Chapter 14: A Flashy Arrival and a Shocking Introduction

A short while later, in front of a modest residential complex in Jiangcheng, a luxurious purple sports car, like a vibrant streak of color, slowly pulled into the temporary parking spot.

Its sleek body lines, its metallic sheen, and its iconic emblem all unequivocally declared its nobility and opulence.

The car’s arrival immediately drew countless gazes, as if it possessed a powerful magnetic field that firmly pulled all surrounding attention towards itself.

“Wow, a Lamborghini! That car must be expensive!”

A few young men passing by the complex entrance instantly brightened, stopping in their tracks. They stared at the sports car with expressions of utter amazement, unable to suppress their exclamations.

Their eyes were filled with envy and longing, as if the vehicle embodied all their fantasies of a lavish lifestyle.

Soon after, the car door gently opened, and an elegant urban beauty, exuding an air of cool detachment, stepped out.

Zi Yanran’s slender figure was perfectly accentuated by a sophisticated suit, her high heels clicking crisply against the ground with each step.

Her delicate face featured features so exquisitely sculpted they seemed divinely crafted, each detail flawlessly placed.

While perhaps not as breathtakingly beautiful as Bai Mengqi, she was undeniably a top-tier beauty. Moreover, as a married woman, she possessed a unique charm that compelled onlookers to steal extra glances.

Zi Yanran subtly raised her gaze, sweeping over the diverse looks directed her way—some curious, some envious, and others filled with awe.

She had long grown accustomed to such attention, for wherever she went, she invariably became the center of all eyes.

She turned her head slightly to look inside the car, noticing that Bai Mengqi had not yet emerged. A slight frown creased her brow, and she couldn’t help but raise her voice, “Hey! Why aren’t you out yet?”

Prompted by Zi Yanran’s urging, Bai Mengqi reluctantly stepped out of the car. As soon as he exited, he had already transformed back into his male appearance.

The reason for this transformation was simply to avoid startling his friend, as he had always presented himself as a male in front of his acquaintances.

“Ugh! Was there really a need to be so flashy?” Bai Mengqi looked at Zi Yanran with a speechless expression, inwardly grumbling about her ostentatious display.

He felt that arriving at his own residential complex with such fanfare would undoubtedly attract a lot of unnecessary trouble and speculation.

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s words, Zi Yanran rolled her eyes, her expression holding a hint of playful indignation.

She walked directly up to Bai Mengqi and unhesitatingly linked her arm through his, her action appearing utterly natural and intimate. “Can’t you be a little more manly? What’s there to be shy about? We’re a couple now, so be a bit bolder.”

As Zi Yanran spoke, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes conveying an undeniable resolve.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding onlookers immediately began whispering amongst themselves once more.

Their gazes converged on this seemingly peculiar pair. Witnessing a stunning beauty openly linking arms with a young man, appearing so intimately connected, a flurry of conjectures and discussions erupted throughout the crowd.

“Looks like a pretty boy bagged a rich older woman, huh? Damn, why don’t I have that kind of luck?” one young man said sourly, his words brimming with envy, jealousy, and resentment towards Bai Mengqi.

Zi Yanran, meanwhile, appeared quite pleased with the onlookers’ gazes and conversations. A slight smile played on her lips, as if she thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention.

Bai Mengqi, however, stood stiff, his entire body rigid. Faced with the situation, he could only sigh helplessly, finding himself with no other recourse than to steel himself and lead her towards his residence.

“Your disguise technique is truly amazing. If I didn’t reach out and touch you, I wouldn’t be able to tell you’re actually a girl.”

As they walked, Zi Yanran cast a flirtatious glance at Bai Mengqi, her beautiful eyes conveying a mix of admiration and a hint of other, more complex emotions.

Being stared at so intently by Zi Yanran, Bai Mengqi’s face flushed once more. He lowered his head slightly, saying with some embarrassment, “I, I couldn’t help it.”

Seeing Bai Mengqi’s innocent shyness, Zi Yanran’s smile broadened. She felt certain that her romantic relationship with him would be a very interesting experience.

It was as if she could already envision all sorts of amusing events unfolding between them in the days to come.

Before long, under the envious gazes of passersby, the two slowly arrived at Bai Mengqi’s residence.

Bai Mengqi took out his key and unlocked the door. The moment he stepped inside, a man’s voice immediately echoed from within.

“Second Brother, you’re back! How did the job hunt go today?”

The voice sounded incredibly warm and carried the distinctive familiarity shared among roommates.

As the voice faded, a tall, bespectacled young man emerged from his own room.

This was Bai Mengqi’s university roommate, Wang Lei, affectionately known as ‘Big Brother Wang’ among their dorm mates.

Wang Lei was dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, his glasses adding a touch of scholarly refinement to his demeanor.

However, the moment he stepped out and suddenly saw Zi Yanran, he froze on the spot.

His gaze first landed on Zi Yanran’s arm linked with Bai Mengqi’s, then slowly moved upwards, taking in Zi Yanran’s appearance and aura.

Their intimate posture immediately made their relationship clear to any observer.

For a moment, Wang Lei was dumbfounded. His eyes widened, and his face was etched with an expression of utter disbelief.

With that incredulous look, he slowly turned to Bai Mengqi, his eyes seeming to ask, “What in the world is going on?”

He truly couldn’t fathom how his best friend had suddenly acquired a girlfriend, especially one so stunning. Judging by her attire, her identity was certainly extraordinary as well.

Bai Mengqi, at this moment, was also incredibly embarrassed. He opened his mouth, attempting to speak, but found himself stammering, unable to form a complete sentence.

“Uh, Old Wang, let me introduce you. This is, she’s, my—”

Bai Mengqi’s words stumbled on his tongue, utterly failing to convey his intended meaning clearly.

Zi Yanran, witnessing this, could no longer bear to watch.

She gracefully stepped forward, standing before Wang Lei, a faint, dignified smile gracing her face. “Hello, you must be Brother Wang. My name is Zi Yanran, and I’m this guy’s girlfriend. I might be moving in with him later, so I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.”

Zi Yanran’s voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain spring flowing gracefully.

Hearing Zi Yanran’s introduction, Wang Lei was even more stunned into silence.

He first paused, then turned an even more incredulous gaze towards Bai Mengqi, hoping for a definitive answer from him.

He simply couldn’t comprehend it. Throughout their four years of university, Bai Mengqi had never once mentioned having a girlfriend.

Of course, Bai Mengqi truly hadn’t had a girlfriend back then, but this sudden development left him utterly bewildered.

Seeing Wang Lei’s astonished expression, Bai Mengqi could only steel himself and nod, confirming Zi Yanran’s words.

Once Bai Mengqi’s confirmation was received, Wang Lei immediately grew enthusiastic.

“Haha, so it really is my younger brother’s wife, huh? No trouble at all, no trouble! Who would’ve thought, Second Brother, you’re quite something, keeping this so well hidden!”

Laughing, Wang Lei vigorously clapped Bai Mengqi on the shoulder, the force of his pat seemingly conveying his inner surprise and joy.

He genuinely hadn’t expected that the usually unassuming Bai Mengqi could land such a beautiful girlfriend, let alone keep it a secret for so long. It was truly astonishing.

“What ‘younger brother’s wife’?” Bai Mengqi instinctively corrected Wang Lei’s address. “She’s five years older than both of us; you should call her ‘Sister’.”

He felt that since Zi Yanran was older, calling her ‘Sister’ was the more appropriate title.

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Zi Yanran’s high heel mercilessly stomped onto his foot.

“Ah!”

The sudden attack made Bai Mengqi cry out in pain.

He glared at Zi Yanran, his eyes wide and face contorted in agony, and quickly complained, “Why did you step on me? I was just telling the truth!”

Zi Yanran truly didn’t know what to make of Bai Mengqi. She felt his emotional intelligence was simply abysmal.

“Don’t you know women are very sensitive about their age?” Zi Yanran lectured, hands on her hips. “Remember, no matter how many years older I am than you, I’m always eighteen!”