Su Lin never expected Zhao Yanyan to suddenly act like that. Zhao Yanyan herself was surprised by her own actions, but she quickly composed herself, thinking that since she had already done it, there was no need to feel shy. She liked Su Lin anyway, didnât she?
Touching his cheek where Zhao Yanyan had kissed him, Su Lin smirked, âYanyan, you canât escape after such a sneak attack. Remember what I said before.â
Zhao Yanyan instinctively covered her fair long legs and said, âSu Lin, donât mess around, weâre in a store.â
Su Lin chuckled, âDo I seem like that sort of person? I havenât even bought my clothes yet.â
Zhao Yanyan realized he was right; Su Lin hadnât chosen his outfit yet.
The salesperson then asked, âSir, your bill is settled. Would the lady like to wear this dress now or should we pack it?â
Zhao Yanyan quickly replied, âPlease pack it. Itâs still early; I wonât wear this dress out now.â
The salesperson nodded and escorted Zhao Yanyan to the changing room. Su Lin watched as Zhao Yanyan hurriedly followed the salesperson, looking like she was escaping.
He laughed quietly to himself. Since Zhao Yanyan had taken the initiative, he felt he should respond accordingly. He had been eyeing her long legs for a while now.
After a few minutes, Zhao Yanyan returned, dressed in her work outfit.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Su Lin commented, âYanyan, your work uniform is really ugly. You should wear your previous clothes.â
Zhao Yanyan explained, âYou think I donât want to? But every time I talk to those people, theyâre distracted, just like you, always staring at my legs. I had to switch to long pants, and you have no idea how hot it gets.â
Imagining the intense sun in Donghai, Su Lin laughed out loud.
âAlright, enough laughing. Letâs pick out clothes for you,â Zhao Yanyan said.
Su Lin shrugged, âChoosing clothes for me is simple, as long as they fit.â
Zhao Yanyan agreed, âYour physique makes any clothing look good. Itâs like youâre a natural clothes hanger. I, on the other hand, canât wear half the clothes here.â
âCanât say you canât wear them, itâs just too short and uncomfortable,â Su Lin understood Zhao Yanyanâs dilemma, although he couldnât empathize.
âRight, having clothes to wear is good enough,â Zhao Yanyan said, moving on.
They headed to the menâs clothing section, where the choices were simpler. Various suits were available, mostly differing in color but similar in style.
Zhao Yanyan picked up a white jacket and held it up to Su Lin, who disapproved, âSuch a thick jacket? You want to bake me?â
Zhao Yanyan laughed, âYouâre lucky; at least thereâs air conditioning in the hotel. In winter, we girls still have to wear these kinds of dresses, even with exposed shoulders and backs. Thatâs truly cold.â
âHold still, let me see if it fits,â she said.
Su Lin extended his hand, âWhether it fits or not, Iâll know once I put it on. Hurry, help me change.â
âOh my, you think youâre an emperor now?â Zhao Yanyan said with a huff.
Su Lin retorted playfully, âTch⦠With the life Iâm living now, I wouldnât trade it even to be an emperor!â He grimaced, emphasizing his contentment with his current situation.
Zhao Yanyan teased him, âThatâs true. After all, you already have two women, and it seems youâre about to entangle with another. Arenât you proud of yourself?â
Looking at Zhao Yanyan, Su Lin asked, âNo plans to get married?â
Zhao Yanyan snorted, âIâve seen through you long ago. You wouldnât consider marriage, right? Always chasing new while not tired of the old, wishing to gather all your favorite types at home, even if just as decoration.â
Su Lin coughed awkwardly, âThatâs an exaggeration. Iâve never thought of anyone as just a decoration.â
Zhao Yanyan praised, âNo wonder Xiaoyu is so capable. I used to think she was a delicate flower, but seeing how she handles the companyâs affairs really shocked me.â
As she spoke, she pulled Su Lin in front of a mirror, âYou look handsome, donât you think?â
Su Lin smiled, âIf you think it looks good, thatâs enough. Your taste is definitely on point.â
Zhao Yanyan shook her head, âYour face, I wonder how many girls it will bewitch.â
âThatâs not necessarily true. Youâll see, Qin Jiuyue probably wonât give me a good face tonight,â Su Lin said with a smile.
âWhy wouldnât she give you a good face?â Zhao Yanyan asked, surprised.
Su Lin shook his head, âProbably because weâre from different camps.â
âDifferent camps?â
Su Lin didnât elaborate and instead looked at himself in the mirror before saying with satisfaction, âThis set will do. Letâs pay.â
âRight away, sir!â the service staff quickly approached to process the payment.
Su Lin appreciated the shopping experience at the luxury store. The staff knew exactly when to stay back and when to step in and assist.
âArenât you going to look at other options?â Zhao Yanyan asked.
Su Lin replied, âSome things only take one glance to know theyâre right. I trust your first impression.â
Zhao Yanyan giggled, âAlright, then. Letâs buy this set.â
After paying, they didnât linger to shop further but headed downstairs.
Back in the car, Zhao Yanyan noticed Su Lin hesitating to start the car and asked with curiosity, âWhy arenât you driving? Is there something wrong?â
Su Lin nodded, âThereâs something important I havenât done yet. Once itâs done, we can leave.â
âWhat is it?â she asked.
Su Linâs gaze turned more intense as he looked at Zhao Yanyan. Just as she realized something was amiss and tried to move back, Su Linâs hand had already caught her head, âYou stole a kiss from me earlier. Isnât it my turn to kiss you back now?â
Zhao Yanyanâs eyes widened in surprise as Su Lin leaned in, âSu Lin⦠Mmmâ¦â
â¦
Meanwhile, at a natural reserve hill on the border between Donghai and Linhai, a young man around twenty years old was standing in front of a collection of pots and jars.
âAll I do is boil medicine every day. When can I finally leave the mountain? Sigh, itâs been three years since I last left the mountain, and I have no idea what the world below is like now.â
âAh well, better keep boiling the medicine, or the old man will blow his top again.â As he was speaking, a stone suddenly shot out from the thatched hut, aiming straight for Xiao Chenâs face.
Xiao Chen sensed the danger and quickly stepped back twice. âMaster, youâre really not holding back with that throw. If that hit my head, Iâd be a goner.â
âHmph, youâve learned medical skills and martial arts from me for ten years. If you canât even dodge a small stone, you might as well be dead,â Wang Yannian said, holding a smoking pipe in one hand and a yellowed envelope in the other, as he approached Xiao Chen.
âMaster, when can I finally leave the mountain? You originally said it would be three years, and itâs already been that long,â Xiao Chen grumbled somewhat discontentedly.
Of course, it was just a grumble. His Eight Trigram Palm had reached the level of a grandmaster, but in front of Wang Yannian, he was like a child, getting fancily beaten up. So, even though he had various complaints in his heart, he dared not voice them out loud.
âThinking of getting beaten up again, are you? Or are you cursing me in your heart again?â
âHow could that be? Master, am I that kind of person?â
âHeh! I knew exactly what kind of person you were when I picked you up. I saw right through you,â Wang Yannian said indifferently.
âUh⦠alright, Master, youâre great.â
âHumph humph, you want to leave the mountain?â
Xiao Chen nodded, âYes, Iâve not seen the outside world for three years.â
âThe outside world is dangerous, you know?â
âMaster, youâve said before, there arenât many people in Xia country I need to avoid, and with your support, what do I have to fear?â Xiao Chen said confidently.
Wang Yannian sighed deeply, âIâm just afraid that once you leave the mountain, youâll encounter those few people you canât provoke.â
âDonât worry, Iâm not foolish. If I know I canât beat someone, I definitely wonât make enemies with them,â Xiao Chen declared confidently.
He could already sense that Wang Yannian was about to let him leave the mountain, and his heart was filled with excitement.
The beautiful life was about to begin. The beauties of Donghai, the bustling city, he would soon see it all.
âAlas! Your heart is already not here; it has flown somewhere else long ago.â
âWell thenâ¦â