Chapter 28: Bai Li, You Are Always Worthy

August in Lingjiang is a time when even the cracks in brick walls sprout resilient grass, full of vigorous vitality.

It was the first time Bai Li had seen Fang Ye return home in the afternoon. She was a little surprised when he placed a shopping bag on the sofa, as she recognized the logo immediately. It was a trendy women’s clothing brand.

Sure enough, after washing his hands, Fang Ye said to her, "Go change into these new clothes. I'm taking you to the tavern for dinner tonight."

Bai Li quite liked going to the tavern. With the weather getting hot, she really, really wanted a glass of cool pear juice. However, she felt bewildered looking at the bag; she hadn't asked Fang Ye to buy her clothes.

Fang Ye didn't give her a chance to ask. He leaned forward slightly, hooked the shopping bag’s cord with one finger, pushed it into her arms, and then ushered her into the bathroom, considerately closing the door behind her.

Bai Li stared blankly at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a faded blue-and-white school uniform. It wasn't exactly dowdy, but because of her painting, the cuffs were inevitably stained; she had tried her best to wash them, but faint traces remained.

She took out the clothes Fang Ye had bought her. They were light-colored plaid dresses, perfect for summer. One, in particular, caught her eye: it was adorned with tiny daisies on the straps. The price tag read 500 yuan.

Bai Li looked down, gently stroking the fabric of the hem. She knew Fang Ye had been short on money lately, likely because he was heading to university, and she didn't believe the relatives on his brother's side would provide for his education. Even so, he had bought her a dress. The thought made her heart ache.

Reluctant to wear it, she carefully placed the dress back into the bag and opened the door to ask softly, "Brother, where did you buy this? Can you still return it?"

Fang Ye was standing in the courtyard smoking. The cherry tree branches trembled in the breeze, and ribbons of light filtered through the dense leaves, resting on his refined brow. Hearing her question, he turned, his gaze sweeping over her clothes with a calm, gentle expression. "Doesn't it fit?"

Bai Li shook her head. She had checked the size; it fit perfectly. But she bit the bullet and lied, "I don't like this dress."

Clearly, Fang Ye hadn't expected such a response. A flicker of contemplation crossed his brow, as he chided himself for being thoughtless and not knowing how to pick clothes for a young girl. His earring glinted in the sunlight, adding a touch of allure to his appearance as smoke curled slowly from his lips. When he looked at her again, he caught the way her eyes darted away.

Tsk...

Fang Ye raised an eyebrow. *Little liar,* he thought to himself.

After a moment, he curled his lips and said nonchalantly, "Fine, we won't return it. I'll take you to pick out something new, something you actually like."

Bai Li was speechless. How could this be? She had wanted to save him money, but now the situation had escalated, and it was going to cost even more?

Noticing the struggle in the girl’s eyes, Fang Ye calmly stubbed out his cigarette, stood up to grab his jacket, and said with a hint of amusement in his voice, "Let's go."

The gentle, lazy summer breeze brushed through Bai Li’s hair. She clutched the gift bag and shook her head, "Brother, let's not. I suddenly realized this dress is actually really pretty. I want this one; I'm going to put it on."

Watching her scurry into the bathroom in a panic, Fang Ye lowered his eyes and let out a soft laugh.

Bai Li wasn't deaf. The moment she closed the door, she heard his laughter, and her earlobes turned bright red. *Help!* She realized Fang Ye was impossible to fool. She had no way around him; any attempt to do something against her own heart couldn't escape his sharp eyes.

She decided to stop struggling. After putting on the dress, she looked up at the mirror. Fang Ye really had a good eye. The cut of the dress was form-fitting, and the color perfectly complemented her fair skin, making her look even brighter. Although it was a sundress, it wasn't too revealing, shielding her skin while giving her a refreshing, youthful look. Even the fabric was soft and elegant—well worth the price.

She looked at the tag hanging at her waist but couldn't bring herself to remove it, still hoping for a chance to return it. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Fang Ye saw her awkwardly covering her waist.

Bai Li felt embarrassed. She rarely wore such bright dresses—partly because school didn't allow it, partly because her younger sister at home wasn't pleased, and partly as a way to protect herself. She still felt a bit self-conscious.

Fang Ye didn't let his