Chapter 630: An Zhiyue, You Forced Me to Do This!
"Husband, I won't blame you if you can't guess."
Heavenly Queen Zhong's smile became even sweeter, her voice laced with a charming and playful lilt. If he were foolish enough to take her words at face value, he would truly be an idiot.
Shen Anyu gently took Zhong Lingyin's slender, porcelain-white hand in his, a warm smile spreading across his lips.
"How could I possibly not guess? Today is my precious Lingyin's twenty-fifth birthday, and your husband has already prepared the perfect gift for you."
Fortunately, his cultivation had pushed his mental faculties far beyond those of an ordinary man. His memory was practically eidetic, a necessary tool for navigating the intricate web of birthdays and anniversaries that came with having so many women in his life. Forgetting even one would be a disaster he didn't care to imagine.
A soft peck landed on his cheek. Zhong Lingyin had risen onto her tiptoes, her body pressing lightly against his. The faint tension in her delicate brows melted away, replaced by a radiant energy that lit up her entire face. Her whole demeanor brightened, radiating pure joy.
"I knew it," she chirped, her voice brimming with delight. "I knew my husband wouldn't forget."
The world-famous Heavenly Queen Zhong, a notorious workaholic, had cleared her entire schedule for this one day. She had taken leave from her film set, spent hours dressing to perfection, and returned to Jinxiu Mountain Villa No. 1 with a heart full of anticipation, dreaming of a private celebration for her twenty-fifth birthday with Shen Anyu.
But the moment she had walked through the door, that dream shattered. There he was, the center of attention for three other stunning women: Wu Shenyun, Bai Bing, and Zhang Yaqian. Even for someone as composed as Zhong Lingyin, the sting of jealousy was sharp and immediate, a bitter flood that soured her mood and sparked the competitive fire that led to her earlier clash with Zhang Yaqian.
Now, however, hearing that Shen Anyu had not only remembered but had also prepared a gift, all the jealousy and resentment that had coiled in her heart instantly dissolved like mist in the morning sun.
She truly loved this man to her very core.
"Of course I wouldn't forget," Shen Anyu declared, his expression completely sincere. "Even if I forgot my own birthday, I could never forget my Lingyin's."
"Come on, Lingyin. I'll take you to see your birthday gift."
With the sheer variety of treasures in his storage ring, finding something to place in a gift box would be a simple matter.
"Lingyin doesn't care about gifts," she said, her expression blissful and sweet as she tightened her grip on his arm. "She just wants her husband to spend the whole day with her."
"And how would you like me to spend the day with you?" Shen Anyu asked, his interest piqued.
"Hmm~" Zhong Lingyin brought a slender finger to her delicate chin, her lips forming an adorable pout as she fell into deep, cute contemplation.
Shen Anyu simply admired the national diva's enchanting beauty, content to wait without rushing her.
"I've got it!" Zhong Lingyin's gorgeous eyes lit up as an idea struck her. She beamed at him. "Husband, why don't you take me to the mall? We can go shopping, watch a movie, and then have a candlelight dinner. You've never actually taken me out on a proper date."
A pang of guilt pricked at Shen Anyu's conscience. It was true. Despite being together for so long, he had never taken her out to do any of the typical things couples did. Their relationship had often skipped the preliminaries, a classic case of "getting on the bus first and buying the ticket later."
Sensing the apology forming on his lips, Heavenly Queen Zhong gently pressed her fingertip against them, shaking her head with a soft chuckle.
"I don't mind any of that. I know my husband is a very busy man."
Shen Anyu coughed twice. Busy was certainly one word for it.
"And then," she began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned in close, rising on her tiptoes again, "when night falls…" Her eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, her warm breath ghosting across his skin as she whispered directly into his ear, "The rest of the evening is all yours, Brother Shen."
A stray strand of her silky hair brushed against his earlobe, sending a pleasant jolt straight through him.
Spending the day with Zhong Lingyin for her birthday was a request he naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Husband, I'm just going to put on some makeup. Wait for me for a moment, okay?"
"Alright."
Zhong Lingyin disappeared into her room to get ready. When she emerged a short while later, Shen Anyu's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"You are…?"
The woman who emerged was a complete stranger, yet unmistakably Zhong Lingyin. She wore a vibrant, orange-red wig, its long tresses cascading down to her waist. Her face, a canvas of exquisite beauty, had been transformed by clever makeup, creating a look so different it was a masterful disguise. Gone was the pure, ethereal idol; in her place stood a strikingly bold woman. Her lips, painted a fiery red, were curved into a teasing smile, exuding a raw, magnetic allure that was both sexy and captivating.
Dressed in a denim jacket, jeans, and a pair of large sunglasses, she looked like a vibrant, fashionable urbanite—a far cry from the pure and elegant national diva known as the "Jade Maiden Leader."
Even Shen Anyu, who knew her intimately, had to take a second look to be certain it was her. An outsider would never be able to recognize her.
Zhong Lingyin smiled brightly. "I'm a celebrity, after all. If I don't disguise myself, there's no way we could go out and have fun."
Understanding dawned on Shen Anyu's face, and he grinned. "No way? My darling Lingyin is a global superstar. If you went out without a disguise, you'd cause city-wide traffic jams and shut down entire shopping malls."
The memory of Weibo crashing the day she officially announced their relationship was proof enough. She wasn't just a star in China; her fame extended across the globe, with hundreds of millions of followers across various platforms and massive success in both music and film. If she were to appear in public with him, the mall would be overrun in minutes.
"No matter how big a star I become, I'll always just be my husband's girl," Zhong Lingyin said with a charming smile, linking her arm through his.
"That's right." A pleased expression settled on Shen Anyu's face.
The thought of having a superstar with hundreds of millions of adoring fans as his hidden treasure was a temptation no man could resist.
Shen Anyu didn't bother with an elaborate outfit, opting for a simple white casual suit. His natural good looks were so striking that he was dazzling even without trying. He slipped on a pair of large sunglasses that matched Zhong Lingyin's, adding an air of mystery to his appearance.
Zhong Lingyin's beautiful eyes lit up with admiration. "Husband, you're just too handsome. I'm almost starting to regret taking you out. I can't imagine how many young women and housewives will be stealing glances at you."
Unable to resist, she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss, her eyes overflowing with love.
"Let's go."
A captivating tenderness softened Shen Anyu's handsome features as he took Zhong Lingyin's small hand. They walked to the garage of Jinxiu Mountain Villa No. 1, selected a low-key Porsche, and set a course for Xihe Shopping Mall, the largest commercial center in all of Hangzhou.
Xihe Shopping Mall was Hangzhou's premier integrated complex, a sprawling mega-structure that housed amusement parks, high-end shopping avenues, expansive food streets, theme parks, cinemas, and more. It was also, conveniently, one of the many properties owned by the Shen Corporation.
The moment they stepped inside, they were immersed in a world of vibrant energy. The vast atrium echoed with the cheerful chatter of shoppers, the distant melodies of pop music, and the laughter of children. Light streamed in from the glass ceiling, illuminating the bustling crowds that flowed through the wide corridors. Zhong Lingyin squeezed Shen Anyu's hand, her eyes, wide behind her sunglasses, drinking in the scene with unconcealed excitement.
"It's so lively!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a childlike wonder.
Shen Anyu couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you really that happy?"
"Mm-hmm, of course! I haven't set foot in a shopping mall in years, and now I'm here with the person I love most. How could I not be happy?" Zhong Lingyin said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Her family background was extraordinary, hailing from a prominent clan in Jiangnan. Since her debut, her fame had exploded both at home and abroad, earning her a legion of devoted fans. An activity as simple as shopping, something any ordinary girl could do, was a logistical nightmare for her, capable of causing a public frenzy. The burden of fame meant that unless she booked out an entire mall—which would defeat the purpose of experiencing the lively atmosphere—such an outing was impossible. And going alone in disguise was just no fun.
But now, holding the hand of the man she loved, strolling through the crowds like any normal couple, Zhong Lingyin felt a sense of pure, unadulterated bliss.
"Let's go, Husband, let's go!" Like a cheerful lark, she tugged on Shen Anyu's hand, pulling him deeper into the mall. He watched her from behind, a doting and affectionate look on his face.
In a forgotten corner of Xihe Shopping Mall, a man shrouded in a black hoodie leaned against a wall. A sinister grin twisted his lips, and his eyes burned with a crazed light.
'If I can't live, then no one else gets to either!'
'An Zhiyue, you forced my hand!'
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