The mall was vast, its floor tiles gleaming like mirrors. Xiao Yunlong, holding Liu Ruyan's hand, browsed through various shops as if they were any ordinary couple.
Liu Ruyan had excellent taste, and Xiao Yunlong, standing at a respectable 1.8 meters, also had a great physique. They quickly selected two sets of simple yet fashionable clothes.
Just as they were about to pay, Xiao Yunlong instinctively reached into his pocket and found it empty.
Liu Ruyan quickly said, "We agreed I'd buy clothes for you, so of course, I'll pay!"
Xiao Yunlong shrugged, "It seems I'm really going further and further down the path of living off my wife!"
Liu Ruyan shot him a look, "A while ago, you not only helped me but also saved my grandfather. It's only right that I buy you a few pieces of clothing."
As she spoke, she took out her bank card. After paying, Liu Ruyan suddenly suggested, "Brother Xiao, it's still early. How about we go watch a movie? I heard there's a new war blockbuster out, very exciting and good. They say it's adapted from a true story, and the protagonist is modeled after our Dragon Country's idol, the dream of nine hundred million girls!"
"Dragon Country's idol? The dream of eighty million girls? Who are you referring to?" Xiao Yunlong asked, confused.
"You don't even know that!"
Liu Ruyan pouted, "Of course, it's our Dragon Country's Zhenbei King! As the saying goes, 'With a long saber and horse, he pacifies the world; a thousand miles of warfare, the sky stained with blood,' all referring to this Zhenbei King. He possesses peerless grace, single-handedly guarding the northern border. More than three months ago, he led the fifty thousand strong northern army to crush the invasion of the Western Alliance of six nations. Surely you haven't heard nothing about this?"
For a fleeting moment, Xiao Yunlong's heart stirred, but he quickly regained his composure and chuckled, "Of course, I've heard of him. However, more than three months ago, something happened in my family, and I didn't know the details afterwards. So he commanded the army to crush the allied six nations. Truly remarkable!"
Liu Ruyan looked apologetic, "I'm sorry, Brother Xiao. I momentarily forgot about the incident you experienced two months ago."
"It's alright, it's not a big deal," Xiao Yunlong waved his hand and asked again, "By the way, is this Zhenbei King also your idol, the dream in your heart?"
"Of course. Perhaps because my grandfather was a soldier, I particularly admire those soldiers who guard the frontier. The Zhenbei King is the leader of the soldiers, so naturally, I admire him the most!"
As Liu Ruyan spoke, a clear excitement flickered across her pretty face.
As they strolled through the mall, Xiao Yunlong couldn't help but tease, "Perhaps, the Zhenbei King, the idol in your heart, is an old man? Would you still admire him then?"
"Impossible, the Zhenbei King cannot be an old man!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed.
"How is it impossible? Have you seen him with your own eyes?" Xiao Yunlong asked with a smile.
Liu Ruyan pouted, seemingly displeased, "Although I haven't seen him with my own eyes, and even though he always wears a mask in public, I have a feeling that His Majesty the Northern King is not old at all, perhaps not much older than us."
Xiao Yunlong sighed upon hearing this, "Thinking about it, I feel quite ashamed. Others are already the renowned Zhenbei King at such a young age, while I'm just a son-in-law living off his wife, a live-in one at that."
Liu Ruyan rolled her eyes, "Brother Xiao, you're not upset, are you? Actually, we are just ordinary people. How can we compare ourselves to a great figure like the Zhenbei King? Besides, in my eyes, Brother Xiao is already very capable and wonderful."
Xiao Yunlong shook his head and didn't reply. He suddenly wondered what Liu Ruyan's reaction would be if she ever found out his true identity.
As the two prepared to head to the cinema on the top floor of the mall, two young women suddenly walked towards them briskly and called out, "Ruyan, what a coincidence! You're here shopping too."
Liu Ruyan was also pleasantly surprised, calling out, "Wei Qianqian, Luo Liping! What a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you here."
Luo Liping, who had a ponytail and was slightly shorter, turned to Xiao Yunlong and asked, "Ruyan, who is this?"
Liu Ruyan suddenly froze, unsure how to introduce him. Saying he was her fiancé didn't seem right, as they hadn't gotten engaged. Saying he was her boyfriend also felt a bit off.
Xiao Yunlong, however, smiled generously and said, "Hello, my name is Xiao Yunlong, Ruyan's boyfriend."
"Ah, Ruyan! The winter break isn't even over, and you already have a boyfriend? Didn't we agree before the break that the four sisters in our dorm would remain single throughout our university lives!"
Luo Liping exclaimed in surprise, "You've betrayed the organization! And the worst part is, you didn't even tell us you found a boyfriend!"
The other woman, Wei Qianqian, dressed stylishly and fashionably, subtly sized up Xiao Yunlong without speaking.
Liu Ruyan looked embarrassed, not knowing how to explain the situation. She decided to change the subject, "By the way, are you guys shopping for something?"
Luo Liping replied, "No, Qianqian's suitor organized a gathering for us to go singing. It's at the Imperial City KTV next door."
Wei Qianqian also smiled then, "Why don't you and Brother Xiao join us, Ruyan? More people make it livelier. I was planning to invite you, but you're usually very low-key and don't like these kinds of events, so I didn't call you beforehand."
"I think I'll pass. Brother Xiao and I were planning to watch a movie," Liu Ruyan said.
"When can't you go watch a movie? To be honest, Qianqian's suitor is also from our school. The other two sisters from our dorm are coming too, so we can't leave you out. Besides, now that you have a boyfriend, you should introduce him to us, right?" Luo Liping, with freckles on her face, said with a smile.
"Ruyan, you sing so beautifully! You're one of the top ten singers in our school. A few of my suitor's friends have been clamoring to meet you. Since we've met today, let them experience your moving singing voice!" Wei Qianqian added.
Liu Ruyan seemed a little tempted, as all four of her dorm sisters were present. She turned to look at Xiao Yunlong.
Xiao Yunlong shrugged, "I'm fine with anything. If you want to go, I'll accompany you."
Liu Ruyan then nodded.
Thus, the group immediately went downstairs and headed towards the Imperial City KTV next door.
Walking on the way, Wei Qianqian asked, "By the way, Ruyan, what does your boyfriend do? Is he also from our university?"
Liu Ruyan shook her head, "He's not from our university."
"So he's graduated? Do you know where he works?" Wei Qianqian continued to inquire.
Liu Ruyan found herself in a difficult spot again. She couldn't possibly say that Brother Xiao was currently unemployed. Moreover, she had always been low-key at university. Perhaps because she was adopted by the Liu family, she had never mentioned her family situation during her four years of university. Her classmates, seeing her frugality, only assumed she came from an ordinary family.
Xiao Yunlong shrugged and said sincerely, "Actually, I never went to university, and I don't have a job right now. I'm unemployed."
Upon hearing this, Wei Qianqian's expression turned strange, and her gaze as she looked at Xiao Yunlong changed. She exclaimed, "That's impossible, right? Ruyan is the goddess and campus belle of our school. Not only is she beautiful, but her academic performance is also top-notch. The people who pursue her could circle the entire Su City University. And Ruyan has very high standards. I think you're just deliberately being low-key, classmate Xiao, aren't you?"
Xiao Yunlong laughed, "I'm not deliberately being low-key. I truly don't have a job. I'm even living at the Liu family's place, eating off them, but I must say, this 'soft rice' is truly delicious."
The short, freckled Luo Liping exclaimed, "Don't tell me you're the live-in son-in-law of the Liu family!"
Xiao Yunlong nodded, "Yes, I am the Liu family's live-in son-in-law!"
Luo Liping was stunned, her eyes wide, speechless for a moment.
Wei Qianqian, dressed fashionably with heavy makeup and revealing her ample cleavage, sneered inwardly. At the same time, her glance towards Liu Ruyan showed a hint of mockery.
Xiao Yunlong naturally noticed this, but his expression remained as calm as ever.
Liu Ruyan, however, felt extremely embarrassed. She secretly pinched Xiao Yunlong's arm and whispered, "Brother Xiao, why did you tell them everything?"
Xiao Yunlong looked astonished, "They are your university dorm friends. Since they asked, I told them. Is there a problem with that?"
"But you can't just make up nonsense like that!" Liu Ruyan was almost speechless.
"How is this making up nonsense? I'm just telling the truth."
Xiao Yunlong said earnestly, "Your uncle and aunt say that about me. The employees at the company group also say that behind my back. Even most people in Su City think so. Also, eating 'soft rice' is indeed delicious."
"..."
Liu Ruyan was completely speechless. Biting her teeth, she quickly hurried to catch up with her two dorm friends ahead.