Today, Su Man was dressed simply — jeans and a T-shirt, casual and relaxed.

She was tall, and even in ordinary clothes, she radiated a kind of vibrant, youthful brightness. Even so, it was no comparison to the evening gown she held in her hands.

The black full-length dress Lu Yuwen had chosen for her was masterfully cut, with exquisite attention to detail. It looked clean and elegant at first glance, yet every inch of it brought out a woman’s soft, graceful beauty.

Wearing something like this, even the roughest woman would find herself holding her breath, her every movement becoming lighter and slower…

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and exhaled slowly.

The woman in the mirror felt like someone else entirely.

The off-shoulder neckline perfectly framed her swan-like neck; her delicate collarbones emerged and disappeared beneath the thin fabric. The falling pleats fanned out like an opening hand fan, tracing her slender waist, while the hemline — made of some material she couldn’t quite identify — shimmered and rippled like white ocean waves surging through the night whenever she took a step.

Feeling self-conscious, she curled her pale fingers together, hesitating over whether to change back into her own clothes.

A polite voice came from outside the dressing room door:

“Miss, the gentleman outside brought you a pair of shoes. I’ve left them just outside — when you’re done changing, could you please try them on as well?”

Su Man answered, “Of course, thank you.”

She looked at herself in the mirror once more, drew a deep breath, and opened the dressing room door.

A pair of silver stilettos sat just outside.

Su Man pressed her lips together, slipped off her own low-heeled brown leather flats, and stepped into the shoes Lu Yuwen had chosen for her… and found that her eye level had risen considerably.

These were probably the highest heels she had ever worn.

“Alright…” She closed her eyes and breathed in, steeling herself. “I can do this.”

Su Man straightened her back and walked out.

……

Lu Yuwen stood by the counter with his back to her, his attention seemingly fixed on the scarves and accessories the attendant was showing him, unaware she had emerged.

Su Man walked a few steps closer.

Perhaps hearing her footsteps, Lu Yuwen turned his head slightly — and saw her.

His pupils widened just a fraction. His expression stayed composed, but his gaze settled on her and refused to move, as if he were transfixed — momentarily unable to look away.

Su Man tugged self-consciously at her skirt and asked softly, “Does it look nice?”

Lu Yuwen came back to himself. “…It looks nice.”

After those two words, he turned his head slightly away, averted his gaze, and said nothing more — yet his ears turned visibly, unmistakably red.

Su Man: “…”

A reaction like that moved her far more than any verbal compliment could have.

And so Su Man’s face turned red too…

The awkward silence stretched for about ten seconds before the store attendant finally broke it:

“Miss, are you satisfied with this outfit?”

“Mm… yes, I am. How much is it?” Su Man smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and reached for her bag. “Do you accept card?”

Lu Yuwen immediately stopped her. “No need — I’ll pay.”

“That’s not right,” Su Man objected. “Having you treat me to dinner is already embarrassing enough. How can I let you pay for my clothes too?”

“I wanted to give you this dress as a gift. I should be the one to pay,” Lu Yuwen said.

Su Man shook her head. “I really like the dress, and since I’m the one wearing it, I should pay for it, no matter how you look at it…”

Lu Yuwen let out a helpless laugh and stopped arguing with her. He pulled out a card and handed it directly to the attendant, sighing, “Please — think of it as indulging a man’s pitiful vanity.”

The female attendant was charmed into a smile. She glanced at the card Su Man held out, but ultimately didn’t take it. She only took Lu Yuwen’s card and headed toward the register.

“Hey! Don’t walk away!” Su Man called after the attendant urgently.

Normally she’d have gone after her, but now, in high heels, and reluctant to ruin the elegance of the beautiful gown, she could only stand there anxious and helpless.

“It really is very beautiful,” Lu Yuwen said with a smile. “I never imagined my taste in women’s clothing would be this good. If you really can’t stand owing me a favor, maybe next time you can pick out an outfit for me.”

Su Man tugged at the corner of her mouth, a little embarrassed. “I only know how to pick out sportswear.”

“That’s perfect,” he said, looking at her with genuine warmth. “I’ve always wanted to try wearing sportswear.”

—