Chapter 220: The Unexpected Gift "It’s all right, Xin. I want her to have these. Consider them tokens of our sisterly bond."
Xiaxia beamed. "See?"
Xin’s sharp glare silence her up.
"It’s fine, Xin," Seraphina approached him, her touch gentle as she lightly tapped his shoulder, her smile warm and reassuring. "Consider it my gift to her."
"That’s right, my birthday is coming up!" Xiaxia chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her wide grin infectious.
"It’s still two months away," Xin deadpanned, trying to bring a dose of reality to the conversation.
Xiaxia shrugged nonchalantly. "Who’s counting?"
With that, she swiftly gathered the bags and dashed off to her room, her voice fading as she called back, "Big sister Seraphina already gave them to me! It would be disrespectful to her if we returned her goodwill!"
The door slammed shut, leaving an echoing silence in its wake.
Xin made a move as if to follow Xiaxia, but Seraphina gently held him back.
"It’s fine, Xin," Seraphina repeated, her eyes softening. "I insist on buying her those things. You don’t need to worry, I give those to her without expecting anything in return.
"Besides, it would be more believable if she wore those branded items to school. I don’t mean to offend that you couldn’t afford those, but others would definitely think I gave them to her because of you."
Xin looked at Seraphina, his expression stoic as always but his tone had a mix of gratitude and concern. "I’ll pay you back—"
"Xin," Seraphina interrupted him, her voice gentle but firm. "Please don’t refuse my goodwill. I gave these things to her without expecting anything in return. If you give them back to me now . . ." Seraphina trailed off, her eyes twinkled with an evil glint, her sweet smile never wavering. "I’ll burn them all."
Xin was left utterly speechless, his eyes widening in shock.
He had never expected such a strong refusal from her.
"Anyway, I bought you this too," Seraphina changed the topic and gave Xin a black box.
Opening it, it was a watch.
Not just any watch, but a masterpiece of elegance and precision, a symbol of timeless sophistication. Its finely crafted case was made from polished stainless steel, giving it a subtle yet luxurious gleam.
The face of the watch was adorned with a pristine sapphire crystal, offering a crystal-clear view of the intricate details within.
The dial, a work of art in itself, boasted a minimalist design. The hands glided smoothly, driven by a high-quality Swiss movement, accentuating the watch’s remarkable accuracy.
Each hour marker was meticulously embedded with dazzling diamonds, casting a subtle sparkle under any light.
The watch featured additional functionalities, including a date display and a moon phase indicator, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail that went into its creation.
The crown, adorned with a small sapphire, allowed for effortless adjustments, reflecting the watchmaker’s commitment to both form and function.
Its bracelet was made from supple alligator leather, meticulously hand-stitched and dyed to a rich, deep hue that complemented the watch’s overall design.
The deployment clasp, expertly crafted, provided both security and comfort, ensuring that the watch stayed securely on Xin’s wrist.
Engraved on the back was a personal message from Seraphina, a subtle touch that added sentimental value to the already priceless timepiece.
[Time may pass, but our love remains eternal.
-forever yours, Seraphina Fey]
". . ."
Xin would definitely not wear it. It seemed that it coast more than his life.
And what’s with the message?
"You should wear it all the time. It’s waterproof and shockproof, so there’s no need to take it off. It’s also comfortable even while sleeping," Seraphina said, reading Xin’s thoughts. "In that way others will know that you’re mi–Ahem . . . I mean others would think that were truly going out."
Xin stared at the exquisite watch in his hands, his expression caught between gratitude and disbelief. "Seraphina, this is too extravagant," he protested, his voice laced with a mix of awe and unease.
With a gentle shake of her head, Seraphina leaned in, her voice barely audible as she whispered, her tone carrying an underlying threat.
"If you give it back to me," she said softly, her eyes glinting with an unusual intensity, "I’ll throw it into the ocean and get you another one. And if you still won’t accept it, I’ll throw it into the ocean again and again until you wear it. Understand?"
Xin felt a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face, his heart pounding in his chest.
Seraphina’s words were delivered with a sweetness that clashed sharply with the alarming threat beneath, making her all the more intimidating.
For a moment, he was rendered speechless, caught in the whirlwind of her unexpected threat.
When Xin remained silent, Seraphina let out a light, musical laugh, her eyes softening as she returned to her usual charming demeanor.
"Now then," she said, her voice back to its normal sweetness, "should we resume our art session?"
Her smile, though innocent, held a subtle edge, leaving Xin at a loss for words.
"Um . . . Can we, uh, postpone today’s art session?" Xin stammered, his heart racing inexplicably. The intensity of the situation left him feeling light-headed and overwhelmed.
Seraphina regarded him with a curious expression before nodding slowly. "Of course," she said, her voice gentle. "We can resume tomorrow. Good night, Xin."
Once Seraphina had left for her own room, Xin released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
The encounter left him bewildered; he simply didn’t know how to handle Seraphina’s intensity.
He looked down at the watch she had given him, its weight tangible in his hands.
Tomorrow, he thought.
Tomorrow, he would figure out what to do with this extravagant gift.
For now, he needed to clear his mind, to escape the complexities of reality.
Xin meticulously tidied his art supplies before retreating to his room.
Logging into Guildbane, he found solace in the familiar virtual world, where the problems and complexities of his real life could fade away, at least for a little while.
It was his sanctuary, a place where he could momentarily escape the overwhelming whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties that now surrounded him.