James had no idea that, in Tailsa's mind, she already saw him as an easy target.
Looking at the stunning woman in front of him, he grinned brightly and said, "I think you look even more beautiful now than you did back in college."
James wasn't exactly a master of flirting, but his words were heartfelt and sincere.
Back in college, Tailsa had often worn skirts with bare legs, giving off an innocent and pure vibe.
Now, out in the real world, she'd traded that look for black stockings, adding a layer of mature seduction. It was an irresistible mix of innocence and allure.
"Really?"
Hearing such a blunt compliment, Tailsa couldn't help but feel pleased, though her expression carried a hint of awkwardness.
She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, feigning casual indifference, and then asked, almost as if in passing, "I didn't see you drive over. You didn't bring your car?"
James's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't dare tell her the truthâthat he had ridden over on a second-hand electric bike with a replaced battery that could manage 50 miles on a good day.
He felt that kind of honesty would probably get him dismissed on the spot. So instead, he awkwardly lied, "Oh, the place wasn't far, so I just walked over."
"Oh..." Tailsa gave him a skeptical glance but decided not to press the matter.
After all, directly asking about someone's car right after meeting them felt a bit impolite, even for her.
James quickly tried to shift the conversation. "So, you work here?"
"Yes," Tailsa replied naturally, "I work on the second floor of the mall, selling skincare products."
James, worried about interrupting her work schedule, asked, "Is it okay for you to be out like this?"
Tailsa waved off his concern. "It's fine. There are other people in the store."
Their conversation quickly fell into a rhythm of back-and-forth questions and answers, but after a while, neither of them could find anything else to say.
The atmosphere grew quiet.
James, standing in front of such a beautiful goddess, felt his nerves creeping in.
He wasn't sure what to say next.
To break the silence and avoid the awkwardness, he suggested, "How about we walk around the mall for a bit?"
Tailsa hesitated.
When she'd agreed to meet him, she had already mentally prepared herself for a stroll and a casual date.
She'd even gone out of her way to change into a stylish outfit and touch up her makeup.
But now that she was standing next to James, with his cheap clothes and careless appearance, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
It was as if he hadn't put any effort into this meeting at all.
Lowering her gaze, she hesitated, her thoughts racing.
Walking around the mall with him felt... embarrassing.
What if someone she knew saw her with this poorly dressed man? She could already imagine the gossip.
But then again, how could she turn him down politely?
After all, this man had just handed her $100,000 in cashâa sum that equaled her annual salary.
Whether it was his life savings or not, she didn't think it would be right to treat him poorly.
After weighing her options, she sighed internally.
Fine. She'd treat it like she was accompanying a client.
Work is work, after allâno shame in it.
Even if she had to spend the whole day strolling around with him, what did it matter?
Besides, there was no way she was giving that money back, no matter what.
Resolving herself, she forced a polite smile and said, "Sure."
James beamed. "If there's anything you want, just let me knowâI'll buy it for you."
Wait, what?
Tailsa blinked, her face full of surprise.
She looked at the man in front of her more closely, studying him intently.
There wasn't even a trace of insecurity in his expression.
Instead, there was confidence. Pride, even.
"What? You don't believe me?" James raised an eyebrow.
"No, no," Tailsa stammered, her eyes darting nervously. "It's just... we're not that close, so spending your money feels a little inappropriate."
"We've known each other for years, haven't we?" James chuckled, teasing her.
Outwardly, James looked plain and unremarkable, but his words carried a surprising amount of self-assurance.
For the first time, Tailsa started doubting her earlier judgment.
Was he hiding something? Was this all an act to disguise his wealth?
Could it be one of those rich-guy quirksâpretending to be broke for some kind of twisted thrill?
She wrestled with her thoughts for a moment before finally deciding to take a leap of faith.
She reached out and gently looped her arm through his.
Whatever the truth was, that $100,000 was worth the gamble.
"Let me show you where I work," she said with a radiant smile.
James felt his heart skip a beat as her soft hand wrapped around his arm.
My God, so enthusiastic right off the bat?
James could feel his arm wrapped in an unfamiliar softness.
Glancing to the side, he saw her slender, delicate hand resting on his arm, as tender and smooth as a fresh lotus root. Her silky black hair flowed gracefully, exuding an unintentional allure.
The sight made his face flush slightly, even sparking a bit of excitement within him.
Passersby couldn't help but cast glances at the two of them.
The girl was stunningâher outfit radiating a perfect mix of purity and seduction, making her the center of attention.
The guy next to her, however, looked completely out of place. With his messy bedhead and awkward expression, he gave off the vibe of a broke loser.
But seeing how close they seemed, it was clear they had an intimate relationship.
Many of the onlookers couldn't help but sigh for the beauty.
"This is a textbook case of a flower stuck in a pile of manure," they thought.
"And if it's manure anyway, why couldn't it be me?"
They all wondered what kind of trick this man had used to land such a gorgeous girl.
Some of the passing guys, taller, better-looking, and more confident, couldn't understand why she'd choose him over someone like them.
The resentment in their eyes was almost palpable. Some even stared so hard at James that their eyes seemed on the verge of bleeding.
What made it worse was that the "manure" was shamelessly ogling the girl, his gaze fixed on her chest.
Completely defeated, the bystanders felt a sudden wave of existential despair.
Meanwhile, Tailsa noticed James's blatant admiration from the corner of her eye. She secretly felt proud of her charm, but she pretended not to notice.
A girl who dressed so carefully always did it to attract attention. The more direct the gaze, the more satisfaction it brought.
Once they stepped onto the escalator, however, Tailsa finally had enough of his obvious staring.
She pinched his arm and let out a soft "Hmph!" before saying, "Have you stared enough?"
James scratched his head and chuckled. "Sorry, my eyes are out of control."
"Hmph," Tailsa pouted, her eyes sparkling with a mix of playfulness and mock annoyance. She cast him a tender sideways glance, as though she was upset. Yet, despite her supposed irritation, she didn't let go of his arm.
James was completely entranced by her flirtatious glance, his head swimming.
The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air, and for a moment, he felt almost intoxicated. His legs wobbled as he walked, as though he was floating.
He never could've imagined that their first meeting would turn out to be this warm and intimate.
On top of that, Tailsa was dressed lightly. The chill of the air-conditioned mall made her body shiver slightly, causing her to unconsciously cling tighter to his arm for warmth.
For someone as inexperienced as James, there was no way he could resist this kind of temptation.
She was like a ball of fire, burning him up inside, making him feel hotter and hotter.
Tailsa, feeling the warmth radiating from his arm, tilted her head curiously and asked, "James, why are you so warm?"
James couldn't bring himself to explain the real reason. His face turned beet red as he scrambled for words.
Thankfully, they soon arrived at her workplace.
A large "HR" logo stood out at the entrance.
It was the Helena Rubinstein counter.
The shop wasn't very large, but it was decorated luxuriously. Under the bright lights, the shelves of skincare products gleamed like treasures on display.
Inside, there was only one other staff member, a woman in her thirties dressed in a white uniform that resembled a nurse's outfit.
Seeing Tailsa walk in, arm-in-arm with an unfamiliar man, looking quite close, the woman smiled knowingly and greeted them.
"Tailsa, bringing a friend over?"
"Yep, Cloudy, this is my old classmate, James." Tailsa gestured toward him with a smile before adding, "And James, this is Cloudy, one of my senior colleagues who's always been very kind to me."
James nodded politely at the woman.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, still fairly attractive, though her makeup was on the heavier side. Under the shop's bright lights, her foundation reflected a ghostly white glow, giving her an odd appearance.
Feeling a bit uneasy, James didn't dare look too long. He gave her a quick glance before awkwardly turning his head away.