Chapter 59: An "Expensive" Watch (Part 1)

The vibrant atmosphere of the night market, laden with the smoky aroma of grilled skewers and the plush texture of cheap toy bears, lingered in Yu Ling’s mind for days.

The gray hoodie stained by the sizzling tofu, the stubborn expression on Zhao Chen’s face as he wept tears of spice while bravely insisting he was "not that spicy," and the warm, slightly sweaty palm that remained firmly clasped around her in the crowd—these rough yet vivid images strangely managed to suppress the chilling shadow cast by that group photograph on the shores of Stanford Lake.

She even began to willingly cooperate with his clingy, "domesticating" habits. Morning kisses were no longer passively endured; she would rise slightly on her toes to respond. Stepping out of her office building after work, the mere sight of his understated black sedan parked punctually in its usual spot sent a secret wave of sweetness rippling through her heart. After dinner, when he enclosed her within his arms on the sofa with his chin resting against the crown of her head, she no longer stiffened; instead, she would adjust to a more comfortable posture, letting him hold her hand as they turned the pages of a book together.

That false sense of security reinforced by Zhao Chen’s renewed lease agreement seemed to regain its thick, warm substance. Gu Qianqian’s bright face and affectionate inscription were carefully locked away into a dusty corner of her memory.

Until Saturday afternoon, when the warm sunshine streamed into the living room. Zhao Chen sat cross-legged on the carpet, with a mess of complex electronic components and circuit boards spread out before him. Slender tweezers danced nimbly between his fingers, his expression as focused as if he were carving a work of art.

The leather strap of the watch on his wrist was severely frayed at the edges, and the metal case bore numerous tiny scratches.

Yu Ling’s gaze fell upon that old watch, and her heart skipped a beat as if gently struck.

He had been wearing this watch ever since their blind date. She remembered how the dial had reflected a soft glow under the lights when they signed the flash-marriage agreement of mutual non-interference; how the leather strap had been slightly dampened by steam when he clumsily brewed her brown sugar and ginger tea for the first time; and how, swept by the spice at the night market and sweating profusely, the worn strap had brushed against his reddened cheek as he raised his wrist to wipe away the perspiration...

An ordinary watch that had accompanied him for a long time. A symbol of Zhao Chen, the "ordinary employee."

A powerful impulse surged into Yu Ling’s heart without warning—she wanted to buy him a new one. A watch worthy of his current gentle meticulousness, worthy of the "ordinary" stability and comfort he had given her. Bought with her own money.

Once planted, this thought grew wildly.

"What are you thinking about? So spaced out?" Zhao Chen’s voice sounded with a smile. Unknowingly, he had put down the tweezers and was tilting his head to look at her, his amber eyes reflecting the sunlight, warm and focused.

Yu Ling snapped out of it, her heart beating slightly faster from her secret plan, though she tried hard to maintain a calm expression on her face. "Nothing, just watching you fix things. It’s quite interesting."

She paused and asked, seemingly offhand, "I want to go to the downtown mall this afternoon. Care to accompany me?"

Zhao Chen’s eyes lit up instantly like a large dog offered a meaty bone. Without a moment's hesitation, he tossed aside the circuit board, swung his long legs over to sit on the sofa armrest beside her, and naturally wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Of course I'll accompany you! I'll go wherever Lingling wants to go!" He leaned closer, rubbing his chin against the top of her head with a slightly spoiled, nasal tone. "As it happens, I also wanted to buy you a new dress. That blue one from last time looked exceptionally good on you."

"No need!" Yu Ling interrupted immediately, her voice a bit hurried. Catching his slightly puzzled look, she softened her tone. "I... I'll just take a look around, not buying anything. You don't need to spend money on me." She lowered her eyelashes to conceal her guilt. To buy him a watch, she certainly couldn't use his money.

Seeing the slightly flushed tips of her ears, Zhao Chen’s eyes flashed with a knowing smile. He didn’t insist, merely tightening his arm around her as his voice dropped to a liquid tenderness: "Alright, whatever you say. Everything is up to our Lingling."

Starry Cosmos, Haicheng’s premier luxury shopping mall, featured mirror-like marble floors reflecting smartly dressed figures. Well-trained sales associates wore standard smiles, their eyes precisely scanning the "net worth" of every customer.

Linking her arm through Zhao Chen’s, Yu Ling walked purposefully straight to the second-floor watch boutique area.

Her heart fluttered nervously, and her palms grew slightly damp. The savings she had accumulated over a few years of work were not insignificant, but here, they probably wouldn't even cover a fraction of certain watches. She only hoped to find something that looked decent, suitable for his daily wear, and within her own budget.

Zhao Chen seemed completely unaware of her destination, pointing enthusiastically along the way at the jewelry and ready-to-wear clothing in the display windows, murmuring comments in her ear: "Look at that brooch, Lingling, the design is a bit interesting, but the color is too old-fashioned... That silk scarf, on the other hand, should go quite well with the beige coat you bought last time..."

Yu Ling responded distractedly, her eyes quickly sweeping over the dazzling watch brand displays. Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet... Every name gleamed like gold, making her breathing tight.

Pulling Zhao Chen along, she stopped in front of a brand counter that looked significantly more "low-key"—HOriZOn. She had some vague impression of this brand; it was a rising star that had gained an exceptional reputation among high-end business professionals in recent years. Its design was minimalist yet grand, combining a futuristic feel with classics, and the price didn't seem entirely out of reach—yet?

"Welcome to HOriZOn." A sales associate dressed in a well-tailored black skirt suit greeted them with a professional smile. Her gaze quickly swept over Zhao Chen’s brandless linen shirt and the minimalist Tiffany bracelet on Yu Ling’s wrist. Her smile was standard, but her eyes lacked any real warmth.

Yu Ling took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady: "Hello, I’d like to look at men’s watches, business casual is fine, suitable for daily wear."

"Certainly, this way please, madam." The sales associate guided them toward a display case. "These are all classic series from our brand, minimalist in design and very suitable for daily commuting." She gestured to several watches with simple dials and steel or leather straps.

Yu Ling’s gaze scanned the counter intently. The watches glittered under the spotlights with a cold, expensive luster. In her mind, she rapidly calculated the numbers on the price tags—mostly six digits, occasionally interspersed with five-digit entry-level models. Her eyes finally came to rest on a watch displayed alone inside a glass dome.

The platinum case had been polished to a warm, understated finish, radiating a low-key silver-gray matte texture. The profound midnight-blue dial lacked complex markers; it featured only extremely thin silver baton hour markers and two skeletonized diamond-shaped hands, the tips of which were inlaid with microscopic sapphires that refracted a deep, dark glow in the light. The dark blue alligator leather strap possessed a delicate texture. The entire watch exuded an introverted luxury and precise mechanical aesthetic.

"This one..." Yu Ling pointed at it, her voice tightening slightly.

A trace of undetectable surprise flickered in the sales associate’s eyes, instantly deepening her smile and warming her tone:

"You have exceptional taste, madam! This is a limited edition launched by our brand this year, the 'Deep Space Gaze' series. Platinum case, sapphire crystal glass, powered by the brand's independently developed HZ-001 ultra-thin high-precision movement with a 72-hour power reserve. There are only 50 pieces worldwide."

Carefully unlocking the glass cover and donning white gloves, she lifted the watch out. "Number 007, a very auspicious number."

The timepiece was gently placed onto a dark blue velvet tray and pushed toward Yu Ling. That mesmerizing blue dial seemed to truly contain a profound starry sky, breathtakingly beautiful. Yu Ling instinctively held her breath.

The sales associate quoted a price—a number that made Yu Ling feel as though her blood had frozen instantly. This was practically all the savings in her account!

Unconsciously, she glanced at Zhao Chen. He was standing a few paces away, seemingly captivated by an extremely complex, gear-filled skeleton watch in a neighboring display case, his profile sharply focused as if completely oblivious to the situation over here.

"Lingling, look at this tourbillon..." Zhao Chen turned his head as if having just discovered some novelty, wanting to call her over, but his gaze happened to land on the "Deep Space Gaze" right in front of Yu Ling.

He stopped in his tracks, a clear flash of surprise crossing his amber eyes before being swallowed by a deeper, indescribable emotion. Walking back to Yu Ling in a few strides, his gaze lingered on that dark-blue dial for a few seconds before slowly shifting to Yu Ling’s slightly tense profile.

"You like it?" he asked softly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Yu Ling’s heart pounded frantically within her chest, threatening to shatter her ribs. Not daring to meet Zhao Chen’s eyes, her gaze remained locked onto the watch, as if driven by a desperate, do-or-die determination. Drawing a sharp breath, her voice trembling slightly from tension yet ringing out with absolute clarity, she told the sales associate:

"Please, I'll take this one. Wrap it up for me."

Inside the car on the drive back, the air was unusually quiet. The dark blue leather watch box stamped with the silver "HOriZOn" logo felt like a hot potato, held tightly in Yu Ling’s arms. Lowering her head, her fingers unconsciously scratched at the edge of the box, her fingertips turning pale from the force.

The long string of digits from swiping her card just moments ago burned into her retinas like a brand. It hurt—her wallet truly ached. But even more present was a sense of near-heroic fulfillment. Finally, using her own strength, she had done something for the man who brought her "ordinary" warmth.