Back in City F, the afternoon inside the Chen family villa at Azure Lake was quiet. Chen Anya sat on the long cream-colored sofa in the living room, her legs curled slightly to the side while she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone.
Every now and then she glanced at the screen, but her attention was clearly elsewhere. The silence around her only made her boredom more obvious.
Su Ning was still in London, the days had started to feel longer and duller. Chen Anya sighed softly and leaned her head back against the cushion. Without Su Ning around, she realized she didn't really have anyone she felt comfortable spending time with.
The thought of calling Mu Suying briefly crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Even though Mu Suying had behaved more politely recently, Chen Anya still carried a lingering sense of caution toward her. Too many things had happened in the past for her to fully relax around her.
After sitting there for several minutes doing nothing, Chen Anya finally pushed herself up from the sofa with a small sigh. "If I stay here any longer, I'll probably die of boredom," she muttered quietly to herself.
The idea of going out suddenly seemed appealing. Shopping had always been something that helped lift her mood, and at the very least it would give her something to do.
She headed upstairs to her bedroom and opened the large wardrobe. Rows of carefully arranged dresses, tops, and skirts hung neatly inside, each one organized by color and style. Her gaze slowly moved across them before settling on a beautiful white dress.
The fabric was soft and elegant, and when she held it up against herself in front of the mirror, it looked simple yet charming. The hem stopped just at mid-thigh, giving it a youthful but stylish look.
Chen Anya changed into the dress and examined herself in the mirror. The white fabric highlighted her smooth skin and slender figure, and after tilting her head slightly to inspect the fit, she gave a small nod of approval. "This should be fine," she murmured softly.
Next, she picked out a pair of white ankle boots. The boots were elegant and fitted perfectly, adding a fashionable touch to her outfit.
She then reached for a small white purse with delicate silver chains draped across it. Hanging from the handle were several tiny white doll charms that swung gently as she lifted the bag, giving it an adorable appearance.
She sat down at her vanity table and selected a pair of silver earrings and a matching necklace. The cool metal caught the light softly as she put them on. Finally, she applied a light layer of pink lip gloss. The gentle shine made her lips look soft and natural.
When she finished, Chen Anya looked at herself in the mirror again. She didn't look overly glamorous, but there was something elegant and refreshing about her appearance. The white outfit made her look gentle and graceful, like a delicate flower. Feeling slightly more confident, she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs.
Since her parents were still at work, she didn't see anyone when she reached the entrance hall. The driver, however, was already waiting outside the gate. As soon as he saw her approach, he stepped forward and opened the car door respectfully.
"Miss Anya, where would you like to go today?" he asked politely.
"I'm going to the Grand Horizon Mall," she replied as she stepped into the car.
The driver nodded and started the engine, smoothly pulling away from the estate.
About thirty minutes later, the car arrived in front of one of the most luxurious shopping centers in City F. The massive glass building towered above the surrounding streets, reflecting sunlight across its sleek surface. Luxury brands filled the inside of the mall, making it a popular place for wealthy shoppers.
When Chen Anya stepped out of the car and entered the mall, she immediately attracted attention. Her appearance naturally stood out.
The white dress and ankle boots complemented her gentle beauty, and the small purse with its silver chains gave her a fashionable yet sweet look. As she walked through the bright hallways, several people glanced at her.
Some boys looked at her with admiration, while a few girls around her age shot jealous looks in her direction. Chen Anya felt the familiar nervousness creeping into her chest. In the past, she would have lowered her head immediately and tried to avoid attention.
But this time, she stopped herself.
She remembered that she was no longer the Chen Anya of the past. Slowly, she lifted her head and met those looks calmly. Instead of shrinking away, she simply ignored them and continued walking forward with quiet confidence.
Inside the stores, Chen Anya began browsing through racks of clothing. She selected several dresses, shoes, and handbags, occasionally trying them on in the fitting rooms. The shop assistants followed politely behind her, carrying the items she decided to purchase.
After spending some time selecting items, Chen Anya wandered into a small jewelry section. Her eyes immediately landed on something displayed inside a glass case. Two delicate bracelets lay side by side. Each bracelet had half of a tiny heart charm attached to it, and when placed together, the halves formed a complete heart.
Chen Anya stared at them quietly for a moment.
The design made her instantly think of Su Ning.
A soft smile spread across her face as she imagined giving one of the bracelets to Su Ning while wearing the other herself. She had always wondered what kind of gift she could give Su Ning. Buying something expensive never seemed right because Su Ning was already unbelievably rich. But these bracelets were meaningful and personal.
She turned to the attendant standing nearby. "Excuse me," she said gently. "How much are these bracelets?"
The attendant glanced at the price tag and replied politely, "They cost thirty thousand yuan, miss."
Chen Anya nodded almost immediately. "I'll take them."
A few minutes later, she arrived at the cashier counter with everything she had chosen. The cashier carefully scanned each item while Chen Anya waited patiently. When the total appeared on the screen, the cashier looked up politely and said, "Miss, the total comes to 237,000 yuan."
Chen Anya reached into her purse to take out her bank card.
However, before she could hand it over, another hand suddenly placed a sleek silver bank card on the counter.
"I'll pay."
The calm voice beside her made Chen Anya freeze.
She looked up in surprise and saw the familiar face of Fang Yiren standing next to her. His handsome features carried a confident smile, and his tailored suit made him look even more imposing. Around them, several people immediately recognized him and began whispering in awe.
Chen Anya's heart skipped slightly from the sudden shock, and she almost stumbled backward. Fang Yiren reacted quickly, reaching out to steady her with his hand.
"Careful," he said softly.
For a brief moment, Chen Anya felt her cheeks heat up from the unexpected closeness. But the moment she remembered who he was, her expression hardened instantly. She pulled her arm away from his grasp as if she had touched something unpleasant, glaring at him.
"There's no need," she said coldly, placing her own bank card on the counter. "I can pay for my things myself."
The cashier looked extremely conflicted. On one side was Young Master Fang, someone she absolutely could not offend. She also could not blindly offended Chen Anya who although she didn't know, was dressed classily and for young master Fang to approach her meant she was no ordinary person.
The store attendants exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to do.
Fang Yiren, however, simply smiled faintly. Instead of arguing, he calmly walked toward the jewelry display again. Stopping in front of another glass case, he looked down at three jade jewelry sets arranged beautifully on velvet cushions.
"Wrap these up," he instructed casually.
Two attendants immediately rushed to follow his order, carefully packing the expensive jewelry into elegant boxes. When they finished, Fang Yiren returned to the cashier counter.
The cashier quickly calculated the amount. "The jade sets cost 2.1 million yuan. Including the earlier purchases of the lady, the total comes to 2.34 million yuan."
Fang Yiren waved his hand casually. "Round it up to 2.5 million."
After completing the payment, the cashier respectfully returned the silver card to him with both hands, thanking him happily.
Chen Anya watched the entire scene annoyed . She had no idea what he was trying to achieve, but she refused to thank him. Without saying another word, she turned around and walked straight out of the store.
Fang Yiren chuckled quietly and followed after her while several assistants carried the shopping bags behind them.
Outside the mall entrance, the Chen family driver quickly stepped forward and opened the trunk of the car as the assistants placed the bags inside.
Just as Chen Anya was about to get into the car, Fang Yiren suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.