Xu Zhilu was taken aback. “What did he buy?”

“A watch,” Xin An’an replied. “It was from the brand store across the street. It’s the one we saw online and talked about in the classroom. You said you liked it a lot and wanted to save up for it.”

Xu Zhilu looked in the direction Xin An’an pointed. A prominent watch brand was visible not far away. She remembered their classroom discussion about the watch. It was beautiful—its dial changed color with the time, showing stars and the moon at night. It was the kind of watch girls would love.

Although the watch wasn’t excessively expensive, it was still beyond the means of a high school student like her.

During their conversation, Xin An’an had encouraged her, saying that after graduating from high school, they could work and save up to buy what they wanted.

Xin An’an came from a well-off family and had always been supportive, aware of the challenges Xu Zhilu faced at home.

Xu Zhilu had never told Shen Siyan about this, though she wasn’t sure if she had mentioned the watch to him.

As Xu Zhilu was lost in thought, Xin An’an called out, “Zhilu, Zhilu?”

Xu Zhilu snapped back to reality. “What?”

“What are you thinking about? Didn’t Shen Siyan give you that watch?” Xin An’an asked.

Xu Zhilu nodded.

Xin An’an’s eyes widened further. “How is that possible? I saw him buy it and asked him about it.”

She then asked, “Are you sure you didn’t receive it?”

“Yes,” Xu Zhilu said firmly. “If I had received it, I wouldn’t forget.”

Xin An’an seemed puzzled. “Then… could he have changed his mind?”

Xu Zhilu shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“What about Xu Zhijia?” Xin An’an asked curiously. “Did Shen Siyan give her a birthday present?”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “Yes.”

The biggest source of tension between her and Shen Siyan had been Xu Zhijia.

Xin An’an blinked. “What was it? Do you know?”

Xu Zhilu shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Xin An’an was silent for a moment, then asked, “Did Xu Zhijia show it off to you?”

Xu Zhilu was surprised by the question. She thought for a moment and then said, “It seems she didn’t.”

Typically, Xu Zhijia would flaunt anything their parents bought her, and even more so with gifts from Shen Siyan. If Xin An’an hadn’t mentioned it, Xu Zhilu would have thought Xu Zhijia had grown up and was less childish. But thinking about it now, it didn’t seem likely.

After a moment of silence, Xin An’an suggested, “Do you want to ask Shen Siyan directly?”

She added, “I feel like something is off. Even if Xu Zhijia didn’t have the best intentions, you’re in the same house, and your keys and other things are in that house…”

Xu Zhilu understood what Xin An’an was implying. She stared at her friend and said, “But what if Shen Siyan really didn’t give me the watch? It would be so embarrassing for me.”

Xin An’an looked at her. “If you don’t ask, you’ll always wonder.”

She continued, “Shen Siyan treats you very well. Even if he didn’t give you that watch, he’d have given you something else. Haven’t you thought about that?”

“…”

To be honest, Xu Zhilu had been so upset at the time that she didn’t consider this. She had felt that Shen Siyan didn’t care for her and hadn’t prepared a birthday present.

Looking back, Xu Zhilu felt she had been quite foolish in her previous life.

Seeing her expression, Xin An’an knew she had guessed right.

Without hesitation, Xin An’an grabbed Xu Zhilu and said, “Let’s go! If you don’t ask, I will.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Xin An’an said decisively. “You need to ask yourself to find closure. If you don’t, you’ll keep dwelling on it.”

Xu Zhilu hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. “Alright.”

“Let’s go.”

When they arrived upstairs, Shen Siyan and his friends had just started a game. They had been playing for only five minutes when Xu Zhilu and Xin An’an came in.

Shen Siyan looked up, surprised. “Aren’t you out shopping?”

Xu Zhilu bit her lip and glanced at the game. “Actually, I need to ask you something.”

Shen Siyan looked puzzled. “Go ahead.”

Xu Zhilu took a deep breath. “It’s not convenient here. Let’s wait until you finish the game.”

Hearing this, Shen Siyan chuckled. “Is it a big deal?”

Xu Zhilu remained silent.

The two were at an impasse when Cheng Song suddenly shouted from the side, “Brother Yan, hurry up! If you don’t move, we’ll get beaten to death!”

Cheng Song continued, “Why aren’t you playing?”

Shen Siyan, looking exasperated, turned to Xin An’an and asked, “Can you play this game?”

Xin An’an shook her head. “No.”

Shen Siyan nodded and said, “Let Cheng Song teach you.”

He handed the remote control to Xin An’an and, without paying any attention to Cheng Song’s calls, pulled Xu Zhilu away.

Before Xu Zhilu could react, Shen Siyan had already led her away from the noisy game area.

They walked to the aisle.

Shen Siyan looked down at Xu Zhilu and asked, “Are you being bullied again?”

“…”

Xu Zhilu pursed her lips. “No.”

Shen Siyan frowned. “You look like you’re about to cry.”

Xu Zhilu quickly responded, “I’m not.”

Shen Siyan didn’t argue further and asked gently, “What do you want to talk about?”

Xu Zhilu met his gaze and asked, “I just want to know if you prepared a gift for my birthday?”

Shen Siyan stared at her for a long moment, then asked in confusion, “Didn’t you receive it?”