Xu Qinghe didn't hesitate at his invitation.
She nodded. "Okay." Lowering her head, she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Even if their relationship hadn't yet reached romantic feelings, being with Shi Wenli—so gentlemanly, thoughtful, and considerate—was still an utterly heart-stirring experience.
This was her third time at his rented place, so she knew her way around.
Each time she came, the first things she noticed were the tablecloth on the wooden dining table and the vase on it.
The chamomile in the vase had been bought a few days ago; the leaves were wilting, the small flowers drying up and scattered on the table.
Shi Wenli took off his coat and was about to hang it up when he suddenly remembered something and put it back on.
He picked up his phone from the table. "Have a seat. There's no fruit you like at home. I'll go buy some."
Xu Qinghe stood up. "I'll go with you."
Shi Wenli said it wasn't necessary. "It's cold outside. Stay here and scroll through your phone."
Xu Qinghe had already reached the door to change shoes. "I've been sitting all day. I could use a walk."
Just newly in love, she wanted to be with him every moment.
As they stepped out of the building, the cold wind funneled straight into their collars.
Walking toward the neighborhood gate was against the wind, so she turned around and walked backward.
With her hands in her down jacket pockets, she spoke to him while stepping back. "Aren't you cold?"
His coat wasn't particularly thick.
Shi Wenli kept an eye on the path behind her. "I'm okay. I'm wearing a sweater underneath."
Xu Qinghe looked at the black sweater peeking out from his coat collar. "I wanted to ask last time—aren't you cold wearing such a thin sweater in the dead of winter?"
It was comfortable indoors, but outdoors, it couldn't block the wind at all.
"Thin?" Shi Wenli glanced down at himself and smiled. "I think it's fine."
"It looks pretty thin. Maybe it's the style?" Xu Qinghe instinctively reached out to feel the thickness. "Let me touch it."
Her hand extended toward him, but she suddenly realized it might not be appropriate—to touch the sweater, she'd have to lift his coat.
She withdrew her hand back into her pocket, making an excuse. "It's really cold today. My hands almost froze off."
Shi Wenli said, "I'll show you when we get back."
Xu Qinghe took it as a casual remark.
Having known each other for years, he knew exactly what fruits she liked.
He picked a few of her favorites, then turned to ask, "Anything else you want?"
Xu Qinghe shook her head, saying that was enough.
Leaving the fruit shop, a few steps ahead was a flower shop still lit, not yet closed.
Seeing him turn that way, Xu Qinghe grabbed his arm.
"What are you doing?"
Shi Wenli looked back and said, "Buying some flowers."
They hadn't even had a proper meal together before confirming their relationship; he felt something was missing for her.
Xu Qinghe held on to him, thinking buying flowers was unnecessary. "I have flowers in my office—a big bouquet from a patient's family. Flowers are all the same. I can just look at them a few more times each day."
Shi Wenli chuckled. "Even if they're the same, they wouldn't count as from me."
He compromised. "I'll buy a small bouquet, not a big one. And I missed your birthday this year since I was abroad."
Xu Qinghe thought for a moment. "Then buy me surgical caps instead. Flowers are just sitting there with no time to look at them, but I can wear surgical caps every day."
"Alright, I'll pick out a few for you when I have time."
Still, Shi Wenli decided to enter the flower shop. "The chamomile in the vase doesn't look good anymore. I'll buy some fresh ones to replace them."
Only then did Xu Qinghe release his arm.
Belatedly, she noticed how firm his forearm was.
Shi Wenli thought about what other flowers would complement the tablecloth besides chamomile.
Inside the shop, he picked a few white roses to match, along with two sprigs of snow willow.
Xu Qinghe looked at the flowers in his hand. Although it was for matching the tablecloth and arranging the vase better, she felt he had deliberately chosen the kind she would like.
Back home, Shi Wenli first washed her a bowl of strawberries.
Xu Qinghe took off her coat and sat at the dining table, eating.
Shi Wenli began cleaning the vase, then went to the kitchen to fill it with water, trimming the roses and snow willow stems one by one before arranging them.
Only the pendant light above the dining table was on, casting a warm yellow glow over this small space.
She inexplicably loved the atmosphere of this table and felt reluctant to part with it. "When you move out, there won't be such a cozy little dining table anymore."
Shi Wenli said, "The new place's decor is similar to here. If you like this tablecloth, I'll take it when I move."