Together Forever

Chapter 7.1

The Person I Like

This was his first Christmas Eve in Shanghai.

Although he had grown up in a Catholic school system, this was only because the teaching in it was more strict and rigorous and not because he was a true Catholic. Gu Pingfan, on the other hand, was a devout believer through and through, and tonight, she would most certainly be going to church to celebrate Midnight Mass. Hence, he had very early on arranged a time with Gu Pingfan to go shopping together.

But, he had not expected that there would be so many people.

Looking around at all the young women's fashions that were near and far, Gu Pingfan asked somewhat uncomprehendingly, "What are you here to buy?"

He pondered momentarily. "Young women's clothing."

Gu Pingfan's eyes swept him up and down. Just as she was about to throw out a couple of mocking sentences, she suddenly understood. "It's for that student of yours? Tong Yan?" While she was speaking, she stepped out of the way of several girls who looked to be students.

"Your build is really similar to hers, and your taste is also passable ..." He did not deny anything and merely felt that, standing here among this crowded swarm of young women, he seemed to stick out. "Help me buy some clothing that would be fitting. I want to give them to her as a Christmas present." Raising his arm, he glanced at his watch. "I'll wait for you in the Coffee Bean downstairs. Twenty minutes?"

On the surface, he seemed to be asking for a favour and his tone was gracious and courteous, but it left absolutely no opportunity for refusal.

Gu Pingfan was accustomed to this manner of his that he had always had since he was a child. She could not even be bothered to say anything and instead, proceeded directly to dutifully force her way into the horde. He went downstairs to the Coffee Bean, which was also packed with people, and ordered a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Luck was on his side for when the tea was ready and carried out, there happened to be someone in the corner leaving. Near him, a young couple wearing school uniforms was laughing happily, when unexpectedly, the boy pulled out a box. When the girl opened it, whatever was contained inside caused her to instantly throw her hands over her mouth and, with an exaggerated expression on her face, let out a high-pitched squeal.

"Ten minutes." All of a sudden, a bag obstructed his view. Grinning, Pingfan stated, "A down jacket and a scarf. Both are in a style I like. Seeing that you praised my taste, I bought them based on my preferences."

Pulling the paper bag open, he glanced inside. The items were, yet again, a royal blue color. "How is it that all this time, you've made no progress? You've liked this particular color for seven, eight years now, haven't you?"

Gu Pingfan took out her wallet to go buy some water. "That night when you came back, you said that Tong Yan looks really nice in this color." Once she said this, she stood and went to buy a cup of coffee before returning to where they were sitting.

Their seats were in the furthest corner, and when Pingfan came back carrying her coffee, she nearly tripped over all the additional chairs that had been stuffed haphazardly in the space. After overcoming numerous obstacles and countless perils to finally take her seat, she looked at Gu Pingsheng, who was leaning back in his armchair, and suddenly she pursed her lips and eyed him over.

Detecting her gaze, Gu Pingsheng tilted his head slightly to the side and motioned for her to speak plainly if she had something to say.

"You and your student ..." She mulled over her word choice but ultimately decided to be direct and to the point. "Are you guys together now?"