Chapter 31: The Queen's Jealousy! A Goddess Stakes Her Claim!
[Location: Fei Meng Shopping Mall – Luxury Menswear Store]
"Welcome, sirs and madams, how may I help you?"
The glass doors glided open silently. A female sales associate, dressed in a sharp, tailored uniform, immediately came forward. Her professional smile, practiced to perfection, faltered for a split second before brightening into genuine enthusiasm.
Her eyes lit up as they landed on Shen Anyu and Su Hongmian walking in side-by-side.
In the world of high-end retail, associates were trained to read people like books. They looked at shoes, watches, and posture.
Naturally, no snobbish behavior occurred here. Not only was the training in these top-tier luxury stores strict, but Shen Anyu and Su Hongmian both possessed an exceptional temperament that screamed "Old Money."
Su Hongmian walked with the pride of a swan, her chin held high, radiating an aura of confident arrogance. Shen Anyu, on the other hand, was calm and indifferent, his gaze sweeping over the expensive merchandise as if looking at cabbages in a market.
Their attire was subtly luxurious, devoid of massive logos but screaming quality in every stitch. This indicated their undoubtedly high status.
The sales associate, accustomed to welcoming and seeing off customers from all walks of life, was naturally sharp-eyed. Her smile grew a few degrees warmer, sensing a significant commission coming her way.
"This one, this one, and... this one. Actually, wrap up that entire row. Bad guy, go try them on."
Su Hongmian moved through the store like a general inspecting troops. She meticulously selected several sets of luxury formal wear, her beautiful eyes sparkling with brilliance as she held a midnight-blue velvet blazer against Shen Anyu's chest.
She nodded in satisfaction, convinced he would look incredibly handsome in them.
"Swipe it," she commanded, handing over a sleek black card.
She directly swiped a card for over a million Yuan without even blinking.
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused.
In most novels, the male protagonist would rush to pay to prove his masculinity. But Shen Anyu felt no such insecurity. He neither stopped her nor rushed to pay.
As long as she was happy, that was enough. He took the clothes from the eager assistants and headed toward the fitting room.
For Shen Anyu, he was very considerate and doting. He pampered his own woman, and as long as her requests weren't excessive, he would generally fulfill them.
But he also understood the dynamic.
During the day, he accompanied her to make her happy, letting her play the role of the pampering girlfriend. And at night... she naturally accompanied him to make him happy, submitting beneath him.
It was a fair exchange all around.
"Su Hongmian? You have a boyfriend? Tsk tsk, who could possibly stand a tsundere young lady like you!"
Just as Shen Anyu entered the fitting room and the heavy velvet curtain swished shut, a sarcastic, piercing voice rang out in the quiet store.
The atmosphere instantly chilled.
Su Hongmian frowned, her good mood evaporating. She turned her head slowly, her eyes narrowing.
Walking into the store was a woman who looked like a walking neon sign.
She was a nightclub girl with hair dyed a garish yellow and smoky eye makeup that was too heavy for daytime. She was draped in logos—Gucci, LV, Balenciaga—mixed together in a chaotic display of wealth without taste.
Accompanying her was a man—feminine, handsome, tall, and thin. He walked a step behind her, holding her bags like a servant.
This nightclub girl was Zheng Lili.
She had a similar status to Su Hongmian, perhaps slightly better on paper, being the daughter of the chairman of a multi-billion dollar jewelry listed company group in Modu.
She was notoriously arrogant, enjoyed carousing in nightclubs until dawn, and changed boyfriends as often as she changed her expensive clothes.
She was also a student at Modu University. However, while Su Hongmian had earned her way in with top grades, Zheng Lili had bought her way in with a "donation" of tens of millions to the campus library.
The two of them were like oil and water. They didn't get along well at all.
The reason was simple: Jealousy.
Su Hongmian was far more beautiful, more elegant, and more popular than her. Su Hongmian was the "Campus Belle," while Zheng Lili was just the "Rich Girl."
This greatly displeased Zheng Lili. Seeing Su Hongmian here with a man gave her an opportunity to vent her spleen.
Su Hongmian's beautiful eyes held a cold glint as she stared at Zheng Lili. She crossed her arms, her 1.2-meter long legs looking even more imposing in her high heels.
"Zheng Lili, don't stir up trouble," Su Hongmian warned, her voice icy. "I'm in a good mood today, and I don't want to hit you."
"Hit me? You?" Zheng Lili pouted, looking at Su Hongmian with disdain.
She glanced at the pile of clothes Su Hongmian had just purchased.
"I just saw you swipe over a million for several outfits. Tsk tsk, could it be that the famous tsundere young lady of Modu's high society, the great campus belle of Modu University, Su Hongmian... is now also keeping a pretty boy?"
Zheng Lili laughed, a shrill sound.
"Isn't this just like me, notorious for keeping men? And you pretend to be so pure!"
"Do you want me to spread the word? The Iceberg Goddess pays for men's attention!"
Slap!
However, Zheng Lili's mocking words were not yet finished when a crisp, brutal slapping sound rang out through the store.
It was loud enough to stop the music.
A bright red handprint appeared instantly on Zheng Lili's right cheek, stark against her pale foundation.
Zheng Lili was instantly stunned. She clutched her face, looking at Su Hongmian in disbelief.
She really dared to hit her? In public?
Su Hongmian's pretty face was frosty, devoid of any warmth. Her beautiful eyes were filled with anger as she glared at Zheng Lili. She shook her hand slightly, as if touching trash had dirtied it.
"He's not a pretty boy," Su Hongmian hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "You're not allowed to insult him!"
"Usually, if you mess with me, that's one thing. I can ignore a clown. But if you dare to insult him... I will definitely deal with you, without mercy!"
The air around Su Hongmian seemed to crackle. This was the reverse scale of a dragon. Insult her? Fine. Insult her man? Death.
Zheng Lili's face turned livid with rage. The humiliation burned hotter than the slap.
She screamed at the tall, thin handsome guy beside her, "What are you standing there for?! Hit her for me! Beat this bitch!"
The tall, thin handsome guy trembled. He looked at the furious Su Hongmian, then at the screaming Zheng Lili.
He was merely a pretty boy, a gigolo living off soft rice. How could he dare to hit a young lady of obviously equal status to Zheng Lili?
If he laid a hand on Su Hongmian, the Su Family would skin him alive.
They could fight each other, rich girl against rich girl, but if he got involved... did he not want to live?
A monthly upkeep fee of fifty thousand yuan was enough for his kidneys to work hard in bed; did he also have to be a thug in the streets?
He was a technical worker, not someone who engaged in fighting and killing!
He stepped back, lowering his head. "Lili... let's not..."
"Useless trash!" Zheng Lili screeched.
The conflict between the two attracted the attention of everyone in the men's wear store. Several female sales associates quickly came over to mediate, their faces pale, urging them to calm down and extinguish their anger before the store was wrecked.
Click.
And just at that moment, the heavy door of the fitting room opened.
A figure stepped out.
The noisy scene immediately quieted down! It was as if someone had pressed the mute button on the world.
Zheng Lili, who had been furious and determined not to give up, stared blankly at the figure before her. Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Su Hongmian, whose pretty face had been frosty, instantly thawed like ice and snow encountering the sun. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with brilliance, a flush rising on her cheeks.
She muttered to herself, her anger forgotten, "He's too handsome... hmph, my taste is still the best."
Not only Zheng Lili and Su Hongmian, but all the women present—the sales associates, other customers—were also mesmerized.
Shen Anyu stood there.
He was wearing the black luxury formal suit Su Hongmian had picked out.
It was perfectly fitted, hugging his broad shoulders and tapering at his lean waist. The darkness of the fabric accentuated his tall and flawless physique, highlighting his extraordinary temperament.
His hair was slightly disheveled from changing, adding a touch of wildness to his noble bearing. His face... was simply art. Sharp jawline, deep eyes, high nose bridge.
At this moment, he stepped forward.
His gaze was like lightning, piercing through the chaos. His steps were steady and imposing, like a dragon waking from slumber.
His Aura was like a young emperor inspecting his domain, captivating everyone, making them involuntarily hold their breath, fearing to offend him by breathing too loudly.
He didn't just wear the suit; he weaponized it.
"What's going on?"
Shen Anyu frowned slightly. His voice was low, magnetic, and filled with authority.
His gaze swept over the red mark on Zheng Lili's face, the terrified gigolo, and finally settled on Su Hongmian's face.
With his hearing as a [Martial Arts Grandmaster], he naturally heard that a conflict had occurred. He heard the insult.
Su Hongmian bit her lip, about to speak, to explain, to defend him again.
But Zheng Lili recovered first.
The anger in her eyes vanished, replaced by a greedy, predatory hunger. She looked at Shen Anyu as if he were a piece of prime steak.
Zheng Lili excitedly pushed past her own boyfriend and walked up to Shen Anyu.
"Handsome guy... wow." She looked him up and down, licking her lips. "Do you want to follow me? I'll give you one hundred thousand a month! How about it?"
He was so handsome that her legs felt weak, and her heart melted. Compared to him, the guy she brought with her was trash.
Before Shen Anyu could speak, seeing his impassive expression, Zheng Lili thought the price was too low.
"Two hundred thousand! No, three hundred thousand every month!" she shouted, desperate. "Just name it, and I'll satisfy you!"
"I can also buy you a house and a car! A Ferrari! As long as you follow me, I won't mistreat you!"
Zheng Lili looked at Shen Anyu with burning eyes, her face flushed with excitement as she made one promise after another. She ignored Su Hongmian completely.
"You can even marry into our Zheng family!" she declared, playing her ace card. "Become a multi-billionaire son-in-law! You'll never have to work again!"
The entire store was silent. The sales associates were shaking. This was... poaching in front of the owner?
Shen Anyu smiled.
It wasn't a warm smile. It was a cold, amused smirk.
He looked at Zheng Lili like a human looking at a monkey performing tricks.
'Three hundred thousand?' he thought. 'I spent ten times that on breakfast.'
Seeing Shen Anyu smile, Zheng Lili also smiled, thinking she had won. Money talked, after all.
But Su Hongmian exploded.
Panic and rage surged through her. This vixen was trying to buy her man! And Shen Anyu was smiling! Was he considering it?
Anxiety overrode her dignity.
She grew anxious, directly lunging forward. She grabbed Shen Anyu's arm with both hands, hugging it tightly to her chest, declaring her ownership.
She glared at Zheng Lili furiously, her eyes burning with blue fire.
"Zheng Lili, you bastard! How dare you try to steal my man?!"
"He's already mine! Get lost!"
Saying that, she did something unexpected.
She reached up, grabbed Shen Anyu's silk tie, and yanked him down.
She stood on her tiptoes and directly kissed him!
It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a collision. A branding.
Shen Anyu had been smiling coldly at Zheng Lili, preparing to crush her with a word, but at this moment, he was caught between laughter and tears.
He felt Su Hongmian's soft lips pressing urgently against his, her body trembling against him.
He hadn't expected Su Hongmian, this proud and confident girl, to actually get anxious over such a low-level provocation.
Why was she anxious?
If Su Hongmian was a noble swan, then Zheng Lili was merely a black chicken rolling in the mud.
A world of difference!
Besides, was Shen Anyu the kind of person who would care about billions? Or marry into a family for money?
He was the Young Master of the Shen Family! He didn't need to be a Dragon King Son-in-law; he was the Dragon King's boss!
However...
Shen Anyu greatly enjoyed Su Hongmian's initiative.
The feeling of her desperation, her possessiveness... it was delicious.
He didn't pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her slender waist and increased the force.
He pulled Su Hongmian into his arms, deepening the kiss, turning her frantic peck into a passionate display of dominance.
He kissed her until she went limp, demonstrating to everyone in the room exactly who she belonged to.
"You... you two..."
Zheng Lili stood there, her face turning purple.
She was furious, stomping her feet repeatedly. She wanted to rush up and hit Su Hongmian, to tear them apart, but she was firmly held back by the surrounding sales associates who had finally intervened.
"Miss, please calm down!"
"Let me go! They're humiliating me!"
She realized she had lost. Completely. The man didn't even look at her; he was too busy enjoying Su Hongmian.
She also didn't want to see the annoying, eye-stinging scene before her anymore.
She ignored the pretty boy beside her, who was looking at the floor in shame, and turned around.
"Let's go! This place is trash!"
She stormed off, seething with anger, her high heels clicking furiously on the floor.
The pretty boy looked at Shen Anyu with envy and jealousy one last time. Zheng Lili had never been so generous to him, offering marriage and millions.
However, he also felt inferior to Shen Anyu's looks and temperament. He dejectedly followed Zheng Lili out like a beaten dog.
After a long while.
Shen Anyu finally released Su Hongmian.
"Mmh..."
Su Hongmian gasped for air, her legs weak. She felt dizzy; her beautiful eyes were hazy, covered in a layer of mist as if she were drunk.
Her pretty face was flushed a deep, alluring red.
When she finally came to her senses and oxygen returned to her brain, she saw Shen Anyu's half-smile.
She saw the amused expressions of the sales associates around them.
Reality crashed down. She had just forcefully kissed him in public!
"Ah!"
Su Hongmian buried her head in Shen Anyu's embrace in embarrassment, refusing to look up. She wished she could disappear.
It was over! She had made a fool of herself! Her image as the cold, aloof goddess was completely ruined!
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]