C8 Suspicion

"Alright, go freshen up a bit. You can't go out looking like this," Xiao Jie said, jingling the keys in his hand with a warm voice. "I'll wait for you outside, Little Clumsy."

Xiaoli forced a slightly stiff smile and turned back to her room. Her serene bedroom had a large dressing mirror, a gift from Xiao Jie. According to him, a cute girl like Xiaoli couldn't do without a big mirror.

Her pale fingertips brushed the mirror's surface, reflecting a serene and beautiful face. Xiaoli pressed her lips together, revealing a bright smile. Xiao Jie was innocent, and he treated her so well...

How could she ignore him over something that wasn't his fault?

She opened the closet, her clear gaze lingering on a blue dress. Xiao Jie had once said her eyes were as clear as water and as pure as the blue sky, and that soft blue suited her best.

She picked a blue dress he had bought her, smoothed her hair, and tidied up in the bathroom. She then chose a pair of white three-inch heels to match the dress.

Xiaoli glanced at the pretty girl in the mirror, forced a smile, and walked out.

Even though Xiao Jie had seen her in this dress before, he couldn't help but smile, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Little Clumsy, dressed so nicely, what are you up to?"

Xiaoli absentmindedly replied, "Whatever you're up to, looking so handsome."

Xiao Jie chuckled, leaning closer to whisper in her ear, "I'm hoping to sweep Little Clumsy off her feet. Are you thinking the same?"

Xiaoli froze for a moment, caught off guard.

Despite Xiao Jie's teasing, Xiaoli couldn't help but blush, casting a glance that was part annoyed, part shy. Her mind wasn't as distracted as before, and she let him take her arm as they walked toward where Xiao Jie had parked.

Once in the car, Xiaoli was relieved to no longer be surrounded by the faint scent of his cologne. She took a deep breath and let her gaze wander to the scenery outside the window.

However, Xiao Jie's next words made her hands, resting on her lap, clench suddenly.

"Did something happen? You seem tense around me," Xiao Jie said, noticing her clenched hands in the rearview mirror. He gave a wry smile. "Did something really happen?"

"No, you're overthinking it," Xiaoli replied quietly, her voice a bit stiff.

"Xiaoli, I've told you before, you're not good at lying," Xiao Jie said as he started the car, his eyes growing cold.

Xiaoli knew she wasn't good at lying. Whenever she had something to hide, she couldn't meet anyone's eyes.

"I..." Her hands tightened, tugging at her dress, which quickly became a wrinkled mess. "I'm not lying," she insisted, though her voice was shaky.

Xiao Jie's gaze turned icy, but he continued driving, his voice barely above a whisper. "Xiaoli, what do I hate the most?"

"Lying to you," Xiaoli murmured, her eyes dropping lower. Since Xiao Jie was facing away from her, she couldn't tell if he was angry, but the fact that he used her full name was a clear sign—

He was angry.

The atmosphere in the car was suffocatingly tense. Xiaoli kept fidgeting with the hem of her dress, her nerves on edge.

Should she confess now?

She glanced at Xiao Jie and saw the coldness in his eyes, making her want to retreat even more.

Chu Xiaoli bit her lip, let out a gentle sigh, and forced a small smile. With a hint of resignation, she said, "I was planning to surprise you on your birthday, but... Xiao Jie, you're just too perceptive."

She spoke with a touch of anxiety, worried that Xiao Jie might pick up on something amiss.

Like sunshine after the rain, Xiao Jie smiled. He had to admit, Chu Xiaoli's words successfully dispelled his doubts. Besides, he couldn't think of anything she would need to hide from him.

"Silly girl, you should have talked to me about this."

Chu Xiaoli pressed her lips together and flashed a bright smile. "If I talked to you about it, would it still be a surprise?"