What did he mean by that? His gaze lingered on her red lips, a silent suggestion of the best way for a woman to thank a man—with a blown kiss, of course. Xia Xiwan’s heart skipped a beat, the tips of her snow-white ears burning red. “I don’t understand.” With that, she turned her head to stare out the window, pointedly ignoring him. Lu Hanting watched her evasive maneuver. She was sharp, vibrant, and independent, never relying on anyone or offering her trust easily. Yet, for a nineteen-year-old girl, she was a complete novice when it came to men, flustered by the slightest bit of teasing. The light turned red, and the luxury car glided to a stop. Leaning against the window, Xia Xiwan spotted Haicheng’s most famous cake shop. “Want some cake?” Lu Hanting’s deep, smooth voice sounded beside her ear. A touch of sadness flickered in Xia Xiwan’s bright eyes. “My mother used to take me there for cake all the time,” she said softly. Lu Hanting turned the steering wheel and pulled over to the curb. “If you want some, go get it.” … The shop was a Haicheng institution, wildly popular among the city's socialites and heiresses. Everything was sold in limited quantities each day. Xia Xiwan had loved cake since she was a little girl. Her mother had often brought her here, and those memories were the sweetest of her childhood. It had been ten years. Ten years since she had last set foot in this place. Her eyes began to sting, but she didn’t want the man beside her to see. “Um… wait for me here a second. I need to use the restroom.” She just needed to splash some water on her face. Lu Hanting watched her slight figure disappear. He’d seen the tears welling in her eyes just now. Still just a little girl who hadn’t grown up. With long strides, he entered the cake shop. As luck would have it, Xia Xiaodie was also in the shop, along with her best friend, Kong Zhen’er. Kong Zhen’er tugged on Xia Xiaodie’s arm. “Xiaodie, is it true what you said earlier? That country bumpkin, Xia Xiwan, is keeping a toy boy?” Xia Xiaodie scoffed. “Of course it’s true. I saw it with my own eyes. The guy drove her home.” “But toy boys are expensive these days. Xia Xiwan just got back from the countryside. Where would she get the money to keep one?” “Let’s be real, a toy boy is just a gigolo,” Xia Xiaodie said. “And they come in different tiers. The top-tier ones—handsome, great body—can cost a fortune for a single night…” Just then, a deep, magnetic voice cut through the air. “Manager, I’ll take a cake.” That voice was divine. Both Xia Xiaodie’s and Kong Zhen’er’s heads snapped in the direction of the voice, and their eyes landed on Lu Hanting. There he was, standing tall and imposing by the counter. Dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, his long legs and supermodel physique were enough to make anyone do a double-take. Just his presence alone seemed to light up the entire room. Oh my God, that man was ridiculously handsome. Kong Zhen’er was completely mesmerized. She tugged on Xia Xiaodie’s sleeve. “Xiaodie, is this what you meant by top-tier?” Handsome, built, and probably amazing in bed… Xia Xiaodie had never seen a man so devastatingly handsome. They say a man’s best suit is woven from power, wealth, and status. Dressed in that simple white shirt and black trousers, Lu Hanting radiated a restrained, noble elegance that made him, without a doubt, the most attractive man she had ever seen in such an outfit. Xia Xiaodie’s heart fluttered. Kong Zhen’er whispered again, “Xiaodie, do you think the toy boy Xia Xiwan is keeping could be… like him?” “Are you crazy?” Xia Xiaodie shot her a glare. “A poor country bumpkin like Xia Xiwan? The best she could afford would be some bottom-of-the-barrel type—ugly and fat. If she could actually afford a man of this caliber, I’d bow down and call her ‘Your Majesty’!” There was no way Xia Xiaodie would ever believe that the man Xia Xiwan was keeping could be in the same league as the god-like man standing before them. Just then, the manager said apologetically, “I'm very sorry, sir. The last cake was just purchased by those two ladies. We’re sold out for today. You could try coming earlier tomorrow.” The last cake had been bought by Xia Xiaodie. At the mention of her, Xia Xiaodie’s heart hammered in her chest. She quickly walked over, looking at Lu Hanting with a mix of excitement and shyness. “Sir… were you trying to buy a cake? I can let you have this one. But… could we maybe add each other on WeChat first?” She was already smitten with this man and couldn’t wait to make her move. She was a good catch—young, pretty, with plenty of boys chasing her—but strangely, she felt incredibly nervous approaching him. Despite Xia Xiaodie’s hopeful expression, Lu Hanting didn’t even spare her a glance. He simply took out his black card and handed it to the manager. “Then have your pastry chef make me a new one.” The manager’s eyes immediately fell on the card—a black card, inlaid with a single golden character: “Lu.” Lu. In Haicheng, it was a surname everyone knew. The manager guessed the man's identity almost instantly, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. To think that this titan of Haicheng, a man who held the city in the palm of his hand, had just walked into his humble little cake shop. “S-sir, please, just a moment. I’ll have our chef custom-make one for you right away.” The manager scurried into the back kitchen. Xia Xiaodie and Kong Zhen’er were stunned. Why would the manager custom-make a cake for this man? They had to wait in line like everyone else. This was true VIP treatment. While he waited, Lu Hanting casually picked up a business journal and began to read. Xia Xiaodie had been completely ignored, and the humiliation stung. She tugged at the strap of her sundress. “Oh, I feel dizzy,” Xia Xiaodie feigned, letting her body fall toward Lu Hanting’s arms. She closed her eyes, anticipating the feeling of being caught in his embrace. But a second later, with a dull thud, she hit the floor. Lu Hanting had simply stepped aside, leaving Xia Xiaodie to face-plant on the polished tile. Just then, a clear, pleasant voice drifted down from above. “Xia Xiaodie, what’s with the grand gesture? Are you bowing to me?” Xia Xiaodie looked up and was shocked to see Xia Xiwan. There she was, her bright, almond-shaped eyes taking in the pathetic sight of Xia Xiaodie on the floor. She even gave a playful little wink. Mortified, Xia Xiaodie scrambled to her feet. “Xia Xiwan! What are you doing here?” An incredulous look crossed Xia Xiaodie's face. How could Xia Xiwan be at the cake shop? When she left, that Mr. Wang was already going into the room. What happened? At that moment, Lu Hanting walked over, his strong arm wrapping naturally around Xia Xiwan’s slim waist. “What took you so long?” Her waist was so slender it felt like he could span it with a single hand. Xia Xiaodie and Kong Zhen’er gasped. Xia Xiwan… and this man? “Xia Xiwan, who is he to you?” Xia Xiaodie demanded. A smirk played on Xia Xiwan’s lips. “Didn’t you already say? He’s my toy boy.”