Chapter 141: Heart Failure

Looking at the faint smile in Sang Yijia’s eyes, Lu Wenchuan felt that whether he liked it or not didn’t matter; what mattered was whether Sang Yijia was happy.

"Alright, if there's a chance, I'll give it a try," Lu Wenchuan replied.

Sang Yijia agreed.

With the milk tea in hand, the two of them continued to stroll through the commercial street, hand in hand. Neither of them mentioned the task assigned by the production team—to give each other a gift that truly showed their hearts.

"Do you want to go swimming?" Lu Wenchuan remembered that the official filming would begin tomorrow, and since it would take place by the seaside, going into the water was inevitable. However, he wasn’t sure if Sang Yijia knew how to swim.

"Not for now." Sang Yijia looked up at the sun. The sun at the seaside was truly intense; even though it was already October, the temperatures remained high.

Having his suggestion declined, Lu Wenchuan thought for a moment. "Shall we go see a movie next?"

"Why don't we think about what gift we want to give each other?" Sang Yijia glanced at her watch; it was one o'clock in the afternoon.

"I’m already preparing your gift. You’ll be able to see it at the lake area in a while," Lu Wenchuan replied.

"As for the gift you’re going to give me, I’ve already decided what I want." Lu Wenchuan looked down at her. "I want a hug from you."

"That’s fine, I’ll give it to you now." Sang Yijia stepped forward.

Lu Wenchuan opened his arms, and a moment later, the beauty was pressed against his chest, her delicate fragrance swirling around them. It felt too surreal to Lu Wenchuan, yet the warmth of the girl in his arms was so tangible. True or false, illusion or reality—he could no longer tell the difference.

"Alright." After holding her for a while, Sang Yijia stepped back. "But I still feel that’s not enough."

"I’ll still prepare a gift for you later. For now, let’s keep it a mystery."

That single hug seemed to push their relationship a significant step forward. The atmosphere between them was faintly tinged with a delicate sweetness, like peach-flavored candy.

***

At two in the afternoon, Bian He appeared on camera carrying a massive bouquet of roses. Yan Ningsi had originally only wanted a dozen or so, but she hadn’t expected Bian He to buy such a huge bundle.

Just then, Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan returned and saw them. Sang Yijia let out a soft "wow," seemingly envious.

"I’ll give you some next time, too," Lu Wenchuan replied immediately. "Nine hundred and ninety-nine of them."

Sang Yijia: "..."

"Do you have to compete in this, too?" Yan Ningsi glared at him, unconvinced. "You guys were talking all morning, and I couldn't even join in." Originally, she had planned to go shopping for swimsuits with Sang Yijia, but all the time had been taken up by Lu Wenchuan. Wasn't that enough?

Bian He pulled her aside. "You were acting as a third wheel the whole time before, and Brother Lu didn't even say anything to you."

"..." Yan Ningsi was choked for words. It took her a while before she questioned Bian He, "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"On your side, deep down," Bian He said, handing her the roses. "You’re the one who asked for this."

"Shut up." Yan Ningsi didn’t want anyone to know she had asked Bian He to buy these roses for her; it would be so embarrassing.

Seeing them teasing each other, Sang Yijia pulled Lu Wenchuan away and whispered, "It looks like Xiao Sisi has taken a liking to Bian He."

"I just don't know what Bian He thinks of her." As she spoke, Sang Yijia looked back.

Lu Wenchuan reached out to block her view. "Don't look at them; look at me instead."

"Are you jealous of this too?" Sang Yijia looked away and took his hand, giving it a playful squeeze. "Your hands are completely different from mine."

The man’s hands were large, with distinct knuckles and long, slender fingers. They were perfect from every angle, and Sang Yijia had fallen in love with them the first time she saw them. Being able to touch and squeeze them now made her even more satisfied.

Lu Wenchuan indulged Sang Yijia as if she were a child, or perhaps it was that in front of her, he had no bottom line or principles.

"Your hands are very soft, too," Lu Wenchuan said, pressing the elevator button. "They are perfect for holding mine."

"Oh? When did you learn to say things like that?" Sang Yijia was surprised. "Don't tell me you became an expert the moment you started dating me."

"You already know the answer, so don't ask me." The elevator arrived quickly. Lu Wenchuan pulled her inside, and seeing Yan Ningsi and Bian He approaching, he hurriedly closed the elevator doors.

"Let them wait for the next one."

Sang Yijia covered her mouth to hide a giggle, but she didn't stop him.

Yan Ningsi happened to see this and exclaimed, turning to Bian He, "Jiajia and Brother Lu definitely have something going on!"

"I wouldn't know about that." Bian He lazily pressed the button for the other elevator, his hands behind his head. He stubbornly refused to help Yan Ningsi carry the roses.

Yan Ningsi was happy to have the roses, but carrying such a bulky thing around was too much effort. She wanted to put them back in her room, but after holding them for a while, her arms were tired.

"Honestly, I told you to buy them, but why did you buy so many?" Yan Ningsi grumbled, though the corners of her mouth were turned up.

Bian He noticed. "Do you like them or not?"

"They're just okay," Yan Ningsi said, stubborn and refusing to admit it.

"That means you like them," Bian He affirmed. "Since you like them, what's wrong with me buying a few more?"

"Besides, Brother Lu said he’s going to give Sang Yijia nine hundred and ninety-nine roses next time." Bian He curled his lips, watching Yan Ningsi's reaction, and asked with a smile, "Do you want me to do the same?"

"No need." Yan Ningsi couldn't gauge Bian He's intent—was he offering to buy them himself, or did he want her to pay for them? If she couldn't be sure, she would be the one making a fool of herself.

Bian He just let out an "oh" and said nothing more.

Just then, the elevator arrived. Before stepping in, Yan Ningsi noticed the elevator next to them was still going up, not stopping at their floor.

"Where are Brother Lu and Jiajia going?"

"Who knows?" Bian He pulled her inside. "Stop worrying about other people all the time."

"Think more about how we should go on our date tomorrow."

"We're already at the beach, what else is there to do?" Yan Ningsi had already planned it out. "I asked the production team, and they said we'd be snorkeling."

"But I added a game—I’m planning a beach volleyball match."

"Whoever wins gets to go to the island for some alone time." Yan Ningsi lifted her chin triumphantly. "How is that?"

"Isn't that a great idea?"

"The production team won't be allowed to follow us, either," Yan Ningsi added, then smiled mischievously. "We can do whatever we want over there."

To be honest, Bian He was tempted.

"Then what if it’s just the two of us who go?"

"What are you thinking?" Yan Ningsi rolled her eyes at him. "I prepared this specifically for Jiajia."

"Brother Lu has been really hesitant. If I don't give them a little push, when will they ever get together?"

Bian He felt a pang of heartache.