Vrie no longer believed Brandon.


    "Vrie..." Brandon reached out to take her hand, but she quickly stepped away.


    "As for what happens next, let''s talk about it after you actually follow through on our bet," she said.


    The next morning, just as Vrie finished washing up, she received a message from Stefan.


    Stefan: [Good morning, Veevee! Are you up yet? The weather''s nice today. Want to go out and have some fun?]


    Vrie: [No, I have things to do today.]


    Stefan: [Oh... okay...]


    Seeing the sighing emoji he sent, Vrie couldn''t help but smile.


    She rememberedst night when they''d been walking around campus. Stefan''s shoes were so worn from washing that the color had faded, and the edges were frayed. Her smile faded a little.


    After a moment of thought, she sent him another message, asking if he was free to go shopping with her.


    Stefan replied almost immediately, his cheerful tone evident. They agreed to meet at the university gate in an hour.


    An hourter, Vrie picked up Stefan, and they drove to the mall.


    "Veevee, why the sudden urge to go shopping? Is there something you need to buy?" Stefan asked.


    Vrie nodded. "Yeah, a friend of mine is pregnant, so I want to get her and the baby some gifts."


    "Oh, I see," Stefan replied.


    They chatted casually on the drive.


    Thirty minutester, Vrie parked in the mall''s underground parking.


    She led him to the clothing department on the second floor right after they got out.


    As they entered the shopping center, Stefan noticed people eyeing him. It wasn''t outright disdain, but that subtle, pretentious judgment that people tried to mask as it revealing it would somehow lower their status.


    He used to resent it, but now...


    He hesitated and spoke carefully. "Veevee, maybe I should wait for you in the parking lot?"


    Vrie turned to look at him. "Why?"


    Stefan seemed troubled. "I think walking around with you like this makes you look bad."


    Seeing the unease and


    embarrassment in his eyes, Vrie frowned slightly before linking her arm through his. "You haven''t stolen anything, and you haven''t hurt anyone. What''s there to be a of


    Her gaze was warm and sincere.


    swner


    It was like a feather brushing against Stefan''s heart-ticklish, unfamiliar.


    "Veevee, if you keep treating me like this, I might actually fall for you," he confessed.


    Vrie chuckled. "That''s great! I''ve always been lovable. Now, let''s go. I have a lot to buy today."


    Stefan let himself be led forward. He nced at her side profile, feeling his heart skip a beat.


    Lowering his gaze, he forced himself


    to suppress the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind. If Vrie ever found out that he was deliberately getting close to her, she would never forgive him.


    Some feelings and fantasies weren''t meant to be entertained from the start.


    Stefan clenched his fists, his expression growing colder.


    Vrie led him into a men''s clothing store and picked out several casual outfits, handing them to him. "Go try these on."


    Stefan shook his head. "Veevee, I don''t need them."


    "Who said they''re for you? A friend of mine has a birthdaying up. You''re about


    the same size, so I need you to try them on for me," Vrie exined.


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Stefan''s eyes, but he quickly forced a smile. "Got it."