Chapter 303: Lao Liu's Masterclass, A Romantic Surprise!
July was scorching, the intense heat radiating off the asphalt was unbearable. Shen Anyu took Susan shopping at the mall, seeking refuge in the air conditioning to escape the oppressive summer sun.
However, as soon as they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted drastically. The mall's central air conditioning was set particularly low for some reason, creating an artificial winter that bit into the skin.
Susan shivered slightly. She was wearing a light summer dress that offered no protection against the chill. Her fair, delicate skin broke out in goosebumps, and her small hands turned icy cold, trembling involuntarily.
"Wait a moment."
Shen Anyu smiled gently, his voice a warm baritone cutting through the cold air. He turned and walked towards a high-end luxury boutique nearby, his stride confident and purposeful.
Susan watched him curiously, blinking her large, watery eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to preserve body heat, wondering what Big Brother Shen Anyu was doing. Did he see something he liked?
Minutes later, Shen Anyu emerged. In his hand was a stylish, pristine white jacket made of the finest cashmere blend. Without a word, he walked behind her and draped it over Susan's trembling shoulders.
The jacket still held the faint, crisp scent of a luxury store—new fabric and subtle cologne. It was heavy with quality, instantly shielding her from the biting cold. It was clearly just bought; the price tag, with its exorbitant number of zeros, hadn't even been cut off yet.
Susan felt a sudden rush of warmth that had nothing to do with the fabric. It spread through her limbs and settled deep in her chest. She looked up, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, and displayed a sweet, shy smile towards Shen Anyu.
"Big Brother... thank you."
[Ding! Detected emotional fluctuation from Destined Heroine Susan. Destiny Value +300.]
[Ding! Plundering successful. Reward: +9,000 Destiny Points.]
Shen Anyu's lips curled into a faint, charming smile. He reached out and unceremoniously grasped Susan's small hand.
"Between us, there's no need for thanks."
His voice dropped an octave, intimate and doting.
"Your hand is a bit cold. I'll help warm it up for you."
Susan froze, her breath hitching in her throat. She watched Shen Anyu expert-ly take her hand. His palm was broad, calloused, and radiated a searing heat that felt like burning iron against her cool skin. He didn't just hold her hand; he enveloped it, his thumb rubbing gentle, rhythmic circles against her knuckles.
She wanted to speak, to instinctively pull away out of shy propriety, but she hesitated. She always felt that this handsome and charming Big Brother in front of her seemed a little too familiar, too dominant to refuse.
We... We only just met today, she thought, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird.
However, she wasn't good at refusing people, especially when it was such a kind, caring gesture. The heat from his hand seemed to travel up her arm, melting her defenses.
Just then, a couple passing by began to complain loudly, shivering as they walked:
"Why is the air conditioning in this mall so cold? It feels like a freezer in here!"
"Yeah, I'm already wearing short sleeves and shorts, and now I'm freezing to death. Look, my arm hair is standing up."
"I wonder if it's some unscrupulous merchant intentionally turning down the AC to make people buy winter clothes? It's ridiculous!"
"..."
Susan blinked, realizing it wasn't just her. She whispered, puzzled:
"I feel the temperature is a bit low too. It's strange for July."
A peculiar, knowing smile appeared on Shen Anyu's face, hidden quickly before Susan could notice.
The low temperature of the mall's air conditioning was, of course, the work of Shen Anyu's subordinates. They had hacked the building's climate control system, suggesting that a drop in temperature would trigger a primal instinct in the target—seeking warmth—thus making the Young Master and Susan physically closer, promoting the rapid development of their relationship.
These guys... Shen Anyu mused internally. I didn't know I had so many 'Old Sixes' among my subordinates.
[Akarin's Note: "Old Six" (Lao Liu) is Chinese internet slang for someone who plays dirty, camps in corners, or uses unconventional, sneaky tactics to win. In this context, it refers to Shen Anyu's subordinates being incredibly crafty and efficient wingmen.]
Their initiative was impressive. He decided he would double their bonuses later.
Coincidentally—or rather, perfectly timed—a pair of female bodyguards disguised as ordinary passersby walked past them. They stopped, pretending to whisper, but their voices were projected perfectly. They pointed discreetly at Shen Anyu and Susan, their eyes widening in exaggerated admiration.
"Xiaoyun, look! That couple over there... they have such high Appearance scores! The man is as handsome as a god—look at that tall, straight figure, those sword-like brows, and bright eyes. He has such a noble, gentle demeanor. And the woman... she's like someone straight out of a manga, an absolutely beautiful young girl. Which wealthy family's princess and prince are they? They're such a perfect match."
"Yeah, I was just thinking that! What kind of divine couple are they? They're too well-matched. It's like watching a movie scene."
"..."
They stood a few meters away, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, calibrated precisely for the two of them to hear every word.
Boom.
Susan's small face immediately flushed a deep crimson. The heat rose from her neck to her ears. She panicked slightly and wanted to explain:
"No, we... we aren't..."
However, Shen Anyu squeezed her small hand tightly, cutting off her retreat. He cast an approving look at the two female bodyguards disguised as passersby—good acting—and then turned his gaze back to Susan.
He spoke to the "passersby" with a polite, aristocratic nod:
"Thank you for your compliments. I will take care of Susan and be happy for a lifetime."
Then, he looked down at the girl beside him, his gaze intense and possessive.
"Susan, wouldn't you agree?"
Susan's small face immediately turned so red it looked like it was steaming. Her brain short-circuited. She felt dizzy, her legs weakening, almost fainting from the overwhelming shyness. She was unable to answer at all.
Only one thought echoed in her mind, drowning out everything else: Are Big Brother Shen Anyu and I... really so well-matched? Perfect for each other?
Susan secretly glanced at Shen Anyu's profile. Under the mall's crystal lights, his jawline was sharp, his nose high and straight. He was as handsome as jade, noble and gentle. Truly... very good-looking.
As if sensing Susan's gaze, Shen Anyu smiled and tilted his head, leaning closer until his breath brushed her ear.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Susan lowered her head rapidly, burying her chin in the collar of the white jacket he had bought her. A thread of affection, under the influence of her subconscious and the surrounding atmosphere, naturally emerged like a sprouting seed.
[Ding! Detected emotional fluctuation from Destined Heroine Susan. Destiny Value +10.]
[Ding! Plundering successful. Reward: +30,000 Destiny Points.]
Shen Anyu was in a good mood. The harvest was plentiful today.
However, the tricky operations of his 'Old Six' subordinates did not stop there; their proactive initiative was very strong, bordering on aggressive.
Just as Shen Anyu was holding Susan's small hand, leading her past a high-end jewelry store, a man in a sharp suit stepped out.
It was the manager of the jewelry store—another subordinate in disguise. He stopped Shen Anyu and Susan with a professional, beaming smile.
"Excuse me! Are you two an engaged couple?"
Susan opened her mouth, her face still burning, but before she could deny it, Shen Anyu gently nodded. He squeezed her hand again, a silent signal of dominance. Feigning curiosity, he asked:
"Yes, we are. Why are you stopping us?"
Susan blushed furiously but stayed silent, tacitly agreeing. She felt like she was being swept away by a flood, unable to find her footing.
The jewelry store manager smiled broadly and said:
"Congratulations! Our jewelry store is a century-old brand, and today happens to be our One Hundredth Anniversary celebration. You are the one-hundredth engaged couple to pass by our store today! Fate has brought you here, so we have a surprise gift package prepared specifically for you."
He bowed slightly, his voice full of ceremonial grandeur.
"We wish you a hundred years of happiness, early progeny, and to grow old together with white hair!"
As he finished speaking, the manager snapped his fingers. A salesperson nearby handed him a beautifully wrapped gift box. He presented it with both hands to Shen Anyu and Susan.
"Please, open it."
Shen Anyu took the box and flipped the lid open.
Inside, nestled on black velvet, was a pair of ruby rings.
Under the bright crystal chandelier of the store, the rubies shimmered with a mesmerizing, blood-red light. They were cut with exquisite precision, catching every photon and refracting it into a dazzling display of brilliance. Even a layman could tell these were precious items at first glance.
Susan's beautiful eyes widened, showing surprise and admiration. No girl could resist such sparkling treasures. The red was deep, passionate, and captivating.
The jewelry store manager smiled and explained:
"This pair of ruby rings symbolizes pure and flawless love, burning like fire. They were personally designed by a famous jewelry designer from the Demon Capital (Modu). The market value is over one million Yuan!"
"They are given as a special gift from our jewelry store to the hundredth engaged couple passing by on our hundredth anniversary. We only wish to share our joy!"
In reality, the value of this pair of ruby rings far exceeded one million. They were top-tier Pigeon Blood Rubies, likely worth tens of millions, pulled from Shen Anyu's personal vault. But stating the true value would likely shock Susan into refusing.
At this moment, Susan was utterly astonished. This surprise was too grand, wasn't it? A million Yuan just for walking by?
But... are Big Brother Shen Anyu and I really a couple?
Susan bit her lip, her large, watery eyes hesitantly looking up at Shen Anyu. She felt like an imposter, yet a part of her desperately wanted this to be real.
Shen Anyu nodded without hesitation, smiling as he plucked the smaller ring from the box. He took Susan's left hand, his touch firm and undeniable.
"Susan, let's try on this surprise gift. It would be rude to refuse such destiny."
"It seems we truly have a lot of fate connecting us."
Destiny? Fate?
Susan was at an age where she believed in fairy tales and romantic destiny. Today's wonderful encounter—the rescue, the jacket, the warmth—combined with the ruby rings symbolizing eternal love, made her feel dizzy.
Shen Anyu held her hand, isolating her ring finger. The tip of the cold metal touched her skin. He slid the ring down slowly, deliberately. The friction was electric.
It was only when Shen Anyu personally placed the ruby ring fully onto her finger that she fully came to her senses. The cool metal heated up instantly against her skin.
Looking at the ruby ring on her ring finger, gleaming like a drop of solidified passion, Susan's emotions were a complex mess. Her gaze towards Shen Anyu carried a hint of lingering affection and awe.
Could this really be a destiny arranged by Heaven?
It was just like in an idol drama. An accidental car fender bender leads to acquaintance, and then various coincidences push them together until they are inseparable.
At this moment, the figure of her childhood friend Lin Xiang—that immature, troublesome boy—gradually faded from Susan's mind like smoke in the wind. He was replaced entirely by the handsome, powerful, and gentle Big Brother standing before her.
And that wasn't all!
Shen Anyu's lips moved slightly, transmitting a message via silent lip-reading to his subordinate disguised as the manager.
Finish it.
The jewelry store manager nodded imperceptibly, understanding the command. He clapped his hands together and said to Susan and Shen Anyu with renewed enthusiasm:
"By the way, sir and madam! Since you've accepted our centenary gift, we have one small request. We would like to take a promotional photo for our store's 'Wall of Love', if that's alright?"
Shen Anyu naturally had no objections. He turned to Susan, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Since they've given such a valuable surprise gift, of course we won't object. It's a fair exchange. Susan, right?"
"Mm..."
Seeing Shen Anyu nod, Susan also agreed softly. She couldn't find her voice to say no to him.
The jewelry store manager smiled, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light worthy of an 'Old Six'.
"Thank you for your cooperation, sir and madam! Hmm, for the promotional photo, to show the theme of 'Passionate Love', we'll shoot it like this."
He gestured with his hands, directing them like movie stars.
"The gentleman stands tall and straight, looking down with affection, showcasing his masculine vigor..."
He turned to Susan.
"And this young lady smiles sweetly, stands on her tiptoes... and actively kisses the gentleman!"
[Akarin Note:
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