Fyren's aged face flushed red as he muttered under his breath, "Stop it."
Though Eliza's cheeks had also tinged pink, her smile shone exceptionally bright. Seeing Fyren's reaction - this pure-hearted virgin's typical shyness - she grew playful and called out again, "Daddy?"
Fyren became even more flustered: "Y-you... you stop this. If someone hears, they'll think we're perverts."
"Dad doesn't love his daughter very much? How about I become your secretary?"
Fyren stood up abruptly. "You... I'll ignore you if you keep this up."
Eliza rose as well, utterly confident. "You like me."
"Whatever." Fyren averted his gaze, hands fidgeting awkwardly.
Eliza's smile widened. "It's settled then. Starting tomorrow, I'll be your secretary."
Then she leaned close to Fyren's ear, whispering, "If your office suite has a big bathtub... I'll take a bubble bath with you."
Fyren's face burned crimson.
He used to be a deliveryman - poor, unattractive, standing just 1.69 meters tall, with little education, from a rural household, zero savings, no property, couldn't even afford cigarettes or alcohol...
Though he'd had some villainous experiences before, the protagonists always crushed him before he could enjoy much.
Xena was delicate, Cora gentle, but he found the one he couldn't resist most was Eliza.
Eliza - typically so serious - now being tender, mischievous, even slightly wicked, left Fyren completely disarmed.
His heart pounded uncontrollably, face fever-hot, tongue tied in confusion, thoughts scattering like leaves in wind.
Eliza found Fyren utterly delightful.
"Hey, didn't you chase girls constantly in college? Weren't you some legendary ladies' man? You weren't this shy the past three years, were you?"
Fyren reddened further. "I was..."
"Is it because I'm different from them?"
Fyren nodded instinctively, then hastily shook his head. "Just stop."
Eliza's heart soared.
In her mind, Fyren wasn't just any man - he'd experienced everything, never lacking beautiful women.
The highest compliment she could receive from him was being "not like other girls."
Though she'd lost Qianfeng - an irreversible reality she had to accept - winning Fyren's heart today filled her with unprecedented joy and hope for the future.
"Alright, look how terrified you are. I'll stop teasing you."
They strolled along the park's tree-lined path.
Zaring and Chloe trailed far behind.
Fyren's mind waged celestial war.
[How did this become so much like courting?]
Eliza was breathtakingly beautiful, standing in the park like a living painting - that face, that figure... precisely the kind of screen goddess who drove men mad with desire, the type they'd ruin themselves to possess!
[Walking through this street.]
Fyren thought:
[Let me enjoy the romance of this path.]
Eliza had clearly heard the voice in his heart but still deliberately asked, "What are you thinking? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Huh? Nothing." Caught off guard by the sudden question, Fyren scratched his head awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
"It's just… I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to take a quiet walk like this."
"In the future, when you're free, you can ask me out more often."
Fyren flushed like a bashful college freshman.
[Bro, what are you so nervous about? Weren't you full of pickup theories earlier? But when it comes to real girls, you're just a coward. Relax! Think of how to answer her. Girls like guys with a sense of humor, right? Watch me show off mine.]
"Ahem." Fyren cleared his throat twice, turned to face Eliza directly, and opened his mouth—only to freeze mid-motion.
Eliza watched him, barely suppressing a laugh, eager to hear how he'd demonstrate his humor.
But the man stood motionless, as if petrified.
After a few seconds, Fyren hastily turned away. "Let's go this way. This… this path looks good."
Eliza burst into laughter.
Catching up, she teased, "Hey, who knew you had a shy side?"
Fyren's face burned red to the tips of his ears, but he feigned indifference. "No way. How could I be shy? I've got the thickest skin."
Eliza giggled uncontrollably.
They reached the end of the path, the park exit now in sight.
Fyren glanced back at Zaring, who understood immediately and rushed ahead to prepare the car.
[About time. Well…]
Fyren turned to Eliza. "Eliza."
"Hmm?"
"I used to like you."
"Used to?"
"Yes." Fyren smiled faintly. "For the past three years, people called me a bootlicker, but… I don't regret it. I was actually pretty happy."
"Oh."
"Now that our lives have changed so much, I hope we can still be friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes. No matter what happens or when you need help, I'll always be there for you."
"Just friends?"
"Just friends. Only friends."
"What kind of friends?"
Fyren met Eliza's gaze—no longer shy, no longer evasive—his eyes steady and calm.
"The kind who don't talk often, don't meet up, don't call, don't go on movie dates… but would walk through fire for each other when it truly matters."
The warmth in Eliza's eyes dimmed, replaced by a deep, crushing sense of loss.
"Why?"
Fyren gave a small, humorless laugh. "There's no 'why.' My situation is… complicated right now, and I can't explain it. Just trust me—this is what's best. For you, for me, for everyone."
"What if I don't agree?"
Fyren turned away. "Let's go."
Eliza caught up and pulled Fyren back. "I asked you - what if I don't agree?"
"I don't understand either. You obviously hated me - why do you suddenly like me now?"
"I understand even less. You obviously loved me - why do you suddenly not like me anymore?"
"I don't hate you."
"Then why won't you like me?"
Fyren didn't know how to explain. "Call me if you need anything."
"Don't walk away."
Eliza persisted, clinging to Fyren. "Tell me clearly - why don't you like me anymore? Is it because I treated you badly before? I can apologize."
"No no no," Fyren said. "You weren't wrong. You don't need to apologize. The old me was obnoxious - I hated that version of myself too. So it was completely normal for you to ignore me before."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
At that moment, a voice called out: "Fyren!"
They both turned to see a beautiful girl in a long floral dress approaching with a parasol.
This woman possessed truly nation-toppling beauty.
Her slender, straight legs - though covered by the long skirt with only a glimpse of smooth calves visible - revealed through the skirt's drape and calf curves just how devastatingly attractive those legs were.
Her smooth, pale arms and long, delicate fingers held the parasol handle lightly. Walking in high heels, the slight lift of her foot tendons appeared provocatively sexy.
She stopped before Fyren and closed her umbrella. "What? Don't recognize me?"
Eliza looked at Fyren, who stared at the newcomer while thinking:
[Shit, why her?!
Sabrina really can't let this go!
Normally she doesn't even need spells - men flock to her naturally.
With me she's actually using techniques, and yet I still feel nothing!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
He's either not a man, or not a complete man!
Otherwise there's no way he wouldn't be interested in me!
But the intel says otherwise. This guy played around constantly in college - enough girl-chasing experience to fill a book.
Then he became a bootlicker after falling for the Leng family's wealth and pursuing Eliza.
He clearly has the makings of a bootlicker. That's exactly what he should be doing - groveling under my skirt!
Me! Sabrina!
After ten years mastering unique secret techniques, my greatest principle is driving men wild.
If I can't even handle a bootlicker, how can I face the young lord?
Otto's already connected with Hakan - the young lord's ambitions are about to unfold.
And Fyren absolutely must be dealt with... by me personally!]
Eliza's expression immediately cooled as she glanced at Fyren. "You know her?"
Fyren thought to himself:
[I wish I didn't, but I nearly lost my mind to her - I couldn't forget her even if I tried.]
This inner monologue made Eliza's heart sink.
"Lost my mind" and "couldn't forget her" - these phrases made Eliza view the woman as a rival.
Especially since the woman before them was no less attractive than Eliza herself, radiating an aura of seduction.
This was exactly what men feared most.
As the saying goes: In the face of true sexiness, mere cuteness pales in comparison!
And this woman - honestly, even I find her sexy just looking at her.
Not the vulgar kind of sexiness with exposed flesh, but an innate sensuality that seemed to emanate from her bones, the kind that stirred men's primal urges to conquer, control, and possess.
Sabrina smiled sweetly. "My, what a pretty young lady. Who might this be?"
Fyren replied curtly, "What's it to you if you don't know her?"
Sabrina pouted. "You didn't help me yesterday either. I was nearly poisoned by that Hakan."
"We're busy," Fyren said. "We need to go."
"Fyren, could you do me a favor?"
"I'm in a hurry."
In his rush, Fyren grabbed Eliza's hand.
Eliza started, then felt her heart leap with joy.
So I am still his favorite after all.
Really, what was I so insecure about?
Fyren's experienced - what kind of beautiful woman hasn't he seen? What matters in a woman is inner quality.
This woman... she reeks of cheap seduction. Fyren wouldn't like someone like that.
Sabrina blocked their path, her face the picture of委屈. "Fyren, can't you help just a little?"
Eliza's expression turned stern. "Hey, hey, hey, if you're going to flirt, at least pick your location. This is a park, not a hotel room."
Sabrina covered her mouth. "How mean! I'm not like that at all. I genuinely need your help, big brother."
Fyren was losing patience. "Alright, alright! Just tell me what you want quickly. I'm in a hurry."
"Oh." Sabrina produced a jade pendant. "I need to sell this urgently. I heard Dasheng Group runs an auction house - could you handle it for me?"
She extended the pendant toward Fyren, who made no move to take it.
"I'll give you a contact number. This person will handle it for you."
"But... this pendant was my grandmother's. She's passed away now..."
Eliza narrowed her eyes, thinking to herself how calculating this woman was.
Clearly trying to establish a lasting connection with Fyren by invoking dead relatives for sympathy. No way around it - Fyren always fell for this kind of thing. For all his usual bravado, he had a soft heart when it counted.
To both women's surprise, Fyren remained completely unmoved.
"Who it belonged to doesn't matter. Contact this person and negotiate directly. Eliza, let's go."
"Fyren..." Sabrina's voice quavered.
Fyren snapped, "Hey! I've already done you a favor. Stop pestering me!"
"Why?" Sabrina's eyes welled with tears. "Why are you so cruel to me?"
Eliza rolled her eyes and snatched the pendant. "I'll sell it for you. Leave me your number."
Fyren looked alarmed. "Hey! Don't take her things!"
But his warning came too late.