Shao Qi had promised his parents he would bring his girlfriend home to meet them, and it had taken an immense amount of effort to finally persuade Liu Yiyi to agree. He had practically talked himself hoarse, but fortunately, the outcome was good, and even the weather was on his side. Outside, the sun was bright and the sky was clear, every detail hinting that everything was going to go smoothly.
Shao Qi drove to the bottom of Liu Yiyi's apartment building, his car stocked with carefully prepared gifts. Feeling a bit impatient, he walked up the familiar stairs and unlocked the door. The moment it swung open, he slammed it shut. Was the person inside really Yiyi? Why didn't she look like herself? Had she ever been this sweet and charming?
In his memory, she was always effortlessly casual. Her features were unaggressive yet possessed a cold, aloof charm, giving her an aura of independent personality. While she might show a bit more femininity during a date, what he saw today was the vibe of a little girl—not childish, exactly, but it made him feel unsettled, as if she had turned into a completely different person. Her decisive, take-no-prisoners personality had been replaced by complete obedience and docility. Even her attire had shifted from simple and appropriate to bursting with youthful maiden energy: a white dress, ruffled socks, brown leather shoes, and hair tied up in a bun instead of its usual cascading waves.
Chapter 180