"Wonderful, truly wonderful. I haven't seen someone so shameless and manipulative in years," Zhou Jinnbai's magnetic voice rang out. He then turned to a woman holding a phone and live-streaming, "See? This woman is the biological sister of the CEO of Huanyu Company."
As the man finished speaking, the woman live-streaming with her phone quickly approached Gu Jiaojiao.
"Hello, Ms. Gu. I am a reporter from the 'Rongcheng Daily News' column. What makes you so shameless? Forcing others to pay for you, resorting to personal attacks and moral blackmail?"
"Not long ago, your brother's affair was trending on hot search, and now you're publicly begging for money. Are all people from your Gu family this rotten?"
"This Ms. Lin is already your brother's ex-girlfriend. You call her 'sister' while treating her like a fool. What are your intentions?"
Hit by the reporter's barrage of questions, Gu Jiaojiao was completely stunned.
"Why are you speaking so harshly?" She couldn't understand how things had escalated to this point.
Her dazed appearance in front of the camera was seen by countless netizens watching the live stream.
The reporter, uncharacteristically kind, offered a reminder, "If you can do such ugly things, why can't I speak? Ms. Gu, I am live-streaming now, and there are over forty thousand people in the stream. I hope you will cooperate with us for an interview."
Gu Jiaojiao's spirit broke. She had never been so humiliated. Once this matter blew up, she wouldn't be able to maintain her pretense in front of her friends.
She could perfectly imagine how her friends would mock her.
"Don't film me, don't film me."
"I'll sue you for invading my privacy."
Gu Jiaojiao instinctively ran towards the exit, feeling suffocated within the shop.
The manager, seeing this, shouted, "She's still wearing our shop's clothes and various accessories on her hands. Don't let her escape."
Soon, some enthusiastic bystanders apprehended Gu Jiaojiao.
Gu Jiaojiao's hair was disheveled, her white dress was hiked up her back, and her clothes were in disarray, revealing more than they should.
The manager walked up to Gu Jiaojiao and slapped her, "Send her to the police station. This woman stole merchandise from our shop, totaling over three million yuan."
"I didn't, I really didn't! Help me... Sister Xingwan, help me..." Gu Jiaojiao cast a pathetic and pleading glance at Lin Xingwan, but the next second, Zhou Jinnbai stood before her, blocking her view and fixing his dark gaze on her.
"Tell that good-for-nothing Gu Shaoting that he's not even worthy of carrying Xingwan's shoes."
Gu Jiaojiao looked at the man before her, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Especially his eyes, they were terrifying, like a fierce beast ready to tear her apart at any moment.
Soon, Gu Jiaojiao was taken away. Lin Xingwan, with a look of excitement, walked up to Zhou Jinnbai, "Why are you here? Didn't you say I could handle this myself?"
"Afraid my wife would be bullied," Zhou Jinnbai said, gently flicking the tip of her nose as he looked at the woman whose lips were constantly curved upwards.
"How could I be bullied? I just thoroughly trounced Gu Jiaojiao," Lin Xingwan said, her eyes shining brightly, looking as if she were seeking praise.
Zhou Jinnbai was equally generous, "My wife is amazing. I must reward you properly tonight."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xingwan pinched his arm, "Don't you dare drive!"
The man chuckled, "I meant I'd cook you a good meal tonight. Wife, your thoughts are so impure."
Lin Xingwan: "!!!"
Lin Xingwan glared at Zhou Jinnbai indignantly, then opened her handbag. The top item, the transfer agreement for Dingfeng Entertainment, was indeed missing.
"Ask the manager for the surveillance footage," Zhou Jinnbai suggested.
Lin Xingwan nodded and then said to the manager, "Hello, Manager. May I have a copy of the surveillance footage from when we entered the shop until we left?"
"Yes, yes, I'll have the surveillance copied right away." The manager was eager to comply, not afraid of her asking, but afraid she wouldn't!
He had already instructed someone to copy the footage. As he handed the USB drive to Lin Xingwan, he patted his chest and assured her, "Ms. Lin, if anything that happened today causes you any trouble in the future, please call me. Here is my business card, and I will serve as your witness."
Lin Xingwan took the USB drive and business card, her face filled with gratitude, "Thank you."
There are so many good people in this world!
Zhou Jinnbai carried the large bags and walked out with Lin Xingwan.
Lin Xingwan chattered like a little bird, constantly talking in the man's ear about what had just happened.
"Jinnbai, how did you find the reporters from 'Rongcheng Daily News'? Their appearance was a godsend! Gu Jiaojiao's humiliation will be known nationwide now, right?"
Although the "Rongcheng Daily News" column only reported on matters in Rongcheng, its authenticity and objectivity had garnered a large following of loyal fans.
When migrant workers were owed wages, issues of bureaucracy, and various forms of powerful oppression, as long as they were featured in "Rongcheng Daily News," they would quickly attract attention from higher authorities, leading to the root being cut and future troubles eliminated.
"When I arrived, I saw the reporters from 'Rongcheng Daily News' already filming at the entrance. By the time I went in, they couldn't hold back any longer," Zhou Jinnbai naturally wouldn't tell Lin Xingwan that he had called the reporters.
Nor would he tell her that the editor-in-chief of this column was his own grandmother.
"Indeed, even heaven couldn't stand it anymore," Lin Xingwan became even happier. "Then shall we go grocery shopping? Tonight, we must have a feast to reward ourselves."
"Let's postpone the grocery shopping. We have more important things to do right now."
Lin Xingwan looked up at the man beside her. His dark eyes were filled with tenderness, as if a field of blooming peach blossoms had opened, drawing one in irresistibly.
Even though she was already married to Mr. Zhou, he still made her head spin every day.
"What is it?" Lin Xingwan stared at Zhou Jinnbai, her eyes revealing undisguised curiosity and affection.
"You'll know in a moment." Zhou Jinnbai took Lin Xingwan's hand and led her into a shop.
At first, Lin Xingwan didn't notice anything unusual. After all, in the shop's glass display window, a white wedding dress was displayed on a mannequin.
However, as they walked further in, Lin Xingwan's face grew redder and redder.
It turned out Zhou Jinnbai had brought her to an lingerie store.
Looking at the dazzling array of products, Lin Xingwan felt extremely shy.
She had never shopped in a store like this with a man before.
"Why did you bring me here? I have several new sets at home, I don't need to buy any," Lin Xingwan instinctively tried to pull Zhou Jinnbai's hand and walk out.
Unfortunately, the man directly pulled her into his embrace, "I've touched and kissed every part of you, and now you're shy, hmm?"
The man playfully blew into Lin Xingwan's ear. Lin Xingwan tensed up, quickly glancing around, "Stop fooling around, it's not good if someone sees."
"This shop is an unmanned store invested in by Dongfang Corporation. Consumers just need to scan the code and pay for the items they like," Zhou Jinnbai explained, not wanting his little wife to be so nervous.
"There's no staff, but there are still other customers and surveillance cameras," Lin Xingwan quickly pulled away from the man's embrace.
Zhou Jinnbai was helpless. This woman's little brain thought of quite a lot.
If he dared to bring her in, wouldn't he have already handled the things she was worried about?
From the moment they entered until they left, not even a fly entered, let alone other people.
Lin Xingwan's gaze was quickly drawn to a black piece of lingerie.
Conservative, low-key.
Yes, that was the feeling she wanted.
However, before Lin Xingwan could take it down, Zhou Jinnbai stopped her.
"If you dare to buy white or black, I'll make you walk out of here on wobbly legs," the man's tone was full of warning, and Lin Xingwan felt extremely wronged.
"Why? I think black and white look good and are very versatile."
"You've already worn several sets. If it's always black and white, you'll get aesthetically tired. Wife, let me pick for you," Zhou Jinnbai said this with utmost seriousness.
Lin Xingwan immediately retorted, "I'm not wearing them for you to see. These things are about comfort. Those flashy ones are useless except for looking good."
"Then why can't we buy some that are both comfortable and beautiful?" the man countered with a raised eyebrow.
Lin Xingwan: "..."
He made so much sense that she couldn't refute him.
The man domineeringly and forcefully picked out several sets of lingerie for her, even four or five sets of pajamas.
Lin Xingwan felt a throbbing pain in her temples due to Zhou Jinnbai's taste.
"Are you sure this little bit of fabric is really pajamas?"
"This V-neck goes almost to my navel. I won't wear pajamas like this."
"And this one, it's so transparent. What's the difference between wearing it and not wearing it?"
Lin Xingwan transformed into a master of complaints, criticizing everything from the first item Zhou Jinnbai threw into the shopping cart to the final selection. Although the man had picked out no less than twenty items, they were all so thin when put into the cart.
Even, Zhou Jinnbai's expectant gaze fell upon a wedding dress.
Before Lin Xingwan could even stop him, she saw the man throw this wedding dress into the shopping cart as well.
"Are you crazy? We're not buying a wedding dress!"
Besides, this wedding dress was too short. Lin Xingwan looked at the hem that seemed purely decorative and felt it wouldn't even cover her backside.
Zhou Jinnbai quickly scanned the rest of the area. With nothing else catching his eye, he said to Lin Xingwan, "Alright, selection is complete. Now, we need to try them on."
With that, he pushed the shopping cart with one hand and grabbed Lin Xingwan's arm with the other, directly pushing her into the fitting room.
He closed the door and locked it.
The entire action was done in one go.
The fitting room wasn't large, and with the man's presence, it felt even more cramped.
"I can try them on myself, you wait outside," Lin Xingwan pushed the man beside her. How could she possibly try on these clothes in front of him?
This wasn't just embarrassment; she simply couldn't accept it!
"As your husband, I have the obligation and responsibility to offer you constructive suggestions and advice," the man said as seriously as possible. "Besides, we're outside, what can I do?"
Lin Xingwan felt that what this guy was saying was wrong, but she couldn't find a reason to refute him.
"Hurry and try them on. We still need to go grocery shopping later, and Grandma is coming for dinner tonight."
Zhou Jinnbai's urging put Lin Xingwan in a dilemma.
As she hesitated, Zhou Jinnbai unzipped her dress. "We've seen each other so many times, and you're still shy? Are we going to be like this after we get married?"
Lin Xingwan was already dizzy from Zhou Jinnbai's string of illogical arguments. The things she didn't have the courage to do, Zhou Jinnbai did for her.
And he even picked the wedding dress they had chosen last.
The thin lace and the same-colored boning couldn't conceal the deep V-neck halter strap. The lace at the neckline featured crown embroidery, exuding a sweet and pure yet alluring aura.
Of course, the chest was embroidered with two dense wings, and the five-layer tulle skirt created a sense of tantalizing exposure while concealing everything. Even Lin Xingwan quickly averted her gaze when she saw herself in the mirror.
Zhou Jinnbai gently placed a diamond-studded veil on Lin Xingwan's head, his cool gaze deepening.
"This wedding dress isn't pretty at all, I don't like it," Lin Xingwan was eager to change out of it, but Zhou Jinnbai held her waist from behind.
The fabric of the wedding dress was so thin that Lin Xingwan could clearly feel the man's burning warmth.
Zhou Jinnbai rested his chin on Lin Xingwan's shoulder, his gaze slowly shifting from Lin Xingwan's flushed earlobes to the mirror.
He held her, and she blushed.
Her delicate appearance made him suddenly want to slap himself. Why had he made such a promise to this woman?
Even though they had been intimate many times, they had never gone all the way.
But now, Zhou Jinnbai's mind was filled with thoughts of breaking his promise.
"What's not pretty? My wife looks good in everything," Zhou Jinnbai's labored breathing was audible in the quiet fitting room, making Lin Xingwan's heart race.
Her feelings were no longer just a fluttering heart; her heart was about to explode.
"I want to try on the second set," Lin Xingwan couldn't handle the man's sweet talk and felt he was too dangerous.
"Mmm..." Although the man agreed verbally, he didn't loosen his grip on Lin Xingwan's waist. "Wife, I love you, I'm madly in love with you. How can you look so desirable to me?"
His voice was magnetic and gentle, like a gravitational pull, making one want to draw closer to him every second.
Lin Xingwan wanted to say something else, but the man had already cupped her chin and, with a slight force, turned her face to the side, kissing her possessively.
He liked the way she blushed and even more the way she panted for him.