Chapter 304: Susan Takes the Initiative!
"Active kiss?"
Susan bit her rosy lower lip with her pearly white teeth, looking at Shen Anyu with a mix of shyness and hesitation. Her heart fluttered like a trapped bird in her chest.
Although Susan had now tacitly accepted their relationship as a couple—swept away by the whirlwind romance and Shen Anyu's overwhelming presence—an active kiss was still too embarrassing for her. It felt like crossing a final, irreversible line.
After all, they hadn't even known each other half a day ago. The timeline of their acquaintance could be measured in hours, not months or years. Their relationship hadn't progressed to that point of natural intimacy yet.
Shen Anyu looked at Susan with concern, his deep eyes reflecting only tenderness and understanding. He reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and said gently and considerately:
"If you're shy, then you don't have to. I don't want you to do anything you're uncomfortable with."
Susan's heart instantly sweetened, melting like sugar in warm water. Shen Anyu fulfilled all her fantasies about her future husband: handsome, gentle, considerate, steady, kind... He was perfect.
Even if it was Shen Anyu who stood to benefit from this public display of affection, he was willing to refuse a gift worth millions just to protect her feelings. This level of respect and care greatly increased Susan's favorability towards him.
At this moment, caught in the glow of his chivalry, Susan seemed to have completely forgotten how Shen Anyu had forcefully taken what he wanted in the car earlier, dismissing that dominance as passion.
Just then, the jewelry store manager—who was secretly one of Shen Anyu's elite female bodyguards—stepped forward, her face darkening with displeasure.
"Sir and Miss, we've given you a ruby ring worth over a million Yuan. Can you not even satisfy such a small request for our promotional material?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "If that's the case, then we'll have to take back this pair of ruby rings. Our brand values the courage to express love, and hesitation is not part of our image."
Susan's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her beautiful, pure face immediately showed a troubled expression. She looked at the dazzling ruby ring on her finger, feeling a pang of loss. It wasn't just about the ring; it was about the symbolism.
Shen Anyu, however, turned cold. He shielded Susan behind him and said impolitely:
"If you don't give it, then don't. A mere ruby ring worth a million, I can afford it! Do you think I need your charity to adorn my girlfriend?"
His voice was laced with the arrogance of a wealthy young master, protective and fierce. With that, Shen Anyu turned, ready to pull Susan away from the store.
Susan hesitated, her feet planted firmly on the polished marble floor. She wanted to speak but held back, torn between her shyness and her desire to preserve this moment.
The jewelry store manager, playing her role to perfection, scoffed angrily:
"This is not just a ruby ring, but also a heaven-sent destiny! It's fine if you don't cherish the destiny, but don't blame fate when you miss out on true happiness."
Destiny.
That word struck a chord deep within Susan's romantic heart. Upon hearing this, Susan immediately grabbed Shen Anyu's large, warm hand, stopping him in his tracks.
A hint of a smile flashed in Shen Anyu's eyes—so faint it was imperceptible—then he turned his head, feigning confusion as he looked at Susan, and said:
"Susan, what's wrong? We don't need their gifts."
Susan mustered her courage, her eyes shining with determination. She looked up at him and said to Shen Anyu:
"Big Brother, he's right. This isn't just a pair of ruby rings, it's also a heaven-sent destiny."
She took a deep breath, her voice gaining strength. "It's the jewelry store's centennial anniversary, and we are the hundredth unmarried couple to come, which signifies a good omen for a hundred years of harmony. It would be too regrettable to give up such a heaven-sent destiny over such a small matter."
At the age where she loved romance novels and believed in fairy tales, Susan had countless aspirations for love. She believed in signs, in fate, in the red thread of marriage. If she missed such a good omen because of her own small hesitation, she would definitely regret it for the rest of her life.
Thinking of this, Susan blushed, her cheeks dusting with a lovely shade of pink, and said to Shen Anyu:
"Big Brother, I can accept it."
Anyway, since she would be with Big Brother in the future, they would kiss eventually. They would hold hands, hug, and even do more intimate things. Why not start now, under the blessing of destiny?
Susan's small face was flushed, and she bit her lip as she thought, her heart racing like a drum.
Shen Anyu and the female bodyguard, disguised as the jewelry store manager, exchanged quick glances, both with a hint of a hidden smile. The trap had been sprung perfectly.
...
Subsequently, in a meticulously arranged small flower garden behind the mall, specifically designed for photo shoots.
The air was filled with the scent of fresh roses and jasmine, creating a heady, romantic atmosphere. Soft, artificial lighting mimicked the golden glow of a sunset, casting a dreamlike haze over the scene.
Shen Anyu was dressed impeccably in a white tuxedo suit, his handsome face radiating a captivating smile. He looked like a prince who had stepped out of a storybook, his gaze filled with deep affection as he looked at the young girl before him.
Susan was wearing a pure white wedding dress, provided by a nearby bridal shop that 'coincidentally' collaborated with the jewelry store. The dress fitted her perfectly, accentuating her slender waist and pure aura. Her sweet face was filled with shyness and happiness, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders in soft waves.
Beside them were the jewelry store staff and a professional photographer, lenses focused and ready.
Susan raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with tender affection as she looked at the man before her. A man she had only known for half a day, yet who had captivated her heart with his dominance, his gentleness, and his overwhelming charisma.
"Susan, I will give you happiness, I swear," Shen Anyu said, his voice low and magnetic, meant only for her ears.
Shen Anyu sensed Susan's hesitation and apprehension—the trembling of her shoulders, the nervous flutter of her eyelashes. He smiled gently, grasping one of Susan's small hands in his.
Their hands, adorned with matching ruby rings that glittered like solidified blood under the lights, intertwined. The cool metal of the rings pressed against their skin, binding them together.
"Big Brother, I believe you!"
Feeling the warmth and strength of Shen Anyu's palm, Susan's heart settled down. The fear vanished, replaced by a surge of trust and affection. She smiled sweetly and hummed in agreement.
"Okay, ready!" the photographer called out. "Bride, please kiss the groom!"
Taking a deep breath, Susan slowly leaned in. She had to rise on her tiptoes to reach him, her body pressing lightly against his chest. She could feel the solid muscle beneath his suit, the steady beat of his heart.
Their breaths gradually intertwined, mixing in the small space between their lips. The air was filled with an inexpressible sweetness and warmth, a tension that made the world around them fade away.
Finally, Susan closed her eyes. Gently, yet with immense determination, she actively offered her rosy white lips. She pressed them against the man's lips, imprinting them on him, as if also imprinting him deep within her own heart.
It was soft, tentative, and utterly pure.
[Ding! Detected destined heroine Susan's favorability +10. Plundered +30,000 Destiny Points.]
[Ding! Detected destined heroine Susan's total favorability 86. Additional plundering +30,000 Destiny Points.]
The young girl's proactive, affectionate kiss also made Shen Anyu feel somewhat intoxicated. Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of peach lip gloss and innocence.
Although he had gained a lot—money, power, women—he didn't think it was too much. He was a glutton for control, for conquest.
His main goal was to have it all. To consume everything this world had to offer.
Susan was also filled with shy joy. The kiss ended, but she didn't pull away immediately. She lingered for a moment, savoring the connection.
When the photos came out minutes later, printed on high-quality glossy paper, Susan stared at them in awe. Looking at herself in the pure white wedding dress and the incredibly handsome and dashing Shen Anyu in his formal suit, Susan's beautiful eyes were filled with longing.
In the photo, the lighting was perfect. Shen Anyu looked down at her with doting eyes, while she reached up to kiss him, looking like a devoted little wife.
This was simply the romantic scene from her girlish dreams brought to life. It was better than any drama, any novel.
At this moment, the figure of Lin Xiang, her childhood friend, completely faded from Susan's mind. The boy who rode bikes with no hands, who caused trouble, who needed her protection—he was gone.
Only the figure of the man before her remained, completely filling her heart. This mature, powerful man who could protect her, spoil her, and give her a life of luxury and romance.
[Ding! Detected destined heroine Susan's favorability +5. Plundered +15,000 Destiny Points.]
[Ding! Detected destined heroine Susan's total favorability 91. Additional plundering +50,000 Destiny Points.]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Lin Xiang's emotional line is completely severed. Plundered +100,000 Destiny Points.]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Lin Xiang's Destiny Value is below 30%. His luck has fallen to a low point, and the probability of killing him has greatly increased!]
Shen Anyu smiled with pleasure, the system notifications chiming like a victory march in his mind. He had originally thought he would have to completely take her down—body and soul—to resolve the Lin Xiang issue. But now it seemed that, as expected of a Child of Destiny from a youth romance novel, the bond was fragile. He hadn't even exerted himself much, and Lin Xiang was already almost defeated.
It was simply a dimensionality reduction attack! A high-level villain crushing a low-level protagonist effortlessly.
Looking at the pure and sweet young girl before him, who was still admiring the photos, Shen Anyu also praised her, his voice silky smooth:
"Susan, you're very beautiful. When we get married in the future, you'll wear a pure white wedding dress just like this. We'll have a grand wedding, the kind the whole city talks about."
Susan looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Mhm mhm, Big Brother, Susan is also very much looking forward to it."
"Still calling me Big Brother?" Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing.
Meeting Shen Anyu's gaze, Susan blushed deeper. She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper, shy but full of affection:
"Husband~"
The sound was soft, sweet, and utterly submissive.
"Good girl," Shen Anyu chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Let's go, Husband will take you to see the Riverside fireworks display! It's the perfect end to our perfect day."
Shen Anyu's face was full of smiles. Now was the time for harvest. Men accompany women shopping, endure the boredom, and put in effort—isn't it all for that one moment when the prey falls willingly into their arms?
Tonight, under the fireworks, he would solidify his claim.
...
On the other side of the city, the contrast could not be starker.
Lin Xiang endured the high temperature of thirty-five or thirty-six degrees under the blazing sun. He was standing outside Susan's house, sweating profusely, with double vision appearing before his eyes due to mild heatstroke.
The aunts and uncles passing by, neighbors who had known him since he was a baby, told him to find some shade.
"Lin Xiang, go home! You'll get sick!"
But Lin Xiang refused, shaking his head stubbornly.
"Susan is kind-hearted and soft. As long as she sees me like this, suffering for her, she'll definitely soften and forgive me..."
Lin Xiang's face was pale, his lips cracked and dry, and sweat streamed down him, soaking his cheap t-shirt. He looked pathetic, like a drowned rat left out to dry.
In his heart, however, he was happily thinking—deluding himself—that perhaps after Susan forgave him, he could still take her to the Riverside fireworks display tonight and confess his feelings as originally planned.
The thought of holding his beloved girl's small hand, watching the colors explode in the sky, and even sharing their first kiss... and even...
Lin Xiang's mouth curved into a wide, foolish grin, ignoring the physical pain.
However, he waited and waited.
For a full three or four hours, from past three in the afternoon until almost seven in the evening. The sun began to set, casting long, lonely shadows across the street. But he still couldn't wait for the enchanting figure that haunted his dreams.
Lin Xiang felt extremely disappointed. The hunger gnawed at his stomach, and the thirst parched his throat.
Had Susan really gotten angry this time and still hadn't returned?
Or, had something happened to Susan outside?
He hadn't brought his phone while cycling earlier—another stupid mistake—so Lin Xiang couldn't contact her now and was extremely anxious.
"Oh right, Susan wouldn't have gone to the Riverside fireworks display by herself, would she?"
Just then, Lin Xiang's eyes lit up. He suddenly thought of a possibility and became excited. Susan loved fireworks. Maybe she went there to cool off and wait for him to find her? It was just like the plot of a romantic manga!
Without thinking, ignoring his fatigue and hunger, Lin Xiang elegantly mounted his bicycle and rode towards the Riverside, pedaling with renewed, desperate hope...
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