On the street, a yellow Camaro roared past with a thunderous engine, followed closely by a Mustang. Both cars had clearly undergone modifications to their exhaust systems, emitting thunderous roars as they passed, which had just startled Candice.
Golden Dawn raised his middle finger high towards the retreating taillights of the two cars and simultaneously kicked a can in front of him. "Damn it, if it weren't for those two party poopers, something might have happened just now."
"Hey!"
Golden Dawn's spirits lifted as he turned around to see Candice standing in the half-open door of the bakery, her previous frustration seemingly forgotten.
"Oh? What's up?"
Golden Dawn walked back towards Candice, but she didn't say anything, just looking at him with a smile in her eyes.
"Do you have any free time next weekend?"
"Oh! Yes, of course!"
Upon hearing Candice's question, Golden Dawn felt as if he had just sipped from the Fountain of Youth, with his whole being feeling refreshed.
"How about we go out for a stroll then? It's been ages since I went shopping."
Candice looked at Golden Dawn, her blue eyes sparkling, causing his heart to quicken once again.
"Absolutely, just name the time, and I'll come find you."
Golden Dawn replied with feigned composure. The prospect of going out with such a beautiful girl was irresistible, especially considering his hopes for something more between them.
"Keep calm, keep calm, you're not a newbie, why so nervous!"
Golden Dawn reassured himself inwardly, maintaining a faint smile on his face.
"Let's say nine o'clock in the morning, you come find me, and we'll head to Manhattan."
"Okay! No problem!"
"That's settled then! Goodnight!"
"Hey!"
Just as Candice was about to close the door, Golden Dawn stopped her, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Um... is this... a date?"
Although it felt awkward to ask, Golden Dawn felt the need to clarify why Candice had invited him out. If it was merely out of gratitude, he didn't want to misinterpret her intentions and risk alienating her.
Such questions would be considered taboo when dealing with Chinese girls, but with American girls, it was acceptable to ask directly, a piece of advice gleaned from some of his predecessors who had experience dating foreign girls.
Candice's blue eyes flickered, and a smile played at her lips.
"What do you think?"
"I... I..."
Golden Dawn scratched his head, his experience with girls limited to just Marlene, his previous girlfriend.
"You're such a fool. If you think it is, then it is..."
Before he could respond, Candice closed the door, leaving Golden Dawn standing there dumbfounded. He waved goodbye to her retreating figure and then turned abruptly, throwing a series of punches into the air.
Yes! This feeling is incredible!
Little did he know, all his punches had landed on the staircase of the bakery, witnessed only by the quietly retreating Candice.
The girl said nothing, her smile growing more pronounced. Her narrowed eyes and wrinkled nose made her look like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat. Then she turned and briskly ascended the stairs, humming a tune, leaving behind the unpleasant events of the evening.
"You're back!"
As Golden Dawn pushed open the shop door, Mr. Fang, sitting in the shadow behind, startled him.
"What's up? Mr. Fang, why are the lights off when you're back?"
Mr. Fang switched on the desk lamp, his old face lit up with a smile.
"I didn't want to disturb you two young folks. So, did you ask her out? Opportunities shouldn't be wasted, you know!"
Mr. Fang's face was full of smile lines, hinting at a lack of respect for the elderly. It seemed he had witnessed the scene between Golden Dawn and Candice earlier.
"Last time, when I got a girlfriend, you didn't say this. So, do you know her?"
"Yeah, this girl is different from your previous girlfriend. I like to go to Good Taste for coffee and snacks at noon. She's been there for more than half a month and seems really nice. Mu Chen, you're not young anymore, and you don't have a girlfriend. I think you should give it a try. Trust me, Mu Chen, with my experience in all these years, my eyesight for antiques extends to people as well. This girl is good. Go for it!"
After Mr. Fang finished speaking, he patted Golden Dawn's shoulder and then went upstairs, leaving Golden Dawn standing alone downstairs.
The following week, Golden Dawn didn't know how he managed to get through it; using the phrase 'bewitched' to describe his state wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Finally, when the weekend arrived, at nine o'clock on Saturday morning, Golden Dawn appeared punctually at the door of Good Taste Bakery. The bakery had just opened, and the plump owner, Aunt Mary, smiled as she looked at Golden Dawn standing at the door for a long time.
Then, Candice floated down from upstairs like a butterfly. "Have you been waiting long?"
"No, just got here."
"Do you want to eat something before we go?"
Candice asked, and just then, the first batch of pastries came out of the oven, filling the air with the aroma of hot cheese. Golden Dawn was feeling a bit hungry, but he declined Candice's invitation.
"No thanks, I already had breakfast. Shall we go?"
"Alright! Aunt Mary, I'm heading out!"
Candice turned to greet the kindly old lady behind the counter, who waved with a smile.
"Go ahead! Have a wonderful day!"
Golden Dawn, with Candice in tow, hurriedly left the bakery, feeling as though Aunt Mary's gaze had undressed him, giving him goosebumps.
"Haha, why so flustered? Aunt Mary is a good person."
Parking and finding a spot in Manhattan was a global challenge, not any easier than finding a parking spot near the CBD in Beijing or Nanjing Road near the Bund. So, they decided to leave the car behind and take the subway to Manhattan.
Standing on the subway, Candice smiled at Golden Dawn, pulling out a tissue from her purse and handing it to him.
Today, Candice was wearing a white lace dress with a denim jacket, just enough to cover her impressive bust. The skirt reached just above her knees, showcasing her long, slender legs. She wore flip-flops on her bare feet, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. With her picturesque features and those clear blue eyes, she exuded a faint scent of lilac perfume.
Dressed like a typical American college student, young, beautiful, and full of vitality.
Men in the entire carriage couldn't help stealing glances at her, making her presence a dazzling sight amidst the subway's mundane backdrop.
Golden Dawn took the tissue from Candice, wiping his forehead. He hadn't expected an American old lady to have such power; just a few glances from her had him sweating profusely.
"Um... it's nothing, really. Yes, Aunt Mary is a good person. It's just that my charm is too strong, even I didn't expect an old lady to be so interested in me. Her heated gaze almost melted me..."
Golden Dawn said this with a serious expression, his
deadpan humor causing Candice to burst into laughter, lightly punching his shoulder with her pink fist.
"Come on, don't be so full of yourself!"
"I'm not, I'm just stating facts."
The more seriously Golden Dawn spoke, the harder Candice laughed, her bright smile easing the tension in his heart. The pressure that had been building up inside him over the past few days seemed to vanish.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Look outside, we're passing through Hubbard Park now. The flowers here are so beautiful; many of the flowers in Manhattan's parks were imported from here."
Golden Dawn's gaze was intense, causing Candice's face to flush slightly. She quickly changed the subject, becoming a guide and describing the scenery outside the subway. They were currently passing over a bridge, with a flower-filled park below.
But Golden Dawn had no interest in the flowers; he was focused on Candice, asking, "Which of those flowers can match your beauty?"
Upon hearing this, Candice's face flushed even more, but she didn't lower her gaze to avoid Golden Dawn's eyes. "You really are a smooth talker. So, tell me, how many girls have you charmed with that line?"
"None, I've only said it to you. Those flowers in the gardens, no matter how beautiful, are not even one-tenth as stunning as when you smile."
Golden Dawn continued to praise the beauty before him, having witnessed a few cases of successful courting in America, all by the most unlikely candidates. They were the epitome of 'losers' back home, but here, they had managed to win over beautiful American girls.
Golden Dawn had even interacted with one of them, seeking advice on wooing girls. The advice was simple: clean yourself up, be confident, be humorous, and avoid being gloomy or effeminate. The Asian soft beauty style was not appreciated by American girls.
Be a bit more masculine, and don't put foreign girls on a pedestal; at the end of the day, they're just women.