Yan Chi and Yan Yang walked out of the courtyard, both looking somewhat despondent.
"Do you think the General is having us prepare these as betrothal gifts?" Yan Yang asked.
Yan Chi shook his head. "Given how much the General values Miss Feng Qingyi, he wouldn't use these small items as betrothal gifts. I think these are probably just presents for her."
"But do we need to prepare so many things just for gifts?" Yan Yang glanced at the list of items written on the paper.
Cosmetics, clothing, and jewelry were things women would indeed like, but why were cups and cutlery listed? And at the bottom, it said in large characters: "Must be beautiful."
"Perhaps the General wants to make up for all the gifts he's missed giving in the past?" Yan Chi said uncertainly.
"...But these bowls and chopsticks, and even pillows and quilts—Miss Feng Qingyi doesn't lack any of these things!" Yan Yang was thoroughly confused by the items Qin Yuchuan had listed for purchase.
Yan Chi leaned in to take a look and also seemed perplexed. "Should we go ask the General if he made a mistake in writing this?"
Just then, Qin Yuchuan suddenly emerged. "I'll go with you. You two probably can't pick out anything nice on your own."
Qin Yuchuan rode in the mansion's carriage with Yan Chi and Yan Yang to the market. The carriage stopped on Changning Street.
The shops on Changning Street were lined up one after another. Qin Yuchuan quickly entered one, and when he came out, Yan Chi and Yan Yang's hands were already full of purchases.
After visiting just three shops, Yan Chi and Yan Yang could no longer carry everything, so they had to put the bought items in the carriage first.
"Is the General planning to empty out all the shops in Shengjing?" Yan Yang remarked.
Yan Chi sighed, "If that's what the General wants, what can we do about it?"
Yan Yang replied, "Come on, let's hurry and move these things."
The three of them spent the entire afternoon shopping. If Qin Yuchuan didn't have to pick up Feng Qingyi from work, Yan Chi and Yan Yang felt he might not have even spared the neighboring grocery store.
...
Ever since Qin Yuchuan had returned from the battlefield, he had been punctually picking up Feng Qingyi from work every day.
As usual, Qin Yuchuan stood waiting outside her company building.
A few minutes after five o'clock, Feng Qingyi walked out of the company.
"You're so early today?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Feng Qingyi replied, "That's because I'm highly efficient! Once I finish my work for the day, I can leave earlier. What would you like to eat tonight?"
"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Feng Qingyi looked around. "There's a Western restaurant up ahead. Let's go check it out together."
"Didn't you used to dislike going to such places?" He remembered her saying before that she didn't like Western restaurants.
Feng Qingyi said, "That was before. If I'm going with you, I think it would be quite nice."
"Alright, we'll do as you say," Qin Yuchuan replied.
After dinner, Feng Qingyi held Qin Yuchuan's hand as they strolled down the street.
As they walked, they passed by a luxurious shop selling diamond rings.
Qin Yuchuan suddenly stopped. Feng Qingyi noticed he wasn't moving and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Would you like to have dinner with me at the General's Mansion tomorrow night?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Feng Qingyi thought for a moment. "Sure! Then you can pick me up tomorrow evening."
Qin Yuchuan nodded, "Alright."
"The car is still at your place, so we'll have to take a taxi home again today," Feng Qingyi suddenly remarked.
Qin Yuchuan said, "Let's go buy a car."
"...Buy a car? Now?" Feng Qingyi doubted she had heard correctly.
Qin Yuchuan nodded very seriously, "Let's go right now."
"How much money do you have left?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "I don't know. The card is with you."
Feng Qingyi suddenly remembered that along with the property deed, he had given her his bank card, ID card, and household registration book.
"Even if we have money, we shouldn't spend it recklessly. A car isn't a necessity. Once we find Guang'an, we can get that car back."
Qin Yuchuan said, "We can buy several for you to switch between. I have money."
"...I know you have money, but it's really not necessary to buy so many cars. When you learn how to drive, we can buy one for you. Now, let's go. The car I called has arrived."
Feng Qingyi pushed Qin Yuchuan into the car and got in herself.
...
The next day, the General's Mansion was bustling with activity.
In Qin Yuchuan's courtyard, Yan Chi and Yan Yang were directing everyone to arrange all the items bought yesterday.
On the table under the crabapple tree, a row of red candles was placed, with a few flower petals scattered on top.
Yan Chi looked at it and asked, "Isn't this too simple?"
"It does seem a bit too simple. I wonder what the General is thinking, wanting to have dinner in this courtyard and asking us to prepare candles. If the wind blows at night, won't the candles just go out?" Yan Yang said.
Yan Chi replied, "Indeed, and it's almost summer. Lighting candles will attract a lot of mosquitoes."
"...Have you seen the General?" Yan Yang asked.
Yan Chi shook his head, "The General came back early this morning, instructed us to decorate this place, and then hurriedly left again."
Yan Yang said, "The General has been very secretive lately. Who knows what he's up to?"
"Arrange the things on your side properly. The General also said to bring all the blooming flowers from the garden and display them here," Yan Chi said.
Yan Yang replied, "I've already instructed the others in the mansion to bring them over."
In the Falling Flower Courtyard, after the collective efforts of everyone in the mansion, the decorations were finally arranged according to the requirements.
Centered around the crabapple tree and the long table beneath it, a circle of gifts was arranged, with flowers placed outside the gifts. As there weren't enough blooming flowers in the mansion, they even brought over some potted plants from Xuanyuan Xi's courtyard to make up the numbers.
When Xuanyuan Xi heard about this, she came to the courtyard to take a look. "You've been busy all day and this is all you've managed to arrange? Two circles?"
"Princess, the General said to arrange it like this," Yan Yang handed the sketch to Xuanyuan Xi.
Xuanyuan Xi looked at it. "Remove all these flowers and plants. What girl would like this mishmash?"
"...Yes, and after we remove these, what should we do next?" Yan Chi asked.
Xuanyuan Xi looked around. "First, remove all of these. And what's in all these boxes?"
"This box contains bowls and chopsticks, this one has jewelry, this one has clothes, and this one seems to have quilts or porcelain. I can't quite remember what's in the others," Yan Yang said.
Xuanyuan Xi said, "Open all these boxes. Let me see."
Yan Yang complied, quickly opening all the boxes.
Xuanyuan Xi walked around and looked. "Did Ah Chuan prepare all of this?"
Yan Yang nodded, "The General bought all of these yesterday and told us to arrange them in the courtyard today."
Xuanyuan Xi waved her hand, "Take all of these inside. Bai Wei, take a few people and gather more crabapple blossoms from outside. Bring them here."
"Alright, I'll go right away."
When Qin Yuchuan returned to the Falling Flower Courtyard, he found that the decorations were completely different from what he had envisioned. None of the items he had bought were displayed, but there was a circle of crabapple blossoms arranged instead.
Yan Chi and Yan Yang were scattering flower petals in the courtyard. They stopped when they saw Qin Yuchuan.
"Where are all the things I bought yesterday?" he asked.
Yan Yang replied, "The Princess came by not long ago. She said Miss Feng Qingyi wouldn't like the previous arrangement, so she helped us decorate it like this."
"The Princess also said that the gifts you bought should be given slowly over time, to avoid overwhelming Miss Feng Qingyi. That's what the Princess said," Yan Chi added.
"Hmm," Qin Yuchuan responded.
Yan Chi continued, "The Princess also mentioned that when it comes to gifts, quality is more important than quantity. She suggested you prepare one impressive gift."
Qin Yuchuan glanced at them, "You can all leave now. Remember to have the kitchen prepare dinner for tonight."
"Yes, we'll take our leave now," Yan Chi and Yan Yang quickly departed.
...
Feng Qingyi, having finished her day's work, happily walked to the entrance of her company building.
However, today she didn't see Qin Yuchuan.
"Heading home?" Luo Yang, seeing Feng Qingyi standing at the entrance, asked.
Feng Qingyi shook her head, "Thank you, but no need. I'm waiting for my boyfriend."
"Alright, see you tomorrow then!" Luo Yang walked towards the parking lot in her high heels.
Feng Qingyi checked her phone and waited at the entrance for a few more minutes before Qin Yuchuan finally arrived.
He was holding a bouquet of pink and white crabapple blossoms. "Qingyi, these are for you."
Feng Qingyi happily accepted them. "What made you suddenly think of bringing me flowers?"
"The crabapple flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom. I thought you'd like them, so I picked some," said Qin Yuchuan.
Feng Qingyi sniffed the crabapple flowers she was holding, "I love them, thank you for your effort!"
Qin Yuchuan: "Let's take a walk around first."
Feng Qingyi asked, "Didn't you say yesterday that we'd have dinner at your place tonight?"
"The meal isn't ready yet, so let's stroll around for a bit before heading back," Qin Yuchuan replied.
Feng Qingyi nodded, "Alright, let's go to that park in front."
As the sun set, the sky turned a romantic and beautiful shade of pink and purple.
The two walked leisurely, chatting casually from time to time.
After touring the park, they sat down on a bench.
"When will the meal at your house be ready?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Qin Yuchuan glanced at the sky, "Are you hungry, Qingyi?"
Feng Qingyi shook her head, "No, I'm just asking."
"There were some matters at home today, so the meal preparation is a bit delayed," Qin Yuchuan explained.
Feng Qingyi: "Then why aren't we waiting at your house for dinner instead of sitting here?"
"...The scenery here is quite nice," Qin Yuchuan said with a straight face.
Feng Qingyi didn't think much of it and took out her phone from her bag, "It is indeed nice. Let's take a photo together!"
Qin Yuchuan agreed, "Alright."
Feng Qingyi held up her phone for a selfie and, looking at Qin Yuchuan's serious face in the frame, said, "Can you smile a bit?"
Qin Yuchuan obliged and forced a smile.
Feng Qingyi reached out and pinched his cheek, "Your smile looks worse than if you were crying. Do you not want to take a photo with me?"
"That's not true," Qin Yuchuan denied.
Feng Qingyi turned to look at his face, "I think you look quite handsome just like this, with no expression. Stay like that, and let's take a few more photos."
