Chapter 322 - 249: Living Upstairs from You

Chapter 322: Chapter 249: Living Upstairs from You

"Let’s go. To the appliance section first."

After speaking, Yunqing naturally reached out and tugged Chen Lin’s arm. Then, as if nothing had happened, she started walking deeper into the mall.

Chen Lin froze for a moment but didn’t think much of it.

After all, Yunqing had a sunny, outgoing personality and could get familiar with anyone in an instant.

The two of them took the escalator to the third floor and arrived at the appliance section.

Robot vacuums of all brands were lined up neatly on display stands. There were round ones, square ones, some with robotic arms... and their prices ranged from a few hundred to over ten thousand.

"Boss, which one do you think is good?"

Yunqing stood before a row of robots, tilting her head as she asked.

Chen Lin glanced over them casually and pointed to one in the middle. "This one. It’s over three thousand, has a mopping function, and the reviews are good."

"Just this one? You’re not going to shop around?"

"No need. It’s good enough."

Chen Lin was decisive.

In his view, it was just a robot vacuum. As long as it worked, there was no need to spend too much time researching it.

"Alrighty~"

Yunqing waved over a salesperson and settled the order in just a few words.

Payment, fill in the address, done.

The entire process took less than ten minutes.

"You’re done already?"

Chen Lin was a little surprised as he looked at the successful payment notification on Yunqing’s phone.

’I thought girls took forever to pick things out,’ he thought.

"Didn’t you say it? It’s just a robot vacuum. As long as it cleans well, no need to overthink it."

Yunqing slipped her phone back into her pocket, then looked up and blinked her big, bright eyes.

"But~ since we’re already out, why don’t we look around a bit?"

"I haven’t really been to this mall before. How about you be my guide, Boss?"

Chen Lin: "..."

’Something feels off.’

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"...Alright."

’I don’t have anything else to do today anyway. It’s fine to walk around with Yunqing.’

So, for the next hour or so, Chen Lin was dragged around by Yunqing, weaving in and out of the various shops in Wanxiang City.

A clothing store.

"Boss, Boss, what do you think of this shirt?"

Yunqing pulled a light blue plaid shirt from the rack and held it up against Chen Lin.

"The color really suits you."

As she spoke, her fingers "casually" brushed over Chen Lin’s shoulder to adjust his collar.

The gesture was perfectly natural, like a completely normal interaction between close acquaintances.

"...It’s alright."

Chen Lin looked down at the shirt and thought it actually did look pretty good.

But he didn’t buy it.

For one, his wardrobe was already full enough (ever since becoming a professor, he had to pay some attention to his image), and for another...

He just felt that if he wore a shirt Yunqing had picked out, it would feel strange.

He couldn’t say what that feeling was.

It was just... weird.

A jewelry store.

"Wow, this necklace is so pretty~"

Yunqing leaned over the counter, her eyes sparkling.

It was a thin silver chain with a small star-shaped pendant that refracted a soft glow under the lights.

"Boss, don’t you think it’s beautiful?"

"...It’s very nice."

Chen Lin answered honestly.

’It really is nice, and it matches Yunqing’s aura perfectly.’

"Right, right?~"

Yunqing’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

But she didn’t buy it.

She just paused in front of the necklace for a moment before pulling Chen Lin to the next store.

Chen Lin noticed that as they were leaving, Yunqing glanced back at the necklace one more time.

’That look... seemed a bit meaningful, didn’t it?’

A cosmetics store.

"Boss, help me smell this."

Yunqing picked up a bottle of perfume from the tester counter and spritzed a little on her wrist.

Then, she brought her wrist up to Chen Lin’s face—

to be precise, right under his nose.

The distance was a bit too close.

Chen Lin could even see the fine veins on Yunqing’s wrist and the delicate texture of her skin.

A faint floral scent wafted from her wrist, mixing with the fresh fragrance she naturally had.

"Does it smell good?"

Yunqing tilted her head up, looking at Chen Lin with an expectant gaze.

"...It’s alright."

Chen Lin took half a step back.

For some reason, his heart seemed to suddenly beat a little faster.

’Maybe... the perfume is too strong?’

’Yes, it must be the perfume’s fault.’

Just like that, they wandered around until it was past three in the afternoon.

Chen Lin looked at the large and small bags in his hands—

A robot vacuum (bought by Yunqing).

A beige knit cardigan (bought by Yunqing, who said it was a gift for her roommate).

Two boxes of exquisite macarons (bought by Yunqing, who said they were a treat for Chen Lin).

A scented candle (bought by Yunqing, who said it was for the office).

...

Wait a minute.

’Why did Yunqing buy everything?’

’And none of this stuff has anything to do with a "robot vacuum," does it?’

Chen Lin suddenly realized he had been played.

’Weren’t we supposed to be buying a robot vacuum?’

’How did it turn into a shopping spree with her?’

But on second thought, he didn’t have anything else to do anyway, so he could just consider it a way to relax.

Besides, Yunqing seemed happy, so that was that.

Just then, Chen Lin’s gaze casually swept across the second-floor gallery of the mall.

The super vision granted by [Little Champion] allowed him to see details clearly from dozens of meters away.

There, at an outdoor table of a coffee shop, sat a woman.

The woman wore a pair of black sunglasses, her long golden hair draped over her shoulders. Her profile was striking; she was an exceptionally stunning mixed-race beauty.

She was holding a cup of coffee, seemingly enjoying it leisurely.

But Chen Lin had a feeling that in the instant he looked over, the woman’s gaze had been directed right at him.

"..."

Chen Lin’s brow furrowed slightly.

’This person... she looks a little familiar?’

He felt like he’d seen that face somewhere before.

But he couldn’t recall where at the moment.

’Where was it...?’

"Boss?"

Yunqing’s voice broke Chen Lin out of his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? Let’s go, let’s go! I see a dessert shop up ahead. Let’s go take a break."

"...Oh, okay."

Chen Lin retracted his gaze and followed Yunqing toward the dessert shop.

Before walking away, he glanced in that direction one more time.

The mixed-race woman had already lowered her head, completely absorbed in her phone.

She just seemed like an ordinary customer.

Chen Lin shook his head. ’Maybe I was just overthinking it.’

The dessert shop wasn’t too crowded.

Chen Lin and Yunqing found a seat by the window.

Yunqing ordered a slice of strawberry cheesecake and a cup of hot cocoa, while Chen Lin just got an Americano.

"Why aren’t you having any dessert, Boss?"

Yunqing forked a piece of cake into her mouth, a look of pure bliss on her face.

"I don’t really like sweets."

Chen Lin shook his head and took a sip of his coffee.

The bitter taste spread through his mouth, waking him up a bit.

"So boring~"

Yunqing pouted and went back to focusing on her cake.

The two of them chatted idly.

They talked a bit about company matters, then about recent hot topics in the news.

The atmosphere was light and pleasant.

Until, "Oh, right, Boss."

Yunqing suddenly put down her fork, propped her chin on her hands, and looked at Chen Lin with a thoughtful expression.

"I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"Are you by any chance in need of a personal assistant?"

"...Huh?"

Chen Lin’s hand, holding his coffee cup, paused.

’A personal assistant?’

’Where did that come from?’

He was about to ask when he saw Yunqing burst out laughing with a "PFFT."

"Haha, just kidding~"

She waved her hand, looking as if she found herself hilarious.

"Look at your face. What’s there to be nervous about?"

"..."

Chen Lin cleared his throat and put down his coffee cup.

He had a feeling that Yunqing’s words weren’t just a simple joke.

But since she said it was a joke, he didn’t press the matter.

However, what Yunqing said next left Chen Lin completely stunned.

"But speaking of which, Boss."

Yunqing cradled her hot cocoa in both hands, tilted her head, and said in a casual tone:

"The complex you’re living in now is Liuzhuang Xinyuan, Building 4, right?"

"...How did you know that?"

Chen Lin’s brow furrowed slightly.

’My address isn’t public information.’

"Hehe, I found out from Sun Yu."

Yunqing stuck out her tongue, looking smug.

"Sun Yu said you live in Building 4, Apartment 302."

"..."

Chen Lin mentally put a black mark next to Sun Yu’s name.

’That loose-lipped idiot.’

’I’ll have to have a good long talk with him later.’

"Why were you asking for my address?"

Chen Lin asked directly.

"Hmm~ Because..."

Yunqing put down her cup and blinked her eyes.

"I asked an agent to keep an eye out for listings over there a while ago."

"And guess what?"

A sly smile played on her lips.

"Apartment 401 in Building 4 just went up for rent."

"I’m planning to rent it."

"If I do, I’ll be living right above you, Boss~"

"!"

This time, Chen Lin was truly stunned.