“Mmm, we’re just going to browse around casually, no need to trouble yourselves.”
The moment the words “boyfriend” were caught by my sensitive auditory system, a flood of complex feelings instantly poured into my mind, overwhelming me all at once.
While my mouth responded to the shop assistant, my head buzzed with a chaotic noise, like a swarm of mosquitoes fluttering wildly.
I really wanted to go along and admit that we were exactly the kind of couple the clerk assumed we were, but my timid nature took control first, using my usual evasive tactic to fool the shop assistant and thereby missing this rare opportunity.
Ugh… So frustrating… I really wish I could go back a few seconds and give my past self a good beating.
I gritted my teeth, tugging at the newly bought stockings but didn’t dare to pull too hard. The lingerie store’s items were all expensive, and these tights were on the thinner side—if I tore them, that money would have been wasted.
Throughout the whole time, Gu Fan didn’t say a word. After entering the store, he quietly followed behind me, his gaze wandering aimlessly into the air ahead, lacking the usual curiosity of a visitor entering a pet shop.
Distracted Gu Fan is so annoying…
I wanted him to tease me as he usually did or just reach out and touch me, but shy as a mouse, I couldn’t bring myself to be the first to speak up.
After all, I am a catgirl, right? How could I be this useless?
If I were left out in the wild, a catgirl like me who can’t do anything right would definitely be devoured by stronger creatures.
Leading Gu Fan past the noisy bird and beast section, we finally reached the innermost area selling animal-related merchandise.
Maybe it was because of the holiday combined with Valentine’s Day, but quite a few customers came in pairs, gathering densely around those animal plush toys and accessories, chatting and joking as they casually picked things out.
I casually glanced at Gu Fan, only to find him staring straight at me. I was so startled that I quickly looked away, nervously picking up a large wolf dog keychain in front of me, pretending to admire its appearance.
Its eyes were golden yellow, and the printed jet-black fur looked shiny and polished—truly imposing.
This black big dog proudly raised its head, wearing a cool little expression just like the cold-faced childhood friend standing silently by my side.
I secretly peeked at Gu Fan from the corner of my eye. He was still staring at me, but now his gaze had shifted from my profile to the cat ears atop my head.
Does he want to touch them? That’s okay.
I wanted to say that to Gu Fan, but I worried that if he really took my invitation and grabbed those ears like two old rags stained with ink and gave them a hard squeeze, I might be so shocked that I’d lose control of my body.
Hmm, since my body’s tolerance is low, it’s better not to entertain such reckless thoughts in public.
Realizing where Gu Fan was staring, the cat ears started to produce strange sensations on their own—tingly and itchy, reaching deep into my bones and flesh.
I swallowed hard, suppressing my overly sensitive sensory organs, then abruptly pulled off the big wolf dog keychain I was holding and handed it to the boy standing next to me in a daze.
“Gu Fan… this is a gift for you… not for Valentine’s Day, but to make up for the New Year’s gift.”
I stammered out the opening words, gaining more confidence as I mentioned spending money.
Riding on this rare momentum, I didn’t give Gu Fan a chance to refuse, forcibly prying open his palm and placing the big wolf dog keychain into his hand.
“Here! Keep it safe. Gu Fan has to hang it on his backpack or keychain. If you want to put it on your phone case, that’s fine too… Of course, if you really don’t want to tie it on with a string, you can just keep it carefully, but don’t lose it, okay?”
Gu Fan’s eyes widened slightly, as if he had just come out of a trance.
He picked up the keychain with his fingers, turning it over carefully to inspect both sides, then slowly shifted his gaze to me, who was sneaking glances at him.
“Thank you, I like it very much. Later when I get home, I’ll find a red string to hang it on my phone.”
His thin lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say more but hesitated for a moment.
In the end, he didn’t say anything else, only giving me a somewhat stiff smile. I could tell this wasn’t his usual social mask smile.
Is this how Gu Fan truly feels inside? Is this genuine liking, or extreme impatience forced into a smile?
Phew~
My heart felt like it skipped a beat, and my ears buzzed loudly, as if all the blood vessels in my body were contracting and expanding intensely, pumping powerful blood back into my tight heart.
After several deep breaths, I gradually calmed down.
No matter what Gu Fan was thinking, after seeing his smile, I finally settled the heart I had hanging high above.
My tightly stretched cat tail, which had been swishing wildly, finally stopped, no longer wreaking havoc on the iron badges and small toys hanging by the shelves.
Maybe I hadn’t melted the iceberg in Gu Fan’s heart, but at least I had temporarily crossed the emotional barrier I had built with my own negative feelings.
Although Gu Fan’s stiff smile was nothing like the gentle warmth I had imagined, at least he didn’t fall back into silence. I really hate cold violence—I’ve experienced it too many times since I was young and have had enough.
I’d rather Gu Fan scold me and hit me or throw me into the bedroom to bully me without reservation than have him stay silent like a closed-off gourd.
Gu Fan put the keychain into his pocket, took out his phone, and idly swiped the screen to check the time repeatedly, looking utterly bored.
Not far away, couples were loudly chatting, mostly about picking out matching couple keychains.
A young female shop assistant weaved through the crowd, introducing the animal-themed merchandise one by one as suitable Valentine’s gifts for couples to exchange.
I looked at the happy smiles on those couples’ faces and the cloying little gestures.
The girl could casually punch her boyfriend’s shoulder, letting out a coquettish grumble. The boy would calmly pat the back of his head and laugh, telling his girlfriend not to be ridiculous.
Jealously, I pinched the corner of my skirt, the feeling spreading quickly within my heart’s domain.
I glanced at the childhood friend beside me, who stood motionless like a wooden stake.
His gaze was still on me, but this time it wasn’t on the cat ears or my profile—it was on my legs wrapped in black tights.
“… Gu Fan.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
Gu Fan suddenly lifted his head. It seemed he was just spacing out using me as a focal point? But his childhood friend was right in front of him, so I wouldn’t let him get distracted.
“Gu Fan, can you pick out a suitable keychain for me too? I want to hang it on my phone… Ah, I’ll pay for it myself. It doesn’t have to match yours, I just want you to help me pick one.”
Since Gu Fan couldn’t be as proactive as those boys who pampered their girlfriends, I, as his self-proclaimed ‘fiancée,’ would take the initiative and find more topics to talk about.
The fortune teller was right about one thing—I must first place myself in the identity I want to become to restrain myself and subtly influence Gu Fan.
Wife’s required lesson, chapter one… Is it to understand one’s husband? Hmph.