Chapter 36 Parallel Universe [Extra Chapter]
Nightfall draped the bustling city center in a dazzling display of neon lights, casting a vibrant, almost surreal glow over the streets.
“Baby, do you like the diamond ring I got you?”
“Oh, you’re so extravagant, giving me such an expensive gift on our first date! But what I really like… is you~”
Diamond ring?
Sitting alone on a bench by the sidewalk, Xu Shuyue perked up instantly, her sharp eyes locking onto the overly affectionate couple just a few meters away.
The woman’s slender fingers bore a sizeable diamond ring, its surface catching and reflecting the city lights in an ostentatious display.
Blowing warm air into her cold hands, Xu Shuyue rose to her feet and strode purposefully toward them.
The couple, too engrossed in their flirtation, failed to notice her approach. As she brushed past the woman, a deliberate yet seemingly accidental collision sent her stumbling backward while Xu Shuyue tumbled dramatically to the ground.
“Hey! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you blind!?” The woman, her face thick with makeup, shrieked in irritation, shooting a scathing glare at the stranger who had dared to bump into her.
“I’m so sorry…” Xu Shuyue lifted her head, revealing a delicate, sweet face framed by soft waves of jet-black hair. Her deep, alluring eyes flickered momentarily toward the man.
The man, utterly captivated, stared at her, his voice oozing concern. “Are you okay, little beauty? Did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine. I’m really sorry,” she murmured, feigning difficulty as she got up, bowing slightly in apology before lowering her lashes and turning to disappear into the crowd.
The man watched her retreating figure for a long moment, inexplicably dazed. Strangely enough, she seemed to vanish far too quickly, as if within seconds, even her image in his mind had begun to blur.
Xu Shuyue had spent her entire life mastering the art of being invisible.
Then, a sudden scream shattered the moment.
“My ring! Where’s my ring!?”
The man snapped back to reality, his confusion giving way to a sly smile. “Don’t worry, baby. It’s just a ring. As long as you behave tonight… I’ll buy you as many as you want.”
The quiet alleyway was abruptly filled with a frustrated voice.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!”
Xu Shuyue scowled as she inspected the diamond ring under the glow of a streetlamp, her fingers turning it over with a look of sheer disappointment.
The cut was atrocious, the clarity abysmal—this wasn’t just fake; it was insultingly fake.
All that effort, all that carefully calculated charm, for this?
“That bastard! Scamming women with trash like this—does he have no shame?!”
Annoyed, she patted the dust off her pants, the excitement from earlier fading into disappointment.
The city was alive with festivities—it was Christmas Eve, after all. How could someone as skilled as she was let such a golden opportunity go to waste?
With a sigh, she casually tossed the useless ring into a nearby trash bin, then shoved her hands into her pockets, blending effortlessly back into the neon-lit streets in search of her next lucky target.
Just then, a surge of movement near the mall entrance caught her attention.
Xu Shuyue arched a brow.
A crowd?
That means opportunity.
Buying the cheapest cup of hot milk tea from a nearby stall to warm her hands, she strolled toward the gathering, eyes gleaming with interest.
A loud mechanical hum sliced through the night air, growing closer by the second. A sleek black helicopter hovered above the shopping mall’s central plaza, its blades whipping up the cold winter breeze. Yet, despite the chill, the surrounding crowd was ablaze with excitement.
“They say the eldest young master has returned to the country. Seriously, the rich sure know how to make an entrance!”
“I heard he’s back for his wedding! The news last week said he got engaged to the Wang family’s heiress…”
“A power couple? That wedding’s gonna be the talk of the town! Wonder if they’ll have a plane drop money from the sky—”
A plane dropping money?!
That was all Xu Shuyue needed to hear.
She lifted her gaze toward the descending helicopter. The sheer extravagance of it all made her stomach turn—these people were so extra!
Taking a private jet isn’t enough? Gotta fly straight into the city center too?
While she silently scoffed, the aircraft had already touched down. A wave of men in black suits materialized from the shadows, swiftly clearing a perimeter around the landing site.
The cabin door opened.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Two men in black leapt down first, assuming rigid positions on either side of the exit. Then, a gloved hand gripped the doorway, its slow and deliberate movement commanding attention.
A suffocating silence settled over the crowd.
Unlike the previous lively chatter, now no one dared to make a sound. The atmosphere was thick with an unspoken pressure, as if even the air had to bow to the presence stepping out.
A man emerged.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and wrapped in a black wool coat, his imposing figure melded seamlessly with the night. Every movement was precise, effortless, exuding an air of power that made even the bustling city lights seem dim in comparison.
“Mr. Qi Siming!”
An anxious voice cut through the silence.
A man in a tailored suit, clutching a leather briefcase, hurriedly pushed through the crowd and bowed deeply before him. “Miss Wang Ya wishes to see you.”
Qi Siming’s brows furrowed immediately. It was clear—this was the last name he wanted to hear.
“How did she find out?”
His voice was cold, clipped. He had returned under strict confidentiality, hoping to personally handle the company’s plummeting stock situation without alerting competitors. He had made sure no details of his itinerary leaked.
The man hesitated. “Mr. Qi, Miss Wang… she’s already waiting in the top-floor conference room.”
“And?” Qi Siming’s patience thinned.
“She… she told all the board members that the meeting has been postponed for an hour…”
A storm brewed in his gaze. He glanced at his watch, his expression growing darker by the second.
Xu Shuyue stood among the onlookers, biting her straw thoughtfully as she watched Qi Siming’s every move.
She let out a quiet chuckle.
Damn. Even when he’s pissed, he’s still elegant.
But that wasn’t the point—his watch was.
The glint of sapphire glass, the unmistakable Patek Philippe insignia…
That’s a multimillion-dollar masterpiece strapped to his wrist.
And it was right there, within arm’s reach.
Xu Shuyue’s pulse quickened. How had she been so distracted by the show? This was the real opportunity of the night!
If she could get her hands on that… she’d be set for months.
Determined, she started weaving her way closer, her movements swift yet natural. She had maneuvered herself into the front row within moments, but the ring of bodyguards remained a problem.
Just as she was calculating her next move, chaos erupted.
A swarm of reporters surged out of the shopping mall’s grand entrance, cameras flashing, microphones raised.
“Mr. Qi! Are you back to prepare for your wedding with Miss Wang?”
The media siege was relentless, pushing and shoving to block Qi Siming’s path. Even his bodyguards struggled against the barrage of flashing lights.
Perfect.
Xu Shuyue smirked, slipping further through the cracks in the crowd. The commotion was the perfect cover.
She was so close now.
Just a little more—Suddenly, someone from behind shoved forward.
Her balance was lost. Before she could react, she was propelled straight toward Qi Siming, her cup of milk tea soaring into the air.
The people around them instinctively stepped back, leaving a perfect circle of empty space.
Qi Siming sensed the movement immediately. He turned, sharp brows knitting together, his eyes flashing with irritation.
Xu Shuyue’s lips parted in a silent gasp.
For a brief moment, their gazes locked—his, sharp and full of warning; hers, startled yet glimmering with something undetectable.
A fraction of a second before impact, the corners of her lips curled just slightly.
Qi Siming’s frown deepened.
This woman…
Was she really falling?
Or was she up to something?
Qi Siming’s reflexes were swift; he sidestepped to avoid Xu Shuyue’s sudden “embrace.” Yet despite his efforts, the milk tea cup she was holding slipped from her hand, splashing onto his pristine leather shoes as she hit the ground.
When he looked up, his sharp gaze met a familiar face.
Around them, suppressed gasps erupted from the crowd. The cheap, sugary aroma of milk tea permeated the air as curious onlookers craned their necks to see what had happened.
“Don’t just stand there! Drag her out! Look at her—what kind of pauper resorts to this ridiculous method to get close to Mr. Qi?” The man in the tailored suit standing nearby barked orders, his finger pointing accusingly at Xu Shuyue, who was sprawled on the ground.
The two burly men in black sunglasses hauled Xu Shuyue off the ground, but not before she found herself locking eyes with Qi Siming.
What a perfect pair of eyes he had—phoenix-shaped, with a cool, sharp brilliance akin to a shattered galaxy. They were breathtaking, yet they exuded a cold and dangerous aura that made her feel inexplicably uneasy.
Caught under his penetrating gaze, Xu Shuyue felt an uncharacteristic flicker of discomfort.
“Get lost, all of you,” Qi Siming said flatly, his voice so icy that it seemed capable of freezing the air itself. The domineering aura he emitted snuffed out the fervor of the reporters like water dousing a flame. Without a word, they parted to create a path for him to leave.
Meanwhile, the girl who had been dragged to the roadside was quickly forgotten by the crowd.
The busy street now separated her from the noisy square on the other side.
Xu Shuyue dusted herself off, pulling herself to her feet. She reached into her pocket, feeling the weight of her precious prize.
“Thanks, handsome. Good karma will come your way.”
Pressing her palms together in mock prayer, she smiled mischievously toward the shopping mall before disappearing into the evening shadows.
The VIP elevator in the shopping mall’s first-floor lobby led directly to the top-floor conference room.
Qi Siming stepped into the elevator with two impassive bodyguards trailing behind him, along with the nervous assistant clutching a briefcase.
He hadn’t spoken a single word during the ride up, but the cold air emanating from him was enough to freeze everything in its path.
“Ding!”
When the elevator doors slid open, the conference room was already brightly lit.
Qi Siming strode in with a deep frown.
A young woman with sleek, short hair immediately rose to greet him, holding two glasses of red wine. Her striking crimson strapless dress clung to her figure like a second skin.
“Qi Siming, welcome back,” Wang Ya said with a practiced smile.
But Qi Siming didn’t spare her a glance. Without breaking stride, he walked directly to the head of the conference table. His icy gaze lingered on the expensive bottle of red wine on the table before shifting to the woman he found utterly distasteful.
“What’s this? Has the mall changed its name to ‘Wang’?” His tone was dripping with disdain.
“Qi Siming, don’t be so serious the moment you return. I specially brought my father’s treasured wine to welcome you—what’s that odd smell on you?” Wang Ya’s nose wrinkled slightly.
Though she could tell it was the scent of milk tea, it was far too vulgar for her liking. To her, it reeked of common, low-class women—the kind she disdained.
“If there’s nothing else, you can leave,” Qi Siming said coolly. He picked up the bottle of wine and, without hesitation, dropped it into the trash can beside the table. His tone was calm but carried an unrelenting finality, like an iron wall separating them.
Wang Ya’s face turned shades of green and red, but she forced herself to maintain her alluring smile.
“Can you accompany me to pick out wedding dresses next week?”
“I’m not marrying you,” Qi Siming replied simply, his voice clear and laced with impatience.
Wang Ya’s smile only grew brighter, but her eyes glimmered with a cold glint. Leaning closer, she whispered into his ear, “Qi Siming, you’re well aware of the mall’s current predicament. Only my family can help you…”
Qi Siming chuckled, his dark eyes flashing with mockery. “Your family? You? I’ve never even considered either of you as worthy of my attention.”
Wang Ya took a sip of her wine, masking her humiliation. She knew Qi Siming’s nature well.
“You’d better stop playing these cheap tricks. Take your dogs and get out,” Qi Siming said icily, his voice carrying an unmistakable threat.
Forcing out a laugh, Wang Ya straightened her posture. “Qi Siming, I’m not giving up. I’ll be your bride, no matter what. Tomorrow, I’ll bring gifts to your family’s dinner.”
With that, she strutted out of the conference room, her high heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.
“Mr. Qi…” The assistant, pale-faced and trembling, cautiously stepped into the room.
Qi Siming’s gaze remained fixed on his wrist for a long time, his mind replaying the events from earlier—especially the moment when that woman, completely unaware of the consequences, had spilled milk tea all over his shoe!
It had to be her!
But how had she managed to take his watch without him noticing at all?
Impossible… For the first time, Qi Siming started to question his own reflexes.
Seeing the deep furrow in Qi Siming’s brows, the man in the suit mistakenly thought he was considering how to punish him. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the elevator, chasing after Wang Ya.
Qi Siming raised his hand, gesturing to one of the black-clad men guarding the meeting room door. His voice was low and commanding: “Find that reckless woman from downstairs. I want her brought to me—no matter what it takes.”
“Yes, Mr. Qi,” the subordinate responded with a nod.
Losing a million-dollar watch meant little to someone like Qi Siming.
But then, he reached into the pocket of his overcoat—his wallet was gone too.
His expression darkened.
He wanted to see just how bold this woman was to dare steal from him.
—-
The bakery was filled with the rich, intoxicating aroma of freshly baked cakes.
Xu Shuyue stood in front of the glass display counter, her eyes scanning the colorful assortment before lightly tapping on a six-inch pink birthday cake at the top shelf.
Under the bakery’s warm lights, her tanned skin looked even more radiant, and her long, wavy black hair shimmered with a soft luster as it cascaded over her shoulders.
“How much is this one?” she asked with a bright smile.
“Uh… t-two hundred and twenty yuan,” the male shop assistant stammered, clearly flustered by the sight of such a beautiful woman. “It’s part of our Christmas special.”
“Please pack it up for me,” Xu Shuyue said. “And could you tie it with a pink ribbon in a bow?”
“O-of course!” The shop assistant hurriedly turned around to prepare the packaging.
Only then did Xu Shuyue reach into her pocket and pull out a black leather wallet.
It felt thick and sturdy in her hand… a promising weight.
However, the moment she flipped it open, she froze.
Not a single bill.
No cash at all.
Only a dozen sleek, expensive-looking cards—none of which she had ever seen before.
Her gaze shot up just in time to see the shop assistant returning, holding the exquisitely wrapped cake, complete with a beautifully tied pink ribbon.
Panicked, she quickly searched her other pockets, but all she found was a little over two hundred yuan in cash.
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
“Uhm… can I exchange it for something else?” Xu Shuyue clutched the crumpled bills in her hand, looking a bit embarrassed. “I’ll just take a slice of the strawberry shortcake instead.”
“Sorry, but exchanges aren’t allowed,” the assistant replied apologetically.
After a brief pause, he added, “But… I can give it to you at the employee discount.”
Clearly, he couldn’t bear to see her disappointed.
Leaving the bakery with her small slice of cake, Xu Shuyue hurried home, heading toward the small courtyard nestled in a narrow alleyway.
The warm glow from the windows spilled onto the snowy ground, where footprints crisscrossed the thin layer of ice. Judging by the number of tracks, someone else had been visiting besides the children.
Before she even reached the entrance, the aroma of home-cooked food wafted out, instantly making her stomach growl.
“I’m home!” Xu Shuyue called out as she stepped into the courtyard.
“It’s Sister Shuyue!”
A child’s excited voice rang from inside the house.
Hearing that, Xu Shuyue couldn’t help but smile. She pushed the door open and entered.
Inside, a small round table sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by three children and a young woman in her early twenties.
“Xu Shuyue, you’re finally back! These kids insisted on waiting for you before eating—I was about to starve to death!” The young woman had shoulder-length, wine-red hair and a playfully seductive face, which was completely at odds with her casual, carefree attitude.
“Gu Gu? What brings you here?” Xu Shuyue placed her things on the table and took a seat beside the youngest child—the only one who hadn’t looked up or acknowledged her return. Instead, he remained focused on a small, well-worn teddy bear in his hands.
“I came for a free meal!” Gu Gu declared shamelessly. “Didn’t expect your place to smell this good!” As she spoke, she eagerly picked up her chopsticks.
The twelve-year-old boy sitting next to her rolled his eyes.
Just as Gu Gu was about to dig in, a sudden knock on the door interrupted them.
Xu Shuyue opened the door, only to find herself staring at a familiar figure.
“Return the watch.”
Before she could even react, Qi Siming took a long stride forward, blocking her path. Without hesitation, he grabbed her wrist firmly.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Instinctively, Xu Shuyue struggled to break free, only to feel a sharp pain at her wrist. Anger flared in her eyes as she looked up—
And in that instant, his face was etched into her vision.
A strikingly handsome face, cold and indifferent, exuding an overwhelming sense of authority.
It was him!
“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?”
Qi Siming’s voice was low, yet carried a weight that sent chills down her spine.
Xu Shuyue’s lashes trembled slightly as she instinctively glanced at his bare wrist before quickly lowering her gaze, masking the fleeting moment of panic in her eyes.
“Sir, you must have mistaken me for someone else…” she said calmly.
Inside the house, the others had already stood up, alarmed by the commotion.
“What do you think you’re doing?! Who are you?!”
Sensing that the situation was escalating, Xu Shuyue quickly spoke up.
“Let’s talk outside, sir.”
Qi Siming’s eyes darkened as he studied her, then, after a brief pause, released her wrist.
For some reason, there was something about this woman that stirred a strange impulse within him—one he couldn’t explain.
Stepping outside, Xu Shuyue took a steadying breath before saying, “As you can see, because of my family’s situation, I had no choice but to take your watch today. If you could give me a way to contact you, I promise I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
Qi Siming completely ignored her words.
Instead, he stated flatly: “Keep the watch. But on one condition.”
Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms.
“What condition?” she asked warily, trying to push him away.
His voice was calm, unwavering.
“Be my girlfriend. And tomorrow, we’ll get our marriage certificate.”
Xu Shuyue immediately broke free and stared at him in disbelief.
“Sir, I am not the kind of person who takes relationships lightly. I will return the money as soon as I can.”
Without waiting for his response, she pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to him.
“This is my number. I’ll make sure to repay you soon.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Qi Siming stood motionless, watching her figure disappear into the distance.
His gaze lowered to the slip of paper in his hand.
A name he had been searching for finally surfaced in his mind.
Shuyue… I’ve finally found you.
Translator’s Note:- Anddd its the END !!!!
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