On Saturday, Alex rose early, finished his morning routine, greeted his parents who were having breakfast, and then briskly went out. David and Elizabeth exchanged smiles, shaking their heads at their son's evident joy.
When Alex arrived at the entrance of Kate's alley, she was already waiting there. Kate stood at the entrance like a snow lotus on the Mountains, exuding a fresh and refined aura. Her well-shaped legs looked even more captivating in tight jeans. Seeing Alex's car approaching, Kate's beautiful face lit up with a charming smile.
Alex stopped the car and opened the door for Kate. Seeing Kate looking stunning, he couldn't help but stare for a moment, saying affectionately, "Darling, you look lovely today."
"Stop sweet-talking me. I've abandoned important revision just to go shopping with you. Tell me, how will you compensate?" Kate pouted, teasingly.
"I'll compensate you right away, my Kate," Alex said, kissing Kate's smooth, white cheek. Just as Alex was enjoying the sensation of her soft skin, he felt a sharp pain below his waist. "Ouch, it hurts! Kate, are you trying to kill your husband?" Alex straightened up, rubbing the area where Kate had just pinched him, grimacing in pain.
"Who told you to bully me?" Kate lowered her head, touching her face softly. Seeing Alex wincing in pain, she couldn't help but ask, "Alex, does it really hurt? Shall I massage it for you?"
"No, it's fine. I'll do it myself," Alex said, trembling at the thought of Kate's expert massage, refusing her offer. He thought to himself, "I'd end up in the hospital if she used her special massage technique on me."
A silver sports car stopped outside the Century Mall. Alex and Kate got out and entered the largest mall in H City. Inside, Alex led Kate straight to the luxury watch counter. It was Kate's first time here, and she was dazzled. If Alex wasn't guiding her, she might have been overwhelmed.
Alex led Kate to the watch counter on the first floor and said, "Pick any watch you like here, and I'll buy it for you. If you don't like any, I'll have one custom made for you from abroad."
Kate was unsure which watch to choose, just standing there dazed. A flamboyantly dressed person nearby looked at Alex and Kate disdainfully, saying, "Do you even know the brands of these watches? They're Patek Philippe. Can you afford them?"
A salesperson approached, smiling, "This person is right; the watches here are very expensive. You might want to check out Casio and Citizen over there." Kate also tugged at Alex's hand, softly saying, "Or, shall we go check those out?"
Alex glanced at the salesperson and the flamboyant person, then led Kate to the counter, pointing to a Patek Philippe wristwatch, and calmly said, "Take out this watch and let my friend try it on." As the salesperson took out the watch priced at 880,000, Alex's wristwatch drew the attention of everyone around.
The flamboyant person covered their mouth in shock, exclaiming, "Oh my, it's a Patek Philippe handmade watch!"
Patek Philippe only produces one handmade watch per year, a tradition since 1838. Whether you are a head of state or a billionaire, you have to wait a year, or even several years, to own such a watch. The value of the watch itself is inestimable. Alex received this watch as an 18th birthday gift from David, priced at 30 million US dollars back then. Anyone seeing such a watch would be amazed, except for those who don't understand its worth.
The salesperson quickly took out the watch priced at 880,000 and put it on Kate's wrist. Alex asked softly, "Do you like it, Kate?" Kate nodded instinctively, never imagining she would wear a watch worth 880,000 one day. It all felt like a dream, but when she gently touched the watch on her wrist, it felt so real, not a dream, all of this was real.
"Even if you bought me a watch for a few tens of dollars, I would still like it very much. Isn't this watch too expensive?" Kate said, touched.
Alex's eyes, dark as night, were full of tenderness. He said gently, "It's not expensive. As long as my Kate likes it, even if it's the moon in the sky, I'll find a way to bring it down for you."
Alex took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to the salesperson, saying coldly, "Swipe it." The salesperson took the card respectfully. After signing the receipt, Alex, with Kate, went to the second floor amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd. A girl who had been standing at the luxury watch counter for a long time, with envy written all over his face, said, "I wish I were that handsome guy's friend."
The flamboyant person said angrily, "You? Dream on. I'm closer to that."
"It's you, dressing like there's no difference, yet dreaming of dating a handsome guy," the girl sneered.
"What did you say?" The flamboyant person lunged forward, grabbing the girl's hair. The girl also grabbed the person's collar, and the two began to struggle.
Meanwhile, Alex and Kate, who were buying clothes on the second floor, had no idea that the two downstairs were fighting because of him.
By the time Alex and Kate came out, it was already past four in the afternoon, with their hands full of shopping bags. Kate also experienced the joy of shopping for the first time; it was so enjoyable.
As Alex sat in the car, continuously rubbing his legs, he thought to himself, "Shopping with women is really crazy. Even my legs, which I've trained hard for ten years, can't stand it. Next time, I can't take Kate shopping again."
Kate, sitting in the car, carefully looked at the things they had just bought. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead and said, "I forgot to buy a phone for my mom, and I haven't bought a belt for my dad yet. Alex, it looks like you have to go shopping with me again next week."
Alex, who had just taken a sip of his drink, almost sprayed it on the dashboard. Stuttering, he said, "Oh, that, I, no problem."
"Alex, are you okay?" Kate asked.
"It's nothing, just choked on my drink," Alex said with a pained expression.
"Glad you're okay. I thought you didn't want to go shopping with me," Kate said softly, pouting.
"Shopping with my Kate is worth any trouble," Alex declared, his resolute expression even more impressive than that of a martyr.
"Stop flattering me. My parents are waiting for us to come back for dinner," Kate rolled her eyes at Alex. Alex chuckled awkwardly, started the sports car, and drove out of the Century Mall's parking lot.
When they reached the entrance of the alley where he picked Kate up every day, Alex parked the car, grabbed the shopping bags, and followed Kate slowly. Kate stopped in front of an iron gate, knocked twice, and turned to whisper, "This is my home."
Soon, the iron gate opened, and a middle-aged couple in their forties appeared. Kate pointed at Alex and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Mom, Dad, this is Alex, the one I told you about."
Alex quickly stepped forward with a smile, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."
Kate's parents looked Alex up and down, nodding with increasing approval and smiles.
"Oh, it's Alex! Come in quickly," Kate's mother warmly invited Alex inside.
Beyond the iron gate was a small courtyard, meticulously clean, with two old rooms. Alex followed Kate into the house, which, despite its age, was warmly and tastefully decorated.
Kate's mother brewed a pot of tea and placed it on the table, saying to Alex, "Our place is small, please make yourself comfortable. Have some tea while Kate's father and I prepare dinner."
Alex sat by the table, watching Kate's parents bustling about, feeling a warm sense of belonging. Kate also sat beside Alex, poured him a cup of tea, and asked softly, "Alex, do you think our house is old and small?"
"Kate, don't worry about it. I just feel that your home is very cozy," Alex said gently, tapping Kate's nose.
Before long, Kate's parents brought out the dishes, and everyone sat around the table. Kate's father took out a bottle of wine, smiling sheepishly at Alex, "Alex, have a drink with your uncle."
Kate quickly grabbed the bottle, sternly saying, "Alex is driving, I won't let him drink."
Kate's parents exchanged a glance and then laughed, "If our daughter says no drinking, then no drinking for me either. Let's all enjoy some soft drinks instead," Kate's father said with a smile.
The meal was filled with warmth and joy, and Alex found himself seamlessly integrated into this loving family.