I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Shu-Tzu sat alone in the garden for a long time.

[She's looking at her phone. Who is she chatting with?]

[Such expressive faces! One minute she's speechless, the next she's laughing!]

Are you preparing a gift for tomorrow?

The setting sun stretched her shadow very, very long.

She remembered the painting.

That orange cat was drawn when she was six years old.

At that time, the old man had just taken her as his apprentice. No, he hadn't officially accepted her yet. Given the old man's temper, he wouldn't have agreed so easily.

Grandpa took her there.

The old man sat in a wicker chair, wearing reading glasses. He glanced at her, offering no words of praise or welcome. He simply pointed to a piece of white paper and a pencil on the table and said:

"Draw something you like."

The tone was as casual as saying, "The weather is nice today."

She thought about it for a long time, and finally drew a cat.

It's chubby and round, with its tail curled into a question mark.

The old man looked at the painting and remained silent for a long time.

It went on for so long that she thought her drawings were too ugly and the old man didn't want to take her anymore.

The old man picked up the painting, looked at it again and again, and finally said something she still remembers:

"Stay."

Just three words.

There were no compliments like "You draw so well" or "You have talent," just three words.

But at that time she knew that the old man was talking about her, and also about the painting.

Later, Han Jingxue quietly told her that the old man had carefully framed the painting "Cat" and hung it on the innermost wall of his studio, not allowing anyone to touch it, treating it like a precious treasure.

Han Jingxue imitated the old man's tone, and said with a stern face:

The old man said, "This is the first stroke of my disciple's brush when he began his studies; it must be kept to ward off evil spirits."

Upon hearing this, Shu Zi hid under the covers, her nose stinging for days.

Later, she grew up and her painting skills were completely different. One day, for some reason, she suddenly wanted to paint that cat again.

So, relying on her memory, she recreated "The Cat" from when she was six years old with a more skillful writing style.

The exact same body shape, the exact same eyes, even the little question mark at the tip of the tail—not a single detail different.

After finishing the last stroke, she stared at the painting for a long time in a daze.

Six years old and sixteen years old are ten years apart.

The painting is still the same painting, but the person who picks up the brush is no longer that little girl standing in front of the easel, her palms sweating with nervousness.

She kept this replica of "The Cat" to herself and never showed it to anyone.

Shu Zi stopped, looked up at the clouds on the horizon that were burned orange-pink by the setting sun, and suddenly smiled softly.

Let's just give it away.

Anyway, the person who received the gift was none other than someone else.

If the old man found out, he'd probably glare at her and call her a spendthrift, but then he'd just let her be.

After all, he still has the original painting hanging in his studio.

……

The next morning, Shuzi was awakened by the sunlight.

She turned over, groaned softly, and did a set of military-style boxing exercises under the covers.

I don't want to get out of bed... Let's destroy it...

Then, my brain suddenly kicked in: Today is the last day of recording the first episode!

She sat up abruptly and squinted at the view outside the window.

The sunlight was lovely, streaming through the white gauze curtains and casting a warm golden hue on the floor.

[A comfortable, albeit late, way of getting out of bed!]

[It's the last day! Time flies!]

[This hair...does it have a grudge against the pillow? Hahaha]

Has she completely forgotten about the 24-hour live stream?

After washing up, Shu Zi changed into a milky white dress, left her hair down, and put on light makeup.

She looked in the mirror, then dabbed some lipstick on her lips and pursed them.

She stared at herself in the mirror for two seconds, then nodded in satisfaction.

Women dress up for those they want to please! I understand!

I've gotten so used to seeing Zizi's frizzy hair lately that it feels a bit strange to see her styled like this.

[No, upstairs, what are you saying? When has our Sister Zizi ever not been beautiful? (Just kidding)]

[Shu Zi: You'd better be praising me (a smile tinged with murderous intent)]

When Shuzi came downstairs, the living room was already mostly occupied.

Jiang Yunyou slumped in a corner of the sofa, holding a neatly wrapped gift box with a crookedly tied ribbon in his arms. It was obvious that he had wrapped it himself.

Su Yanhuan sat next to him, her hands empty, scrolling through her phone.

Fang Yutong and Yu Shize sat side by side on a single sofa. On Fang Yutong's lap was a small, exquisite pink paper bag tied with a white lace ribbon, exuding an elegant and meticulous air.

Yu Shize had a simple black velvet gift box next to him.

Han Jingxue sat alone in the single sofa by the window, with no trace of any gifts beside her.

But... Shu Zi's gaze lingered on her left wrist for a moment.

There's an extra red rope there.

It's very thin, and the color is a bit dark, as if it's been worn for a long time.

She had never seen him before.

Shen Yihuai sat on the armchair diagonally opposite Han Jingxue, with a small, dark gray velvet box on his lap, which he held in his hand.

Gu Yan was already sitting in his usual spot, at the other end of the sofa.

He was wearing a white shirt today, with the top button undone, revealing a small section of his neat collarbone. The sleeves were casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing a section of his strong, slender wrists.

At his feet lay a slender white paper bag, its edges slightly worn.

Shu Zi's gaze lingered on him for a moment.

white.

This guy's closet is mostly black and gray, with very little white, but when he wears it... he looks quite presentable.

She looked away and sat down in her usual spot.

[Gu Yan is wearing white today!!! Did the sun rise in the west?!]

[Gu Yan in a white shirt! I'm blown away! He's so refreshing and handsome!]

That white paper bag looks so old and has a story behind it. What's inside?

[I'm guessing it's for Shuzi!]

Director Liu stood in the center of the living room, cleared his throat, and held a task card in his hand:

"Everyone, today is the last day of the first episode of 'For You, My Heart Flutters'."

"The theme was announced yesterday—Heart, Movement, Gift, Object."

He glanced at the crowd: "Who wants to go first?"

Jiang Yunyou was the first to raise his hand, responding enthusiastically: "Me! Me! Me!"

He carried the square-shaped gift box, took a few steps to Su Yanhuan, and casually stuffed it into her arms: "Here, this is for you."

Su Yanhuan took it, bent down, and quickly opened the packaging.

Inside is a retro walnut wood Bluetooth speaker with a very unique design.

She picked it up and looked at it, then looked up, raising an eyebrow: "Didn't you say you were going to give me something 'expensive'? How much is this?"

Jiang Yunyou: "Who cares how much it costs? As long as it works, that's all that matters!"

Su Yanhuan: "Can't I just ask?"

Jiang Yunyou: "Asking you won't get your money back."

Su Yanhuan: "..."

There was no way to refute it.

Jiang Yunyou added from the side, "You said your speaker was broken last time, so I just bought a new one. You'll have to make do with it."

Su Yanhuan's lips curved into a smile: "Thanks, bro."

Jiang Yunyou had already turned around and walked back, waving to her with his back turned.

Su Yanhuan looked down at the speaker, ran her fingers along the wood grain, then put the speaker back in the box and placed it aside.

[Jiang Yunyou gifted Su Yanhuan a speaker!!!]

"I just bought it on a whim," a classic gift-giving phrase from straight men.

[Hahaha, Huanhuan's tone is just like saying "Hey bro, you're here!"]

This couple is truly a pair of bickering lovers, with an overwhelming sibling-like bond.

[If their bickering could develop into a romance, I'd be a fan!!]