Chapter 7

What did he mean exactly?

His gaze lingered intentionally on her crimson lips, as if implying something. Of course—giving a man a k!ss was, in his eyes, the proper way for a woman to express gratitude.

Elena’s heartbeat stumbled, and her snow-white earlobes flushed red. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She quickly turned her head toward the window, pretending not to see him.

Holden studied her small attempt to escape. She was smart, agile, independent, and not someone who would easily believe in the sincerity of others. Yet when it came to matters between men and women, she was still a nineteen-year-old girl—an untouched blank page who instantly faltered at a bit of teasing.

The luxury car slowed as the traffic light turned red. Elena leaned against the window, her gaze falling on Darenvil’s most famous cake shop.

“Do you want cake?” Holden’s deep, smooth voice echoed beside her ear.

Elena’s eyes shimmered with nostalgia. “My mother used to take me there to buy cakes.”

“If you want it, go buy it,” Holden said, steering the car to the roadside.

This cake shop had a long history in Darenvil and was especially popular among socialites. Every day, the cakes were sold in limited quantities.

Elena had loved cakes since she was a child. Her mother often brought her here—it was one of her happiest memories.

But she hadn’t stepped into this shop even once in the past ten years.

Her eyes reddened slightly, and not wanting Holden to notice, she closed her eyes. “Um… wait for me. I need to go to the restroom first.”

She headed to the bathroom to wash her face.

Holden watched her figure disappear around the corner. He had clearly seen her tears. She hadn’t grown up at all—she was still that little girl inside.

With his long strides, he walked into the cake shop.

Coincidentally, Yoselin and her friend Zheneria were also there.

“Yoselin, you said Elena hooked up with a man—was that true?” Zheneria whispered, pulling Yoselin aside.

“Of course it’s true,” Yoselin snorted. “I saw it myself. That pretty boy drove Elena home.”

“Her status is already low. She just crawled back from the countryside. How could she afford a good-looking guy?”

“That man must be a gigolo,” Yoselin said smugly. “A very expensive one too. One night with him probably costs thousands. He was tall, handsome, built, and apparently great in bed—”

“Manager, one cake please,” a deep magnetic voice interrupted.

The voice was too pleasant—rich, masculine, and effortlessly captivating.

Both Yoselin and Zheneria turned toward the sound—and immediately froze.

Holden Lu stood tall by the counter, wearing a crisp white shirt and black trousers. His legs were long, his posture straight, his figure like a high-end model. Just standing there made him the brightest sight in the room.

Oh… my… God.

“Yoselin… isn’t this the exact type of man you were describing?” Zheneria whispered breathlessly.

Perfectly handsome. Perfect body. Perfect everything.

Yoselin couldn’t take her eyes off him. A man like that—power, wealth, status, charm—all combined into one. Compared to all other men in white shirts, he was in a class of his own.

Zheneria elbowed her again. “Do you think this is the guy Elena picked up? Her ‘pretty boy’?”

Yoselin snapped out of her trance and scoffed, “Don’t be ridiculous. Elena’s pretty boy was cheap—ugly and chubby. If she somehow got a man like this, I’d call her boss!”

There was no universe in which Elena could attract someone of Holden’s level.

“I’m very sorry, sir,” the shop manager approached Holden, “but the last cake for today was purchased by those two ladies. We’re fully sold out.”

Yoselin had bought the last one.

“Do you… want cake?” Yoselin asked shyly, stepping forward. She gave him her sweetest smile. “You can have mine. Maybe… we can exchange W******p?”

She had already fallen head-over-heels. Plenty of men pursued her, but this was the first time she took the initiative. Her heart hammered anxiously.

Holden didn’t even look at her.

“Then have your chef make one more,” he said calmly, handing his black-and-gold card to the manager. “A custom one.”

The shop manager’s eyes widened when he saw the gold “Lu” printed on the card.

The Lu family.

The family that dominated Darenvil’s upper circles.

The manager instantly bowed. “Y-yes, sir! Please wait. I’ll have our master chef prepare a special cake immediately.”

He ran to the back kitchen.

Yoselin and Zheneria were stunned.

Why would the manager personally customize a cake for him?

VIP treatment—no, VVIP treatment.

Holden took a seat and read a business newspaper, completely forgetting Yoselin existed.

Feeling ignored, Yoselin gritted her teeth. She deliberately straightened her spaghetti-strap dress, showing off her curves. Then she pretended to sway.

“Oh my, I feel faint…”

She “collapsed”—aiming straight for Holden’s arms.

But instead of the warm embrace she imagined, she hit the floor with a loud thud.

Holden had sidestepped easily, letting her fall face-first.

“You’re giving me such a big gift today, Yoselin?”

A bright, clear voice sounded above her.

Yoselin looked up in shock.

Elena was standing there, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she stared at Yoselin’s pathetic state.

Embarrassed, Yoselin jumped to her feet. “Elena? Why are you here?”

She couldn’t believe it. Elena should’ve been with President Wang. Something had gone wrong.

Holden walked over, reaching out to wrap Elena’s slender waist naturally.

Her waist fit perfectly into his palm.

Yoselin and Zheneria gasped sharply.

“Elena… who is he?” Yoselin stammered.

Elena tilted her lips. “Didn’t you say he’s my little kept pretty boy?”