felt like walking in the clouds. Wind chimes and small wooden plaques hung from the thicker vines, carrying people’s wishes that floated with the wind.

Dr. Wei probably noticed that I was fixated on those wooden plaques with writing, so he directly bought two of them from a nearby staff member.

When it was time to hang them up, we exchanged our wishes with each other.

My wish was for my family’s good health and a raise in salary.

Dr. Wei’s wish was quite short – he hoped that the pomelos I buy would all be sweet.

It took me a few seconds to grasp the implication.

Because I like eating pomelos, Dr. Wei happened to buy one this morning, but he hadn’t had a chance to eat it yet.