"Did you have fun?" the assistant asked as she took Xu Longzhen’s clothes.
"It was alright. Unfortunately, his physical and mental stamina weren’t great; he didn’t last as long as I’d hoped. Otherwise, I’d have enjoyed myself more. These days have been mind-numbingly boring, and there’s been no word from the main house either. My life has gotten quite dull. By the way, are there any new instructions from the main house since our return?"
Xu Longzhen took the clean towel from the assistant and watched her ask earnestly and expectantly.
The assistant shook her head and gave Xu Longzhen a brutally honest answer, "Miss, I’m afraid your hopes will be dashed. There’s no new task from the main house. After all, it’s an era of peace, and there aren’t many occasions where a powerhouse like you is needed."
Xu Longzhen watched as the assistant spoke, restoring everything in the living room to its original state. She didn’t respond verbally, instead shrugged her shoulders and slumped onto the sofa, completely abandoning any pretense of a socialite’s decorum.
"Why wasn’t I born a hundred or two hundred years earlier? If I were, I wouldn’t be so bored now," Xu Longzhen said irritably, ruffling her own hair.
"With all due respect, if you were born a hundred or two hundred years earlier, you’d be bored to death too. Remember, there were no video games or electronic devices like smartphones and computers back then. You’d still find it dull. Moreover, women’s social status was very low a couple of centuries ago, and you’d be restricted in what you could do, making it even duller. After all, it seems like you returned all the knowledge about electronics to your teachers when you left school."
The assistant, with a smile on her face, mercilessly stabbed at Xu Longzhen until she almost flipped out.
"Forget it. There’s nothing to do in America either. Let’s go back; I haven’t had enough fun in China yet." Xu Longzhen spoke up after lying on the bed for a while with nothing to do.
The assistant had no objections as he was quite fond of Chinese cuisine. Although you can get some in America, the flavor isn’t as authentic; the Chinese food in America always seems off.
So, the two of them quietly left America without staying long. As for that man tortured to the brink of death, he had been thrown into some unknown open sea by the assistant. Whether he could be found intact remained a mystery.
Ariel had been in China for a few days now. Although she hadn’t seen Xu Ke yet, she didn’t feel bored either. Everything about China held an indescribable allure for her. She could spend an entire day in a nondescript little shop on the street without ever feeling tired of it, something she wouldn’t have dared to imagine before. But it was happening to her now, and without her noticing, her aura had subtly changed. While those close to her might not notice, even acquaintances would be shocked by Ariel’s transformation.
Previously, though Ariel looked angelic and sweet, it was just her appearance. Deep down, she bore some animosity, occasionally revealed in her eyes despite her best efforts to conceal it. But now, Ariel seemed much more at peace, with almost no trace of the hostility left, even without making an effort to hide it.
"How much is this?" Ariel asked, her eyes lighting up with affection, looking at the ornate and intricate Lolita outfit in the wardrobe. She had a fondness for such luxurious and beautiful things; after all, what woman could resist such allure?
The shopkeeper, a young woman also dressed in a Lolita outfit, couldn’t take her eyes off Ariel the moment she saw her. To an anime fan, Ariel’s striking, otherworldly appearance was as impactful as a cosmic collision. The shopkeeper was momentarily speechless, fixated on Ariel.
Ariel frowned and repeated her question.
"The price of this dress doesn’t matter. Would you like to try it on? You should give it a go. I’m sure it’ll look stunning on you. Our fitting room is over there—would you like to try it on? Can I help you with it?" The woman’s questions came at Ariel like a flurry, and if Ariel hadn’t sensed no malice from her and didn’t truly love the outfit, she might have walked away.
"No need, I can manage myself." Ariel took the dress gently handed to her by the shopkeeper and walked into the fitting room confidently.
As soon as the fitting room door closed, Ariel heard the shopkeeper audibly gasp; if she opened the door again, she’d see the shopkeeper with flushed cheeks, cradling her face.
The shopkeeper had felt from the first glance that the dress was made for Ariel. Although she was mentally prepared, seeing Ariel emerge from the fitting room still took her by surprise, causing her to exclaim softly.
Ariel didn’t mind the woman’s stunned reaction. In fact, it brought a smile to her face. After all, the reaction only proved how well the dress suited her, and who doesn’t enjoy a bit of praise? Ariel was no exception.
While Ariel admired herself in the mirror, twirling lightly with the dress’s hem in her hands, a pair of customers, a man and a woman, entered the store.
The woman’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the dress on Ariel. Without hesitation, she pointed at Ariel’s dress and coquettishly told the man beside her, "Honey, I dress. Can you buy it for me?" She snuggled up to him, her voice saccharine and syrupy.
The man was mesmerized by Ariel’s face. Feeling a sharp pain at his waist, he snapped out of it. Seeing his girlfriend’s less than pleased expression, he quickly pledged his loyalty, saying, "We’ll get whichever one you like, darling. It’s all up to you—whatever makes you happy."
The woman, initially annoyed, felt her anger dissipating at his flattering words. She gave him an indulgent nod, although her eyes still carried a hint of warning.
"Watch your eyes and don’t look at what you shouldn’t. I’m all you need." She pinched his waist, twisting slightly as she spoke, watching him wince in pain.
In the face of pain, even beauty stood no chance. Without hesitation, the man nodded to show his allegiance.
Only then did the woman retract her hand, casting a scrutinizing gaze at Ariel, unbeknownst to herself a twinge of jealousy in her eyes as she said, "We want the dress she’s wearing. Have her take it off, and we’ll have it packed." She spoke to Ariel loftily, chin raised.