Chapter Thirty-Three: He Gave Too Much

Ye Yan had assumed that Liao Zhong would arrange for a military jeep, but to his surprise, it was a black business vehicle—brand new, barely a few hundred kilometers on the odometer, with a full tank of gas. On the passenger seat lay several stacks of cash, all bright red bills, amounting to at least tens of thousands, set aside for emergencies.

Thinking of all this, Ye Yan couldn’t help but give old Liao a thumbs-up. As expected of the regional director—he handled things with reliability, considering even the smallest details.

“Teacher, I’m ready,” Chen Duo announced.

After Ye Yan finished inspecting the car, Chen Duo had already packed her things and stepped outside. Unlike other girls, who needed hours for makeup and preparation before heading out, Chen Duo was unusually efficient. She left bare-faced, needing no makeup.

“If you’re ready, let’s go,” Ye Yan said, glancing at her. He saw no unnecessary adornments, only a beige cartoon-print baseball cap, simple to the extreme. But none of that mattered.

…

…

Southern Frontier, Telma Supermarket.

“Duo, why are you so far from me? Come closer—if you stay that far, you’ll be left behind… Hurry up, keep up,” Ye Yan called out generously as he walked ahead. Behind him, Chen Duo followed shyly through the supermarket, keeping a few paces’ distance, sometimes nearer, sometimes farther, resembling a pair of quarrelling lovers in the midst of a cold war.

“Teacher, wait for me,” Chen Duo quickened her steps, carefully maneuvering past the other shoppers, as if terrified of touching anyone. Her manner was odd, like a performer staging a circus act in public.

The bustling crowd made Chen Duo feel she was in a noisy and unfamiliar world. Everything seemed strange to her, as if she were a newborn, uneasy about the surroundings.

Ye Yan stopped and waited. It took quite a while before Chen Duo caught up. He noticed she was sweating profusely, her eyes wide like a frightened rabbit, glimmering with anxiety and unease.

It was her first time shopping, her first time walking where so many people congregated. Everything in this world was alien to her, and she was just as alien to it.

“I was too impatient,” Ye Yan thought.

He had assumed she was grown enough not to require the same care as before, at least deserving a respectful distance. Yet he’d forgotten—Chen Duo had never been shopping.

Seeing her state, Ye Yan pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket and gently wiped the sweat from her brow.

Chen Duo instinctively tried to evade his touch, a reflex born of her constitution, making her wary of anyone trying to get close.

To avoid harming others.

But something in her subconscious urged her not to refuse…

Her body trembled slightly, but she forced herself not to move, her expression stiff.

After wiping her sweat, Ye Yan naturally took her hand, and they walked forward together, threading through the crowd.

Their looks alone were enough to draw attention, even without any fancy attire. Walking hand in hand, they made a striking pair.

People glanced their way, some even gasped softly and took out their phones to snap pictures, but Ye Yan paid them no mind. As long as their identities and abilities weren’t exposed, it didn’t matter where those photos ended up.

They continued forward at a leisurely pace, and gradually, Chen Duo seemed to adapt to this new environment. She was no longer as frantic as at first; instead, her eyes widened with curiosity as she observed everything around her.

This was the shopping trip she had dreamed of.

They stopped before a women’s clothing store—or rather, Chen Duo stopped.

Her gaze was drawn, almost irresistibly, to a pink dress displayed in the window. The style wasn’t new, but the color was vibrant and striking, a shade she’d never seen before—an unknown in her world of knowledge.

Though she didn’t know why she paused, it felt as if some inner voice urged her to stop and look.

Chen Duo followed her heart.

Ye Yan noticed her gaze and smiled, “What is it… do you like it?”

Chen Duo shook her head. “I don’t know. I just couldn’t help but stop and look. It’s strange.”

She truly couldn’t understand her own instincts, but she honestly expressed her feelings.

Ye Yan knew he wouldn’t get much more from questioning her, so he simply took her hand and led her into the store.

Upon entering, Chen Duo was immediately captivated by the array of dazzling clothes on the racks, her face struck with awe.

It was her first time seeing so many garments.

The sales assistant seated at the entrance quickly put down the tablet she’d been watching dramas on, flashing a professional smile. Though she locked the screen swiftly, Ye Yan glimpsed the show—“Handsome Oppa’s Long Legs,” the current national sensation.

“Is there anything you two are looking for?” the assistant asked, her gaze scanning them up and down.

“Clothes suitable for her,” Ye Yan said softly, pointing to Chen Duo.

“Of course, sir.” The enthusiastic assistant immediately focused on Chen Duo, sizing her up.

But after a moment, her expression soured. “Sir, your girlfriend is certainly striking, but her style is… truly unique.”

She seemed at a loss for words, primarily because of the special undergarment Chen Duo wore—it was impossible to miss, no matter what clothing covered it.

“That’s true,” Ye Yan nodded in agreement.

In the service industry, discerning people is crucial. From the moment they entered, the assistant had identified Ye Yan as the decision-maker, so she addressed him.

“Sir, shall I take the young lady inside to browse?”

“Go ahead.”

The assistant turned to Chen Duo, “Do you have a preferred style?”

Chen Duo shook her head. Not because she didn’t want to answer, but because she genuinely didn’t know what she liked—not just clothes, but even the concept of liking something was foreign to her.

Fortunately, Ye Yan spoke up before she could look awkward.

“Just put together a few outfits for her—choose good colors and styles, for every season. If she lingers on anything, pick the right size and wrap it up. Price is not an issue.”

The assistant: “???”

Price is not an issue? Outfits for all four seasons? But it’s summer now!

He’s buying clothes for every season? And anything she looks at for a while gets wrapped up?

What a divine boyfriend.

She was envious.

In her eyes, Ye Yan likely appeared to be some handsome, wealthy nouveau riche—perhaps a bit foolish, but undeniably generous.

Though the request was outrageous, the principle that the customer is king prevailed, and the assistant was fired up—after all, commissions on clothing sales meant extra bonuses. With a big order like this, how could she worry about meeting her monthly targets?

She was full of enthusiasm, though her expression was less than flattering.

But there was nothing to be done—he was offering so much.