The elevator rose to the ground floor, and the bustling sounds and bright lights of the mall hit them all at once.
Ye Mochen clearly hadn’t considered clearing the way; in his limited experience, the idea of a couple shopping together meant blending into a crowd.
It was his awkward imitation of what he thought “normal” should look like.
But he quickly regretted it.
From the moment they stepped into the mall, nearly every gaze was drawn to them.
Ran Weiyi was dazzling today. The pure black dress made her skin glow like snow, her graceful curves swaying naturally as she walked, and her confident, unassuming aura made her stand out among all the meticulously dressed girls.
The men stared openly in awe, while the women’s gazes were far more complicated—mixed with envy, admiration, and mental calculations of her dress.
Ye Mochen’s grip on her hand tightened abruptly, his jawline set into a hard line. The pressure around him visibly thickened, his previously controlled face darkened completely.
[DouDou: Sister, over 90% of surrounding males’ attention is on you! Male lead’s possessiveness is skyrocketing, jealousy level dangerously high!]
Before Ran Weiyi could mentally respond to DouDou, she was pulled forcefully into his embrace.
Ye Mochen’s steps froze, then his arms gripped her firmly, shielding her from every sideways glance with his tall, imposing body.
His chest was hard, heart thumping rapidly against the fabric between them.
Each intrusive gaze felt like a sharp thorn pressed against his nerves.
He regretted letting her wear that dress, and even more, letting her come to such a crowded place.
He should have locked her away in a space meant for him alone, where she would belong entirely to him.
The fire of anger and restlessness burned hotter, threatening to shatter reason entirely.
“Don’t wear this out again,” he said, his voice thick with suppressed fury.
[DouDou: Male lead’s emotional threshold nearly broken! Possessiveness at 95%! ‘Force removal and lock in small black room’ protocol about to trigger! Sister, act fast!]
“Are you regretting it?” Ran Weiyi tilted her head to look at him calmly.
Ye Mochen’s Adam’s apple moved as he suppressed a surge of unnamed fury. He wanted to take her back immediately, hide her away.
But he had just made a promise—the “anything you want” promise still lingered in his mind.
This was his first time shopping with a girl, yet he felt like he was escorting a priceless treasure, clumsy and ridiculous.
“No.” The word forced out between his teeth, stiff and unnatural.
At that moment, the girl in his arms let out a soft laugh. Small, light, it tickled his taut nerves like a feather.
Ye Mochen froze, looking down at her.
Ran Weiyi ignored the crowd, her gaze fixed solely on him—clear, unflinching, and confident.
Instead of being intimidated by his overwhelming presence, she lifted a hand to rest on his, lightly patting it in a soothing gesture.
She tiptoed closer to his ear, warm breath brushing against him, voice soft and playful:
“Don’t be angry. They’re not just looking at me—they’re looking at you too.”
Ye Mochen frowned, not understanding her words.
She continued, teasingly, her voice tickling his ear: “They’re all jealous of me—jealous that I have such a handsome boyfriend to shop with.”
His body shuddered violently.
The almost uncontrollable violent possessiveness short-circuited instantly at the word “boyfriend”, leaving a blank in his mind.
Boyfriend?
She… called him her… boyfriend?
The word was familiar, but coming from her mouth, applied to himself, it triggered an overwhelming, earth-shattering reaction.
This wasn’t a contract, it wasn’t a transaction—it was a declaration of belonging.
She was declaring to everyone: he belonged to her.
Envy?
They were envious of her.
And he—he was her pride, her display.
Those who had been coveting him like treasure were now merely background for her declaration of possession.
This realization washed through him like a gentle current, sweeping away the violent tension in his chest.
In its place surged a new, unfamiliar heat, spreading from his heart to every limb, leaving half his body tingling.
[DouDou: Alert cleared! “Small black room confinement” mode offline; “official girlfriend” mode activated! Possessiveness system rebooting to “boyfriend-exclusive” mode! Sister, epic!]
He lowered his gaze, eyes locked on the little face tilting up at him from his embrace.
Her eyes sparkled brighter than stars, lips curled in a smile that ensnared him, as if waiting for his response.
Ran Weiyi watched with amusement his full range of micro-expressions—from shock to blankness, then a trace of confusion… and pleasure.
She could feel the grip around her waist relax. It was no longer ironclad, but still possessive—she was now half-embraced, pressed closer to him.
Then she noticed the faintest curve tug at the corner of his usually immovable lips. A small, slow, awkward smile, tinged with inexperience.
That single micro-movement instantly dissolved the cold hardness around him.
He didn’t speak, but his eyes, swirling with complex emotions—shock, disbelief, and intense warmth—spoke volumes.
Ran Weiyi’s smile deepened.
“Don’t like that name?” she teased mischievously.
Ye Mochen’s voice carried a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and slight dominance.
“Say it again.”
Like a child demanding candy, his bottomless black eyes burned with stubborn intensity, unblinking, fixed on her.
The heat in his gaze felt as if it could melt her entirely.
Ran Weiyi blinked innocently, pretending not to understand: “Say what?”
His throat moved; lips pressed together. He didn’t answer, but the anticipation in his eyes grew heavier.
Ran Weiyi’s grin couldn’t be contained. Who would have imagined that a tyrant moments ago, ready to unleash fury, could be reduced to this over a single term of endearment?
She drew out the words, leaning closer, tiptoeing, lips nearly brushing his ear, whispering just for him:
“Ah Chen… boyfriend.”
Warm breath kissed his ear. Ye Mochen’s body tensed, spine straightening.
He seemed to exert every ounce of strength just to produce a single, low, affirmative sound.
“Mm.” One word, his confirmation.