After savoring the exquisite dishes at the high-end Oriental seafood restaurant Penglaiyun, Susan leaned back in her seat, utterly satisfied. The rich aroma of grilled abalone and the lingering taste of buttery crab legs still danced on her tongue. She had snapped a few elegant photos during the meal—artfully plated sashimi, steaming crab soup, and a candid shot of Lin Feng delicately peeling a crab leg with a quiet focus that made her heart skip.
On the ride home, as Happy's Rolls-Royce cruised smoothly through the neon-lit streets of Manhattan, Susan posted a couple of the best shots to her private social homepage. Only close friends and family followed her there, and she simply wanted to share the moment, not show off.
But less than two minutes after posting, her phone lit up like a Christmas tree.
Brrt! Brrt! Brrt!
She glanced at the screen—dozens of messages flooded in. Leading the charge was her best friend, Kay, who had apparently launched a verbal missile barrage in her inbox.
> "Susan! What restaurant was that?!"
"Are the rumors true? I heard you were picked up by a luxury car after work today!"
"Girl, you didn't fall into the hands of some mysterious billionaire, did you?!"
"Wait—why didn't you call me for something this amazing?!"
Each message came faster and louder than the last. Susan stared at the screen, dumbfounded. Her fingers flew across the screen as she tapped a reply.
> "What are you talking about, Kay?! It was a friend! My friend took me to dinner. Next time there's an opportunity, I'll take you too!"
But Kay wasn't done. She fired back instantly.
> "You mean your friend picked you up in a freakin' Rolls-Royce?! Sounds like a secret billionaire romance to me."
Susan flushed, glancing sideways at Lin Feng, who was casually chatting with Happy in the front. Her best friend had a wild imagination and zero filter.
> "If you say one more ridiculous thing, I'm blocking you," she typed, cheeks tinged with pink.
Still, she found herself smiling. To quiet the storm, Susan uploaded a photo from dinner—one she'd taken without Lin Feng noticing. In it, he sat across the table, focused on peeling crab for her, wearing a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. His deep, chiseled features and calm demeanor made him look like the male lead from a bestselling billionaire romance novel.
A pause. Then Kay's reply came with a dramatic flair:
> "OH. MY. GOD. WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS GREEK GOD?!"
"Is he your boyfriend?! Susan?! Be honest!"
Susan's heart skipped. She glanced at Lin Feng again. He was still smiling faintly, unaware of the chaos unfolding in her inbox. There was a warmth in his presence—a quiet, unassuming strength that pulled her in. He really was something else.
But they hadn't exactly defined their relationship yet.
> "Not yet..." she replied.
Kay didn't miss a beat.
> "THEN STEP ASIDE. I'M TAGGING IN."
"I've been single for 25 years and counting. I'm ready to claim this man if you're not."
Susan rolled her eyes and typed back.
> "Get out!!"
She turned off her phone, stuffed it into her purse, and muttered under her breath. "Melon queen of chaos…"
The car rolled to a gentle stop near a lively shopping district in Midtown. The city skyline shimmered against the night sky, and Lin Feng turned toward her with a smile.
"Still early. Want to walk around a bit? Maybe find a late-night snack?"
Susan smiled. "That sounds perfect."
As they stepped out onto the sidewalk, the buzz of city life surrounded them. The warm June air carried the scent of roasted peanuts and sizzling skewers from nearby street vendors.
Before they could wander too far, Happy called out, "Mr. Lin! Wait!"
Lin Feng turned, eyebrows raised. "What's up, Happy?"
The big man shuffled awkwardly, then reached into the passenger seat and pulled out a rolled-up poster and a black marker.
"I know it's kinda sudden… but could you sign this for me? And maybe, um… a quick photo?"
Susan laughed behind her hand. "Looks like someone's a fanboy."
Happy grinned sheepishly and unrolled the poster—it featured Lin Feng in full black Superman-style armor, the iconic cape fluttering behind him, captured mid-flight. Lin Feng scratched the back of his head, then nodded.
"Of course."
With a small flick, Lin Feng removed the ring on his finger. In an instant, shadows of dark energy shimmered around him, enveloping his body like ink spreading through water. The black battle suit replaced his casual clothes in a flash, and a different kind of presence filled the air—commanding, powerful.
Even Susan blinked, momentarily stunned.
"You're like a completely different person when that suit's on," she whispered. "It's strange—you don't even feel like the same Lin."
"That's the trick," Lin Feng replied with a wink, tapping the ring.
He posed with Happy, crouching slightly to match the man's height as Happy excitedly held the poster. "Three… two… one… cheese!"
Click.
"Thank you! Mr. Superman—I mean, Mr. Lin! You're the best!" Happy beamed, hugging the poster like it was treasure. "Wishing you both a wonderful night!"
With that, the burly bodyguard hopped back into the Rolls, tires squealing softly as he drove off, humming to himself.
"Guess you've got a fan club now," Susan teased as Lin Feng slipped the ring back on and returned to his usual, slightly awkward self.
He shrugged. "It's weird being recognized."
"You're handling it better than Tony ever did," she said with a laugh.
They strolled through the glowing city. Neon signs blinked from high windows, jazz music drifted from an open lounge, and clusters of street artists sketched caricatures and sang heartfelt ballads. Somewhere, a saxophone cried in the night air.
Susan and Lin Feng walked hand in hand, their fingers gently intertwined. Lin Feng could feel the soft warmth of her skin, the comforting weight of her presence beside him.
They didn't speak much, but they didn't need to.
Eventually, they reached a small square, the pavement lined with soft lights and old brick buildings. In the center, a group of street performers played a slow acoustic love song. Couples stood arm in arm, swaying quietly to the tune.
As they passed, a young girl in a red dress stepped in front of Lin Feng.
"Sir! Would you like to buy your girlfriend a flower?" she asked sweetly, holding up a bouquet of fresh roses.
Lin Feng smiled and handed her a twenty.
Susan silently accepted the flowers, the faint fragrance rising between them.
For a long while, neither of them spoke. The music, the lights, the closeness—it all blurred together like a dream.
Lin Feng's heart pounded in his chest. It was now or never.
He stopped walking and turned toward her. "Susan…"
"Hm?" she looked up, her eyes shy but curious.
"Would you look at me, Susan?" he asked gently.
She raised her gaze, and their eyes met. In that moment, Lin Feng's confidence flickered and then steadied.
"I like you. A lot. You make me want to be better. Stronger. Not because I have to… but because I want to deserve you."
Susan's eyes widened.
"So…" he said, voice soft but clear, "will you be my girlfriend?"
Susan opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her mind raced, heart thudding as memories of Lin Feng's warmth, his kindness, his strength played across her thoughts.
A few moments passed in silence.
Then—"Okay…" she whispered, cheeks burning.
Lin Feng froze. "Wait… did you just—?"
"I said okay!" she laughed, then buried her face in her bouquet, hiding her smile.
"Yes!!" Lin Feng couldn't help it. He scooped her into a hug, spinning her in a joyful circle.
Applause erupted from all around them.
Unbeknownst to them, a small crowd had gathered nearby, smiling at the wholesome scene.
"Young man, you've got guts!" someone called.
"Good job, kid!" another shouted.
Even the nearby street musicians began strumming a celebratory tune.
"Woo! Young love! We love to see it!"
Then came the inevitable chant.
"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!"
Susan blushed furiously and buried her face in Lin Feng's chest.
He chuckled and held her tighter. "Not yet," he whispered, grinning. "But soon."
And under the lights of the city, surrounded by strangers cheering them on, two young hearts finally found each other.