Zhuang Yihan had noticed Chen Shu behind the counter the moment he walked in. Unlike the rather simple casual t-shirt from the other day, today the man was wearing a well-tailored white shirt. Its sleeves were casually rolled up, revealing distinct wrist bones. His long fingertips were unadorned, yet they were surprisingly elegant and beautiful. Sitting there quietly, he exuded a sense of inviolable asceticism.

"Sir, is there anything I can help you with..."

Ria hadn't even finished her line when the man in the sharp suit before her raised a hand slightly and said in a low voice, "Thank you, I can look on my own."

After speaking, he strode towards the counter and sat directly opposite Chen Shu. Ria froze for a moment upon seeing this, then rolled her eyes discreetly once she processed it. Hips swaying, she turned and walked away. 'Well,' she thought, 'one look and you can tell he's gay.'

"What a coincidence. We meet again."

Zhuang Yihan had a rather deep impression of this male model who dared to embarrass him. Meeting him here now, his tone couldn't help but carry a hint of amusement.

"Mr. Zhuang? What a coincidence."

The emotions in Chen Shu's heart fluctuated for a brief moment before returning to calm. A perfect touch of surprise appeared on his face as he used the mouse to exit the computer page. "Is there anything I can recommend for you?"

Zhuang Yihan casually glanced at the dazzling array of watches in the glass display case. "I heard from Manager Zhou that you quit. So you found a new job. It seems you're adapting quite well."

In his past life, Chen Shu had spent nine whole years with Zhuang Yihan day in and day out. While he couldn't say he had completely figured out the other's personality, he knew it seventy or eighty percent. With a single glance, he could guess what Zhuang Yihan was thinking.

It was nothing more than him holding a grudge because he had been rejected last time.

Chen Shu took a new sample watch from the cabinet, put on gloves, and began to polish it carefully with a maintenance cloth. Even this simple action was pleasing to the eye. He lowered his gaze slightly, his long eyelashes making him look even more stunning, causing one's heart to skip a beat. "President Zhuang, are you blaming me for not coming to see you last time?"

Zhuang Yihan raised an eyebrow faintly, his expression unreadable. "No. I'm just worried that after I buy a watch, when I need after-sales service, the person will suddenly become unreachable, just like last time..."

Before he could finish his meaningful words, his wrist suddenly felt cool. Chen Shu had silently fastened an alligator leather watch on him. It had a sapphire crystal face, the edge of the case was engraved with a delicate, retro wave pattern, and it was embellished with a circle of elegant blue diamonds. The watch face was a deep ocean blue, cool yet noble. It looked perfectly natural on Zhuang Yihan's wrist, as if it had been custom-made for him.

"This watch is a tenth-anniversary collector's edition from the new German designer, Felix. It's called the 'Blue Phantom.' It's a global limited edition of ten pieces, and there are only three in the country right now. It suits you very well."

Due to its craftsmanship and materials, the watch was quite expensive. However, because it was the work of a new designer whose fame hadn't been hyped up yet, its future in the market was uncertain. This caused many collectors to shrink back, preferring other series that had long been famous.

It wasn't until eight years later, when Felix died of cancer, that the world finally discovered the talent of this designer who had been melancholic for half his life. His former collector's series was once driven up to a sky-high price, and a discontinued "Blue Phantom" was auctioned off for the exorbitant price of three million.

In his past life, Chen Shu had bought one of them at a high price, intending it as a gift to commemorate their ninth anniversary together. Unfortunately, he had jumped into the river and died too soon to see Zhuang Yihan wear it with his own eyes.

Oh, perhaps the other man wouldn't have cared for his gift at all and would never have worn it.

Chen Shu held Zhuang Yihan's slender hand and studied it carefully. His gaze seemed to want to pierce through the hands of the watch, through the years of his past life. His eyelashes drooped slightly, perfectly concealing the faint gloom in his eyes. "Mr. Zhuang, although the market isn't optimistic about this watch right now, both its craftsmanship and materials are worthy of collection. I believe its future value will be far greater than this."

Buying it now only costs eight hundred thousand. In another eight years, when its creator dies and leaves this world, its value will multiply to three million.

See? What a bargain.

Zhuang Yihan didn't hear a word Chen Shu was saying. All his senses were focused on his hand. The other man's lightly calloused fingertips were gently clasped around his palm. The touch was slightly ticklish, and when pressed close, he could even feel the lines of Chen Shu's bones. His heart couldn't help but leap, and he subconsciously raised his eyes to look at the man.

Even with Zhuang Yihan's extremely picky gaze, he had to admit that there wasn't a single part of the man before him that wasn't of the highest quality. From head to toe, even a single strand of hair, was perfectly in line with his own aesthetic. After all, he could never have imagined that the Chen Shu before him, from his hairstyle to his sense of dress, had been personally taught by him, step-by-step, in their past life. There wasn't a single detail that didn't bear the marks of his own creation.

"Is that so? But if I were to take a gamble based solely on your word, wouldn't that be a bit too risky?"

Zhuang Yihan smoothly pulled his hand back, somewhat impressed with his own resistance to beauty. After all, he was here today to pick a birthday gift for Jiang Xi, not to flirt with a little male model.

Chen Shu looked at his empty fingertips, smiled lightly, and then slowly withdrew his hand. "Mr. Zhuang, high risk, high reward. I hear you're a businessman as well. You must understand this principle."

Zhuang Yihan was a shrewd businessman. "The premise is that the goods are worth the risk."

Chen Shu wasn't flustered in the slightest. "Perhaps you could see if there are any other styles you prefer?"

He knew Zhuang Yihan's aesthetic sense too well. There wasn't a single watch in the entire store that he would like more than this one. And indeed, Zhuang Yihan casually scanned the area and found that the one on his wrist was the one that moved him the most.

"You have good taste," Zhuang Yihan said, studying the watch on his wrist. His tone suddenly shifted. "But unfortunately, I'm not here to choose a watch for myself today."

Chen Shu paused at his words. Not for himself? Then who could trouble Zhuang Yihan to come and pick one out personally?

Zhuang Yifan? Or...

A name suddenly popped into his mind. He subconsciously glanced at the date displayed on the computer and then remembered that Jiang Xi's birthday was in two days. Because the other man liked to collect famous watches, Zhuang Yihan would personally pick one out every year to send as a birthday gift. And in his past life, Chen Shu had been "forced" to remember this date as well.

That's right. Only Jiang Xi could make Zhuang Yihan be so thoughtful.

Chen Shu's gaze darkened. For that one instant, no one knew what he was thinking. Only, in a place others couldn't see, a Black Snake was coiled around his shoulder, greedily sucking on something. "So Mr. Zhuang is choosing for a friend. In that case, my recommendation may not be quite right."

He gently slid the watch off Zhuang Yihan's wrist. "You can take a look at other styles."

For some reason, when Zhuang Yihan saw the watch being taken off, he felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy and loss. He frowned at Chen Shu, originally thinking the man would continue to push the "Blue Phantom" hard, but unexpectedly, the man only placed several other new models on the counter in succession.

The whole row of diamond watches was exceptionally brilliant under the lights, but after seeing the first one, the rest could only be considered compromises.

Zhuang Yihan casually picked one up and looked at it, then took the initiative to ask Chen Shu, "Do you think it's good-looking?"

Chen Shu glanced at the watch faintly. It was also a collector's edition, but its design was a bit conservative. "There are many good-looking watches, but it's hard to find one you love. The most important thing is that you like it."

Zhuang Yihan was noncommittal. He put the watch in his hand back. "Wrap this one up for me."

Jiang Xi preferred staid and conservative designs, but Zhuang Yihan didn't like such a rigid style. Sometimes, thinking back carefully, it was no exaggeration to say their tastes were worlds apart.

Chen Shu had long guessed the outcome, so he wasn't surprised. He said to wait a moment and was about to find a box to pack the watch when Zhuang Yihan suddenly spoke again, "Reserve that Blue Phantom for me as well."

He looked at Chen Shu, paused, and said:

"No need to box it. Just help me put it on."

The person Zhuang Yihan had always liked was Jiang Xi, but when faced with someone like Chen Shu, who perfectly matched his ideal image of a partner, even a cool-headed Bodhisattva would be unable to control themselves from breaking their vows, let alone the current Zhuang Yihan, who was but a "clay Bodhisattva" with insufficient cultivation.

In fact, Zhuang Yihan felt a little regretful the moment the words left his mouth. He felt as if he had lost his head, but he couldn't quite pinpoint how. It was as if he had been seduced by some inexplicable emotion into committing a taboo. However, Chen Shu just looked at him and smiled, as if he could see right through his heart. "My pleasure."

After speaking, he helped Zhuang Yihan put the watch back on, holding his fingertips to admire it for a moment. It's unknown if he was recalling things from his past life, but after a moment, he said in a low voice, "It's beautiful."

Zhuang Yihan had never been in a relationship, let alone been praised so ambiguously by anyone. He pursed his thin lips, a trace of imperceptible panic rising in his heart. He wanted to pull his hand back uncomfortably but was instead held tightly by the other man. That person's slightly upturned eyes were incredibly beautiful under the lights. When their gazes met inadvertently, his mind went blank for a moment.

Chen Shu's gaze was clear, without a hint of ambiguity. "Mr. Zhuang, the watch comes with after-sales service."

His fingertips let go, replaced by a card with a phone number written on it. "Within seven days, if you have any problems, you can contact me anytime."

Zhuang Yihan held the card between his fingertips and glanced down at it. On it was a string of numbers. "Any problem at all?"

A faint, almost nonexistent smile played on Chen Shu's lips, but upon closer inspection, it carried a hint of pity. "Of course."

Because this watch, in all likelihood, would never be given away. In his past life, when Jiang Xi held his birthday banquet, not only did he specially invite Zhuang Yihan, but he also publicly announced his engagement to a woman he had supposedly known for less than ten days.

At that time, Chen Shu was not qualified to attend that event, so naturally, he couldn't guess whether Zhuang Yihan had been disgraced and humiliated that night. He only knew that the man would soon become completely demoralized from this blow.

Love can change a person beyond recognition. Whether in his past life or this one, the people around Chen Shu had always rushed forward one after another, proving this conclusion again and again.

And in this life, he was more than happy to be a spectator watching the show.