Chapter 82: Surprise

Beep beep~ Beep beep~

Half-asleep, I seemed to hear the crisp ringtone of my phone. Was it just a hallucination caused by how much I was hoping to get a message from Gu Fan?

When my preset alarm finally woke me up, I groggily picked up my phone and saw that Gu Fan really had sent a text.

The message was about going to the shopping center tonight.

It had been sent around ten minutes after I left the beverage bar. Could it be that Gu Fan skipped his own birthday party just for me?

Maybe something unexpected came up. I probably wasn’t important enough for Gu Fan to completely ignore everyone else just to sneak out. After all, what kind of birthday party doesn’t have the birthday boy?

I had just woken up and hurried to grab the phone from the nightstand, so my posture was a bit awkward. My cat tail was pinned under my butt, and the tip of it was twitching upward in protest.

I held on and quickly replied to Gu Fan with a message saying, “Okay, no problem!” before finally turning over and stretching out my waist.

Good thing a catgirl’s body is flexible, otherwise that position would’ve definitely left me with a sore back.

Though… my tail was already starting to throb with pain…

I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to quickly and cleanly fix up my messy hair.

I’d just learned a new hairstyle online recently—maybe I should try it out?

I glanced at the phone. The time was still early, a few dozen minutes before six.

Rubbing my Pikachu-themed phone case, I decided to doll myself up a bit more today.

Comb… I… Where’s my hair clip?

Where did it go?

I’ve gotten so used to being lazy that I have no idea where I even put all the beauty tools I bought in advance. Now I’m scrambling to find them, and it’s driving me crazy.

After fumbling around for a while, the hairstyle I managed to put together turned out to be really disappointing.

Actually, it was downright hideous.

Staring at the black-haired catgirl in the mirror with that ridiculously ugly hairstyle, I already look kind of quirky—pairing that with such a “refreshingly unique” hairdo? Who could possibly accept this?!

Even if I did go to the shopping mall with Gu Fan looking like this, he probably wouldn’t say anything. He might even force himself to compliment me.

…but I know full well that I look hopelessly awful like this. There’s no need to go outside just to embarrass Gu Fan.

It’s a pity. I had originally wanted to dress up all pretty and send Gu Fan a slightly sexy photo from the bathroom, pretending I was still getting changed.

Now, after all that, my confidence has been completely shattered.

I took off all the clips and ribbons I had tied to my braid and just went with a simple, decent-looking low ponytail. Only then did I feel barely satisfied.

Let’s go with this. I really can’t pull off heavy makeup, so I just comforted myself by thinking I probably suit a more natural look anyway.

Patting my cheeks, I hesitated for a while, wondering if I should put something on my face.

After thinking it over, I decided it was better not to trust my own makeup skills.

The clothes I wore this afternoon had already been thrown into the washing machine, and I didn’t want to wear the exact same outfit I wore last time I saw Gu Fan.

The internet says you should always give guys a sense of novelty.

So I changed into a long-sleeved dress and put on a pair of thicker white stockings.

When I usually go out with Gu Fan, I prefer wearing black stockings. I can tell his gaze lingers on them a bit longer—and besides, they’re easier to clean if they get dirty.

After dressing up, I sat on the couch for a bit, sipping warm water in small sips.

I didn’t have to wait long before Gu Fan replied to my message.

“Open the door. I left a gift for you at your doorstep.”

A gift? What kind of gift?

I hadn’t expected to receive a gift from Gu Fan on his birthday. The surprise made me feel oddly touched.

I glanced hesitantly toward the front door.

Setting my cup down gently, I didn’t even bother with slippers—I just ran barefoot in my stockings to the entrance.

Nervousness spread rapidly through my body, quickly seeping into every bone and inch of skin, making them stiff and dry.

I swallowed hard, not understanding why I was this nervous.

There was no need to be—it was just a gift.

But I was acting like some starving beggar who had finally been tossed a meal.

…Well, in a way, I am a beggar.

Only, the person I beg from is Gu Fan alone.

I want to experience so many precious “firsts” with him.

The gift is just one step.

In the future, I still want to hold Gu Fan’s hand, kiss Gu Fan, and Gu Fan and I will…

Hehehe…

Before I knew it, I’d slipped into my fantasies again.

Standing at the door, I caught myself smiling like an idiot.

I touched my cheeks—they were so hot, it felt like steam might start rising from them.

What a ridiculous woman I am.

After mocking myself a bit, I took a deep breath.

Without even checking the peephole to see what kind of gift was out there, I simply opened the door.

“Zhi Nian, good evening.”

“Eh? Wait—how come it’s…”

I froze for a moment.

Then I saw Gu Fan standing there, smiling silently at me.

I quickly realized what he meant by “a gift.”

“…Gu Fan, you’re so mean. I spent so long preparing myself before I dared to open the door.”

“Oh? Are you saying I’m not qualified to be a gift?”

“Ugh—no, no! That’s not what I meant. I meant you scared me. I thought it would just be some little present… I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

“It’s a surprise. If I told you ahead of time, it wouldn’t be fun, would it?”

No… For me, whether you told me in advance or not, I’d still be just as happy.

If I didn’t know ahead of time, I would imagine all kinds of wonderful things.

And then I’d get lost in those beautiful, dreamlike bubbles.

Even if I know those dreams won’t all come true, I’d still smile to myself like a fool.

But if I did know ahead of time, it’d be even better.

I’d look forward to the surprise Gu Fan had prepared for me—something that wasn’t really a surprise anymore.

Even before receiving it, my heart would already be overflowing with genuine happiness.

“Gu Fan, come in and sit for a while.”

To be honest, ever since I found out we’d be going to the mall tonight, I hadn’t dared to hope Gu Fan would show up at my door.

I thought it would be like before—he’d meet me at the street corner, we’d hop on his motorbike, cruise around, and then head to the mall.

Since the person I’ve been dreaming of is right in front of me, what reason do I have not to let Gu Fan come in and sit for a while?

Don’t worry, I won’t do anything.

I just want to quietly watch Gu Fan walk around my house, drink some water, space out, and watch TV—just as if we’ve already been living together here for a long, long time.

Holding Gu Fan’s wrist, I walked ahead of him.

Thanks to the difference in our angles, I didn’t hide the silent smile blooming on my face.