As they walked along the bustling mall, Zhang Mei appeared to be struggling with unspoken thoughts. Li Chen couldn't help but chuckle at her evident inner conflict.
"You know," he said, "you can just say whatever's on your mind."
Zhang Mei hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I don't mean to pry, but that woman... she's your ex-wife, right?"
Li Chen nodded, "Yes, that's correct. We're just waiting for the one-month cooling-off period to finalize our divorce papers."
Zhang Mei pressed on with her questions, "How long were you two married for?"
Li Chen replied, "We were together for six years."
"Wow, that's quite a long time," Zhang Mei remarked. "Do you have any children together?"
Li Chen shook his head, saying, "No, we don't have any kids."
Zhang Mei then inquired about their plans, "So, where are you headed now?"
Li Chen replied, "I need to pick up a few clothes, a cell phone, and a laptop. Would you mind helping me choose?"
Zhang Mei, her curiosity piqued and not having any pressing engagements, responded, "Well, I don't have anything to do, so why not?"
Li Chen was intrigued by Zhang Mei's previous occupation and asked, "So, what did you do at your previous job?"
Zhang Mei replied, "I was a clothing designer."
Li Chen nodded and commented, "That means you're very skilled with your hands."
Zhang Mei explained, "I consider myself one of the best. However, I actually studied business management. Designing is a skill I picked up along the way, and it turned out I was good at it."
Li Chen smiled and said, "That's wonderful. Now I know where to find a business partner when I start my own business."
Zhang Mei appeared skeptical, replying, "You want to start a business? That requires a lot of money. No offense, but I don't think you have that much on you."
Li Chen couldn't help but burst into laughter and said, "For now, I don't. But give me two weeks, and I'll contact you with a proposal. You'll see."
Zhang Mei still seemed doubtful, remarking, "Well, it's good to have goals and be ambitious."
Li Chen grinned and responded, "You don't believe me."
Zhang Mei admitted, "Honestly, I don't."
Li Chen concluded confidently, "Well, I might just surprise you."
As they continued their shopping spree in the mall, Li Chen led the way to a tech store. There, he carefully selected a sleek and modern cell phone, along with a high-end laptop, without the slightest hint of hesitation.
Zhang Mei was astonished when she saw how easily he paid over 20,000 yuan for these items, not batting an eyelid.
Their conversation flowed naturally as they strolled through the mall, delving into details about their lives, dreams, and aspirations. Li Chen, with a warm smile, opened up about his life story, helping Zhang Mei to understand why she had been paid to hug him. They shared a laugh, bonding over their unexpected encounter and the quirk of fate that had brought them together.
Their shopping journey led them to a clothing store, where Li Chen chose a variety of stylish clothes. He headed to the changing room to try them on, and when he emerged, Zhang Mei was left in awe. She had not expected to discover such remarkable features hidden beneath his old, shabby attire.
Li Chen had a striking presence. His strong jawline was perfectly complemented by a neatly trimmed beard, giving him a mature and sophisticated appearance. His deep, thoughtful brown eyes held a sense of wisdom and experience, reflecting the challenges he had faced in life.
The new clothes seemed tailor-made for his tall, well-proportioned frame, accentuating his confident and charismatic aura. Li Chen's attractiveness had a magnetic quality that turned heads and piqued curiosity wherever he went, and Zhang Mei was captivated by his transformation.
As Li Chen tried on his new stylish clothes, the shop assistants couldn't help but keep their eyes glued to him. The appreciation and admiration in their gazes did not go unnoticed by Zhang Mei, and a twinge of irritation sparked within her. She urged him, saying, "If you're done here, we can leave now."
Li Chen, still dressed in the new attire, turned to the sales assistant and requested, "Could you kindly scan the tags for these clothes, and I'd also like to take a look at your sportswear collection." With a friendly smile, the sales assistant obliged, leading them to the sportswear section. Li Chen carefully selected a variety of sportswear items.
Observing his choices, Zhang Mei remarked, "You seem to be quite into sports."
Li Chen explained with a grin, "I need to stay fit."
After browsing through the sportswear, Li Chen moved on to select three elegant suits. Once they were ready for checkout, the total bill for all the clothes amounted to 200,000 yuan. Li Chen, as he had done before, paid for the purchase without displaying the slightest hint of concern.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Zhang Mei asked the question that had been on her mind, "How much did you get from the divorce?" Li Chen, being open and candid, replied, "6 million yuan." He added with a playful tone, "It would have been 94 million if you hadn't hugged me that day."
Zhang Mei's ears flushed with embarrassment, and she stammered out an apology. Li Chen quickly reassured her, "Don't worry about it. If it wasn't you, they would have found someone else to do it. It's not your fault." Though Li Chen tried to ease her conscience, Zhang Mei couldn't help but feel a tinge of remorse deep down.
After they finished shopping, they walked out of the mall, and Li Chen was laden with numerous bags. As they stood on the roadside, he turned to Zhang Mei and requested, "Could you please write down your cell phone number so I can keep in touch once I get home?"
Zhang Mei hesitated for a moment, but Li Chen quickly added, "I need a business partner. How will I get hold of you after two weeks if I don't have your number?"
Her laughter filled the air as she responded, "You're certainly confident about yourself."
Li Chen replied, unwavering, "Yes, I am."
Zhang Mei retrieved a piece of paper from her bag and carefully penned down her number. She then folded the paper and extended it toward Li Chen. However, he had both hands full of shopping bags. He chuckled and suggested, "Do you mind putting it in my pocket?"
Zhang Mei's cheeks reddened slightly, but she did as he requested. They exchanged their goodbyes, and Li Chen, with all his shopping bags in tow, hailed a cab to head home.
When Li Chen arrived home, he glanced at the overgrown lawn and made a mental note to hire someone to take care of it the following day. He proceeded directly to his room and began unpacking his purchases, carefully hanging the new clothes in the wardrobe. However, among his belongings, he spotted his old backpack, and curiosity got the best of him. He unzipped it and peered inside, finding the old box he had discovered years ago but never had the opportunity to open.
He decided it was finally time to unlock the mysteries hidden within the box. He tried to open it, but the lid refused to budge. Just as he was about to give up, a voice that had been silent all day, the voice of the God of War, resounded in his head. The God of War advised him, "You have to spill a bit of your blood on it. That's how you open it."
Li Chen was startled by the sudden reappearance of the God of War's voice and asked, "Where have you been the whole day?" The God of War replied nonchalantly, "Obviously with you, but I decided to give you time to flirt with that beautiful woman."
Li Chen, intrigued by the box and its connection to the God of War, asked, "So, how do you know about this box?" The God of War evaded the question and responded, "If you open it with your blood, it will answer the question of why you were chosen as my vessel. Just open it."
Li Chen looked around for something to prick his finger and eventually found a knife. He sat cross-legged with the box before him, his heart pounding for an inexplicable reason. He pricked his finger, causing a drop of blood to well up, which he then let fall onto the box. However, nothing happened, and Li Chen remarked, "Well, it's still not opening." The God of War, unfazed, replied, "Be patient."
After a few minutes, Li Chen heard a cracking sound, and suddenly a strong surge of energy filled the room. The box had opened on its own. Startled, Li Chen peered inside and found an old piece of paper made of acid-free archival paper. As he picked up the paper, he felt a strange sensation, as though he had become dizzy. Everything went blank, and he collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
It was as if he had entered a dream. In this surreal state, Li Chen found himself walking in a village with houses that appeared ancient, as though he had been transported back to the 19th century. Flashes of memories played before him, revealing scenes from places he had never seen before – wars, unknown villages, and different settings. Then, his own memories started to unfold. It felt like a nostalgic journey, as if someone were projecting a movie of his life, and he watched as a spectator in this strange and ethereal experience.
The dream played on and on, almost as if it were insistent on etching every detail into Li Chen's memory. Scenes from his past and the mysterious images of a bygone era kept resurfacing, replaying repeatedly. It was as if the dream aimed to ensure he didn't forget even a single detail. After what felt like an eternity, the dream scene finally ceased, and Li Chen slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze wandered around the room, his thoughts filled with the cryptic words of the God of War. "You are the chosen one, Li Chen," the voice had declared, and pride was evident in the deity's words. Li Chen remained silent, absorbing the newfound knowledge that now resided in his mind. He rose from the floor and made his way to the bathroom.
In front of the mirror, he washed his face and examined his reflection. He felt like a different person, though he couldn't pinpoint any physical changes. There was an unspoken transformation, something deep within him that he couldn't quite put into words, but he sensed it in his very core. A new chapter in his life had opened, and the weight of destiny pressed upon his shoulders, guiding him toward an uncertain future.