Chapter 28: Kissing Her in Front of Me?

Lin Ran stood outside the hotel, eating a lollipop as he waited for Vivian.

Two girls in school uniforms walked past him, their eyes appraising him as if he were prey. Tall, handsome, wearing a Rolex—he was definitely a target.

“Hey, handsome, can we add you on WeChat?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“Oh, come on, please~”

The two girls circled around him, their voices sweet and coy as they tried to get his WeChat, leaving Lin Ran a little embarrassed.

Money really does change things—even strangers seemed friendlier these days.

Meanwhile, not far away at the subway entrance—

“Hey, beautiful, add me on WeChat. It doesn’t matter if you have a boyfriend, I just want to get to know you.”

A man who had just exited the subway was pestering Vivian for her WeChat as he followed her.

Vivian glanced toward the hotel entrance and paused, spotting Lin Ran being surrounded by two uniformed girls asking for his WeChat.

Both of them, it seemed, were getting hit on by the opposite sex.

One had good looks.

The other had good looks—and money.

Vivian deployed her secret weapon: instantly, her voice dropped to a deep, gruff timbre. “I’m a man.”

The guy was stunned.

Her voice was even deeper than his own!

He hurried off without another word.

Voice actors really are monsters.

Not only did Vivian have perfect pitch, but she was also a top-tier voice actor.

Having sent away the man, it was time to deal with the two schoolgirls pestering her boyfriend.

Vivian reached out to push the girls aside but suddenly felt dizzy and, weak from her chronic illness, collapsed. Lin Ran hurriedly caught her. “What’s wrong?”

Vivian, playing the frail damsel, said, “My blood sugar dropped. I can’t find any sweets. Could you give me the lollipop from your mouth?”

The two girls: !!!

Without hesitation, Lin Ran pulled the lollipop from his mouth and placed it between Vivian’s lips.

“Feeling better?”

“It doesn’t work that fast. Carry me to the hotel so I can rest.”

“Of course.”

Lin Ran scooped her up and headed for the hotel.

Vivian looped her arms around his neck, chewing on the lollipop. As she looked back, she shot the two girls a glance that seemed to say, “Watch and learn!”

She really was a handful.

The two girls were dumbfounded.

Is that even allowed?

…

At the restaurant entrance.

“My anemia’s cured,” Vivian said, wriggling free and walking inside with her hands behind her back, still chewing the lollipop.

“Ohhh,” Lin Ran finally caught on and laughed. “So you were acting.”

“Of course,” Vivian spun around playfully. “I just can’t stand other girls asking my boyfriend for his WeChat.”

Direct and unapologetic.

Vivian was a bit of a firebrand.

Lin Ran liked this boldness—he was smitten.

“Let’s eat!”

They pushed open the door to their private room. As soon as Lin Ran and Vivian entered, Lu Man hyped up the moment, “Welcome to the newcomers! Drumroll please~”

“Oh, shut up and eat!” Vivian snatched a grilled sausage from the table and stuffed it in her mouth.

“Mmph—too big, I can’t fit it all in!”

Laughter broke out across the room.

Zeng Wei, sitting beside her, watched his girlfriend’s mouth around the sausage with more than a little empathy.

Once everyone had arrived, Lin Ran signaled the waiter to bring out the hot dishes.

“Cold appetizers are on the table. Let’s eat as the food comes out. Ladies and gentlemen, white liquor, beer, or red wine—no soft drinks allowed!”

“Oooh~” Su Su pointed at Lin Ran mischievously. “Who are you planning to get drunk tonight? What are you up to, huh?”

Vivian picked up a sausage, and Su Su immediately covered her mouth, not daring to tease further.

Zeng Wei spoke up, “It’s a happy occasion. No soft drinks. We don’t like white liquor, and beer’s too filling. Let’s go with red wine.”

Lin Ran turned to the waitress. “Miss, bring us two bottles of your best red wine.”

“Our most expensive is Penfolds 707, 2,999 yuan per bottle. Would you like that, sir?”

“Bring three bottles to start.”

“Certainly.”

Three bottles—nearly 9,000 yuan.

Everyone was taken aback. Lin Ran really was loaded; he didn’t even blink.

What gave him such confidence? A couple million in pocket money, that’s what.

Zeng Wei sighed… If only his dad had been more successful, maybe he could be so carefree about the price, too.

Wine was poured; dish after carefully selected plate arrived. Each was a specialty that the hotel rarely made, complex and expensive, though not as pricey as the wine.

Still, by Zeng Wei’s estimation, the total bill would be close to 20,000.

Zeng Wei raised his glass. “Let’s all toast Lin Ran and Vivian.”

“It should be us toasting you,” Vivian said shyly, lifting her glass. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate with us, to bless Lin Ran and me. Thank you. And then…”

Vivian turned to Lin Ran, her gaze soft. “Thank you for preparing such a wonderful dinner. I have a gift for you.”

“Oh? I get a present too?”

Everyone craned their necks, curious.

Vivian took a small gift box from her bag. Lin Ran opened it to find a Versace belt inside.

“A Versace belt? That’s got to be a few thousand. Vivian, you’re usually stingy, but you’re so generous with your boyfriend.”

Lu Man knew just what to say, making sure Lin Ran realized how important he was to Vivian.

Vivian blushed. “Do you like it?”

Without a word, Lin Ran pulled off the belt he was wearing, tossed it in the trash, and immediately put on the new one.

Actions speak louder than words.

“Looks great!”

All the women gave their approval.

Vivian was delighted.

Lu Man chimed in, “Didn’t you also prepare a gift for Vivian, Lin Ran? We’re all dying to know what it is.”

A gift?

Vivian looked at Lin Ran, surprised. She hadn’t known about this.

“It’s in the room upstairs. Wait a moment.”

Lin Ran headed up, returning quickly with a pink LV handbag.

Ke Xin excitedly grabbed Su Su’s hand. “That’s the bag I told you about! It’s just so expensive.”

Lin Ran handed over the bag. “This is for you.”

“It’s beautiful. My boyfriend has great taste,” Vivian said, accepting the bag and singing Lin Ran’s praises.

Ke Xin sighed, “Vivian, you’re so lucky.”

“Nice bag, it suits you. Good choice, Lin Ran,” Lu Man said. She knew the bag wasn’t outrageously expensive—just over ten thousand—but Lin Ran had chosen it carefully, and the thought counted.

Lin Ran just smiled. “Open it.”

Huh?

Vivian was puzzled.

So was everyone else.

What was there to open? Brand-new bags are always empty.

Only Jiang Shuyao pursed her lips, watching quietly.

Lin Ran explained, “The bag isn’t the gift. I just bought it as a matching gift bag. The real present is inside.”

What?

Everyone was stunned.

That ten-thousand-yuan LV bag was just the wrapping?

The present was inside.

Ke Xin was floored—her dream bag was just someone else’s packaging?

Lu Man urged her on, “Quick, Vivian, open it and see what’s inside.”

Vivian opened the bag curiously, peeked inside, and immediately snapped it shut, looking at Lin Ran in shock.

Lu Man was getting impatient. “Come on, what is it? Take it out!”

“It’s… it’s…”

Vivian bit her lip and pulled out a pink Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.

Under the lights, the diamond-set bezel sparkled brilliantly.

“!!!”

Everyone thought they were seeing things. They rubbed their eyes—it really was a Cartier Ballon Bleu.

And it was pink.

In a flash, several women crowded around to check the price tag.

Price: 290,000 yuan.

“Two hundred and ninety thousand?”

“Oh my god, I’m so jealous.”

“A 290,000-yuan token of affection, wrapped in a ten-thousand-yuan LV bag. That’s over 300,000. Incredible.”

The women were in awe, completely floored.

A real second-generation rich kid.

Such generous extravagance.

Vivian was truly blessed by fortune!

Even she was startled by the price—it was truly expensive.

“Give me your hand. Let me put it on for you.”

“It’s too expensive.”

“Maybe for others. For you, it’s not.”

The women all swooned at such flirtatious words.

Lin Ran personally fastened the watch on her wrist.

“I didn’t know what to give you, so I chose a watch—to show that I want to be with you every moment.”

The words went straight to her heart.

Vivian’s eyes brimmed with tears, overcome with emotion.

She threw herself into Lin Ran’s arms.

“Aww, this public display of affection is too much!” Lu Man and the others raised their glasses and drank.

[To give someone a rose leaves a lingering fragrance. Vivian accepted the heartfelt gift, triggering an 18x reward: 5,220,000. Card balance: 6.63 million.]

Yes!

Lin Ran was overjoyed. He embraced Vivian and raised his glass. “Come, let’s toast Zeng Wei and Lu Man, and the rest of our single friends.”

Lu Man and Zeng Wei burst out laughing.

“Lin Ran, you… ah!” Jiang Shuyao, Su Su, and Ke Xin stomped their feet in mock outrage.

The banquet lasted another two hours. Su Su, Lu Man, and the other girls were thoroughly drunk.

Vivian held her liquor well—tipsy, but not gone.

Jiang Shuyao couldn’t drink much, so she only had a little.

After leaving the room, Lin Ran said, “There are two rooms upstairs. Zeng Wei and Lu Man, you take one; Su Su and Ke Xin, you take the other. We’re heading out. Bye!”

With a quick farewell, Lin Ran, Vivian, and Jiang Shuyao left the hotel and took a cab back to Jade City Phase II, the apartment complex where Vivian and Jiang Shuyao shared a place.

Vivian hadn’t been that drunk, but in the swaying cab, the alcohol hit her hard.

Lin Ran carried her on his back as Jiang Shuyao led the way.

Upstairs, Jiang Shuyao unlocked the door and helped settle Vivian on the sofa.

Woof, woof, woof!

Baibai, the dog, wagged its tail and ran over to greet its owner.

“Baibai, your owner is very happy today—she’s found love and got drunk.”

Lin Ran glanced around. The apartment was modest: two rooms, one for instruments, and one shared by the girls.

Just one bed—no room for him.

He couldn’t very well sleep with both of them.

“Lin Ran, you take care of Vivian. I’ll take Baibai out for a walk. If this dog doesn’t get its exercise, he’ll wreck the place.”

“All right.”

Jiang Shuyao left to walk the dog.

Lin Ran picked Vivian up, but she shook him off and slipped her arms around his neck.

“I’ll help you back to your room.”

Vivian, drunk and giddy, looked up at him. “Lin Ran, I’m so happy today~”

“You will be. Even happier in the future.”

“I… want… to kiss you~”

Vivian stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.

Lin Ran held her slender waist, and under the night sky, in the living room, they shared a lingering, passionate kiss.

…

Woof, woof, woof!

Baibai finished his walk.

“Come on, Baibai, let’s go home.”

Jiang Shuyao led the dog back upstairs, unlocked the door, and entered—

Only to find Lin Ran and Vivian locked in a fierce kiss right in front of her.

She’d been downstairs, walking their dog for them.

Meanwhile, they were upstairs, making out.

This was her apartment!

They were taking over her home.

And kissing like that!

If she’d come back any later, would they have gone even further?

My god!

This was intolerable.

“Ah!” Jiang Shuyao shrieked, desperate to put a stop to it.

“Mmmph—”

Before she could make another sound, Lin Ran pinned her against the wall and clamped a hand over her mouth.

With one hand, he tilted Vivian’s chin and deepened their kiss.

With the other, he kept Jiang Shuyao silent, holding her against the wall.

Watch and learn, he seemed to say—this is how you kiss!

!!!

Lin Ran was so wicked, humiliating her while flaunting his affection.

Lin Ran, what have I ever done to you? Why must you torment me, a single woman, like this right in my own home?!

Jiang Shuyao’s wide, sparkling eyes stared at the kissing couple in front of her.

Lin Ran’s kissing skills weren’t bad.

She started to imagine herself in that situation.

No, no—

She shook her head, trying to clear the thought.

What was she thinking?

No, no, no!