"..."
I don’t believe your nonsense!
Nora Scott gave him a side-eye.
And Pedro Langley, the drama king, got hooked on it, saying with full charisma, "Have a look at what you like, take a good look then we’ll plan our battle strategy."
"..."
Nora shot a glare at him, loaded with accusations.
Pedro squeezed her wrist sympathetically and then called over a store clerk to show Nora around.
Nora wasn’t particularly interested in jewelry, but she was curious to know what Pedro Langley had up his sleeve. Trying to be patient, she glanced around leisurely.
After trying a few items casually, she ca to her senses, realizing Pedro, who had been trailing her, had vanished.
Two minutes later, just as she was about to call him, Pedro reappeared stealthily.
"Where did you go—"
She was about to question him, but Pedro pulled her back before she could finish her sentence.
Pedro extended his hand, unclenching his fist to reveal a ring attached to a black string in his palm.
The ring was very simple—pure black, with designs engraved on the outside and seemingly letters on the inside.
Nora didn’t like flashy things, but the simplicity of this ring, almost to the point of monotony, caught her eye.
"Do you like it?"
Pedro leaned close to her ear, asking in a low voice.
"It’s okay." Nora nodded.
"Alright then, get ready."
Nora was just about to ask about the price, when Pedro, with a conspiratorial tone, spoke again.
Ready?
Ready for what?
Before Nora could fully comprehend, Pedro began a countdown in all seriousness: "Three, two, one—"
???
At the sound of the last number, a sense of foreboding washed over Nora.
Then—
Her hand was suddenly pulled, and before she knew it, she was running with Pedro straight for the store’s exit.
Thump, thump, thump.
The clatter of high heels on the floor was crisp and loud, yet urgent, causing both store clerks and scattered custors to turn and watch.
Nora: What the heck, why am I running with him?!
Store clerks: ???
Security: ?? What’s happening, should I give chase?!
...
They ran straight to another level, and only then did Nora finally react, forcibly pulling Pedro to a stop.
Nora took a breath, staring at this man in shock, "Are you childish?!"
"Childish."
Pedro’s eyes twinkled with a bright smile.
Seeing his smile, Nora’s anger dissipated sowhat, but she still held onto a bit of leftover indignation, continuing to rant, "You’re so good at staging things yourself, why not go into acting?"
"To steal your job?" Pedro retorted without hesitation.
"..."
???
He’s still daring to retort at this mont?
Pedro lowered his gaze with a light laugh and squeezed her hand again, "How was it, exciting?"
"It would’ve been exciting if you really took it gratis." Nora was almost speechless, "I’d definitely bring the most expensive stead bun to visit you in jail."
"How could I let you spend that money?"
"What made everything you say so perfect... " Nora admitted defeat, "Is there anything you can’t respond to?"
Pedro thought carefully and answered earnestly, "Perhaps, love."
"..."
Damn it!
Nora was about to explode.
Realizing that any further advance would earn him a spanking, Pedro wisely took out the ring, changing the topic, "Want to try it on?"
Her eyes glanced over the black string, and Nora asked quizzically, "Wear it around my neck?"
"If you want to wear it on your middle finger, I’m happy to oblige." Pedro imdiately responded.
Nora: "..."
Pedro added, "But to wear it on your middle finger, we certainly need to make elaborate preparations, this one’s not suitable."
Nora: ???
After a mont, Nora said coldly, "The money in my backpack can still buy hundreds of band-aids."
To seal that slick mouth of yours anyti.
"The money was exchanged for my life," Pedro used a finger to hook her backpack strap, tugging it upwards, claiming ownership, and then stabbed her with, "You, now, have not a penny on you."
"..."
Nora gritted her teeth.
After a few seconds, Pedro restrained his smile and seed puzzled, asking her quite seriously, "Is it my imagination, or did I read ’you’re dead’ in your eyes?"
Squeezing out a chilling, forced smile, Nora said slowly, "It’s not an illusion."
"Oh," Pedro quirked a smile, earnestly discussing with her, "May I, before I die, put this ring on you first?"
"..."
Nora was once again startled by his shaless words.
When this guy is shaless, he’s simply unbeatable.
As she silently comnted, Pedro suddenly released her hand, bending slightly, placing both hands on her neck, pushing aside her loose hair.
He leaned in loosely, resting on her right shoulder, the black string with the ring falling softly, settling against her skin. As he fastened the string, the thin cord grazed her skin lightly, ticklishly.
His presence surrounded her completely, resonating with every breath.
"All done."
Finally, the two words ca quietly, erasing all of Nora’s irritation and resentnt.
Nora lifted her eyelids, looking at him with admiration, "You win."
Pedro was unsurprised, chuckled, and asked her, "Still want to buy it?"
"Not anymore."
"They sell food upstairs, want to eat?" Pedro sought her opinion.
Nora removed her backpack, thrusting it into his arms, "I have no money, it’s all yours."
"Then I’ll decide." Swinging the backpack, Pedro naturally took her hand, making up his mind, "Let’s go for a night snack."
Nora: "..."
Eat, eat, eat, eat till you’re broke!
Having been repeatedly outdone by him, Nora thought resignedly, finally following him upstairs obediently.
There wasn’t much money left, but it was enough for food. The two tried everything edible, leaving just a few hundred in the backpack.
"Shouldn’t keep it overnight?"
Scooping all the money into a handful, Pedro asked Nora.
"Hmm."
Nora shrugged.
Just an excuse.
Although, she indeed didn’t want to keep that money overnight.
"Alright then," once again taking her hand, Pedro led her towards the escalator, "Co on, I’ll take you to play a ga."
"What?"
Instinctively stepping forward, Nora asked curiously.
With a sidelong glance at her, Pedro maintained his air of mystery, "You’ll know when we get there."
...
Ten minutes later, in a certain boutique.
Nora looked at the entire row of fortune bags ahead and felt truly enlightened. She leaned closer to Pedro and asked, "Where do you co up with these stupid ideas?"
"You call them stupid ideas?" Pedro raised his eyebrows.
"Don’t you?" Nora counter-questioned.
"Your call," Pedro picked up a fortune bag, glanced around, and warned, "Stay on alert."
Nora: "..."
Stuffing money in a fortune bag, did you have to make it look like you’re stealing the bag?!
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