Before they even stepped through the door, a staff member had already come forward to open it for them and greet them.
"Hello, do you have a reservation?" the staff member asked, following the usual routine.
Anna replied, "No."
"In that case, you may have to wait about five minutes," the staff member said as they placed two cups of tea in front of them.
Anna nodded, "Okay."
Chase, who had never been to a place like this before, looked around curiously. He couldn't make much sense of what was going on, but he could tell that the shop had a pleasant atmosphere—bright, open, and spacious.
When his eyes landed on the price list on the wall, he studied it for a moment before turning to the girl beside him and saying, "I'll get you a membership card."
Anna froze for a second, then quickly declined, "It's pointless to get a card, I won't be coming here again."
And even if she did get a membership, it would be at her own expense.
"You can't say things so definitively," Chase said, his tone meaningful. "Who knows what will happen in the future?"
Anna raised an eyebrow, a hint of realization in her eyes, and softly responded, "Is that so?"
"Then I'll get the membership when I come again next time."
Chase nodded, "Alright."
He noticed the snacks the staff had brought over and asked, "Do you want to eat something?"
Anna replied, "No."
"Don't eat snacks?" he asked again.
Anna picked up the tea in front of her and took a sip, replying gently, "I eat them occasionally."
She only ever took a bite or two, just to taste them—she didn't have much of a craving for snacks.
Soon, a staff member came to escort Anna to her seat for the manicure. Chase settled into a chair about three meters behind her, casually reclining with one leg crossed over the other.
The manicurist cheerfully spoke to Anna, "Your boyfriend is really great."
He's tall, handsome, and wealthy. The sports car parked outside—she had seen it through the window before they even got out of the car.
Anna didn't rush to explain her relationship with Chase and instead asked the manicurist, "What's so great about him?"
"Not many boyfriends would spend hours just sitting with their girlfriend for a manicure," the manicurist said as she carefully trimmed Anna's nails. "Most of my clients come alone or with friends."
"And your boyfriend isn't even glued to his phone. He keeps looking up at you from time to time."
Hearing this, Anna turned her head and glanced back at Chase. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to thicken with an invisible pull, bringing them closer.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled at her, then stood up and walked over to her side.
"What's wrong?" His voice was gentle, rich with a comforting tone that made Anna's ears tingle.
Anna looked up at him and, without thinking, said, "I want some water."
The manicurist immediately offered, "I'll have my colleague get it for you."
"No need, I'll go get it," Chase interrupted, speaking for Anna.
He walked over to a nearby cabinet, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, twisted the cap open, and thoughtfully inserted a straw before bringing it to her lips.
Anna was momentarily stunned. Her pupils constricted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and took a few sips from the straw.
"Thank you."
Her lips parted slightly, and her bright eyes curved into a soft smile, her gaze locking with his in a way that was both enchanting and tender.
Chase watched her lips, the shade of them making him feel an unexplainable thirst. His hand, still holding the water bottle, tightened around it.
He nonchalantly turned his gaze away, tightened the cap, and asked in a low, husky voice, "Is there anything else you need?"
Anna shook her head, "No, that's it."
In truth, she hadn't needed anything—she had just made up a reason since he had asked.
Besides, one of her hands was free, so she could have gotten her own water. But she simply didn't want to reach out for it.
"Call me if you need anything else," Chase said as he placed the remaining bottle of water beside her.
"Okay," Anna replied softly.
Chase was once again stirred by her gentle voice.
After he returned to his chair, he drank the tea in front of him in one go, trying to calm the heat inside him.
When Chase left, the manicurist resumed chatting with Anna, sighing in admiration, "Your relationship with your boyfriend is so sweet. He really dotes on you."
The man gave off a bold, carefree vibe—tough, wild, and seemingly hard to approach. Yet, he was genuinely good to his girlfriend.
Anna smiled. "He's not my boyfriend."
The manicurist was taken aback, a slightly awkward expression crossing her face. "Sorry, I didn't know…"
It was just that the two of them looked so perfect together. From their height to their appearance to their aura, they were practically made for each other—a match made in heaven, handsome guy, beautiful girl, everything seemed to align perfectly.
"It's fine," Anna said nonchalantly. "That moment earlier was pretty easy to misinterpret."
Their dynamic did have a bit of an ambiguous undertone.
The manicurist, seeing that Anna wasn't uncomfortable talking about it, couldn't resist the temptation to gossip, "So, is he pursuing you?"
Anna teased, "You should ask him, he might give you a more accurate answer."
The manicurist laughed. She wasn't brave enough to ask him directly—that would be a bit too forward. She wasn't that nosy.
After a meticulous and lengthy process, five and a half hours passed.
Anna stood up, stretching her legs, then walked over to Chase. "Has it been boring waiting here for so long?"
Based on how he had acted over the past few hours, she already knew the answer. During the manicure, she had glanced back at him a few times and noticed that he didn't seem the least bit impatient. He didn't ask how much longer it would take, either.
"How could I be bored waiting for the princess?" Chase looked down at her hands hanging by her sides. "Let me see your hands."
Anna held them out to him, the backs of her hands facing him. "Here."
Her nails were painted in a gradient color, with a touch of water-like shine, crystal clear and glittering with a few tiny diamonds and a 3D butterfly design—luxurious and eye-catching.
Chase praised, "Very beautiful."
The wait was well worth it.
Anna glanced at her nails, smiling. "Right? I think so too."
She bent over to grab her small purse from the table. "I'm going to pay now."
But when she reached the front counter, she was told that the bill had already been paid.
It didn't take a genius to figure out who had paid.
Anna turned to look at the man behind her. "So, you're doing a good deed anonymously?"
"I would've liked to, but unfortunately, I couldn't pull it off. You already know it was me," Chase said, his tone carrying a slight regret.
Anna shot him a playful look. "I'll pay you back."
"No need," Chase immediately stopped her. "I wouldn't accept it even if you did."
"If you feel bad about it and don't want to owe me, then treat me to a few more meals."
His suggestion was so direct that it almost made Anna laugh.
She raised an eyebrow. "So, you want me to repay you in a different way? Or are you using this as an excuse to ask me out for a meal?"
Chase stepped forward, closing the distance between them slightly, and teasingly asked, "Isn't the intention obvious? I just want to have a meal with the princess."
"Will you give me the chance?"
They were so close now that Anna could see his lashes and feel his breath.
She paused for a moment, then stood firm, not retreating, and asked, "Is that all? You just want to eat with me?"
Chase didn't hide his desire, stating bluntly, "Of course."
Anna's lips curled up into a small smile. "Alright, then."
Chase grinned. "There's no time like the present, how about tonight?"
After five and a half hours, the sky had darkened, and the streetlights were now on.
Anna, walking alongside him, said, "That won't work. I promised my friend I'd have dinner with her tonight."
As she walked out, she realized that in the two days since meeting Chase, her time had mostly been filled by him.
That wouldn't do—if they saw each other too often, the mystery would be gone too quickly. She had to maintain some distance to keep things interesting, to keep him curious and engaged.
"The princess's schedule is really packed," Chase sighed lightly.
"Of course," Anna answered proudly before asking, "So, are you going back to the hotel or having dinner first?"
If it was dinner, she'd just take a taxi back.
Chase stood by his car, not in a hurry to open the door. "What about you?"
Anna answered, "I'm going to the 'Sunset' restaurant."
Chase, unsure if it was the same place, asked, "Is it the one near the hotel?"
Anna nodded, "Yes."
"Then I'll head back to the hotel," Chase replied, "And I'll drop you off on the way."
Anna
stretched the tone of her voice and said slowly, "On the way…"
Did she really not know whether that was true?
Chase didn't pursue the matter further. "Get in, princess."