That snake was truly insane.
Xue Yunxue still stood frozen while boutique attendants busily wrapped dozens of luxurious gowns with respectful expressions. Even the store manager personally came forward to serve them.
Every one of the most expensive dresses… purchased without hesitation.
Without trying them on. Without asking questions.
Without even properly looking at them.
At least two billion chakra coins vanished in mere minutes.
From the very beginning, Xue Yunxue had only intended to buy one simple dress.
Just one.
She grabbed Xiang Shuai's sleeve in panic.
"Are you crazy? That's way too much!"
Xiang Shuai glanced at her calmly, his expression indifferent as though such an astronomical amount was no more valuable than a glass of water.
"Too much?" he repeated lightly. "I was already restraining myself."
The corner of Yunxue's lips twitched.
Restraining himself?!
"But I don't need that many!"
"Of course you do," Xiang Shuai interrupted without allowing her to argue further.
His golden eyes slowly swept over her from head to toe—not with disdain, but with an attention so intense that her heartbeat became strangely uneven.
"You walk beside me."
His voice was low and calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Your appearance represents my face."
Xue Yunxue snorted softly. "I don't care what people say."
Xiang Shuai suddenly stopped walking.
He turned and stepped closer—far too close for a public place. His cool, familiar scent enveloped her, causing her breathing to falter slightly. She could even smell a faint refreshing hint of mint from him.
Yunxue silently prayed that the rapid pounding of her heart wouldn't be heard by this sharp-sensed snake.
"Do you want them to mock you as a country girl?" he asked seriously.
"I don't care," she replied stubbornly, though her cheeks were already heating up.
Xiang Shuai's golden eyes narrowed slightly, and strangely, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"I care."
The answer was calm, yet it fell heavily into Yunxue's heart.
Before she could react, Xiang Shuai had already resumed walking, unconsciously grasping her wrist. His grip was warm and firm, leaving no room for refusal.
The women around them looked on with undisguised envy.
Xue Yunxue could only follow behind him, her face flushed for reasons she refused to acknowledge.
After finishing at the boutique, Yunxue assumed they would return to the hotel.
Instead, Xiang Shuai brought her to a luxurious salon on the upper floor of the shopping center.
"What now?" she complained.
Xiang Shuai examined her long hair, slightly messy and uneven at the ends, falling wildly over her shoulders.
He sighed softly.
"Sit."
The command was gentle—but absolute.
Several stylists immediately approached respectfully. Yunxue was about to protest when Xiang Shuai suddenly stood behind her chair, his fingers lightly brushing through her long black hair.
The brief touch made her entire body stiffen.
"Your hair is beautiful," he murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself. "You just… don't know how to take care of it."
His tone softened, completely different from his usual sharp manner.
Yunxue's heart began to race.
"I'm not a noble like you," she replied quietly.
Xiang Shuai let out a low chuckle—a rare sound.
"That's why I'm here."
"Don't misunderstand. I simply don't want your appearance ruining ours."
After saying that, he casually walked to the waiting sofa and sat elegantly, crossing his legs as he closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, the salon staff surrounded Xue Yunxue, busy styling her hair, applying makeup, and adjusting the gown that had just been chosen for her.
Time passed unnoticed.
Two hours later, the salon grew quiet. The evening sunlight streaming through the glass windows turned golden orange.
Xiang Shuai had fallen asleep on the sofa, his breathing calm. His silver hair draped over part of his handsome face, making him appear far younger and far less sharp than usual.
Xue Yunxue walked over and crouched in front of him.
"It's almost night. Time to go home," she said softly while gently shaking his arm.
Xiang Shuai frowned slightly and slowly opened his eyes. His consciousness was still half caught in sleep when his gaze landed on the figure before him.
And he froze.
For a moment, he completely forgot to breathe.
Xue Yunxue stood right before him.
He could only stare.
The girl crouching in front of him felt unfamiliar… yet deeply familiar at the same time. The same face, the same eyes—but the aura she now emitted was entirely different.
Her newly styled hair revealed the soft line of her jaw, making her eyes appear clearer and more alive. The modern hanfu-style dress flowed gracefully along her figure, simple yet radiating an indescribable natural elegance.
Not artificial beauty.
No—
something far beyond that.
She looked like a goddess who had just descended from the heavens.
Xiang Shuai's golden gaze unconsciously softened.
Xue Yunxue tilted her head slightly."Is there something strange on my face?"
Only then did Xiang Shuai realize he had been staring for far too long.
He quickly turned his face away, letting out a small cough to hide his surprise.
"Not bad," he said flatly, though his response came a beat too late. "At least now you're not too embarrassing to stand beside me."
Xue Yunxue snorted in annoyance."Your mouth really can't say anything nice, can it?"
She stood up, but before she could walk away, Xiang Shuai unconsciously reached out and caught a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.
The touch was light—yet enough to make Yunxue stop.
Her black hair felt soft between his fingers, smooth like silk.
"…It suits you," he murmured, almost inaudibly.
"What?"
"Nothing," he replied quickly, releasing her as if nothing had happened. His expression returned to its usual cold indifference, though the tips of his ears had turned faintly red.
The salon staff exchanged knowing glances in silence.
He walked past Yunxue, but just as he was about to leave, his steps halted unconsciously.
The large mirror reflected the two of them standing side by side.
For the first time… they looked harmonious.
No longer contrasting.
Xiang Shuai's golden eyes softened slightly.
He cleared his throat and headed toward the door."Let's go home."
This time, when Yunxue walked beside him, he no longer strode ahead.
His pace slowed.
Without saying a word, his hand reached out and lightly clasped hers—far more naturally than before.
Xue Yunxue tried to pull her hand back, but Xiang Shuai tightened his grip slightly. Her cheeks flushed instantly.
At that moment, the serpent prince realized something unfamiliar stirring within his chest—
he had begun to enjoy the girl's presence at his side.
They soon returned to the hotel for dinner. Along the way, Xiang Shuai never released her hand, as if holding it was the most natural thing in the world.
Yunxue tried several times to withdraw, yet every small movement only made his grip tighten calmly—not forceful, but leaving no room for refusal.
When the hotel room door opened, their steps paused.
Lu Xiao was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed.
His gaze immediately fell upon Xue Yunxue.
For a brief moment, his usually calm eyes froze in surprise. Slowly, his gaze traced her figure from head to toe, admiration impossible to conceal.
She had always been beautiful.
But now, her beauty felt alive.
Her face seemed to glow softly, her black hair falling smoothly with a gentle shine, no longer dull as before. The new hairstyle made her appear softer, almost innocent.
The hanfu she wore framed her body perfectly.
Her slender silhouette appeared even more defined—soft yet full, elegant without the slightest hint of vulgarity. She looked like a young noble lady who had stepped out of a classical painting.
Lu Xiao's gaze stopped.
His eyes landed on the hands Xiang Shuai and Xue Yunxue still held together.
In an instant, the depth of his gaze darkened.
The warm atmosphere in the room suddenly tightened for no apparent reason.
He cleared his throat softly.
The small sound was enough to snap Yunxue back to her senses. Almost reflexively, she pulled her hand away from Xiang Shuai.
Her heartbeat quickened.
For some reason, she felt like a girl caught in an affair… even though all those men were her husbands.
Xiang Shuai glanced at his now-empty hand, one brow lifting slightly in dissatisfaction, but he said nothing.
Lu Xiao rose slowly from his seat.
His gaze returned to its usual gentleness, though something restrained lingered behind his smile.
"You're back," he said calmly.
His voice remained as warm as ever.
Sensing the strange tension in the air, Yunxue instinctively stepped back. Every instinct screamed that she should leave before something bad happened.
"I-I'll go make dinner!" she said quickly, almost in a rush.
Without waiting for a reply, she hurried toward the room.
After only a few steps, she remembered the expensive dress she was still wearing. Yunxue stopped abruptly, staring at the phoenix-embroidered fabric in mild panic.
This dress might be worth more than all the clothes she had owned in her entire life—getting cooking oil on it would be a mortal sin.
She quickly changed into simpler clothes before finally disappearing into the kitchen.
The moment the bedroom door closed, the false warmth in the living room vanished.
Silence fell.
But it was a silence as sharp as a blade.
Xiang Shuai leaned lazily against the sofa, his golden eyes turning cold as they fixed on Lu Xiao.
"If I remember correctly," he said quietly, his tone piercing, "an emotionless vampire like you used to dislike creatures known as women."
Lu Xiao smiled faintly. His signature gentle smile remained, but it did not reach his eyes.
"And if I remember correctly," he replied calmly, "a certain arrogant serpent prince was allergic to women."
The air between them instantly grew tense.
A faint spiritual pressure began to ripple, causing the curtains to sway despite the absence of wind.
"Want to fight?" Xiang Shuai asked, the corner of his lips lifting provocatively.
Lu Xiao chuckled softly, low and cold."Hah… as if you could defeat me."
Their pressure slowly rose, invisible yet strong enough to make the glasses on the table tremble faintly.
Just as the atmosphere was about to explode—
a thin blue mist suddenly appeared in the middle of the room.
The mist swirled slowly before forming the figure of a long-haired man.
Lin Yuan.
He looked at the two of them with an expressionless face, though irritation was clear in his voice.
"Are you two really going to fight over an ordinary girl?"
His tone sounded casual, but his gaze was sharp.
Xiang Shuai snorted softly."Ordinary girl?" he repeated faintly.
Lu Xiao did not answer, yet his eyes unconsciously drifted toward the kitchen—toward the faint sounds of cooking utensils.
A brief silence followed.
Xue Yunxue… had slowly become the center of balance none of them were willing to let go.
-----
The next morning, Luo Shixin arrived at the hotel to pick up Xue Yunxue.
He wore his official general's uniform — a dark military attire adorned with rows of medals and gleaming rank insignias across his chest. The tailored uniform fit perfectly against his tall, muscular frame, emphasizing his broad shoulders and the cold aura of a battlefield commander. Every step he took carried authority, making the air around him feel heavier.
But the moment the door opened, Luo Shixin stopped.
His gaze froze.
For a brief moment… he even forgot to breathe.
Was this truly the same girl from yesterday?
Xue Yunxue stood there wearing a soft yet elegant maroon-red dress. The color made her fair skin appear even more radiant, as if reflecting the light of dawn itself. The dress followed the curves of her body gracefully — not excessive, yet enough to reveal a natural beauty that was impossible to ignore, while remaining utterly refined and free of vulgarity.
The pendant Luo Shixin had given her rested against her neck.
The small ornament looked simple, yet on Yunxue it appeared perfectly suited, as though it had been created solely for her.
Her long black hair flowed neatly down her back like liquid night ink. Every subtle movement caused the strands to sway gently, adding a softness that was both elegant and captivating.
Luo Shixin suddenly felt his chest tighten.
An unfamiliar emotion — pride… mixed with possessiveness — rose within him before he even realized it.
Behind him, three other men were already prepared.
Lu Xiao stood calmly in a perfectly tailored black suit. His pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark fabric, while his crimson eyes glimmered faintly like hidden embers. His expression remained cold, yet the way he looked at Yunxue was far too deep to be called indifferent. His vampire aura carried a dangerous charm that no one could easily resist.
Xiang Shuai wore silver-blue royal attire unique to the Kingdom of Shelua. Royal ornaments decorated his collar and sleeves, the expensive fabric shimmering softly with every movement. His silver hair fell neatly over his shoulders, and his golden eyes radiated the pride of true nobility. He looked at Yunxue with clear satisfaction — as if a masterpiece he had personally crafted had finally reached perfection.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan appeared in elegant dark-blue robes. The emblem of the Eastern Sea Kingdom was embroidered in golden thread along his collar, emanating an aura as cold and deep as the ocean itself. His faint smile remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he observed how the other three men stared at Yunxue for far too long.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Four extraordinarily handsome men stood there, each carrying a different dominant aura — yet all their attention was focused on the same person.
Xue Yunxue.
Unaware of the intense gazes fixed upon her, Yunxue's eyes brightened the moment she saw Luo Shixin standing at the doorway. She walked toward him without hesitation.
After all, according to their plan… today she was Luo Shixin's partner.
The man extended his hand calmly, the motion natural yet certain, as though the position beside him had always been reserved for her.
Xue Yunxue accepted his hand without hesitation.
Their fingers intertwined.
Warm.
Firm.
And somehow… far too natural.
They walked out of the hotel side by side, Luo Shixin's steps steady and protective, unconsciously guiding Yunxue slightly closer to him.
Behind them, the air suddenly turned colder.
Xiang Shuai, Lu Xiao, and Lin Yuan followed like silent guardians.
Lu Xiao's gaze darkened, crimson eyes flashing faintly. His jaw tightened. He said nothing, yet the chilling aura spreading around him made the temperature seem to drop several degrees.
Xiang Shuai clicked his tongue softly, his expression clearly displeased.
After all the effort he had spent dressing Xue Yunxue, another man was now the one benefiting from it. Lu Xiao glanced at him with an unreadable look.
Neither of them looked away from the hands still intertwined ahead.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan merely snorted softly, crossing his arms over his chest.
A faint blue mist swirled at his fingertips before disappearing.
"How embarrassing," he whispered between Lu Xiao and Xiang Shuai. "Three high-level beings behaving like young males competing over a single woman."
Yet despite his mocking tone, his gaze continued to follow Yunxue's figure.
A flicker of curiosity shone in his eyes.
What kind of potion did that girl possess… that even they — beings who should have been immune to human emotions — were beginning to lose control?
Outside the hotel, an anti-gravity limousine awaited them. The vehicle's body gleamed like liquid metal, hovering several centimeters above the ground, radiating the advanced technological aura unique to the capital.
The door opened slowly.
Luo Shixin helped Xue Yunxue inside first, his palm supporting her back politely — yet far too attentive to be mere formality.
That small gesture did not escape the three pairs of eyes behind him.
The atmosphere tightened once more.
Lu Xiao entered next, sitting directly across from her, his gaze never truly leaving Yunxue.
Xiang Shuai chose a seat beside her without asking permission, his knee nearly brushing against hers, as if deliberately narrowing the distance already formed.
Lin Yuan sat at the very back, leaning his head against the seat with closed eyes, though the faint smile on his lips showed he was thoroughly enjoying the situation.
The vehicle activated without a sound.
The anti-gravity limousine glided smoothly through the magnificent streets of the capital, heading toward the royal palace.
Inside the spacious cabin, no one spoke.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.