"Xuan, let's go eat." Su Hua looked up, her voice sweet.
"Alright."
Lin Xuan held Su Hua's hand as they walked to a street food stall.
As they strolled down the street, nearly every passerby turned to look at them.
The street was crowded, but the bodyguards, knowing Su Hua disliked strangers touching her or Lin Xuan, blended in wearing casual clothes, forming a discreet barrier around the couple.
"Hua Bao, I’ve tried this barbecue before—it’s really good. You should try some." Lin Xuan picked out a few skewers and placed them on a plate.
The stall owner’s eyes widened when he saw Su Hua. "Young man, is this your girlfriend?"
"Yeah," Lin Xuan nodded. "We’ve been together for over a year."
The owner grinned. "Your girlfriend is stunning. The two of you look perfect together."
A faint blush spread across Su Hua’s cheeks as she shyly lowered her head.
She wasn’t usually one to get flustered.
But every time someone said she and Xuan were a perfect match, she couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill.
"You two go sit for a bit. I’ll bring the food once it’s ready," the owner said cheerfully.
"Okay."
Lin Xuan nodded. "Hua Bao, let’s sit for a while."
"Sure." Su Hua agreed.
Lin Xuan led her to a small table and pulled out a chair for her.
The place was open-air, simple and rustic—a stark contrast to Su Hua’s usual elegance.
Suddenly, Lin Xuan regretted bringing her here.
"Hua Bao, maybe we should go somewhere else?" he suggested.
"Why?" Su Hua frowned.
Lin Xuan hesitated. "It’s nothing. I just feel like this place isn’t the best."
"No, I like it here. Let’s eat here." Su Hua insisted.
This was a place Xuan used to frequent.
Anywhere Xuan liked, she wanted to experience too.
"Alright then." Lin Xuan relented.
"Hua Bao." He took her hand, his expression serious. "You don’t have to do things you don’t enjoy just for me."
Su Hua’s red lips curled into a smile. "As long as I’m with Xuan, no matter what we do, I’m happy."
Lin Xuan’s heart skipped a beat.
How could this girl be so effortlessly charming?
Soon, the owner brought over their barbecue, the rich aroma wafting through the air as he set the plates before them.
"Enjoy your meal," he said warmly.
Strangely, ever since Lin Xuan arrived, the stall had suddenly drawn a crowd.
After serving them, the owner hurried back to tend to other customers.
"Xuan."
Su Hua picked up an oyster and placed it in Lin Xuan’s bowl. "Eat more oysters. They’re good for your health."
Lin Xuan stared at the oyster, his eyebrow twitching.
"Hua Bao, actually, I don’t need—" The word "tonic" stuck in his throat.
Never mind.
Su Hua knew him better than anyone.
There was no point pretending.
"Hmm?" Su Hua tilted her head. "What were you going to say, Xuan?"
"Nothing."
Lin Xuan shook his head.
She was right—he could use the extra boost.
Though he still couldn’t match Su Hua, he’d improved a lot. At least now, they were evenly matched, roughly 60-40.
He popped the oyster into his mouth.
A glimmer of amusement flickered in Su Hua’s eyes.
"Boss, give us a thousand yuan’s worth of barbecue and beer!"
Five men in their thirties or forties, with beer bellies and the air of nouveau riche, plopped down at a table a short distance away.
It didn’t take long for them to notice Su Hua and Lin Xuan.
"See that?" One of them pointed at Su Hua. "That girl is gorgeous."
Boss Wang stroked his chin, his gaze hungry. "Yeah, she’s a real beauty."
"But…" The first man frowned. "She’s got a boyfriend. Might be tricky."
"So what? Just some pretty boy. Easy to handle. I’m not worried."
Boss Wang’s eyes locked onto Su Hua, burning with determination. "That girl—she’s mine."
"Still, they look like they’ve got money. Could be trouble," another man cautioned.
"Trouble?" Boss Wang scoffed. "My uncle’s the top official in Yundu City. Even if I take her by force, who’s gonna stop me?"
He’d never seen a woman this beautiful before.
And he wasn’t leaving without her.
The bodyguards overheard the conversation, their expressions darkening as they prepared to intervene.
"Wait." A female bodyguard stopped them. "Let’s check with Miss Su first. No need to rush."
She might have other plans.
If Lin Xuan weren’t here, Su Hua would’ve had them dealt with immediately. But with him present, things might play out differently.
The bodyguards glanced at the five men.
This woman knew Su Hua well. Trusting her judgment, they nodded.
"Fine." They settled back into their roles as ordinary diners, feigning indifference.
The female bodyguard approached Su Hua and whispered, "Miss, you’ve caught someone’s eye. They’re after you."
"Leave them be." Su Hua smirked.
These men wouldn’t stand a chance against Xuan.
She wanted to see what it felt like to be protected by him.
"Understood." The bodyguard stepped back.
The youngest of the five men still felt uneasy. "There are a lot of people here. Maybe we should wait."
"Wait my ass."
Boss Wang, fueled by alcohol, staggered to his feet. "I’m taking her to a hotel right now."
He grabbed a beer bottle and swayed toward Su Hua’s table, followed by his three burly companions.
"Hey there, sweetheart. Drinking alone with this guy? How about some company?"
Boss Wang’s gaze raked over Su Hua.
Up close, she was even more breathtaking.
This woman was his.
Lin Xuan’s voice was ice. "I don’t recall inviting you to join us."
"This your girl?" Boss Wang shot Lin Xuan a hostile look.
Lin Xuan smirked. "Isn’t it obvious?"
"Listen, pretty boy." Boss Wang clapped a hand on Lin Xuan’s shoulder. "A beauty like this is out of your league. How about you hand her over? I’ll give you 300,000 yuan. What do you say?"
He puffed out his chest, oozing arrogance.
Hey guys, when’s your winter break?
Thank you to Ye Wudao, who’s been a bit less active lately, readers who love sending hate mail, those who’ve been sincere but hurt, and poetic souls like "A Touch of Poetry" for your gifts.
Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato’s request for over 3 million daily visits overwhelming the server, we now recommend switching to other big sources.
g Yu was preparing for retirement when her organization decided to eliminate her. She transmigrated to a zombie apocalypse world. However, a tiny unexpected situation occurred: She somehow transformed into an adorable little girl?!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
iemie, male, Race: Moon. Hobby: Collecting anomalies. At first, he thought he possessed two systems: the Crimson Rainbow Moon and the Clear Cold Frost Moon. One day, he discovered that he himself could also become a system for others, holding the chessboard of fate. The Eighth Epoch, also known as the Eternal Moon Epoch. Humans, witches, elves, bloodline descendants, specters, demons, and spirits together compose a new history. Walking the path on behalf of the moon, before he knew it, Chen Miemie's footsteps were followed by all manner of strange and wondrous anomalies. As time passed, many titles circulated about him—The King in Yellow, Lord of Anomalies, Heart of the Eternal Moon, and more. "Me? I'm just a traveler who enjoys collecting interesting creatures," Chen Miemie said.
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
