Chapter 48

Seeing the two women lingering on the bouquet, the female Beta added, “Or you can look at the others—any favorites? They’re all fresh; we just wrapped them this morning.”

“These look like they were picked with great care,” Lu Yan remarked. “Are you university students?”

The female Beta’s companion was not far away, also holding bouquets and promoting them to other young people.

“Yes, we’re out selling flowers during our break.” The female Beta looked back at her companion, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes.

Shen Su said with a laugh, “I’ll take the one in your hand! How do I pay?”

The female Beta pointed to a QR code. “Just scan here.” As she spoke, she handed the bouquet to Shen Su.

Shen Su took the flowers, then turned to Lu Yan and said with a smile, “For you.”

“Thank you…” As Lu Yan took the flowers, their fingers brushed lightly. Her heart skipped a beat, and a flush of crimson rose to her cheeks.

She lowered her eyes and took a light sniff. The fragrance of lilies mixed with the elegant scent of white roses drifted up—it was lovely. By the time she looked up, the Beta was already pushing her cart toward her companion. Lu Yan glanced at Shen Su’s empty hands and hurried after the girl. “I’ll take one more—the one with sunflowers, daisies, and white roses.”

Lu Yan quickly paid and returned to Shen Su, holding both bouquets. She handed the second one to her. “This is the first time I’ve given you flowers. I didn’t know what you’d like, but I picked sunflowers specifically because you warm me like the sun. I hope you like them.”

In truth, she had chosen every flower in that bouquet with care. Aside from the meaning she spoke aloud, sunflowers also symbolize “silent love.” The daisies she didn’t mention carry the meaning of a “hidden crush.”

Shen Su smiled gracefully and accepted the bouquet. “Thank you. I like them very much.”

“Let’s go on the Ferris wheel?” Lu Yan pointed to the ride nearby. Most of the people in line were couples.

Shen Su raised an eyebrow and agreed with a smile, “Sure!”

They lined up for a while and, following the staff’s instructions, stepped into the small spherical pod. As they reached the highest point, the view outside was breathtaking.

“Sugar, thank you.” Lu Yan turned her head to look at Shen Su’s beautiful profile.

Shen Su asked with a smile, “Hmm? For what?”

“Thank you for bringing me here.” She could certainly come to this amusement park on her own, but she never would have; she would have felt too lonely.

Shen Su said warmly, “If you want, we can come back together in the future.”

After getting off the Ferris wheel, the two women, still clutching their flowers, headed to the nearby Folk Culture Street. Both sides of the street were lined with various handicraft shops and restaurants.

“Hungry?” Shen Su stopped outside the most crowded shop and glanced at the time on her phone. “It’s already 12:00 PM. Shall we fill our stomachs before exploring more? This place is busy, so it should be decent.”

Generally, restaurants in tourist spots are a trap—overpriced and poorly made. In contrast, any place with fair bailiantales.com prices and good taste will naturally draw a crowd.

“Okay!” Lu Yan nodded.

They finished lunch around 1:00 PM. The street was even more crowded now, though the restaurant had thinned out. Unfortunately, they hadn’t been walking long before Shen Su received a call from her mother. Her tone was anxious: “Susu! Your father accidentally fell down the stairs! We’re on our way to the hospital right now…”

“Send me the hospital address, I’m coming!” Shen Su bit her lip and turned to Lu Yan. “I’m sorry, I can’t stay. There’s an emergency at home; I have to go.”

Lu Yan tugged at the corner of Shen Su’s sleeve. “Do you need my help?”

Shen Su hesitated for a moment. “It’s okay, no need.”

“Then go quickly. I’ll stay here for a bit longer and then head back. It’s fine, I can manage on my own,” Lu Yan said understandingly, giving Shen Su a gentle push.

Shen Su nodded and hurried back to the parking lot.

Lu Yan sighed as she watched Shen Su’s figure disappear. She found a bench and sat down, dazed while holding the flowers. She wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t want to go where it was crowded for fear of damaging the bouquet; she cherished every gift Shen Su gave her. But sitting in the park all afternoon seemed dull.

Lu Yan looked up at the passing crowd, her gaze landing on a wooden rabbit carving. A young child, about five or six, was being held by an Alpha father and was playing with the exquisite carving.

Lu Yan’s eyes lit up. She stepped forward and asked, “Hello, could you tell me where you bought that carving?”

The child blinked large, beautiful eyes and pointed the way, her voice soft and sweet: “Sister, I got it over there. Isn’t the bunny cute?”

“Yes, very cute!” Lu Yan smiled at the porcelain-doll-like child.

The Alpha added, “Turn right at the end of the Folk Street. There’s a workshop where a craftsman can make one for you on the spot, or you can buy a ready-made one.”

“Thank you.” Lu Yan headed toward the shop. It was quiet inside, likely because it had no sign and no outdoor display; you wouldn’t know it was a shop unless you looked closely. Or perhaps people were scared off by the prices.

“Hello, do you take custom orders?” Lu Yan asked upon entering.

“Write your requirements in the book on that table, and let me know when you’ve paid.” The voice belonged to an old woman wearing reading glasses, busy with her work.

“Okay.” After writing down her request and scanning the code to pay, Lu Yan said, “Ma’am, I’ve paid.”

“Ah, good. Come back around 4:00 PM to pick it up.”

Lu Yan left the shop and went to ride the spinning teacups. She thought that if Shen Su were here, it would be a perfect place for photos. They could sit facing each other, flowers in one hand and phones in the other for selfies. They could even press their cheeks together. Between friends, that should be okay, right? If they were a couple, they could even kiss the moment the shutter snapped.

At the thought, Lu Yan’s cheeks turned crimson.

Meanwhile, Shen Su was in the hospital ward peeling an apple for her father. “How did you fall today? And sprain both ankles at the same time?”

At this, Shen Mother huffed, “Playing on his phone with his head down!”

Shen Father laughed sheepishly. “I’m a cautionary tale. Don’t follow in my footsteps. Never play on your phone while walking, especially on the stairs.”

“I’ll be careful,” Shen Su promised. Walking required focus; if she fell like that, she’d be out of commission for months.

“By the way, were you out when I called?” Shen Mother raised an eyebrow. “With that Omega? Still haven’t won her over?”

“Not yet…” Shen Su handed the apple to her father, nervously squeezing her palms.

Shen Father simply let out a “tsk” and moved on. If they had kept asking, she could have explained, but that “tsk” carried a heavy weight of silent judgment. Suddenly, Shen Su had the urge to confess immediately, but she restrained herself. He who cannot tolerate small misfortunes will ruin great plans. She had to deal with the Sheng Suyu problem before focusing on the romance.

The following week was a whirlwind for Shen Su; she worked late for three or four days straight. It wasn’t until Friday that she left on time. Noticing a beautiful sunset, she snapped a photo and sent it to Lu Yan.

Shen Su visited her father in the hospital and had dinner with her family. She was planning to head back to the apartment when she noticed Lu Yan still hadn’t replied. She figured she was working late, but just as she was about to put her phone away, the System spoke.

System: Host, the Love-Struck Miss’s location is wrong.

Shen Su: ?

System: The Miss’s location overlaps with the scumbag Alpha’s. And they aren’t at CY; they’re on a… deserted island.

Shen Su’s instincts flared. Lu Yan would never run off to a deserted island with Sheng Suyu. A Read on BaiLianTaleskidnapping? She rushed to her car and gripped the steering wheel. Sheng Suyu really was an outlaw!

System: Host, what’s the plan?

Shen Su grabbed her phone. First, she called the police, then sent an anonymous email to Sheng Ze. Finally, following the System’s map, she sped toward the pier.

Lu Yan had also been exhausted this week. On Friday, she finally didn’t have to work late. She dragged her tired body back to her rental room. The hallway was dim, and she fumbled several times trying to get her key into the lock. Suddenly, her heart raced; unease coiled in her chest like a vine.

She turned on her phone’s flashlight and saw a shadow on the floor that didn’t belong to her. Her pupils shrank. Sensing danger, she tried to shove the key into the lock.

But it was too late. Someone behind her covered her mouth with a towel. The overwhelming strength pinned her; she couldn’t break free. Waves of dizziness hit her, and finally, her consciousness sank into darkness.

Lu Yan felt as if she were trapped in layers of dreams. As one ended, another began; she couldn’t wake up. It wasn’t until a familiar pheromone scent entered her nose that she finally came to. Her hands were bound with hemp rope, and one leg was in a shackle.

What was going on?!

Seeing Sheng Suyu walk through the door, her gaze sharpened. “Sheng Suyu, have you lost your mind?!”

Sheng Suyu said with a grin, “So Yan Yan cares about me that much? Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Lu Yan glared at her, gritting her teeth. “Where are we? Let me go!”

“No one can find you. This is a deserted island. No one but the Sheng family knows about this place. There’s enough food here ​Read on BaiLianTales​to last us two months.” Sheng Suyu’s tone was unnervingly calm. “This is what happens when you refuse the easy way and choose the hard way.”

The smell of wine in the air grew stronger. Lu Yan realized Sheng Suyu was trying to force her into heat; her face went pale instantly.

“I have never failed to get what I want.” Sheng Suyu walked to the bed, stroking Lu Yan’s lips. “Did she ever kiss you here?”

Lu Yan turned her head away, staring at the moonlight outside the window and biting her lip in silence.

“How long do you think you can last? In two minutes, you’ll be begging me to…” Sheng Suyu curled her lips and whispered two words in Lu Yan’s ear.