Chapter Twenty-Five: Damn, Tricked Again

“Darling, where are we going today?” Zhang Liming shamelessly whispered flirtatiously to Liu Cuilan, who was seated next to him.

Because Zhang Liming couldn’t drive, he had to sit in the back seat. When Lin Xiaowen and Liu Cuilan entered the car, Cuilan was dragged into the back by Zhang Liming, leaving Lin Xiaowen in the awkward position of sitting alone in the front, beside Duguming. As Lin Xiaowen opened the front door and got in, the two exchanged a glance, then shared a knowing smile. Both felt their hearts fluttering wildly, and a blush crept onto Lin Xiaowen’s cheeks. This atmosphere was perfect for two people meeting for the first time and feeling a mutual attraction—who knows what sparks might fly?

But just as the mood was being carefully cultivated, Zhang Liming suddenly piped up, utterly ruining the ambiance.

“Don’t call me that, you’ll make me shy in front of strangers,” Liu Cuilan replied bashfully, “Let’s go shopping, then have lunch, and see a movie. Is that okay?” Duguming heard Liu Cuilan’s shy tone and cursed inwardly—shy, my foot! She looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself. He started the car and drove towards the city center.

One had to admit, the roads in Ningxia were superb—wide eight-lane avenues with hardly any traffic. Duguming felt exhilarated driving, unlike the crowded, smoggy streets of Beijing. It was almost embarrassing how easy it was here.

They arrived at Wanda Plaza. All the way, Zhang Liming and Liu Cuilan were whispering sweet nothings in the back, practically flaunting their affection for Duguming and Lin Xiaowen to see. Every time Duguming tried to find a conversation topic with Lin Xiaowen, Zhang Liming would interject, disrupting things. Duguming gritted his teeth in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. He wondered bitterly if Zhang Liming was going to sabotage him again today.

When they got out of the car, Duguming and Lin Xiaowen attracted an incredible amount of attention—turning heads at a rate of three hundred percent, as people admired them as a golden couple, seemingly made for each other. Then Zhang Liming and Liu Cuilan stepped out, and their return rate shot to four hundred percent. People remarked, “They’re a match made in heaven too!”—and promptly grabbed trash cans to vomit.

“Darling, why do people throw up when they see us?” Liu Cuilan asked Zhang Liming.

“They’re overwhelmed by our powerful love and your beauty. Ashamed by comparison, they can only express their frustration this way,” Zhang Liming replied, utterly brazen.

Unable to stomach any more, Duguming strode quickly toward the mall, trying to distance himself from these two. Lin Xiaowen, likely feeling the same, followed him inside.

Suddenly, a group of mall staff emerged at the entrance, surrounding Duguming and Lin Xiaowen. Instinctively, Duguming shielded Lin Xiaowen behind him and asked, “What… are you doing?” Lin Xiaowen, seeing Duguming’s protective gesture, smiled happily—but Duguming missed it.

The staff all produced large confetti cannons and fired them skyward. Instantly, the surroundings bloomed with dazzling color.

A staff member, holding a megaphone, addressed Duguming and Lin Xiaowen: “Congratulations! You are the hundred-thousandth couple to enter our mall. You’ve won a luxurious Wanda Plaza couple’s day tour.”

What? Duguming and Lin Xiaowen exchanged astonished glances, each seeing shock and disbelief in the other’s eyes.

Duguming hurriedly tried to explain, “You’ve misunderstood, we… we aren’t—” but before he could finish saying “couple,” the group ushered them into a designer clothing store on the first floor.

Lin Xiaowen was taken by a group of female staff to the women’s section. Duguming wanted to clarify their relationship, but then Lin Xiaowen glanced back at him. Her expression was impossible for Duguming to decipher, but he sensed she didn’t dislike the situation—in fact, she seemed faintly expectant.

Seeing this, Duguming stopped trying to explain and quietly cooperated with the staff.

Soon after, Zhang Liming and Liu Cuilan entered.

“Honey, do you think what we’re doing is right?” Liu Cuilan asked.

“Why not? What do you think of my boss, Duguming?” Zhang Liming replied.

“He does look good, I suppose…” Liu Cuilan began, but Zhang Liming cut her off, “What do you mean, ‘good’? Let me tell you, if there are only two best men in the world, it’s me and my boss. And if you ask which is better, it’s definitely my boss.”

“Hmph, well, Xiaowen is the best woman in the world!” Liu Cuilan retorted, a little annoyed.

Seeing his wife’s displeasure, Zhang Liming quickly coaxed her, “Exactly, that’s why we should help them get together—the best man and the best woman in the world belong together.”

He continued, “Alright, let’s start our own date. The second-best man and woman should have their own romantic journey! Let’s go—first stop, shopping.”

Zhang Liming took Liu Cuilan to a boutique, thinking quietly to himself: Boss, that’s all I can do for you. The rest is up to fate.

That’s how things were. After two previous incidents, Zhang Liming’s admiration for Duguming had reached new heights. When he learned Duguming was interested in Lin Xiaowen, he mistakenly believed his boss liked her. Zhang Liming and Liu Cuilan had already been together for years, from middle school through college.

When he discovered Lin Xiaowen shared a dorm with his wife, he hatched this scheme. Liu Cuilan had also mentioned Duguming to Lin Xiaowen, noticing Xiaowen seemed to like him, so she agreed to the plan. They tricked Duguming and Lin Xiaowen into coming to Wanda Plaza, notified staff in advance that they were the hundred-thousandth couple, and left the rest to unfold naturally. Incidentally, Zhang Liming was a true tycoon—his family owned the plaza.

Meanwhile, Duguming was oblivious to the fact that he’d been thoroughly set up by the pair. His interest in Lin Xiaowen stemmed from the fact that whenever she was near, his heart would inexplicably race. If he knew this was all Zhang Liming’s doing, he’d curse—damn, tricked again.

Returning to our protagonist, Duguming was surrounded by staff wielding measuring tapes, fitting him for clothes. Several designers discussed options, fussing over him for half an hour before selecting an outfit. They urged, “If you’re dissatisfied, just let us know—we’ll handle everything for you.”

Duguming timidly asked, “This must be expensive, right?”

The staff, thinking he was unhappy, rushed to reassure him, “It’s free, absolutely free! As the hundred-thousandth couple, all services today are complimentary.”

“Oh, I see,” Duguming replied, then went to the dressing room.

You have to admit, designer clothes are something else. When Duguming emerged, his entire aura changed. Already blessed with good looks, now dressed in exquisite attire, he easily outshone celebrities, heartthrobs, and campus idols alike.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowen stepped out in a lovely, pleated white dress. With her angelic face and porcelain skin, she looked like a living angel. Her noble bearing left everyone awestruck.

PS: The next chapter is even more exciting. Do you want to know how the hero and heroine spend their day? Ha, you’ll never guess! If you’re curious, please bookmark this book. Click to add it to your shelf—thank you all for your support.