"Then I'll be heading in..." Shen Jiang said as he turned toward the entrance of the LV boutique.
Yu Xiao blinked. For a moment, she looked dazed—unsure if she had heard him right. She quickly caught up to him, lightly grabbing his sleeve.
"Wait—are you really serious?" she asked, her voice low and urgent.
Everything had happened so quickly. One moment they were window shopping, and the next they were stepping inside one of the most high-end stores in the entire mall.
Jiang didn't pause. He walked straight to the counter, greeted the sales assistant with a polite nod, and pointed to the pair of bags Yu Xiao had admired outside.
Yu Xiao, still trying to process, stepped closer and whispered beside his ear, "They're expensive—even for the lower-end models. Just stop it, okay? If you want, I'll go out with you tomorrow. A simple date. Just treat me to something good—that's enough."
Her words, murmured so close, made Shen Jiang's ears flush red. But he smiled.
"It's all right. At least show some trust in me," he whispered back, turning to look her in the eyes.
"I'm not some vain poser. A bit of shopping like this—it's nothing to me."
He gently took her hand as he said it.
Yu Xiao's cheeks flushed pink. So that's why he had looked embarrassed just now... it wasn't hesitation—it was sincerity.
"Okay… if you say so," she mumbled with a soft pout. "But I warned you..."
She still had doubts—how could she not?
Is he really from a well-off background? If so, why does he act so low-key in class?
But she kept those questions to herself.
Meanwhile, the sales assistant was already returning with the two bags—beautiful, polished, and unmistakably luxurious. Shen Jiang's gaze flicked to the price tag.
Even he was stunned.
"If you're buying the pair, they come as a promotional combo—just ¥19,999," the staff explained smoothly. "Individually, they're ¥12,000 each."
Yu Xiao lit up for the first time all night. Her smile was genuine—bright and unfiltered as she looked at the bags up close.
"They're gorgeous..." she said softly.
Just seeing her smile like that made it all worth it. Shen Jiang nodded to the assistant. "Pack them both, please."
Yu Xiao didn't even realize what he'd just done.
Then, as the transaction processed, a sudden vibration buzzed in his pocket. He pulled out his phone.
Message:
Your savings account ending in XXXX has been credited with ¥100,000
Date/Time: April 29, 9:45 PM
New Balance: ¥105,250
— Construction Bank
He blinked. Then blinked again.
Five times the amount he'd just paid.
His heart skipped a beat as a thrill surged through him—excitement, disbelief, and pure adrenaline.
It wasn't a dream. The blue screen's promise... it was real.
And his life was starting to change.
Yu Xiao was still admiring the bag, her fingers brushing along the smooth leather, when Shen Jiang appeared beside her and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Here, you can keep them. Take them back to your dorm and admire them properly."
He handed her the shopping bag with a smile, then reached out and casually took her old, worn handbag from her side.
Yu Xiao's gaze shifted to the receipt in his hand—and in that moment, she realized.
He had bought both bags.
"Wait! One is more than enough. You didn't need to buy two..." she protested softly, almost guiltily.
"Hmm? But it was a better deal to buy both," he replied nonchalantly. "So don't overthink it—just take them. Though…"
His lips curled into a teasing smile.
"I hope you remember the promise for tomorrow's date."
Yu Xiao stared at him for a moment—then suddenly broke into a smile, feeling a weight lift from her heart.
"So, you really are rich, huh? You had me worried there for nothing."
She chuckled softly, her cheeks still tinged with a hint of red as she picked up the bag she had liked earlier.
Just then, the sales assistant stepped forward once more, clearly not missing a beat.
"Sir, Miss—may I show you something special? This is a limited-edition ornament made for this season's collection. Pure gold with carved jade. A panda motif—it complements the bag beautifully."
She opened a small display box with a delicate snap. Inside was a stunning accessory. Elegant. Unique. And unmistakably expensive—the price tag read ¥50,000—more than double the bag itself.
Yu Xiao's smile faded slightly, her eyes widening.
"No, it's all right. That's a bit too much..." she quickly declined, trying not to sound alarmed.
Shen Jiang nodded understandingly, but in truth—he already had an idea.
As they walked out of the store together, chatting casually, he suddenly patted his pockets.
"Ah—shit! I forgot my smartphone back in the store!"
Yu Xiao looked surprised.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Do me a favor—why don't you wait for me in that cafe across the hall? I'll be right back. We can grab some coffee before heading out."
"Hmm... you better not keep me waiting, dumbo."
She laughed, giving him a playful little shove toward the store.
"Go already!"
"Right, right. I'll be quick!"
Shen Jiang waved and jogged back toward the boutique, sneaking one last glance at her as she made her way into the café.
Back at the LV shop, the staff recognized him immediately.
"Sir, welcome back. You left your phone here."
"Thank you," he said with a polite nod, accepting the device. Then, with a warm grin, he added:
"Also… bring that ornament back. I'll take it."
The staff were stunned for a second.
As they handed him the box, they couldn't help but exchange glances.
It didn't take a genius to realize—he had never forgotten his phone. He had left it behind on purpose.
Just so he could return... and buy the ornament for her.
A small gesture—but one full of heart.
After catching up, the two sat down at a quiet café and enjoyed a light coffee together. Their conversation remained easy and pleasant, filled with subtle smiles and occasional laughter. When Yu Xiao excused herself to freshen up in the restroom, Shen Jiang took the opportunity—he slipped the golden panda ornament quietly into her new bag without saying a word.
By the time she returned, none the wiser, they finished their drinks and walked out together into the soft night breeze.
At the entrance to the dormitory, Yu Xiao turned with a gentle wave and a cheerful "Goodnight!" before heading inside. Shen Jiang stood there for a moment, his gaze lingering on her silhouette until it disappeared behind the gate.
A quiet smile curved on his lips.
Just a few hours ago, a girl like Yu Xiao had felt completely out of reach—someone he could only admire from afar during class. Yet now, he had walked beside her, joked with her, and even made her smile in ways he never imagined.
And all of this...
He clenched his fist slightly in his coat pocket.
He knew deep down—it was only possible because of the mysterious, cheat-like ability that rewarded him for spending money on beautiful women. Without it, how could he have afforded any of this? How could he have promised even a sliver of the stable life she dreamed of?
Still, the warmth in his chest refused to fade.
"Maybe this... is also a way of living."
He mused silently to himself before turning away and walking back to the dormitory.
What Shen Jiang didn't notice was a pair of eyes watching him from across the plaza—eyes filled with growing jealousy.
A phone camera clicked silently.
'Who the hell is that guy... walking so close with our belle?'
A scowl formed on the face of the watcher. The image he took was blurry and hard to make out clearly, but he didn't care. He quickly uploaded it to the school's online forum. By the time Jiang was back in bed, exhausted and falling asleep without even bothering to eat, that photo was already circulating through chat groups and gossip pages across the campus.
But no one could clearly identify the guy in the picture. Even after filters, zoom-ins, and speculations, the forums only grew more frustrated.
Meanwhile, Shen Jiang was fast asleep, sprawled out like a log—completely unaware of the storm brewing around his peaceful night.
Next Morning.
A cold breeze drifted through the slightly open window, brushing across Shen Jiang's legs, making him shiver.
"Woahh—!"
He bolted upright, tugging the blanket over himself as he looked outside.
"Why's it so cold? It's summer!"
He muttered, rubbing his eyes groggily—but the confusion quickly faded into a smile. Despite the strange chill, he felt rested, refreshed, and unusually... content.
"Well, whatever. Let's go get some breakfast."
Stretching with a soft yawn, Shen Jiang got up, unaware that his name—or at least his blurry silhouette—had become the talk of the school overnight.