My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

Su Ming tried his best to hide his inner elation, picked up a knife and fork, and clumsily cut the steak. Yang Tian watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh, quietly showing him how to use them.

The meal was a pleasant one for both host and guests. Although Su Ming was still a little reserved, he gradually relaxed under the warm hospitality of Yang Tian and her brother.

After finishing their meal, Yang Jing glanced at his watch, then at Su Ming, and suggested, "It's still early, how about I take you for a walk? There's a new pedestrian street in town, it's quite lively."

Before Su Ming could refuse, Yang Tian interjected, "Great! Let's go together! I need to buy some clothes, so let Su Ming give me some suggestions."

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Su Ming.

Su Ming swallowed back the words he was about to say and could only nod.

The three of them left the restaurant and got into Yang Jing's car. It was a Buick GL8, which was definitely a luxury car in 2003.

Su Ming sat in the spacious leather seat, watching the street scene rushing past the car window, and a wave of indescribable emotions welled up in his heart.

Is this the life of the rich?

The car stopped at the entrance of the pedestrian street. This street was a newly developed commercial street in the town, lined with shops on both sides, with flashing neon lights and bustling with people.

Yang Tian pulled Su Ming along, browsing through clothing stores one by one. She tried on a light blue dress, twirled around in front of the mirror twice, and asked Su Ming, "Does it look good?"

Su Ming looked at her; the dress's fitted waist perfectly accentuated her slender figure, and the hemline above her knees revealed her fair calves. He nodded and honestly said, "Beautiful."

Yang Tian blushed slightly, tried on another white one, and asked, "What about this one?"

Su Ming nodded again: "It looks good too."

Yang Tian gave him a reproachful look: "How come everything about you looks good?"

Su Ming smiled, blushing and at a loss for words. What he said was indeed the truth. Although Yang Tian couldn't compare to his cousin's wife's alluring figure that would make any man's nose bleed, she was still a beauty that was one in a hundred, and the more you looked at her, the more charming she became. His cousin's wife had the kind of sexiness and allure that would immediately arouse a man's desire, while Yang Tian had the delicate beauty of a girl from a humble family.

Seeing Su Ming blush, the shop assistant next to her immediately smiled and said, "Miss, you have a great figure, you look good in anything."

A sweet smile flickered across Yang Tian's lips.

In the end, she picked out two sets, a dress and a casual outfit. When she paid, Su Ming glanced at the bill—over 800 yuan.

He felt a surge of emotion again: over eight hundred, that's almost a month's salary for him.

After buying her own clothes, Yang Tian pulled Su Ming towards the men's clothing section.

"Come on, I'll buy you one too."

Su Ming was startled and quickly waved his hands, "No need, no need! I have clothes!"

"Your clothes are so unfashionable." Yang Tian dragged him into a Youngor store without further ado. "You can wear work clothes to work, but you need to dress more presentably after work, otherwise how are you going to find a girlfriend?"

Su Ming was being pulled along by her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Yang Tian browsed around the store, picked out a light blue shirt and a pair of dark gray trousers, and held them up against Su Ming. She nodded in satisfaction, "This outfit is nice, let's try it on."

Su Ming glanced at the price tags—the shirt was 480 yuan, the trousers were 399 yuan, and the total was 879 yuan.

His face turned pale, and he shook his head repeatedly, saying, "It's too expensive, no, no!"

"Just try it on." Yang Tian pushed him into the fitting room.

Su Ming changed his clothes and came out, standing in front of the mirror, and was stunned for a moment.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I stood up straight, my shirt fit well, my trousers were crisp, and I looked much more energetic, almost like a city dweller.

Yang Tian stood behind him, looking at him through the mirror, her eyes sparkling.

"It looks good," she said. "I'll take this one."

Just as Su Ming was about to refuse, Yang Jing walked over unnoticed, took out his wallet, and handed it to the clerk: "Check, please."

"Brother Jing, no need!" Su Ming quickly stopped him. "This is too valuable, I can't accept it!"

Yang Jing smiled and patted his shoulder: "It's nothing. Consider it a greeting gift since it's our first meeting. Please take good care of my sister at the factory."

The shop assistant had already packed the clothes and handed them to Su Ming.

Holding the bag, Su Ming felt its weight and was filled with mixed emotions. There was gratitude, unease, and a complex feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

After shopping, Yang Jing received a phone call and said he had to leave first. Before leaving, he winked at Yang Tian, ​​nodded to Su Ming, and drove away.

Yang Tian grabbed Su Ming's hand and led him toward the park.

"Let's go sit in the park."

The park was quiet, the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently. Occasionally, a couple or two would walk by, hand in hand, whispering to each other.

The two sat down on a bench.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the scents of flowers and fresh grass. In the distance, insects chirped, their calls echoing, making the night seem even more still.

Yang Tian suddenly closed her eyes and called out to Su Ming, "Su Ming, I think I got a mosquito in my eye. Can you blow it out for me?"

Su Ming paused for a moment, then leaned over and gently blew on it a few times.

"Are you feeling better?"

Yang Tiantian nodded: "It's a little better. But I still can't open my eyes right away."

She sat there with her eyes closed. The dim light fell on her face, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyelids, her lips slightly pursed, making her look quiet and beautiful.

A minute or two later, she called out to Su Ming again, "Su Ming, could you wipe my eyes for me? Are they watering?"

She took a pack of tissues out of her bag and handed it to Su Ming.

Su Ming took the tissue, leaned closer to her, and looked carefully into her eyes.

Just then, Yang Tian suddenly opened her eyes.

The two locked eyes.

Those eyes were so close that Su Ming could see his own reflection in her pupils. Her gaze was gentle and bright, like two pools of spring water, or the brightest star in the night sky.

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his face away. He had a premonition that this beautiful woman was about to kiss him.

Yang Tian gently bit her lip, her voice soft: "Do you hate me?"

Su Ming quickly shook his head: "No, no! Absolutely not!"

"Then why don't you dare look at me?"

Su Ming took a deep breath, turned his face, and met her gaze again.

Yang Tian's face flushed slightly, looking especially beautiful in the dim light. She suddenly asked, "Have you ever kissed someone?"

Su Ming exclaimed "Ah!" and froze.

Yang Tian looked at him reproachfully: "Are you feeling guilty?"

Su Ming quickly shook his head, his face turning bright red: "No! I... I've never been in a relationship, and I've never kissed anyone."

Yang Tian lowered her head, her voice even softer: "Me too."

There was a few seconds of silence.

She suddenly stood up, walked to Su Ming, raised her face, and closed her eyes.

"How about... we give it a try?"

Su Ming felt a buzzing sound in his mind, and his mind went completely blank.

He looked at her, at her slightly trembling eyelashes, at her lips that were gently pursed because of nervousness, and at the faint blush on her face.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of my chest.

He took a deep breath, reached out, and gently cupped her face in his hands.

Then, he lowered his head and pressed his red lips against hers.

The instant their lips met, Su Ming felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his body, all the blood rushing to his head. The touch was incredibly soft, with a faint sweetness, like cotton candy, or the first strawberry of spring.

Yang Tian's body trembled slightly, then went limp and she leaned into his arms.

Time seemed to stand still.

The whole world vanished, leaving only the two of them, and the thrill and tenderness of their close combat. A gentle breeze stirred in the park, causing the shadows of the trees to sway…