Chapter 305 Sweet Susan! Heartbroken Lin Xiang!
Night gradually fell.
Riverside in the Demon Capital was bustling with activity, with crowds surging. Most were couples, but there were also families with old and young alike. The fireworks display at Riverside was always eagerly anticipated.
Susan held Shen Anyu's arm, her pure and beautiful face filled with happiness and sweetness. Although she had been to Riverside to watch fireworks more than once, this time was different.
Susan's beautiful eyes looked at the handsome profile of the man beside her, her face reddening as she thought, it was said that if a couple made a wish at the moment the fireworks bloomed at Riverside, they could be together for a lifetime. She didn't know if it was true, but she really hoped it was. A young girl who had just fallen in love had her mind full of pink bubbles. Even when the two walked quietly, their hearts were filled with sweetness.
Soon, Shen Anyu put his arm around Susan's soft body and arrived at the Riverside. Shen Family guards quietly parted the crowd around them, leaving space for Shen Anyu and Susan.
The Riverside of the Demon Capital, known as the Bund, was a place of dazzling opulence. Across the Huangpu River, the towering skyscrapers of Lujiazui pierced the night sky, their neon facades reflecting off the dark, churning water like spilled jewels. The humidity of the summer night was heavy, clinging to skin, but for Susan, walking within the invisible protective circle of the Shen family bodyguards, the air felt remarkably fresh.
While thousands of ordinary citizens squeezed against one another, sweating and jostling for a mere glimpse of the river, a vacuum of privilege existed around Shen Anyu. The guards, dressed in plain clothes but radiating an aura of cold efficiency, subtly utilized their internal energy to gently but firmly push the crowd aside, creating a comfortable three-meter radius around the couple.
Susan was oblivious to the mechanics of this privilege. She only knew that being with her "Husband" felt like being the center of the world. She clung to his arm, feeling the solid muscle beneath his high-quality bespoke suit. The faint scent of his cologne—a mix of sandalwood and cold ocean breeze—intoxicated her, drowning out the smell of the river and the crowd.
"Husband, look! The Oriental Pearl Tower is so pretty tonight," Susan chirped, her voice soft and sticky with affection. She pointed at the iconic landmark across the river, her eyes sparkling brighter than the neon lights.
Shen Anyu smiled, his gaze gentle yet possessing a depth that seemed to swallow her whole. He wasn't looking at the tower; he was looking at her, treating her as the most precious treasure in the world.
"The scenery is beautiful, but it pales in comparison to you, Susan," Shen Anyu said, his voice low and magnetic, vibrating directly into her ear.
Susan's knees went weak. Her heart pounded against her ribs like a trapped bird. She buried her face in his shoulder to hide her blush.
Riverside was the best place for a fireworks display. On one hand, it was safe, with no hidden dangers like fires. On the other hand, when the sparks generated by the blooming fireworks reflected on the water, the water and sky merged into one color, making it even more breathtakingly beautiful.
The wind at Riverside at night was a bit boisterous, carrying the moisture of the river. It blew Susan's long hair across her face.
Shen Anyu, naturally, wrapped his arms around Susan, embracing her from behind to shield her from the wind. His chin rested lightly on the top of her head, his broad chest acting as a warm wall against the world.
Susan's heart warmed, expanding with a sense of security she had never known. She turned her head, stood on her tiptoes, and sweetly kissed Shen Anyu's cheek. Her brows relaxed, full of vibrant joy, and she whispered the words that had been echoing in her heart all day.
"Husband, you are so good to me."
[Ding! Detected an increase of +1 in destined heroine Susan's Favorability. Plundered +3,000 Destiny Value.]
Shen Anyu narrowed his eyes slightly in satisfaction. The notification from the system was the sweetest music. He tightened his embrace, his hand resting possessively on her waist.
"Susan, that's because you are worth it."
Shen Anyu bit Susan's ear lightly, whispering sweet nothings, coaxing Susan to beam with joy, her pure and beautiful face full of happiness. The people nearby, those who had been squeezed to the periphery, looked at this extremely good-looking couple with envy. The man was tall, noble, and exuded an aura of dominance; the woman was petite, exquisite, and looked like a princess from a fairy tale. They were a match made in heaven, blinding everyone with their radiance.
"Hoo-hoo-hoo..."
And at this moment, in stark contrast to the harmonious beauty of the couple, Lin Xiang had already arrived at Riverside on his bicycle, panting heavily like a broken bellows.
He had cycled furiously across half the city. His face was covered in pea-sized beads of sweat that stung his eyes. His cheap short-sleeved shirt clung to his body, soaked with perspiration, forming dark, unsightly patches under his arms and on his back. His hair was a bird's nest of grease and sweat, and his legs trembled with lactic acid buildup.
But Lin Xiang didn't feel much fatigue; instead, his face was full of a manic, delusional anticipation.
"I have a premonition that Susan must have come to Riverside!"
"She loves fireworks. She must be here waiting for me. She's probably crying right now, wondering why I haven't shown up. I have to save her from her sadness!" Lin Xiang muttered to himself, his eyes bloodshot and frantic.
"But, but how do I find Susan?"
Lin Xiang looked around, and his heart sank. The crowd was surging, heads packed densely like sardines in a tin. There were at least tens of thousands of people gathered along the promenade. It was summer vacation, and the Demon Capital Riverside fireworks display attracted too many people; there was nothing else, just a sea of humanity.
The noise was deafening—chatter, laughter, shouting, the honking of cars in the distance. The air smelled of sweat, street food, and exhaust fumes.
With so many people, how could he find the girl he loved?
"That's the best viewing spot, the central platform. Susan always likes the best view. I'll go look there."
Lin Xiang thought for a moment, his eyes locking onto the area where the crowd was thickest. Without hesitation, he squeezed forcefully towards the densest part of the crowd, using his elbows and shoulders as battering rams.
"Excuse me! Move! Coming through!" he shouted hoarsely.
"Brother, why the hell are you shoving?" a man cursed, nearly losing his balance.
"Don't push randomly, have some manners, okay? My phone almost got pushed out of my hand!" a girl shrieked, glaring at the sweaty, smelly boy pushing past her.
"Where did this little brat come from, with no manners at all? In a hurry to reincarnate?" an older uncle grumbled, dusting off his shirt where Lin Xiang had brushed against him.
"..."
Lin Xiang ignored the curses. He didn't care about these NPCs. In his mind, he was the protagonist of the world, and everyone else was just an obstacle in his path to true love. He just pushed his way through, his sweat rubbing off on people's nice clothes, inciting more anger.
If he wasn't in such a hurry to find Susan, he would have fought back against anyone who dared to call him a little brat. He would have shown them his 'Dragon King' temper.
"This is my quality, what are you going to do about it?"
Lin Xiang rebelliously shook his messy hair, spraying sweat droplets around, causing people to stumble and recoil in disgust as he pushed straight towards his destination.
Finally, he broke through a particularly dense layer of the crowd and saw a clearing ahead. Or rather, a space that seemed unnaturally empty amidst the chaos.
In the center of that space, standing by the railing overlooking the river, he saw a graceful figure. She wore a white dress that fluttered in the river breeze, her silhouette delicate and pure. It looked very much like Susan.
But she was embracing a man so intimately. The man was tall, wearing a suit that looked expensive even from a distance. His arm was wrapped possessively around her waist, and her head was resting on his shoulder.
Lin Xiang's heart sank, a cold feeling spreading through his chest despite the heat.
Just then, a hand grabbed his collar with the force of a hydraulic clamp.
A tall young woman, standing like a statue at the edge of the clearing, looked down at him with an unfriendly expression. She was wearing casual clothes, but her eyes were cold and sharp, like polished steel.
"Little brother, you stepped on my foot!" she said, her voice flat and menacing.
Lin Xiang was startled. He hadn't noticed her. "Let go!"
He reflexively struggled, twisting his body to break free. He was confident in his strength; he fought on the streets all the time. But to his shock, he couldn't break free. The tall young woman's large hand was as strong as rebar, clamping onto his collarbone. He couldn't even pry it open with both hands.
Damn it, why is this woman so strong?
Lin Xiang was a bit dumbfounded; in school, he was unbeatable at arm wrestling, a little tyrant. But now, he couldn't even pry open a woman's hand? Was she a weightlifter?
He ignored her grip for a moment, his eyes frantically searching for the girl in the white dress.
"Susan, that's very likely Susan..."
At this moment, the graceful figure not far ahead turned her profile slightly. The ambient light from a nearby streetlamp illuminated her features. That delicate, pure, and beautiful profile, illuminated by the lights of Riverside, was like a fairy descending to earth. It was clearly his beloved childhood sweetheart, the campus beauty, Susan.
However, the man beside her turned as well. Lin Xiang couldn't see his face clearly, only a tall, dark silhouette. But he saw the man lower his head. He saw the man kissing the goddess in Lin Xiang's heart.
Crack.
Lin Xiang heard something shatter inside his chest.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Lin Xiang was struck by lightning, his face turning pale, plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
"..."
"No way, it can't be real, that's not Susan, it definitely isn't..." Lin Xiang muttered, his voice trembling. His face turned pale, drained of blood. He instinctively denied it; that wasn't his pure, innocent girl, Susan. Susan wouldn't let a man touch her like that. Susan was reserved!
However, the profile was too similar. The dress was the style she liked. The height was perfect.
Lin Xiang was eager to rush over. He had to see. He had to pull that man away. He had to confirm it wasn't her, or... or confront her!
"Kid, you stepped on my foot, and you want to leave without apologizing?" the tall woman growled, tightening her grip on his collar, effectively choking him.
Realizing that the tall young woman in front of him was not to be trifled with, Lin Xiang felt annoyed. He needed to get past her. To quickly go and see if the girl was Susan, he could only grudgingly apologize, swallowing his pride.
"Big sister, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stepped on your foot," he said quickly, his eyes still fixed on the couple in the distance. "I've already apologized, can you let me go now?"
Lin Xiang's expression was impatient, his tone perfunctory. His heart was filled with anger; if he wasn't in such a hurry, he would never have apologized to this aggressive woman.
However, the tall young woman in front of him narrowed her eyes, feigning outrage.
"What? You called me big sister? This old lady is as beautiful as a flower, only twenty-four years old, and you call me big sister?"
She scoffed, her grip not loosening in the slightest. "You have no sincerity. Come on, let's have a good chat about respect."
As her words fell, the tall young woman didn't give him a chance to argue. She spun him around and directly dragged Lin Xiang into a shadowy corner nearby, away from the main promenade, behind a maintenance shed.
"B-beautiful lady, beautiful lady, please let me go, I really have an urgent matter! My girlfriend is over there!" Lin Xiang shouted, panic finally setting in.
Lin Xiang no longer had his previous carefree demeanor; he quickly became cowardly when faced with absolute force.
Damn it, this woman lifted him with one hand; she was a monster! Her arm didn't even tremble.
If he were to fight this woman, putting aside whether he could win (which seemed unlikely given her grip strength), the commotion would attract attention. And more importantly, how would he find Susan if he was stuck fighting here?
"Hmph, too late! This old lady will teach you what manners are!"
The tall young woman snorted coldly. She threw him into the corner. Then, she proceeded to give Lin Xiang a "good stretching" and a lecture. Sounds of muffled thuds and groans echoed in the dark corner, unnoticed by the cheering crowd waiting for fireworks.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Lin Xiang's mentality exploded, plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
"..."
Fifty meters away, within the circle of privilege.
Shen Anyu's peripheral vision swept over this scene, a faint, mocking smile flashing in his eyes.
That tall young woman was naturally one of his Shen Family guards, specifically assigned to intercept pests. Her cultivation base was at the Innate Realm.
The guards around Shen Anyu were all at least at the Innate (Xiantian) cultivation level, as fast as galloping horses, and strong enough to lift tripods, with at least several thousand catties of strength. So naturally, they were no match for Lin Xiang, the Child of Destiny from a youth campus romance novel who was merely a mortal with some street fighting experience.
Lin Xiang's Destiny Value halo was currently at a low point. He had no lucky encounters, no sudden power-ups. He was just a bug being crushed.
Stepping on her foot and calling her 'big sister' were just excuses. Even if Lin Xiang took one step to the left, breathed too loudly, or looked at her the wrong way, it would be an excuse to cause him trouble.
Shen Anyu didn't want Lin Xiang to come over and disturb his romantic night with Susan. This was a private show, and the protagonist wasn't invited to the stage—only to the audience of misery.
Susan closed her eyes and waited for a while, puckering her lips slightly in anticipation. But she didn't receive Shen Anyu's kiss. She felt the absence of his warmth on her lips, so she couldn't help but open her beautiful eyes in confusion and looked over curiously, naturally seeing nothing out of the ordinary in the dark corners of the Riverside.
"Husband, what are you looking at?"
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