Despite her long legs, Tailsa was wearing platform sandals and stood no chance against James in sneakers. It didn't take long for him to catch up and pull her into an embrace.
Having taken liberties, James soon felt Tailsa gently pry his hand out from under her shirt. She shot him a fiery look.
"If you keep that up, I'm not talking to you anymore."
Old James might have been cowed by such a threat, but the new him couldn't care less. He had money nowâwhy worry?
There were plenty of beautiful women out there. If not this one, there would be another.
With money, finding someone who would tolerate him wouldn't be an issue.
With a playful gesture, James raised his other hand behind Tailsa's back.
Tailsa shrieked as he playfully swatted her on the thigh. "Will you still dare to step on my foot?"
"All because you bit me first!" she retorted with a huff.
James marveled at the delightful feeling of having a campus beauty in his arms. He wanted more, but he didn't have the smooth strategy some guys seemed to possess.
Recalling that bars were often cited in books as great places to meet women, he tried to win Tailsa over, softly suggesting, "Okay, my bad this time. How about I take you to a bar?"
With a scoff, she slipped from his hold. "Oh, you just want to get me drunk, don't you?"
Seeing her firm rejection, James backed down from overstepping his bounds and explained apologetically, "It's really just that I haven't been before. I was hoping you'd show me around."
Sizing him up with a suspicious look, Tailsa countered, "You didn't seem too innocent earlier."
"I swear! I was just too busy before," he assured her earnestly.
"Real or not, given your behavior earlier, there's no chance tonight."
With that, she took off.
Tailsa had no intention of going to a bar. She'd given him enough of a taste tonight.
You only fed a fish bit by bit. Pour all the bait at once, and he'd eat his fill and never surface again.
With her finesse, Tailsa knew when to hold backâinteresting him with a little huffâand maybe tomorrow, he'd bring gifts to win her over again.
James chased after her, pleading, "Don't be mad. Let's talk about it."
"Hmph."
Tailsa quickened her pace, turning away to ignore him completely.
James continued pursuing her, trying to play it cool. According to the books, if a girl really was upset, she wouldn't respond at all. If she still responded with a snort, it meant she wasn't truly angry, just a bit peeved.
If words failed, gifts usually did the trick.
Thinking it over, James said, "Tailsa, don't be upset. How about this: within my power, I'll fulfill one wish for you. How's that?"
His offer slowed Tailsa's steps, her suspicious glance questioning his sincerity.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
James met her gaze full of sincere remorse, "I shouldn't have behaved that way earlier. I'm asking you to forgive me."
His earnest expression gave her pause, seeing no signs of deceit. "So, one wish? Anything?"
James nodded confidently, "Yep, as long as it's reasonable."
He emphasized "reasonable" to avoid any outrageous requests.
Tailsa found it amusing. What did he mean by "reasonable," anyway? Her wish was to buy a sports car. Was that reasonable?
It was laughable.
For a moment, she had gotten her hopes up, hearing he'd grant her wish.
And then he qualified it as a reasonable one.
He probably meant something under tens of thousandsâfor him, that was a wish.
Honestly, she could snag that from any middle-aged man; why rely on him?
Shaking her head dismissively, she picked up her pace.
Feeling insulted over the trivialization of her wishes, she felt little desire to speak with him nowâperhaps her spirits would be lifted by tomorrow.
Baffled by her sudden chill, James wondered what went wrong.
Why was she upset?
He'd feared she might make some oddball request, inspired by Stephen Chow movies.
So, he'd stressed the "reasonable" bit.
But why did that warrant a cold shoulder?
Puzzled, James quickened his pace, catching up, "Just say what you wish for. As long as it's not ridiculous, I'll do it."
Taking him at his word, Tailsa retorted in a petulant tone, "I want a Porsche 911. Can you swing that?"
It was her current biggest wish.
Despite James showing signs of wealth, she doubted he'd spring for such a high-end sports car, costing several million.
James sighed in relief at her demand. He'd feared something much stranger.
This?
He could buy twoâone for her and one for himself if she felt it was too much.
But would that count as cheating the system? Better not venture there.
With an airy confidence, he took her hand, offering a self-assured smile, "Deal."
???
Tailsa's eyes widened as she reevaluated James. He seemed almost nonchalant, as if she'd asked for a measly ten-thousand-buck Mercedes or something.
But this was a Porsche 911, worth millions.
His easy agreement sparked doubt. Was he teasing her?
Covering her mouth, disbelieving, she asked, "You're serious?"
James nodded, smiling, "I am."
Forehead scrunching in doubt, Tailsa pressed, "You're not lying?"
James declared earnestly, "If I'm lying, I'm a puppy."
Piercing his gaze with her own, she sought truth, testing for signs of hesitation, deceit, or bravado. What she found was a steady confidence shining in his eyes.
Tailsa had honed her skills in reading veracity in men's promises.
Whatever doubts she had, James seemed genuine and composed.
Just like earlier when buying her the handbag.
She felt an instinctive certainty.
To let this man go was to forfeit her Porsche 911.
"Well... is there some condition I have to fulfill?" she ventured, sensing something unspoken. Her eyes flitted towards James's new trousers, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
If he proposed a condition, should she agree?
If it was just that one thing, she could think about it.
The stipulations of wealthy people often carried stringsâstrings she knew all too well.
Simply smiling, James reassured her, "You'll have it tomorrow."
Though the expenditure tugged at his walletâonly a few hundred dollars in actualityâit was trivial for the sake of wooing a girl.
Tailsa's eyes gleamed with joy at the prospect of having her Porsche tomorrow, sheer disbelief in her voice, "Tomorrow?"
So matter-of-factly, tomorrow?
Perplexed, James replied, "Yeah, the showroom's closed already, right?"
Agitation rising into excitement, Tailsa questioned eagerly, "Big brother, is it true?"
Her voice quivered, elevating him to a familial standing instantly.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"No... no, you don't," she stammered, thrilling in the moment, "But... but it's a Porsche 911!"
James chuckled lightly, "No big deal. If you like it, you'll have it."
Throwing her arms around him, Tailsa peppered his face with kisses, overwhelmed with affection.
[Tailsa's Affection +20]
Feel free to let me know if you'd like any more translations!