The golden glow radiated unmistakably from him, marking his stature a full level above Ji Yan.
Yet, as long as the final charm on Shen Jin Huan's bracelet was incomplete, she wouldn't consider anyone else. Her tea-brown eyes, vast as a starry galaxy, skimmed over him before withdrawing, leaving him with nothing but a glimpse of her graceful silhouette.
"Manager Jian?"
His executive hadn't seen Jin Huan's face, only he had. As his gaze fell back to the descending escalator, the sight of the man beside her inexplicably irked him.
"Mmm."
It was only after his acknowledgment that his subordinate continued, "This quarter, the shopping mall's net profit increased by 0.6%..."
Though he seemed to listen intently to the report, his mind was relentlessly haunted by the vision of those tea-brown eyes, sending a shiver down his spine.
Ji Yan remained oblivious to this brief episode, preoccupied with buying her more clothes and jewelry.
Though not yet fully in charge and with a monthly allowance that was somewhat limited to seventy or eighty thousand, he hadn't faced significant expenses before and had saved quite a bit. Thus, splurging on her didn't pinch his heart.
As a child, many girls adored playing with dolls. Now, Ji Yan had discovered the joy of spending lavishly on his girlfriend.
"Ji Yan, Ji Yan, I want this, this one!"
"Ji Yan, this looks beautiful!"
"Ji Yan!"
...
In a single afternoon, Jin Huan had spent over four hundred thousand of Ji Yan's money!
She found everything appealing; if she liked something, he would swipe his card. If she wanted it, he bought it!
Dresses worth tens of thousands, designer handbags over fifty thousand each—she wanted them, he bought them without blinking.
Jin Huan, who would get lost in cosmetics counters, adored this era's makeup. The Chanel coco lipsticks, especially the camellia ones, were her favorites.
Unconcerned with the cost—having had countless men kneel before her, offering the world for a mere glance—her standards were unparalleled. It was only her novelty with these modern delights that excited her.
Her appearance of an eighteen-year-old was dangerously enchanting.
"Miss, your skin is truly lovely," a sales associate remarked while testing a product on her.
Remembering phrases she had learned like 'skin like creamy jade' and 'features that could topple cities,' the associate thought she finally met someone who embodied all these superlatives.
"Thank you," Jin Huan responded, her voice sweetly flirtatious.
"Your contact lenses look stunning, like there are galaxies in your eyes, absolutely breathtaking! Can I get the link to buy them?" The associate, finding Jin Huan approachable, expressed her thoughts.
"They were a gift from a friend, I'm not sure where she got them," Jin Huan replied, playing along although she knew the associate was referring to her natural eye color.
"Oh, that's a shame!" The associate seemed genuinely disappointed.
Ji Yan watched, amused to see her spin tales.
"Do you like this shade?" Jin Huan asked, applying a strawberry-red lipstick with a shimmer, pouting her lips.
It was as if a string snapped in Ji Yan's mind at her gesture. If not for the public setting, he might have acted on his impulse.
He swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.
Jin Huan was merely making conversation; Ji Yan's opinion hardly mattered as she gleefully moved on to the next shade. Only Ji Yan was stirred by the undercurrents she created.
After spending tens of thousands at the cosmetics counter, Jin Huan had nearly bought one of every makeup product Chanel offered, although she needed no skincare, her beauty eternal and self-sustaining.
"Would you like to see a movie?" Unsure if Jin Huan had ever experienced cinema, Ji Yan asked.
"Is it in color like television?"
"Yes."
"Then I want to see it." She was intrigued by the prospect of color films, having only seen black and white ones before.
"Great, after dinner, I'll buy the tickets," he said, taking her to a reserved restaurant.
Honestly, Jin Huan wasn't keen on eating; human food only satisfied her taste, offering no real benefits unless exquisitely made. But seeing Ji Yan's enthusiasm, she didn't have the heart to dampen his spirits.
They dined at a Western restaurant. Jin Huan had often enjoyed foreign cuisine in the past, famous among the proprietors of international eateries back then.
While the restaurant's decor was acceptable, it lacked the exquisite focus of the old days, its style an amalgamation though aesthetically pleasing, not quite authentic.
Ji Yan pulled out a chair for her. She sat with a grace that belied any impropriety, exuding the demeanor of a high-society lady from the last century.
Her elegance was indisputable, each gesture and smile captivating.
The moment her fingers touched the cutlery, it seemed as if the utensils themselves were fortunate to be handled by her.
"Would you like some wine?"
Jin Huan paused. She loved wine dearly but often avoided it unless in safe company due to its aftereffects.
"No, let's drink some when we get back. Keep some for me."
"Alright."
If she wasn't drinking, Ji Yan wouldn't either, especially since they had plans post-dinner.
The food arrived quickly. Ji Yan carefully cut her steak and foie gras before sliding the plate towards her.
She tasted it; the ingredients were fresh, slightly undercooked but the tender meat compensated, making it quite palatable.
She finished her portion without leaving leftovers—Jin Huan never felt hunger nor satiety, so how much she ate didn't affect her.
"This restaurant has the best caviar in the city," Ji Yan remarked as they ate.
"Really?"
"Yes, I'll take you to all the best restaurants in Hai City."
"Okay."
She completed her meal, casually sipping her soup while absently playing Plants vs. Zombies on her phone.
"Ji Yan, could you add some funds for me? I'm running low on sun, and I keep losing." Her tone was endearingly pitiful.
Who could resist such a request?
"Of course," Ji Yan responded, quickly adding twenty thousand to her game account.
He never stinted on spending if it brought her joy.
Jin Huan happily resumed her game, delighted with her new in-game purchases.
The movie started at 7:30 PM, and it was already ten past. Seeing her engrossed in her game, Ji Yan didn't want to interrupt.
Eventually, Jin Huan remembered their movie plans, put away her phone, and they left together.
Today's cinemas were a far cry from those of old, equipped with self-service ticketing and QR code scanning—a convenience Jin Huan appreciated.
He bought popcorn and cola. She had once tasted a drink called 'Tadpole Crunches Wax,' somewhat similar to cola but not as good.
Jin Huan instantly fell in love with cola. "Ji Yan, buy ten bottles to take home, no, make it a hundred. I want to drink this every day!"
She barely touched the popcorn during the movie, finishing both colas instead.
Ji Yan had noticed that Jin Huan seemingly never needed the restroom...
Even after eating, her stomach didn't bulge. Despite his many questions, he never asked them outright, believing she would tell him if she wanted to.
If Jin Huan knew what Ji Yan thought, she'd laugh out loud, for she would never tell him unless absolutely necessary.
The film was a romance, featuring a current leading actor whose acting skills were debatable but who possessed undeniable charm.
"What's that actor's name?" she asked as they got into the car.
Ji Yan, not usually following celebrity news, hesitated. Jiang Hao Cang was famous, his songs played everywhere, his fans legion.
He bit his lip, reluctant to tell her Jiang Hao Cang's name. For other girls, it might just be curiosity, but with Jin Huan, Ji Yan knew no man could refuse her if she desired.
"Don't you know either?"
"Um." It was the first lie Ji Yan told Jin Huan, and he felt uneasily conflicted.
Jin Huan chuckled softly.
She understood men too well. Though often indifferent to easily won conquests, Ji Yan's lie was telling. Was he worried about her affections wandering?
While that might inevitably happen, today she had merely asked for a name.
"What's funny?" he asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, just felt like laughing." She wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, seemingly innocent, yet even the briefest touch left the driver blushing at their reflection in the rearview mirror. Jin Huan could stir hearts without even trying.
Ji Yan's breathing grew erratic as she played with his fingers.
His voice trembled with a husky warning, "Jin Huan, stop moving."
"I won't listen to you," she retorted, too willful to stop.
Ji Yan leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, giving in to the moment.
After dropping them off, Ji Yan dismissed the driver.
Jin Huan intuitively felt Ji Yan was now a danger to himself. His breath was hot, his hands scalding as they exited the elevator, his movements through the door rushed.
"Bang."
The door shut behind them.
In the next second, Ji Yan seized her wrist and pinned her against the door panel.
"Mmm...~"
"Jin Huan, I love you, I love you." The atmosphere, charged with heat, ignited instantly. He lifted her to carry her
into the bedroom, kissing her fervently along the way.
As they passed the living room, they unexpectedly met his mother's complicated gaze.