Chapter 306: Fireworks Over the River, A Night of Romantic Destiny!
"It's nothing, look up at the sky, the fireworks are about to bloom."
Shen Anyu smiled charmingly and kissed Susan's cheek, his voice soft and magnetic against the ambient noise of the crowd.
"Mhm, mhm, let's watch the fireworks!"
Susan's beautiful eyes sparkled like crushed diamonds as she looked up at the night sky above the Riverside. Her heart was pounding, not just from anticipation of the show, but from the lingering warmth of Shen Anyu's lips on her skin.
Everyone, like Shen Anyu and Susan, looked over in unison, their faces turned towards the heavens like sunflowers seeking light.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sharp, thunderous sounds of fireworks launching rang out, vibrating through the chest of every spectator.
Immediately after, streaks of light pierced the darkness, ascending rapidly before exploding into a symphony of light. Colorful, magnificent fireworks bloomed in the sky above the Riverside—crimson, gold, emerald, and sapphire—painting the obsidian canvas of the night with brilliant strokes.
They dazzled the eyes, only to quickly disappear into smoke and embers, making way for new ones to take their place.
Perhaps it was precisely because the fireworks' exquisite beauty lasted only a moment that they were even more precious and valuable. It was a metaphor for youth, for passion, and for the fleeting nature of opportunities—something Shen Anyu understood well, and Lin Xiang did not.
Cheers and exclamations of delight rose from the Riverside crowd like a tidal wave. Everyone's faces were illuminated by the flashing lights, filled with excitement and joy.
Under the cascade of falling sparks, the atmosphere turned thick with romance.
Couples passionately embraced and kissed, ignoring the world around them. Families exchanged warm smiles, pointing at the shapes in the sky. Single people excitedly raised their phones to snap photos and record short videos, hoping to capture a fragment of the magic to share online.
"Husband, look quickly, the fireworks have started! They say that at this time, if couples kiss while making a wish under the blooming fireworks, it's very effective… and their love will last for a hundred years!"
An excited Susan softly bumped against Shen Anyu's chest, her body pliable and soft against his firm frame. She then turned her beautiful eyes towards the beautiful, fleeting fireworks, her face full of anticipation and a hint of shy invitation.
She was hinting. Heavily.
Shen Anyu couldn't help but smile, a look of doting possession in his eyes. He pulled the beautiful girl into his arms, his hand supporting the back of her head, and lowered his lips to hers.
He didn't just kiss her; he claimed her breath. Under the explosion of lights, amidst the cheers of thousands, Shen Anyu deepened the kiss, tasting the sweetness of a Destined Heroine who was rapidly falling into his grasp.
Meanwhile, in the shadows where the light couldn't reach.
After the fireworks show finished and the crowd began to disperse.
Lin Xiang limped out from a dark, trash-filled corner of an alleyway near the park exit. He looked wretched. His clothes were stained with dust, his hair was a bird's nest, and he was clutching his ribs.
"Damn it... Hiss... that woman is so ruthless! My bones were almost shattered by her!"
Lin Xiang grumbled, grimacing in pain with every step. He was referring to the female bodyguard from earlier who had kicked him out.
"She only hit me a few times, why does it hurt more than when I fell out of the tree last time? Did she use internal energy? Despicable!"
He spat on the ground, feeling a mix of physical agony and mental humiliation.
"Darn it, I missed the fireworks show just like that…"
Watching the people around him leave, chatting and laughing, holding hands and sharing snacks, Lin Xiang's face was filled with indignation and unwillingness. The happiness of others felt like a mockery of his misery.
"Am I too unlucky today? First, I accidentally scraped that scumbag rich second-generation's car and made Susan angry. Then I got chased by a dog. Then I got beaten up by a crazy woman. And now I'm still so unlucky tonight…"
Lin Xiang was speechless; this was too unlucky. He had never been this unlucky before in his life.
In the past, he used to have good luck; he could even win a first prize just by buying a packet of crispy noodles at the convenience store. He was supposed to be the protagonist of his own life, so why did the world suddenly turn against him?
"Oh right! Susan! I need to go check quickly, I hope that girl hasn't left…"
At this moment, Lin Xiang's expression changed from self-pity to panic. He realized his primary objective. He quickly ran—limping heavily—towards the viewing platform spot where the girl, who he suspected was Susan, had been standing earlier.
However, when he arrived, the spot was empty.
The cold wind from the river blew past him, carrying away the lingering smell of gunpowder from the fireworks.
The girl was no longer there.
Lin Xiang looked left and right, scanning the crowd frantically like a lost child, but he couldn't find her silhouette.
He took a deep breath and forcibly consoled himself, activating his 'spiritual victory method':
"Lin Xiang, Lin Xiang, don't overthink it. You're scaring yourself. How could that girl be Susan?"
"Susan is so pure, so conservative. How could she suddenly be kissing a strange boy by the Riverside in public? Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
"That girl just looked like her from the back. It was dark. I must have seen it wrong."
He nodded firmly, convincing himself of this lie.
"Never mind, it's getting late. I'll go home first, rest up, and then wait at Susan's doorstep tomorrow morning."
"Susan is so kind and soft-hearted; she's practically a saint. As long as I sincerely apologize, kneel if I have to, she'll definitely forgive me…"
Rubbing his rumbling stomach—having been out in the sun all afternoon, hungry, thirsty, and tired—Lin Xiang dejectedly walked over to his bicycle. He unlocked it with shaking hands and prepared to leave.
Just then, as he merged onto the main road, Lin Xiang noticed a familiar luxury car in front of him—the same sleak, black supercar he had scraped that afternoon.
Although the original convertible top was now closed to shield the occupants from the wind, Lin Xiang had an excellent memory for license plates and still remembered it vividly.
That plate... A88888.
Lin Xiang's expression changed instantly. A fire of jealousy and hatred burned in his eyes.
That idiotic rich second-generation actually came to the Riverside to watch the fireworks too? He couldn't have seen me, could he?
He gripped his bicycle handlebars tightly.
"Heh heh, so what if he saw me? There were no surveillance cameras or dash cams at the accident site earlier. It's his word against mine. What am I afraid of?"
Lin Xiang smiled triumphantly, a sneer curling his lips. He pedaled harder, swaggering as he rode his bicycle past the slow-moving luxury car. He even turned his head and made a provocative grimace at the tinted rearview mirror, sticking out his tongue like a child.
It finally made him feel a bit better. A petty victory.
Serve you right!
Although he had been quite unlucky today, that idiotic rich second-generation had his car scraped and would have to pay hundreds of thousands for repairs—that guy was even unluckier than him!
Inside the soundproofed, climate-controlled interior of the Bugatti.
Shen Anyu, who saw this scene clearly from within, raised his eyebrows slightly.
This Child of Destiny was truly asking for a beating. He was like a cockroach that didn't know the boot was already descending.
"Husband, I want a kiss…"
At this moment, a soft, coquettish voice came from the passenger seat.
Susan stretched out her arms, her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink, wanting kisses and hugs. The adrenaline of the fireworks and the romantic atmosphere had intoxicated her more than any wine could.
Since their relationship was confirmed earlier that day, Susan had broken through her initial shyness and become increasingly clingy. It was as if a dam had broken; she loved to act spoiled, loved his scent, and loved his kisses and hugs.
Shen Anyu naturally wouldn't ignore such reasonable requests. He smiled, turning his attention away from the clown outside the window to the beauty inside.
"As you wish, my princess."
He leaned over, wantonly plundering the lips of the delicate flower in his arms, savoring her softness.
The car continued to drive smoothly, isolating them from the world. After a long while, when they finally separated, both slightly breathless, Shen Anyu brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
He checked the time on the dashboard. It was barely 9:30 PM.
But for a wolf, it was always hunting time.
"Darling, look at the time. It's too late," Shen Anyu lied smoothly, his voice laced with concern. "It's too dangerous for a girl as beautiful as you to go home alone. The taxi services are unreliable this late, and I drank a little wine so I shouldn't drive too far."
He paused, looking deep into her eyes.
"Why don't you come stay at my place tonight? I have a guest room."
Susan's delicate and beautiful face was flushed crimson instantly. The blood rushed to her head, and even her snow-white earlobes were tinged with a deep, alluring red.
Her heart skipped a beat. Stay... at his place?
Although she was pure and kind, she wasn't foolish. She knew what adult men and women did when they stayed together.
But... is it dangerous?
This was Yanxia Modu, one of the safest cities in the world. And it wasn't too late; it wasn't even ten o'clock yet. Besides, Shen Anyu had a driver; he could easily send her home.
Logically, she should refuse.
However, looking at Shen Anyu's deep, smiling eyes—eyes that seemed to promise a world of affection and security—Susan's logic crumbled. Her body felt soft, and her affection for him was overflowing. She didn't want to leave him yet.
Susan blushed, lowered her head, and nodded, humming a mosquito-like sound of affirmation.
"Mhm."
Then, realizing the implication, she quickly looked up, biting her lip nervously.
"Husband... you... you can't do anything bad, okay? I'm... I'm not ready for..."
Shen Anyu held up three fingers, his expression solemn.
"Don't worry. I swear on my honor. I never do anything bad."
Shen Anyu said righteously, his face full of integrity. He looked so sincere he could practically play a hero in a historical drama.
I don't do 'bad' things, he thought amusingly. I do 'pleasurable' things.
The next day, evening.
The sun had already crossed the sky and was beginning its descent. The lingering glow of the sunset—a mix of burnt orange and violet—pierced through the gap in the heavy blackout curtains of the presidential suite, shining a beam of light onto the bed.
Shen Anyu slowly opened his eyes.
The air in the room was thick with a unique scent—a mix of luxury incense, male musk, and the sweet, feminine fragrance of a woman.
As his cultivation strength grew more powerful, he could technically completely forgo sleep, recovering his optimal state through meditation and breathing exercises. However, sleeping—especially after vigorous 'exercise'—was a good habit he enjoyed maintaining.
He turned his head.
Shen Anyu looked at the pure and beautiful girl sleeping soundly beside him. Her hair was messy, spread across the pillow like a dark halo. Her skin was flushed, and there were faint red marks on her neck—marks of ownership. She looked exhausted but content.
Shen Anyu's mood was joyful. He stretched his body, feeling the surge of power within him.
The system panel flickered into existence in his retina.
[Ding! Detected emotional breakthrough and physical union.]
[Ding! Destined Heroine Susan's favorability +3. Plundering +9,000 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Susan's favorability +5. Plundering +15,000 Destiny Value!]
The notifications scrolled rapidly, calculating the harvest of the previous night and the morning.
[Ding! CONGRATULATIONS!]
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Susan's total favorability has reached 100 (Unswerving Death Loyalty)!]
[Ding! Extra Plundering Reward: +300,000 Destiny Value!]
Shen Anyu smirked. A massive harvest. The innocent "childhood sweetheart" had been completely devoured, body and soul, leaving nothing for the protagonist.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of an old residential neighborhood.
"What? Susan didn't come home last night? She called back to say she stayed at a friend's house?"
Lin Xiang stood at Susan's doorstep, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. He had arrived early in the morning, carrying a bag of breakfast buns as an apology gift, only to hear Susan's aunt say this through the security gate.
He felt like he had been struck by lightning.
Didn't come home?
Stayed at a friend's house?
After pressing the aunt for more information, asking which friend, which classmate, he still didn't get an answer. The aunt didn't know, or perhaps she didn't want to tell him.
Lin Xiang was a bit dejected. He sat down on the curb outside the complex, the breakfast buns turning cold in his hand.
However, he still didn't leave. His stubbornness—or rather, the "Simp" nature of a protagonist—kicked in.
He decided to wait. He would wait until Susan returned. He had to see her, explain to her, and absolutely strive for her forgiveness.
"It's fine... It's fine..." he muttered to himself, ripping a piece of bread and chewing it tastelessly.
"It doesn't matter if I missed the fireworks show, they happen frequently anyway. Next week, or next month... I'll have a chance to take Susan to see fireworks myself. I'll buy the best spot, and then I'll confess to her properly!"
Lin Xiang forcibly regained his fighting spirit.
With so many years of childhood sweetheart affection, the bond of growing up together, he firmly believed that Susan was his girl. They were destined. No one could take her away.
She's just angry. Girls stay over at female friends' houses all the time to vent. It's normal.
As time passed, the sun moved across the sky. Morning turned to noon. Noon turned to afternoon.
The shadows lengthened.
Lin Xiang, who had been waiting bitterly for over ten hours, his legs numb and his stomach growling again, suddenly looked up.
He heard the deep rumble of an engine.
He saw a familiar luxury car—the Bugatti with the A88888 plate—slowly driving down the street towards him…
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