"I’ll take it."

  "Right away."

  The shopkeeper loved dealing with wealthy young ladies who didn’t even ask about the price. He hurried to have the necklace packed, only to be stopped.

  "Wait a moment. May I take a look at that necklace as well?"

  Bai Qingqing’s fingers curled inside her sleeve, but her face remained calm. "What do you mean, sir? I’ve already decided on this necklace. Surely you don’t intend to fight me for it?"

  Fu Yi gazed at her intently, a dull ache spreading in his chest. There was wariness in her eyes when she looked at him—it was never supposed to be like this.

  "You misunderstand, miss. I am Fu Yi, of the Prince of Ping’s household. I have no intention of competing with you for it. I merely found the design intriguing. I happened to be looking for a necklace myself and wished to take a closer look."

  Bai Qingqing’s thoughts drifted to her past life. This very necklace had been purchased around this time. When she and Yaoyao returned to Lingyun Pavilion later, it was nowhere to be found. Could it have been Fu Yi who bought it back then?

  But she had known him for so long and had rarely seen him buy jewelry for a woman himself. And this particular piece—clearly meant for a young girl.

  Though it was none of her business, curiosity still got the better of her. She remarked offhandedly, "This necklace suits a lively young lady. If you’re looking for one, the shop has other designs as well."

  Fu Yi was secretly pleased—since their reunion, this was the most she had spoken to him. How could he let the opportunity slip away?

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  "To be honest, I’m buying it for a cousin. Her birthday is coming up, and I thought it would make a fine gift… But I know little about a young lady’s preferences. Would you be willing to help me choose?"

  "No."

  Fu Yi was taken aback. Bai Qingqing had already turned away, her expression cold.

  She should have known.

  Who else could he care so much about, if not Lu Qingyun?

  How absurd, for him to share such deep affection with her, yet never once mention it to Bai Qingqing, leaving her to foolishly pine for him alone. What a bastard.

  "Have you finished looking, sir?"

  Fu Yi returned the necklace. The shop assistant promptly packed it and handed it to Zidai.

  Bai Qingqing had planned to leave immediately since Fu Yi was here, but then she reconsidered.

  Why should she?

  Why should she let Fu Yi’s presence dictate her actions? Why should she avoid him? She had never wronged him.

  With that thought, the foot she had lifted fell back to the ground, and she continued browsing the jewelry.

  Fu Yi wanted to approach her but suddenly realized he had no idea how to start a conversation.

  In his memories, whenever they were together, it was always Bai Qingqing who initiated topics, some of which were obviously chosen for his sake. But what was she truly interested in? For a moment, Fu Yi couldn’t think of a single thing.

  "Take this tray away and bring out something else."

  Bai Qingqing had just finished looking over the ornaments when she realized Fu Yi had come to stand beside her. He instructed the shopkeeper, "Bring out some jade and pearl accessories."

  Bai Qingqing glanced up at him. Fu Yi added, "I thought you might like them."

  He had often seen her wearing such accessories—pieces adorned with fine jade and eastern pearls, lending her a serene and elegant air.

  But what Fu Yi didn’t know was that this preference hadn’t come naturally to her.

  Even the Bai family knew little about it—Bai Qingqing’s taste in jewelry was, in truth, quite tacky. She adored gold.

  Golden hairpins, golden bangles, golden pendants—brilliant and dazzling, bringing her pure joy.

  But after marrying into the prince’s household, the princess consort forbade her from wearing such things, calling them vulgar, lacking the understated elegance of jade and pearls. It was unbecoming of a noble wife. As a daughter-in-law of the Fu family, she had to be the perfect match for her station.

  Bai Qingqing stopped the shop assistant from fetching jade and pearls. "Not those. Bring me some gold jewelry instead."