The two were very close, almost touching. Jiang Ce could even smell her fragrance. It wasn't an overpowering perfume, but a light, fresh scent, like a gentle breeze.
His heart started to race for no reason. This was the first time he'd ever been this close to a woman.
Jiang Ce felt a bit embarrassed and stepped aside. "No, Miss Shen, I have other things to do."
"Rejecting a girl's invitation is very impolite," Shen Xuanran smiled. "Besides, you saved me. People would say we have no manners if I didn't repay you."
"This..."
Jiang Ce's ears turned slightly red.
Shen Xuanran seemed to have noticed something, and her eyes lit up with an idea. She suddenly hugged Jiang Ce's arm, acting like a coquettish little girl and pressing her body against his.
"Actually, there's a ball tonight and I don't have a date yet. Will you go with me? Please?"
This scene left Crow and the others completely dumbfounded.
When had they ever seen Shen Xuanran act like such a gentle little girl? Did the miss hit her head in the car accident? Is this still the gangster princess who could kill someone without batting an eye?!
Jiang Ce was also stunned, especially by the feeling of her against his arm.
He finally understood her name. It was just like that idiom—she was certainly causing a great disturbance...
Even though he'd been married for years, that wretched woman Chen Mei had never been intimate with him. In that respect, Jiang Ce was a complete novice. How could he handle this kind of stimulation?
He quickly pulled his arm away.
"Fine, fine! Miss Shen, I'll do it," he relented.
Having achieved her goal, Shen Xuanran beamed, clasping her hands behind her back. "Good! Then follow me back to get ready!"
Jiang Ce was taken aback. "Ready?"
"Yes, this is a ball we're talking about. You don't expect me to go in the clothes you ripped, do you? And you have to change into a new outfit, too."
"And stop calling me Miss Shen. Just call me Xuanran!"
Only then did Jiang Ce notice her clothes. A large rip ran down the middle of her dress. Logically, she should have looked disheveled, but on her it created a strange allure, especially against her snow-white skin...
Meanwhile, Shen Xuanran suddenly realized her beloved car was a burnt-out wreck. Looking around, she simply snatched the keys from Crow.
Crow cried out anxiously, "Hey, Miss, that car's brand new!"
Shen Xuanran glared. "What, I can't drive it?"
"N-no... that's not it. The seats are stiff. Please be careful not to hurt yourself..."
"Alright, you stay here and contact the insurance company. Take a taxi back later."
Shen Xuanran jumped into the car, leaving those words behind as she sped off.
...
Shen Xuanran floored the accelerator the entire way, making Jiang Ce's heart pound in his chest.
No wonder Crow was so anxious. Maybe the earlier accident wasn't caused by a medical episode after all...
Soon, they arrived at a luxurious Armani store.
This made Jiang Ce feel somewhat out of place. "Won't the clothes here be too expensive? Maybe we should go somewhere else."
Shen Xuanran pouted. "Come on! I'm more worried the clothes here won't be good enough for you!"
With that, she dragged Jiang Ce into the store without another word. As soon as they entered, a staff member came up to serve them.
"Miss Shen, what can I get for you?"
Shen Xuanran pointed to Jiang Ce. "Pick some suits for him. Also, I need a new outfit."
With that said, Shen Xuanran walked straight into the fitting room.
She must be a regular here, browsing Armani as if it were her own walk-in closet. In contrast, Jiang Ce felt like a beggar. He was dressed head to toe in flea-market clothes that cost less than 200 yuan combined, making him look completely out of place.
But no one dared to slight him. After all, he was Shen Xuanran's guest.
Quickly, a clerk brought out suit after suit for Jiang Ce to try on, as if it were a clearance sale.
Jiang Ce casually picked up a price tag, and the number on it made his heart leap into his throat. This pile of clothes alone is worth more than I am.
"This one will do."
Gritting his teeth, Jiang Ce picked one of the relatively cheaper suits and entered the dressing room.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Jiang Ce was naturally blessed with a superb figure and handsome features; they were merely hidden by the hardships of his life. When he emerged in the high-end suit, he looked like a completely different person—sharp-featured, tall, and dashingly handsome.
Just then, Shen Xuanran stepped out in a new outfit. Her eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Ce.
"Jiang Ce, you look so handsome!"
Jiang Ce smiled without saying a word.
"Alright, we'll take this one. And have that entire pile sent to my villa."
Jiang Ce was stunned by her extravagance. "Xuan... Xuanran, there's no need for that. This one suit is enough."
But Shen Xuanran paid him no mind. "A suit is a man's suit of armor. How can he have too few?"
"Wait."
She suddenly stepped forward, her hands resting on Jiang Ce's shoulders.
Jiang Ce's breath caught as if he'd been struck by lightning.
"Your bow tie is crooked. Let me fix it."
Watching Shen Xuanran's focused expression as she adjusted his tie, Jiang Ce felt himself slip into a daze.
For so many years... it seemed only his mother had ever carefully straightened his clothes for him when he was a child. After his parents disappeared, and even during his years of loveless marriage to Chen Mei, no one had ever treated him with such care.
Jiang Ce's expression grew somber. Looking at Shen Xuanran's stunning face, he suddenly said, "Thank you."
Shen Xuanran, unaware of his thoughts, smiled nonchalantly. "What's there to thank me for? You're my date to the ball tonight. You have to look perfect."
After making her adjustments, she stepped back, scanned him from head to toe, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm, my taste really is impeccable," she said. "Now, I'm looking forward to your grand entrance tonight!"
...
The sun set, and evening arrived quickly.
Shen Xuanran and Jiang Ce headed to the ball. The ball was held at the city's most luxurious venue, the Sea Bay Hotel, which had been booked out entirely for the event.
At the entrance, Shen Xuanran suddenly stopped. "Oh no, I left my purse in the car! Jiang Ce, wait here for me."
"Sure."
Shen Xuanran rushed off, and Jiang Ce waited where he was.
It had to be said, Shen Xuanran's father, Shen Fuli, really knew how to put on a show. The guests were all members of East Sea City's elite.
Just in that short while, Jiang Ce saw many bigwigs from the worlds of politics and business. Countless others lingered outside, desperate for a chance to get noticed and gain entry. This was to be expected. Shen Fuli was the 'Underground Emperor' of East Sea City, and everyone attending the ball was from the upper echelons of society. Anyone who could forge a connection here would be set for life, with limitless prospects ahead.
Suddenly, a grating voice rang out.
"Jiang Ce? What's a piece of trash like you doing here?"
Jiang Ce froze, looking up to see a man and a woman approaching him. The newcomers were none other than his former brother-in-law, Chen Hai, and his girlfriend, Yang Simei.
Seeing the two of them, Jiang Ce frowned. Chen Hai was wearing a flashy white suit, while his girlfriend, Yang Simei, was caked in heavy makeup and clinging affectionately to his arm.
Striding up to him, Chen Hai sneered, "Jiang Ce, Jiang Ce. I never thought I'd run into a worthless bum like you here."