CHAPTER 53: STYLED BY YOU

As planned, after their sushi stop, Adrian and Bianca headed to Tokyo Tower. Often called the "Eiffel Tower of Asia," the landmark offered a breathtaking panoramic view of Tokyo. From the observation deck, the city unfolded in every direction—sleek skyscrapers, uniquely designed buildings, and pockets of lush green trees stood out against the skyline.

While Bianca was absorbed in the view, Adrian suddenly took her hand and walked toward a tourist. "Excuse me, can you take a picture of us?"

"Sure."

"Thank you," Adrian said with a warm smile, handing his phone to the young man.

Still holding Bianca’s hand, he guided her toward the large glass wall that framed the city in all its beauty, then slipped an arm around her waist. Bianca, now more accustomed to his casual touches, simply gave a small smile.

Once the two were in position, the tourist snapped a few shots. "Thanks again," Adrian said.

"No problem."

After leaving Tokyo Tower, their next stop was the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden. There, they were greeted by an array of blooming flowers in every color, all perfectly maintained. The garden’s elegance was matched only by its sense of history, with remnants of the Edo-era imperial structures scattered throughout.

When they’d finished exploring, they continued on to Ginza. By the time they arrived, it was already three in the afternoon. Like Shibuya, Ginza was a major shopping district, but one with a reputation for luxury. High-end stores, Chanel, Dior, Hermès, Zara, Louis Vuitton, and many more—lined the streets in dazzling displays.

Now, Adrian and Bianca were seated in a Japanese restaurant, enjoying a late lunch. As Bianca slowly ate her kitsune udon, her eyes occasionally drifted toward Adrian—more specifically, to the steaming niku udon he was eating.

Noticing her glances, Adrian set down his chopsticks and slid his bowl toward her. "Want some?"

The sight and smell of Adrian’s udon were so tempting that Bianca swallowed without thinking, but her pride got the better of her.

"No," she said quickly, though her chopsticks hesitated over her bowl.

"Can I taste it?" Adrian asked.

"What?"

"Your udon."

"You want to try mine?" Bianca blinked.

"Yes, please," he nodded.

"Here," she said, pushing her bowl toward him.

Adrian took a hearty sip of her udon broth before twirling the noodles with his chopsticks. "You should try mine too, it’s just as good as yours."

"Okay."

Bianca knew Adrian hadn’t truly been after her udon. He’d done it so she wouldn’t feel awkward about trying his. That small but thoughtful gesture was enough to make her heart melt.

After their meal, Adrian led Bianca into a store whose brand was famous all over the world. He wanted to spoil her, whether with clothes, shoes, bags, or anything else she desired.

"Pick anything you like. I’ll pay for it," Adrian said with a confident smile.

He was too caught up in the moment to remember that just a few days earlier, Bianca had gotten upset with him over almost the same kind of comment.

"No need. I’m not planning to buy anything. And I can pay for my own shopping. You don’t have to," she shot back without hesitation.

"But I want to get you something. Don’t be shy, just choose whatever you like, and I’ll handle the bill," he replied, genuinely thinking he was being thoughtful.

"I don’t want to. And I don’t need you to pay for me, Adrian."

Ah. That’s when it clicked. He’d almost put himself in hot water again. Bianca had always had a fierce sense of pride, and there was no way she’d accept something expensive for free, especially from him.

"Alright, then. What if we make it a trade? I’ll pay for your shopping, you pay for mine," he offered.

She considered it for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I’m fine with that."

"Good. But here’s the catch, you choose my clothes and shoes, and I choose yours."

"Deal."

"Oh, and we’ll wear them right after we buy them," Adrian added.

"Alright."

And so began their little clothes-and-shoes selection game.

Before they started, Bianca tilted her head at him. "What kind of clothes do you usually go for?" she asked.

Adrian smirked. "Surprise me. I want to see how you’d style me."

He then turned the question back at her. "How about you? Anything you wouldn’t wear?"

"Anything too short or too revealing."

"Okay, noted," he said with a small grin.

For Bianca, Adrian had picked a yellow button-front midi sundress, paired with black strappy sandals. He deliberately chose sandals instead of shoes, he didn’t want her recently healed ankle to risk another injury. With her tendency to be a little careless, he could never predict what might happen, and that worried him just enough to play it safe.

For Adrian, Bianca chose a light blue shirt and black shorts to replace the long trousers he had on.

Before heading to the fitting rooms, they exchanged the outfits they’d picked for each other.

Adrian glanced over the clothes in his hands and chuckled. "I hope this outfit lives up to your expectations."

Bianca only smiled as she inspected the yellow dress and black sandals Adrian had chosen for her. She arched an eyebrow at him. "So... this is your type, huh?"

Adrian answered with nothing but a smirk.

They stepped into their respective fitting rooms, each carrying the outfit the other had chosen.

Adrian was the first to step out. Bianca had just pushed open her curtain when she saw him and instantly paused. He had looked good before, almost unfairly so, but in this more casual outfit he somehow managed to level up. The light blue shirt fit him perfectly, the sleeves rolled up halfway in a way that looked effortlessly deliberate, showing just enough of his forearms to be distracting. Paired with the black shorts, he looked younger, sharper, and effortlessly approachable.

Adrian’s eyes shifted and then he saw her.

Bianca stepped forward in the yellow midi sundress he had picked for her, the soft fabric moving lightly with each step. The buttons down the front drew the eye without trying too hard, while the black strappy sandals showed just enough skin to be feminine without being impractical. She looked exactly the way he had imagined when he chose it, maybe even better.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Their gazes moved over each other in open assessment.

"You look beautiful," Adrian finally said, his voice low and sincere.

A soft smile spread across Bianca’s lips. "You’re not too bad yourself," she said, her voice light and her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth.

Their eyes met, sharing a quiet moment of amusement and admiration before they turned toward the counter to pay for their new clothes.

***