Love Began with the First Meeting

"What are you planning to do next? Shall we have lunch together?" Evelyn sent her warm invitation. "A new sushi restaurant just opened in the Falloon Mall near West Street. It's really nice! Let's go! Let's go!"

The four girls looked at each other. One thing that they had to consider was the price. After all, Falloon Mall was a luxurious place. However, they felt Evelyn's enthusiasm. So even with some financial constraint, they still agreed to go with excitement. "It's so nice to meet you all! It will be my treat for lunch! Let me treat you all!" Bess offered. Her action was like saying, "If my queen is happy, then I will be happy as well. If you don't agree and make my queen upset, I will do my best to protect my queen!"

As the famous saying went, "Birds of a feather flock together." Ann finally understood this line. Even though they came to know Evelyn because of Elsa, they found Evelyn to be an easygoing person, just like Elsa was. Her smile was just so lovely, and all of them were drawn to her sincerity. As for Bess, she only wanted one thing, and that was to make Evelyn happy. Once Evelyn's spirits were high, then everyone else's would naturally be affected.

Just as Evelyn had said, the sushi restaurant was a famous and popular one. When they reached the restaurant, they had to wait for a vacancy. Being an ardent food lover, Evelyn didn't mind waiting. She knew that it would be worth it. Since they still had some time to kill, Evelyn suggested that they could go shopping in the mall first and come back later.

All the girls loved fancy things. They might not be able to afford them, but that wouldn't prevent them from pursuing luxury items. They started from the first floor and worked their way up. Evelyn was of the mindset that the mall was her family business, so everything was free for her. She could buy anything she wanted. After they finished shopping the first three floors, Evelyn was holding a bowl of takoyaki. Bess was holding a cup of milk tea for Evelyn, while the other four girls were laden with various shopping bags. "Evelyn..."

Elsa squirmed inside, feeling guilty to accept all the expensive gifts.

"It's okay. Just accept them as our presents, half from me, and half from Bess." It was just like water off a duck's back for Evelyn. "Besides, since we're here, we should all enjoy ourselves. When someone buys me presents, I feel exhilarated." She held the takoyaki high and said, "My sister-in-law knows me the best. I love takoyaki!" Then she put up a rather exaggerated look and raised her brows, which made her look so cute and lovely.

The girls looked at each other. At that moment, they felt like Evelyn was just like a wealthy man who bought gifts for his secret lovers. 'Are all the Long Family members so rich?' they all wondered. Any single item in their shopping bags could easily have cost hundreds of dollars. The price of one blouse was over 1, 000 dollars, alone! Even for Ann, whose family was relatively wealthy, she couldn't afford that level of spending.

"You're pressuring Charlie." Bess shook her head and felt sorry for Charlie. "Elsa might feel pressured as well."

"Pressure is good!" Evelyn winked at her. "I need to prepare Elsa for her future life. She has to get used to it. If Elsa still needs time to get accustomed to life as a member of the Long Family, then Charlie will be burdened."

Bess shrugged but didn't reply. Sometimes Bess wondered what went on in Evelyn's mind and how it worked. She felt that she would never understand Evelyn.

"Wonders never cease to amaze me," someone said in a mocking tone. The girls turned to see who was behind the voice. Rita stood with a smug look on her face next to Allen with the secretary close by. She continued, "To keep her man by her side, she even buys gifts for her man's lover. I just don't get it. Is she a fool? Or, is her brain damaged?"

"Yes, Miss Gu! It's eye-opening for me as well," Mia Xiao responded. She glanced at the girls, then turned to look at Allen. "Luckily, Mr. Shen isn't so attractive or else Miss Gu would need to spend the entire family business on him!"

Even though Mia Xiao was referring to Rita, the girls knew that he was deriding Evelyn.

Evelyn had been spoiled from the day she was born and hadn't learned the skill of patience. She felt humiliated before her friends and wouldn't allow anyone other than her family or friends to mock her. Instantly, she was enraged and raised her hand to slap Rita, but someone had been even faster than her. Bess pulled her back and said, "Evelyn, why let scum anger you? They're not worth your anger or time."

Then she turned to face Rita and sneered, "Only the Gu family values you. Do you really think that the Gu family is a well off family? You could only dream of leading a luxurious life such as Evelyn's. You're so pathetic!"

"Who are you to say?" Rita argued back.

"Rita, we're in the mall now!" Allen cut her off, reminding her not to make a scene in public.

Rita still wanted to argue, but suddenly stopped when she heard a commotion happening at the entrance of the mall. They all turned around to see what it was. Two men in black were walking in the front, then Charlie with his hands in his pockets strode casually behind as if he were the king of the place. Behind him were a dozen more men, smartly dressed in different suits.

"Why is Charlie here?" Bess quietly asked.

"I don't know." Evelyn was equally baffled. "He went to the company this morning. Addison is with him as well. I'm not sure what's going on."

"Well, well." Bess looked at the managers of the mall who approached Charlie.

"That's quite unexpected. It seems he can't hide his identity anymore."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐