CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 84: CHRISTMAS EVE (PART 2)

After the meal, Zhou Huaiyi barely got a word in; firstly because dining in such a romantic restaurant with her crush made her a bit shy, and secondly because... the steak here was really delicious!

From the first bite, she couldn’t stop, just kept her head down and ate.

During the meal, the two barely talked, so they ate a bit faster, finishing in little over an hour.

Xiang Qichen hadn’t planned to stay in this crowded restaurant. Once Zhou Huaiyi was full, they left the restaurant one after another.

The snow had stopped, covering the eaves and branches with a pure white layer.

Zhou Huaiyi, full and content, leaned back in the passenger seat, patted her round belly, satisfied, and said, "Ah... one must enjoy life when at ease, what a happy Christmas Eve this is."

Xiang Qichen fastened the seat belt, a subtle smile on his lips, started the car and shifted gears.

"Going back to the hotel now?" Zhou Huaiyi asked.

Xiang Qichen unhurriedly reversed the car and asked back, "Want to see the snowy scenery?"

Zhou Huaiyi looked at him, secretly delighted, "Let’s go!" As long as she was with her crush, she’d go anywhere!

Then Xiang Qichen drove her to the observatory villa behind the hotel. Though the place wasn’t high, standing on the observatory platform, one could see the bustling night view of H City at a glance. Plus, with the fresh snowfall, the whole city was wrapped in silver, looking quite beautiful.

Zhou Huaiyi zipped up her down jacket, stood on the bottom rail, holding the iron railing, and sighed, "It’s so beautiful."

Xiang Qichen followed up closely, seeing her joyful and content look, his heart filled with smiles.

He said, "Yes, it’s very beautiful."

Zhou Huaiyi turned around to glance at him, "Qi Chen, do you often come here?"

Xiang Qichen came over, leaned on the railing, and replied, "It’s my first time here too."

Zhou Huaiyi: "Oh."

Then she saw Xiang Qichen take a small bag out of his coat pocket, holding it up in front of her, succinctly saying, "For you."

Zhou Huaiyi was stunned: Christmas gift already? She’s left her gift back at the hotel!

"Silver bracelet, as a token," he added.

Zhou Huaiyi: "..."

All that nervousness for nothing.

She stepped down from the rails, not taking it immediately, just saying, "Did you really buy it? I was joking."

Even so, she couldn’t help being thrilled, even if it wasn’t a Christmas gift.

"Here, take it," he urged, handing it forward again.

Zhou Huaiyi reached out to take it this time.

He said, "Open it and have a look."

She followed his cue, reaching in and pulling out two varying-sized jewelry boxes.

Zhou Huaiyi arched her eyebrow at him, puzzled, but he said nothing, quietly waiting for her to finish unwrapping.

Inside the smaller box was a finely carved little silver bracelet, bright and particularly dainty. Zhou Huaiyi took it out for a closer look, finally slipping it onto her right wrist gently.

She was born with small hands and slender wrists, the cup-sized silver bracelet fit without needing any adjustment, she just slipped it right on.

Xiang Qichen looked at the shiny silver bracelet and her delicate wrist, eyes filled with joy, eagerly reminding her, "Open the other one."

Zhou Huaiyi hesitated with the bigger box in hand, "One is enough."

Xiang Qichen casually added, "Employee benefit, quickly open it."

Zhou Huaiyi: "..."

At the moment the box was opened, Zhou Huaiyi was stunned.

There lay an elegant and exquisite dandelion platinum necklace. The observatory at night had only a dim streetlight, casting a quiet light on the vine, and the necklace lay in the jewelry box, bright and simple, directly striking her heart.

"Too precious," she closed it back with her hand, intending to return it.

But Xiang Qichen, hands in his pockets, didn’t even flinch, lifted his eyelids and said, "Just picked it at random."