Chapter 81: A Kiss Seals the Promise

“Chen Xian, you’re here!” Zhang Xin exclaimed with delight.

Chen Xian looked at the stunning young woman, took a jewelry box out of his pocket, and handed it to her. “This is for you. Happy birthday.”

On the jewelry box, four words were inscribed: “True Love Forever,” gleaming gold beneath the neon lights.

Zhang Xin stared at the box, especially those four words, momentarily stunned.

“Open it and see if you like it,” Chen Xian said with a gentle smile.

She snapped out of her daze, her cheeks flushed as if she were a beauty tipsy from wine.

Nodding, she accepted the box and opened it. Inside was a platinum necklace with a heart-shaped ruby pendant, scintillating and beautiful.

“It’s so pretty, thank you!” Zhang Xin’s rosy face broke into a shy yet delighted smile.

Xu Kang witnessed the scene, his eyes flashing coldly, as though wanting to pierce through someone’s heart.

Seeing Chen Xian, Zhang Ziqiang’s face darkened like a stormy sky. He bit his lip in secret: Damn Chen Xian, here you are, bothering my sister again!

Still, he dared not make a move. The incident in the hotel late that night was fresh in his memory.

Zhang Ziqiang knew—this Chen Xian was not simple.

At the entrance to Gravity, Zhang Xin’s classmates and friends watched as she refused the diamond necklace from Xu Kang, heir to the grand Jiuding family, and instead accepted a gift from a plainly dressed, seemingly ordinary young man.

They were baffled. Was Zhang Xin really tossing aside a diamond to pick up a glass bead?

At the same time, curiosity grew. Who was this crew-cut youth, and why was Zhang Xin so taken with him?

“Could that young man be Chen Xian, the impoverished student from our H State Polytechnic? There were rumors recently that Zhang Xin was seeing him.” One of Zhang Xin’s classmates whispered.

On hearing this, everyone turned incredulous eyes toward Zhang Xin.

Zhang Xin’s birthday celebration, due to Chen Xian’s appearance, ended hastily around nine in the evening.

Later, Zhang Ziqiang and Xu Kang left together, driving to a café.

“Young Master Xu, I’m really sorry. My sister is just too willful...” Zhang Ziqiang hurried to explain and apologize, seeing Xu Kang’s expressionless face.

Xu Kang’s eyes glinted as he took a sip of coffee and smiled. “Your sister is quite interesting.”

“Young Master Xu?” Zhang Ziqiang didn’t understand the meaning behind his words.

“Well, a game without competition is no fun at all,” Xu Kang said, setting down his cup. “Anyway, tonight’s events didn’t upset me. I’m heading back to Longdu now; my family just called. When I have some free time, I’ll have a proper meeting with this Chen Xian.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ziqiang sensed there was still hope for his sister to marry Xu Kang.

The thought of Zhang Xin becoming Xu Kang’s wife—and the doors to fortune that would open for him—filled his heart with joy.

…

In H City, beside the Canglan River, the night breeze carried a chill.

Under the streetlights, two figures walked side by side—Chen Xian and Zhang Xin.

After leaving Gravity, Zhang Xin suggested a walk by the river. Chen Xian, of course, agreed, and they drove her Lamborghini to the riverside.

Bathed in the amber glow, Zhang Xin’s beauty was all the more radiant—like a lotus rising from crystal water, her skin soft as silk, delicate enough to shatter at a breath. The breeze played with her hair, sending wisps across her pale forehead.

Chen Xian was entranced by her beauty, so much so that he forgot to breathe.

“Chen Xian, will you help me put on ‘True Love Forever’?”

Zhang Xin took out the exquisite jewelry box, her eyes sparkling, cheeks as red as roses, speaking with a shyness as delicate as morning dew.

Her voice was soft, light as a whisper.

Chen Xian nodded. “Of course.”

He took the box from her, opened it, and gently lifted the ruby and platinum necklace, fastening it around her slender neck.

At that moment, they stood so close, so very close, that they could hear each other’s heartbeat—thump, thump, thump...

A faint natural fragrance wafted to Chen Xian’s nose.

Perhaps it was excitement, or nerves, but Chen Xian’s hands were a bit clumsy, and it took a while to fasten the necklace properly.

Looking at Zhang Xin, his voice trembled: “You’re beautiful.”

“Do you mean the necklace is beautiful, or... that I am?” Zhang Xin’s face burned, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chen Xian was caught off guard for a moment, but quickly replied, “You are more beautiful.”

Hearing his words, Zhang Xin’s cheeks flared as if on fire. She bit her lip, looked down at her toes, unable to meet his gaze, and whispered, “Then… do you like me?”

“I do!” Chen Xian answered almost without thinking, an instinctive response.

He truly liked Zhang Xin, but his humble origins had always made him afraid to confess.

Zhang Xin, hearing this, shuddered as though struck by lightning, her delicate frame trembling. She said nothing.

Having uttered “I like you,” Chen Xian was at a loss for words. Seeing the girl silent, he too stood there, dumbfounded.

In that moment, Zhang Xin, blushing furiously, chided silently in her heart:

What a blockhead! A girl’s already dropped such obvious hints, and you don’t react at all?!

After a few tense seconds, seeing Chen Xian still standing there like a statue, Zhang Xin stamped her foot in frustration. Then, raising her head, she tiptoed, her cheeks crimson, eyes shining without a blink, and pressed her rosy, petal-soft lips to Chen Xian’s.

His eyes went wide, feeling her warmth and softness, and his hands instinctively wrapped around her slender waist.

In that moment, his heart brimmed with happiness, and the whole scene felt like a dream.

Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, two faint gunshots cut through the cold night air, reaching Chen Xian’s ears.

His hair stood on end, every nerve alert—danger was upon them.

He turned his head to the left and saw two metallic bullets slicing through the darkness, radiating murderous intent as they sped towards them.

The bullets came one after the other—one aimed at Zhang Xin’s head, the other at himself.

With his arms still around Zhang Xin’s waist, Chen Xian spun sharply, turning his back to the bullets.

Thud! Thud!

Two barely audible impacts sounded. On the back of Chen Xian’s head and neck, two red vortices spun, absorbing the bullets’ energy and drawing it deep within, into the mysterious tree rooted in his mind.

Whoosh—

A faint red light, visible only to Chen Xian, shot out from his head, racing toward the direction from which the bullets had come, vanishing in a flash.

Not wanting Zhang Xin to worry, Chen Xian gently released her, speaking softly, “Darling, go home first. There’s something important I need to take care of. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

“Alright,” Zhang Xin replied, cheeks still aflame, her manner sweet and endearing.

She rose on tiptoe again, planted a quick kiss on his lips, then turned and left.

Chen Xian, every sense alert, watched the beautiful girl’s silhouette until she started her Lamborghini and sped away.

Only then did he stop holding back the murderous aura surging through him. Without hesitation, he spun and dashed in the direction from which the bullets had come.