The workers were being incredibly careful, moving inch by inch like they were afraid to even breathe on the thing.
"Be careful! This is something CEO Anderson ordered, if you break it, nobody can afford to pay for it!"
"That's right! Watch it. This thing costs over a million. Even if we sold ourselves, we couldn't pay it back!"
When I heard that, my eyes went wide.
Something worth over a million? What on earth was this giant thing? How could it be that expensive?
"What are you all moving in?" I put the TV remote down and ran over to the huge covered object, trying to see what it was. "Did CEO Anderson buy it?"
The workers looked at me, at the overly dolled-up girl standing inside his villa. Anyone who could show up here clearly wasn't ordinary. Either his kept woman, or someone he really doted on.
"Young madam, this is a piano CEO Anderson bought," one of them said.
They lifted the cloth.
In an instant, a flawless white piano, white as snow, came into view and hit me straight in the eyes.
I stared at it, the corner of my mouth twitching. So, Captian had already decided on his own to buy a piano for me. And his efficiency was terrifying, he'd only mentioned it yesterday, and today it had already been delivered. And it was the kind that costs over a million.
In other words, if I played this piano, it would be like playing on a mountain of hundred-USD bills. The thought felt both sour and… a little intoxicating.
"Young madam, where should we put the piano?" The workers didn't dare set it down randomly and had to politely ask me.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Then I suddenly remembered there was an empty room upstairs. I could probably put it there.
"Come with me," I said.
There was an unused room on the second floor. Judging by the dust, no one had opened it for a long time. I went in and immediately opened the windows so the dust inside could blow out.
"Put it in the middle of the room," I said casually, pointing.
Very quickly, the piano was set in place. One of the workers tested a key, found the tone perfect, and promptly backed off, not daring to touch it again.
I looked at the absurdly expensive instrument and suddenly felt very conflicted. The piano was beautiful, but I didn't like it at all. In fact, I kind of hated it.
Ring, ring, ring... My phone vibrated. A text popped up.
I grabbed it and saw it was from Hezze. Yesterday we'd been stuck together like glue and even exchanged numbers.
I opened the message. She was asking if I wanted to go out shopping. It was the weekend, the weather was beautiful, honestly a perfect day for it.
I stared at the text, hesitating. Captian hadn't actually restricted my freedom. If I wanted to go out with a classmate, it should be fine… right? Rather than lying at home like a salted fish, I might as well go for a walk with a friend.
Once I'd thought it through, I replied right away: "Okay!"
After getting her confirmation, we agreed to meet at the café at the end of the street.
I adjusted my clothes, then bounced downstairs. "Nanny Alley! If Ninth Master comes back, please tell him I went out shopping with a classmate and might be home a bit late!"
Before nanny Alley could answer, my shadow had already disappeared out the door.
"Huh? Wait a moment…" she started, but I was already gone. Her lips trembled, her heart thudding in her chest.
Today, Captian would be coming back early, it was his birthday, and him returning this early almost certainly meant he wanted to spend it with me. But I had gone out shopping instead…
When he got back, he was going to be furious. What kind of mess was this?
I, of course, had no idea today was his birthday. I was completely wrapped up in the excitement of going out with Hezze. It was my first time shopping with a friend in Alchimie City. It felt surreal like a dream that I'd actually found a real friend here.
By the time I arrived at the café, she was already waiting. She was wearing a pale yellow dress, her skin fair, her big eyes bright. Under the sunlight, her whole person seemed to glow with youthful energy, a very pretty sight.
"Hezze!" I ran over to her grinning. In the sunlight, the little tear-mole under my eye must have stood out even more.
She turned her head, and when she saw my face, I could practically feel her soul shake.
Too pretty, huh?
That tear-mole really was a kill shot. Without it, I probably wouldn't look this striking. Even a straight girl like her looked a little shaken.
I could almost see her shiver. She patted her chest and silently reminded herself that she was straight and only liked handsome men.
"What are you patting for? Be careful or you'll flatten them," I teased, staring blatantly at her chest.
Her face flushed hot in an instant. "Rosy! Do you know how beautiful you were just now when you ran over? I almost lost my soul. Especially that tear-mole under your eye, it's so pretty!"
"Is it really that pretty?" I couldn't help lifting my hand to touch the mole.
She nodded earnestly. "Really! Prettier than a pearl. Even a girl like me is bewitched!"
I smiled. No wonder Captian had such a weird obsession with it. Apparently, it really was that beautiful.
"Do you want to go inside for a drink first?" she asked, worried I might be thirsty.
I shook my head. I'd eaten a lot before leaving the house, and my stomach was still full. I couldn't drink another drop. "You said we were going shopping what did you want to buy?"
At the mention of shopping, she lit up. "Let me tell you, there's a new shopping mall nearby. They've got clothes, jewelry, food, drinks, everything! I'll take you there."
"Sounds great!" My eyes brightened instantly. I'm still a girl, after all, how could I not be interested in clothes and jewelry?
The mall was close by, just a short taxi ride away. Both of us were very pretty, so as we walked through the bustling mall, people kept turning to look at us. I'd been pretty since I was little, and I'd never lacked admirers at school, so these kinds of stares weren't new to me.
But compared to the shy glances from boys in the countryside, the looks in the city were much more direct bold, even. Being stared at like that made me slightly uncomfortable.
"Rosy, come look at this outfit, it's so beautiful!" Hezze had already been captured by a dress.
I followed her gaze. It was an ivory-white dress, decorated with a layer of lace that made it look ethereal as if whoever wore it would turn into a fairy.
"It's gorgeous! With your fair skin, it'll look perfect on you," I said honestly. My voice was clear and light, making the compliment feel especially warm.
Her face lit up. "Really? That perfect?"
"Definitely. If you don't believe me, go try it on," I said firmly.