Ji Yan chuckled softly, "Of course, it's what I should do."
True to his word, he carried her all the way out, much to the amazement of the waiting chauffeur.
But as the driver's eyes fell on Shen Jin Huan, his disbelief slowly faded. If he could carry such a lady even once, even if it cost him ten years of his life, he would willingly do so.
She settled into the car, and only then did Ji Yan follow.
"Where to, young master?"
"To Henglong Plaza," he declared, determined to pick out a comfortable pair of shoes for her.
"What's Henglong Plaza?" Her curiosity about the outside world was piqued.
"It's a shopping center—clothes, shoes, many things," he explained, his arm still tingling, but he held her hand without faltering.
"Do they have comfortable shoes there?"
"They will."
Ji Yan's car was equipped with disposable slippers, which he personally fitted onto her feet.
Jin Huan was beauty incarnate, from head to toe.
He thought of a line: "Walking through a flower path, climbing a narrow staircase, the lightest dust and the narrowest imprint leave others in sorrow."
Such small feet, if not exactly three inches, must be delicately petite. If encased in embroidered shoes, they would surely be exquisite.
"Is there anything good to eat?"
"There is."
"That's good." She used to enjoy browsing through department stores. She wondered how similar today's would be to those of her past.
Memories of earlier times were fading; the years had blurred many details.
The driver parked in the underground garage.
She stepped out in her slippers, and the height difference between her and Ji Yan was noticeable.
He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the elevator.
Having seen elevators in the hotel, she was unimpressed, merely surprised at how quickly human technology had advanced.
Upon entering the first floor, the dazzling lights and bustling crowd surpassed even the grandeur of the old foreign concessions.
Ji Yan excused himself to use the restroom, instructing Jin Huan to wait for him; he'd be right back.
Initially, Jin Huan did stand still, but then, lured by a delicious aroma wafting from an open glass door, she couldn't help but follow her nose.
Those who glimpsed her beauty as they passed were left in prolonged astonishment. Was such otherworldly beauty even possible in our world?
Her phone, equipped with a newly downloaded Chinese dictionary, was now one-third perused. She didn't recognize the first character of a sign but identified the last two as Deji, next to the English letters KFC.
Entering the door, the aroma intensified.
Without the local currency, she could only watch as others lined up to order.
Her pitiful yet striking appearance quickly drew the attention of a KFC staff member, who approached to ask if she wanted to order.
Jin Huan glanced at him, her tea-brown eyes reflecting his image, causing his heart to skip a beat.
"I don't have money."
"I do! What would you like? I'll buy it for you!" His voice was hoarse with emotion.
"I want that," she pointed at a colorful round sandwich in a picture, which she had heard a woman call a hamburger—a curious name.
"And that," pointing at the orange juice on someone else's tray.
"You want an Orleans chicken burger and a Nine Jewels juice, right? Okay." The young man quickly placed the order on the self-service machine, his hands trembling slightly under her unintentional scrutiny.
Several young men passed by repeatedly, hoping for a glance from her, but she paid them no mind.
The KFC staff member found her a seat, fetched her order, and even unpacked it for her, inserting the straw himself.
"Thank you." She tasted the juice and her eyes lit up—it was deliciously cold and sweet.
Jin Huan smiled at him and thanked him once more.
This scene imprinted itself deeply in the young man's heart, stirring up a tumult of emotions that left him dizzy and breathless.
When Ji Yan returned and found Jin Huan gone, panic enveloped him. The thought of her possibly leaving him filled him with dread and despair, his emotions swirling chaotically within seconds.
With a shaky voice, he called her.
At the sound of her voice saying, "I'm at KFC," Ji Yan nearly cried with relief.
"I'll be right there!"
When he arrived, he found her immersed in her meal. He crouched to embrace her.
The KFC staff member approached, intending to intervene, but Ji Yan pushed him away.
Tension flared between the two young men, each filled with rivalry.
Jin Huan, unconcerned with the brewing conflict, nudged Ji Yan, "This gentleman bought me this food. Pay him back."
This single statement clarified the status between them. The staff member, masking his disappointment, retreated as Ji Yan prepared to transfer the money.
"No need, I was happy to offer," the young man said before walking away.
Jin Huan continued eating, oblivious to the surrounding drama.
Ji Yan sat beside her, the air thick with his brooding mood.
Knowing he was upset, Jin Huan planned to appease him with sweet words after finishing her meal, letting him stew for now.
Ji Yan, too enamored to stay mad, struggled with his jealousy. He adored her so fiercely that it pained him.
She pushed her drink towards him, "This is tasty, try some."
His tension dissolved at her casual invitation.
"Okay."
They were here to shop, and after KFC, they left hand in hand.
"Ji Yan, KFC is really good."
"Then we'll come often."
"Okay."
Jin Huan never minded the stares; in her prime, all beings adored her.
But she could make herself unforgettable only if she chose to.
A glance was enough to set hearts racing, a defense against the overwhelming impact of her beauty.
Unfortunately, now she was just a shell of her past, relying solely on her beauty to assert herself unapologetically.
Ji Yan had often been dragged shopping by his mother and sister; now, he willingly accompanied his girlfriend to buy shoes.
"Mr. Ji!" The sales associate at Jimmy Choo, familiar with his family, greeted him warmly. Recognizing the young heir, she asked, "Looking for comfortable high heels or flats?"
"For my girlfriend," Ji Yan responded, introducing Jin Huan.
The associate hurried to fetch shoes, pushing aside her thoughts about whether Ji Yan could truly keep such a breathtaking woman.
She brought out several pairs of shimmering shoes.
"What girl could resist such sparkle?" Jin Huan was no exception.
She loved the shoes at first sight and tugged at Ji Yan's arm, "I want these!"
"Alright, we'll take them," Ji Yan replied indulgently.
Jin Huan's desires were straightforward: if she liked something, it had to be hers. Compatibility mattered less than possession.
The associate, seeing her delight, quickly brought out more colors of the same style.
Jin Huan's eyes sparkled, "I want them all!"
Ji Yan laughed softly, "All of them then."
The sales associate couldn't hide her elation—these shoes were not cheap, and selling four pairs at once was a significant boost to her sales.
"Do you want to try them on to make sure they don't hurt?" Ji Yan asked, ever considerate.
"It doesn't matter; even if I just look at them, that's fine," Jin Huan responded.
"Alright," Ji Yan agreed to everything.
As he helped her try on the shoes, his gaze was almost reverent—an attitude she found all too familiar.
Others in the store watched enviously, wishing they were in their places.
Ji Yan, only 22, held a blend of youthful innocence and mature steadiness. His devotion was captivating.
She walked a few steps in the new shoes, "These are comfortable."
"Good, let's look for more," Ji Yan encouraged, ready to indulge her further.
They continued shopping, picking out a dozen more pairs, much to the envy of other customers whose companions suddenly seemed less appealing.
They had the shoes delivered directly to Ji Yan's home for convenience.
Hand in hand, they left the mall. As they did, Jin Huan accidentally touched a man in a black suit. The Charm Bead on her wrist heated momentarily.
A brief exchange of looks held a hint of intrigue.
Whatever the future held, in that moment, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.