Chapter 38: “Following”

Xie Shiyu didn’t go to the company today. All the decisions he needed to make for the new project had already been settled, and the rest could be handled by his subordinates.

It was the end of September, the weather turning cool. Since he had time today, he thought he’d take her to Xiu Yi Fang (Embroidered Garments Workshop) to have a few autumn outfits custom-made.

He didn’t take her to a shopping mall because he had noticed that her wardrobe leaned toward traditional, Zen-inspired Chinese styles. He guessed she preferred a minimalist and comfortable aesthetic.

Earlier that morning, he even went to ask Xu Airu—after all, women naturally paid more attention to such things than men did.

His mom, hearing that he was going to order clothes for Tu Shanju and even have the tailor come take her measurements at home, instantly thought her eldest son wasn’t as sharp as she’d hoped!

Such a good opportunity! He had the time! And instead of taking her out on a proper date, he wanted someone to come over? Did he even want to court his future wife?

Originally, Xie Shiyu had planned to wait until the tailor took Tu Shanju’s measurements before taking her out for a stroll around Nancheng.

But after hearing his mother’s opinion, he humbly took the advice and asked Tu Shanju what she preferred before heading out.

Unbeknownst to him, this was exactly what Tu Shanju wanted too.

Although she had brought two large suitcases from Yun City to Nancheng, she hadn’t packed much.

She’d already considered that while she could dress casually in the mountains, she needed to be more presentable in Nancheng.

Not just because she was Xie Shiyu’s fiancée, but because she was Tu Shanju—wherever she went, she represented the dignity of the entire Tu Shan clan. She had to maintain a composed image.

But when they arrived at Xiu Yi Fang and the shop owner brought out samples of new-style Hanfu, which were not much different from her usual style—only more refined—Tu Shanju felt a strange tug at her heart.

She realized Xie Shiyu truly paid attention to her.

In just a few short days, he had already grasped most of her preferences, from food to fashion to personality, and always made sure she was comfortable.

She’d also heard from Xie Jingting that all the assistants, secretaries, and staff in his executive office were men. He followed “male virtue” strictly.

A wealthy, handsome man with a good personality—it was hard not to feel something for someone like that.

But she reminded herself that he was only doing all this because of their engagement. He was simply fulfilling his responsibility.

After all, it wasn’t like he had fallen in love with her at first sight.

“…What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t like it? I can have the shop owner bring another sample book,” Xie Shiyu’s voice pulled Tu Shanju out of her daze.

She awkwardly withdrew her stare and touched the tip of her nose. “No need.”

She focused again on the sample book in her hands.

Tu Shanju didn’t like to drag things out. She flipped through the book quickly, pointing at the designs she liked, “This one, this one, and this one—I’ll take a full set. Oh, this embroidery is nice too. Is that the Shu embroidery technique?”

Shop owner Wu Mo was surprised. “Yes! I know a bit of Shu embroidery myself—didn’t expect you to recognize it!”

She loved “walking clothes hangers,” and Tu Shanju was definitely one of them.

Despite the loose-fitting outfit she wore today, Wu Mo, as an experienced tailor, could immediately tell she had an enviable figure.

As a designer, she naturally hoped her pieces would be displayed in their most perfect form.

So she warmed up to Tu Shanju very quickly.

Tu Shanju shook her head. “I don’t actually know much about it. It’s just that an aunt I knew practiced it, and she used to make clothes for me.”

Wu Mo asked, “And what about now?”

There were very few successors of traditional intangible cultural heritage like this nowadays, and not many young people were interested in such laborious, tedious crafts. Many skills were on the brink of being lost.

So hearing that someone still practiced it, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of shared appreciation.

“Uh…” What was she supposed to say? That the aunt wasn’t human—but a ghost?

Tu Shanju instinctively glanced at Xie Shiyu for help.

He had been quietly listening the whole time. When she turned to him, her clear, bright eyes blinked at him, causing his throat to tighten and his Adam’s apple to bob.

He cleared his throat to cover his slip and quickly came to her rescue, “Boss Wu, my mom mentioned your workshop recently designed a new qipao. Could you show it to us?”

Wu Mo, a veteran of Nancheng’s high-end custom scene, was smart. She smiled and nodded, then went to the back room to fetch it.

Tu Shanju sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

Xie Shiyu chuckled and rubbed her head. “You’re welcome.”

As he ruffled her hair again, Tu Shanju didn’t move, but her eyes slowly drifted up toward his hand, which was still resting on her head.

She thought—he was getting really comfortable with this move, but oddly enough… she didn’t mind.

She also noticed his hand was surprisingly nice-looking.

Was there anything wrong with this man?

Her dazed expression didn’t escape Xie Shiyu’s notice.

He lifted his hand from her head and flicked her forehead with a finger.

Startled, Tu Shanju covered her forehead, lips slightly parted.

Xie Shiyu chuckled softly, voice warm. “Stop staring. See if there’s any other design or pattern you like. Pick a few more sets. We’ll check out the mall afterward to see if you like anything from the brand stores.”

Tu Shanju’s face flushed bright red. She hurriedly grabbed a sample book and started flipping through it. “Okay, sure.”

This book featured mostly dresses. Tu Shanju thought many of them looked nice and picked out several sets.

Wu Mo came back with the new qipao and showed it to her.

“This is a piece by our newly signed embroiderer, Master Mu Ling. The white floral embroidery, with red roses, symbolizes free love in the Republic of China era. This piece is titled ‘Following’.”

“However, this dress cannot be altered. If you like it, I can place an order with Master Mu Ling. She doesn’t meet clients—I’ve only ever seen her online.”

There was a hint of regret in Wu Mo’s tone.

The moment Xie Shiyu’s gaze landed on the qipao, the embroidered roses immediately drew his attention.

His brows twitched slightly—was the color a bit too vivid?

But he wouldn’t casually criticize another’s creative work.

He turned to ask Tu Shanju, “Do you like it? If you do, we’ll order one.”

Tu Shanju looked at it for a couple seconds and nodded. “I do. Let’s buy it.”

Wu Mo, a little embarrassed, said, “This one’s a display sample and not for sale. Besides, many customers have touched it. If you’re willing to wait, a custom order won’t take long—half a month at most.”

What she didn’t say was that Mu Ling had a firm stance about this qipao.

Even the contract explicitly stated: display sample only—not for sale.

Tu Shanju narrowed her eyes at the red rose on the qipao. “If the embroiderer doesn’t want to sell it, then I won’t force it. The ones I picked earlier are enough. Xie Shiyu, let’s head back.”

Xie Shiyu noticed her subtle change in expression and had a good guess at what she was thinking.