Five Cases

partment[1]?” Ji Fanyang sat in the passenger seat.
The clock on the dashboard displayed the time: 4:30 PM. 

“How could we do that.” Lu Hui replied incredulously, “We’re going to the mall.”

“…The mall???” Ji Fanyang shouted, “Why’re we going to the mall?”

“Buying clothes.” Lu Hui pulled at the collar of his wrinkled shirt, “This won’t do.”

Ji Fanyang started to doubt the purpose of their trip to the Public Security Department: “Why do we need to change if we’re going to the Public Security Department?”

“…The archives are inconvenient.” Lu Hui hemmed and hawed, then said coldly, “Stop asking so many questions.”

Ji Fanyang shut his mouth and stopped asking.
Lu Hui wouldn’t answer now, but he would find out tomorrow when they went to the Public Security Department.
He didn’t need to worry too much for the moment. 

The car stopped in front of an enormous shopping mall.
Lu Hui got out of the car, and the two of them took the elevator to the fourth floor’s menswear department. 

Accompanying Lu Hui to the mall was a special kind of torment.
Even though Ji Fanyang had experienced it one before while buying furniture and appliances, he still couldn’t adapt this time. 

Lu Hui was one meter eighty-five, tall and slender.
Although slovenly in appearance, with stubble along his jawline and a crumpled shirt, he was still very good looking. 

He had an air of gloom mixed with a mysterious melancholy.
His occasional childishness made others find him both adorable and detestable.
Whenever he simply sat quietly, his brows knitted and his eyelashes swooping down over his cheeks, his undisguised vulnerability was a blow directly to other people’s hearts, men and women alike. 

Ji Fanyang was well-acquainted with this type of surprise attack.
Each time he let Lu Hui have his way, it was for this reason. 

“Excuse me, who shall I assist…?” The shop assistant came over to greet them. 

Ji Fanyang pointed to Lu Hui: “Him.”

“Oh…Then, what type of clothing are you looking for, sir?” The assistant asked. 

Lu Hui hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ji Fanyang awkwardly: “You pick.”

Ji Fanyang sighed, then accepted his fate and walked over to the shelves: “Alright.” He had long since given up hope for Lu Hui’s aesthetic sensibilities. 

Lu Hui picked out a light-colored T-shirt from the pile, one which didn’t fit him at all.
He seemed to have an innate incompatibility with light colors.
When he came out wearing a cream-colored shirt, Ji Fanyang covered his eyes: “My God, you’re like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” 

Lu Hui pulled on the hem of his shirt: “Didn’t you pick this one out?”

“I just wanted to try something out.” Ji Fanyang explained.
He couldn’t prevent his lips from curving upward, “Okay, I just wanted to see you wear it.
Hahaha, you can go change.” 

Lu Hui threw a menacing look at Ji Fanyang, then went back into the changing room. 

When Lu Hui wore darker colors, regardless if it was dark brown, dark gray, dark purple, or black, he seemed to unfurl a set of invisible wings.
Ji Fanyang rubbed his eyes.
He sincerely acknowledged that Lu Hui had the potential to act as the villain of a play. 

They picked out shirts, pants, socks, and shoes, then went to pick out a watch.
As they followed from behind, the shop assistant said: “You two have a good relationship.” 

Lu Hui shrugged: “This is one of my vexations.
He’s too clingy.”

Unwilling to be outdone, Ji Fanyang said: “He can’t even buy clothes without me, so who’s actually clingy here.”

Lu Hui fastened a watch on his wrist: “This one?”

Ji Fanyang shook his head: “Too heavy.
How about this one?”

The shop assistant passed the watch that Ji Fanyang picked out to Lu Hui.
He fastened the clasp; the watch was refined and elegant.
Lu Hui nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at the price, calmly took it off, and put it back: “Let’s go look at the cuffs.
I heard that sandalwood is pretty good.”

Ji Fanyang noted the brand and price without changing expression, then said: “Alright, let’s go look.”

After they left the counter, Lu Hui said: “Don’t be a fool and spend so much money on a watch for me.”

“…” Ji Fanyang blinked, “You’re too narcissistic.” 

Lu Hui was silent.