Walking among various shops and street vendors, Colin still couldn’t let it go and asked, “What exactly did you buy? Why do you have to wait until we finish before telling me?”
But Liyami just casually replied, “Ah, don’t be so impatient. I’ll tell you after the walk is over. Just look forward to it, okay?”
Seeing that, Colin had no choice but to give up for the time being. However, he still asked why Liyami insisted on paying herself when he had already said he would cover the expenses.
“Although it’s definitely nice if only you pay, this is our walk together. How can I let you bear all the costs?”
Although Liyami said that, she suddenly realized that today, except for this purchase, Colin seemed to have paid for everything else. Did she really have the right to say that?
But Liyami didn’t dwell on it for long because she understood one thing. Colin was her good brother; even if he paid a bit more this time, what’s the big deal? She could just take the next round of expenses next time.
Just as Liyami was feeling clever, Colin suddenly stopped walking.
He turned around to look at Liyami, stammering, “Uh, Liyami, could you wait here for a bit? I—I have something to take care of first. I’ll be right back!”
With that, Colin hurried off as if something really important had come up.
Liyami noticed that Colin was heading towards a rather upscale shop that seemed to sell accessories. Was he planning to buy some jewelry?
No matter what, it absolutely better not be that! Liyami thought, slightly worried.
Looking around, Liyami found a spot where she could hide and stay low-profile while resting comfortably.
She quickly went there and took out the item she had bought earlier from a street vendor.
She began making some adjustments to it, tailoring it to her own preferences.
After a while, Colin came out of the store carrying the item he had ordered earlier.
In fact, he had picked it up a while ago; after all, it didn’t take much time.
The reason he only came out now was that he didn’t know what kind of expression or mood to wear when facing Liyami.
After collecting the item, he realized that what he had bought wasn’t exactly appropriate given the current state of his relationship with Liyami.
So, he hesitated inside the shop for quite some time, until the shopkeeper, growing worried, came over to ask if something was wrong, which finally prompted him to make up his mind and leave.
Taking a deep breath, Colin walked toward the spot where Liyami was waiting.
No matter the outcome, he felt he should give this item to Liyami.
Back at the place where they had parted with Colin saying he had to handle something, Liyami was still standing there waiting for him.
Seeing this, Colin felt a bit annoyed with himself for being so preoccupied that he forgot Liyami was waiting.
He quickly approached her and apologized sincerely, “Sorry, sorry. I’m really sorry for making you wait here alone for so long!”
Colin kept apologizing so much that Liyami was almost startled.
She almost thought he had done something terrible, but it turned out he was just apologizing nonstop for making her wait. Was it really necessary?
“No need to apologize. It’s not like I can’t wait a little while. Besides, what kind of relationship do we have? No need to fuss over such small things.”
Hearing this, Colin relaxed a little, but then got nervous again because he was about to hand over that item to Liyami.
At that moment, Liyami noticed Colin had both hands behind his back, seemingly holding something.
Curious, she asked, “What are you hiding behind your back?”
Colin stiffened at her question, then seemed to make up his mind.
He pulled his hands from behind him, revealing what he held.
What Colin held wasn’t anything valuable—just… a bouquet of flowers? And a small box?
Why buy flowers? Was he going to give them to someone? And that small box looked like a ring box?!
Before Liyami could figure out what Colin was up to, he opened the box, revealing a ring.
He stretched his hands forward, holding both the flowers and the box out to Liyami, his intentions clear.
Liyami was stunned.
Her brain was slow to process the scene, almost glitching.
??? What does this mean? Is he giving these to me? Why? I never said I wanted flowers, and I certainly didn’t say I wanted a ring. What is going on?!
Seeing Liyami hesitate to take the flowers and ring, Colin hurried to explain.
“Uh, that’s not what I meant! I just didn’t know what to give you, so I bought these hoping you’d like them.”
Liyami didn’t know what to say.
“First of all, why do you have to give me something? Did I ever say you had to buy a gift on this walk? And second, why flowers and a ring? I never said I wanted either!”
Colin paused, then muttered to himself, “Yeah, why did I keep thinking I had to give you something?”
But he didn’t dwell on it for long and quickly spoke up again.
“Uh, listen to me first. This ring isn’t what you think. It’s a magical item! It can reduce the wearer’s presence, and if the wearer receives a lethal attack, it can block that damage by sacrificing itself.”
Upon hearing this, Liyami finally felt reassured.
She had almost thought Colin had some strange idea about her!
Still a bit uneasy, she pressed on, “What about the flowers?”
“Uh, well… I heard from Ryan. He said if you really don’t know what to give someone, just give flowers. You can’t go wrong with flowers.”
“I see…” Liyami nodded, deciding to believe Colin’s explanation for now.
But she made a mental note about Ryan, deciding to double Colin’s workload when they got back!
Taking the ring from Colin, Liyami slid it onto the middle finger of her left hand.
Colin was momentarily stunned, wanting to say something but holding back.
Liyami, however, had no reaction, and instead found Colin’s reaction a bit strange.
As for the bouquet, Liyami said she didn’t need it and told Colin to take it back and put it wherever he liked.
Looking at the ring on her hand, Liyami felt a strange emotion well up inside her.
She quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts and refocused.
She took an item from her clothes and put it on just below Colin’s collarbone.
Seeing this, it was Colin’s turn to have his mind glitch.
He looked helplessly at the object resting on his collarbone, not understanding why Liyami would give it to him.
It was a long sword pendant sealed inside a scabbard.