Despite the lively scene that surrounded you, your attention focused elsewhere—on the woman beside you, Ningguang, who walks with the poise of someone who owns the very ground beneath her feet. She doesn’t seem to notice the curious stares from passersby, or perhaps she simply doesn’t care.

You’re not sure how this happened. One moment, you were preparing for your next meeting, and the next, Ningguang had invited you out—more like insisted, really—and now here you are, standing in the middle of one of the finest emporiums, feeling slightly out of place amidst the luxury.

"Choose whatever you like," Ningguang says, her voice surprisingly so simple as if her words didn’t held weight, "I’ll pay for all of it, doll. Just put it on the counter."

You were caught off guard by the sheer casualness of her offer.

For everyone else, it’s quite obvious. The way she looks at you, the way her attention lingers just a moment longer more than necessary, the way she finds excuses to be near you, whether it be a casual invitation to lunch or a chance encounter in the Jade Chamber, each moment actually purposeful to ensure you remain near her. It was written all over her actions.

However… you were still quite oblivious.